Budget proposal gives raise to S.C. teachers S.C. House debating biggest increase in 35 years cent pay raise. Budget writers said ers. Teachers with less than five FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2019 75 CENTS BY JEFFREY COLLINS The Associated Press Thursday that is the biggest pay in- years in the classroom would get SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 crease for teachers in South Caroli- at least a 6 percent raise, and COLUMBIA — Every teacher in na in 35 years and will boost the many of them could end up with a South Carolina would get a raise average salary of a teacher in the 10 percent raise, under the propos- 3 SECTIONS, 22 PAGES | VOL. 124, NO. 100 bigger than nearly all of them have state above the Southeastern aver- al in the state’s $9 billion spending ever seen under the state’s new age of $52,830. plan. budget being debated next week in “Our main focus was to get more The bigger raise for newer teach- School board votes the House. money for good teachers,” said ers is critical to keep them in the But newer teachers would get a Rep. Bill Whitmire, a Republican profession because South Carolina for Martin-Knox as bigger pay bump than those who from Walhalla who leads the sub- is losing teachers faster than the have been in the profession for a committee that looks at education state can graduate new ones, Whit- superintendent while. spending. mire said. The House budget sets aside $159 The budget for the next fiscal Sumter School District million to give all teachers a 4 per- year is even better for new teach- SEE TEACHERS, PAGE A8 Board of Trustees voted unanimously Thursday night for Penelope Martin-Knox to be Helping fathers be Dad the district’s superintendent. MARTIN- KNOX The board also received legal advice on its appeal of the state Department of Education's fiscal emergency declaration. Visit www.theitem.com to read the story now. Coverage will also be in Sunday’s paper. Churches will host Lenten A2 lunches CLARENDON SUN PHOTOS BY MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM Grice will Raynathan Pearson listens as Dr. Norris Williams of Sumter School District speaks Wednesday during Donuts for Dads and be Manning’s Dudes, a program presented through a partnership with the school district and Midlands Fatherhood Coalition. permanent Fatherhood Coalition offers various free services to area fathers police chief C1 BY BRUCE MILLS Fathers listen to a [email protected] speaker at Donuts for Dads and Dudes on It’s not easy to be a father, espe- Wednesday at Sumter cially if yours wasn’t in the picture School District’s DEATHS, B4 growing up, but a relatively new Crosswell Park Early Ruth Williams Ratchford regional agency wants to help. Childhood Center. Minnie Bell Burgess Ford Representatives from the Sumter Thomasina Spencer Scott site of Midlands Fatherhood Coali- Kimberly Elizabeth Canty tion spoke to about 15 fathers of in- Pamela Winstead Oliver fants and toddlers at Sumter Henry B. Hodge Jr. School District’s Crosswell Park Leroy Lamar Edwards Jr. Early Childhood Center, 475 Cross- Stanley Paul Brewer well Drive, on Wednesday. Male in attendance to know there are shaw counties and is part of a Keith C. Kirby leaders from the district also spoke free resources available to help larger statewide organization Luella McCray to encourage the dads. them step up and be leaders of that helps dads. Midlands Fa- Neather Oliver The morning event was called their families. therhood Coalition also partners Starlin Gaymon “Donuts for Dads and Dudes,” and The nonprofit provides servic- with other agencies — such as Terrence Whitfield, area site direc- es in the four-county region of tor of the coalition, wanted fathers Sumter, Clarendon, Lee and Ker- SEE DADS, PAGE A8 WEATHER, A10 RAIN AGAIN? Mostly cloudy today; a shower or two tonight HIGH 63, LOW 48 YWCA event to spotlight women in industry BY RACHEL PITTMAN executive director of the Michelle Logan-Owens, 1980 to 2009 that recog- INSIDE CONTACT US [email protected] YWCA in Sumter, a non- COO of Prisma Health nized women who made Clarendon Sun C1 Info: 774-1200 profit dedicated to em- Tuomey Hospital. significant contributions Classifieds B5 Advertising: 774-1237 The YWCA of the powering women and ad- The event will honor 16 to industry and commu- Comics C6 Classifieds: 774-1200 Upper Lowlands will cel- vocating against domestic local female honorees, in- nity leadership. This so- ebrate Women’s History violence. cluding state Rep. Wendy cial will serve as a re- Opinion A9 Delivery: 774-1258 Month and bring togeth- Held in honor of Theo- Brawley, D-Sumter, and union for former TWIN Sports B1 News and Sports: er professional women dis Parsons Palmer, the Lee County School Dis- honorees while also in- Television C4 774-1226 from local industries at YWCA of the Upper Low- trict Superintendent troducing a new tradition the first-ever High Heels lands founder and former Wanda Andrews, while of female recognition. in High Places afternoon executive director who also recognizing women “We’re calling all TWIN VISIT US ONLINE AT the .com tea on March 16. passed away in January, who made their mark in honorees because we “This will be a pro- the tea and jazz social’s Sumter, Clarendon and want to remember a lot gram that encourages mistress of ceremony Lee counties in the past. of prominent women in women and girls to know will be WISTV anchor Tribute to Women in leadership that the that we can excel at any Emily Scarlett, and the Industry was a YWCA level,” said Debra Wilson, keynote speaker will be program running from SEE TEA, PAGE A8 Manning teen wins spot in 2019 Disney Dreamers Academy she would be chosen to at- 99 other students ages 13-19 on March accident online and submitted a total Only 100 high-schoolers tend the all-expenses-paid 21-24 at Disney World, attending men- of six essays to be considered. The es- education and career toring and networking sessions, listen- says centered on her goals and pas- are chosen nationwide event later this month at ing to celebrity keynote speakers and sions — the 16-year-old is a varsity BY RACHEL PITTMAN Walt Disney World. visiting theme park attractions. The bowling and soccer player, the presi- [email protected] “When I found out I was event is a chance for high schoolers to dent of her school’s Red Cross Club, GOTTHEINER a winner, I was complete- receive “motivation, guidance and her junior class’ treasurer, an in- When Laurence Manning Academy ly shocked because so skills to help make [their] dreams volved member of Manning UMC’s junior Alyssa Gottheiner stumbled many people applied,” come true,” according to the Disney youth group and a National Honor upon the Disney Dreamers Academy Gottheiner said. Dreamers Academy website. application last year, she had no idea As a Dreamer, Gottheiner will join Gottheiner found the application by SEE GOTTHEINER, PAGE A8 A2 | FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2019 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] 2 of 4 dogs thrown over Sumter SPCA fence die Chihuahuas got out through formation officer for the sheriff’s of- covered their bodies, and we have the There is a minimal charge to turn fice. [surviving] male and female here. The an animal in, Cook said, but most gap, struck and killed by cars; Two of the dogs have since died, male, it took us over an hour to catch shelters do ask for a small fee. Sarvis said. him because he was so timid.” “When they come in, they get vacci- suspects could face charges Upon apprehension, the suspects She said the female is “just a sweet- nated, they get de-wormed, they get BY KAYLA ROBINS could face at least four counts of ill heart.” checked for heart worms, and they get [email protected] treatment of animals. The two remaining dogs received spayed and neutered and placed for Cindy Cook, executive director of only a few scrapes but are OK, she adoption,” Cook said. Two dogs have died after they and the Sumter SPCA, said the dogs, all said. Pets have been dropped off inside two others were reportedly thrown between 2-5 years old, were thrown The SPCA, the county’s only no-kill the gate “on occasion,” she said, but over a fence at the Sumter SPCA “like over the fence like basketballs on the animal shelter, is open from 11 a.m. to this is the first time she can remember a basketball,” officials said. graphic surveillance video. Two of the 4 p.m. daily except Wednesday and this many at once being left anony- According to Sumter County Sher- Chihuahuas, a small breed, got out Sunday to receive animals. Cook said mously, and it is certainly the most iff’s Office investigators, surveillance through a gap in the gate and were fa- the process of leaving pets or other graphic with the worst outcome. footage recorded two suspects throw- tally struck by cars “within a couple animals with the shelter is easy — “And all they had to do was just ing four Chihuahuas over a fence onto minutes.” simply go to the back door and give wait and come during our open hours, the animal shelter’s South Guignard “They were just trying to run back employees as much information as and the two wouldn’t have lost their Drive property about 7:30 p.m. on Sat- down the road to the people who they can on the animal “so we can try lives,” Cook said.