Aiken County Council member will step down in November
AIKEN --- Eddie Butler, who has served on the Aiken County Council for 19 years, announced Tuesday that he will resign his seat effective Nov. 3.
Mr. Butler, who represents District 5, said he has a new home under construction on the Savannah River in North Augusta, which is outside his district.
He announced his decision Tuesday because of the Sept. 15 primary and Nov. 3 general election. Announcing at another time, he said, would have required a special election.
Mr. Butler said he has served on the council since 1989, representing District 4 for three terms and District 5 for two.
His term doesn't expire until December 2010, so the winner of the Nov. 3 election will serve the remainder of the term.
Parents to get details of school choice bill
Richmond County school parents will receive a letter today detailing the requirements for public school choice.
House Bill 251 gives Georgia parents the freedom to request a transfer for their child to selected schools other than their zoned school for the 2009-10 school year.
Richmond County parents may request transfers for their child to one of 12 elementary, middle and high schools in the county, according to the letter.
The parents have until July 15 to complete the transfer request form and submit it to the Richmond County Board of Education.
Man who shot fugitive is out of jail on bond
A man accused of shooting a fleeing suspect in his backyard has been released from jail.
Andrew Newton Swan Sr., 56, of Wrens, Ga., was released from the Jefferson County jail on Monday on a $25,000 bond, according to a jail administrator.
Mr. Swan was charged with aggravated assault after he shot Brian Santana Lane, 24, of Louisville, Ga., who was running from police after eluding a traffic stop Saturday afternoon, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
Mr. Lane was taken to Medical College of Georgia Hospital and was listed in "guarded condition" over the weekend. MCG has provided no updates on his condition.
Child molester, wife facing more charges
An Augusta man convicted of child molestation in 1992 was indicted on multiple new charges Tuesday, and his wife was also named in the new indictment.
The Richmond County grand jury indicted James D. Cousart Jr., 36, for six counts aggravated child molestation, nine counts child molestation, and one count each of rape and sexual assault.
His wife, Amy Cousart, was indicted on four counts of cruelty to children.
District Attorney Ashley Wright said Tuesday that the victims were four children. The Augusta Chronicle previously reported that the children were infected with a sexually transmitted disease.
According to court records, Mr. Cousart was convicted of child molestation for sexual contact with a 9-year-old girl in 1991. He has been a registered sex offender since completing a five-year prison sentence in 1997.
Robbery suspects turn themselves in
Two suspects in the robbery of a Graniteville bank last week turned themselves in to authorities Tuesday.
Javier Hickson, 26, of the 100 block of Woodland Drive Extension, Aiken, and Artrell Jabar Hickson, 19, of the same address, face charges of armed robbery and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, according to the Aiken County Sheriff's Office.
Authorities already had arrested David Mark Kearse Jr. in the robbery Thursday of the Security Federal Bank on Canal Street.
Man arrested at center after gun found in bag
A man was arrested at H. Odell Weeks Activity Center in Aiken on Monday after an officer there said he found a gun in the man's belongings.
Christopher Antonio Daye was charged with unlawful carrying of a pistol, the Aiken Department of Public Safety said Tuesday.
Officers recently started patrolling the center off Whiskey Road in the wake of a May 17 shooting there.
Brown settlement to remain, judge says
A South Carolina judge refused Tuesday to reconsider his approval of a settlement involving the estate of James Brown.
The 75-page motion to reconsider, which had been filed earlier this month by former estate trustees Adele Pope and Robert Buchanan, was not granted by Circuit Judge Jack Early in a hearing at the Bamberg County Courthouse.
The settlement approved by Judge Early on May 26 favors family members, including Mr. Brown's last wife, Tomi Rae Brown, and their young son. It also allows for the creation of a museum or other memorial to the soul singer.
Augusta businessman appointed to council
Julian H. Roberts III, of Augusta, has been appointed to the Council of Regional Commissions, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle announced Tuesday.
The council will serve as the primary strategic entity for land use, environmental, transportation, and historic preservation planning in their designated region, Mr. Cagle said in a news release.
Mr. Roberts is managing partner at Augusta Information Technologies LLC, a computer service business he founded in 1999.
Students recognized in business events
North Augusta High School's Future Business Leaders of America club placed in several events during the national convention last week in Anaheim, Calif.
Jessica Kaczamerek placed first in business calculations. Kay Meyer placed ninth in computer applications and Sam Abbot placed sixth in word processing II.
Teamed with advisers from the school and community, the following students placed in group competitions: Chris Ramey and Erica Adams, second in partnership with business; Mel Hanks and Emeka Okafor, third in emerging business issues; Frederick Grimm, Jennifer Price and Nick Gable, eighth in community service project.
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