NATION Student shot, killed during fight at N.C. school TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2018 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 75 cents A3 Absentee voting deadline nearing Officials clear up concerns stacles are fixable but that time is run- out to the Sumter County Voter Regis- “If I know it’s out there, then we’ll ning out. tration Office, where Director Patricia scan it and make sure they get it,” Jef- about online applications The Sumter Item received several Jefferson scanned a copy of the appli- ferson said. “We’ll do everything we questions about going through the full cation and sent him that. can.” BY KAYLA ROBINS process online to get an absentee bal- Cornell’s concern was that other In response to questions about [email protected] lot and download the necessary paper- people may have come across comput- whether the computer problem could work. er problems and not known to reach be fixed, the South Carolina Election After reports of some voters in Edward Cornell said he could not out. Commission said many of the issues Sumter not being able to vote by ab- complete the application to download He voiced frustration the issue still may involve not having Adobe PDF sentee ballot for the upcoming Nov. 6 it, which then would allow him to get exists, claiming his wife came across general election, officials said the ob- an absentee ballot by mail. He reached the same problems last election cycle. SEE VOTING, PAGE A6 Sumter mixes caffeine and gasoline for a good cause PHOTOS BY MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM The seventh-annual Caffeine and Gasoline car show rolled into downtown Sumter on Saturday, bringing cars, trucks and motorcycles ranging across decades, styles and colors to the parking lot wrapping from The Sumter Item to Cut Rate Soda Fountain. Spearheaded by Cut Rate’s Todd Touchberry, the annual event benefits the Military Museum of Sumter, which is run by historian and Item archivist Sammy Way. More than 180 cars pre-registered for the show, which Touchberry called the biggest yet. Haleigh Joyner enjoyed the car show on Satur- day at Cut Rate Soda Fountain. Synagogue massacre Law enforcement urges defendant appears in kids, parents to think of safety on Halloween court in wheelchair BY ADRIENNE SARVIS PITTSBURGH (AP) — The thought to be the deadliest at- [email protected] man accused in the Pittsburgh tack on Jews in U.S. history. synagogue massacre appeared Robert Gregory Bowers, who THE ASSOCIATED PRESS While Halloween is seen by most as a holiday briefly in federal court in a was wounded in a gun battle A person stands in Pittsburgh on Monday in for kids to dress as their favorite characters wheelchair and handcuffs with police during the shooting front of Stars of David that are displayed in and parents to worry about future dental bills, Monday to face charges he front of the Tree of Life Synagogue with the local law enforcement encourages families to killed 11 people in what is SEE MASSACRE, PAGE A6 names of those killed in Saturday’s shooting. exercise great caution when going from house to house Wednesday. Some stories about the dangers of Halloween are centered on urban legends, but there is a real need to be careful, especially when trick- or-treating in different neighborhoods or even Official: Pipe-bomb suspect had hit list houses you may be familiar with. A fun family outing in 2008 ended in tragedy, BY CURT ANDERSON Press on Monday. The official said authorities had by no fault of the family, during a time when AP Legal Affairs Writer The disclosure recovered soldering equipment, a all should have been happy. came as 56-year-old printer and stamps similar to Tony Jeremeral “TJ” Darrisaw, a 12-year-old MIAMI — The man suspected Cesar Sayoc made his those used on the package bombs seventh-grader at Bates Middle School, was of sending pipe bombs to promi- initial court appear- in the investigation into Sayoc, shot and killed while he and his family were nent Democrats and other oppo- ance in Miami feder- who was arrested last week in trick-or-treating on South Wise Drive on Hal- nents of President Donald SAYOC al court Monday and Florida. Authorities think Sayoc loween evening 10 years ago. The homeowner Trump kept a list of elected offi- after bomb squads was putting explosives together opened fire, shooting multiple bullets through cials and others who investiga- were called to a post in his van. the door, wall and windows, killing Darrisaw tors think were intended targets, office in Atlanta about a suspi- an official told The Associated cious package sent to CNN. SEE LIST, PAGE A6 SEE SAFETY, PAGE A6 VISIT US ONLINE AT CONTACT US DEATHS, B4 WEATHER, A8 INSIDE Information: 774-1200 Gordon Edward Wolff WARM AND SUNNY 2 SECTIONS, 14 PAGES the .com Advertising: 774-1246 Ethel Lee Samuels Tindal VOL. 124, NO. 11 Classifieds: 774-1200 Fog in the morning, Harry Lee Edward then mostly sunny; clear Classifieds B6 Sports B1 Delivery: 774-1258 Victoria Young Junious tonight and chilly Comics A5 Television B5 News and Sports: 774-1226 Wilbert Lee Williams HIGH 69, LOW 46 Frances Magazine Grant Opinion A7 Harold Gipson Sr. A2 | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2018 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Manning High holds anti-bullying presentations BY DANNY KELLY National Guard Sgt. Rich Schneider gives [email protected] Manning High School students a presen- tation on the harm bullying can cause. Sgt. Rich Schneider with the Na- tional Guard gave two anti-bullying DANNY KELLY / THE SUMTER ITEM presentations on Friday to Manning High School students. “It’s a huge honor. I take pride in it,” he said of doing the presenta- tions. “I live in Manning, my wife tools to deal with it.” teaches in Manning, and my kids go Hodge also shared how students to school in Manning, so I want to should report bullying. make Manning and the rest of the “Some come in and see a (guidance) county the best we can.” counselor, who calls an administra- Schneider had a lot of information tor, and some go straight to an admin- to share with the students, but one istrator,” she said. “Administrators thing stood out in particular. deal with it promptly, and it’s all con- “The main thing is building respect fidential. Students are good about within the community,” he said. telling if there’s something going on.” Schneider taught the students Schneider encourages any school about the H.E.A.R program, which that has a bullying problem to reach stands for "helping everyone achieve out to him or the National Guard. respect." counselor Marlene Hodge also has a district,” she said. “We have a pledge, “If anybody does need this pro- “Everyone needs to be heard, vic- strong opinion on bullying. posters and make announcements to gram," he said, "you can reach out to tims and bullies,” he said. “We don’t tolerate bullying at Man- reinforce that statement. We don’t the National Guard for a free presen- Manning High School guidance ning High School or in this school want it going on, and we give them tation." Director of Lee Transportation Bats are fascinating, but what do Services speaks at conference you do if you find 1 in your home? FROM SCDNR the opening to trap the bat. BY IVY MOORE transit in Lee County are being recog- With Halloween just a few days If you think you have been exposed Special to The Sumter Item nized nationally, and we want our away, many people decorate their to a bat, call SCDHEC immediately. community to know as well,” Scott homes with spider webs, skeletons Do not release the bat unless they di- Bettye Scott, director of Lee Trans- said. “The seeds for public transit and bats. Plastic bats serve as great rect you to do so. According to the portation Services of Bishopville, at have been planted; it needs to be decorations, but what should you do SCDHEC website, even if you haven’t the invitation of the Committee for nourished with financial support and if you find yourself with a live bat in- been bitten by a bat, you are consid- the National Conference on Rural advocacy for it to work.” side your home? ered exposed to a bat if you: Public Intercity Bus Transportation According to a news release, “The South Carolina is home to 14 differ- • Wake up to find a bat in your Conference, was the presenter at the National Conference on Rural Public ent species of bat, but only half are room; committee’s biennial and Intercity Bus Transportation is colonial cavity roosting species. Those • Find a bat where children, pets, conference in Brecken- held once every two years, offering a species form large groups and or persons with impaired mental ca- ridge, Colorado, last valuable experience for rural transit sometimes use human dwell- pacity (intoxicated or mentally dis- month. She discussed and human service transit providers, ings. Of those abled) have been left unattended; the ways public transit tribal transit managers, planners, species, most or has changed lives and state transit agency staff, intercity cases of un- • A pet or person that has been in strengthened Lee Coun- bus operators like Southeastern Stag- wanted bats direct contact with a bat. ty communities. Scott SCOTT es, consultants, researchers and in man-made If no one has been exposed, was also a moderator for trainers. The conference includes structures are attributed to the bat can be released outside the Medicaid NEMT multiple routes to offer learning op- four common species: the on a tree or other high object.