News - Local/State

Wednesday, Mar. 19, 2008

News In Brief - March 19, 2008

2 Fort Mill school board members won't run again

FORT MILL -- Two longtime Fort Mill school board members have decided not to run for re-election in the fall.

Neither Lewis Graham nor Martha Kinard plan to run, they said. Filing for the nonpartisan race won't be conducted until August. All members are elected at-large.

Kinard, who has served 12 years and formerly served as board chairwoman, said it's a good time to "pass the torch."

"It's a personal decision," she said. "We've got a lot of people with strong leadership qualities. I hope those people will come forward and run."

She said maintaining local control will be a challenge for the next board.

"There has been a move from the state to take away local control, not just with finances, there's also the mandated start dates," she said.

After eight years, Graham said he's gotten too busy at work and with family obligations to seek another term.

Stay-at-home dad Scott Patterson has announced plans to seek one of the two seats. Graham is supporting Patterson's bid, he said.

-- Fort Mill Times

4 neighborhoods' water to be interrupted Thursday

Water service for four neighborhoods will be interrupted Thursday from about 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. so the Rock Hill Utilities Department can replace a broken hydrant, according to a written statement from the city.

The hydrant was damaged when it was hit by a car, said Lyn Garris, city spokeswoman.

Affected neighborhoods will be Ashley Park, Windsor Ridge, Meadowcreek and Pinecrest.

In the case of inclement weather, the job may be rescheduled. For more information, call the Utilities Department at 329-5500.

Belton to announce S.C. House bid today

Montrio Belton will formally announce his candidacy today for the state House seat being vacated by Bessie Moody-Lawrence. The public is invited to the noon event outside City Hall.

Belton will face John King in the Democratic primary, with the winner to take on Republican candidate Marvin Rogers. A political newcomer, Belton graduated from Winthrop University and is principal of Monroe Middle School in Monroe, N.C.

In 2006, King lost to Moody-Lawrence by nine votes in the general election. District 49 stretches across predominantly black neighborhoods in southern York County and has long been considered a Democratic stronghold.

Chamber supports change in school funding

The York County Regional Chamber of Commerce is supporting new legislation that would change the way schools are funded, officials announced Tuesday during an event highlighting the chamber's position on state issues.

Proposals in the state Legislature would give school districts money based on local population growth. Now, money is given out based on state growth. Because the population of York County is growing much faster than the state population, local school districts stand to lose millions.

The formula for handing out the cash came from a new law in 2006 that replaced homeowner property taxes for schools with a statewide 1-cent sales tax increase. Many say the change will place an unfair amount of pressure on the business community to make up for the lost money. Businesses still pay taxes for school operating costs.

To find your representatives and their contact information, visit www.scstatehouse.net/cgi-bin/zipcodesearch.exe.

Registration for computer classes opens Thursday

Registration opens Thursday for spring computer classes through Rock Hill Adult Education.

Registration will be open from 8:15 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Adult Education Center off Flint Street. Classes will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The four-week classes cost $50. Payment is due at registration.

All classes run from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m. and are held at the Adult Education Center.

The following classes will be offered:

• Basic intro to Windows, April 14, 16, 21 and 23

• Microsoft Word Level I, April 28 and 30, May 5 and 7

• Excel Level II, May 12, 14, 19 and 21

• PowerPoint, June 2, 4, 9 and 11

York Tech to host 'museum on wheels' next week

York Technical College will host SANKOFA: An African-American Museum on Wheels on Monday and Tuesday.

The 200-foot exhibit showcases the heritage, legacy and challenges of blacks with five categories of collectibles from 1860 until the present. Categories include famous blacks and their contributions, stamps, a pictorial overview of Kwanzaa, books and inventions.

The exhibit will be on display in room 113 of the school's library from 1 to 6 p.m. Monday and from 9 a.m. until noon Tuesday.

Angela Jennings, curator of the exhibit, will answer questions.

The exhibit is free and open to the public.