VARNVILLE - Imagine you or your loved one is desperately in need of medical care, but the ambulance can't find your house. If someone is having a heart attack or stroke, every second counts.
"My concern happened at the end of 2009 on 70 Bowers Street where I live behind the hospital and the ambulance could not find my house because there were no street signs where I live," Amy Roberts said at the March 1 meeting of Varnville Town Council.

Paul Shepherd, a partnership specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau in this area, wants you to know to look for your census forms in the mail the week of March 15. People who have post office boxes may receive their forms earlier. The official census day is April 1, but the census bureau would like you to send your forms back as soon as possible.
"We would like to get the forms back as early as possible, right away," said Shepherd.

A Scotia man is facing charges in Bamberg County after a chase in which he gave the police "the finger" before crashing into a day care school bus.
After fleeing from Town of Bamberg police, Jerrell Antone Brown, 23, of 5007 Columbia Highway, was apprehended by the Estill Police Department on Feb. 26 and returned to Bamberg, where he is facing charges that include failure to stop for blue lights, driving under suspension, leaving the scene of an accident, and simple possession of marijuana.

ESTILL - Yet another lawsuit has been added to the growing number pending against Hampton School District Two.
A personal injury civil action filed Feb. 3 on behalf of Aneika Smith in Hampton County Court of Common Pleas alleges false imprisonment, battery, negligence, and defamation following an altercation at Estill High School on Sept. 30, 2008, according to court documents.

Love of country and community were the themes at the Arnold Fields Community Endowment banquet on Saturday at North District Middle School.
Dr. Marcella Heyward-Evans, director of Elementary Education for Lexington School District Two, started the evening with her keynote address.
"I am who I am because of who you are," said Heyward-Evans, a Hampton County native. "You taught me to love, love God and others ... You taught me that if God brought me to a problem he would see me through the problem."

Pedestrian hit in Piggly Wiggly parking lot

One person has been checked out by EMS after apparently being hit by a car in the parking lot of the Piggly Wiggly in Hampton. Police responded to the scene shortly after 1:30 Thursday afternoon. 

A second accident, this one involving two vehicles, was reported on Highway 278 in front of Piggly Wiggly around 2:15. One patient was complaining of pain and was checked out on the scene.

No one was apparently transported in either of these accidents.  

Hampton firefighters respond to house fire call

HAMPTON - The Hampton Police Department is still searching for clues in connection with a possible drug-related shooting that occurred at 203 Ellis Street around 9:09 p.m. Monday.
Police Chief Perry McAlhaney said Tuesday that a man was shot at least twice, suffering wounds in the chest and arm area and in the abdomen, and the HPD is still searching for a suspect.
The victim, identified by the HPD as Micheaux Jimone Walker, 23, of 6300 Mosley Dixon Drive, Macon, Ga., was driven by a witness to the Hampton Regional Medical Center Emergency Room.

ALLENDALE - A former Allendale Police Officer pleaded guilty this week to stealing almost $5,000 from the department's evidence locker.

Juan Nevarez pleaded guilty Monday to one count of misconduct in office and one count of grand larceny in connection with the theft of $4,680 in July 2006, said the 14th Circuit Solicitor's Office.

Judge Perry Buckner sentenced Nevarez to one year in prison, a sentence that will be suspended when Nevarez completes two years of probation.

Residents of the towns of Hampton and Varnville are reminded that the deadline to register to be eligible to vote in the April 6, Municipal Elections is March 6.
Persons may register at the County Board of Elections and Voter Registration Office and designated AMotor-Voter@ sites during normal business hours or register at www.scvotes.org, print an application, complete it and mail it to the County Board of Elections and Voter Registration Office. Voter registration by mail applications must be postmarked by the deadline.

VARNVILLE - American Red Cross volunteers provided assistance to two adults in Varnville whose home suffered major damage in a fire early Monday morning. Fire departments from Yemassee, Varnville and Cummings responded to the emergency call around 2 a.m. at 11148 Old Salkehatchie Highway and contacted the Red Cross to assist the family with immediate needs. At least one person was treated on the scene for minor burns, according to reports. The home was rendered uninhabitable by the blaze, according to Red Cross reports.