SUNDAY’S REFLECTIONS: Triangular building remains centerpiece of civic complex
Wilson Hall, LMA face off in region baseball matchup. B1 VOL. 118, NO. 131 WWW.THEITEM.COM
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2013 | SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA
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Senators oppose gun bill BY BRADEN BUNCH bbunch@theitem.com
There are no magic pills BY MISSY CORRIGAN Special to The Item
E
veryone is always looking for a quick and easy way to lose weight without having to put in a lot of work or change eating habits. Every year billions of dollars are wasted on diet pills and even though they fail, people remain hopeful that the next new diet pill to hit the market or that is recommended by a doctor on some popular morning TV show will work for them. Have you ever noticed that there is one statement that is always made either on the diet pill bottle label or information packet? It generally states, “For best results follow a healthy CORRIGAN diet and exercise program along with taking this product.” I wonder why that is. Could it be because the only thing that really works in shedding unwanted pounds and fat is a healthy diet and exercise program? Diet pills are known to cause more harm than good. Yet TIPS FOR A HEALTHY even with LIFESTYLE the listed negative • Learn the power of good nutrition. side effects, • Don’t fall for fad diets that seem we are willtoo good to be true. ing to risk • Find an exercise program that you our health enjoy and do it. just to see a few pounds come off the scale. Some contain stimulants that give you the effect that something is happening in your body while others have no immediate effects but may cause harm to your health in the long term. Appetite suppressants are among the worst. Why would you ever want to starve your body? Being hungry is a good thing, but starving is not. Fad diets may sound good and can help you reach your goals, but if it is not something you can adopt and maintain for life, you will find yourself back where you were before. Thus begins the yo-yo dieting roller coaster. The infomercials with the models who claim to have changed their bodies with a particular program are there to persuade you into buying their product. Many of us fall for these in the hopes that we will create the body of our dreams and look like them in just a few short weeks. With over 15 years in this industry, I have yet to see any quick fixes. The truth is that hard work, dedication and commitment to a healthy lifestyle is the only way to get the body you want. Fueling your body with nutrient-dense food frequently throughout the day and having an effective exercise program that has become a part of your everyday lifestyle is key. While you can find an overwhelming amount of information about nutrition and exercise on the Internet or in books, it can also be very contradictory, confusing and overwhelming. SEE HEALTHY LIVING, PAGE A8
A state bill allowing gun owners with a concealed weapons permit to carry handguns into bars and restaurants under certain situations will be opposed by both local state senators when it comes up for a vote, the senators say. The bill — sponsored by 18 Republican senators — has been scheduled for special order, making it one of the first issues senators will
drink alcoholic beverages while there. To enforce these rules, the bill makes it a misdemeanor to violate these terms, bringing with it a penalty of up McELVEEN to two years in jail and/ or a $2,000 fine. An initial special order vote to bring the proposed bill to the front of the Senate’s calendar failed. But SEE GUN BILL, PAGE A8
Firefighters win awards Fire Engineer Jeffrey Shirley is presented with the Gene Franklin Life Saving Award by the late fire chaplain’s daughter Chris Courson.
PHOTOS BY BRISTOW MARCHANT / THE ITEM
Four Sumter firefighters shake hands with Lester Peterson, center, whom they pulled from a burning house last August. Peterson helped honor, from left, Lt. Matt Carroll, Master Firefighters Brantley Hutchinson and Landon Cribb and Engineer Jeffrey Shirley. Behind Peterson is his mother, Rosetta Sheriod.
4 honored for saving man’s life “There were heavy flames coming out of the structure, and they didn’t know if anyone was still in there,” said Battalion Chief Brian ChristLester Peterson doesn’t rememmas. “They had to pull the attack ber when he first met the men he lines off the truck just to get the helped honor Thursday night. He smoke down enough to get inside.” was unconscious as the fire crew Carroll performed a search of the pulled him from a burning house living room using a thermal imaging last August. camera because of the thick smoke “I just woke up five days later in and saw Peterson Augusta (Burn Center),” he said. “I had ‘I’ve had so many lying on the floor. Carroll and Cribb third-degree burns all over my body.” situations where it pulled him toward the door, and Shirley On Thursday, Peterson stood alongdoesn’t go so well. picked him up and carried him down the side officials from the American Red Cross It’s very rewarding stairs into the yard. Hutchinson deteras they honored those firefighters — to know you mined Peterson wasn’t breathing and had no Lt. Matt Carroll, Master Firefighters Landwere able to help pulse, and he and Carroll performed CPR on on Cribb and Brantley Hutchinson and someone.’ the victim until EMS arrived. Meanwhile, Engineer Jeffrey ShirCribb continued to ley — for their lifesearch the burning saving work. All four men were Engineer Jeffrey Shirley home for anyone else who needed to be presented with the saved. Gene Franklin Life This week, the men were honored Saving Award at the annual recognifor their life-saving work using skills tion dinner of the Sandhills chapter taught by the Red Cross with the of the Red Cross held at St. James Gene Franklin Life Saving Award, Lutheran Church. named after a late Sumter fire chapThe award recipients responded lain. with the Sumter Fire Department to Members of the Franklin family a mobile home fire on Curtis Drive early on the morning of Aug. 20, 2012. SEE AWARDS, PAGE A8
Lt. Matt Carroll with the Sumter Fire Department accepts his award from Franklin’s daughter Patti Johns.
BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com
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consider when they return to the Statehouse in two weeks. Under the proposed legislation, bars and restaurants selling alcohol would have the JOHNSON ability to prevent gun owners from bringing weapons into the business by either posting signs or by asking those people to leave the premises. In addition, customers carrying weapons into the establishments will not be able to
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Master Firefighter Brantley Hutchinson is given his award by Tina Franklin, wife of the late Sumter fire chaplain.
Master Firefighter Landon Cribb accepts his award from Patti Johns.
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