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Category: News

  • 104 townhouses proposed for downtown Blythewood

    The 104 townhouses proposed by Great Southern Homes builders will be grouped in two and five single-family attached units. The request for a COA was deferred by the BAR to a later time.

    BLYTHEWOOD – Great Southern Homes’ representative Ned Purcell appeared before the Blythewood Board of Architectural Review Monday night to request approval for a Certificate of Appropriateness for 104 townhouses to be constructed at 158 Langford Road across from Town Hall.

    The 12.55-acre parcel is zoned for the project that will consist of 1,500 to 1,700 square foot single family attached townhomes.

    The meeting was live streamed for the public, but was not audible at times on the live stream or for the audience. The live stream is available on the town’s website (townofblythewoodsc.gov).

    The presenter, after a few minutes of being heard plainly at the podium mic, stepped about eight feet away from his microphone, and the remaining 45 minutes of his presentation were not audible.

    Purcell explained that there would be both two-unit and five-unit town homes that will be connected by traditional roof lines.

    “The units have no yards,” Purcell said, “but we’re thinking about adding 8-foot privacy fencing. We try to accommodate people with animals,” he said. “We really have to design with pets in mind these days.”

    The Town’s architectural consultant, Ralph Walden, pointed out that the shared roof with multiple height levels gives the townhouses a lot of character.

    The board members had lots of questions about the roof drip line, overhangs, parking spaces, sidewalks, windows and more. They had so many concerns that Chairman Jim McLean questioned whether the board should deny the request for a Certificate of Appropriateness altogether or defer it to a later time.

    “Do you want to deny them or allow them to go forward while they get things together and we can give them guidance?” McLean asked the board.

    The motion was made to defer the issue and for Purcell to come back to the board later with more details regarding the following*:

    • 24-inch foundation to be shown around the building
    • Overhangs everywhere
    • Overflow parking through the use of grass pavers
    • Walkway to front door
    • Proposal for fencing to be submitted for approval
    • Roof
    • Details on pecan area including entry sign as well as area shown in walkway surrounding it.
    • Concrete walkway around units
    • Door style
    • The board voted unanimously to pass the motion.

    *The motion was not entirely audible and was not available from town hall at press time, so it  may not be entirely accurate as presented in this story.

  • Ridgeway area burglary suspects sought

    Tanna Annette Oliver

    RIDGEWAY – The Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a burglary that occurred on Broom Mill Rd. in the Ridgeway area of Fairfield County.

    According to a statement released by the Sheriff’s office on Monday, Oct, 17, two individuals unlawfully entered a residence on Broom Mill Road and stole a handgun, jewelry, and other items.

    Ameerah Teresa Oliver

    The victim was out of town when this incident occurred and discovered this crime when they returned home. Through security video footage and assistance from the public, Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office investigators were able to determine the identity of the suspects.

    Based on this investigation, investigators have obtained arrest warrants for Tanna Annette Oliver, 33, and Ameerah Teresa Oliver, 31, of the Lexington area, each for first degree burglary and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office is actively seeking these two individuals.

    Anyone with information regarding this incident or the whereabouts of these two individuals, contact the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office at 803-635-4141.

  • Pedestrian killed in crash near Lake Carolina

    LAKE CAROLINA — The South Carolina Highway Patrol says a pedestrian has died after being struck by an SUV early Thursday morning near Lake Carolina, according to Master Trooper Gary Miller of the S.C. Highway patrol.

    The collision took place at 6:18 a.m. at Kelly Mill Road near Stallion Drive. That’s near the Lake Carolina community and about three miles north of Pontiac.

    Trooper Miller reported that an SUV was driving north on Kelly Mill Road when a person was attempting to walk across the road and was struck by the vehicle.

    The pedestrian, who has not yet been identified by the coroner’s office, died at the scene. 

    The driver of the SUV is reported to have stopped after the collision and there were no reported injuries in that vehicle. 

    No charges have been filed in the incident.

    The incident is under investigation by the S.C. Highway Patrol.

  • Winnsboro enacts new code enforcement law

    One of the dilapidated houses in Zion Hill that the town is looking to remove. | Barbara Ball

    WINNSBORO – Winnsboro town officials hope revisions to its public nuisance ordinance will speed up compliance and reduce lengthy litigation.

    On Sept. 20, Winnsboro Town Council approved first reading of amendments to the town’s property maintenance and nuisance ordinance.

    The vote was unanimous. A public hearing and final reading is tentatively planned for Oct. 18.

    Once approved, the ordinance would allow the Town of Winnsboro to bill non-compliant properties. If a property owner fails to pay, the town can attach a lien on the property to recoup abatement costs.

    Town Manager Jason Taylor said public safety was the primary driving force behind the ordinance.

    “The main focus is just making sure that we have the ability to clean our community up,” Taylor said. “We want our community to be safe. If you have a property that’s derelict, somebody might get hurt.”

    Other goals are to improve property values and make Winnsboro more conducive to economic development, Taylor added.

    “Derelict property values are hurting your property value,” he said. “It’s hurting everybody, dragging their property values down.”

    Taylor estimated the typical public nuisance civil case takes around two years to resolve. Meantime, as cases languish in the legal system, it further complicates economic development efforts.

    “It’s about community pride and marketing,” Taylor said. “And there’s economic development. If somebody comes to your community and sees a bunch of derelict houses or properties that are overgrown, they’re less likely to want to invest in your community.”

    Winnsboro drew inspiration for the ordinance from the Municipal Association of South Carolina. The MASC has been briefing its members about provisions in state law that allow municipalities to recover costs associated with code enforcement.

    Taylor said the town always prefers good faith negotiations with property owners.

    But when faced with unresponsive property owners, Taylor said the town would be able to proceed with more direct abatement measures, including billing property owners for any work the town performs to fix non-compliant properties. Unpaid bills would be attached to liens on the property.

    The Winnsboro ordinance also removes provisions for criminal penalties, which Taylor said further expedites enforcement.

    Criminal prosecution virtually ensures going to court. It also imposes additional costs on taxpayers since the town would have to pay for a defendant’s attorney if he or she cannot afford one.

    “If you go the criminal route that puts you back in the court system,” Taylor said. “This new law allows us to not have to bear the burden of going to court or provide an attorney for the person.”

  • Whitaker restricts county employees from talking to media or council members

    Bender: Law Does Not Prohibit Employees From Conversing With Council Members

    WINNSBORO – Last week, County Administrator Malik Whitaker informed the county’s department heads that employees are not to talk to council members.

    It is the third time this year that Whitaker has tried to curtail who county employees can talk to. Some have expressed concern that the administration is impinging on their right to free speech.

    The issue began shortly after Whitaker hired County Deputy Administrator Synithia Williams in January.

    In a Feb. 10, 2022 email, Whitaker informed county employees that they could no longer speak with the media, without administration’s approval.

    He wrote that Williams will serve as the public information officer for the county going forward.

    “If you are contacted by someone from the media, direct them to Ms. Williams,” Whitaker wrote.

    On Sept. 15, 2022, Whitaker sent an email titled “Fairfield County Organization Structure,” to all Fairfield county council members and county employees. In that email, Whitaker referenced the S.C. Association of County’s Handbook for County Government in South Carolina that outlines the general chain of command in a Council/Administrator form of government – that employees are accountable to the administrator, who is accountable to council and that “the administrator should be the major channel of information between the council and the county staff.”

    Last week Whitaker further tightened the reins on employee communication. After calling a meeting of the county’s department heads, Whitaker clarified the intent of his Sept. 15 email about the county organization structure. According to sources who told The Voice they feared reprisal if they spoke publicly, Whitaker relayed to department heads that employees are not to talk to council members.

    Gilbert says Whitaker is taking that too far.

    “He cannot tell employees not to talk to council members,” Gilbert said. “The Handbook is saying council members cannot give employees orders or make demands of them. It is not saying council members and employees can’t talk to each other.”

    According to Section 4-9-660 of the state statue, council members have every right to make inquiries and investigations concerning county staff.

     “Yes, council members are not to interfere with the administrator’s job of administering,” Councilman Douglas Pauley said. ”But the law states that we have the right to inquire and investigate county business. We have had a number of issues that council members, by law, had a right to look into. Plus employees are also tax-paying citizens and our constituents and they deserve their voices to be heard.

    Media Attorney Jay Bender addressed Whitaker’s interpretation of the law.

    “I think the interpretation by the administrator is not supported by the language of the statute, and quite possibly an infringement on the First Amendment rights of county employees,” Bender said. “The code section exists to prevent council members from giving orders to county employees.  It does not prohibit employees from having conversations with council members, especially in the context of an election.  County employees are free to take political positions and make political statements so long as these are not disruptive to the office in which they are employed.”

  • Congratulations

    WINNSBORO – A parade was held on Hwy 321 in Winnsboro last Wednesday, Sept. 28 to celebrate Fairfield Magnet School for Math and Science being recognized as a 2022 National Blue Ribbon School by US Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona.

    Cardona announced on Sept. 16 that 297 schools across the country were receiving the award. It recognizes a school’s academic performance and progress in closing achievement gaps in student subgroups.

    Photos: Darreyl Davis

  • Shabazz sentenced to life for murder

    WINNSBORO – Osman Shareef Shabazz, Jr., 24, has been convicted of murder and other related charges in a case that involved the death of Gabriel Deshawn Brisbon, 22, on Jan. 31, 2021. The case was tried in the 6th Circuit Court by Judge Brian Gibbons.

    Shabazz

    Shabazz was sentenced Sept. 29 to life in prison for Brisbon’s murder. He also received five-year sentences for two related charges of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and grand larceny.

    Prosecutor Randy Newman’s office did not prosecute Shabazz for additional charges from the arrest for ill treatment of animals and malicious injury, Fairfield County Court records show.

    In addition to Shabazz, Sylvia Bacon-Scott and a minor were also charged in Brisbon’s murder. They were also charged with grand larceny, malicious injury and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, court records show. Their trial dates have not been set at this time.

    Brisbon

    Gabriel Brisbon was last seen Jan. 31 at the Winnfield West Apartments in Winnsboro and was reported missing by his family on Feb. 2, 2021. Three days later, his body was found behind a vacant mobile home located near the intersection of US Hwy 321 S and Peach Road in Fairfield County, according to officials.

    It was determined by investigators that Brisbon had been shot multiple times and his body had been partially buried.

    Shabazz was quickly developed as a suspect and was arrested, along with Bacon-Scott and the minor on Feb. 11, 2021, according to a statement from Fairfield County Sheriff Will Montgomery.

    “This conviction represents justice for the family and friends but it still does not bring Gabe back,” Montgomery said. “I know that they still miss him and are still hurting. I want to thank all of those who helped and cooperated with this investigation, including Gabe’s family. I appreciate the hard work that our deputies put into this investigation with the assistance of SLED and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department as well as the Solicitor’s Office.”

    Winnsboro attorney William Frick represented Shabazz, according to court records.

  • Lawsuit dismissed against Voice, Ball

    BLYTHEWOOD – Legal proceedings against The Voice and its publisher have ended.

    A Notice of Dismissal filed Aug. 25 by the plaintiff removes The Voice and its publisher Barbara Ball as defendants in a libel lawsuit filed by a Richland Two administrator last May.

    Richland County parent Zachary Johnson was also named in the suit. He was still listed as a defendant in the Richland County Public Index as of Tuesday.

    The administrator filed suit in May, asserting in court documents that The Voice libeled the administrator by publishing stories about Johnson, who stated that his first grade daughter was strip searched.

    His daughter was disciplined for threatening another student with scissors, court papers state.

    Johnson aired his accusations in a Richland Two school board meeting open to the public and also in an interview with The Voice, according to the lawsuit.

    Richland Two and Richland County Sheriff’s Office investigations later found no evidence of any misconduct, according to the suit.

    The plaintiff acknowledged in court papers that The Voice did not name the administrator in news stories, but also said the newspaper published other details the suit said “effectively publicly identified Plaintiff,” the suit states.

    Plaintiff attorneys stated in court papers that false accusations damaged the administrator’s reputation. The negative publicity “degraded Plaintiff, reduced [the administrator’s] character and reputation in the estimation of friends, acquaintances, and the public, and rendered [the administrator] contemptible,” the suit said.

    As for Johnson, he responded to the lawsuit a couple days after claims against The Voice and Ball were dismissed.

    In court documents filed August 29, aside from basic statements of fact, Johnson denied the bulk of the administrator’s claims.

    “Any and all statements made by Defendant pertaining to the Plaintiff have been true,” the response says. “Whereas truth is an absolute defense to any allegations of defamation, libel, or slander, the Plaintiff’s complaint must be dismissed.”

    The plaintiff has requested a jury trial and is seeking actual damages, punitive damages, attorney’s fees and costs, and other relief as the court deems just and proper.

    A trial date has not been set. The Public Index lists December 19 as the date for alternative dispute resolution.

  • BW man arrested for ATV burglaries

    LAKE WATEREE – A Blythewood man, Russell Britton Pope, 27, has been arrested in connection with several recent burglaries and larcenies in the Lake Wateree area of Fairfield County.

    Pope

    On July 22, Fairfield County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a burglary on River Road near Rocky Point Circle where the suspect broke in to a building in an attempt to steal an ATV. During the course of this burglary the suspect was confronted by a friend of the victim, and officials said fired a gunshot in the air.

    It was reported that the suspect was still inside the building while deputies were responding to the incident, however, deputies, with the assistance of SLED, searched the building and determined the suspect had left prior to law enforcements arrival.

    Later that day deputies were called to a residence on Rock Bridge Road due to a burglary and Grand larceny of a CJ7 vehicle. The Rock Bridge Road homeowner was travelling home and observed his vehicle being driven down the road. The description of the suspect driving the CJ7 Jeep was the same given for the suspect that law enforcement was already searching for from the burglary earlier that morning.

    Fairfield County Deputies and Kershaw County Deputies along with the assistance of SLED located the vehicle on Shivers Green Road but were unable to locate the suspect at that time.

    On Sept. 8, investigators and Sheriff’s Deputies responded to Antioch Cemetery Road where a hunter located his own ATV that had been stolen a week prior but had not been reported. While investigating this incident, Investigators located another ATV that had been stolen that same day and the owner was unaware that his ATV was missing.

    During the course of this investigation, Investigators made contact with the property owner where the ATV’s were located and learned that he, too, was missing a Honda dirt bike along with other items.

    A witness passed by and provided information to investigators that helped identify Russell Britton Pope as the suspect in the ATV thefts. Throughout the course of the investigation, Investigators with the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office were able to connect Pope to the July 22 incidents with the ATV thefts reported on Sept. 8.

    Pope was located by Fairfield County Deputies on Sept. 14, in the Ridgeway area of Fairfield County where he was arrested and booked in to the Fairfield County Detention Center. He has been charged with 2 counts of burglary 2nd violent and 4 counts of grand larceny.

    “The Investigators with the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the citizens who provided information that was helpful in identifying Pope as being involved in these cases as well as SLED and the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office,” Fairfield County Sheriff Will Montgomery said.

    Montgomery said investigators are still looking into other incidents from the Lake Wateree area, and he said it is believed that Pope could be involved in those as well.

  • Blythewood VB defeats SV

    BLYTHEWOOD – Blythewood volleyball took their first region win of the season with a 3-0 final over Spring Valley on Tuesday. The Bengals outmatched the Vikings with 25-14, 25-14 and 25-8 finals. 

    Last Thursday, Blythewood dropped a 3-2 conference match to Rock Hill. The Bearcats squeezed past the Bengals in the first set with a 27-25 win. Blythewood took the second 25-20 and the third 25-18. Rock Hill rallied to win 25-23 in the fourth set to send the match to a fifth set where they took another two-point win, 15-13, to clench the game.

    Clover defeated Blythewood last Tuesday with a 3-0 final. They won the first set 25-20, the second 25-19 and the third 27-25.

    Blythewood will travel to Fort Mill tonight for a region game and will hit the road again next Tuesday to face Nation Ford. They’ll play their third road game in a week’s time on Oct. 6 at Clover.