Area News
Former detention center officer pleads guilty
A former officer at the Laurens County Detention Center arrested in 2020 for misconduct in office pleaded guilty Tuesday afternoon to six counts of misconduct in office and five counts of voyeurism. Phillip Kevin Tollison, 35, was sentenced to three years suspended to four months of incarceration on the voyeurism charges, and 10 years suspended…
Read MoreEuropastry to open bakery operation in county
A new commercial bakery is set to call Laurens County home. Europastry announced a $23 million investment in the county at Hunter Industrial Park in the former Muffin Mam location, a building that is already outfitted for a large commercial bakery. The bakery is expected to create 155 new jobs for the area. Muffin Mam…
Read MoreWilly Wonka returns to Clinton stage
Clinton, S.C. – In March of 2020, the Laurens County Community Theatre had just completed the first of its two weekend performances of Roald Dahl’s “Willy Wonka Jr.,” when the nation and the state shut down due to COVID-19. Last weekend the children’s musical finally returned to the stage for two weekends with the same…
Read MoreSLED charges former jail officers in inmate assault
Two former Laurens County Detention Center officers were arrested Thursday and face charges stemming from two incidents involving an inmate when they worked at the Johnson Detention Center this past April. According to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Randall Jones Sammons, 43, of Duncan and Steven Chad Wix, 31, of Whitmire have been…
Read MoreJuvenile charged with attempted murder after shooting
A juvenile was arrested Tuesday following a shooting incident in Laurens that sent one man to the hospital. According to the Laurens Police Department, the victim was shot in the abdomen near First and Second streets in Laurens and drove himself to Prisma Laurens Memorial Hospital, where he was interviewed by LPD officers. The victim…
Read MoreRenovations set to start on LPD offices
Renovations to the Laurens Police Department offices and municipal courtroom on West Main Street are set to begin Thursday (Sept. 1). The LPD and city announced last week that the West Main Street offices, which also houses the municipal judge’s chambers and courtroom, were closed and would remain so for the duration of the renovation…
Read More2 arrested as LCSO busts alleged puppy mill
Tuesday afternoon, Anderson County PAWS put out a call for emergency foster homes for animals seized an alleged Enoree puppy mill in Laurens County. “PAWS is assisting with a puppy mill seizure and need your assistance with foster homes for some of our current residents,” a PAWS social media post read. Two people have been…
Read MoreClinton plans Thursday evening fun, celebrates new ice cream shop
Clinton, S.C. – For many months Laila’s Place Ice Cream has been providing sweet treats from its mobile cart, and now the family business owned by Newberry residents Jason and Tia Devette is proving a welcome addition to the Main Street Clinton landscape, said Main Street Clinton Manager Joe Timmons. “It’s been packed,” Timmons said.…
Read MoreLaurens woman struck and killed by pickup
A Laurens woman was killed Saturday night after being struck by a vehicle on Highway 49 near Eagle Road. Suzanne Smith, 57, was a pedestrian on Highway 49 just north of the Highway 49/Highway 221 intersection when she was struck by a 1994 Chevy pickup around 10 p.m. According to South Carolina Highway Patrol Master…
Read MoreFamily of deceased JDC inmate suing LCSO, Reynolds
The family of an Enoree man who died in custody at the Johnson Detention Center last July has filed a lawsuit against the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Don Reynolds. Jarvis Johnmichael “Mikey” Evans suffered what the LCSO described as a “medical emergency” at the detention center. An official cause of death was not…
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