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Sumter High standout McDaniel bound for Charleston Southern FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2016
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Remembrances of Christmases past in Sumter BY IVY MOORE ivy@theitem.com
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s a kid, I was always suspicious of a fat man with long, white whiskers, in a red suit with white trim, welcoming kids to sit on his lap and tell them what presents they wanted him to bring them for Christmas — while they slept in their beds, anticipating stockings full of candy and the “big” gifts under the tree. My belief in the so-called Jolly Man fluctuated from year to year, until one warm Christmas Eve when I was
about 7. The Roper boys next door — Roy, Jack, Wayne and Eddie — told me a sure way to determine whether Santa was real. The oldest, Jack, said, “Your mother and father buy all your Christmas presents, and on Christmas Eve when you’re asleep, they put them under the tree. So, if you look real hard just before Christmas, you can find where they hid them. Then if they’re under the tree on Christmas, you’ll know I’m right.” I was skeptical but figured I might as well try. That night, when my parents and I were visiting Aunt Eddie
Uncle Wiggily was a favorite game of the Chestnut Street gang. We played it so much, Uncle Wiggily was probably willing to forgo a cure for his rheumatism if we’d only let him have a little rest. PHOTOS PROVIDED
and Uncle Cecil for a preChristmas supper, I sneaked out to the Studebaker and searched it. There, in the glove compartment, was an
orange-sized rubber ball that was a 3-D rendering of Howdy Doody’s head. I knew this had to be for me because I was a bona fide
member of the Peanut Gallery; therefore, it would be a true test.
SEE PAST, PAGE A4
Official: ‘We knew we were his family, too’ District not yet high risk State could intervene if financial problems persist BY BRUCE MILLS bruce@theitem.com According to a state Department of Education official, Sumter School District’s recent audit detailing the school district went more than $6.2 million over budget for last fiscal year will likely not throw the district into a high-risk financial rating and require state intervention. Under a relatively new federal requirement called Uniform Grant Guidance by the U.S. Department of Education, each public school district in the state and the U.S. that receives federal funding is required to undergo a financial risk assessment annually, according to S.C. Department of Education Chief Communications Officer Ryan Brown. The district risk assessment is conducted by each state’s respective department of education and is based on the previous fiscal year’s financial audit. With the adoption of the new federal law in December 2014, this is the second cycle year that all districts in South Carolina are undergoing financial risk assessments. The outcomes of the districts’ risk assessments will be released in January by the state department of education. Brown said because Sumter didn’t receive any red flags in its risk assessment last year, any issues this year will not be considered “chronic” in nature. “Hopefully, Sumter will be able to handle its issues internally,” Brown said Wednesday. “It’s not reached a level that we would consider it a chronic issue and need to intervene.” The financial risk assessment tiers are ranked one to three, with three being high risk. Tier 1 is considered low risk, and tier 2 is medium risk. When assessments are released next month, Brown expects Sumter will be “probably in tier 1 or 2, not 3.” “The state department will be willing to support them and provide any services to help,” Brown said. “It’s not a high-risk status yet.” On Dec. 12, Certified Public Accountant Robin Poston of Harper, Poston & Moree presented the audit to the Sumter School District Board of Trustees, detailing the district had $6.2 million in unbudgeted expenditures for the fiscal year ending June 30 and a general fund balance of $106,449. On Tuesday night, the board held a special called meeting in response to the audit findings and has requested a financial plan from Superintendent Frank Baker by early January to remedy the situation. Baker has been asked to consult with Poston and potentially outside financial consultants on the plan.
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PHOTOS BY RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM
Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis reviews a letter written and sent by former sheriff Tommy Mims the day before Mims died.
Sheriff Dennis received letter from Mims a day after former sheriff died BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com The day before former Sumter County Sheriff Tommy Mims died, he sent a letter to Sheriff Anthony Dennis, who received the unexpected gift the day after he lost his longtime friend. “I was shocked to receive a letter with his name on it,” Dennis said. Mims wrote that he was humbled that the multi-purpose room at the sheriff’s office was named after him. He also wrote that officers should continue to receive up-to-date training to be physically and mentally prepared to handle the variety of situations they will respond to. Mims ended the letter, “I would like to wish you and your staff a
very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous 2017.” For Mims to have written the letter when he did, he must have known his time was short, Dennis said. Dennis said it means a lot that everyone at the sheriff’s office was included in Mims’ final thoughts along with God and his family. “It’s quite an honor,” he said. “We all knew he loved us, and we loved him,” Dennis said. “We knew
DEATHS, B5 Johnathan B. Cruse Hazel S. Williams Milford Dubose York Theodocious Moore-Smith
Lee Ernest McBride Willian H. Walker Azalee M. Lee Harold B. Hancock
we were his family, too.” Dennis said the letter was also comforting because it let him know that Mims did not suffer to the point where he could not send his message. “I know he’s OK now and is not suffering anymore,” he said. Dennis said he had already decided to name the room after Mims long before he became ill.
SEE LETTER, PAGE A4
WEATHER, A10
INSIDE
SUNNY AND COOLER
2 SECTIONS, 20 PAGES VOL. 122, NO. 50
Mostly sunny today and cooler with no chance of rain; tonight, low clouds and chilly. HIGH 56, LOW 42
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