Time stands still in Sumter after clocks break

SUMTER, S.C. (AP) — Time appears to be standing still in Sumter, where the clocks on the city’s Opera House tower have been stuck at 12 o’clock for much of this month.

The Sumter Item reports (http://bit.ly/1m5aNG3 ) that the city shut down the clocks for repairs after employees noticed they were slowly losing time, causing them to chime at odd occasions.

The clocks are run by elaborate machinery that is more than 100 years old. City officials had to order a special part that took more than a week to arrive. Until they get it in place, they won’t be sure they replaced the part causing the clocks to slow.

Downtown Manager Howie Owens says if the first part doesn’t work, officials will have to make another.

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Information from: The Sumter Item, http://www.theitem.com