Wedding & Event Venue Near Winnsboro, SC.

Residents in the Town of Winnsboro will soon be paying more for trash pickup. Here's why.

WINNSBORO, S.C. — Residents in the Town of Winnsboro will soon be paying more for trash pickup.

“People are mad," said Winnsboro resident Nicole O'Brien. "They’re upset.”

O'Brien is one of many residents not excited about a coming surcharge on their bills for trash pick up. It all comes as officials say Fairfield County has implemented a solid waste disposal fee on the Town of Winnsboro.

“That charge, which is costing the town over $200,000 a year, is something we, unfortunately, are now going to have to pass on to our residents,” said Town Manager Jason Taylor.

Taylor says residents currently pay $15 dollars a month for trash pick up for yard debris or waste. Now an extra $5 dollars a month will bring the bills to $20 a month.

“We’ve tried to resolve the situation with the county. It's been unsuccessful," Taylor said. "We're at the point where we have to because we’re losing a considerable amount of money on this service. It's a very good service we provide to our citizens, but again we either have to add that fee or discontinue the service.”

He says the town never had to pay to use the county dump.

“It covers the cost of the waste we collect and then dispose of at the landfill. We had a previous arrangement where the town and the county put together an agreement where the town was exempt from these fees, and so we had been operating under that arrangement for many many years, and then under the previous county council and chair, the county decided to implement this fee on the town. The town objected at the time. We thought that we may be able to work it out, but we couldn’t so the town filed suit.”

The town filed a lawsuit against the county regarding this issue back on March 30th, 2022. So far, there is no official date for when it will go to court.

News19 reached out to the county for a response to this report. Deputy County Administrator Synithia Williams sent an email saying:

"The county doesn’t have a comment at this time on the solid waste issue due to the ongoing litigation."

Taylor says if they do come to a resolution with the county, any and all charges would be dropped and the town would refund residents if the county is willing to refund all of the money.

Fairfield County – Eleven Ag + Art Tour sites in Fairfield County will include working farms featuring painters, potters, weavers, quilters, musicians, storytellers, bakers and other local artisans. The tour is set for June 17 & 18.

Now in its 12th year, the Ag + Art Tour is a free, self-guided farm tour where visitors can learn about where their food and fiber products come from while enjoying the creativity and entertainment of local artisans. Each farm will offer something different – chickens, goats, and other livestock as well a variety of local artisans. For purposes of the tour, artisans are defined as those who hand-craft products without using kits or commercial models and whose primary components are not manufactured.

“One of our goals has been to give people a better knowledge of what is produced in their backyard and help them to support local businesses while making healthier food choices,” said Will Culler, an agribusiness agent with Clemson Cooperative Extension and director of the S.C. Ag + Art Tour. “This event does that by putting food and product with a face.”

Eleven counties, including Fairfield, will host Ag + Art tours on separate weekends in 2023.

The sites are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Crazy Chic Heritage Farm: 450 Kenal Rd, Ridgeway, SC 29130 Open Saturday & SundayFirst generation protein and regenerative practice farm with Kune Kune pigs, Dexter cattle, Beefalo, many chicken varieties. Also, mini donkeys, a mini horse, a guardian llama and dogs, wagon rides.

Fairfield Farmers and Artisans Market: 117 E Washington St, Winnsboro, SC 29180 Open only Saturday 10-4.Farmers market offering seasonal produce from local farmers and handmade items from local artisans.

Heirloom Fine Art Gallery: 121 E Washington St., Winnsboro, SC 29180 Open only Saturday 10-4.

Gypsy Wind Farms: 3005 Buckhead Rd., Blair, SC 29015 Open both Saturday and Sunday.

Home Grown on the Farm: 2500 Old Douglass Road, Winnsboro, SC 29180 Open only Saturday 10-4.

Farm fresh eggs, vegetables, farm meats, flowers.

Ridgeway Town Hall and Downtown: 170 S. Dogwood Ave, Ridgeway, SC 29130 Open only Saturday 10-4.

Visual and performing artists (individuals, small groups and bands who will entertain visitors with a variety of music from classical to country).

Riding Ridge Farm: 692 Riding Ridge Rd., Ridgeway, SC 29130 Open both Saturday and Sunday.

Slightly North of Charleston: 160 S Palmer Street, Ridgeway, SC 29130 Open both Saturday and Sunday.

STORE34: 18438 Newberry Road, Blair, SC 29015 Open Saturday only 10-4.

The SHE Garden: 1450 Newberry Road, Winnsboro, SC 29180 Open both Saturday and Sunday.

Wilde Rose Farm: 2437 South Carolina 269, Winnsboro, SC 29180 Open both Saturday and Sunday.

Find a complete list of tour dates and participating counties at www.agandarttour.com.

Five teenagers were arrested on gun and drug charges, the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office said.

The teens were taken into custody Sunday on Old Chester Road, an area where recent shootings have happened, the sheriff’s office said in a news release. That’s near U.S. 321 in the Winnsboro area, less than a mile from Richard Winn Academy.

Deputies were investigating a suspicious vehicle when they encountered the teens, according to the release.

The deputies could see two of the teenagers were armed with handguns, and they were detained, the sheriff’s office said.

The other three teenagers temporarily evaded arrest when the vehicle’s driver, later identified as Ja’Terria Russell, drove away from the scene with the two other teens inside, according to the release.

There was a short chase, but Russell and the other teens were eventually detained, the sheriff’s office said. There was no word if Russell pulled over or if deputies forced the vehicle to stop.

In addition to taking the five teens in custody, deputies found two rifles, three pistols and marijuana, according to the release.

No injuries were reported.

Russell, 18, was charged with failure to stop for a blue light, unlawful carrying of a pistol, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, the sheriff’s office said.

Jalen C. Cohen, 18, was charged with unlawful carrying of a pistol, possession of a stolen pistol, and simple possession of marijuana, according to the release.

Ratrez D. White, 18, was arrested and charged with unlawful carrying of a pistol and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, the sheriff’s office said.

Brian D. Willingham, 18, was arrested and charged with unlawful carrying of a pistol and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, according to the release.

Stephen S. Willingham, 18, was arrested and charged with unlawful carrying of a pistol, possession of a stolen pistol, and simple possession of marijuana, the sheriff’s office said.

All five were transported to the Fairfield County Detention Center, according to the release.

The sheriff’s office did not say if any of the teens were connected to the previous shootings.

“February has been a very busy month for us with gun-related crimes,” Sheriff Will Montgomery said in the release. “We have implemented several patrol and law enforcement strategies to address the rise in gun violence that our state is currently facing and this is an example of the proactive patrolling that our deputies are conducting to make our communities safer here in Fairfield County. ... I’m thankful that we were able to make these arrests and take these guns out of the hands of these individuals without any harm to anyone.”

This story was originally published February 28, 2023, 9:30 AM.

A man is behind bars after leading law enforcement officers on a chase through multiple Midlands counties Wednesday, according to the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office.

James Cowart, a 43-year-old Winnsboro resident, was charged with multiple traffic offenses, in addition to drug and weapons crimes, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

The chase began in the afternoon when a deputy tried to pull over the vehicle Cowart was driving after seeing it swerve into oncoming lanes of traffic, according to the release.

Cowart refused to stop on Peach Road and drove off, heading south on Interstate 77, the sheriff’s office said.

A pursuit continued down I-77 and into Richland County, where Cowart led deputies onto Blythewood Road and Wilson Boulevard before returning to the highway, according to the release.

Deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department joined the chase, and at one point in the pursuit Cowart drove into the northbound lanes of I-77 as he continued to head south, the sheriff’s office said.

Richland County deputies were able to stop Cowart’s vehicle near Exit 18 on I-77, the Farrow Road exit, according to the release. The chase ended in Columbia, more than 15 miles from where the initial traffic stop was attempted.

Information on how the vehicle was stopped was not available, but the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office said there were no injuries.

“I want ... to thank the Richland County Sheriff’s Department for their assistance,” Fairfield County Sheriff Will Montgomery said in the release.

When he was taken into custody Cowart, a convicted felon, was found to be in possession of several guns and a substance believed to be methamphetamine, according to the release.

Cowart was charged with multiple traffic offenses, including failure to stop for a blue light and siren, in addition to charges for possession of methamphetamine, and several gun-related charges, the sheriff’s office said.

Cowart was taken to the Fairfield County Detention Center where he’s waiting for a bond hearing, according to the release.

“I am proud of the professionalism of our deputies in how this incident was handled,” Montgomery said. “We are glad to be able to take three more guns off of the streets from a person who has no legal right to possess them.”

Cowart is also wanted in Alabama, as well as Kershaw County, where he failed to appear in court after being arrested on a larceny charge, judicial records show. Cowart was arrested on that charge on June 22, 2021, and posted a $7,500 surety bond that same day, according to court records.

Cowart also has a previous conviction in Kershaw County on a speeding charge, court records show.

Information about the charges facing Cowart in Alabama was not available.

In a breaking news situation, facts can be unclear and the situation may still be developing. The State is trying to get important information to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, and some information in this story may change as the facts become clearer. Refresh this page later for more updated information.

This story was originally published July 13, 2023, 8:49 AM.

FAIRFIELD COUNTY – Fairfield Magnet School for Science and Math art teacher Kimi Daly’s art students created over 170 works of art depicting fruits and vegetables in celebration of the county’s Ag + Art weekend July 17-18. The art work will be displayed at the Farmers Market on Saturday, June 17 from 9 a.m. – 12 noon for the public to vote on.

Each grade level will receive a first second and third prize. First place will have their art work and name featured on the farmers market 2024 t-shirts. Second place prize will be a gift card to Peace on Earth. The Farmers & Artisans Market is one of eleven Ag + Art Tour sites that will be featured on the Ag+Art Farm Tour which will include working farms featuring painters, painters, potters, weavers, quilters, musicians, storytellers, bakers and other local artisans. The Tour is set for June 17 & 18.

11 Farms on Ag + Art Tour June 17 & 18

Now in its 12th year, the Ag + Art Tour is a free, self-guided farm tour where visitors can learn about where their food and fiber products come from while enjoying the creativity and entertainment of local artisans. Each farm will offer something different – chickens, goats, and other livestock as well a variety of local artisans. For purposes of the tour, artisans are defined as those who hand-craft products without using kits or commercial models and whose primary components are not manufactured.

“One of our goals has been to give people a better knowledge of what is produced in their backyard and help them to support local businesses while making healthier food choices,” said Will Culler, an agribusiness agent with Clemson Cooperative Extension and director of the S.C. Ag + Art Tour. “This event does that by putting food and product with a face.”

Eleven counties, including Fairfield, will host Ag + Art tours on separate weekends in 2023.

The sites are generally open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Crazy Chic Heritage Farm: 450 Kenal Rd, Ridgeway, SC 29130Open Saturday & SundayFirst generation protein and regenerative practice farm with Kune Kune pigs, Dexter cattle, Beefalo, many chicken varieties. Also, mini donkeys, a mini horse, a guardian llama and dogs, wagon rides.

Fairfield Farmers and Artisans Market: 117 E Washington St, Winnsboro, SC 29180Open only Saturday 10-4.Farmers market offering seasonal produce from local farmers and handmade items from local artisans.

Heirloom Fine Art Gallery: 121 E Washington St., Winnsboro, SC 29180Open only Saturday 10-4.

Gypsy Wind Farms: 3005 Buckhead Rd., Blair, SC 29015Open both Saturday and Sunday.

Home Grown on the Farm: 2500 Old Douglass Road, Winnsboro, SC 29180Open only Saturday 10-4.

Farm fresh eggs, vegetables, farm meats, flowers.

Ridgeway Town Hall and Downtown: 170 S. Dogwood Ave, Ridgeway, SC 29130Open only Saturday 10-4.

Visual and performing artists (individuals, small groups and bands who will entertain visitors with a variety of music from classical to country).

Riding Ridge Farm: 692 Riding Ridge Rd., Ridgeway, SC 29130Open both Saturday and Sunday.

Slightly North of Charleston: 160 S Palmer Street, Ridgeway, SC 29130Open both Saturday and Sunday.

STORE34: 18438 Newberry Road, Blair, SC 29015Open Saturday only 10-4.

The SHE Garden: 1450 Newberry Road, Winnsboro, SC 29180Open both Saturday and Sunday.

Wilde Rose Farm: 2437 South Carolina 269, Winnsboro, SC 29180Open both Saturday and Sunday.

Find a complete list of tour dates and participating counties at www.agandarttour.com.