Wagener man arrested in arson, man's death

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Aiken County sheriff's investigators arrested a Wagener man Monday in the death of a man whose body was found after a fire believed to be arson.

Dashawn Sanders, 31, of Sharon Lane, will be charged with murder and arson, sheriff's Sgt. Dave Myers said.

Sheriff's deputies and Wagener firefighters responded to a fire at 526 Buckboard Road about 7:30 p.m. Saturday. After the fire was extinguished, the body of George Griffin was discovered. Sheriff's investigators deemed the incident a homicide investigation.

Sanders was being held in the Aiken County Detention Center.

Driver who hit deputy won't face charges

No charges are anticipated in an accident in which a deputy was struck by a car Sunday night.

Deputy Jason Turner was investigating a three-car crash in the 3300 block of Milledgeville Road about 8 p.m. when he stepped into the road to inspect debris, said Sgt. Jason Johnson of the Georgia State Patrol.

A motorist saw Turner's blue flashing lights and steered wide into the turn lane as a precaution, Johnson said.

When she struck Turner, she immediately braked, but he was dragged about 50 feet, Johnson said.

Turner was rushed to Medical College of Georgia Hospital. He was alert later that evening, Johnson said.

Council OKs changes to rules for festivals

The North Augusta City Council approved on final reading Monday amendments to the city code related to the use of streets for certain events.

Circuses and carnivals cannot be within 200 feet of residential property or last longer than two weeks. The council said at its March 1 meeting that city events such as the Yellow Jessamine Festival are exempt.

The amended code also says tattoo facilities cannot be within 1,000 feet of a school, church, playground, park or day care.

Man sought on charge of vehicular homicide

Richmond County investigators are still searching for a man wanted in a fatal February crash.

James Richard Brantley, 29, is wanted on a charge of first-degree vehicular homicide and two charges of aggravated assault.

Authorities say the wreck happened Feb. 11 after Columbia County officers tried to pull Brantley over for a traffic stop. The pursuit continued into Richmond County, where police say Brantley ran a red light at the intersection of Wrightsboro Road and Heard Avenue, injuring three people.

Glenn Beard, 86, died March 6 of his injuries.

School board meeting will focus on budget

The Aiken County school board will hold a special-called meeting today to begin its 2010-11 budget process.

The presentation will include updates on the 2009-10 budget and what measures were taken to reduce the budget last year, Comptroller Tray Traxler said.

The budget workshop will begin at 7 p.m. at 1000 Brookhaven Drive.

Brothers in hospital after club shooting

Two brothers were recovering at Aiken Regional Medical Centers on Monday after an early morning shooting at an Aiken nightclub.

De Lance Walton, 18, was shot in his abdomen and hip, according to an Aiken Department of Public Safety report. De Lacy Walton, 20, was also shot, but there were no details on his wounds.

Witnesses told police a fight broke out at Club Dreams in the 600 block of Richland Avenue and shots were fired. One victim entered Waffle House in the 1700 block of Richland Avenue about 2 a.m. and said he had been shot but quickly left the scene, according to the report.