THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2015
75 CENTS
SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 3 SECTIONS, 36 PAGES | VOL. 120, NO. 258
Property sales could net $2M City plans to invest money in downtown area BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com At the end of its regular meeting Tuesday, Sumter City Council went into executive session to discuss transferring several downtown properties to private investors, which could amount to about $2 million being invested into the downtown area. Downtown Development Manag-
er Howie Owens said the properties have been vacant for awhile, and the city is fortunate to possibly see the transformation of those buildings. He said the nearly $2 million in investments will be used for both the purchase and renovation of the properties. The buildings are located at 24 W. Liberty, 20 W. Liberty, 119 N. Main and 154 S. Main streets, according to Owens.
He said he is unable to disclose information about what the buildings are to become until after the city finalizes negotiations with the potential investors. He did say all of the potential investors are locals. Mayor Joe McElveen said the city acquired multiple properties in the area that were not generating
SEE PROPERTY, PAGE A6
Commander describes typical day of an airman Gridiron 2015 All you need to know about football in Sumter, Clarendon and Lee counties C1 THE CLARENDON SUN
Clarendon Hall marks 50 years A8 What’s it like to perform in Dancing with the Clarendon County Stars? A8 DEATHS, B5 Esther Jaxtheimer John Carter Jr. Rober M. Walker Jr. Richard Josh Brown
RICK CARPENTER/THE SUMTER ITEM
Sonny Lee Archie Ruby Jean Peterson Westly Jacquan Davis
Former Sumter Mayor Steve Creech, left, who chairs the military affairs committee for the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce, shares a light moment with Maj. Gen. Mark Kelly before Tuesday’s Chamber and Air Force Association dinner.
Kelly also notes ‘synergy’ between Chamber, Air Force Association
WEATHER, A12
BY RICK CARPENTER rick@theitem.com
KEEP THE UMBRELLA Some sun and a thunderstorm in spots. HIGH 91, LOW 72
INSIDE
CONTACT US
Classifieds B7 Comics B6 Lotteries A12 Opinion A11 Religion A4 Television A3
Info: 774-1200 Advertising: 774-1237 Classifieds: 774-1234 Delivery: 774-1258 News and Sports: 774-1226
VISIT US ONLINE AT the
.com
Maj. Gen. Mark D. Kelly described a day in the life of an airman during a 30-minute address Tuesday at the 15th annual Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce and Air Force Association dinner. It was Kelly’s first public address since the Air Force named him commander of the Ninth Air Force on July 31. The Chamber and association hosted the event attended by 127 guests at Sunset Country Club. Kelly went into detail about how airmen can literally mobilize teams of
fighters to cover everything from bringing in Visit special opwww.afa.org erations teams to securing landing sites to building a mobile hospital and providing instant communications in remote areas of Afghanistan. All of that happens before a bullet is fired, he said. “No one can provide that kind of support other than the (U.S.) Air Force,” he said. He said while the military once had more than 100,000 personnel in Af-
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
Mulvaney: Not much hope for sequestration BY RICK CARPENTER rick@theitem.com Fifth Congressional District Rep. Mick Mulvaney met with about 50 members of the Air Force Sergeants Association on Wednesday and answered a variety of submitted questions before the meeting and a few during the meeting. One airman wrote to him asking why the government works under a use-it-or-lose-it budget philosophy, implying that budget conscious airmen might limit future funding because of their conservation ef-
forts. Mulvaney said he agreed with conserving resources but said he wants to make sure that a budget conscious military isn’t skimping on fuel, as an example, used for training purposes. He said he wants to make sure military personnel maintain high levels of training so they are combat ready at any time. At the same time, he said, he doesn’t want to hear of airmen dumping fuel to make sure they get the same funding level the next year.
ghanistan; it has about 10,000 troops, including 2,500 airmen. Kelly said without the U.S. Air Force, the country would face “a cardcarrying disaster.” Tuesday’s event highlighted the support the local community provides for the military. The Air Force Association Swamp Fox 298 based in Sumter promotes the Air Force by educating the public about its role in providing national security; it advocates for aerospace power and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education; and supports Air Force families.
Individual memberships to the Air Force Association are $90. For more information about the association, go to www.afa.org or call local president Bush Hanson at (803) 316-4610. Kelly said he recognizes the “synergy” between the Chamber and the Air Force Association. He said that relationship “makes you feel like you are from here.” He said he’s watched the public support shift from a time when veterans used to be ashamed to wear a military uniform in public to now, when “people put a long arm around a soldier, especially in Sumter.”
No charges for agent in Detroit man’s death
RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM
U.S. Rep. Mick Mulvaney listens to a question during a meeting with the Air Force Sergeants Association Chapter 377 on WednesSEE MULVANEY, PAGE A6 day.
DETROIT (AP) — A U.S. customs agent fatally shot a 20-year-old Detroit armed robbery suspect in self-defense and will not be charged in the killing, said Wayne County prosecutor Wednesday. Terrance Kellom’s April 27 death came amid a national debate about police conduct — particularly toward black men. Kellom was black, as is the agent who shot him. “Yes, black lives matter,” prosecutor Kym Worthy said at a news conference. “Of course they matter. But you know what else matters? Credible facts matter. ... Doing justice matters, and the truth matters.” Police say Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Mitchell Quinn shot Kellom after the suspect lunged at the agent with a
SEE NO CHARGES, PAGE A6