Club Ice, scene of Vista shooting, closes

Club Ice, the scene of a recent late-night shooting in the Vista, has closed.

The club's owners expect it to remain closed at least 60 days "while they potentially rework the format of their business," said Gretchen Lambert, president of the Vista Guild.

Lambert was among those who called a community meeting last week to discuss a Feb. 28 shooting outside the club that left four injured.

The meeting was held at the police station and attended by police Chief Tandy Carter, city building officials and neighboring business owners.

"We haven't heard anything from them about what their intentions are, but ... applaud them for that action," said Lambert, with the architectural firm Studio 2LR.

The landlord of the property was not immediately available.

- Dawn Hinshaw

Air show canceled because of war

CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE - Officials have canceled plans for their air show due to an increased workload on behalf of troops in Afghanistan.

Air Force spokeswoman Trisha Gallaway said on Thursday members of the 437th Airlift Wing from Charleston Air Force Base are flying repeated cargo and passenger airlift missions because of President Barack Obama's orders sending 30,000 additional troops to the region.

Base commander Col. Martha Meeker said such work must take priority, even though the air show is a boon to military recruiting and enjoyed by the Charleston community.

Gallaway said officials are working to schedule another Air Expo sometime in the coming year or early 2012.

- The Associated Press

Bank employee accused of embezzling $500,000

SPARTANBURG - A woman has been indicted on a charge that she embezzled more than $500,000 from a bank.

The (Spartanburg) Herald-Journal reported that 44-year-old Kimberly McAbee of Woodruff was indicted by a federal grand jury on a single count of embezzlement.

Investigators said she took about $520,000 from Arthur State Bank in Union between 2005-09.

Acting U.S. Attorney Kevin McDonald said he could not discuss details of the case. But McDonald said McAbee was a loan administrator and used the position to access bank funds.

She faces a fine of up to $1 million and up to 30 years in prison if she is convicted.

- The Associated Press

Man injured in fire rescuing three cats

A neighbor suffered smoke inhalation in rescuing three cats from a West Columbia apartment fire late Thursday, officials said.

The cats were saved by the unidentified neighbor after the blaze broke out shortly before 11 p.m., officials said.

Damage was estimated at $14,000 to the apartment in the 400 block of N. Lucas Street, a news release said. An electrical short in a power cord caused the blaze, it said.

- Tim Flach

Up to $300,000 missing in county account

BEAUFORT - It's more than pocket change missing in Beaufort County - it could be as much as $300,000 - and authorities are trying to find out where the money went.

The Beaufort Gazette reported accountants hired by the county administrator and the county's top prosecutor began working this week on an audit.

The money is missing from the county treasurer's office from a delinquent tax sale last year. Sheriff P.J. Tanner said estimates of the missing money range from $4,000 to $300,000.

A former treasurer's office employee has been charged with breach of trust with fraudulent intent in the theft of $600 from the office several years ago. Authorities said that worker is a person of interest in the latest investigation.

- The Associated Press

Jailed ex-elected official's appeal denied

GREENVILLE - A former county councilman's appeal of his conviction of illegally accessing the county administrator's computer has been denied.

Acting U.S. Attorney Kevin McDonald said the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday denied Tony Trout's request.

In July, Trout was convicted on charges of placing spyware on Greenville County administrator Joe Kernell's computer and posting private e-mails on a public Web site. Prosecutors said the program also gave Trout the administrator's private banking information.

Trout said he thought what he did was OK and regrets not checking federal law before e-mailing the spyware.

He was sentenced to a year and a day in prison. He is incarcerated at a federal prison in Beckley, W.Va.

- The Associated Press