CLARENDON SUN: Luncheon brings cheer to families Dec. 20 A7 LOCAL Hear Handel’s ‘Messiah’ on SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 Sunday A2 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2018 75 CENTS Program teaches adults skills to remove barriers to job offers BY KAYLA ROBINS rate in the state’s vibrant economy — [email protected] 2.2 million South Carolinians are now working — may mean those who are A low unemployment rate in South not working have faced barriers at the Carolina also comes with the ramifica- interview desk in tighter times. tion that employers often find it diffi- A graduation ceremony at Central cult to fill current vacancies or hire Carolina Technical College’s Ad- KAYLA ROBINS / THE SUMTER ITEM new people who are ready to work in vanced Manufacturing Technology Graduates of the Back to Work program show off their diplomas with state Rep. Kevin expanding opportunities. Weeks, D-Sumter, fourth from the left, and Chris McKinney, executive director of Santee- Sumter’s 3.9 percent unemployment SEE WORK, PAGE A11 Lynches Regional Council of Governments. Florence man ‘Headed in the is in court for 2015 killing right direction’ in Lynchburg BY ADRIENNE SARVIS [email protected] A Florence native accused of killing a supposed friend in 2015 is having his time in court without a jury after requesting a bench trial at Sumter County Judicial Center, according to county authorities. George Jacob Shine, 34, faces a murder charge and a charge of possession of a weapon during a violent crime after 70-year-old Joseph Frey was found dead with two gunshot wounds at a residence off Narrow Paved Road on Nov. 17, 2015. Shine’s trial started Wednesday and is continuing SHINE today. A bench trial means the presiding judge will de- liver the verdict. About 10:44 p.m. that evening in 2015, a deputy responded to a call in reference to a “male being shot and needing assis- tance,” according to an incident report. The deputy spoke to Shine and his brother, Travis Jones, who said Shine had been shot in the chest by Frey. When asked about Frey’s location, the deputy reported Shine ignored the ques- tion. After finding the residence, the deputy called Jones on the phone and detained him when he came outside. Inside the house, Shine was found lying BRUCE MILLS / THE SUMTER ITEM on the floor with two firearms — a .22-cal- Sumter School District Interim Superintendent Debbie Hamm, left, speaks with Sumter County Councilman Chris Sumpter at iber rifle with a scope and a silver semi- the start of the Leaders for Learning Partnership Breakfast on Wednesday at Sumter’s First Church of the Nazarene. automatic handgun without a magazine — by his side. An unspent round was also Leaders say Hamm put system on right path at 2nd-annual State of the District found on the floor, and the magazine for the handgun was in a chair near Shine, BY BRUCE MILLS District by reviewing a brainstorm- to success, and we will continue to according to the report. [email protected] ing exercise from last year’s event work toward developing this dis- The deputy reported that Frey was also when community leaders said they trict to become the premier school lying on the floor and appeared to be de- Learning and community were could imagine — through various system that our students, parents ceased. two key themes highlighted partnerships — a school district and employees, as well as commu- He was flown to McLeod Health in Flor- Wednesday at Sumter School Dis- that could be talked about national- nity, richly deserve.” ence for “a gunshot wound to the right trict’s second-annual Leaders for ly for the great things happening in Hamm then highlighted incre- side just below his nipple and back to- Learning Partnership Breakfast its schools: one that creates a better mental gains in student test scores, wards the armpit area.” held at Sumter First Church of the workforce for the future, is on several new nationally recognized A subsequent news release from the Nazarene on Patriot Parkway. sound financial footing and one academic and character programs sheriff’s office said Frey died at the scene. Interim Superintendent Debbie that ensures every student is col- in the district’s schools, educating Shine told authorities Frey shot him Hamm brought the community lege- and career-ready by removing teachers on new models of student with the rifle and Jones struggled with partnership event concept with a barriers for students, among other learning and a focus on science, Frey over the firearm before it fell to the State of the District address to attributes. technology, engineering and math floor. Sumter last year in her first year as She said the district is doing its (STEM) curriculum — where a Shine said he then picked up the rifle the district’s leader, and this year’s best to turn that vision into reality. large number of future jobs in the and shot Frey twice from the floor. event built on last year’s vision. “We heard you,” Hamm said. Hamm opened her State of the “Sumter School District is on a path SEE DISTRICT, PAGE A11 SEE TRIAL, PAGE A11 VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B5 and B6 WEATHER, A12 INSIDE Edward Lawson Sr. Helen Carolyn King McLeod AT LEAST IT’S FRIDAY 3 SECTIONS, 26 PAGES the .com Willie Mae Wilson Pringle Ronald Weymouth VOL. 124, NO. 42 Rain and a storm possible Paul E. Jenkins Jr. Lisa Gail Webb Clarendon Sun A7 Religion A4 Ashton H. Bennett Carrie Belle Hodges Blanding today; mild with some heavy rain tonight Classifieds B7 Sports B1 Rebecca Nelson Burgess Marie A. McNeill Comics C6 Television C4 James R. Evans Jr. Irene Boone Wilson HIGH 61, LOW 57 Opinion A10 USA Today C1 Jamien Damond Bolden Will Henry Goodman Lillie Mae Thomas Gainey If you didn’t buy from us, you Great gift ideas! paid too much! A2 | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2018 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Hear Handel’s ‘Messiah’ Sunday the prelude and the Hallelu- Oratorio features jah chorus. Beth Lewallen will play harpsichord, and Ha- community raway will sing “Once in Royal David’s City” as part of choir, soloists the prelude. Beverly and De- laine Frierson will sing BY IVY MOORE “Sweet Little Jesus Boy,” and Special to The Sumter Item pianist Tabitha Haskins will play Tim O’Neal’s arrange- Eleven years after their ment of “Good King Wences- first collaboration that las.” Wilson will also play a brought a live concert of Dale Woods arrangement of “Messiah” to Sumter, Charles “Angels from the Realms of Haraway and Walter S. Glory.” “Chuck” Wilson are again di- The singers will be ac- recting the Christmas part of companied by a string Georg Frideric Handel’s fa- quartet organized and di- mous oratorio. rected by Worth Lewallen, The performance will be a University of South Car- presented at 4 p.m. Sunday at olina graduate with de- Trinity United Methodist grees in violin perfor- Church, where Haraway is mance and education. He minister of music. Wilson is has served as artist in res- the director of music at Em- idence for Trinity UMC manuel United Methodist since January. Church. Hamilton Stoddard and Kay Haraway said the produc- Rasmussen have served as re- tions of “Messiah” started hearsal pianists for the choir, with a collaboration between IVY MOORE / SPECIAL TO THE SUMTER ITEM Haraway said. Trinity UMC and The Church Charles Haraway, back, and Walter S. Wilson, seated at the organ, go over some of the prelude music for He also noted that, remark- of the Holy Comforter in 2007. Sunday’s 4 p.m. performance of Handel’s “Messiah.” Haraway is principal director of the work, and Wilson ably, Handel composed his “After recurring perfor- is co-director and will play organ for the prelude. The public is invited to the performance at Trinity United most-recognized oratorio in mances throughout the years, Methodist Church. only 24 days. singers from other churches Part I begins with Isaiah 40: and throughout the communi- is concerned with Easter, “it the church calendar. Part I is 1-3, which includes the words EVENT DETAILS ty, including Columbia, has become a Christmas icon often presented during Ad- “ … prepare ye the way of the Charleston, Orangeburg, What: Handel’s “Messiah” over the years,” he said. vent. Lord; make straight in the Summerton and others, have When: 4 p.m. Sunday Haraway said an oratorio is The choir for Sunday’s per- desert a highway for our come together to sing this Where: Trinity United Methodist “similar to opera but with no formance comprises some of God.” marvelous work,” Haraway Church, 226 W. Liberty St. sets, costumes or acting, (and the community’s finest sing- “We think the Sumter com- said. Admission: Free it’s usually) religious” in its ers, Wilson said, as well as munity deserves to hear “It’s really an ecumenical subject matter. Handel wrote prominent soloists: soprano ‘Messiah’ because it’s such a effort,” Wilson added. many oratorios, but “Messi- Chrissy Welch, a member of seminal work,” Haraway Haraway said “Messiah” performance “will stay on ah” is his best known, per- Florence’s Masterworks Sing- said. was composed by Handel in Part I, which tells the story of haps because it can be per- ers; bass Benjamin Seabrook; He and Wilson said they English in 1741; the text of the the Nativity, adding the Halle- formed in whole, and each of and alto Anne Harley from hope eventually to present three-part oratorio is from the lujah chorus from Part II.” its parts can be sung appro- Charleston.