Coast Guard

rescues two

CHARLESTON - The Coast Guard rescued two men from a capsized boat about eight miles east of the Little River Inlet off the South Carolina coast.

A Coast Guard spokesman in Charleston says 62-yearold Fred Reed Johnson and 62-year-old Gary Stout, both of Calabash, N.C., were picked up about 2:20 a.m. Friday.

Spokesman Bobby Nash says the men had left Little River on Thursday morning in a 21-foot boat. Johnson's wife reported them overdue Thursday night.

A small boat from the Coast Guard station in Georgetown, a Coast Guard helicopter from Charleston and the state Natural Resources Department started a search.

The men were picked up the helicopter and were taken to Grand Strand Airport in North Myrtle Beach in good condition.

Sheriff: Deaths

a murder-suicide

SUMTER - Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis says the shooting deaths of a man and woman in Dalzell was an apparent murder-suicide.

Dennis told The Item of Sumter that it appears 52- year-old Kurt Edward Kern shot 51-year-old Patricia Anne Kern and then took his own life Thursday morning.

Dennis says the investigation is continuing.

Dennis says the bodies were found by a deputy who was asked to check on the couple.

He says the home was locked and deputies forced their way in when they were unable to find anyone with a key.

Dennis says Kurt Kern was in a living room chair with an apparently selfinflicted gunshot wound to the head. There was a gun in his lap.

Patricia Kern was found in a bedroom lying face-down on the bed with a gunshot wound to the head.

Man charged

in fatal shooting

GREENVILLE - A Greenville County man has been charged with murder in the shooting death of one man and the wounding of his brother.

The Greenville News reported Thursday that 20- year-old Vantonius Roshaun McDowell of Moonville is charged with murder and assault and battery with intent to kill. It was unclear if McDowell had an attorney.

Master Deputy Michael Hildebrand says shots were fired about 4:15 p.m. Wednesday.

Greenville County Deputy Coroner Kent Dill says 23- year-old Desmond Littlejohn of Piedmont died about three hours later at Greenville Memorial Hospital.

Lt. Shea Smith says the victim's brother, Kendrick Littlejohn, was shot in the leg.

Deputies say McDowell turned himself in to officers.

Smith says the reason for the shooting was still under investigation.

5 arrested in car

thefts probe

CHARLESTON - Five people have been arrested in South Carolina in connection with what police say is a sophisticated car theft ring that stole at least 23 vehicles three states.

One of those arrested was a pastor who says he was a victim of the ring, not a member of it.

The Charleston Post and Courier reported Thursday that vehicles worth about $600,000 were stolen from dealerships in Georgia and both North and South Carolina.

Police said the thieves caused a distraction and switched fake keys for the real keys. The thieves would return later, drive away in the cars and swap out valid registrations and tags from similar vehicles at salvage junkyards.

The stolen vehicles were later sold along roadsides for cash.

Florence mayor

continues appeal

FLORENCE - Florence Mayor Frank Willis says he will appeal a judge's ruling upholding his one-vote loss in last month's Democratic primary.

Willis says he will ask Circuit Judge Michael Nettles to reconsider his ruling upholding Stephen Wukela's victory. If that fails, he will then appeal to the South Carolina Supreme Court.

Willis says he is appealing not because the election was so close, but because it wasn't fair.

The race was held the same day as June's statewide primaries, causing confusion. Willis says some voters outside the city got to cast ballots, while voters inside the city were not allowed to vote in the race.

Willis says the Supreme Court in 2003 overturned the mayor's race in Johnsonville in similar circumstances.

Bear sightings

close campground

ANDERSON - U.S. Forest Service officials closed the Long Bottom Ford Campground in Oconee County after a black bear ripped open a camper's tent in search of food.

The Anderson Independent Mail cites a statement from the forest service which says a mother bear and three cubs also were seen at the campground, which was closed on Thursday.

Forest service spokeswoman Michelle Burnett says no one was injured at the campground.

All campers have been asked to leave as soon as possible.

The statement from the forest service says the campground will remain closed for at least a week while personnel monitors the site.

Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist Skip Still says once food sources are removed from the campground, the bear and her cubs likely will leave.

(Associated Press)