Homicide case makes headlines for Pickens County this year

PICKENS — A sensational homicide case and the closing of one of Pickens County's oldest textile mills happened in 2011, a year that saw school district budget problems and the expansion of high-tech automotive manufacturing facilities.

It was a year when veterans were honored in spectacular fashion at Clemson University, the city of Clemson banned texting while driving and a university president retired.

Susan Hendricks, 48, was charged with murder in the deaths of four of her family members. Authorities said it is believed the four were killed for life insurance money. Hendricks' ex-husband Mark Hendricks, her sons Matthew and Marshall and their stepgrandmother Linda Burns were killed. All the victims were found dead on property that Hendricks shared with her family members.

Alliance Pickens, in conjunction with the South Carolina Department of Commerce, made public in the last six months of 2011 that several high-tech manufacturing companies plan to locate in the county.

Denmark-based KP Components, a manufacturer of automotive power steering components; JR Automation Technologies LLC; VCI-SC Pickens County; and YH America are the companies officials said are enlarging operations in the county or planning relocation in the coming year.

In February, Clemson City Council voted to ban texting while driving in the city limits, becoming the first city in South Carolina to do so.

The ordinance went into effect on June 1. The fine for breaking the law is $ 100. The law does not apply to the Clemson University campus.

David Spittal, president of Southern Wesleyan University, retired after 17 years of service, moving to Kankakee, Ill., to be closer to his family.

"I have been blessed to serve in this position and to participate in an amazing journey of progress and growth," he said.

Todd Voss, 56, former president of Indiana Wesleyan University, replaced Spittal on July 1.

Military Appreciation Day at Clemson University in September marked the first anniversary of the dedication of the Scroll of Honor at the university.

The School District of Pickens County voted in April to eliminate 87 positions, including some top administrators, guidance counselors and media specialists. Teachers were spared in the round of cuts, and the J.T. Simpson Alternative Center for Education barely escaped the final budget cutting proposal.

Since that time the school district has received additional money from the South Carolina Department of Education due to increases in state revenue collection. The additional income helped to offset the anticipated budget shortfall. Numerous jobs have been reinstated, and the trustees said the budget is balanced, the reserve fund is stable and no further problems are expected in the current fiscal year.

One of the last domestic producers of denim cloth in the nation closed its doors, at least temporarily.

Liberty Denim, the town's largest employer, closed its doors Dec. 16, sending more than 100 textile workers home for the holidays without a job.

Read More @ Source

Homicide: The City that Bleeds

During a routine arrest, Kay, Beau, and Stan get shot. The event results in a powerful three-episode story arc during the third season. Clips taken from "The City that Bleeds". *No copyright infringement intended. Put this up to spread my love for the show!

Video Rating: 4 / 5



Criminal Stories Here

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Homicide victim found at vacant Everett house

Image
EVERETT -- Police on Wednesday were canvassing the View Ridge-Madison neighborhood in Everett after a man was found dead there the night before. A neighbor spotted the man on the ground outside a vacant house at 22 Madison St. He called 911 about 6:20 p.m. The man had obvious signs of trauma to his torso, police said. He looked to be in his late 20s or early 30s. The Everett Major Crimes Unit is investigating the death as a homicide, Lt. Robert Goetz said. Detectives declined to say more about how they believe the man may have died. There are no identified suspects or motives. Detectives received a search warrant around 11:45 p.m. Tuesday and collected evidence at the scene. They returned Wednesday afternoon to look for clues in the daylight, Goetz said. The victim's identity had not been determined as of late Wednesday afternoon. The body was turned over to the Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office. Anyone with information is asked to call 425-257-8450. Rikki King: 425-
Keep reading

Manslaughter charges possible in boy's death

Image
Published: Thursday, August 23, 2012, 5:55 p.m. MONROE -- Detectives believe a 7-year-old Monroe boy's parents should face second-degree manslaughter charges in connection with his January overdose death. Monroe police this week wrapped up their probe into the boy's Jan. 30 death and forwarded the case to prosecutors to decide if his parents should face criminal charges. Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Lisa Paul likely will begin reviewing the case in the coming days. She doesn't expect to make a charging decision in the near future, however. "It's quite an extensive investigation, and I want to review it thoroughly before I make any decision," she said. The boy, identified as "A.J." in court papers, ingested a lethal amount of salicylates, a chemical common in aspirin and other over-the-counter drugs. The medical examiner declined to conduct an autopsy on the boy, making it difficult to determine how the drug ended up in the boy's system. A
Keep reading