Inaugural Sumter Springfest gets rave reviews, support from attendees

Sumter's inaugural Springfest was held on Saturday, March 23, bringing together the community for concerts, food and drinks.
Sumter has a unique charm -- one unlike any other. Whether it's the way our community supports a worthy cause, the releasing of inhabitants over good food and great fun or the love shared through warm hugs with a stranger, when Sumterites get …
Studio Sumter

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Friends to Follow
SPORTS
Arts & Entertainment

The irony of Steve Martin's life isn't lost on him

NEW YORK (AP) — Steve Martin has long marveled at the many phases of his life. There's his youth as a Disneyland performer, surrounded by vaudeville performers and magicians. A decade as a …

Nation & World
Cargo ship had engine maintenance in port before it collided with Baltimore bridge, officials say

BALTIMORE (AP) — The cargo ship that lost power and crashed into a bridge in Baltimore underwent "routine engine maintenance" in port beforehand, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday, as divers …

An airstrip is being built on a Yemeni island during the ongoing war, with 'I LOVE UAE' next to it SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — As Yemen's Houthi rebels continue to target ships in a Mideast waterway, satellite pictures analyzed by The Associated Press show what appears to be a new airstrip …
Biden fundraiser in NYC with Obama and Clinton nets a whopping $25M, campaign says. It's a record WASHINGTON (AP) — A fundraiser for President Joe Biden on Thursday in New York City that also stars Barack Obama and Bill Clinton is raising a whopping $25 million, setting a record for the …
U.S. journalist marks a year in a Russian prison as courts keep extending his time behind bars For Evan Gershkovich, the dozen appearances in Moscow's courts over the past year have fallen into a pattern. Guards take the American journalist from the notorious Lefortovo Prison in a van for the …
Ahmaud Arbery's killers ask a US appeals court to overturn their hate crime convictions ATLANTA (AP) — Attorneys are asking a U.S. appeals court to throw out the hate crime convictions of three white men who used pickup trucks to chase Ahmaud Arbery through the streets of a …
State News
South Carolina House OKs bill they say will keep the lights on. Others worry oversight will be lost

COLUMBIA (AP) — A wide-ranging bill backers say will ensure South Carolina has plenty of electric power passed a key vote Wednesday in the House, but opponents complained it would roll back …

FBI says Alex Murdaugh lied about where money stolen from clients went and who helped him steal COLUMBIA (AP) — Convicted killer Alex Murdaugh didn't tell the truth when FBI agents repeatedly asked him where more than $6 million he stole ended up and whether another attorney not yet …
FBI says Alex Murdaugh lied about where money stolen from clients went and who helped him steal COLUMBIA — Convicted killer Alex Murdaugh didn't tell the truth when FBI agents repeatedly asked him where more than $6 million he stole ended up and whether another attorney not yet identified …
South Carolina has $1.8 billion but doesn't know where the money came from or where it should go COLUMBIA (AP) — South Carolina has collected about $1.8 billion in a bank account over the past decade and state and private accountants are still trying to figure out where the cash came from …
Some Republicans who supported Nikki Haley are still refusing to back Donald Trump COLUMBIA (AP) — Now that Nikki Haley has shuttered her presidential campaign, one person who voted for her refuses to back former President Donald Trump and plans to reluctantly vote for …
Obituaries
HARDEN LEWIS JR.

Harden Lewis Jr.,  63, husband of Georgia Madison Lewis, died Thursday, March 28, 2024, at his home in Pinewood.  Born in Sumter on May 15, 1960, he was the son of Ruth Brown Lewis and the …

CABBAGESTALK

ROOSEVELT CABBAGESTALK JR.

Roosevelt Cabbagestalk Jr., 61, son Mary Lou Green Cabbagestalk and the late Roosevelt Cabbagestalk Sr., was born on Oct. 23, 1962, in Sumter. He departed this life on Friday, March 22, 2024, at his …

HAMPTON

CHARLIE LEE HAMPTON

Presiding Elder Charlie Lee Hampton, 74, husband of Katherine Thames Hampton, and son of the late Rev. Powell Hampton Sr. and Rosa Odell Green Hampton, was born on March 4, 1950, in Sumter.  He …

YOUNG

TERENCE ALPHONSO YOUNG

Terence Alphonso Young, 71, husband of Marlene C. Young and son of the late Melvin Young and Carrie Robinson Young, was born on May 20, 1952, in Washington, D.C. He departed this life on Thursday, …

MARKAYLA DENISE JOHNSON

CHARLOTTE — Markayla Denise Johnson, 22, died Friday, March 15, 2024, in Charlotte. She was born May 14, 2001, in Clarendon County, a daughter of Markeysha Renee Johnson and Domell Wilson. …

Faith
Animal chaplains offer spiritual care for every species This content is written and produced by Religion News Service and distributed by The Associated Press. RNS and AP partner on some religion news content. RNS is solely responsible for this story. Sarah Bowen says she's been doing the work of an …
Column by Manning Pastor Sam Livingston: Our posture tells the story Most humanistic settings require a certain posture from the participants. A boxer enters the ring with his fist clenched and somewhere near his chin. A baseball player places a glove on the non-throwing hand and leaves the dominant hand free to …
Church news: Wednesday, March 27, 2024 Southern Methodist Church of Summerton, 1107 Felton St., Summerton, announces: - April 6 - The annual spring BBQ will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Vernon Way Fellowship Hall. Cost is $10 per plate, eat-in cafeteria-style or take-out. Pickup …
The Rev. Dr. Clay Smith: Jericho Jericho was an old city in Jesus' time. It was a crossroads city where farmers came to trade their goods. It was also a resort town. About 18 miles from Jerusalem, the elite of Jerusalem had winter homes there. It was also the home of hundreds of …
Celebrations
Dear Abby
Pets for adoption
Notorious C.A.T. will be a play buddy and couch potato

Notorious C.A.T. is a 7-month-old, black male American Shorthair. He has gorgeous eyes and a personality to match. Notorious has a friendly and loving demeanor and would definitely keep you entertained. He is housebroken and would love to be …

Engagements
Townes-Lewis Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Mark Townes of Sumter announce the engagement of their daughter, Whitney Elizabeth Townes of Charleston, to Walter Elliot Lewis of Charleston, son of Ms. Karen Lewis of Jackson, Georgia. The bride-elect is the granddaughter …
Reflections

Reflections by Sammy Way: Former landfill becomes beautiful garden

Today's Reflections addresses the development of Sumter's most significant floral garden. H. C. Bland, upon entering retirement, desired to develop his own fishing pond, which evolved into Bland Pond and eventually became an integral part of Swan …

Yesteryear
Yesteryear by Sammy Way: Horseshoe pitching tourney scheduled; Crime Stoppers telethon returns 75 YEARS AGO - 1949 Aug. 9 - 15 - Rufe Watson of Sumter set a new world record in the senior division at the National Skeet Shooting Association's tournament at Dallas, Texas, on Sunday. Watson copped the senior title in the all-gauge event by …
Yesteryear by Sammy Way: Shaw hosts surplus sale; city's 1st Easter egg hunt a success 75 YEARS AGO - 1949 Aug. 2 - 8 - Rebel third baseman Hal Harrigan last night hit his 29th home run of the season to tie the Tri-State league record set last year by Leon Cross of Florence. It was the only prize Anderson could salvage from a …
Yesteryear by Sammy Way: Train car is named for Sumter County; Lee builds new high school 75 YEARS AGO - 1949 July 26 - Aug. 1 - Sumter County runs from New York City to Florida these days, not as a result of "imperialistic conquest" but because of improved service on the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. It's a gag, of course. Truth …
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