Preston Response

This is just another attempt by a politician to waste tax payer dollars using and abusing his power. Shameless, corruption is obvious with the Attorney Generals Office trying to CYA.  I'm very disappointed that Mark Plowden could be involved in this, I thought he was a better man than that, apparently not! Attachment: Press Release.pdf (30.0KB)

-shih

How many years and how many millions of dollars will Allan Willson throw into this snipe hunt? At the current rate my bet is another $2 million of taxpayer money will be spent in another attempt to "get Joey." 

I dont see how that has anything to do with the anderson county witch hunt.

Ron Wilson clearly appears to have broken the law, based on what has been provided in the local newspaper as factual. I expect the AG's office to pursue every possible lead in prosecuting it. I certainly hope that preston wasnt a knowing accomplice, but I have no issues with an investigation into everyone involved with it.

I dont see how that has anything to do with the anderson county witch hunt.

-palmetto-native

Actually it is. With our "not ready for prime time" Attorney General being unable to get any indictments after the spending of almost $3 million he is now doing selective enforce of other state laws with the sole aim of getting Joey Preston. 

 I certainly hope that preston wasnt a knowing accomplice, but I have no issues with an investigation into everyone involved with it.

-palmetto-native

I have no problem investigating everyone involved either. I do however have a problem singling out one, and only one, of Ron Wilson's victims for potential prosecution. 

This is a very appropriately named thread. The Preston Response is exactly what it is. One of the accusations the other side always makes is a coordinated use of this forum and the comment section at AIM to spread propaganda for our former administrator. This story is the perfect example.

I personally think Preston was a good administrator and probably was a victim of Ron Wilson, but this kind of response makes me wonder what other accusations the other side issues are accurate.

If he did nothing, then he should not be afraid of an investigation. As for the media attention, that is what happens when you are a public figure. Quit whining. It sells papers.

I agree.

If others should be brought under scrutiny then I have no doubt that such an oversight will get corrected.

Again, I truly hope he didnt knowingly participate in anything. I have heard that he lost quite a bit of money himself, so that tends to support a belief of innocence.

Yeah,
         Selling papers seems to be one of the AIM's main problems right now. Thats why they have people out in front of a major retailer panhandling trying to drum up some business. If they don't start investigating and give the citizens of Anderson the complete truth regardless of who's feelings gets hurt I believe they will stop printing papers soon. They may be an internet only based news outlet before long.
                                                                                                                    -ArcLight67

Folks, why is the State of SC Attorney General’s office now butting into a matter that they have previously ran from and threw in the lap of the Federal Government? The Federal Investigation will bring the truth out in this matter and if crimes have been committed the Feds will prosecute and convict. It would appear that State of SC Attorney General’s Office wants to grab some political press attention without doing any heavy lifting. Kind of like a SMALL PUPPY following the BIG DOG hoping for some scraps. Is the State Attorney General Office investigating the corruption by the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department in the Preston DUI arrest or investigating the manufacturing of evidence by Anderson County Council hired investigators?   I guess maybe it takes Federal Interest before SC AG Office gets of its lazy behind and does its JOB. IT IS THE POLITICAL SEASON, FOLKS!

Ah Yes!, Tis the season for lies and mud pies. It sounds to me like someone from the upstate of SC may be racking up some long distance charges on their phone bill also. I could be wrong, but the pieces sure do fit nicely into the puzzle thats been named "lets get Joey". The first plan seems to be leaking from several different areas. So it was time to initiate plan "B" I guess, just in case plan "A" goes to the bottom of the drink.

                                                                                                                -ArcLight67

Zorro and Arclight,
You both seem to be on to something.  Naming Preston as part of the investigation goes a long way in satisfying those in Anderson who vocally supported AG Wilson.  The paper was quick to point out that Ron Wilson and Alan Wilson are not related.  However; there is another Wilson who operates behind the scenes in the "Get Joey" schemes.  Is there a possibility Alan Wilson is connected to Anderson County Wilson?  Seems to be I've heard Mama Roxanne refer to her cousins in Anderson.  And as far as AIM doing any investigative reporting, I guess they'll just have to hire that ace reporter over in Williamston.  And then we'll have all the lies and spin straight from Burns's mouth.

Fresh off the AIM / Tandy TRS 80 computers!
 
An "anonymous handwritten letter" taped to a door suggests allegations of Joey Preston switching from Light roast to Dark roast have now surfaced.
 This can only mean ties to Argentinian coffee growers who were former drug lords and unstabilized intercontinental politics , possibly with Mark Sanford & his mistress!!
 
An immediate investigation has already been launched, without the approvals of the populace NOR the authorities. Videos taken from a Circle "K" in nearby Ames, Iowa, show that indeed Preston's coffee cup appears to be darker than origionally thought.  Drones sent from Kabul to circle the downtown courthouse have flown tens of thousands of hours in hopes of verifying that.
  The investigation team of Dewey, Skruem and Howe have already amassed expenditures well above the IPO of FACEBOOK, and have yet to determine the square footage of metal fencing surrounds the compound where it is alleged that Osama Bin Laden's ghost and the Arc of the Covenant reside.

More on this story at 6:00

Are all the investors involved in the Wilson silver matter who believed they were getting a good investment opportunity and told their friends/relatives to invest with Wilson suspect of criminal involvement? Has the SC Attorney General Office ask for all investors to be investigated? From my understanding Mr. Preston has already voluntarily given information to the Federal Investigation. It seems to me that this AIM article proves how deep and how far the stink of corrupt Anderson County Politics reaches. There is no doubt “The Good Old Boy System” is alive and well in Columbia. There is no doubt that our corrupt Anderson County politicians have connections with this the corrupt “Gold Old Boy Bunch” in Columbia.

I believe the majority of Anderson County residents want/deserve the truth in the Preston matter, the Wilson silver matter and the corruption involving our current county officials. I want to see the true facts relating to all these situations instead of a lot of rumors, spin by political hit men and slanted news media reporting. I want to see all the people that are guilty of any criminal involvement in these matters charged and convicted. Anderson County taxpayer dollars have been wasted and are still being wasted in this county by those elected to county office to wisely manage taxpayer dollars and make wise/sound decisions. There is a void of honesty and transparency in Anderson County Government and it looks like this type of behavior is present at a State level.   

Wyatt,
           It sure sounds like Joey really stepped in it this time. It would not surprise me to learn that Joey has been involved with the ghost of Bin Laden in an attempt to steal some secret County papers that could expose all the "back room deals" that are in the works for our taxpayers. We have added some new top level players to the game of corruption, and it should provide the citizens of Anderson years of continued controversy. Just think, we would know nothing of this without the investigative tools, expertise, and diligence that the AIM has so generously provided for and to us.

                                                                                                                    -ArcLight67

Since this entire “Get Joey” agenda has been pushed down the throats of Anderson County residents by slanted news media and “The Hate Radio Machine”, I would like factual information concerning our present interim county administrator, Rusty Burns. The news machine doesn’t seem to want to make the voting public aware of what kind of a pig in the poke is running Anderson County operations. I would like true information on Mr. Burns education qualifications, work experience and business associations. Does he operate a side grant-writing business? Are his employees compensated with taxpayer dollars? Are county employees used in generating profit for his grant-writing business? Why is Mr. Burns being paid at a high salary with county monies while being allowed to operate an independent business that derives profit from contract work possibly paid with county taxpayer dollars? Seems to me there must be a conflict of interest involved somewhere in this saga. I think Anderson County voters deserve the truth!

As a follow-up inquiry, I would like information on Anderson County employees making in excess of $50,000 per year. Who was responsible or recommended the hiring of each employee? What are their qualifications? What connection or relationship exists between that employee and any current council member or the interim county administrator? Anderson County voters deserve true facts involving Anderson County Government. The truth seems to be deliberately hidden from Anderson County voters. Why? Where is the transparency? What type of con-game is being played on Anderson County residents and what county officials are involved?

As a follow-up inquiry, I would like information on Anderson County employees making in excess of $50,000 per year. Who was responsible or recommended the hiring of each employee? What are their qualifications? What connection or relationship exists between that employee and any current council member or the interim county administrator? Anderson County voters deserve true facts involving Anderson County Government. The truth seems to be deliberately hidden from Anderson County voters. Why? Where is the transparency? What type of con-game is being played on Anderson County residents and what county officials are involved?

-zorro1

Do a FOIA and get all the information you want, Zorro.  If they do not comply, then file a complaint.  Seems people want to know this or that and make the request here, when they should be asking county officials to provide the answers.  I suggest all questions be in writing and sent certified mail, Return receipt requested (I do that with all communications with the VA). 

Also, look at Credit Card expenses -- as that is an area ripe for and easy to abuse.

There was a High School Senior in Haysville, KS, a few years ago that asked for the Credit Card records of the School Superintendent.  The super was crooked as a dogs back leg.  The H/S Sr was elected to the school board. The Super faced criminal charges.

Ed,
In SC, public employees, i.e. state and local, including school district employees, making 50K a year is public information.  you shouldn't need an FOIA; it should be listed on that award winning website.  Especially as how we are so transparent in this county.

Do you really believe you will get truthful information in FOIA from this county administration? I have personally been lied to by three members of this current county council – the number would have been six but I already knew the other three were liars. The only way Anderson County will receive a badly needed bath is by a Federal Investigation. I don’t personally intend to do a job that I’m not paid for when the SC Attorney General’s Office is being handsomely paid for this type of work. I was under the impression that this forum and its membership wanted discussion of facts and presentation of truthful facts if they were available. Why are you trying to hide the life preserver from a county drowning in corruption? Hell, I signed in as Zorro1 not as Dick Tracy. I thought some members might be able to supply truthful information if they had it available. I know the stinking trash dump of information in Anderson County is tremendously high – maybe my questions about true facts were too far reaching. Sorry, I ask for truthful information which seems beyond the scope of this forum.

Zorro:  As I live in Abbeville, I've no reason to ask Council anything.  If I wanted information about Abbeville County, I'd call the Directors office.  And if that information was not forthcoming, I ask at Council or do an FOIA request.  What you get on this forum in the form of answers may or may not be truthful.  The "facts" will be disputed by one side or the other.

I'm not trying to hide anything, much less a life preserver.  Now Zorro, the one on TV, under the mask and the cover of darkness was always able to get the truth and the facts.  And he always carved a ZEE on the belly of Sgt Garcia. And Sam Catchem and Dick Tracy were very good, too.  Maybe they are lurking out there somewhere and will post the information you seek here on this forum

So if it is truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth you are seeking, good luck finding it here. (Just look at the back and forth between McAbee and Art Kaldas of late).  I'm sure there's kernels of truth in all their posts.  I do not know enough about their posts to form an opinion either way.

As a follow-up inquiry, I would like information on Anderson County employees making in excess of $50,000 per year.

-zorro1

That was discussed here before.  Quite a list I may say. And when employees making in excess of $50K a year was disclosed, the silence was deafening.  A better question is, who's making in excess of $100K a year?

who was responsible or recommended the hiring of each employee?

Well, who is the Personnel Committee/ Chairman? 
Who was put in charge of collecting resumes for Administrator about three years ago?
Who was responsible for hiring Bobby Daniels?
If you said anything but Ed "I don't have e-mails Judge Maddox" Moore, EHHHHHHTTT!  WRONG.

What are their qualifications?

Heck, here in Podunkville, all ya gotta be is a part-time something....Reporter, auctioneer, real estate agent, fireman, reservist,  sales associate, even felon! 
  Remember, the job itself is only "part-time".

What connection or relationship exists between that employee and any current council member or the interim county administrator? Anderson County voters deserve true facts involving Anderson County Government. The truth seems to be deliberately hidden from Anderson County voters. Why? Where is the transparency? What type of con-game is being played on Anderson County residents and what county officials are involved?

Have fun with THAT one.   From all appearances and factual artifacts, it looks like Anderson has a long and storied history in graft, corruption, moral decay and criminal activities. Activities and beliefs that they seem quite confortable executing daily.
  People have often related stories about the antics of former Sheriffs', politicians,  Lawyers, well-to-do' and fractured family tree members.  And now we have those same sorts who have made this such a delight to relive here in the 21st century.