Across the area

Judge denies Temple request

A federal judge has said no to a request by Merle Temple Jr. to delay his prison term.

Mr. Temple, who pleaded guilty in September in the embezzlement case involving former Georgia School Superintendent Linda Schrenko, has been ordered to report to the federal correctional institution in Edgefield County on Dec. 1, according to court records. He was sentenced to eight years in prison.

Federal dollars to go to Aiken, Greenwood

The U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration announced Wednesday that it is investing $477,000 in South Carolina.

The third congressional district - which includes part of Aiken County - will receive $106,000 for economic development efforts. The investments include $53,000 each to the Upper Savannah Council of Governments of Greenwood and the Lower Savannah Council of Governments of Aiken.

Electrical short emits smoke in jail basement

Firefighters were called after an electrical short in a ventilation fan at the Richmond County Law Enforcement Center after noon Wednesday spread smoke in the basement, Augusta Fire Department Battalion Chief Tommy Willis said.

No one was hurt and no one had to be evacuated; fans were used to clear the smoke.

Man sought in robbery at Security Federal

The Aiken County Sheriff's Office is looking for a man who robbed the Security Federal Bank at 4435 Jefferson Davis Highway in Clearwater on Wednesday.

Lt. Michael Frank, a spokesman for the sheriff's office, said a man entered the bank at about 12:30 p.m. and demanded money from two tellers.

The man, who was carrying a small backpack and a handgun, was last seen running into the woods toward Clearwater Village apartments.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Aiken County Sheriff's Office at (803) 642-1761.

Victims in three-car wreck are identified

Two people who died in a three-car wreck in Graniteville were identified Wednesday.

Edgar Bonilla, 18, and Higinio Orduna, 26, were pronounced dead Tuesday night near Bettis Academy and Ascauga Lake roads. The men were traveling north on Ascauga Lake Road when they attempted to pass a pickup driven by Floyd Anthony Spence, of Aiken.

Mr. Spence's truck was hit before the victims' vehicle struck Christopher Barsh's blue Neon head-on, Lance Cpl. Scot Edgeworth with the South Carolina Highway Patrol said.

Both Mr. Anthony and Mr. Barsh were in good condition at Medical College of Georgia Hospital on Wednesday.

Downtown house fire is under investigation

A fire that destroyed a house in downtown Augusta late Tuesday night is being investigated, a fire official said.

At about 11 p.m., firefighters were called to a two-story, wood-framed house in the 1000 block of James Brown Boulevard, according to Richmond County Fire Battalion Chief John Clark.

About seven units responded to the blaze, he said, and the fire was contained by about 2:45 a.m.