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.