Latest issueSumter turnout hit 60%, and a veterans job fair is TuesdayRead now

60°CloudyHigh 83° · Low 65°

  1. 6 a.m.Cloudy.60°
  2. NoonCloudy.79°
  3. 6 p.m.Cloudy.75°
  4. MidnightCloudy.67°

Sunrise 6:44 a.m. Sunset 5:25 p.m.

Forecasted byThe Weather Channel

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  1. 6 a.m.Cloudy.60°
  2. NoonCloudy.79°
  3. 6 p.m.Cloudy.75°
  4. MidnightCloudy.67°
  1. TodayCloudy. High 83° Low 65°
  2. ThuPartly cloudy. High 82° Low 66°
  3. FriThunderstorms. High 79° Low 55°
  4. SatPartly cloudy. High 73° Low 43°
  5. SunPartly cloudy. High 70° Low 42°

Sunrise 6:44 a.m. Sunset 5:25 p.m.

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Wednesday, November 4, 2026

Liberty STEAM plans a second K-8 school near Shaw

Plus, a data center ordinance and where Sumter-area teams stand in the football playoffs.

The 5AM Sumter team7 sources3 min read

News Notes · More

Charter school

After its state authorizer conditionally approved the application, Sumter's first tuition-free public charter school is officially expanding. Officials say the second Liberty STEAM K-8 campus, in western Sumter County near Shaw Air Force Base, is set to open in 3.5 years, and both schools will feed into one high school. The Sumter Item

Data centers

At its Tuesday, Oct. 27 meeting, Sumter County Council passed the third reading of a data center ordinance. The ordinance requests that standards be placed around the development of data centers in Sumter County. The Sumter Item

Crestwood

Crestwood rolled past Lakewood on Friday to close the regular season. The Knights now prepare to host Aynor in the playoffs. The Sumter Item

Three Sumter-area teams head into the playoffs

TeamFridayNext
CrestwoodRolled past LakewoodWill host Aynor
ManningLost 21-14 to Marlboro CountyAt Battery Creek
Lee AcademyWon 29-0 over Carolina AcademySCISA 1A playoffs

Manning

Manning fell 21-14 to Marlboro County on Friday. The Monarchs now hit the road to Battery Creek for their playoff opener. The Sumter Item

Lee Academy

Lee Academy shut out Carolina Academy 29-0 on Friday to finish the regular season. The team is heading into the 1A playoffs. The Sumter Item

Home

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Asked

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Asked

Which playoff game are you most likely to follow this week?

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Quoted

You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.

— Jack London

Things to Do

Things to Do

Sumter, SC

Wednesday, Nov. 4

See every Sumter eventFeature your event

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Asked

What's on your list for Saturday, Nov. 7?

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Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

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Jobs

Jobs

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Around the Block

Around the Block

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Lost and found

This girl I picked up on the side of the road she’s 7 maybe 8 years old she’s blind in one eye going blind in the second.

“She’s so sweet. She’s at my house right now but need to find the owner or find a loving home she’s doing good with my Cavapoo, and she did good on the car ride home. She’s so sweet. She definitely doesn’t like to be left alone.”

— A neighbor, Alice Dr
Photo from the neighbor’s post

14 likes · 28 comments

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The Wrap

Two middle schools settle it tonight: Alice Drive and Ebenezer meet in the Sumter Middle Schools Football Championship at Sumter Memorial Stadium. Alice Drive fans sit on the home side and Ebenezer fans on the visitor side. Fans can't cross the field. Bring your loudest voice.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Sumter votes today, and council eyes a Patriot Park amphitheater

Read yesterday’s edition

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Every source in this edition7 links · 3 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. The Sumter Itemtheitem.com
  3. The Sumter Itemtheitem.com
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  5. The Sumter Itemtheitem.com
  6. The Sumter Itemtheitem.com
  7. Sumter events calendar5amsumtersc.com

Past issues

  1. Sat., Nov. 7Sumter turnout hit 60%, and a veterans job fair is Tuesday
  2. Fri., Nov. 6Sumter hosts Ashley Ridge in the playoffs tonight
  3. Thurs., Nov. 5Sumter's Veterans Day Parade is Wed., Nov. 11, plus council dates
  4. Tues., Nov. 3Sumter votes today, and council eyes a Patriot Park amphitheater
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5AM Sumterto me · Wed., Nov. 46:00 a.m.

Liberty STEAM plans a second K-8 school near Shaw

Plus, a data center ordinance and where Sumter-area teams stand in the football playoffs.

The TLDR

  1. Liberty STEAM will add a second K-8 school near Shaw
  2. County Council passes third reading of data center ordinance
  3. Crestwood hosts Aynor; Manning visits Battery Creek
Read this edition

Around Sumter

From The Sumter Item, gathered by 6AM News, 6AM City’s local news service.

More local news
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    Michele Demery defeated incumbent Fawn Pedalino in the S.C. House of Representative District 64 race. According to official results, in Sumter, Demery received 2,003 votes (64.5%), winning over Pedalino's 1,096 votes (35.3%). Pedalino led in …