September 7, 2014

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What Americans eat: A guide in today’s Parade COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Bouncing back? USC battles East Carolina, Clemson routs SC State B1 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

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Penny tax could help fight blight ‘Nuisance’ structures would be removed to fight crime BY JOE KEPLER joe@theitem.com EDITOR’S NOTE: This is one in a series of stories examining $75 million worth of new construction needs in Sumter County, as identified in the proposal for a renewed penny sales tax. Sumter County voters will be asked to approve the tax in November, and funds raised by the tax, should it pass, will go toward a series of building, infra-

Properties such as this abandoned home on Dingle Street could be candidates for demolition if the penny tax is renewed by voters in November. A $1 million demolition proposal is included among the 28 projects that would be started if the tax passes again.

structure and other projects throughout the county.

JOE KEPLER / THE SUMTER ITEM

The phrase “cleaning up the streets” will take on a more literal meaning should the community vote to renew the Penny For Progress initiative this November. A project has been proposed to use $1 million to acquire and or demolish vacant or abandoned property, an idea that is seen as a benefit to fighting crime and clearing space for future projects to benefit the community. The project, coupled with new data collected for Sumter’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan’s property survey, signal

an aggressive intent by the city and county to improve the area not just cosmetically, but also in functionality through better code enforcement and the outright removal of blight. As one of the 28 projects proposed, the $1 million demolition proposal is the only “flexible” item on the list. The other 27 are set in stone by law, whereas this will be catered to the needs of individual communities and properties and will be determined

based on potential impact to individual neighborhoods. The referendum mandates that the project must directly benefit the community, saying that all property acquired and demolished be made into public space. “In preliminary conversations with the city manager and other folks involved, the desire would be to strategically identify locations, remove the

SEE BLIGHT, PAGE A9

County celebrates one of its own

Sumter trustees paid most in area Some school district boards have no pay BY RAYTEVIA EVANS ray@theitem.com With Sumter School District board of trustees’ recent approval of an increase in the board members’ per diem expenses, the seven-member board became the highest paid in the surrounding area. The board officially approved the increase in per diem from $450 to $650 per month for board members and from $550 to $700 a month for the board chairman. According to board policy, board members receive no compensation for their services, but each elected member receives a per diem for attendance at board meetings. No board member receives a per diem unless he or she is in attendance for regular board meetings or on official business of the board. For one year, board members could now receive $7,800 in per diem compensation, and chairman Keith Schultz could receive $8,400 if they attend one of the two regular meetings the board has each month.

SEE BOARD, PAGE A11

JADE REYNOLDS / THE SUMTER ITEM

Rep. David Weeks, D-Sumter, left, laughs as he hands Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson, a Sumter native and international president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., a token of congratulations Saturday. He was joking with her about getting a kiss from an international president.

AKA international president returns thanks to Sumter after recently being given title BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com

A

South Side Sumter woman is making her hometown and beyond proud. About 450 people turned out on Saturday to celebrate the installation of Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson as the international president of Alpha

Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. “One of South Side’s greatest, she frequently returns home to see family and attend services at Beulah AME Church,” said Cynthia Graham, cochair of the AKA Accolades Luncheon and one of the mistresses of ceremony. “She knows there is no place like home. ... She is a true Southern girl who is never too busy to stop and em-

brace her Sumter sisters. She has never forgotten where she came from.” Wilson graduated from Sumter High School in 1976 and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics from Benedict College and master of business

SEE AKA, PAGE A9

Because of a printing problem in Charleston, papers were delivered late Saturday morning. The Sumter Item apologizes for any inconvenience. VISIT US ONLINE AT

the

.com

CONTACT US

DEATHS, A11

Information: 774-1200 Advertising: 774-1237 Classifieds: 774-1234 Delivery: 774-1258 News and Sports: 774-1226

Sheryl J. Haselden Lisbon H. Ramsey Gloria G. Matlock Willie Mae P. Gibbs Amanda Williams

WEATHER, A12

INSIDE

GET READY FOR RAIN

5 SECTIONS, 36 PAGES VOL. 119, NO. 278

A couple of storms possible; cloudy and humid tonight with more rain possible HIGH 88, LOW 70

Business D1 Classifieds D4 Comics E1

Lotteries A12 Opinion A10 Television E3

With BOC Mobile, The Bank of Clarendon Is In Your Pocket. bankofclarendon.com 803.469.0156


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