Fracas in Batesburg-Leesville continues

It took until mid-October for this situation to reach its next milestone, but here’s how we led our coverage of the last installation of the craziness that’s been going down in Sovereign County of Lexington:

In Batesburg-Leesville, it’s not all about dirt roads, barbecue and chicken farming. There’s some fighting to be done. Or, at least there was between town councilmen Steve Cain and Todd O’Dell on Monday. According to a report on the incident, a disagreement devolved into shoving and the like, leading to a simple assault charge and arrest for Cain.

Cain is running for mayor of the town that, we swear, has as many sandy roads as paved ones — probably more. He is of the opinion that incumbent Mayor James Wiszowaty violated state law by having conflict-of-interest issues involving a business he owns and the prospect of a new water plant. After the State Ethics Commission cleared Wiszowaty, he said he wanted Cain to resign from the town council. Not bloody likely, as the saying goes.

Cain said he will continue to question Wiszowaty’s support for a proposed new water plant on Lake Murray.

“He’s a slick-talking Chicago politician who operates in gray areas,” Cain said.

Wiszowaty runs a convenience store and service station on S.C. 391 in an area where Cain says new development is likely after installation of a waterline from the plant.

Cain’s complaint to the commission is a political stunt, Wiszowaty said.

“I’m used to his antics,” the mayor said. “It’s time for him to give up this fight.”

The back-and-forth in Columbia is tame compared to this.