Across South Carolina

Developers drop planetarium plans

MYRTLE BEACH - A 210-seat planetarium to be named for entertainer Art Linkletter has been dropped from plans for a development near this resort town, the Horry County planner said.

Trico Properties eliminated the planetarium, a water park and hotel from a 189-acre Socastee site, county documents show. The planetarium "is no longer part of the plan," County Planner David Schwerd said.

Planning documents show that Trico can now increase the 384 single-family homes planned for the site to 548 single-family and 240 multifamily units.

Mother, 2 daughters die in home explosion

BOWLING GREEN - A mother and two of her daughters died after they couldn't escape their burning home near the North Carolina state line.

All three died Wednesday from smoke inhalation, said Capt. Glenn Williams of the York County Sheriff's Office. One neighbor, a volunteer firefighter, said he heard an explosion coming from the house.

Teur Her, 30, and her daughters Lilly Yang, 11, and Annabell Yang, 5, were killed. Her husband, 32-year-old Chee Yang and a third daughter, 8-year-old Amy, escaped through a back door and were treated at Piedmont Medical Center.

Man can't be tried in death of his wife

COLUMBIA - A Camden man has been found incompetent to stand trial in the shooting death of his wife earlier this year.

Circuit Judge Reginald Lloyd made the decision in the case of Robert E. "Jack" David, former head of the South Carolina Employment Security Commission.

A doctor who evaluated Mr. David, 82, said he suffered from vascular dementia, with delusions that his wife was having an affair and was trying to poison him. Mr. David will be committed to a mental health facility, where he will stay for the rest of his life or until he is found competent to stand trial.

Man is electrocuted at former substation

SENECA - A Westminster man has been electrocuted at an old mill, Oconee County officials said.

David Michael Fowler, 34, may have come in contact with 7,200 volts Tuesday night, according to Coroner Karl Addis.

Mr. Fowler was at the former WestPoint Stevens plant's substation at about 6:45 p.m. removing copper wire for scrap.

He was working on an 8-foot stepladder and came in contact with a live wire, Mr. Addis said. A witness saw a blue flame from the substation, and Mr. Fowler was thrown through the air, sheriff's investigators said.