ELGIN/LUGOFF – Three more tremors were recorded near Elgin this week, with the last two occurring on Wednesday morning bringing the total number of tremors since Dec. 27 to 10, the U. S. Geological Survey reported.
The last 9 tremors continue to be aftershocks of the 3.3
magnitude tremor recorded on Dec. 27, the strongest of the 10 tremors.
The first tremor on Wednesday was recorded at 2.6 magnitude
at 1:45 a.m., 5 km southwest of Lugoff, according to the USGS. It was the
strongest aftershock since the initial 3.3 magnitude earthquake.
The second tremor on Wednesday, a 1.5 magnitude tremor, hit
at 8:18 a.m., 7 km south-southwest of Lugoff.
A 2.5 tremor on Monday, Jan. 3 occurred after a night of
heavy rain, high winds and thunderstorms. Residents in Blythewood, Fairfield
County and Columbia who were up early reported hearing a loud roar about 5:49
a.m., accompanied by a tremor lasting several seconds. It was 5 km south of
Lugoff.
Following the initial earthquake on Dec. 27, comments lit up
Facebook pages of Blythewood and Fairfield County residents who reported that
they felt their home shake. Some comments likened the the earthquake to the
sound of thunder, a train or an airplane flying low over a house.
The aftershocks confirmed in Kershaw County have been
similar in strength.
In the past two months, a series of seven minor tremors have
been reported around the Monticello reservoir in Fairfield County.
No major damage or injuries have been reported from any of
these earthquake or aftershocks.
WINNSBORO – A person in a Ford pickup truck died of injuries
from a crash that occurred at 5:45 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 4, on Newberry Road,
about 3 miles north of Winnsboro.
The pickup truck was traveling west on Newberry Road when it
ran off the right side of the road, hit a guardrail and overturned, according
to Master Trooper Joel Hovis with the S. C. Highway Patrol.
According to the officer, the occupant in the pickup truck
was not seat belted, was injured, was entrapped and had to be mechanically
extracted. The person was transported to MUSC Farfield and died in the
hospital.
The Fairfield Coroner’s office has not yet released the name
of the person who died.
The crash is being investigated by the S.C. Highway Patrol.
COLUMBIA – Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford is releasing information concerning a body that was recovered at Lake Carolina around 4:35 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022.
According to Coroner Rutherford, The Richland County Coroner’s Office Forensic K-9 unit assisted the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources with the recovery of the body of an African American male.
“Details are limited at this time, however, a full autopsy with positive identification will be conducted in the morning with our forensic pathologist and anthropology team. We never want to give false hope or give a family wrong information, so we will positively identify this individual before sharing any other details. I have personally spoken with the family of the missing teen from Lake Carolina and they are aware of this discovery. Upon proper notification being made, we will release more detailed information,” Coroner Rutherford states.
More details will be posted as they are available.
COLUMBIA – Central Electric Cooperative’s efforts to consolidate power could cause “irreparable harm” to the state’s regional co-ops that provide electricity to millions of South Carolina customers, according to a lawsuit recently filed by Fairfield Electric Cooperative, headquartered in Blythewood.
The suit alleges that Central is close to enacting a 10-year
master plan that would further bind member co-ops, including Fairfield Electric
Cooperative, to Central.
Essentially, it would further strip locally run co-ops of
local control by requiring them to align with Central’s governance structure
and policy making.
“This is an action for a declaration that Central’s
governance structure violates the basic edicts of South Carolina’s
well-established law on the duties owed by trustees or corporate offices of an
organization,” the suit states.
“The conflicts arising from Central’s governance structure
cannot be rectified with the laws of our state, and the conflicts force its
trustees or corporate officers to choose with whom their allegiance lies,” the
suit continues.
Fairfield Electric has also asked a judge for an injunction
that would prevent Central from enacting the master plan while the case is
pending.
Central had not filed an official response as of press time.
John Tiencken, general counsel for Central, said in a
statement that the cooperative does plan to respond and that it strongly
disagrees with assertions in the Fairfield Electric suit.
“For over 70 years, Central has operated on the idea that
electric cooperatives in South Carolina can work together to buy power and
build electric transmission,” Tiencken’s statement said. “This lawsuit
challenges that idea.
“Central, and organizations like it all over the country, are simply membership organizations, which do what the membership directs,” the statement continues. “On occasion a member may not agree with the direction that other members want to go, but, as in all democratic organizations, the majority decide the outcome.”
Fairfield Electric filed the suit Dec. 15 in Richland County
Circuit Court.
It’s at least the second such suit a S.C. co-op has filed
against Central. Marlboro County Co-op has sued Central in federal court,
citing similar governance issues, court documents show.
Fairfield Electric is one of 20 S.C. co-ops that belong to
Central as member-owners. Central’s board consists of two delegates from each
of the co-ops.
Co-ops, the suit notes, provide electricity to small towns
and rural residents, accounting for one-third of the state’s total population.
According to the suit, Central’s bylaws already require
trustees to discharge their duties “in a manner the Trustee reasonably believes
to be in [Central’s] best interests.” This provision poses conflict of interest
issues for trustees whose duties to their co-op may differ from Central’s, the
suit says.
“Representatives of Central have consistently reminded
Trustees that they must discharge their duties with only Central’s best
interests in mind,” the suit states. “Trustees have been told to ignore what
they believe to be in their best interest of their member cooperative and to
vote in manners consistent with what they believe to be in the best interest of
Central.”
The proposed master plan referenced in the suit goes
further. It would “restrict its member cooperatives from certain opt out
provisions regarding new power generation.”
The suit describes Central currently as a “middleman,”
serving as a wholesale generation and transmission electric cooperative that
contracts with Duke Energy, Santee Cooper and other large providers to fulfill
electricity demands of members.
Now Central is seeking to transition itself into a “fully
operational generation and transmission cooperative,” the suit states.
“Central Electric may opt out of Santee Cooper with new generation purchases by changing to a new business model that will allow them to generate or obtain power from other sources,” Fairfield Electric’s Board Chair Mitch Rabon said. “The new plan will not allow the Co-ops, including Fairfield Electric, to exercise similar options for wholesale power purchases. It will continue to restrict the Co-ops from purchasing other generation from other sources even if the cost would be lower for the members of Fairfield Electric.
The new plan will not allow Fairfield Electric to exercise similar options for lower priced wholesale power purchases.
Mitch Rabon, Fairfield Electric Cooperative Board Chair
“The Board of Fairfield
Electric is requesting governance changes at Central Electric that will
allow our members to exercise other supply options when the interest of Central
Electric do not align with the best interest of our Co-op,” Rabon said.
“Our primary responsibility to our members is to provide
safe, reliable power at a reasonable cost.” he said.
In 2019, Central generated over $1.34 billion in revenue,
according to the co-op’s most recent federal tax return.
The suit seeks a declaration that Central’s trustees should
be allowed to discharge their duties in the best interests of their respective
regional cooperative, even if doing so conflicts with Central’s best interests.
In addition, the suit seeks a declaration that Central’s
governance structure violates state law. The suit seeks legal fees and other
unspecified relief as well.
A deadline of July 13, 2022 has been set to complete
mediation.
NEWBERRY COUNTY – The Newberry County Sheriff’s office has arrested a teen on charges of murder resulting from an early Sunday morning shooting of a Winnsboro man along Highway 66 on Dec. 19.
Plaza
Blaize Pedro Plaza, 19, of Whitmire was arrested on the
evening of Dec. 20. He was taken to the Newberry County Detention Center to
await bonding by a Circuit Court Judge.
The story unfolded when, at about 4 a.m., Dec. 19, Newberry
County 911 was notified by Laurens County Sheriff’s Office regarding a bloody
male walking on S.C. Highway 66 at the Newberry/Laurens County line. Laurens and Newberry County Deputies and
Whitmire Police Officers arrived to find a male that had been shot multiple
times.
Still conscious at the time, the man, later identified as
Jamal Jermaine Alston, 24, of Winnsboro, was able to provide a few details,
according to officials.
He said he had picked up a white male and a white female
from a gas station and that they had taken his 2015 tan Honda Accord. Alston was transported by the Newberry County
EMS and Whitmire Rescue Squad to an area trauma center, where he succumbed to
his gunshot wounds.
During their investigation, deputies learned that a car was
burned on Eaves Road in Union County. That vehicle was later identified as
belonging to Alston.
Investigators say they were able to piece together the
following information.
Plaza and Alston met through a social networking site, and
late Saturday night, Dec. 18, or early Sunday morning, Dec. 19, Alston drove to
an address on S.C. Highway 66 to pick up Plaza and an unidentified female.
After a short drive, Plaza asked Alston to pull over near
the Newberry/Laurens County line. When Plaza returned to the car, the doors
were locked. When Alston unlocked the doors, Blaze began firing into the car,
striking Alston several times. Alston
exited the vehicle and ran into the woods with Plaza chasing him and continuing
to fire his weapon.
Plaza and the female then took the victim’s vehicle and
drove to Eaves Road in Union county, where he burned the vehicle to conceal
evidence, according to authorities.
Investigators from Newberry County, SLED, and Whitmire
Police continue to investigate the case. More charges could be forthcoming.
COLUMBIA – The search continues for Theron Wallace.
Home for Christmas break from the USC Aiken, Wallace, 20,
went kayaking on Lake Carolina on Dec. 25 but never returned.
The Department of Natural Resources began searching for
Wallace around noon the same day. As of Wednesday morning, officers had only
located a kayak submerged in water, a paddle and a shoe.
Anyone who may have security footage of the area or may have
seen Wallace is asked to contact the Department of Natural Resources at
803-734-3833.
Wallace was last seen Christmas morning around 2:30 a.m.
wearing a red hoodie and black shorts.
In an interview with News 19, Wallace’s family said he was
wearing his life jacket and that his phone’s location was last found in the
Kelly Mill area.
BLYTHEWOOD – Richland County Sheriff’s deputies are
investigating a reported shooting death in Blythewood.
Deputies responded at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday to reports of a
shooting at the Palisades of Blythewood apartments at 2051 Blythewood Crossing
Lane.
When deputies arrived, they found a man lying on outside of
an apartment. He had been shot in the upper body, and died at the scene,
according to officials.
The name of the victim has not yet been released by the
Richland County Coroner’s office.
Anyone with information about the incident can submit an
anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at crimesc.com.
LAKE WATEREE – An early morning fire on Tuesday, Dec. 28 has
destroyed the Dutchman’s Creek Marina and Restaurant on Lake Wateree, according
to Fairfield County Fire Services Director Jason Pope.
The fire was discovered after a security alarm notified the
Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office at 3:30 Tuesday morning. Upon arrival at
about 4 a.m., a deputy saw the fire and notified the Fairfield County Fire
Service.
As fire trucks began arriving at about 4:15 a.m., Pope said
the entire building was burning.
“There wasn’t a lot we could do at that point but control
the fire,” Pope said. “The Winnsboro ladder truck came out to help us as well
as trucks from the Dutchman’s Creek, Southeastern and Ridgeway stations.”
Six trucks plus support vehicles responded officials said.
Pope said the fire was under control by about 7 a.m. The
cause of the fire is unknown at this time, he said. No one was in the building
at the time of the fire and there were no injuries.
“It was a big fire,” Pope said. “The building is gone.”
The building was originally built around 1970 according to a
post on Facebook.
Long a popular landmark on Lake Wateree, the
marina/restaurant’s Facebook page describes it as providing “food, fun, adult
beverages, convenience store items, bait, tackle, boating supplies, gas and wet
boat storage & liquor store.”
Commenters poured their memories and love for the marina and
restaurant on a post in a Lake Wateree Facebook group on Tuesday morning as
news broke.
“Dutchman is one of my favorite restaurants on the water.
We’ve had many good lunches their [sic]. Praying you will be able to build back
for the summer,” one commenter said.
“Oh no. I’m from Spartanburg and this is where I get
breakfast and bait every trip down,” said another.
“Dutchman’s and Nora have been a staple in our family every
time we are at Lake Wateree,” said another post. “This is a huge loss for the
community. My thoughts and prayers are with Nora and all of her team.”
Dutchman’s owner Nora Martin responded to the outpouring of
support on Wednesday morning in a Facebook post.
“The love and kindness you have demonstrated is
overwhelming,” she wrote, “and my eyes puddle as I am writing this… I thank
each of you for your help that night not only with the fire but helping me
through a very traumatic time.”
Martin continued to say that her plan is to rebuild
Dutchman’s and that she will likely have a temporary set up for 2022. She says
she will reach out to the community in the coming weeks to ask for help
removing the debris.
According to Martin’s post, the outside bar, lower deck
pontoon stage and dance floor were untouched in the fire.
Dutchman’s Creek Marina prior to Tuesday’s fire.
This story was updated Wednesday, Dec. 29 at 2:23 p.m.
BLYTHEWOOD/WINNSBORO – Residents in Blythewood, Ridgeway, Winnsboro
and as far away as Lexington reported feeling the effects of an earthquake
shortly after 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 27.
The U.S. Geological Survey has confirmed that a 3.3
magnitude earthquake occurred at 2:18 p.m. about 0.5 kilometers (3.1 miles)
from Elgin.
Three aftershocks later in the day near Elgin were confirmed
by the USGS: a 2.35 magnitude aftershock at 5:38 p.m.; a 2.1 magnitude
aftershock at 6:22 p.m., and a 1.7 magnitude aftershock at 10:03 p.m.
Following the initial earthquake, comments lit up Facebook
pages of Blythewood and Fairfield County residents who reported that they felt
their home shake. Some comments likened the sound at the time of the earthquake
to the sound of a train or an airplane flying low over a house.
At this time, no injuries or damage has been reported from
the earthquake or the aftershocks.
In the past two months, a series of seven minor tremors have
been reported around the Monticello reservoir in Fairfield County.
The exact coordinates of the Elgin area earthquake are
34.181°N 80.735°W.
More information will be provided as it is available.
WINNSBORO – After a good Samaritan alerted the Fairfield
County Fire Service to a house on fire on Evans Street about 7:20 on Christmas
Eve, another one used a garden hose to spray water into the window of the room
on fire. Once the fire fighters arrived, they entered the home and extinguished
the fire.
The family dog, who was in the house as the fire burned, had
become overcome with smoke, but was revived and rescued by firefighters,
according to the incident report.
There were no other injuries reported and officials said
most of the fire damage was contained to the room of origin. They credited the
good Samaritans for helping control the fire until fire personnel arrived.
