Local News

U.S. 60 near Clay Village was closed for nearly three two hours Thursday afternoon when a power pole fell over in the road, officials said.

The pole fell in the 7200 block of Frankfort Road, just east of Buzzard’s Roost Road, and power lines were dangling on the road.

The highway was reopened at 4:12 p.m.

The pole was not struck by a vehicle, and gusting winds could have been responsible, officials said.

The Simpsonville Police Department again will pursue available grants to help beef up its patrols.

That’s what Police Commissioner Scott McDowell told the city commission during a speedy meeting Wednesday morning at city hall.

McDowell said the city had won more than $24,000 in grants in past years and that he recently had become aware of the opportunities that are available.

“There’s one you can get for DUI enforcement that will pay overtime for officers,” he said.

Shelby County Public Schools is expecting to continue growing for the 2011-12 school year.

Based on what district Director of Finance Greg Murphy bills as very conservative estimates for student growth and state funding, the school board on Thursday approved allocating 3.7 new teaching positions next year.

This allocation process is the second step in the budget cycle for the school district, following state guidelines to have a budget in place by the beginning of the school year.

Shelby County’s Emergency Services would be able to modernize its cardiac care equipment to a remarkable degree by the end of the year, thanks to a recent Homeland Security Grant.

Shelby County Deputy Judge-Executive Rusty Newton told Shelby County Fiscal Court on Tuesday morning that a $175,990 grant will enable the county to buy six 12-lead cardiac monitor and defibrillators.

The machines, which  cost $30,000 each, will revolutionize his agency’s cardiac care, EMS Director Todd Early said.