Daily editionSunday, August 23rd, 2026
Good morning, Sumter.
The 5AM Sumter Team
Here’s your local news at a glance for Sunday, the 23rd of August.
Community
Sumter County Sheriff's Office celebrated K-9 Tara's retirement after eight years of service with Sgt. Peyton Way.
Tara earned a strong reputation for tracking and community outreach and now enjoys a peaceful life at home (with family and horses) while Sgt. Way trains a new partner.
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Culture
Sumter Museum will host a Lunch and Learn event on Aug. 27 at noon + award-winning author and journalist Andrew Lawler, who will discuss his newest book.
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Education
The Sumter school board’s Policy Committee will meet Monday as new meeting changes since July reserve the second meeting of each month exclusively for committee sessions; only policy committee trustees will attend.
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USC Sumter students returned to class on Aug. 18 and enjoyed campus grounds and amenities+ marking a positive start to the academic year.
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Health
Missy Corrigan (YMCA of Sumter CEO) explains that inflammation helps repair wounds but when it becomes chronic it can harm the body.
Residents are urged to get enough sleep, exercise, and eat balanced meals to support natural healing.
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Sports
Lee Central football kicked off its season at Military Magnet on Friday evening with a 48-0 shutout win; the Stallions dodged rain on the field and set a strong tone for the season.
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The Sumter High football team lost its opening game to Summerville Friday night in head coach Drew Marlowe’s debut as injuries sidelined key players—limiting a promising start.
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Wilson Hall football opened its season Saturday, Aug. 22 by facing Orangeburg Prep at its home field — team officials say the game set a promising tone for upcoming contests.
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The Lakewood football team earned its first win under coach Jerran Devlin by beating Andrews 28-26 on Friday night.
Brooks and Nesmith powered key scoring plays during the game in Sumter.
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