Trump Becomes 45Th President Signs His 1St Executive Order on ‘Obamacare’
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Sumter High presents ‘Spamalot’ A5 USA TODAY PERSONAL FINANCE Credit card trends and what they mean C1 SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2017 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 $1.50 Trump becomes 45th president Signs his 1st executive order on ‘Obamacare’ WASHINGTON (AP) — Pledging emphatical- ly to empower America’s “forgotten men and women,” Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday, tak- ing command of a riven nation facing an un- predictable era under his assertive but untest- ed leadership. Under cloudy, threatening skies at the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, Trump painted a bleak picture of the America he now leads, de- claring as he had throughout the election cam- paign that it is beset by crime, poverty and a lack of bold action. The billionaire business- man and reality television star — the first pres- ident who had never held political office or high military rank — promised to stir a “new national pride” and protect America from the “ravages” of countries he says have stolen U.S. jobs. “This American carnage stops right here,” Trump declared. In a warning to the world, he said, “From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this moment on, it’s going to be America first.” Eager to demonstrate his readiness to take actions, Trump went directly to the Oval Office Friday night, before the inaugural balls, and signed his first executive order as president — on “Obamacare.” The order notes that Trump intends to seek THE ASSOCIATED PRESS President Donald Trump waves to the crowd as he walks with first lady Melania Trump during the inauguration parade Fri- SEE TRUMP, PAGE A11 day on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. Rally held for more School board gets update education funding Stipend recommendation and consultant reports BY BRUCE MILLS will propose an alternative recommendation BY ADRIENNE SARVIS among other things, in order [email protected] to the board on stipends on Monday. Hilton [email protected] to reduce spending after the said at the time he was not at liberty to iden- announcement of the dis- The Sumter School District Board of tify that recommendation. A small crowd of concerned trict’s $6.8 million debt crisis Trustees will receive an update from its out- The board’s finance committee includes educators, parents and stu- for fiscal year 2016-17. side financial consultant and a committee board members Hilton, McGhaney and Lu- dents gathered at Sumter Danielle Alexander, an Eng- recommendation on previously approved cille McQuilla and private business leaders County Courthouse at noon lish teacher at Lakewood High stipend cuts Monday at its regularly sched- in the community, including Greg Thomp- on Saturday for a rally to sup- School who helped organize uled monthly work session. son, Ben Griffith, Bobby An- port better state funding for the event, said the purpose of On Jan. 9, the board unanimously selected derson and William Byrd. Sumter School District stu- the rally was to raise aware- Scott Allan, of School Support, Inc., to work Employee stipends range dents. ness about the lack of state as the district’s finance consultant and from $450 to $6,700, based on The rally was organized funding for local students. guide it through its current debt crisis. experience and other factors, after the school district board Three days later, on Jan. 12, the board ap- according to district Public In- of trustees made the decision proved by a 5-2 vote Superintendent Frank formation and Partnerships to cut jobs and end stipends, SEE RALLY, PAGE A13 Baker’s emergency financial plan to cut 47 ALLAN Coordinator Shelly Galloway. district jobs and stop payments on all sti- The average stipend supple- pends for the remainder of the fiscal year, ment in the district for an as- through June 30, among other cash-preser- sistant coach of a major high vation efforts. school sport — such as foot- Before the board voted on the $6.8 million ball, basketball or baseball — Item photographer dies in budget cuts, Allan had reviewed every is in the range of $3,000 to line item of Baker’s financial plan and was $5,000, according to coaches in agreement with the cost-saving measures, who spoke to The Sumter Item. FROM STAFF REPORTS said of Gedamke: according to board Chairman the Rev. Daryl HILTON Generally, district employees “The Item family McGhaney. The board took Allan’s recom- who receive stipends are paid Keith Gedamke, longtime is deeply sad- mendations into consideration before vot- those supplements during a 12-month calen- award-winning photographer dened by the ing, McGhaney said at the time. dar year. Since stipends were stopped earli- of The Sumter Item, died Sat- death of Keith. He Since then, many district employees who er this month, employees received a 50 per- urday afternoon after a battle had many friends receive stipend supplements — in particular cent payment on these supplements for this with lung cancer. GEDAMKE in the Sumter athletic coaches — have expressed frustra- school year. The stopped payment on sti- Family and close friends community who tion with the board’s decisions, according to pends represented $867,000 in cash preserva- were present when he died at knew him and ad- some coaches who spoke to The Sumter Item tion for the district. The $6.8 million in total Palmetto Health Tuomey Hos- mired his work. Not only was on condition of anonymity. After a board fi- cuts were made to save cash so other bills pital. he a superb photojournalist but nance committee meeting Thursday — held could be paid and the district could end this Hubert Osteen, editor-in- an even better person.” mostly behind closed doors in executive ses- chief of The Sumter Item, in More information will be sion — committee chairman and board making the announcement, forthcoming when available. member Johnny Hilton said the committee SEE STIPEND, PAGE A13 VISIT US ONLINE AT CONTACT US DEATHS, A13 WEATHER, A14 INSIDE Information: 774-1200 Juanita McLeod Barbara Keels CLOUDY WITH RAIN 4 SECTIONS, 32 PAGES the .com Advertising: 774-1246 Carrie Scott Bernie Shuler VOL. 122, NO. 71 Classifieds: 774-1234 Cloudy with a thunderstorm. Rosa Sanders Travis Barger Chance of rain 65 percent. Classifieds C8 Delivery: 774-1258 Helen Chris Perroy Ruth Anderson News and Sports: 774-1226 Tonight, heavy rain and a Comics D1 Anthony S. Baker Claire M. Petit thunderstorm early. Johnny D. Williams Opinion A12 HIGH 75, LOW 52 Sports B1 It’sIt’s 2016!2017! Bank locallocal.. WeWe’ll’ll givegive youyou ssomethingomething t too wh whistleistle ab aboutout.. bankofclarendon.com A2 | SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2017 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] LOCAL & STATE BRIEFS Sumter leads state in home sales growth FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS BY RICK CARPENTER 14.8 percent increase in the [email protected] number of homes, condos Planning commission to and villas sold in the Sum- meet Wednesday Year-end statewide statis- ter/Clarendon counties mar- tics compiled by the South ket while the stats show a Sumter City-County Plan- Carolina Realtors reveal a statewide average increase in ning Commission will meet at 3 tighter inventory, fewer days the number of sales at 7.8 p.m. Wednesday in Sumter City on the market, higher sales percent. The Sumter/Claren- Council Chambers, Sumter prices and an increase in the don market showed the big- Opera House, 21 N. Main St., to number of homes, condos gest percentage gain in the consider a request to amend and villas sold in 2016 com- state from 1,296 sold in 2015 the Sumter West Planned De- pared to 2015. to 1,488 in 2016. Meanwhile, velopment to make a 200-foot And the Realtors’ break- the number of days on the mono-pole communications down for the Sumter/Clar- market before selling a home tower a permitted used in Pa- endon counties market looks dropped by three days from triot Park Sports Complex. even better with the highest 173 days a year ago and the The commission will also percentage increase in the median price increased from consider approval of its 2017 number of homes sold in the $127,250 to $135,000. calendar. state, a higher median sales The statewide number of price and a slight drop in the homes for sale dropped Student arrested after number of days a property “drastically” in the year-to- paper airplane incident lists before selling. year comparison, South Car- While some analysts may olina Realtors said in a pre- ANDREWS — A South Car- say that indicates a seller’s pared statement. Statewide, olina high school student is market, local Berkshire Ha- the inventory of homes for facing a possible 30-day jail thaway HomeServices John sale decreased by 7.9 percent sentence for allegedly throw- M. Brabham Real Estate and the months supply of in- ing a paper airplane that Broker and Vice President RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM ventory of homes for sale fell struck a teacher in the eye. Frank Edwards said he sees The Sumter/Clarendon market had the highest percentage in- 11.1 percent to 4.8 months. The South Strand News re- current conditions as a buy- crease in the number of homes sold in the state in 2016. The South Carolina Real- ports that Georgetown County er’s market. tors issues monthly, quarter- sheriff’s deputies on Jan. 10 Edwards said Berkshire sell off that began about property and the location ly and annual statistics re- arrested a 17-year-old student Hathaway sales for homes in September 2008.