IN SPORTS: Gators host Stall in 3A soccer playoffs
B1
Carolina Backcountry Museum hosts annual demonstration of life in 19th-century Sumter C1
SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894
WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015
75 CENTS
City approves new zoning measures City council approves zoning for standalone vending machines BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Sumter City Council approved final reading of two ordinances that could
Accused Texas gunman in FBI sights since 2006
prove to be beneficial to business owners during its relatively brief meeting on Tuesday. Final reading was approved for amendments to the city’s zoning and development standards to allow ice vending machines to be placed as primary use on a parcel of land. Previously, the machines could only be constructed on a lot if a larger commercial structure such as a grocery store or restaurant were also
located on the property. The amendments will allow Ice House vending machine owner Darrell Allen to purchase lots of land and build the machines without the worry of landlords increasing rent or selling the land. In a previous meeting, George McGregor, planning department director, said the amendments apply to any standalone, coin-operating vending machines.
Business and home owners could spend less time waiting on signage and exterior paint approvals now that council has approved final reading of amendments to the zoning and development standards allowing Sumter Planning Department staff to make certain design approvals without review from the Historic Preservation Design Review Board.
SEE COUNCIL, PAGE A8
HIGHER EDUCATION
USC Sumter holds commencement University of South Carolina Sumter students listen to instructions as they prepare to receive their diplomas Monday evening. USC Sumter had 123 graduates during the 20142015 academic year.
BY EILEEN SULLIVAN, ERIC TUCKER AND RYAN VAN VELZER The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Since 2006, the FBI had been investigating Elton Simpson — one of the men suspected in the Texas shootings outside a contest featuring cartoons of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad. Agents recorded the young man from Phoenix talking about fighting nonbelievers for Allah, about plans to travel to South Africa and link up with “brothers” in Somalia and about using school as a cover story for traveling overseas. Simpson was arrested in 2010, one day before authorities say he planned to leave for South Africa. But despite more than 1,500 hours of recorded conversations, the government prosecuted him on only one minor charge — lying to a federal agent. Years spent investigating Simpson for terrorism ties resulted in three years of probation and $600 in fines and court fees. Then, on Sunday, two men whom authorities identified as Simpson and Nadir Soofi opened fire in a Dallas suburb on an unarmed security officer stationed outside the contest. The officials spoke only on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation by name. The deliberately provocative contest had been expected to draw outrage from the Muslim community. According to mainstream Islamic tradition, any physical depiction of the Prophet Muhammad — even a respectful one — is considered blasphemous, and drawings similar to those featured at the Texas event have sparked violence around the world. Simpson and Soofi were
SEE FBI, PAGE A8
VISIT US ONLINE AT
the
.com
RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM
USC Sumter, FMU announce partnership BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com The University of South Carolina Sumter and Francis Marion University have announced a partnership that will give USC Sumter students access to FMU’s nationally accredited nursing program. Pre-nursing students will be able to complete two years of prerequisite courses at USC Sumter and finish the bachelor of science in nursing program at FMU. According to a news release, USC Sumter Regional Campus Dean Michael Sonntag said, “This opportunity will allow students in our area to train close to home and move through
the nursing program quickly to start their careers.” He said the universities are thrilled to create this pathway for students interested in nursing. Ruth Wittmann-Price, chair of the school of nursing at FMU, said not only will the partnership benefit students but it may also help with the shortage of nurses in the state. The release states that FMU is expanding its nursing education and reported that the nursing department recently graduated its first nurse practitioners and nurse educators. FMU’s nursing program has one of the highest National Council Licensure Examination pass rates in the re-
DEATHS, B7 Katherine N. Carter Harry Lee McDonald James McCain Gladys Bassett Robert Eugene Sorenson Linda Kay Lee Hamm Bertha W. Blackwell
Marion Clavon Sr. Clarence E. Mathis Lillie Mae Mack Junior Hodge Essie Lee W. Montgomery Betty A. Bell Elene J. Price
gion, according to the news release. Nursing school graduates must take the NCLEX in order to receive a nursing license to begin practicing nursing. USC Sumter marketing and public relations director Misty Hatfield said the two universities have been discussing the program partnership since last fall. She said FMU is now a third option for USC Sumter pre-nursing students to transfer to earn a BSN degree including USC Upstate and USC Columbia. According to the release, USC Sumter students will be able to take advantage of the opportunity starting the fall 2015 semester.
WEATHER, A10
INSIDE
ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY
3 SECTIONS, 26 PAGES VOL. 120, NO. 171
Mostly sunny and warm today, partly cloudy and cool tonight. No chance of rain. HIGH 84, LOW 59
Food C8 Classifieds B8 Comics C6
Lotteries A10 Opinion A9 Television C7