Shaffer: Firing Was Retaliation
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Back to School 2018-19 School info, bus routes and more C1 SERVING S.C. SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 2018 75 CENTS Tax holiday starts today BRUCE MILLS / THE SUMTER ITEM Staples sales associate Raevahna Johnson stocks colored markers Thursday at the store in prepara- tion for the tax-free holiday weekend, which runs from today through Sunday. Retailers expect to be busy through Sunday BY BRUCE MILLS tionally helps parents and students [email protected] save money as they get ready for school. Back-to-school supplies are al- oday is the first Friday in Au- ways popular sale items this weekend, gust, and that means it’s the but many other items — including start of the state’s annual tax- clothing, accessories, shoes/footwear, computers and software — are also Tfree weekend, which lasts through tax-free for the three days. midnight Sunday night. Many local retailers have been pre- Each year at this time, South Caroli- paring for this weekend for weeks, na eliminates all sales and use taxes for and at several stores Thursday, em- the entire weekend on dozens of items. ployees were putting the finishing The exemptions also include local sales touches on various display areas. taxes, including any penny taxes. The annual sales tax holiday tradi- SEE HOLIDAY, PAGE A3 Shaffer: Firing was retaliation Former chief implicates mayor, tells grievance committee he was prevented from disciplining dishonest officer BY SHARRON HALEY letter he personal- ment” issues. “It was a private meeting mittee. “At the time, I was un- Special to The Sumter Item ly delivered to Tanner also told the mem- with the PSC committee and aware of an internal policy Shaffer on July bers of the committee that Scott Tanner, and it was an that was passed in 2011. I was MANNING — Former Man- 11. Tanner cited Shaffer’s conduct toward city executive session meeting,” unaware of the policy.” ning Police Chief Blair Shaf- the following rea- and judicial officials was “un- Manning’s former police chief Shaffer told the committee fer cited personal retaliation sons Shaffer was professional” and that he said. “They were not follow- that city officials cited public by Manning Mayor Julia Nel- NELSON terminated by the should never use a tone that ing policies.” “safety” as a reason for his son and an effort by city offi- city’s Public Safe- at least one council member, Shaffer told the Grievance termination. cials to stop him from follow- ty Committee: whom Tanner did not name, Committee he did receive per- Shaffer said he presented ing state law as the main rea- “yelling and described as “harsh and heat- mission for the promotions council with a report on sons he was fired last month. speaking in harsh ed” in any communication that the PSC considered a vio- crime statistics since he be- Shaffer made those state- tones” to a city of- with his “superiors” on city lation of the city’s policy. came chief in 2008. Shaffer ments during a grievance ficial; raising his council. “The promotions were not said statistics show that vio- hearing on Thursday morning voice to a judicial In his address to the com- done in violation,” Shaffer lent crime has decreased dur- where he presented documen- SHAFFER official; failing to mittee, Shaffer questioned the said. “Mr. Tanner did approve ing his tenure as police chief. tation alleging city officials follow city policies validity of each of the PSC’s the promotions. I presented to “Violent crime is down 38 did not follow state law or the in promoting offi- reasons for his termination Mr. Tanner, and he approved percent. Property crime is city’s policies in terminating cers in his department; and including issues raised in his each promotion.” down 10 percent. Overall his employment. asking police officers to sign a July 11 termination letter. In his rebuttal following crime is down 14 percent,” City Administrator Scott letter affirming that they un- Shaffer told the committee Shaffer’s comments, Tanner Shaffer said. Tanner was first to appear be- derstood the police depart- members the meeting in admitted he did sign off on Shaffer also told the com- fore the city’s Grievance Com- ment’s “chain of command,” a which he allegedly raised his the promotions. mittee a report from Todd mittee. In his presentation, letter that Tanner said could voice was not a “public meet- “I did sign off on the promo- Tanner read the termination raise “possible First Amend- ing.” tions,” Tanner told the com- SEE FIRING, PAGE A13 VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B3 and B4 WEATHER, A14 INSIDE Linda Mae Brooks Moore William Raymond Swick Jr. Lakeisha Davis AT LEAST IT’S FRIDAY 3 SECTIONS, 38 PAGES the .com VOL. 123, NO. 205 Turner Jacqueline Morris Justice Doretia Tucker Porter A shower or storm today; Mary Elizabeth Hamer Judith Hoyt Furse Messiah K. Streater heavy storm this evening Classifieds B5 Stevens James T. Richardson Doris Nell Geter Comics A9 HIGH 82, LOW 72 James Lee Robinson Willie Shannon Blanche Zeigler Hasty Sports B1 Pearly Rose Dyson Jada Dionne Dennis Rodney Williams Sr. Opinion A12 Johnson Lynda Baker Junkins Television A10 A2 | FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 2018 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Comedian Akintunde featured at back-to-school event BY IVY MOORE Akintunde is also an actor, writer, Special to The Sumter Item producer and director, who appears reg- ularly on national TV and radio pro- WANT TO GO? Christian comedian Akintunde will grams. WHERE: Salem Missionary headline the entertainment Saturday at In addition to the music and Akin- Baptist Church, 320 W. Fulton St. Salem Missionary Baptist Church’s in- tunde’s comedy, Bradford said there augural Back-to-School Bash. The pub- will be free school supplies — “all the WHEN: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. lic is invited to the free event from 10 things you need to head back to school, Saturday a.m. to 3 p.m. at the church, 320 W. Ful- including book bags and paper supplies, COST: Free ton St. as well as food, games, water slides, a PHONE: (803) 795-9484 Elijah Bradford, who will be perform- bounce house and some motivational ing with the Valentinos, will host the speakers.” event that includes performances by Dr. Cartrell Woods is pastor of Salem Shayla Dinkins and the Awakening Missionary Church, 320 W. Fulton St., Movement; New Bethel Missionary where Saturday’s 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. back- Baptist Church Praise Dancers; Justi- to-school event will be held. Admission fied of Sumter; The New Boyz; Greater is free to the public. For more informa- St. Paul Youth Choir; Salem Missionary tion, call (803) 795-9484. Baptist Youth Department and others. Bradford said “Akintunde is a nation- ally known comedian, who now lives in PHOTO PROVIDED Columbia. He has his own podcast, and Akintunde, a nationally known Christian he’s featured on nationally syndicated comedian, will headline the entertainment The Erica Campbell Show on (radio sta- Saturday at the Salem Missionary Baptist tion) 98.3 FM.” Church Back-to-School Bash. Palmetto Health Sumter County Prevention Team offers tips for using, event is more than just a bash FROM STAFF REPORTS a successful school year. buying book bags Sumter County Prevention Parents and caregivers will Team will host its fourth-an- also receive information from SUBMITTED nual Parents Accessing Re- experts about education, A new school year is just around the cor- sources for Kids event from 10 health and community re- ner and parents are busy stocking up on a.m. to noon on Saturday at sources, and Sumter School school supplies. Many parents like to take ad- University of South Carolina District administrators will vantage of the tax-free weekend, Aug. 3-5. Sumter’s Nettles Auditorium, also be present to welcome ev- With backpacks topping most students' 200 Miller Road. eryone to a new academic checklists, Palmetto Health Children's Hospi- The event is free and open school year. tal offers some tips to keep in mind when to all parents or guardians of There will also be door priz- purchasing and using backpacks. children from birth to 18 years es and giveaways for all According to Palmetto Health Children's tion, but not a solution. Although it is better of age. adults, including a grand prize Hospital's Mark Locke, M.D., pediatric ortho- to pull than to carry heavy books, rolling bag PARK is not just a Back to — a laptop — and teachers pedic surgeon with Palmetto Health-USC Or- weight can lead to its own set of problems, School Bash but a mini con- who participate this year will thopedic Center, "Back pain is not an uncom- such as arm and leg pain. ference that will help give par- also receive a gift. mon complaint for children and adolescents, “If a child is having back pain, the newest ents the footing they need to PARK is organized and particularly those in middle school. It seems recommendation from the American Acade- encourage their child’s school sponsored by Sumter County that every year the books get thicker and my of Pediatrics is to schedule an MRI be- success, said Sumter Preven- Prevention Team coalition — book bags get heavier." cause it has no radiation, as compared to a tion Team and PARK chair- an organization with more Parents may have the concern that book CT scan or an X-ray,” Locke said. person Latrell Billie. than 20 years of experience — bags contribute to spinal deformities such as Book bag and backpack injuries are avoid- A variety of vendors — rep- which provides a forum for scoliosis.