Across the area

Wreck marker to be unveiled

A monument to the nine people who died as a result of the Jan. 6, 2005, train wreck in Graniteville will be unveiled today.

The event will begin at 11 a.m. at 34 Canal St., near the site of the accident, and will include prayer and speakers, followed by a free meal and discussion.

Aiken authorities hunt for 3 in armed robbery

Aiken County sheriff's authorities are looking for three men they say robbed a grocery store at gunpoint Friday afternoon.

According to a news release from Investigator Charles Barranco, the three men walked into Storey's Grocery and Tackle in the 2800 block of Edgefield Highway at about 12:30 p.m. and took money from the clerk.

They were last seen driving south on Edgefield Highway in a tan compact vehicle.

One of them has a handgun, Investigator Barranco said.

No one was injured in the robbery.

Anyone with information is asked to call (803) 502-2665.

Armed man steals wallets at business

Aiken police say a man armed with a gun robbed Hunter Mortgage Inc. on Friday morning.

The man, whose face was covered with a blue and white bandanna, walked into the business at 408 Silver Bluff Road at about 9 a.m.

He stole wallets from four people before running into a nearby wooded area, according to Investigator Charles Barranco of the Aiken County Sheriff's Office.

A tracking team with dogs was searching the scene.

The suspect was described as a dark-skinned man with brown eyes. He was wearing a gray hooded shirt or sweatshirt.

Man is injured when pickup rolls over

An Appling man was sent to the hospital Friday afternoon after a wreck that briefly closed an Interstate 20 off-ramp.

Bartto Jeffcoat IV, 22, of Appling, was transported to Medical College of Georgia Hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries, according to Columbia County sheriff's Deputy Ted Powers. Shortly after 5 p.m., Mr. Jeffcoat was traveling west on Interstate 20 near the Appling-Harlem exit when police say he made an abrupt lane change onto the exit ramp. His Chevrolet pickup, which was loaded with tile, fishtailed, Deputy Powers said.

Mr. Jeffcoat's truck went off the left shoulder and rolled twice. Mr. Jeffcoat was found at fault in the wreck but will not be issued any traffic citations, Deputy Powers said.

The westbound off-ramp at the Appling-Harlem exit was closed briefly to allow workers to retrieve the truck but was quickly reopened, Deputy Powers said.

19-year-old gets three years for sex with girl

A young man was sentenced to prison Friday for having sex with a younger high school student last fall.

In Richmond County Superior Court, Chief Judge William M. Fleming Jr. sentenced Kevin C. Simmons, 19, to three years in prison followed by three years' probation under the First Offender Act.

Mr. Simmons was an 18-year-old Hephzibah High School student when he was caught having sex with a 15-year-old girl in the school parking lot Aug. 31. No force was involved in the act.

Mr. Simmons had no prior criminal record.

Witnesses say up to 50 were involved in fight

Columbia County sheriff's deputies and investigators responded to reports of 40 to 50 people involved in a fight Friday afternoon that might have included gunfire at the West Dam Recreation Area.

Eyewitnesses told deputies about 40 to 50 men and women in their late teens to early 20s were fighting when a gunshot was heard. People fled the scene off U.S. Highway 221, Columbia County sheriff's Investigator Shawn Merzlak said.

The incident occurred at about 5:20 p.m.

By the time deputies arrived a few minutes later at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers park near Thurmond Dam, the subjects had left, the investigator said.

Eyewitnesses were not able to give investigators descriptions of the subjects, nor were they able to pinpoint where the gunshot came from, he said.

No shell casings or bullets were found at the scene, and Investigator Merzlak said he did not know whether anyone was injured.

Several shorn hair extensions were found in a parking lot at the back of the park where the incident occurred.

Woman is accused of child molestation

Police on Friday arrested a 28-year-old Augusta woman on aggravated child molestation charges.

According to Richmond County sheriff's Lt. Jimmy Young, a 14-year-old boy said Amy Marie Thurlow, of the 600 block of Bohler Avenue, forced him to let her perform a sex act with him.

Ms. Thurlow claimed that the young man approached her in a park and asked her to perform the act but that she refused. Ms. Thurlow said the 14-year-old then forced himself on her.

Police said they found inconsistencies in Ms. Thurlow's story.

Rolls of lottery tickets are taken in robbery

The 727 Convenience Store at 316 Eighth St. was broken into Friday.

Richmond County sheriff's Lt. Jimmy Young said someone stole rolls of lottery tickets after pulling plywood off a broken window to get inside.

Crack cocaine, pot is found in men's home

Two men were arrested Friday by authorities in Aiken County on drug charges.

Maurice Wise, 29, of the 300 block of Old Meadows Drive in Aiken, was charged with possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine, simple possession of marijuana and possession of a stolen firearm.

Antron Hatcher, 26, also of the 300 block of Old Meadows Drive, was charged with simple possession of marijuana more than first offense and possession of crack cocaine.

Investigators from both the Aiken County Sheriff's Office and Aiken Department of Public Safety executed a search warrant at the men's home Friday afternoon, authorities reported.

Authorities arrested the men and seized crack cocaine, marijuana, $573 and a stolen firearm.

Absentee voting starts for county residents

Eligible Aiken County voters can cast absentee ballots before the June 13 Republican and Democratic primaries at the Registration and Elections office, located at 916 Vaucluse Road.

Absentee voting hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call (803) 642-2028.

- From staff reports