March 29, 2015

Page 1

Matt Price looks to rebound from injury

B1

IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN!

Readers’ Choice SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2015

| Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894

Violence survivor takes center stage to support change Lawmakers expect domestic violence bill to be signed soon BY MATT BRUCE matthew@theitem.com She looked at the man she readily identifies as her one-time oppressor and calmly told her story. Shakia Spears, a Sumter mother of six, was buttressed by state legislators

and South Carolina’s top prosecutor during a panel series at Thomas Sumter Academy. But it was she who took center stage. Nearly 150 gathered inside the auditorium at the Dalzell preparatory school Thursday night during a town hall meeting to discuss domestic vio-

$1.50

SEE OUR AD IN TODAYS PAPER FOR DEATILS

MATT BRUCE / THE SUMTER ITEM

Sumter resident Shakia Spears, a domestic violence survivor, speaks about her struggle through an abusive marriage during Thursday’s town hall meeting inside the auditorium at Thomas Sumter Academy in Dalzell. Also seen with Spears are, from left, state Rep. David Weeks, D-Sumter, state Rep. Robert Ridgeway, D-Manning, and S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson. State Sen. Thomas McElveen, D-Sumter, also took part. lence, something organizers called one of the most pressing issues in currentday South Carolina. The Palmetto State ranked second in the nation for its rate of men killing women per capita in 2013. In 2012, South Carolina led the nation. Local officials note South Carolina has re-

mained among the 10 most-violent states in the nation for women for nearly the past 15 years. Those harrowing statistics have entered into the mainstream consciousness of the state during the past few

SEE VI0LENCE, PAGE A9

EVENT RAISES $200K

Hundreds gather for Heart Walk BY HAMLET FORT hamlet@theitem.com

H

undreds of Sumter walkers gathered outside Greater Sumter Chamber of Com-

merce on Saturday to participate in the annual Heart Walk for the American Heart Association.

KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM

Brisk temperatures hardly deterred the walkers and donors, who were out to participate in the walk for a variety of reasons. Some said they have personal experience with heart disease and stroke and wanted to raise money and awareness for the AHA, while others were just out to gather with friends and family and be active together. Diane Banar has personal experience

The Hillcrest Middle School cheerleaders and community members warm up before the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk on Saturday morning. The walk began and ended adjacent to Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce and went through the Historic District.

SEE HEART, PAGE A9

You’re invited to worship at traditional sunrise Easter service BY HAMLET FORT hamlet@theitem.com Church communities in Sumter will come together Easter morning for a sunrise service to continue the centuries-long tradition in churches worldwide. The service will be held at Swan Lake-Iris Gardens at 7 a.m. on Sunday, April 5.

VISIT US ONLINE AT

the

.com

According to Chaplain Kenneth Smith, manager of the Tuomey Healthcare System Pastoral Care Department, many churches in the community no longer hold a sunrise service on Easter, and this annual event allows for churchgoers across multiple denominations to gather and “share our gratitude and thankfulness for what Christ did for us.”

The service will host the Rev. Richard Harris, the director of missions at Santee Baptist Association in Sumter. Smith said they expect 100 to 150 people to attend the service, based on previous years. Smith said it’s a “wonderful” event because many Christians who have never been to a sunrise service have the opportunity to

DEATHS, A11 and A13 Betty Ann R. Keitt Harriett M. Felder Donald Filyaw David Canty Thompson R. Foster Sr. Ruther M. Thomas

Marian P. Rettke William A. King Louise C. Scott Stanley Kinder Mack Hollmon Gladys M. Benenhaley

share in the experience. “More importantly, there is a sense of community at sunrise that you can’t experience in any other place than a sunrise service,” said Smith. “We’re coming together to say thank you to the Lord Jesus for fulfilling his promise for us to have hope beyond this life,” he added. The natural environment

of Swan-Lake Iris Gardens combined with the arrival of spring should make for an ideal setting for the service. Smith said the service will help Sumter as a community feel “sustained” by coming together. Service attendees should plan to gather between 6:30 and 7 a.m. on Easter Sunday.

WEATHER, A14

INSIDE

A LITTLE COOL

5 SECTIONS, 40 PAGES VOL. 120, NO. 139

Sunny and cool today with increasing clouds tonight; a shower is possible late HIGH 57, LOW 40

Business D1 Classifieds D5 Comics E1 Lotteries A14

Opinion A12 Stocks D2 Television E3 Outdoors D4

With BOC Mobile, The Bank of Clarendon Is In Your Pocket. bankofclarendon.com 803.469.0156


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.