LOCAL
THE SUMTER ITEM
HEARING FROM PAGE A1
in Bishopville. Family members reported Bracey missing Sept. 26 when he did not return home from school. More details emerged about the case during Wednesday’s hearings. Investigators reiterated their thoughts that the shootings were tied to drug money and indicated both victims as well as the seven suspects were members of a street crew known as the Ride or Die gang. Maj. J.D. Dillenger, a lead investigator for Lee County Sheriff’s Office, said Bracey reportedly owed Fortune money for drugs. When he was unable to repay the debt, Dillenger said Fortune collaborated with Markell Fortune and Darron Fortune — a pair of 16-year-old suspects — to lure Bracey to the field near English Lane. There, Dontrell Fortune alleg-
with authorities saying the killings were related, it rocked the tight-knit Lee County community. Lee County Sheriff’s Office filed murder charges against four teens in connection with Fortune’s shooting death and charged three teens with murder tied to Bracey’s death. Lee County deputies found Fortune, 18, dead inside an SUV parked along Azalea Road on the outskirts of Bishopville late the morning of Sept. 27. He had been shot once in the head. That was the first in an unexpected sequence of events that culminated with officers discovering Bracey’s body three days later in a field about a mile off English Road
BOARD FROM PAGE A1 Baker stepping in to fill the position after former superintendent Randolph Bynum resigned in 2013. Meanwhile, McQuilla said since the board approved Baker’s becoming the superintendent, she has not heard complaints from educators in the county and things seem to be calm. Alston also made it clear that she is impressed with Baker’s
performance so far and has no objections to the board’s decision. “If I was on the board then, I would have done the same thing,” Alston said. “I think he has done an excellent job, and he’s really bringing those two districts together.” The three new members are all looking forward to doing their part on the board, stating that they will advocate for children and teachers. Hilton said he was pleased with the support he received from voters and
edly shot Bracey one time in the head. Investigators said Oszhane Simon, Fortune’s 18-year-old girlfriend, drove the group to the scene, and prosecutors told the judge the suspects went shopping at Walmart immediately after killing Bracey. After the trip to Walmart, Dontrell Fortune visited his friends at Sadat Liles’ home. Liles’ co-defendants Kelvon Goodman, Davon McFadden and Kevin White were present when he reportedly told the four that he killed Bracey that night about the drug debt. Dillenger said at least one of the four owed Dontrell Fortune money. After Dontrell Fortune left them, the group had a conversation that night during which they allegedly agreed they had to kill Dontrell Fortune, fearing that he might try to kill
hopes to work closely with the board and schools to work on improving parent involvement and teacherstudent ratios. “Parental involvement, in many instances, has some intangible factors,” Hilton said. “But we have to let parents know that we want them to volunteer, and we need to be more inviting. I need to study what each school is doing when it comes to parent involvement, and then we can work together to be more welcoming and encourage vol-
2014 arade of Shops November 9
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014
1:30-5:30pm
unteering.” Addressing the issue of teacher-student ratios in classrooms in schools in Sumter School District, Hilton said will probably require the board and administration take a closer look at the district’s budget and figure out a way to reallocate funds so that they can make teacher-student ratios a priority moving forward. Alston, who throughout her campaign stressed the need to serve the whole child to help with the achievement gap, said she plans to first build a relationship with Baker and the board members and also support the district’s efforts to integrate new technology in classrooms. McQuilla, who retired after 38 years in public schools in Sumter County, said she also looks forward to working with board members to speak out for teachers and students and to increasing student achievement in the county. Because Schultz and Wilson — former chairman and vice chairwoman of the
FROM PAGE A1
Silverpaper
Gifts ~ Jewelry ~ Invitations ~ Apparel
\RX WR WKH
Shops
r 9th pm
10% Off
excluding Mustard Seed and Outside Orders.
ndise ndi dise se FF FF
662 Bultman Drive Sumter, South Carolina
Holidays!
Specials!
ve ay 10-5
803-775-6757
Special Pricing All Day Long!
WRITE-INS FROM PAGE A1
ique blend of old and new
cessories and Gifts
OpenHouse
A UƆƀƉƎż SſƇƈ Wƀƍſ UƆƀƉƎż GƀŽƍƌ
Sunday, Nov. 9th 1:30-5:30pm
Jewelry • Apparel • Home Decor Register for Free Gift
~ 462B Guignard Drive Guignard and Adams
540 Bultman Drive • Suite 3
4 • 1:30-5:30pm
FF
NG
N ONLY
place Nov. 18. Ward 4 includes Sumter’s downtown and business areas as well as its historic district. Yates, a former city councilwoman and elections commissioner in Sumter, brings YATES local government experience to her bid for the seat. Cannon carries a good deal of business experience under his belt. He coCANNON owns ElmoreCannon-Stephens Funeral Home and serves as president of The
board — are no longer on the board of trustees for the school district, the new board will vote for new officers as well as a new clerk during Monday’s meeting at Sumter School District office at 1345 Wilson Hall Road. Sen. Thomas McElveen, D-Sumter, is scheduled to swear in Alston, Hilton and McQuilla before they get right to the regular board meeting Monday evening. Shelly Galloway, district public information coordinator, said the three new board members will soon have the opportunity to take a board member training seminar through the South Carolina School Board Association. ***At press time Tuesday night, unofficial final results showed candidate Lamar Atkins as leading the Area 3 race as indicated in Wednesday’s paper. However, updated results Wednesday morning showed Lucille McQuilla won the race to represent Area 3 on the Sumter School District board of trustees.
Rotary Club of Sumter Sunrise. The numbers are based on unofficial results, with 62 of 67 precincts reporting. Elections officials will confirm the results Friday, when the election commission officially certifies them. According to Sumter County Elections Director Patricia Jefferson, there are 58 physical precincts included in the county vote count. The remaining districts account for early voters, two provisional districts for fail safe ballots and two for emergency ballots. The fail safe ballots account for voters who may have moved recently, while the emergency ballots are used in cases where voters have to be moved from their polling locations. More than 6,400 early voters cast ballots in Sumter County this year.
659 BULTMAN DRIVE \ SUMTER \ 774.0006
ANTIQUES NTIQUES
M
A9
them otherwise. The following day, according to Dillenger, Dontrell Fortune returned to Liles’ home and picked the four men up to go to the Green Acres community to bag up some marijuana. While driving along a dirt road in the neighborhood, Goodman allegedly shot Dontrell Fortune in the head from the back seat of the SUV, and the four teens fled. Prosecutors told the judge that investigators have yet to find the weapon used to kill Dontrell Fortune. James denied bond for Simon, Darron Fortune, Liles and White on Wednesday, ruling that they could all request another hearing at a later date. Attorneys for Goodman, McFadden and Markell Fortune declined to have a hearing Wednesday.
RUNOFF
y
|
meet residence requirements continue to hold him back. And there’s that “no pants” thing, too. Disney characters weren’t the only cartoonish candidates in this year’s midterm
It’s your world. Read all about it. Naomi N aaomi oomi mi aand nd W Warner arner
Up to 50% OFF
LAST CHANCE TO SHOP AT THIS LOCATION!
WE HAVE A LARGE ASSORTMENT OF CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS! NEW LOCATION OPENING NOVEMBER 15TH
12 S. MAIN STREET • 773-4388 • DOWNTOWN SUMTER
The Heirloom Child
Quilting & Heirloom Fabrics
15% off entire purchase Sunday, November 9th 1:30pm - 5:30pm only
Call (803) 774-1200 and get started today.
elections. Some might have even been elected; however, one wascally voter wrote in Looney Tunes’ Elmer Fudd for County Council District 6. Even Gamecocks Coach Steve Spurrier, who some think really should be considering another career choice right now, got one vote for solicitor, along with a write-in from one disgruntled resident who voted for “Any Other.” Wesley Bigger, Bee K. Brown, Joey Smoak and Thomas Ravenel for probate judge, are you ready to serve Sumter residents? You’ve got plenty of time to come up with a viable platform before the next election. Might I suggest you vow to eradicate some of the Wile E. Coyotes now in office? Or maybe just Sumter’s vast squirrel population?
Ladies Night Out TONIGHT!
6:00-10:00PM
ALMOST EVERYTHING IS ON SALE!
532 Bultman Dr. • (803) 305-1545
WESMARK BLVD. ONLY