May 7, 2013

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INSIDE • Union to hold rally to share sequestration information

TEE UP: Sumter High golfers compete in 4A Lower State Tournament. B1

A2 • 1 injured in 3-vehicle wreck involving logging truck

The Clarendon Sun Striped Bass Festival deemed huge success

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A4 VOL. 118, NO. 169 WWW.THEITEM.COM

Locals stand by election chief’s qualifications BY ROBERT J. BAKER bbaker@theitem.com Sumter’s top election official hasn’t updated her certification in at least two years, according to officials with the state Election Commission. But local officials still think Sumter Election Commission Director Patricia Jefferson is more than qualified for the position she has held since 1999. Jefferson was certified that same year in accordance with state law, which requires staffers of election boards and election commissioners to complete cerJEFFERSON tification within 18 months after being hired or appointed. She has been a member of the election commission itself for about 30 years. “(Jefferson) took her last class in June 2011,” said State Election Commission

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013 | SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA

FOUNDED OCTOBER 15, 1894

60 CENTS

Tuomey’s lawyers rest defense Decision indicates trial could end soon Stark Law. And in accordance to the False Claims Act, the government is attempting to recoup nearly $45 million in Medicare payments made to the hospital for work performed under those contracts. The charges, which date back to 2005, have already been tried once in federal court, with a jury finding the hospital guilty of Stark Law but not the False Claims Act. Those findings, however, were overturned by an appellate court and a new trial ordered.

BY BRADEN BUNCH bbunch@theitem.com COLUMBIA — Lawyers for Tuomey Healthcare System rested their defense in the federal lawsuit against the local hospital on Monday, signaling the end of the trial might be approaching soon. Since April 16, Tuomey has been on trial in federal court, accused of knowingly signing 19 local doctors to contracts that paid the doctors above fair market value, creating an illegal kickback and violating

Tuomey’s lone witness to start the fourth week of the trial was fair market value expert, Steve Rice, SEE TUOMEY, PAGE A10

Kingsbury Elementary School presents

Knights on Main Street

SEE JEFFERSON, PAGE A8

Postal patrons can help with Stamp Out Hunger BY IVY MOORE ivym@theitem.com Retired letter carrier David Floyd is spearheading the local National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive for his 20th year on Saturday. The drive asks postal customers to fill a bag with nonperishable food and leave it by their mailboxes on the day before Mother’s Day each year. Floyd’s theory on the timing is that “when you think about mothers, moms don’t want people going hungry.” Despite that, he noted, “Every day in this country, 50 million people, including 17 million children and 9 million senior citizens, go to bed hungry.” The timing for the drive is also related to the time of year, Floyd said. “When school is out, a lot of children miss out on the nutritional support they get during the school year,” he said. Last year, postal patrons from Sumter, Manning, Bishopville, Summerton and Rembert donated 36,607 pounds of food to local food banks through NALC Local Branch 904 letter carriers. It was one of SEE FOOD DRIVE, PAGE A10

TOP LEFT: Jamia Brand sings “Hero” during Kingsbury Elementary School’s Knights on Main Street Talent Show held April 26 at the Opera House. ABOVE: A group of students perform as the Blue Man Group at the Kingsbury Elementary School talent show.

ABOVE: Two girls perform together at the Sumter Opera House. RIGHT: Mrs. T. Spigner’s first-grade class performs “Through the Decades” during the talent show.

DEATHS

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Luther W. Smith Jr. Carroll Short David Johnson Jippy Holliday John-Wesley S. Thomas Frederick G. Strohm Jr. Mary Harmon-McBride

OUTSIDE A FEW STORMS

Frankie U. Lorick Jr. Dorothy F. Johnson Beulah Mae Ardis Deborah Ann Prince Florence R. Moses Edward G. Way

INSIDE 3 SECTIONS, 24 PAGES

Variable clouds, a couple of thunderstorms in the day; cloudy with a storm at night. B4, B5

HIGH:67 LOW: 52 A10

Clarendon Sun Classifieds Comics Daily Planner Opinion Television

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