Columbia TV anchor shares message on spiritual gifts during Sumter Mayor's Prayer Breakfast

Judi Gatson, WIS news anchor who served as the keynote speaker, talks to the crowd about spiritual gifts on Thursday, May 2, at Alice Drive Baptist Church. She told the audience of more than 400 that their gifts are important, even if they aren’t aware of the impact they make on their community.
All Christians should use their spiritual gifts given by God to serve others and never think their gifts are trivial or going unnoticed because they truly are impacting someone. That was the message shared by popular Columbia-area TV news anchor …
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Arts & Entertainment

With help from AI, Randy Travis got his voice back

With some help from artificial intelligence, country music star Randy Travis, celebrated for his timeless hits like "Forever and Ever, Amen" and "I Told You So," has his voice back. In July 2013, Travis was hospitalized with viral cardiomyopathy, …

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
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 …
The FAA investigates after Boeing says workers in South Carolina falsified 787 inspection records SEATTLE (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday it has opened an investigation into Boeing after the beleaguered company reported that workers at a South Carolina plant falsified …
Obituaries
REV. EARTHER McCLOUD-JOE

The Rev. Earther McCloud-Joe, daughter of the late Sam Baker Sr. and Lucile Muldrow Baker, was born on March 24, 1939, in Sumter. She was called home on Saturday, May 4, 2024. Funeral services will …

NATHANIEL HAMPTON JR.

Nathaniel Hampton Jr. 76, widower of Azalee Wells Hampton, died Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Hospice House, Lexington. He was born Jan. 19, 1948. in Sumter, ason of the late Nathaniel Sr. and Vera …

DARREN RONALD JOHNSON

Darren Ronald Johnson, 56, son of Robert Ronald Johnson and the late Dorothy Pugh Johnson, was born on June 30, 1967, in Brooklyn, New York.  He departed this life on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at …

ANNIE R. DUBOSE

Annie R. DuBose, 97, beloved wife of the late Carl DuBose, died on Thursday, May 9, 2024. You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family’s guest book. The family has chosen …

RICHARD PORCHER JR.

Richard Porcher Jr.,  57, died Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital, Sumter.  Born in Sumter County on March 29, 1967, he was the son of the late Richard Porcher Sr. and …

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 …
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