Lady Barons’ Porter wins big at track and field championship B1 U.S. rushes ships to Middle East Iran shows ‘troubling’ SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 indications of possible A3 TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2019 75 CENTS attack on U.S. forces Sheriff: 2018 saw overall crime drop sault with an ob- both 2017 and ’18, Dennis 292, destruction/damage/ Reported crime down 8% and opioid ject, in 2017, the said one is still too many. vandalism of property from change repre- “Our officers are able to do 486 to 416 and, representing overdoses in Sumter County up 80% sents a 30.88% a better job because of new the most-reported crime to decrease. equipment and advanced the sheriff’s office, simple BY KAYLA ROBINS three each in 2017 and 2018, Sumter Coun- technology including body assault from 954 to 915. [email protected] the biggest decrease came in DENNIS ty Sheriff An- cameras and in-car camer- Dennis said while there sexual assaults reported at thony Dennis as,” Dennis said. was a decrease in reports of Sumter County saw an 8% 47 total, according to data said there has There was also a decrease thefts from motor vehicles decrease in overall crimes provided by the sheriff’s of- been a “major decrease in in reported crimes involving that drivers and passengers reported from 2017 to 2018. fice. With 68 sexual assaults, the number of murders re- burglary/breaking and en- are still urged to remove With the number of re- which includes forcible rape, ported” during recent years. tering from 640 to 472, arson valuables from vehicles and ported murders outside the fondling, sodomy, incest, From about 10 reported in from 16 to 13, theft from city limits remaining level at statutory rape and sexual as- one year recently to three in motor vehicles from 353 to SEE CRIME, PAGE A5 College, completed: Morris holds 108th-annual graduation orris College held its 108th com- Mmencement ceremony on Saturday at the Sumter County Civic Center, where graduates and their friends and family heard from Lt. Gen. Bruce T. Crawford. The Columbia native became the Army’s chief in- formation officer in August 2017, a role that charges him to oversee the Army’s $10 billion IT investments, manage enterprise IT architecture, establish and en- force IT policies and direct delivery of operational C4IT capabilities to support warfighters and business users. As the G-6, he also advises the Army’s chief of staff on the network, communications, signal opera- tions, information security and force structure. PHOTOS BY BRUCE MILLS / THE SUMTER ITEM U.S. plans to increase tariffs on China on Friday BY PAUL WISEMAN tariffs on $200 billion in Chi- Mnuchin, who briefed report- there was no immediate re- the pace of negotiations. The and JOE McDONALD nese goods early Friday, a ers with Lighthizer, said that sponse from Beijing. reiteration Monday of the AP Business Writers sharp escalation in a yearlong Trump officials learned dur- The U.S. officials said that president’s threat from three trade dispute. ing the weekend that Chinese at 12:01 a.m. Friday, the ad- high-level Trump officials re- WASHINGTON — Accusing At the same time, a Chinese officials “were trying to go ministration will raise tariffs inforced the administration’s Beijing of “reneging” on com- trade delegation is expected to back on some of the lan- on $200 billion in Chinese im- determination to throw Bei- mitments it made in earlier arrive in Washington to re- guage” that had been negoti- ports from 10% to 25%. Presi- jing on the defensive. talks, U.S. Trade Representa- sume negotiations on Thurs- ated in 10 earlier rounds of dent Donald Trump had an- By threatening to raise tive Robert Lighthizer said day, a day later than original- talks. Mnuchin and Lighthiz- nounced plans to raise those taxes on Chinese imports, Monday that the Trump ad- ly planned. er offered no details of Chi- tariffs via Twitter on Sunday, ministration will increase its Treasury Secretary Steven na’s alleged backsliding, and expressing frustration with SEE TARIFFS, PAGE A5 VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B4 WEATHER, A10 INSIDE Mary Bethea Abrams Sammie Lee Mitchell ANOTHER WARM ONE 2 SECTIONS, 16 PAGES the .com VOL. 124, NO. 141 Chervonne Maria Porcher Sandra Denise Wells Sunshine and seasonably Leslie Ann Keith Green Clara Mae Cureton Chambers warm; clear tonight Classifieds B6 Sports B1 Francis Elizabeth Crump Lee James Singleton HIGH 84, LOW 60 Comics A7 Television B5 Ethel Mae Bell Margaret C. Phelps A9 Richard C. Hopkins David E. McLeod Opinion Lynn Ann Dutcher Ruth Louise Stein Muller A2 | TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2019 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Tip leads to arrest of ‘armed, dangerous’ man 43-year-old faces charges in connection to armed robbery, kidnapping, attempted murder FROM STAFF REPORTS to Adrienne Sarvis, public in- A man law enforcement formation officer for the said was “armed and ex- Sumter County Sheriff’s Of- tremely dangerous” was ar- fice. He was located based on rested Sunday morning in a tip from the public. connection to The business where the in- an attempted cident occurred is near the murder of two intersection of Pocalla Road South Sumter and Guignard Parkway in business em- Sumter County. ployees late Fri- The sheriff’s office put out day. a call for information to help ANDERSON Charles Spen- them locate and detain An- cer Anderson, derson on Saturday morning. 43, faces charges According to Sumter-Lee related to an alleged armed Regional Detention Center robbery, kidnapping and at- inmate data, bond was de- tempted murder, according nied. 21-year-old Sumter man dies, another injured PHOTO PROVIDED John Hamilton of the Sumter County Information Technology Department is seen before and after a in Saturday morning wreck on U.S. 378 east weight loss of 100 pounds. FROM STAFF REPORTS A 21-year-old Sumter man died and the driver was injured in a single-vehicle crash early Saturday. ‘Tired of being fat,’ Sumter Hunter Christmas, of Biddle Road, was pronounced dead on the scene after a wreck occurring at 3:45 a.m. Saturday on U.S. 378 eastbound in Sumter County, according to Sum- ter County Coroner Robbie Baker. IT worker loses 100 pounds Another 21-year-old was driving east in a 2005 GMC Yukon when the vehicle ran off the right side of the roadway, over- turning several times, according to South Carolina Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. Judd Jones. Hamilton says low-carb diet, walking Jones said the driver was transported to Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital. An autopsy was performed Monday at MUSC in Charles- and journaling are keys to his success ton, and the deceased’s next of kin has been notified. The coroner’s office and highway patrol are investigating BY DANNY KELLY the incident. [email protected] HOW DID HE LOSE THE WEIGHT? • Walked 10 to 13 miles a day; After a year and a half, John Hamilton of Went on a low-carb diet; Restaurant news the Sumter County Information Technology • Department accomplished what most would • Ate mainly meat and vegetables; and probably consider quite an impressive feat: • Cut out bread, rice, potatoes and corn. Following are the food grades for local businesses lose 100 pounds. inspected by the South Carolina Department of Hamilton, who used to weigh 280 pounds, now weighs roughly 180. was blown away.” Health and Environmental Control for April 27- But what made him decide it was time for a Hamilton gives credit to his co-workers for May 5. A “C” grade is failing. For detailed reports, change? helping him lose the weight. “I was tired of being fat, that’s the simple “My co-workers were supportive,” he said. visit www.dhec.sc.gov. answer,” he said. “There’s obesity on both “It’s a big help to have that support.” sides of my family, and I didn’t want to be a Hamilton has a message for anyone who Batten’s Grocery, 2010 S.C. 261 S., Wedgefield: A statistic. Nothing was going to happen unless I wants to lose weight. Captain D’s #3819, A did it myself.” “Keep at it, and be motivated,” he said. “You 1110 W. Liberty St., Sumter: Hamilton decided to go on a low-carbohy- have to sacrifice something to get something. Chestnut Oaks Middle School, 1200 Oswego Road, Sum- drate diet, and the weight started falling off. Watch what you eat, and keep a journal of cal- ter: A “When you cut sugar out, you’ll have no ories and carbs (that you eat).” Dennis’ Restaurant, 7570 Pisgah Road, Rembert: C glucose (in your system), so your body uses fat Hamilton also said the most important Firehouse Subs #462, 1293 Broad St., Sumter: A (for energy instead),” he said. “Your body thing you can do is monitor how many carbs Gamecock Lanes, A breaks down the stored fat into ketones and you consume. 817 Broad St., Sumter: uses the stored ketones for energy. Your body “If you have a higher carb intake, you typi- Golden Corral, 2385 Walmart Blvd., Sumter: B is a fat-burning machine when it doesn’t have cally weigh more,” he said. “If you eat less High Hills Middle School, 4971 Frierson Road, Sumter: A sugar for energy.” than 35 carbs a day for two weeks, you’ll lose Kaitlyn’s Cafe, 1980 Peach Orchard Road, Sumter: A Hamilton started eating mainly meat and 10 to 15 pounds easily.” Little Caesars Pizza #17594, 810 Broad St., Sumter: A green vegetables, and cut out things like However, starting out at just 35 carbs per Manchester Elementary School, bread, rice, potatoes and corn.