IN RELIGION: Grace answers difficult questions A5 THE CLARENDON SUN 3rd annual Red, White and Blue Celebration will include food, SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 A6 THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 75 CENTS live music and fireworks Clark moved from Mother Emanuel at Mother Emanuel fice in Columbia said Wednesday that Wednesday said the re- no information was being given out Sumter pastor reassigned after less ports were true, but gave concerning the reassignment, and she no further information. did not know when the church would than a year at Charleston church She said Clark was not release a statement on the reassign- available for comment. ment. BY JIM HILLEY Charleston a year ago, she said her Media outlets quoted The shooting of nine people at a [email protected] head was in Sumter but her heart was CLARK sources as saying that Bible study class at Mother Emanuel in Charleston. Bishop Richard Franklin by a young, self-avowed white suprem- When Rev. Betty Deas Clark, then Five months ago, she was appointed Norris of the 7th District of the AME acist on June 17, 2015, thrust the pastor at Mount Pisgah AME Church the pastor at Emanuel, but Tuesday Church reassigned Clark on Tuesday church as well as Charleston into the in Sumter, heard about the shooting she was reassigned to Georgetown, ac- to Bethel AME Church in George- forefront of America’s struggle for of nine people at a Bible study class at cording to media reports. town. Mother Emanuel AME Church in A woman who answered the phone Cynthia Neal at the AME district of- SEE CLARK, PAGE A3 Gathering rays and pollen A bee gathers pollen from a sunflower in the heat of the day Wednesday on Lodebar Road. The sunflowers are mixed with corn in one section of the field. The sunflowers will get plenty of sun today as the forecast is calling for a high of close to 100 degrees. RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM Rotary Club of Sumter 2 teens arrested for Sunrise marks 20 years church vandalism BY JIM HILLEY [email protected] FROM STAFF REPORTS May 29 and 8 a.m. on May 31, the two teens broke into During the 20th Anniversary Banquet for Sumter County Sheriff’s the church and sprayed fire Rotary Club of Sumter Sunrise on Tuesday Office arrested a 14- and a extinguishers on the pews, evening at the O’Donnell House, Rotary Dis- 15-year-old boy on Tuesday electronics, walls and trict Gov. Rod Funderburk likened the club to for vandalizing Wedgefield floors. the “Little Engine that Could,” a vintage chil- Baptist Church in Wedge- Red paint was also dren’s book about a small locomotive that out- field and causing about poured inside the church, performs much larger ones through self-confi- $30,000 worth of damage and microphones were dence, determination and perseverance. last month. dipped into the paint. More “Your club is a small club that does great According to the sheriff’s damage was discovered things,” Funderburk said. office, the juveniles admit- during the cleaning pro- District Gov.-elect Sandee Brooks spoke ted to damaging items in- cess, totaling an estimated about one of the goals of Sumter’s breakfast side the church while they $30,000, according to the Rotary club. were being interviewed by sheriff’s office. “This is the 100th year of the Rotary Founda- investigators. “We always felt juveniles tion, and this may be the year we see polio JIM HILLEY / THE SUMTER ITEM The teens were arrested were involved because of eradicated,” she said. “We are striving to get Rotary Club of Sumter Sunrise President Isaac Carr, after deputies were tipped the damage done to the this done by 2017.” left, receives a plaque from Immediate Past Presi- off about their location on church,” said Sumter Club member Dr. Kay Davis said the Rotary dent Alan Cannon at the club’s 20th Anniversary Tuesday by a county resi- County Sheriff Anthony Club of Sumter Sunrise was formed on May Banquet on Tuesday at the O’Donnell House. dent who noticed the two Dennis. “The key to solving 16, 1996, with 30 members through the work of teens inside a Dorsey Drive this case was the diligent the district governor, who wanted to see a level of giving, and the club’s service projects residence where they did work and cooperation be- morning Rotary Club in Sumter. Scott McKen- have always focused on education and literacy. not belong. tween our patrol and inves- zie was the first president of the club. “We have made a difference in our commu- Responding deputies tigative divisions. We are Davis said the club has maintained three nity in 20 years,” Davis said. “Stay tuned for found both hiding inside proud of their work on this fundamental characteristics during its 20 what we are going to do in the next 20 years.” the residence. case.” years in existence. She said the focus on schools and education The juveniles have been Last week, Sumter Coun- “We wanted a diverse membership,” she with a project to provide coats, shoes and charged with burglary and ty Sheriff’s Office offered a said. “That wasn’t always the norm at that books this winter for students at Manchester were released to the custo- $500 reward for informa- time.” Elementary School in Pinewood. dy of their parents, accord- tion leading to the arrest of The club has always been a Rotary Founda- ing to the sheriff’s office. the people responsible for tion Club, she said, meaning it maintains a SEE ROTARY, PAGE A3 Between the evening of the vandalism. VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B4 WEATHER, A12 INSIDE Evelyn R. Bovender Corrie Cabbagestalk IT’S GOING TO BE A HOT ONE 2 SECTIONS, 20 PAGES the .com VOL. 121, NO. 209 Isaac Felder Sara Kathryn C. Brown Partly sunny and hot today; Phil E. Parker Donald O’Conner McCray partly cloudy tonight. Classifieds B6 Opinion A11 Mary W. Anderson Annie S. Gamble Comics B5 Television A9 Ethelea B. Watson Joseph C. Chan HIGH 97, LOW 76 Joe Nathan Preston Sr. A2 | THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] LOCAL BRIEF FROM STAFF REPORTS Sheriff’s office seeks identity of suspect Downtown market will FROM STAFF REPORTS feature new vendors Sumter County Sheriff's Of- fice is seeking the public's help The Downtown Sumter in identifying a man who may Farmers Market will have have been involved in numer- added vendors from 8:30 a.m. ous home break-ins through- to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. out the county within the past Mike Dellinger of the few weeks. Farm Store, who is in According to the sheriff's of- charge of the weekly mar- fice, the man in the photos ket, has arranged for repre- tried to break into a South sentatives of U.S. Depart- Lake Cherryvale Drive resi- ment of Agriculture and De- dence on Tuesday but left once partment of Health and En- he spotted the camera. The se- vironmental Control to par- curity camera on the property ticipate this week; they will took photos of the suspect. be doing food demonstra- PHOTOS PROVIDED Anyone with information tions, handing out recipes Sumter County Sheriff’s Office is asking about the man in the photos or for healthy cooking, as well the public to help identify the man in the recent break-ins is asked to as free veggies for some par- these photos who is suspected to be call Sumter County Sheriff's ticipants, free fruit samples connected to numerous home break-ins Office at (803) 436-2000 or Crime and more. throughout the county. Stoppers at (803) 436-2718. Also scheduled to partici- pate are Carasmatic Cre- ations, Creative Shellie, Dorr Farms, Engraving by Sandi, The Farm Store, From Me to You Catering, Upcycling Blue Aces bring pop, variety to Opera House Junkie and Wen Lily at Naomi and Warner. BY IVY MOORE The market is located at [email protected] the corner of Harvin and Lib- erty streets. he Blue Aces are a sextet of musicians from U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band. CORRECTION T They've played several times previously in Sumter, perhaps most no- tably at a past Jammin' July 4th cele- In Wednesday's edition of bration at Dillon Park. The Sumter Item the incor- On Tuesday, June 28, the band com- rect time and location for the prising a lead singer, two guitars, bass, Federal Emergency Manage- drums and an audio engineer will take ment Agency Hazard Mitiga- the stage at Sumter Opera House for a tion Grant Program was writ- concert of popular music. ten in the article titled "City Their sound is described as "Roots council approves $62.58M Rock and R&B with a powerful stripped budget." down sound. Authentic Americana The meeting will be held at music, delivered with soul and infused 5:30 p.m. on June 29 in the with the blues." PHOTO PROVIDED City Centre, Sumter Opera The concert will also feature some pa- The Blue Aces, a component of the U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band, perform with House, 21 N. Main St. Howev- triotic music, especially as Fourth of Jake Cinninger, Umphrey’s McGee’s lead guitarist, during a musical performance at Lang- er, Sumter City Attorney Eric July is less than a week after the concert. ley Air Force Base, Virginia. in February 2015. Cinninger, an American musician, has been Shytle said the meeting will The Blue Aces have earned world- playing musical instruments since he was 3 years old.