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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2016
THE SUMTER ITEM
Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: pressrelease@theitem.com
LOCAL BRIEFS FROM STAFF REPORTS
Election ruling appealed to S.C. Supreme Court A Feb. 16 order by Circuit Court Judge George James affirming the Municipal Election Commission’s order for a new election for Bishopville City Council is under appeal to South Carolina Supreme Court. James ruled that ballots in Bishopville’s Ward 2 had been counted in secret, invalidating the election’s results. The MEC’s decision was appealed to the candidates who obtained enough votes in the election to gain seats on the City Council, but James denied their appeal. Thursday, Melvin W. Cockrell, their attorney, filed a notice of appeal of the decision to the state Supreme Court. Ennis Bryant, one of the original appellants. is not listed in the appeal filed Thursday. It is unclear when the latest appeal will be heard. Until then, Bishopville City Council will continue to meet with the same councilors as before the May 2015 election: Mayor Alexander Boyd, Bryant, Currie, Morrow, Muldrow and Craig Nesbit. The appeal lists candidates Nesbit and John Latimer, who protested the election to the MEC, as respondents.
Little Caesars serving needy at soup kitchen The Little Caesars Love Kitchen will be at the Emmanuel United Methodist Church Soup Kitchen, 421 S. Main St., at 12:30 p.m. Monday to provide fresh Little Caesars pizza meals for approximately 125 people in need. Local Little Caesars franchise owners and company regional offices donate all food and labor costs for the Love Kitchen servings. An estimated 50,000 Little Caesars franchise owners and employees have volunteered their time during the years to support the program in their local communities. Little Caesars franchisee Tripp Kelly said, “As a member of the area business community, it’s important for us to support people when they need it and help make the community stronger. We’re excited to support this program with food and staff to provide a quality meal for people who otherwise may not get one.”
Insurance board elects local agent to board Robert E. Nalley of Creech Roddey Watson Insurance in Sumter was recently elected to serve a three-year term on the board of directors of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of South Carolina (IIABSC). IIABSC is the state’s oldest and largest trade association of property and casualty insurance agents. It provides members with the tools, knowledge and protection they need to serve clients effectively and build successful agencies. The board of directors helps to shape the mission and direction of the state association.
Boy gets CCTC prosthetic hand Students used 3-D printers to create working device BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com A Clarendon County boy received a belated birthday gift from Central Carolina Technical College’s Engineering Graphics Technology program when he received a prosthetic hand Thursday morning. Connor Morgan, who celebrated his 13th birthday Feb. 11, took home his first prosthetic hand that was created using 3-D printers at CCTC’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology Training Center. Gary Morgan, Connor’s father, said the car ride to the AMTTC building was very quiet. Connor is usually very talkative so he must have been very excited, he said. Connor’s mother, Shanna Morgan, said Connor was born without his right hand and had been waiting about two years to receive a prosthetic hand. She said the family reached out to an organization before speaking with Central Carolina Engineering Graphics Technology Program Manager David Tuders, but plans with the first group fell through. Connor first learned that Tuders’ engineering graphics technology class would be creating a prosthetic hand for him during a previous visit two weeks ago. Tuders surprised Connor with the news while the seventh-grader visited the AMTTC building with a class of sixth-graders from Manning Elementary School. During his first visit to Tuders’ class, Connor was fitted with a prototype hand which served as a model for the prosthetic that he took home Thursday. Tuders and his class based Connor’s prosthetic hand on a publicly shared design. It took a couple of months to understand the designs and know what need-
KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM
Connor Morgan watches as David Tuders, Program Manager, Engineering Graphics Technology, adjusts the fit of the prosthetic hand that Central Carolina Tech students 3D printed for him. ed to be done to make the hand work best for Connor, Tuders said. He said it took the class a week to put together the prosthetic hand, made of about 17 printed parts. The hand was printed in red, Connor’s favorite color, he said. He also said the engineering graphics technology class will provide prosthetic hands for Connor as he grows. Tuders said he is thankful that CCTC has the technology needed to create the hand for Connor. “We couldn’t have done this anywhere else,” he said. In a previous interview, Connor said he never let having one hand slow him down. The prosthetic hand will allow Connor, who is right hand dominant, to climb trees better, something he seemed to really look forward to. When Connor bends his right wrist,
the fingers of the prosthetic hand will close down toward the palm, allowing him to grasp things. Connor is home schooled by his grandmother, Bobbi Simeral, who said her grandson had been thinking of things to do when he got his hand since he visited the college. Connor’s parents said they never told him he could not do things and their son never let having one hand hold him back. “He’s 100 percent boy,” Shanna said. She said Connor is always looking for adventure whether that be climbing trees or zip-lining. Gary said Connor receiving the prosthetic hand was a blessing and he hopes other children with physical issues will feel confident that there is help out there.
Stewart seeks re-election for county chair FROM STAFF REPORTS Dwight Stewart has announced his plan to run for re-election as chairman of Clarendon County Council. Stewart is a three-term incumbent, having first been elected to the position in 2001. Stewart said STEWART he has enjoyed serving the people of Clarendon County. “My fellow council members and I work well together, and Clarendon County continues to progress,” he said. “Changes imposed on the 46 counties by our state government have made funding of government services much more difficult. Thanks to the hard work of our county employees and our fellow elected officials, we have made progress despite funding cuts.”
Under Stewart’s leadership, the county bought and repurposed an old supermarket complex at 411 Sunset Drive into the county administration building. Weldon Auditorium has been redone in a combined effort between the county and concerned residents who have served on various committees, Stewart said. Stewart said the county’s water system is being expanded through grants and low-interest loans from U.S. Department of Agriculture. A $6 million repair and updates were recently completed on Clarendon County Courthouse. Stewart said the administration building and the courthouse were completed with no additional taxes levied on the county’s residents. “This year we plan to relocate the Department of Social Services and provide for an office and facilities for our coroner,” Stewart said.
“The mission statement of the Clarendon County Government is to manage the resources of our county to provide the best services possible and to promote the health, welfare and education of the citizens. I look forward to continuing that mission,” Stewart said. “I’m especially proud of all of the citizens of Clarendon County in the way we worked together during the recent flood. Many public and private entities worked together to help our county recover.” Stewart lives in Summerton with his wife, Sherry Martin Stewart. Sherry is employed as director of education at Clarendon Memorial Hospital. They have three married children and seven grandchildren. Stewart, a native of Florence, graduated from Clemson University with a bachelor’s degree in forestry. He received a reserve officer
commission upon graduation. He began work with the Georgia Pacific Corporation in 1971 at Alcolu. He left to enter business as a private consulting forester in 1974. He opened his own business in 1985 in Manning, Dwight L. Stewart Jr. and Associates LLC, and serves a number of private landowners and industrial clients. He is a registered forester in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. He is also a licensed real estate broker in South Carolina and North Carolina and a state certified general real estate appraiser in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. He served as council member of Summerton Town Council for 20 years before his election to Clarendon County Council. Filing for election for county seats opens March 16 at noon and closes March 30 at noon.
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