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Area Breaking News

Deceased shooter identified by LPD as Laurens County man

The Laurens Police Department identified Wednesday morning the man who shot his ex-wife Tuesday afternoon in a downtown Laurens business and then turned the gun on himself. Justin Sherman Allen, 40, who lived on Neely Ferry Road in Laurens County according to an arrest report from the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, was pronounced dead at…

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Highway 221 closing for Enoree River bridge repair on Dec. 9

U.S. Highway 221 will be closed between Laurens and Enoree beginning Monday, Dec. 9 while repairs are made to the bridge spanning the Enoree River. The highway closure is expected to last well into the spring of 2025. A detour route for motorists using Highway 49, I-26 and Highway 92 (Parker Road) has been put…

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Former Laurens auto dealership property on auction block

An online bankruptcy auction for the sale a Laurens property that was home to a local automotive dealership for over 70 years started at noon Tuesday. Smith Chevrolet, which sold a variety of vehicle brands during its long tenure along North Harper Street, was located on the 5.1-acre property from 1947 to 2020 when it…

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Domestic incident leads to shooting, one dead on Laurens square

Christmas carols were playing from the speakers on the Laurens Historic Square when gunshots interrupted an otherwise quiet downtown afternoon. An apparent domestic dispute ended with the alleged assailant dead and a victim transported by helicopter to a Greenville area hospital. According to Laurens Police Chief Heath Copeland, the female gunshot victim was conscious and…

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Red Devils take down No. 1 Panthers, advance to Upper State finals

Clinton is headed to an Upper State championship game for the second time in three seasons. The Red Devils stunned previously unbeaten Batesburg-Leesville, the No. 1-ranked team in Class 2A, 31-14 Friday night behind a dominant second half to advance to the Class 2A Upper State finals. Clinton will host Fairfield Central (12-1), a 48-28…

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Southern cuisine, downstairs lounge planned for downtown Laurens

Laurens, South Carolina – A new restaurant with a separate downstairs lounge is coming to 101 East Laurens St., filling the space vacated in late May by Rootimentary’s closure. Announced Monday evening, the street-level restaurant and a downstairs lounge are under a single business which is being opened by Jeffrey Ponder and Matthew Perkins, both…

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Laurens man charged in fatal drug overdose

Laurens Police have made a second arrest in connection with a fatal drug overdose in July at a residence on West Main Street in Laurens. Joseph Brian Johnson, whose residence is listed on West Main Street, was taken into custody on Wednesday, Nov. 21 and charged with involuntary manslaughter and distribution of methamphetamine. Johnson remains…

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PL Developments to shutter operations Clinton, following Rich’s closure

A week after a Fountain Inn manufacturer communicated to state officials that it would be closing its doors, a Clinton-based manufacturer said it would be doing the same. PL Developments, a manufacturer of liquid-based pharmaceutical products such as rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide, told state officials Thursday that it will be closing both its manufacturing…

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Red Devils advance past Cyclones in 2A playoffs

Clinton advanced to the third round of the Class 2A playoffs Friday night with a 48-20 victory over Chester at Wilder Stadium. The Red Devils (9-2) will next host unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Batesburg-Leesville, a 49-14 winner over Andrew Jackson in Friday night’s second round of the playoffs. The Panthers improved to 12-0 with their…

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