BLYTHEWOOD – Blythewood Democratic candidate forum organizer Stuart Andrews, left, emcee Arlene Andrews and moderators Buddy Price and Jamie Harkness listen as incumbent SC House Rep. Joe McEachern (District 77) answers a question during the forum last Thursday at Blythewood Academy. Other candidates for the House seat included: Kambrell Garvin, John McClenic and Deyaska Spencer. Participants for the US Congress, House District SC-02 were Sean Carrigan and Annabelle Robertson.
WINNSBORO – After a resident on Garden Street reported hearing gunshots being fired on College Street, an officer with the Winnsboro Department of Public Safety arrived on the scene. An investigation resulted in the arrest of a 19-year-old male charged with assault and battery with intent to kill, a 17-year-old male charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and another 17-year-old male charged with misprision (failure to report a felony).
Antwan McKnight, 19, and Martez Kemontae Hughes, 17, arrived in the Zion Hill area about noon on May 21, looking for a fight with Javon Davis, also 17, according to the incident report. When McKnight and Hughes found Davis, he pulled a gun and began shooting at Davis, the report stated. Then all three cleared the scene.
Officers arrived to find multiple .40 and 9mm shell casings on the ground. McKnight was arrested on May 23 and released on a $30,000 surety bond; Hughes was arrested on May 24 and released on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond. Davis was arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm on May 23 and released on a $1,000 surety bond.
WINNSBORO—A former Fairfield Memorial Hospital employee’s sexual harassment lawsuit has officially been dismissed, according to recently filed court documents.
Attorneys for the parties had previously filed a notice and stipulation of dismissal on March 29. However, the federal court database didn’t formally list the case as dismissed until May 18.
The database also lists the case’s disposition as “settled,” though details of any settlement had not been filed as of press time.
“All parties who have appeared in this action, by and through their undersigned attorneys, hereby stipulate to the dismissal of this action without prejudice [sic],” the filing states.
Cases dismissed without prejudice are court actions that allow an identical lawsuit to be filed at a later date, according to the U.S. Judicial Department website.
The lawsuit against Fairfield Memorial Hospital was originally filed Feb. 22 in Kershaw County Circuit Court. It was removed to federal court a month later.
Tabitha Williams, a former certified nursing assistant, stated in the litigation that a human resources employee harassed her.
The lawsuit said the employee made several unwanted sexual comments to her shortly after he started working at the hospital in October 2016.
In a response filed prior to dismissal, the hospital said the plaintiff was dismissed for poor job performance and attendance issues. The hospital also said the plaintiff refused to cooperate in an investigation into her complaint.
BLYTHEWOOD – Doko Meadows Park Foundation (DMPF) President Paul Moscati, center, presented a check for $40,000 to Mayor J. Michael Ross and council Tuesday evening for fencing for the Palmetto Citizens Amphitheater. Councilman Bryan Franklin, left, DMPF board member Jim McLean, Councilman Eddie Baughman, Moscati, Ross, Councilmen Malcolm Gordge and Larry Griffin and DMPF board member Chris Keefer.
WINNSBORO – On May 8, Fairfield Memorial Hospital recognized eleven employees who have given a collective 150 years of healthcare service to the community. – Back, from left, Patti Smith – Patient Access, 20 years; Nicole Derrick – Home Health/Rehabilitation, 10 years; Patsy Randolph – Certified Nursing Assistant, 5 years; Kathryn McDaniel – ER Nurse, 10 years; Tiana Mitchell – Chief Nursing Officer, 5 years; Marilyn Wetstone – Respiratory Therapist, 10 years; Linda Tucker – Patient Access, 20 years; Front, from left: Wanda Threat – Respiratory Therapist, 10 years; Janet Hewitt – Patient Access Director, 5 years; Melanie Steed – ER Nurse, 10 years; Janice Todd – Patient Access, 5 years. Also recognized were Mac Russell – Dietician, 10 years; Harold Boyd – Radiology, 10 years; Diane Johnson – Physical Therapy, 5 years; Tara King- ER Nurse, 5 years; and Harold Palmer – Radiology, 5 years.
WINNSBORO – The Winnsboro Rotary Club president Nicholle Burroughs presented the Rotarian of the Year award to Jim Mullen on Tuesday during the Club’s ‘Face of Rotary’ Banquet held at the Career Center. Mullen serves as treasurer of the Club.
WINNSBORO – An apparently routine budget vote turned into a heated debate about how to address salaries in the Fairfield County School District.
During discussion of the proposed $41.3 million budget, trustee Annie McDaniel said she wanted a deeper discussion about increasing salaries for support staff, some of whom she said make less than $20,000 a year.
That led to confusion, followed by frustration, over determining exactly what the scope of that discussion should entail.
Superintendent Dr. J.R. Green said his long-term goal is to assemble a comprehensive salary review for all employees.
Green said he wants to present something sometime next year, but estimated the plan would potentially cost several million dollars.
“Obviously I would love to see us make an adjustment to our salary schedule that positively impacts all of our employees,” Green said. “I would love to see teachers make more, I would love to see custodial staff make more, clerical staff and bus drivers.”
McDaniel didn’t discount that, but also said support staff deserves particular attention.
“I thought we were just going to talk about it and give you the opportunity to review it,” McDaniel said, responding to Green.
Board chairman William Frick said he was having difficulty discerning exactly what salary information McDaniel was seeking.
“I just want to be clear about what we want to do,” Frick said. “We say we want to have a meeting about salaries. What do we want to look at? I don’t know what you’re asking.”
“Because you’re trying to make it complicated,” McDaniel replied.
“No. Ms. McDaniel. I’ve been on this board for five years, and every time someone gives you information, you tell them that’s not what you wanted,” Frick fired back. “So I want to make sure we’ve got the information that you want.”
“No, no you need to take that back,” McDaniel answered. “Since you’ve been on this board, you have not been giving us information.
“I don’t understand why we make a federal issue out of just looking at information, which may not warrant any recommendation for an increase,” McDaniel continued.
In the end, the board voted 5-2 to approve second reading of the budget.
As it stands, the proposed budget does not include a tax increase.
Included in the budget are step increases and a 2 percent, across the board salary increase for all employees. It also includes funding for additional school resource officers.
The proposed budget also increases the annual band stipend by $10,000. It also includes $1,500 stipend increases for boys’ and girls’ basketball coaches.
Lastly, estimated health insurance costs dropped $13,000.
Third and final reading is expected during the June board meeting. McDaniel also insisted that a deeper discussion of support staff salaries be added to the agenda.
RIDGEWAY – Mayor Heath Cookendorfer called a special council meeting Monday evening to put the Cotton Yard purchase to bed – to either move forward to purchase it or to back out of the purchase.
Cookendorfer said he wanted both residents and Council members to have the chance to speak their minds in public about the pending purchase from Norfolk Southern. Two members of the audience, Tina Johnson and Vicki Maass, spoke in favor of the purchase. Council members then had their turns.
“The Cotton Yard is the center of our town and is an asset,” Councilman Dan Martin said. “Nobody likes the price, but my feeling is that if we pull out now, we’re going to lose $15,000 up front,” Martin said. “It would be good to have control of it. That’s my thinking.”
“No doubt we need to buy it,” Councilman Rufus Jones agreed, but with a caveat. “I hate to be forced to buy it and that’s what we have to do because of the last administration. We used it for years for free, and they kept messing with the railroad till they got ticked off and I don’t think we have a choice but to buy it. The amount is ridiculous, but I don’t see where we have a choice,” Jones said.
“I voted against it in the previous administration, and I vote against it now,” Councilman Don Prioleau said. “I felt $73,000 plus all the other fees was too much. As Councilman Jones said, we always used this property at no cost. I voted against it, and today I vote against it.”
Councilwoman Angela Harrison passed on speaking, and Cookendorfer took his turn.
“As part of the previous administration, I thought the first price was a fair, economical decision,” Cookendorfer said. “Then we got the second one and I was against that. But I’ve also been one to say I hate losing money. At this point, we’ve spent $15,000 on the earnest money, the survey, legal fees and phase one of the environmental study. The Cotton Yard is a big part of our downtown, so I agree that we need to move forward with the purchase.”
Jones said he would like to see the fire station and police station on the property renovated for use as spaces for merchants.
“Maybe we could get a grant to help pay for it,” Jones said.
“So am I to understand that there have been discussions about what to do with the buildings in the Cotton Yard that I’ve not been privy to?” Harrison asked.
“I’ve mentioned in open session that I would like to see something go there as rental space,” Cookendorfer said. “I’ve been more than forthcoming that that is something I would like to see.”
“In the past we did discuss buying the property under the buildings. Just a discussion. We talked about taking the space next to the (old) post office and making that into public restrooms…” Prioleau said before Harrison interrupted.
“Well that’s not what’s up for discussion tonight and it wasn’t on the agenda for discussion…”
“We’re just discussing buying the property and what we’ll do with it if we buy it…,” Prioleau said.
After further discussion about boundaries of the Cotton Yard and the railroad’s 65-foot right of way,
Cookendorfer closed in on the purchase.
“It sounds like Council would like to move forward except for Councilman Prioleau,” Cookendorfer said. Council agreed that the mayor would contact the Town’s attorney for the contract and move forward with the closing on June 22.
Following the meeting, Cookendorfer said he would like to see the former Just Around the Corner consignment shop (behind Olde Town Hall Restaurant) renovated for use as public restrooms.
“I think that would be helpful to the merchants and a good use for the building,” Cookendorfer said. “It’s all about funding. That’s where we stand now.”
