March 23, 2014

Page 1

United in motherhood

SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014

$1.50

SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894

5 SECTIONS, 38 PAGES | VOL. 119, NO. 135

IN NEWS

PHOTOS BY JADE REYNOLDS / THE SUMTER ITEM

Melissa Hudson, right, visits with LJ, who she used to babysit when she was a teenager. LJ has cerebral palsy, and Hudson’s 3-year-old son, Charlie, has shown developmental delays.

Women bond, help each other with special needs children

From ‘over there’ to here

BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com (803)774-1250

The Sumter Item sits down with AFCENT deputy commander A3

Wilson Hall student makes stop-motion film using LEGOs® A5 IN SPORTS

Nancy Gardenhire, right, works to remove the lift from around LJ after maneuvering him to the wheelchair. CarolAnn Paul, back, a member of the life group that gifted Gardenhire the lift, watches.

Fire Ants in 1st USCS baseball sweeps Lancers to grab Region X lead B1

DEATHS, A11 Dorothy Lee Smith Charles Nelson Julie B. James Boyd

Sammie L. Oliver Robert L. Mims Mary B. Williams Dura

WEATHER, A12 COOLIN’ BACK DOWN Not as warm with spotty showers during the day; colder with an evening shower at night.

Two Sumter mothers have bonded over children with developmental disabilities in the 20-plus years they’ve known each other. Nancy Gardenhire’s son, John E. Gardenhire Jr., whom everyone calls “LJ” for “Little John,” has cerebral palsy. “It’s been an interesting journey,” she said. “I wasn’t told about a lot of the services back then. A lot of parents find it frustrating, and there is still not a lot of direction given. You have to get out there and ask. Don’t take ‘no’ for an answer.” March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month

Sumter Item staff nab awards from S.C. Press Association BY RAYTEVIA EVANS revans@theitem.com (803) 774-1214 About 400 journalists attended the South Carolina Press Association’s annual meeting and awards event this past weekend where multiple awards were presented to reporters, photographers, designers and columnists for their recent work with multiple South Carolina publications. The three-day event was hosted by SCPA and took place at the Hilton Columbia Center. To celebrate the dedication and hard work of South Carolina journalists and their contri-

butions to the news/media industry, the SCPA scheduled a number of events from March 21 to 23, including roundtable discussions, receptions, luncheons and dinners. Among those awarded this weekend, The Sumter Item was one of many, bringing in 11 awards in several categories including spot news reporting, business reporting, inside page design and sports feature story. Staff members awarded are Braden Bunch, Jade Reynolds, Bristow Marchant, Justin Driggers, Jessica Stephens, Rob Cottingham, Dennis Brunson, Melanie Smith

SEE PRESS AWARDS, PAGE A8

HIGH 68, LOW 36

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The Sumter Item staff members honored at S.C. Press Association Awards

WALSH

BRUNSON

STEPHENS

SMITH

COTTINGHAM

HILLEY

DRIGGERS

MARCHANT

BUNCH

OSTEEEN

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as well as Developmental Disability Awareness Month. Melissa Hudson’s son, Charlie, has shown developmental delays after being born prematurely weighing less than 2 pounds. “My husband’s wedding band could go all the way up his arm,” she said. “He’s our little miracle. He’s had heart surgery and some hearing loss. As far as development, Charlie didn’t walk or crawl right up until his second birthday, and his fine motor skills still need work.” She learned about BabyNet — the S.C. system of early intervention for infants and toddlers with disabilities

SEE DISABILITIES, PAGE A9

Scouts host Third Annual Benefit BBQ BY RAYTEVIA EVANS revans@theitem.com (803) 774-1214 For the past few days, 13 teams have been participating in a passionate and intense cook off in the Third Annual Benefit BBQ where members of the South Carolina Barbeque Association have been sacrificing their heightened taste buds and barbeque expertise to judge and award the best porkmeister. The weekend festivities were organized by the Boy Scouts of the Henry Shelor District. The two-day event began with the Wing Ding Friday night where 12 teams competed for the prize and team Bold Branch BBQ Boys took home first place. The eating and celebrating of all delicious meats slathered in sauce continued through the night and early morning hours on Saturday as the teams prepared their best pulled pork BBQ for the SCBA judges. Program Director Emil Wodicka said each team had a member stay up through the night as they properly cooked

SEE BENEFIT BBQ, PAGE A6


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