Criminal Defense Lawyer in Sumter, SC

The development will be located along Carter Road, just west of Broadwater Drive, and will occupy more than six acres of land.

SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. — A new 96-unit apartment complex is set to be built in Sumter, with the approval of the Sumter Planning Commission at a recent meeting.

The development will be located along Carter Road, just west of Broadwater Drive, and will occupy more than six acres of land situated between existing apartment complexes and homes.

The project will include four three-story buildings, featuring a mix of 1, 2, and 3-bedroom units—24 one-bedroom units, 60 two-bedroom units, and 12 three-bedroom units.

Sumter County Councilman Carl Washington said the new housing development is much needed as the region continues to grow, particularly with the ongoing expansion of Shaw Air Force Base.

“There is a lot of interest in new development now, not only in that project but others that are being discussed that will probably be in the pipeline. We’re excited about that,” Washington said.

Longtime resident Mable Levine, who lives across the street from the proposed site, said she welcomes the growth.

“I already see a lot more people coming to East Sumter, so we need to grow, so if this change, then I accept the changes,” Levine said.

Before approval, officials recommended a tree protection plan as part of the proposal. The plan includes the removal of two historic trees along with 31 others.

Trey Franklin, director of the W. Gordon Belser Arboretum at the University of South Carolina, emphasized the importance of responsible construction practices.

“I hope developers will take into account what needs to be taken out and not just clear-cut everything,” Franklin said. “But if that is a place that needs to be developed, then do it responsibly.”

Councilman Washington assured residents that efforts will be made to preserve as much of the land as possible before construction begins. He also mentioned that additional developments are in the works, with more details expected to be announced in the coming months.

SUMTER, S.C. (WIS) - Residents living near Willow Drive in Sumter are looking out for one of their neighbors, after a fire left her home unlivable.

Gloria Butler, 75, told WIS News 10 she’s relieved to get her family out of the house safely.

“We were just sitting in the front looking at the TV,” said Butler, “I got up, I ran, and the fire was blazing.”

Butler was watching two of her grandkids and two of her great-grandkids on Saturday when she said a fire started in one of her closets. She said they were all watching cartoons on the couch before she knew they had to get out.

“Nerve-racking; I was so upset,” Butler said, “All I could do was holler and cry because it happened so fast.”

The Sumter Fire Department said the fire was caused accidentally.

Neighbors said they’ve been helping her over the last few days by bringing her food, watching her dogs, and setting up a GoFundMe for her.

Butler’s neighbor, Khadija Livingston, felt the need to help.

“We wanted to do more,” Livingston said, “One of the neighbors walking by suggested a GoFundMe; we could come together collectively and just help this woman out.”

People who want to help Butler out can do so online.

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The fire sent smoke over Alice Drive and Harper Street Saturday. Officials said they don’t yet know what caused it.

Credit: Mich DeLorme, special to WLTX

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Fire investigators in Sumter County are still trying to determine what caused building materials to catch fire at a construction site in Sumter on Saturday afternoon.

Charred pieces of wood, tar paper, and foam littered the area where a fire broke out at a future B.J.'s Wholesale Club site at Alice Drive and Harper Street in Sumter.

Sumter County Fire Battalion Chief Jeffrey Shirley said crews began responding to the fire around 12:15 Saturday. At one point, 40 firefighters and 11 apparatus were on the scene. Many of those firefighters remained at the site until 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Sunday afternoon, charred pieces of debris still littered the sidewalk and streets near the site of the blaze.

Fire officials say they don’t believe the smoke from the burning materials, which included insulation and other items, posed a concern to the public since it rose directly above and did not stay low to the ground.

Bobby Riley lives across from the site and described what he saw.

“The air was filled with black, heavy smoke," Riley said. "And by the time I got out to see what was going on, they had the road blocked off and you couldn’t really see [anything]. The firefighters had a heck of a job to do.”

Bonnie Wallace’s mother also lives nearby. She described how the fire impacted her mother's neighbors.

“From what I understand the area was heavy with like a smog. It wasn’t really, really strong, but it was enough to definitely impact you," she said. “For a brand-new building, it’s not even up yet and it’s burned, I don’t know if I’m ever going to go into that building.”

Sunday afternoon, Chief Shirley said the department still does not have an estimate for the damages caused by this fire.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - As a development in Downtown Sumter continues, the first phase of a project called Sumter Power Village is currently underway.

“The goal is for the whole block to be technology-friendly, a tech village,” said Dr. Elayne Brunson, the developer of the Sumter Power Village.

The mixed-use development includes a business tech hub, where businesses in technology and art can work together in the same space.

Phase one will convert part of the property into a tech hub, featuring a vending cafe with Wi-Fi that can be rented out for private meetings and parties.

Dr. Brunson hopes to have phase one of the construction done by June.

“I feel this project is going to bring jobs to the community,” Dr. Brunson said, “It’s just going to be a cool place where the small business owner can collaborate potentially with other business owners.”

Other Sumter business owners said Sumter Power Village is another great addition to the development going on in Downtown Sumter.

They say business owners in the community are not just each other’s customers, but they’re also a tight-knit group.

“It’s remarkable; every time we get a new retailer that moves downtown, it just creates more energy,” said Stephanie Dowling, Owner of One Accord Women’s Apparel & Fine Art, “It’s exciting to be down here, and it’s exciting to be a tiny part of that.”

They feel that other businesses coming downtown will expand their family even more.

“It thrills me,” said Roy Flynn, Owner of Sumter Cut Rate Drug Store, LLC, “I live down here, my home is somewhere else, but South Sumter is where I live.”

Brunson says the whole Sumter Power Village project will cost roughly $10 million. She hopes to have the second phase of construction complete by Summer 2026.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Sumter County deputies arrested four men in connection with a drive-by shooting Wednesday afternoon.

According to deputies, Sumter County Dispatch received a report around 3:56 p.m. of shots fired into a home. Sumter County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) proceeded to respond to the home on Wrangler Trail.

While investigating, a responding deputy said they observed a vehicle matching the witnesses’ descriptions and performed a traffic stop. While the occupants of the vehicle were questioned, the vehicle was searched which led deputies to find two rifles and a handgun.

Further searching revealed another handgun, which was determined to have been stolen out of Sumter County and modified from semi-automatic to fully automatic.

According to SCSO, the subjects were detained for questioning, then placed under arrest and charged each with Assault and Battery (1st), Discharging Firearms into a Dwelling, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Possession of a Stolen Machine Gun, and Transportation of a Stolen Machine Gun. Deputies confirmed the suspects also were not old enough to purchase the guns.

Deric Farmer, 20, Justin McFadden, 19, Zyierre Small, 20, and Tyisiome Tisdale, 16, were transported to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center and are awaiting a bond hearing.

“These offenders, though not juveniles by law... are young offenders less than 21 years of age, out here committing adult crimes,” said Sheriff Anthony Dennis.

“They are a menace to society. These people are a threat to not only the general public but also to those in law enforcement who seek to protect our citizens. This will not be tolerated in Sumter County. They will be treated as adults and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Deputies said this incident remains under investigation.

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