IN SPORTS: Friday’s full slate of high school football action from Week Zero B1 REVIEW
‘War Dogs’ almost too entertaining for subject matter SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 2016
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S.C. unemployment still dropping Rate falls to 15-year low; analysts still nonplussed by report BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com According to numbers released Friday by the U.S. Bureau for Labor Statistics, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in South Carolina dropped from 5.4 percent in June to 5.2
percent in July. Locally, the unemployment rate in Sumter fell from 6.7 in June to 6.5 percent in July, and down from 7.1 percent in July 2015. In Clarendon County, the unemployment rate was 7.0 percent in July, as compared to 7.2 percent in June. That number is down from 7.9 percent in July 2015. July unemployment was at 7.9 percent in July, down from 8.3 percent in June and 8.5 percent one year ago. “We are encouraged to see the unemployment rate fall to levels not achieved in over 15 years” said Cheryl
Stanton, executive director of the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce. Richard Kaglic, a research economist for the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, was not as enthusiastic about the latest employment trends in the Palmetto State. “When viewed in isolation this report was somewhat disappointing,” he said. “Total payroll employment was up by some 2,700 in July, which on the face of it doesn’t look that bad — pretty modest but not that bad — but when you consider that 2,100 of those jobs came from the public sector, then
the private sector growth of those jobs was, let’s say, ‘paltry.’” Kaglic noted that employment increased in the service producing industries, especially business and professional services, but he said the goods producing side, such as manufacturing and construction, actually shed jobs in July, with the manufacturing sector losing about 1,000 jobs. “Over the course of the last year or so, manufacturing employment in South Carolina has been somewhat erratic,” he said.
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Lasica in command Sumter, Shaw welcome veteran combat pilot and family of 10, say goodbye to Col. Stephen Jost BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com Col. Daniel Lasica told the airmen at Shaw Air Force Base they have never been more important to the nation than right now as he took command of the base and the U.S. Air Force 20th Fighter Wing from Col. Stephen Jost at a changeof-command ceremony Friday morning at the base. Lasica has served at all levels of command in the Air Force and is a veteran combat pilot with more than 3,880 flying hours. Maj. Gen. Scott Zobrist officiated the change of command and welcomed Lasica to Shaw and Sumter, saying his leadership at every level will be an asset to the base and community. Jost moves on to a job in the Pentagon, but his style of leadership has earned the praise of both his military command and the Sumter community. “You have had many successes and done amazing things,” Zobrist told the outgoing commander.
Zobrist said Jost displayed an exceptional focus and has been relentless in carrying out his duties. “You should be proud. Your impact will be long lasting,” he said. South Carolina State Sen. Thomas McElveen, D-Sumter, said he has become good friends with Jost as McElveen served as the base’s honorary commander. “He’s made a world of difference,” McElveen said. Zobrist also had praise for the airmen of the 20th Fighter Wing. “Thank you for all you do; your nation counts on you every day,” he said. Lasica said he was honored and humbled to be the new base and wing commander. “The wing is in absolutely phenomenal shape,” he said. “What a wing, and what a base.” Lasica said he would try to carry on the work of Jost to make sure the wing is prepared to fight and win the nation’s battles.
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Maj. Gen. Scott Zobrist, commander of the 9th Air Force at Shaw Air Force Base, left, hands off the 20th SEE COMMAND, PAGE A7 Fighter Wing flag to newly installed Commander of the 20th Fighter Wing Col. Daniel Lasica.
Students parade with teddy bears and stuffed animals BY KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY konstantin@theitem.com First-grade students at Alice Drive Elementary School paraded through the school’s halls with their teddy bears and other stuffed animal friends on Friday for what has become an annual tradition known as the Teddy Bear Parade. The more than 100 stuffed animals, ranging from teddy bears, monkeys and ponies to dinosaurs and Ninja Turtles, were proudly presented by the students who carried them gently in their arms. Ayden Parrott, 6, brought his teddy bear dressed in a
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Spider-Man costume. Silas Brown, 6, came with his Ninja Turtle. Suzanna Foley, Alice Drive Elementary School principal, said the school’s tradition dates back to more than 25 years. “It started before we even had the kindergarten classes here,” Foley said. “It’s to celebrate the fact they’ve made it through the first week of school. It gets the first-grade students out into the school’s halls and gives them a chance to see some of other students and teachers.” April Geddings, first-grade teacher at the school, said the
First-grade students in April Geddings’ class hold up their stuffed animals at the school’s annual Teddy Bear Parade held on Friday at Alice Drive Elementary School. KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY / THE SUMTER ITEM
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Mary V. Bailey Ronnie Gilford Clay Mae LeGrant Brian D. King Cornelia M. Raysor Robert Peoples Wilbert Hammett
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Not as hot today, but clouds linger and storms are possible; tonight, partly cloudy, warm and humid. HIGH 91, LOW 75
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