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Hundreds flock to gas giveaway Army Rangers doing Pilates? You betcha
Local fitness expert develops new workout regimen for soldiers BY CATHERINE FOLEY reporter@theitem.com (803) 774-1295
BRISTOW MARCHANT / THE SUMTER ITEM
Cars backed up around the block outside the El Cheapo station on Broad Street Extension on Saturday long before the beginning of the “Gas on God” event sponsored by Shabach World Cathedral. The church bought gas for the first 100 cars to come into the station after 9 a.m., but church members estimated many more waited in a line that stretched beyond Eagle Road.
Church pays for $2,500 in fuel, passes out food BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com (803) 774-1272 Saturday’s gas giveaway was capped at the first 100 cars, but it was clear early on a lot more than that showed up. Even before the announced start time at 9 a.m., when members of Shabach World Cathedral took hold of the pumps at El Cheapo, cars were parked along the side of U.S. 378 and down Eagle Road. Their drivers arrived early, some from long distances away, just for the chance that the church would give them gas for free. The hubbub was caused by the announcement that Shabach would pay for up to $25 worth of gas for the first 100 cars at the station in a “Gas on God” promotion to mark the church’s 14th anniversary. Some 40 church members crowded the filling area handing out tickets to each eligible driver, directing traffic and handing out free hot dogs to those who waited. One member counted 120 cars wrapping around the block, with others trying to cut over from the westbound lane of 378 into the parking lot. “This is even more than we expected,” said T.L. Penny, Shabach’s senior pastor. “Some people have been here since 1 o’clock (in the morning).” The event didn’t go entirely
MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM
Right, a Shabach World Cathedral member passes out free hot dogs to those waiting in line for free gas at El Cheapo on U.S. 378 on Saturday.
MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM
A child enjoys a free hot dog while waiting in line for the Gas on God event on Saturday. smoothly. One car driving alongside the waiting line rear ended the vehicle in front and had to be towed
SEE GAS ON GOD, PAGE A4
‘I hope whatever idea someone has about church, this will give them a positive image of us. Church isn’t about ‘me, me, me.’ It’s about ‘sow, sow, sow,’ sowing into people’s lives. It’s about showing Christ in the community.’ T.L. PENNY Senior pastor of
A local Pilates guru, Sue Ladson, is working with U.S. Army Rangers to develop a workout routine better suited for deployed servicemen than their standard exercising. Army Ranger Carter Elms, a 3rd Platoon leader currently serving in Afghanistan, found that he along with many of the troops who were in great shape were still physically struggling in the field. Elms thinks this is because traditional weight-lifting workouts only provided increases in strength instead of both strength and stamina. Elms reached out to Ladson approximately three to four years ago before going to Ranger school, and she worked with him as his personal trainer to help improve his form. Although Elms was in top shape, he struggled with strength in his hip flexor and lower back. He now finds that Pilates is a beneficial and necessary part of his workout routine, and he is beginning to share this with his fellow troops, LADSON many of whom are experiencing similar problems. According to Elms, servicemen are finding that their previous workout routines do not encompass the smaller muscles essential to providing functional fitness. Although many of these men and women came from athletic backgrounds, they faced problems with their lower back muscles that prevented them from climbing and walking with their 45- to 85-pound bags without experiencing soreness in these areas. Since starting Pilates, Elms has seen significant improvement in his ability to go long distances in the field. He has taught these workouts to his troop and hopes to pass them to other platoons. While overseas, many of the pre-workout supplements, such as protein powder, are not available in the dining facilities. Because of this, Ladson has also helped create a balanced diet the rangers can use with what is available in these dining facilities. “Taking these supplements is not the answer. The answer is functional fitness,” said Elms. He thinks a quality over quantity mentality is the best way to achieve a fit physique. Elms recommends replacing these supplements with proteins found in a proper diet. Ladson, who has been working in the fitness world for approximately 30 years,
Shabach World Cathedral
SEE PILATES, PAGE A9
Historic courthouse would be renovated with penny tax EDITOR’S NOTE: This is one in a series of stories examining the proposed projects for a renewed penny sales tax, which Sumter County voters will be asked to approve in November. Money raised by the tax will go toward a series of building, infrastructure and other projects throughout the county.
BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com (803) 774-1272 When it was dedicated on the town’s central square in 1907, the Sumter County Courthouse was an architec-
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tural achievement the community could be proud of. At the time the expanded section facing Harvin Street was added in the 1960s, its facilities were a welcome addition to the halfcentury-old structure. But another 50 years on, the courthouse is showing its age. The smaller building hasn’t hosted a regular court case since the larger and more modern Sumter Judicial Center opened across the street in 2013, and for what functions remain in the yellow-brick building, it’s simply not functional or efficient for a 21st century facility. Even so, county officials want to
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keep up the historic courthouse as Sumter County’s most visible property. “We feel like we have to be good stewards of this landmark building,” said Gary Mixon, Sumter County administrator. “We’re all proud of our new judicial center, but this is our county landmark.” That’s why the new MIXON penny sales tax under consideration in November would raise $3 million for renovations to the old courthouse, covering everything from windows and air con-
DEATHS, A9 John R. McClary Timmy Brown Francis A. Edens James Garner Jr. Sharmon McAllister Catherine Pearson Rosa Smith
ditioning to light bulbs and bathrooms. To the casual observer walking across the square, not that much will change on the exterior of the building, said Daniel Shelley, the architect who worked up the cost estimates on the penny-tax proposal for the firm James, DuRant, Matthews and Shelley. The most noticeable change will be made on the newest section of the courthouse, the Harvin Street entrance. The current arched doorway will become a “tower” housing a new
SEE COURTHOUSE, PAGE A9
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