The Sumter Item - South Carolina High School Softball & Community Events - May 16-19, 2026

Oct 13, 2026

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Coverage highlights local South Carolina community and school-related developments during May 16–19, 2026. Reporting explains how Sumter’s new public charter school led by Shawn Ragin’s Ragin’s Rise Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute will delay its opening by one year due to unresolved lease terms and required renovations. Additional features describe Temple Sinai’s “If Windows Could Talk” program connecting Biblical stories with stained-glass windows, plus an annual Memorial Day Celebration planned for May 25 with museum tours and veteran-focused education.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages36

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

High School Softball

Ragin’s RISE charter school opening delayed

Temple Sinai Program

If Windows Could Talk dates and times

Memorial Day Celebration

Veteran Appreciation event details

SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 SATURDAY-TUESDAY, MAY 16-19, 2026 $2.50 HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL Laurence Manning celebrates three-peat B1 Ragin’s RISE charter school to delay opening 1 year Agreement with Morris could not be reached; founder now looks at Deschamps Road site BY BRUCE MILLS [bruce@theitem.com](bruce@theitem.com) After an appropriate lease agreement could not be reached with Morris College to satisfy potential lenders’ requests, Sumter school board Chairman Shawn Ragin’s new public charter school will delay its opening by one year. Ragin’s Rise Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute (RISE) planned to open in August as Sumter’s second charter as a tenant at Morris, but $5 million in renovations were necessary to bring the space up to code requirements and the college would not sign off on assuming that loan debt if RISE defaulted. The planned charter school’s Board of Directors approved aresolution on April 30 to delay RISE’s opening until August 2027 for the 2027-28 school year, and Ragin discussed the transition process Thursday in an exclusive interview with The Sumter Item. The charter school’s plan at Morris was to renovate an unused residence hall into an actual academic facility and in exchange for a $5 million loan the potential lenders needed RISE and the college, which SEE RISE, PAGE A11 could TALK Temple Sinai Jewish History Center will host If Windows Could Talk, a fun experience for the community to learn stories associated with the temple’s historic stainedglass windows, the first Saturday of each month until September at 11 Church St. ALAYSHA MAPLE / THE SUMTER ITEM Temple Sinai new program brings Biblical stories, community connection to life BY ALAYSHA MAPLE [alaysha@theitem.com](alaysha@theitem.com) he windows inside Temple Tspent morepeople comanagcoentury Sinai have watching Light moves through the stained-glass figures, appearing to bring them to life before pouring onto the wooden pews in the sanctuary. There’s Moses with SEE WINDOWS, PAGE A11 If Windows Could Talk, they’d tell you there are three more chances to attend the series. The next three dates include June 6, Aug. 1 and Sept. 5 at 11 Church St., all from 1:30 to 2:25 p.m. VISIT US ONLINE AT the .com | CONTACT US
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Delivery: (803) 774-1258 News and Sports: (803) 774-1226 | DEATHS, B7 | | | --- | --- | --- | | | Sharhonda Sherri Burns Chan James Carrol Comer Jr.
The Rev. Retha M. Nelson
Shirley Singleton Willie Singleton Jr. | Robert Lee Baird Willie Sinkler Ka’Niylah Rena Hodge Calvin Eugene Motes | INSIDE 2 SECTIONS, 22 PAGES VOL. 131, NO. 62 Clarendon Sun A7 Reflections A6 Classifieds B8 Lifestyle A8 Puzzles A12, B3 Sports B1 [E-mail:](E-mail: pressrelease@theitem.com)[ pressrelease@theitem.com](E-mail: pressrelease@theitem.com) Annual Memorial Day Celebration to feature tours of museum, educate public on sacrifice of military members BY ALAYSHA MAPLE [alaysha@theitem.com](alaysha@theitem.com) Educate, encourage and enjoy. The three Es that the Veteran Appreciation Committee emphasized will make this year’s annual Memorial Day Celebration one you don’t want to miss. In its 17th year, the annual celebration returns to South Sumter Park on Monday, May 25, from noon to 4 p.m. The tradition began more than a decade ago as a means to honor those who fought and died for the freedom of America—from the oldest war to the current tribulations the country and surrounding continents now face. In the beginning, committee members Calvin Hastie and Marvin Boykin reminisced on the roughly hundred people who filtered through the park that first year. In the years that followed, attendance has grown exponentially. So much so the committee can no longer count it, so they estimate it tobe more than 1,000 . The same goes for this year. With a large crowd

FAQs

Why was Ragin’s Rise charter school opening delayed?

A suitable lease agreement could not be reached with Morris College to satisfy potential lenders’ requests, and renovations were required to meet code requirements.

What is the “If Windows Could Talk” program at Temple Sinai?

It is a community experience that shares stories connected to Temple Sinai’s historic stained-glass windows, with multiple dates scheduled through September.

When and where is the annual Memorial Day Celebration?

The celebration is scheduled for Monday, May 25, from noon to 4 p.m., at South Sumter Park, with transportation options for museum tours.

Oct 13, 2026

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