Serial killer probe clears 11 cold cases Blending clay and Christianity A8
Aiken pastor displays passion for pottery, Christ A5 SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2015
$1.50
IN BUSINESS: ‘Store experience’ Family Video’s key to success
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More than 13K register for FEMA Individual assistance deadline is Jan. 4 BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com According to Federal Emergency Management Agency Media Relations Manager Kurt Pickering, 9,623 Sum-
ter County residents and 3,810 Clarendon County residents have registered for individual assistance as of Dec. 18. Pickering said a little more than $11 million has been approved for Sumter
residents, and more than $2.19 million has been approved Check out for Clarendon resiDisasterAssistance.gov dents. The final day to register for individual assistance with FEMA and the Small Business Administration is Jan. 4.
NEED HELP?
Those affected by the flood can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov, by phone at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or by visiting Central Carolina Technical College Advanced Manufacturing Technology Training Center, 853 Broad St. in Sumter.
SEE FEMA, PAGE A9
Fireworks stands gear up for profitable week New Year’s 2nd busiest holiday in pyrotechnic display business BY KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY konstantin@theitem.com Millions around the world will ring in the New Year watching fireworks displays light up the sky. For fireworks vendors, it is the second busiest time of the year, after the Fourth of July, said Danny Burkett, who has been running the fireworks stand off Alice Drive near Walmart for about 12 years. Every year, the fireworks stand raises between $8,000 and $10,000 for the Royal Rangers of the Green Acres Assembly of God in Sumter. Burkett serves as the senior commander of that local chapter. “This is our major fundraiser, twice a year, on Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve,” he said. Royal Rangers is an international, activity-based, smallgroup church ministry for boys in kindergarten through grade 12 providing “Christlike
KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM
SEE FIREWORKS, PAGE A3 Buddy Sauls sets up the fireworks stand on Alice Drive on Saturday. The stand is a fundraiser for the Green Acres Assembly of God’s Royal Rangers.
200 plus Clarendon County families receive coats, jackets BY KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY konstantin@theitem.com More than 200 families received brand new coats on Wednesday at Manning Elementary School as a result of a partnership between Clothes4Souls and Macy’s. The chain-department store donated about 50,000 coats to the organization to distribute throughout the U.S. this year. Clothes4Souls received the coats from Macy’s through an event called “Buy 1 & We’ll Give 1,” which lasted from late October through early No-
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From left, Celia Casas, 5, Evelyn Casas, 3, and Jessie Casas, 2, receive coats and other items at the Clothes4Souls & Macy’s “Share the Warmth” new coat distribution to Clarendon County families in need.
vember. Macy’s donated one coat to Clothes4Souls for every coat purchased at their stores and on their website for up to 50,000 coats. Soles4Souls is a Nashville-based charity that collects new and used shoes and redistributes them through direct donations to people in need and through various partners. Clothes4Souls is a subdivision of Soles4Souls, providing clothing to those in need. Manning native Tiffany Johnson, events and outreach coordinator at
KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY / THE SUMTER ITEM
SEE COATS, PAGE A3
DEATHS, A9 and A11 Harry L. Wilson Earvin Brown Maurice L. Rogers Jean D. Gulledge Mary Akers Mary J. Holland Janet James
William L. Ervin Tessy G. Dewil Huong Tran James Hunt Valerie McMillian Johnnie Ely Minnie S. Miller
WEATHER, A12
INSIDE
RAIN POSSIBLE AND STILL WARM
5 SECTIONS, 34 PAGES VOL. 121, NO. 62
A passing shower or two today; cloudy and warm tonight. HIGH 76, LOW 61
Classifieds D4 Comics E1 Lotteries A12 Opinion A10
Outdoors D3 Panorama C1 Stocks D2 Television E3