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FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2017
THE SUMTER ITEM
Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: pressrelease@theitem.com
LOCAL & STATE BRIEFS
2 Maryland men arrested on I-95
FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
Fire at Boyle Pond contained to waterway Sumter Fire Department Battalion Chief Joey Duggan said firefighters left the scene at Boyle Pond, off of South Saint Paul Church Road, about 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday after the fire was extinguished. He said the cause of the fire is still undetermined. Although the houses around the pond were threatened by the fire, firefighters and crews with South Carolina Forestry Commission were able to quickly prevent the flames from spreading onto people’s yards, Duggan said. No structural damage was reported, he said. Duggan said it was probably a good thing that the undergrowth in the pond caught fire because it will prevent future fires in that area.
FROM STAFF REPORTS Sumter County Sheriff’s Office deputies seized 6 grams of marijuana and $13,600 in cash and arrested two men during a routine traffic stop on Interstate 95 about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. Officers arrested Trumaine Nelson, NELSON 26, of Hagerstown, Maryland, and Marvis D. Jackson, 26, of Greencastle, Maryland, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office. Nelson is charged with
possession of marijuana and traveling with an open container. Jackson is charged with manufacturing or possessing drugs; possession of marijuana; and traveling with an open container. The arresting deputy initiated the traffic stop after watching a vehicle travel less than one car length beJACKSON hind a tractortrailer while driving about 70 mph on I-95. When the deputy approached the vehicle, he saw four beer bottles at the passenger’s feet as well as what
appeared to be marijuana residue on his pants. The officer also reported a strong smell of marijuana emitting from the vehicle, states the release. The deputy informed Nelson of his observation and asked if there was any money inside the vehicle. Nelson said he had $5,000 in cash in the vehicle that he planned to go shopping with while visiting family in Florida. Nelson later admitted that he had $10,000 after his parole officer in Maryland was notified of his arrest. When the deputy searched Jackson, he found $3,634 in cash in multiple bundles and a clear bag with four bluishcolored pills thought to be
Utilities offices closed Monday
It IS rocket science
DOT’s priority making deadliest stretches safer COLUMBIA — State transportation officials say their top priority for additional money is making South Carolina’s deadliest stretches of highway safer. Transportation Secretary Christy Hall said Thursday it will take $50 million a year over a decade just to make safety improvements to the state’s “worst of the worst” stretches. She says nearly 30 percent of the state’s crash fatalities and serious injuries occur along those 1,900 miles. Officials say 2015 was the state’s deadliest year on record, with 979 traffic deaths. Hall says most of those happen in the state’s rural areas, and half involve vehicles running off the road. Safety improvements would include guard rails, rumble strips, wider road shoulders, paving shoulders and better pavement markings. A House road-funding plan introduced Wednesday designates money for those improvements.
30mg Oxycodone. A search of the vehicle revealed a marijuana grinder in the console, marijuana residue in the front of the car and a glass jar containing 6 grams of suspected marijuana on the rear floor of the vehicle. The release states that a large bundle of currency was also found in the pocket of a jacket on the back seat, and a K-9 unit dog later indicated that drugs were in the jacket. Officers seized a total of $13,614 in cash in addition to the marijuana and pills. Nelson and Jackson were transported to Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center.
FROM STAFF REPORTS
PHOTO PROVIDED
Wilson Hall fifth-grade student Rhayne Owens places decals on a rocket during her science class’s study of aerodynamics and propulsion. The entire grade participated in the Science Technology Academies Reinforcing Basic Aviation Space Exploration Swamp Fox program, a Department of Defense-sponsored activity hosted by the Air National Guard at McEntire Joint National Guard Base.
The City of Sumter will not be able to accept utility payments Monday, Jan. 23, including inperson payments, at drive-through payment locations or online due to a planned software upgrade, according to a city news release. The city will resume accepting payments at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, the release said. Customers are encouraged to plan utility bill payments accordingly. “The new system will provide the city with a better customer account management,” said Candi Quiroz, director of Utility Billing Department. “Our old system has been around since the 1990s, so we are ready to launch the new program and gain more functionality.” After the upgrade, customers will be given an updated account number. The updated account number will drop the first dash and add a zero after the second dash. As an example: If your account number is currently 012-345678, your updated account number will now be 0123456-078. Quiroz said customers may use the stubs from their current bill when paying, and city employees will credit the correct account. Customers already enrolled in the city’s online pay system will automatically be enrolled in the new system. However, customers who pay with their own personal online banking system will need to update their account number to make sure payments are applied correctly after Jan. 23. For more information, call the Utility Finance Office at (803) 436-2541 or email water@ sumter-sc.com.
Community hosts motorcycle rally for father and son’s medical expenses BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com The Rogers Family Benefit Ride, hosted by Rock Hill Hooligans and CCXII, to benefit a father and son, William and Michael Rogers, who were injured during a wreck in December will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, starting at Sumter Shriners Club, 1865 Highway 15 South. Motorcycles will leave the Sumter Shriners Club at 3:15 p.m. and end the ride at Chuckwagon, 1090 Broad St. There is a $10 cover to attend the benefit and all proceeds will be given to the Rogers to assist with
medical expenses. The main event, featuring a live performance by Billy Creason and the Dam-Fi-No Band, food and a raffle, will start at 4 p.m. at the Chuckwagon. William and Michael Rogers were struck by a vehicle at the intersection of McCrays Mill and Pinewood roads while riding their motorcycles home after visiting a family member at Palmetto Health Tuomey on Dec. 14, said Beth Rogers, wife to William and mother of Michael. Both men were transported to MUSC in Charleston where they underwent surgery for their injuries. Beth Rogers, said Michael had re-
turned to work three weeks before the wreck after recovering from pneumonia and months of dealing with congestive heart failure and battling a life-threatening skin infection. She said William is receiving care at Sumter Health and Rehab while Michael is back at home receiving care. Beth said she wants to push for more motorcycle awareness, especially in driver’s education classes, and change the public’s perception of motorcyclists. She said the 17-year-old driver who hit her husband and son had gotten his license before the wreck. Some
people think motorcycles are able to maneuver quickly, but that’s not the case, she said. Some motorcyclists may look rough but they are the first to help someone on the side of the road, even if they do not know the other person, Beth said. Beth said the rally was organized by family friend Stan Charamut, members of the local bicycle club and other friends. The event organizers anticipate about 1,000 people from North Carolina, Georgia and Alabama to attend the rally. That number will fluctuate based on how many people from South Carolina come out, she said.
HOW TO REACH US IS YOUR PAPER MISSING? ARE YOU GOING ON VACATION? 36 W. Liberty St., Sumter, S.C. 29150 (803) 774-1200 Jack Osteen Editor and Publisher / Advertising jack@theitem.com (803) 774-1238 Michele Barr Rick Carpenter Business Manager Managing Editor michele@theitem.com rick@theitem.com (803) 774-1249 (803) 774-1201 Gail Mathis Jeff West Clarendon Bureau Manager Customer Service Manager gail@theitem-clarendonsun.com jeff@theitem.com (803) 435-4716 (803) 774-1259
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The Sumter Item is published five days a week except for July 4, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day (unless those fall on a Sunday) by Osteen Publishing Co., 20 N. Magnolia St., Sumter, SC 29150. Periodical postage paid at Sumter, SC 29150. Postmaster: Send address changes to Osteen Publishing Co., 20 N. Magnolia St., Sumter, SC 29150 Publication No. USPS 525-900