IN SPORTS: Sumter gets another shot at Dutch Fork
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WORLD
Tragedy strikes hajj pilgrimage More than 700 trampled to death in Mecca stampede A4
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Rev. Jackson in Sumter THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pope Francis listens to applause before addressing a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday, making history as the first pontiff to do so.
Pope urges Congress to welcome immigrants
said. Jackson said it is not enough that the Confederate flag has come down from the Statehouse, however. “Let’s bring down the flag agenda,” he said. Jackson praised Gov. Nikki Haley for her leadership after the Charleston church shooting.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Standing before a rapt Congress, Pope Francis issued a ringing call to action on behalf of immigrants Thursday, urging lawmakers to embrace “the stranger in our midst” as he became the first pontiff in history to address a joint meeting at the U.S. Capitol. Referencing the migration crisis in Europe as well as the United States’ own struggle with immigration from Latin America, Francis summoned lawmakers “to respond in a way which is always humane, just and fraternal.” “We must not be taken aback by their numbers but rather view them as persons, seeing their faces and listening to their stories, trying to respond as best as we can to their situation,” Francis urged. He was welcomed enthusiastically to a House chamber packed with Supreme Court justices, Cabinet officials and lawmakers of both parties, uniting the bickering factions as all stood to cheer his arrival. The sergeant at arms intoned “Mr. Speaker, the pope of the Holy See,” and Francis made his way up the center aisle in his white robes, moving slowly as lawmakers applauded, some inclining their heads in bows. After the speech, he appeared on a Capitol balcony and briefly addressed a cheering
SEE JACKSON, PAGE A8
SEE POPE, PAGE A3
THE SUMTER ITEM
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, center, and Sumter native James L. “Jim” Felder, third from left, pose for a group shot in The Sumter Item newsroom during a visit to The Sumter Item offices on Thursday. Jackson and Felder were in town to address an audience at Morris College about the importance of changing the narrative of the “New South.” Felder, a Sumter native, secured his place in American history as the leader of the honor guard for President John F. Kennedy’s casket on Monday, Nov. 25, 1963.
Civil rights leader speaks of changing narrative in New South BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com Civil rights leader, former presidential candidate and leader of the Rainbow Push Coalition, the Rev. Jesse Jackson stopped by The Sumter Item office Thursday to promote the emergence of a new narrative in the South. Jackson said the Rain-
bow Push Coalition is helping to build an awareness that the South is moving in new directions. He said the national media, which will gather in South Carolina for the primary election, are behind the times. “All roads will lead to South Carolina when they leave New Hampshire and Iowa,” he said.
“We are going to set in front of them an agenda that they haven’t written. They look at whites as a block, blacks as a block, but that is not the South they are going to find in South Carolina.” He said they see only blacks and whites living in fear. “We socialize together; now we can define our interests together,” Jackson
Solicitors honor Sumter assistant Superintendent responds to questions on property sale
BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com
Third Judicial Circuit Assistant Solicitor Bronwyn McElveen was awarded the John R. Justice Community Leadership Award on Monday at the South Carolina Solicitors’ Association annual conference in Myrtle Beach. The award is given each year to an assistant solicitor in South Carolina “in recognition of outstanding community leadership and exemplary citizenship.” “It’s a huge honor,” McElveen said. “I am incredibly appreciative, and it is fabulous.” The conference program cited McElveen for her work as a volunteer with the Sumter Junior Welfare League, the Sumter County Assault Response Team and the 2016 American Heart Association Heart Walk. In addition, the program noted her work as chair of the Sumter March of Dimes, her work with the
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BY KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY konstantin@theitem.com
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Bronwyn McElveen, center, displays her 2015 John R. Justice Community Leadership Award alongside Third Judicial Circuit Solicitor Ernest “Chip” Finney III, left, and her husband, state Sen. Thomas McElveen. John K. Crosswell Home for Children and for her membership on a number of charity boards. “I really enjoy being a part of the Sumter community,” she said. “Though some may consider it work,
everything I do brings me a lot of joy and pleasure.” She said it was great to see the community grow and change and develop. “I’ve just seen so many
SEE AWARD, PAGE A8
DEATHS, B4 and B5 Lukeisha Slater-Singletary Zahmiar N. Williams Janice Carter Harris S. Rich Addie B. Rush Gardenia B. Graham
Jimmy Wilson Tina H. VanValkenburgh Enoch Lemon Jarrett Jackson Henry M. Wright Vermelle L. Smith
The Sumter Item recently received a letter from a concerned resident in reference to a property previously owned by Sumter School District. The letter asked for the dollar amount of a Bultman Drive property sold in 2014 and what had been done with the money. Sumter School District Superintendent Frank Baker addressed the concern in a phone interview Wednesday. Baker said the property was sold in February 2014 to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. for $1.38 million. The money went into the district’s general fund, which includes operating costs for the district, teacher salaries, programs and other expenses. Baker said before consolidation, the property be-
longed to Sumter School District 17. The district had made a decision to build a new administration building on the site in 2009, right after a state bill had passed that would allow for consolidation of District 17 and District 2. The new administration building would have cost $3.5 million to construct, according to a 2008 article that appeared in The Sumter Item. The parcel of land at the time was also valued at $1.38 million, according to the article. A local group of concerned residents sued District 17 to prevent them from going ahead with plans to construct the new building, as they felt it was not necessary to have that construction project with the consolidation of the two districts,
SEE PROPERTY, PAGE A8
WEATHER, A12
INSIDE
CLOUDY AND RAINY
2 SECTIONS, 22 PAGES VOL. 120, NO. 289
Rain and drizzle most of the day; humid but not hot. Wet weather continues into the evening. HIGH 77, LOW 67
Classifieds B6 Comics A10 Lotteries A12
Opinion A11 Television A9