BRIEFS

75-year-old man goes missing

Berkeley County authorities were searching Saturday for a 75-year-old man who wandered away from S&W Community Care in the tiny community of Alvin.

John Carr walked away from the group home around 7 a.m. Friday. A man matching his description showed up at the home Saturday morning but then apparently wandered off again, said Bill Nunnally, assistant chief of Berkeley County Rescue Squad.

Carr has lived at the home for about 20 years and has no immediate family in the area, Nunnally said. Carr is described as white with long white hair, about 6 feet 2 inches tall and 220 pounds.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 554-1111.

CARTA fares go up, 6 routes change

Bus fare and passes are going up 20 percent on most fares starting today to compensate for the increased fuel prices, the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority has announced.

The change increases regular adult base fare from $1.25 to $1.50, Tel-A-Ride from $2.50 to $3 and Express from $2 to $2.50. The cost for transfers will remain $0.25.

CARTA also has adjusted six routes:

--Route 102 - North Neck: A direct link to downtown Charleston will be added.

--Route 106 - Otranto/Stall: One bus will service this route resulting in less frequent stops; bus will run every two hours except during peak morning hours, 6 to 9 a.m.

--Route 202 - South Beltline is being eliminated. All stops along the existing Route 202 - South Beltline route already are serviced by other routes.

--Route 213 - Lockwood/Calhoun: This new DASH route will link the Citadel and Medical Centers to Express service and will also link hotels on Lockwood Drive with the Visitor's Center.

--Route 302 - Orange Grove and Route 303 - Ashley River Road: Will be permanently interlined to make one single route; Route 302 will run every hour and eliminate travel on Highway 61 north of Muirfield Drive.

Riders can learn more at www.ridecarta.com.

Anderson County official arrested

ANDERSON — The Anderson County Clerk of Court has been arrested on charges she failed to pay or collect taxes for a company she once worked for.

The Anderson Independent-Mail reported that Cathy Phillips was arrested Friday by state agents.

Authorities say Phillips was working for DTP Drywall, Inc. in 2004 when she knew the company had collected more than $58,000 in income taxes but did not properly account for the money or turn it over to the state.

Phillips was released on a personal recognizance bond.

Phillips is running unopposed for another term as clerk.

Man arrested for moonshine still

SPARTANBURG — A former South Carolina prison officer has been charged with having moonshine and parts for a still.

Authorities say they found more than 14 gallons of illegal liquor and items that can be used for a distillery in a utility shed on property in Enoree owned by 61-year-old Earl Fletcher Kelly.

Kelly was arrested Tuesday and charged with possessing nontax-paid liquor and distillery apparatus.

Prison spokesman Josh Gelinas says Kelly worked for the Corrections Department for 19 years, but resigned after authorities began investigating him.

Kelly was released on a $2,500 bond. A phone call to his home went immediately to an answering machine that said it could not record a message.