P-15’s eliminate Gaffney Team advances in state tournament B1
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Officials: Woman in car wasn’t Sumterite
SIMCOACH CHILDBIRTH LAB COMES TO TUOMEY
Vehicle was found submerged near boat ramp on U.S. 378 BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com Richland County Sheriff’s Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a woman whose body was found in a partially submerged car near William B. Tolar Boat Landing on U.S. 378 west of Sumter. Public Information Officer Lt. Curtis Wilson said Monday afternoon the incident does not appear suspicious. Richland County Coroner Gary Watts identified the victim as Charlene Elizabeth Fulton, 53, of Columbia. She had been missing since Nov. 23, 2014, according to the coroner’s statement. Watts concluded the cause of death was drowning. Richland County deputies said a man fishing saw the car at about 11 p.m. Saturday and called police. Units from Richland and Sumter counties responded to the call, Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Braden Bunch said. Officers then found a body in the backseat after the car was pulled from the Wateree River, which forms the boundary between Richland and Sumter counties.
PHOTOS BY CHRIS MOORE / SPECIAL TO THE SUMTER ITEM
Nursery and delivery staff at Tuomey Regional Medical Center participate recently in a simulation of a problematic delivery using mannequins in Palmetto Health’s SimCOACH. The mobile laboratory’s goal is to reduce the number of C-sections performed that are not medically necessary.
Local mothers, babies could benefit from staff ’s training Goal of using simulator is to reduce number of unnecessary C-sections BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com
SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO
Local protesters march in November with signs decrying the violence that has plagued communities in Sumter.
OneSumter will mark 1 year with unity breakfast
Tuomey Regional Medical Center labor and delivery and nursery staff, along with obstetricians from Sumter OB-GYN, were recently able to sharpen their skills at handling emergency situations during and after childbirth using Palmetto Health Richland’s SimCOACH, a state-of-the art simulator, the first mobile simulation laboratory in the state. Among the goals of the training is to reduce the number of C-sections in first-time, low-risk mothers, a Tuomey news release said. “It is very lifelike,” said Susan Gayman, administrative director for women’s and children’s ser-
A monitor displaying vital signs of the mother and baby is part of the simulations offered using the SimCOACH. vices at Tuomey. Gayman said using mannequins of the mother and baby,
medical staff can practice doing obstetrical emergency drills. “The mannequin can actually deliver a ‘baby’ and simulate emergency obstetrical situations,” she said. “The staff works together as a team to take care of the momma and the baby.” Gayman said the mannequins have vital signs, and the mother can talk and respond to medical personnel helping with the delivery. BZ (Melanie) Giese, director of South Carolina Birth Outcomes Initiative for South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, said using such a simulator can be a boon to a medical staff, especially in rural areas. “Limited resources can make it challenging for hospitals to purchase high-tech training equipment or to let staff participate in additional training off
SEE TRAINING, PAGE A7
Public is invited to Saturday event BY IVY MOORE ivy@theitem.com In 2014, a group of local residents came together to work at finding ways to reduce violent crime in Sumter. The initiative was a “call to action” begun by Sumter Community Vision in Progress, which adopted a OneSumter theme; on Saturday, OneSumter will celebrate a year of progress in uniting the community. Patty Wilson, executive director of VIP, said Sumter residents at that first meeting,
SEE UNITY, PAGE A9
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Ministry helps family with newborn Community’s kindness, donations are crucial for positive outcomes BY COLLYN TAYLOR intern@theitem.com Summer for students can mean a few months without homework,
classes and the stress that comes with going to school. But for some of the school and college employees, summer can
DEATHS, B5 Lilton Floyd Clarence Mckenzie Ben C. Cato Margaret Ann E. Bradshaw
Elizabeth W. Franklin Elijah Gayle Jr. Clara W. Windham Shirley Fleming
mean dealing with financial hardship, which is where Sumter United Ministries can help. A full-time employee at Morris College gets
paid throughout the school year, but when the summer slowdown hits, he doesn’t get paid. The employee has to rely on some odd jobs and unsteady payment for income during the summer.
SEE CARING, PAGE A7
WEATHER, A12
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2 SECTIONS, 20 PAGES VOL. 120, NO. 239
An afternoon storm in some areas; storms possible tonight too HIGH 94, LOW 73
Classifieds B7 Comics B6 Lotteries A12
Opinion A10 Television A11