WINNSBORO – Two teens suspected of involvement in a series of drive-by shootings in Winnsboro were arrested Thursday night, Aug. 18, by Fairfield County Sheriff’s deputies.
Fairfield County Sheriff Will Montgomery said the arrests were made following a traffic stop at Smallwood Road and Bellfield Road (Ridgeway) on a Silver Toyota Four Runner. The two teens, both 17, were in the vehicle.
Deputies also located two loaded hand guns, multiple magazines, marijuana and a substantial amount of ammunition in the vehicle. After being taken into custody, the two teens were turned over to the Winnsboro Department of Public Safety (WDPS).
Ten drive-by shootings have been reported in Winnsboro since April 21, leaving five teens wounded. The latest shooting, according to law enforcement, occurred Aug. 11, in the Zion Hill section of Winnsboro, leaving a 17-year-old with gunshots to his upper chest and along his chin.
Montgomery told The Voice that his office has had a number of deputies working overtime recently to assist the WDPS in finding and arresting several suspects in the various drive-by shootings.
“On Thursday night, we had eight deputies working overtime, and we’re going to continue that until we get these criminals off our streets and in jail,” Montgomery said.
The two teens were each charged with unlawful carry, possession of a firearm by persons under 21, and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
He said his deputies have been working with WDPS and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division to put an end to the drive-by shootings and other gun violence in the town and county.
To provide the Sheriff’s Office with information concerning the drive-by shootings or other crimes, call 803-635-4141
WINNSBORO – A Winnsboro teen has been shot in the upper
chest during the town’s latest drive-by shooting, according to town officials.
A bullet also grazed the 17-year-old’s chin. The shooting occurred around 7
p.m., on Aug. 11, on College Street near Spring St. in Zion Hill.
A vehicle was reportedly driving past two teens walking along the street when a person in the vehicle opened fire, hitting one of the teens multiple times, according to Winnsboro Department of Public Safety Chief John Seibles.
The victim was transported to Prisma Health in Columbia
where he was at first listed in serious condition and later downgraded to
stable condition, according to law enforcement officials. Information was not
available at press time on whether the teen had been released from the
hospital.
An arrest warrant was issued for the incident on Monday.
According a Facebook post by WDPS Investigator Oren Gadson, much of the investigative work on the shootings is a shared effort between the WDPS and the Fairfield County Sheriff’s office.
This is not a one man job, tracking these kids down,” according to the post. Gadson wrote that the Sheriff’s department has been a vital part of the shooting investigations.
“These shootings are, for the most part, teens retaliating against each other and it takes teamwork to solve them,” Seibles told The Voice in a previous interview.
Last week’s shooting is the tenth drive-by shooting in
Winnsboro since April, and involves the sixth and most seriously injured
shooting victim.
Town Manager Jason Taylor told The Voice he was on the phone
most of the night of the shooting with law enforcement and other government
officials.
“We have to get hold of this situation,” Taylor said. “It
can’t go on. Somebody, an innocent person, could get killed if this continues.”
Taylor requested that Winnsboro Department of Public Safety
(WDPS) Chief John Seibles appear before town council Tuesday evening to answer
questions and present what is being done to stem the violence in the city.
Seibles said he and his officers are working on it.
“We have some warrants out now and expect to be making
arrests soon.” Seibles said.
The Zion Hill shooting occurred just six days after another
drive-by shooting in the Chatham Forrest neighborhood. In that shooting, two
13-year-olds were each shot in a leg.
“Several juveniles who had been walking at the entrance to
Chatham Forest subdivision were sitting on the Chatham Forest sign when a gray
vehicle drove down Ninth Street, headed for the bypass, and fired several
shots, hitting two of the young men,” Seibles said.
One teen was shot in the left leg and the other was shot in
the right leg.
No arrests have been made in any of the cases, but the sheer
number of shootings and the danger they pose is now a focus of the mayor and
town administration.
Town leaders react
Taylor called the recent rash of shooting incidents
“unacceptable.”
Taylor said efforts are underway to prevent future
shootings. Those efforts include increased patrols and installing security
cameras.
“This is not acceptable. This should not be normal,” Taylor
said. “We do not want to see guns discharged within our town.”
Police Chief John Seibles said at least five arrest warrants
have been obtained, two of them for attempted murder.
In some instances, the public has been reluctant to
cooperate, but Seibles said Gadson has received enough assistance from
residents to zero in on some suspects.
“We certainly intend to bring an end to this very soon,”
Seibles said. “We are working very hard.
“We are pursuing this very diligently. This will not be
taken lightly in the Town of Winnsboro.”
Seibles believes most shootings seem to be acts of
retribution.
“There are little groups going back and forth,” he said.
“It’s retaliatory.”
Mayor John McMeekin agreed that it’s imperative to put an
end to the shootings.
“We feel we have identified the shooters and when they are
apprehended, we will pursue justice to the fullest extent of the law,” McMeekin
said.
“If people don’t feel comfortable and safe in their own
town, that’s not good,” he said. “We must provide a safe environment, a safe
town for our citizens. And we will.”
“I think both the victims are only 13 years old,” Seibles
said.
“We interviewed several of the teens who were at the
entrance with the victims,” Seibles said. “The injuries were not
life-threatening, and both have been released from the hospital.
”Both young men who were shot said they did not recognize
the shooters,” Seibles said. “We’ve not been able to confirm how many were in
the vehicle, but we have a suspect and are working on that now.”
Second Shooting, Same Place
The Sunday shooting, which happened at about 6:38 p.m., also
in Chatham Forest subdivision, didn’t appear to be a drive-by shooting,
according to Seibles.
“Four people were sitting in a parked vehicle at a
residence,” Seibles said, “when one of the four in the vehicle – a young man –
was shot in the buttocks. We’re not sure yet just what happened in that
vehicle, but officers on the scene said it appeared that the shot was
discharged from inside the vehicle,” he said. “The person who we believe was
the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.”
A woman at the scene said one man sped off in a second
(burgundy) vehicle and another man left in a third (white) vehicle.
The gunshot victim drove himself to the emergency room and
the fourth man accompanied him.
Seibles said he does not know yet if the two Chatham Forest
shootings were related, but said the incident is still being investigated by
the WDPS.
BLYTHEWOOD – The new Bethel-Hanberry Elementary School appears to rise out of the rubble of the former Bethel-Hanberry Elementary School, which was being demolished and cleared off the grounds days before the new school opened on Wednesday.
The 137,000 square foot new facility sits on 19 acres behind
where the former BH-E school stood. The gym will remain on the grounds.
The rear section of the new school consists of two separate, two-story classroom wings. The front portion of the school is one story and includes the media center, administration offices, guidance area, new gymnasium and cafeteria.
FAIRFIELD COUNTY – Andy McKinney is Fairfield County’s newest career firefighter with the Fairfield County Fire Service.
When McKinney first became a volunteer firefighter in July of 2019, he was assigned to the Community Fire Station 1. He took the necessary classes to get his basic fire training. In January 2021, he was hired as a part-time firefighter.
When asked why he started volunteering, McKinney said, “Being in the military, I had a desire to serve and give back. I joined the Rescue Squad and then a few months later I joined the fire department because I wanted to serve my community.”
RIDGEWAY – Resident Randy Bright, speaking during public
comments, encouraged Ridgeway to move forward on a water and sewer solution,
citing the fact that it has been a year since the $47,000 Dominion settlement
was approved for the new sewer plant and that it isn’t moving forward. Bright also made the point that inflation is
diminishing the value of the planned spending.
Council passed a motion to take Cooper Nursery’s bid of $250
to replace the dead tree in the downtown garden area with a 30-gallon Nachez
Crepe Myrtle. Cooper’s bid, however, was actually $470, not $250, and included
$200 for delivery and installation.
The other two bids were $815.35 from BB Barns and $140.40
from Reese’s Plants. The $815.35 price included $329 for a 30-gal. Nachez Crepe
Myrtle, $60 per hour for labor, $11.99 for compost and another compost price of
$35.97, $17.99 for root stimulator, $210 for six 3-gal. Holly plants and $90
for labor, plus tax. Reese’s bid
included a 15-gal. Crepe Myrtle for $130 plus tax.
Council also voted to pay $16,000 for a 2013 used police car
with a significant amount of installed equipment and a mileage of 56,000 miles
for the Town’s newly created Ridgeway Police Department.
While council discussed that they would take the $16,000 from
the general fund to pay for the vehicle, the motion was made to use the $7,000
car fund to pay for the vehicle. After the meeting, The Voice called the error
to the mayor’s attention and he said he would just move the $16,000 from the
general fund to the car fund to make the payment.
Approval was also given to purchase of an enclosed outdoor
message board at a bid cost of $599.99 from Wayfair. Installation on the wall
outside next to the front door will be done by Town maintenance. The other two bids were $800 from Uline and
$951 from Frog Furnishings.
Council unanimously approved amending zoning ordinance 506
Design Overlay Districts to read: “The Board of Architectural Review shall have
purview over all proposed new developments, and over all alterations and/or
additions (excluding normal maintenance and repair of an internal nature) to
existing developments which have a visual
impact from the corridor, located on land which lies within the
rights-of-way and within all zoning districts herein defined as the “Design
Overlay Districts,” currently within town limits.”
A public hearing and second reading will be necessary for
the change to take effect.
A resolution passed unanimously to appoint Ridgeway’s
Utility Director, Robert Arndt, and the Town Council’s Mayor Pro Tem, Donald
Prioleau, to serve in an ex-officio capacity on the Commission of the Fairfield
Joint Water and Sewer System.
Unanimous approval was also given to appoint Doug Porter as
Ridgeway’s Zoning Administrator.
Spaces are already being rented by the Town for vendors in
the Cotton Yard for the Big Grab event on September 9-10, 2022.
Councilman Dan Martin, who frequently does not attend town council
meetings, was not present.
WINNSBORO – A Winnsboro teen has been shot during the town’s latest drive-by shooting according to town officials. The shooting occurred around 7 p.m., on College Street near Spring St in Zion Hill.
A vehicle was reportedly driving past two teens walking along the street when a person or persons in the vehicle opened fire, hitting one of the teens in the upper body. The victim was transported to an area hospital.
It’s the tenth drive-by shooting in Winnsboro since April, and the sixth shooting victim.
Town Manager Jason Taylor told The Voice there is no word yet on the condition of the victim, but Taylor said he’s been on the phone most of the night with law enforcement and other government officials about the shooting.
This is a breaking story. The Voice will post more information about the incident as it becomes available.
WINNSBORO – Two more drive-by shootings since Friday, Aug. 5 – making 10 since April 21 – and an apparent non-drive-by shooting on Sunday have left at least five people suffering non-life threatening bullet wounds.
The drive-by shooting on Friday, Aug 5, occurred just after
school had dismissed for the day, according to Winnsboro Department of Public
Safety (WDPS) Chief John Seibles.
“Several juveniles walking home from school had stopped at
the entrance to Chatham Forest subdivision and were sitting on the Chatham
Forest sign when a gray vehicle drove down Ninth Street headed for the bypass
and fired several shots, hitting two of the young men,” Seibles said.
One teen was shot in the left leg and the other was shot in
the right leg.
“I think both the victims are only 13 years old,” Seibles
said.
“We interviewed several of the teens who were at the
entrance with the victims,” Seibles said. “The injuries were not
life-threatening, and both have been released from the hospital.
”Both young men who were shot said they did not recognize
the shooters,” Seibles said. “We’ve not been able to confirm how many were in
the vehicle, but we have a suspect and are working on that now.”
Second Shooting, Same Place
The Sunday shooting, which happened at about 6:38 p.m. –
also in Chatham Forest subdivision – didn’t appear to be a drive-by shooting,
according to Seibles.
“Four people were sitting in a parked vehicle at a
residence,” Seibles said, “when one of the four in the vehicle – a young man –
was shot in the buttocks. We’re not sure yet just what happened in that
vehicle, but officers on the scene said it appeared that the shot was
discharged from inside the vehicle,” he said. “The person who we believe was
the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.”
A woman at the scene said one man sped off in a second
(burgundy) vehicle and another man left in a third (white) vehicle.
The gunshot victim drove himself to the emergency room and
the fourth man accompanied him.
Seibles said he does not know yet if the two Chatham Forest
shootings were related, but said the incident is still being investigated by
the WDPS.
Third Shooting
The most recent shooting occurred at about 2:20 Tuesday
morning, this time in the 400 block of Vanderhorst Street.
When officers arrived, a woman told them that a dark colored
Oldsmobile had driven past the home three times and on the third time, opened
fire on the house, shooting several times, the incident report stated.
While the victim in the home stated that no one was hit or
injured, it was reported that several bullet holes were observed on the
exterior of the home as well as on the interior in a dining room wall.
FCSD Board Chair William Frick discusses a zoning map with FCSD Education Foundation president Dr. Sue Rex and fellow board member Henry Miller following Town Council in 2019. | Barbara Ball
WINNSBORO – A 22-acre private “Teacher Village” housing development slated to be built behind Fairfield Central High School could have much its county property taxes waived for up to 30 years, if council passes the Special Source Revenue Credit proposed by Chairman Moses Bell.
On Monday night, the council members approved first reading
of the deal, though no discussion was allowed and the details of the ordinance
were not revealed to the public.
Council members voted 5-2, with Councilmen Doug Pauley and
Clarence Gilbert opposing. Two more readings are required before the ordinance
becomes official.
If finalized, the deal could grant sweeping tax breaks for
the proposed Teacher’s Village which will be owned by the Fairfield County
School District Education Foundation, a non-profit the school district created
to facilitate construction of the Teacher Village.
Council members did not discuss the deal Monday night.
Council Chairman Moses Bell frequently announces on first readings that
discussion is not allowed.
Councilman Doug Pauley thought council discussions during
first reading on this ordinance would be appropriate.
“Is there any kind of statutory law that prohibits
discussion at first reading?” Pauley asked.
Bell said the council traditionally approves first reading
in title only, without deliberation.
“We are going by standard practice of this council for as
long as I’ve been on council,” Bell said. “It’s always been, when we have first
reading, it is by title only and no discussion.”
Bell said he’d be willing to discuss allowing discussion
during future first readings of ordinances.
Ordinance 797 authorizes a Special Source Revenue Credit
Agreement (contract) between Fairfield County and the Foundation to enable the
county to waive property taxes for the Teacher Village. The property would
receive the benefits of a multi-county industrial or business park designation.
SSRC’s are usually issued in conjunction with Fee-In-Lieu-of
agreements to give tax relieve to the very high 10-1/2% state assessment on
industrial property. The Teacher Village is not an industry and might only be
assessed at 4% or 5%, not 10.5%.
At least one speaker and Pauley questioned why the county
would be extending tax relief to a private housing development since the county
is cutting back on its services and is so short on funds that it is cutting
funding to all county departments by 10 percent, And there are other cutbacks
as well.
Pauley noted the county has already earmarked $2.2 million
in Dominion settlement money to build the Teacher Village. The school district
donated the land.
“It’s wrong,” Pauley said, “to award more money to such a
contentious project considering the county recently ordered departments to cut
their budgets by 10 percent.
“We are electing to forgive taxes for the Teacher village
when $2.2 million of taxpayer money was supposed to fund this project,” he
continued. “We all want teachers in Fairfield County, but we also have to take
care of citizens and employees.”
Randy Bright, a Ridgeway resident, voiced several concerns
and objections. A lack of transparency stood chief among them.
“Are we putting plans in place or are we information from
citizens about this teacher village,” he asked. “I have not read anywhere that
the Town of Winnsboro has approved a site plan for the Teacher Village. If they
have not, how can we go forward with this?”
Bright also questioned why the Teacher Village needs special
revenue tax credits in the first place.
“The land was free from the school district, and the building
is being paid for by Dominion,” he said.
“This ordinance needs to be tabled. I’m against willy-nilly
plans to give them more money than they need.”
If the deal is approved, the Foundation would be exempt from
paying property taxes on this property and the move would set the project up
for a fee in lieu of taxes as well.
After Gorelick Brothers withdrew as lead developer in 2019,
the Teacher Village lingered in limbo until March of this year, when the
Foundation announced the groundbreaking of the project.
Teacher Village supporters think affordable housing is vital
in luring and retaining quality teachers.
Opponents, however, have raised concerns about the cost, an
apparent lack of demand and whether teacher housing will actually translate
into improved student achievement.
Despite a reported $25,000 in total annual per pupil revenue
in the Fairfield County School District, less than half of students met or
exceeded state benchmarks, according to 2021 school report card data.
Blythewood has outscored their World Series opponents 50-4 in only four games. | Photos: Contributed
LUMBERTON, NC – After a scary first inning in their opening game of the Dixie Youth World Series, South Carolina’s AAA All-Star team, formerly Blythewood All-Stars, showed up in a big way.
The SC All-Stars took the field on Saturday against
Louisiana to open the World Series and worked a quick three-up, three-down in
the top of the first.
Batting second in the line-up, first baseman Walker
Blackwelder stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the frame with one out. On
a 1-0 count, everything changed for Blackwelder. The next pitch hit him in the
eye, fracturing multiple bones and leaving him with a concussion.
After six months of dedication with a World Series title in mind and years working together as a team to get to this point, Blackwelder’s injury was a heartbreaking loss for him and the team.
Earlier this summer in the first game of the South Carolina
tournament, Carter McCune, the team’s starting catcher was too sick to play and
Blackwelder helped fill the void left by McCune. This time, it was
Blackwelder’s void that was left to be filled.
And if they lacked any motivation, their devotion to
Blackwelder and to each other may be what pushed them over the top.
As of late Wednesday, the team remains as the only
undefeated team in the Division 1 AAA World Series and have outscored their
opponents 50-4 in just a four-game stretch.
They’ll square off with Alabama tomorrow in the World Series
title game at 10 a.m. Follow along at
jockjive.com or on Game Changer (Blythewood Minors All Stars).
Blythewood 12, Louisiana 2
After Blackwelder’s injury, Blythewood went three-and-out.
Louisiana remained scoreless through two, but Blythewood lit it up in the
second inning.
Pierce O’Donnell doubled to lead off. A Dayton Wilburn bunt put runners on first and third with no outs. Carter McCune doubled on a hard grounder to left, scoring one. With one out, Cam Lloyd homered on a 1-0 pitch to put SC up 4-0.
Camron Lloyd with his home run ball.
Tyler Vincent, Skyler Cruz, and Greyson Von Plinsky followed
with singles to load the bases. A failed squeeze bunt gave SC their second out,
but Ryan Bottar was hit by a pitch to score Cruz from third. Another single
scored SC’s sixth run, then a triple line drive to left off the bat of Waters
put SC up 9-0 before ending the inning.
Louisiana added one run in the third, but Blythewood
responded with three more in the bottom of the inning to lead 12-1.
No match for the SC team, Louisiana took the 2-12 loss and
moved to the elimination bracket. SC advanced to round two against Mississippi
on Sunday.
O’Donnell worked 2.2 innings on the mound. He walked two,
struck out one, and allowed only one hit and one run. Lloyd pitched 1.1
innings. He struck out two, walked one and allowed one run.
Still reeling from their opening round win, Blythewood shut
out Mississippi in Sunday’s game with a 15-0 final.
Blythewood put up five runs in the top of the first and left
Mississippi stranded with two runners on, unable to answer the 5-0 lead.
The All-Stars added three more in the second, five in the third and two in the fourth to hold off Mississippi for the 15-0 win.
Wilburn, Jacob Waters, and McCune all had multiple RBI
games. O’Donnell, Dinkins, Lloyd, Lucas Baker and Landon Gilchrist all tallied
an RBI reach.
Jacob Waters with his home run ball.
Waters homered in the win. Gilchrist had a triple, and
McCune, Wilburn and McCune had doubles.
Waters got the start and win. He pitched four innings,
struck out four, walked one and allowed only four hits.
With their second win, Blythewood had Monday off while
elimination games continued. When they returned to the field Tuesday to take on
Alabama, they were ready.
Another day, another big first inning of playing loose put
the SC All-Stars in good position against the Alabama All-Star squad.
Up 4-0, Blythewood plated four more runs in the top of the
third to extend their lead 8-0. Alabama added one in the bottom of the third to
chip away at the lead, but Blythewood shut out all prospects in the top of the
fourth.
The added four more to go up 12-1 and held Alabama scoreless
to end their third game in a row early with the mercy rule.
O’Donnell returned to the mound. He allowed three hits, one
run, walked one and struck out two in three innings. Vincent closed out the
game in the fourth.
Gilchrist, Waters, O’Donnell, and McCune all had multi-hit
games again. O’Donnell and Gilchrist both doubled in the win.
Wednesday’s late afternoon game against Virginia followed
the same pattern. Blythewood took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first,
but Virginia responded quickly with one run in the bottom of the first.
With their closest lead so far in the World Series,
Blythewood heated up the bats and went to work. The SC team added two runs in
the second, two in the third, and two in the fourth to hold an 8-1 lead heading
into the fifth.
They added three insurance runs in the top of the sixth and
held Virginia scoreless to take the 11-1 win.
Fifteen hits in the game were spread among Gilchrist,
Bottar, Waters, O’Donnell, Wilburn, McCune, Lloyd, who doubled in the win, Vincent
and Von Plinsky.
Wilburn got the win on the mound. He threw two innings,
allowing one run on two hits. He walked one and struck out two. Lloyd faced 11
batters in 2.2 innings. He allowed only one hit and struck out two. Dinkins
closed out the game on the mound.
The win advances Blythewood to the title game against Alabama at 10 a.m. Follow along at jockjive.com or on Game Changer (Blythewood Minors All Stars).
FAIRFIELD COUNTY – Fairfield County Sheriff Will Montgomery announced that his office along with The Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office arrested four suspects early Tuesday morning while executing a search warrant in Kershaw County.
These suspects are being charged with the shooting incident
which occurred on June 19 in Fairfield County when shots were fired into a
dwelling, and a 9-year-old girl was shot in her lower leg, officials reported
Each of the suspects are being charged with six counts of
Assault and Battery First Degree; one count of Assault and Battery High and
Aggravated Nature; one count of Firing into a Dwelling and one count of
Possession of a Firearm During a Violent Crime.
William Portee, 19, and Chrystopher Richardson, 18, were
arrested along with two juveniles, according to Montgomery.
Sheriff Montgomery
stated that the investigation is ongoing and that more arrests are coming.
