News from around The Carolinas

South Carolina

SENECA

Man dies after tractor accident

A Seneca man who worked for the Anderson County Sheriff's Office has died after an accident left him pinned between his tractor and a tree.

Oconee County Coroner Karl Addis says 27-year-old Jeremy Michael Raines died Wednesday night at Greenville Memorial Hospital.

Addis says Raines was on his tractor about two miles from his home when the vehicle ran off the right hand shoulder of a road, went down an embankment and pinned Raines against a tree.

His friends backed the tractor away from the tree, and Raines was flown to the trauma center at the hospital. He died from internal injuries.

Addis says Raines worked in the detention center for the Anderson County Sheriff's Office.

SUMMERVILLE

Summerville police enter youth coach investigation

Police in Summerville are now investigating whether a Charleston area youth coach accused of child molestation may have abused boys in that town.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reports that police are tracking down several possible victims identified by 32-year-old Louis ReVille in statements to investigators. Summerville police say that the victims appear to have been underage boys.

ReVille, a former teacher and coach at several schools and programs in the Charleston area, is currently facing molestation charges in Mount Pleasant. Police in Hanahan and Charleston also are investigating allegations.

ReVille's lawyer, Craig Jones, says his client is extremely remorseful for his actions and plans to continue cooperating with investigators.

ROCK HILL

Worker charged in assisted-living home death faces new forgery count

A former assisted-living home employee accused of killing one of the home’s residents was charged Wednesday with forging a check belonging to another resident.

Braquette Walton, 30, had already been charged with murder in the death of 82-year-old Pauline Cook of the Oak Bridge Terrace assisted-living home, according to Rock Hill Police reports. Walton formerly worked as a certified nurse’s aide at the home.

Walton is accused of killing Cook after the resident complained someone had taken $1,200 from a bank account. Cook and an Oak Bridge Terrace staff member told police on Nov. 12 that Walton had cashed the checks.

The next morning, Cook was found dead in a shower, according to Rock Hill Police reports. On Nov. 17, Walton was charged with murder. She also has been charged with forgery.

On Wednesday, Rock Hill Police charged Walton with another count of forgery and exploitation of a vulnerable adult. Records allege she cashed a $300 check from an 84-year-old resident. The man was studying his monthly bank statement and noticed a check had been cashed that he hadn’t written.

Walton is being held at the Moss Justice Center awaiting a Dec. 28 bond hearing.

North Carolina

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, N.C.

Man on fishing trip dies when boat hits jetty

State wildlife officials say a fishing trip near Wrightsville Beach ended with the death of a 71-year-old Lumberton man after the boat he was on struck a jetty.

The StarNews of Wilmington reports that the accident happened Tuesday night. Three men from Lumberton were fishing at Frying Pan Shoals and headed for shore after becoming convinced they were having engine trouble.

Wildlife Resources Commission officer Fred Gorchess says the boat eventually picked up speed and rammed into a rock jetty at Masonboro Inlet. A member of the crew contacted the Coast Guard to say one of the men on the boat was seriously hurt.

A coroner pronounced the man dead at the scene. Authorities have not yet released his name.

CORNELIUS

Mayor wants duck hunting banned near lake

The mayor of Cornelius says it's time to ban duck hunting in or near Lake Norman to prevent a tragic accident.

The Charlotte Observer reports that Mayor Jeff Tarte has sent an email to county and state officials, including House Speaker Thom Tillis, who represents the area in the General Assembly.

Tarte says he's been a hunter since he was 12 and still goes hunting in dove season. But he says the area has become too developed with homes to allow for safe hunting.

Marty Overcash, chairman of Lake Norman Ducks Unlimited, says it's unfair to suggest all duck hunters are irresponsible. Overcash says it would make more sense to ban alcohol on the lake.

Mecklenburg County Commissioner Karen Bentley says county staffers will look into the issue.

From wire reports