There is a fishy story developing in a small Orangeburg County town. It involves an outspoken councilwoman, who feels some people who don't agree with her may be harassing her. Lydia Lackey isn't pointing fingers, but she is concerned.
"I can't live paranoid and afraid of something happening," said Lackey. "I can't live like that."
And no one should have to. But Springfield Councilwoman Lydia Lackey feels like a target. Last week she discovered something disturbing in her 31,000 gallon pond.
"Tuesday morning I got up like I usually do to come and watch them like I usually do," said Lackey. "And they were just floating all on top, dead."
Fish, nearly 200 of them. Lackey called an expert to find out what might have killed the fish.
"He did a test and said something was added to this pond," said Lackey.
Lackey says after making waves at several council meetings she first received a threatening phone call. Soon after she found her pond full of dead fish. She calls it either a strange coincidence or a threatening message.
"The mayor and council--and I'm on council-- they are not telling the people what's going on," said Lackey.
About things like public bids, contracts and some personnel decisions. Lackey isn't pointing fingers at anyone but knows she made a splash by demanding more government accountability.
"Once you have everybody being transparent and everybody getting the information, we can work together and have a much stronger foundation," said Lackey.
She feels questioning other city officials made her a target. She says if it turns out her pond was poisoned, it was senseless. Because she'll continue voicing concerns, even if it means going against the current.
WACH Fox 57 called the Springfield Police Department about what happened to Councilwoman Lackey, and her concerns. However, no one would comment.
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