Laurens County Deputy Brent Rushing was on patrol at Owings Industrial Park last night when at 10:55pm he reportedly observed a gray Dodge leaving a construction area, and he turned around to talk with the vehicle driver. The vehicle then sped off and made a right turn onto Wells road. Deputy Rushing activated Blue Lights and Siren. After traveling another mile and a half, the vehicle stopped. Deputy Rushing reported detecting the smell of marijuana in the vehicle when he approached the vehicle. He reportedly also observed a clear plastic bag containing a plant-like substance in the cup holder of the vehicle. Additional officers came to the scene from the Sheriff’s Office and Fountain Inn Police. The plant in the bag reportedly tested positive as marijuana, and the driver was charged with Simple Possession of Marijuana. After receiving permission to search, officers reportedly located a cell phone that contained pictures of marijuana plants. Questioning the man, they allegedly learned he was growing them under a power line behind his residence. Lt. Marty Crain and Sgt. Robert Timmons then went to that location on Kimbark Lane, Fountain Inn. They reportedly located five marijuana plants growing at that location. The plants, along with the bag of marijuana and the cell phone were taken into evidence.

  25-year-old Thomas Doyle Anthony II of 146 Magnolia Tree Lane, Lyman was taken to the Johnson Detention Center. While initially ticketed on the Simple Possession charge, he was also being held for warrants which deputies were to seek to also charge him with Manufacturing and Cultivating Marijuana.

  A juvenile subject who was also in the car stopped on Wells Road late last night was turned over to his mother.

  The car was towed from the scene.

   Laurens County highway fatality statistics are much improved so far here in 2012.  As of midnight this past Sunday night, Laurens County highway fatalities were less than half of the number killed at this time last year, and actually lower than the death rate in any of the past four years. As of midnight Sunday night, Laurens County had 2 highway fatalities, down from 7 at this time in 2012.

   Greenwood County was even lower, with just one fatality, compared to three at this time last year. Newberry County also stood with one fatality, down from 5 in 2012. One fatality in Union County was the same as this time last year. Abbeville and Saluda counties have higher fatalities so far in 2013. Saluda is up from 1 to 2 and Abbeville has 3, compared to no fatalities at this time last year.

   All our more populous neighboring counties have better fatality statistics so far this year. Anderson is down from 18 to 8, Greenville from 21 to 19 and Spartanburg from 17 in 2012 to 11 in 2013.

  State-wide highway fatalities were also below last year’s levels, as of this past Sunday. The State Department of Public Safety states that as of May 12^th, 225 people have died on our states highways in 2013, compared to 306 highway deaths in this same time period in 2012.

 The 225 people who were killed on South Carolina highways so far this year include four bicyclists, 26 motorcyclists, 28 pedestrians and 164 motor vehicle occupants. Of these, 99 were not wearing seat belts.

   Healthy Kids Day is tomorrow! The Laurens Y has a special announcement planned during the Annual Healthy Kids Day tomorrow – it’s set for 10 am before the bulk of activities get underway. The community is invited to be present for the announcement and to take part in all the fun activities Healthy Kids Day has to offer. This year the Y is adding a group bike ride at 8 in the morning and a family friendly 5k walk/run at 10:30 am to compliment other activities. There will be an inflatable obstacle course and bounce house, bike rodeo, Zumba, Fit Kids exercise station, a 3 and under activities center, gardening for kids, a visit from a local dairy farmer and LUNCH! There will be t-shirts for kids and give-aways.  Healthy Kids Day at the Laurens Y tomorrow is a public event for kids and their families.

    Sixth grade students from Bell Street Middle School got a view of how Clinton residents are able to enjoy clear, healthy water yesterday, along with information on matters from electric lines to sewer operations and street maintenance. The City of Clinton Public Works Department welcomed 6^th Graders from Bell Street Middle School from 8:30 to 12:30 yesterday for tours of the Clinton Waster Treatment Plant. The students also were able to enjoy hands on displays of the water, sewer, electric, streets and sanitation departments.

  Laurens Police were dispatched to a residence at 8:48 last night where a woman reported that her 19-year-old son and his 17-year-old friend were threatened by a younger male juvenile who allegedly threw a knife at them. Both the alleged victims refused to talk with police about the matter, saying they didn’t want to “snitch.” Officers talked with the juvenile subject’s mother, who said her son had told her the two older boys had been picking on him, and when she questioned the 17 and 19-year-old male about picking on her son they began cursing her, and that one of them threw a rock at her. Regarding the alleged throwing of a knife at the two teens, an investigation indicated a knife was found in the street was reportedly came from the younger boy’s grandmother’s kitchen.

   Charges of 1^st Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, 1^st Degree Burglary and Kidnapping were formally served yesterday on 33-year-old Travis Stewart Henderson of 1920 Bethel Church Road, Laurens. Henderson was arrested in the Cross Hill area around midnight Tuesday night/Wednesday morning by Laurens County Deputies.

  In warrants served yesterday, Sgt. Bobby Galarza states that on February 22^nd Travis Stewart Henderson engaged in sexual battery by forcing himself to engage in a sexual manner while having a weapon in his hand, and that the victim of the sexual assault was also the victim of a burglary and kidnapping. Henderson allegedly illegally entered a dwelling on US 76 West on the night of February 22^nd while armed with a deadly weapon and kidnapped or abducted the female victim.

Bond was denied on all three charges yesterday. 33-year-old Travis Stewart Henderson remained in theLaurensCountyDetentionCenterthis morning.

Warrants were served yesterday charging a Laurens man in connection with an alleged assault on his wife Tuesday night, after which he allegedly gave threats to kill two police officers who had responded to his home. 35-year-old Johnny Blackwell III of 21 Bub Avenue, Laurens is charged with Two Counts of Threatening a Public Official and with Criminal Domestic Violence. Laurens Police Officer Jody Thibodeau states that Mr. Blackwell slapped and punched his wife in the face with his fists, causing minor injuries during the Tuesday night incident in their home, and that he threatened to shoot and kill two officers who had responded to his house on the domestic violence incident. Bonds were set at $10,000 on each of the alleged threats on officers and $5,000 for the Domestic Violence charge. Johnny Blackwell III remained in the Johnson Detention Center this morning with cash or surety bonds totaling $25,000.

  The Laurens CPW is now also in the process of changing out all water meters in town, installing new ERT meters to more efficiently measure water use and that can be read remotely. Dale Satterfield told the Commissioners (Monday) that the water department is about 50% complete with the new water meter installation. That’s a total of 3,263 new meters installed so far. He noted that they’ve recently completed installing new meters in the Farley and Sullivan Street areas. He said in spite of reaching the 50% milestone this past week, many of the meters remaining to be installed will take longer, as they’re now getting into areas where the going will be more slow.

 Laurens County Council approved appointments to the Laurens County Water & Sewer Commission this week. At Tuesday evening’s regular council meeting, they approved Ted Davenport of Clinton for another term. He has been serving as Chair of the Water and Sewer Commission. Also re-appointed were Patrick Jackson of Ware Shoals, Jurell Byrd of Ora, Elbert Mason of Joanna and John McMurray of Clinton.

Clinton Public Safety has charged a local man with a knife assault this week. 27-year-old Randolph Phillips Baker of 525 West Centennial Street, Clinton is charged with Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature for allegedly assaulting a 22-year-old Clinton-area man with a knife Tuesday, May 14^th. Sgt. Shane Prather states that Baker attempted to stab the victim in the right arm and pushed the knife to his arm several times during an incident at Baker’s residence, 525 West Centennial Street.

Bond set at $5,000. Baker was placed in the Johnson Detention Center, where he remained this morning.