LOCAL Farmers market at USC Sumter begins today A2 FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 75 cents Bills would let prisons jam phones lem prison offi- itors, errant employees and from permitting jamming on Signals would be blocked from inmates’ cials have said even delivered by drone — are that level. Wireless industry represents the dangerous because inmates groups have said they worry smuggled devices in state institutions top security use them to carry out crimes signal-blocking technologies BY MEG KINNARD mates within their walls. threat to their in- and plot violence both inside could thwart legal calls. The Associated Press U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton of Ar- stitutions. Cor- and outside prison. Prison officials, including kansas and U.S. Rep. David JOHNSON rections chiefs But the Federal Communi- South Carolina Corrections COLUMBIA — Federal leg- Kustoff of Tennessee intro- across the coun- cations Commission, which Director Bryan Stirling, have islation proposed Thursday duced companion bills in both try have long ar- regulates the nation’s air- pushed for the ability to jam would give state prison offi- chambers, The Associated gued for the ability to jam the waves, has said a decades-old signals, saying it’s the best cials the ability they have long Press has learned. signals, saying the phones — prohibition on interrupting way to combat the dangerous sought to jam the signals of The legislation could help smuggled into their institu- signals at state-level institu- cellphones smuggled to in- provide a solution to a prob- tions by the thousands, by vis- tions prevents the agency SEE CELLPHONES, PAGE A9 Looking Expansion good, of Gateway feeling Plaza gets good arbers from Undis- approval puted Barbershop Bvisited Crosswell Demo, rebuild to add 17,800 Drive Elementary School square feet next to TJ Maxx on Monday to give male BY BRUCE MILLS students a fresh haircut [email protected] and to talk to them about Sumter City-County Planning Com- the importance of being mission gave unanimous approval Wednesday to a site plan for the expan- well-groomed. sion and renovation of Gateway Plaza, The Look Good Feel Good 1300 Broad St. mission is to allow these Jay Davis, a top area commercial real young men the chance to expe- estate broker, who manages Gateway rience the community of being Plaza, and Jeff Derwort, senior planner in a barbershop while receiv- with Sumter City-County Planning De- ing encouraging words from partment, spoke Thursday on the plan’s adults. For more photos, go on- approval. line to www.theitem.com. The current two wings of the plaza — which are across Broad Street from PHOTOS BY MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM Walmart — consist of 91,800 square feet of building space. A demolition and re- build of some existing space on the Alice Drive side of TJ Maxx will add 17,800 square feet of retail space, or close to 20 percent. That demolition will hopefully begin in two to three months, Davis said, and he plans to deliver space to new ten- ants for upfitting in the first half of next Marquies Tomlin gets a haircut from a barber from Undisputed Barbershop at Crosswell year. Drive Elementary School on Monday. The additional retail space will be most noticeable with an extension farther out toward Alice Drive, Derwort said. Clothing department store TJ Maxx is Omar Cooper checks out his re- the largest tenant in the plaza. flection after getting a haircut Davis, who is president and broker-in- from Undisputed Barbershop. charge of Coldwell Banker Commercial Cornerstone, said his firm has not re- newed any leases to the side of TJ Maxx, and some tenants are leaving and others may relocate in town. Davis has said that he considers the in- tersection of Broad Street with Alice Drive to be the center of Sumter for com- mercial development, given the Walmart, and he foresees that continuing moving forward in the next few years. He added the Walmart location is a top-performing store in its region for the mega discount retailer. Dai-Jaun Martin gets his hair cut Monday. SEE PLAZA, PAGE A9 Sumter County EMS Director Sumter EMS marks completion Bobby Hingst puts the bow from the ribbon cutting of the of rural Frierson Road station new Dalzell EMS cal services and those who ter Chamber of Commerce station on a Dalzell facility has are answering the call. and Sumter County Council. Sumter County more security, space Sumter County EMS cele- “Being stationed out in the ambulance in brated the grand opening of community is great so when front of the sta- BY KAYLA ROBINS its new station on Frierson a call comes out, they don’t tion Thursday. [email protected] Road off Thomas Sumter have to travel far,” County Highway/U.S. 521 on Thurs- Council Chairman Jim Mc- JANEL STRIETER / SPECIAL A new building in rural day morning, a ribbon cut- Cain said. TO THE SUMTER ITEM Dalzell will help both those ting and ceremonial event or- who need emergency medi- ganized by the Greater Sum- SEE EMS, PAGE A9 VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B5 WEATHER, A10 INSIDE Ossie Lucille McLeod Annie May Goodman Kennedy ENJOY THE OUTDOORS 3 SECTIONS, 24 PAGES the .com VOL. 124, NO. 115 Gabe Ballard Jr. Daisy Mae Smith Wells Sunny and comfortable today; John H. Epps DeLoris Charmayne Walton becoming cloudy tonight Clarendon Sun C1 Sports B1 Amen’Ra Allah Liles Martha Henry Classifieds B6 Opinion A6 N. Maurice Jones HIGH 76, LOW 51 Comics C6 Television C4 A2 | FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Sumter Farmers Market opens for the season Special spring extravaganza 1-6 p.m. today offers more than 70 vendors BY KAYLA ROBINS [email protected] This afternoon on the USC Sumter campus will offer a perfect time to cele- brate spring having sprung while sup- porting local farmers and food business- es. “USC Sumter is pleased to be the host site for the third year in a row for the Sumter Farmers Market. We love hav- ing such a widely anticipated event that supports and brings the community to our beautiful campus,” Michael E. Sonntag, Palmetto College campus dean at USC Sumter, said. The Sum- ter Farmers Market is WANT TO GO? back for the WHAT: Sumter Farmers Market spring warm extravaganza kickoff market months and WHEN: 1-6 p.m. today (and every Friday is holding a through November) “spring ex- WHERE: USC Sumter, 200 Miller Road travaganza” SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTOS market COST: Free to attend, products for sale with more Seen are a few of the numerous products than 70 ven- that were available at last year’s Sumter dors from 1 to 6 p.m. at 200 Miller Road. Farmers Market. Farmers and growers will have their products for sale, with everything from more. It’s an event where you can sim- fresh produce to homemade jams to raw ply shop and support locally grown honey and milk to fruit and desserts. products and growers or bring the fami- Marie Dorr, of Dorr Farms from ly to buy food to eat there, browse Gable, said the number of vendors for citizen vouchers and WIC vouchers are around or sit and enjoy the spring sun. this kickoff market grew by at least 50 accepted by vendors, Dorr said. SNAP Poultry and pork suppliers will also percent from last year to this second vouchers are not. be selling their products, Dorr said. year. Each Friday through November, The market offers more than fresh Food trucks will have items such as pas- there will be an average of 20-25 ven- wants people to realize, which she came produce and ingredient items. There tries, barbecue sandwiches and pizza. dors. across in the inaugural year last spring, will be artisans, woodworkers, soy can- A chef from Morningside of Sumter “Customer-wise, we keep seeing it is that the farmers market is free to at- dles, African purses, lotions, a Mary will even be doing a cooking demonstra- pick up more and more,” Dorr said. tend and open to the public — not just Kay representative, fresh-cut flowers, tion from 1 to 3 p.m. with a strawberry “And people don’t even know we’re out to students and faculty at USC Sumter, hanging basket plants, jewelry, green barbecue pork recipe. there yet.” though it is on the school’s campus. cleaning supplies, a blacksmith, boiled For more information, find the Sum- Dorr said one misconception she Cash, credit and debit cards, senior peanuts, kettle corn, funnel cakes and ter Farmers Market on Facebook. Crime report 2 Sumter women charged with assault and battery, 2nd degree, after fights at 2 locations Lawmakers considering expanding FROM STAFF REPORTS resulting in minor injuries, by Amoreé A’Keymea Smith, 22, the other suspect. Both women grounds for divorce in South Carolina of Grantham Street, and allegedly left the club in sepa- Umeko Margie rate vehicles and Ann Baker, 25, of drove to a store in COLUMBIA (AP) — South Carolina law- Kent Street, were the 1000 block of makers are considering legislation that ‘There are situations where both charged with Broad Street would expand the legal reasons someone assault and bat- where they con- can seek a divorce. there is not necessarily physical tery, second de- tinued to hit each The bill, which was approved Thursday gree, according to other in the park- by a House subcommittee, adds the use of abuse but there’s emotional a news release SMITH BAKER ing lot.