WE HAVE A HUGE SELECTION OF
THE ROAD TO 13-0
diamond earrings
Item Sports Editor Dennis Brunson takes a look at the Barons’ undefeated championship season. B1
Diamond 5VWF 'CTTKPIU
• Police bag 3 in auto break-ins • Dalzell man charged with attempted murder
1HH 'CTTKPIU HTQO EV VQ EV VQVCN YGKIJV 4QWPF 2TKPEGUU EWV
Jewelry
' 9GUOCTM $NXF r 5WOVGT 5% 778-1031
A2
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2013 | SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA
VOL. 119, NO. 37 WWW.THEITEM.COM
Wholesale
A place to call my home, a family all my own
FOUNDED OCTOBER 15, 1894
60 CENTS
Sunday spirits, anyone? City council asked to consider lifting alcohol sales ban BY BRADEN BUNCH bbunch@theitem.com
PHOTOS BY JADE ANDERSON / THE ITEM
Third Judicial Circuit Court Judge George M. McFaddin Jr., back left, “new� mom Linda Simons, back center, and Attorney Will Brunson, back right, gather from left — Nimrod, Zy’Mere, Gabrielle and Yasmeen — for a photograph Monday following the adoption procedure.
20 children adopted Monday, just in time for holiday warmth BY JADE ANDERSON janderson@theitem.com It’s the only pleasant day Third Judicial Circuit Court Judge George M. McFaddin Jr. will see for awhile. “Adoption is the only happy days in family court,� he said. “Otherwise it’s mire, misery, despair and disappointment. This is the only time everyone leaves here happy. Normally they
leave here hating each other and hating me.� In celebration of November’s being National Adoption Month, about 20 children’s cases were closed Monday. One of the 13 families was single father Gordon Shephard, who adopted a brother and sister. “It’s kind of unusual to see a man in here, but it’s
Benjamin Shephard, left, 8, and Nicole Shephard, 6, smile as their new father answers questions during adoption procedures Monday. They have lived with Gordon Shephard for a little more than a year.
If the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce has its way, local restaurants and businesses within city limits will be able to sell alcohol on Sunday by this time next year. Earlier this month, the chamber sent a letter to Sumter Mayor Joe McElveen requesting Sumter City Council create and approve an ordinance placing a referendum on the BLACKWELDER 2014 general election ballot that would allow Sunday on-premise consumption sales at local bars and restaurants, as well as beer and wine package sales at area stores. Grier Blackwelder, executive director of the chamber, said the issue is a question of local economic development. “It would create jobs and create tax base,� adding that he thought Sumter was the largest city in South Carolina that did not allow Sunday alcohol sales. “We have people that leave Sumter to entertain business clients when they have them here on the weekend, as well as family and friends.� Blackwelder, who said
SEE ADOPTIONS, PAGE A7
SEE SUNDAY SALES, PAGE A10
Fireside Fund helping peoples’ funds ‘stretch far enough’ BY JACK OSTEEN jack@theitem.com With temperatures now below the freezing mark most nights and the Thanksgiving holiday upon us, the needs of the Fireside Fund will most certainly continue
to grow greater and greater. A common refrain heard each week is that “my funds just don’t stretch far enough every month,� said Salvation Army social worker Pamela Lassiter. She said one man
came in recently asking for a kerosene heater and said “Mrs. Pam, if you can’t help me with one, I can wear more layers of clothes and put more blankets on my bed to stay warm.� SEE FIRESIDE, PAGE A10
20 N. Magnolia St. Sumter, SC 29150 (USPS 525-900)
www.theitem.com
2013-14 Dedicated to the memory of Glen Sharp DEATHS
Information: 774-1200 Advertising: 774-1237 Classifieds: 774-1234 Delivery: 774-1258 News, Sports: 774-1226
Danny J. McLeod Annette T. Ceasar Daniel McGhaney Jr. Carrie R. Terry Elvira Listhrop Mary W. Lowery
INSIDE
OUTSIDE RAIN, STORMS ALL DAY
Anna D. Burgess Rosa Lee Rich Dr. John P. Schenkel Beverly R. McCray Robert A. Andrews B5
3 SECTIONS, 22 PAGES
Warmer with a drizzle developing into heavy rainfall in the day; storms and rain through the night, flood watch. HIGH: 58 LOW: 53 A10
Clarendon Sun Classifieds Comics Daily Planner Opinion Television
C1 B6 B7 A10 A9 A8