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July 8, 2009 / Front Page

IT'S OVER

Serial killer made fatal mistake of shooting at police officers

By TIM GULLA Ledger Staff Writer tim@gaffneyledger.com

Nine days of fear in Cherokee County technically ended at about 3 a.m. Monday with a hail of gunfire in a small home on Dallas-Spencer Mountain Road in Gaston County, N.C., even though the realization wouldn't set in until hours later. More...

Local News

As news that the serial killer had been shot dead spread, a collective sigh of relief resounded across the county

By JOE L. HUGHES II Ledger Staff Writer joe@gaffneyledger.com

Finally, a sigh of relief. Local residents were able to rest a little easier Monday night after learning the man who terrorized Cherokee County for the past nine days had committed his last crime. More...

Big break came when concerned neighbor called police

By JOE L. HUGHES II Ledger Staff Writer joe@gaffneyledger.com

DALLAS, N.C. — Terry Valentine wasn't expecting a simple call to law enforcement officials would give them the break they needed to take down a serial killer. Awake at 2:30 a.m. More...

What Others Are Saying

SC residents relieved by suspected killer's death

MITCH WEISS Associated Press Writer

The Associated Press GAFFNEY, S.C. (AP) — People terrorized by a serial killer who shot five people to death in their small community were relieved after police said they killed the man responsible. More...

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Obituaries

Abby Tyler

Abby Leigh Tyler, 15, of 189 Farm Wind Road, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, July 4, 2009. Born in Spartanburg and a lifelong resident of Gaffney, she was the daughter of Kim Barnhill Tyler and the late Stephen Hyland Tyler. More...

Willine Evans

COWPENS - Willine Westbrooks Evans, 80, of 3001 Battleground Road, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, July 7, 2009, at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. More...

Stephen Tyler

Stephen Hyland Tyler, 48, of 189 Farm Wind Road, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, July 2, 2009. More...

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A 'rap sheet' as long as your arm

By TIM GULLA Ledger Staff Writer tim@gaffneyledger.com

Patrick Tracy Burris literally had a criminal record the length of an arm. His rap sheet consists of 25 pages, it covered multiple states and he had just been paroled not long ago from a multi-year prison sentence in North Carolina. More...

LifeStyles

Porkchop Productions will present 'Little Red Riding Hood' at Gaffney, Blacksburg libraries

July 13 performances part of library's Summer Reading Program

Porkchop Productions will present Little Red Riding Hood on Monday, July 13, at 10:30 a.m. at the Blacksburg Library and at 2:30 p.m. at the Cherokee County Public Library in Gaffney. More...

ANNIE'S MAILBOX

She's old enough to date whomever she chooses

Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar

Dear Annie: I am a 28-year-old gay man. I have two jobs, keep my own house and pay my own bills. I recently started seeing someone who makes me feel wonderful, and for once in my life, I am happy. The problem is my mother. More...

Moses Wood UDC travels to Abbeville on annual Spring tour

Moses Wood Chapter No. 469 United Daughters of the Confederacy visited Abbeville for its annual Spring tour. Each year, the group selects an historic site to visit. More...

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Sports

Lancaster walks let Post 109 even playoff series

By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Sports Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

Post 109 American Junior Legion held off Lancaster Tuesday for a 8-7 victory in extra innings. Alex Trammell scored the winning run in the ninth inning when Jonathan Smith walked with the bases loaded to force in the decisive run. More...

Post 109 overpowers Union in makeup game

By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Sports Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

The Post 109 American Legion team entered this week focused on developing playoff depth headed into the state playoffs. More...

POST 109 PROFILE

Name: Michael Wright Age: 15 Position: Pitcher/infielder School: Gaffney High High School Stats: .250 batting average. Hobbies: Call of Duty and sports. More...

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Columns

The 'who' is known, but the 'why' remains

LEDGER COLUMNIST

CODY SOSSAMON PUBLISHER

What words can describe the emotional roller coaster the residents of Cherokee County — and especially the families of the victims — have been on for the past week. More...

LEDGER READERS ON THE ROAD

Jason and Mia Bryson and their boys Ty, Jake and Dylan took The Gaffney Ledger on the road with them in June while visiting Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. More...

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