Area Breaking News
County council returns to historic courthouse, approves budget vote
The Laurens County Council returned to its traditional chambers at the newly renovated historic County Courthouse for its regular meeting for the first time in nearly four years Monday night. The meeting marked the first time the county’s business had been conducted at the 188-year-old courthouse since October of 2022. The building was closed for…
Read MoreShealy ousts incumbent Rankin for Dist. 14 seat
Cross Hill businessman Rick Shealy unseated incumbent Luke Rankin with a landslide victory in Tuesday’s South Carolina House of Representatives District 14 Republican primary election. Rankin was elected in 2024 and served one term in the statehouse after serving one four-year term on Laurens County Council. Shealy and Democrat Michanna Tate will face off in…
Read MoreClinton Council approves budget, zoning requests
Clinton, South Carolina – Clinton City Council passed second reading Monday on its 2026-27 budget and also gave a final nod to a neighborhood rezoning request that had prompted council to table the matter this spring The budget for the upcoming fiscal year totaled $11,265,167 for the general fund, and $25,643,779 for the utility fund.…
Read MoreCare and community at the forefront of Clinton’s ice cream shop
Clinton, South Carolina – Clinton’s new ice cram business, Pebbles Ice Cream Shop, definitely is serving up plenty of favorite summer treats, but the business model is about more than simply ice cream and shakes. The 200 West Main Street shop is owned by Michael and Courtney Addison, and it opened April 16 with its…
Read MoreLaurens man pleads guilty to drug, assault charges
A Laurens County man was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to drug and assault charges in 8th Circuit Court. Jertavious Mantrail Mack was sentenced following the plea deal that stemmed from incidents from October 2024, which was announced Wednesday by 8th Circuit Solicitor David Stumbo. Mack has been held without bond…
Read MoreBridge to close this week on U.S. 76 at Tumbling Shoals
A section of S.C. Highway 76 near Hickory Tavern is expected to be closed for months while the Reedy River bridge at Tumbling Shoals undergoes repairs by the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT). The closure is expected to begin Thursday and last for 45 days. The entire project is estimated to take four months.…
Read MoreEarly voting continues ahead of June 9 primary elections
Early voting will end Friday for local and statewide primary elections as Laurens County voters are asked to cast ballots on races from county council to the State House, attorney general and the South Carolina Governor’s office. During the early voting period all ballots are cast at the Board of Voter Registration and Elections offices…
Read MorePerson killed in I-26 Walmart Freightliner crash
UPDATE: Victim identified A Walmart Freightliner semi truck crashed and overturned on I-26 near Exit 49 early Wednesday morning, killing the driver. According to S.C. Highway Patrol Master Trooper Brandon Bolt, the Freightliner was traveling west on I-26 when it traveled off the right side of the road and overturned. The accident occurred around 3:50…
Read MoreYoung’s walk-off homer delivers 2A title to Red Devils
See photo gallery at end of story Luke Young graduated from Clinton High School Friday morning and then hit a walk-off home run to deliver the Red Devils the Class 2A baseball state championship before the end of the day. Young’s eighth-inning bomb to left field handed Clinton a 5-4 victory over Atlantic Collegiate Academy…
Read MoreRed Devils rain on Armada in Game 1 of state title tilt
Game 2 postponed, set for 3 p.m. Friday at Clinton The rain-delayed Class 2A baseball state championship series got underway Tuesday with Clinton taking the lead in the best-of-three series with a 5-1 victory over Lower State champion Atlantic Collegiate at the Ripken Experience baseball complex in Myrtle Beach. Clinton junior Camden Finley out-dueled Atlantic…
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