SCISA 3A FOOTBALL: Rivals WH, LMA battle for right to go to state B1
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2014
| Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894
S.C. gives ‘average’ rating to district
75 cents
All is bright
BY RAYTEVIA EVANS ray@theitem.com The S.C. Department of Education released the 14th-annual report cards for districts and schools in the state this week, showing improvements for many schools throughout the state. For 2014, Sumter School District received an average absolute rating — a slight change from the previous two years in which the district received good absolute ratings. An average rating means the school district performance meets the standards for progress toward
SEE CARDS, PAGE A10
Early voting underway for runoff BY MATT BRUCE matthew@theitem.com Absentee ballots began trickling in earlier this week for a special election to decide the Ward 4 member of Sumter City Council. The runoff pits Colleen Yates and Alan Cannon against each other in a winner-take-all ballot vote Tuesday. Sumter County Election Commission officials said early voting for the race began Wednesday afternoon and will continue through Monday at the old Sumter County CourtCANNON house. Registered residents in one of the ward’s nine precincts can cast ballots there between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. today and Monday if they are scheduled to be out of town Tuesday. The courtYATES house will also be open
RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM
Sumter city employee Kevin Alsbrook installs one of the city’s holiday decorations Thursday morning on West Liberty Street. Crews were seen throughout the city this week preparing for the season.
SEE RUNOFF, PAGE A10
WARD 4 precincts Crosswell: Crosswell Elementary School, 301 Crosswell Drive Folsom Park: Willow Drive Elementary School, 26 Willow Drive Hampton Park: Santee Senior Resource Center, 110 N. Salem Ave. Loring: Crosswell Elementary School, 301 Crosswell Drive Magnolia-Harmony: South Sumter Resource Center, 337 Manning Ave. Morris College: North HOPE Center, 904 N. Main St. Shaw: Shaw Heights Elementary School, 5121 Frierson Road South Liberty: American Legion Home Building, 28 Artillery Drive Swan Lake: Willow Drive Elementary School, 26 Willow Drive Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Source: Sumter County Voter Registration/Election Commission
VISIT US ONLINE AT
the
.com
Service club strives for younger members BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com Young people often want to be involved in their communities and give back. With the motto of “Service Above Self,” Rotary Clubs can be a good fit. But with busy schedules and tight budgets, they may feel unable to join. Rotary Clubs require attending meetings weekly, and if members miss a meeting, they’re required to make up the meeting by visiting another chapter within a few weeks. “Younger professionals want service. They want fellowship, and they want networking,” said Lou Mello, past Rotary District 7770 governor for 2013-14. “But they say, ‘I can’t be
there even half the time.’ The lack of meetings READ MORE One thing my club and means these young people others have done is started are also not paying for the e-membership for those traditional meal. The Rotary Club who can’t physically be But some clubs have of Sumter Sunrise gone even further in the fithere. It started as a way to raises $400 to nancial department. Three make up meetings online, fight polio. A2 years ago, Mello said his but it’s become one of our group started a program biggest recruitment and that if you are 30 years old retention tools.” or younger and your business He is a member of the Mount Pleasant Rotary Lunch Club but was doesn’t pay your annual dues, then you don’t pay full dues until the visiting Rotary Club of Sumter Sunthird year after you join. You pay a rise this week. Both of those as well third of the dues the first year and as the other two local clubs — Sumtwo-thirds the second, he said. ter Rotary Club and the Sumter-PalNot surprisingly, two professionmetto Rotary Club — are part of the als under 30 joined his club about more than 50 clubs that make up that time. Now 13 of the 77 members District 7770, and three new clubs are scheduled to be chartered in the coming year, Mello said. SEE ROTARY, PAGE A8
DEATHS, B4 and B5 Dora L. Brown James R. Weston Ruth T. Robinson Christopher M. Mack Geneva W. Overstreet John B. Sawyer
Pearl Gillette Maurice Morant David Dow Willis Washington Leroy Briggs Johnnie Thomas Sr.
George Washington Shirley Y. Dinkins Thomas S. Lee Carrie Bell Wells Johnny Washington Paula D. Welch
WEATHER, A14
INSIDE
GRAB YOUR JACKET THIS MORNING
2 SECTIONS, 24 PAGES VOL. 120, NO. 27
Cooler with some sun; mainly clear and cold HIGH 50, LOW 29
Science A7 Classifieds B6 Comics A12
Lotteries A14 Opinion A13 Television A11