Two Aiken men are facing trespassing and firearms charges after a Columbia County school was placed on a soft lockdown Friday.

Aaron Lott, 17, of Aiken, is charged with trespassing, unlawful possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm on school property.

William Jeremiah Hawkins, 18, of Aiken, is charged with possession of a firearm while on school property, criminal trespass and pointing a firearm at another.

Police said Hawkins and Lott and two other male individuals of "adult age" were picked up from a residence on Palm Drive in Aiken by the Aiken Department of Public Safety following an incident in Columbia County on Friday morning that started with a video on a social media app called SnapChat, said Public Safety Lt. Jake Mahoney.

No charges have been filed against the other two individuals involved.

Hawkins posted a series of SnapChat videos of a handgun being discharged from a vehicle, according to a Columbia County Sheriff's Office press release.

In other SnapChat posts, Hawkins stated he was in Augusta, in the Lakeside High School parking lot and in the Lakeside High School cafeteria, according to the report.

Mahoney said that Aiken County Sheriff Michael Hunt received a call from an unidentified person who saw the video, and Hunt called Columbia County Sheriff Clay Whittle.

One witness told police a white male in a dark colored Chevrolet Avalanche pointed a weapon at him while students were on the bus at Old Evans Road near Bobby Jones Expressway, the report stated.

Police said no direct threats were made to any particular school, but out of caution, all area schools were put on lockdown.

The suspects were tracked using a cellphone that led police to Aiken, according to the report.

Mahoney told the Aiken Standard the individuals appear to be involved in crimes in both Columbia and Aiken counties, turning the investigation into a joint investigation.

A North Augusta woman reported Friday from her home on Murphy Street that her son was missing. She told deputies that the last place he was seen was swimming with his friends at a nearby pond. She said she believed he might be on narcotics.

An Aiken woman reported Thursday that she had a verbal argument with the man that lives with her on Union Church Lane, after she told him she was going to have him evicted. According to the report, the man became violent and hit a television that flew across the room hitting another woman in the house on the right side of her face. Deputies say the man fled before they arrived.

A Beech Island man was arrested and charged on Thursday for disorderly conduct. According to the report, deputies were called out to Cherry Street, where they found this man yelling and wandering around. Deputies stated they could smell alcohol on his breath.

A Warrenville man reported Thursday that his residence on Chaffee Street has been broken into while he was at work. The man reported to deputies that his television had been taken, as well as a pack of hot dogs from his fridge.

Deputies responded to Winderplace Drive Thursday where a Trenton woman reported that someone was using her debit card without her permission and buying items online. She told deputies that her daughter, who lives with her, might be using the card without her permission

A Trenton woman reported that one of her employees caused a disturbance after she had told him he was fired from the job located on Woodward Lake Road. According to the report, the subject began to argue with the woman before picking up a shovel and throwing it at her. The shovel didn't hit her, but she told deputies that she wanted to file a trespass notice against him.

A Graniteville woman reported Thursday that her car had been broken into at her home located on Ashley Circle. Deputies stated that the stereo had been removed from the car. The woman told deputies that she had left the car unlocked.

According to reports provided by the Aiken Department of Public Safety:

Officers were called to Grandiflora Circle on Friday in response to a call about a suspicious person. According to the report, an Aiken woman had observed a man hunched over a car. She thought he was either stealing gas or was putting something in the gas tank. The subject ran before officers arrived.

An Aiken woman reported Thursday that her home on Union Street had been burglarized. According to the report, a pouch containing $380 and a Samsung Galaxy Tablet were taken from the residence.

Officers pulled an Aiken man over Thursday on Greenville Street because his car matched a description from an armed robbery the night prior. According to the report, the man was arrested after it was discovered that he had a family bench warrant out on him. Officers searched his car and found a handgun and two Viagra pills in the center console.

An officer pulled over an Aiken man Thursday off Whiskey Road after the man had left a store parking lot. According to the report, the man had been accused of stealing printer ink cartridges. The officer searched his car and found them in the center console and arrested the man.

Two men reported Wednesday that they had been robbed at gunpoint at a hotel on Richland Avenue. According to the report, two black males forced their way into the room and robbed them using handguns. The subjects forced the two victims to give up their wallets before fleeing.

Aiken Technical College will open its new Center for Energy and Advanced Manufacturing on the first day of classes on Monday, Aug. 17.

ATC President Dr. Susan Winsor shared the news at the monthly Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce First Friday Means Business breakfast on Friday.

The facility will serve as a training center for Aiken County's nuclear and manufacturing workforce. It will house ATC's advanced manufacturing, welding, radiation protection, technology and nuclear quality programs.

"Our future is bright with the number of manufacturers in our region," Winsor said. "It's really an opportunity to leverage this facility to bring additional economic development to the region."

Initial discussion on the center began about eight years ago, when the recession was emerging; yet the college and community leaders quickly recognized the facility should be a top priority for the long term.

Winsor cited support from many sources - a federal grant, a S.C. General Assembly allocation, and just completed this year, another $2 million raised by the members of the Aiken Technical College Foundation.

The Center for Energy and Advanced Manufacturing offers large bays to provide hands-on training with new equipment and enhanced instruction. Ultimately, however, the focus is not on buildings, but on the students and the companies that will benefit from them, Winsor said.

"We have a huge number of jobs becoming available because of retirements alone," she said. "We want our young people for those jobs. We don't want to have to import people from halfway across the country, just because our people are not ready to take those positions."

The new facility expands on initiatives that emerged several years ago, Winsor said.

Bridgestone became a pioneering partner with ATC to establish a Technical Scholars program. A company can select and identify talented students - providing a part-time job, paying for tuition and books beyond federal aid and preparing them for full-time jobs.

Companies need high-tech skills, and ATC's new education center will complement on-the-job training by preparing students for manufacturing and technical jobs, Winsor said.

"We're so happy and proud of our partnerships and the community support it took to get here and make this project a reality," Winsor said.

Senior writer Rob Novit is the Aiken Standard's education reporter and has been with the newspaper since September 2001.

Aggressive and threatening phone calls by people impersonating IRS agents remains an ongoing threat to South Carolina taxpayers.

Aiken resident Richard Procter said he has received three calls from scammers claiming to be the IRS in the past two months. He said the most recent call happened Tuesday.

"The scammers would call me claiming that I owed them over $3,000," Procter said. "They would say they were preparing an arrest warrant if I didn't prepare a money order to send to them."

Aiken Department of Public Safety Lt. Karl Odenthal said complaints about these calls regarding IRS scams happen regularly.

The scams are frequent enough for the department to advertise awareness against these scams at least once a year, Odenthal said.

"The IRS is not going to call you to get your money," Odenthal said. "That's not the way they work."

Procter said he likes to play around with the scammers when they call. He said that he likes to stay on the phone with them, pretending to listen and frustrating the caller before telling them off.

"This scam has hit taxpayers in nearly every state in the country. We want to educate taxpayers so they can help protect themselves," said IRS Acting Commissioner Danny Werfel. "Rest assured, we do not and will not ask for credit card numbers over the phone, nor request a prepaid debit card or wire transfer.

"If someone unexpectedly calls claiming to be from the IRS and threatens police arrest, deportation or license revocation if you don't pay immediately, that is a sign that it really isn't the IRS calling."

Taxpayers should be aware that there are other unrelated scams (such as a lottery sweepstakes) and solicitations (such as debt relief) that fraudulently claim to be from the IRS, according to the IRS website, www.irs.gov.

Victims of these scammers should report them by calling Aiken Department of Public Safety at 803-642-7620.

Tripp Girardeau is a crime beat reporter for the Aiken Standard.

Varying opinions on FOX's first GOP debate on Thursday rolled in from different political parties and interest groups.

Despite differences, Moses Mims, a communications director for the Aiken Democratic Party, said Ohio Gov. John Kasich made the most progress in separating himself from the crowded, 17-person roster seeking the Republican presidential nomination.

Kasich, who barely made the Top 10 based on FOX's polling criteria, defended his decision to expand Medicaid through President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act, earning him respect from Democratic viewers.

"I thought he was very appropriate in taking that position," Mims said.

Mims, who mentioned he still sides with Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton overall, added that Kasich was able to differentiate himself from the Republican pack by taking the stance.

Other standouts

Mims also said former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush put forth a compelling effort on Thursday.

Mim's position was backed by Matthew Thornburg, the assistant professor of political science at USC Aiken.

Thornburg said Bush came off as "polished" while pointing out his accomplishments as governor of the Sunshine State.

Keeping with Bush's jobs theme, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker was also strong with jobs discussions, Thornburg said.

But during a controversial moment, moderator Megyn Kelly asked Walker if he supports abortion in a case where the mother would die without undergoing the procedure.

"I believe that that is an unborn child that's in need of protection out there," Walker responded. "And I've said many times that that unborn child can be protected and there are many alternatives that would protect the life of the mother."

Though his comments garnered instant reactions, both good and bad, Thornburg said Walker walked away unscathed, making he and Bush victors because each walked into the debate with top-three positions in the polls.

"There were no major victories, but as long as they don't screw up in a big way, they'll be fine," he said.

Room for improvement

Though billionaire business mogul Donald Trump stepped on stage as the poll leader, the "You're fired" reality show celebrity did little to help maintain that position, Mims said.

"There's just no way to get behind some of the things he says," Mims said.

Thornburg agreed, adding that Trump's lack of policy-making experience was put on display, along with renowned neurosurgeon Ben Carson.

Finally, both Thornburg and Mims agreed that Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul faired poorly, especially during a heated exchange with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie about national security.

Paul opposes the collection of citizens' phone records in the event of a terrorist attack. But Christie spoke about the 9/11 attacks on the U.S., stating that he's attended funerals for deceased friends as a result of the attack. The message worked to the disadvantage of Paul, Mims said.

"He gives everything from a Libertarian point of view and the concept of staying out of everyone's business looks like it hurt him," Mims said.

Thornburg said Paul didn't get a good chance to defend his issues, leaving a sour taste in the mouths of some viewers.

It ain't over 'til it's over

Thornburg and KT Ruthven, the president of the Aiken GOP, were quick to point out that Thursday's debate was the first of many.

Poll numbers and answers to questions are a result of the early trends, Ruthven said.

He added that former Texas Gov. Rick Perry faltered during his first presidential campaign in 2011 before eventually dropping out and endorsing eventual Republican winner Mitt Romney.

"But this go around, he's bounced back and looks stronger. So people's opinions can always change," Ruthven said.

Thornburg agreed, adding that as the primary election draws nearer, candidates will be more outspoken on policies and take firmer positions.

He added that it's too early to walk away with an objective stance on a candidate based on one debate, and that one candidate differentiating from 16 opponents will be tough, especially for those who finished middle of the pack.

Those include former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, Thornburg said.

"It's a crowded field, and those candidates need to be able to distinguish themselves from the 'Middle of the Road' conservative stance if they want to make a name for themselves," he said.

Before the top-tier debate, a second-tier debate was broadcast featuring candidates who did not make the Top 10.

Those include former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, S.C. Sen. Lindsey Graham, former N.Y Gov. George Pataki and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry. The others are former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and business executive Carly Fiorina, who Thornburg believes walked away the victor of the second tier debate.

"I'm curious to see if she gets bumped up in the polls since she did so well," he said.

Derrek Asberry is the SRS beat reporter for the Aiken Standard and has been with the paper since June 2013. He is originally from Vidalia, Ga., and a graduate of Georgia Southern University. Follow him on Twitter @DerrekAsberry.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Opponents of raising the state's gas tax to fund roadwork are stepping up their efforts while the Legislature's not in session in an attempt to shift the debate from funding to reform.

Debate on the issue lawmakers called their top priority for 2015 -- fixing South Carolina's deteriorating roads -- will resume in January. A bill providing roughly $800 million additional yearly to the Department of Transportation through taxes and fees has special debate status in the Senate when legislators return.

Anti-tax activists are working the phones to secure GOP senators' opposition in 2016, when every legislator is up for re-election.

"Before we talk about dollars, we've got to reform the system," said Dave Schwartz, state director of Americans for Prosperity. It's joined with the Coastal Conservation League, the South Carolina Policy Council and the Campaign for Liberty in pushing the reform-first mantra.

The groups applaud Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, who filibustered to prevent a vote this year. Davis said his mission over the next five months is to educate voters on his arguments. He believes no tax hike is needed.

"Yeah, we've got a horrible road and bridge problem, but it won't be solved by putting more money in a system that's broken," he said.

But other legislators and business leaders say that's just political spin that won't fix the problem. They contend more money will be needed regardless of any reforms.

"Any state agency could always use reform. We support reform, but trying to say we can't talk about funding at the same time, we think, is a mistake," said Ted Pitts, president of the state Chamber of Commerce and a former House member. "It's really just a delay game."

The arguments are a repeat of 2007, he said.

That was the last time the Legislature passed a law reforming the Department of Transportation. It put the agency in the governor's Cabinet and required the DOT to fund road projects based on need.

"When you don't want to fix something, you say, 'We'll reform it.' We reformed it in 2007 but never funded it," said Sen. Ray Cleary, R-Murrells Inlet, who led Senate Finance's road-funding panel.

The DOT has said it needs an additional $1.5 billion annually over the next 25 years to bring all state-maintained roadways to good condition. The state's highway system consists of 41,400 miles of roads, making it the nation's fourth-largest. It's funded largely by the nation's third-lowest gas tax and the federal matches that 16.75 cents per gallon brings.

The reform-first groups say DOT's revenue needs can't be discerned until reforms are enacted. They argue those reforms must include abolishing both the legislatively appointed DOT commission and the State Infrastructure Bank, noting two legislative leaders appoint most of its board.

The bank, which loans money for large road projects, is exempt from the 2007 law's priority-funding requirements.

Policy Council President Ashley Landess says money diverted to the bank subtracts from DOT's maintenance of existing miles.

According to the DOT, it will transfer about $110 million to the bank this year. That includes $27 million through its 1-cent-per-gallon share of the gas tax, $31 million for debt payments, and $50 million as required by a 2013 law that sends half of vehicle sales taxes to the bank.

Rep. Chip Limehouse, who sponsored the bill creating the bank in 1997, said it works exactly as designed.

"We'd be 20 years backward if the SIB hadn't come along," said Limehouse, R-Mount Pleasant, a board member. It's "designed to get large projects up and moving to areas with growth and business development. That's all a red herring to divert the debate from the core issue that the DOT is severely underfunded."

Aiken City Council voted in June to approve shared lane markings, or sharrows, on Silver Bluff Road, which would knock the speed limit down from 45 miles per hour to 35 miles per hour on a one-mile stretch.

But the S.C. Department of Transportation, or SCDOT, is pondering if the drop would be hazardous to drivers who are accustomed to traveling at 10 miles per hour more than the proposal.

Michelle Shepherd, a program manager with the department, spoke about the proposal Thursday during a meeting hosted by the South Carolina subcommittee of the Augusta Regional Transportation Study, or ARTS.

"We don't want to artificially lower the speed limit to what drivers would not naturally and comfortably travel on that segment for the purpose of shared-lane markings," Shepherd said. "So we're now looking at if that's a safe option."

Shepherd's project update was one of several on the agenda that fall under potential projects that the transportation study is looking at on both sides of the Savannah River.

Another project seeks improvements to Hitchcock Parkway, but subcommittee member and City Councilman Dick Dewar expressed concerns about a budget shortfall.

Proposed improvements to Hitchcock Parkway, which includes the addition of potential turning lanes, signals, passing lanes and acceleration and deceleration lanes, would total more than $19 million with only $13 million in available funding.

Dewar said part of the problem is that each intersection is considered a separate project rather than considering all of them as a single Hitchcock project.

"When they do that, the cost goes up to $19 million, and it seemed counterproductive to me because we're not going to consider each intersection separately; there's a relationship between each intersection," he said.

Aiken County has its own system in place of ranking projects, said Shepherd, but the subcommittee is seeking SCDOT's input on the issue to prioritize the work and dollars.

"That's where we are right now. We're trying to coordinate there so we can get a project that everybody feels good about," Shepherd said.

Other actions on Thursday included an approval to amend the ARTS fiscal year 2015-18 Transportation Improvement Program by adding $915,000 of state funds for the I-20 widening project from the Georgia state line to Highway U.S. 25 in Aiken County.

Thursday's vote serves as an early step in the overall goal and still has to before several other committees.

Also on Thursday, the subcommittee received an update on the ARTS 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan, an all-inclusive plan for the CSRA that seeks more than $1 billion in road improvements on both sides of the river.

Derrek Asberry is the SRS beat reporter for the Aiken Standard and has been with the paper since June 2013.

A Warrenville woman was arrested this weekend after a homeowner caught her inside his Howlandville Road residence while wearing his clothes.

Aiken County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested Darlene Moore, 41, for burglary in the first degree.

According to police, when the man returned to his home on Saturday, Moore opened the man's front door. The two reportedly had never met before, police said.

Deputies reported that a window to the residence was broken and the front door was locked when they approached the house. Moore opened the door for deputies.

When deputies arrested Moore, she was wearing the homeowner's clothes and told the officers she had been living at that residence for 41 years.

Moore is currently being held in the Aiken County detention center.

Nearly nine years ago, Marine Cpl. Matthew Dillon was killed in Iraq by an IED explosion.

He had served with the National Guard 122nd Charlie Company in 2003 and later enlisted in the Marine Corps.

His parents, Lucy and Neal Dillon, were overwhelmed when the 122nd veterans who served with their son decided in 2008 to establish a Purple Heart chapter as a tribute.

Members of Cpl. Matthew Vincent Dillon MOPH Memorial Chapter 2005, their Ladies Auxiliary chapter and other guests attended an annual banquet on Saturday.

Dillon was wounded with the 122nd in 2003, as were three of his friends. Clarence Palmer and William Reese, the current chapter president, were injured on September 9, while Jimmy Bates received an injury a week earlier. Dillon was awarded a Purple Heart, as did his friends. They participated in the banquet.

"This means a lot," Palmer said. "We keep up with our fellow veterans and helping those of all era. I got to meet great veterans from World War II ... Those guys made everything possible."

David Eyler, the guest speaker, is the Savannah River National Lab's deputy director. A U.S. Navy veteran and Naval Academy graduate, Eyler served as the squadron commander of six nuclear-powered submarines. He recognized the chapter members and Dillon, who volunteered to enlist in the Marines and return to Iraq.

"The Purple Heard is not just something you receive," Eyler said with emotion. "What it does represent is sacrifice. It's one of those words you don't hear much in today's society. It's about the willingness to give of oneself without any expectations in return. A sacrifice can be the greatest indicator of love."

Those attending the banquet crossed generations. Don Skinner, 84, spent 26 years in the Air Force - serving during the Korean and Vietnam wars. He helped start two earlier Purple Heart chapters in Aiken, now disbanded. Undeterred, Skinner became a charter member of the Dillon chapter.

"We work to provide information for veterans," he said, "making sure everybody knows their benefit ... as well as getting the things they need."

Neal and Lucy Dillon share that goal. They have long acknowledged they could have withdrawn and suffered in silence following their son's death. They chose not to do so.

"We spend a lot of time with the chapter," Neal said. "We're involved in helping our veterans and active duty personnel."

The banquet took a step back into the past with performance of World War II songs by the "The Pin-up Dolls" - dressed in the styles of the actual Pin-up Girls from more than 70 years ago. The new trio from Wrens, Georgia, was formed earlier this year.

Senior writer Rob Novit is the Aiken Standard's education reporter and has been with the newspaper since September 2001.

Jersey Mike's Subs, known for its fresh sliced/fresh grilled subs, will open in North Augusta on Aug. 12.

Franchise owners Eric Clark and Jason Wren, along with area manager Stephen Carter, will hold a grand opening and free sub fundraiser from Aug. 12 to Aug. 16 to support Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation.

The new restaurant, located at 1069 Edgefield Road in the Sweetwater Shopping Center, is circulating 7,500 coupons throughout the community offering a free regular sub for a minimum $2 contribution to Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation. Customers must have a coupon to be eligible.

"At Jersey Mike's, we are committed to making a difference in our communities," said Clark. "With each grand opening, Jason and I celebrate by partnering with Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation. ... We always look forward to opening a new store to share this organizations story with our new customers."

Clark and Wren are Jersey Mike's franchise owners who share the company's commitment to quality products and exceptional customer service and who are dedicated to giving back to the local community.

Since 2010, Jersey Mike's locations throughout the country have raised nearly $13 million for worthy local charities and have distributed more than 1 million free sub sandwiches to help numerous causes. This year, the company's 5th Annual Jersey Mike's Month of Giving in March raised more than $3 million for 150 local charities throughout the country.

Started in 1956, Jersey Mike's now has 1,500 restaurants open and under development nationwide.

Jersey Mike's has a location in Aiken at 232 East Gate Drive.

The restaurant's hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. Contact the new North Augusta location directly at 803-426-1340.

For more information, visit www.jerseymikes.com or follow the business on Facebook and Twitter.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLUMBIA — Gov. Nikki Haley says more than 10,000 people have registered to attend a Republican presidential forum in Greenville next month.

The Republican governor is co-hosting the Sept. 18 event with Heritage Foundation president Jim DeMint and Heritage Action chief executive Mike Needham.

Haley said Monday she's thankful for the tremendous response in just 18 days. She says the forum will provide GOP contenders an opportunity to tell voters their stance on issues in a "substantive, respectful and unifying way."

The six-hour forum will feature candidates taking the stage one at a time to answer questions from Haley, Needham and conservative activists. The event is free.

There are 17 GOP candidates.

All candidates who have a Real Clear Politics polling average of at least 1 percent for August will be invited.

The Aiken County Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee will meet in a special called meeting today to review municipalities qualified for local and state grants.

The 3 p.m. meeting is open to the public in the Aiken County Government Center's Sandlapper Room, 1930 University Parkway.

The Committee will review grant guidelines for incorporated cities inside Aiken County who qualify for local and state Accommodations Tax.

In other business, the Committee will review the Local Accommodations Tax ordinance.

The next Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee meeting will be held 3 p.m. Oct. 20.

Tax Committee to talk grant guidelines

With one Democrat and one Republican vying for the City of Aiken's mayoral seat, Aiken residents will head to the polls in November and forgo an August primary.

Aiken will hold its general election from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, to fill three expiring seats on Council - the mayor and Council Districts 1 and 3.

Democrat and current City Council member Lessie Price will face off with Republican and former Aiken County Council member Rick Osbon to fill the mayor's seat.

Longtime Mayor Fred Cavanaugh announced earlier this year he would not seek re-election.

Both City Council members Dick Dewar, who represents District 3, and Gail Diggs, who represents District 1, will seek re-election of their current seats.

Because both Dewar and Diggs face no opposition to their seats, they will succeed themselves, said Richard Johnson Jr., chairman of the Municipal Election Commission.

Aiken residents could visit the polls again after November if Price becomes mayor.

Price represents District 2, and if she wins, a special election will be held to fill her seat.

Johnson said if Price does not win, she can still keep her seat and does not have to resign.

The last day to register to vote in the November election is Saturday, Oct. 3.

Residents can register to vote from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday at the Aiken Voter Registration and Elections Office, 1930 University Parkway.

Voters must present a South Carolina picture ID at the polls.

Maayan Schechter is the Digital News Editor with Aiken Standard. Follow her on Twitter @MaayanSchechter.

A Graniteville man reported Sunday that someone threw two speakers at his car at his residence on Duncan Road. Deputies reported the speakers caused some minor damage to the vehicle.

A Graniteville woman reported Sunday that her boyfriend assaulted her at the intersection of Bettis Academy Road and Fields Cemetery Road. She told deputies he dragged her out of the car and choked her. Deputies arrested the subject, and he was sent to the Aiken County detention center.

An Aiken man was arrested and charged Sunday after allegedly assaulting his wife at their home on Main Drive. The victim stated he attacked her because he believed she was sleeping with another man.

A Beech Island man reported Saturday that his car had been broken into at his home on Russell Street. The man said the one thing missing from his vehicle was a handgun.

A Graniteville woman reported that her car had been hit outside a residence on Ascauga Lake Road on Sunday. Deputies reported the incident as a hit and run.

A North Augusta man reported that his motorcycle was stolen out of his shed Saturday. He told deputies he left the shed unlocked and the keys in the ignition.

According to reports provided by the Aiken Department of Public Safety:

An Aiken man was arrested and charged Sunday with driving under the influence of alcohol on Corporate Drive. Officers said the man failed all of the field sobriety tests and blew a .22 percent.

An Aiken man and woman were charged with shoplifting Sunday after they were caught stealing items from a local store.

An Aiken man reported Sunday that his vehicle was stolen from his home on Hayne Avenue.

An Aiken woman reported Saturday that an envelope containing $300 had gone missing from her residence on Stone Drive. The woman told officers it had to be her niece, who was the only other person who has been in the house.

An Aiken woman reported Saturday that her husband accused her of sleeping with someone else and assaulted her at their home on Brandt Court.

These are the bookings recorded for the Doris C. Gravat Detention Center for Aug. 7-9, 2015. Some of the people listed may not have actually spent time in jail if they posted bond and were released. Although those listed have been arrested and charged, that does not mean they have been found guilty. All bookings may be viewed online by visiting www.aikenstandard.com and clicking on the "Crime" tab.

­Marion Mays Jr., 26 ­— forgery value less than $10,000 seven counts

Raymond Joseph Majzer III, 35 ­— littering, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine first offense (excludes manufacturing methamphetamine), hold for the Charleston County Sheriff's Office

Aaron Tillman Lott, 17 ­— hold for Columbia County, Georgia, burglary first degree, unlawful carrying of a pistol, possession of a pistol by a person under age

William Jeremiah Hawkins, 18 ­— hold for Columbia County, Georgia

Mark Phillip Crabtree, 57 ­— unlawful communication, domestic violence third degree

Willie Keith Ennis, 43 ­— possession of less than 1 gram of methamphetamine or cocaine base first offense, possession of other controlled substance in schedule I to V first offense, family court failure to pay, assault and battery third degree, malicious injury to animals or property

Brandy Nicole Odle, 29 ­— shoplifting first offense $1,000 or less

Brittney Antwanett Brown, 26 ­— shoplifting first offense less than $2,000

Denise Tywanda Tweedy, 33 ­— obtaining goods by false pretenses, shoplifting $1,000 or less

Yushika Lenee Dunn, 38 ­— shoplifting $2,000 or less, false information to police or fire, shoplifting $1,000 or less

Barry Lee Hall, 53 ­— assault and battery third degree

Hailee Victoria Seng, 23 ­— obtaining prep of drugs or certain drugs by fraud or deceit first offense

Trevonta Randell Langford, 24 ­— disorderly conduct/gross intoxication, malicious injury to country property, domestic violence second degree

Cynthia Marie Seabolt, 50 ­— public drunk

Marissa Nicole Dorland, 21 — assault and battery first degree

Desiree Victoria Pernell, 27 ­— driving under the influence

Elvin Garcia, 27 ­— driving under the influence first offense

Randy Heyward Williams, 45 ­— disorderly conduct/gross intoxication

Martis James Simmons, 21 ­— driving under the influence

James Ashton Crawford, 49 ­— failure to appear and pay as ordered, no vehicle license, operating an uninsured vehicle

Ricky McKie Mabry, 30 ­— hold for Columbia County

Anthony Lamar Johnson, 30 ­— criminal domestic violence

Darlene Cheree Moore, 41 ­— burglary first degree

Joseph Lee Smith, 30 ­— shoplifting value $2,000 or less second offense

James Aaron Cook, 27 ­— failure to stop for blue lights, speeding 117 mph in a 45 mph zone

Barbara Jean Calderon, 44 ­— petit or simple larceny $2,000 or less

Michael Bruce Salter, 19 ­— financial transaction card theft three counts, shoplifting first offense

Adam Korey Seigler, 30 ­— domestic violence first degree

Eddie Smith Jr., 26 ­— domestic violence second degree

Keon Tyshawn Brown, 21 ­— assault and battery third degree, trespassing after notice

Corey Allen Whittington, 28 ­— simple larceny, possession of prescription drugs without a prescription

Tracy Lynn Steele, 37 ­— criminal domestic violence, hold for Aiken County Sheriff's Office, hold for the Williston Police Department

Gregory Edward Briard, 46 ­— disorderly conduct/gross intoxication

Michael Thomas Mims, 21 ­— driving under suspension third offense

Gregory Kirk Moore, 29 ­— disorderly conduct/gross intoxication

Sali Anne Wingate, 50 ­— simple possession of marijuana, driving under the influence

Dylan John Hart, 17 ­— driving under the influence

Edward Leon Carver Jr., 36 ­— fraudulent check or stop payment first offense, driving under suspension third offense, driving under suspension license not suspended for driving under the influence first offense

Glen Stephen West, 31 ­— petit or simple larceny $2,000 or less

Jacob Alvin Cloyd, 18 ­— domestic violence third degree

Donald Lester Hendrix Jr., 46 ­— driving under the influence

Shequada Tynissha Alewine, 20 ­— shoplifting first offense

Dexter Jamar Cheatham, 22 ­— shoplifting first offense

Jonathan Glenn Smith, 22 ­— disorderly conduct

Raul Yanez, 28 ­— contempt of court failure to comply with a court order bench warrant

Lugo Rodrigo Rico, 33 ­— driving under the influence

James Goodman Pridmore III, 34 ­— driving under suspension third offense bench warrant

Beckett Ryan McKnight, 37 ­— failure to register a motor vehicle bench warrant

An elderly man caused an expensive car accident Sunday at the Croft House on York Street, according to police.

The 86-year-old driver was involved in a collision with seven other vehicles and the Croft House building itself, according to an incident report provided by the Aiken Department of Public Safety.

The driver was issued a ticket for careless driving.

Damage to the building was estimated to be at least $20,000, according to the report.

The incident was captured on video, and police will obtain the video as soon as it is available, according to the report.

Police: Elderly driver hits building, cars

The Cumbee Center to Assist Abused Persons is closing its Bargain Box thrift store.

The last day the shop at 562 East Pine Log Road will be open is Aug. 31.

"It was a hard decision, but it was the right one financially," said Sarah Tuccitto, the Cumbee Center's volunteer services/event coordinator.

Items donated to the Cumbee Center are resold at the Bargain Box or given to the organization's clients who need them.

"In addition to benefiting our clients, the Bargain Box provided us with a little bit of extra money after the grants we received were reduced," Tuccitto said. "But right now, the Bargain Box isn't bringing in enough of a profit to sustain our organization and to pay the expenses that are associated with it."

The Bargain Box has been in three different locations since it opened in 2009. The store moved from Richland Avenue to East Pine Log Road last year.

Area Churches Together Serving, also known as ACTS, has worked with the Cumbee Center in the past to help its clients with various needs, and now ACTS will be increasing its support.

"Because the Cumbee Center is closing the Bargain Box, their caseworkers will give their clients vouchers to come to ACTS for clothing, and we will honor those," said ACTS Executive Director Carla Cloud.

Cloud praised the ACTS board directors for agreeing to provide additional assistance to the Cumbee Center.

"We were a little concerned at first, but they don't have a huge influx of clients each month that they are helping, so it won't be that big of a burden," Cloud said. "I have to pat our board on the back for really knowing how important it is to partner with other agencies. We don't want to duplicate services, but whenever we can help another agency by doing something that we're good at, that's what we want to do."

The Cumbee Center still will be accepting donations of paper towels, toilet paper, feminine products and other items for its emergency shelter. A list of "continuous needs" can be found on the Cumbee Center's website: www.cumbeecenter.org.

Donations can be dropped off at the Cumbee Center's main office at 135 Lancaster St. S.W.

Dede Biles is a general assignment reporter for the Aiken Standard.

Looking for Benjamin Moore paint? Marketplace Paints has you covered.

The new business, which opened in mid-July, features a full palette of colors of the popular paint brand in addition to stains and painting supplies, including brushes and rollers.

The store offers personal service to everyone from professional contractors to weekend do-it-yourselfers wanting to spruce up a bedroom or kitchen.

The store also fills a gap left when Park Avenue Paints, the former Benjamin Moore dealer in Aiken, closed a few years ago.

"We have a full supply of all of the Benjamin Moore products; so we're a signature store, which is a little different than most," said Tom Uskup, who co-owns the store with his wife, Anne. "It's a nice endorsement from the company. It means that we're carrying their products more exclusively than alternative products.

"We're excited to offer the Benjamin Moore product back here in town so that the builders, designers and contractors don't have to go to Augusta, where the closest store was."

Benjamin Moore offers quality paint at reasonable prices with an emphasis on the environment, Uskup said.

The brand's Natura paint, an award-winning green product, is allergy and asthma friendly, he said.

Also, because the more than 100-year-old company controls its ingredients and mixing process, Benjamin Moore paint colors are consistent, he said.

"If someone had a certain color in their house in Boston and they came down here to retire and they wanted that same color, well, they can be assured that they'll get the very same formula; and that's not always the case from company to company," said Uskup, who has been an entrepreneur throughout his career.

With a background in interior design, Anne, an Aiken native, said she likes not only the depth of Benjamin Moore's color palette but also its business model: Each store is independently owned, not a franchise.

"We had to apply to Benjamin Moore to open the store," Anne said. "It's more personal. We're a small business that is a dealer for Benjamin Moore products."

As a small business, Marketplace Paints offers personal, individualized service.

"We sell paint, but what we want to be is a service company," said Bill Bassham, a former chairman of the board of the Aiken Chamber of Commerce, an active civic leader and one of the store's team members. "When people come in and they've got problems, we can solve them.

"Benjamin Moore has a complete line of paints. We have the premier paints, green paints, contractor-grade paints, so we can help anybody from the contractor to the guy who's doing the weekend project. We have something for anybody's project."

Marketplace Paints, located at 116C Pendleton St. S.W. in downtown Aiken, is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

For more information, call 803-226-0591 or email info@marketplace paints.com.

A native of Aiken, Larry Wood is a general assignment reporter.

A report that evaluates cost projections and alternatives to the Savannah River Site MOX project will be delivered to Ernest Moniz, the Department of Energy secretary, on Aug. 17, a week later than expected.

The Red Team, a group led by Thom Mason, the director of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, touched down at SRS two weeks ago and conducted a high-level review of the MOX program, which primarily included the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility on site.

The Red Team was assembled by Moniz and was instructed to, among other things, analyze ways to modify the MOX fuel approach to reduce costs, examine the risk assumptions that can impact the life-cycle cost and study the scheduling and technical viability of MOX.

The MOX method includes the construction of multiple facilities at SRS and other DOE facilities that would convert 34 metric tons of plutonium into commercial nuclear fuel. The effort is part of a nonproliferation agreement with Russia.

The report was due by Aug. 10, but the date was pushed back to Aug. 17, according to Al Stotts, a public affairs official with the National Nuclear Security Administration, or NNSA. The security group is a semi-autonomous branch of the Energy Department and is responsible for overseeing the MOX project.

"DOE will make the report available to interested parties after the appropriate reviews for public release are complete," Stotts said.

In June, Moniz said MOX is the "preferred option" for plutonium disposition, but that properly funding the program would cost more than $1 billion a year.

Earlier this month, that point was reiterated by Pete Hanlon, a high-ranking administrator in the National Nuclear Security Administration, during a nuclear meeting in Columbia.

"We are faced with budget issues with respect to this program, and that is coupled with the growing life-cycle cost of this program," Hanlon said.

The Red Team review postdates the release of a study that prices the MOX life-cycle cost at $51 billion. The congressionally-mandated study was conducted by Aerospace Corp., a California-based nonprofit corporation that operates a federally funded research and development center.

The study compares the MOX method to a downblending option, which would be executed using inhibitor materials, or materials that slow down the chemical process. The solution would then be packaged into canisters and shipped to a repository for permanent disposal.

Using downblending, Aerospace wrote that disposition would total $17 billion.

The MOX project is about 65 percent complete and employs 1,700 workers. The project is currently funded by a $345 million appropriation and the federal government is seeking the same funding level for next fiscal year.

The 16th annual Back2School Bash was held in Wagener on Saturday. The weather was cooler than usual and the crowd smaller.

Churches Together for Kids, or CTFK, holds the event each year to provide children with school supplies, haircuts and a health screening. Churches, businesses and community members join forces to finance and volunteer at the event. This year's Back2School Bash reached an estimated 400 to 600 students.

Under the leadership of founder Cindy Blizzard and its board of directors, CTFK's Back2School Bash is designed not only to meet physical needs, but also to demonstrate the love of God. The CTFK Board of Directors is comprised of Gloria Collum, Jackie Busbee and Ronnie West.

"It continues to amaze me how the churches, businesses and community come together," Blizzard said. "We have a very faithful community. We've been doing this for 16 years, and they still come out to help."

Busbee Truck Parts provided trucks, drivers and men to move tables, chairs and supplies. The CTFK corporate sponsors who donated to the event and include: Aiken Electric Cooperative, Blizzard Funeral Home, Chandler Law Firm, Edisto Dental Associates, Joey Black of B&B Ford, Piggly Wiggly, Pelion, Perry Eldercare, Security Federal Bank, Tyler Brothers, Wagener Drug Company, Wagener Milling Company and Warner Grading Company.

CTFK also received many individual donations that prefer to remain anonymous.

Retired Wagener teachers Glenda Furtick and Heidi Chavious volunteered at one table.

"We're not here for the pay, we're here for the hugs from our former students," Chavious said as Willie Chandler walked up and gave her a great big hug.

Issie Fielding and Rocky Williams handed out the bottled water on behalf of Chandler Law Firm while Jackie Busbee, representing Busbee Law Firm, worked at the registration table.

Millbrook Baptist Church brought a bus full of volunteers from Aiken, as they do each year. Millbrook sponsored three tables, providing paper, pens and glue sticks for the students.

CTFK is a nonprofit organization founded in 1999 and is funded through churches, individuals and businesses. The late JB LeGrand was on the board of directors until his recent death.

The following churches sponsored the event, but did not have a booth: Bethcar Baptist Youth Group, Perry First Assembly, Rocky Grove Baptist and Tabernacle Baptist. The Wagener Women's Club also sponsored the event.

The following organizations had a booth and provided supplies for students: Berlin Baptist Church, markers; Chandler Law Firm, bottled water; Clinton United Methodist Church, folders; Dean Swamp Baptist Church, erasers; First Baptist Church, rulers; Harvest of Love Ministries, notebooks; Millbrook Baptist Church, paper, glue sticks and pens; Perry Baptist Church, crayons, Frisbees and wristbands; Rocky Springs Baptist Church, notebooks; and Salley Baptist Church, pencils.