LOCAL: Sumter museum turns back time for Carolina Backcountry Christmas A3 CLARENDON SUN New choir with 87 members gets rave reviews A7 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2017 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 75 cents White ex-cop gets 20 years in slaying told Slager they felt sorrow for “I forgive Michael Slager. I for- Slager shot unarmed black man in 2015 him and the loss his young chil- give you,” Scott’s mother, Judy, dren would feel in his absence. In said as she turned toward her BY MEG KINNARD cant punishment for Michael the end, a judge sentenced Slager son’s killer. “I pray for you, that The Associated Press Slager, the white former police of- to 20 years in prison, giving the you would repent and let Jesus ficer who fatally shot Scott, an un- Scott family the justice they had come in your life.” CHARLESTON — One by one, armed black man, in the back after sought ever since a stranger came Sitting just a few feet away, relatives of the late Walter Scott a 2015 traffic stop. to them with the shocking video of SLAGER urged a judge to mete out a signifi- Through tears, Scott’s family Scott being killed. SEE SLAGER, PAGE A6 Front porch history on display at Stateburg home PHOTOS BY MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM Garland S. Hart, pastor of Eatonton Presbyterian Church in Eatonton, Georgia, plays the fife during Christmas at The Ruins on Dec. 2. Toots Harper, for- Summerville, Christmas at The Ruins mer resident of bought it from WATCH The Ruins, de- Harper in 1985 and ONLINE offers rare glimpse into scribed during have been restoring Christmas at The it since. They have Go online to see a video of historic, restored home opened it to the Ruins seeing Christmas BY KAYLA ROBINS lights from Shaw public once each at The [email protected] Air Force Base an- December for the Ruins. past four years for nouncing the end www.theitem.com Christmas at The oots Harper sat on the of World War II as she sat on the Ruins to share its back porch of her historic back porch of the history and beauty with others. Stateburg home with her home in State- T burg in 1945. “And Daddy went and turned on the family, as they often did, especial- radio, and Shaw Air Force Base had brought the lights up again because ly in August. It was 1945. She no- was brighter. And we kept watching, Veaux family, who also lived at the they were all out during the way,” ticed something different about and it got brighter and brighter. And home, and a former resident of the Harper said. “And I still get chills the war (World War II) was over, and house called The Ruins. knowing that, that the war was over.” the sky. we didn’t know it,” said the 90-year-old The current owners of the “The lights, something in the sky Harper, a direct descendant of the De- 9,000-square-foot house, Rett and Pat SEE THE RUINS, PAGE A5 Shaw Heights gets in giving spirit by helping one of its own teachers and staff try to teach and crossing guard Daniel Ramos and his family. Fundraisers benefit custodian with cancer students to demonstrate in Ramos was diagnosed with What has ensued has been a their everyday lives are to be Stage 4 pancreatic cancer in school-wide effort — filled BY BRUCE MILLS textbooks. That’s been the caring and kind. Shaw October and no longer able with creative activities — that [email protected] case recently at Shaw Heights Heights’ enrollment is 521 stu- to work, teachers and staff has surpassed initial expecta- Elementary School in Sumter dents and consists of second decided it would be a good tions and raised about $1,900 Some of the most impor- School District. and third grades. idea to involve the student tant lessons are not found in Two of the key qualities After school custodian body in showing support to SEE RAMOS, PAGE A6 VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B6 WEATHER, A12 INSIDE the .com Peggy M. Mack David R. George Jr. Olivia Oliver THE RAIN ENDS 3 SECTIONS, 26 PAGES Mary E. Faraon Samuel J. Pringle John Williams Cold with rain at times; VOL. 123, NO. 36 Kenneth W. Rolland Sr. Catherine McMillian Tillmon Davis Jr. cloudy with rain Clarendon Sun A7 Sports B1 Dorothy Mae W. Smalls Louise H. Singleton James Gibson tapering off Classifieds B7 Television C4 Ruthie N. Byrd Roosevelt Thomas Jr. Viola B. Banks Mildred H. Hawthorne Christina T. Chambers HIGH 45, LOW 35 Comics C6 USA Today C1 Carrie Braxton Page Wright Opinion A10 LARGEST ASSORTMENT OF WATCHES IN SUMTER For Men & Women 41 E. Wesmarkkld Blvd. • Sumter,S SCSC 30% 778-1031 OFF If youyou didn’t bubuyy fr om us, yyouou ’re payingpaying too much! Fine JewelrJewelryy for 37 yearyear s A2 | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2017 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Public viewing Bates Middle School students feed those in need of Finney set for today at Morris College COLUMBIA (AP) — There will be two more days of mourning and celebrating the life of former South Carolina Chief Justice Ernest Finney Jr.. Finney’s body lay in repose on Thursday at the South Car- olina Supreme Court, where he became the first black chief jus- tice in the state’s history in 1994. There was a FINNEY public viewing of Finney at Palmer Memorial Chapel in Columbia on Thursday. Finney’s hometown of Sum- ter will have another public viewing from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at the Neal Jones Audi- torium at Morris College. Finney’s body will lie in re- pose for an hour starting at 9 a.m. Saturday before his cele- bration of life service at 10 a.m. at the Elmore Chapel at Claflin University in Orange- burg. Students from Erik Booker’s Proj- ect Based Learning class at Bates Middle School took time to feed those in need in their own back- yard. The students partnered with Investigators, Emmanuel United Methodist Church to feed 57 individuals. The project was conceived of, planned family seek and executed by the students as part of a greater school-wide Kindness Project. “I am really answers in proud of our students. They did all the work on this event,” Book- man’s death er said. “It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from General BY ADRIENNE SARVIS Patton, ‘Don’t tell people how to [email protected] do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with The Sumter County Sher- their results.’ All I did was provide iff's Office and the family of a little guidance and supervision. Malik Sutton continue to This is truly project-based learn- seek answers into the ing in action.” 20-year-old's death after the man was found dead inside his vehicle of an apparent PHOTOS PROVIDED gunshot wound on Nov. 3. An autopsy was inconclu- sive, said Ken Bell, public in- formation offi- cer with the Select safe, age-appropriate toys for a Merry Christmas MALIK sheriff's office, referring to the FROM STAFF REPORTS able/hygienic materials” on stuffed • Toys with strings, cords or ribbons possibility that Sutton's toys should not be hung in cribs or playpens wound may have been 'Tis the season for giving. • Immediately discard plastic wrap- because young children can become en- caused by another person. While Santa is preparing to bring tots pings from toys — they become deadly tangled, causing injury or death So far during the investiga- the trendiest toys for Christmas, S.C. playthings to small children • Teach older children to keep toys tion, deputies have learned Department of Health and Environ- • Choose toys that are colorful, light- that may be dangerous to younger sib- that Sutton's girlfriend was mental Control wants to remind par- weight, textured and made of non-toxic lings out of reach the last person to have seen ents that safety should be a top priority materials for children aged 1 and • Keep toys and play equipment in him before his death, Bell this holiday. younger. Children of this age range good condition, assure protective gear said. In 2016, there were more than 174,100 learn through sight, touch, sound and fits appropriately, and discard any toys Sutton took his girlfriend toy-related injuries — treated in the taste and often put objects into their that are broken to an appointment that day emergency room — associated with mouths to explore them • Provide hazard-free play environ- and later dropped her off, he children younger than 15, according to • Do not give young children toys ments — both indoors and outdoors — said. the Consumer Product Safety Commis- with small parts — removable eyes, and regularly conduct toy maintenance That was the last time he sion. noses, etc. — because they are choking checks was known to have been with DHEC offers the following safety tips hazards • Teach children to put toys away another person, Bell said. for choosing toys this Christmas sea- • Toys with sharp points or edges when they are finished playing to pre- Investigators are continu- son: made from hard materials should not vent accidental falls ing to interview other people • Choose toys according to the child’s be given to children younger than 8. For more information on toy safety, to confirm that no one else age, interest and skill level. Also, pay at- This includes stuffed animals with visit DHEC's website at http://www.