AIKEN COUNTY

Teenager charged in shooting death

The Aiken County Sheriff's Office arrested an Aiken teenager Tuesday afternoon, charging him in last week's shooting death of a 21-year-old man.

Tevon M. Jackson, 17, of the 100 block of Dry Branch Road, is charged with possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and murder in the death of Marcus L. Finklin, according to a statement from the sheriff's office.

According to police accounts, shortly before 8 a.m. June 4, an Aiken County Public Works employee trimming trees found Mr. Finklin in the driver's seat of a silver 1989 Ford Crown Victoria.

An autopsy revealed Mr. Finklin died of a gunshot wound to the back of the head.

Mr. Jackson was being held at the Aiken County Detention Center.

Aiken County schools received news Tuesday that decreased student numbers would result in less money from the state, based on legislative figures as the state finalizes the 2008-09 budget.

The district will lose out on a little more than $700,000, according to Comptroller Tray Traxler. Mr. Traxler said he didn't have exact figures, but the pupil population decreased by about 200.

Based on the tentative budget, the board can proceed with current cuts, but members said they wanted an update on final state budget figures by the end of the summer to see whether more cuts were necessary. The district has already trimmed about $5 million in costs for the next school year.

The board also heard from family members requesting a change in venue for future graduations. An increase in South Aiken High School enrollment in the past few years resulted in a large graduating class Friday. Many parents and family members with tickets at the gym did not get in because it reached capacity.

The board passed a motion to investigate the cost of using the University of South Carolina Aiken's Convocation Center next year.

RICHMOND COUNTY

A 65-year-old Grovetown man died Tuesday when the motor scooter he was driving crashed at about 10:30 a.m. off Harlem-Grovetown Road.

Valdia Barnett, of Old Louisville Road, was traveling southwest toward Harlem on his Suzuki Burgman 650 when he veered off the road for unknown reasons, said Columbia County sheriff's Lt. Andy Shedd. He was not speeding and was wearing a helmet, police said.

A Hephzibah man died after being ejected from his vehicle at Old Waynesboro and Brown roads at about 11:30 p.m. Monday.

William Bernard Hutson, 31, of Nunnery Road, was pinned underneath his 2000 Ford Ranger and died at the scene, according to an e-mail from Richmond County Coroner Grover Tuten.

Mr. Hutson was traveling south when he drove off the shoulder, overcorrected and ran into a ditch, Richmond County sheriff's Maj. Richard Weaver said. Authorities believe he was traveling too fast for conditions.

The U.S. Education Department's Civil Rights Office is investigating an Augusta State University student's complaint that a professor discriminated against her by dropping her from a 3-D design class after she missed 10 of 23 classes because of a rare medical condition.

Emily Greene, an art major who suffers from cyclic vomiting syndrome, has since added retaliation to her complaint.

She says the D she received in her Drawing II class was retribution for a May 4 article in The Augusta Chronicle about her dispute with the university.

In a letter dated May 22, Atlanta-based compliance team leader Virgil Hollis told Ms. Greene the case will be investigated.

The office will try to resolve the matter within six months, its Web site says.

A free workshop to train residents to recognize and report violations of erosion and sedimentation laws will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Savannah Riverkeeper office at 103 Riverfront Drive in Augusta.

Sediment is a primary form of pollution, especially in areas with accelerated development and construction.

The workshop will include training on how to inspect construction sites for appropriate management practices. Participants will receive a "Get the Dirt Out" manual on disc to take home, or they can purchase a printed copy for $20.

For more information on the program, contact Frank Carl at (706) 364-5253.

Four teachers from the region have earned the 2008 Master Teacher certification designation, Gov. Sonny Perdue announced Tuesday.

Sandra Kay Thompson, of Columbia County; Jeffrey C. Dent, of Jefferson County; and McDuffie County teachers Felicia R. Cullars and Sharon N. Turman received the designation.

The certification qualifies them to earn a stipend for mentoring new teachers or serving as academic coaches who use instructional release time to promote professional development practices among colleagues.

COLUMBIA COUNTY

The Columbia County school board unanimously approved a $176 million budget for 2008-09 on Tuesday.

Overall revenues are projected at $175 million. Local revenues are estimated at more than $68 million, based on a 6 percent increase in the county tax digest. State revenues are projected at $106.8 million, and federal income is estimated at $200,000.

The budget shows a shortfall of more than $1 million, but Superintendent Charles Nagle said the system could offset the deficit with its fund balance and reserves. He also said the budget could be amended after homeowners have appealed property assessments. If the tax digest increased to 8 percent, he said, the school system could have a balanced budget.

The largest share of the expenditures in the 2008-09 budget covers salaries and benefits, at 89.2 percent.

Fixed costs such as phones, fuel, insurance, textbooks and utilities account for 4.6 percent of the budget. Discretionary spending for items including software and instructional supplies make up 6.2 percent of the budget.

The budget is based on a pupil population of 22,577, an increase of 484 from 2007-08.

-- From staff reports