Don’t miss out on Parade of Shops on Sunday A2 Clarendon Pilot Club busy baking biscuits for annual bazaar SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 A7 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2018 75 CENTS Archie Parnell, the democratic nominee for the Clyburn announces state’s 5th Congressional District, is seen after voting at Willow Drive bid for majority whip Elementary on Tuesday. FROM STAFF REPORTS urge votes according to offi- He pointed to the diversity MICAH GREEN / Clyburn announces bid for cial party position. Clyburn, of the incoming 116th Con- THE SUMTER ITEM majority whip who has been in Congress gress, "with more women, While the 5th District fea- since 1993 and secured 70.5 people of color and LGBTQ tured two a first full-term percent of Tuesday's votes in colleagues taking the oath of representative and a political the midterm office than every before," say- newcomer, the other congres- elections, ing these new congressmen sional district covering Sum- served as ma- and congresswoman "build a Parnell disappointed, ter has news of a longtime in- jority whip representative government." cumbent trying to make an from 2007-2011. He said in discussions with even further mark on Con- Clyburn said current and freshman legis- proud of race he ran gress. in an open letter lators he has heard the want U.S. House Assistant Dem- CLYBURN to his incoming to end the influence of ocratic Leader James E. Jim Democratic col- money and special interests; BY BRUCE MILLS shortly after arriving back Clyburn, representative for leagues he is make the Rules of the House [email protected] home. He and his wife, Sarah, the 6th Congressional Dis- running for the position on a more open and transparent spent election night in Rock trict that spans Sumter, Clar- "singular goal." to build bipartisan support Archie Parnell, the Demo- Hill for a watch party. endon and 14 other counties, "The American people sent for the agenda; make "change cratic nominee for the state's After voting Tuesday morn- announced his run for major- a clear and powerful mes- agents rather than simply 5th Congressional District, ing at Willow Drive Elementa- ity whip. sage, electing a democratic voters"; "oppose the president said he was surprised and dis- ry School, Parnell spent Elec- The majority whip is the majority with a mandate to when he is wrong and work appointed with Tuesday's loss tion Day driving to numerous third highest rank in the U.S. restore the fundamental with him when we can find to incumbent Republican U.S. historically Democratic-lean- House of Representatives be- goodness of our government. common ground to strength- Rep. Ralph Norman given ing precincts throughout the hind the majority leader and The primary goal of our new en our country; and create voter turnout but that he is 11-county district and said he speaker. The whip's job is to majority is the make Ameri- and implement a "strong, proud of the race he ran. was encouraged by the bigger- maintain communication be- ca's greatness apply fairly compelling Democratic agen- A Sumter native and resi- than-expected turnout. During tween party leadership and and equitably to all Ameri- da that resonates with all dent, Parnell spoke Wednes- members and to support and cans." Americans." day on the midterm election SEE PARNELL, PAGE A9 Information on Paxville fatal shooting The strongest link suspect sought Willow Drive third-graders practice teamwork with STEAM Several people in home unable to give desription BY SHARRON HALEY Special to The Sumter Item PAXVILLE — The Claren- don County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public for infor- mation regarding a recent fatal shooting. Around 9:20 p.m. Tuesday, Clarendon County deputies were dispatched to a resi- PHOTOS BY MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM dence east of Paxville in ref- Tiffany Marshall's third-grade class at Willow Drive erence to a shooting, accord- Elementary School participated in a STEAM Hour ing to the sheriff's office. Thursday afternoon. Each grade level completed Though several people were standards-based challenges during the hour that inside the home at the time demonstrate values in science, technology, engi- of the shooting, no one was neering, art and mathematics. Marshall's students able to give deputies a de- were split into a yellow and blue team, given a scription of the shooter, au- piece of construction paper, scissors and tape and thorities said. tasked with making the longest chain link. The ex- The Clarendon County ercise encouraged cooperation and teamwork. Sheriff’s Office identified the ABOVE: Marshall takes a photo of the “Blue Team,” victim as Charles Lee Cum- including Peyton Dew, Cristian Robinson and Jame- mings. The sheriff’s office Larry McLeod, Lesley JAmison and Ty’won Jones work on ia Singleton after they finished their chain project. said Cummings was shot in their chain in Tiffany Marshall’s third grade class. the chest and shoulder and died as a result of his inju- ries. Authorities have not re- leased information on his age, last known residence or connections to the homeown- er. “This is a random act of vi- olence. This incident was an isolated incident,” the sher- Baker says focus will be as board member iff’s office said in a Facebook post. Authorities said that they BY BRUCE MILLS day for one of two at-large years ago in July 2013 when the consoli- are still looking into possible [email protected] seats on the board said dated district parted ways with its initial motives for the shooting. Tuesday he has no desire to superintendent, Randy Bynum, and he Anyone with information Frank Baker does not think it will be be a superintendent again accepted the position of interim superin- on the shooting is asked to awkward for the next superintendent to but stopped short of answer- tendent. Four months later, in November call the Clarendon County have him — the district's most recent ing whether he would step 2013, Baker was named the full-time su- Sheriff’s Office at (803) 435- former superintendent — on the Sumter BAKER into the role again if asked, perintendent in a split vote by the then 4414 or Crimestoppers at School Board because he's in a "different calling it a hypothetical and seven-member board. 1-888-CRIME-SC. Callers may role" now. "ridiculous question." remain anonymous. Baker, who won the most votes Tues- That question was asked of him five SEE BAKER, PAGE A9 DEATHS, B6 WEATHER, A12 INSIDE Shane Branson Evans Heyward Blyther VISIT US ONLINE AT GRAB YOUR RAIN GEAR 3 SECTIONS, 26 PAGES Kenneth Eugene Tindal Jeanette Alice Fleming Ivey VOL. 124, NO. 19 Emma Lee China James Cavy’on Khalif Fullwood Cloudy skies with a 60 percent the .com Lillie Ann McBride-Grinnell Ruby M. Burgess Pearson chance of rain during the day. Rain Religion A4 Comics C6 Janie Ragin Washington Mammie Thomas Merritts continues tonight, but look for the Classifieds B7 Opinion A10 Janie Blackwell White Charles Lee Cummings Jr. sun to shine on Saturday. Clarendon A7 Television C4 Fleet Cooper Jr. Richard Peay HIGH 64, LOW 51 Donna Keith Sullivan Linda Peters Gerda Alma Teller Sigler Willie Thomas Wilson A2 | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2018 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Bestselling WHAT YOUR GOVERNMENT IS DOING: SUMTER CITY COUNCIL author to New headquarters for EMS, speak at gas station plans advance BY ADRIENNE SARVIS plication on file for a proposed gas station museum [email protected] and convenience store development for 4 acres of the subject 11.29-acre parcel. BY IVY MOORE Sumter City Council approved two requests A 2017 traffic review of Camden Highway Special to The Sumter Item for a gas station at Camden Highway and counted 19,200 annual average daily trips Alice Drive during its meeting Tuesday. near the subject parcel and 5,700 trips on The Sumter County Museum Alice Drive, which intersects with Camden continues its authors’ series on Land for gas station/convenience store Highway near the parcel, according to a 2016 Monday with a talk and book PHOTO PROVIDED annexed into the city study. signing by New York Times Kristina McMorris’ latest novel, Reading: Second and final A traffic impact study completed for the bestselling writer Kristina Mc- “Sold on a Monday,” has received Agenda item: An ordinance to annex 11.29 proposed gas station and convenience store Morris. The 7 p.m. event is free critical and popular praise since acres at 1495 Camden Highway into the city. indicates the development could generate a and open to the public. its release in September. The New Background: The land, which does not have maximum of 6,424 trips in the area with 34 McMorris is also a USA York Times and USA Today best- street right-of-way frontage, is part of a larger percent of those trips coming from drivers Today bestselling selling author will give a talk and parcel where an 8.21-acre portion is already who do not usually travel Camden Highway author published sign books at 7 p.m. Monday at within the city limits. and Alice Drive daily. by Sourcebooks the Sumter County Museum. The applicant sought annexation to obtain Vote: Unanimous — Dwyer and Lowery Landmark, Pen- city services — public water and sewer — for were absent. guin Random dren leads to devastating conse- the parcel, and the applicant or owner of the House, Harper- quences in this historical tear- property is expected to bear the burden of City gives land to county for new EMS head- Collins and Kens- jerker from McMorris..