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Horry County wildfire jury trial delayed

October 15, 2009 By

A jury trial has been delayed for a man fined for the brush fire that rekindled into the most destructive wildfire in South Carolina history. According to Scott Hawkins of the South Carolina Forestry Commission the trial for Marc Torchi is now expected to begin the week of October 26. It was earlier scheduled for Thursday October 15. Torchi requested the jury trial in Central Jury Court in Conway.

Authorities say the April wildfire that torched 20,000 acres, destroyed 76 homes and damaged nearly 100 others started four days earlier as a debris fire in Torchi’s backyard. Torchi was earlier fined $732 for the blaze. Torchi says he’s been unfairly treated. He called Horry County firefighters when his fire got out of control and the firefighters thought they had extinguished it,  but it rekindled.

Filed Under: Accidents & Disasters, Crime & Courts, News

SC teachers lead nation in training to prevent sexual abuse of children

October 15, 2009 By

(Listen to interview with Darkness to Light CEO Ann Lee at the end of this story)

One out of four girls and one out of six boys are sexually abused by the time they’re 18.

Darkness to Light President and CEO Anne Lee interviewed by SCRN's William Christopher

More teachers in South Carolina’s public school system than ever before will be trained to detect and respond properly to students who have experienced sexual abuse. The Darkness to Light Program based in Charleston had originally planned to deliver the “Stewards of Children” training to 10,000 teachers but program President and CEO Anne Lee told State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex Wednesday that 20,000 of the state’s 54,000 teachers will be trained before the year is out. Lee says each school district was asked to train at least 20 percent of its teachers. By the end of 2010, more than 75 percent of the state’s teachers will be trained, putting the Palmetto State ahead of all other states.

Lee says preventing child abuse and finding abusers is not just the responsibility of teachers but of all adults.

Lee says only one in ten children will reveal that they have been abused while they’re still children.  “But of those children who do disclose, we know that 49 percent will tell a teacher,” she said.  “We want teachers to learn how to recognize it and react responsibly.”  [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, Education, News

Audit of Dept. of Corrections issues expected Thursday

October 15, 2009 By

A report from the Legislative Audit Council is expected out today, looking into alleged issues at the South Carolina Department of Corrections. The audit was called for by Sumter Senator Phil Leventis, who is calling for Governor Mark Sanford to remove Department Director John Ozmint.

Leventis sent a letter to Gov. Mark Sanford a month ago, and just did so again two weeks later, requesting a meeting with the governor over the allegations.

Ozmint says this is not the first time he has tried to have him removed, and Ozmint says it’s Leventis’ retaliation over something that happened in 2007.

“We terminated two of Senator Leventis’ friends,” said Ozmint.   “One was a political associate of his for racial discrimination, among other misconduct and he has testified under oath to that fact and that we should allow them to commit that misconduct merely because they were his friends.” 

Leventis disagrees with Ozmint’s assessment.

Filed Under: Legislature, News, Politics & Government
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