July 28, 2013

Page 1

THE WAIT IS OVER: American Legion state tournament underway B1 INSIDE • Athletic trainer, students receive awards. A2 • Program offers look at local alcohol, tobacco laws to merchants. D1 VOL. 118, NO. 239 WWW.THEITEM.COM

SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2013 | SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA

FOUNDED OCTOBER 15, 1894

$1.50

S.C. lawmaker speaks at breakfast BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com

KEITH GEDAMKE / SPECIAL TO THE ITEM

Knowledge Supreme Scientific smiles recently as he tells the story of his troubled past, the anger that fueled it and his fight to find his own sense of enlightenment.

Man conquers past through religious path to redemption BY JAMIE H. WILSON Special to The Item

Sumter Democrats got some politics alongside their breakfast muffins Saturday, when the county party received a visit from state Rep. Bakari Sellers. Sellers, D-Denmark, at 28 one of the youngest members of the S.C. General Assembly, has announced he plans to run for lieutenant governor next year, likely against Republican incumbent Glenn McConnell. He laid out some of his concerns and BRISTOW MARCHANT / THE ITEM motivations for running at a gatherBakari Sellers, Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, speaks ing at the Golden Corral on Broad Saturday to a gathering of Democrats in Sumter. The son of civil Street. rights activist Cleveland Sellers, the candidate spoke about modern To win a statewide race, Sellers challenges facing the state in comparison to the days of the civil SEE SELLERS, PAGE A5 rights movement.

FIRE CONSUMES ABANDONED TRAILER

across the county. Now, one word best describes his current condition: redeemed.

A lot of things define local resident and SumA PAST THAT FOLLOWS ter native Knowledge The first nine years of Supreme Scientific. Knowledge’s life were The first, obviously, is his unusual name which spent in foster care. Born Michael Antonio he adopted in the midMcCray, 1990s. Knowledge The secsaid his ond is his childhood criminal releft him cord, angry. which, “I didn’t though know my filled mostparents,” ly with mishe said. demeanors, has earned Knowledge “Well, I bits several Supreme knew and pieces mentions in The Item Scientific but nothing that was reand more ally pleasing.” than a few stints in jail. His adoptive parents But probably the lived on a farm where, most striking definition Knowledge said, they of Knowledge’s life is how he has changed. Up made him and his two siblings work. until relatively recently, “We would go to Knowledge maintained school smelling like a crime-ridden and addicted lifestyle, living in SEE REDEMPTION, PAGE A5 abandoned homes

‘I didn’t know how to pray. I just gave my life to Jesus.’

ABOVE and LEFT: Sumter firefighters battle a blaze inside a vacant mobile home at 1037 Dibert St. The fire broke out at 2:17 p.m., and two fire engines, a ladder truck and rescue truck responded from the Manning Road and Hampton Avenue stations. The cause of the fire could not be immediately determined, and investigators are looking into the fire as a possible arson. PHOTOS BY BRISTOW MARCHANT / THE ITEM

Carolinas work to lure visitors off beaten path BY BRUCE SMITH The Associated Press

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A fisherman uses a small boat near the River Walk in Conway recently. South Carolina tourism officials say a campaign to attract visitors to undiscovered areas of the state is paying off.

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

www.theitem.com

Tourism officials in both Carolinas are working to get visitors down roads less traveled this summer. A $2.5 million spring advertising campaign touting “‘Undiscovered South Carolina’ is already showing positive results,” said Duane Parrish, director of the state’s tourism department. And North Carolina’s Project 543 website showcases attractions, many in small towns, in the 543-mile

its river walk and historic district. “Our May tourism figures show the first impact of that,” Parrish said. “Our revenue per available room in the state was up 7 percent — one of our biggest one-month jumps. Weather played a part, but I think our ‘Undiscovered’ campaign also played a part. When I look at the numbers from rural areas, I can see the influence.” In North Carolina, the SEE CAROLINAS, PAGE A9

OUTSIDE STORMS AHEAD

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

width of the state from Manteo on the Outer Banks to Murphy in the mountains of the west. Parrish said the thinking behind the South Carolina campaign is that while major coastal and larger cities have marketing money, state money could help boost tourism in rural areas. The aim is to bring visitors to such places as the Colonial Dorchester state historic site in Summerville, where visitors can do hands-on archaeological work, and small towns such as Conway, with

Anna May S. Hoffman Frances J. Jones Darryl L. Anderson Judith G. Danella Jerry P. Dodson Annie Louise James

INSIDE 5 SECTIONS, 34 PAGES

Clouds and sun with rain or a thunderstorm during the day; mostly cloudy during the night with an early storm. HIGH: 85 LOW: 69 A9

A10

Business Classifieds Comics Daily Planner Opinion Television

D1 D4 E1 A10 A8 E3


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.