Coaching audible
DOIN’ THE STOMP Locals storm Turbeville for Puddin Swamp Festival
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Robbie Briggs leaves Manning High School to coach football at Laurence Manning
B1 VOL. 118, NO. 163 WWW.THEITEM.COM
TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013 | SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA
FOUNDED OCTOBER 15, 1894
60 CENTS
Ex-Tuomey VP testifies Jefferson finalist for Richland election post
Former executive says contracts thought to be legal after approval by attorneys BY BRADEN BUNCH bbunch@theitem.com COLUMBIA — A former vice president of Tuomey Healthcare Systems testified Monday unequivocally that the Sumter hospital administration believed the part-time contracts they signed 19 local doctors to were approved by their legal counsel and , as far as the administration knew, in no violation of federal laws.
“I don’t think there’s any way Jay (Cox) or Greg (Martin) would have ever done anything illegal or would have asked me to do anything illegal,” said Sherri Watkins, the former vice president for the hospital who helped spearhead the efforts to sign the doctors to the contracts. Tuomey is currently on trial in federal court, accused of knowingly signing local doctors in 2005 to contracts that paid the
BY JADE ANDERSON janderson@theitem.com A woman with more than 30 years’ experience on the Sumter County Election Commission could soon take her expertise to another county. Patricia Jefferson, elections director for Sumter County, was named one of three finalists in the search to replace former Richland County elections director Lillian McBride, resigned JEFFERSON from the position amid heated criticism amid “long lines and misplaced ballots” in the 2012 election, The State reported Thursday. Whoever is selected could be paid between $75,000 and $85,000 in salary. The
doctors above fair market value. Prosecutors say the agreements created an illegal kickback under federal law and is attempting to SEE TUOMEY, PAGE A9
Woofstock
SEE JEFFERSON, PAGE A10
Clyburn pays visit to Furman Middle, speaks to students
ABOVE: The Essence Band performs under the new tent donated by Promotional Design Group during Woofstock on Sunday at the Elaine D. Korn Memorial Center next to the Sumter Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
BY JAMIE H. WILSON Special to The Item
LEFT: Ty Yonce, singer for Southeastern Way, sings for the crowd attending Woofstock.
Rep. James E. Clyburn spoke to an assembly of seventh- and eighth-graders at Furman Middle School on Monday about the power of choice. “All of us ought to be given the opportunity to choose,” Clyburn said. “But with every choice, you carry the responsibilities for the choices you make.” Hundreds of students and dozens of special guests listened intently to the assistant democratic leader of the United States Congress for about 30 minutes as Clyburn shared his advice on making the right choices in life, even at a young age. At the age of 12 — the age of many students that were in attendance — the Sumter native was elected to the local youth chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Clyburn, who had been invited to speak to the students in February but was unable to,
RIGHT: Frieda and Dakota play together in the field beside the Elaine D. Korn Memorial Center on Sunday as crowds were entertained by several musical acts. BELOW RIGHT: Woofstock isn’t exclusively for dogs, apparently, as Tori Cook plays with her kitten, Puff, on Sunday. BELOW: Leena Swartz, 2, and her dog, CoCo, check out one of the wading pools set up for the animals at Woofstock on Sunday.
SEE CLYBURN, PAGE A9
JAMIE H. WILSON / SPECIAL TO THE ITEM
U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., addresses the crowd of students and local dignitaries at Furman MIddle School on Monday morning at an assembly held in his honor.
PHOTOS BY KEITH GEDAMKE / THE ITEM 20 N. Magnolia St. Sumter, SC 29150 (USPS 525-900)
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