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Area News

Know where to vote in District 14 primary

The special primary elections for Democratic and Republican candidates seeking the vacant seat in South Carolina House District 14 are set for Tuesday. Polling places within the District are set to open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Four Republicans – Grant Blair, Scott Horne, Stewart Jones and Michael Seymour – make up…

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County council votes to begin courthouse reno

The Laurens County Council voted Tuesday night at its regular meeting to take the first steps toward restoring the county’s most iconic building. The Historic Laurens County Courthouse, which sits in the middle of the square in downtown Laurens, could undergo a renovation and restoration that may cost as much as $10 million if council…

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3 teens arrested, charged with arson in house fire

Three Laurens teenagers have been arrested and charged with arson in a fire that destroyed an abandoned house on Garlington Street Sunday evening. The identities of the teenagers have not been released by the Laurens Police Department because they are minors. Two of the accused are 15 years old, and the third is 16. All…

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Muffin Mam plans to open Laurens bakery facility

A Simpsonville-based wholesale bakery has plans to expand and bring more than 100 jobs to Laurens County. Muffin Mam has tentative plans to place a second bakery facility in a spec building already constructed at Hunter Industrial Park. The plans are subject to the approval of $10 million in bonds, which will serve as a…

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District 14 candidates: In their own words

With only a few days remaining before the Tuesday’s special primary election in the South Carolina House District 14 race, the candidates are making their final stops. The Laurens County Farm Bureau is hosting a forum for all six candidates – four republicans and two democrats – at 7 p.m. Friday at the Farm Bureau…

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Fire destroys old Garlington Road house

Heavy rains Tuesday morning helped extinguish the remaining “hot spots” left by a Sunday fire that destroyed an unoccupied house on Garlington Street in Laurens. Laurens firefighters were called to the scene at 5:27 p.m. Sunday and found the two-story structure fully engulfed in flames. Laurens Fire Chief Bill Hughes said the cause of the…

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Second GOP forum set for District 14 race

Republican candidates seeking the nomination from their party for the South Carolina House District 14 special election will be involved in a political forum for the second straight week. Mike Pitts, who retired in December as District 14’s representative necessitating the special election, will host the forum beginning at 6 o’clock tonight (Feb. 11) at…

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A week and a half old, and Laurens quads ‘doing great’

Just over a week ago a young Laurens couple became the parents of quadruplets, when two boys, Jacobi and Gabriel, and two girls, Isabella and Arianah, were born just before 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, and on Thursday this week the parents were finally able to hold their new babies. Dylan and Ashley Hernandez had learned last…

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Swim Fan: Suspect dives into lake to avoid arrest

Deputies from the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office had to fish the subject of a car chase out of Lake Greenwood Wednesday. Jerry James Brown, 33, of Cross Hill attempted to evade deputies after being spotted in an allegedly stolen car out of Greenwood. Deputies initially spotted the vehicle on Highway 39 after receiving a trespassing…

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With transfer station closed, trash options explored

The Laurens County Council decided to reverse course at its last meeting on a deal that would have kept a garbage transfer station in Clinton open. With the transfer station now closed – operations ceased on Jan. 31 – Laurens County is now sending household garbage to Greenville County’s Twin Chimney landfill and considering options…

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