things are cooking downtown
Gahnzales chef George Cain on his journey back to Sumter. Plus, new bakery, cafe, gift shops and wine store
eVAC brings jobs, rare-earth permanent magnet production to Sumter
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arts, entertainment and history
Where to find public art, new museums and renovated gathering spaces
Onbehalf of the staff at The Sumter Item and all of our community partners featured in this magazine, I’d like to officially welcome you to the 2026 edition of Life is Good in Sumter. Inside these pages, you'll see a snapshot of life in Sumter — how we live, work, learn, play and pray.
The Sumter of today is innovative. Sumter is bold. Sumter is a place of business and community.
From Shaw Air Force Base to local business and industry to our beautiful downtown, change is happening. It's happening not only through new public spaces, businesses and incoming residents, but also through a sense of community, unity and belonging as we work on building something together.
In 2026, I’d like to encourage you to seek that community, to seek belonging. Build large bridges of unity with others who also make up the fabric of our area. Learn from those who have a different perspective of the world. Listen thoroughly with the goal of an even better tomorrow.
As the area’s leader in media for 132 years, The Sumter Item is here to help build that community, hold the powerful accountable and promote economic development. Local news does that, and we believe it’s important. We’re a strong, independent local news voice and builder for all of Sumter.
Whether you’re a longtime resident or a newcomer to the area, we encourage you to subscribe to The Sumter Item, either through a print+online or an all-online subscription at theitem.com/subscribe. At the very least, please sign up for our free email newsletter at theitem.com/ newsletter. We tell the stories of your community. We vow to listen and to be a microphone for your collective lives.
Inside these pages, you’ll see many of the people who and places and businesses that make our community great. We’re here for you, Sumter, and we hope you enjoy this magazine.
On behalf of the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce, our Board of Directors, staff and our member businesses, I’m honored to welcome you to this year’s edition of Life is Good.
We are proud to partner with The Sumter Item on this publication because it reflects the very best of who we are as a community. Life is Good captures the heart of Sumter, the people, places, businesses and stories that make this such a special place to live, work and call home.
Sumter is a community built on connections. From small businesses and entrepreneurs to educators, health care professionals, military families and longtime residents, it is the collective effort of everyday people that continues to move our community forward. That spirit of collaboration is at the heart of our belief that when we work together, United We Rise.
At the Chamber, we believe that when local businesses thrive, the entire community benefits. That belief drives our work every day and is why partnerships like this one matter. Together, we are helping tell Sumter’s story, celebrate progress and spotlight the opportunities that exist right here at home.
Whether you are a lifelong resident, a newcomer or someone exploring what Sumter has to offer, I hope this magazine gives you a deeper appreciation for the energy, growth and possibility that define our community.
Thank you for supporting local. Thank you for investing in our growing community. And thank you for being part of what makes life in Sumter truly good.
Together, we are Team Sumter. United, We Rise.
Breanna J. Wise
President & CEO
Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce
Coming to downtown Sumter in 2027
Sumter’s history is vast, and it is valuable. And it’ll soon be housed in one place for all to see.
Sumter Museum, founded in the historic Williams-Brice House, explores historical experiences through “diverse programs and engaging exhibits,” inviting everyone to enjoy an experience meant to inform and shape our future. The museum has expanded to encompass an array of enriching attractions that showcase Sumter’s vibrant heritage.
To keep that heritage alive, well and relevant among the county’s community, a new expansion is in progress.
The new build was made possible through city, county and state funding as well as by the local Williams-Brice-Edwards Charitable Trust, among other groups. The estimated cost is $20+ million.
Its 35,000-square-foot space will feature artifacts from Sumter historian and The Sumter Item archivist Sammy Way’s military museum, currently housed at 129 S. Harvin St., as well as Sumter Museum’s military memorabilia. There will be dedicated exhibits to major wars and other topics related to Sumter, Shaw Air Force Base, Third Army and more. A separate wing of the facility will be devoted to local history stories to provide context to visitors on why Sumter is “uncommonly patriotic,” from a broad look at the area’s involvement in the American Revolution and Civil War to Sumter’s cultural history and life stories of the area’s namesake with the Thomas Sumter Interpretative Center.
The museum will also be home to a Grainger McKoy exhibit showcasing his work and artistic process, as well as a new Gamecock feather
sculpture of his creation to be placed outside the building.
Looking ahead to 2026, Museum Executive Director Annie Rivers said the build is expected to be completed by summer 2026. After that, museum staff will then shift its focus to installing exhibits, with the goal of welcoming the public in early 2027.
With a build of this magnitude, a peek at what goes on behind the scenes gives a glimpse into the value of the space and attention to detail that will aid how visitors experience it.
Rivers shared an interesting story about the intentional connection between the new military museum’s architecture and the museum’s brand identity.
“The architectural arches featured in the new building inspired the updated Sumter Museum logo,” she shared. “These arches now serve as a defining visual element of the museum’s brand, symbolizing continuity, strength and connection across the campus.”
Its integration reflects the museum’s evolution from a single building into a cohesive, multi-site institution. While the added space will be useful, Rivers said the expansion goes beyond just an addition to the campus. It will create a unified experience for natives and newcomers to the area, showcasing how Sumter’s past and future come together through thoughtful design, exhibits and community-focused spaces.
In 2025, the build hit many milestones.
According to Rivers, in April, a full-scale test wall was completed which allowed the team to visualize, test and approve the exterior materials, finishes and workmanship before full construction could begin. In May, members of
the project design, construction and implementation team experienced a virtual reality walkthrough of the build, finally being able to understand the feel and flow of the future spaces.
July’s milestone was not only symbolic, but also sentimental as museum staff, trustees, advisory council members, community partners, including Dr. Sammy and Rita Way, city and county representatives, architect Creech & Associates and contractor Thompson Turner gathered to celebrate the placement of the first beam. The beam—signed by attendees—hangs over the main entrance.
As the expansion continues to take shape, hammers continue to nail and walls go up, history enthusiasts can still take a trip to the past at any of the museum’s four facilities— Williams Brice House, Carolina Backcountry Homestead, Heritage Education Center and Temple Sinai Jewish History Center—with events and exhibits happening throughout the year.
“These events are always a great way for the community to support the museum while having fun,” Rivers expressed.
The museum’s scheduled exhibits and events for 2026 include:
• We’ve Got Mail: The Story of Sumter County’s Early Post Offices and Mail Delivery Systems
• Spirits under State Control: South Carolina’s Dispensary System, 1892–1907
Both exhibits will open in mid-February and feature fascinating artifacts such as historic stamps, vintage Sumter postcards and distillery bottles rarely seen by the public.
The museum’s Backcountry Days, a free, family-friendly living history event that has become a favorite among locals, will be held on May 9, Oct. 10 and Dec. 12.
Dates for the Sumter Museum’s annual fundraisers are:
April 23 for Shrimp Feast
Nov. 19 for Oyster Roast
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Sumter is alive with a vibrant surge of creativity, from public art flowing through the community, featuring whimsical community-painted butterflies fluttering across downtown to stunning murals commissioned by talented artists, to a cultural renaissance being brought about by a new art park and the expansion of a community art studio.
Public art is flowing and inviting residents to engage, reflect and celebrate the evolving culture around them. The continued investment in public art and the creative spaces that produce it allows creativity to remain a cultural centerpiece to community life.
Sumter’s arts scene is soaring and painting a bright future, one brushstroke at a time.
A continuation of Sumter’s push for public art came as a backdrop for a place to play. In December 2024, South Sumter Art Park opened its gates at 645 Manning Ave. As part of the park’s transformation from a former substation for Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, a brick wall was utilized as the canvas for a collaborative mural by four local artists—Marie Grady, Walter McNeil, Ernest Hampton and Rosetta Davis—which celebrates South Sumter’s cultural identity.
The artwork highlights themes of creativity, faith and optimism, some of the key values and lived experiences that define the community.
The mural installation was supported through a collaborative effort involving City
of Sumter and state and local partners, with primary funding provided by South Carolina Arts Commission and Williams-BriceEdwards Charitable Trust.
A new addition to the public art scene came in 2025 at 13 E. Hampton St. Created by artists Jesse McCoy and Heidi Adler, the mural was commissioned for the newly opened Confectionary and Co. The artwork blends realism and illustration, featuring wildlife–from bees, bluejays and butterflies to breathtaking blooms of flora–with whimsical pastries inspired by the confectionary’s interior design. The installation took an estimated six weeks to complete.
Its artists, McCoy and Adler,
are more than co-artists. McCoy, a native of Sumter, is a former student of Adler. The pair were reunited to work on this piece, utilizing McCoy’s eye for realistic wildlife paintings and Adler’s instinct to play with color for an added charm to creative pieces.
On Jan. 1, 2026, South Sumter Advocates, a group of community members and local leaders who represent South Sumter and surrounding Sumter area, announced a second large-scale mural installation, titled H.Y.P.E. Art Mural Wall Project, and a walkable heritage park will be coming to Manning Avenue. These are two of five revitalization projects set to happen along Manning Avenue throughout 2026.
The “Creative Canvas Project” was Sumter’s first dip into public art in 2021. Created by Melanie Colclough, former executive director of the Sumter County Cultural Center, the project was designed to support creativity, preserve landmarks and cultural history and uplift moods throughout Sumter. The Historic Preservation Design Review Committee unanimously approved the installation of eight large-scale murals throughout the Downtown Design District. The selected artists were paid using a $50,000 grant from the Central Carolina Community Foundation’s Connected Communities as well as private investments from the Bank of Clarendon, Main Street Society, Sumter Community Foundation, which donated murals on Manning Avenue, Sumter County Museum, Sumter Economic Development, Sumter County Gallery of Art and Sumter County Cultural Commission. Only five murals were completed, three less than the approved eight and one less than the project committee’s planned six, due to underestimated costs. Nonetheless, the completed murals hit the mark in revitalizing beloved landmarks throughout Sumter.
The Old Sumter Postcard by Christopher Johnson
122 N. Washington St.
Elements of Sumter by Amiri Farris
24 W. Liberty St.
Underneath Swan Lake by McClellan Douglas
9 N. Main St.
Old Manning Avenue by Abel Jackson
337 Manning Ave.
363 Manning Ave.
City of Sumter sought to revitalize downtown Sumter for more than two decades. One way to do so was to give it some color. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Main Street Society and the city teamed up to bring local artists to the forefront of a unique project that saw the fluttering of seven unique 3-foot butterflies across the Central Business District along Main and Liberty streets. The installations of these colorful creatures were completed after two years and, in 2023, the city called for a second round of the project, providing seven butterflies and receiving more submissions than before; two butterflies from the initial round were also revitalized with a fresh coat of paint and new designs.
The 14 total locations—seven new and two replaced—are spread out, allowing for a delightful, artistic stroll through the downtown area. The lifespan of these exquisite beings varies. If ever removed, they will find their way back to their sponsors, serving as a timeless connection to local art and the heartbeat of Sumter.
For now, this fluttering fleet can be enjoyed by frequent flyers of the downtown area, so catch them while you can.
Swallowtail (original)
Artist: Cleo Klopfleisch
Sponsored by: Heidi Burkett
Location: 2 N. Main St.
Unnamed (new)
Artist: Carolina Grace Hoppmann
Location: 154 S. Main St.
Unnamed (original)
Artist: Connie Brennan
Sponsored by: Barbara and Harry Burchstead
Location: 154 S. Main St.
All These Little Creatures (original)
Artist: Matthew Morse
Sponsored by: Matthew Morse and Jenna Brown
Location: Rotary Plaza
Lucidity (original)
Artist: Nurai Tucker
Sponsored by: Jere and Bobbi Pound
Location: Rotary Plaza
Variegated Flutter (replaced)
Artist: Erin Duffie
Sponsored by: Hobby and Greg Williams
Location: Sumter Opera House
Winged Revival (original)
Artist: Liz Duffy
Sponsored by: Heart of Sumter
Location: Sumter Opera House
Unnamed (new)
Artist: Meredith Rogers
Location: Church of the Holy Comforter
Unnamed (new)
Artist: Abbie Mason
Location: Lollibear
Unnamed (new)
Artist: Mandi Windham
Chiappone
Location: Sumter Opera House
Unnamed (replaced)
Artist: Julie Watts
Location: Cut Rate
Pharmacy and Diner
Unnamed (new)
Artist: Hannah Morris
Location: 133 S. Main St.
Unnamed (new)
Artist: Matthew Morse
Location: 12 W. Liberty St.
Unnamed (new)
Artist: Laila-Vice Johnson
Location: 100 W. Liberty St.
dressing rooms and a redesigned interior color scheme.
Veleda Sigler, assistant Recreation and Parks director for Sumter County, said the upgrades allow the venue to better accommodate a wider range of performances and audiences, serving as a premier venue for performances of all standards. Patriot Hall hosted two sold-out shows after its reopening, including Sumter playwright Elijah Bradford’s “Guess Who’s Coming to Mr. Thaddeus’ House” in October and South Carolina Ballet’s “Nutcracker” in November.
Ivan Sanders said progress is steady for expansion of the Manning Avenue Free Art Studio. Founded by the late David “Pablo” Sanders, the Manning Avenue Free Art Studio opened in 1976 and allowed the elder Sanders to work with youth in the neighborhood, teaching pottery, welding and various visual arts while also using the space as one of the first Feed-A-Child program locations in the area. It is the love his father showed and received that urged Ivan Sanders to continue his legacy, being the executive director of the studio and leading the charge for its expansion.
The expansion will include a new 8,000-square-foot building in the lot next to the current studio at 241 Manning Ave.
made possible by federal funding, and will house four primary therapies: music engagement, visual arts therapy, progressive writing and creative movement.
Deloris Williams, a grant writer and board member of the studio, said the studio expansion will mean South Sumter becoming a “magnet for the arts.” The new building will have more modern, contemporary design while still respecting the historical significance of the area, she said.
Sanders said the foundation for the studio is complete and progress will ramp up in the coming months, allowing for a tentative opening date to be spring 2026; programs and services will be announced soon.
Public parks across Sumter saw new life in 2025 as they were revitalized to expand opportunities for creativity, connection and enjoying the outdoors.
A ribbon cutting to symbolize the completion of South Sumter Park’s revitalization happened in June. Located at 630 S. Sumter St., City of Sumter broke ground on the revitalization in March 2024, funded through a state grant specifically awarded for the project.
According to Shelley Kile, communications and tourism
director for City of Sumter, additions to the park included two full-sized basketball courts in a new airnasium, or an open-air gym, fenced pickleball courts, age-specific playground and a pavilion with restrooms. Several of its amenities have been enhanced, including a walking trail, sidewalks, a new parking lot and an outdoor water fountain with bottle filler. Upgrades include a makeover to the baseball field, wrought iron and brick fencing around the whole city block and improved landscaping with benches and picnic tables. Existing features like the splash pad and indoor gym remain the same.
Westend Park, at 320 W. Oakland Ave. and developed in place of the former Jenkins Center, hosted a ribbon cutting in September. Its symbolic cutting brought a close to Phase 1 of its revitalization and upgrades. Kile said Phase 2 of the project will include construction of a pavilion that includes bathrooms and upgrades to the playground area to be similar to those at Sumter Art Park, at 645 Manning Ave., and South Sumter Park.
Sumter School District 1345 Wilson Hall Road, Sumter, SC (803) 469-6900
Alice Drive Elementary School 251 Alice Drive, Sumter (803) 775-0857
Cherryvale Elementary School 1420 Furman Drive, Sumter (803) 494-8200
Crosswell Drive Elementary School 301 Crosswell Drive, Sumter (803) 775-0679
High Hills Elementary School 4971 Frierson Road, Shaw AFB (803) 499-3327
Kingsbury Elementary School 825 Kingsbury Drive, Sumter (803) 775-6244
Lemira Elementary School 952 Fulton St., Sumter (803) 775-0658
Manchester Elementary School 200 Clark St., Pinewood (803) 452-5454
Millwood Elementary School 24 Pinewood Road, Sumter (803) 775-0648
Oakland Primary School 5415 Oakland Drive, Sumter (803) 499-3366
Pocalla Springs Elementary School 2060 Bethel Church Road, Sumter (803) 481-5800
Rafting Creek Elementary School 4100 Hwy. 261 North, Rembert (803) 432-2994
R.E. Davis College Preparatory Academy 345 Eastern School Road, Sumter (803) 495-3247
Shaw Heights Elementary School 5121 Frierson Road, Shaw AFB (803) 666-2335
Wilder Elementary School
975 S. Main St., Sumter (803) 773-5723
Willow Drive Elementary School 26 Willow Drive, Sumter (803) 773-5796
Alice Drive Middle School
40 Miller Road, Sumter (803) 775-0821
Bates Middle School
715 Estate St., Sumter (803) 775-0711
Chestnut Oaks Middle School 1200 Oswego Road, Sumter (803) 775-7272
Ebenezer Middle School
3440 Ebenezer Road, Sumter (803) 469-8571
Furman Middle School
3400 Bethel Church Road, Sumter (803) 481-8519
Hillcrest Middle School
4355 Peach Orchard Road, Dalzell (803) 499-3341
R.E. Davis College Preparatory Academy 345 Eastern School Road, Sumter (803) 495-3247
Crestwood High School 2000 Oswego Road, Sumter (803) 469-6200
Lakewood High School
350 Old Manning Road, Sumter (803) 506-2700 or 803-506-2704
Sumter High School
2580 McCrays Mill Road, Sumter (803) 481-4480
Sumter Career and Technology Center 2612 McCrays Mill Road, Sumter (803) 481-8575
Sumter Academy for Support and Intervention
475 Crosswell Drive, Sumter (803) 774-5900
Sumter County Adult Education 905 N. Main St., Sumter (803) 778-6432
Liberty STEAM Charter School K-5 (2025-2026), K-6 (2026-2027) Administrative Office 1057 Broad St.,Sumter (803) 720-5652
Ragin Preparatory Christian Academy 68 Market St., Sumter (803) 774-5549 or (803) 469-6058
Sumter Christian School 420 S. Pike West, Sumter (803) 773-1902
Temple Christian High School 120 Pinewood Road, Sumter, (803) 775-8139
Thomas Sumter Academy 5265 Camden Hwy., Rembert (803) 499-3378
Wedgefield University for Kids 6220 Wedgefield Road, Sumter (803) 494-3887
Westside Christian Academy 554 Pinewood Road, Sumter (803) 774-4406
Wilson Hall 520 Wilson Hall Road, Sumter (803) 469-3475
Central Carolina Technical College 506 N. Guignard Drive, Sumter (803) 778-1961
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 398 Shaw Drive #112, Shaw AFB (803) 666-7401
Morris College 100 W. College St., Sumter (803) 934-3200
Saint Leo University
2751 S. Wise Drive, Sumter (803) 469-0026
Troy University 465 Rast St., Sumter Sumter campus (803) 773-0025; Shaw campus (803) 666-3313
University of South Carolina Sumter 200 Miller Road, Sumter (803) 775-8727
Webster University
398 Shaw Drive, Shaw AFB (803) 666-2254
Morris College entered 2025 with renewed energy and clear vision for growth, all spearheaded under the leadership of President Dr. Said
An ordained Baptist minister and the college’s 11th president, Sewell said in April 2025 that his first nine months at the helm were focused on revitalizing campus life, expanding enrollment and elevating the brand of the college across South Carolina and beyond.
Hired July 1, 2024, he quickly immersed himself in campus life, bunking in campus dorms as a means to not only see where improvements lie for campus life but also to hear it from students and faculty directly. The hands-on approach produced immediate results. His earliest priorities were to improve residence hall conditions. With about $1.3 million in federal money associated with the 2020 CARES Act, the college unveiled newly renovated restrooms in four dorms.
Beyond infrastructure, Sewell also emphasized restoring the energy and pride on campus to create “a vibrant campus community.” He described the campus lacking energy when he first arrived. Now, beautification of the grounds and college’s entranceway, weekly block parties happening and more Black Greek organizations having a presence on campus have brought life back to campus.
A central goal for the campus as a whole was to grow Morris College’s visibility and enrollment. In early 2025, 398 students were enrolled. Sewell said the goal was to reach 1,000 students by 2028 and would require the school to “do unconventional things to attract students.”
During spring break, Morris faculty, staff and students embarked on a “See you at Morris College” bus tour in the Lowcountry to visit eight high schools in five days. The effort garnered about 180 applications.
Internally, academic offerings and student opportunities expanded to include a U.S. Air Force ROTC program to complement its Army ROTC program and promote four relatively new majors, including supply chain management, esports cybersecurity, esports video game design and esports management, totaling to 25 programs of study.
Sewell’s vision is clear: to transform Morris into a “destination institution.”
That proved to be true as the college had record enrollment for the fall 2025 semester.
Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated $70 million to the United Negro College Fund to strengthen longterm financial health of 37 HBCU institutions, including Morris College. The college will receive $10 million—$5 million from UNCF and $5 million to be raised by the college over five years—and the endowment will pay out 4% annually.
Morris College was awarded $200,000 through the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, administered by South Carolina Law Enforcement Department. The three-year grant will support campus-wide security enhancements that include additional surveillance cameras, electronic access controls, expanded fencing and a secure entry and exit gate.
ACCORDING TO THE COLLEGE, THE FALL 2025 SEMESTER SAW:
• 491 total enrollment, the highest enrollment since 2020
• 28% increase from fall 2024 to fall 2025, the largest single year increase
• 71% retention rate
• 178 freshmen enrolled in 2025, the largest class on campus
• Top majors for 2025 were business administration, cybersecurity, health science, criminal justice and organizational management
“In the past, many people said ‘You go to Morris when you can’t go anywhere else.’ We’ve changed that,” he said. “We want to be the destination institution in Sumter and in the state. We want people not to think about us as a secondary choice but as the first choice.”
Morris College was the recipient of numerous grants and donations throughout 2025, all meant to support student enrollment initiatives and aid in continued improvement of
South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with The Boeing Company, announced a $50,000 investment in Morris College to support STEM programs, specifically for curriculum development, student research and access to advanced learning resources.
Savannah River Mission Completion donated $10,000 to Morris College in support of student enrollment initiatives, STEM education and scholarships.
Morris College is a historically Black, coeducational, liberal arts college, operated by the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina. The college is committed to promoting the intellectual and personal development of every one of its students.
Learn more at www.morris.edu.
Eagerton Family Practice
Robert S. Eagerton, MD* / Carmen Roberts, DO*
Amber P. Newman, NP
200 East Hospital Street, Manning, SC 29102 / 803-433-0439
McLeod Primary Care Clarendon
Lisa E. Heichberger, MD* / Laine Way, MD
Susan Caulkins, FNP / Susanne Johnson, FNP
50 East Hospital Street, Suite 3, Manning, SC 29102 / 803-435-8828
Palmetto Adult Medicine Sumter
Kristen Herring, MD / Harry A. Jordan, Jr., MD
Andrew J. Reynolds, MD / Hugh T. Stoddard, Jr., MD
Katherine S. Coffey, PA-C / Emily J. Miller, PA-C
Racheal D. Posey, APRN
1295 Wilson Hall Road, Sumter, SC 29150 / 803-905-6800
McLeod Primary Care Turbeville
Abbie Kirby, PA-C / Shawn Lockamy, NP
Amanda McConnell, PA-C
944 Smith Street, Turbeville, SC 29162 / 843-659-2114
McLeod Family Medicine Kingstree
Troy Gamble, MD / Raina Philhower, PA-C
Megan Patrick, NP
1200 North Longstreet Street, Kingstree, SC 29556 / 843-355-5459
(Moving to 665 Nelson Blvd. in March 2026)
McLeod Cardiology Associates
Prabal Guha, MD / John Rozich, MD, PhD
Dennis Lang, DO / Ellen Britt, FNP-C
540 Physicians Lane, Sumter, SC 29150 / 803-883-5171
Manning Clinic: 21 East Hospital Street, Manning, SC 29102
McLeod Women’s Care Clarendon
Monica Ploetzke, MD / Katee L. Wyant, MD
Allison Saran, CNM, WHNP
Shaquinda Dowdle, DNP, APRN, CNM
Emily B. Walden, MSN/ED, CNM, IBCLC
50 East Hospital Street, Suite 2, Manning, SC 29102 / 803-433-0797
McLeod Occupational Health Sumter
540 Physicians Lane, Sumter, SC 29150 / 803-848-8120
McLeod Orthopaedics Associates
Rodney K. Alan, MD / Chaz McDonald, NP
540 Physicians Lane, Sumter, SC 29150 / 803-883-5171
50 East Hospital Street, Suite 6, Manning, SC 29102 / 803-433-3065
McLeod Physical Therapy Sumter
A Department of McLeod Health Clarendon 1185 Wilson Hall Rd., Sumter, SC 29150 / 803-469-3213
McLeod Rehabilitation Clarendon
50 East Hospital St., Suite 7, Manning, SC 29102 / 803-435-3162
McLeod Surgery Clarendon
Devonne D. Barrineau, MD
50 East Hospital Street, Suite 4, Manning, SC 29102 / 803-435-2822
McLeod Urology Associates Sumter
Michelle B. Miller, NP
540 Physicians Lane, Sumter, SC 29150 / 803-340-5100
McLeod Vascular Associates
William C. Jackson, DO
540 Physicians Lane, Sumter, SC 29150 / 843-777-7043
* Not accepting new patients at this time
A new chapter for
call new 3-story building on main campus a ‘milestone’ moment
A vision and “dream” came to reality in August 2025 as Central Carolina Technical College unveiled its new Academic Student Services Building on its main campus on Guignard Drive in Sumter.
With the opening of the new 58,000-square-foot, three-story facility, CCTC leaders hosted a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony for elected officials, the college’s area commission and foundation members, workforce development partners, donors, the project’s architect/construction team and many others.
The new building features two wingsone for academics, the other for student services - that are joined by a hallway corridor and helps to modernize the main campus, according to Central Carolina Interim President Jason Tisdel.
The student services wing reorganizes and clusters many of the college’s services in that focus area together, providing easy access to departments including admissions, dual enrollment, advising, financial aid, finance and career services. That wing also includes a multipurpose student center and adjoining industrial kitchen to accommodate a variety of student life and campus events and functions.
The academic wing on the other side provides additional classroom and lab space for general education and biology
and anatomy classes and consolidates some faculty and instructional space into a single location.
The Academic Student Services Building is now the largest single facility on the main campus, and Tisdel said about two years ago when construction began it was “a dream to have a new facility on the main campus.”
and Communications Nicole Miles said the college’s last new building construction project at the Guignard Drive campus was 33 years ago when the M600 Building was built in 1992. She added some renovations have occurred since that time on site, most notably in 2012 when the former Student Services Building facing Guignard was renovated. Additionally, Central Carolina has conducted multimillion-dollar new building projects off site.
Both McLeod Health Senior Vice President Octavia Williams-Blake and CCTC Area Commission Chairman Paul Napper called the new facility a
“milestone” moment for the college, which focuses on technical education and workforce readiness for business and industry in the four-county service area of Sumter, Clarendon, Lee and Kershaw counties.
In his remarks, Napper thanked community members, the legislative delegation, donors, faculty/staff and the construction team for helping to bring the building’s vision into reality.
“This building and space are bold, student centered, reflects where we are headed and most importantly is designed with our students in mind, offering them support tools and services they need to thrive each and every day,” he said.
A major donor to the college’s foundation, McLeod Health recently provided a $25,000 gift to the project, and the event also included the naming of a health lab in McLeod’s honor.
To fit and accommodate the new building on the campus, the college demolished some older facilities to include the M200 Building and a wing of the M100 Building to make room, Miles said.
The project architect was Quackenbush Architects, and construction was handled by Hood Construction, both based in Columbia. The building actually was completed ahead of schedule, and the new facility was not originally planned to come online until January 2026.
It could be said that it’s the best of times at University of South Carolina Sumter as we enter 2026 with a new record student enrollment and the campus undergoing a major building expansion phase.
Fall 2025 official enrollment reached 1,911 students when considering both traditional college students and dualenrollment high school students, and as of January the college had more than 20 active major renovation projects in progress, according to Interim Campus Dean Eric Reisenauer.
The total fall enrollment count was up 6% from the previous record of 1,804, set in 2024 as both traditional- and dualenrollment students continue on an upward trend.
In the fall, there were 711 traditional college students on campus and 1,200 dualenrollment high schoolers thanks to strong partnerships with regional public school districts, private schools, some virtual schools and homeschools across the state, Reisenauer said.
USC Sumter’s current dual-
enrollment agreements include Sumter School District, Clarendon School District, Lexington District One and some high schools in Richland School District 2 in northeast Columbia. Area private schools that take part in the program include Wilson Hall, Laurence Manning Academy, Sumter Christian School, Clarendon Hall, Lee Academy, and both Cardinal Newman School and Hammond School in Columbia.
College course programs are doing well, he added, to include three current bachelor’s degree offerings (Nursing, Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education) through partnerships with USC Aiken. In those programs, students do their first two years of core courses and prerequisites as USC Sumter students and then apply to become USC Aiken students. If accepted, they can stay in Sumter since Aiken has the full slate of junior and senior course offerings on site here at the local campus.
The partnership with USC Aiken no longer includes the Business bachelor’s degree, but
USC Sumter is in the final stages to establish a local bachelor’s in hospitality management through the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management at USC in Columbia, Reisenauer said. It will function like the USC Aiken programs.
Jobs with that degree are in the hotel industry, casinos, resorts, restaurants, cruises and sports tourism jobs that are often associated with local government. The interim dean noted the growth of Quixote Hospitality restaurants in Sumter and local sports tourism efforts associated with Palmetto Tennis Center, Bobby Richardson Park and Patriot Park.
Those hospitality management jobs are ever-growing in bigger cities as well, he added.
Introductory hospitality courses are available currently at the college, and Reisenauer expects full implementation of the fouryear program in 2027 or 2028.
That bachelor’s degree program will be housed in a new multi-story building project in downtown Sumter that will be a shared facility with South Carolina
ETV at a new site at the corner of Harvin and Liberty streets and near First Baptist Church. The building is expected to be completed in a couple years, he added.
In the partnership agreement, ETV Sumter will relocate from its older facility at 18 N. Harvin St. and have its studios, offices and production space on site.
USC Sumter will also move the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program -- which started in Fall 2021 with its first four-year graduates in 2023 – to the downtown building since it is currently at 30-plus students and outgrowing its current space on the Miller Road campus.
According to Reisenauer, the college is also in the early stages of possibly a Communications/Broadcasting degree program with USC Beaufort.
“We would use the new ETV building and that is something we are going to try to leverage in this process,” he said.
Reisenauer has served as the college’s interim dean since July 2024 when former Dean Michael Sonntag stepped down after a decade in the position. According to Reisenauer, a new full-time dean will be named this spring.
Through the USC Sumter Scholars Program and other scholarships, most students can go to the college with no out-of-pocket costs, he added. In that vein, USC Sumter distributed about $170,000 in merit-based scholarships last year through the college’s partnership with the USC Educational Foundation.
Specifically with the USC Sumter Scholars Program, if any high school senior in the college’s five-county service
area graduates in the top 25% of his/her class, USC Sumter will cover all remaining tuition after financial aid is applied. Most of those students would qualify for the $5,000 LIFE Scholarship from the state, Reisenauer said, and whether they receive any additional scholarships or not, the college covers any additional tuition or fees without any loan requirements.
The five-county service area includes Sumter, Clarendon, Lee, Williamsburg and Kershaw counties, he added.
“Our goal is to get students through USC Sumter with little to no student debt,” he added.
In addition to growing student counts and academic programs, the college is also expanding campus buildings.
In recent years, a newly upgraded Science Building opened, the entire Student Union was renovated and a major renovation of the auditorium in the Nettles Building (now called Carpenter Auditorium) was completed.
Currently, USC Sumter is in a “major expansion phase,” Reisenauer said, to include numerous new projects in addition to the downtown building in partnership with ETV Sumter.
The list includes a new outdoor classroom and a new Facilities Building is in the architectural stage and will house maintenance staff, maintenance equipment and a campus fleet bay area.
Also, a major expansion (renovations and new construction) of the Nettles Building is underway to meet the needs/ requirements of new Fire Ants athletic teams, he added. That includes a new
gym, new coaches’ offices, training rooms, weight room and locker rooms for studentathletes. A new campus recreational weight room for the general student body will also be constructed.
One other project of note as 2026 begins is a major facelift for the streetscape along Miller Road at the college’s entranceway. This will include new signage, architectural features and a major fountain renovation.
All the expansion efforts are funded through state appropriations and donations, he added.
According to Reisenauer, the college is also exploring the possibility of bringing student housing to campus.
“USC Sumter is going to look significantly different in five years,” he added.
Reisenauer said he is proud of all the expansions, whether it be facilities, students or programs to serve the local community.
“USC Sumter is excelling across the board – academically, student recruitment, programmatically, financially, physical plant, community relations and fundraising,” he said. “In every way, USC Sumter is very fortunate and grateful to be able to serve the Sumter community the way that we are.
“People talk about ‘Team Sumter’ from like a governmental standpoint, but I believe Team Sumter is much broader than that. USC Sumter is absolutely eager to play a role in Team Sumter. We are just trying to keep a community focus and be a part of the community.”
* New multi-story building downtown with SCETV
* New outdoor classroom
* New Facilities Building for maintenance department, campus fleet
* Nettles Building major expansion for athletic teams (new gym, coaches’ offices, training rooms, weight room, locker rooms) and new campus recreational weight room for general student body
* Second phase of softball field construction (press box, concession stand, bleachers, new entryway)
* Major facelift for streetscape along Miller Road
COMPLETED PROJECTS IN RECENT YEARS
* Newly upgraded science building
* First phase of softball field construction
* Dr. C. Les Carpenter Auditorium in Nettles Building
* Multiple parking lots
* Entire Student Union renovation (bookstore, café, additional eSports studio)
influential Sumterites at its annual gala
Among the beautiful greenery of downtown Sumter’s La Piazza, many of those essential to Sumter’s being gathered for the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce’s annual gala and award ceremony targeting some of Sumter’s most influential residents. It highlighted educators, business owners and economic developers; anyone who has changed Sumter
and its people for the better was honored.
The Philip L. Edwards Business Person of the Year award went to David Durham with First Citizens Bank. As of 2024, he was the only person in his company’s history to be awarded the Best Banker of the company’s top performers every year during his 27 years there.
Durham has navigated the ever-changing landscape of his industry, all while giving back to his community, serving on boards and sponsoring events.
Nonprofit of the Year went to Tandem Health.
Military Citizen of the Year went to the Flight Chief of the Operational Medicine Flight Jessica Pownell.
Elementary Educator of the Year went to Denise Robinson, the media specialist at Willow Drive Elementary School.
Middle School Educator of the Year went to Robert Easley, an eighth-grade science teacher at Hillcrest Middle School.
High School Educator of the Year went to Erik Hines, an orchestra teacher at Sumter High School.
Collegiate Educator of the Year went to Jennifer Tyree, a biology professor at Central Carolina Technical College.
Young Professional of the Year went to Tiffany Reed.
The Athena Women’s Leadership Award went to Erika Williams with Sumter EDGE. Williams recognized several gaps which needed to be addressed while working on marketing Sumter as one of the best places to do business.
The Chairman’s Award, given to someone dedicated to the Chamber of Commerce, went to Kim Hatchell, who has served two years as chairman of the board for Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce and always steps up to the plate when something needs to be done, former Chamber Chair Cheryl Baker said.
Tandem Health Main (Adult Medicine, Behavioral Health & Counseling, Immunology and Pharmacy)
1278 N. Lafayette Drive, Sumter, SC 29150 | (803) 774-4500
Tandem Health Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics
370 S. Pike West, Sumter, SC 29150 Gynecology (803) 774-6448 | Pediatrics (803) 774-7337
Tandem Health Dental
1105 N. Lafayette Drive, Suite C, Sumter, SC 29150 | (803) 774-3600
Tandem Health Family Medicine
Sumter
319 N. Main St., Sumter, SC 29150 | (803) 774-4500
Tandem Health Family Medicine
Pinewood
25 E. Clark St., Pinewood, SC 29125 | (803) 774-4501
Outpatient/Retail Pharmacy
*open to the public (803) 774-8772
Medical Office Building 1, Suite 220 115 N. Sumter St. Sumter, SC 29150
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m.
Prisma Health Cardiology - Sumter Medical Office Building 2, Suite 205 100 N. Sumter St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 434-3800
Prisma Health Cardiology - Hartsville 701 Medical Park Drive; # 301 Hartsville, SC (843) 383-5978
Prisma Health OB/GYN - Sumter
Medical Office Building 1, 115 N. Sumter St. Sumter, SC 29150
Suite 110: OB Office (803) 774-9650
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Prisma Health Surgery - Sumter
Medical Office Building 1, Suite 300
115 N. Sumter St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 775-1550
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Medical Office Building 1, Suite 115 115 N. Sumter St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 774-7546
Prisma Health Pain and Spine
Medical Office Building 2, Suite 320
100 N. Sumter St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 774-6824
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Medical Office Building 2, Suite 200
115 N. Sumter St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 774-7621
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115 N. Sumter St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 934-0810
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116 Hospital Square, Bishopville, SC (803) 484-9424
Prisma Health Pulmonology - Sumter
Prisma Health Infectious Disease - Sumter
Prisma Health Gastroenterology - Sumter
Prisma Health Neurology - Sumter
Medical Office Building 1, Suite 315 115 N. Sumter St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 774-9787
Colonial Family Practice (Main Office)
325 Broad St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 773-5227
Colonial Family Practice
304 W. Wesmark Blvd. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 773-5227
Colonial Family Practice
674 W. Liberty St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 773-5227
Colonial Urgent Care
327 Broad St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 773-5227
Colonial Pediatrics
742 W. Liberty St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 773-5227
Colonial Neurology
385 W. Wesmark Blvd. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 774-8240
Colonial Pain Management
325 Broad Street Suite 200 Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 773-5227
Colonial Behavioral Health
742 W. Liberty Street Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 848-0500
Palmetto Adult Medicine Sumter 1295 Wilson Hall Road, Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 905-6800
McLeod Cardiology Associates
540 Physicians Lane, Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 883-5171
McLeod Vascular Associates
540 Physicians Lane, Sumter, SC 29150 (843) 777-7043
McLeod Urology Associates Sumter
Michelle B. Miller, NP
540 Physicians Lane, Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 340-5100
McLeod Orthopaedics Associates
540 Physicians Lane, Sumter, SC 29150 (843) 777-7900
DAVIS CAMPBELL
‘The
Prisma Health Tuomey opens new behavioral health emergency care unit area
No longer will patients experiencing behavioral health or substance abuse crises be tied up in Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital’s general emergency department since a new, integrated care model came online early this year.
Through a $9.1 million grant, Tuomey has launched an innovative behavioral health emergency care unit area for patients in crisis and Prisma Health Midlands Psychiatric Emergency Services Director Dr. Nioaka Campbell and Tuomey Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Shana Davis, who will serve as daily provider lead, spoke before the center opened.
The grant was part of $45.5 million distributed from the state Department of Health and Human Services’ new behavioral health crisis stabilization program to 13 hospitals, according to a news release, and will speed care and decrease unnecessary hospital psychiatric admissions.
In the process, better and safer environments are created, Campbell said, where conditions can be stabilized so patients can more quickly return home or to a more appropriate care setting.
The new center area is an extension of Tuomey’s recently expanded emergency department, which was completed in 2025. Care providers noted the department is often at capacity.
Campbell explained that behavioral care patients in crisis may take much longer to assess than a standard emergency department visit that is typically one to two hours due to cooccurring substance use issues, social factors or other needs that require talking to family members or social services.
“A behavioral care visit in the emergency department could last 12 to 24 hours,” she said. “So, when these patients are
holding in the general emergency department, not only are they in an area that’s probably not the most calming or safe for them, but they are also using a room that could be seen for other emergencies.”
According to emergency department data, Tuomey averages 300 behavioral health visits per month, with 80% being adult patients and 20% pediatric.
In an emergent behavioral care visit to Tuomey with the new area, a patient will be evaluated medically and physically in the general emergency department in a short time and then moved over to the Behavioral Health Emergency Care Unit. There, the provider evaluation team will assess and make proper recommendations, Davis said.
Patients served in the new area may include an individual who is suffering from an emergency mental health need or in an acute crisis situation.
Following the evaluation, patients may be discharged home to be served by a local, outpatient resource partner or be transferred to an inpatient psychiatric unit for longer-term care outside of Sumter, she added.
The new designated behavioral health care area, which opened in the first quarter this year, can hold 16 total patients. Space accommodations are available for 12 adults and up to four children at the same time, or 16 adults if no children are present, Davis said. The center will operate 24/7, year-round.
The providers will work alongside emergency medicine teams
to stabilize patients quickly and the staff includes Davis, the fulltime psychiatric nurse practitioner, a part-time psychiatric nurse practitioner, adult psychiatrist, child psychiatrist, behavioral health counselors, social workers and nurses.
A six-member provider team will staff 12-hour shifts, she added.
Before renovation and construction, the new behavioral health center was the inpatient pharmacy area at Tuomey. The secure space includes a day area (or common room area) and consultation rooms to meet with families in a much more private environment, Campbell said, than a standard emergency room that may just have a curtain for separation.
“The new area is also set up for the nurses to be able to keep an eye on the patients the entire time,” she added, “versus in a main emergency room with curtains and the doors, where the nurses are running back and forth trying to check on the patients for safety issues every few minutes. Now, they can have a line of sight and see them constantly while they are being assessed.”
According to Davis, the new space and environment is also designed to be much more relaxed than the general emergency department.
She added that she thinks the new area “will provide the right space for the right conditions.”
“It’s a challenging time for folks and they need an area where they can be assessed and provided proper services,” Davis said. “And our team is very passionate about that.”
Since Tuomey’s emergency department is often at capacity, she added, the new space “will be better for everyone medically, psychiatrically and behaviorally since everyone will have their respective areas.”
Davis is a Sumter native who graduated from Sumter High School and Morris College in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in biology. She then went on to the Medical University of South Carolina and earned another bachelor’s in nursing and a master’s degree in nursing before becoming a nurse practitioner.
Before returning home in 2022 to take care of her parents, Davis worked at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, in a similar type behavioral care area, she said. While at Duke, she traveled back and forth to Charleston to earn her doctorate of nursing practice from MUSC in 2020 to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner.
While looking for jobs when she decided to move back locally, she said Prisma Health was looking at the same time for a psychiatric nurse practitioner to come and work at Tuomey and be local.
Davis added she thinks Sumter will greatly benefit from the new center to serve individuals with emergency behavioral care needs.
“This gives those patients a space to be fully assessed and evaluated in order to obtain the right resources,” she said. “Not every community has a service like this to ensure that those with behavioral health conditions are seen and heard at their biggest crisis time.”
$9,100,000
Grant for specialized care unit center
1998
Year that Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Shana Davis graduated from Sumter High
300
Average number of behavioral health visits per month in Tuomey’s emergency department
80%
Percentage of behavioral health visits monthly that are adults. (20% are pediatric.)
24
New center operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, yearround.
16
Patient capacity in new center area
6
Care team providers working each shift. (Two, 12-hour shifts per day.)
1
Center opens 1st quarter of this year
Source: Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital
Aftera brief stint playing in a band in Los Angeles and following college graduation, George Cain needed a job and he figured “people are always eating” so he got into the restaurant industry.
Cain slowly realized he was good at it, he said, and fast forward 24 years and now he is the chef at recently opened Gahnzales restaurant in downtown Sumter and also Sidebar, both Quixote Hospitality offerings that have helped create a buzz on the downtown scene.
Gahnzales chef returned to Sumter for ‘unfinished business.’
In those years since 2002, Cain learned the industry from the “bottom up,” he added, and credits one restaurant where he worked for a decade for helping him to advance his craft and become a chef, in charge of the entire operation.
At that Texas restaurant, he picked up some barbeque smoking skills, created his own Tex-Mex base of offerings and did a lot of seafood, all of which Cain brought to Sumter after being hired by Quixote in 2018 to run Sidebar and eventually open Gahnzales, which would be an upscale Tex-Mex restaurant.
After his third child was born here, Cain and his wife moved the family back to Austin, Texas, where he had
grown up in 2022 and thought that returning home would be the ideal fit for the family.
However, he said, Austin had changed tremendously from his youth when it still had a small-town feel. Through the decades, Austin has experienced big-city growth including heavy traffic and high prices.
Cain longed for his kids to grow up in a smaller and less-hectic setting -- like he did -- with more family values, missed Sumter and also missed the church home that he had developed locally.
Additionally, he said that he had some “unfinished business here” since the Tex-Mex restaurant had not opened yet.
“Sidebar had been a big part of me for four years and I put a lot of love into that, mastered my smoking skills there, and the restaurant had grown in popularity,” Cain said. “I also appreciate all that Greg and Danielle Thompson have done downtown, but then opening this restaurant was the main catalyst for me coming back again because it was something we had been talking about since 2018.”
He and his family moved back in late 2023 and in two years Gahnzales opened in October 2025 at 4 W. Hampton Ave.
Now, Cain is the chef and in charge of both restaurants.
With higher-end Tex-Mex offerings and strong seafood options, Cain said he thinks Gahnzales has a good balance of everything on the menu.
“I did a lot of seafood before I originally moved here, so that is why Gahnzales has a strong seafood backing,” he added. “Our design of this restaurant and also our voice for it was to still have the Tex-Mex, still have all those things that you love like tacos, quesadillas and enchiladas, but also being able to come in and get oysters on the half-shell, grilled oysters, redfish, snapper and things like that.”
All the tacos from the popular “Taco Tuesday” at Sidebar have moved over to Gahnzales now, Cain said, and people can get them every day that the new restaurant is open.
“So if you wanted to come in and just have a couple tacos and a margarita, you can do that,” he added. “If you also wanted to come and have some oysters on the half-shell, some lamb, some scallops, you could do that as well. That’s kind of the idea of it – just like Sidebar – it’s for everybody and you can get anything here.”
Quixote Hospitality CEO Danielle Thompson said the new Tex-Mex restaurant works well in tandem with the smokers used at Sidebar, and Gahnzales’ focus is on fresh products with a scratch kitchen and that stays in line with the Quixote brand of restaurants.
“We knew we had to find the right chef and when we recruited George several years ago to operate Sidebar it was
with the intention to also do a Tex-Mex restaurant,” she said.
Gahnzales has a “Texas flair,” Thompson added, with a lot of meats coming off the smoker to go along with the traditional Mexican fare, like tacos and enchiladas.
Cain also does the beans and the rice for side dishes, and Mexican side salads and guacamole, salsa and other items which are made fresh from scratch daily.
According to Thompson, he has also perfected the short rib that he cooks on the grill.
She added that she is happy with the product that Cain puts out, and Gahnzales has been well received in the community.
Customer favorites so far include the fajitas, tacos and fish on the wood-fire grill, Thompson said. Regarding drinks, a margarita with smoke-infused pineapple “creates a great cocktail that is universally liked,” she added.
“I think what’s most interesting about Gahnzales is a lot of times when people go to restaurants, they get stuck on ordering just the same one or two items,” Thompson said. “Here, people will really try something different and they are not disappointed.”
With the additions in 2025 of Gahnzales and also Confectionary & Company, at 10 E. Hampton Ave., Quixote Hospitality now has eight restaurants, seven of which are downtown. Its other restaurants include Hamptons, Rafters, Sidebar, Cut Rate, Sumter Original Brewery and the restaurant at Quixote Club golf course, which is on the west side of town at 875 Pinewood Road.
She added that her hospitality group has been “very intentional” in its product mix it wanted to provide with the restaurants downtown, but this is it as far as restaurant offerings.
Cain said he has been pleased with Quixote’s work.
“We’re trying to bring great options to downtown so local residents don’t have to go Columbia or Charleston or elsewhere to get good food,” he said. “We want people to stay here and especially come to any of our Quixote locations. And, we want to also help people realize you can get everything downtown now.”
Gahnzales is open for dinner five days a week and its hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
ADDRESS: 4 W. Hampton Ave.
HOURS: Tuesday through Thursday, 5 to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5 to 10 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday RESERVATIONS: Through Resy or walk-ins.
Sugameli calls her new business “kind of a onestop shop on the way wherever you’re going.”
After graduating in 2014 from The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, and working about a decade in restaurants and bakeries, Quixote Hospitality recruited Sugameli about two years ago to help open and operate Confectionary and Company.
At 10 E. Hampton Ave., the retail establishment opened in November 2025 and is a great spot for getting a bottle of
From trend-setting women's fashion to home decor and gifts.
Small-business owner
Kristi Bohnen moved her gift, jewelry and ladies apparel store, Silver Paper, to the corner of North Main and Hampton Avenue about a year ago in February 2025.
As far as gift items, the store has home accessories, picture frames,
bath and body, art, lamps, pillows, “a little bit of everything,” Bohnen said. There is also a lot of jewelry and ladies’ apparel.
Silver Paper’s women’s clothing covers all price ranges, she added, and is a “fashion-forward apparel store” with a focus on being on the fore-end of
Quixote Hospitality's latest venture delivers bakery items, cafe favorites and specialty retail under one roof.
wine and a charcuterie board, pastries and bread and more, she said.
Grab-and-go pastries include muffins, scones, croissants, quiche and also healthier options, such as yogurt parfaits and energy and egg bites. Lunch options include Italian sandwiches on house-made sourdough bread, turkey wraps, seasonal salads and soups, Sugameli added.
The retail side offers a high-end variety of goods.
“You can get anything from drink mixes, which are super cool, bottles of wine and it’s a great place to pick up a gift,” she said.
Gift options include cookware, bowls and gift sets. Gift wrapping is offered for everything.
Business hours are Tuesday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The operation is closed Sunday and Monday.
“We try to get apparel before other retailers get it,” Bohnen said.
Formerly on Bultman Drive for about 24 years, she added that she was ready for a change in locations and when the former Alderman Drug Co. closed at 42 N. Main, Bohnen said she felt that spot could work for her business.
She said lots of Shaw Air Force Base families and other local people visit her store downtown and her longstanding customers still
From chicken salad by the quart to rotating hot plates, the new bistro serves comfort food with a family touch.
Co-owners and motherand-daughter team Rozeta and DevinFay Eargle also love downtown since they opened Honey Hive inside the Naomi and Warner China and Gift Shop in December 2025.
At 13 N. Main St., the new bistro’s tagline is “Southern Roots, Homemade Charm” and offers breakfast and lunch with business hours from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
According to Rozeta Eargle, various pastries are offered for breakfast and “Honey Hive Specialties” for lunch include chicken salad and pimento cheese.
They sell those favorites in both pint or quart sizes, and the bistro also offers chicken salad sandwiches.
Salads, wraps and other sandwiches are also on the lunch menu as well as a “hot daily special,” she added. Those specials include hamburger steak, macaroni, biscuits, rice and gravy and also garlic parmesan chicken, twicebaked potato and a bread.
“Each day, it’s something different,” Eargle said. “People call in the morning and ask what the hot special is, and we also post a video on Facebook every day.”
frequent as well.
“I really like the direction that downtown Sumter is moving in,” Bohnen said. “I have a totally different feel being downtown than being on Bultman. I feel it is much more of a community atmosphere. There are constantly people walking out on the streets downtown who I know, and I feel more a part of the community.”
Silver Paper’s hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Joy Gallery Salon: At 38 N. Main, the business is part hair salon and part art gallery, according to owner Donny Floyd. Website: joygallerysalon.com.
Quixote Lofts: Another new offering from Quixote Hospitality, the lofts are second-story boutique hotel rooms on Main Street above Silver Paper, Joy and Sidebar.
Pink & Gold Market: Women’s clothing store at 3 N. Main. Store is owner Dana Lane’s second location. Other is 721 Bultman Drive, Ste. A.
Choose local, choose fresh.
South Carolina has nearly 25,000 farms that cover about 5 million acres. See what’s in season now, as well as where you can buy local all over the state, by going to certifiedsc.com.
Agriculture is a vital part of our state’s economy. The industry impacts every resident, and the South Carolina Department of Agriculture strives to help more people connect with agriculture. Many farmers have joined the effort by diversifying their operations through agritourism, including the department’s current list of local agritourism farms.
200 Miller Road
Founded in 2017, the Sumter Farmers Market offers local farmers, artisans, bakers, food trucks and other vendors without a storefront a venue to sell their products directly to the consumer. Produce farmers grow at least 75-80% of what they sell, and livestock farmers humanely raise their animals on pasture with no antibiotics or added growth hormones. The market is governed by its own board and held weekly on Fridays from noon to 5 p.m. from April 1 through Nov. 18.
Follow them on Facebook for vendor updates at facebook.com/ sumterfarmersmarket.
312 Manning Ave.
This market offers fresh produce and other craft and community items seasonally in an area of Sumter that does not have nearby access to fresh produce. There’s usually someone cooking hot meals at the market. SFMNP senior and WIC vouchers are accepted. The market is open June-October on Fridays between 2 and 6 p.m.
GAMECOCK CITY FARMERS MARKET
853 Broad St.
Outside Central Carolina Technical College’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology Training Center
Sumter’s newest open-air market for local farmers, vendors and craftsmen welcomed about 400 guests to peruse booths, tents and stands selling locally grown and made produce and products on its opening day, June 1, 2024.
The market runs every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is continuing to add vendors so there is a little bit of something for everybody, from fresh fruits and vegetables to handmade jewelry.
COLEMAN FAMILY FARMS
2155 Lloyd Drive, Sumter
– Attractions: Choose n’ cut Christmas trees, gift shop, U-pick; Direct sales: eggs, baked goods
FORESTER FARMS
993 Antlers Drive, Sumter
GREENFIELD FARM
4585 Spencer Road, Rembert
– Attractions: educational seminars, hayride, horseback riding/lessons, live entertainment, trail rides, wagon rides; Accommodations: campsites/RV
HILTON FARMS
2691 Wedgefield Road, Sumter
– Attractions: U-pick, roadside market; Direct sales: organic blueberries, pecans, Bermuda hay
JUDSON FAMILY FARM
190 Linran Lane, Sumter
– Attractions: farm animals, bird watching, camp fires, corn/crop maze, cow/goat milking, school activities, farm-to-table meals, hayride, native plants/ecology, summer camps, cemetery; Accommodations: shortterm rental cottage; Direct sales: meat/chicken/eggs, homemade soap/lotions, pumpkins, straw bales, honey; event space
RED BARN PONY PARK
1955 Byrd Road, Dalzell
– Attractions: hayride, horseback riding/lessons, trail rides, therapeutic riding; event space
ROGERS VEGETABLE FARM
4515 Cotton Acres Road, Sumter
THE TREEHOUSE NURSERY AND FEED SUPPLY
3750 Thomas Sumter Highway, Dalzell
– Attractions: gift shop, tours/guided; Direct sales: bedding plants, shrubs and trees, potted plants, local crafts
* For more information, go to https://agriculture. sc.gov.
DORR FARMS – 5225 Dorr Acres Road, Gable –
Attractions: farm animals, corn/crop maze, hayride, U-pick, pumpkin patch, roadside market; Direct sales: fresh fruit and produce, homemade soap/ lotions, pumpkins, corn, straw bales, honey, eggs; event space
STORY BOOK FARM – 1485 Oswego Road, Sumter
– Attractions: agriculture museum, farm animals, camp fires, school activities, greenhouse, hayride, pumpkin patch, roadside market, storytelling, summer camps, trail rides; Direct sales: fresh fruit and vegetables, pumpkins; event space
Swan Lake Iris Gardens’ playground renovation is underway and will feature 6-foot swans, an alligator to play on and a large slide.
Harriette “Sister” Heath Wimberly was presented with South Carolina’s highest civilian honor, the Order of the Palmetto, during her retirement ceremony from Friends of Swan Lake on May 22, 2025, at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, the site for which she has donated countless hours of her time through the years.
The playground at the gardens was also named Sister Wimberly Playground in her honor during the ceremony.
Wimberly was the founder of the Friends of Swan Lake group in 2000, a local volunteer organization dedicated to the maintenance, beautification and improvement of the gardens. The group has overseen many projects and fundraising efforts during the past quarter century, including the restoration of a Sumter fire truck that has been the centerpiece of the playground on the site and bringing a Grainger McKoy sculpture, “Recovery,” to the gardens.
Wimberly’s grandfather, A.T. Heath, donated the south side of what became Swan Lake Iris Gardens in 1938. According to previous Item reporting, Heath stipulated “that it be developed only under H.C. Bland’s supervision. Technically, the Bland, or north side, is Swan Lake, as he named it, and the Heath, or south side, is called Iris Gardens. With the joining of the two, we get the official name, Swan Lake-Iris Gardens.”
In 2019, then-Sumter Mayor Joe McElveen declared May 25 that year as “Sister” Heath Wimberly Day to recognize her and awarded her the Gamecock City Society Award earlier that May, the highest honor a citizen can receive from the city.
“I’ve seen the most beautiful changes in this treasure that Sumter has,” Wimberly said. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. Mr. Heath’s five children at one point were going to build houses here, but he decided it would mean much more to us forever if it was given to the city as a garden,” she said at the time.
Wimberly said the Friends of Swan Lake meets each month to discuss work that needs to be done there, and she often walks among the gardens to enjoy the space. She estimated in 2004 that there were 1,000 members involved in Friends of Swan Lake.
Three procurement contracts were awarded in November for the improvements and expansions to Swan Lake, totaling about $3.87 million. The funding sources were a mix of Capital Sales Tax revenue, state grants, Local Hospitality Fund and Private Sector funds.
tradition symbolized redesignation. The ceremony included furling (rolling up) and casing (covering in a sleeve) the 25th Attack Group and 432nd Maintenance Group unit flags, then unfurling the 25th Attack Wing flag, which Maj. Gen. David B. Lyons passed to Howell to officially give him command of the 25th Attack Wing.
Chief Master Sgt. Jonna J. Martin also participated in the flag ceremony. She will serve as command chief of the 25th Attack Wing, a role in which she will be the principal enlisted advisor to the commander and develop quality-of-life initiatives, combat readiness standards and developmental support strategies.
After Howell officially assumed command of the 25th Attack Wing, his airmen updated their uniforms with new patches, updated decals were added to the MQ-9 aircraft flown in from Creech Air Force Base in Nevada, and they gave their new commander a first salute.
Howell profusely thanked his family, fellow airmen and other attendees, emphasizing the combined time and effort that culminated in this redesignation.
Lyons also commended the new wing’s
“Men and women of the 25th, I am incredibly proud to stand alongside you,” he said. “Thank you for your unwavering commitment to excellence and your countless sacrifices.”
The ceremony was followed by a reception during which attendees
could shake hands with Howell, enjoy refreshments and look over the MQ-9 drone.
From group to wing: How the 25th will transform
While the 25th gained six units and will swell to 10 squadrons with about 2,000 personnel, there will not be an influx of new service members into Sumter or ensuing immediate economic impacts. This is because the redesignation largely involves reorganizing existing units and personnel and also because its personnel will be spread across four locations.
What will fundamentally change are the phases airmen cycle through.
Readiness training will double to be six months long, allowing more time for airmen to reset (including taking leave time), train, prepare and certify for combat. The next phase is available to commit, when the force will execute flying operations in support of global taskings.
Altogether, the 25th Attack Wing will execute these operations 24/7, 365.
Lyons praised the new wing, saying, “Our nation relies on you every single day, and you never fail to deliver. Keep up the outstanding work and know that America loves you and supports you, and it’s grateful for all you do.”
No new MQ-9 drone airmen to Sumter, but deployment prep time to double
The squadron was organized Feb. 20, 1918, as the 77th Aero Squadron at Waco Field, Texas. The squadron was demobilized in November 1918, but was reactivated and consolidated with the 77th Observation Squadron in October 1927. In 1929, the squadron was redesignated the 77th Pursuit Squadron and reorganized as one of the first tactical units of the 20th Pursuit Group at Mather Field, California, with an officer strength of four. www.shaw.af.mil
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We were able to do that mission, so I think the fact we were able to bring everybody out there, we were able to bring everybody home safely, is probably the thing that I would like to highlight the most across the team.
For six months, Shaw’s 77th Fighter Squadron and 77th Fighter Generation Squadron were deployed in the Pacific theater on a mission far away from their families, their beds and home-cooked meals. Now, the 77th - also called the Gamblers - are back in Sumter, where they were met with a warm welcome.
“All of us are extremely excited to be back,” 77th Fighter Generation Squadron Commander Caleb Murphy said. “It’s always tough to be apart from family, so the No. 1 thing is we’re all excited to be back amongst our friends and family and get reintegrated.”
While the squadrons were gone, Sumter locals helped in the ways they could and sometimes without even knowing it. 77th Fighter Squadron Commander Daniel Trueblood, call sign Rage, said even local events such as Oktoberfest and other festivals give the families of those deployed the opportunity to go out into a welcoming environment and provide a distraction.
“When [military families] have that, when they feel that sense of community from their
neighbors, from their team, from their town, if you will, it allows us to focus, so that way we’re able to get our teams to focus on the things that they need to be doing,” Trueblood said. “So even the little things of offering our families opportunities to get out and socialize was really beneficial and was really instrumental to us having a successful deployment.”
Trueblood said Sumter lived up to its motto, “Uncommon Patriotism.”
On the base side, Murphy said the chapel team hosted dinners to support and give back to the Gamblers’ family members.
Support also comes from honorary commanders. Honorary commanders are not commanders in the same sense that Murphy and Trueblood are, but they are a civilian counterpart commander. They work closely with military commanders to become familiar with the unit’s mission and personnel. The honorary commanders already have a tether to Sumter and can make the units known to Sumterites while supporting the unit from within as well.
You may have seen signs around Sumter welcoming Shaw’s 77th Fighter Squadron home from a successful mission; those are an example of what honorary commanders do to build community support.
While they worked in areas like Japan and Thailand, the squadrons weren’t only performing a flying or maintenance mission, according to Murphy, but they were also immersed in the
Murphy said.
Trueblood said that in the Pacific theater, the goal is a free and open Indo-Pacific, and our forces are out there to help our partners establish rules and norms, as well as provide a presence for deterrence.
“We were able to do that mission, so I think the fact we were able to bring everybody out there, we were able to bring everybody home safely, is probably the thing that I would like to highlight the most across the team,” Trueblood continued.
At times, depending on where they were, Trueblood and Murphy had between 330 and 600 people working for them, with all of them displaying incredible dedication and teamwork, according to Trueblood.
Right now, the squadrons are going through transitions, with Murphy and Trueblood leaving command and moving on to new assignments this summer, but the commanders are leaving on a good note.
“We’re just incredibly awed at how the team came together,” Murphy said. “There were a lot of challenges pulling off a deployment like what we just did, and the team gelled, they went
Miracle Park at Patriot Park, coming Summer 2026.
Welcoming play time for differently abled and special needs children and their families.
Sumter’s newest large industrial employer is up and running and completed the production trial stage with its rare-earth permanent magnets for electric vehicles and U.S. defense contractors and has made national headlines along the way.
The manufacturer is eVAC Magnetics in Pocotaligo Industrial Park off U.S. 521, near Continental Tire, and the operation has about 100 employees as of mid-November, according to Operations Manager Travis Norton, who said the company plans to ramp up significantly in 2026 once the trials are complete and full production begins.
Just shy of two years ago, in December 2023,
German manufacturer VAC — or Vacuumschmelze — announced it was locating its North American headquarters in Sumter for the company’s high-end, rare-earth permanent magnets for commercial customers.
At the time, VAC was the only producer of those permanent magnets in the Western Hemisphere. Most magnets for motors in electric vehicles are produced in China, and the Sumter announcement has been part of a national initiative to reduce that overseas dependency, given trade and tariff disagreements, VAC CEO Erik Eschen has said.
The Dec. 13, 2023, industrial announcement was a $506 million capital investment into the production facility and 300 new jobs for Sumter County within five years.
On Nov. 17, 2025,, The Sumter Item took part in a tour of the new stateof-the-art industrial facility, which is 500,000 square feet.
Norton said eVAC should easily meet those job count totals, as it produces permanent magnets for numerous models in General Motors’ electric vehicle platform and U.S. military defense applications.
eVAC has shipped its first neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) permanent magnets to customers and also announced it now aims to employ 1,000 or more people in coming years, a jump from the previous goal of 300 jobs in five years.
On Nov. 7, 2025, U.S. Treasury
Secretary Scott Bessent visited the operation and emphasized its importance to the domestic supply chain for commercial customers and national defense. He also reaffirmed the Trump administration’s commitment to support the industry and the factory’s production of the rareearth permanent magnets.
The Item and FOX Business News covered the event, and Bessent said Sumter’s newest manufacturer was an example of how the U.S. is “ending China’s chokehold on our supply chain.”
“We’re finally becoming independent again, thanks to companies like eVAC,” he added.
According to Bessent, different varieties of the rare-earth permanent magnets can be components in numerous products from wind turbines to fighter jets.
eVAC started hiring production and maintenance workers in late 2024, Norton said, and some initial hires traveled to Germany for training at VAC.
Of the facility’s 100 current employees, about 70 are mainline workers and 30 are management. Some German colleagues from VAC are here to help with initial operations and training, but they are not included in the job totals, he added.
As far as factory workers and skill sets, eVAC is looking for workers with five to 10 years of advanced manufacturing experience, maintenance professionals separating from military service and recent Central Carolina Technical College graduates in Mechatronics, Norton said. That program of study and two-year associate degree is one of the fastest-growing degrees in the country and focuses on mechanical skills, electrical, robotics and industrial maintenance.
Graduates of the other industrial technology programs at CCTC could also possibly be a fit.
The facility’s half-billion dollar in capital investment is largely in machinery and robotics.
Pay for employees is above median local wages for production workers and more than $20 per hour, he added. Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, eVAC will eventually
become a 24/7 operation with three shifts. At startup in late 2025, it is just one shift.
According to Norton, since VAC has more than 40 years of experience with rare-earth permanent magnets, entry into the production space is difficult for those that do not have that same level of expertise.
Electric vehicles, or EVs, have not taken off like some projected a decade ago, but Norton said eVAC’s demand for its rare-earth magnets is solid.
“While we get questioned about EV demand and acceptance, we have no risk to our demand,” he said. “Demand for our product remains extremely high, and it is a continued growth sector.”
Some production workers, like Sumter resident Karyn Sabb, moved to the company after years of experience with other local manufacturers. Sabb is a machine operator in the grinding process for magnets to precise specifications. A Clarendon County native, she also has an associate degree from Central Carolina in Machine Tool Technology.
Sumter native Jett Wheeler served six years in the U.S. Air Force in civil engineering as an electrician before moving back home in the spring to be closer to family.
He said he heard about the new plant and opportunities with eVAC and is now an electrician for the facility and machinery. It is his first job in manufacturing.
“I thought it was pretty interesting,” Wheeler said, “and might be a good opportunity to get in on the ground floor before things got up and running and see the operation work its way up.
“I am excited to be here, and we have good people here, and the company seems to care about its employees a whole lot. I can see myself staying here a while.”
From the initial groundbreaking in March 2024 to beginning operations in October 2025 was a 20-month timeframe, and Norton -- an Air Force veteran also -- added he is proud the plant’s workforce was able to build a facility of eVAC’s capabilities in that time period.
SUMTER COUNTY VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS OFFICE
• Patricia Jefferson, director
• 141 N. Main St. Sumter, SC 29150
• (803) 436-2310
• Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m.
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION REPRESENTING SUMTER COUNTY
Lindsey Graham (R)
290 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-5972
508 Hampton St., Suite 202 Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 933-0112
www.lgraham.senate.gov/ public/
Tim Scott (R) 104 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-6121
1901 Main St., Suite 1425 Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 771-6112 www.scott.senate.gov/
Ralph Norman (R) 569 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-5501
454 S. Anderson Road, Suite 302 B Rock Hill, SC 29730 (803) 327-1114 norman.house.gov/
James E. “Jim” Clyburn (D) 200 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-3315 1225 Lady St., Suite 200 Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 799-1100 clyburn.house.gov/
STATE SENATORS
To email a member of the state Senate: bit. ly/2C2JWGK
Jeffrey Graham (D-Camden) District 35
Kershaw, Lee, Richland and Sumter
508 Gressette Bldg. Columbia, SC 29201
Business: (803) 212-6008
Message: https://www. scstatehouse.gov/email. php?T=M&C=703124916
Jeff Zell (R-Sumter)
Calhoun, Clarendon, Orangeburg and Sumter
Business: (803) 212-6040
Message: https://www. scstatehouse.gov/email. php?T=M&C=1999431789
STATE REPRESENTATIVES
To email a member of the state House of Representatives: bit.ly/2s7h1R6
District 50
Kershaw, Lee, Sumter 422B Blatt Bldg. Columbia, SC 29201
Will Wheeler III resigned in January of 2025.A special election to fill the seat was scheduled for June.
David Weeks, (D-Sumter)
District 51
Sumter
308D Blatt Bldg. Columbia, SC 29201
Sumter Office: (803) 7755856
Columbia Office: (803) 734-3102
Home: (803) 775-4228
Fawn Pedalino (R-Manning)
District 64
Clarendon, Sumter 422D Blatt Bldg. Columbia, SC 29201
Business: (803) 212-6929
Home: (803) 938-3087
Murrell Smith (R-Sumter) Speaker of the House District 67 Sumter
525B Blatt Bldg. Columbia, SC 29201
Sumter Office: (803) 7782471
Columbia Office: (803) 7343144 Home: (803) 469-4416
SUMTER COUNTY COUNCIL
Council meets at 6 p.m. every second and fourth Tuesday at 13 E. Canal St.
Carlton Washington (D) District 1 13 E. Canal St. Sumter, SC 29150 Home: (803) 436-2102 cwashington@ sumtercountysc.org
Artie Baker (R)
District 2
3680 Bakersfield Lane
Dalzell, SC 29040
Home: (803) 469-3638 council@sumtercountysc.org
Jimmy Byrd Jr. (R) Vice Chairman
District 3
P.O. Box 1913
Sumter, SC 29151
Mobile: (803) 468-1719
Fax: (803) 436-2108 jbyrd@sumtercountysc.org
Charles Edens (R)
District 4
3250 Home Place Road Sumter, SC 29150 Home: (803) 775-0044 Mobile: (803) 236-5759 charlestedens@gmail.com
Vivian Fleming-McGhaney (D)
District 5
9770 Lynches River Road Lynchburg, SC 29080
Home: (803) 437-2797
Business: (803) 495-3247 vmcghaney@ sumtercountysc.org
James T. "Jim" McCain Jr. (D)
Chairman District 6
317 W. Bartlette St. Sumter, SC 29150 Home: (803) 773-2353 Cell: (803) 607-2777 jmccain@sumtercountysc. org
Tasha Gardner-Greene District 7 council@sumtercountysc.org
SUMTER CITY COUNCIL Council meets on the first Tuesday at 1 p.m. and the third Tuesday at 5 p.m. at the Sumter Opera House, 21 N. Main St., 4th floor. Members are nonpartisan.
David Merchant Mayor 26 Paisley Park Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 773-1086 dmerchant@sumtersc.gov
Anthony Gibson Ward 1 agibson@sumtersc.gov
James Blassingame Ward 2
3060 Foxcroft Circle, Sumter 29154 (803) 840-1029 jblassingame@sumtersc.gov
Calvin Hastie Sr. Ward 3 810 S. Main St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 774-7776 chastie@sumtersc.gov
Rebecca Lynn Kennedy Ward 4 rkennedy@sumtersc.gov
Colin Davis Ward 5 720 Oak Brook Blvd. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 494-3337 cdavis@sumtersc.gov
Gifford Shaw Ward 6 28 Paisley Park Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 773-5918 gshaw@sumtersc.gov
SUMTER SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Attend virtually by searching “Sumter School District Board Meetings” on YouTube, or watch on Facebook @SumterSCSchools. Trustees are non partisan.
Brian Alston District 1 Vice Chairman 3385 North Kings Hwy. 261 Rembert, SC 29128 (803) 572-1938 brian.alston@sumterschools. net
Brittany English District 2 6760 Spring Hill Rd. Rembert, SC 29128 803-968-8899 brittany.english@ sumterschools.net
Ralph Canty Sr. District 3 104 S. Salem Ave. Sumter, SC 29150 803-983-1469 ralph.canty@sumterschools.net
Tarah Cousar Johnson District 4 4770 Narrow Paved Rd. Lynchburg, SC 29080 843-412-4811 tarah.cousarjohnson@ sumterschools.net
Shawn Ragin Chairman District 5 3835 Quiet Court Sumter, SC 29150 803-464-6859 Shawnragin89@gmail.com
Matthew "Mac" McLeod District 6 2985 Bruce Circle Sumter, SC 29154 (803) 938-2701/Cell mac.mcleod@ sumterschools.net
Gloria Rose Lee Clerk District 7 710 Shepard St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 464-6414 Gloria.lee@sumterschools.net
Phil Leventis District 8 935 Andiron Drive Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 968-6185 phil.Leventis@ sumterschools.net
Bonnie Disney District 9 Swan Lake Dr. Sumter, SC 29150 803-983-0268 bonnie.disney@ sumterschools.net
Expanded
Investments
