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Local stories through a local lens.
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Summer Movie Guide 2025: Here's what's coming to theaters and streaming from May to August
Ethan Hunt's last mission? A new Superman? Happy Gilmore as a dad? Three genre-spanning Pedro Pascal movies, including a romance, a superhero movie and an A24 Ari Aster thriller? Hollywood is pulling …
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Lainey Wilson rules the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards once again, Alan Jackson is honored
NEW YORK (AP) — It was her night once again. Lainey Wilson took home the top prize at the 60th …
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The 60th Academy of Country Music Awards are here. Newcomer Ella Langley leads the nominees
NEW YORK (AP) — The 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards celebrate their 60th anniversary Thursday …
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Enjoy history at Carolina Backcountry Springtime, grab a beer at Palmetto Optimist Club's Microbrew Festival in Sumter, or head to Alcolu for a fish fry and flea market
To make a submission to our events list, email pressrelease@theitem.com with EVENTS in the subject …
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The 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards are coming up. Here's who's nominated and how to watch
NEW YORK (AP) — Excuse me, you look like you might want to see the next generation of country music …
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Trump threatens a 100% tariff on foreign-made films, saying the movie industry in the U.S. is dying
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump is opening a new salvo in his tariff war, targeting films …
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'Thunderbolts' kicks off the summer movie season with $76 million at the box office
NEW YORK (AP) — Marvel Studios' "Thunderbolts" opened with $76 million in domestic ticket …
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'The Amen Corner' to bring laughter to Mother's Day weekend in Sumter
Mother's Day is around the corner, and there's no better gift than the gift of laughter - and two …
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Sumter Little Theatre dazzles in 'Dreamgirls'; show sells out weeks before its opening night
There's a certain magic to Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen's "Dreamgirls." It lives in the music, of …
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What to Stream: Tina Fey and Steve Carell, Martha Stewart and José Andrés, and Maddie & Tae
NEW YORK (AP) — Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick going to Italy for a wedding and some mafia …
WASHINGTON (AP) — The new head of the federal agency tasked with responding to disasters across the country warned staff in a meeting Friday not to try to impede upcoming changes, saying that …
COLUMBIA (AP) — The South Carolina General Assembly wrapped up its regular 2025 session Thursday with a few accomplishments, but a number of things like the fate of the state treasurer and …
Clifton Ivey, 76, died Saturday, May 10, 2025, at his home in Sumter. He was a son of the late Jasper Ivey and Annie Edwards Ivey. He was a retired U.S. Army Vietnam veteran with 22 years …
Timothy Baxter, 64, son of the late James Ernest Baxter and EllaNora Singleton Baxter, was born on June 27, 1960, in Sumter. He departed this life on Friday, May 9, 2025, at Prisma Health Tuomey, …
Karl Ace Jordan III, 75, died on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at his residence in Sumter. Services will be announced at a later date. You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com to sign the family's …
Geneva Durant, 60, daughter of the late John Durant and Georgia Mae Jackson Durant, was born on Jan. 1, 1965, in Mayesville. She departed this life on Monday, May 5, 2025, at Prisma Health Tuomey, …
Mr. James Artis Baughman Sr. "Jim," 85, of Loving Road. Morganton, Georgia, passed away peacefully on Wednesday April 30, 2025, following an extended illness. Jim was born on Sept. 11, 1939, in …
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Dear Abby, May 11, 2025: Ex-wife pops up after four decades to explain
DEAR ABBY: When my first wife and I were in our early 20s, she left me for another man. It was difficult, but I worked through it, learned to …
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Dear Abby, May 10, 2025: Fiancee treats man more like a child than as a partner
DEAR ABBY: I'm engaged to a delightful woman from a foreign country. She's a divorcee, and her 19-year-old son is doing well in college. She …
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Dear Abby, May 9, 2025: Close relative refuses to make good choices in life
DEAR ABBY: My cousin (more like a sister) has made some extremely rash and concerning choices over the last year. After she had her second baby, …
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Dear Abby, May 8, 2025: Alcohol overpowers love and reason for engaged couple
DEAR ABBY: My fiancee and I have been arguing almost every day. We have been verbally and emotionally hurting each other. I love her very much, …
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My name is Scooter, and I am a 3-year-old Manx who loves to cuddle and chitchat. I've been here for a while, and I'm so ready for my family to come take me home. The Sumter SPCA is located at 1140 S. Guignard Drive, (803) 773-9292, and is …
Reflections by Sammy Way: Pierce Butler, S.C. signer of U.S. Constitution, honored by Sumterite
Reflections recalls a tribute to Pierce Butler by Albert L. Moise, a native of Sumter and son of Gen. E. W. Moise, who was a prominent member of the Philadelphia bar at that time. Moise was selected as one of 11 speakers in Pennsylvania to dedicate …
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Reflections by Sammy Way: Hotel Marion was leased by Female Seminary in 1901
Reflections recalls the inauguration of The Sumter Military Academy and Sumter Female Seminary in 1901-03 …
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Reflections by Sammy Way: W.A. McElveen opens Pontiac dealership in Sumter in 1949
Reflections remembers the opening of the McElveen Pontiac sales company in 1949. It was one of Sumter's …
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Reflections by Sammy Way: Sumter schools produced many outstanding athletes, Part III
Reflections recalls interscholastic athletics, primarily football at Lincoln High School. Many of …
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Reflections by Sammy Way: The origin of Bland's Pond
Reflections recalls the beginning of what is known as the Iris Gardens. In 1927, H.C. Bland, who managed …
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Reflections by Sammy Way: Sumter high schools produced many exceptional athletes, Part II
Reflections recalls the late 1920s through the 1950s when Sumter high schools produced some of …
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Reflections by Sammy Way: Sumter high schools produced numerous exceptional athletes
Reflections recalls the late 1920s through the 1950s when Sumter high schools produced some of …
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Reflections: Joel Poinsett, South Carolina statesman
Reflections recalls Joel Poinsett and the many contributions he made to his state and country. His …
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Reflections by Sammy Way: Tuskegee Airmen's first battle recounted in magazine, Part II
Reflections will reprint an article written in Yank Magazine written on Aug. 3, 1943, and appearing …
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Letter to the editor: Ragin has used board position to advance personal goals
I read the article concerning the school district chairman starting a charter school. He can say whatever he wishes, but he did this behind most …
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Letter to the editor: City of Sumter's policy of doing nothing not working
Visitors see City of Sumter, not SCDOT. It appears that blaming SCDOT is a poor excuse for the City of Sumter. A pre-owned toilet has been on …
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Letter to the editor: Improvement requires inclusion, not assumption
I read Mr. Larry McLeod's recent letter with interest. His desire to improve Sumter is commendable, and we share common ground in wanting a …
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Letter to the editor: Please donate May 10 to others facing food insecurity
Saturday, May 10, marks the 33rd anniversary of one of America's great days of giving- The National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out …
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Letter to the editor: We need knowledge delivered without breathless emotion
The word that comes to mind when I think of political reporting since the Clinton era is breathless. Whether from the right with respect to …
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Letter to the editor: 5 ways to make Sumter a much better city
1. Repair potholes properly. We may need an engineer to design the proper way to repair a pothole. The repair should be even with the top of the …
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