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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013 | SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA
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Toal: Wall expected to draw big crowd Courts secure Sumter will be only city in state to host scale replica of Vietnam memorial BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com
State’s top judge says technology safe from hackers COLUMBIA (AP) — After a massive cyberattack on the Department of Revenue, South Carolina’s top judge assured lawmakers Wednesday that the state’s court system was secure from hackers. “Technology and its use in changing the way we do business in the court system in South Carolina has been my hallON THE mark,” NET Chief Justice View a Jean Toal video told a and joint sesslide presentation from S.C. sion of Chief Justice the state Jean Toal’s Legislaspeech online ture in at http://bit. her anly/12NVjN4. nual address. “Be assured and aware that cyber security for the courts system has been an integral part of our design.” At Toal’s request, the state Legislature last year allocated funding for a system through which attorneys can file court documents electronically, overriding a veto from Gov. Nikki Haley. To keep that inhouse system safe, Toal said she employs a team that focuses solely on data security and safeguarding the servers that host information for courts around the state. Toal has pushed for better technology throughout her 13 years as chief justice. As her next step, Toal said she wanted to make appellate court records that are now managed internally through an automated system available to the public online. Toal said the e-filing system would be similar to a federal system already in place although, unlike that model, she’d make South Carolina’s version free. SEE TOAL, PAGE A8
Sumter now knows more about this spring’s visit from the traveling version of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. City council got an update on the upcoming display from members of the Iris Festival Committee at its meeting Tuesday. The festi-
val at Swan Lake will host the traveling wall — a scale replica of the memorial in Washington, D.C., complete with each name etched into the national monument — from May 24 to May 27. Sumter will be the only city in South Carolina to host the wall this year. Committeewoman Lynn Kennedy said the Iris Festival
has been trying to secure the wall for several years. “This has been our goal for the whole Shaw and Sumter community,” Kennedy said. “It’s going to draw a humongous group of people. It will really be something to see.” The four-day event will begin with an opening ceremony at
5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 24, Lefford Fate said. Sumter Mayor Joe McElveen will host the event, and commanding officers of the Third Army and 9th Air Force at Shaw Air Force Base have also been invited to attend. A keynote address will be delivered by Douglas Wilson, a former fighter pilot who flew combat missions
over Vietnam. Like many people of a certain generation, Fate has a personal connection to the wall. “My oldest brother was killed in Vietnam on May 2, 1970,” he said. “It’s an honor to have his name on the wall. A lot of people have friends and loved ones on there.”
SEE WALL, PAGE A8
‘GUYS AND DOLLS’ AT WILSON HALL
PHOTO PROVIDED
Recently engaged Nathan Detroit, played by Wilson Hall senior Sam Umbaugh, and Miss Adelaide, played by senior LeAnne Amick, are congratulated by Detroit’s fellow gamblers, juniors Justin Schaare, Furman Dabbs and Drake Shadwell and sophomores Tristan Whitaker and Ryan Norris. The Wilson Hall Performing Arts Department performed the musical “Guys and Dolls” on the Nash Center Stage on Feb. 13 and 14. Drama teacher Hannah Leirmoe directed and choreographed the play while chorus teacher Dr. Laura Ballard provided the musical direction. Based on stories and characters by Damon Runyon, Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling wrote the play’s book, and Frank Loesser wrote the lyrics and music.
Officials worry bill erodes county control BY NICK McCORMAC nmccormac@theitem.com A bill that would limit county governments from controlling where waste or recyclables go is part of the larger issue of eroding local government authority, both tricounty and state officials say. The bill, which has passed the S.C. House of Representatives and is currently in the S.C. Senate Committee on Medical Affairs, would forbid any
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county ordinance from directing where waste or recyclables go. While it’s an issue that could affect counties that control their own local dumps, some see it as another WATKINS example of county governments having to give up more control of local issues to the state. “The issue of state government ceding more and more
control from local governments is a concern,” said Lee County Administrator Alan Watkins. “We have a better understanding of day-to-day operations and what we need to do. We have the boots on the ground. We have a better understanding of how certain things work than the state does.” If the legislation becomes law, Watkins said he doesn’t see it impacting Lee County too much since its landfill is operated by Republic Ser-
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vices of South Carolina and not the county. But he worries about state government introducing other legislation that either takes control of operations out of the hands of local governments or asks counties to do more with less. “We feel like the state, more and more, is taking control of local issues. We’re a small county. This particular issue is not a direct impact SEE LEGISLATION, PAGE A8
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