BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.—Raw emotion filled the courtroom as the double murder trial for Caleb Matlock, 25, was set to start today, but shortly after the jury was selected, Matlock had a change of heart. He decided to plead guilty to the two counts of murder, arson, armed robbery and weapons charge. “In this case, he is doing the right thing, […]

CAINHOY, S.C.—According to Chief Steve Goodwin with the Cainhoy Fire Department, firefighters responded to the BP/Amoco Plant located off of Cainhoy Road for a reported structure fire on Saturday around 2 p.m. When they arrived, Goodwin says they found a large, three story building with heavy smoke and fire showing. Charleston County units were immediately called in to assist with […]

GOOSE CREEK, S.C.—Goose Creek firefighters are banding together to help one of their own in a tough battle against stage four cancer. “Steve is a selfless caring person. He gives of himself more than anyone I know and expects nothing in return,” stated Captain Warren Adair, one of the organizers of the event. “His family and friends always come first. […]

BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.– According to Berkeley Co. Sheriff’s Office Spokesperson Dan Moon, approximately 9:30 p.m. on Friday a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2014 Ford Fusion on College Park Road in Ladson. Moon stated that during the time of the stop, a shooting occurred inside the stopped vehicle. The deputy was not involved in the shooting incident. A […]

For once, I am doing my very first editorial for The Berkeley Observer. From politics to religion, I’ve always kept my thoughts pretty private as a journalist. And for those who know me, that’s painstakingly difficult to do. (Seriously, it is!) God knows I have an opinion on just about everything. But in news, we report the facts—not opinions. And […]

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the release of South Carolina’s 2013 Insurance Fraud Annual Report. Just in Berkeley County alone, Wilson’s office received 26 fraud complaints in the amount of $33,764.42. Most of those complaints, 22 total, pertained to automobiles. “My office continues to fight insurance fraud by prosecuting these cases in court and raising awareness of the […]

This year, the US Fish & Wildlife Service has added 20 additional days to the dove hunting season in South Carolina. This means that the dove season will be 90 days, rather than the 70 days that it has been in the past. The 2014-2015 mourning dove season has been decided as September 1-6 (from noon until sunset); September 7-October […]

The Department of Defense recently announced the death of a soldier was bravely supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Officials stated that Staff Sgt. Girard D. Gass Jr., of Lumber Bridge, North Carolina, died Aug. 3, in Jalalabad Air Field Hospital, Afghanistan, from a non-combat related incident while on patrol that occurred in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. Gass, originally from Hanahan, was assigned […]

GOOSE CREEK, S.C.—Goose Creek Police have released the identity of the man they say took a manager inside the Royal Lanes bowling alley hostage Tuesday evening. According to Captain John Grainger, Gary Fraley faces multiple charges including attempted murder and kidnapping. “Additional charges are likely as the investigation continues,” Grainger stated. Fraley’s bond on the initial charges will be set […]

BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.—Both Stratford and Goose Creek High have plenty to smile about. According to MaxPreps.com, a division of CBSSports.com, the two schools have one of the most dominant football programs in the state. Goose Creek High came in at number nine on the list. The Gators have notched one state title and seven Top 25 finishes since 2004. Stratford […]