RELAY FOR LIFE 1B 2A OPINION 4A OBITUARIES 7A SPORTS 2B PUZZLES 3B BOOKINGS 5B CLASSIFIEDS QUOTE ‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.’ EDMUND BURKE Vol. 143, No. 19 NTWO SECTIONS e• 14 PAGwES s&PreESTAs BLISHsED 1874 75¢ MAY 10, 2017 Darlington, S.C. WWW.NEWSANDPRESS.NET County budget clears public hearings eral fund. The new fund would By Samantha Lyles Staff Writer include EMS, 911 Central [email protected] Communications, and Darlington County Council Emergency Preparedness. held a public hearing and sec - Separating out the ond reading for the 2017/18 Emergency Services fund will fiscal year budget at their May allow the county to assess new 1 regular meeting. No citizen fees in order to meet the coun - raised any issues or concerns ty's funding needs. With the during the public hearing, and current proposed budget, Council voted unanimously for Stewart said the county would approval. either need to transfer just over This budget contains a new $1.4 million from the general Emergency Services Fee, con - fund to cover expenses, or tained in Ordinance 17-04, establish Emergency Services which would increase vehicle fee increases of $15 per vehicle fees from $30 to $45 and bump and $20 per residence, which property fees from $60 to $80. would yield the same amount. At Council's April 4 work ses - The 2017/18 budget needs sion, county administrator an additional revenue source to The Darlington High School Gospel Choir performed several songs during the National Day of Prayer in Darlington, May 4, 2017. Charles Stewart explained that cover future expenses, such as PHOTO BY MELISSA ROLLINS this fee increase would keep a mandatory two-percent state the county from again raiding retirement contribution the general fund to cover budg - increase ($265,000), three et shortfalls. new guards at the Detention Darlington celebrates National Day Stewart explained that since Center (bringing the county EMS Ambulance Service fees closer to PREA compliance at a annually yield five percent cost of $100,000), a new IT of Prayer with community service above the total prior fiscal position ($40,000), and a 2.5 year's budget, state law percent raise for all employees requires the county to establish ($323,000). By Melissa Rollins Editor a separate Emergency Services [email protected] fund, segregated from the gen - BUDGET ON 6A The faith community in Darlington came together Tuesday, May 4 at Darlington Presbyterian Church to com - memorate the National Day of Prayer. At least nine churches of various denomina - Council passes tions were represented. The event was part of 66th annual observation that takes place across the United States. stormwater Each of the pastors and elders that took part in the service prayed for a spe - cific issue or group of people. Below is an ordinance, bond abbreviated copy of the prayers. issue from time to time so long Prayer for President Donald By Melissa Rollins Trump, all national and military Editor as you comply with the terms of leaders, and all service men and [email protected] this ordinance,” Zeigler said. women: Rev. Christopher Lollis, In a contentious vote “This ordinance provides for Trinity United Methodist Church Tuesday, May 2, Darlington the creation of these funds that “Almighty and most merciful God, on City Council passed second will be used to pay bonds and this day we come together as the body of readings on the Master Storm allows, over time, for you to Christ to pray, setting aside our differ - Bond Ordinance and the Storm issue bonds that are secured by Pastor Brian Sherwood prays for city and county leaders during the National Day of Prayer. ences and seeking to be in one accord to Water Bond; council members those stormwater fees.” PHOTO BY MELISSA ROLLINS lift up our prayers to you... We are John Segars and John Milling Zeigler said that the ordi - reminded in 1 Timothy chapter 2 to pray free. Guard the brave men and women in seek you with all the decisions that he voted against both issues while nances dealt with a stormwater for everyone, for kings and all those in military service…Encourage them and makes. Lord, we lift up all the leaders of councilman Bryant Gardner project that council has been authority that we may live peaceful and protect that and may they know in their these states of the United States…that voted against the bond ordi - discussing for years. quiet lives in all godliness and holi - minds and hearts that you are ever with they too would be guided by your mighty nance but in favor of the bond. “What you will do in this ness…We prayer for our president Donald them. Oh God, we thank you for these power. Let them make no move without Bond attorney Ben Zeigler process is adopt, give second Trump that he may humble himself before people and their willingness to serve.” that move being the move that God has explained to council why they reading to, this general bond you and seek your guidance, seek your Prayer for Governor Henry already made and it will be known that were approving two ordinances ordinance and then supple - wisdom, seek your will. We know the McMaster and all state leaders: you still hold this world in the palm of having to do with stormwater. mental, and subsequent to office of the President of the United States Elder Wallace Eaddy, Ephesus your hand.” “The master ordinance is that, you will adopt what we is not an easy task, there are demands Seventh Day Adventist Church Prayer for Mayor Gloria Hines simply this sort of foundational call a series ordinance which is that we have no clue that the president “Father we come and lift up our gover - and all city and county leaders, law document that takes those the ordinance that provides for endures; there are decisions that he nor, Henry McMaster this afternoon. Oh, enforcement and firefighters in storm water fees and basically the specific borrowing pur - makes that have great implications. We God, we know that he carries a heavy bur - Darlington: Dr. Brian Sherwood, draws a circle around them and suant to the terms of the master pray that he doesn’t take this office light - den on his shoulder. We ask now that you First Baptist Church says these are reserved for debt ordinance,” Zeigler said. ly…We pray this day too for those who touch him, guide him in the way that you and you are going to use these would have him to go. Lord, that he would to pay for bonds that you might serve our nation so that we might remain PRAYER ON 3A BOND ON 3A DCFD welcomes Mayo High School senior receives full-ride to college away,” Cooper said. “My dad By Melissa Rollins Editor told me to go for it because [email protected] they have a good biology pro - Cato the arson dog For high school seniors gram and medical school. I about a year now, and they By Samantha Lyles with plans to attend college, was going to go to Duke but Staff Writer trained me for about a month ideas of where and when to Vanderbilt selected me so that [email protected] on how to handle her and how attend can sometimes be limit - is where I am going to go.” The Darlington County Fire to understand what she's ed based on their financial QuestBridge, an organiza - District is largely a volunteer telling me whenever she's resources. When Mayo High tion that helps students from organization, but the depart - working,” said Flowers, who School student Emily Cooper low-income backgrounds ment's newest member gets quickly bonded with Cato dur - heads to college all she’ll have make their college dreams paid in food and belly rubs. ing their training in New to focus on is her studies: a come true, made Cooper’s Cato, a two year old female Hampshire. full-ride scholarship will pay scholarship possible. yellow lab, has joined DCFD as “One of the first things they her way. “I found out about it from their new arson dog and will do is talk to you about your Cooper said that she always Brianna Johnson, a student in help the department sniff out family life and your home and had a love for math. When it the Hartsville IB program,” intentionally set fires. they try to match the dog to came time for high school, Cooper said. “I wanted to Funded by a grant from your personality,” said Mayo was an easy choice. spread the news at Mayo and I State Farm Insurance, the Flowers. “I was interested in the have already talked to the jun - Now, when she's not on school because it had a good ior class. For some reason, arson dog program pairs up Emily Cooper PHOTO BY MELISSA ROLLINS specially trained canines with duty, Cato lives with Flowers reputation,” Cooper said. Hartsville knew about it and fire departments around the and his family, and their Jack “Everyone talked highly of love my teachers Ms. Long, Dr. aneurysms, heart disease and other schools didn’t. There are country, giving them a distinct Russell terrier and Mayo. My favorite subjects are Lovelace and Ms. Taylor and things like that but you never plenty of students before me advantage when it comes to Dachshund. math and science so that also that is what made me fall in know how it happens; when who could have gotten this fire scene investigations.