IN SPORTS: Sumter, Lakewood teams open hoops season B1 LOCAL You can say Y.E.S. to a student to take part in the arts TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 75 cents A3 Experts: Rain won’t ease drought much NWS says this week’s weather won’t put significant dent in state’s worsening conditions BY JIM HILLEY long-term drought relief in “Just because it’s going to conditions continue to wors- region, NWS said. [email protected] the eastern portion of the Pal- rain, it doesn’t mean it’s going en across the western Mid- Very dry conditions contin- metto State, said Rich Okuls- to put a significant dent in the lands and north-central Sa- ue over much of Georgia with Rain predicted to fall in ki, meteorologist in charge of ongoing drought,” he said. vannah River area in Geor- much of northern, central South Carolina beginning to- the National Weather Service On Nov. 22, NWS issued a gia. The drought has led to night will do little to offer in Columbia. statement saying drought numerous forest fires in the SEE DROUGHT, PAGE A6 SHS grad breaks into movie industry Mulvaney says Trump policies are uncertain BY JIM HILLEY [email protected] U.S. Rep. Mick Mulvaney said he has “no idea” what policies Donald Trump will pursue as president. “You can look at some things he said on the campaign trail and find instances where he said the exact opposite,” Mul- vaney said as he addressed Sumter Rotary Club on Mon- day during a luncheon at the O’Donnell House in Sumter. He said he did expect the new president to spend his first hours in office rescinding exec- utive orders issued by Presi- dent Obama. “Those are easy for an in- coming president to undo,” he said. The Republican representing the Fifth Congressional District said he will be able to get a lot of things done for his constitu- ents he couldn’t do during the PHOTO PROVIDED Obama administration. John DeLuca, as “Chet,” and Maddy Curley as “Apple” talk in a scene from the movie “Chalk It Up,” produced and co-written by Sumter “If you have something that High graduate Brooke Buffington. is impacting your business, let me know,” he said. Buffington helped ute movie in ating from SHS in 1997, has Case” and the movie “Stick Now re-elected for a fourth 12 days can be long had an interest in It” starring Jeff Bridges. term in the House of Represen- write the script for screen writing, she said. Together, Buffington and tatives, Mulvaney said to ex- “maddening.” Eventually, she partnered Curley had produced two pect the House to be in session film she produced with actress and screen short films and a portfolio “non-stop” from Jan. 3, 2017, “A lot of peo- writer Maddy Curley to of pilot scripts for TV, Buff- into March. BY JIM HILLEY BUFFING- ple have to work work on the script which be- ington said. He said Congress will make [email protected] TON together to came “Chalk it Up,” a movie When she is not teaming heavy use of the 1996 Congres- make what you about a rejected college up with Curley to write, sional Review Bill, which was umter High School see on screen,” she said. “girly girl” who begins a Buffington is the associate part of former Speaker of the Buffington, who accepted gymnastics team at her col- director of career services House Newt Gingrich’s “Con- graduate Brooke an athletic scholarship to lege to impress her ex-boy- at Elon University, a private, tract with America.” Buffington said join the gymnastics team at friend. Curley has appeared liberal arts school in Elon, The act allows Congress to S University of North Caroli- in numerous TV series such filming an entire 90-min- na-Chapel Hill after gradu- as “Olympia” and “Cold SEE MOVIE, PAGE A5 SEE POLICIES, PAGE A6 Heating fuel can be an immediate need for many in the area BY JIM HILLEY Hunter said. “Some clients even use Ministry interviews clients for every [email protected] portable propane tanks that connect type of heat source imaginable. to a pipe inside to heat their homes.” “In most cases, we are readily avail- Though some people in Sumter In each case, when the supply has able to assist in a short time span to County have heating that is 100 per- been used, the need becomes immedi- ensure that clients will have the heat cent electric and paid on a monthly ate. they need,” Hunter said. “Without fi- basis, many residents use heating “Unlike monthly utility bills, these nancial assistance, many Sumter sources which are paid on an “as- customers will have no heat source County residents would go without needed” basis, said Sumter United “Many of our clients use kerosene without urgent assistance,” Hunter heat for periods of time.” Ministries Director’s Assistant Kathy for true, radiant heat in mobile homes said. Hunter. and older houses that are drafty,” She said the charity’s Crisis Relief SEE FIRESIDE, PAGE A6 VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B6 WEATHER, A8 INSIDE Linda Church Schnur Henry C. Janis James E. Fulton Sr. WARM TODAY 3 SECTIONS, 20 PAGES the .com VOL. 122, NO. 34 James W. Levine Jr. Little Daniel Rodriguez Annie Jean Shannon An afternoon or Helen D. Billie Sonie Walker Rebecca D. Oliver evening shower or Classifieds B8 Television B7 Barbara D. Harkins Loman Brooks Jr. Bernard Magazine storm with partly cloudy Comics C4 USA Today C1 Pearl S. Dennis Sallie W. Abraham James Thompson skies tonight Opinion A7 HIGH 78, LOW 63 Jewelry Wholesale OUR TRADITION 41 E. Wesmark Blvd. • Sumter, SC 778-1031 Fine Jewelry for 36 Years We guarantee to save you money! A2 | TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Friday house fire victim in critical condition BY ADRIENNE SARVIS tion. David Clea has since they were flown to Georgia. ered a total loss with approx- home and $23,000 in contents [email protected] been treated for his injuries Benjamin was transported imately $12,000 in damage were saved, according to the and released, according to from the scene by Sumter and $10,000 in lost contents. incident report. REMBERT — One of the Lynthia Owens, a represen- County Emergency Medical According to the report, The call for the fire came victims of a house fire in the tative in the Joseph M. Still Services and received treat- the cause of the fire is unde- in about 8:30 p.m., and fire- 4100 block of Victoria Pol- Burn Center media depart- ment for minor burns and termined. fighters arrived about 8:55 lard Road in Rembert on Fri- ment. smoke inhalation from local Another house fire on Fri- p.m. and had the fire under day is in critical condition at According to an incident health care professionals. day in the 2000 block of control at approximately 9:45 Joseph M. Still Burn Center report from Sumter Fire De- When firefighters arrived Goodman Road in Lynch- p.m. in Augusta, Georgia, after partment, Sarah Benjamin, at 3:18 a.m., the 1,200-square- burg resulted in approxi- It was determined that the she was burned during the the Cleas’ daughter, removed foot mobile home was heavi- mately $15,000 in damage to blaze started as a grease fire early morning blaze. the couple from the resi- ly involved, and a portion of the structure and about in the kitchen that later Alpha Clea, 74, and her dence after she discovered the structure had collapsed. $2,000 in lost contents, ac- spread to a portion of the husband, 78-year-old David the house was on fire. She Firefighters had the blaze cording to an incident re- attic. Clea, were flown to the burn then took her parents to under control about 6:45 port. No injuries were reported center for their injuries that Kershaw County Medical a.m. Approximately $25,000 of at the time the incident re- also include smoke inhala- Center in Camden before The structure is consid- the 1,600-square-foot mobile port was completed. STATE BRIEF 1 injured in rollover wreck FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS Church shooting suspect will act as his own attorney CHARLESTON — The white man ac- cused of fatally shooting nine black pa- rishioners at a church was allowed Monday to act as his own attorney, opening the door to courtroom specta- cles at his death penalty trial, includ- ing Dylann Roof questioning survivors of the attack and relatives of the dead. Roof’s decision to represent himself comes months after he offered to plead guilty in exchange for the promise of life in prison. But federal prosecutors have refused to take the death penalty off the table in the slayings at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston. Until now, Roof has been represented by one of the nation’s most respected capital defenders. CORRECTION In Sunday’s edition of The Sumter Item, in the story “Hoping for a mira- cle,” it was incorrectly reported that Denny Stevens is on dialysis and that he is no longer employed. Stevens is not on dialysis and is still employed. It was also incorrectly reported that Ste- RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM vens’ son is Preston Anderson. Ander- Sumter County Emergency Medical Services load a victim into a flight-for-life helicopter Monday after a rollover wreck on Mc- son is Stevens’ grandson. Crays Mill Road near Santa Fe Trail.