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July 29, 2009 / Front Page

Duncan Harper captures Dist. 6 school board seat

By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

Only a handful of voters turned out, but local Realtor Robin Duncan Harper was still elected to the school board Tuesday by a convincing margin. More...

Federal stimulus dollars buy new roofs

By LARRY HILLIARD Ledger Staff Writer larry@gaffneyledger.com

Many have been frustrated by the seemingly slow pace of the flow of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, more commonly known as federal stimulus money. Gaffney Housing Authority Executive Director Randy Mathis isn't among them. More...

Local News

Duke Energy requests 12.1 percent rate hike

By LARRY HILLIARD Ledger Staff Writer larry@gaffneyledger.com

Duke Energy is seeking a rate hike that could raise the average Cherokee County customer's bill by about $14 a month. More...

Victim of crash identified

By TIM GULLA Ledger Staff Writer tim@gaffneyledger.com

A person killed in a fiery Sunday morning crash on Sunny Slope Drive was identified Monday afternoon as a 43-year-old Love Springs Road man. Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler said Raymond Anthony Austin was identified through dental records. More...

Students get a taste of Hawaii

Footage taken By SCOTT POWELL

This story contains a video VIDEO: Mary Bramlett Elementary junior Beta Club members sample coconuts and sweet bread Wednesday morning. More...

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Sports

Wildcats prepare to open preseason practice Friday

By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Sports Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

On a hot Wednesday afternoon in mid-July, Blacksburg football players were busy running stairs and sidestepping obstacles before another trip to the weightroom. More...

Making a coach's job easier

By LARRY HILLIARD Ledger Sports Editor larry@gaffneyledger.com

Bryan Parsons is the type of player who can make a coach's job easier. You hear that a lot, but usually it's when a coach is talking about a player with great skill or talent or someone with a natural instinct for the game. More...

Gallman falls short in quest

USC Upstate golfer and Gaffney High product Josh Gallman turned in a solid 2- under-par 69 in the second and final round of the sectional qualifying tournament for the 2009 U.S. More...

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Letters

It's amazes him that we can't hang people who bring such heartache on others

Dear Editor: I have given a lot of thought to what I feel I want to say and how to express it. After the outright slaying of five people, I have cried for three days. More...

Praises Cherokee County Sheriff's Dept. Detective Tim Clark for a job well done

Dear Editor: I want to say a word of praise to our Cherokee County detectives, especially Mr. Tim Clark. On a Thursday we had a break-in of a locked building on our property. By the following Tuesday, Mr. More...

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Other News

Sickness was test of faith, mom says

ROBERT IMRIE Associated Press Writer

WAUSAU, Wisconsin (AP) - - The mother of an 11-year-old girl who died of undiagnosed diabetes as the family prayed for her to get better testified Tuesday that she believes sickness is caused by sin and can be cured by God. More...

Minimum wage hike could threaten low earners' jobs

DIONNE WALKER Associated Press Writer

ATLANTA (AP) — A federal minimum wage increase that took effect Friday could prolong the recession, some economists say, by forcing small businesses to lay off the same workers that the pay hike passed in better times was meant to help. More...

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Fire truck overturns en route to blaze

By TIM GULLA Ledger Staff Writer tim@gaffneyledger.com

This story contains a video Though soaking wet and standing under an ominous sky that repeatedly flashed lightning, Blacksburg Fire Chief Clay Greer was able to breathe a sigh of relief Tuesday night that none of his men had been injured. The Blacksburg Fire Department's Rescu More...

From the operating room to a federal courtroom

By TIM GULLA Ledger Staff Writer tim@gaffneyledger.com

A North Carolina prison parolee involved in a shootout with Cherokee County Sheriff's Department deputies July 18 will make an initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate in Charlotte, N.C., today. More...

School wins $10K video contest prize

By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

Ewing Middle School won the $10,000 grand prize in an American Idol-style video online contest. More...

LifeStyles

CHAPS planning reunion of Central School alumni

Fund raising drop-in is set for Oct. 10

A reunion of Central School alumni is being planned to help raise money for the Cherokee County History and Arts Museum, located in the former Central School building at 301 College Drive. The reunion is set for Saturday, Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. More...

ANNIE'S MAILBOX

She doesn't want to parent teenagers when she's 60 years old

Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar

Dear Annie: Several years ago, my younger brother, "Ben," and his wife asked my husband and me to be the guardians of their new baby and any future children. More...

Spartanburg Little Theatre celebrates icons of book, stage, song and screen during its 2009-2010 season

New season kicks off Sept. 11 with 'My Fair Lady'

SPARTANBURG - In its 2009-2010 season, the Spartanburg Little Theatre will celebrate icons of book, stage, song and screen: the beautiful Eliza Doolittle, the cunning Sherlock Holmes, the incomparable Frank Sinatra, the inspiring Dr. More...

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Obituaries

Evelyn Shinn

Evelyn McSwain Shinn died peacefully in her sleep Sunday evening, July 26, 2009, at Magnolias of Gaffney, her home for the past four years. She was 93 years old, and after several years of declining health was ready to move on. More...

Raymond A. Austin

Self-employed brick mason; Little League Football coach

COWPENS - Raymond Anthony Austin, 43, of 759 Love Springs Road, husband of Yolanda Corry Austin, passed away Sunday, July 26, 2009, at 4 a.m. on Sunny Slope Road in Cowpens. More...

Lou Owensby

BLACKSBURG - Hattie Luvenia (Lou) Steadman Owensby, 74, of 153 Owensby Drive, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, July 25, 2009, at Upstate Carolina Medical Center. More...

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Columns

Round 'em up and ship 'em back where they came from

LEDGER COLUMNIST

CODY SOSSAMON PUBLISHER

Does anyone understand the healthcare 'reform' proposed by President Obama? No? I didn't think so. All I've heard or read is those opposed to the plan say it will put an end to private insurance and freedom to choose one's doctor. More...

LEDGER READERS ON THE ROAD

Addie Vinesett and Claire Hancock, daughters of Jeff and Julie Vinesett and Todd and Tammy Hancock, took a copy of The Ledger with them on a recent trip to Myrtle Beach. More...

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