Hyatt will have Starbucks open to public A2 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2018 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 $1.75 Murders, vehicle break-ins increase CITY OF SUMTERR CRIME STATISTICS FORR 2017 19 The larger yellow numbers representepresent tthehe amount of crimes recordedd in each category by Sumter Police DDepartmentepartment (27) for 2017. Crimes committeded in four categories increased versuss tthosehose in SEXUALSEXUA 2016, and numbers in threee catecategoriesgories decreased. Numbers for 2016016 are in ASSAASSAULTSUL parentheses. 5 105 (3) ((93)93) MURDERS AUTOAUTO TTHEFTSHEFT 458 (399) 72 GENERAL (87) PROPERTY WEAPONSWEAPO THEFT CRIMESCRIME 524 (564) VANDALISM VEHICLE BREAK-INS IN 2017 (409 in 2016) Change seen in 1 year; 7-year crime stats trending down BY ADRIENNE SARVIS were seen in the number of [email protected] murders — five in 2017 com- pared to three in 2016; aggra- $160,000 SUMMING UP SUMTER COUNTY An increase in murders and vated assaults — 238 in 2017 vehicle break-ins contributed compared to 223 in 2016; and IN CASH SEIZED • Sumter County Coroner Robbie Baker reported 10 to a slight spike in recorded 67 robberies in 2016 compared homicides in his 2017 report. Six took place in the city crime in the city of Sumter in to 78 in 2017. 2017 despite an overarching The recorded murders in and four in the county. Of the six criminal fatalities in the decrease in crime over a sev- 2017 involved domestic dis- more than city, five came with murder charges and one with child en-year period. putes, acquaintances or the neglect after a mother left her child in a car during the There has been a 25 percent result of some other attempt- summer. That disparity is why the police department reduction in crime in the city ed crime, Roark said. $300K recorded five murders in 2017. between 2011 and 2017, Police The police department also WORTH OF DRUGS SEIZED Chief Russell Roark III said. recorded a 12.7 percent in- • Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Hampton However, compared to 2016, crease in vehicle break-ins be- there was a 2.63 percent in- tween 2016 and 2017 — 409 in Gardner said the majority of vehicles that are broken crease in overall crime during 2016 and 461 in 2017. into in the county are left unlocked. People may feel 2017 mainly because of an rise Despite the police depart- comfortable on their own property, he said, but break-ins in person-on-person crimes ment’s “lock it before you 146 can happen in any neighborhood. and vehicle break-ins, he said. Growths in criminal activity SEE CRIME, PAGE A12 WEAPONS SEIZED Professional services contract goes before school board BY BRUCE MILLS late Thursday. ties Committee does have two study [email protected] WANT TO GO? Highlighting the agenda may be ac- proposals on the table. Committee What: Sumter School Board meeting tion taken following executive session Chairman and at-large board member After taking no action following a regarding a professional services con- William Byrd said at the trustees’ last When: Monday, 6 p.m. two-hour executive session at a spe- tract, which is listed on the agenda as regularly scheduled board meeting cial-called meeting Thursday, Sumter Where: Alice Drive Middle School, 40 Miller part of the board’s discussion in Jan. 29 that recommendations for a School District’s Board of Trustees Road closed session. It won’t be known until population demographics study and a will meet again Monday for its regular Monday night whether the board will district facilities study would be forth- monthly board meeting. take any action on a contract. coming to the full board. A district staff member distributed be at 6 p.m. at Alice Drive Middle Regarding potential professional the agenda for the meeting, which will School, 40 Miller Road, to the media services contracts, the board’s Facili- SEE BOARD, PAGE A12 VISIT US ONLINE AT CONTACT US DEATHS, B5 WEATHER, A14 INSIDE Information: 774-1200 Cathy W. Dinkins CLOUDY, STORMY 4 SECTIONS, 32 PAGES the .com Advertising: 774-1246 Wallace A. Berry Rainy and warm today with VOL. 123, NO. 82 Classifieds: 774-1200 Derek A. Phillips good chance of thunderstorm; Classifieds C7 Outdoors C6 Delivery: 774-1258 Susie D. Leake News and Sports: 774-1226 tonight, warm and rainy. Comics D1 Panorama A5 Devin D. Dinkins HIGH 75, LOW 62 Pearline Y. Stokes Sports B1 Reflections C4 Opinion A11 Yesteryear C5 Cupid shops here! 40% off All Watches Jewelry Wholesale Guaranteed to save you money! 20% off Valentines Day Diamond Rings FineFi JewelryJ l forf 3737 YearsY FinancingFi i AvailableA il bl Febr uary 14 A2 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2018 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Shaw awarded $3.5M for groundwater cleanup 2Oth Fighter Wing’s Restoration Advisory Board holds annual public meeting BY KAYLA ROBINS RCRA permit requirements. be used for a more aggressive clean- pling results exceeded MCL for [email protected] “Shaw AFB continues to improve up technology to the off-base leading TCE/PCE.” its environmental programs and re- edge of a main TCE/PCE (trichloro- Salomon said the $3.5 million will A group that aims to keep dialogue mains dedicated to being transparent ethylene/perchloroethylene) contam- not go directly to closing additional open with the community about en- in its handling of all environmental- ination, “further optimizing active sites but that funds will “assist in vironmental remediation actions related initiatives,” said Jane Allen, treatment and reducing cleanup shortening the cleanup time and fur- connected to Shaw Air Force Base 20th Mission Support Group director time.” ther reduce the footprint of the off- announced at its annual meeting this of installations. “Second, as precautionary mea- base leading edge of the TCE/PCE week the base has received addition- Allen said the meeting, which was sure, Shaw AFB plans to conduct ad- that had migrated off-base.” al funding. held at the New Beginning Banquet ditional private drinking well survey, Of the 24 remaining active cleanup At the 20th Fighter Wing’s Restora- Facility in Sumter, was an opportu- inventory and sampling of roughly sites, three impact off-base locations, tion Advisory Board meeting on Feb. nity to keep Shaw’s neighbors in- 25 parcels of land,” Salomon said. according to Shaw, and “these sites 6, neighbors and local governments formed of progress being made on Those parcels are about 1,000 feet continue to have no impact on the were given a forum to “openly dis- base. downgradient of the leading edge of drinking water on or surrounding cuss the environmental cleanup ac- To date, $105 million has been the main plume. Shaw.” tions of Shaw AFB and any recent spent on the environmental restora- “Although we do not anticipate it The purpose of the RAB is to “pro- changes to the base’s environmental tion program, and almost 1,400 treat- will be needed, we are prepared to mote community awareness and ob- restoration program,” according to ment and monitoring wells have provide immediate response if sam- tain constructive community review, the 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs been installed on and around Shaw. pling of identified private drinking comment and input on both current Office. New to the report was the additional wells in this survey indicate TCE/ and proposed environmental remedi- Shaw was listed as having 123 $3.5 million contract awarded to PCE detection above the maximum ation actions associated with Shaw.” groundwater cleanup sites by the Re- Shaw to assist in further site close- contamination level,” Salomon said. “Our goal remains to protect source Conservation and Recovery out. “Additionally, we would provide human health,” Allen said, “and en- Act permit in November 2014. Since Juvenal Salomon, 20th Civil Engi- rapid response to install wellhead sure mission activities do not impact then, 99 of the original sites have neer Squadron remedial project treatment or connection to the mu- the environment or our drinking been closed in accordance with manager, said most of the funds will nicipal water supply if the sam- water.” Hyatt to have State sees first cafe, Starbucks child die from open to public flu this season BY KAYLA ROBINS Rooms can now be booked [email protected] A child who has died in the Mid- BY KAYLA ROBINS lands from complications associat- [email protected] ed with the flu is the first pediatric fatality reported to the S.C. De- Anyone wanting to stay a night, or partment of Health and Environ- a few, in the new Hyatt Place Hotel on mental Control this flu season. track to open this spring in down- Health information privacy laws town Sumter can now reserve a shield hospitals and agencies from room. revealing patients' county of resi- While still on dence and age. track to open in WANT TO "We extend our condolences to mid-April, the STAY? this family and all families in corporate arm To reserve a group South Carolina who have suffered of Hyatt will of rooms before a loss during this flu season," said make the earli- Hyatt allows you Lillian Peake, DHEC director of est day possible to online, contact public health. to book a room Michael Brown, DHEC released its most recent sooner and soon- director of sales data update on flu activity on Feb. er as completion and marketing, at 7 for the week of Jan. 28-Feb. 3, nears, said Cher- michael.brown1@ which shows a total of 518 hospi- yl Baker, general hyatt.com talizations reported by 49 hospi- manager. Right tals and 22 deaths, though six of now, rooms can those deaths occurred in a previ- be booked for as ous week but were not reported early as July 9.