National Day of Prayer coming soon Day is ‘a call’ for Americans to pray for local, national leaders BY RICK CARPENTER rick@theitem.com
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SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 2015
A local representative of Sumter Ministerial Association encourages area Christians to unite and pray together on the National Day of Prayer on May 7. The Rev. Diane Hodgson, who
represents the association, said Christians will have two opportunities that day to pray for our local and national government leaders. The Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast will start with breakfast at 6:30 a.m. at Alice Drive Baptist Church, 1305 Loring Mill Road. The program begins at 7:30 a.m. with guest speaker
Patrick Cleburne McClary, a Vietnam War veteran. Tickets cost $10 per person in advance and $15 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at Olive Tree Christian Book Store, 600 Bultman Drive No. 6, or Swan Lake Visitor’s Center, 822 W. Liberty St.
SEE PRAYER, PAGE A8
SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894
AIRMEN RETURN TO SHAW AFTER 6-MONTH DEPLOYMENT
5 SECTIONS, 38 PAGES | VOL. 120, NO. 157
A hero’s welcome
Gallery exhibits open this week Artists present ‘high energy and socially and politically challenging’ pieces C1 NATION
Intersex surgeries spark move away from drastic treatment A5 DEATHS, A11 Walter K. Thigpen Douglas W. Richardson Evoin L. Williams Geneva C. Fisher
Frances L. Bradley Louella B. Samuel Gladys J. Frierson
WEATHER, A12 RAIN CONTINUES Heavy rain and thunderstorms today and tonight PHOTOS BY RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM
HIGH 75, LOW 64
An Air Force senior master sergeant who just completed his 11th overseas deployment cries while holding his grandson, who was born during his deployment to the Middle East.
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Members of 20th Fighter Wing return from Middle East BY RICK CARPENTER rick@theitem.com
Friends and family welcome home the first 125 airmen of the Air Force’s 20th Fighter Wing who returned after a deployment to the Middle East.
E
ven though there was a light rain at 2 a.m. Saturday, many friends and relatives of Shaw Air Force Base’s 20th Fighter Wing stood outside Hanger 1200 to get the first glimpse of a loved one they had waited seven months to see. Some held signs with unique messages while a few were toting babies their fathers had never seen. And one family surprised a
SEE SHAW, PAGE A11
Program can boost your entry-level health care career BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com If you are interested in starting or advancing your health care career, the Central Carolina Technical College BOOST program may help.
The BOOST program, which stands for Better Occupational Outcomes with Simulation Training, prepares students for entry-level health care careers, program recruiter Jacob Herod said. He said students do not
need previous medical experience to be eligible for the program. He said students need either a high school diploma or a GED to apply. Herod said two of the biggest points about the program is that students can receive fi-
nancial aid and college credit while enrolled. Lynda Marshall, program director, said students can earn a nursing assistant certificate in two semesters and the phlebotomy and cardiac care certifications each in
one semester. She said students who already have nursing assistant certification may be eligible to bypass the nursing assistant course.
SEE HEALTH CARE, PAGE A8