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“ALL ABOUT YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS” myflorencetoday.com • 843-667-9656
MAY 27, 2020
VOL. 38, NO. 36
2020 HIGH SCHOOL COMMENCEMENTS
INSIDE
Legislators, linebacker to address graduates Graduations The history of the Streater Building, a landmark in downtown Florence, dates back more than a century. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1B Deaths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pet of the Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2A 4A 6A 3B 4B
NEIGHBORS
Wednesday Wilson High School Thursday South Florence Friday West Florence High School
All three ceremonies will be held in the East parking lot of the Florence Center. The program will begin at 10 a.m. each day.
This week’s graduation ceremonies for Wilson, West Florence and South Florence high schools were already going to be special due to the repercussions of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The trio of individuals expected to give the commencement addresses will make the events even more memorable. On Wednesday, NFL linebacker Lawrence Timmons will be the featured speaker at Wilson’s graduation. On Thursday, Sen. Lindsey Graham will address the South Florence
Class of 2020. On Friday, S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster will offer the commencement address to West Florence graduates. All three ceremonies will be held in the East parking lot of the Florence Center. Each is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Gates will open at 8 a.m. each day. Graduates are asked to arrive at 8:30 a.m. Due to limited parking capacity, each graduate received only one (1) ticket which allow for one See SPEAKERS, Page 5A
Mother, infant reunited with nurse NAME: Geoffrey Roberts HOMETOWN: Florence (Originally from Bridgeport, Conn.) FAMILY: Single OCCUPATION: Bartender at Apple Annie’s and BirdsNest Eats & Ales. HOBBIES OR SPECIAL INTERESTS: Party planning. HOBBIES: Cooking, golf. WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT FLORENCE: It’s a tightknit community. WHO OR WHAT HAS MOST INFLUENCED YOU? My dad, Bill Roberts. He is my best friend and mentor.
Shaquilla James simply could not stop saying how grateful and thankful she was for the lady sitting beside her cradling her newborn daughter. “Thank God for her,” said the 26-year-old James, dabbing tears from the corner of her eye. “I felt like she went over and beyond for me. Which she was doing her job. But I felt like she, you know, did it for me.” The person James is so thankful for is McLeod Health Registered Nurse Kelly Orton. A little more than a month ago, James was diagnosed with COVID-19. That same day she gave birth to her daughter, Aubree, at McLeod Regional Medical Center. James didn’t get to hold her See REUNITED, Page 5A
Gray joins TNJ staff as ad rep Jessica Gray began work last week as an advertising representative for Swartz Media and The News Journal. With more than 10 years of experience in marketing and sales, Gray has a b a c h e l o r ’s degree in mass communications/public relations from Francis GRAY Marion University. She has previously worked as a senior account representative at The Morning News. Prior to joining The News Journal staff, Gray worked with Fire and Water Restoration of Myrtle Beach. “I am excited to begin working again with the Florence business community,” said Gray. Gray currently resides is Turbeville with her two teenage daughters.
COVID-19 testing set for Friday
McLeod Health Registered Nurse Kelly Orton holds one-month-old Aubree James as her mother, Shaquilla James, looks on. The three were recently reunited during a visit at McLeod Regional Medical Center.
The rescheduled McLeod Free COVID-19 Testing Clinic will be held Friday, May 29 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The testing clinic has also been relocated to the McLeod East parking deck. McLeod will conduct the testing in partnership with the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. The testing clinic is open to individuals with or without symptoms of COVID-19. This free drive-thru clinic is open to any busiSee TESTING, Page 5A
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