Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009

South Carolina news | Governor names new Union County clerk

State News in Brief

UNION

Governor names new Union County clerk

A South Carolina county rocked by recent scandals has a new clerk of court.

Gov. Mark Sanford on Wednesday appointed a 48-year-old veteran police officer to fill the remaining term of Union County Clerk of Court Brad Morris.

The Herald-Journal of Spartanburg reported that Union Police Capt. Freddie Gault ran unsuccessfully for Union County sheriff in 2004 and 2008. Gault has been with the city force nearly 27 years.

Morris resigned Oct. 9, the same day officials announced the State Law Enforcement Division is investigating bank accounts his office oversees.

A week earlier, Union County Supervisor Donnie Betenbaugh, a former county tax assessor and a former sheriff were indicted on federal charges.

Sanford suspended Betenbaugh on Oct. 7. He still must appoint his replacement.

GREENVILLE

Greenville tops S.C. in English learners

An explosion of Hispanic students in Greenville County schools in recent years has catapulted the district as South Carolina's leader in the number of students enrolled in the English for Speakers of Other Languages program.

With roughly 6,000 English language learners in the school district, nearly one-fifth of the state's 32,207 ESOL students can now be found in Greenville County. South Carolina leads the nation in the percentage increase of students enrolling in ESOL programs, according to Catherine Neff, ESOL coordinator for the state Department of Education.

The change in some schools has been sweeping. At Monaview Elementary, almost half of the student population is taking remedial courses to learn how to speak, write and read English. Most classrooms have eight to 10 children in ESOL, and sometimes kindergarten classes have 15 or more, said Jane Mills, the school's administrative assistant.

The district employs 70 full-time ESOL teachers and receives more than $820,000 in federal Title III funds. It's the largest program in the state with roughly 6,000 students, outstripping Beaufort County, which has the second-largest program with 2,541 students.

COLUMBIA

Fujifilm expanding in Greenwood

Authorities say Fujifilm plans to expand its South Carolina operations, creating up to 20 jobs.

State Commerce Department and Greenwood County officials announced Wednesday that Fujifilm will move its regional distribution center for photo products to its Greenwood manufacturing complex.

Company officials expect color photo paper and photo processing materials to start shipping from Greenwood later this year. The transition should be complete by February. Fujifilm says shipping from Greenwood will reduce warehousing and transportation costs.

Fujifilm Manufacturing U.S.A. Inc. opened in Greenwood in 1988. The 500-acre complex includes Fujifilm's largest distribution center, a research laboratory, and five plants that make printing plates, recyclable cameras and color photo paper.

SPARTANBURG

Mom killed in Spartanburg drive-by

A South Carolina woman staying at her sick son's home has been killed in a drive-by shooting.

Authorities say 42-year-old Joy Mack was shot late Wednesday night in her son's Spartanburg trailer.

Jay Mack told WYFF-TV that he was playing games and watching TV with his mom when gunshots began coming through the walls.

Jay Mack says his mother stood up and was shot in the head. He then looked out the window, but didn't see anything.

He says his mother had been staying with him since Monday when he had to go to the doctor. Investigators say they have not made any arrests in the case.

GOOSE CREEK

High School roof fire out; students back

Officials at a South Carolina high school near Charleston say a small construction fire on the roof of the gym was extinguished Wednesday and students returned to class as normal.

A spokeswoman at Stratford High School in Goose Creek says firefighters responded shortly before 7 a.m. Wednesday. No one was hurt.

Firefighters made sure the fire was out in time for the school's 2,200 students to enter their classrooms. Spokeswoman Billie DeChant says it appears the fire started on some tar on the gym roof.

DeChant says those in the building were evacuated while the fire department put out the smoky fire.

COLUMBIA

Second state inmate found hanged

Officials at a South Carolina jail are trying to determine if proper procedures were followed after a second inmate has been found hanged in less than a week.

The State reported that 20-year-old Angela Meitzner of Elgin was found shortly after 5 a.m. Tuesday at the Richland County jail. Medical workers at the jail were unable to revive her.

County officials say Meitzner had been arrested Friday on fraudulent checks and forgery charges.

Coroner Gary Watts says his preliminary ruling in Meitzner's death is suicide. But he says the case is still under investigation.

Another inmate, Olin Taylor, was found hanged in his cell Saturday. Watts has tentatively ruled that death a suicide but is continuing to investigate.

County officials say are conducting an administrative review.