There is a changing of the Guard in Clinton this coming week. Clinton City Council will hold a special-called meeting Monday evening, March 13th at 6:00 pm in the P.S. Bailey City Council Chambers.

Mayor Pro-Tem Ronnie Roth will call the meeting to order, followed by the Invocation by Councilman Danny cook.

Following the Pledge of Allegiance, former Mayor Randy Randall will be sworn in to begin his return to the post as Mayor of Clinton. Mr. Randall handily won election this past Tuesday without need of a run-off in a three-candidate race.

As the evening continues, three members of City Council will be sworn into office. Ms. Anita Williams won in a four-person race this past Tuesday without need for a runoff. She is replacing retiring City Council Woman Shirley Jenkins, representing residents in City Council District 2. Gary Kuykendall will take the oath for another term, following his re-election this week in a three-person contest for Ward 4. And in Ward 6, following a close race for re-election in a two-person contest Tuesday, Ms. Megan Walsh will be sworn in for another term on Clinton City Council.

Clinton City Council chambers are on the 2nd floor at the M.S. Bailey Municipal Center, 211 North Broad Street.

Early Voting starts this Monday in the run-off election between Laurens Mayor Nathan Senn and challenger Randy Garrett. Early Voting runs from Monday through Friday next week, during regular office hours at the Laurens County Election Commission and Voter Registration office off Bolt Drive. Polls across Laurens will be open Tuesday, March 21st for election-day voting.

WLBG will again provide coverage of the vote count as it comes in that night.

A “Save Lake Greenwood” group is hosting a Q & A Public forum to discuss the danger to Lake Greenwood in the event of a collapse of the Conestee Dam on the Reedy River south of Greenville. This forum is to be held in the Greenwood Farmer’s Market on 72/221 east of Greenwood this Monday, the 13th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.

Those expected to attend include a State Representative from Greenwood who is seeking to have the State fund a $48,000,000 dam just below the Conestee dam. There is great concern about the dam’s weakness since it’s construction in the late 19^th century. The mud that has silted in the lake behind that dam is believed to contain dangerous chemicals released into the river in the late 1800’s.

Should the current dam break before a new dam is constructed, there is fear of negative impact to the ecology downstream and into Lake Greenwood.

St. Patrick’s Day is just a week away. The Laurens County Library System is inviting children between the ages of 6 and 10 to a Craft Drop-In to celebrate the holiday. This St. Patrick’s Craft Drop-In is happening at the Laurens Library on West Main Street all day on Friday, March 17th.

Children from 6 to 10 are invited to come by the Laurens library at any time during the day to make a yummy rainbow, perfect for a Pot ‘o Gold.

More information is available with a call to Jordan at (864) 681-7323 – extension 221. This program is free and open to the public.

An exploration of how colors are created in nature is a part of a special event at the Laurens Library on March 20th.

Children aged 6 to 10 years-old are invited to join Miss Jordan at the library at 4:00 pm Monday, March 20th to investigate Chromatography Butterflies! The hope is that the more we learn, the more the world around us sparkles.

More information is available for parents with a call to Ms. Jordon at (864) 684-7323-extension 221.

The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office this week served a Clinton area man with six charges ranging from theft of an ATV to traffic offenses, these citing alleged activity three months ago, when he allegedly fled on foot from a deputy.

Meanwhile, he was also served with Bench Warrants citing him with Failing to Appear in court to face seven other charges, ranging from Burglary and Grand Larceny to Ill Treatment of Animals.

Sheriff’s records indicate that warrants were served Monday of this week charging 30-year-old Nicholous Eugene Gullege of Charlottes Road, Clinton , charging him with Grand Larceny, Trespassing, Reckless Driving, Driving Under Suspension, Driving an Uninsured Vehicle and with Resisting Arrest.

An Investigation of Sheriff’s Captain Wilkie was cited as indicating that on December 5th of 2022 one Nicholous Eugene Gulledge was Trespassing on Property on Whip-O-Will Drive without authority to do so. He committed the crime of Grand Larceny, stealing property valued between $2,000 and $10,000 by taking a Honda Rancher ATV with intent to permanently deprive the owner. Gulledge was further accused of Reckless Driving in that he allegedly operated an ATV motor vehicle on a public roadway in a manner that showed a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of person and property. In this process, Nicholous Gulledge is further accused of driving an uninsured vehicle on a public roadway and that he was doing so while his driver’s license was suspended. Another warrant states that Gulledge knowingly and willfully resisted the lawful arrest by an officer by fleeing on foot after being informed he was under arrest.

Cash or surety bonds for Nicholous Gulledge included $75,000 for the Grand Larceny warrant. Bonds on all the new charges totaled $81,550.50.

Following his arrest last weekend, Mr. Gulledge was also served with seven Bench Warrants from other cases in Laurens County. He is held to face a judge regarding previous charges that include Grand Larceny, another Enhanced charge of Grand Larceny, 2nd Degree Burglary, an Enhanced charge of Possession or Disposal of a Stolen Vehicle, 2nd Offense Distribution of Methamphetamine, Unlawful Carrying of a Pistol and Ill Treatment of Animals.

No bond was set for either of the seven Bench Warrants, Nicholous Eugene Gulledge remained in Laurens County’s Johnson Detention Center.

An assault with a blunt object to the head eleven days ago was charged by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office last weekend. 42-year-old Kelly Leon Thompson of Highland Forest Drive, Greenwood was served a warrant this past Sunday charging him with 2nd Degree Assault and Battery. Thompson is accused of injuring a victim by striking the victim in the head and facial area with a blunt object. The warrant states this could have resulted in moderate injury to the victim.

This is alleged to have happened Tuesday, February 28th on Bull Hill Road near Gray Court. A $6,500 cash or surety bond was set on the 2nd Degree Assault and Battery charge.

Almost One Forth of eligible voters turned out Tuesday for municipal elections in Laurens, Clinton, Gray Court and Waterloo. The 2,189 votes cast represent 23.29% of those able to vote. 1,725 voted on election day while 442 voted in “Early Voting.” A former Clinton Mayor won election without need of a runoff in a 3-way race, while the current Laurens Mayor will be in a runoff.

Randy Randall, who formerly served ten years as Mayor of Clinton, received just under 62% of all votes cast to win the unofficial vote count. He received 407 votes to 147 for Ronnie Roth and 104 for Lenard Pitts.

In Laurens, incumbent Nathan Senn led the ticket with is 565 votes representing just over 40% of the 3-way vote. He’ll face a runoff in two weeks with Randy Garrett, who received 33 ½ percent – with 474 votes. City Council member Alicia Sullivan came in 3rd with 370 votes.

In contested City Council contests yesterday, Johnnie Bolt won another term representing District 6 on council, with 244 votes. Challenger Jeremy Hudson received 109 in his first run for council.

In the four-person contest to replace retiring Clinton City Council member Shirley Jenkins for District 2, Anita H. Williams won with just under 59% of the vote. Her 55 votes surpassed the total from the other three candidates.

Incumbent Gary Kuykendall won re-election to Clinton City Council from District 4. His 76 votes represented just over 66% of all votes cast in a three-way race.

Incumbent Clinton District 6 Councilwoman Megan Walsh narrowly held off a serious challenge from Andy Howard. She received 55 votes to Howard’s 52, which was 51.4% of the votes cast.

Gray Court Mayor Stellertean Jones withstood a write-in campaign, winning just over 57% of the Gray Court vote in the officially uncontested contest. She defeated a write-in challenge from Billy Pearson, 54 votes to his 37.

Other uncontested contests yesterday re-elected Laurens City Council members Cassandra Campbell and Martin Lowry. Re-elected as Commissioners on the Laurens CPW were Tomika Craig and Jeff Thompson. Elected to Gray Court Town Council were Laura Cook and Nadine Phillips. Elected to Waterloo Town Council were Johnny Cheeks and Gina Fleeman.

All results are unofficial until the Election Commission conducts a Canvas of the votes this Thursday morning at 11:00.  The run-off elections will be March 21^st.

The Laurens County Coroner’s Office this (Friday) afternoon released the identity of a man who died in gunfire early in the morning.

Deputy Coroner Bailey Williamson stated that at approximately 4:20 this morning deputies responded to Shealy Circle, off Leamon Street in Cross Hill and to Lisbon Road south of Laurens, on reports of a gunshot wound. The coroner indicated that deputies found a man with a gunshot injury on arrival at the Lisbon road location. He was identified as 27-year-old Tyquievius Parks Sr. of Cross Hill. The Deputy Coroner said that Mr. Parks was pronounced dead at the scene.

Leamon Street in Cross Hill was closed to traffic for a time this morning as multiple sheriff’s vehicles were in the area. WLBG learned that there were multiple gun casings in the Street in Cross Hill.

The investigation into the fatal shooting continued, involving the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and the State Law Enforcement Division.

Greg James is using his three decades of experience as a City of Clinton firefighter to something that can be handed down to the next generation. WSPA TV reports that Mr. James will reach 30 years as a Clinton firefighter in September on both a full-time and volunteer basis.

He also has more than a decade of experience as a member of the South Carolina Fire Marshal’s Office.

Now, he’s teaching a Career and Technology Education class at Clinton High School. The course is firefighting and his students are in for a big surprise when the class begins.

He describes what some students seem to expect from class: “Oh, we just going to have fun and play with fire hoses, and squirt water and the gear’,” James added,  “They don’t realize there’s a lot of book stuff.” The written tests can have one hundred questions.

He said there is physical training too.  He puts his students through something he calls a two-minute drill. “They have two minutes to put on all their fire gear, their air pack, their CBA. And be breathing completely dressed in less than two minutes,” James said. “Those boys and girls get real competitive with it.”

He said there are openings for full and part-time firefighters at departments in this area and across South Carolina.

Many students who leave his class will be ready to work for those departments if they choose. “If they don’t want to do it as a full-time job, they can still volunteer for their fire department in the district they live in,” James told News Channel 7.

Greg James grew up in the city and attended Clinton High School.

So how long does this veteran firefighter, who is still a part-timer with the Clinton Fire Department, plan to stick around as a teacher?

“Probably until I can’t walk anymore.”

The marketing team at Piedmont Technical College (PTC) recently won gold, silver, and bronze medals in the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) 2022 Medallion Awards competition, which recognizes outstanding achievement in design and communication at community and technical colleges in each of NCMPR’s seven districts. PTC competes in District 2, a region comprised of colleges in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, and The Bahamas.

PTC received the Gold Medallion for excellence in the category of Video Shorts, a series of staff-produced videos highlighting individual academic programs at the college. They can be viewed on selected program pages on the PTC website (www.ptc.edu), as well as on the college’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/user/PiedmontTechCollege.

The Silver Medallion was awarded for PTC’s 2021 President’s Report (falling in the category of “Annual Reports”), and the Bronze Medallion was awarded in the category of Excellence in Writing – Short Form, for an article about the college’s Veterinary Technology Program.

PTC President Dr. Hope E. Rivers said, “I am delighted that our marketing team has received these distinguished awards. They are truly deserving, They quietly produce outstanding work every single day without seeking accolades. To see the high quality of their work publicly acknowledged is an absolute joy.”

Russell Martin, PTC assistant vice president for marketing and public relations, leads his team of five full-time employees, who all bring unique talents to the college. He said, “I am thrilled that our department has received this recognition,” he said. “Everything we do is a fully collaborative effort. I am exceedingly proud of them all.”

A driver was killed Thursday night in a single-vehicle crash in Greenwood County, according to Lance Corporal Lena Butler with South Carolina Highway Patrol.

The accident happened around 5:45 p.m. on U.S. 221 near Old Mount Moriah Road, Butler said.

According to Trooper Butler, the SUV being driven by the victim was traveling south on U.S. 221 when it veered off the road striking a ditch and several trees.

The driver was taken to the hospital where they later died, Butler said.

Earlier today, the coroner had not identified the victim.

One of the best ways to ring in the new year is happening on the Historic Laurens Square Saturday night, with “Midnight at the Museum.” Just a few hours remain to get tickets for this biggest fundraising event of the year for the Laurens County Museum. “Midnight at the Museum” is the museum’s fundraiser finale – and it’s this Saturday night in the Magnolia Room of the Museum.

Vance Kennedy and Barksdale Station Band will be performing while delightful desserts and fun beverages are served. Hors D’oeuvres available throughout the evening are being served by Calvin Coleman, Chef for the Archdiocese of the United States Military, Washington, D.C.

Tickets include at the food and drink, the music and dancing and the overall exciting celebration.

Midnight at the Museum gets underway at 8:00 Saturday night and continues with a champagne toast at midnight.  Tickets are available today (Friday) from 10 am until 3 pm at the Museum, on the Main Street portion of the Historic Laurens Square.

More information is available with a visit to the Museum today, or a call to (864) 681-3678. That’s 681-3678. Or you may call Debbie at (864) 871-4907.

Showing out while chasing someone with a knife on Christmas Eve was charged in a warrant served this past Christmas day. 60-year-old Wayne Randall Jones of Grace Lane, Gray Court was charged with Breach of Peace, Aggravated in Nature.  Sheriffs’ warrant alleges that on December 24th Jones, while grossly intoxicated, began yelling and chased a victim with a large knife, causing the victim and other parties to fear for their safety. Jones was also served a warrant charging 3rd Degree Assault and Battery. It alleges he also struck a victim across the face with an open hand on Christmas Eve. Wayne Randall Jones was released from the Johnson Detention Center on cash or surety bonds totaling $6,087.50, pending his appearance on this trial date.

An argument with members of the household was alleged with one Sheriff’s Office Christmas night arrest. 20-year-old Kelahn Dontavious Brown Latimore of Chavis Street, Gray Court was arrested by Deputy Priest, who issued a citation charging Mr. Latimore with Non-Aggravated Breach of Peace. A warrant alleges that Latimore engaged in a verbal and physical argument with another in the presence of other household members. The incident allegedly occurred on Chavis Street, Gray Court. Kelahan Dontavious Latimore was released Monday on a $1,087.50 personal recognizance bond.

A Midlands area man has been placed in Laurens County detention on multiple charges from 2021. 37-year-old Alger Kanief Hill of Fillmore Street, Columbia had been charged in connection with violations on May 4th of that year. Bench Warrants state that he was convicted of a 3rd or Subsequent Offense of Driving under the Influence along with a conviction for Driving using a License Plate for a different vehicle. Alger Hill was sentenced to fines of $2,100 and 90 days on the 3rd Offense Driving Under Influence and, for the License Plate conviction, a fine of $155 or 30 days in jail.

Ms. Sandy Miller representing Modern Woodmen Financial Fraternal organization was on hand at WLBG on Monday morning.  She was here to honor a “Hometown Hero”.

Modern Woodmen once each year names an individual who makes a positive impact on the community and may not be often recognized for what they do.  “These are the people who help others, who do a lot of work, who make lives better and then just move on to where they’re needed next.” Ms. Miller said.

And the 2019 Hometown Hero for Modern Woodmen is WLBG’s own Rev. Anthony Sims.

Rev. Sims was recognized for his many community projects including the Feed The Hungry Thanksgiving Dinner, his coat drive, assistance with gathering toys for kids at Christmas and specifically for his school supplies drive to which Modern Woodmen has been a contributor for the past two years.

We at WLBG are proud to be associated with Rev. Anthony Sims and offer our hearty congratulations for an award well deserved.

 

 

 

 

More changes in Clinton City leadership will be effective this weekend.

WLBG News confirmed yesterday afternoon that Robin Morse is leaving his employment with the City of Clinton. Morse has served as the Director of Clinton’s Department of Public Safety for the past several years. He previously served several years as Laurens Police Chief and before that was with the Sheriff’s Office.

Robin Morse’s only comment for WLBG yesterday was that this Friday, September 28th, will be his final day of employment with the City of Clinton. He declined to make any other statements regarding the manner at this time.

Last month, Clinton City Council abolished the Department of Public Safety in two special-called meetings, ordering a return to separate police and fire departments. City Manager Bill Ed Cannon immediately announced the hiring of a Union man as Interim Fire Chief, over the current Fire Commander Scott Shifflet.

Since City Manager Bill Ed Cannon’s employment with Clinton in January, other key city leadership departures have included Assistant City Manager Jerre Threatt.

Our call to Clinton City Manager Bill Ed Cannon early yesterday afternoon regarding Robin Morse’s departure from employment with the City of Clinton had not been returned as of this morning’s news deadline.