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Continental expanding German tire maker will invest $275M more, add 100 jobs BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com During its meeting Tuesday, Sumter County Council approved an amend-
Deputies cleared in shooting
ment to a fee agreement with Continental Tire the Americas to increase the company’s investment in the area by $275 million and 100 jobs. The county and Continental entered into their original fee agreement, which stated that the company would invest a minimum of $400 million and
create a minimum of 1,174 jobs, in March 2012. “We partnered with the company in 2011 and said we would be in lock step with them throughout this journey as a team. We have never wavered on that commitment,” said Greg Thompson, chairman of Sumter Economic Development, in a written statement. “We are excited beyond words that they believe in this community as much as we do.” Outside of the meeting, County Council Chairwoman Naomi Sanders
thanked the council, Sumter County administration and the economic development board for working with the manufacturing company and creating the “win-win” expansion package for the community. “We are partners, and this expansion will create additional tax base and new jobs for our citizens, and that is why economic development is a priority for this council,” she said.
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Singing for a worthwhile cause
SLED rules 2 responded appropriately in July incident BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com South Carolina Law Enforcement Division has determined that the two Sumter County Sheriff’s Office deputies involved in a July shooting acted appropriately after encountering a physically aggressive suspect. The shooting occurred July 18 after Cpl. Symeon Graham and Senior Deputy Desmond Sabb responded to reports of a man acting in a lewd manner in a residence in the 100 block of Colts Run in Dalzell, according to Braden Bunch, public information officer for the sheriff’s office. According to Bunch, the suspect, 39-year-old Michael Deshawn Dinkins, began arguing with female victims inside the residence and later
SEE SLED, PAGE A8
KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM
Shanekia Littles sings “I Won’t Complain” during the 2015 Sickle Cell Anemia Gospel Benefit Concert at Crestwood High School on Saturday. Proceeds from the concert will be used to try to bring a treatment and support center for the disorder to Sumter.
SHS grieves for student struck on freeway BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com The Robert E. Graham Freeway provides a welcome route for motorists to miss traffic in downtown Sumter, but the wide, poorly-lit highway creates a dangerous barrier for pedestrians. Despite signs posted on the highway to keep people from crossing it, few are willing to walk more than a mile to a legal crossing. Clear footpaths are worn in the grass where walkers on their way to work, to a convenience store, to visit friends or just to get home brave the traffic whizzing by
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at 70 mph or more. As dusk fell Saturday, Terrica Monae Butler didn’t make it across. The 17-year-old Sumter High School senior was struck and killed by a pickup traveling east on the highway. Police said ButBUTLER ler was wearing dark clothing, and the motorist didn’t see her in time to avoid hitting her. No charges will be filed, according to a South Carolina Highway Patrol spokesperson. “Our thoughts and our hearts naturally go out to the
family,” said Principal Nicholas Pearson. “Terrica was a good student, she was a valuable part of Sumter High School.” With the news spreading quickly by social media on the long Labor Day weekend, few students came to school Tuesday who hadn’t already heard the tragic news. “I think the students benefited from having an extra day out of school,” Pearson said. “That gave us an opportunity to grieve and mellow out before coming back in the building” Heidi Adler, who taught Butler ceramics during the spring semester, said the
DEATHS, B7 Peggy W. Roberts Kenneth I. Anderson Prince Conyers Jr. Dorothy Mae James Margaret F. Taylor Fannie Elie Verlie B. Wilson
Elizabeth B. Lewis Herbert Lee Shannon Michelle R. James Terrica M. Butler Franklin Burroughs Franklin Robinson Thomas Bracey
school has dealt with a lot of tragedy in the past couple of years. “We have had a lot of loss here at Sumter High with our students and relatives of our faculty, so we have done a lot of grieving,” she said. “It’s difficult, it’s always difficult.” Adler said Butler showed a lot of talent working with ceramics. “She actually came in a day or two late, and she wasn’t sure about it because she hadn’t worked with clay before,” Adler said. “By the end of the day, she looked at me and said ‘I think I like this.’”
SEE BUTLER, PAGE A8
JIM HILLEY / THE SUMTER ITEM
Sumter High School ceramics teacher Heidi Adler remembers Terrica Butler.
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