The Times and Democrat from Orangeburg, South Carolina • 6

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2011 THE TIMES AND DEMOCRAT WWW.THETANDD.COM. LOCAL I STATE POLICE REPORTS Shots fired into youth center caused about $1,000 in damages Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office Investigators are searching for the person who fired three rounds at a religious facility Wednesday night, causing nearly $1,000 in damages. Officials of the Bethel Youth Center in Holly Hill said someone fired three times through the facility's front windows. They said the damage was found Thursday morning as the grounds were being cleaned. 20-gauge shotgun shell casing was recovered outside the Coach Road location while two shotgun shell waddings were found inside the building.

Damage to the windows and blinds is estimated to be about $925. In other reports: A Eutawville man reported firearms were stolen from a friend's property, including an AK-47. The man said Thursday he was staying at a friend's residence while the friend was out of town. He said he discovered a Model 1911 Colt .45 caliber handgun, an AK-47 and a pellet gun were missing, in addition to a 60-inch Sony TV. The guns and TV combined are valued at $4,600.

Branchville woman called deputies after her landlord took her lawn mower. She said she discovered that her lawn mower had been placed in a shed and locked inside it. When she called the landlord, she was told she could get the lawn mower back after she paid next month's light bill, the report said. Deputies called the landlord, who said the same thing. Deputies asked him by what authority he took the woman's lawn mower.

He said by "my authority," the report said. The man threatened to call a supervisor. Deputies told him he could not deprive someone of their property. A 17-year-old Mimosa Drive youth went to jail early Friday after being accused of stealing from his mother. The youth's mother told deputies she discovered about $114 in transactions on her firnancial card that she didn't authorize.

When she asked her son about it, he smiled and said he wasn't responsible, the report said. Asked again, he admitted taking the card, according to the report. His mother said the youth had a history of stealing from his family and removed him from a school for that reason. The youth laughed when deputies explained the seriousness of his alleged actions, the report said. A Norway man was advised to go to sleep early Friday.

The 35-year-old man called deputies to report someone came to his house and stole $4. After the officers left, he called them back. Deputies returned and asked him what was wrong. He said nothing was wrong except he was lonely. The officers advised the man to go to bed and get some sleep.

Suspect sought in armed robbery Authorities are looking for the gunman who robbed the Edisto Drive Family Dollar late Thursday. The gunman is described as a black male between 5 feet 8 inches and 6 feet tall. He was wearing a tan camouflage jacket, black skull cap, black pants, and Timberline boots. Employees said that around 10 p.m., the man placed a comforter and a single, loose scrubbing pad on the counter. The clerk told the subject the single pad didn't have a bar code to scan.

The two went to the aisle where the scrubbing pads were kept and returned to the register. The subject then requested a handgun out and ordered the clerk to stay behind the register, according to an Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office incident report. He instructed another employee to fill a bag with money. After the subject was given the bag, he instructed one of the employees to retrieve another pack of scrubbing pads from the aisle. With the bag and pads in hand, the gunman then exited the store and told the employees to lock the door.

If anyone has any information on the robbery, they are asked to contact Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SCor the Orangeburg County Sheriff's office at 803-534-3550. Bond set on suspects in separate incidents separate incidents Jack Dempsey A memorial service for Jack Dempsey, 84, of 2917 Charleston Highway, will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012, at Memorial Park Cemetery in Orangeburg, with Larry Dempsey officiating. Burial, directed by Thompson Funeral Home, will follow. Mr.

Dempsey was born Nov. 10, 1927, in Augusta the sonof the late Dennis Dempsey Sr. and the late Julia Mosley Dempsey. He served in the U.S. Navy and was a veteran of World War II.

He was a member of Northgate Baptist Church. Mr. Dempsey was preceded in death by his first wife, Marie Gartman Dempsey; his second wife, Lisa Dempsey and by four brothers, Dennis Dempsey, Franklin Dempsey, Cleveland Dempsey and Willis Dempsey. Survivors include his nieces and nephews, Tommy and Paula Dempsey of Arkansas, Larry and Sandra Dempsey of Bamberg, Danny and Sandy Dempsey of Orangeburg, Mike Dempsey of St. Matthews, Donna Hooker of Cordova, Sharon and Tim Bramlett of Greer, Robin Cook of Cordova, Tony Dempsey of Hot Springs, Carla Keener of Orangeburg, Christy Davis Forbes of Bonneau Beach, Tom Dempsey of Atlanta, Charles Dempsey of Florida, Bobby Keener of Lit tle Rock, Doug Keener of Florida and two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Dempsey of Cordova and Mary Margaret Dempsey of Orangeburg.

Memorials may be made to the H.F. Mabry Center for Cancer Care, 1161 Cook Road, Orangeburg, SC 29118. Ms. Cloey Ann Whaley Funeral services for Ms. Cloey Ann Whaley, 55, of 4685 Main Trail Road, Orangeburg, will be held at noon, Monday, Jan.

2, 2012, at Gethsemane Baptist Church, 3893 Savannah Highway, North. Burial will follow in the Canaan Baptist Church Ms. Whaley cemetery, 602 Canaan Road, Orangeburg. The casket will be placed in Staff Report robbery charge was held the church an hour prior to the Dec. 9.

He is still be- service. on Bond has been set on ing held on a $35,000 Ms. Whaley passed at the two men accused in sep- bond." Regional Medical Center of arate Orangeburg County In an unrelated case, Orangeburg, Dec. 25, 2011. crimes.

Devon Tremain Thomas, She was the daughter of Inez Rakeen Jereal Jor- 18, 241 Parkwood Whaley and the late James dan White, 19, 18 Robin North, has been charged Owens and was born on Sept. Court, Williston, has with attempted mur- 9,1956, in Cameron. been charged with armed der in connection with a She leaves to cherish her robbery and possession Christmas Day shooting memories her mother, Inez of a weapon during a vi- White Thomas in North. Whaley of Orangeburg; one olent crime. A warrant alleges he son, Rasheen Whaley of the White and a codefendant are accused of robbing an Orangeburg woman, according to Sheriff Leroy Ravenell.

"White and Andre D. Williams II knocked on the door of an Orangeburg woman's home on Oct. 20, 2011, pointed a weapon at her, forced her to come outside, demanded and hats she was selling out of her vehicle," Ravenell said. "White's bond was set at $35,000 for the two charges. "A bond hearing for Williams on an armed SPECIAL TO THE The Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office released this sketch of the man who robbed the Edisto Drive Family Dollar late Thursday.

another pack of pads. As the clerk walked around the register, the subject pulled Thomas shot a man several times "causing severe injury that would normally cause death." The person who was shot was last reported to be in stable condition. Bond was set on Thomas at $150,000 cash or surety. "Investigators Jared Kittrell and Lakesha Gillard are to be commended for their work in solving these cases and hopefully easing some of the tension for the victims in both cases," Ravenell said. Solon wants longer prison sentences sentences Chuck Wright complained bitterly right after Brown's arrest that he was not still in prison with a rap sheet that long.

"We should have not had to been dealing with him. But then again, our justice system has been a failure," Wright said. Under the two strikes, three strikes law, offenders who commit a "most serious offense" such as murder or kidnappingtwo times would be to life in prison as long as the solicitor asks the judge for that specific punishment. On the third commission of a "serious offense," the offender would be sentenced to life in prison as long as the solicitor requests that sentence. Martin said he plans to call Senate President Pro Tern Glenn McConnellbefore lawmakers return to Columbia Jan.

10 to discuss scheduling the bill for consideration in a subcommittee. For now, it has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Joining Martin and Wright at a Friday news conference to talk about the bill was Solicitor Barry Barnette. "I think if you talk to any law enforcement officer, any legislator, any police officers, people in the public, or even judges, even though judges can't publicly talk about it, they're against these folks," Barnette said. "And if we give them the weapons, they can use these weapons to take these people off the streets much earlier." Mary Louise Rentz Hodge Mary Louise Rentz Hodge, 73, of Elloree, died Tuesday, Dec.

27, 2011, at the Regional Medical Center. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 30, at Fellowship of Praise in Santee, with the Rev. Tim Sanders and Associate Pastor Ronnie Spires officiating.

Burial followed at West End Cemetery. The family received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29, at Dukes- -Harley Funeral Home. Mrs.

Hodge was born in Allendale, a daughter of the late Frederick Joseph Rentz and Agnes Barnes Rentz. She was a graduate of St Matthews High School and the Medical University of South Carolina School of Nursing, and was a retired nurse. Mrs. Hodge was a member of Fellowship of Praise, the Lamp Lighters Sunday School Class and the Eastern Star. She was the widow of Thomas Richard Hodge.

Survivors include two daughters, Donna Jo Herndon and husband Richard of St. Matthews and Pamela H. Bradshaw of Eutawville; five grandchildren, Denver Thomas Bradshaw, Hunter Adam Bradshaw, Matthew James Herndon, Krystle Bracey and Michael Herndon; three great grandchildren and a sister, Sarah A. Geddings of Orangeburg. Memorials may be made to Fellowship of Praise, Building Fund, P.O.

Box 39, Santee, SC 29142, or Davita Dialysis North Orangeburg, 124 Fire Tower Road, Orangeburg, SC 29118. Please sign the families' online guestbook at www.dukesharleyfuneralhome.com. Mrs. Catherine B. Collom Mrs.

Catherine Byerly Collom, 102, formerly of Holly Hill, died Friday, Dec. 30,2011, in a Mount Pleasant nursing home. A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012, in the Holly Hill Cemetery, with the Rev.

Philip Rorabaugh officiating. Visitation will be from 1:30 until 2:30 p.m. at Avinger Funeral Home. Mrs. Collom was born in Terre Haute, a daughter of the late John Byerly and Mary Day Byerly.

She was aretired store clerk, and was the widow of Ralph Collom. Surviving are sons, Max (Margaret) Collom of Joe (Janice) Collom of Atlanta and Ray Collom of Mount Pleasant; grandchildren, Sharon (Loy) Stewart, Matthew (Karin) Collom, Amy Collom, and Ben Collom and great -grandchildren, Kaitlyn Sanders, Brittany (Joe) Black, Kyle Collom, Korey Collom, Kaleb Collom, Loy Stewart III, John Allen Stewart and Rachael Long. Memorials may be made to the Holly Hill Cemetery Fund, PO Box 203, Holly Hill, SC 29059. Mr. Jimmie Lee Cobbs Mr.

Jimmie Lee Cobbs, 55, of St. George, died Dec. 28, 2011, at Colleton Medical Center. Funeral services are incomplete at this time. Services are entrusted to Brown Son Funeral Home at St.

George. to The obituary deadline on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 is 4 p.m. SOUTH CAROLINA home; three daughters, Nicole Whaley and France Vilme of the home and Jennifer Neals of Orangeburg; three grandsons; four sisters, Jacqueline Wise Jones, Stephanie Wise, Shamelle Whaley, all of Orangeburg and Desiree Wise of Maryland; eight aunts, five nephews; two great -grandnephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

The viewing will be Saturday, Dec. 31, from 2 to 7 p.m. at Jenkins Funeral Home in Orangeburg. Friends may call at the resi- dence and the funeral home. Condolences may be emailed Wire Reports 21-year-old man shot outside restaurant COLUMBIA Authorities say a 21-year-old man likely knew the person who shot him to death in the parking lot of an Olive Garden restaurant in Columbia.

Lexington County Coroner Harry Harman says Thomas Hoefer was shot in the chest at around 9 p.m. Thursday. The bullet entered Hoefer's lung, and he was pronounced dead at a hospital. Columbia police say Hoefer had been inside the restaurant eating with his family when he went outside to talk to someone and was shot. Authorities are still investigating the shooting.

No arrests have been made, but Columbia Police Chief Randy Scott says the shooting was not random. Former trooper cleared of DUI charge by jury CAYCE A former South Carolina state trooper wants to return to James Wesley Garrick Staff Report Staff Report By MEG KINNARD Associated Press COLUMBIA- A bill recently filed by a Republican state senator from Spartanburg would add five crimes to the list of offenses eligible for a life sentence in prison. Sen. Shane Martin's bill would add common law robbery, discharging a weapon into a dwelling and aggravated criminal domestic violence to the state's most serious offenses, as well as resisting arrest with a deadly weapon and taking a weapon from a law officer. He stressed he selected these crimes because they involve people being threatened.

"These are all personal in nature," Martin said. "We're not DEADLINES IN MEMORIAMS BIRTHDAY ADS Publication Date Deadline MONDAY 10AM TUESDAY NOON WEDNESDAY NOON THURSDAY NOON FRIDAY NOON SATURDAY NOON SUNDAY NOON The Times and Democrat James Wesley Garrick, 86, of 283 Hickory Hill Road, Orangeburg, died Thursday, Dec. 29,2011, at his residence after a brief illness. The funeral will be held at 3 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012, in the St.

George Baptist Church Sanctuary in Orangeburg, with the Rev. Jimmy Hanf and the Rev. Ike Kittrell officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be Stuart Pettit, Jim Rumchak, Donnie Whisenhunt, Linnie Sutcliffe, Ray Jameson and Jeffrey Fogle.

Honorary pallbearers will be the Senior Adult Men's Sunday School Class and Mr. Bud Shroat. Mr. Garrick was born May 29, 1925, in Orangeburg, the son of the late James Wesley Garrick and the late Ruby Hutto Garrick. He was preceded in death by his adoptive parents, Willie J.

Smoak and Annie Whisenhunt Smoak. He served in the U.S. Navy and was a veteran of World War II, having served on the USS Cleveland in the South Pacific. He was retired from Kaiser AG Chemical Company and was a retired farmer. He was member of St.

George Baptist Church, where he served as a teacher and a deacon. He was an avid sportsman, loving hunting and fishing. Survivors include his wife, Alice Bates Garrick of Orangeburg; three sons, James Wesley Garrick Jr. of Greenville, Donald and Becky Garrick of Orangeburg and Tommy and Teresa Garrick of Greenville; four grandchildren, Hope Kaiser, Wesley and Jenny Garrick, Jonathan Garrick, Christopher Lynn Garrick and four great -grandchildren, Sydney Kaiser, Garrick Kaiser, Joshua Kaiser and James Caden Garrick. The family will receive friends at the home, 283 Hickory Hill Road, Orangeburg.

Visitation will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 1, in the ROC at St. George Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St.

George Baptist Church ROC Building Fund, 2590 Shillings Bridge Road, Orangeburg, SC 29115. The family would like to thank the staff of Grove Park Hospice for all their kindnesses and special care. Ms. Mrs. Susan Billie Johnson White The funeral for Mrs.

Susan Billie will be held at noon on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, at St. James Missionary Baptist Church in Eutawville, with the Rev. Wayne Shaw officiating. Burial will be in the Davis cemetery in Eutawville.

Shuler- Marshall Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Visit our website at shulermarshallfuneralhome. com to share condolences with the family. Mrs. Sharon SpignerHubbard trying to put people in jail for life for stealing a lawnmower." Martin said he felt it necessary to do something about sentencing after talking with authorities about crimes allegedly committed by people with long prior records.

One of those cases involved Robert Odell Brown, who was arrested in November in Virginia and charged with shooting a Spartanburg County deputy who was trying to apprehend him. Deputy Brad James lost sight in one eye, but the wounds were not life-threatening. Brown, who was subsequently charged with attempted murder, armed robbery and burglary, has a criminal record that includes a domestic violence charge and convictions for assault and battery with intent to kill, possessing a stolen car and providing false information to law enforcement. Spartanburg County Sheriff In Loving Memory of VERNON R. GREEN who departed this life on Dec.

31, 2001 Dear Vernon, I'm so thankful God brought us together 10 years ago. You are unforgettable. LOVE, MICHELE Mrs. Sharon Spigner- -Hubbard of Randallstown, formerly of Orangeburg, died Dec. 22, 2011, at her home following an extended illness.

Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Glover's Funeral Home. Friends may call at the funeral home. work now that a jury has found her not guilty of the DUI charge that led to her dismissal. The State newspaper reports that former Lance Cpl. Lisa Lindler was cleared of the charge by a Cayce municipal court jury earlier this month.

Lindler, a 23-year veteran of the Highway Patrol, was fired in June 2009 after being arrested and charged with driving under the influence. Her lawyer, John O'Leary, argued that the breath test machine malfunctioned, and that Lindler wasn't given the chance to give another sample. Furniture chain closing after 2 decades CHARLESTON The Charleston-area furniture chain which owned a store where nine firefighters died four years ago is going out of business. The Post and Courier of Charleston reports that the Sofa Super Store chain announced Thursday that its two remaining stores in North Charleston and Mount Pleasant will close their doors next week ahead of a liquidation sale. In a statement, the firm said the depressed housing market and sluggish economy forced the decision to close after 20 years in business.

Teen test-drives BMW, doesn't return it to dealer SPARTANBURG- A teenager apparently liked the BMW convertible he took for a test drive in Spartanburg so much that he didn't bother to return the vehicle. Spartanburg County deputies said employees of TLC Motors told them a teen came to the dealership Wednesday and wanted to test drive a 2003 BMW 3 Series 330C. Investigators say an employee started the car for the teenager and then headed back into the office. The driver then spun the tires and zoomed off in the convertible. Deputies found the car at a motel parking lot not far away and arrested a 17-year-old girl and a juvenile male.

They are both charged with grand larceny..