News and Reports

May 31, 2019  |  Maj. Gen. Zobrist will retire in Sumter in June
The 9th Air Force commander, who leads eight wings and three direct reporting units through its Shaw Air Force Base headquarters, is set to retire next month, but he won't be going far. Maj. Gen. Scott J. Zobrist said Monday after giving a keynote address at the Sumter County
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May 28, 2019  |  Eaton’s Employee Nyaaisjah Samuel Shares Her Story
Nyaaisjah Samuel is a social butterfly, mom of an active 3-year old -- and a switchboard technician at Eaton. “My job is to identify parts that are compatible with the switchboard structure,” she said. “I reference electrical drawings for amperage and the type of material being used.
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May 24, 2019  |  Alice Drive Elementary School students display STEM inventions
BY DANNY KELLY danny@theitem.com The Alice Drive Elementary School cafeteria didn't look much like a cafeteria on Monday night but more like a science lab. That's because the school was holding its STEM-inspired Invention Convention, where students displayed projects they made with a science, technology, engineering
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May 24, 2019  |  ‘Gummy expert’ buys Sumter’s Mount Franklin
By BRUCE MILLS bruce@theitem.com   The way a corporate executive described it Wednesday, “there’s a little more science to getting those vitamins in there than meets the eye.” Jill Pergande, chief human resources officer with top-volume gummy producer Santa Cruz Nutritionals, was referencing her
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May 22, 2019  |  Central Carolina Technical College celebrates more than 600 graduates
Central Carolina Technical College held two commencement ceremonies May 10 at the Sumter County Civic Center to accommodate more than 600 graduates. The 10 a.m. ceremony was for students graduating from Business and Public Service programs and Industrial and Engineering Technology programs. The 3 p.m. ceremony was for students graduating from General
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May 10, 2019  |  Sumter’s Merchant Iron Works owner credits his mentors, employees in his journey to success
BY BRUCE MILLS bruce@theitem.com Sumter Economic Development Board President Jay Schwedler describes winners in the world of local economic development as those who are team players who find solutions to add value and increase opportunities in the communities that they represent. At an industrial business expansion celebration on
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May 9, 2019  |  Merchant Iron Works Hosts Expansion Celebration Today
Sumter, SC- Merchant Iron Works, a leader in steel and metal fabrication held a luncheon today, May 9th, in celebration of their operation expansion that was announced summer of 2018. Surrounded by more than 100 guests including local community leaders, customers and special guests, David Merchant, owner, shared his story and the
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May 9, 2019  |  Up Close with Eliza
My path to Sumter is circuitous to say the least. I grew up in Richmond, Virginia. I went to college at Princeton in New Jersey. After that, I lived in Princeton, London, San Francisco, Richmond, DC, Columbia (SC), Paris and Charleston.  You may think calling Sumter home might not
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May 8, 2019  |  Up Close with Yanet
Is Manufacturing really a great career choice? It took me sometime to figure this out---here’s my story. As a Cuban native my family and I moved to the United States in 2007. We were very fortunate to be the recipients of the Diversity Immigrant Visa program which is usually
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May 7, 2019  |  Up Close with Brian
As a former US Air Force member, we learn many things while serving our great country.  Some of which entail learning a trade, working individually and as a team, communication skills, commitment, dedication, attention to detail, professionalism, and leadership.  I had the privilege of serving our great nation
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