February 17, 2013

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SOUTHERN SNOW: Saturday’s mixed precipitation ushers in cooler temperatures temperatures.. A10 Local teams hope to advance in SCISA, SCHSL B1

BUSINESS: Roses sets March opening date. B8 VOL. 118, NO. 102 WWW.THEITEM.COM

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2013 | SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA

FOUNDED OCTOBER 15, 1894

PRESIDENT’S DAY PARADE

Clinic determines if old charges can be taken off record ney with S.C. Legal Services in Florence, will share information about expunging records, obtainIt’s hard enough to get a job in ing pardons, getting a background today’s economy, without having check and the cost of fees for difto explain an old arrest or crimiferent services. Members of the nal charge to a prospective empublic will be able to get free help ployer. in filling out forms to get a range So two groups that work to of charges removed from their rehelp people with a criminal records. cord find emThose who ployment will work with people hold an Expunge- ARE YOU ELIGIBLE? trying to overment Clinic this come their old week in Sumter WHAT: Expungement Clinic mistakes say an to help find ways WHEN: 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday expungement to eliminate old WHERE: Santee-Lynches Council of Governcan be a valuable charges from ments building, 36 W. Liberty St. tool for landing a someone’s rejob. cord. “Employers Your record could be eligible “Anyone can are not always for expungement if you have: attend who either • Misdemeanors heard in magistrate’s court willing to hire has a record or someone with a with a maximum 30-day sentence, which can knows someone criminal record,” include offenses such as trespassing, simple who has a resaid Toni White, possession of marijuana or passing a bad cord,” said Maryprogram director check; Ann Sewell, the for S.C. Works in • Charges for which you were sentenced as a Santee-Lynches Sumter. “A lot of youthful offender (which can include offenders area manager for people just aren’t up to age 21), if the offender has completed his Palmetto Youth aware of what or her sentence plus five years; Connections, a can be expunged, • Charges that were later dropped by the proscommunity partand this clinic ecutor, dismissed by a judge or thrown out by a nership group can give people a jury with a not guilty verdict, or who went co-hosting lot of information through pre-trial intervention. Wednesday’s and educate peoclinic for “Anyone ple about that.” who wants to ask ‘Am I eligible for Even the solicitor for the Third expungement?’ and ‘How much Judicial Circuit, which covers does it cost?’” Clarendon, Lee, Sumter and WilThe clinic will be held from 2 to liamsburg counties, has set up a 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Santeeprocess for expungement reLynches Council of Governments quests. building at 36 W. Liberty St. Cliff McBride, senior staff attorSEE EXPUNGE, PAGE A4

$1.50

LEFT: Preschool and kindergarten students of First Presbyterian Church Day School march Friday morning as they participate in the church’s annual President’s Day parade in downtown Sumter.

BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com

BELOW and LEFT: Students line the walkway as they wait for the parade to begin. PHOTOS BY COREY DAVIS / THE ITEM

Money helps pregnancy group assist women with choices BY ROB COTTINGHAM rcottingham@theitem.com Sumter Pregnancy Center, formerly called Light of Hope Ministries, held a fundraiser dinner about a year ago at Alice Drive Baptist Church. Knowing they would need a powerful speaker to convey their needs, Executive Director CarolAnn Paul and other leaders of the organization called on well known pastor and author the Rev. Bruce Wilkinson to deliver the organization’s

message and call the people of Sumter to action. “We’re here to raise money to save the lives of innocent unborn children,” Paul said at the February 2012 banquet. And Sumter answered. The mission of the Sumter Pregnancy Center is to provide services to pregnant women who are struggling emotionally, financially and psychologically with their pregnancy, in addition to assisting those who are in

WANT TO HELP? WHAT: Sumter Pregnancy Center Annual Banquet with Dr. Bob Reccord WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 28 WHERE: Alice Drive Baptist Church, 1305 Loring Mill Road, Sumter For more information, contact the center at (803) 773-8858 or email office@ sumterpregnancycenter.com for more information or to request an invitation.

SEE GROUP, PAGE A6

Public comment rules, history vary among local public bodies BY NICK McCORMAC, BRISTOW MARCHANT and JADE ANDERSON nmccormac@theitem.com janderson@theitem.com bmarchant@theitem.com ITEM FILE PHOTO

Lemira Elementary School physical education teacher Mary Tuggle presents board member the Rev. Ralph Canty a poster praising teachers after speaking out during a recent Sumter School District Board of Trustees meeting. In Sumter County, there are no rules or laws requiring a public body to allot time for public input.

Resident input at gatherings of public bodies was back in the spotlight again this past week following Sumter County Council’s discussions about altering its agenda format, in par-

DEATHS

20 N. Magnolia St. Sumter, SC 29150 (USPS 525-900)

www.theitem.com

ticular the time for a voice and a more public comment. INSIDE prominent say in In contrast to recouncil’s proceedRift widens in Pinewood dispute cent incidents ings. about transparency / A2 when public bodies It’s a privilege received comfor the residents of plaints for changes Sumter County, as to their public comment polithere are no rules or laws recies or omitting it from meetquiring a public body to allot ings all together, council’s protime for public input. posed changes are aimed at SEE INPUT, PAGE A5 giving the public even more of

Information: 774-1200 Advertising: 774-1236 Classifieds: 774-1234 Delivery: 774-1258 News, Sports: 774-1226

Susan H. Burgess Curtis Graham David M. Alston Sr. Roosevelt Martin Margaret Thompson

Mamie R. Anderson Carolyn O. McKenzie Rose A9

OUTSIDE COLD DAY

INSIDE 5 SECTIONS, 36 PAGES

Breezy and chilly with sunshine; clear and cold later HIGH: 45 LOW: 24 A10

Classifieds Comics Daily Planner Opinion Television Business

D1 E1 A10 A8 E3 B8


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