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National Commander visits local Legion posts BY RICK CARPENTER rick@theitem.com The National Commander of the American Legion visited area posts Monday to emphasize the vital role the organization has played in creating and defending services for veterans. National Commander Charlie Schmidt of Burns, Oregon, told American Legion posts 202 and 204, which met jointly in Sumter, the organization launched in Paris in 1919 as an appeal for providing service benefits for veterans after World War I. Ninety-eight years later, Schmidt estimated 500,000 veterans are waiting
City approves pricetag for parking garage construction
American Legion National Commander Charlie Schmidt, left, thanks Army veteran James C. Wilder for his service during a visit to American Legion Post 202 on Monday.
as many as 10 years for the Veterans Administration to hear their claims for service. “What can happen in those 10 years?” Schmidt asked the Legionnaires. Most members said the veterans could die by then. Schmidt pointed out that President Trump pledged to support veterans during his campaign, and virtually all members of Congress gave similar support during their fall campaigns. Now the organization plans to make sure they keep their commitments. He said the Legion officially opposes privatization of health care for veterans because it thinks no organization
RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM
SEE LEGION, PAGE A4
Spring Break in Sumter?
BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com At an uneventful and sparsely attended meeting Tuesday night, Sumter City Council approved a procurement resolution accepting a $4.65 million guaranteed maximum price for building a parking garage at Sumter Street and Hampton Avenue. The price is $4,658,007 from the contractor Thompson Turner Construction. General Counsel Eric Shytle explained the city has already spent approximately $300,000 getting enough design and engineering work done to allow Thompson Turner to give a price. Shytle said the guaranteed maximum price includes the $300,000 already invested. Contractual obligations require the city to reserve a 5 percent contingency fund above the maximum price, he said. In addition, if the work is completed at less than the maximum price, the city will get 70 percent of the money saved, and Thompson Turner will get 30 percent. “The 30 percent is an incentive for Thomspon Turner to save money,” he said. Shytle told council if they decided not to accept the maximum price, the project will not proceed. The city hired an independent agency to examine Thompson Turner’s bid and found it to be a fair and accurate bid, Shytle said.
SEE CITY, PAGE A4
ADRIENNE SARVIS / THE SUMTER ITEM
Mette Huberts, 22, from Boston College, uses a table saw to cut wood into various lengths to be used by other volunteers participating in the Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge program on Monday. Joseph Nelson, 19, from University of Virginia assists Huberts. Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge program allows students to assist different communities in the country through volunteer work.
Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge turns 25 this year BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Sumter Habitat for Humanity anticipates about 70 college students will help construct its 120th and 121st houses during the annual Collegiate Challenge this year. Geneva Phillips, Sumter Habitat development coordinator, said this year
marks the 25th year that the local affiliate has participated in the Collegiate Challenge, for which students volunteer to help build a house during spring break. Sumter Habitat is also celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, she said. Last week, a group of about 14 students from Brock University in St.
Catharines, Ontario, Canada, visited, and students from two more schools will come to Sumter next week, Phillips said. This week, 29 students from Boston College and University of Virginia are assisting with construction, she said.
SEE HABITAT, PAGE A4
Woman dies in fire while burning trash BY RICK CARPENTER rick@theitem.com An elderly woman died after apparently routinely burning rubbish near a home in rural Sumter County. Firefighters were called to 4695 Wrangler Trail about 2:30 p.m. to fight a brush fire but discovered the deceased woman while fighting the fire, according to reports from Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Ken Bell. Bell said it appears that Ethel Hall, 67, of Sumter, was burning rubbish behind her daughter’s house when the fire began getting out of control. While trying to contain it, her clothing caught fire, causing her to panic and run through the forest. While running through
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the forest, she may have touched off a brush fire, Bell said. Bell said investigators are calling it an accident, but the investigation is underway involving the sheriff’s office, Sumter Fire Department and South Carolina Forestry Commission. Family members at the scene were distraught, and a victims’ advocate was called in to visit with family members, he said. An autopsy will be performed on Hall’s body in Newberry at 9 a.m. today, and investigators will know more about her cause of death at that time, Sumter County Coroner Robbie Baker said. Baker said that although she had burns on her body, she may have died from smoke inhalation or another cause. The Sumter Item will provide more information as it becomes available.
DEATHS, B4 Gerald Maes Richbourg Kenneth R. Campbell Jr. Lila A. Hodge Milton Hammett Harry E. Litteer Hazel Lesane James R. Logan
Harry Dinkins Jr. Leroy Dixon Betty M. Freeman Hattie T. Walters George Gregg Jr. Rosheed Jae-Von Goodwin
RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM
Sumter Fire Department officials look over the scene where an elderly woman was found dead after possibly catching her clothing on fire and running through the woods. The woman was thought to have been burning trash in her yard when she caught fire.
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3 SECTIONS, 18 PAGES VOL. 122, NO. 103
Morning precipitation likely giving way to sunny day; tonight, clear and cooler. HIGH 74, LOW 42
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