BLYTHEWOOD – A section of Wilson Blvd/U.S. Hwy 21 will be closed three days in April to move long pieces of rail and materials across the highway. The closed section will be on either side of the entrance to Boomer Road.
Detour and road closure signs will be placed prior to road closure.
Closures will occur April 13 (10 hours) and Thursday, April 17 through Friday, April 18 (36 hours).
RIDGEWAY – Fairfield County Fire Service responded to Lebanon United Presbyterian Church in Ridgeway around 7:30 p.m. on Monday, April 7 for a smoking church van, according to an incident report from the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office.
Upon arrival, firefighters extinguished the flames and found the driver’s side window smashed with a brick, the report stated.
Simultaneously, sheriff’s deputies responding to an alarm at the church discovered two bricks had been thrown through a window, according to the report.
SLED Arson and ATF agents, and Fairfield Fire Service join the Sheriff’s office in the ongoing investigation.
RICHLAND/FAIRFIELD – Two people have been arrested after a high speed chase that ended in a crash on U.S. Hwy 34.
Gregory Murphy, 36, and Raian Phillips, 29, led Richland County deputies on a high speed chase that began in Forest Acres and ended in a crash in Fairfield County.
On April 7, at approximately 2:30 p.m., Richland County deputies were alerted to a 2004 Black Ford Escape on Two Notch Road that had been reported stolen from West Columbia.
When a Richland County Sheriff’s Deputy initiated a suspicious vehicle stop using lights and sirens, the vehicle immediately increased to a high speed, driving recklessly towards Two Notch Road, according to an incident report. The Ford Escape evaded stop-sticks by pulling into a dead-end business parking lot.
The vehicle turned onto Two Notch Road and ran several red lights before entering northbound I-77, the report stated. The vehicle then increased to triple-digit speeds, crossing all lanes of traffic and driving on the shoulder of the highway.
After taking Blythewood exit 24, the vehicle drove into oncoming traffic on Wilson Boulevard/U.S. Hwy 21 several times, according to the report. At one point, a clear bag with white contents was thrown out of the vehicle, the report stated.
The vehicle continued on Wilson Boulevard/U.S. Highway 21/Main Street through Blythewood area toward Ridgeway. The chase eventually turned onto to U.S. Hwy 34 west of Ridgeway and continued for several miles before crashing into a deep embankment and then into a large pool of water where it stopped at Mood Harrison Road.
The two passengers, Murphy and Phillips, were detained without incident. Both had parole violation warrants, according to the report. The 2004 Ford was confirmed stolen out of West Columbia.
Murphy was arrested for reckless driving, failure to stop for blue lights, possession of stolen vehicle, and an outstanding warrant. Raian was arrested for an outstanding warrant. Both passengers were transported to a local hospital and released, then booked into the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
COLUMBIA – The Voice’s Publisher Barbara Ball was awarded one of the S.C. Press Association’s top annual awards for government reporting last weekend during the Association’s two-day annual meeting held at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.
Ball was named recipient of the Jim Davenport Award for Excellence in Government Reporting. The award, which comes with a $1,000 check, is presented to one reporter in South Carolina each year.
The award is named in memory of the late Jim Davenport, a tenacious reporter for the Associated Press, who was known for his fair and aggressive coverage of state government and political matters. During his years with The Associated Press, Davenport cultivated sources because those he covered respected his ethics, his compassion, his tireless work ethic and his desire to hold those in power accountable for their actions.
The award is endowed by Meg Kinnard, national politics reporter for the Associated Press, because of Davenport’s profound influence on her career. Kinnard moderated the first in a series of 2024 presidential campaign forums for the Associated Press at Georgetown University as well as last year’s first Presidential debate in Atlanta.
“Barbara Ball embodies the traits that I admired most in Jim’s reporting,” Kinnard said when presenting the award. “It’s holding local and state officials accountable, and it’s bringing information about what is going on to audiences without fear or favor, giving objective information – the absolute value of the facts – so audiences can figure out how they feel about an issue.”
Kinnard said what stood out about Ball’s work is the ability to go really deep on an issue, to follow something through the process, not just one day or two days, but to track an issue from its beginning to its resolution.
The contest is judged by former South Carolina journalists and a representative of the Associated Press. Criteria for judging includes enterprise, writing quality and effectiveness in explaining state and local government matters as well as holding public officials and elected leaders accountable. Judges evaluate how each nominee demonstrates fair, ethical, and aggressive reporting.
Ball’s stories also won first place in the Enterprise Reporting category, second place in Government Beat Reporting, and third place in both Growth and Development Reporting and Short Story writing.
She was also elected to serve a second term as Vice President of the S. C. Press Association. More than 200 daily and weekly newspaper journalists attended the annual meeting.
COLUMBIA – In an ongoing effort to maintain the integrity of South Carolina’s statewide voter registration list, the South Carolina State Election Commission (SEC) announced that over 190,000 voter confirmation cards will be mailed to individuals who have not voted since the 2020 General Election and have not since updated their voter information.
These mailings, conducted in compliance with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, help confirm whether voters still reside at their registered addresses.
The vast majority of South Carolina’s approximate 3.4 million voters will be unaffected by the mailing. Anyone who has voted in an election since November 2020 or registered to vote during that time will not receive the notice. Anyone who has not participated in an election or not made an update to their registration record since November 2020 (about five percent of the state’s registered voters) will receive the notice.
“Accurate voter rolls are essential to protecting the integrity and security of our elections,” said Howie Knapp, Executive Director of the SEC. “If you receive a confirmation card, we urge you to respond promptly. Keeping your registration current not only safeguards your right to vote but also strengthens the integrity of the entire election process.”
Voters should sign, date, and return the pre-addressed, postage-paid postcard as soon as possible. Voters who do not confirm their registration status within 90 days will be made inactive. Even after being made inactive, voters who are still eligible will be permitted to vote after confirming their voter registration status.
Download an example of a confirmation card here.
Visit scVOTES.gov to download our election integrity resource to learn more information about confirmation mailings and other steps election officials take to maintain the list of registered voters. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, & X.
BLYTHEWOOD – After what appeared to be a shootout between two groups of male teenagers in a parking lot on McNulty Road sometime after 1 a.m. Sunday, an eyewitness who was sitting in his car nearby told The Voice what he saw.
According to the witness, a large group of teens had gathered in the parking lot of the shopping center on McNulty Rd. The witness said he heard as many as 15-20 handgun shots.
The group broke up – some teens ran over behind the dumpsters in the parking lot of Comfort Inn, and, according to the witness, the two groups began firing another 10-15 shots toward each other.
He also witnessed a group of teenagers in the Waffle House area.
According to the witness, Richland County Sheriff’s deputies arrived within minutes of the shots. When they arrived, the teens scattered.
It was also reported that a female shooting victim with a non-life-threatening injury was located in a vehicle in the parking lot of the IGA on Blythewood Road.
According to the witness, Blythewood Road and other nearby town streets were largely cordoned off for several hours.
The eyewitness did not see any shooting at the Exxon Sharpe Shoppe, but The Voice photographed a bullet hole in the window of the convenience store the next morning. The Sharpe Shoppe re-opened about 6 a.m. Sunday.
The Voice will continue to follow this developing story.
FAIRFIELD COUNTY – On the evening of Wednesday, March 26, 2025, officers from Winnsboro Department of Public Safety (WPSD) responded to a citizen report of multiple known gang members brandishing firearms in the Zion Hill area.
According to a report from the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Department, after WDPS officers located the suspect vehicle and conducted a lawful traffic stop, several individuals bolted from the car, including a 17-year-old armed suspect.
Recognizing the danger posed by an armed fugitive, officers called in K9 Lieutenant Alan Cox and his highly trained partner, K9 Dano.
After a quick briefing, the K9 team began their track at the last known location of the fleeing suspect.
For over a mile and a half, K9 Dano led officers through dense woods, cemeteries, open streets, and residential areas, navigating fences and challenging terrain, according to the report. Despite multiple distractions—including at least ten different people crossing the suspect’s trail and even the presence of animals—K9 Dano never wavered.
As they approached Manigault Street, officers received critical intel that the suspect was hiding on a nearby porch.
Dano’s tracking led the team directly to the suspect’s location—just in time to see the suspect make a run for it. With officers in position, the suspect was quickly taken into custody without injury and without the need for K9 apprehension.
“This is yet another example of the invaluable role K9 teams play in law enforcement,” the release from the Sheriff’s office said. “The ability of these highly trained dogs to track, locate, and assist in the apprehension of dangerous individuals keeps our officers and community safe.
“A huge shout out to K9 Lieutenant Cox and K9 Dano for an outstanding job. Their relentless pursuit, teamwork, and professionalism are a testament to the power of K9 policing.”
BLYTHEWOOD – A section of Wilson Blvd/Hwy 21 will be closed three times in April to move long pieces of rail and materials across. The closed section will be on either side of Boomer Road. Detour and road closure signs will be placed prior to road closure.
Closures will occur April 13 (10 hours) and April 17-18 (36 hours).
FAIRFIELD COUNTY – Fairfield County deputies responded to a hazardous situation on Interstate 77 on April 1, 2025, involving an unidentified male pedestrian endangering himself and motorists.
According to a press release from the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office, at approximately 5:00 PM, deputies were dispatched to the northbound lanes near mile marker 46 after reports of a man throwing objects into the roadway. Deputies located the individual, who refused offers of assistance and continued walking along the interstate.
The situation escalated when the suspect ran into traffic, attempted to jump onto a moving vehicle, and then entered the bed of a pickup truck before exiting and fleeing on foot, according to the report.
Deputies pursued the suspect, who resisted arrest and engaged in a physical altercation, resulting in injuries to one deputy. A Taser was deployed to safely subdue the individual. Both the suspect and the injured deputy were transported to medical facilities for evaluation, the report stated.
The suspect remains unidentified and is currently being held at the Fairfield County Detention Center. Pending identification, charges are expected, including Resisting Arrest with Violence and Pedestrian on Freeways.
The case remains under investigation by the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office.
WINNSBORO – Fairfield Central’s baseball and softball teams traveled to Eau Claire on Tuesday, April 1 – but they were no April Fools.
The Griffin softball team made quick work of the Shamrocks. Despite a scoreless first inning, Fairfield Central put up 13 in the second inning and five in the third to end the game in the third inning via mercy rule with a 18-0 final.
The Griffins got on the board in the top of the second after Remeny Cook and Ashlynn Pinkney drew walks that each scored a run. Zariah Anderson had a two-RBI single. Alexis Montgomery followed with an RBI single. Layla McMillan stole home. Niyah Morgan and Aaliyah Lyles each drew a walk to score runs. Pinkney singled to score two runs. Anderson and Montgomery were both hit by a pitch, which scored runs.
The Griffins put the game to bed in the top of the third with five more runs on two hits. Pinkney had an inside-the-park home run in the third that scored three. McMillan drew a walk to score one, and a wild pitch scored the final run.
Pinkney, Lyles and Anderson combined for four of the team’s six hits in the win.
McMillan picked up the win in the circle.
Over on the other diamond, the Griffin baseball team had a monster first inning to go up 12-0 over the Shamrocks.
They added two more in the third to go up 14-1, and held on until the end of the fifth inning when the game ended via mercy rule.
Caden Brown led the way for the Griffins at the plate. He went 1-3 on the day with three RBIs. Graeme Douglas, K Jones, Brown, Greg Ginyard, Trey Wilcox, Erdreus Walker and E Douglas each had one hit.
The Griffins drew 11 walks and stole nine bases in the game.
Jones picked up the win on the mound.
The win puts the Griffins at 6-5 on the season. Last week they downed Columbia in a double-header 10-0 and 12-2.
Both Griffin teams are back in action Thursday against Eau Claire in Winnsboro. Baseball is set for a 6:30 p.m. start; softball will start at 5:30.
SOFTBALL
FC – 0-13-5-X-X-X-X – 18, 6, 0
EC – 0-0-0-X-X-X-X – 0, 0, 2
WP: McMillan 3.0IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 7K.
FC: A Montgomery 1-3. N Morgan 1-1. A Pinkney 2-2, HR, 4 RBI. Z Anderson 2-2, 2B, RBI.
BASEBALL
FC – 12-0-2-0-0-X-X – 14, 7, 1
EC – 1-0-0-0-0-X-X – 1, 7, 6
WP: L Jones 5IP, 7H, 1R, 0ER, 2BB, 4K
FC: K Diggs RBI. E Douglas 1-4, RBI. G Douglas 1-2, RBI. K Jones 1-2, RBI. T Wilcox 1-2, RBI. G Ginyard 1-1. C Brown 1-3, 3 RBI. D Walker 1-2, 2 RBI.