TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2001 FROM PAGE 1A CENSUS pro tem. "The more we have in that account, trict based in Sumter County. But it wasn't even the greater the resources that will come back close. Sumter's three resident districts actually FROM PAGE 1A from Washington, from Columbia to the city." need to pick up almost 14,000 people combined. While results of the challenge can help in- City officials are not sure what will be repre census estimate to more than 45,600.
crease funding, they cannot be used in efforts quired of them to challenge. They'll know City council members hope for similar suc- to redraw voting district lines, according to more when the Census Bureau sends inmore cess with this effort. A successful challenge the Census Bureau. Those efforts have al- formation. Monday's email just gets Sumter would allow Sumter to compete for more ready begun in Columbia.
into the challenge process, called Count Quesstate and federal funding, which distribute Every 10 years after census figures are re- tion Resolution. for many programs based on popula- leased, 1 the state Legislature must redraw COR allows dollars governmental bodies to ask for tion. lines to keep populations evenly distributed corrections to boundary lines, the location of "Numbers are very important for the sup- within districts. living quarters and excluded living quarters. port of your programs and activities," said Legislators from Sumter had thought the Sumter officials asked for information on all the Rev.
William Randolph, Sumter's mayor county had grown enough to warrant another dis- types of challenges. Police: Man BY JOE STANGE Associated Press Writer ST. LOUIS A 34-year-old man opened fire Monday just after his son's baseball game, killing his estranged wife and 10- year-old son as players and parents fled for cover, police said. The man killed himself Monday night, authorities said. shoots wife, The Little League game, at Penrose Park in north St.
Louis had just ended when the 31-yearold woman, watching her son's game from her car, saw her husband approaching, police said. The woman yelled for her son to hurry into the car. The man killed his wife as she sat in the car, then turned the gun on his son, St. Louis Police Chief Joe Mokwa said. No son at Little one else was injured.
"It's a tragedy and it's tough for our officers to take a look at a young boy in a baseball uniform laying here dead, shot multiple times," Mokwa said. The gunshots sent a crowd of families scrambling. The boy's teammates were among several witnesses to the shootings. "We heard gunshots and we League game looked up and we saw him down and saw the mother's windshield shattered, and she was gone and he was gone," said Warren Scott, the boy's Little League coach. The gunman fled in a car, which police said they found less than two hours later, pulled over on the side of the road.
The suspect died from a self inflicted gunshot wound to the head, police said. House takes another stab at flag amendment WASHINGTON Shrugging off a succession of defeats, those who believe the flag should be protected by the Constitution are again taking their case before Congress. As in the past, the House is expected to vote in favor of a constitutional amendment today and send it to the Senate, where it probably will be defeated by lawmakers who say saving free speech rights is more important than saving flags from desecration. Three times in the past six years, in 1995, 1997 and 1999, the House came up with the two-thirds majority on the flag issue needed to amend the Constitution. In each of two votes in the Senate, in 1995 and 2000, supporters reached only 63 votes, four short of the necessary total.
Three fourths of state legislatures also must approve a constitutional amendment. The document has been amended only 27 times in the nation's history, including the 10 articles of the Bill of Rights. The proposed amendment, sponsored by Washington By MARK WARBIS Associated Press Writer By JIM ABRAMS Associated Press Writer BOISE, Idaho Katharine Graham, chairman of the executive committee of The Washington Post remained hospitalized in critical condition and unconscious early today. The 84-year-old was in Sun Valley to attend a business confer- OBITUARIES Post's Graham Reps. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, can Legion a and other groups that leads the and John Murtha, states simply: "Con- amendment fight.
"It's never been a question gress shall have power to prohibit the physi- of if, but a question of when." cal desecration of the flag of the United Justis admitted that the hurdles may be States." higher this year with the Democrats' takeover Official efforts to protect the flag began at of the Senate. Most Democrats, including Maleast as early as the 1890s. In 1897, Pennsyl- jority Leader Tom Daschle, oppose vania made it a crime to "damage or destroy" such an amendment. Perhaps more importhe Stars and Stripes. tant, Sen.
Patrick Leahy, a leading opIn Congress, the issue goes back to 1968 ponent, has replaced Sen. Orrin Hatch, R- when, reacting to Vietnam War protests that one of its leading advocates, as chairincluded flag burning, lawmakers made defil- man of the Judiciary Committee. ing the flag a crime. The Supreme Court Gregory Nojeim, chief legal counsel for ruled by a 54 vote in 1989, however, that the American Civil Liberties Union, exburning the flag is free speech protected pressed hope the Senate will refuse to conunder the First Amendment. The federal law sider the amendment if it clears the House.
and flag burning statutes in 48 states were The ACLU and other opponents argue that overturned. the amendment represents a solution in Congress responded that year by passing a search of a problem. Cases of flag desecration federal statute to protect the flag, but in 1990 are rare, they contend, and defining desecrathe Supreme Court, again by 5-4, ruled that tion could it apply to ties or T-shirts with statute also was unconstitutional. flag designs? is too difficult. "We continue to press to change minds "Freedom can't survive if exceptions to and hearts on this particular issue," said the First Amendment are made whenever Marty Justis, executive director of the Citi- someone in power disagrees with an expreszens Flag Alliance, an affiliate of the Ameri- sion," he said.
still unconscious unconscious since her fall." At the family's request, no additional details about her injuries were disclosed. Smith declined comment on whether Graham might be transported to Washington, D.C. Graham attended the Allen Co. Annual Conference in Sun Valley, held for business, communications and entertainment ex- after fall ecutives. The meeting began last Tuesday and ended Saturday night.
Graham took over the Post company in 1963 after the suicide of her husband, Philip Graham, and built it into a profitable conglomerate of newspaper, magazine, broadcast and cable properties, including Newsweek. ence and fell Saturday afternoon on a path outside a condominium, said Chip Knight, spokesman for the Post company. Graham underwent surgery late Saturday at the St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, hospital spokesman David Smith said. "We haven't had a status change," he said.
"She has been DOLLIE H. DAVIS NORFOLK, Va. Dollie Harvin Davis, 72, widow of Thomas Davis died Friday, July 13, 2001, at Depaul 1 Medical Center in Norfolk. Born Oct. 21, 1928, in Brooklyn, N.Y., she was a daughter of the late William Smiley and Mary Harvin.
The family will receive friends beginning Friday at the home of her cousin, General: and Themla Benbow, Sassafras Lane, S.C. 261 East, Manning. Services will be announced by Samuels Funeral Home of Manning. JAMES PEARSON JR. James Pearson husband of Carolyn W.
Pearson, died Monday, July 16, 2001, at the Medical University of South Carolina hospital in Charleston. Born July 30, 1944, in Sumter County, he was a son of Lillie J. Pearson and the late James Pearson Sr. The family will receive friends at the home of Lillie Pearson, 3443 Old Manning Road, Sumter. Services will be announced by Sumter Funeral Service Inc.
GEORGE ABRAM JR. CHARLOTTE, N.C. George Abram 61, husband of Eliza Holmes Abram, died Thursday, July 12, 2001, at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte. Born Jan. 15, 1940, in Bishopville, S.C., he was a son of the late George Abram Sr.
and Woliner Barr Abram. He attended Lee County public schools and was employed with the city of Charlotte. Survivors besides his wife include two sons, Johnny Holmes of Lynchburg and Tony Abram of Charlotte; a daughter, Wanda Abram of Charlotte; three brothers, Phillip Abram of Bishopville, Richard Abram of Atlanta, and Leroy Abram of Charlotte; two sisters, Lillie Abram of Bronx, N.Y., and Ada Mae Bradley of Bishopville; and eight grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today at Liberty Hill Baptist Church in Bishopville with the Rey.
Vernon Holland officiating. Burial will be in McCutchen Cemetery. The funeral procession will leave at 1 p.m. from the home of his sister, Ada Mae Bradley, 217 McIntosh Bishopville. The family will receive friends at the home of Ada Mae Bradley.
Square Deal Funeral Home of Bishopville is three sons, Eddie McFadden, Tyrone McFadin charge of arrangements. den and Willie McFadden, all of Baltimore, three daughters, Patricia Sanburn, Stephanie LORIN A. ATKINSON SR. Ballard and Theresa Johnson, all of Sumter; a Lorin Alvie Atkinson 82, died Monday, brother, William McFadden Jr. of Jordan; two July 16, 2001, at Tuomey Regional Medical Cen- sisters, Emma Lyons and Francis Dinkins, both ter.
of Daytona Beach, two grandchildren he Born in Lee County, he was a son of the late raised as his own, Quinyetta and Jerollis FlemGeorge Kelly Atkinson and Rosa Mabel Amer- ing; and 11 grandchildren. son Atkinson. He attended Southside Baptist He was preceded in death by a son, Micheal Church. He was a member of the American Le- McFadden. gion Post No.
15. He was a U.S. Army Air Corps Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. World War II veteran and retired from Campbell Wednesday in the chapel of Sumter Funeral SerSoup Co. vice 623-625 Manning with the Rev.
He was first married. to the late Clara V. Stanley Hayes officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Windham Atkinson; he later married Elizabeth Nebo Baptist Church cemetery in Alcolu.
Russell Atkinson. The funeral procession will leave at 2:05 Survivors besides his wife include five sons, p.m. from the home, 33 Chandler St. Lorin A. Atkinson Jr.
of Merritt Island, The family will receive friends at the home. Conley R. of North Augusta, S.C., Sumter Funeral Service Inc. is in charge of Richard E. Atkinson of Bossier City, Charles arrangements.
S. Atkinson of Augusta, and Tommy L. Atkinson of Sumter; a daughter, Linda Maynard JOYCE G. SCOTT of Sumter; three stepsons, James C. "Jimmy" SUMMERTON Joyce Griffin Scott, 72, Russell, John Allen Russell and Billy Joe Russell, wife of John A.
Scott, died Monday, July 16, all of Sumter; a brother, Larry Atkinson of 2001, at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Sumter; two sisters, Mary Alice Hudson of Florence. Sumter and Annie Lee Atkinson of Camden; 14 Born Feb. 7, 1929, in Summerton, she was a grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; and 11. daughter of the late Ervin Theodore Griffin and stepgrandchildren. Marie Wells Griffin.
She was a member of SumHe was preceded in death by five brothers. merton United Methodist Church and was a reFuneral services will be held at 2 p.m. tired secretary. Wednesday in the chapel of Elmore-Hill-Mc- Survivors besides her husband of SummerCreight Funeral Home with the Rev. Tommy S.
ton include a son, John A. "Lex" Scott Jr. of Atkinson and the Rev. Jim Houtz officiating. Lexington; a daughter, Jonolyn Whiteside of Burial will be in Wells Cemetery.
Charleston; five sisters, Mary G. Silver, VirThe family will receive friends from 6 to 8 ginia G. Ardis and Kenny G. Avin, all of Sump.m. today at the funeral home and other times, merton, Jean Bell of Santee and Lynn G.
at the home of his grandson, 1241 Rockdale Watkins of Laurens; four grandchildren, Frank Boulevard. and Morgan Whiteside and Rebecca and John Memorials may be made to Southside Bap- A. Scott III. tist Church. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m.
Elmore-Hill-McCreight Funeral Home is in Wednesday at Summerton United Methodist charge of arrangements. Church with the Rev. Carolyn Malphrus and the Rev. Gordon Timmons officiating. Burial will be EDDIE L.
ISAAC in Summerton Evergreen Cemetery. Eddie Lee Isaac, 56, husband of Harriett Nephews will serve as pallbearers. Isaac, died Thursday, July 12, 2001, at Tuomey The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 Regional Medical Center. p.m. today at Stephens Funeral Home in ManBorn Dec.
5, 1944, in Clarendon County, he ning and other times at the home. was a son of Julia I. McFadden and the late Memorials may be made to Summerton William W. McFadden Sr. He attended Claren- Evergreen Cemetery, P.O.
Box 206, Summerdon County public schools. In his youth, he ton, SC 29148. joined Mt. Nebo Baptist Church. Stephens Funeral Home of Manning is in Survivors besides his wife of Sumter include charge of arrangements.
The Item 2, let it keep you informed! The Item: PAGE 9A BOLAND FROM PAGE 1A Stewart praised Boland for the work 1 he has done in the county over the last seven years. "The role of the administrator in this type of government is often the person who gets blamed for the bad news," Stewart said. "I think he may have taken too much of the blame and not enough of the credit." Councilman Dr. Carl Ramsey also praised Boland's work with the county. "Bobby's just done a wonderful job.
I think they just recognized his capabilities, and they made him a wonderful offer he couldn't refuse," Ramsey said. BISHOPVILLE FROM PAGE 1A Logan, owner of Logan Appliance Center. David Roberson said he couldn't see how the city's plans could hurt his store, McLeod Pharmacy. This is just the first step in a larger plan by Bishopville City Council. "This grant certainly is a good start, but it is going to be used primarily for infrastructure," Alexander said.
"There are some more grants we're going to pursue and make the downtown more attractive to people to come here and enjoy the good life here in Bishopville." TAX FROM PAGE 1A Harrelson said this is the time shoppers buy most of their backto school items, but the holiday will give them a chance to buy at a lower price. "They're going to buy it anyway. Why not take advantage of (shopping) tax free?" he said. Although retailers say they're better prepared to handle the madness, some shoppers still won't take that chance. Sumter resident Michele Christmas was in Wal-Mart Monday shopping for her son.
She said he could use some new fall clothes, but she doesn't like the Kelly said he thinks Boland will help advance Kershaw County's economic efforts. "We're very excited about Bobby Boland. We feel that with our interests and goals here i in terms of economic development, we felt like he would be the best individual to meet the specific goals that we set," Kelly said. Kelly said Boland was chosen from 25 applicants. The search began when Hartwig announced his retirement in March.
Stewart said it was too early to discuss how Clarendon's council will go about searching for Boland's replacement. "I hope we would make plans to advertise right away," he said. "But that's something the council will have to discuss." Alexander said the plan is to improve infrastructure, such as sidewalks, on Main Street and then look into things like lighting and possible expansion of the city limits. Also, when the Lee County Council on Aging moves out of its building on East Council Street, it will be torn down and replaced with a parking lot, city officials said. That part of the renovation plan is not covered by the grant.
The entire plan is going to take a long time and a good bit of money, Alexander said. "It's going to take a good bit more than what we got, but thank the powers that be that we got the grant," he said. ning hese rans- the ssion ps of very arate accuinfor- more ng it, renight or ating our work xing. look al reve alerica sige we Idren rertain and tious al? the they adhead was the al of as a raves backroom are nd of IS get area get so more them led in but of nowlwere time? nomiuch a ect on riddle ms to the ction" last uised are why rather eople Iture. crowds.
So the holiday probably won't make much of a difference for her, she said. Even those not shopping for typical back-to-school items can catch a break during the holiday. Items such as bridal gowns, adult diapers, musical instruments and in-line skates will also be tax exempt. Because the weekend is targeted toward back-to-school shopping, some retailers say last year's holiday didn't affect their business. "It didn't make a difference one way or another," said Patsy Blanding, owner of the women's boutique Pappagallo Shop on Bultman Drive.
To find out more on the sales tax holiday, visit www.sctax.org. Levy's mother discusses daughter's disappearance By BRIAN MELLEY Associated Press Writer MODESTO, Calif. On many of the sleepless nights since Chandra Levy vanished, Susan Levy has slipped into her daughter's small bedroom and curled up in the bed. The bedroom, filled with diplomas, books and pictures, has become a sanctuary of sorts for the Levy family in the 78 days since the 24-year-old was last seen in Washington, D.C. Younger brother, Adam, is constructing a toothpick model of the Eiffel Tower in the bedroom, and her father, Robert, goes there to grieve.
"It's just the most painful thing," Susan Levy told The Associated Press in a recent interview. "It's been 11 weeks of torturous craziness." The case has generated national attention because of the involvement of Rep. Gary Condit, a Democrat whose district includes Levy's hometown of Modesto. He has said he and Chandra were friends, and, according to a police source, he has told investigators he was having an affair with her. Each day offers a range of challenges for the Levys: from just getting out of bed to turning over Chandra's dental records to viewing TV footage of police dogs searching landfills and abandoned buildings.
"Some days I just want to collapse, just do nothing," Susan Levy said. "I shouldn't say some days. It's almost every day of the week." In public, Levy projects another image that of a vigilant mother, a crusader for justice trying to find out what happened to her daughter. She's stood before banks of cameras outside her home. She traveled to Washington to confront the 53-year-old Condit, who she believes might have more information he can share with investigators.
Her husband, Robert, an oncologist, is often by her side, his eyes rimmed in tears or his head bowed in grief. She does most of the talking. Occasionally, Susan Levy endures criticism. Some callers to a talk radio show recently complained that other missing person cases don't get as much attention; others questioned her daughter's morals. "I've had to be real brave," she said.
"I've found I have done things that I never thought I would do." But behind the doors of her house, she struggles to get dressed and comb her hair each day. One day last week, she spread photos of happier times on the dining room table in the large, open room that is the heart of their spacious contemporary home. In one, a scowling little girl sits in a mess of shredded paper from one of her classic childhood tantrums. In another, a young woman stands with a squad of fighter pilots she befriended at an air show. And there's one of the whole family in April, the last time they were together, just weeks before Chandra disappeared.
With an uncertain future and a present that is nearly unbearable, the past at least provides a comforting distraction. A ringing phone keeps them coming back. Their two phone lines ring as many as 50 times a day. "But not the one call we want, saying that OK, I'm alive," Robert Levy said. "That's the only one we want.
You don't get that one." Francis and Carole Carrington, whose daughter and granddaughter went missing for weeks before their bodies were found near Yosemite National Park, have helped the Levys manage a reward fund. On Monday, they. also stopped by the Levy's house on their way home from a court hearing for the women's accused killer. Every grieving couple discovers their own ways to cope, Francis Carrington said. "I still want to have that flame of hope," Susan Levy said.
"Yeah, you should," her husband said in a weak voice..
