IN SPORTS: Wilson Hall catcher Dabbs signs with Francis Marion B1 NATION Group unveils its ‘worst toys’ list for holiday season THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 75 cents A5 ‘Training of the future’ in Sumter Industry leaders, officials hope tech school will benefit workforce, community BY BRUCE MILLS [email protected] Industry officials and oth- ers are hailing Sumter School District’s recent pur- chase of lots fronting Broad Street for a new technical high school/center as poten- tially a big win for workforce development in the commu- nity. On Oct. 27, the school dis- trict purchased Bubba’s Diner, 841 Broad St., and the adjoining lot, formerly the site of Central Park fast-food restaurant, for $890,000 with special one-time funding from the state Legislature in partnership with the state Technical College System and Central Carolina Tech- nical College. If the district’s construction plan comes to fruition, the new school will be next to Central Carolina’s state-of-the-art Advanced Manufacturing Technology Training Center, 853 Broad St., which opened in August 2015. Last year, the district also purchased other com- mercial property lots in two strip plazas near CCTC’s training center with state funding. One plaza strip adjoins CCTC’s facility on the right, and the second runs perpendic- PHOTOS BY MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM ular to the first. Jayson Price, Martin Jackson and Morgan Jones work on circuit boards at Central Carolina Technical College’s Advanced Manufacturing Technolo- Kevin Johnson, BD plant gy Training Center on Tuesday. Plans for a new technical high school/center next to the college’s center on Broad Street are in the beginning stag- manager and chairman of es, and high school students will have the opportunity to learn about careers in industry and manufacturing in the area and build their skills. Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce’s Industrial As- sociation, said coming from District plans his position as a manufac- turing plant manager, any stronger link between a to research and technical high school and Central Carolina is good develop magnet news. Sumter has long been known as an industrial school concept community with a relative- BY BRUCE MILLS ly high concentration of [email protected] jobs in the manufacturing sector, according to the In an effort to increase U.S. Bureau of Labor Sta- overall academic achieve- tistics. ment and create more di- “It’s exciting for us as a verse opportunities for chil- manufacturer,” Johnson dren in public schools, Sum- said. “If we can continue to ter School District is looking feed students into technical into the possibility of creat- college programs and make Morgan Jones and Martin Jackson take a look at directions while working at the training center. ing a magnet school — or them ‘technical ready’ for maybe even more than one. our jobs in the industry, it’s technical college or a manu- metto State. to be successful,” Rauschen- With the unanimous ap- only going to grow this com- facturer is a growing trend He said the concept builds bach said. “They need some proval of a curriculum com- munity. It seems potentially in the state. Before joining brand awareness for the type of technical skill via a mittee motion by Sumter like a wonderful feeder pro- the Sumter Development technical college and em- certificate program or an as- School District’s Board of gram.” Board staff, Rauschenbach phasizes the need for post- sociate degree from postsec- Trustees on Monday, Inter- Brian Rauschenbach, worked for Apprenticeship secondary education beyond ondary education. It’s the im Superintendent Debbie project manager with the Carolina, a division of the the high school level for to- training of the future.” Hamm will research and de- Sumter Economic Develop- state Technical College Sys- day’s higher-skilled manu- He said the concept can velop one or more magnet ment Board staff, said hav- tem, where he helped devel- facturing jobs. set a solid path for students school proposals and a ing close proximity for a op youth apprenticeship “Kids today need more technical high school with a programs across the Pal- than a high school diploma SEE SCHOOL, PAGE A6 SEE MAGNET, PAGE A6 Tammy Wise gives a presentation Tuesday about Lee County focusing on development Palmetto Youth Connections BY JIM HILLEY ham said the county would, in the with an agreement to allow a Clar- during Lee County [email protected] past, first reimburse the school endon County man to build a han- Council’s meeting district for millage waived in the gar at Lee County Airport. County to ask the council Lee County Council is close to agreements and would keep the Administrator Alan Watkins said to help get the changing the way it shares money rest. Under the ordinance, 20 per- federal funding for the airport is word out about from fee-in-lieu-of-taxes agree- cent would be taken out to fund dependent on having 10 aircraft the program. ments. economic development first. based at the airport. Council passed the second read- “We have had some real success Watkins said the airport has JIM HILLEY / ing of an ordinance that proposes in the last 18 months, but we need only eight hangars — the request- THE SUMTER ITEM to dedicate 20 percent of that a steady source of revenue,” ed hangar would make nine. money to economic development, Windham said. “That will get us that much clos- with the remainder being split be- er to having 10 airplanes,” he said. tween Lee County School District RESIDENT TO BUILD PRIVATE The man wishing to construct and the county’s general fund. HANGAR AT AIRPORT Council Chairman Travis Wind- Council also voted to proceed SEE LEE COUNTY, PAGE A6 VISIT US ONLINE AT CONTACT US DEATHS, B3 WEATHER, A8 INSIDE Information: 774-1200 Annie Merlene Nichols A LITTLE WARMER 2 SECTIONS, 14 PAGES the .com Advertising: 774-1246 Roosevelt E. Dixon VOL. 123, NO. 22 Classifieds: 774-1200 Pleasant and warmer; Ashby Davis a starlit sky tonight Classifieds B6 Sports B1 Delivery: 774-1258 Corliss S. Barrett Comics B4 Television B5 News and Sports: 774-1226 John D. Wells Sr. HIGH 68, LOW 39 Edward McDowell Sr. Opinion A7 A2 | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Lost Confederate gold Learning about firefighting topic of genealogical society’s next meeting BY IVY MOORE eral of taking up to $13 million Special to The Sumter Item in gold as a bribe to allow Jef- ferson Davis to escape. Author, historian and Uni- “The search for Lost Con- versity of South Carolina Pro- federate Gold leads into the as- fessor Emerita Patricia G. Mc- sassination of President Lin- Neely will present a program coln and England’s involve- on “the lost Confederate gold” ment in the Civil War and is at Monday’s meeting of the still going on now,” McNeely Sumter County Genealogical said. She will also discuss her Society. The 7:30 p.m. program book on “Lincoln, Sherman, will be held at Swan Lake Pres- Davis and the Lost Confederate byterian Church, 912 Hayn- Gold.” sworth St. McNeely’s presentation on In her presen- the “search that will never tation, McNeely end” and the burning of Co- will discuss pa- lumbia is co-sponsored by the pers signed by S.C. Humanities Council. Gen. William T. McNeely taught writing and Sherman that reporting for 33 years in the have been held School of Journalism in Co- MCNEELY privately by sev- lumbia. Before joining the USC eral Sumter fami- faculty, she was a reporter and lies for more than 150 years, as editor for The Greenville News, well as the mystery surround- The State and The Columbia ing the gold. McNeely has re- Record. Among her books, in cently included the documents addition to “Eyewitnesses to and eyewitness accounts in General Sherman’s Campaign her book “Eyewitnesses to in the Civil War” and “Lincoln, General Sherman’s Campaign Sherman, Davis and the Lost in the Civil War.” Confederate Gold” are “Sher- Noting that there has long man’s Flame and Blame Cam- been controversy about the paign through Georgia and the question of who burned Co- Carolinas … and the burning lumbia during the war, Mc- of Columbia,” “Fighting Neely said in a news release Words: A Media History of that “The letters and eyewit- South Carolina” and “Knights ness accounts of Sherman’s of the Quill: Confederate Cor- campaign in South Carolina respondents and their Civil provide significant insight into War Reporting.” PHOTO PROVIDED Sherman’s personal life and fi- Books will be available for Sumter County Firefighter Jason Capell speaks to St. Anne and St. Jude Catholic School second- nally and convincingly end the purchase at the meeting. grade students on Nov. 9 about firefighting and the necessary equipment. controversy about who burned The Sumter County Genea- Columbia. The documents are logical Society meets monthly strong evidence of Sherman’s from September through May. strategy to destroy towns in Admission is free, and the his path rather than leaving public is invited to attend. In- occupying forces.” terested persons may join the One of the documents de- society following the meeting. Judge sides with S.C. media in fight scribing the burning of Colum- Membership includes nine bia quotes Sherman as regret- monthly newsletters during ting the burning of the city but the year and free use of the that he “could leave no part” Sumter County Genealogical over Republican caucus records of his army to keep it.