The theft of a check in Laurens County over a year-and-a-half ago was alleged yesterday in a warrant served on a Spartanburg County woman. The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office served a Petit Larceny warrant on 32-year-old Ashley Michelle Robinson of 3091 Old Spartanburg Highway, Moore.

Investigator McIntosh states that on June 24th of 2016 Robinson took a check with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the property.

Ms. Robinson was released yesterday on a $1,087 personal recognizance bond.

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Clinton City Council last week made a change in the City Manager’s contract regarding providing him with a car for use in work. At the request of City Manager Bill Ed Cannon, council voted to amend his contract to remove the provision of a city owned car for his use. They added a clause whereby Cannon is provided with $500 each month as a transportation expense.  He will be responsible for all maintenance and operational costs of the vehicle. This change was to take immediate effect.

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The South Carolina Department of Corrections brought two inmates from Livesay Correctional Institution to the Laurens County Detention Center Wednesday. Both are charged with A Drug/Attempt or Conspiracy and Contraband in a Prison charges. The two Newberry residents are accused of conspiring with a third inmate of Livesay to introduce Contraband into the prison. Bonds were set yesterday totaling $15,000 on the two charges for both. 23-year-old Shykeela Lashay Maybin of 651 Meadow View Lane, Newberry and 31-year-old Raymond Charles Rutherford Jr. of 1211 Milligan Street, Newberry were released yesterday to State Capitol Bonding.

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The City of Clinton took steps Wednesday to allow access to West Main Street businesses, following the incident with a portion of the street sinking, that we reported on yesterday. Out of concern about customers being able to get into nearby businesses on West Main Street, city and state personnel have secured an entrance point so customers will be able to access those businesses. Mary-Wallace Riley noted Wednesday that this still does not allow folks to access Elizabeth Street from West Main at this time. All drivers are encouraged to please drive cautiously as crews continue to work.

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Attempts to improve and standardize the payroll system for Laurens County employees continued at this week’s County Council meeting. Administrator Jon Caime advised Council Tuesday evening that he’s completed evaluation of the county’s compensation program in the second application of improvements and standardization of the current payroll system. These changes, he said, apply only to the Magistrate’s Office. Caime said with this phase approved, both the Clerk of Court and the Magistrate’s Office will now be standardized.

County Council voted to approve the proposed changes, with Council Member Diane Anderson casting the only “no” vote.

The changes make previous clerk 1 positions in the magistrate’s office designated as grade 10 positions, with starting salary of $11.25 per hour. The changes adjust any 3.5% longevity pay on top of the starting salary.

The change re-classifies a Civil Clerk title from a Clerk 1 post to a Clerk 2 position with starting pay of $12 per hour, adjusting any 3.5% longevity pay on top of the starting salary.

It will also re-classify one office manager to the title of deputy clerk grade 13, with starting salary at $13.90 per hour, also adjusting any 3.5% longevity on top of the starting salary.

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Laurens CPW is responding to questions customers have asked about the billing process with a special workshop called “CPW 101,” set for March 8th. General Manager John Young said the workshop will go over CPW operations, their billing process and how customers can save money on utility bills. The workshop will be held at two different times of the day, to accommodate customers with different work hours. The first session of “CPW 101” will begin at 10:00 am. The second starts at 6:00. Both workshops on Thursday, March 8th will be held in the CPW Training Facility, next door to the CPW Building on Church Street. All CPW Customers are invited to attend. Participants must call by March 6th to reserve a place in the workshop. The number to call is 864-681-4300.

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Giving false information to Police was one of the charges Clinton Public Safety served on a local man early Sunday morning. 24-year-old Octavious Akeem Toland of Apt. D-2 at 201 Elizabeth Street, Clinton was also charged with Unlawful Possession of a Narcotic.

Officer Carter issued a citation alleging Toland gave False Information at 1:06 Sunday morning on Bailey Street. A warrant was served stating he had a bottle of liquid hydrocodone – homatropine Syrup, a schedule II narcotic, in his possession.

Meanwhile, Get-Out Bail Bonding is asking to be relieved on a bond from a release from incarceration last March, citing violations of specific terms of the bond. Octaious Akeem Toland remained in Detention this morning.

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The Highway Patrol arrested an Upstate man early Friday in Laurens County. 33-year-old Colin Richard Tata of 1608 Winding Way, Taylors was charged with Driving under the Influence at 12:30 AM on Interstate 385. He was also charged with Failure to Obtain Permit and Possession of Less than One Gram of Meth. Colin Tata was… Read More »

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A 27-year-old Laurens area woman was charged Friday with a 3rd Degree Assault and Battery charge, following her Thursday arrest. The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office arrested two more people this weekend on the same charge.

A 28-year-old Clinton man was booked Saturday on a ticket alleging a 3rd Degree assault at his residence at midnight. A 58-year-old Laurens man was charged the 3rd Degree Assault and Battery for an alleged violation at his residence north of Laurens at 8:16 last night.

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The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office arrested a father and son Friday with an alleged visit to their home that day. 62-year-old Dennis Lamar Kernells of 300 Marion Place, Clinton was charged with Interference, Hindering Officers. Deputy Besu states that on February 16th Mr. Kernells hindered officers serving a warrant in that he attempted to stop them from entering a residence to serve a Family Court Bench Warrant on his son, who was in the residence at the time. He was released Friday morning on a $3,000 PR bond.

43-year-old Stephen Brian Kernells of the same address was served with a Contempt of Family Court warrant. He remained in the Laurens County Detention Center this morning.

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A family of four was displaced following a house fire yesterday morning near Fountain Inn. Fox Carolina reported that Assistant Fire Chief Russell Alexander of the Fountain Inn Fire Department indicated the family of four was at church when their home caught fire on the 50 block of Ridan Road. A call came in at 9:32 a.m. Alexander said the fire was contained to the rear, but that there was damage throughout the home due to smoke and heat. The home was deemed a total loss.

Fox Carolina reports that firefighters from Clear Springs and Durbin Creek stations responded to assist Fountain Inn fight the blaze. No injuries were reported. Red Cross was assisting the family with lodging and other necessities. Cause of the fire was not immediately determined.

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The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office arrested a woman Friday on allegations of a break-in early this month. 27-year-old Brittnie Lynn Knight of 1474 Fort Lindley Road, Laurens was charged with Burglary 2nd Degree and Petit Larceny. Deputy David Staton states that on February 4th Knight entered a building in the 5,600 address range of Whitmire Highway without consent and with intent to commit a crime therein. She is accused of taking away various items valued at under $2,000 belong to the victim. No bond was set for either charge. Brittnie Lynn Knight remained in the Laurens County Detention Center this morning.

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Laurens City Police arrested two men on Augusta Street Friday for Burglary and Drug charges. The Sheriff’s Office had additional theft charges for one of them from last month.

Laurens Police Friday arrested 45-year-old Joey Allan “Strick” Strickland of 155 Cross Creek Road, Clinton and 43-year-old Doyle Wayne “Wanda Wayne” Roberts of 261 Apple Orchard Road, Clinton and charged them with Burglary 3rd Degree, Possession of Less than a Gram of Meth and with Loitering for Drug Activity.

Warrants citing an investigation of Officer Van Pelt state that on February 16th each defendant committed 3rd Degree Burglary by unlawfully entering a building on Augusta Street without consent and with intent to commit a crime therein. Each is also accused of possession of .8 gram of a crystal-like substance believed to be Methamphetamine at the Augusta Street address. Officer Van Pelt issued a citation charging each with Loitering for Drug Activity at 3:57 Friday afternoon at the Augusta Street location.

Doyle Roberts was also charged by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office with Petit Larceny and Larceny – Breaking into a Motor Vehicle. Sheriff’s Investigator Michael Polson states that on January 31st Roberts took items valued at $2,000 or less from a victim, and that he has a prior conviction of Petit Larceny. Polson further alleges that on the same date, Roberts allegedly attempted to break into a woman’s vehicle with intent to steal.

Both Strickland and Roberts remained in the Laurens County Detention Center this morning with cash or surety bonds totaling $15,500 on the three Laurens Police Charges. charges. Doyle “Wanda Wayne” Roberts also has bonds set totaling $8,000 on the two charges from the Sheriff’s Office.

The post 2 Charged with Friday Burglary; One with 2 Earlier Cases appeared first on WLBG.

Laurens City Police had some seven charges on a man who was delivered to the Laurens County Detention Center just after midnight Friday morning.

41-year-old Charles Robert Howard of 570 Catfish Cove, Waterloo was charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Meth, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Driving under Suspension, Improper Tag Display and two charges of Resisting Arrest.

In warrants, Officer Sherfield states that an investigation by Officer Van Pelt indicates that on February 12th the defendant had 6.5 grams of methamphetamine in his possession as well as a hypodermic needle containing .25 ml of clear liquid meth on North Harper Street. He was allegedly driving a motor vehicle on North Harper Street while his driving privileges were suspended, and had an improper tag displayed on the vehicle. Howard was reportedly in possession of a 2003 Infinity that Greenwood Police reported had been stolen. A warrant states that Howard resisted arrest by fleeing on foot from a uniformed police officer in a marked vehicle at 621 North Harper.  A second Resisting Arrest charge was issued in a cation for an alleged resisting arrest at 922 East Main.

Probation and Parole had two Violation of Probation Charges for Howard. Both allege failure to report four times last September and changing residence without consent of his agent, thereby absconding supervision. He’s also accused of meth use, failing to maintain employment and failure to pay required fees. Bonds were set totaling $80,000 on the two Violation of Probation charges. Bonds of $41,904 were set on the Laurens City Charges. Charles Robert Howard remained in custody this morning.

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A Laurens man has been charged with 1st Degree Assault on his girlfriend last Friday. He and the girlfriend were accused of Unlawful Conduct toward their child.

Laurens City Police charged 32-year-old Joseph Bernard “Jo Jo” Harris of 219 Independence Avenue, unit 224, Laurens with Domestic Violence 1st Degree. Based on an investigation of Officer Napier, Laurens Police allege that the defendant committed Domestic Violence in the 1st Degree Friday by taking and breaking the victim’s phone, preventing her from contacting law enforcement. Harris also allegedly struck the victim with a stick multiple times about her body, punched and slapped her about her face, struck her multiple times in her abdomen and drug her by her hair. The 1st Degree Domestic Violence warrant further alleges that Harris knew the victim was pregnant with his child and that a minor child he and the victim have in common was present during the assault.

A second warrant, charging Unlawful Conduct Toward a Child, states that Harris placed his biological, juvenile son in unreasonable and unnecessary risk of harm, consuming marijuana and having possession of marijuana around the juvenile. The child also allegedly had direct access to scales, baggies and a homemade pipe with cocaine residue. Harris also allegedly left the child unattended for approximately 45 minutes on Friday at their Independence Avenue apartment.

Cash or surety bonds were set totaling $45,000 on the two charges for Joseph Bernard “Jo Jo” Harris.

Laurens Police Friday also charged 21-year-old Taylor Morgan Sloan of apartment 224 at 219 Independence Avenue with Unlawful Neglect of a Child. She is accused of placing her biological son, a juvenile victim, in unreasonable and unnecessary harm by consuming marijuana on multiple occasions around the juvenile. Her warrant also alleges the juvenile also had direct access to scales, baggies and a homemade pipe with cocaine residue. She also allegedly left the child unattended for approximately 45 minutes Friday at their apartment.

Her cash or surety bond was set at $10,000. Harris & Sloan remained in the Laurens County Detention Center this morning.

The post 1st Degree Assault on Pregnant Woman; Unlawful Neglect of Child appeared first on WLBG.

A Federal Grand Jury in Greenville has returned Indictments against an upstate man on a charge of Assaulting a Federal Employee.

United States Attorney Beth Drake last week said 58-year-old Kenneth David Sipple of Travelers Rest was charged in a one count indictment. She said the maximum penalty Sipple could receive is a fine of $250,000.00 and/or imprisonment of 20 years.  The case was investigated by agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Protective Service, and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney David C. Stephens of the Greenville office for prosecution.

Indictments were also issued for two aliens charged with Illegal Re-Entry into the United States. Another man was charged in a two-count indictment with False Claim to be a United States citizen and False Use of a Social Security Number.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in these indictments are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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Presbyterian College welcomes organist Christopher Nash to campus for a recital this evening in Belk Auditorium.

Originally from nearby Greenwood, Nash began studying organ and piano at a young age. He has been inspired by all genres of organ, including theater, secular, and traditional organ. His eclectic style reflects these various aspects of organ playing.

Nash has played in concerts across the southeast, including several that have introduced more than 2000 elementary school children to the pipe organ.

He studied organ performance at the University of South Carolina with Dr. William Bates. There, Nash also accompanied the 150-voice University Choir. He has performed throughout the state with various choral groups, including the Mozart Requiem with Charleston Symphony Orchestra Spiritual Choir.

Nash instructs private organ and piano lessons and has served as an organ and choral clinician at various events. Since 2013, he has been Associate Minister of Music at St. John’s United Methodist Church in Aiken. Most recently, his youth choir of men and women sang, by invitation, at the candlelight evening tour for Biltmore House near Asheville.

This evening’s Christopher Nash recital begins at 7:30 in Belk Auditorium. Admission is free, and it’s open to the public.

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Piedmont Technical College’s cardiovascular technology program is joining with Self Regional Healthcare to sponsor a community heart health event tomorrow. Think Heart Smart will be held Wednesday in the Greenwood Public Library’s American Veterans Auditorium. This free event runs from 6-8 p.m.

The event includes free heart risk assessment and counseling provided by Self Regional Healthcare’s cardiovascular lab staff and PTC cardiovascular technology students.

“We want this event to make people more aware of the dangers of heart disease and educate them on what they can do, not only in the event of a heart attack, but what steps they can take to reduce their risks,” said Laura Boone, PTC cardiovascular technology-non-invasive instructor.

Light, heart-healthy refreshments will be served.

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The Laurens Education Assistance for District 55 (LEAD) Board of Directors met at the Laurens County School District 55 Administrative Office last Wednesday. Chairman King Dixon presided over the annual meeting and reviewed details regarding the 2005 formation of LEAD.  The 501(c)(3) corporation was created to serve as a support organization for capital projects including financing as well as maintenance, improvements, and construction of school facilities in District 55. .

District 55 Chief Financial Officer Rodney Smith updated the LEAD board about the district’s financial audit conducted by McKinley, Cooper, & Co. He said “The district audit included LEAD financials, and findings resulted in an unmodified opinion.  This is what we strive for in an audit.”

LEAD Board member Jim Todd commended Smith and Superintendent Peters for the financial decisions made under their leadership. The LEAD Board of Directors unanimously approved the 2018 LEAD budget of $1,569,538.  The figure includes $1,521,038 for payment on principal and interest on outstanding bonds, with the remainder for bond issuance fees, insurance, and legal services.

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A formal “thank you” to the United Way of Laurens County and its participation in the VITA program has been issued. Mayor John Carter recently issued a statement expressing appreciation of the Mayor and Town Council of Gray Court issued thanks for all of the services they have rendered to the residents of Gray Court.

Carter said the town is blessed to have Alesia Carter, Laurens County VITA Coordinator and David Dunagan, Executive Director for the United Way of Laurens County, “working so diligently for our community.”

The statement said that some of the free services being provided to Gray Court residents include the free income tax preparation assistance for individuals and families with an annual income below $60,000. The appreciation also included food boxes from the Harvest Hope food bank and last week’s annual “Bags of Love’ to the elderly. Carter also noted work on Workforce Development and the Money Smart program.

Mayor Carter said that tax preparation assistance is now being offered in Gray Court’s Pleasantview Center Monday afternoons from 2:00 until 6:00 and Thursday afternoons from 12:30 until 4:30 pm. Taxpayers wanting the assistance are to call VITA Coordinator Alesia Carter for an appointment at 864-340-9286.

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