Pupils punished over indecent exposure

Five Murphey Middle School pupils were assigned to the alternative school after two of them exposed themselves to a female classmate in September, according to tribunal reports just released by the Richmond County school system.

The pupils surrounded their classmate, the only girl in the class, and put their private parts in her face, the reports state. Two of the pupils pulled down their pants, and one pushed her out of her desk. The children stopped when their teacher walked into the classroom.

The teacher was concerned when the girl didn't show up to class for a couple of days, the reports state.

The children were assigned to the alternative school for the remainder of the school year for the incident.

Police seek help in hit-and-run

Richmond County sheriff's investigators are asking for the public's help in locating the person responsible for a deadly hit-and-run accident on Gordon Highway on Monday night.

Sheriff's Cpl. Bill Adams said authorities found the vehicle believed to be involved, a gold Chevy Malibu, on Tuesday.

Wendy Williams, 47, of the 1900 block of Wylds Road, died about 7:30 p.m. after being struck by a vehicle in the 2200 block of Gordon Highway, authorities said. Anyone with information is asked to call (706) 821-1080.

The James M. Hull College of Business at Augusta State University will be included in The Princeton Review's 2009 edition of The Best 296 Colleges for the second consecutive year.

In the Best 296 Business Schools profile on Augusta State, Review editors quote Hull College students who cite the college's cutting-edge classes, career development and personal attention from professors.

Investigators arrested a 36-year-old Aiken man Tuesday morning. He is accused along with three other men of kidnapping and robbing a man at his home on Wire Road, according to the Aiken County Sheriff's Office.

Christopher M. Herndon was in jail on charges of first-degree burglary, assault and battery with intent to kill, kidnapping, armed robbery and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.

Lt. Michael Frank, of the sheriff's office, said in a statement that about 12:30 a.m., Mr. Herndon and three men kicked open 37-year-old Daniel Hynes' front door, tied him up with electrical cord, kicked him and cut him across the shoulder with a knife. The suspects then reportedly took Mr. Hynes' wallet and phone and drove off in his green Pontiac Grand Prix. Aiken County Emergency Medical Services took Mr. Hynes to Aiken Regional Medical Centers, where he was treated and released.

The sheriff's office also is seeking Rusty M. Dunbar, 35, of the 700 block of Bridge Creek Road in Aiken. Mr. Dunbar will be charged with first-degree burglary, assault and battery with intent to kill, kidnapping, armed robbery and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. Anyone with information can call (800) 922-9709.

A 15-year-old Augusta teen accused of taking part in a burglary that turned into a shootout has been sentenced to spend a decade behind bars.

Derrell L. McNair will remain in a juvenile detention center until age 17. Then, unless paroled early, he will spend the remainder of the 10-year sentence in an adult prison. Once released he will have another 10 years on probation.

A Richmond County Superior Court jury convicted the teen of burglary but acquitted him of the more serious charges he faced -- armed robbery and aggravated assault. Judge Duncan D. Wheale sentenced him Tuesday.

Mr. McNair was accused of joining Clarence A. Tanksley, 47, and Mr. Tanksley's son, Jordash A. Tanksley, 24, in the July 30, 2007, burglary and robbery of the F.A.M.E. clothing store on Wrightsboro Road.

Jordash Tanksley was convicted of all charges last month. He was sentenced to life in prison plus 45 years. His father's trial is pending.

A North Augusta man who was severely injured after being ejected from his motorcycle Monday on Mike Padgett Highway died Tuesday afternoon from his injuries.

James Gay, 26, of the 500 block of Beechwood Street, died of blunt-force trauma injuries, Richmond County Chief Deputy Coroner Mark Bowen said. Mr. Gay died at 3 p.m. at Medical College of Georgia Hospital, Mr. Bowen said.

Dennis Albrecht, 58, of Sodus, Mich., was driving an 18-wheeler that reportedly made a lane change, forcing Mr. Gay from the highway.

Police had charged Mr. Albrecht with improper lane change, but charges will likely be upgraded to second-degree vehicular homicide when he appears for a Nov. 5 court date.

A 15-year-old Jackson boy who brought a cap gun to school was arrested Tuesday afternoon by the Aiken County Sheriff's Office.

The unidentified student at Silver Bluff High School is charged with disturbing schools. The sophomore had the cap gun tucked in the waistband of his pants and was showing it off during gym class, Lt. Frank, of the sheriff's office, said in a statement.

Fellow students told authorities, and sheriff's deputies and officers with the Jackson Police Department removed the teenager from class. He was taken to Columbia and is being held at the state Department of Juvenile Justice, Lt. Frank said. He will appear in Aiken County Family Court later this week.

An 18-year-old Monetta woman was killed Tuesday afternoon in Aiken County when an 18-wheel tractor-trailer slammed into her car.

Alisa Rose McCarty, a University of South Carolina Aiken student, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a news release from Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton.

The accident happened about 2:15 p.m. on South Carolina Highway 19 at Cross Mill Road, said Lance Cpl. Trevor Clinton, of the highway patrol.

The truck, driven by 49-year-old Max Carter, of Tennessee, was traveling north on Highway 19. Ms. McCarty, driving a 2004 PT Cruiser, was on Cross Mill Road, attempting to turn south onto the highway. Lance Cpl. Clinton said she failed to yield the right of way to the tractor-trailer.

The driver of the truck was not injured.

The Columbia County Commission approved bids to construct sidewalks on Mullikin and Cox roads during a Tuesday meeting.

Construction should start before the year ends, and the sidewalks might be ready for pedestrians as soon as spring, Columbia County Construction and Maintenance Director Scott Herring said.

The cost for both projects is $203,000. The Cox Road portion of the project will be paid with funds from a general obligation bond. Commissioners will use discretionary funds from a 2001-05 1-cent sales tax to pay for the Mullikin Road sidewalk.

Also at the meeting, commissioners voted to keep the zoning for an approximately 16-acre parcel on Evans to Locks Road for commercial purposes. A developer with the intent to build a retirement community at the site backed out, Commission Chairman Ron Cross said. Property owner J. Kenneth Davidson Sr. asked not to rezone the land for a planned unit development, Mr. Cross said.

Augusta commissioners on Tuesday approved a recommendation from the Downtown Development Authority to appoint Cameron Nixon and Mark Bowling to the authority and reappoint Commissioner J.R. Hatney.

Commissioners also approved a recommendation from the Richmond County Department of Family and Children's Services to reappoint Kathy Schofe to a four-year term on the board. They also appointed Remer Brinson and Ulmer Bridges to the Richmond County Industrial Development Authority and reappointed Pat Schaffer and Ron Brown.

Traffic report

There will be a temporary road closure on Old Augusta Highway in Harlem from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, according to a news release.

The closure will be at the railroad crossing and will prevent any through traffic from using the road between Gordon Highway and Old Louisville Road. Crews will work on the crossing.

-- From staff reports