Actions in Laurens following a court appearance last Thursday were alleged against a Greenville man, in charges served Friday. Charged with Harassment 1st Degree on April 20th was 67-year-old Clifton W. Panos of 2015 Wade Hampton Blvd., Greenville. Laurens City Police Sgt. James Nolen states that an investigation of Sgt. Jody Thibodeau indicates that on April 20th  the defendant violated a court-issued restraining order by following the victim from the Courthouse at 100 Hillcrest Square to 24 Exchange Drive in Laurens, where he parked and remained in his vehicle while the victim was inside an establishment. The warrant states that this was done in a manner which would be considered, by a reasonable person, to cause harassment and intimidation of the victim, through following her from location to location. With a cash or surety bond set at $2,000, Clifton W. Panos remained in the Laurens County Detention Center this morning.

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Failure to get in touch with a probation agent in Laurens County after being released from the State Department of Corrections last fall was alleged with the arrest of a resident in Florida last Friday. 31-year-old Brian David Skeslock of 1844 Tin Smith Circle, Lutz, FL is charged with Violation of Probation in a warrant served Friday. It states that he failed to report upon release from SCDC on November 1st, 2016 or anytime after as of the writing of the warrant and that he failed to allow an agent to visit him at his home by making his whereabouts and residence unknown, thereby absconding supervision. The warrant summarizes that Skeslock failed to follow the advice and instructions of his agent. Brian David Skeslock was held over the weekend in the Laurens County Detention Center, awaiting a bond hearing on the Violation of Probation charge.

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A theft of some $25,000 last Monday here in Laurens County was alleged with the arrest of two Newberry residents Friday. The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office booked 25-year-old William Davie Hendrix of 926 Lindsay Circle, Newberry and 24-year-old Carley Alexis Shirey of 1715 Boundary Street, Newberry. Both were charged with Grand Larceny.

In warrants served on Mr. Hendrix and Ms. Shirey, Sheriff’s Lt. McIntosh states that on April 17th in Laurens County the defendant took approximately $25,000 from the victim with intent to permanently deprive the victim.

With a cash or surety bonds set at $15,000 for each defendant, William Davie Hendrix and Carley Alexis Shirey remained in the Laurens County Detention Center this morning.

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The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office yesterday booked a man who a Bench Warrant states failed to show up in court last fall to face a 2nd Degree Burglary charge in General Sessions Court. The Bench Warrant states that 25-year-old Isaiah L. Garlington Jr. of 34 Linda Drive, Laurens failed to appear in court November 14th, 2016 to face a charge of Burglary 2nd Degree. Isaiah Garlington Jr. is now being held in the Laurens County Detention Center, pending his next appearance in General Sessions Court.

The post Failure to Show for Burglary Charge appeared first on WLBG.

Filing a false claim of domestic assault this past winter was alleged with an arrest by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office yesterday. 39-year-old Kathleen Barbett Walters of 876 Isle of Pines Circle, Waterloo was charged with Filing a False Police Report of a Felony.

Deputy Thomas Darrin Boyd states that on February 17th, 2017 at 876 Isle of Pines Circle Ms. Walters did knowingly and willfully file a false police report to the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office against Timothy Robert Rexrode. Mr. Rexrode was arrested following that now allegedly false police report.

Kathleen Barbett Walters was held overnight in the Laurens County Detention Center, pending a bond hearing today.

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A Laurens man had five charges served following a police chase this past weekend. Laurens City Police were reportedly conducting a routine traffic check at the corner of East Farley and South Harper Street Saturday evening when one driver refused to stop. A brief police chase that resulted ended on Meadow Road, where the driver allegedly refused to exit his vehicle. A report notes he had to be evicted from the vehicle at gunpoint. Officers also reported finding a Glock 40-caliber pistol along with two grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

24-year-old Mark Dwight Eaton Jr. of 202 Sassafras Drive, Laurens was delivered to the detention center. Officer Billy Sellers issued tickets charging Mr. Eaton with Simple Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia at 8:51 Saturday night in the Meadow Road and Fairview Road area. Warrants were issued charging him with Failure to Stop for a Blue Light, Destruction of Evidence and Possession of a Firearm by a Violent Felon.

He is accused of failing to acknowledge the officer’s blue light and siren in an attempt to evade law enforcement on West Farley Avenue Saturday. He is further accused of attempting to destroy physical evidence by discarding contraband out of his vehicle window on Meadow Road during the police pursuit. A third warrant, which also cites investigation of Officer Billy Sellers, states that Eaton had in his immediate possession a loaded firearm, and that as a convicted violent felon he is prohibited by law to possess and firearm or ammunition. This was allegedly observed during a lawful traffic stop on East Farley Avenue in Laurens Saturday.

Mark Dwight Eaton Jr. was released Sunday afternoon on cash or surety bonds totaling $36,115 on the five charges.

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Clinton Public Safety yesterday made another arrest in connection with breaking into a motor vehicle on Sloan Street. 50-year-old Mark Dwight Eaton Sr. of 936 East Jerry Road, Laurens was charged with Breaking into a Motor Vehicle and Possession of Burglary Tools.

He is accused of breaking into a motor vehicle on April 18th, allegedly forcing his way into the vehicle at 1201 North Sloan Street. He is further accused of having in his possession a hammer, chisel and screwdriver, which were used for breaking into a motor vehicle at that address.

Mark Dwight Eaton Sr. was released on cash or surety bonds totaling $5,000 on both charges.

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The Laurens Commission of Public Works has announced that Robby Howard has been selected to replace the soon to be retiring Greg Zielger as the CPW’s Electric Division Superintendent. Mr. Howard has been with the CPW since 1997 and has been a supervisor in the Electric Division since 2007. CPW General Manager John Young said “We are very pleased to promote Robby to this position. With his experience and knowledge, he will make a fine addition to the management team.”

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The District 56 School Board holds their April meeting this evening at 7:30 in Clinton Elementary School. Prior to the meeting, the Trustees will hold a meeting at 6:15 for executive session discussions.

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The District 55 School Board was updated last night on the district’s Facilities Projects Advisory Committee. Superintendent Dr. Stephen Peters had kudos for the FPAC’s Chairman, Ernie Segars and Vice-Chair, Terry Varner; and to the district office staff that is working with the committee.

Dr. Peters said they have spent countless hours in and between meetings, and reminded the school trustees last night for the next meeting of the FPAC is this evening in the district office. Peters said this evening’s meeting will be very important, as they were going to give a timeline to the sub-committees. He said “We are working as fast as we can, but in full quality, to assure our citizens questions are answered.” He also said there are a series of options that will be presented to the community “before we move on.”

The Facilities Projects Advisory Committee will meet from 6:00 until 7:30 this evening in the Training Room at the District Offices on Hillcrest Drive.

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A regular meeting of County Council follows at 5:30. That meeting is to include executive session discussion of an economic development project, followed in public session with votes on inducement incentives for it.

Among 3rd and final readings set for County Council this evening is a Manufactured Home Ordinance.

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Laurens County Council is holding a Called Meeting at 4:30 this afternoon on the subject of proposed changes in the insurance benefits for county employees. Current and retired employees who want to comment to County Council are advised to sign up prior to the meeting. Any with documents to be presented to Council are told to have ten copies. The called meeting on employee and retiree insurance will be held in the Historic Courthouse on the Laurens Square.

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Laurens County is back on top of a list we’d rather be on the bottom of. Yesterday’s weekly update on fatalities from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety has Laurens County tied with Richland County with the most traffic fatalities in the state, through midnight Sunday night.

Laurens and Richland Counties each had 16 highway deaths. For Laurens County, that’s more than triple the five fatalities this time last year, and exactly double the eight deaths at this point in 2015.

Anderson and Charleston Counties are tied for the next highest, each with 15 fatalities. Greenville and Lexington Counties were next, with 14 traffic fatalities each.

Of our other neighboring counties, Spartanburg has 9 while Abbeville, Greenwood and Newberry have 3 fatalities each. Union County has 1.

Statewide, the traffic fatality count is down a bit from last year, as of midnight April 23rd, with 284 deaths. Of these, 198 were motor vehicle occupants. 100 were not wearing seat belts. The fatalities include 43 pedestrians, up from 39; 30 motorcyclists, up from 35 and 6 bicyclists, down from 10 this time last year.

Eight people were reportedly killed across the state this past weekend.

The post Oh, No! Back on Top Again! appeared first on WLBG.

A trailer theft yesterday was cited with the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office arrest of 31-year-old Christopher Michael Smith of 18 Balsam Circle, Waterloo. In a warrant charging Petit Larceny, Smith is accused of taking a utility trailer yesterday that’s valued at under $2,000, with intent to deprive the owner. Christopher Michael Smith was being held… Read More »

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The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office yesterday arrested 47-year-old Barbara Sheril Bryson of 470 Smyrna Hill Road, Waterloo and charged her with Malicious Damage and with Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving an Unattended Vehicle. Warrants state that on April 12th 2017 Ms. Bryson willfully and maliciously did an estimated $500 in damage to a victim’s property by striking the rear of the victim’s vehicle with the front of her vehicle at a moderate rate of speed, with intent to do damage. She also allegedly left the scene of an accident she was involved in without letting the victim know.  With cash or surety bonds set totaling $2,232. Barbara S. Bryson remained in custody overnight.

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The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office yesterday arrested 19-year-old Lord Radiant Ra’D-Meek Allah Jacobs of 1511 Gary Street, Clinton and charged him with Domestic Violence of a High and Violent Nature earlier this month. Radiant Jacobs is accused of grabbing the victim on April 10th and shoving her on the side of the bed, causing her to hit the floor. The victim was then prevented from calling EMS by the defendant allegedly taking her phone. The victim is 7 months pregnant and sustained internal injuries requiring hospitalization and observation.

Lord Radiant Ra’D-Meek Allah Jacobs was being held overnight, pending a bond hearing.

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A domestic assault earlier this month was alleged with the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office arrest yesterday of 40-year-old Willie Alonzo Gary of 403 West Pitts Street, Clinton. Gary was charged with Domestic Violence of a High and Aggravated Nature. A warrant states that on April 12th Mr. Gary committed Domestic Violence of a High and Aggravated Nature under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life that would reasonably cause a person to fear either great bodily injury or death, in that he aggressively drove a vehicle up onto the porch that the victim was standing on.

Willie Alonzo Gary was held overnight, pending a bond hearing.

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As the meeting of the Laurens County School District 56 Board of Trustees opened last night, board members and the audience were serenaded by a group of 5-year-old kindergarten students who sang the National Anthem and America The Beautiful.

That set the tone for an upbeat meeting in which the Clinton High School Science Olympiad Team was recognized for winning the state championship for the 8th time in the past 9 years.  The same team also competed in the Western Piedmont Education Consortium Academic Bowl eventually placing third in the state competition.

Meanwhile, the Clinton Middle School Science Olympiad Team (also state champions) also competed in the WPEC Academic Bowl and went on to capture the state championship.

Also, Clinton Middle School competed in the national 3-2-1 Academic Competition.  That competition allows students to compete via the internet from their own school.  The competition this year was held earlier this month and according to the 3-2-1 web site, Clinton Middle School placed second in the nation.

The board congratulated all team members, their teacher and coaches for their success in bringing positive recognition to their school and their community.

The post Accomplishments Celebrated in District 56 appeared first on WLBG.

The School District 55 Facilities Projects Advisory Committee met last night. At the meeting, Chairman Ernie Segars told WLBG News that the committee and it’s subcommittees are making good progress. “Mr. Varner has come up with a very tight timeline, I think that’s doable, and we’ve talked with our committees about that. Our Curriculum Committee, our Middle School committees are working on needs for schools. We’re in the process of getting an architect and engineer on board to look at those and come back with a plan that we can present to the public – I think within four or five weeks – and have that available.”

In last night’s meeting, District 55 Director of Administration Ed Murray gave a presentation with figures and graphs from a state report, just released last month, regarding conditions of school buildings in poorer rural counties. He also said that back in January, engineers inspected various aspects of each school building in District 55 and rated each regarding on a scale as to the need of repairs or even replacement. On the scale of 1 to 6 points, a 4 rating indicates the facility meets the minimum requirements for a school.

Murray said that Laurens High, Laurens Middle and Sanders Middle were the District 55 schools with most areas of improvement needed.

He said the recommendations were to build a new high school and relocate Laurens Middle and Sanders Middle to the current high school campus, and potentially Gray Court Owings and Hickory Tavern Middle Schools as well.

He said the idea is to replace, construct or remodel the fewest number of buildings to save costs, while also offering more curriculum choices and more extracurricular opportunities by having the school campuses in a more central location. He expressed a desire for District 55 to offer expanded programs such as STEM, Vocational and Arts programs.

The report on school facility conditions released by the State Department of Education last month was prompted by a 2014 State Supreme Court Ruling. That was from a lawsuit filed over 20 years ago demanding equalized funding for schools in poor, rural counties.

The next full Facilities Projects Advisory Committee meeting is set for May 9th.

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Laurens County Council chambers were filled to standing-room-only capacity yesterday afternoon as both retired and current Laurens County employees expressed concern for changes in their health care benefits.

These benefits came under scrutiny when the new county administrator, Jon Caime reviewed earlier policy manuals, and discovered that the county retirement policy, established in 1991, was rescinded in 1993, but was never discontinued in practice.

Those addressing County Council included 95- year-old Paul O’Dell, who suggested that services county residents receive from county employees would be based on how the employees are treated by County government.

Margaret Kennedy told Council ,”Before I retired I went to human resources and was offered certain benefits that I would receive which included the retirement portion that would be paid by the county.” Linda Crenshaw said “We worked hard for this package, this (change) is going to put a hardship on a lot of people.” Fredna Butz told council that she had 37 years of service, and that she is still working, but said “I believed that I will have my insurance paid when I am 65.” Jimmy Sharpton, employed in the Sheriff’s Office, said that when he was hired he was promised that when he was 65 the county would pay his secondary insurance, and that the county should stick to what they agreed to when he was hired. He said “This is a big loss to us.” Many people said that they could have left their county positions for a better paying job, but stayed for the retirement package.

Chairman Wood indicated that the county administrator and attorney believe they have come up with a solution, and that we should have something firm at our next regular scheduled meeting, He said “We won’t satisfy everybody but we have to get back to what the handbook reads.”

Then Councilman David Pitts appeared to startle other council members with a motion that the county should cover all that the retirees believed that they were promised. Councilman Keith Tollison wanted the motion tabled so council could research the issue. Council Member Diane Anderson agreed, saying  “If we work hard enough at it, we can examine each case.” Anderson added “I don’t believe in a spur of the moment decision.” Tollison’s motion to table Pitt’s motion was approved over “no” votes from Pitts, Wood & Nash.

Chairman Joe Wood then assigned the County Council Finance Committee to do more research on the subject.

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