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City Council reviews roads 2016 list includes 15 streets, but members can add more BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Sumter City Council began a review of a list of roadways for a 2016 resurfacing project during its meeting Tuesday.
City Public Works Director Al Harris said the list of 15 streets was created before to the flood. If members of council could think of more streets that are in great need of repair, those streets could be added to the list, he said.
The project includes resurfacing to portions of Archdale Drive, Hoyt Heights, Gable Court, L Street, Hannah Court, Commander Court, Mary Street, Hasel Street, Hospital Circle, Yeadon Street, Glouchester Court, St. Augustine and Hermitage Drive, Wesley Hall Court, Stonehedge Court and Covington Street. Harris said all of the streets are owned by the city and the estimated cost of the entire project is $400,900. The city will use money provided to Sumter County by South Carolina Department of Transportation to pay for
the project, according to information provided by the city. Mayor Joe McElveen said the city receives 25 percent of the DOT funds provided to the county and is required to spend 25 percent of that amount on state-owned roads. He said he sees streets that are in need of repair everyday, but the city just does not have the money to get to them all. Concerned about road safety, Councilwoman Colleen Yates asked about
SEE ROADS, PAGE A7
Donate your old bicycles now JIM HILLEY / THE SUMTER ITEM
Lt. Gen. Michael Garrett speaks Tuesday after assuming command of the U.S. Central Command and the Third Army.
Passing banner
Terry retires, Garrett takes helm of Third Army BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM
Bennett Lee, 10, checks the brakes on a bike being cleaned up for the Cycles for Christmas program on Saturday during the group’s work day.
Evening Optimist Club of Sumter launches its 19th annual drive BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Evening Optimist Club of Sumter has started its 19th Cycles for Christmas project
and is asking the community to donate bicycles or elbow grease to help an underprivileged child receive a bike this holiday season. Tom Lawrence, a member
of the club, said the organization aims to give away about 200 bikes every year. He said the club has fixed and given away nearly 3,000 bikes during the last 19 years. He said volunteers do not need prior knowledge of how to fix a bike to help out. “It doesn’t take a lot of
skill,” he said. Lawrence said he wants the bikes to be restored to the best conditions so the children will get excited to receive them. Some of the kids may have never had a bike of their own before, he said.
SEE CYCLES, PAGE A8
Country singer Lorrie Morgan brings Opry to Opera House BY IVY MOORE ivy@theitem.com Country music great Lorrie Morgan will present one performance only at the Sumter Opera House at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Tickets are going fast for the concert, but Opera House manager Seth Reimer said a few remain to see the artist who became a member of the prestigious Grand Ole Opry at the age of 24, younger than any artist before or since. Morgan, the daughter of the late country star George Morgan, first performed on that stage at the age of 13, singing “Paper Roses.”
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Singing on the Grand Ole Opry stage was “pretty magnificent,” she said. “It was the thrill of my life.” Becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry means “you have to perform there so many dates every year,” she said, adding that is a pleasure for her, as she remembers going on Friday and Saturday nights with her father, dreaming of singing there herself. At 16, after the death of her father, she became the leader of his band, then later, her own. Lorrie Morgan hasn’t slowed down, recording more than 15 studio albums and
SEE MORGAN, PAGE A7
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Country music great Lorrie Morgan will perform at Sumter Opera House at 7:30 p.m. Friday. She’ll do an acoustic concert, making the evening more personal and relaxed, she said.
The U.S. Third Army banner passed from Gen. James Terry to new commander Lt. Gen. Michael Garrett during a change of command ceremony Tuesday at the U.S. Army Central Command Headquarters on Shaw Air Force Base. An array of brightly colored flags fluttered in the breeze as Gen. Lloyd Austin, Commanding General of the U.S. Central Command, passed the Third Army’s banner, which also represent command of the U.S. Army Central Command from the retiring Terry to Garrett as the assembly of troops, dignitaries and members of the public watched. Calling the Army Central Command one of the most important in the military today, Austin praised retiring commander Terry for his many years of service. “His list of accomplishments is long and distinguished,” Austin said. Austin applauded Terry for his work in Iraq, Afghanistan and against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. He said that because of the efforts of the United States and its allies in the region, progress has been made against ISIS. “We are achieving significant effects against this
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Variable cloudiness today and heavy showers tonight. HIGH 75, LOW 66
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