Carolina Countryside News will be going on hiatus. For a periodic wrap-up of major news stories from the Piedmont and mountains of western South and North Carolina, go to The Liberty Sphere:
http://www.thelibertysphere.blogspot.com/
Here is the first entry of the section that is entitled, 'Top News From the Western Carolinas':
http://thelibertysphere.blogspot.com/2008/06/top-news-from-western-carolinas.html
There will be much more to come as The Liberty Sphere begins this new feature for readers in our local area.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Parker Beats Davenport in Landslide
With 100% of the vote counted, challenger Steve Parker has defeated incumbent S.C. House Representative Ralph Davenport in a landslide, 62% to 38%.
Parker, the Republican, will go on to run against the Democrat in November in House District 37, one of the most heavily GOP-populated areas of the state.
When the two Republicans squared off two years ago Davenport defeated Parker by only 9 votes. This time around, however, Davenport had raised the ire of many within the district by proposing a school district consolidation plan.
Parker, a former public school teacher, vehemently opposed consolidating Spartanburg County's 7 school districts.
Apparently the vast majority of the voters within the district agree with Parker, who had held a series of townhall-style meetings with voters across the county demanding that the 7 school districts be left alone.
The problem is that the Governor and the legislature plan to do otherwise.
Perhaps with a strong voice in Columbia opposing such an ill-conceived and politically unpopular plan, the powers that be in the statehouse will reconsider their secret scheme to foist upon the voters of Spartanburg County.
Parker is an outspoken leader on a variety of issues including budget restraint, tax cuts, and a sensible plan to keep education close to the local people. He is also pro-business and casts a wary eye toward extremist environmentalist groups that would hamstring capitalistic growth with their socialistic programs that limit human freedom and choice.
We strongly believe that the voters in Spartanburg County made the right choice in sending Steve Parker to the S.C. House.
For more information on other important races in South Carolina, click here:
http://thelibertysphere.blogspot.com/2008/06/graham-inglis-win-important-primary.html
Parker, the Republican, will go on to run against the Democrat in November in House District 37, one of the most heavily GOP-populated areas of the state.
When the two Republicans squared off two years ago Davenport defeated Parker by only 9 votes. This time around, however, Davenport had raised the ire of many within the district by proposing a school district consolidation plan.
Parker, a former public school teacher, vehemently opposed consolidating Spartanburg County's 7 school districts.
Apparently the vast majority of the voters within the district agree with Parker, who had held a series of townhall-style meetings with voters across the county demanding that the 7 school districts be left alone.
The problem is that the Governor and the legislature plan to do otherwise.
Perhaps with a strong voice in Columbia opposing such an ill-conceived and politically unpopular plan, the powers that be in the statehouse will reconsider their secret scheme to foist upon the voters of Spartanburg County.
Parker is an outspoken leader on a variety of issues including budget restraint, tax cuts, and a sensible plan to keep education close to the local people. He is also pro-business and casts a wary eye toward extremist environmentalist groups that would hamstring capitalistic growth with their socialistic programs that limit human freedom and choice.
We strongly believe that the voters in Spartanburg County made the right choice in sending Steve Parker to the S.C. House.
For more information on other important races in South Carolina, click here:
http://thelibertysphere.blogspot.com/2008/06/graham-inglis-win-important-primary.html
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Dirty Tricks in Davenport Vs. Parker Race
One of the more interesting political contests in South Carolina this year is that between S.C. House Representative Ralph Davenport (R-House District 37 in Spartanburg County) and challenger Steve Parker. The GOP primary to chose one of these to run against the Democrat in November takes place this coming Tuesday.
During the last GOP primary two years ago, Parker came to within 9 votes of beating Davenport. Many observers believe that this year he will go over the top and unseat the incumbent.
But Davenport will not go without a fight. Reports of dirty tricks have surfaced as well. An environmentalist group, claiming not to be affiliated in any way with Davenport, falsely accused Parker of unlawfully dumping paint into a stream behind his home, contaminating the water and property downstream.
An investigation ensued which showed no evidence that Parker had done such a thing.
Davenport has raised the ire of many of his constituents over his support for reducing the number of school districts in Spartanburg County from 7 to 1. Originally Davenport proposed 4 districts but withdrew that proposal only a few weeks after rolling it out. It was then discovered that the legislature and the Governor want only one mammoth school district encompassing the whole of Spartanburg County.
Parker has been on the frontline of the opposition to this scheme from the start. For more details of the this issue, along with pertinent commentary, click here to go to The Liberty Sphere:
http://thelibertysphere.blogspot.com/2008/06/parker-vs-davenport-riveting-race-in-sc.html
During the last GOP primary two years ago, Parker came to within 9 votes of beating Davenport. Many observers believe that this year he will go over the top and unseat the incumbent.
But Davenport will not go without a fight. Reports of dirty tricks have surfaced as well. An environmentalist group, claiming not to be affiliated in any way with Davenport, falsely accused Parker of unlawfully dumping paint into a stream behind his home, contaminating the water and property downstream.
An investigation ensued which showed no evidence that Parker had done such a thing.
Davenport has raised the ire of many of his constituents over his support for reducing the number of school districts in Spartanburg County from 7 to 1. Originally Davenport proposed 4 districts but withdrew that proposal only a few weeks after rolling it out. It was then discovered that the legislature and the Governor want only one mammoth school district encompassing the whole of Spartanburg County.
Parker has been on the frontline of the opposition to this scheme from the start. For more details of the this issue, along with pertinent commentary, click here to go to The Liberty Sphere:
http://thelibertysphere.blogspot.com/2008/06/parker-vs-davenport-riveting-race-in-sc.html
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Upstate Sex Offender Arrested Again
An Anderson County man who is a registered sex offender but out of jail has been arrested again for allegedly performing sex acts on an underage girl between the age of 6 and 7.
Charles Randy 'Cowboy' Horne, 29, of Anderson was placed under arrest and sent to jail without bond.
Horne had served time for a prior sex charge in 1996, after he was convicted of having sex with an underage girl under the age of 16.
Police believe that there are more victims. If anyone has information concerning this case, please contact the Anderson County Sheriff's Office at (864) 332-5340.
Charles Randy 'Cowboy' Horne, 29, of Anderson was placed under arrest and sent to jail without bond.
Horne had served time for a prior sex charge in 1996, after he was convicted of having sex with an underage girl under the age of 16.
Police believe that there are more victims. If anyone has information concerning this case, please contact the Anderson County Sheriff's Office at (864) 332-5340.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Tornadoes Rip Through S.C. Counties
The National Weather Service has indicated that South Carolina was hit with a series of tornadoes and straight-line winds on Saturday as several counties and towns in the state were adversely affected.
Perhaps the most severe damage occurred in Prosperity, South Carolina, which is located in Newberry County. Large trees were uprooted, roofs were blown off, and houses were destroyed. The town of Prosperity itself also sustained significant damage.
Prosperity is located approximately 10 miles from Newberry and 20 min. north of the state capital of Columbia.
Tornadoes also reportedly touched down in the following counties: Abbeville, Greenwood, Laurens, and Cherokee.
In spite of the widespread damage in the areas indicated, no one was injured in the severe storms.
Perhaps the most severe damage occurred in Prosperity, South Carolina, which is located in Newberry County. Large trees were uprooted, roofs were blown off, and houses were destroyed. The town of Prosperity itself also sustained significant damage.
Prosperity is located approximately 10 miles from Newberry and 20 min. north of the state capital of Columbia.
Tornadoes also reportedly touched down in the following counties: Abbeville, Greenwood, Laurens, and Cherokee.
In spite of the widespread damage in the areas indicated, no one was injured in the severe storms.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
LOCAL NEWS REPORTER ATTACKED AS CAMERAS ROLL
On a sunny afternoon on Tuesday, March 11, in broad, open daylight, a local upstate news reporter was attacked by an angry mob in Union, South Carolina, as the reporter was attempting to do a news broadcast concerning a murder.
WSPA-TV Channel 7's Charmayne Brown and her news photographer Ti Barnes were standing across the street from the scene of a homicide where a grandfather was brutally and fatally attacked. The man's grandson has been charged with the murder.
As the Channel 7 news crew prepared for the broadcast, members of the accused's family began yelling at the reporter, using racial slurs, telling her to leave. Brown and Barnes are African-American. The accused and his family are Caucasian.
Suddenly, a family member crossed the street and began hitting Brown and pulling her hair, dragging her to the ground. Soon a mob of family members were engaged in the attack. Photographer Barnes at that point rushed to Brown's aide, but to no avail. The attack merely continued.
A camera from a news crew at another upstate television station, WYFF-TV Channel 4 in Greenville, was rolling during the entire incident. All of the faces were caught on tape. A Channel 4 reporter was heard calling the Union Police Department. Within minutes police vehicles descended on the area.
Charged with assault and battery were: Trina Vinson, mother of the murder suspect; Billie Taylor; Tousha Smith, sister of the murder suspect, who is charged with two counts of assault and battery; and a forth unnamed perpetrator.
Although there were several local news crews on the scene, Brown and Barnes were the only ones attacked.
Neither Brown nor Barnes were seriously injured.
WSPA-TV Channel 7's Charmayne Brown and her news photographer Ti Barnes were standing across the street from the scene of a homicide where a grandfather was brutally and fatally attacked. The man's grandson has been charged with the murder.
As the Channel 7 news crew prepared for the broadcast, members of the accused's family began yelling at the reporter, using racial slurs, telling her to leave. Brown and Barnes are African-American. The accused and his family are Caucasian.
Suddenly, a family member crossed the street and began hitting Brown and pulling her hair, dragging her to the ground. Soon a mob of family members were engaged in the attack. Photographer Barnes at that point rushed to Brown's aide, but to no avail. The attack merely continued.
A camera from a news crew at another upstate television station, WYFF-TV Channel 4 in Greenville, was rolling during the entire incident. All of the faces were caught on tape. A Channel 4 reporter was heard calling the Union Police Department. Within minutes police vehicles descended on the area.
Charged with assault and battery were: Trina Vinson, mother of the murder suspect; Billie Taylor; Tousha Smith, sister of the murder suspect, who is charged with two counts of assault and battery; and a forth unnamed perpetrator.
Although there were several local news crews on the scene, Brown and Barnes were the only ones attacked.
Neither Brown nor Barnes were seriously injured.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Controversy Erupts Over Botched Rape Case
Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office officials admit that they botched a rape case that may have led to the suspect being found not guilty by a jury.
John Michael Batchelor was found not guilty by a Spartanburg jury for an alleged rape that took place in 2005, when Batchelor was 16 years of age and when the alleged victim was 14.
But the Mother of the victim claims that the jury never was allowed to see evidence that may have changed the outcome of the trial--due to admitted errors by the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office.
The victim's Mother was so outraged that she charged Sheriff's officials with gross negligence in handling evidence, including the allegation that key evidence was misplaced or lost.
That evidence, she maintains, would have proved beyond doubt that Batchelor had committed the crime.
Only a jury can make that determination, however, and as for this jury and the evidenced placed before them, Batchelor was pronounced not guilty of the crime of which he was accused.
John Michael Batchelor was found not guilty by a Spartanburg jury for an alleged rape that took place in 2005, when Batchelor was 16 years of age and when the alleged victim was 14.
But the Mother of the victim claims that the jury never was allowed to see evidence that may have changed the outcome of the trial--due to admitted errors by the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office.
The victim's Mother was so outraged that she charged Sheriff's officials with gross negligence in handling evidence, including the allegation that key evidence was misplaced or lost.
That evidence, she maintains, would have proved beyond doubt that Batchelor had committed the crime.
Only a jury can make that determination, however, and as for this jury and the evidenced placed before them, Batchelor was pronounced not guilty of the crime of which he was accused.
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