Lancaster, SC, Lancaster County, SC | featured news

As Indian Land incorporation organizers pivot to a “vote yes” campaign after winning approval from a key legislative committee in Columbia last week, opponents are ramping up their efforts to persuade residents to “vote no” on the proposition.

Newly installed Lancaster City Council member Linda Blackmon broke a 3-3 tie Tuesday night as the council granted her request for $6,750 in back pay, compensating her for the nine months when a legal challenge kept her from taking office.

One lucky customer at an Indian Land convenience store has won $200,000 from an S.C. Education Lottery Palmetto Cash 5 ticket purchased for Monday’s drawing.
The winning ticket was purchased at a QuikTrip on Charlotte Highway in Indian Land. No winner had claimed the prize as of Tuesday afternoon.
While the ticket matched all five numbers for the $100,000 prize, the ticketholder “Powered-Up” for an additional dollar. This brought the total prize to $200,000.

Archie Parnell, who lost a close special election for the 5th Congressional District in June, will run again in 2018, he announced Monday.
The Sumter Democrat will challenge incumbent Republican Ralph Norman, who won the seat after Mick Mulvaney vacated it to become President Trump’s budget director.

Two Democrats say they are running to challenge Republican Gov. Henry McMaster when he runs in 2018.
S.C. Rep. James Smith of Columbia announced his candidacy Monday, and Charleston businessman Phil Noble will officially unveil his plans Wednesday, according to the Charleston Post and Courier. Noble will challenge Smith for the minority party’s nomination.
Besides McMaster, three Republicans have declared their candidacies – Lt. Gov. Kevin Bryant, former state agency head Catherine Templeton, and former Lt. Gov. Yancey McGill.

A home décor distributor that is expanding into Lancaster County won’t have to pay its full share of county taxes for 10 years as an incentive.
Unique Looms announced in May that it was creating 300-plus jobs in the next four years. Of those, 245 are new jobs and about 90 are moving here from York County. Unique Looms also has locations in downtown Fort Mill and near Carowinds.
“They’re a great company,” said Jamie Gilbert, Lancaster County’s economic development director, noting that Unique Looms plans to invest $4 million here.

Susan Rowell, publisher of The Lancaster News, was elected president of the National Newspaper Association’s board of directors last week during the trade group’s 131st annual convention in Tulsa, Okla.

A 17-year-old Andrew Jackson High student was arrested Monday for possessing a loaded handgun and marijuana in the school.
Devin D’Ante Wright of Heath Springs was charged with carrying a weapon on school property and simple possession of marijuana, according to a Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office release.