August 12, 2016

Page 1

IN SPORTS: Sumter Sertoma Jamboree kicks off tonight at Memorial Stadium B1 ‘

SAVE THE DATE! September 15, 2016 FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 2016

| Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894

75 cents

Presenting Sponsor:

Tickets - $35 minimum donation 803-436-2640

Senior leaders address state of the Air Force FROM STAFF REPORTS Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and Chief of Staff of the Air Force David L. Goldfein discussed the state of the Air Force during a press conference Aug. 10 at the Pentagon. In her first update with Goldfein, James praised his work so far, and said she looks forward to working with him in leading airmen and the

Air Force. The senior leaders then provided an update on current Air Force operations and budget challenges. James pointed out airmen are busier than ever with the oldest fleet in its history before talking about the potential effects if Congress does not pass a budget. “We certainly hope a long-term CR (continuing resolution) won’t be the

case,” James said. “But we are hearing either a six-month or a one-year CR is at least a possibility, and I want to explain why this would be a very bad deal for the United States Air Force.” Stating the Air Force is still dealing with the difficult choices it was forced to make during sequestration, James said if Congress doesn’t act, and if the Air Force is faced with a long continu-

ing resolution, it could see a delay of more than 60 acquisition programs. James then listed the production of joint direct attack munitions, better known as JDAMS, the production of the KC-46 Pegasus air refueling platform and B-21 bomber funding as some of her top concerns. Presenting an update to the Air

SEE AIR FORCE, PAGE A3

Man pleads guilty in accidental shooting

Police grab some grub Volunteers serve 300 officers BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com

Sentenced to 3 years for fatally injuring friend

To show their support for Sumter’s law enforcement officers, local volunteers prepared meals to feed every employee with Sumter Police Department, Sumter County Sheriff’s Office and local South Carolina Highway Patrol officers on Thursday at First Baptist Church on Liberty Street. The food was served between 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. in order to cover all of the shifts, said Ray Scott, event organizer. He said the event to feed about 300 people was organized in two weeks after the idea was pitched by one of his friends, Jack Miles, who also sponsored the function. Swain Miles, Jack’s son, said his father planned the event to show his appreciation for law enforcement for the work that the officers do. He said his father was unable to see his vision become a reality because of health reasons but he knew his father wanted to be there. Miles described his father as a person who is always willing to help others. “It’s one of his things,” he said. Miles said he was on board with the plan ever since his father first mentioned the idea. And it wasn’t hard to get the other volunteers on board because

BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com

SEE GRUB, PAGE A3

Eugene Earl Martin, charged with involuntary manslaughter for the accidental killing of one of his friends in 2015, pleaded guilty to the charges against him on Monday and was given a five-year suspended sentence. MARTIN According to earlier reports, the shooting took place in the 300 block of Bowman Drive when Martin, who was 22 at the time, was showing a Ruger P94 .40-caliber pistol to his friends on April 27, 2015. While he was displaying the gun, 24-year-old DiQuon Jadar Morgan was shot in the upper torso and was later pronounced dead at Tuomey Regional Medical Center, which is now Palmetto Health Tuomey. A news release from Sumter Police Department stated that witnesses did not see a clip in the gun at the time of the shooting. The victim bled to death because of a laceration to the heart and lungs, said Third Circuit Assistant Solicitor John Meadors. He said Morgan’s toxicology

JIM HILLEY / THE SUMTER ITEM

Sumter Police Lt. C.L. “Jay” Johnson finds room on his plate for a big piece of barbecued chicken during First Baptist Church’s Law Enforcement Appreciation barbecue on Thursday.

SEE SENTENCED, PAGE A3

Event to encourage breast-feeding to be held Saturday BY KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY konstantin@theitem.com La Leche League International, an international nonprofit organization that promotes breast-feeding and provides support and education, will host an event on Saturday to celebrate August’s National Breast-Feeding Month. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at 600 Bultman Drive. The goal is to show community support for resources available in the area and to promote breast-feeding in general, said Katie Hodge, local La Leche League leader. The mission of the league is to help mothers worldwide to breast-feed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information and edu-

VISIT US ONLINE AT

the

.com

cation, and to promote a better understanding of breast-feeding, according to its website, www.llli.org. The local chapter holds group meetings, individual support and support via phone and social media. Members not only include new mothers, but also mothers with older children, Hodge said. Educational material will be available at the event, professionals will be on hand to answer questions, and vendors from different health and nonprofit agencies will be present, Hodge said. Activities for children such as face painting, will also take place. Tori Whitaker, practice manager of Palmetto Health-USC Medical Group Sumter OB/GYN, said there are many benefits to breast-feeding for both the

baby and the mother. Whitaker said studies have shown that breast milk contains antibodies that help a baby fight off viruses and bacteria. Breast-feeding lowers a baby’s risk of having asthma or allergies. Babies who are breast-fed for the first six months have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses and bouts of diarrhea. Breast-feeding also helps a mother’s uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size and lose weight faster, Whitaker said. Breast-feeding also lowers risk of breast and ovarian cancer, she said. Palmetto Health Tuomey is a “Baby Friendly USA” certified hospital, meaning it promotes breast-feeding as the best overall nourishment for the baby.

DEATHS, B5 Gertrud L. Prince Arthur C. Tracey Pamela J. Benjamin Estelle C. Wilder Gene A. Lytch

Katie Cunningham Mary Gipson Donald B. Arthur Cecil Lee Truesdale Walter Epps Glory M. Wheeler

For mothers who can’t produce their own breast milk, a system of “milk banking” exists where mothers are able to receive the milk of other new mothers that may be stored in facilities such as hospitals. In 2015, the first milk bank in the state was set up in North Charleston. The bank takes in donations and provides breast milk to very low birthweight babies, infants weighing less than 3.3 pounds in neonatal intensive care units across the state. Sumter resident Jaimie Zaki, a mother of a 14-month-old son and a member of La Lech League International, agreed on the health benefits of breast-feeding.

SEE EVENT, PAGE A3

WEATHER, A10

INSIDE

CLEAR NIGHT FOR METEORS

2 SECTIONS, 18 PAGES VOL. 121, NO. 252

Warmer and partly cloudy today with chance of afternoon storms; tonight, mostly clear and humid. HIGH 92, LOW 74

Classifieds B6 Comics A8 Opinion A9

Science A4 Television A7


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
August 12, 2016 by The Sumter Item - Issuu