Four young Greenwood women were greeted by their local police after a trip to the Laurens Wal-Mart overnight. A four-female shoplifting incident at Wal-Mart was reported to Laurens City Police at 9 minutes after 1 o’clock this morning. The four females had allegedly placed meat and other items from the grocery aisle into a cart and were seen leaving Wal-Mart in a white Toyota. A tag observed on the car indicated it was registered in Greenwood. The vehicle was seen exiting the Wal-Mart area onto the 127 By-Pass. Laurens Police Lt. David Brewer reported that Greenwood officers spotted the vehicle going into town on Highway 72 and stopped it. Lt. Brewer was assisted by Laurens County Sheriff’s Lt. Marty Crain in transporting the four women to the Laurens Police Department this morning. The four females were delivered to the Johnson Detention Center at 4:00 this morning. Being held with Shoplifting charges were 19-year-old Chanda Anatania White of 115 Lupo Drive, 19-year-old Padreka Lineshius Heath of 201 North Aims Street, 20-year-old Jasmine Lanay Palmore of 409 Park Place Road and 18-year-old Kalashia Zankira Cowan of 700 Stanley Avenue, all Greenwood addresses. All the meats and groceries, valued at $202, were recovered.

Clinton Public Safety yesterday served charges from an alleged assault on Davis Street Monday night. 34-year-old David Dillon Summer of 1667 Shady Grove Church Road, Clinton is charged with Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature, with Assault and Battery 3rd Degree and with Indecent Exposure. Public Safety Officer Duckett states that on May 5th 2014 David Dillon Summer committed the offense of Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravate Nature by striking the victim repeatedly about her face and back with a wooden board that was likely to produce great bodily injury. This allegedly occurred at an address on Davis Street in Clinton. Officer Duckett also issued a ticket charging Summer with Assault and Battery 3rd Degree for an alleged assault on another victim at 10:02 Monday night on Davis Street. Summer was accused in a 2nd warrant with Indecent Exposure by allegedly exposing his genitals in the public domain at the same location on Davis Street. Cash or Surety bonds were set at $25,000 for the Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature charge and $1,000 bonds each for the Assault & Battery 3rd Degree and the Indecent Exposure charges. David Summer was placed in the Johnson Detention Center yesterday, and remained there this morning.

Laurens City Police yesterday arrested a man on charges of selling marijuana to juveniles in his apartment over the past three months. 54-year-old Jackie Watts Campbell of Apartment 9 at 255 East Main Street, Laurens was charged with Distribution of Marijuana, Distribution of Marijuana to a Minor, Distribution of Marijuana near a School or Park and with Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. In warrants, Officer Thibodeau states that investigation of Sgt. Michael Gainey indicates that Jackie Campbell committed the crime of Distribution of Marijuana by distributing to two juveniles on multiple occasions in exchange for money. This allegedly occurred at Apartment 9 in the Laurens Motel between February 5th and May 5th, 2014. A warrant charging Jackie Campbell with Distribution of Marijuana to a Minor states that he sold to a juvenile who is 13-years-old. The warrant charging Campbell with Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor states that he did on several occasions allow a juvenile who was 13-years-old to smoke marijuana inside his residence in Apartment 9 at 255 East Main Street. The Distribution within Proximity charge states the offenses occurred within a tenth of a mile of Little River Park. Jackie Watts Campbell was being held in the Johnson Detention Center overnight, pending a bond hearing today.

A Fountain Inn man is being held without bond following his arrest yesterday in connection with an alleged night-time break-in and assault last month.

29-year-old Tyler Meredith Lollis of 1589 Hunts Bridge Road, Fountain Inn was charged with Burglary 1st Degree, Criminal Domestic Violence of a High and Aggravated Nature and Breach of Peace, Aggravated. Deputy C. Johnson states that an investigation by Deputy Steven Sweat indicates that on April 11, 2014 Tyler Meredith Lollis entered a dwelling on Pennington Road, Fountain Inn without consent and with intent to commit a crime therein. Lollis allegedly entered the dwelling at night armed with a .45-caliber Glock handgun and did threaten to use the dangerous weapon. The defendant allegedly caused or attempted to cause physical injury to the victim who was not a participant in the crime.

Lollis is accused of knowingly and willfully attempting to cause injury to a former member of his household, using a deadly weapon in the commission of the assault and caused a reasonable fear of imminent serious bodily injury. A warrant states the assault was aggravated in that Lollis held the victim down and pointed a .45 caliber Glock handgun to her head during the incident at a residence on Pennington Road.

Lollis also allegedly breached the peace, the event being aggravated by the firing of a .45 caliber Glock handgun in the air, threatening to kill himself in the presence of others during the incident on Pennington Road, Fountain Inn.

Bond was denied during arraignment yesterday. Tyler Meredith Lollis remained in the Johnson Detention Center today.

Local Sports Results: 

LDHS:

• SB: Byrnes 10 – Laurens 6… The Lady Raider softball team traveled to Byrnes last night to take on the Lady Rebels in the District I finals of the AAAA Playoff…. They knew they had a tough task as Byrnes was undefeated in the playoff and they would have to defeat Byrnes twice to advance into the Upperstate playoffs… Laurens trailed 10-2 going into the top of the 7^th inning when they scored 4 runs but the comeback fell short as the Lady Rebels took a 10-6 win ending Laurens’ season…. Byrnes led 1-0 going into the top of the 5^th inning when Laurens picked up 2 runs as Allison Foreback led off the inning with a single and after 2 were out scored on a single by Tara Bond…. Bond would later score after being moved to second on a single by Michaela Smith and coming home on a Byrnes error… Byrnes responded by adding 4 runs in their half of the fourth to go up 5-2 and adding 5 more in the 6^th inning… In the 7^th inning after 1 out, Bond and Michaela Smith singled and after the second out was registered, Laurens loaded the bases when Elizabeth Carman was hit by a pitch… A Byrnes error than allowed Bond & Smith to score, Carman move to third and Jordan Henderson to reach second… Baylee Bragg then singled driving in Carman…. Foreback followed another single bringing in Henderson but that would be all the Raiders got as the next batter flied out ending the game… Foreback led the Raider 8 hit attack going 3-4 … Michaela Smith also had a multi-hit night as she went 2-4… Click on the following for more game details and stats: 14-5-7_SB_LDHS-Byrnes-PO_Stats   Click on the following for the game scorecard: 14-5-7_SB_LDHS-Byrnes-PO_Scorecard   Congratulations to the Raiders on a fine season.

College Baseball 

• Clemson 1 – High Point 0… Four righthanders combined to toss a four-hit shutout in No. 24 Clemson’s 1-0 win over High Point at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Wednesday night…. Clemson’s only run came in the third inning when Steven Duggar led off with a single and scored on Garrett Boulware’s sacrifice fly… The 30-19 Tigers travel to South Bend, Ind. to take on Notre Dame in a three-game series beginning tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. on ESPNU.
• South Carolina 15 – Wofford 1… 11th ranked South Carolina belted out 11 hits and also reached base with 12 walks and three hit by pitches on the way to a 15-1 win over Wofford on Wednesday night at Carolina Stadium… Five Gamecock pitchers combined to limit the Terriers to just five hits on the evening…South Carolina goes to 36-13 on the year and will host Missouri in a 3-game series starting at 7:00 and that game can be seen on Sports South.

Braves : St Louis 7 – Atlanta 1… 24 hours after snapping a 7 game losing streak, the Braves may have started another one as the cardinals took a 7-1 win over the Bravos… The Braves will have tonight off then open a 3 game home series with the Chicago Cubs.

Local Sports Schedule:

CHS:

• Tennis host Emerald in 2^nd round playoff action   4:30 

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 Sheriff’s Office yesterday arrested a Laurens County man from a case of alleged meth possession a month ago. 40-year-old Matthew Victor Waldrop of 997 Harris Spring Road, Waterloo was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine. Officer Matt Veal states that on April 8th, 2014 Matthew Waldrop possessed less than one gram of methamphetamine at 5467 Highway 221 South, Laurens. Waldrop was later released from the Johnson Detention Center on posting a $5,000 surety bond.

Laurens Police Officer Patrick Craven was dispatched to the Lil’ Cricket on Church Street at 10:40 yesterday morning after a clerk detected a $10 bill she had been given was counterfeit. The woman attempting to make a purchase with the bill indicated she didn’t know where she got it from. She left the store then returned with other money to pay for her purchase. Officer Craven seized the counterfeit $10 bill and placed it into evidence.

Laurens County Deputy Jamie Lee Edwards was dispatched to Old Laurens Road near Fountain Inn at 12:55 yesterday afternoon to investigate a theft. A 63-year-old man said that a 31-year-old man and a red-haired female came by his house yesterday morning in a white SUV. He said the woman took the man to Simpsonville then came back to his house. He said the woman wanted him to ride with her around the block for a little while. He said after riding around he asked her to take him home, and questioned if they had something planned against him. When she brought him back, he reportedly found the man locked in his bedroom. After getting the man to leave, he discovered three firearms were missing, along with a digital camera and checkbooks. His mother’s purse was also missing. Total value of the theft was set at $950.

The Sheriff’s Office was dispatched early yesterday afternoon to investigate a theft of copper from a cell tower site. Deputy Yarbrough spoke with a Columbia man about the theft from a cell tower on Shady Grove Church Road near Joanna, which had apparently occurred over the past 30 days. The man said that 7 ground wires and some copper plates had been cut and that the fence around the tower had also been cut. Metals valued at $2,000 were taken.

Assault charges were pending on a Laurens man following an indent in the Jersey neighborhood around 4:20 yesterday afternoon. A woman reported that her grandson knows something about an incident that her son was involved with and that her husband wanted to know about it. When the grandson refused to give information, the husband allegedly began to assault him. The grandson reportedly told Officer Craven that he was struck approximately 6 times with a crutch, and that as he attempted to escape the older man pinned him in a closet and struck him with the crutch. EMS was dispatched to check out the grandson’s injuries. It appeared that the juvenile would lose the nail from the big toe on his right foot, as a result of the injuries.

A Union County woman wanted by state Probation, Pardon and Parole was arrested in a traffic stop at 11:08 last night. Laurens Police Officer Charles Simmons reported he was on patrol on Church Street when he observed a speeding SUV that he determined was doing 57 in a 40-mile-per-hour zone.     He made a traffic stop on Church near Spring Street. The woman reportedly indicated she didn’t have a driver’s license on her. Checking with dispatch, Officer Simmons learned that the woman’s license was suspended, and that she was wanted by Probation, Pardon and Parole. 22-year-old Amber Kayla Smith of 2722 West Springs-Buffalo Highway near Buffalo was arrested for a charge of Driving under Suspension 4th offense and for the warrant for Probation and placed in the Johnson Detention Center, where she was being held overnight.

The United Way of Laurens County (UWLC) is presenting it’s 22nd Annual Golf Championship today at Lakeside Country Club. This year’s event is presented by Carolina Stitches, Laurens County Water and Sewer Commission and Laurens Electric Cooperative.

UWLC’s Golf Championship benefits the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, a program that helps promote family literacy.  All children in Laurens County from ages 0-5 can receive FREE, age-appropriate books each month through the Imagination Library program. Since its start here in Laurens County in 2002, this program has distributed over 144,000 books to local children. Funds raised from the annual golf tournament help the United Way to continue mailing out these free books, which gets children excited about reading and learning.

UWLC was anticipating around 100 golfers to participate in the Shotgun Start/ Captain’s Choice format tournament. Golfers were to enjoy a day of golf, contests, prizes and good food. A box lunch will be served before the start of the tournament, and the day will end with a delicious dinner including BBQ chicken, grilled on site. Prizes and winners will be announced during dinner.

The tournament registration fee per team is $500 and includes: green fees, cart fees, boxed lunches, beverages, snacks, and dinner.

A Laurens County man was apparently struck in the head with the handle of a hammer after returning to his Enoree area home yesterday morning. The Sheriff’s Office was dispatched at 8:16 am. The man told Corporal Jimmy Johnson that he had come home early from work because he broke his toe. He said he doesn’t lock his door because a neighbor would notice anyone coming down the dirt road. He said that when he arrived home he went to the bathroom, and that as he bent over to check under the sink he was hit on the back of his head and he went to the floor. He added that as he was getting up he was struck again, on the back of the head. He indicated that as he got up again he saw what appeared to be a while male in a blue shirt running across the yard and into the woods. He said he got his .22 automatic and took about 9 shots towards the subject. Corporal Johnson located a hammer with blood stains on the handle. He and Lt. Bolt investigated the area where the subject was seen running into the woods. They also located seven .22 long rifle casings on the ground and front porch. A neighbor transported the man to the hospital for treatment of a cut to the back of his head. Nothing was noted as missing from the house in the initial check by the resident.

The Sheriff’s Office was investigating the matter.

Clinton Public Safety has made an arrest in a case where a husband allegedly violated a court order to enter his wife’s residence Tuesday afternoon and allegedly assaulted her. 42-year-old Tony Ray Sherfield of 19985 Highway 72 East, Clinton was charged with 1st Degree Burglary, Criminal Domestic Violence, Trespassing and Violation of a Court Order. He was also served with a Bench Warrant citing contempt of Magistrate’s  Court.

Clinton Public Safety was dispatched to Sherfield’s estranged wife’s residence on Oakland Street at 3:03 Tuesday afternoon, where his wife and three other women reported entry into the house and an assault.

A Burglary 1st warrant charges him with entering the premises on Oakland Street without permission May 6th and once inside, committing a battery to his wife. That warrant, along with one charging Criminal Domestic Violence, allege that once inside the house he grabbed his wife by her right wrist, causing severe bruising; and that he struck her about the left side of her face, causing severe redness. Sherfield was also charged with violation of an Order of Protection and with Trespass after Notice for the alleged entry into the mobile home on Oakland Street Tuesday afternoon. Warrants note there was a valid Order of Protection from Laurens County Family Court in effect and that Sherfield had been served with a notice not to trespass on the property.

In addition to the charges from Public Safety, Municipal Court Judge Joel Whitsel issued a commitment of 30 days to Tony Sherfield for Contempt of Magistrate’s Court.
During arraignment yesterday, bond was denied on the charges of Burglary 1st Degree and Violation of a Court Order. A $10,000 cash or surety bond was set on the Criminal Domestic Violence charge, and a $1,000 bond was set on the Trespass case.

Tony Ray Sherfield was transported to the Johnson Detention Center yesterday, where he remained today.

Laurens Police were dispatched to Independence Avenue at 7:02 last evening on a report of malicious damage. A woman reported that a group of kids were throwing rocks or dirt and had dented her son’s Ford Escape. Damage was estimated at $100. Officer Woody got the names of three youth in the area as possible witnesses and was to review video of the area to determine who threw a rock that damaged the car.

Three people were placed in the Laurens County Detention Center yesterday on Bench Warrants from various courts.

57-year-old Steve Michael Goldsmith of 407 Boyd Avenue, Simpsonville was served with a Bench Warrant for a Receiving Stolen Goods charge. It states he was convicted May 5, 2010 for Receiving Stolen Goods with a value less than $1,000. A sentence was imposed with a balance due of $1,092 and jail time of 30 days, suspended to restitution of $700 and $300 court costs to run consecutive with any and all other sentences. A letter was mailed to the defendant May 6th, 2010 to comply or a Bench Warrant would be issued. No response was received from the letter.

21-year-old Timothy Lavonne Jenkins of 1298 Kenilworth Drive, Atlanta was served with a General Sessions Court Bench Warrant citing Failure to Appear in court September 6, 2013 to face a charge of Financial Card Theft. He was being held pending appearance in General Sessions Court.

21-year-old Alexus Deshon Coleman of #232 at 219 Independence Avenue, Laurens was served with a Bench Warrant from Laurens Municipal Court. It cites a conviction yesterday for of Giving False Information to Police with a sentence imposed of 30 days or $500.

Laurens City Police yesterday arrested a man for allegedly assaulting his grandson with a crutch on Wednesday. A police report stated the man was trying to get the grandson to provide information on a matter. 66-year-old David Mosley of 132 Jersey Street, Laurens was charged yesterday with Assault and Battery 2nd Degree. In a warrant, Master Patrolman Patrick Craven states that on Wednesday David Mosley committed Assault 2nd Degree by striking his grandson with a crutch approximately 6 times on the right arm and right foot during the incident at 132 Jersey Street. Mr. Mosley was held overnight in the Johnson Detention Center, pending a bond hearing.

Laurens Police Sgt. Joey Pittman responded to Wilson Street at 21 minutes after midnight this morning on an assault in progress report. On arrival he made contact with a woman who appeared to be very upset. She reportedly indicated she and her boyfriend were sitting on the front porch when the boyfriend suggested she pay the bills online. She got out the laptop computer, but neither remembered the password. The boyfriend then reportedly became upset and began demeaning her and her family. After a few minutes she reportedly tried to leave but he took her car keys. When she tried to call a friend to come get her he allegedly took the phone and threw it to the ground and destroyed it. He also allegedly destroyed her tablet. He also allegedly grabbed her and choked her as she attempted to leave, and took her glasses and threw them on the ground destroying them. After checking the evidence Sgt. Pittman arrested the boyfriend. 53-year-old Calvin Eugene Johnson of 318 Wilson Street was charged with Criminal Domestic Violence and Malicious Damage. He was placed in the Johnson Detention Center.

The top students in academic achievement from all four grades at Laurens District 55 High School were honored yesterday during the  Annual Rotary Top Ten Awards program, held at St. James United Methodist Church.

LDHS Principal Sonya Bryant recognized each Top Ten student from each class, but gave additional information on the Top Ten Seniors. She noted the amount of scholarships that have been offered to each senior in the top ten. Two had over a quarter-million dollars. She said the Top Ten Seniors together had just under $1.4 million in scholarships offered.

We asked Principal Bryant for her thoughts on the students, particularly the Seniors.

“I am just so proud of these Raiders. They’ve done a great job, they’ve worked hard and they’re about to see the fruits of their work. We’re excited. We know they’re going to go on and do great things and we look forward to what that means.”

The Top Ten Seniors honored yesterday were  Jessica Faith Ackerman, Rylan Douglas Burdette, Elizabeth Caroline Carman, Morgan Nicole Creasy, Sara Kalyn Croker, Robert Traynham Davis, Alexandra Nicole King, Logan Shayne Lewis, April Kathleen Nimmons and Macy Jordan Sweatman.

The Top Ten Juniors were Ashley Elizabeth Brown, Ravon Nicole House, Kaitlin Taylor Jones, Hope Elizabeth Patterson, Brianna Lee Reitzel, Matthew Donald Rhodes, Dana Renee Robinson, Phillip Sumter towels, Desirae Alexis Vess and Emily Elizabeth Wessinger.

Top Ten members of the Sophomore Class were Jamie Elizabeth Ackerman, Cal Preston Bedenbaugh, George Lewis Compton, Randall Jared Cooley, Alexandra Elizabeth DeVucono, Maddox Grace Greene, Christian Elexis Martin, Cade Michael Patterson, Jessica Zanetti and Peiying Zou.

Freshmen making the Top Ten for their class were Jessica Fleming Blakely, Haley Ann Bond, William Summie Carlay, Patton Edward Coker, Brandi Nicole Eiff, Johnathan Lewis Finley, Callie Marie Harlan, Evan Alexander Taylor, Katie Lynn Waters and Choloe’ Nashipai Watts.

Presbyterian College Professor of the Year Dr. Latha Allen Gearheart and Outstanding Senior Lucia Maria Leahy of Charlotte, N.C. will deliver the keynote addresses at the 2014 commencement exercises tomorrow.

This year’s ceremony includes the awarding of doctor of pharmacy degrees to the 76 members of the PC School of Pharmacy inaugural class. Bachelor of science and bachelor of arts degrees will also be presented to 281 seniors from the main campus.

The academic processional to the West Plaza begins at 10 a.m. when the Arts and Sciences Senior Class President Floyd Michael Nicholson of Greenwood and School of Pharmacy Class of 2014 President Amber Nicole Rish of Little Mountain together will ring the historic bell signifying the beginning of the ceremony. The processional ends beneath the giant oak trees before historic Neville Hall.  Visitors are advised to be in their seats by 9:45 a.m.

In the event of rain, the College of Arts & Sciences ceremony will be held at Templeton Gym beginning at 10 a.m. followed by the School of Pharmacy ceremony at 2 p.m. in Belk Auditorium.

A variety of ceremonies are taking place before the Saturday Commencement, including the Student-Athlete Commencement Ceremony held yesterday for PC baseball players who will be participating in the Big South Tournament in Florida today thru Sunday.

Today’s events include the Teacher Induction Ceremony, the ROTC Hall of Fame/Wysor Saber Award & Commissioning Ceremony and the Baccalaureate, a multi-faith service open to all graduate and their guests. PC Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life Jeri Parris Perkins will deliver the keynote address. She is also the director of the Cornelson Center for the Exploration of Christian Practice.

Dr. Perkins has accepted the senior pastor position at First Presbyterian Church of Clinton.

Graduation Ceremonies begin at 10 in the morning at PC.