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SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016
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Residents want changes to water system Higher rates reflect water production, system loss BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com With new rates for the Wedgefield water system in full effect, some county residents are upset to see that their bills
City to host Pokémon Go lure-a-thon downtown
are much more than they expected. A few county residents shared their concerns with Sumter County Council during its regular meeting on Tuesday. Council approved new base rates for the Wedgefield and Shiloh water
systems in June when it approved its 2017 budget. The rates were increased in order to make the water systems self-sustaining. The base water rates for the Wedgefield system were increased from $29 per 6,000 gallons per month to $38 per 6,000 gallons, and rates for the Shiloh
system were increased from $17.17 per month per 2,000 gallons to $18.36 per 2,000 gallons. According to a report provided to council by Sumter County Water Utility Engineer Mike Weatherly during a
SEE COUNTY, PAGE A6
Back-to-School Bash builds community
BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Calling all Pokémon trainers, City of Sumter will host a lure-a-thon from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday in the heart of the city. Wear your team colors and comfortable shoes, and be prepared to catch them all. The event is free and open to the public. Leigh Newman, Sumter downtown development coordinator, said the purpose of the event is to bring people downtown and to get the community together. More than 50 lures will be placed on the more than 20 downtown PokéStops throughout the five-and-ahalf-hour event, she said. She said lures will be active the entire time. Lures are attached to PokéStops or Pokémon gyms to draw more Pokémon to the area. The event will take place in the central business district downtown, which lies between Hampton Avenue and Washington, Calhoun, Harvin, Caldwell, Dugan and Sumter streets. Pokémon trainers are encouraged to sign in at the City Centre, 25 N. Main St., when they arrive in order to be eligible to win door prizes which will be given out at about 3 p.m. Door prizes will include gift cards and possibly posters of Pikachu and other Pokémon used in a photo booth during the event. There will also be face painting in the City Centre where trainers can have their team logos painted on. Sprint will provide charging stations for visitors, Newman said. Also, a few local merchants will offer special deals during the event, she added. Ray’s Hobbies and More will have a booth set up downtown to sell Pokémon merchandise while Cut Rate Soda Fountain will sell 99cent ice cream sundaes and Sidebar on Main will offer half-priced drafts and $1 hotdogs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Some people may wonder why alcohol will be served but this event is not just for children, Newman said. Pokémon Go is also popular among adults of all ages, she said. Water and Italian ice will also be available for purchase.
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PHOTOS BY RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM
While hearing about the virtues of living a healthy lifestyle and learning about after school programs at the YMCA booth Tuesday morning, Jamall Alston, 10, above, reaches for a Tootsie Roll. Tierra Johnston, 3, looks to see if Jamall gets enough bounty for her as well. Patricia Phillips, 6, below, took advantage of an opportunity to use the playground’s swing.
Police host party for organizations, residents to improve relationships BY KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY konstantin@theitem.com Several hundred people were in attendance at Sumter Police Department’s Annual Back-to-School Bash, held Tuesday at Crosswell Park. The event’s goal was to bring together various law enforcement departments, nonprofit agencies serving the community and local residents, Sumter Police Department Chief Russell Roark III said. “The two important things we focus on are improving the quality of life for our citizens and attempting to create goodwill in the community,” Roark said. Roark said the event, which began six years ago, focused on being proactive rather than reactive in community relations. Hamburgers, hot dogs and snowcones were provided, as
well as balloon artists, face painting, free haircuts, music and many other activities for children to enjoy. Shaw Air Force Base’s 20th Security Forces Squadron brought a Military Working Dog, named Astra, to demonstrate the dog’s capabilities in real-world situations, said Staff Sgt. David Mussio, the dog’s handler. At Mussio’s command, the dog would attack Staff Sgt. Challen Terry, who was wearing a special protective covering on her arm and pretended to flee the scene. Sumter Fire Department brought its “smokehouse,” a trailer filled with scented simulated smoke, which resembles real smoke someone would see in a fire. “It shows children firsthand what a house filled with smoke looks like, with no visibility, and how to properly evacuate to the
SEE BASH, PAGE A6
DEATHS, B6 Tony Odis Masters Mary Ellen Bradford-Moses Charles W. Loney Alice Boykin
Gloria M. Wheeler Harry Briggs Jr. Hattie P. Rivers Willie Lee Johnson
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3 SECTIONS, 20 PAGES VOL. 121, NO. 250
Cooler today with some sun but with good chance of storms; tonight, partly cloudy and warm. HIGH 89, LOW 73
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