2016
SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894
$1.50
SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016
iris festival Cover photo by Kathy Stafford
GUIDE
Going to the Iris Festival? See maps and more
SEE OUR AD ON A8 AND A9
Shaw expo brings back memories 2-day event also celebrates veterans BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com The weather on Saturday cleared up to reveal the blue sky, making for a great day of aviation performances during “Thunder over the Midlands” at Shaw Air Force Base. The air expo also comes to Shaw during the base’s 75th anniversary. The thousands of visitors got a first hand look at the Smoke-n-Thunder Jet Car, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army aircraft combat demonstration, the Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron as well as a chance to support the nation’s military personnel and veterans. Mike Walsh traveled to Sumter from Greenville to attend the expo with his girlfriend and one of his friends on Saturday. Walsh said he has loved aviation for about 31 years, since he saw the Thunderbirds perform. KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM
SEE SHAW, PAGE A13
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds delight the crowd attending Shaw Air Expo “Thunder Over the Midlands” on Saturday.
Local cancer survivor praises caregivers She thanks them for getting her through ‘humbling experience’ BY RICK CARPENTER rick@theitem.com When April Geddings walked in the Relay For Life of Sumter County six years ago, she had no idea she would be donning a purple cancer survivor’s T-shirt at this year’s event. But in October of 2010, just five months after walking in that relay, she joined that exclusive fraternity that no one wants to join. First, a doctor diagnosed
her with stage I breast cancer. The next doctor upgraded that diagnosis to stage II. Then a third doctor elevated her diagnosis to stage III. “I told my husband, we’re not going to see another doctor,” Geddings said. “There are only four stages.” The National Cancer Institute rates stages of cancer from one to four. Stages one through three indicates the presence of cancer. The higher the number, the larger the cancer tumor and the more it
Cancer survivors April Geddings, left, and Kimberly Conyers post a selfie on Facebook as they wait in the light rain Friday night for the survivors’ lap to begin at Relay For Life of Sumter County. RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM
has spread into nearby tissue. Stage IV indicates the cancer has spread to distant parts of
the body. After surgery to remove a tumor, Geddings went
through 16 rounds of chemotherapy followed by 32 rounds of radiation. Her treatments lasted more than a year. “I couldn’t have done it without my caregivers,” she said. At Relay For Life of Sumter County, American Cancer Society’s primary fundraising event, teams agree to have at
SEE RELAY, PAGE A12
New Palmetto Farm Aid 10 candidates answer questions in Gable details still unfurling FROM STAFF REPORTS Officials are mapping out a plan to implement the Palmetto Farm Aid as passed into law by the General Assembly this week, according to a news release from South Carolina Department of Agriculture. In the next two to three weeks, the Farm Aid Advisory Board will meet and determine the criteria for eligibility and to establish the application process, the release said, and once these
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pieces are in place, the department will host educational sessions to further explain the application and requirements. According to the Farm Aid Bill, the department must provide assistance to ensure anyone interested in applying for a grant can do so in a timely manner. The deadline for applications has not been announced, but will be approximately June 22, depending on the date the application process is adopted.
SEE FARM AID, PAGE A12
BY KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY konstantin@theitem.com GABLE — Ten candidates running to represent Clarendon County and surrounding areas answered questions at a forum at Melina Presbyterian Church in Gable on Thursday. The forum was organized and hosted by Tia Deion Brogdon, a 23-year-old college student and member of the church.
DEATHS, A15 Alan J. Zeich Adren Williams Sr. Joseph Y. Pringle Vashti W. Ruben Shanterrio Q. Belle
John L. Wannamaker Jr. Bonnie A. Geddings Jimmie Scott Samuel Holliday Sr. Malachi Askins
Main topics discussed included jobs and education and candidates’ personal views on social issues, such as abortion and LGBT rights. Each candidate had two minutes for a brief introduction, followed by questions from the audience. Questions varied from “what is your greatest accomplishment” to candidates’ qualifications for elected positions.
SEE FORUM, PAGE A5
WEATHER, A16
INSIDE
STILL A CHANCE OF RAIN
5 SECTIONS, 44 PAGES VOL. 121, NO. 183
Some sun with a shower possible today; clear tonight. HIGH 78, LOW 56
Business D1 Classifieds D7 Comics E1 Health A4 Opinion A14
Outdoors D6 Panorama C1 Public Record D3 Stocks D2 Television E3