Incident may fell quest for office BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com
75 CENTS
SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2016
SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 3 SECTIONS, 24 PAGES | VOL. 121, NO. 149
INSIDE: SPRING AUTO GUIDE
Spring on the Road
SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2016
A candidate for Sumter County Clerk of Court has been charged for his alleged involvement in an incident in which several trees were damaged in one of Sumter’s public parks. Sumter Police Department Public Information Officer Tonyia McGirt said after further investigation, a search warrant was obtained for the home of Kevin Johnson, 314 W. Calhoun St. On Feb. 2, an officer responded to a report of damaged trees in Memorial Park. The complainant told the officer that multiple trees in
the park had been harmed and possibly poisoned. A neighbor told police he had noticed the damage on Jan. 30, and found a bottle of a chemical used to remove tree stumps next to a tree with drill holes in it. The officer observed that the trees had been cut, possibly by a blade-edged device, and the trees were drilled with multiple holes. At least one tree had a white liquid coming out, the officer reported. Pictures were taken at the scene and a bottle of chemical was taken for evidence. While executing a search, detectives reportedly seized three bottles of Spectracide Stump Remover
consistent with the empty bottle recovered at the incident location and other items, including a chain saw consistent with the damage to the trees. Johnson, 47, was arrested and charged Feb. 12 with malicious injury to tree, house; trespass upon real property, injury value more than $10,000, a felony which can lead to a fine or imprisonment for as many as 10 years, or both. He was released on a personal recognizance bond of $10,000. A bill of indictment was returned April 7, according to public records. The case will be heard in
SEE ARREST, PAGE A7
Tanks roll in to town Kevin Selesnick and Tracy Balmer judge a model of a German vehicle during the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society’s show and contest at the Sumter County Exhibition Center on Friday. Modeling enthustists from across the country came to show off their work and compete against other modelers. The judges look at construction, finish/weathering, and difficulty.
• Recognize flood damage • Bring the car wash to you • Front-end service for 62 years • Window tinting • New technology • Vehicle maintenance
AROUND THE AREA
Sheep shearing day arrives Old McCaskill Farm in Rembert hosts public agricultural event A2 SPORTS
LMA, TSA square off in region softball matchup B1
DEATHS, A7 Dolores C. Troop Ida Ragin Jackson Earl Lynn Shepard Donald F. Teseniar James R. Williams Angeline S. Nelson Harry Lee Bradley
KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM
Sumter hosts international model building competition BY RICK CARPENTER rick@theitem.com Mike Petty represents the “model” participant in the 2016 Armor Modeling and Preservation Society’s International Convention and Show going on through today at Sumter County Civic Center. Petty built his first model — a Revell Sherman Tank — 62 years ago at age eight. That crude plastic model likely cost him about 50 cents, he said.
Through the years, he kept perfecting his skill to where he now competes in the Advanced category, the second highest of five categories. Only previous best-of-show PETTY winners compete in the highest ranking called Master. There are only about 30 competitors in the Master level, and at least five are participating
in the Sumter show. Now Petty’s been offered as much as $200 for one of his award-winning entries. This weekend he serves as AMPS chief judge of the international event. Participants are placed in those five categories, which begins with Juniors (age 17 and under), Basic and Intermediate and rises to the Advanced and Master levels. Four judges use a tally sheet to rank each competitor based on construction with a maxi-
mum of five points, finish/weathering with as many as four points and difficulty as many as one point. They can use half points to distinguish between competitors. Judges toss out the lowest score among the judges and combine the scores of the other three to determine each competitor’s final score. Judges also have a comment section that allows judges to recognize
SEE MODEL, PAGE A3
Saving lives is sometimes part of the job
WEATHER, A8 CHILLY SPRING DAY Sunny, cooler today and downright cold tonight.
BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com
HIGH 63, LOW 34
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Most people do not go into work expecting to save a life, but when the unthinkable happens, someone has to be quick to act. Last year, Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center Correctional Officer Ana Marie Gonzalez did not hesitate to step in and save the lives of three inmates, earning herself the title of American Legion Law and Order Awards’ 2015 Correctional Officer of the Year. Assistant Director Daryl McGhaney said the main reason Gonzalez was named is because she stopped two inmate suicide at-
RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM
Ana Marie Gonzalez, left, receives the Correctional Officer of the Year from Simon Major, director of the the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center, during the Sumter Palmetto Rotary Club meeting in February. tempts at the detention center. McGhaney said officers are required to check inmates every 50
minutes for inmates on suicide watch. Gonzalez is dependable and the other officers can count on her when needed, he said. While Gonzalez and other officers were talking after an inmate check, she heard a noise and found an inmate attempting to commit suicide when she investigated the sound. “Nobody heard it but her,” McGhaney said. During another incident, Gonzalez decided to do another security check after she had already finished a check and found another inmate attempting suicide. McGhaney said it was Gonzalez’s
SEE AWARD, PAGE A7
BILL NOONAN — 1940-2016
Former county administrator, coach remembered for integrity, public service A Sumter legend, who was described as being tough and fair, yet loving and kind, William Thomas “Bill” Noonan Sr., 75, died on Thursday at his residence. Noonan served as county administrator of Sumter County for 21 years and was head football coach and a teacher at Sumter High School for many years. Hubert Osteen, editor-inchief of The Sumter Item, said Noonan was an exemplary man and one of his best friends. “Bill Noonan was not a native of Sumter, but it didn’t
take him long to become a true Sumterite,” he said. Osteen described Noonan as an outstanding football coach who along with Steve Satterfield put together “the best Sumter High School football team — ever.” That team NOONAN went undefeated in 1969, winning the state championship when the school was called Edmunds High School. Osteen said Noonan also served the community well as county administrator.
“He was a man of utmost integrity and ability whose public service to Sumter County was unequaled,” he said. “Above all, he was a good citizen, a role model as a coach, as a Christian, a devoted family man and a warm and compassionate human being.” New York Yankee and 1960 World Series MVP Bobby Richardson, a Sumter native, described Noonan as an excellent football coach and community leader. “He was a tremendous individual,” he said. Richardson’s son, Robbie,
played football on Noonan’s team, along with Freddie Solomon, who would go on to play in the NFL, winning two Super Bowls as a member of the San Francisco 49ers. Former Sumter Mayor Steve Creech played football under Noonan in his high school days at Edmunds High School, which became Sumter High School in the 1970s. “Bill Noonan touched more lives in this community than anyone I know,” Creech said. “He was tough as a coach, but he taught us life lessons on that football field.” Creech said he also had a
great working relationship with Noonan in local government. Former City of Sumter Manager Talmadge Tobias described him as a gentleman who had a passion for everything he did. Tobias said Noonan was well-respected and was involved in many different facets of the Sumter community. “Bill contributed greatly to the growth and development of Sumter,” he said. “He was always thinking about the betterment of the community.”
SEE NOONAN, PAGE A7