August 11, 2013

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SAME PLACE, SAME TASTES, DIFFERENT FACE Summerton’s Wen Lily’s under new ownership, but aims to maintain the same charm for which the restaurant is known.

D1 VOL. 118, NO. 251 WWW.THEITEM.COM

SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, 2013 | SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA

FOUNDED OCTOBER 15, 1894

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Fire leaves 1 dead, 1 injured Saluting a storied soldier

Man killed fighting flames in home; ‘The dispatcher told them to get out wife remains in critical condition BY BRADEN BUNCH bbunch@theitem.com SUMMERTON — One man is dead, and his wife is described to be in “very serious condition” after a fire in their home on JR & FA Richburg Road late Saturday night. Clarendon County Fire Chief Frances Richbourg said about 10:30 p.m. her department received multiple calls from the house reporting the fire. By the time they arrived to the rural lo-

cation, however, Richbourg said firefighters had to pull the couple from the home. “The dispatcher told them to get out of the house, get out of the house, but apparently they just could not make it,” Richbourg said. Gary Gudon Crummell, 59, was pronounced dead shortly after he was removed from the residence. Richbourg said Crummell’s wife, Deloris SEE FIRE, PAGE A6

of the house, get out of the house, but apparently they just could not make it.’

Last member of legendary WWII artillery unit dies BY KEN BELL Special to The Item George Edward Chappell’s recent death closed the final chapter of one of the most storied military units of World War II. Chappell, 91, died Aug. 2 in the Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia. Chappell served as a gunner with the Army’s famed 178th Field Artillery Unit. Sumter historian Sammy Way said Chappell was the last surviving member of the 178th Field Artillery Unit.

Frances Richbourg, Clarendon County Fire Chief

MORRIS COLLEGE STUDENTS MOVE IN

“That’s significant because it truly is the end of an era,” Way said. “He was the last survivor.” The 178th Field Artillery Unit is recognized as the first American unit to have fired rounds into Europe. Chappell, known to his friends simply as “Mr. Ed,” participated in many battles, including combat in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. Fellow soldiers regarded Chappell as the best gunner in the unit. SEE CHAPPELL, PAGE A6

After-school program hosts meet-and-greet tending the schools not covered by the grant — Wilder, Willow Drive, The director of a local Kingsbury and Millwood after-school program is elementary schools — to on a mission. pay $25 a week or $355 Helping Youth Pursue from Sept. 3 through Excellence is down to Christmas break per one grant, and Barney child. Children attendGadson, its director, is ing Lemira and Crossasking for help. well Drive elementaries “We are aggressively and Alice Drive, Bates courting the communiand Chestnut Oaks midty,” he said. “Every child dle schools still qualify deserves a for free afsafe place ter-school WANT TO GO? to go after care. WHAT: Helping Youth Pursue Excelschool. He was lence After School Program InformaThey don’t in a simition Session need to be lar posiWHEN: 6 p.m. Tuesday going tion last WHERE: M. H. Newton Life Enrichment Center, 415 Manning Ave., Sumter home academic FOR MORE: (803) 934-9527 alone beyear when cause too his organimany things can or do zation was not awarded happen when they are a competitive grant. The unsupervised. We (also) first semester, he had to want effective children. ask parents to contribWe want them to be suc- ute, but he got another cessful in whatever they grant in January that let choose.” him return the program The program used to to free for all particirun on three grants, but pants. in the last few years it He continues to apply has functioned on two. for grants, but he wants Gadson is asking famiSEE HYPE, PAGE A6 lies with children atBY JADE ANDERSON janderson@theitem.com

Read more about Morris College’s student move-in day inside.

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ABOVE: From left, Morris College freshman Shameeka Downtin follows as her mother, Quentasia Dease, and sister, Dominique Downtin, move a cart of her belongings into her dormitory during student move-in day Saturday. LEFT: Admissions counselor Tiffany McCants helps a Morris College student find her room assignment inside the Garrick-Boykin Human Development Center on Saturday.

RIGHT: Morris College “student leaders” Ryan Graham, center, and Khyshaun Cole carry freshmen’s moving gear into AMMA Hall on Saturday morning. The upperclassmen volunteered to return to campus early to help their younger classmates with their move. Approximately 458 freshmen moved into their dorm rooms on Saturday.

PHOTOS BY BRISTOW MARCHANT / THE ITEM

20 N. Magnolia St. Sumter, SC 29150 (USPS 525-900)

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OUTSIDE STORMS ROLLIN’ THROUGH

DEATHS Information: 774-1200 Advertising: 774-1236 Classifieds: 774-1234 Delivery: 774-1258 News, Sports: 774-1226

Jean H. Johnson Sandra M. Barfield Franklin Castine Robert T. Clark Gertrude C. Copeland Gary G. Crummell

James H. Graves Samuel L. Jones Herman M. Ward Brenda White

A few thunderstorms through the day; partly cloudy, humid with a storm at night. A9

HIGH: 93 LOW: 73 A10

INSIDE 5 SECTIONS, 32 PAGES

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