BOWMAN -- Newly reelected Bowman Mayor Zelda Pelzer and Bowman Town Council incumbents Nathaniel Gaines and Marion Glenn Jr. were sworn in to new, four-year terms Monday night.
Administering the oath of office to the incumbents was Bowman Election Commission member Patsy Rhett.
Also during the council meeting,
the need for another streetlight in one neighborhood was cited by a Bowman resident who said she worries about the safety of her daughter and herself.
"I am very concerned about the safety and well being of me and my daughter," Sandra Bush said. "It is very dark over there."
Pelzer said she addressed the need for a streetlight with SCE&G.
"They are working to put a light at the corner of that particular street," Pelzer said.
In other business, the mayor reported that she hadn't noticed or heard of much gang activity in the past couple of weeks in Bowman.
"I think a lot of it is due to the classes offered by (Bowman Police) Chief (Allen) Kinsey," Councilman Paul Holt said.
The council applauded Kinsey on his efforts to deter gang-related crimes.
Also Monday:
* Town Clerk Yvonne Lewis presented the town's monthly financial statement showing the following account balances as of Nov. 30: General Fund, $53, 572.77; Municipal Fund, $19,468.01 and water and sewer operations, $81,637.51.
* Pelzer reported some "small complications" with the water project on Highway 178 that are currently being addressed. Other areas of concern are on Tupelo Road, she said. Pelzer said the problems are only "small glitches and technicalities" that will be discussed with the engineer and the contractor. All the pump stations are operational and working properly, the mayor said.
* Kinsey noted a slight increase in burglaries in Bowman in November, many of them occurring in daylight. He said police increased patrols around the OCAB building. In addition, he said individuals walking the streets after 1 a.m. have been approached by police, Kinsey said, and the drivers of suspicious vehicles are being stopped concerning their intentions in town. The police chief said his department arrested four individuals wanted by other law enforcement agencies as a result of the after-hours patrols.
Kinsey also reported that last month the police department handled 15 alarms, 10 reports of gunshots fired, two assaults, five burglaries, one criminal domestic violence case, two missing children, one open container, one case of littering, one driver's license violation and three cases of failure to dim headlights. The department issued six warrants and made five arrests for the month, he reported.
* The council learned work is continuing to secure a streetscape grant. The grant will be addressed at a future meeting, it was noted.
T&D Correspondent Randy Thomas can be reached by e-mail at rtevents55@yahoo.com or by phone at 803-857-1746. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.