Michaela angela Davis documentary ‘There’s Something About Sumter’ highlights Almeta Clyburn, importance of hair salons in communities

Helen Delaney, left, and Michaela angela Davis, talk about the "There's Something About Sumter: Almeta's Story" screening after a surprise book signing of Delaney's "The Well" on March 26.
Since her initial public appearance in town last December, Michaela angela Davis has made repeated trips to Sumter, or "home," as she often refers to the county now. In this most recent visit on March 26, she came bearing gifts in the form of a …
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Arts & Entertainment

PHOTOS: Swan Con returns to Sumter with art displays, vendors, cosplayers and more

After a two-year hiatus, USC Sumter and the Sumter County Cultural Commission partnered to bring Swan Con back to Sumter. The event featured artists, vendors, cosplayers and more for a community-wide celebration around pop culture. Art was submitted …

Nation & World
Trump to be arraigned Tuesday to face New York indictment

NEW YORK - Former President Donald Trump will be arraigned Tuesday after his indictment in New York City, court officials said Friday, his formal surrender and arrest presenting the historic, shocking scene of a former U.S. commander in chief …

Justice Department sues Norfolk Southern over derailment The federal government filed a lawsuit against railroad Norfolk Southern over environmental damage caused by a train derailment on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border that spilled hazardous chemicals into nearby creeks and rivers. The U.S. Department of …
Key inflation gauge tracked by the Fed slowed sharply in February, encouraging sign WASHINGTON (AP) - The Federal Reserve's favored inflation gauge slowed sharply last month, an encouraging sign in the Fed's yearlong effort to cool price pressures through steadily higher interest rates. Friday's report from the Commerce …
Russia might put strategic nukes in Belarus, leader says TALLINN, Estonia (AP) - Russian strategic nuclear weapons might be deployed to Belarus along with part of Russia's tactical nuclear arsenal, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Friday, ramping up his rhetoric amid tensions with the West …
Endangered status sought for gopher tortoise in 4 states ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Gopher tortoises imperiled by loss of habitat largely caused by human development should be placed on the endangered species list in four Southern states, environmental groups said Wednesday as they prepared to sue the federal …
State News
USDA invests more than $48.6M to manage risks, combat climate change

SUBMITTED COLUMBIA - The U.S. Department of Agriculture will invest more than $48.6 million this year through the Joint Chiefs' Landscape Restoration Partnership for projects that mitigate wildfire risk, improve water quality, restore forest …

Alex Murdaugh to be kept in protective custody in prison COLUMBIA  (AP) — South Carolina prison officials have decided to keep former attorney and convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh in a special protective unit as he begins serving his life …
Murdaugh judge Newman not surprised by jury's quick verdict The judge who presided over Alex Murdaugh's murder trial in South Carolina told his law school he wasn't surprised the jury came back with a guilty verdict in three hours. Judge Clifton Newman returned to Cleveland State University where he …
S.C. senators advance ban on gender-affirming care for minors COLUMBIA - About five dozen advocates for transgender youth rallied outside the South Carolina Statehouse as Republican senators joined their conservative counterparts nationwide in advancing a ban on gender-affirming medical care for minors. A …
Their stories were lost to slavery. Now DNA is writing them CHARLESTON - In the 1700s, a boy was born into slavery in Colonial America. He spent his life working in the coastal city of Charleston, South Carolina. And when he died in middle age, he was buried alongside 35 other slaves. That's the likely …
Obituaries
SHARON RICHARDSON SCHRADER

LEXINGTON - Sharon Richardson Schrader, 75, widow of Kelly Randolph Schrader Jr., died on Thursday, March 30, 2023, at Lexington Medical Center in Lexington. Born in Sumter, she was a daughter of the late William Jarvis Richardson and Margaret …

RUBY LEE CANTY

MANNING - Ruby Lee Canty, 81, of Manning, passed on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Gardenview Funeral Chapel LLC of Athens, Georgia.

RALPH L. WALLING JR.

Ralph L. Walling Jr., 81, husband of Mary Ann Cope Walling, died on Friday, March 31, 2023, at Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital. Services will be announced by Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter.

GOODEN

ANNIE BELL LAWSON GOODEN

A graveside service for Annie Bell Lawson Gooden will be held at 3 p.m. today at Hillside Memorial Park, 2561 Cains Mill Road, Sumter, officiated by the Rev. Dr. D.L. Grant Sr. The public may view from 1 to 2 p.m. at Palmer Memorial Chapel, …

SWEAT

JAMES E. SWEAT

Funeral services for James E. Sweat will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday at Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, 14 N. Brand St., Sumter, with the Rev. Larry W. Barnes, pastor, officiating. Interment will follow in Bradford Cemetery. A public …

Faith
Church News: Friday, March 31, 2023 Church of Christ, 313 Mooneyham Road, announces: * Sunday, April 16 - The 27th pastoral anniversary of Pastor James L. and Mrs. Alethia Clark will be celebrated at 3 p.m. The Rev. Robert L. China, pastor of Wayman Chapel AME Church, will …
Comfort, trauma and peace: Sumter churches hold service after murder-suicide rocks community Ava was known to love bright colors such as teal, coral, blue and green. Aason had a love for cars and going places fast. Aayden, a laid-back, mellow soul who often shouted from the mountain top how much he adored his family, was known to have …
'Enough is Enough' say Sumter AMEs; District churches hold vigil against gun violence Members of the 26 Sumter District African Methodist Episcopal churches gathered at Wayman Chapel AMEC Saturday afternoon to say "Enough is Enough" when it comes to gun violence. The theme encompasses an ongoing push to end gun violence and is the …
Community prayer services organized for this weekend after Sumter murder-suicide In response to Tuesday night's shooting in Sumter that claimed the lives of five, including three children, a soldier stationed at U.S. Army Central and a former soldier who was identified as the …
Celebrations
Sapphire Marie Montgomery Nevarone V. Montgomery of Bronx, New York, and Isabell Rodriguez of New York City, New York, announce the birth of a daughter, Sapphire Marie Montgomery, on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York. Sapphire weighed …
Larkins celebrate 60 years Charlie and Ernestine Larkin of Sumter celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, with a small, intimate gathering. Their two children are Renee Larkin (Phillip) Washington and Brenda Larkin (Tracy) Chamblee of …
The Sumter Assembly The Sumter Assembly will present three debutantes on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, at Quixote Club in Sumter. Margaret Pinckney Kilpatrick, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert McCord Kilpatrick, will be presented by her father and escorted by Kyle Brown …
The Lord Clarendon Cotillion MANNING - The Lord Clarendon Cotillion will present three debutantes at its annual ball on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, at The Matrix Center in Manning. Elloise Troup Bethea, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Partridge Bethea Jr., will be presented by …
Dear Abby
Pets for adoption
Sumter SPCA's Dora would be great in a home with active kids

FAR LEFT: Dora is a 6-month-old Labrador mix. She has a very sweet and affectionate personality and loves to run, play and be active. Dora is great with children and is good with some dogs. She would be great in a home with active children who love …

Weddings
Hubbard-Lane CHARLESTON - Kristen Ashleigh Hubbard and Ethan Foster Lane, both of Mount Pleasant, were united in marriage at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022, at St. Luke's Chapel on the campus of the Medical University of South Carolina. The Rev. Joseph …
Engagements
Coonce, Koonce Mr. and Mrs. Joe Coonce Sr. of Sumter announce the engagement of their daughter, Melissa LuAnne Coonce of Sumter, to David Edward Koonce II of Florence, son of Mr. and Mrs. David Koonce Sr. of Darlington. A summer wedding is planned.
Geddings-Trageser Mr. and Mrs. William Thomas Geddings Jr. of Manning announce the engagement of their daughter, Mary Elizabeth Geddings of Charleston, to Nicholas Jay Trageser of Summerville, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Jay Trageser of Summerville. The …
Graham-Wilder Tad and Lyndy Graham announce the engagement of their daughter, Hannah Griffith Graham, to David Morris Wilder, son of Jay and Heather Wilder, all of Manning.The bride-elect is the granddaughter of …
Smith-Horton Mr. and Mrs. Eric Gant Smith announce the engagement of their daughter, Taylor Danielle Smith, to Joseph Samuel Horton, son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Lawrence Horton, all of Sumter. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.J. "Buddy" …
Reflections

Reflections by Sammy Way: Women with Sumter ties honored for National Women's History Month, part II

Part 2 of Reflections continues its focus on some prominent women in Sumter's history. Information and photos used to prepare this piece were taken from The Sumter Item archives and the writings of Cassie Nicholes. Part one can be read in the March …

Yesteryear
Yesteryear by Sammy Way: Sumter tries to be included in pro baseball; war memorial fund seeks contributions 75 YEARS AGO - 1948 Sept. 7 - 13 - The Southern railway's northbound Carolina Special plummeted into a swollen tributary of Broad River near here, killing the fireman and seriously injuring the engineer. Nearly eight inches of rain in the 24 …
Yesteryear by Sammy Way: 'Angel derby' race makes stop in Santee; Patty Berg holds golf clinic and exhibition at Sunset club for 150 fans 75 YEARS AGO - 1948 Aug. 31 - Sept. 6 - In the finals of the ladies division of the City Tennis Tournament, Frances Burns defeated Dot McColloch by scores of 6-0, 6-3, to win the championship. In the second set, McColloch played a steady game …
Yesteryear by Sammy Way: Votamatic machines new to Sumter; Winn school gets marker 75 YEARS AGO - 1948 Aug. 24 - 30 - Ernest W. Stokes, newly elected executive secretary of the South Carolina High School League, spoke at the Sumter Rotary Club meeting. Stokes, whose home is in Hartsville, was introduced by Hugh T. Stoddard, …
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