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Area News

McMaster presents restaurant, limited mask mandates to slow virus spread

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In a Wednesday afternoon press conference, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster presented an executive order that makes mandatory the measures which had previously been only recommended for restaurants, venues and other gathering places. They will go into effect Monday, Aug. 3. Then starting Aug. 5, McMaster said his executive order requires face masks be worn in…

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Main Street Laurens points to COVID, CDC guidelines, in decision to cancel Squealin’ 2020

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Laurens, South Carolina – COVID-19 has claimed another casualty this year with the cancellation of the 2020 Squealin’ on the Square, the barbecue festival which serves as the primary fundraiser for Main Street Laurens. “Our steering committee made the decision,” said Main Street director Jonathan Irick. “With the guidelines on social distancing, we just didn’t…

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PC football loses bulk of slate due to COVID-19

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A transition season as a Football Championship Subdivision independent between memberships in the Big South Conference and non-scholarship Pioneer League is proving to be a challenge for Presbyterian College during COVID-19. Conferences at all levels of college football are adjusting their schedules as they attempt to cope with COVID-19. Many of them have opted to…

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Capital Project Sales Tax will be on November ballot

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A referendum for a 1-cent Capital Project Sales Tax for Laurens County will be on the ballot in the November General Election. The Laurens County Council approved third reading of an ordinance that will send the proposal to the voters at its Tuesday night meeting. The “yes” or “no” question will now go to the South Carolina…

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Magistrate Court moving to The Ridge in August

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The Laurens County Magistrate’s Office is experiencing a high number of pending cases due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will be holding criminal and traffic court hearings at The Ridge in Laurens. The move is designed to alleviate overcrowding at the Hillcrest Judicial Complex, which is also the home of several county administrative offices. The…

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Hospital head urges masks to fight COVID surge

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The head of Prisma Health Laurens County Hospital asked members of the county’s Development Corporation Board to help encourage workers and residents in the county to wear masks and practice social-distancing measures as COVID-19 cases across the state continue to rise. “We’re in the middle of a surge,” said Laurens County Hospital Administrator Justin Benfield.…

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Deadline for small biz micro-grants Friday

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The Laurens County Council recently approved $50,000 in micro-grants that are to be allocated to local small businesses suffering due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Laurens County Small Business Micro-Grants, which will be limited to $1,500 apiece, are to be distributed by the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce. The deadline to apply for the grants…

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Candidate filing for non-partisan posts to open

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Registration for candidates in upcoming non-partisan local elections is set to open at noon on Tuesday, Aug. 4 and run through noon Monday, Aug. 17. The elections include four seats each on the Board of Trustees for School Districts 55 and 56, four seats on the Watershed Conservation District and a Greenville County School Board…

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District 55 board approves back to school plan

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After a lengthy work session Tuesday, the Board of Trustees of Laurens County School District 55 met in a special called board meeting and voted to support the re-opening plans presented by Superintendent Ameca Thomas. They also took action to approve a new calendar that moves the first day of school for students to September…

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