Area News
Full-staff Notice – Inauguration of President Donald J. Trump
The Governor has ordered that the flags atop the State Capitol and on all state buildings shall be returned to full-staff and the ordinary manner of display in accordance with Title 4, Section 6(d) of the United States Code, at sunrise on Jan. 20, 2025, in recognition of the inauguration of the 47th President of…
Read MoreCarroll elected as county council chairman
Laurens County Council members spoke of unity as a theme for the coming year Monday night at council’s first meeting of 2025. Council welcomed newly elected members Matthew Brownlee (District 2), Justin Lane (District 7) and Arthur Lee Philson Jr. (District 6), and in its first order of business elected a new chairman and vice-chairman.…
Read MoreSCDOT reminds Laurens County residents to put debris out to the curb by Jan. 20
Columbia, S.C. (January 16, 2024) The South Carolina Department of Transportation is making a final pass for debris in many impacted counties. The counties currently in the final debris pickup phase include Abbeville, Anderson, Barnwell, Cherokee, Edgefield, Greenwood, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Saluda and Union. Since debris collection began following Hurricane Helene, SCDOT has collected more…
Read MoreLaurens Electric offers students free trips, scholarship opportunities
Deadline to apply is February 3 Laurens Electric Cooperative is offering nine local students an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. or Columbia, S.C., this summer. The annual Washington Youth Tour and Cooperative Youth Summit contests include submitting an application and participating in a video interview process. After co-op officials judge the entrants, nine students will…
Read MoreCHS student arrested after gun, marijuana found in vehicle
An 18-year-old Clinton High School student was in jail Wednesday after a firearm and marijuana were discovered in a vehicle belonging to the student in the student parking lot. Jalen Shands was taken into custody and transported to the Johnson Detention Center where he is awaiting a bond hearing scheduled for Thursday morning. According to…
Read MoreLaurens County schools close in anticipation of snow, ice
Friday’s forecast for severe winter weather has caused both Laurens County school districts 55 and 56 as well as Thornwell Charter School and Laurens Academy to close Friday. Districts 55 and 56 will shift to e-learning on Friday as will Laurens Academy. LA officials said their e-learning assignments will not require internet connectivity. Thornwell…
Read MoreBenfield leaving Laurens Co. Chamber for Fountain Inn post
Laurens County Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Amanda Benfield will be leaving that post in February to accept a new position with the City of Fountain Inn. The Fountain Inn City Council voted unanimously to approve Benfield’s hire at a short meeting Thursday night. Benfield, who has spent the past seven years as head of the…
Read MorePowerSchool breach may impact Districts 55, 56
Laurens County, South Carolina – An international cybersecurity data breach has impacted a portion of PowerSchool’s customers, including Districts 55 and 56 in Laurens County. On Thursday, the information had been posted to District 56’s website and District 55 sent a letter to its families and staff. The South Carolina Department of Education press release…
Read MoreSpartanburg man dies in Clinton crash
A Spartanburg man was killed about 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8, in a two-vehicle crash in Clinton. Laurens County Deputy Corner Ashley Rushton identified the victim as Nicolas Perez Mendez, 54. According to Rushton, Perez was a passenger in the rear seat of a 2025 Toyota SUV that collided with a box truck at Highway…
Read MoreRabid Raccoon Confirmed in Laurens County; Two Pets Exposed
Columbia, South Carolina The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) confirmed that a raccoon found near Malone Drive and Shady Grove Church Road in Clinton, S.C., has tested positive for rabies. No people are known to have been exposed at this time. Two dogs were exposed and will be quarantined as required in the…
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