Laurens County Districts 55 and 56 have special Eclipse Viewing time built into the day today. Both districts will release students a few minutes late, to give time to complete the eclipse viewing experience before dismissal.

Cross Hill is in the very center of the eclipse as it passes across South Carolina. Cross Hill Baptist Church is having an “On the Line” eclipse viewing gathering from Noon until 3:00 this afternoon. They’ll have “On the Line” t-shirts for sale as folks gather to view the eclipse. Pastor Brett Davis will also lead a brief prayer service during today’s astrological event.

Clinton has a long-scheduled “Eclipse-on-the-Rails” gathering that starts at 1:00 this afternoon and continues until 5:00 pm with local entertainment along with the big event in the sky. Eclipse glasses are being provided by a Downtown Optician.

Main Street Laurens Director Jonathan Irick has announced that Main Street will be giving away Moon Pies during an Eclipse Gathering on the Historic Square.

Beginning at 1:00 this afternoon, the Laurens Library is hosting a viewing party on the lawn of the West Main library. The meeting room will be open for cooling off and refreshments, and more information on the eclipse and other matters involving the operation of the solar system is available in the library.

The post Local Events for Today’s Eclipse appeared first on WLBG.

Laurens Police yesterday arrested 24-year-old Chasity Mishay Bland of 1900 Boiling Springs Road Extension, Taylors on a charge of Obtaining Signature under False Pretense. Detective Joey Pittman stats that an investigation indicates that Ms. Bland fraudulently obtained $139.98 from Wal-Mart by returning an item that she never purchased on April 1st, 2015.

A cash or surety bond was set at $1,500. Chasity Mishay Blend remained in the Laurens County Detention Center this morning.

The post False Pretense Alleged in “Refund” appeared first on WLBG.

Unlawful possession of drugs was alleged yesterday as Laurens City Police arrested a man and woman at the Fleming Street McDonalds. Charged with Possession of Less than One Gram of Meth were 36-year-old Daniel Joseph Hagman of 406 Fairview Street, Laurens and 30-year-old Christana Lynn Page. She was booked with the same Laurens address, but her warrant gave an address on Gold Mine Road, Spartanburg.

Warrants citing an investigation of Officer Van Pelt accuse both Ms. Page and Mr. Hagman of being in possession of 35 dosage units of methamphetamine yesterday. This allegedly included one hypodermic needed with 10 dosage units and another with 25 units, with the possession being at 105 Fleming Street.

Both remained in the Laurens County Detention Center this morning. Cash or surety bonds were set at $5,000 for Ms. Page and $2,000 for Mr. Hagman.

The post Multiple “Dosage Units” of Meth appeared first on WLBG.

Repeat thefts were noted with a warrant served yesterday by Laurens City Police. 42-year-old Alana Holden of 6690 Highway 72 West, Clinton was arrested with a ticket issued for Shoplifting 7:56 Sunday evening from the Laurens Wal-Mart. A warrant was served yesterday charging Ms. Holden with Shoplifting Enhanced, 3rd or Subsequent Offense.  Citing an investigation of Officer Napier, it states Holden attempted to deprive the victim of the total value of selected items that had been concealed on her person, and that criminal history indicates that the defendant has two prior shoplifting convictions, which enhances the charge.

A $7,000 cash or surety bond was set on the Shoplifting Enhanced charge. Alana Holden remained in the Laurens County Detention Center this morning.

The post Shoplifting….Allegedly Again! appeared first on WLBG.

A North Carolina woman was charged yesterday with kicking in a door and kicking a deputy’s glasses during a Sunday incident near Clinton. 25-year-old Sheala Pearl Thomas of Rhinehardt Road, Mooresville was arrested Sunday. Yesterday, warrants were served charging her with 3rd Degree Burglary, Injuring an Officer while Resisting Arrest, Public Disorderly Conduct and two counts of Malicious Damage.

In the warrants, Deputy Jimmy Johnson states that on August 20th, Ms. Thomas broke into a building at 25,354 Highway 76, Clinton without consent and with intent to commit a crime therein. She was allegedly acted in a disorderly manner at that location, which is a public place. The disorderly manner was allegedly exhibited by kicking at the victim’s door, while being observed by others. Ms. Thomas is also accused of doing malicious damage of $2,000 or less by hitting the victim’s 55 inch television, breaking the screen. Furthermore, Thomas is accused of assaulting a Laurens County Sheriff’s Deputy who was engaged in executing a legal process. She allegedly did under $2,000 in damage, breaking the Officer’s glasses when he was kicked in the head.

Cash or surety bonds were set totaling $27,657 on the five charges. Sheala Pearl Thomas remained in the Laurens County Detention Center this morning.

The post Break-In, TV Busted & Deputy’s Glasses! appeared first on WLBG.

The Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy held its annual White Coat Ceremony for its incoming students Friday. The white coats are symbolic of the professionalism that is expected of students not only during pharmacy school, but also throughout their eventual practice of pharmacy. The ceremony reaffirms the pharmacy community’s support of the educational commitment as the students pledge to serve their profession and patients

During the ceremony, Susan Eagerton, the 2016-2017 Preceptor of the Year, addressed the class. She said “Putting on that white coat for the first time is really exciting. You may even feel just a little bit smarter.”  She also instructed the new Pharmacy students to “Treat every experience as a job interview,” noting “There is still something to learn in every experience. Take initiative—do more than is expected of you.”

The post P.C. Pharmacy Students Presented White Coats appeared first on WLBG.

Good news was announced yesterday for recipients of this fall’s Laurens County Futures Scholarship Program. It included a report on the new program’s future operations.

A news release stated that qualified recipients of the scholarship for the fall 2017 semesters at Piedmont Technical College and the University of South Carolina Union will be fully funded.

As for future operations, the Laurens County Community Foundation (LCCF) board of directors met August 1st, and have announced that the day-to-day administration of the scholarship going forward will be transferred to the Laurens County Future Scholarship Steering Committee. The Foundation will continue to serve in a financial management capacity for the program and as enthusiastic advocates for the Laurens County Future Scholars Program.

LCFF Finance and Investment Committee Chair Bob Link said “This is an important program for our county, and with the successes we’ve had so far, we’re committed to making every effort to ensure the program is successful.”

The Laurens County Community Foundation, the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce and the Laurens County Development Corporation  (LCDC) will continue to partner in an effort to strengthen the program for future students. As part of this joint commitment, a new Future Scholarship steering committee has been established as part of this joint commitment, and will continue to work with the community to ensure the Future Scholarship is available to Laurens County high school graduates in the future.

LCDC Executive Director Jonathan Coleman said “The Development Corporation and Chamber continue to partner through various outlets in Laurens County on Workforce Development, enhancing the County’s economic stability and prosperity by focusing on people and their successful future.”

Established in the Fall of 2015, the privately-funded Laurens County Future Scholarship provides recent high school graduates with a tuition-free path to complete two years of technical training, or the first half of a bachelor’s degree. To date, it has provided 203 scholarships at an average cost of $550.00 per student.

Chamber CEO Amanda Munyon said “We look forward to this renewed partnership” and noted the scholarship’s impact is already being felt throughout Laurens County.

Modeled on successful programs from around the United States, the Laurens County Future Scholarship is a last-pay scholarship covering only the remainder of tuition and required fees after all State and Federal financial aid is applied.

The Scholarship is a cost-effective investment in the future of Laurens County’s workforce. To date, it has provided 203 scholarships at an average cost of $550.00 per student.

Furthermore, because all students must apply for any available financial aid prior to receiving a scholarship, most students do not require full funding to attend college, and many require no funding.

This investment has had an immediate impact on the County’s rate of college attendance. Some notable successes include:

• More than a 50 percent increase in the number of graduating seniors attending from Laurens County in Fall 2015, with a further 18 percent increase the following year in Fall 2016. The Fall 2017 term will see a further increase in college attendance in the county.
• Major selection has mirrored the needs of the County, with approximately 48 percent concentrated in Industrial and Healthcare programs.
• After two years, an average GPA of 2.87, with an average of 23 credit hours earned.
• A Fall to Spring retention of 90%, which is higher than the average.

Yesterday’s announced noted that in order to continue this important work, the Laurens Future Scholarship needs support from other local organization and from generous individuals. The sponsoring groups ask for help as they continue to grow Laurens County through investing in our most valuable resource–our county’s young people, and our collective future.

The post L.C. Futures Scholarship appeared first on WLBG.

Millions of Americans were on the move for yesterday’s coast-to-coast total eclipse of the sun. And they were joined by people from around the world who traveled into the narrow path of the eclipse.

People from states up and down the east coast and some from out west gathered at places like the Laurens Square yesterday, sharing the awesome experience as Main Street Director Jonathan Irick passed out protective eyewear and Moon Pies. Area restaurants were flooded with visitors.

A crowd estimated between 500 and 700 people gathered on the grounds of the Laurens County Library on Laurens’ West Main Street. Library Director Ann Szypulski described the gathering:  “Everyone’s been in a celebration mood….very enthuastic. It’s been a great experience. And, we got to see an eclipse!”

Another popular Laurens gathering place was in the Little River Park.

The Laurens County Airport had folks flying in to view the big event.

The City of Clinton had a “Eclipse on the Rails” event to celebrate. Mayor Bob McLain told WLBG the crowd gathered there far exceeded expectations: “The crowd is great,….all our restaurants are full. We can’t ask for anything better than this. We actually had shirts…I think they printed 300 shirts. They’ve sold out of those. Early, early this morning they were all gone, but we’re making 300 more shirts and we’re taking orders for even more shirts.”

Cross Hill was crowded with people during the hours leading up to the eclipse. Some 500 people were “On the Line” at Cross Hill Baptist Church, where Pastor Brett Davis said folks from Florida had been waiting on the event since 4:30 in the morning. A family of four from the Netherlands had crossed the Atlantic and traveled to Cross Hill to see the show. The Cross Hill eclipse-watchers included James & Sarah Higdon, both professors at Georgia Southern University. “We looked to the weather maps and it looked like the greatest chance of seeing it was today, rather than headed to the coast.”  “As we wanted to get away from the clouds. So the further you move away from the coast, the fewer clouds you’re going to encounter.”

Lake Greenwood was also crowed with eclipse-viewers.

District 55 and 56 schools had special eclipse-watching for students, while some were dismissed early to view the big event with their family.

The post Wow!  Awesome View….Amazing Crowds! appeared first on WLBG.

An Atlanta area resident was booked in the Laurens County Detention Center yesterday on orders from Laurens County General Sessions Court.

55-year-old William Lewis Tucker of 4471 Jackie Bell Trail, Decatur, Georgia was served with a Bench Warrant issued back in April regarding a 1st offense charge of Obtaining Prescription Drugs by Fraud. He is cited with failure to be present for his initial appearance on March 24th 2017. Mr. Tucker was being held, pending his next court date.

The post Failure to Show for General Sessions appeared first on WLBG.

South Carolina Department of Pardon, Probation and Parole yesterday arrested 42-year-old Jackie Dewayne Painter of 135 Golf Lane, Fountain Inn on a Violation of Probation charge. He is accused of failing to report February 10th 2017 as instructed or anytime after, as of writing of the warrant. He’s also alleged to have failed to provide his agent with his new residence, making his whereabouts unknown, thereby absconding supervision. Painter is also accused of being behind in payment of a surcharge.

Jackie Dewayne Painter was being held overnight in the Laurens County Detention Center, pending a bond hearing.

The post F.I. Man Charged in Local Violation appeared first on WLBG.

The Laurens Commission of Public Works received an update at their August meeting last week on water service. General Manager John Young reported “We have been receiving sporadic calls from customers all over town regarding discolored water.” Young said that the water is clear coming out of the CPW water treatment plant and in our main lines.”

He noted “From what we can tell, the problem appears to be with some customer’s old galvanized metal service lines, where warmer water seems to cause particles in metal service lines to leach out into the water at a higher rate than normal, causing the discolored water.”

Young also went on to explain that replacing these lines with modern PVC pipes should eliminate the problem, and that they’re working with the CPW engineering consultants to ensure they’re doing all we can to help with this issue. Young noted the water is still safe to drink.

The post Let’s Clear This Water Question appeared first on WLBG.

At Piedmont Technical College’s recent summer commencement exercises, outstanding students from each of the college’s seven supporting counties were honored for academic achievement. Two Laurens County students were honored for maintaining high academic success. Congratulated by PTC Area Commissioner Richard Cain were Alan Guevara Gonzalez, who graduated from mechatronics technology and Stephanie Jeter, an administrative… Read More »

The post PTC Laurens County Scholars appeared first on WLBG.

With the death of a 75-year-old Hickory Tavern Man in a one-vehicle crash on Highway 101 eight days ago, Laurens County’s traffic death toll for 2017 rose to 22. That’s more than double the 10 deaths at this time last year, as of midnight Sunday night. This week’s update from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety shows that Laurens County remains the county with the 8th highest highway fatalities in the state.

Horry County pulled ahead of Charleston County for the most traffic deaths this year, at 42. Charleston County went one week without additional faculties, holding at 40 deaths. Greenville County has the 3rd highest highway deaths with 36, followed by Richland with 32 and Spartanburg with 31. Lexington County has 27 deaths. In 7th place, just ahead of Laurens County, is Anderson with 25.

Laurens County has one more highway fatality that Aiken and Florence Counties, which each have 21 as of Sunday night at midnight.

Statewide, 615 deaths had occurred on state highways this year as of midnight Sunday. That’s down from 642 deaths this time last year. This year’s highway deaths include 433 motor vehicle occupants, 81 pedestrians, 72 who were traveling on a motorcycle and 12 on bicycles.

The post Laurens County Still 8th Highest Traffic Deaths appeared first on WLBG.

Making city parks friendlier for disabled persons was among the discussion this past week during the August meeting of Laurens City Council. Mayor John Stankus reported that he is to receive a catalogue that features recreational equipment, such as swings, that accommodate handicapped children and adults. Mayor Stankus said he wants City Council to seriously… Read More »

The post Handicapped Accessible Playground appeared first on WLBG.

The Laurens County Livestock Association is sponsoring the annual Laurens County Youth Livestock Show this week.  This show has grown over the years with many youth from Laurens County and surrounding areas participating. The 2017 Youth Livestock Show will be tomorrow, Friday and Saturday at the Exchange Club Building, 137 Fairgrounds Road, Laurens.

Sponsors from the Livestock Association note these young people have worked hard all year to get their animals ready and they encourage residents to come out and see the events.

The schedule for Thursday begins at 4:00 tomorrow afternoon, with opening of both the 4-H Club Project Poster Show and with the Youth Art Show. The Youth Dog Show will be held at 5:00 P.M. Tomorrow’s events conclude with the Youth Rabbit show at 6:30 P.M.

Friday’s livestock show focuses on the Youth Beef Show at 6:00 P.M.

Saturday begins with the Youth Meat Goat Show at 10:00 A.M. The Youth Katahdin Lamb Show starts at 2;00 Saturday afternoon and things wrap up with the Youth Dairy Show at 4:00 P.M.

Paul Wilkie of the Laurens County Cattlemen’s Association encourages folks to come see the work of youth from Laurens and other Counties compete in this annual event.

The post Youth Livestock Show Starts Tomorrow appeared first on WLBG.

At last night’s Laurens County Council Meeting, the new budget for the 2017-18 Fiscal Year was finally approved. thanks to an amendment introduced by Councilman Garrett McDaniel.

The proposed budget consisted of $26,469,420 for the General Fund, including Indigent Care, EMS and Victim Assistance. Adding in the Capital Millage consisted of $1,107,000, Solid Waste Enterprise Funds of  $2,377,769 and a Higher Education Fund of $195,768, the total rises to  $30,059,957.

The budget includes an increase of 2.2% ($503,150) for the General Fund. This increase is due, in part, to a 2% State mandated increase in pension funding, costing $271,000. There’s also an $80,000 expense for new EMS Software, which had a n 80% grant to cover most of the $271,000 project.  Another $75,000 was added to create an IT Department for county government. There was an employee health insurance increase of 40.000, and $170,000 was added to cover a 1.31% Cost of Living pay increase.

No one came forward to comment one way or the other during the public hearing on the budget, but then the 3rd reading vote failed. With Councilman Keith Tollison absent, no votes from Councilmen Stewart Jones and David Pitts caused the ordinance to fail, not securing the majority vote needed.

The reason for the failure was the South Carolina Unfunded Mandate contribution for employee pensions, which was written to have the entire amount funded by taxpayers.

Jones also objected to the issue of council dismissing his suggestions of alternative ways to reduce EMS spending, and the new IT Department.

Councilman Garrett McDaniel then offered an amendment to the budget, which was seconded by Councilmember Diane Anderson, which changed the source of the funding away from the taxpayers. The revised budget then passed, with Stewart Jones still objecting.

Council also passed unanimously on third reading, Ordinance 835, which is the Fire Service Budget for the Fiscal Year 2017, which has final expenses of 2,788,378.

The final voting action last night was to approve Ordinance #838, which allows use of some revenues from the local option sales tax funds to be used in the general budget.

The post County Budget Finally Approved appeared first on WLBG.

One person was killed and two others entrapped and seriously injured in a two-vehicle head-on crash on Highway 14 in Gray Court late last night. The Highway Patrol had been dispatched on a report of an apparently impaired driver and a trooper was reportedly approaching the scene when the crash occurred near the new Family Dollar.

Trooper Joe Hovis said an investigation indicates the driver and lone occupant of an eastbound 2007 Mitsubishi crossed the center line and collided head-on with a westbound 2015 Dodge driven by 21-year-old Aley Marquisha Goodwin of Gray Court, entrapping her and her passenger, 21-year-old Patrick Daniel Bearman of Inman. Both had to be mechanically extracted. He was transported by EMS, Ms. Goodwin was flown by helicopter. They underwent treatment at Greenville Memorial Hospital early this morning.

The driver of the Mitsubishi was identified by Laurens County Chief Deputy Coroner Vicky Cheek as 46-year-old Ann Marie Reece of 1621 Little Africa Road, Chesnee. Cheek said Ms. Reece died at 11:43 last night, the time of the crash, from multiple blunt force traumas.

The post One Killed, Two Injured in Head-On appeared first on WLBG.

A warrant was served yesterday regarding an alleged assault Tuesday. The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office had arrested LCSO 17-year-old Christopher Wade Braylin of 236 Old Oak Tree Road, Waterloo following the incident. In the warrant, he is accused of punching the victim in her mouth on August 22nd, causing injury to her lip. Braylin was… Read More »

The post Tuesday Assault Alleged appeared first on WLBG.

Failure to show in court on a drug charge last month was the stated cause for a local woman’s arrest yesterday. 37-year-old Reta Marlene MacKessy of 3342 Warrior Creek Church Road, Gray Court was served with a General Sessions Court Bench Warrant. It states she failed to appear in Laurens County General Sessions Court on July 25th to face a charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance. She is being held, pending her next court date.

The post Failure to Show appeared first on WLBG.

Two people were jailed yesterday with Family Court Bench Warrants that state they’re in Contempt of Court.

36-year-old Cynthia Dale Hall of 7859 Old Milton Road, Clinton was served with a Non-Support Civil Contempt order that states she is behind in support payments by over $12,300. She is ordered to pay $50 in court fees and $1,500 toward catching up the support payments.

29-year-old Justin Jared Cook of 150 Sherman Drive, Laurens was served with an Eighth Judicial Circuit Civil Contempt Order on a Non-Support case, which states he’s behind in payments by over $10,300. He is to pay $50 in court fees and $1,250 toward the support payments due.  ….or be held for up to 60 days.

The post Two Held for Contempt of Court appeared first on WLBG.