Local News in Brief for July 21 7/21/2009 12:47 AM Govt. transparency will be discussed
State Comptroller Richard Eckstrom and the S.C. Policy Council will be joined by representatives from Aiken city and county councils during a press conference at 11 a.m. Wednesday at The Alley (behind the Municipal Building).
Area legislators including Reps. Bill Clyburn, Tom Young and Jim Stewart and Sen. Shane Massey are scheduled to participate as well.
The subject will be local government transparency.
Earlier this year, Eckstrom launched a campaign to persuade local governments to voluntarily post their expenditures on the Internet and offered to host the information on his own site if necessary. Since then, eight governments have done so, including the cities of Aiken, Cayce and Myrtle Beach, the counties of Anderson, Dorchester and Charleston and the towns of Turbeville and Irmo.
The S.C. Policy Council is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization which has conducted extensive research into the benefits of government transparency.
ARMC receives OK for linear accelerator
The Cancer Care Institute of Carolina at Aiken Regional Medical Centers has received a Certificate of Need (CON) to purchase and install a second Varian Trilogy Linear Accelerator. Installation is planned to begin in the fourth quarter of 2009.
The Varian Trilogy Linear Accelerator will provide the Cancer Care Institute with new technologies which will improve radiation treatment capabilities. The new system will allow for decreased treatment times, making the experience more comfortable for patients and increasing the number of patients who can be treated each day.
The Department of Health and Environmental Control of South Carolina requires that a CON be applied for and approved to purchase any equipment that costs more than $600,000. The CON application must include the cost of the equipment, the cost of installation and scaled drawings of the equipment site, a business plan justifying the purchase of the equipment, an outline of projected increase in patient volumes, expenses and revenues, letters of support from community leaders and a manpower budget. The approval process takes two to three months, then the CON request is made public for five days, giving anyone who will be affected by the project time to appeal the decision.
Radiation therapy is a primary treatment for cancer. A radiation oncologist uses a linear accelerator to deliver a precise dose of high-energy X-rays to a specific location to destroy cancer cells without damaging surrounding healthy tissues.
Two charged in assault with car
An Aiken man is facing assault charges after a verbal confrontation escalated and ended with one man being struck by a car.
Three men got into a confrontation Sunday evening at the Breakers convenience store on University Parkway. What started as a shouting match built up to a knife being drawn, threats being made, and finally Arthur Dale Vaughn, 23, of Solann Street, allegedly using his Ford Focus to strike his victim.
Around 7 p.m., the confrontation began between the reported victim and Cody Ervin Spell, 22, of Edgefield Highway. A knife was allegedly drawn by Spell. The pair moved away from each other, but soon after, Vaughn, with Spell in the car, returned in the Ford and reportedly struck the victim. Vaughn is charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. Spell is charged with assault. The victim was not seriously hurt and refused medical attention.
Police: 911 misused in man's squabble
A Hephzibah man was charged by Aiken police Sunday after using 911 to stop his girlfriend from leaving him.
James Michael David Leach of Storey Mill Road in Hephzibah was charged with unlawful use of 911 after he called to falsely report that a woman he is involved with was driving a Ford Explorer with an infant in the back while smoking marijuana.
Aiken Department of Public Safety found the alleged driver and Leach standing by a similar car. Leach said he was lying, that the pair were arguing and he made the call to stop the woman from leaving, police said. A search of the vehicle turned up drug paraphernalia, for which he was also cited.
The defendant was ticketed and released.
Offender gets two years for violence
A registered sex offender was sentenced to two years in jail Monday after pleading guilty to pistol whipping a family member.
Jimmy M. Carter of Aiken pleaded guilty and was sentenced to criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature for a drunken 2008 attack on a woman.
According to the Solicitor's Office, an intoxicated Carter drew a gun during an argument and then struck his victim on the head and her left eye. The pair were arguing over an alleged sexual assault that Carter was charged with at the time. That charge, criminal sexual conduct third-degree, was dropped with this plea. The defendant did not want to pursue the prosecution, Assistant Solicitor Brenda Brisbin said.
According to defense attorney Andrew Anderson, the reading of the facts make the situation seem worse and the event took place when everyone involved, including witnesses, was "grossly intoxicated."
Carter has served 133 days in jail awaiting trial. He was placed on the sex offender registry in 1998 when convicted of assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct.
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Comment Title: Agree
yes. Thank you Colen for your outstanding leadership and pride in our area.
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:49 PM
Comment Title: Colen Lindell
Colen Lindell is a true leader. One the local conservative movement has been waitng for a long time!
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 1:17 PM
Comment Title: I agree 100 percent
This is a GREAT thing they are doing. these local officials as well as Mr. Eckstrom have earned my support.
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 7:53 AM
Comment Title:
Congrats to Mr. Lindell. Also, to Mr. Eckstrom for his leadership, and for everyone else who understands transparency is not a republican/democrat thing. it's not a conservative/liberal thing. it is just good government.
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 6:17 AM
Comment Title: Colen Lindell
I would like to commend an incredible young man named Colen Lindell for spreading the word about the press conference hosted by State Comptroller Richard Eckstrom and the S.C. Policy Council on July 22. Colen took it upon himself to urge his fellow citizens to attend this event by promoting it on his facebook. He asked many of his friends to spread the word as well. Colen, thank you for your leadership on this issue. I'm sure that you alone will be responsible for most of those in attendance. I hope one day you will consider seeking political office. Aiken County and South Carolina can use a man like you.
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