WEDNESDAY, Serving S.C. since October 15, 1894 $1.00 MAY 22, 2019 days of Iris Festival fun Events begin Thursday with Taste at the Gardens Top BY BRUCE MILLS [email protected] attractions umter’s Swan Lake-Iris Gardens has grown For a full schedule, see A8. into what’s known as a showplace of flowers and the home of all eight species of swan. THURSDAY, MAY 23 It’sS also home to the longest continuously running Ribbon cutting, Taste at the Gardens crowning of the Garden Street Stage, festival in the Southeast with the Iris Festival. king and queen 6 - 9 p.m.; tickets $5 Heath Pavilion, 5:15 p.m. Since 1940, visitors from across the U.S. and many SHRINE DAY PARADE other countries have traveled Who are the Shriners? FRIDAY, MAY 24 SATURDAY, MAY 25 to the Gamecock City for the Find the route for the 14th-Annual Shrine Day Parade festival to see — and buy — Featured artist Michael Duffy 14th-Annual Shrine Day Parade on Saturday morning A7 the thousands of Japanese Bland Gardens Gazebo, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. West Liberty Street, 10 a.m. irises growing along the banks of the lake and to par- Lynn Kennedy, chairwoman Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital Anastasia Patterson, angler ticipate in the wide variety of of the Iris Festival Commit- community health free screenings Garden Street Side, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Swan Lake Visitors Center, 9 - 11 a.m. festival events. tee and events planner for Just Kidding Around This year’s festival will be the City of Sumter. Children’s area, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. held in the gardens during The festival begins on SUNDAY, MAY 25 Memorial Day weekend — the evening of Thursday, SAFE Kids Adventureland Friday, May 24, through May 23, from 6 to 9 p.m., Children’s Art Mary Hinson 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. in the Park Flower Show Sunday, May 26 — for the Car Show Bland Gardens, noon Alice Boyle Garden 79th year, according to SEE FESTIVAL, PAGE A8 Bland Gardens, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. - 5 p.m. Center, 1 - 4 p.m. CCTC’s new Titan mascot created by college’s PR department BY BRUCE MILLS ing to make some enhance- globe format. The college al- conversation among some col- raising a family. [email protected] ments to the campus. ready used a globe figure as a lege leaders became, “Why Mikota told Frye, who is a Welding Technology Pro- mark, and the initial plan was don’t we have a mascot?” graphic designer, to run with As Central Carolina Techni- gram Manager Axel Reis came that Reis would create a metal Atlas is also known as the the idea of Atlas as a mascot cal College Public Relations Di- up with a drawing of Atlas, figure to place on the front of god of endurance, and that per- and see where it went. rector Cathy Frye tells the who in Greek mythology was a the campus as a display. sonifies many of the college’s In the creation process, Frye story, when Michael Mikota Titan and entrusted with hold- Mikota loved the representa- students, according to Frye, said she realized that now came on as the new president ing up the celestial heavens, tion, Frye said, and after one who may be changing careers at CCTC in 2017, he was look- represented in a sphere or discussion led to another, the while they’re still working and SEE TITAN, PAGE A7 VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B5 WEATHER, A10 INSIDE Gloria Marie Regocki Iredell Jones IV NOT TOO BAD 3 SECTIONS, 20 PAGES the .com VOL. 124, NO. 151 Robin C. Webster Joan Lee Norton Peebles Partly sunny and warm; mostly Joanne Pitts Hall Herman Willis cloudy and humid tonight Classifieds B6 Sports B1 Edna S. Harris Chaunsey DeLof Lemmon Comics C2 Opinion A9 Dean Arlan Johnson Jerusha Gibson Postell HIGH 88, LOW 68 Food C1, C4 Television C3 ;`ggk]L`]DYkl?jaddQgmdd Ever Need To Buy! Purchase a 3 or 4 Burner SABER® grill from our Outdoor Living Center and get the $249.99 EZ Grilling System FREE. Palmetto Gas 820 S. Pike Rd. Sumter 803-775-4321 Mon. - Fri. 8am - 5pm, Sat. 8am - 4pm NEW Sat. Hours! Good thru June 16, 2019 palmettogas.com A2 | WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Program Sumter County Museum hosts offers fresh author Dorothea Benton Frank fruits, veggies BY IVY MOORE tion” … and “a fun tale of self-discov- to seniors Features Contributor ery, love and friendship with (Frank’s) signature charming wit, indelible poi- FROM STAFF REPORTS New York Times best-selling author gnancy and hallmark themes.” The Senior Farmers’ Mar- Dorothea Benton Frank will appear at Since “Sullivan’s Island,” her first ket Nutrition Program re- the Sumter County Museum at 6:30 novel published in 2000, Frank has turns this summer to 42 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, for a book published about one book each year, counties in South Carolina. signing and reception. Frank’s 20th most with Lowcountry themes. Among The seasonal USDA grant novel, “Queen Bee,” will be released them are “Pawleys Island,” “Isle of program helps supplement May 28, and the museum will have cop- Palms,” “Shem Creek,” “Folly Beach” the diets of low-income se- ies on hand for purchase and signing. and “Return to Sullivan’s Island.” niors by allowing persons 60 “Queen Bee” is both the title of Often called the Queen of Sassy South- and older to purchase unpro- Frank’s book set on Sullivan’s Island ern Fiction, Frank lives in the Low- cessed fruits and vegetables and the nickname of the protagonist’s country of South Carolina and New from authorized farmers’ ill and overly demanding mother. Holly Jersey. markets, roadside stands and McNee Kensen is a beekeeper and a li- The Sumter County Museum is lo- community-supported agri- brarian, tormented by her mother’s cated at 122 N. Washington St. Tickets culture programs through overbearing verbal abuse that drove for the event are $5 for museum mem- Oct. 15. Holly’s sister away. bers and $10 for the public and include Participants receive $25 in Goodreads review calls the book a a wine and cheese reception. Purchase PHOTO PROVIDED the form of five checks of $5 “novel about friendship and love that is tickets online at www.SumterCounty- Author Dorothea Benton Frank will be at to spend at authorized loca- full of heart, humor and rich descrip- Museum.org or call (803) 775-0908. the Sumter County Museum on May 28. tions. Checks are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. To be eligible, individu- als must: • Attend a distribution event; Lee Central High students honored in cord ceremony • Complete the application; • Provide proof of identity SUBMITTED and residence in the county; From left, Lee Central High and BISHOPVILLE — Eight School students Tyler Marcus, • Self-declare amount of Lee Central High School Hysaun Peeples, Desiree household income. students were among more Holmes, Nykeema Williams, La- Individuals wanting to than 1,500 high school se- kiya Mickel and Nyasia McQuil- apply for homebound seniors niors recognized by S.C. Su- lar participated in a statewide must provide a statement perintendent of Education Military Honor Cord Ceremony from the senior granting per- Molly Spearman recently held in Columbia. Also honored mission to submit an applica- for making a future commit- but unable to attend were tion on their behalf. Proof of ment to the U.S. military or Christopher Boykin and Ah- identity and proof of income to a military academy. The mondre Hickmon. for the homebound senior statewide Military Honor must be presented at the time Cord Ceremony was held in of application. PHOTO PROVIDED the Richland School District Vouchers will be issued at: 2 auditorium in Columbia. This is the fourth year SUMTER COUNTY the South Carolina Depart- • June 12, 10 a.m.-noon, ment of Education has hon- Sumter Senior Services-De- ored high school seniors laine Center, 5400 Cane Sa- who are actively involved in vannah Road, Wedgefield; their schools’ ROTC pro- (Army Reserves); Hysaun Training (boot camp) this instructor. “Also, this is an • June 13, 10 a.m. -noon, grams who commit to serve Peeples (Army National summer after graduation accomplishment for our Sumter Senior Services-Shi- after graduation with red, Guard); and Nykeema Wil- for six to 13 weeks, depend- school, as this shows our loh St. John Center, 475 Pud- white and blue graduation liams (Army Reserves). The ing on the branch of ser- growth in numbers at these din Swamp Road, Lynchburg; honor cords. two LCHS students who vice. events, and that we are de- and LCHS students who par- were unable to attend the “This is a major accom- veloping effective leaders • June 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., ticipated in the ceremony ceremony were Christopher plishment for these students who are worthy to be hon- Sumter Senior Services, 119 were: Desiree Holmes Boykin (Army) and Ahmon- as they are about to join the ored.” S. Sumter St., Sumter. (Army National Guard); dre Hickmon (Army Nation- military family and support This year’s military and Tyler Marcus (Army); Nyas- al Guard). our country,” said retired military school enlistees LEE COUNTY ia McQuillar (Army Re- The students are sched- U.S. Army Maj. Juan Cobbs from LCHS have increased • June 8, 9 a.m.-noon, Lee serves); Lakiya Mickel uled to attend Recruit Basic and LCHS’ senior JROTC from last year’s five.