INSIDE: It’s your last opportunity to vote for Clarendon’ County’s Best of the Best A10 THE CLARENDON SUN
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2016
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Dylann Roof will not attempt to spare his life Church shooter trying to keep potentially shameful evidence about himself, family secret BY JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press CHARLESTON — Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof says he won’t call any witnesses or present evidence while representing himself during the punishment phase of his death penalty trial; but he is working hard to keep secret potentially embarrassing evidence about himself and his family. Just exactly what that evidence is remains a mystery. Roof, the judge and prosecutors carefully tiptoed around describing it during a hearing Wednesday. The judge has indicated that it may be allowed during the pen-
alty phase of the trial, which starts next week. The same jurors who convicted Roof earlier this month of killing nine black church members in a racially motivated attack will hear from Roof as well as testimony from the families of victims. At the end of the penalty phase, the panel will decide whether Roof, who is white, should be put to death or spend the rest of his life in prison. Roof was warned by U.S. Judge Richard Gergel that being his own lawyer was a bad idea. “That’s your decision,” Gergel said. “I think that highlights my advice to you that you aren’t served by being
your own counsel.” Gergel told Roof to talk to his grandfather, who is a lawyer, and other family members one last time. He told Roof he has until the start of the penalty phase Tuesday to change his mind and rehire his high-powered, publicly funded defense ROOF team. Roof spoke for less than 10 minutes of the 35-minute hearing. He told Gergel he does plan an opening and closing statement. He also told the judge he objects to prosecutors’ plans to present a pho-
tograph of evidence in the court’s possession. Roof, Gergel and assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Richardson talked about it without saying what it is. Gergel said there was a hearing in which he decided it could be admitted in the penalty phase. Roof also wanted a jailhouse statement left out of the penalty phase and evidence that involved his mother. No specifics were given. Gergel told Roof to go back to jail and write a motion for him to consider. Roof ’s ankle chain clanked as
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Hot wheels
End of the year deals await car buyers BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com According to Edmunds.com, new car shoppers can choose from “a plethora of special year-end sales events by automakers,” giving consumers ample reasons to visit a dealership between now and next Tuesday. “Rebates are real good from the manufacturers, and interest rates are real low,” said Bill McLaughlin, owner of McLaughlin Ford in Sumter. Pro Prothro, used car manager at Prothro ChevroletBuick, said it’s “all-hands on deck” at the dealership in Manning as they are offering “awesome” deals on leftover 2016 models. However, he said buyers should also be aware of the value of the new 2017 models. “The factory is gearing up for the 2017s pretty hard so they are throwing some great deals on 2016s,” Prothro said. The prices on 2017s are good right now as well, he said. “The big taglines you see on TV and in the newspapers are true for leftover ’16 models, but if you really compare the numbers of what a ’16 or a ’17 costs, the numbers are not that different and in some cases it’s actually a better
deal,” Prothro said. “You have to take it as a case-by-case basis.” George Mitchell, internet manager at Sumter ChryslerDodge-Jeep, said incentives on 2016 models are likely as high as they will ever be. “At the end of the year, you have the old models leaving, and the incentives have risen on the 2016 models,” he said. “If a dealer is overstocked on 2016s, the dealer gets extra incentives on those, and it motivates them to sell their incentives of 2016s.” Mitchell said banks are also part of the end-of-year equation. “Most of the banks are trying to close out their year, too, so they are more motivated to buy and deal with (buyers who have) credit issues,” he said. Prothro said there is also a “phenomenal” market for used cars right now as well. “If you are within a year or two of paying off your car, you probably have equity in it,” he said. “The used car market is not flooded with good quality used cars, so dealers are paying up so they have something on the other side of the lot, too.” “The used-car market is real strong, resale on used cars has held up real good so
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Lannes “Pro” Prothro, hopes sales at his Manning car lot will be strong in 2017. According to Edmunds.com, new car shoppers can choose from “a plethora of special year-end sales events by automakers,” giving consumers ample reasons to visit a dealership between now and next Tuesday. you get good value on your used car,” McLaughlin said. “There are good interest rates on used cars, also.” The market is very internetdriven right now, Mitchell said, so internet prices are “rock bottom.” Businesses may want to buy at the end of the year to take
advantage of tax savings, McLaughlin said. “There is never a better time,” Mitchell said. “You are going to get more for your trade because they want to make a car deal and they will give you more for your car.” Prothro and Mitchell agreed
car buyers are coming in with better credit and less money owed on the vehicles than in recent years. “Most of the people we see are in better standing than in years past,” Prothro said. “Your vehicle is going to be more money for you,” Mitchell said.
Sumter native will be honored with President’s award BY IVY MOORE ivy@theitem.com Sumter native Jamie Pleasant will receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award on Saturday during his church’s Watch Night service. The awards are four tiered: bronze, silver, gold or lifetime achievement levels. His recognition is for educating young people and church members in leadership, economic development and Christian principles. Pleasant, senior pastor of New Zion Christian Church, will be recognized with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest commendation given by the President. To earn this highest award, recipients must have performed at least 4,000 hours of
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volunteer service. Recipients of the honor are presented a personalized certificate, an official pin, medallion or coin in addition to a letter of congratulations from President Obama. Pleasant’s name will also be recorded in the Library of Congress. Pleasant said he is “deeply humbled to receive this award. What greater honor can somePLEASANT one accomplish than being honored by the President of the United States?” He added that he is even “more excited that I can share this moment with my wife and kids, family who raised me up in Sumter, the Red Bay community where I grew up, and all
the great values I learned while growing up in Sumter.” In addition to his ministry to the 3,000-plus congregation of New Zion Christian Church, which he founded in 1995 in Suwanee, Georgia, Pleasant is a marketing professor at Clark Atlanta University, where he has worked with such programs as the Financial Literacy Academy for Youth. FLAFY, as it is called, provides 12 weeks of intensive study on financial money management for young people ages 13 to 19; those completing the program receive a “Personal Finance” certificate of achievement. Among his other ministries are the Wealth Builders Investment Club and Institute of Entrepreneurship. WBIC educates members and guides them in
actively investing in the stock market; IOE provides three months of comprehensive training to enable participants to start their own successful, competitive businesses. Each year one of the businesses earns $10,000 in start-up funds. In 2009, Pleasant published “Prayers that Open Heaven,” which was named Best New Book for that year by Goodreads.com. At the time, he described the book as offering readers “the opportunity to learn how to get answers from God, hear the voice of God and recognize positive change that can occur during the prayer process. ... It has interactive
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