Delivery notice The Sumter Item will do everything possible to deliver newspapers during what is expected to be major rainfall and possible flooding. Sumter Item Circulation Manager Earle Woodward said some roads may not be passable on some carriers’ routes because of flooding, and those customers may not get a newspaper deliv-
BE PREPARED
ered to their homes. “We do not want to put our independent contractors in harm’s way, and we trust that our customers will understand,” he said. During the weather emergency, The Sumter Item will remove the pay wall to its website, www.theitem.com, so that it can keep all residents informed of the latest developments.
Find extensive emergency weather information on page A2 of today’s Sumter Item, including where to find emergency shelter and what to do in emergency situations. Also, keep an eye on www. theitem.com for updates on closings and postponements and other weather-related developments.
75 CENTS
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2015
SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 3 SECTIONS, 24 PAGES | VOL. 120, NO. 296
Water, water everywhere
SPECIAL SECTION
Extraordinary
WOMEN 2015
k a chorus director colorful personality ENGEROWSKY m fe of the school.” That’s how ces Suggs, a sixth-grade student urman Middle School, described Linda Beck. u walk into Ms. Beck’s classroom, od; she knows how to make learnaid. personality can be seen every day costumes she wears for traffic from a human banana to Peg itcom “Married ... with Children.” f Concord, North Carolina, said yed playing musical instruments about 30 years, she has shared that aching students with some from milies. She has students in her hose parents she taught. Beck has who have gone on to careers in dren I’ve had over the years, I me in my heart. They’re like my h id
allows students to express themselves and develop their creative side.” Besides singing, students learn music history and study famous composers. Every year, her students participate in several concerts in the community. Beck also directs a musical involving high school and middle school students. This year’s will be “The Lion King,” with performances scheduled for late January. “Ms. Beck makes you feel welcome,” said Destiny Casper, a seventh-grade student at Furman. “She really has a sweet heart.” Nicole Moran, also a seventhgrade student, said Beck can be both fun and serious about learning at the same time. “She’s a great teacher and always encourages us until we get it i ht ” M id
The Sumter Item celebrates Sumter’s leading ladies C1 SOGGY SPORTS
Barons host Cardinals, Generals face FCS in rain-soaked grid tilts B1
DEATHS, A7
Forecasts call for nearly a foot of rain to fall through Monday
Roy Tedder Jr. Sammie Lee Brisbon Dianne M. Kelly Rembert Sanders Jr. Alfred L. Washington
BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com
WEATHER, A8 POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS Heavy rain and flooding possible today and tonight HIGH 74, LOW 66
INSIDE
CONTACT US
Classifieds B7 Comics B6 Lotteries A8 Television A4
Info: 774-1200 Advertising: 774-1237 Classifieds: 774-1234 Delivery: 774-1258 News and Sports: 774-1226
VISIT US ONLINE AT the
KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM
Robert Baugh, an employee of Sumter Lowe’s, loads bags of sand onto a cart for a customer Friday afternoon. The store sold almost all of its 900 bags Friday but will have more arriving today.
.com
In what is being called a “possibly catastrophic” event, forecasters are predicting more than 10 inches of rain in the Sumter area through Monday morning, according to Doug Anderson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Columbia. “Most of the models are in good agreement in showing a tropical plume of moisture being transported right through the center of the state,” he said. A complex pattern has set up that is creating the potential for flooding, he said. “What has set up is a strong upper level low that is continuing to deepen over the Florida Panhandle region,” he said. “We have a large high pressure system well to our north that is acting as a blocking high.
“What that is doing, is that as that upper level low continues to strengthen, we have a front that is stalled offshore, and it is beginning to tap tropical moisture off of Hurricane Joaquin, and it is transporting moisture across that front and into South Carolina,” Anderson said. The specific location of the heaviest rain is still difficult to determine, he said. “Subtle changes in the position of the hurricane, the upper level low and the blocking high above can adjust that swath of moisture,” he said. He said heavy rains were expected to begin in Sumter after sunset Friday night. Speaking Friday afternoon, he said there have already been heavy rains in eastern North Carolina, the northeastern part of South Carolina and along the coast.
Shaw braces for inclement weather BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com With a foot or more of rain heading to the Sumter area, Shaw Air Force Base must make preparations just as the surrounding communities, said Lt. Jennifer Hyden of the base’s public affairs office. “Through our commanders, we are really encouraging our people to be aware this weekend and take the appropriate actions ahead of time knowing that we could have flooding this weekend,” she said. The base, which as of Friday was posting “hurricane condition four” (HURCON 4, as hurricane conditions get closer, the HURCON number gets lower), which indicates the possibility of 58 mph winds within 96 hours, is required by law to use the National Hurricane Center when designating its hurricane condition, Hyden said. These are separate ratings from the National Weather Service’s
SEE SHAW, PAGE A7 SEE RAIN, PAGE A7
It’s not too late to prepare for storm
If you must travel, go with safety
BY IVY MOORE The Sumter Item
BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com
It’s hard to know if Cynthia Brown’s household is typical of area residents, as far as preparing for the extreme weather meteorologists are forecasting. Walking to her car after shopping at the Piggly Wiggly on Friday afternoon, Brown said she was “just buying regular groceries.” “We already have a family plan,” she said. “We all sat down when they first started talking about how bad it could get, and we decided what we needed to do if we do have a flood and lose power.” Because they prepared, Brown and her 10-year-old daughter, Destiny, weren’t overly concerned. “We have (emergency) lights and candles, pretty much everything we need if the lights go out.” “There’s nothing we can do to prevent it,” she said. Having done all they can, Brown said — “We’ve got (nonperishable) food and a second place to go if
Sumter city and county officials are urging people to use extreme caution while traveling around town this weekend in response to warnings of flash flooding in the area. The City of Sumter is asking residents to expect road closures or delays this weekend because of the anticipated six to 12 inches of rain expected to fall, according to a news release from Sumter Communications Director Shelley Kile. The city also asks that flooded areas and roadways blocked by debris be reported to City Public Works at (803) 436-2558. Residents should never try to cross or wade into flood waters, states the release. Sumter Police Department will also monitor roadways, neighborhoods and business districts throughout the flood watch period. Local law enforcement and the city will keep the community up to date through the city’s website, www.sumtersc. gov and various social media outlets. Sumter Public Works Director Al Harris said the depart-
SEE PREPARED, PAGE A7
IVY MOORE / THE SUMTER ITEM
While bread seemed to be in good supply before 5 p.m. Friday, many grocers said they expected customers to buy a supply for the duration of the storm as well as items such as peanut butter and canned tuna.
ment is prepared for whatever the weather brings. He said storm drains in low lying areas of the city may overflow because of the heavy rain, but the water will go down in time. He said public works staff will be monitoring the drain systems during the weekend and any issues should be reported to the department. Calls can be made day or night, and a truck will be dispatched, Harris said. Sumter County Assistant Public Works Director Karen Hyatt said the department hopes the multiple inches of rain predicted to fall this weekend will not come down in one day. If the rain falls during the three day period, we should be fine, she said. However, Hyatt said if any roads do get washed out, residents can call Sumter County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center, (803) 436-2774, and the information will be relayed to public works employees. Hyatt said employees will attempt to fix any issues but if nothing can be done this weekend because of the rain, roads will be closed off until
SEE TRAVEL, PAGE A7