LOCAL: Want to be a ‘yarn bomber’ ? Sign up today A2 Tiger finishes 1 over par Finau on Masters’ leaderboard with injured ankle B1 SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2018 75 CENTS POLLEN FACTS ‘ ’ Grasses are the most common cause of allergies. It’s sneezing season, but the yellow stuff Ragweed is the most common weed allergy. isn’t what causes your spring allergies A doctor can determine whether you have a pollen allergy with a BY BRUCE MILLS Those who struggle with seasonal allergies skin scratch test or blood test. [email protected] suffer this time of year from symptoms such Allergy shot therapy has been as sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes. available for more than 100 years. pring brings forth many wonderful There are actually different types of pollen Using central air-conditioning things to people from nature with its that cause allergies, according to experts. with a HEPA filter attachment can S warmer temperatures, but there is at Tree pollen peaks in the spring, grass pollen help reduce allergy symptoms. least one unwelcome companion each peaks in the summer, and weed pollen peaks Source: Asthma and Allergy Foundation in the fall. of America year — pollen. SEE POLLEN, PAGE A6 No spring break Why militarization for detention of border isn’t new ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) press Mexican-American re- center students — President Donald Trump’s volts stemming from anger promise to use the National over white mob violence. BY ADRIENNE SARVIS ADRIENNE SARVIS / THE SUMTER ITEM Guard to secure the U.S.-Mexi- Here’s a look at how the U.S. [email protected] A few inmates at Sumter-Lee Regional Detention co border isn’t a new concept has used the military and Center are making the most of the time by and is something the U.S. has armed militias along the bor- While other students enjoyed a week strengthening their education with courses of- done in the past for varying der: away from school, GED and WorkKeys stu- fered by Sumter County Adult Education. reasons. SLAVERY AND CHINESE dents at Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Both Presidents George W. EXCLUSION Center remained in the classroom to fur- attending her classes as students. Bush and Barack Obama sent ther their plans for self-improvement. “When you label somebody, that’s what National Guard troops to the After the U.S. seized Texas Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis you’ve got,” she said. border when they were in the and American Southwest fol- re-implemented the educational programs at Baten instructs separate WorkKeys and White House. And throughout lowing the U.S.-Mexico War, the detention center after they were discon- GED class for male and female students the history of the borderlands, armed militias patrolled the tinued. He was recently given authority over throughout the week. the military or armed militias border looking for runaway the facility by Sumter and Lee counties. “Even though you’re in here,” she said, have been dispatched there to black slaves. The traditional “I refuse to call them inmates,” said Alex- “don’t think this has to stop you.” keep black slaves from fleeing, Underground Railroad to the andra Baten, the primary GED and Work- remove Native Americans Keys instructor. Instead, she refers to those SEE EDUCATION, PAGE A5 from ancestral lands and sup- SEE BORDER, PAGE A6 VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B4 WEATHER, A10 INSIDE Alonzo L. Conyers Sr. Corine J. Davis WARMER DAY 3 SECTIONS, 26 PAGES the .com VOL. 123, NO. 121 Chappell T. Bennett Sr. Caretha Green Partly sunny and warmer Earlean Hammett-Blue Nella Faye H. Mackey today; cloudy tonight USA Today C1 Opinion A9 Roy T. Tanner Clara Belle B. Collins HIGH 78, LOW 59 Classifieds B5 Television C4 Adria Dell Stukes Bonnah Mae A. Ellerbe C6 A7 Iris P. Singleton Comics Clarendon Sun Sports B1 A2 | FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2018 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Yarn Explosion will cover Cultural Center grounds Columbia experts to help locals create massive installation BY IVY MOORE Special to The Sumter Item Sumter has had a few “yarn bomb- ings,” lampposts or telephone poles partially covered in knitted or cro- cheted fabric by some anonymous person or persons. But now in prog- ress is a yarn bombing event so big it can only be called an “explosion.” Between April and early fall, a team of experienced yarn bombers out of Columbia will work with sever- al local teams of knitters and crochet- ers to plan and execute a massive in- stallation that will see the trees, fix- tures and even the columns in front of Patriot Hall covered in colorful fabric designs. Colclough said the project will yarn bomb trees on the Haynsworth Street side of the Sumter Cultural Center, “and we hope to ex- tend the project to the (Sumter Coun- ty) Recreation Department, and hope- fully from Mood Avenue to Purdy Street. We will not cover any of the artworks on the grounds. It’s a huge project.” Sumter County Cultural Commis- sion Executive Director Melanie Col- Trees, fixtures and even the columns of Patriot Hall will be covered in yarn through the Sumter Yarn Explosion. clough wrote and secured a $5,000 Connected Communities grant from the Central Carolina Community Thus far, Colclough said, “There WANT TO HELP OR SPONSOR sion of color.” Foundation to fund the Sumter Yarn are five groups of Sumter yarn bomb- SUMTER YARN EXPLOSION? There is plenty of room for any Explosion. ers who will be supported and men- other volunteers who want to partici- “It’s not just yarn bombing,” Col- tored by the ‘professional’ Columbia Contact the Sumter County Cultural Center, pate in the event, she said. While knit- clough said. “The intent (of the proj- yarn bombers. They’ll help them with 135 Haynsworth St., at (803) 436-2260 or ting and crocheting experience is ect is in) bringing neighbors togeth- challenges and to add flair.” email [email protected]. helpful, it is not required for those er” to create amazing art. Squad leaders or community facili- who’d like to get involved. In a news release, she said “ … in- tators will meet with the teams at Colclough also said there are spon- tergenerational and culturally di- least monthly for crochet and knitting sorship opportunities for businesses verse teams of volunteers will spend sessions. Their time spent together bers will gather at Patriot Hall to in- and organizations. time together creating individual will also create bonds between team stall them. “Their logos will be created in pieces of crocheted designs that will members. “It will likely take hours to do it,” yarn,” she said, “and placed in our culminate in art the entire communi- As they work, Colclough said, their Colclough said. “The majority of logo garden on the grounds.” ty can enjoy together.” As an example process and progress will be docu- the work will be done by Sumter The Sumter County Cultural Center of some of the whimsy of the project, mented in photographs and videos, residents. We’ll invite the commu- offers Sumter residents a place to ex- she envisions something like gloves which will be shared on Facebook. nity to come and observe all or part perience creative and diverse cultural or mittens on the hand-shaped chairs Once the yarn bombing pieces are of the installation and participate opportunities. Visit Facebook.com/ in front of Patriot Hall. completed in the fall, the team mem- in the party celebrating the explo- SumterSCArts. Regional director to address Police: Missing CDC worker 2018 USC Sumter graduates drowned; no sign of foul play FROM STAFF REPORTS area municipal and county govern- Body of epidemiologist found by fisherman The new director of a regional ments to assist them in enhancing agency charged with improving quality of life in the region. BY BEN NADLER quality of life in Sumter and sur- A native of Texas, McKinney, 49, Associated Press without finding anything. rounding counties, who previously earned an Associate Degree in Me- Cunningham, 35, was an epidemiol- had a distinguished military career, teorology from the Community Col- ATLANTA — An employee of the ogist at the Atlanta-based federal will be the commencement speaker lege of the Air Force. He also holds Centers for Disease Control and Pre- agency. He disappeared Feb. 12. His for University of South Carolina a Bachelor's degree in Business vention who was reported missing family reported him missing on Feb. Sumter later this spring. Management from American Mili- more than six weeks ago drowned, 16 after going to his home and finding The college sent out a news re- tary University and a Master's de- and there were no signs of foul play, his belongings and vehicle there. lease this week on its annual com- gree in Organizational Leadership authorities said Thursday. Police previously had said they had mencement ceremony, which will from Columbia Southern Universi- Timothy Cunningham's body was no evidence of foul play but couldn't be held May 9 at 11 a.m. in USC ty. found Tuesday partially submerged rule it out. The civilian group Crime Sumter's Nettles Auditorium. In his last position in the Air in water and mud on the west bank of Stoppers offered a reward of up to Chris McKinney, executive direc- Force, McKinney served as com- the Chattahoochee River in northwest $15,000 for information pointing to tor of Santee-Lynches Regional mand chief master sergeant for the Atlanta, fire-rescue department any criminal activity.