Happening Now
SCOTT
Sumter officers search for 3 suspects involved in Saturday night shooting
COCKLIN
Millwood parent worried after COVID-19 case at Sumter school
McLeod Health Clarendon and DHEC partnered for a drive-through testing facility on May 13 in Summerton.
Some hospitals in crisis with virus across United States
MURRAY
Clarendon County Detention Center employee captures individual fleeing detention center
Members of the Sumter Civic Dance Company rehearse for their contemporary dance concert, "Moving Through It," a showcase of company member choreography being presented Thursday night.
Sumter dancers are 'Working Through It'; contemporary dance focus of Thursday concert

'Go, driver': After 34 years, Sumter native still behind the wheel for 'my precious cargo'

Thomasini Agim drives her school bus in Sumter. She has worked for Sumter School District since 1986 as a bus driver. National School Bus Safety Week is Oct. 19-23, and she spoke about the job she loves.
The job allows for some freedom and there's some sightseeing involved, but to be good at it, one must have a love for children, plenty of patience and flexibility and behavior-management skills. It's a school bus driver, and to commemorate …

Drivers should watch for deer on South Carolina's state roads
Penelope Martin-Knox is seen at the Sumter School District Office in July.
Superintendent evaluation before Sumter School District Board
PHOTO PROVIDEDStaff Sgt. Elizabeth Barnes of Shaw Air Force Base, left, is seen with her father, Gregory S. Barnes Sr., and her mother at their home. Staff Sgt. Barnes is walking in the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's on Saturday for her father, who suffers from Frontal Temporal Dementia and Parkinson's.
Shaw airman participates in Alzheimer's Association Walk for her dad in Illinois

Saturday-Monday, Oct. 24-26, 2020

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Studio Sumter

Sumter Today: We commemorate National School Bus Safety Week

To commemorate National School Bus Safety Week this week we sat down with one of Sumter School District’s finest and longest-serving drivers, Thomasini Agim.  A Sumter native, Agim has …

Sumter players review game film on the sideline during their 35-0 win over Conway on Friday.
Sumter wins region with 35-0 victory over Conway
Wilson Hall swimmer Sydnee Richardson was a part of three school records for the Barons at the SCISA state swim meet last Saturday.
Wilson Hall boys have best finish ever in state swim meet
Crestwood's Quinton Harrison (4) knocks the ball loose from Lakewood's James Wright (7) during the Knights' 27-6 win on Friday.
Harrison stars as Crestwood beats rival Lakewood 27-6 to keep playoff hopes alive
Laurence Mannning quarterback Tyler June (11) threw for 257 yards, three touchdowns and an interception in the Swampcats' 34-7 win over Trinity Collegiate on Friday.
Laurence Manning clinches home playoff game with 34-7 win over Trinity Collegiate
5 things to watch
Wilson Hall and Laurence Manning face off to highlight 5 Things to Watch this week
Poll of the Week

Do you know who you're voting for in the race for Sumter's mayor?

Have a question you'd like us to ask? Email editor@theitem.com.

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More local news
Gov. Henry McMaster holds a box turtle next to Sumter Sen. Thomas McElveen’s daughter, Adelaide, as he signs Act 177 at Riverbanks Zoo.
New bipartisan S.C. law protects native reptiles, amphibians for next generation to enjoy
PARNELL
Parnell vows to donate salary if elected as Sumter's mayor
Col. Lawrence Sullivan, commander of the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, speaks during a ceremony for the opening of Sumter Veterans Park, adjacent to the base, on Thursday.
Sumter opens park dedicated to veterans near Shaw Air Force Base
SMITH
The Rev. Dr. Clay Smith: You can control your response to a critic
A motorist drives Thursday by the future home of Dollar Tree at 310 Pinewood Road, near the Walmart Neighborhood Market in Sumter.
Dollar Tree coming to west side of town, 3rd in Sumter

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More Sports
Thomas Sumter loses to Calhoun 33-6
Clarendon Hall secures playoff berth with win
Lee locks up region championship with 49-12 win over The King's Academy
Scott's Branch head coach Rodney Barr and the Eagles fell to Johnsonville 40-22 on Friday.
Scott’s Branch falls to Johnsonville 40-22
East Clarendon head coach Scott Cook and the Wolverines saw their playoff hopes come to an end with a 50-28 loss to C.E. Murray on Friday.
East Clarendon falls to C.E. Murray 50-28

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Panorama
MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM Ken Bell is seen in front of The Sumter Item in downtown Sumter. Bell, author of "Triple Tragedy in Alcolu," previously worked as an editor for the newspaper.

Sumter author Ken Bell's work submitted for Edgar Award

Local author Kendall "Ken" Bell's nonfiction "Triple Tragedy in Alcolu" has been submitted for consideration for an Edgar Award. Submitted by Bella Rosa Books, the book, Bell's latest, recounts the events of the 1944 murder trial and execution of …

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Nation & World
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS President Donald Trump speaks on a phone call with leaders of Sudan and Israel in the Oval Office of the White House on Friday in Washington.
Trump: Sudan to join UAE, Bahrain in recognizing Israel

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump announced Friday that Sudan will start to normalize ties with Israel, making it the third Arab state to do so as part of U.S.-brokered deals in the run-up to Election Day. The deal, which would deepen Sudan's …

Vote-by-mail ballots are shown in U.S. Postal service sorting trays the King County Elections headquarters in Renton, Washington, south of Seattle, on Aug. 5.
Postal delays persist in battleground states U.S. Postal Service records show delivery delays have persisted across the country as millions of Americans are voting by mail, raising the possibility of ballots being rejected because they arrive too late. Postal data through Oct. 9, the latest …
Pope Francis
Fiasco over pope's cut civil union quote intensifies impact ROME (AP) — The world premiere of a documentary on Pope Francis was supposed to have been a bright spot for a papacy locked down by a pandemic and besieged by a corruption scandal, recalling …
In this Oct. 7, 2020, photo provided by the Washington State Department of Agriculture, a live Asian giant hornet is affixed with a tracking device before being released near Blaine, Wash. Washington state officials say they were again unsuccessful at live-tracking an Asian giant hornet while trying to find and destroy a nest of the so-called murder hornets. The Washington State Department of Agriculture said Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, that an entomologist used dental floss to tie a tracking device on a female hornet, only to lose signs of her when she went into the forest.
Washington state discovers first 'murder hornet' nest in U.S. SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Scientists have discovered the first nest of so-called murder hornets in the United States and plan to wipe it out Saturday to protect native honeybees, officials in …
Judge Amy Coney Barrett
Senate GOP marches ahead on Barrett over Democrats' blockade WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is gearing up for a rare weekend session as Republicans race to put Amy Coney Barrett on the Supreme Court and cement a conservative majority before Election Day …

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State News
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks at a get-out-the-vote rally on Oct. 17 in Columbia.
In October, Graham rakes in $1M per day for Senate race

COLUMBIA - U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham has continued to rake in campaign cash in the closing days of his bid for a fourth term, raising about $1 million a day for the first two weeks of October. Early Friday, Graham's campaign said it had …

Vehicles drive through the food options at the state fair this week.
Drive-through S.C. fair draws thousands COLUMBIA (AP) - Organizers said thousands of people turned out to peer at agricultural exhibits from their car windows and grab to-go funnel cakes at a drive-through fair in South Carolina. The more than 150-year-old South Carolina State Fair …
2 jailed after S.C. deputy was killed during traffic stop GREENVILLE (AP) - Two people were in custody after a South Carolina deputy was killed and several other people were injured when a traffic stop on Interstate 85 went awry, authorities said. The State Law Enforcement Division said Ray Kelly was …
S.C. authorities break up party amid pandemic
COLUMBIA (AP) - Authorities in South Carolina broke up a party where at least 2,000 people were gathered without taking precautions to prevent spreading the coronavirus, fire officials said. The gathering occurred Saturday at an apartment complex …
South Carolina authorities break up huge party amid pandemic COLUMBIA (AP) — Authorities in South Carolina broke up a party where at least 2,000 people were gathered without taking precautions to prevent spreading the coronavirus, fire officials said.The …

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Obituaries

BRANDT

DR. CHARLES WESLEY BRANDT

Dr. Charles Wesley "Charley," "CW" Brandt, 85, died peacefully on Oct. 11, 2020. He was born in Richmond, Virginia, on Feb. 3, 1935, to the late Philip Wesley Brandt and Josephine Hansford McCaul Brandt. Charley was reared in Richmond and …

WITHERSPOON

DR. ERTHLAY WITHERSPOON

Dr. Erthlay Witherspoon was born on March 23, 1939, in Sumter to the late the Rev. Windson Witherspoon and Missionary Lela Witherspoon. On Oct. 20, 2020, Dr. Witherspoon departed Earth to accept his final assignment in Heaven. Following his …

POLITE

DAWYNETTA McFADDEN POLITE

LAKE CITY - Dawynetta McFadden Polite, 47, wife of Robert Polite, died Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020, at Lake City Community Hospital in Lake City. She was born Sept. 24, 1973, in Sumter, a daughter of the …

EUGENE GALLISHAW

Eugene Gallishaw, son of the late Edward Blanding Sr. and Oleen McMillian Gallishaw, was born on June 12, 1951, in Sumter County. He departed this life on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, in the home in Charlotte, North Carolina. Eugene was educated in the …

BARRY SCOTT

BISOPVILLE - Mr. Barry Scott passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020, at MUSC in Florence. Professional services are incomplete and will be announced later by JP Holley Funeral Home, Bishopville Chapel.

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Celebrations
MR., MRS. JIMMY GRIFFIN
Griffins celebrate 50 years Jimmy and Nancy Griffin, of Sumter, celebrated their 50th anniversary on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at their home. Their two children are Lacey Griffin Ray of Apex, North Carolina, and Leigh Griffin Carter and her husband, Ross, of Cary, North …
MR., MRS. CHARLES THOMAS OSBORNE
Osbornes celebrate 50 years Charles Thomas and Alice Garrett Osborne, of Sumter, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020. Their two children are Brandon Osborne and Sara and Franklin Trepoy, all of Sumter. The couple has two …
MR., MRS. BOBBY B. RABON
Rabons celebrate 70 years of marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bobby B. Rabon, of Sumter, celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Thursday, July 23, 2020, at their home. A celebration with family and friends will be held at a later date. Their two children and their spouses are Teresa …

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Faith
Church News: Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 Dalzell United Methodist Church, 3330 Black River Road, Dalzell, announces: * Now meeting 9:30-10:30 a.m. each Sunday in the sanctuary, Wednesday night services in the fellowship hall and Sunday evening Bible study in the education building. All …
POPE FRANCIS
Plot thickens over pope's civil union endorsement VATICAN CITY - Questions swirled Thursday about the origins of Pope Francis' bombshell comments endorsing same-sex civil unions, with all evidence suggesting he made them in a 2019 interview that was never broadcast in its entirety. The …
CHURCH NEWS: Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 211 Alice Drive, announces: * Thursday, Dec. 3 — Blood drive from 2 to 6 p.m. Dalzell United Methodist Church, 3330 Black River Road, Dalzell, announces:* …
Image by Darelle from Pixabay
The Rev. Clay Smith: Jesus followers and our government Americans are granted one of the greatest privileges in history: We choose our leaders. No king succeeds his parent to the throne; no dictator seizes power. I believe every American should be informed by credible sources (Note: a Facebook post is …
Dear Abby
Pets for adoption
Gallant is super sweet, loves to play

FAR LEFT: Gallant is an 8-month-old pit / Labrador mix. His is a super sweet boy, who is active and very friendly and loving. Gallant loves to play with other dogs, but still has a calm side. He is also great with children and would make an …

Weddings
MRS. MATTHEW JOSEY
Cromer-Josey SaraLouise Cromer of Sumter and Matthew Samuel Josey of Florence were united in marriage at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, at the Church of the Holy Comforter in Sumter. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Paul Cromer III, the …
MRS. JONATHAN hunter AYRES
Catoe-Ayres Emma Suzanne Catoe of Sumter and Jonathan Hunter Ayres of Howell, New Jersey, were united in marriage at 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, at First Baptist Church in Sumter. The bride is the daughter of Allen and Lisa Catoe and the granddaughter of …
MR. AND MRS. ROBERT T. OUZTS
Burress-Ouzts Emily Caroline Burress of Sumter and Robert Thomas Ouzts of Manning were united in marriage on Sunday, May 3, 2020, in a private ceremony. A celebration of marriage was held at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 11, 2020 at First Baptist Church in Sumter. The …
MRS. JAMES A. GOODSON IV
Segars-Goodson Jane Elizabeth Segars and James Arthur Goodson IV, both of Sumter, were united in marriage at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 25, 2020, at LinRan Farm in Sumter. The bride is the daughter of Burrell "Billy" Raymie Segars Sr. and Nicolle Segars of …

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Engagements
MISS WILLIAMS, MR. JORDAN
Williams-Jordan Mr. Ernest and Mrs. Cherell Butler of Aiken and Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Williams of Saluda announce the engagement of their daughter, Amy D. Williams of Simpsonville, to Derrick L. Jordan of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jordan of …
Bultman-Satterfield Ms. Cynthia D. Bultman of Sumter announces the engagement of her daughter, Megan Bultman of Sumter, to William Satterfield of Heard County, Georgia, son of William and Kelly Satterfield of Heard County. The bride-elect is also the daughter of Mr. …
Reflections
Female seminary students, part of the Sumter Military Academy, stand outside the Monaghan House, their dormatory.

Reflections by Sammy Way: Sumter Military Academy and Female Seminary attracted many students

Reflections remembers the inception of two Sumter private institutions that helped prompt increased support for Sumter's educational system. These two boarding schools offered a demanding curriculum taught by a highly qualified faculty. The …

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Yesteryear
Edwin W. James flew alone from Sumter Airways Inc. less than two weeks after his first flying lesson.
Yesteryear by Sammy Way: Trinity church receives gift from Brice estate; Sumter farmer honored 75 YEARS AGO — 1946April 29 – May 3• Sale of city hall to the operators of the Sumter, Rex and Carolina motion picture theaters is being considered by city council, but no definite …
Wilson Hall cross country runners Virginia Bell, left, Margaret Rauch, middle, and Sheila Jonas lead the Lady Barons through a 3.1-mile course during a team practice Oct. 15, 1995.
Yesteryear by Sammy Way: 2 Sumter stars will play for USC Gamecocks; 200 from county will go to Million Man March 75 YEARS AGO - 1946 April 24 - 28 - The government plans to re-enter the butter market about May 1 to buy 60,000,000 pounds to supply the armed services and military hospitals during the next 12 months. To ensure this quantity, the government …
The Sumter Jaycees' drive for letters ended with the group sending 8,534 letters on their way. Here the North Vietnam mail is sorted and stacked Dec. 23, 1970, by from left, David Goldman and Don Deatherage, co-chairmen of the project; Austin Floyd, Jaycee president; Kenneth Reese, superintendent of mail, Sumter Post Office; and two other Jaycee members. The goal had been 2,000 letters asking for humane treatment for POWs and notification of families.
Yesteryear by Sammy Way: Students plan memorial to fallen veterans; Solomon is Item's player of the year 75 YEARS AGO - 1946 April 19 - 23 - William C. Eldridge was elected president of the Sumter Rotary Club at the board of directors' meeting. Other new officers for the year are Sam B. Green, retiring president, who becomes vice president; E. …

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From the opinion pages
Columnists
WILLIAMS
Opinion: Disgusting professorial teachings
POLAND
Opinion: Black cats, bad luck and worse luck
BARONE
Opinion: Both candidates' risky campaign strategies
Your view
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