Across South Carolina

Roach bomb mishap prompts evacuation

WALHALLA - The humans were the ones scurrying out of the Oconee County Department of Social Services building after a crew prematurely set off gas canisters meant to kill roaches.

The roach bombs were supposed to be set off at 5 p.m. Thursday, after everyone left.

But instead, the insect-killing fog started spreading through the offices about three hours early after a test went awry, County Administrator Tom Hendricks said.

"Apparently, they thought that once you turned them on, you could turn them off again. Oh no," Mr. Hendricks said.

The building was evacuated safely. One person sought medical help after the incident but didn't appear to be seriously injured, Mr. Hendricks said.

Miss South Carolina pageant investigated

SPARTANBURG - The Miss South Carolina pageant is under investigation after former contestants claim they did not receive their scholarship winnings.

Secretary of State Mark Hammond said his office, which regulates nonprofits, is reviewing the pageant's annual reports after receiving complaints earlier this year. He would not specify who made the allegations and did not know how long the investigation would take.

The Miss South Carolina Organization's Web site says the nonprofit awards more than $6.8 million yearly in cash and tuition scholarships. Gail Sanders, the comptroller for the nonprofit, said all contestants sign off on disbursement rules and are told several times how scholarships are awarded.

But several former Miss South Carolina contestants and winners say they never received the money they won, or they had difficulty collecting.

Man found dead from fire in mobile home

GAFFNEY - A man was found dead in a mobile home fire, and Cherokee County officials said it could take two weeks to positively identify the victim.

Neighbors called firefighters at about 11:15 p.m. Wednesday when they saw heavy smoke and flames coming from the mobile home, sheriff's Capt. Mike Fowlkes said.

An autopsy showed the man died of smoke inhalation, Deputy Coroner Glenn Fuller said. DNA samples have been sent to the State Law Enforce-ment Division to confirm the identity, Mr. Fuller said.

Suspects in man's death turn selves in

CHARLESTON - An Army National Guard soldier and three others wanted for last week's suffocation death of a disabled man in Charleston turned themselves in Thursday.

Jerry Jerome Smith Jr., 22, a tank crewman with Beaufort-based Troop B 202 Cavalry, walked into the Army National Guard office in Beaufort on Thursday morning and told his supervisor he was wanted for murder, Sheriff's Cpl. Debbie Szpanka said.

Mr. Smith's brother, 20-year-old Jerard Smith, of Goose Creek, and friend, 22-year-old Rashard Rivers, of Hollywood, also turned themselves in, Charleston Police Lt. Richard Moser said.

- Edited from wire reports