Yesterday evening, the Government Affairs Committee of The Laurens County Chamber of Commerce hosted a debate between Rep. Mike Pitts, the republican incumbent and Dr. Ed Taylor, the democratic candidate for SC House Seat 14 at the Hillcrest Square Courthouse. Questions were asked by a panel of local media. The last question of the evening concerned both candidates strengths in concern to serving in the house of representatives.

Dr. Taylor’s response: Dr. Taylor

Rep. Pitts’ response: Rep. Pitts

Other questions covered topics of taxes, agriculture and education. The responses from the candidates were longer and more in depth and this reporter feels it would be unfair to simply pick soundbytes for our news broadcasts. The debate in its entirety, will be aired on WLBG this coming Monday evening just after our 5:00 news broadcast. Join us at that time for the entire debate.

As of next week, the Laurens County Airport will be closed.  Don’t worry, it’s temporary.  The airport will close to allow for completion of a PAVEMENT REHAB PROJECT. 

The closure is now scheduled for 45 days…..10 days longer than previously believed.  The reason for the additional time is that the project will now include a concrete overlay for the parking ramp instead of the originally planned asphalt.

Laurens County Airport will close at Midnight on Tuesday night and will remain closed for 45 days.

A mobile meth lab was found by a Laurens resident yesterday afternoon. A woman stated that she and her husband were picking up cans along Todd Quarters rd. in theWaterlooarea and saw a pink bag in the water by the bridge and wanted it. Her husband retrieved the bag from the water and when she opened it she found meth lab materials and called 911. A narcotics officer was called in and the items were disposed of properly by the Sheriffs Office disposal team.

According to reports, Deputy Edwards was dispatched to a radio broadcast facility in the Gray Court area around 3 pm yesterday. Upon arrival he spoke with a broadcast engineer that had arrived earlier and noticed a door open at one of the buildings at this facility. When the engineer walked inside the building he found that a brand new Frigidaire 24,000 btu window unit heat pump and a shop vac were missing. The victim then produced paper work for the heat pump which contained serial and model numbers. The deputy took pictures and paperwork for the heat pump and it will be entered into NCIC as stolen. This incident will be passed on to investigations and they won’t be whistling while they work.

Clinton P.S.O. Thomas Scott Peay was on routine patrol on South Broad on Monday when he reportedly observed a red Pontiac traveling toward him. The passenger did not have on a seat belt, so a traffic stop was conducted on South Broad at Quality Cleaners. The officer noted observing a very strong odor of marijuana. When the officer began to handcuff the person for detainment during an investigation, he reportedly pulled away and fled, running behind the cleaners towards Spruce Street. A foot chase continued through back yards on Spruce and Pine Streets. The subject was eventually detained in a front yard on Spruce Street.  Lt. Eric Robinson arrived to assist, along with additional backup from the Laurens County Sheriff’s office. A search of the subject reportedly found $990 in the man’s right front pocket. Sgt. Casey Jones searched under a house the subject had been under and reportedly found a large bag of off-white rock substance that later tested positive as crack cocaine, and a green leafy substance that field tested positive for marijuana.  23-year-old Joseph Rashad Harris of 111 Woodland Drive, Fountain Inn was charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and held on a $10,000 bond for alledgedly possessing 19.4 grams of reefer. Possesion with intent to distribute crack cocaine and held on a $15,000 bond for purportedly possessing 1.07 grams of crack, a $5000 bond for resisting arrest as stated, and a $262.50 bond for open container.

A Fountain Inn man is being held at the Laurens County Detention Center on multiple drug related charges. 35-year-old Christopher “Chris” Stevenson of 161 Harlock Rd., Fountain Inn is being held on warrants served yesterday showing an address of 1395 Allen Bridge Rd. Woodruff for possession of methamphetamines with intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and two counts of possession of a controlled substance. Lt. Robert Wilke states that in addition to methamphetamine and crack, Stevenson was in possession of both xanax and diazepam at 40 Parsonage Rd, Enoree on Tuesday. Warrants state he has prior convictions on crack cocaine distribution. Christopher Stevenson remained in the Laurens County Detention Center yesterday.

South Carolina’s Voter ID law has been approved by court review. The United States District Court has ruled in favor of the South Carolina’s Voter ID law. South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson issued a statement yesterday in response to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia’s ruling in South Carolina vs. United States on the state’s voter ID case. Wilson said “Today’s ruling by the three judge panel is a major victory for South Carolina and its election process. It affirms our voter ID law is valid and constitutional under the Voting Rights Act. The fact remains, voter ID laws do not discriminate or disenfranchise; they ensure integrity at the ballot box. Wilson added that the ruling “also affirms South Carolina’s voter ID law should have been pre-cleared by the U.S. Justice Department.” Wilson added “We will work diligently to implement this law for all future elections.” As for concern about the upcoming General Elections – relax. South Carolina’s voter ID will take effect starting with elections in 2013. Laurens County Elections Director Lynn West tells WLBG the new law will go into effect for Laurens county with municipal elections next March, which will be held in the City of Clinton, Gray Court, Waterloo, and Cross Hill.