Area Breaking News
Heavy rains pelt Upstate, over 600 power outages reported
Heavy rains and winds around Laurens County caused flooding and power outages early Tuesday. The storm caused flash flood warnings from the National Weather Service all across the Upstate that lasted until 5 p.m. According to Laurens Electric Cooperative, around 300 customers in Laurens County reported power outages – the largest number by far among…
Read MoreHartsville teen found in Laurens County, arrest made
An arrest was made this past week after a missing girl from Hartsville was located at a Laurens County residence. The missing teen was located at the home in Laurens around 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Hartsville Police announced than an arrest was made in the case, but no other details were made available. Aaliyah Haven McClain,…
Read MoreDistrict 55 board accepts Thomas’ immediate resignation
* Check back for additional updates, and see story in the Wednesday, Jan. 10 issue of The Laurens County Advertiser. Laurens, South Carolina – Students in Laurens County School District 55 returned to school from winter break Thursday, and by that evening the district was without its superintendent. At a called special meeting, District 55…
Read MoreNightclub shooting leads to arrest, suspect sought
Laurens Police are still investigating a shooting this past Friday night at a local nightclub. According to reports, gunfire broke out outside the Topic Lounge in Laurens just before 11 p.m. Bullets damaged the building and a nearby vehicle, but no one was injured. Investigators discovered more than a dozen shell casings, the reports said.…
Read MoreLPD makes arrest in South Harper shooting
The Laurens Police Department arrested one suspect following a shooting Wednesday afternoon at a South Harper Street convenience store. Marqevius Janell Brown, 33, of Laurens was charged with attempted murder, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle, and breach of peace of a high…
Read MoreLCSO makes arrest after high-speed chase
A Laurens man is in jail after leading police on a high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle through parts of Laurens County early Thursday morning. Russell Lee Ivester Jr. was charged with grand larceny with enhancement, driving under suspension – 2nd offense, and failure to stop for blue lights – 2nd or subsequent offense. According…
Read MorePrisma Health, Laurens County Hospital temporarily restricts children and teens from hospital visits
Laurens County, South Carolina – A significant uptick in influenza cases over the past few weeks has prompted Prisma Health to restrict visitors at all the Prisma hospitals by all children 16 and under, and that includes Laurens County Hospital. The restrictions went into place at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 27, and Prisma Health’s infectious…
Read MoreRecycling best option for holiday paper, boxes
Laurens County, South Carolina – With the holiday season comes an extraordinary amount of waste, and Laurens County Solid Waste Manager Chris Gurga is encouraging citizens to break down their packing boxes for recycling, especially since the online shopping trends have resulted in even more shipping materials than in previous years. “The trash during the…
Read MoreMurder charges filed in death of pregnant woman
A man accused of shooting and killing his pregnant fiancé in late November has now been charged with murder. The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office upgraded charges against Camrin Jay Smith, who now faces two counts of murder. Smith was initially charged with involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of Marlene “Grace” Ables, 24, and her unborn…
Read MoreMcGowan flips commitment from Gamecocks to BC
Jayden McGowan has traded Five Points for Chestnut Hill. Nine days after announcing that he had committed to South Carolina, the former Laurens District High School standout and Vanderbilt transfer said Friday via social media that he is headed instead to Boston College. McGowan has given no reason for his change of heart, but in…
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