Armed robbery suspect arrested

Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Reporter

A Bamberg County woman was arrested Saturday evening for her alleged involvement in a crime spree that started in the county and end up in the City of Bamberg with her being tazed.

According to a Bamberg County Sheriff’s Office incident report, Carolyn Skellion Harry, 47, of 3826 Clear Pond Road of Bamberg was arrested and charged with armed robbery, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, first degree burglary and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.

According to the incident report, Bamberg County Sheriff’s Department officers responded to a call on Broxton Bridge Road at approximately 6:45 P.M. on Saturday, April 24. Officers met with a victim who reported that she had been robbed at gun point by a subject that she had allowed to use her restroom.

The report stated after using the restroom, the subject pulled a gun out from under a jean jacket and pointed it at her and stated that she was going to kill her if she did not give her some money and proceeded to strike the victim side her head with the gun. The victim and the subject proceeded to fight over the gun according to the report, with the suspect eventually taking ten dollars and the victim’s wallet and running out the front door and preceded in the direction of the City of Bamberg. The report stated that the victim received visible but apparently minor injury as a result of the incident.

In the City of Bamberg, at approximately 8:51 P.M., officers were able to give chase to a vehicle that fit the description of the suspect’s pickup, and at 9:01 P.M. the suspect was taken into custody. According to the incident report, the alleged suspect was in possession of several items belonging to the victim in the first incident and a 22 Cal. Semi- Automatic Pistol.

According to a supplemental report, while officers were signing warrants for the first robbery case, they received a call that a similar incident had taken place at a residence on Pine Street in the City of Bamberg. Later, officers received another call from central dispatch stating that a subject was in the area of Dickerson Street in the City of Bamberg with a group of citizens trying to detain her. The supplemental report noted that ATF would be contacted in reference to the firearm that had been honed down and threaded to accommodate a silencer.

Town-Wide Yard Sale

Jerry Durgan, Contributing Writer

Round up all of those unwanted items that are taking space in your garage and attic, rent a table and space, make a little extra cash as well as help the Trinity United Methodist Church Men’s Club support their community activities.

The ever-popular Trinity Men’s Club Town-Wide Yard Sale is slated for 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 1 (rain day May 8), once again on the vacant lot directly across the street from Trinity United Method Church, on Railroad Avenue.

Rivers Bridge

Festivities for the 134th annual celebration at Rivers Bridge will begin at 10 a.m. on May 7th, featuring appropriate music and commentary by Dr. James Dreyfuss. The formal procession and opening ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. with the posting of the colors.

The guest speaker will be J. Gray Chandler, Principal of Chandler Railroad Consulting. Mr. Chandler is a retired Railroad Engineer, and his chosen topic is. “The Railroads of the Confederacy.”

Help My House?

If you’re a member of Edisto Electric Cooperative, you may be eligible to receive a free in-home power monitor as part of an energy efficiency research study. The goal of the study is to educate consumers about ways to save energy and money.

Selected participants will receive a power monitor and have access to their home’s energy use for one full year either via an internet connection or from an in-home display. This near real-time information on the home’s electric energy consumption can show you how reducing energy use can translate into savings.

If you’re interested, apply by May 14th. www.helpmyhouse.org/powermonitor.

Relay for Life

Joyce M. Searson, Publisher

Bamberg County's Relay for Life is almost here and everyone really needs to get serious about doing their part for such a worthwhile cause. The event will take place on May 14th and 15th at the Leon Maxwell Stadium in Bamberg.

Registration will begin at 6:30 pm and the Survivor Lap starts at 7:00 pm on May 14th.

Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society's signature event that brings people from communities across the county together each year to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that takes too much.

Health Disparities

Jerry Durgan, Contributing Writer

Nurse Joann Stroman, Wellness Manager and Evelyn Stanley both staff from the Bamberg Job Corps Center had the opportunity of a lifetime. They met Congressman James Clyburn Friday, April 9 at the Russell House on the University of South Carolina Campus.

It was Mrs. Stanley’s second acquaintance with Congressman Clyburn who was the keynote speaker speaking on health disparities. This was the third Heath Disparities Lecture Series research and practice being conducted by University of South Carolina faculty members, research staff, and students as well as community, clinical and agency partners.

Congressman Clyburn, 69, is very alert and on top of the issues says Mrs. Stanley. “Whatever is done when it comes to reforming healthcare, education, I will not be silent. Clyburn says, saying that there will be immediate change with the new healthcare bill. Some of the changes, he explained, are - Students attending college to get their master’s degree can now be kept on their parents insurance until the age of 26 years old; If your juvenile child has diabetes, the new health plan will cover the bill, pre-existing conditions will now be covered Clyburn says. “This bill will produce 400,000 jobs, and will double healthcare positions.” Clyburn goes on to say that in the first ten years will increase the deficit by 143 billion dollars, and in the second ten years it will increase by 1.2 trillion dollars. He says the question should not be how can we afford to do this but we should say we can’t afford not to do this.