– Garbage collection in the City of Bennettsville won’t be any more expensive in the 1997-98 fiscal year, and gas rates will actually get cheaper. That was the outcome of a Tuesday afternoon City Council meeting in which the council gave final reading to the 1997-98 budget and set gas rates for next year. Before they adopted the budget, City Council made a number of changes so that garbage collection fees would not have to be increased to cover the cost of purchasing a new garbage truck.
– After eight months on the job, the Planning Director for the City of Bennettsville is calling it quits. In a brief statement, Jeff Reed has announced his resignation effective Friday, May 2. Reed joined the Bennettsville City staff in August of 1996, after spending 5-1/2 years as the Assistant City/County Planner for Greenwood. Reed has been working extensively on downtown redevelopment for the City of Bennettsville since taking office.
– Marlboro County was the first stop for state highway officials last Friday as they traveled southward along the future Interstate 73 route and unveiled signs announcing the future I-73 corridor through South Carolina. “Later today we will unveil a sign just like this in Mount Pleasant,” said S.C. Department of Transportation Commissioner Arnold Goldstein of Charleston. “What a wonderful transportation link that will be for South Carolina.”
– Magistrate Carroll Gray administered the oath of office to new Bennettsville City Council members James A. Fleming, Jr., District 1; William C. Jennings, District 3; and Freddie F. Hodges, Jr., District 5. Several friends and family members attended the Friday morning ceremony in front of the City Municipal building.
– Marlboro Academy Headmaster Ray Lee presented Mrs. Cinda McQueen with a bouquet of flowers and a gift on behalf of the Third Grade at the conclusion of her class play on Wednesday, April 30. Mrs. McQueen will retire this year after 30 years as a teacher, 21 of which she spent teaching third grade at Marlboro Academy.