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Trump says ‘all options are on table’ after launch A8 3 days of bluegrass coming up SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 C1 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017 $1.00 Keep an eye on Atlantic for storms, be prepared Meteorologists track systems as hurricane season ramps up BY JIM HILLEY sure system near the faraway in the next 48 hours and a 90 [email protected] Cape Verde Islands. percent chance in the next five “There is a pretty good days. While the nation’s eyes are chance in the next couple of That area of the Atlantic is a fixed on the immense and still- days of it forming into a tropi- common place for storms to de- developing tragedy in Texas cal cyclone,” said Meteorologist velop, said Dennis Felton of and Louisiana wrought by Hur- Chris Rohrbach from the Na- NHC. SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO ricane Harvey, coastal residents tional Weather Service in Co- “This time of year, from early Rob Dinkins is seen with a few of the many toys and may want to keep in mind that lumbia. to mid-August all the way to advertising signs collected by his stepfather, T.J. the hurricane season is far According to the National mid-September, these tropical Player, over more than 50 years. He’ll auction them from over. Hurricane Center’s Tropical waves come off of Africa about off with other memorabilia at Dinkins Auction Barn If they need a reminder, they Weather Outlook, Invest 93L every three days,” Felton said. on Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. can glance across the Atlantic has an 80 percent chance of de- Ocean to Invest 93L, a low-pres- veloping into a tropical cyclone SEE STORMS, PAGE A7 2nd ‘Pickers’ 25 years of the Teddy Bear Parade auction will feature toys, advertising BY IVY MOORE [email protected] The second of four auctions of items from the estate of the late T.J. and Nancy Player will be held Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. at Din- kins Auction Barn, by the flea market on U.S. 378 East (Myrtle Beach Highway). The estate was featured on the “American Pickers” TV show on May 15 in an episode titled “Tunnels and Treasures.” So large is the Player estate, collected over more than 50 years, that Rob Dinkins, son of Nancy Player, has divided it into four auctions, each held on the first Saturday of the month through Nov. 4. From left, Alice Drive Elementary School first- SEE AUCTION, PAGE A7 grade students Ayden Lloyd, Avery Pritchard and Elise Graves display their stuffed animals Friday at the annual Teddy Bear Parade. The school has been celebrating the last day of the first week of school for first-graders with the parade for more than 25 years. Committee proposed idea to borrow less District will use leftover money for its capital projects this year From left, Alice Drive Elementary School first-grade students Ayden BY BRUCE MILLS Lloyd, Avery Pritchard and Elise [email protected] Graves display their stuffed ani- mals Friday at the annual Teddy It was insight from the school board’s adviso- Bear Parade. The school has been ry finance committee that influenced Sumter celebrating the last day of the first School District’s Board of Trustees to decide week of school for first-graders Monday night to borrow less money in an up- with the parade for more than 25 coming bond resolution to pay for capital proj- years. ects for this year. New district Chief Financial Officer Chris Griner explained after Monday’s board meet- Alice Drive Elementary School first- ing why the trustees unanimously approved a grade student Wesley Closson, 6, motion from fellow board member Johnny Hil- gives “Puppy” a hug in the hallway ton to direct district staff this week to decrease before the start of the annual new money to be borrowed by about $3 million parade on Friday. in a standard 8 percent bond resolution. In- stead of borrowing about $11 million in new PHOTOS BY RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM money to pay for this year’s capital projects — such as instructional technology needs and school maintenance/operational needs — the district will only borrow about $8 million, ac- cording to Griner. The 8 percent bond resolu- tion is the most-common mechanism for school SEE DISTRICT, PAGE A7 VISIT US ONLINE AT CONTACT US DEATHS, B5 WEATHER, A10 INSIDE Information: 774-1200 Martha Ann M. Wright STAYING COOLER 3 SECTIONS, 20 PAGES the .com Advertising: 774-1246 Brenda Lee Figueroa VOL. 122, NO. 227 Classifieds: 774-1200 Times of clouds and sun; a Levan Wilson storm in spots late is possible Classifieds B6 Sports B1 Delivery: 774-1258 Micheal D. Ledwell Comics C2 Television C3 News and Sports: 774-1226 Alex DuBose Jr. HIGH 83, LOW 69 Lila May T. Cobb Opinion A9 A2 | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] State: Be on the lookout for fake charities Here are a few tips to ensure do- its name alone because some phony Find out their mission and history, Take care when nations get to those in need: charities use names that sound or and do not be afraid to ask to receive • Seek out a charity that needs look like those of respected, legiti- details in writing; giving donations for your support. Be cautious of groups mate organizations; • Do not provide personal or finan- that may approach you. Get more in- • If you receive a call from a profes- cial information to cold callers. This hurricane victims formation on a particular charity by sional solicitor, they must disclose the includes your Social Security num- visiting the S.C. Secretary of State’s following at the time of the call: the ber, credit card and bank account FROM STAFF REPORTS Office at www.sos.sc.gov or by calling fact that he or she is a paid solicitor; numbers. Scam artists can use this 1-888-CHARITI (242-7484); the name, location and purpose of the information to commit fraud. When South Carolina Secretary of State • Donate to well-known charities, charity; and the true, registered name in doubt, hang up; and Mark Hammond advises consumers and watch out for charities that have of the professional fundraising organi- • Do not give or send cash. For se- to be on the lookout for fake chari- sprung up overnight. They may zation he or she works for; curity and tax-record purposes, con- ties in the coming weeks as they mean well, but lack the infrastruc- • Know where the money is going. tribute by check or credit card and search for ways to help victims of ture to provide assistance. Do not as- Ask what percentage of your contri- write the official name of the charity Hurricane Harvey. sume a charity is legitimate based on bution goes to the charitable cause. on your check. Duke Energy Pinewood Road McDonald’s closed for renovations on standby for hurricane recovery BY JIM HILLEY [email protected] Duke Energy Progress and Duke Energy are in “standby mode” to provide assistance to utilities that will be dealing with recovery efforts in Texas and Louisiana, said Duke En- ergy spokesman Ryan Mosier on Tuesday. Mosier said the utilities are part of the Southeastern Elec- tric Exchange, which is a mu- tual assistance organization that coordinates the response when utilities in the re- gion need help from other com- MOSIER panies. “Whenever utilities have major damage from a storm, sister utilities from the re- gion are often asked to re- spond,” Mosier said. “That works out well so that you can bring in resources from your sister systems in time of need.” Mosier said Duke Energy has participated in planning calls with the exchange and is involved in conversations. “They have not asked specif- RHONDA BARRICK / THE SUMTER ITEM ically for our assistance yet,” Workers begin renovations on McDonald’s at 360 Pinewood Road on Tuesday. The restaurant is one of the traditional free-standing U.S. he said. restaurants that is being updated with a new look and new technology. The restaurant is expected to reopen this fall. He said Duke Energy has re- leased about 100 contractors from its Florida utility so they can go to Texas to assist in the recovery. “Right now we are standing Man pleads guilty to theft of public money by and being part of the con- versation, but there is not FROM STAFF REPORTS a $19,800 loan from United States De- to the release, Elmore instead used the much to be done until we are partment of Agriculture Farm Ser- money for his own purposes. asked to,” Mosier said. vice Agency office in Bishopville to Elmore defaulted on both loans and “We are talking about feet of According to a news release from purchase two John Deere tractors, a damaged, destroyed, removed, or sold water and with infrastructure United States Attorney of the District John Deere grain head implement the collateral for the irrigation sys- underground, you just really of South Carolina Beth Drake, Pres- and a John Deere corn head imple- tem and the generator. can’t do anything until the ton Alexander Elmore, 35, of Bishop- ment from his parents. Attorney Drake stated that the max- water goes away,” he said. ville, pleaded guilty in federal court However, he did not use the loan imum penalty Elmore faces is 10 years in Columbia on Tuesday to theft of money to make these purchases, ac- imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.

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