Girls break through for first semifinal victory in history FLORENCE – The Blythewood girls’ basketball team faced a difficult third quarter Saturday afternoon—until Sherron Waters launched a near-midcourt three-point shot that fell through the net at the buzzer. The senior point guard’s shot came seconds after Annie Gillam drained a 3 to give the Patriots […]
Court ruling grants Blythewood town council’s motion for injunction against mayor’s hiring practices
March 6, 2025 By
COLUMBIA – A court ruling handed down March 2 granted Town of Blythewood council members a temporary and permanent injunction that prohibits Blythewood Mayor Sloan Griffin from enforcing an executive order issued by him that would allow him to hire town hall employees without town council authorizing funding for those positions. The injunction was filed […]
Ruff, Gilbert accuse newspaper of not reporting standing committee changes
March 6, 2025 By
Gilbert Says Two Councilmembers are Trying to Undermine Him WINNSBORO – Fairfield Council Chairman Clarence Gilbert and Councilman Dan Ruff tried to put a pretty face on Gilbert’s selection last month of only certain councilmen to the council’s five standing committee, shutting out three council district representatives: Ruff (Dist. 1), Don Goldbach (Dist. 2), and […]
Sherman named 5A Principal of Year
March 6, 2025 By
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Matt Sherman, Principal of Blythewood High School has been selected as the 2025 SCAAA 5A Principal of the Year, announced by The South Carolina Athletic Administrators Association (SCAAA). This prestigious honor recognizes Sherman’s outstanding leadership, commitment, and service to both the academic and athletic programs within his school and the broader South […]
Update: IRS refunding or waiving $1.4M in penalties, fines for Fairfield County
March 6, 2025 By
WINNSBORO – It was announced in December, 2023, by former Interim Administrator Laura Johnson that Fairfield County had been assessed IRS tax penalties and interest in the amount of $1.4 million and that she had paid most of that amount. The charges were tied to the Affordable Care Act and the requirement to provide proof […]
Ribfest set for Saturday at Doko Meadows Park
March 6, 2025 By
BLYTHEWOOD – Bring your appetite – the 6th Annual Doko Ribfest Cook-Off will happen on Saturday, March 8 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Organizers say festival goers are in for a mouthwatering experience they won’t want to miss. “And that’s not all,” said Ribfest co-chair Mike Ross. “Ribfest is more than just incredible barbecue. […]
Judge grants injunction against BW mayor
March 3, 2025 By
COLUMBIA – A ruling has been handed down in the Town of Blythewood lawsuit in which four members of the Blythewood Town Council – Mayor Pro Tem Donald Brock, Rich McKenrick, Andrea Fripp, and Erica Page – filed for a temporary and permanent injunction to stop Blythewood Mayor Sloan Griffin from enforcing his Executive Order […]
Town Council meeting turns into donnybrook
February 27, 2025 By
BLYTHEWOOD – Monday night’s town council meeting began with Councilman Donald Brock making a motion to add an item to the agenda calling for several special called meetings. It ended three hours later with Councilman Rich McKenrick calling for a vote of no confidence in Mayor Sloan Griffin. A good thirty minutes of the meeting […]
Hensley: Fairfield property sales, valuations up
February 27, 2025 By
WINNSBORO – There’s good news about property values in Fairfield County. Most properties in the county have increased in value since the last reassessment in 2020, according to Fairfield County Tax Assessor Guerry Hensley. The bad news is, Hensley estimates that because of that increase in property values, most if not all properties in Fairfield […]
Ridgeway museum honors black history and Geneva Bell
February 27, 2025 By
RIDGEWAY – The Black History Celebration at the Isaac C. Thomas Historical Museum in Ridgeway last Saturday was special in many ways. Besides celebrating black history in the town where many of those in attendance grew up, keynote speaker Pastor Eddie Woods took his audience down memory lane, recalling his own time growing up there, […]
