WINNSBORO – The town of Winnsboro will be unveiling a new video on its website this week in the hopes of putting the small town “on the map” of local tourism and shopping destinations.
According to town clerk Lorraine Abell, the two and a half-minute video was filmed by the town’s website team this summer. The budget for the filming was presented and approved by the town council in April 2018.
“The town council has been fully on board for this video since the idea was first introduced,” Abell stated.
The video includes shots of key area focal points and landmark buildings, but it seems to truly shine with the commentaries and testimonies from local business owners who declare their love for the small town alongside their ability to successfully operate a homegrown shop in its downtown district.
“We knew we wanted to highlight our local businesses and so we created a list early on of both established businesses and new shops that recently opened that we wanted to offer a spot in the video to,” Abell stated.
Every business that the town approached jumped on board enthusiastically, Abell said, with only one business having to opt out because of scheduling conflicts.
The finished product, she said, exceeded all expectations.
“We (the town) are so very pleased with the result and we believe it accurately portrays the heart of Winnsboro,” she stated.
In addition to shining a light on the blossoming downtown shopping district, the video also spotlights the town’s railroad museum and Abell said she hopes the video will encourage viewers to see that there is much to do in the small town.
“Winnsboro really is a wonderful day trip destination with many hidden gems that people who don’t live here might not be aware of,” Abell stated.
Alongside the museum, which offers train rides for visitors in addition to its expansive historical collection, the town also features walking tours through some of its historical neighborhoods. All of which, she said, the town believes deserves the right to be noticed.
“The town of Winnsboro has a rich history and we have so much to offer, we hope to really showcase that through this video and reveal to the surrounding areas that our little town is a special place worth a visit,” Abell stated.
WINNSBORO – After three years of handwringing over amendments to the county’s animal cruelty law, council is expected to have the second of three required readings Monday night on the matter. The proposed changes in the law are not going to be made public, however, until the agenda is released for Monday night’s council meeting, which by law does not have to be released until 24 hours prior to the meeting, according to County Council Chairman Billy Smith.
In an interview with The Voice, Smith said the amendments to the ordinance do not outlaw tethering altogether, but they do set some minimal guidelines to better protect animals and give law enforcement more guidance when responding to complaints. He said the amendments will also address housing, sustenance, transportation and punishment for those who abuse the ordinance.
Smith said the draft ordinance is still in the hands of the county’s attorney, Tommy Morgan.
“What we’re looking at on tethering is a minimum of 12 feet on length of tether and a weight limit of not more than 15 percent of the animal’s body weight,” Smith said.
While Smith said he thinks the use of a swing chain as a tether will be outlawed outright in the ordinance, the only other proposed restriction on tethering is that the tether must be connected to a swivel.
Smith said the amendments will also address appropriate housing and sustenance for animals and will call for limits on how long an animal can be confined while being transported.
Smith said the ‘up to’ dollar amount for fines is still being tweaked.
“As drafted, the maximum fine is $500,” Smith said. I’d like to move that to $1,000, but I understand there may be some legal concern on that. I am working with our county attorney to try and better understand that.”
So would members of the Hoof and Paw Benevolent Society, who have been pressing council for years to update the 11-year-old ordinance. Smith said Hoof and Paw members had input into the ordinance.
“I think this ordinance is not going to be what we ultimately want for animals, but it is a step forward,” Hoof and Paw board member Kathy Faulk said. “I think it’s the best we can get right now. Like Billy, we would expect to see punishment up to $1,000. It must be enough to be a deterrent.”
Paula Spinale, also a member of Hoof and Paw, said she remains optimistic that the proposed ordinance will pass.
“There are so many dogs that are on chains 24/7 in this area,” Spinale said. “Somebody needs to help them.”
“County ordinances, by law, can’t penalize people to the extent state law can,” Smith said. “The state can charge with felonies, for example, and counties can only charge with misdemeanors.”
For more egregious crimes against animals, however, county officers can charge offenders under state laws such as ‘Ill Treatment of Animals.’
Council’s first reading last month of the amended ordinance was in title only, meaning council members voted on the measure without any formal discussion or making the ordinance public.
Public comments can be made on Monday evening. Speakers are allowed three minutes per person and the session is limited to 30 minutes.
County council meets at 6 p.m., Monday, Nov. 26 at the County building, 350 Columbia Road, Winnsboro.
WIINNSBORO – Officials are searching for a Fairfield County business owner who was last seen in Rock Hill in October.
Sumner
The Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the disappearance of Douglas William Sumner, II, of Angel Drive in the Great Falls area of Fairfield County.
Sumner, 52, was last seen in Rock Hill at approximately 12 p.m. on October 22, according to officials. Sumner is described as a white male with brown hair, hazel eyes, approximately 6’ tall and weighing about 195 pounds. He was last seen driving a black Dodge pickup truck, with SC tag# DGJ353.
“We are obviously very concerned about the disappearance of Mr. Sumner. He is a business owner and is very well-liked in the community,” Fairfield County Sheriff Will Montgomery said.
Montgomery said The Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office is working with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and other surrounding jurisdictions to follow up on any and all leads reported to law enforcement.
“No tip is too small and you may be holding that vital piece of information that we need to locate Mr. Sumner,” Montgomery said. “If you have any information regarding Mr. Sumner, contact Investigator Thomas (803-718-4084) or the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office (803-635-4141).
Ashley Ghere, designer for The Voice recently received the S.C Press Association’s Palmy award for Best of Show. The Press Association’s Executive Director Bill Rogers presented the award.
BLYTHEWOOD/FAIRFIELD COUNTY – Ashley Ghere, ad designer for The Voice newspapers in Blythewood and Fairfield County, recently brought home the Best of Show award for her advertising designs for the seventh year in a row. For the last two years, her Best of Show awards were won for ads she created for Laura’s Tea Room in Ridgeway.
Ghere received the state-wide Best of Show honor in the circulation category of ‘over 8,500.’ However, that ad also took first place in competition with both weekly and daily South Carolina newspapers with circulations ranging from ‘over 8,500’ to ‘25,000 and over’.
Winning 11 other PALMY Awards in all from the S.C. Press Association for her year’s work, Ghere earned five first-place awards for ads for Prince House of Pizza (Restaurant category), Reese’s Plants (Holiday), Simply Town Boutique (Fashion), Big Grab Map (Events/Entertainment) and Laura’s Tea Room (1/2 page and larger).
Ghere received two second-place awards for The Law Offices of Shannon Burnett (Professional) and Fireworks, Food & Music (Events/Entertainment).
She won third-place awards for Cuttin’ Loose Hair Salon (Professional), Blythewood Dental (Health Services), Fairfield County Animal Shelter (Public Service) and ‘Grab the News on the Go’ (Newspaper Promotion).
Her third place ad in the Newspaper Promotion category finished third behind the daily newspaper, The Post & Courier (first place), and the weekly Charleston City Paper (second place).
“Ashley’s ads are obviously some of the most creative in the state – in both weekly and daily newspapers,” said Bill Rogers, Executive Director of the Press Association. “Creativity is so important to make ads work for the advertiser.”
Congratulations to Ashley Ghere! Find out how good she can make your business look by calling 803-767-5711.
COLUMBIA – Tammy L. Yoho, a/k/a “Tammy Louise Black,” 54, of Blythewood has been sentenced to over three years in federal prison for theft of government funds through fraudulent use of her husband’s VA benefits.
Evidence presented to the court showed that in 2002, Yoho entered an agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to act as the fiduciary for her husband after he was diagnosed with brain cancer.
In 2011, Yoho began a relationship with another man, whom she began living with in 2013, court records show. Yoho used her husband’s VA benefits for personal expenses, including spending large amounts at a casino in Las Vegas. In 2014, she forged her husband’s name on a power of attorney form so she could obtain a VA loan to purchase a large house in Blythewood.
In October 2015, her husband was found dead in their marital home in North Carolina. The utilities had been shut off and the residence was in foreclosure for lack of payments. Yoho—who was still living with another man in Blythewood—subsequently filed for additional VA benefits claiming to have continuously lived with her husband until he died.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Yoho to 37 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of court-ordered supervision. Yoho was also ordered to pay $47,730.34 in restitution to the Department of Veterans affairs.
United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon prosecuted the case.
Suzanne Ely, left, and Barbara Randell put up posters in Ridgeway while canvasing the area east of I-77, between Exits 34 and 41 in search of Randell’s three missing cats. | Photos: Barbara Ball
WINNSBORO – A Florida woman is wishing for a holiday miracle this Thanksgiving as she seeks help from the surrounding Fairfield County communities in reuniting her with her lost pets.
On August 15, Barbara Randlett, 84, was making her annual trek to Maine from her Florida home to visit family when she crossed the state line into South Carolina. Randlett typically made the drive with a friend or family member, but she said she had become so accustomed to the drive that she felt confident going it alone in recent years.
For this year’s trip, Randlett had purchased a used Recreational Vehicle to better accommodate herself and her six animals that were traveling with her, but that purchase took a tragic toll on her journey.
As she entered Fairfield County, nearing mile marker 39 on U.S. 77 and just above Exit 34, a fire broke out under the hood of the 25-foot motor home. Within seconds, Randlett said, the flames began to encroach on the cab area of the RV.
“I never saw anything move so fast as that fire that night,” she recalled through tears.
With her thoughts only on the animals in the vehicle with her, Randlett pulled over to the side of the road and set to work on freeing them. The first she pulled out were her two dogs, Charlie the lab and Ruby the pug. As she tethered Charlie to a guardrail, Ruby freed herself from Randlett’s grasp and ran around the back of the burning RV and into oncoming interstate traffic. She was struck and killed almost instantly.
“It was an awful experience that I cannot even describe how painful that moment was,” Randlett stated. “To see it happen and not be able to stop it was terrible.”
While staying at the Comfort Inn in Blythewood, Barbara Randlett cuddles her newest adoption, her missing cat’s Lincoln look-alike that she has named Lincoln II.
With barely any time to mourn Ruby’s death, Randlett had to turn her attention back to the burning RV where her four cats were still trapped. With the aid of two passers-by who stopped to help, Randlett was able to force open the back door of the RV and three of the four cats escaped into the wooded area next to the interstate.
Randlett had only enough time to retrieve the fourth cat, which had been kept in a kennel, before the entire vehicle went up in flames.
“There is no way to describe that moment; watching everything I owned go up into flames,” she stated. “I had been so worried about saving my animals that I did not have time to grab even my purse.”
Randlett lost her identification, her clothing and her money in a matter of minutes. Fire and police officials were forced to close the northbound lanes of I-77 for eight hours as they fought the blaze and then cleared the debris.
Despite her great losses that night, Randlett said she was also shown incredible generosity in the days that followed.
Blythewood volunteers who are helping search for the missing cats provided Randlett with a map showing where the cats most probably could be located.
“A police officer took me to a hotel nearby – the Ramada – and the owner let me stay there at no charge until someone could come and pick me up. He would not even think of letting me pay him, and I am so thankful for everything he did for me while I was there. He and his staff were so kind to me.”
Still, Randlett had to return to her home without her three missing companions. The heartbreak from that night still weighs on her with each passing day.
“I have nightmares nearly every night where I am reliving the whole ordeal. I still see Ruby getting hit and I still see the fire, and I still can’t talk about it without crying. I know it’s something that I need to talk about, but it is just so hard to do,” she stated.
The cats; Belle – a 10 year-old black and white female with long hair and a bobbed tail, Lincoln – a 6 year-old black and gray tabby striped male cat, and Sophie – a young female cat with dark stripes along her back and a white face, chest and stomach still have not been seen.
Randlett has continued to make regular contact with local rescues and humane societies in the area to see if anyone has brought in a cat that resembles one of her own, and she is now offering a $200 reward for each cat.
Earlier this month, Randlett returned to South Carolina with family friend, Suzanne Ely to post fliers in shelters and around the area in search of the cats. While here, she met with two local college students who believed they had found Lincoln.
While the cat was not hers, Randlett chose to bring the cat home with her anyway where she said he has helped with her grieving.
“My neighbors had also surprised me with a kitten sometime after the accident, and now the two get along very well and keep me entertained,” she stated.
“I still hope every day that someone will call to tell me that they have my cats. Maybe someone has been feeding them that didn’t know they are missing, or maybe they joined up with a colony of stray cats there. However it happens, I just hope that they are found so that I can bring them back home.”
BLYTHEWOOD – Mayor J. Michael Ross, right, and one of the Blythewood Parade organizers, Paul Richert, get ready to kick off the holidays in Blythewood this weekend.
After a day of holiday shopping and eating out locally on Shop Small Saturday, Nov. 24, residents will gather at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 25 to light the Town Christmas tree on the grounds of Town Hall. The annual Christmas Parade will be held in downtown Blythewood on Sunday Dec. 9, at 3 p.m. For parade entry forms contact BlyParade@aol.com.
COLUMBIA – It will cost at least $309 just to look for records showing charges to a Richland County councilwoman’s publicly funded credit card.
Making copies will cost even more.
“Richland County has determined it will cost approximately $309.89 to search for non-exempt documents responsive to your request,” the county said in response to a Freedom of Information Act request from The Voice.
Before proceeding, the county required a 25 percent deposit.
“If you decide to proceed with your request, as written or as amended, please send an advance non-refundable deposit of $77.47 (twenty-five percent of the total cost),” the response stated. “You will be notified of the balance due which must be paid at the time of the production of documents.”
Richland County also took 12 business days to provide its response, above the legal limit, placing the county at odds with recent changes in state law designed to reduce search and copy costs.
The cost estimate is also several times higher than virtually identical documents provided to another media organization, also a violation of the law.
“Fees charged by a public body must be uniform for copies of the same record or document,” the law states.
“The public is entitled to the prompt release of how their money is being spent,” said Bill Rogers, executive director of the S.C. Press Association, of which The Voice is a member.
“To miss a deadline and then overcharge says something about [the county’s] willingness to provide public information,” Rogers said.
In 2017, the state legislature adopted Act 67, which limits government agencies to charging “reasonable fees not to exceed the actual cost of the search, retrieval, and redaction of records.”
Such fees “shall not exceed the prorated hourly salary of the lowest paid employee capable of carrying out the request,” the law continues. “The records must be furnished at the lowest possible cost to the person requesting the records.”
Rep. Bill Taylor, R-Aiken, a cosponsor of Act 67, said it’s unfortunate that some government agencies still don’t provide public records at the lowest possible cost.
“They need to do the right thing every time“,” Taylor said. “Your request seems to be reasonable since they already provide it (the records) to others.”
Richland County Interim Administrator Edward Gomeau couldn’t be reached for comment.
It also took Richland County 12 business days, not counting Veterans Day, to provide a written response to The Voice’s public information request.
State law requires no more than 10 business days. It used to be 15 business days, but Act 67 also lowered the wait time.
The Voice submitted its request to Richland County on Oct. 29, but received the records instead courtesy of The State newspaper, which shared the documents the very next day.
The Voice’s FOIA request sought virtually the same records requested by The State.
“I would like to request the same Richland County Council member financial records provided to The State newspaper for the recent story about council member spending,” the FOIA request stated.
“Since these records have already been researched, and then provided to another media outlet, my hope was to obtain these records fairly quickly,” the request continued.
WINNSBORO – The Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce has named Gene Stephens of Winnsboro as its new president. Stephens replaces former Chamber President Terry Vickers who retired from her post in October, 2017, returned in an interim position during the summer and will step down again in December.
Stephens
Stephens, 40, earned a Master’s degree in Marketing from Clemson University in 2001 and is currently employed by the Fairfield County School District in several positions – media specialist for the district, head soccer coach and assistant coach for basketball and football. He also has experience working for a printing company in sales and graphic design prior to coming to the school district in 2011.
Stephens said his goal as Chamber president will be to bring Fairfield County together, to work with County Council and the Winnsboro Town Council.
“I want everyone working on the same page. I see the chamber as being the leader for economic development in the county, working with the state legislature to make sure we’re upgrading our infrastructure so we can bring more business to the new industrial park,” Stephens told The Voice in an interview on Monday.
“I want to be sure our local businesses are being taken care of, and I will reach out to our membership to be sure we’re meeting their needs. Then I want to bring in other businesses,” he said.
Stephens said, as far as tourism, he wants to start working on some beautification projects.
“I don’t want to sit back and wait for the town and county council and committees to do this or that,” he said. “I want to say, ‘This is what we want to do. We’ve got the people lined up. Let’s get to work.’ I want to grow Fairfield County. I want industry to come back. I want the schools to flourish. I want people outside the county to know about all the great things we have.”
Stephens said he plans to rebuild the Chamber’s website and look at ways to better market Fairfield County.
“We need to get some businesses in those empty buildings. That’s going to have to be some kind of joint venture between everybody,” Stephens said. “We need to come together and renovate that area north of the clock,”
Stephens said he also plans to change the way the people in the county view the school district.
“I want them to view it as an asset, and I want to work with the school district and show the positive things our district is doing,” he said. “We have a really good administration in our school district. Academics is the focus of our administration.”
Stephens said he plans to be at every council meeting in the town and county.
“Input from local chamber members can help with the economic development by developing ideas from what they want to see in Fairfield County,” Stephens said. “We have some great ideas but we need to be sure the plans get carried out. I want to start putting pressure to get plans carried out.”
Stephens said he is not going to sit back and wait for what the county and city council are doing.
“The chamber can be the leaders in it. We can go to them and say, ‘This is what we want to do. Support us on it,” Stephens said.
Stephens said that while he has mostly been involved with the school district until now, he is excited about the opportunity to meet different people.
Stephens said that he hopes to continue coaching until February when basketball season ends, but will be taking on his Chamber position Nov. 29.
Stevens lives in Fairfield County, a requirement set by the board earlier this year for the position.
BLYTHEWOOD – Two people have died and three people were injured in a crash in Blythewood last week.
Officials say the accident happened at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, near the intersection of Farrow Road and North Pines Road. The victims, a married couple, were the driver and passenger in a Toyota Camry that was hit by another driver attempting to maneuver a turn. The accident occurred less than two miles from the couple’s home in Blythewood.
Robert A. Evans, 79, and his wife, Madeline A. Evans, 76, of Blythewood were both wearing seatbelts when the crash occurred. They were both transported by Richland County EMS and taken to Palmetto Health Richland Memorial Hospital where Robert Evans died at 10:12 a.m. Madeline Evans died at 10:17 a.m.
Investigators say both died due to their injuries.
Three people in the other car were taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. It is not clear if charges will be filed in the crash.
The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the incident.
