County Council has approved Laurens County taking preventive measures to provide documentation in the case of an audit by the Internal Revenue Service. A unanimous vote at Tuesday evening’s Council meeting approved adoption of policies and procedures for tax advantage bond compliance.

        Bond Council Theodore Dubose has recommended that council adopt preventive procedures prior to the issuance of the $3.7 million general obligation bond in  December that are to raise funds to build the new county administrative office building at Hillcrest Square. According to Dubose, the IRS has increased its scrutiny of government issued bonds and such transactions are more likely to be audited.    

     The purpose of these policies and procedures is to ensure that the requirements of the federal and state laws necessary to preserve the advantages of the tax exempt bonds are continuously complied with for the required periods.

   County Administrator Ernie Segars told council that by implementing the policies and carrying out the procedures as written, local governments will  be able to respond to audits because any information requested would have been complied and available as a matter of course.

County Attorney Sandy Cruickshanks told council that he totally concurs with council.

    “It is good looking ahead and in the event of an audit we will have this already in place, it will be a great step ahead, but I hope it will never have to be used,” said Cruickshanks.

 Laurens County Council this week voted to endorse construction of new Spec buildings in Clinton and Laurens. The council action specified that Laurens County taxpayers would not be liable for paying for the new buildings, either through County Council or the Laurens County Development Cooperation.

   The plan reportedly calls for the Laurens County Development Corporation to technically own the property the spec buildings will be constructed on, and funds will be funneled through the LCDC for the construction; however, payments of any principal and interest will be provided by the Laurens CPW for a 100,0000 square foot spec building in the Hunter Industrial Park and by the Clinton Economic Development Commission for a 50,000 square foot spec building in Clinton Corporate Park.

   Financing is being sought from Santee Cooper which would not require any payments for three years, then interest only for the next seven.

   Laurens County Development Corporation Executive Director Marvin Moss told WLBG that in the past five years he has not had any property to show prospective industries in one out of four requests for information, because these were looking for spec buildings for a faster start-up.

   A Polaris Razor ATV valued at just under $12,000 was reported stolen yesterday. Deputy Kenneth Sibley was dispatched to Durbin Farms Road, Gray Court at 11:04 yesterday morning and spoke with a man who said the ATV was stored in a barn on family property at 268 Durbin Farms Road. He last saw it there last Sunday. He said he found it missing yesterday around 10 am. The trailer for the red 2013 Polaris ATV was left parked in front of a nearby address.

   Laurens Police responded at 1:04 this morning to a report of an automobile break-in on Holmes Street. On arrival, Sgt. Gainey observed a pickup truck with an open door and emergency lights activated. The victim said he had been home for about an hour and a half when he noticed the lights flashing on the truck then found the passenger door open and the dash of the vehicle had been pulled off. He said a Pioneer radio and CD player was stolen from the truck. Sgt. Gainey observed that wires were hanging from the empty compartment where the radio had been. The truck had been unlocked so forced entry was not required. Value of the stolen item was $300.

  Laurens City Police Sgt. Joey Pittman responded to a store on East Main at 10:48 Friday night on a report of an intoxicated subject. A man had reportedly come inside and began talking with a woman. He reportedly became sick and when the woman began to clean up his mess he allegedly grabbed her breast. He reportedly went into the women’s rest room and police arrived. 31-year-old Edward Sylvester of #7 at 200 Hardin Road, Laurens was arrested and charged with Assault and Battery 2^nd Degree and with Public Intoxication. Mr. Sylvester was released from the Johnson Detention Center Saturday on bonds totaling $5,155.

  Laurens County Deputy Steve Paterson responded around 4 Saturday afternoon on a report of two people arguing in the Waterloo area. A caller wanted to be sure they are OK. The officer reported arriving at the location to observe the woman come to the door crying. She reportedly indicated they had been arguing and fighting. He was accused of having pulled a knife out causing her to feel threatened, and of allegedly throwing a Mason jar at her, hitting her leg. Sgt. Paterson made contact with the man and observed he had a knife sheath hanging from his belt, but no knife inside. The husband had reportedly returned from fishing with a partially consumed bottle of Wild Turkey and a mason jar of Muscatine wine. When she poured the remaining Wild Turkey onto the ground, he reportedly threw the Mason jar. 36-year-old Jeffrey Fowler of 234 Sid Lee Road, Waterloo was arrested on a charge of Criminal Domestic Violence. His bond was set this weekend at $2,150. Fowler remained in the Johnson Detention Center this morning.

  A weekend at Lake Greenwood ended early for a couple from Southern Spartanburg County with an apparent domestic incident early Sunday morning. Sheriff’s Sgt. Will Johnson reportedly arrived in the area and located a woman, who indicated she had hidden in the woods while the man left the area in his truck. Meanwhile, Cpl Moye reportedly made a traffic stop on the truck in Clinton on Highway 72 at Springdale. Sgt. Johnson charged 50-year-old Phillip Carroll Williams of 1032 Harrelson Road, Pauline with Criminal Domestic Violence in a ticket noting the offense at 1:40 am Sunday. He further issued a ticket charging Williams with having a Broken Seal on an Alcohol container in a vehicle at 2:30 Sunday morning at Springdale Avenue. During arraignment yesterday, a $2,150 bond was set on the Domestic Violence charge and bond was set at $262 on the Broken Seal ticket. Phillip Williams remained in the Johnson Detention Center earlier this morning.

 Clinton Public Safety this weekend arrested a Union man in connection with an alleged domestic assault in Clinton early in November. 23-year-old Randerio Demonz “Dero” Taylor of 5018 Cross Keys Highway, Union was charged with Criminal Domestic Violence. Public Safety officer Metz states that on November 3^rd subject assaulted a victim by striking her in the face with a closed fist, causing her lip to bleed and swell. The subject and victim have a child in common and formerly cohabited in a romantic relationship. The incident reportedly occurred on Gary Street in Clinton November 3^rd.

Dero Taylor was being held in the Johnson Detention Center with a cash or surety bond set at $20,000.

  An attack that sent someone to the hospital Friday was alleged in an arrest yesterday. The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office Sunday arrested 29-year-old Fredrick Rodriquez Pyles of 750 Jones Road, Fountain Inn on a charge of Assault and Battery 2^nd Degree. In a warrant, Sheriff’s Deputy Steven Sweat states that on November 29^th Fredrick Rodriquez Pyles did hit and punch the victim in the face several time with his fist, causing moderate bodily injury that required medical treatment. During arraignment yesterday, bond was set at $10,000. Fredrick Rodriquez Pyles remained in the Johnson Detention Center this morning.

   Sheriff’s Deputy Steve Paterson was dispatched to Crenshaw’s Store on US 221 at Cold Point Saturday morning at 9:44 am. Someone had broken out a window on the back of the store to gain entry. The thief or thieves reportedly took some $240 cash from the store along a cash box. Cigarettes valued at $900 were taken, along with headache medicine valued at $50, plus pocket knifes and lighters valued at $30. The break-in and theft at Crenshaw’s Store remained under investigation.

 Clinton Public Safety arrested a Laurens man Friday night on Drug charges. 25-year-old Markeece Antwon Rice of 226 Coggins Dairy Road, Laurens was charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana. Clinton Public Safety Officer Metz states that on November 29^th the defendant possessed a quantity of marijuana with intent to distribute. The marijuana was allegedly packaged in four bags with three of the bags weighting approximately 3.5 grams and the 4^th bag reasonably larger. This allegedly occurred Friday on West Main Street in Clinton. Bond on the Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana charge was set at $15,000. Markeece Antwon Rice was released on his own recognizance Saturday morning.

 The Sheriff’s Office arrested a man and woman from Clinton this weekend for alleged methamphetamine violations on Saturday.

21-year-old Aaron Blake Waters and 24-year-old Amie Leigh Walker, both of 105 Sally Drive, Clinton were charged with Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Illegal Disposal of Methamphetamine and with Simple Possession of Marijuana.

 In warrants, Sheriff’s Lt. Nick Moye states that on November 30^th each was in possession of items used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, that they disposed of methamphetamine waste without authority and that they were in possession of 28 grams or less of marijuana.

  Bonds were set at $25,000 on the Manufacturing charge, $15,000 on the Disposal charge and $620 on the Simple Possession of Marijuana charge. Aaron Blake Waters and Amie Leigh Walker remained in the Johnson Detention Center this morning with bonds totaling $40,620.

 Clinton City Council has a busy agenda for their December meeting this evening. A presentation of the audit for fiscal year 2012-2013 tops the list. Council is to also vote on the sale of timber on Asten Road and Highway 308. Council is to also consider a revision of the employee personnel manual and a resolution adopting a cafeterial plan in regards the employee benefits. There are five items for discussion during executive council session this evening. There is a Personnel Matter regarding the Department of Public Works, then two issues regarding the office of City Manager, discussion on a contractual matter regarding Project Opportunity, another contractual matter regarding a development project along Interstate 26 and a Contractual matter regarding property in the Lydia Mill subdivision.

   The Clinton City Council meeting is to begin at 6pm in council chambers of the M.S. Bailey Municipal Building.

   The Laurens County Airport Commission also holds its December meeting this evening. The meeting  begins at 7 pm at the Laurens County Airport.

 A break-in over the weekend at Laurens Academy dispatched Sheriff’s Lt. Robbie Haupfear at 11:21 yesterday morning. A bookkeeper reportedly arrived yesterday morning to find that a filing cabinet had been pried open and a bank bag removed. The bag was found in another cabinet, but was missing $50. Lt. Haupfear and Headmaster Kirk found a screwdriver on the floor beside the filing cabinet and it was collected as evidence. This theft reportedly follows one a few weeks back when $1,000 was taken from the school.

    A Clinton teen was to face arraignment this morning on Kidnapping and Aggravated Assault charges, following an alleged assault on her mother at home yesterday. Clinton Public Safety was dispatched to Beauregard Street at 12:27 pm Monday on a report of someone with lacerations needing medical attention. Officer Doug Richardson reported arriving to find some liquid on the floor, something blue broken into pieces scattered on the floor and a black object broken into several pieces lying near the TV stand. An investigation indicated that the victim’s daughter allegedly had assaulted her, hitting her in the head with a curling iron, which broke into pieces over her head, and causing her to fall forward, breaking a blue ash tray which reportedly caused cuts on her arms. The younger female allegedly poured a 2 liter Pepsi bottle over the victim during an argument.

EMS was brought in and attended to the older woman, transporting her to Hospital for further treatment. Clinton Public Safety took 17-year-old Katie Ann Berry of 315 Beauregard Street into custody and was holding her in City Jail overnight pending arraignment on charges of Kidnapping and Assault and Battery 1^st Degree.

Clinton Public Safety Officer Steven Lawton was on routine patrol on Highway 56 at 3:30 yesterday morning when he observed a gray Crown Victoria headed into town with dark tinted windows. He made a traffic stop for a Window Tint Violation in the vicinity of Musgrove and Phillips Street. Lt. Jones of Public Safety and Sheriff’s Lt. Higgenbotham came to provide assistance as an investigation was underway. Both occupants were placed in investigative detention. Based on items reportedly found in the car, the driver, a 22-year-old Honea Path man, was charged with Simple Possession of Marijuana. He was later released on a $620 personal recognizance bond. A passenger, 22-year-old Ladetriac Devontai Campbell of 4622 Mountville Road, Mountville was also charged with Simple Possession of Marijuana, but also with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Further investigation led to an additional charge on Mr. Campbell.

  Clinton Public Safety and the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office went to an apartment on Elizabeth Street 4 am, where they reportedly located a stolen weapon.

   20-year-old Mariah Desire Barber of 201 Elizabeth Street, Apartment A-3, along with Ladetriac Campbell, were charged with Possession of a Stolen Pistol. They are accused of being in possession of a stolen Kel-Tec .328 caliber handgun at Apartment A-3 at 201Elizabeth Street.

    A $10,000 cash or surety bond was set on the Weapons charge for Campbell, and he was being held in the Johnson Detention Center this morning.

  Ms. Barber was released on personal recognizance bonds of $10,000 on the Stolen Weapons Possession charge, and $620 bonds on Simple Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charges.

      Theft of metals from a graveyard has resulted in an estimated $500 in damage to parts of wrought iron fencing around two Laurens County graves. The wrought-iron fencing dates from sometime after 1869. Sheriff’s Deputy Sibley was dispatched to Durbin Creek Baptist Church near Fountain Inn at 9:21 yesterday morning and was informed the damage was done between the end of Sunday night services at 8pm and being found at 9 yesterday morning. Fence panels were removed from between fence posts. 7 of  the 9 sections were completely removed, while an 8^th section was partially damaged. About half the removed panels were reportedly found near a chain link fence. The damaged graves were on the side of the graveyard closest to the roadway at 3724 Durbin Church Road.

 Laurens City Police responded to Hunter Industrial Park at 7:16 yesterday morning to investigate a second break-in at a construction site. Detective Sgt. tony Lunch met with employees of Jennings Dill, Inc. of Greenville who said they arrived yesterday morning to find a lock had been cut again on a storage building at 114 Hunter Industrial Park Road, since they left for the Holiday break last Wednesday. Various tools, welding rods, acetylene torches, heaters, oxygen tanks, brass values and approximately 500 pounds of copper tubing were taken. Value of the stolen materials was $5,000.

  Two people are now facing charges from the Saturday night burglary of Crenshaw’s Store of the Cold Point Community on US 221 South of Laurens. The Sheriff’s Office yesterday announced the first arrest was made when Simpsonville Police arrested 31 year-old Whitney Leigh Maness of 1441 Highway 252, Laurens for allegedly attempting to use a check stolen from Crenshaw’s at Kohl’s of Simpsonville yesterday. Simpsonville Police then notified the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, which issued a notice of a second suspect who is wanted for the Saturday night Cold Point burglary.

Around midnight last night, Deputies reportedly found the second suspect hiding in a camper, behind a residence, on Mountain View Drive, Gray Court. 36-year-old Daniel Shane Bennett of 3566 Bethel Church Road, Laurens was being held in the Johnson Detention Center this morning.

  Warrants charging Daniel Bennett with Burglary 2^nd Degree and Petit Larceny allege that on November 30^th he entered the building at 6532 Highway 221 South without consent and that he took items from Crenshaw’s Store valued at less than $2,000.

  Three people have filed for the Clinton City Council seat recently vacated by Bob McLean, who won the Special Mayor’s Election. When the filing period closed yesterday at noon, the Laurens County Election Commission Office had three candidates on record as seeking Seat 5 in a special election in mid-January.

  Candidates for the City Council election are Danny Fortney of 404 Caldwell Street, Josh Lindsay of 117 Baldwin Circle and Norman Scarborough of 100 Mr. Jim Lane.

   The special City Council Election will take place Tuesday, January 14^th, 2014. Should a run-off election be needed, it will be conducted two weeks later on Tuesday, January 28^th.