Roof Guilty on All Counts
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IN SPORTS: Lakewood boys basketball looking to improve on record season B1 SCIENCE What does a set of 3.7M-year-old footprints reveal? A5 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 75 cents District still trying to understand audit Roof guilty on all counts results, plot course Charleston church shooter could face death penalty BY JEFFREY COLLINS devastating crime in a country stared ahead, much as he did the BY BRUCE MILLS AND MEG KINNARD that was already deeply embroiled entire trial. Family members of [email protected] The Associated Press in racial tension. victims held hands and squeezed The same federal jury that one another’s arms. One woman Sumter School District Superinten- CHARLESTON — Dylann Roof found Roof guilty of all 33 counts nodded her head every time the dent Frank Baker said Thursday he will was convicted Thursday in the will reconvene next month to hear clerk said “guilty.” implement a board member’s recom- chilling slaughter of nine black more testimony and weigh wheth- Roof, 22, told FBI agents he mendation to change the district’s finan- church members who had wel- er to sentence him to death. As cial reporting system immediately, but comed him to their Bible study, a the verdict was read, Roof just SEE ROOF, PAGE A3 he said he still can’t even estimate the year-to-date general fund balance. The change comes after Certified Pub- lic Accountant Robin Poston presented her official audit report Monday night at the board’s scheduled meeting, detailing the school district went more than $6.2 March honors fallen friend million over budget last fiscal year and ended the fiscal year with a fund balance Friends and of $106,449 — a “critically low level” in family of Waltki her opinion. Williams march Baker said Thursday, per a recommen- down Bultman dation from board member Johnny Hilton Drive on Thursday SEE DISTRICT, PAGE A10 evening to remember his life. The group marched from the Sumter Mall The Sumter Item to CCTC. KEITH GEDAMKE / cuts ribbon at THE SUMTER ITEM new location About 50 take to street after man killed in police shooting BY JIM HILLEY outside agitators and per- Instead of a protest ries with “no comment” [email protected] ceived threats of violence march, however, about or “not right now.” may have been under- 50 family and friends of As the sun set, march- PHOTO PROVIDED Police shootings of standable. Williams huddled to- ers signed posters in The Sumter Item officially opened its doors young black males have Williams was killed Dec. gether in a biting-cold memory of Williams and Thursday with a Greater Sumter Chamber of led to protest marches 10 after he reportedly wind to march in Wil- waited to march from Commerce ribbon cutting. Members of the across the country, and made threats against a liams’ memory. Sumter Mall to the corner Osteen family were present at the ribbon some of the marches have former girlfriend at Sum- Few of the marchers of Miller Road and S. cutting along with community leaders and provoked violent, even ter Mall. A police chase wished to talk. Guignard Drive, tracing politicians. The oldest family business in tragic, incidents. ensued, ending with Wil- “I am here to honor Williams’ route in his Sumter has been operating continually since When word of a march liams dead after what po- memories of my friend and final moments. 1894. The new office is located at 36 W. Lib- planned in Sumter in lice described as an “ex- brother Waltki,” one said. The Rev. James Blass- erty St., site of the former Osteen-Davis memory of Waltki Cer- change of gunfire” near “This is for my cousin,” ingame of Mount Zion building and Santee Lynches Council of Gov- moun Williams spread on the Central Carolina Tech- said another. ernments. Facebook, thoughts of nical College campus. Most answered inqui- SEE MARCH, PAGE A3 TOMMY R. MIMS — 1940 - 2016 Sumter loses former sheriff, dedicated public servant Tommy R. Mims, former Sumter iff in 1988 and retired from the sher- He was the same at home as he was Diane Mims encourages others to County sheriff, known for his dedica- iff’s office in 2004. However, he re- anywhere else, she said. He didn’t read the passage as it may also bring tion to the community and his faith, joined the agency in 2011 as a court- argue and he didn’t fuss, she said. them comfort. passed away on Wednesday morning room liaison for the sher- And whether he was known as a Mims’ son, Tom, said his father’s at the age of 76. iff’s office. husband, father, sheriff, good friend or love for his family and community Mims first joined the sheriff’s office He retired a second acquaintance, Mims was always a was exemplified in his years of dedi- in September 1965 when he was 25 time in September dur- Christian man who put God into every cated service to the people of Sumter years old and spent more than 40 ing his battle with pan- aspect of his life, she said. County. “He loved everybody,” he said. years in the law-enforcement field. creatic cancer. Diane Mims said her husband loved Tom Mims said he learned the char- He was sworn in as a deputy during Mims was a father of the Lord and lived by his word. acteristics of a good husband and fa- a time when there were fewer than 20 MIMS two, Jennifer McMahon She said his favorite scripture was ther while fishing, hunting and doing officers, 40-hour work weeks did not and Tom Mims, and a James 1:1-6. It was a very important work around the house when he was exist and officers had to purchase grandfather of seven. part of his life, she said. The passage growing up. many of their own supplies. He was a wonderful father and hus- urges readers to be patient and asks Sumter Mayor Joe McElveen, Mims’ Mims, the 103rd deputy hired at the band, and he loved his community, God for wisdom during difficult sheriff’s office, was then elected sher- said Diane Mims, Tommy Mims’ wife. times. SEE MIMS, PAGE A10 VISIT US ONLINE AT CONTACT US DEATHS, B6 WEATHER, A12 INSIDE Information: 774-1200 Robert Lee Welch COLDER 2 SECTIONS, 22 PAGES the .com Advertising: 774-1246 Earliest Jackson Chilly today with sun and VOL. 122, NO. 45 Classifieds: 774-1234 Moise Willis some clouds, no chance Classifieds B7 Delivery: 774-1258 Vareck H. Brown News and Sports: 774-1226 of rain; tonight, cold with Comics A4 Raymond A. Walker rain and drizzle late. John Askew Opinion A11 HIGH 43, LOW 33 Television A8-A9 25-50% Off We guar antee to save you mon ey! Diamond Rings Jewelry Wholesale 41 E. Wesmark Blvd. • Sumter, SC 778-1031 25% Off Diamond Stud Earrings Fine Jewelry for 36 year s A2 | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] New industry to bring 70 jobs to Clarendon County BY KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY Hiring for the new positions will assistance,” he said. with the company and wished them [email protected] begin in late February or early March, “We made the decision to locate in much success. he said. South Carolina because in this state “It is with open arms that we wel- ProBrass Inc., a startup firm spe- The company was co-founded a few pro-business is not a bland statement come a new corporate citizen to our cializing in the manufacturing and re- years ago by two military veterans but a hard core reality,” Moe said. growing industrial base,” Stewart manufacturing of rifle brass cartridge from Rhode Island and Illinois, Chris- “We’ve benefited enormously from the said. “The entrepreneurial spirit is cases, announced its intention on topher Moe, chief executive officer, rapid response to our needs, round- alive and well in Clarendon County.” Thursday to establish a facility in and Tim Baxter, chief operating offi- the-clock assistance in our location Gov. Nikki Haley said anytime a Clarendon County. The company cer. search and continuous support from company decides to invest in one of plans to create 70 new jobs, according Moe said he prefers filling the posi- various governmental agencies. We the state’s rural counties, it shows a to a news release from South Carolina tions with veterans, including disabled are truly grateful for all the support commitment to the state that she Department of Commerce. veterans. and feel most welcome.” couldn’t be more grateful for. The facility will be located at 9104 The company plans to sell its prod- Moe said Clarendon County is an “ProBrass Inc.’s decision to choose Alex Harvin Highway in Summerton, ucts through distributors specializing ideal location because of the facility it- South Carolina as the place to begin across the road from Scott’s Branch in consumer ammunition, he said. self, the availability of the workforce its business is a testament to our com- Middle-High School. The current goal is to produce about and its proximity to Interstate 95. petitive business environment and our Clarendon County Development 200 million cases per year, he said. Kosinski said he is ecstatic that the world-class workforce,” Haley said. Board Executive Director George Ko- Moe said there are a number of company chose Clarendon County. “Our workforce has made a name for sinski said he expects the plant to be reasons why South Carolina and spe- “This is a project we’ve been work- itself as one of the best in the world.” fully operational within a year.