IN RELIGION: Find out about local Easter celebrations
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THE CLARENDON SUN
Angels Fund offers help Group known for assisting those in need for 10 years A6
SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2016
75 CENTS
Prognosis grim for rural hospitals Talks continue with McLeod, end with Palmetto Health for now BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com Clarendon Health System’s discussions with McLeod Health are still “extremely preliminary,” said interim
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operations Officer Paul Schumacher. “It will require a lot of conversations and sharing information about each organization and deciding if the fit is there culturally, professionally
and quality-wise,” he said. In a memo sent to employees Tuesday, Schumacher said the hospital’s board of trustees met with representatives of McLeod Health and Palmetto Health before voting to continue talking only to McLeod, at least in the short term. Schumacher said it is difficult for small, rural hospitals to survive in the current financial environment. He said Gov. Nikki Haley’s decision
to opt out of the expanded Medicaid portion of the Affordable Care Act has particularly affected rural hospitals. “Based on the information I’ve received from the South Carolina Hospital Association, in the states that expanded their Medicaid programs, those rural facilities are doing quite well financially,” Schumacher said. “In the states that have not expanded
SEE HOSPITAL, PAGE A10
Collision at Loring and North Lafayette drives First responders work to free a driver from her vehicle after a wreck at the corner of Loring and Layafette drives Wednesday afternoon. At least three people were injured during the collision between a tractor-trailer truck and a Chevy Tahoe SUV. Sumter Police Department Public Information Officer Tonyia McGirt said the wreck happened about 3 p.m. when the tractor-trailer was traveling north on Lafayette Drive and struck the SUV that was traveling west on Loring Drive. McGirt said the driver of the tractor trailer and a child passenger in the Chevy Tahoe were both taken to Palmetto Health Tuomey. The tractor trailer driver was released hours later, and the condition of the child was not known as of Wednesday evening. She said the driver of the SUV was transported to Palmetto Health Richland. An update of her condition was also not available as of Wednesday evening. McGirt said the investigation is ongoing. Personnel with Sumter Police Department, Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, Sumter County Emergency Medical Services and Sumter Fire Department responded to the incident. KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM
Staff Sgt. Rivers honored as ‘Hero of the Month’ BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Staff Sgt. Tony Rivers with Sumter Police Department was surprised Wednesday morning with the news that he had been named “Sumter Homes for Heroes’ Officer of the Month.” Rivers was nominated by the public, which indicates how much the community appreciates him, said Jay Linginfelter, a member of Sumter Homes for Heroes, a local group that helps military personnel, first responders, teachers and healthcare workers buy and sell houses. KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM Rivers, who serves as head Staff Sgt. Tony Rivers receives applause from his coworkers after of the police department’s
being named “Hero of the Month” by the Homes for Heroes program on Wednesday morning.
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SEE RIVERS, PAGE A10
Rembert native seeks District 50 candidacy FROM STAFF REPORTS Rembert native Crystal Cunningham has announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for South Carolina State House of Representatives District 50. The primary election will take place June 14. Cunningham, who is running for public office for the first time, said she thinks her outsider status will be a positive factor in her quest to represent voters of the district, which includes all of Lee County and parts of Sumter and Kershaw counties. “I have long felt that our future begins here at home, and it begins with the generation coming up today,” Cunningham said.
DEATHS, B4 and B5 Mattie Lou Holmes Zurie S. Scarborough Johnny Lee Gaines Beulah Davis Maysie B. Huff Louise Wilder
Joyce Moye Efthimios Dimitriadis Margaret R. House Clfiton Thomas Jr. Milton Dubose Shirley Stepp
“That is why helping the people here in our local communities is the focus of my campaign and CUNNINGHAM will always be a priority of mine.” Cunningham holds a degree in psychology and Spanish with honors from Coker College and serves as an evangelist and mentor to children and young adults, according to a news release announcing her candidacy. “I like to reach people where they are and empower them to achieve their goals and dreams,” she said. “I fully believe
WEATHER, A12 Brenda E. Hemingway Henry Thurston Bagnal Jr. Herbert Mae Sanders Gozell Scarborough
A LITTLE WARMER Mostly sunny and warm today; cloudy, mild and a thunderstorm expected later tonight. HIGH 81, LOW 62
SEE CUNNINGHAM, PAGE A8
INSIDE 2 SECTIONS, 20 PAGES VOL. 121, NO. 135
Classifieds B7 Comics B6 Opinion A11 Television A9