SPORTS Ja Morant dazzles against B1 FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2019 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 75 cents Marquette Couple are ID’d as suspects after 4 dogs thrown over SPCA fence County Sheriff’s drive up to the gate of the Wife arrested, husband will turn himself Office. Samuel is business on South Guignard charged with four Drive in a sedan about 7:30 in; 2 dogs were hit and killed by vehicles counts of ill treat- p.m. on March 2. BY KAYLA ROBINS month, after which two died ment of animals, The video shows the two [email protected] from being hit by vehicles. first offense. suspects exit the vehicle and PHOTO PROVIDED Elizabeth Taylor Samuel, 56, SAMUEL Surveillance at least one of the individuals Two of the dogs thrown over the A married couple has been of Queen Street in Sumter, video provided by hurling the dogs over the Sumter SPCA’s fence were cap- identified as the suspects who turned herself in Wednesday the nonprofit ani- fence. tured by staff earlier this month, are accused of throwing four morning, according to Adri- mal shelter reportedly shows A warrant states Samuel while two others were killed by Chihuahuas over the fence at enne Sarvis, public informa- Samuel and another suspect, cars after escaping from the fence. the Sumter SPCA earlier this tion officer at the Sumter identified as her husband, SEE SUSPECTS, PAGE A8 COMPLETE LIST OF Sumter courthouse renovation 2016 PROJECTS $10 million New E911 Emergency Services Facility project should be finished in fall $5 million New Sumter Police Department HQ $5.6 million New Sumter Fire Department HQ $2 million Industrial infrastructure $2.5 million Manning Avenue bridge $4 million Manning Avenue corridor $1 million North Main Street corridor $600,000 Wilson Hall Road and Wise Drive $900,000 Wilson Hall Road and Carter Road $2.8 million Sumter County Administration Building renovations $2.75 million Dillon Park renovations $200,000 Pinewood Sports and Wellness Complex and Recreation Park $875,000 Mayesville downtown revitalization $4 million Shot Pouch Greenway $8.9 million County road paving $3.1 million County road resurfacing $1.5 million Downtown building renovations $3 million Downtown Sumter JOE PERRY / SUMTER COUNTY GOVERNMENT intersection, infrastructure Granite steps at the entrance of the Sumter County Courthouse will be replaced as part of a wide-scale renovation to the historic building, which dates to 1907. The project is being funded through Sumter’s Capital Penny Sales Tax. improvements $6 million County recreation and Granite front steps being replaced after discovery of unstable supports Cultural Center renovations, additions, parking BY RACHEL PITTMAN building renovations, new parks and it back to what it was in 1907 while enhancements [email protected] recreation facilities and roadwork. updating it and making it compliant with ADA (Americans with Disabili- $1 million Industrial Engineering Work continues in restoring and SUMTER COUNTY COURTHOUSE ties Act) standards,” said Joe Perry, Building CCTC renovation RESTORATION AND UPDATE updating the Sumter County Court- the county’s communications coordi- Property and building $3 million $2.2 million house, Dillon Park and other projects nator. acquisition and renovation funded through Sumter’s voter-ap- Sumter County’s courthouse, a A new elevator shaft is being in- proved penny tax. circa-1907 building on the National stalled in the courthouse and will be $275,000 Millcreek renovations The Capital Penny Sales Tax is a 1 Register of Historic Places, has re- larger and provide those with disabil- $300,000 Animal Control building percent sale and use tax that funds ceived a restoration of the main ities easier access to the building’s renovations local “Penny for Progress” projects. courtroom, updated custom Pella upper floors. After several expensive Sumter County’s current penny tax, windows and a pressure wash, part repairs of the old elevator, county ad- $500,000 Palmetto Park renovations enacted in 2016 with an end date of of a full facelift led by architect ministrators decided a replacement $3 million Courthouse renovations 2023, was approved by Sumterites in Danny Shelley with Sumter’s James- would be more cost efficient. $300,000 Carnegie Library a county-wide vote and is funding 28 Durant-Matthews-Shelley. While pressure washing the build- renovations projects that will cost a total of about Now, renovators are focusing on ing, some damage was done to the $75.6 million. replacing the elevator and granite original front steps, leading to the dis- $2.3 million Community sidewalks In the two years that have passed front steps and, eventually, gutting covery of not-so-stable spacers and $1 million Community-wide since the second and latest penny tax an old jury assembly room and some supports under the steps. The steps demolition of distressed was enacted, Sumter County has holding cells to make way for an ar- are being replaced with new granite. been making progress on these proj- chival history center. structures for open space ects, focusing largely on government “The idea is to do our best to bring SEE PROJECTS, PAGE A8 WILLIAM ‘BILL’ PAINTER • 1938 - 2019 Sumter educator, city councilman remembered as ‘servant leader’ BY BRUCE MILLS A teacher, coach and administra- in Sumter for 54 years. tion at the school. Creech played [email protected] tor in South Carolina public Former Mayor Steve Creech said football, and Painter was an assis- schools for more than 38 years, he knew Painter since Creech was tant coach. Painter was also the A dear “friend,” “team builder,” Painter served on Sumter City a 10th-grader in 1965 at the former head track coach at Edmunds. “motivator,” “natural leader” and Council for 28 years and was part Edmunds High School and remem- Creech later served with Painter a “servant leader” are some of the of numerous other boards and bers him fondly. on city council. He was Sumter’s ways friends and former work as- commissions. Painter passed away “Coach Painter,” as Creech mayor from 1988 to 2000, and PAINTER sociates described longtime Sum- Monday. He was 80. called him, had just moved to ter public official Bill Painter. Born in Greenville, Painter lived Sumter for a teacher/coach posi- SEE PAINTER, PAGE A8 VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B4 and B5 WEATHER, A10 INSIDE Stanley Arthur Kohli Raymond Holland BREEZY TODAY 3 SECTIONS, 24 PAGES the .com George Washington Brown Sr. Robert Jones VOL. 124, NO. 110 Willie Bradley Sr. Karen Ann Watford Reece Breezy but plenty of Rosena W. McKnight John Westbrook Cook sunshine today; clear Clarendon Sun C1 Sports B1 Roosevelt Champagne Edna Brayboy Webster Glenn and chilly tonight Classifieds B6 Opinion A9 William Edward DeLaine Robert N. Francis HIGH 65, LOW 38 Comics C6 Television C4 Vermell Ragin Carter Edward Scott Bonnie Bray Burgess Ernest Hilton A2 | FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2019 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Acclaimed creators, cosplay contest to be featured at Swan Con BY DANNY KELLY creator of The Oven and the House of [email protected] Women; and Damian Duffy, Eisner award-winning creator of Octavia But- The University of South Carolina ler’s Kindred. Sumter and Patriot Hall will be hosting “The Eisner Award is the highest Swan Con, a two-day comic book fan (achievement) in the U.S. (for comics),” event, today and Saturday. Kunka said. The event will feature comic book Saturday will also feature a cosplay writers of international acclaim and co- contest that is open to all ages. First, splay events, which stands for costume second and third place awards will be play, where people dress up like their fa- given. vorite comic book, movie and TV show Kunka also wants patrons to know characters. Festivities start on Friday at one important detail about the event. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 1 p.m. and go until after 5 p.m. at the “Our biggest emphasis is that it’s USC Sumter Arts & Letters Building free and open to the public,” he said. FRIDAY SATURDAY Lecture Hall, Room 114. Saturday’s “We have a grant from South Carolina USC Sumter Arts & Letters Building Lecture Patriot Hall, 135 Haynsworth St. events will be at Patriot Hall and go Humanities and funding from USC Hall (Room 114), 200 Miller Road 10 a.m. – Doors open, vendors available all from 10 a.m. until after 5 p.m. Sumter and the (Sumter County) Cul- 1 p.m. – Artist Panel: Damian Duffy, Eisner- day. “We have a great group of creators of tural Commission. Most (comic events) award-winning writer of Octavia Butler’s 11 a.m. – Artist Panel: Chuck Brown, co- international acclaim,” USC Sumter around the state have an admission Kindred. creator of Bitter Root. Professor of English and Division cost. We’re doing a free, rare opportu- 2 p.m. – Artist Panel: Dustin Harbin, creator 1 p.m. – Publishing Comics Panel, learn how Chairman Dr. Andrew Kunka said. “We nity (for fans) to interact with this level of Diary Comics and Dharbin. to get your work published. attract a really high level of guests.” of creators and not have to pay entry 3 p.m. – Artist Panel: Noah Van Sciver, Kunka, also the co-organizer and one for it.” 3 p.m. – Noah Van Sciver, Sophie Goldstein, creator of Fante Bukowski, Saint Cole and Carl Antonowicz. of the founders of the event, said he Question-and-answer sessions will One Dirty Tree. wants this to be a fun event to build for follow each artist’s presentation with 4 p.m. – Cosplay Contest, open to all ages. 4 p.m. – Artist Panel: Sophie Goldstein, future years.