BARON BASEBALL Wilson Hall opens region play today at Orangeburg Prep THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2018 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 75 cents B1 Hamm wants public’s comments Superintendent announces school consolidation plan early to get action sooner; 2 studies unfinished BY BRUCE MILLS was appropriate now to move the data from the studies.” the options of choosing pri- WATCH ONLINE [email protected] forward with making a consoli- Through recent decades, var- vate schools or home-school- dation proposal without having Go to our Facebook ious schools in rural areas of ing. It’s a similar scenario af- Citing a need to get a propos- the results of two key facilities- page to watch a video Sumter County have been fecting public schools in rural al on the table for the public to related studies completed yet. of Monday’s meeting closed because of low enroll- areas across the country, comment on, Sumter School “Even without the studies that includes community opinions ment, according to district offi- Hamm said. District’s interim superinten- complete, we still feel it’s a and details of the draft proposal. cials, as there has been an emi- “People have a way of living dent released her draft consoli- good idea to put a proposal out gration of residents moving out where they want to live, mov- dation plan Monday to the there and give people time to of those areas to the city or ing if they wish to do so, enroll- school board before two inde- make comments,” Hamm said ty-input process, we should other more developed parts of ing their children in private pendent consultants’ studies at the school district Board of have the results of those stud- the county. schools, doing home school or a are finished. Trustees meeting on Monday. ies in hand. If not the final Even if families stay in Debbie Hamm said she felt it “As we continue the communi- written reports, we should have those rural areas, they have SEE COMMENTS, PAGE A6 Promoting tourism in Clarendon PHOTOS BY BRUCE MILLS / THE SUMTER ITEM This mural in Manning depicts the Chase to Ox Swamp. In November 1780, Francis Marion led the British on a 25-mile chase that ended at the Ox Swamp in Manning. At this point, according to many histori- ans, the British gave up on trying to capture Marion. George, Carole Summers share area’s Revolutionary War history BY BRUCE MILLS and Carole, a retired educator, [email protected] mix in their love for traveling, and you have a winning combina- hey aren’t natives to tion for tourism in Clarendon. “They should be called ‘Mr. Clarendon County, but George and Carole Summers review some of the historical materials and Mrs. Clarendon County for they have on Francis Marion and the Revolutionary War that are on Tourism,’” said Nancy Cave, ar- TGeorge and Carole display at the Clarendon County Archives and History Center. chivist with Clarendon County Summers have surely adopt- Archives and History Center. ed the county as “They were the profile as a tourist attraction off West Coast for several years, the only people realis- Interstate 95. Summerses said they had dis- their home. tically promoting “One thing that always comes covered cities and towns that Eat at a local restau- tourism in the up is: We have roughly 40,000 used mural programs as a tour- rant, visit the library, county for many people roaring up and down I-95 ist attraction. drive around Man- years, up until re- every day. How do we get them They said they thought it was a ning, Summerton, cently.” off to spend a half day here or good idea, but they needed a Turbeville or Paxville, After retiring stay overnight in a hotel and eat theme for murals for Clarendon. or even Google Clar- from Shaw, the a meal with you?” George Sum- A quick study of Clarendon’s endon County on the Summerses moved mers said. history, and they discovered web, and you’re to a lakeside home He said he wanted to attract American Revolutionary War bound to see the fruits on Wyboo Planta- people to Clarendon so they hero Francis Marion fought in of their labor. MARION tion in Clarendon could eventually learn about the county, which was then con- Combine George, a in 1994. Lake Marion, the fishing and the tained in the area known as St. military history buff Once they settled county’s golf courses as poten- Mark’s Parish. Marion and his who is a retired colonel from in Clarendon, they said they tially an end destination. Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, wanted to increase the county’s Through their travelling of the SEE HISTORY, PAGE A6 900 Sumter students participate in National Walkout Day location, according to a district staff members were shot and killed. 3 public high schools allowed pre-approved demonstrations spokeswoman. Wednesday’s demonstrations lo- BY BRUCE MILLS out Day on Wednesday with peaceful The 17-minute walkout — which took cally and nationwide occurred from [email protected] demonstrations at each school. place at high schools throughout the 10 to 10:17 a.m. — each minute was The three schools have about 4,500 U.S. — was in response to the Feb. 14 dedicated to one of the 17 victims — About 900 students from Sumter students enrolled. shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas as a way to raise awareness of and School District’s three high schools At each school, students walked High School in Parkland, Florida, chose to participate in National Walk- outside of class to a predetermined where 14 students and three school SEE WALKOUT, PAGE A6 VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B3 WEATHER, A8 INSIDE Ben E. James Lucile P. Burgess WINDY AGAIN 2 SECTIONS, 14 PAGES the .com VOL. 123, NO. 105 Alberta Major Carolyn D. Delay Sunny but breezy in the Linda F. Brettelle Thomas J. Lee afternoon; clear sky tonight Sports B1 Opinion A7 Mary Jane P. Dennis John G. Brady III HIGH 68, LOW 46 Classifieds B6 Television B5 Gladys W. Buddin Comics B4 A2 | THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2018 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Brigadier general to speak at fraternity event BY IVY MOORE State University in 1911. rorism Expeditionary Medal, Global Special to The Sumter Item “Membership is open to college WANT TO GO? War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq graduates of all races, creeds and na- WHERE: Historic Lincoln Center, 24 Council St. Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Brigadier Gen. Jonathan J. McCol- tional origin,” Benjamin said, adding WHEN: 6 p.m. Saturday, March 24 Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ser- umn will be the keynote speaker for that “Achievement” is the fraternity’s vice Ribbon with two Oak Leaf Clus- the second anniversary mission, guided by “commitment and TICKETS: $30 ters, Armed Forces Reserve Medal celebration of the Bishop- work.” PHONE: Kenneth L. Benjamin at (803) 773- with M device and 20-Year Silver ville, Manning, Shaw Air Among the local charitable works of 8514 or Ashley Vaughn at (803) 968-2283 Hourglass, Army Parachutist Badge, Force Base Alumni Chap- the fraternity, he said, are the Angel Army Air Assault Badge and the ter of Kappa Alpha Psi Tree, providing Thanksgiving dinners Army Staff Identification Badge. Fraternity Inc. The event to the needy, an annual food drive, pacities around the world, including Tickets to the 6 p.m. Saturday, will be held at 6 p.m. Sat- children’s charities and donations to supporting Operations Desert Shield/ March 24, second-anniversary dinner urday, March 24, at the St. Jude Children’s Hospitals. Storm, Allied Force, Enduring Free- celebration of the Bishopville, Man- MCCOLUMN Historic Lincoln Center, McColumn embodies the mission of dom, Iraqi Freedom and others. ning, Shaw Air Force Base Alumni 24 Council St. Kappa Alpha Psi, Benjamin said. Among his many awards and deco- Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraterni- McColumn is chief of sustainment, A Georgia native, McColumn is a rations are the Bronze Star Medal, ty Inc. are $30. The event, which is U.S. Army Central Command, head- graduate of Georgia Military College Meritorious Service Medal with four open to the public, will be held at the quartered at Shaw Air Force Base. and Georgia College and State Univer- Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commenda- Historic Lincoln Center, 24 Council St. Kenneth L. Benjamin, Vice sity and has served in the Army since tion Medal with two Oak Leaf Clus- For tickets or more information, call Polemarch of the local Kappa Alpha 1986, advancing steadily from Second ters, Army Achievement Medal, Joint chapter Vice Polemarch Kenneth L. Psi chapter, said the chapter was Lieutenant to his commission as Brig- Meritorious Unit Award, Army Re- Benjamin at (803) 773-8514 or chartered in 2016, while the national adier General in December 2014. serve Component Achievement Medal, Polemarch Ashley Vaughn at (803) 968- fraternity, first known as Kappa During his years in the Army, Mc- National Defense Service Medal with 2283. Tickets can also be purchased Alpha Nu, was founded at Indiana Column has served in numerous ca- two bronze stars, Global War on Ter- from any member of the fraternity. Manning native serves aboard Navy warship USS Mason BY MASS COMMUNICATION Navy guided-missile de- “They have helped me become SPECIALIST 1ST CLASS stroyers like USS Mason are better at what I do.” TOM GAGNIER multi-mission ships that can Navy Office of Community Outreach operate independently or as part of a larger group of ships at sea. They are equipped NORFOLK, Va.