FAIRFIELD/BLYTHEWOOD – A 3.3 magnitude earthquake occurred
six km east of Elgin Monday morning, about 1:30 a.m., according to the U.S.
Geological Survey.
Many residents in Blythewood and Fairfield County took to
The Voice’s Facebook page to report not only feeling the strong tremor, but
some said it sounded like a sonic boom and shook their homes.
One resident commented, “I am in Pontiac and it felt and
sounded like a bomb went off. Huge boom and shaking. Vibrated my house for
about 5 seconds. No sleeping through that!”
Another wrote, “Yes, seem to last longer than previous
quakes we have had recently. Dog started barking.”
An Elgin resident commented, “I am only 1.5 min from
epicenter. It was the most impactful one yet – even more than the 12/27/2021
one. Much more.”
Two more tremors occurred Tuesday according to the U.S.
Geological Survey, with four aftershocks trailing through Wednesday, making
seven emanating from the Elgin area in less than 36 hours. Several of them were
felt as far away as Columbia and Lexington.
BLYTHEWOOD – Mayor Bryan Franklin delivered his most chilling verbal attack to date on The Voice’s publisher and Councilman Donald Brock at the end of a joint town council/planning commission meeting Monday night. The subject matter was rambling, with multiple undocumented claims.
Explaining that his speech was in response to The Voice’s editorial in the April 28, 2022 issue of the newspaper, Franklin never mentioned the subject of the editorial – the almost $70,000 the Town’s outside attorney erroneously claimed the Town had spent responding to 6 or so FOIA requests from The Voice.
Instead, Franklin veered into the weeds, alternately mocking
The Voice’s professional awards and accusing the newspaper of pressuring the
Town government “to take certain actions”, though he did not identify those
actions.
In his 15 minute uninterrupted diatribe, Franklin made numerous random claims that he could not or would not provide evidence for. The speech can be viewed in its entirety above.
Franklin claimed, for instance, that there had “never been
an outright vote to hire MPA strategies” [to provide marketing and grant
writing services for the Town].
However, a YouTube video of the Feb. 22, 2021 council meeting, posted on the Town’s website, shows Councilman Sloan Griffin making a motion to take a vote, and it shows the 3-2 vote, as each councilman specifies to whom he prefers to award the RFP (Request for Proposal). Franklin and Councilman Eddie Baughman voted for The Blythewood Chamber of Commerce.
Franklin also claimed that he voted ‘Yes’ to enter into a
contract with MPA, while in fact he voted ‘No’ in the same Feb. 22, 2021
YouTube video. It was not until three weeks later that he voted ‘Yes’ when a
motion was made to execute (finalize) that contract.
Referring to what may have been a campaign pledge on Brock’s
part (to become mayor), Franklin claimed it was “a conspiracy to commit fraud
against the Town.”
More than once in his speech, Franklin characterized the
newspaper’s routine communications with MPA’s attorney as The Voice’s
out-and-out conspiracy against the Town. The State, Post and Courier and other
newspapers, like The Voice, frequently quote attorneys and their clients in
regard to their lawsuits. The Voice also emailed questions (other than FOIAs)
to The Town’s outside attorney, David Black.
Franklin also declared, for some unexplained reason, that
The Voice “profits three times as much as the other paper [the Country
Chronicle].” He did not credit a source for that information or present any
proof of his calculations.
Franklin noted, again for an unstated reason, that “MPA
submitted its FOIA for my, the mayor’s emails, communications, etc. after the
contract was signed.”
According to records
obtained by The Voice, MPA’s attorney submitted the FOIA to The Town requesting
Franklin’s documents on April 15, the day before Franklin signed MPA’s contract
on April 16, not the day after.
Franklin sought throughout his speech to elevate himself as
the authority for determining who’s right and who’s wrong in regard to the
Town’s lawsuits with MPA.
“If any citizen wants a balanced argument, you call me
directly,” Franklin said. “I’ll return your call … or visit you on your front
porch to … clear up these falsehoods…” he stated.
In conclusion, Franklin noted that, “I’ve just disproven 5
or 6 items in the editorial that could have been disproven by picking up the
phone and calling somebody.”
However, it was not obvious in the speech what those “5 or 6 items” were, or how he had “disproven” them.
Franklin has made multiple undocumented claims in the past
against The Voice that were proven to be false.
For instance, in the Sept. 23, 2021 issue of the Country
Chronicle, Franklin was quoted as saying he had been “informed by [Town
Administrator Carroll] Williamson that he had received ‘numerous inquiries’
from Voice publisher Barbara Ball regarding Town Attorney Shannon Burnett’s
resignation…”
Franklin was quoted as saying that those “numerous
inquiries” amounted to “intimidating and bullying” Williamson.
The Voice sent a Freedom of Information request that same
day to town hall requesting copies of the “numerous inquiries” that The Voice
allegedly sent to Williamson regarding Burnett’s resignation.
In a Nov. 18, 2021, response to that FOIA, the Town’s
outside attorney David Black confirmed that the Town did not possess “numerous
inquiries” from The Voice concerning Burnett’s resignation letter.
BLYTHEWOOD – The Richland Coroner’s office has identified a
woman who died on Saturday following a crash involving a train outside of
Blythewood.
Jennifer Kennedy, 25, of Blythewood died in the crash,
according to Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford. The crash occurred on
Hobart Road around 5 p.m.
Master Trooper David Jones, with the South Carolina Highway
Patrol, which is investigating the crash, reported that the victim had been
driving south on Hobart Road near Farrow Road when her vehicle hit the train.
Hobart Road connects the Brookhaven community to Farrow
Road.
More information will be provided as it becomes available.
BLYTHEWOOD – In preparation for the upcoming Fairfield
Electric Coop’s annual meeting, the Board of Trustees met March 28 to
discussing discontinuing the health/life/dental benefit package for new Trustees
beginning with the May 20 election. The vote to do so was unanimous.
The package, valued at about $19,000, has always been free
to Trustees, except for paying the taxes for the value of the benefit. According
to a Trustee who was present at the meeting, only three Trustees currently take
the package and will be allowed to continue to do so, but most have other
insurance benefits available. That Trustee said the discontinuance of the
benefit will be a big savings for the Coop.
On April 11, the Board held a special called meeting to
discuss the disqualification of Larry Sharpe, Jr. who was nominated on March 14
for an at-large Trustee position.
Sharpe was running against Tim Hopkins of Lugoff who
currently holds the at-large seat.
According to the Board minutes, Hopkins recused himself from
the discussion and the vote which was unanimous.
At issue was the eligibility requirements for Trustees,
according to attorney Jay Bender who presented information on the issue.
Act 56 of the 2019-20 General Assembly, Bender said,
prohibits Trustees from having a business relationship with the cooperative
separate from membership in the cooperative. The Coop’s bylaws also prohibit a
“direct business relationship,” between a Trustee and the cooperative.
Bender said Sharpe, Jr. is associated with Blythewood Oil
Co., and as recently as March of this year had met with cooperative employees
to discuss fuel purchasing procedures.
Over the past 25 months, Bender said Blythewood Oil has
received payment from the Cooperative of more than $10,000 per month for
purchases. Bender added that the company has received in excess of $1 million
over the past five years.
The context of Act 56, Bender noted, is to eliminate
self-dealing between cooperatives and the trustees of the cooperatives.
Others nominated for the May 20 election of Trustees include
incumbent Keith Lewis (Dist 1); incumbent Cynthia Able and first-time nominee
Dan Ruff (Dist 2); incumbent Mitch Rabon (Dist 3); incumbent Tim Hopkins
(at-large); and new nominee Bruce Honecutt (Dist 9).
COLUMBIA – The regular monthly meeting of the Richland
County Planning Commission will not be held as planned on Monday, May 2,
according to county officials. Instead, the Commission will hold a work session
on the proposed new zoning map on Monday, May 9, at 10 a.m. at the council
chambers at 2020 Hampton Street.
The County Council will meet on Tuesday, May 3, at 6 p.m.,
but it is not known at this time whether council will hold first reading on
Councilman Paul Livingston’s amendment to the text of the ordinance that
approved the new Land Development Code (LDC).
That amendment proposes to keep the new LDC in place (though not currently effective) and allows for the previous rezoning process to continue until the proposed new zoning map is adopted. Until that time, any rezonings would require using the zoning classifications from the former LDC (in place since 2005.) Those classifications match the official zoning map but have been removed from the new LDC.
Livingston’s amendment will need three readings and a public
hearing.
Blythewood resident Sallie Sharpe will be meeting with a
group on the lawn in front of the court house at 5 p.m. For information and
regular updates on the rezoning issue, go to salslocalseed.com
WINNSBORO – Those crisp new jerseys, cleats and gloves have officially been broken in as Fairfield County Recreation’s spring baseball and softball season began this week.
Drawdy Park was packed on Monday’s opening night as the Rec featured t-ball games spread through the park’s three fields.
The league’s older teams opened their seasons on Tuesday, and t-ball was back in action on Wednesday.
RIDGEWAY – The sign announcing the location of the new $2.5M recreation center to be built in Ridgeway was defaced last week with the words: “Stop wasting our $$.” The location is on Highway 21 between Ridgeway and Blythewood.
During the county council meeting Monday night, Chairman
Moses Bell addressed the incident.
“I was saddened by the defacement of the sign at District 1
recreation community center location. Not so much for me, but for the citizens
in the area. But I’m also very hopeful,” Bell said.
He said he received a call from someone who stated, ‘Mr.
Bell, you are doing the right thing to grow this county. But many don’t want to
see you and this county be a part of the wealth that will come to the county
for your work.’ He said the caller
stated, ‘ We are trying to build the infrastructure in a way that gives us sustainable growth in the future.”
“There are many who are working to incite others, with many
others granting permission,” Bell said. “It (the sign) is the property of
Fairfield County and once the investigation is done by the Sheriff’s office,
Fairfield County will erect a new sign.”
BLYTHEWOOD – Two students at Blythewood High School were
arrested on Monday and Tuesday for bring guns to campus.
On Monday, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department arrested
a 15-year-old student after a teacher noticed a gun in the student’s waistband.
The teacher secured the weapon and the student was arrested and charged without
incident.
According to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, on
Tuesday, a student saw a 17-year-old student with a gun on campus on Tuesday
and alerted administrators. The 17-year-old was also arrested and charged
without incident.
The sheriff’s department said there were no threats made
against any school students or staff. Both students were charged with carrying
a firearm on school grounds, unlawful carry, and possession of a firearm under
18. The students, whose names were not released because of their ages, were
booked at Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
BLYTHEWOOD – When Lenore and James Zedosky moved from West
Virginia to South Carolina, they didn’t envision spending nearly five years of
their retirement locked in litigation with a national home builder.
Now the lengthy legal battle has finally reached a
conclusion.
On March 14, the Zedoskys along with two other residents and
DR Horton jointly agreed to settle the lawsuit in a dispute over green space,
according to Richland County court records.
Per the terms of the dismissal, each party will pay for their
own legal costs. A $5,000 deposit is being returned to the plaintiffs as well.
Lenore Zedosky said she is relieved the litigation has
ended.
“After five years, thousands of dollars and some health
issues, we decided it was just time to end it,” she said. “We felt like we had
a very good case. Our lawyer met with their lawyer and both came to a consensus
that the case would be dismissed, so we were very pleased about that.”
The legal battle began back in July 2017, when the Zedoskys
and two other plaintiffs sued DR Horton and the Town of Blythewood.
The suit asserted that covenants in place stated the
properties would be adjacent either to a deeded nine-hole golf course or remain
a perpetual greenway pursuant.
DR Horton acquired the property in 2012 with plans to
subdivide it for future development in violation of the covenants, according to
the suit.
Zedosky said as a result of the settlement, DR Horton has
agreed to preserve the green space and not develop the contested property.
A DR Horton representative couldn’t be reached for comment.
In court filings, DR Horton denied claims in the homeowners’
suit. The home builder also filed a cross claim against the Town of Blythewood,
saying the town wrongfully denied building permits for which DR Horton applied.
According to court papers, DR Horton eventually consented to
dismissing its cross claim against the town, but the town never agreed to the
dismissal.
Blythewood Town Manager Carroll Williamson said the town
didn’t consent because it wanted a definitive ruling to eliminate any ambiguity
on permitting issues.
The town wanted “clear legal guidelines for how to treat the
property for permits going forward,” Williamson said. “Because of this, we did
not agree to a dismissal without a ruling on the merits.”
Meantime, the Zedoskys and other co-plaintiffs said DR
Horton’s plans would have a material adverse effect on their rights including,
but not limited to, a devaluation of the value of their properties and a
significant disruption of their quiet enjoyment of their property that would
result from the loss of the property as green space or as a golf course.
The suit claims Horton sought permission from the town to
subdivide the property.
“Horton has failed to obtain the written consent of the
majority of owners affected by Horton’s intended change in the use of the
property which is subject to the Greenway Covenant,” the suit states.
Now that the suit is dismissed and resolved, Zedosky said
the process illustrates that it is possible to prevail in planning or zoning
disputes.
“We now want to work with the town to make sure this doesn’t
happen again,” Zedosky said. “We’re hugely relieved. If you work with your
elected officials and are professional about what you’re asking for, you can
impact what happens at the local level.”
BLYTHEWOOD – A man who doused a woman with gasoline and set her on fire was arrested in Blythewood on March 22.
Stevenson
According to Lott, 41-year-old Keitrick Stevenson was
arrested without incident at a home in Blythewood Tuesday morning by the
Midlands Gang Fugitive Task Force and Richland County Sheriff’s Department’s
Special Response Team.
“I’ve seen a lot of bad things, but this was one of the most
horrific crimes I’ve seen against a person,” Sheriff Lott said in a news
conference, calling the crime one of the worse he had seen in his career and
that Stevenson was an extremely violent repeat offender.
“Mr. Stevenson is not new to us. We arrested him in 2006 for
stabbing a man to death. He plead to manslaughter charges, spent eight years in
jail and got out only to try and kill again,” Lott said. “We’ve also arrested
him on drug and weapons charges, resisting arrest…all the way back to l997.”
The victim was with a group of people outside a home on
Prescott Road when Stevenson approached with a plastic pitcher of gasoline. He
then threw the gasoline on the victim, who ran away. As she ran, Stevenson
threw several matches on her, finally catching her on fire when she fell down.
The woman was transported to a local hospital and then to a
burn center.
“His intent was to destroy this woman’s life,” Lott said. “She’s
still alive and still struggling. She’s burned badly.” he said.
Lott praised his investigative team for their work in
locating the store where the plastic pitcher and matches were purchased by
Stevenson
“They were able to determine that he purchased the pitcher
and the matches at a nearby Family Dollar store earlier that same day,” Lott
said.
Stevenson is charged with attempted murder and is being held
in the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
