WALKING FREE: Sumter man found not guilty of kidnapping. A2
BIRNIE HOPE HOOPS St. Francis Xavier tangles with Clarendon Hall
B1 VOL. 119, NO. 77 WWW.THEITEM.COM
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2014 | SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA
FOUNDED OCTOBER 15, 1894
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Baker will earn $182K annually BY RAYTEVIA EVANS revans@theitem.com
BAKER
Dr. Frank Baker will receive at least $182,070 a year for the next three school years, as details of the Sumter School District superintendent’s finalized contract were released on Tuesday.
According to the contract, Baker has agreed to serve until June 30, 2016, and will be paid at least nearly $10,000 more than his predecessor, former superintendent Randolph Bynum. The contract also states the board and Baker “may mutually agree to adjust the salary of the su-
perintendent during the term of this contract, based on satisfactory performance, but in no event shall the superintendent be paid less than $182,070.” Baker also has the option of contributing any part of his salary to an annuity plan of his choice, and the contract has other added benefits,
such as a monthly automobile allowance of no less than $1,000. The contract was discussed in executive session during the board’s meeting on Monday, according to the Rev. Daryl McGhaney, who made the motion to SEE CONTRACT, PAGE A8
Pinewood election set
PHOTO PROVIDED
Erika Harlan walks away with some gifts at the October Operation Military Shower, founded to help moms whose spouses were deployed or on temporary duty assignment, but it has grown to include those with financial concerns.
Showers help to support local military moms BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com
PHOTOS BY MATT WALSH / THE ITEM
Both seen Tuesday at Pinewood’s town council meeting, Pinewood Mayor Pro Tem Sarah Mathis, left, will face off against Manley Dubose in Pinewood’s special election in March for the seat vacated by former Mayor Al Pridgen. Filing closed Monday.
2 candidates file for mayoral seat BY TYLER SIMPSON tyler@theitem.com Two candidates have offered up their names to fill Pinewood’s empty mayoral seat during the special election in March. With filing closing on Monday, Manley C. Dubose, a resident of Pinewood, is set to appear on the ballot against Mayor Pro Tem Sarah Mathis, who has been serving as interim mayor since former Mayor Al Pridgen left Pinewood in October to seek medical attention in North Carolina. Pridgen’s resig-
nation was made official after council received an updated resignation letter with an effective date of Dec. 16. Dubose said he was running because of dissatisfaction with how the current council is handling issues in Pinewood. “I just want to make sure that things are done the way that they are supposed to be done,” Dubose said. “I just need to see what needs fixing and go from there.” In the past, Dubose has expressed his discomfort with the way council has
been running Pinewood, most recently when council didn’t immediately inform its citizens about receiving a resignation letter from Pridgen in early December 2013. “I don’t think it was right, and it wasn’t done the way it was supposed to be done,” Dubose said. “I just want to get things back like they ought to be.” Dubose has been a resident of Pinewood for the majority of his life, having never lived any farther than four miles from the town all his
BY TYLER SIMPSON tyler@theitem.com The town of Pinewood is no longer able to offer its employees health insurance benefits after falling more than $13,000 behind in insurance payments to the state agency providing coverage. In a letter sent to the town last week, the S.C. Public Employee Benefit Authority said it was suspending service for any town employees because of the delinquent payments. Mayor Pro Tempore Sarah Mathis, however, stated during a Pinewood council meeting Tuesday that the town has no public employees, so no one in the town is eligible to receive benefits.
SEE ELECTION, PAGE A8
SEE INSURANCE, PAGE A8
DEATHS
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Town without insurance for public workers
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Having a baby is an expensive proposition. Now imagine having twins. Take it a step further. Imagine having twins while your spouse is halfway around the world and knowing that, come April, you or he may no longer be employed. “I have 22 moms and two are expecting twins,” said Melissa Revel, founder of OperYOU CAN ation Military Shower. HELP OUT “I’ve had some who are dual military, and Go online some where Mom is for more active duty. It’s eye information or opening to see so many to donate to the different situations. cause. “The troop drawdown, the way it is afwww.operationfecting Shaw (Air Force militaryshower. Base) and how it afcom fects my program, is I’ve changed the mission to not just deployment. Those are becoming fewer and fewer. It’s about a financial need, too.” The wife of Third Army Maj. Richard Revel and mother of three ranging in ages from 9 to 6 months, she aims to ease some of the fears of the moms-tobe with gifts and a support network. But she needs the community’s help. Revel is putting out a call for donations and more volunteers. “We’re still looking for those big
Barbara Jean C. Nash Tom McElveen Norma Jean Hudson Julius Thomas Rita Lina C. LeTempt Valerie J. Fields Dr. Patrick M. Mardesich
Jean T. Holladay Jacqueline M. Chambers Samuel S. Haley James Albert Kathryn D. Richardson Ada T. Lovely B5, B6
SEE MOMS TO BE, PAGE A6
OUTSIDE SOME SUN
INSIDE 3 SECTIONS, 28 PAGES
Partly sunny today; cloudy tonight with possible showers HIGH: 58 LOW: 29 A8
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