Police step up patrols for New Years
web posted December 31, 2007
PSA – With many New Year’s Eve parties planned across the county, area Law Enforcement will be increasing patrols and check points. The Edgefield Police Department and the South Carolina Highway Patrol will be participating in the Sober or Slammer campaign as well. The bottom line is, if you intend on drinking alcohol this New Year’s Eve do not drive. Party-goers are asked to either have a designated driver or plan on staying at the location overnight. If you drink and drive you will be caught and arrested. There have been six fatalities on Edgefield County roads this year.

Top Ten Stories of 2007
web posted December 31, 2007
WEBNEWS – The New Year is just a few hours away. As EdgefieldDaily.com does every year we look back at the past year and the top stories published as ranked by the most widely read. Founded in March of 2005, EdgefieldDaily.com has grown to be the number one local news source for Edgefield County. EdgefieldDaily.com set all-time records with over 8.5 million hits and almost 2 million stories read for 2007 and an average of 17,000 unique internet addresses accessing EdgefieldDaily.com each month.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Lady Rebels end 2007 with win, first game of 2008 Friday
web posted December 31, 2007
AIKEN – Strom Thurmond's Lady Rebels downed Estill High 44-30 Thursday for their lone win at the Toyota Scion of Augusta Holiday Classic at Aiken High. The Lady Gators opened the game with an early 5-2 lead on the strength of a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws. The Lady Rebels broke a 5-5 with an 8-0 run that started with a 3-pointer by Alexsus Houston. Estill did manage to cut into the Strom Thurmond lead with a pair of baskets in the closing seconds of the quarter.
EdgefieldDaily.com

2007: One of County's most deadly
web posted December 31, 2007
WEBNEWS – 2007 has been a deadly year for Edgefield County with a possible record twelve deaths recorded, two of them the victims of murder. Not counting natural deaths or suicides, six people have lost their lives in fatal crashes, two due to horseback incidents, two the victims of murder with an associated suicide, and one from and industrial accident.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Closings for New Year's
web posted December 31, 2007
PSA – All Edgefield County government offices as well as those of the town's of Edgefield, Johnston, and Trenton will be closed on Tuesday. The US Postal Service and area financial institutions will also be closed.

One man arrested, second sought in most recent murder said to be drug related
web posted December 31, 2007
AUGUSTA – Richmond County Investigators have arrested one suspect in the murder of an Augusta man whose partially burned body was found in North Augusta Thursday morning. Authorities are looking for a second suspect in the case.  Corwin Lee was reported missing last Sunday. Lee left the Super Inn on Gordon Highway with another man and shortly after he left, his brother reportedly heard two gunshots.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Loony Left counts on "Global Warming" to rid America of Conservatives
web posted December 31, 2007
Say what you will about the looming catastrophe facing the world as the pace of global heating and polar melting accelerates. There is a silver lining... It should be considered acceptable, in this stifling new world, to say, “Shut up. We told you this would happen.”
Off The Wall

Burned body of Augusta man ruled homicide (Photo)
web posted December 29, 2007
NORTH AUGUSTA – The partially burned body of 38-year-old Corwin L. Lee of Augusta Georgia, has now been officially ruled a homicide Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton said Friday. According to Carlton, Mr. Lee died from a single gunshot wound to the head before being set afire.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Prolific vandalisms continue at Fox Creek High School
web posted December 29, 2007
MERRIWETHER – Once again vandals have struck the Fox Creek Charter High School, this time during the Christmas holidays. An Edgefield County Sheriff’s Deputy on patrol noticed that the charter school’s activity bus had several windows shot as well as the windshield. Fox Creek has been the most vandalized school in Edgefield County again this year according to incident reports recieved by EdgeieldDaily.com.
EdgfieldDaily.com

News Partner: WJBF News 6 Video of Trenton Prison Escapee's Capture (Photo)
web posted December 29, 2007
Greenville, SC -- Some dramatic video to show in the arrest of Johnny Moore. Moore was arrested Thursday after more than a week on the lam from the Trenton Correctional Facility. This aerial video shows Moore running through the woods.High speen connectrion advised to view the video

WJBF News 6
 
Wanted man captured in Johnston (Photo)
web posted December 28, 2007
JOHNSTON – Julius Griffin, 21, wanted for his alleged participation in an armed robbery in Edgefield on December 19, was taken into custody on Thursday morning after an anonymous tip was given to the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office alerting authorities to his whereabouts. Edgefield and Johnston Police, along with several Sheriff’s Deputies, converged on the Park Avenue Apartments in Johnston and found Griffin in an upstairs apartment. After a short discussion through the closed door Griffin emerged from the apartment and was taken into custody without incident.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Trenton Prison escapee in custody (Photo)
web posted December 28, 2007
GREENVILLE – South Carolina authorities have released that Johnny Moore, 26, who escaped from the Trenton State Correctional facility Sunday, December 16, has been captured Thursday afternoon. Moore escaped from the prison by climbing two fences topped with razor wire before making his way to Edgefield where he stole a 38-foot truck from a warehouse to make his escape.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Another Edgefield County son heads to Iraq (Photo)
web posted December 28, 2007
EDGEFIELD – Pvt. 1st Class Zeb Blackledge was home for Christmas and met with EdgefieldDaily.com in Edgefield on Thursday just before heading to Atlanta to fly out and begin his tour of duty in Iraq. Pvt. Blackledge was the focus of a August report when he also made national news after North Dakota Rep. Earl Pomeroy gave up his seat on a flight to Blackledge.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Trenton man charged in attempted murder, theft, assorted other charges in Christmas crimes (Photo)
web posted December 28, 2007
TRENTON – Edgefield County Sheriff’s Deputies investigating two separate crimes on Christmas morning ended up at the same house and arrested 22-year-old Michael Hunsberger at the home he shared with his mother on Sandy Springs Road near Trenton. In the two unrelated crimes Mr. Hunsberger is being held on charges of assault and battery with intent to kill, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, malicious injury to personal property over $1,000, and larceny from a motor vehicle.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Discovery of burned body ruled "suspicious"
web posted December 28, 2007
NORTH AUGUSTA – Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton said a body that had been partially burned was discovered by a worker of the River Golf Course on Sand Pit Road in North Augusta Thursday morning around 11. The victim, identified as Corwin L. Lee of Augusta Georgia, was last seen by his brother in Augusta Mr. Carlton said
EdgefieldDaily.com

Promise of $1 million leads to scamming of local resident
web posted December 28, 2007
EDGEFIELD – Scammers continue to entice, and fool, some Edgefield County residents with a promise of a one million dollar prize. Earlier this month an Edgefield man contacted Edgefield Police to say that he received a phone call from a person stating he won a million dollar prize. The man said he was about to transfer the requested $2,500 to receive his prize money but wanted the officer’s opinion first. The officer informed the man if he won a million dollars to tell the caller to take the $2,500 from the prize money and that it sounded like a scam. A Moore’s Road resident was not as cautious.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Rash of car thefts reported over Christmas holiday
web posted December 28, 2007
COUNTY – At least five vehicles were reported stolen over the Christmas holiday period beginning Saturday, December 22 and Wednesday December 26 and an arrest was made on Christmas day in a car theft from October. The first report came in to the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday night from a home on Moton-Moore Road near McCormick.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Alien Watch: US will add alien every 30 seconds
web posted December 28, 2007
COUNTY – As our nation prepares to ring in the new year, the U.S. Census Bureau today projected the Jan. 1, 2008, population will be 303,146,284 -- up 2,842,103 or 0.9 percent from New Year’s Day 2007. In January, the United States is expected to register one birth every eight seconds and one death every 11 seconds. Meanwhile, net international migration is expected to add one person every 30 seconds. The result is an increase in the total U.S. population of one person every 13 seconds.
US Census Bureau

Gravel spill halts traffic on Sweetwater Road (Photos)
web posted December 27, 2007
MERRIWETHER – Traffic on Sweetwater Road was disrupted for over an hour after over a ton of large gravel was found spread over a large portion of the roadway just before 2 pm Wednesday at the intersection of Mealing Road and Sweetwater Road. Deputies had to direct traffic around the scene until the road could be cleared. All traffic was blocked at times while the gravel was removed.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Deputy gets his man
web posted December 27, 2007
MERRIWETHER – A Beach Island man is in custody after a Sheriff’s Deputy spotted the man traveling on Martintown Road Wednesday morning. Jason Laverne Jumper, 30, of Woodcrest Drive in Beach Island, was identified and then arrested on four outstanding warrants. The deputy that took the initial report is also the one that made the arrest.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Man arrested after shooting self with nail gun
An Eagle County man faces attempted murder and domestic violence charges after he shot himself with a nail gun by accident Monday while allegedly demonstrating how he was going to kill his companion, authorities said.
Off The Wall

Christmas wrecks keep deputies busy
web posted December 25, 2007
COUNTY – Edgefield County Deputies were busy Christmas night as two wrecks were reported between just before 7 pm and just after 8 pm. The first crash involved two vehicles at the intersection of Currytown Road and Martintown Road, and the second found the driver running from the scene just of Turkey Creek Road near Highway 283.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Cooking Section, others reworked during Christmas holiday
web posted December 25, 2007
WEBNEWS – Several sections of EdgefieldDaily.com have been updated including a rework of the Country Cooking Section making it easier to navigate and find your favorite recipe. Subcategories have been included as well as new recipes. The Happenings Section and others have also been completed. Other reworked sections will be available by the New Year.  Have a comment? Make it known in the ever popular Wandering Minds Section where readers can post anonymous comments on any subject.

Off The Wall: Couple forced to take in criminal lodger after he tells court their house is HIS home address
Off The Wall: A convicted criminal has moved in with a married couple against their wishes after giving their address in court as his home.
Off The Wall

Thank those who work during Christmas
A Column by the Editor
web posted December 25, 2007
COLUMN – Today is Christmas. Like many of you I am spending today with family and friends. However, not everyone is as fortunate, many have to spend this time away from family. Among them are the members of law enforcement, EMS personnel, 911 dispatchers, jailers, hospital workers, and many others working in retailers that remain open during Christmas Day.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Town of Edgefield closings and trash pick schedule for Christmas
web reposted December 25, 2007
PSA – The Town of Edgefield will be closed on December 24, 25 and 26, 2007. Due to the Holidays, the Commercial & Residential trash pick-up schedule will be as follows:
EdgefieldDaily.com

Edgefield Police seek armed gunman (Photo)
web reposted December 25, 2007
EDGEFIELD – Edgefield Police are still seeking one of three men wanted in connection to an armed robbery on Gary Street in Edgefield Wednesday night. Julius Griffin, 21, of Slade Road, Edgefield, is being sought for armed robbery, assault and battery with the intent to kill, burglary in the first degree, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, and pointing and presenting a firearm. Griffin is considered to be armed and dangerous.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Track Santa online tonight
web posted December 24, 2007
WEBNEWS – NORAD Tracks Santa's movements each year as he circles the globe. Use this handy link to make sure all the good boys and girls are in bed before Santa arrives in your area.
NORAD

Country Cooking Section grows to over 550 recipes
web posted December 24, 2007
WEBNEWS – The County Cooking Section has grown to over 550 recipes including many posted just in time for Christmas. Find that special dish just in time for the holiday or contribute your own to share with others. EdgefieldDaily.com maintains the largest online guide to local favorites.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Rebel victories hard to come by in Tournament Play
web posted December 24, 2007
JOHNSTON – Victories were hard to come by for the Strom Thurmond High boys and girls basketball teams in holiday tournaments this week. The Lady Rebels picked up one win after two games in the Thoroughbred Classic tournament at South Aiken.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Wagener man becomes 46th fatality in Aiken County
web posted December 22, 2007
AIKEN – A 25-year-old Wagener man was pronounced dead at the scene of yet another fatal crash in Aiken County Saturday morning. Joseph D. Gunter died when the Jeep Cherokee he was driving left the roadway and overturned. Mr. Gunter was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton said.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Arrests of Hispanics increase number reported to Immigration Officials
web posted December 22, 2007
MERRIWETHER – Sheriff’s Deputies called to check out two suspicious vehicles in Mt. Vintage ended up arresting two Hispanic males Thursday night. Once again Federal Officials with the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement are being notified. When a deputy asked one of the two drivers for his drivers license, Carmona Altamirano Filemon, 32, gave the deputy three Mexican identification cards, one containing his picture but a different name.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Judge issues order on Mt. Canaan case, Rev. Brightharp not included
web posted December 22, 2007
COLUMBIA – With the recent court case involving Rev. Brightharp and the Mt. Canaan Baptist Church, Circuit Court Judge Casey Manning has issued an order on Thursday that was recorded Friday. Judge Manning left the case open on December 14, but the instruction from the bench appears to have caused more confusion that clarification when Rev. Brightharp distributed a handout the following Sunday with a title of, “Up-Date On Court Case”. The handout states, “He (Judge Manning) decided that the pastor Rev. George L. Brightharp has to stay in place because he has not resigned, nor has he been removed.” However, Rev. Brightharp is not mentioned in the written court order and Judge Manning never ruled Brightharp did not resign.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Sarah’s Santa delivers Christmas to over 140 children (Photos)
web posted December 22, 2007
JOHNSTON – Sarah’s Secret Santa was in full swing Friday as volunteers gathered together to wrap Christmas gifts and sort out the JET Middle School auditorium full of toys, blankets, winter coats, bicycles, and stocking stuffers for over 60 families and over 140 children. Founder Debbie Courtney said this is the eleventh year of Sarah’s Santa which started off providing gifts to just eleven children.
EdgefieldDaily.com

EMS “Adopts” ten families in need for Christmas (Photos)
web posted December 22, 2007
EDGEFIELD – The Edgefield County Emergency Medial Services (EMS) was busy tending to the wounded in our county Friday. However, the “treatment” was spreading Christmas cheer for ten families they “adopted” who, otherwise, would not have much for Christmas.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Closings for Christmas
web posted December 22, 2007
COUNTY – The following Government Offices will be closed for Christmas from December 24 through December 26:
EdgefieldDaily.com

Edgefield Police seek armed gunman (Photo)
web posted December 21, 2007
EDGEFIELD – Edgefield Police and Sheriff’s Deputies made two attempts to arrest one of three men wanted in connection to an armed robbery on Gary Street in Edgefield Wednesday night. Julius Griffin, 21, of Slade Road, Edgefield, is being sought for armed robbery, assault and battery with the intent to kill, burglary in the first degree, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, and pointing and presenting a firearm. Griffin is considered to be armed and dangerous.
EdgefieldDaily.com

3 Armed masked men invade Edgefield home 
UPDATED 9AM
web posted December 20, 2007
EDGEFIELD – Three men were reported breaking into an Edgefield man’s home wearing all black clothing and black ski masks, armed with handguns. The incident took place just after 9 Wednesday night at the Gary Street Apartments. The victim went to the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office to report the crime.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Johnston Police investigate shooting incident
web posted December 20, 2007
JOHNSTON – Johnston Police are currently investigating a shooting incident that is alleged to have taken place Monday night. An 18-year-old man pumping gas at the Amoco Station in Johnston told police that another man approached him in the parking lot in an aggressive manner. The man claimed he did not pump all of his gas, got into his car, and began backing away when three shots rang out.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Living Word Fellowship donates 21 new bikes and toys to Sara’s Secret Santa
web posted December 20, 2007
TRENTON – Living Word Fellowship donated 21 new bikes and toys to Sara’s Secret Santa this week. Pastor Judy Layman and her husband Les made the delivery on Wednesday. Pastor Layman said, “Next year we hope to be able to do more.” Living Word Fellowship is located in Trenton. Sarah’s Secret Santa will be wrapping gifts at JET Middle School on Friday and make deliveries on Saturday to a record number of children this year. Click on this link for picture.

Budget to Offer Optional Income Tax Rate Cut of 50 Percent
web posted December 20, 2007
COLUMBIA – In the latest preview of his upcoming Executive Budget, Governor Mark Sanford called for an optional 50 percent reduction to the state's top marginal income tax rate - from the current 7 percent to 3.4 percent - to be offset by a 30-cents-per-pack increase to the state's cigarette tax.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Opinion: Sticking it to smokers is not the answer
web posted December 20, 2007
OPINION – South Carolina governor Mark Sanford released a preview of his upcoming budget on Wednesday stating he wants to lower the state’s tax rate from 7% to 3.5% resulting in roughly $107 million in tax saving for South Carolinians. However, to make up for the shortfall Gov. Sanford would add an additional thirty cents in taxes on each pack of cigarettes.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Christmas Give-Away winners announced, plus a “Bonus drawing”
web posted December 19, 2007
WEBNEWS – The drawing for the winners of this year’s Christmas Give-Away must enjoy eating out as both winners chose local restaurants for their gift certificates. We would like to thank the record number of entries in the contest. After each entry form was folded four times it took a box of twelve cubic feet to hold them all.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Pitbull at center of yet another animal attack, owner cited
web posted December 19, 2007
MERRIWETHER – Another attack of farm animals by a Pitbull has been reported, this time on the 1100 block of Stephens Road Monday afternoon. The homeowner arrived home around 2:30 pm to find a pitbull attacking one of her young goats that she raises as her only source of income. The dog ran off when she approached to chase it off and the young goat was injured.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Alleged Identity Fraud results in $5,000 loss
web posted December 19, 2007
EDGEFIELD – An Edgefield man is out over $5,000 in an apparent identity theft that was discovered Monday when he went to his local bank branch to find a savings account closed and reopened as a checking account. A Sheriff’s Investigator was shown where an unknown subject went to a branch in Augusta, Georgia, represented himself as the victim, and was issued a debit card for the new account.
EdgefieldDaily.com

EdgefieldDaily.com sets all time records in 2007
A Column by the Editor
web posted December 19, 2007
COLUMN – I want to thank every reader, advertiser, contributor, columnist, writer, and supporter of EdgefieldDaily.com for a record setting 2007. Over the past years we have celebrated milestones of one, two, five, and ten million hits. In 2007, which is not over yet, over 8 million hits have been recorded and we are fast approaching 9 million for this year alone. In October the one million hits a month mark was breached by the thousands of daily visitors.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Town of Edgefield announces closings and trash pick schedule for Christmas holiday
web posted December 19, 2007
PSA – The Town of Edgefield will be closed on December 24, 25 and 26, 2007. Due to the Holidays, the Commercial & Residential trash pick-up schedule will be as follows:
EdgefieldDaily.com

Letters to the Editor
web posted December 19, 2007
Edgefield Mayor Durham thanks citizens for participation in Christmas Decoration Contest

Johnston Town Councilman thanks Sheriff, Deputies
web posted December 19, 2007
Opinions

Hunt for escaped prisoner continues (Photos)
web posted December 18, 2007
EDGEFIELD – Police spent all night Sunday and all day Monday searching for Johnny Moore, 26, who escaped from the Trenton State Correctional facility Sunday evening. Moore apparently scaled a back fence topped with razor wire and made his getaway. Authorities were able to track Moore to Edgefield where the trail went cold near Star Road. A 38-foot SWEP North America panel truck was reported stolen near the location Monday morning.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Four charged, ten weapons seized
web posted December 18, 2007
EDGEFIELD – Four Hispanic men are in custody and immigration officials have been notified after the group was found to be in possession of almost a dozen weapons, including a fully automatic AK-47 assault rifle Sunday afternoon at a local rifle range. The men said they had no idea where the weapons came from when deputies began questioning the group.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Governor Sanford's Executive Budget to Call for Spending Reforms
web posted December 18, 2007
COLUMBIA – Governor Mark Sanford released another preview of his forthcoming Executive Budget on Monday, a series of measures aimed at reforming the way the state spends money. Specifically, the budget will call for three types of spending reform: caps on spending, more transparency in the spending process, and limits on using one-time money for ongoing expenses.
EdgefieldDaily.com

Merriwether Elementary Student’s Artwork Published In 2008 Economic Concepts Calendar
web posted December 18, 2007
MERRIWETHER – Martin Strauss and Caroline Yano are two of 16 students from around the state whose illustrations are featured in the SC Council on Economic Education’s 2008 Economic Concepts Calendar.
EdgefieldDaily.com