The “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” crew came to Augusta in December to build a deserving family a new home over the course of one week, and you can catch it on TV fairly soon.

The episode, which enlisted the help of some Aiken female bodybuilders for the demolition process, will air January 23 at 8 p.m.

The demolition process, as usual, was quite interesting. Softball players from ASU batted softballs through the windows; bodybuilders launched 45 lb. weights through the walls, and roller derby teams slammed into each other on the inside. The show has a theme this time around of “Girl Power.”

Hundreds of local volunteers, along with Bill Beazley Homes, helped build the better than 2,000 square foot home in a week’s time and revealed the home to the Graham family on December 8.

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The driver of the SUV that slammed into another and killed the occupying couple in late December has been arrested and charged with felony DUI.

Stephen Corley, 38, was released from the hospital Friday and was promptly arrested. He was driving erratically and reaching speeds in excess of 80 mph when he swerved to pass a motorist in front of him and lost control in the eastbound lane where he slammed into another car. That car was carrying 22 year old Katie Scott and Alex Bush, who both died from their injuries.

His blood was taken at MCG Health and tested over the .08 blood alcohol limit. If convicted, Corley faces a mandatory fine of $10,000 to $25,000 and imprisonment for one to 25 years.

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Another person has perished as a result of the brutal crash on S.C. Highway 302  in Aiken Wednesday.

The victim was 22 year old Katie Scott of Couchton, who was in the same vehicle as 24 year old Alex Bush, a Charleston law student who also died in the wreck.

They were killed when their car was slammed head-on by an erratically-maneuvering Nissan Pathfinder SUV just before 6:30 p.m. The oncoming SUV was swerving around at speeds in excess of 80 mph upon impact, according to witnesses.

The parents of Katie Scott, who were with the pair at a local restaurant, were only three cars behind when the crash occurred.

The preliminary assessment is that the Pathfinder, driven by Steve Corley of Salley, was trying to pass someone in the westbound lane at insane speeds when he wound up in the eastbound lane. He was taken to MCG and escaped any life threatening injuries.

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Sexting,  the latest technological craze in which sexually explicit messages are sent between two parties via text message, is being eyed by state lawmakers. Some of the child safety proposals to be debated this year include the insidious act, more specifically, banning teens from partaking in sexting.

The proposals will be scoured by a child safety committee made up of members of the House, Senate and agency leaders from education, social services and juvenile justice agencies.

The goal of the sexting bill is to educate parents on the dangers of the act and let then in on the bad emotional consequences, as sexting so often leads to cyberbullying, another technological and sociological issue.

The new bill would make sexting a misdemeanor for kids aged 12 to 17 who consciously send naked photos of themselves to others.  The penalty would be a $100 fine and they’d be forced to attend an educational sexting program. Failure to attend the program would result in their driving privileges being revoked for three months.

Another bill on the list being eyed is an extension of Kendra’s Law, a law requiring more training for day care operators. It states that spanking is allowed only with parental permission. The bill is named for a one year old girl who was slapped in day care and ended up with brain and retinal hemorrhaging, consistent with a shaken child.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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