November 13, 2014

Page 1

IN SPORTS: SHS faces Summerville in football playoffs for 2nd straight year B1 Annual Book Sale

NEW LOCATION!

MAIN LIBRARY MEETING ROOM Friends Night Preview Nov. 6

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

| Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894

75 cents

SALE DATES NOVEMBER 7-8, 13-16 For more details visit www.sumtercountylibrary.org

Board rejects request to reopen nightclub BY MATT BRUCE matthew@theitem.com Sumter County zoning officials issued the red light Wednesday to developers who planned to reopen a notorious night spot in Sumter. The decision came during a hearing at the Sumter CityCounty Board of Zoning Ap-

peals’ monthly meeting inside Sumter Opera House. The board voted 4-0 to disapprove a special use request by owners looking to revitalize the site of a bar formerly known as Club Miami. The stigma of the club’s rowdy and often violent past proved too tainted for board officials to ignore as officials determined the busi-

ness would not be harmonious with the community. “The history is overwhelming, and I have to side with my sheriff and with families and say that this is probably not the spot for this to occur anymore,” board member James Price said as he made the motion to deny the request to reopen the club.

The small tavern still sits on an isolated plot of land in the 4800 block of Broad Street, along U.S. 378. It is within 50 feet of Shaw Air Force Base, which sits behind a fenced barrier on the other side of the highway. Club Miami was a reputedly dangerous night spot that owners shut down earlier this

year shortly after a 33-yearold man was shot and killed in the club’s parking lot on March 16. The victim’s mother and sister spoke out against the club during Wednesday’s hearing. Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis also testified

SEE CELL TOWERS, PAGE A7

Cell towers top county discussion

Colors of November

BY RAYTEVIA EVANS ray@theitem.com

MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

A swan enjoys a leisurely swim at Swan Lake-Iris Gardens near the changing leaves of a cypress tree on Wednesday afternoon.

Court rules in poor school districts’ favor BY SEANNA ADCOX The Associated Press COLUMBIA — A divided South Carolina Supreme Court ruled Wednesday for poor, rural school districts in a 21-year-old education funding lawsuit, saying legislators have failed to ensure that students receive the opportunity to succeed. The long-awaited 3-2 ruling directs legislators and school district officials to work together to solve the state’s “constitutional deficiency.” It says the winners of the case are the children who represent South Carolina’s future. “There is no loser,” concludes the opinion written by Chief Justice Jean Toal. The ruling “places before the parties a new opportunity ... leaning forward towards a conversation unencumbered by blame.” While requiring legislators to act, the ruling does not specify what they must do. Both sides must present their plan to the justices “within a reasonable time.” “Our state has given children in the most impoverished and rural portions of our state a chance of life,” said Carl Epps, an

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attorney for the districts. “We look forward to working with the state so these children will indeed have the opportunities that a generation of poverty and lack of consistent state approach to education has caused.” Former Superintendent Jim Rex called the ruling long overdue but praised the Supreme Court’s decision. “Now the urgent question is what the state Legislature will do in response. Will they also be willing to do the right thing and find the financial resources to implement it?” said Rex, a Democrat who led the state education agency as the sides appealed to the high court. The justices stressed that funding alone will not fix the problem. Bobby Stepp, the Legislature’s attorney, noted part of the blame was placed on the districts. The ruling scolded districts for putting a priority on athletics and spending too much on administrative costs. The opinion asks both sides to consider consolidating districts.

SEE DISTRICTS, PAGE A7

DEATHS, B7 Eugene Laws Louise S. Blanding James Montalbano Rhonda S. Broughton Vertell S. Dennis Kassidy Eli Griffin

Tom Lee Shirley Y. Dinkins Ann Bahny Samantha E. Holliday Moses Scriven Paula P. Welch

‘We look forward to working with the state so these children will indeed have the opportunities that a generation of poverty and lack of consistent state approach to education has caused.’ CARL EPPS Attorney for school districts

Sumter County Council approved first reading of a request to amend the Sumter County Zoning and Development Standards Ordinance on cell tower height in residentially zoned districts during Tuesday’s regular meeting at the county administration building. According to Planning Director George McGregor, the current regulations state that the maximum height of cell towers in residential areas is 100 feet. Farmers Telephone Co-op made the request in October, and Sumter City-County Planning Commission passed the request. McGregor said it supports the amendment because it gives people the opportunity to come before the planning commission with a request and ask for the change to be considered. “This may allow for a potentially greater number of requests, but we’ll be allowing the board of appeals to review all applications,” McGregor said. “We do think that there are likely cases where it will allow for public review, but this will allow residents to at least ask for a change.” McGregor said the current ordinance restricts cell tower height in commercial areas to 180 feet and to 300 feet on agricultural and industrial land. McGregor said in residential areas, they are also considering aesthetics of the areas, but as economic development in Sumter County improves, council may also consider changes in commercial cell tower height requirements as businesses move into the county. Vice chairman Eugene Baten asked McGregor about the safety of cell towers located in residential areas. McGregor said that they would also be considering safety as well as the impact it may have in a particular residential area

SEE CELL TOWERS, PAGE A7

WEATHER, A16

INSIDE

A FEW CLOUDS

2 SECTIONS, 24 PAGES VOL. 120, NO. 26

Expect mostly cloudy conditions today and tonight HIGH 67, LOW 41

Clarendon Sun A9 Classifieds B8 Comics B6 Lotteries A16

Opinion A6 Religion A14 Television A13

With BOC Mobile, The Bank of Clarendon Is In Your Pocket. bankofclarendon.com 803.433.4451


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