2 pupils arrested over threatening messages
Two Columbia County middle school pupils were arrested this week and charged with writing threatening messages on restroom walls.
A seventh-grader at Greenbrier Middle School was arrested Thursday, Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris said. The 12-year-old boy, whose name was not released, wrote "bomb" on a wall and was charged with terroristic threats and disrupting public school, said Capt. Morris.
No device was found, and pupils were not evacuated, he said.
The boy appeared in juvenile court for a detention hearing Thursday and was booked at the Columbia County Detention Center. He was later released to his parents, Capt. Morris said.
On Tuesday, a Lakeside Middle School pupil told the principal that he saw another pupil writing a threat on a restroom wall, according to a sheriff's office report. The message said the boy would "destroy the school tomorrow," according to the report.
The pupil was charged with criminal trespass and released to his parents.
Thompson steps down from coliseum board
Donnie Thompson has resigned from the Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority.
Mr. Thompson, who was appointed to the board by Augusta Commissioner Joe Jackson last year, said if Augusta legislators don't appreciate the progress the authority has made, he sees no need to waste any more time.
A bill to overhaul the authority, reducing it from 12 to seven members, could pass today.
Mr. Thompson said he believes the legislative delegation is breaking up the board because in December it voted down hiring consultant Jerry Dickerson, who wanted to put a $125 million to $250 million entertainment arena on this year's special-purpose sales tax ballot with a contract that could have made him a millionaire.
Mr. Thompson resigned Wednesday. Mr. Jackson is looking for a replacement.
Duncan throws name in for Barrett's seat
Rep. Jeff Duncan, of South Carolina's District 15, said Thursday that he will run for the 3rd Congressional District seat being vacated by Gresham Barrett.
Mr. Duncan, a Republican from Laurens County, began a three-day tour of the district, including Aiken, on Thursday. The 43-year-old real estate broker and auctioneer has represented District 15 since 2003.
State Sen. Shane Massey, a Republican who represents the 25th District, has also announced his intention to run for Mr. Barrett's seat.
Mr. Barrett has announced his candidacy for South Carolina governor.
Comments
I don't get what's up with these teens. School takes these things very seriously. I don't think, teens in general, understand. I don't think it really sinks in when family and friends try to explain things like this. Btw, I have two high school students.
Donnie Thompson is one of the smartest business leaders of Augusta and he cares deeply about our community. For him to resign should certianly tell you just what direction we are headed. He can acomplish so much more with much less frustration than by being a part of this in the future.
A lot of qualified businessmen have tried working withing the crazy confines of the coliseum authority, and have almost always been frustrated. The authority is WAY to big and unwieldy and qualifications, too often, seem to be "who you know".
I wouldn't want it on my resume'!
So if I wrote something sexually explicit on the bathroom wall would I have to register as a sex offender? Completely ridiculous!
Andy, there's quite a big difference betweeen something sexually expllicit and a bomb threat. Dont take a rocket scientist to figure that out!!!
RE; Teen imbecils have been known to exhibit imbecilic behavior.
Andy, you would if you were an adult in a middle schools restroom.
Hey the kid can spell. All of you low foreheads have just lost
your sense of humor.
Writing the word "bomb" on a wall is hardly a terroristic threat. Also, I don't think the student should have been arrested for writing a little bit of graffiti on the bathroom wall. Maybe they should have made him wash it off or something like that. Criminals should be arrested, not kids who make a dumb, harmless decisions.
There is usually more to stories like this than is told in the paper, especially the Augusta Chronicle. Something sad has happened to this newspaper. Many of the stories are incorrect and I used to almost never find grammatical errors. Sad.
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