AL state tourney runner-up will join champion in Southeast region TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2018 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 75 cents B1 Committee to discuss grievance FOIA: Manning employee can request matter to be in open session at today’s meeting BY SHARRON HALEY regarding a grievance. recently approved an ordi- tired South Carolina High- journment. Special to The Sumter Item The three-member com- nance giving the commit- way Patrol captain, as in- While executive sessions mittee is comprised of tee the power to fire the po- terim police chief. are held behind closed MANNING — Manning’s Manning Mayor Julia Nel- lice chief, which it did on Four items are listed on doors, any vote or action newly restructured Public son, Mayor Pro-tem Sherry July 11. After voting to fire the agenda: a call to order, that arises from that execu- Safety Committee will hold A. Welle and Councilman Blair Shaffer, the three an executive session, possi- tive session is mandated by a meeting this afternoon to Clayton Pack. committee members ap- ble action following the ex- SHAFFER discuss a personnel matter Manning City Council pointed Keith Grice, a re- ecutive session and the ad- SEE MANNING, PAGE A7 Now playing, still ‘We try to provide the best customer service possible.’ DESIREÉ CREDLE Store manager, Family Video PHOTOS BY MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM Store Manager Desireé Credle, right, and employees Michaela Stukes and Kathryn Gibson are seen at Family Video on Liber- ty Street on Thursday. TOP LEFT: Michaela Stukes restocks shelves at Family Video on Thursday. Family Video in Sumter defies technology with customer service BY DANNY KELLY seems to be undeterred by advanc- ence that you get.” [email protected] es and changes in technology, cit- Also, sometimes Netflix or other ing customer service as a reason services don’t have certain movies why patrons keep coming back to that customers are looking for. It any may say movie rent- physically rent movies and games. often takes streaming services longer al stores have become “They just like the interaction to get new releases. with us,” store manager Desireé obsolete. Now, with rent- M Credle said. “We try to provide the SEE FAMILY VIDEO, PAGE A7 al kiosks such as Red Box and best customer service possible.” There are still 703 Family Video online services such as Netflix, stores nationwide, according to Amazon Prime and Hulu, it is the company’s website, including seven in South Carolina. easy, convenient and cheap to do FFAAMIMILYLY VIDDEO Credle says there are advantages SUSUMTERER all your movie watching and when one decides to come into a video store instead of renting online. streaming online, with an app Addrd esss:s 7 N. Guuiggnaardd “The advantage is you actually DrD ivve or without entering a store. talk to somebody about a movie Phhono e:e: (8003)) 7788-996998 that you’re looking at to rent,” Cre- Hoouru s:s Sunu daay toto As possible evidence, a Block- dle said. “When you’re on Netflix TThursds ayy, 1111 a.mm. too 10 buster in Oregon is the only brick- and Hulu, you’re only reading p.p m.m ; FrF idayy andd Sataturrdadayy, and-mortar branch of that chain the caption that they 1100 a.m.m. toto 11 p.p mm. store left in the United States. have. But to actually However, the Family Video on the hear it come from corner of West Liberty Street and somebody, it’s differ- North Guignard Drive in Sumter ent; it’s the experi- Just tough Trump tweeting? U.S. ratchets up Iran pressure BY MATTHEW LEE regime change. ans to rise up in protest. demonstrating against the Iran would be “the mother of and ZEKE MILLER No one is predicting immi- Both the tweet and the policies of their government. all wars.” Yet animosity di- The Associated Press nent war. But Trump’s belli- speech landed less than two Trump’s tweet doesn’t ap- rected at the Iranian leader- cose, all-caps challenge ad- weeks before the administra- pear to have been prompted ship is an established part of WASHINGTON — President dressed to President Hassan tion will begin re-imposing by any notable shift in rheto- the administration’s broader Donald Trump’s explosive Rouhani followed a speech by sanctions on Iran that had ric from Iran. foreign policy. Twitter threat to Iran’s leader Secretary of State Mike Pom- been lifted under the 2015 nu- It could have been an impul- Iran publicly shrugged off comes as his administration is peo in which he accused clear deal. In the meantime, sive reaction to reports from Trump’s late Sunday message ratcheting up a pressure cam- Iran’s leadership of massive the U.S. is stepping up Farsi- Tehran quoting Rouhani as — “NEVER EVER THREATEN paign on the Islamic republic corruption and widespread language outreach that is in- giving the U.S. an oft-repeated that many suspect is aimed at rights abuses and urged Irani- tended to support Iranians reminder that conflict with SEE IRAN, PAGE A7 VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B6 WEATHER, A10 INSIDE Lillie Alberta McCoy Hucks Bessie McKnight STORMY AGAIN 2 SECTIONS, 18 PAGES the .com VOL. 123, NO. 197 Yvonne Robertson Marx Robertha Harrison Brown A couple of storms possible Debra Boatwright Jett Eddie Deas III today; some clouds with a Classifieds B7 Sports B1 Charles E. Skey Johnny Ray Lowery storm tonight and humid Comics B6 Television A8 Paul G. Hostetler Elizabeth Moses HIGH 86, LOW 70 Opinion A9 A2 | TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2018 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] County council Santee-Lynches council brings to consider final vote on dignity, compassion to seniors feather flags Sumter agency shares information on programs at council meeting FROM STAFF REPORTS Sumter County Council will BY ADRIENNE SARVIS who will go to those nursing homes meet at 6 p.m. today in County [email protected] FOR MORE INFORMATION and investigate cases of abuse or ne- Council Chambers, Sumter For information about services offered glect and turn that information over County Administration Build- Life for some seniors is made easier through Santee-Lynches Health and Human to the appropriate authorities, she ing, 13 E. Canal St., to consid- with the assistance of caregivers, but Services and Area Agency on Aging, go to said. er: for seniors who do not receive full- santeelynchescog.org, call (803) 774-1376 or The agency also has a Friendly Visi- • Third and final reading of time care, Santee-Lynches Regional email Connie Munn at [email protected]. tor program that sends volunteers to a request to amend portions of Council of Governments Health and nursing homes to visit with residents, the county's development stan- Human Services Department is avail- she said. dards ordinance to allow cer- able to help seniors through what The Health and Human Services "Those are our eyes out in the nurs- tain fluttering devices, includ- could be the most stressful moments Department also has trained asses- ing homes," Munn said. A lot of times ing feather flags, in the coun- of their lives. sors who can evaluate a senior's home a person is less inclined to commit ty; "Our mission is mainly trying to en- to determine his or her needs and de- abuse or neglect if he or she knows • Second reading of a re- hance the independence and improve termine what services he or she can someone is watching, she said. quest to rezone a 1.9-acre por- the health of our seniors that live in receive based on a priority score, she Santee-Lynches also looks out for tion of a 4.85-acre tract at 3425 the region," said Connie Munn, chief said. seniors' caregivers by providing re- Thomas Sumter Highway from health and human services and area The agency can also map where ser- spite for family caregivers, she said. general commercial to resi- agency on aging director, during vices are distributed and where ser- The Family Caregivers Program dential-9. In lieu of rezoning Sumter City Council's meeting on vices are needed, she said. gives caregivers who provide 24/7 the property, council may con- July 17. That's key for the 60-and-older pop- care for someone who has Alzheim- sider a zoning ordinance So often seniors are not given a ulation, she said, to ensure seniors er's or dementia a break, she said. amendment to add standalone choice, but Santee-Lynches' goal is for are treated with the dignity they de- "If you've never been a caregiver be- cemeteries to the general com- seniors to have the power to choose serve. fore, I can promise you everyone in mercial zoning district as rec- what services they receive, she said. And though Santee-Lynches does this room will be one one day," Munn ommended by Sumter Plan- "Our vision is to have an enhanced not provide all of the services itself said. And it is a daunting situation to ning Commission, according quality of life for our seniors," she such as legal counseling and sending be in, she said. to the agenda from Sumter said. meals to seniors, Munn said it does This program is not a replacement County. A public hearing will The role of Santee-Lynches — have contracts and partnerships with for the family caregivers but just of- be held prior to council's vote; whose employees are certified in their other agencies that can help. fers some help because if caregivers • Second reading of a re- respective programs — is to assist se- Among the many services the agen- don't take care of themselves, they quest to amend the ordinance niors through the maze of finding ser- cy does provide are insurance coun- will not be able to take care of their for a planned development at vices that fit them, Munn said.