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Area News

Laurens council considers ways to increase census counts

During last week’s regular August meeting of Laurens City Council, council members were challenged by Carolyn Calwise, a regional Census 2020 official, to treat the census as if they were campaigning for their seats on council. “Do what you did when you wanted to get elected,” Calwise said during her telephone call presentation to council.…

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District 55 to begin academic year with ‘hybrid’ schedule

Laurens County School District 55 will begin the school year on a hybrid schedule, meaning students attending in-class instruction will do so two days per week. On the other days, students will receive virtual instruction. District 55 Superintendent Ameca Thomas made the announcement Tuesday. The academic year is still slated to begin on Tuesday, Sept.…

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DHEC: Mask ordinances are working across state

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control updated statistics Tuesday that shows communities with mask requirements in place see a significantly slower rate of COVID-19 infection compared to those without such requirements. According to DHEC, places with mask requirements have shown a 44.2% greater decrease in the total number of COVID-19 cases during…

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Crusaders to kick off football season Friday

A lot of familiar faces have returned to the practice field for the Laurens Academy varsity football team, but there is also something starkly unfamiliar there. Depth. The Crusaders are suiting up 17 players this season for its trek through the South Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association’s Class A 8-man football schedule. The deeper 2020…

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‘Champ’ in online contest to be America’s Favorite Pet

The adventure continues for Champ, a former Laurens County dog that made national headlines after being nearly starved to death before he was saved by local law enforcement and a national rescue organization.Anyone can vote Champ, who has been adopted and now lives with his new owners in Delaware, is a contestant in “America’s Favorite…

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Laurens man charged in June shooting

Laurens Police have made an arrest in a June 7 shooting incident during which two men were injured at a Spring Street residence. Tevin O’Neal Brown, 27, faces two charges of attempted murder and one count of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. He was arrested Monday by Laurens Police.…

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Motorcyclist dies in Laurens crash

A motorcyclist was killed Sunday evening following a collision with another vehicle in Laurens. Jeffrey Ravon Smith, Jr. of Laurens was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol. SCHP Trooper Joe Hovis said the 2007 Kawasaki motorcycle Smith was operating collided with a 2012 Kia driven by…

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Copper top: Courthouse cap for dome installed

The Historic Laurens County Courthouse is undergoing the first phase of what is hoped to be a multi-million-dollar facelift, and it started earlier this week with a crown jewel that returns the building to a bit of its earlier glory. Laurens County Public Works Director Dale Satterfield said he told Tim Burdette, project manager for…

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Burglary, arson suspect caught, faces more charges

A suspect sought last week by the Laurens County Sheriff Office has been captured and is in custody, according to the Laurens County Sheriff Office. The LCSO had requested assistance of the public in locating Jeffrey Bigham of Fountain Inn, who was wanted on charges of burglary, grand larceny and arson.  On Tuesday, Aug. 18,…

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