IN SPORTS: Sumter P-15’s look for season-opening sweep against Dalzell-Shaw B1 NATION 11 states file suit against Federal transgender rule A8 FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2016 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 75 cents Suspect Iris Festival underway extradited Celebration of Grandmother faces the arts, nature old child abuse and music runs charges in 2 states BY ADRIENNE SARVIS through Sunday [email protected] Jaqueline Raysor, the grand- FROM STAFF REPORTS mother from Louisiana arrest- ed by Sumter County Sheriff’s he 76th Annual Sum- Office for reportedly abusing ter Iris Festival got off her two grandchildren, was to a tasty, music-filled taken back to Louisiana T start Thursday eve- Wednesday after trying and ning and continues today from 9 failing to fight extradition. a.m. until 6 p.m. with food and Before being transported to marketplace vendors in place Louisiana, the 55-year-old post- across from the Swan Lake Visi- ed bail set at $75,000 cash or tors Center starting at 10 a.m. surety with GPS monitoring In addition, through Sunday at on April 25 but was taken back 5 p.m., festival-goers can enjoy into custody when Louisiana arts and crafts, boat rides on authorities issued a warrant Swan Lake, live entertainment for her arrest. on several stages, Art in the Gardens, Gateway to Gardening SEE EXTRADITED, PAGE A7 and Sumter Military Museum display’s salute to Shaw Air Force Base’s 75th anniversary, “Soaring through the Decades,” in the visitor’s center. There’s a lot to celebrate at Shaw history Swan Lake-Iris Gardens during South Carolina’s oldest contin- uous festival, named by the on display at Southeastern Tourism Society as one of the Top 20 Festivals in the Southeast for the past two years and a Top Event by Iris Festival the National Bus Association. Park at the Sumter Civic BY JIM HILLEY Center (fairgrounds) and take [email protected] Santee-Wateree Regional KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM Transportation Authority’s Sumter High School’s McLean Marie Achziger and Patrick Collins smile after being named Queen and King “Have museum will travel,” free shuttle to the gardens. of the 2016 Iris Festival during the opening ceremony on Thursday evening at the Heath Pavilion. said Sammy Way, who has brought a portion of the exten- sive collection of military memorabilia housed at Sum- IRIS FESTIVAL SCHEDULE ter Military Museum to the Iris Gardens Visitors Center during the annual Iris Festival FRIDAY, MAY 27 • Children’s Art in the Park, Bland Gardens, 10 a.m. - 5-6 p.m. — Maddie Hunt, Myrtle Beach 5 p.m. today through Sunday. • Palmetto Health Tuomey Community Health DOCK STAGE Way said City of Sumter • Mary Hinson Flower Show, “Celebrating the Initiatives free screening, Swan Lake Visitors Center, Noon-2 p.m. — Believe in Fate - Fitness with Rudi suggested that he make a dis- 9 -11 a.m. Festivals of SC,” Alice Boyle Garden Center, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 2-4 p.m. — From the Morning play to commemorate the 75th • Just Kidding Around, Children’s Area - Palmetto Amusements, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. • SAFE Kids Adventureland, sponsored by SAFE Kids GAZEBO anniversary of Shaw Air Sumter County & Tuomey Foundation, 10 a.m. - 4 Noon-4 p.m. — Frank Fickling Force Base at the festival. • Children’s Art in the Park, Bland Gardens, 10 a.m. - p.m., includes Kiwanis Kids 6 p.m. today and Saturday, Noon –5 p.m. Sunday SUNDAY, MAY 29 Visitors won’t just see the Fingerprinting, Bike Rodeo, Informational Displays display, however; Way plans to * Entertainment • Sumter Cruisers Show & Shine, Garden Street, 10 and more. a.m. - 5 p.m. be on hand as much as possi- MAIN STAGE • Introduction of Iris Kings & Queens, Main Stage, ble to interpret the exhibit. 12:30–1 p.m. — Lakewood High School Chorus • Just Kidding Around, presented by Games2U & Noon Palmetto Amusements, Noon - 5 p.m. “I will be telling the story of 1-1:30 p.m. — Believe in Fate - Fitness with Rudi • East Coast Golf Cart Show, Visitors Center Lawn, 11 • Children’s Art in the Park, Bland Gardens, Noon - 5 how Shaw came about and 1:30-3 p.m. — Hands on Praise Puppets - Harmony a.m. - 5 p.m. p.m. some of the key people who Church • 11th Annual Shrine Day Parade hosted by The • Mary Hinson Flower Show, “Celebrating the made it happen,” Way said. “I 3-3:30 p.m. — USC Blazin’ Star Steppers Jamil Streakers, West Liberty Street, 8 p.m. (Begins Festivals of SC,” Alice Boyle Garden Center, 1 - 4 p.m. will talk about how the air at Sumter County Fairgrounds) 3:30-4 p.m. — Sandy Banks, Hartsville * Entertainment base has grown and how it has * Entertainment 4-5 p.m. — Sumter High School Jazz Band MAIN STAGE become an integral part of the MAIN STAGE Sumter community.” 5-5:30 p.m. — Dreamworks Dance Academy 1-2 p.m. — Believe in Fate - Fitness with Rudi Noon-12:15 p.m. — King, queens, dignitaries Anyone who is expecting a 5:30-6 p.m. — Believer’s Quartet introduced 1-4 p.m. — Lexi the Clown table or two of black and DOCK STAGE 12:30-1 p.m. — Common Call Quartet, Charleston 2-2:30 p.m. — Zadok, Gospel Rapper white pictures and perhaps a 2-4 p.m. — From the Morning 12:30-2 p.m. — Lemira Percussion 2:30-3 p.m. — Miss Libby’s School of Dance few faded old newspapers will 1-4 p.m. — Lexi the Clown 3-3:30 p.m. — Sandy Banks, Hartsville be in for quite a surprise. SATURDAY, MAY 28 2-2:30 p.m. — Fallen Statues 3:30-4 p.m. — TBA The large meeting room at • Head Turnerz Classic Car Show, Bland Gardens, 9 2:30-3 p.m. — TBA 4-4:30 p.m. — TBA the visitor’s center has been a.m. - 4 p.m., Games2U & Palmetto Amusements transformed. During the festi- 3-3:30 p.m. — Sandy Banks, Hartsville DOCK STAGE • Just Kidding Around, Games2U & Palmetto val, it will be filled with a mon- Amusements, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m 2-4 p.m. — John Berry & Kevin Jarvis 3:30-4 p.m. — Heartstirs tage of Shaw Air Force history, • The World of Welding, presented by Central 4-4:30 p.m. — Crestwood Chorus GAZEBO with panels representing each Carolina Technical College - Changing Lives 4:30-5 p.m. — Last Generation Quartet 1-4 p.m. — Frank Fickling through Education SEE HISTORY, PAGE A7 Proposed 2.6 mill increase could add $10.40 to $100K property tax bill BY ADRIENNE SARVIS the state, referred to as local govern- revenue funds to South Carolina coun- wards the county’s portion of the [email protected] ment funds, for the county to manage ties. shared costs with City of Sumter to state-mandated agencies. If the state provides the $500,000 or operate the planning and building de- The proposed 2.6 mill increase an- Sumter County Admin- full the local government fund, Mixon partments, emergency dispatch and nounced during Sumter County Coun- istrator Gary Mixon said said 1.8 mills of the 2.6 mill increase enhanced 911 system. cil’s regular meeting on Tuesday the state is reviewing a will be removed from the county’s Mixon said county council will hold could mean a $10.40 increase per bill that would give Sum- budget. off on third reading of the county’s $100,000 residential property assess- ter County $500,000 which That would leave homeowners with budget until the state can provide a ment value, according to Sumter is still well below the a $7.20 increase, according to Mc- concrete decision for the local govern- County Auditor Lauretha McCants. MIXON local government fund Cants. ment fund or the state approves its The millage increase is proposed to formula that appropri- Mixon said the remaining 0.8 mills offset projected reduced funding from ates 4.5 percent of the state’s general of the proposed increase will go to- SEE BILL, PAGE A7 VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B6 WEATHER, A12 INSIDE Lillie Witherspoon Darell Mallett PERFECT FOR IRIS FESTIVAL 2 SECTIONS, 24 PAGES the .com VOL. 121, NO. 187 Marilyn Scarborough Shonterrio Q. Belle Mostly sunny and warm Antonia S. Tucker Connie J. Stubbs today with almost no Classifieds B7 Science A6 Carolyn P. Grant Sonia T. Baines chance of rain; tonight, Comics A10 Television A9 Phillip T. Mallett Ruth T. Richburg clear and cool. Opinion A11 HIGH 87, LOW 62 A2 | FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2016 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] LOCAL BRIEFS A+ for attendance FROM STAFF REPORTS 19-year-old arrested for December shooting Sumter Police Department arrested a 19-year-old on Thursday for reportedly shoot- ing into an occu- pied residence in December 2015. According to Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, Nicholas K. Scud- SCUDDER der, of 3157 Dau- faskie Road, re- portedly fired a weapon into a residence in the 3000 block of Bruce Circle on or about Dec. 7, 2015, while two adults and two children were inside. The children were 2 and 14 years old, according to information from the sheriff’s office. Multiple bullet holes were found inside the residence, and several spent shell casings were recovered after the shoot- ing. Sumter police found a hand- gun in Scudder’s possession when he was arrested, and South Carolina Law Enforce- ment Division later matched PHOTO PROVIDED the shell casings found inside Oakland Primary School students from left Tatyana Plowden, Mason Tuggle, Elizabeth Cook, Andres Mussio, Ethan Johnstone, Fernando the Bruce Circle residence to Marshall and Madison Brett celebrate having perfect attendance for the entire year.