ENTERTAINMENT: Black Alley Band is back for a free evening of songs, dancing A2
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016
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Nation’s diverse millennials feel disillusion with politics A4
Man dies in attack with wrench Judge denies bond for suspect in Friday night killing at Manning shop BY KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY konstantin@theitem.com MANNING — A Manning man was denied bond Saturday evening after he allegedly killed a Gable man Friday
night with a wrench. A physical argument had apparently occurred between the two men at a ManDEMERY ning business, according to a Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office incident report. Wallace Demery Jr., 27, of 3019 Arlen Road, Manning, was charged with man-
slaughter in the death of Jeffery Myron Ceasar, 34, of Gable. Upon arriving at a business at the 2000 block of A M Nash Road, deputies discovered Demery walking across the parking lot into the shop, according to the report. After deputies questioned the suspect on what occurred, Demery said, “I had to get him off me,” the report stated. The suspect then led depu-
ties to a locked storage room in the shop, where Ceasar was “lying on the floor in a pool of blood.” Paramedics arrived on the scene and transported Ceasar to McLeod Health Clarendon, where he was pronounced dead. Demery had called 911 to report the incident, the report stated. Demery has the right to reapply for bond before a circuit
court judge, said Col. Shelton L. Hughes Jr., director of Clarendon County Detention Center. An autopsy was conducted Saturday at Medical University of South Carolina. As of press time Monday, Clarendon County Coroner’s Office could not provide autopsy results. The case is under investigation by Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office.
Student teaching provides hands-on experience Area market for homes has ‘vastly improved’ Sumter’s sales not hurt by low inventory; Clarendon sales are now picking up BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com
ter have to complete student teaching. The in-classroom experience gives them the opportunity to transition from observing to teaching all of the subject areas themselves for about four to six weeks, under the supervision of a cooperating teacher, she said. McIntosh started her student teaching on Monday at Kingsbury Elementary School, under the direction of Tracy Spigner, a first-grade teacher.
Low inventories are affecting the real estate market across the nation and in South Carolina, but John Brabham with Brabham Real Estate in Sumter said low inventories haven’t hurt the local market. “The market is vastly improved,” he said. “I know in our office, we are up 58 percent year to date versus last year.” Mary Braaten of Advantage Realty said the market has been very active. “This is our hottest time of the year right now,” she said. “Business has been pretty active in the last six weeks or so — all of a sudden, you’re drinking from a fire hose.” While the picture isn’t quite as rosy in Clarendon County, Robin Brice of Avant and Associates said things have picked up. “It’s still not where it was before we bottomed out,” she said. “The economy is picking up a little more, jobs are picking up, and people are getting up and moving.” Brice, who works with a Sumter agency but lives in Manning, said she sells most of her homes in Clarendon County. Homes near Lake Marion have done well, she said. “The lake is really picking up much better than any other area,” Brice said. Brabham said the market in Sumter has improved for both residential and commercial real estate. “I think it’s a combination of a nice inventory of properties along
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SEE HOMES, PAGE A6
KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY / THE SUMTER ITEM
Jordan McIntosh, 23, works with Samyah Smith, 6, a first-grade student at Kingsbury Elementary School, on Friday. McIntosh, a student of the University of South Carolina Upstate Teacher Education program at the USC Sumter campus, is undergoing her student teaching this semester at the school.
Future educators begin new year alongside teachers in Sumter BY KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY konstantin@theitem.com Jordan McIntosh, 23, a Camden native, is the first person in her family to go to college, and at the end of this year, she may become the first in her family to be a teacher. McIntosh is one of about six student teachers at Sumter School District this year who is obtaining her degree through the University of South Carolina Upstate Teacher Education program at the USC Sumter campus. USC Upstate has an agree-
ment with USC Sumter, allowing students to complete two years of general education classes toward a bachelor’s degree in early childhood or elementary education. McIntosh, a graduate of Camden High School, was inspired to go into education after serving as a mentor in high school to third-grade students. “It made me happy just being there and working with them,” she said. “That’s when I knew that I wanted to be a teacher.” As part of their degree requirements, students in their last semes-
Ministry director moved with compassion to help woman with arthritis BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com Lily walked into Sumter United Ministries with her daughter Sarah, but you could see that she would be a good candidate for a ramp, said Aaron Koenig, the Construction Ministry director of the charity. She told him she had degenerative arthritis.
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Koenig often does interviews for those in need of ramps and roofs, but this particular interview stood out, he said. Koenig knew that degenerative arthritis is a common disease that many Americans struggle with, and as a result of the depleting cartilage in her joints,
he knew that it would cause her great pain to ascend and descend stairways. He felt moved with compassion. During the interview, Sarah told Koenig she was taking responsibility for teaching other family members to care for Lily. Sarah explained she
DEATHS, A7 Taylor P. Brooks III Doris S. Devey Isabella Mae S. Clouse Catrina W. Burgess Zenobia E. Miller Corine I. Bligen Harry Lee Brown
Gilbert Ludd Ronnie L. Gilford Jeanette B. Ulissi Rozine Beard Mary S. Williams Willia W. Cross
would do the grocery shopping and help with the cleanliness of the home. As Koenig’s heart broke, he remembered the moments when Jesus was “moved with compassion,” and he knew action always followed. This time Koenig was moved with compassion, and he resolved that action must be taken. Not too long after the interview, a crew was assembled,
materials were bought, and the workers were ready to go. Lily and Sarah were to be recipients of a new ramp. Sometimes Koenig is not able to be on the work site, but just knowing the ramp would be assembled for Lily and Sarah brought him great joy. It brought him peace to know that Lily would easily
SEE CARING, PAGE A6
WEATHER, A10
INSIDE
ANOTHER HOT DAY
2 SECTIONS, 18 PAGES VOL. 121, NO. 260
Mostly sunny today and partly cloudy tonight HIGH 92, LOW 69
Classifieds B6 Comics B5
Opinion A8 Television A9