Kineen Hotel targeted with penny tax Renovation of iconic building could be key to area revitalization
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SUNDAY, AUGUST 17, 2014
SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 5 SECTIONS, 36 PAGES | VOL. 119, NO. 260
Man robs gas station
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is one in a series of stories examining the proposed projects for a renewed penny sales tax, which Sumter County voters will be asked to approve in November. Money raised by the tax will go toward a series of building, infrastructure and other projects throughout the county.
BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bristow@theitem.com (803) 774-1272 BRISTOW MARCHANT / THE SUMTER ITEM
The Kineen Hotel has seen better days. Once the anchor of Mayesville’s main drag, the two-story inn on South Main Street was still a bustling place when Mayor Randolph Anderson was a child. But it’s been almost 50 years since the hotel closed down, and downtown Mayesville hasn’t been the same since.
The exterior of Mayesville’s dilapidated Kineen Hotel is seen recently. Matched with federal funding, Mayesville officials hope to use penny-tax money to transform the building into affordable housing and activity space. Today, the hotel’s name still hangs above the building’s street front, but its front windows have turned into broken glass, and plants grow through the openings
from the lobby’s dusty floorboards. At one point, the empty building’s only service to the community was
SEE KINEEN, PAGE A7
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This man, a black male estimated to be between 40 and 50 years old, reportedly entered a local gas station on Saturday and stole cash from the register. He remains at large.
Police search for suspect, ask for public’s assistance BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com (803) 774-1250 Sumter Police Department is looking for a man they think robbed a Sumter convenience store Saturday afternoon. No one was injured. About 3 p.m., a black man between the ages of 40 and 50 reportedly entered the Kangaroo on West Liberty Street wearing blue jeans and a baseball cap, according to a news release from Tonyia McGirt, public information officer with Sumter Police Department. The suspect then covered his face before going behind the counter and telling the clerk to open the cash register. While the matter remains under investigation, police do not think a weapon was used at this time, she said. The suspect took an undetermined amount of money before fleeing on foot. After exiting the store, he reportedly ran east. Video surveillance and eye witness accounts did not indicate whether he was alone or had an accomplice in the crime, McGirt said. If you have any information regarding this case, officers ask that you call Sumter Police Department at (803) 436-2700. Information can also be given anonymously to Crime Stoppers at (803) 436-2718 or 1-888-CRIME-SC. A cash reward may be available if the information leads to an arrest.
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MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM
Staff Sgt. Gerald Richardson has been handling warrants for Sumter Police Department for 10 years. Now head of the division, Richardson has seen it all when it comes to serving papers and has plenty of stories to share.
Warrants officer works to make arrests peacefully BY ROB COTTINGHAM rob@theitem.com (803) 774-1225 Keep calm and put your hands behind your back. Those words are perhaps the best advice anyone could receive if Staff Sgt. Gerald Richardson knocks on his or her door. “People can get upset when you show up to arrest them,” Richardson said, “and we expect that. After all, you’re taking away one of their rights — freedom — and that can provoke a reaction. We do our best to keep them calm, as it’s in their best interest to do so.” Richardson is the head of the warrants division of Sumter Police Department, and during his tenure in the field, he’s had to stand on
‘You can’t outrun the radio. Remember that. You can run, but you can’t hide. Sooner or later, when you least expect it ... ’ STAFF SGT. GERALD RICHARDSON many front porches and make many phone calls delivering the news that someone has a warrant out for his or her arrest. He said the job definitely keeps him on his toes.
“You never know what’s going to happen,” Richardson said. “We have to be prepared for anything.” Just a few weeks ago, Richardson showed up at summary court in downtown Sumter to arrest a man who had skipped a court date. All was going well until William Paranto, the suspect, made the split-second decision to make a run for it. His escape lasted all of two minutes, making an already tense situation worse for himself. “He had kids and didn’t want to go to jail that day, so he panicked and ran,” Richardson said. “It always works against a suspect when they’re aggressive or uncooperative. They don’t take into account
SEE WARRANTS, PAGE A4
LADSON FRASER OWENS Jr. • 1930 — 2014
Businessman remembered as leader
S
umter has lost another great community leader according to those who knew and served with him. Ladson “Lad” Fraser Owens Jr. died on Thursday. He was 83. “Lad Owens was a long, longtime friend,” said Bobby Richardson, Sumter native and former standout second baseman for the New York Yankees. “I served on boards with him at Covenant Place and YMCA. He was a wonderful businessman, but more than that, he was a leader in the community. He was just a wonderful human being.” In fact, Owens was one of the founding trustees of Covenant Place, a not-for-profit continuing care and retirement community, and in 2001 was selected as Trustee of the Year. “From the very beginning 20 years ago, he and Glen Sharp worked tirelessly to develop the idea of Covenant Place, to put all the pieces together and see it through construction to completion,” said Leon McDonald, member of the executive committee. “He has served in all the organizational offices including president,
and he’s been on the executive board. He devoted thousands of hours without any compensation, and he has been involved in all the major decisions. Lad was always cooperative and willing to help in any way. He was a humble, effective leader with impeccable integrity and honesty. It’s been my pleasure to work with him the past 14 years, and he was certainly an outstanding person that will be sorely missed.” He was no less devoted while serving OWENS the Y, being named Humanitarian of the Year, the Y’s highest honor, in 2009. “Lad Owens was a dedicated friend of the Sumter Family YMCA and held every voluntary position from committee chairman to serving on the board of directors to serving as president in 1975,” said Stan DuBose, a lifelong friend of Owens. “I doubt if he ever refused to take on any responsibility requested of him by anyone at the Y, and he was constantly being recognized for his efforts. He was deeply
involved in his church and was a gentleman in every respect. Lad was a strong community and business leader, and he was truly admired for who he was and what he stood for. You may know someone as fine as Lad, but you cannot find anyone finer.” At First Presbyterian Church, Owens served as deacon, elder, clerk of session, choir member and Sunday school teacher. He was also considered an elder emeriti. “It means we respected his wisdom so greatly,” said the Rev. Janie McElwee-Smith, the church’s associate pastor. “He truly was an incredible witness by thoughtfully serving. He was very willing to go and do. He had a beautiful voice, (and) he loved to sing. It was part of who he was and part of how he expressed his faith. It’s something he picked up from his father and passed on to his children as well.” Owens was also active with The John K. Crosswell Home for Children board. “I met him the first time I came for my interview to work at the
SEE OWENS, PAGE A7