Sumter's Youngest Leaders Learn from County Council
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WHAT YOUR GOVERNMENT IS DOING: SUMTER COUNTY COUNCIL Sumter’s youngest leaders learn from county council Members also approve rezoning that could lead to new metal business BY ADRIENNE SARVIS LEARNERS TODAY, LEADERS tor Gary Mixon said he spent a THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2018 75 CENTS [email protected] TOMORROW little more than an hour talk- SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 ing with the 16 juniors from Sumter County Council voted on one The Emerging Leaders Pro- Sumter’s three high schools matter Tuesday and received reports gram is a collaboration be- about how local governments 2 SECTIONS, 14 PAGES | VOL. 124, NO. 23 about projects that will benefit local tween local government and operate, alongside City of Sum- youths and the community as a whole multiple economic develop- ter Manager Deron McCor- HEALTH during its regular meeting Tuesday. ment and education entities, mick. said Erika Williams, manager After completing the pro- REZONING COULD LEAD TO METAL of communications and strate- gram in May, Williams said, FABRICATION BUSINESS gic initiatives for Sumter Eco- the students will attend a grad- nomic Development. uation ceremony and go on to Reading: Third and final The purpose of the program, serve as ex-officio members on Agenda item: A request to rezone 3.91 acres at 4690 she said, is to prepare local boards and committees Thomas Sumter Highway from general commercial high school students to take throughout the community. and agricultural conservation to light industrial- leadership roles in the future. warehouse. “We always develop pro- SANTEE-LYNCHES WANTS Background: According to a report from the Sumter grams for youth,” she said, TO HELP THE COMMUNITY Planning Department, the applicant mentioned plans “and we need some youth to to establish a metal fabrication business on the stand in the gap and speak on Chris McKinney, executive property if it were rezoned. behalf of their own peers in director of Santee-Lynches Re- The report also states the property is in the Military order to prepare future lead- gional Council of Govern- Protection Planning Area, which supports low-density ers.” ments, continued his plan to developments and is along a major roadway that is The group had its second ses- bring leaders of each of the or- cited as a practical location for light industrial uses. sion Tuesday, focusing on gov- ganization’s departments to Discussion: None ernment and legislation for the meetings to inform council of How effective Vote: Unanimous, with Councilwoman Vivian month of November. are your Fleming-McGhaney absent Sumter County Administra- SEE COUNCIL, PAGE A6 supplements? Studies show mixed results Building partnerships, walking a mile for fish oil, Vitamin D A4 LOCAL Help others in our community this holiday season A3 DEATHS, B3 MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM David Lespy Robinson Caterpillar’s David Eargle speaks with students at Furman Middle School on Wednesday during his stint as principal for the Windoln Hastie day at the school. Local business and community leaders served as principals at all of Sumter School District’s schools. WEATHER, A8 Sumter schools welcome ANOTHER GRAY, WET, CHILLY DAY community leaders to A couple of morning showers; be principals for a day partly cloudy and chilly tonight HIGH 49, LOW 32 BY BRUCE MILLS [email protected] INSIDE CONTACT US Sumter School District’s Princi- pal for the Day program Wednes- Classifieds B6 Info: 774-1200 day was a day for local business Comics B4 Advertising: 774-1237 and community leaders to walk a Health A4 Classifieds: 774-1200 mile in the shoes of a principal and Sports B1 Delivery: 774-1258 help the district further communi- Opinion A7 News and Sports: ty partnerships. Television B5 774-1226 For David Eargle, engineering manager at Caterpillar’s Hydrau- BRUCE MILLS / THE SUMTER ITEM lics plant, it was that and also a Hillcrest Middle School Principal for the Day Victoria Bailey, rear left, talks with sixth- day to return home. Eargle was the grade social studies teacher Alicia Hyatt on Wednesday at the school in Dalzell. VISIT US ONLINE AT the .com principal for the day at Furman Middle School. Twenty-five years He said he chose Furman for the memories. But, he said, he was also ago in 1993, Eargle graduated from principal for the day program for impressed to see the present-day Furman when the school on Bethel that reason. Eargle said he got to version of Furman. Church Road was a high school in see the old gym and cafeteria at his Sumter County. former school where he has so many SEE PRINCIPALS, PAGE A6 107 turkeys and counting for ministry’s Thanksgiving program dropoff locations in town — day observance — turkey do- non-perishable items in stock Sumter United Ministries will collect the ministry’s main office at nations really picked up at the pantry in food boxes at 36 Artillery Drive and at throughout the day Tuesday Christmas time for families in them through Monday afternoon Bynum Insurance, 1170 Wil- and Wednesday. need. son Hall Road. People can still The turkeys will be distrib- “The last couple months of BY BRUCE MILLS United Ministries Executive drop off turkeys anytime be- uted as part of the Thanksgiv- the year are a giving time of [email protected] Director Mark Champagne tween 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, ing dinner boxes program on the year for people to nonprof- spoke late Wednesday after- Friday or Monday. Tuesday from 1 to 3 p.m. at its, and I’m grateful for that,” After a single donation of noon on turkey collections so The ministry began promot- the Artillery Drive location, Champagne said. “I believe close to 20 turkeys on Wednes- far for the local nonprofit’s ing its Giving Thanks dinner near the Sumter County Fair- God moves in the hearts of day, Sumter United Ministries Thanksgiving gift program to boxes program about two grounds. His people in this community. is now well on its way to pre-identified families in weeks ago via its email newlet- Champagne said exceeding They give and want to help reaching its minimum goal of need. ter, he said. After only having the goal of 150 turkeys would and want people to do better collecting 150 turkeys for fam- At the close of business about 15 turkeys between the “drastically help” United Min- and thrive. I get to see that ilies in need for its annual Wednesday, Champagne said two collection points as of istries’ Food Pantry to close stuff all the time, and I never Thanksgiving dinner boxes United Ministries had collect- Tuesday morning — following out the year. The extra tur- want to be callous or ungrate- program. ed 107 turkeys at its two Monday’s Veterans Day holi- keys can be given out with ful for it.” A2 | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2018 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] LOCAL BRIEFS The Sumter Area Trans- FROM STAFF REPORTS portation Study Policy Committee approved its No Thanksgiving break 2045 Long Range Transpor- tation Plan to represent the for garbage collection future transportation vision for the City of Sumter and The City of Sumter will be the urbanized portions of collecting garbage and recy- the county. clables on Thanksgiving "The plan is the culmina- Day. tion of an exhaustive public Residents are asked to planning process designed have their roll cart and recy- to provide recommenda- cling bin at the curb by 7 tions regarding transporta- a.m. for collection. For addi- tion investments, land use tional information, call the and infrastructure improve- Public Services Complex at ments," Sumter City-County (803) 436-2558. Planning Director George McGregor said. Coroner: Pediatrician The plan identifies ways the community expects to died of natural causes invest resources to enhance its transportation system The longtime employee of and addresses all modes of PHOTO PROVIDED Sumter Pediatrics P.A. who transportation, including From left, Bettye Scott, mobility manager for Lee County Transportation Services, and Lottie Jones, was found dead at his resi- planning for roads, side- executive director of Santee-Wateree Regional Transportation Authority, present an award to John- dence Tuesday evening died walks, bridges, greenways, of natural causes, officials bike and pedestrian facili- ny Mmanu-ike, director of South Carolina Department of Transportation’s Office of Public Transpor- confirmed. ties, freight, aviation and tation. Dr. Carl G. Whetsell died transit options. from a heart issue, an au- Creating and revising the topsy conducted Wednesday plan is a required local morning found, according to planning element needed to Lee transportation group Sumter County Coroner receive federal transporta- Robbie Baker. tion funding under the The Sumter Item followed FAST Act, which was ap- gives thanks to supporters up on this report in re- proved by Congress in 2015. sponse to comments on so- It makes specific recom- cial media that speculated mendations for all projects BY ADRIENNE SARVIS This year, transportation services rec- Whetsell's body was discov- across all modes. [email protected] ognized: the South Carolina Department ered in a public area and to For the road networks, of Transportation's Office of Public confirm that another doctor focus was placed on widen- Lee County Transportation Services Transportation; Johnny M. Mmanu-ike, with phonetically the same ing projects, new locations, held its annual luncheon on Nov. 8 to director of transportation; Curtis Sims, name is not the deceased in- corridor improvements and give back some of the support the com- South Carolina Rural Transit Assistance dividual. intersections. munity and supporters give local trans- Program manager; Alan W. Watkins, Lee Now, the Policy Commit- portation on a daily basis.