This year’s Miss Chapin winner was also crowned the winner of the 2024 Miss South Carolina for America.

Shawn Meeh was crowned earlier this month at the 6th annual Miss South Carolina for America pageant where contestants competed in the three different areas which were interview, swimsuit and evening gown.

Meeh is a reading interventionist at Chapin Elementary School. She says her greatest accomplishment is “overcoming a difficult time in her life and having the strength and power to find her true, confident self while continuing to raise her three beautiful daughters,” according to the press release.

The charity that Meeh is focused on is Victoria’s Voice Foundation Charity which specializes in stopping drug abuse and overdose deaths.

As the winner of Miss South Carolina, Meeh has won a prize package and an all-expense paid trip to compete in the 2024 Miss for America pageant on Aug. 25, 2024 at the International Theatre in Las Vegas.

She will be competing with 51 other women for the title of 2024 Miss for America.

Annual library summer reading program announced

The annual Lexington County Public Library summer reading program will be starting again on June 1.

This year’s theme is “Adventure Begins at Your Library.” On June 1, all 10 branches of the Lexington County Public Libraries will be hosting kick-off events.

The library branches wrote in the press release that summer reading is important because it helps form literacy and language skills.

“Summer reading builds literacy and language skills, keeps children school-ready, allows teens and adults to experience the joy of reading and so much more.”

Participants can register for the event by visiting their local library branch or through the website. Those who participate in the event by logging their reading from June 1 through August 10 are eligible to earn a variety of prizes.

The library branches will also be offering other free events throughout the summer including Porkchop Productions, Gravity Check Juggling and Balloonopolis among others.

Those wanting to attend these events can visit the library branches website www.lexcolibrary.com.

New details about fatality on Industrial Drive

The Lexington County Police Department has released more details about the fatal wreck on Industrial Drive where a van hit a motorcycle and school bus and the driver of the van fatally hit the motorcycle driver.

The driver of the van, 20-year old Giovanni Mendoza-Jimenz, was initially issued a citation for driving without a license on the day of the accident, May 20, 2024.

On May 21, he was issued two more citations of driving too fast for conditions and failure to stop for a school bus.

Mendoza-Jimenez was discovered to be a citizen of Mexico and was unlawfully in the United States. An order for detainment has been issued and he will enter into the custody of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Patrol after he has posted his bond.

Additional charges could be issued as the Lexington Police Department continues to analyze vehicle data to determine if the driver was distracted by a mobile phone.

Identity released of man killed in Glenn Road homicide

The Lexington County Coroner’s Office has released the identity of the man shot outside his Glenn Road residence on May 21, 2024.

The man, 53-year-old Gaston resident John Darrick Rumph, was pronounced dead at the scene due to a gunshot wound to his upper body.

The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department is continuing to investigate the incident.