In Washington yesterday, Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives won approval of a bill that would bypass opposition to the Keystone XL Pipeline from the President, clearing the way for the pipeline to be constructed between Canada and Texas.

The bill was approved by a vote of 241 to 175, largely along party lines. Democrat opposition to the bill said it’s a blatant attempt to allow a foreign country to bypass environmental review. House Sponsor, Republican Lee Terry of Nebraska, said the Keystone pipeline is the most studied pipeline in the history of mankind.

  South Carolina Congressman Jeff Duncan yesterday “Republicans and Democrats both realize that energy production creates jobs. That’s why it’s shocking that President Obama has taken a position too extreme for many members of his own party and stonewalled the approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline. Republicans, Democrats, union workers, and business leaders all agree that the Keystone XL Pipeline will create American jobs. Since the President has stalled and delayed for over 1,700 days, Congress is taking action to put Americans back to work building a more energy independent future for our nation.”

   Jeff Duncan continued “Building the Keystone XL Pipeline is common sense because it will improve America’s energy infrastructure, lower the cost of fuel at the pump, and promote North American energy security and independence. It’s time for President Obama to step into the political mainstream and support a true, all-of-the-above energy strategy for America today and for future generations.”

A Clinton area woman reported an assault from her boyfriend to the Sheriff’s Office last evening. She said she thinks it was May 16^th when she and her boyfriend got into an argument and he allegedly hit her legs while she was getting in a vehicle to leave. She said he also threw a rock at the rear window of the truck she was driving away in, breaking the window in her father’s truck. The boyfriend was supposed to fix the window from the incident last Thursday, but had not.

  Laurens Police were dispatched to a residence on Constitution Drive at 3:51 yesterday afternoon on a report of a snake stuck in the door of a frightened woman. The resident said she had heart problems, and the snake had startled her. Officer Nolen comforted the resident while Officer Shipman wrestled with the snake. He was able to toss it away from the yard.

      A potentially dangerous intersection was one of the main topics at last night’s Laurens City Council meeting. Council was informed that a building in the northwest corner of Main Street and North Harper has been declared by the State Highway Department as a danger to motorists. The state highway department has already closed the sidewalks beside the building, and they’re reportedly threatening to close the intersection, as well. Council last night was informed of unsuccessful efforts to get the building’s owner, listed as Carless Taylor, to either fix or remove the structure. Mayor Sharon Brownlee and City Clerk Gary Coleman both spoke of efforts to get the owner to fix the dangerously deteriorated building.

  City Council last night approved a Resolution to address the subject of dilapidated buildings in town. This adds an annual fee of $20 to each improved parcel of land in town. The funds generated are to be used to tear down unsightly old buildings that have been abandoned.

  The budget includes an increase for the Building and Zoning Department, charged with managing the removal of abandoned structures. City Council last night approved assessing a $20 annual fee on each parcel of land that holds buildings or other improvements.

     Laurens City Council last night gave 1^st reading approval to a 2013-2014 budget of  $6,883,000. The new budget reduces the funding for Police and Government functions in order to move $189,761 to a new budget line for a Judicial Department. City courts will now have additional independence from the police department.

    In other financial matters approved last night, Laurens City Council gave 1^st reading approval for Resolution 5-13-01, which allows municipal revenue to be used for general funds. Council narrowly approved increasing the annual fee charged for vehicles owned by city residents. The extra $10 fee is to help fund the streets and sanitation department. The vote was debated and only passed by one vote with council members Martin Lowry, Sylvia Douglas and Marian Miller against the increase. The main opposition noted was the wording of the ordinance, which states the funds will go to the general fund, instead of being specifically designated for street repair.

  Laurens City Council last night also approved a resolution to extend the exception to Sunday Blue laws another six months. This allows stores in town more flexibility on their Sunday operating hours.

   Warrants were served yesterday on a Joanna man accused of an assault and sex crime against a woman this past Saturday. 25-year-old Jeffrey Allen “Jeffrow” Arrowwood was captured by Sheriff’s Deputies after reportedly being found hiding in a house on Shady Grove Church Road.

Bonds were set at $50,000 yesterday on charges of Criminal Sexual Conduct 1^st Degree and on a Kidnapping charge. He was also charged with Criminal Domestic Violence of a High and Aggravated Nature and with Possession of a Controlled Substance.

  Deputy Bollman states that on May 18^th Jeffrey Allen Arrowwood seized, kidnapped or abducted a victim from South Hampton Street Joanna, that he then engaged in sexual battery in a field in Joanna by forcing the victim to perform oral sex on him while the victim was also a victim of kidnapping. Sgt. Bobby Galarza alleges that on May 18^th Jeffrey Arrowwood beat the victim with a stick about her face and body, causing treatment at the Emergency Room of the Laurens County Hospital. Deputy Carter states that on Tuesday, May 21^st Jeffery Arrowwood possessed a schedule IV controlled substance without authority to do. This is from his arrest at 1362 Shady Grove Church Road,Clinton.

  Bonds on the four charges totaled $120,000. Jeffrey Allen Arrowwood remained in theLaurenscountyDetentionCenterthis morning.