INSIDE: How will the revised GOP Senate health care bill affect you? C1 SPECIAL SECTION 2017 SAVVY D1-D6 SENIORS FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2017 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 75 cents No need to be alarmed, just yet Administrator thinks FTC property-tax exemption settlement still has questions BY BRUCE MILLS olina Department of Revenue. Claren- settlement calls for af- in unincorporated areas were consid- [email protected] don and Sumter counties have decided fected counties to repay ered exempt. However, a provision in to formally contest the settlement by FTC the taxes it paid on the settlement allows the Department Before local districts panic about working with the same law firm. It’s the exempt property of Revenue to decide internally which how much they are going to have to not clear whether other counties will from 2010 to 2015. Epper- FTC properties can be taxed and pay back Farmers Telephone Coopera- join the challenge. son said a worst-case sce- which are exempt. According to Ep- tive after just discovering recently it The settlement last January states EPPERSON nario for Clarendon is person, the Department of Revenue is had reached a property-tax exemption that the Department of Revenue did about $1.1 million in re- in the process of deciding that now. settlement with the state, a local coun- not consider a decades-old state law payment. Sumter County Epperson said confusion exists on ty administrator says a final decision that exempts telephone companies Administrator Gary Mixon said a what’s considered “rural telephone is likely years away. providing rural telephone services to rough estimate for Sumter County is service.” He said the state law enacted Clarendon County Administrator unincorporated areas when assessing $1 million. Counties in FTC’s service likely in the 1950s did not provide a David Epperson spoke Thursday on the cooperative’s property for tax pur- area include Sumter, Clarendon, Lee, definition of that particular service. the legal ramifications involved in af- poses. FTC claims that it paid too Williamsburg and Florence. fected counties’ contesting the settle- much in property taxes because the Epperson said Thursday that in the ment between FTC and the South Car- exemption was not acknowledged. The January settlement all FTC properties SEE ALARMED, PAGE A4 House deal Puppet master would boost college aid for veterans BY HOPE YEN Associated Press WASHINGTON — House Re- publicans and Democrats un- veiled legislation Thursday that would provide the biggest expan- sion of college aid for military veterans in a decade, removing a 15-year time limit to tap into benefits and increasing money for thousands in the National Guard and Reserve. The bipartisan agreement is a sweeping effort to fill coverage gaps in the post-9/11 GI Bill amid a rapidly changing job market. Building on major legis- lation passed in 2008 that guar- anteed a full-ride scholarship to any in-state public university — or a similar cash amount for pri- vate college students — the bill gives veterans added flexibility to enroll in college later in life. Veterans would get additional payments if they complete sci- ence, technology and engineer- ing courses. For a student attending a pri- vate university, the additional benefits to members of the Guard and Reserve could mean $2,300 a year more in tuition than they are receiving now, plus a bigger housing allowance. RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM The American Legion, the na- Children react to Gus, a dog puppet, during a presentation Wednesday morning at the Sumter County Main Library. The performance tion’s largest veterans’ group, by Bright Star Theatre was titled “Gus Goes Green.” said the plan would mean a “new era” for those who served in uniform. “Years from now, veterans who were unable to attend insti- Mission group heading to Guatemala tutions of higher learning dur- ing their military service or im- mediately afterward will be able BY CAITLAN WALZER hand signals, body language and with to earn degrees and begin re- [email protected] some effort, they were able to con- warding careers that can lead quer their fears and make an impact our economy,” said Charles E. For the second summer in a row, in the lives of those in the village. Schmidt, national commander of Sumter First Church of God mission During their visit this year, the vol- the American Legion. The group group will be flying to Guatemala for unteers will be staying at a host mis- drafted the original GI Bill of a mission trip. sion house right outside of Guatema- Rights in 1944 that created the Thirteen high school students and la City, and each morning, according comprehensive education benefit 10 adults, mostly parents of the stu- to Beachman, the group will travel for World War II and future vet- dents, will be embarking on the mis- for an hour to their destination by erans. sion July 23 through July 30 to work bus. The bill’s lead sponsor is Rep. in a small village in the city of Cuila- At the village, the group will be Phil Roe, R-Tenn., chairman of pa. hosting a beauty camp for the villag- the House Veterans’ Affairs Youth pastor and organizer for the ers. Committee. He said he would trip Phillip Beachman explained that Beachman said this beauty camp schedule a committee vote next last year the language barrier was a will have two hairdressers, Becky week. The No. 2 House leader, fear for many who were going on the Lewis and Kim Whitfield from Day- Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., trip. elynn Hair Gallery, teaching mem- said the House would act quickly However, he said throughout the bers of the community how to do to help veterans. PHOTO PROVIDED week, the missionaries slowly began hair. Becky Lewis cuts hair and Zan Beasley paints to realize that they did not need to nails for some of the local village girls during know Spanish to communicate with SEE VETERANS, PAGE A4 last year’s mission trip to Guatemala. the villagers. In fact, he said through SEE MISSION, PAGE A4 VISIT US ONLINE AT CONTACT US DEATHS, B6 WEATHER, A12 INSIDE Information: 774-1200 Daisy F. Taylor Lillie Mae M. Gamble VERY WARM 4 SECTIONS, 32 PAGES the .com Advertising: 774-1246 Earl E. Hammett John Holbrook VOL. 122, NO. 194 Classifieds: 774-1200 Mostly sunny and hot. Debra R. Charpentier Abraham Presley Tonight, mostly clear Classifieds B7-B8 Delivery: 774-1258 Irving Schulman Fannie H. Murray and humid. Comics C6 News and Sports: 774-1226 Carlos T. Harvin Dorothy Mae Graham HIGH 96, LOW 75 Opinion A11 Television C4-C5 A2 | FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2017 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] SHS grads awarded Art in the Park calls for artists, crafters BY IVY MOORE Attendees at the Barry Leach [email protected] 2016 Art in the Park check out The Heart of Sumter Neighbor- jewelry and scholarships hood Association is planning its metal sculpture 11th annual Art in the Park for at Shudwe Farm’s FROM STAFF REPORTS Saturday, Sept. 23, in Memorial booth in Memori- Park, and organizers are seeking al Park. More Ryan Missildine and Sara Grace artists and crafters to display their than 40 artists, Young of Sumter High School have work. The 2016 one-day event at- crafters and been named recipients of the Barry tracted more than 40 artists, and other vendors Leach Memorial Scholarship for the HSNA is hoping to add even participated in 2017. more this fall. the one-day out- Missildine plans to attend the Uni- Cleo Klopfleisch, public relations door event. versity of South Carolina Aiken, and coordinator, said HSNA is also seek- Young plans to attend ing nonprofits interested in “ ... SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO Converse College. (sharing) their mission as part of Sixteen years ago, the the Community Corner and selling faculty and staff at Mill- food items to help raise funds.” wood Elementary School Among the artworks expected established the Barry are paintings, drawings, pottery, Leach Memorial Schol- woodworking, fabric work, jewelry, Detailed guidelines can be found at stone Manor, 204 Broad St. MISSILDINE arship Fund. Leach metalwork and more. The official the website http://bit.ly/2vghXyv Artists and vendors keep their taught at Millwood application form states that all or HSNAsumtersc.com, where an profits, but proceeds from fees will School for 24 years, work must be original and 100 per- application is also available. In ad- benefit Sumter and Shaw Air Force sharing his love for sci- cent handmade. A $50 fee must ac- dition, applications are available at Base nonprofit organizations. Appli- ence with his students. company the application, but will Affiche Advertising and Photogra- cations are due by Aug. 15. He passed away in Sep- be returned if work is deemed un- phy Services, 202 N. Salem Ave.; la For more information, call Klop- tember of 2000 after a acceptable by the judging panel. bella vita, 7 S. Main St.; and Broad- fleisch at (803) 406-2177. vigilant fight against cancer. YOUNG The scholarship fund is used to provide finan- cial assistance to Sumter School Dis- Top of the Town trict seniors who are former Mill- wood students. Since its formation, $31,700 has been awarded in scholar- Workers ap- ships. Recently, $2,000 was awarded peared to be re- to two students bringing the scholar- moving debris ship total to $33,700. from atop the Millwood Elementary School plans Sumter City- to make the scholarship opportunity County Office available for years to come. In a Building, AKA statement released announcing the “the Sumter Sky- recipients, school officials said they <UNICODE-WIN> scraper,” on know of no better way to honor <vsn:5> Wednesday.