IN SPORTS: Lakewood, Manning square off in Region VI-3A opener B1 CLARENDON SUN
Taste of Clarendon draws big crowd A7 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2015
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Military mulls longer Afghan stay With Taliban gaining ground, commanders rethink planned exit WASHINGTON (AP) — With the Taliban gaining new ground, U.S. military commanders are arguing for keeping at least a few thousand American troops in Afghanistan beyond
2016, a move that would mark a departure from President Obama’s current policy. Afghan forces on Wednesday were preparing for what is expected to be a protracted battle to retake Kunduz, a key city that was overrun by the Taliban on Monday, and the U.S. was assisting with at least five airstrikes during the past two days. The struggle highlighted concerns about the apparent fragility of U.S.-trained Afghan se-
curity forces. White House press secretary Josh Earnest said conditions on the ground in Afghanistan, including the current trouble in Kunduz, would be taken into account as Obama considers how to proceed with his planned drawdown of troops. Under his existing plan, only an embassy-based security cooperation presence of about 1,000 military personnel would remain at the end of next year.
Obama has made it a centerpiece of his second-term foreign policy message that he would end the U.S. war in Afghanistan and get American troops out by the time he left office in January 2017. About 9,800 U.S. troops are in Afghanistan. But the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Army Gen. John F. Campbell, has given the administration
SEE AFGHANISTAN, PAGE A14
Forest Acres officer killed in shooting
Slide on down to the Sumter County Fair
Suspect in custody, charged with murder
Today, Oct. 1 4 p.m.— Gates open to public 4-10 p.m. — All exhibits on display 6 p.m. — Judging: Beef show 6 and 8 p.m. — Bear Mountain Wildlife Shows Midnight: Midway Closes
BY SUSANNE M. SCHAFER The Associated Press FOREST ACRES — A police officer responding to a report of a suspicious person was fatally shot at a suburban South Carolina mall on Wednesday, and police say the suspect is charged with murder. Police first got a call on the shooting about 8 a.m., Forest Acres police ALIA Chief Gene Sealy told reporters. Two officers responded and attempted to talk to Jarvis Hall, who fled on foot and ran through parts of Richland Mall, including the Barnes and Noble bookstore, officials said. Officer Greg Alia confronted Hall, there was a struggle and he was shot, Sealy said. Alia was taken to a hospital and later died, officials said. No other injuries were reported. The State Law Enforcement Division charged Hall with murder and possession of a weapon during commission of a violent crime Wednesday afternoon. He killed Alia with a .40-caliber handgun that had been stolen from neighboring Lexington County in early September, according to arrest warrants. Hall also had a knife along with the gun, Sealy said. The chief did not take questions at the news conference. Sealy said Alia was 32 years old and a seven-year veteran of the department. He and his wife, Kassy, recently had a
Friday, Oct. 2 4 p.m. — Gates open to public 4-10 p.m. — Exhibits on display 6 and 8 p.m. — Bear Mountain Wildlife Shows Midnight — Midway closes Saturday, Oct. 3 10 a.m. — Gates open to public 10 a.m.-9 p.m. — Exhibits on display Noon — Judging: Pony and horse show Noon, 6 and 8 p.m. — Bear Mountain Wildlife Shows Midnight — Midway closes LAST DAY – Sunday, Oct. 4 1:30 p.m. — Gates open to public 6 a.m. — Livestock removed 9 a.m.-2 p.m. — Commercial exhibits removed 2-3:30 p.m. — Individual entries removed 2-3:30 p.m. — Premium checks picked up 3, 5 and 7 p.m. — Bear Mountain Wildlife Shows 9 p.m. — Midway closes
KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM
Lori Jordan and her daughter Riley, 2, ride the slide at the Sumter County Fair recently.
ALL DAY, EVERY DAY • Rockin’ a Ranch Petting Zoo • Lawton Trout Farm • Red Dragon Laser Tag • Farm and Garden Show • Sports Expo • Art Show • Flower Show
KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM
Jaiden Williams, 6, and Carlos Ybarra, 6, scream as they ride the Tilt-a-Whirl at the Sumter County Fair. Carlos stayed to ride the ride at least nine more times.
IVY MOORE / THE SUMTER ITEM
Stewie the Camel, “the friendliest you’ll ever meet,” at the Rockin-A-Ranch Petting Zoo, left, awaits young visitors at the fair.
SEE MALL, PAGE A14
General Assembly leaders: Court order ‘blatantly unconstitutional’ BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com The South Carolina Supreme Court has sent a “hurry-up” message to legislators trying to reform the state’s education system, and General Assembly leadership has responded by accusing the court of “breathtaking” disregard of the separation of powers enshrined in the South Carolina Constitution. On Sept. 24, the court issued an order establishing a timeline for addressing
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constitutional violations found by the court in Abbeville County School District v. the State. In June, attorneys for the mostly poor and rural school districts that are plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed a motion for the court to supplement its original order with a “more concrete” time line. The Supreme Court granted the motion on a 3-2 vote and ordered the state to form a three-person panel of experts to identify the educational needs of students in the plaintiff districts by Oct. 15. The expert panel is ordered to
propose remedies and present a written report by March 15. The order calls for the state to present a plan for implementing a “constitutionally compliant education system” to the expert panel by Feb. 1, and for the plaintiff school districts to make their response by March 1. In a letter sent Tuesday to Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Toal, Senate President Pro Tempore Hugh Leatherman and House Speaker Jay Lucas expressed their concerns with the order and indicated the General Assembly
DEATHS, B4 Karen B. Green Hallett B. White Jr. Roy E. Andrew Rosezinne N. McCants
Eva Cato Walker Robert Lee Williams Sylvester Lewis Michelle H. Prioleau
may choose not to comply. “We are dismayed by the order’s breathtaking disregard for one of the most fundamental constitutional principles upon which our government is based,” the letter said. “Even though we recognize the court’s finding of constitutional deficiencies outlined in Abbeville II, we believe the court’s authority ends there.” The letter says the order is “blatantly unconstitutional” and accuses the
SEE TASK FORCE, PAGE A14
WEATHER, A16
INSIDE
MORE RAIN
2 SECTIONS, 22 PAGES VOL. 120, NO. 294
Cooler today but with spotty showers; cool tonight with occasional rain. HIGH 69, LOW 59
Classifieds B6 Comics B5 Lotteries A16
Opinion A15 Television A6