SPORTS Zion, Duke to play in Columbia on Friday B1 TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2019 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 75 cents Deputies find 21 pot plants while serving warrant Craig Alan Till are her clothing and prevented Growing operation was practice for selling Till Jr., 35, also each her from leaving the room by both of facing a blocking the door. professionally in Colorado, suspect says Ridgewood first-de- Miles is accused of holding BY KAYLA ROBINS The victim told Sumter Drive, and gree crimi- the woman down at times [email protected] County Sheriff’s Office depu- Billy Joe nal sexual while Till forcibly had sexual ties she saw the drug activity McCoy Jr., TILL McCOY MILES conduct intercourse with the victim Investigators confiscated 21 — which one of the suspects 26, of True- charge. while “she tried to resist and marijuana plants and 42.6 ad- reportedly said was in an ef- field Drive, The vic- get away,” according to the ditional grams of pot when fort to perfect his growing have been charged with manu- tim told investigators those sheriff’s office. they found a marijuana-grow- methods before moving to facturing marijuana for the two suspects came into her With that incident reportedly ing operation while serving a Colorado — while she was drug operation, according to room one night this month. occurring on Saturday, investi- search warrant related to a temporarily staying at the res- Adrienne Sarvis, public infor- Warrants state they forcibly gators entered the sexual assault case in Rem- idence on Ridgewood Drive. mation officer for the sher- held the victim down and bert. Rebecca Allyn Miles, 31, and iff’s office. Miles and kissed her while removinremovingg SEE POT, PAGE A6 City debuts arts and food festival honoring the late philanthropist Ackerman BY IVY MOORE Special to The Sumter Item new festival comes to Sumter in April, planned by the Ackerman Legacy AFoundation, a new organization formed in memory of Roger Ackerman, who died in September last year. The name of the April 4-7 event, Inspire! Festi- val, reflects Ackerman’s inspiring achievements in the arts but also a goal of the foundation to inspire others to participate in and support the arts. Ackerman was a noted philanthropist and dedicated support- er of arts and culture in Schedule of Events Sumter. He inspired nu- merous adults and chil- dren through his advocacy SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO of visual art, music, theater Deane and Roger Ackerman, philan- and history — and his love of AARTISTRTIS SHOWCASE thropists and supporters of the arts, good food. Not only was it his CONCERT ON MAIN When: April 6, 6-9 pp.m..mm are seen at a past cultural event in dream to see the arts thrive in AT LA PIAZZA Sumter. The Inspire! Festival, A Cele- his adopted hometown, but Acker- Where: City Centre, 21 N. Main St. bration of Food, Arts & Music in man was also a primary driver of When: April 6, 7:30-11 p.m. Details: View an exhibition by Deane Ackerman, Sumter, organized and coordinated the successful efforts to establish Where: North Main Street, accomplished, award-winning artist whose works are in by the Ackerman Legacy Founda- downtown Sumter great demand tion, debuts April 4-7. SEE INSPIRE, PAGE A6 Details: Rob Crosby Group and Tickets: Free, donations accepted the Footnotes on stage More information: www.sumterinspirefestival.org Tickets: $25 includes beer, wine BROTHERS GRIMM and non-alcoholic beverages SPECTACULATHON Purchase: At Sumter County SHRIMP FEAST Museum, Sumter County Gallery of CHAMBER MUSIC WITH NEW YORK When: April 4-7, 7:30 p.m. Art, Sumter Little Theatre, Sidebar, When: April 4, 6-9 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2 p.m. CITY-BASED DECODA ENSEMBLE Swan Lake Visitors Center or www. AND ATTACA QUARTET Where: Sumter County Museum, 122 Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday sumterinspirefestival.org N. Washington St. Where: Sumter Little Theatre, 14 When: April 7, 3 p.m. Details: All-you-can-eat skewered, Mood Ave. Where: Temple Sinai Jewish History Center, 11 boiled and grilled shrimp, shrimp and Details: Two narrators and several Church St. grits, Lowcountry boil, barbecue, beer, actors combine 200 Grimm’s Fairy GALLERY AFTER HOURS Details: Experience a moving chamber music wine, soft drinks. Music by Johnny Tales in a wild comedy with performance in the beautiful Temple Sinai from Hilton and Friends. audience participation. Cinderella, When: April 5, 6-9 p.m. two nationally renowned New York City chamber Tickets: $30 in advance for museum Snow White, Hansel and Gretel Where: Sumter County Gallery of Art, 200 music ensembles: Decoda, a Carnegie Hall members, $40 in advance for non- like you’ve never seen them Hasell St. affiliate, and Attaca Quartet. Celebrate the members, $45 at the door before. Details: Enjoy fine art exhibition by Stephen memory of Roger Ackerman, who dreamed of filling the sanctuary with music and life. Purchase: (803) 775-0908 | www. Tickets: $15 adults, $10 students/ Chesley, refreshments and music sumtercountymuseum.org seniors/military Tickets: Free, donations accepted Tickets: $15 for museum members, $20 for non- members, $5 for students Purchase: (803) 775-2150 | www. More information: (803) 775-0543 | www. sumterlittletheatre.com sumtergallery.com Purchase: (803) 775-0908 | www. sumtercountymuseum.org VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B5 WEATHER, A8 INSIDE Donald Ray McKnight Vermell Ragin Carter SUNNY AND COOL 2 SECTIONS, 16 PAGES the .com VOL. 124, NO. 107 Khalif Bilal Patterson William Edward DeLaine Partly sunny and cooler; W. Patrick Goins Dorothy Mae Williams clear and cold tonight Classifieds B7 Sports B1 Roosevelt Champagne Dr. William Thomas Painter Sr. HIGH 59, LOW 36 Comics A5 Television B6 Charlton McLeod Don Edward McBride George Watson Brown Eric Anthony Mogle Sr. Opinion A7 Raymond Holland Jacquelin Cook Allgood A2 | TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2019 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Grants awarded to 2 local groups to improve ‘livability’ BY IVY MOORE bles, Decoda and Attaca Quartet. Deco- Special to The Sumter Item da, the first affiliate of Carnegie Hall, comprises young musicians who play a Two area organizations have been variety of music, often in unexpected awarded Communities Grants from the arrangements. Central Carolina Community Founda- The Washington Post reviewer wrote PHOTOS PROVIDED tion “to increase the livability of the of Attaca Quartet, “they come very Midlands region.” The Sumter County close to epitomizing the string quartet Attaca Quartet will be in concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 7, at Temple Sinai Jewish Histo- Museum and Mt. Calvary Missionary ideal: four strikingly individual players ry Center, 11 Church St. Like Decoda, their performance is funded in part by a grant Baptist Church in Bishopville expect to with the ability to speak eloquently in from the Central Carolina Community Foundation. launch their projects this month. one voice.” According to a press release, “Con- “The concerts will expand the muse- nected Communities grants are funded um’s reach in the Sumter community, Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist spirational speaker for Mt. Calvary’s by the Foundation’s Community Im- increase awareness of the center and Church, 714 Camden Highway, Bishop- “Small Town — Great Beginnings” pact Endowment fund and a number of create a unique, shared experience for ville, will host its first exploratory project, is a retired teacher who now Field of Interest funds for the arts.” the community,” according to CCCF. meeting at 11 a.m. Saturday. Carolyn owns a print shop. These funds were established with gifts Sumter County Museum Executive Harvey, coordinator of the church’s “We want to involve not just individu- from donors in order to enable the Director Annie Rivers said the concerts Connected Communities project, said als, but entire families,” Harvey said. CCCF to respond to the ever-changing will also afford the public another op- representatives of various organiza- “We especially want to encourage Lee needs and opportunities of Midlands portunity to tour the Temple Sinai Jew- tions and businesses in Lee County and County’s young people.” communities. ish History Center and to learn more members of the public will meet to dis- She said the church will hold after- Grant awards for 2019 total $327,000 to about Temple Sinai’s contributions to cuss the area’s needs and how they school tutorials for Lee County’s youth 14 recipients for projects in Fairfield, the community and education about the might be met. and help to provide fine arts, music, vi- Kershaw, Lee, Lexington, Newberry, Or- Holocaust. Noting that Lee County is one of the sual art, dance and more that are not angeburg, Richland and Sumter coun- Both ensembles will perform at 3 p.m. poorest areas in the state, Harvey said readily available for them. ties. on Sunday, April 7, at Temple Sinai she expects the meeting’s attendees to Both the chamber music concerts at The Sumter County Museum’s grant Jewish History Center, 11 Church St., address deficits in education, recre- Temple Sinai and the Mt. Calvary proj- will help fund a performance by two as part of Sumter’s inaugural Inspire! ation, the arts, job opportunities and ect were formulated in response to two New York City chamber music ensem- Festival. more. Deacon Enos Bryant, the first in- questions, according to JoAnn Turn- quist, president and CEO of Central Carolina Community Foundations. They are “What makes residents love where they live?” and “What draws them in and keeps them there?” “Through the Connected Communi- ties grant initiative, the foundation seeks to strengthen our region by in- vesting in our community’s assets. Each selected project encourages citi- zen involvement and community-wide collaboration,” Turnquist said.