IN SPORTS: Win over ‘Pack boosts Gamecocks ahead of SEC opener 1B USC Sumter galleries feature area artists Themes of spirituality, plant life SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 are reflected in new exhibit C1 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2017 $1.00 All eyes on Irma Record-breaking hurricane Make plans now BY ADRIENNE SARVIS bears down on Caribbean [email protected] ST. JOHN’S, Antigua (AP) At the far northeastern While it is important to purchase sup- — The most powerful Atlantic edge of the Caribbean, au- plies and prepare yourself for the possi- Ocean hurricane in recorded thorities on the Leeward Is- bility of Hurricane Irma coming to the history bore down on the is- lands of Antigua and Barbu- East Coast, U.S. Department of Home- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS lands of the northeast Carib- da cut power and urged resi- land Security encourages residents to In this geocolor image captured by GOES-16 and re- bean on Tuesday night, follow- dents to shelter indoors as make plans in case of an evacuation and leased by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric ing a path predicted to then they braced for Hurricane Ir- to be prepared for the aftermath of the Administration, Hurricane Irma, a potentially cata- rake Puerto Rico, the Domini- ma’s first contact with land storm. strophic category 5 hurricane, moves westward, can Republic, Haiti and Cuba early Wednesday. Officials Starting with protecting your property, Tuesday in the Atlantic Ocean toward the Leeward before possibly heading for Islands. Florida over the weekend. SEE IRMA, PAGE A8 SEE PREPARE, PAGE A8 Nothing but blue skies ‘Women daredevils’ take Dream Flights BY IVY MOORE [email protected] Ruth Hoyt, who is “95 going on 96 years old,” had never flown in an open cockpit biplane before, although she spent two years in the U.S. Air Force as a World War II flight nurse. “I flew in large planes, like B-17s, B-4s, B-52s,” the diminutive veteran said. Nonethe- less, she was excited to fly in the Age- less Aviation Dreams Foundation’s Boeing Stea- rman bi- plane. With five fellow resi- dents of Morningside of Sumter assisted liv- ing commu- family and Morningside staff also Ruth Hoyt, above, is ready to take off for nity and two waited. Gary Brown, executive direc- her Ageless Aviation Dream Flight on from Morn- tor of Morningside Sumter, said the Friday morning at Woodward Airport in ingside of community was “very pleased to be Camden. All she needs is her helmet and Georgetown, chosen for this opportunity. it’s lift off for her short flight in the open Hoyt jumped “I think everyone’s excited,” he con- cockpit, quite different from her flights on at the chance tinued. “We’ve got these women dare- large military planes as a flight nurse in to take the devils here.” World War II. flight. Friday Perhaps not everyone was quite as PHOTO PROVIDED morning, she eager to fly as Hoyt. Barbara Francisco, left, shares a photo Barbara Francisco shared waited at Morningside Community Relations taken in her WAF uniform. this picture of herself Woodward Director Heather Freiberg said of while on active duty with Airport in Hoyt, “She played hard to get for half PHOTOS BY IVY MOORE / THE SUMTER ITEM Women’s Auxiliary Air Camden with a minute.” Force. She was one of Barbara As she waited, Hoyt talked a little seven women who flew Francisco, about her World War II experiences, Friday morning with the Helen Gaspa- flying with servicemen injured in bat- Ageless Aviation Dreams retti, Theresa tle to military hospitals. Pilot Mike Winterboer, who is a the women. She said, she was the Foundation. Keller and “I prayed every flight ‘Please God, commercial pilot, and his wife, Diane, flight’s “dog.” Loye Lewis don’t let them die on my watch,’” she who had flown down from Maine in “I just hang my head out of the win- of Sumter and Georgetown’s Catherine said. the biplane, at last announced it was dow and look around,” Diane said. Swinney and Betty Wiggins for the None of them did. time. Diane, who said she was not a In fact, her role was very important, plane and pilot to ready for takeoff. Hoyt had no fears Friday. In fact, pilot but rather a retired wildlife biol- Inside the waiting room, friends, she insisted on going first. ogist, had talked individually with all SEE FLIGHT, PAGE A4 Eutaw Springs: A Revolutionary War struggle lost to history BY JIM HILLEY or that they are passing over George Washington appointed and his subordinate, British the British fort at Ninety-Six [email protected] what could be considered hal- Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene Gen. Francis Rawdon, moved in May and June. He then set lowed ground. commander of all troops his troops to the vicinity of up camp at Stateburg, in the Visitors passing through “from Delaware to Georgia,” Charleston, leaving most of High Hills of the Santee, to let Eutaw Springs can easily miss SHORT BUT BLOODY effectively making Greene the interior of South Carolina his men recover. the wooden sign standing in In 1780, most of the fighting second in command. in the hands of the rebels. Rawdon soon abandoned front of a brick and wrought- in the Revolutionary War had After Greene met the Brit- Greene, though his com- Ninety-Six and several other iron fence that reads “Eutaw shifted south, where Lord ish in a series of engagements mand was still battered from British forts, and in July, the Springs Battle Ground 1781.” Charles Cornwallis felt he had in North Carolina and in the previous engagements and ailing Rawdon left Lt. Col. Al- Most of those who do take a better chance of maintain- vicinity of Camden, South many long marches, turned exander Stewart in command notice are unlikely to realize ing British rule. Carolina, Cornwallis with- his attention to South Caroli- the significance of the battle In October 1780, Gen. drew his troops to Virginia, na, unsuccessfully attacking SEE BATTLE, PAGE A3 VISIT US ONLINE AT CONTACT US DEATHS, B5 WEATHER, A10 INSIDE Information: 774-1200 Raleigh Dozier Dorothy M. Weaver 3 SECTIONS, 20 PAGES A LITTLE COOLER VOL. 122, NO. 232 the .com Advertising: 774-1246 Bettie L. Stover Sam Belin Jr. Classifieds: 774-1200 Showers and thunderstorms Classifieds B6 Bonnie Lee C. Brown Mariah M. Boyd today; showers early tonight Delivery: 774-1258 Mary Alice M. McCray Alexander House Comics C2 News and Sports: 774-1226 Lila Mae Charles Clinton W. Brown Sr. HIGH 84, LOW 59 Food C4 Linda F. Hutson Darrin D. Lang Opinion A9 Margarette Avins Television C3 A2 | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2017 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] LOCAL & STATE BRIEFS Palmetto Adult Medicine joins FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS Kimbrell’s collects McLeod Health with 4 doctors donations for Texas FROM STAFF REPORTS excellent care provided of the McLeod Health Kimbrell’s Furniture is col- for those patients, ac- system, practices can lecting and transporting items McLeod Health has announced the cording to a McLeod more expediently obtain for flood victims in Texas. addition of Palmetto Adult Medi- Health news release. and share medical re- Needed items include cine, 1295 Wilson Hall Road in Sum- McLeod Physician As- cords and diagnostic re- canned or boxed nonperish- ter, to the McLeod Physician Associ- sociates is a network of ports for consultations, able food, toiletries, hygiene ates network. more than 250 health as well as provide pa- JORDAN STODDARD products, diapers and baby The physicians of Palmetto Adult care providers in more tients with continuity of items, pet food and cleaning Medicine — Dr. Ansel McFaddin, Dr. than 90 medical offices care between physician supplies. Harry Jordan, Dr. Andrew Reynolds located throughout 15 offices, according to the For more information, visit and Dr. Hugh Stoddard — bring counties of South Caroli- release. Kimbrell’s Furniture stores at years of experience providing quali- na and North Carolina, Palmetto Adult Medi- 1070 Broad St. and 49 S. Main ty, compassionate care to the resi- according to the release. cine will remain at its St. dents of Sumter, Clarendon, Lee MPA physicians and current location, and all and Williamsburg counties, accord- their staffs provide medi- McFADDIN REYNOLDS scheduled appointments Sumter office gathers ing to Palmetto Adult Medicine. cal care encompassing a will remain unchanged. truck of hurricane aid The affiliation with McLeod Phy- large spectrum of specialties. For more information, sician Associates will build on the Because these physicians are part call (803) 905-6810. Burke Industrial Inc., 143 S. Lafayette Drive, is collecting items needed for flood relief in Texas at its office, accord- ing to owner Rick Burke. “My employees came to me Molina Healthcare gives supplies to Sumter students wanting to do something for A Molina Healthcare of South the people in Texas and Loui- Carolina employee distributes siana,” Burke said. “I told school supplies to local students them I did also.” at Molina’s Back-to-School Bash The company will take do- nations from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Sumter on Aug. 10. Molina through Friday and at hosted dozens of similar events Maree’s, 31 W. Rigby St., during the summer months, Manning. providing a total of 10,000 Burke said employees are children across the state with emptying a 53-foot trailer and school essentials. refilling it with donated items. When it is full, they PHOTO PROVIDED will send it to Texas for dis- tribution. “We will be taking the load to Fishers of Men in Vidor, Texas,” Burke said.