April 18, 2014

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IN LOCAL NEWS: Rob Crosby on stage at Opera House

A3

Still searching Bishopville’s Gainey aims for 1st win of the year B1 SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894

FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

District proposes millage increase

75 CENTS

MARIO CARRBARUS SCOTT MURDER TRIAL

‘Epitome of evil’

Draft budget given to board of trustees BY RAYTEVIA EVANS revans@theitem.com (803) 774-1214 Sumter School District is proposing a 2-mill property tax increase for the 2014-15 school year, according to the draft budget recently presented to the board of trustees. The proposed increase is about 1.3 percent of the current local revenue of 151 mills. According to Steven Mann, chief financial officer for the school district, the increase will not have a huge impact on homeowners if approved by the board and city council. “We try to balance it out, and this won’t impact homeowners except on their vehicles,” Mann explained. “It will also affect businesses and those who have second homes and boats.” By law, the cap for an increase in mills is about five or six, and the local revenue of 151 mills in Sumter County is on the lower end compared to other counties, Mann said. If approved, the local revenue will have an increase of $360,000. During Monday’s meeting, the school district presented the board with a balanced budget for the 2014-15 school year with a proposed revenue budget and expenditure budget of $108,832,963. Mann said the main thing with the budget is that they’re funding all the state mandates, including retiree insurance increases and employer increases in health insurance and retirement. “We’re not offering new programs or anything next year, so we’re doing the bare minimum, except for those state

SEE MILLAGE, PAGE A8

MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

Gary Dargan, seen Thursday at the Sumter County Judicial Center, listens as he is found guilty of murder in the shooting death of Mario Carrbarus Scott.

Dargan gets life plus 5, Helton gets 35 years BY ROB COTTINGHAM rcottingham@theitem.com (803) 774-1225 Gary Dargan was sentenced Thursday to life in prison plus five years that will run concurrent as the jury found him guilty of murder in the 2012 shooting death of Mario Carrbarus Scott after four days of hearings at the Sumter County Judicial Center. Shonta Helton, who faced a charge of accessory to murder before the fact, was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Young handed down these sentences after a nearly two-hour-long deliberation by jurors, and he was especially fierce in his condemnation of Dargan. “I’m amazed how people act. I find that Mr. Dargan is an unrepentant murderer,” Young said. “He is the epitome of evil in our society. He not only did this act, but then he tried to subvert this court system by getting other people to lie for him. This court shall show no mercy on Mr. Dargan.” Young’s harrowing words were pro-

voked by Dargan’s final statement before the court, which was laced with malice and vulgar language. “Sorry for the pain all the families went through ... the victim’s family. Mrs. Scott, I prayed for you, honestly,” Dargan said. “As far as the prosecutors, the detectives, the judge and all the (expletives) who testify on me, all y’all can suck my (expletive).” Young acknowledged the unfortunate nature of Helton’s involvement in

SEE TRIAL, PAGE A8

Firefighters get new rescue tools BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com (803) 774-1272

BRISTOW MARCHANT / THE SUMTER ITEM

Firefighter Grant Hogue loads a new hydraulic rescue tool onto an engine at the Thomas Sumter station Wednesday. The Sumter Fire Department received eight separate sets of new rescue equipment this week, valued at a total of $182,000.

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If you’re pinned inside a wrecked car, the last thing you’re likely to notice is what kind of rescue tool a firefighter is using to cut you out. But the firefighter operating that tool likely will notice the difference between the older equipment Sumter Fire Department has been using and the new tools that arrived this week. Firefighters at four different stations got their first look at the rescue equipment when it was delivered to the Alice Drive fire station Wednesday and quickly assessed it as

more portable and efficient. “It’s so much easier to use,” said firefighter Grant Hogue of the light, three-in-one rescue tool loaded onto his engine. “You just push one button.” The department is receiving eight equipment sets from Hurst Rescue Tools — five “heavy” sets including separate cutters, spreaders and rams commonly used to remove victims trapped inside wreckage and three “lighter” sets that include all three features. The multi-use tool features spreading arms that include a serrated inner edge that doubles as a cutting feature. It operates off a rechargeable bat-

DEATHS, B6 Emma Ormond Debra James Andrew S. Jurusik Zelia Perry Warren Plowden Jr. Freddie Canty

James Sessions Herbert C. Mickens Terrie McMoore David A. Tinsley Sr. Rebecca Porcher Ellen M. Arl

tery pack, which eliminates the need to plug it into an outside power unit or attach a dangling hose. “You don’t have to hook it up,” said Engineer Daren Avins, “You just grab it and go.” The fire department purchased the items from Hurst (makers of the famous Jaws of Life line of equipment) through the contractor MES Carolinas of Charlotte for $182,000 to replace older equipment previously on the department’s rescue trucks. Fire Chief Karl Ford said firefighters compared several pieces of equipment before settling on the items.

SEE EQUIPMENT, PAGE A8

WEATHER, A10

INSIDE

CLOUDY AND COOL

3 SECTIONS, 22 PAGES VOL. 119, NO. 157

A little rain this afternoon; periods of rain and a thunderstorm tonight HIGH 60, LOW 48

Classifieds C1 Comics B8 Lotteries A10

Opinion A9 Television B7


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