Happening Now
 Sumter man, 62, charged after two injured in shooting on Sunday
Community members try out the new basketball court at South Sumter Park following its ribbon cutting on June 10.
South Sumter Park ribbon cutting marks new era of play, purpose for community
Brubakers, seen in February, is now at 667 W. Liberty St. across from the old Family Video.
Sumter's Brubakers to begin using temporary dining area
"Elements of Nature No. 1" by John Cotner
Sumter Artists' Guild Exhibition opens June 19
Check out the May / June 2025 edition of The Item Impact

Sumter Little Theatre ends season in a giant way with its production of 'The BFG'

Michael Keenan performs as the Big Friendly Giant in Sumter Little Theatre's final play of the season.
Children and grownups alike were swept into a world of whizzpoppers and wonder as Sumter Little Theatre's youth actors brought Roald Dahl's "The Big Friendly Giant" or "BFG" to life, under the direction of Anne-Marie Suchomski, for its final show of …
U.S. Army Central soldiers cut the Army birthday cake with a Patton Saber to kick off the 250th birthday celebration. From left are the youngest soldier present, Pfc. Jacob Herrera; the ARCENT Chief of Staff Col. Sidney Knox; the ARCENT senior enlisted advisor, Sgt. Maj. Eric McCray; and the oldest soldier, Lt. Col. William Doolan. Having the youngest and oldest soldier help cut the cake symbolizes the past and future of our Army.
Celebrating the Army's 250th birthday in S.C. at Shaw
The second-annual Women Veterans Connect event took place at the old Sumter County courthouse on Thursday, June 12. The keynote speaker was retired Chief Master Sgt. Cheryl Moye.
‘For I am a giant, too’: 2nd-annual women veterans event celebrates service members
Sumter County passes budget for 2025-26 with no tax increase
Sumter sorority chapter awards scholarships to 11 local students for 2024-25

Saturday-Tuesday, June 14-17, 2025

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Friends to Follow
SPORTS
Sumter P-15 leadoff hitter BJ Balls had Post 15's only two hits in their comeback win over Horry on Thursday.
P-15's finally hit the diamond after rainy week, take down Horry with 5-run 7th inning
The P15 baseball team held its annual youth summer camp the week of June 9, 2025 at Riley Park.. On Tuesday, Bobby Richardson, local baseball legend, came to speak to the camp attendees. Then the children ran drills including batting, base running, and-the camp favorite-playing wall ball.
Sumter P-15's host annual youth camp amid rainy week, get a visit from baseball legend Richardson
Former Sumter High standout and NFL player Mariel Wise, seen leading his WeBall4Destin youth camp in 2022, is officially transitioning his organization to W.I.S.E Way after a decade of balling for his brother, the late Destin Wise.
Letting Destin rest: WeBall4Destin foundation ends annual tournament amid transition to W.I.S.E. Way
Round 2 of Hines Furniture Athlete of the Year underway
PHOTOS BY ABIGAIL PITTMAN / THE SUMTER ITEM East Clarendon's Laiklyn Gaskins pitched the Lady Wolverines to the SCHSL 2A state title, capping off a senior season which included all-state honors and a spot in the North-South All-Star game.
The Grind, presented by Bank of Clarendon: East Clarendon softball rides Gaskins' arm to state title
National Data Trends
How stress shapes cancer's course
Stitch it, don’t ditch it: Resisting fast fashion through visible mending
Love and money: The reality of couples’ finances before marriage
Here’s how US tariffs may affect home prices in 2025
Where is inflation hitting consumers hardest? New data shows which goods and services have seen the biggest price hikes

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Sumter County Councilman Artie Baker speaks during Tuesday's council meeting to Sumter School District Superintendent William Wright Jr. at county council chambers in downtown Sumter.
UPDATED: Sumter County Council approves 3-mill increase for Sumter School District
Martha Ann "Clyde" Dicks was reported missing between 1971 or 1972 from the South Sumter area. Her remains were first discovered after Pee Wee Gaskins confessed to killing her while on trial in 1977. Her remains were taken to Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston to be studied but sat in a College of Charleston closet for 47 years.
UPDATED: Remains of Pee Wee Gaskins’ final victim rediscovered in Charleston closet after 47 years; Sumter coroner meeting with suspected kin soon
On Saturday, June 7, the City of Sumter, in partnership with Duke Energy and Prisma Health, held Touch a Truck: Storm Preparedness in the back parking lot of the Sumter Opera House from 9 a.m. to noon. Children were able to explore emergency response and utility vehicles while learning about safety during hurricane season. DEIRDRE CURRIN / THE SUMTER ITEM.
Sumter's kids delight in hands-on experience with city's emergency response vehicles
WOODS
6 Lee Correctional inmates charged in separate cases of murder, assault
From left Adrianne Duncan, Victor Ryan Robertson and Jeffery Zeigler perform at the "Remember Me" fundraiser concert for Lincoln High School Museum and Heritage Complex on June 6 at the Sumter Opera House.
'Remember Me' honors Gullah culture, supports Lincoln High through fundraiser at Opera House

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Manning-Santee's Layton Morris and Post 68 earned a win over Florence Post 1 on Wednesday.
Manning-Santee dodges rain for busy week with Florence, Summerville
Sumter High head coach Ashley McDuffie, right, speaks with Colt Stanley between matches at the SCHSL individual state championships on May 19. PHOTO PROVIDED
Sumter High's McDuffie named Tennis Coach of the Year by SCACA
From left, Abigail Rencheli, Tara Moore, En Shuo Liang and YeXin Ma pose after their doubles championship match on Saturday, June 7 at the Palmetto Tennis Center.
Palmetto Pro Open wraps up in Sumter
NICH PITTS / SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO Former Sumter High star Justus Boone, center back, will bring his annual youth football camp back to Dillon Park on June 21.
Former Sumter High star Boone hosting annual football camp June 21
From left, Abigail Rencheli, Tara Moore, En Shuo Liang and YeXin Ma pose after their doubles championship match on Saturday, June 7 at the Palmetto Tennis Center.
Palmetto Pro Open wraps up in Sumter

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Arts & Entertainment
This image released by Universal Pictures shows Mason Thames, as Hiccup, riding Night Fury dragon, Toothless in a scene from "How to Train Your Dragon."

'How to Train Your Dragon' soars in box office debut with $83.7 million, beating 'Lilo & Stitch'

LOS ANGELES (AP) — "How to Train Your Dragon" took flight at the box office this weekend, proving that some remakes still have teeth. The Universal live-action adaptation of the beloved …

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Nation & World
Rescue team work at the site where a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, June 16, 2025.
Israeli military warns residents in part of Iran's capital to evacuate ahead of Israeli strikes

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The Israeli military has warned residents in part of Iran's capital to evacuate ahead of Israeli strikes. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP's earlier story follows …

This photo provided by the FDA in January 2024 shows bottles of Neptunes Fix Elixir, a product labeled to contain tianeptine.
'Gas station heroin' is technically illegal and widely available. Here are the facts WASHINGTON (AP) — Health officials want you to think twice before buying one of those brightly colored little bottles often sold at gas stations, convenience stores and smoke shops. Sometimes …
This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility, where multiple buildings were destroyed from recent Israeli airstrikes, 135 miles southeast of Tehran, Iran, Saturday, June 14, 2025.
Nuclear agency head warns of radiological and chemical contamination inside Iran's main nuclear site VIENNA (AP) — The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said Monday that there is a possibility of both radiological and chemical contamination within Iran's main nuclear enrichment …
President Donald Trump arrives on Air Force One at Calgary International Airport, Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Calgary, Canada, ahead of the G7 Summit.
G7 summit opens in Canada with a focus on trade, wars — and not riling Trump KANANASKIS, Alberta (AP) — When U.S. President Donald Trump last came to Canada for a Group of Seven summit, the enduring image was of him seated with his arms folded defiantly as then-German …
In this image provided by the Wheeling West Virginia Fire Department, cars sit submerged in floodwaters, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Wheeling, West Virginia.
Flash flooding kills 5 in West Virginia, rescue teams searching for missing people Flash flooding caused by torrential rains killed five people in northern West Virginia and rescue crews were searching for three other people who were missing Sunday as authorities assessed damage to …

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State News
This booking photo provided by South Carolina Department of Corrections shows Stephen Stanko.
South Carolina prepares for its 6th execution in 9 months with a man serving 2 death sentences

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina man sent to death row twice for separate murders is scheduled to die Friday by lethal injection in the state's sixth execution in nine months. Stephen …

South Carolina Rep. RJ May, R-West Columbia, speaks on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in Columbia, S.C.
Republican South Carolina House member charged with distributing child sexual abuse material COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A Republican South Carolina House member who prosecutors say used the screen name "joebidennnn69" has been arrested and charged with 10 counts of distributing sexual abuse …
Judge won't halt execution in South Carolina over lethal injection concerns CHARLESTON (AP) — A federal judge Wednesday told lawyers for a South Carolina inmate scheduled to die in two days that he doesn't plan to stop the execution because they didn't have evidence …
This undated file photo provided on July 11, 2019, by the South Carolina Department of Corrections shows death row at Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, S.C.
Lawyers for a South Carolina inmate ask a court to stop his execution Lawyers for a South Carolina death row inmate will be in federal court Wednesday trying to convince a judge that the state is not properly carrying out lethal injections or firing squad executions, …
South Carolina attorney and former senator Dick Harpootlian, left, and Sen. Wes Climer, R-Rock Hill, speak at a news conference about a lawsuit against a legislative pay raise on Monday, June 9, in Columbia.
South Carolina senator sues his own legislature over pay raise COLUMBIA - A state senator is suing his fellow lawmakers in the South Carolina General Assembly, saying they are illegally giving themselves what is effectively an $18,000-a-year raise for all members. The increase in the "in-district …

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Obituaries
JOYCE MARILYN KRIESICK PARKER

LEXINGTON — Joyce Marilyn Kriesick Parker, 82, widow of Eli McFaddin “Mac” Parker, died Saturday, June 14, 2025, at Wellmore of Lexington. She was born Oct. 8, 1942, in …

SUSIE BRACEY

Susie Bracey, 89, died Friday, June 13, 2025, at Sumter East Health and Rehab Center, Sumter. Born June 11, 1936, in Sumter, she was the daughter of the late Wigfall Rose Sr. and Wilhelmenia …

DAYQUAN MARKEE ROBINSON

Dayquan Markee Robinson, son of Albert and Charissa Durant Robinson, was born Sept. 24, 1991. Dayquan, affectionately known as “Drop,” entered into eternal rest on Saturday, June 7, 2025. …

ASHLEY MARIE LEONARD

Ashley Marie Leonard, 37, of 7 Cheyenne St., died Monday, June 9, 2025, at Prisma Health Richland. The family is receiving friends at the home, 7 Cheyenne St., Sumter. Services have been …

ESSIE BRISBON

BISHOPVILLE — Essie Brisbon, 78, of 401 E. Church  St., died Thursday, June 12, 2025, at her residence. The family is receiving friends at the home of her daughter Jeanette Bradley, 614 W. …

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Faith
Pope Leo XIV appears at the central balcony of the Arch Basilica of St. John Lateran after presiding over a Mass and takes possession of the Roman Cathedra, formalising his role as Bishop of Rome, in Rome, Sunday, May 25, 2025.
What U.S. adults think about Pope Leo XIV, according to a new AP-NORC poll WASHINGTON (AP) — Just over a month after Pope Leo XIV became the first U.S.-born pontiff in the history of the Catholic Church, a new poll shows that American Catholics are feeling excited …
SMITH
The Rev. Dr. Clay Smith: Our Father... Jesus said when we pray, we are to begin with "Our Father..." This got me thinking, "What if my Heavenly Father lived in my house?" Would he sit down on the edge of my bed in the morning and say, "Time to get up! I have made an amazing day for …
The body of Carlo Acutis, an Italian boy who died in 2006 of leukemia, lies in his tomb in Assisi, Italy, on Saturday, March 1, 2025.
First millennial saint Carlo Acutis will be canonized Sept. 7, the pope says ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV on Friday set Sept. 7 as the rescheduled date to canonize the Catholic Church's first millennial-era saint, Carlo Acutis, in what is expected to be Leo's first …
Messengers attending the Southern Baptist Convention lay on hands and pray over missionaries during the 2025 SBC Annual Meeting, Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Dallas.
Southern Baptist delegates at national meeting overwhelmingly call for banning same-sex marriage DALLAS (AP) — Southern Baptist delegates at their national meeting overwhelmingly endorsed a ban on same-sex marriage — including a call for a reversal of the U.S. Supreme Court's …
Celebrations
Richardson family's matriarchs, patriarch meet for annual reunion The Richardson family comes together in Sumter, annually in the fall, to celebrate the Richardson reunion. Last fall, in 2024, the family celebrated the 52nd-annual reunion, having missed only two past get-togethers because of COVID-19 …
BURNS
Sumterite celebrates 100 years of life, love A local woman celebrated her 100th birthday in April as well as the legacy of love her life has been filled with. Elizabeth Burns, of Sumter, celebrated her 100th birthday on Wednesday, April 23, surrounded by family and friends. The wife of …

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Dear Abby
Pets for adoption
PHOTO PROVIDED
Daisy is a friendly, cuddly hound puppy

My name is Daisy, and I am a 10-week-old, tan-and-white, female hound and pit mix. I have a sister here with me named Foxy. I am very observant; I love watch what you're doing at all times. I'm …

Weddings

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Engagements
Reflections
Sumter's most successful inventor, C. T. Mason Jr., second from left, stands with U.S. Army aviators during World War I when Mason's magnetos were widely used on military aircraft. Mason inherited his father's inventive genius and, unlike his father, was able to enjoy greater recognition and monetary rewards from his talents.

Reflections by Sammy Way: Sumter inventors were creative and numerous

Reflections revisits several of Sumter's inventors and their impact on the growth of our nation. The data and photos were taken from The Item archives. The writings of Dr. Anne King Gregorie and Cassie Nicholes were also consulted. An article …

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Yesteryear

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From the opinion pages
Columnists
 Editorial cartoon: Wednesday, June 11, 2025
BARONE
Opinion: The new politics of Metropole vs. Heartland
Guest column: It will take all our voices to see positive change again
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