Schools welcoming 173 new teachers this year District holds orientation for more new educators than in recent years BY BRUCE MILLS in Sumter County, according to dis- wood on Wednesday morning. [email protected] trict staff, one of the highest new Kevin Grant, 23 and fresh out of THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2018 75 CENTS teacher totals in recent years. South Carolina State University in SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 Newness, excitement, joy and District administration said Orangeburg, was one new teacher some jitters filled the air Wednes- they’re happy with the additions in attendance. day at Sumter School District’s given the state teacher shortage Grant grew up in Dalzell and is 2 SECTIONS, 14 PAGES | VOL. 123, NO. 209 New Teacher Orientation at Crest- and the number of vacancies the a 2013 Crestwood graduate. In his wood High School. district had last school year, and elementary school years, Grant GET OUT AND HAVE FUN This year, the district has 173 they rolled out the welcome mat to new certified classroom teachers all at the Fine Arts Center at Crest- SEE TEACHERS, PAGE A5 Local effort, effects LEGO lovers, Sara Beaty helps organize the meals her group packed for hun- here’s the event gry children around the world. for you A3 BY THE Join other fans this weekend NUMBERS at BrickUniverse to see: • Massive LEGO displays • LEGO Friends Buildinging Area years Sumter has participated • Big Brick Building in the packing event with Duplo bricks • Real-life master builders • LEGO merchandise for sale raised in Sumter SPORTS meals packed per P-15’s start play two-hour session in Southeast sessions held at the Sumter Regional B1 County Civic Center PHOTOS BY MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM DEATHS, B4 Thousands of volunteers packed meals at Sumter County Civic Center to feed children children fed a meal a day for a Hattie Mae Shaw-Duncan around the world on Tuesday and Wednesday as part of Feed My Starving Children. Fernando Rafael Da-Rosa year through Sumter’s efforts Celestine Brooks Sumter chapter of Feed My Starving Raymond C. Shoemaker Jr. Ralph L. Washburn Children packs 400K meals for kids Hickie Lee Pugh Alice Louise McKnight Woods countries served by FMSC Eddie Joe Bradley in need in developing countries James Grant BY DANNY KELLY [email protected] FMSC founded as a Christian WEATHER, A8 eed My Starving Chil- nonprofit organization SUNNY AND HOT dren MobilePack made Partly sunny; partly cloudy and humid tonight meals at Sumter County HIGH 93, LOW 73 Civic Center to feed starv- meals packed nationwide ing children in the devel- last year INSIDE CONTACT US oping world. Classifieds B6 Info: 774-1200 Comics B5 Advertising: 774-1237 The event occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday, with more than 2,000 vol- Opinion A7 Classifieds: 774-1200 unteers helping the cause both days. states participated in packing Sports B1 Delivery: 774-1258 “Our goal is to make 400,000 meals,” Television A6 News and Sports: Sumter FMSC MobilePack Chairman events last year 774-1226 Sarah Bradham said. “We have 240 volunteers per session.” The group’s goal was to make VISIT US ONLINE AT the .com 50,000 meals per two-hour session, with a total of eight sessions. Those fundraising goal in Sumter meals will give 136 children one meal a day for an entire year. for next year to pack half Dom Jones scoops an ingredient to help a million meals SEE MEALS, PAGE A5 pack meals Tuesday. School district will change its career fairs to 2 days Businesses, industry encouraged to sign up to from members of Greater each day. at home.” Sumter Chamber of Com- Gillard said the event objec- To that end, manufacturing teach students about Sumter job opportunities merce’s Education Commit- tive is for local businesses to and service-sector industries tee, which consists of several showcase their organization throughout Sumter are invit- BY BRUCE MILLS Gillard, the district’s work- local businesses and indus- with the end goal to keep stu- ed to sign up to put their busi- [email protected] based learning coordinator, tries that generally faithfully dents in Sumter after gradua- ness on display at the summit. on Wednesday when describ- attend numerous schools’ ca- tion for their careers. According to Gillard, all the Sumter School District is ing the upcoming Education reer fairs throughout the “We’re trying to keep all of district’s seventh-graders changing the format of its and Career Ready Business county each year, Gillard said. our talent here in Sumter,” (about 1,300 in total) will de- middle- and high school ca- Summit to be held Sept. 11-12 The district said let’s try it, Gillard said. “Even if they go scend on the civic center at reer fairs this upcoming year. at Sumter County Civic Cen- and the two-day summit is off to college, at least come rotating times and take part “It’s basically a district- ter. now on the calendar. The back and realize we have wide career fair,” said Mark The idea originally came schedule is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. some great opportunities here SEE FAIRS, PAGE A5 A2 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2018 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] WHAT YOUR GOVERNMENT IS DOING: SUMTER CITY COUNCIL In phases: Out with old computers, in with new houses BY ADRIENNE SARVIS POLICE DEPARTMENT its marked vehicles. Officers use STAFFORD MEADOWS HERITAGE BAY SUBDIVISION TO [email protected] GRANT TO REPLACE OLD those computers to complete SUBDIVISION TO HAVE MORE HAVE SIX MORE HOUSES COMPUTERS incident reports, traffic collision DEVELOPMENTS Reading: Only one reading required reports and electronic ticketing. Sumter City Council Reading: None required Reading: Only one reading required Agenda item: A maintenance guarantee, listened to plans for a Agenda item: A public hearing Police Chief Russell Roark III said Agenda item: A maintenance guarantee, letter of credit in the amount of $10,800 and a possible grant for Sum- to receive comments from the the department began using letter of credit in the amount of $35,788.80 deed of dedication for Phase 1-B of Heritage computers in the vehicles about ter Police Department public regarding Sumter Police and deed of dedication for Phase IV of the Bay subdivision for the development of lots Department's intended uses of 5 years ago, and it’s time to Stafford Meadows subdivision which 143-145 and lots 156-158. to replace old patrol ve- phase them out. hicle computers and funds from the Edward Byrne includes the development of 31 residential Background: The agreements will make the approved agreements Memorial Justice Assistance Public hearing: No public lots. developer responsible for street and Grant Program, the primary for the expansion of comments Background: The agreements will make the infrastructure improvements on Curlew Circle, provider of federal criminal two subdivisions on Discussion: City Manager Deron developer responsible for street and where the six lots will be developed, for a justice funding to states and McCormick said it was not infrastructure improvements on Moseley two-year period after approval by council. Tuesday. local governments. necessary for council to vote on Drive, where the lots will be developed, for a Sumter Planning Commission recommended Background: Sumter Police the use of the grant. Mayor Joe two-year period after approval by council. approval of the proposal. Department will apply for McElveen moved on to the next Sumter Planning Commission recommended Discussion: Councilman Calvin Hastie made a funding through this grant which agenda item as the other council approval of the proposal. motion for approval, and councilman Thomas projects a $23,284 allocation if members seemed to be in Lowery seconded. approved. The department will agreement with Roark's Discussion: Councilman Robert Galiano request that the funding be used statements. No other council made a motion for approval, and councilman Vote: Unanimous approval to replace antiquated computers members commented. David Merchant seconded. and docking stations in some of Vote: None required Vote: Unanimous approval Sumter Chamber Mayor declares Purple Heart Day to launch new program aimed at entrepreneurs FROM STAFF REPORTS The Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce is launching a new program targeting entrepre- neurs in the Sumter area interested in learning the four keys to starting a successful business. According to a news release from the Chamber, the program will be made up of six courses be- ginning Oct. 9 and concluding on Nov. 13. “The Chamber’s Small Business Council has been working on this program since the end of last year. We believe the 4 Keys to starting a suc- cessful business are finance, legal, accounting and insurance. We have recruited some of the top business leaders in our community to devel- PHOTO PROVIDED op a curriculum to better explain the knowledge Sumter Mayor Joe McElveen recently signed an official proclamation declaring Tuesday, Aug. 7, as Purple Heart Day in needed in those four areas of expertise. It is dif- the City of Sumter. The proclamation honors military veterans who are recipients of the Purple Heart, a U.S. military ficult for someone to start and sustain a small decoration awarded to military members who have been wounded or killed while serving in combat operations business without an above-average working against hostile enemy forces. The General George L. Mabry Jr. Chapter 817 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart knowledge of all four, not just a few of them,” was founded in 2011 and consists of 31 Purple Heart recipients in the Sumter community. From left: Patriot Ron Har- Chris Hardy, president and CEO of the Greater vin, Patriot Dave Nesbitt, McElveen, Chapter Adjutant Leroy Thompson and Patriot Don Kellum.