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Like a fish to water Girl, 12, to represent S.C. in Southern Zone Age Group Championship B1
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SUNDAY, JULY 20, 2014
Sheheen speaks at Democrat HQ opening Gubernatorial hopeful talks open government, other improvements BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com (803) 774-1250
at 577 Bultman Drive. “We’re here for one purpose and one purpose only,” said Allen Bailey, chairman of the Sumter County Democrats. “To elect my man Vincent Sheheen as next governor.” He will face Gov. Nikki Haley a second time this fall. Sheheen touched on a number of
About 70 people came out for the opening of the Sumter County Democrats’ new headquarters Saturday. The highlight was when Sen. Vincent Sheheen, D-Camden, stopped in
concerns, but one of his big ones was more transparency in government. As governor, he said he’d work to strengthen the Freedom of Information Act and to make it easier for the public to access government reports. He hopes this will serve as a model for city and county governments as well. “Generally, my position is to err on
the side of openness,” he said. “(Reports), especially those involving a crime, should be open to the press and public. As a senator I have worked and as governor I will continue to work on reforming the Freedom of Information law. Under Gov. Haley, a real
SEE DEMOCRATS, PAGE A4
Family turns Bond set for suspected gunman son’s death into cause 2012 tragedy leads to prevention campaign for amoeba infections BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com (803) 774-1250 If your last summer hurrah involves a water activity, the Driggerses want you to pack one extra thing — nose plugs. Walt and Gingi Driggers’ 8-year-old son, Blake, died about two years ago after contracting a brain-eating amoeba called Naegleria fowleri. Infection occurs when the single-celled organism travels in water up the nose to the brain. It can’t affect you if swallowed and is not contagious from person to person, Walt said. “That’s why we’re pushing BLAKE nose plugs,” Gingi said. “If people can’t find them, all they need to do is let us know.” If you want a free pair, visit RememberBlake.com, and click the contact tab. Besides the website, the couple has worked to raise awareness with a walk, bracelets, T-shirts, billboards and even a golf cart. “It’s our rolling billboard,” Gingi said. “We take it in parades, and we had it at the Iris Festival. We ride around town, and people stop, asking, ‘What’s this all about?’”
Early in July 2012, the family went to Lake Marion. “We were tubing, and the kids were jumping off the dock,” Gingi said. “It was a typical summer day at the lake.” The next weekend, Blake threw up on the way home from a beach trip with family friends. That is typical, as the symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, high fever and neck stiffness usually appear
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BY BRADEN BUNCH bbunch@theitem.com (803) 774-1201 Saturday’s court procedures involving Brandon Haynesworth could be considered another example of the difficulties facing local law enforcement in tackling the spate of recent shootings in the South Sumter area.
BY RAYTEVIA EVANS revans@theitem.com (803) 774-1214
SEE BLAKE, PAGE A6
the
Latest in string of shootings adds to difficulties facing police The 28-year-old, charged with attempted murder, as well as various weapons crimes, was wanted by Sumter Police Department after a Tuesday shooting on Sampson Street left a 21-year-old man hospitalized. The victim, identified by police in their press releases as Patrick Simon, remains in a Columbia hospital as of Saturday in good condition with non life-threatening injuries.
According to police, Haynesworth, who has previous convictions from several years ago stemming from various drug-related crimes, voluntarily turned himself in to authorities on Friday after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Before his arrest, law enforcement had labeled Haynesworth as
SEE SHOOTING, PAGE A4
$38K raised for Morris president scholarship
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Attempted murder suspect Brandon Haynesworth approaches the bench at Sumter Lee Regional Detention Center on Saturday morning shortly before the beginning of his bond hearing. Haynesworth is accused of shooting a 21-year-old man outside a home on Sampson Street on Tuesday.
This month marks Luns Richardson’s 40th year as president at Morris College. So, in honor of the longtime president’s longevity, community contributions and the progress he has made at the institution during the past four decades, local
State Farm Agent Ben Griffith decided to do a little something special to recognize Richardson and his efforts. Griffith, with the help of Morris College’s Rev. Melvin Mack, started raising money in the community for the Luns Richardson Endowed Scholarship Fund. With the contributions of community and business leaders, they have raised $38,000 in
DEATHS, A7 and A9 Mary Ann Washington John Fleming Richard L. Dominy III James R. O’Quinn Sara G. Scott Harry Livingston Jr. Gloria G. McCollum
Henry A. Gee Reva O. Klump Laurence H. Oliver Sr. Richard E. Furman Raymond Pack Roberta P. Pearson Emily B. Gause
honor of the longtime president. “Our informal goal is $40,000 for the 40 years. We’ve gotten really close, although we’re not quite there yet,” Griffith said. “The business community has been extraordinarily generous, and most of them whom I’ve spoken with, it took one phone call or maybe one
SEE LUNS, PAGE A4
WEATHER, A10
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