While Clinton Public Safety officers were on routine patrol Friday morning in the area of South Adair St and Calhoun Street, Clinton they had prior knowledge that there had been vehicle break-ins in the PC area. When they turned right onto Calhoun St they reportedly noticed a subject duck down behind a vehicle so they quickly placed their patrol car in park and got out. As officers were walking toward the area they allegedly heard a car door shut but scanned the area and did not locate anyone. While officers waited for back-up to arrive on scene they reportedly observed a black jeep in the parking lot. Officers then approached the vehicle from the rear and reportedly saw a male subject balled up in the back floor board. The subject was then informed by officers to show them his hands but he reportedly jumped from the vehicle and fled on foot toward South Adair St. Clinton Public Safety officers followed closely behind and demanded the subject to stop. An attempt to taze the subject was unsuccessful as the subject but after a few short minutes officers were able to catch up with the subject and place handcuffs on him. The subject was then asked whose car he was in and he reportedly stated he did not know. He was then placed under arrest and transported to Clinton Department of Public Safety. A set of vehicle keys were allegedly found on the subject that belonged to a victim, who was spoken to and she stated she had recently had her key stolen. When officers went to photograph the scene several items were found inside the vehicle that had been broken into that did not belonging to the vehicle’s owner. Further investigation was to follow.

19 year-old Malcolm Jamale Moses of 200 Oak Street, Clinton was charged with resisting arrest, receiving stolen goods, possession of burglary tools, violation of city ordinance, 2 counts breaking into a motor vehicle.

Bond was set at $53,5000 and he remained in Johnson Detention Center this morning.

A woman called into Laurens County Sheriff’s Office Friday night in reference to her boyfriend being stabbed in the neck on HWY 92, Enoree. When deputies arrived at the incident location they were directed by a neighbor who stated the victim was cut bad and needed immediate help. Upon entering the residence at the incident location they reportedly saw blood on the carpet as well as in the kitchen. The victim was reported laying on the couch asking for help with a towel pressed to his neck. In plain view were reportedly two steak knives. When officers asked the victim about the incident he stated that there was allegedly an argument between him and his girlfriend. When officers attempted to locate the subject she was missing from the location but later on received a call where a female was located matching the description of the subject. The subject was then taken into custody and taken to Johnson Detention Center.

37 year-old Stephanie Gene Towne of 8815 HWY 92, Enoree was arrested by Laurens CSO Saturday.

She was charged with attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.

Separate warrants state that she did have in her possession a knife during the commission of a violent crime and did stab a victim in the back and head causing major injury.

Bond was set at $35,000 and she remained in Johnson Detention Center this morning.

Ali Rogers said wining the title of Miss South Carolina meant taking a year off from her studies at Clemson. She said it’s a full-time job, which consists during the school year of traveling to schools around the state:

“My platform is ‘making a difference for children with disabilities. So I want to be in as many schools as I can throughout this school year….working with our children with special needs, one on one. And that’s something, thanks to you all, I’m gonna have funding to help get gas for me to travel around the state. Because that’s something that, as a personal platform, I hope to do myself, and volunteer in our schools. So that is the bulk of my work. Along with my personal platform, we have Children’s Miracle Network…and that’s the national platform of the Miss American Organization. And so I also work in hospitals across our state.”

Laurens Rotary President Jonathan Irick presented Ali Rogers with a check for $500 toward her efforts this year.

Ali Rogers gave examples of several children with disabilities that she has spent time with, observing as they reached personal accomplishments.

Ms. Rogers will represent South Carolina at the Miss American Pageant in Las Vegas this coming January.

The Open Door Soup Kitchen hit a new record Tuesday of this week, feeding lunch to 125 people. Rev. Charles Brewington of the Open Door said that someone has offered to donate a supply of frozen chicken to help the center feed the needy of our area, but the center doesn’t have a walk-in freezer, that is needed to keep the donated chicken frozen until needed.

Brewington told us yesterday that someone came by the center recently with a good price on a walk-in freezer, but never contacted Rev. Brewington. So he’s now looking for the man, or for anyone who can help locate a walk-in freezer so the Open Door can take advantage of offers like the donated frozen chicken:

“I’m hoping we can get in touch with him…but we’re looking for anybody who has any idea of where we might could get one, or know somebody who has one, we really need something we can put this chicken that’s going to be donated to on a regular basis, as long as we need it, from what I understand. So we can freeze it, put it in there and use it as we could.”

Anyone who can help locate a walk-in freezer for the Open Door’s Soup Kitchen is asked to call Rev. Charles Brewington at 923-1 6 4 2. That’s 9 2 3 — 16 42.

…or email: centeropen@bellsouth.net

The meeting will begin at noon and features local football coaches as guest speakers. Presbyterian College’s Harold Nichols, Clinton High School’s coach Scott King, Laurens District 55 High school Head Football Coach Greg Lawson and Laurens Academy’s Tyler Vanhook will all take the podium to preview their upcoming seasons and teams.

The Touchdown Club will also recognize the Laurens Academy players of the week from their week one game at Oakbrook Prep.

After this Friday’s first meeting of the year, the next meeting is set for Sept. 7^th. Former NFL star Levon Kirkland will be the featured guest speaker on that date.

For more information about joining the Laurens County Touchdown Club is available with a call to Marlene Owings at the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce. That number is: 833-2716.

65-year-old Betty Salpietro Cervenka of Cothran Drive, Greenwood had reportedly just completed a shift as Nurse Practitioner at the Laurens County Hospital and was headed home when her 2009 Nissan MiniVan ran off Highway 72 a tenth of a mile before the Highway 39 intersection and crashed into a guard rail.

Patrol Trooper Billy Elder said the crash disabled her car. Details of what happened next appear sketchy, as the Highway Patrol continues their investigation, but is appears that Ms. Cervenka, and perhaps others, were struck by another vehicle at the scene of the wreck, as she stood at or near her wrecked vehicle. She was air-lifted to Greenville for treatment of her injuries, arriving early Monday morning, August 13^th. Ms. Cervenka died in Greenville Memorial this past Saturday, August 18^th, at 3:10 in the afternoon.

Trooper Elder indicated that a 2001 Ford Taurus driven by 18-year-old Sarah Elizabeth Ebel of 123 Bear Drive, Clinton came on the scene of the Greenwood woman’s wreck. Ms. Ebel was transported to the Laurens County Hospital following the incident.

Another pedestrian injured at the scene was listed as 47-year-old Roblyn Bailey of 11 Minnow Drive, Waterloo. She was transported to Self Regional Hospital in Greenwood.

A Highway Patrol accident investigation team was working to establish details of what occurred.

Meanwhile, funeral services for Betty S. Cervenka are set for 2 pm Thursday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, with Entombment following at Greenwood Memorial Gardens.

Laurens City Council gave unanimous approval for two ordinances at their monthly meeting last night. One ordinance enables the city to use the State’s Set-off Debt Collection program as another tool for recovering outstanding money owed to the city for trash collection. The other action reaffirms that the Laurens Police Department is authorized to use a grant for purchase of equipment. Chief Robin Morse said the $17,999 grant will be used to purchase more technological equipment for police cars, such as back-seat cameras and touch-screen laptops. It also authorizes replacing older equipment including tazers.

Chief Morse also told the council that he had received requests from all over the country for pictures of the city’s new police cars. Even Ford Motor Company wanted to see the vehicles they’ve heard about. Mayor Brownlee praised the police chief for the job he is doing and commented that Laurens is on the cutting edge of technology.

Emil Finley appeared before City Council as President of the Laurens County Literacy Council, asking for funding for the program. He requested $5,000 for the Literacy Council to hire a part-time teacher over the 9-month school year.

Finley gave an overview of the mission of the council, which is to work in two areas, adult basic education and English as a second language. “My perspective is that we have barely scratched the surface,” said Finley as he reported that the council had 24 students in adult basic education and 18 in English as a second language at the end of the past school year.

The Laurens City Council meeting ended was the reading of a special proclamation prepared by the council honoring Ms. Ali Rodgers, who was elected Miss South Carolina. The proclamation listed her many accomplishments in academic, leadership, and community service and will be presented to Rodgers at an invitation only celebration this weekend at Presbyterian College.

Several local law enforcement agencies will be teaming up for another safe driving event later this week. Laurens City Police yesterday announced that Safety Checkpoints will be conducted at various locations around Laurens this Thursday night, from 7:30 pm to 1:30 am. Participating in a Multi-jurisdictional Task Force with Laurens City Police will be officers from the Clinton Department of Public Safety, the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Earlier this month WLBG reported that Clinton City Council was considering redrawing the district lines for city council. That process is now officially underway after council voted yesterday on criteria to be used to draw district lines.

At a special called meeting of council Monday morning council voted to approve 7 guidelines to be used in drawing new lines. They include: Adherence to the one man, one vote principle, Avoidance of placing more than one incumbent into any district and Compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

With those guidelines and with the assistance of state officials the actual work to develop a redistricting plan can get underway.

A 911 call dispatched emergency personnel to Metric Road at 5:45 yesterday afternoon on a report of a motorcycle wreck. Laurens County Coroner Nick Nichols said the fatal crash happened at 3338 Metric Road, between Interstate 385 and Highway 14. The motorcyclist was declared dead at the time EMS arrived at 5:54 pm.

Coroner Nichols said that 29-year-old Christopher Kenneth Elliott of 266 West Clark Road, Inman died of blunt force trauma to his head and body. Elliott was reportedly traveling on Metric Road when the motorcycle went off the road and wrapped around a utility pole, caught fire and burned. The rider was thrown some 12 feet from the motorcycle. The Coroner said that Christopher Kenneth Elliott was wearing a helmet.