Laurens City Police arrested a local man yesterday on a Forgery charge. 46-year-old James David Burns Jr. of 107 Kingston Drive, Laurens is accused of forging a $650 check at McDaniel’s Liquor Store on East Main Street April 6th. Burns was being held overnight, pending a bond hearing.

The post Forgery appeared first on WLBG.

Damage to a mobile home last Friday was alleged in the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office arrest of a Greenwood man yesterday. 29-year-old Justin Rawls Ellison of 624 Cobb Road, Greenwood was charged with Malicious Damage. He is accused of doing damage estimated at less than $2,000 to personal property of the victim on April 21st. Mr. Ellison allegedly pulled the railing off the porch of a mobile home and bent the door hinge, preventing the front door of the mobile home from closing.

Justin Rawls Ellison was released on a $1,087 personal recognizance bond.

The post Tore Off the Porch Railing? appeared first on WLBG.

Two charges from City Police were adjudicated yesterday, but another charge from the Sheriff’s Office was added.

37-year-0ld Christie Cooper Case of 122 Spartan Drive, Gray Court, also known as “Curly,” was placed in the Laurens County Detention Center following her visit to Laurens Municipal Court. Bench warrants indicate she was convicted yesterday in Laurens Municipal Court on charges of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and 2nd Offense Driving under Suspension. She was sentenced to 30 days on each, or payment of fines of $500 and $1,270.

Meanwhile, the Laurens County Sheriff’s office had a Forgery warrant for an alleged incident last month. In that warrant, Sheriff’s Investigator McIntosh states that on March 13th Ms. Case did falsely make, forge or counterfeit, or cause or assisted in the forging or counterfeiting of a check made to herself, and that she signed the victim’s name.

Christie Cooper Case was being held with a bond hearing today on the new Forgery charge and pending serving the two sentences from the City Court convictions.

The post Two Convictions, One New Charge appeared first on WLBG.

Two subcommittees reported on their work for Tuesday night’s meeting of the School District 55 Facilities Projects Advisory Committee.

The Curriculum Subcommittee report from their April 18th meeting said they’ve modified their focus to explore what curricula District 55 needs to offer, and what should be discontinued, in order to best serve our children at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

The Middle Schools Subcommittee reported it’s focusing on options for improving facilities for these grades. Options discussed at their April 20th meeting included keeping all four middle schools where they are; re-locating the 4 middle schools to the current high school; or having a combined city middle school that combines Sanders and Laurens Middle and keeps middle schools at Gray Court and Hickory Tavern.

Timelines discussed at Tuesday night’s meeting included the full Facilities Projects Advisory Committee convening again on May 9th.

The Curriculum, Middle Schools, and Property Location Subcommittees are asked to complete assignments by May 16th that include exploring all possible options  to educate the general public about the needed changes so the public can make a well informed decision at the September 5th bond referendum. By June 13th, the Financial Impact Subcommittee is to issue a report including cost estimates and concepts provided by architects and engineers. Then by June 27th, all Subcommittees  – Curriculum, Financial Impact, Middle Schools, Property Location, Public Relations – will have completed their evaluations and have issued a Final Report to the Public.

The goal is to have facts and figures to inform the decision of the people of Laurens County on their decision for the bond referendum on Sept 5.

The Facilities Projects Advisory Committee includes teachers, administrative staff, parents and members from the community at large.

The post How Many Middle Schools Needed In District 55? appeared first on WLBG.

Middle school education has moved across town, but life-changing experiences continue in Clinton’s Bell Street school building. The District 56 School Board this week heard a presentation from CC4Y, the Clinton Coalition for Youth, which operates a South Carolina Empowerment Centre (SCEC) at the former Bell Street Middle School.

Al Lawson, Angel Bible, Rev. Larry Merrill and others from the Empowerment Centre were on hand Tuesday night to update the school trustees on their activities at Bell Street.  They talked about dreams and how the SCEC was impacting the lives of young people, teaching them to have big dreams.

At several times during the presentation, comments from some of the young people attending the Centre’s programs were quoted. Statements such as “I didn’t think there was any way I could go to college” and “I didn’t know I could have that kind of life”.  The School Board was told of how students who came to the Centre loud and angry were now much improved, behaviorally, academically and, more importantly, now they have dreams.

Stories of successes and near misses were related to the school board and members of the audience on hand for the board’s April meeting Tuesday night. Participants in the presentation included several students sporting SCEC sweatshirts.  Mr. Lawson thanked the District 56 School Board for the opportunity to work in the District’s facility at Bell Street.

The post New Use of Bell Street = New Life for Youth appeared first on WLBG.

The new Principal for Clinton Middle School was officially made known yesterday. District 56 announced that Mr. Chris Winkler will be joining the district as Principal of Clinton Middle School on July 1st.  Mr. Winkler is has been Assistant Principal at Carver Middle School in Spartanburg District 7 for the past two years. Previously, from 2009-2015,  Winkler served as a middle school assistant principal and social studies teacher in Hoke County, North Carolina schools. He has extensive experience with middle school instruction, administration and operations. A District 56 release states Winkler is knowledgeable in four initiatives and programs that are in place or being planned for Clinton Middle School. He was instrumental in bringing national recognitions in instruction to Carver Middle School.  Says Dr. O’Shields, Superintendent, “We are very excited to welcome Chris Winkler into the District 56 family. His knowledge, skills and personality are a perfect fit for Clinton Middle School and for our efforts to move the school and district forward.”

The District 56 statement expressed gratitude to Brenda Romines for her leadership and passion as principal of the middle school for the past 5 years and for the seamless transition under her guidance from Bell Street to Clinton Middle School.

The post New Principal for Clinton Middle School appeared first on WLBG.

Laurens County Council this week gave 3rd and final reading on ordinances dealing with manufactured homes and with subdivisions in unincorporated areas of the county. Approval for Ordinances 830 and 831 came following many hours of deliberations by the Laurens County Planning Commission.

The ordinance on regulations for subdivisions resulted in debate on council, and drew a developer to make his opinion known during the Public Hearing prior to the vote. This developer voiced concern on subdivisions, which include mobile home parks, saying the new regulations would raise the price of lots in a subdivision he is in the middle of developing in Laurens County.

Laurens County Public Works Director Rob Russian replied, “We have been working on this and have had many hearings, and publicity, in most cases we have worked out what we can.”

One of the stipulations in the ordinance is for owners of the mobile home parks and subdivisions to install county owned roads for guaranteed access into the residences. Regarding the need for the new regulations, Councilman Keith Tollison said “We have had many developers who have just walked away and left the access road unfit for travel.”

Council Member Stewart Jones claimed the new regulations give the county permission to have periodic inspections of the homes. He was advised that the inspections called for are only for the park or subdivision itself, not for individual homes.

During the vote, Councilman David Pitts abstained and Councilman Stewart Jones voted no, but the subdivision ordinance passed with the rest of council voting yes.

The post New Mobile Home & Subdivision Regulations appeared first on WLBG.

Due to the weather the Clinton Red Devil and Laurens baseball playoff games for tonight have been postponed…. The games are now scheduled for tomorrow at 7:00 pm… Clinton will be at Pendleton and Laurens will be at Boiling Springs.   As of 5:15 pm the Laurens Raider home playoff game is still “on” for… Read More »

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We now have a conviction in the 2003 murder of Jim Bolt at the Laurens VFW Post fourteen years ago. Twelve years after the crime, two arrests were made in July of 2015.

At the end of a jury trial this week in Laurens County General Sessions Criminal Court, Brenda L. Roberts of Laurens was found Guilty of Accessory after the Fact to a Felony. Judge Frank R. Addy Jr. sentenced Brenda Roberts to 14 years in prison, with credit given for time she spent awaiting trail from July of 2015 until August 3^rd of 2016.

Laurens Police Chief Sonny Ledda told WLBG this afternoon that he hopes the conviction will help Jim Bolt’s family find some measure of closure. Chief Ledda said he was proud of the detectives of Laurens Police for their work on the case.

On July 8^th, 2015 Laurens City Police arrested then 64-year-old Brenda L. Roberts of 479 Rocky Springs Church Road, Laurens and charged her with Accessory after the Fact to Murder in the September 26^th, 2003 death of Jim Bolt. A warrant stated that while knowing a felony had been committed, she assisted in destroying the evidence of murder by washing blood-soaked clothing and assisting in the disposal of this clothing to help avoid arrest.

Still awaiting trial for the September, 2003 murder is “A.J.” Bowers. The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office, working with Laurens Police on this case, arrested then 29-year-old Arthur Jason “AJ” Bowers of Lomax Court, Murrells Inlet on Friday afternoon, July 10^th, 2015. He was charged with Murder and brought to Laurens the next day.

Warrants from Laurens Police Investigators stated that Bowers entered the VFW Club on East Main Street in Laurens that September night in 2003 and committed Armed Robbery, and that he beat the victim, James Bolt, to death.

While A.J. Bowers is still awaiting trial, Brenda L. Roberts was awaiting transfer to the South Carolina Department of Corrections to serve her sentence.

The post Conviction in Jim Bolt Murder appeared first on WLBG.

A man who allegedly didn’t pay full taxi fare from Greenville to Laurens County was arrested yesterday. 30-year-old Clint Allen Beaman of 4451 North Old Laurens Road, Gray Court was charged with Breach of Trust. A Laurens County Sheriff’s warrant alleges that on April 24th he said he would pay the fare from Greenville. The bill came to $123.87 and he allegedly gave the driver $25 and left to get the rest of the money, but didn’t return. Beamon was released yesterday on a $400 PR bond.

The post Where’s the Rest of the Cab Fare? appeared first on WLBG.

A Laurens Police officer reportedly stopped the Laurens County Sheriff last week. A story on WYFF4.com now reports that the officer stopped Sheriff Don Reynolds around 8:30 the night of April 20th for allegedly doing 50 in a 30-mile-per-hour zone. The officer reportedly only issued a verbal warning to the Sheriff. WYFF reports that Police Chief Sonny Ledda indicated the Laurens City officer did not follow department polices and procedures. This requires every traffic stop to be recorded by body camera as well as dash camera.

Police officers are also mandated to conclude every traffic stop by either a written warning, citation for the violation or an arrest. In the case of the sheriff neither was done, the police chief said, according to WYFF4.

The officer’s actions are reportedly being handled internally as a personal matter.

The post Sheriff Didn’t Get a Ticket appeared first on WLBG.

Musgrove Mill State Historic Site will be presenting their annual Encampment Weekend tomorrow and Sunday. The event begins at 10 am each day and wraps up at 4pm.  On the WLBG Morning News this morning, Musgrove Mill Park Ranger Bobby James said many historians consider the battle at Musgrove Mill to be a turning point for the Colonials in the Revolutionary War, after a series of victories for the British. There will be numerous demonstrations at Musgrove Mill during this weekend’s event.

The post  Encampment Weekend at Musgrove Mill appeared first on WLBG.

Unlawful display of a pistol in Joanna Wednesday evening was alleged in a warrant served yesterday by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office. 24-year-old Francisco Mendoza Lopez of 368 Bookroom Road, Kinards was booked at :37 minutes after midnight yesterday morning and later charged with Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon. A warrant cites the investigation of Deputy Howard as indicating that on April 26th Mr. Lopez unlawfully possessed a Ruger P95 9mm pistol on Highways 66 and 76 in Joanna. Francisco Mendoza Lopez was released yesterday on an $8,000 cash or surety bond.

The post Pistol Seen at 66 & 76 Intersection appeared first on WLBG.

Students in the Junior Scholar program were recognized this week at the School District 55 April meeting. They included Sarah Collins and Homero Vergara from Gray Court-Owings along with Elizabeth Vanblaricom, Colin Field and Sidney Smith from Hickory Tavern. Laurens Middle School Junior Scholars were Madison Earl, Ansley Crisp, Cole England and Logan Thomason. Sanders Middle School Junior Scholars were Isabella Conlin, Casey Partee, Madison Carlton and Berner Stockman.

The post Junior Scholars Recognized appeared first on WLBG.

A brief police pursuit Wednesday night led to a woman jailed early yesterday morning. 25-year-old Angel Janeil McCullough of 310 Chestnut Street, Laurens was charged with Failure to Stop for a Blue Light and 2nd Offense Driving without a License. Warrants citing the investigation of Officer Gallo state that Ms. McCullough was driving a motor vehicle on Holmes Street without a valid driver’s license. They also state that she attempted to evade law enforcement from making a lawful traffic stop by ignoring blue lights on Holmes Street. She remained in custody earlier today with cash or surety bonds totaling $11,062.

The post Arrest Follows Brief Police Chase appeared first on WLBG.

A man wanted for multiple violent charges in the City of Laurens this week has been found dead in Georgia.

Laurens Police Officer Robert Van Pelt III and Lt. Charles Simmons responded to an apartment at Laurens Villa just before midnight Tuesday night on a report of a man in the apartment with a gun. He had allegedly forged his way in and threatened a woman inside and another adult with a pistol, with children present. Van Pelt noted Laurens Police already had active warrants for the subject’s arrest for a prior incident at that apartment. As Lt. Simmons was at the back door of the apartment, he saw the suspect across Exchange Drive leaving the JC Hut in a vehicle. From the front door, Officer Van Pelt rushed to his patrol car and followed, initiating blue lights on the black 2006 Kia Optima on Clary Street near Conway Avenue. The car sped up as it traveled on side streets in the Northeast part of Laurens, eventually taking Conway to Wattsville. Lt. Simmons joined the chase up US 221 as the driver reportedly swerved, causing the officer to take action to avoid being hit, and endangering other vehicles on the road. The chase went up I-385, with the Sheriff’s Office joining in. The chase continued to I-85, where they headed south. Laurens Police called off the chase after over 47 miles, approaching Anderson County.

Laurens Police prepared charges for 27-year-old Christopher Gage Frame of Chastain Road, Liberty including 1st Degree Burglary, High and Aggravated Domestic Violence, Aggravated Assault, Pointing and Presenting a Firearm, Weapon Possession in a Violent Crime, Driving under Suspension, Suspended tag and Failure to Stop for a Blue Light,

Laurens Assistant Police Chief Chrissie Cofield yesterday afternoon reported that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation had informed Laurens Police Wednesday morning that the suspect’s car was found in Georgia and he was discovered dead inside it. No other details on his death were known yesterday.

The post Suspect Wanted in Laurens Found Dead in Georgia appeared first on WLBG.

A Joanna man is facing six drug charges from alleged undercover drug sales in Clinton last week on Tuesday and Friday. Clinton Public Safety yesterday charged 30-year-old Joshua Dewayne Woodward of 404 Pickens Street, Joanna with 2nd Offense Distribution of Marijuana and two warrants charging 2nd Offense Distribution of Controlled Substances. There were also warrants charging Distribution within Proximity of Joanna Woodson Elementary School. Joshua Woodward is accused of selling marijuana, Acetaminophen-Hydrocodone and Codeine to a confidential informant working undercover with Public Safety on April 18th and 21st. Joshua Dewayne Woodward was being held overnight in the Laurens County Detention Center, pending a bond hearing on his six charges.

The post Undercover Drug Sales in Clinton appeared first on WLBG.

The Laurens Raider baseball team fell to the Bulldogs at Boiling Springs tonight (Friday) by a score of 1-0 on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh inning… The Raiders will host TL Hanna tomorrow (Saturday) at Ed Prescott Field in an elimination game… First pitch is scheduled for noon.

Raider Softball… The Raider baseball team will also be in action tomorrow at noon as they host the Byrnes Rebels in a second round winners bracket game…. Please come out and support the Raider teams as they try to advance on to the next round….  There will NOT be a broadcast of either game here on Real Radio 860 WLBG.

Clinton Red Devil Baseball…. The Red Devils defeated Pendleton tonight 2-1 at Pendleton to stay alive in the playoffs.. Don’t many details other than Aaron Copeland threw a one hitter…. After getting some rest tonight they must rise early tomorrow and travel back to Camden for a noon game… Loser is out of the playoffs…. Go Big Red!

NOTE…. Please remember that only SCHSL passes will be accepted at ANY playoff game and the price of admission is set by the SCHSL.

The post Baseball Results and Baseball / Softball Schedules for Tomorrow appeared first on WLBG.

21 year old Austin Gage Doolittle of 105 Arvil Lane Laurens was booked Friday into the Johnson Detention Center for Unlawful Carry of a Pistol. The warrant alleges that on April 27^th he had in his possession a High Standard 22 revolver under the driver seat of his vehicle in the city limits of Clinton. He remains in the Johnson Detention Center on $5k bond.

The post Gun Charges appeared first on WLBG.

26 year old LaShunda Denise Simpson of 125 Jackson Street Laurens was booked Sunday into the Johnson Detention Center charged with forgery, petit larceny and shoplifting. Warrants allege that between March 22nd and Aril 24th 2017 Simpson did forge the signature of a victim with intent to obtain goods through fraudulent means without permission.  Between March 17th and April 24th did commit the crime of petit larceny by unlawfully obtaining goods and removing them from a business on Hillcrest Drive and did so by charging items to an account without permission to do so. And did commit the crime of shoplifting. That, along with a co-defendant, she did conceal a hair care product on her person and leave a store without paying. This charge was enhanced due to previous shoplifting charges. She remains in the detention center on $22k bond.

The post Forgery, Larceny and Shoplifting appeared first on WLBG.