Parents say Dallas suspect changed after his service Family says military life MORE ON RECENT caused man to be a hermit VIOLENCE BY NOMAAN MERCHANT Texas mom who was shot protecting The Associated Press her son says she would march again TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2016 75 CENTS A5 SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 DALLAS — Military service Open-carry law poses challenge to law A5 changed the Dallas gunman from enforcement 2 SECTIONS, 18 PAGES | VOL. 121, NO. 225 an extrovert into a hermit, his par- ents said in an interview excerpt published Monday. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS lawyer who represented him, John- Micah Johnson’s mother, Del- Dallas Police Officer Rebecca Tristan, son was accused of sexually ha- OPINION phine Johnson, told TheBlaze web- left, is comforted by a supporter on rassing a female soldier while de- site in an interview that her son Sunday outside Dallas Police head- ployed. wanted to be a police officer as a quarters. His father, James Johnson, said child. His six years in the Army haltingly and through tears, “I Don’t forget that Reserve, including a tour in Af- thought the military represented, don’t know what to say to anybody ghanistan, were “not what Micah it just didn’t live up to his expecta- police officers’ thought it would be ... what he tions.” According to the military SEE SUSPECT, PAGE A7 lives matter, too A8 A morning in art camp TELEVISION State’s drought status worsens Corn harvest coming; Sumter now ‘incipient’ BY JIM HILLEY [email protected] 200 years Areas in the Upstate are suffering from dry condi- tions and hot weather, lead- of history ing the South Carolina Drought Committee to up- From renovations to logistics grade four northwestern counties to “moderate and more, learn about the drought.” The committee A9 also upgraded much of the executive mansion state, including Clarendon and Sumter counties, to “in- cipient drought.” Counties in the northeast- ern part of the state includ- ing the Pee Dee and Ker- shaw and Lee counties re- Fingerprinting main listed as “normal” by the commission. checks are Clemson Extension Asso- ciate Agent David DeWitt said the upper part of Sum- sometimes ter County around Dalzell is somewhat dry, but Lee flawed County has had a pretty good year. A3 “The heat has taken its toll, but those afternoon showers, even if they don’t drop much rain, do help,” he said. DEATHS, B6 Cotton and soybeans also Lillian G. Barnes Mary E. Cotton appear to be doing well, he Wesley K. Evans Annie C. Holliday said. Archie Bell Brown Flora Lee White “There are pockets in our Robert S. Bateman Milburn F. Richburg Jr. area that have gotten more Junior W. Barker Ellen P. Gonzales PHOTOS BY RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM or less rain,” DeWitt said. Ellie Flynn, 6, signs her artwork that depicts herself as an astronaut as part of the Some areas in the border 2016 Summer Art Camp at Sumter County Gallery of Art. The camp hosts classes of Sumter and Florence through the first week in August. For more information, call (803) 775-0543, or counties are very wet, he WEATHER, A10 send an email to [email protected]. said, receiving seven to 10 THE USUAL STUFF inches during the last 10 Lucas Murley, 8, below, works on a picture of himself as an astronaut Monday days. A stray afternoon thunderstorm today and tonight during a class. “It is not ideal for every- HIGH 96, LOW 74 body, but overall we are off to a pretty good start,” he said. DeWitt said the corn crop INSIDE CONTACT US is nearing harvest time and Classifieds B8 Info: 774-1200 shouldn’t be too affected by Comics B7 Advertising: 774-1237 Opinion A8 Classifieds: 774-1234 SEE DROUGHT, PAGE A7 Television A9 Delivery: 774-1258 News and Sports: QUESTIONS? 774-1226 If you’re a farmer who would like to know more about the state’s Farm Aid program and VISIT US ONLINE AT the .com $40 million in grants, come to a meeting Wednesday at the Farm Bureau. A2 Summer construction ends, but community needs continue BY JIM HILLEY to adults. which had a yard Sumter County. grace in its various forms, he [email protected] “The construc- that is an oasis “We are still planning to do said. tion ministry of flowers, Koe- more homes. If anyone would On a Monday morning dur- Summer Restore has come would like to nig said, which like to put on a roof, give me a ing Summer Restore, one of to an end. The Sumter United thank all of the she calls her call,” he said. “We had our the volunteers, Adrian Renee, Ministries construction pro- volunteers for all “full-time job.” second Winter Restore in handed a donation check gram completed work on six their hard work,” “She waters in which we did two homes with from Palmetto Tire to Dianne homes, four the first week and Koenig said. the morning and 19 volunteers college age and Garrick, office manager and two the second week, con- “Also, we would night and lets older. We are looking forward assistant medical director. struction ministry director like to thank the God do the rest,” to fixing more homes in the She told Garrick that her tire Aaron Koenig said. companies that Koenig said. future.” had a roofing nail in it last Koenig said the program assisted us both Koenig said the Each one should use what- week, and United Ministries had 112 volunteers in June weeks.” construction ministry’s mis- ever gift he or she has re- Executive Director Mark ranging from an 11-year-old One of the houses worked sion is to make homes safe, ceived to serve others, faith- going into the seventh grade on was “Mrs. W’s” home, dry, secure and accessible in fully administering God’s SEE CARING, PAGE A7 A2 | TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2016 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Manning man Building community relations dies after he struck fence BY JIM HILLEY [email protected] Manning Police Department is han- dling an investigation into a fatal wreck early Sunday that claimed the life of a 20-year-old Manning resident. Wesley Keeton Evans was reportedly driving south on U.S. 521 when his 2013 GMC pickup veered into a chain-link and barbed-wire fence in the 400 block of North Brooks Street. Evans’ truck reportedly struck a truck parked in- side the fenced lot before coming to rest in the fence. The speed limit is 35 mph at the loca- tion, but a police report indicates Evans was traveling at 60 mph. Manning Police Chief Blair Shaffer said Evans suffered injuries going through the fence. He said first re- sponders did all they could to stop the loss of blood and began to transport Evans to Palmetto Health Richland in Columbia, but he died on the way. RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM “It was just too much loss of blood,” Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Cpl. Olivia Gibson, left, and Senior Cpl. Albert Harvin provided cold drinks and candy to children Shaffer said. at Pinewood Gardens Apartments in Pinewood on Monday evening as part of a community action program. Harvin said the Shaffer said toxicology tests would program aims to build relationships with children so they see officers as trusted people to approach when they have problems be performed on Evans, but results or need assistance. would not be available for several weeks. Area farmers with questions are urged LOCAL BRIEFS FROM STAFF REPORTS to attend Farm Aid meeting Wednesday Zoning board to consider request for business sign BY JIM HILLEY mation on how to apply are available ers who suffered substantial losses [email protected] at the South Carolina Department of during the 1,000-year flood in Octo- Sumter Board of Zoning Appeals will Agriculture website at www.agricul- ber. If qualified grants add up to meet at 3 p.m. Wednesday in City Coun- Farmers interested in more infor- ture.sc.gov. more than that, they will be reduced cil Chambers, Sumter Opera House, 21 mation on how to apply for the “It's really designed so you can fill across the board to stay within bud- N. Main St., to consider two variance re- state’s Farm Aid program are invited (the application) out online and mail get, he said. quests in order to construct a new free- to a meeting from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednes- it off with documentation to the Ag- He said he expects farmers to re- standing business sign at 852 W. Liberty day at the South Carolina Farm Bu- riculture Department in Columbia,” ceive the full amount they qualify St. reau, 90 W. Wesmark Blvd. he said. The application must include for even though the total amount Clemson Extension Associate a notarized and signed affidavit from available is limited. Applications being accepted Agent David DeWitt said attendance the farmer certifying the application “I think that everybody should get for 10th-annual Art in the Park at several similar meetings has been and the intended use of the grants. their 100 percent because $100,000 is high. He said the meeting is not a chance the most you can get, and you have The Heart of Sumter Neighborhood “At Clarendon, we had over 100 to fill out an application, but rather a to prove $500,000 in losses to get that Association’s 10th-Annual Art in the farmers,” he said. "In Lake City, at chance to learn more about the pro- amount,” he said.