USA Today pages will now be published in Friday editions Free air show starts Saturday McEntire Joint National Guard Base welcomes SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 A2 TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2017 75 CENTS public for 2-day event Special primary election is today However, voters who live in the and 2, Dalzell 1, McCrays Mill 1 and 2, opened when former Congressman Candidates vying for seats Mayesville, Salem, St. John, Morris Col- Delaine, Manchester Forest, Pinewood Mick Mulvaney was appointed to a posi- in S.C. House, U.S. Congress lege, Crosswell, Loring, Lemira, Magno- and St. Paul precincts will be eligible to tion in the Donald Trump administra- lia-Harmony, Stone Hill, South Red Bay, vote in both the Congressional District 5 tion, and the S.C. House seat became BY JIM HILLEY Savage Glover or Bates precincts are Primary Election and the South Caroli- open after the death of former S.C. [email protected] not eligible to vote in the election. Those na House District 70 Primary Election. House member Joe Neal. precincts are neither in Congressional Registered voters in all other pre- Three Democrats, Alexis Frank, Les Most registered voters in Sumter District 5 nor South Carolina House Dis- cincts are eligible to vote in the Con- Murphy and Archie Parnell, and seven County will be eligible to vote in today’s trict 70. gressional District 5 Primary Election Republicans, Chad Connelly, Ray Craig, special primary election for Congressio- On the other hand, voters in the alone. nal District 5. Horatio, Hillcrest, Oakland Plantation 1 The Congressional District 5 seat SEE ELECTION, PAGE A8 Lawmakers YMCA opens gymnastics facility for all ages settle on $1T plan to avoid a shutdown BY ANDREW TAYLOR The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Lawmakers on Mon- day unveiled a huge $1 trillion-plus spend- ing bill that would fund most government operations through September but would deny President Trump money for a border wall and rejects his proposed cuts to popu- lar domestic programs. The 1,665-page bill agreed to on Sunday is the product of weeks of negotiations. It was made public in the predawn hours Monday and is tentatively scheduled for a House vote on Wednesday. The catchall spending bill would be the first major piece of bipartisan legislation to advance during Trump’s short tenure in the White House. While losing on funding for the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, Trump won a $15 billion down payment on his request to strengthen the military, PHOTOS BY KASEY MEREDITH / THE SUMTER ITEM though that too fell short of what he re- Maria Gillen, 11, practices a stunt on a rectangular trampoline. The equipment at the YMCA’s new gymnastics facility is new. quested. Vice President Mike Pence said the ad- youth to the sport of gymnas- ministration “couldn’t be more pleased” Donation from Edwards’ tics,” Director and Head Coach and noted that it would include a boost in estate helps to buy gym Mike Domagalski said. “With our military spending, a “down payment” on focus on the child’s individual border security and provide money for FROM STAFF REPORTS goals and abilities, they will re- health benefits for coal miners. ceive the tools necessary to be “It will avert a government shutdown, but YMCA of Sumter recently began successful in gymnastics or in more important than that, it’s going to be a a gymnastics program thanks to a any sport. While maintaining the significant increase in military spending,” donation from the late Phil Ed- YMCA principles of caring, hon- Pence said in an interview with “CBS This wards’ estate. esty, faith, respect and responsi- Morning.” He called it a “budget deal that’s The donation enabled the bility, we are committed to help- a bipartisan win for the American people.” YMCA to purchase the Optimist ing children develop a healthy The measure funds the remainder of the Gym, 220 Pine St., from Thomas competitive spirit.” 2017 budget year, through Sept. 30, rejecting Sumter Academy, according to Registration is now open for May cuts to popular domestic programs targeted John Hoffman, CEO of YMCA of and summer classes. Visit the by Trump such as medical research, the Sumter. member services desk at the Environmental Protection Agency and in- The program, which is open to YMCA, 510 W. Miller Road, from 4 frastructure grants. YMCA members and potential a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through “The omnibus (spending bill) is in sharp members, is intended to provide Nicole Wells, 11, said she started Thursday, 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Fri- contrast to President Trump’s dangerous more opportunities for children in doing gymnastics because of Olympi- days, 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays plans to steal billions from lifesaving re- the community to become physi- an Gabby Douglas. and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays or the search, instead increasing funding for the cally active and engage in a new gymnastics facility at 220 Pine St. NIH (National Institutes of Health) by $2 sport, Hoffman said. It will include YMCA opened the new gymnas- after 2:30 p.m. on weekdays. For billion,” said House Minority Leader Nancy opportunities for toddlers to adults tics program and facility to the more information, contact Doma- Pelosi, D-California. and include activities from recre- community last weekend. galski at (803) 773-1404 or send an ational tumbling to a competitive “We’re excited to be able to email to gymnastics@ymcasumter. SEE PLAN, PAGE A7 gymnastics team. offer this program and introduce org. Sumter marches on for healthy hearts BY KASEY MEREDITH Heart Walk focused on four key health year round in activity and [email protected] areas: moving more, adding color to diets,” Burgess said. “We just want your diet, eating smart and being to get the word out for heart Sumter Heart Walk saw its larg- well. health.” est crowd this year with more than Heart disease is the leading cause Along with the increase in atten- 1,200 participants Saturday at of death in the United States, said dance, the Heart Walk raised about Greater Sumter Chamber of Com- Meghan Burgess, the director of de- $240,000 in fundraising efforts. merce. velopment at American Heart Asso- More businesses contributed to This year marks the 17th Heart ciation in Sumter. the cause this year, Burgess said. Walk in Sumter, an event put on by Burgess said this year the focus Businesses also decorated their American Heart Association in of the Heart Walk was being storefronts with heart-healthy KASEY MEREDITH / THE SUMTER ITEM Sumter in order to raise awareness healthy for good. Dee Woodward, left, claps rhythmically in order to of heart disease. This year the “We want to promote heart SEE HEART WALK, PAGE A8 help Cherly Kirby perform CPR on a dummy. VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B5 WEATHER, A10 INSIDE Jeanne L. Burrows Lorand R. Batten Jr. A BIT COOLER 2 SECTIONS,18 PAGES the .com VOL. 122, NO. 142 Charlie Robinson Dessie R. Holloman Sunny and pleasant today; Anne McLean Stoudenmire Ira B. Bradley clear sky tonight Classifieds B8 Opinion A9 Maggie Middleton Reginald A. McDonald Comics B6 Television B7 C.L. Williams Dewey Ray Lyles HIGH 79, LOW 56 Barry W. Smalley William E. Johnson A2 | TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2017 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Raptor F-22 team coming to McEntire 2 Sumter High graduates among them BY JIM HILLEY event, featuring aerial and [email protected] static displays, is open to PHOTO PROVIDED the public at no The Raptor F-22 South Caroli- charge. Parking is a multi-role na National gates open at fighter that performs Guard will open 8 a.m. both air-to-air and air-to-ground its doors to the both missions. public for the Air and Ground Expo '17, 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. from past and present, along DICKINSON happening days, with includes Sumter native Rob Crosby, with aerial and ground dem- Saturday event gates opening team com- well-known songwriter and onstrations. and Sun- at 9 a.m. Opening ceremonies mander and pilot Maj. singer, will perform during Each day's show will culmi- day at McEntire and Salute to the Fallen begin Daniel “Rock” Dickinson and the Welcome Home to Caroli- nate with a joint air and Joint National at 11 a.m. both days. team manager Master Sgt. na Concert from 3:35 to 6:45 ground combat exercise, high- Guard Base, 1325 Included in the flying per- Delmont Benjamin, both p.m. Saturday. lighting the Guard's unique South Carolina formances are a demonstra- graduates of Sumter High The expo will also feature capabilities. Road, Eastover. tion by the Raptor F22 Aerial School. Flying performances more than 100 ground dis- For more information, visit BENJAMIN The two-day Demonstration team, which will be held from 11:15 a.m. to plays of military equipment www.scguard.com/expo/. LOCAL BRIEFS FROM STAFF REPORTS Meet local authors at library event Sumter County Council to BY IVY MOORE ing" as among her passions. She will hold budget workshop today [email protected] have her books, "Downfall" and "Good at Being Bad," at the fair. Sumter County Council will hold a Sumter has many published au- • Sandy Richardson is best known budget workshop at 5 p.m. today in thors, and they, in turn, have many for her book "The Girl Who Ate County Council Chambers, Sumter fans. On Saturday, the two groups Chicken Feet" and has published nu- County Administration Building, 13 E.