CLARENDON SUN Bouncy houses, DJ and more at National Night Out A7 FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 75 cents Report shows $7.8M surplus for schools Estimated net income $2.6M higher than projected because of ‘conservative’ approach in 2017-18 BY BRUCE MILLS closely, Sumter School District ap- or surplus — of about $7.8 million for school board’s advisory Finance Com- [email protected] pears it will end fiscal 2018 even better the previous 12-month period, as op- mittee meeting at the district office, than it previously thought. posed to $5.2 million, which was previ- 1345 Wilson Hall Road. Because of conservative estimates Jennifer Miller, the district’s new ously projected by former CFO Chris “I do think the district was monitor- by the previous chief financial officer CFO, detailed Thursday that the pre- Griner. That estimate is $2.6 million ing all expenditures last year and being for payroll vacancies and monitoring liminary June 30, 2018, financial report more in a positive direction. all expenditures, in general, very shows the district with a net income — Miller made her comments at the SEE SURPLUS, PAGE A11 Democratic Simpson ACE Hardware donates smoke detectors parties want clarification on decision Clarendon, state parties file motion in coroner case BY KAYLA ROBINS [email protected] As Clarendon County voters and state election officials are looking ahead to a special elec- tion to find a new candidate for coroner after a judge’s rul- ing disqualified the primary winner from tak- ing office, two other involved parties are asking for clarification. The Clarendon County Democrat- PHOTOS BY MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM SAMUELS- ic Party and Simpson ACE Hardware donated 187 smoke detectors to Sumter Fire Department on Thursday, something the store has made a habit of COOPER South Carolina doing on occasion. “What they think is small is major to us,” said Fire Prevention Specialist Selena Ruth Smith. Along with Smith, Divi- Democratic Party sion Chief Johnny L. Rose, Alice Drive A-Shift Engine 212 Lt. Daren Avins, Senior Master Firefighter Todd Kenneth Klavon and firefighter filed a motion on Aug. 8 to re- Nicholas Hill were all present to accept the donation. consider and/or amend the order made by Third Judicial Circuit Judge R. Ferrell Co- thran that LaNette Samuels- Cooper can be on the ballot in November but cannot become a coroner because she has not met the statutory require- ments to be the county’s top death investigator. Samuels-Cooper beat Clar- endon County Coroner Bucky Mock in a June 12 primary to earn the Democratic nomina- tion. Mock, who was appointed coroner in February by Gov. Henry McMaster to fill the un- expired term of Hayes Samu- els Jr., who died in January, filed a lawsuit two days later disputing Samuels-Cooper’s self-claimed one year of expe- rience in death investigation. Samuels-Cooper’s defense is that her 13 years of working as an administrative assistant in the coroner’s office gave her the experience necessary to be a coroner and that a five-day class she was signed up for would give her the necessary certification. After two days of testimony in front of Cothran, he ruled on Aug. 3 that, based on law SEE CORONER, PAGE A11 A Pakistani recruit, 22, who was recently dis- For now, Army suspends discharges charged from the U.S. Army holds an Ameri- can flag July 3. The U.S. of immigrant recruits in program Army has stopped dis- charging immigrant BY MARTHA MENDOZA A memo shared with The It was not clear how many recruits who enlisted and GARANCE BURKE Associated Press on Wednes- recruits were affected by the seeking a path to The Associated Press day and dated July 20 spells action, and the Pentagon did citizenship — at least out orders to high-ranking not immediately respond to temporarily. The U.S. Army has stopped Army officials to stop process- requests for comment about discharging immigrant re- ing discharges of men and the memo. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS cruits who enlisted seeking a women who enlisted in the “Effective immediately, you path to citizenship — at least special immigrant program, temporarily. effective immediately. SEE RECRUITS, PAGE A11 VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B4 WEATHER, A8 INSIDE Thomas Moore Kendra Diane Conner STORMY 3 SECTIONS, 24 PAGES the .com VOL. 123, NO. 210 Raymond C. Shoemaker Jr. Anthony Smith Sr. A storm around this afternoon; Gloria C. Brauer Dorothy James Taylor mostly cloudy tonight Classifieds B5 Television C4 Sylvester Edward Jones Hickie Lee Pugh HIGH 94, LOW 74 Comics C6 Sports B1 Raynell Carraway Willie Olden Johnson Alicia La’Shaune Wright Opinion A10 USA Today C1 A2 | FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Police blotter Sumter man, woman arrested for allegedly conspiring to sell a stolen utility trailer FROM STAFF REPORTS two allegedly conspired to Sumter County Sheriff's sell a reportedly stolen Office arrested a woman 20-foot-long Black Dog and man on Wednesday utility trailer valued at for allegedly making plans $3,716, according to a news to sell stolen property. release. Shari Lynn Tisdale, 56, Tisdale and Burgess of 60 Haley Ave., and were transported to Sum- Brandon Lin Burgess, 31, ter-Lee Regional Detention of 1025 E. Brewington Center and are both Road, were arrested pur- charged with criminal suant to a warrant issued conspiracy and accessory on Wednesday after the after the fact of a felony. Sheriff’s office is still searching for man accused of sexually assaulting a minor PAUL ZOELLER / SANTEE COOPER / SPECIAL TO THE SUMTER ITEM FROM STAFF REPORTS about 123 Two Sumter School District teachers participated in the Energy Educators Institute sponsored recently Sumter County Sheriff's pounds. by Santee Cooper at the Wampee Conference Center in Pinopolis. From left: Brandy Incorvia, Santee Office is still looking for a Anyone who Cooper; Faith Gibbons, R.E. Davis Elementary School; Kearney Gregory, Santee Cooper; Desire Webb, Po- 24-year-old man who is ac- sees Galloway calla Springs Elementary School; and Anna Strickland, Santee Cooper. cused of allegedly sexually should call assaulting a minor on July 911; Sumter 18. GALLOWAY County Sher- Steven Galloway — who iff's Office Inv. 2 Sumter School District teachers is known to frequent the Shantell Ward Dalzell area — has brown at (803) 772-4097; or Crime eyes, black hair, is 5 feet 11 Stoppers at (803) 436-2718 complete Energy Educators Institute inches tall and weighs or 1-888-CRIMESC. FROM STAFF REPORTS four-day institutes included trips through the MONCKS CORNER — Two Sumter School lock at Jefferies Generating Station and visits District teachers, Desire Webb and Faith Gib- to Old Santee Canal Park and Cross Generat- bons, recently participated in Santee Cooper’s ing Station. annual Energy Educators Institute. Throughout the week, teachers also partici- According to a news release from Santee pated in learning activities and unit planning Cooper, state educators were provided with sessions and connected directly with Santee the opportunity to gain hands-on experience Cooper experts on topics such as energy effi- in critical fields of the energy industry at its ciency and conservation, renewable energy, institute held at the Wampee Conference Cen- environmental resources, power generation, ter in Pinopolis. transmission, distribution, electric safety, “This program is truly inspiring and re- water quality and utility economics. freshing,” second-grade teacher Desire Webb Asked about her thoughts on the institute, of Pocalla Springs Elementary School said in third- and fourth-grade teacher Faith Gibbons the release. “The provided materials will im- of R.E. Davis Elementary School said, “I ap- pact students for years to come.” preciate the visits from the key leaders in Serving as the institute’s 33rd-annual se- Santee Cooper … everyone who came to visit ries, the 2018 session hosted 50 state educators or speak to us seemed sincere and completely who received certification following their par- open to our questions and concerns and were ticipation in the week-long, graduate-level very willing to help us in any way.” course. The participating teachers received Participating teachers represented 16 South classroom preparation materials and a better Carolina counties including Berkeley, understanding about complex, energy-related Charleston, Chesterfield, Dorchester, Edge- topics, including the production, opportuni- field, Georgetown, Greenville, Horry, Lee, TY CORNETT / THE SUMTER ITEM ties and challenges of renewable energy. Lexington, Orangeburg, Richland, Spartan- Volunteers fill boxes with school supplies on Thursday to be de- Two sessions were held in July. Both of the burg, Sumter, Union and York. livered to schools in Sumter School District. FROM STAFF REPORTS Thursday, Aug. 16. Today is last drop-off day SHS announces Students whose last Orientation for freshmen names begin with A-L will orientation and students in grades 10-12, report from 5 to 6 p.m., and for Gear Up for Learning who are new to Sumter High M-Z will report from 6 to 7 time change School, will be held on p.m. in the gym. BY ADRIENNE SARVIS ministries.org, if a donor [email protected] does not have the time to go to the store, Champagne Sumter United Ministries said. Just make the donation Quote of the week is still in need of school sup- out to Gear Up for Learning plies to meet its Gear Up for in the special instructions "To say that an administrative assistant in a coroner's office has Learning goal this year, and section, and the money will today is the final drop-off only be used for this project, day.