WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015
FROM THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU In the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims — early settlers of Plymouth Colony — held a three-day feast to celebrate a bountiful harvest. This event is regarded by many as the nation’s first Thanksgiving. The Wampanoag Indians in attendance played a key role. Historians have recorded ceremonies of thanks among other groups of European settlers in North America. These include the British colonists in Virginia as early as 1619. The legacy of thanks and the feast have survived the centuries, as the event became a national holiday 152 years ago (Oct. 3, 1863) when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a national day of thanksgiving. Later, President Franklin Roosevelt clarified that Thanksgiving should always be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of the month to encourage earlier holiday shopping, never on the occasional fifth Thursday.
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20 adoptions finalized in time for the holidays
WHERE TO FEAST 117 million Number of occupied housing units across the nation in the second quarter of 2015 — all potential stops for Thanksgiving dinner.
4.5 million Number of multigenerational households in the U.S. in 2014. It is possible these households, consisting of three or more generations, will have to purchase large quantities of food to accommodate all the family members sitting around the table for the holiday feast — even if there are no guests!
4 Number of places in the United States named after the holiday’s traditional main course. Turkey Creek Village, Louisiana, was the most populous in 2014, with 443 residents, followed by Turkey Creek, Arizona (412), Turkey City, Texas (396) and Turkey Town, North Carolina (296). There are also 11 townships in the U.S. with “Turkey” in the name.
7 Number of places and townships in the United States that are named Cranberry, a popular side dish at Thanksgiving. Cranberry township (Butler County), Pennsylvania, was the most populous of these places in 2014, with 30,170 residents. Cranberry township (Venango County), Pennsylvania, was next (6,546).
JIM HILLEY / THE SUMTER ITEM
Jayson Hoagland, second from the left, and his wife Jennifer, second from the right, stand with their newly expanded family after the adoption of their two youngest children. Eight-year-old Jackson, center, stands with his sister Jemma, 5, brother Jentry, 22 months, youngest sister Jayden, 4 months, and his grandmothers, Nancy Browne, far left, and Sharon McMillion, far right.
Biannual event provides 15 families with new members BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Just in time for the holidays, 20 children were adopted into their forever families during Adoption Finalization Day at Sumter County Family
Court on Monday. Third Judicial Circuit Judge George M. McFaddin Jr. started Adoption Finalization Day in 2008 to expedite the numerous backlogged adoption cases in the area. “This is the happiest day in
family court, really,” he said. The special day is held twice every year, once in June and once in November. November is also recognized as National Adoption Month, declared such in 1995 by President Bill Clinton, to
promote awareness of the children in need of permanent families. South Carolina Department of Social Services is promoting community education
SEE ADOPTION, PAGE A7
32 Number of counties, places and townships in the United States named Plymouth, as in Plymouth Rock, the landing site of the first Pilgrims. The two counties, both named Plymouth, are in Massachusetts (507,022) and Iowa (24,874). Plymouth, Minnesota, is the most populous place, with 75,057 residents in 2014. There are two places in the United States named Pilgrim: one, a township in Dade County, Missouri, had a population of 129; the other, a census designated place in Michigan, had a population of 36. And then there is Mayflower, Arkansas, whose population was 2,345, and Mayflower Village, California, whose population was 5,662.
Participants in the First Feast 24.4 million Number of U.S. residents of English ancestry as of 2014. Some could be descendants of the Plymouth colonists who participated in the feast that is widely thought to be one of the first Thanksgivings — especially the 655,000 living in Massachusetts.
SEE FACTS, PAGE A11
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Sumterites grateful for family, friends BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com People around Sumter are taking stock of their blessings this Thanksgiving after a momentous year in the Palmetto State. From the Charleston shootings to the 1,000-year flood, it seems as though South Carolina has reeled from one catastrophe to another. But there is much to be thankful for this year as well. The grace of the families of the Charleston shooting victims, the courage of the governor and the General Assembly to take down the Confederate
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flag from the Statehouse grounds to the heroic efforts of South Carolinians helping each other HARVIN recover from nearly twofeet of rain and raging floodwaters. At a time like this, people say they are most thankful for the important things that are sometimes overlooked. “I am thankful for my family, and my life,” said Sarah Harvin as she
SEE GRATEFUL, PAGE A7
DEATHS, B7 Frances Fleming John Jackson Elizabeth M. DuBose Lewis E. Grant Sr. Anthony L. Adger Bertha R. Hilliard
2 children killed in Monday blaze BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com The start of the holiday season hit a low after two girls died Monday night in a Pinewood house fire. Sumter County Coroner Harvin Bullock said the girls, 5-year-old Isaya Cook and 7-year-old Treveah Myers, died of thermal burns and smoke inhalation. Sumter Fire Department Division Chief Brian Christmas said firefighters were dispatched about 11:54 p.m. Monday to a residence on U.S. 261. He said units from Sumter
and Clarendon counties stayed at the scene until 5 a.m. Tuesday. The residence was engulfed with fire when first responders arrived, Christmas said. He said there were four people, including the two children, inside the house at the time of the fire, and the other two individuals made it out of the house with no injuries reported. As of Tuesday afternoon, Christmas could not specify the relationship between the survivors and deceased.
SEE FIRE, PAGE A7
WEATHER, A12
INSIDE
SUNNY AND COLD
4 SECTIONS, 32 PAGES VOL. 121, NO. 36
Sunshine and some clouds today, and mostly cloudy tonight. HIGH 61, LOW 44
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