'It's going to hurt our community if we don't get the message out': Sumter’s ‘Enough is Enough’ meets to discuss new open carry law, share solutions to save youth and community

Members of multiple local churches gathered at Beulah AME Church for an Enough is Enough Ministry Prayer Vigil on Sunday afternoon, May 5.
"As a church, we cannot sit back and think because we worship on Sunday, and because we talk about this every now and then, that we've done enough. We have got to keep believing and keep trusting." Those …
Studio Sumter

Welcome to Sumter Today!

Local stories through a local lens.  

Sumter Today is your ticket to anything and everything going on around us. Ideas for the show? Let us know at studio@theitem.com!

You can watch our most recent episode here or click the "Watch on YouTube" button to see more video content produced by Studio Sumter.

Friends to Follow
SPORTS
Arts & Entertainment

What to stream this weekend: Zac Efron, Indigo Girls, 'Dark Matter,' 'Mother of the Bride'

Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White starring in the family wrestling dynasty in "The Iron Claw" and Brooke Shields playing the unwitting title role in the romantic comedy "Mother of the Bride" on …

Nation & World
The Biden-Netanyahu relationship is strained like never before. Can the two leaders move forward?

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have long managed a complicated relationship, but they're running out of space to maneuver as their views on …

Biden says U.S. won't supply weapons for Israel to attack Rafah, in warning to ally WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said that he would not supply offensive weapons that Israel could use to launch an all-out assault on Rafah — the last major Hamas stronghold in Gaza …
House rejects Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's effort to oust Speaker Mike Johnson, but chaos lingers WASHINGTON (AP) — Hard-line Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene tried and failed in a brazen push to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson, but the resounding rejection by Republicans and Democrats tired of …
Trump is in no hurry as he leans into the pageantry of vice presidential tryouts NEW YORK — As former President Donald Trump remains stuck in the courtroom listening to salacious details of an extramarital sexual encounter he denies, another spectacle is playing out in the …
Haley won 1 in 5 Indiana Republican voters in the presidential primary INDIANAPOLIS — The ghost of Nikki Haley's presidential campaign is ringing up significant support in state primaries despite her withdrawal from the race in March shortly before Donald Trump …
State News
1 lawmaker stops South Carolina health care consolidation bill that had overwhelming support

COLUMBIA (AP) — A bill that would have consolidated six South Carolina heath care agencies and was overwhelmingly passed by both chambers of the General Assembly died on the session's final day …

2024 South Carolina General Assembly session may be remembered for what didn't happen COLUMBIA (AP) — The 2024 regular session of the South Carolina General Assembly ends Thursday and will perhaps be better remembered for the things that didn't pass. South Carolina remains one …
South Carolina Senate turns wide-ranging energy bill into resolution supporting more power COLUMBIA — A bill that power companies call vital to keeping the lights on in South Carolina has been turned into a resolution that only expresses support for the idea by the Senate, which …
Refugees welcomed to home in S.C. COLUMBIA (AP) - A church volunteer stood at an apartment door, beckoning inside a Congolese family for their first look at where they would live in America. "Your new house!" volunteer Dan Davidson exclaimed as the couple and the woman's brother …
South Carolina lawmakers rekindle bill limiting how topics like race are taught COLUMBIA (AP) — A small group of lawmakers in South Carolina rekindled debate Tuesday on a bill that would limit how topics like race can be taught in public school K-12 classrooms. Both the …
Obituaries
GERALDINE KNOX

Geraldine Knox, daughter of Lizzie Knox Neely and the late Simon Jenkins, was born July 8, 1953 in Sumter. She departed this earthly life on Sunday, April 28, 2024. Geraldine received her elementary …

DUBOSE

ANNIE R. DUBOSE

Annie R. DuBose, 97, beloved wife of the late Carl C. DuBose, died on Thursday, May 9, 2024. Born in Sumter County, she was the daughter of the late Robert D. Ross Sr. and Katie Boykin Ross. Annie …

ERNEST HOPKINS SR.

Ernest Hopkins Sr., 86, widower of Dorothy Ballard Hopkins and son of the late Purdy Hopkins and Irene Robinson Hopkins, was born on Oct. 6, 1937, in Pinewood. He departed this life on Friday, May …

WILLIS

SUSAN MAE JACKSON WILLIS

Susan Mae Jackson Willis, 85, widow of Stephen Willis and daughter of the late Louis Gamble and Thelma Jackson Quashie, was born on March 20, 1939, in Sumter. She departed this life on Wednesday, May …

JACOBS

PATRICIA ANN JACOBS

Patricia Ann Jacobs, 63, daughter of the late Charlie Jacobs and Catherine Sinkler Jacobs, was born on Dec. 30, 1960, in Sumter.  She departed this life on Friday, May 3, 2024, at Prisma Health …

Faith
Column by William F. Holland Jr.: Knowledge and obedience are not the same It's wonderful to be positive-minded and appreciate that God is good all the time because He is! It's common to seek the Lord for His protection and blessings, as this usually takes up a majority of our prayer time, and it's perfectly fine to do so. …
Church news: May 8, 2024 First Baptist Missionary Church, 219 S. Washington St., announces: - Friday, May 10 - A food giveaway will be held from 1 p.m. until supplies last. Hearts United (formerly Knitting Hearts) at Bethesda Church of God, 2730 Broad St., …
‘Pastor Clay’ to retire from Sumter's Alice Drive Baptist after successor is found Alice Drive Baptist Church pastor Clay Smith announced Sunday that he will be retiring after a new pastor is found for the church in a search process. Noting next month will be his 30 th …
Column from Alice Drive Baptist the Rev. Dr. Clay Smith: Storms Trivia question: What place on Earth has more thunderstorms than any other? Answer: The Tampa Bay area in Florida. As the crow flies, it is 48 miles from the ranch to Tampa. We get our fair share of thunderstorms. As people say, in the summer, …
Celebrations
Dear Abby
Pets for adoption
Anastasia would be a perfect companion for any family

Anastasia is a 2-year-old, tortoiseshell/tabby female Manx. She is housebroken and is quite gorgeous. Her coat is a brown, orange and black mottled tortoiseshell, and her temperament is super calm, …

Engagements
Welch-Barwick Allison Lynn Welch of Sumter and Stephen Daniel Barwick of Dalzell announce their engagement. The bride-elect is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Welch and the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. William R. Tschorn Sr. and the late Mr. and Mrs. …
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: Morris College opened in 1908 as Sumter's 1st college

Reflections revisits Morris College and discusses the opportunities it offered to Black children in the Sumter community. "The Negro State Baptist Convention of South Carolina founded the college in 1908. For many years, it has contributed much to …

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 …
From the opinion pages
Your view