June 22, 2013

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BELOW: Clarendon Health System downsizing workforce COMING SUNDAY: Readers pick the best in restaurants, car dealerships, hair stylists and more in our special section VOL. 118, NO. 209 WWW.THEITEM.COM

SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 2013 | SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA

FOUNDED OCTOBER 15, 1894

60 CENTS

Pastor charged with sex crimes

BRADEN BUNCH / THE ITEM

At least 1 child among alleged victims

A Crime Scene Unit van from the Sumter Police Department sits outside Pastor Larry DuRant’s home in the 2000 block of Four Bridges Road on Friday afternoon.

BY ROB COTTINGHAM rcottingham@theitem.com A Sumter minister has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct involving three female church members, in-

cluding at least one minor. According to the Sumter Police Department, 58-year-old Larry DuRant, the pastor at Word International Ministries on North Guignard Drive, was arrested Friday by officers with the Sumter Police Department and charged

with two counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor, second degree (between the ages of 11-14 years old), and four counts of criminal sexual conduct, third degree. Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis said his office will also be

charging DuRant, of 2080 Four Bridges Road, with two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct as it works with the city to pursue the investigation. SEE PASTOR, PAGE A7

TREE TRIMMING ON PINEWOOD ROAD

Sumter jobless rate at 9 percent BY BRADEN BUNCH bbunch@theitem.com

Carolina Tree Care workers trim tree limbs from the power lines above a home on Pinewood Road on Thursday morning.

PHOTOS B Y RHONDA BARRICK / THE ITEM

Layoffs hit Clarendon Health System BY SHARRON HALEY sharron@theitem-clarendonsun.com MANNING — Thursday was rough for more than 20 employees of Clarendon Health System, the company that owns Clarendon Memorial Hospital and other medical facilities spread throughout Clarendon County. Director of Public Relations

Jeffrey Black said Friday that the company is re-sizing the hospital’s workforce by laying off as many as 24 workers. “This does not impact our service or facilities,” he said. Layoffs, he said, will be felt across the entire organization, not focused on one department or facility. Chief Executive Officer Richard Stokes laid blame on the eco-

ment has resulted in an increase in uninsured patients and a greater use of the emergency department by the uninsured and the underinsured for primary medical care.” More than 950 employees work for the company, which aside from the hospital owns SEE LAYOFFS, PAGE A8

DEATHS

20 N. Magnolia St. Sumter, SC 29150 (USPS 525-900)

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nomic recession that forced all businesses to look more closely at how they operate. “Like most hospitals across the nation, the faltering economy has led to fewer in-patient admissions while at the same time creating reduced payments for hospital and physician services,” Stokes said. “In addition, continued high unemploy-

Information: 774-1200 Advertising: 774-1236 Classifieds: 774-1234 Delivery: 774-1258 News, Sports: 774-1226

James B. Hudson Herman W. Miles Sr. Mamie B. Roman Carrie Bell Robinson

Sumter County unemployment climbed to 9 percent in May, as nearly 400 people entering the local labor force pushed the area rate upward. Despite the 0.7 percentage point increase reported by the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, Sumter County’s unemployment rate remains well below where it stood at the same time last year, when it was 10.3 percent. Both Clarendon and Lee counties saw their rates increase in May as well, according to the DEW, climbing 0.6 percentage points. Clarendon County’s unemployment rate now stands at 11.7 percent, while Lee County’s grew to 10.1 percent. In May 2012, Clarendon County was at 13.8 percent, and Lee County was at 11.9 percent. Marion County continues to have the highest unemployment rate in the state, at 15.2 percent, while Lexington County has the lowest, at 6.1 percent. Local rate increases in the tricounty area were on par with other parts of the state, with 45 of 46 counties also experiencing increases. Despite those increases, the seasonally adjusted SEE JOBS, PAGE A8 LOCAL 2013 NUMBERS APRIL Sumter: 8.3 percent Clarendon: 11.1 percent Lee: 9.5 percent

OUTSIDE

Vermell A. McFadden Eugene Rogers A7

MAY 9.0 percent 11.7 percent 10.1 percent

INSIDE 2 SECTIONS, 16 PAGES

STORMS? Some clouds moving in later may bring thunderstorms. HIGH: 84 LOW: 67 A8

Church Directory Classifieds Comics Daily Planner Sports Television

A7 B7 B6 A8 B1 B5


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