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Area Breaking News

State of Emergency declared for Tropical Storm Debby

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South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster declared a State of Emergency for the state over the weekend in anticipation of heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Debby. As of 11 a.m. Tuesday, Tropical Storm Debby had moved overland with its strongest rainfall and winds near Savannah, Georgia. The storm was expected to move back out to sea…

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County asks judge to reconsider lawsuit ruling

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Laurens County Council and the Laurens County Planning Commission are asking an 8th Circuit Court judge to reconsider his ruling that found them libel for disregarding elements of South Carolina’s Freedom of Information Act. The county is requesting that either the Judge Eugene C. Griffith Jr. reconsider his ruling or grant a new trial for…

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Truck driver killed in I-26 crash

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An Anderson truck driver was killed Wednesday afternoon in a crash on I-26. South Carolina Highway Patrol Master Trooper Brandon Bolt said the tractor-trailer, a 2022 Kenworth, struck a disabled vehicle and pedestrian changing a tire near mile marker 55 around 2 p.m. Laurens County Chief Deputy Coroner Patti Canupp identified the deceased as Mark…

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County residents launch suit against state’s DES

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Columbia, South Carolina – A group of citizens from the Mountville area have filed suit along with the South Carolina Environmental Law Project in Columbia to challenge S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control authorization this past spring of new poultry houses on the eastern end of Lisbon Road. The lawsuit is against the South…

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‘Turbo’ Mathis pleads to manslaughter in ’22 shooting

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A murder trial that began early last week ended abruptly when the man accused in a 2022 Gray Court shooting death pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. Justin Jamil “Turbo” Mathis, 42, of Union pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 15 years in prison, which was suspended to five years in prison with…

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LCSO looking for suspect in vandalism

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Investigators with the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office are seeking information that could lead to an arrest following a break-in and vandalism at a Gray Court business. The break-in occurred overnight on Thursday, July 25, and the suspect was caught on video. The LCSO has released video footage and still photos on its social media platforms.…

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Todd Sr. wins 15th County Am title

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South Carolina Golf Hall of Famer Walter Todd Sr. needed a couple of extra holes but captured his 15th Laurens County Amateur Championship Sunday afternoon at Lakeside Country Club. Todd parred the par-3 11th hole in a playoff to edge two-time champion Mattie Wiggins. After tying at even-par 144 over the tournament’s scheduled 36 holes,…

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Laurens motorcyclist killed in I-385 crash

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A Laurens man was killed when the motorcycle he was piloting crashed on I-385 near mile marker 20 in Laurens County Wednesday afternoon. Justus Holt, 23, was identified as the deceased, said Laurens County Deputy Coroner Jim Black. According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, Holt was on a 2021 Kawasaki motorcycle and traveling southbound…

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Peaches make comeback while corn has struggled in drought

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Laurens, South Carolina – Following a few years when late spring cold weather caused less-than-stellar peach crops, the trees at Coggins Farms are full and the peaches are selling out most Saturdays well before the Laurens Downtown Farmers Market technically ends at noon. “Last year was a complete loss, and two years before that were…

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