Happening Now
Sumter Fire Department firefighters respond to a fire at Palmetto Towers on Friday.
Sumter fire officials say blaze at Palmetto Towers apartments started in kitchen
DAVIS
Why can't we get [insert chain brand] in Sumter? How can you help?
KAYLA GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEMProspective participants and their parents attend Central Carolina Technical College's informational night on its youth apprenticeship program. Students did not have to attend to apply.
CCTC youth apprenticeship program expands in 2nd year to offer more dual-enrollment work-experience opportunities
2019 Keepsake ornament is back
Moorhill 2019
Moorhill Plantation receives historic marker by Bishopville organization

Hope through hard times: Sumter County Museum hosts performance orating written letters from Anne Frank, MLK

Rachel Griesinger, as Anne Frank, and Wesli Spencer, as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., perform Letters from Anne and Martin at Temple Sinai on Thursday night.
History has a way of making itself relevant in the present, especially through the powerful words of iconic people. The Temple Sinai Jewish History Center opened a new exhibit and hosted an …
CCTC to honor Gandhi's birthday with movie, discussion on Tuesday
Various reports before Sumter School District board at Monday work session
SHELBIE GOULDING / THE SUMTER ITEMKimbrell's Furniture, 49 S. Main St., has moved a couple times but claims a home in Downtown Sumter.
Know your Sumter: Downtown Kimbrell's Furniture now sells its furniture online

Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 25-26, 2020

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Studio Sumter

Sumter Today: The YMCA awards its top honor of the year

The Sumter Family YMCA is more than a gym. Its team strives to connect with the community and help provide critical services in the areas of youth development and healthy living, and they’ve …

Serena Williams leaves the court of the Rod Laver Arena after her third round loss to Wang Qiang in the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, on Friday.
Youth served: Gauff beats Osaka, Serena loses at Australian Open
NFL free agent Antonio Brown appears at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., via video link Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. Brown was granted bail on Friday after spending the night in a Florida jail. The wide receiver will have to pay a bond of $110,000, surrender his passport, wear a monitor, get mental health evaluation and pass random drug tests. He also can't have guns. Brown is accused of attacking the driver of a moving truck that carried some of his possessions from California.
Former NFL receiver Brown released on bail by Florida judge
Sumter-Palmetto Rotary Club president Ken Bell, right, speaks to the boys basketball head coaches at the three Sumter School District high schools, left to right, Lakewood's Ed Scott, Crestwood's Aric Samuel and Sumter's Bryan Brown, after recently spoke to the club. Each coach is in his first year at his respective school, but they all knew of each other in some manner before ending up in Sumter together.
Three Sumter School District first-year boys hoops coaches share good relationships
Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes has made highlight play after highlight play for the Chiefs this postseason.
How the 49ers and the Chiefs match up in the Super Bowl
Quarterback Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens signs autographs during a practice for the Pro Bowl. Jackson will be playing for the AFC in Sunday's contest.
Long lines at Pro Bowl to get Jackson's autograph, picture
Poll of the Week

FILE - In this Sept. 18, 2016, file photo provided by an official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, center, attends a meeting in Tehran, Iran. Iraqi TV and three Iraqi officials said Friday, Jan. 3, 2020, that Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, has been killed in an airstrike at Baghdad’s international airport. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP, File)

Do you agree with President Trump's decision to approve an airstrike in Iraq that targeted and killed a top Iranian general, Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Solemani?

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

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PATRICK
Democratic presidential candidate to stump Saturday in Sumter
Sumter School District Transportation Study Committee meets for 1st time
From right, Jack Atkinson and Lamont Gaye, students at Hillcrest Middle School, work on their STEM Club project to deter their fellow students from having suicidal thoughts. The club is creating QR codes that lead to videos with positive messages.
Sumter's Hillcrest Middle 'citizen scientists' recognized nationally for using tech to address youth suicide
Do you have a special talent? Share it with all of Sumter during new showcase for Inspire! Festival
Jason Rush, an assistant trainer with Richard Valentine, makes his way back to the stables at the course on Wednesday morning after a light workout.
A chilly morning of training at Springdale Race Course in Camden

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More Sports
Durant hits six 3's, Gamecocks beat Spring Valley 61-41
Stallions improve to 18-3, remain undefeated in region with 83-56 win over Central
Rogers' 20 points leads Lady Stallions to 74-18 victory over Central
Wilson Hall varsity basketball sweeps LMA
Brown and Croskey record double-doubles, Sumter downs Spring Valley 55-40

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Food
Lightlife Smart Sausages are displayed at a store in Jersey City, New Jersey, in September 2018.

Should you avoid meat for good health?
Hangovers happen as your body tries to protect itself from alcohol's toxic effects
This combination of images provided by Amanda Daley shows mockups of a soft drink can and a chocolate candy bar with labels for "exercise calories," or the amount of physical activity needed to burn them off. Daley, a professor of behavioral medicine at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom, says, "They may still ignore it, but let's give it a go. Let's at least give them a chance to be able to easily understand."
What if you knew a cookie would take 20 minutes to run off?

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Panorama
Photo Courtesy Sue Wagener via APIn this November 2019 photo provided by Sue Wagener shows Jack and Harriet Morrison. The couple who had been together for nearly 65 years have died on the same day at a St. Louis area nursing home. The Morrison's beds were placed next to each other in their final hours, allowing them to hold hands, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. 86 year-old Jack died first. Harriett, who was 83, died later on Jan. 11 2020.

Couple together for nearly 65 years die on the same day

ARNOLD, Mo. (AP) - A couple who had been together for nearly 65 years have died on the same day at a St. Louis-area nursing home. Jack and Harriet Morrison's beds were placed next to each other in their final hours, allowing them to hold hands, …

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Nation & World
Senate Television via APIn this image from video, House impeachment manager Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., speaks during the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020.
Dems: Oust Trump or he'll do it again

WASHINGTON - Democratic House prosecutors launched their final arguments Friday at Donald Trump's impeachment trial arguing the president will persist in abusing the power of his office ahead of the 2020 election unless Congress intervenes to remove …

Melissa Phillip / Houston Chronicle via AP Maria Giraldo stands in the backyard of her neighbor's home just one street east from where an explosion occurred Friday in Houston. A massive explosion early Friday leveled a warehouse and damaged nearby buildings and homes, rousing frightened people from their sleep miles away.
Police: 2 dead after warehouse explosion shakes Houston HOUSTON - Two people died after a massive explosion Friday leveled a warehouse in Houston, damaging nearby buildings and homes and rousing frightened people from their sleep miles away, authorities said. The explosion happened about 4:30 a.m. …
Research study links impeachment beliefs to regular news diets NEW YORK - For many Americans, how they feel about issues raised during President Donald Trump's impeachment has much to do with where they get their news. A study released Friday by the Pew Research Center illustrated these tendencies, …
Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of Chicago Department of Public Health, speaks at a news conference Friday in Chicago. A Chicago woman has become the second U.S. patient diagnosed with the dangerous new virus from China, health officials announced Friday.
Chicago woman is 2nd U.S. patient with new virus WASHINGTON - A Chicago woman has become the second U.S. patient diagnosed with the dangerous new virus from China, health officials announced Friday. The woman in her 60s returned from China on Jan. 13 without showing any signs of illness, but …
In this photo taken on Jan. 24, 2019, Denis Wolok, the father of then 1-month-old Eva, shows the child's U.S. passport during an interview with The Associated Press in Hollywood, Florida. Russian women, like Wolok's wife, Olga Zemlyanaya, travel to the United States to give birth so that their child can acquire all the privileges of American citizenship.
U.S. imposes new visa rules for women on 'birth tourism' WASHINGTON - The Trump administration is imposing new visa rules aimed at restricting "birth tourism," in which women travel to the United States to give birth so their children can have U.S. citizenship. The regulations, which took effect Friday, …

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State News
SCDOR: Tax season opens Monday, choose your preparer wisely

With the tax season officially opening Monday, many South Carolina taxpayers will search for help to prepare their tax returns. If you're planning to use a tax preparer for the 2020 tax season, be sure to do your homework before handing over your …

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Supporters of a bill that would ban nearly all abortions in South Carolina fill the Statehouse lobby for a rally Jan. 15 in Columbia. The supporters of the heartbeat bill want Senators to vote on the proposal, while Senate leaders said they don't have the votes and it would bog down other debates.
After setback, state conservatives still push abortion bills COLUMBIA - South Carolina lawmakers don't appear ready to debate a bill that would ban nearly all abortions this session, but abortion opponents are pushing some other related restrictions. On a party-line vote Thursday, a Senate subcommittee …
THE ASSOCIATED PRESSDemocratic presidential hopeful Tom Steyer speaks at a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day rally on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020, in Columbia.
Steyer aims criminal justice plan at taking on racial bias COLUMBIA (AP) - Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer is proposing a criminal justice reform plan that would reduce the costs of incarceration by redirecting funds to education, community policing and rehabilitation in an effort to amend a …
STIRLING
South Carolina prison chief asks for $100M COLUMBIA - With a wary eye toward recent violence in Mississippi prisons and acknowledging the problems that have plagued his own prisons, the South Carolina Corrections chief is asking lawmakers to make a more than $100 million investment into his …
S.C. earned income tax credit increases in 2020 South Carolina's Earned Income Tax Credit is going up in 2020, offering more money for low- to moderate-income working individuals or couples, particularly those who have children. The state's version of the federal EITC was …

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Obituaries
SHIMUO YAMADA

Shimuo Yamada, 71, husband of Rosangela da Silva dos Santos, died on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, at Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital. Born in Aomori, Japan, he was a son of the late Jiro Yamada and Yone Yamada. Mr. Yamada was a retired self-employed …

FRANCENA ENGLISH BROWN

ALCOLU - Francena English Brown, 76, wife of Robert Brown Jr., died on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, at Prisma Health Baptist Hospital, Columbia. She was born on Jan. 21, 1944, in Alcolu, a daughter of the late Andrew and Sadie Ann Colclough …

JOANN BROCKINGTON BURGESS

Joann Brockington Burgess, 63, widow of the Rev. Lee Ernest Burgess Sr., departed this life on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, at her residence. She was born on Nov. 19, 1956, in Kingstree, a daughter of Bobbie J. Brockington and the late Willene House …

UNRAY CALDWELL

SUMMERTON - Unray Caldwell, 59, died on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020, at his residence. He was born on Monday, April 25, 1960, in Summerton, to Mae Pearl Green Caldwell and the late Nolie Caldwell. Funeral services are incomplete and will be …

BRAD LEROY WILKES

Brad LeRoy Wilkes, age 42, died on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020. You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family's guest book. The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.

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Celebrations
DANIELS
Daniels celebrates 100 years Mose Daniels celebrates his 100th birthday today, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, with his family and friends at Mulberry Baptist Church. He was born on Dec. 14, 1919, in Sumter. Mose retired from Korn Furniture and later worked at the recycling center …
MISS FORT
The Sumter Assembly The Sumter Assembly will present three debutantes on Wednesday, Dec. 18, at Sunset Country Club. Chandler Jewel Curtis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Warren Stephen Curtis, will be presented by her father and escorted by Connor McCoy Curtis and Turner …
MISS WILLIAMSON
The Lord Clarendon Cotillion The Lord Clarendon Cotillion will present eight debutantes on Friday, Dec. 20, at The Matrix Center in Manning. Adela Carpenter Coffey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Columbus Coffey III, will be presented by her father and escorted by William …
MRS. FOZER M. ROBINSON NELSON
Fozer M. Robinson Nelson celebrates 100th birthday Fozer M. Robinson Nelson, widow of Franklin Nelson, celebrated her 100th birthday on Oct. 5, 2019, with family and friends. Born on Oct. 5, 1919, in Clarendon County, she is the daughter of the late Zoya and Vinnie Robinson. Mrs. Nelson was …

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Faith
You'll never know unless you try it She switched to beer from whiskey to dull the pain of being alone in the bar another night. Tom, the bartender, was her friend, as long as she told him to pour another round. She wasn't sure how she had gotten in such a dark place. A cheerleader …
The theologian who helped MLK see the value of nonviolence For blacks who grew up with the legacy of segregation, disfranchisement, lynching, and violence, retreat from social struggle was unthinkable. Martin Luther King Jr., however, learned from some …
Church News: Friday, Jan. 24, 2020 Faith Missionary Baptist Church No. 1, 115 Laurel St., announces: * Sunday - Youth service at 11:30 a.m. High Hills Missionary Baptist Church, 6750 Meeting House Road, Dalzell, announces: * Sunday, Feb. 2 - Holy communion will be observed …
Old debate regarding religion in school is opening up again By David Mislin Temple University As the 2020 election approaches in the United States, President Donald Trump is adding school prayer to the list of contentious issues up for debate. At a rally in early January, he announced plans to …
Dear Abby
Pets for adoption
Jimbo would love a family who doesn't mind a lap kitty

FAR LEFT: Jimbo is a neutered and housebroken 2-year-old American shorthair. He enjoys exploring, lounging around and sometimes being lazy. Jimbo is wonderful with other cats and children and would love a family who doesn't mind a lap kitty once in …

Weddings
MRS. MATTHEW WALTON
Miller-Walton Kristen Love Miller and Matthew Cole Walton, both of Sumter, were united in marriage at 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020, at Grace Baptist Church in Sumter. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Neville Hardee and the granddaughter of Mrs. …
MR., MRS. ROBERT KENNEDY
Smith-Kennedy CHARLESTON - Nicole Elizabeth Smith of Sumter and Robert James Kennedy of DeBary, Florida, were united in marriage at 4 p.m. April 12, 2019, at The Island House. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Smith and the granddaughter of the …
MR., MRS. TAYLOR BRUNSON
Coleman-Brunson Alison Paige Coleman and Taylor David Brunson, both of Sumter, were united in marriage at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, at Bethel Baptist Church in Sumter. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Clayton Coleman Sr. and the …
MRS. JUSTIN GARRISON
Matthews-Garrison COLUMBIA - Elizabeth Annette Matthews of Columbia and Justin Wilson Garrison of Atlanta, Georgia, were united in marriage at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, at Washington Street United Methodist Church. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. …

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Engagements
MR. OUZTS, MISS BURRESS
Burress-Ouzts Ms. Mary Lyons Burress of Sumter announces the engagement of her daughter, Emily Caroline Burress of Sumter, to Robert Thomas Ouzts of Manning, son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Anthony Ouzts of Manning. The bride-elect is also the daughter of Derek …
MR. SCOTT, MISS MAYLE
Mayle-Scott Ms. Cheryll Elizabeth Mayle of Lakeland, Florida, and Mr. Dayton Lee Mayle of Weaverville, North Carolina, announce the engagement of their daughter, Stephanie Nicole Mayle of Lakeland, to Anthony Miles Scott of Rembert, son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony …
MR. CRAVEN, MISS DuRANT
DuRant-Craven Ms. Debbie Bramlett DuRant of Sumter and Dr. Eddie C. DuRant of Wedgefield announce the engagement of their daughter, Dixie Gloria Bell DuRant of Charleston, to Catlin DeWitt Craven of Orangeburg, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Craven of …
MISS RICKARD, MR. HOLLADAY
Rickard-Holladay Mr. and Mrs. Robert Rickard announce the engagement of their daughter, Aubrey Elizabeth Rickard, to Jordan Bethea Holladay, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Holladay, all of Sumter. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Pete Rickard and …
Reflections
One of the features of the remodeled food store of H. J. Commins was the large produce display case in 1943. Standing beside the case is Francis Epperson, manager of H. J. Commins. The store featured produce and fruit and carried one of the largest assortments in the state.

Reflections with Sammy Way: Neighborhood groceries were once common in Sumter

Reflections remembers the local grocery store and how this commercial icon played a key role in the daily life of most Sumterites. These institutions could be found on practically every corner of Sumter prior to the arrival of the large chain …

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Yesteryear
SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO The Aug. 15, 1945, edition of The Sumter Daily Item proclaimed peace after Japan's defeat in World War II.
Yesteryear with Sammy Way: Fishing derby begins; Sumterite is missionary in Romania 75 YEARS AGO - 1945 Aug. 10 - Aug. 16 - American aircraft carriers, new to war before the attack on Pearl Harbor, emerged as one of the most powerful offensive weapons in the campaign against Japan. As the spearhead of every naval striking …
1970 - Two students attending the Junior Welfare League's Art Workshop Saturday morning sessions, Russell Singleton and Ronnie Card, get painting tips from art instructor Shirley Temples at Sumter School District 17's Green School in April.
Yesteryear with Sammy Way: Boys head to camp thanks to paper drive; Shaw opens gym 75 YEARS AGO - 1945 Aug. 3 - Aug. 9 - An atomic bomb, hailed as the most terrible destructive force in history and as the greatest achievement of organized science, has been loosed upon Japan. President Truman disclosed in a White House …
1970 - Mrs. James C. Dennis, one of 18 census workers covering the city in April, collects from Mrs. Mary Tyndall of Victory Drive and her daughter Susanne. The workers were making a block-by-block canvass of the entire city to its corporate limits. They expected to complete their work within three to five weeks.
Yesteryear by Sammy Way: Sumter home has 600 varieties of camellias; residents urged to use landfills 75 YEARS AGO - 1945 July 27 - Aug. 2 - A high record of rainfall for one day was set when the heaviest downpour of the year was recorded. Almost two inches, 1.83 to be exact, fell in an hour and 15 minutes, according to the weather bureau. On …

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From the opinion pages
Columnists
 Editorial cartoon: Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020
Editorial cartoon: Friday, Jan. 24, 2020
Editorial cartoon: Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020
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