For an unknown period of time. Mike Hughes will continue to post a sports report here on www.wlbg.com as he has done in the past.

Please look for it in the usual area and please note his request at the start of each sports report.

After over 75 years of serving Laurens County, WLBG cease broadcast operations about 3:15 pm on Monday, 3-31-2025.

The station remains for sale if anyone wants to continue the fine legacy of the station.

For inquiries about this, contact Emil Finley at efinley@wlbg.com.

 

Note: For a short time yet to be determined, Mike Hughes will continue posting a Sports Report as usual. How long that will be is dependent on several factors not the least of which is you desire to see this continue. For more information about that, see any of his Sports Reports since just before the station ceased broadcasting.

 Presbyterian College has been recognized as a FirstGen Forward Network Champion, a national designation that honors institutions committed to supporting first-generation college students. 

PC is one of only 18 higher education institutions in the country selected for this year’s class, highlighting its leadership in advancing academic success and expanding resources for students who are the first in their families to attend college.

“This designation is a tremendous honor and a reflection of our unwavering commitment to first-generation students,” said PC president Dr. Anita Gustafson. “At PC, we believe in transforming lives through education, and this recognition affirms the work we do to ensure our students have the resources, mentorship, and opportunities they need to succeed. As a college rooted in the values of service and community, we are proud to lead the way in fostering a future where every student, regardless of background, can achieve their highest potential.”

Dr. Selena Blair, the Rogers-Ingram Vice President for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at PC, expressed gratitude for the collective effort that led to this recognition.

“Becoming a FirstGen Forward Network Champion is a testament to the dedication of our faculty, staff, and students who work tirelessly to support and uplift first-generation students at Presbyterian College,” Blair said. “I am especially grateful to Dr. Joleesa Royal, our FirstGen Leadership Team, the FirstGen Steering Committee members, as well as every campus and community partner for their commitment to fostering an environment where every student has the opportunity to succeed. Our shared mission is affirmed by this recognition and I look forward to continuing this important work together.”

Network Champion institutions are an exclusive group serving as national leaders in advancing first-generation efforts and contributing to an important knowledge base of evidence-based practices, leadership engagement, and scaling student supports. 

The FirstGen Forward Network provides a three-phase approach—Network Member, Network Leader, and Network Champion—to scaling holistic first-generation student success by engaging and empowering higher education institutions to transform the first-generation student experience, advance academic and co-curricular outcomes, and build more inclusive institutional structures. To date, 429 institutions of higher education, including two statewide systems, have entered the Network, representing 49 states and the District of Columbia.

Dr. Stephanie J. Bannister, vice president of FirstGen Forward, praised PC’s leadership in first-generation student success.

“As one of only 32 institutions in the country to have been recognized as a Network Champion, Presbyterian College has displayed a commitment to actively adopting the continuous improvement model and aligning efforts with institutional priorities to guide first-generation students to completion,” Bannister said. “Not only is Presbyterian College doing excellent work to support its own first-generation students, but it continues to provide support and add to evidence-based practices that serve as a model for others working in higher education.”

While movement to this phase signals an important progression, Network Champions remain actively involved and committed to continuous improvement principles while emphasizing institution-focused strategic priorities to improve first-generation students’ experiences and completion rates.

FirstGen Forward CEO Maurice Jones emphasized the long-term impact of institutions like Presbyterian College in shaping opportunities for first-generation students.

“With 54 percent of current undergraduate students identifying as first-generation, achieving unprecedented FirstGen student success will have a life-changing impact across generations, as college completion is a significant contributor to education, workforce, and life success for the families of graduates,” Jones said. “To be named a Network Champion is an honor and a testament to the work of Presbyterian College–evidence that it is a national leader in this area, and a role model for the field for years to come.”

To learn more about first-generation efforts at Presbyterian College, visit Presby First+. To learn more about FirstGen Forward and the Network, visit firstgenforward.org.

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About FirstGen Forward

FirstGen Forward™, formerly the Center for First-generation Student Success, partners with higher education, philanthropy, business, the public sector and others to catalyze first-generation student success in education, career and life.

About Presbyterian College

 Inspired by the motto, “While We Live, We Serve,” Presbyterian College celebrates an enduring culture of academic rigor, honor, and service.

PC is a nationally-ranked liberal arts college that provides students of all faiths, identities, and backgrounds with a transformative education to equip them for impactful careers and empower them to serve as powerful forces for positive change. PC’s distinctive approach uses innovative service as a tool of self-discovery, an amplifier of problem-solving skills, and a catalyst of curiosity which is epitomized by the newly-developed Center for Inquiry, Research, and Scholarship (CIRAS).

PC was founded in 1880 by the Rev. William Plumer Jacobs in the historic city of Clinton in the foothills of South Carolina. The college offers a wide variety of undergraduate majors and has established three graduate programs in occupational therapy, physician assistant, and pharmacy that firmly place the college as a hub for science in higher education. PC student-athletes — the Blue Hose — participate in 19 sports at the Division I level.

For more information about Presbyterian College, go to www.presby.edu.

No bond on all charges a Union man is facing. The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office arrested 26-year-old, Dijon Akiem McDonald on March 24th. McDonald’s charges are Armed Robbery, while armed with a deadly weapon, Criminal Conspiracy, Possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and an Unspecified Warrant. According to the arrest warrants, on February 22nd, McDonald allegedly planned the crime of Armed Robbery by unlawful means against the victim. He allegedly took various clothing items from the victim with the intent to deprive while armed with a handgun. The offenses took place on North Main Street in Cross Hill.

The South Carolina Forestry Commission is issuing a State Forester’s Burning Ban for all counties. A State Forester’s Burning Ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including yard debris burning, prescribed burning, campfires, bonfires and other recreational fires in all unincorporated areas of the state. Forestry Commission officials say weather conditions over the next several days present a greatly elevated risk of wildfire. The high winds and gusts that prompted the agency to issue a Red Flag Fire Alert yesterday are expected to persist across the state through the weekend.

Additionally, extremely low relative humidities – reaching below 30% in most areas – add to the fire danger. “The combination of gusty winds and low relative humidity is a recipe for wildfires igniting easily and spreading rapidly,” said SCFC Fire Chief Darryl Jones, “especially when you add to the mix the abundance of dry, late-winter fuels on the ground.” The ban will stay in effect until further notice, which will come in the form of an official announcement from the Forestry Commission.

GLEAMNS Human Resources Commission, Inc. invited guest readers during Read Across America Week. This celebration took place from March 2-6. This initiative aimed to foster a love of reading, improve literacy skills, and emphasize the importance of making reading a fun and engaging part of children’s lives. Read Across America Week is an annual celebration that encourages schools, families, and communities to promote reading among children and celebrate the joy of literacy and books. We celebrated in all of our eleven Head Start Centers in the counties that we serve.

As part of this nationwide celebration, GLEAMNS encouraged Board of Commissioners, community leaders, and administrative staff to volunteer their time to read to our young learners. This event not only highlights the importance of literacy but also strengthens community ties by allowing local leaders to engage with families and children in a meaningful way.

“We believe that reading is fundamental to a child’s growth and development. Our commitment to fostering a love for reading is essential in shaping the minds of our future leaders. When we come together as a community to support our children’s early education, we empower them with the knowledge and confidence they need to dream big and achieve greatness. Every book read and every story shared lays the foundation for their success and our collective future,” said Dr. Ameca Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of GLEAMNS. “By inviting guest readers from our community, we hope to instill a lifelong love of reading and learning in our children while showcasing the support of the community.”

GLEAMNS Human Resources Commission, Inc. is dedicated to empowering individuals and families through various programs and services, education, family support services, employment, weatherization, food, utility, and rental assistance. Our goal is to enhance the quality of life in our communities through innovative and compassionate service that will help individuals become self-sufficient.

Yesterday, shortly after 6pm, Chief Deputy Coroner Ashley Rushton responded to the area of Cannon Rd and Riverfork Rd in Waterloo in reference to a truck vs sedan . The driver of the sedan was the sole occupant of the vehicle and was pronounced deceased on scene and has been identified as 84-year-old female, Mary Anderson of Waterloo, SC. The incident is being investigation by the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Laurens County Coroner’s Office. No further details are available at this time.

In a bold step to address the growing need for more healthcare professionals, Piedmont Technical College will break grounds Monday March 31st  on a $16.1 million health sciences building.

The new facility on the college’s Lex Walters Campus-Greenwood will allow students to receive high-quality training in real-world conditions. The two-story, 27,000 square-foot building is expected to have 10 simulation rooms, six skills labs with collaborative teaching spaces, a catheterization and echocardiography lab as well as classrooms and computer labs.

PTC President Dr. Hope E. Rivers said the groundbreaking is a significant milestone that furthers the college’s mission of transforming lives and strengthening communities throughout its seven-county service area.

“The national shortage of healthcare professionals is no longer just a statistic—it’s a reality right here in our community,” Rivers said. “Conversations with local employers have made it clear that we must act now to address these urgent workforce needs. Our new center for health sciences will allow us to strengthen our programs and train the next generation of skilled professionals. This investment comes at a critical moment, strengthening both our local economy and the well-being of our communities.”

Self Regional Healthcare is purchasing and donating $1.3 million worth of equipment for the new facility, including:

• Advanced patient simulators, including a system known as an Anatomage Table that features digitized human cadavers and superior medical learning tools
• Hospital beds and bed tables
• Infusion pumps
• Mobile computing workstations
• Ultrasound systems

Given the size of this donation, PTC officials are naming the new building as the Self Regional Healthcare Center for Health Sciences.

“We are thrilled to partner with Piedmont Technical College on this vital initiative,” said Dr. Matt Logan, president and CEO of Self Regional Healthcare. “The healthcare professionals who learn and train in this new facility will go on to make a lasting impact, providing exceptional care within the Self Regional Healthcare system and improving lives in our community for generations to come.”

Rivers said the support from Self Regional Healthcare will enhance the educational opportunities for students enrolled in programs such as nursing, cardiovascular technology, emergency services, radiologic technology, respiratory care and surgical technology.

“Equipping our new building with the latest technology is essential,” Rivers said. “We are incredibly grateful for the support of our partners, whose commitment to this project ensures that our students receive the highest-quality training.”

A major share of the funding for the Self Regional Healthcare Center for Health Sciences is coming from a $11 million grant that PTC received last year from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration to foster healthcare workforce development. State funding also accounts for a significant share of the project’s cost.

Upon its completion in July 2026, the Self Regional Healthcare Center for Health Sciences will replace PTC’s existing healthcare facilities built in 1991.

To learn more about PTC’s healthcare programs, visit http://www.ptc.edu/healthsciences.

Creighton Waters, the lead prosecutor in the high-profile Alex Murdaugh trial, delivered the 2025 Samuel C. Waters Lecture in Political Science at Presbyterian College on Wednesday, offering students and attendees an in-depth look at the challenges of prosecuting corruption cases, the role of the State Grand Jury, and the landmark case that captivated the nation.

Speaking in Edmunds Hall, Waters—who serves as senior assistant deputy attorney general and chief attorney for the South Carolina State Grand Jury—provided a behind-the-scenes account of investigating and prosecuting Murdaugh, a once-prominent attorney convicted in 2023 of murdering his wife and son and later sentenced for stealing millions from clients in an elaborate financial fraud scheme.

A Career in Prosecuting Public Corruption

Waters opened the lecture with his characteristic dry humor, noting that the event’s namesake, Samuel C. Waters—his father and a 1966 Presbyterian College graduate—was responsible for his invitation to speak at the college. “Nepotism is alive and well here,” he joked, setting a conversational tone before diving into the complexities of prosecuting corruption in South Carolina.

Waters first detailed the role of the South Carolina State Grand Jury, which was established in 1989 to handle complex criminal investigations beyond the jurisdiction of local solicitors. The grand jury’s authority expanded to include public corruption after the Operation Lost Trust scandal, a massive FBI-led bribery case that resulted in more than 20 state lawmakers being convicted in the 1990s.

“After that, politicians had a choice,” Waters said. “They could either expand the grand jury’s authority to investigate corruption—or make sure it never had that power again. Fortunately, South Carolinians pushed for accountability.”

Waters, who has prosecuted sheriffs, state officials, and corporate executives, emphasized that political corruption cases often involve powerful figures who attempt to manipulate the system. 

“The toughest cases are not always about proving what someone did—but proving why people should care,” he said.

Inside the Murdaugh Investigation

While Waters’ career has included high-profile corruption cases, he acknowledged that nothing prepared him for the media storm surrounding the Murdaugh trial. The case, which became the subject of documentaries, podcasts, and wall-to-wall news coverage, centered on Alex Murdaugh, a once-powerful South Carolina lawyer who was convicted of murdering his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, in June 2021.

Waters described the moment he and his team took over the case in August 2021—only to find themselves in a whirlwind of national scrutiny and unprecedented complexity.

“Usually, prosecutors work behind the scenes,” Waters said. “Then suddenly, we were on every true crime podcast, every 24-hour news network, and even in knitted doll form. I did not expect to have my own action figure by the end of this.”

He recounted how Murdaugh’s financial crimes—stealing nearly $9 million from clients—were key to proving his motive in the murder trial.

“Everything was coming to a head,” Waters said. “And then the murders happened. And the theory that we put out to the jury was that this actually worked because when the murders happened, when accountability was at Alec’s door, when the violence happened, guess what? After the violence happened, nobody cares about the diverted fees.”

Breaking Down the Case

Waters provided a step-by-step breakdown of how digital evidence played a crucial role in convicting Murdaugh.

One of the biggest breakthroughs came from Paul Murdaugh’s phone. Investigators recovered a video recorded minutes before his death, proving that Murdaugh was at the crime scene—despite his alibi stating otherwise.

He also described Murdaugh’s erratic behavior before and after the murders, from stealing millions to fund a lavish lifestyle to faking his own shooting in a bizarre roadside incident.

The prosecution’s timeline and vehicle telemetry data further dismantled Murdaugh’s defense. “We used OnStar data to track his movements to the second,” Waters explained. “When he said he was napping, his phone was lighting up, moving around, and checking voicemails.”

Waters then recalled a moment from his opening statement at trial—one that seemed almost scripted by fate.

“When I did my opening statement in Colleton County, in the murder case, as I was giving my opening statement, I was going to get to this gathering storm theme. All of a sudden, outside,

it started to darken. You could hear the wind pick up, and you could hear the branches rustling. You could hear limbs and pine cones falling out of the trees. Because there was a huge thunderstorm coming our way. And I’m like, this is providence, right?”

A Lesson in Justice

Throughout the lecture, Waters emphasized the responsibility of prosecutors to seek justice, not just convictions.

“A criminal prosecutor’s job is not to win at all costs—it’s to do what’s right,” Waters said. “Even if it means dropping a case when the evidence isn’t there.”

He stressed that no one is above the law, citing Murdaugh’s fall from power as proof that privilege does not guarantee immunity. In a clip from the press conference following Murdaugh’s conviction, Waters said the verdict was a win for justice.

“Justice was done today,” he said after the trial. “It doesn’t matter who your family is. It doesn’t matter how much money you have or how much people think you have. It doesn’t matter what you think. If you do wrong. If you break the law, if you murder, then justice will be done in South Carolina. And I think South Carolina showed the nation and the world how a process can work and work well.”

Closing Thoughts

Waters concluded his lecture with a reminder to future legal professionals in the audience: the legal system relies on people with integrity.

“Some cases will consume your life,” he admitted. “Some cases will test your patience, your morals, and even your sanity. But the best cases—the ones that matter—are the ones where you walk away knowing you did the right thing.”

The lecture, which was free and open to the public, was co-sponsored by the Waters Lecture Series and the college’s Russell Program.

A Clinton man was recently arrested by the Clinton Police Department for Breach of Peace, aggravated  in nature. 21-year-old, Steven Antwan Redd, Jr was arrested for the alleged charge March 20^th. According  arrest warrant report  on February 24^th, Redd allegedly fired multiple rounds from a firearm while in the parking lot area of  an Apartment Complex causing fear to the residents nearby. This offense occurred on Countryside Circle which is located within the city limits of Clinton. Steven Redd Jr remain behind bars this morning at the Laurens County Johnson Detention Center. His cash surety bond is $20,000. 

WLBG Radio is scheduled to leave the air  Monday night, March 31^st. This is a painful decision we came to after years of searching for possible future ownership for WLBG.

When my company purchased WLBG in 1983, it was operating at a financial loss, having slumped in business since WLBG-FM was sold and turned into a Greenville station. By focusing on Laurens County, covering our local community with news, sports and a wide variety of programs that uniquely served Laurens County, and with great, loyal employees, we were able to resurrect WLBG to again become an active, community-based radio station. In the 1980’s, when most AM stations were in decline, some leaving the air, we had wonderful growth in both listeners and advertisers to support our programming.

For the past eight years, our goal was to find new ownership to take over WLBG and take it to the next level, ensuring WLBG’s service to the community into the future. Over these years of searching, it has become obvious that social media is the focus for younger generations, to the detriment of more traditional media.

We are deeply grateful to all the organizations we were able to work with to serve the good of our community. We thank all our listeners for listening and contacting us with ideas for us to cover. We appreciate our staff and our Vice-President, Mike Johnson, for your efforts. We especially thank the business community who have supported WLBG by letting us advertise for them.

For any questions, the email: efinley@wlbg.com will remain active for a few months. Meanwhile, we will not immediately return our license to operate on 860 & 104.1 to the FCC; just in case our departure sparks an idea that has not yet occurred to a potential buyer.

Thank you,

Emil 

Emil Finley

Southeastern Broadcast Associates, Inc.

The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office recently arrested two people for Domestic Violence, 2nd Degree and Drugs/Trafficking in meth 10 grams or more, but less than 28 grams-1st Offense. 36-year-old, Abigail Marie Smith, and 36-year-old, Corey Allen Hester, both of Fountain Inn was arrested for the alleged charges. According to their arrest warrants, on March 18th, Smith allegedly bit the victim’s pinking finger on his right hand. Hester allegedly bit the victim twice and struck her in the face and pulled her back inside their home while she was outside screaming for the neighbors to call 911. Law Enforcement found inside Smith and Hester’s home a red, white, and black container on the kitchen table that was open with a white chopped up substance that later field tested to be positive as methamphetamine and weighted out to be 13 grams. This was noticed by law enforcement after they were invited inside their home and made a lawful arrest. According to the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office website, Smith and Hester has two additional charges of 2 counts of Unlawful Neglect of a child. Abigail Smith and Corey Hester both remain behind bars this morning at the Laurens County Johnson Detention Center.

Laurens County, SC, January 15, 2025 – Visit Laurens County, the tourism arm of Laurens County, operating
under the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce (LCCC) in collaboration with Laurens County Administration
and Laurens County Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, is proud to host the Laurens County Ag+Art Tour on
Saturday, May 17th, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. This event is free and open to the public.
The South Carolina Ag+Art Tour, led by Clemson Extension, is the nation’s largest free, self-guided farm tour,
highlighting local artisans and farms. It provides a unique opportunity to explore food sources, watch art
demonstrations, enjoy one-of-a-kind shopping, and gain insights into rural life. Since its inception in 2012,
the tour has attracted over 85,000 visitors and has become nationally recognized for its impact on rural
revitalization, farm-art collaboration, and agricultural education.
Committee co-chairs Christian Taylor, LCCC Tourism Marketing Manager, and Courtney Stonell, Keep Laurens
County Beautiful Affiliate Coordinator, shared their excitement: “We’re thrilled to showcase our local farms in
the County! Last year, the event was a huge success, and we welcomed over 400 attendees.”
Tour Sites:
Joe R. Adair Outdoor Education Center – Laurens, SC
LoLo Pottery – Gray Court, SC
LushAcres Farm – Clinton, SC
Barefoot Acres – Fountain Inn
BlackBerry Hill Farm – Clinton, SC
Will Do Jerseys Farm – Kinards, SC
Artisan applications are open through, April 15. Handcrafted items such as food, pottery, paintings and more are
welcome. If you’re interested, apply at www.agandarttour.com/for-artisans.
Please note, there is a $25 booth fee for both days of the event.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this celebration of food, art, and community!
For more details on each site, visit www.agandarttour.com/laurens, and for the latest updates and behind-thescenes peeks at the farm sites and artisans participating in the tour, be sure to follow us on Facebook.

Upstate Earth Month is just around the corner, and organizers are calling on volunteers, businesses, and community groups to make this year’s initiative the biggest and most impactful yet. Throughout April, communities across the Upstate will unite to tackle litter, enhance public spaces, and promote sustainability.

Last year’s effort was nothing short of incredible—2,168 volunteers came together to remove a staggering 67,375 pounds of litter and 292 tires from our communities. This year, the goal is to build on that momentum and make an even greater impact!

Why Get Involved?

• Support a cleaner, healthier environment
• Engage employees and community members in meaningful volunteer work
• Gain recognition for sustainability efforts through local and social media
• Be part of a larger movement driving environmental change

“By participating in Upstate Earth Month, volunteers and organizations are contributing to a unified effort to Keep It Clean across the Upstate,” said Courtney Stonell, Keep Laurens County Beautiful Affiliate Coordinator. “Whether you’re a business looking for a team-building opportunity or an individual ready to make a difference, there are plenty of ways to get involved.”

Flexible cleanup dates and locations make it easy for everyone to participate. Businesses, schools, civic groups, and individuals are encouraged to sign up and take part in the movement for a cleaner Upstate.

To get involved or learn more, contact Courtney Stonell at cstonell@laurenscounty.org or Call/ Text (864)871-6031

Let’s work together to create a cleaner, more beautiful Upstate!

A Laurens woman was recently arrested by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office for Assault and Battery 3rd Degree and Malicious damage to personal property. 27-year-old, Shianne Jarrett, was arrested for the alleged charges March 12th. According to the arrest warrant report, on March 11th, Jarrett allegedly struck the victim in her head with a closed fist in the presence of law enforcement. This incident occurred on Ridgecrest Drive in Fountain Inn. Jarrett is also accused of damaging the victim’s interior door, exterior door, and shattered the window. This incident also took place on Ridgecrest Drive in Fountain Inn. Shianne Jarrett remain behind bars this morning at the Laurens County Johnson Detention Center.

A Prosperity man was sentenced Monday to 33 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including the killing a K-9 officer while Newberry County deputies and SLED agents were attempting to serve warrants for a burglary, 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Tuesday.

James Robert Peterson, 38, of Prosperity, pleaded guilty Monday afternoon to one count of first-degree burglary, three counts of attempted murder and one count each of cruelty to a police dog or horse and resisting arrest with a deadly weapon. Circuit Judge William McMaster then sentenced Peterson to 28 years in prison on each of the burglary and attempted murder charges and 10 years in prison on the resisting arrest charge, with all those sentences to be served concurrently. Judge McMaster, at the request of the State, then sentenced Peterson to five years in prison on the cruelty to a police dog charge—the current maximum sentence for that charge under state law—with that sentence to be served consecutively.

In the nighttime hours of May 24, 2024, Peterson broke into a residence in the Prosperity community while the homeowner was at work. The homeowner observed Peterson on a Ring camera positioned by the door of the home. Newberry deputies were able to identify Peterson from his distinctive tattoos and previous experience dealing with Peterson.

On the morning of June 11, 2024, deputies received information that Peterson was at his mother’s residence on Gravel Lane in Prosperity.  Due to prior knowledge of Peterson resisting arrest, investigators called in the State Law Enforcement Division K-9 Team to assist in serving the warrants. After multiple commands from law enforcement to Peterson to exit the residence with his hands up, SLED K-9 officer Coba made entry into the residence to disable and extract Peterson.  Peterson had a shotgun in his left hand and fatally shot K-9 Coba, who was directly in the line of fire between Peterson and the three officers in the doorway—two agents of the SLED K-9 unit and a supervising deputy of the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office.  The officers returned fire, striking Peterson.  K-9 Coba died from his wounds a short time later.

Solicitor Stumbo handled the case for the state, with assistance from Deputy Solicitor Taylor Daniel and 8th Circuit Investigator Jeremiah Sinclair. Peterson was represented by Chelsea McNeill and Tristan Shaffer of the 8th Circuit Public Defender’s Office.

Solicitor Stumbo praised the work of his staff along with the numerous law enforcement officers from multiple agencies involved with this case, particularly SLED Lt. Keith Thrower and Special Agent Cole Powell (Coba’s handler), along with Newberry County Lt. Michael Claytor, who put themselves in harm’s way to do their jobs in this tragic incident.

While Solicitor Stumbo is thankful for the conviction and long prison sentences, he called on the state legislature to increase the penalty for killing a police K-9 in the line of duty.

“James Peterson is a career criminal and I am thankful that he will be spending most, if not all of, his remaining years on earth behind bars,” Solicitor Stumbo said following the sentencing. “We are very fortunate that we did not lose additional officers in this incident, and I, along with (Newberry County) Sheriff (Lee) Foster and (SLED) Chief (Mark) Keel, call on the South Carolina General Assembly to increase the penalty for killing a K-9 officer in the line of duty. Coba nobly served and gave his life for the citizens of our State, and I firmly believe the sentence for such a sacrifice should be higher than five years in prison.”

Saturday, March 29, 2025 – 1:00 P.M.

“Liberty Springs”

Cross Hill City Hall

539 North Main Street

Cross Hill, South Carolina

The Laurens County 250 Sestercentennial Committee will be unveiling the first of fourteen (14) kiosks and historical markers commemorating the American Revolutionary War battlegrounds and historic sites in Laurens County. Cross Hill is the location of Liberty Springs, a place of solace for opposing armies as they marched towards the 1st Siege of Ninety Six (November 19-21, 1775).  On the way to battle, the Loyalist and Patriot Armies were overwhelmed by a greater foe than either army could defeat. These armies suffered equally from dreaded small pox. 

They made a truce, if one laid down their arms, they could garner the cooling succor of sweet, flowing waters. Unfortunately, this truce was short lived. Soon thereafter a bitter civil war erupted that lasted for the following eight (8)years. 

The Legend of Liberty Springs was a short lived glimmer of peace in a time of devastating warfare. 

The general public is encouraged to attend this event on Saturday, March 29, 2025

Local Notes

Broadcast Notes… We plan on broadcasting the following game on Real Radio WLBG and stream live on the internet at www.wlbg.com

• Friday, 3-21-25… Baseball host Westside at 6:30 pm

 

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Clinton HS

• Softball: The Red Devil softball team was scheduled to host the Mid-Carolina Rebels last night but as of this posting I have not received any information on this game… If I find out anything I’ll be sure to pass it on to you…
  • Softball up Next… The Red Devils will travel to Mid-Carolina Rebels Friday.

 

• Baseball: Mid-Carolina 3 – Clinton 0… The Red Devil baseball team opened its region schedule last night hosting the #1in in preseason rankings for Class AA Mid-Carolina Rebels… It was a game that featured pitching as the two teams combined for only 4 hits in the game… Unfortunately the Rebels had 3 of those hits and that plus 5 Red Devil errors and a couple of hit batters enabled the Rebels to take a 3-0 win over the Red Devils… As a matter of fact, all the Rebels runs had errors, hit batters or walks figuring into the scoring of the runs… The Red Devils only hit was by Brett Young… To see the box score of the game click here and to see the scorecard to see how the runs were scored, click here
  • Baseball up Next… The Red Devil varsity baseball team is now 4-3 overall and 0-1 in region play on the season and will travel to Mid-Carolina Friday night (3-21) for a 7:30 pm rematch with the Rebels
• JV Baseball: Clinton 4 – Mid-Carolina 3… The Red Devil JV baseball team played the Rebels before the varsity game last night and the news is better as the Red Devils took a 4-3 win to run their record to 5-1… To see the box score of the game click here and to see the scorecard to see how the runs were scored click here.

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Laurens

• Softball: Laurens 10 – Westside 9… The Raider softball team hosted the Westside Rams in region action last night…It was a game that went back and forth but good news for Raider fans as the Raiders took a come-from-behind 10-9 win scoring the 2 winning runs in the bottom of the 7^th inning… The game saw the two teams combine for 19 hits (the Raiders had 10 of them) and 9 errors (the Raiders had 5 of them)… The Raiders trailed 9-8 going into the bottom of the 7^th inning and Addison Trevino led off for the Raiders drawing a walk… The next Raider was out on a fly ball… Ashlyn Messer then drew a walk to put runners on first and second base… Makayden Livingston then stroked a single to left field but the left fielder misplayed the ball and that allowed Trevino and Messer to score as the Raiders took the walk-off win…The Rams did have 2 homeruns in the game but the Raiders countered with a pair of homers themselves… Addison Trevino had 2-run homer in the 1^st inning and Myleigh Robertson had a 3-run homer in the 4^th inning… To see the box score of the game click here and to see the scorecard to see how the runs were scored click here.
  • Softball up Next… The Raiders are 5-3 overall and 3-0 in the region and will travel to Westside tomorrow for a rematch between the two teams.

 

• Baseball up Next… The Raiders are scheduled travel to Westside today for a 6:30 pm game.
• JV Baseball… The Raider JV baseball team opened up its season yesterday traveling over to Union to take on the Yellow Jacket JV team in a doubleheader of baseball.
  • Game 1: Raiders 14 – Union 1… To see the box score of the game click here and to see the scorecard to see how the runs were scored click here.
  • Game 2: Raiders 17 – Union 0… To see the box score of the game click here and to see the scorecard to see how the runs were scored click here.

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Laurens Academy

• Baseball… According to their master schedule on the LA website, they were supposed to be traveling to Spartanburg Christian Academy yesterday and I am not sure if they did or not but the only thing I know for sure is that no score has been reported to me.
  • Baseball up Next … The Crusaders are scheduled to travel to WW King Friday.
• Softball: Spartanburg Christian Academy 8 – Crusaders 0… The Crusader softball team hosted the Spartanburg Christian Academy Warriors yesterday and the only thing I can tell you about that game is that the Warriors took an 8-0 win… I think I will be able to get more information about that game today and if I do so I will pass it on to you tomorrow.
  • Softball up Next… I believe the Crusader softball team will traveling to WW King Friday

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Thornwell

• Baseball: According to their schedule on MaxPreps, the Saints will travel to Whitmire today.
• Softball: Whitmire 21 – Saints 3… The Thornwell Saints softball team hosted the Whitmire Wolverines yesterday in region action and the Wolverines came into the game with a 6-1 record with some of their wins being against much larger schools… When they headed back to Whitmire their record was 7-1 as they took a 21-3 win over the Saints in 5 innings… The Wolverines only led 6-2 going into the top of the 4^th inning where they broke the game open scoring 11 runs and added 4 more in the 5^th to take the win… The Saints actually outhit the Wolverines 8-6 but the Saints had 13 errors, issued 9 walks, had a couple of wild pitches and hit batters that the Wolverines used to help score their runs…  Camden Nelson and Skyla Bates led the Saints in batting with 2 hits each and one of Bates was a double… To see the box score of the game click here and to see the scorecard to see how the runs were scored click here.
  • Softball up Next… The Saints are now 2-1 on the season and will be traveling to McCormick on Friday.

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Local Sports Schedules: All schedules subject to change right up to game time.

• School District 55: To see the sports schedule for this week at LDHS, click here.
• School District 56:  To see the sports schedule for this week at CHS and CMS, click here
• Laurens Academy: Click on each of the following to see their schedule on the LA website: Softball and Baseball … To see the MaxPreps schedule and results for the teams click on one of the following you are interested in: Softball…. Baseball
• Thornwell:   To see the Thornwell schedules and results click on their MaxPreps pages click on one of the following you are interested in:: Baseball… Softball
• PC Sports Calendar… To see the PC athletics sports calendar, click here.

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College Sports: For any game mentioned below, click on the score for more details if available.  [Read more…]

Piedmont Technical College (PTC) is proud to announce that its Yellow Belt and Green Belt programs have been awarded accreditation by the Council for Six Sigma Certification (CSSC).

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In addition to in-person offerings, PTC recently began offering a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt program as an online, independent study course where students can proceed at their own pace, taking up to four months to complete. The course – covering the Six Sigma principles of Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control (DMAIC) – features modules and instructor-narrated slides that are available all day, every day. The instructor is available by email or phone to answer questions.

For more information on PTC’s Six Sigma Yellow Belt and Green Belt programs, contact Workforce Innovation Enrollment Coordinator Nikyia Lomax by calling 864-941-8349 or via email at lomax.n@ptc.edu, or Program Manager Caroll Sams by calling 864-941-8409 or via email at sams.c@ptc.edu.