Porch Construction in Sumter, SC

(WACH) — Firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service and several partner agencies have made significant progress on the Woodlawn Fire burning in southern McCormick County.

The wildfire, now estimated at 632 acres, is burning on Sumter National Forest and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources land, about six miles north of Evans, Georgia. Officials said about 40 firefighters are working to contain the blaze.

The fire is burning in heavy, dead, and fallen debris left by Hurricane Helene, making it difficult for crews to access the area, according to officials.

An aircraft was used on Saturday for strategic firing operations, bringing the fire to roadways where crews could more safely suppress it.

Officials said on Sunday that firefighters are focusing on securing control lines along the fire’s perimeter, extinguishing burning material threatening containment, and using a masticator to grind debris along control and contingency lines to reduce hazardous fuels.

Light rain is expected Sunday afternoon and tomorrow, followed by higher winds. There are currently no evacuations, and no structures are threatened, officials said.

Drivers should be cautious on Woodlawn Road and Highway 28, where visibility is reduced by smoke. Officials said there are currently no evacuations and no structures are threatened.

Smoke will continue to be visible in nearby communities, including Modoc and Clarks Hill in South Carolina. Smoke is also visible in Martinez, Evans, and Augusta in Georgia.

People should not fly drones near the wildfire, officials said they are dangerous to firefighters and public safety. If drones are seen, firefighting aircraft will be grounded, delaying response efforts.

The Woodlawn Fire was found around 6 p.m. Friday. Officials said the cause remains unknown.

The U.S. Forest Service is working with the South Carolina Forestry Commission, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, and the Clarks Hill Fire Department.

GREER, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - The United States Attorney’s Office said a Greer man has been sentenced to federal prison for wire fraud and money laundering related to CARES Act fraud.

Officials said 54-year-old Jonathan Wade Sumter will serve 80 months in prison, followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.

According to the US Attorney’s Office, evidence revealed that between June 2020 and Jan. 2022, Sumter, his twin brother Jason Elijah Sumter, and Gerothia McCullough came up with a scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Plan and Economic Injury Disaster Loan programs by applying for funds on behalf of sham or defunct companies.

Officials went on to say that Jonathan and the others submitted applications containing phony company expenses, employee wage statements, and other false documents on behalf of the following companies:

Using these fraudulent applications, they obtained over $1.8 million of EIDL and PPP payments, officials said.

“Jonathan Sumter was the ringleader and submitted the applications on behalf of and with the permission of the others,“ the US Attorney’s Office said. ”When the loans were funded, the three split the proceeds.”

Officials mentioned that Sumter’s sentence will run concurrently with a 92-month sentence he was already serving for a 2023 federal conviction for health care fraud.

To recover ill-gotten gains from the defendants, officials said Jonathan Wade Sumter was ordered to pay $1,802,741 in restitution. Jason Elijah Sumter was ordered to pay $739,786 in restitution and he was ordered to forfeit a parcel of real property in Orangeburg County. Gerothia McCullough was ordered to pay $478,366 in restitution and she was ordered to forfeit a 2018 GMC Canyon.

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A state review is underway for the White Palmetto Solar Project near Sumter as residents raise concerns ahead of a Public Service Commission hearing.

REMBERT, S.C. — Residents in Sumter County will soon have another chance to weigh in on a proposed solar farm that could cover more than 1,700 acres.

The White Palmetto Solar Project is being proposed by TOCE SC Solar One LLC and would be built near Borden Road and Black River Road, about 12 miles northwest of the City of Sumter near the Lee County line.

According to the developer, the project would produce clean energy while generating about $765,000 in tax revenue each year.

The proposal has faced strong opposition from some residents.

In May of last year, the Sumter City-County Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously denied the company’s request for a special exception after community members raised concerns about the project.

The developer has since appealed that decision to the state, which will now review the case.

A new public hearing will give residents the opportunity to share their concerns directly with the South Carolina Public Service Commission.

Some residents say they believe local governments should prioritize protecting communities when considering projects like this.

“So I believe that the, you know, what we expect, the citizens of the county, is for our local government whether it's city or county council to make decisions that first and foremost protect us, and I believe that that will be something that will be, you know, in jeopardy it would if this, if this goes through, it will allow anyone to come in with any industrial type facility,” said Sumter resident Traci Rogers.

Others say they are encouraging more residents to learn about the proposal and get involved in the process.

“We’re making sure that the community is aware, getting the community involved, not only in this area of Rembert, but the Bordon area, where this is expected, but to make the whole town aware because it could be coming to their back door next,” said resident Serena Cook.

State leaders say they are aware of the concerns raised by residents and are monitoring the situation as the state review process moves forward.

“What I am going to do, and this is my promise to everyone is to stay out of it and just watch and learn this process the best I can so that on the other side of it we can craft legislation to make sure that sufficient legislation protections are in place across the state and then look out for them and build up on them if they so choose,” said Sen. Jeff Zell.

A public hearing will be held Wednesday, March 18 at 6 p.m. at Patriot Hall in Sumter. Another in-person hearing is scheduled for March 25 in Columbia, along with virtual options for residents who want to provide comments.

After the hearings conclude, the Public Service Commission is expected to issue a final decision by June 1.

Dr. Gerald Gary has been offered the job as the new Sumter School District superintendent.

SUMTER, S.C. — Sumter School District announced in their meeting this evening they had picked a new superintendent.

The Board of Trustees unanimously selected Dr. Gerald Gary as Sumter School District Superintendent pending successful negotiations.

Gary is a Sumter native.

The decision comes just days after the district wrapped up community meet and greets with the finalists last week.

Dr. Gerald Gary born at Tuomey Hospital, and a product of Sumter schools. Both of his parents were career educators. He attended Willow Drive Elementary School and Bates Middle School and graduated from Sumter High School in 1994. Members of Dr. Gary’s family reside in Sumter, and he continues to attend St. Luke A.M.E. Church.

Dr. Gary currently serves as Chief Operations Officer of Lexington-Richland School District Five, a cabinet-level position he has held for approximately one year. In this role, he oversees facilities, transportation, technology, and student nutrition services for the district’s 27 schools and 16,400 students. He has also been actively involved in long-range and strategic planning with district-level staff for several years.

Previously, Dr. Gary served for 13 years as an elementary, middle, and high school principal in Lexington-Richland School District Five and for six years as an elementary principal in Kershaw County School District. He also has classroom teaching experience in Richland School District Two and taught summer school in Sumter for one year.

In his current role, Dr. Gary is leading preparations for a significant change to school attendance zones and overseeing $240 million in construction projects. He has also taught school finance for 10 years as a faculty member of the South Carolina Executive Institute for Education and Leadership. Additionally, having worked in districts with significant military populations, Dr. Gary is keenly attuned to the needs of students from military families.

SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. – A Sumter man was arrested early Monday after deputies allegedly found him hiding on a property that had just been burglarized.

According to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded around 3 a.m. Monday to a home on Cains Mill Road after a homeowner reported seeing a suspicious person on a video surveillance camera outside the residence.

Dispatchers alerted deputies to the scene following the call, and responding officers began searching the area around the home.

During that search, deputies located a suspect hiding nearby and identified him as Brian O’Steen, 45, of Beulah Cutino Road in Sumter, authorities said.

Investigators say O’Steen was allegedly found with burglary tools in his possession and was taken into custody at the scene.

According to the sheriff’s office, O’Steen has been charged with:

Deputies transported O’Steen to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center, where he is currently being held while awaiting a bond hearing, authorities said.

The sheriff’s office did not release additional details about the alleged burglary or whether any property was taken from the home.

Home surveillance footage has increasingly played a role in identifying suspects during overnight incidents, particularly when residents are alerted to activity on their property in real time.

Incidents reported in the early morning hours can affect nearby commuters and residents as deputies respond and search surrounding areas.

The investigation remains ongoing, according to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

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