Car allegedly stolen by unexpected visitor. A2
VOL. 118, NO. 136 WWW.THEITEM.COM
Holly Hill grabs SCISA Region 1-2A lead with 4-2 victory. B1
FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013 | SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA
State trooper in near-fatal 2012 wreck recognized
FOUNDED OCTOBER 15, 1894
60 CENTS
First Steps considers consolidating local offices BY JADE ANDERSON janderson@theitem.com
PHOTOS PROVIDED
Retired Lance Cpl. Robert M. Falls Jr., holding plaque, is seen with from left Lt. Col. Chris Williamson; his mother, Sandra Falls; his daughter, Taylor; his son, Trey; his wife, Cindy; and state Highway Patrol Col. Michael Oliver after Falls received the South Carolina High Patrol Purple Heart at a ceremony Thursday at the South Carolina Department of Public Safety headquarters in Blythewood.
Department awards 3 Highway Patrol officers BY SHARRON HALEY sharron@theitem-clarendonsun.com Lance Cpl. Robert M. Falls Jr., Senior Trooper Brandon O. Stokes and Telecommunications Officer Brittney Garrett with the South Carolina Highway Patrol all were honored Thursday morning by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety at its headquarters in Blythewood. Falls was awarded the South Carolina Highway Patrol Purple Heart for injuries he suffered while responding to a request for assistance from a Sumter County Sheriff’s Office deputy in July 2012. “I’m very surprised,” Falls said Thursday afternoon from his home in Pinewood. “I didn’t want to leave the Highway Patrol, but
the injuries I received didn’t leave me any choice. I will always be in the Highway Patrol family.” Falls said he was humbled and honored by the award. “I’m proud to see the Patrol recognizing its troopers for some of the heroic acts they’ve done,” he said. “The public doesn’t usually hear about them. I’m glad to see that somebody at headquarters cares.” Falls said he loved his job and he’s going to miss the job and the people he worked with and the communities he served. “The Lord allowed me to live for a reason,” he said. “I’ve just got to find that reason.” Falls’ wreck occurred at 11:59 a.m. on a rainy July 11,
South Carolina Highway Patrol Col. Michael Oliver, South Carolina Department of Public Safety Director Leroy Smith and Troop 1 Capt. C.B. Hughes are seen with Senior Trooper Brandon O. Stokes after he received the Medal of Valor at the ceremony.
South Carolina Department of Public Safety Director Leroy Smith and South Carolina Highway Patrol Col. Michael Oliver are seen with Telecommunications Officer of the Year Brittney Garrett following the ceremony.
Two topics generated discussion at Thursday’s Sumter County First Steps meeting — money and the possibility of sharing office space with the Clarendon County First Steps. First Steps is a statewide, nonprofit organization that “leverages state, local and private resources to increase the quality of and number of children participating in developmentally appropriate pre-kindergarten programs in both the public and private sectors.” The goal is to increase the likelihood UPCOMING EVENTS that all children will be • Office closed today for Good Friday ready for • April 15 — 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., school once “Occupant Restraint Awareness Day” they enter at the Jehovah Child Development 5-year-old Center, 415 Manning Ave.; part of kindergarten, Week of the Young Child according to • April 20 — 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sumwww.scfirstter County First Steps child care trainsteps.org. ing About a • May 7 — 6 p.m., Sumter County dozen board First Steps Annual Board Meeting and members elections at Santee-Lynches Regional voted for Julia Nelson, execu- Council on Governments, 36 W. Liberty St., Sumter tive director for the Sumter office, to research the availability and cost of a co-location with the Clarendon First Steps and to return to the board with proposals. Treasurer Artrell Brown abstained from the vote. The board also unanimously approved an about $403,000 funding renewal plan for fiscal year 2014 based on the fiscal year 2013 plan. Nelson and Sharon Williams, executive director for the Clarendon partnership, started discussing the idea of a consolidation as a way to support each other and save money, Nelson said. “We could see the writing on the wall that eventually we may be moving to regionalization for First Steps,” she said. “It’s a way to cut the expenses such as rent and utilities in half, and we’d each work back up for the office.” Both women are the only employees in their offices, and Nelson clarified this would only be sharing office space. The partnership’s budgets, boards and programs would remain separate. The “touchy part” is where to locate this joint office, Nelson said. Four members said they do not want the office to be located in Clarendon County, and Brown questioned how moving the office to
SEE AWARDS, PAGE A10
SEE FIRST STEPS, PAGE A7
T.B. ‘Dick’ Tillman Jr. ✦ 1925 - 2013
Quiet farmer, county agent remembered as hard worker, gentleman Thomas Berry “Dick” Tillman Jr. was always a quiet man. “I’ve never seen anyone who talked so little, but yet was such a great communicator,” said retired Clemson University Extension Service agent Rowland Alston. “He was a fellow that said very few words, but he was so effec-
tive, particularly with young people and farmers.” Tillman, 88, widower of Margie Shiver Tillman, died Friday, TILLMAN March 15, 2013, at Covenant Place. He was employed with Clemson University Extension Service for
“He devoted an endless amount of time to the people of Sumter County,” Alston said. Niece Carolyn Steele said she got to hear a few of those stories during Tillman’s funeral, which was held Wednesday in the chapel of Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home.
DEATHS
20 N. Magnolia St. Sumter, SC 29150 (USPS 525-900)
www.theitem.com
32 years. “I actually replaced him in 1981 as county agent when he retired,” Alston said. “Mr. Tillman had replaced my father in 1950 when my father died.” Alston said he knew Tillman for about 60 years, and that he was one of the most respected agents working with Clemson.
Information: 774-1200 Advertising: 774-1236 Classifieds: 774-1234 Delivery: 774-1258 News, Sports: 774-1226
Harvin G. Grant Julia Ann Cousar William Colclough Sr. John E. Johnson Walter Weaver Jr. Everett D. Elliott Johnnie Ann Hodges
David L. Goings Lillie June Patricia M. Vaughn Joseph Wright James Butler Willie Watkins Sr. B6, B7
“So many stories were shared about how he would make his way through the (county),” Steele said. “Whenever he saw a need, he would just pull over. It was evident that he touched so many lives in so many different ways.” Steele said Tillman was SEE TILLMAN, PAGE A7
INSIDE
OUTSIDE A BIT WARMER
3 SECTIONS, 26 PAGES
Mostly sunny and cool; partly cloudy tonight HIGH: 64 LOW: 44 A10
Classifieds Comics Daily Planner Opinion Television Church News
C1 C7 A10 A9 B8 A8