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 …
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Friends to Follow
SPORTS
Arts & Entertainment

'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 …

Nation & World
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 …

'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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
State News
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 …

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 …
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 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 …
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. …

Faith
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Dear Abby
Pets for adoption
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 …

Engagements
Reflections

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 …

Yesteryear
From the opinion pages
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