THOMSON - Florida authorities said an extradition hearing is planned for today for Matt Dean, the Thomson teen-ager accused of killing his parents and stabbing his sister Aug. 3.

Mr. Dean, 18, will be provided the services of a public defender before he decides whether to waive extradition to Georgia, said Cindy Clifford, assistant director of Corrections in Volusia County, Florida. In Georgia, a McDuffie County grand jury has indicted the suspect on 11 felony charges related to the slayings of David and Terri Dean and the stabbing of Bethany Dean.

If Mr. Dean decides not to return voluntarily, McDuffie County officials will have to begin the extradition process, which requires Gov. Roy Barnes to make a formal request to Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, according to Toombs Judicial Circuit District Attorney Dennis Sanders.

Mr. Dean was discharged Aug. 20 from Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Fla., and sent to a rehabilitation center nearby. Authorities say the teen killed his parents and took the family's car to Florida. He suffered two broken legs and other injuries in a wreck on Kennedy Space Center property. His vehicle struck a truck head-on, killing the other driver.

SOUTH CAROLINA
Officials will meet in SRS dispute

South Carolina Gov. Jim Hodges and U.S. Rep. Lindsey Graham will visit Savannah River Site today in an attempt to resolve the fight over planned shipments of plutonium to the site.

Mr. Hodges and Mr. Graham will discuss the issue with Jessie Hill Roberson, the U.S. Department of Energy's assistant secretary for environmental management, said Cortney Owings, Mr. Hodges' spokeswoman.

The officials will hold a news conference at 1 p.m. at the site's Jackson barricade, Ms. Owings said.

Mr. Hodges, Mr. Graham and several other South Carolina officials have said they will fight the shipments until the Energy Department clarifies its plans for treating the plutonium at SRS and eventually removing it from the state.

GEORGIA
Hot water scalds 1-year-old

A Burke County child is in stable condition at Doctors Hospital after suffering scalding burns to more than 10 percent of his body.

One-year-old Tyrese Jones arrived at the hospital's burn unit about 7:30 p.m. Monday to be treated for burns on his left side, left arm and ankle.

Doctors Hospital charge nurse Cecelia Daniels said the child was burned when he pulled a pot of hot water off a stove onto himself.

Tyrese was originally brought to Burke Medical Center in Burke County, then was transported to the burn unit at the hospital in Richmond County.

SOUTH CAROLINA
Inmate stabbed during argument

FAIRFAX - An inmate was stabbed to death Monday at Allendale Correctional Institution after arguing with another inmate.

Sherard Sullivan, 28, was stabbed at 5:30 p.m. as he attempted to return to his cell after visiting another inmate. Mr. Sullivan was stabbed in the neck, chest and arm with a homemade weapon, said Corrections Department spokeswoman Cheryl Bates-Lee.

He was pronounced dead an hour later at Allendale County Hospital.

AIKEN COUNTY
Robbers sought in home invasion

AIKEN - An 80-year-old man was robbed of $180 in cash, a gold necklace and a set of his house keys at gunpoint early Tuesday in Aiken.

Two men forced their way into the apartment of John Bowman, of the 300 block of Florence Ave., at about 1:20 a.m., an Aiken Department of Public Safety report states. They were carrying dark-colored pistols and looked through Mr. Bowman's closet and underneath his bed in search of items to steal.

They each were described as black, 5 feet, 9 inches tall, and weighing 165 pounds, with black hair.

AIKEN COUNTY
Charged teen has local record

AIKEN - One of four teens charged in connection with a crime spree that ended in the shooting death of a federal prosecutor in Columbia has a history of crime in Aiken County.

Willie Murphy Jr., 16, is facing a charge of murder in the Aug. 20 death of Michael Messer, 49, of Morton Grove, Ill., and a charge of assault and battery with intent to kill fellow federal prosecutor Richard Ferguson of Naperville, Ill.

At age 14, Mr. Murphy was sentenced to probation for stealing a car in August 1999 from Williamson's Garage on Whiskey Road.

While living at the Winner's Circle group home outside New Ellenton in January 2000, Mr. Murphy assaulted a counselor who told him to stop watching television.

He was convicted of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and served time in the Department of Juvenile Justice. He was released in March.

AIKEN COUNTY
Man shoots himself after drinking

AIKEN - A man who said he had a few drinks earlier in the day shot himself in the left ankle on Monday, a police report stated.

Darrell L. Jackson, 39 of the 900 block of Cumbee Trail Road, was treated at Aiken Regional Medical Centers for his wound.

Mr. Jackson was handling his .38 caliber handgun in his home about 1:45 p.m. when the gun went off, wounding him on the inside of his left ankle. The bullet did not exit his foot, an Aiken County Sheriff's Department report states.

The report says Mr. Jackson told police he had consumed four beers earlier in the day.

AIKEN
Schools see increase in pupils

After 11 days in the classroom, Aiken County's school attendance records reflect 411 pupils more than the projected 24,509, Superintendent Dr. Linda Eldridge told the Aiken County School Board on Tuesday night.

The district is looking at hiring additional teachers and is expecting additional money from the state because of the increase, Dr. Eldridge said. Five mobile classrooms ordered in July should relieve any overflow, she said.

Preliminary results indicate that the district will need to hire seven additional teachers, said Dr. Frank Roberson, associate superintendent for instruction.

Also, the school board lowered its millage Tuesday night after the county's reassessment resulted in an overall tax base increase.

The new millage of 123 is 11.7 mills lower than what the board adopted in its June budget, and 7 mills lower than last year, Vice Chairman Art Hadden said.

''If the value of your property did not change, what we did tonight lowered your taxes,'' the chairman, Dr. John Bradley, said. ''If your property value went up, your taxes won't go down.''

EDGEFIELD COUNTY
Police recapture fleeing inmate

An inmate from the Trenton Correctional Institution was apprehended after walking away from work detail in Edgefield County on Tuesday.

George Livingston, 27, of Aiken, was part of a roadside litter clean-up detail on South Carolina Highway 23 between the Bi-Lo and JET Middle School in Edgefield, authorities said. He asked guards for permission to go to the bathroom and never returned.

Mr. Livingston was serving a sentence for arson, said Edgefield County Sheriff's Office Chief Investigator Roger Lowe.

The Aiken Bloodhound Team was called in at 2:20 p.m. to assist Edgefield sheriff's deputies and SLED agents, Investigator Lowe said.

Mr. Livingston was found a few miles away in a peach orchard off Woodyard and Two Mile roads after the dogs picked up his scent.

AUGUSTA
Scholarships offered through club

Applications are being accepted for three scholarships to be awarded Oct. 1 at the Rotary Club of Augusta meeting.

The scholarships, two sponsored by International Paper's Augusta Mill, one sponsored by the Augusta/Richmond County Community Partnership for Children and Families and another sponsored by the Rotary Club, are based on contributions to the community.

Applicants will not be judged on academics and can nominate themselves for the scholarships but must also have a recommendation. Only high school seniors are eligible. Applications must be received by Sept. 7.

For more information, call Betty Dyckes at 667-4837.