Coroner IDs 6 people killed in fiery Interstate 26 crash
ENOREE, S.C. (AP) — The coroner has identified the six people who died in a fiery wreck earlier this month on Interstate 26 in Spartanburg County.
Coroner Rusty Clevenger on Monday identified three children from Chicago who were in the back seat of a car: 3-year-old Aliyah Sarai Vemira Simpkins; 6-year-old Rachael Naomi Simpkins; and 4-year-old LesLeigh Robin Natalie Simpkins.
He also identified a pedestrian who died as 31-year-old Kollen Edward Stacker of Gaffney.
Previously, Clevenger identified two of the victims as the driver of a car, 30-year-old Brandon Levoy Robert Simpkins of North Augusta, South Carolina; and 29-year-old Jermy Sonis Givens-Reedus of North Chicago, Illinois, a front-seat passenger.
Authorities have said the wreck on March 29 involved at least two crashes and included an 18-wheeler, an SUV, two cars and a pedestrian.
27 face cockfighting charges; more than 120 roosters found
WALLACE, S.C. (AP) — Twenty-seven people face charges in connection with a cockfighting operation that authorities uncovered in Marlboro County.
Sheriff Fred Knight tells multiple media outlets that sheriff's deputies and other officers raided a house in Wallace on Saturday, arresting 27 people from North Carolina and South Carolina.
He says they found more than 120 roosters and 11 dogs, along with marijuana, cocaine, firearms, cash and instruments commonly used in cockfighting.
Under South Carolina law, cockfighting is a misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 or a year in jail.
North Carolina-based Carolina Waterfowl Rescue saved most of the roosters; five roosters died from their injuries. The organization is searching for homes for the roosters.
The rescue group says those that don't find homes by April 10 likely will be euthanized.
Weekend cold damages SC peach crop
ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) — Freezing weekend temperatures have damaged some South Carolina peaches with one York County grower worrying he may have lost half his crop.
The Herald of Rock Hill reports that temperatures dipped into the 20s Sunday morning.
Arthur Black grows peaches west of York and says the cold damaged peach blossoms and he fears half his crop is gone. Ben Smith said he lost some peaches too, but has not yet thinned his crop so he hopes the loss won't be too bad.
Ron Edwards at Springs Farm in Fort Mill tells the newspaper he was up Saturday night warming the peaches and running water over his strawberry plants to prevent them from freezing.