Confederate group won’t put up flags

A day after a Sons of Confederate Veterans officer said the group would raise Confederate flags throughout Columbia in response to the NAACP, the SCV’s state chapter leader dismissed the idea.

Randy Burbage said his group has made no specific plans to respond to the NAACP’s new push to remove the flag from the State House grounds.

Burbage said another member of the group was giving his personal opinion Wednesday when he said the group was considering putting up large flagpoles with flags along South Carolina interstates.

• Bi-Lo program will aid Harvest Hope

Bi-Lo Charities’ Hunger Relief program started Wednesday and will continue through August 5, a company news release said.

For $5, shoppers can buy a bag of groceries containing food that is most often requested by food bank customers, the release said. The groceries will be donated to Harvest Hope Food Bank, the release said.

• Northeast post office to hold passport fair

The Sandhills Post Office at 1805 Clemson Road will hold a passport fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

The fair is to allow customers convenient applications access in addition to the normal passport hours. Children younger than 16 must have both parents available when applying for a passport.

• Sorensen awarded honorary doctorate

USC president Andrew Sorensen has been awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Queensland in Australia for his accomplishments in academic leadership and research.

Sorensen was praised by University of Queensland vice chancellor Paul Greenfield, who deemed the research partnerships between the schools a success.

Sorensen will retire this month. He will be replaced by USC vice president of research Harris Pastides.

• Graham campaign has $3.6 million left

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham’s campaign says it has $3.6 million left for a fall campaign after the primary against Republican Buddy Witherspoon.

The campaign said Wednesday that Graham spent $1.2 million between May 22 and June 30.

Graham faces Democratic primary winner Bob Conley in November. Campaign vice chair Lee Griggs said Conley has filed a report with the Federal Election Commission. That report was not immediately available Wednesday.

HORRY COUNTY

• 600 evacuate area after chemical fire

A fire this week forced hundreds of vacationers and residents in Myrtle Beach to evacuate from a four-block beachfront area of the city.

A half-pound of a chemical used to treat swimming pools caught fire Tuesday evening outside a home, authorities say.

Fire officials say they let the chemical burn itself out, and the evacuation was lifted in about an hour. No one was hurt. The blaze is believed to be accidental. Police estimate about 600 people had to leave the area.

• Another banner plane crashes near beach

A small plane towing an advertising banner crashed Wednesday near Surfside Beach.

The pilot suffered non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said. No one on the ground was hurt, and no homes were damaged.

It was at least the third crash this year of a banner plane in the area.

LANCASTER COUNTY

• Fire destroys home of suspect in killing

Authorities are investigating a fire that destroyed a home once owned by a man who police say killed a bait shop owner last week.

The fire that destroyed the home in Heath Springs early Tuesday is suspicious, but a cause has not been determined, deputies told The (Rock Hill) Herald.

The home was owned by Darren Winchester, 46, before it went into foreclosure. Authorities say no one was living there and the house had no power.

Police say Winchester barricaded himself in the home after killing 55-year-old bait shop owner Ronnie Cairnes Sr. last week. The standoff ended when police found Winchester’s body inside with a gunshot wound to the chest. Investigators have not determined who fired the shot.

DUE WEST

• Dishwasher was cause of fire at Erskine

The president of Erskine College says a faulty dishwasher apparently caused a fire that heavily damaged the school’s dining hall.

The State Law Enforcement Division, local fire officials and the school’s insurer agree on the cause of the fire July 10, Erskine president Randall Ruble said.

Ruble said officials were getting estimates so that crews could begin repairs.

CLEMSON

• Only walls are left as fire ravages church

A fire has destroyed a Clemson church, gutting the sanctuary and leaving only the brick walls.

Flames were coming through the roof early Tuesday morning at the Center of Faith Community Church, Clemson University Fire Chief Bill Shivar said.

Shivar said the cause of the fire has not been determined. But he says there is no indication of foul play.

There were no injuries.

Contributing: Staff writers Lee Higgins and Ishmael Tate; staff reports; The Associated Press