Shaw, community work to strengthen their ties Meeting focuses on brainstorming ideas for supporting each other even more TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015
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BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com At an Air Force-Community Partners meeting Monday morning at Swan Lake-Iris Gardens, Shaw Air Force Base personnel and Sumter community leaders dis-
2 SECTIONS, 20 PAGES | VOL. 120, NO. 98
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cussed a number of ideas for increased cooperation between the city and the base. The frank and wide-ranging discussion included such topics as finding a vendor for use of the base’s now unused movie theater; better informing airmen and other base personnel of education, enter-
tainment and business opportunities in Sumter; and allowing civilians more access to the base for activities such as using the golf course or taking classes. “This community partners program was put in place by the Air
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McKoy unveils his newest work of art
Catch ‘Godspell’ 3 days this week at SLT A3 SPORTS
Top 2 showdown No. 1 USC women travel to face No. 2 UConn B1 DEATHS, B6 Mozelle W. London Sammie Harry Jr. James Robinson Jr. Malcolm E. Jones Betty C. Stringer James Dixon Jr. Ada S. Moses Earline Artis Jerline H. Sam Douglas W. Mastaler
RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM
Grainger McKoy unveiled his latest unnamed sculpture of a covey of quail Sunday during a presentation at Swan Lake Visitors Center. During his presentation, he said he enjoyed having a mirror behind the sculpture so that people could see the details of his work from all sides.
Record year on tap for $18B tourism industry
WEATHER, A12 A LITTLE COOLER TODAY Sunny, breezy and cooler; clear and colder tonight HIGH 55, LOW 34
BY BRUCE SMITH The Associated Press
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Cheaper gas, better economy may encourage travel
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CHARLESTON — The lowest gas prices in years and a robust economy should combine for another record year for South Carolina’s $18 billion tourism industry. “The economy has strengthened, fuel prices are low, and consumer confidence is solid,” said Brad Dean, the president and CEO of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. “The tourism industry throughout South Carolina is bullish about 2015.” “I think 2015 will be a third straight year of record num-
bers,” added Duane Parrish, the director of the state Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. A key indicator for the industry, revenue per available room, was up 11.2 percent last year. Nationally, the figure was up 8.2 percent. “A good year for the country and even a better year for South Carolina,” Parrish said. The tourism season gears up this week with the Governor’s Conference on Tourism and Travel in Myrtle Beach and then the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, which attracts
Paramedics gear up for competition BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com
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Two of Sumter County’s Emergency Medical Services paramedics will represent the county and the Pee Dee region during the 2015 South Carolina Paramedic Championship. The championship will take place during the 2015 HALL South Carolina Emergency Care Symposium in Myrtle Beach on Feb. 27. One team from the Pee Dee, Lowcountry, Midlands and Upstate regions will compete against the 2014 paramedic KIRVEN
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Donations bounce back with 2 large gifts for needy BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com Fireside donations rallied this week with some generous donations. Salem Black River Presbyterian Church gave $1,000, and Ramon Schwartz gave $500 in memory of Rosa Weinberg Schwartz.
But every financial gift from the amounts that make up this week’s anonymous total of $200 to the $1,000 donation helps heat homes such as the home of one woman whose electricity had been cut off. “She was using plug-in heaters,
and it ran her bill up like crazy,” said Christy Lamb, social worker with The Salvation Army. “We were able to use the Fireside money to help get her power turned back on.” Since 1969, the partnership between The Sumter Item and The
Salvation Army known as Fireside Fund has collected more than $1.4 million. The publication takes in the donations and then gives the money to nonprofit. The charity then distributes the monetary gifts in the form of vouchers to those in need. This week’s total was $2,325, and
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