TV: Dangerous animal behavior continues as ‘Zoo’ returns A9 STATE Class-action suit focuses on SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 Turbeville fines TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016 75 CENTS A3 Runoff elections will be held today Drayton and She also urged residents to make Voters will choose candidates for Sumter County FIND YOUR Will Wheel- sure they bring a photo ID to help the POLLING PLACE er. voting process run quickly and Council District 1, coroner, state House District 50 Patricia smoothly. Jefferson, di- The runoff elections are being held BY ADRIENNE SARVIS Sumter County coroner candidates Go online to find where rector of today because none of the candidates [email protected] incumbent Harvin Bullock and Rob- you need to vote. Sumter running during the primaries in those bie Baker; Democratic Sumter http://bit.ly/28Z2gk6 County Voter three races received enough votes to Voters can cast their ballots for County Council District 1 candi- Registration secure a position for the Nov. 8 gener- three runoff elections from 7 a.m. to 7 dates Chris Sumpter and Caleb Ker- and Elec- al election. p.m. today at their polling places. shaw Jr.; and Democratic state tions, said all 58 polling places will be The races include Democratic House District 50 candidates Tom open. SEE VOTE, PAGE A7 Ham radio operators have annual Field Day BY JIM HILLEY [email protected] hen Hurricane Hugo devastat- Wed South Caro- lina in 1989, emergency personnel turned to ham radio operators to stay in touch with isolated com- munities and the outside world. It is a partnership that has lasted for decades. “Part of the reason the fed- eral communications division gives us ‘real estate’ is be- cause of our ability to provide voluntary services in emer- gencies,” said Sumter Ama- teur Radio Association Vice President Hap Griffin. Ham radio, or amateur radio, dates to the beginning of radio, when inventors such as Guglielmo Marconi were first unraveling the mystery KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM of how electromagnetic waves Dee Stone, right, calls out to amateur radio operators across the United States during Field Day on Saturday at the Sumter Enduro Riders Mo- travel through the atmo- torcycle Association clubhouse near Wedgefield. When Stone makes a contact, his reporter Jim Barnard writes down the operator’s call sign to sphere. score points for the Sumter location. The competition is judged by which club can make the most contacts in 24 hours. “Basically what we are doing is the continuation of American Radio Relay The field day is a competi- Mike Dunlap, a member what the pioneers started,” League’s annual Field Day ac- tion, which includes setting of the Sumter Amateur Griffin said. tivities. up a transmitter at a location Radio Association, tight- Since ham radio operators Each year during the last which does not normally have ens an uncooperative are transmitting signals that weekend in June, ham radio one. The competition is judged bolt as the club erects a can travel around the planet, operators and amateur radio by which operators and clubs broadcast antenna dur- operators must be licensed by clubs such as Sumter Ama- can log the most contacts in a ing the annual Field Day taking tests that show their teur Radio Association set up 24-hour period — from 2 p.m. exercise Saturday. proficiency with the equip- broadcasting stations and at- Saturday to 2 p.m. Sunday. ment, including how to avoid tempt to make contact with Griffin said some clubs get JIM HILLEY / THE SUMTER ITEM interfering with other elec- other ham radio operators really into setting up in re- tronic signals. across the country and mote locations with tents and Several members of the around the globe. electric generators. local amateur radio club were “It’s part of our training,” “We are a little older, and at the Sumter Enduro Riders Griffin said. “That’s the whole we try to find a place with air Motorcycle Association club- idea, to keep skills sharp and conditioning, electric power house near Wedgefield on Sat- make sure we have the neces- urday to take part in the sary equipment.” SEE RADIO, PAGE A7 Good Samaritans comfort others after being comforted themselves BY JIM HILLEY stopped to talk to them perienced years ago. mercies and God of all comfort, who [email protected] and heard this “Samari- Similar to Cham- comforts us in all our affliction, so tan” giving instructions. pagne’s experience, the that we may be able to comfort those Sumter United Ministries Executive He introduced himself surgery was needed be- who are in any affliction, with the Director Mark Champagne said as he to Sam — the name we cause of trauma. The comfort with which we ourselves are was riding his motorcycle downtown, will give for the Samari- emotions from his own comforted by God.” he decided to stop by the shelter for tan — and found out Sam accident intertwined Conversations like this just don’t the first time. The shelter was not was also a guest of the with his words. happen every day. When you meet scheduled to open for a few hours, so emergency shelter. He Champagne quoted 2 someone who has lived and breathed he thought he would have a moment also learned Sam was Corinthians, chapter 1, some of the most hurtful things of solitude. using a cane because he versus 3-4: “Blessed be you’ve experienced, you tend to listen To his surprise, he found a man had undergone a spinal the God and Father of helping someone on the sidewalk. He surgery similar to one Champagne ex- our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of SEE CARING, PAGE A7 VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B5 and B6 WEATHER, A10 INSIDE George C. Howell Tilman H. Rushing Bonnie Lou P. Tucker STORMS RETURN 2 SECTIONS, 18 PAGES the .com VOL. 121, NO. 213 Lenward Braxton Robert Andrews Sammie Durant Showers and a heavy Darlene J. Earp Loyd P. Bowman William James thunderstorm today; humid Classifieds B8 Izona Mae Roberts William L. Stover John Ochs and stormy tonight Comics B7 Pearlie C. Haynesworth James Lee Reed Daphne Ann H. Swick Nathaniel Joe Paul Shaw HIGH 85, LOW 71 Opinion A8 Television A9 A2 | TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Crotts named 2015-16 Rotarian of the Year BY ADRIENNE SARVIS tion throughout the Cham- With the Rotary club's new [email protected] ber's more-than-100-year his- year starting Friday, Lund- tory. berg also became Rotary club Jeanie Crotts, administra- "This is the greatest honor president on Monday as tor of NHC Healthcare of I've ever received," Crotts Croft's term came to an end. Sumter, was named Sumter said. What an honor it is to Croft said he is thankful to Rotary Club's 2015-16 Rotari- be part of this Rotary club everyone in the club for their an of the Year during the that does so much in the hard work. They made it easy club's meeting on Monday. community, she said. by doing their part, he said, Jack Osteen, editor and Also, former Rotary presi- referring to serving as presi- publisher of The Sumter Item dent William Croft presented dent. and 2014-15 Rotarian of the former Rotary treasurer It's the year of the woman, Year, spoke of Crotts' dedi- Shelly Lundberg with the Lundberg said at the lectern cated service to the Rotary Avenue of Service Award. as the new Rotary president club and its members before This is the second year following Crotts' award. presenting her the award. that Lundberg has received As president, Lundberg Whenever you call her, she the award. said she plans to serve the always gets things done with While presenting the best she can and to do what is no fuss and no need for acco- award, Croft said Lundberg best for Sumter Rotary Club. lades, Osteen said. has been a contender for the In other news, Croft report- "This person has pushed award for just about every ed that Sumter Rotary Club some boundaries, none more year she has been a member raised $30,000 for the Coins impressive than right here as of the club. for Alzheimer's Research the first female president of She takes the Rotary four- Trust for the current year Sumter Rotary Club," he way test to heart, he said. and $15,000 for the 2016 Farm added. After the meeting, Lund- to Table event. Funds raised Osteen commented that berg said she was surprised during Farm to Table went to Crotts acquired her passion ANGUS MCDUFFIE / SPECIAL TO THE SUMTER ITEM to receive the award again. Sumter United Ministries, 4H for community service from Jeanie Crotts, left, received the Sumter Rotary Club’s 2015-16 Rotarian She said there are so many and Shaw Air Force Base her parents, who were in- of the Year Award from last year’s winner, Jack Osteen. people in the club who also Warm Hearts Fund and volved with her high school put in so much effort it is CART. alma mater, which later humbling to be the one who The club also provided 140 named its annual service Crotts also serves as chair- Chamber of Commerce, the is recognized. "I'm very grate- pairs of shoes for local ele- award in their memory. woman of Greater Sumter fifth woman to hold the posi- ful," she said. mentary school students. Giveaway Sheriff Dennis takes a pie to the face for needy on Saturday FROM STAFF REPORTS The Good Samaritans for All People Inc.