LOCAL Flower Power movement comes to Opera House A3 FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2019 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 75 cents Temps could ‘Gummy expert’ break records on Memorial buys Sumter’s Day weekend BY KAYLA ROBINS [email protected] As storms threaten plans across the nation’s Mount Franklin midsection for the unofficial start to summer this weekend, Sumter and the rest of the South may see record-breaking heat during the out- door Iris Festival. An area of high pressure will continue to spur a surge of heat in the Southeast through the end of the weekend and into Memorial Day, resulting in potentially dangerous dry, sunny weather during the holiday, according to Accu- Weather. The National Weather Service is forecasting today and Saturday to be 96 and 95 degrees, re- spectively, with Sunday and Memorial Day on Monday reaching a high of 99. Lows are only expected to get down to the low 70s at night. As of Wednesday evening, the NWS in Co- lumbia said “confidence is increasing for well- STAY SAFE ON above normal tempera- THE WATER tures that may break ex- isting records over the S.C. Department weekend into next week. of Natural Strong high pressure Resources officers aloft will persist. If you, will conduct free pets and any in your boat inspections family are sensitive to on Memorial Day heat-related illnesses, it’s at Alex Harvin time to prepare.” Landing C1 The agency says the record high temperature for Columbia on Satur- BRUCE MILLS / THE SUMTER ITEM day is 101 and on Sunday is 100. Production-level workers inspect equipment at Santa Cruz Nutritionals on Wednesday. One of the largest gummy AccuWeather meteorologist Renee Duff contract manufacturers in the U.S., the company acquired Mount Franklin Nutritionals in Sumter a few months ago wrote temperatures nearing the three-digit and is now looking to expand. mark will challenge records that in many plac- es across the Southeast date back to the late 1800s and early 1900s. Leading contract manufacturer looking to hire through June “In what has been a warmer-than-normal BY BRUCE MILLS of the vitamins, minerals and May to date across the Southeast, temperatures [email protected] HOW TO APPLY supplements industry market. will take a notable turn upwards through the • For production-level positions, Pergande said Mount Frank- end of the week and into Memorial Day week- The way a corporate executive applicants are encouraged to have a lin’s effort to venture into the end,” AccuWeather Long-Range Meteorologist described it Wednesday, “there’s resume and visit the facility at 2720 growing VMS market in 2017 is Max Vido said. a little more science to getting Southgate Drive in Live Oak Industrial common for candy companies Columbia-based NWS meteorologist Rachel those vitamins in there than Park to complete an application. that eventually run into difficul- Cobb wrote people in this heat should protect meets the eye.” Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ties in the market. themselves from heat-related illness by wear- Jill Pergande, chief human re- • Other open positions can be viewed While consumer demand for ing appropriate clothing, staying hydrated and sources officer with top-volume online at www.santacruznutritionals. confectionery items, such as jelly- getting out of the sun periodically. Sunscreen gummy producer Santa Cruz Nu- com. beans, has plummeted, demand and wide-brimmed hats will help shield skin tritionals, was referencing her for gummy vitamins and supple- from the sun. company’s recent acquisition of ments is soaring, she said. AccuWeather says AAA expects nearly 43 Mount Franklin Nutritionals’ Nutritionals acquired the What separates Santa Cruz million Americans to travel by car, train and multi-vitamin gummy facility at 100,000-square-foot plant in Feb- from most other gummy contract airplane this weekend, a 3.6% increase from 2720 Southgate Drive in Live Oak ruary after Mount Franklin — a manufacturers to large brands is last year and the second-highest travel volume Industrial Park. confectionery company out of El California-based Santa Cruz Paso, Texas — decided to pull out SEE SANTA CRUZ, PAGE A7 SEE HEAT, PAGE A7 79TH IRIS FESTIVAL SCHEDULE TODAY • MAY 24 DNR Heritage Exhibit Car Show 2:30 - 3 p.m., Sorry, Peach Band 3 - 4 p.m., Sumter High School Show and Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital Community Garden Street Side, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Bland Gardens, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Chamber Choirs Health Initiatives free screenings Anastasia Patterson, Angler Mary Hinson Flower Show 4 - 4:30 p.m., Team Robinson Martial Arts Swan Lake Visitors Center, 9-11 a.m. Hypertension, Bass Fishing League; Garden Street Side, 10 a.m. - Celebrating the Festivals of S.C.; Alice Boyle 4:30 - 5 p.m., Sumter Tae Kwon Do cholesterol, diabetes — Requires a 12-hour fast. 6 p.m. Garden Center, 1 - 4 p.m. 5 - 5:30 p.m., TBA Call (803) 774-CARE to register. Mary Hinson Flower Show More info is available at www.IrisFestival.org. All 5:30 - 6 p.m., Last Generation Quartet Featured Artist Michael Duffy Celebrating the Festivals of S.C.; Alice Boyle events subject to change or cancellation. Sunday, May 26 Bland Gardens Gazebo, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Garden Center, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Children’s area activities are free unless 12:30 - 1:30 p.m., Maddie Hunt (Myrtle Beach) otherwise indicated and will be held in the Just Kidding Around 1:30 - 2:30 p.m., Marty Atkinson and Family SAFE Kids Adventureland (Kiwanis kid playground area as well as near the Main Stage Children’s Area by Palmetto Amusements, 10 a.m. fingerprinting, bike rodeo, informational 2:30 - 3:15 p.m., Zadok - Gospel Rapper with the exception of Children’s Art in the Park, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m., Sandy Banks (T) - 6 p.m.; rides, blow-ups and more displays) which is held in the Bland Gardens on the north Sponsored by SAFE Kids Sumter County and the side of West Liberty Street. SATURDAY • MAY 25 Tuomey Foundation, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. DOCK Car Show Introduction of Kings and Queens MAIN STAGE Friday, May 24 Bland Gardens, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. 2 - 4 p.m., From The Morning Main Stage, Noon Friday, May 24 Saturday, May 25 Featured artist Michael Duffy 3 - 4 p.m., Sorry, Peach Band 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Mel Geddings Bland Gardens Gazebo, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. SUNDAY • MAY 26 4 - 5 p.m., Sumter High School Jazz Band 2 - 4 p.m., From The Morning Featured artist Michael Duffy 5 - 5:30 p.m., Dreamworks Dance 14th-Annual Shrine Day Parade hosted by Academy Sunday, May 26 Bland Gardens Gazebo, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. the Jamil Streakers 5:30 - 6 p.m., Believer’s Quartet 2 - 4 p.m., John Berry & Kelvin Jarvis Children’s Art in the Park West Liberty Street, 10 a.m.; begins at Sumter Saturday, May 25 County Fairgrounds Bland Gardens, noon - 5 p.m. 10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Angie’s Puppets GAZEBO Children’s Art in the Park Just Kidding Around 11:30 a.m. - Noon, Miss Libby’s School of Dance Saturday, May 25 Bland Gardens, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Children’s Area by Palmetto Amusements, noon - Noon, Iris Festival Queens Noon - 4 p.m., Frank Fickling Just Kidding Around 5 p.m.; rides, blow-ups and more 12:30 - 1 p.m., Freed School of Dance Sunday, May 26 1 - 2 p.m., Fallen Statues Children’s Area by Palmetto Amusements, 10 a.m. 1 - 4 p.m., Frank Fickling 2 - 2:30 p.m., Brendan Kirby - 6 p.m.; rides, blow-ups and more VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B4 WEATHER, A10 INSIDE Michael P. Richburg Freddie Lee Wright IT’S TOO EARLY FOR THIS 3 SECTIONS, 22 PAGES the .com VOL. 124, NO. 153 Christine Wells Johnson Tianna Helen McKenzie Sunny and very hot; clear Pedro Pete Richburg Yancey McCray and warm tonight Clarendon Sun C1 Opinion A9 Jaylen DaShaun Bradshaw Azalee M. Belvin Classifieds B5 Sports B1 Matthew Hamilton Celestine Witherspoon Walker HIGH 96, LOW 73 Wilhemenia Strong Farmer Mary Lee Watson Mack Comics A8 Television C3 Evelyn Virginia Fulwood Leevy Henry Mack Singletary A2 | FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2019 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] ADE students display STEM inventions BY DANNY KELLY Andrews said the whole experience From left, Kennedy Dantzler, Ra- [email protected] was worthwhile. chel Davis and Katelyn Makowske “(What I liked was) working togeth- pose with their project titled the The Alice Drive Elementary School er and inventing something that we “Comfy Teether” at the Alice Drive cafeteria didn’t look much like a cafe- really needed,” he said, “and being Elementary School Invention teria on Monday night but more like a able to use it and seeing all that we’ve Convention on Monday night. science lab. done. It’s just knowing that you made That’s because the school was hold- it.” PHOTOS BY DANNY KELLY / THE SUMTER ITEM ing its STEM-inspired Invention Con- Chapman said making the duck ex- vention, where students displayed tractor was rewarding. projects they made with a science, “It’s pretty fun,” he said. “The technology, engineering and math (most) fun part is seeing it work be- focus. But, these weren’t just any con- cause you have all the processes and traptions. all the paperwork and everything you “They had the opportunity this year have to do.