Lakeside April-May

APRIL - MAY 2020

SPECIAL DELIVERY

Local florist pivots business during coronavirus outbreak

Fishing on Lake Marion

The perfect social distancing activity

Stuck at home?

Growing a pollinator garden can keep you active, get you outside and save the bees

THE LEGACY OF

SUMTER'S BLACK COWBOYS BERKELEY • CLARENDON • KERSHAW • ORANGEBURG • SUMTER

We Will See You Today!

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

043_20_Colonial Healthcare_Urgent Care_Poster_v3 Poster is o ok with corrections o new proof needed

gnature:

1013 Professional Ct. date:

803-433-7425

www.colonialhealthcare.com 2 APRIL-MAY 2020

Looking for Land?

FOREST MANAGEMENT • TIMBER

APPRAISALS • LAND AQUISITION

DWIGHT STEWART, JR. AND ASSOCIATES CONSULTING FORESTERS 26 E. BOYCE ST., MANNING, SC 29102

803-435-2301

apply today at

uscsumter.edu

What’s your path?

DWIGHT L. STEWART, JR. & ASSOCIATES, LLC

Living Options: • Apartment Homes

• Assisted Living • Memory Care • Skilled Nursing

Ask About 2020 Move In Specials!

Sumter’s Only Full Service Continuing Care Retirement Community

Living at its best

2019

2825 Carter Road | Sumter, South Carolina 29150 | 803-469-7007 | www.covenantplace.org Covenant Place is a locally owned, not-for-profit, continuing care community. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.

Everything TRUCK FRONT BUMPER

• Tonneau Covers • Bed Liners • Tool Boxes • Mirror Covers • Billet Grills • Step Bars • WeatherTech Mats • Hitches & Hitch Covers • Euro Lights • Brush Guards • Mirror Covers • Vent Visors • Bug Shields

Dixie Products 1255 N. Lafayette • Sumter

775-4391

8:30am - 5:00pm Monday - Friday • 8:30am - 12:00pm Saturday

A PUBLICATION OF THE SUMTER ITEM 3

about from the lake us PUBLISHER Vince Johnson EDITOR Kayla Green COPY EDITORS Rhonda Barrick Melanie Smith WRITERS Shelbie Goulding Sharron Haley Tim Leible Bruce Mills Ivy Moore Melanie Smith COLUMNISTS Dan Geddings PHOTOGRAPHY Micah Green

Janel Strieter ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Karen Cave karen@theitem.com Mark Pekuri mark@theitem.com

on the cover

Mark Myers at his home on Greenfield Farm in Rembert, where the Black Cowboy Festival has been held for 22 years.

Photo by Micah Green 36 W. Liberty Street • Sumter, SC 29150 www.theitem.com 4 APRIL-MAY 2020

KAYLA GREEN EDITOR OF LAKESIDE

APRIL - MAY

2020

Fi sh in g on La ke M ar io n

SPECIAL DELIVERY Local florist piv ots busines coronavirus ous during tbreak

The perfect so distancing activcial ity

Stuck at ho

me?

Growing a po garden can llinator active, get youkeep you outside and save the bee s

THE LEGACY

OF

SUM ER'S BLACK CT OWBOYS BERKELE

Y • CLAR END

ON • KER SHAW

• ORANG EB

URG • SU MTER

6

About a bridge

Micah Green

the Black Cowboy Festival or the Mary McLeod Bethune Festival, may well have been canceled or postponed between the time we wrote them and this magazine gets in hands. If they are, we figured it would still be nice to read about them because they still have interesting backgrounds.

Lake Marion is always there, and while restrictions to large groups and public access may be in place, I envy you if you can get out there still.

And what better job right now than to deliver beautiful flowers to someone? Social distancing, check.

Support a local business, check.

Make someone’s day, check.

So, while things are weird, life must go on.

We’re always thankful for the ability to write and take photos and design and do what we love here, but we’re especially thankful now.

Take a look at our advertisers in these pages. They keep us going.

Support your local businesses.

Thank you for supporting ours.

What a new crossing point across Lake Marion could mean

PUBLICATION DESIGNERS Ryan Galloway

Things are weird.

I’m writing this from our newsroom in Sumter. I’m the only one in here. Events have been canceled, restaurants closed for dining in, handshakes and hugs on hold.

This issue of Lakeside is usually a favorite of ours. It’s when we get excited writing about all the festivals and events coming up this spring. They’re all ways to get outside after a cold winter, and there’s something for everyone.

Bass fishing tournaments, family fun days in town squares, irises blooming around a lake populated with all the world’s types of swans.

The novel coronavirus COVID-19 has thrown us for a loop. It has changed the way we all live in a matter of weeks, and it has changed the way we cover news and events in our community. We can’t get out as much to meet people. We can’t talk about all the fun festivals coming up because they’re not happening. This would have been the issue featuring the Striped Bass and Puddin’ Swamp festivals.

What we can do, in light of this global pandemic, is still offer you some good reading.

Some of these stories, like ones about the Shaw Air Show, which happens once every four years, or

30 26 24 22 14 8

Life on Lake Marion

Berkley's Outdoors can help outfit your social distancing fishing trip

Sumter's Black Cowboy Festival has a storied past

Celebrating the Black Cowboy

Mayesville florist brings beauty to homes during COVID-19

Special Delivery

Celebrating an educational icon

22nd Bethune Festival

Thunderbirds were set to highlight event that happens once every four years

Shaw Air Expo

Planting a pollinator garden during quarantine has multiple benefits

Save the bees and your health

what’s inside

FEATURE STORIES

A PUBLICATION OF THE SUMTER ITEM 5

About a bridge Photo and story by Dan Geddings

It

was a long time ago, but I still remember it like it was just yesterday. The surface beneath my feet trembled and shook, then began to bounce. The sensation was somewhat like trying to stand or walk on a trampoline while little kids jumped up and down. It made me very uneasy. The big trucks roared on by, and the bouncing and shaking subsided. Regular car traffic caused no effect.

In 1982, I was the new guy on a highway department maintenance crew, and we were setting up traffic control for a bridge inspection team on the Francis Marion Bridge over Lake Marion. I was surprised and alarmed that a concrete and steel structure could move that much.

Later, I transferred to the engineering department and supervised a pavement marking operation over the nearby Inter-

6 APRIL-MAY 2020

state 95 bridges. They also shook and bounced from the heavy traffic loads. Just not as much as the old bridge. U.S. 15 and 301 were the main routes up and down the East Coast of the United States before I-95 was completed in the late ‘60s. The highways merged in the Clarendon County town of Summerton and ran together across Lake Marion on the Francis Marion Bridge and separated just beyond the small Orangeburg County town of Santee.

They are federal highways that are maintained by South Carolina.

The old bridge across the Santee was closed in 1987 because of a lack of maintenance. There simply wasn’t any interest in keeping the bridge operational when the perfectly good I-95 bridges were right there. The only problem with that is that the interstate bridges over the lake were classified as “functionally obsolete” when

they were built because there are no emergency lanes. They are a bottleneck in the federal interstate system.

Lane closures for construction activities or accidents on the I-95 bridges have caused unbearable delays and 100-milelong detours on local roads. People have even died because there is no quick way to move a disabled vehicle from the traffic lanes. These bridges will eventually have to be rebuilt.

The Francis Marion Bridge had been closed to traffic but open to fishermen, cyclists and Palmetto Trail hikers since 1987. Then, before the solar eclipse in 2017 and to the dismay of many, the Department of Transportation closed the bridge to pedestrians, citing safety concerns.

Now, finally, there is some political interest in reopening the 1.85-mile-long bridge again to pedestrians and fishermen.

There is talk of fixing up the old bridge, even as naysayers grasp at reasons to keep it closed. Navigational concerns have been raised. That issue is ridiculous, considering there is a railroad bridge just upstream at Rimini on the Santee that nothing bigger than a pontoon boat could pass under.

The Federal Highway Administration deals in billions of dollars. The money to

rework the bridge or build a new one right beside it could be secured if there were enough willpower and determination behind the effort. So I would say let’s not talk about what we can’t do but instead about what we can do. Here are a couple of examples of other recent projects.

New bridges were built across the Congaree River and the floodplain swamp on U.S. 601 just a few years ago. The existing causeways were retained and realigned with the new bridges that were built to one side, so that traffic could be maintained during construction. The old bridges were then torn down. The only complaint was that environmentalists wanted the new bridges to be longer.

Recently a new bridge and access connections were constructed at the U.S. 301/ I-95 interchange in Orangeburg County. The price tag would have been in the millions.

No one complained about the location of the work or the cost.

Sixth District Congressman Jim Clyburn was criticized by many more than a decade ago for wanting to build a 2.8-mile-long bridge across the Upper Santee Swamp.

Hunters and fishermen wrote impassioned letters to the local papers crying out against the project for the damage it would

do to the swamp. Rep. Clyburn met opposition at every turn. The project was labeled “a bridge to nowhere.” Opponents argued that the bridge would offer little benefit to the rest of the state.

A new bridge across the lake or a rebuilt Francis Marion Bridge could be a tremendous benefit to the entire state. It would reconnect the U.S. 301/15 corridor.

Commercial zones on the route near the lake in Clarendon and Orangeburg could flourish. The bridge could serve as a nearby detour in the event of an emergency on I-95 until new interstate bridges are eventually built. The bridge could incorporate pedestrian access for hikers and cyclists, and fishing platforms could be built along its length. It would be a showcase for this region of the state. The old bridge could be made safe and used until it could be rebuilt or a new bridge is built. A new bridge would be a “bridge to somewhere.”

Legislative delegations from the counties that surround the lake could get behind the effort. Perhaps Congressman Clyburn would also be interested in this project that is in the heart of his district.

BONANZA Flea Market

1048 Bonanza Crossing Rd. • Manning, SC Hours: Th-F 10-5 • Sat 8-4 • Sun 12-5

803-460-0014 • bonanzafleamarket@aol.com Vendors Welcome Inside and Out Daily, Weekly, or Monthly

Like Us on

Your Pontoon Restoration Specialist Ryan Stewart 366 Neeley St., Sumter, SC 29150

803-720-4105

www.ToonTimeSC.com rstewart@toontimesc.com @ToonTimeSC

Wishing you a happy and healthy spring season!

• Over-the-counter & prescription remedies • Pain relievers & fever reducers • Cough drops & lozenges • Immune-boosting vitamins & supplements • Humidifiers, dehumidifiers & foot baths • Heating & cooling pads • Tissues, travel packs, pill cases & more

12 North Brooks St. Manning, SC 29102 803-435-2511 Additional parking available behind the pharmacy

Jamie Mathis, PharmD RPH Family Owned

Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8:30 - 6:00 • Sat. 8:30 - Noon • Sun. Closed We accept most Caremark, Medco, Express Scripts and Medicare Part D Plans.

A PUBLICATION OF THE SUMTER ITEM 7

8 APRIL-MAY 2020

Celebrating the history of the black cowboy W hen it comes to history, sometimes there are missing pages in the books. Either the historical moment wasn’t witnessed by a spectator, or it wasn’t considered a moment worth recording.

One of these moments was in the late 1800s, when African-American cowboys rode across America's plains. During this time, African-Americans weren’t seen as historically relevant, but Mark and Sandra Myers thought otherwise. They dug deep into the past of the black cowboy and celebrated the race and beauty of the historical riders every year at Greenfield Farm in Rembert.

For 23 years, the husband and wife have celebrated with the Black Cowboy Festival, a weekend event consisting of rodeos,

horse shows and educating the public on the history of the black cowboy.

“Cowboys come from all over to the festival,” Sandra Myers said. “The Black Cowboy Festival has grown into a huge event for the state of South Carolina. The Black Cowboy Festival is about celebrating the history of the African-American cowboy. The African-American cowboy was omitted out of history books, so my husband and I learned the history of the black cowboy, and this is our way of sharing it with the community and giving back.”

The Myerses moved onto the Greenfield Farm property in 1994, where Sandra Myers’ great-grandparents were actually slaves decades ago, giving the land even more historical factors that needed to be

Story by Shelbie Goulding Photos by Micah Green shared with the community. Mark Myers ended up building some historical sites in the back of the 60-acre property to showcase during the festival, along with the show itself.

The couple held their first black cowboy event, which started as a community horse show in 1997. The event grew more and more, becoming the educational festival it is today.

Sandra Myers said this all started following her husband’s dream; he always wanted to be a cowboy.

“When I started out a long time ago, around ‘81, I grew up on a farm, but I never had horses. I had mules, but I always loved the cowboy lifestyle,” Mark Myers said.

From working on a farm and eventually getting horses for himself to watching

A PUBLICATION OF THE SUMTER ITEM 9

Bonanza on TV, he realized he had never heard of a black cowboy.

That’s when he started his research.

“I found one out of every three cowboys was of African-American descent,” Mark Myers said. “When your slave ships came in, Charleston was one of your major ports. These folks took this knowledge to the West and helped build the West. Folks that settled in the West came from South Carolina and North Carolina, where all those drop-off ports were.”

Myers said open grazing was also born in South Carolina, which is where cattle roamed regardless of land ownership.

“They were herdsmen in Africa, and here they were a cowboy,” Mark Myers 10 APRIL-MAY 2020

said. “The word cowboy originated here because the plantation owner had a name for everyone that worked with him.”

Mark Myers said when Hollywood made a legend out of the term cowboy, then everyone wanted to be a cowboy, becoming ranch hands.

“After I found out all of this and much more, I wanted to do something to recognize us. To let society know that we helped build the West, that we played a major part in it, too,” Mark Myers said. “We had heroes and legends, too, just like any

other race.”

Mark Myers said the festival isn’t about separating races. It’s named the Black Cowboy Festival because it’s about AfricanAmerican history, educating the public and celebrating the black cowboy with one another.

“It’s not about a white or black thing,” Mark Myers said. “It’s about recognizing the man that got left out of history.”

Mark Myers said he likes to showcase how horseback riding keeps a person physically and mentally fit, especially when it comes to age.

“You’ll see some cowboys here this year that are 64 years old and still riding unbroken horses and bulls,” Mark Myers said.

Santee Quick Lube Wash & Tire

Thank you for voting us Clarendon’s Best!

2019 BEST OF

CLARENDON

Clarendon EXTERMINATING 535 S. Mill St. Manning, SC

COMPANY

803-435-8689

Now doing property management!

Summit

Serving your Real Estate needs for Lake Marion, Clarendon and Sumter Counties.

Get the team to get it done.

Buying or Selling, we can help!

Staying home? We do virtual tours!

Dusty Jones

(803) 460-2186

2990 Broad Street • Sumter, SC 29150 EACH OFFICE INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

Mary Wilson (803) 460-4251

A PUBLICATION OF THE SUMTER ITEM 11

Myers said a 72-year-old man named Romeo Randolph just started riding a couple of months ago. There is also a married couple that started training in new activities for this year’s show.

For 12 years, Tommy and Angela Frederick, both of Sumter, have been riding at Greenfield Farm. This year, the two decided to leave behind their usual shows and try something different.

“I’ve always participated in the walking horse activities,” Angela Frederick said. “This year, I may be participating in the quarter horse activities. I’m in training for this new kind of horse.”

Angela Frederick will be participating in pole bending, barrel racing and other obstacle activities once her training is complete, and she plans to be ready just in time for the festival and take on something different.

“It’s a challenge, and I like challenges,” Angela Frederick said.

“It is drastically different from the walking horse. As I’m growing in my skill level, I wanted to push myself a little more, like any athlete.”

Tommy Frederick said he wasn’t quite sure which activities he’ll be participating in during the event, but he’s training for the quarter horse activities as well.

In the past, both Tommy and Angela Frederick have done a couple routines together for shows, and they do a routine as husband and wife with their horses.

This year, Tommy Frederick will ride Cocoa, a pure quarter horse, and Angela Frederick will ride Pansy, a quarter and thoroughbred mixed horse, in the show. The two horses belong to the farm, as Tommy and Angela Frederick don’t own horses themselves, but they love being at Greenfield Farm and taking

Local.

Personal.

Relationships.

Sumter · Manning · Santee · Summerton · Wyboo

BankofClarendon.bank

12 APRIL-MAY 2020

part in the Black Cowboy Festival every year.

“We’re kind of attached to the farm,” Angela Frederick said. “I like the idea of being a part of something that’s highlighting the culture and featuring the black cowboy.”

Tommy Frederick gets out on the farm whenever he can to train, but Angela Frederick goes every other day to train with her trainer, Mark Myers.

Not only is Mark Myers training Angela Frederick, but he’s also training three men he thinks can make a career out of riding. When he sees potential in a rider, he doesn’t quit on the rider. He helps the rider become the cowboy and horseman he or she is meant to be.

“A horseman is a guy who has the ability to understand and inherit the mind and spirit of a horse. It’s not just a craft, it’s an art,” Mark Myers said. “Here at Greenfield Farm, we are artists.”

Triple R RV Repair Dudley Osteen, Owner RV Coach Repairs & Local RV Relocation

MOBILE SERVICE AVAILABLE Call or Text me at 803-795-6217 to schedule an appointment.

803-795-6217 Voted Best Roofing Company in 2018 & 2019!

CALLEN ROOFING, LLC SERVING SUMTER & SURROUNDING AREAS FOR 60 YEARS

State Licensed & Bonded

Specializing in shingles, flat roofs, metal roofsystems & carpetry

ALL WORK GUARANTEED

Jeff Callen 803-968-3248

Zane Callen 803-491-4541

THANK YOU for voting Best Pool Company • Above & In-ground Pools • Spas • Services & Supplies • Pool Cleaning • Water Analysis Aluminum Fencing

Want to go?

The 23rd-Annual Black Cowboy Festival is now scheduled for July 30-August 2. The event welcomes all to celebrate the history of the black cowboy with a cultural experience, great food, many vendors and entertainers, as well as an old-fashioned rodeo with pole bending, barrel racing, calf roping, gaited horses and more.

The four-day event will be at Greenfield Farm, 4585 Spencer Road, Rembert, and some events, like the dinners, require reservations.

For more information on costs and to make a reservation, visit blackcowboyfestival.net or call Sandra and Mark Myers at (803) 499-9658 or (404) 707-4656.

213 East Boyce Street, Manning, SC 29102 NEAR SPARROW TRACTOR

(803) 433-7946 (SWIM) Mark & Amber Prickelmyer

fb.com/theswimminholeinc

A PUBLICATION OF THE SUMTER ITEM 13

SPECIAL DELIVERY Branching Out brings fresh cut flowers to your door

T

Story by Tim Leible | Photos by Erica Goza

his spring has been hard to predict for everyone, as the coronavirus has kept people holed up in their houses far more than normal. Erica Goza, a Mayesville resident who runs a floral company called Branching Out, wanted to do something small to help bring a little joy to people stuck inside.

That’s when Goza had an idea. She had a surplus of flowers after deciding to add a crop of ranunculus to her collection this December.

Normally she’d sell them at the farmers market, but that wasn’t going to be an option because people were asked to stay home whenever possible. So Goza decided to bring the flowers to them.

“Sumter Farmers Market was supposed to have kind of their kickoff market this Friday, so I was hoping to have blooms for that, and it just came down to, ‘How am I going to get these blooms to the people?” Goza said. “It was more of me having to take the blooms to them, and I have had an overwhelming response from the Sumter community.”

Goza announced on Instagram that she’d

14 APRIL-MAY 2020

Erica Goza poses with one of her bouquets.

be offering free home delivery, and it took off pretty quickly. She did two batches of deliveries on Wednesday, March 18, and Friday, March 20, and delivered flowers to more than 30 people across Sumter. The most surprising thing to Goza wasn’t that people were interested, but who was interested.

People decided not only to order flowers for themselves, but they also were ordering surprise deliveries.

“I had one lady from California contact me to send flowers to a friend,” Goza said. “Then there were several folks that I took multiple bouquets to that were giving them to other people. It wasn’t just people wanting them for themselves; they were trying to spread the joy to someone else.”

Those surprise deliveries were the most fun part for Goza. In times like this, a random flower delivery is exactly what a lot of people need.

“One delivery I made was that a lady was sending flowers to her mother and her aunt, who live across the street from each other,” Goza recounted. “They didn’t know the bouquet was coming, and I got out of the truck with the bouquets and went to one of the doors, and it just so happened that the two sisters were talking to each other on the phone, so they were talking to each other while I was delivering flowers to the other one.

They were just giddy as school children, so it was a tremendous surprise for those folks.”

This decision to do deliveries ended up being a surprise to Goza, too. Normally she’s not selling flowers until late May other than her weekly arrangements for local businesses. She decided to plant the ranunculus without a set plan on what to do with them, and it just so happened that the virus gave her the perfect excuse to sell them with free deliveries.

“My goal for the early spring was just to have enough to supply my businesses, and if people contacted me wanting arrangements, I would have the option to do them for special occasions like a birthday or an anniversary,” Goza said. “It doesn’t do me any good to have fresh flowers (and not sell them). They’re like milk; they have a shelf life, and they have a much shorter one than milk. It does nobody any good to have all these flowers all cut and just sitting in a bucket where no one will enjoy them.”

“So it was helpful for me to be able to make a little money to pay for them and bring a little happiness to folks during this time, but I’m just figuring this out as I go.”

Because this wasn’t something that Goza was planning on doing from the start, she doesn’t have a huge supply left, but she’s hoping to do one more sale of this crop with free deliveries and then see what the future has in store for delivering flowers in the future.

“The ranunculus are almost done. I cut a pretty big crop of them this morning, so I’ll probably announce another sale and do another free delivery,” Goza said. “I can’t do that all the time, but with folks stuck at home, if I make 10 or 15 deliveries, then it’s worth my time to go to town and deliver straight to folks.”

You can contact Erica on Instagram - @branchingoutSC

Par 4 Pets 6th Golf Tournament

Saturday, June 13, 2020 Crystal Lakes, Sumter TEE TIME

ENTRY FEE

Registration 8:00am $160 Per Team Shotgun 8:30am ($40 per player)

CONTACT

Mike Ardis 803.775.1902

Kathy Stafford 803.469.3906

Dee's Rentals Lake Marion Area Long Term Rentals

Town, Lake Area, Waterfront Homes and Condos www.deelakerentals.com 310 South Mill St., Manning, SC

803-433-7355

Mobile: 803-225-7007 Over 25 Years Property Manager Experience

DEE OSTEEN

deesrentals@yahoo.com

Now More Than Ever Is a Great Time to Shop Local Buy Now, Spend Later

Purchase gift cards to your favorite local businesses to give as gifts or use in the future.

Shop Online or By Phone

Visit your favorite store's website or social media, ask for a FaceTime tour or call and pay over the phone and ask for curbside pick up.

into action

We have everything you need for gardening.

Take It To Go

Go ahead, treat yourself!

Pick up a meal from your favorite restaurant and don't forget to tip.

SANTEE HARDWARE 800 Bass Dr. • Santee, SC

803-854-2223

Mon-Fri: 8am-6pm • Saturday: 8am-5pm • Sunday: 1pm-5pm www.santeehardware.com A PUBLICATION OF THE SUMTER ITEM 15

SANTEE LAKES CAMPGROUND

has joined the quality KOA family.

ON 2 MILE WIDE LAKE MARION AT I-95 EXIT 102 NORTH SANTEE

Story and photos

by Melanie Smith

★ Swimming Pool

★ Upgrades include:

★ Heavily Shaded Pull Thru Sites

- New Fishing Pier

★ Sandy Beach

- Beachfront Seating & Fire Pit

★ Kiddie Pool

- Fenced Pet Exercise area

★ Corn-hole Games

- Fast Wi-Fi Streaming

★ Seasonal Sites

- Hunt Brothers Pizza

- 50/30 Amp Sites

Call for more info! 803-478-2262 www.koa.com/camp/santee

1268 Gordon Rd. • Summerton, SC 29148

Your Local Real Estate Company for business, buying or selling LAND • ACREAGE • COMMERICAL • RESIDENTIAL John DuRant 803-473-8337

Looking for Land?

Appraisals Forestry Land Brokerage

KAFA Company, LLC (803) 491-5177

GROWING www.KAFAcompany.com

Termite Season is Here!

Send those household pests packing with our professional exterminating services. We’re safe, reliable and 100% effective, GUARANTEED!

CALL FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE! Get details at superguarantee.com

803-436-5583 | MOBILE: 803-968-5057 midcarolinaext@frontier.com 16 APRIL-MAY 2020

We Offer Moisture Control Services

Beautiful location for Weddings, Retreats & your Special Events Established 1930

DISCOVER THE BEST INTERNET EXPERIENCE With higher internet speeds, you’ll enjoy: • Using multiple PCs, laptops and tablets at the same time • Faster download speeds for improved streaming • Improved performance on your cloud-based apps • Increased efficiency and productivity • Improved online gaming experience Internet Speeds

Internet Only

(per month)

All speeds come with 10 free email accounts

HUNT CLUB MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE

Internet Rate when Bundled with Voice Line (VoIP) and Connections Discount (per month)*

4-15 Mbps

$49.95

$29.95

25 Mbps

$54.95

$34.95

50 Mbps

$59.95

$39.95

100 Mbps

$69.95

$49.95

500 Mbps

$79.95

$59.95

1 Gig

$89.95

$69.95

*Voice Line (VoIP) charge of $24.95/mo. is in addition to rates listed for internet package. Prices shown are residential rates. Listed speeds comply with FTC’s Open Internet Statement.

SIGN UP TODAY! ftcinet.com | 888-218-5050 VACATION LAKESIDE RENTALS AVAILABLE

1219 Dingle Pond Rd., Summerton, SC 29148

(803) 460-9379

2019 BEST O

F CLAREND ON

n n

hur s s huRr d Rd

S wy S t a te H t a te Hwy S S--28 28-4 -44 4

Ri Rvi e ver r Rd Rd

so so

n

T

Cr Cer stw ood e stw ood r

Ly L st r Rydstara Rd Lo RdLoyy Rd Ch hc Cc N es N ets t

K

Ke elly Lakeside lly Rd Lakeside Rd Marina Marina G r a n n

tH Flinn Fli t Hi lil l R l Rd d

arbo arbo R

Wh W hi t e C r i t e OOa C re e k ak ee k T k

S S u g R u g R

Island Rd Island Rd

O ld B O ld Bri c kst ri c kst r e re

k bri k bri

E ben eze E ben ezer R d rR d

d

ra d oroa dR i Ti T r l R rl les les

Eag Eag

R R

La La el el

S S a d dle Club d

ky s s

am BB eaem LnLn

Lugoff C Lugoff

C

h

yf iel ayf iel

p ir at Dpriraiton D r i on

B link l B onBnlink l ie B Rodnnie Rd

on onnie n ie

Ric Riec e

k

WhiteOak Oak White

ie s G ra s Q u r tnenr i e r e Quaa r t e r CC r ee ek

a a

BuckHill Hill Buck y

omp p hohm dd RR

eses aind ee ind TTooCCaam Gm ch Ghaururc

Mose s Rd Mose s Rd Ln Ln

r

r

w w

T T

oc ochelle he C lle re C r ek ee R d kR d

Fli nt Fli nt H ill Rd H ill Rd

Pa Park Rd rk De Rd wd D r Drew o p d Dr r o p

M Maab b llee A Annt h t h on on y R yRd d

o at u bo at ub

d i a Ho o nH k R d oo kR d

St SSt a S a

r a cshe nc h

Rd

r

D

on R on R

Dec oo k d R Drec oo k d R Dr

lf Woorlfl WT rl T

d k e Rd

n n

6 6

d Rd d Rd

Statete a t SH Hwwy y

Pe a

r Dr D re re

G ul GRudl Rd

R R

h

µ

Tnrat nt am Tra Rd am Rd h

k rLkar La

Tr r Trl uru l ne w ne S a aCwr e e e S Cr

µ

e eB Be endnd PP ilgilrigri C Chh c chh dd

gg nunninni n RuR FFoxox dd RR

ShawAFB AFBWateree Wateree Shaw Rec Area Rec Area (LimitedAccess) Access) (Limited

S S - 28- 284 04 0

LL e HoHrosrese s e B s B e endhohoe d nd Re d Rd d

l iesl ds F ieFd d RdR

d d Rn R e ene re r Grs G s te erve ithei iSv hi h WhW Ln S Ln

13 8- 13 - 228y SSHw wy a te H Sttate S

k k

lo n e l C oCloon el C rCereeke k

Rd Rd m mur Ho r ur RR Rd Hosrsees h o ill Rd sh o ck H Buuck Hill B

d

2 Miles 2 Miles rnd R Ri S State 18 APRIL-MAY 2020 n M id dg StaSte-2HwHwy B M ge ew-28 8-5y5 BBe e a d dR w ay -55H Br a raavn v e r S pS pring h R ay H er n ecrh d ring va h rc rc u rd

HrtoortnonRR dd Ao l H l A Car Car d R wRd ViVeiwe r r

ak ak

B nBk i nkli B lB

ries Rd p h ies Rd Hum p hr Hum

L ks na ar s Leo aL k n ar Leo L

0.5 1 0.5 1

ili n ailian b b ClCl d d

HH

d nR w Rd to n ng t o w L o ng Lo

RdR

Wateree Wateree Marina Marina

FoFro rt t LL

Creek

d RdR l i M l Mi wa w Sa S

s

d R eld Rd llfi B e llfiel d Be

C n ix e ix P h ren PDh r D

0

cc

Longtown Longtown

LakeWateree Wateree Lake SouthCarolina Carolina South

0

F oFxo x e reeke k C rC

Rd Rd

e re n t ke e r

I n sI n

LaLa e seidseide DD r r

e dgdeg

Ro Ro

or

s ey w n yks S a Cwrnee k e Sa r e

h

e o H Hi g o ig h hw w ay ay F roFnrontier D 34 34 tier D E E

ho ho

d Q u al l s R d Q u al l s R

T h rrnete k ld o C lfie T h e e Bel ld Cr lfide BelR d R

rkdRd PaPrkaR

rr ee e ea va v k k BB e e r er CC

LakeWateree Wateree Lake Campground Campground

WeWe stssts

d ld OlO mill d i in nmdill W W dRd R ywy HewH151 t e ta Colonel's StaSt 02-105-1 Colonel's 2S-S Creek

Rd gtown Lon gtown R d Lon

y S taS ta H t e t ewHyw 3 S 0 S - 20- 2-3

97 97 T S S T

Lake Lake Wateree Wateree StatePark Park State

RdRd o o

KKeerrsshhaaww CCoouunnt tyy

55

JuneCreek Creek June

n ow n d owR d R nch nchLn Ln

o Th C ellf ld Rd o B T h C e ie B llf ie ld Rd

w llwall am S m S

n d

WW il dillif de lifeRd Rd

r r iveived d RR

e e l leel l cohc hk k o R e R r e er e CC

522 522 S T T S

Liberty Liberty Hill Hill

Taylor TaylorCreek Creek

h h

y ent Tw ennety TwO ne O

Len Saint Rd Len Saint Rd

R R

BraBraLonLong gt t

d d

at

nei ne P iP

huhrcurc R dR d

F Fa ai ri fr if ei el dl d CCo ou un nt yt y

rn rn r e r et reeter e e ek k

C R Ceeddar C re e kR ar C re e k dd

U USH S i H gh ig w hw a ayy 2 211 N N

F ro FRro dn Rd t

a a ra

e nc h h

To C Tip n L W Chhaton Lnn arrlo lBoHtotr e H nd r att s e B onr cse n ia n

Hawk HLanwk Ln

WW

OldOld

Sk Sky Ln Lyn

o D D ok k C Cr e ee e MMC r C t o e l t g e l i ni n g nosn s SS r ere ke k CC

t t

H w H yS wy S

Dr Dr

Flint FlintHill Hill O aOkC akC hite hite

21 21

shns

CC n nn innin rs R sR d gh g ha a uar mmQQ uart et e r d u u

Sutton's Sutton's Landing Landing

£ ¤ ¤£

d d

Ro Ro r C Cr r d ar C ed a k C eC r eeek Cre

C

Dutchman's Dutchman's Creek CreekMarina Marina

e tle hTishtlis Rd

EE mm bebreL r nLn

Sha Sha

w yw y te tHe-4H1 4B1a Ba -20-20 er er Ln Ln

D t cuhtm c ham na s nCsr e ke k Cer e

ouonutn MM tC C aram rm eel Rd lR

LLaannccaasst teerr CCoouunnt tyy

n gn riglaril St S a a tta e t S e -2 y S 0 -2 H w B y 1 0 Hw 0 B -1101 l or or ay aeykl k Cl Cld d Service ServiceLayer LayerCredits: Credits: RR re ree C

rb rb

eat e

k k

4 4 42 2 0-20- 4 2 - -

a ark GG e k r er e e CC c kc e ee yk y ke k

d d

d d

le

I

d

Cedar CedarCreek Creek

Wateree Wateree Creek Creek

o o Ho Ho

a IndIni d ia RdRd

se se o r rc h h H Haon a n c Br Br

I iR ver RR iver d d

d y R Rd ubtaurtary b e D De

RR

e r s r she H o Haon c n c h Br Br a

ndn

sor D r sor D r

77 77

C rCoro ok C rCe oekde d reeke k

Wi Wi

¨ §¦ ¦ ¨ §

tl e tl e L it L itC r ee k e e e e Cr e k er t er e t a a

Rd at e r e e Rd at e r e e

er av r k B e v eFr o m

ead A rro whead A rro wh

ee er e at r e W t e ek g a re k Bgi WC e e r Bi C

y Hwy ateHw 71 te20 1 7 20

l feal f raer e

nyhil l Rd

h h

Th om Th om pps on

ss ss p p

r

P Peeddd d B Brraann lleerrss cchh

SM S Mililll S Stt

B Cr e e

Cou nt y D it c h

CCaa m BBrr m aann ppb e cchh l l s

Mo u n M tH Sw a m o p e p

D octo r B ra n ch

ns Jo h n R u i ffe l and LL i ancch B Brr an h

Pineville Pineville Pineville

Big Oak Oak Landing Landing & Big & l C C rr a Campground wl aw Campground Angel's Angel's

Hill's Hill's Landing Landing

C k C rr e e ee k

Amos Lee Lee Gou Gou

Henderson Henderson G G Guerry Guerry

Russellville Russellville S S

Russellville W Russellville W S SSw aallkke S waam err mpp NNHH igighhw waay y 552 2

Black's Black's Camp Camp

Lake Lake Moultrie Moultrie

Pinopolis Pinopolis Pinopolis Pinopolis

E Jarvis Jarvis Morris Morris E Thornley Forest Forest Thornley

Augustus Augustus M M Floo Floo Bonneau Bonneau Bonneau Bonneau Richardsons Richardsons

SSt et e

uutt

52 52

US US Navy Navy Recreati Recreati Center Center (Limited (Limited A A CCa

BBr an Atkins raan n Atkins Landing Landing ncc William William Dennis Dennis

Gilligan's Gilligan's At At the the M Hidden Cove Marina Hidden Cove Marina Moncks Rembert CD C Moncks Rembert A PUBLICATION OF THE SUMTER ITEM 19 C D C Moncks

Whitesville Whitesville

Moncks Corner Corner Corner Corner

yAA nn n ch h

176 176

S T

£ ¤

Eadytown Eadytown Eadytown Eadytown

B ee rr kk ee ll ee yy Hatchery B Hatchery C oo uu nn tt yy C B ig B Wampee Landing Landing Wampee R uign R un (Limited Access) (Limited Access)

£ ¤ £ ¤

Foreston Foreston Foreston

B en ra n n et t ch s

awyay

k R o ck R orca ncchh Br a n B

521

Harry's Fish Camp

Fred LL Day Day Fred

WW a sa s as SSw amma a wa a s s s mmp aaww p

el l errkke c h M e n M r an c h a BBr

DDee Crr eepp C eeee kk

mm y y

v n c i ss h

Hig ighhwa H wa y 1155--33001y 1

311 311 S T T S

g

HHo m e e BBr aonm r a ncchh

D BBr De e ara

£ ¤ £ ¤

HHoo BBrraa

BB

ss

SSww aamm pp

HHigighhwwa ay 1155SS y

BBaa l l l a CCrr el a rrdd e eekk

B BBrr aB iigg a nn c c hh

KKe tt le e tt le BBra n ch ra n ch

Bu Fo Bu RRd Fo d GGa ard BBlv rdnneer lvdd r

DDa m BBr aa m r annc h ch

BB

Taarrgge SSwwTaamm e

Dr

JJudg udgeeS St t

M a r sh all M a r s h ahl l 78 Branc 78 Branch f waayy H al flw Ha G ut C re ek Ti m G ut C re ek

S& &S S S

RR u BB rarna duddd cnc pyrp er e ma m

d

Bu B s B r au shhyy B r an c n chh

o

Hi Hgi h g hway wa 15N 15N y

Mi BBr aMlill l r annc h ch

B

Dorchester Dorchester Dorchester Dorchester

ck al ac k BBl reeekk e CCr

n t ot o nk CCa ar e ee e k CC r

H Higighw ngg hc h hw ay ay 78 Laan r annc 78 L Br a

t foooott ghht f i Cross // Santee Santee g i Cross EE ti tcchh Cooper Lakes Lakes KOA KOA Cooper DDi

Rd d e R at te StSta

ch B ra n c h G uumm B r a n G

p eep ncchh n

T S S T

Sandridge Sandridge Sandridge Sandridge

Rdd Gilli a rd R OOldld Gilli a rd

Pregnall Pregnall Pregnall Pregnall

MMa

E E

a

178 178

n ttoon less aarrle CChh TToo in nSSt t a i

£ ¤ £ ¤

aann pp mm

DDoorrcchheesstteerr CCoouunnttyy

Harleyville Harleyville Harleyville Harleyville

land Pineland Pine ch Branch Bran

ee

St t n S ai in

M a p W M m p g W n w aa mr i n g a d i a n S w p r i nc h I nn dei l dd S SS pr a nn c h I Fi el B ra B Fi

Four Four Four Four Holes Holes Holes Holes

FFoouur r H H ool SSwwaam m pl p

£ ¤

Bloomville Bloomville

Wilsons

Mac's Mac's Landing Landing & Camp Rocks Pond Camp Rocks Pond Spiers Orraannggee bb uu rr gg Spiers O Canal Lakes Lakes Fish Fish Camp Camp Canal CCoouu nn ttyy

CC e SS w e dd a r w aa ma r m pp DDee S w Sw a a

N B rr B

26 26

or ly P oo r l y h P o r anncch

Holly Holly Holly Holly Hill Hill Hill Hill

Wilson Wilson

M M M M Cross Cross Cros Cross

D Ri ea v

66

y nndd y SSaa uunn RR

¨ § ¦ ¨ § ¦

Rosinville Rosinville Rosinville Rosinville

T S S T

hch ncn rd rd

r i n ee r BBrri nn cchh a BBrr a n

Dee PeeDee Pee Branch Branch

ss Dr Ba Bass Dr

pp

Rdd wR aaw 453 EE 453

ar k e

Borrow Pit

Bells Mainia Mainia Bells

Eutawville Eutawville Eutawville Eutawville

521

s an ll i m mp Ho wa S

ch

tt

k

chdaalele Hwy BBrarannchd Hwy

Cathead Cathead

£ ¤

dd eerr

O ld O

BBaacc h e

Wells Wells BBr rhae l ol or r Wells Wells a nn c h

¨ § ¦ ¨ § ¦

nn

310 310 T S S T

521

W W W W

m ss bb W W ii ll ll ii aa m J & J Lakeside Marina o uu nn tt C Co C Alex Harvin g L o n c hh Lighthouse Pointe n a r B Greeleyville Wyboo Pointe Greeleyville Ta rki n Greeleyville Br an ch Lakevue 375 375 Randolph's B Hei He He

White White Oak Oak

Indian Bluff Bluff Park Park Indian Lakeside Marina Marina Lakeside Ferguson Ferguson

Vance Vance Vance Vance

La o C r ke w g i l ee o t a o Po c er k od Ri v

C ll aa rr ee nn dd oo nn C Co ou un n tt yy C

Broad Broad Branch Branch

eee Te ee VVe Te Rdd R

y n tt y h Rdd Ca n n c h te R CBa r aa n c Staate t Br ld S

LakeMarion Marion Lake Resort Resort k k MillCreek Creek c Mill ca JaJ nanc chh Marina a Marina r r VV aannc

£ ¤

Caam ann m R d pp R d

n ga Ha n ch Br a

ivieve CC hhoo FF Santee pp Santee Santee Santee RR dd

15 15

Davis Davis Davis Station Station Station

A

Ald 7 7 Miles Miles Cldeerrm ma

Ox Swa mp

Jordan Jordan

Arbuckle's Arbuckle's Taw Caw Caw Creek Creek Taw Rowland Rowland Santee Lakes Lakes Santee Rodgers Rodgers Rodgers Taw Caw Caw Marina Taw Marina Polly's Polly's John C C John TawCaw Caw Park Park Taw Land III III Land Goat Island Island Goat Charlie's Charlie's Landing Landing

SanteeLakes Lakes Santee Campground Campground SanteeCooper Cooper Santee CountryClub Club Country

£ ¤ £ ¤

ato Poot eee kk P Crre C

St St Paul St Paul St Paul Paul

Santee SanteeState StatePark Park Elloree Elloree Elloree Elloree

ceeRRdd

BB

µ

527 527 T S

cchh a ss t t

eess hh JJoo aanncc BBrr

v a nss Suulllliiv ahn S c Brraannc h B

Old Olidverr R e RivRd Rd

199 199 267 267 S T T S S T T S

95 95

ccee n n hhiipp C r301 ee n C ll aa £ r301 n ddl lloooo n rree ¤ w wssn o l o e h l e nncc h aa FFl aay C Cs so ou un nFFBtBtrry DD aa s o o s Summerton Summerton Summerton BBrr TT Summerton LLooaanncchh

Carolina Carolina King KingMarina Marina Poplar PoplarCreek Creek Jack's Jack's Creek Creek Marina Marina

Stumphole Stumphole

moonn LLeem ncchh BBrraan

267 267 S T T S

ell BBe ree Cr C

Lone Lone Lone Lone Star Star Star Star

in ty hh i niity 3.5 rc h 3.5 R uurc h Rdd

Manning Manning Manning

a

Wi at ldcat Wildc l l Bra nch sse nch e Bra e e p p r eek r h aa kk k C h ee C r ree CC ss cckk JJaa eeeekk CCrr

Elliott's Elliott's

C

S T 261 261

a mm SS a

1.75 1.75

kk aacc BBl l i vveerr RR i

Silver Silver Silver Silver

00

Alcolu Alcolu

rrnn bbuu JJuunnee ncchh BBrraan

Rimini Rimini

£ ¤ 15 15

n een ehh osse chh RRo raannc BBr

Rimini Rimini Rimini Rimini

521 521 ¤ Lake £ Marion & Lake Moultrie Harvin Harvin Harvin BB r South Carolina 301 BB r r eeaa 301 £ ¤ r Paxville aann kkff a Paxville Alcolu Paxville Alcolu TTrr CC

rdd k foor ucck f chh DDuB raannc Br

CCaal lhhoouunn CCoouunnt tyy d d d Low Low RR reornon Falls e Falls mm Ca a

DDees BBrra s CChhaam anncch mppss h

w adi SSw am

m Sardinia Sardinia Sardinia Sardinia New New New New Zion Zion Zion Zion Gable Gable Gable Gable

Te T ea B r a rr ccoo a B n n r e h aa nn c a tt PPe n cch c hh rraan

Brogdon Brogdon Brogdon

RRdd dld OOl toowwnn t rggee eoor GGe

Pinewood Pinewood Pinewood Sparkleberry Sparkleberry Pinewood

419 419 S T T S

BBririar ar chh BBra rannc

D Daavv is is C Cre re e ekk

d o ll d G Guucckk o c hh BBrraann c

SS yy

SS qquui r r CCr er i rer el l e ek k

S T

ss h h

BBoooot BBrraannt cc

CCoouunnttyy

Ta rn Tavveern CCr ee r eekk

a wa i ghhw HHi g 1 22661

d Rd

RRee d BBrr ad OO a nn c a c hh

R

PPi i n e n ewwoo ooddRR d

r eeekk SSuum EEaar trht hCCr e mtteerr

Oldld g ing annnnin d RRd

Bates tt l r L iL i titv e e r Bridge Bridge R iv

Life

&

Leisure

in Manning

Rent to Own Storage Buildings, Custom Built Playhouses & Decks

SUMTER & MANNING

803-460-0840 www.OutDoorUpGrades.com ALSO SEE OUR BUILDINGS AT

ACE PARKER TIRES | J&J TOWING

7

und

ys a Wee

BAIT • TACKLE • GROCERIES • GRILL

Hot Bar • Beer • T-Shirt Print Shop • Hunting & Fishing License

1540 W. Avenue South • Pinewood, SC

(803) 452-6444

Da

k Ope

ear Ro nY

OMC FEEDS SOLD HERE

Established 1969

520 West Boyce Street • Manning, SC 29102 022

(803) 435-8094

Hours: Monday-Saturday 9am-6pm

Jimmy’s

Heating and Air, LLC LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED

Serving Clarendon County For Over 35 years!

Jimmy Mathis

803-478-5957 Authorized Dealer

SALES & SERVICE ON ALL BRANDS

TO LIST YOUR BUSINESS ON THIS PAGE CALL 803.435.4716 OR 803.464.8917

Very nice well maintained waterfront detitled manufactured 3BD 2BA Home in White Oak 1 Area of Wyboo Creek. Owners Added An All-season Sun Room cooled by a mini split unit on the water side of the home. Windows can be opened or removed. $224,900

Johnny Odom REALTOR (803) 460-4955

20 APRIL-MAY 2020

Tri-Level home in gated waterfront community. Ground level has covered parking, bedroom w/ half bath, laundry area & interior staircase. Second level has great room, kitchen, dining, 2 bedrooms, full bath & screened porch. Third level is a large loft/bedroom w/ closet & full bath. $189,000

Move In Ready Triple Wide Manufactured 3BD 2BA Home In Gin Pond Shores Subdivision In The Taw Caw Creek/Goat Island Area.

Neighborhood Has A Boat Launch Ramp Into Taw Caw Creek/ Lake Marion And Pier. Several Golf Courses Located Nearby $129,900

310 S. MILL STREET MANNING, SC

litchfieldbythelake.com

Manning

MAIN STREET

Every Auto-Owners policy comes with a local agent!

Call or visit us today for all your insurance needs.

Antiques, Vintage, Retro & More 29 W. Rigby St. Manning, SC.

(803)433-5010

Check us out on Facebook!

COTTINGHAM INSURANCE AGENCY AUTO-HOME-MOBILE HOME COMMERCIAL-MOTORCYCLE-BOAT WE CAN FINANCE FOR YOU! AMY BRIGGS • JUNE BRIGGS • ROBBIE BRIGGS 10 WEST RIGBY STREET MANNING, SOUTH CAROLINA 29102

803-435-2368 OFFICE 803-435-8292 FAX

Serving your needs with compassion, understanding and trust.

Bruce McNair

John Mathis, Agent

Brittany Poston

Alfreda Pearson, Agent

803-460-2167 mobile 803-433-0060

Pam Stephens Shayne Stephens

803-473-6205 mobile

(803) 435-2179

803-374-9655 mobile

304 N. Church Street Manning, SC 29102

40 N. Mill St., Manning

803-433-0060

ELLIOTT’S LANDING & CAMPGROUND 2010 Elliott’s Landing Rd. Pinewood, SC 29125

(803) 452-5336

LIVE CRAWFISH

Available Now through June 30th

Located On Lake Marion At Rimini • 30/50 Amp Power Box • 47 Campsites • Full Hookups • Two Bath Houses • 300 ft. Fishing Pier • Camp Store On Site • FREE Wi-Fi • Boat Rentals Available

www.stephensfuneralhome.org

Voted Best of Sumter 2019 for Tires, Oil Change & Tow Truck TIRE

Come see your Home Town Boys! or visit us at aceparkertires.com

ACE PARKER TIRE

9am-6pm Tues.-Sat. • www.elliottscampground.com Alice Weathersbee, Owner

930 N. LAFAYETTE DR. • SUMTER • 775-1277 • ACEPARKER@FTC-I.NET

TIMMY

BILLY

ARTHUR

SERVING SUMTER & THE SURROUNDING AREAS FOR 34 YEARS! A PUBLICATION OF THE SUMTER ITEM 21

Bethune Festival celebrates Mayesville's education icon

Story by Ivy Moore

A

ctivist, educator, presidential adviser, women’s and civil rights advocate, college founder, longtime officer of the NAACP – the list goes on – Mary McLeod Bethune was perhaps the most determined and accomplished person ever to come out of Mayesville. In May, if the coronavirus allows, she’ll be celebrated for the 22nd year by her hometown with a parade, a special church service and numerous other activities.

Founded by Jereleen Hollimon-Miller, mayor

e • Sant eorg ee G .

• St

Hill ly l Ho

of Mayesville, the Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune 22nd Legacy Festival is set for Friday, May 15, through Sunday, May 17. The theme is “Empowering Communities through Financial Literacy, Health, History, Art, STEM Education, Music and Poetry.”

Hollimon-Miller, the great-niece of Bethune, cited many of her “Aunt Bethune’s” accomplishments as the incentive for beginning the festival.

“In April of 1998, I came up with the idea of establishing a weekend in honor of my Aunt Bethune,” she said. “I, along with my husband, Ed, met with then-Mayor (Willie) Jefferson to

discuss -- and agree, he did. The first grand marshal was S.C. House of Representatives’ Joe Brown, and 22 years later, here we are.”

The grand marshal for the festival parade this year will be Dr. Penelope Martin-Knox, superintendent of Sumter School District.

In accepting the invitation, she emphasized Bethune’s work in education: “Our community and our nation are certainly better because of the extraordinary efforts of this American educator and civil rights leader. How fortunate were the students who originally attended the Bethune-Cookman University for AfricanAmerican students … started by our very own Dr. Bethune in 1904. This most amazing contribution to education, along with having served as adviser to four United States presidents and having been the first black cabinet member on African-American Affairs to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, certainly is more than worthy of continued recognition and celebration of her legacy.”

Praise for Bethune is universal.

“If there were a Mount Rushmore for AfricanAmericans, she would definitely be on there,” U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, a Sumter native, remarked in a PowerPoint created by SCETV. See it online at https://is.gd/IgWFRg. In addition to the parade, there will be music

by DJ Al, food, games, educational workshops and rides for the kids all day Saturday; the festival will conclude on Sunday with a special service led by Dr. Marion H. Newton at Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church in Sumter.

Bethune died in 1955, leaving behind a last will and testament, in which she wrote:

Garris Dental Care W. Scott Garris, D.M.D. • Tiffany Deaton, D.M.D. Rory Furrows, D.M.D. • Jessie S. Robinson, D.M.D.

• New Patients Welcome, Children to Adults! Monday - Thursday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm • All Computerized & Digital Dentistry • Digital Crowns made in 1 visit.

garrisdentalcare.com

MEMBER OF

AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION

I leave you love. I leave you hope. I leave you the challenge of developing confidence in one another. I leave you a thirst for education. I leave you a respect for the use of power.

I leave you faith. I leave you racial dignity. I leave you a desire to live harmoniously with your fellow men.

I leave you a responsibility to our young people.

Hollimon-Miller said the town of Mayesville invites the public to attend the celebration of Mary McLeod Bethune’s contributions and legacy.

Country Club Estates on .86 acre lot. 3brs 2ba, home with new roof, windows and storm doors. Kitchen has granite countertops, ceramic tile backsplash, tile floors, and stainless appliances. Bathrooms have been updated. 10x14 workshop/storage. $215,900

Waterfront Lake Marion Eagle Point, open floor plan, half acre lot. Split 3br, 2ba floor plan. Kitchen has granite countertops. Family room w/ gas fireplace, cathedral ceiling and windows overlooking the waterfront. Boat house w/lift, dock, sea wall, large 2 car carport w/workshop. $359,900

Commercial location across from hospital on hwy 260. 2,963 sf with oak floors covered in carpet throughout building. 2 unused kitchens, 2 full baths, and extra parking in the back. Concrete 20x30 storage building in back. Shown by appointment. $159,900

Patty Wood

310 S. MILL STREET MANNING, SC

litchfieldbythelake.com

REALTOR

(803) 410-0082

Life is busy... let an agent handle your insurance, and relax knowing they have you covered.

Life is busy...

Let an agent handle your insurance, and relax knowing they have you covered.

THE BEST LOCAL INSURANCE AGENCY THE BEST LOCAL CITY • 000-000-0000 INSURANCE AGENCY www.bestinsuranceagency.com

piggly wiggly

36 Sunset Drive, Manning, SC 29102

Main: (803) 433-2118 Deli: (803) 433-8544 Pharmacy: (803) 433-2412

25 E. Calhoun, St., Sumter, SC 803-775-1168 www.crwins.com

CITY • 000-000-0000 www.bestinsuranceagency.com

Brittany Tindal

SHAW AIR EXPO Once every four years, Shaw soars for the public

Story by Shelbie Goulding

S

ince 2016, community members from Sumter and all other neighboring counties have been waiting for the Shaw Air and Space Expo to return in 2020.

With various show displays and aircraft from all over the U.S., the Shaw air show was being boasted as the best yet, as Thunder Over the Midlands was set to highlight for an unforgettable event.

“This air show is about giving back, and we’d like to show our gratitude the best way we know how: with a little bit of air power,” said First Lt. Sable Brown, 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs for Shaw AFB. “You will experience the mission of Shaw Air Force Base and the ‘Uncommon Patriotism’ from the Sumter community as they support our biggest event yet. Representatives from all of the services will unite here to demonstrate to the community how much their support means to us.”

Brown said this year’s expo will feature

performances from the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the U.S. Army Black Daggers Parachute Team, Shaw’s very own Viper Demonstration Team and a variety of military and civilian acts.

The Thunderbirds are the premier air demonstration squadron for the U.S. Air Force, which consists of 12 officers and more than 120 enlisted personnel, representing 30 career fields. The team combines years of training and experience to provide hourlong demonstrations showcasing the USAF’s advance capabilities.

The event also gives Shaw AFB the opportunity to enhance public awareness of Air Force preparedness, to demonstrate modern weapon systems and capabilities, to promote positive community and international relations, to showcase the airmen and to support Air Force recruiting and retention.

“In our last air show, an estimated 70,000

people entered our gates to see the U.S. Air Force front and center,” Brown said. “The daring feats and precision maneuvers pushed the boundaries of what we think is possible — which also defines who we are at Shaw.”

Deputy Air Show Director Dan Tindall has been working for the Shaw Air Expo shows since 1998 and shared a video online about his role in this year’s show.

“The role of deputy director within the planning process and execution of air show is essentially to serve as the assistant to the air director,” Tindall said. “(My) overall favorite part of the job is seeing the young people out on the flight line, and their love of aviation is either born or brought to life by seeing what happens with the different performers and different displays that we have.” **Editor's note: The Shaw Air and Space Expo was canceled in light of COVID-19. When we finished this magazine, there had been no new date set yet.

warm, friendly atmosphere • painless experience • family oriented

803.494.8466

www.DentalTeamofSumter.com

2019

-MEMBER-

Thank You for Voting Us Best of Sumter 2019 5635 Broad Street Ext. Sumter, SC 29150 on the corner of 378 & 441

R. Capers Lee, DMD

Lisa Bair Rentals VACATION & LONGTERM

New 2020 Vacation Brochures are available Call or email to receive a free copy.

The 2020 Vacation Season has already started booking.

Reserve your week now before they are all gone!

323 S. Mill Street, Manning, SC 29102

(803) 433-7368 (RENT) Phone/Fax

lisabairrentals@hotmail.com

www.lisabairrentals.com

A PUBLICATION OF THE SUMTER ITEM 25

Growing a pollinator garden Save the bees and your mental health Story and photos

by Melanie Smith

D

uring a stressful time when we’re all trying to avoid getting sick and passing COVID-19 on to others, we all probably need a break from the headlines, maybe with a cup of hot tea, a mystery novel or a bit of time outdoors. For me, my worries tend to disappear when I’m focusing on my vegetable garden, and since late last summer, I’ve also been creating a pollinator garden in my front yard to attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds, as well as to enjoy cheerful, showy blooms.

If you think growing your own flowers might help you to destress and step back a bit from everything that’s happening in our world right now, you can create an easy pollinator flower garden at home. You can get A bumblebee lands on a daylily at a garden in Swan Lake-Iris Gardens in Sumter. your kids involved, too, and they’ll learn how rewarding growing plants can be. Cut a few stems of your favorite flowers to bring indoors and add color and cheer to your home while attracting beneficial insects to your area and likely helping your vegetable garden if you have one nearby.

According to Clemson University Extension, “approximately one third of the food that ends up on a plate is there because of pollinators,” and “about 40% of the flowering plants in North America require insect pollination for reproduction.” Insects such as bees, wasps, butterflies and beetles are crucial to our ecosystem and our food supply, and if you have a vegetable garden, they’re a welcome addition to your yard. You won’t get those juicy tomatoes or delicious sweet corn without them.

Master Gardener Amy Landers of Gardens That Matter says pollinators get something out of helping plants reproduce and create seeds and fruit or vegetables, and even moths and bats visit our gardens and move pollen among plants in the evenings. Insects can feed on pollen and nectar and use them for their offspring. According to Landers, bats are important in tropical areas and are part of the reason we can enjoy chocolate, avocados and bananas. She encourages gardeners to think about attracting different types of insect, bird and animal pollinators by planting varieties of flowers that bloom in all seasons.

To create your own oasis for yourself and these beneficial insects and animals, all you’ll need is some soil, an empty space that gets A Horace’s duskywing butterfly visits lantanas at a garden center. Lantanas are a great choice for a pollinator garden in South plenty of sun and a few seeds or your favorite Carolina, as they do well even in drought conditions.

26 APRIL-MAY 2020

Plants that attract S.C. pollinators

SAVOR & ENJOY.

&

•Aster spp.

•Azaleas (Rhododendron spp.)

•Bee Balm (Monarda spp.)

•Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) •Blazing Stars (Liatris spp.)

•Butterfly-weed (Asclepias tuberosa) •Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) •Cardinal-flower (Lobelia cardinalis) •Ceanothus spp.

•Coreopsis spp.

•Goldenrods (Solidago spp.)

Wine Dine.

•Ironweed (Vernonia spp.)

•Joe-pye-weeds (Eupatorium spp.)

•Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.)

•Phlox spp.

•Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) •Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) •Sumacs (Rhus spp.)

•Sunflowers (Helianthus spp.)

•Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia) •Verbena spp.

Source: South Carolina Wildlife Federation

Locally Owned and operated since 1947

DAILY BUFFET

Dine In. Drive Thru. Catering

Sun: 11am-2pm • Tues-Sat: 11am-8pm

803-433-2189

412 S. Mill St., Manning, SC

(Next to Clarendon Memorial Hospital)

A PUBLICATION OF THE SUMTER ITEM 27

annual or perennial flowering plants.

If you’re short on space or live in an apartment or rented home, containers make great choices for these plants, too, as long as they’re watered well during the steamy South Carolina summer months.

There are attractive and unique options for containers at Simpson Hardware and Sports, and Master Gardener Sue Timmons, who works in the store’s garden section, can help you pick the perfect varieties for what you’re planning.

Clemson Extension’s website, https:// hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/pollinatorgardening, suggests choosing eight to 10 species of flowering plants to attract a wide range of pollinators to the garden.

Plants the extension recommends for our state include zinnias, brown- and black-eyed susans, sunflower, cosmos, coneflower, Joe Pye weed and milkweed.

Many of these can be easily started from seeds and don’t need to be started indoors, just scattered in your chosen space. If you’re quarantined because of COVID-19 or don’t have many options for buying plants near you, many companies sell hundreds of varieties of seeds online.

Zinnias sprout in just three or four days, and I’ve found a powdery mildewresistant variety online to try this year, Benarys Giant, in a rainbow of colors that

should be covered in butterflies by June.

Your garden doesn’t have to be limited to just flowers, and you don’t need to group all plants together. More options recommended by Clemson Extension include shrubs and trees that bloom during different seasons. If a flowering tree you’d like to include might shade shorter plants, include it in a different part of your property. Pollinators will still find their way to all your selections.

Watching plants grow and bloom in your own space can be rewarding and will help shift your attention to something more positive during this time of uncertainty and worry, and I hope you will give it a try – for your family and for the pollinators we rely on.

THE AMERICAN PONTOON COMPANY Make your Pontoon a Tri-toon.

We manufacture custom center tubes.

Installation Available.

Contact me for all your real estate needs First floor, water front, 2 bedroom/ 2 bathroom condo. on Lake Marion.

This gated community features 2 piers, in ground pool, play ground area, tennis courts, boat storage, boat docks, sandy beach and cook out area. Come enjoy maintenance free lake living!

$119,500

11141 Hwy. 260 Manning, SC (½ mile before the Dam)

Call us at 803-478-BOAT 2628

• Diesel Service &

Repair • Awning Repair • Axle Bearing Service • Hitch Sales & Service • Generator Service & Repair • Tires & Brakes • Pre-Trip Inspections • Battery Sales • Lighting Repair

Renee Roark

803-460-4373

• Oil Change • Brakes • Air Condition • Tires • Engine • Transmission • 4 Wheel Drive • 24 Hour Towing

Service

• Pick Up & Delivery

Available

WWW.FULTONAUTOMOTIVE.COM 28 APRIL-MAY 2020

LAND • ACREAGE COMMERICAL RESIDENTIAL

FULTON AUTOMOTIVE

Cars • Trucks • SUVs • Trailers & RVs

801 E. Liberty St. • Sumter, SC • 803-775-6378 OUR REPAIRS COME WITH: 24 MONTH/24,000 MILES PARTS & LABOR NAPA NATIONWIDE WARRANTY

Providing Advanced Orthopaedic Care To Keep The Community Moving.

McLeod Health Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr. Rodney Alan is now providing advanced orthopaedic care to patients in Clarendon and Sumter Counties. A resident of Sumter, Dr. Alan looks forward to providing convenient access to care so greatly needed within our area. A Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr. Alan has expertise in the latest surgical and non-surgical procedures for joint and bone disorders. Welcome home Dr. Alan.

Specializing in: • Joint Replacement • Anterior Total Hip Replacement • Knee & Shoulder Arthroscopy • Rotator Cuff Repair • Fracture Care • Sports Medicine • Carpal Tunnel • Non-Surgical Treatment Options

Dr. Rodney Alan welcomes new patients.

Call (803) 433-3065 to schedule an appointment.

McLeod Orthopaedics Clarendon 50 East Hospital Street, Suite 6 Manning, SC 29102

540 Physicians Lane Sumter, SC 29105

(803) 433-3065

McLeodHealth.org

Life on Lake Marion Story by Sharron Haley Photo by Micah Green

K

nown for its amazing fishing, abundant wildlife and tranquil waters, Lake Marion has something for everyone.

The 110,600-acre Lake Marion and the 60,400-acre Lake Moultrie are both favorite fishing holes for professional and amateur anglers. Teeming with striped bass, white perch, white bass, crappie, channel catfish, Arkansas blue catfish, shellcrackers, bream and jacks, the Santee Cooper lakes are a haven for avid anglers. Lake Marion also holds the state record for largemouth bass with a weigh-in at a whopping 16.2 pounds. Big cats have also been lured out of the depths of the two lakes.

The fishing in lakes Marion and Moultrie is exceptional. When Lake Marion was built in late 1941, an abundance of underwater structures was left behind. Today, the underwater stumps, standing dead tree trunks and live cypress trees are a breeding ground for some of the best fishing in the entire United States. With a 315-mile shoreline over five counties, South Carolina’s largest lake entices anglers to try landing their prize fish from depths ranging from very shallow near natural brush piles and the mouths of the many creeks that feed the lake to the deeper depths the lake has to offer.

Like the rest of the world, Lake Marion really comes alive in April and early May when the fish are spawning in the shallows.

“The first full moon in April, you’ll be able to catch crappie on almost anything, crickets or worms,” said Alice Weathersby, owner of her family's Elliott's Landing and Campground, which is located at 2010 Elliott's Landing Road near Pinewood and serves as a one-stop shop for everything fishing. “I love getting out on the lake. It’s the best medicine, the sunshine and the outdoors. Getting out on the lake is just so relaxing.”

Crappie, a favorite for the dinner table, begin biting from late March until early May, and don’t be surprised if you land a two-pounder or two. In April, a variety of fish begin hitting the lures, crickets and worms, with May becoming an even better time to reel in a potential record-setting fish. Don’t forget to check the calendar.

During May’s full moon, the fishing is at its best.

While fishing at Lake Marion is a monumental lure, the biggest of the Santee Cooper lakes is a huge draw for water enthusiasts. Whether it’s skiing, tubing, wake boarding, jet skiing, partying with your friends or 30 APRIL-MAY 2020

simply floating along its soothing waters, Lake Marion is the place to be.

Elliott’s is also known for its crawfish.

“It’s crawfish now until July 1,” she said. “You can buy it by the pound, and it’s also good catfish bait. One good thing … if you don’t catch any fish, you can eat the bait.”

What’s new on the water this year?

Stephen Wray, general manager of Berkeley Outdoors, 4695 Sumter Highway, may have your answer.

“Pontoon boats are popular,” Wray said. “Why? Twelve to 15 people can be onboard. They can be set up for luxury or sunbathing. People also prefer to fish from a pontoon boat because of the stability, and you can have a lot of rods set up at one time. We sell a lot to families and those who want to entertain for the entire day on the lake.”

Brand names offered at Berkeley include Tracker, Ranger and Triton, with the Tracker boats priced very affordably.

Another popular name in boating, Bennington offers boaters new and improved models every year, Wray added.

“They are more cutting-edge,” he said. “They are the No. 1 name brand of pontoons in America.”

Wray said while Berkeley offers a complete line of boats, pontoons and jet skis, the company is also selling Tracker off-road vehicles.

“This is our first year offering these,” he added. “They come as side-by-side utility vehicles in either twoseater or four-seater extended-cab vehicles.

Some come with beds and are popular with farmers.”

Wray said the Trackers come in all sizes, from adult models to the 90-cc vehicle for children age 12 and up.

“We have replacements and upgrades that are

Coast Guard and DNR approved,” he said. “We also have a variety of toys including tubes.”

Wray said his company also specializes in power poles, trolling motors and GPS fish finders.

Berkeley is also stocked with safety equipment and parts with a service department that is known for getting vehicles repaired and back on the road or lake in no time at all.

Berkeley also has two service technicians, David and Robbie Barwick, who have a combined 40-plus years of experience. They can work on anything, including Mercury, Yamaha and Suzuki models. If your boat or off-road vehicle needs rewiring, they can do that, too, Wray said.

“Our goal is to help customers get on the water or back on the road as quickly as possible,” he said. “We pride ourselves with our honesty and integrity. We strive to make sure we make our customers happy.”

Like Weathersby, Wray agreed that getting out on the waters of Lake Marion is an “escape.”

“It’s so relaxing," Wray said, "being on the water and seeing all the nature around you.” **Editor’s Note: According to business owners of landings, marinas and campgrounds on Lake Marion as well as owners of businesses related to fishing and recreational activities, the COVID-19 pandemic may result in restrictions impacting their business into the spring and early summer months.

BEFORE...

AFTER!

Dock & Marine Contractors

(803) 968-2889

Covered Docks Seawalls • Decks Boat Lifts • Piers

SC LICENSED MARINE CONTRACTOR

Mary Reid

Owner/Operator

P.O. Box 285 Manning, SC 29102

Greg Kight Kight Insurance Agency Inc 522 W. Boyce St., Manning, SC 29102 Tel 803-435-2700 kightagency.com

Office 803-435-4301 Fax 803-435-4346 Mobile 803-410-2446

mrsprofessionalcare@gmail.com

We Care About You.

Santee Associates Realty Great team of Real Estate professionals ready to help you buy/sell your Lake Marion (North & South Shore) property.

Call one of our friendly agents to assist you!

Karen Hardman Catherine Shuler • Maggie Griffin Donna O’Neill • Cindy Ott

Large Enough to Serve You, Small Enough to Know You! 803-854-3000 or 1-800-476-0059

Buck Travis (Owner), Scott Clark (B.I.C.) Eletha Travis (Office Coordinator) A PUBLICATION OF THE SUMTER ITEM 31

Overwhelmed

by Clutter?

We Have Need !!!

RENT TO OWN STORAGE BUILDINGS, CUSTOM BUILT PLAYHOUSES & DECKS ALSO SEE OUR BUILDINGS AT

ACE PARKER TIRES | J&J TOWING

803-460-0840 www.OutDoorUpGrades.com

Car Care & Repair

3269 Broad Street • Sumter, SC 29150

803-494-4394

carcarerepair.com

We are the Dealership Alternative!