Alleged child molester, other defendants scheduled to appear in court this month

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

 A man charged with four counts of child molestation as well as other defendants are scheduled to appear in Marion County Circuit Court for the January term, which begins Monday with Judge Prentiss Harrell presiding.

Jack Bates, 39, is charged with four counts of child molestation, sexual battery and seven counts of statutory rape for offenses that he allegedly committed against a minor between 1998 and 2005. Bates’ trial is set for Jan. 25.

Carlos Varnado, who is charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery, nine counts of armed robbery and capital murder, is also scheduled to appear before Harrell. Varnado allegedly robbed a dice game at gunpoint with Joshua Moore on March 18, 2007. Moore was the triggerman, killing Lorenzo Flowers, 23, but Varnado is allegedly guilty by association. Varnado’s trial is also set for Jan. 25.

Jan. 7 Jail Docket

Van Peyton Kendrick, 33, hold for probation officer.

Edward Oneil McCraw, 60, felony bad check violation.

Tina W. McCraw, 50, bad check misdemeanor (two counts), bad check felony.

Schools closed due to winter weather

The Columbian-Progress reports that all local schools will be closed Friday due to winter weather warnings.

Second fire in two days causes extensive damage to Morgantown home

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

 The second house fire in two days in Marion County caused heavy damage to a home in Morgantown this morning.

The owners, Bobby and Lisa DeLancey, were not at home at the time of the blaze, according to Morgantown Volunteer Fire Department Chief Krae Morgan.

The fire, at 22 Ballpark Lane, was reported at 10:04 a.m. The cause of the fire is expected to be electrical in nature.

Jan.6 Jail Docket

The Informer publishes the jail docket on a daily basis.

 Gregory McKenzie, 49, return court order.

James Curtis Watts III, 42, hold for commercial burglary.

Red Cross wants to use Expo Center as emergency shelter

Red Cross Disaster Action Team members John and Pam Bowman, Kareesa Dyess and Pamela Williams were acknowledged at the Columbia Board of Alderment meeting Tuesday.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

 American Red Cross officials approached the Columbia Board of Aldermen on Tuesday requesting that the city Expo Center be designated an emergency shelter during disasters.

But Mayor Reed Houston said he has some concerns about allowing the Red Cross to use the Expo Center as a shelter. Namely, Houston wants the city to be able to use the facility how it wants during disasters instead of giving up control to the Red Cross. The city used the Expo Center as a staging area and shelter for Marion County residents during Katrina, Houston noted.

If the Red Cross takes over the facility, people from outside Marion County may get to stay there while county residents may not be able to. Houston said he wants to take care of Marion County people first.

“Our concern is what is best for Columbia and Marion County,” the mayor said. “We don’t mind helping, but we’ve got to take care of our own.”

Fire destroys home in Foxworth

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

 A fire destroyed a two-story house in Foxworth early this morning, but fortunately no one was injured.

The home, located at No. 8 Holmes St., belonged to Angel and Al Phelps and their 3-year-old son Collin. The three of them were sleeping in the living room when the fire broke out at around 1:07 a.m. Angel said they woke up and saw flames and ran out of the house.

Angel went back in the burning house briefly to grab clothes for the baby. It was fortunate they were sleeping downstairs in the living room because the fire started upstairs. When they woke up, the upstairs was engulfed in flames, said Angel Phelps.