A 74-year-old Clinton woman was charged yesterday with Domestic Violence 3rd Degree. She had been arrested the night before. The warrant alleges she caused physical harm to the victim by striking him on the right side of his face with an open hand, creating a reasonable fear of peril. The warrant also says she and the victim live together in an amorous relationship. The woman was released on a personal recognizance bond of $2,130.
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74-Year-Old Charged from Lover’s Quarrel
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Failure to Register….Again
The Sheriff’s Office yesterday jailed 36-year-old David Justin Miller of 73 Atomic Drive, Laurens and charged him with Failure to Register for the Sex Offender Registry. A warrant states that on May 6, 2016 in Laurens County he failed to register with the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and that he has a prior conviction for failure to register. David Justin Miller was held overnight with a bond hearing set for this morning on the charge.
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Moving Without Permission
A Clinton man has been accused of evading supervision by his Probation Officer. 20-year-old Ryan Zane Jackson of Apple Orchard Road, Clinton was booked yesterday on a Violation of Probation charge. He is accused of moving to an undisclosed location without notice or permission, thereby absconding supervision. The warrant also alleges he was found in possession of a firearm, that he failed to report to his agent and that he failed to make required payments and failed to follow advice of his agent. With a cash or surety bond set at $75,000 yesterday, Ryan Zane Jackson remained in the Laurens County Detention Center this morning.
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Bank Fraud
Laurens Police yesterday charged a local woman with Bank Fraud. 32-year-old Shanita Lenette Johnson of 109 Woodrow Street, Laurens is accused of committing the crime September 22nd, 2015 on West Main in Laurens. Detective Jared Hunnicutt states that an investigation indicates the defendant received money by presenting a U.S. Postal Money Order that came back as “Altered/Fictitious.” Shanita Lenette Johnson was released on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond.
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Back to a 10-Point Grading Scale
The South Carolina Board of Education last month instituted a 10-point grading scale to have South Carolina uniform with other states, replacing the current 7-point scale. This change was discussed this week at the Laurens County District 55 school board meeting.
The new 10-point grading scale means that an “A” will be given for grades of 90 to 100. The current system requires a score of 93 or higher. A “B” will be given for grades of 80 to 89, instead of requiring a score ranging from 85 to 92. With the current scale, a “C” requires a score from 77 to 84. The change gives a “C” for scores of 70 to 79. The current system gives a “D” for grades of 70 to 76. The change has a “D” with a score in the 60s.
This older 10-point grading scale is now used by most states in the country. Superintendent Dr. Billy Strickland said of the change, “This will be of great benefit to our students when they apply for scholarships because they will be on the same grade scale as others in the country.”
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Council Discusses Pay Raise, Tax Millage Increase
While work sessions are still underway for the 2016/17 Laurens County Budget, much last night’s Laurens County Council Meeting dealt with a proposed 4-mil property tax increase, proposed to help provide for a 50-cent per hour pay raise for all county employees. Council already has to make up an expected budget deficit of about $156,000 along with increased insurance costs of $65,000. The raise would put the 2016-2017 budget about three-quarters of a million dollars in the red. The proposed 4-mill tax increase would amount to an annual increase of $16- $18 in taxes for a $100,000 house.
Three county residents came forward last evening to protest the tax increase. One person complained that city residents are taxed double and that although employees deserved a raise, social security has not provided any raises to senior taxpayers in years. Also appearing before Council was Diane Belsom, head of the Laurens County Tea Party. She asked council to find another way to provide a raise for the employees instead of raising taxes.
The suggestion of privatizing emergency medical services came up as Kelly Jones, wife of Councilman Stuart Jones, told council that she required an ambulance recently due to a health issue and that the private ambulance she used was just fine.
During comments from council, Councilman Jones discussed the idea of privatizing ambulance services as a way to cut the budget. Council Chairman Joe Wood told Jones that that issue has already been addressed. Wood said that he will do anything he can to be sure that the employees receive a raise.
Council members Diane Anderson and Garrett McDaniel asked that all county residents should urge politicians in Columbia to provide the funds to local governments that are due to local government, saying that would help resolve the deficit. Councilman Keith Tollison said “I frankly can see no other way to provide the pay increase than to increase taxes.”
Another budget workshop was held after the regular council meeting, followed by a 7 to 0 vote of approval for 2nd reading of the budget.
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Nursing Excellence Awards at GHS-LCMH
The 8th annual GHS Nursing Excellence Awards were presented last week honoring outstanding staff at Laurens County Memorial Hospital (GHS-LCMH) in Inpatient, Outpatient and Specialty Nursing categories. Held in recognition of National Nurses Week, the awards distinguish outstanding nursing leaders for their dedicated and compassionate service to patients at Laurens County Memorial Hospital. Chief Nursing Officer Kay Swisher personally made a “surprise” visit to each recipient, offered congratulations, presented each with the official GHS Nursing Excellence Award certificate and a token of appreciation.
Congratulations to GHS Nursing Excellence winners
( pictured left to right) Marlene McCranie, RN, Outpatient Nursing Award; Jennifer Ballard, RN, Nursing Leadership Award; and Marsha Ridlehuber, RN, Inpatient Nursing Award.
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We Just Got It Fixed From the Last Break!
Have you ever been in a situation where it seemed that things were not going well for you? A Laurens County Deputy may have felt that way earlier this week. A report filed yesterday indicated the officer had just picked up his patrol car after a broken driver’s side mirror had been repaired and was on his way home around Noon Monday when he observed an oncoming dump truck on the 127 By-Pass traveling in the opposite direction. As the two vehicles met a rock was thrown from the truck tire that struck the windshield of the Sheriff’s vehicle, causing a crack of some 14 to 16 inches to appear on the lower right side. The incident was documented.
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Bench Warrants: General Sessions & Municipal Courts
Laurens City Police arrested a local man yesterday and served him with a Municipal Court Bench Warrant from earlier this spring. 57-year-old Freddy Lee Stonell of 7A Laurens Villa, Laurens was served with the Bench Warrant citing an April 19th conviction for Public Intoxication with a sentence of 30 days or $250. However, he was also served with a General Sessions Court Bench Warrant for an Arson case from earlier this year. It states he failed to appear in General Sessions Court February 1st to face a charge of Arson 3rd Degree. Freddy Lee Stonall remains in custody, pending his next visit to General Sessions Court and resolution of the city court sentence.
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Fugitive from Justice
The Sheriff’s Office made an arrest yesterday for a Fugitive from Justice Charge. 37-Year-Old Lynette L. Ortiz of 226 Morgan Street, Joanna was ordered held without bond, pending Judicial action. The booking report indicated this was for a non-criminal case.
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Car Damaged by Rock-Throwing Juveniles
Clinton Public Safety responded to West Bluford Street at 8:20 last night to investigate damage to a vehicle from juveniles throwing rocks. A woman said that her son had come inside the house and told her that the back window of her vehicle had been “busted” by juveniles throwing rocks. Officer Reel reported observing where a rock was lodged in a small hole in the glass on the back right side of the vehicle. The window had a spider effect where glass continued to crack. The officer was told of juveniles playing basketball when other juveniles began throwing rocks. During the subsequent exchange of rocks the car window was struck. Officer Reel spoke with two juveniles and their family. The father of one of the juveniles offered to pay for repair to the car if the victim did not prosecute. The owner of the damaged car was to acquire two estimates for repair and the father of the suspect juvenile was to contact the officer Friday to get the estimate and pay for the damage. The suspects in the damage to the vehicle were reportedly two 12-year-old females.
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Domestic Altercation Leads to Thrown Lamp…and…
Deputy Van Pelt responded to a Clinton area residence on Highway 72 West at 10:03 last night on a report of a Domestic Violence incident. At the scene he talked with a woman who told of an altercation with her husband that developed about some messages found on his cell phone that indicated the possibility that he may be cheating on her. She alleged that her husband came after her with a dryer cord, but did not hit her with it and she reported that she threw a drink on him because she was afraid of him, and that he put his hands around her neck. Some redness on her neck and left shoulder area was noted by the officer. She indicated that during this time she threw a lamp at her husband that struck him on the back of his head. She did not want to prosecute. The husband had left.
Later, Deputy Van Pelt met with the husband at the hospital to get his version of events. He also indicated the altercation began over the messages on his cell phone and said his wife had struck him in the face with a closed fist some five times during the altercation and that this was after she had thrown some kind of drink on him and had thrown a lamp that hit him in the head with a lamp as he was leaving. The officer reported observing a wound on the back of the man’s head that had something, perhaps glass, protruding. The man also said there were three children, aged 2, 4 and 8, in the residence at the time of the altercation. He also did not want to press charges. The incident was documented for the record.
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52 Members, CHS Class of ’61 Attend 55th Year Reunion
The Clinton High School class of 1961 held its 55 year reunion last Saturday at Jitters Café, Downtown. The reunion was coordinated and in conjunction with the Rhythm on the Rails Festival in Clinton. There were approximately 52 class members , 5 teachers and 22 guests, for a total attendance of 79. Two of the Class of ‘61 graduates brought prize-winning autos for display. Johnny Oswalt formerly of Joanna displayed a 57 Chevy Bel Air and Larry Fulmer formerly of Kinards displayed a 57 Ford Fairlane 500.
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$8,000,000 Industrial Investment Gets 2nd of 3 Positive Votes
In addition to 2nd reading on the new budget this week, Laurens County Council gave 2nd reading approval to financial incentives for a company planning to invest at least $8 million in an industrial plant already existing in Upper Laurens County. After an expected 3rd favorable vote, Ordinance 818 will authorize the execution and delivery of a FILOT agreement between the county and CRI Tolling, and its affiliate Synalloy Corporation. With the $8 investment the project, involving the existing facilities, will be brought into Section II of the Octagon Industrial Park. The ordinance is to authorize amending the master agreement governing the Octagon Park to include this facility.
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One Woman Injured by Knife, another Woman Charged
Laurens City Police arrested a woman yesterday morning in connection with an alleged early morning knife assault on another woman. 58-year-old Jackie Louise Groom of 101 Pine Street, Laurens was charged with Assault and Battery 2nd Degree. A warrant cites the investigation of Officers Napier and Sherfield as indicating that the defendant committed 2nd Degree Assault and Battery by attacking the victim with a knife, causing injury during the incident at 101 Pine Street in Laurens. A $5,000 cash or surety bond was set during arraignment yesterday. Jackie Louise Groom remained in the Laurens County Detention Center this morning.
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Man, Woman Face Drug Charges
A man from the Cold Point community and a Woodruff woman are facing drug charges after their arrests early yesterday morning by Laurens City Police. 35-year-old Timothy Rea Wells of 444 Mount Pleasant Estates, Laurens and 25-year-old Kayla Michelle Towner of 733 Edwards Road, Woodruff were initially charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia at 12:20 yesterday morning at a traffic stop on East Farley Avenue near Park Place. Citations on the charge were issued by Officers Napier and Sherfield. Warrants served later yesterday also charged Mr. Wells and Ms. Towner with Possession of less than One Gram of Methamphetamine. Warrants cite the investigation of the arresting officers as indicating that Wells and Towner were in possession of the small amount of meth during a lawful traffic stop on East Farley Avenue in Laurens. Cash or surety bonds were set at $15,000 on the Meth Possession warrants and $500 on the Drug Paraphernalia citations. Timothy Wells and Kayla Towner remained in the Laurens County Detention Center this morning.
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Returning Items Not Purchased
Laurens City Police arrested a man late Wednesday afternoon following an alleged transaction in Wal-Mart. 39-year-old Jon Michael Murdock of 31 Potato House Road, Gray Court was served yesterday with a warrant charging him with Fraudulent Return.
It alleges that on May 25th he obtained goods under false pretense by taking items from inside Wal-Mart and returning them to the service desk, receiving cash for the items with intent of defrauding the business of the money.
Jon Michael Murdock was released yesterday on a $650 surety bond.
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Trespass & Assault
Fountain Inn Police arrested a man on a charge of assaulting a Fountain Inn woman while trespassing yesterday. Officer Gil Sims issued citations charging 49-year-old Robert Farrell of 10 Wagon Trace, Fountain Inn with Trespassing, Disorderly Conduct and with Assault and Battery 3rd Degree on Digger Drive at 3:50 yesterday afternoon. Robert Ferrell was being held in the Laurens County Detention Center overnight, pending a bond hearing on the charges today.
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This Time, It’s ‘Habitual Offender’
Fountain Inn Police issued an Habitual Offender charge following a traffic stop yesterday afternoon. 28-year-old Lucky Ronnie Hamby of 3900 East North Street, Greenville was issued citations by Officer Atwood charging Driving under Suspension of his License and Failure to Maintain Proof of Insurance at 12:55 yesterday afternoon on Chapman Road at Rainbow Drive. A warrant was then served charging Mr. Hamby with being an Habitual Offender for his driving with his license suspended.
With cash or surety bonds set totaling $25,000 on the three charges, Lucky Hamby was placed in the Laurens County Detention Center yesterday, and remained there this morning.
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Allegedly Fled from Police, Then Threatened LPD Officer
Laurens City Police yesterday arrested a man after he allegedly fled from them. 34-year-old Calvin Cunningham of Apartment 55, 218 Spring Street, Laurens was issued a citation from Sgt. Nolen initially charging him with Disorderly Conduct at 218 Spring Street. Later, he was also charged with Flight upon Sight and with Threatening an Officer.
One warrant cites the investigation of Sgt. Nolen as indicating that the defendant attempted to flee from the commons area of 218 Spring Street upon sight of police officers. The warrant states that the area was known for drug activity, to include distribution from the apartment where the defendant lived. A second warrant states that Mr. Cunningham threatened Sgt. Nolen by saying “I’m going to bust you up” as the officer was performing official duties in the Laurens County Detention Center yesterday.
Cash or surety bonds on the three charges were set totaling $1,762. Calvin Cunningham remained in the Laurens County Detention Center this morning.
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