Rally attendees show support for keeping SC State open
Over 1,000 supporters of SC State gathered to rally against legislature that would close the university for two years, according to The State. Lawmakers, ministers and activists were in attendance, promising to keep South Carolina’s only historically black public college open.
An SC State graduate, Rev. Joseph Darby, was in attendance and spoke to the crowd, urging government to give more support to the university. “The state of South Carolina has a sad and sorry history of only giving SC State enough to get by,” Darby said at the rally.
The university owes vendors $11 million and has received promised loans from the state. Both Darby and Rep. Joe Neal urged the crowd to donate to SC State. Neal assured the cheering crowd at the rally that SC State was “not going to close.”
— Lauren Shirley, News Editor
Woman charged with homicide by child abuse
Kelli Smith-Durham, a Simpsonville, South Carolina resident, is charged with homicide by child abuse, according to WLTX. Smith-Durham was also charged with four counts of unlawful neglect of a child.
Smith-Durham’s 2-day-old child died in November and through a toxicology screening, it was found that the child had high levels of methamphetamine in her system. The woman also tested positive for the same drug. The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office investigated further and found Smith-Durham did not have in her possession any supplies to care for the health and safety of the infant.
Smith-Durham was living with her boyfriend, Shane Fuller, with children aged 2, 3 and 7. The other children were placed with an alternative care giver through the Greenville County Department of Social Services.
— Lauren Shirley, News Editor
Stolen dog and car returned to Anderson County resident
An Anderson County man’s stolen dog and car have officially been returned to him, according to WIS-TV. Terry Williams had his car started in his driveway to warm the interior when his dog Taco jumped inside. Williams returned to his residence to lock up, but when he returned, both the car and his dog were gone. Although Williams' wallet, license and debit cards were also within the car, Williams was most concerned about Taco.
Fortunately for Williams, the dog was found sitting in a family member’s driveway, several blocks from his home. Williams took Taco home and gave him a steak dinner after he was cleaned up. A few hours later, deputies called and said Williams’ car had been located on Highway 81.
Williams said he was grateful to have his dog back and said that the return of his car was “just a bonus.”
— Lauren Shirley, News Editor