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Date Published: February 1, 2004
Week of bad news won’t break Sumter’s spirit
We all know that the announcement of the loss of about 400 jobs at Bosch Braking Systems’ drum brake division in last Sunday’s Item is a setback to the Sumter community. And, in addition to that, the ice storm that has crippled our region this week has also been very difficult for families in the tri-county area.
There is no doubt that Sumter has taken more than its fair share of blows not only this week but in recent months as well.
But as we’ve always been able to do in the past, we can and will continue to work together as a community and continue to push forward on things that we can control as well as make our town a better place to work, learn, play and live.
For example, the 33rd Annual Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce retreat held recently at Hilton Head surely made anyone who attended proud to be a Sumterite.
The dialogue that goes on during the sessions and throughout the weekend among Sumter’s most devoted leaders and citizens always gets one excited about the future of Sumter and what we can accomplish together.
For starters, award winners like Business Person of the Year Whit Whitaker is a shining example of someone out to make our community a more attractive place to live with his creative developments. Whitaker approaches each project with the idea in mind of making it esthetically pleasing to those living there as well as those just riding by. His devotion to his family and community over the years, we hope, will inspire many more like him. Maj. Gen. Tom Olsen (USAF-ret.), this year’s Outstanding Achievement Award recipient, is another example of someone dedicated to making Sumter thrive well into the future. His knowledge of all things military and reputation as an organizer with the power to build coalitions will most certainly help in our efforts to save Shaw Air Force Base through this next round of base closures in May 2005.
And even though he’s only been in our community about five years, SMSgt. David B. Reid shows the rest of us what it means to be devoted to your community and better education for everyone. He was 2003’s Military Citizen of the Year and has certainly earned the description “generous benefactor” among his peers.
Despite Gov. Mark Sanford and other misinformed parties trying to keep USC Sumter from gaining four-year status, Sen. Phil Leventis and the rest of our local legislative delegation continues to push forward for what they believe will be hugely beneficial for Sumter in the long term.
And, even if large corporations are choosing to take jobs away from Americans and give them to foreign countries, we will find a way to come out on top of this and every other challenge handed to us.
We’ve weathered many storms in the past (no pun intended) and we will indeed have many more trials and tribulations in the future.
But it’s obvious that the spirit Sumterites have shown as of late will keep this community viable for generations to come.
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February 20, 2004
