11 men, including residents of Gilbert, Lexington and Leesville, have been arrested as part of a statewide operation in May to root out sexual predators trying to contact children.

“We, along with the Lexington Police Department and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, served as the host agencies for this operation,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon is quoted in a release. “Officers pretended to be underage teenagers as the suspects messaged them through social media apps. After the suspect asked to meet with ‘the child,’ detectives were staged at a predetermined meeting spot to arrest them.”

The release notes that no children were used or placed in danger during the operation.

“There is no doubt about the intent of these suspects when the messages and images they sent are reviewed,” Koon is quoted. “That’s why it’s important for parents to know who their children are communicating with online because sexual predators are looking for opportunities to exploit them.”

According to the release, these men were arrested as a result of the operation:

Christopher Michael Alexander, 30, Gilbert – first-degree attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, attempted unlawful dissemination of obscene material to a person under 18, criminal solicitation of a minor, second-degree attempted criminal sexual conduct with a minor

Bryan Keith Beane; 61; Kings Mountain, N.C. – three counts of third-degree attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, attempted second-degree criminal sexual conduct, attempted unlawful dissemination of obscene material to a person under 18, criminal solicitation of a minor, possession of a weapon during a violent crime

Jason Brandon Davis, 41, Lexington – two counts of criminal conspiracy, promoting the prostitution of a minor, two counts of second-degree attempted criminal sexual conduct with a minor

Rodney Carlton Fussell, 25, Leesville –  second-degree attempted criminal sexual conduct with a minor, promoting the prostitution of a minor

Terry Dwayne Goins Jr., 23, Gilbert – attempted second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, criminal solicitation of a minor

Nicholas Banks Jeffcoat, 33, Columbia – criminal solicitation of a minor

Robert Mitchum Nichols, 67, Florence – criminal solicitation of a minor, second-degree attempted criminal sexual conduct with a minor

Karl Jordan Platt, 28, Columbia – second-degree attempted criminal sexual conduct with a minor, criminal solicitation of a minor

George Stanley Sawyer Jr., 42, Lexington – first-degree attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, criminal solicitation of a minor, second-degree attempted criminal sexual conduct with a minor, attempted unlawful dissemination of obscene material to a person under 18

Hunter Allen Trammell, 20, Newberry – second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, criminal solicitation of a minor

Terry William Volcke, 29, Elgin – criminal solicitation of a minor, three counts of attempted dissemination of obscene material to a person under 18

Operation to Remove Coal Tar From Congaree to Start Soon

Coffer dams will soon be erected in the Congaree River to access the riverbed and remove 40,000 tons of toxic coal tar.

“The work is expected to take three years but could take up to five,” writes The State’s Morgan Hughes.

“The most significant impact is the closure of the popular Senate Street boat launch downtown and a nearby parking lot. For at least the next three years, that area will be fenced off and closed to the public while Dominion Energy bases its cleanup efforts from the site.”

According to the WestMetroNews, work on the first coffer dam will start in June and conclude in October, with a second, smaller dam being built closer to the Blossom Street Bridge after work at the first site is complete.

“The clean-up is being conducted on a portion of the river that could contain Confederate Army unexploded ordinances disposed of in February 1865, during The Civil War. It’s possible that unexploded ordinances are buried in the sediment,” WestMetroNews writes. “The possibility of live ammunition requires that tar removal would need to be conducted in the dry instead of using a dredging tool.”

The toxic substance was drained into the Congaree from a gas plant between 1900 and 1950.

Girl Scouts Build Little Free Library in Lexington

Thanks to four local Girl Scouts, people in Lexington have another place to find free things to read.

Four cadettes from Troop 139 spent a few months building a Little Free Library placed near the front entrance of the Flight Deck Restaurant on Old Chapin Road.

“This group of Girl Scouts understands the importance of literacy throughout life, and wants to help make books available for free to anyone, anytime,” reads a press release. “After the completion of this project, the girls will apply for their Silver Award, which is the highest Girl Scout award that a Cadette can achieve during her middle school years.”

Gas Prices Down in Lexington County, SC

Gas prices in Lexington County were down from a week prior on May 31, the Chronicle’s press deadline. According to AAA South Carolina, the average price for regular unleaded in the county was $4.208 (compared to $4.238 the week before).

Only two counties in South Carolina had cheaper gas prices — Saluda ($4.199) and Chesterfield ($4.200).

The average price in South Carolina was $4.257 (down from $4.290). The national average was $4.622 (up from $4.598).

According to gasbuddy.com, which ranks gas stations by price according to user reports, the lowest prices in Lexington County as of May 31 were:

Circle K (5372 Sunset Blvd. in Lexington) — $3.97

Speedway (815 N Lake Dr. in Lexington) — $3.97

Murphy Express (4448 Sunset Blvd. in Lexington) — $3.97

Circle K (959 Old Cherokee Rd. in Lexington) — $3.97

Murphy USA (5579 Sunset Blvd. in Lexington) — $3.97

Sam’s Club (350 Harbison Blvd. in Columbia) — $3.97

Murphy Express (2925 Sunset Blvd. in West Columbia) — $3.97

Shell & Circle K (746 W Main St. in Lexington) — $3.97

Shell & Circle K (2308 Augusta Hwy.) — $3.99

Raceway (2526 Augusta Rd. in West Columbia) — $3.99