The preverbal poop hit the fan last week when less than 72 hours after the General Election, retiring Williamsburg County Clerk of Court Carolyn Williams fired her soon-to be-predecessor Sharon Staggers. However, by the following morning Staggers and two other employees who were also handed walking papers were back at their posts.

During the morning hours of November 8, Staggers along with two co-workers who work in the Clerk’s of Court’s Office were sent home. Staggers, who is Williamsburg County Family Court bookkeeper and scheduling clerk, has been working under Williams for 16 years.

Staggers claimed the move was politically motivated. “It’s retaliation,” said Staggers who will be sworn in as Williamsburg County Clerk of Court in January after beating opponent Lucinda Green. “These ladies supported me on the campaign. Therefore if all three of us being terminated - I mean that’s what it is - it’s retaliation.”

However, on Friday everthing changed. According to Williamsburg County Attorney Billy Jenkinson, the issue has been resolved and the terminations were withdrawn. Jenkinson said Staggers will be busy with the transition, spending time with consultants, and attending school. The other two employees will return to work the week of November 12.

On Thursday Staggers was considering taking legal action. South Carolina is an at-will state, which means that employees may be terminated for any reason - good, bad, or no reason at all. The employee may also quit for similar reasons without providing notice to employer.

Williams did not return calls from The News requesting an interview.