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.

   The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man last night in connection with a home burglary and rape this past February. Sex Crime Investigator Sgt. Bobby Galarza was joined by Lt. Higgenbotham and Deputy Jody Willis in making the arrest around midnight last night at a Cross Hill residence on Wuthering Heights.

  33-year-old Travis Stewart Henderson of 1920 Bethel Church Road, Laurens is being charged with Burglary/Breaking and Entering, with Kidnapping and with Criminal Sexual Conduct.  

   He was wanted for these charges following a break-in at a residence on Highway 76 West the night of February 22^nd. After entering the residence,Henderson allegedly committed a Kidnapping and also allegedly forcibly raped a woman from the home.

Laurens City and County Special Response Teams were dispatched to a residence last night during a stand-off between Police and a man who had reportedly barricaded himself in his house after threatening to kill officers.

 Laurens Police were dispatched to 21 Bub Avenue at 9:35 last night when a teenaged male called to report his father was assaulting his mother at the home.

Officer Gainey and Sgt. Pittman arrived three minutes later. When Officer Gainey knocked on the front door a man from inside reportedly replied “Who the *** is it?” He was told Laurens Police were there, and that the man needed to come out and speak with the officers. He reportedly replied “Y’all get off my porch or I’m going to light Yalls *** Up.” He was also allegedly heard saying “I will kill Y’all **er ***ers.  Officers reported the subject had barricaded himself inside the home and called for backup from the Sheriff’s Office. When officers began to hear a lot of banging noises and yelling from inside the home, the Laurens City Special Response Team was deployed to the scene, along with the Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Response Team. Deputy Bryant Cheek was able to talk the subject out of the residence using a patrol car’s loudspeaker, and the man was placed under arrest.

  Entering the residence, police found where the subject had apparently barricaded himself inside by flipping a couch and placing mattresses over the windows. There was blood on the couch and hair in the hallway, but no one else was inside. The wife had reportedly been able to leave and get a ride to the Laurens County Hospital where she was being treated for multiple injuries to the face, including lacerations. She told of an argument over money escalating to an assault in their bedroom, followed by continued assault in the children’s bedroom.

  35-year-old Johnny Blackwell III of 21 Bub Avenue, Laurens was placed in the Johnson Detention Center late last night, where he was to be charged with Criminal Domestic Violence and with two counts of Threatening the Life of a Public Official. 

   Police were on the scene onBub Avenuefor a few minutes over an hour before the situation was resolved.

    Laurens County Council gave final reading approval last night on two ordinances dealing with countywide planning and control of alley-ways in the Wattsville community. There were no comments from the public during hearings prior to the votes.

     County Ordinance #748 gives approval to adopt the revised comprehensive plan, as presented by the Laurens County Planning Commission. The plan outlines a direction for the county to follow for growth over the next seven years. Review and revision of the planning document is required by the South Carolina Enabling Act of 1994.

    County Ordinance #751 conveys the Alley-ways of Wattsville to the Laurens City Commission of Public Works. The utility is embarking on installing new natural gas distribution lines in Wattsville, and the alleys will provide a better and least expensive way to install the underground system.

    The vote was unanimous on the 3^rd reading of both ordinances.

    Another unanimous vote was cast by council on a second reading for an ordinance to transfer a fee-in-lieu of tax arrangement from Security Printing, known as Avery Dennison to CCL Industries. Dennison has sold two of its business units to CCL.  In response to a question by Councilman David Pitts, County Attorney Sandy Cruickshanks assured council that there would be no change in revenues to the county as a result of this transfer.

  In other economic development news, there was a first reading unanimous approval for an ordinance that conveys a 7 ½ acre tract of land on State Road S-30-259 for “Project Application.” This project is expected to use the property for construction and operation of a research and development center.

   The Laurens Commission of Public Works approved the purchase of a new software system for operating the local utility earlier this week.

General Manager Dale Satterfield explained how the new system was well received when reviewed by staff, and it is believed it will enable the CPW to better serve its customers. He also noted the current system is past its period of support, and this could present problems in the future. The new system is from NISC, a cooperative that is owned by the utilities that use it. Satterfield was impressed with the company’s putting 25% of revenues into research and development to stay on top of new needs and services for its customer utilities and their customers, as well. He cited several ways the new system will improve operations for CPW staff and its customers. At a cost of about $436,000, the new system will be paid for out of a planned bond refinance. Satterfield said it will take a year to get the new system installed and integrated.