District Program Misused $177K Audit: Early Childhood Program Employees Bought Adult Tricycles, More
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CLARENDON SUN Area remembers ‘Mr. Americanism’ Plowden known for helping vets A7 Officials: Be proactive after SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017 75 CENTS Equifax security breach A2 District program misused $177K Audit: Early Childhood Program employees bought adult tricycles, more BY BRUCE MILLS ing criminal investigation the department. Thursday that it’s cooperat- to two district employees [email protected] into financial improprieties In that audit report, the ing with authorities and totaling $163,157.21 and sev- in the district’s program. department’s Office of Au- has already implemented eral “unallowable, unrea- The state Department of The investigations stem diting Services asserts the safeguards and more strin- sonable and unnecessary” Education released this from an anonymous letter district’s 4-year-old kinder- gent fiscal policies to cor- programmatic expenditures week to the public its audit received by the department garten program administra- rect the outlined issues. incurred by the district for findings of Sumter School and the district earlier this tors misused about $177,000 A finalized 11-page report supplies totaling $13,765.58. District’s Early Childhood year. The department re- in state funding in recent from the department’s Of- Items purchased include Education Program, which leased the audit findings to years, and the state depart- fice of Auditing Services adult tricycles, hammocks, it previously provided to The Sumter Item after the ment says it wants that details “unreasonable” and patio furniture and small the State Law Enforcement district submitted a correc- money back. The district “excessive” program train- Division as part of an ongo- tive action plan Tuesday to said in a public statement ing fees paid by the district SEE AUDIT, PAGE A3 Man’s bond Grandparents join students for lunch will likely not change in shooting BY JIM HILLEY [email protected] Andrew Tiller, an 18-year-old Sumter resident, is accused of shooting and seri- ously injuring two men Sept. 8 near Har- mony Court Apartments in what police said was a scheme to frame one of Til- ler’s acquaintances. Tiller was arrested later that weekend and was charged with two counts of at- tempted murder, two counts of attempted armed robbery and one count of possession of a weapon during a violent crime. By Monday, Tiller was re- leased on bond, having been ordered to pay a $37,500 TILLER surety bond and to wear an ankle monitor as conditions for his release. That seemingly quick exit from custo- dy has some questioning why Magistrate Judge Larry Blanding allowed Tiller to bond out, despite the serious nature of the charges. Blanding has not responded to requests for comment. SEE SHOOTING SUSPECT, PAGE A11 Cafeteria workers at Pocalla Springs Elementary School, Farmers mostly 2060 Bethel Church Road, served some special guests Wednesday as the school welcomed grandparents for lunch. Children led grandparents through the lunch line, and unscathed by grandparents took trays with fish nuggets or ham sandwiches, rice and fruit. And the stereotypical tough “lunch lady” the grandparents probably remember from Hurricane Irma their youth is long gone because these cafeteria workers served up meals with a smile, all while urging small kids to BY JIM HILLEY eat their veggies. [email protected] PHOTOS BY JESSICA STEPHENS / THE SUMTER ITEM Local farmers were lucky during Hur- ricane Irma, according to Clemson Ex- tension Agent Dave DeWitt. “We we’re rather unscathed in our area,” he said. “Some places got a little wind and some rain, but I haven’t heard any reports of anything too bad.” There may have been some damage to the cotton crop, DeWitt said, but the cot- ton hasn’t been defoliated to remove the leaves yet, so it should have been well protected. DeWitt said most of the corn has been harvested, and soybeans and cotton and See more photos from Grandparents Day SEE FARMERS, PAGE A11 at Pocalla Springs Elementary on page A6. VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B5 WEATHER, A12 INSIDE Johnny Heyward Alice Louise Young Terry A. Smith FOGGY MORNING 3 SECTIONS, 28 PAGES the .com Elizabeth B. Hammett Betty Ann B. Lucas Delciene S. Johnson VOL. 122, NO. 239 Fog in the a.m. and partly Carrie Mae B. Parker Willie J. Cooper Amy D. Butler Clarendon Sun A7 Opinion A4 Ralph Dawson Robert Mack Jr. Mary J. Windham sunny today and tonight Classifieds B6 Television C4 Annie Lee P. Richardson Edith Mae Edwards Lizan H. Duncan HIGH 88, LOW 67 Moses Richburg Sr. William McBride Jr. David Conyers Jr. Comics C6 A2 | FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Be proactive after Equifax security breach FROM STAFF REPORTS they issue. You will need the PIN to ments. Keep a close eye on financial save you lots of time. The South Carolina Department of lift the freeze. and benefits statements, ensuring • Contact SCDCA’s Identity Theft Consumer Affairs is encouraging • Know the terms of credit monitor- they arrive on time and have no er- Unit dedicated to offering consumers consumers to demonstrate vigilance ing offered. Many breaches result in rors. Contact the organization imme- tailored guidance on identity theft is- regarding their personal identifying the offer of free credit report moni- diately if you notice anything out of sues. Fill out an identity theft intake information after an Equifax breach toring services. Read the fine print the ordinary. Closely monitor any on- form or access SCDCA’s Identity affecting half the U.S. population. carefully and know what you are line retail accounts where you have Theft Guide by visiting the unit’s A news release from SCDCA urges signing up for — or what you may be payment information stored. webpage. consumers to monitor their financial signing away. Weigh the costs and • Free credit reports. Consumers Scam artists follow the headlines. accounts and benefits statements for benefits of providing your sensitive are entitled to one free credit report Imposter scammers could have more signs of identity theft and suggests data for this service. from each credit reporting agency an- information about you than ever, the following: • Update your current passwords nually. Check your credit report by making their phone calls, emails and • Consider a security freeze. S.C. and security questions. Scammers visiting www.annualcreditreport.com other communications seem even residents can place the security could use your information to gain or calling (877) 322-8228. more convincing. When fielding un- freeze for free. The freeze prevents access to established accounts such • Contact your financial institu- solicited communications of any anyone from accessing your credit re- as calling your bank and providing tions. Research additional security type, know the red flags of a scam. port without your express permis- specific information that only you alerts you can opt into through your To file a complaint or get informa- sion. Contact each credit reporting should have, in order to reroute de- bank or financial institution to lessen tion on consumer issues, visit www. agency to place the freeze, remember- posits, or clean out accounts, etc. the burden of monitoring your finan- consumer.sc.gov or call toll free, (800) ing to keep track of the unique PIN • Monitor your personal state- cial accounts. These free alerts could 922-1594. LOCAL & NATIONAL BRIEFS Opera House expands Main Stage Series FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS BY IVY MOORE [email protected] Local dancers to perform at USC-Kentucky game The Sumter Opera House Main Stage Series has announced three new addi- A team of dancers will rep- tions to its 2017-18 roster. The perfor- resent Sumter's Dreamworks mances exemplify the variety offered in Dance Academy at halftime of the entire 2017-18 series. Saturday's home football game City Cultural Manager Seth Reimer between University of South said he plans to continue adding shows Carolina and University of to the schedule. Kentucky. The game will be "We'll keep rolling out the acts as we broadcast at 7:30 p.m. on the book them," he said. "People can check SEC Network. back weekly, and those who become Dreamworks owner Chylene (Main Stage Series) members will have Burdick said "Universal Dance the opportunity to purchase tickets Association organizes this early, as well as get other perks of mem- event at several college games bership." throughout the nation. Girls He plans to present a series of 16 to 24 are required to learn their shows — "two or more a month this sea- routine beforehand and join son," Reimer said. the other South Carolina per- The newly booked concerts are: formers this Saturday for the • Dwayne Johnson & Soulfood Jazz large group production." Band — Jan. 12, 2018 Olivia Burdick, Emma Chap- Johnson calls Rembert home. The sax- man, Molly Davis, Mallory ophonist created what he calls "Soulfood Hobday, Gabby Perales and Jazz," defined as a blend of gospel, Liza Ridgeway will practice smooth jazz "and Old School R&B with with the other dancers for classical undertones.” A graduate of the three hours before the game. University of South Carolina School of PHOTOS PROVIDED Music, Johnson said his band's music Saxophonist Dwayne Johnson and Soulfood Jazz Band will perform at Sumter Opera Wounded war vet "delivers food for the soul." House on Jan. 12, 2018. The Opera House’s Main Stage Series members can purchase tick- names son after medics • The Lettermen — Jan. 14, 2018 The close three-part harmonies of The ets now. Lettermen and their repertoire have ROME, Maine — An Army made the trio an enduring favorite since veteran who lost all four limbs their 1961 recording of "The Way You in an explosion in Afghanistan Look Tonight." Since then, the pop leg- says the name of his newborn ends have recorded scores of songs, son pays tribute to two medics earning 18 Gold albums and several who helped save his life.