text:
Greenville County deputies have charged an Upstate special education teacher's former student with murder after she was found dead at a local hotel.
Dispatchers said they received a call about an explosion at the Quality Inn and Suites motel on South Pleasantburg Drive near Mauldin Road at 5:28 a.m. Monday.
Deputy Jennings Autry said a woman was found dead inside the room where the reported explosion occurred, but there were no other injuries reported. He said guests in the surrounding rooms were evacuated.
Coroner Parks Evans said the woman had to be identified with dental records because of the severity of her burns. Evans identified her as 39-year-old Laurie Patton, of Travelers Rest.
According to the Greenville County Schools spokesperson, Patton was a special education resources teacher at Berea Middle School since 2005. The school district said additional counselors are on hand to meet with staff and students in the wake of Patton's death.
"Laurie Patton was an amazing person and inspiring teacher and friend who cared so deeply about her students, their families, and fellow teachers and school staff," said Robin Mill, principal. "Our Berea Middle School community is devastated by her loss. We will continue to pray for her family as we work through our own grief."
Deputies investigate fire, damage to hotel room
Deputies said there were signs of a fire contained to the motel room. Specially trained arson investigators were at the scene Monday afternoon but have not released information about what could have started the fire.
The Greenville County Sheriff's Office meth team also responded to the incident and did not find evidence of a meth lab, according to deputies.
Guests at the motel said they were awakened and evacuated to the motel lobby. One motel guest told FOX Carolina he awoke to the sound of busted glass and a bunch of screaming coming from a room.
He said he stepped outside to see what was going on and in the room two doors down, he saw a busted window and someone spraying a fire extinguisher into the room. He said smoke was coming from the room and people were yelling about the fire.
Another motel guest who was staying in the room right next door to where the woman and fire were discovered said she heard glass breaking and ran out to see two people running from the scene. She said she helped spray the fire extinguisher into the room and knock on doors to wake people up.
Deputies said witnesses reported an explosion but aid there was no explosion during the incident.
Deputies to question man arrested in GA in connection with case
Deputy Jonathan Smith said the hotel room was rented to Patton and her car was located in Georgia during an unrelated traffic stop Monday.
Smith said a man was driving Patton's car when he was stopped and the charges he was arrested on were unrelated to the hotel death investigation. He said the sheriff's office does not have any charges against him at this time.
According to Sgt. Carissa McFaddin with the Banks County Sheriff's Office, deputies stopped the car along Interstate 85 on Monday morning because he was going about 35 mph.
The man, identified as Darrin Eskew, was acting "erratic and unpredictable," according to McFaddin. She said when deputies tried to get him out of the car, he tried to hit a deputy in the face.
A struggle ensued and deputies shocked Eskew with a stun gun, McFaddin said. She said deputies only received superficial injuries during the struggle.
Deputy Drew Pinciaro said Eskew and the victim were acquaintances from her being his school teacher in the past.
Eskew was arrested and charged with two counts of felony obstruction of an officer and miscellaneous traffic charges. McFaddin said Greenville County deputies planned to speak with Eskew about their investigation, but did not have any other details to release.
On March 6, the Greenville County Sheriff's Office released warrants charging 21-year-old Eskew with murder, arson and grand larceny.
According to the warrants, Eskew is accused of strangling Patton and setting her on fire.
Pinciaro said Eskew and Patton got into a physical altercation where he strangled the victim and then set the motel room on fire.
Pinciaro said Eskew then stole Patton's vehicle and fled the scene. He is also charged with the grand larceny of Patton's vehicle.
According to Pinciaro, the specific cause of death has not been determined at this time and they are awaiting toxicology results.
Eskew is awaiting extradition from Georgia on Thursday night.
Investigators ask anyone with information about what might have happened to call Crime Stoppers at 864-23-CRIME.
Copyright 2014 FOX Carolina (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.


text:
HACC-Lebanon Campus, operating on a delayed schedule
Annville Township has canceled its snow emergency.
1K-pound alligator caught in Alabama sets record
CAMDEN, Ala. (AP) — A gigantic alligator caught by a family in Alabama earlier this month has set a Safari Club International world record. Full Story
Former Jethro Tull bass player Glenn Cornick dies
HONOLULU (AP) — Glenn Cornick, the original bass player in the rock band Jethro Tull, died of congestive heart failure at his home in Hilo, Hawaii, on Thursday. Full Story
(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
President Obama's tan suit becomes Internet sensation
Obama discusses Syria, Iraq and Ukraine, wearing a suit no one expected.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Freeride, Flatland, and Fishbone: 3 Reasons Not To Skip Opening Weekend
This summer Canyons Resort is cranking up the dial on opening weekend. We partnered with Red Bull Media Friday and Saturday evenings to bring a Free screening of Brandon Semenuk's movie Rad Company and Terry Adams BMX Flatland to the village. To sweeten the deal, we will give way 1 Canyons Bike Park Seasons Pass each night prior [...]Read more


text:
BMX Freestyle BikesSave on BMX Freestyle Bikes at Proboardshop.com! Great selection of bike gear at unbelievably low prices. Proboardshop has been selling BMX Freestyle Bikes and outdoor gear for over 30 years and we're proud of it.
Please refine here
- Category: "BMX Bikes"
- Color: Grey
- Price: 220.00 - 249.99
Grenade B2 BMX Bike 20in
Size: 24in/20.4in Top Tube
Reg: $340.00
30% Off
30% Off
On Sale: $237.95
GT Zone BMX Bike 20in
Size: 20in/20.5in Top Tube
Reg: $330.00
30% Off
30% Off
On Sale: $230.95


text:
Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League announced on Wednesday that forward Ryan Hayes of the Plymouth Whalers is the Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy Winner presented to the OHL's humanitarian of the year for the 2009-10 season.
Hayes, a 20-year-old from Syracuse, New York, led the Whalers' organization in his third OHL season with 54 official community appearances, representing participation in nearly a quarter of the team's total community events. Hayes follows Chris Terry as the second straight member of the Whalers to receive this award.
"I had a great role model last year working with Chris (Terry) in the community," said Hayes. "It really is a huge honour for me to win this award. It means a lot to be able to give back to the community as a hockey player. I remember when I was younger how much it meant to me to see older guys at appearances, and hopefully the kids we reach out to give back when they get older."
This season, Hayes took on a leadership role for the Whalers in the "Friends of Jaclyn" program, which supports the non-profit charitable organization that improves the quality of life for children with pediatric brain tumors. The Whalers were paired up with 7-year-old Johnny Muller and his 5 year-old brother Aidan. Johnny has had a brain tumor since the age of 2. Hayes took over the project by explaining to the rest of the players what the program was and the importance of helping out.
"Our whole team was involved in the program," said Hayes. "The boys always put a smile on our faces even after losses. They are a great family and the boys are just like little brothers to me."
After learning of the boys' interest in becoming hockey players, Hayes organized a private postgame skate and stayed on the ice for nearly two hours providing individual lessons. He has been a constant role-model and friend to both Johnny and Aidan and keeps close contact with the Mullers to learn the latest news about Johnny's condition and provide the necessary support. He even drove an hour and a half on an off day to the boys' school to take part in a "show and tell" class presentation.
"Ryan not only made Johnny and Aidan feel welcome every weekend, before and after the games, but he went above and beyond to show my boys how much they meant to him," said Krissy Muller. "The boys had never skated before and it was a very scary idea for Johnny considering his tumor sits on the area of his brain that controls balance. Ryan talked him into coming out on the ice with him and made it a night Johnny would later call the best day of his life."
Serving as an assistant captain and captain throughout the season, Hayes took on a leadership role off the ice in a variety of team initiatives, including regular "March is Reading Month" appearances at area schools stressing the importance of education to the students, and the Whalers' annual "Pink Out" for Breast Cancer Awareness that again featured the entire hockey club dyeing their hair pink to promote the cause. He also showed extensive participation with Special Olympics Michigan at their annual hockey tournament cheering on the participants, passing out the medals, and staying afterwards to pose for pictures and sign autographs.
"Just having a Plymouth Whaler at the event was enough for our athletes," said Special Olympics Michigan Development Manager Ashley Diersch. "Ryan's involvement and the true connection he seemed to have with everyone made it one of the best experiences they have had."
Hayes' commitment to the community was also evident during the summer, when the Whalers' Learn to Skate Program was almost cancelled due to a lack of instructors. Hayes informed the Whalers front office that he would be willing to teach the classes and promptly moved back to Plymouth for the entire summer to help out.
Each year the OHL awards a player that has demonstrated outstanding qualities as a positive role model in the community with the Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy. The Ontario Hockey League Board of Governors announced in 2004 that the OHL humanitarian of the year award would be renamed in recognition of Snyder the former Owen Sound Platers captain, who was twice named his team's humanitarian of the year in recognition of his tremendous efforts in supporting community activities.
Hayes will officially be presented with the Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy at the OHL Awards Ceremony June 9 at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. He will also be the OHL's nominee for humanitarian of the year at the Annual CHL Awards.
2009-10 Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy Nominees:
Barrie – Stefan Della Rovere
Belleville – Adam Payerl
Brampton – Brad Albert
Erie – Matthew Paton
Guelph – Tyler Carroll
Kingston – John Cullen
Kitchener – John Moore
London – Leigh Salters
Mississauga – Dustin Ekelman
Niagara – Dylan MacEachern
Oshawa – Andrew Wilson
Ottawa – Corey Cowick
Owen Sound – Marcus Carroll
Peterborough – Jack Walchessen
Plymouth – Ryan Hayes
Saginaw – Tyler Murovich
Sarnia – Nathan Chiarlitti
Sault Ste. Marie – Robin Lehner
Sudbury – John Kurtz
Windsor – Adam Wallace
- From OHL news release


text:
Authorities released the identities of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting Saturday.
According to the Chief Medical Examiner, all of the young victims were in first grade.
Our thoughts are with the families the families that have been affected by this tragedy.
Copyright 2012 WFSB (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.