July 29, 2015

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IN SPORTS: Chapin/Newberry sends P-15’s packing from state tournament 17-3 B1 FOOD

Try gluten-free pizza crust made with chickpeas C3 WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2015

| Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894

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Legislators question timing S.C. lawmakers ask why agency let 2 hate group rallies overlap BY SEANNA ADCOX The Associated Press COLUMBIA — South Carolina legislators say state officials didn’t use common sense when they allowed two opposing hate groups to hold overlapping rallies at the Statehouse that resulted in violence despite a massive police presence.

A legislative panel that oversees Statehouse grounds asked a Department of Administration official Tuesday why he authorized the Ku Klux Klan and a group affiliated with the New Black Panther Party to rally July 18 on opposite sides of the Statehouse. “The KKK, they hate black people. The Black Panthers hate white people. It seems to me somebody would real-

ize they weren’t coming to eat cookies and drink lemonade,” said Sen. John Courson, R-Columbia. Nolan Wiggins, a division director at the agency, said it came down to people’s free speech and assembly rights under the First Amendment. Requests to hold an event on Statehouse grounds are approved on a first-come, first-served basis, he said.

“In the interest of not having the state embroiled in litigation, we approved both,” he said. But the panel’s chairman, Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler, faulted the Cabinet agency for not even asking the groups to rally on separate days or at least several hours apart.

SEE RALLIES, PAGE A6

Sumter at 4-year low for deadly wrecks

Learning new ways to make old favorites

BY COLLYN TAYLOR intern@theitem.com

KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM

Campers wearing their chef’s hats create pizzas using cauliflower crust during the Sumter Family YMCA’s YFIT kids nutrition camp on Tuesday. The campers learn about nutrition and good eating during the weeklong camp. To learn more, see A2.

Statistics released this week from South Carolina Department of Public Safety show an increase in highway deaths across the state. In Sumter County, traffic deaths are at a four-year low. Only eight people have died this year compared to 14 deaths at this time last year. In 2012 and 2013, nine people died on Sumter highways by July 26. Traffic fatalities in Clarendon County are near the fouryear high of eight in 2012. Seven people have died from wrecks this year in the county compared to four in 2014 and three in 2013. In Lee County, highway

SEE HIGHWAY, PAGE A6

County to receive You can conduct S.C. Philharmonic increased funding for neighborhood project BY IVY MOORE ivy@theitem.com

BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Sumter County Administrator Gary Mixon announced that the county will receive increased funding from South Carolina Department of Commerce for infrastructure improvements and to pave roads in the Pearce neighborhood during County Council’s meeting on Tuesday. The county now anticipates receiving more than $875,000 through the Community Development Block Grant Program to fund the project, compared to the original grant amount of nearly $750,000. Mixon said the grant changed to reflect the increased scope of the project. Along with the increased funding, the county will have to increase its match for the grant. Mixon said the match increase will be covered using

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money from Sumter Urban Area Transportation Study and a portion of the county’s road user fee. Another project in the county is closer to becoming a reality after council approved second reading of a request to rezone 2 acres of land at 3380 N. Main St. from agricultural conservation to general commercial for the possible development of a Dollar General store. Property developer Greg Googer said the building would be 9,100 square-feet and would make available six to 10 full-time jobs. He said the Dollar General would be a $1 million investment in Sumter County and would produce more than $10,000 in property taxes. After a brief refresher on the agenda item, council

SEE COUNTY, PAGE A6

play a random tune to the tempo set by the volunteer conductor. Among the orchestra’s seMaybe you’ve played lections will be Mozart’s Eine air guitar, sung in the kleine nachtmusik, Pachelbel’s shower, lip-synched to Canon in D and the opening of your favorite tunes and Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony “fake conducted” along (bom bom bom BOM!). with the Boston Pops or Patriotic pieces will also be the National Symphony on the one-hour programs. Orchestra on radio and Each volunteer conductor will TV. lead the orchestra in one piece With all that experiuntil time runs out. ence, you think you’d be Venues for “Conduct the pretty good at leading a Phil” will be the S.C. State real orchestra. So, now’s Fair, the Festival of Roses in your chance. Orangeburg, the Okra Strut in The South Carolina Irmo, the Kershaw County Philharmonic will invite Farmers Market and twice at guest conductors to lead the Soda City Market in downits musicians during six town Columbia. free concerts across the The Okra Strut starts the seMidlands beginning in ries from 7 to 8 p.m. on Friday, September. The best PHOTO PROVIDED Sept. 25, so air conductors news is you don’t even Music Director Morihiko Nakahara have two months to practice. have to audition. conducts the South Carolina PhilCiting the “power of audiIt works like this: Atharmonic. Starting in September, ence participation and intertend any of the six concerts featuring a slightly you’ll have a chance to fill his shoes. action,” Nakahara said the project will offer a unique exreduced-in-size Philharperience that he gets to enjoy regularly. monic — about 20 will be playing — and “‘Conduct the Phil’ is a fun way for peobeat all the other aspiring conductors to the ple of all ages and backgrounds to experipodium, where a sign that reads “Conduct ence what I am fortunate to experience us!” will sit on Music Director Morihiko Nakahara’s music stand. Pick up the baton, and the orchestra will SEE CONDUCT, PAGE A6

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An afternoon thunderstorm in spots today with the chance for a thunderstorm early this evening, too. HIGH 94, LOW 73

Classifieds B8 Comics C6 Lotteries A8

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