January 15, 2015

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Council member blasts road-widening project Edens says he hopes Alice Drive contractors aren’t hired again 75 CENTS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com

SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 2 SECTIONS, 20 PAGES | VOL. 120, NO. 76

Construction on Alice Drive is set to be completed by May, according to an update from Sumter

County Administrator Gary Mixon during a county council meeting Tuesday. The update received groans from many in council chambers, and councilman Charles T. Edens said

he hopes Sumter never hires the contracting company again. “They are the pits,” Edens said. The road project, which began in

SEE CONSTRUCTION, PAGE A10

‘BEACON OF LIGHT’ SUMTER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE DONATES

‘It’s amazing what people do for Special Olympics’ in Sumter

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Princess Davis and Anthony Quarles have been best friends since ninth grade and are the ambassadors for Sumter Special Olympics. Sumter County Sheriff’s Office presented the group with a check for more than $2,000 on Wednesday.

Sheriff ’s office presents ‘How do I explain it to organization with money you? I just love kids. from event fundraisers BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com

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We’ve worked with Anthony two years. How can you not love him?’

some special athletes. Sumter County Sheriff’s Office presented Special Olympics representatives with a check for $2,322.33 on Wednesday. “I’m happy,” said Princess Davis, an ambassador. “It’s amazing what people do for Special Olympics.” The 21-year-old is a talented athlete playing soccer, badminton and basketball as well as participating in track and field. She and 18-yearold Anthony Quarles, another ambassador and athlete who does bowling and bocce, train at Sumter High School through the unified

DEPUTY JENNIFER MAYS sports program. In this physical education class, special-needs students, the athletes, are paired with students not in special-needs classes, unified partners. The money was collected through fundraisers conducted throughout the year such as registration fees from the Glow Run/ Walk 5K in October to stickers sold during the “Cover a Cruiser” campaign. Deputies also sold T-shirts for the Law Enforcement Torch Run, an event that allows officers and athletes to run the Flame of Hope to the opening ceremonies of local Special Olympics competitions as

well as state and national games, according to www.letr.org. “It’s our largest source of income internationally, and it raises awareness as well as funds,” said Sue Maner, executive vice president of Special Olympics South Carolina and a Torch Run liaison. Last year, Torch Run activities across the state raised about $685,000. “So close to $700,000, and 100 percent of the money raised goes directly to athlete services,” Maner said. People in the Sumter community also donated directly during the sheriff’s office’s fundraisers. “It all added up,” Deputy Jennifer Mays said. “Last year we raised about $3,300 and about $2,300 this year, so it was about $1,000 less. It’s the economy. People just don’t have the money to give.” She has served as the coordinator for the last two years and said she has some plans in the works to help collect more money in 2015. “How do I explain it to you? I just love kids,” Mays said. “We’ve

SEE DONATION, PAGE A10

Sign up now for business, fun at Chamber’s 1st Spartanburg retreat BY HAMLET FORT hamlet@theitem.com Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce’s annual retreat will occur in Spartanburg from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1. Community leaders confirmed speakers for the event include Brig. Gen. David Gla-

ser, Col. Stephen Jost, U.S. Rep. Mick Mulvaney, U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy and former Spartanburg Mayor William Barnet III. Glaser will update the assembled on Army Central’s status as it pertains to troops and how changing military roles will affect the Sumter community and troops sta-

tioned here and around the world. Mulvaney and Gowdy, South Carolina’s representatives from the 5th and 4th congressional districts, which represent parts of Sumter and Spartanburg counties, respectively, will offer an update to the retreat on their initiatives in Congress and their goals

for their districts. Chamber President Grier Blackwelder said he looks forward to hearing what the representatives have accomplished. “I look forward to seeing what they see as the most important things to the people of South Carolina,” Blackwelder said.

This marks the first time the Chamber has taken its retreat to Spartanburg, and Blackwelder said it’s an opportunity for Sumter’s Chamber to learn growth strategies from another South Carolina city. “Spartanburg’s done a real

SEE RETREAT, PAGE A10


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