PAST IS PRESENT: Sumterite, Lincoln historian reflects on school, how people shaped our community

Lincoln High School alumna and historian Deloris Pringle reflects on how the historic all-Black high school and surrounding Sumter area produced influential leaders and helped shape Sumter into what it is today.
Sumter is a town layered with history. And rather than aggregated in textbooks, it's told through its people, its struggles and its triumphs. But history is not a distant memory, a thing of the past. It lives and breathes, shaping the present. …
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Friends to Follow
SPORTS
Arts & Entertainment

At 50, 'Saturday Night Live' celebrates its past as a comedy icon — and wonders about its future

NEW YORK (AP) — Tune into the Oct. 11, 1975 premiere episode of "Saturday Night Live" — then without "live" in its name — and you may be instantly surprised at some of the bones of …

Nation & World
'Hansel and Gretel' is reimagined by Stephen King, Maurice Sendak

An upcoming edition of "Hansel and Gretel" combines the dark and singular talents of two literary giants who apparently never met: Stephen King and the late Maurice Sendak. HarperCollins Publishers announced Thursday that the King-Sendak …

Some people didn't know they had a bird flu infection, study of veterinarians suggests NEW YORK - A new study shows that bird flu has silently spread from animals to some veterinarians. The study published Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention echoes two smaller ones that detected evidence of infection in …
Hawaii is known for its rainbows, but why? HONOLULU (AP) - Hawaii's regular sunshine, short rain showers and clean air come together to create some of the planet's best conditions for viewing rainbows. They're such a frequent sight that a University of Hawaii professor calls the state the …
Winter sowing in upcycled containers creates stronger seedlings in spring It's either time - or nearly time - to start seeds indoors for the upcoming growing season, depending on where you live. But what about starting them outdoors, despite the frozen ground, whipping winds and, perhaps, snow cover? I'm gearing up to …
Helicopter crew in collision with plane may not have heard key instruction from tower, NTSB says WASHINGTON (AP) — The crew of the Army helicopter that collided in midair with an American Airlines jet near Washington, D.C.'s Ronald Reagan National Airport may have had inaccurate altitude …
State News
Man on death row in South Carolina seeks postponement to get autopsy from last execution

COLUMBIA (AP) — A condemned man who is the next person scheduled to be put to death in South Carolina is again asking for his execution date be postponed because his lawyers have not received …

When does a heartbeat start? South Carolina Supreme Court again takes up abortion issue COLUMBIA (AP) — With a heartbeat abortion ban solidly in place in South Carolina, lawyers for the state and Planned Parenthood return to the state's highest court Wednesday to argue how …
Bird-watchers encouraged to take part in annual Baltimore oriole survey S.C. Department of Natural Resources will conduct its annual Baltimore Oriole Winter Survey on Feb. 14-17 in conjunction with the Great Backyard Bird Count. The state natural resources agency is interested in the status and distribution …
Rep. Nancy Mace accuses ex-fiancé, associates of assaulting her, raping others in House speech CHAPIN (AP) — Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina on Monday used a nearly hour-long speech on the U.S. House floor to accuse her ex-fiancé of physically abusing her, recording sex acts …
Remember South Carolina's state forests at tax time The South Carolina Forestry Commission encourages residents to make a charitable contribution to the S.C. State Forests Fund on their tax returns.Taxpayers have the opportunity to support the five state forests - Harbison, Manchester, Poe Creek, …
Obituaries

HOWARD

FRANK JAMES HOWARD JR.

Frank James Howard Jr., 67, husband of Carolyn Calvin Howard and son of the late Frank James Howard Sr. and Mary Ethel Caldwell Howard, was born on Aug. 24, 1957, in Montgomery, Alabama. He departed …

JOHN ARTHUR TINDAL

John Arthur Tindal, 64, son of the late Robert David Tindal and Ethel Lee Samuel Tindal, was born on Nov. 25, 1960, in Sumter. He departed this life on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, at his residence. Family …

JANET PLAYER SMITH

Janet Player Smith, wife of Paul Smith, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. She was born in Sumter on Sept. 26, 1936, to the late James Fleetwood Player and Elsie Huggins Player. She was a member of …

DAVID LEON RICHARDSON

David Leon Richardson, 63, son of the late Ranzy Richardson and Odelle Tomlin Richardson, was born on July 3, 1961, in Sumter. He departed this life on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, at Prisma Health …

HELEN W. FELDER COOK

Helen W. Felder Cook, daughter of the late Willie Wilkes and Evelyn Shaw Wilkes, was born in Sumter on Dec. 25, 1944. Helen departed this earthly life on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. Helen married Hayes …

Faith
The Rev. Dr. Clay Smith: Sleeping in church I admit it - I have fallen asleep in church. When I was a child and we had church on Sunday nights, the preacher's voice seemed hypnotic. A few minutes into his message, I would be stretched out on the pew, lost in la-la land. When I was home …
Living on Purpose: Lord forgive me, and I will be clean God's love and His provision of eternal salvation is the greatest peace and security we could ever hope for. We heard His truth, became convicted, we saw our need for a Savior, and by faith we repented of our sin and cried out for Him to save us. …
Column by the Rev. Dr. Clay Smith: Jesus talks to outsiders; Jesus talks to insiders There are always outsiders who don't quite fit in. Outsiders may be outside by an inch: an odd quirk keeps them out of the inner circle. Outsiders may be outside by a mile: their skin is the wrong color, their religion is wrong, or their culture is …
Trump urges Americans to 'bring God back into our lives' in National Prayer Breakfast speech WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday that his relationship with religion had "changed" after a pair of failed assassination attempts last year, as he advocated at the National …
Celebrations
John Henry and Kerline Jackson celebrate 70 years of marriage John Henry and Kerline Jackson of Sumter celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2025. The couple, who married on Jan. 12, 1955, celebrated with children and family members at Second Mill Restaurant on Saturday, Jan. 25, …
The Trian Ball of Sumter presents 2 debutantes The Trian Ball of Sumter presented two debutantes on Saturday, Dec. 21, at The Quixote Club. From left are Camryn MacKenzie Bateman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Wilburn Bateman III, escorted by Ashley Hunter Ives Jr. and Cadet …
The Trian Ball The Trian Ball of Sumter will present two debutantes on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, at The Quixote Club. Camryn MacKenzie Bateman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Wilburn Bateman III, will be presented by her father and escorted by Maxwell Alexander …
Les Trente Ball Les Trente Ball of Sumter will present four debutantes on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, at The Quixote Club. Owings Elizabeth Holler, daughter of Mr. David Cornwall Holler and the Rev. Josephine Holler, will be escorted by Greyson Holler and Mason …
Dear Abby
Pets for adoption
Dawn the Lab likes to give big hugs

My name is Dawn, and I am a 2-year-old, blonde, female Labrador retriever. I may be a chunky girl, but my heart is even bigger. I am very treat motivated, but it depends on how tasty it is! I also …

Engagements
Reflections

Jewish settlers play important role in Sumter

Reflections celebrates the writings of Cassie Nicholes with another of her contributions to Sumter history, the Jewish settlers. The Sumter Item archives (articles and photos) and additional information provided by Nicholes were used in this …

Yesteryear
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