Former Coach Charged

Staff Report

Andrae Odell Rice, a former Denmark-Olar High School head football coach, has been charged with unlawful conduct toward a child, stemming from allegations he sought sex from a 17 year-old female student at Bamberg District Two School.

A warrant has been served against the 32-year-old former coach who resigned last year.

Bamberg School District Two Superintendent Dr. Jake Sello said Monday, “Coach Rice was not even here when I came in as the new superintendent for Bamberg District Two in July 2009. I never met Rice and I don’t even know the details concerning the situation.

It is my understanding that Mr. Rice resigned from his position as athletic director and coach toward the end the last school term and is no longer employed with the district.”

A Denmark-Olar High School graduate, Rice became the D-O Vikings head football coach in August 2007.

The unlawful conduct toward a child charge carries maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

Raylrode Daze

Joyce M. Searson, Publisher

Friday, Sept. 25, will mark the official opening of the Raylrode Daze Festival in Branchville, celebrating the world's first railroad junction. Beginning at noon, Branchville Mayor Tim Cooner, along with Grand Marshall Becky White and Honorary Conductor Henry Wimberly, will give welcoming speeches.

The parade will begin at 11am on Saturday, September 26.

Brickle pleads guilty

Staff Report

Franklin Dewayne Brickle of Branchville, pled guilty of receiving stolen goods in excess of $5000 or more.

Brickle was sentenced on August 31, 2009 to eight years with a $10,000 fine suspended to serve 90 days with a $5000 fine plus five years probation. He was ordered to pay restitution of $525,000.

In March of 2007, Brickle was charged with ‘Accessory after the Fact of Breach of Trust’ for receiving stolen goods from the Sandifer Farms in Blackville, SC.

Bamberg City Council

Nancy C. Hiers, Contributing Writer

Mayor Protem Nancy Foster informed Council at the September 14th meeting of Bamberg City Council that Emma Ruth Dowling, a Bamberg citizen having served with various organizations, had passed away recently. According to Foster, Dowling was a true pioneer and gave an account of the time she became the first black person to eat inside Clyde’s Restaurant. A history of Dowling’s life is available at the Bamberg County Library. Councilperson Bo Griffin suggested a resolution in honor of Dowling’s life and Council agreed.

Fraud Charges

United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated that a federal grand jury has indicted Stacy Duncan Delk, age 32, and Kelly P. Delk, age 31, both of Blackville, South Carolina, for credit card fraud,

Stacy Delk was also charged with six counts of aggravated identity theft.

Authorities allege that while working at an Aiken car dealership, Stacy Delk stole customers’ identification information, and then used it to obtain credit cards and open credit accounts. The Delks allegedly made purchases of more than $18,000.00 with the unauthorized credit cards.

Stacy Delk could receive a maximum sentence of 22 years in prison. Kelly Delk faces a maximum possible sentence of ten years. Both could be fined $250,000.00.

Changing Times

Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Writer

In celebrating its heritage, Voorhees College turned its attention to the future. On Thursday September 17, the 112 year old Episcopal Church related college unveiled a new website, a new logo and a new theme: “Changing minds, Changing lives.”

“These are exciting times at Voorhees College,” Voorhees President Dr. Cleveland L. Sellers Jr. said after the college’s new website, logo and theme were unveiled. “This branding process has enabled us to take an introspective look at ourselves so that we can better tell others our story and vision for the future.”

Job Corps Students

Jerry Durgan, Contributing Writer

As part of “Job Corps Day” 45 Years of Building Lives and Launching Careers,” Shatera Watson and Shaneek Buckler will travel to the Nation’s capitol to represent the Bamberg Job Corps Center on Capitol Hill.

Shaneek Buckler, 24, who specializes in cement masonry, will participate in a one-day internship with Congressman James Clyburn, learning how a congressional office works, from constituent services to legislative policy.

Shatera Watson, 19, who specializes in office administration, will participate in a one-day internship with Congressman Joe Wilson, learning how a congressional office works, from constituent services to legislative policy.