A Laurens County woman accused of having a sexual relationship with a teenage boy accepted a plea agreement and pleaded guilty Monday in 8th Circuit General Sessions Court. Chasity Creasy Sherfield, 26, pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and battery and was sentenced to four years in prison by Judge Allison Renee Lee. Under the plea…

If attendance holds up for this weekend’s Catfish Festival, event Chairman Rick Holland expects the population of Ware Shoals to increase more than 10-fold over the course of the weekend. “We average roughly 20,000-25,000 people, and Ware Shoals has a population of roughly 2,000, so it can be kind of overwhelming,” Holland said. The 39th…

Clinton, South Carolina – Sightings of a black bear in Clinton neighborhoods throughout the day and Sunday evening had Department of Natural Resources officers busy and Clinton residents driving around looking for the large animal, which was north of Clinton High School when officers last saw it Sunday night before dark. In case the bear returns, however, DNR…

A puppy in the care of the Laurens County Humane Society recently got both a new home and a new mission as an emotional support and service dog for a U.S. Army veteran. “Sage,” a black Labrador-German Shepherd mix, was adopted by retired U.S. Army solder Charles Degone of Augusta from the local humane society. According…

All three heads of Laurens County law enforcement agencies say they – like the rest of South Carolina – continue to operate shorthanded. But all implied that a state of need has become business as usual. “It’s just part of the business right now,” said Laurens Police Chief Chrissie Cofield, echoing a statement made moments…

Laurens County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Farrah Cook cradled the plaque identifying her as the county’s Officer of the Year and was asked how it all felt. She carefully measured her response for a beat. “It’s one of my greatest accomplishments,” she said. Another beat. “It’s a blessing to help people,” she said. Another beat. “I’m…

Laurens, South Carolina – Runners can get their costumes ready for next weekend’s annual Battlemud 2019, as the Family YMCA of Greater Laurens and Main Street Laurens host the Laurens County Mud Run, Battlemud 2019, sponsored by PRISMA Health. There is still space for participants in two-person teams for the Saturday, May 18 event, according to Jonathan Irick,…

Laurens, S.C. – As a way to thank the Laurens community for its support of veterans and expanding the work of American Legion, the American Legion Post 25 is offering a free ice cream social this weekend, May 11, on the south side of the Downtown Historic Square across from the Capitol Theatre. The Laurens-based…

A motorcyclist died Friday night after being struck by another vehicle on Harris Springs Road near Cross Hill. The victim was identified by the Laurens County Coroner’s Office as Earnest Raynor, 56, of Cross Hill. According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, Raynor was piloting a 2006 Suzuki motorcycle north on Harris Springs Road about…

Three local law enforcement officers have been nominated for the 2019 Laurens County Police Officer of the Year award. The award is given annually to an officer from among the Clinton Police Department, Laurens Police Department or the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office. This year’s awards luncheon is scheduled for noon on Tuesday, May 14 at…