Despite gloomy weather, fun reigns at 81st-Annual Iris Festival

Attendees turn the lush green grass into a dance floor at the kick off of the 81st-Annual Iris Festival on Thursday, May 25. Saturday's activities have been canceled due to expected high winds and heavy rains, but Sunday is still on track.  See theitem.com for updated information.
There are endless ways one could kick off their Memorial Day weekend. It could be by taking a bite of a juicy gyro and washing it all down with a blood peach lemonade, or browsing for new …
Studio Sumter

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Arts & Entertainment

Movies with Isaiah: 'Fast X' is fun all around

Most cinematic franchises rarely reach 10 installments without having a passionate and loyal audience of some sort. There are certain anomalies, for example horror icons such as Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger, Michael Myers and Pinhead, that have …

Nation & World
Pentagon: Allies will unite to train Ukrainians on F-16s, but warns jets aren't 'magic weapons'

WASHINGTON (AP) - Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday that European allies are developing a coordinated program to train Ukrainian forces on the F-16 fighter jet, but Pentagon leaders warned that it will be a costly and complex task and …

Climbers celebrate Mount Everest 70th anniversary amid melting glaciers, rising temperatures KATHMANDU, Nepal - As the mountaineering community prepares to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the conquest of Mount Everest, there is growing concern about temperatures rising, glaciers and snow melting, and weather getting harsh and …
How busy will Atlantic hurricane season be? Depends on who wins battle of weather titans Two clashing climatic behemoths, one natural and one with human fingerprints, will square off this summer to determine how quiet or chaotic the Atlantic hurricane season will be. An El Nino is brewing and the natural weather event dramatically …
New England haddock imperiled by overfishing PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - A staple seafood species caught by East Coast fishers for centuries is experiencing overfishing, and regulators have cut catch quotas by more than 80% to prevent the fish's population from collapse. Haddock are one of the …
Biden says debt default deal 'very close' while deadline now set at June 5 WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said a deal to resolve the government's debt ceiling crisis seemed "very close" late Friday, even as the deadline for a potentially catastrophic default …
State News
School bus and tanker truck collide in Gilbert; 18 sent to hospital

GILBERT (AP) — A school bus collided with a tanker truck Thursday in South Carolina, sending at least 18 people, mostly children, to the hospital, authorities said. The bus was carrying 36 …

Judge halts South Carolina's new stricter abortion law until state Supreme Court review COLUMBIA (AP) — A judge on Friday put a temporary halt to South Carolina's new law banning most abortions around six weeks of pregnancy until the state Supreme Court can review the measure. The …
Alex Murdaugh's longtime friend admits helping to steal $4 million wrongful death settlement CHARLESTON (AP) — A longtime friend of convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh admitted Thursday he helped his old college roommate steal more than $4 million meant for a wrongful death settlement …
As South Carolina governor signs new law, abortion restrictions strain providers in U.S. South COLUMBIA (AP) — A wave of newly approved abortion restrictions in the Southeastern United States has sent providers scrambling to reconfigure their services for a region with already severely …
Empty House chamber tells story as S.C. lawmakers can't agree on budget COLUMBIA - Flush with extra money to spend, South Carolina's House and Senate still haven't reached a deal on the state's $13 billion spending plan set to start July 1. While no one is talking publicly about what is causing the delay, an obvious …
Obituaries
PAUL ANTOINE RACICOT

REMBERT - Paul Antoine Racicot, age 74, beloved husband of Peggy Abbed Racicot, died on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at McLeod Regional Medical Center. You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family's guest book. The family has …

CHARLES W. GREENE

GREELEYVILLE - Charles W. Greene, 76, husband of Mazie Wallace Greene, died on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at McLeod Hospice House in Florence. He was born on March 9, 1947, in the Foreston section of Manning, a son of the late Rev. Willie Greene Sr. …

JERRY L. MCCALL

Jerry L. McCall, 79, husband of Elizabeth Johnson McCall, died on Friday, May 26, 2023, at Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital. He was born on Aug. 19, 1943, in Sumter, a son of the late William and Lubertha Mack McCall. The family is requesting …

GEANNIE JOHNSON TISDALE

Geannie Johnson Tisdale, age 76, beloved wife of the late Donald Leroy Tisdale, died on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital. You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family's guest book. The family has chosen …

CHARLES STANLEY ARD

MANNING - Charles Stanley "Chuck" Ard, 70, widower of Deborah Evans Andrews Ard, died on Sunday, May 21, 2023, at his home. Born on May 8, 1953, in Montgomery, Alabama, he was a son of the late Bennie Ard Jr. and Frances Scott Ard. Mr. Ard owned …

Faith
Church News: Friday, May 26, 2023 Allen Chapel AME Church, 471 Lynam Road, announces: * Saturday, June 3 - Fun Day for All will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring fun, food and entertainment. Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church, 3285 Peach Orchard Road, Dalzell, …
Column by Sumter Pastor Clay Smith: Is it luck or God at work? We are told, "Some people have all the luck." The basketball player hits an impossible shot as the buzzer sounds: "What a lucky shot!" Or maybe lots of practice. What about all the times when a player shoots the ball at the buzzer and it bounces off …
Stained glass window shows Jesus Christ with dark skin, stirring questions about race in New England WARREN, R.I. - A nearly 150-year-old stained-glass church window that depicts a dark-skinned Jesus Christ interacting with women in New Testament scenes has stirred up questions about race, Rhode Island's role in the slave trade and the place of …
Church News: Friday, May 19, 2023 Refreshing Springs Kingdom Outreach Ministries, 741 Bultman Drive, Suite 21, announces: * Sunday, May 28 - Pentecost service at 3 p.m. Prophet Eric Olorunsola will speak. * Sunday, June 11 - The 10th church anniversary / 18-year ministerial …
Celebrations
Sapphire Marie Montgomery Nevarone V. Montgomery of Bronx, New York, and Isabell Rodriguez of New York City, New York, announce the birth of a daughter, Sapphire Marie Montgomery, on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York. Sapphire weighed …
Larkins celebrate 60 years Charlie and Ernestine Larkin of Sumter celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, with a small, intimate gathering. Their two children are Renee Larkin (Phillip) Washington and Brenda Larkin (Tracy) Chamblee of …
The Sumter Assembly The Sumter Assembly will present three debutantes on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, at Quixote Club in Sumter. Margaret Pinckney Kilpatrick, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert McCord Kilpatrick, will be presented by her father and escorted by Kyle Brown …
The Lord Clarendon Cotillion MANNING - The Lord Clarendon Cotillion will present three debutantes at its annual ball on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, at The Matrix Center in Manning. Elloise Troup Bethea, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Partridge Bethea Jr., will be presented by …
Dear Abby
Pets for adoption
Sumter SPCA's Channing is an active, curious boy

LEFT: Channing is a 3-month-old American short hair. He is housebroken and is an active and curious boy. Channing enjoys exploring, sleeping and playing with cat toys. He is great with children and other cats and is looking for a fun forever …

Weddings
Hubbard-Lane CHARLESTON - Kristen Ashleigh Hubbard and Ethan Foster Lane, both of Mount Pleasant, were united in marriage at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022, at St. Luke's Chapel on the campus of the Medical University of South Carolina. The Rev. Joseph …
Engagements
Newman-Linderman Mr. and Mrs. Francis Leverne Newman Jr. of Sumter announce the engagement of their daughter, Dr. Mary Francis Newman of Charleston, to Mr. Garrett Harrison Linderman of James Island, son of Mr. Louis Russell Linderman and Mrs. Connie Louise Taylor, …
Coonce, Koonce Mr. and Mrs. Joe Coonce Sr. of Sumter announce the engagement of their daughter, Melissa LuAnne Coonce of Sumter, to David Edward Koonce II of Florence, son of Mr. and Mrs. David Koonce Sr. of Darlington. A summer wedding is planned.
Geddings-Trageser Mr. and Mrs. William Thomas Geddings Jr. of Manning announce the engagement of their daughter, Mary Elizabeth Geddings of Charleston, to Nicholas Jay Trageser of Summerville, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Jay Trageser of Summerville. The …
Graham-Wilder Tad and Lyndy Graham announce the engagement of their daughter, Hannah Griffith Graham, to David Morris Wilder, son of Jay and Heather Wilder, all of Manning. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of …
Reflections

Reflections by Sammy Way -- First Presbyterian Church: Marking its 2nd century of service to the Sumter community, Part II

This is part two of a two-part Reflections series about the 200th anniversary of Sumter's First Presbyterian Church. Read the first part of this series at www.theitem.com/reflections. In 1957, an article appearing in The Item noted that Dr. …

Yesteryear
Yesteryear by Sammy Way: Junior Optimists meet for 1st time; 'God's Trombones' presented 75 YEARS AGO - 1948 Nov. 2 - Nov. 8 - "High-Ways" 1948, the Sumter High School annual, has been awarded both the Medalist honor rating by Columbia University in New York City and the All-American honor rating by the University of Minnesota in …
Yesteryear by Sammy Way: High Hills church celebrates homecoming; Pilot Club adds names to memorial 75 YEARS AGO - 1948 Oct. 26 - 31 - Although there will be no festive parade to mark the occasion, Navy Day will be fittingly observed. All merchants have been requested to display their flags during store hours. A special 10-minute radio …
Yesteryear by Sammy Way: Students' plaque dedicated to WWII heroes; residents reject plane at gardens 75 YEARS AGO - 1948 Oct. 19 - 25 - Kaiser-Frazer Corp. dealers introduced the Frazer and Frazer Manhattan, new models which complete the company's four-door sedan series for 1949. The Kaiser Special and Deluxe, companion models, were announced …
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