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Deepening pension deficit looms Contributors, taxpayers could have to pay more to make up S.C. shortfall COLUMBIA (AP) — Four years after South Carolina lawmakers passed a law they hailed as keeping the state’s public pension system solvent for generations, they are
scrambling to fill a deepening deficit that could affect every taxpayer in the state. While public pensions nationwide are struggling with growing debt, South Carolina’s situation has been worsened by investment underperformance. The state’s $28 billion pension portfolio — which 1 in 10 South Carolinians are counting on for their
Few tickets written for texting while driving in Sumter BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis said traffic stops for texting and driving account for a small portion of deputies’ duties. Deputies do not focus on traffic stops but rather spend more time responding to calls, he said. Of course, if a deputy sees a driver using his or her phone, he will stop the driver, he said. And deputies will assist South Carolina Highway Patrol troopers who patrol parts of Sumter County when necessary, he said. According to Ken Bell, public information officer for the sheriff’s office, there have only been three tickets issued for texting and driving violations since the law against it was enacted in 2011. Bell said one reason for the low number of texting and driving tickets is because it is difficult to confirm that a person was texting and driving, especially at the time of a wreck. Also, the law allows drivers to use GPS while driving, which also makes it difficult for officers to prove that someone was texting and driving, he said. But drivers should not be entering data into the phone while driving, he said. If someone is suspected to have been using his phone at the time of a wreck, deputies can request to look at the cellphone to confirm, Dennis said. He said drivers should use a bluetooth or any other kind of hands-free device if they must use a phone while driving.
retirement — would be worth about $4 billion more if returns during the last decade had been on par with other large public pensions, according to an analysis by the state’s public benefits agency. Keeping the debt in check will likely require workers in the system and taxpayers overall to pay hundreds of millions more in the upcom-
ing years, unless investments pick up substantially. And even the state’s investors don’t expect that to happen anytime soon. “We’re trying to be very upfront. We recognize our contribution” to the problem, said Michael Hitchcock, director of the Retirement System Investment Commission, which manages the state’s portfolio.
“We’re trying to correct that. But even if we were the No. 1 pension fund in the country, it’s going to be tough for the next few years.” Ultimately, any changes are up to the Legislature, which returns in January. A joint House-Senate study committee began meeting
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Starting football practice early
Police losing battle to get drivers to put down their phones WEST BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (AP) — State troopers in Chattanooga, Tennessee, have been known to patrol in a tractor-trailer so they can sit up high and spot drivers texting behind the wheel. In Bethesda, Maryland, a police officer disguised himself as a homeless man, stood near a busy intersection and radioed ahead to officers down the road about texting drivers. In two hours last October, police gave out 56 tickets. And in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, south of Boston, an officer regularly tools around town on his bicycle, pedals up to drivers at stoplights and hands them $105 tickets. Texting while driving in the U.S. is not just a dangerous habit, but also an infuriatingly widespread one, practiced both brazenly and surreptitiously by so many motorists that police are being forced to get creative — and still can’t seem to make much headway. “It’s everyone, kids, older people — everyone. When I stop someone, they say, ‘You’re right. I know it’s dangerous, but I heard my phone go off, and I had to look at it,’” said West
Before the Monti Vikings’ practice on Monday, Benjamin Simard, 3, either waves goodbye to those pursuing him or he may have struck the youngest Heisman pose known. Running back Jonathon Williams Jr., left, evades defensive lineman Cecil Mitchell III during a practice session of the Monti Vikings 9- to 10-year-old football team. The team was practicing Monday afternoon before a game. PHOTOS BY RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM
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Ministry’s executive director thanks volunteers for their help BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com Who’s your neighbor? Mark Champagne, executive director of Sumter United Ministries, said the organization is extremely grateful to The Sumter Item for helping to initiate “Summer of Caring” in 2014. “Over the last several weeks, we have shared real-
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Good Samaritan,” Champagne said. “He said that sadly, sometimes we will be like the priest and the Levite and will walk right by and will avoid someone in need. But hopefully, we will respond instead like the Samaritan and help our neighbor in the ditch; even though he or she may
Champagne said there are so many facets that make the ministry work that there is no way to specifically describe the ministry’s neighbors or the workers. “People of all walks of life help,” he said. “This community is a reflection of the Samaritan rather
than the priest and Levite found in the parable in Luke chapter 10. In our community, priests (pastors), Levites (deacons) and other church workers are Samaritans, too.” Multiple ethnicities, socioeconomic, age and gender differences are areas of strength, he said. “Some years ago, a pastor shared with me something regarding the Parable of the
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life stories about some of our neighbors with whom we have connected,” Champagne said. “I use the word ‘we’ because it is not our staff; the staff actually has very little to do with it. “It is you, our wonderful volunteers, who do much of the work,” Champagne said.
Sunny and pleasant again today; clear sky tonight HIGH 91, LOW 67
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