IN SPORTS: Knights prep for Friday’s battle with Sumter
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ACT scores decline in all local districts Drop reflects new requirement that all juniors take the standardized test BY KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY konstantin@theitem.com Sumter School District, Lee County School District and Clarendon School Districts 1, 2 and 3 all saw declines in their American College Testing scores in 2016 while experiencing a rise in the number of test takers in all five districts this year.
The 2015-16 school year was the first year that all of South Carolina’s juniors were required to participate in the ACT, a college and career readiness test. The requirement, enacted through legislation and signed into law by Gov. Nikki Haley in 2014, directed
SEE ACT, PAGE A10
Nationally, ACT scores show many grads not ready for college-level work BY JENNIFER C. KERR The Associated Press
only 38 percent of graduating seniors who took the exam hit the college-prepared benchmark in at least three of the four core subjects tested — reading, English, math and science. That compares with 40 percent last year. The benchmark is designed to measure a strong readiness for college.
WASHINGTON — The latest scores from the ACT college entrance exam suggest many of this year’s high school graduates aren’t ready for college-level course work. In its annual score report released Wednesday, the testing company said
SEE GRADS, PAGE A10
Swinging fun at Memorial Park
Peak season for hurricanes is at hand BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com Though hurricane season began nearly three months ago, it is not likely that many residents of the Palmetto State have put a lot of thought into preparing for a hurricane hitting South Carolina. That is something that could change in the near future, however, as the most active part of the season begins in August and continues through November. Jeff Linton, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Columbia, says there is no immediate threat to South Carolina. However, hurricane forecasters are taking a close look at a disturbance located over the northern Leeward Islands. The system is given an 80 percent chance of becoming named storm “Hermine.” “There is some consistence with the models of showing the system moving toward the Bahamas over the weekend,” Linton said. After that, the models show “strong divergence,” Linton said. In layman’s terms, that means the forecast tracks produced by the world’s most sophisticated weather computers look like spaghetti. Digest that for a moment. The National Hurricane Center is currently forecasting an 85 percent chance of a normal or above normal hurricane season, with 12 to 17 named storms considered likely. The forecast also calls for from two to four major hurricanes of category 3 or higher (111-plus mph sustained winds). The current NHC forecast includes an increase in predicted activity compared to the center’s May forecast. The NHC cites favorable conditions in the Caribbean and Atlantic and uncertainty about the formation of a La Nina pattern in the Pacific Ocean as reasons for the upgrade. Linton said the main threat from hurricanes in this area is flooding
KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM
Cousins Jakeira Evans, 8; Jahmaur Wells, 6; and Deasia Major, 10, find a creative way to play together on the swings as Nassir Major, 12, watches at Memorial Park on Wednesday.
County council approves 1st reading of $40M bond for penny project payment BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com As Sumter County continues its progress with 2016 Capital Penny Sales Tax projects, Sumter County Council approved first reading for a $40 million bond to pay off the $30 million anticipation note used to fund top priority projects during its meeting on Tuesday. Sumter County Administrator Gary Mixon said the only 2016 penny project that is fully complete is the renovations made to Palmetto Park. He said the first 2016 penny project to upgrade the county’s analog E911 radio to a digital system is still in progress. Radio towers are still being constructed, and other elements of
the radio system will be installed once the new law enforcement complex, another penny project, is complete, he said. Mixon said a contract to resurface Lakewood Subdivision, the county’s first big road project, has been issued, he said. Three more bids for road projects will be issued before November, he said. He said the county is MIXON also acquiring land for other projects. Also, council approved second reading of a request to amend the county zoning ordinance to allow an additional 20 percent of display space for billboard extensions, features that ex-
tend past the rectangular face of a billboard, on signs outside of Interstate 95. Sumter Planning Department Director George McGregor said the additional 20 percent equals approximately 60 square feet. Most of Sumter’s sister counties allow embellishments, he said. During a public hearing, a Sumter resident said allowing the embellishments would be a step in the wrong direction. Keeping the signs small will help the appeal of Sumter, she said. Glynn Willis, with Adams Outdoor Advertising, the applicant, said the company has received many positive
SEE COUNTY, PAGE A10
SEE PREPARE, PAGE A10
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ANOTHER NICE DAY
2 SECTIONS, 20 PAGES VOL. 121, NO. 262
A little warm today but mostly sunny with no chance of rain; tonight, clear and warm. HIGH 93, LOW 71
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