Laurens County Deputy Nicholas Moye met with Clinton Public Safety officers at 7:47 last night to assist them in going to a location on Bar B Villa Road near Clinton to serve a warrant on a suspect. While en route to the suspected location of the wanted man, Deputies met the suspect in the 4-way stop at the intersection of Charlotte’s Road and A.B. Jacks Road. Deputy Moye turned around and made a traffic stop on a Honda Accord in the Royal Food Store parking lot. The Deputy reported finding a clear plastic baggy containing a white powdery substance along with a straw and a glass pipe used for smoking narcotics.  32-year-old Cedric Cornelius Robinson was of 346 Satterwhite Road, Laurens was placed in the Laurens County Detention Center. He was to be served with Bench Warrants from Clinton Municipal Court regarding convictions on two counts of Drug Paraphernalia and of Simple Possession of Marijuana and an Open Container violation.

  The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to last night on a report someone was attempting to load a golf cart at a vacant residence on Milton Road, Joanna. Officers arrived at 609 Milton Road and reported finding a 2500 Chevy Pickup with trailer attached. The man indicated he had talked with someone about purchasing the golf cart. The cart was determined to have been previously stolen. Deputies placed the man in the Johnson Detention Center, pending further action by investigators. 29-year-old Kenneth Bryant Evans II of 2112 Honors Circle,Graniteville, SC was being held in theJohnsonDetentionCenterthis morning, pending action by Investigators with the Sheriff’s Office.

   Laurens County Sheriff’s Office charged a suspect yesterday in connection with a burglary on Little Acres Road outside Clinton this past Tuesday. Charged with Grand Larceny was 19-year-old Robert Lee Hannah Jr. of 2952 Highway 76,Clinton; who is also reportedly known as “Budda.” Mr. Hannah is accused of taking an item valued at $2,000 from a location in the 600 address range of Little Acres Road. “Budda” was being held overnight in the Johnson Detention Center, pending arraignment on the Grand Larceny charge today.

 The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to Self Regional Hospital in Greenwood at 9:07 last night regarding a possible stolen vehicle. A man who lives on Highway 76 East in Laurens County told of a 42-year-old Clinton woman coming to his residence around 8am yesterday. While she was there, he had a medical condition develop, and called 911 for an ambulance. As he was leaving with EMS, the woman reportedly stayed at his residence. He has now received a call from someone indicating the woman had just come to him attempting to cash a check that belonged to the victim, and then there’s the car. The case was being turned over to investigations.

   Laurens City Police went to 205 Clary Street, Laurens at 2:02 yesterday afternoon to serve a warrant on a man charging him with attempting to obtain illegal amounts of Ephedrine from an East Main pharmacy. The suspect had last been seen at the pharmacy. As Patrolman Issac Shipman drove up to the Clary Street address, he noted observing a woman getting out of a vehicle, which also reportedly contained the subject being sought. The officer notes he smelled marijuana from the car, and investigated to locate marijuana in a black and gray film tube inside the purse of the woman, who had been driving the car.

  Meanwhile, the man being sought was placed under arrest. 39-year-old Edgar Dennis Benton was booked in the Johnson Detention Center, noting an address of 281 Pineland Shores, Cross Hill. He was served with a warrant charging Conspiracy or Attempt to Purchase Drugs illegally. Detective Leann Riggott states that Dennis Benton attempted or conspired to obtain a quantity of nonprescription Ephedrine products totaling more than nine grams in a thirty-day period. This allegedly happened at Walgreens at 814 East Main on November 16^th 2012. Dennis Benton was later released from the Johnson Detention Center on a $465 personal recognizance bond.

  Meanwhile, the driver of the car, a 39-year-old woman from New Bedford,Massachusetts, was also booked in theJohnsonDetentionCenter, charged with Simple Possession of Marijuana.

   Some Islamists, including Taliban militants, have taken terrorism to a new level in Pakistan this week. Several people working to vaccinate the children of Pakistan against Polio were shot. Six of the workers were killed in the attacks. It is not precisely clear who is responsible for the attacks. Pakistani health officials are calling for the vaccination to continue, some noting that the real danger to local children is not from the vaccine, but from the disease it prevents. But the World Health Organization has halted its efforts in the wake of the fatal shootings. Others are calling for the life-saving vaccination program to continue.

  Polio has been reduced to only impacting three countries after 2 ½ decades of work:Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. The worlds first service club, Rotary International, began a massive effort to eradicate polio from the world 25 years ago. In recent years, matching funds from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have added extra emphasis to the push against the disease.

  In view of this week’s violent attack on the effort, Laurens Rotary Club President Jonathan Irick is calling on local Rotarians to prayerfully remember those working on the program in Pakistan.

  Irick told us he realizes many here in theUSdon’t realize how dreadful Polio was here inAmerica: 

“Many people here in the United Statesdon’t even know what Polio can do. I personally know, my grandmother had polio when she was a young child. And so I’ve seen what Polio can do. Unfortunately, you’re right, the factions over there are trying to say this is a way of making the Muslin children sterile, and so they are doing their best to try to stop this from happening. And unfortunately, we know what the devastating consequences are of not having this vaccine given to the children.” 

  Jonathan Irick expressed concern about the situation with the vaccination program:

“We definitely feel a sadness about the loss. One of Rotary’s goals is to eradicate Polio. Rotary International has been working really hard at it. There’s three countries left, and Pakistan is one of them. We have a lot of Rotarians and other organizations, including the World Health Organization and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that have put money into this Polio eradication effort. It really saddens us when we hear something like this has happened.”

   The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Raja Perves Ashraf, said the polio campaign needs to go on in Pakistan, saying “we cannot and would not allow polio to wreck havoc on the lives of our children.” The statement from the Prime Minister noted that Pakistan had 20,000 polio cases in 1994, but that vigorous vaccination efforts had brought the number down to 56 this year.

   Rotarians in Laurens,Clinton and Fountain Inn are continuing to provide financial assistance to the world-wide polio eradication effort inPakistan, AfghanistanandNigeria.

   Earlier this Christmas Season, someone stole three inflatable Christmas decorations from a display at the Hickory Tavern Fire Department. This week, the Christmas Lights were struck again, this time with an estimated $700 in damage from vandalism. Deputy Devin Hodges was dispatched on the case at 9:45 Wednesday night, after reports of the vandalism since 9pm that night. Several witnesses reportedly identified a suspect in the vandalism of the Christmas light display, and the deputy located the suspect and talked with him. The 24-year-old Hickory Tavern man reportedly admitted to destroying the lights. Fire Department personnel did not want to prosecute the suspect, and signed a Stop Investigation form. The suspect was, however, served with a no trespass notice.

  The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office was holding a man overnight in connection with a Gray Court area shooting on December 10^th. 24-year-old Radevis Jamar Gary of 5110 Highway 92, Gray Court was being held for charges of Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature and Possession of a Stolen Pistol. It’s alleged that on December 10^th Mr. Gary intentionally committed a battery on a woman by shooting her in the leg at 5110 Highway 92, Gray Court. He is also charged with having possession of a handgun on Highway 92 on the 10^th that had the serial number removed.

  Radevis Jamar Gary was in theLaurensCountyDetentionCenterovernight regarding these charges.

   Laurens City Police yesterday charged a man with shooting at City Hall this past spring. 23-year-old Brandon Lafredzo Robinson of 19 Smythe Street, Laurens is charged with Discharging a Firearm into a Building.

  Detective Leann Riggott states that on March 31^st 2012 the defendant, Brandon L. Robinson, did discharge a firearm at or into the Laurens City Hall on East Public Square, which is often occupied by persons. The shooting allegedly caused damage to the building, and allegedly occurred fromLaurel Street.

   Brandon Robinson was being held in theJohnsonDetentionCenterovernight, pending arraignment on the charges.

 #10… Scrap Metal. Delivered with a nice red bow. Maybe a gate from a country fence. It’s what got a bunch of’em there to begin with

 #9 …Cigarettes; especially those that don’t have that butt-crack or arm-pit Taste

 #8 … Twenty minutes of quality time with the cute guy from J-Pod

 #7 …Fuzzy Bedroom Slippers – the plastic jail-issue flip-fops don’t keep the feet warm and comfy now that winter is here.  

 #6 …A gift pack of meth. Disguised as Goody’s headache powder. 

 #5  … A special Monopoly Game with Extra Get-out-of-Jail-Free cards

 #4 … A gift certificate for a tattoo of your choice on any portion of your body. Artistry by Ralph the Ink Jockey from Cell Block A.

 #3 …Sugar Cookies with lots of sugary sprinkles on top. No, they’re not going to eat them, they’ll use all that sugar to make their own alcoholic beverages!

 #2 … Gideon Bibles, hallowed  out to conceal a half-pint of pure clean grain alcohol.

 # 1 …A gift certificate from the Crab Shack for a fake marriage license and one conjugal lap dance from Lovely Lurleen the Large of Laurens.  We have to hand it to Elmo, he has such clever ways to promote these things.  She’s a lovely girl. Lots of good experience!

Real Radio 860 WLBG Sports Report:  12-24-12

Local sports: The Clinton High Boys and the Laurens High Girls basketball teams wrapped up participation in their respective holiday tournaments over the weekend.

• Boys: Fort Mill 56 – CHS 32… as of late, the Red Devils seem not to be able to put together 4 good consecutive quarters of play and a disastrous 3^rd period last Friday night cost them as the Fort Mill Yellow Jackets took a 53-32 win in their final game in the Newberry College Christmas Classic…. Clinton only trailed by only 3 points with the score standing 27-24 in Fort Mills favor at the half before they went cold and scored only 2 points in the 3^rd to Fort Mills 20 points… That put the Red Devils in a hole they could just not climb out of… According to Coach Todd Frazier ”We missed too many layups”… The Red Devils finished 4^th in in the Newberry Tournament.. Tay Cook led Clinton with 14 points and was named to the All-Tournament Team… Shakiyl Smiley had 5 points for the Red Devils and Ian Kinard 4… The boys will return to action this Thursday in a tournament up in Greer taking on Greer at 8:00pm..
• Girls: LDHS 34 – Crescent 21.. On Friday the Lady Raiders took a 34-21 win over the Lady Tigers of Crescent High in 2^nd round action at a holiday tournament over at Erskine College.. The Lady Raiders were using a team made up of a mixture of varsity and JV players due to several varsity players having to miss the game due to a funeral… Laurens never trailed in the game posting a 19-12 lead at the half…Shekiya Burnside led Laurens with 13 points..Kalah Gary had 7 points, Nasia Owens 6 to round out the top 3 scorers for the Lady Raiders..
• Girls: LDHS 42 – Brashier Middle College Charter 27… In their final game of the tournament, the Lady Raiders took a 42-27 win over Brashier Middle College Charter… Laurens had all their varsity team back for this game and were never really threatened in the game.. Coach Langford was able to use his bench early in the 2^nd period.. Brashier got as close 6 points in the 3^rd period but insertion of starters quelled the rally.. Mary Anna Moore led the Lady Raiders with 14 points.. Maleaka Neal was the only other Raider in double-digits with 10 points.. Others scoring for Laurens were Shekiya Burnside, Kalah Gary and Nasia Owens all with 4 points each while Amber Anderson and Kela Daniels each had 2 points….. The Lady Raiders  will not play any games until January 4^th, 2013 when the travel to Hillcrest. 

The Laurens Academy Crusaders were also in action this past weekend in the Southside Christian Christmas Classic up in Greenville..

• Girls: In their 1^st game on Thursday the Lady Crusaders were defeated by Shannon Forest who took a 51-13 win.. The girls also played on Friday but at this time I do not have the results.
• Boys: In their 1^st game on Thursday, the boys’ team defeated Shannon Forest 58-44… That means the boys team played in the championship game on Friday against the host school Southside Christian.. The Crusaders entered the game undefeated on the season but unfortunately their winning streak was snapped at 10 as Southside took a 70-57 win to hand the Crusaders their 1^st loss of the season.. Chase Brewington and Billy Rockefeller were the only 2 Crusaders to score in double-digits with 25 and 17 points respectively.. 

Local Sports Schedule: 

None noted

Broadcast Reminders:

• No sports report tomorrow.. I’m taking the day off. Merry Christmas !!!!

• The next middle school basketball broadcast on Real Radio 860 will be Monday January 14^th , 2013 from Sanders Middle School as the Yellow Jackets host the Bell Street Red Wildcats… Join me just a few minutes before 5:00 and remember we do stream live on the internet at www.wlbg.com
• This next varsity basketball from Laurens High School will be Tuesday January 8^th, 2013 as the Raiders take on the Woodmont Wildcats… Join Dr. Rhett Harris and myself a few minutes before 6 PM. … Remember that we do stream all local sporting events live on the internet at WLBG.com. 

FYI / Community Interest:

• The Laurens YMCA has announced that registration for the youth basketball season has been extended until Friday January 4^th, 2013…. Youth basketball is open to youth ages 3-14. Basketball season will officially start with practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning January 8. Cost is $50 for Y members and $60 for non-members. Call the Laurens YMCA at 984-2626 for more information including the possibility of scholarships for those who qualify. 

If you have any comments, suggestions, or want to reports scores, please contact me via email at: sports@wlbg.com or text me at 864-981-3470.

   The Clinton Public Safety and the Clinton YMCA have been working to help local families this Christmas Season. The Clinton Department of Public Safety worked with the YMCA to gather and deliver presents in the Clinton area. Over the last few weeks the YMCA has been collecting presents at its facility located at YMCA Drive in Clinton. The presents were delivered throughout the Clinton area by the Department of Public Safety last Thursday and Friday. Through this partnership the YMCA and Clinton Department of Public Safety have been able to help bring joy and the spirit of Christmas to over two-hundred families this holiday season. Interim Chief of the Department of Public Safety, Crystal Roberts, said “This was a meaningful and great partnership and our department looks forward to being a part of this gift giving each year. It is always humbled and excited about helping those in need at this time of the year. It is always heartwarming to see children excited and smiling when we show up bearing gifts.”

  An Enoree area man was arrested Friday in connection with alleged Burglaries and Kidnappings on two days in late October. The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office Friday booked  25-year-old Travis Kendrell Jeter, also known as “Big Tap,” of 6 Parker Road, Enoree on fourteen different charges from two incidents near Enoree in Laurens County.

   Travis Jeter is charged with Six counts of Kidnapping, Two Counts of 1^st Degree Burglary and Two Counts of Use of a Firearm in Commission of a Violent Crime. He’s also charged with Grand Larceny and with Petit Larceny.

   In arrest warrants, Laurens County Sheriff’s Lt. Jawarski Shelton states that Travis Kendall Jeter entered a dwelling at 35 Community Center Drive, Enoree in the night-time on October 28^th and took alcoholic beverages from victims there while armed with a Shotgun. He also allegedly kidnapped two people at that location on the 28^th. Lt. Shelton also states that Travis Jeter entered a dwelling at 121 Community Center Drive in the night-time on October 29^th, where he took weapons and electronics from victims at that location while armed with a shotgun. At the second location, he allegedly kidnapped four people.

   Jeter is charged with Petit Larceny from the October 28^th burglary and with Grand Larceny from the burglary on October 29^th.

   Bond was denied on all fourteen charges during arraignment. 25-year-old Travis Kendall Jeter remained in theJohnsonDetentionCenterthis morning.

   Laurens City Police were dispatched to an apartment on Pinehaven Street at two minutes until 7 last night on a report of a subject attacking one individual and threatening another person with a machete. Officers arrived to find the subject standing outside his apartment with his hands up. They placed him in custody, noting the smell of alcohol on his breath.

  Officers heard from the man’s girlfriend, a woman who lives with the man in the apartment, who indicated he had been drinking all day and gets violent when he drinks. He allegedly came home and got into an argument with her, and threw her to the floor and began choking her with both hands. She screamed for help, and the man reportedly got his machete and went outside. Another woman who lives nearby came out of her apartment after the screams for help and was reportedly met with the man wielding a machete. Officers reportedly found the machete in a living room closet.

   Officers arrested 36-year-old Terrance Lorenzo Suber, also known as “T-Mac,” of Apartment 47, 495 Pinehaven Street. He was being held for charges in warrants of  Criminal Domestic Violence for the alleged assault on his girlfriend and 1^st Degree Assault allegedly threatening the other woman with the machete. Terrance Suber was being held in theJohnsonDetentionCenter.

    A Waterloo man has been arrested on charges of trying to kill two other men during an incident yesterday at his home. The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office yesterday arrested 57-year-old Beatty Eugene Rayfield, also known as “Dawg,” of 129 Robin Lane,Waterloo. Mr. Rayfield has been served with warrants charging two counts of Attempted Murder. Deputy Sheriff Bryant Cheek states in arrest warrants that Beatty Rayfield fired a .45 caliber pistol into the back of one man, and that the bullet traveled through that man’s back and chest then into the arm of a second victim, in an incident at “Dawg” Rayfield’s home at 129 Robin Lane,Waterloo yesterday.

  The victims were a 35-year-old Greenwood man and a 62-year-old Waterloo man.

Cash or Surety bonds were set yesterday at $100,000 on one of the Attempted Murder charges and $40,000 on the second Attempted Murder charge. Beatty Eugene Rayfield was being held in theJohnsonDetentionCenter.

  Laurens County Sheriff’s Office Friday arrested 20-year-old Nicholaus Eugene Gulledge of 44 Bar-b-villa Road, Clinton on a charge of Hindering an Arrest. He allegedly hindered the arrest and aided another suspect being sought by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, knowing there was a warrant for that other person’s arrest. This allegedly occurred at Del Lane, Clinton Friday, December 21^st. Nicholas Gulledge was released from the Johnson Detention Center Saturday on posting of a $5,000 Personal Recognizance Bond.

   Clinton Public Safety arrested a local woman yesterday in connection with an alleged assault on another woman Friday. 20-year-old Deidra Nicole Anderson of 114 West Centennial Street, Clinton was charged with Assault and Battery 3^rd Degree. Public Safety Officer Peay states that on December 21^st the defendant struck another woman in the head and neck area and also knocked the victim down in an assault at 114 West Centennial Street. Ms. Anderson was placed in theJohnsonDetentionCenter, where she remained earlier today with a cash or surety bond set at $1,000.

    Clinton Public Safety arrested a local man on drug and firearms charges on Caldwell Street Friday night. 27-year-old Sugar Ray Robinson of 2238 Forrest Road,Clinton was charged with Possession of Crack Cocaine with Intent to Distribute and Possession with Intent within Proximity of a Park. He’s also charged with Unlawful Carrying of a Firearm and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.

   Public Safety Officer James Hunt states in arrest warrants that Sugar Ray Robinson knowingly and willingly possessed greater than one gram of a substance believed to be Crack Cocaine on Friday, December 21^st on Caldwell Street, a location within a half mile of Pine Haven Park. Hunt further alleges that Sugar Ray Robinson was in possession of a New England Firearms .22 Caliber Revolver in the front passenger seat of a motor vehicle on Caldwell Street. Hunt also states that it is illegal for Mr. Robinson to be in possession of a handgun.

   Bonds of $5,000 were set on each of the charges. Sugar Ray Robinson was being held in theJohnsonDetentionCenterthis morning with bonds totaling $20,000.

   The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Cross Hill man Sunday morning in connection with an alleged assault on another Cross Hill man in the fall of last year.

27-year-old Shannon Lanard Graham of 67 Pernell Drive, Cross Hill was charged with Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature. Sheriff’s Lt. Robert Plaxico states that on October 27^th 2011 Shannon Lanard Graham intentionally committed a battery on the victim by cutting him in the face with a sharp object, in an incident on Shealy Circle, Cross Hill. The victim was hospitalized with his injuries.

  Shannon Graham was released from theJohnsonDetentionCenteryesterday on a $10,000 Personal Recognizance Bond.