LOCAL: Can you help ID 2 men in Christmas shooting? A2 Netflix named Entertainer of the Year by AP SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2018 75 CENTS B5 Trump signals no end to shutdown over border wall BY DARLENE SUPERVILLE threatens to carry over into you have to have protection,” and JULIET LINDERMAN January. he said. The Associated Press Trump vowed to hold the The shutdown started Sat- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS line, telling reporters as he urday when funding lapsed Jimmy Taylor of the Department of Public Works collects trash at the WASHINGTON — A shut- flew to Iraq that he’ll do for nine Cabinet-level depart- National Mall in Washington on Wednesday. According to the Nation- down affecting parts of the “whatever it takes” to get ments and dozens of agen- al Park Service, several partner organizations will assist with trash federal government appeared funding for border security. cies. Roughly 420,000 workers collection while National Park Service staff are furloughed because of no closer to resolution He declined to say what were deemed essential and the partial government shutdown. Wednesday, with President amount of wall funding he are working unpaid, while an Donald Trump and congres- would accept in a deal to end additional 380,000 have been ocrats — and staff talks con- swift breakthrough. sional Democrats locked in a the shutdown, stressing the furloughed. tinued on Capitol Hill — ne- Rep. Mark Meadows of hardening standoff about need for border security. While the White House was gotiations dragged Wednes- border wall funding that “You have to have a wall, talking to congressional Dem- day, dimming hopes for a SEE SHUTDOWN, PAGE A6 Christmas Day Quiet day for Sumter’s resident swans fire victim was visiting friend BY ADRIENNE SARVIS [email protected] The Christmas Day house fire in Pine- wood that claimed the life of a Florida native has been ruled accidental, though investigators have not pinpointed the exact cause, according to county fire offi- cials. The cause of the fire has been ruled undetermined, said Sumter Fire Depart- ment Battalion Chief Joey Duggan, but it is not suspicious. Ronald Holcomb Jr., 33, of Port Orange, Florida, was the only person in the house in the 400 block of Marion Street during the fire Wednesday morning, he said. The call came in at 10:14 a.m., he said. Duggan said the fire started in the en- closed back porch area of the 800-square- foot modular house. SEE FIRE, PAGE A6 Finding home Sumter woman helps friend get The permanent residents of Swan Lake-Iris Gardens enjoyed a quiet day after Christmas, some with their new babies. A few of the Aus- back on her feet after hardship tralian black swans are nesting during the holiday season. leaves 72-year-old homeless LEFT: Coscoroba swans pass by the Noel Christmas tree at the gar- dens on Wednesday. BY KAYLA ROBINS [email protected] BELOW: A Coscoroba swan beats its wings on the bank of the lake, appearing to walk upright. It took $90 of the $100 she had left to PHOTOS BY MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM pay for a cab to a motel. Her sister’s trailer was already too full with six people and a pit bull before she joined, bringing medical needs after a car accident in 2015 left her with seven surgeries and a wheelchair, then a walk- er. Plus, her chihuahua, Scrappy. She couldn’t leave him. He kept her going and helped shield her from the harsh loneliness that being homeless can bring. Nancy Sineath had nowhere to go. Black mold infested her home in North Charleston while she was staying with her sister. When it had to be torn down, the 72-year-old lost everything. She had to board Scrappy to stay in a homeless shelter, which cost money. She slept in a bus station, but that wasn’t ideal. At least she had a bed, a place to shower and a roof over her head at the motel, but until her next disability check SEE HOME, PAGE A6 VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B3 WEATHER, A8 INSIDE Roland Howard Davis Jr. June Till Gag RAINY TONIGHT 2 SECTIONS, 14 PAGES the .com VOL. 124, NO. 50 George Daniel Campbell Jr. Clara R. Council Mostly cloudy; cloudy James Henry Bell Leon Mack and mild with a little Classifieds B6 Sports B1 Barbara Ann Wilson Michael R. Nesbitt rain tonight Comics B4 Television B5 Nancy Colclough Sanders HIGH 56, LOW 54 Opinion A7 A2 | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2018 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] One of two shooting suspects is recorded walking into the El Cheapo on U.S. 378 on Wednesday. PHOTOS PROVIDED 2 suspects wanted One suspect in a Christmas Day shooting is seen walking into the El Cheapo conve- in Christmas Day nience store on U.S. 378. gas station shooting BY ADRIENNE SARVIS shot a 20-year-old man in the lower [email protected] body and fled in a white vehicle, Bell said in a news release. Deputies are searching for two men The victim was taken to a Columbia in connection to a shooting at a gas hospital, Bell said, and was last listed station on Christmas Day. in stable condition. Two men entered the El Cheapo Surveillance cameras at the store Convenience Store at 4756 Broad St. captured footage of the two suspects, across from Shaw Air Force Base Bell said. about 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 25 and began Anyone with information about the arguing with a customer inside the men's identities or the location of the store, according to Ken Bell, public in- vehicle should call the sheriff's office formation officer for the Sumter Coun- at (803) 436-2000. ty Sheriff's Office. Information can also be submitted at The argument escalated outside www.midlandscrimestoppers.com or by The white sedan driven by the suspects in a nonfatal Christmas Day shooting on U.S. when one suspect pulled out a weapon, calling 1-888-CRIME-SC (888-274-6372). 378 is seen. Poll of the week 6 customers draw guns on 2 men attempting to steal nail guns MARYSVILLE, Wash. (AP) — Authorities by about six customers with guns raised. This week’s question: What’s your biggest resolution for say two men were surrounded by customers Court documents say the driver pulled the new year? with guns while attempting to steal tools forward, causing one man confronting him Answers combined from our poll on www.theitem.com. from a Washington store. to land on the hood. Have a question you want us to ask? Email [email protected]. The Daily Herald reports the men, ages 22 Documents say another customer shot at and 23, allegedly took four nail guns, each the driver's side front tire, while a third worth more than $400, from the Coastal fired twice at the rear tire. Get in better shape 52% | 54 votes Farm & Ranch store Saturday in Marys- Marysville police found the theft suspects' ville. car unoccupied about three blocks away, Make more money 16% | 17 votes The men walked out of the store and got with two flat tires and the tools inside. Both into a Honda Civic, only to be surrounded men were apprehended after a search. Keep in better touch with friends and family 15% | 16 votes Travel more 14% | 15 votes Heat lamp to keep animals Man uses food stamps to offer Add to my family 2% | 2 votes Infographic created warm on porch causes fatal fire community free holiday lunch with Piktochart GAFFNEY (AP) — Authorities say a ROCK HILL (AP) — A South Carolina heating lamp being used to keep pets on man says he used the $70 he gets each the front porch warm started a fire that month in food stamps to cook a Christ- Next week’s question: What are you most excited about killed a man Christmas Eve in his South mas meal for his community. for the new year? Carolina home. Merrit Eggleston tells WSOC-TV that Cherokee County Coroner Dennis he starts each morning by asking God Going to a party Fowler said firefighters found 85-year-old who he can help that day. On Tuesday, he Getting time off work Joseph McCluney dead in the bedroom set up a tent outside his Rock Hill home Fireworks of his Gaffney home around 10 p.m. Mon- and offered a free lunch to anyone in day. need. Eggleston also put together to-go Watching live programming and the ball drop Investigators told media outlets the fire plates for people staying at a local shel- I’ll be asleep before midnight. appeared to begin on the porch where a ter. heating lamp ignited bedding and a box He says he wanted to help homeless Vote on our poll of the week, and look for what our readers answered for this McCluney had out to keep cats warm. people around the area, and his wife en- and other polls at www.TheItem.com, our Facebook and Instagram pages and Fowler said in a statement he has or- couraged him to act. He says two local in The Sumter Item. dered an autopsy on McCluney to deter- religious leaders stopped by his tent and Have a question you want us to ask? Email [email protected]. mine the cause of this death. gave him $20 to thank him. HOW TO REACH US IS YOUR PAPER MISSING? TO BUY A SUBSCRIPTION 36 W. Liberty St., Sumter, S.C.