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ASU president has cancer

Augusta State University President William A. Bloodworth Jr. announced during a meeting of his cabinet Thursday morning that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

In the first part of next year, Dr. Bloodworth will begin receiving radiation treatments, which isn't expected to affect his role at the university. The president has had regular screenings because his father also had prostate cancer.

Dr. Bloodworth, 64, has served as president of ASU since 1993.

A 31-year-old Aiken man was arrested Wednesday on charges that he roughed up a grocery store manager and a woman during a scuffle.

Rodney G. Lawton, of the 100 block of Kellogg Drive, was charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.

According to a report from the Aiken Department of Public Safety, Mr. Lawton was in the Bi-Lo on Pine Log Road in Aiken when he backed into 57-year-old Henry Goff Jr., who was on the phone by the service desk.

Mr. Lawton yelled at Mr. Goff that he "would not be pushed," the report states, and a fight ensued, with Mr. Lawton hitting the store manager, who defended himself with the telephone.

The report states that Mr. Lawton punched the manager as employees tried to intervene, and he hit Norma Jones, 63, in the face repeatedly.

Two South Carolina men have been sentenced in federal court on charges that they conspired to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine in Aiken and Lexington counties.

James L. Webber, 45, of Pelion, and Tallion Andre Wood, 32, of Irmo, were nabbed in Operation Speedtrap and pleaded guilty last May to operating meth labs in homes and at least one motel beginning in 2002.

Mr. Webber was sentenced to 135 months in prison, and Mr. Wood to 87 months, both without possibility of parole.

The 450th Ordnance Company will hold a deactivation ceremony Saturday at the Aiken Memorial U.S. Army Reserve Center, 1984 Whiskey Road.

The 9 a.m. ceremony is open to past and present members and the public. The 450th is becoming a detachment of the Army Reserve's 802nd Ordnance Company out of Gainesville, Ga.

Nationally known pro bass anglers Zell Rowland, Kevin Langhill and others participating in this weekend's Skeeter Owners Tournament will hold a meet-and-greet from 2 to 6 p.m. today at Columbia County's Wildwood Park.

Other pros attending the three-day event include Mark Menendez, Joe Thomas, Dustin Wilks, Kelly Jordon, Bill Lowen, Eric Neatherly and Danny Corriea, along with more than 100 Skeeter boat owners who will vie for $150,000 in cash and prizes.

Several Columbia County residents reported hearing loud booming sounds Thursday near Furys Ferry and North Belair roads, said Cheryl Garcia, the supervisor of the county's 311 Customer Service Customer Service and Information Center.

The booms originated from blasting to clear the way for sewer lines at Maples Ferry, a residential development under construction off North Belair Road just south of Furys Ferry Road, said Pam Tucker, the county's Emergency Services Division director.

Two Aiken High School students are up for expulsion and face simple assault charges after a fight on a bus.

A 16-year-old student was checked for weapons Oct. 4 after students said he was assaulting others on the school bus. The tension among students escalated into a fight involving several students that afternoon, according to Aiken Department of Public Safety incident reports.

Area 1 Assistant Superintendent David Caver said a disturbance the next day also was connected to the bus fight.

The boy was charged with disturbing schools after School Resource Officer Penny Shultz saw him cursing and yelling about the bus incident.

The boy and another student are suspended indefinitely for the fight, Mr. Caver said.

Richmond County sheriff's deputies have arrested a man who is accused of threatening to set fire to his ex-wife's car in the presence of their children, a police report states.

Joseph Emmanuel Brown, 41, was charged with terroristic threats and acts and second-degree child cruelty.

According to the report, Robbie M. Brown, 39, told deputies that she had an argument with Mr. Brown over the ownership of a 1997 Lincoln Towncar at her home in the 3400 block of Merrimac Avenue.

Police say Mr. Brown smashed the car windows and cut the tires. While sheriff's deputies were present, the report states, Mr. Brown poured gas in the car and threatened to burn it and the house.

No further information will be made available to the public about the condition of 3-year-old Barton George, who survived a wreck that killed his mother and sister Wednesday, Medical College of Georgia Hospital officials said Thursday.

Julie Dorn-George, 26, and Barton's twin sister, Breanna, died when their van hit a stopped tractor-trailer on Mike Padgett Highway. The driver of the rig, Thomas Lattimore, was charged with improper stopping in the roadway. Further charges are pending, police said.

Richmond County sheriff's deputies have arrested a man accused of touching an 11-year-old girl inappropriately sometime in August, police reports show.

Nashon N. Hinkins, 32, of the 2000 block of Scott Road, was charged with child molestation based on Department of Family and Children Services information and was booked into the Richmond County jail Wednesday, jail records show.

Richmond County sheriff's investigators arrested a Hephzibah man who is accused of having sexual relations with an underage girl, a police report states.

Lewis W. Clark, 24, of the 3800 block of Chari Street, was charged with felony child molestation Wednesday.

According to a police report, Mr. Clark engaged in the activity with the 15-year-old girl between Oct. 5 and Oct. 7.

Richmond County sheriff's deputies have charged a Cross Creek High School student with carrying a knife onto campus, a police report states.

Joshua P. Hymas, 18, of the 4100 of Cedarwood Drive in Hephzibah, was charged with felony possession of a knife on school property Wednesday, jail records state.

According to the police report, an administrator found a camouflage pocketknife in Mr. Hymas' pocket after receiving an anonymous tip.

An Augusta woman was arrested Wednesday after she was accused by Richmond County sheriff's deputies of taking a purse from a car parked at a motel, police records state.

Melissa Nicole Wilson, 26, of the 100 block of Shady Grove Drive, was charged with felony theft by taking.

According to the report, an 80-year-old Mississippi woman said she was unloading her car at the Travelodge in the 3000 block of Washington Road, when her purse, containing $500, was taken.

A manager told police that the theft was recorded, and a sheriff's deputy recognized the thief as Ms. Wilson.

Richmond County sheriff's deputies have arrested a man who is accused of stealing about 150 sets of tires in June from Firestone on Broad Street.

George Lamar Smiley, 49, of the 2000 block of Wharton Drive, was charged Wednesday with felony theft by taking, jail records state.

Two Augusta residents remained in jail late Thursday after police said they tried to cash checks belonging to a bank official.

Rico Major, 18, and Laken English, 19, both of Thomas Lane, tried to cash two checks Oct. 9 at John's Party Center, 3307 Mike Padgett Highway, Richmond County sheriff's Investigator Anita Hopson said.

The checks had been stolen from the home mailbox of Ralph Dickey, the president of Southern Bank in Waynesboro, Investigator Hopson said.

The arrested couple posed as Mr. and Mrs. Dickey, but when they were unable to produce identification, a clerk refused to cash the checks and contacted authorities.

- From staff reports