Sumter, We Have Liftoff Ken Bell, Public Infor- Physical Appearance Were Entered GRAHAM Mation Officer at the Into the National Crime Informa- Sheriff’S Office
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Sumter National wins district tournament B1 OBITUARIES Former Speaker of the South Carolina House Of Representatives Ramon Schwartz Jr. dies. See page A12 SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 SUNDAY, JULY 2, 2017 $1.75 There will be no Tuesday edition of The Sumter Item Funeral procession for Les Tindal PHOTOS BY JIM HILLEY / THE SUMTER ITEM LEFT: The cortege of former South Carolina Agriculture Commis- sioner Les Tindal passes among farm buildings and corn fields on its way to the Calvary Baptist Church near Pinewood on Friday morning. ABOVE: Members of the South Carolina State Guard pre- pare to carry the flag-draped casket of Tindal into the church. Missing man’s case still a mystery after 39 years BY ADRIENNE SARVIS In the article [email protected] published in 2007, Logan said The Sumter Item’s Cold Case se- she assumed ries continues with Sumter County her brother had Sheriff’s Office’s second-oldest died and hoped missing person case from 1978. that someone • • • would tell her Maxwell Allen Graham, 26, of family where Pinewood was reported missing on his body was lo- Aug. 24, 1978. However, he was last cated so they could give him a prop- seen on Aug. 8, 1978. er burial. That gap between the time Gra- An investigation becomes a cold ham was last seen and the time he case after a year of investigating, RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM was reported missing but investigators periodically re- The AirCare crew of pilot Alan West, flight nurse Robin Lewis and flight paramedic Dusty made the original in- view those older cases, he said. Bodenheimer demonstrate the preparedness of their helicopter at the Sumter County vestigation more diffi- “We want closure for the family, Airport on Thursday during a ribbon-cutting ceremony. cult because people but we don’t have anything now,” had to recall about two he said. weeks’ worth of infor- This happened before forensic mation, said deputy technology, so details of Graham’s Sumter, we have liftoff Ken Bell, public infor- physical appearance were entered GRAHAM mation officer at the into the National Crime Informa- sheriff’s office. tion Center along with his dental re- AirCare takes flight for area emergencies Bell said Graham was seen leav- cords, Bell said. Law enforcement ing his residence in a two-toned agencies across the country sent BY BRUCE MILLS truck with a man named Scott on letters to the sheriff’s office when- [email protected] HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER Aug. 8. Scott’s last name is un- ever a body was found that matched Contact Jeannette Walker, AirMedCare known, he said. Graham’s description. They promote their business as “the Network’s regional membership sales Graham, the owner of a tree ser- best thing to happen ... on the worst About one dozen letters were re- manager who is based in Sumter, at (843) vice business, was described as a ceived, but none of the bodies were day of your life.” 599-4670. To learn more on the network, quiet person by his sister, Alice identified as Graham because the Consider this scenario: You or a go to www.airmedcarenetwork.com. Logan, in an article published by dental records did not match, he loved one feels chest The Sumter Item in 2007. said. pains and goes to the Bell said Graham’s disappearance In 2006, investigators went to Gra- emergency room at Pal- has stumped investigators for years ham’s house to conduct tests on metto Health Tuomey in Your medical bills alone will likely because his vehicles, keys and areas where blood was seen 28 Sumter or McLeod total more than $100,000. money were still inside the house years ago, Bell said. Investigators in Health Clarendon in Now, do you want to add at least after he had gone. And his bank ac- 1978 reported seeing blood on the Manning. There, doctors $20,000 more for the helicopter trans- count had not been touched, he wall in the hallway and on the wall diagnose you as having a port from the area hospital to the Co- WALKER said. and floor of Graham’s bedroom; heart attack and trans- lumbia hospital? Bell said there was suspicion however, too much time had passed, port you to Palmetto What if you could pay a simple $65 about some of the people Graham Health Richland in Columbia for a knew, but they all checked out heart catheterization. You go, your life when interviewed. SEE CASE, PAGE A4 is saved, and you recover. SEE LIFTOFF, PAGE A4 VISIT US ONLINE AT CONTACT US DEATHS, A12 WEATHER, A14 INSIDE Information: 774-1200 Ramon Schwartz Jr. Kingston Solomon-Heyward STRAY STORMS 4 SECTIONS, 32 PAGES the .com Advertising: 774-1246 Richard Gayle Kerr Alma P. Yelle VOL. 121, NO. 186 A stray afternoon Classifieds: 774-1200 Joseph Faraon Jr. Albert Brisbone Business C1 thunderstorm. Delivery: 774-1258 Mark McCray Jr. Berth J. Logan Classifieds C8 Tonight, a t-storm News and Sports: Belvia M. Pearson Sammie Lee Pinkney Opinion A11 774-1226 in spots early. Mary H. Smith Sammie Kennedy Outdoors C7 Bessie G. Blackwell Enoch Johnson Jr. HIGH 94, LOW 75 Stocks C3 With BOC Mobile, The Bank of Clarendon Is In Your Pocket. bankofclarendon.com 803.469.0156 A2 | SUNDAY, JULY 2, 2017 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Veterans can pick up yard signs on Monday BY JIM HILLEY Authority. Michael Jonas, a [email protected] SWRTA employee, had a booth set up where veterans Sumter County Veterans could have their photos Affairs Office, along with taken for the bus passes, a Sumter Fire Department and process usually done at Dorn VA Medical Center, set James E. Clyburn Intermod- up in front of Sumter County al Transportation Center, 129 Courthouse on Friday. S. Harvin St. Sumter County Veterans Normally, a temporary pass Affairs Director Valerie is picked up at Sumter County Brunson said veterans were Veterans Center, 14 Law given free signs asking people Range, and then taken to the to be respectful of veterans transportation center, but when using fireworks during during Friday’s event, it could the Fourth of July holiday. all be done on the courthouse “Loud noises can some- lawn. times trigger symptoms of The veterans center and post-traumatic stress disorder SWRTA recently partnered to in some veterans,” she said. offer the passes to veterans Brunson said the Sumter and also to set up a third bus County Veterans Center will route to Columbia on Tues- be open Monday, so veterans days and Wednesdays. who missed Friday’s event “A lot of times, veterans still have a chance to pick up have had to take a bus to the signs before the Fourth of Dorn center in the morning July. and have to wait in Columbia According to the National six hours for the next bus,” Institute of Mental Health, said Sumter City Councilman PTSD develops in some people JIM HILLEY / THE SUMTER ITEM Calvin Hastie, who is also on who have experienced a Sumter City Councilman Calvin Hastie has his photo taken at Sumter County Courthouse on Friday for a SWRTA Board of Directors. shocking, scary or dangerous veteran’s pass to ride on Santee Wateree Transit Authority buses. SWRTA employee Michael Jones takes Nearby, officers from Sum- event. the photo using a laptop computer as Sumter County Veterans Affairs Director Valerie Brunson looks on. ter County Fire Department People who have PTSD may offered safety tips on the use feel stressed or frightened flashbacks, bad dreams, veloping PTSD because of being hurt or killed. of fireworks, and representa- even when they are not in frightening thoughts and their exposure to stress by In addition to the free yard tives of the Dorn center danger, according to the insti- avoidance of situations that being in a dangerous situation signs, veterans could also get helped veterans sign up for tute. may trigger symptoms. and exposure to numerous free bus passes from Santee health care at the Columbia Symptoms can include Veterans are at risk of de- traumas such as seeing people Wateree Regional Transit facility. Drug prevention forum addresses opioid abuse Gas taxes increase BY ADRIENNE SARVIS A person with an addiction needs support at [email protected] home and in the community, Billy Heckle, a regis- by 2 cents, vehicle tered pharmacist and certified addictions counsel- Law enforcement, state department officials, ad- or, said. diction treatment professionals and concerned An addiction shows that a person has a poor residents came together to address the dangers of relationship with himself, he said. It is impor- sales tax by $200 opioid addiction during the Prescription Drug tant for that person to admit that he has done Abuse Prevention Conference, hosted by Sumter wrong and to continue to be a part of society, he COLUMBIA (AP) — South Carolina’s first gas tax Behavioral Health Services and the Third Judicial said. increase in 30 years will help rebuild deteriorated Circuit, at University of South Carolina Sumter Jason Sandoval, Drug Enforcement Administra- roadways and bridges statewide, but transportation on Thursday. tion special agent, said people have to stop think- officials caution a smoother ride may still be years Sumter Police Chief Russell Roark III said opi- ing that pain is a disease and you’re never sup- away. oids and heroin are being used in Sumter, and posed to feel pain. Addiction is the disease, he The state gas tax — currently the nation’s third- local law enforcement is working to stop the sale said. lowest — will rise by 2 cents a gallon on Saturday, to of those drugs.