Four York County choirs working on ETV project

From staff reports

Four York County high school choirs are among 13 in South Carolina that are working on a musical collaboration with SC ETV. The aim is to create a program that will air in March 2010.

The York, South Pointe, Clover and Northwestern high school choral groups are working on the project with composer, conductor and arranger Tim Janis. The program, which has a working title “Celebrate America,” will feature hundreds of high school students in the state.

Janis picked a song for each of the high school choirs to perform, including arrangements such as “America the Beautiful,” “Blowin' in the Wind” and “Shenandoah.” The choirs worked on and rehearsed their choral selection for weeks, then recorded their performances at the SC ETV studios in Columbia on Friday.

The result is expected to be a concert featuring some of the best young voices in the state.

Footage from some of the performances might be included in a nationwide production that Janis is working on with high school choirs from other states. Janis said the goal for his project is to support public television and the arts and to support students who give back through the arts.

Sheriff's Office shuts down Chester nightclub

A Chester nightclub was shut down this weekend, and a Rock Hill man was charged after police found that the club was selling alcohol without a license.

Around 2 a.m. Saturday, Chester County sheriff's officers went to Club Champagne on Old York Road on a tip that guns were inside the club, according to a sheriff's report.

Officers found that the club was illegally selling alcohol, the report stated. Near the DJ stand, officers found a bulletproof vest and two guns.

Michael Kirk, 28, of 1019 George Lane, Apartment 204, was charged with selling alcohol without a license, according to Chester County Sheriff Richard Smith. Kirk told the officers that the guns were his, the report stated.

Club Champagne has been closed but can reopen if proper licensing is obtained from the State Law Enforcement Division, according to the report.

� Kimberly Dick