Olé Mexican restaurant sets out to be different
D1
PANORAMA
Time for the Fair New midway, attractions, along with old favorites, will greet visitors in 2015 C1 SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2015
$1.50
IN SPORTS: Gamecocks get much-needed victory
B1
Rainy weather packs a punch Downpours result in flash flood warnings in Sumter area
Tornado rips Johns Island BY ANDREW KNAPP Charleston Post and Courier
A tornado with 130-mph wind ripped through Johns Island and West Ashley early Friday, BY KONSTANTIN cutting a 7-mile-long swath of VENGEROWSKY splintered centuries-old oak konstantin@theitem.com trees, nearly leveling a home Areas in Clarendon, Sumand damaging 80 others, and ter and Lee counties received sending mailboxes, plywood between four to six inches of and boats flying through the air. rain and were issued a flash Despite the destruction in flood warning for several communities along Sonny Boy hours Friday evening by the Lane and Old Pond, River and National Weather Service. Fickling Hill roads, the twister The warning was issued spared the most precious thing: about 5 p.m. and lasted until lives. 7:30 p.m. Areas receiving the Families huddled in bathheaviest rainfall resulting in rooms, closets and bedrooms as the warnings included: south their furniture, musical instrucentral Lee County, northments and family albums were eastern Clarendon County sucked from their homes. No and central Sumter County, one was seriously hurt. said Doug Anderson, meteoIt spared the young father rological technician with the who swooped up his sleeping inweather service in Columbia. fant and ducked into a closet The weather services’ Dopjust as the door was ripped from pler radar indicated a thunits hinges. It spared the family derstorm that produced of four who sought refuge in a heavy rainfall near the Clarbedroom only to have the wind endon and Sumter County cut the stilts from under their line, particularly near the inmobile home sending it crashtersection of S.C. 527 and I-95 ing 10 feet to the ground. It about 5 p.m., according to the spared the couple who clung to weather service. their dogs and each other as the BY HARRY BRUNSON / SPECIAL TO THE SUMTER ITEM storm relocated every other Anderson said it would be The damage caused by Friday’s tornado on Sonny Boy Lane on Johns Island is seen. The tornado touched difficult to pinpoint exactly room in their house to the front down about 1 a.m. with maximum winds of 130 mph, according to the National Weather Service. which streets were affected, yard. however. The tornado struck after midA flash flood is a sudden vinight, a time when such storms olent flood that can take from are more likely to endanger minutes to hours to develop. sleeping residents. But almost Anderson said it is possible all of the people in the hardestto experience a flash flood in hit neighborhoods were awakareas not immediately receivened by a Wireless Alert System ing rain. A flash flood warntone that blared over their moing is issued when it is immibile phones four minutes before nent or occurring in the the twister touched down. warned area, he said. It is Many, though, said they initialmore severe than an advisory ly ignored the chime because of or watch, he said. the less serious flash-flood Rainfall intensity and durawarnings they often get. tion, topography, soil condiMost on Sonny Boy Lane tions and ground cover conspent Friday counting their tribute to flash flooding, he blessings and salvaging their said. possessions. The American Red “This occurs when rainfall Cross offered hotel stays to four rates start to increase drafamilies whose homes were unmatically and drainage sysinhabitable. tems are not able to handle About 4,000 homes lost power. the amount of water,” he Berkeley Electric Cooperative said. “Streams and other wahad restored electricity to most, ter-flowing areas can rise but the undertaking to remove suddenly and you could see, trees and fix 40 utility poles will for example, one inch of be immense. BY BROOKE BAKER / SPECIAL TO THE SUMTER ITEM water rise up to a foot in John Bercik sifted through
Sumter native and Johns Island resident Brooke Baker took this photo of one of the more heavily damSEE RAIN, PAGE A11 aged homes on Johns Island near her own home.
SEE TORNADO, PAGE A9
Stateburg church will bless your pets in honor of St. Francis BY IVY MOORE ivy@theitem.com The Church of the Holy Cross will offer the Blessing of Animals at 10 a.m. Saturday in honor of the Feast of St. Francis and God’s love for his creation, said Father Michael Ridgill of the church located at 335 N. King’s Highway (S.C. 261). Many U.S. churches celebrate the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi each year about
VISIT US ONLINE AT
the
.com
Oct. 4, Ridgill said. He explained, “The feast is held in commemoration of St. Francis of Assisi, a 12thcentury saint associated with animals and the environment. St. Francis wrote a canticle, or song, in celebration of God’s creation and also gave us the tradition of the manger scene now commonly used during Christmas.” Every year, Ridgill celebrates the Feast of St. Fran-
cis by blessing animals at Holy Cross, he said, adding, “Last year we blessed dogs, cats and even a horse. Over the years all types of animals have been blessed with everything from pet frogs to horses and of course, our usual household pets of cats and dogs.” Even more exotic animals, such as snakes and spiders have been brought on occasion, so Ridgill said, “The clergy reserve the right to
bless from a distance.” Also, he said, animals are sometimes too sick or their caretakers are unable to bring them, so children sometimes bring a stuffed animal in their place. “The blessing of animals is a wonderful tradition in the church where we are thankful to God for all of his creation and for our stewardship entrusted to us over pets and furry companions,” Ridgill said.
He invited pet owners to “Come out Saturday morning and don’t forget to bring your pet.” To get to the Church of the Holy Cross, take U.S. 378 toward Columbia, and turn right on S.C. 261. The church is about a mile away on the right side of the road. For more information, call the parish office at (803) 4948101 or visit the website www.holycrossstateburg.com.
CONTACT US
DEATHS, A11
WEATHER, A12
INSIDE
Information: 774-1200 Advertising: 774-1237 Classifieds: 774-1234 Delivery: 774-1258 News and Sports: 774-1226
Mary Ann Jackson-Session Harris Steen Canty Rich Sabrina B. McCown Cena L. Pack Rich H. Boetteger Jr. Karen S. Green
MORE OF THE SAME Continuing rain, humid and cloudy both today and into the evening.
5 SECTIONS, 38 PAGES VOL. 120, NO. 291
HIGH 79, LOW 68
Classifieds D5 Comics E1 Health A3
Lotteries A12 Opinion A10 Television E3