Laurens County Council Chair Joe Wood yesterday said Council has received assurance from Colonial Pipeline that Laurens County people will not be pressured to take less than market value for their property as the Colonia Pipeline Company is seeking to construct a pipeline through the county. In a call to WLBG’s “Good Morning UpCountry” program, He said that he understands that the company is not actually purchasing the land, but wants to acquire a right-of-way to run the pipeline across the land. Wood said the property would continue to be owned by the landowner already there, and these property owners would continue to pay property tax on their land. He said the $500,000 in revenue from Colonial Pipeline mentioned at County Council this week would be paying for pumping stations and the pipeline itself, not for the land it runs across.

As for passing a resolution, the County Council Chair said he wants any resolution signed by Council to be written by Council. He said the resolution before them Tuesday night was from Upstate Forever.

The post Clarification on the Pipeline appeared first on WLBG.

A third suspect was arrested by Clinton Public Safety yesterday in connection with a Grand Larceny and an allegedly Staged Armed Robbery at the Pilot Travel Center on Clinton’s north side last November. 31-year-old Maggie Elizabeth Wicker of 105 Locust Street, Clinton was charged yesterday with Criminal Conspiracy, Grand Larceny and with Breach of Peace, Aggravated in Nature.

In warrants citing the investigation of Detectives Prather and Goggins, Maggie Wicker is accused of conspiring with three other people, planning to accomplish Grand Larceny at the Pilot Travel Center on Highway 56 at Interstate 26 on November 21st, 2016. Ms. Wicker is also accused of assisting Keenan Davis in the larceny of more than $2,000 in currency from the Pilot Travel Center in Clinton that date, when Keenan Davis allegedly entered into the business armed with a knife causing a worker in the store to fear for her safety.

A fourth suspect in the case was a woman who also allegedly schemed in the crime, and whose throat Keenan Davis allegedly threatened to cut if the Pilot Center employee did not produce money. This 4th suspect was not arrested this week, as of yesterday.

Maggie Elizabeth Wicker remained in the Laurens County Detention Center this morning, with a cash or surety bond set yesterday at $40,000.

23-year-old Leontay Trarinzo Jeter of 108 Lear Street, Laurens, booked in the early morning hours yesterday on the same three charges, also remained in Johnson Detention Center this morning with bonds totaling $40,000.

24-year-old Keenan Alexander Davis of 189 Cypress Street, Clinton, arrested Tuesday, remained in custody today with cash or surety bonds totaling $50,000 on his three charges.

The post 3rd Suspect Arrested in Clinton Grand Larceny appeared first on WLBG.

The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office yesterday asked the public for help with their investigation of a stabbing in Cross Hill Tuesday. Chief Deputy Jarvis Reeder said the Sheriff’s Office responded to Shealy Circle, Cross Hill Tuesday on report of a stabbing. He said that on arrival Deputies found a male in the mid 20’s who had multiple stab wounds about his body. Reeder said that a preliminary investigation reveals that an argument between the victim and his assailant occurred, after which the victim was stabbed multiple times. The victim was transported to the Laurens County Hospital for medical treatment.

Deputies with the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office are currently looking for a black male identified as 32-year-old James Morgan Hill as a person of interest.  Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Mr. Hill or any information concerning this incident is asked to contact Investigator David Staton of the Sheriff’s Office at (864) 984-4967.

The post “Person of Interest” Sought in Cross Hill Stabbing appeared first on WLBG.

Laurens County’s 3rd traffic fatality for the New Year happened just inside Laurens County at 9:48 last night. Laurens County Coroner Nick Nichols said that 54-year-old Robert Harper of 285 Barnyard Road, Gray Court died instantly when his 1998 E-320 Mercedes ran off the right side of Fairview Road near Queces Run, Fountain Inn and… Read More »

The post 2017’s 3rd Traffic Fatality Last Night appeared first on WLBG.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol has charged a man in connection with the death of a pedestrian on Joanna’s Main Street at 10:10 Tuesday night. 35-year-old Steven E. Rhodes of 501 Browning Avenue, Joanna died of blunt force trauma to his head and body after being struck, according to Coroner Nick Nichols. The coroner said Rhodes had been struck by two vehicles in the 400 block of Highway 76 in Joanna.

Yesterday, 25-year-old Roman Salazar Gomez of 35 Browning Avenue Extension, Joanna was booked on charges that included Felony DUI. Patrol Trooper Lazar issued a ticket charging Gomez with Felony Driving under the Influence at 10:10 Tuesday night on US 76. Additional tickets charge Roman Gomez with Leaving the Scene where Death was involved, with Operating an Uninsured Vehicle and with Driving without a Driver’s License.  Bond was denied on all charges. Roman Salazar Gomez remains in the Laurens County Detention Center.

The post Felony DUI from Tuesday Fatality appeared first on WLBG.

Last night Laurens District 55 High School lost its second head coach in less than two months… As you may remember long-time baseball Coach Dale Nelson stepped away from his position before Christmas for personal reasons… Well last night Raider Head basketball Coach Ben Sinclair announced via a text message he has submitted his letter of resignation from that position effective immediately for personal reasons… As reported widely by all the local media, Sinclair was ejected from last Friday’s game at Greenwood after receiving his second technical foul with about 1:20 left in the contest… Sinclair rushed the court and had to be restrained by assistant coaches… The ejection was an automatic one game suspension and $300 fine as per SCHSL rules… Earlier this week District 55 Athletic Director Ed Murray said that Sinclair would be suspended indefinitely until district officials had time to review film and gather reports from not only Sinclair but others… After that district officials planned to meet with Coach Sinclair to discuss the situation… That meeting has taken place and after it Sinclair decided to resign for personal reasons… Sinclair was in his third year as the Raiders head coach coming from Wade Hampton where he had been an assistant… At the time of this posting, district officials have not commented on this and it is assumed that assistant coach Andre Lytes and JV coach Josh Dawkins will continue to lead the team as they have been doing the remainder of the year.

The post Raider Loose Second Head Coach In Less Than Two Months appeared first on WLBG.

Lt. Chris Moore of Clinton Public Safety responded to a Wednesday morning dispute between two ex-lovers. A man said he had come home and his former girlfriend started an argument. As the argument heated up, she allegedly began throwing his possession outside onto the muddy ground. His TV reportedly broke during this phase of the altercation. The man indicated that, fearing for his safety due to size of the woman, he pulled out a box-cutter and told her to back off. He then walked down the street and called for police. The woman reportedly told the officer that she had thrown the man’s clothing outside, but as for a TV, she said he didn’t even own one. Furthermore, he didn’t own the house, either, and she wanted him out of it! Both declined to press charges. Lt. Moore gave the man a ride to the police station to await a family member to pick him up.

The post Size Matters appeared first on WLBG.

A Fountain Inn teen was arrested yesterday from an alleged assault 13 months ago. 19-year-old Alexandra Eleace Smothers of 1898 Park Road, Fountain Inn was charged with Assault and Battery 3rd Degree. Deputy Adrian Allen stated that on December 23rd of 2015 Ms. Smothers punched a victim in the mouth, causing injuries. Ms. Smothers was… Read More »

The post Teen Charged in Year-Old Assault appeared first on WLBG.

The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office yesterday booked a woman on charges of failing to show up last October to spend weekend time in jail from sentences on two charges. 29-year-old Dianne Nicole Norman of 5478 Highway 14, Gray Court was charged with two counts of Violation of Probation. The warrants accuse her of failing to report for weekend time on October 26th 2016 as ordered by Judge Griffith. She remained in custody today.

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It’s almost time to……..PLAY BALL……and it appears that a new Baseball/Softball Complex for Clinton High School will be ready for the 2017. Dr. David Pitts appeared before the January meeting of the District 56 Board of Trustees this week and told board members that everything is ready to go.  He said that they are now waiting for inspections and confidently anticipate receiving a certificate of occupancy to follow. With the 2017 Baseball/Softball season just around the corner, those were comforting words for board members Monday night.

The post New CHS Fields Ready for Baseball & Softball appeared first on WLBG.

A Laurens County School District 55 school bus was in a minor accident involving a car yesterday afternoon. The Hickory Tavern bus was only carrying three students and the driver at the time of the incident, which left a rear bumper peeled from the left side. No one on the bus or in the car… Read More »

The post “Bumper Bender” for School Bus appeared first on WLBG.

The Sheriff’s Office arrested a man yesterday for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend and another woman this past Sunday. 43-year-old Tony McDowell of 238 Oak Street, Clinton was charged with Domestic Violence 2nd Degree and Assault and Battery 3rd Degree. Deputy Michael Polson states that on January 22nd Tony McDowell committed Domestic Violence in the 2nd Degree upon his girlfriend with whom he resides on Bob Gray Road, Gray Court by beating her in the head with a closed fist and by taking her cell phone to prevent her from calling 911. Polson also alleged that McDowell assaulted another female Sunday by beating her with a closed fist in her face under her left eye and also by kicking her when she was o the ground. Tony McDowell was being held overnight, pending a bond hearing today.

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“Funding Flexibility” was on the agenda at this week’s School District 56 January board meeting. Monday evening, Finance Director Dr. Gerald Robinson told the trustees “Funding Flexibility” was created by the General Assembly just after the beginning of the 2008 economic recession.  Many school districts had critical funding needs, yet there was money on hand that was restricted to other, perhaps less critical, needs. It could not be accessed for the urgent needs since state law required the funds to only be used as designated in the annual budget.

Dr. Robinson said the General Assembly has since passed legislation that makes it possible for districts to move money not being used in one account to another where it was needed. He said this can be done without obtaining permission from the state; but the local school district must report the change to the state.

Robinson said that last year, District 56 only used half the money designated for purchase of science kits. That leaves $28,000 in that account. At Dr. Robinson’s request, the District 56 Trustees Monday unanimously approved allowing those remaining funds in the 2016-2017 budget to be “Flexed Out,” and allow school principals to decide where that money is most needed.  Dr. Robinson stated that he would perform the necessary notification to the state.

The post District 56 Uses “Funding Flexibility” appeared first on WLBG.

The 4th of 4 suspects in a theft from a Clinton store last November was arrested yesterday by Clinton Public Safety. She is 29-year-old Heather Louise Strand of 175 Blade Drive, Clinton. As with the first three arrested, she was charged with Criminal Conspiracy, Grand Larceny and with Breach of Peace, Aggravated in Nature; but she was also charged with Filing a False Report of a Felony. That warrant states that Ms. Strand filed a report of an Armed Robbery on November 21st, but that the report was found to be false.

In the three charges she shared with her co-defendants, Heather Louise Strand is accused of planning or scheming, along with Leontay Jeter, Maggie Wicker and Keenan Davis, to commit Grand Larceny at the Pilot Travel Center on Highway 56 at I-26 in Clinton November 21st, 2016. She is also accused of acting along with Keenan Davis, aiding or assisting him with staging an armed robbery at the Pilot store. She’s accused of assisting Mr. Davis in taking over $2,000 from the store. Cash or surety bonds set yesterday on her four charges totaled $55,000. She remained in the Laurens County Detention Center today. Keenan Davis is held with bonds of $50,000. Leontay Jetere and Maggie Wicker were being held with bonds totaling $40,000.

The post Now, 4th of 4 in Custody appeared first on WLBG.

Presbyterian College yesterday hosted its annual Robert M. Vance Lecture Series on Business Ethics. The speaker, William “Bill” Barnet III, is the CEO of Barnet Development Company and former mayor of Spartanburg. He’s the first speaker in the series to have personally known Robert M. Vance. The lecture series was created to honor its namesake, who considered ethics, honesty, and integrity to be extremely important. The lecture series was founded by the Bailey Foundation as a tribute to the late businessman’s legacy and his numerous contributions to the Clinton community. The series serves as an opportunity for high-profile leaders in the business world to speak with PC students on how to run a successful business that maintains a moral code in which employees can take pride and use as a guide for day-to-day activities.

Of yesterday’s speaker PC President Bob Staton said “Bill is a person who exemplifies the character traits Robert had.”  In late 1968 Bill Barnet joined his family’s textile business, William Barnet & Son, Inc., which was founded in 1898. In 1976 he was elected president and CEO, and in 2001, Barnet sold the company to a management team.

At PC yesterday, Barnet said “I want to have a conversation, and I want to share some of my experiences.” He said “If you really want to struggle with ethical questions, you have to take all the facts you have and really decide what is right and wrong.” During his lecture, Barnet used several examples from his life to define what ethics as a concept means to him personally.

“Ethics, like integrity, is a profoundly personal choice,” Barnet said. “It’s not a collection of words; it’s about you and your choices.”

In a portion of his story included experiences with a Ken Feinberg lecture at Dartmouth College after September 11, as well as experiences with Vance and Roger Milliken. In this segment, Barnet had the audience consider the one word written on Milliken’s burial site, “builder.” He told the audience,

“If there was anything I would pray for you, it is that you will go out of this place, out of PC and out into the world, and when you see tragedy, be builders.”

The post Robert M. Vance Lecture on Ethics for PC Students Yesterday appeared first on WLBG.

Laurens District 55 School Superintendent Dr. Stephen Peters announced four forums that are to be held on the May 9th Bond Referendum. The Friday announcement states that these forums are to allow the School District to present its position on the need for a new high school, to discuss possible scenarios for the continued use of the current high school campus, and to give the community a question and answer period to clarify any matters of concern. Each of the four forums will begin at 6:00 p.m. They will be held at the following locations over four consecutive weeks:

• Hickory Tavern Tuesday, February 7, 2017
• Gray Court-Owings Monday, February 13, 2017
• Sanders Monday, February 20, 2017
• Laurens District High School Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Dr. Peters said, “We invite the community to come join us at one of these four forums. We want to ensure that they have a clear picture of the need and an opportunity to ask any questions they may have.”

The post Forums Set to Focus on School Bond Referendum appeared first on WLBG.

Orangeburg photographer Cecil Williams will be at the Laurens County Library in February to present his historic Civil Rights Movement photos and tell the stories behind the images.

In celebration of African-American History Month, the Laurens County library will offer a glimpse through the eyes and lens of someone who witnessed and photographed some of the dramatic and historic events of the Civil Rights Movement. Those who attend are asked to be prepared to see the photos and hear the personal experiences of a man who stood in the midst of history, and captured the moments, those faces and those places, that should always be remembered as a part of the American story.

In addition to his work as a studio and event photographer, Mr. Williams is an artist, an author, an inventor, and a businessman.  His dedication to his work spans many decades and miles. The Cecil Williams Historically Significant Image Collection, estimated to be 100,000 to 250,000, is one of the world’s largest collections depicting African-American heritage, history, culture, and civil rights.  From the 1950s through the present, this collection depicts almost every VIP who impacted history in news, politics, entertainment, sports, and social milestones.  As a photographer for JET, the Pittsburgh Courier, The Afro-American, Associated Press, National Conference for Black Mayors, South Carolina branches of the NAACP, South Carolina State University, Claflin University, and others, Cecil Williams has been and currently is, a tireless photographer of civil rights activities and the cause of freedom, equality, and justice.

Anyone with an interest in African-American History, the Civil Rights Movement, South Carolina history, and photography is certainly encouraged to attend this special event.

Cecil Williams and his photos will be at the Laurens County Library on Tuesday, February 21st at 7:00 PM. This event is free and open to the public.

The post Historic Civil Rights Photos Come to Laurens appeared first on WLBG.

Laurens City Police Friday arrested a man on charges of stealing a computer from a vehicle last month. 20-year-old Thomas Lee Jarnagin of 205 Douglas Street, Laurens was charged with Breaking into a Motor Vehicle. In a warrant showing an address on East Main Street, Lt. David Brewer states that an investigation indicates that Thomas Jarnagin broke into a vehicle on Hilldale Street on December 6, 2016 and took a book bag containing a lap-top that belongs to School District 55. This was a chrome book computer valued at $320. Thomas Jarnigin was released Friday on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond.

The post Computer Stolen from Vehicle appeared first on WLBG.

Welcome to Family Feud! Clinton Public Safety Lt. Cathy Anderson responded to the Legion Hut just after midnight Sunday morning on reports of shots being fired. On arrival she observed a large number of cars present at the Hut, and several male youth were outside the hut. They advised her they were alright, but one appeared intoxicated and very angry. The Lt. entered the Legion Hut and reportedly observed many tables turned over, trash thrown everywhere and a strong odor of marijuana. She asked people who were cleaning up inside what had happened, and they reportedly responded that there had been a fight between family members. Further investigation located drops of blood inside on the floor and outside the entrance.

Also arriving at the scene, Officer Gandee located three shell casings outside the Legion Hut. Many of the building’s windows had been broken. A female at the scene indicated that one window was broken by someone throwing a chair. Floor damage found included to a bathroom.

Officers secured the building as well and possible and patrolled the area throughout that same night. The fighting family members, along with any other suspects, were not immediately identified.

The post “Family Feud” Leaves Blood & Smashed Windows appeared first on WLBG.

During last week’s meeting of the Laurens County School District 56 School Board, Finance Director Dr. Gerald Robinson submitted a list of supplemental appropriations for board approval.

These supplemental appropriations were not a part of the 2016/2017 District 56 budget and did generate a lot of questions.  In fact, at one point board member Tammy Stewart apologized for asking so many questions.  “No.  Please don’t apologize.  You should ask questions.  This is the people’s money we’re spending.”

The expenditures recommended totaled $262,500 and included:

• WIFI internet at the new baseball/softball complex. Director of Instruction Technology explained that both home and visiting teams needed the connection for the scoring software that has become the industry standard.
• A Phone security system for Clinton High School which requires a visitor to the school to press a button and be identified on camera before the personnel remotely unlock the door. Dr. David Pitts explained that all schools in the district have the system except the high school.
• A benchmark assessment testing program. Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Brenda Schrantz explained that this testing actually does  what all the standardized testing is supposed to do.  It allows teachers to evaluate where their students are in real time instead of waiting months for test results.
• Support for members of the Clinton High School band to travel to a band competition in Atlanta.
• Recoup of money on EIA expenditures.

That last question took a while.  Dr. Robinson explained that EIA funding from the state was projected at $108,000 last year.  He said there had been some indication that at least some of that total would be earmarked for students with disabilities.

Not knowing how much should be earmarked was a problem so District 56 took the unusual step of earmarking 100% of that fund to go for students with disabilities.  So, whether the state came forward at some point during last year saying that 10% or 50% or 80% would have to be spent on students with disabilities, District 56 would automatically be in compliance.

The EIA funds were being distributed through the year last year as all districts were awaiting an answer on the ratio mandated for students  with disabilities.  Then, the funds just stopped and after months of questions the state simply stated that there would be no more funding during last year.  The $108,000 projected by the state had been built into the budget for last year so the state’s mid-year change of heart meant an actual loss of $56,000 to District 56.

Dr. Robinson said he had never seen anything like this.   “I’ve seen short budget years.  I’ve seen times we did not receive what we thought we should.  I have never seen the state just end funding that they themselves had projected an amount for us to expect and never provide an explanation.” He said to this day that explanation has never come.  The supplemental appropriations included $56,000 for that funding toward students with disabilities to balance the books for the state’s shortfall last year.

After all the questions were answered, Chairman Jim Barton called for a vote and all of the supplemental appropriations were approved unanimously.

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