Christmas for K-9s Couple donates money for dogs’ bullet-proof vests 75 CENTS
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015
SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 3 SECTIONS, 24 PAGES | VOL. 120, NO. 69
PANORAMA
Local artists shine at Gallery SCGA opens 2015 with 3 new exhibitions
C1
LOCAL
Bond denied for son, set for dad in family feud A2 DEATHS, B7 Ze’Brian A. Jackson Jenelle L. Amerson Larry W. Turner Bobbie LeGrand Chappelle Stephen C. Monroe Junior Lee Jones Ruth E. Barwick Hercules Smith, Jr. Dana G. Wilson Bruce O. Burkett George Archie Addie R. Moses
Three canine deputies with Sumter County Sheriff’s Office got some new threads this holiday season. Through the generous donation of George and June Rikard, the three dogs now have bullet-proof vests. “It really does me good to see them out here with their vests on,” June Rikard said Tuesday. “The dogs are just as important.” Her husband, a semi-retired state trooper with 32 years of experience under his belt, agreed. “I’m glad to see the dogs with them on,” he said. “It bothers me when I see them and they don’t have vests on. A lot of places don’t have vests for their dogs.” The sheriff ’s office now has five canine deputies, said Braden Bunch, public information officer. Thanks to the Rikards, they are all now vested and protected. “This means a great deal to us, especially the handlers,” said Hampton Gardner, deputy chief with the sheriff’s office. “These are their partners. This kind of donation is a Godsend. I’d like to thank the Rikards. They are very kind people.” The couple knows how dogs become part of the family, having had a German shepherd, a lab and beagles through the years. “They’re like our babies,” June said. “They’re like people to us. It breaks my heart to hear about someone shooting a dog. I couldn’t be a handler.” When her husband read in the newspaper about a company donating a vest for a canine deputy, he called up the sheriff to see how many more might be needed. “I knew if one got shot, it would be the one not wearing a vest,”
KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM
Cpl. Cameron Prescott plays with his K-9 Halo after placing a new vest on the dog. Halo was one of three canine deputies to receive vests. George said. He discussed it with his wife, and the two agreed they wanted to help. They hope their contribution will inspire others to give. “I’m sure many are unaware of a need like this,” June said. “This is a perfect way to not only keep a dog safe, but to protect law enforcement, too. If a dog is jumping on a
criminal, he’s going to shoot the dog, and then he might shoot the officer.” The canines are used for a variety of tasks from building searches to drug detection to tracking and pursuit, Gardner said. With this many animals available and safe, one can be out in the field or on call 24/7, he said.
Summerton Piggly Wiggly to close BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com
WEATHER, A8 HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS! Windy and chilly; frigid temperatures tonight HIGH 48, LOW 17
INSIDE
CONTACT US
Classifieds B8 Comics C6 Lotteries A8 Opinion A7 Television C7
Info: 774-1200 Advertising: 774-1237 Classifieds: 774-1234 Delivery: 774-1258 News and Sports: 774-1226
VISIT US ONLINE AT the
BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com
.com
“What a shame.” That was a common refrain from customers walking out of the Summerton Piggly Wiggly on Tuesday. Many had heard Summerton’s only grocery store is scheduled to be closed in the next few weeks and were pondering where they would shop for groceries. “I have no idea,” said Kendall Shown. “I’ll probably go to Santee. It’s a crying shame everything is closing down in this town.” He said he knows several employees of the store and had heard a number of clerks had quit but did not know more details. Owner Ricky McLeod confirmed Tuesday morning the store is closing and later issued a prepared statement. “Substantial effort and capital has been invested in making (the Summerton store) successful. ... Closing a store is the single most difficult decision we must make in our business, and it is never entered into lightly,” the statement said.
PHOTOS BY JIM HILLEY
Residents of Summerton and surrounding areas will soon be looking for a new place to buy groceries when the town’s Piggly Wiggly shuts its doors in the next few weeks. Employees at the Summerton store will be considered for transfers to other Piggly Wiggly stores, the statement said. The closing of Piggly Wiggly will be one more blow to Summerton, a town that has been struggling for survival since the closing of the nearby Federal-
Mogul nearby in 2010. Clarendon County Economic Development has been seeking a new occupant for the Federal-Mogul building for several years, but so far the department’s efforts have not attracted a tenant.
SEE GROCERIES, PAGE A6
GOP takes charge in Congress
More women, minorities on Hill
BY ERICA WERNER The Associated Press
BY MATTHEW DALY The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Republicans assumed full control of Congress on Tuesday for the first time in eight years in a day of pomp, circumstance and raw politics beneath the Capitol Dome. Before the new Congress was two hours old, a veto showdown with President Barack Obama was set as the White House announced he would reject legislation approving the long-stalled Keystone XL pipeline, which Republicans intend to advance. “Hard work awaits,” said the new Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. “I’m really optimistic about what we can accomplish.” House Speaker John Boehner, who faced down a
tea party challenge and won re-election Tuesday by his colleagues, said the GOP will seek Obama’s support for measures on jobs, energy and veterans. “It will be a sign the logjam is breaking,” Boehner declared. As the first snowfall of the winter blanketed Washington, Congress convened at noon as required by the Constitution. On the Senate floor, newcomers mixed with veterans as Vice President Joe Biden swore in senators in groups of four. McConnell ascended to majority leader, his elevation endorsed by rank-and-file Republicans last year after they won control of the chamber from the Democrats. Across the Capitol in the House, a similar scene unfolded as familiar faces and new ones crowded the aisles and
lawmakers of both parties recited the Pledge of Allegiance. But in the House, there was an element of suspense as Boehner faced a tea partybacked effort to unseat him. It came up short, but the 25 defections was a historically high number for a sitting House speaker. It served notice that the conservative faction that has been a thorn in Boehner’s side for the past two sessions of Congress will not fall quiet during the new one despite the GOP’s bigger control. Seeking unity despite the internal party dissension, the GOP moved swiftly to advance the Keystone XL pipeline, setting votes in a Senate committee and on the House floor for later this week.
SEE CONGRESS, PAGE A6
WASHINGTON — The new 114th Congress counts more minorities and women than ever, although lawmakers remain overwhelmingly white and male in the Republicancontrolled House and Senate. A record 104 women are in the new Congress, and for the first time, black members of both genders and representing both parties are among the ranks on Capitol Hill. The number of female lawmakers is up slightly from 100 at the close of the last Congress but represents about 20 percent of the total in Congress. It’s far less than the nearly 51 percent of the U.S. population. A total of 96 racial minorities will serve in Congress, about 18 percent. There are 100 senators and 435 seats in the House. The House will have 246 Republicans and 188 Democrats. One seat is vacant following the resignation on Monday of Rep. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y., who pleaded guilty to a felony tax evasion charge. The Senate will have 54 Republicans and 44 Democrats, plus two independents — Maine’s Angus King and Vermont’s Bernie Sanders. Both caucus with Democrats.