IN SPORTS: Clemson’s Swinney earns extension, $1.1M raise
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40 years in plea deal Man, 20, convicted of murder, attempted murder and assault BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Third Judicial District Circuit Judge Jeffrey Young accepted a plea agreement sentence of 40 years for Charles G. Singletary III for the June 2014 murder and attempted murder of two childhood friends during a brief trial at Sumter County Judicial Center Tuesday morning. Singletary, 20, pleaded guilty to the shooting SINGLETARY death of Joshua Brown, the attempted murder of Timothy Hodge and the assault of Hodge’s mother, Margaret Charles, that happened two years ago when all three men were 18. Assistant Solicitor John Meadors described the events leading up the night of the shooting. He said Hodge’s residence was a gathering place for the three friends, but Singletary was told he could not stay at the house after Hodge thought he stole a pair of headphones and clothing. Hodge approached Singletary about the missing items, and the accused responded by presenting a handgun, Meadors said. The day before the shooting, Brown stayed the night at Hodge’s residence, and when Singletary came by some time later, he was also allowed to sleep there, he said. Early morning on June 11, 2014, Hodge woke up after hearing a loud noise, supposedly when Brown was shot in the head, and he was also shot in the head when he went to investigate the sound. Meadors said an autopsy report indicates that Brown was shot at close range because of the pattern of gunpowder around the wound. He said Hodge’s mother left her room to see what had happened and ended up in the scuffle between her son and Singletary. Charles sustained a cut to her ear after she was struck with the handgun, he said. Singletary managed to leave the residence through a window and was later arrested at his sister’s residence after a four-hour manhunt.
SEE MURDER, PAGE A6
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County approves conveyance of road Air transport companies granted leases BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Sumter County Council approved final reading of an ordinance to convey a portion of Old Clarendon Road, used by some in the area as a shortcut to I-95, to the adjoining property owner during its meeting
on Tuesday. The adjoining property owner has farm land on both sides on the dirt road and told council that closing the road would allow him to grow crops on both sides of the road with a moving irrigation system. He said closing the road would protect his irrigation system from drivers as well as protect the drivers from the irrigation system that could badly damage a vehicle. Councilman Eugene Baten told council he
changed his position on the issue after careful consideration. He commended Sumter County Public Works on Tuesday for taking actions to reduce county spending on maintaining the road that is mainly used as a shortcut, especially when there are more high traffic roads that need those resources. Council Vice Chairman James McCain said he learned that a portion of the road is actually in Clarendon County and county
Main Street makeover underway
funds should not be used to maintain another county’s property. Later, in other action, council approved two separate resolutions supporting the lease of half an acre of land at Sumter Airport for Air Methods Transport and Med-Trans Medical Transport. Sumter County Attorney Johnathan Bryan said both leases allow the air-medical transport companies to put a modular building and
SEE COUNTY, PAGE A6
Hayes led coordination efforts during October flood BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com
RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM
Milling and paving of Main Street in downtown Sumter began Sunday night and was completed by the end of the day Monday, according to Sumter Assistant City Manager of Public Services Al Harris. Sunday and Monday’s paving includes the area south of Liberty Street. With weather permitting, paving will continue on Main Street from Liberty north today.
Training and communication are two things Sumter County Emergency Management Director Erik Hayes said prevented the county from folding under pressure during the October 2015 flood. His leadership HAYES and coordination are what led to him becoming the recipient of the 2015 American Legion Law and Order Awards Public Safety Award of the Year. During the rain event, Hayes and other employees in the Emergency Operations Center worked nonstop to coordinate with local, state and federal agencies to provide services to the public. “We are certainly proud of Hayes,” said Sumter County Administrator Gary Mixon. Hayes worked through the night and didn’t leave the office those first few days, he said. He was the lead person for activities related to public safety and search and rescue, Mixon said. “We really appreciate the job he has done.” said Sumter City Manager Deron McCormick. Hayes did an outstanding job coordinating during the flood, said Sumter Mayor Joe McElveen. It’s great that he’s getting recognition from the
SEE HAYES, PAGE A6
New Yorkers react to Ohio Gov. John Kasich Syracuse event Editor’s note: Amanda Finney is working on a master’s in journalism at Syracuse University and is writing a series on some of the contenders for next week’s New York primary from New York. This is her second of three articles.
BY AMANDA FINNEY Special to The Sumter Item SYRACUSE, N.Y.— Despite
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the Republican candidate John Kasich event being held at the Henniger Athletic Center of LeMoyne College on Friday, few young voters were in attendance as the audience consisted mostly of older constituents who were not necessarily sold on his ideologies but rather came to see what he is all about. Kasich was introduced by his long-time friend and
hometown hero of Syracuse, Republican Rep. Jim Walsh, who reassured voters that what Kasich did to balance the budget in Congress, he also did as governor in Ohio and will do it again once in the White House. Claude, a 52-year-old who was raised in New York City but has been a resident of Syracuse for more than 20 years, sighed in disbelief at all
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the candidates who are running for President this cycle. “Kasich doesn’t have my support, but he probably has more than anyone else at this point.” Claude, who refused to give his last name, said he specifically came to the event to hear the governor of Ohio’s plan about the most important issues he finds that affect him and his family: the econo-
my and immigration. “My wife is from Liberia, and my in-laws come in and out ,” he said. “I want to know what his program is, what’s his solution for this immigration thing that seems to be out of hand.” So even in regards to immigration, Kasich remains the lesser of the evils in regards
SEE TRAIL, PAGE A6
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