Reflections on the 1962 Iris Festival parade
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New exhibitions Art from S.C. Watermedia Society and Sumter Artists Guild show winners going on display Thursday A5 SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894
SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2017
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IN SPORTS: Tigers prep for title game rematch with Tide
Board to choose consultant Trustees hope to make selection before Monday’s meeting BY BRUCE MILLS bruce@theitem.com The Sumter School District Board of Trustees interviewed two outside school finance consultants Thursday night at its special called meeting in response to a debt crisis and said it planned to make a selection before Monday’s regularly scheduled board meeting. Both candidates were interviewed during a 3½-hour executive session at the district office, 1345 Wilson Hall Road. The board revealed Wednesday its direction to secure an outside consultant for the remainder of this fiscal year to help the district’s finance department analyze cash flow and monitor spending. The two candidates for the position are Scott Allen of School Support Inc., and Robert “Bob” Davis of Robert E. Davis LLC Consulting Services. The action comes after the release last month of the 2015-16 audit report, which showed the district had gone over budget by $6.2 million in the fiscal year ending June 30. The audit report also revealed the district had $106,449 in its general fund at the end of the fiscal year — a critically low level, according to auditor Robin Poston. Additionally, in its execu-
In an effort to include the final results of the NCAA National Championship football game between Clemson University and the University of Alabama, The Sumter Item will delay its production schedule for Tuesday’s edition and subscribers will likely get their newspapers later than usual on Tuesday. If Clemson wins the game, the edition will surely be a collector’s Item.
BY RICK CARPENTER rick@theitem
freezing temperatures could create the potential of black ice from any residual moisture on bridges and overpasses,” he said. Black ice, sometimes referred to as clear ice, is a thin coating of ice often found on roadways during below freezing temperatures. The ice itself is not black, but visually transparent, allowing the often black road below to be seen through it. Miller said drivers should use extra caution when traveling during below freezing temperatures. Today is supposed to be filled with sunny skies, with temperatures in the 30s, he said. Monday temperatures are supposed to increase to above 40 degrees, before going down again to the 20s Monday night. Sumter County Emergency Management Director Erik Hayes said
The Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce annual retreat shifts this year to begin developing a three- to five-year strategic plan based on seven divisions of the Chamber, the CEO and President of the Chamber said Friday. Chamber CEO and President Chris Hardy said those seven divisions include small business development, education and workforce development, military relations, government relations, membership developHARDY ment, existing industry and leadership development. Hardy said the annual retreat, scheduled for Feb. 17 to 19 in Wilmington, North Carolina, will focus on the first four divisions with military and government relations combined. Participants will choose between two of three subject areas for breakout sessions facilitated by University of North Carolina-Wilmington staff. By delving into the details of each division, not only at the retreat but throughout the year, Hardy said he wants to engage members into determining the emphasis of the Chamber by identifying current resources and the sustainability of those resources while gathering an understanding of needs in each area. Hardy emphasized the importance of participating in the workshop, which he said gives every Chamber member a voice in the future of the organization. While most of the workshop focuses on the future, Sunday will continue to focus on updates from Shaw Air Force Base, the city, county and the economic development board.
SEE WEATHER, PAGE A10
SEE CHAMBER, PAGE A10
KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM
Mayewood Middle School, with 155 students, is one of three schools in the district identified as possible candidates for consolidation to help save money in the school district. tive session Thursday night, the board heard from Poston on her midyear budget review and cash flow analysis and from Superintendent Frank Baker on his emergency financial plan for the
The Sumter Item asked Sumter attorney Jack Barnes to give us a daily account of his experience of the National Championship game on Monday. Jack’s son, James Barnes, is a sophomore backup quarterback at Clemson. He was the quarterback for Sumter High School for three years and led the Gamecocks to the state runner-up in class 4A. The Item will have each column online between today and Wednesday and it will also publish in the print edition.
BY JACK BARNES Special to The Sumter Item
W
elcome to Florida! Nine thirty-nine, and we are in the Sunshine State. I’m riding shotgun in the XL SUV as I’m writing. I told my travel team we would leave Sumter at 5 a.m. Saturday in hopes of being on the road by 6 a.m. I raised BARNES three boys, but I’ve now learned from their awesome girlfriends that girls need some lead time. My stretch goal plan worked.
SEE TIGERS, PAGE A10
district for the remainder of the fiscal year. Sumter School Board attorney William “Bick” Halligan was present for all of Thursday’s proceedings, providing legal advice to the board.
After the closed meeting, the board did not reveal Baker’s plan or current cash flow details. Halligan did provide an
SEE BOARD, PAGE A10
but no accumulation BY KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY konstantin@theitem.com Sumter, Clarendon and Lee counties experienced a winter wonderland for about two hours on Saturday. The snow flurries melted before they could hit the ground, however. Unlike the upstate, which received more than 5 inches of snow in some areas, the tri-county region remained unscathed, said Dan Miller, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Columbia. Temperatures throughout the area stayed steady at about 32 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday, Miller said. The only other concern was the below freezing temperatures that were supposed to take place Saturday night, he said. Temperatures were expected to drop down to as low as 10 degrees. “With rains the night before, the
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Chamber retreat format focuses on strategic plan
Tigers in Florida Some snowflakes,
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Lucy Riley Cecile M. Haley David Davis Rufus Gaymon Martha W. Wright
Steven T. Sanders James A. Lawson Joshua Burgess Maxine Franklin Georgia M. Floyd
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4 SECTIONS, 32 PAGES VOL. 122, NO. 61
Plenty of sun today, but highs just above freezing; tonight, clear and very cold. No chance of precipitation. HIGH 35, LOW 17
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2017! Bank local. We’ll give you It’s 2016! you somethingto towhistle whistleabout. about. something bankofclarendon.com