IN RELIGION: Are ‘faith-based’ films a must see? A4 THE CLARENDON SUN Bringing a TV show to life Summerton’s Sanford and SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 A6 THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2016 75 CENTS Son offers unique finds Candidate filing period begins “Mostly they (candidates) file on the Sumter County Council Areas 1, 3, 5 last day,” Jefferson said Wednesday and 7 are also up for election. Primary elections set for June 14 morning. “But we did receive some County level offices up for election BY JIM HILLEY General Election, but most candidates calls yesterday wanting to know when are auditor, clerk of court, coroner, [email protected] wait to file their paperwork, said Sum- filing opens today.” sheriff and treasurer. Soil and Water ter County Voter Registration Director On ballots in the tri-county area, de- Conservation Districts are also on the Wednesday was the first day for can- Patricia Jefferson. pending on location, will be South ballot. didates seeking a political party’s Primary elections will be held June Carolina House districts 50, 51, 64, 67 nomination for an office in the Nov. 8 14, according to www.scvotes.org. and 70 and Senate districts 35 and 36. SEE FILING, PAGE A10 ‘It’s ... stood as a beacon of education’ Quinn Chapel School alumni share memories BY JIM HILLEY [email protected] A small, nondescript build- ing sits behind Quinn Chapel Church at the intersection of Queen Chapel and Brewing- ton roads. The windows are boarded up, and the wooden structure slowly turns to shades of gray in the South Carolina sun and rain. Inside, the two-room struc- ture is filled with the dust- covered debris of years as a Masonic meeting hall and church memorial chapel. A decrepit old piano sits in one corner. The old windows are stacked against a wall. Old tables and chairs are strewn about. A wasp’s nest hangs from what remains of the ceiling as a number of the insects fly around an open door. As brothers Eli and Victor Baker gaze around the room, a burst of memories must KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM flood through them of a time Victor C. Baker, left, and his brother, Eli W. Baker, talk about going to school at the Quinn Chapel School. and a place that seems long ago — almost in another Quinn Chapel School were four years and Willow Drive of the land. launched so many into the world. honored by the church’s con- Elementary School for 12 “It’s a building that has world. Something significant Three days earlier, the gregation and others who years. His long career in edu- stood as a beacon of educa- took place from the labor of Quinn Chapel Church was came to pay their respects to cation found it’s beginning in tion for at least 95 years,” he caring teachers.” filled with the voices of speak- the aging alumni from the the old building standing be- said Saturday to the gathering He said a reunion for a ers and the sound of gospel humble school. hind the church, at a time be- that included about a dozen of grade school is an uncommon music as a reunion of former Eli Baker, was a principal at fore desegregation when “sep- his former classmates. “It’s students at the all-black Lemira Elementary School for arate but equal,” was the law hallowed ground that SEE SCHOOL, PAGE A10 S.C. moves on Obama nominates Garland to military retiree high court, challenging GOP income tax cut WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- Federal appeals court dent Obama nominated appeals judge Merrick Garland COLUMBIA (AP) — South Carolina law- court judge Merrick Garland to shakes hands with makers have approved legislation to sharp- the Supreme Court on Wednesday, President Obama as he ly increase state income tax exemptions for thrusting a respected moderate ju- is introduced as military retirees. rist and former prosecutor into the Obama’s nominee for A Senate Finance subcommittee sent to center of an election-year clash for the Supreme Court dur- the full panel Tuesday legislation to in- the future of the nation’s highest ing an announcement crease a current tax exemption on retire- court. in the Rose Garden of ment income for veterans 64 and under Obama cast the 63-year-old Gar- the White House in from $3,000 to $15,000 every year. land as “a serious man and an ex- Washington on The panel also approved increasing tax emplary judge” deserving of a full Wednesday. exemptions for veterans over 65 from hearing and a Senate confirmation $15,000 to $30,000 annually. The exemptions vote, despite Republican vows to THE ASSOCIATED PRESS would take effect in the current tax year. deny him both. The panel amended legislation that had Standing in the White House called for a three-year, phased-in plan to ex- Rose Garden with Garland, Obama empt all income taxes for retirees who had argued the integrity of the court tics,” Obama said of the high should be filled by the next presi- for served 20 years. was at stake and appealed to the court. “It has to be. And it should dent after this year’s election. Sen- William Bethea, chairman of the state’s Senate to “play it straight” in fill- stay that way.” ate Majority Leader Mitch McCon- Military Base Task Force, said he was elat- ing the seat left vacant by the Republican leaders, however, nell spoke with Garland by phone ed. Bethea has worked for three years to in- death of Justice Antonin Scalia. held to their refusal to consider crease veterans’ tax exemptions. “It’s supposed to be above poli- any nominee, saying the seat SEE JUSTICE, PAGE A10 VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B5 WEATHER, A12 INSIDE Mary Agnes Thomas Joan Tipton A TAD BIT COOLER 2 SECTIONS, 20 PAGES the .com VOL. 121, NO. 129 Carrie Lee Grant Essie Kennedy Partly sunny today and warm; Tyron Harvin Richard G. Barkley turning clear tonight. Classifieds B8 Opinion A11 Brenda Harrison Joan Fay Matt Comics B7 Television A9 Daniel Kay Hill Sr. David J. Benenhaley. HIGH 80, LOW 51 Jailynn Andrews A2 | THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2016 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] South Carolina LADSON BOOTH ‘MR. LADD’ CHANDLER — 1928-2016 rolls out 2-1-1 Beloved puppeteer touched the service for disaster help lives of generations of children ay no attention to that FROM STAFF REPORTS man behind the curtain,” the Wizard of Oz said, at- There is good news for indi- “P tempting to hide his true viduals in need of long term identity from Dorothy Gale and her disaster recovery case man- friends. While Ladson Booth “Mr. Ladd” agement after the October Chandler made his puppets the stars of 2015 flood. South Carolina his shows, he was not hiding backstage 2-1-1 Information and Referral at their performances — rather, he often has begun Disaster Case Man- spoke directly to his young audiences, agement Intake. conversing with them about the impor- Victims of the flood still in tance of being a good friend, sharing, not need of assistance are able to interacting with strangers and respect. dial 2-1-1 to have their infor- And the children loved and respected mation entered into the disas- him. ter case management coordi- After one of his regular performanc- nated system. es for a second-grade class at Willow Hearts and Hands Disaster Drive Elementary School in the mid- Recovery, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit 1990s, several of the students expressed SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTOS organization, will be the main their love for the puppeteer. Among Above, Children watch intently as Ladson provider of Disaster Case their comments? “Mr. Ladd” Chandler puts on a show at Management across the state. “He loves us a lot. … He walks here Bright Beginnings Day Care in 1990. Mr. All residents in need of flood to read to us even if it’s raining. … He Ladd began his career as a professional pup- recovery will be assigned to adopted us,” said one. peteer in 1974. Right, children flock to Mr. Hearts and Hands for long- “He cares for us,” said another, and Ladd after one of his many puppet shows. term recovery assistance. “he taught us to share and to love other S.C. 2-1-1 is not the agency people.” the puppets to entertain us. He also providing disaster case man- That caring attitude and his gift for loved opera and would incorporate it agement services but is an av- reaching and entertaining children into his shows. … enue for entering the system. earned Mr. Ladd the designation as one “He always had a story to tell, with Not everyone who enters the of Sumter’s Heroes a decade ago; back or without his puppets. He was a very system will be eligible for di- in 1994, South Carolina PTA District 13, kind person, never married, and later saster case management ser- comprising Sumter, Lee and Clarendon in life lived with his mother and took vices. Flood victims still in counties, honored him with the Presi- care of her ’til she died.” need can dial 2-1-1, select dent’s Award for service to children. Another cousin, Richard Booth, de- their language and select op- Mr. Ladd, who died Sunday at 87, scribed him as “a sweet and gentle per- tion 7 when prompted to be was a Sumter native, a U.S. Navy vet- son,” who loved classical music and connected to an intake spe- eran, a graduate of the N.Y.