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10 more suspects still sought Operation Smackdown continues BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com During a press conference at Sumter County Sheriff’s Office on Friday morning,
Sheriff Anthony Dennis announced the agency is looking for 10 more individuals as Operation Smackdown, the months-long drug sting, continues.
A total of 36 people were arrested as of Friday morning since the sting started in January, and officers have about 17 warrants for those 10 people who are still being sought,
according the sheriff’s office. Also, 14 of the people already arrested have been charged with soliciting prostitution. Dennis said the entire operation is a proactive approach to cutting down drug and prostitution crimes in the county as well as discourag-
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ing more people from getting involved in those offenses. Seventy-five to 80 percent of crime in the county is drugrelated, he said during the press conference. Dennis said it is always possible that drug activity is gang
SEE STING, PAGE A7
Intersection project up for review Committee takes closer look at Pinewood, McCrays Mill roads BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Plans to make improvements to the intersection at Pinewood and McCrays Mill roads continue to move forward as Sumter Urban Area Transportation Study’s Policy Committee plans to review the project on June 6. The intersection project is one of SUATS’s long-range transportation plans that may be considered for South Carolina Department of Transportation’s Transportation Improvement Program project list if approved by the policy committee. SUATS’s Study Team reviewed the Pinewood and McCrays Mill intersection project during a meeting on April 6 when it also discussed recommended improvements to the intersection at Alice Drive and Liberty Street, a possible future project. The study team chose to present both projects to the policy committee with a preference for the Pinewood and McCrays Mill roads intersection. Sumter Senior Transportation Planner Allan Yu said only the Pinewood and McCrays Mill project will be presented to the policy committee based on SCDOT guidelines that required projects to be completed based on their ranking. The projects are ranked based on the severity of the road conditions, he said. The Pinewood and McCrays Mill project is the third and next project in line on the TIP list to be considered, and the Alice and Liberty project is number six on the list. The first two projects on the list are improvements the intersections at Broad Street and Wesmark Boulevard, and Broad Street and Bultman Drive, respectively. Preliminary actions have already started for hose projects, Yu said. If the policy committee approves the Pinewood and McCrays Mill project, the plans will be sent to SCDOT to be added to the state’s TIP project list, he said. State funds will be allocated to carry out the intersection improvements, he said.
KEITH GEDAKE / THE SUMTER ITEM
Fans of microbrew beer enter La Bella Vita on Friday night to sample one of the 11 beer tasting stations during the Downtown Microbrew festival. The event is an annual fundraiser for Santee Senior Services, and the money goes to help home deliver meals and helps with health and wellness programs.
Fleming-McGhaney runs for re-election FROM STAFF REPORTS Vivian Fleming-McGhaney, Sumter County Council District 5 incumbent and county council chairwoman, announced she is running for re-election to council. Fleming-McGhaney is the fifth of nine children born to Elouise T. Fleming and the late Samuel “Pop” Fleming. She grew up in the St. John-Shiloh community of Sumter County and attended the former Sumter School District 2 schools. She received a bachelor of science degree from South Carolina State University, a master’s degree from Cambridge College, and more
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than 30 hours above a master’s degree at University of South Carolina, College of Charleston and Francis Marion University. Fleming-McGhaney, FLEMINGwho served as a special MCGHANEY education teacher for more than 20 years, is employed with Sumter School District as coordinator of curriculum and instructions for specialized programs. She previously served as curriculum instructional coach and testing facilitator at R.E. Davis Elementary School. She gained National Board
Teacher Certification as an 2001 early childhood to young adults exceptional needs specialist and gained re-certification in 2010. Fleming-McGhaney’s public service stems from many years of volunteer services rendered toward grassroots efforts in schools, community and faith-based entities. On July 16, 2002, she offered her services to fill an unexpired term on Sumter County Council and was elected to council, representing District 5. She was re-elected to serve District 5 in 2004, 2008 and again in
SEE COUNTY COUNCIL, PAGE A7
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