A2
|
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2015
THE SUMTER ITEM
Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: pressrelease@theitem.com
‘My Community And Me’ enters 20th year BY IVY MOORE ivy@theitem.com With little local history and culture taught in the schools, a program that has been providing information on the broad range of local career and volunteer opportunities will take much of that knowledge to Sumter’s elementary schools. Launched 20 years ago by Sumter Volunteers, the program titled “My Community and Me” targets all fourthgrade students whose schools, public or private, choose to participate, said Executive Director Jo Anne Morris. She describes My Community and Me as “a unique hands-on learning experience about the community, its history, services and the roles of citizen volunteers,” adding, “the benefits and responsibilities of citizenship in Sumter County have been taught through tours, lessons and demonstrations. (The students) have also encountered outstanding community role models who have provided a broad range of future career choices.” The program was started to provide an enriching summer
SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO
JoAnne Morris, standing second from right, executive director of Sumter Volunteers, explains the “My Communtiy and Me” program to 4th-graders at an area school during a past presentation. Representatives from various community businesses, charitable and other organizations, education, media, government programs and other segments of the community circled the students and took turns explaining how their jobs support the Sumter area. experience to about 30 at-risk Lemira School Camp students. Adult role models and high school students accompanied the students on seven weekly field trips throughout the community. Successful at helping the students learn more about their community, the program was repeated the following year and eventually was incorporated into the curriculum for 32 Willow Drive Elementary School students
STATE BRIEF
in Rosanne DuRant’s fourthgrade class. “For the 18,200-plus students involved to date, it has been a ‘different’ and exciting adventure in learning,” Morris said. For many years since, the program has taken the form of what Morris calls “community circles.” She solicits volunteers from different segments of Sumter, among them law enforcement, city and county
government, education, religion, media, military, business and industry, arts, agriculture, recreation, volunteerism, charities, health and others. There is even a section on “good manners.” Each volunteer then provides a brief summary of what his or her field does. In addition, Sumter Volunteers provides each fourthgrader a special notebook with information on those topics and local history, with illustrations by artists in the community, including Ray Davenport, Sylvester Hickmon, Ashley Lareau, Kim Schneider and others. “It’s interactive,” Morris said, “so the students can follow along with the speakers.” There are questions, fill-inthe-blanks exercises and even a song written by Morris to reinforce the importance of community. Because the first regular inschool My Community and Me program took place at Willow Drive Elementary School, the community circles begin there each year. Morris said volunteers are needed to visit the 13 schools participating this year. Call her at (803) 7757423 for more information.
MY COMMUNITY AND ME SCHEDULE • Tuesday, Sept. 15, 9:30 a.m. Willow Drive Elementary • Thursday, Sept. 17, 1 p.m. Alice Drive Elementary • Friday, Sept. 18, 9:30 a.m. Wilson Hall Lower School • Monday, Sept. 21, 1 p.m. - St. Anne School (Parish Hall) • Wednesday, Sept. 23, 9:30 a.m. Millwood Elementary • Monday, Sept. 28, 9:30 a.m. Lemira Elementary • Wednesday, Sept. 30, 9:30 a.m. Kingsbury Elementary • Thursday, Oct. 1, 1 p.m. Delaine Elementary • Friday, Oct. 2, 9:30 a.m. Thomas Sumter Academy • Tuesday, Oct. 6, 9:30 a.m. Pocalla Springs Elementary • Wednesday, Oct. 7, 9:30 a.m. Cherryvale Elementary • Tuesday, Oct. 13, 9:30 a.m. Manchester Elementary • Wednesday, Oct. 14, 9:30 a.m. R.E. Davis. Elementary
It’s a teddy bear picnic
BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wilson Hall kindergarten students Sallie Duvall, Bailey Flemming and Carson Wilsey enjoy the annual Teddy Bear Picnic at the start of the school year. Each student brought his or her favorite stuffed animal to school, and while the students were having their lessons, the animals “escaped” from the classroom. Once the escape was discovered, the students set off on a trek throughout the campus to find their lost animals, culminating in a picnic once everyone was reunited. The special day gave the kindergarten students the opportunity to tour all of the buildings on campus and discover where their special classes, such as computer science and art, are located.
House Ethics: Harrell improperly paid lawyers COLUMBIA — The House Ethics Committee says former Speaker Bobby Harrell improperly paid his attorneys with campaign money and must pay nearly $113,500. The committee voted Tuesday to require Harrell to pay the state’s general fund within 30 days. The committee normally requires offenders to reimburse their campaign fund, but Harrell emptied his account under his plea deal. Ethics Committee Chairman Kenny Bingham says the payments would have been permissible if Harrell had been cleared of wrongdoing. But Bingham says a 2013 committee opinion shows why the conviction made it improper. That opinion cautions against using campaign cash in personal misconduct cases. Harrell says Tuesday’s vote violated his due process rights because he had no notice of the meeting. Harrell resigned last October after pleading guilty to six campaign finance violations.
CORRECTIONS If you see a statement in error, contact the City Desk at 774-1226 or pressrelease@theitem.com.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Pinkney Foundation to host community unity event FROM STAFF REPORTS The Bill Pinkney Foundation invites the public to participate in its Community Unity and Service Day on Saturday, Sept. 12, at Bill Pinkney Park, 3605 Bill Pinkney Highway in Dalzell. The event is a registered National Day of Service PINKNEY event commemorating the 14th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001. This is one of a series of official Bill Pinkney 90th Birthday Remembrance events. All area public entities, organiza-
tions, churches, schools and individuals are asked to commit to giving genuine service to any desired worthwhile cause on Friday, Sept. 11, in advance by registering the activity with the foundation at www.originaldrifters.com, and to join the event at Bill Pinkney Park from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday for a picnic, games, special program recognition and music. “The specific foundation focus will be to improve the condition of the park,” said foundation vice president Eartha Pinkney-Johnson. “We hope everyone will help us honor my father’s memory in that way. We want everybody to pitch in and restore the
pride everyone felt on Pinkney Park Dedication day in 1996.” The Bill Pinkney Foundation has been very active, and its goals are to remain visible and viable. Sumter City Council co-sponsored Bill Pinkney Remembrance Day, the inaugural event, on Aug. 16. Pickney was one of the original members of The Drifters and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For more information about the event, contact The Bill Pinkney Foundation by calling (803) 614-0413 or email earthapinkney@yahoo.com. The foundation’s website is www.originaldrifters.com.
HOW TO REACH US IS YOUR PAPER MISSING? ARE YOU GOING ON VACATION? 20 N. Magnolia St., Sumter, S.C. 29150 (803) 774-1200 Jack Osteen Editor and Publisher jack@theitem.com (803) 774-1238 Rick Carpenter Managing Editor rick@theitem.com (803) 774-1201 Waverly Williams Sales Manager waverly@theitem.com (803) 774-1237
Earle Woodward Customer Service Manager earle@theitem.com (803) 774-1259 Michele Barr Business Manager michele@theitem.com (803) 774-1249 Gail Mathis Clarendon Bureau Manager gail@theitem-clarendonsun.com (803) 435-4716
Member, Verified Audit Circulation
Call (803) 774-1258 Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday & Sunday, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
TO PLACE AN ANNOUNCEMENT Birth, Engagement, Wedding, Anniversary, Obituary Call (803) 774-1226 Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
TO BUY A SUBSCRIPTION TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD: Call (803) 774-1234 Monday
Call (803) 774-1258 Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday & Sunday, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Call (803) 774-1237 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Rural Route Home Delivery TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY
One year - $174.25; six months $91; three months - $47.50; two months, $33; one month $16.50. EZPay, $14.50/month SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
One year - $84; six months - $43; three months - $22; one month $7.50; EZPay, $7.50
Standard Home Delivery
Mail Delivery
through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
TO PLACE A NONCLASSIFIED AD:
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
One year - $81.60; six months $40.80; three months - $20.40; one month, $6.80; EZPay, $6.80
TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY
One year - $166; Six months - $87; three months - $45.25; two months - $31.50; one month - $15.75; EZPay - $14/month
One year - $276; six months $138; three months - $69; one month - $23 Printed on recycled paper with environmentally safe soy inks to reduce ruboff. The Item is recyclable.
The Sumter Item is published six days a week except for July 4, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day (unless it falls on a Sunday) by Osteen Publishing Co., 20 N. Magnolia St., Sumter, SC 29150. Periodical postage paid at Sumter, SC 29150. Postmaster: Send address changes to Osteen Publishing Co., 20 N. Magnolia St., Sumter, SC 29150 Publication No. USPS 525-900