2010 December

FBI Says Violent Crime Still Dropping

December 21, 2010 by Aiken News Wire · Leave a Comment

According to a report in the postandcourier, The FBI says violent crime in Charleston dropped dramatically in the first half of the year. The preliminary FBI report shows crime continued to decline across the country.

Only burglaries did not decline in the first six months of 2010. The 19 percent drop in violent crime was significant. Unfortunately, there were 54 more burglaries than in 2009, and property crime was down almost seven percent in the first six month.

After three years of decreasing violent crime rates, this is a very good thing.

The FBI report only shows cities with more than 100,000 people, so only Charleston and Columbia were listed. Crime in Columbia increased in just about every category, including murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault and burglary, according to the story in the Postandcourier.

Filed Under: Aiken · Tagged: crime, fall, numbers, Violent

Young Suspect Arrested in High School Bathroom Blaze

December 15, 2010 by johnd · Leave a Comment

An adolescent boy has his first taste of the criminal life today.

An unidentified 14 year old kid has been charged with malicious injury to real property and disturbing schools based on accusations of sparking a fire in an Aiken High restroom last week. He was arrested and sent to a juvenile hall in Columbia.

At 2:45 pm last Wednesday, a fire was set in the men’s bathroom in the C wing of the school. The school was evacuated and firefighters were called in to stifle the small blaze. In the process, they found that the fire was set on purpose.

Upon reviewing tape from a security camera, school officials had sufficient evidence to finger the young pyromaniac. No one was injured and damage estimates to the bathroom are unknown.

Filed Under: Aiken, Feature · Tagged: accusations, adolescent boy, Aiken, blaze, c wing, columbia, damage estimates, firefighters, first taste, juvenile hall, life today, pyromaniac, restroom, school bathroom, school officials, security camera, south carolina

Aiken JROTC Program in Semifinals of Cyber Security Challenge

December 13, 2010 by johnd · Leave a Comment

The Air Force Association congratulates the twelve teams of the All Service Division who have made their way to the semifinals of CyberPatriot, the nation’s largest and fastest-growing cyber security challenge.

CyberPatriot, produced by AFA, is a one-of-a-kind cyber defense competition, providing high school students hands-on learning about cyber security in a fun environment. During the latest competition on December 4, teams raced against time and their opponents to quickly find and effectively correct vulnerabilities in three different simulated networks, which is two more than what was necessary to advance in the previous two rounds.

The top two teams from each service – Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Civil Air Patrol – and two “wild card” teams will be competing in the first in-person challenge of the competition, to be held February 17 – 18, in conjunction with AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition, in Orlando, Florida.

Air Academy Composite Squadron (CAP), US Air Force Academy, Colorado
Beach Cities Cadet Sq 107 (CAP), Gardena, California
Buena High School (Army JROTC), Sierra Vista, Arizona
Clearfield High School (Air Force JROTC), Clearfield, Utah
Colorado Springs Cadet Sq (CAP), Colorado Springs, Colorado
John R. Rogers High School (Air Force JROTC), Spokane, Washington
Marine Military Academy (USMC JROTC), Harlingen, Texas
Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School (USMC JROTC), Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Nixa High School (Army JROTC), Nixa, Missouri
Orlando Cadet Squadron (CAP), Orlando, Florida
Ramona High School NJROTC (Navy JROTC), Ramona, California
South Aiken High School (Navy JROTC), Aiken, South Carolina

“Cyber security is a crucial issue for our nation, and this competition addresses the growing need for cyber defenders,” said Bernie Skoch, CyberPatriot Commissioner. “In response, these students are truly rising to the occasion. They are completing extraordinary tasks and learning a complicated subject, but also having a great time in an exciting environment.”

Filed Under: Aiken, Feature · Tagged: air force jrotc, army jrotc, buena high school, cadet squadron, composite squadron cap, cyber defenders, fitchburg massachusetts, florida air academy, harlingen texas, john r rogers high school, montachusett regional vocational technical school, navy jrotc, nixa high school, nixa missouri, sierra vista arizona, us air force, us air force academy

SC Welfare Payments to be Drastically Cut

December 10, 2010 by johnd · Leave a Comment

South Carolina is experiencing budget problems, and those on welfare will be suffering as a result.

Monthly payments to welfare recipients will be cut by 20 percent as the state tries to find a way to deal with a $28.8 million budget deficit. The average parent with two kids will see their checks shrink from $270 to $216 starting in February.

This latest drastic reduction puts South Carolina at number four in terms of states with the lowest welfare payments, beaten out by Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi. The state pays up to $20 million for programs for the poor since 2008, and it’s finally stressing the budget to the maximum.

Also on the chopping block for the state is funding for its Meals on Wheels program, a teen pregnancy prevention program and programs devised to keep the elderly independent and living at home. In addition, 500 state workers have been laid off. It gets worse – according to the Aiken Standard, keeping on the welfare payroll will be harder:

- Applicants for the program will first have to go through the state Department of Employment and Workforce’s job centers and show they’ve sought 10 jobs.

- The state will begin matching applicants with South Carolina Law Enforcement Division data to make sure no one with a felony drug conviction receives benefits. Federal law has barred welfare payments to drug felons since 1996. South Carolina has relied on applicants to reveal drug felony convictions.

- People who don’t keep up a 30-hour work (or work-training) commitment will be required to repay benefits for that month.

Some officials say these moves will make it increasingly harder for those on welfare to keep it, as well as new applicants due to the fact that many are in compromising positions.

Filed Under: Aiken, Feature · Tagged: aiken standard, budget deficit, budget problems, chopping block, compromising positions, department of employment, drastic reduction, drug conviction, drug felony, felons, felony convictions, job centers, living at home, meals on wheels, meals on wheels program, pregnancy prevention program, state department, teen pregnancy prevention, welfare payments, welfare recipients

Man Attacked by Pit Bull, Loses Toe

December 8, 2010 by johnd · Leave a Comment

A pit bull now quarantined at the Aiken SPCA is now having its fate determined after attacking a man on Monday, biting off one of his toes.

The unfortunate victim, 53 year old James Smith, was bitten in a variety of places, including his calf, both arms and his chest. During the attack, he was somehow able to lead the dog into a dog pen he owns and call for help. The owner of the dog is being questioned and will face charges – other than the obvious, the man could face charges contingent on the dog’s shot record and history of behavioral problems.

Smith is doing well, but doctors that treated him at the Medical College of Georgia are unsure whether or not the fourth toe on his right foot can be saved.

Police are waiting on advice from an SPCA veterinarian as to what they should do with the dog.

Filed Under: Aiken, Feature · Tagged: Aiken, doctors, fate, inoculations, james smith, lt, medical college of georgia, pit bull, prognosis, public safety officers, right arm, right foot, sc, spca, toes, turno, unfortunate victim, veterinarian

Baking Bagels Closing Down By Month’s End

December 6, 2010 by johnd · Leave a Comment

A popular local bagel shop is closing its doors soon, but you still have time to get a taste of what made it so popular.

Bagels Baking, 218 East Gate Drive within the Publix shopping center, has been active for two and a half years. The owners, Mark and Sheila Stern, are closing the store after Christmas because of the toll it has taken on their health and the hard work involved in being up so early and getting everything set up.

Bagels Baking was known by residents as the place to go to get delicious bagels in the Aiken area, and will still be in business for the next few weeks, opening at 6:30 a.m. The business opened originally to get rid of the “days of overpriced bagels that taste like cardboard and have the texture of concrete.” Many who have stopped there would agree that they did just that.

Filed Under: Aiken, Feature · Tagged: Aiken, bagel shop, bagels, Cardboard, christmas, delicious bagels, doors, Health, publix shopping center, sheila stern, south carolina, texture, two and a half years

Man Poses as Salvation Army Bell Ringer, Scams Cash

December 1, 2010 by johnd · Leave a Comment

Salvation Army Bell Ringer

Aiken police and the Salvation Army are asking residents of Aiken to be aware of a shyster posing as a bell ringer collecting money for the needy but keeping it for himself.

A man was said to be standing outside of the Food Lion on Richland this week swinging a bell around collecting cash in a jar, but has no ties to the Salvation Army. He apparently stole the iconic red apron and bell and went to work for himself.

An employee of SA witnessed the man and asked him why he was collecting the money in a jar in lieu of the usual red kettle. He said someone stole it while he went to use the bathroom. A boldfaced lie, because SA collects the buckets at the end of every shift and none were reported missing. She then reported the man to police and to the organization.

Unfortunately, the man got away with some money and became another example of holiday thievery. If you plan to donate this holiday season, make sure the source is reputable and the cause is just. Anyone with information about the fake Salvation Army suspect is asked to call Public Safety at 642-7620.

Salvation Army Bell Ringer Grinch

Filed Under: Aiken, Feature · Tagged: affiliation, Aiken, angela, apron, aprons, bell ringer, bell ringers, bells, buckets, capt, food lion, glass jar, holiday season, outreach programs, pockets, public safety, repass, salvation army, shyster, south carolina, thievery, volunteers