OPINION: Sumter residents' Letters to the Editor for Feb. 15

Governor's $15M for Opera House could have better uses in Sumter

I can't quite understand why our governor would want to hand Sumter (the city) $15 million to spend on the Opera House. Apparently, he has never been on a tour around the whole town, for if he had, he would probably change his mind.

If a person travels one block in either direction from Main Street, they find that practically every roadway or street is a shambles. These streets have been dug up and patched until they have to put patches on patches. And in the event they find a street that doesn't have a patch, they dig it up for practice just so it will match the other patched streets.

I don't know how far $15 million would go toward improving the streets, but at least it would make a difference to some. That would be an improvement on what is there now.

If the governor wants to do something for Sumter with part of the $1.8 billion, he and the General Assembly need to demand that the streets and roadways be improved.

Remember this: The residents here have to ride on these worn-out, patched-up streets. We don't ride on the Opera House! Looking back, Sumter was a one-horse town when I came here 68 years ago, and it still has the same horse. The horse has a name: Glitz & Glitter. That is all the city leaders can see. If it won't shine, they won't spend a dime.

H.N. HODGE

Sumter

Our native turtles deserve protecting

South Carolina is a diversity hotspot with at least 20 different species of turtle calling our state home. However, South Carolina is also the epicenter of black market wildlife trafficking in the southeastern United States. Our lax conservation laws allow smugglers to set up shop, where they can smuggle in turtles from our neighboring states and sell them overseas for food or as pets.

Overharvesting these turtles causes a decline in their overall populations and threatens them with extinction. As we speak, the "Turtle Bill" (H.4831), which would ban the commercial sale of native reptiles and amphibians, passed the state House by a vote of 100-5 and is currently sitting in committee with a companion bill (S.885).

It is our duty, as citizens of South Carolina, to protect and preserve these magnificent creatures by contacting your local state senators and letting them know that you support this law as well.

These turtles, along with all of our native wildlife, are part of our natural resources legacy that makes South Carolina unique.

KEVIN ECKERT

Sumter

ETV Sumter campus landscaping, appearance should be improved

"Making It Grow" is a very fine educationally focused program of more than 25 years that is produced by South Carolina Educational Television and Clemson University Extension Service. I have watched this Emmy Award program for a number of years and for the most part have benefitted immensely from the variety of plant-focused presentations which are shown on a weekly basis.

As I watched the episode that aired on Feb. 11, 2020, that was staged at USC Upstate and moderated by Clemson Extension Agent Ms. Amanda McNulty, which featured the care of roses and the beauty of these plants, my thoughts were drawn back to the home base of "Making It Grow" that emanated from that location. One would think that the outward appearance of this station would at least try to better represent the award-winning program that is airs to the public.

My family and I have been faithful financial supporters of South Carolina Educational TV for a number of years and will continue to do that but would like Ms. McNulty, who is also a member of the "Keep America Beautiful" program, to use her influence to see that the ETV Sumter campus be improved in its outside landscape appearance so that "Making It Grow" can be also showcased in the minds of those who not only admire and love the program, but also the campus from which it emanates.

K.D. SINGLETON

Sumter

Thanks to community for generosity to foster children at Christmas

In Sumter County, we have more than 100 children in foster care ranging in age from three months to 20 years old. The children are from Sumter County and other counties throughout the state. We also have children from Sumter County who reside in other counties in the state.

The Sumter County Foster Parent Association was able to provide Christmas gifts to all of these children. This was only possible because of the generosity of the community. The churches, the corporations, nonprofit agencies and individuals gave above and beyond what we could have expected.

We would like to express our gratitude to the community through The Sumter Item. We want the community to know that they brought many smiles to children's faces, and Christmas was enjoyed by all.

The Sumter County Foster Parent Association looks forward to the community's continued support in the future.

Once again, thank you.

ROZITTA WISE

Sumter