Area News
Arrests made after District 55 students made threats
The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Laurens District High School Student Wednesday after he allegedly made a threat concerning the school on social media. Mikal Aaron Culbertson, 17, remained in the Johnson Detention Center Thursday after being charged with disturbing schools because those comments were perceived as a threat and “caused fear throughout the…
Read MoreInvestigation continues into slaying of dogs
Local law-enforcement officials said a few phone tips have come in over the past week after the bodies of 15 dogs were discovered in a wooded area in Gray Court, but no arrests have been made. Mickey Fortin came across the morbid scene while on a walk along Stoddard Road near Bryson Ford Road on the…
Read MoreDHEC extends deadline for comments on CeramTec cleanup
The S.C. Department of Environmental Control (DHEC) has extended a public-comment period concerning a cleanup of contamination from two plants located on CeramTec property in Laurens. The first of at least two public meetings concerning contamination was held Feb. 6 at Laurens Elementary School. Another meeting is expected to be scheduled for sometime in March,…
Read MoreFiling period for elections begins March 16, Anthony won’t run
The filing period for candidates seeking nominations for the 2018 General Election is set to begin at noon on Friday, March 16 and will close at noon on Friday, March 30. In addition to South Carolina’s gubernatorial and other statewide elections, local races are to be contested among the Laurens County Council, state legislature and…
Read MoreMagistrate move leaves Gray Court lacking judge
A move by Laurens County to consolidate its magistrates’ office will temporarily leave the Town of Gray Court without a municipal judge. As of March 1, all four Laurens County magistrates will be working out of the Laurens County Judicial Complex at Hillcrest in an effort to better work through the office’s heavy caseload. Glynda…
Read MoreSafety concerns voiced after deadly accident on Hwy. 221
New Prospect Baptist Church secretary Jeri Lynn Nobles said she has watched drivers speed up and down Highway 221 near the church and feared one day a traffic accident would turn tragic. “We’re forever having wrecks down here,” Nobles said. “People are forever flying and passing down here on double lines. I’ve been scared to…
Read More15 Dogs found ‘executed’ in Gray Court
The picturesque nature photos featured on Mickey Fortin’s Facebook page were in sharp contrast to the live video post he made Tuesday morning. The Gray Court resident came across a grisly dumping ground, counting 11 dead dogs as he walked roughly 1.5 miles along Stoddard Road near Bryson Ford, going live on Facebook just prior…
Read MoreClinton reroutes traffic after Wednesday a.m. SCDOT incident
The City of Clinton is having to reroute traffic this morning after a piece of SC Department of Transportation equipment used for paving turned over at the corner of West Main and Elizabeth Streets. City of Clinton has crews from Department of Public Safety and Department of Public Works on hand to assist the SCDOT in…
Read More“50 years and it still gets to me” – Cooke remembers Orangeburg Massacre
Laurens, SC – The front artwork on the 1968 South Carolina State yearbook showed a collection of yearbook covers from the previous 14 years, giving little indication to the tragedy represented on the first pages. There on an “In Memorium” page were pictured the three young men who died 50 years ago. Delano Middleton, Samuel Hammonds and…
Read MoreLaurens man arrested in CPW truck theft after police chase
A Laurens man led local law enforcement on a vehicle chase after allegedly stealing a Laurens Commission of Public Works truck around 8:30 a.m. Thursday. According to Laurens Police Assistant Chief Chrissie Cofield, the chase ended after the suspect ran over stop sticks placed on Ora Road by deputies from the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office.…
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