IN SPORTS: Bates, Manning meet for middle school football championship B1 HEALTH MATTERS Get the latest info from health care professionals C1 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2017 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 75 cents District study motions don’t go forward Byrd says time between meetings partly explains delay in presenting recommendations to board BY BRUCE MILLS wasn’t already listed on full board. However, he said he was ing its meeting, and the full board [email protected] the public agenda for the advised by board Chairman the Rev. meeting followed on Monday. The Fa- closed session, he couldn’t Daryl McGhaney that because he cility Committee consists of three In part because of timing factors, change the agenda Mon- couldn’t modify the executive session, board members: Byrd, board Vice the Facilities Committee of Sumter day. it was best not to bring them back up Chairwoman Karen Michalik and the School District’s Board of Trustees According to state law, in open session later. Rev. Ralph Canty. didn’t present two motions Monday to BYRD a public agenda — such as Byrd said the situation just repre- “Because we met on Friday as a the full board to move forward with a school board meeting sented a “missed opportunity.” committee, there wasn’t an appropri- studies that could affect the future of agenda — must be final- He anticipates at the next board ate lapse of time to satisfy those other low-enrollment schools in the district. ized, posted and distributed to the meeting on Nov. 13 the board will dis- requirements for me to change the Committee Chairman William Byrd media at least 24 hours before the ac- cuss the potential contractual cost fac- agenda,” Byrd said. “Friday, we took said Wednesday that he wanted to ini- tual meeting and can’t be changed af- tors in executive session, and then he the action; on Saturday and Sunday, tially discuss with the full board in ex- terward. will present the two study recommen- no one was in the office, and Monday ecutive session behind closed doors Byrd said his intent Monday was to dations when the board returns to we’re in the meeting. That was the na- Monday night the potential contractu- discuss potential bid price issues in open session. ture upon which I was trying to be al cost issues associated with two executive session and then come back Byrd said part of the issue was the transparent to say to the board and to studies before discussing them in open out to open session and present the fact the Facilities Committee made its session. However, because that item studies as motions for approval by the two recommendations on Friday dur- SEE MOTIONS, PAGE A6 Chick-fil-A Sundogs at sunset owner says mall sales have tripled Freestanding restaurant will reopen in November BY BRUCE MILLS [email protected] Sumter’s Chick-fil-A owner says he’s just thank- ful to be involved with a business where everyone every day wants to know when it will reopen. Scott Richardson, owner/ operator of the two Chick- fil-A restaurants in Sumter, made his comments Tues- day about the remodeling ef- fort for the freestanding Chick-fil-A at 1170 Broad St. Since Sept. 29, Sumterites who prefer Chick-fil-A for its popular chicken sand- wich, nuggets, Chick-n-Min- is, and other items have had to visit the restaurant’s smaller location at Sumter Mall to taste their favorites. Richardson said restau- rant sales at the mall loca- tion have tripled since be- fore Oct. 1, but he and his MELANIE SMITH / THE SUMTER ITEM management staff expected that. The influx of business A solar halo with two “sundogs,” the rainbow-colored patches of light near the sun, is seen at local astronomer Hap Griffin’s observatory at the mall eatery has been near Bethune on Saturday evening. According to Tiffany Means of thoughtco.com, sundogs, or parhelia, occur on one side of the sun or a challenge at times because both sides of the sun before sunset or after sunrise. These can also appear near the moon after dark and are called moondogs. “Sundogs the location is not made for form as sunlight is bent (refracted) by ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere,” according to Means. that amount of volume, he said. Management has tried to accommodate customers as much as possible during the transition with curbside ser- Sheriff’s office’s K-9s get new Kevlar vests vice for Mobile One app guests during peak lunch and all five dogs. dinner hours and a small Dogs won vests after On Wednesday, the sheriff’s office’s four K-9s — Dina, Halo, Kaos and Tank SEE CHICK-FIL-A, PAGE A6 recent photo contest — were put into their bullet-proof vests which also include handles and lead at- BY ADRIENNE SARVIS tachments. Tassone said the agency’s [email protected] newest K-9, Spike, would also be receiv- ing a vest once he finishes training. On Wednesday, the K-9s of Sumter According to Keeping K-9s in Kev- County Sheriff’s Office received their lar’s Facebook page, each vest starts at custom-made Kevlar vests after win- $2,500. ning a photo competition a few months Tassone said the average price for a ago. ADRIENNE SARVIS / THE SUMTER ITEM universal-size vest ranges from $800 to The contest was hosted by Keeping K-9 Kaos shows off his new Kevlar vest at $1,000. K-9s in Kevlar, an organization that Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. Sumter County’s K-9s were fitted for raises community money to purchase the custom vests before receiving them. vests for patrol, SWAT or apprehen- placed first, second and third after the The K9 Storm vests can also be adjust- PHOTO PROVIDED sions dogs working for law-enforce- original first-place K-9’s agency with- ed slightly so they can fit another dog This photo shows what the newly ment agencies. The vests were manu- drew from the competition. The other if necessary, he said. remodeled freestanding Sumter factured by K9 Storm Inc. K-9’s agency received a private dona- Tassone said the vests will definitely Chick-fil-A will look like based on Staff Sgt. Jason Tassone, supervisor tion to purchase a vest, he said. be useful when the K-9s are sent into a recently renovated Chick-fil-A in of the sheriff’s office’s K-9 Unit, said Tassone said although three of the dangerous situations. The K-9s will not another city. The store is set to four of the agency’s K-9s were entered K-9s won the competition, Keeping K-9s open again in early November. in the contest, and three of the dogs in Kevlar decided to provide vests for SEE K-9 VESTS, PAGE A6 VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B3 WEATHER, A8 INSIDE PLEASANT 3 SECTIONS, 22 PAGES the .com Patricia M. Byrd Steve A. Guest Sr. VOL. 123, NO. 9 Donnie Winchester Margie H. Gaylord Mostly sunny today; Melonie Nelson Nathan China clear and chilly tonight Classifieds B6 Opinion A7 Wilene R. Capers-King Linda A. Jennings HIGH 67, LOW 44 Comics B4 Television B5 Naomi S. Hinnant Kevin Canty A2 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2017 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] ‘Charlie Hits it Big’ Veterans Day Wilson Hall sixth- graders Dylan Jones and Connor Hanson, members parade, meet of the theater class taught by Tara Schumacher, per- form a scene from and greet set “Charlie Hits it Big.” The students in the class wrote the BY JIM HILLEY Sumter County Veterans screenplay based [email protected] Affairs Director Valerie on the book by Brunson will honor selected Deborah Blumen- Lt. Gen. Michael Garrett, Vietnam-era veterans with thal, made their commanding general of U.S. a presentation of medal- costumes and cre- Army Central/Coalition lions thanking them for ated the sets for Forces Land Component their service. Veterans who the recent perfor- Command, will be the key- wish to be eligible for the mance held on the note speaker and parade award must have their DD- multipurpose marshal for the 2017 Veter- 214s on file with Sumter room stage for stu- ans Day parade and meet Veterans Affairs, Brunson dents and parents. and greet Saturday, Nov. 11, said. She said all Vietnam- at the old Sumter County era vets are eligible to re- PHOTO PROVIDED Courthouse, 141 N. Main St. ceive a lapel pin commemo- The observance will begin rating the 50th anniversary with the parade at 10 a.m. of the end of the Vietnam Activities on the courthouse War. front lawn will begin with After the ceremonies, a patriotic music at 10:45 a.m. veterans’ fair and meet and At 11 a.m., Bush Hanson greet will be held on the Mystery comes to Seminar Series of Sumter County Veterans back lawn of the court- will welcome attendees, and house, including vendors the Lakewood High School with information of value to BY IVY MOORE It was not until feminism got started in the Air Force ROTC will pres- veterans and barbecue by Special to The Sumter Item 1970s, Bellanca said, that “scholars took an- ent the colors. Hanson will Sumter Combat Veterans. other look at her. We read her on her own lead attendees in the pledge Line-up for the parade The University of South Carolina Sumter merits at that time.” of allegiance, and Senior begins at 9 a.m.