A Pioneer of Justice Longtime Sumter Resident Ernest A
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IN SPORTS: Crestwood girls basketball team adjusts to new coach Crosby B1 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook launches parent-controlled app for kids A3 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 75 cents Long associated with the Civil ERNEST A. FINNEY JR. — 1931 - 2017 Rights Movement in South Carolina, former state Supreme Court Chief justice and A pioneer of justice longtime Sumter resident Ernest A. Finney Jr. was Sumterite was 1st black S.C. Supreme Court chief justice since 1800s honored in 2012 with the naming BY ADRIENNE SARVIS than 40 years of his career to ia, earned a bachelor of arts of the Ernest A. [email protected] the legal system and being an degree from Claflin College in Finney Jr. Civil advocate for equal rights dur- 1952 and graduated from Rights Museum Former South Carolina Su- ing the Civil Rights Move- South Carolina State College’s in Columbia. preme Court Chief Justice Er- ment. School of Law in 1954. nest Finney Jr., 86, died on Finney Jr., born on March SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO Sunday after dedicating more 23, 1931, in Smithfield, Virgin- SEE FINNEY JR., PAGE A7 Dazzling display lit at gardens Event kicks off Fantasy of Lights BY KAYLA ROBINS [email protected] If they didn’t know better, spectators at Swan Lake-Iris Gardens on Friday could have mistaken the edge-of-their- seats screeches sounding from children, the group-chanted countdown and the dazzling display of more than one mil- lion twinkles in trees as a scene at Disney World. The 30th year of Sumter’s Fantasy of Lights kicked off December with a ceremony from high school students and dignitaries before attendees chimed in for the grand turn- on of displays throughout the picnic area, parking lot and entrance way of the gardens MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM Desariyah Walcott runs circles under a tree covered in lights at the 30th-annual Fantasy of Lights kickoff event at Swan Lake-Iris Gardens on SEE LIGHTS, PAGE A6 Friday. See more photos from the lighting event on page A3. Yearly Fireside Fund has already helped dozens with kerosene requests THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BY BRUCE MILLS U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jets prepare to take off at Osan U.S. Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, [email protected] on Monday. Hundreds of aircraft including two dozen stealth jets began training Monday as the United States and South Korea launched their combined air force exercise. It’s early December, and Fireside Fund is underway. The fund provides financial assistance to Sumter United tor Kevin Howell. Stealth jets, other aircraft fly Ministries’ Crisis Relief Min- Howell said because Sum- istry. In turn, the ministry ter is generally considered helps local families in need an older community, there through financial assistance are many old houses in the in U.S., South Korean drills with heating utilities in the area in disrepair and others fall and winter months. that are simple structures — SEOUL, South Korea (AP) massive combined air force target the eastern seaboard To date, random dips in such as block houses and sid- — Hundreds of aircraft in- exercise. The war games of the United States. overnight temperatures in the ing houses — with no interi- cluding two dozen stealth come a week after North The five-day drill, which area have caused increased or walls. Unfortunately, jets began training Monday Korea test fired its most is called Vigilant Ace, is pleas for help at Sumter Unit- many people still call these as the United States and powerful missile ever, an ed Ministries, according to South Korea launched a ICBM that may be able to SEE DRILLS, PAGE A7 Crisis Relief Ministry Direc- SEE FIRESIDE, PAGE A6 VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B4 WEATHER, A10 INSIDE Julia S. Brunson Charles E. Bennett THE RAIN RETURNS 2 SECTIONS, 16 PAGES the .com VOL. 123, NO. 33 Jannie Lee C. Daniels John Williams Periods of clouds and sun; Catherine McMillan David R. George Jr. a bit of late-night rain Classifieds B6 Sports B1 Ruth Clyburn Dorothy Smalls Comics A8 Television B5 Angela W. Fullwood James E. Parker HIGH 75, LOW 59 Opinion A9 WE HAVE A LARGE SELECTION OF diamond jewelry 41 E. Wesmark Blvd. • Sumter, SC 778-1031 If you didn’t buy fr om us, you ’re paying too much! Fine Jewelry for 37 year s A2 | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Festival of Celtic Tenors performing Saturday Trees begins Sumter is 1 of only Thursday 5 stops in the U.S. FROM STAFF REPORTS FROM STAFF REPORTS The Celtic Tenors will perform at Sumter Opera House on Saturday in With more than 40 trees on dis- one of only five stops in the U.S. The play, the annual Tuomey Founda- trio rarely tours in North America, tion Festival of Trees and Circle of and they’re only in the States for two Lights will kick off from 5:30 to weeks. 8:30 p.m. at La Piazza, the new City of Sumter Cultural Manager downtown courtyard on Main Seth Reimer said the Opera House is Street. Santa Claus will be on hand “thrilled to have them as part of our for photos. Main Stage Series. More than just This year's festival has expanded world-class artists, you’ll see their gen- to Main and Liberty streets with a uine love of music shine through each few trees decorating the inside of rendition of beautiful Celtic songs, ex- the hospital and the remainder in hilarating classics, popular contempo- storefronts in the downtown area. rary songs and Christmas favorites.” “It officially kicks off the holi- The singers are Matthew Gilsenan, day season for me,” Jeff Faw, exec- James Nelson and Daryl Simpson. As utive director of The Tuomey the Celtic Tenors, they have released Foundation, said in a news release. seven CDs on EMI, Telarc and Dara la- “Every tree is completely different. bels. Their eponymous first CD Most are unique to the local indus- reached double platinum in sales and try and decorated by local decora- rose to the top of charts in Ireland, tors as well.” Germany and the United Kingdom. In Sumter merchants provide space Germany, the Celtic Tenors won the for the trees in their store, and Echo Award for Best Classical Cross- decorators deck the trees. Each over Act. tree is sponsored at $1,000 by local Their latest recording, released in PHOTO PROVIDED businesses and organizations. The 2011, is “Feels Like Home.” The tenors Tickets for the Celtic Tenors concert can be purchased online at www.SumterOpera- Festival of Trees has been a tradi- will likely sing several selections from House.com or at the box office inside the Opera House. tion for 16 years and is one of the the CD, which includes “Going Home,” foundation’s largest fundraisers “Red Haired Mary,” “Dimming of the their CDs, “The Irish Tenors,” “We concert by the Celtic Tenors at Sumter for hospice care. The Foundation Day” and many others. Are Not Islands,” “Remember Me,” Opera House, 21 N. Main St., can be seeks to open a center for hospice “Anyone that comes to this show is “Hard Times” and “Feels Like Home” purchased online at www.SumterOper- care within the walls of the hospi- assured of a professional, festive and will be on sale in the Opera House aHouse.com or at the box office inside tal and eventually expand to a also good-humored performance when lobby. the Opera House. The charge for re- free-standing building to serve the these three take the stage,” Reimer See them singing the Irish tenor served seats is $35/$32/$29. Tickets for community’s hospice needs. This said. classic “Danny Boy” online at www. other shows are also available. will allow family members to Following the 7:30 p.m. performance, youtube.com/watch?v=ZSU11AjXYw8. For more information, call the Sum- spend time with their loved ones Celtic Tenors merchandise, including Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. Saturday ter Opera House at (803) 435-2616. in a quiet, intimate setting away from the busy hospital floor. “Currently, our Hospice Depart- ment provides care in the home setting and uses the hospital acute care setting and hospital staff SCDOR: Save gas receipts beginning January ’18 when we need to bring patients in for symptom management. This care would be better provided in a FROM STAFF REPORTS cle maintenance) beginning hospice house, using specialized According to a news re- in January 2018. hospice staff who are trained in lease from S.C. Department Fuel receipts or credit symptom management,” Kim of Revenue, January 2018 is card statements must Price, who is the regional clinical the time to start saving re- show the number of gal- director of Palmetto Health Hos- ceipts. lons purchased in S.C. dur- pice, said in the release. According A new income tax credit ing the tax year. to Price, the department saves all going into effect in January The maintenance invoic- of the money raised from The Fes- is intended to offset the in- es must show the car tival of Trees for the new addition, creased motor fuel user fee model, amount and type of except when important patient established by the S.C. In- preventative maintenance needs arise. frastructure and Economic work performed in S.C. “We want everyone to know that Development Reform Act. Fuel purchased outside the Tuomey Foundation provides The S.C. Infrastructure of S.C.