Sumter Native Recounts Hawaii Missile Alert Error Valerie Barnes Witnesses Panic, Anger on Military Base
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
IN SPORTS: Former USC standout QB Shaw will speak at Sumter banquet B1 2 jurors on Roof’s trial talk about his hate, find closure A3 TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2018 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 75 cents Sumter native recounts Hawaii missile alert error Valerie Barnes witnesses panic, anger on military base BY KAYLA ROBINS Barnes said. [email protected] EDITOR’S NOTE Barnes took a screen shot of the emergency text and sent it to her Valerie Barnes and her husband, Valerie Barnes is the daughter of Karen mother and mother-in-law. who is stationed at Joint Base Pearl Cave, an advertising sales representative for Under it, she typed, "Do not call." The Sumter Item. Harbor-Hickam on the Hawaiian is- She knew they needed to keep their land of O'ahu, were getting ready to phone lines open, which stopped go to the gym with their working in the almost 40-minute chaos four kids, just like they Barnes walked outside. anyway. do every Saturday. Then "I was like, what do I do?" she said. "We were getting ready to go eat his phone buzzed. The "I knew a newer Air Force wife who lunch," said her mother, Karen Cave. next 38 minutes were un- had just moved here on Sunday. All We're driving down the road, and I'm like every other Satur- week, I had been telling her we're driving, so my husband's reading it to day. completely safe, nothing's going to me. There was hardly any messages The emergency alert CAVE happen. If they were going to hit us, going back and forth. I knew it mistakenly sent to more they'd hit the mainland first, why hit wouldn't be her joking, but I wasn't than a million people's Hawaii? It's just Hawaii." next to the TV to see what was going cellphones across the islands on Sat- Barnes knew they had about 15 min- on." urday caused panic and confusion utes. They had no time to get any- The mistake was supposedly made across Hawaii. People reacted in dif- where off base. during a shift change at the Hawaii ferent ways, from sheltering where She was outside trying to calm the Emergency Management Agency they were to getting in the car to try- new military wife who was new to Ha- when someone "doing a routine test Shown is a screen shot from the phone of ing to find a nearby store. waii down. Her kids, who are 11, 9, 6 hit the live alert button," The Associ- Sumter native Valerie Barnes. It was fol- "BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT IN- years old and 16 months old, started ated Press reported. lowed with this text to her mother, Karen BOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDI- playing video games. The error triggered panic. Cave: “Not a test don’t call. I love y’all I ATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A "Krista [the oldest] saw it on her don’t know what happening.” DRILL." phone, and they heard the warnings," SEE ALERT, PAGE A7 Love is the dream Community puts heart, feet together for annual Dream Walk honoring MLK Jr. BY BRUCE MILLS [email protected] This year's Dream Walk in Sumter would have made Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. proud. Monday marked the federal holiday celebrating King's life, and Sumter held its 18th annu- al Dream Walk in honor of the influential American civil rights leader with a 3-mile walk that started and ended at University of South Carolina Sumter's Nettles Auditorium. More than 400 people braved the cold morning tempera- tures to participate in the walk, according to college offi- cials. USC Sumter sponsored the event in partnership with Morris College and Central Carolina Technical College. Attendees included people of all ages and races. Youth, college students and staff, alumni representing black fra- ternities and sororities, churches’ congregations and community members all par- ticipated in the walk. Sumter resident Felicia Scott brought her four chil- dren and a friend's child to PHOTO PROVIDED BY SUMTER COUNTY GOVERNMENT Attendees lead the 18th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dream Walk at University of South Carolina Sumter on Monday morning. More than SEE MLK, PAGE A7 400 people participated in the event, according to college officials. Fund helps disabled couple keep power after pipes burst BY BRUCE MILLS snow storm. Both the husband and 2015. The repair expense to pay for the [email protected] wife are disabled, and their combined burst water pipes was a major decision income is barely livable, Howell said. for the couple, Howell said. Early January's plunge in tempera- "They are blessed to own their home, "It literally became a choice between tures during an extended-day period, which keeps their bills modest and providing assistance for more than 40 years paying an electric bill or repairing the along with snow and ice, impacted Dedicated to the memory of Tommy Mims within their ability to maintain," How- pipes in order to have water," Howell Sumter residents in numerous ways, ell said. "The problem can be upkeep said. "There weren't any unnecessary according to the Crisis Relief Ministry abled, married couple with limited in- and repair expenses, which can exceed expenses in their budget." at Sumter United Ministries. come with an electric bill, said Kevin what they can afford." Since the couple depends on an elec- Donations to the Fireside Fund allow Howell, Crisis Relief Ministry director. Howell said the couple's home dam- tric heat pump and heats their home the ministry to help families in need Earlier in the month, the couple had age because of frozen water lines came with electricity alone, the Crisis Relief with heating assistance. to pay hundreds of dollars for repairs after two years of repairing damage Recently, the ministry assisted a dis- to water pipes that burst during the from the historic 1,000-year flood in SEE FIRESIDE, PAGE A4 VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B4 WEATHER, A10 INSIDE Dr. Isaac C. Joe Sr. Evenlyina Pringle-Cole SNOW? SAY IT ISN’T SO! 2SECTIONS, 16 PAGES the .com VOL. 123, NO. 63 Joseph R. Morris Jarvis O. Rush Partly sunny skies today and Debra Ann Ardis James C. Peters cool. Slight chance of a snow Classifieds B6 Opinion A9 Dean L. Collins Jr. Frances W. Loney shower early Wednesday Comics A8 Sports B1 Mary Brown Vincent A. Phillips Jr. morning. Obituaries B4 Television B5 Lawrence B. Wilson Jean Lee Angle HIGH 55, LOW 33 David Briggs James A. Nelson A2 | TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2018 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] LOCAL & STATE BRIEFS Dillon Park hosting 2 events Saturday FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS FROM STAFF REPORTS After getting mulch to refresh your ue their efforts or improve individual yard and help limit landfill expan- health. It is a great time to visit infor- Council to consider final The new year has begun, and Sum- sions, try doing something good for mally with Sumter County Council ter County invites residents to take your body. Join Sumter County Ac- members, strengthen relationships vote for water meter fee part in two activities Saturday at Dil- tive Lifestyles in a walk with mem- within the community and make new Sumter City Council will lon Park. bers of Sumter County Council friends. meet at 5:30 p.m. today in City Between 7 and 10 a.m., free mulch around the 1-mile refurbished paved The walk around the track starts at Council Chambers, third floor made from discarded Christmas trees walking track at the park. Partici- 10 a.m. with registration beginning at of Sumter Opera House, 21 N. will be distributed to residents by vol- pants may also choose to continue 9:30 a.m. Wear comfortable clothes Main St., to consider: unteers on a first-come, first-served their walk on the natural surface Cy- and shoes, and bring water for hydra- • Second and final reading of basis at Grinding of the Greens. Enter press Trail, which originates close to tion. The sun will be shining, so con- an ordinance to amend the Dillon Park from Frontage Road, and the track. sider wearing sunscreen. city’s Community Develop- bring containers or bags, tools to pick This walk offers community mem- For more information about walk- ment Block Grant for 2018; up mulch and a way to haul it. bers a good way to get started, contin- ing, call (803) 469-6509. • Final reading of an ordi- nance to amend the city’s water and sewer rates to in- clude fees for damaged water meters; • Final reading of an ordi- nance to declare the closure of two alleyways on Dingle Street between South Sumter and South Main streets and to transfer the property to the adjoining property owner; • First reading of a request to rezone .24 acres at 1947 Mc- Crays Mill Road from general residential to general commer- cial. A public hearing will be held at 6 p.m. before council’s vote; and • First reading of a request to rezone .28 acres at 301 S. Main St. from light industrial wholesale to central business district, following a public hearing. Lee parent council will hold meeting Jan. 24 Lee County School District will hold its Parent Advisory Council Organization meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 310 Roland St., Bishop- ville. The organization will allow parents, school board mem- U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO BY SENIOR AIRMAN ASHLEY MALDONADO / SPECIAL TO THE SUMTER ITEM bers, students and local com- Riley, 20th Fighter Wing Sexual Assault Prevention and Response comfort dog in training, “shakes hands” with Master Sgt.