Lions test vision with new tool Club member: Scan can be especially beneficial for kids BY IVY MOORE ivy@theitem.com
75 CENTS
TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015
The Sumter Lions Club has a new tool to use in its mission to help those with vision problems. Lions president Earl Klaege and board member Carolyn Klaege said
their newly acquired SPOT vision screening capability allows trained club members to perform eye exams on people from 6 months to 100-plus years of age. Both Klaeges have completed the required training. “This is perfect for us,” Earl Kl-
aege said, “because helping people with vision problems is the major focus of the club.” The SPOT Vision Screener is a handheld device about the size of a large camera. It allows a trained
SEE VISION TEST, PAGE A7
SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 2 SECTIONS, 18 PAGES | VOL. 120, NO. 217
OPINION
Confederate flag debate rages on A8 REGION
CHANGE OF COMMAND AT SHAW AIR FORCE BASE
USAFCENT gets new leadership
Wipeout High schoolers’ experiment lost again in launch failure A3
NATION
Escaped inmates had sights set on Mexico A4
DEATHS, B5 and B6 James D. Goebel Plummie L. Kelly Charlotte Dinkins John Titus Sylvia H. Richburg Frances C. Prescott Lillie E. McDowell James Wright Sr. Carolyn J. Butler
Yvonne B. Newman Mary Lee Alston Joseph Jones Edith A. Singleton Elizabeth Perry Tamelia C. Morton Mary Lee D. Martin Charles Craft
WEATHER, A10 TYPICAL SUMMER STUFF Partly sunny today; a t-storm early this evening HIGH 94, LOW 70
INSIDE
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Classifieds B8 Comics B7 Lotteries A10 Sports B1 Television A9
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JIM HILLEY / THE SUMTER ITEM
Gen. Lloyd Austin III, left, presents the flag representing command of U.S. Air Force Central Command to Lt. Gen. Charles Brown on Monday at Shaw Air Force Base. Brown assumed command from Lt. Gen. John Hesterman III.
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Lieutenant general will be stationed in Qatar BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com Lt. Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown became commander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command at a ceremony Tuesday at Shaw Air Force Base. Brown takes control of the command from Lt. Gen. John Hesterman III, who has been USAFCENT commander since July 2013. Brown will be responsible for developing contingency plans for a 20-nation area in central and south-
west Asia and will be stationed at USAFCENT forward headquarters at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. The stateside headquarters for the command is at HESTERMAN Shaw. Before the ceremony, Gen. Lloyd Austin III, commander of U.S. Central Command, thanked outgoing commander Hesterman for his service at USAFCENT, saying he had provided
“outstanding leadership.” Austin said that under Hesterman, air operations in Iraq and Syria have been extraordinarily effective. “We have degraded ISIL’s capabilities and ISIL’s advance,” Austin said. “It’s a job exceptionally well done.” He also had praise for the incoming commander. “Brown is a seasoned and highly capable war fighter and pilot,” he said.
SEE COMMAND, PAGE A7
Your United Ministries donations help turn lives around BY COLLYN TAYLOR intern@theitem.com When a man checked into Sumter United Ministries Emergency Shelter, it was something the staff was used to. They help hundreds of people with temporary housing each year.
But while they love helping those in need of temporary housing, it’s watching them change and better their lives while they are there that’s amazing to the staff.
That was no different when the man checked in saying he needed a few weeks to get things in order. Nothing new to the staff; they checked him in. It wasn’t until afterward they noticed he didn’t talk much and was very introverted. The shelter director would
go over and talk to him and ask him if he was OK. The man would respond he simply needed a bed to sleep on; other than that, he was fine. After talking he would go silent again. A week and a half later, the man showed up to the shelter beaming and holding some-
thing in his hand. He wore a massive smile and was waving his hand around flaunting the piece of paper. He told the staff at the shelter he was able to get a job and permanent housing on the
SEE CARING, PAGE A7