SC Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal three-vehicle collision on SC 38 North Monday.

Local first responders and a few members of the public over the age of 70 received COVID-19 vaccines Friday at the Bennettsville Community Center.
The SC DHEC vaccination clinic came about after an outcry from county, city and town leaders over the past two weeks.   The clinic was scheduled for public safety, essential and support personnel only. However, when the clinic opened on Friday morning, SC DHEC advised that they would also vaccinate citizens over 70 years of age.  
“We did a good bit of prep work to sign up first responders and essential personnel.  It was not until that morning that we were told DHEC would accept citizens over 70,”   said Steve Akers, Marlboro County Emergency Management Director.

The Bennettsville City Council took the first step toward amending ordinances that spell out how businesses can use sidewalks in front of their stores.
Holly Swann, manager of planning and zoning for the city, presented the recommendations of Bennettsville's planning commission during Tuesday's council meeting.
The changes will allow retail establishments to display merchandise and decorations on sidewalks so long as there remains five feet of pedestrian clearance.  To be allowed to do so, businesses will have to furnish the city with proof of insurance and agree that the city will not be held liable for any damages caused by the items on the street.
Any merchandise for sale must be removed when the business is not open.  Planters and other decorations will be allowed to remain.
The amended ordinance will appear on the agenda for the next council meeting.
Swann also presented that it was the recommendation of the committee to not attempt to write a city-specific code for building and construction.  The city, like most municipalities, currently uses the International Building Code.

During the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Monday on the grounds of Marlboro School Community Center, the life and legacy of King were honored.
Speaker Rev. Jeremy Bethea started with a story told by King during the early days of the Montgomery Bus Boycott when he received a phone call at midnight telling him that “we are tired of you and your mess. If you are not out of town in three days, we will blow your brains out and blow your house up.”
King said he was shaken by it and went to the kitchen to pray when he heard a voice tell him “Martin Luther, stand up for righteousness, stand up for justice, and stand up for truth.”
Bethea noted 52 years later after King’s death, hearing so many untruths in these four years and after witnessing on television in real-time the events of Jan. 6, people should have been shaken.

Starting on Thursday, January 21^st, the general public will begin receiving the COVID-19 vaccine from Scotland Health and the Scotland County Health Department. Both Scotland Health and the Scotland County Health Department are eager to begin providing mass vaccinations to patients who are at least 65 years of age, following guidance from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.  

At this time vaccines will be given by appointment due to current vaccine supplies and staffing logistics. There are multiple Vaccine Clinics for Scotland Health. The Outpatient Endo Center located at 205 Lauchwood Drive is for the general public over 65. Scotland Health’s primary care centers will be used as clinics for each practices’ established patients to help increase scheduling capacity for the Outpatient Endo Center location. The Scotland County Health Department has designated the Emergency Operations Center as their vaccine clinic location located at 1403 West Boulevard. Phone lines for scheduling will open at 9 am on Tuesday, January 19^th and appointments will begin on Thursday, January 21^st.