Whitaker Fired After He Fired Chief Following Wrongful Murder Charge CHESTER – It’s been a tumultuous week in Fairfield County’s neighbor to the north, where a man wrongfully jailed for murder has been freed and two high-ranking city leaders have been dismissed from their posts. The city shakeup was set into motion at an August […]
City of Chester fires Whitaker, former Fairfield County Administrator
August 29, 2023 By
CHESTER – Following a lengthy executive session Monday night, Chester City council voted 5-4 to fire Administrator Malik Whitaker. The firing came five days after Whitaker fired Police Chief Curtis Singleton and only eight months after he (Whitaker) was hired as Chester City administrator. At the beginning of Monday night’s council meeting, Councilwoman Robbie King-Boyd […]
Watson gets 25 years for sex trafficking
August 24, 2023 By
BLYTHEWOOD – A Blythewood man accused of sex trafficking and drug dealing will spend 25 years behind bars, according to federal court documents. Brian Leroy Watson, 51, formerly of Blythewood, was sentenced last week to 300 months in prison and ordered to repay $45,000 in restitution divided evenly among nine victims, documents state. Watson had […]
News Analysis: Is County imposing employee/media censorship via PIO?
August 24, 2023 By
County Posts for Full-Time $60-$65K Public Information Officer (PIO) WINNSBORO – It was in February, 2022, that former County Administrator Malik Whitaker first imposed restrictions on Fairfield County employees’ First Amendment rights, forbidding them to talk to the media without approval from county administration. In an email, Whitaker instructed employees, “If you are contacted by […]
Ridgeway to celebrate Tin Man’s 100th anniversary
August 24, 2023 By
RIDGEWAY – The Town of Ridgeway will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its iconic Tin Man water tower at 10 a.m. on Sept. 2. The celebration will kick off with a ceremony on the edge of the Cotton Yard, in the shadow of the newly refurbished water tower. Led by current Ridgeway mayor, Heath Cookendorfer, […]
Winnsboro improvement projects progressing
August 24, 2023 By
WINNSBORO – With the help of federal grants and state funding, three projects to improve downtown Winnsboro are progressing, says Town Administrator Jason Taylor. “We’re trying to do everything we can to plan and use this money to get essentially the best result we can – the most we can for our money,” Taylor said, […]
Mobile vet clinic set for Sat. by Town Clock
August 24, 2023 By
WINNSBORO – “A mobile vet clinic will be in the parking lot next to the town clock in downtown Winnsboro from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26,” said Sonja Murphy, one of the organizers of the event. “We will be all about healthcare for the pets in Fairfield County.” Along with the […]
‘Because of Roscoe’ offers free spay/neuter vouchers
August 24, 2023 By
FAIRFIELD COUNTY – A new 501(c)(3) community outreach program has been formed by longtime Fairfield County Animal Control (FCAC) volunteer Samira Yaghi. The 501(c)(3) name is Because of Roscoe and is manned by the Friends of Fairfield Animal Control volunteers. The non-profit, Because of Roscoe is not a service of the FCAC, but will serve […]
Blythewood man’s first film premiers Friday in Columbia
August 23, 2023 By
BLYTHEWOOD – “Differences,” a romantic drama produced by a Blythewood-based filmmaker, will have its world premiere in Columbia this Friday, Aug. 25, and become available for viewing on the free streaming service Tubi on Sept. 1. The film tells the story of Lamad, a store clerk who recently got out of prison with ambitions to […]
