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LOCAL NEWS...

Body Found in Jalapa Area Identified
Posted: July 28, 2010 9:10 AM

Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster says that the death investigation on a previously unidentified body has been completed.  Sheriff Foster says that the successful investigation was the direct result of “incredible effort and perseverance” by the law enforcement officers working the case.

On June 14, 2010, a power line company crew repairing storm damage to power lines discovered an unidentified body in a wooded area just off David Branch Road, which is off Jalapa Highway near I-26.  Officers estimated that the body had been there for 3-5 days; however, they were unable to find any identification on the body.

On June 24, 2010, investigators released a series of sketches of tattoos that were found on the body.  Investigators hoped that the tattoos would be seen by someone who would be able to identify the body; however, the release yielded no positive results.

In the meantime, the preliminary autopsy report from an autopsy performed by Newberry Pathology Associates indicated no blunt trauma to the body.  The preliminary toxicology report was also returned showing that the body had methadone, Xanax, and other prescription drugs in his system; however, preliminary reports are not quantitative.  The Sheriff’s Office, Coroner’s Office, and Newberry Pathology Associates all worked closely together to determine the cause of death.

It was soon after that law enforcement officers got the break they had been praying for throughout the investigation.  They had long felt that the person likely had a police record; however, continuous searches of the fingerprints from the body through the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) had not produced any results.  Literally desperate, the State Law Enforcement Division sent the print from the body to every state law enforcement division in the southeast.  On July 16 in Florida, they finally got a match from a previous arrest of the person found dead in the wooded area.

Newberry County Coroner Craig Newton identified the deceased as Keith Richard Konkol, 37.  Konkol had no fixed address at the time of death.  Coroner Newton said of the investigation, “The dedication, professionalism, and work ethic of the men and women under the command of Sheriff Lee Foster has brought closure to the identity portion of this case and I am extremely appreciative of their efforts." 

Through nothing but hard work and great investigative skills law enforcement officers determined that Konkol was originally from Wisconsin, but had lived in Florida and most recently Kingsport, Tennessee.  Officers also learned that Konkol was heavily involved in the use of fraudulently obtained prescription drugs such as Xanax and Methadone.

Investigators doggedly tracked Konkol back through the last day of his life re-tracing his steps across three states.  The investigators conducted interview after interview each leading them closer to the answer to this most difficult “whodunit.” 

They finally determined that Konkol and another man left Tennessee headed to Florida where Konkol was to illegally obtain and purchase prescription drugs and then return to Tennessee to use and sell the drugs.  After obtaining the drugs, the two men were returning to Tennessee and using/abusing the Xanax and Oxycodone they had obtained.  They pulled off to go to sleep in the car and Fields woke up; however, Konkol died in the car.  Fields told officers that he panicked and dragged the body into the woods and returned to Tennessee.

Investigators identified the man as Jeremiah Shane Fields, 1100 Stonegate Road Apartment B-11, Kingsport, Tennessee.  Investigators say that Fields is in custody in Tennessee for a probation violation.

Newberry County investigators say that an Arrest Warrant has been issued for Fields for Desecration of Human Remains for dumping the body in the wooded area.  There is no indication when he may be brought to South Carolina to face these charges.  ADDITIONALY, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO INDICATION THAT HE CAUSED KONKOL’S DEATH. 

Coroner Craig Newton and  the investigators say that they hope to have the final toxicology reports back soon which will have results related to methadone and Xanax.  All agree that at this point all indications are that the death appears to be an accidental drug overdose that through unusual circumstances led the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office and Newberry County Coroner’s Office on one of the most difficult investigations any agency could face.

“When someone comes from outside the county and commits a crime, it certainly can make the investigation more difficult,” said Sheriff Foster.  “However, our investigators have and continue to prove time and again that they have and will continue to use hard work, contacts and technology to best serve the citizens of Newberry County.”

If you have any information about this case, please contact the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 321-2222 or www.newberrycountysheriff.com.

You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CrimeSC, www.sccrimestoppers.com or text your tip to "TIPSC plus your message" to CRIMES (274637).

 

Kiswire Establishes Scholarship
Posted: July 28, 2010 10:20 AM

Kiswire has established a permanently endowed scholarship at Newberry College.  The Kiswire, Inc., Business Scholarship Fund will provide scholarship support to students who are permanent residents of Newberry County and are pursuing business degrees at Newberry College.

Vice President of Academic Affairs Wayne Kannaday is thankful for the generosity of Kiswire. “We appreciate so much our loyal business partners who recognize that offering financial support for deserving students represents a good investment for their business, our community, and even our state and region.” 

“Kiswire, Inc. believes in the importance of education and in a well-educated workforce.  We are also proud to support Newberry College and help local students reach their potential,” states Kiswire President David Minnick.

Local businessman and a member of the Board of Trustees at the College, Billye West knows the value of a strong “town and gown” relationship. “It is wonderful to have the support of our strong local industry.  I thank Mr David Minnick and Kiswire Inc. for their generous contribution to establish business student scholarship. Support from our business community is vital in the continued success of Newberry College and this community.”

Controller Tom Beach reports that to establish a scholarship has long been a goal of his company.  “It’s a logical choice for us.”

“Education,” asserts Kannaday “is the fuel that moves a stagnant economy forward.”   Director of Planned Giving Michelle Hardy agrees.  “Newberry College is most grateful to Kiswire for its leadership in establishing a scholarship to benefit business majors from Newberry County."

 

School Board Report
Posted: July 27, 2010 8:53 AM

Newberry County School Board met last night (July 26) and added the teacher salary step back into the budget. Teacher salary step is a state mandated increase in salary based on the number of years of experience. The state legislature this past session passed a proviso that would allow districts to decide whether or not to give the teacher salary step this year.

Newberry County voted to exclude the salary step this budget year and save $300,000. District CFO Susan Dowd explained that when the district received the state salary schedule the step was included in the calculations so if the district went forward with excluding the step increase this year, the district would have to make up the accumulated step increase when the proviso went away. School board member Ike Bledsoe summed up the decision "either we pay now or we pay later."

The School Board voted to add the teacher salary step back into the budget this year since next year’s budget could be harder than this year with the stimulus dollars going away. The $300,000 to fund the step increase will come from contingency fund leaving only $100,000 in contingency as a buffer for mid-year cuts.

Phase II of the district’s $77 million building program is coming to a close with the completion of renovations and expansion at Little Mountain Elementary and the addition of four classrooms at Prosperity Rikard Elementary. Teachers are moving in at Little Mountain now. Prosperity Rikard addition will get carpet this week, furnishes should move in first of next week with teachers able to move in directly after that.

Board chair Don Saylor stated, "Every project we started has come in ahead of schedule and under budget and that has allowed us to do the final project at Prosperity Rikard." With the completion of these two projects, every school in the district has been touched in some way during the building program.

After extensive executive session, the school board denied 6 of the 9 "extraordinary circumstance" or hardship transfer appeals. Gail Dorroh’s children’s transfer was one of those denied. She stated that her children have been attending school on a hardship transfer for the last 15 years.

Her written statement to the district read, "My mother lives in Pomaria and she is THE ONLY FAMILY MEMBER THAT I HAVE IN NEWBERRY COUNTY!…If my children were to attend Newberry schools I would loose such help from my mother. It would be a 30+ mile round trip from here and I can’t put that much on her…I would have no choice but to have them ride the bus home on days that I could not get them…They would then have to walk down 2 dirt roads passing 2 houses with dogs to get to my house. My children have never walked that road alone and dropping my 8 year old daughter off on such a busy highway is unacceptable!"

Ms. Dorroh was visibly angry as she stated that her children would no longer be attending Newberry County public schools but would attend Connections Academy, an online school. She also said that she would be looking for others to join her in a class action lawsuit against the district.

Superintendent Bennie Bennett stated, "I can not talk about any individual case, but I can say that every year we deal with a number of requests – around 300 – during the course of the year. It is always a difficult decision that our board and staff agonize over. These decisions are not personnel. We try to make the best decision for the student and for the overall school district."

Armstrong Inducted Into Coaches' Hall of Fame
Posted: July 22, 2010 11:40 PM

Longtime Mid-Carolina Coach Lon Armstrong (seen here in a 1967 photo) will be postumously inducted into the SC Coaches Association Hall of Fame this Sunday (July 25). The Hall of Fame induction is part of the 18th Annual Awards Banquet at the Carolina First Center in Greenville on Sunday evening.

Armstrong was a 1963 graduate of Clemson University where he was a kicker and guard on the Tiger team making All-ACC in 1962. He also ran track while at Clemson. Armstrong went on to teach and coach and spent over 29 years at Mid-Carolina High School where he was the former head football coach, track coach, and Athletic Director. As the coach at Mid-Carolina, Armstrong guided his team to the 1985 AA State Football Championship. He was a head coach for the 1988 SC Shrine Bowl team and later coached in the North-South Game. Armstrong passed away in 2008.

 

The Hall of Fame induction and awards banquet is one of the events during the SC Coaches Assoication annual clinic to be held Sunday through Wednesday. Executive Director Shell Dula said that over 4500 SC coaches are pre-registered for the event which features guest speakers such as new head basketball coach for Clemson Brad Brownell, auxillery meetings, and seminars such as one targeted at new coaches jokingly entitled "How to: not be fired, sued, or arrested!"

 

Shooting in Helena Area Injures Three
Posted: July 22, 2010 12:40 PM

An early morning drive by shooting required three people to be taken to area hospitals.

At approximately 1:30 am this morning, three people were shot standing in a yard on Gray Street in the Helena area of Newberry County.  It was then that witnesses say that a van came into the neighborhood and the suspects inside the van fired at the those standing in the yard of the residence. 

Three people were hit in the lower extremities.  Two were taken to Newberry County Memorial Hospital and one was transported to Palmetto Richland.  None of the injuries appear to be life threatening.

A short time later, officers responded to a call and found a van matching the description of that used in the shooting abandoned in a ditch nearby.

As of this release, investigators are still collecting evidence and are interviewing witnesses.

Investigators say that it too early in the investigation to determine if this is a gang related incident; however, officers are attempting to determine if the incident is connected to an earlier shooting in the City of Newberry.

If you have any information about this case, please contact the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 321-2222 or www.newberrycountysheriff.com.

You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CrimeSC, www.sccrimestoppers.com or text your tip to "TIPSC plus your message" to CRIMES (274637).

Four Charged in Armed Robbery in Whitmire
Posted: July 22, 2010 9:47 AM

The Newberry Observer is reporting that four have been arrested in an armed robbery in Whitmire. Whitmire residents Juliuan Gerard Hunter and Trey Moteze Vanlue both 17, Martais Coleman Smith age 20, and a juvenile were all arrested and charged with armed robbery and criminal conspiracy. They allegedly held up a person who was waiting for a marijuana delivery at Sims Avenue off Duckett Street.

County Council Report
Posted: July 22, 2010 9:44 AM

Newberry County Council met last night (July 21) and approved final reading on the sale of $2.9 million in general obligating bonds. This refinancing of bonds will save the county an estimated $200,000 in the long run thanks to current interest rates.

Council also approved final reading on the regulations for commercial campgrounds as a special exception within R-2 Rural zoning. New regulations call for "new improvements to be a minimum of 200 feet from all property lines except where contiguous properties are zoned for commercial or industrial uses." A 20 foot opaque buffer such as a fence, earthen berm, or dense foliage is also required.

A committee has updated the County Personnel Handbook. Council approved final reading to repeal the old handbook. The revised handbook was approved by resolution.

Council approved final reading of an amendment to a Joint County Industrial Park agreement between Newberry and Fairfield. The adjustments include property in Newberry County to be used by Loblolly Green Power, an industry that would create energy from waste pulpwood. At the July 7 meeting, County Administrator Wayne Adams called this a "good faith gesture" since Loblolly has not yet named a date to begin construction on the plant. Industries receive tax incentives when they locate in a multi-county park such as this one.

Newberry County Council will skip their first regular meeting in August so their next full council meeting will be August 18 at 7pm in the Courthouse Annex.

New Black Panthers Strike Racial Nerve
Posted: July 19, 2010 9:01 AM

Around 150 to 200 people gathered in Wise St. Park on Saturday for a rally and march organized by the New Black Panther party. This spotlight on Newberry following the murder and dragging of Anthony Hill on June 2 has struck a nerve within the black community both here in Newberry and around the country.

The crowd at Wise St. Park consisted of long time activist from as far away as Louisiana, reporters from as far away as New York, and a large number of Newberry residents. Of the Newberry residents WKDK spoke to they had come because they believe that "despite the other details of the case dragging a black man behind a truck is the ‘modern day lynching’ and definitely a hate crime." Others believe that these protests can bring unity within the community and shed light on what they see as unequal treatment by law enforcement, the housing authority, and local businesses. And, yet others were simply there out of curiosity.

The crowd had grown to over 300 by the time the march reached the Courthouse steps with both white and black observers on the sidelines. At the steps Washington attorney and New Black Panther leader Malik Zulu Shabazz repeated the groups demands:

1. "Justice" for Anthony Hill
2. That federal hate crime charges be brought in the Anthony Hill case
3. The right to self defense
4. Justice for Black residents
5. End of police harassment and racial profiling in SC
6. That the black community demand of itself self improvement
7. Reparations for slavery

While claiming to not be inciting violence, the phrase "by any means necessary" and illusions to violence if Collins is not charged with a hate crime was part of his speech.

US Attorney Bill Nettles has pledged to not make a decision on whether or not to charge Gregory Collins with a hate crime until local, state, and federal law enforcement have completed their investigation. Solicitor Jerry Peace has similarly pledged to wait on making a murder indictment and making a decision on whether or not to go after the death penalty until the investigation is complete. Gregory Collins, who was arrested for Hill’s murder, remains in custody.

Books for Filing Closed Friday
Posted: July 16, 2010 4:48 PM

Books for filing in the City of Newberry’s September election closed today (Friday, July 16). City Councilman Foster Senn filed to run for Mayor. Incumbents Lemont Glascow in Council District 1, Zebbie Goudelock in District 3 and Thomas Louis Boyd in District 5 have also filed to run for re-election. Anyone wishing to challenge these candidates as a write-in candidate should declare their write-in candidacy at City Hall no later than noon on July 30. If no one declares, an election will not be required, however, books would then open for a special election to fill Senn's District 2 council seat.

City Council Report
Posted: July 14, 2010 10:41 AM

City Council grants request to defer action for the annexation of Oakland Mill
On Tuesday night, City Council granted a request by West Development to defer any action regarding the Oakland Mill property. Council voted to accept the annexation petition on October 13, 2009 and agreed to defer action until after July 1, 2010. West Development has encountered unexpected resistance in the effort to secure approval from the National Park Service for federal investment tax credits, which are a critical source of funding for the project. Significant delays and uncertainty surrounding the federal investment tax credit funding piece forced the City Council to defer any action until after January 1, 2011. West Development originally agreed to annex the property at the Oakland Mill in order to receive City water and sewer services and enlist the City as an active participant in the revitalization of the surrounding neighborhood.

Second reading to adopt 10-year comprehensive city plan passes
The second reading of an ordinance adopting the 2010-2020 comprehensive plan for the City of Newberry was passed by a 7-0 count by Council on Tuesday evening. South Carolina state law requires that each city and county adopt comprehensive plans, subject to periodical updates based on state planning specifications. The City of Newberry has hired a consultant and created citizen committees actively working with City Staff to develop eight mandated elements of the plan. In an attempt to make the transition as smooth as possible, the Planning Commission has approved each “draft” element and forwarded those elements to City Council for review and preliminary approval. All eight elements have been approved by the same process.

Pastor Ray Davis’ presentation regarding Forgiveness Ministries makes impact
Over 50 members of the local community, a large portion of which were children, were on hand at City Hall to hear Pastor Ray Davis of Spartanburg, S.C. relay information to City Council about a project designed to provide leadership and moral guidelines to the youth of the city. Davis, originally from Newberry, formed Forgiveness Ministries as a community-oriented, Christian Outreach program with the aim to improve communities through counseling, youth education, mentoring, health awareness, and computer and literacy skill development. Davis has scheduled five gospel-focused events over the summer in different areas of Newberry, four of which will take place in City-owned parks.

City Council honors three employees
City Council, Mayor Kyzer, and City Manager Jeff Shacker recognized three tenured employees of the City of Newberry on Tuesday night, highlighted by two 20-year members. Susan Lee was honored for her 20 years of service as the Water Plant Operator and Dwain Morris also was recognized for 20 years of service to Newberry as an Electric Lineman “A.” Dough Haltiwanger was honored for 10 years of service in the City’s Police Department.

 

AMBER Alert Suspects Taken Into Custody;
Child Found Unharmed
Posted: July 13, 2010 10:44 AM

UPDATE: The suspects sought in connection with the AMBER alert from Greene County, Tennessee were taken into custody this morning in Miami, Florida.

The case started Sunday afternoon in Tennessee when the suspects abducted a 7-month-old child; however, the case drew substantial local attention on Monday when one of the vehicles used in the abduction was found abandoned on I-26 in Newberry County.

The child was turned over to law enforcement late yesterday evening in Miami by the paternal grandmother.  The child was unharmed in the incident.

See original story below:
The vehicle associated with an Amber alert issued in Green County, Tennessee yesterday was located on I-26 in Newberry County this morning. 

The suspect and child have not been located.

Just after 8 am this morning, a South Carolina Highway Patrol officer stooped to check on an abandoned vehicle on I-26 near mile marker 74 on the east bound travel side.  The vehicle was abandoned in the emergency lane off the interstate.

When the Trooper ran the tag of the vehicle, he discovered that it was stolen from Tennessee, so he contacted the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office.  Deputies and investigators from the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office responded and determined that the vehicle was associated with an active AMBER alert from Tennessee.

Investigators then contacted the authorities in Tennessee and informed them of the discovery and the agencies then began working together to further the investigation.

Investigators say that they have launched a massive search in the area, but have not located the suspect or child at this point.

Investigators say that they have learned for the authorities in Tennessee that there was a second vehicle involved with the AMBER alert.  When the child was taken, the suspect and child fled in the vehicle that was located in Newberry County, and 3 female accomplices fled in a White Chrysler Sebring bearing unknown Florida license plates.  The vehicle is shown in the AMBER alert bulletin.

Investigators say that it is very possible that all the suspects and child are now traveling in the white Sebring and are no longer in the area.  However; they say that they will continue to search the area in case the suspect and/or child remained in the area.

The vehicle located in Newberry County was a 1999 silver Dodge Intrepid.  It bears Tennessee license plates 537 WRB and is registered to the mother of the child. 

If you have any information about this case, please contact the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 321-2222 or www.newberrycountysheriff.com.

You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CrimeSC, www.sccrimestoppers.com or text your tip to "TIPSC plus your message" to CRIMES (274637).

 

 

Community Meeting Held Re: Hill Murder
Posted: July 9, 2010 3:32 PM

Will Collins be Charged with a Hate Crime?

An estimated 150 - 200 people gathered at Newberry High School Thursday night (July 8) for the second community meeting regarding the murder and subsequent dragging of Anthony Hill. Discussion revolved around the prosecutory process and whether or not Gregory Collins who has been charged with Hill's murder will also be charged with a federal hate crime.

Why has Collins not already been charged with a hate crime? The final decision on whether or not to charge Collins with a federal hate crime will ultimately be made by US Attorney Bill Nettles. "Let me be clear, anyone who says that I have already made up my mind not to prosecute this as a hate crime is misinformed….If the investigation proves that the motivation for this crime was race, then I will bring it." He emphasized he would not make a decision on whether or not to charge Collins with a hate crime until after the investigation is complete. "The FBI was called on the very first day because there was a possibility this was a hate crime."

What is the legal definition of hate crime? Reggie Lloyd, Chief of SLED, commented that in SC motive does not have to be proven in order to charge someone with murder. Nettles stated that to charge someone with the federal hate crime he would have to prove "beyond a shadow of doubt" that the crime was committed because Hill was black. "A hate crime murder is not in and of itself when someone kills someone of another race. A hate crime is not when someone commits a heinous murder. A hate crime murder is when someone kills someone because of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability."

Why not charge him with a state hate crime? SC does not have one. One speaker, an NAACP member from Columbia, encouraged those attending to register to vote and support candidates who support a SC hate crime law.

Why not charge with lynching? According to Sheriff Lee Foster, SC no longer has a charge entitled "lynching." It is called mob violence and it actually does not have has high of a penalty as murder. Murder being the highest charge in SC with a potential penalty of 30 years to life, unless it is a death penalty case.

Will it be prosecuted as a death penalty case? Solicitor Jerry Peace stated that the crime would have to fit the legal definition of aggravated. He went on to say that he would make that determination at the conclusion of the investigation in consultation with law enforcement and the US Attorney.

Will Collins be charged with desecration of a dead body? Solicitor Jerry Peace stated that SC does have such a crime but the investigation at this time has been focusing on the charges that hold a higher penalty.

The statement has been made that Hill was dead before he was drug behind the truck. Was there evidence to support that fact? Coroner Craig Newton stated that Newberry Pathology conducted the autopsy and determined that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head and that Hill died within seconds of the gunshot. There was evidence that the gunshot wound took place in the defendant’s trailer. Sheriff Foster commented that most of the autopsies in the state are done at Newberry Pathology.

When will the investigation conclude? No timeline has been given regarding the conclusion of the investigation by local, state, and federal law enforcement. Sheriff Foster stated that in all cases investigation continues through judication. Solicitor Jerry Peace did, however, state that the goal of the new SC Case Management System calls for a defendant to come before a circuit court judge within 90 days of the warrant being issued (June 2). At that time the circuit court judge could decide to release Collins on bond until the trial. Collins is current in maximum Peace went on to say that he also would wait until the full investigation is complete before making a final decision on the indictment and whether or not to go after the death penalty. US Attorney Nettles stated, "Please let me be clear, justice is not swift, because people want justice to be fair."

Other comments and questions:

"Why was a community meeting not called until after the New Black Panthers came to town?" Lonnie Randolph stated that the NAACP several weeks ago coordinated a community meeting at Shiloh Church in Prosperity with information being distributed through African American churches and those on the NAACP contact list.

Why should the community trust law enforcement and the court system for justice? One audience member stated, "This is just corporate racism. You are scared to say racism….[The police] are no better than the Taliban…I’ve never seen you before in my life. Why am I going to trust you?"

Another speaker stated that is not just a community problem but a national one. He cited another case where a body was drug behind a truck in Texas. "I don’t know how much more hateful you can get than dragging a dead body for 11 miles. The pressure has to be put on because of the history [of violence against African Americans]."

What will be done to help the community unite after this investigation is concluded? The Department of Justice Community Services representative stated that he and his staff would be in the community up to and after the conclusion of the prosecution of this case. He stated that his department has several programs that could be implemented. He encouraged anyone who heard a rumor or had concerns to call his office at 404-331-6883.

 

County Council Report
Posted: July 8, 2010 2:50 PM

Newberry County Council met last night (July 7) and gave final approval to an ordinance that officially requests the question of continuing the penny sales tax for capital projects be placed on the November ballot. The ordinance includes the list of projects that would be paid for by the penny if the question passes in November. The Capital Project Sales Tax Commission compiled the list, but Council did have the authority to prioritize the list. It remains in the order presented by the Commission with renovation of the old WalMart building at Wilson Rd and Evans as the new home for Piedmont Tech as the first priority. For the full list, follow previous reports on the Commission at wkdk.com

County Council also approved second reading on the sale of $2.9 million in general obligating bonds. This refinancing of bonds will save the county an estimated $200,000 in the long run thanks to current interest rates.

Final reading passed for the rezoning of 5 acres at Ira Kinard and Lake Road from RS-3 to General Commercial. There are existing commercial structures on the property.

A committee has updated the County Personnel Handbook. Council approved second reading to repeal the old handbook. The revised handbook will be on the agenda to be approved by resolution at the next meeting.

Council approved second reading of an amendment to a Joint County Industrial Park agreement between Newberry and Fairfield. The adjustments include property in Newberry County to be used by Loblolly Green Power, an industry that would create energy from waste pulpwood. County Administrator Wayne Adams called this a "good faith gesture" since Loblolly has not yet named a date to begin construction on the plant. Industries receive tax incentives when they locate in multi-county parks like this one.

Newberry County Council next regular meeting is July 21 at 7pm in the Courthouse Annex. However, they did vote to skip the first meeting in August. Tune in to WKDK this Monday (July 12) at 9:30 for County Council "On the Move With Margaret."

 

Woman Robs Store; Child Waits Outside
Posted: July 7, 2010 10:51 AM

A Newberry woman is in jail this morning charged with robbing a convenience store at knife point while her 7-year- old daughter was outside the store waiting.

Newberry County Investigators say that just before 2 am this morning, a woman entered the Robert’s Citgo located on Wilson Road in Newberry with a small child.  The woman picked up several items from the store and went to the register.  The child then walked outside of the store and stood in front of the store.

When the woman placed the items on the counter, she produced a knife and demanded the money from the register.  She took the money (less than $300) and the items, and then left the store.

During the robbery, the child walked back inside to go to the restroom, and the suspect later identified as her mother, told her to go back outside of the store. The woman and child then fled the scene. 

As deputies and investigators were processing the scene, an alert deputy saw a taxi cab go by and observed that in the taxi was a small child in the cab with beads in her hair (as described by the clerk as being worn by the child who was in the store with the woman during the robbery).

Law enforcement officers quickly located the taxi and stopped it.  When the Newberry Police Department officer got out of the vehicle, the female suspect ran around the taxi throwing the money taken from the robbery into the air and onto to the ground.  She then ran from the officer, and was apprehended after a brief foot chase.  The woman left the child in the car as she fled.

The suspect was identified as Ethel Mae Nelson, 45, of 2643 Wilson Road, Newberry, SC 29108.  Nelson has been arrested and charged with Armed Robbery, Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime, and Unlawful Conduct to a Child.

Nelson broke her leg during the flight from the officers.  She is currently hospitalized awaiting surgery, and she remains under law enforcement guard until she can be transferred to the Newberry County Detention Center.

The child was taken into Emergency Protective Custody and has been placed into the care of the Department of Social Services.

Official charges and bond hearings will occur sometime today.

If you have any information about this case, please contact the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 321-2222 or www.newberrycountysheriff.com.

You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CrimeSC, www.sccrimestoppers.com or text your tip to "TIPSC plus your message" to CRIMES (274637).

Books for Filing Open Friday
Posted: July 2, 2010 12:02 AM

Books for filing for the City of Newberry’s September election open today (Friday, July 2). WKDK news has learned that City Councilman Foster Senn will file to run for Mayor on Friday. We are also told that incumbent councilman Lemont Glascow in Council District 1, Zebbie Goudelock in District 3 and Thomas Louis Boyd in District 5 will also file to run for re-election. Stay tuned for more on this story as it develops.

School Board Report
Posted: June 29, 2010 2:17 PM

Newberry County School Board met last night and approved second and final reading of the 2010/11 budget. Overall the $38 million budget is $2.3 million less than last year's general fund budget in large part due to a decrease in state funding. Since first reading, the state funding has actually increased slightly. The increase will be reflected on the expenditure side of the budget as an increase in contingency from $200,000 to $418,000 as the district braces itself for midyear cuts. The other option the district would have to cover mid-year cuts would be to use the remaining allowed furlough days (an additional four days for teachers/certified personal and eight for administrators), which would total a savings of $568,173. However, the district at this time is planning to take only one furlough day for teachers and classified employees and two for administrators.

Mayor Kyzer Not Seeking Re-Election
Posted June 28, 2010 2:33 PM

For the first time in twenty years, the citizens of Newberry will be electing a new mayor. Mayor Ed Kyzer has said he will not be seeking re-election in September.
View the press release (PDF format): Part 1 l Part 2



Arrest Made in Purse Snatching Case
Posted June 29, 2010 2:33 PM

Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster says that a combination of numerous tips from the community and a partnership with the local law enforcement agencies has led to the arrest of a man who robbed an elderly woman of her purse on June 5 in Little Mountain.

On June 5 at about 7:22 PM, an elderly female was approached by a black male while she was getting into her vehicle. The suspect asked for directions but then pushed her into the door of her vehicle, grabbed her purse, and ran from the scene. Officers say that the purse contained a very small amount of cash and some personal items and information.

The incident was captured on video and law enforcement officers released the video in an attempt to locate the suspect.

Sheriff Foster said a number of citizens recognized the suspect and the vehicle and contacted Crimestoppers and the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office with the identity of the suspect. Sheriff Foster said that while his office was working on the information received through the tips, the suspect went to the Prosperity Post Office and broke into the outside mail receptacle. The suspect was taken into custody by the Newberry Police Department attempted to cash a stolen check from the post office.

The suspect was identified Gary Lee Kinsler, 36, of 409-B Forest Hills Boulevard, Prosperity, SC. Kinsler was arrested on June 20 and charged with Common Law Robbery. His bond is set at $50,000.00 and he remains in custody as of this release.

“We are very appreciative to the media and the public for assisting with this investigation,” said Sheriff Foster. “Without the invaluable assistance of both, we would have had a much more difficult time in apprehending this suspect and bringing him to justice.”

 

Update in Murder Investigation
Posted June 28, 2010 2:33 PM

In an update to the murder investigation in Newberry County, Eighth Circuit Solicitor Jerry Peace says that his office has received the charging documents and is preparing the case for presentation to the Grand Jury. Solicitor Peace said that the exact date for the Grand Jury presentation has not yet been determined.

Solicitor Peace said that the delay comes because Newberry County only has General Sessions Court approximately once per month and it simply takes time for the charging document to move through his office to the Clerk of Court’s Office and for the indictment to be prepared. Peace said that the case moving according to the appropriate time table based on the terms of court determined by the State.

Meanwhile, Gregory Ashton Collins remains in custody charged with Murder and if convicted could face life in prison.

Sheriff Lee Foster says that while the charges have been filed, the investigation into the case is ongoing. Sheriff Foster said that local, state, and federal agencies are still actively investigating the incident including the motivation for the crime.

Sheriff Lee Foster says that while the charges have been filed, the investigation into the case is ongoing. Sheriff Foster said that local, state, and federal agencies are actively investigating the incident including the motivation for the crime. “Once the investigation is complete, we will make a full legal review of the evidence and take any and all available appropriate legal action to ensure that justice is done,” said Solicitor Peace. “In a case like this, we want to make sure we have all the facts before we get to the jury, and we ask that the community be assured that we are working diligently to make sure justice is carried out.”

Also assisting in this case is the Department of Justice Community Relations Service. The Community Relations Service is the Department's "peacemaker" for community conflicts and tensions arising from differences of race, color, and national origin. It also assists communities in developing local mechanisms, conducting training, and other proactive measures to prevent or reduce racial/ethnic tension. Regional Director Thomas Battles and Senior Conciliation Specialist Walter Atkinson have been assigned to this case. The number for their office is 404-331-6883.

“We want the community to know that we are using every resource available to us to properly investigate this crime and be a good community partner,” said Sheriff Foster. “We are working together to insure the highest level of law enforcement services to the people affected by this incident and everyone in our county.”

If you have any information about this case, please contact the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 321-2222 or www.newberrycountysheriff.com.

You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CrimeSC, www.sccrimestoppers.com or text your tip to "TIPSC plus your message" to CRIMES (274637).

Deputies Hoping Tattoos Can Help in Identifying Body
Posted June 24, 2010 7:46 AM

The Newberry County Sheriff’s Office is asking for your assistance in identifying the body found in a wooded area off Jalapa Highway near I-26.

On June 14, 2010, a power line crew was working in the area of David Branch road, which is a gravel road just off Jalapa Highway near I-26. The crew was clearing storm damage when the came upon the body and notified law enforcement.

An autopsy has been performed on the body and the results are pending additional toxicology reports. Authorities estimate that the body was in the wooded area for 3-5 days before discovery.

Thus far, law enforcement has been unable to identify the body. Sheriff Foster says that the first step to any meaningful investigation must be to identify the body so you can begin to trace the person’s route to the wooded area.

Investigators say they were able to obtain finger prints from the body; however, a search of state and national databases has not yielded any results at this time.

Investigators know that the body was that of a man and he is believed to be white. He was likely 5’7” to 5’8” tall.

He was wearing a dark colored tank top, a gray zip-up type plain hoodie, dark colored basketball shorts, and white shin high socks. He also had on a stainless steel square necklace and matching bracelet, as well as a necklace type pill container.

He was wearing a pair of Sailor Jerry Converse high-tops. The shoes have a dragon on one side and a woman on the other side.

Law enforcement officers say that the man had a number of tattoos on his body that may help someone identify him.

See tatoo image map below (also a descripton of each tatoo follows). Note: Highlighted areas indicate tatoos that could not be recreated or enhanced; images are not to exact scale:

Chest area – Praying hands with the word beer written under it

Chest area – Oriental character raising middle finger

Right Middle Finger – two spider webs one above the knuckle and one below

Right shin – Bluish colored flower

Left shin – Dagger through a dragon’s head

Left Forearm – Naked woman mounted upon a tattoo gun

Left Chest – Skull

Right Arm – Tattoos were present but not distinguishable

If you have any information about this case, please contact the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 321-2222 or www.newberrycountysheriff.com immediately.

You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CrimeSC, www.sccrimestoppers.com or text your tip to "TIPSC plus your message" to CRIMES (274637).

 

Prosperity Town Council Report
Posted June 16, 2010 8:50 AM

Prosperity Town Council met last night (June 15) and unanimously approved the second reading of the 2010-2011 budget. The $2.2 million budget includes $1.7 million in utilities and $507,000 in the general fund. The Town of Prosperity 2010/11 budget includes no tax increases, no electrical, and no sanitation increases. However, the budget does include 5% water and sewer rate increase, which was called a pass through from Newberry County Water & Sewer Authority.

While the overall budget increased by less than 1%, the Prosperity Police Department funding was increased by over 30%. Funding was added for a third officer and a COPS grant is being pursued for a fourth officer. The third officer will give Prosperity 24/7 coverage with shift changes and if the town is successful with adding the fourth officer with the federal grant, the 24/7 coverage would be accomplished without the extended hour shift change. The Town should know more from all of the federal emergency services grants they are applying for by September.

 

Body Discovered in Jalapa Area
Posted June 14, 2010 2:22 PM

A crew for a power company cleaning up storm damage from last night has discovered a body on David Branch Road in Newberry County.

Investigators from the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office and the Newberry County Coroner’s Office are on scene at this time.

The body has not yet been identified nor has a cause of death. As with any such investigation, authorities say they will treat the death as suspicious until further details are developed.

David Branch Road in a gravel road located near on I-26 on Jalapa Highway. The body was found in the Sumter National Forest and near the Palmetto Trail; however, it is too early to determine how or when the body got to where it was found.

If you have any information about this case, please contact the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 321-2222 or www.newberrycountysheriff.com.

You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CrimeSC, www.sccrimestoppers.com or text your tip to "TIPSC plus your message" to CRIMES (274637).

 

Deputies Need Assistance in Purse-Snatching Case/Caught on Video
Posted June 14, 2010 12:52 PM

The Newberry County Sheriff’s Office is asking for your assistance in solving strong armed robbery/purse snatching case.

On June 5 at about 7:22 PM, an elderly female was approached by a black male while she was getting into her vehicle. The suspect asked for directions but then pushed her into the door of her vehicle, grabbed her purse, and ran from the scene. Officers say that the purse contained a very small amount of cash and some personal items and information.

The suspect is described a black male in his mid 20s standing approximately 6 foot tall and weighing approximately 180 pounds. The suspect fled the scene in an older model station wagon with wood panel sides.

The incident was captured on video by a nearby convenience store. Click HERE to see the video.

A reward is being offered for information leading to the identification and arrest of the suspects.

If you have any information about this case, please contact the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 321-2222 or www.newberrycountysheriff.com.

You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CrimeSC, www.sccrimestoppers.com or text your tip to "TIPSC plus your message" to CRIMES (274637).

 

Log Truck Collides with Mobile Home After
Head-On Wreck
Posted: June 11, 2010 4:12 PM

Just after 5 o'clock on Thursday (June 10) Gertice Rister, 75, of Chapin reportedly turned in front of a log truck begin driven by Robert Hendrix, 49, of Newberry. Following the collision, the log truck overturned knocking into a mobile home and sending logs onto a vehicle in the yard. Numerous emergency services teams responded to the scene where the truck driver had to be extracted from the cab of the log truck. Both drivers were airlifted to Palmetto Richland.

Threats One of the Factors in Moving NHS Graduation Indoors
Posted: June 11, 2010 4:11 PM

Sheriff Lee Foster confirmed that a "specific but unsubstantiated threat was made against graduation at Newberry High School." Foster stated that multiple calls were made to the school on different lines. Police were on site during graduation, which was held in the NHS gym. Foster said that no charges have been issued at this time but that the investigation was ongoing.

Superintendent Bennie Bennett stated, "Because of these unsubstantiated threats and also the potential for bad weather we felt that the best decision was to move graduation inside." Bennett emphasized that the possibility of bringing graduation indoors had already been discussed earlier that day [due to the weather forecast].


Black Panther March Planned
Posted: June 11, 2010 4:09 PM

The Black Panther Party for Self Defense held a press conference at the Newberry County jail on Thursday (June 10). The Newberry Observer reports that the group is planning a march in Newberry on June 26. The march will be in protest of hate crimes and is in response to the brutal murder of Anthony Hill, which is being investigated as a potential hate crime. No location for the march has been announced at this time.

Koerwer Named Newberry College's President
Posted: June 11, 2010 3:56 PM

Newberry College, a Lutheran-affiliated liberal arts college founded here in 1856, announced today that it has named Dr. V. Scott Koerwer, a senior business school administrator, entrepreneur and authority on leadership and strategy, to become the College’s 21st president, effective July 1. He follows Dr. Mitchell Zais, who has served as Newberry’s president since 2000. [Dr. John H. Hudgens II has been serving as acting president since February, while President Zais has been on a planned leave of absence.]

The move begins a new era for the College, which has a long tradition of providing educational opportunities for diverse populations of students from around the state and the nation. Newberry is known for the close, personal attention it offers to each of its more than 1,000 undergraduate students. In Dr. Koerwer, the board has selected an entrepreneurial leader who has closely studied the interconnections of professional, business and liberal arts education and has developed innovative academic programs and strategic alliances across university campuses and with universities around the world.

Currently Deputy Dean and Clinical Professor of Management at the University of South Carolina’s Moore School of Business, Dr. Koerwer brings a broad range of educational perspectives to the Newberry presidency. He was educated at a leading liberal arts institution, Muhlenberg College and went on to receive his Master’s Degree from a leading science and engineering university, Lehigh University. He was awarded his doctorate in education from the internationally recognized University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Koerwer is also an alumnus of the Advanced Executive Program at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. In addition to the Moore School, he has served as an executive at two leading schools of management: the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Robert Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland.

“Scott Koerwer brings to Newberry a uniqueness of leadership,” said Billy Walker, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Newberry. “He has accomplished great things at colleges and universities of eminence. He will be a young dynamic and enterprising leader. The excitement he brings to campus is going to transform Newberry and add to the 154-year legacy of the College.”

In accepting the Board’s selection, Dr. Koerwer commented on his appointment. “This is an extraordinary opportunity for me to join the Newberry College community,” he said. “We have a solid foundation to build upon. We have the strength of our people -- the students, alumni, faculty and professional staff of Newberry College -- and our values-based Lutheran tradition to create the future of liberal arts education.”

“I am pleased to follow the leadership of Mick Zais and John Hudgens,” Dr. Koerwer added. “The College owes both men a debt of gratitude for their commitment to moving Newberry forward into the 21st Century. Building on the strength of President Zais’ tenure, Newberry College is poised to emerge as a liberal arts college of national prominence and distinction.”

During the course of his 20-year career in business and higher education, Dr. Koerwer has established a notable track record of collaboration and accomplishment at each institution he has served.

Most recently at the University of South Carolina’s Moore School of Business, he managed a budget in excess of $50M, and led numerous redesign and development initiatives including the school’s first inclusive, comprehensive strategic planning process. Continuing his record of establishing international partnerships, he forged an alliance with the University of Tikrit in Iraq, laying historic groundwork for building a new education system for the nation as it works to establish a new education and social infrastructure.

Dr. Koerwer co-launched three companies including a software company focused on knowledge management and back office operations for higher education clients and a boutique consulting and training firm. As a husband and father, he enjoys spending time with his family --including wife, Christine, and two daughters, Rachel and Julia. “We are all looking forward to being part of the Newberry community!” he adds.

 

County Council Report
Posted: June 11, 2010 1:07 PM

Newberry County finance subcommittee met last night (June 10) and will be recommending to the full council that the county refinance 2001 series bonds. Bond Attorney Theo Dubose told the committee that he felt the time was right to refinance. Hopes are that if the county refinances by August, they could receive close to a 3% interest rate, which would save the county $200,000 by the time the bond is paid off.

The entire council was on hand Thursday night to review proposed amendments to the 2010/2011 budget. After much discussion, council postponed any employee merit based bonuses until January. The $200,000 that was allocated for raises will be moved to the contingency fund. Council will take up this issue again in December and make a decision based on finances at that time. Elected officials and appointed personnel were completely eliminated from
the equation.

There were several other line-item changes including:

a.. elimination of the phone lines at Community Hall, the Fairgrounds, and Helena Community Center,
b.. $27,600 increase in non-department expenses to pay for technology upgrades to keep the Judicial Department's case management system online at all times,
c.. and $25,000 added to aid in the renovation of the Village Cemetery.

Both Councilmen Edgar Baker and Steve Stockman questioned not the project to help restore this neglected city/county cemetery but the timing of spending money on this project now. The Village Cemetery applied to be on the list of Capital Project Sales Tax funded projects. However, it was not selected.

Newberry County Council will take an official vote on these amendments during next Wednesday's (June 16) final reading of the 2010/11 budget.

Newberry County Primary Results
Posted: June 9, 2010 8:33 AM

The only local contested race in Tuesday's primary was the Democratic nomination for County Council district 6. Incumbent Bill Waldrop beat challenger Tommy Longshore 197 to 128. Longshore won both the Fairview and the Silverstreet boxes but lost all other boxes including Helena where Waldrop won by over 60 votes. Waldrop goes up against Republican Greg Taylor in November.

 

City Council Report
Posted: June 9, 2010 8:42 AM

First reading of ordinance increasing electrical and water rates passes
City Council unanimously agreed to amend Chapter 9 of the City Code in order to increase rates on electric power and water rates for residents of the City of Newberry. The increase in electric rates, according to Council, is to offset anticipated increases in the cost of purchasing wholesale power from Piedmont Municipal Power Agency (PMPA). Council projects that the City’s wholesale power cost will increase by 6% for the 2010-11 fiscal year. The proposed budget for the upcoming year includes the 6% rate increase.

The water rate adjustment of 5% is in order to generate sufficient revenue to service construction debt on the proposed 20-inch water line paralleling SC Highway 121. The new line would transport finished water from the City’s treatment facility on the Saluda River approximately 10 miles to the distribution system. A possible factor in the long-term implementation of the 5% increase in water rates is passing or failing of the Capital Project Sales Tax. If the CPST is approved by county voters, the City staff estimates that the debt service requirements of the project will necessitate a 5.68% increase. If the CPST fails, the debt service will require a 14.2% increase, which would be spread out over a multi-phase rate adjustment.

First reading to adopt 2010-11 budget approved
The first reading to adopt the budget for the 2010-11 fiscal year was passed by City Council on Tuesday. The proposed budget features an overall increase of nearly $2.1 million. The general fund will decrease by nearly $300,000 that is roughly equivalent to the addition of a new truck for the Fire Department that was designated a one-time purchase during the 2009-10 fiscal year. City will not offer any new services, but there is a 2% cost of living adjustment.

The largest increase in the general fund comes from the Newberry Streetscape, focusing on the Oakland Mill project, which is budgeted at over $1 million and the budget represents the full implementation in the 2010-11 fiscal year. The sharpest decrease of the general fund, over $177,000, comes from the telecommunications fund which completed the installation of voiceover IP phone systems and city-wide wireless connectivity. The project required a large scale remodeling of the City’s technical infrastructure. At the end of the project, the City had a surplus of approximately $24,000 that will go towards the purchasing of mobile routers for police vehicles. The utility fund will feature an overall increase of nearly $2.5 million.

The budget currently estimates no increase in millage, 93.3 before reassessment, which is consistent with the 2009-10 fiscal year. The budget may be amended based on the millage rate which will be reassessed in September.

Arnold Hiller retires after 43 years of service to the City
Council recognized Arnold Hiller for his 43 years of service to the City of Newberry, currently holding the position of Public Works Director. Hiller began working for the City on July 24, 1967 as a mower. Also retiring is Nancy Singley after 25 years of service to the City. Singley retires as a Customer Service Supervisor in the Finance Department. Mayor Kyzer and Jeff Shacker recognized Terry Jones for his 20 years of service in the Sanitation Division of Public Works and Kim Hunter after five years with the Finance Department.

First reading to adopt 10-year comprehensive plan passes
City Council unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance drafting a 10-year plan for the City of Newberry as required by the state of South Carolina. The plan will come back to Council at the July meeting.

Newberry and Palmetto Health Reach Agreement in Communities’ Best Interests
Posted June 8, 2010 8:21 AM

Newberry County Memorial Hospital (NCMH) and Palmetto Health (Palmetto) have agreed to increase access to and competition for healthcare facilities and services in the Midlands and to move forward in the best interests of the communities they serve. This agreement will allow Palmetto to proceed with the proposed Palmetto Health Baptist Parkridge Hospital (Parkridge Hospital) and allow NCMH to focus on growing and improving healthcare services in Newberry County.

Palmetto Health, sharing with NCMH a mission to serve the citizens of their service areas, will provide a grant to the Newberry County Hospital Foundation that it will use to support NCMH’s mission. The grant will total $6.25 million when Parkridge opens and admits its first patient.

NCMH has dropped its appeal of a Certificate of Need awarded Palmetto to build the Parkridge Hospital. DHEC will now issue the CON for Parkridge Hospital.

School Board Report/City Council Meets Tonight
Posted June 8, 2010 7:01 AM

No One Spoke During School Budget Hearing

Newberry County School Board met on Monday night (June 7) and held the mandatory public hearing. Despite no public attendance, the district's Chief Financial Officer Susan Dowd reviewed the proposed 2010/2011 school district budget. There were no proposed changes since first reading of the $39 million budget on May 24. However, since the district's first budget reading the Legislature did adopt a final state budget with $1630 as the base student cost (which helps calculate the district's Education Finance Act state funding). This is a 20% decrease from the base student cost at the start of 2009/2010.

The state budget also includes provisos that allow the district to furlough teachers. First reading of the district budget includes one furlough day for teachers and classified employees and two for administrators. Another state budget proviso allows districts to not provide (a normally mandated) step increase (based on another year of experience). This option saves the district $300,000.

Another state proviso would allow districts to use the funding allocated for supply reimbursement to offset furlough days. As of first reading, the district has kept the supply funding in place.

The state budget is now on the Governor's desk where vetoes are predicted. The Legislature is expected to return on June 15 to take up any of the vetoes. Final reading of the district budget is planned for the regularly scheduled meeting on June 28 at 7pm at the Learning Center.

First Reading of City Budget Scheduled for Tonight

Newberry City Council meets tonight (June 8) and will take up first reading of the City 2010/2011 school district budget. No new services and no new employees are included in the proposed $45 million budget. The proposed budget does include a 6% electrical rate increase, which is a pass through from PMPA, the City's wholesaler. It also includes a 5% water rate increase to provide escrowed funding for the upcoming water line upgrade.

City Council meets tonight at 7pm in City Hall.

County Council Report
Posted June 4, 2010 4:31 PM

CPST Ordinance passes First Reading/No Public Comment on Budget/NCMH Negotiating Lawsuit

Newberry County Council met Wednesday night and approved first reading of an ordinance to request a ballot question be added in November regarding the CONTINUATION of the penny sales tax for capital projects.

No one spoke during the public hearing for the 2010/2011 county budget. The $20.8 million general operating budget and $722,000 special education budget should appear on their June 16 agenda.

County Council approved a resolution in support of the Newberry County Memorial Hospital board negotiating with Palmetto Health regarding the proposed Parkridge Hospital at Harbison. No details were released, however, Board Chair Joe Trainor assured council that no county dollars or property would be obligated in any agreement.

Council approved final reading to rezone just over six acres near Airport Rd of two contiguous parcels from General Commercial (GC) to Rural (R2). A portion of the land is wooded and the other parcel includes a residence, which is a non-confirming use for general commercial.

First reading passed regarding the rezoning of almost five acres at Ira Kinard Rd and Lake Rd from RS-3 to General Commercial. The property had warehouses and a gas station built on the property prior to zoning, but the current owners would now like to open a new business on the property.

Council approved second reading of an ordinance amending special exception requirements for the location of commercial campgrounds in R2 Rural zoned areas. This ordinance would require that new buildings or campers be located a minimum of 200 feet from residential property lines. 200 feet would actually be a reduction from the current 500 feet requirement. The proposed changes to the ordinance also add a new requirement for a “sight and sound” buffer surrounding the property at a minimum of 20 foot wide along property lines or the roadway. These changes would also apply to shooting ranges, archery ranges, and recreational day camps.

Newberry County Council will hold their next regular meeting including final reading on the budget June 16 at 7pm in the Courthouse Annex.

 

Quattlebaum Charged with Multiple Break-Ins
Posted: June 3, 2010 9:18 PM

Willie Lee Quattlebaum of Columbia has been charged with multiple break-ins in Newberry County. The suspect is accused of breaking into Comcast, Edward Jones, Regional Finance, Farmers Mutual, Cellular Plus all on Wilson Rd in Newberry and the Prosperity Dry Cleaners in Prosperity. All of the break-ins occured on Saturday night and Sunday morning (May 29-30). City of Newberry police apprehended Quattlebaum as he was leaving the scene of one of the break-ins.

 

Prosperity Town Council Report
Posted: June 3, 2010 8:57 PM

Prosperity Town Council met last night (June 2) and unanimously approved the first reading of the 2010-2011 budget. Two council workshops and council input brought about the budget presented last night. The Town of Prosperity 2010/11 budget includes no tax increases, no electrical, and no sanitation increases. However, the budget does include water and sewer rate increase.

Below is information provided by Mayor Derek Underwood:

As stated during last month's council meeting, NCWSA has increased their rates for TOP, therefore TOP did pass along a 5% W&S rate increase to offset.

A separate grant matching/capital additions line item was created and added.

Maintaining and growing reserves was set as a priority and is being funded.

The Police Department funding was increased by over 30%. Funding was added for a third officer and a COPS grant is being pursued for a fourth officer. Current staff includes Police Administrator, Police Chief, two on duty officers, a third officer being hired and fourth (COPS grant) officer planned.

Town employees were rewarded for their hard work and dedication with a 2% salary increase with some employees with new certifications and training awarded a 5% increase.

A copy of the budget will be available online.

General Fund is balanced at $507,700

Utility Fund is balanced at $1,651,610

Total Budget $2,159,310

Overall increase of less than 1%

Murder Victim Identified/Possible Hate Crime
Posted: June 2, 2010 8:57 PM

Newberry County Coroner Craig Newton has identified the victim of the homicide in Newberry County as Anthony Lamont Hill, 30, of 107 Hillcrest Road, Winnsboro, SC. Newton said that Hill died from a single gunshot wound to the head. According to Newton, all additional injuries suffered were post mortem.

Meanwhile, the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the horrific details of the murder.

Hill and Gregory Ashton Collins, who is in custody charged with Hill’s murder, were co-workers at the Louis Rich plant in Newberry. It appears that the two had known each other for several months. The two had allegedly spent most of the day together and were at Collins’ house late Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning. It was inside that residence that Collins shot Hill in the head killing him.

Collins then removed Hill’s body from the residence, attached a nylon rope around Hill’s deceased body and began to drag him behind his truck and away from the residence.

Hill’s dead body was dragged behind the truck for 10.7 miles along Highway 34 then onto Highway 176 until just past Highway 773 where the rope snapped and Hill’s body landed beside the road, where it was later discovered by a passing motorist. Hill’s body was later identified through fingerprint records.

Collins then returned to the residence, where he was located and arrested after a three hour standoff with law enforcement as reported in an earlier release. All indications are that Collins acted alone.

Sheriff Lee Foster said that law enforcement is working with the State Law Enforcement Division, FBI, and U.S. Attorney’s Office to determine whether or not this crime meets the criteria of a hate crime.

Sheriff Foster said that while this is a horrible crime, it is imperative to allow law enforcement and prosecutors to handle this case and the prosecution of the suspect.

“It is absolutely understandable that the community would be shocked and outraged by this horrible act,” said Foster. “However, the suspect is in custody and will answer to the legal system for his actions. We must allow our legal system to address such crimes or risk becoming like those who we detest.”

Sheriff Foster said that the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office is committed to investigating this case for every possible angle. “We will leave no stone unturned in assuring the victim’s family and community are assured that every effort has been made in the case and that they are safe in their homes and community.”

If you have any information about this case, please contact the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 321-2222 or www.newberrycountysheriff.com. You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CrimeSC, www.sccrimestoppers.com or text your tip to "TIPSC plus our message" to CRIMES (274637).

 

"Brutal Murder" and Standoff This Morning
Posted: June 2, 2010 2:57 PM

The Newberry County Sheriff’s Office is investigating what Sheriff Lee Foster calls a brutal homicide.

This morning at 4:42am, a motorist discovered a body on U.S. Highway 176 near the intersection of Highway 773. When deputies and investigators arrived on scene, it was apparent that the body was injured in a manner inconsistent and much more severely than that of an automobile collision.

It was then deputies and investigators began to follow a trail of evidence that led them to a mobile home located at 37 Orchard Park Drive in Newberry, SC. Once at the residence, the deputies observed evidence on a pickup truck parked in front of the residence linking the vehicle to the body previously found. A suspect in the residence then ran into the backroom of the home and refused to respond to law enforcement officers at the home.

Sheriff Foster said that they then received intelligence that the suspect was possibly heavily armed inside the residence so members of the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) and the State Law Enforcement Division SWAT team responded to the scene. The two teams tried unsuccessfully for about 3 hours to have the suspect to surrender, when it was finally decided to make entry into the residence.

Officers fired tear gas into the residence and after a few moments, the suspect came out of the residence and surrendered to law enforcement without incident. While the suspect did not have any weapons on him when he was arrested, Sheriff Foster did say that the suspect had an empty pistol holster on his side when he was arrested.

The suspect has been identified as Gregory Ashton Collins, 19, of 37 Orchard Park Trail, Newberry, SC. Collins was arrested and charged with Murder and additional charges will be filed. Collins has no prior criminal record.

The victim has not yet been identified so any motive or links are not possible at this time.

Investigators from the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office and State Law Enforcement Division are still on scene processing evidence and gathering information about the crime.

Additional details will be released at a later time.

If you have any information about this case, please contact the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 321-2222 or www.newberrycountysheriff.com.

You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CrimeSC, www.sccrimestoppers.com or text your tip to "TIPSC plus your message" to CRIMES (274637).

 

WKDK Salutes "Dairy in the 'Berry" in June!
Posted: June 1, 2010 8:55 AM

In celebration of National Dairy Month 2010, the WKDK "Coffee Hour" will salute "Dairy in the 'Berry" on Thursday and Friday mornings in June. These "udderly" entertaining programs will air between 9 and 10 a.m., hosted by James P. Coggins with Andy Hawkins and Sue Summer.

"We're asking everyone to join us for a 'dairy-good' time as we honor Newberry's strong agricultural tradition," Hawkins said.

The 2010 "WKDK Salute to Dairy in the 'Berry" will include:

• Thursday, June 3. "Milk on Main." Business folks in the 'Berry answer the bovinely delicious question, "How do you like your dairy?"

• Friday, June 4. "Milk on Main." Business folks in the town formerly known as Frog Level answer the bovinely and deliciously same question (see above).

• Thursday, June 10. "Dairy Fun Facts." A game of trivia and cheezy-prizes with residents and friends of Springfield Place.

• Friday, June 11. "2nd Friday Book Club." Lively dis-cud-sion of sunny summer reads and a milky-waylaid surprise.

• Thursday, June 17. "Creamy, Dreamy Clemson." Dr. Johnny McGregor of Clemson University (aka Cow U) tells you everything you ever wanted to know about the creme de la creme of ice creams, Clemson's 55.

• Friday, June 18. "Moo From the Zoo." Exotic milks and exotic fun at the zoo.

• Thursday, June 24. "Casserole Freestyle." In celebration of the good food that nurtures church families, local churches enter their best casseroles with any dairy ingredient. Winning church receives $100 prize from Henry B. Summer & Co.

• Friday, June 25. "Ice Cream Churn-Off," best home-churned ice-cream contest. Individual winner receives bragging rights and financial remuneration.

Audience participation is invited for the contests on June 24 and 25.

For the Casserole Contest on June 24, churches are asked to nominate one or more representatives from their congregation to bring a casserole for judging. Casseroles and recipes must be in the studio by 9 a.m. Winning church receives $100 prize; winning cook receives $25 and the admiration of friends and neighbors.

For the Ice-cream Churn-off on June 25, individuals are asked to bring a pint of their best home-churned ice cream--with recipe--to radio station WKDK before 9 a.m. for judging.

"Bully" prizes will be awarded to winners and runners-up in both contests.

After judging, the uneaten casseroles and ice cream will be donated to local emergency responders (EMS, firefighters, and law enforcement officers: listen for the sirens!)

"The only thing better than winning, I think, is judging," Summer said.

If you would like to serve as a judge for either or both contests, you must offer Andy a bribe. (Chocolate used to work, but now exotic olive oils and vinegars are preferred.) "We have invited some celebrity judges for the ice-cream and casserole contests, but hay-hey, we're always open to 'butter-bribes,'" Hawkins said.

The WKDK Dairy Month Salute will include prizes and surprises, obscure cow-facts--and its very own costumed (but 'past-ure prime') Cow Belles.

"WKDK has 'moo-butter' fun with June Dairy Month than any other radio station in the state. Actually, no other radio station does this. Then again, no other county is as proud of its dairy farmers as we are. They make an important contribution to Newberry's economy, and we want them to know how much we appreciate them," said Heather Hawkins, who co-hosts the "dairy-special" programs with Andy Hawkins, Summer, and Coggins.

"We do have fun in June, but that's because we want people to know how vitally important agriculture is to Newberry's economy. We thank everyone--businesses and listeners alike--who so enthusiastically support our June Dairy Month Salute. They make it all possible," Coggins said.

Laugh along with the "Coffee Hour" in June on AM-1240 or on-line at WKDK.com, and you will also learn how Newberry's "dairy-exceptional" agricultural community promotes good health.

As Dr. John Thompson, Newberry internist and WKDK's crack medical expert for "Dairy in the 'Berry," so wisely declares: "Eat more dairy, it's good for you."

Yes, dairy is good for you. So is laughter.

Stay tuned, y'all. June is going to be milk-buckets of fun in the 'Berry!

Special Note 1: No bovines have been harmed in the writing of this press release.

Special Note 2: Your assistance is requested. Please, let us know if we missed any bovinely-bad puns in the cow-ments above. Email your response to: suesummer@comcast.net. (Let us know if we can use your name on the air, or if you would rather that your cow-ments be read 'anony-moo's-ly.')

Four Charged in Robbery Attempt
Posted: May 27, 2010 8:59 AM

Four Newberry teenagers have been charged by local authorities with attempting to rob a walker in the City of Newberry. The incident occurred on Sunday night (May 23) just after 10 p.m. on Harper Street.

A car pulled up next to the walker, pointed a long barreled gun out the window and demanded money. They got no money, and the walker gave police a description of the car and the license plate. Police later located the suspects, the car and the gun.

Police have identified those arrested as: Akeem Sharod Bouknight (19) of Hardeman Street, Keaton Dominique Padgett (17) of Nance Street, Jeremy Lamont Henderson (17) of Wright Street and Desmond Jamal Coleman (17) of Caldwell Street. They have all been charged with armed robbery and criminal conspiracy.

School Board News
Posted: May 25, 2010 8:06 AM

Teacher Step Increase Out/Furlough Days Reduced in First Reading of School Budget

Newberry County School Board met last night (May 24) and officially approved first reading of the 2010/2011 budget. 32 positions have already been cut to help balance the upcoming budget.

The budget was based on a Base Student Cost of $1630. Base Student Cost is the number used to calculate State Education Finance Act (EFA) funding. Superintendent Bennie Bennett warned of further cuts to the Base Student Cost. He reminded the School Board that the State has only fully funded the Base Student Cost 8 times in over 30 years. Overall state funding is already estimated to be cut $2.5 million compared to this current year’s funding.

More than just the Base Student Cost could change before final reading of the district budget on June 28. Provisos in the state budget could allow districts to not give teachers a step increase. This increase in pay based on another year of experience (up to 22 years) is usually mandated by the state. The current budget draft cuts the teacher step increases, saving the district $300,000.

However, since current drafts of the state budget include funding for teacher supply reimbursement, the board has left that line item in the district budget too.

By saving the money on the step increase and borrowing from the contingency line item, the current draft of the district budget includes only one furlough day for teachers and classified employees, and two for administrators. Original drafts included four teacher and eight administrator/classified furlough days.

Several School Board members stated that leaving the extra furlough days to be used if needed at mid-year was preferable to having to cut employees midyear. Administration did warn that even if the board implements 4 additional teacher furloughs and 8 administrative furloughs at mid-year, it only saves the district $570,000. Mid-year cuts have in the past several years been millions of dollars.

Newberry County School Board will hold a public hearing on the 2010/2011 budget on June 7 at 7pm in the Learning Center.

A breakdown of the actions taken to balance the budget include:

• A reduction in 2 administrative positions
• A reduction of approximately 20 teachers
• A reduction of approximately 5 certified instructional positions
• A reduction of approximately 5 classified positions
• A 1 day (non-instructional) furlough for teachers
• A 2 day furlough for administrators
• A 1 day furlough for classified employees
• 20% cut in department and school budgets for travel and supplies
• A reduction in the substitute budget by $200,000 by requiring teachers to cover for others during their planning, etc.
• Elimination of teacher step increase – saving $300,000
• Contract negotiations with active retirees
• A reduction in the number of slots at the Alternative School, which gives a more structured environment for students with disciplinary problems or those threatening to drop out
• A reduction in School Resource Officers from 6 to 5
• A reduction in the number of days contracted out for JROTC instructors from 240 to 190 days
• Eliminate additional band purchase service budget by $12,500
• A reduction in the number of Athletic Trainers by one, utilizing the WCS staffer who is certified

 

County Council News
Posted: May 21, 2010 7:23 AM

E911 to Get Make Over With Fed/State Money

Newberry County Council met Wednesday night (May 19) and gave the nod to the awarding of $1.1 million in bids for the rehab of the E911 system. The entire $1.1 million will be funded through federal and state dollars. No local funds will be required.

AT&T will do a complete renovation of 911system. They will also be awarded the bid for voiceover IP telephone system for not only 911 communications but also the sheriff’s office and the detention center. The new system will include redundancy for backup. Kinard Control of Newberry will provide the new radios and consoles. CSI of Anderson will put in the network infrastructure.

Major Todd Johnson who has spearheaded the granting and request for proposal process stated that "when completed the facility will be one of the most technically advanced 911 centers in the state."

The grants do not allow for the funds to go to bricks and mortar so the technology will be put in the current temporary facilities. If the continuation of the capital project sales tax passes on the November ballot and Piedmont Tech moves to the old WalMart facility on Wilson Rd, then plans are to move the Sheriff’s Office to the old armory facility next door to their current facility. All vendors stated that there would be transfer cost but that the transfer should not be difficult. There will also be on-going maintenance cost for the equipment, however, Major Johnson and Sheriff Foster stated that state reimbursement of 911 tariff funds and cell phone tax funds should cover the maintenance cost.

More from County Council’s May 19 meeting

Council approved a letter of support for the expansion of the Newberry County Memorial Hospital ER. The letter will be used as part of the DHEC certificate of need application required for any hospital expansion. Vice President of Support Services John Boozer stated that the ER at NCMH has gone from 11,000 visits in 2000 to an estimated 22,000 visits by the end of this fiscal year. NCMH had applied for capital project sales tax dollars for this expansion but did not make the final list to be included in the ballot question. When asked about plans for going forward with the expansion without capital project sales tax funded, Boozer stated that administration would be bringing the expansion back to the NCMH Board for re-approval with an alternative funding option at Tuesday (May 25) night’s regular monthly board meeting (6:30pm in the hospital boardroom). If approved, he expected the hospital to submit the certificate of need application including council’s letter within the next two or three months.

County Council approved final reading to rezone a 2.36 acres portion of a 11 acre parcel from Rural (R2) to Limited Commercial (LC). Located on Hwy 176 near Mt. Bethel Garmany Road, the property includes an historic house built around the 1830s or 40s that is now being used as an antique and gift shop called Hidden Treasures. It was recently featured on the cover of the Newberry Magazine.

Council also approved second reading to rezone just over six acres of two contiguous parcels from General Commercial (GC) to Rural (R2). A portion of the land is wooded and the other parcel includes a residence, which is a non-confirming use for general commercial.

Council approved first reading of an ordinance amending special exception requirements for the location of commercial campgrounds in R2 Rural. This ordinance would require that new buildings or campers be located a minimum of 200 feet from residential property lines. It also changes the required planting buffer surrounding the property to be a minimum of 20 foot wide along property lines or the roadway. These changes would also apply to shooting ranges, archery ranges, and recreational day camps.

Council also approved final reading of an ordinance that allows building code fees to be set each year in the budget. This year no changes in the fees are expected. The ordinance also allows for automatic acceptance of International Building Code updates if they are mandated by the state.

Former County Council Chair Henry Summer was approved as a Newberry County representative on Central Midlands Development Corporation board.

Tony Eigner was honored for his 10 years with the Sheriff’s Office. Kim Griffith was honored for 20 years with the Public Works department.

Newberry County Council will hold their next regular meeting including public hearing on the budget June 2 at 7pm in the Courthouse Annex.

Burglary Suspect Now In Custody
Posted: May 20, 2010 9:33 PM

Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster says that a wild series of events has landed a burglary suspect behind bars charged with Burglary and Larceny and suspected are many more burglaries in the Midlands area.

Just after 10:20 this morning, a Newberry County resident saw an unusual vehicle at his son’s house on Wheeland Road in Newberry County.

The man went to the residence and as he drove up saw a black male run from the door of the residence. The man attempted to block the burglary suspect in the driveway; however, the burglary suspect rammed the man’s vehicle and fled from the scene.

As the man attempted to chase the suspect and called his son, who was in Columbia at the time. When the son attempted to call 911 on his cell phone, he was routed to Lexington County because of his location.

Undaunted the man knew that he had a Sheriff’s Office Deputy who lived in his neighborhood. The man called the officer’s home and the officer’s wife quickly got him in touch with the officer, who was at work.

Deputies and law enforcement officers quickly saturated the area, where they found that the father had lost sight of the burglary suspect but was able to tell officers that the suspect’s car had a tire that was rubbing against the fender from striking him in the yard of the residence. The man was not injured in the incident.

The State Law Enforcement Division was contacted and sent a helicopter to the location to aid in the search for the suspect.

An alert narcotics investigator saw where a tire had blown out in the road and seconds later located the suspect still in the getaway vehicle, a 2006 dark gray Pontiac G6. The suspect pulled into Hardees in Chapin to elude the officer; however, the officer stayed with the suspect and the officers took the suspect into custody after a brief struggle with him. No one was injured in the struggle.

Investigators found two televisions stolen from the home still in the vehicle. Investigators say that the suspect had left a laptop computer at the back door apparently left in his flight from the home.

The suspect was taken into custody and transported to the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office. Police say that investigators in Newberry County and other midland area counties are reviewing physical evidence found from the scene and the vehicle to attempt to link several other area burglaries to the suspect.

Police records identified the suspect as Eugene Dorelle Rodgers aka Eugene (NMN) Rogers, 22, of 909 Aaron Drive, Columbia, SC. Rodgers will be charged with Burglary and Larceny later today or first thing in the morning. A bond hearing will be scheduled after the warrants are served.

Officers say that Rogers has a prior record including a Burglary and Grand Larceny conviction in 2006, an Unlawful Weapon conviction in 2006, and 2 convictions for Assault with Intent to Kill in November of 2009 for which he received two 6 months sentences ran concurrently.

“There are so many factors that contributed to this arrest,” said Sheriff Foster.

“First, it took the willingness of someone in the community to observe something unusual. While we do not recommend attempting to block a suspect in, we certainly want people in the community to report such activity.”

“Additionally, we see the value of community connections and relationships with law enforcement. When the man needed assistance, he knew that there was an officer in his community that that he both knew and trusted to call in an emergency. This relationship building goes far beyond standard law enforcement but goes to the heart of being an effective part of the community. Examples such as this are the very reason we require law enforcement officers to live within the county, and provide them with a patrol vehicles. Although this officer was at work, quick action and response are a must and we often have off duty officers respond from their homes because they live here and have access to a patrol vehicle to respond.”

“Finally, we see the training and partnership of law enforcement. The quick response and saturation into the area coupled with the air support of the State Law Enforcement Division contained the suspect in the area. Then an alert investigator located the suspect just after seeing the blown tire and knowing it was likely relevant and took him into custody.”

“We are thankful that the incident ended with no one injured and the suspect in custody. This incident could have easily turned violent especially based on the suspect’s prior record and brazenness to break into someone’s home in broad daylight,” said Sheriff Foster.

“While the legal system has not dealt with Rogers severely up unto this point, I want to assure the victims and the community that we will work with Eighth Circuit Solicitor Jerry Peace and his staff to see that this violent and repeated offender is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Foster concluded.

If you have any information about this case, please contact the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 321-2222 or www.newberrycountysheriff.com.

You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CrimeSC, www.sccrimestoppers.com or text your tip to "TIPSC plus your message" to CRIMES (274637).

CPST Commission Narrows Field/
Finalizes Ballot Question
Posted: May 19, 2010 8:33 AM

Newberry County Capital Project Sales Tax (CPST) Commission met last night (May 18) and finalized the ballot question asking whether or not to CONTINUE the current sales tax for capital projects.

To Bond or Not to Bond

To formulate the ballot question, the Commission had to decide between a pay-as-you-go scenario or the county issue bonds to cover selected projects all at once with the bond payments made from penny sales tax collections. The issue was construction inflation vs. estimated sales tax revenue. At a prior meeting bond attorney Theo DuBose stated that he felt confident enough in his estimates to recommend going forward with the bond option. The Commission took his advice and structured the ballot question to reflect the principal amount of the bonds equal to $15.6 million.

Final Project List

The ballot question also lists the nine projects for which the bonds will pay. Actually, the list includes 13 total projects, the last four, of which, will be paid for with investment earnings from the bond and sales tax funds and with any over collection within the last quarter of collection.

After each presentation, commissioners ranked the projects based on economic impact, degree of urgency/need, population affected, geographic distribution, and return on investment. Based on the commissioners composite scores, those projects ranked within the top 10 make up the final project list (2 projects were tied for 10 and the fire substations were listed as one in the top 10 ranking):

Piedmont Tech – $5.8 million to move the facility to the old Wal-Mart location on Wilson Rd providing for a much expanded Piedmont Tech campus where they could serve more students with a larger variety of classes. This would also free up the current facility for a permanent Sheriff’s Office.
City of Newberry Potable Water Main Replacement - $3.6 million to replace the line from the plant to the booster pump station.
Newberry County Water and Sewer Authority Lake Murray Plant Upgrade - $2.8 million to upgrade the capacity at the NCWSA’s plant on Lake Murray providing for reliability for over 10,000 existing customers, capacity expansion, and improve their capability to backup the City in case of emergency.
Prosperity Sewer Improvements - $889,000 rehabs 4 lift stations that are over 30 years old and adds a pump station for the Forrest Hills area that has been privately owned but is currently under DHEC censure.
Whitmire Annex Building Restoration - $489,000 to complete renovations on this historic Main St. building and provide for council chambers, a courtroom, and a meeting room.
Little Mountain Rocky Branch Natural Area - $164,000 to establish a trail head with a small restroom and picnic area and a trail leading to a waterfall on the eastern side of the mountain.
Newberry Opera House - $657,000 to provide for proactive maintenance on the facility since the renovation 11 years ago including elevator repairs, HVAC replacement, and upgrades to the technical equipment.
Council on Aging - $1.1 million to expand the Senior Center to accommodate more citizens.
Prosperity Depot - $124,000 to renovate the last standing depot in Newberry County to provide for office rental space, banquet rental space, and to be used as a Outdoor EcoTourism Center for the Palmetto Conservation Foundation.
Mid-Carolina Commerce Park - $930,000 would open up additional acrage with 900 linear ft roadway, a bridge, and sewer
Fire Substation: Highway 176 at Old Whitmire Rd - $572,000 thus improving fire coverage and decreasing insurance ISO ratings
Fire Substation: Belfast Rd at Brehmer Rd - $216,500
Fire Substation: Leitzey Rd. at New Hope Rd - $255,000

What didn’t make the list?

32 projects were submitted to the commission totaling over $36 million. In 2004, 24 projects made the bonded list, but the average cost was $628,000. This cycle the average cost is $1.6 million making for a much shorter list.

Pomaria Mayor Daryl Hentz questioned the ranking of the projects. He asked why none of Pomaria’s projects made the top 10. Mayor Hentz argued, "One entity [Prosperity] submitted 6 projects, 5 of which ranked ahead of our projects." Pomaria presented 2 projects before the Commission, Pomaria Community Center Renovations, which would provide for larger groups to gather at the center and protect the school portion of the building from deterioration. The cafeteria area is the only area open at this time. Pomaria Creek stabilization was the other project. During the heat of the discussion, Mayor Hentz went so far as to say that it looks like "there was stacking of voting and collusion."

Chairman Dave Waldrop stated that the commission has gone out of its way to do everything above board and thanked the commissioners for their hard work.

Commissioner Phil Spotts, a member of the Historical Society which supported the renovation of the old Post Office/Library, stated that there were projects on the list that he personally wanted to see happen that just didn’t rank as high either. He stated, "There are just too many good projects there and not enough money to do them all."

MC Commerce Park almost didn’t make the list despite being listed 2nd in the composite score. Economic Development Director Teresa Powers brought a reduced amount back to the commission allowing for only a portion of Phase II infrastructure. Reduced from $2.5 million, $930,000 will pay for 900 linear ft of roadway, a bridge, and sewer leaving 2500 linear ft of roadway, water lines, and the remaining sewer to open up the entire back section of the park. As the first alternative, this project will have to wait for the other projects to be completed for funds to be allocated.

Commissioners also questioned the Newberry County Water and Sewer Authority regarding why the Water Plant expansion was priority one for them instead of expanding water to areas of the county that don’t even have water pipe for fire protection. Director Arnold Lingle stated that they were supportive of all of their projects, but they had ranked the projects the way they had because "the other projects solved problems, while the expansion at the water plant created possibilities." Commissioners’ final vote left the water plant expansion as the one Newberry County Water and Sewer Authority project on the list.

Going Forward

Newberry County Council has the power to prioritize but not alter the items on the list. County Council will now have to pass a three reading ordinance requesting the question be listed on the November ballot for a vote by citizens regarding the CONTINUATION of this penny sales tax for capital projects.

One Dead, One Critically Injured From Accident
Posted: May 17, 2010

One person is dead and one critically injured in a collision involving five vehicles Sunday night in Newberry County. Coroner Craig Newton tells WKDK news the wreck occurred at Chappells near the Greenwood County line about 9:18 pm Sunday night.

The wreck involved a motorcycle, a tractor trailer and three other vehicles. The deceased and the injured were both occupants of the motorcycle. There were no other injuries reported. Coroner Newton says an autopsy will be performed today and the investigation continues. The identity of the deceased has not been released by the Coroner's office.

Deputies Seeking Assistance to Identify
Shooting Suspect
Posted: May 15, 2010 8:29 AM

Investigators in Newberry County are asking for your assistance to solve a shooting incident that occurred early Saturday morning.

Investigators say that several hundred people were in attendance at a block party near the intersection of Brown Chapel Circle and Brown Chapel Drive. Just after 2am, a fight broke out among several of the attendees. It was then Sheriff’s Office investigators say that someone begin firing into the crowed with a firearm.

Investigators say that 6 people were struck with bullets. All of the injuries were to the lower leg and none of the injuries were life threatening.

Law enforcement officers are searching for leads in the shooting and a sizable cash reward is being offered for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this senseless and random act of violence.

Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster said that while the incident did not appear to be a planned event, “I cannot imagine anything so terrible and as potentially deadly for so many as randomly firing a gun into a large crowd. Every effort will be made to bring the person or persons responsible for this crime to justice.”

The identities of the victims are being withheld at this time.

If you have any information about this case, please contact the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 321-2222 or www.newberrycountysheriff.com.

You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CrimeSC, www.sccrimestoppers.com or text your tip to "TIPSC plus your message" to CRIMES (274637).

Capital Project Sales Tax Commission Narrows Field
Posted: May 13, 2010 10:50 AM

Newberry County Capital Project Sales Tax (CPST) Commission met last night (May 12) and began narrowing the field of projects that could be included on the ballot. The CPST Commission is charged with writing a ballot question asking whether or not to CONTINUE the current sales tax for capital projects. To do so, they will have to decide three things:

Should the projects be completed one at a time in a pay-as-you-go scenario or should the county issue bonds to cover selected projects all at once? The issue is construction inflation vs. estimated sales tax revenue. If not enough sales tax would come in to pay back the bond, the county would have to raise debt service taxes to close the gap. However, that has not been required the last two rounds even during the recent economic downturn. Bond attorney Theo DuBose stated that he felt confident enough in his estimates to recommend going forward with the bond option. He stated that in other cases where counties had gone with a pay-as-you-go scenario, municipalities had individually done bonds to start their projects.

The second question the CPST Commission is charged with is what projects to include on the ballot. 32 projects were submitted to the commission totaling over $36 million. If taking a "middle of the road" estimate on sales tax collection, the Commission must pair down the projects to around $15.5 million. As of Wednesday night, the Commission was evenly split between two sample ballots including projects that ranked within the top 10 based on their point system. After the presentation, each commissioner ranked the project based on economic impact, degree of urgency/need, population affected, geographic distribution, and return on investment. Based on the composite rankings of the commissioners, the following projects were within the top 10:

Piedmont Tech – $5.8 million to move the facility to the old Wal-Mart location on Wilson Rd providing for a much expanded Piedmont Tech campus where they could serve more students with a larger variety of classes. This would also free up the current facility for a permanent Sheriff’s Office.
Mid-Carolina Commerce Park - $2.5 million would open up an additional 200 acres with water and sewer infrastructure.
City of Newberry Potable Water Main Replacement - $3.6 million to replace the line from the plant to the Saluda and to the booster pump station.
Newberry Opera House - $657,000 to provide for proactive maintenance on the facility since the renovation 11 years ago including elevator repairs, HVAC replacement, and upgrades to the technical equipment.
Newberry County Water and Sewer Authority Lake Murray Plant Upgrade - $2.8 million to upgrade the capacity at the NCWSA’s plant on Lake Murray providing for reliability for over 10,000 existing customers, capacity expansion, and improve their capability to backup the City in case of emergency.
Prosperity Sewer Improvements - $889,000 rehabs 4 lift stations that are over 30 years old and adds a pump station for the Forrest Hills area that has been privately owned but is currently under DHEC censure.
Council on Aging - $1.1 million to expand the Senior Center to accommodate more citizens.
Whitmire Annex Building Restoration - $489,000 to complete renovations on this historic Main St. building and provide for council chambers, a courtroom, and a meeting room.
Whitmire Annex Building Restoration - $489,000 to complete renovations on this historic Main St. building and provide for council chambers, a courtroom, and a meeting room.
Little Mountain Rocky Branch Natural Area - $164,000 to establish a trail head with a small restroom and picnic area and a trail leading to a waterfall on the eastern side of the mountain.
Tie: Newberry County Fire Substations - $1 million to provide for three new fire substations (Leitzsey Road at New Hope, Highway 176 at Old Whitmire Highway, Belfast Rd at Breher Rd) thus improving fire coverage and decreasing insurance ISO ratings for 940 addresses.
Tie: Prosperity Depot - $124,000 to renovate the last standing depot in Newberry County to provide for office rental space, banquet rental space, and to be used as a Outdoor EcoTourism Center for the Palmetto Conservation Foundation.

Of the options that the Commission is currently considering, one excludes the Council on Aging and the other excludes the County Fire Substations. Both exclude the Mid-Carolina Commerce park. Newberry County Economic Development Director Theresa Powers asked to be able to present a scaled back presentation for consideration since the project was ranked number 2 on the overall list.

The Commission also will ask that the Water and Sewer Authority be at the next meeting in order to answer questions about why the Lake Murray Plant upgrade was first on their list when water line expansion in Chappells, Jalapa, and Keitts Crossroads could expand service to 10 families and fire protection to 110 residences. Volunteer fireman Larry DeHart pointed out that the Keitts Crossroads expansion would put water within 2 miles of Consolidated Fire Department. He stated that they currently have to come all the way to the interstate for water if they can’t pump out of a pond.

And, the final decision the CPST Commission will have to make will be whether or not to submit a list of projects greater than $15.5 million and let County Council prioritize the list. Those items at the top of the list equaling $15.5 million could be funded up front with a bond and the remaining projects on the list would then be funded with bond interest, projects coming in under budget, and over collection at the end of the last quarter. Newberry County Memorial Hospital’s MRI was paid for in this manner on the current capital project penny sales tax.

Commission Chairman Dave Waldrop stated that he believed the secret to the sales tax passing in November will be if the selected projects were spread out around the county and if the citizens have confidence in the new pre-engineering process largely paid for by the county. The pre-engineering process should provide for more accurate construction estimates.

The Capital Project Sales Tax Commission will finalize the ballot question including selection of projects on Tuesday, May 18, at 6pm in the Courthouse Annex. Newberry County Council will then have to pass an ordinance requesting the question be listed on the November ballot for a vote by citizens regarding the CONTINUATION of this penny sales tax for capital projects.

City Council News
Posted: May 12, 2010 1:56 PM

May designated “National Preservation Month” in the City of Newberry
On Tuesday night, the Newberry City Council unanimously passed a resolution designating the month of May as “National Preservation Month” in the City of Newberry. The National Trust for Historic Preservation first developed “Historic Preservation Week” in 1973 later to expand its scope in 2005 to “National Preservation Month.” The theme for 2010, “Old is the New Green,” draws attention to the sustainability of historic preservation.

Chapman appointed to serve on the Architectural Review Board
Council appointed Tony Chapman to Seat #1 on the Architectural Review Board (ARB). The seat, formerly occupied by Margaret Collins, will be held for a seven month period ending on December 31, 2010. At the end of the year, Seat #1 along with Seats #3, #5, and #7 will be up for reappointment for a full, two-year term. Chapman is a native of Newberry and has lived in the city for 40 years. Earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from Georgia Tech, Chapman has worked as a construction superintendant for W.E. Baker and Son for seven years and spent the past three years working for Calloway, Johnson, Moore and West Architects in Lexington, S.C.

Council authorizes alcohol sales and consumption in Memorial Park for Taste of Newberry
City Council also approved the authorization of alcohol sales and consumption in Memorial Park for the eighth annual Taste of Newberry event scheduled for the evening of Friday, June 18. Executive Director of the Newberry Opera House, Deborah Smith, made the request. Mayor Kyzer was quick to mention that there has never been a problem with the sale and consumption of alcohol at the Taste of Newberry event.

September Council meeting moved from 14th to the 13th
Unanimously approving a change of schedule, City Council agreed to reschedule the meeting of Tuesday, September 14 to Monday, September 13th due to the upcoming election. The 14th will be an election day for the position of Mayor and Council Districts 1, 3, and 5.

 

County Council News
Posted: May 11, 2010 8:06 AM

Newberry County Council met last night (May 10) and discussed the 2010/2011 budget. Several capital projects were reviewed starting with a proviso for the plan to continuously renew emergency service vehicles. The version of the 2010/11 budget that passed second reading on May 5 includes an increase in debt service levy to cover new emergency services lease purchase amount of $174,020. Wording on a new proviso was approved last night. The proviso clarifies that even with funding for lease purchase approved in the budget, the actual purchase of the vehicles would have to come back to council for final approval.

Concensus seems to be agreed upon to renovate the Silverstreet Emergency Services station to make it a permanent EMS station. Councilman Les Hipp stated that he was swayed by the earlier report from EMS Director Bill Grigsby stating that response times in the City had not gone down with the move of Medic 2 to Silverstreet yet Silverstreet and the Chappells area response times had significantly gone up. (When Medic 1 is away from Evans Street, Medic 2 moves up to the Bush River Industrial site to better cover the City.)

More discussion will be had on the proposed helipad at Chappells. At the May 5 County Council meeting, Emergency Services Coordinator Tommy Long stated that the ground at the Chappells station can be difficult to land on when wet and helicopters have had to be diverted in the past. Councilmen such as Les Hipp had questioned in Chappells was the correct location for a new helipad if within the last year there have been 17 in the 773 area and only 2 at Chappells. Sheriff Lee Foster stated that the numbers were higher at Prosperity ballfield and 773 because if a patient is able to be extracted quickly from a wreck, an ambulance often starts drives toward the Trauma 1 ER at Richland, meeting the helicopter in between. Councilman Bill Waldrop argued that 3 helicopter transports in the Chappells/Silverstreet area just this week and that the growing population at Lake Greenwood and its distance from a hospital is reason enough to still consider the Chappells site. Council asked for numbers from several years and stated that several sites may need to be added to long range plans.

Council also discussed swapping merit raises for one-time bonuses to cut down on continuing cost. Councilman Kirksay Koon worked with administration on a plan to reduce expenditures in the merit raise line item from over $300,000 to $175,000 and that amount be split evenly amongst the 200 plus employees. Councilman Les Hipp stated that he liked the idea of switching from a merit raise to a bonus, but questioned not dividing the bonus by % of pay. Council asked administration to come up with a more detailed plan of how the distribution would work and asked them to find answers to legal questions like would elected officials (other than council) eligible for bonuses.

Third reading of the budget is not until June, however, Newberry County Council next regular meeting is May 19.

 

House Fire Victim Identified
Posted: May 10, 2010 6:56 PM

Coroner Craig Newton has identified the person killed in Sunday's house fire on Caldwell Street.

Jarvis Griffin, 18, of 213 Caldwell Street, died in the fire at his residence. An autopsy on Monday confirmed that Griffin died due to carbon monoxide poisoning and thermal injuries from the fire. No foul play is suspected.

 

NCMH Receives National Award
Posted: May 11, 2010 8:11 AM

Newberry County Memorial Hospital recently received a national award from Avatar International, an industry leader in healthcare quality improvement services and patient surveys. NCMH received Avatar International’s Exceeding Patient Expectations award. (Based on NCMH’s 2009 patient satisfaction scores with Avatar.)

Ronald J. Vigus, NCMH Chief Executive Officer, said, “I am so proud to accept this on behalf of the NCMH employees who make our commitment to patient satisfaction a reality, not just a goal! We are focused on continuing to exceed our patients’ and their families’ expectations. That’s what a truly great community hospital does.”

Vigus continued, “The Board of Trustees recently reviewed and then streamlined our mission statement to focus on an exceptional experience at NCMH. The streamlined mission statement says NCMH will ‘provide exceptional healthcare with a personal touch.’ This award speaks to the commitment of our staff to that mission.”

Vigus noted that the award was especially timely, since May 9-15 is National Hospital Week, a time set aside to honor the service of all hospital employees.

In making the announcement, David Medvedeff, PharmD, MBA, CEO of Avatar said, “One of the many challenges facing hospitals today is attempting not only to meet, but to exceed patients’ expectations. Newberry County Memorial Hospital (NCMH) has proven it is capable of exceeding its patients’ expectations and embodies putting patients first. I congratulate NCMH for winning Avatar’s Exceeding Patient Expectations Award.”

Avatar (www.avatar-intl.com), a research and consulting company based in Orlando, FL, specializes in Evidence Based Intelligent Surveys™ and Innovative Strategies™ to transform information into significant quality and efficiency of care improvement for the healthcare industry.

Authorities Seek Assistance Solving
Home Invasion Robbery
Posted: May 3, 2010 8:53 PM

The Newberry County Sheriff’s Office is asking for your assistance in solving a home invasion robbery that occurred on Saturday morning.

On Saturday morning around 11:00am, an elderly man heard a knock at the door of his home on Cromer Lane just outside the City of Newberry. When he answered the door, a man pointed a gun at him and entered the house.

The gunman forced the victim to sit down and held him at gunpoint while three other men entered the residence and began going through house apparently searching money and/or valuables.

Authorities say the men then fled the scene taking a small amount of money and a laptop computer. The suspects got into a vehicle and fled the scene.

The suspects were all identified as young black males wearing black clothing and masks. No additional description or vehicle description is available at this time.

Deputies and Investigators from the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office and State Law Enforcement Division responded their bloodhounds to the scene.

The victim is not willing to be interviewed by the media, and law enforcement, citing the protection and privacy of the victim, will not identify him.

A substantial reward is being offered for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the suspects.

“I cannot think of anything as egregious as entering someone’s home and holding them at gunpoint while you rob them,” said Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster. “Our commitment to this victim and the people of Newberry County is to pursue, apprehend and prosecute these suspects to the best of our ability.”

If you have any information about this case, please contact the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 321-2222 or www.newberrycountysheriff.com.

You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CrimeSC, www.sccrimestoppers.com or text your tip to "TIPSC plus your message" to CRIMES (274637).

NC Students Awarded SCBA Scholarships
Posted: April 30, 2010 9:48 AM

Newberry College Communications majors Brittany Wood and Brie Logue have been named the recipients of the 2010 South Carolina Broadcasters Association Electronic Journalism Scholarships.

The scholarships, awarded to broadcast journalism students who show academic excellence, are funded by a grant from the South Carolina Broadcasters Association.

“I was really excited when I received the scholarship,” says Wood, a rising junior from Pendleton. “This SCBA scholarship is a blessing, and I was so grateful to be a recipient.”

"The SCBA scholarship will not only help me and my family, but it will also provide with me the encouragement to excel in the communication field,” says Logue, a rising senior from Edgefield.

“Brittany Wood and Brie Logue are hard-working students who deserve this honor,” says Dr. Jodie Peeler, chair of Newberry’s Department of Communications. “They really love working in this program, they’re a pleasure to teach, and they always do their best. They’re going to build great careers in the media. I’m thankful the SCBA lets us reward them through these scholarship grants, and that the SCBA has helped us reward deserving students for the past several years.”

Peeler also praises Michelle Hardy, Newberry College’s Director of Planned Giving and Grants, for her role in the process. “For several years, Michelle has worked closely with us on our SCBA grant applications,” Peeler says. “It’s a testament to her dedication, and the hard work she puts into our grant proposals, that we’ve been successful each time. We really couldn’t do this without her.”

Newberry College’s Department of Communications offers students training in several different fields of mass communications, including television production, journalism, public relations, and electronic media. As a broad-based, liberal-arts program, it includes not only the technical skills students need to build successful careers, but also the legal, ethical, moral, and theoretical aspects of mass communications. Students emerge not as technicians, but as well-rounded communicators with a wide range of marketable skills.

 

 

School Board Meeting
Posted: April 27, 2010 8:17 AM

Newberry County School Board met last night (April 26) and voted to officially eliminate 2 administrative positions. These 2 positions are part of the 32 positions that are being eliminated as part of the plan to balance the 2010/2011 budget. The breakdown as presented at the worksession on March 15 includes the elimination of 2 administration positions, 5 classified positions, 20 classroom teacher positions, and 5 certified instructional positions (which could include guidance counselors, media specialists, subject coaches, etc.).

Following executive session, School Board approved employment recommendations at last night's meeting. Contracts should go out today and employees will have 10 days to return the contracts. Following this period, the district will know how many of the positions that are being cut will be cut through attrition. Last year, the district cut 38 positions primarily through retirement and transfers.

With the retirement of Sam Baird at Newberry High School, the district is on the search for a new head football coach. Friday is the deadline to apply, applicants will be reviewed on Monday, a panel will interview them, and the district will make an announcement no later than the May School Board meeting.

Four Men Arrested for Armed Robbery
Posted: April 26, 2010 12:20 PM

Four men (l-r above: Keon Elkins, Malcolm Jones, Horace Maybin, and James Tribble) are in custody and will be facing charges in three counties for Armed Robbery after an intensive investigation into armed robbery of a local convenience store.

Sheriff Lee Foster says that it was the partnership of law enforcement and the community that led to the arrest of the suspects. He said that it was the partnership of law enforcement agencies who realized the similarities in the robberies as well as the substantial information received from the community who are willing to work with law enforcement to remove suspects like this from the streets and community.

“We enjoy a wonderful working relationship with the community, many law enforcement agencies, and the media,” said Foster. “This communication and partnership is a criminal’s worst nightmare and is what makes Newberry County so special.”

Investigators acting on information they had received from the community went to the home of Malcolm Jones. During a search of the home, the investigators found one of the bags used in the robbery, the face coverings, and merchandise from the robbery inside the home. Jones was taken into custody at that time.

Foster said that subsequent investigation led officers to issue search warrants for two homes in Newberry County. Officers from the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office and Newberry Police Department converged on the residences Thursday morning where they located guns, clothing, and additional merchandise from the robbery.

It was then that the investigation took one of its scariest turns as one of the suspects was a student at NewberryHigh School. Investigators went to Newberry High School where they met with the Campus School Resource Officer. Working together, they located a loaded .45 caliber pistol in a book bag on the front seat of the suspect’s vehicle in the school parking lot. James Tribble was taken into custody at the school without incident.

Subsequently, two other suspects, Keon Elkins and Horace Maybin, were taken into custody also without incident.

Investigators say that since Thursday morning, they have connected the suspects to similar robberies in NewberryCity, Laurens County, Clinton City, and Richland County. Investigators from all of the agencies are working together to share information and evidence against the suspects.

Newberry Police Chief Jackie Swindler said that three of the men face charges in Newbery City. Horace Maybin, Keon Elkins, and James Tribble are each charged with one count of Armed Robbery and Conspiracy.

Tribble, Jones, and Maybin have also been charged with Armed Robbery for the robbery of Robert’s Citgo in Prosperity from an incident that occurred on December 30, 2009.

The suspects were identified as:

Keon Morquel Elkins, 18, of 51 oak Hollow Road, Newbery, SC – He is charged with 2 counts of Armed Robbery and 2 counts of Conspiracy by the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office.

Malcolm Octavious Jones, 18, of 27857 Highway 76, Kinards, SC -– He is charged with Armed Robbery and Conspiracy by the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office.

Horace Rashad Maybin, 18, of 51 Oak Hollow Road, Newberry, SC -– He is charged with 2 counts of Armed Robbery and 2 counts of Conspiracy by the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office.

James Ojore Tribble, 17, of 625 Dixie Drive, Newberry, SC – He is charged with 2 counts of Armed Robbery; 2 counts of Conspiracy; and Carrying a Weapon on School Grounds by the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office.

As investigators began piecing the details of the robbery, officers allege that it was Elkins and Jones went into the store during the robbery while Tribble and Maybin waited in the getaway vehicle.

Bond has been set at $100,000.00 on the Newberry City charges.

A Newberry County Magistrate is yet to set bond on the Newberry County charges at this time.

If you have any information about this case, please contact the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 321-2222 or www.newberrycountysheriff.com.

You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CrimeSC, www.sccrimestoppers.com or text your tip to "TIPSC plus your message" to CRIMES (274637).

 

County Council News
Posted: April 22, 2010 7:59 AM

Newberry County Council met last night and approved first reading of the 2010 budget. First reading of the $722,000 special education budget (which covers the library, Piedmont Tech, and Disabilities and Special Needs) was approved unanimously. The $20.8 million general operating budget was approved on first reading in a 5 to 2 split vote. Councilman Kirksay Koon and Les Hipp both voted no based on planned capital expenditures. Both stated that they believed the Helena Basketball court and renovations to the Silverstreet public safety complex to allow for full time EMS should be justified before included in the budget. Council will hold a budget work session on April 26 at 6pm in the Courthouse Annex where they will discuss the capital projects and other aspects of the proposed budget.

Council passed final reading of a zoning change from RS1 Single Family Residential to R2 Rural at 228 Hawley Creek Rd in Prosperity. While adjacent to the Heron Cove Subdivision on Lake Murray, the parcel is 28 acres and the owners plan to have animals on the property, which were not allowed in RS1.

The other contested zoning change before Council was a move from R2 Rural to Light Industrial on Jollystreet Rd near where the bridge crosses I-26. The zoning change was postponed until the second meeting in October. Councilman Les Hipp stated that this would allow council and administration time to review alternatives.

Deputies Searching for Leads in Armed Robbery
Posted: April 21, 2010 3:24 PM

The Newberry County Sheriff’s Office is asking for your assistance in solving the Armed Robbery of a convenience store.

Investigators say that two men entered Roberts CITGO located on at 1843 Wilson Road, Newberry Tuesday morning at just after 2:30am and robbed the store at gunpoint.

The first suspect, a black male, entered the store wearing black clothing and a black mask covering his face. The suspect armed himself with a revolver type handgun he received from the second suspect. He is described as being 5 foot 8 to 5 foot 10 inches tall and weighing about 150 pounds. He had a medium complexion and possibly in his mid 20’s.

The second suspect, also a black male, entered the store wearing dark pants, a black nylon windbreaker with a red stripe on the sleeve, and a red bandanna covering his face. He had a semi-automatic handgun and was carrying a black shoulder bag. This suspect is also described as being 5 foot 8 to 5 foot 10 inches tall and weighing about 150 pounds. He had a darker complexion and was approximately 20-25 years old.

The men stole cigarettes, cigars, lottery tickets and a small amount of money before fleeing the store.

No vehicle description or direction of travel is known as this time.

If you have any information about this case, please contact the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 321-2222 or www.newberrycountysheriff.com.

You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CrimeSC, www.sccrimestoppers.com or text your tip to "TIPSC plus your message" to CRIMES (274637).

UPDATE: Two Scammers Arrested
Posted: April 21, 2010 3:20 PM

Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster says that the two men wanted for a home renovation scam in Newberry County have been taken into custody in Richland County.

Investigators say that Joseph William Bennett, 37, of 113 Chanticleer Road, Columbia and Franklin Abbott James, 35, of 148 Robinson Court, Gaston, SC were both taken into custody in Richland County last night.

The men were wanted in Richland County for a similar scheme and in Lexington County for various charges. They will be brought to Newberry County were each man is charged with one count of Obtaining Goods Under False Pretense.

Investigators say that they two men were paid $1,300.00 to begin work on a renovation project on a home in the Little Mountain section of Newberry County on March 26 of this year. The men were supposed to start work immediately; however, they have yet to come back or do any of the work. The suspects cashed the check shortly after receiving it.

Investigators say that there are some nine complaints on the two men with the Labor and Licensing Board that range from doing business without a license, to poor workmanship, and of course taking money without performing the work.

Pork in the Park Held on Saturday
Posted: April 20, 2010 11:30 AM

Pork in the Park was held in Memorial Square this past Saturday. The 2007 Local Legends Golden Steel Band performed for a large crowd who enjoyed BBQ from the contest competitors.

Pork in the Park Winners include:
Chicken
Grill Masters - 1st place
K Squared Smokers - 2nd place
Boar's Nest BBQ - 3rd place

Boston Butt
Bear, Beans, & BBCrew - 1st place
Springfield Place/JF Hawkins - 2nd place
A Team - 3rd place

Ribs
K Squared Smokers - 1st place
Sensational BBQ - 2nd place
A Team - 3rd place

See photos from Pork in the Park on our Community Clicks page!

 

Two Sought in Home Renovation Scam
Posted: April 16, 2010 5:06 PM

The Newberry County Sheriff’s Office is asking for your assistance in locating two men who they say have defrauded a man in Newberry County.

Investigators say that Joseph William Bennett, 37, of 113 Chanticleer Road, Columbia and Franklin Abbott James (right), 35, of 148 Robinson Court, Gaston, SC are both wanted in Newberry County for Obtaining Goods Under False Pretense.

Bennett (photo not available) is described as a white male with sandy hair and blue eyes. He is 5’7” and 135 pounds. He drives a white truck with a North Carolina license plate. We are working to get the tag number, but the truck does not have markings. He operates a business known as JB Siding Inc.

James is described as a black male with black hair and brown eyes.

Investigators say that they two men were paid $1,300.00 to begin work on a renovation project on a home in the Little Mountain section of Newberry County on March 26 of this year. The men were supposed to start work immediately; however, they have yet to come back or do any of the work. The suspects cashed the check shortly after receiving it.

Investigators say that they have attempted to locate the men without success thus far. They also say that the men are suspects in a forgery case, and an outstanding warrant for Bennett in Richland County for a nearly exact scheme.

Additionally, investigators say that there are some nine complaints on the two men with the Labor and Licensing Board that range from doing business without a license, to poor workmanship, and of course taking money without performing the work.

Anyone with any information as to the whereabouts of the two suspects should contact the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 321-2222 or call their local law enforcement agency. Both men are entered as wanted persons in the NCIC network.

If you have any information about this case, please contact the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 321-2222 or www.newberrycountysheriff.com.

You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CrimeSC, www.sccrimestoppers.com or text your tip to "TIPSC plus your message" to CRIMES (274637).

 

Three Arrested for Growing/Possessing Marijuana
Posted: April 16, 2010 10:25 AM

An ongoing drug investigation has landed three men in jail for growing and possessing marijuana in their home.

Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster and Newberry Police
Chief Jackie Swindler say that investigators from the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, Newberry Police Department, and State Law Enforcement Division executed a search warrant on the residence located at 1803 Nance Street, Newberry, SC Thursday morning.

Sheriff Foster said that once inside, officers found an indoor marijuana grow operation with 8 plants, about 1/2 pound of harvested marijuana, and a number of items used to grow marijuana including soil, fertilizer and lights.

The three men were each charged with one count each
Conspiracy, Possession With Intent To Distribute Marijuana, and Possession With Intent To Distribute Marijuana Within Proximity of a School or Park.

Those arrested were identified as:
Kieron Giodanni Rankin, 19, of 1803 Nance Street, Newberry, SC;Tharry Leroy Sally Jr., 22, of 19595 Solomon Blatt Avenue, Blackville, SC; and Travarious Tara Tucker, 19, of 1803 Nance Street, Newberry, SC.

Newberry Police Chief Jackie Swindler said that the investigation into the incident is ongoing and more arrests are anticipated, but would not comment on when those arrests might take place.

Swindler said that all three men are students at Newberry College, but live in off campus housing.

All three men were released on a personal appearance bond by a Newberry County Magistrate yesterday afternoon.

Report Cards Rank Newberry School District #19 in State
Posted: April 16, 2010 7:37 AM

Graduation Rates Up/Challenges Remain

School report cards based on the new PASS testing and state accountability standards were released today by the State Department of Education. While scores were enough to move the district from below average to average in absolute rating, the increase was not enough of a change from last year. The district’s growth or improvement rating fell from average to below average. Of the 85 school districts in the state, Newberry County ranks #19 based on report card absolute ratings.

Absolute Ratings

Newberry County had two schools with an absolute rating of excellent: Little Mountain Elementary and Whitmire Community School (high school level).

The other two high schools received good ratings: Mid-Carolina High School, Newberry High School.

Six schools received average ratings: Boundary Elementary, Gallman Elementary, Pomaria Garmany Elementary, Prosperity Rikard Elementary, Reuben Elementary, and Mid-Carolina Middle.

Four received a below average rating: Newberry Elementary, Whitmire Community School (elementary), Newberry Middle, and Whitmire Community School (middle). With Newberry Middle’s move from "at risk" to below average this year, Newberry County has no schools with an "at risk" absolute rating.

Below average schools will continue to be required to provide a plan for improvement to the state department and will receive some type of financial assistance. However, with the lateness of the report ards this year and the shrinking of the state budget, requirements and assistance funding is predicted to be limited.

Improvement Ratings

Report cards also track a growth rating formerly known as improvement rating. Newberry County had three schools to rate excellent in growth or improvement: Little Mountain Elementary, Newberry High School, and Whitmire Community School (high school level). There were no schools with the "good" rating.

Seven of the district’s schools received average growth ratings: Boundary Elementary, Gallman Elementary, Pomaria Garmany Elementary, Prosperity Rikard Elementary, Reuben Elementary, Mid-Carolina Middle, and Whitmire Community School (middle). Boundary, Gallman, and Reuben moved from "at risk" to average in improvement.

There were three schools with below average growth ratings: Newberry Elementary, Whitmire Elementary School (elementary), and Mid-Carolina High School (who fell fromexcellent improvement rating last year).

Challenges

And, there was one regular school – Newberry Middle School – with an "at risk" rating for growth. Dr. Cynthia Downs, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, stated that on the elementary and particularly the middle school level the district will have to put a laser focus on student achievement looking at daily assessment, benchmarking for each student, etc.

Career Centers have a separate set of criteria including graduation rate of seniors, placement, and technical skill attainment. This year the Newberry County Career Center dropped from Excellent to Good in Absolute rating and from Good to "At Risk" in growth.

Palmetto Gold Awards

Based on their ratings this year Newberry High School, Whitmire Community School on the high school level, and Little Mountain Elementary School will all receive gold Palmetto Achievement Awards. Newberry High School and Mid-Carolina High School will both receive gold awards for closing the achievement gap.

High Schools See Improvement in Graduation Rate

Much of this success on the high school level is based on an increased graduation rate. When comparing to schools like them (schools with similar % of free and reduced lunch) WCS and MCHS ranked number one in graduation rate and NHS ranked number two in graduation rate based on like schools. WSC had 100% graduation last year.

When asked about the deciding factors for the improvement in graduation rate, Dr. Downs stated that accurate info in the student accounting program, content recovery (computerized independent remediation), and the tenants of the "High Schools that Work" program (rigor of course work, expectations, and student engagement) made the difference.

Find out Details About Other Schools

For more about the school report cards visit the State Department of Education’s website.

Baird Announces Retirement
Posted: April 16, 2010 7:43 AM

Newberry High School Head Football Coach Sam Baird has announced his retirement.

The Clover native and Newberry College graduate came to Newberry High in 1978, becoming head coach in 1989. During his twenty-one years as head coach, the Bulldogs won 161 games while losing 88. They had undefeated regular seasons in both 1993 and 2001. Eight of his teams won region championships (1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2006). Sixteen of his teams made the playoffs including the 1998 and 2001 teams as they played for the AAA lower-state championship while the 2006 team won the AA upper-state championship.

He was an assistant coach on the 2000 North/South All-Star Game while he was a South Carolina assistant coach in the 2006 Shrine Bowl game.

 

County Council News
Posted: April 15, 2010 8:54 AM

Rollback Millage Decreases County Revenue/Capital Projects Decrease Fund Balance

Newberry County Council’s finance subcommittee met on Monday (April12) night and heard a breakdown of administration’s proposed 10/11 county budget. Revenue in the $20.7 million general fund budget is expected to decrease by $1.4 million in large part due to how reassessment is calculated. (Reassessment notices will go out in September.)

Per law, the county is not supposed to make a profit on reassessment. As values in one group such as homeowners goes up, the proportion paid by other groups such as utilities (which are reassessed annually) goes down. The county also has to rollback millage so that the amount in taxes taken in remains the same. However, the equation on how much the county has to rollback the millage is based on 100% collection thus the $1.1 million in expected revenue decrease.

This rollback amount is calculated without including new properties so the value of a mill does increase this year to $111, 531. Allowing for the rollback in millage for reassessment and a 1.4 mill increase allowed based on population growth, the county general operating millage is expected to decrease by 6.4 mills to 137 mills.

What are the consequences of the revenue decrease? No employee cuts are included in the budget at this time. The line item for lease purchase is reduced by $578,487. Contracted services in public works will be reduced by $65,000. Sheriff’s Office budget will be reduced by $74,000. After last years’ budget decision to increase the amount the employee paid on the deluxe health plan, many employees moved back to the standard plan, which proportionally decreasing the amount of county cost for the health insurance by $84,500.

The line item for one-time capital expenditures is decreased by $332,946. Capital projects planned for in the 10/11 fiscal year will instead come from unreserved fund balance. New proposed capital projects include: a basketball court in the Helena community ($98,000), Silverstreet EMS Renovations ($141,000), Helicopter Pad next to the Chappells Fire Department ($22,600), and a new Public Works/Animal Shelter/Maintenance Building ($2.3 million of which $1.4 million is unreserved fund balance).

In total the new capital projects will decrease the unreserved fund balance from $9.5 million to just under $7 million or 5.25 months of operating to 4.4 months of operating, which is still within the 3 to 6 months of operating expenses that is recommended.

Newberry County Council will hear first reading on this proposed 10/11 budget at their next regular meeting on April 21 at 7pm in the Courthouse Annex.

 

Altercation in the Streets
Posted: April 14, 2010 3:32 PM

One man is charged with carrying a fire arm, pointing and presenting, and reckless driving after an incident on the streets of Newberry Tuesday (April 13) afternoon. Jordan Akeem Sartor of 11 Cromer Dairy Rd in Newberry was charged after stopping his vehicle across a road, waving a gun at the driver in the second vehicle, and then chasing the second vehicle up to 60 miles of hour in downtown Newberry.

City Council Meeting on April 13
Posted: April 14, 2010 3:29 PM

Amending Zoning Map at Copeland Street
and DeLoache Avenue Passes
The second reading of an ordinance amending the zoning map for a lot identified by Tax ID Number 344-2-4-14, the northeast corner of Copeland Street and DeLoache Avenue, was passed by City Council, 7-0 on Tuesday evening. The vacant property lot was acquired by Mr. Dennis Wayne Catoe, a lawyer from Irmo, from Newberry Realty. Mr.Catoe requested the rezoning of the property from its current General Commercial (GC) zoning classification to a high density residential (R-6) classification. The change will accommodate the proposed construction of up to five modest houses in the 1,300-to-1,400 square foot area.

Resolution for Local Cash Match in the West End Neighborhood passes
Council also approved a resolution committing the City of Newberry to provide matching funds in the amount of $50,000 for a CDBG grant application in the amount of $500,000 to upgrade water and sewer lines in West End. The City staff recommended that the $50,000 local match be budgeted for the 2010-11 fiscal year in the Utility Capital Fund, making the fund available to the project if the City receives the grant. The application deadline for this CDBG request is April 19. The South Carolina Department of Commerce is anticipated to announce the spring 2010 funding decisions in July.

Second Reading of Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Ordinance goes through
The Newberry City Council unanimously agreed, with a 7-0 vote, to pass the second reading of an ordinance amending Article V of the Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Ordinances for the City of Newberry. City staff is trying to reduce the cost of providing municipal services through the use of efficiency moves, technology, and a re-evaluation of the quality and quantity of services offered. The only changes made since the first reading are revisions to the schedule for special pick-up fees.

April 20 Council Work Session Cancelled
Council has agreed to cancel the work session scheduled for April 20, 2010 based on the high volume of work sessions already held this calendar year as well as the budget work sessions that will take place on May 11, 12, and 13.

Ed Rollins re-appointed to the Municipal Election Committee, Nick Davenport appointment approved
Council also voted on and re-appointed Mr. Ed Rollins to a six-year term on the Municipal Election Commission. Rollins’ current term expires in May, but he has shown a willingness to continue serving the City in this regard. Also, Nick Davenport, under endorsement from Rollins, was appointed to the Newberry Housing Authority Board. Davenport will fill the unexpired term of Perry Threatt. Davenport will serve the remaining year of Threatt’s term, which expires in May 2011.

Additional News from Council Meeting on April 13
Council approved a resolution designating the month of April as “Fair Housing Month” to emphasize that the City of Newberry is a fair housing community.

Mayor Kyzer and City Manager Jeff Shacker recognized city employees Brandon Wicker, Kevin Goodman, James Amerson, Larry Millstead, and Nancy Singly. Wicker has served five years with the Fire Department and holds the position of Fire Engineer. Goodman is in his 15th year with the Police Department and is a sergeant. Amerson, Millstead, and Singley have each served 25 years with the Finance Department. Amerson is a meter servicer. Millstead a meter service supervisor and Singly a customer service supervisor.

PTC Recognizes Employees with Excellence
Posted: April 14, 2010 6:20 AM

Two Piedmont Technical College employees have been recognized with excellence awards.

Lisa Toland has been recognized with the inaugural Piedmont Technical College Visionary of the Year award for faculty. Jan Jasinski has received the first Staff Excellence award.

Toland, a Newberry resident, began her career at Piedmont Tech as an adjunct instructor in the social sciences department in 1992. She became a full-time instructor in 1996 and was named department chair for social sciences in 2009. She received her bachelor’s degree in political science from Winthrop University and her master’s degree from the University of Georgia. But, she never intended to enter the field of education.

“Teaching was not on my mind,” Toland said. “I was enrolled in pre-law with the intentions of becoming an attorney.”

Toland said an advertisement for adjunct instructors caught her eye and she decided to give it a try. She’s been in education ever since.

“Over the past 15 years, as I have grown into my various roles as an instructor, advisor, program coordinator and department chair, I have also had to accept the responsibilities of being a motivator, a hand-holder, a juggler and a cheerleader,” said Toland. “Since the first day that I stepped on the campus of Piedmont Technical College, I have given my all to the opportunities that have been presented to me. I say opportunity because having the ability to affect so many lives is something that not everyone has the ability to do.”

Jasinski is also in a position to affect a large number of people at Piedmont Tech. As a full-time support technician, he says his main function is to serve as support to all stakeholders at the college.

“Our vision talks about creating and maintaining vibrant learning communities in order to transform lives,” Jasinski said. “I like to think I make that happen.”

Jasinski, a native of Finland, came to the U.S. in 1980 as a restaurant manager. The growth in the use of personal computers over the next 10 years led the company to invest in a new computer system and Jasinski was sent to Atlanta to learn the system and become a trainer. He says he found his passion.

When an injury took him out of the restaurant business in 2000, Jasinski said he was finally able to pursue that passion. He took an online class and was hooked. He enrolled at Piedmont Tech and never looked back. While a student, he was recommended as a work-study by Lesley Price, computer technology department head and was hired full-time in 2002.

“I connect the dots. Because I know everybody in all areas of the college, I can assess the need and help solve the problem,” Jasinski said. “Whether I am working on campus, off campus or in the community, I am first and foremost an ambassador of the college.”

Newberry Professor Selected for
Prestigious Seminar
Posted: April 9, 2010 9:20 AM

Dr. Karl Rohr, Assistant Professor of History at Newberry College, has been selected to participate in the National Endowment for Humanities 2010 Summer Seminar. The seminar theme, "The Civil War at 150: New Approaches," is designed both to look back on 150 years of reflection on the War Between the States and to apply new methodologies and offer new perspectives on this period of history.

This summer seminar is presented by the Georgia Historical Society and will take place in Savannah, Georgia from June 6 - July 2, 2010. In addition to actively participating in the seminar forum, Rohr will also be engaged in research that will focus on the personal writings of Josiah P. Smeltzer, who served as President of Newberry College during the Civil War era. Only recently acquired by the College, The Journal of Josiah P. Smeltzer is preserved in the Newberry College archives. Rohr plans to study this primary source from a historical perspective and pursue constructing a critical edition of this literary artifact.

A popular instructor of history, Rohr is a frequent presenter at academic conferences and a regular contributor to such publications as the “Journal of Appalachian Studies” and the Mississippi Encyclopedia. His book, The Road to Nowhere: A Story of Politics, Environment, Tradition in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is under contract with the University of North Carolina Press.

 

County Council News
Posted: April 8, 2010 9:39 AM

Newberry County Council met last night (April 7) and approved second reading on two controversial zoning changes. The first was rezoning of 27.92 in a planned development on Lake Murray from Single Family Residential RS1 to R2 Rural. The family would like to have animals such as horses and goats on their property within this community. Owner Philip Palmer stated that he had talked to all of his neighbors and they were surprised that the animals were even an issue with zoning.

Councilman Steve Stockman stated, "When the list of allowed uses in R2 were read, I didn’t hear anything that would be detrimental to that community."

The vote to approve the zoning change on second reading was 6 for and 1 abstention. Councilman Edgar Baker was one of the councilmen who asked that administration work with the couple to write a new zoning text amendment that would accommodate animals without opening the development up to some of the conditional uses you can apply for in R2.

Administration has also been charged with looking at other options including text amendments for another zoning change on Jollystreet Rd near the bridge at I-26. Southern Vacuum Cooling is currently located in Irmo. They build, lease, and maintain units that are primarily used to help produce stay cool from farm to market. The next generation is officially taking over the family business. They are interested in building a shop adjacent to property where they plan to build homes in Newberry County. The land in question is in a traditionally rural area that is marked in the county comprehensive long range plan as low density residential.

During the public hearing speakers voiced concerns regarding the potential for increased traffic, noise, and the "slippery slope" a change to Light Industrial within this R2 Rural area could mean. The chief concern, however, is the anhydrous ammonia that is used as a coolant on these trailers. Anhydrous ammonia is toxic and dangerous to the environment if released in large quantities.

Those speaking in favor of the zoning change stated that the business has never had a sudden release of ammonia in their 41 years of business. It was also pointed out that at their current location they are neighbors with a public school that was approved to be built near their current shop.

Councilman Les Hipp stated that the county needed to be careful about how growth comes into our county, but that the county didn’t need to shut down the doors to growth all together.

Final vote on second reading to rezone from R2 rural to Light Industrial was 5 to 2 with John Caldwell and Kirksey Koon voting in opposition. A final vote on the change should be on the agenda on April 21.

Filing for June Primaries
Posted: March 30, 2010 5:01 PM

The filing for the June Primaries was 12 noon on Tuesday, March 30, and according to Newberry County Democratic and Republican officials, the following have filed to run:

On the Democratic side, County Councilman Bill Waldrop will face primary opposition from Tommy Longshore who has also filed as a democratic candidate. The winner of that primary will face Republican opposition from Greg Taylor who has filed as a Republican candidate. Taylor is currently a member of the Newberry County Board of Education.

County Councilmen Buddy Livingston and John Caldwell have no opposition. Probate Judge Kelly Nobles also faces no opposition. District 40 House member Walt Mcleod faces no opposition as well.

In House District 15 it appears David Tribble of Clinton is the only candidate to file for that seat being vacated by Jeff Duncan who is running for Congress.

 

School Board Votes to Eliminate 25 Positions/
Other School District News
Posted: March 23, 2010 12:30 PM

Newberry County School Board met Monday night (March 22) and following executive session officially voted to eliminate 25 professional staff positions next school year. This official decision was one of the steps administration has suggested to the board in order to balance the 2010/2011 budget. With $2.4 million in expected state cuts this upcoming year, the district is looking at cutting a total of 32 district positions plus one of the 6 school resource officers.

The breakdown as presented at the worksession on March 15 includes the elimination of 2 administration positions, 5 classified positions, 20 classroom teacher positions, and 5 certified instructional positions (which could include guidance counselors, media specialists, subject coaches, etc.).

Per policy, the board was required to take an official vote on the 20 classroom teachers and 5 certified instructional positions who contracts must be issued by May 15. However, administration is expected to go forward with all of the positions cuts as well as furloughs, 20% decrease in travel and supply budgets, a decrease in substitute funding, and several other steps in order to balance the budget.

Superintendent Bennie Bennett encouraged the board and others interested in state education financing to come out for the School "Day at the Capital" on April 28. He reported on bills that are currently in the legislature that could affect the district including H.4657, which includes not only $104 million in new cuts to districts, but it also would only fund 122 instead of 190 days of student transport or busing. Another bill H. 4243 allows for a state charter online school. Funding for those students signing up for the online school would no longer go to the district in which they live. However, the district would still be required to offer extracurricular activities for those students.

The School Board will hold their next budget worksession on April 19.


In Other School District News...

Adult Ed a Palmetto Master

Newberry County Adult Education has received the Palmetto Masters award for being the state’s leader in first time General Educational Development test (GED) pass rate. This department beat the percentage for how many of its students passed the GED, and for how many passed it on their first try.

State Winners at Senior Beta Convention

Courtney Wilson from NHS was honored for placing second in the State Senior Beta Club Talent Competition. Courtney was a crowd favorite when she sang "I Believe" by Fantasia.

The Whitmire Community School Senior Beta Club received Second Place at the SC Beta Convention competition for Scrapbook. Senior Lynlee Thompson, the chairperson over the scrapbook committee, received the award on the club's behalf. Because of this award, the club has been invited to compete nationally this summer in Louisville, Kentucky. This is their third winning scrapbook at the SC Beta Convention.

Local Student Featured in Safe Kids Calendar

Zsymere Epps' drawing was selected for the 2010/2011 Safe Kids calendar. Zimmer is a student at Gallman Elementary.

Bennett named Superintendent of the Year by SCAAA

Mr. Bennett has been named Superintendent of the Year by SC Association of Athletic Administrators (SCAAA). Principals and athletic directors from around the state nominate superintendents for this award. Nominees must be supportive of athletics. SCAAA board members select one superintendent from SC for the award. Mr. Bennett will receive this award at the Annual SCAAA Awards Breakfast in Charleston on Sunday, March 14.

 

Capital Project Sales Tax Commission
Posted: March 23, 2010 7:30 AM

The Capital Project Sales Tax Commission met last night (March 22) to begin hearing proposals from local municipalities, the county, and the water and sewer authority regarding items they would like to see on the ballot in November to extend the penny sales tax for capital projects.

Potential projects include:

• $1.4 million conversion of the old library/post office into a Commerce, Tourism, and Historical Center to be shared by the Newberry County Historical and Museum Society and the Newberry County Chamber of Commerce with display space for the Newberry County Economic Development office.

• $476,000 for the continued renovation of the old Pomaria School Community Center to include an auditorium and office space

• $889,000 for the repair and upgrade 5 sewer lift stations in Prosperity

• $489,000 for the repair of a Town of Whitmire Annex building for use by Town Council, the Magistrate, and as a meeting room.

• $3.6 million for the repair of the water main that transports potable water from the City Water Treatment plant to the Saluda River

• $1.4 million for the expansion of the water line on SC Hwy 219, Boinest Rd, US Hwy 176 - expanding to 60 residences and would serve as a secondary feeder to Pomaria-Garmany

• $163,000 for the creation of a trail head for 44 acres near the eastern peak of Little Mountain called the Rocky Branch Creek Natural Area

• $657,000 for renovations at the Newberry Opera House including roof leak repairs and new lighting and sound boards.

Commissioners will rank projects based on economic impact, degree of urgency/need, population affected, geographic distribution, and return on investment. The Commission will have heard a total of 32 proposals by May 3. The Commission will have to narrow the list to around $16 million in projects before submitting to County Council. County Council will have the option of an up or down vote about whether or not to request the "continuation of the capital sales tax penny" be included on the November ballot.


Bost Awarded Seminary's Highest Honor
Posted: March 19, 2010 7:47 AM

Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (LTSS), awarded its highest non-academic honor, the John Bachman Award for Distinguished Leadership, to the Rev. Dr. Raymond M. Bost on Thursday, March 18, 2010, in Christ Chapel on the seminary’s campus.

“In service to Christ and his body, the church, Dr. Bost has been a leader in theological education and Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary,” said the Rev. Dr. Marcus J. Miller, President of the seminary. “It is with and thanksgiving to God that we recognize his service by presenting him the John Bachman award.”

Bost, a graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne College and LTSS, served as Academic Dean then as President of Newberry College, a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) from 1992-1995.

“Empowered by the Gospel, Dr. Bost's stewardship of all his gifts has been freely and sacrificially offered to the glory of God,” said the Rev. Dr. William B. Trexler, Chair of the seminary’s Board of Trustees. “He epitomizes our seminary's goal of forming servant leaders who are steeped in Word and Sacrament so that they might point others to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."

Bost is only the 15th person to have received the prestigious award. Established in 1990, the Bachman Award was created to recognize those who have demonstrated in their support of the seminary the vision of its founders: that Southern Seminary be a place where the personal growth of its students is assured, the love for Christ and His Church deepened, and zeal for service inspired. The award bears the name of the first President of the seminary Board of Trustees, the Rev. John A. Bachman, who helped found the seminary and Newberry College.

 

County Council Report
Posted: March 18, 2010 3:05 PM

Newberry County Council met last night and declared March Disabilities and Special Needs Month. The Council also agreed to send a letter in support of the agency's state funding to representatives at the State House.

Council approved final reading to eliminate the Emergency Services Board. This board was established to provide better communication and cooperation between fire, rescue, EMS, Hasmat, and the Sheriff's Office. However, many argued that the board had become superfluous with the hiring of an Emergency Services Coordinator. Fire and Rescue will retain their separate boards.

Council heard a presentation from Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands, formerly known as Rape Crisis. The agency simply asked the council to help spread the word regarding the Darkness into Light training that helps people to identify sexual abuse cases. Around 40 people have been trained so far by the agency. Their grant, however, provides funding for up to 500 adults to be trained. The next training day is April 6 at the Newberry County Library. It was brought out that the school district is also providing the Darkness into Light training to their administrators and guidance counselors. Chairman Buddy Livingston, who is Director of the Newberry County Career Center, said the training was "eye opening" and encourages anyone to take the one day course. Call 803-771-7273 for more information about the program.

Caterpillar Creating More Jobs
Posted: March 17, 2010 2:35 PM

Gov. Mark Sanford, the South Carolina Department of Commerce, Newberry County and the Central SC Alliance have announced Caterpillar plans to increase operations at its facility in Newberry County. The state and Newberry County have worked to assist the company with its expansion plans for Newberry, which should be completed in the next several years. The company expects employment at the Newberry facility to increase by about 500 people as a result of the capacity expansion project. Caterpillar is making a multi-year, significant capital investment in support of the Newberry expansion plan. The company opened the Newberry generator set facility in 2006 as part of Caterpillar’s Electric Power Division.

“The expansion of our Newberry operation is part of the Electric Power Division’s strategic global manufacturing plan for better serving our customers,” said Joseph Mulay, Newberry facility manager for Caterpillar. “South Carolina has been an excellent fit for our company, and we are pleased to be increasing operations at our Newberry facility. We appreciate the continued support we have received from the state Department of Commerce and local officials in Newberry County,” Mulay added.

Caterpillar’s Electric Power Division includes global design, packaging and marketing responsibilities for Caterpillar electric power generation products, including U.S. locations in South Carolina, Illinois, Indiana and Georgia and international locations in Northern Ireland, India, China and Brazil. The Electric Power Division includes products branded with the FG Wilson, Olympian and Caterpillar names. The Newberry facility currently produces a full range of diesel gensets under 200 kW for the North American market. It also produces a limited range of products in the 250 KW to 700KW range. The expansion plan would increase genset production in the 250-1250 kW range primarily for North American customers. These gensets are typically used as backup power for smaller retail operations, homes, farms and in municipal applications.

“As we work to compete in today’s global economy, our state's commitment to lowering taxes, reducing regulatory burdens and maintaining a pro-business environment is critical. Today’s announcement to create 500 new jobs is indeed a sign that we are moving in the right direction, and we remain committed to further enhancing the state’s business environment to allow our existing businesses, like Caterpillar, to be more competitive during these challenging economic times. I’d like to thank Caterpillar for choosing to grow in our state, and also applaud the hardworking team at Commerce as well as the local economic development community in Newberry County,” said Gov. Mark Sanford.

“Caterpillar continues to enhance its four-county footprint in South Carolina, and this expansion is a positive indication that the efforts of dedicated economic development professionals at the state and local level are working to separate us from the competition for new jobs in this economy. The expansion of the Newberry facility will allow Caterpillar to reach its customers in the nation’s fastest growing market efficiently and reaffirms South Carolina’s ability to provide a high-skilled workforce and unmatched market access. Caterpillar is truly a world-class operation and its growth in Newberry County is sure to positively impact the local community and strengthen the company’s commitment to our state over the long-term,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce.

“Around 10 years ago, Caterpillar made the decision to make a significant investment in Newberry County in the form of a very large diesel generator manufacturing plant. Several years later, the company occupied the building and began limited production. Now, the decision to hire up to 500 additional employees means the original decision to invest in Newberry has come full circle. We are ecstatic that Caterpillar has decided to increase its investment in Newberry and look forward to a long and close relationship with Caterpillar . This announcement means a much brighter future for many in and around Newberry County. Many thanks to the Newberry County Development Team and the County Council who have spent many hours in making this event possible. A special thanks to Secretary of Commerce, Joe Taylor, and his staff for their continued pursuit of jobs in the Midlands area and for making this historic announcement possible,” said state Senator Ronnie Cromer.

“Newberry County could not be more pleased with today's announcement,” commented Newberry County Council Chairman Henry Livingston. “It is always positive to see an existing industry grow and continue to invest in the community. Most importantly, it brings much needed quality job opportunities to the citizens of Newberry County. Caterpillar is reinforcing its commitment to Newberry's power generation facility reflecting continued confidence in the county's business environment and workforce. We are happy to support Caterpillar’s success with this venture.”

Central SC Alliance Chairman Jim Apple said, “Today’s expansion announcement by Caterpillar further demonstrates the strong work ethic that exists here in Central South Carolina. Caterpillar is the world's largest manufacturer of high-speed diesel generator sets and engines and we could not be prouder to have them in Newberry County. We offer a lot of unique and distinct business advantages to companies that have a direct impact on the bottom line including a superior transportation network, a deep water seaport and employees that are highly productive with the skills to make best in class products.”

The company plans to begin hiring for the new positions in the coming months. Individuals interested in job opportunities are encouraged to visit www.jointeamcaterpillar.com.

School District Worksession
Posted: March 16, 2010 7:35 AM

Newberry County School District met last night (March 15) to take a first look at the 10/11 budget. Revenue projections are down $2.4 million from last year mainly due to a decrease in state funding. The base student cost (BSC) helps the state calculate Education Finance Act (EFA) funding. BSC at the beginning of this year (09/10) was $2602. With this year's cuts, the BSC is currently $1734. However, 10/11 projections show $1625 as the base student cost.

In addition to the state cuts, District CFO Susan Dowd estimates around $1 million in increased cost. One of the increases (estimated at $321,000) is the state mandated teacher salary step increase for another year of experience. School board member Jody Hamm stated, "I would love to see the teacher associations step up the plate, and ask the state to waive the mandated step increase this year, which would save jobs before giving raises."

Another increase is based on a decrease in the amount of stimulus funding by around $214,000. This amount will now have to be picked up by the district's general fund. Superintendent Bennie Bennett reminded everyone that next year the stimulus funding disappears all together.

CFO Dowd also recommends a small contingency around $200,000 to cover a potential first cut next year. Based on the state's history with mid-year cuts, she estimates the base student cost to actually end up closer to $1600.

After reviewing this projected revenue deficit, School District Administration made the following recommendations to balance the budget:
• A reduction in 2 administrative positions
• A reduction of approximately 20 teachers
• A reduction of approximately 5 certified instructional positions
• A reduction of approximately 5 classified positions
• A 4 day (non-instructional) furlough for teachers
• An 8 day furlough for administrators
• A 4 day furlough for classified employees
• 20% cut in department and school budgets for travel and supplies
• A reduction in the substitute budget by $200,000 by requiring teachers to cover for others during their planning, etc.
• A reduction in the number of slots at the Alternative School, which gives a more structured environment for students with disaplinatory problems or those threatening to drop out
• A reduction in School Resource Officers from 6 to 5
• A reduction in the number of days contracted out for JROTC instructors from 240 to 190 days
• Eliminate additional band purchase service budget by $12,500
• A reduction in the number of Athletic Trainers by one, utilizing the WCS staffer who is certified

Other options were brought up including cutting all 44 active retirees with the option for them to apply again for any open positions. School board member Ike Bledsoe even asked for info on offering an early retirement package.

The Newberry County School Board will discuss these suggestions further at their next regular board meeting on March 22 at 7:30 in the Learning Center. A final budget will not be approved until June. However, contracts must go out in April so a decision will be made within the next month about whether or not to go forward with the reduction in force options.

 

 

 

Fire Destroys Two-Story Home
Posted: March 10, 2010 11:14 AM

The Newberry Fire Department responded to a fire call at 1221 Glenn Street in Newberry early Wednesday (March 10) morning. According to Chief Keith Minick the 911 call came in at 1:15 Wednesday morning and was for a fire with possible entrapment. However, the residents were out of the house when the firemen arrived on the scene. At one point the fire spread to 1223 Glenn Street, but was out by 9am when WKDK visited the scene. Fire investigators will be meeting with the family and inspecting the scene for point of origin to help determine cause.

 

City Council News
Posted: March 10, 2010 11:43 AM

Council approves motion to appoint Montgomery to the Architectural Review Board
Newberry City Council met on Tuesday night and unanimously approved the appointment of Mr. Robert Montgomery to the Architectural Review Board. The appointment is for a two-year period ending on December 31, 2011. Montgomery moved to Newberry in April of 2006 and manages Professional Insurance & Investment Associates (PIA). Montgomery is an active member of the Newberry Rotary Club as well as the Newberry County Museum and Historical Society.

First reading of ordinance amending solid waste collection passes
Council also passed the first reading of an ordinance amending Article V., solid waste collection, and the disposal of the code ordinances of the City of Newberry. The ordinance is intended to reduce the cost of providing municipal services through the use of efficiency moves, technology, as well as re-evaluating the quality and quantity of services offered to residents and businesses. Council initially expressed reservations about this ordinance in a work session environment. Several modifications have been made to the ordinance including a more detailed description of routine yard maintenance for residents and waste management options for businesses downtown. The City staff believes the proposed ordinance will improve the efficiency of the current collection system, but preserve the level of quality of service to residents and businesses.

Resolutions of support for Capital Project Sales Tax (CPST) pass in two separate actions
Tuesday’s session also saw the City Council’s approval of two resolutions of support for Capital Project Sales Tax (CPST). The City staff has prepared a $3,570,000 funding request for the CPST Commission to replace the water main that transports potable water from the City’s Water Treatment Plant to the City’s booster pump station; located near Dixie Drive. The request represents 60 percent of the estimated cost of the project which is nearly $6 million dollars ($5,947,000). The remaining 40 percent, $2.377 million, would need to be funded by the City through other means including but not limited to revenue bonds, SRF, and grants.

Council also approved a resolution to support the Newberry Opera House Foundation’s request for $656,991 to make repairs and upgrades to the facility. The resolution commits the City to co-sponsoring the Newberry Opera House Foundation’s request along with Newberry County which likely improves the odds that the CPST Commission will place the Opera House project on the ballot.

Council approves ordinance rezoning tax map
The Newberry City Council also unanimously approved an ordinance to rezone tax map #342-2-4-14 from current zoning classification of “General Commercial” to “High Density Residential” by the request of Dennis Wayne Catoe. Catoe is an attorney practicing law in Irmo and acquired the vacant property located at the northeast corner of the intersection of Copeland Street and DeLoach Avenue. The change is to accommodate the construction of up to five modest houses in the 1,300 to 1,400 square foot range.

Council held a public hearing for this ordinance as the first order of new business.

March work session to be held on Thursday, March 25
Council also agreed to hold a work session for Thursday, March 25 at 6 p.m. to discuss the budget for the 2010-11 fiscal year. There is concern that the budget will be quite difficult and the objective of the session is to present the Council with several strategies to prepare for balancing the coming year’s budget.

Other news from City Council Meeting of March 9
City Council approved draft elements presented to the Council by the Planning Commission regarding Land Use Element. Once all elements have been approved, the Commission will be asked to approve the complete plan and formally recommend the adoption of an ordinance.

Mayor Kyzer and City Manager Shacker recognized Stuart Smith of the Newberry City Fire Department for 20 years of service. Smith holds the position of Fire Lieutenant.

 

Reta Announced as Prosperity's
New Chief of Police
Posted: March 8, 2010 4:58 PM

The Town of Prosperity today announced the appointment of Phillip Reta, a veteran Newberry County Lieutenant, as the town's new Chief of Police.

In announcing the appointment, Police Administrator, Benji Sease said, “a very high standard of professionalism and long-term dedicated performance make him an ideal choice for this important leadership position." In addition, Sease said, Reta "has consistently demonstrated not only a deep insight into the principles of community-oriented policing, but also a sincere commitment to the quality of police service to the citizens of Newberry County.

Reta has been serving as the training officer of the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office and has been employed since 1998. He has been a member of the sheriff’s office C.I.R.T. team and an adjunct instructor for the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. Reta advanced through the ranks as deputy sheriff, sergeant, lieutenant and now Chief of Police.

Sease said “Phil has always supported the Town of Prosperity; he taught many community classes on gangs and community safety and he wrote the towns original grant to allow to hire an additional officer.”

Reta has held many responsibilities at one time or another for all major training aspects of the sheriff’s office, including patrol, investigations, detention center, state constables, 911 communications, court house security as well as participating in planning, operations, and administration of other areas.

Mayor Derek Underwood, said he was very pleased with the selection of Reta as chief. "He always acts with dignity and integrity and, because of these traits, he is highly regarded in the community," he said. "I am confident that we will see our Police Department grow and flourish under his leadership."

The Police Department includes the Chief, 2 sworn officers, a reserve and has a current vacancy for an additional officer and another reserve officer.

"I am extremely gratified by this appointment and by the confidence that Council and community have shown in me," said Reta. "The opportunity to serve the Town of Prosperity as their police chief is one that I greatly appreciate. The Council has worked diligently to provide good police service to the town, and I am honored to be the person who will now lead the department as we strive to build on that goal."

Among some of the awards and special recognitions accorded him, Reta said he was particularly proud of having been awarded the “Deacon Livingston Award” by the Newberry County Sheriff’’s Office for “Outstanding Performance of Service” and a Citation Award from Governor Hodges for working on a kidnapping case. Reta also recently served as the Chairman of the South Carolina Gang Association, bringing that organization to national recognition and co-contributed to a recent production of A&E’s television series GangLand.
Reta, humbly stated, “the freedom given by the sheriff’s office to learn and grow into a good deputy and being able to serve the citizens was so rewarding; “I care about the people and where I live and I am going to reflect that through my commitment of service”. Reta added, “That so much support was given by the Sheriff’s Office and his family," and went on to say “it’s not the end of my service with Newberry County, but a new beginning.

Newberry County Council Report
Posted: March 4, 2010 12:10 PM

Newberry County Council met last night and approved first reading on several zoning changes. Despite much discussion, County Council passed first reading of an ordinance to change the zoning on 12 acres of property off of Jollystreet Rd from R-2 Rural to LI (Light Industrial). A family owned business called Southern Vaccum Cooling, which manufactures and leases cooling systems for "farm to market" produce trucks, has plans to locate in this rural residential community.

Council also passed first reading of an ordinance that would change property near Lake Murray from RS1 to R-2 Rural thus allowing for horses, chickens, etc. on the property.

Councilman Buddy Livingston reminded those attending that approval of first reading in both these cases would allow councilmen to gather more info and that the ordinance would have to pass two more readings before
being final.

Also last night, Council heard a presentation from Emily Cope of DNR regarding the DNR purchase of land adjacent to the Belfast Plantation for educational and recreational programs. Despite not having any control
over DNR's purchase of the property, Council at their last regular meeting had voted in a split 5 to 2 vote to show their disapproval of the sale because it would take more property off of the property tax books and block the property from any future industrial development. Last
night, Council heard from citizens on both sides of the issue but simply took all of this as information at this time.

More information coming Friday to WKDK and WKDK.com.

 

Speech and Theatre Students Win
State Championship
Posted: March 1, 2010 5:47 PM

On Saturday, February 27, 2010, four Newberry College students represented the College and the Department of Theatre and Speech at the South Carolina Speech and Theatre Association (SCSTA) Festival Competition at Limestone College. Members of the Newberry College 2010 Team included: Jessica Takach, a junior from Okatie, S.C.; Joanie Holden, a sophomore from Panama City, Fla.; Malik Crate, a freshman from Spartanburg, S.C.; and Wes Underwood, a senior from Clinton, S.C.

For the fourth time in the past six years, Newberry College won the Team Sweepstakes Award. This award goes to the team with the highest average score for all entries, and is equivalent to a state championship in Speech and Theatre.

In addition to the team award, the following students also won individual awards:

1st Place – Persuasive Speaking: Joanie Holden

2nd Place – After Dinner Speaking: Jessica Takach