NATION: Study shows self-harm, suicide attempts rise among U.S. girls A11 THE CLARENDON SUN Golf program brings out the winners A7 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2017 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 75 cents Federal judge issues stay of execution Obtaining drugs needed for Stone’s lethal injection an ‘unscalable wall’ BY ADRIENNE SARVIS torneys, but the order was not the U.S. District Court Judge Mary Gei- ing Sgt. Charlie Kubala, 32, of Sumter [email protected] only thing keeping what would be the ger Lewis granted the stay of execu- County Sheriff’s Office on Feb. 26, first execution in South Carolina in tion after noting Stone’s attorneys 1996, when Kubala responded to a call The Dec. 1 execution of Bobby six years from going through. filed a petition for a writ of habeas about a suspicious person at a resi- Wayne Stone, 52, who was sentenced The fate of the execution was al- corpus — a court order requiring an dence on Taylor Street off Boulevard to death for killing a Sumter County ready uncertain because the state does imprisoning agency to prove that a Road. sergeant in 1996, has been delayed in not possess one of the three drugs person’s detainment is justified. response to a court order from his at- needed for the lethal injection. Stone was convicted in 1997 of kill- SEE EXECUTION, PAGE A4 Families, volunteers and donors are blessed Ministry distributes Thanksgiving meals BY JIM HILLEY [email protected] t’s such a blessing,” Carolyn said as she “Imoved down the line at Sumter United Min- istries. She said she was planning to have family from Tennessee visit for the Thanksgiving meal. “I am grateful for the food bank, my family, friends and loved ones and God most of PHOTOS BY MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM all,” she said. Brandon Murphy volunteers during the distribution of Thanksgiving meals at Sumter United Ministries on Tuesday. Carolyn and about 150 other recipients of the Thanksgiving RIGHT: Glenda Oakden, a volun- food boxes descended on Sum- teer, carries out a box full of food. ter United Ministries on Tues- day to receive a box of food FAR RIGHT: Volunteers pray Tues- and a turkey or ham. day at Sumter United Ministries The blessing is not just for before packing Thanksgiving those who were there to re- boxes for the needy in the ceive food — it was also spread community. Annually, United to the volunteers and anyone Ministries selects clients it has who made a donation. seen throughout the year to get a Jayden Benson, a senior at list of recipients. The recipients Sumter High School, was help- are notified that they have been ing recipients load their food selected and are invited to come receive their box. PHOTO PROVIDED SEE BLESSINGS, PAGE A4 Quality Assurance Manager John McCloskie gives Manning Avenue, North Main project progressing Sumter City Council ing Tuesday. McGregor said aeri- McGregor said there will be a an update of the Sumter council updated al and environmental surveys public input meeting from 5 to 7 blighted property on blighted properties have taken place to establish p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at Central program at Tuesday baseline conditions and that pre- Carolina Technical College night’s meeting in BY JIM HILLEY liminary designs of the road Health Sciences Building, 200 N. Sumter Opera House. [email protected] cross-section have been drafted. Main St. The project, funded with $11 mil- “We will gather inputs and JIM HILLEY / THE SUMTER ITEM The major overhaul of Man- lion in federal funds and $5 million comments and show potential ning Avenue and North Main in local funding, will include road- draft cross sections,” he said. Street is progressing though pre- way redesign, new sidewalks, me- Planners don’t foresee the need liminary stages, Planning Direc- dians, intersection improvements, to purchase any right of way and tor George McGregor told Sumter landscaping and possibly street City Council at its regular meet- lighting. SEE COUNCIL, PAGE A5 VISIT US ONLINE AT CONTACT US DEATHS, B3 WEATHER, A12 INSIDE Wilma Lou E. Towery Janette H. Wright Information: 774-1200 ZERO CHANCE OF RAIN 3 SECTIONS, 26 PAGES the .com Advertising: 774-1246 Brenda L. Williams Charles C. Muldrow VOL. 123, NO. 26 Elixander B. Dow Ronald Joe A perfect start to the weekend Classifieds: 774-1200 with mostly sunny skies today Delivery: 774-1258 Viola S. Holliday Freddie Scott Classifieds B6 Opinion A10 News and Sports: Flossie W. Rush Hattie Mae C. Watson and another cool night. Comics C6 Television C4 774-1226 Celestine W. Martin Deborah A. Blackley HIGH 62, LOW 36 Joseph Williams Phyllis B. Wiggins A2 | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2017 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Rankings firm: USC Sumter No. 2 two-year college in S.C. BY BRUCE MILLS According to its website, Niche USC Lancaster also received a B+ [email protected] ranks schools based on rigorous anal- NICHE 2018 COLLEGE overall grade from Niche. The web- ysis of all aspects of campus life, in- RANKINGS site’s highest grade for any two-year A leading college rankings organiza- cluding academic, admissions, finan- community college in its 2018 national tion recently ranked University of cial and student life data from the U.S. Best community colleges in S.C. rankings was an A-. South Carolina Sumter as the No. 2 Department of Education along with 1. University of South Carolina Lancaster According to online research, community millions of survey reviews from stu- 2. University of South Carolina Sumter Niche is one of several college rank- college, or dents and alumni. 3. Horry-Georgetown Technical College ings organizations that also includes two-year col- Niche gave USC Sumter an overall U.S. News & World Report, The lege, in the B+ grade in its rankings. 4. University of South Carolina Salkehatchie Princeton Review and Forbes, among state and No. USC Sumter Dean Michael Sonntag 5. Spartanburg Community College others. 23 overall in said he was honored with the recogni- Niche’s website says its analysis is the U.S. for tion from the national rankings orga- most useful for both students and this school nization. USC Sumter is one of four two- families who are trying to find their year. “This ranking and the student com- year USC campuses — also known as personal and professional niche Niche, an ments at the website make clear that Palmetto College campuses — which within local and college communi- online educa- students understand the quality of the also offer online, four-year bache- ties. tional institu- education they are receiving here,” lor’s degree completion programs Rounding out the top-five two-year tional data company, released its 2018 Sonntag said. “It makes clear that we through the University of South Car- colleges in the state in Niche’s 2018 College Rankings for both four-year have world-class faculty, teaching rig- olina. rankings were Horry-Georgetown and two-year colleges earlier this orous courses, within the context of a Niche ranked fellow Palmetto Col- Technical College in Conway, Univer- month. The rankings for two-year in- supportive, community-minded cam- lege campus University of South Caro- sity of South Carolina Salkehatchie in stitutions included junior colleges, pus, with many of the activities, lina Lancaster in Lancaster as the No. Allendale and Walterboro and Spar- community colleges and technical col- sports teams and amenities found at 1 community college in the state and tanburg Community College in Spar- leges. much larger campuses.” No. 4 nationally in its 2018 rankings. tanburg. LOCAL & STATE BRIEFS FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS Fire department warns of phone scam Sumter Fire Chief Karl Ford wants to alert the public to a phone scam in which callers posing as employees of the local fire department are solic- iting donations. The depart- ment does not solicit dona- tions by phone, Ford said. Anyone who receives a call should contact the Sumter Po- lice Department at (803) 436- 2700 or the Sumter Fire De- partment at (803) 436-2600. Diocese will petition U.S. Supreme Court CHARLESTON — South Carolina parishes that left The Episcopal Church want the na- PHOTOS BY MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM tion’s highest court to reverse Dennis Hallinan and others move boxes into the trucks. The regional coordinator for Operation Christmas Child said that although the a state court ruling. area fell short of its goal of collecting shoebox gifts, more than 10,000 were donated. The Post and Courier of Charleston reported the con- servative Diocese of South Carolina on Tuesday said it Region misses goal but still collects 10,000+ shoeboxes would petition the U.S. Su- preme Court, in hopes of re- BY BRUCE MILLS versing a state Supreme Court [email protected] OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD ruling forcing the diocese to return properties worth mil- Shoeboxes collected by county: lions of dollars. The regional coordinator for an an- Sumter: 4,708 The diocese split from the nual Christmas project to send shoe- Clarendon: 2,551 church in 2012 over theological boxes filled with gifts to children over- issues, including ordination of seas is pleased with this year’s effort Williamsburg: 1,659 gay priests, and sued to retain and new volunteers who contributed, Lee: 1,367 ownership of property. even though the area fell short of its TOTAL: 10,285 The state’s high court decid- collection goal. ed against the breakaway par- Jill Harvell, regional collection cen- ishes, ruling in August they ter coordinator for Operation Christ- vice area of Sumter, Clarendon, Lee must return most church mas Child, made her comments and Williamsburg counties this year, property to The Episcopal Wednesday after 10,285 gift shoeboxes Harvell is choosing to look on the Church and recently refusing collected from four area counties de- bright side, she said.