Black Cowboy Festival returns to 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.
What to stream this week: 'Hit Man,' Dakota Johnson, Charli XCX, Star Wars: Hunters and Idris Elba
Idris Elba narrating a National Geographic series about the millions of soldiers erased from World War II history and the action-comedy-romance "Hit Man" landing on Netflix are some of the new …
-
Nicole Brown Simpson's sisters want you to remember how she lived, not how she died
In the familiar images that circulated after her June 1994 death, Nicole Brown Simpson appears frozen in …
-
Review: 'Robot Dreams' is more profound than it has any right to be
It's one of those strange but immutable truths of the movies that a song like Earth, Wind & Fire's …
-
Hollywood movies rarely reflect climate change crisis. These researchers want to change that
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Aquaman might not mind if the oceans rise, but moviegoers might. That's one …
-
'Furiosa,' 'Garfield' lead slowest Memorial Day box office in decades
Movie theaters are looking more and more like a wasteland this summer. Neither " Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga …
-
Crowd enjoys Taste at the Gardens during Sumter Iris Festival
What a way to kick off the annual Iris Festival. Taste at the Gardens on Thursday night, May 23, gave …
-
Irises, rodeo, pickleball and aquatics all part of the weekend fun
To make a submission to our events list, email pressrelease@theitem.com with EVENTS in the subject …
-
For some digital detox for kids, look to the latest in craft kits
Digital diversions may have us tethered to tech, but screen fatigue is real. Even my digitally …
-
TNT will begin airing College Football Playoff games through sublicense with ESPN
TNT Sports will begin airing College Football Playoff games this upcoming season through a …
-
Matthew Perry's death under investigation in connection with ketamine level found in actor's blood
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Authorities have opened an investigation into how Matthew Perry received …
NEW YORK (AP) — When Associated Press correspondent Don Whitehead arrived with other journalists in southern England to cover the Allies' imminent D-Day invasion of Normandy, a U.S. commander …
ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) — A shooting at a block party in Rock Hill left two people dead and two others wounded. No arrests were made, police said. Police were called after gunshots were heard at …
Thomas Kenneth Palka, 63, beloved husband of Helen Hutto-Palka, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 30, 2024, in Sumter, leaving behind a legacy of service, love and dedication to his community. …
Christyal Abigal Anderson, 39, daughter of Dr. Freddie Rouse Anderson and the late Drayfus Anderson, was born on Nov. 3, 1984, in Livingston, New Jersey. She departed this life on Monday, May …
Evangeline Willis Thomas died Thursday, May, 30, 2024, at Prisma Health Richland Hospital in Columbia. She was born in Sumter County to the late Levan Willis and Rebecca Geddis Willis. The …
Thomas Daniel Ardis (Tommy), husband of 54 years to Delores Earles Ardis, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, May 31, 2024, after a long battle with Alzheimer's. Tommy was born on Jan. 20, 1944, …
-
-
Dear Abby, June 3, 2024: Wife discovers husband is up to his same old tricks
DEAR ABBY: I did some investigating and recently found out my husband of 28 years has been corresponding with other women. This is the second …
-
Dear Abby, June 2, 2024: Ex still devastated by girlfriend's betrayal
DEAR ABBY: I still obsess over my first love, even though we broke up 21 years ago. We grew up in a poor mill town, where I was a frustrated, …
-
Dear Abby, May 31, 2024: Senior boyfriend kept kids' ages under wraps
DEAR ABBY: I have been dating my man for seven years. When we got serious, he told me he had kids. Because we are seniors, I assumed his kids …
-
Dear Abby, May 30, 2024: Siblings fail to support one of their own after loss
DEAR ABBY: My husband passed away from COVID in 2021. A year later, after it was safe to socialize, I had a memorial dinner to commemorate him. …
-
-
Nina is an 8-year-old, tan-and-white, female Pit mix. She is housebroken and spayed and is a loving, friendly and extremely sweet girl. Nina enjoys being active at times but is also the …
Reflections by Sammy Way: New Wateree bridge provided convenient highway route
"Businesses will be suspended in Sumter at noon and the balance of the day will be devoted to celebrating the formal opening of the Wateree River bridge at Garner's Ferry, which is the connecting highway link on the most direct route between the …
-
Reflections by Sammy Way: Memorial Day: Fallen heroes provided freedoms we now enjoy
We encourage our readers to visit the Sumter County Military Museum in the Clyburn Transportation Center …
-
Reflections by Sammy Way: Historic Sumter landmark demolished in 1962
Reflections revisits an event marking the removal of an old Sumter landmark, a 226-foot-tall smokestack, …
-
Reflections by Sammy Way: 82 years of history - a look at Iris Festivals past
Sumter will celebrate its 82nd Iris Festival at Swan Lake Iris Gardens this Memorial Day weekend, with …
-
Reflections by Sammy Way: Sumter had 2 pavilions for activities, entertainment
Reflections revisits two pavilions once located at Second Mill (Sunset Lake) and Pocalla Springs. …
-
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 …
-
Reflections by Sammy Way: United Service Organizations also known as 'home away from home'
Reflections remembers one of the most important aspects of assisting and providing recreational and …
-
Reflections by Sammy Way: Neiman's Jewelers opened modern store on South Main Street in 1945
Reflections remembers one of Sumter's most beautiful and upscale jewelry stores to open in the …
-
Reflections: Have you seen these photos from Sumter's past?
This issue of Reflections takes a look at photos taken across the Sumter area through the decades.
-
-
Letter to the editor: Thank you to voters for support for 20 years; Lee would serve Sumter well
This is an "open letter" to the voters and children of Sumter County Council District 7. I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to …
-
Letter to the editor: More members of city, county government should have attended Memorial Day ceremony
My husband and I attended the Memorial Day ceremony at Sumter Veterans Flag Park, as we have every year. Thank you to Col. Bush Hanson and the …
-
-
-
Letter to the editor: Zell will be transparent, caring leader in S.C. Senate
I am writing to express my enthusiastic support for Jeff Zell as the next South Carolina state senator for District 36. In these challenging …
-
-
-
Letter to the editor: Ask candidates questions about transportation, education, accessibility for disabled residents
I am continually amazed how the county's chairman and the city's mayor sleep at night while a large number of Sumter citizens are struggling to …
-
-
-
Letter to the editor: Opponent in Democratic Primary for Senate District 36 attempting to mislead voters
As the current senator for Senate District 36, I am enjoying my time on the campaign trail as I work toward reelection to a position that has …
-
-
-
Letter to the editor: If we don't turn country around, young people won't be celebrating Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a time to remember and pay tribute to our fallen. This year I had the opportunity to sponsor an inscribed brick along one of the …
-
-