IN SPORTS: USC Sumter baseball set to begin Region X play B1 SCIENCE Mars mission now set for 2018 NASA salvages spacecraft, SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 A4 FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016 75 CENTS moves launch date Sheriff names 1st female captain the position. Maj. Allen Daily BY ADRIENNE SARVIS pins Captain [email protected] Lee’s promotion is well-earned and well-de- served, he said. Misty Lee’s Officer Misty Lee, a 20-year veteran of Sum- Lee, who originally planned to be a zoologist, captain’s bars ter County Sheriff’s Office, made history solidified her desire to become an officer after onto her uniform, Thursday afternoon when she became the first a ride-along with a neighbor who was in law making her the female captain in the history of the sheriff’s enforcement about 20 years ago. first female to office. “Once it’s in your blood, you can’t shake it,” hold the position Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis said she said. with Sumter when he was hired as a deputy about 30 years Throughout her time at the sheriff’s office, County Sheriff’s ago, there was maybe one female officer. Lee served as a narcotics investigator, a patrol Office. Dennis said he did not hesitate to consider KEITH GEDAMKE / Lee for captain when she was nominated for SEE CAPTAIN, PAGE A5 THE SUMTER ITEM Stepping to the rhythm of the beat Lemira Lion Golden Steppers seek support for major competition KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY [email protected] In perfect formation, the girls stepped to the rhythm of the beat, as their instructor called out the different steps of the show at Lemira Elemen- tary School on Thursday. Lemira Lion Golden Step- pers are asking the public for donations to help raise $10,000 so the team can compete at the National Steppers Associa- tion’s National Championship in Memphis, Tennessee, from April 7 through 10. The team, consisting of 20 students from second through fifth grades, is in its seventh year of competition, said Mary Tuggle, coach and physical ed- ucation teacher. Team members have been practicing three days a week since September. They are one of four elementary schools in KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM Janiya Ray, Corren Wright and Rickiera Brown, members of the Lemira Lion Golden Steppers, leap into the air during a practice Thursday afternoon. SEE LEMIRA, PAGE A6 Senate passes S.C. roads Shaw included bill; House criticizes plan in test of potential COLUMBIA (AP) — The final vote Thurs- draw a bond issue of as much water pollution sites South Carolina Senate passed day. The issue as $2 billion to upgrade and a bill Wednesday to send an likely will end up repair interstates. But his fel- PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) Since December, tests additional $400 million to state in a conference low Republicans interrupted — The military plans to ex- have been carried out at 28 roads without raising the gas committee of the chamber’s leader and suc- amine hundreds of sites naval sites in mostly coast- tax, but the bill faced scathing House and Senate cessfully called for the amend- nationwide to determine al areas. criticism from leaders in the members. ment to be tabled. whether chemicals from Drinking water at a land- S.C. House of Representatives McELVEEN “It’s not a per- The roads bill has clogged foam used to fight fires ing field in Virginia and indicating the plan may face a fect plan, but it is the Senate calendar since Jan- have contaminated ground- the groundwater at another bumpy road when it returns a plan we could pass and it re- uary. Business leaders are water and spread to drink- site in New Jersey have to the lower chamber. ceived the governor’s bless- warning the humming econo- ing water, the Defense De- been found to contain lev- “The Senate’s deceptive ing,” said Senate Majority my could slow down because partment said. els above the guidance plan to fix our crumbling Leader Harvey Peeler, R-Gaff- roads are so bad. The state is The checks are planned given by the federal Envi- roads system is irresponsible ney. paying increasing amounts of for 664 sites where the mili- ronmental Protection and prioritizes politics over a Republicans didn’t say money for damage claims, and tary has conducted fire or Agency, the Navy said. Re- sound solution,” said House much about their proposal potholes are popping up on in- crash training, military of- sults of the other tests have Speaker Jay Lucas, R-Darling- during two days of debate. terstate highways. ficials told The Associated either come up under fed- ton. They let the 18 Democrats Senate Democrats didn’t Press this week. erally acceptable levels or Lucas said the House Ways propose amendments that the think the plan passed Wednes- Shaw Air Force Base are pending. and Means Committee had 27 Republicans in the cham- day did enough. They call it sites named in the list in- The Navy is giving bot- successfully crafted budgets ber rejected on party line the “Patch Act” and said the clude fire training areas 1, tled water to its personnel during the last few years that votes. $400 million is only guaran- 2 and 3. Those site loca- at the Naval Auxiliary appropriate available general The only drama Wednesday teed for this year and an eco- tions were not available Landing Field Fentress in fund revenue to road improve- came when Senate President nomic downturn or just the Thursday evening when Chesapeake, Virginia, and ment. Pro Tem Hugh Leatherman whims of future legislators The Sumter Item attempted is testing wells in a nearby The House will get its crack suggested his own amend- to contact the base public at the Senate bill after the ment to use $200 million to SEE ROADS, PAGE A6 information office. SEE POLLUTION, PAGE A5 VISIT US ONLINE AT CONTACT US DEATHS, B7 WEATHER, A10 INSIDE Information: 774-1200 James E. Blanding Sr. SUN TO PLAY PEEK-A-BOO 2 SECTIONS, 20 PAGES the .com Advertising: 774-1237 Evelyn S. Weill VOL. 121, NO. 124 Classifieds: 774-1234 Periods of sun today; David Felder mostly cloudy Classifieds B8 Opinion A9 Delivery: 774-1258 Kathryn L. Rosen and mild tonight. Comics A8 Television A7 News and Sports: 774-1226 Louis D. Simmons Helen B. Carle HIGH 82, LOW 60 Betty S. Lowery A2 | FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Board grants Anti-tobacco group awards $10K exemption grant to Rembert community for Bultman FROM STAFF REPORTS Juanita Britton, CEO of Rembert munities,” Britton said. The South Carolina Tobacco-Free Area Community Coalition, said Rembert Area Community Coali- apartments Collaborative has awarded a $10,000 Tuesday the coalition plans to use tion’s mission focuses on inspiring Community Partnership Grant to the grant to educate freshmen about residents of Rembert to work togeth- Rembert Area Community Coalition the facts of tobacco use and work to er to build a thriving township. The BY ADRIENNE SARVIS to help make all Sumter County col- make all college campuses tobacco tax-exempt organization works to [email protected] lege campuses tobacco free. free. bring resources and services to the The collaborative provides the “By reaching incoming freshmen, Rembert community to enhance resi- Sumter Board of Zoning grants to coalitions and organiza- we can effectively impact the future dents’ lives, according to a mission Appeals approved a special tions to address tobacco use in local generation and ultimately eliminate statement provided by the organiza- exception request for the de- communities. the use of tobacco in our local com- tion. velopment of a multi-family apartment complex at 225 Bultman Drive, a 6-acre par- cel zoned general commer- cial. All-star basketball team takes Eastern District title The complex, which is planned to have 48 two- and three-bedroom units, will be located behind Sumter Mall and in close proximity to sev- eral other commercial ven- ues. The board also approved: • Several variances for the redevelopment of a former Pizza Hut building at 2250 Peach Orchard Road. The ap- plicant requested a variance from the required 5-foot parking lot perimeter buffer to allow for the installation of a 6-foot wooden privacy fence along the rear and southwest corner property lines; a variance to reduce the required number of parking spaces from 38 to 36; and a variance to reduce the required 20-foot front set- back by 10.3 feet; • A request to reduce the number of parking spaces from 43 to 35 spaces at a de- velopment site for a Dollar General at 1745 U.S. 15 South; and • A request to reduce the required 25-foot front setback for two undeveloped lots in Heritage Bay subdivision by 5 feet. Jay Davis, a representa- tive of the applicant, said the PHOTO PROVIDED request was made because Sumter County Recreation and Parks Department all-star basketball team returned from Lake City the winner of the South Carolina Ath- there is a retention pond be- letic Programs Eastern District championship after defeating Marlboro County 77-71 during an intense game that went into overtime hind the two lots that pre- on March 5. Team members include: Shyeem Anderson, Khadary Stephens, Likeem Bradley, Rashuad Primus, Sterling Holland, Raymond vents development as it was Pringle, Ka’seem Mcbride, Wanyai Washington and Asiatic Samuel. The team of 15- to 17-year-olds is lead by head coach Tyrone Nixon, originally planned. He said assistant coach Caleb Kershaw and team equipment manager Chris Ramsey.