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SECOND FRONT THE ITEM
SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2014 Contact the newsroom at 803-774-1226 or e-mail news@theitem.com
LOCAL BRIEFS
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FROM STAFF REPORTS
1 injured in Lynchburg house fire on Friday A female victim of a house fire in Lynchburg early Friday morning suffered second-degree burns to her face and head while approximately $25,000 in damage was done to the residence. According to reports from the Sumter Fire Department, firefighters responded to a house fire alarm in the 7000 block of Three Mile Branch Road at 12:53 a.m. Friday. By the time they arrived to the scene at 1:11 a.m., the fire had spread through the entire structure and beyond, taking about an hour and a half for the fire department to control. The estimated cost of contents of the house is $8,000. The victim was transported to McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence by Sumter Emergency Medical Services. According to Mona Christmas of the Sumter Fire Department, the victim was released from the hospital later that afternoon. No one else was injured at the scene of the fire. The cause of the fire is unknown and is under investigation.
Bethesda Church of God to host national prayer A gathering to pray for revival across America will be held starting at 7 p.m. Jan. 31 at Bethesda Church of God, 2730 Broad St., Sumter. The event will involve praise and worship, a testimony, communion and of course, prayer. It is set to end at midnight. For more information, email the Rev. Diane Hodgson at dianehodgson24@yahoo.com.
Greenbax still active in Sumter-area stores Piggly Wiggly Central, the owner of Sumter-area locations, recently stated that Sumter customers of the grocery store chain will continue to enjoy the benefits of the Greenbax program. Previously a number of the stores in surrounding areas announced discontinuing the Greenbax program, and a manager at a local store said the Greenbax program was extended in Sumter stores until Feb. 16. However, Piggly Wiggly Central released the following statement: “Piggly Wiggly Central, the owner of the Sumter-area Piggly Wiggly stores, has no planned changes to the Greenbax program in our stores, and our loyal customers will continue to enjoy the Greenbax program as they always have.”
Fifth-grade bicycling poster contest announced The S.C. Safe Routes to School Resource Center is partnering with Saris Cycling Group — a U.S. manufacturer of bicycle racks and cycling training products — to organize the fourth Annual FifthGrade National Bicycling Poster Contest. The contest is asking fifth-grade students to create a poster around the John F. Kennedy quote, “Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride” to promote youth riding bicycles as a way to lead a healthy lifestyle. One winner will be selected from each participating state to receive a bike, bike light and helmet. One national winner will win a trip to the 2015 National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C., and his or her school will receive bicycle parking to park 20 bikes and a bike/walk tracking system called The Hub. Posters are due March 7. For more information or to participate, visit sarispostercontest. com or email info@SCsaferoutes.
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Officers nab 24 in prostitution sting BY RAYTEVIA EVANS revans@theitem.com The Sumter Police Department recently arrested 24 suspects in a prostitution sting with the help of the Camden Police Department. Seventeen male suspects were charged with solicitation and seven women were charged with prostitution. Two of the suspects arrested are also facing drug charges after offering marijuana in exchange for sex, according to a recent news release from the police. After receiving multiple anonymous reports of suspected prostitution in different locations in Sumter, officers used a website to advertise prostitution-related activity at a local hotel. Public Information Officer Tonyia McGirt said the hotel cooperated in the police’s operation, which began Tuesday and ended Friday. The officers created an advertisement targeting “johns” and were also able to find other ads on the website for others in Columbia. The online ad posted by officers received more than 100 hits on the first night of the sting according to police. The majority of the suspects arrested in the sting are from the Sumter area. Some of the suspects were also from different cities in North Carolina.
CHARGES Solicitation and distribution of marijuana: • Everett Charles Dixon, 23, of 140 Apollo St., Wedgefield • Ashtan Jahlile Rogers, 20, of 510 President Drive, Sumter Solicitation: • Koffi Agba, 31, of 3520 Katwallace Circle, Sumter • Frederick Doval Benjamin, 38 • Benny Compton, 32, of 25 Lanel Drive, Sumter • Vontez Delay, 26, of 47 Dunway Drive, Sumter • Keith Jordan Gainey, 29, of 1176 Pinewood Road, Sumter • Johnathan Javonte Gamble, 20, of 1266 Bethel Highway, Manning • Giobani Golclic, 22 • Christopher Antonio Green, 23, of 1090 N. Guignard Drive, Sumter • Jasmar Hayward, 21, of 20-A 915 Miller Road, Sumter • Willie McKenzie, 33, of 1073 Oakdale Road, New Zion • Timothy Mokus, 46 • Christian E. Pena De Paz, 20 • Winter Obadiah Robinson, 34 , of 408 Loring Drive, Sumter • Jermaine Simon, 36, of 605 Simon Drive, Darlington • Roy Tyrone Vest, 41, of 2528 Pineview Lane, Gastonia, N.C. Prostitution, 1st offense: • Candace McDaniel, 23, of 414 E. Vance St., Laurenburg, N.C. • Jenni Pernec McLaughlin, 34, of 2017 Grandhaven Drive, Mount Holly, N.C. • Brittani Constina McCarthy, 23, of 2017 Grey Haven Drive, Mount Holly, N.C. • Shannon Corrine Paige, 21, of 42 Willard Road, Camden • Danichia Rocheil Sanders, 25, of 712 S. Kilbourne Road, Columbia • Neena Dianne Swindell, 37, of 101 Eric Lane, Bessemer City, N.C. • Cherelle Wright, 19, of 592 Dicks St., Sumter
Vice officers with the Sumter Police Department previously used the Internet successfully in prostitution stings in
KOFFI
BENJAMIN
COMPTON
DELAY
DIXON
GAINEY
GAMBLE
GOLLIC
GREEN
HAYWORD
McCARTHY
McDANIEL
MCKENZIE
McLAUGHLIN
MOKUS
PAIGE
SIMON
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which money was offered in exchange for sex. “Any time we have citizens calling in with concerns about suspicious activity of this nature, we always want to look into it,” McGirt said.
All 24 suspects were arrested and transported to the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center. They were later released on personal recognizance bonds and are scheduled to appear in court Feb. 24.
Make a resolution to run the race BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com With the current weather trends, you might need a parka for the first race in the Sumter Series. The Westside Christian Academy Resolution Race 5K will take place Feb. 1. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m., and the race starts at 9:30 a.m. About 9:40, the one-mile fun run will get under way. “The weather has been great the last two years,” said Principal Maureen Dunton. “It’s been a little cold at times but no rain.” This is the third year the Parent Teacher Fellowship Association has sponsored the event. “(We) want to foster pride in the teachers, students and community,” said Chairwoman Lauri Peyton. “It’s a chance to not only show off our school and help us raise funds, but it helps us fulfill our mission.” The money raised goes to the PTF general fund, she said, which supplies the classrooms with whatever they need such as technology or can help with the upkeep of the building. “I love that it involves the whole community, not just people who have kids here,” Dunton said. “People who don’t even have kids come.” The event has been growing, too. They had 35 to 40 participants the first year, 80 last year and have more than 100 signed up so far for this year. They are planning for 150, Peyton said. They’ve also gone from two sponsors to 11. “It helps that it is the first race in the series,” Peyton said, referring to the program that features eight races between February and November and promotes fitness in Sumter. “We’ve had great sup-
$153; Six months - $81.25; Three months - $43; Two months, $29; One month - $14.50. EZPay, $12.75 per month. Saturday and Sunday: One year - $84; Six months - $43; Three months - $22; One month - $7.50. HOME DELIVERY: Call (803) 774-1258, Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat./Sun., 7 to 11 a.m. The Item is published six days a week except for July 4, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day (unless it falls on a Sunday) by Osteen Publishing Co., 20 N. Magnolia St., Sumter,
JADE REYNOLDS / THE ITEM
Maureen Dunton, left, principal of Westside Christian Academy, and Lauri Peyton, chairwoman of the Parent Teacher Fellowship, are both excited for the upcoming Westside Christian Academy Resolution Race 5K.
port from the city and other race directors. It’s great that the community is working (together) to make Sumter better.” Peyton and her husband, Crys, own Anytime Fitness, which is the main sponsor of the Sumter Series this year. But you don’t have to work out 24 hours, seven days a week to participate in the event. “It’s a lot of fun, (and) I don’t run,” Dunton said. “I’m an encourager, a cheerleader on the sidelines.” The cost is $30 for the race and will include T-shirts while supplies last. Medals will be awarded to the top overall male and female as well as to those that place first through third in each age category. People will also still be able to regis-
ter for the Sumter Series at this 5K, Peyton said. That cost is $100. For more information on the Westside Christian Academy Resolution 5K, contact the school at (803) 775-4406. To register before the event, visit strictlyrunning.com or the school at 554 Pinewood Road during business hours. The next race in the Sumter Series will be Recovery Road Race 5K/10K on April 12. For more information, visit sumtersc.gov. Pamphlets with registration forms are also available at Swan Lake-Iris Gardens Visitor Center, 822 W. Liberty St., or the Sumter Family YMCA, 510 Miller Road. Reach Jade Reynolds at (803) 774-1250.
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