CHESTER – A Chester County man lost his life following a
one-car fatal accident on Saturday, according to the S.C. Highway Patrol.
The driver, identified by Chester County Coroner’s Office as
Ernest Bradley “Brad” Blackwell, 45, of Blackstock, was pronounced deceased at
the scene.
Master Trooper David Jones reported that the fatal collision
occurred about 5 p.m. when the driver of a 1999 Ford pickup traveling south on
U.S. 321 near Gregory Road went off the roadway to the right and struck several
trees.
The accident is under investigation by the S. C. Highway
Patrol.
BLYTHEWOOD – MPA Strategies, LLC has filed a reply to the
Town’s counterclaims filed July 20, 2021, in response to a lawsuit filed by MPA
Strategies against the town government on June 28, 2021. All the claims and
responses were filed in the Court of Common Pleas Fifth Judicial Circuit in
Richland County.
MPA also filed three motions last week, including one to
dismiss.
First Motion
In the first motion, filed Aug. 18, 2021, MPA seeks to have
the Town’s counterclaim dismissed, stating that the counterclaim, as it relates
to the executed Marketing Agreement, fails “for being brought in an improper
venue in violation of the fully negotiated forum selection clause agreeing to
jurisdiction in Lexington County,” where MPA’ offices are located.
In the motion, MPA also states that the Town’s counterclaims
against MPA Strategies, LLC, Ashley Hunter and State and Frink Foundation for
fraud, negligent misrepresentation/fraud in the inducement; violation of S.C.
Unfair Trade Practices Act; violation of S.C. Frivolous Civil Proceedings
Sanctions Act; civil conspiracy; violation of Federal False Claims Act – 31
U.S. Code Section 3701, et seq.; and negligence/gross negligence, “fail for a
failure to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action.”
Second Motion
In its second motion, MPA asks the Court to strike Joseph
Dickey, the attorney for Ashley Hunter (MPA’s owner), from being called as a
witness in Court.
MPA states that on July 20, 2021, the Town of Blythewood,
“made false and defamatory allegations in its Answer and Counterclaims by
naming Plaintiff and Counterclaim defendants MPA Strategies, LLC (“MPA”), State
and Frink Foundation (“State and Frink”) and Ashley Hunter’s attorney Joseph D.
Dickey, Jr., Esq. (“Dickey”), in its Counterclaims.
“The Plaintiff and Counterclaim Defendants [MPA, Ashley
Hunter and State and Frink Foundation] can only speculate that the Town is
attempting to create a conflict between them [MPA, Ashley Hunter and State and
Frink Foundation] and its chosen counsel and/or to fabricate a basis upon which
to seek to disqualify their chosen legal counsel [Dickey] from representation
going forward,” the motion states.
“In addition, it seems apparent that the Town seeks to
damage Mr. Dickey’s reputation by intentionally making false allegations in its
counterclaim.”
“As there is no basis or other valid reason for Mr. Dickey
to be identified, the Counterclaim Defendants respectfully request that his
name, any allegations against him, and any reference to him be stricken from
the Town’s counterclaims,” the motion states.
After presenting a lengthy argument about the issue, the
motion states that,“The Town’s counsel [David Black with Nexsen Pruet] and
in-house counsel [Shannon Burnett] through her verification, falsely has
certified to the best of their knowledge, information, and belief, formed after
an inquiry reasonable under the circumstances, that Mr. Dickey has committed
the crimes of fraud and other related crimes. This false certification has
occurred despite these facts,” which are listed in the motion:
“1. Prior to Joseph Dickey’s first involvement in this
matter, Town Attorney Shannon Burnett advised Town Council at a publicly
recorded meeting that having non-profit status was not a requirement for a
vendor to perform marketing for the Town.
“2. Joseph Dickey’s first involvement in this
matter was to draft a letter notifying the Town of his representation and
concerns about the contract award at the direction of a client.
“3. Joseph Dickey, once informed, fully disclosed that State
and Frink did not have 501(c)(3) status and had no need to obtain it based on
the Town’s RFP and applicable law prior to contract execution.
“4. Joseph Dickey provided Town’s counsel persuasive legal
authority supporting MPA and State and Frink receiving State A-tax funds and
again notifying the Town that State and Frink did not have 501(c)(3) status
prior to execution of the contract.
“5. Joseph Dickey’s role as counsel for the Plaintiff and
Counterclaim Defendants is simply no Rule 11 basis upon which to make the
defamatory accusations that he committed crimes or other dishonest actions.
“Based upon these facts and under any reasonable objective
standard this certification fails and Town’s counsel and officials should be
held accountable for their false certifications,” the motion states. “One can
only surmise that the identification of Mr. Dickey is part and parcel of a
strategy to create conflict where none exists and/or to deprive the Plaintiff
and Counterclaim Defendants of the legal counsel of its choosing,” the motion
stated.
The motion requested the court to issue an order, “striking
any and all allegations identifying and falsely accusing Mr. Dickey of
committing a crime, silently making him a witness, and requiring the Town to
pay the attorneys’ fees and costs associated with filing and arguing this
motion.”
Third Motion
A third motion requested protection from Court appearances
for Dickey for a specified period of time for a family matter.
Hoof & Paw President Outlines Desperate Needs of Animal Shelter
Randy Bright
Tony Armstrong
Kathy Faulk
WINNSBORO – Critics of a recently approved $1.05 million capital improvements plan say the deal is loaded with pork.
On Monday night, Fairfield County Council – by a slim 4-3
margin – approved final reading of the measure, which is being paid for from
the county’s general fund.
Council Chair Moses Bell and council members Tim
Roseborough, Shirley Greene and Mikel Trapp voted in favor.
Included in the deal are funds to conduct roof repairs to
the S.C. Department of Health and Human Services building, repairs most council
members and residents agree are needed.
But the roof repairs were discussed during the budget
meetings in the spring and it was a consensus that the repairs could wait
another year.
After complaints from residents on the western side of the
county about Councilman Moses Bell’s Ridgeway district getting a $2.5 million
recreation center the roof repairs showed up on the July 26, 2021, agenda along with $500,000
from the general fund earmarked for the two mini parks.
But critics say the bulk of expenses – for a new mini-park
in Blackstock and upgrades to Willie Lee Robinson Park in Blair – are parochial
in nature.
Both mini-park projects are located in Council District 3,
represented by Trapp, who couldn’t be reached for comment.
Councilman Doug Pauley said that lumping the parks with
needed HHS roof repairs was designed to ensure the park projects passed. He
called the parks “a total waste of money” that ignore more pressing needs in
the county.
“The roof on the DHHS building was only added to this
ordinance so that asking for the mini park and upgrades wouldn’t look so bad to
taxpayers,” Pauley said.
Community residents also took aim at the park plans during a
public hearing that preceded Monday night’s vote.
Winnsboro resident Thomas ‘Tony’ Armstrong questioned the
wisdom behind the mini-park spending plan.
“$1,050,000 to some is nothing, but to a lot of us it’s a
lot,” Armstrong said. “We need to hold off and be more frugal with the
taxpayers’ money.”
Ridgeway resident Randy Bright called the ordinance “amateur
hour,” noting the spending plan doesn’t even itemize park expenses.
“We’ve combined two wants with one need, a need that
should’ve been taken care of during [budget discussions],” Bright said.
“If you vote for it, you’re voting for two unnecessary
wants,” Bright continued. “But if you don’t vote for it, we’ve got a roof
falling in. It just doesn’t make sense.”
More Pressing Needs
Bright and others thought it would make more sense to focus
on the county animal shelter, which has some alarming needs.
After starting in January with 155 animals, the shelter this
year has taken in 848 cats and 636 dogs, greatly outpacing adoptions and owner
reclaims, said Kathy Faulk, president of the Hoof and Paw Benevolent Society.
Faulk didn’t specifically address the mini-park vote in her
address, but was emphatic the county has some pressing needs – like a new
animal shelter.
To that end, she asked the county to form an animal welfare
committee and also for each council member to visit the shelter to observe
conditions there firsthand. She said the facility is comparable to what might
have been 50 years ago.
“This is a county building that should be funded by the
county,” Faulk said. “This is a critical need.”
Council members voiced general support for the shelter but
did not commit to any of the Hoof and Paw requests.
“I think that’s an idea we’ll have to research and really
take a look at how we move forward on some of the suggestions you’ve made,”
Councilwoman Shirley Greene said.
Refinancing $24M Bond
In other financial business, the county unanimously approved
first reading of an ordinance to refinance over $20 million in debt. First
reading was by title only so there was no discussion among council members.
With interest, the debt is closer to $40 million
The plan calls for applying $7.5 million in Dominion
settlement funds toward paying down $23 million in debt the county accrued
following the 2013 $24 million Fairfield Facilities Corporation bond. In
addition, the plan calls for refinancing existing debt to a lower interest
rate.
Both measures will trim annual debt payments by about
$500,000 a year, or by $10.5 million through 2042, said Brent Robertson with
Stifel Investment Services.
Robertson attended along with Ray Jones representing Parker
Poe.
“Since the issuance of that debt, we find ourselves in a
very favorable interest rate environment,” Robertson said.
The Bengals take the field for their 2021 home opener.
BLYTHEWOOD – Desmond Boatwright blasted through Fairfield Central defenders Monday night. Backup quarterback David Herndon had enough touch on the ball to throw three touchdown passes. Together, they and the rest of the Blythewood football team closed out a 22-6 victory over 3A rival Fairfield Central Monday night.
Boatwright had 169 yards on 22 carries on the night. Herndon
started in lieu of sophomore Harrison Collins, who broke his hand before the
season opener. The 6-0 junior threw TD passes of 6, 30, and 23 yards, along
with a 2-point conversion pass in the first half to give the Bengals a 20-0
halftime lead.
“I’ve got to give our O-line credit and Desmond did a great
job,” Blythewood head coach Jason Seidel said. “We left some points off the
board though, and you have to give Fairfield credit, we had some drives but we
shot ourselves in the foot. It was a typical first game.”
Herndon coming in on short notice was a concern going in,
but the signal caller relied on receivers Jake Parker, Josh Gray, and Johnathan
Harper to take in touchdown passes and give Blythewood a good cushion going
into the second half.
“I was proud of him,” Seidel said. “It’s gonna take some time. He’ll miss a couple of plays here and there because he’s still learning the signals, but it happens.”
Fairfield defenders take down the Bengal runner. | Photos: Anthony Montgomery
For the Griffins, who had seen their fall practice
practically erased by COVID, came in without the pleasure of having scrimmaged
opponents in the preseason. That lack of practice showed, head coach Demetrius
Davis said.
“The one thing we couldn’t afford to do we did,” he said. “I
was hoping we would be able to come through and even if it was the first time
we went live, be able to overcome some of the mistakes. Playing a team of this
caliber in your first game you’ve got to be able to come out and play
mistake-free and create some turnovers. And we couldn’t get that done.”
The Bengals defense limited the Griffins to 160 total yards
on the night, 87 rushing and 73 passing.
“Our defense was great, and I love the special teams,”
Seidel said. “Our punter (Will Rowe, three punts and a 47.0 average on the
night) did a great job of changing field position.”
Blythewood turned the ball over on downs deep into Fairfield
Central territory on its first drive. The Bengals second drive paid off as they
ground out the clock with Boatwright runs and scored on Herndon’s 6-yard
touchdown pass to Parker with 18 seconds left in the first quarter.
Up 6-0, the Bengals defense made a key stop. Fairfield Central went backwards on the next possession, punting from the15-yard line and setting up Blythewood at the Griffins’ 30-yard line. Three plays later Herndon struck again with a 30-yard touchdown strike to Gary at the 10:41 mark.
Herndon’s third TD pass of the half came with 4:38 left as
he found Harper from 23 yards out. After having missed an extra point and
failed on a 2-point conversion on its first scores, Herndon made good on the
third attempt, a pass to Chris Thomas for two points to give Blythewood a 20-0
lead at halftime.
Blythewood spent the third quarter running the clock out on
Boatwright runs, then pinning Fairfield Central back deep in its own territory.
Doing so led to a safety when Jordan Clark tackled Tyderian Grier in the end
zone at the 9:03 mark of the fourth.
Fairfield Central finally managed a small drive in the final
minutes of the game, an 11-play 40-yarder capped with Semaj Young’s 2-yard TD
run with 20 seconds left.
“I feel like we won the second half,” Davis said. We did a
better job in the second half than in the first one. Our defense pretty much
shut them out. We did some good things on defense, and the only points they got
was on that safety, and that was on me, that wasn’t a great call.”
Blythewood travels to Westwood for the latest Battle of the
Woods—and the right to wield the Jeanne Schmidt Memorial Trophy Friday.
Covid-19 forced last year’s meeting to be cancelled. Westwood beat Blythewood
14-7 in the rivalry in 2019.
“It’s a quick turnaround,” Seidel said. “We’ve got to make
sure we’re ready to go. This happened to us two years ago, we played on a
Monday and went to Westwood and lost. A lot of our kids remember that.”
Fairfield Central plays host to Lancaster Monday night.
“A team makes the best strides between week one and week two,
so hopefully we can get this film,” Davis said. “This is the first chance we’ve
been able to go up against some guys. Hopefully we’ll do better next week.”
Fairfield Central – 0-0-0-6 — 6
Blythewood – 6-14-0-2 — 22
First Quarter
B – Jake Parker 6 pass from David Herndon
(kick failed) :18
Second Quarter
B – Josh Gray 30 pass from Herndon (pass
failed) 10:41
B – Johnathan Harper 23 pass from Herndon
(Chris Thomas pass from Herndon) 4:38
Fourth Quarter
B – Team safety 9:03
F – Semaj Young 2 run (kick failed) :20
FC Blythewood
First Downs 10 12
Rushes-Yards 30-87 37-157
Passing Yards 73 82
Att-Com-Int 20-7-0 8-5-0
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 2-1
Penalties-Yards 6-30 7-45
Punts-Avg. 5-36.6 3-47.0
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: FC– Stephon Gadsden 16-70, Semaj Young
5-16, Donovan Watkins 3-20, Kensley Copeland 2-5, TyDerian Grier 1-14, Team
1-(-38). Blythewood – Desmond Boatwright 22-169, David Herndon 9-(-26), James
Lyles 2-0, Curtis Hilton Jr.3-14.
PASSING: FC – Stephon Gadsden 7-20-0. Blythewood –
David Herndon 5-8-0.
WINNSBORO – After a quick preseason scrimmage against York
Prep last week, Richard Winn volleyball opened their season at home on Tuesday
against Great Falls High School. The Great Falls volleyball program is in its
first year.
Lila Smith attacks from right side. | Millie Lambert
The Eagles effortlessly took the first set against a new Great Falls team. Senior Mikaela Miller served eleven points to clinch the 25-6 win.
Great Falls found some footing in game two. Tied at 8 after
four rotations, Eagle junior Maggie Hughes served 11 points in a row to give
Richard Winn a 20-8 lead. The Eagles closed out game 2 with a 25-12 final.
With momentum on their side, Richard Winn dominated the
third set 25-3 for a 3-0 win over the Red Devils.
Sophomore Lila Smith got the Eagles off to an early 5-1
lead. Brinson Baker served 8 points and Meagan Brigman closed out the game at
the service line with the final 10 points.
Miller had 6 aces on the night. Smith, Baker and Hughes had
4 aces each. Brigman tallied 3.
Richard Winn got its first taste of 2021 action last
Thursday in Rock Hill against York Prep.
The Eagles fell 25-27 in the first set, but recovered for a
25-16 win in the second and took set three 25-17. York Prep won a decisive
fourth set 25-14 to send the match to a fifth, where the Eagles came up short
14-16.
Richard Winn replaces the 7 seniors who graduated from the
2020 team. With only three returning players, the Eagles look to develop as the
season progresses.
They’re set to face off with one of their toughest opponents
on Thursday – defending Region and State champion Newberry Academy.
BLYTHEWOOD – The Blythewood youth softball league rallied
together to support one of its own over the weekend.
Nine-year-old McKinna Morris, who plays on the 8U Bobcats
softball team and was a member of the 10U All Star team, and her father Chris
were on their way home from a tournament in Charleston on Sunday when they were
in an accident at the intersection of I-95 and I-26 near Orangeburg.
McKinna and her father were transported to Prisma Health
Hospital in Columbia. McKinna had a lacerated spleen and burns on the back of
her leg from hot car liquids. She had the first of multiple reconstructive
surgeries on Tuesday morning and is now home recovering.
McKinna’s father, Chris, was placed in a medically induced coma with extensive injuries, including multiple breaks in both legs and arms. On Monday, Prisma Health surgeons repaired his legs and one arm and wrist, but had to place a steel rod in his other wrist. Chris suffered burns on his face as well. On Tuesday, the Blythewood Bobcats posted on Facebook that Chris was out of ICU after an extensive surgery on Monday, and that he will begin the long road to recovery.
“Chris has a long road ahead,” the post stated, “but as you
can see he is strong and a fighter.”
Perhaps a family trait, McKinna’s 8U coach, Jordan Atkinson,
described her the same way: strong.
McKinna plays first base for the 8U team and is a power
hitter. Atkinson said she probably leads the team in RBI’s and extra base hits.
She’s a valued member of the 8U Bobcats team, but not just because of her
talents. Her teammates also love her for her sense of humor.
When Atkinson received news of the accident, she emailed the
team’s parents so they could break the news to McKinna’s teammates.
“It’s been difficult for her teammates to comprehend
everything,” Atkinson said. “They’re 7 and 8 year olds. They were concerned
about her and worried if she can still play ball, things like that.”
There’s no doubt that the Bobcats will miss having McKinna
on the field as she recovers. The team and their parents have rallied their
support in the few days since the accident. Parents initiated a meal train to
feed the Morris family each evening.
The third day of softball camp at Blythewood High School, Atkinson painted McKinna’s number, 11, next to first base. The girls gathered around the base for a photo, which they sent to McKinna before she went into surgery on Tuesday morning.
BHS softball campers honor McKinna with a painted 11, her Bobcats’ jersey number, by first base on Monday night.
RIDGEWAY – A single vehicle crash occurred on Highway 21 at about 7 p.m., on Friday, Aug. 20, resulting in the death of the driver.
According to a report issued by the S.C. Highway Patrol, the crash occurred the driver was operating a 2008 Honda traveling south on Highway 21, 4 miles north of Ridgeway when the vehicle ran off the left side of the roadway, struck a ditch and overturned.
The driver, who was not seatbelted, was deceased at the scene, according to SCHP Corporal Joel Hovis.
The story will be updated with the name of the deceased as soon as the coroner issues an identity.
WINNSBORO – A Winnsboro woman was arrested on Aug. 12 in connection with the murder investigation of her mother, 57-year-old Gwendolyn Green.
Barbara Green
On July 19, 2021, EMS informed Fairfield County Deputies
that a patient, Gwendolyn Green, had injuries that were not consistent with
what they were told happened.
Deputies responded to an address on Trade Mill Court and
spoke with Green’s daughter, Barbara Green, who stated that Gwendolyn Green was
found between an air conditioner and the back stair case.
Officers reported that other details given to them by
Barbara Green were not consistent. The incident report states that Barbara
Green appeared drunk and was possibly not well.
The officers then contacted the ER charge nurse at Prisma
Health Richland, who stated that Gwendolyn Green was unconscious upon arrival
at the emergency room.
Gwendolyn Green was observed to have at least three
lacerations – one on the right side of her neck, one on the right cheek and one
on her right eye lid. According to the report, the charge nurse said she didn’t
feel the wounds were self-inflicted.
Deputies were unable to locate a possible weapon or any
witnesses.
Gwendolyn Green had been transported to Prisma Health
Richland Hospital for treatment of injuries from the alleged assault and
succumbed to those injuries on Aug. 7. After an autopsy, her death was ruled a
homicide.
On Aug. 12, the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office
investigators arrested and charged 35-year-old Barbara Jean Green with murder
along with Abuse of a Vulnerable Adult resulting in Death.
Barbara Jean Green is a daughter of the victim, Gwendolyn
Green.
JENKINSVILLE – The driver in a single vehicle accident died
last Thursday, Aug. 12, after being involved in a crash near the Jenkinsville
post office.
The driver was identified by the Fairfield Coroner’s office as
Deborah McGhee Fichtner of Blair.
According to Master Trooper Gary Miller, Fitchner was
driving a 2001 Pontiac two door sedan south on State Highway 215 near McKenna
Road, about a half mile south of Jenkinsville, when the vehicle went off the
right side of the road and crashed into a tree.
The driver, who was not seatbelted, was injured and taken by
EMS to Prisma Health in Richland where she died, according to Miller.
The South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS) has
issued Notices to Proceed to 16 internet service providers in 22 counties for
almost $30 million in projects to expand broadband availability in rural areas
of need in our state.
Earlier this year the Joint Bond Review Committee approved
the allocation of $30 million for a competitive rural infrastructure grant
program to be administered by ORS in coordination with the South Carolina
Department of Commerce, and on May 14, 2021, ORS began accepting applications
for projects in eligible counties on a 1:1 matching basis.
Projects were awarded in the following counties: Aiken,
Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Clarendon, Chester,
Chesterfield, Fairfield, Georgetown, Hampton, Jasper, Kershaw, Lancaster, Lee,
Marion, Marlboro, Newberry, Orangeburg, and Williamsburg.
The following companies submitted successful grant
applications: Aiken Electric Cooperative, CenturyLink, Comcast, Comporium –
Lancaster Telephone Company, Comporium- PBT Communications, Inc., Farmers
Telephone Cooperative (FTC), Hargray, Home Telecom, Horry Telephone Cooperative
(HTC), Lynches River Electric Cooperative, Newberry Electric Cooperative,
Orangeburg County, Palmetto Telephone Communications, Revolution D, Sandhill
Telephone Cooperative, Tri-County Electric Cooperative, and TruVista.
The first construction reports are due to ORS by Oct. 15,
2021, and all projects are scheduled to be completed by October 2022.
