NEWBERRY – Newberry County 911 was notified by the Laurens
County Sheriff’s Office regarding a bloody male walking on SC Highway 66 at the
Newberry/Laurens County line.
Laurens and Newberry County Deputies and Whitmire Police
Officers arrived to find a man that had been shot multiple times, standing
almost directly on the Laurens/Newberry County Line. Although he was conscious at the time, he was
only able to provide few details.
The man, later identified as Jamal Jermaine Alston, 24, of
Winnsboro, said he had picked up a white male and a white female from a gas
station. He went on to say 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 died from his gunshot wounds.
While investigating in the area where Alston was found,
Deputies learned that a car was on fire in Union County. Deputies responded to Eaves Road in Union
County, where they found a vehicle completely burned. A forensic investigation later identified the
vehicle as belonging to Alston.
Investigators from Newberry, Laurens, and Union Counties
along with SLED are investigating the murder due to some elements of the crime
appearing to be in each jurisdiction.
The investigative teams are trying to piece together
Alston’s timeline of the evening and determine the location of the gas station
where he picked up the alleged assailants.
The Newberry County Coroner’s Office said it would perform a
forensic autopsy at a later date.
“This is an extremely bizarre case,” according to Newberry
County Sheriff Lee Foster. “We need the public’s help in solving this case. We
are working hard to find evidence of locations and the people he picked
up.
“Anyone with information regarding this situation, please
call your local Sheriff’s Office or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CrimeSC,” said
Sheriff Foster.
COLUMBIA – A Richland County Sheriff’s incident report
provided few details about the shooting.
Deputies said they responded to Felicity’s Bar and Grill at 7708
Fairfield Road.
Joyel T. Snell, 45, of Fort Meyers, FL, was lying in front
of the bar where she had been shot in the upper body, according to officers.
She was taken by EMS to a local hospital where she died.
WACH Columbia reported that the owner of Felicity Bar &
Grill, Derrick Harris, is speaking out about the deadly shooting.
According to WACH, the shooting started when a group of men
were not allowed inside the building because of a previous incident. The report
stated that the men circled the parking lot a couple times then drove onto
Fairfield Road and did a drive-by shooting.
Harris told the news station that the entire incident was
caught on security cameras installed at the business, but not the cameras
installed by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department to keep the area safe.
Anyone with information is asked to submit a tip to Crime
Stoppers at crimesc.com.
WINNSBORO – Fairfield County scheduled Monday night’s public hearing on redistricting hoping to quell recent complaints of secrecy and personal politics.
Instead, more evidence arose illustrating that the proposed
plan to redraw district lines may be politically motivated.
One proposed change shifts the street of a potential challenger
of Council Chairman Moses Bell, ceding it from District 1 to District 5.
Bell lives in District 1, the same as Ridgeway resident
Randy Bright, a frequent critic of the current administration who’s been
politically active for years.
Bright called the proposed district lines “very odd,” though
he stopped short of accusing Bell of gerrymandering.
Randy Bright, who has talked about running for Bell’s District 1 seat, points to map where Bell drew him (Bright) out of Bell’s district. | Barbara Ball
“This little sliver was pulled out of its community, out of
its natural boundaries. It’s a stark change – we were in District 1 –
everything around us is District 1,” Bright said. “This is basically one
street. I find that very odd, that one sliver.”
Winnsboro resident Brandon Peake was more direct in thinking
the proposed maps were politically motivated.
Peake referenced recent council votes appropriating $500,000
for parks and playgrounds as well as approving the controversial Teacher
Village housing development pushed by the school district.
“With $500,000 in one district [for parks] and the Teacher
Village in another, it seems pretty apparent that they are trying to appease
your agenda,” Peake said.
Bell pushed back against the criticisms. He restated talking
points from the last council meeting, where he said the proposed map follows
state and federal laws, and is more equitable than the current map.
“When you look at the total picture of these lines, they are
significantly improved over 2011 [redistricting] with only 15 census blocks
moved, which is a significant feat in itself,” Bell said. “This is really,
really good.”
Who’s moving where
Fairfield County Council has already passed two readings of
the redistricting plan. No votes were taken Monday night, though final reading
could come as soon as Monday, Dec. 13 even though the federal deadline is March
1, 2022.
Federal law requires county governments to redraw district
lines every 10 years, after census numbers are released.
Redistricting is also necessary because of routine
population shifts. Since 2010, Fairfield County as a whole lost about 3,000
residents, shrinking 15.6%, according to the S.C. of Revenue and Fiscal Affairs
office.
District 2 grew 7.1% while District 7 shrank 8.7%, the
agency has said.
Federal law requires no more than 5% deviation in any council district, which means some precincts must move from one district to another to compensate for population shifts.
Revenue and Fiscal Affairs director Frank Rainwater said only 15 of the county’s 1,200 blocks shifted.
In District 1, one precinct moves into District 2 and three
precincts shift to District 3, according to the proposed map.
District 2 loses two blocks to District 3, one to District 6
and another to District 7.
A precinct in District 3 moves to District 5, while District
5 loses three precincts – two to District 3 and two to District 7, the proposal
shows.
“Your overall deviation is down to 5%. You have many
districts that are down to 1% of the target,” Rainwater said.
Bell boasted that the proposed map brings the county into
compliance with very few changes required to the district lines.
“It’s a significant change in the deviation which makes it a
significant improvement in the lines,” Bell said.
Rainwater later acknowledged he discussed the proposed map
only with Chairman Bell. He said it’s normal for the state to deal with one
person, but he was also unaware that other council members had no input.
“Mr. Rainwater, when you talk about two blocks moved from
one district to another, who’s responsible for the moving of those blocks?”
Councilman Doug Pauley asked. “Who decides what blocks move from one district to
the next?”
Councilman Doug Pauley accused Chairman Moses Bell of not involving public in redistricting process.
“Those were conversations we had with Mr. Bell,” Rainwater
said.
“Did you have any conversation with any other council
members?” Pauley inquired.
“No sir,” Rainwater responded.
Councilman Clarence Gilbert pressed as well.
“When you were given this draft, were you under the
impression all of the council members had been a part of this?” Gilbert asked.
“I had no knowledge about who talked about it. I don’t know
who [Bell] did or did not talk to,” Rainwater answered.
In an email of the draft redistricting map sent Bell on
Monday and copied to all council members, Rainwater wrote, “Again, the draft
map is based on the direction you (Bell) provided and is intended for you to
share with council and the public for feedback.”
Lack of transparency
On Monday, transparency issues continued to dog Bell, with
council members and residents accusing him of shutting them out of the process.
Pauley said Bell instructed staff not to stream the public
forum online, which is the customary practice for council meetings. Bell denied
that.
“For some reason tonight, Mr. Bell does not want to have
this meeting live,” Pauley said.
Bell said it wasn’t feasible for the county, which operates
on a $44.6 million budget, to broadcast the meeting live.
“We’re not prepared to do a live meeting. We’re not prepared
to do that,” Bell said.
On short notice, a representative of The Voice was able to
broadcast the proceedings live on Facebook using a smart phone.
Pauley also said Bell didn’t adequately publicize the public
forum.
Waving a copy of the Country Chronicle, which generally
publishes stories favorable to the current administration, Bell stated the
county did publish a public notice in that newspaper to announce Monday’s
forum.
“We did put it in the paper, so we did advertise,” Bell
said.
The county did not advertise the forum in The Voice, which
is mailed directly to more than 4,000 homes in Fairfield County.
WINNSBORO – A pedestrian was killed Friday night as he attempted
to cross Smallstown Road in Winnsboro after checking his mailbox.
The crash occurred at about 6 p.m., Friday evening, about a
mile from Richard Winn Academy, according to officials.
Fairfield County Coroner Chris Hill has identified the
deceased as Mark Small, Sr., 72.
According to Master Trooper Gary Miller with the S.C.
Highway Patrol, a 2017 GMC truck driven by Roxie Woodard was traveling north on
Smallstown Road when the crash occurred near the intersection with Swallow Lane.
Small died at the scene, according to the report.
The driver of the pickup stopped after the crash. Both the
driver of the pickup truck and a passenger were seat belted and not injured.
The crash is under investigation by the S.C. Highway Patrol.
This story was updated December 6, 2021 at 2:46 p.m.
BLYTHEWOOD – A single vehicle crash has taken the life of a
motorcyclist in Blythewood.
The crash happened about 6:45 p.m., Thursday night on
Branham Road at the intersection with Sandfield Road.
According to S.C. Highway Patrol Master Trooper David Jones,
a 2014 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling East on Sandfield Road when it
came up on the intersection with Branham Road, drove across Branham and struck
a ditch.
The driver, who was not wearing a helmet, died at the scene.
The Coroner has not yet released the name of the deceased.
The collision remains under investigation by the S.C.
Highway Patrol.
WINNSBORO – A two vehicle collision in Winnsboro on Thursday
has resulted in one fatality.
The crash occurred at about 12 noon Thursday, Dec. 2, at the
intersection of High Street and Park Lane.
Chief John Seibles of the Winnsboro Department of Public
Safety reported that the crash involved a small city mail truck and a small
pickup truck.
Fairfield County Coroner Chris Hill is releasing the name of
Lou Ann Williams, age 33, of Columbia, SC who died after the mail truck she was
driving collided with another vehicle. Ms. Williams was transported by EMS to
MUSC Fairfield, where she was pronounced deceased.
There is no information as to the cause of the crash or whether there were injuries to other persons involved. The accident remains under investigation by Fairfield County Coroner’s Office and Winnsboro Public Safety.
WINNSBORO – County council pushed through first and second
readings (5-2) on a redistricting plan for Fairfield County in less than a week
and without public discussion or a public forum on the plan.
At the Nov. 22 council meeting, Councilman Douglas Pauley
accused Chairman Moses Bell of unilaterally submitting a draft plan without
informing council members or the public.
Victor Frontroth, a cartographer with the S. C. Revenue and
Fiscal Affairs office, attended the Nov. 22 council meeting to explain the
redistricting process, but there were no maps to present for the public.
Frontroth said repeatedly during the meeting that feedback from council members
and the public is crucial to every redistricting plan.
“Public input is a very important part of this entire process,” Frontroth said, adding that a public hearing is required before third (final) reading.
While Bell had emailed a draft map of his plan for
redistricting to council members, there were few roads identified, making it
difficult to determine how specific properties were affected.
It didn’t take long for Bell’s plan to come under attack,
with many citing concerns over lack of transparency and the lack of the
opportunity for input from all councilmen.
“The map that was presented to you, where did that map come
from?” Pauley asked Frontroth.
“That was from working with Chairman Bell,” Frontroth
answered.
“Wouldn’t you agree to have seven council members, that
every council member should have a say in that draft?” Pauley asked.
“We were under the impression that every council member was
aware,” Frontroth replied.
“They were not,” Pauley responded.
“They were not,” Councilman Gilbert echoed.
A letter dated Nov. 23, 2021, to Bell from Frank Rainwater,
executive director of the S.C. Revenue and Fiscal Affairs office confirmed as
much.
“The Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office (RFA) computed statistics and created a draft map based on the direction you (Bell) provided as we shared and discussed with you on November 17,” Rainwater wrote.
Bell’s assurances that his plan would meet constitutional
requirements did little to sway angry residents who voiced frustration over
being shut out of the redistricting process.
District 4 resident John Jones said during public comment at
the Nov 22 council meeting that the county website is virtually devoid of any
maps or detailed redistricting plans.
Jones feared the council majority’s endgame was
gerrymandering, the manipulation of district boundaries to give one or more
council members an unfair electoral edge.
“That’s not right, that’s not ethical,” Jones said.
Ridgeway resident Randy Bright said the lack of transparency
over redistricting is indicative of the secrecy that surrounded budget talks,
employee bonuses and other recent measures.
The day after the meeting, Bell sent the following email to
council members and the media:
“We are scheduling a public forum on Dec. 6 at 6 p.m., to discuss the proposed redistricting map and the statistics that support the proposed map, purpose of districting, and public input. One of the reasons we want to have this forum is that we need for folks to understand the process and to review the proposed map along with the stats. Look forward to seeing you then. Forget the assumptions,” Bell wrote.
That meeting is scheduled to be held in council chambers.
The public is invited to attend.
Pauley emailed the other council members about the need to
provide the public with information prior to that meeting.
“I wanted to say if there is going to be a public hearing on
Dec. 6, 2021 for redistricting, then we need to send out something soon so the
public has time to plan for it.”
He also included a link (www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzOS4L8kwR8) of a redistricting in another county, “so we can see how it was done. They had 2 public hearings and the board offered 3 different maps to choose from and present to the public. It seems they took the time and made sure the public had a chance to express their input,” he wrote.
“The public is supposed to be a part of this,” Pauley told
The Voice, “a big part. It’s not something Mr. Bell is supposed to work out to
his satisfaction with no input from the rest of council and the public.”
Brother of shooter: “This is not who she was. She was a wonderful, loving mother.”
FAIRFIELD COUNTY – Fairfield County and Chester County Sheriff’s deputies were called to an address on Old Douglas Road near Blackstock on the evening of Thanksgiving Day, in reference to a six-year-old gunshot victim. Upon arrival, deputies learned that a six-year-old boy had been shot by his mother and that he had been transported to a hospital in Chester by family members. The boy later died, according to Fairfield County Sheriff Will Montgomery.
Rosborough
Mary Amelia Rosborough, 31, was arrested and is in the
Fairfield County Detention Center charged with murder/non-negligent
manslaughter, according to officials.
Montgomery told The Voice that at about 6 p.m., Rosborough, the boy’s mother, had returned from hunting, was carrying her gun, went into her room to change clothes and shot her son in the upper body.
According to the incident report, Rosborough’s brother, Will, rushed toward the room as Amelia Rosborough was coming out with the gun breached as she was trying to reload. Will Rosborough tackled his sister and restrained her until deputies arrived.
According to the incident report, Will Rosborough stated that while he was wrestling his sister, “she made a statement something to the effect that she wanted to send the victim to heaven.”
According to deputies, Rosborough said that there were no indicators of any behavioral change that would lead anyone to think that Amelia Rosborough would shoot her son.
The mother and son were residents of Chester.
Montgomery has not yet released a motive for the shooting.
In an exclusive interview with The Voice, Will Rosborough said his sister, a single mom, had some issues, but had been trying unsuccessfully to get help.
“She was trying to resolve her issues,” he said. “This was
not something we expected would happen. It was the most unexpected tragedy I
could have ever imagined. Nothing was going on to make this happen. Nothing was
wrong.
“She and my daddy had been deer hunting and she killed a
doe. She got home and everything seemed fine. Then it happened,” Will
Rosborough said of the shooting.
“She was not a bad girl. She was sweet, and loves that boy.
[Christmas] presents come in the mail every day that she ordered for him. She
was trying to get help. We just didn’t know how bad her issues were.”
Will Rosborough also remembered his 6-year-old nephew, who he identified as Jase Wise. Rosborough said he cherished the boy.
“Jase was such a sweet little boy, sweet and loving, happy. What a loving little guy he was, sweetest little thing,” Will Rosborough said.
“I can’t help being angry about what happened,” he said. “Our family is devastated, but that was not Amelia. That was not her. She was a loving daughter, sister and mother. I can’t explain what happened.”
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is assisting in
the investigation of the shooting, according to Montgomery.
This is a developing story and details will be posted as
soon as they are made available.
A mugshot for Rosborough has not been made available. Photo was provided by family.
WINNSBORO – The Town of Winnsboro is planning to begin
installation of an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system in Cobblestone
Park on Monday, Nov 29. The system is from Raleigh-based Sensus.
“This innovative system will replace monthly manual meter
reads with a wireless system that collects multiple remote reads per day,
allowing for better leak detection, increased billing accuracy and improved
customer service,” said Town Manager Jason Taylor. “This system will help the
Town with its renewed commitment to improving our timeliness with billing
cycles and ensuring accuracy in readings,” he said.
During installation, contractors working on behalf of the
Town of Winnsboro will interrupt water service. Before leaving the site, crews
will test the new meter by running about 10 gallons of water from an exterior
hose or faucet. Door hangers will be left at the main entrance to the property
informing the resident or business owner of the status of the visit
(installation complete, installation pending; water was being used, or unable
to access water meter).
Contractors (US Bronco Services) will be supervised by
Winnsboro staff, carry proper identification and have successfully completed a
comprehensive background check; contractor vehicles will also be clearly
marked.
For information or questions about the installation, call
one of the following:
Roy Cuthbertson, Project Manager Ferguson: (252) 343-0762
US Bronco Services, Inc.: (844) 529-5913
Town of Winnsboro
Trip Peak, Water, Sewer & Gas Department: (803) 815-7022
William Medlin, Electric Department / Meter Reader Supervisor: (803) 815-2342
Jason Taylor, Town Manager: (803) 815-2949
Chris Clauson, Assistant Town Manager: (803) 635-6364
Victor Frontroth, a cartographer with S.C. Revenue and Fiscal Affairs, presented information to council concerning its redistricting effort. | Photo: Fairfield County Council
Pauley: Mr. Bell’s Decisions Not In Best Interest of County
WINNSBORO – Redistricting is an inherently political process, and that reality was on full display at Monday night’s Fairfield County Council meeting.
After passing first reading of an ordinance adopting a
redistricting plan by a 5-2 vote Thursday night, council members passed second
reading of the ordinance Monday night with the same 5-2 vote. Council members
Doug Pauley and Clarence Gilbert opposed.
No public discussion or public forums on the redistricting
plan have been held prior to Monday night’s meeting, which drove complaints
over the lack of transparency and personal politics.
Pauley accused Chairman Moses Bell of unilaterally
submitting the draft redistrict plan without informing council members or the
public.
“It goes to show Mr. Bell has excluded council from making
decisions that are in the best interests of all Fairfield County citizens,”
Pauley said.
Bell insisted he followed all state and federal guidelines.
He also noted the public will have a chance to offer feedback sometime before
the final vote.
“We will have an opportunity for public input and if we need
to have another meeting, we can do that,” he said.
The exchange came following a presentation from the S.C.
Revenue and Fiscal Affairs office.
Victor Frontroth, a cartographer with the agency, said
repeatedly that feedback from council members and the public is crucial to
every redistricting plan.
“Public input is a very important part of this entire
process,” Frontroth said, adding that a public hearing is required before third
reading.
Federal law requires local governments to redraw district
lines every 10 years to compensate for population shifts. The goal is to
maintain fair and equal representation.
In Fairfield County, census data shows that total population
plummeted 12.56%, from 23,956 to 20,948. Council districts 2 and 7 saw the
greatest shifts, with District 2, represented by Councilwoman Shirley Greene,
growing 7.1% and District 7, represented by Gilbert, shrinking 8.7%.
Frontroth explained that federal law requires no more than a
5% population shift in either direction. Ideally, he said one-way deviation
shouldn’t exceed 2.5%.
The proposed plan features a combined deviation of about 6%,
Frontroth said.
It didn’t take long, though, for Bell’s plan to come under
attack, with many citing concerns over lack of transparency.
“The map that was presented to you, where did that map come
from?” Pauley asked Frontroth.
“That was from working with Chairman Bell,” Frontroth
answered.
“Wouldn’t you agree to have seven council members, that every
council member should have a say in that draft?” Pauley asked.
“We were under the impression that every council member was
aware,” Frontroth replied.
“They were not,” Pauley responded.
“They were not,” Councilman Gilbert echoed.
Bell continued to defend his handling of the redistricting
plan.
“Does the map meet the constitutional requirements?” Bell
asked Frontroth
“As far as I see, yes,” Frontroth answered.
Bell’s assurances did little to sway angry residents, who
voiced frustration over being shut out of the redistricting process.
District 4 resident John Jones said the county website is
vir tually devoid of any maps or detailed redistricting plans.
Jones feared the council majority’s endgame was
gerrymandering, the manipulation of district boundaries to give one or more
council members an unfair electoral edge.
“That’s not right, that’s not ethical,” Jones said. “There’s
a lot of lawsuits that say that’s not smart. Please don’t do that.”
Ridgeway resident Randy Bright said the lack of transparency
over redistricting is indicative of the secrecy that surrounded budget talks,
employee bonuses and other recent measures.
“Let’s be transparent for the first time this year,” Bright
said. “This would be a great Christmas present if you were transparent with redistricting.”
When Frontroth explained that the maps another information
would eventually be on the county’s website, Bright raised his hand to ask a
question of Frontroth, but Bell shut him down. Bright went ahead and asked as
Bell protested.
“Since Fairfield is an internet desert, how are you going to
get this information out to the people?” Bright asked.
“No! No! Don’t answer that, Mr. Frontroth!” Bell shouted to
the presenter. Councilman Mikel Trapp leaned over to whisper something to Bell
who then turned to a nearby sheriff’s deputy and ordered him to eject Bright
from the meeting. Bell also had a citizen sitting near Bright ejected as well.
As the two were escorted out, Gilbert offered a consoling
comment to the two, “Council doesn’t have any input, either.”
After the vote, Pauley called upon Bell to reinstitute the
second public comment session, which was eliminated in March 2020.
In addition, Pauley said meeting agendas should be published
earlier than the Friday immediately preceding Monday meetings. He said that
would give council members more time to prepare for meetings and residents more
advance notice of council business.
