REGION Why is N.C. vulnerable to hurricanes? WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2018 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 $1.00 A5 Preparing for impact ADRIENNE SARVIS / THE SUMTER ITEM Children climb over a wall during Battle Bud- dies on Saturday. The obstacles were con- structed and decorated by members of Pal- metto Optimist Club. Climbing toward a better BRUCE MILLS / THE SUMTER ITEM Simpson employees Chip Humphries, left, and Derek Owen load a generator onto a customer’s truck Tuesday afternoon. Generator safety crucial Sumter BY BRUCE MILLS Florence could bring [email protected] 4th Battle Buddies promotes Portable generators are becoming in- heavy rainfall to area fitness, positive relationships creasingly popular to supply backup power during natural disasters such as hurri- BY KAYLA ROBINS showed the Category 4 major between kids, law enforcement canes, but experts say there are a few im- [email protected] hurricane heading more di- portant safety issues that must be consid- rectly west through the North BY ADRIENNE SARVIS ered. With slight variations in the Carolina-South Carolina bor- [email protected] The main aspect to generator safety is to forecast on the exact bullseye der. The last update of the day never use a generator inside a home, ga- and arrival time, Hurricane is at 11 p.m. after press time. Though the sun was blazing on Satur- rage or near open windows or return vents Florence continues to head As of the 5 p.m. update, day, children enjoyed a few runs through to a home or building of any kind, accord- straight toward to Carolinas. Florence was about 785 miles the Battle Buddies obstacle course at ing to Chip Humphries of Simpson Hard- A westward shift in the Na- east-southeast of Cape Fear, Sumter County Fairgrounds. ware in Sumter and other sources. When tional Weather Service predic- North Carolina, with maxi- The fourth Battle Buddies event was fuel is used, it produces carbon monoxide, tion brought the cone down mum sustained winds of 140 hosted by the Palmetto Optimist Club. which is a colorless, odorless, poisonous from saying the eye will head miles per hour and moving One of the basic programs of Optimist gas that if inhaled can result in an individ- north into Virginia once it west-northwest at 17 mph. International, the parent program of Pal- ual potentially being hospitalized or dead. makes landfall between Wilm- A storm surge warning and metto Optimist Club, is “Respect for Humphries said people often try to use ington and Emerald Isle, hurricane warning were issued Law,” said Melissa Marshall, president North Carolina, on Friday af- of Palmetto Optimist Club. SEE SAFETY, PAGE A6 ternoon. The 5 p.m. update SEE STORM, PAGE A3 She said Battle Buddies is the local group’s take on that program combined with its fitness program by having law NOTABLE HURRICANES AFFECTING SOUTH CAROLINA IN PAST 3 DECADES enforcement, fire department and mili- tary personnel mentor children through 1998 2004 2015 the course. Hurricane Bonnie made Hurricane Hurricane Joaquin “It’s just our opportunity to say, ‘Look, landfall near Wilming- Charley led to historic kids of the community, these are friendly ton, N.C., and caused rainfall referred to people. They’re not someone to be scared crossed Flori- $25 million in insured as the “1,000-year of,’” she said. da, then S.C. property damage in S.C. as a Category flood” in the tri- Marshall said the fitness side of the county area. event was to get kids outside and away 1 storm. from video games and other non-physical activities that someone could do for hours at a time. Volunteers from Crestwood High School’s Junior ROTC program also 1989 1999 2016 helped on the obstacle course on Satur- Hurricane Hugo Hurricane Floyd Hurricane Matthew day. caused widespread struck N.C. as a swept up the coast The health aspect of Battle Buddies destruction in Sum- Category 2 storm of S.C. and caused ties into promoting a positive influence ter on Sept. 22. but caused flood- heavy rain. Sumter between children and first responders Shaw AFB recorded ing in S.C. recorded a 61 mph and the military, said Nettie Bryant, di- winds at 109 mph. gust. rector of health and fitness for Palmetto One person died in a mobile home. SEE BUDDIES, PAGE A6 Source: National Weather Service, National Hurricane Center, twc.com, The Sumter Item VISIT US ONLINE AT CONTACT US DEATHS, B7 WEATHER, A8 INSIDE Information: 774-1200 Irene Levinson Schwartz HOT AND HUMID 3 SECTIONS, 20 PAGES the .com Advertising: 774-1246 Francis E. Jeror VOL. 123, NO. 233 Classifieds: 774-1200 Earline Virginia Daniels Bradley Clouds and sun today; warm Delivery: 774-1258 Barbara Ragin and humid tonight Food C4 Panorama C1 News and Sports: 774-1226 Lillian Coplin Peterson HIGH 90, LOW 71 Classifieds B8 Opinion A7 Richard Deas Comics C2 Television C3 Michael Collins Griffin Samuel John Privitera Choose The Bank That Works Hard For You It’s a world of difference when you bank with someone who lives and works in your community. When you need a car loan, checking account, credit card, or home mortgage, we speak your language. And we make decisions locally, not in a board room hundreds of miles away. We’re all the bank you’ll ever need. As the bank’s president, I make sure of that every day. Barry Ham Sumter: 803.469.0156 Manning: 803.433.4451 bankofclarendon.com ."//*/(t46.5&3t4"/5&&t46..&350/t8:#00 A2 | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2018 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] PHOTO PROVIDED The Lemira Percussion Ensemble will perform two concerts Monday for the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina. The 33-member LPE is celebrating its 20th anni- versary this school year. Local students to perform for equestrian games Lemira Percussion Ensem- Inspired by Diane Downs, di- Sumter and around South Car- Lemira Percussion Ensemble ble, or LPE, celebrates its 20th rector of the Louisville Leop- olina, as well as in five other season this school year. The ard Percussionists, Lemira states. LPE plays regularly at group of about 33 students was teacher Leila Lucas created Piccolo Spoleto Festival in invited to international event founded in 1999, when Lemira the LPE. She was later joined Charleston and at many other Elementary School was award- by retired LPE teacher Ste- prestigious festivals and ven- ed a Target 2000 grant to en- phen Winn in working with ues. BY IVY MOORE every four years and are pre- rich its music curriculum and the ensemble. The afternoon concert by Special to The Sumter Item sented by the International Fed- to promote cultural awareness LPE’s repertoire includes LPE will be presented at eration for Equestrian Sports, of other programs, according classical music, bucket drum- Tryon International Equestri- The Lemira Percussion En- founded in 1921 by horsemen to a news release. ming, Taiko (Japanese drum- an Center, and the group’s eve- semble will present two perfor- from eight countries, including Students in the ensemble ming), Latin American, jazz ning concert will take place at mances on Monday as part of the United States, Belgium, must maintain acceptable and drumline, and the musi- Rogers Park in downtown the 2018 World Equestrian Denmark, France, Italy, Japan, grades and behavior in order cians often play unusual in- Tryon. Games being held this year in Norway and Sweden; the found- to participate. They each struments that include pipes, For more information about Tryon, North Carolina, at ers dedicated themselves to the spend more than 600 hours buckets, trashcans and boom- Lemira Percussion Ensemble, Tryon International Equestrian kind and fair treatment of com- each year rehearsing, travel- whackers. The group has per- visit www.lemirapercussionen- Center. The games take place petition horses. ing and performing. formed hundreds of times in semble.com. Business news Hurricane Florence Statewide burning ban issued until further notice BY ADRIENNE SARVIS solely because of elevated [email protected] fire danger but rather be- cause so many firefighting COLUMBIA — With the and emergency personnel approach of Hurricane Flor- and resources are committed ence, the South Carolina For- to hurricane-related re- estry Commission will issue sponse," he said. a State Forester's Burning Many of the firefighting Ban for all counties, effective personnel from the forestry 7 a.m. today. commission and local fire de- A State Forester's Burning partments have been dis- Ban prohibits all outdoor patched to Pee Dee and coast- burning, including yard de- al regions to assist with evac- bris burning, campfires and uation procedures and law burning for forestry, wildlife enforcement activities, and or agricultural purposes in later, damage assessment unincorporated areas, states and cleanup, states the re- a news release from the lease. agency. Forecasts for the next few While open-fire cooking is days also predict higher- BRUCE MILLS / THE SUMTER ITEM not included in the ban, the than-normal wind gusts The pharmacy at Rite Aid, 1077 Broad St. and near Sumter Mall, is set to close Oct. 3. According to a commission strongly advises prior to the arrival of rain, store employee, the general merchandise area will close on or around Oct. 17. all citizens to be extremely which combined with recent vigilant until the ban — dry conditions could make it which will stay in effect until possible for outdoor fires to Sumter’s final Rite Aid to close next month an official announcement easily escape and spread rap- from the forestry commis- idly. sion states otherwise — is In addition to performing BY BRUCE MILLS According to a staff pharmacist, prescrip- lifted.