SCARE 1B 2A OPINION 4A OBITUARIES 8A SPORTS 2B PUZZLES 5B BOOKINGS 7B CLASSIFIEDS QUOTE ‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.’ EDMUND BURKE Vol. 142, No. 43 NTWO SECTIONS e• 18 PAGwES s&PreESTAs BLISHsED 1874 75¢ NOVEMBER 2, 2016 Darlington, S.C. WWW.NEWSANDPRESS.NET Statement on the 2016 County does not want to DCSD Sales Tax Referendum overburden the taxpayer cannot stand unchallenged. than 10 years for the School Originally published on print - bond referendum on the measure. By Marion C. Stewart, III ed in the Wednesday, September November ballot for the voters In 2003, voters approved a Interim Darlington County The County and School District’s bond on the penny 28, 2016 issue of the News and of our county to decide. Since $48 million sales tax bond ref - Administrator District are two autonomous to end. The County has tried Press in response to the state - then, there has been a great erendum to build three new The voters of Darlington governing bodies able to to coordinate with the ments made during the County deal of misinformation circu - schools (Darlington Middle, County are being asked to impose separate millage District on the timing of the Council meeting on September lating. As the public informa - Hartsville Middle, and the extend the penny sale tax to levies on property owners. renewal of the penny tax to 19, 2016 story that was printed tion officer for the Darlington Darlington County Institute of build three new elementary Each provides different serv - little avail. in the News and Press on County School District, I can - Technology) and renovate sev - schools. While this is a worth - ices, but they both have the The County would like to September 28: “County council not endorse or oppose the eral others. The bond was to be while goal, we must refute same goal, to improve our use the funds to build a new speaks on penny tax issue” school district’s referendum repaid through a one-cent several points brought up by County for all citizens. courthouse that is sorely need - question. I can, however, share sales tax that would expire in the School District in its state - The County is not interest - ed to provide proper, safe, and The Darlington County the events leading up to the 2030. ment regarding this bond and ed in increasing the tax bur - secure government services. Board of Education voted this Board of Education’s decision, tax issue. The timing and mis - den on its citizens, so the summer to place a sales tax as well as the facts of the ballot information being distributed County has waited for more DCSD ON 3A COUNTY ON 3A Sen. Gerald Malloy speaks out on DCSD Bond Referendum By Jana E. Pye Editor [email protected] As the newspaper of record for Darlington County, we have been tasked with sharing oppos - ing views regarding the penny tax bond referendum. Our local state senator was a supporter of the original DCSD bond in 2003, and is currently on the Darlington County Courthouse Committee. We asked him to weigh in on the upcoming bond referendum, and how he would be voting: Senator Gerald Malloy S.C. District 29 Chesterfield, “There is not a larger propo - Darlington, Lee & Marlboro nent for public education that I Counties. know of in the South Carolina Senate. I am a citizen in this ly involved and have leant my county. I am married and have voice to this issue as it relates to four children that have been the taxation in Darlington educated in the public school County for a period of time. system in Darlington County But my responsibility to our with one still attending high county is well documented over school. My father-in-law was a the last several years when I principal, and my mother-in- expressed concern about com - law was a guidance counselor. I peting taxing authorities. This think a good public school edu - is exhibit 1 as to why it is not cation is sacrosanct. I have had working because we are in the the honor and privilege of blame game; there is a blame S.C. Sweet Potato Festival 2016 being in the South Carolina game going on with ‘they didn’t Senate now for the last 14 meet with us, so we ended up Members of the Darlington Pilot Club share some of the many pies as part of their annual fundraising efforts. years, and have served on sev - going first.’ And other state - PHOTO BY JANA E. PYE SEE MORE PHOTOS ON PAGES 4B AND 5B. eral different committees and ments, and that is not fair to have served, and continue to our citizens. So therefore, ‘we serve on the Education are going to go forward with Committee in the Senate. I, the tax that is not fully planned with some hesitation, have out’ and so that is the problem been involved in situations like in this instance with the com - Dorothy “Dot” Johnson retires from McLeod this in a public way, and I am peting tax authorities. generally quiet on some local issues, but I have been integral - Regional Medical Center MALLOY ON 7A November 8 Ballot U.S. Senate: By Samantha Lyles Staff Writer Thomas Dixon [email protected] (Democratic, Working Darlington County voters Families, Green) will face a variety of choices Bill Bledsoe when they head to the polls (Constitution, Libertarian) November 8, with party affili - Tim Scott (Republican) ations ranging from Rebel Michael Democrats and Republicans Scarborough (American) to Libertarians and Working U.S. House of Families. To help prepare and Representatives finalize your choices, here are District 7: all the races and issues Mal Hyman (Democratic, included on this year's ballot. Working Families, Green) Please note that the ballot Tom Rice (Republican) includes some fusion candi - dates who received the nomi - State Senate District nation of more than one polit - 29: ical party. Gerald Malloy Straight Party Option: (Democratic) Allows a voter to tick one box and cast their ballot for every State Senate District candidate nominated by their 36: preferred political party. Kevin L. Johnson (Democratic) President and Vice Leon Winn (Republican) President: Hillary Rodham Clinton and State House of Timothy Michael Kaine Representatives (Democratic) District 62: Darrell Castle and Scott Dot Johnson, left, is pictured with Carole Davis. Carole and Dot began the patient representative program at McLeod in the early 1980’s. Robert Williams Bradley (Constitution) (Democratic) PHOTO COURTESY OF MCLEOD REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER Evan McMullin and Nathan Dorothy “Dot” Johnson was the core values and demon - mentored and worked with. Johnson (Independence) State House of honored recently by a retire - strated professionalism in Her everyday presence will be Jill Stein and Ajamu Baraka Representatives ment reception at McLeod every role she held,” said Kim missed, a void not likely to be (Green) District 54: Regional Medical Center on Ficco, Associate Vice President filled by another and she will Donald J. Trump and Patricia “Pat” Moore October 26 to celebrate her 45 of Operations at McLeod never be forgotten.” Michael R. Pence (Republican) Henegan (Democratic) years of service as a registered Regional Medical Center. “Her The News and Press joins Peter Skewes and Michael J.D. Chaplin nurse. commitment and dedication to McLeod in recognizing Lacy (American) (Republican) “In her 45 years with the patients of McLeod Health Darlington resident Dot Gary Johnson and Bill Weld McLeod Health, Ms. Dot lived will live on through those she Johnson on her retirement! (Libertarian) BALLOT ON 5A Word of the Week The Pee Dee’s Oldest imbue: to permeate or influence as if by dyeing Independently Merriam-Webster.com Owned Newspaper NOVEMBER 2, 2016 | PAGE 2A THE NEWS AND PRESS, DARLINGTON, S.C. op iWWW.nNEWSANDPRESionS.NET OP-ED OP-ED More Breaking News! Darlington County Council Chairman’s Perspective By Bill Shepard Vote No on Penny Tax for Schools the story “is that while the SC above that of today’s sales tax. 2017 State legislative session. Breaking News! Alert! Alert! The words flash across my televi - By Bobby Hudson sion screen all too frequently lately. I slide to the edge of my Chairman, Darlington County Council State Legislature passed “Act An important point here, There was no guarantee such chair and turn up the volume on my TV. 388”, they also provide State the County’s term would have law changes could even be Recently the Darlington funding to make up for the lost a max of 8 years and the passed. The option could not Another bomb has exploded and the first question that comes County School District public to mind is, “Who is responsible?” Is it foreign terrorists, or home property tax funds and have School District’s term would even be considered as a local information officer wrote an continued to provide those have a max of 15 years. Simply County referendum until after grown? The jury is still out, too early to know. article stating “there has been A school is on lock down, there has been a shooting inside, funds to the school districts put, should the County’s term State law changes could be a great deal of misinformation across the state. go first and then the School made in 2017. The School too early to know how many children have been shot, the shooter circulating” in respect to the is still inside! More news later. Now I must speak to the District’s term, the School District was aware of this, so penny sale tax bond referen - article’s suggestion that District would have the fund - maybe that’s why the District There has been another killing of an unarmed man, and the dum on the November ballot.