IN SPORTS: Crimson Tide, Georgia ’Dawgs battle for national championship B1 Law enforcement split over reselling of confiscated guns TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2018 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 75 cents A6 Surveillance footage shows store break-in BY KAYLA ROBINS Bell said the suspects were [email protected] WATCH only inside for about 20 sec- To watch the video onds and were gone when surveillance footage of deputies arrived about three Video surveillance from a the break-in, find this story online at minutes after they received an reported break-in at a Piggly www.theitem.com. alarm. Wiggly grocery store in Sum- This store has not been tar- ter County on late Saturday geted before, Bell said, though night appears to show three public information officer for last spring or early summer a men using sledge hammers the Sumter County Sheriff’s man reportedly broke into a and crowbars to force their Office. string of businesses along way inside. While they caused about Broad Street by breaking the The three suspects report- $1,000 in damage, Bell said, glass door. edly broke through the glass the suspects did not find any “He’s in jail,” Bell said. door of the South Sumter money and fled without swip- “We’re hoping someone will PHOTO PROVIDED branch at the intersection of ing anything. recognize their shoes or man- One of three suspects is shown in this surveillance footage of a break- U.S. 15 South and Guignard “Apparently, they thought nerisms, etc.” in at the Piggly Wiggly grocery store at the intersection of U.S. 15 Drive about 2:50 a.m. on Sun- cash was kept in the office at South and Guignard Drive. day according to Ken Bell, night,” he said. SEE BREAK-IN, PAGE A7 2017 U.S. weather disasters hit $306 billion S.C. among 5 states with warmest year recorded since 1895 WASHINGTON (AP) — With three strong hurricanes, wildfires, hail, flooding, tornadoes and drought, the United States tallied a record high bill last year for weather disasters: $306 billion. The U.S. had 16 disasters last year with damage exceeding a billion dol- lars, the National Oceanic and Atmo- spheric Administration said Monday. That ties 2011 for the number of bil- lion-dollar disasters, but the total cost blew past the previous record of $215 billion in 2005. Costs are adjusted for inflation, and NOAA keeps track of billion-dollar weather disasters going back to 1980. Three of the five most expensive hurricanes in U.S. history hit last year. Hurricane Harvey, which caused massive flooding in Texas, cost $125 billion, second only to 2005's Katrina, while Maria's damage in Puerto Rico cost $90 billion, ranking third, NOAA said. Irma was $50 billion, mainly in Florida, for the fifth most expensive hurricane. ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO Highways around downtown Houston are empty as floodwaters from Tropical Storm Harvey overflow from the bayous around the SEE DISASTERS, PAGE A7 city on Aug. 29, 2017. Coldest months bring more requests for heating help BY BRUCE MILLS tor Kevin Howell welcomes clients, "Some say they have never had to [email protected] staff and volunteers by saying a heart- ask for help before, or even that they felt prayer, she said. That prayer usu- are ashamed to have to ask," Garrick People are back at work after Christ- ally includes asking God to be present said. "When that happens, we always mas and New Year's, kids are back in that day and for a spirit of love and try to assure them it's OK ­— everyone providing assistance for more than 40 years school, and most people are back on compassion at the center for everyone needs a little help sometimes, and they Dedicated to the memory of Tommy Mims their regular schedules. involved, according to Garrick. don't have to feel that way." Winter, however, is just Garrick said she believes that At this time, Garrick said she usual- getting started in Sumter, Garrick said the ministry is thank- prayer sets the tone for the clients' ly explains to clients that the money noted Diane Garrick, of- ful for the Fireside Fund, coordinated time at the center. used to assist people at the Crisis Re- fice manager at Sumter by The Sumter Item, to help families "After the prayer, there are usually lief Ministry is donated —via the Fire- United Ministries. with identified needs. a few 'Amens,' shoulders relax, and side Fund — by churches, businesses, According to Garrick, "Our assistance may be given as you can even see the relief on some of families, schools, clubs, groups and in- GARRICK since January and Febru- help paying for a natural gas or pro- the clients' faces," Garrick said. dividuals in Sumter who truly care ary are typically the cold- pane bill, buying kerosene, paying an At sign-in, many staff and volun- about others in the community. est months of the year in electric bill or purchasing electric teers try to make eye contact with cli- "I don't think many people realize Sumter, the Crisis Relief Ministry at space heaters to offset the cost of elec- ents and offer them a smile to put the amazing, caring community we Sumter United Ministries is busiest at tric heat," Garrick said. them a little more at ease, according to have here in Sumter County," Garrick this time with requests for heating as- Garrick detailed how each day at the Garrick. She said staff and volunteers said. "The only reason we can open sistance. ministry begins. are truly happy to help those who our doors each day is because of the Families come in Monday through Each day begins with a sign-in regis- come in for assistance. Thursday each week needing help to tration at 9 a.m., she said. For some clients, it's hard to ask keep their homes warm. Then, Crisis Relief Ministry Direc- anyone for help. SEE FIRESIDE FUND, PAGE A7 VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B4 Elizabeth Messersmith Perry Segars WEATHER, A8 INSIDE Mary Epps Culley Joseph G. Wilt GRAB A LIGHT JACKET 2 SECTIONS, 16 PAGES the .com VOL. 123, NO. 58 Janie G. Adger Jason B. Brown Mostly cloudy skies today Charles Peterson David E. Oliver but not as cool as yesterday. Daily Planner A10 Sports B1 Serena Louard Karen Wilson Rain is unlikely. Classifieds B6 Opinion A9 Eugene Cantey Anthony Green Annette Price Rosa Lee Osborne HIGH 57, LOW 40 Comics A8 Television B5 Dorothy Baker Moore William Myers A2 | TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2018 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] S.C. House GOP focuses on nukes, retirement reform BY MEG KINNARD proved six bills to stop customers from win-win." ents of students meeting certain eligi- The Associated Press being charged $37 million a month for State and federal authorities are bility qualifications, such as students the scuttled reactors and refund at probing the $9 billion failure, which re- with diagnosed disabilities or who are COLUMBIA — House Republicans least some of that money. sulted in thousands of job losses. in foster care. Under the proposal, will open this year's legislative session Now, for Simrill, it's important to Simrill said that he's also prioritiz- funds may only be used by parents on by finding ways to protect consumers brief House members who weren't in- ing continued reforms of the state re- an approved list of services and pro- after a costly nuclear power plant de- volved in that debate on the legisla- tirement system, hoping to fix short- viders to customize their child's educa- bacle left South Carolinians billions of tion. Simrill said his caucus will begin comings uncovered in an audit. tion. dollars out of pocket, according to discussions this week, and they're "One of the things you always hear A plan to combat the state's opioid their leader. hopeful that floor action could begin as is, you don't earn as much money in crisis also will be a GOP legislative pri- House Majority Leader Gary Simrill early as next week. state government, but you have a good ority, Simrill said. told The Associated Press on Monday Virginia-based Dominion Energy retirement system," Simrill said. "Then In an op-ed over the weekend, House that GOP lawmakers are focusing on has proposed a $14.6 billion takeover you start looking into that system and Democratic Leader Todd Rutherford bills that lower utility rates and pre- of SCANA, which could result in realize, (it's) subject to failure." laid out his party's priorities, including vent consumers from paying more to- major refunds for customers. Simrill An entitlement reform proposal reducing the state income tax and ex- ward the failed V.C. Summer nuclear said the pending deal could be good for would codify a system already en- panding gambling and medical mari- project. the state, but it doesn't affect lawmak- forced administratively by the state juana. Last year, lawmakers took testimony ers' responsibility to do right by those Department of Social Services, requir- Meanwhile, Gov. Henry McMaster from executives from project co-own- customers. ing able-bodied adults to actively seek on Monday unveiled his $8 billion ex- ers SCANA Corp. and Santee Cooper, "We're beholden to the ratepayers of work in order to receive food stamp ecutive budget proposal, which in- as well as ratepayers angry that they'd South Carolina," Simrill told AP on benefits. cludes cutting all income tax rates by 1 been stuck with billions of dollars in Monday.