Lakeside February -March 2022

LAKESIDE LAKE SIDE L I F E O U T D O O R S F R O M WAT E R E E T O S A N T E E

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2022

A story about Stuckey's How a little gas station in Summerton became a nostalgic staple on American highways

Living his dream(s)

Manning High School's award-winning agriculture science teacher and FFA adviser also finds time to be a 4th-generation farmer PLUS: Generator maintenance tips, cooking with strawberries and baby swans of Swan Lake BERKELEY • CLARENDON • KERSHAW • ORANGEBURG • SUMTER

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3

about from the lake us PUBLISHER Vince Johnson EDITOR Kayla Green COPY EDITORS Rhonda Barrick Shelbie Goulding Melanie Smith WRITERS Shelbie Goulding Bruce Mills Melanie Smith Kareem Wilson PHOTOGRAPHY Cal Cary Micah Green PUBLICATION DESIGN Micah Green Janel Strieter ADVERTISING / GRAPHIC DESIGN Jivon Adams Janel Strieter

S

trawberries, Stuckey’s and swans, oh my.

Spring can be a time for renewal and rebirth, when we discard the weight of winter and look ahead to brighter (and warmer!) days. But let’s face it. There hasn’t been a ton we’ve been able to let go of the last two years.

This issue will mark the beginning of Year No. 3 of the pandemic. Who would’ve ever thought?

With each ebb and rise of the virus, we’ve been able to not so much let go of the past, but more peek out from under the rock to check on the state of the world, only to take two steps back a few months later.

Being outdoors has always been a respite for me, and I assume it has provided a haven for a lot of you, too.

Whether you’re farming, camping, walking or simply sitting on your front porch, watching the world, outdoors means safe. It means calm. And fun.

In this issue, it means inspiring the next generation and providing for our children, no matter their ability. Check out stories about Alonzo McDonald, agriculture teacher and FFA adviser at Manning High School and a fourth-

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Karen Cave karen@theitem.com Devin McDonald devin@theitem.com Mark Pekuri mark@theitem.com

on the cover

Alonzo McDonald sits for a photo on a tractor outside of his classroom at Manning High School.

Photo by Micah Green 36 W. Liberty Street • Sumter, SC 29150 www.theitem.com 4 FEBRUARY -MARCH 2022 | LAKESIDE

generation farmer, and Camp Cole, an overnight adventure camp for children with illness and disabling conditions.

It means family and checking on those around us. Check out a story where one of our writers gets generator maintenance tips from his father-in-law and in turn shares those tips with us.

It’s the past, the present and the future. Check out stories on Summerton’s Stuckey’s, one of the oldest in the chain, offering nostalgia for a former time, and photos of baby Australian Black Swans at Swan Lake Iris Gardens.

And it’s always got to mean food because, quite simply, we’ve got to eat.

Why not make it delicious and locally seasonal?

I hope you’re finding what you need to transition from winter to spring. Maybe you just need a few minutes to sit back and read about something calming.

If that’s the case, I hope this issue of Lakeside can offer that respite.

Stay safe and healthy, y’all.

KAYLA GREEN EDITOR OF LAKESIDE

36 30 24 20 14 8

Seasonal strawberry recipes

How a little gas station in Clarendon County became a staple on American highways

A story about Stuckey's

Moments captured in photos of new life among the park's inhabitants

Spring at Swan Lake

Why you shouldn't leave gas in them and others for DIY

Generator maintenance tips

Accommodating all of life's challenges

Camp Cole opens

Alonzo McDonald splits time between Manning High School and his farm

Teacher, farmer, adviser

Easy recipes to make with locally grown produce

what’s inside

FEATURE STORIES

A PUBLICATION OF THE SUMTER ITEM 5

What to do & Where to go BERKELEY • CLARENDON KERSHAW • FLORENCE • RICHLAND ORANGEBURG • SUMTER

FLORENCE COUNTY

“Shrek Jr.” The Florence Little Theatre’s Rising Stars, young performers in grade 7-12, will present “Shrek Jr.” Friday-Sunday, Feb. 18-20, at 417 S. Dargan St., Florence.

This family friendly production is 60 minutes and recommended for ages 4 and up. Tickets are $7 per person for all ages. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday. Visit www. florencelittletheatre.org.

6th-Annual American Heritage Festival The event, sponsored by America's Living History Foundation, will be held Feb. 19-20 at Graham’s Historic Farm, 843 McCutcheon Road, Lake City. Attendees will feel first-hand sensations of World War II and Revolutionary War battles, hear and smell the powder from guns and cannons and see the movement of infantry, horses, military vehicles and World War I airplanes.

Visit www.theamericanheritagefestival. com.

A RACE 4 AUTISM Join All 4 Autism for the 10th anniversary of Pacing 4 Pieces – A RACE 4 AUTISM from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 12. Benefiting All 4 Autism and the Autism Resource Center of the Pee Dee, this event celebrates those with autism and their families. Half marathon, half marathon relay, 5K and 1 mile options are available.

Not a runner? No problem. After the race, Armstrong Wealth Piece Jam will be held. Come on down to the lawn of the Performing Arts Center in the 200 block of Dargan Street in downtown Florence.

Enjoy music, food and beverage vendors, and a kid zone with inflatables, games and more. Admission is free and open to the public. Contact race director Jeff DiPaolo at jdipaolo@all4autism.org. Visit https:// www.florencedowntown.com/event/all-4autisms-pacing-4-pieces-race-piece-jam.

6 FEBRUARY -MARCH 2022 | LAKESIDE

9th-Annual Lucky Shamrock Festival The Junior League of Florence will host the 9th-Annual Lucky Shamrock Festival from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, March 18, in downtown Florence. The festival will feature live music, a kids' fun zone and food and beverages. Email juniorleagueflorence@ gmail.com or visit www.florencedowntown. com/event/junior-league-florences-luckyshamrock-festival.

Florence Wine & Food Festival’s Meat & Meander A meat-centric culinary experience celebrating great Southern dishes that are grilled, smoked, marinated and slow roasted, the Florence Wine & Food Festival’s Meat & Meander event will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 31, at The Waters Building, 135 S. Dargan St., Florence. Sample from various stations manned by local restaurant chefs and sip on wines selected to pair with the dishes. Tickets are available for purchase by visiting www.eventbrite.com/e/2022meat-meander-tickets-223408479777.

CLARENDON COUNTY Carolina Anglers Team Trail CATT The Carolina Anglers Team Trail CATT will be held on Saturday, Feb. 19, at John C. Land Landing, 4404 Greenall Road, Summerton. Must fish Final with your partner or a sub your team used. Enter one Santee Cooper Spring Qualifier and you're eligible to enter the Santee Cooper Spring Final. Contact Derrick Mclead, Santee Cooper Division director, at (803) 4914256 or email dvm 2175@yahoo.com.

Manning High School Baseball 2022 Alumni Game and Field Dedication The Manning High School Baseball 2022 Alumni Game and Field Dedication will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 12,

at the MHS baseball field on Pine Street.

The gates will open at 11 a.m. Adult tickets are $5 each, and children 12 years old and younger get in free. Organizers of the event are encouraging former players of beloved teacher and baseball coach the late Rick Coker to play in the annual alumni game as a way to honor Coker's memory.

Players are asked to make a $40 donation to participate in the game. The donation includes a meal the day of the game and a T-shirt. To guarantee your T-shirt, please send information and your donation before March 4. Players can register by filling out a participation form and making their donation addressed to Coach Justin Gandy at MHS' front office, or it can be mailed to the school. Make checks payable to Manning High Baseball. All additional donations are also appreciated. Players need to provide their name, daytime and evening telephone numbers, email address, graduation year, position played and T-shirt size.

SUMTER COUNTY “Pipeline” Sumter Little Theatre will present “Pipeline” Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 17-20, at 14 Mood Ave. This production focuses on Nya, an inner-city public high school teacher, who is committed to her students but desperate to give her son Omari opportunities her students will never have.

When a controversial incident at Omari’s upstate private school threatens to get him expelled, Nya must confront her son's rage as well as her own choices as a parent.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Visit www. sumterlittletheatre.com for tickets.

Sumter Opera House The Sumter Opera House, 21 N. Main St., Main Stage Series will present the following: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18, The 5th Dimension vocal group; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 5, comedian Henry Cho; and

7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 19, Columbiabased rock band Tokyo Joe performs Rocketman. For details about these shows or to purchase tickets, visit www. sumteroperahouse.com/mainstage.

Rub o’ the Green Golf Tournament Dress up in your best St. Patty's Day attire and head out to Beech Creek Golf Course, 1800 Sam Gillespie Blvd., on Friday, March 11, for the annual Rub o’ the Green Golf Tournament. Registration/check-in and lunch will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. with a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start. For information, contact Jillian Huckeba at (803) 775-1231 or via email at jillian@ sumterchamber.com.

Annual Boy Scout BBQ Cook-Off The Annual Boy Scout BBQ Cook-Off will be held Friday-Saturday, March 25-26, at the Sumter County Fairgrounds Agricultural Building, 700 W. Liberty St. Wing Ding will be held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday with barbecue tasting and competition being held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. For information, visit www.sumterbbq.com.

Inspire! Festival The Sumter Inspire! Festival with the Ackerman Legacy Foundation will present Lee Brice live at Patriot Park with Lewis Brice at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 31. For tickets and more details, visit www.sumterinspirefestival.org.

LEXINGTON AND RICHLAND COUNTIES Governor’s Cup Road Race The event is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Feb. 18-19. Friday evening’s Kids Main Street Mile and Main Street Mile will start at 1800 Main St., run down historic Main Street to Lady Street, turn around and run back to finish between Laurel and Richland streets. Participants will end the race at 1830 Main St. with festivities and awards. Saturday

morning’s race will begin at Gervais and Main streets. Packet pickup, bag drop and participant staging will be held at the Statehouse grounds. Participants will end Saturday’s race at the Finish Line Festival located at Park and Senate streets in the Vista. For more information or to register, visit www.governorscupsc.org/index.htm.

Get to the Green Kick off St. Pat’s in Five Points with the Get to the Green road race on Saturday, March 19, featuring 5K, 10K and 1-mile family fun run events. Registration includes entry to the St. Pat’s Festival, shirt, custom finisher’s medal and post-race refreshments. All events start and finish on Devine Street near the festival entrance. For information or to register, visit www.raceroster.com/ events/2022/54015/get-to-the-green.

St. Pat’s in Five Points Returning to celebrate its 40th anniversary, St. Pat’s in Five Points will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 19.

Visit www.stpatscolumbia.com.

Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic South Carolina’s largest hunting, fishing and outdoor expo, Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic, will be held Friday-Sunday, March 25-27, at the S.C. State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Drive, Columbia. Hours: noon8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. For attraction information or to purchase tickets, visit www.psclassic.com.

Tartan Day South Highland Games & Celtic Festival The annual Tartan Day South Highland Games & Celtic Festival is scheduled for Thursday-Sunday, March 31-April 3.

Honoring the Celtic culture and heritage in South Carolina’s Midlands region, the festival will showcase the traditions of the United Kingdom – Ireland, Scotland and England. There will be music, dancing, food, demonstrations and more at different venues throughout the Columbia area. Visit www.tartandaysouth. com for tickets or more details.

S.C. GUN AND KNIFE SHOWS Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 19-20, Exchange Park Fairgrounds, 9850 Highway 78, Ladson. Show hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $10 per person, and children under 12 years of age admitted free. Visit www.mkshows.com. Contact Mike Kent at (770) 630-7296 or email mike@mkshows.com.

Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 26-27, Mid-City Shrine Club, 1470 Fort Prince Blvd., Wellford. Show hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $9 per person and children age 12 and under admitted free with paying adult. Visit Great American Promotions LLC at www.greatamericanpromotionsllc. com, call (865) 453-0074 or email mwxmarketing@aol.com.

Saturday-Sunday, March 5-6, American Legion Post 34, 524 Heckle Blvd., Rock Hill. Show hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $9 per person and children age 12 and under admitted free with paying adult.

Visit Great American Promotions LLC at www.greatamericanpromotionsllc. com, call (865) 453-0074 or email mwxmarketing@aol.com .

Saturday-Sunday, March 19-20, South Carolina State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Drive, Columbia. Show hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Sunday. Admission is $10 per person and children age 12 and under admitted free with paid adult. Parking is $5. Visit www. mkshows.com. Contact Mike Kent at (770) 630-7296 or email mike@mkshows.com.

Saturday-Sunday, March 26-27, Sumter Fairgrounds, 31 S. Artillery Drive, Sumter.

Show hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $9 per person and children age 12 and under admitted free with paying adult. Visit Great American Promotions LLC at www. greatamericanpromotionsllc.com, call (865) 453-0074 or email mwxmarketing@ aol.com.

A PUBLICATION OF THE SUMTER ITEM 7

A story about...

How a little gas station in Clarendon County became a staple on American highways 8 FEBRUARY -MARCH 2022 | LAKESIDE

Story by Kareem Wilson | Photos by Micah Green A PUBLICATION OF THE SUMTER ITEM 9

R

elax. Refresh. Refuel. Three familiar words that were painted on redand-school-bus-yellow billboards near highways indicating for travelers to stop at Stuckey’s.

In the early days of Burma-Shave and the static of rock and roll on the AM radio, this store was a roadside oasis for traveling families driving on Interstate 95 near Summerton.

For those with cramped legs, restless children and hungry drivers, there was no missing the eclectic roadside convenience store with its visible teal, sloped roof that offered travelers gas, kitschy souvenirs and a wide array of Southern sweets, including its iconic Pecan Log Roll.

Ethel “Stephanie” Stuckey, granddaughter of Stuckey Sr. and current CEO, said of the 25 standalone Stuckey’s, there are 15 original stores remaining. The store in Summerton is one of the oldest in the chain.

It’s also one of the few that still has the exposed wood arch ceiling designed by W.S. Sylvester Sr. “My grandfather designed that arch to look like the bottom of a boat,”

“

It’s cool for me to see something that my greatgrandfather started and what he built to be a part of all these people’s lives.

“

Stephanie Stuckey CEO, Stuckey's

Stephanie said. “It’s absolutely beautiful architecture.”

For fans of the past, Stuckey’s in Summerton is a time capsule of the era in which it first opened.

The store was originally built on Highway 15 in the 1950s but moved to its current location, 500 Buff Blvd., at exit 108 when I-95 was built. It has a spacious dog park, a Dairy Queen and a collection of Stuckey’s merchandise and signature sauces, including Moonshine BBQ, Beer Bourbon BBQ and Mango Garlic.

The company’s origins trace back to when the roadside pecan empire began in rural Georgia by founder W.S. “Sylvester” Stuckey Sr. In the 1930s, Stuckey Sr., a young law school dropout-turned-farmer, got a $35 loan from his grandmother and set out in a borrowed Model A Ford around the countryside, scouring local farms to buy pecans from farmers that he would turn for a profit to a nearby nut shelling plant.

He then opened a roadside pecan shack along the side of Highway 23 in Eastman, Georgia, in 1937 where Florida-bound tourists stopped along their route.

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As his business steadily expanded, Stuckey’s wife, Ethel, added a variety of homemade pecan candies to sell at the stand.

After gaining success, Stuckey constructed his first retail store in Eastman in 1937.

The first store added a restaurant, novelty section, Texaco gas pumps and, in the 1960s, the final addition, which would become the company’s trademark feature: bright, teal-colored roofs.

At its peak in the ‘60s, the company boasted 368 stores in 40 states. The company currently has 655 sites, each operating independently.

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William Putnam, the greatgrandson of W.S. Sylvester, has been part co-owner of the Summerton store for nearly five years. Putnam said travelers often compliment the store’s nostalgic feeling and enjoy reliving the past when perusing the merchandise.

“It’s a great store,” Putnam said.

“We have great people who come in

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and talk about how [Stuckey’s] was part of their childhood and [are] glad to see it’s still around.”

Delilah Mitchell has worked at the store for 13 years and was promoted to manager after the retirement of the previous manager, Jan Solver, in 2018. She said the store attracts a lot of business, especially when tourists travel in the summer.

“Business is really good here.

Everybody loves Stuckey’s,” Mitchell said. “We got so much in here, but they just love browsing and shopping. We get a lot of good company, and the customers seem happy when they come in here.”

The store has been upgraded throughout the years.

Mitchell shared that there used to be stained glass on the ceiling, but when Hurricane Hugo blew through the area in 1989, the glass was blown out and replaced by plywood.

The store’s roof was also painted red due to a co-branding campaign with Dairy Queen in the ‘80s, and they recently installed several Tesla electric vehicle charging stations.

MOVING FORWARD

However, everything was not all good in the company’s history.

In the 1960s, Stuckey’s and

Pet Inc. merged, with Stuckey Sr. staying on as president over the Stuckey’s stores. When he died in 1977, the business was out of the family’s hands and began to decline.

However, in 1984, W.S. “Billy” Stuckey Jr., son of W.S. Stuckey Sr. and Stephanie’s father, repurchased Stuckey’s and turned the company around. The franchise has also seen a recent boost thanks to Stephanie’s efforts after taking over as CEO in 2019.

Stephanie, the lawyer-turnedCEO, is on a mission to rebrand her family’s roadside empire by visiting all the stores and documenting her

adventures on social media. She said she is keeping her grandfather’s legacy going as a real-life testament to the American Dream.

While she is busy on the road, she knows the Summerton store holds personal nostalgia for locals and tourists.

“It’s cool for me to see something that my great-grandfather started,” she said, “and what he built to be a part of all these people’s lives.”

New year, new life at the lake Australian Black Swans and their babies are seen at Swan Lake Iris Gardens in early 2022.

The babies are about one month old in these photos and stay close to their parents. Adults mate twice a year, in the fall and spring.

PHOTOS BY CAL CARY

14 FEBRUARY -MARCH 2022 | LAKESIDE

WANT TO SEE YOUR PHOTOS IN LAKESIDE? Send your best shots from around the Midlands to micah@theitem.com with the subject "Lakeside," and you just might see your work in our next issue.

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DEE OSTEEN A PUBLICATION OF THE SUMTER ITEM 17

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Care for your generator... before you need it Words & photos

by Bruce Mills

The gas-powered beast needs some routine exercise at least twice a year. Read why you shouldn't leave gas in it and other tips for do-it-yourselfers.

S

o, you already have a portable generator on hand, you have filled your gas cans, and you are ready for any power outage associated with inclement weather!

Not quite.

That is what I discovered in late January, and it was probably the case for some other folks in the area.

With mild temperatures generally in Sumter, Clarendon and Lee counties as well as the Midlands

20 FEBRUARY -MARCH 2022 | LAKESIDE

region as a whole, a homeowner can go a few years without a need to use their generator, but that doesn’t mean it should sit in a corner and collect dust.

I learned that after my gas-powered beast would not fire up on a test run a couple days before an anticipated winter storm.

Like any small-gas engine, a portable generator needs a little attention every now and then to perform and run smoothly when the power unexpectedly goes out in a

DID YOU KNOW? “A choke’s purpose is to suck gas so a small engine can start. Once the engine gets going, it pulls its own gas.”

— John Place

A PUBLICATION OF THE SUMTER ITEM 21

winter storm or hurricane.

I had not touched my generator in the garage for at least three years, and a little gas left in the engine and no exercise at all is a bad recipe for a clogged carburetor and getting stuck in the house in the cold without any power.

Small-engine experts will tell you when old gas sits for months on end, it becomes stale and its heavier components create residue (a nice name for “gunk”) inside the carburetor. The carburetor’s purpose is to mix gas and air for a smooth-running engine. And a gummed-up carburetor with lots of residue – like mine – will not get gas and operate.

Translation: “That dog don’t hunt.”

The preventative solution is to run your portable generator two to three times per year as routine maintenance to keep the engine clean and prevent any “gunk” buildup.

Another important tip: Do this maintenance run outside in a wellventilated area, not in your garage, to avoid breathing in harmful

fumes.

To do the exercise, pour in a halfpint to a pint of fresh gas and let the generator run until it runs out of gas. This should take 30 minutes or less.

Another tip: When the engine is about to run out of gas and begins to gallop as it is running out in this routine maintenance, close the choke to get even more gas sucked out and clean it even more.

These are tricks of the trade that some people learn when they first buy a generator or after an expensive, emergency run to a small-engine repair shop to solve the problem hopefully just before they get stuck without power.

I learned it through the gracious help of my father-in-law, John Place, who lives in the Upstate.

With a clogged-up generator full of hard residue, I was past the point of routine care and maintenance. (Remember, I had not touched the thing in at least three years.) *** A former dairy farmer from Pennsylvania before moving

WYBOO SALES OFFICE 803-478-3337

to South Carolina for a career in Christian education, John is a small-engine guru, having worked on them since he was a teenager on the farm.

He will say, “Nothing professional, just repairing my own stuff,” but he considers working on small engines a lot of fun. (Plus, another fact: He has had the same weed eater since the 1980s!)

John did the work of a small-

Here’s another small-engine tip • Do not believe if you leave gas in a generator all year that it will start when you need it.

LAKE MARION REALTY 803-433-7355

LitchfieldByTheLake.com 22 FEBRUARY -MARCH 2022 | LAKESIDE

“Old gas just won’t spark and start,” John said. “You will have to drain it out and put fresh gas in it."

engine repairman for my gummedup carburetor. He took off the generator’s air filter then also took apart the carburetor, inspected it and cleaned the entire unit of all residue. It needed a few direct shots of carburetor cleaner and some compressed air to remove loose residue. Eventually, the unit was clean enough so gasoline could run through it.

For a job like mine, “high test” – or high octane – gas cleans the engine the best, John said.

Tools and supplies needed in the repair include a can of carburetor cleaner, a couple screwdrivers, metric socket wrench, pliers, a compressed air gun to blow the loose residue out, and – of course – your smartphone for quick access to helpful online videos.

Writer Bruce Mills and his father-in-law, John Place, take a photo together after spending an afternoon working on Mills' generator.

And the lesson to learn from all this: If you don’t want a clogged generator that will not start when the power goes out, give it a little exercise every once in a while. At least two to three times per year is recommended. You don’t want it to fail when you need it most.

WE ARE THE PERFECT TEAM FOR ALL OF YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS.

Jimmy Moore jimmymoore.realestate@hotmail.com

803-669-2522 Call Jimmy if you are looking to buy or sell property.

He is ready to use all the necessary tools available to sell your property. If you’re looking to buy he can search out the perfect home for you and your family and be with you throughout the entire process.

Lisa Bair Rentals VACATION & LONGTERM

Lisa Moore

lisabairrentals@hotmail.com

803-433-7368

Call Lisa for all your rental needs. If you are looking to rent out your investment property,we handle both long term and vacation rentals. We are always in need of new inventory. If you need a rental give us a call and we can get you in your perfect home.

A PUBLICATION OF THE SUMTER ITEM 23

24 FEBRUARY -MARCH 2022 | LAKESIDE

A camp to accomModate all of life's challenges Story by Shelbie Goulding Photos by Camp Cole and Shelbie Goulding

T

wo years ago, Camp Cole was nothing more than a dream on a blueprint.

Today, it stands tall with a huge facility, medical offices, 13 cabins and massive swaths of outdoor recreation space for children with “life challenges.”

Camp Cole is a retreat camp in Eastover for children with illnesses and disabilities – what Co-founder Kelsey Sawyer Carter calls “life challenges” – to enjoy life experiences in

ways that might not otherwise be possible.

The camp, a charitable organization, was named in memory of Carter’s brother, Cole Sawyer, who lost his battle to cancer at age 11 in 2004. The creation of the organization and camp didn’t come to fruition until 2016, when Carter’s mother, Stacy, began the planning process of her dream to create a place her son and many others like him could enjoy and feel normal.

However, Carter’s mother never got to see her dream come true. She died unexpectedly amid the planning phase.

Along with the help of Co-Founder Margaret Deans Fawcett Grantz, family, friends and generous supporters, the camp broke ground in August 2020 and officially opened in June 2021 to more than 540 campers.

“We’ll more than double that number this A PUBLICATION OF THE SUMTER ITEM 25

• 40 Acres • 12 Cabins • 1 Staff Cabin • 200 Beds • 296 Ca

Camp Cole broke ground in August 2020.

26 FEBRUARY -MARCH 2022 | LAKESIDE

summer,” Carter said.

The first summer was successful in operating its new facilities: a main office building featuring an activity room named after Carter’s mother; a café; a zero-entry swimming pool, which features a ramp-like entrance for children of all abilities or disabilities to use; a swimming pond with beach access and a pier-like structure for children in a wheelchair to fish; and equestrian therapy.

Campers were able to enjoy all the camp’s facilities for week-long trips, staying in Camp Cole’s 16-person cabins throughout the summer. More events are being planned year-round for children facing life challenges, Camp Cole partners, group retreats, military and more. The camp’s maximum overnight capacity is 200 a night. “(Cole) would love it. He would find so much joy being with other people who were walking in the same shoes as him. For a week, he got to feel normal,” Carter said. “He would just be filled with joy and laughter.”

One of the most unique parts of Camp Cole is its medical facility, which

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A PUBLICATION OF THE SUMTER ITEM 27

houses doctors and specialists who help treat children undergoing treatments onsite; that way they’ll never miss a week of camp.

“This is what really sets us apart from your average camping retreat,” Carter said.

It feels like home. A comforting, open space with a couple of private rooms for children with cancer and other illnesses to undergo treatments that interfere with their camp schedule.

Mike Wilson, long-term counselor and head of morale at Camp Cole, said the idea was to keep kids from feeling left or singled out because of their condition.

“They could go right back out to the pond once they felt better and didn’t worry about the whole hospital environment,” he said. “It really made that child feel special.”

There’s even a drop window for kids to pick up sunscreen, medicine, prescriptions and

more from the facility, keeping them healthy and safe but giving them the opportunity to get back to the fun activities across the campus.

“We try and maintain the treatment the child is currently on,” Carter said, noting they’ve had children undergo chemotherapy on site.

After a successful first round, Camp Cole is preparing for its second summer of camp

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this year with plans to expand in activities and service, not size.

“Our measure of success isn’t embedded in the quantities of campers, it’s more so the diversities of illnesses, disabilities and life challenges,” Carter said.

Her goal for the second year is to make sure they have activities and services that meet the need of every diverse camper who comes to Camp Cole. Making sure every camper, regardless of illness or disability, can learn how to swim, fish, ride and play.

“So, what’s next is making sure that we serve really the needs of our community and that we’re here as a leader in the camping world and that we can make sure every child can go back to school or back in the hospital, when they get back there, they know that they had an exciting summer out here at Camp Cole,” she said. “We want them to come back year after year and love it.”

With an increase in campers, Carter said they will be increasing its staff and volunteers, making sure they are well-trained and well-equipped for the job before summer arrives.

The cost to send a child to camp is $850, according to Carter. However, campers and their families rarely pay the price.

“We apply a $250 scholarship to every camper, and then our partner camp

supplements the $600 per participant,” Carter said.

However, scholarship opportunities depend on the type of camp.

Camp Cole is a charitable organization that runs on donations, grants, fundraisers and more, all of which go toward a child to stay at Camp Cole.

Camp Cole is located off Garners Ferry Road at 1571 Crossing Creek Road in Eastover.

For more information www.campcole.org info@campcole.org (803) 849-8697

A PUBLICATION OF THE SUMTER ITEM 29

30 FEBRUARY -MARCH 2022 | LAKESIDE

Living his dream(s) Alonzo McDonald splits his days between teaching at Manning High School and working his family's farm. He's right where he wants to be.

Story by Shelbie Goulding | Photos by Cal Cary and Micah Green

I

t’s not every day a little kid’s dream job becomes a reality, and it’s rarer to see that dream amount to a successful future. But that was the case for a Manning boy who grew up wanting to be a farmer and educator.

Alonzo McDonald is an award-winning agriculture science teacher and Future Farmers of America adviser at Manning High School, where his career path began.

His passion was always to become a farmer, but watching his mother teach also sparked a second interest. It wasn’t until attending Manning High as a student that he realized he could have the best of both worlds.

“That was where I saw them merged together,” McDonald said. “I never really put it together until getting in those classes, and then once I was in high school and saw it I was like, ‘OK, both of the things I’m interested in can kind of get merged together into one.’ That’s kind of where the spark ignited to get into agricultural education.”

For five years, he’s taught at Manning High, where he graduated from in 2004 and returned to as a teacher in 2016-2017.

However, his career path wasn’t a set path in the beginning; it was more drawn out by faith. His passion to be a farmer and educator continued after high school, and he graduated from Clemson University in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in agricultural education. But coming by a teaching job after the Recession wasn’t easy.

“Whenever I got out of college, that was

A PUBLICATION OF THE SUMTER ITEM 31

during the time of the budget cuts and everything,” McDonald said. “I always wanted to teach, but my mom was a teacher as well, and you hear the stories of ‘teachers don’t make enough’ and all that.”

A third dream job he had was to become a police officer, and McDonald did just that for four years in Clemson.

The farm was calling him, though.

McDonald had a choice to make, and

“

his wife helped him get back to the farm and his present career.

“I can never say that I haven’t experienced the different things that I wanted to do as a child. I’m definitely thankful for that,” he said. “It worked out how I wanted it. I always wanted to come back to Manning to teach, and so if anything had changed in the path of my life, I probably wouldn’t have ended up back here.”

In his time as a teacher, McDonald

My favorite part of the job is connecting with the kids... When we go on trips or competitions or state convention, national convention, things like that, we’re able to see them outside of that and get to know them truly for who they are.

“

32 FEBRUARY -MARCH 2022 | LAKESIDE

has taught Manning students about environmental and natural resources rather than the farming side alone, focusing on inspiring the next generation of farmers in Clarendon County and South Carolina.

In his class, students are engaged, learning the difference in what quality and quantity is and how it varies between what you want in each scenario. His interaction with the students is meaningful. He is a teacher

who deliveres his passion in hopes of inspiring the county’s future farmers.

“My favorite part of the job is connecting with the kids. Being in the ‘ag’ teacher and FFA adviser, we’re able to see the kids not just in a school setting but outside of the school setting,” Alonzo McDonald said.

“When we go on trips or competitions or state convention, national convention, things like that, we’re able to see them outside of that and get to

Alonzo McDonald talks to students at Manning High School. He tries to always engage students and inspire future farmers.

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Awards show past FFA accomplishments at Manning High School in McDonald's classroom, a tradition he continued from a previous adviser to celebrate the students' success.

know them truly for who they are.”

Showcased on his classroom walls are plaques and trophies dating back before the 2000s.

McDonald’s teacher in high school would hang them up to encourage students to strive for excellence, and he continued the tradition as an FFA adviser, showing his students they can achieve something in a small, rural town.

“There’s a lot of great things that come from our school and that you can bring back,” McDonald tells his students.

As an FFA advisor, it’s McDonald’s job to help mold his students into the next generation of farmers in South Carolina, a rural state rich in agriculture and diverse crops like corn, soybeans, cotton and small grains.

“For South Carolina, one of the major industries, 34 FEBRUARY -MARCH 2022 | LAKESIDE

or the largest industry, is agriculture,” McDonald said, praising the job as a rewarding one because he can watch his students grow with the same passion he had.

“What agriculture means to me is the farming side,” McDonald said, “that’s the heart of it, for me, is farming. But, whenever I speak to those who don’t come from a farming background, it’s understanding the food, fiber and the things you need to just maintain and sustain life. Agriculture provides that for you.”

His knowledge, drive and care led him to become a top teacher in his school district. In just five years, McDonald was named not only Manning High School’s Teacher of the Year for 2021-2022 but also Clarendon School District 2’s District Teacher of the Year. He was also named one of The Sumter Item

and Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce’s Top 20 Young Professionals Under 40 for 2022.

“I’m definitely thankful, and I tell my kids all the time, like, trust the process,” he said.

McDonald is not one to brag about his accomplishments, but receiving the award made him reflect on his last few years at Manning High School.

“I definitely looked back and wanted to see what all I did,” he said. “It was just interesting looking back at my first year being scared, kind of timid. Like, is this truly what I’m supposed to be doing? Can I make it? And then kind of coming to myself, it’s like, I got it figured out now.”

McDonald will now go into the state competition, where he submitted his application in January and is now waiting to find out if he makes the top five list. If

“

What agriculture means to me is the farming side, that’s the heart of it... it’s understanding the food, fiber and the things you need to just maintain and sustain life.

Agriculture provides that for you.

“

he does, he will compete against just a handful of others for the state’s Teacher of the Year award.

Once he got to the farm after teaching all day, he immediately asked his father what needed to be done. In a matter of minutes, he’d get started.

“We did row crop, beef cows, hay and small grain, but we transitioned just to hay and small grain and beef cows,” he said. “And then we have trees as well.”

With hundreds of acres of land – a mix of pastures, woods, hayfields/coastal hayfields and crops – the McDonald Farm would be an ideal asset to take the students out for a day on the farm, but the teacher and farmer draws a fine line between his two worlds, calling the classroom his “Ol' McDonald Farm.”

Out of his two careers, farming came first, and it’s something that’s private and family oriented.

He cherishes the family farm just about equal to his students, raising crops, cows and Future Farmers of America all the same. But they’re different worlds.

“It’s something,” he said, “that I hold true and dear to my heart.”

FROM TEACHER TO FARMER

The grind never stops.

Once the last bell of the day rings in Manning High’s hallways, the agriculture teacher puts on his John Deere hat and drives straight back to the family farm.

The McDonald Farm dates back more than 100 years, with McDonald being a fourth-generation farmer. His father, Charles McDonald, took over for his uncle in the ‘70s, and it’s been theirs ever since.

“He helps me a little when he can, and I’m just holding on,” his father said.

Charles McDonald was born and raised on the farm, just like his son. He recalled young Alonzo always wanting to ride on the tractor with him and would sometimes be out there until he fell asleep to the tractor’s thunder.

But now, Alonzo runs the tractor.

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Spring = Strawberry season

36 FEBRUARY -MARCH 2022 | LAKESIDE

Words and photos by Melanie Smith

S

pring is coming up quickly, and what better way to mark the season than with juicy, redripe strawberries?

Spring means strawberry season for many of us, and they’re easy to find this time of year at our local farmers markets and you-pick farms that kids of all ages enjoy visiting. I tested these recipes for our readers during a cold snap and ice storm at the middle of January, and trying them was like experiencing a little of the season early, even if the strawberries were picked up from a grocery store and weren’t locally grown. That just means these

STRAWBERRY REFRIGERATOR JAM 1 carton fresh strawberries, hulled and chopped ¼ cup sugar Splash of lemon juice Place berries in small nonstick pot on medium-low heat, and add sugar and juice. Cook slowly, stirring occasionally, until berries are reduced and most liquid has boiled away, about 25-30 minutes. Store in a container in the refrigerator.

recipes will be even more delicious when those local berries start showing up courtesy of our tri-county farmers.

These are all easy recipes that you can bring to that first warm cookout of the year, an Easter gettogether or a picnic to the park. Your kids can help put these together while snacking on any berries left over, or enjoy them all for yourself (I won’t tell, especially about the icebox cake).

One of my favorite ways to enjoy berries is adding them to a yogurt bowl. The jam recipe here goes great with yogurt, my favorite homemade granola

and sliced strawberries for a quick breakfast before work or school, and the vinaigrette is as easy as adding a few ingredients to a jar and shaking to create a new salad dressing. It uses a tablespoon or two of the jam, or you can substitute store-bought jam. The icebox cake features vanilla wafers that will have a cake-like texture after the dessert sits in the fridge a few hours or overnight, and it’s so simple to pull together, perfect for a weekend pick-me-up.

We wish our readers a warm, delicious spring with all the farm-fresh strawberries you can stand.

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1/3 cup maple syrup 1/2 cup light brown sugar 1/2 cup vegetable oil 4 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon salt 5 cups rolled oats 2 cups chopped almonds Prepare baking sheet with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Whisk together maple syrup and sugar, and add the rest of the ingredients, stirring well. Press granola into pan. Bake 40-45 minutes, rotating once halfway through baking time.

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STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE ICEBOX CAKE Adapted from Crazy for Crust

8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 pounds strawberries, hulled and sliced, some reserved for topping 1 box vanilla wafers, some reserved for topping 1 container Cool Whip Combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in medium bowl with electric hand mixer, then mix in Cool Whip.

Layer sliced strawberries in bottom of casserole dish, then vanilla wafers and cheesecake mixture until all are used up. Top with sliced strawberries and crushed vanilla wafers. Chill a few hours or overnight before serving.

STRAWBERRY BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 3/4 cup neutral-flavor oil, such as olive oil or avocado oil 1-2 tablespoons strawberry jam Salt and pepper to taste Place all ingredients in a jar, close tightly with lid and shake well to combine.

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