South Carolina News and Sports
Deputies says they have seized 177 dogs, a cat and a bird from an Anderson home. They also described finding several dead dogs.
Authorities say a complaint was made against Faith Patterson. Her husband is an Animal Control Officer for Anderson County.
Lt. Garland Major with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department says Wade Patterson has been charged, since he cared for the animals. [Read more...]
Ninety World War II veterans from South Carolina will be in the nation’s capital this weekend to visit the World War II memorial, among other national monuments.
Accompanying the vets are students from Andrew Jackson High School’s Reserve Officer Training Corps. Congressman John Sprat says the students will benefit from the mentoring provided by the vets.
The effort is led by the Honor Flight South Carolina, directed by Bill Dukes, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer and Medal of Honor winner Charles Murray.
Spratt says more than 166,000 service members from South Carolina participated in the war, and more than 4100 lost their lives.
A Democrat who is running for governor, Mullins McLeod, took on a topic that Republican candidates have all said is a non-issue in this race. His jobs plan, introduced Thursday, includes taking down the Confederate flag that flies at the Statehouse.
Mullins McLeod
“The reality of it is, it’s all about jobs. If we’re going to get serious about economic development in this state, if we’re going to get serious about competing with our neighbors for jobs, if we want to send a message to the world that we’re open for business and we’re ready to compete in the 21st century, then it’s something we need to do. We can’t put our heads in the sand and pretend like the issue doesn’t exist.”
He accuses the other candidates of being career politicians who are dodging the issue because it is too hot.
“The reality of it is, it’s hurting our state and it’s holding our state back. You look specifically, I’d like to have an NCAA tournament right here at the Colonial Center. That’s not going to happen as long as that flag is there. The ACC tournament in Myrtle Beach, they’re pulling out now because of the flag. Those are dollars in revenue that have come to South Carolina that will go elsewhere, and I think that’s wrong.”
President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes Jim Albaugh, flanked by state dignitaries
Construction of the Boeing 787 jetliner is now cleared for takeoff,as a festive groundbreaking marked the beginning of what SC Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell calls, “a new page in South Carolina history.”
South Carolina Radio Network’s Michael Brown was there to capture the sights and sounds.
Listen to Michael’s report MP3 1:05
Today’s podium of dignitaries included: President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes Jim Albaugh; South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford; Sen. Lindsey Graham; Sen. Jim DeMint; Rep. Henry Brown; Rep. James Clyburn; State Sen. Hugh Leatherman; State Sen. Glenn McConnell; State Rep., Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell; Charleston County Council Chairman Teddie Pryor, Sr.; North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey and other key officials from South Carolina. Anita Zucker, chairperson and CEO of The InterTech Group, Inc., served as master of ceremonies for the event.
Also in attendence, about 1000 workers who are looking forward to what the new plant brings to a state that this week reached an employment rate of 12.1 –making it one of the nation’s worst. Boeing expects to bring in 3,800 jobs to the area in the next seven years.
Landing Boeing was an economic development effort for the state that called for political enemies to put aside–for a short time–what had become bitter disputes. Senate Finance Chair Hugh Leatherman today said, “”Even legislators, who sometimes cannot agree what day it is, came together and affirmed that Boing was right for South Carolina and South Carolina is right for Boeing. You know, on that day we took the votes, there were no Democrats or Republicans in the State House. We were all simply South Carolinians with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we seized that opportunity.”
The second annual “Second Amendment Weekend” is on the way. The 48-hour tax break begins just after midnight the Friday after Thanksgiving. Shoppers will pay no state or local sales taxes on handguns, rifles and shotguns, which can total 9 percent. South Carolina had the nation’s only tax holiday on guns last year. Legislators tacked it on to a tax break on energy-efficient appliances, then restored it in the budget this year.
Jim Frazier manages Trader’s Gun Shop in the town of Taylors, located 8 miles from Greenville. Frazier says the customer traffic was brisk at his store during last year’s Second Amendment Weekend. ”There was an increase in sales,” said Frazier. ”Everybody was trying to make their dollar go as far as possible, and when you can save on the tax on it, it definitely helps with an increase in sales.”
Frazier says buyers must be 18 year of age, have proper I.D.and undergo an FBI computer background check. Customers from out of state by law can only purchase long guns, shotguns or rifles, but not handguns. Taxes still apply to ammunition and accessories.
