A local teen has been arrested in connection with an Armed Robbery in Fountain Inn last Thursday. Fountain Inn Police Saturday charged 19-year-old Kurt Matthew Andrews of 315 Durbin Meadows Road, Fountain Inn with Armed Robbery.

Officer Clark Kunz states that on August 24th Kurt Matthew Andrews covered his face with a shirt and pointed a “submachine” gun, with a suppressor, at a victim, while commanding this victim to give up personal items. He then allegedly carried away the victim’s wallet and vape pen. This offense reportedly occurred in the Laurens County portion of the City Limits of Fountain Inn.

Bond was denied. Kurt Matthew Andrews remained in the Laurens County Detention Center, pending his next court date.

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Laurens Police Officers Sellers and Gambrell were dispatched to Melrose Drive at 1:34 yesterday afternoon regarding a property dispute.

A woman at the scene reportedly complained that the male resident of the house was not giving her cell phone battery back to her. This was after she had allegedly thrown the phone against the wall as they argued.

The officers indicated they located her cell phone battery and were advised that the woman claimed she was due money for having sex with the resident. However, he claimed that she owed him $40 for fixing her car.

A report noted that after examining texts on the resident’s phone, the officers arrested the woman and charged her with Loitering to Engage in Prostitution. The 25-year-old Laurens woman was later released on bond.

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An elderly Laurens County woman and her son were arrested by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office yesterday for allegedly assaulting another woman last Wednesday.

78-year-old Doris Stewart of 142 Stewart Dairy Road, Fountain Inn was charged with Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature. Deputy Jared Atwood states that on August 23rd Ms. Stewart intentionally committed an assault on a victim by striking her about the face, while holding a pistol. Mrs. Stewart remained in the Laurens County Detention Center this morning with a cash or surety bond set at $15,000.

56-year-old Roger Dale Stewart was booked yesterday with an address listed at Post Office Box 960, Fountain Inn. He was charged with Assault and Battery in the 3rd Degree. Deputy Atwood states that on August 23rd Mr. Stewart intentionally committed battery on the same victim by striking her about the head with his hand. He remained in custody this morning with a bond set at $2,000.

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Laurens County remains in the top ten of counties with the highest number of traffic fatalities. That news is confirmed with yesterday’s weekly release from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, measuring highway deaths as of midnight Sunday night.

Horry County still has the most traffic fatalities in the state this week, with 42. Charleston remains 2nd highest, with 40, after two weeks with no fatalities. Greenville is 3rd highest with 38, Richland and neighboring Lexington Counties are in 4th and 6th places, with 32 and 30 highway deaths. Spartanburg is in 5th place with 31. Anderson County has the 7th highest highway deaths with 26, followed by Laurens County in 8th place with 23.

Aiken has the 9th highest traffic death county of 22, while Berkley and Florence Counties are tied for 10th place with 21 traffic fatalities each.

Laurens County’s 23 roadway fatalities is more than double the 10 at this time last year. Statewide, however, we still have fewer fatalities. 629 deaths have occurred on highways as of midnight Sunday, down from 661 at the same time last year. The 629 fatalities consist of 438 motor vehicle occupants, 84 pedestrians, 76 motorcyclists and 13 bicyclists.

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Fountain Inn Police have charged a local man with unlawful drug and firearm possession on Sunday in the Laurens County portion of town. 23-year-old Tarrell Deshon Cook was delivered to the Laurens County Detention Center yesterday and booked with a Catterick Way, Fountain Inn address. Warrants showing an address at 2 Spring Circle, Fountain Inn charged him with Distribution of Cocaine Base, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute and Possession of a Firearm by a Person Convicted of a Violent Felony.

Officer Joshua Taylor states that on August 27th Mr. Cook was found in possession of an off-white rock-like substance that field tested positive as cocaine base. This was reportedly located in an orange pill bottle. Officer Taylor further alleges that Cook was in possession of a green leafy substance in two baggies, which together weighted 10.2 G (Gross). Warrants further state that Tarrell Cook had a Taurus .380 caliber handgun in his possession, along with the off-white rock-like substance and a digital scale. As a person convicted of a violent crime, he is not allowed to possess a firearm.

The Cocaine Distribution charge received a $20,000 cash or surety bond.

Tarrell Deshon Cook remained in the Laurens County Detention Center this morning with bonds totaling $30,000.

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It’s been said that “No news is good news.” With that in mind, a headline from last night’s District 56 School Board meeting is “Uneventful….Very good and uneventful.”

Those were the words Laurens County School District 56 Superintendent Dr. David O’Shields used to describe the beginning of the 2017/2018 school year at last night’s August meeting of the District 56 Board of Trustees in Clinton High. He said the only thing about the start of this school year that really stood out was the once in a lifetime opportunity to view a total solar eclipse.

O’Shields reported that student enrollment was still climbing but the reported attendance on the 5th day of school was 2,888. That number is slightly down from attendance on the same day last year but Dr. O’Shields said he still expects more students coming in by the next target date of the 10th day.

He also addressed the new earlier start time for elementary students this year.   “One of the things I was most impressed by this year was, although there had been some concern with the elementary schools starting earlier, everyone gave it the good college try and were willing to try their best to get there early and to get things started such that instruction can begin by eight o’clock.”

An eclipse, a smooth start for the new school year; cooperation and climbing enrollment – all positive in the start of school report for District 56.

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At the August meeting of the District 55 school board in the District 55 Administrative Building last evening, board members Robby Bell and Terri Martin were recognized as South Carolina School Board Association’s “Boardmanship Institute Level 5 Recipients.” The designation was noted as the next to the highest level that can be obtained for service… Read More »

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Most of the District 55 School Board members appeared at the Vote Yes headquarters yesterday afternoon. They were joined by a group of supporters of a yes vote in next week’s school bond referendum. Teri Martin of Gray Court, who is Vice-Chair of the Board, read a prepared statement that outlined the goals for District 55 facilities with the $109 million to be raised. The statement noted three pieces of property the District is now negotiating on for purchase. These include select pieces of property across US 76 from the current high school, property off Raider Road behind Laurens High and property adjacent to and behind the Bi-Lo Shopping Center on U.S. 76. Martin said there are additional pieces of property that would meet the needs, all within three miles of the current school, if they’re unable to purchase one of the top three sites.

We asked Mrs. Martin about the emphasis the board’s plan places on a new High School.   “We do have to start somewhere. And we fell like by starting with the new high school that provides the best opportunities for those students right away. Because we’re not able to provide our high school students with an education that prepares them for the 21st Century.”

Mrs. Martin said there would be an extremely high cost to retrofit the current high school so it would have the space and technology to get it close to the level it needs to be. And she said by starting with the top at the high school, it opens up the current school to be retrofitted for middle school students.

She told us about the idea of having separate middle school academies in a new middle school facility. “Each of the pods will be designated as a separate academy, and by having those separate academies, the students won’t be overflowing into the other. Say you’re going to do the Academy of the Arts, those students would all be in one pod area for their ‘focus’ on the arts, but even their general courses would be held in the area. They wouldn’t be going across the campus of the current high school to have English or Math.”

Polls will be open next Tuesday, September 5th from 7:00 am until 7:00 pm for District 55 voters to cast yes or no votes on the referendum about issuing bonds of up to $109 million.

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27-year-old Arthur Carter Williams was placed in the Laurens County Detention Center yesterday with Bench Warrants which state he failed to appear in Court last week on charges of Armed Robbery, Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Possession of a Stolen Pistol. The Bench Warrants state that Williams, of  Ponderosa Road, Laurens and/or A.B.… Read More »

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The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office yesterday served a Violation of Sex Offender Registry warrant on 34-year-old Marcus Lathan Sims of 1034 East Florida Street, Clinton. A warrant showing a 1005 Elizabeth Street address states he failed to contact the Sheriff August 4th as required. He was held overnight, pending a bond hearing.

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An early morning police chase in Laurens yesterday ended on the suspect’s home street, where officers arrested 31-year-old Orelle Lamar Latimore of 10 Whaley Street, Laurens.

Laurens City Officer Lindsey issued tickets charging Mr. Latimore with Open Container, Simple Possession of Marijuana and Driving under Suspension at 2:40 Tuesday morning at 119 Whaley Street. A warrant was served later yesterday also charging him with Failure to Stop for Blue Lights. It states that on August 29th Mr. Latimore failed to stop for blue lights by increasing speed and exerting evasive driving behavior. The warrant states that this behavior came after Officer Lindsey activated blue lights and that he passed multiple places to stop. This failure to stop reportedly occurred on North Harper, Creamer and Whaley Streets in Laurens.

During arraignment yesterday, cash or surety bonds were set totaling $11,519 on the four charges. Orelle Lamar Latimore remained in the Laurens County Detention Center this morning.

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A new theme for a new school year was announced at Monday night’s District 55 School Board meeting. In his remarks regarding the opening of a new school year, Superintendent Dr. Stephen Peters announced that the theme for this year is “The New Norm, No Failure.” He said this theme was brought to the district’s principals during a two and a half day retreat this summer, where he reportedly advised them to reinforce this theme to each of their schools, that failure is not an option.

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Fight back. …Staying safe at school does not mean hiding in a corner anymore. At Monday’s meeting of the District 56 Board of Trustees, Dr. David Pitts briefed the board on the SAFE (School Action For Emergencies) Training underway throughout the district. He said all District 56 teachers have been trained and student training is underway. Dr. Pitts described the four facility responses to a threat. Each of these responses deemed appropriate for DIFFERENT threats. There is no one size fits all when it comes to threat assessment and management.

One response is a Lockout, where everyone inside the perimeter is secured. A second response is a LockDOWN, with locks, lights, and staying Out of Sight. The third response is to Evacuate, where students are moved to a safe location. The fourth response is Shelter – to shelter in place.

David Pitts said both Laurens County School Districts have engaged in SAFE training through the local Emergency Management Office, and he thanked Director Joey Avery for his assistance as well as John Baker with the Department of Public Safety at Presbyterian College. Both were invaluable, he said, in training the district’s teachers.

Dr. Pitts told the School District 56 Trustees this week that the training would give teachers and students the ability to fight back if attacked. He said it gives them “…the necessary skills to, quite frankly, overcome and attack someone should they come into a classroom.”

David Pitts said this was something new and different, pointing out that Active, not passive, resistance has been shown to save lives and to keep students safer.

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A case of Discharging a Firearm into a Dwelling earlier this month is no more. A 31-year-old Fleming Mill Road, Laurens resident was arrested by the Sheriff’s Office, accused of firing an automatic rifle into a tree, which was between him and his residence. The charge was cleared Monday by Nol Proseque.

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In General Sessions Court Monday, Kevin Spencer Deyton of 5228 Highway 221 South, Laurens entered a plea in a case that started with his arrest in October, 2015 on a charge of Trafficking in Ice, Crack or Crank. He pled guilty to Distribution of Mehtamphetamine. Judge Addy sentenced him to 15 years, but that was suspended to 4 years of probation.

Kevin Deyton had also been charged with two 2nd Offense charges of possessing a controlled substance, one 1st offense charge of the same and a Simple Possession of Marijuana charge. Those were dismissed by Nolle Proseque.

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In other court action Monday, Jason Durrell Byrd of 89 2nd Street, Laurens

pled guilty to Assault and Battery 2nd Degree. Laurens City Police had arrested the 34-year-old Mr. Byrd following an incident the night of July 6th this summer, accusing him of threatening his girlfriend with a knife. Judge Addy sentenced him to 3 years, but that is to be suspended after service of 49 days, followed by 5 years probation. The sentence also stipulates restitution and counseling. Another charge of Domestic Violence of a High and Aggravated Nature was waived in favor of a guilty plea yesterday for an Assault and Battery 3rd Degree. In that case, Byrd was sentenced to 30 days, already served. A third charge of Breach of Peace, Aggravated in Nature was dismissed through the Nolle Proseque process for Jason Byrd.

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A second week of Laurens County General Sessions Court has been hearing guilty Pleas before Judge Frank Addy. Monday, 36-year-old Daniel Joseph Hagman of 406 Fairview Road, Laurens pled to Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor under Age 16, in 3rd Degree. Judge Addy sentenced Mr. Hagman to 15 years, specifying that after serving 10 years the balance is suspended with three years probation. The sentence also requires Mr. Hagman to have lifetime G,P,S. monitoring and a permanent restraining order, once released from prison.

Hagman was arrested by Laurens City Police in late August, 2015 and charged with having sex with a child between April and October of 2013.

Four more charges on Hagman were disposed of by Nolle Proseque. These included two cases of 3rd Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, one charge of distributing obscene material to a minor 12 or younger and one charge of simple possession of marijuana. Daniel Joseph Hagman was being held, pending transfer to the South Carolina Department of Corrections.

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The Laurens County Chamber of Commerce yesterday announced its 21st Leadership Laurens County Class. The 2017-2018 year began August 16th with orientation for the 24 participants. These class members have a unique opportunity to increase their knowledge of county programs through dialogue with existing county leaders and experts from the organizations and institutions which form the structure of Laurens County. The program agenda will focus on key issues in local government, education, economic development, social services, as well as arts and recreation.

Leadership Laurens County is non-partisan and non-political, patterned on similar programs proven successful in more than 100 metropolitan areas throughout the United States. Hosted by the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Laurens County is a self-supporting program through tuitions and scholarships and is governed by its own Board of Regents. The current Laurens County Leadership Board of Regents is made up of graduates from class 20: Trish Buis of Piedmont Technical College, Chrissie Cofield of Laurens Police Department, Matt Dean of USC Union, Paul Klein of Love Bailey & Associates, Robi Owens of Cornerstone Investment Management, Mary Wallace Riley of the City of Clinton and Marlene Owings as the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce program liaison.

Each year, potential class members are recruited from area businesses, civic organizations, neighborhood leaders, along with retired county residents. Candidates must be concerned about and personally committed to shaping the future of Laurens County. Participants will be chosen on the basis of criteria established by the Board of Regents of Leadership Laurens County. The program will bring together individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences from all public and private sectors of the county.

Next for this year’s class is a 2-day retreat, planned for September. That is followed with monthly meetings that start this October and continue through May 2018. Participants will attend all-day seminars presented by teams made up of the classmates. These events will be held at various locations throughout the county in order to provide participants with a broad geographic perspective. Sessions will include: Teambuilding, Social Issues, Healthcare, Economic Development, Education, Public Safety, Government and Agriculture Business.

In addition to the monthly events, the Class will work on a community project it selects as a team, that is to address a particular need in the county. The project will be presented to the Chamber Board in April, prior to class graduation in May 2018. The purpose of this project is for the class to gather all the necessary background information and research needed to complete the project, but not necessarily implement. The details of the project may be passed on for another community agency to complete or used for information.

Leadership Class 19 began the study of Family Promise, to address the need for a homeless shelter for families in Laurens County. During the last three years, participants from the class have worked with local agencies and churches on Family Promise of Laurens County, a collaborative partnership of congregations within our community helping families with children in our schools who are facing homelessness.

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For the second time this month, there was an arrest in Laurens County yesterday where the defendant is accused of running over another person’s foot with a vehicle. This incident reportedly occurred last Saturday. The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office yesterday charged 77-year-old James Claude Burgess Jr. of 11280 Highway 56 North, Clinton with Assault and Battery 2nd Degree. Deputy Jonathan Brown states that on August 26th in Laurens County one James Claude Burgess Jr. ran over the victim’s foot with the tire of a vehicle. Mr. Burgess was being held in the county detention center overnight, pending a bond hearing today.

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The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office yesterday booked a Laurens man on an order from General Sessions Court. 19-year-old Enicholas O’Bryan Leake of 303 Crescent Drive was served with Bench Warrants that state he failed to appear in court last week to face charges of Armed Robbery and Possession of a Weapon in a Violent Crime.… Read More »

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