January
• The year began with politics as usual with three vying for the District 7 School Board seat: Wade Gadson, Jennifer Jenkins, and Beth Reid all began the year preparing for an upcoming debate.
• Mike Wolf and Frank Fritz from the show American Pickers announce they will be coming to town in search of some small town picking.
• One is dead after a weekend shooting between two men that began as an argument.
• Election adds member to Jenkinsville water board after a few members stepped down.
• Food Lion announced the closing of 113 stores including 14 in South Carolina and the store located at U.S. 321 Bypass in Winnsboro.
• South Carolina Electric and Gas Company presented Fairfield County with a check for $22,943,838.81 for 2011 property taxes.
• Former Republican Speaker of the House and Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich stopped in town.
• Christina Davis was killed when her disabled vehicle was hit from behind in Richland County.
• Buffalo Bills quarterback and Winnsboro native Tyler Thigpen serves as keynote speaker for the 2012 Relay for Life of Fairfield County Kickoff rally at First Church of the Nazarene.
• Boyd Brown announce he will not seek re-election and a host of candidates vie for his seat with Mary Gail Douglas first to make her announcement.
• Ridgeway Mayor Charlene Herring is named “One of the 50 most influential people in the Midlands” by the Greater Columbia Business monthly magazine.
February
• Sheriff’s office lands a grant that will be aimed at litter control.
• Palmer Nicholson announces District 41 candidacy while Paul Dove considers putting his name in the hat as well.
• More than 100 local boy scouts joined in a merit badge event with scouts from all over South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.
• GOP candidate William Gray enters the District 41 race.
• Man Cave makes donations to Sylvia Foundation.
• Fairfield County Animal Adoption Center held a Valentine Cat Party in its new feline facility.
• Janice Bartell named “2011 Business Person of the Year” by the Town of Winnsboro.
• Will Montgomery announces his candidacy for Sheriff.
• Two Winnsboro beach bands who played together in the 1960’s — The Mystics and The Chantells — have combined to form The Reunion Bande.
• Lady Eagles advance in the state playoffs.
• Council passes water restrictions due to the falling water levels.
• A man trying to cash in stolen lottery tickets led to the arrest of another man that police think broke into two local businesses.
• Nine netted in drug sweep by Fairfield County Sheriff’s Department.
• The Good Samaritan House looks at former district office as potential space to expand as their site fills up.
• Community honors Laughlin McDonald during a celebration of equal rights.
March
• The Fairfield County School Board votes 4-2-1 to authorize their attorney, Armand Derfner, to enter into mediation with the Chester County School District in an effort to resolve the two-year dispute between the two districts over Mitford area students.
• Former Animal Control head sues county.
• Department head owns up to water loss as unchecked lines spew 300 gallons of water an hour into a storm drain.
• Rahim El-Amin became Athletic Director at Fairfield Central High School after Jerry Brown resigns to take the head football coaching job at Batesburg-Leesville.
• Town of Winnsboro considers new website.
• The town seeks to tighten smoking policy.
• The United Way of the Midlands Fairfield Campaign team raised more than $29,000.
• More that $1,000 worth of crack cocaine was taken off the street of Winnsboro when officers with the Winnsboro Department of Public Safety arrested a man outside of Master Shell.
• Best Choice Insurance owned by Mary Melton opened at 322 S. Congress St. in Winnsboro.
• Christ Central Ministries withdraw its request for the school district property.
• School Board discusses superintendent search.
• Town of Winnsboro signs bulk water contract with City of Columbia.
• Students arrested in classroom assault after teacher leaves classroom unattended.
• Kelly Miller earned a Palmetto Gold Award for general student performance as measured by PASS test results and a Palmetto Silver Award for closing the achievement gap for 2011.
• Hidden treasures found in Ridgeway junkyard in the form of the Precious Metal sign at 2007 Highway 21 in Ridgeway.
• Teacher who left classroom unattended resigned.
• Blair Native Dr. Pamela Martin Wilson was named the first female president and 24th president of Allen University in Columbia.
• Smithsonian brings music exhibit to the Fairfield County Museum.
• Tiny Tim is born in Winnsboro.
April
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission gives green light for two new reactors in Jenkinsville.
• The third annual Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament turned out 68 golfers.
• Co-Ed Softball returns to Zion Hill with eight teams.
• Baylus Young, 67, shoots and kills his wife Gloria Young, 67, at their home on Greenbrier Mossydale Road.
• Boyd Brown seeks National Committee seat.
• Coleman Lew and Associates are hired to continue the search for superintendent.
• Ridgeway swore in new Town Council member Doug Porter.
• Lynn Rabon of Blythewood receives $250 from Bi-Lo in Winnsboro in the form of a gift card for filing out an online survey.
• Fairfield Central senior Kiara Johnson signs a scholarship to play volleyball at Claflin University.
• Fairfield Central High School custodian was arrested after an investigation into numerous reports of missing money from classrooms.
• The Winnsboro Department of Public Safety seized narcotics, a handgun and more than $5,400 in cash in a raid on a South Gardan Street home.
• Bi-Lo presents Fairfield County Relay for Life with a check for $4,800 for cancer research.
• Steve Manning of Community Fire Department is named Fairfield County 2011 Firefighter of the Year.
• School board discusses drug testing policy for students participating in extracurricular activities.
• Kevin Thomas, chairman of the Fairfield County Republican Party, was elected as a National Delegate to the RNC Convention in Tampa and first vice chairman of the 5th Congressional District.
May
• Stolen car from Georgia ditched in town and couple makes off with replacement car.
• Blair hosts seventh annual family fun day with more than 3,000 people in attendance.
• Fairfield County GOP loses one off ballot as more than 100 across the state are dropped from the ballot.
• Ridgeway held its annual Arts on the Ridge celebration.
• S.C. Highway Patrolman Ralph W. McCracken, the first officer killed in South Carolina, gets a portion of S.C. 215 named after him.
• The Herald Independent hosted customer appreciation day.
• Fairfield County Chamber hosted social media workshop sponsored by ECI.
• Turkey farm hosts international visitors from Ghana.
• Fairfield County Library moves into renovated facility.
• Tracey Johnson reaches out to the community after her husband was burned over more than 40 percent of his body. Johnson and her husband sponsored a blood drive as a way to give back to the Shepherd Community Blood Center in Augusta who helped their family.
• Winnsboro kicks off Third Thursday celebrations with DJ Papa Charlie.
• Monticello School reunion drew more than 200 to Salem Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall.
• Richard Winn has 20 to graduate in the class of 2012.
June
• Dutchman Creek volunteer Fire Department opens new substation.
• Antonio Pineda is hit and killed by a train near his Golf Course Road home.
• Fairfield Central has 205 students to graduate and move to the next chapter of their lives.
• The Herald Independent promotes Shamieka B. Johnson Sims to reporter.
• Wings and Wheels air festival has a record turn out at Fairfield County Airport.
• School board seeks public input with survey.
• The Fairfield County Public Library host ribbon cutting and grand re-opening.
• Boots are really made for more than just walking as firefighters take to the streets to collect for the American Red Cross during their annual fundraiser.
• Election results in run off for House District 41 seat between Annie McDaniel and MarGail Douglas. Will Montgomery and Herman Young square off in the sheriff race runoff and Betty Jo Beckham takes the clerk of court seat.
• Search for superintendent comes down to three candidates: Dennis Carpenter, Donald Kennedy and J.R. Green.
• Community Food Bank’s Adopt-A-Food program celebrates its fifth year.
• Mt. Olive Baptist Church hosts mobile food pantry sponsored by Harvest Food Bank.
• Eddie Lewis White with the Winnsboro Public Safety passes away after a brief illness.
• The Herald Independent welcomes aboard Martha Wainscott.
• The school board votes to make offer to J.R. Green as superintendent.
• Herman Young will remain sheriff of Fairfield County for another term.
• MaryGail Douglas will go to the State House to represent District 41.
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