A special meeting is set for this evening to discuss the upcoming referendum for a Special Projects Sales Tax for Laurens County. Walter Hughes is Chair of the Special Project Sales Tax Commission, which has selected the list of projects to be funded, should the sales tax be approved by voters.

On the WLBG Morning News Magazine this morning, Hughes said the commissioners have worked hard to bring to the voters a solid package that hits a lot of categories in different areas of Laurens County. He said he is very comfortable with the projects list, noting it includes everything from parks and recreation to a renovated EMS facility, balancing needs and wants. Other projects include a facility at the site of the fairgrounds for an agricultural exhibition center, a Martha Dendy Center and a new library for Clinton.

Walter Hughes noted that, other than Union County, all other counties that surround Laurens County have already had a special projects sales tax; in fact, some are on their second or third. He said having a special projects sales tax of one percent funds these needed projects without having to increase property tax.

Walter Hughes said that the special projects sales tax will not be paid on the purchase of gasoline, groceries or prescription drugs. He said the Special Projects Sales Tax Commission has worked hard to bring the voters a solid package that hits a lot of different categories along with different locations around Laurens County.

The Special Projects Sales Tax Commission is holding a meeting at 7:00 this evening to explain more about the projects and the process of a Special Projects Sales Tax. Walter Hughes said that the public may view the meeting live at the Special Projects Commission’s Facebook page. That can be accessed by going to: www.YesToInvestLC.com

This site also has information on the projects that are to be funded, should Laurens County voters approve the referendum November 3rd.

At the September meeting of the Laurens County District 55 School Board last evening, Superintendent Dr. Ameca Thomas reported that the district is still on the Hybrid Model with students attending class face to face two days a week.

Noting that in a survey, 62% of Parents said that they want their kids back in school five days a week, Trustee Cathy Little said, “We need to have these kids back in school now. Why do we even send these surveys out, if we don’t pay attention to the results? What do we do, just look at them?”  Mrs. Little said that surrounding districts have returned to a five- day face to face schedule safely.

District 55 Trustee Terri Martin replied, “I want these kids back the same as you, but I would rather have a parent mad at me, than me having to look at a parent who has lost a child to this virus.”

Susan Calhoun Ware was granted permission to distribute a letter she had written to the board and read it aloud. It began, “In all my years with the district we have never faced anything like this, and as a collective board we have failed to be supportive of each other, the administration, and the communities that we represent. We are seven individuals who had taken the oath of office and agreed to ethical procedures, but we have failed to uphold them.”

Calhoun-Ware went on to say that we should not be influenced by personal politics, special interest groups or personal agendas, and that, “I feel compelled, to say that this is not  a one man show, no one person should speak on behalf of the board. We can’t listen to special interest groups.” She asked, “Have we listened to the vocal minority or the silent majority? Our superintendent is hired to run the district, we should not interfere. Some are using micro-managing tactics to conduct their own personal agendas. It is disappointing, unethical, and It needs to stop. We should not call weekly meetings with Dr. Thomas, it interferes with her job.”

The discussion ended with a vote to approve a plan suggested by Superintendent Thomas to remain in the yellow, Hybrid, learning phase until conditions improve, allowing District 55 to move to the Green phase, with students back in class five days a week.

Laurens County School District 56 Superintendent David O’Shields had praise last evening for the district administrators, teachers, bus drivers, nutrition personnel and custodians. Dr. O’Shields’ Superintendent’s report heaped praise on what he termed a “team of super-heroes” who undertook tasks without being asked and often times worked without compensation in order to make the opening of school happen for the district’s students.  O’Shields said that he honestly could not have predicted that, given the array of challenges facing the district, the beginning of the 2020/2021 school year would have gone as smoothly as it did.  He expressed gratitude to all district employees and said he was proud to be associated with people of such caliber.

Toward the end of the board meeting, it was Dr. O’Shields’ turn to receive accolades.  The board conducted their annual review of the superintendent’s performance.  Chairman Jim Barton used words like “exemplary” and “outstanding” to describe the performance of Dr. O’Shields just after the board voted unanimously to extend his contract for another year.

Chairman Barton also pointed out that due to the prevailing uncertainty of finances facing the district, the board had voted unanimously to extend the contract with no change in salary.  He stated that when the financial picture came more into focus the board has the option of revisiting the salary package of the superintendent.

Laurens Police yesterday arrested a man and woman for allegedly stealing children’s diapers and an easy bake oven. 32-year-old Brandon Scott Bradly and 33-year-old Sharon Kayla Oliver were booked as homeless persons, charged with Petit Larceny. They are accused of taking the items from a location in Western Square shopping center off West Main yesterday. Ms. Oliver was also charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. She is accused of having 1.2 grams of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine in her possession yesterday. Brandon Scott Brady was released on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond later yesterday. Sharon Kayla Oliver was released on personal recognizance bonds on her two charges totaling $11,000.

An assault early this month in Laurens County was alleged with an arrest by the Sheriff’s Office yesterday. 49-year-old James Robert Long of Old Stable Lane, Laurens was charged with 3rd Degree Assault and Battery. He is accused of striking the victim on the chin with his fist on the 4th of September. Mr. Long remained in the Johnson Detention Center earlier this morning, awaiting a bond hearing.

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The District 56 School Board will be meeting at 7:30 this evening in the Clinton High School Auditorium.

The District 55 School Board meets at 6:30, with only staff, trustees and those scheduled to speak to the board allowed. The public may view the proceedings online, with a link available at Laurens55.org

One woman arrested following an alleged assault on another woman last Thursday was charged Friday with 2nd Degree Assault and Battery. The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office served a warrant charging 21-year-old Brittany Ann Faith Lockey of Windy Lane, Simpsonville with punching the victim in the head and face multiple times, causing her to lose consciousness. The victim reportedly sought medical treatment following the assault. Brittany Ann Faith was later released from the Johnson Detention Center on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond.

William Michael Watts

The theft of a trailer and sale of a stolen trailer last month were alleged with a Laurens County Sheriff’s Office arrest Friday. 24-year-old William Michael Watts of Morgan Road, Hodges was charged with Petit Larceny and Obtaining Signature or Property under False Pretense. He is accused of taking a 2015 Superior slat-side utility trailer from a victim on August 9th and of selling a stolen trailer valued at $925 on the August 16th. With cash or surety bonds set totaling $20,000 on the two charges, William Michael Watts remained in the Johnson Detention Center this morning.

Vickie Lynn Cheek

After a Thursday arrest, State Probation charged 41-year-old Vickie Lynn Clark of Highway 76 East, Clinton with Violation of Probation. Failures allegedly included changing residence without the consent of her agent. Vickie Lynn Clark remained in the Johnson Detention Center this morning with a cash or surety bond set at $50,000.

Laurens Police arrested a Southern Greenville County resident yesterday in connection with an assault to a woman and her car earlier this month. 32-year-old John Ellis Patton of Augusta Road, Belton, between Princeton and Ware Place, was charged with Assault and Battery 3rd Degree and Malicious Damage to Personal Property. He is accused of breaking the driver’s side window of the victim’s vehicle while she was seated inside on September 16th, causing fear of harm. While personal recognizance bonds were set totaling $3,212.50 on the two charges, John Ellis Patton remained in Laurens County’s Johnson Detention Center this morning, on hold for Abbeville County.