were sentenced here today after admitting their involvement in the July 7, 2005 lynching of 16year-old Isaiah Clyburn. Circuit Court Judge Jack Early handed down sentences ranging from 30 months to six years in prison after the five pleaded guilty to 2nd-degree lynching and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. Second-degree lynching is defined by South Carolina […]
New assessor drives county car to private event at beach
New Cherokee County tax assessor Robert Everett thought he was abiding by his employment agreement when he drove his county owned vehicle to Myrtle Beach last weekend. But Cherokee County Interim Administrator Ben Clary questioned Everett’s judgment because the trip was apparently unrelated to his county tax assessor responsibilities. According to the terms of Everett’s hiring agreement, his compensation package […]
Feb. 9 banquet will kick off crusade
It’s been more than 30 years since Gaffney and Cherokee County have seen a community crusade. But if the Broad River Baptist Association and dozens of local churches can garner community support, they might bring back an old-fashioned tent revival with a new millennium flavor. “Since returning to Cherokee County to become Director of Missions of the association I have […]
Body discovered in house; police are investigating
The death of a 32-year-old Gaffney woman remains under investigation. Cherokee County Coroner Joe Vinesett said Trenia Wilkins, of 216 O’Sage Drive, died from a gunshot wound to the head. Authorities are awaiting the results of an autopsy conducted Tuesday. Detective Capt. Mike Fowlkes of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said the death has been ruled suspicious. It was reported […]
City’s building inspector makes pitch to school board
Brian Blackwell is quite familiar with the last-minute details in making sure newly-completed buildings are safe for occupancy. Blackwell, the city’s building inspector, now wants to lend his expertise to the school board when it begins work on a new $33.3 million building program. He asked school trustees Tuesday to consider using his private company, RCI of South Carolina Inc., […]
Trustees want additional inspection of Alma
School trustees Barry Bailey and Lindley Auton offered to spend their own money on a private building inspector to look over the $1.8 million Alma Elementary addition. Those plans ended at Tuesday’s board meeting at least temporarily when their fellow board members objected to letting Bailey and Auton pay for their own inspector without school board approval. Both Bailey and […]
City will begin moving into new facility Friday, Jan. 20
It’s one weekend city staffers probably won’t mind working. They will say goodbye to their current administration building on Friday, Jan. 20, and begin moving into the new $3.9 million city hall, city administrator James Taylor told Gaffney City Council on Monday. The present administration building will remain open that day to serve city residents, he said. Staffers will be […]
First black to attend Clemson will speak here
Limestone College will welcome community activist and former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. for its third annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration. Gantt’s presentation on “Civil Rights and the Carolinas” will take place in the college’s Fullerton Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public. Born in Charleston, Gantt was the first black student […]
Man pleads guilty to shooting off-duty troopers
A Gaffney man admitted Tuesday to shooting two offduty S.C. Highway Patrolmen in May. Robert Vincent Taetz, 68, of 802 W. Cherokee St., pleaded guilty to two counts each of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and assault of a high and aggravated nature. Circuit Court Judge Jack Early sentenced Taetz to six years in prison suspended […]
Gaffney native named educator of the year
Gaffney native Nancy Tate Garmroth is one of three Spartanburg Technical College’s (STC) faculty and staff members named college recipients of the South Carolina Technical Education Association’s (SCTEA) Educators of the Year awards. Each year, STC’s faculty and staff submits nominations for colleagues who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence and dedication to the College. Recipients are chosen from the […]
