Fun, Games and Pizza Art and Essay Contest Winners Get Treated Special by ADRIENNE SARVIS [email protected]
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IN SPORTS: Lady Generals square off against Spartanburg Christian in playoffs B1 SOUTH CAROLINA POLITICS Candidate Mullikin makes campaign stop at Willie Sue’s A3 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 75 cents Getting ‘our story out’ Mother of burned 6-year-old alleges harassment and intimidation BY JIM HILLEY been charged with assault and battery, Johnson was apparently referring to an [email protected] she said, for allegedly pouring lighter October 2016 article in the Manning fluid on her son’s back, which was ignit- Times, in which it said Garrett believed At a news conference at Clarendon ed. The burn victim was treated at J.M. the incident was “absolutely” an accident. County Courthouse on Thursday morn- Still Burn Center in Augusta, Georgia. In a press release announcing Thurs- ing, the mother of a 6-year-old Alcolu During the news conference, the in- day’s news conference, Johnson raised boy who received second-degree burns in jured child spent most of his time trying racial aspects about the case, noting in an incident on Oct. 16, 2016, made allega- to stay behind Brown and was reluctant the release the victim was black and the tions that former Clarendon County when his mother asked him to show his alleged assailant was white. The news re- Sheriff Randy Garrett covered up aspects burns to the media. Elder James John- lease also alleged Brown has received of the case. son, state coordinator of the South Caro- “ongoing threats.” JIM HILLEY / THE SUMTER ITEM Leslie Brown, the 6-year-old’s mother, lina National Action Network, who orga- Johnson said holding a news conference Leslie Brown raises her 6-year-old also said she and her children have been nized the conference, alleged Clarendon was the “only way to get our story out.” son’s shirt to show his burns dur- harassed and intimidated by neighbors County had “suppressed” the story and a ing a news conference Thursday about the case. report put out by Garrett at the time of at Clarendon County Courthouse. A then 11-year-old neighbor boy has the incident describing it as “bogus.” SEE STORY, PAGE A7 Fun, games and pizza Art and essay contest winners get treated special BY ADRIENNE SARVIS [email protected] Forty-four elementary school students spent some time away from class to eat pizza and play games at Chuck E. Cheese’s on Thursday after they were selected winners of Sumter Po- lice Department’s fifth-annual Black History Month Art and Essay Contest. The contest, one of the police department’s community outreach projects, is held in part- nership with Sumter School District. This the department’s annual effort to build goodwill in the community during Black Histo- ry Month, Sumter Police Chief Russell Roark PHOTOS BY RHONDA BARRICK / THE SUMTER ITEM III said. From left, first-grader Serenity Stewart and third- Law enforcement officers respond to calls in- grader Anna Alan, both students at Alice Drive Ele- volving children through no fault of the child, mentary School, enjoy playing a game Thursday at so the celebration at Chuck E. Cheese’s allows Chuck E. Cheese’s on Broad Street. They were children and officers to interact in a fun envi- among the winners of Sumter Police Department’s ronment, he said. Black History Month Art and Essay Contest. Roark said Thursday was also an opportuni- ty to recognize local children for their efforts through fifth grade wrote essays about a black and achievements in school. person in history that they wanted to grow up In order to be chosen for the day of fun, stu- to be like. dents wrote essays or drew pictures based on She said one student from each grade was prompts from Sumter School District, said chosen to attend the day of pizza and games. Barron Hite, event coordinator for the police One school had a tie at one of the grade lev- department. els, so two children were invited, she said. Shelly Galloway, public information and The pictures and essays were judged by em- partnerships coordinator for the school dis- ployees with the school district and members trict, said students in kindergarten through second grade drew photos of a black person in Sgt. Gary Atkinson, with Sumter Police Department, explains a game history who is their hero, and students in third SEE PIZZA, PAGE A7 to Lemira Elementary School student Takiyah Miller. Hardy thinks retreat topics Cases of flu will help with strategic plan on the rise BY BRUCE MILLS organizational strategic statewide [email protected] plan, according to Hardy. The breakout sessions were Breakout sessions on key used to capture thoughts and BY KASEY MEREDITH focus areas for the commu- ideas for that plan. [email protected] nity were a great platform “I was very pleased with for good participation and the amount of engagement Even though Sumter County engagement from Chamber with those who were sitting is seeing an increase in the flu members and others at this in on the sessions,” Hardy PHOTO PROVIDED BY BRENT KING / LIMELITE PHOTOGRAPHY virus, it’s still not too late to year’s retreat, Sumter’s said. “It seemed to me like Becca Monroe-Hardy of Adams Outdoor Advertising, left, and ses- get a flu shot. Chamber president said. everybody was pitching in sion facilitator Lefford Fate of the City of Sumter listen to respon- Robert Yanity, an agency Chris Hardy, president and and at least taking part in dents Saturday in Wilmington, North Carolina, during a breakout spokesman for South Carolina CEO of Greater Sumter the discussion and providing session at the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce retreat. Department of Health and En- Chamber of Commerce, input on what may be need- vironmental Control, said made his comments about ed in regards to the topics we wanted to accomplish new downtown location. there has been an overall in- last weekend’s retreat in that were discussed.” and what kind of time Hardy thinks the extra crease statewide in flu activity Wilmington, North Carolina, Hardy said a long-term frame,” Hardy said. available space at the Cham- compared to the same time on Wednesday. strategic plan is a necessity One idea from the retreat ber would be ideal for a one- last year. And according to This year’s retreat, titled for the Chamber and some- was for the Chamber to start or two-person operation just DHEC’s statewide report, “Investing for the Future,” thing that hasn’t been done a small-business incubator getting started that wants a there are 7,352 reported flu addressed four key Chamber before. Hardy took over as program to help budding en- brick-and-mortar, central- cases this year to date versus divisions — small business Chamber president in Au- trepreneurs. ized location and access to 1,100 cases last year. and community growth, edu- gust 2015. Hardy said he has that area and Chamber resourc- The cumulative influenza cation and workforce devel- “We need a long-term stra- item on his radar, especially es. case rate by 100,000 is 272, in opment, legislative priorities tegic plan — whether that be with Sumter Development and military affairs — to a three- to five-year plan — Board soon to be leaving the help formulate a long-term, depending on exactly what Chamber’s offices for its own SEE RETREAT, PAGE A7 SEE FLU, PAGE A7 VISIT US ONLINE AT CONTACT US DEATHS, B6 WEATHER, A12 INSIDE Information: 774-1200 Patrick Fiztgerald Carter Sarah Jane G. Smith HOT FEBRUARY DAY 2 SECTIONS, 22 PAGES the .com Advertising: 774-1246 Eartha Carroway Annie Lee Gayle VOL. 122, NO. 95 Classifieds: 774-1234 Fog will lift this morning, Spencer McFadden Eartha Mae Sanders giving way to sunshine. Classifieds B7 Delivery: 774-1258 Gary L. Jeffreys Carrie W. McMillan Tonight, mainly clear Comics A10 News and Sports: Vivian N. King Shirley M. Gregg 774-1226 and mild. Magnolia S. Henry Anthony Richardson Opinion A11 Steven Eric Kinsley Ollie M. Harvin HIGH 81, LOW 56 Television A8, A9 A2 | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] LOCAL & STATE BRIEFS Black History Month program at library FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS BY IVY MOORE tion of George Stinney Jr., at 14 the [email protected] youngest person executed in the U.S. in Elected local legislators the 20th century. After having been to meet community Sumter County Library will continue found guilty of the murders of two its Black History Month observance at young white girls in 1944, Stinney was The Monthly Vision In Prog- 6 p.m. Monday with a presentation on tried, convicted and sentenced to death ress meeting will be held at 10 the South Carolina Constitution of in a period of one day, April 24, just a a.m. Wednesday, March 1, at 1868. The public is invited to attend the month after the girls’ deaths. He was James E. Clyburn Intermodal program in the library’s main meeting executed on June 16, 1944. Transportation Center on room at 111 N. Harvin St. Frierson worked with the Stinney South Harvin Street. The 1868 constitution was the sixth of family and its lawyers for more than a The meeting will feature for the state’s seven and is recognized for decade. In December 2014, he saw the first time newly elected its progressive provisions. George Stinney’s conviction vacated by members of Sumter City Guest lecturer George E. Frierson III S.C. Circuit Judge Carmen T. Mullen, Council, Sumter County Coun- will address the constitution’s innova- who wrote a 30-page order ruling that cil, Coroner’s Office, House of tions and the progressive thinking of there was a “fundamental, constitu- Representatives and mayor of those responsible for the revolutionary tional violation of due process” in the Mayesville.