Forum hosts Sumter school board candidates Tuesday 21 people running for 6 available seats STAY TUNED FOR MORE ELECTION COVERAGE BY BRUCE MILLS teachers in the district lic forum for the 21 filed For more information on the [email protected] will host a meet-the- candidates running for candidates Sumter, Lee and SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2018 $1.75 candidates event Tues- six available seats on the Clarendon voters will see on their With the goal of start- day night. nine-member school ballot in November, look out for SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 ing the conversation on Zach Lowe, current board in the Nov. 6 gen- Vote 2018, a special pullout the Sumter School Dis- chairman of the Sumter eral election. The teach- section on the midterms, in the 4 SECTIONS, 28 PAGES | VOL. 124, NO. 5 trict Board of Trustees Teacher Forum, spoke er forum consists of the paper on Thursday, Nov. 1. candidates, a group of Friday on 2018 Meet the IN TODAY’S EDITION about 50 top classroom Candidates Night, a pub- SEE FORUM, PAGE A9 Who won the contest? Learn about each honoree in the inaugural Top 20 Under 40 magazine NEW TO THE SUMTER ITEM: THE SUMTER SCENE We’ve replaced our TV Guide with an all-new The Sumter Scene. Read about what’s different, PHOTOS BY MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM 2A Willow Drive Elementary kindergartners visit Read The Sumter Scene, Sumter Fire Department to learn about safety INSIDE illow Drive Elementary kindergarten class visited the Sumter Fire Department at Alice DEATHS, B5 and B6 Drive on Thursday morning for Fire Preven- Melvin Benbow Ellie Winfield N. Palmer tion Week, which the department stretches into a month Jerome E. Shannon Isiah Lee Miller in order to include the maximum amount of classes. Carolyn N. Commander Juanita Y. Byrd-Hagood Robert L. Ross Jr. Marquis Richburg Vinell P. Nelms Joseph F. Nelson Sr. Jerry Frierson Jonathan Evans John M. Rowland Jr. Linda W. Gamble Thelma Inez B. Black Mildred Eudy WEATHER, A12 A BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY Sunny and cooler today; clear and chilly tonight. HIGH 64, LOW 40 INSIDE CONTACT US Classifieds C6 Info: 774-1200 Comics D1 Advertising: 774-1237 Opinion A11 Classifieds: 774-1200 ACT scores drop locally and across state Outdoors C5 Delivery: 774-1258 in Turbeville — registered the est possible score on the test is a 36, Reflections C3 News and Sports: BY BRUCE MILLS [email protected] highest composite score average on and the composite score is the av- Sports B1 774-1226 the ACT. Test scores were released erage of the four sections of the Yesteryear C4 Like statewide and national last week by the state Department exam — English, math, reading trends, public school students in of Education. and science. the tri-county region generally East Clarendon graduating se- For perspective, the statewide VISIT US ONLINE AT the .com scored lower last year on a college niors in the class of 2018 had a mean score for all public school se- readiness test. mean ACT score of 16.9, which was niors was 18.0, down from 18.4 the Among the five public school dis- 1 point lower than graduating se- year before. When including private tricts in the region, Clarendon niors at the school tallied in 2017 school seniors, the state average for School District 3 — which repre- on the test. The high school had 87 sents East Clarendon High School graduating seniors in ’18. The high- SEE SCORES, PAGE A8 Celebrate 3 milestones at Sumter Opera House Broadcast celebrates Making It Grow, SCETV and building anniversaries BY IVY MOORE Craig T. Ness, station manager the Opera House before the show Special to The Sumter Item and director of Making It Grow, begins at 7.” said the live broadcast will cele- Original host and producer Fans of SCETV’s Making It brate three anniversaries — 25 Rowland Alston was a Clemson Grow are invited to be in the au- years of Making It Grow, 60 years University Extension agent until dience at 7 p.m. Tuesday, when of S.C. Educational Television he retired from Making It Grow the show will be broadcast live and 125 years of the Sumter in 2012. He and current host from the stage of the Sumter Opera House. Amanda McNulty, also a Clem- Opera House. The live, interac- “We did a segment with Mayor son Extension agent, will be FILE PHOTO tive program about gardening is Joseph McElveen that we’ll joined on the onstage panel by A past Making it Grow team poses with one of its Emmy broadcast statewide from WRJA- show,” Ness said, “and he will Awards. From left are Debbie Hayes, Rowland Alston, Sean TV in Sumter each Tuesday. make some live remarks about SEE BROADCAST, PAGE A8 Flynn, Amanda McNulty and Tony Melton. A2 | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2018 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Don’t miss local talent in ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ A REVIEW BY JANE COLLINS ra Stewart and her powerful Special to The Sumter Item voice sparkle as the blonde pseudo bimbo. Whether stick- If you are looking for some- ing out her tightly clad bot- thing to brighten your life, the tom, walking on super stiletto Sumter Little Theatre produc- heels, or lamenting her abu- tion “Little Shop of Horrors” sive boyfriend’s actions, Stew- may be just what you need. art is 100 percent the charac- Opening night’s crowd re- ter she portrays. John Mi- warded the actors with plenty chael Osteen plays the Jewish of laughter and applause. It is floral shop owner Mushnik local little theater, but that with another stereotyped fact is what makes the play so spoofing made even more spe- appealing — amazement that cial with his Yiddish vocal people you may know or may plea, a real scene stealer. IVY MOORE / SPECIAL TO THE SUMTER ITEM be your neighbors have so People may have heard The cast of Sumter Little Theatre’s “Little Shop of Horrors” pauses during a recent rehearsal for a group much talent. David Shoemaker sing and photo. From left are: top row — Matt Wilt, Todd Warrick, Cierra Stewart (in plant), John Michael Osteen Under the very capable di- play the drums, as well as rec- and David Shoemaker; front row — Alyssa Gibbs, Keonna Porter, Jaycie Wisor and Aaleyah Powell. The rection of Eric Bultman, the ognize him from his technical musical comedy opened Thursday. actors manage to make hu- work for Patriot Hall and Sum- morously stereotyped charac- ter Little Theater; however, as ters come alive with special the voice of Audrey II, Shoe- Matt Wilt proves once again by Heidi Adler and the techni- production. Sumter’s “Little nuances that provide deli- maker projects the evil humor that he is a man of many tal- cal design of her moving Shop of Horrors” turns local cious stage appeal. of the plant with immense co- ents. In fact, he plays so many parts is by Michael Duffy. little theater into the special Ably cast as Seymour, the medic drama. Aaleyah Powell characters it is a wonder he Libby Singleton’s choreogra- “theatre,” a connotation that bumbling florist shop lackey, (Chiffon), Jaycie Wisor (Crys- has a clue who HE really is. phy adds energy to the music, emphasizes the quality of Todd Warrick and his hair- tal) and Keonna Porter Whether the demented dentist Sylvia Pickell and Norma Hol- dedication, time and talent so style, glasses and facial ex- (Ronette) serve as the “Greek — a role worth the price of land deserve special recogni- well integrated in the play. pressions bring believability Chorus,” adding explanation admission alone — the dere- tion for getting Stewart into The play runs through Nov. and charm to the role. His and storyline through their vo- lict, or his other “bit parts,” her perfectly selected cos- 3 with 10 performances over voice clearly projects his un- cals and creative choreogra- Wilt creates characters wor- tumes, and the orchestra, those dates. Evening perfor- derstanding of the character. phy. Alyssa Gibbs’ versatility thy of “Saturday Night Live.” under the direction of mances begin at 8 p.m., and As Audrey, the inspiration for is showcased in her roles as The plant Audrey II created Linda — music is my life — Sunday matinees are at 3 p.m. Seymour’s plant’s name and Mrs. Luce, shop customer and for the first production in Beck accentuates the many For more information, contact his secret heart’s desire, Cier- down-on-her-luck woman. 2010, is the fabulous creation local skills represented in the SLT at (803) 775-2150. Interagency Transition Team to host Resource Night on Tuesday Information provided for students with disabilities transitioning to live after high school BY DANNY KELLY give students and parents informa- ent representative. together since July with agencies that [email protected] tion for a seamless transition for stu- “We want to get people connected to are part of the Sumter County Inter- dents to their post-secondary lives.” local agencies or other companies to agency Team,” Quarles said. The Sumter County Interagency The Sumter County Interagency assist students with post-secondary The event will help students and Transition Team of the Transition Transition Team consists of repre- outcomes,” Quarles said. parents learn more about the commu- Alliance of South Carolina will host sentatives from Crestwood High Dinner and childcare will also be of- nity resources available for students a free Student Resource Night at 220 School, Lakewood High School, Sum- fered. with disabilities, including health care Hasell St.