Laurens, South Carolina – In front of a large group of District 55 students, parents, teachers and Sanders High School Alumni Association members, Harold Ligon explained that while he did not have the opportunity to shake hands with Martin Luther King Jr., he did follow King’s civil rights work and heard King speak while he…
A residence on East Hampton Avenue in Laurens was completely destroyed by fire Monday as plumes of smoke rose high above the downtown area. City of Laurens firefighters were on the scene of the blaze four minutes after being dispatched at 11:09 a.m., and found the house heavily consumed with fire, said Laurens Fire Chief…
Several warming stations have been set up in Laurens County as residents brave freezing temperatures this week. Overnight shelters include the Laurens Police Department and Christ Central Mission Station in Joanna. Daytime warming stations are located at the Laurens YMCA on Anderson Drive in Laurens and at the Clinton YMCA on YMCA Drive in…
An accident at an I-385 rest area in Laurens County involving four vehicles, including a pair of 18-wheel semi trucks, sent two people to the hospital Wednesday morning. The accident occurred around 8:30 a.m. when an 18-wheel tanker truck carrying animal remnants attempted to pull into the rest area at Exit 6. The tanker rammed…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…