USPS halts some mail changes after outcry WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2020 $1.00 SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 3 SECTIONS, 16 PAGES | VOL. 125, NO. 218 VOTE NOW SHELBIE GOULDING / THE SUMTER ITEM The Sumter County downtown branch of the United States Postal Service is seen Monday. New postmaster general says agency ‘will Your Voice: Experiences deliver the nation’s election mail on time’ with U.S. Postal Service BY LISA MASCARO postal funds. and ANTHONY IZAGUIRR “I don’t, frankly, trust the post- Sumter residents shared their The Associated Press master general,” Pelosi said in concerns about United States Post- San Francisco. al Service mail delivery recently WASHINGTON — Facing The crisis at the Postal Service with The Sumter Item. Vote daily for your mounting public pressure and a has erupted as a major election crush of state lawsuits, Presi- year issue as DeJoy, a Republi- “I signed up for the Informed Delivery dent Donald Trump’s new post- can donor who took control of emails from the USPS. It shows you favorite Top 20 Under 40 master general announced Tues- the agency in June, has swiftly what is expected to be in your mail for day he is halting some operation- engineered cuts and operational the day. Our mail would show up by 1 nominees through al changes to mail delivery that changes that are disrupting mail p.m. every day, sometimes earlier, but critics blamed for widespread de- delivery operations and raising no later. The past few weeks it’s been Aug. 28. No subscription lays and warned could disrupt alarms that Trump is trying to showing up after 5 p.m. or not at all! I the November election. undermine the agency ahead of know what days I’m supposed to be is necessary to vote. Postmaster General Louis the election. getting mail and what is supposed to DeJoy said he would “suspend” At the White House, Trump be in the mail. I had a package a couple www.theitem.com/20under40 several of his initiatives — in- has flatly denied he is seeking to weeks ago scheduled for delivery, and cluding the removal of the dis- slow-walk the mail, even as he that night I received an email from tinctive blue mail boxes that leveled fresh assaults Tuesday Amazon stating that I requested for the SPORTS prompted an outcry — until on mail-in voting and universal package to be held at the post office; I after the election “to avoid even ballots. More Americans than did no such thing. They never tried to the appearance of impact on ever are expected to choose to deliver it, just blamed it on me as the election mail.” vote absentee during the corona- customer.” Sumter Flyers’ season “We will deliver the nation’s virus outbreak. election mail on time,” DeJoy “You can’t have millions and – Sabrina Behuniak, Horseshoe Cove ends with 8-2 loss said in a statement. millions of ballots sent all over “My father-in-law gets his medication B1 The abrupt reversal from the place, sent to people that are delivered through the mail, and there are to Rock Hill DeJoy, who is set to testify Fri- dead, sent to dogs, cats, sent ev- times he has not received them. We know day before the Senate, comes as erywhere,” Trump told report- the doctor sent them, as they always do. I more than 20 states, from New ers. understand with everything going on DEATHS, B3 York to California, announced “This isn’t games, and you things will be different, but mail is they would be suing to stop the have to get it right,” Trump said. extremely important. If someone misses a Barbara J. Mounts Smith changes. Several vowed they Some of the initiatives DeJoy bill, they could get penalized. If a person Jimmie L. Frank would press on, keeping a watch- said he was shelving until after misses their medication, that could have a Martell Louis Adams ful eye on the Postal Service the election had already been an- negative impact on their health.” Jane Ross McKellar ahead of the election. nounced. – Jessica McKinley, Blackberry Lane Sharon Arlene Brashear Bailey Speaker Nancy Pelosi is push- DeJoy said Tuesday he is halt- Burnett Maybank Morris ing ahead with Saturday’s vote ing the planned removal of Rhonda Little to prevent election-year mail SEE YOUR VOICE, PAGE A7 Edna Robinson Goldston changes and provide emergency SEE CHANGES, PAGE A7 WEATHER, A10 NOT QUITE AS HOT Trees are crowned Mostly cloudy with a storm around today; a stray storm is possible tonight HIGH 85, LOW 68 champions, too 2 friends, colleagues discover potential INSIDE CONTACT US largest of its species in South Carolina Classifieds B4 Info: 774-1200 Comics C1 Advertising: 774-1237 BY SHELBIE GOULDING based on trunk circum- [email protected] ference, tree height and Opinion A9 Classifieds: 774-1200 average crown spread, Sports B1 Delivery: 774-1258 Some kids grew up and the two friends re- Television C2 News and Sports: wanting to be storm cently discovered a po- 774-1226 chasers, but two college tential candidate planted friends and experts in right in Sumter. garden cultivation and Phillip Carnley, a VISIT US ONLINE AT the .com management grew up horticulturist for Swan wanting to chase down Lake-Iris Gardens, giant trees. came upon a rare, giant PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CHASE SMOAK Champion Trees are Loblolly Bay (Gordonia A large Gordonia tree in Sumter the largest of their spe- lasinathus) tree that is was nominated for the South cies according to a stan- Carolina Champion Trees. dard measuring formula SEE CHAMPIONS, PAGE A7 Colleges grapple with coronavirus as students return BY BRYAN ANDERSON university president the Rev. reconsidering to recruit new with health care experts. In- and MICHELLE LIU John Jenkins said in an ad- plans to hold in- IN OUR STATE members virtually stead, the university is impos- The Associated Press / Report for dress to students and staff person classes or after learning of ing restrictions on student ac- USC announces free America Tuesday. implementing new students attending tivity, including limiting ac- Tuesday’s action follows the testing regimes. COVID-19 tests; classes large social events cess to dormitories to resi- start Thursday A3 CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — decision by officials of the Others are threat- without taking dents and barring students Notre Dame University be- University of North Carolina ening crackdowns precautions from major gathering places came the latest college to at Chapel Hill to switch to re- on students who against the virus. on campus. move classes online because mote learning starting today, get too close with others, in Notre Dame canceled in- UNC-Chapel Hill freshman of the coronavirus, after near- as the virus makes its mark violation of social distancing person undergraduate classes Mackenzie Holland spent two ly 150 students tested positive. on colleges — and college rules. for two weeks. Jenkins said he weeks in her dorm before she “It is very serious, and we towns — across the United The University of Oklaho- decided against sending stu- must take serious actions,” States. Some universities are ma is requiring its sororities dents home after consulting SEE COLLEGES, PAGE A7 A2 | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2020 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Manning pedestrian Sandy Hook families: Gun struck, killed by vehicle maker trying to wipe out BY SHARRON HALEY trol,” Southern said. Clarendon contributor This is the second pedestri- an fatality in Clarendon Coun- lawsuit with bankruptcy MANNING — A 54-year-old ty in the past two months. Manning man died early On July 10, Harvin Watson, Tuesday after being struck by 59, of Manning, was riding his HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A lawyer for people who may have claims against the com- a vehicle on Silver Road near bicycle along Moses Dingle some of the Sandy Hook school shooting vic- pany may not even know about the case. U.S. 15 shortly after 10 p.m. Road near Jordan when he tims’ families accused Remington Arms on “The families have grave concerns about Monday, according to Claren- was struck by a vehicle and Tuesday of using its new bankruptcy case to the speed, the breakneck speed, that the debt- don County Coroner Bucky left injured beside the road- try to wipe out their lawsuit over how the ors (Remington) are setting up for the sale,” Mock. way. Watson died less than 90 company marketed the rifle used in the mas- Elsberg said. “There won’t be, there simply “Marvin Rhames died at minutes after he was trans- sacre. can’t be, a full and fair process unless this Prisma Health Richland at ported to McLeod Health Clar- An attorney for Remington denied the alle- high-speed train that we’re on slows down.” 3:50 a.m.,” Mock said. endon. gation during a phone conference call presid- Despite the bankruptcy case being filed “Rhames died from multiple No arrests have been made ed over by a federal bankruptcy court judge only last month, Remington — the nation’s blunt-force trauma.” in the hit-and-run fatality. in Decatur, Alabama. oldest gun maker, based in Madison, North According to Cpl. Matt The SCHP is asking for as- Also Tuesday, the judge, Clifton Jessup Jr., Carolina — already is planning to sell off its Southern with the South Car- sistance in identifying the denied the families’ request to create a com- holdings in a Sept. 17 auction. The company olina Highway Patrol, Rhames driver of the vehicle that mittee — comprised of people who are suing has a plant in Huntsville, Alabama.