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Vol. 124, No. 23 Thursday, June 9, 2011 50 cents

The Cheraw Chronicle&

The ChesTerfield AdverTiser

John Charles RobbinsHeartland Publications

CHERAW — A move by the United States Postal Service to shut down the downtown post of-fice still has Mayor Scott Hunter and others riled up. Town officials are fighting the proposal to consol-idate operations and combine the retail and post office box operation with a postal carrier annex located on Hwy. 9, about three miles out-side of town.

Hunter hopes the town can con-vince the Postal Service to keep

the downtown post office open, and they’ve enlisted the help of U.S. Congressman Mick Mul-vaney.

Mulvaney said he is on a fact-finding mission, in an effort to get some solid numbers from the Postal Service about the down-town post office and the distribu-tion annex on Hwy. 9.

“Were trying to help the folks back home get as much informa-tion as they can,” Mulvaney said.

The Town of Cheraw received a letter May 4 from the Postal

Service, notifying the town of its intention to consolidate operations and close the old post office, stat-ing “The Postal Service will then prepare the property for sale. Upon receipt of an acceptable offer, the main office retail and PO box operations will be relocated to the Cheraw carrier annex.”

Hunter and others hope to get the Postal Service to do nearly the exact opposite — close the annex and bring those services to a re-vamped downtown post office.

“If the Postal Service put pencil

to paper, they might find it’s just as cheap and they’d probably save money by keeping the downtown center and selling the one on the highway. We are working on the feasibility of that, and the con-gressman is helping us with that,” Hunter said.

Mulvaney is seeking details in a recent letter he penned to the Postal Service.

“I understand from your let-ter that the United States Postal

Residents riled up over closure of Post Office“Were trying to help the folks back home get as much infor-mation as they can.”

—Mick Mulvaney

John Charles RobbinsHeartland Publications

COLUMBIA — Freshman Congressman Mick Mulvaney, who represents the 5th District including Chesterfield County, is not happy with the latest redistricting map com-ing out of the state capital.

On Monday, South Carolina legislators approved plans for new election boundary lines that includes carving out a brand new 7th District U.S. House seat out of two coastal coun-ties and inland counties along the state’s eastern border with North Carolina — including Chesterfield County.

What it means is the state is gaining an additional con-gressman — due to population growth — and will have a bit more clout in Washington.

S.C. House panel OKs new district lines

John Charles RobbinsHeartland Publications

CHESTERFIELD — State police investigators continue to look into the circumstances that led to the shooting death of a Chesterfield man on the eve-ning of May 31.

Charles Eden Smith, 27, of 5869 Teals Mill Road, was gunned down at about 6:30 p.m., according to a three-page in-cident report of the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office.

Charged in the killing is Graham Franklin Douglas, 32, of 1311 Jackson Road West, Chesterfield.

Authorities say Douglas is in custody awaiting a bond hearing before a circuit court judge.

The homicide inves-tigation was turned over to the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) because Doug-las is the son of Leon Douglas, who is em-

ployed by the Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators continue probe of shooting death

Shannon Justicethecherawchronicle.com

CHERAW – Art and music lovers from throughout the area experi-enced both art and music, during the Third Annual Art Walkabout and Jazz in June, held June 2 in downtown Ch-eraw.

The event is part of the Cheraw Alive! summer series, a collaborative effort between the Town, the Mer-chants Association, Arts Commission

and Cheraw Recreation and Leisure Services, designed to promote both the art community and businesses by providing entertainment in the down-town area.

Live music with “Jazz in June,” fea-tured musical entertainment by Ch-eraw musician, Patrick Davis and The Ocie Davis Group of Charlotte,N.C., performing in Centennial Park.

The Art Walkabout showcased the creative work of local and regional artists with sidewalk exhibits through-

out downtown, displaying workings in photography, basket weaving, paint-ing and drawing.

Guests strolling the downtown had the opportunity to “peek” over the shoulder of an artists giving a dem-onstration, but the event provided a setting more intimate than the typical art exhibit. Artists and guests were able to interact and discuss art work,

Art WAlkAbout And JAzz in June shoWcAse locAl And regionAl tAlent

Shown above: Artist John Witzel Walters talks about his art-

work using recycled materials in front of the Oyster Bar Res-

taurant. Shown right: artist Gina Bowles

at Southern African American Heritage

Center during the Art Walkabout last week.

Photos by shannon Justice

Smith

CHESTERFIELD — The Chesterfield Arts Commis-sion is looking to bring together local civic, non-profit and church groups during the Chesterfield, USA – Fun Fourth event planned for July 4 from 3 to 11 p.m. in downtown Chesterfield.

The Arts Commission, supported by the Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce and Team Chesterfield are calling out to local organizations and asking groups to participate by being present during the day. Groups can host booths and fund-raising with concessions and/or activities and also use opportunity to promote their organization. The Town Council has waived all vendor fees for non-profit groups for the event, there is no charge to participate.

Arts Commission to ‘Unite Chesterfield’

Fun Fourth will bring parades, games and live music to Main Street

News ........ 2, 3, 6A

Opinion ............ 4A

Obits ................ 5A

Education ........ 1B

Datebook ........ 2B

Classifieds ... 5, 6B

chesterfield high

Valedictorian chris King and Salutatorian Kevin caskeyclass of 2011

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SHOOTINGCONTINUED ON PAGE 3A

WALKABOUTCONTINUED ON PAGE 6A COMMISSION

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3A

DISTRICTCONTINUED ON PAGE 3A

POST OFFICECONTINUED ON PAGE 2A

Crime scene tape was stretched around the home at 1311 Jack-son Road West on the eve-ning of May 31 after a shooting death.Photo by shannon Justice

Make sure to hop online and vote for ‘Chesterfield County’s Cutest kid.’