Hartsville City Council on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a proposed city budget for the coming fiscal year of more than $11.5 million.

The Darlington County Council convened a special session Tuesday night. They met to hear the findings of the Carter, Goble and Lee (CGL) companies regarding the recent space feasibility study done to determine the best possible location for a new courthouse for Darlington County.

Soldiers from Darlington’s National Guard unit and other S.C. Army National Guard units were late when they arrived at the Darlington National Guard Armory Thursday afternoon.

OBITUARIES: Week of May 7

Darlington County Council is expected to give final approval Monday to an ordinance lowering the assessment ratio on general aviation aircraft in the county from its current 10.5 percent to 6 percent of the fair market value.

The varsity softball team at Darlington High School won the school’s first-ever state championship with a 3-1 victory over J.L. Mann in extra innings Wednesday night.

The boys’ and girls’ track teams from Lamar competed in the Class A state track meet on May 9-10, and both teams brought home second place.

The varsity softball team at McBee High School faced off against region foe Chesterfield in the Class A upper state championship. Although they won game one 13-4, they fell 2-0 in the second game and ended their impressive season.

The Darlington High School varsity softball team was propelled to a 1-0 series lead over J.L. Mann in the Class AAA state championship series by Courtney Kickery’s fifth inning grand slam in game one on Monday.

The Lady Falcons’ varsity softball team has been ranked number one in Class AAA state nearly all year and have been pursued by opposing teams. Wednesday night, they continued their impressive play with a 2-0 victory over Brookland-Cayce to propel them into the lower state title game and a rematch with Midland Valley.