Friday, Nov. 06, 2009

South Carolina news

State News in Brief

SENECA

2 football players see assault charges

Two South Carolina high school football players have been charged with assaulting one of their teammates.

Multiple media outlets reported Thursday that police say 17-year-old Devin Gaines and 18-year-old Austin Hunter beat up a younger teammate in a Seneca High School locker room after football practice Oct. 26.

The victim's name has not been released.

The student told police the trouble started after he called Hunter a "molester" during practice.

Afterward, the victim said Gaines, Hunter and another teammate slammed him to the ground, kicked and punched him.

Gaines and Hunter were released from jail after posting about $1,000 bond each on assault and battery charges.

ROCK HILL

Boy hit by truck on way home from class

School officials in Rock Hill were reminded Wednesday of the need for safer roads when a 12-year-old boy was hit by a truck while walking home from class.

Police say the Sullivan Middle School student didn't use a marked crosswalk when he crossed Mount Gallant near Cherry Road.

He was listed as the sole contributor to the accident.

The boy stepped into the street and was hit by a truck traveling south on Mount Gallant, Rock Hill Police Lt. Brad Redfearn said.

The child was transported by EMS to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, where he was listed in good condition Thursday.

The driver was not injured, according to the accident report.

Roughly 200 students walk to and from Sullivan Middle School each day, said principal Michael Waiksnis.

The building is sandwiched between major thoroughfares Cherry Road and Eden Terrace, and district officials decided in June that sidewalks are needed on Mount Gallant Road between Celanese and Anderson roads.

SPARTANBURG

Doctor ceased surgery for sex with staff

South Carolina's medical board has suspended the license of a plastic surgeon who it says left an operating room for hours during surgery and had sex with staffers who became his patients.

Multiple media reports say a report from the State Board of Medical Examiners said the group took its action against Dr. Thomas Luther Roberts III after he admitted to the misconduct.

The report says Roberts left the operating room during a surgery and a nurse finished the procedure.

It also says the doctor examined women without using gloves and falsified medical records.

Roberts can get his license back if he pays nearly $27,000 in fines and fees and completes an ethics course.

Roberts apologized to his family, friends and patients

MCENTIRE JOINT NATIONAL GUARD BASE

S.C. Air National Guard wins top honors

A South Carolina Air National Guard unit is the winner of an international F-16 competition.

National Guard officials said Thursday that members of the 169th Fighter Wing from McEntire Joint National Guard Base in central South Carolina represented the United States in the competition that ended Tuesday.

The officials said it was the first time an Air National Guard unit was selected to represent the United States.

The South Carolina unit won top honors for safely launching an air intercept mission and another for precision bombing runs.

They also scored tops in loading missiles and in overall maintenance.

F-16 pilots and crews from Jordan and Belgium also competed in the event.

COLUMBIA

Group angry over TV show's threesome

The Palmetto Family Council has joined a national movement demanding CW Network affiliates don't air an episode of "Gossip Girl" that will include group sex.

The PFC says the episode that will air Monday at 9 p.m. "will feature teen characters in a sexual threesome." CW's tagline on its promo: "Every Parent's Nightmare," PFC said in a news release.

Palmetto Family President Dr. Oran Smith said the program's subject matter and the time slot clash with South Carolina values.

"Because this is not a cable-only show, the content travels on public airwaves.

"We are calling on the seven CW affiliates broadcasting into South Carolina to respect decency and South Carolina values by finding something else to run on Monday night at 9 p.m," Smith said.

CENTRAL

Trial delayed for father of dead son

A former Iowa man accused of killing his infant son four years ago will go on trial in 2010 in Iowa.

Brian Dykstra, who lives in Central, S.C., is charged with second-degree murder in the death of his 20-month-old son, Isaac, in August 2005.

The baby was found unconscious and having trouble breathing at Dykstra's home in Iowa City.

The child died the next day at the hospital.

Dykstra was charged in 2008.

Dykstra's trial was originally set for August, but his attorney asked for a delay, saying more time was needed for experts to examine evidence.

Dykstra's trial is now set for May 10 in Johnson County District Court.