PEACE, LOVE, GOOD VIBES Archaeologists finding artifacts from Woodstock WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2018 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 $1.00 C1 School millage increase denied BY ADRIENNE SARVIS Ghaney voted in favor of the motion. confirmation from the South Carolina velopment coordinator, valued at [email protected] Vice Chairman Jimmy Byrd, and Ethics Commission to participate in the $80,000; to hire a technology project Councilmen Chris Sumpter, Artie decision-making despite working for the manager, valued at $75,000; and to add After sitting in silence for several Baker, Gene Baten and Charles Edens school district because she did not stand the remaining $502,121 to the district's moments when asked for a motion re- voted in opposition. to make personal gains from the in- fund balance to build toward one garding Sumter School District's re- Fleming-McGhaney made the mo- crease if it were approved. month's operating expenses. quest for a 5.48-mill increase request, tion to approve the request, and Baten The school district intended to use After the 5.48-mill increase was de- Sumter County Council voted 5-2 to seconded it — he said for the purpose the mill increase, equal to about nied, McCain made a motion to ap- deny the request. of discussing the millage increase — $1,057,121 million, to create five new prove 2.88 mills — enough to fund the Council Chairman Jim McCain and before voting in opposition. teaching positions with benefits, val- seven positions — which was again de- Councilwoman Vivian Fleming-Mc- Fleming-McGhaney said she received ued at $400,000; hire a grant writer/de- nied 5-2 by the same lines. Merchant ging the Iron Works Brid gap to expand Sumter-based metal fabrication company to add 27 jobs, make $2.5M investment BY BRUCE MILLS [email protected] A Sumter-based manufactur- er is expanding and will create 27 new jobs. Merchant Iron Works, 3215 Beulah Cuttino Road, an- nounced Tuesday it is making a $2.5 million capital investment into its facility and will create the additional jobs during a five-year period, roughly half of which will come online with- in the next year — some are being hired now, according to company president and Sumter resident David Merchant. Founded locally in 2001 by Merchant, the company is a FRITS fabricator and installer of AHLEFELDT structural steel, miscellaneous metals and material-handling equipment in the industrial and commercial markets. Sheriff’s office’s youth conference connects law enforcement, community With the expansion, Mer- chant said, his company will BY ADRIENNE SARVIS have a little more than 60 em- [email protected] ployees at its local facility and is bringing some product manu- ore than a decade into op- facturing that it previously out- sourced to a supplier out of erating its Boys and Girls state into the local facility. Youth Inc. summer pro- “We have great relationships M gram, Sumter County Sheriff’s Of- SEE JOBS, PAGE A6 fice continued to build connections with Sumter’s youth this weekend PRIMARY RUNOFF during two excitement- and educa- ELECTION RESULTS tion-filled days. For up-to- The program celebrated the 12th date results year for male campers and the 10th year for female campers during the from weekend. The two-day youth confer- Tuesday’s ence is meant to build a bridge be- MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM primary tween some of the youngest mem- Sumter County Sheriff’s Office held its Boys and Girls Youth Inc. summer program to help runoff bers of the community and those young residents make a positive connection with law enforcement. The students visited a affecting who protect Sumter County’s resi- water park in Myrtle Beach and heard from motivational speakers during the two-day event. dents. Sumter, This was the vision of Sheriff Antho- A lot of people think this is for at- of who they are and what they’ve been Clarendon and Lee counties, ny Dennis, said Lt. Petrina Wiley, risk children, Wiley said, but that’s not involved in, she said. visit us online at www.theitem. chairwoman of the Sumter County what this program is about. The sheriff’s office wants to make com, and look in Thursday’s Sheriff’s Office Boys and Girls Youth It is about providing the community paper for follow-up coverage. Inc. with a service for the youth regardless SEE BRIDGE, PAGE A6 Summer of Caring 2018 kicks off this week BY BRUCE MILLS of Caring.” cussed the rollout of this year’s That’s a main reason for The [email protected] This is the fifth-straight sum- campaign Tuesday, explaining Sumter Item establishing the cam- mer The Sumter Item has part- that many people give and help paign with the nonprofit five Sumterites are encouraged to nered with Sumter United Minis- others in need around the years ago. make monetary donations to or tries to collect donations that will Thanksgiving and Christmas holi- Summer of Caring 2018 is a volunteer with a local nonprofit be used to assist local families. days and during the colder way for the local community to ministry agency to truly make United Ministries Executive Di- months, but giving typically drops the next few months a “Summer rector Mark Champagne dis- off in the middle of summer. SEE CARING, PAGE A6 VISIT US ONLINE AT CONTACT US DEATHS, B5 WEATHER, A8 INSIDE Information: 774-1200 Earl Kenneth Sims MORE STORMS POSSIBLE 3 SECTIONS, 18 PAGES the .com Advertising: 774-1246 Edgar Laird Dallery VOL. 123, NO. 178 Classifieds: 774-1200 A storm in some areas Donald Christopher James in the afternoon; storms Classifieds B6 Panorama C1 Delivery: 774-1258 Clarence Daniel Sims again in the area tonight Comics C2 Opinion A7 News and Sports: 774-1226 Sophia C. Williams Sarah Powell Parrott Lee HIGH 91, LOW 76 Food C4 Television C3 Randall A. Vaughn A2 | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2018 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Sumter Habitat for Humanity needs veteran Habitat for Humanity. "We would like in poverty, many because of the cost such as overcrowding, excessive Nonprofit wants to build very much to have a veteran and their of housing, the group said. South Car- monthly living expenses and/or sub- family selected to live in the home be- olina is home to the U.S. Department standard living conditions; and be home for qualified resident fore we get much further into this of Housing and Urban Development. willing to partner with Sumter Habi- build." To be eligible for this Habitat for tat for Humanity and commit to 400 Sumter County has more than Humanity house, a veteran must hours of "sweat equity" volunteering BY KAYLA ROBINS 11,000 veteran resi- meet the family in- with the organization including the [email protected] dents, or 11 percent of come level criteria be- construction of the home. the population, com- tween 30-80 percent of Partnering with Habitat for Hu- A nonprofit that builds homes for pared to the national the area median in- manity to help build a home is a low-income families and residents is average of 9 percent, come ($24,900-$39,859 hand-up, not a hand-out, the organi- planning to build its first house spe- according to Sumter for a family of four); be zation says. cifically for a veteran, and the group Habitat. able to afford a mini- Applicants are applying for a 30- needs to find the future homeowner "Although there is a mum of $1,200 in clos- year affordable mortgage that is sold after the prospective family withdrew local focus on afford- ing costs and monthly at nonprofit (on average, $80,000- from the program. able housing in Sumter, payments of $350 with- $85,000) and financed at no interest. Sumter Habitat for Humanity is the need greatly out- out spending more Mortgage payments are affordable, partnering with the South Carolina weighs the solutions," than 30 percent of starting at an average of $350-$375 in- Association of Realtors to build its the nonprofit organiza- their monthly income cluding escrow, with a second forgiv- first veteran build home in Sumter. tion said. "For home- on mortgage payments; able mortgage forgiven at 10 percent "We had a qualified veteran and owners living on a fixed income, the have acceptable credit history; be a over 10 years. There is no prepayment family, but they withdrew from the cost associated with paying for hous- U.S. citizen and have lived in worked penalty. program as they decided to relocate ing, food, medication, taxes and basic in Sumter County for at least one For more information or to receive to another area, and we have not had utilities takes the majority of their year; furnish a DD214; complete fi- an application, contact Theresa White any other veterans apply," said There- money." nancial education and home mainte- at [email protected] or (803) sa White, executive director the local Nearly 1.5 million U.S. veterans live nance classes; have housing needs 775-5767, option 3. FEMA awards Sumter Rotary Club names Rotarian of the Year more than $4M Shelly Lundberg, center, received The Sumter Rotary Club Rotarian of the Year Award on Monday. She for Hurricane is joined by club president Johna- than Zimpleman, right, and for- mer two-time recipient Charles Irma recovery “Chuck” Fienning. The award is presented to those Rotarians BY KAYLA ROBINS whose life’s work personifies the [email protected] Rotary motto, “Service Above Self.” Lundberg is a local CPA and South Carolina will receive is a past president of the club and more than $4 million in federal current treasurer.