Developers unveil new drawings of project
Developers for a new Martinez shopping center unveiled artist renderings of the project during a Thursday Columbia County Planning Commission meeting.
For weeks, planning commissioners have denied an amended rezoning of the about-14-acre property between Blackstone Camp and Evans to Locks roads until Blanchard and Calhoun Commercial, the project developers, provided an updated artist rendering.
The renderings, which feature Food Lion as the anchor tenant of the shopping center, incorporate a "neo-traditional" architecture, which county planning officials said works for the zoning regulations governing the area.
Developer Matt Mills said he is thankful for the amendment as the project is behind schedule.
Still, he hopes to open the shopping center in June 2009.
Planning Commissioner Tony Lively said he appreciated developers' patience and that the new design "sets a high standard" for the area.
Inmate who left work assignment is sought
Thomas Lee Washington, an inmate at the minimum-security Lower Savannah Pre-Release Center in Aiken, walked away from a work assignment Thursday and was being sought by authorities.
According to a news release from state corrections officials, Mr. Washington was on a labor crew assignment with the Aiken Housing Authority, located on the 100 block of Rogers Terrace N.W. in Aiken, and was last seen by supervisors about 3:30 p.m.
He was last seen wearing a tan Department of Corrections jumpsuit with the letters SCDC stenciled on it.
He is black, stands 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs about 160 pounds.
Mr. Washington, 37, started serving a five-year sentence for assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature out of Florence County in October. His projected release date was May 2010.
Between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., anyone with information can contact the Corrections' Fugitive Apprehension Unit at 1 (877) 349-2130.
After 5 p.m., call (803) 896-2258, the S.C. Law Enforcement Division at (803) 737-9000, or contact local law enforcement.
Eighth-grader charged with making threats
An eighth-grade pupils at Lakeside Middle School was charged with making terroristic threats Wednesday morning after being accused of threatening to kill her teacher.
The 14-year-old, whose name wasn't available, reportedly threatened to kill her teacher if she wrote the pupil's name on a dry erase board, said Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris.
The teacher perceived the comment as a threat and the Columbia County Sheriff's Office was contacted.
The pupil was charged as a juvenile and released to her parents, Capt. Morris said.
"On our end, we're taking her to a disciplinary hearing requesting a long-term suspension," said Lakeside Middle Principal Felicia Turner.
Man believed to have killed wife, himself
A Burke County man appears to have taken his own life Wednesday night after fatally shooting his wife during a domestic dispute, police said Thursday.
According to a statement released by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Gary Lee Scott, of Ben Hatcher Road, Waynesboro, appears to have killed his wife, Calandra Scott, shortly before midnight near Fairfield Missionary Baptist Church, also on Ben Hatcher Road.
He is believed to have then taken his own life.
The GBI is working with the Burke County Sheriff's Office on the case.
Five arrested in string of armed robberies
Deputies arrested five people Wednesday in connection to a string of armed robberies in Richmond County.
The incidents began with the armed robbery of the Super 8 motel on Gordon Highway on Saturday, according to Richmond County sheriff's Sgt. Ken Rogers.
The next day, a similar incident happened at the Wingate Inn on Noland Connector, but the assailants weren't able to get any cash.
On Tuesday, a man was robbed in the 3000 block of Breeze Hill Drive and an exchange of gunfire ensued.
Vashown Diggs, 19, of Hephzibah; Julius Tramel Neely, 19, of Hephzibah; Tenesha Monique Williams, 18, of Blythe; Whitney Camellia Reddix, 18, of Keysville; and Kwame Coerez Simmons, 17, of Augusta, face various charges, including armed robbery, stemming from the incidents.
Woman suspected of violating court order
Investigators from Aiken Public Safety were looking Thursday for a woman who they say took her two children out of state in violation of a court order.
Veronica Kirby, 29, of Aiken, was traveling with Trinity Michelle Kirby, 7, and Isaac Hunter Kirby, 5, according to a news release. Mrs. Kirby had told family and friends that she intended to leave the county with her children, the release stated.
She was last driving a silver-colored 2005 Kia Sedona bearing South Carolina plates 640WMB. Edward Kirby, the children's father, may be contacted at (803) 634-9743, according to the news release.
Nursing home for vets receives $2.3 million
The Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded a grant worth about $2.3 million to the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home in Augusta, U.S. Rep. Paul C. Broun announced Thursday.
The grant will help cover upgrades to the facility that are expected to cost about $3.5 million, according to the VA.
The Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home was dedicated in 1969 and was built with federal financial aid. The facility has 192 beds and provides free medical care to Georgia veterans and their families.
-- From staff reports
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