September 13, 2015

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Elephant Ear Gallery celebrates 6th anniversary D1 PANORAMA

Celebrate fall German style Preview Sumter’s upcoming 6th annual Oktoberfest C1 SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

$1.50

IN SPORTS: Clemson rolls; Gamecocks host Kentucky B1

5 local students named National Merit semifinalists BY KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY konstantin@theitem.com Three Wilson Hall students, one former Wilson Hall student and a Laurence Manning Academy student have been selected as 2016 National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists. The five seniors were the only ones selected for the honor in Sumter, Clarendon and Lee counties. The semi-finalists are Brayden Fidler, Anna Lyles and Duncan Rupe from Wilson Hall and Breanna Bradham from Laurence Manning Academy.

John Ballard, a former Wilson Hall student who attended the school from kindergarten through grade 11, was also selected for the honor. Ballard’s family recently moved out of state. About 1.5 million students in 22,000 high schools across the nation enter the National Merit Scholarship competition annually when they take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test their junior year, according to www.nationalmerit.org. The PSAT serves as an initial screening of program entrants and measures critical reading, mathemat-

ics problem solving and writing ability. Out of the 1.5 million students, 16,000 semifinalists are chosen based on their performance on the test, the website states. To be then considered as finalists for the National Merit Scholarship, semifinalists have to fulfill requirements to advance. Each semifinalist submits a scholarship application, which includes essays and information about extracurricular achievements, awards and leadership positions. Semifinalists also must have an outstanding academic record, be recommended by a school official and earn

SAT scores that confirm their performance, according to the National Merit website. In February of each year, about 15,000 semifinalists become finalists. Finalists are eligible to compete to receive scholarship money for college. Fred Moulton, the Barons’ headmaster, said he wasn’t surprised with the students’ achievements. “These students have proven over the years to be dedicated to their studies, which is their number one priority,” he said.

SEE MERIT, PAGE A13

Brightening the future Oktoberfest will include bike ride for local charity FROM STAFF REPORTS The Oktoberfest Metric Century and 20-mile bike ride on Sept. 19 will start and end at the Palmetto Tennis Center, 400 Theatre Drive. A metric century, representing 100 kilometers, equals 62 miles. The Oktoberfest Metric will actually be 63.77 miles, while the 20miler will actually be 21.47 miles. Both rides begin at 8 a.m. For those who preregistered by Saturday, Sept. 12, admission fees were $40. Registration after Saturday is $50. All participants will receive an Oktoberfest event ticket and are eligible for prize drawings. They will also receive a T-shirt. Danielle Thompson, Oktoberfest coordinator, said organizers are “ excited to add the metric century ride. Biking is really on the upswing, and we think this is a great way to grow Oktoberfest.” Money raised at the bike

SEE OKTOBERFEST, PAGE A6

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BY KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM

AmeriCorps volunteers, above, work on cleaning and painting the Lighthouse Grill at Sumter Fairgrounds on Friday as part of the group’s service project. Natasha Jenkins, far left, paints the wall of the Lighthouse Grill as part of AmeriCorps community service project Friday morning.

BY KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM

BY JIM HILLEY / THE SUMTER ITEM

Volunteer Tramyne Scarborough, left, applies a coat of fresh paint to the United Ministries Lighthouse Grill at the Sumter County Fairgrounds on Friday in observance of 9/11 National Day of Service.

Volunteers refurbish Lighthouse Grill, children’s lives BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com At the end of September, the smell of hot dogs, hamburgers and French fries will waft through the air at Lighthouse Grill on Sumter County Fairgrounds, but on Friday, the odor of chlorine

bleach and fresh paint saturated the atmosphere at the building which raises money for United Ministries. Volunteers from the Reading Success AmeriCorps program were giving the grill a major makeover to observe the 9/11 National Day of Service. “The Reading Success AmeriCorps

CONTACT US

DEATHS, A13

Information: 774-1200 Advertising: 774-1237 Classifieds: 774-1234 Delivery: 774-1258 News and Sports: 774-1226

Franklin Robinson Nickie Nichols Matthew Toney Sylenthia Robinson Roy Welch Jr. Nelva Malcolm

volunteers and community volunteers have come together to clean up the grill and get it ready for the fair,” said United Way’s Ashley Norris. “The Americorps volunteers are required to do community service, and this is a

SEE FUTURE, PAGE A13

WEATHER, A14

INSIDE

FALL IS IN THE AIR

5 SECTIONS, 38 PAGES VOL. 120, NO. 279

Mostly sunny today, less humid and cooler; clear and cool tonight. HIGH 80, LOW 54

Business D1 Classifieds D4 Comics E1

Lotteries A14 Opinion A12 Television E3

We Do What Big Banks Do... Only Better. Personal Service. Local Decisions. Sumter: 469-0156 Manning: 433-4451 bankofclarendon.com ."//*/( t 4"/5&& t 46..&350/ t 8:#00 t 46.5&3


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September 13, 2015 by The Sumter Item - Issuu