News - Local/State

Wednesday, Oct. 03, 2007

News In Brief - October 3, 2007

Student had pellet gun at school, authorities say

FORT MILL -- A 13-year-old boy was charged with disturbing school Tuesday after authorities say he brought a pellet gun to Gold Hill Middle School.

Authorities found the plastic gun in the boy's possession, said Capt. Allen Brandon of the York County Sheriff's Office. The gun wasn't fired on the campus.

Second teenager accuses instructor of exposure

A second girl has accused a former Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper turned driving instructor of exposing himself during a driving class, according to a Fort Mill police report.

The 15-year-old Tega Cay girl told police that David Wayne Zitcovich, 59, of 1458 Covenant Place, Rock Hill, exposed himself during a driving lesson in late July.

Zitcovich had not been arrested in the case late Tuesday.

Zitcovich, who provides private driving lessons in Rock Hill, was released from jail last week on an indecent exposure charge after police say he showed his genitals to another 16-year-old student during a driving lesson.

Arts council announces Art After Hours

The Arts Council of York County will use a grant from the South Carolina Arts Commission to create a new Art After Hours program geared to participants ages 25 to 40.

The program will provide art and programming that reflects the group's interests in a casual atmosphere. Membership, $50 per couple or $35 for an individual, includes invitations to Acoustic Café's and parties that include music, drinks and artist talks.

The first event will be the Downtown Blues Festival to be held Thursday through Saturday. Members of new program will receive a wristband good for all three nights if the membership is paid by 5 p.m. today.

Upcoming events include the kick-off party Nov. 1 at the Center for Arts featuring Rick Spreitzer and the first "Art Frenzy," an event where 5-inch-by-7-inch original art will be sold for $75. A May event is scheduled at a downtown photography studio.

For information, call the Arts Council at 328-2787 or e-mail arts@yorkcountyarts.org.

New county offices to be named for supervisor

CHESTER -- The new home of many Chester County offices will be named for County Supervisor Carlisle Roddey.

On Monday night, the County Council unanimously decided to name the 29,580-square-foot-building the Carlisle Roddey Chester County Governmental Complex.

The county bought the building last week from Omnova Solutions. The facility will house numerous county offices, including the council chambers and Roddey's office.

The facility, which was once a school, sits on about 71 1/2 acres and contains about 60 offices and 122 parking spaces.

The move likely will begin by the middle of next month. Leaders hope the council will have its first meeting in the building later this year.

Roddey held the supervisor's post for 24 years, from the mid-1970s through the late 1990s, before he was elected again in November.

Chester escapee still on the run

CHESTER -- Police are still looking for a Chester man who escaped police custody Monday night, said Chester Police Chief Mike Brown.

Brown said Wayne Alexander Caldwell, 29, of Chester was arrested in connection to drug and gun charges Monday but escaped police custody before he was transported to jail. Brown said Caldwell is not dangerous to the public.

"We know who he is, and we'll find him," Brown said.

Chester County authorities did find a man who had lost his way in the woods near the Broad River Monday evening, authorities said. The man was unharmed, officials said.

Motorcycle safety offered at York Tech

Those interested in learning about motorcycle safety soon will be able to take a class about it, thanks to a partnership between York Technical College and Cox's Harley-Davidson.

Participants will learn basic motorcycle riding techniques and will learn about suggested safety gear and protective measures.

To apply for the course, you must be eligible for a motorcycle driver's license and be able to ride a bicycle.