Former Sumter standout Barnes step closer to the Major Leagues B1 TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2019 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 75 cents ‘Make good School district to ask decisions’ for $1.2M tax increase in the water $1.6M surplus projected after $770K saved with ‘exemptions’ ruling this summer BY BRUCE MILLS ports through April 30, 2019, at tion Agency website. [email protected] Monday’s school board advisory “We are now considered ‘met BY DANNY KELLY Finance Committee meeting at with exceptions’ on the initial [email protected] Sumter School District will the district office. finding,” Miller said. end this fiscal year with a pro- Regarding a pending $770,000 Finance Committee Chairman jected net income of $1.6 million, maintenance-of-effort finding, Johnny Hilton and other com- With gruelingly hot temperatures al- $770,000 more than expected Miller said the state Department mittee members took that as ready bestowing themselves upon us, thanks to not having to pay the of Education accepted exemp- “good news,” they said at the one of the best ways to cool off may be state back for local spending on tion actions by the district, and meeting. a federal education program. now the district has been ruled Miller went on to discuss next at the beach, lake or pool. This year’s projected $1.6 mil- in compliance on local funding year’s budget, which goes before While one should always have fun, it’s lion surplus would raise the dis- with maintenance of effort on a Sumter County Council today. trict’s overall general fund bal- federal special services pro- That budget, which does not in- also important to remember to be safe ance to about $10.2 million as of gram. clude the reopening of in the water. June 30, getting it closer to an “Maintenance of effort re- Mayewood Middle School and “It’s a hot one, so get out in the water estimated $10.6 million it needs quires local educational agen- has been approved by the state to have by the end of next fiscal cies to maintain the level of Department of Education, in- and have fun,” Medical University of year, June 30, 2020. state and local funds they spend cludes a nine-mill increase. That South Carolina Associate Professor of Pe- District Chief Financial Offi- to support federal programs translates to $1.2 million and cer Jennifer Miller explained the from one fiscal year to the next,” diatric and Adult Emergency Medicine details and other financial re- according to the Texas Educa- SEE DISTRICT, PAGE A4 Keith Borg said. “But, be safe, and make good decisions.” Outdoor swimming is an enjoyable summer activity, but Borg said the most common places where children drown are not beaches or swimming pools; it Taking root SEE SAFETY, PAGE A4 On average 10 people drown every day in the U.S. Source: National Safety Council PHOTOS BY MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM Natalie and Aiden Bradford help their father, Nat Bradford, plant the first of his hemp seedlings on Friday afternoon. SWIMMING SAFETY TIPS Swim in designated areas supervised by Sumter farmer Nat Bradford transfers lifeguards. Always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone. Never leave a young child unattended near 1st of his hemp seedlings into ground water, and do not trust a child’s life to another child; teach children to always ask permission to BY MICAH GREEN [email protected] go near water. Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved ll hands were on deck at the Bradford life jackets around water, but do not rely on life Farm on Friday afternoon as Nat Brad- jackets alone. A ford and his children started hand- Maintain constant supervision. Make sure everyone in your family learns to planting his first hemp seedlings into the 5.5- swim well. Enroll in age-appropriate Red acre plot in front of their home. Cross water orientation and learn-to-swim courses. If you have a pool, secure it with appropriate For nearly seven years, barriers. Many children who drown in home Bradford has been prepar- SEE MORE pools were out of sight for less than five minutes ing the plot for this mo- and in the care of one or both parents at the time. ment by growing clover See more photos of Bradford’s hemp planting online with cover crops and other Avoid distractions when supervising children this story at www.theitem.com. around water. green manures, which will If a child is missing, check the water first. give the seedlings nutri- Seconds count in preventing death or ents, and using a subsoiler disability. to loosen the hard layers of the bill was amended to ex- soil so the seedlings can Have appropriate equipment, such as pand the number of per- reaching or throwing equipment, a cellphone, put down more solid roots. mits to 40, and a 40-acre cap life jackets and a first aid kit. Last year, the South Car- per farmer was removed. olina Industrial Hemp Bill In addition to the 5.5 Know how and when to call 911 or the local opened the door for 20 acres he is growing on his emergency number. farmers to cultivate indus- land, Bradford will also be Source: American Red Cross trial hemp. Bradford was Nat Bradford poses for a portrait dur- one of them. On March 28, SEE HEMP, PAGE A4 ing a walkabout of his property. VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B4 WEATHER, A8 INSIDE Betty Ann Wells Garris James Abrams FINALLY SOME RAIN? 2 SECTIONS, 14 PAGES the .com VOL. 124, NO. 160 Samuel R. Moore Ny’Quan J. Samuels A storm around this Julia Adams Clark Dubose Sonja Wilson afternoon is possible; Classifieds B6 Sports B1 Jammie Gaymon Lillie Avins Turner partly cloudy tonight Comics A5 Television B5 William Judson Holmes Jr. James Lies Sr. Ernest Jackson HIGH 87, LOW 68 Opinion A7 A2 | TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2019 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Shaw airman dies from health complications ron, and his absence will not go with- dead of an apparent self-inflicted gun- 2nd from same position in 2 weeks out a great deal of anguish in the com- shot wound. ing days, weeks and months,” Schil- The 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw, linger said. “As you can imagine, this which flies the Air Force’s largest has been a heartbreaking week for the combat F-16 wing, operates the 55th, BY KAYLA ROBINS 20th Component Maintenance Squad- 20th CMS. We are grieving alongside 77th and 79th Fighter Squadrons and [email protected] ron commander. “Each of us is feeling all those who loved and cherished has nearly 6,600 active duty airmen the hurt that comes along with such a Aaron.” and civilians and more than 8,000 fam- A 30-year-old airman stationed at painful loss.” Hall is the third airman at Shaw to ily members, according to an Air Shaw Air Force Base died Saturday Hall was assigned to the 20th CMS die in two weeks and the second from Force fact sheet. from health complications. and served as an Electronic Warfare the same squadron and job. The 20th CMS supports a combat- Senior Airman Aaron Hall died at Systems journeyman. He enlisted in A 32-year-old woman who also ready wing of approximately 79 F- about 8:47 a.m. at Richland Memorial the U.S. Air Force on July 21, 2015, and served as an Electronic Warfare Sys- 16CM Fighting Falcons and equip- Hospital in Columbia, according to the had been stationed at Shaw since tems journeyman in the 20th CMS ment. It maintains jet engines, acces- 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Of- March 1, 2018. also passed away from health compli- sory and avionics components and fice. “Aaron was the type of airman who cations on May 26. On May 21, a systems and a test, measurement and “Aaron was more than just our co- lit up every room he entered with his 28-year-old man who served as a 20th diagnostic equipment laboratory in worker. He was our teammate and our smile and positive approach to life. He Logistics Readiness Squadron aircraft support of the three fighter squad- friend,” said Maj. Jake Schillinger, carried such a presence in our squad- parts store journeyman was found rons. Ribbon cutting for WLE outdoor learning center to be held Wednesday FROM STAFF REPORTS In response to a 2015 Com- munity Health Improvement survey which found some residents of Lee County are inactive because of little or no access to parks and other recreational space — in addi- tion to a high obesity rank- ing nationally — West Lee Elementary Playground and Outdoor Learning Center has been built. Lee County Rural Leader- ship and Interagency Coali- tion and Lee County School District will unveil the new facilities at a ribbon-cutting ceremony from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 5, at the school, 55 Central School Road in the Spring Hill Com- munity of Lee County. The ADA-accessible play- ground and outdoor learning space, built with funds by a Project C.A.R.E. grant which RLI received from the South PHOTOS PROVIDED Carolina Office of Rural Health, includes a walking dress the community’s needs, Taskforce. Parent Cafés are deavor are Central Carolina Council of Negro Women trail, community garden and the coalition has undertaken the contribution of Lee Technical College, Lee and Newspapers in Educa- a pavilion/farmers market to a literacy component.