Happening Now
Sumter County Deputy Public Defender Timothy Murphy speaks with his client, Daunte Johnson, on Thursday at the Sumter County Detention Center. A judge ruled there is probable cause to move forward with all five charges of which Johnson is accused in the slaying case of Sharee Bradley and her 5-year-old daughter, Nevaeh Adams.
Johnson to stand trial in death of Sumter mother, missing 5-year-old girl
2nd victim in gang-related Cherryvale shooting dies
SIMMONS
These are the homicides that have occurred in Sumter County as of Sept. 18, 2019
Sumter district's new year-end projections are enough to get out of fiscal emergency status
South Sumter residents split over potential CBD manufacturer

Practicing to be perfect: Sumter firefighters hold 2-day training

Donnie Scarborough helps feed rope through the ladder of a fire truck. Members of the Sumter Fire Department worked on hoisting a "victim" to safety with the help of the ladder on their truck and a series of pulleys at the training grounds on Wednesday. The session is part of a two-day refresher course on rope skills.
Members of the Sumter Fire Department worked on hoisting a “victim” to safety with the help of the ladder on their truck and a series of pulleys at the training grounds on Wednesday. The …
Fundraiser started for family of fatal I-95 wreck victim
"Able" was painted by artist Elken Grate during the Grand Finale Show of Sumter Fashion Week.
Georgetown artist looks to have gallery in Sumter someday
Short course offered at Prisma Health Tuomey to provide training in bleeding control

Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019

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Studio Sumter

A Week on the Gridiron with the Sumter Gamecocks: Episode 1

For Episode 1 of A Week on the Gridiron, we see what the Sumter High School Gamecocks did to prepare for a match up with their crosstown rival, Lakewood.

Presented by our wonderful sponsors Hines …

Clemson players Nolan Turner and Lyn-J Dixon celebrate a touchdown against Syracuse during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in Syracuse, N.Y.
Gap between college football's elite and rest grows
Area roundup
Sumter girls tennis picks up first win in region opener
Tim Leible / The Sumter Item Lakewood quarterback Cody Windham (12) prepares to pass during the Gators' 61-0 loss to Sumter on Friday. Lakewood will be on the road against Hemingway on Friday.
A case of extremes: After losing to 5A power Sumter, Gators take on struggling Hemingway
Keeping up
Stoddard finds success with Anderson cross country
San Francisco Giants' Mike Yastrzemski (5) is congratulated after his solo home run in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019. Yastrzemski is the grandson of Red Sox great and Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski.
Yaz's grandson homers for Giants in first game at Fenway
Poll of the Week

How are you going back to school this week?

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Interested in geneology? Register for Saturday's Research Tea Party at Sumter County Museum
Wanted North Carolina man flees Sumter officers
Education seminar, free legal consultation for Heirs' Property owners offered Saturday
Sumter man dead after falling from Myrtle Beach balcony
A child sits for a caricature at last year’s Art in the Park. This year’s event will be Saturday.
Visit 'outdoor art gallery' Saturday in Sumter

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More Sports
Alice Drive, Hillcrest volleyball teams remain undefeated
Tim Leible / The Sumter ItemSumter quarterback Hayden Vazquez (15) rolls out for a pass in the Gamecocks' 61-0 victory over Lakewood on Friday at Memorial Stadium. The Gamecocks remained in seventh among 5A schools in this week's S.C. Prep Medial Poll.
Sumter still seventh in 5A; Cavaliers No. 1 in SCISA 2A
HORTON
Clarendon Hall's Horton earns steak dinner, Player of Week honor
Alice Drive remains undefeated, beats Furman 3-1
Angels' Trout to have surgery on right foot

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Food

These Caramel Apple Wraps are easy enough for children to put together

Make this Farmer's Casserole for a ready-to-serve weekend dish
It's never too early for Spiced Pumpkin Bars

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Panorama
A bartender serves patrons Rae of Sunshine mocktails at Sans Bar pop-up bar at The Factory Luxe in Seattle.

With a nudge from the young and sober, mocktails taking hold

NEW YORK - Five years ago, for her 27th birthday, Lorelei Bandrovschi gave up drinking for a month on a dare. She was a casual drinker and figured it would be easy. It was, but she hadn't banked on learning so much about herself in the …

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Nation & World
Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle via APCars drive on a flooded street in Sargent, Texas, as seen in this aerial photo Wednesday. Sargent received 22 inches of rain since tropical storm Imelda hit the area on Tuesday, according to Matagorda County Constable Bill Orton.
'It's bad': Water rescues begin as Imelda soaks east Texas

HOUSTON (AP) — Rain from Tropical Depression Imelda deluged parts of Texas and Louisiana on Thursday, prompting hundreds of water rescues, a hospital evacuation and road closures in areas east of …

Poll: Americans somewhat confident in climate fight WASHINGTON (AP) - Most Americans are at least somewhat confident that the world will step up in its fight against global warming - but there are limits to their optimism. That's according to a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for …
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Sylvanus Jackson brings his dog out to meet Lizzy Trawick, a coordinator for LifeLine Animal Project's Pets for Life program in Atlanta. Trawick visited Jackson's neighborhood to complete door-to-door outreach for the program, which provides free resources to pet owners in need. Jackson said he has benefitted from the program and thanked the representatives who visited.
Program lends hand to low-income animal owners in Atlanta ATLANTA - Of all the animals peering sadly through the cage bars of shelters across the country, 25% of them once had an owner who gave them up for one reason or another, according to national statistics. Those who did because they could no …
Number of abortions in U.S. falls to lowest since 1973 NEW YORK (AP) - The number and rate of abortions across the United States have plunged to their lowest levels since the procedure became legal nationwide in 1973, according to new figures released Wednesday. The report from the Guttmacher …
The Saudi military displays what it says are an Iranian cruise missile and drones used in a recent attack on its oil industry at Saudi Aramco's facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais during a news conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday.
Saudi Arabia says Iran missiles, drones attacked oil sites RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia alleged Wednesday an attack by drones and cruise missiles on the heart of the kingdom's oil industry was "unquestionably sponsored by Iran," naming but not directly accusing Tehran of launching the assault. …

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State News
Husband who reported wife missing now charged in her death

SUMMERVILLE (AP) — Police in South Carolina have arrested a former high school principal accused of killing his wife. News outlets report 64-year-old James Yarborough called Summerville police …

Former inmate works with nonprofit to help prisoner reentry By ZOE NICHOLSON The Greenville News SPARTANBURG - The Upstate suffers from a labor shortage, and a few businesses are turning to a former prison inmate for help. In 2003, Don Williams was days away from finishing a year-long sentence for a …
S.C. man tries to save wife; both die in fire MOUNT PLEASANT (AP) - Authorities said a South Carolina man ran back into his burning home to save his wife before both of them died from smoke inhalation. Mount Pleasant police released new information Friday into the deaths of 80-year-old …
This May 2018 photo shows Jay Jenkins in the emergency room of the Lexington Medical Center. Jenkins suffered acute respiratory failure and drifted into a coma, according to his medical records, after he says he vaped a product labeled as a smokable form of the cannabis extract CBD. Lab testing commissioned as part of an Associated Press investigation into CBD vapes showed the cartridge that Jenkins says he puffed contained a synthetic marijuana compound blamed for at least 11 deaths in Europe.
Vapes spiked with illegal drugs show dark side of CBD craze Jay Jenkins says he hesitated when a buddy suggested they vape CBD. "It'll relax you," the friend assured. The vapor that Jenkins inhaled didn't relax him. After two puffs, he ended up in a coma. That's because the vapor he inhaled wasn't …
AP finds synthetic marijuana sold as CBD in S.C.
LEXINGTON (AP) - An Associated Press investigation shows a dark side to booming sales of the cannabis extract CBD. Some people are substituting cheap and dangerous street drugs for the real thing. For the investigation, a reporter purchased five …

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Obituaries

ENGLISH

MARY ELIZA ENGLISH

Funeral services for Mary Eliza English will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Asbury United Methodist Church, 355 Pudding Swamp Road, Lynchburg, with the Rev. Shirley McKnight officiating. Interment will follow at Florence National Cemetery, 803 E. …

GENEVA GASS WASHINGTON

Geneva Gass Washington, affectionately called "Sister," was born Dec. 18, 1944, in Sumter, the first born to her lovely parents, the late Lawrence Green and Evestar Gass Wells. She departed this life on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019. She attended the …

WILLIE MCCRAY

Willie McCray, widower of Tawanda Jones McCray and Josephine Thompson McCray, died on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019. Born on Jan. 15, 1935, in Clarendon County, he was a son of the late Cubit Sr. and Bertha Williams McCray. The family is receiving …

LINNETTE MAUDE ANDERSON

Linnette Maude Anderson, age 92, died Monday, Sept. 16, 2019, at Agape Hospice House in Columbia. You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family's guest book. The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.

BERTHA BETHUNE MCKINNEY

CAMDEN — Bertha Bethune McKinney, 96, widow of Deacon Joe Nathan McKinney, died Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. She was a daughter of the late Lawson and Julia Ann Wallace Bethune. Wake services …

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Celebrations
MR., MRS. BOB KNEZEVICH
Knezevichs celebrate 60 years of marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bob Knezevich of Sumter celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Saturday, July 13, 2019. They were married on July 18, 1959. A party was given in their honor by their four children: Sherry Portillo, Deb Knezevich, Pam Osborne …
MR., MRS. HAROLD MAJOR SR.
Majors celebrate 50 years together Mr. and Mrs. Harold Major Sr. of Rembert celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary today, June 30, 2019. Their two children are Yolanda Williams and her husband, Nathan Williams, of Charleston and Harold Major Jr. and his wife, Jonika Major, of …
MR., MRS. BILL BARKLEY
Barkleys celebrate 50 years of marriage Bill and Wanda Barkley of Sumter celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Friday, June 14, 2019. The couple has one daughter and her husband, Tiffany and Arthur Takahashi of Augusta, Georgia; and one granddaughter. Mrs. Barkley is the …

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Faith
Church News: Friday, Sept. 13, 2019 Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 2571 Joseph Lemon-Dingle Road, Jordan community, Manning, announces: * Sunday, Sept. 22 - The 12th pastoral anniversary of Pastor Sam and Meraldine Livingston will be celebrated during 10 a.m. worship. Pastor …
SMITH
Doris didn't die Late one night my phone rang. Doris' son was on the phone. She had been found unconscious and was in the hospital in the ICU. The outlook was grim. Could I please come? You can't say "no" to that kind of request. I tried to dress quickly in the …
Church News: Friday, Sept. 6, 2019 Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 2571 Joseph Lemon-Dingle Road, Jordan community, Manning, announces: * Sunday, Sept. 22 - The pastor's aide ministry and church family will celebrate the 12th pastoral anniversary of Pastor Sam and Meraldine …
SMITH
How far your words will go... It's an old story, but a good one. I've used it as a sermon illustration several times. A woman went to see her pastor. She confessed she had gossiped about him, telling half-truths and creating a false picture of his character. The Holy Spirit …
Dear Abby
Pets for adoption
Jasper is a big, sweet lovebug

BELOW: Jasper, a gorgeous hound mix, is a good boy. He weighs 58 pounds and is 3-5 years old. This big lovebug is not too sure of his new surroundings at animal control. He enjoys his time out of the kennel walking and interacting with the …

Weddings
MRS. CARL EVANS III
Harrison-Evans MANNING - Allison Marie Harrison of Sumter and Carl Matthews Evans III of New Zion were united in marriage at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 29, 2019, at Manning United Methodist Church. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Sean Harrison of …

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Engagements
MR. CHRISTMAS, MISS GENTELE
Gentele-Christmas Edward Louie Jr. and Melanie Bisom Gentele announce the engagement of their daughter, Lauren Brook Gentele, to Clayton Lee Christmas, son of Robert Allen and Lynn Baker Christmas, all of Sumter. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Donna …
Miss COLEMAN, MR. BRUNSON
Coleman-Brunson Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Coleman Sr. announce the engagement of their daughter, Alison Paige Coleman, to Taylor David Brunson, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. David Brunson, all of Sumter. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mr. James Arthur Bradley …
MR. GIBBONS, MISS CROMER
Cromer-Gibbons Mr. and Mrs. Perron Mark Cromer of Sumter announce the engagement of their daughter, Virginia Montague Cromer of Sumter, to Kerry Lynn Gibbons of Manning, son of the late Mr. Edward Guy Gibbons Jr. and Mrs. Lisa Liscio Gibbons of Manning. The …
Reflections
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Sunset colors fill the sky over the White House on May 18 in Washington. Hubert D. Osteen, editor and publisher of The Sumter Daily Item, was invited to the White House in 1963.

Sumter editor describes trip to White House

Reflections will reprint the second part of an article from The Sumter Item archives written by Hubert D. Osteen, editor and publisher of The Sumter Daily Item, in 1963 which pertained to his visit to the White House at the request of President John …

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Yesteryear
SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO April 7, 1945 - Aboard a Coast Guard-manned troop transport crossing the Atlantic, two Sumter soldiers complete one leg of a trip to bring them to combat zones beyond the Rhine. The men who were to participate in the final phases of the Battle of Germany are Pvt. Gordon L. Usry of West Oakland Avenue and Pvt. Francis M. Hussey of Morgan Avenue.
Housewives urged to take part in paper drive; Rogers begins flowerbeds for city 75 YEARS AGO - 1945 April 6-April 12 - Donors will be able to find the collection depot of the United National Clothing Collection, for E.S. Stroman, head of the signs and placards work of the publicity committee, is planning to have a huge …
SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO Sept. 4, 1994 - Gary Blakeman, left, the director of U.S. manufacturing operations for Becton Dickinson, and Rick Cook, the manager of BD's Sumter plant, look over some of the plant's products. The Sumter plant manufactures blood-collection devices.
Yesteryear by Sammy Way: Admirers flock to see old azalea bush; nation's 1st draft begins in generation 75 YEARS AGO - 1945 March 30 - April 5 - Cpl. Robert T. Davis, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. T. Davis, was recently awarded the Bronze Star for heroic achievement in action. He was serving with the Fifth Army in the 178th Field Artillery battalion. …
SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO Aug. 30, 1994 - Members of the Aldersgate United Methodist choir rehearse for their upcoming trip to Carnegie Hall. From left are Jenky Summers, Teresa Hancock, Janet Price, Bud Hatcher and Cheryl Caruso.
Pony cart helps beat gas shortage; Sumter choir heads to NYC 75 YEARS AGO - 1945 March 23 - March 29 - When repairs were necessary on the city of Sumter's gasoline storage tank, gasoline trucks from Shaw Field were used to drain and store the fuel until the tank was back in service. Last Saturday the …

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From the opinion pages
Columnists
 Editorial cartoon: Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019
GURTOV
Opinion: No war for Saudi oil
MARC THIESSEN
Opinion: Smearing of Kavanaugh continues
Your view
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