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SOUTH CAROLINA POLITICS
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017
| Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894
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Getting ‘our story out’ Mother of burned 6-year-old alleges harassment and intimidation BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.comn At a news conference at Clarendon County Courthouse on Thursday morning, the mother of a 6-year-old Alcolu boy who received second-degree burns in an incident on Oct. 16, 2016, made allegations that former Clarendon County Sheriff Randy Garrett covered up aspects of the case. JIM HILLEY / THE SUMTER ITEM Leslie Brown, the 6-year-old’s mother, Leslie Brown raises her 6-year-old also said she and her children have been son’s shirt to show his burns dur- harassed and intimidated by neighbors ing a news conference Thursday about the case. at Clarendon County Courthouse. A then 11-year-old neighbor boy has
been charged with assault and battery, she said, for allegedly pouring lighter fluid on her son’s back, which was ignited. The burn victim was treated at J.M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Georgia. During the news conference, the injured child spent most of his time trying to stay behind Brown and was reluctant when his mother asked him to show his burns to the media. Elder James Johnson, state coordinator of the South Carolina National Action Network, who organized the conference, alleged Clarendon County had “suppressed” the story and a report put out by Garrett at the time of the incident describing it as “bogus.”
Johnson was apparently referring to an October 2016 article in the Manning Times, in which it said Garrett believed the incident was “absolutely” an accident. In a press release announcing Thursday’s news conference, Johnson raised racial aspects about the case, noting in the release the victim was black and the alleged assailant was white. The news release also alleged Brown has received “ongoing threats.” Johnson said holding a news conference was the “only way to get our story out.”
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Fun, games and pizza Art and essay contest winners get treated special BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Forty-four elementary school students spent some time away from class to eat pizza and play games at Chuck E. Cheese’s on Thursday after they were selected winners of Sumter Police Department’s fifth-annual Black History Month Art and Essay Contest. The contest, one of the police department’s community outreach projects, is held in partnership with Sumter School District. This the department’s annual effort to build goodwill in the community during Black History Month, Sumter Police Chief Russell Roark III said. Law enforcement officers respond to calls involving children through no fault of the child, so the celebration at Chuck E. Cheese’s allows children and officers to interact in a fun environment, he said. Roark said Thursday was also an opportunity to recognize local children for their efforts and achievements in school. In order to be chosen for the day of fun, students wrote essays or drew pictures based on prompts from Sumter School District, said Barron Hite, event coordinator for the police department. Shelly Galloway, public information and partnerships coordinator for the school district, said students in kindergarten through second grade drew photos of a black person in history who is their hero, and students in third
PHOTOS BY RHONDA BARRICK / THE SUMTER ITEM
From left, first-grader Serenity Stewart and thirdgrader Anna Alan, both students at Alice Drive Elementary School, enjoy playing a game Thursday at Chuck E. Cheese’s on Broad Street. They were among the winners of Sumter Police Department’s Black History Month Art and Essay Contest. through fifth grade wrote essays about a black person in history that they wanted to grow up to be like. She said one student from each grade was chosen to attend the day of pizza and games. One school had a tie at one of the grade levels, so two children were invited, she said. The pictures and essays were judged by employees with the school district and members
Sgt. Gary Atkinson, with Sumter Police Department, explains a game SEE PIZZA, PAGE A7 to Lemira Elementary School student Takiyah Miller.
Cases of flu on the rise statewide
Hardy thinks retreat topics will help with strategic plan BY BRUCE MILLS bruce@theitem.com Breakout sessions on key focus areas for the community were a great platform for good participation and engagement from Chamber members and others at this year’s retreat, Sumter’s Chamber president said. Chris Hardy, president and CEO of Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce, made his comments about last weekend’s retreat in Wilmington, North Carolina, on Wednesday. This year’s retreat, titled “Investing for the Future,” addressed four key Chamber divisions — small business and community growth, education and workforce development, legislative priorities and military affairs — to help formulate a long-term,
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organizational strategic plan, according to Hardy. The breakout sessions were used to capture thoughts and ideas for that plan. “I was very pleased with the amount of engagement with those who were sitting in on the sessions,” Hardy said. “It seemed to me like everybody was pitching in and at least taking part in the discussion and providing input on what may be needed in regards to the topics that were discussed.” Hardy said a long-term strategic plan is a necessity for the Chamber and something that hasn’t been done before. Hardy took over as Chamber president in August 2015. “We need a long-term strategic plan — whether that be a three- to five-year plan — depending on exactly what
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BY KASEY MEREDITH intern@theitem.com
PHOTO PROVIDED BY BRENT KING / LIMELITE PHOTOGRAPHY
Becca Monroe-Hardy of Adams Outdoor Advertising, left, and session facilitator Lefford Fate of the City of Sumter listen to respondents Saturday in Wilmington, North Carolina, during a breakout session at the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce retreat. we wanted to accomplish and what kind of time frame,” Hardy said. One idea from the retreat was for the Chamber to start a small-business incubator program to help budding entrepreneurs. Hardy said he has that item on his radar, especially with Sumter Development Board soon to be leaving the Chamber’s offices for its own
new downtown location. Hardy thinks the extra available space at the Chamber would be ideal for a oneor two-person operation just getting started that wants a brick-and-mortar, centralized location and access to area and Chamber resources.
SEE RETREAT, PAGE A7
DEATHS, B6 Patrick Fiztgerald Carter Eartha Carroway Spencer McFadden Gary L. Jeffreys Vivian N. King Magnolia S. Henry Steven Eric Kinsley
Even though Sumter County is seeing an increase in the flu virus, it’s still not too late to get a flu shot. Robert Yanity, an agency spokesman for South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, said there has been an overall increase statewide in flu activity compared to the same time last year. And according to DHEC’s statewide report, there are 7,352 reported flu cases this year to date versus 1,100 cases last year. The cumulative influenza case rate by 100,000 is 272, in
Sarah Jane G. Smith Annie Lee Gayle Eartha Mae Sanders Carrie W. McMillan Shirley M. Gregg Anthony Richardson Ollie M. Harvin
SEE FLU, PAGE A7
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Fog will lift this morning, giving way to sunshine. Tonight, mainly clear and mild. HIGH 81, LOW 56
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