Personal Injury Attorneyin Sumter, SC.

A Midlands man was arrested on multiple charges after leading deputies on a vehicle-turned-foot chase, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday.

Alan Cowell, a 29-year-old Sumter resident, is facing three drug charges, two weapons charges, and a charge for failure to stop for a blue light (no injury or death), Sumter County court records show.

Cowell was arrested Monday, the sheriff’s office said in a news release. The incident began when a deputy saw Cowell driving a Dodge truck and making a turn without using a signal, according to the release.

While following Cowell in a patrol vehicle, the deputy could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from the truck, the sheriff’s office said.

The deputy tried to make a traffic stop but Cowell refused to pull over, instead driving the truck around a store, where it collided with another vehicle, before continuing out of the parking lot, the sheriff’s office said. The truck then accelerated south, continuing to ignore the blue lights and siren, according to the release.

While leading the chase, Cowell left the main road and turned onto side streets, before stopping in the backyard of a residence, the sheriff’s office said. Cowell then ran from the truck, ignoring commands to stop, according to the release.

During the foot chase, Cowell had a gun in one hand as he dumped what appeared to be marijuana on the ground, the sheriff’s office said. The deputy yelled for him to drop the gun, and Cowell turned around and threw the gun into bushes, but then continued to try to run away, according to the release.

As he continued to run, Cowell’s hands were hidden from the deputy’s view, the sheriff’s office said. Cowell ignored commands to show his hands and stop, prompting the deputy to use his Taser and take Cowell into custody, according to the release.

Deputies found a large sum of money and a clear plastic bag containing what appeared to be cocaine on Cowell, and both the gun as well as some of the suspected marijuana were recovered along the path of the chase, the sheriff’s office said.

Deputies also found a clear plastic bag containing what appeared to be crack cocaine in a search of the truck, according to the release.

Cowell was taken to an area hospital for evaluation before being booked at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center on Monday, according to officials.

Bond was set at $37,062.50 on the combined charges, court records show. After posting bond Tuesday, the sheriff’s office said Cowell was released to the custody of the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, which had outstanding warrants for him.

Cowell was wanted for failing to appear in a Lexington County court on drug and failure to stop for a blue light charges from a Dec. 11, 2022, arrest, Lexington County judicial records show. He’s also facing pending charges for speeding (more than 25 mph over the speed limit) and littering from the same arrest, according to court records.

The driver whose car was hit by the truck as Cowell tried to escape was not hurt, and was assisted by the South Carolina Highway Patrol, according to the release.

No other injuries were reported.

Cowell has been arrested on multiple occasions in Sumter County, court records show.

Cowell is facing a pending charge in Sumter County for speeding (more than 25 mph over the speed limit) from a Dec. 30, 2022, arrest, according to court records.

He’s also facing pending charges in Sumter County for assault and battery by mob from an Aug. 4, 2020, arrest, and presenting a false claim for insurance payment (value $10,000 or more), from an Aug. 5, 2022 arrest, court records show.

In Lexington County, Cowell pleaded guilty to weapons and drug charges on May 26, 2022, according to court records.

This story was originally published March 16, 2023, 12:04 PM.

The new committee aims to solve school busing issues after parents complained their children have been arriving to school and getting dropped at home late in Sumter.

SUMTER, S.C. — Sumter parents are worried about their kids missing class and not having time for homework because of late school buses. To try and fix the problem, the school board has created a new transportation committee.

"It’s just really frustrating because by the time the kids get home, it’s a constant fight to do their homework," parent Elizabeth Barnett explains.

Barnett has six kids total, four of whom attend schools in Sumter School District. Barnett tells me in the mornings, she takes all four to school herself.

"I drive my kids because I don’t want them late to class because it affects their grades," Barnett shares. "They do not take the bus because I don’t want them to be late so I drive them to school everyday."

To try and find a solution, the Sumter School District Board has created an ad hoc transportation committee. Area eight trustee Jeff Zell is the chair.

"The busing issue I believe is a problem that’s been growing for years that hasn’t really gotten the oversight, the scrutiny it’s deserved," Zell explains.

Data collected from the district on the week of Feb. 20 shows out of the 15 elementary school buses, two were late arriving and eight were late departing. Of the 22 middle school buses, in the morning, 59% were late. In the afternoon, 59% were on time and 41% were late. 12 of the high school’s 37 buses arrived late and 15 departed late.

Zell, along with two other board members, is planning to meet with the school district next week to discuss solutions.

"I think a lack of staffing is the core of a lot of issues," Zell says.

"Sumter School District is not competitive with wages and incentives for our bus drivers," Zell details. "That is primarily what we’re looking at at this point. We don’t know what that looks like in the end, but it will likely be part of the solution."

Zell explains the committee hopes to increase pay for drivers while also ensuring the environment on buses is safe for staff and students.

"That bus needs to be as safe and secure and professional as we demand for our classrooms so we’re going to look at code of conduct, we’re going to look at recruiting," Zell plans.

Zell says the committee plans to do this by meeting with the district, the mayor and county council members.

"We can certainly put the energy at the county level and we will — there's no question about that — but this is a much larger issue. I don't believe it’s just a Sumter issue. It’s certainly a problem across the Midlands if not across the state and I would venture to say across the nation," Zell shares. "We’ve got to be comprehensive in our approach to this and that’s exactly what this committee is going to do,"

Barnett says she hopes this approach includes better communication to parents if buses are going to be late.

"I understand you’re short drivers. I’m not asking you to not have drivers or to make drivers out of thin air," Barnett tells me. "I’m asking for communication. If you know the bus is going to be late, tell us."

Zell says the committee hopes to present a solution to the district by the end of this school year, if not sooner.

"I want this process to be done so well and provide such innovative solutions to this school district that other school districts are saying, 'Wow, look what Sumter did," Zell says.

Barnett is thankful the board is trying to solve the issues.

"Anything can be effective than nothing, so I’m really happy they have finally heard complaints," Barnett says. "I’m really thankful that the board is actually listening to parents saying and standing up for the students because it’s not fair to them to fail classes."

The front page of one of the submissions to demonstrate general excellence. This award is for consistent and high quality of the entire newspaper, from writing and story topic quality and variety to editing, headline, design, photography, use of photos, sports, editorial and lifestyle sections. Design by Melanie Smith.

COLUMBIA - The Sumter Item took home 14 awards Friday from the South Carolina Press Association's annual banquet for newspapers across the state.

The SCPA, which offers training, advocacy and hotline services to its member papers, including support of open government and Freedom of Information Act issues, recognizes the best in local news each year. Staff at newspapers in other states judge the submissions. The Item's awards this year represent five first-place wins, seven second-place and two third-place recognitions.

"I'm always proud of our newsroom when these awards roll around annually. They work so hard, often with little to no public recognition, to provide information and storytelling that I know would be sorely missed if we were not here," said Kayla Green, executive editor of The Item. "We competed in a division this year against larger newspapers than in recent years, and almost every single person who entered won something, even some of our first-year journalists. Their individual and combined talent is inspiring."

Leading the heap is a staff award for General Excellence in the medium daily market, one of the biggest recognitions given. This award represents a newspaper's consistent and high quality, from reporting, writing and topic quality and variety to editing, headlines, design, photography, use of photos and sports, editorial and lifestyle sections.

"No matter who is on the individual awards, it takes an entire team to create a consistently superior product," Green said. "There are some people who help make it all happen whose names are never on the byline of an article. This staff award really speaks to the teamwork of a newsroom and how much we rely on each other to create something that serves our community in a meaningful way."

Another staff award, led by Bruce Mills, was for a new Community Service category. Competing against all daily newspapers in the state, Mills led a sustained effort to cover and hold accountable Sumter's school board amid a lack of transparency, a rift between its former superintendent and an election. Mills' and The Item's comprehensive coverage, including reporting, use of public records, editorials, video and election guides, led to a demonstrated impact in giving the public information citizens used to make their own decisions. The coverage led to a citizen-led lawsuit, challenges on the ballot and eventual election results marking a majority turnover of the board.

Three other first-place awards included:

- Shelbie Goulding in food writing for a story on a high school culinary program's baking competition called Cupcake Wars (medium and small markets combined);

- Nich Pitts, a regular sports photography contributor, in the general news photo category for a capture of Lakewood High School's graduation (medium market); and

- Richie Weber in the feature video category for an episode of Sumter Today, The Item's good news show, featuring Alonzo McDonald, who was named Teacher of the Year in the former Clarendon School District 2 (large and medium markets combined).

Second-place awards went to six different people:

- Shelbie Goulding for the Daily Top Stories newsletter (statewide);

- Micah Green in the humorous photo category of a capture of the choir director at First Presbyterian Church, Joni Brown, leading a rehearsal for the church's annual Christmastime "Lessons and Carols" program (large and daily markets combined);

- Tim Leible in two categories, for sports page design (medium and small markets combined) of The Grind featuring Clarendon Hall's McKenley and Mandy Wells and in the game coverage category for his reporting on Wilson Hall softball winning its second-straight state title (medium market);

- Alaysha Maple in the review portfolio category for her reviews of two Sumter Little Theatre plays, "Five Women Wearing the Same Dress" and "Love, Loss and What I Wore," and a Red Clay Strays concert at the Sumter Opera House (statewide);

- Ashley Miller for education beat reporting for her use of public records and coverage of the newly consolidated Clarendon County School District (medium and small markets combined); and

- Nich Pitts in the sports feature photo category for a capture of Griffin McIntosh before Clarendon Hall's season opener against Thomas Sumter Academy. It was the Saints' first game playing 11-man football in 13 years (medium market).

Third-place awards went to:

- Cal Cary in the humorous photo category for a capture of a Crestwood High School student who was falling asleep at his graduation ceremony (large and medium markets); and

- Micah Green in the feature photo category of two boys channeling their inner Top Gun at the Shaw Air and Space Expo.

The Sumter Item's sister newspaper, The Lexington Chronicle, took home eight awards in the small weekly market.

Among them was Cary Howard, who also serves as a graphic designer at The Item. She won first place in front page design. The Chronicle staff won second place for general excellence.

READERS SHARE HOW LOCAL REPORTING IMPROVES THEIR COMMUNITY

"Having access to interviews with each of the candidates helped me develop a better understanding of individuals I may have known by name only. I was able to refer friends in other wards (voting districts) to the online articles as well, which enabled them to form their own opinions. I believe access to this kind of reporting impacts our community in positive ways. Only two of eight incumbents who ran won their election, which means to me that people were invested and passionate, and it takes an informed public to get that form of engagement. I didn't see this local reporting anywhere else, and I'm very grateful I live in a community where it is still available."

- Jane Hray, local teacher; mother; subscriber

"The Sumter Item did a wonderful job of covering the school board and its elections. I serve on the governor's military base task force, and the morning after the election I got a call from the task force staff member in the governor's office wanting to know the results. Why? Because the military is so important in South Carolina, and the education of our military children in our communities is so important. I was so happy to report that we have made a drastic change, and it looks like Sumter is headed in a direction to change the school board and move in a positive direction. And I have to give credit to the local newspaper - The Sumter Item - for making that happen, and particularly Bruce Mills."

- Steve Creech, executive committee member, South Carolina Military Base Task Force; former mayor, city of Sumter

"My wife and I feel the printed media take more time to prepare articles and fact-check before they put out the information. In an era of 24/7 TV news cycles where you are bombarded with information, it's beneficial to be able to sit down and read information, and certainly the No. 1 topic in Sumter County for the past couple of years has been the situation in our public schools.

The public schools in Sumter County are the most important element in our economic development because graduates who come out of those schools are the people who are going to be taking jobs in our local businesses and industries. For some time, we - in the industrial sector - have been concerned about the hires that we make not being well enough prepared in basic subjects such as reading, mathematics and reasoning. However, we have not noted a lot of improvement, if any. We have been following this issue very intently, and I think voters in this community have been very much motivated to evaluate the leadership in the district and the need for some changes.

"In the case of The Item, the newspaper was very even-handed in its coverage of the school board elections. The reporting on the meetings of the board was accurate. The interviews with the candidates - both the incumbents and the challengers - were interesting and fair.

"We really need to up our game, so to speak, in our public schools in Sumter County, and I think that is what the voters were saying when they elected seven new members to the school board this time. We are not satisfied in Sumter County with mediocrity. We're concerned that enrollment is dropping in the public school district. We want this county to be competitive for new investments by outside entities, and we have been pretty successful with that in the past 10 years. But we are going to stall out unless our public schools improve. Excellence is what we want, and I think that is what - in a way - The Item has been hinting at in its coverage of the school board and its elections. Which of the aspiring leaders who want to be on the Board of Trustees is going to lead us to excellence in public education?

"And, frankly, as just one citizen, I am grateful that The Item gave the coverage it did to this most important issue. I think we are going to make improvements in Sumter County, and I am optimistic about the public schools here. And I believe The Item helped lead our voting citizens to make the selections that they did without bias. I thought candidates received good, equal coverage, and it was a spirited school board election campaign.

It was democracy at work, and that is what The Item reported: Democracy at work at the local level. And that is really the most important level. The coverage of this board election was just excellent."

- Chuck Fienning, retired CEO, Sumter Packaging Corp.; former chairman, Sumter County Council

"The Item accurately reported on the candidates in the school board election and helped guide voters in their decision-making without making particular endorsements. I believe the newspaper's coverage helped the community select a new school board with seven new members. The changes represent a new opportunity for Sumter to move forward in a positive way."

- Gifford Shaw, councilman, Sumter City Council

Today's devotion is, "When God Brings a New Beginning," and my text is 2 Peter 3:10, where we read these words, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." (KJV)

Here in our text, Peter makes reference to "the day of the Lord," and this prophetic phrase refers to the future time when Jesus Christ will intervene and take control of the events on this earth. To put this in terms that we can relate to, one day, everything that you and I see around us will cease to exist because God's Word states that "the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."

Now what is this Scripture impressing upon me as a Christian? I believe it is impressing upon me the reality that, not only will all material possessions be destroyed as God renovates His creation by fire, but also everything that caused tears, anxieties and sorrows will likewise disappear for all of eternity.

The Bible fact that all temporal possessions will cease to exist one day, as well as all of our worries and cares, should have a great impact on the way we live our lives. Because we know this new beginning is coming, we need to make sure that we do not grow attached to this world, which is temporary. Neither should we allow ourselves to be overcome with fears that are determined to trouble us every day.

So, how should we as believers live our life, knowing that God will one day "wipe the slate clean" concerning this earth and the heavens above us? First, I believe we should refuse to allow this world to be the treasure of our heart.

I believe we should enjoy every day that God gives us to live and live our life to the fullest as a Christian, but we should know that this world is not and never will be our home. Our real home in Heaven is so much better than this world!

Also, we should live every day knowing that Jesus Christ could come at any moment to take His children from this earth, which will, in fact, end all of our troubles and trials that come our way.

When we live with eternity's values in view, we will begin to properly prioritize everything we say and do while we're here on this earth. Remember, God is bringing a new beginning for His children!

Joey Durham is pastor at Open Bible Baptist Church at 180 Old Manning Road in Sumter. You can contact Pastor Durham at durham.joey@yahoo.com or call the church office at (803) 481-9315.

Jair Golden has been rapping since age seven and was recently featured on an NYC billboard. He's using his story to inspire others in the community.

SUMTER, S.C. — One trip to New York City turned into the experience of a lifetime for one Sumter man after he was featured on a billboard in Times Square.

"It was my first trip ever to New York," Jair Golden remembers. "I've never been to New York."

Golden’s first trip to the Big Apple is one he’ll never forget. He was there for a meeting to work on his music, when he heard one of his songs, Ain't Too Many Solid, was about to show up on the biggest billboard.

"We're looking at all the small ones. He says, ‘That one’ and then boom, I see my durag, my mom Mira, my aunt, window. I just see everything that only I feel like I know, everything that comes from my house," Golden explains." My background. I know that and that made me feel really good. Real good. I can't even explain to you."

It wasn’t an easy road getting here. Golden fell in love with rapping at age seven, constantly working to get better. Then, he got in a motorcycle wreck in 2016.

"It was so new and so scary," Golden recalls. "I never been that close to death."

As he re-learned how to walk, he put music on pause. Then, he ran into trouble with the law, receiving five years of probation. During this time, Golden tells me he turned to music and found community support for his rapping along the way.

"I just got off five years probation and my probation officer supports it. The love from the community, I feel like that's why I'm so proud to see him because when I see Jair on the billboard, I see the PO," Golden explains. "I see the probation officer, I see the judge. I see my old bosses. I see my old manager, I see everybody that told me you will make it happen. Everything I feel like I went through I feel like I had to go to it."

He says it’s a testament to people back home, which he’s using to inspire others in Sumter.

His producer and brother Lakim says this recognition is a way to highlight their hometown.

"I'm hoping that this opens up the opportunity for the community in higher places to have channels to help us bring one home for the team. Because that's all we really want to do," Lakim shares. "It took a village to raise us and to give us the opportunity to have a intellect to say we're going to do more with this music, you know than have ever been done out here in time."

"This is something for everybody to see that, hey, even if you don't have this or have that, it could still happen to you," Golden explains. "It can still happen to you and for you."