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Wynne v. Great Falls

Oconee County Council Looks at New Prayer Policy, Cost of Legal Defense

January 10, 2007

Source: Aiken Today

Wire Service: AP

http://www.aikenstandard.com/news/325814177536496.php

WALHALLA -- The Oconee County council opened its work session with a prayer in Jesus' name and began considering a proposal to ignore demands from the American Civil Liberties Union that it end its practice of holding prayers at public meetings.

The Rev. Wayne Morton, president of the Oconee County Ministerial Association, offered the prayer...

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Town Councils Debate Public Prayer After Great Falls Ruling

January 23, 2006

Source: WCNC.com

http://www.wcnc.com/news/topstories/stories/wcnc-ad-1_23_06-prayer.3144c8ab.html

On January 23, 2006 WCNC.com reported, "The York County Council will discuss the issue of referring to God in prayers at the start of public meetings. This comes months after the Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of a case involving prayer at public meetings and the battle over keeping those prayers continues. Ironically, Monday night...

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Update: Great Falls Makes No Move to Pay Legal Bills of Wiccan Priestess

October 16, 2005

Source: The Herald

http://www.heraldonline.com/local/story/5258727p-4773941c.html

On October 16, 2005 The Herald reported, "With the deadline to appeal set to expire, Great Falls officials have made no move to pay the legal bills of a Wiccan high priestess who successfully sued the town to remove the name of Jesus Christ from pre-meeting prayers. Federal Judge Cameron Currie last month ordered the town to pay about $53,000 in legal bills that Darla Wynne...

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Small Town May Have Big Legal Bill in Wiccan Suit

August 14, 2005

Source: The State

Wire Service: AP

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/12383328.htm

On August 14, 2005 the Associated Press reported, "The tiny town of Great Falls may have to pay a hefty legal bill after losing a battle over whether the town should stop using Jesus Christ's name in prayers before council meetings. The U.S. Supreme Court refused in June to hear the town's appeal of a lower court ruling over the...

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Wiccan Getting Silent Treatment After Great Falls Court Battle

June 30, 2005

Source: The Herald

http://www.heraldonline.com/local/story/4987993p-4556234c.html

On June 30, 2005 The Herald reported, "Many town residents were talking Wednesday about their support for the Town Council in its efforts to name Jesus Christ in meeting prayers. At church, around town, in restaurants and in gas stations, people were talking about the case that pitted resident Darla Wynne against the council, which had, before the suit, invoked Jesus' name in...

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Update on Great Falls Prayer Case

November 4, 2004

Source: The State (S.C.)

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/10094129.htm

On November 4, 2004 The State (S.C.) reported, "the town of Great Falls has lost its appeal of a circuit court ruling ordering it not to invoke the name of Jesus Christ during prayers before its Town Council meetings. That ruling came as a result of a lawsuit filed in 2001 by Great Falls resident Darla Kaye Wynne, who practices the earth religion Wicca. Wynne said the prayers...

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Wiccan Priestess Harassed Following Challenge to Town Council

September 19, 2004

Source: The State (S.C.)

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/9703075.htm

On September 19, 2004 the The State (S.C.) reported, "[Darla Kaye Wynne] said she has endured escalating harassment from townspeople hostile to her religion and her lawsuit. That harassment, according to Wynne and police reports, recently included someone’s breaking into her home and beheading one of her beloved parrots, an African gray she named 'Little One'... She said...

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Policy on Religious Diversity in South Carolina

September 19, 2004

Source: The State (S.C.)

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/9702893.htm

On September 19, 2004 The State (S.C.) reported, "[The] new policy on religious diversity at Great Falls Town Council meetings was posted at [the] Town Hall before the Aug. 16 meeting: The invocation and its content do not represent the views or religious beliefs of the town of Great Falls. The town of Great Falls believes in the freedom of religion and welcomes into its...

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Wiccan Priestess Harassed Following Challenge to Town Council

August 17, 2004

Source: Religious News Service

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/151/story_15144_1.html

On August 17, 2004 Religious News Service reported, "Police in Great Falls, S.C., Tuesday investigated the killing of a Wiccan high priestess' parrot, which was beheaded and whose heart was cut out. About a dozen pagans attended the Great Falls Town Council meeting Monday to show their support for Darla Wynne, who found her 8-year-old pet slain last week with a note attached that said...

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Officials Defy Court Rulings Banning Exclusive Prayers in S.C.

August 9, 2004

Source: AP

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/9351133.htm

On August 9, 2004 AP reported, "Some local government leaders in South Carolina are continuing to pray to a specific god at meetings, despite a federal appeals court ruling that such religion-specific prayers are unconstitutional. Charleston County Councilman Tim Scott described the ruling as part of a continuing attack on Christianity, and he said he hopes his council will fight back by...

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