IN SPORTS: Coaches, teammates on Ray Allen’s retirement
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Conscious art SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894
Sumter County Gallery of Art explores displacement, belonging in new exhibition
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2016
Biden speaks in Sumter
KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM
Vice President Joe Biden speaks at Morris College on Tuesday as Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-Sumter, and Democratic congressional candidate Fran Person look on.
Vice president visits Morris College to help get out the vote BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com Vice President Joe Biden showed Tuesday at Morris College why he is considered among the nation’s most engaging speakers. Biden was in Sumter to bolster the campaign of his longtime aid, Fran Person, who is trying to unseat U.S. Rep. Mick Mulvaney in South Caroli-
na’s 5th Congressional District. Also featured at the event was U.S Rep. Jim Clyburn, who is running for re-election in the 6th Congressional District. Amidst throwing jabs at Donald Trump and District 5 incumbent Mulvaney, Biden’s also offered an optimistic view of America’s future. He reminded attendees that over the years, pundits have declared America’s greatness will be eclipsed by
Japan, then, they said it would be the European Union and now the danger is China. “As Americans, we never bow, we never bend, we always endure and we always overcome,” he said. “America will own the finish line in the 21st century and don’t forget it.” He encouraged the Morris College students and others of the millennial generation to seize the opportunity
and become a force in national politics. “You’re are the most open, understanding, tolerant, embracive — you volunteer more than any other generation,” he said. Biden was preceded on the stage by several of the Democratic Party’s local and state luminaries, including
SEE BIDEN, PAGE A6
Shaw land-use study OK’d
Mayoral candidates discuss top issues
BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com
BRUCE MILLS bruce@theitem.com
Sumter City-County Planning Commission recommended approval of the Sumter-Shaw Joint Land Use Study, a study to guide future developments around Shaw Air Force Base and Poinsett Electronic Combat Range, during its special-called meeting on Tuesday. The study was conducted by White & Smith LLC Planning and Law Group in Charleston, Marstel-Day LLC in Virginia and Benchmark Planning in Charlotte and guided by local officials who made up the policy and tech-
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nical committees. Tyson Smith, urban planner and attorney with White & Smith LLC Planning and Law Group, said the purpose of the study is to guide future compatible uses around the base and combat range to protect the missions of both locations from encroaching uses. Too many incompatible uses near a military installation could pressure the facility to change its mission or close, especially if a base is considered for Base Realignment and Closure, or BRAC, he said.
SEE SHAW, PAGE A5
Economic and workforce development, race relations and Shaw Air Force Base were the major topics of discussion at Tuesday morning’s Mayoral Forum, a radio debate sponsored by The Sumter Item and Community Broadcasters, at Sumter Opera House. Item Editor and Publisher Jack Osteen posed the questions to the three candidates vying for the mayoral position — retired Maj. Gen. Dutch Holland, Charlie Jones and incumbent Joe McElveen.
DEATHS, B5 Robert S. Watcher Samuel Dairyko Levy Fordham Joseph James Jr.
Reatha S. Coard Linda M. Rhames Leroy Dickerson Helen Mae Johnson
Similar to the first forum last week, each candidate presented themselves in a similar fashion: McElveen promoting and wanting to build on his record as mayor; while Holland acknowledged some good things have occurred but more is needed; and Jones pushing for more emphasis to aid the minority community and that he didn’t favor current levels of taxation. On the topic of economic development and developing a future workforce pipeline for industry, Holland emphasized that Sumter schools need to start early; so students in junior high
and high school understand what workforce means and how to be productive citizens once out of school. Jones took the stance that more jobs are needed for the people of Sumter, and that when economic development deals are made, the subject of company on-the-job training should be discussed. “This would provide more opportunities for our people,” Jones said. On workforce development, McElveen said many things that people talk about are already being done or are in the works
SEE MAYOR, PAGE A5
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3 SECTIONS, 18 PAGES VOL. 122, NO. 16
Mostly sunny and warm today with no chance of rain; tonight, clear and cool. HIGH 82, LOW 57
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I would be honored to serve the Sumter community as your representative on City Council.
WORKING TOGETHER FOR A BETTER SUMTER Paid for by the campaign to elect Steve Corley.