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Chamber presents 2017 awards Grocery store owner McLeod honored BY BRUCE MILLS bruce@theitem.com Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce announced its top award winners Thursday night at the 2nd Annual Chamber Gala held at Sunset Country Club. Awards were announced for business person of the year, minority and/or woman-owned business person of the year, non-profit of the year, young professional of the year, three awards for educator of the year and Chamber ambassador of the year. It also recognized its military citizens of the year, one each from the Air Force and the Army stationed at Shaw Air Force Base. The military award winners were announced earlier in the year during the Chamber retreat. Staff Sgt. Angela Duff, a supervisor with the 20th Fighter Wing Logistics Readiness Squadron, was named Air Force citizen of the year, and Maj. Chris Brautigam, a public affairs officer with the Third Army, was named Army citizen of the year. Here’s a recap of Thursday night’s other recipients.
PHIL EDWARDS BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR: RICKY MCLEOD The Chamber reserved its highest honor for Ricky McLeod, owner of grocery stores, liquor and wine stores and an upscale restaurant in Sumter. Two people nominated McLeod including Chip Chase, public information director for FTC, and Kim Hatchell, sales manager for Galloway & Moseley Jewelers. Chase pointed out that through Piggly Wiggly, three ABC stores and Willie Sue’s restaurant, McLeod employs more than 100 people. And even when he lost a lease to one Piggly Wiggly, instead of just laying the employees off, he moved them all to one of his other stores.
Trust in me, my friend, for I am your comrade. I will protect you with my last breath ... Together we will conquer all obstacles and search out those who might wish harm to others … In 2012, Staff Sgt. Anthony Despins, 20th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, met Jony, his first canine partner. Together the two used their individual skill sets to make a formidable team, certified as an explosives detection and patrol unit to keep people around the world safe and their fellow airmen out of harm’s way. Jony was really excited, al-
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Ricky McLeod, center, accepts the Phil Edwards Business Person of the Year Award from Chris Hardy, Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce president, right, and Chip Chase, public information director of FTC, which sponsored the award. Hatchell said that kind of commitment to his employees endears them to him. “He is always conscious of the lives of those he employs,” Hatchell wrote, “often going above and beyond what would be expected from any employer to make sure they are healthy and happy.” Hatchell praised McLeod for his relentless commitment to the community through sponsorships of events and donations of his time, food and money to many fundraising causes. He also serves as a prime participant in the Chamber’s annual membership drive. Chase said McLeod often cooks meals for congregations at local churches and organizations such as Sumter Development Board. In his nomination, Chase said McLeod meets the criteria for the award by operating strong and thriving businesses, launching new businesses that create local jobs
BRUCE MILLS / THE SUMTER ITEM
Wanda Hunter of the O’Donnell House accepts the Minority and/or Woman Owned Business Award from Chris Hardy, right, president of the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce, and Toby Hayes, left, vice presdient of marketing for SAFE Federal Credit Union. and giving back to the community. More importantly, Chase said, he does all this selflessly without any expectation of recognition.
“I am really honored and humbled by this award,” McLeod said. “It’s a great honor for me. I never wanted
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Shaw airman takes home loyal friend FROM SHAW AIR FORCE BASE Special to The Sumter Item
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ways happy to see people and very energetic, Despins said. Even back then, Jony knew what was expected of him and how to do his job. Jony’s performance during his initial training determined what certifications he received; military working dogs can receive narcotics and explosives credentials as well as certification as a patrol dog. “All their physical traits: their sight, their hearing, their nose, their speed, their teeth,” Despins said. “(Dogs) bring so much to the table — things we can’t do and the equipment we’re provided can’t do.” Although the physical traits are necessary for success, it
PHOTO BY AIRMAN 1ST CLASS DESTINEE SWEENEY / SPECIAL TO THE SUMTER ITEM
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Anthony Despins, 20th Security Forces military working dog handler, pets his dog, Jony, at his home in Sumter on March 22. Despins adopted Jony, his first MWD, SEE DOG, PAGE A6 after the dog retired because of a compressed disc in his spine.
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Despite receiving more than an inch and a half of rain in a two-hour period, Sumter escaped having any major flooding problems Wednesday, according to Assistant City Manager Al Harris. “Everything worked really well,” he said. “We had some Jim areas that Hilley were backed up for 30 to 45 minutes, but they went right on down,” he said. He said most of the flooding stayed in the streets and only backed up into people’s yards in a few places before retreating. “Obviously, we had a tremendous amount of rain really quickly,” Harris said. “We can look around the country and see how flooding took place, but I think overall we worked out pretty good.” According to the National Weather Service, Shaw Air Force Base received 1.66 inches of rain in a two-hour period between about 4 and 5 p.m. Wednesday, with a total of 2.01 inches received during the day. The base reported more than 1 inch of rain Monday. Chris Liscinsky, a meteorologist with the NWS in Columbia, said Thursday he had not heard many reports of damage. “Some stuff in Orangeburg County, Holly Hill and Cordoba area, but I don’t see any reports up through Sumter County,” he said. Many areas received more than 2 inches of rain, with the Columbia airport reporting 2.92 inches, 2.28 reported at the Orangeburg Airport and 2.92 in Holly Hill. “Columbia downtown actually had 3.12 inches at the Hamilton-Owens Field,” Liscinsky said. Attendees at local festivals may want to keep a tight grip on their paper plates today, as winds will be the biggest weather issue, and temperatures will be a little cooler. Gusts upward of 30 mph are expected through this afternoon with temperatures in the mid-60s, Liscinsky said. “Tonight’s temperatures will dip down into the 30s with a northwest wind at 10 mph. A few areas may see some patchy frost early Saturday morning.” The weekend is looking quite comfortable, he said. “The good news is the rain is out of here; we will be experiencing pretty much dry conditions through the early part of next week,” he said. “Saturday looks a little warmer and continued dry, not as windy — around 5 mph — and temperatures in the upper 60s. Sunday and the early part of next week we start a warming trend for our afternoon high temperatures, with Sunday into the mid-70s and Monday in the upper 70s.”
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Mostly sunny and nice today with a cool breeze; tonight, clear and chilly. HIGH 66, LOW 38
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