January 12, 2014

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Gangs find new home online

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KICKIN’ UP DIRT, TITLES 7-year-old wins multiple motocross championships

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Stinney coverage unearths new evidence, witnesses BY BRISTOW MARCHANT B

bmarchant@theitem.com National attention focused on the legal moves to exonerate George Stinney have helped the defense uncover new evidence and witnesses to the 70-year-old crime, attorneys say. The Manning law firm of Coffey, Chandler and McKenzie has collected statements from men now living across the country who still remember pertinen nent information about the Alcolu mur murder case and have just recently com come forward after seeing the renew newed coverage around Stinney’s sto story. The new information — from a fo former cell mate and the man who

found the victims’ bodies as a teenager — is included in a memo filed by defense attorneys Friday at the Clarendon County Courthouse to bolster their motion for a hearing to annul Stinney’s 1944 murder conviction. “This was all provided following the initial filing date,” said attorney Matt Burgess. Stinney was 14 years old when he was tried and convicted for the brutal murder of two young girls in Clarendon County, and he became the youngest person in the United States to be put to death in the 20th century. The accused’s age, and the fact he was a black boy quickly dispatched for the killing of two white girls in Jim Crow-era South Carolina, has driven a long push to have the case revisited, keeping it in the media spotlight.

“The first time I discovered the case was a story in the Item back in 2009,” said Steve McKenzie, a partner in the firm representing the Stinney family. “Even though I’ve been practicing law in Clarendon County for 20 years, I had never heard of George Stinney ... You think this could happen someplace else, but this was in the same courthouse I practice law every day.” Now a hearing will be held at 9 a.m. Jan. 21 at the Sumter County Judicial Center to set aside the young boy’s conviction and potentially grant Stinney a retrial decades after his execution. THE REVEREND WHO FOUND THE BODIES

One new witness produced by the defense is Francis Batson, who, at the SEE STINNEY, PAGE A6

Hit the lights

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gov. Nikki Haley announces her candidacy for a second term in Greenville in August.

Gov. Haley raises more than $5M for 2nd campaign

PHOTOS BY MATT WALSH / THE ITEM

ABOVE and BELOW: The Sumter High School Gym has a new look after brand new lights were installed as part of a $300,000 lighting renovation that included upgrades, retrofitting or changes of more than 5,000 fixtures.

Sumter High gets lighting upgrades BY RAYTEVIA EVANS revans@theitem.com Sumter High School recently received a small upgrade in its gymnasium and classrooms that will have a greater impact in the future. Over the winter break, local electrical contractor Web Electric installed new lighting in the high school’s gym and classrooms — a project that cost a total of $346,450. More than 5,000 light fixtures were retrofitted, changed or upgraded at the school. Clyde Chan, assistant director of maintenance and energy manager for Sumter School District, said the state’s school districts are continuously working to improve lighting in schools, adding that many don’t have the resources or funding needed to replace aging buildings. “These older buildings have lighting that is not only outdated, but also under performing, forcing children to learn in

COLUMBIA (AP) — Gov. Nikki Haley has raised more than $5 million in her bid to win a second term as South Carolina’s chief executive, taking in more than $757,000 in the last three months of 2013. Campaign finance reports filed on Friday show that the Republican closed out the year

with more than $3.7 million cash on hand, The State newspaper reported. Democratic state Sen. Vincent Sheheen of Camden raised nearly $459,000 during the quarter that ended Dec. 31. He has about $1.4 million cash on hand and has raised more SEE HALEY, PAGE A6

State chief outdoes competitor locally BY BRADEN BUNCH bbunch@theitem.com

dimly lit classrooms,” Chan said in a recent email. “As part of its ongoing quest to improve energy efficiency in the United States, the Department of Energy’s rulemaking of 2009 will eliminate most of the remaining commonly used types of T12 linear fluorescent lamps by July 14, 2012.” Chan explained that the South Carolina State Energy

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Program funding allowed more than 70 schools to upgrade to energy efficient lighting in classrooms and gymnasiums. Many of the upgrades include the replacement of T12 fluorescent bulbs with the more efficient T8 bulbs. Rick Avins, athletic coordinator for Sumter School District, SEE LIGHTING, PAGE A6

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South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley continues to raise more money from supporters in the tricounty area than her expected challenger in the upcoming general election, State Sen. Vincent Sheheen, according to their campaign disclosure reports with the South Carolina State Ethics Commission. Every three months, candidates are required to disclose their fundraising efforts with the state office. And while Haley continued to raise more money from resi-

dents and business in Sumter, Lee and Clarendon Counties during the last three months of 2013, the gap in donations between her campaign and Sheheen’s efforts dwindled. Haley reported receiving $12,374 from area donors between October and December, while Sheen raised $10,765. During the third quarter of 2013, Haley raised $29,867, while Sheheen’s campaign brought in $18,750. Haley’s area donations accounted for less SEE LOCAL SUPPORT, PAGE A6

OUTSIDE NO RAIN TODAY

Dolcena R. Blackwell Fumiyo Morgan Wade H. Oxendine Leon Rogers Sr. David L. Evans Jr.

INSIDE 5 SECTIONS, 36 PAGES

Mostly sunny during the day; clear at night. A9

HIGH: 60 LOW: 36 A10

Business Classifieds Comics Daily Planner Opinion Television

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January 12, 2014 by The Sumter Item - Issuu