September 1, 2015

Page 1

IN SPORTS: Sumter’s Montgomery tosses 6 perfect innings

B1

Videotaping backlash Some who record police actions see charges A4

SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

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School locks down after assault No injuries after man reportedly attacks custodian at Manchester Elementary BY KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY konstantin@theitem.com Manchester Elementary School, at 200 E. Clark St. in Pinewood, was on lockdown for about 40 minutes Mon-

day morning after a Pinewood man allegedly assaulted a member of the custodial staff at the school. Ronald Brunson, 56, of 220 Kirven St. in Pinewood, has been charged with assault and battery, third degree, as

well as disturbing schools, according to Braden Bunch, spokesman for Sumter County Sheriff ’s Office. BRUNSON In addition to the two charges from Monday morning’s incident, for which a bond hearing has already been held, Brunson now also

faces a violation of probation charge stemming from a 2011 conviction for thirddegree arson, Bunch said. Because of this, Brunson will remain in custody at Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center at least until a hearing is held on the probation violation charge, Bunch said. Sumter School District spokeswoman Shelly Gallo-

way said Brunson was a bus driver when he was an 18-year-old student in the former Sumter School District 2 but had not been employed by the district since high school. The law back then allowed students who were 18 to work as bus drivers, Galloway said. The suspect arrived on

SEE LOCKDOWN, PAGE A7

Almost there ... Kyheem Smith, 8, tries to move a cookie into his mouth by only moving his facial muscles during a back-to-school bash Saturday morning at Willow Drive Elementary School. The event was put on by Aldersgate United Methodist Church and featured games, food and displays by the Sumter police and fire departments. See more from the event on page A7. KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM

Former emergency shelter resident finds new home

Officials from 6 states partner for campaign

BY KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY konstantin@theitem.com

Aim is to catch impaired drivers ATLANTA (AP) — Law enforcement officials in six states are launching their 24thannual “Hands Across the Border” campaign aimed at catching motorists driving under the influence. On Monday, the five-day campaign kicked off involving law enforcement agencies in Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Florida. Roger Hayes, a director at the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, said in a statement that the campaign has had a history of catching drunken drivers. “We have been doing this for a long

SEE DRIVING, PAGE A7

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The 24th-annual “Hands Across the Border” campaign by six states has begun, with law enforcement looking for impaired drivers leading up to Labor Day weekend.

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Information: 774-1200 Advertising: 774-1237 Classifieds: 774-1234 Delivery: 774-1258 News and Sports: 774-1226

Bernice H. Dicks James Lee Johnson Marie McMaster Roy H. Tumbleston Mary Alice M. Hodge

A Sumter man who was a resident of the Sumter United Ministries Emergency Shelter for about three years has reconnected with his family and found housing. “Raymond,” whose real name was not released to protect his identity, is now on Social Security and lives in an apartment. Raymond was a resident of the shelter off and on for about three years and made no signs of measurable progress, according to Kevin Howell, crisis relief director for Sumter United Ministries.

Now Raymond has housing, is active in his church and is in great health, according to Howell. He has also reached out to his daughter and has improved the relationship between them. The shelter, at 320 W. Oakland Ave., includes 28 beds, 20 for men and eight for women. Residents can stay for as long as 30 days, after which they are required to actively seek employment or be working on a degree to continue to reside there, according to

SEE CARING, PAGE A7

WEATHER, A10

INSIDE

TYPICAL SUMMER DAY

2 SECTIONS, 18 PAGES VOL. 120, NO. 268

A thunderstorm possible today; cloudy and humid tonight HIGH 92, LOW 72

Classifieds B7 Comics B6 Lotteries A10

Opinion A8 Television A9


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