70 years and counting No answers in saga of family seeking overturn of boy’s murder conviction BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bristow@theitem.com (803) 774-1272
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SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 2014
SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894
5 SECTIONS, 34 PAGES | VOL. 119, NO. 266
SPORTS
Barely two months passed between a South Carolina court’s decision that George Stinney was guilty of murder and his execution in the elec-
tric chair in 1944. Now seven months have passed since the hearing that could overturn that decision without a ruling being issued. It was Jan. 21 when a twoday special hearing at the Sumter County Judicial Center aired arguments that the
14-year-old boy’s capital conviction was a miscarriage of justice, with a national media spotlight turned on the case. But in the time since, there has been no indication when the judge will hand down her STINNEY
SEE WAITING, PAGE A7
Partners team up for fun, faith
WH equestrian rider Atkinson wins national title B1 ENTERTAINMENT
Concert association offers outstanding lineup for you to enjoy C1 DEATHS, A9 Hattie L. McCray Reginald R. Ragin Jack E. Hyatt Sr. Joseph T. Johnson
Mary P. Graham Mary E. Hunter Perry Wilson Jr. Alice V. Wheeler
WEATHER, A10 FINALLY COOLER A thunderstorm in some areas but not as hot; humid tonight
PHOTOS BY MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM
A child throws a ball into a cup of toy fish on Saturday at the back-to-school bash organized by Aldersgate United Methodist Church at Willow Drive Elementary School. “We’re always happy when someone or community members are willing to help the students and the school,” said Willow Drive Principal Liz Compton about networking with the church for the event.
Church throws back-to-school bash for children BY RAYTEVIA EVANS ray@theitem.com (803) 774-1214
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Members of Aldersgate United Methodist Church on Alice Drive connected with parents and students of Willow Drive Elementary School on Saturday afternoon during the church-sponsored back-to-school bash at the school. Webb Belangia, pastor at Aldersgate, said the church has partnered with Willow Drive on many occasions and fundraisers in the past, and the church wanted to continue to support the school and the students. Belangia and Aldersgate have partnered with Willow Drive for the Backpack Food Program, for which volunteers donate bags of healthy foods and snacks meant for the
.com Jenna Keenan reaches for her father’s hand during the cake walk at the event on Saturday.
SEE CELEBRATION, PAGE A9
Tax could lead to more sports tourism, better facilities $6M would be used to build new gym, update Haynsworth facility BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bristow@theitem.com (803) 774-1272 EDITOR’S NOTE: This is one in a series of stories examining the proposed projects for a renewed penny sales tax,
which Sumter County voters will be asked to approve in November. Money raised by the tax will go toward a series of building, infrastructure and other projects throughout the county. For all Sumter’s young basketball players, and their parents, the new penny tax could mean a much easier time playing their favorite sport.
When the 2014 Recreation Department league tipped off at the 60-year-old Haynsworth Street gymnasium, supporters of the 420 youth players weren’t able to squeeze into the narrow number of bleachers along the walls. “The whole gym was full,” said Ruthie Osteen, who worked concessions at the games this past season. “We just had people standing along the sides.”
That season, the Haynsworth facility saw more play than usual, as roofing work on the gym at South Sumter Park redirected more teams than usual to the aging facility attached to the Rec department’s offices. “We were here till 8, 9, 10 o’clock at night to get games in,” said Rose Ford, Sumter County Recreation and Parks director. The young people in the
league will have more opportunities to play and better facilities if a renewed penny tax spends $6 million on renovations to the existing gymnasium and construction of a brand new one on the center’s old football field by North Purdy Street. “The largest part is going to build a new gym perpendicular to the current gym and a
SEE GYM, PAGE A7
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