March 2, 2017

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IN SPORTS: Wilson Hall baseball club opens 2017 campaign today at home

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THE CLARENDON SUN

THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017

Santee Electric Coop. linemen get safety lesson A6

75 cents

| Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894

Area black clergy calling for calm Pastor: ‘We need cooler heads to prevail now’ BY BRUCE MILLS bruce@theitem.com

PUBLIC STATEMENT

After a public statement by a school board member personally offended members of the black community in attendance at Monday’s Sumter School Board meeting and caused a negative reaction, one black pastor says people’s tensions need to calm down and the focus needs to return to improving the school district. The Rev. Willie Wright Jr. made his comments Monday night after the Sumter School District Board of Trustees left a public work session for an executive session be-

Read Board Vice Chairman Karen D. Michalik’s full statement from Monday’s work session at www. theitem.com.

hind closed doors. Wright attended Monday’s board meeting at the district office, 1345 Wilson Hall Road. After assistant board chairman Karen Michalik made her public statement Monday

RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM

During Monday night’s Sumter School Board work session, Chairman the Rev. Daryl McGhaney pleads with a vocal crowd to allow Vice Chairman Karen D. Michalik to finish reading a prepared statement. After a recess, MiSEE CALM, PAGE A10 chalik finished her statement.

Suspect in killing still being sought

Single vehicle wreck

Wanted in shooting death of 17-year-old BY ADRIENNE SARVIS

adrienne@theitem.com Sumter County Sheriff’s Office is still seeking information that could lead to the arrest of Asaad Jamal McNeil, wanted in connection for the death of 17-year-old Jaquell Dinkins on Sept. 14, 2016. MCNEIL Sheriff Anthony Dennis said McNeil has been a person of interest from the start but investigators had not gathered enough evidence to get a warrant until this week when a murder warrant was issued. According to a news release from the sheriff’s office, Dinkins was shot when he and two other men went to a residence in the 200 block of Apollo Street in Wedgefield. The people inside the residence attempted to pull Dinkins and the other men into the house after they

knocked on the door. As the men ran away from the house, Dinkins sustained a gunshot wound to the back. McNeil is a friend of the person who lives at the residence, Dennis said. Dennis said investigators have not yet determined a motive for the shooting but said the house is known for illegal drug activity. The incident could have started because of a possible robbery attempt, he said. McNeil’s arrest will help bring closure to Dinkins’ family, he said. McNeil is described as a black male with black hair and brown eyes, 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 150 pounds. He should be considered armed and dangerous, Dennis said. Any information regarding the shooting or McNeil’s whereabouts can be provided to Sumter County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 4362000 or provided anonymously to Crimestoppers at (803) 436-2718.

RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM

South Carolina Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. David Jones said the driver of this vehicle was exiting Lakewood High School on Wednesday when a medical condition caused her to hit a ditch and overturn her vehicle on Old Manning Road. The Sumter Fire Department used extrication equipment to free the driver who was taken to Palmetto Health Tuomey hospital and treated for minor injuries.

Trump’s speech leaves GOP encouraged but still divided

House passes bill raising $600M more yearly for state roads COLUMBIA (AP) — The House has passed a bill that eventually pumps $600 million yearly into fixing South Carolina’s roads after defeating efforts to offset a gas tax increase with income tax cuts. The House voted 97-18 Wednesday on legislation supporters call essential for safety and economic development. That represents a veto-proof majority for that chamber. The bill phases in a 10-cents-per-gallon gas tax hike over five years. It also increases the vehicle sales tax cap to $500, raises the biennial vehicle registration fee by $16 and creates several fees. Opponents argued the House’s latest plan will die in the Senate, too. But first-term GOP Rep. Katie Arrington of Summerville told her colleagues voters elected them to fix the roads, and if senators “choose not to do something, let them deal with it.”

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BY ERICA WERNER AP Congressional Correspondent

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

President Trump, flanked by Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Paul Ryan, gestures Tuesday as he addresses a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

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WASHINGTON — President Trump’s first speech to Congress left Republicans encouraged and enthusiastic Wednesday, yet still confronting thorny divisions on health care, taxes and more. Trump’s disciplined and optimistic tone was what GOP lawmakers wanted to hear after a rocky first month that provoked daily anxiety on Capitol Hill with every new presidential tweet. Republicans welcomed Trump’s presentation and his call for “a new chapter of American greatness.” “It’s just one speech, but I think what we see is a guy who comes from outside the political process now weaving his way through into becoming an effective leader,” said Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga.

DEATHS, B4 Olia M. Dixon Bernice Wilder Susan Charles Albert O. Jackson

Paulette D. Bryant Henry Lee Parker Priscilla J. Holland Earlese Holmes

Vice President Pence said on MSNBC Wednesday morning that Trump showed Congress and the nation his “broad shoulders, big heart, reaching out, focusing on the future.” And House Speaker Paul Ryan declared the speech a “home run.” Yet even though Trump offered some specifics on health care and appeared to embrace a key element of a leadership-backed plan emerging in the House, his comments did little to settle an extremely difficult debate over Republicans’ top legislative priority. Indeed, a day after the president called for “unity and strength,” Republicans looked as divided as ever as they try to make good on seven years of promises to repeal and replace former President Obama’s

WEATHER, A12 NOT AS WARM

Mostly sunny and cooler. Tonight, partly cloudy and colder. HIGH 64, LOW 37

SEE SPEECH, PAGE A10

INSIDE

2 SECTIONS, 18 PAGES VOL. 122, NO. 99

Classifieds B6 Comics B5 Opinion A11 Television A9


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