SCISA softball tournament B1 SUNDAY, MAY 13, 2018 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 $1.75 Helping mothers is woman’s passion BY ADRIENNE SARVIS “A lot of our moms are ents to get to know each other, [email protected] scared when they come to us,” Hallal said. said Kristin Hallal, director of “We were not meant to go The road to motherhood is Sumter Pregnancy Center. through this life alone,” she not the same for everyone, Many of them are first-time said. and some women need guid- mothers, she said. Some clients even come ance and encouragement to It is very important for staff back to volunteer and help MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM find the path that works for to build a trusting relation- Kristin Hallal, director of Sumter Pregnancy Center, helps many first- them. ship with clients and for cli- SEE MOTHERS, PAGE A4 time mothers and builds relationships with them. CCTC grads turn tassels to new chapter BY KAYLA ROBINS [email protected] he caps and gowns may Thave all been navy blue with gold, but the ages, faces and degrees under them were as varied as Sumter County itself. About 700 students graduated from Central Carolina Technical College on Friday at Sumter County Civic Center, earning diplomas for every- thing from nursing to industrial tech- nology. Michael Mikota, president of CCTC, said the college is the No. 1 economic development tool in the re- gion because of the range of training and coursework it offers, proven by the range of ages of students. The college saw 42 nurses graduate and 10 students leave Manning High School this year with an associate de- gree, said Mikota, who presided over his first commencement ceremony as president. Debbie Seymour, freshman seminar coordinator, gave the commencement speech before students walked across the stage and turned their tassels, telling them how proud she is of what many of them have overcome to be where they are today. “I love seeing them light up and see their excitement about discovering their passions,” Seymour said. “This isn’t the end. This is really the begin- ning of a new chapter.” PHOTOS BY KAYLA ROBINS / THE SUMTER ITEM Sumter church will host leadership summit again this summer BY BRUCE MILLS Church in South Barrington, Illinois. Simon Sinek, Pastor T.D. Jakes and [email protected] This year’s theme for the leadership restaurateur and hospitality industry summit is “Everyone Has Influence,” TV host Danny Meyer, among others. A renowned, world-class leadership according to the summit’s website. The leader of the summit this year training event is available again right Keynote speakers include present- will be Tom De Vries, who is in his in Sumter’s backyard as one local ers Craig Groeschel, co-founder and first year as president of Willow Creek church will serve as a satellite loca- Loring Mill Road, spoke Tuesday senior pastor of Life.Church, which is Association. tion for the two-day simulcast event about The Global Leadership Summit, also one of the country’s largest According to the association’s web- held annually at one of America’s which the church is a local host site churches with multiple locations in site, the annual leadership summit ex- largest churches near Chicago. for and which will be held Aug. 9-10. nine states, and John Maxwell, a ists to transform Christian leaders Mark Partin, administrative pastor The actual summit will be held on the Christian leadership guru. Other key- of Alice Drive Baptist Church, 1305 campus at Willow Creek Community notes include best-selling author SEE SUMMIT, PAGE A4 VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B5 WEATHER, A10 INSIDE SUNNY AND HOT 4 SECTIONS, 28 PAGES the .com Patricia Y. Saul Mary P. Rogers VOL. 123, NO. 146 Katherine L. Brown Inez W. Bullard Continued heat and sunshine Education A6 Panorama A5 Sam Price Jr. Hattie P. Gibson today with no chance of rain; Arthur S. Bahnmuller Marianne H. Reither tonight, mainly clear and mild. Classifieds C8 Reflections C4 Christine M. Colvin Mary Lou M. Achziger HIGH 95, LOW 65 Comics D1 USA Today C1 Outdoors C7 Yesteryear C5 Opinion A9 For more than 75 years, the Iris Festival has been providing entertainment, arts & crafts, great food and family fun! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! SUMTER at Swan Lake Iris Gardens Memorial Day Weekend MORE INFO AT IRISFESTIVAL.ORG A2 | SUNDAY, MAY 13, 2018 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Budget process Lee Correctional officer charged continues for Sumter city, with assault and battery of inmate BY KAYLA ROBINS The warrant states Burns assault- ing a 13-year sentence for armed county councils [email protected] ed and battered an inmate on April robbery and failure to stop for an 28 by "stomping on the victim's ab- officer since 2015. He had been in- A correctional officer at Lee Cor- domen while the victim was hand- carcerated at the Bishopville prison, BY ADRIENNE SARVIS rectional Institution has been ar- cuffed and lying on the floor." There the state system's largest maximum- [email protected] rested following an incident involv- are reportedly witnesses to and a security campus, since March 8. ing an "excessive use of force," a video of the incident. A bloody, deadly fight between in- Sumter city and county state prison official said. Taillon said the inmate was seen mates in three housing units at the councils continued to make Antonio Lavar Burns, of Colum- by medical staff but did not require prison on April 15 left seven in- progress with the 2019 bud- bia, has been charged with third-de- treatment. mates dead and 22 injured. Two of gets for their respective en- gree assault and battery after an ar- Burns has been terminated from the injured men filed a lawsuit on tities during budget work- rest warrant was served on Friday, his position. Tuesday accusing state officials of shops, both held on May 8. according to Jeffrey Taillon, spokes- According to SCDC inmate re- negligence in failing to hire, train Sumter County Council man for the South Carolina Depart- cords, the man Burns is accused of or monitor enough officers to main- approved first reading of a ment of Corrections. assaulting is 35 and has been serv- tain order. balanced budget of $52,752,483 million during its meeting. Council also approved a $2.5 million bond that is is- POLICE sued annually by county Budget and millage priorities council to fund capital re- BLOTTER quests such as new vehicles CHARGES for Sumter County Sheriff's Office. before Sumter school board Marcus Hakeem Battles, 19, This year the bond will of Camden Road, and Jer- BY BRUCE MILLS also be used to renovate the SUMTER SCHOOL DISTRICT’S ime Shyheed Tindal, 19, of former Sumter Fire Depart- [email protected] BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING Brohum Camp Road in ment headquarters building Wedgefield, were arrested on Hampton Avenue and de- Next school year's budget again head- WHERE: Chestnut Oaks Middle School, 1200 on Thursday and charged molish the old detention lines the agenda for Sumter School Dis- Oswego Road with strong armed rob- center building behind the trict's Board of Trustees' upcoming meet- WHEN: 6 p.m. Monday bery for allegedly taking a fanny pack containing sheriff's office and construct ing, set for Monday night at Chestnut Oaks $800 and an S.C. identifica- Middle School, 1200 Oswego Road. a parking lot, said Sumter tion card from the victim County Administrator Gary A district spokesperson distributed the schools, 30-1 for middle schools and 31-1 for while on McKeiver Road Mixon. agenda to the media late last week. high schools. It would also not add any on May 4. Battles and Tin- Renovations — estimated The meeting will serve as the official money to the district's fund balance next dal are also accused of to cost $700,000 — to the old public hearing on the fiscal 2018-19 budget. year after it's projected to be $6 million at pushing the victim off his fire department building During his financial report, district Chief the end of this fiscal year on June 30, 2018. bicycle and assaulting will convert the building Financial Officer Chris Griner will present The 5.48-mill increase translates to him, according to a news into a new headquarters for the budget to the board, similar to what he $1,057,121 in additional revenue for the dis- release from Sumter Sumter County EMS, he did two weeks ago at an April 30 budget trict that would mostly be generated from County Sheriff's Office. said. planning session. additional taxes on commercial businesses Dwauntrez Chrishaud Keith, Mixon said it will cost Griner's budget proposal presents a bal- and industries in Sumter, according to Gri- 31, of North Main Street, about $300,000 to demolish anced $131,609,396 general fund budget that ner. was arrested on Thursday the old jail and $500,000 to doesn't include a 5.48-mill increase that the At Monday's meeting, the trustees are and charged with grand construct a parking lot in its district also likely plans to ask Sumter likely to provide input and determine the larceny for allegedly tak- place. County Council for on May 29. Included in district's priorities for potential use of that ing items worth $35,600 — the budget is locally funded step increases additional county revenue. The administra- a silver 2010 Chevrolet C2500 truck, a 2013 Lawri- CITY 2019 BUDGET UPDATE for all teachers and non-teachers.