Howard Rogers, of 94 Campbell Road, asked Cheraw Town Council members Tuesday evening to do whatever it takes to place a ban on pit bulls within the town limits.
Rogers said he was attacked by two female pit bulls earlier this summer, in his own backyard. His wife, Linda Rogers, said she shudders to think what might have happened had she not been home. After she managed to beat the dogs off her husband, “they came back,” she said, with a vengeance. According to the Rogers, his attack was the third incident in their neighborhood in recent months to involve pit bulls.
“My neighbor’s pet was destroyed by pit bulls,” Rogers said. “We have six grandchildren. Heaven knows they would not have survived the kind of attack I did.” He then held up a copy of a recent news article from Mt. Pleasant. He showed council the photograph of a 2 year old boy that was killed there, by a pit bull.
“Do we have to wait until something like this shows up in the Cheraw Chronicle before we do something about it?” Rogers asked.
Cheraw Mayor Andy Ingram directed the legislative committee to meet with Cheraw Animal Control Officer Henry Griggs, along with legal council, to draft an ordinance addressing the issue. The committee will report to council in September.
Council also discussed the banning of parked vehicles in a city resident’s front yard. That’s yard — not driveway. Councilwoman Jacqueline Ellerbe-Shannon said if such an ordinance is issued, it should be enforced in every single neighborhood in town.
“Oh, definitely. I assure you, it will be enforced,” said Ingram.
Three buildings owned by the town are scheduled for demolition. According to Councilman Fred Harris, chairman of the finance committee, “the old band room on Huger Street is not usable and should be taken down.” Besides, he said, this space is now needed to accommodate the outdoor reading room for the library. The other two that need to come down are metal buildings within the Cheraw Complex.
Council unanimously agreed with the recommendation of the finance committee to hire Furr Grading and Paving, for $20,000, to take down and dispose of the three dilapidated buildings.
Thanks to Roy Allison and Tommy Creech, two of Cheraw’s lifelong firemen and rescue workers, one old building in town may find a re-newed life. The current rescue squad building on Seaboard Street is actually the old fire department building, which is owned by the town. Allison and Creech informed council Tuesday they are working on a plan to renovate the building and establish a fire history museum.
— Staff Writer Karen Kissiah can be reached by calling 843-537-5261, or by email at kkissiah@heartlandpublications.com.
Secondly, Three Cheers for cleaning up the entrances into Cheraw. We look so shabby in so many areas that we are setting an example for others in the community that they too can disregard their surroundings. So many properties are in total disrepair and need to be torn down. They are not only hazards, but give out distinguished areas a downtrodden look. I see them everywhere I drive and either fine the owners or tear them down at the owner's expense. We must uplift Cheraw to be the type of community that makes us proud.