The Cheraw Chronicle - Your source for local news, classifieds, business listings and events.

News

Contributed photo
Bennettsville Police Chief Larry McNeil is an avid supporter of education. The associate degree he earned from Northeastern Technical College gave him the foundation to go on to earn a master’s degree and advance his career in law enforcement.

NETC was springboard for police chief’s career
Bennettsville Police Chief Larry McNeil knows the value of an education. It has helped him move up through the ranks during his nearly 25-year career in law enforcement and handle the operations of a department of 34 officers with a $2 million budget. “Had I not started at Northeastern Technical College, I would never have gotten here,” said McNeil, seated in his office overlooking Main Street in Bennettsville. McNeil earned an Associate ...
full story

Town_county_hope_to_negotiate_fire_contract0_1362610186.jpg

Town/county hope to negotiate fire contract
Members of Cheraw Town Council attended a briefing Tuesday evening that focused on the possibilities of re-negotiating the town’s current contract with Chesterfield County Council concerning monetary support of the Cheraw Fire Department for service to county residents. As it stands, the county is obligated to pay the Town of Cheraw a flat fee of $200,000 per year, until 2018. Residents in the Cheraw neighborhoods of Deerfield and Country C...
full story

Harry_Hampton_Wildlife_Fund_donates_167_850_to_DNR0_1362577021.jpg

Harry Hampton Wildlife Fund donates $167,850 to DNR
The S.C. Natural Resources Board, the policy-making body of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR), met recently and accepted a monetary donation from the Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund, Inc. This year’s Hampton Fund donation was $167,850. The total donated to DNR by the Hampton Fund over the years now totals $2,898,930. The Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund, Inc. is a private, non-profit corporation which partners with the...
full story

Drivers_descend_on_Chesterfield_for_Sandblast0_1362610003.jpg

Drivers descend on Chesterfield for Sandblast
Car and motorbike enthusiasts showed up on Main Street in Chesterfield Friday evening to meet the drivers competing in the 2013 Sandblast Rally, which hosted a national competition through the Sandhills Forest of Chesterfield County this past weekend. The Atlantic Rally Cup was awarded to Jason Smith and Jared Lantzy, who completed the seven stage race in one hour, five minutes and 51 seconds. The RallyMoto Cup winner was Michael Gilkey. It t...
full story

Murder suspect claims victim was friend
The young Conway man who turned himself in for the shooting death last Tuesday of Coastal Carolina University student Anthony Darnell Liddle, of Bennettsville, told authorities Liddle had been his friend. Marquis Spencer McDonald, 20, was accompanied by a family member to a Conway gas station to surrender Friday evening, shortly after the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) issued a warrant for his arrest, according to Thom Berry, ...
full story

Two die in head-on crash
Two people died in a two-vehicle, head-on collision last Friday afternoon on Hwy 151, just outside McBee, according to police. James Gardner, 42, of McBee, and Mike Lynch, 62, of Hartsville, were both pronounced dead at the scene, said Lance Corp. Brent Kelly of the South Carolina Highway Patrol. It is not known whether or not either man was wearing a seat-belt, said Kelly. According to Kelly, Gardner was traveling south in a 1998 Chevy...
full story

Arts events for March
March is roaring like a lion with lots of Cheraw Arts Commission events. The Arts Commission presents Friday Night at the Movies on Friday, March 8, at the Theatre on the Green in Cheraw. The 2005 PG featured movie “Nanny McPhee” with Emma Thompson and Colin Firth starts at 7 p.m. and lasts approximately 97 minutes. The movie is based on the “Nurse Mathilda” books and centers on the new nanny and the seven ill-behaved Brown children. Admi...
full story

Contributed photo
Pictured are Northeastern Technical College students inducted into the National Technical Honor Society for their outstanding achievement while enrolled in career and occupational programs.

Honor Society recognizes students for academic achievement
More than a hundred students from Northeastern Technical College and Chesterfield County’s four public high schools were inducted into the National Technical Honor Society on Feb. 19 at NETC’s main campus in Cheraw. The inductees were applauded for their outstanding achievement while enrolled in career and occupational programs. “Your recognition for becoming National Technical Honor Society members indicates you are serious students and ...
full story

Contributed photo
Three members of Northeastern Technical College’s faculty and staff, from left, James Oxendine, Donna Chavis and Cynthia Sellers, were presented with South Carolina Technical Education Association Educator of the Year awards.

NETC announces Educators of the Year
Three Northeastern Technical College employees were recently named winners of the South Carolina Technical Education Association (SCTEA) Educator of the Year Awards. James Oxendine of Rowland, N.C., was nominated for Teacher of the Year for his outstanding performance as a mathematics instructor. He has been an instructor for NETC for five years. Donna Chavis of Bennettsville was nominated for Administrator of the Year for her dedication ...
full story

Caulder_steps_down_from_Economic_Development_Board0_1362310123.jpg

Caulder steps down from Economic Development Board
Chesterfield County Economic Development Board Vice Chair, Tommy Sellers, recognized Janet Caulder Feb. 19, for nearly ten years of service with the organization. He commended her dedication to “improving the economic future of Chesterfield County.” According to Sellers, “Mrs. Caulder embodied leadership and unity, a clear logical approach, attention to detail, and great counsel and encouragement to the Executive Director and Board. Her acc...
full story

Money approved for bridge repair
The bridge at the end of State Road in Cheraw that was closed immediately upon routine inspection last month is already scheduled to be repaired, according to Cheraw Mayor Andy Ingram. “Good news!” Ingram announced last Thursday. “The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) Commissioner approved the funding today to replace the bridge on State Road.” SCDOT plans to begin work as early as April, said Ingram. “We hope it will be...
full story

Dr. Agnes Schultz and her staff recently welcomed The Greater Cheraw Chamber of Commerce to their ribbon cutting and open house at 119 Chesterfield Hwy. The event was open to the public, with hot dogs and light refreshments served. Cheraw Pediatrics has been a Chamber of Commerce member since 1995. "We were happy to help them celebrate the opening of such a beautiful new facility," said Phil Powell, president of the chamber.

Grand opening for Dr. Schultz’ office
Dr. Agnes Schultz and her staff recently welcomed The Greater Cheraw Chamber of Commerce to their ribbon cutting and open house at 119 Chesterfield Hwy. The event was open to the public, with hot dogs and light refreshments served. Cheraw Pediatrics has been a Chamber of Commerce member since 1995. “We were happy to help them celebrate the opening of such a beautiful new facility,” said Phil Powell, president of the chamber.
full story

Chesterfield S.C. Works service changes
In person Unemployment Services, WIA, Trade Adjustment Assistance and Employment Services are no longer available at the Chesterfield S.C. Works located at 344 East Blvd, Chesterfield (beside the YMCA) effective Feb. 14, 2013. If you need access to “self-service” activities to include computer access you can report to 318 Front Street, Cheraw. Effective March 12, 2013, self-services will also be available at the Chesterfield County Library,...
full story

Chesterfield_County_Sheriff’s_Office_arrests_for_Feb_28_20130_1361926970.jpg

Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office - arrests for Feb. 28, 2013
The following arrests were recently made by the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office: • Wilmar Henry Schaff, 19, of 108 Brown Springs Church Road, Patrick, was arrested for destruction/damage/vandalism of property. • Jovanni Jamal McLain, 21, of 1534 Academy Road, Bennettsville, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. • Charles Michael Sullivan, 52, of 209 N. Maxton St., Jefferson, was arrested for criminal domestic viole...
full story

Slinging mud and dust, here they come!
The Sandhills State Forest of Chesterfield County does more than grow pine trees. At least once a year, it brings in people from all around the country to race through its soft, sandy, dirt roads. The Sandblast Rally, as it is called, begins Friday and continues through the weekend. Chesterfield County Council has given its blessings to the event for the past several years, as it is a big boost the local economy. Those competing, in cars or...
full story

Cheraw_Police_Department_arrests_for_Feb_28_20130_1361926801.jpg

Cheraw Police Department - arrests for Feb. 28, 2013
The following arrests were recently made by the Cheraw Police Department: • Darvis Tavon Johnson, 20, of 452 Goodman Circle, Cheraw, was arrested for distribution of marijuana. • J. T. Harris, 31, of 210 Cash Road, Cheraw, was arrested for trespassing and public drunk. • Tracy Wayne McQueen Jr., 21, of 147 Lowe Road, Chesterfield, was arrested for disorderly conduct. • Larry Moore, 30, of 892 Macedonia Church Road, Cheraw, was arreste...
full story

Cheraw man arrested for child pornography
Suspicion, from the U.S. Postal Inspector’s Office in Charlotte, N.C., sparked an investigation that eventually led to the arrest of a 74-year-old Cheraw man for possession of child pornography and obscene materials. George Walter Krauss, of 152 Longhorn Lane, was taken into custody Feb. 15, and all of his electronic devices were seized by federal search warrant, according to lawmen. Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Deputy Sgt. Wayne Jordan sa...
full story

College student shot and killed
Anthony Darnell Liddell, 19, of Bennettsville, a student at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, S.C., was shot and killed in a parking lot Tuesday night, according to police. He was a sophomore. Coastal Carolina University (CCU), on its website, has confirmed that Liddell died as a result of a shooting incident at University Place residence hall. Authorities are still searching for the gunman, who witnesses say drove away from the scen...
full story

SC Work Ready Communities are growing
According to information released last week by James Richter of the South Carolina Workforce Investment Board (SWIB), Chesterfield County will be right in line with the most of the state by joining efforts to be designated as a SC Work Ready Community. Currently, 34 of the state’s 46 counties are already a part of this program or have agreed to accept the challenges of the program. Chesterfield County Council voted earlier this month to set...
full story

Progress Energy, Duke Energy merger topic of lunch program
This month’s lunch and learn program, presented by the Chamber, featured Mindy Taylor, District Manger, of Progress Energy. She spoke about the merger of Progress Energy and Duke Energy, two leading power companies. The merge began in January of 2011 and has taken a year and half to complete. The new logo and name will begin to appear towards “the end of April,” said Taylor.The new name customers will be seeing is: Duke Energy Progress. Sin...
full story

Dylan Sneed, the first performer to kick off the Lakeside Music Room concert series at Cheraw State Park last May, has been offered an opportunity to promote his music internationally.

Hartsville songwriter goes International
Dylan Sneed, the first performer to kick off the Lakeside Music Room concert series at Cheraw State Park last May, has been offered an opportunity to promote his music internationally, but he needs community support to make it happen. Sneed currently lives in Hartsville, working with Arts Alive there, but is originally from Austin, Texas. He was instrumental in helping organize and promote the Lakeside Music Room series last summer. Now, wi...
full story