NATION: Gun-seizure law a possibility after mass killings
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Blaze damages old store Fireworks could be cause of Fourth of July incident BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com (803) 774-1272 A fire that damaged an abandoned building on the Fourth of July may have been the result of errant fireworks. The call came in shortly after 10 p.m. that flames had engulfed the
empty block structure in the 1000 block of Pocalla Road near Manning Avenue. Three fire engines arrived on scene and battled the blaze for about 90 minutes before the fire was brought under control, while a firefighter climbed a raised ladder off the back of a truck to shoot water down from above onto the smoking rubble of the structure. The damage to the building was minimal, since the building was already in the process of being torn down at the time of the fire.
Firefighters on the scene couldn’t determine a cause for the fire, but because the fire broke out on the evening of Independence Day, they didn’t rule out the possibility the blaze was started by an errant fire cracker. “Because it was being torn down, there wasn’t any power to the building at all,” said Capt. Joey Duggan, “so whether or not it could have been a firework that was smoldering
JADE REYNOLDS / THE SUMTER ITEM
Larry Hood shows off the kidney pillow given to him after surgery about a month ago. He was on dialysis for four years while waiting for a kidney transplant.
SEE FIRE, PAGE A5
Veteran has transplant on Father’s Day
Getting primped for prom
Man encourages others to become organ donors BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com (803) 774-1250 A phone call is not usually how you want to wake up to at 5 a.m. on a Sunday, especially Father’s Day. But it turned out to be a blessed sound for one Dalzell family. After four years on dialysis, Larry Hood is celebrating the freedom of having a working kidney. “I’m feeling good,” the grandfather said. “Thank God for answered prayers. I’d go to different churches, and they’d say, ‘I’ve been praying for you.’ You don’t realize how many friends you have. They tell someone in another state, and it’s amazing they say, ‘We have been praying for you.’ It’s just mind boggling really. There is no way I could personally thank everybody, but thank you. I really appreciate it.” The Vietnam veteran first learned he might have a problem after a health screening at his job in 1999. Further tests revealed his kidneys were functioning at about 50 percent in 2000. He managed to go on living a regular life until July of 2010 when “flu-like symptoms” sent him to the hospital. Then Larry Hood had to begin to have dialysis every other day for the next four years. After that nearly four-hour ordeal, he was often too wiped out to
MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM
Maddie “Moo” Mixom has her toenails painted at Camp Happy Days at Camp Bob Cooper before receiving a headband from Headbands of Hope, a fundraising charity for children’s cancer-related causes. For each headband purchased from the group, one is also donated to a girl with cancer. The headbands were given before Thursday night’s prom at the camp to children who have cancer or survived cancer. Read more about the children taking part in Camp Happy Days, a yearly camp for cancer patients and their siblings, on page C1.
SEE KIDNEY, PAGE A5
Partnership puts people back to work, in their own homes BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com (803) 774-1250 Mark Champagne continues to be touched by the work of United Ministries of Sumter County. Through the partnership between the executive director’s organization and area churches, an individual staying at the Homeless Shelter, formerly known as Samaritan House, is now employed and has a low-rent property in which to stay.
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“There was a local pastor and a group of volunteers who came to provide a meal and devotion,” Champagne said. “During their time serving, the pastor was approached by a house guest, and the two became engaged in a casual conversation. A few days afterward, I received a call from the pastor asking about the guest’s history because he was moved by the experience and wanted to help more. The (person) in
question was in our New Life program, and a personal reference was provided. The pastor informed me that he would be working on hiring the guest to work with him part time at a local plant.” He later spoke to the pastor again, who expressed what a blessing it turned out to be for himself. “So, get involved in ministry partnerships. The blessing you thought you had to share with others will be-
DEATHS, B6 Curtis Lee Bryant Willie T. Black Jason Trimnal Terry Lee Hodge David A. Bryant
Elouise G. Gamble Eric Holmes Keith A. Smith George W. Boykin Sr. Edward W. Hartin Jr.
come an even greater blessing for you,” Champagne said. You can do this by giving to Summer of Caring, a partnership between The Sumter Item and United Ministries. This week’s collection totaled $525. Modeled after The Fireside Fund, in which the publication collects money during the winter months and gives it to The Salvation Army to help with heating needs, the Summer of Caring collects money to assist
SEE CARING, PAGE A5
WEATHER, A10
INSIDE
SUNNY DAY
3 SECTIONS, 22 PAGES VOL. 119, NO. 225
Partly sunny and hot today with clear skies tonight HIGH 95, LOW 74
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