Aiken

Another Victim Dead From Wednesday’s Head-On Collision

January 7, 2011 by johnd · Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: Aiken, Feature · Tagged: Aiken, alex, bush, c highway, Cars, corley, crash, eastbound lane, head on collision, katie scott, life threatening injuries, local restaurant, nissan, nissan pathfinder, Parents, salley, south carolina, westbound lane

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

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

Be Aware of Counterfeit Money This Shopping Season

November 29, 2010 by johnd · Leave a Comment

Police have been seeing an increased number of counterfeit bills around the Aiken area recently and advise you to be aware of the funny stuff.

While you most likely won’t be jailed for innocently possessing a fake $20 bill, it is often good to check anyway to ensure local businesses aren’t being shafted. Counterfeit bills are reported to the Secret Service, confiscated and never reimbursed.

A good way to make sure your money isn’t ridiculously fake is to check the watermark. Hold the note up to a light and look in the upper right hand corner. There should be an image that matches the photo in the center. If not, your bill has most likely been bleached by a counterfeiter and re-printed with a higher denomination. Additionally, use your eyes and make sure the serial numbers are evenly spaced and straight, the picture isn’t crooked, and the borders match a genuine bill.

More information on phony cash can be found at http://www.secretservice.gov/money_detect.shtml.

If you think you’ve been a victim of financial fraud, contact your local police department and/or the U.S. Secret Service Columbia Field Office at (803) 772-4015.

Filed Under: Aiken, Feature · Tagged: Aiken, borders, counterfeit bills, denomination, financial fraud, funny money, funny stuff, holiday shopping, law enforcement division, law enforcement officers, local businesses, local police department, paper characteristics, paying attention, phony money, secret service, serial numbers, south carolina, south carolina law, sure your money, watermark

Man Robs Store With a Stick, Flees on Lawn Mower

November 22, 2010 by johnd · Leave a Comment

A man from Aiken took the phrase “stick up” quite literally last week.

The man, 45 year old Ricky New, attempted to rob Kent’s Korner on Edgefield Highway with a stick, beating one of the clerks in the process. After the “stick up” in which he actually got away with some cash, he fled in his getaway vehicle - a lawn mower.

Obviously, the man didn’t get too far as responding officers caught the man, who tried to hide his face with a towel. The police recognized him from other crimes he committed in the past and booked him on charges of first degree assault/battery and armed robbery. The clerk had bruises on her arm, but was otherwise fine.

Filed Under: Aiken, Feature · Tagged: Aiken, armed robbery, bruises, clerks, crimes, degree assault, first degree, getaway vehicle, guns, phrase, ricky, south carolina, stick

Drivers Urged to Obey “Move Over” Laws

November 15, 2010 by johnd · Leave a Comment

Troopers statewide are reminding you to pull over when they speed to the scene of an emergency.

Simply put, if you see flashing lights in your rear-view mirror, you need to slow down and safely change lanes so they don’t plow into you. Additionally, drivers on two lane roads have to come to a halt, not just slow down.

As well as courtesy for emergency personnel en route to scenes, people should be aware of the workers already on scene. The state wants to avoid a repeat of a 2006 incident in which an Aiken County Sheriff Deputy was hit and killed by a driver while working on the scene of a fire off of US Highway 1.

It has been estimated through polls, specifically a nationwide poll by Mason Dixon Polling and Research, that 71 percent of Americans haven’t even heard of a “move over” law. That sentiment is reflected in the more than 150 US police officers who have been killed by motorists along highways.

So, avoid fines of up to $500 and safely move over when you see flashing lights.

Filed Under: Aiken, Feature · Tagged: Aiken, aiken county sheriff, flashing lights, highway 1, highways, lane roads, motorists, nationwide poll, police officers, polls, rear view mirror, sentiment, sheriff deputy, south carolina

School Locked Down to Find Gunman

November 10, 2010 by johnd · Leave a Comment

Radcliffe Elementary in Beech Island was locked down this afternoon because a student said she saw a man with a gun.

The girl was alone putting away books when she said she saw a man dressed in black with a gun. Because of the specifics she gave, the school reacted quickly and began a search. SWAT deputies were called to the school, only to find no gunman.

Parents were gathered outside the school that holds 800 students, waiting in anticipation for news.

After questioning the child to a further extent after the teams were called off, she said that she wasn’t sure what she saw was a gun. Faculty doesn’t believe anyone was on campus with a gun, but the girl probably won’t be punished.

An investigation is ongoing.

Filed Under: Aiken, Feature · Tagged: Aiken, anticipation, beech island, extent, gunman, guns, lockdown, man with a gun, Parents, School, south carolina, specifics, swat, weapons

Cheerleading Coach Steals Money From Fundraiser

November 8, 2010 by johnd · Leave a Comment

Gimme a J-A-I-L!

A South Aiken cheerleading coach has been nabbed for taking money from a fundraiser for her own gain.

The woman, 33 year old Nancy Griswold from Lavender, took as much as $825 from the fundraiser and stashed it in her own bank account. Making matters worse, she is an Aiken Public Safety Dispatcher and her husband is a public safety officer.

The case, which is now in the hands of the county sheriff office, accuses Griswold of two counts of breach of trust with a value of $1,000 or less. The warrant states that she took money from the fundraiser anywhere from May to August of 2010. The better than 10 year veteran of Aiken Public Safety was released on $2,185 bond, and currently awaits disciplinary action .

Filed Under: Aiken, Feature · Tagged: accusations, Aiken, breach of trust, cheerleader, cheerleading coach, county sherriff, disciplinary action, griswold, human resources director, incident report, kenny cook, public safety dispatcher, public safety officer, report states, richard pearce, school fundraiser, six weeks, skipper, south aiken high school, south carolina, varsity cheerleading