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Dogs kill goats at Dalzell farm Farmer asks community for help BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com “Christmas” was born on Christmas Day 10 years ago, said Harold Johnson, owner of Tree House Nursery in
Dalzell. Her mother died in childbirth, so the baby goat was bottle-fed by hand until she was old enough to eat on her own. “She would follow me everywhere, like a puppy,” he recalled. “She was a
real sweet goat.” Monday night, Christmas was maimed and killed by two loose dogs in the woods behind Johnson’s nursery operation, and another goat was injured. The night before, the same dogs attacked and killed more than a dozen goats at the 60-acre nursery and farm on the Thomas Sumter Highway. A
photo he took with his cell phone showed the gruesome toll of goats and lambs. “They don’t eat them; they just kill them for fun,” he said. Besides selling plants and gardening supplies at the nursery, Johnson also raises goats at the farm.
SEE GOATS, PAGE A6
Christians observe beginning of Lent Today marks start with Ash Wednesday
The Rev. Marcus Kaiser Sr., right, leads the ceremony of burning palm leaves on Shrove Tuesday at Church of the Holy Comforter. Ashes from the fire will be used today during Ash Wednesday services.
BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Church of the Holy Comforter, along with other churches of Sumter’s Christian community, began preparations for Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent, with the recognition of Shrove Tuesday, also referred to as Fat Tuesday. Tuesday evening, members of Holy Comforter’s parish met for the Shrove Tuesday pancake dinner. Holy Comforter Parish Administrator Lori Grimm said pancakes are consumed during Shrove Tuesday because eggs, butter and fat are forbidden during Lent. Years ago people had to use all of those ingredients so they would not go bad while they fasted, she said. Also, parishioners at Holy Comforter brought palms branches that were blessed during last year’s Palm
RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM
SEE LENT, PAGE A7
COMMENTARY FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE
Millennials ‘feel the Bern’ DURHAM, N.H.— The Whitmore Center Arena at the University of New Hampshire was experiencing quite the “revolution” as the ballads of Bob Marley and Tracy Chapman reigned high awaiting the arrival of Sen. Bernie Sanders. The agenda for the evening consisted of staff organizers introducing different bands resulting in an entire concert of supAmanda port of Sanders the night Finney before voting begins. Artists included such bands as Big Data Band, Young the Giant and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. The night occurred amidst a huge snowstorm that limited the number of stu-
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dents at the event as well as press, hindered by lack of transportation and delays. But even though turnout seemed low, the energy was high. Bernie Sanders’s campaign capitalized on a society where music festivals such as Bonaroo and Lollapoolza are prevalent. Edward Sharpe, the lead singer of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros may have said it best, “revolution without dancing is not worth a revolution.” And the students dressed for a revolution, adorned with fringe, tie dye, Doc Marten boots, with American flags intertwined in their hair. The ambiance recalled flashbacks of protests from the 1960s, while the music of the revolution lent a scent of Woodstock to these young adults of today who seek and
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SEE MILLENIALS, PAGE A7
DEATHS, B5 Elizabeth B. Henderson Johnny Ray Mims Clifton M. Burress Dr. David Earle Goodman, DVM Mike Wiliams Sr.
Actor Sean Patrick Thomas speaks at Morris College BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Actor Sean Patrick Thomas, best known for his roles in “Barbershop” and “Save the Last Dance,” visited Sumter on Monday to speak with students at Morris College on behalf of presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Thomas said Clinton is looking to expand her campaign audience by reaching out to minority students attending historically black colleges and universities. Thomas also visited Clinton
RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM
Sean Patrick Thomas was in town Monday speaking to Morris College students about the imporSEE ACTOR, PAGE A7 tance of voting.
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3 SECTIONS, 24 PAGES VOL. 121, NO. 98
Mostly sunny but brisk and chilly today. Clear and cold tonight. HIGH 43, LOW 23
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Opinion A9 Television C7