2 OPINION 4 OBITUARIES 7 SPORTS 8 PUZZLES 10 BOOKINGS 11 CLASSIFIEDS MISS DARLINGTON AND MISS DARLINGTON TEEN CONTESTANTS ON A12 QUOTE ‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.’ EDMUND BURKE Vol. 145, No. 33 NewONE SECTION • 12 PAGES s&PressESTABLISHED 1874 AUGUST 14, 2019 75¢ Darlington, S.C. WWW.NEWSANDPRESS.NET Flooded neighborhoods ask for City Council’s help By Bobby Bryant However, I’ve (had) 2 feet of We’ve got crazy people trying to do that job?” she asked. Pruitt’s warning about possi- stormwater plan. “I know this Editor water at the end of my drive- to go 100 miles an hour and The flooding, fueled by ble major storms to come. “It is is out of order,” she said, but [email protected] way … I’ve got water lapping hydroplane. And this time … strong summer storms, has hurricane season, and the rain she told council she could at siding that was recently somebody tried to go around been bad enough lately that at we’ve experienced over the clear up some questions quick- “Darlington is drowning,” replaced because of this flood- the flooded street, and they’re least two Pee Dee television last three or four months is ly. one resident told City Council ing damage.” She lives in the going down the sidewalk.” stations have done stories fea- nothing like we’re fixing to The stormwater plan, last week in asking for help West Broad Street area. “ … It’s hurricane season; turing video of swamped experience. We’ve got to Lathan said, divided the city with continuing flooding “We’ve got that vac truck. we’re all just one flood away streets and stalled cars. The address this problem right into four quadrants so that problems. We paid a lot of tax money for from getting washed away.” coverage has made Darlington now.” officials could develop priori- She was one of two citizens it. I don’t know how often it’s Another resident who lives look bad on TV, she said, and Hines told City Manager ties for investing money and who addressed council during used, but it doesn’t get out in the West Broad Street area, “we don’t need that.” Howard Garland to check on resources. “What the city did its monthly meeting Aug. 6, often enough,” Pruitt said. Dianne Pruitt, told council: In addition, Curtis Boyd, a the vac truck’s availability. proceed to do, based on that and both asked the city to She said neighbors located “We … are experiencing some businessman challenging The two residents’ asser- plan, was hire engineers and make more use of its “vac a blocked, choked section of horrific problems because, Mayor Gloria Hines in this tions that their neighborhoods design stormwater projects in truck,” a specialized vehicle storm drains in her area – again, this area of town is the fall’s mayoral election, has had been left off the city’s southwest and southeast for cleaning out storm drains which she said is not in the worst-flooded area of town, made the street flooding a master plan for dealing with Darlington, which were the and sewers. city’s “master stormwater and it was completely left off campaign issue. He says the stormwater issues sparked a priority areas because every- “That truck should be out plan” for relief work. The the master plan. I have a hard flooding – a problem that goes testy exchange among some thing was draining from north there every day because blocked line could easily be time understanding how that back several decades -- is hold- council members and Jannie to south.” Darlington is drowning,” resi- cleared with the vac truck, she happened, when there was ing back economic develop- Lathan, a consultant involved Councilman Bryant dent Rose Pruitt told council. said – “It’s just something such a discussion about it to ment in Darlington, and says in developing the plan. Gardner asked Lathan: “You “I don’t think for an instant that’s been overlooked.” begin with.” “fear of flooding” should not Lathan, who was attending said the stormwater master that I’m the only area that “It’s not just my property,” “While Rose Pruitt and be an issue for residents or the council meeting, took the plan included the entire city?” floods in town,” she said. “I’m Pruitt said. “It’s all my neigh- some of her neighbors tracked businesses. podium – without council’s “Exactly,” Lathan said. aware that those big storms bors’ property. It’s escalating. down where the drain lines In her remarks to council, consent – to address some of have caused some problems. We’ve got cars stalling out. are, didn’t y’all pay engineers Dianne Pruitt echoed Rose the questions about the master CITY COUNCIL ON 3A This backpack is for you … and you … and you … By Bobby Bryant Editor [email protected] Tommy Douglas is a truck driver, but this was not his usual delivery. When he stopped in Society Hill a couple of weeks ago, he brought backpacks for stu- dents. Seventy-five backpacks, to be exact. Enough for about half the students at Rosenwald Elementary/Middle School. Douglas, 36, a Society Hill native who now lives in Columbia, had wanted to do something like this for his hometown for a while. “I’d been wanting to do (some- thing), but I couldn’t afford to do it,” he said. He tried to make this hap- pen last year, but the funds weren’t there. This year, they were, and so he began buying up backpacks – not all at once, but a few here, a few there. In lots of different colors. Once he’d accumulated 75 book bags, he dropped them off at Rosenwald, the school he had attended as a kid. Classes hadn’t resumed yet, but chil- dren and parents were there for fall registration. BACKPACKS ON 3A Putting out the backpacks donated by Tommy Douglas (at right in photo at right). PHOTOS COURTESY OF TOMMY DOUGLAS Thin candidate turnout Blessing boxes need your help By Samantha Lyles asking for your help to change public assistance or will not go Staff Writer that. through the invasive applica- for local political offices [email protected] “Our hope is that people tion process, they don't have a “Take what you need, bring will donate non-perishable safety net during lean times Town Council will be up for District 6. McGee won a special what you can, above all be food items, things that can when their hours are cut or By Samantha Lyles help families in need make it they miss work due to illness, Staff Writer grabs, but according to Lamar election in February to replace blessed.” These words are to their next payday. ... A lot of family matters, etc. Robinson [email protected] Town Hall, no candidates had retired Councilman William written on each of the 25 the families we serve are those says the blessing boxes are filed as of Monday morning. Shirley. “blessing boxes” posted As of press time – Monday, throughout the Pee Dee area that just fall through the intended to help these people Two incumbent candidates The term of Bernice Wilson, Aug. 12 – few candidates had by the nonprofit Family cracks, like working families when they need it most. have filed for re-election to representative for District 2, filed for political office in Mission Center, with the clear that live on a very limited “The idea behind it is that Darlington County's municipal Hartsville City Council. Mayor expires in November, but no intent of inspiring generosity income. Usually by the end of people can anonymously races, and some offices have Pro Tem Johnny Andrews has candidates have filed for that and helping those in need. the month, the first thing to bring items to put in the box, no candidates at all. declared for his District 4 seat, seat. However, many of these boxes run out is the food budget,” and people can come and take For the Nov. 5 Election Day and Bobby McGee has filed for go days at a time with no says Robinson. what they need,” she says. ballot, two seats on Lamar a full term representing donations inside, and FMC co- Since many working fami- TURNOUT ON 3A founder Tammy Robinson is lies either don't qualify for BLESSING BOXES ON 3A Seeking 2nd term as mayor, Hines elaborates on her goals From Staff Reports Hines filed to run for a sec- cient and effective government ond term on Aug. 1. After the “to improve all levels of serv- Darlington’s stormwater filing she issued a statement ice”; promote the city’s econo- and flooding issues “are being elaborating on the goals she my; develop “the public infra- addressed,” Mayor Gloria first outlined when she structure” to boost the commu- Hines said in a statement announced she would run nity’s appearance and develop- expanding on her goals if she is again for mayor March 12. ment; and improve community elected to a second term as “My goals for the next four involvement and trust. years will be to do everything mayor. Hines said she will focus on that God allows me to do to infrastructure, stormwater bring Darlington back to the issues, annexation, building ‘Pearl of the Pee Dee,’” Hines relationships with businesses, said. transparency and getting a She said she will promote homeless shelter for the city. residents’ health, safety and quality of life; promote effi- PHOTOS COURTESY OF FAMILY MISSION CENTER HINES ON 3A Word of the Week The Pee Dee’s Oldest Independently plaintive - expressive of suffering or woe Owned Newspaper Merriam-Webster.com AUGUST 14, 2019 | PAGE 2 THE NEWS AND PRESS, DARLINGTON, S.C.