SWANSEA -- A special group of youngsters who have been participating in a traveling basketball team was recognized by the Swansea Town Council for their outstanding athletic achievements during the council's June meeting.

Swansea resident George Jeffcoat presented the Monroe Pinckney Eagles team to the council and other residents present at the meeting.

"We have been doing wonderful things with them. Last year we only won two games, but this year we have only lost one or two," Jeffcoat said. "It's a fantastic feat for them. The kids have really developed over the Saturday morning program." 

Jeffcoat told council members that the team, along with their coach, Jackie Robinson, won a first place in Columbia, a third place at Lake Norman and pulled in a second place award at a national qualifier in Greenville.

"We are on the way to a great play-off in Florida," he said.

Also during the meeting, Mayor Ray Spires gave an update on the South Carolina Department of Transportation's construction project on U.S. 321. He said the handicap ramps are completed, the new traffic lights are installed and the wiring is being completed.

The work on U.S. 321 is scheduled to be completed on or before Aug. 31, Spires said.

Swansea Police Chief Clif Hayes reported that the number of traffic tickets had more than doubled from the previous month, with a total of 281 being issued.

"The number is up because of the checkpoints we've done," he said. "We have also been doing saturations on Highway 321 in the mornings."

 "On May 21 we did two checkpoints. We made 15 arrests for drug violations and issued 52 citations, nine of which were for drugs," Hayes added. He said many of the citations were for having open containers with alcohol. "We are going to try to do one checkpoint and one saturation each month," Hayes said.

In addition to a number of arrests and a motor vehicle theft, Hayes said there was an unusual case.

"From Jan. 30 until March 21, a woman tried to cash over $120 million in bad checks at Carolina Trust. When she ran out of checks, she made her own checks with a Crayola, Hayes said. "So that was real interesting."

In concluding his report, Hayes told council that he has gotten calls from a number of business owners complaining about people coming into their businesses and harassing customers for money.

"We will put them on a trespass notice," Hayes said. "The next time we get called, they will be transported to the Lexington County Detention Center."

In other business:

* Spires reported that the dedication for the Sharp's Hill Fire Station was held Sunday, June 10.

* The state financial audit of the façade grant showed everything to be in order. In addition, the State Department of Commerce audit of the façade grant paperwork revealed no discrepancies.

* It was announced that, with the exception of the week of July 1, council will continue to hold work sessions at 7 p.m. on Mondays.

T&D Correspondent Loretta Demko can be reached by e-mail at eeshtenem@yahoo.com. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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