Florence Darlington Technical College

Stay tuned for more Item TV online

Many of you have been enjoying The Item's newest adventure in communication, The Item Sports Network (ISN), at www.theitem.com .

Watching the American Legion Southeast Regional baseball tournament from Riley Park has been a real treat for fans of the teams represented here this week, and we're all proud of how it's turning out so far. Sumter is such a great sports town that we knew this was almost sure to be a success.

Plus we have that Bobby Richardson guy as an ace in the hole. The Item's Patrick Enzor, Dennis Brunson, Michael Christopher and Justin Driggers have been the primary work horses, running our fancy new camera and doing play-by-play all weekend in the sweltering heat. In particular, I've enjoyed how well these guys have handled the commentary and analysis. When you think about it, it's not really a stretch.

All of them are excellent sportswriters who have grown up loving sports. They're just doing what comes naturally to sportswriters and sports fans in general - talking about sports while watching a game. It just happens that we're now watching it live on a local level thanks to the amazing leaps in technology of the past few years.

We'd like to thank Florence-Darlington Technical College assistant coach Doug Gammell, Tom O'Hare and Sumter assistant baseball coaches Randy Twitty and Frankie Ward for volunteering to help.

We're learning as we go, and have some big ideas about how to expand our online video offerings into a variety of other areas, including high school sports, public meetings, church services, news updates, etc. There's really no limit to it. Our online video partner is Ink Barrel Video Networks, which was started by some experienced and creative community newspaper veterans. They understand how to help local newspapers use their strongest resources - talented, committed people and a strong, trusted brand - to cover all sorts of local events in new and creative ways, combining print, web, online TV and mobile.

If this sounds like a commercial for what might soon be called "The Item Online Network," then hopefully I've succeeded in getting you interested in what will be a steady work in progress for our readers and advertisers. 

Standard and Poor's downgrade of America's debt rating has the conspiracy theories flowing, and rightfully so. One of the most appalling aspects of the economic meltdown of 2008 had to do with how the major ratings agencies, including Standard and Poor's, gave favorable ratings to big bundles of bad mortgages. It made a lot of greedy, dishonest people very rich at the expense of ordinary, unsuspecting Americans, and the economic fallout continues.

Mary Frances Graham Coker | Clarendon Citizen Online

Mary Frances Graham Coker, widow of Adolphus Ravenel “Jab” Coker, died at Heritage Nursing Home of Florence on Saturday, July 30, 2011.

She was born in Clarendon County on Oct. 29, 1931. The daughter of Talbert W. and Cleo Powell Graham and step-mother Omega Powell Graham. She graduated from Turbeville High School at the age of 15 and continued her education at Coker College earning a Bachelor’s Degree and the University of South Carolina earning a Guidance and Psychology Degree. “Mrs. Mary Frances” served in the field of Education for 30 years in Florence District #1, Sumter District, Roy Hudgens Academy and East Clarendon District #3 before her retirement. Because of her love for teaching, she could not stay retired and returned to education, working at the Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics, The Carolina Academy, Williamsburg Technical College and Florence-Darlington Technical College for over 10 years. She was a lifelong member of Turbeville First Baptist Church having taught Sunday school for many years and was awarded the Smyrna Award in 2008. She was also a member of the Clarendon County Mental Health Board and a member of the Olanta Garden Club.

Mrs. Coker was preceded in death by her two sisters, Faye Dubose and Carolyn Robinson and a infant brother, Wallace Graham.

She is survived by two sons, Talbert K. ”Kent” (Jane) Coker of Florence, Adolphus R. “Al” (Angie) Coker Jr. of Turbeville and one daughter Annelle C. (Bo) Osborne of Florence; one sister, Betty Joe (W.R.) Coker of Camden; five grandsons and four granddaughters.

Services will be held Tuesday at the Turbeville First Baptist Church at 11 a.m. with burial following in the church cemetery, directed by Floyd Funeral Home of Olanta. Visitation will be held on Monday from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to John Calvin Presbyterian Church, 200 Marsh-Avenue, Florence, S.C. 29505-2937 and also to Free Will Baptist Children's Home, P.O. Box 229, Turbeville, S.C. 29162.

Florence-Darlington Technical College

Ten year plan (1981-1991)

Two-Year Colleges 2011

NLN guide to undergraduate RN education

Opening the doors to the future