September 24, 2014

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IN SPORTS: Loss helps Wilson Hall volleyball refocus on season’s goals B1

It’s time for fall comfort food with pumpkin, squash WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

| Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894

C8

75 cents

Airstrikes in Syria, Iraq just the start U.S. hits group thought to be planning attack WASHINGTON (AP) — The one-two-three punch of American and Arab airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq was

just the beginning, President Obama and other leaders declared Tuesday. They promised a sustained campaign showcasing a rare U.S.-Arab

partnership aimed at Muslim extremists. At the same time, in fresh evidence of how the terrorist threat continues to expand and mutate, the U.S. on its own struck a new al-Qaida

cell that the Pentagon said was “nearing the execution phase” of a direct attack on the U.S. or Europe. “This is not America’s fight alone,” Obama said of the military campaign against the

Islamic State group. “We’re going to do what’s necessary to take the fight to this terrorist group, for the security of the country and the region

SEE STRIKES, PAGE A8

THE LIBERTY FOUNDATION VISITS COLUMBIA

Journey in a World War II legend

JOE KEPLER / THE SUMTER ITEM

Ron Gause, a crew member with the “Movie Memphis Belle,” a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, directs the pilots as the plane taxis to the runway on Monday at Jim Hamilton-L.B. Owens Airport in Columbia. Sumter Item reporter Joe Kepler was invited by The Liberty Foundation to fly in the legendary plane made to serve during World War II. It is one of only 13 of the aircraft still flying, and the foundation holds public flights and tours to teach others about the B-17’s service and those who flew it. See a photo of the view from the plane over downtown Columbia on page A3.

Reporter given firsthand look at B-17 ‘Movie Memphis Belle’ during foundation’s stop BY JOE KEPLER joe@theitem.com

T

legendary plane and her legendary crews.

here was an endangered species soaring through the skies of Columbia on Monday, and with a majestic wingspan of 103 feet 9 inches, it was hard to miss. The “Movie Memphis Belle,” a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, was in town as part of a campaign by The Liberty Foundation to help tell the story of a

The foundation was started in 2005 by the son of a former B-17 tail gunner. It brought its mobile history lesson to the Jim Hamilton-L.B. Owens Airport, offering local media members a chance to take a flight over Columbia in one of the most iconic figures in combat aviation. The “Memphis Belle” is just one of 12,732 B-17s originally made to fight in World War II. Today there are roughly 100 still intact in the world. Fewer still, just 13 B-17s are flying. While the original “Memphis Belle” is cur-

BY RAYTEVIA EVANS ray@theitem.com Sumter School District received its annual payout from the South Carolina Forestry Commission during the board of trustees work session Monday night at the district office. Harvey Belser, director of Manchester State Forest, along with Reps. David Weeks

RAYTEVIA EVANS / THE SUMTER ITEM

the

.com

SEE BELLE, PAGE A6

District gets $145K from annual S.C. Forestry Commission payout

State Reps. David Weeks, D-Sumter, and Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, join Director of Manchester State Forest Harvey Belser as they present the annual payout check of $145,853.96 from the S.C. Forestry Commission to the Sumter School District board of trustees Monday night.

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rently decommissioned in the Air Force’s national museum in Dayton, Ohio, the “Movie Memphis Belle” was on hand for a tour above Columbia. The foundation will hold public flights for $450 and free ground tours on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Every penny raised goes toward maintenance costs for the plane, which reach as high as $5,000 per hour of flight time. The “Movie Memphis Belle” was so named after the fellow B-17 was repainted and modeled after the original version to be used in the

DEATHS, B6 James C. Jones Tora Isabelle Eaddy John M. Norwood Linder Ann Cabbagestalk Sarah B. Howard Henry L. Green

Sara L. Blyther Oliver Servance The Rev. G.W. Harrell Jr. George Lindsey Virginia A. Green

and Murrell Smith, presented the board members and Superintendent Frank Baker with a check for $145,853.96. South Carolina legislation requires the commission to give a certain percentage of its revenue generated by forest product sales and recreation and user fees on state forest lands

SEE MONEY, PAGE A8

WEATHER, A10

INSIDE

GRAY DAY AGAIN

3 SECTIONS, 26 PAGES VOL. 119, NO. 292

Mostly cloudy with a little rain and considerable clouds tonight HIGH 69, LOW 60

Classifieds B7 Comics C6 Lotteries A10

Opinion A9 Panorama C1 Television C7


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September 24, 2014 by The Sumter Item - Issuu