'Rodney's a Walking Miracle'
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C3 Sumter High’s 1948 basketball state champions COMMENTARY Brexit? Meet Trexit Kathleen Parker speculates about Trump and British vote to leave EU A11 SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2016 $1.50 IN SPORTS: P-15’s looking to bounce back in invitational B1 Candidates ‘Rodney’s a walking miracle’ ready for runoff BY ADRIENNE SARVIS [email protected] Four Sumter locals, two each running for Sumter County Coroner and Sumter County Council District 1, will face off yet again for a spot on the Nov. 8 Democratic ballot during runoff elections from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. County Coroner Harvin Bullock said he has always done the best he possibly could for the people. This is about the office, he said. He commented that the voter turn out two BULLOCK weeks ago was very low and hopes more of his constituents will KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY / THE SUMTER ITEM go to the polls on Maggie Sumter Hunter, left, grandmother of Orlando club shooting victim Rodney W. Sumter II, and Tamekia Hunter Ross, Sumter’s Tuesday. aunt, hold up a family photo and Sumter’s high school senior photo. People have the right to vote, and they will miss a Orlando shooting victim’s family shares story of survival, hope BAKER golden opportuni- ty to make their BY KONSTANTIN Joshua McGill, a nursing that night, there's no telling Sumter and Kyimi Sumter. wishes known if they do not, VENGEROWSKY student from Orlando, was what would have happened Ross found out about the Bullock said. [email protected] hiding under a car and to him. Josh saved his life." incident from her husband. He said he is also happy found Sumter. McGill tied Hunter had just finished "We were watching the with his positive and uplifting Rodney W. Sumter II, who his shirt and Sumter's shirt up worship service at St. news that morning before campaign and hopes he has has ties to the City of Sum- over his wounds to stop the Luke AME Church in Sum- church but did not think encouraged more members of ter, was assisting as a bar- bleeding and got him to the ter when she learned of the Rodney was in that club that the community to show their tender at Club Pulse in Or- nearest police news from her daughter, night," she said. support. lando in the early hours of officer, accord- Tamekia Hunter Ross, and Rodney was a bartender at Although Robbie Baker feels June 12 when a gunman, ing to his Face- her son-in-law, Arnteyus another club in Orlando. He nervous heading into the run- Omar Mateen, came into the book post on Ross. was assisting at Club Pulse, off election he is also optimistic. club and shot 102 people, the incident. "I was numb," Hunter said. something he had been "I've got a second wind," he killing 49 of them and leav- McGill rode "All kinds of thoughts went doing for only about three said. ing 53 injured. with Sumter to through my head. It was like weeks, Ross said. To secure his spot in Tues- Sumter, 27, was shot three SUMTER the hospital, an empty feeling." "He was working behind day's runoff, Sumter County times, once in each of his holding him in Sumter is the son of Hunt- the counter when the shoot- Voter Registration had a man- arms and in his back, barely a tight grip to keep him er's oldest child, Rodney er came into the club," she datory recount for Baker and missing his spine. Bleeding from losing any more Sumter Sr., a graduate of said. "When the shooting Isaac Johnson, the third demo- and running on adrenaline, blood. Sumter High School and an started, he and another bar- cratic candidate running for he ran outside into an adja- "Rodney's a walking mira- Army veteran. Sumter Sr. tender ducked behind the county coroner during the pri- cent parking lot, where he cle," said his grandmother, and his wife, Lenita King bar. When the shooter came maries, because of the close was assisted by a man who Maggie Sumter Hunter, a Sumter, live in Jacksonville, around the bar, that's when results. Sumter's family said saved lifelong Sumter resident. "If Florida. Rodney Sumter II To say the least, it was gut- his life. it wasn't for Josh being there has two siblings, Marquel SEE SURVIVAL, PAGE A7 wrenching to have to wait three hours for the results, he said. Since the primary elec- tion, he has been reaching out to more people in the Independence Day fireworks back in Sumter community, encouraging them to go out and vote on BY ADRIENNE SARVIS AREA FIREWORKS DISPLAYS Tuesday. [email protected] VA: Be mindful During his recent cam- Sumter City and County Fireworks Display paigning, Baker has been tell- After several years of not having a 9:30 p.m. Saturday at Dillon Park. ing potential constituents that local fireworks display, Sumterites can if they give five minutes to enjoy an Independence Day fireworks Contact: Phil Parnell, Sumter Recreation director, at (803) of neighbors vote he will give 365 days of show at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday at Dillon 968-2320 dedicated service if he is Park. City of Manning Fireworks Display BY JIM HILLEY elected county coroner. Sumter County Administrator Gary Best viewing from corner of East Boyce and North Church [email protected] Both candidates for county Mixon said Shaw Air Force Base used Streets. council district 1 said they are to host and sponsor a July 4 celebra- Begins at 9:30 p.m. Friday, July 1, and lasts 15 to 20 minutes. Sumter County Veterans Af- ready for the election and con- tion called Jammin' July 4th but fairs Director Valerie Brunson Patriotic music played during fireworks display. fident in their supporters to stopped after adjusting its expenses said anyone celebrating the make it to the polls. after the federal government's seques- Festival atmosphere downtown with booths, balloon tying, Fourth of July with fireworks Caleb Kershaw Jr. said he tration a few years ago. face paintings, food and beverage all starting at 7 p.m. should be respectful of his or her has been reaching out to po- This year's show is co-sponsored by neighbors. tential constituents in person, City of Sumter and Sumter County, happy to see, he said. Brunson said there are certain through social media and which both approved $10,000 each for Since July 4 is on a Monday this year, veterans who have post-traumatic radio advertisements trying the display. Mixon said holding the fireworks show stress disorder because of their to encourage more people to Sumter County Council presented on Saturday will be a better fit. war service. vote on Tuesday. the idea of having a July 4 fireworks He said the 15- to 20-minute event “Fireworks going off could After speaking with commu- show to Mixon who then shared the will only be a fireworks show and not a bring up some war experiences nity members, Kershaw is proposal with city officials who agreed day-long festival. where they did hear some loud looking forward to a better to partner on the project. "It's good for the entire community, noises like bombs,” she said. turn out than the primaries. It was important to bring back the and we hope to get great participation," She asked that the public be He said he prays that he is celebration, Mixon said. Mixon said. mindful of veterans in the commu- elected. Sumter is a community that is proud For more information about the nity and respect their war service. of its heritage, and this fireworks show SEE RUNOFF, PAGE A11 will be something residents will be SEE FIREWORKS, PAGE A7 SEE NEIGHBORS, PAGE A7 VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, A11 WEATHER, A12 INSIDE Murl A. White Jr. Annie S. Gamble COOLER AND CLOUDY 5 SECTIONS, 34 PAGES VOL. 121, NO. 212 the .com Ruth Riley Lottie B. Pearson Cooler today and mostly Richard F. Martin Roosevelt Dewitt sunny with slight chance of Business D1 Outdoors D3 Tillman H. Rushing Charlotte C. Lewis rain; tonight, warm and Classifieds D4 Panorama C1 Daphne Swick Rev. Thomas L. Junious mainly clear. Corrie Cabbagestalk Rebecca G. Gamble Comics E1 Stocks D2 HIGH 87, LOW 71 Opinion A10 Television E3 A2 | SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2016 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] LOCAL & STATE BRIEFS Deputies put clamps on party crasher FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS BY JIM HILLEY The barricades did not ap- County to consider [email protected] pear to be badly buckled, Bell amendment to budget said. Maybe he should have just “It just knocked them out Sumter County Council will fastened his seat belt. of the way,” he said. meet at 6 p.m. on Tuesday in An attempt by a Sumter Witnesses at the scene told County Council Chambers, County sheriff’s deputy to police the driver of the flee- Sumter County Administration pull over a driver for a seat ing vehicle, allegedly Roger Building, 13 E. Canal St., to con- belt violation on Manning Mullins of 206 sider final reading of an ordi- Avenue at about 8:30 p.m. Fri- Crosswell Drive, nance amending the county’s day led to a chase, according bolted out of the 2015-16 budget to account for to Ken Bell, public informa- car after crash- added expenses after the 1,000- tion officer for Sumter Coun- ing into the bar- year flood in October 2015.