IN SECTION: Red Cross offers new app for pet first aid
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3A SCISA state showdown Wilson Hall, Laurence Manning begin battle for baseball, softball crowns B1
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Man pleads guilty to woman’s 2011 fatal stabbing BY JIM HILLEY (803) 774-1211 jim@theitem.com Christopher Heck, of Huntington, West Virginia, was sentenced to 35 years in prison Monday after pleading
guilty to the murder of Charlotte B. Altman moments before his trial in front of a circuit court judge was scheduled to start in Manning. Heck was initially arrested for driving under the influ-
ence by South Carolina Highway Patrol in Florence in November 2011. However, upon conducting a search of the vehicle, police discovered Altman’s identification and personal property. Though Altman’s address
was listed as Camden, police reportedly knew her father had lake property in Manning and contacted the Clarendon County Sheriff’s Department to check the property. Upon visiting the Beaver
Drive property, officers discovered the back door broken in and found the victim’s body inside, said Clarendon County Sheriff Randy Garrett. An autopsy later
SEE PLEA DEAL, PAGE A9
Hearing on seized dogs’ future today Bonds set for suspects in raids BY BRADEN BUNCH bbunch@theitem.com (803) 774-1201 All of the permanent pens at Sumter County Animal Control Shelter were full Monday as officials scrambled to find additional cages to hold the pit bull terriers seized during drug raids in the Rembert area this past weekend. Nine people were arrested during the series of early Saturday morning drug raids by deputies from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, working in concert with officers from Sumter Police Department and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. In total, law-enforcement officials seized nearly a quarter-million dollars’ worth of illegal drugs — primarily marijuana — as well as firearms, drug paraphernalia, vehicles and at least $40,000 in cash. Bond hearings were held
for those arrested during the operation. For some, those facing the fewest charges, bond was set as low as $5,000. For 36-yearold Rembert resident Kevin Lamont Loney, who faces nine separate charges, including drug trafficking and weapons charges, bond was denied. In total, the nine people charged face a total of 27 charges, primarily drug trafficking offenses, with more charges possible. Law-enforcement officials were prepared and armed with warrants for the drug activity on Saturday. However, reports indicate the 25 dogs, discovered at a residence in the 5600 block of Hines Road along with the pit investigators say was used to fight the animals, were an unexpected addition to the operations for investigators. While the raids began
SEE DOGS, PAGE A9
PHOTOS BY BRADEN BUNCH / THE SUMTER ITEM
One of the dogs seized during drug raids in Rembert on Saturday struggles to stand at the Sumter County Animal Control Shelter on Monday. Officials said more than two dozen dogs, along with a pit for fighting the animals, were discovered at a residence in the 5600 block of Hines Road during the weekend raids. A pit bull terrier, right, stands in her cage over her two sleeping pups at the shelter on Monday. The dog was seized during the raids.
Deadline set for final penny tax project list BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com (803) 774-1272 For the first time in the ongoing process to renew Sumter County’s penny sales tax, a deadline has been set for the final project list to be approved. As the six members of the new capital sales tax commission sat down for their first meeting Monday morning,
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Sumter County Council Chairman Larry Blanding told them council wants to vote on a completed list of projects by next month. “The commission was appointed in April, it’ll BLANDING meet in May, and we’d like to have our first vote (on the proposal) on June 10,” Blanding said.
The deadline would give county council two months to pass the project list in three readings, along with the formal wording of the ballot question, before a mid-August cutoff for putting the issue to voters. It also means the commission must review the suggestions of a previous committee and formulate a set list of proposals, along with dollar figures for each, in a matter of weeks.
DEATHS, B6 Frances R. Buyck Catherine Keen Nina Wilson Walter H. Monk Gladys Raynor
Vicki J. Abrams Marie M. Brodie Willie Mae H. Lucas Sarah G. Osborne Antonio J. Cowell
The process could be hastened by the fact much of the groundwork has already been laid by a larger stakeholders’ committee that met for eight weeks in March and April to narrow the number of submitted proposals down to 28. “County council recognized that process would bring in as many ideas
SEE FINAL LIST, PAGE A9
WEATHER, A12
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4 SECTIONS, 32 PAGES VOL. 119, NO. 178
Mostly sunny, warm and humid today with a clear sky tonight HIGH 90, LOW 66
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