March 21, 2017 by The Sumter Item

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Woman with cerebral palsy perseveres to find mixed martial arts instructor

School board would have 9 members if legislation passes BY BRUCE MILLS bruce@theitem.com Two Sumter School Board of Trustees members say they haven’t read a new bill yet that was introduced last week by both state senators representing Sumter County to add two atlarge, voting members to the board, but one said he wasn’t that surprised with the bill’s introduction. Board members the Rev. Ralph Canty and Chairman the Rev. Daryl McGhaney made their comCANTY ments Monday after state Sens. Thomas McElveen, D-Sumter, and Kevin Johnson, D-Clarendon, introduced the bill Thursday to add the at-large, voting members to the board. At the time, McElveen said the county’s legislative delegation has McGHANEY considered introducing the legislation for a long time, but the district’s recent financial crisis pushed the need for the bill to the forefront. Canty said it was rumored the delegation would introduce the bill at some point; so, he

SEE MEMBERS, PAGE A7

City: Water meter replacement will begin next month Usage data will be sent to computers BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com

PHOTOS BY RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM

Team Robinson coach Jerome Robinson defends some punches from Whitney Cranford during a training session Friday. Cranford, who is from Hartsville, searched for someone to teach her mixed martial arts while using a wheelchair.

Team Robinson MMA becomes ‘like family’ to Hartsville student BY BRUCE MILLS bruce@theitem.com

Cranford is like many of Jerome

Robinson’s mixed martial arts students at Team Robinson MMA in Sumter. She’s motivated, loves learning the various techniques and considers her sessions a big stress reliever, given her busy

The City of Sumter will begin the process of upgrading its water meters in early April, according to Utility Finance Director Candi Quiroz. The new fixed-base system will allow city employees to read meters from computers in city offices instead of having meter readers visit each meter. Each meter will have a digital register and an antenna that sends the reading to one of about 35 collectors across the city and Mayesville, which then transmit the data to the water department’s computers. “Instead of readers going out to read the meters manually, we will get the reading in the office,” Quiroz said. Every water user in the system will receive a new meter, Assistant City Manager Al Harris said. A variety of old meters in use will all be replaced, he said. “We have so many types of meters out there now, some you drive by to read, others must be read manually,” Harris said. Quiroz said the city plans to begin installing meters on April 3. “We are going to start in the Mayesville area,” she said. “That is going to be our pilot or test area. It’s a smaller system, and it’s further out, so it is beneficial to test there so we don’t have to send our readers out.” She said city employees will still visit the meters if they don’t get a signal or if someone is moving in or out. “We will have software on our computers so as soon as they start putting them out, we will

SEE METERS, PAGE A7

schedule. What is unique about Cranford’s training is she learns the various mixed martial arts boxing techniques from a wheelchair. Cranford was born prematurely with cerebral palsy in both legs and arms. Keeping stretched out and doing various exercises regularly is critically important for people with CP, she said. Cranford said she started physical therapy at 6

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Robinson stretches out Cranford’s arms as she prepares to go 10 rounds with him. months old and did it twice a week until she entered Coker College in her hometown of Hartsville. Medicaid paid for her PT. During her college years, her parents stretched her out, and she did home exercises because most therapy associated with CP

SEE CRANFORD, PAGE A4

Freeze means fewer blueberries, peaches BY JEFFREY COLLINS The Associated Press COLUMBIA — Last week’s deep freeze in the Southeast appears to have nearly wiped out Georgia’s blueberries and South Carolina’s peaches and seriously damaged a number of other crops such as strawberries and apples. In South Carolina, 85 percent of the state’s peach crop is gone while the small pink blooms remain on the trees, according to the South Carolina Department of Agriculture. Up to 80 percent of south Geor-

gia’s blueberry crop is gone, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black said after touring the state late last week. Between the two states, crop losses from the freeze could approach $1 billion, officials said. Georgia might be the Peach State, but blueberries have recently passed peaches in value. Blueberries ripen faster in the warmer climate and can get into stores quicker than traditional blueberry growing regions farther north. But not this year. “We saw blueberry fields that had the potential to be the biggest

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is specialized just for children, according to Cranford. After college and beginning her career, she was able to resume with a Medicaid-funded PT program at a local hospital in Hartsville. When she earned a master’s degree in professional counseling a few years later, she began a new career as a certified counselor with Rubicon Family Counseling Services, also in Hartsville. But her new position raised her income level too high to qualify for Medicaid, and her new health care plan would only fund eight sessions of physical therapy. It was about that time that Cranford said she saw a men’s mixed martial arts fight on TV. She was immediately fascinated with the sport and wondered if women were now allowed to participate. While researching MMA on the Internet, she came across a couple of female professional mixed martial artists including Jessamyn Duke. Duke became her favorite

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and best crop of Georgia’s production history that you would now not be able to find enough blueberries that survived the cold to make one pie,” Black said. Temperatures dipped into the 20s both Wednesday and Thursday morning. While mid-March freezes aren’t unusual in much of the Southeast, many crops were blooming up to three weeks early because of the unusually mild winter. South Carolina is the secondbiggest peach producer in the

SEE FREEZE, PAGE A7

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Lego League teaches while kids have fun Free program is open to grades K through 12 BY KASEY MEREDITH intern@theitem.com Every engineer starts somewhere, and one of those places is the Lego League in Sumter at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church. On the third Saturday of every month, YouthLink, a nonprofit organization focused on building interest in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, organizes a Lego League. Children in grades kindergarten through 12 use Legos to build conceptual models that have some BLASSINGAME sort of robotic component. "It's cool because it moves," Ze'briana Session said about the beehive model which included a push lever that dispensed a yellow Lego that signified honey. "They're having fun, but they're learning," said Anita Blassingame, the youth leader for Sumter's YouthLink. Thirteen children from ages 6 to 13 were split between two teams, where they had an hour to make a small-scale beehive and bee model. "We don't compete, but we're gonna win," Cameron Williams said. Blassingame said she started the Sumter chapter of YouthLink because she wanted to give the youth of Sumter a chance to do something educational. "Not everyone can do sports," Blassingame said. One YouthLink member, Jerius Williams, 13, is taking the Lego League to the next level. "I get bored a lot, and I build airplanes and cars with Legos without using any instruction," Williams said. He said he isn't sure what he wants to be when he grows up but is interested in building things.

LOCAL BRIEFS FROM STAFF REPORTS

Manning City Council meets at 6:30 p.m. today Manning City Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. today in Council Chambers, Manning City Hall, 29 W. Boyce St. Presentations will be made to the Manning High School basketball team and the Clarendon Pride basketball program. Council will hear reports from the finance director, mayor and city administrator. A report of Main Street Manning will also be heard. The second reading of an ordinance to rezone property at 3 W. Winfield Drive from office commercial to general commercial will be considered, as well as the second reading of an ordinance to rezone property at 625 Spen-

PHOTOS BY KASEY MEREDITH / THE SUMTER ITEM

From left Jaden Weston, Avery Lockett and Keenan Ward try to figure out the next step at Lego League held at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Sumter. Lego League leader Anita Blassingame emphasizes communication being key to the students. The Lego League is open to youth in Sumter, Lee, Clarendon and Winnsboro counties and is free to join. The children are provided with a snack and watch an educational video for the first hour that they are there. Blassingame said if she were in a Lego League as a child she would've had more interest in science. "Everybody loves Legos," Blassingame said.

Keenan Ward concentrates on building the base of the beehive model.

cer St. from light industrial to neighborhood commercial. Council will consider a resolution proclaiming April as Fair Housing Month. A resolution authorizing the mayor or a designee to enter into an agreement with the County of Clarendon for the sale of bulk water will be considered. Council will review committee assignments, discuss appointments to boards and hear members’ comments as well as meet in an executive session to consider legal and contractual matters.

Planning commission to meet on Wednesday Sumter City-County Planning Commission will meet at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Sumter City Council Chambers, Sumter Opera House, 21 N. Main St., to consider: • A request to amend the permitted uses in the Sumter

West Planned Development to allow a 200-foot FTC monopole communications tower as a permitted use within the Patriot Park Sports Complex; • A request to reduce the rear setback requirement from 25 feet to 15 feet for a portion of a lot on Tahoe Drive occupied by Island Investments of Sumter LLC so the applicant can develop mini-storage warehouses on a small portion of the lot; • A request to rezone nine parcels in the 800 block of North Main Street from general commercial, limited commercial and residential-6 to planned development for the development of a threestory urban multi-family apartment building with 59 units and approximately 5,000 square feet of multitenant retail space on the first floor; • A request to rezone approximately 4.5 acres of a

Jerius Williams builds his own designs with Legos during his free time.

parcel at 3815 Broad St. from residential-15 to general commercial so the applicant can build a 10-bay auto repair garage; and • A request for preliminary plat approval to develop a 92lot single-family residential subdivision on property on the east side of Keels Road, north of Sequoia Drive and south of Bonnell Drive.

Tindal to be recognized by Sumter City Council Sumter City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. today in City Council Chambers on the fourth floor of the Sumter Opera House, 21 N. Main St. During the meeting, council will recognize Lee Tindal for his service as magistrate judge and will consider appointments due to expire and other vacancies. Two procurement resolutions are on the agenda; one would authorize the purchase

of a fire pumper truck, and the other would authorize the purchase of an emergency generator for Water Plant No. 3. The first reading of an ordinance amending the city’s codes to extend the length of time for a property to be considered vacant from 60 days to one year will be considered. Reports from council members concerning activity of any organization committees on which they serve will be taken. In addition, council will receive updates from the city manager and will review any pending legislation pertinent to local government. Public comment will be accepted. Council may meet in executive session to discuss contractual matters and appointments to boards and commissions, if necessary. For more information, call City Clerk Linda Hammett at (803) 436-2578.

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Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in style Children in First Presbyterian Church’s preschool classes celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at the church Friday. PHOTOS PROVIDED

A Muppet with autism will be welcomed on ‘Sesame Street’ NEW YORK (AP) — Folks on Sesame Street have a way of making everyone feel accepted. That certainly goes for Julia, a Muppet youngster with blazing red hair, bright green eyes — and autism. Rather than being treated like an outsider, which too often is the plight of kids on the spectrum, Julia is one of the gang. Look: On this friendliest of streets (actually Studio J at New York’s Kaufman Astoria Studios, where “Sesame Street” lives), Julia is about to play a game with Oscar, Abby and Grover. In this scene being taped for airing next season, these Muppet chums have been challenged to spot objects shaped like squares or circles or triangles. “You’re lucky,” says Abby to Grover. “You have Julia on your team, and she is really good at finding shapes!” With that, they skedaddle, an exit that calls for the six Muppeteers squatted out of sight below them to scramble accordingly. Joining her pals, Julia (performed by Stacey Gordon) takes off hunting. For more than a year, Julia has existed in print and digital illustrations as the centerpiece of a multifaceted initiative by Sesame Workshop called “Ses-

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ame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children.” She has been the subject of a storybook released along with videos, e-books, an app and website. The goal is to promote a better understanding of what the Autism Speaks advocacy group describes as “a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors,

speech and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences.” But now Julia has been brought to life in fine Muppet fettle. She makes her TV debut on “Sesame Street” in the “Meet Julia” episode airing April 10 on both PBS and HBO. Additional videos featuring Julia will be available online.

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Julia, a new autistic Muppet character debuting on the 47th season of “Sesame Street” on April 10 on both PBS and HBO, is seen.

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Put a (class) ring on it: Students ever faithful to Clemson University BY GEORGIE SILVAROLE Anderson Independent-Mail CLEMSON — Clemson University has a unique obsession with class rings. It's definitely not uncommon to spend hundreds of dollars on a class ring, and anyone who visits the Clemson Alumni Center will find themselves face to face with a much larger-than-life version of the deeply loved piece of jewelry. A 15-foot fiberglass class ring has lived out on the Clemson Alumni Center's "front porch" for the past few years, even though it was originally intended to fit inside the lobby, said Stewart Summers, director of alumni engagement. "It was larger than we expected — it just never made it through the doors," Summers said. "When the ring came about, we just said, 'Wow, it's much larger than we thought.'" Evidently, they didn't want to send it back and get it resized. "It's just a giant symbol of their love for Clemson. You wear your class ring as a symbol of your affiliation and your affection for Clemson — people treat it much like their wedding bands," Summers said. "I think the giant ring expresses that in a much larger term." Unlike the supersized ring given to the alumni center, senior language and international health major Trey Price got handed down his grandfather's class ring, which was a few sizes too small. Several companies denied his request to have the ring resized, saying it was too risky a process and the ring would likely be permanently damaged. But one finally came through and executed the resizing without flaw. "It came out perfectly," Price said, adding that his grandfather graduated from Clemson in 1966 but never wore the ring because of the work hazard it presented in his job. "The ring is basically untouched. That's why it's in such great shape." Price said he had always intended to get a class ring, and when he inherited his grandfather's last summer, he grew to love the unique story that came with it. After completing 90 credit hours, which usually happens during junior year, students are eligible to buy a class ring, Summers said. The starting cost of a ring is $502, but if you've got large fingers and would like 18K gold, a class ring will cost you $2,030. Cost doesn't seem to be an inhibiting factor — Dana Morgan, associate executive director for marketing and special initiatives, expects upwards of 60 percent of the 2017 graduating class to purchase a class ring. In 2014, that number was 45 percent. "Last fall, we sold over 2,000 rings," Morgan said. "We've already sold over 1,200 this spring — we usu-

ally sell 900 in the spring." Nancy Holland, a senior biological sciences major from Fort Hill, said her family spent about $700 on her ring, and it was something she knew she would be getting from the start of her collegiate career at Clemson. "My whole family went here, so it's kind of a thing. My mom was more excited about it than I was — I didn't really have a choice," Holland said. "People notice it and know exactly what it is." Stephen Linnell, a senior computer science major from Neshanic Station, New Jersey, said his parents spent upwards of $900 on his ring when he ordered it last fall. It's something students are sort of expected to have, he said, and it becomes a conversation starter more than anything after graduation. "Pretty much everybody gets it," Linnell said. "I've been trying to get into the habit of wearing it. I'm just trying to get used to the ring." Each semester Clemson holds a ring ceremony, which presents students with an opportunity to learn about the ring's history and actually receive their rings. The attendance numbers for the event rival that of graduation, Morgan said, and she remembers saving up for her own ring years ago. "You see alumni around the world wearing them, and it's an instant connection," Morgan said. "Whether it's just a smile and hello, a conversation about your time at Clemson, or it could even be a great networking opportunity: It's just a symbol of our family."

THE SUMTER ITEM Team Robinson boxing coach Jerome Robinson takes the time to carefully tape each of Whitney Cranford’s hands before she dons her gloves.

CRANFORD FROM PAGE A1 fighter. Then, Cranford connected with Duke on Twitter, and they have actually become good friends. She learned that Duke had personally taught martial arts classes to people with physical challenges in her home state of Kentucky. Cranford also wanted to get personalized training in the sport — something more than a short-term class with dozens of people involved. She wanted something that could be a replacement for her PT sessions. “I wanted something like what I saw on TV,” Cranford said. “I wanted as close to that as I could get.” Duke told her there had to be a gym somewhere that would let her come on board. No personalized training was available in Hartsville. She called two gyms in Florence, but once they heard she was in a wheelchair, she never received calls back. More Internet searching led her to Robinson and his Team Robinson MMA in Sumter. To prevent any awkwardness with a phone conversation, Cranford decided to just email Robinson about her situation and desire. A trainer with 14 years’ experience and a 3rd Degree Black Belt, Robinson had never trained anyone with a physical disability, but he told Cranford, “Why don’t you come out to the gym, and we’ll give it a try.” Cranford took him up on the offer. According to Cranford, it had been about a year of searching across the region for a good fit. “When she told me her interest in martial arts and boxing and she showed me her range of motion with her hands, I said we could definitely put together a boxing program for her,” Robinson said. That was July 2015. Since then, once a week Cranford makes the one-hour drive from Hartsville to Sumter in her hand-controlled vehicle.

RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM

Her mixed martial arts training includes boxing and weapons techniques. She has grown to love the sport. “The technique is what fascinates me,” Cranford said. “A lot of people think I just like seeing people get beat, but that’s not the case at all. It’s called martial arts for a reason; there’s a technique to it.” The training is good for her muscles and cardiovascular system, Cranford said. The training has also helped her improve her range of motion on her left side, which is her weak side. “The benefits here are both physical and mental,” Cranford said. “I have gained more here than in PT. I am paying out of pocket, but I also have fun with my workout. PT and occupational therapy were not fun.” She has made a lot of friends, too. With only one sister in her immediate family, Cranford said she has “lots of brothers, now — we’re like family.” When she first started with Robinson, Cranford told him she didn’t want to be a “spectacle” but wanted him to treat

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her as he would any other student. He has held up his end of the deal. “He’s become more than a coach,” Cranford said. “He’s become a mentor; he’s like an older brother. He’s the person that I vent to if I’ve had a bad week. He pushes me, and I have done things here that I never thought I’d be able to do.” Robinson said training Cranford has also been beneficial for him and his other clients. “It’s enjoyable to me that she enjoys it,” Robinson said. “It helps to remind me and my other clients that you really can’t make any excuses when it comes to working out. On Friday when she’s off, she goes to the gym, stretches, works out and has to drive an hour here one way using the hand controllers in her car. That is already going to put some fatigue on her arms and her muscles. … For me, it really puts it in perspective that you can’t make any excuses in life when it comes doing something that you really want.”

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U.S. Supreme Court reaches into our daily lives BY NANCY BENAC The Associated Press WASHINGTON — The rhythms of daily life for ordinary Americans may seem far removed from the rarified world of the U.S. Supreme Court. But from the time people roll out of bed in the morning until they turn in at night, the court's rulings are woven into their lives in ways large and small. So pay attention as Congress prepares to take up the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to join the high court: The influence of the court's nine justices is hard to overstate — even if Justice Stephen Breyer once noted that their names are less well known than those of the Three Stooges. "From the air you breathe and the water you drink to the roof over your head and the person across from you in bed, the Supreme Court touches all of that," says Elizabeth Wydra, president of the Constitutional Accountability Center. A walk through daily life on the lookout for Supreme Court fingerprints:

PILLOW TALK It starts when your alarm goes off. Perhaps you glance over at your spouse. The Supreme Court has had a big say over the decades in who can marry whom: In 1967, it ruled in Loving v. Virginia that laws banning interracial marriage were unconstitutional. And the Loving ruling helped lay the foundation for the court's 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges that nationalized the right for same-sex couples to marry.

RINSE AND SPIT Consider the water you swish when you brush your teeth: The high court has repeatedly taken up cases related to the Clean Water Act in an ongoing attempt to resolve confusion over which waterways are protected by the law, including streams that feed into drinking water supplies. This is still a live issue: President Trump is working to undo former President Obama's attempt to shield more waterways from pollution under the law, and more court cases are surely in the offing.

CALIFORNIA RAISINS What's for breakfast? Maybe a bowl of raisin bran. Yes, the Supreme Court deals with raisins. They were at the center of a property rights dispute that ended with a 2015 ruling in Horne v. Department of

Raisin farmer Marvin Horne stands in a field of grapevines planted in 1918 next to his home in Kerman, California. The Supreme Court said June 22, 2015, that a program that lets the government take raisins away from farmers to help reduce supply and boost market prices is unconstitutional.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTOS

Mildred Loving, a black woman, and her white husband, Richard P. Loving, are shown in this Jan. 26, 1965, photo. Mildred’s challenge to Virginia’s ban on interracial marriage led to a landmark Supreme Court ruling. Agriculture that raisin farmers don't have to participate in a Depression-era program that let the government seize a portion of their crop to help keep prices stable.

CHEERLEADERS AND CHAMBERMAIDS Time for work and school. The makeup of the student body at your child's school is tied to the court's landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954 that unanimously declared it unconstitutional to have separate public schools for black and white students, a turning point in the civil rights movement. In more recent years, the court has ruled repeatedly on how to ensure disabled students get a "free appropriate public education" under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. And it has helped define rules of the road for school-choice programs. How about the cheerleaders on the sidelines of the high school football game? The Supreme Court even goes there. Last year, the court took up a trademark dispute over cheerleader uniforms, debating matters of stripes, zigzags and chevrons and what makes a cheerleader look slimmer or more curvy. Look for a ruling on Star Athletica v. Varsity Brands this spring, with big implications for

the fashion industry. At work, the constitutionality of minimum wage laws and health and safety regulations dates to New Deal-era Supreme Court rulings. It was a 1937 case, West Coast Hotel v. Parrish, involving hotel chambermaid Elsie Parrish, that paved the way for the court's ruling that Washington state's "Minimum Wages of Women" law was constitutional. Later court rulings bolstered protections against racial discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace. Still a hot topic: Whether unions representing government employees can collect fees from workers who choose not to join. The high court split 4-4 on the question last year in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, with the tie upholding the collection of "fair share" fees from nonmembers. The question is widely expected to make its way back to the court once the vacancy created by Justice Antonin Scalia's death is filled.

PRIME TIME After work, maybe you kick back to watch TV. How you watch — and what you see — both could be influenced by the court. For one thing, a 2014 court ruling in ABC v. Aereo put the kaibosh on a company that let people watch and record broadcast TV online

for $8 a month on tablets, phones and other gadgets. The court said the company had violated copyright law by taking the networks' signal for free. Aereo was soon kaput. What do you see on TV? If it's campaign season, thank — or blame — the Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United v. FEC ruling for an explosion in political advertising by outside groups after the court threw out parts of a 63-year-old law prohibiting corporations and unions from running ads for or against political candidates.

HOME RULE When it's finally time to turn in for the night, consider that which house you live in — and what it's worth — could be affected by the Supreme Court's handiwork. The court is frequently called on to interpret the antidiscrimination Fair Housing Act. This term, it is considering Bank of America v. Miami and Wells Fargo v. Miami, in which the banks are challenging the city's right to sue them for predatory lending practices that led to foreclosures and declining property taxes and property values. And hope you can hang on to that house. In 2005, the court ruled in Kelo v. New London that cities can take away people's homes to make way for shopping malls or other private development. The court gave local governments broad power to seize property to generate tax revenue. But more than 40 states have since taken steps to amend their eminent domain laws to protect property rights.

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Palestinian women bring baseball to Gaza BY FARES AKRAM The Associated Press

couraged them. But the society overall has not been as receptive. Shaer said people “on social media had a bad idea about us,” noting abuKHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — The sive comments when their pictures young Palestinian women don baseball first appeared. caps on top of their Islamic headsOn Sunday, the team, which includes carves and field tennis balls with fab20 to 30 members, had its weekly pracric gloves, giving a decidedly local feel tice on a soccer pitch in the female secto the great American pastime. tion of Al-Aqsa University, built on They are trying to bring baseball to lands that were part of Jewish settlethe Gaza Strip, an effort that is still in ments before Israel withdrew its its early innings. troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005. The players, who work out on a There were no males except for the small soccer field in a southern Gaza coach, and some other students gathtown, admit they are still trying to unered to watch the women playing catch derstand the rules of the complicated and taking batting practice. The batsport. With pitches lobbed underhand, ters took wild swings, often missing the game they play is closer to softball. but occasionally making solid contact. “I only know it through TV,” said The players wore headscarves as Valentina Shaer, a 23-year-old English well as long-sleeve running tops and literature student. loose pants, in keeping with local Mahmoud Tafesh, the team’s coach, norms. said he has dreamed of bringing base“While we face difficulties, we would ball to Gaza since he was introduced to like a specialized softball field to learn the game last year. it correctly and train freely without Although baseball is a fringe sport throughout the soccer-crazy Middle THE ASSOCIATED PRESS any obstacles,” said Iman Shahin, an athlete who studies sports education. East, the game has grown in populariPalestinian women train for a baseball game Sunday in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade ty. Iraq has a national team, and one of Strip. The players wear hijabs instead of helmets, toss around tennis balls instead of on Gaza after Hamas seized power in the country’s coaches introduced baseballs and their leather gloves have been replaced by black imitations knitted from 2007, heavily restricting travel and Tafesh to baseball last year while both fabric. trade, and making it difficult to acwere in Egypt, which now boasts a quire specialized sports equipment. they had permission from their famiwhich is governed by the Islamic milibaseball and softball federation. While seeking funding and real lies to play sport as sports students. tant group Hamas, would accept the Tafesh admits he still has much to equipment, the women dream of evenThrough them, we started to spread, learn. He is unfamiliar with any of the idea of girls playing the sport. tually competing abroad. He first approached girls at the only attracting girls from other fields such teams or players in Major League “All of us share the same goal: parsports education college in Gaza. To Baseball and gets most of his knowlas journalism and accountants,” he his surprise, he found interest in base- said after finishing a two-hour training ticipate and represent the name of Paledge from YouTube videos. estine outside and show that there are ball was stronger among girls than When he returned to Gaza, he was session for the girls. concerned about the lack of equipment boys. The women say their families had no sports for the girls in Gaza,” said 24-year-old Iman Mughaier. “We targeted this group because and whether the conservative society, objection, and some parents even en-

Who’s happy, who’s not: Norway tops list, U.S. falls to No. 14 WASHINGTON (AP) — If you want to go to your happy place, you need more than cash. A winter coat helps — and a sense of community. A new report shows Norway is the happiest country on Earth, Americans are getting sadder, and it takes more than just money to be happy. Norway vaulted to the top slot in the World Happiness Report despite the plummeting price of oil, a key part of its economy. Income in the

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United States has gone up more than the past decade, but happiness is declining. The United States was 14th in the latest ranking, down from No. 13 last year, and over the years Americans steadily have been rating themselves less happy. “It’s the human things that matter. If the riches make it harder to have frequent and trustworthy relationship between people, is it worth it?” asked John Helliwell, the lead author of the report and

an economist at the University of British Columbia in Canada (ranked No. 7). “The material can stand in the way of the human.” Studying happiness may seem frivolous, but serious academics have long been calling for more testing about people’s emotional well-being, especially in the United States. In 2013, the National Academy of Sciences issued a report recommending that federal statistics and surveys, which nor-

An Expert Touch

mally deal with income, spending, health and housing, include a few extra questions on happiness because it would lead to better policy that affects people’s lives. Norway moved from No. 4 to the top spot in the report’s rankings, which combine

economic, health and polling data compiled by economists that are averaged over three years from 2014 to 2016. Norway edged past previous champ Denmark, which fell to second. Iceland, Switzerland and Finland round out the top 5.

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MEMBERS FROM PAGE A1 was not at all shocked when it was introduced at the Statehouse. He said he understands the delegation’s perspective that with more wisdom on the board, the better the decision-making process. “In my heart, I believe they feel this needs to be done at this time,” Canty JOHNSON said. He added if people trust the integrity of the local legislative delegation, they probably don’t have a major McELVEEN issue with the bill. If people don’t trust the delegation, then they will have a problem with the bill. “I have no reason not to trust them,” Canty said. McGhaney said Monday he was surprised with the bill’s introduction last week and he would withhold any additional comments until he has more clarification and understanding on the direction the delegation is going with the new bill. He said he thinks it would be best for the delegation and school board to meet and have a discussion. “Hopefully, the board members can sit and have some conversation with the legislative delegation on this,” McGhaney said. “I really don’t know too much about it at this time.” McElveen said he and Johnson had the support of

the entire delegation in introducing the bill. The delegation includes both senators and four representatives in the House of Representatives. The board of trustees currently includes seven elected positions representing different areas of the district and one honorary, nonvoting position representing Shaw Air Force Base. If the legislation passes the General Assembly, the two at-large board members would be appointed initially by the delegation until the next scheduled school district election, which will be in November 2018. Both board-member appointees will be eligible to run for election. In December, the fiscal year 2016 audit report was

released and revealed the school district overspent by $6.2 million that fiscal year and had an ending general fund balance on June 30, 2016, of $106,449 — a critically low level, according to auditor Robin Poston. The district’s fiscal year begins each July 1 and ends June 30 and is referred to as the fiscal year in which it ends. The current fiscal year is 2017 and ends June 30. An emergency financial plan by Superintendent Frank Baker was approved by the board in January, and a financial consultant was also hired to guide the district through the financial crisis. Recent board meetings have included financial reports for this fiscal year that board members said were not complete or lacked clarification.

TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2017

FREEZE FROM PAGE A1 United States behind only California. Foodies are especially drawn to the state’s peaches, considering them the juiciest and highest quality in the nation. “Peaches are a signature South Carolina crop,” South Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers said. Both states reported some damage to strawber-

ries. North Carolina farmers said apples blooming earlier than usual were hurt by the freeze. Officials said it is the most damaging freeze for the Southeast since the 2007 Easter freeze in early April where a similar cold snap destroyed 90 percent of South Carolina’s peaches and caused close to $1 billion in crop damage across the region.

METERS FROM PAGE A1 have information coming back into the office,” Quiroz said. “If a customer thinks their bill is too high, they can come in, and we can show them the bill from the previous day, pretty much hourly.” The computerized system can flag if a meter has constant usage or appears to be abnormal. “It gives us the opportunity to reach out to the customer and say, ‘You may have a leak; you want to check on that,’” she said. The meter replacement project will take about two years to complete, Quiroz said. “We appreciate our customers understanding as we make this transition to better manage our water resources.” The city has contracted with Siemens, a company with water meter replacement projects across the United States, to replace all existing water meters. Installers will be wearing blue shirts clearly showing the Siemens/Pedal Valve name, according to a news release. Water users will be notified approximately 48 hours in advance with a door hanger on their front door. The hangers will include contact information and related instructions. To complete the meter exchange, the installers must have access to the water meter. Typically, water meters are located in the front yard of residential properties, near the curb. Technicians will not need to enter homes to replace the meters, the release said. Water users do not need to be home during the meter exchange; however, a technician will knock on the door to notify anyone present that the exchange is about to begin. During the meter exchange, the water will be shut off for approximately an hour. The crews will take steps to ensure that any surrounding landscape will be returned to its pre-existing condition. Once the installation is complete, the technician will run a few gallons of water from an outdoor spigot to test the meter. Once the on-site installation is finished, a technician will leave an additional door hanger informing the customer that the project has been completed. For more information, visit www.sumtersc.gov/water or call (803) 774-3222.

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N.G. Osteen 1843-1936 The Watchman and Southron

THE SUMTER ITEM

H.G. Osteen 1870-1955 Founder, The Item

H.D. Osteen 1904-1987 The Item

Margaret W. Osteen 1908-1996 The Item Hubert D. Osteen Jr. Chairman & Editor-in-Chief Graham Osteen Co-President Kyle Osteen Co-President Jack Osteen Editor and Publisher Larry Miller CEO Rick Carpenter Managing Editor

36 W. Liberty St., Sumter, South Carolina 29150 • Founded October 15, 1894

COMMENTARY

Send more Chuck Berry

NOTABLE & QUOTABLE

Bipartisan deal would boost our morale In “Reach Across the Aisle, Mr. President,” The Wall Street Journal’s Peggy Noonan writes, “For health-care reform to succeed, it requires buy-in and compromise from both parties.”

care would also be a boost to the national morale. It wouldn’t be about constricting and cutting. It would feel expansive, constructive, even hopeful.

All the emphasis seems to be on cutting. We will cut CPB, NPR, NEA. Why aren’t we talking about growing and building and knocking down barriers? Why aren’t we talking about jobs and a boom and reforming regulation and taxes so people can build and invest? How about a little prudence and patience? The priorities should be jobs, growth, social cohesion and an atmosphere, in Washington, of constructiveness. We don’t need any new culture wars— we’ve got enough, thanks! The worst that could happen is that Congress is so exhausted as an institution, everyone’s ideologies so played out, that they’re all just playing a part, going through the motions, mindlessly replicating past battles in hope of some new reward. Barack Obama, full of himself after his 2008 victory and surrounded by triumphalist House Democrats, ignored the teaching of history and passed ObamaCare without a single Republican vote. The Democrats would get all the credit. In time they got all the blame. Republicans had no incentive to bail them out. In a telephone interview Gov. John Kasich said, “Ronald Reagan made deals with Tip O’Neill on Social Security.” All the big reforms of the past — of welfare, of the Pentagon — were bipartisan efforts. Progress will come when both parties end “the civil war” over health care. Bipartisanship must come back if things are to work. As he spoke I thought: a bipartisan deal on health

On CBSSports.com, Matt Norlander writes, “NCAA’s political stance gave Duke essentially a road game vs. South Carolina.”

•••

nor from North Carolina who put into law a bill that the NCAA protested by means of moving the 2017 tourney out of Greensboro, North Carolina. Duke didn’t lose because of where it played, but the NCAA’s moving the tourney out of North Carolina unquestionably had some impact on what happened Sunday night. •••

You can easily make the argument that Duke would have lost against South Carolina no matter where those teams played that game on Sunday night. The seventh-seeded Gamecocks dropped 65 second-half points on No. 2 Duke to win 88-81 in an East Regional Round of 32 game, giving the tournament its most surprising, bracket-breaking upset so far. Hats off to Frank Martin for getting the Gamecocks to a place they haven’t been to in 44 years. Duke losing is the bigger story, but Martin accomplishing that for that program is the better story. Winning in basketball isn’t common at South Carolina, and now Martin will forever be remembered at that program. Still, the game’s location and the reasons for the tournament being played at said location must be addressed. Almost no one is going to be feeling sorry for Duke losing, but we have to have a realistic discussion here. Duke, a 2 seed, in effect played a road game in the NCAA Tournament. South Carolina fans, as they should have, overtook the building. Tar Heels fans, as they should have, filled up the joint and joined in their border buddies to cheer against Duke. But this was a bracket oddity. This game was held in Greenville, South Carolina, only because of a man named Pat McCrory. He’s the now-voted-out gover-

The New York Times marks six highlights of Judge Neil M. Gorsuch’s Supreme Court hearing on Monday. • Sen. Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, said he wanted to know what Judge Gorsuch would do when “called upon to stand up to this president.” Mr. Durbin said, “You going to have your hands full with this president.” • Sen. Michael Bennet, Democrat of Colorado, introduced Mr. Gorsuch, his fellow Coloradan, with high praise but stayed studiously ambiguous about how he would vote. • Sen. Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, said, “if you believe this has been a great plan to get a Trump nominee on the court, then you had to believe Trump was going to win to begin with.” • Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont, said Mr. Gorsuch was “selected by interest groups.” • Two of the most frequently mentioned people at Monday’s hearing weren’t even in the room: Judge Merrick B. Garland, the Obama administration nominee who never got a hearing, and Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader who led the blockade of Judge Garland. • Republicans are enthusiastic and fully aboard with Judge Gorsuch. Do not expect contentious questioning from them in the days ahead.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following column, a tribute to the late, great Chuck Berry, was written by former ArHubert D. kansas Gov. Osteen Jr. Mike Huckabee. As someone who grew up during the Golden Age of Rock’n Roll, I join with Gov. Huckabee in mourning the loss of Chuck Berry. I saw Chuck perform many times in Columbia at the Township Auditorium but also once in Kansas City, Missouri, while in college. Chuck was one of a kind, not only a great guitarist, but also a great entertainer and singer whose signature “duck walk” brought crowds to their feet. Here’s Huck’s tribute:

BY MIKE HUCKABEE

ock and roll will never die, but the man Stevie Wonder and many more consider to be the true “King of Rock and Roll” has passed away at 90. Chuck Berry was there at the very beginning, laying down the foundation for all the music that followed. His first big hit, “Maybelline,” came six months before Elvis Presley’s first hit, “Heartbreak Hotel.” Seminal figures such as Bill Haley, Buddy Holly and the Beatles covered Chuck Berry’s songs. The lyrics of “Nadine” have been cited as a major influence on Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. The Beach Boys even kicked off the surf music

wave by ripping off Berry’s “Sweet Little Sixteen” and turning it into “Surfin’ USA.” As I well know, every kid who dreams of playing in a band starts out by learning “Johnny B. Good,” then on to other Berry classics, like “School Days,” “Back In The USA,” “Rock and Roll Music” and “Roll Over Beethoven” (along with the riff from Deep Purple’s “Smoke On The Water,” but at least Berry made it into the Rock Hall of Fame — inducted on day one.) Berry’s songs are so universally beloved that he never bothered touring with a backup band. He’d save money by hiring a local group in each town on the assumption that every rock band already knew his entire catalog. But maybe the best illustration of how universally beloved Chuck Berry’s songs are came from a 1978 episode of “Saturday Night Live,” back when it was a comedy show rather than therapy for traumatized Hillary supporters. Steve Martin played a psychic predicting the next week’s headlines. He reminded viewers of how the Voyager 1 probe had been sent into space with a greeting for alien civilizations and a recording of many genres of music, from classical to rock, as represented by Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Good.” Martin predicted that a message would be received from an alien civilization many light years away. After working around the clock to translate it, scientists would reveal that the message was just four simple words: “Send more Chuck Berry!”

AP FILE PHOTO

In this April 4, 1980, photo, guitarist and singer Chuck Berry performs his “duck walk” as he plays his guitar on stage. On Saturday, police in Missouri said Berry has died at the age of 90.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT DISTRICT AND START HELPING To all those who are muddying up the waters in Sumter School District (board members included): Stop complaining, and start helping. If you want us to find and retain good teachers for your children, then stop grum-

bling and let the budget problems be resolved by those who have the knowledge to resolve it. If you keep the grumbling going and if The Sumter Item keeps fueling the fire, then no one will want to work in Sumter schools … not even if you replace those in charge. If you want your children to get a

good education, discipline them at home so they will be ready to learn when they arrive at school and teachers will not have to discipline them for you. If you want your children to learn, then put them to bed on time and get them to school on time. If you think you can help in the schools, then fill

out a volunteer packet and come join us. Your bickering and complaining is not helping anyone, so just stop it. Help us become better, don’t hurt us with your personal agendas. LESA SHUPING Educator and parent Sumter

HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? Send your letter to letters@theitem.com, drop it off at The Sumter Item office, 36 W. Liberty St., or mail it to The Sumter Item, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, SC 29151, along with the writer’s full name, address and telephone number (for verification purposes only). Letters that exceed 350 words will be cut accordingly in the print edition, but available in their entirety at www.theitem.com/opinion/letters_to_editor.

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(HD) Trevor (HD) Beverly Hills Social (N) The Real Housewives of Beverly Imposters (N) What Happens Vanderpump Rules 181 The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills: Sweet Georgia Jayne Hills: Big Buddha Brawl (N) (N) (HD) 84 Shark Tank Ice cream. (HD) Shark Tank Cricket protein. (HD) Shark Tank Bidding war. (HD) The Partner (N) (HD) Shark Tank Vegan cookies. (HD) Shark Tank 80 Erin Burnett OutFront (HD) Anderson Cooper 360° (N) (HD) Anderson Cooper 360° (N) (HD) CNN Tonight with Don Lemon CNN Tonight with Don Lemon 360° (HD) Tosh.0 Black Tosh.0 (N) (HD) Detroiters (N) Daily Show with (:31) @midnight (:16) Tosh.0 (HD) 136 (:55) South Park South Park (HD) South Park (HD) South Park (HD) Tosh.0: Rich (HD) Piana (HD) mermaids. (HD) (HD) Trevor (N) (N) (HD) K.C. Undercover Good Luck Stuck in the Good Luck Liv and Maddie Liv and Maddie BUNK’D (HD) BUNK’D (HD) Jessie Italian Jessie (HD) Girl Meets World 200 (HD) Charlie (HD) Middle (HD) Charlie (HD) (HD) (HD) island. (HD) (HD) 103 Moonshiners: Art (HD) Moonshiners: Outlaw Cuts (N) Moonshiners (N) (HD) Killing Fields (N) (HD) Moonshiners: Art (HD) Moonshiner 35 NBA Basketball: Chicago Bulls at Toronto Raptors from Air Canada Centre (HD) NBA Basketball: San Antonio Spurs at Minnesota Timberwolves z{| (HD) SC (HD) 39 2017 NIT Basketball Tournament: Quarterfinal #1 z{| (HD) 2017 NIT Basketball Tournament: Quarterfinal #2 z{| (HD) SportsCenter (HD) Baseball (HD) 109 Chopped Disguised. (HD) Chopped Strange protein. (HD) Chopped Foreign protein. (HD) Chopped (N) (HD) Chopped: Back In Time (HD) Chopped (HD) 90 The First 100 Days (N) (HD) The O’Reilly Factor (N) (HD) Tucker Carlson Tonight (N) Hannity (N) (HD) The O’Reilly Factor (HD) Tucker (HD) (6:00) She’s All That (‘99, Com edy) The Fos ters: Di a mond in the Rough (:01) Switched at Birth: Mem ory The Twins: Hap pily Ever Af ter?: The 700 Club (HD) 13 Going on 30 131 aac Freddie Prinze Jr. (HD) Sex ed class. (N) (HD) (The Heart) (N) (HD) Leap of Faith Making a change. (‘04) aac (HD) 42 Pregame NHL Hockey: Carolina Hurricanes at Florida Panthers from BB&T Center (HD) Postgame Polaris World Poker Tour no} (HD) NHL Hockey Last Man Last Man Last Man The Middle: Leap The Middle Night The Middle (HD) The Middle (HD) Golden Girls: Gold. Girl Ex is Gold. Girl Sophia 183 Last Man Standing (HD) Standing (HD) Standing (HD) Standing (HD) Year (HD) vision. (HD) Heart Attack dumped. may moves. 112 Fixer Upper (HD) Fixer Upper (HD) Fixer Upper (N) (HD) Home Town (N) (HD) Hunters (N) Hunters (HD) Fixer Uppr 110 Cnt Cars (HD) Cnt Cars (HD) Cnt Cars (HD) Cnt Cars (HD) Counting Cars: Super (N) (HD) Forged in Fire: Cutting (N) (HD) Cnt Cars (HD) Cnt Cars (HD) Cnt Cars (HD) Criminal Minds: Bully Blake has a Criminal Minds: The Black Queen Criminal Minds: The Road Home Saving Hope: Doctor Destiny Saving Hope (N) 160 Criminal Minds: The Caller Kidnapped young boy. (HD) tense reunion with family. (HD) Hacker Garcia. (HD) Vigilante killer. (HD) Shooting aftermath. (HD) (HD) Lit tle Women: LA: Tough Crowd Lit tle Women: LA: A Lit tle Ex tra: Lit tle Women: LA: On Thin Ice Elena (:02) Lit tle Women: At lanta True (:02) Lit tle Women: LA: On Thin Ice (:02) Little 145 Terra’s semi-final. (HD) Things Fall Apart (N) (HD) and Terra. (N) (HD) feelings. (N) (HD) Elena and Terra. (HD) Women: LA (HD) 92 Hardball with Chris (N) (HD) All in with Chris Hayes (HD) The Rachel Maddow Show (N) Lawrence O’Donnell (HD) 11th Hour (HD) Hardball (HD) Maddow (HD) 210 Hunter (N) Thunderman Thunderman Shakers (HD) Full House Full House Full House Full House Friends (HD) Friends (HD) Friends (HD) 153 Knocked Up (‘07, Comedy) aaa Seth Rogen. Pregnancy brings mismatches together. (HD) Adam Carolla and Friends (N) Knocked Up (‘07, Comedy) aaa Seth Rogen. (HD) Face Off: Odd Couples Creating Face Off: Frightening Families (N) Cosplay Melee: A Night At the Space Face Off: Frightening Families (HD) Cosplay 152 Face Off: Covert Characters Animal-human hybrid. (HD) comedic fantasy duos. (HD) (HD) Opera (N) The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Detour (N) The Big Bang Conan (N) (HD) The Detour (HD) 156 The Big Bang Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) (HD) Theory (HD) 186 The Little Foxes (‘41, Drama) aaa Double Indemnity (‘44, Thriller) aaaa Fred MacMurray. A temptress Detour (‘45, Drama) Tom Neal. A hitchhiker gets caught Cape Fear (‘62, Thriller) aaac Bette Davis. A Southern family. manipulates an insurance salesman into killing her husband. (HD) in a spiraling whirlpool of murder and deceit. Gregory Peck. Out for revenge. 157 My Big Fat Fabulous Life (HD) My Big Fat Fabulous Life (N) My Big Fat Fabulous Life (N) (:02) She’s in Charge (N) (HD) My Big Fat Fabulous Life (HD) (:04) In Charge (5:15) G.I. Jane (‘97, Ac tion) aac Law Abid ing Cit i zen (‘09, Crime) aaa Jamie Foxx. A man in tends to (:15) Django Un chained (‘12, West ern) aaaa Jamie Foxx. A freed slave teams up with a 158 Demi Moore. Gender-neutral. (HD) exact revenge 10 years after his wife and child are murdered. (HD) dentist to free his wife from a slave owner. (HD) 129 Jokers (HD) Jokers (HD) Jokers (HD) Jokers (HD) Jokers (HD) Jokers (N) Upscale (N) Hack My (N) Jokers (HD) Jokers (HD) Jokers (HD) 161 A Griffith (HD) A Griffith (HD) A Griffith (HD) Loves Ray. Loves Ray. Loves Ray. Teachers (N) Shade (N) (HD) Queens (HD) Queens (HD) Queens (HD) Chrisley Knows Chrisley Knows (:01) Modern (:31) Modern (:01) Modern 132 Chrisley Knows Chrisley Knows WWE SmackDown z{| (HD) Best (HD) Best (HD) Best (N) Best (HD) Family (HD) Family (HD) Family (HD) 166 Law & Order (HD) Law & Order (HD) Law & Order: Bronx Cheer (HD) Law & Order: Ego (HD) Law & Order: White Lie (HD) Law & Ordr 172 Fast & Furious (‘09, Action) Vin Diesel. Deadly convoy heist. (HD) Outsiders (N) (HD) Outsiders (HD) Outsiders (HD) Outsiders

A&E

46 130 Intervention: Tiffany Losing families. Intervention: Katie A woman

AMC

ANPL

BET

BRAVO

CNBC CNN

35 33

COM

DISN

DSC ESPN ESPN2 FOOD FOXN

42 26 27 40 37

FREE

FSS

HALL

HGTV HIST

39 45

ION

LIFE

MSNBC NICK SPIKE

36 16 64

SYFY

TBS

TCM

TLC

TNT

TRUTV TVLAND

38 55

USA

WE WGN

68 8

Syfy’s ‘Cosplay Melee’ isn’t just for fantasy geeks BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH

(10 p.m., HBO) examines Rick Ankiel's battle with "the yips."

You don't have to be a fantasy geek to appreciate "Cosplay Melee" (10 p.m., Syfy, TV-PG). This competition puts an emphasis on creativity under pressure, imagination and elaborate storytelling. For the uninitiated, cosplay is a popular form of interactive performance art involving creating costumes and elaborate accessories to evoke characters either entirely original or based on a familiar story, such as "Star Trek" or "Guardians of the Galaxy." Before dismissing this as the realm of people who think Halloween occurs 365 days a year, you have to consider the hard work of fabricating such elaborate garb. Every episode of "Melee" will feature four experienced cosplayers who have a limited time to conceive and concoct their getups, using foam, rubber, cloth, plastics, plumbing and kitchen supplies -- you name it. If you called this "Project Runway" for fantasy fans, you'd only be half right. A Syfy executive put it best when she described cosplay as "passion, artistry, engineering and theater all rolled into one." It's also worth noting that many of these accomplished cosplayers have full-time day jobs and do most of their creating in their spare time. One featured hobbyist is a police officer from Austin who wants to prove something to her colleagues in blue. "Melee" is hosted by Yvette Nicole Brown ("Community"), an enthusiastic fan and champion of the creative subculture. • A comedy writer and producer hosts his own series "Upscale With Prentice Penny" (10 p.m., tru TV, TV14). It combines comic asides and parody music videos with fairly straightforward advice about buying better clothes, sheets, wine and

CULT CHOICE A hitchhiker teams up with the wrong woman in the 1945 noir shocker "Detour" (10 p.m., TCM).

SERIES NOTES

PHOTO BY DALE BERMAN / SYFY

From left, LeeAnna Vamp, Yvette Nicole Brown and Christian Beckman serve as hosts on Syfy’s “Cosplay Melee” airing at 10 p.m. tonight. other items to impress the ladies. It's essentially one product placement after another. That's hardly new to television. In some ways, it reminded me of a one-man version of the old "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" series that ran from 2003-7 and all but redefined Bravo. Only "Queer Eye" was funnier. • Netflix premieres two comedy specials, "Dave Chappelle: The Age of Spin" and "Dave Chappelle: Deep in the Heart of Texas," recorded live in 2016 and 2015.

TONIGHT'S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS • Luke Bryan, Celine Dion, John Legend and DJ Khaled mentor vocalists on "The Voice" (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG). • Folks from "Supergirl" make a musical crossover to "The Flash" (8

p.m., CW, TV-PG). • "American Masters" repeats the 2014 documentary "Dorothea Lange: Grab a Hunk of Lightning" (8 p.m., PBS, check local listings). • Cyndi Lauper guest-stars on the second-to-last episode of "Bones" (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14). • The fight with the coal company enters a new stage on "Outsiders" (9 p.m., WGN, TV-14). • Gang members take hostages on "Chicago Fire" (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14). • "People Icons" (10 p.m., ABC, TVPG) recalls celebrities who died young. • "Frontline" (9 p.m., PBS, TV-14, check local listings) examines the continuing fighting in Iraq. • Elizabeth fills in some blanks for Paige on "The Americans" (10 p.m., FX, TV-MA). • "Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel"

A House member faces threats on "NCIS" (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) * Creative fibbing on "New Girl" (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14) * Brick gets behind the wheel on "The Middle" (8 p.m., ABC, r, TV-14) * Mickey mentors Chip on "The Mick" (8:30 p.m., Fox, TV-14) * A playdate for Anna-Kat on "American Housewife" (8:30 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG) * A tech CEO on trial keeps too many secrets on "Bull" (9 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14) * On two episodes of "Trial & Error" (NBC, TV-PG), a possible new suspect (9 p.m.) may be a dead end (9:30 p.m.) * Jessica raises eyebrows on "Fresh Off the Boat" (9 p.m., ABC, r, TV-14) * Back to trench warfare on "DC's Legends of Tomorrow" (9 p.m., CW, TV-14) * Dre can't handle election results on "blackish" (9:30 p.m., ABC, r, TV-14) * The squad partners with the FBI on "NCIS: New Orleans" (10 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14).

LATE NIGHT Reese Witherspoon appears on "Conan" (11 p.m., TBS) * Jimmy Fallon welcomes Jessica Chastain, Joe Manganiello, Gary Clark Jr. and Prodigy on "The Tonight Show" (11:35 p.m., NBC) * Dax Shepard, Hannah Simone, Hey Violet and Charlie Benante visit "Late Night With Seth Meyers" (12:35 a.m., NBC) * Allison Williams, Darren Criss and the Band Perry appear on "The Late Late Show With James Corden" (12:35 a.m., CBS).

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A10

TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2017

AROUND TOWN Did you know that March is recognized as Red Cross Month in celebration of the volunteers who help those in need by giving their time, money or blood? Blood donation is now easier than ever with the Blood Donor App and RapidPass. With this free app, donors can schedule and manage donation appointments, access their donor card, earn rewards and more. You can help save a life by becoming a blood donor during one of the following blood donation opportunities: Tuesday, March 28, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Central Carolina Technical College, 506 N. Guignard Drive; Wednesday, March 29, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., USC Sumter, 200 Miller Road; and Thursday, March 30, 2-7 p.m., Grace Baptist Church, 219 W. Calhoun St. Volunteers from AARP will offer free tax preparation from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays through April 12 at the Shepherd’s Center, 24 Council St. Applicants are advised to bring the following with them: photo ID; Social Security cards for all household members being claimed; tax documents — W-2 forms, 1099R, 1099SSA, interest income and all other income statements; 2015 tax returns and power of attorney forms if filing for someone other than yourself. For more information, call Henry Dinkins at (803) 4994990 or Lula King at (803) 316-0772. The Sumter County Education Association — Retired will meet at noon on Wednesday, March 22, at the North HOPE Center. Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) H.O.P.E. (Helping Others Pursue Excellence) will hold a mentoring and tutoring seminar on Saturday, March 25, at Manning High School, 2155 Paxville Highway, Manning. Registration will be held at 8:30 a.m. Opening session will be held at 9 a.m. and mentoring / tutoring will be held 9:30-11:45 a.m. Students in seventh through 12th grade are invited to

attend. Parents should complete registration forms upon arrival or register online at https://goo. gl/forms/geT61YsJuYDbgIpc2 . For more information, contact Mr. Cooper at (803) 435-4417 or ecooper@ csd2.org . Hillcrest High School Class of 1975 will meet at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 25, at Golden Corral restaurant. All members of this class are asked to attend as this is an important meeting. Call (803) 499-1302 or (803) 795-7747. American Legion Auxiliary Unit 202 Ballard-Palmer-Bates will meet from 1 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 25, at 310 Palmetto St. Call Barbara at (803) 469-7133. New members and Palmetto Girls State are welcome. The Pilot Club of Bishopville will present Lee Haw Lee County has Talent at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 25, at the Bishopville Opera House. Suitable for the whole family. Tickets can be purchased at Bishopville Drug, Little Florist and State Farm insurance and are $15 for adults and $10 for under age 17. The Sumter Branch NAACP’s annual Women in the NAACP Program will be held at 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 26, at St. Paul AME Church, 1495 St. Paul Church Road. Minister Earline HowellSmith will speak. The Sumter County Sheriff's Office Boys and Girls Youth Inc. will hold its first fundraising banquet at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 31, at the Imperial Restaurant, 451 Broad St. Rep. J. David Weeks will serve as keynote speaker. This year's theme is "Above and Beyond Expectations." Tickets are available at the Sumter County Sheriff's Office for a donation of $25 per person. VIP tables (a table of eight) are also available with a $250 donation. These donors will have reserved tables and will be recognized on the banquet program and at the 2017 Youth Conferences. Call Lt. Petrina L. Wiley at (803) 436-2026 or Senior Cpl. Albert Harvin at (803) 436-2364.

PUBLIC AGENDA TAX ACCOMMODATIONS ADVISORY BOARD Today, 3 p.m., Swan Lake Visitors Center SUMTER CITY COUNCIL Today, 5:30 p.m., Sumter Opera House, 21 N. Main St.

DAILY PLANNER

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEATHER

AccuWeather® ﬁve-day forecast for Sumter TODAY

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Partly sunny and warmer

Thundershower

Cooler; a shower in the a.m.

Partly sunny and cool

Some sun, then clouds; warmer

A thick cloud cover

85°

57°

69° / 39°

56° / 39°

71° / 50°

77° / 56°

Chance of rain: 0%

Chance of rain: 55%

Chance of rain: 5%

Chance of rain: 15%

Chance of rain: 25%

W 7-14 mph

W 6-12 mph

NNE 8-16 mph

ENE 8-16 mph

SE 6-12 mph

S 8-16 mph

TODAY’S SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER

Gaﬀney 81/53 Spartanburg 81/54

Greenville 82/55

Columbia 85/59

Temperatures shown on map are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

IN THE MOUNTAINS

ON THE COAST

Charleston 84/59

Today: Mostly sunny and warmer; pleasant. High 74 to 85. Wednesday: A thunderstorm in spots; not as warm. High 63 to 75.

LOCAL ALMANAC

LAKE LEVELS

SUMTER THROUGH 4 P.M. YESTERDAY

70° 33° 68° 42° 89° in 1963 25° in 1967

Full pool 360 76.8 75.5 100

Lake Murray Marion Moultrie Wateree

SUN AND MOON 7 a.m. yest. 356.84 74.68 74.70 97.90

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Call on past experiences and you'll find a way to take over situations instead of being controlled. Secretive action will help you get more done in a shorter period of time. Discipline and hard work will be rewarding. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Look for any opportunity to get ahead in business. Apply for positions, offer your services and show off your potential, but don't oversell or offer something that you aren't capable of delivering. Balance and integrity are favored. CANCER (June 21-July 22): You'll be tempted to get into a situation that could cost you your job, reputation or a friendship you have with someone. Don't let impulsiveness take over, causing you to act on false assumptions. Stay calm and ask pertinent questions.

24-hr chg -0.04 -0.05 -0.01 none

RIVER STAGES

Precipitation 24 hrs ending 4 p.m. yest. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date

0.00" 0.87" 2.57" 6.45" 10.47" 9.99"

River Black River Congaree River Lynches River Saluda River Up. Santee River Wateree River

NATIONAL CITIES

REGIONAL CITIES

Today City Hi/Lo/W Atlanta 80/60/pc Chicago 51/26/pc Dallas 88/64/s Detroit 55/23/pc Houston 85/63/pc Los Angeles 63/56/sh New Orleans 81/61/pc New York 56/33/pc Orlando 84/57/s Philadelphia 59/35/pc Phoenix 90/64/s San Francisco 67/54/t Wash., DC 63/39/c

City Asheville Athens Augusta Beaufort Cape Hatteras Charleston Charlotte Clemson Columbia Darlington Elizabeth City Elizabethtown Fayetteville

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 73/45/c 39/28/pc 82/63/pc 37/21/s 84/63/pc 64/51/r 82/61/pc 36/21/s 87/64/s 40/23/s 84/58/pc 62/49/r 48/26/pc

Myrtle Beach 76/58

Aiken 84/57

Today Hi/Lo/W 77/47/t 84/58/t 88/59/pc 85/61/s 65/52/pc 84/59/s 83/52/t 85/58/t 85/59/pc 84/54/pc 69/48/pc 81/54/pc 83/54/pc

Flood 7 a.m. 24-hr stage yest. chg 12 6.85 -0.02 19 3.56 +0.32 14 6.34 +0.51 14 2.05 -0.01 80 75.92 -0.36 24 5.54 -0.07

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 60/33/pc 71/43/c 74/47/c 73/47/pc 55/36/pc 71/45/c 65/38/pc 69/43/c 70/43/c 66/36/c 53/29/pc 64/35/pc 64/35/pc

Today City Hi/Lo/W Florence 84/55/pc Gainesville 83/55/s Gastonia 82/52/t Goldsboro 75/50/pc Goose Creek 84/61/s Greensboro 78/48/pc Greenville 82/55/t Hickory 79/49/t Hilton Head 76/62/s Jacksonville, FL 85/58/s La Grange 84/58/s Macon 86/58/s Marietta 79/57/t

Sunrise 7:24 a.m. Moonrise 2:53 a.m.

Sunset Moonset

7:34 p.m. 1:26 p.m.

New

First

Full

Last

Mar. 27

Apr. 3

Apr. 11

Apr. 19

TIDES AT MYRTLE BEACH

Today Wed.

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 67/37/c 87/58/s 66/37/pc 61/32/pc 69/44/c 62/31/pc 67/38/c 64/35/pc 69/47/pc 84/58/pc 76/53/pc 79/49/pc 72/45/c

High 4:07 a.m. 4:22 p.m. 5:08 a.m. 5:21 p.m.

Ht. 2.7 2.4 2.7 2.5

Low 11:08 a.m. 11:07 p.m. 12:06 p.m. ---

Today City Hi/Lo/W Marion 78/49/t Mt. Pleasant 79/62/s Myrtle Beach 76/58/pc Orangeburg 84/59/pc Port Royal 81/63/s Raleigh 79/53/pc Rock Hill 82/53/t Rockingham 82/54/pc Savannah 86/61/s Spartanburg 81/54/t Summerville 84/60/s Wilmington 79/56/pc Winston-Salem 78/48/pc

Ht. 0.8 0.7 0.7 ---

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 64/34/pc 69/46/c 65/41/c 67/42/c 71/49/pc 61/31/pc 66/37/pc 65/34/pc 77/52/pc 66/39/pc 69/44/c 62/34/c 61/32/pc

CLARENDON SCHOOL DISTRICT 2 Today, 6:30 p.m., district office SUMTER CITY-COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION Wednesday, 3 p.m., fourth floor, Sumter Opera House, Council Chambers

UNSTOPPABLE IN ANY SEASON

CLARENDON COUNTY PLANNING & PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION Today, 6 p.m., planning commission office, Manning

The last word ARIES (March 21-April 19): in astrology Be a selfEUGENIA LAST starter, a participant and a helper. A positive attitude and a diplomatic way of handling those less benevolent than you will help you overcome any pitfalls you face.

Sumter 85/57 Manning 85/58

Today: Warmer with a heavy thunderstorm. Winds west 4-8 mph. Wednesday: Cooler with a passing shower. Winds northeast 4-8 mph.

Temperature High Low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

Florence 84/55

Bishopville 84/55

control your emotions. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Moderation and a simple lifestyle will be in your best interest. Taking on too much or getting involved with someone who is demanding or unpredictable will be costly. Question your motives and be honest about the way you feel.

803-795-4257

Through summer storms or blizzard conditions, nothing stops a reliable and efficient Boykin System from keeping you comfortable all year long. Now is the right time to upgrade your old system and be ready for any season. But hurry… this great offer will blow away soon!

PICTURES FROM THE PUBLIC

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Be willing to listen to good advice. You can bring about worthwhile changes at home and within important partnerships by offering your insight and presenting solutions to existing problems. Strive for personal perfection and be complimentary towards others. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Don't let an emotional situation ruin your day. Try to accommodate those you have to deal with. You can stabilize a situation that develops with peers or children if you show discipline, restraint and offer reasonable solutions. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Emotions will be difficult to control. Try not to act too fast or use tactics that will be frowned upon. Keeping the peace will be in your best interest.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Hold on tight and shoot for the stars. Trust in what you know and what you can do. Refuse to let anyone rain on your parade or throw you off guard.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Don't let emotions stand between you and what you want to accomplish. Rely on the past to come to your rescue when tough choices have to be made. Instill in others the beliefs that matter most to you and you will gain support.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Don't make an impulsive financial or legal decision. Time is on your side and strategic planning will get you where you want to go. Short trips and networking events will pay off. Take better care of your health and

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Your need to help others must be looked at objectively. Doing too much will result in being taken advantage of, leaving you at a loss. Offer suggestions, but refrain from taking over.

Robert Thomas shares a photo he took of two alligators relaxing in the sun at the Cuddo Unit at the Santee Wildlife Refuge.

HAVE YOU TAKEN PICTURES OF INTERESTING, EXCITING, BEAUTIFUL OR HISTORICAL PLACES? Would you like to share those images with your fellow Sumter Item readers? E-mail your hi-resolution jpegs to sandra@theitem.com, or mail to Sandra Holbert c/o The Sumter Item, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, SC 29150. Include clearly printed or typed name of photographer and photo details. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of your photo. Amateur photographers only please. Photos of poor reproduction quality may not publish. With the exception of pictures that are of a timely nature, submitted photos will publish in the order in which they are received.

SECTION

TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2017 Call: (803) 774-1241 | E-mail: sports@theitem.com

USC MEN’S BASKETBALL

PRO BASEBALL

How Sweet 16 it is!

Tebow will become a Columbia Firefly

Thornwell leads USC past Duke; on to East Regional

BY LOU BEZJAK The State

BY PETE IACOBELLI The Associated Press GREENVILLE — South Carolina is heading to Madison Square Garden — and not for the NIT. A Gamecocks program known largely — and mocked often by some — for its back-to-back NIT championships in 2005 and 2006 is now heading to the world’s most famous arena as part of the NCAA’s Sweet 16. They are making their first appearance in the regional semifinals since the bracket expanded after an 88-81 victory Sunday night over No. 2 seed Duke in the East Regional. And Sindarius Thornwell says he believes bigger things are ahead. “We’re not satisfied,” he said. “We’re in it, so why not win it?” The Gamecocks (24-10) seem capable of anything after this one. Thornwell had 24 points, Chris Silva scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half and Duane Notice had 17 points, 14 in a 65-point second half, as South Carolina rallied from 10 points down

SEE SWEET, PAGE B3

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

South Carolina’s Chris Silva (30) dunks as Duke’s Frank Jackson (15) looks on during the second half of the Gamecocks’ 88-81 victory over the Blue Devils on Sunday in the second round of the NCAA tournament in Greenville. USC takes on Baylor in the Sweet 16 on Friday at Madison Square Garden in New York.

USC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

No. 1 seed South Carolina avoids upset BY JEFFREY COLLINS The Associated Press COLUMBIA — Top-seeded South Carolina again appeared to have a dominant regular season turn into a surprisingly early NCAA Tournament exit. But that’s when 2-time Southeastern Conference Player of the Year A’ja Wilson rescued her team. Wilson scored 21 points and had 11 rebounds, including the put back that gave South Carolina the lead for good and the free throws that sealed it, as South Carolina (29-4) beat No. 8 seed Arizona State 71-68 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday night. Wilson didn’t touch the ball at all for two possessions as the Sun Devils (20-13) ended a run of 11 straight points to take a 68-67 lead with two minutes to go. But her teammates finally found her. She missed the first time down the floor, and again with 50 seconds to go. But Wilson fought, for the rebound, tipped it to herself and made the game-winning basket. “I thought the ball was going to find who THE ASSOCIATED PRESS needed it at the time,” Wilson said. Wilson rescued what would have been another South Carolina guard Kaela Davis (3) celebrates at the conclusion of the Game-

cocks’ 71-68 victory over Arizona State in the second round of the NCAA tournaSEE RESCUED, PAGE B3 ment’s Stockton Regional on Sunday in Columbia.

Tebowmania is coming to Columbia. The former Heisman Trophy winner will begin his minor league career with the Columbia Fireflies, the Class A affiliate of the New York Mets. “I am excited about continuing the journey. I learned so much this spring working with T.C. (Terry Collins), Kevin Long and Tom Goodwin,” Tebow told reporters Monday. “I hear so many good things about the city of Columbia. I hear the stadium is great, the people are great. I look forward to coming TEBOW there to make an impact on the field and in the community.” Columbia opens the season on April 6 at home against Augusta in a four-game series. This year’s team arrives in Columbia on April 1 with a fan fest set for the following day. Fireflies president John Katz was confident last month that Tebow would begin his career with the club and the team’s Twitter account sent out a tweet in August with Tebow in a Fireflies’ jersey when it was announced he was considering playing baseball. “I think it is really exciting. These things don’t happen too often,” Katz said. “You don’t get athletes that have a broad appeal from so many demographics. So much about Tim Tebow is appealing to folks. You got an athlete to have success at so many different levels. For him to be able to go out and chase his dreams playing minor league baseball is amazing.” Katz is at the Mets’ spring training facility in Port St. Lucie, Florida, this week and plans to meet with Tebow. He said the Fireflies will begin to incorporate Tebow in the marketing plans . Katz said how long Tebow’s will stay depends on how comfortable the Mets’ organization is with his progress. The Tebow announcement is sure to spike ticket sales, which Katz said were trending upward from last year’s inaugural season. The club also will be hosting the South Atlantic League All-Star game this season. Tebow will wear his No. 15 jersey he wore as quarterback at Florida and in the NFL for the Fireflies. Tebow signed with the Mets on Sept. 8 to a mix of skepticism

SEE TEBOW, PAGE B2

AUTO RACING

Newman skips late pit stop, stuns NASCAR field in Phoenix AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — A big gamble in the desert heat ended a long victory drought for Ryan Newman. When just about everybody else decided to take a tire-changing pit stop in the final few laps on Sunday, Newman figured he’d be going in with them. His crew chief Luke Lambert thought otherwise. It was a decision that earned Newman a victory in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race, ending his 127-race winless streak. “Just a heck of a gutsy call by Luke Lambert,” Newman said. “It’s his first win as a crew chief in the cup series and I think making a gutsy call like that makes it that much more special for him.” While the leaders were in the pits,

FULL RESULTS INSIDE Official stats on page B4

Newman moved from seventh to first and for the final two laps held off Kyle Larson, the second-place finisher for the third straight race. Kyle Busch, the leader for nearly all of the final stage of the race, was third on a day when the temperature soared to 97 degrees at Phoenix International Raceway. Like nearly all the rest of the field, Larson and Busch went to the pits on the late caution caused when Joey Logano’s car blew a right tire and

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ryan Newman takes the checkered flag to win the Monster Energy Cup Series Camping SEE PHOENIX, PAGE B4 World 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday in Avondale, Arizona.

SPORTS

TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2017

SCOREBOARD TODAY 6 a.m. — Major League Exhibition Baseball: Chicago Cubs vs. Colorado from Scottsdale, Ariz. (MLB NETWORK). Noon — Women’s Professional Tennis: Miami Open First-Round Matches from Key Biscayne, Fla. (TENNIS). 1 p.m. — Major League Exhibition Baseball: Tampa Bay vs. Pittsburgh from Bradenton, Fla. (MLB NETWORK). 3 p.m. — College Baseball: James Madison at Liberty (TIME WARNER 1250). 4 p.m. — Major League Exhibition Baseball: Los Angeles Angels vs. Cincinnati from Goodyear, Ariz. (MLB NETWORK). 4 p.m. — Women’s Professional Tennis: Miami Open First-Round Matches from Key Biscayne, Fla. (TENNIS). 6:05 p.m. — Talk Show: Sports Talk (WDXYFM 105.9, WDXY-AM 1240). 6:15 p.m. — High School Baseball: Hartsville at Lugoff-Elgin (WPUB-FM 102.7). 7 p.m. — NBA Basketball: Chicago at Toronto (ESPN). 7 p.m. — College Basketball: National Invitation Tournament Quarterfinal Game — Richmond at Texas Christian (ESPN2). 7 p.m. — College Baseball: Rice at Texas A&M (SEC NETWORK). 7:30 p.m. — College Baseball: Oklahoma at Oklahoma State (FOX SPORTS SOUTHEAST). 7:30 p.m. — NHL Hockey: Carolina at Florida (FOX SPORTSOUTH). 8:30 p.m. — NHL Hockey: San Jose at Minnesota (NBC SPORTS NETWORK). 9 p.m. — Men’s College Volleyball: Princeton at Brigham Young (BYUTV). 9 p.m. — College Basketball: National Invitation Tournament Quarterfinal Game — Georgia Tech at Mississippi (ESPN2). 9 p.m. — International Baseball: World Baseball Classic Semifinal Game from Los Angeles — United States vs. Japan (MLB NETWORK). 9:30 p.m. — NBA Basketball: San Antonio at Minnesota (ESPN). 1 a.m. — Major League Exhibition Baseball: Oakland vs. Seattle from Peoria, Ariz. (MLB NETWORK).

Indiana Milwaukee Detroit Chicago

35 34 34 33

34 35 36 37

.507 .493 .486 .471

11 12 12½ 13½

WESTERN CONFERENCE W 53 48 40 30 29

L 16 22 30 39 41

Pct .768 .686 .571 .435 .414

GB — 5½ 13½ 23 24½

W 43 40 33 32 28

L 27 29 36 37 41

Pct .614 .580 .478 .464 .406

GB — 2½ 9½ 10½ 14½

W z-Golden State 55 L.A. Clippers 41 Sacramento 27 Phoenix 22 L.A. Lakers 20 x-clinched playoff spot z-clinched division

L 14 29 43 48 50

Pct .797 .586 .386 .314 .286

GB — 14½ 28½ 33½ 35½

NORTHWEST DIVISION Utah Oklahoma City Denver Portland Minnesota

PACIFIC DIVISION

SUNDAY’S GAMES Dallas 111, Brooklyn 104 Philadelphia 105, Boston 99 Detroit 112, Phoenix 95 New Orleans 123, Minnesota 109 Portland 115, Miami 104 Toronto 116, Indiana 91 San Antonio 118, Sacramento 102 Cleveland 125, L.A. Lakers 120

MONDAY’S GAMES Charlotte 105, Atlanta 90 Orlando 112, Philadelphia 109 Indiana 107, Utah 100 Washington at Boston, 7:30 p.m. Denver at Houston, 8 p.m. Golden State at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m. New York at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.

TODAY’S GAMES

COLLEGE BASEBALL POLLS COLLEGIATE BASEBALL TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — The Collegiate Baseball poll with records through March 19. Voting is done by coaches, sports writers and sports information directors: Record Pts Prv 1. Oregon St. 17-1 496 1 1. Louisville 19-0 496 2 3. Texas Christian 14-5 492 3 4. Texas Tech. 17-4 489 4 5. Missouri 19-1 486 23 6. Cal. St. Fullerton 14-5 483 21 7. Arizona 15-4 480 5 8. Louisiana St. 16-5 479 7 9. St. John’s 14-2 478 9 10. Oklahoma 21-3 476 12 11. North Carolina 15-5 472 13 12. Clemson 16-4 470 14 13. South Carolina 14-5 468 16 14. Michigan 15-4 465 17 15. Florida Gulf Coast 18-3 463 22 16. Auburn 17-5 461 NR 17. Florida 13-8 457 8 18. Florida St. 14-7 456 6 19. Baylor 16-4 453 10 20. Stanford 11-5 450 20 21. Kentucky 15-6 446 NR 22. Virginia 15-5 444 15 23. Mississippi 14-6 443 30 24. Vanderbilt 13-8 441 19 25. Southern Miss. 16-4 438 NR 26. San Diego 13-4 435 26 27. U.C. Irvine 11-6 434 25 28. Oregon 13-5 432 29 29. Arkansas 17-4 429 NR 30. Washington 12-6 426 NR

BASEBALL AMERICA DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — The top 25 teams in the Baseball America poll through March 19 (selected by the staff of Baseball America): Record Prv 1. Louisville 19-0 1 2. Oregon State 17-1 4 3. Texas Christian 14-5 3 4. Louisiana State 17-5 6 5. Cal State Fullerton 14-5 7 6. Clemson 16-4 9 7. South Carolina 14-5 10 8. Texas Tech 17-4 11 9. Arizona 15-4 12 10. North Carolina 15-5 13 11. Mississippi 14-6 18 12. Florida Gulf Coast 18-3 21 13. Florida 13-8 5 14. Florida State 14-7 2 15. Louisiana-Lafayette 11-6 14 16. St. John’s 14-2 19 17. Stanford 11-5 17 18. Missouri 19-1 NR 19. Virginia 15-5 15 20. Baylor 16-4 16 21. Oklahoma State 14-6 23 22. Washington 12-6 25 23. Michigan 15-4 24 24. Oklahoma 21-3 NR 25. East Carolina 13-7 8

NBA STANDINGS All Times EDT EASTERN CONFERENCE

Phoenix at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m. Toronto at Miami, 7:30 p.m. L.A. Clippers at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. Memphis at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m. New York at Portland, 10 p.m.

NHL STANDINGS EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION GP 72 71 71 70 71 71 72 70

W 41 39 38 32 34 31 29 28

L 23 24 27 23 28 29 31 31

OT 8 8 6 15 9 11 12 11

Pts 90 86 82 79 77 73 70 67

GF 199 188 205 212 194 180 180 177

GA 180 185 188 208 197 204 210 210

OT 6 8 9 3 12 8 13 12

Pts GF 100 228 100 228 99 249 93 231 78 210 74 186 73 182 64 164

GA 164 159 198 189 218 213 203 209

Pts 99 92 81 81 71 66 43

GF 218 232 197 209 217 195 138

GA 178 178 193 201 230 233 234

GP W L OT Pts GF San Jose 71 42 22 7 91 196 Anaheim 72 38 23 11 87 186 Calgary 72 41 27 4 86 201 Edmonton 71 38 24 9 85 207 Los Angeles 71 34 30 7 75 175 Vancouver 71 28 34 9 65 161 Arizona 71 26 36 9 61 172 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point overtime loss. x-clinched playoff spot

GA 165 178 193 186 179 207 227 for

METROPOLITAN DIVISION x-Columbus x-Washington Pittsburgh N.Y. Rangers N.Y. Islanders Philadelphia Carolina New Jersey

GP 71 71 71 72 71 71 70 71

W 47 46 45 45 33 33 30 26

L 18 17 17 24 26 30 27 33

WESTERN CONFERENCE CENTRAL DIVISION x-Chicago Minnesota St. Louis Nashville Winnipeg Dallas Colorado

GP 72 71 71 71 72 71 71

W 47 43 38 35 32 28 20

L 20 22 28 25 33 33 48

OT 5 6 5 11 7 10 3

PACIFIC DIVISION

Columbus 4, New Jersey 1 Pittsburgh 4, Florida 0 Winnipeg 5, Minnesota 4 Chicago 6, Colorado 3 Philadelphia 4, Carolina 3, OT Montreal 4, Ottawa 1 Calgary 5, Los Angeles 2

L 26 29 42 43 56

Pct .629 .586 .391 .377 .188

GB — 3 16½ 17½ 30½

W 42 37 34 30 25

L 27 32 36 39 45

Pct .609 .536 .486 .435 .357

GB — 5 8½ 12 17½

Boston at Toronto, 7:30 p.m. Buffalo at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. Arizona at Nashville, 8 p.m. San Jose at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. Los Angeles at Edmonton, 9 p.m.

W 46

L 23

Pct .667

GB —

Pittsburgh at Buffalo, 7 p.m. N.Y. Rangers at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

MONDAY’S GAMES

TODAY’S GAMES

CENTRAL DIVISION x-Cleveland

THURSDAY’S GAMES

W 44 41 27 26 13

SOUTHEAST DIVISION Washington Atlanta Miami Charlotte Orlando

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES Charlotte at Orlando, 7 p.m. Indiana at Boston, 7:30 p.m. Atlanta at Washington, 8 p.m. Detroit at Chicago, 8 p.m. Philadelphia at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m. Cleveland at Denver, 9 p.m. Milwaukee at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m. New York at Utah, 10:30 p.m.

SUNDAY’S GAMES

ATLANTIC DIVISION Boston Toronto New York Philadelphia Brooklyn

Chicago at Toronto, 7 p.m. Detroit at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m. Phoenix at Miami, 7:30 p.m. Memphis at New Orleans, 8 p.m. Golden State at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. San Antonio at Minnesota, 9:30 p.m. Milwaukee at Portland, 10 p.m. L.A. Clippers at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.

Montreal Ottawa Boston Toronto Tampa Bay Florida Buffalo Detroit

TEBOW FROM PAGE B1 in the baseball industry. He hadn’t played organized baseball since his junior year of high school. Tebow has rotated between working with the minor leaguers and Mets’ big league club this spring. He has appeared in seven spring training games for the Mets and was the starting left fielder against the Detroit Tigers on Monday. Tebow went 0-for-3 in Monday’s game and is hitting .200 this spring. “No one works harder than Tim did this spring,” Mets manager Terry Collins told Newsday on Monday. “He was a pleasure to have around. What he wants is to improve. I’m sure he’ll be a great influence on the kids in Columbia and the fans will enjoy watching him play.” Mets general manager Sandy Alderson told Newsday he has been impressed with Tebow’s improvement. He also squashed the notion Tebow would be taking the spot of another prospect in

Calgary at Washington, 7 p.m. Ottawa at Boston, 7 p.m. Detroit at Montreal, 7:30 p.m. Arizona at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m. Carolina at Florida, 7:30 p.m. Philadelphia at Winnipeg, 8 p.m. Vancouver at Chicago, 8:30 p.m. San Jose at Minnesota, 8:30 p.m. St. Louis at Colorado, 9 p.m.

AREA ROUNDUP

Bettencourt pitches Sumter High past Carolina Forest 3-0

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

SOUTHWEST DIVISION x-San Antonio x-Houston Memphis Dallas New Orleans

THE SUMTER ITEM

the organization or is being used as a publicity stunt. “The fact that he’s starting at Columbia, he’s really not taking anybody’s spot. By the

Toronto at Columbus, 7 p.m. N.Y. Islanders at N.Y. Rangers, 8 p.m. Edmonton at Anaheim, 10 p.m.

THURSDAY’S GAMES Tampa Bay at Boston, 7 p.m. Columbus at Washington, 7 p.m. New Jersey at Toronto, 7:30 p.m. Pittsburgh at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m. Carolina at Montreal, 7:30 p.m. Arizona at Florida, 7:30 p.m. Calgary at Nashville, 8 p.m. Vancouver at St. Louis, 8 p.m. Philadelphia at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Dallas at Chicago, 8:30 p.m. Edmonton at Colorado, 9 p.m. Winnipeg at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.

PGA TOUR

Sunday At Bay Hill Lodge & Resort, Orlando, Florida. Purse: $8.7 million Yardage: 7,419; Par 72 Final Marc Leishman (500), $1,566,000 71-6671-69—277 Charley Hoffman (245), $765,600 68-6671-73—278 Kevin Kisner (245), $765,600 70-67-68-73— 278 Tyrrell Hatton, $382,800 72-69-67-71—279 Rory McIlroy (123), $382,800 74-71-65-69— 279 Adam Hadwin (100), $313,200 70-70-69-71— 280 Lucas Glover (85), $271,150 68-69-72-72— 281 Emiliano Grillo (85), $271,150 67-68-78-68— 281 Francesco Molinari (85), $271,150 70-6874-69—281 Tommy Fleetwood, $226,200 78-66-70-68— 282 Hudson Swafford (73), $226,200 73-7269-68—282 Rickie Fowler (65), $200,100 74-72-65-72— 283 Matthew Fitzpatrick, $163,125 67-6972-76—284 Brian Harman (56), $163,125 72-70-73-69— 284 Billy Horschel (56), $163,125 72-73-67-72— 284 Justin Rose (56), $163,125 71-70-70-73—284 Greg Chalmers (46), $117,740 69-72-69-75— 285 Michael Kim (46), $117,740 72-71-70-72— 285 Danny Lee (46), $117,740 75-70-73-67—285 Luke List (46), $117,740 71-71-72-71—285 Pat Perez (46), $117,740 74-70-69-72—285 Kyle Stanley (46), $117,740 73-68-69-75— 285 Jason Day (36), $77,430 70-71-75-70—286 Martin Kaymer, $77,430 73-71-68-74—286 Jamie Lovemark (36), $77,430 72-69-75-70— 286 Vaughn Taylor (36), $77,430 71-71-73-71— 286 Jeunghun Wang, $77,430 71-68-77-70—286 Stewart Cink (27), $57,855 70-76-70-71— 287 Tony Finau (27), $57,855 72-67-77-71—287 Brandon Hagy (27), $57,855 73-71-70-73— 287 Graeme McDowell (27), $57,855 72-7171-73—287 Louis Oosthuizen (27), $57,855 70-7371-73—287 Brandt Snedeker (27), $57,855 72-71-71-73— 287 Keegan Bradley (19), $43,003 71-71-71-75— 288 David Hearn (19), $43,003 70-73-74-71—288 Ryan Moore (19), $43,003 72-69-74-73—288 Ollie Schniederjans (19), $43,003 73-7072-73—288 Bubba Watson (19), $43,003 72-72-76-68— 288 Cameron Smith (19), $43,003 74-69-69-76— 288 Harold Varner III (19), $43,003 70-70-71-77— 288 Aaron Baddeley (14), $33,060 70-75-69-75— 289 Paul Casey (14), $33,060 68-72-71-78—289 Ben Martin (14), $33,060 73-72-74-70—289 Ian Poulter (14), $33,060 72-73-71-73—289 Russell Henley (10), $26,187 72-71-70-77— 290 Jim Herman (10), $26,187 73-72-75-70—290 Hideki Matsuyama (10), $26,187 73-6972-76—290 Charl Schwartzel (10), $26,187 72-7172-75—290 Byeong Hun An (8), $21,079 76-70-72-73— 291 Kevin Chappell (8), $21,079 72-74-74-71— 291 James Hahn (8), $21,079 73-71-73-74—291 Martin Laird (8), $21,079 77-68-75-71—291 J.J. Spaun (8), $21,079 70-73-76-72—291 Si Woo Kim (8), $21,079 71-71-74-75—291 Alex Noren, $21,079 70-74-71-76—291 Charles Howell III (5), $19,401 72-72-74-74— 292 Jason Kokrak (5), $19,401 72-74-71-75—292 Troy Merritt (5), $19,401 76-71-72-73—292 C.T. Pan (5), $19,401 75-71-74-72—292 Ryan Ruffels, $19,401 69-74-76-73—292 Steve Wheatcroft (5), $19,401 77-69-71-75— 292 Blayne Barber (4), $18,531 75-72-77-69— 293 Matt Every (4), $18,531 73-70-74-76—293 Fabian Gomez (4), $18,531 74-72-71-76— 293 Tim Herron (4), $18,531 72-73-72-76—293 John Huh (4), $17,922 74-72-71-77—294 Zach Johnson (4), $17,922 75-70-73-76— 294 Boo Weekley (4), $17,922 75-72-73-74—294 Wesley Bryan (3), $17,574 77-70-71-77—295 Kevin Streelman (3), $17,400 75-71-74-77— 297 Derek Fathauer (3), $17,226 74-71-71-83— 299 David Lingmerth (3), $17,052 74-72-70-88— 304

way, we have lots of players in our organization who are just that: organizational players,” Alderson said. “Not every player that we have is a top prospect, whose opportunity is being curtailed by Tim Tebow or anybody else.”

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MYRTLE BEACH – Hannah Bettencourt tossed a shutout to lift Sumter High School to a 3-0 varsity softball victory over Carolina Forest on Monday at the CF field. Bettencourt struck out three batters for the Lady Gamecocks, who improved to 2-1 in Region VI-5A. She was also 3-for-4 at the plate with a run batted in. Alexis Jacobs was also 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Tara Rhodes had two hits and Kaylee Posey had an RBI. Sumter plays host to Conway today. MANNING 24 CRESTWOOD 13

Crestwood fell to 1-3 with a 24-13 loss to Manning on Thursday at the CHS field. Connie Griffin led the Lady Knights offensively, going 3-for-4 with three RBI. Brittany Epps and Constance Kirby both had two hits.

JV SOCCER WEST FLORENCE 1 SUMTER 0

Sumter lost to West Florence 1-0 on Friday at the SHS field. The Lady Gamecocks fell to 2-2.

JV SOFTBALL CRESTWOOD 20 MANNING 8

Crestwood picked up its first win of the year on Thursday with a 20-8 victory over Manning at the CHS field. Shanna Ingham led the 1-2 Lady Knights, hitting a 3-run home run to finish

●

COLUMBIA — Fresh off a pair of thrilling NCAA Tournament secondround victories, South Carolina’s men’s and women’s basketball teams will hold a Sweet 16 Pep Rally on Tuesday at Foundation Square at the main entrance of Colonial Life Arena. The event, which gets underway at 6 p.m., will feature speeches from USC President Harris Pastides, a member of the Gamecock women’s basketball team and head coach Dawn Staley and a Carolina men’s basketball student-athlete and head coach Frank Martin. The festivities will wrap up with the fight song and Alma Mater. LATE EAGLE CARRIES LEISHMAN TO VICTORY AT BAY HILL

ORLANDO, Fla. — Marc

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JV BASEBALL SUMTER 7, 11 MANNING 1, 0

MANNING — Sumter swept a doubleheader from Manning on Monday, winning 7-1 in the first game and 11-0 in the nightcap at the MHS field. In the opener, the Gamecocks had nine hits. Sebastian Ducom and Bryce Spittle both had two hits. Kieran Hagerty had a hit, two runs, two stolen bases and an RBI, while Wylie Coker had a hit and two runs. Ducom, Zion Brown and Mason McLeod each had an RBI. Brown also had two stolen bases. Seth Posey was the winning pitcher, tossing three innings with one hit and one unearned run allowed. He struck out five and walked none. Coker allowed two hits and a walk against two strikeouts in two shutout innings. In the second game, SHS had eight hits. Spittle was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run. Jomar Nazario had a double, an RBI and a run, Jackson Hoshour and Coker both had two RBI and Jacob Moss had a hit, two runs and an RBI. Drake Thames pitched two shutout innings and McLeod and Ethan Brown both pitched a scoreless inning.

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Leishman of Australia holed a 50-foot eagle putt on the 16th hole to take the lead, and he stayed there with two tough pars to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational and earn a trip to the Masters. Leishman pitch from 45 yards short of the 18th green rolled out to 3 feet, and he made the par putt for a 3-under 69. Kevin Kisner had a three-shot lead at the turn, but he didn’t make a birdie over his final 11 holes. Rory McIlroy made a late charge and tied for the lead with a wild birdie around a tree and over the water on the 16th hole, only to three-putt the final hole from 30 feet. It was the first Arnold Palmer Invitational since the death last September of the tournament host.

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THE SUMTER ITEM

TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2017

WOMEN’S NCAA TOURNAMENT ROUNDUP

Oregon upsets Duke 74-65, advances to 1st women’s Sweet 16 DURHAM, N.C. — Ruthy Hebard had 20 points and 15 rebounds, and Oregon earned its first Sweet 16 berth by upsetting Duke 74-65 on Monday night in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Maite Cazorla added 17 points and Lexi Bando finished with 14 points to help Oregon (22-13) become the first No. 10 seed in a decade to reach the round of 16. The Ducks, in their first tournament since 2005, had never advanced past the second round in their 12 previous appearances. Now they’re on to Bridgeport, Connecticut, to take on third-seeded Maryland (32-2) in a regional semifinal. Lexie Brown scored 25 points for the second-seeded Blue Devils (28-6), who have been upset at home in the tour-

nament’s second round twice since 2014. They played without guard Kyra Lambert, who tore her left anterior cruciate ligament in the first round against Hampton.

followed with seven of their next eight points to make it 62-51 with 4:07 remaining. Durr also became the 28th Louisville player to reach 1,000 career points.

Orange that gave the Huskies their fourth consecutive title.

LOUISVILLE 75 TENNESSEE 64

UCONN 94 SYRACUSE 64

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Asia Durr scored 23 points, Mariya Moore made all five 3-pointers for 19 points and Louisville beat Tennessee 75-64 Monday night in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Moore’s perimeter shooting provided a lift on a night that fourth-seeded Louisville had to work hard late to finish 44 percent from the field. She scored the Cardinals’ first eight points of the fourth quarter with back-toback 3s for a 54-47 lead before Durr

STORRS, Conn. — Kia Nurse scored 29 points and tied an NCAA Tournament record with nine 3-pointers to lead UConn to a 94-64 win over Syracuse on Monday night in a secondround rematch of last year’s national championship game. Nurse hit 10 of her 13 shots, missing three attempts from behind the arc for the Huskies, who won their 109th straight game and 26th consecutive NCAA Tournament game. That streak includes last April’s 82-51 win over the

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Brittany McPhee had 21 points, Alanna Smith added 19 and second-seeded Stanford routed No. 7 seed Kansas State 69-48 on Monday night to advance to the Cardinal’s 10th straight Sweet 16. The Cardinal (30-5) had no problem dealing with the Wildcats (23-11) or their home crowd, which spent much of the game sitting in silence. Stanford roared to a 39-21 halftime lead and never looked back in advancing to face No. 3 seed Texas on Friday night in Lexington, Kentucky.

SWEET FROM PAGE B1 for a second straight NCAA victory. The 65 points were the most given up in a half by a Mike Krzyzewski-coached Duke team. The Gamecocks shook off a 20-percent shooting first half for the win. “I told the guys at halftime, someone’s got to have the courage and make shots,” South Carolina coach Frank Martin said. When the horn sounded, South Carolina players, coaches and staff rushed to the fans at Bon Secours Wellness Arena to celebrate — a crowd that included Houston Texans Pro Bowl defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, a former Gamecock. Next up is the East Regional where South Carolina takes on third-seeded Baylor, an 82-78 winner over Southern Cal earlier Sunday. Duke (28-9) was attempting to reach the round of 16

for the sixth time in eight seasons. The Blue Devils, though, could not surmount South Carolina’s stifling defense. Leading scorer Luke Kennard had his second straight subpar shooting game, finishing 1 of 6 for 11 points before fouling out. The Blue Devils made five of their eight 3-point attempts in the first half, yet only 5 of 19 after the break. They had tied a season high with 18 turnovers against the relentless Gamecocks attack. Silva added 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double this season. Grayson Allen led Duke with 20 points. Krzyzewski said South Carolina’s physical nature wore down his team in the second half. “That’s the most physical team we’ve faced all year,” he said. Even as South Carolina got in front, Duke believed it could mount a comeback like

RESCUED FROM PAGE B1 disappointing NCAA Tournament for one of the sport’s new powers. South Carolina has been a No. 1 seed four years in a row but made the Final Four just once. And the road out of the Stockton, California, region might have gotten harder. Starting guard Allisha Gray had to be carried off the court after hurting her knee late in the game. Coach Dawn Staley said doctors were looking at it after the game and she had no prognosis. The Gamecocks are already playing without Alaina Coates. Arizona State led by as many as 11 and never trailed at all in the third quarter. But Kaela Davis scored six of her 20 points in the opening two minutes of the fourth quarter as the Gamecocks built a 67-57 lead with five minutes to go. Sophie Bruner, who led Arizona State with 20 points and nine rebounds, missed a heavily contested 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have tied it. “There was no one else we would rather have shot the ball,” Arizona State coach Charli Turner Thorne said. “It was a tough shot, but I was thinking it was going in — she’s had about eight at the buzzer.” And with the miss, South Carolina avoided possibly becoming the first No. 1 seed to lose before the Sweet 16 since Duke lost to Michigan State in 2009.

WRONG SEED Turner Thorne and Staley both agreed Arizona State deserved higher than an eighth seed and this matchup shouldn’t have happened in the second round. “It’s no secret I didn’t think we should be playing a one seed in the second round on their home floor. And I think we proved that,” Turner Thorne said. Staley said these games are why she plays a tough nonconference schedule and pushes her team to dominate the SEC so they can get that top seed and home court for the first two NCAA Tournament games. “I think the results would be different at another gym,” Staley said.

BIG PICTURE Arizona State: The Sun Dev-

the several it pulled off last week to become the first ACC champion to win four games on the way to a title. “We’ve done it before. We thought we could,” Matt Jones said. “The shots just didn’t fall today. We couldn’t find enough energy to muster up that late push.”

From wire reports

BIG PICTURE

It was hard to call this anything other than a home game for South Carolina, whose campus is 2 hours east and whose fans filled the arena. Kennard said his team has been in difficult environments before “and we’ve won games like that. Their team, they fed off the crowd I think and it gave them a little energy.”

South Carolina: The Gamecocks had not won an NCAA Tournament game in 44 years coming into the weekend. Now, they’re looking to advance to the Elite Eight with another victory. Quite a turn for a team that had lost five of its last seven games before the NCAAs. Duke: The Blue Devils had lived by the 3-pointer much of the season and when those didn’t fall in the second half, it surely cost them. They’ll certainly be a different looking team next year with seniors like Jones and Amile Jefferson finishing up and freshmen like Jayson Tatum, considering the NBA.

GOOD CALL

UP NEXT

HOME GAME

Notice has struggled with his shot at times this season, so much that Martin has fielded questions about sitting him down. Notice finished 6 of 8 with two 3-pointers in the South Carolina win. “Aren’t you glad I didn’t do that?” Martin asked.

ils have made 12 NCAA tournaments under Turner Thorne, but have advanced to the Sweet 16 just three times. Arizona State had another good shooting day from outside, making 45.5 percent of its 3-pointers. South Carolina: The Gamecocks have been to six straight NCAA Tournaments with Staley, making it to the Sweet 16 five times. Sunday’s attendance in Columbia was 8,276 people — well below South Carolina’s nation-leading average of 12,853. The Gamecocks men’s team was playing in the second round of the NCAAs too, about 100 miles away in Greenville.

UP NEXT South Carolina: The Gamecocks head out to Stockton, California, to play the winner of Monday’s game between No. 4 seed Miami and 12th seeded Quinnipiac in a regional semifinal Saturday.

Goat Job?GET A CAR! NO CREDIT CHECK

NO CREDIT - NO PROBLEM! BANKRUPTCY - NO PROBLEM! BAD CREDIT - NO PROBLEM! DIVORCE - NO PROBLEM! REALLY BAD CREDIT - NO PROBLEM!

South Carolina plays third-

MEN’S TOURNAMENT TV SCHEDULE THURSDAY SEMIFINALS MIDWEST REGIONAL WLTX 19 Michigan vs. Oregon, 7 p.m. Purdue vs. Kansas, 9:30 p.m. WEST REGIONAL TBS Gonzaga vs. West Virginia, 7:30 p.m. Xavier vs. Arizona, 10 p.m.

FRIDAY SEMIFINALS EAST REGIONAL TBS South Carolina vs. Baylor, 7:25 p.m. Wisconsin vs. Florida, 10 p.m. SOUTH REGIONAL WLTX 19 Butler vs. North Carolina, 7 p.m. Kentucky vs. UCLA, 9:30 p.m.

seeded Baylor in the Sweet 16 at Madison Square Garden on Friday

Keeping Sumter Beautiful By Amanda McNulty, County Extension Agent Yellow, Yellow, Yellow

dumping huge amounts of pollen in the air and hoping that Nature is sending us signals to there is enough of a breeze that cleanup around our house and some of it will make its way to the stigma of a receptive female yard. I had to make a ginorflower. Researchers have narmous arrangement for the rowed down the trees responsiRotary Club Farm to Table ble for most allergic reactions. event last week, and even The worst offenders are beech, though it had rained for two walnut, oak, alder, hop-horndays two days before, I had to bean, hazelnut, and chestnut. spray all the greenery I cut to Pine pollen, although brilliantget rid of the pollen that had dusted single leaf. Although we ly yellow and able to float on water, generally doesn’t cause usually hang laundry on the front porch (you can’t see our the dreaded seasonal allergic rhinitis, although it sure gets house from the road because blamed for it. In truth, pine the hedges are so thick so pollen causes hay fever in only hopefully we aren’t bringing two to three percent of the property values down), the dryer is now back in service as population. Still, it is a nuisance to sweet off our wrapyellow pollen would coat any around, old-fashioned porch air-dried clothes. Our oldest child, Eliza Frezil, flew in from every day. My strategy is to wait until it finishes in a week Los Angeles to help celebrate her father’s seventh-fifth birth- or so and then borrow my day on March 15 and was look- neighbor’s power washer and wash it off porch walls, banising for the Claritin after one ters, deck, and furniture. night at home. Pine trees, oak trees, pecan trees, hickories, ash, cedars, and others are all examples of Clemson University Cooperative Extension anemophilous plants, those Service offers its programs to people of all ages, which rely on wind to move regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orienpollen from male to female marital or family status and is an equal flowers, a rather inefficient sys- tation, opportunity employer. tem that basically means just

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TECHNICALLY SPEAKING Turner Thorne called a timeout with 7:59 to go, immediately took several steps out on the court and yelled at a referee. She got a technical and South Carolina hit both free throws and got a threepoint play to stretch a onepoint lead to six. The coach said she was angry that the officials called a foul on a screen on her team, then missed what she said looked like a more obvious similar call against the Gamecocks. “At least I called a timeout,” Turner Thorne said. “And you know what, I probably deserved it and that’s fine. We had 23 fouls and we average 14 a game.”

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TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2017

SPORTS

THE SUMTER ITEM

OBITUARIES BEATRIX B. BAGNAL Beatrix Bailey Bagnal, age 52, beloved wife of the late Frank Belton Bagnal, died on Tuesday, March 14, 2017, at Palmetto Health Richland in Columbia. She was born in the city of Singen, Germany, a BAGNAL daughter of Rita Anna Bailey and the late Bernie Floyd Bailey. She became a citizen of the United States in October 2003. She was a nurse at Mariner Healthcare of Sumter for many years. She was later employed by the federal government as a nurse and worked at the 20th Medical Group of Shaw Air Force Base and at Moncrief Army Hospital of Fort Jackson. She was a wonderful nurse. She loved her family and friends. She will be greatly missed. Special thanks to her lifelong best friend, Linda P. “Gail” Reid, and her close friend, Maureen “Moe” Toomey. Additional thanks to her nephew, Dr. Jon H. Docherty Sr. and his wife, Elizabeth Docherty; sister-in-law, Jeanine Watts; along with her many nieces, nephews and friends. Surviving in addition to her mother are five sisters, Marina Gullard, Susanne Hafley, Alexandra Homeister, Carol Ann Lloyd of Lexington and Berniece Wolf of Vancouver. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday in the Bullock Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at Bullock Funeral Home. Afterwards, the inurnment will be held at Sumter Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Alice Drive Baptist Church Benevolence Fund, 1305 Loring Mill Road, Sumter, SC 29150. You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family’s guest book. The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.

and watch his Alabama Crimson Tide. He loved his wife and family very much and he will be remembered as a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, greatgrandfather and great-greatgrandfather. Surviving are one son, Hank McKinney and his wife, Karen, of Sumter; five daughters, Lee Baron and her husband, J.R., of Fayetteville, North Carolina, Linda O’Reilly and her husband, Patrick, of Southern Pines, North Carolina, Cindy McKinney of Sumter, Michele Welch and her husband, Ronnie, of Rembert and Faith Hartle and her husband, Craig, of Cashers, North Carolina; 16 grandchildren, Denise, Desiree, Norman, Troy, Joey, Timmy, Hank III, Angela, Jessica, Melissa, Ronnie Jr., Michael, Kelliann, Stephen, David and Heather; 34 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; a niece, Paulette Farrell; and two nephews, Fred McKinney Jr. and Bryan McKinney. In addition to his parents and wife, Mr. McKinney was preceded in death by two brothers, Herbert McKinney and Fred McKinney; one sister; and one nephew, David McKinney. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday in the Bullock Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Victor VanRas and Tim Brown officiating. Interment with military honors will follow in Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery. Pallbearers will be David Hartle, Stephen Hartle, Hank McKinney III, Joseph Pressnell, Timmy Pressnell, Troy Pressnell, Norman Simon, Michael Welch and Ronnie Welch. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Bullock Funeral Home and at their residence. Memorials may be made to Faith Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1177, Sumter, SC 29150. You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family’s guest book. The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home of Sumter for the arrangements.

HENRY LEE MCKINNEY SR. REMBERT — Henry Lee McKinney Sr., age 91, beloved husband of the late Dolores Marie McNey McKinney, died on Sunday, March 19, 2017, at his residence. Born in Eoline, Alabama, he was McKINNEY a son of the late J.E. McKinney and Minnie Pearl Bracknel McKinney. Mr. McKinney served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He worked as a salesman for Frito-Lay for more than 40 years, until his retirement. He was a member of Faith Baptist Church. He loved the Lord with all his heart and loved to fish, golf

PAULINE W. JACKSON Funeral services for Pauline Walker Jackson will be held at 11 a.m. today at Salem Missionary Baptist Church, 320 W. Fulton St., Sumter, with the Rev. Dr. Cartrell W. Woods officiating. Interment will follow in Walker JACKSON Cemetery, off Oakland Avenue, Sumter. Mrs. Jackson transitioned on Thursday, March 16, 2017, at her residence in Sumter. Born in Ehrhardt, she was a daughter of the late Thaddi-

ous and Allefair Halyard Walker. She attended the public schools in Bamberg County and was married to the late Albertus Jackson of Sumter. After moving to Sumter, Pauline worked as a retail seamstress for the Capitol and Belk department stores, until retirement. She was a faithful member of Salem Missionary Baptist Church and served on the Salem Young Adult Choir, Mother’s Club and the Jet Club. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by four brothers, Charlie Thomas Walker, Alfred Fair Walker, Mannie George Walker and Terone Walker; and one aunt, Helen Walker Nelson. Survivors include three children, Fair Perdita Jackson (Blease) Fadden of the home, Katherlyn Veronica Jackson Walker of Las Vegas and Albertus Jackson Jr. of Sumter; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sisters, Mae West Walker Richardson of Brooklyn, New York, and Joye Nelson (C.A.) Wilson of Sumter; two brothers, James Lewis (Gladys) Walker of Sheldon and Willard Dean Walker of Darlington; and a host of loving and caring nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Condolences may be made on her tribute page found at www.palmermemorialchapel. com. Professional services rendered by Palmer Memorial Chapel Inc.

CHARLES E. DILL Charles E. Dill, age 78, died on Saturday, March 18, 2017. Arrangements will be announced by Belk Funeral Home, Lamar Chapel.

grass, 210 Independence Ave. These services have been entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC, Manning.

MATTIE CLEA Mattie Clea, 59, departed this life on Friday, March 17, 2017, at Palmetto Health Richland, Columbia. She was born on Sept. 13, 1957, in Sumter County, a daughter of the late Frank Sr. and Ethel Davis Clea. Job’s Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., Sumter, is in charge of arrangements.

KARL LYNN ROGERS Karl Lynn Rogers, 52, died on Friday, March 17, 2017, at Palmetto Health Tuomey. Services will be announced by Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter.

GWENDOLYN M. NIXON Gwendolyn Marie Nixon, 57, died on Friday, March 17, 2017, at KershawHealth Medical Center, Camden. Born on Oct. 1, 1959, in Sumter County, she was a daughter of Phillip and Paralee Weathers Nixon. The family will receive family and friends at the home, 3260 Marlene Nixon Road, Rembert. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Williams Funeral Home Inc.

TIM TRUETT Tim Truett, husband of Sharon Truett, died on Monday, March 20, 2017, at his home. Services will be announced by Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, (803) 7759386.

JACQUELINE D. JOE BISHOPVILLE — Jacqueline Denise Joe, wife of Isaiah Joe, of Belvidere, Illinois, entered eternal rest on March 15, 2017, at Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center, Hartsville. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Wilson Funeral Home, 403 S. Main St., Bishopville.

WESLEY WILLIAMS BISHOPVILLE — Wesley Williams, son of the late Gertrude Williams, entered eternal rest on March 15, 2017, in Washington, D.C. Funeral arrangements are incomplete but will be announced by Wilson Funeral Home, 403 S. Main St., Bishopville.

SARAH L. MILLER MANNING — Evangelist Sarah Louise Miller, 69, died on Sunday, March 19, 2017, at Windsor Manor Nursing Home, Manning. She born on Dec. 22, 1947, in the Jordan community of Manning, a daughter of the late Jarrett Roy Miller and Hester James Parson Miller. The family is receiving friends at the home of her daughter, Gwen M. Pender-

CAROLYN M. BROWN BISHOPVILLE — Carolyn McDuffie Brown, wife of Robert Brown, departed this life on March 19, 2017, at McLeod Hospice House, Florence. Born on March 13, 1955, in Gable, she was a daughter of Hazel Caldwell and was adopted by Willie and Beatrice McDuffie. The family is receiving friends at the residence, 261 Elliott Highway, Bishopville, in the Wisacky community of Lee County. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Wilson Funeral Home, 403 S. Main St., Bishopville.

VIOLA W. BRAYBOY MANNING — Viola Watson Brayboy, 72, died on Thursday, March 16, 2017. She was a daughter of the late Generett and Ethelea Brunson Watson. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at Goodwill Freewill Baptist Church, Manning, with Elder

Renel Trevol, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in the churchyard. These services have been entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.

RUBY M. WHITE Ruby Magazine White, 80, departed this life on Sunday, March 19, 2017, at Palmetto Health Tuomey. Born on Dec. 29, 1936, in Sumter County, she was a daughter of Maggie Lue Magazine and the late James Magazine Sr. Ruby obtained her formal education from the public schools of Sumter County. In 1953, she was united in holy matrimony to the late Willie White Sr. To this family one son was born, Willie White Jr. She leaves to cherish her memories: her son, Willie White Jr. of Columbia; her mother, Maggie Lue Magazine; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; five sisters, Marie (James) Brisbon, Willie Mae (Willie) Washington, Minnie Frierson, Frances Grant and Mary Brisbon (Frank); seven brothers, James (Emma) Magazine, Marion Magazine, William (Lillie) Magazine, Lucius (Viola) Magazine, John Magazine, Ernest (Royann) Magazine and Robert (Luellen) Magazine; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Homegoing celebration will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at Mechanicsville United Methodist Church, 184 Lake Ashwood Road, Sumter, with the Rev. Ronnie Jeffcoat, pastor, eulogist. The family is receiving relatives and friends at the home of her sister, Minnie Frierson, 145 John St., Sumter. The remains will be placed in the church at 10 a.m. The procession will leave at 10:30 a.m. from the home. Burial will be in Mechanicsville United Methodist Church Cemetery, Sumter. These services have been entrusted to the management and staff of Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter. Online memorial messages may be sent to the family at williamsfuneralhome@sc.rr. com. Visit us on the web at www. williamsfuneralhomeinc.com.

WILLIE TINDAL FLORENCE — On Saturday, March 18, 2017, Willie Tindal departed this life at Carolinas Hospital System in Florence. Born on March 29, 1959, in Manning, he was a son of the late Jenkinson and Josephine Dingle Tindal. The family is receiving relatives and friends at the residence of his sister, Joeann T. McCloud,1092 Destin Ave., Jordan community of Manning. Funeral services are incomplete and will be announced by Fleming & DeLaine Funeral Home and Chapel.

CLASSIFIEDS

TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2017

THE ITEM

CLASSIFIED DEADLINES

CLASSIFIEDS BUSINESS SERVICES Home Improvements Mickey's Home improvements & Repairs. Roofs, Whole house inside & out. Call 803-840-6911 or 494-5418 All out Home Improvements We beat everybody's price Licensed & Bonded 803-316-8969 H.L. Boone, Contractor: Remodel paint roofs gutters drywall blown ceilings ect. 773-9904

Roofing Robert W. Nunnery Roofing Co. the original Nunnery Roofing. Serving Sumter and surrounding areas since 1971. Call for a free estimate 803-478-2950 or 803-460-0927

Tree Service Ricky's Tree Service Tree removal, stump grinding, Lic & ins, free quote, 803-435-2223 or cell 803-460-8747.

NEWMAN'S TREE SERVICE Tree removal, trimming & stump grinding. Lic/Ins 803-316-0128 A Notch Above Tree Care Full quality service low rates, lic./ins., free est BBB accredited 983-9721

MERCHANDISE Garage, Yard & Estate Sales LARGE GARAGE SALE Every Weekend Tables $2 & $3 FLEA MARKET BY SHAW AFB

Open every weekend. Call 803-494-5500

For Sale or Trade Martin's Used Appliance Washers, Dryers, Refrig., Stoves. Guarantee 464-5439 or 469-7311. Open 7 Days a week 9am-8pm New & used Heat pumps & A/C. Will install/repair, Call 803-968-9549 or 843-992-2364

EMPLOYMENT

803-774-12

OR TO PLACE YOUR AD ONLINE GO TO WWW.THE ITEM.COM/PLACEMYAD Trucking Opportunities

Experienced Trailer switcher needed 3 days a week in Sumter. Must have current CDL, 5 years experience, clean driving record. Call 803-938-2708 leave message with your experience M-F 9am-3pm.

RENTALS Unfurnished Apartments Senior Living Apartments for those 62+ (Rent based on income) Shiloh-Randolph Manor 125 W. Bartlette. 775-0575 Studio/1 Bedroom apartments available EHO Huntington Place Apartments Rents from $625 per month 1 Month free* *13 Month lease required Leasing office located at Ashton Mill Apartment Homes 595 Ashton Mill Drive 803-773-3600 Office Hours: Mon-Fri 9-5 Swan Lake Apts. Accepting applications. 2BR 1BA apts. in quiet scenic neighborhood. No Section 8. No Smoking, No Pets 803-775-4641.

Unfurnished Homes Old Manning Rd.: 3 Br, 2 Ba. on 1 acre private lot in country. All hardwood floors, frig & stove, W/D hookup. Carport & fenced yard. Outside pet only. No Section 8. $1000 mo. with 1 year lease. 803-491-5375

Mobile Home Rentals Oaklawn MHP: 2 BR M.H.'s, water//sewer//garbage pk-up incl'd. RV parking avail. Call 803-494-8350

REAL ESTATE Homes for Sale Beautiful brick home 4BR 2BA, 2 Car Garage, granite , stainless appliances, Remodeled Call. 803-983-2705 or 983-5240

TRANSPORTATION Help Wanted Full-Time Cashier needed full time. Must have some computer knowledge, be self-motivated, dependable & energetic. Apply at Wally's Hardware from 1pm-3pm, 1291 Broad St.

Miscellaneous

Experienced Electricians & helpers needed immediately. . Call: 803-968-2304 Chef/CDM/Kitchen Manager Please apply in person at NHC HealthCare Sumter 1018 N. Guignard Dr. Sumter, SC (EOE) Nesbitt Transportation is now hiring Class A CDL Drivers. Must be 23 yrs old and have 2 yrs experience. Home nights and weekends. Also hiring experience diesel mechanic. Call 843-621-0943 or 843-659-8254 RN / LPN Night Shift Supervisor Full Time Monday through Friday, with rotating call and occasional weekends required. Long Term Care and Medicare experience necessary. This position is responsible for the daily operations in a 44 bed skilled care unit. CNA's Needed We are currently accepting applications for Full Time, Part Time and PRN CNA positions. Apply in person to: Covenant Place 2825 Carter Road Sumter, SC 29150 FT maintenance person for Apartment Communities located in Bishopville, SC and surrounding areas. Successful candidate will perform various maintenance duties necessary to maintain and enhance the value of the communities. Duties include plumbing, light electrical, painting, cleaning, etc. Applicant must have own tools and reliable transportation. Box 469 c//o The Item, PO Box 1677 Sumter SC 29151

Refurbished batteries as low as $45. New batteries as low as $59.95. 6v golf cart battery as low as $59.95. Auto Electric Co., 102 Blvd Rd. 803-773-4381

LEGAL NOTICES Legal Notice Certificate of Need In accordance with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Regulation 61-15 (Certificate of Need for Health Facilities and Services), BAYADA Home Health Care Inc., doing business as BAYADA Home Health Care - Sumter, hereby notifies the public of the planned submission of a Certificate of Need application (CON) to develop a Medicare-certified home health agency to serve the residents of Sumter County. The project has an estimated total cost for CON purposes of approximately $50,000. The CON application will be submitted within 20 days of this notice.

Beer & Wine License

Summons & Notice

Notice Of Application

Complaint herein, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, or otherwise appear and defend, and to serve a copy of your Answer to said Complaint upon the subscriber at his office, Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 8237, Columbia, SC 29202, within thirty (30) days after service hereof, except as to the United States of America, which shall have sixty (60) days, exclusive of the day of such service, and if you fail to answer the Complaint within the time aforesaid, or otherwise appear and defend, the Plaintiff in this action will apply to the Court for the relief demanded therein, and judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

Notice is hereby given that CRS Investment LLC DBA Yummy intends to apply to the South Carolina Department of Revenue for a license permit that will allow the sale ON premises consumption of Beer & Wine at 2561 Broad Street, Sumter, SC 29150. To object to the issuance of this permit / license, written protest must be postmarked no later than April 6, 2017. For a protest to be valid, it must be in writing, and should include the following information: (1) the name, address and telephone number of the person filing the protest; (2) the specific reasons why the application should be denied; (3) that the person protesting is willing to attend a hearing (if one is requested by the applicant); (4) that the person protesting resides in the same county where the proposed place of business is located or within five miles of the business; and (5) the name of the applicant and the address of the premises to be licensed. Protests must be mailed to: S.C. Department of Revenue, ATTN: ABL, P.O. Box 125, Columbia, South Carolina 29214; or Faxed to: (803) 896-0110. Notice Of Application Notice is hereby given that Sylvester Wells dba The Juke intends to apply to the South Carolina Department of Revenue for a license permit that will allow the sale ON premises consumption of Beer & Wine at 27 North Main Street East, Mayesville, SC 29104. To object to the issuance of this permit / license, written protest must be postmarked no later than April 6, 2017. For a protest to be valid, it must be in writing, and should include the following information: (1) the name, address and telephone number of the person filing the protest; (2) the specific reasons why the application should be denied; (3) that the person protesting is willing to attend a hearing (if one is requested by the applicant); (4) that the person protesting resides in the same county where the proposed place of business is located or within five miles of the business; and (5) the name of the applicant and the address of the premises to be licensed. Protests must be mailed to: S.C. Department of Revenue, ATTN: ABL, P.O. Box 125, Columbia, South Carolina 29214; or Faxed to: (803) 896-0110.

Summons & Notice SUMMONS AND NOTICE OF FILING COMPLAINT IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS CIVIL ACTION NO. 2014-CP-43-2731

Federal

TO MINOR(S) OVER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE, AND/OR TO MINOR(S) UNDER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND THE PERSON WITH WHOM THE MINOR(S) RESIDES, AND/OR TO PERSONS UNDER SOME LEGAL DISABILITY: YOU ARE FURTHER SUMMONED AND NOTIFIED to apply for the appointment of a guardian ad litem within thirty (30) days after the service of this Summons and Notice upon you. If you fail to do so, application for such appointment will be made by the Plaintiff immediately and separately and such application will be deemed absolute and total in the absence of your application for such an appointment within thirty (30) days after the service of the Summons and Complaint upon you. YOU WILL ALSO TAKE NOTICE that should you fail to Answer the foregoing Summons, the Plaintiff will move for an Order of Reference of this case to the Master in Equity in/for this County, which Order shall, pursuant to Rule 53 of the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure, specifically provide that the said Master in Equity is authorized and empowered to enter a final judgment in this case with appeal only to the South Carolina Court of Appeals pursuant to Rule 203(d)(1) of the SCAR, effective June 1, 1999.

NOTICE OF FILING OF SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER Grow Financial Union,

YOU WILL ALSO TAKE NOTICE that should you fail to Answer the foregoing Summons, the Plaintiff will move for an Order of Reference of this case to the Master in Equity for Sumter County, which Order shall, pursuant to Rule 53 of the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure, specifically provide that the said Master in Equity is authorized and empowered to enter a final judgment in this case with appeal only to the South Carolina Court of Appeals pursuant to Rule 203(d)(1) of the SCAR, effective June 1, 1999.

Credit

Plaintiff, vs. Kameran-James K. Fernandez, Defendant. TO THE DEFENDANT ABOVE NAMED: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your answer upon the undersigned at their office, Post Office Box 2599, Lexington, South Carolina 29071, within thirty (30) days after service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service, and if you fail to answer the Complaint within the time aforesaid, or otherwise appear and defend, the Plaintiff in this action will apply to the Court for the relief demanded therein, and judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

THE

DEFENDANTS

11:30 a.m. the day before for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday edition. 11:30 a.m. Friday for Sunday’s edition.

We will be happy to change your ad if an error is made; however we are not responsible for errors after the first run day. We shall not be liable for any loss or expense that results from the printing or omission of an advertisement. We reserve the right to edit, refuse or cancel any ad at any time.

Summons & Notice

YOU WILL PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the foregoing Summons, along with the Complaint, was filed with the Clerk of Court for Sumter County, South Carolina, on January 19, 2017.

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS SUMMONS AND NOTICE OF FILING OF COMPLAINT AND NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE INTERVENTION (NON-JURY MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE) C/A NO: 2016-CP-43-01021 DEFICIENCY WAIVED

NAMED:

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE INTERVENTION PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT pursuant to the South Carolina Supreme Court Administrative Order 2011-05-02-01, (hereinafter "Order"), you may have a right to Foreclosure Intervention. To be considered for any available Foreclosure Intervention, you may communicate with and otherwise deal with the Plaintiff through its law firm, Hutchens Law Firm, P.O. Box 8237, Columbia, SC 29202 or call 803-726-2700. Hutchens Law Firm, represents the Plaintiff in this action and does not represent you. Under our ethical rules, we are prohibited from giving you any legal advice. You must submit any requests for Foreclosure Intervention consideration within 30 days from the date of this Notice. IF YOU FAIL, REFUSE, OR VOLUNTARILY ELECT NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN FORECLOSURE INTERVENTION, YOUR MORTGAGE COMPANY/AGENT MAY PROCEED WITH A FORECLOSURE ACTION. If you have already pursued loss mitigation with the Plaintiff, this Notice does not guarantee the availability of loss mitigation options or further review of your qualifications. THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. THE P U R P O S E O F T H I S COMMUNICATION IS TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE, except as stated below in the instance of bankruptcy protection. IF YOU ARE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE BANKRUPTCY COURT OR HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED AS A RESULT OF A BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDING, THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN TO YOU PURSUANT TO STATUTORY REQUIREMENT AND FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND IS NOT INTENDED AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT OR AS AN ACT TO COLLECT, ASSESS, OR RECOVER ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THE DEBT FROM YOU PERSONALLY.

ABOVE

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER The Bank of New Mellon Trust Company, N.A. F/K/A The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as Successor-in-Interest to JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Trustee-SURF 2004-BC4 , PLAINTIFF, vs. Earnest Miller; Jane M. Moore; Harris Quick Release; 1st Franklin Financial DEFENDANT(S) TO THE DEFENDANTS, ABOVE NAMED: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint herein, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, or otherwise appear and defend, and to serve a copy of your Answer to said Complaint upon the subscriber at his office, Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 8237, Columbia, SC 29202, within thirty (30) days after service hereof, except as to the United States of America, which shall have sixty (60) days, exclusive of the day of such service, and if you fail to answer the Complaint within the time aforesaid, or otherwise appear and defend, the Plaintiff in this action will apply to the Court for the relief demanded therein, and judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint. YOU WILL ALSO TAKE NOTICE that should you fail to Answer the foregoing Summons, the Plaintiff will move for an Order of Reference of this case to the Master in Equity for Sumter County, which Order shall, pursuant to Rule 53 of the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure, specifically provide that the said Master in Equity is authorized and empowered to enter a final judgment in this case with appeal only to the South Carolina Court of Appeals pursuant to Rule 203(d)(1) of the SCAR, effective June 1, 1999. TO MINOR(S) OVER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE, AND/OR TO MINOR(S) UNDER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND THE PERSON WITH WHOM THE MINOR(S) RESIDES, AND/OR TO PERSONS UNDER SOME LEGAL DISABILITY:

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the original Complaint in the above entitled action was filed in the Office of the Clerk of Court for Sumter County on December 22, 2014. SHERPY & JONES, P.A. Sabrina E. Burgess Attorneys for Plaintiff Lexington, South Carolina

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS SUMMONS AND NOTICE OF FILING OF COMPLAINT AND NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE INTERVENTION (NON-JURY MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE) C/A NO: 2017-CP-43-00099 DEFICIENCY WAIVED STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC, PLAINTIFF, vs. James S. Matthews, Jr.; DEFENDANT(S)

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Summons & Notice

YOU ARE FURTHER SUMMONED AND NOTIFIED to apply for the appointment of a guardian ad litem within thirty (30) days after the service of this Summons and Notice upon you. If you fail to do so, application for such appointment will be made by the Plaintiff immediately and separately and such application will be deemed absolute and total in the absence of your application for such an appointment within thirty (30) days after the service of the Summons and Complaint upon you. YOU WILL ALSO TAKE NOTICE that should you fail to Answer the foregoing Summons, the Plaintiff will move for an Order of Reference of this case to the Master in Equity in/for this County, which Order shall, pursuant to Rule 53 of the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure, specifically provide that the said Master in Equity is authorized and empowered to enter a final judgment in this case with appeal only to the South Carolina Court of Appeals pursuant to Rule 203(d)(1) of the SCAR, effective June 1, 1999.

NOTICE OF FILING OF SUMMONS AND AMENDED COMPLAINT TO THE NAMED:

DEFENDANTS

ABOVE

YOU WILL PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the foregoing Summons, along with the Complaint, was filed with the Clerk of Court for Sumter County, South Carolina, on May 25, 2016; that the Amended Complaint was filed with the Clerk of Court for Sumter County, South Carolina on January 19, 2017.

SUMMONS AND NOTICES IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS C/A NO: 2017CP4300005 (NON-JURY MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE) STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER Nationstar Mortgage LLC, PLAINTIFF, vs. Dorothy Robertson; Willie Mae Scott; and any other heirs or devisees of Cassie S. Slater, deceased, including all other Heirs, Personal Representatives, Successors, Assigns, Spouses, Creditors, and all others claiming any right, title or interest in the real estate known as 450 Deschamps Road, Sumter, SC 29154, any adults or persons in the Military Service of the United States of America, being a class designated as John Doe, and any minors or persons under legal disability, being a class designated as Richard Roe, DEFENDANT(S). TO THE NAMED:

DEFENDANTS

ABOVE

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YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Amended Complaint herein, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, or to otherwise appear and defend, and to serve a copy of your Answer to said Complaint upon the subscribers at their office, P.O. Box 71727, North Charleston, South Carolina, 29415, within thirty (30) days after service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; except that the United States of America, if named, shall have sixty (60) days to answer after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; and if you fail to answer the Complaint within the time aforesaid, or otherwise appear and defend, the Plaintiff in this action will apply to the Court for relief demanded therein, and judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint. TO THE MINOR(S) OVER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE, AND/OR TO MINOR(S) UNDER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND THE PERSON WITH WHOM THE MINOR(S) RESIDES AND/OR TO PERSONS UNDER SOME LEGAL DISABILITY: YOU ARE FURTHER SUMMONED AND NOTIFIED to apply for the appointment of a guardian ad litem within thirty (30) days after the service of this Summons and Notice upon you. If you fail to do so, application for such appointment will be made by the Plaintiff. YOU WILL ALSO TAKE NOTICE that should you fail to answer the foregoing Summons, the Plaintiff will move for a general Order of Reference to the Master in Equity for Sumter, which Order shall, pursuant to Rule 53(b) of the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure, specifically provide that the said Master in Equity is authorized and empowered to enter a final judgment in this action.

NOTICE OF FILING AMENDED COMPLAINT NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the original Amended Complaint in the above entitled action, together with the Summons, was filed in the Office of the Clerk of Court for Sumter County on February 13, 2017 at 1:35 p.m.

ORDER APPOINTING GUARDIAN AD LITEM NISI It appearing to the satisfaction of the Court, upon reading and filing of the Petition of the Plaintiff for the appointment of Kelley Y Woody, attorney in Columbia, South Carolina, as Guardian ad Litem Nisi for all unknown minors, and for all persons who may be under a legal disability, it is ORDERED that Kelley Y Woody, Attorney at Law, be and she is hereby appointed Guardian ad Litem Nisi on behalf of unknown minors or persons under a legal disability, all of whom may have an interest in or claim to have some interest in the real property known as 450 Deschamps Road, Sumter, SC 29154; that she is empowered and directed to appear on behalf of and represent said Defendants, unless the said Defendants, or someone on their behalf, shall within thirty (30) days after service of a copy hereof as directed, procure the appointment of a Guardian ad Litem for the said Defendants; AND IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a copy of this Order shall forthwith be served upon the said Defendants by publication thereof in The Item, a newspaper of general circulation published in the County of Sumter, State of South Carolina, once a week for three consecutive weeks, together with the Summons in the above entitled action.

Summons & Notice James C. Campbell Clerk of Court for Sumter County Sumter, South Carolina February 28, 2017 FINKEL LAW FIRM LLC Thomas A. Shook P.O. Box 71727 North Charleston, SC 29415 (843) 577-5460 Attorney for Plaintiff

Estate Notice Sumter County

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES Persons having claim against the following estates are required to deliver or mail their claims to the indicated Personal Representatives, appointed to administer these estates, and to file their claims on Form #371PC with the Probate Court of Sumter County Courthouse, N. Main Street, Sumter, SC, 29150, on or before the date that is eight months after the date of the first publication of this Notice to Creditors, (unless previously barred by operation of Section 62-3-803), or such persons shall be forever barred as to heir claims. All claims are required to be presented in written statements, indicating the name and the address of the claimant, the basis of the claim, the amount claimed, the date when the claim will become due, the nature of any uncertainty as to the amount claimed and the date when due, and a description of any security as to the claim. Estate:/Miyoko Tedder #2017ES4300128 Personal Representative George W. Tedder 3000 Aaron Road Dalzell, SC 29040

Estate:/Cherie

Danielle Wingate #2017ES4300125

Personal Representative Rodney Wingate C/O Michael R. Jeffcoat Attorney at Law PO Box 1860 Lexington, SC 29071

Estate:/George A. Waninger #2017ES4300141 Personal Representative George F. Waninger C/O Kenneth Hamilton Attorney at Law PO Box 52359 Sumter, SC 29152

Estate:/Jack Gainey #2017ES4300162

Estate Notice Sumter County

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES

Persons having claim against the following estates are required to deliver or mail their claims to the indicated Personal Representatives, appointed to administer these estates, and to file their claims on Form #371PC with the Probate Court of Sumter County Courthouse, N. Main Street, Sumter, SC, 29150, on or before the date that is eight months after the date of the first publication of this Notice to Creditors, (unless previously barred by operation of Section 62-3-803), or such persons shall be forever barred as to heir claims. All claims are required to be presented in written statements, indicating the name and the address of the claimant, the basis of the claim, the amount claimed, the date when the claim will become due, the nature of any uncertainty as to the amount claimed and the date when due, and a description of any security as to the claim.

Estate:/Marianne M. Beasley #2017ES4300144 Personal Representative Lisa S. Avins 97 Paisley Park Sumter, SC 29150

Estate:/Claire Petit #2017ES4300150 Personal Representative Katie J. Moore 2154 Mallard Road Camden, SC 29020

Estate:/Mattie Hurst #2017ES4300157 Personal Representative Donald R. Hurst 5670 Edgehill Road Sumter, SC 29154

Estate:/Louise M. Butler #2017ES4300160 Personal Representative Barbara B. Frierson C/O J. Cabot Seth Attorney at Law PO Box 1268 Sumter, SC 29151

Estate:/Bonnie G. McLeod #2017ES4300132

Personal Representative Cynthia Rennick 148 Wall Street Apt. 116 Camden, SC 29020

Personal Representative Queen E. Washington 7360 Pasture Road Wedgefield, SC 29168

Estate:/Joseph Vernon Brown #2017ES4300142

Estate:/Emily K. Jackson #2017ES4300178 Personal Representative Wilson Macewen Carrie Warner Attorney at Law PO Box 6306 Columbia, SC 29260

Estate:/Marie

A AKA Etta Griffin #2017ES4300166

Personal Representative Jenny M. Salo 133 Silverstone Road Lexington,SC 29072

In loving Memory of Merdick H. Brown, Sr 03/21/31-03/17/02 Gone but not forgotten. Your loving Family

Estate:/Willene M. Sherer #2017ES4300145 Personal Representative Lisa S. Avins 97 Paisley Park Sumter, SC 29150

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Estate:/Maggie

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Personal Representative Alice H. Washington 379 Lincolnshire Dr. Georgetown, SC 29440

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Personal Representative John Ivey Brown Jr. 2157 Elderberry Dr. Florence, SC 29505

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Estate:/Freddie H. Francis #2017ES4300149

Estate:/James Washington, Sr. #2017ES4300168

Estate:/Kevin Gerald Floyd #2017ES4300161

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Estate:/Cassie S. Slater #2017ES4300135

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Personal Representative Willie Mae Scott 3205 Tamarah Way Sumter, SC 29154

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Personal Representative Linda S. Bostanche C/O Kenneth R. Young, Jr. Attorney at Law 23 West Calhoun Street Sumter, SC 29150

Personal Representative Mark A. McLeod 3605 Cody Road Pinewood, SC 29125

Personal Representative Mark C. Gainey 2035 Winterberry Road Sumter, SC 29154

Estate:/Christine Moss #2017ES4300159

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PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT pursuant to the Supreme Court of South Carolina Administrative Order 2011-05-02-01, you may be eligible for foreclosure intervention programs for the purpose of resolving the above-referenced foreclosure action. If you wish to be considered for a foreclosure intervention program, you must contact Finkel Law Firm LLC, 4000 Faber Place Drive, Suite 450 (29405), P.O. Box 71727 (29415), North Charleston, SC 29405, or call (843) 577-5460 within thirty (30) days from the date of this notice.

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Finkel Law Firm LLC represents the Plaintiff in this action. Our law firm does not represent you and is not authorized to provide you any legal advice. IF YOU FAIL, REFUSE, OR VOLUNTARILY ELECT NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS FORECLOSURE INTERVENTION PROCESS, THE FORECLOSURE MAY PROCEED.

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NOTICE PURSUANT TO THE FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT (15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq.): This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information you provide will be used for that purpose. However, if you have previously received a discharge from bankruptcy, this message is not and should be construed as an attempt to collect a debt, but only as a requirement pursuant to the administrative order.

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SEM

THE SUMTER ITEM ·

TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2017

IN MONEY

03.21.17

IN LIFE

Health care stocks on the rise

After hiatus, Dave Chappelle returns with Netflix shows LESTER COHEN, WIREIMAGE

SARAH HOFFMAN, AP

COMEY: NO OBAMA WIRETAP

White House under ‘big gray cloud’ Susan Page USA TODAY

NEWS ANALYSIS

JACK GRUBER, USA TODAY

FBI Director James Comey says the Justice Department has no evidence indicating a bug in Donald Trump’s offices.

FBI director conﬁrms inquiry on Trump team links to Russia officials Kevin Johnson USA TODAY

FBI Director James Comey on Monday offered the most deﬁnitive repudiation yet of President Trump’s claims that the Obama administration wiretapped the president’s New York offices in advance of the 2016 elections.

WASHINGTON

“The FBI and the Justice Department have no information to support’’ Trump’s wiretap assertions, Comey said. Comey, appearing before the House Intelligence Committee along with National Security Agency Director Mike Rogers, conﬁrmed for the ﬁrst time publicly that the FBI was investigating Russian interference in the election, including communication between Trump associates

“If any Americans are part of that effort, then that is a very serious matter.” FBI Director James Comey, on possible Russian interference in the U.S. election

and Russian officials. “We’re investigating whether there was any coordination between people associated with the Trump campaign and the Russians,” Comey said, declining to elaborate on whether any such evidence had been uncovered. Comey did acknowledge that the Russians appeared to use a third party — a “cutout” — v STORY CONTINUES ON 2BON C2 STORY CONTINUES

USA TODAY EXCLUSIVE This is an edition of USA TODAY provided for your local newspaper. An expanded version of USA TODAY is available at newsstands or by subscription, and at usatoday.com.

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Golfer Woods draws on lessons learned from parents Family endured tough times together Steve DiMeglio @Steve_DiMeglio USA TODAY Sports

60%

of millennials ages 18-35 are living with their parents, relatives or roommates, a 115-year high. SOURCE Trulia analysis of Census data MICHAEL B. SMITH AND KARL GELLES, USA TODAY

NEW YORK While every golf fan knows the story of Tiger Woods’ dad, how the ex-Army officer introduced his son to golf and pushed him to become the best in the world, it was his mom who induced fear in young Tiger growing up. During an exclusive interview Monday with USA TODAY Sports to promote the release of The

ROBERT DEUTSCH, USA TODAY SPORTS

Tiger Woods talks his ﬁrst Masters win in his new book. 1997 Masters: My Story, Woods discussed the role his mother, Kultida, has played in his career. He describes her as “strong and feisty” in the book. “My dad was always the person

who would plant seeds and give me encouragement but also would say things that would fester inside me that wouldn’t come to fruition for a while,” Woods said. “He was very worldly and deep in his thinking. My mom was the enforcer. My dad may have been in the Special Forces, but I was never afraid of him. My mom’s still here, and I’m still deathly afraid of her. She’s a very tough, tough old lady, very demanding. She was the hand, she was the one, I love her so much, but she was tough. “There was zero negotiation.” STORY CONTINUES v STORY CONTINUES ON 2BON C2

WASHINGTON

Not since Watergate. FBI Director James Comey delivered more than one bombshell Monday at a rare public hearing of the House Intelligence Committee. He said there was no evidence to back up President Trump’s accusation that President Obama wiretapped Trump Tower during the 2016 campaign, joining congressional leaders and intelligence officials in discounting Trump’s unsubstantiated claims. What was more explosive, though, was Comey’s matterof-fact conﬁrmation that the FBI is investigating whether Trump associates colluded with Russia in the effort by one of the United States’ leading global adversaries to affect the outcome of the presidential campaign. To be sure, the FBI in recent years has been drawn into investigations involving the top ranks of the White House, from Scooter Libby’s leaking of a CIA operative’s name during the George W. Bush administration to President Clinton’s relationship with Monica Lewinsky. But not since the Watergate scandal that forced President Nixon to resign more than a half-century ago has there been an official investigation of such potential consequence. The charges “are more serious than anything we’ve seen in recent decades,” says political historian Matthew Dallek, a professor at George Washington University and author of Defenseless Under the Night: The Roosevelt Years and the Origins of Homeland Security. “That is far from a lone inv STORY CONTINUES ON 2B

STORY CONTINUES ON C2

Smithsonian ﬂags ‘dead zones’ that threaten coral reefs Low-oxygen areas choke off marine life Doyle Rice @usatodayweather USA TODAY

Dead zones affect dozens of coral reefs around the world and threaten hundreds more, according to a study by Smithsonian Institution scientists released Monday. This is the ﬁrst study to ﬁnd such a link, said lead author Andrew Altieri of the Smithsonian

Tropical Research Institute in Panama. After seeing a massive coral reef die-off on the Caribbean coast of Panama in September 2010, Altieri and his team suspected it was caused by a dead zone — a low-oxygen area that kills marine life — rather than by warm or acidic ocean water, both of which are well-known causes of coral die-offs. “Ocean warming and acidiﬁcation are recognized global threats to reefs and require large-scale solutions, whereas the newly recognized threats to coral reefs caused by dead zones are more localized,” Altieri said.

He said his ﬁndings can be extrapolated to coral reefs worldwide, adding that such dead zones may be common in the tropics but have gone largely unreported, simply because scientists never looked for them. “Based on our analyses, we think dead zones may be underreported,” said Nancy Knowlton of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History and study co-author. “For every one dead zone in the tropics, there are probably 10 — nine of which have yet to be identiﬁed,” she said. A dead zone occurs at the bottom of a body of water when

SMITHSONIAN TROPICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Sponges die from a lack of oxygen in the water.

there isn’t enough oxygen to support marine life. Also known as hypoxia, it’s created by nutrient runoff, mostly from overapplication of fertilizer on farms. The Gulf of Mexico has an annual dead zone that typically forms in the summer, which varies in size from year to year. The Chesapeake Bay also has an annual dead zone. Nutrients such as nitrogen can spur the growth of algae. When the algae die, their decay consumes oxygen faster than it can be brought from the surface, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. Fish, shrimp and crabs can suffocate.

TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2017

· THE SUMTER ITEM

Future of democracy is at stake, lawmaker says v CONTINUED FROM CONTINUED FROM C11B

in its communication with WikiLeaks, which published internal information obtained in a hack of the Democratic National Committee. The identity of the third party was not disclosed. “If any Americans are part of that effort,” Comey said of possible collusion with Russian officials, “then that is a very serious matter.” Trump tweeted Monday that any suggestion that his associates coordinated efforts with Russian officials was “fake news.” White House spokesman Sean Spicer said “nothing had changed” as a result of Comey’s appearance before the committee. “Investigating (Russian interference) and having proof of it are two different things,” Spicer said. For weeks, federal law enforcement officials have privately conﬁrmed the existence of an inquiry involving Trump associates and Russia, but Comey’s public acknowledgment of such an investigation — with no apparent timeline for completion — raised the prospect that a criminal probe will indeﬁnitely shadow the administration along with the disputed wiretap claims. Comey’s denial that Trump Tower was illegally wiretapped before the elections came days after House and Senate leaders refuted the claims in bipartisan joint statements, leaving the White House alone in asserting the allegations. “Let me be clear,” House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., said Monday, “we know there was not a wiretap on Trump Tower. However, it’s still possible that other surveillance activities were used against President Trump and his associates.” California Rep. Adam Schiff, the House committee’s ranking Democrat, called Trump’s claims ”slanderous,” adding that “we do not yet know whether the Russians had the help of U.S. citizens, including people associated with the Trump campaign.” Schiff said the effort to determine the scope of Russian interference in the election system represented the most important challenge for U.S. intelligence. “The stakes are nothing less than the future of liberal democracy,” Schiff said. The false wiretap accusation has not only dogged the White House for the past three weeks, it also has triggered a diplomatic row with a key ally. Trump and

Corrections & Clarifications

A graphic Saturday about what days of the year have the highest percentage of positive stock outcomes listed the wrong date for the second-highest percentage. July 13 ﬁnished positively 85.7% of the time. USA TODAY is committed to accuracy. To reach us, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones at 800-8727073 or e-mail accuracy@usatoday.com. Please indicate whether you’re responding to content online or in the newspaper.

aides cited a discredited report by Fox News commentator Andrew Napolitano that President Obama asked a British intelligence agency to tap Trump. The British government strongly rejected the account Friday, and the Trump administration pledged not to use the claim again. Asked about the ﬂap during a joint White House appearance with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Trump said, “That was a statement made by a very talented lawyer on Fox, and so you shouldn’t be talking to me, you should be talking to Fox. OK?” Monday, Rogers rejected that claim, too, telling the House panel that U.S. authorities never sought the help of British intelligence to conduct such surveillance. Asked whether the claims had damaged the relationship be-

JACK GRUBER, USA TODAY

National Security Agency Director Mike Rogers says U.S. authorities didn’t seek the help of British intelligence to conduct surveillance. tween the United States and its primary ally, Rogers said the report was “frustrating.” “I don’t know the basis for President Trump’s assertion,” Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said Sunday. “I do believe he owes us that explanation.” House Speaker Paul Ryan, RWis., sought to move beyond the dispute. “I want to get on with passing our agenda,” Ryan said. The high-stakes House hearing Monday featured numerous efforts to press Comey and Rogers to disclose possible targets of the investigation or issue preliminary conclusions on whether there is any evidence of collusion between Trump associates and Russian officials. Nunes and former director of national intelligence James Clapper have said no such evidence of coordination exists. Nunes reasserted that claim Monday, but Comey and Rogers repeatedly declined to comment on the matter. The FBI director and Rogers declined numerous times to respond to questions about whether former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn was a subject of the FBI’s inquiry. Flynn was forced to resign last

John Zidich EDITOR IN CHIEF

Patty Michalski CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER

Kevin Gentzel 7950 Jones Branch Dr., McLean, Va. 22108, 703-854-3400 Published by Gannett The local edition of USA TODAY is published daily in partnership with Gannett Newspapers Advertising: All advertising published in USA TODAY is subject to the current rate card; copies available from the advertising department. USA TODAY may in its sole discretion edit, classify, reject or cancel at any time any advertising submitted. National, Regional: 703-854-3400 Reprint permission, copies of articles, glossy reprints: www.GannettReprints.com or call 212-221-9595 USA TODAY is a member of The Associated Press and subscribes to other news services. USA TODAY, its logo and associated graphics are registered trademarks. All rights reserved.

JACK GRUBER, USA TODAY

House Intelligence Committee leaders Adam Schiff, left, and Devin Nunes presided over Monday’s hearing.

Inquiry could drag on for months, or years v CONTINUED FROM CONTINUED FROM C11B

stance of an illegal leak or a president fudging the truth under oath about sex with a White House intern.” The disclosure creates complications for the Trump Justice Department in overseeing the inquiry and is sure to fuel Democratic arguments that an independent counsel needs to be named. Though Comey declined to outline a timetable for the FBI inquiry, questions about whether some in the Trump team coordinated with Moscow’s meddling are all but certain to hang over the administration for months or even years. Just ask veterans of the Irancontra investigation in the Reagan White House or of the Monica Lewinsky investigation in the Clinton White House the sort of shadow they can cast. Comey promised that the FBI would “follow the facts wherever they lead” — including whether crimes were committed. Because of extraordinary public interest, he said, the Justice Department had authorized him to take the unusual step of commenting on an active counterintelligence investigation. “If the Trump campaign, or anybody associated with it, aided or abetted the Russians, it would not only be a serious crime,” California Rep. Adam Schiff, the ranking Democrat on the panel, said in his opening statement. “It would also represent one of the most shocking betrayals of our democracy in history.” After more than five hours of testimony, Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., closed the hearing with an almost anguished plea to Comey to finish the investigation as soon as possible. “The longer this hangs out here, the bigger the cloud is,” he said. “There is a big gray cloud that you have now put over people who have very important work to do to lead this country.” The White House dismissed the whole idea as preposterous. “James Clapper and others stated that there is no evidence Potus colluded with Russia,” Trump declared in a the first of a string of early-morning

tweets Monday on his personal Twitter account, @realdonaldtrump. “This story is FAKE NEWS and everyone knows it!” He declared: “The Democrats made up and pushed the Russian story as an excuse for running a terrible campaign.” Then he tweeted: “The real story that Congress, the FBI and all others should be looking into is the leaking of Classified information. Must find leaker now!” That was advice Nunes and other Republicans on the committee took, asking more questions about who might have leaked information to news organizations than they did about the substance of the information that was leaked. They focused in particular on the disclosure that a phone call by Trump adviser Michael Flynn was captured during surveillance of the Russian ambassador. The law calls for the identify of Americans to be masked when they are caught up in foreign eavesdropping. “Some of that may rise to the level of a crime,” said Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C. There were signs that Trump was watching — and no signs that he was ready to temper his rhetoric. While Comey was testifying, there was a tweet on the official @POTUS Twitter account. “FBI Director Comey refuses to deny he briefed President Obama on calls made by Michael Flynn to Russia,” it said — suggesting without evidence that the former president himself was behind the leak. Another tweet declared: “The NSA and FBI tell Congress that Russia did not influence electoral process.” That wasn’t quite what they said, Comey and Rogers told the panel when the tweet was read to them, in what amounted to an awkward fact-checking exchange in real time with their boss. They said they hadn’t drawn conclusions. Comey did predict that Russia’s efforts to disrupt American elections weren’t over. “They’ll be back in 2020,” he warned. “They may be back in 2018. And one of the conclusions they may draw ... is they were successful.”

Earl was tough, but Tiger fears his mom CONTINUED FROM C11B v CONTINUED FROM

PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER

month after it was determined that he misled Vice President Pence about his pre-inaugural contacts with Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak. Other top Trump advisers’ contacts with Kislyak have been called into question. Attorney General Jeff Sessions failed to disclose two encounters with the Russian ambassador when questioned during his confirmation hearing in January. The disclosure prompted Sessions’ recusal from any involvement in the inquiry on Russia. Committee Republicans suggested Monday that the questions about Flynn’s contacts with Kislyak emerged only as a result of unauthorized leaks of classified information that appeared in media accounts. Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., and Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla., pressed Comey to commit to moving forward with a parallel leak investigation, even as the bureau pursued the Russia inquiry. Though he characterized such leaks as “terrible,” Comey again refused to address specific questions about Russian contact with Flynn and other Trump associates, including flamboyant adviser Roger Stone and former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. The committee hearing came a little more than two weeks after Trump leveled his accusations against Obama in a tweet-storm. One tweet said, “Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my ‘wires tapped’ in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!” The charges brought furious denials from Obama aides, who asserted that the law forbids presidents from ordering wiretaps. Trump and aides have denied any connection to Russians who sought to hack Democratic officials during last year’s election and said opponents leak derogatory information against them as part of a “witch hunt” to undermine the presidency. For Comey, Monday’s hearing represented another unusually high-profile role for the FBI director. Comey was harshly criticized by Republicans for a public announcement in July that he was not recommending criminal charges against Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton for her use of a private email server while she was secretary of State. He drew the wrath of Democrats in October for announcing that the bureau reopened its email review, 11 days before the presidential election. Monday, Comey was cautious not to indicate that the FBI had reached any determinations about contacts with Russia, though he reasserted last year’s findings by the U.S. intelligence community that Russia expressly sought to influence the election and favored Trump. “They wanted to hurt (Clinton) and help him,” Comey said, adding that the conclusion was a “fairly easy judgment” by the intelligence community.

Now, Woods, 41, uses his own parenting style on his two children, Sam and Charlie. He’s talked of spending time playing soccer with his kids during his months-long absence from the PGA Tour. Woods hasn’t played on tour since January and withdrew from two tournaments while rehabbing his back. He was also unable to play last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, which he has won eight times. With the Masters less than three weeks away, Woods says he’s working to get back in time for the major championship that he’s won four times. “I’ve been a part of so many Masters over the course of my career, I know exactly what it takes to get ready for that event,” he said. “Now it’s my job to go out there and get ready. I hope I can.” In his new book written with golf writer Lorne Rubenstein, Woods discusses a wide range of topics, including his preparation for the historic 1997 Masters win — he would go on to win 13 more major championships — why he likes to wear red on Sundays and how his upbringing shaped his career.

Earl Woods was tough on Tiger, whom he taught to play golf as soon as he could walk. “I was not big. I was always playing up in age brackets, so I always felt behind,” Woods said. “And because I was behind, I always felt that in order for me to execute and be able to be successful I needed to be tougher mentally. So I asked my dad to come down on me and put me through what he went through in Special Ops training. And it was tough. There were a lot of times I wanted to wheel on him and take him out, but as time went on, it didn’t bother me, and it made our relationship better.” Earl Woods was a strong presence throughout Tiger’s early career. Behind the 18th green during the 1997 Masters win, the two shared an emotional moment when Tiger embraced his dad in front of a packed gallery and with millions at home watching on TV. Tiger has established a scholarship in Earl’s name as part of the Tiger Woods Foundation. Woods touches on race and how the color of his skin and the prejudice he experienced inﬂuenced him. Earl Woods, who was African American, died in 2006 at the age of 74. He had battled pros-

1997 PHOTO BY BOB PEARSON, AFP

Earl Woods, right, was “my best friend and greatest role model,” Tiger Woods says. tate cancer. When Earl died, Tiger called him “my best friend and greatest role model.” Kultida Woods came to the USA from Thailand. She has been in the gallery for some of Tiger’s greatest victories, including the 1997 Masters. At the 1995 U.S. Open, Tiger Woods made up a term to describe his race, he wrote. “I referred to myself as a Cablinasian, a made-up word that includes my Caucasian, black, and Asian heri-

tage. I never thought it was right or fair to think of me only as an African-American, and I never will. But I learned that to have one drop of black blood in you in America meant that you were considered an AfricanAmerican.” Woods reﬂected on his father’s struggles. Earl Woods went to college in the 1950s at Kansas State, where he was on scholarship as a baseball catcher. He was the only black athlete at the time playing in the conference that would become the Big 12. “I didn’t have it anywhere near as difficult as my father had it; this was before the Civil Rights movement ... all the things he had to endure,” Woods said. “I never had to endure them at that level. Was it tough at times? Yeah. There were some tough moments I had to endure, when I was in a sport where I was a minority, and often times the only one. “My dad had to endure a lot of that stuff, and my mother, all the things she had to endure being an immigrant from Thailand. We always felt it was a team, a family, we had to endure some tough moments together. That is part of my life. It’s part of being a minority in golf.”

THE SUMTER ITEM ·

TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2017

LIFE LIFELINE CAUGHT IN THE ACT Barbra Streisand, Quincy Jones and Mel Brooks gathered for the Backstage at the Geffen Gala in Los Angeles on Sunday night. Jones received the Distinction in Service Award and Brooks received the Distinction in Theater award.

INVISION FOR GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE

MAKING WAVES ‘Sesame Street’ is adding a new character to its television lineup with Julia, a Muppet with autism. Scott Badesch, president and CEO of the Autism Society, told the Associated Press, “When you can have a character that shows what autism is, it will help everyone who watches ‘Sesame Street’ have a really good appreciation of what autism is, in a positive way.”

ROBERT DEUTSCH, USA TODAY

Shots Fired reunites co-creator Gina Prince-Bythewood, left, and star Sanaa Lathan who worked together on Love & Basketball. TELEVISION

ZACH HYMAN, AP

HOW WAS YOUR DAY? GOOD DAY ‘BIG BANG THEORY’ FANS TV's favorite scientists aren't going anywhere. CBS announced Monday a two-year renewal for the series, after most of the cast members, led by Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons and Kaley Cuoco, signed on for upcoming 11th and 12th seasons.

DARREN MICHAELS, CBS, VIA AP

STYLE STAR Ellen Pompeo was a beauty in blue lace as she attended the ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ panel and special screening at PaleyFest in Los Angeles. The actress opted to pair an ornate lace blouse with minimal styling and natural makeup. FILMMAGIC

IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY WHO’S CELEBRATING TODAY?

‘Shots Fired’ aims to join ‘resistance movement’ Fox drama inspired by Trayvon Martin case, current events Patrick Ryan USA TODAY

In Shots Fired, a small North Carolina town gets national attention when a white teen is killed by a black cop. But its racially charged story wasn’t inspired by a speciﬁc instance of police brutality. Instead, Fox’s 10-episode series (Wednesdays, 8 ET/PT) has its roots in the 2013 acquittal of George Zimmerman, a Hispanic neighborhood-watch volunteer who fatally shot Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teen. Writer/director Gina PrinceBythewood (Beyond the Lights) remembers her then-12-yearold son watching the verdict with her husband, Reggie, the series’ co-creator. “It was almost like a loss of innocence. He just couldn’t understand it and cried,” PrinceBythewood says. “What was striking to us was how many people were sympathizing with Zimmerman. People were sending money for his trial and this 17-year-old boy was being demonized. It was very hard to

FOX

Preston (Stephan James) and Ashe (Lathan) investigate a police officer accused of killing a white teen in Fox’s Shots Fired. watch, and I felt it (personally).” The desire to create empathy for such victims as Martin is at the heart of Shots, which follows wild-card Department of Justice investigator Ashe Akino (Sanaa Lathan), who butts heads with optimistic young prosecutor Preston Terry (Stephan James) when they’re tasked with probing the accused officer (Tristan “Mack” Wilds). But the case becomes knottier when they discover the never-investigated murder of an unarmed black teen, fueling suspicions of police corruption and cover-ups.

With more than 50 black men and women killed by police so far this year, according to The Washington Post, “people become desensitized. They turn on the news, another black male’s been shot, and they turn it off,” PrinceBythewood says. But by including both white and black victims in the show, “we could really touch on the ways that the communities, media and audiences look at victims of these crimes based on race, and how they’re treated.” Shots reunites Prince-Bythewood with Lathan, who starred in the ﬁlmmaker’s breakthrough

2000 drama Love & Basketball and HBO movie Disappearing Acts. The actress says it was a nobrainer to play Ashe, a hardened professional and fiercely protective mother with “so many levels and colors. She’s been a patrol cop, she’s dealt with sexism and racism, and knows all the ins and outs” of the profession. The series was filmed in North Carolina last summer, and filmmakers were eager for Fox to air it before the election. “All of us wanted it out then because we wanted to be part of the conversation, (but) the fact that it’s coming out now makes sense,” Prince-Bythewood says. “People feel scared and absolutely powerless. We hope that the show is part of that resistance movement that is being born out of what is happening now.” Both women also believe audiences are ready for a show with two black leads and a diverse cast, rounded out by Helen Hunt, Stephen Moyer, Aisha Hinds and Richard Dreyfuss. They credit series such as Scandal and How to Get Away With Murder, and freshman shows Atlanta, Insecure and Queen Sugar. “TV is definitely looking good to me, especially with women and women of color,” Lathan says. “We’ve kind of arrived at the golden age for black women in television.”

PEOPLE

Chappelle is back and in top form in Netﬂix specials FILMMAGIC; GETTY IMAGES

Sonequa Martin-Green is 32. Rosie O’Donnell is 55. Gary Oldman is 59.

He tackles Cosby, race and Care Bears in streaming debuts Carly Mallenbaum @thatgirlcarly USA TODAY

Compiled by Mary Cadden

USA SNAPSHOTS©

Your digital legacy

46% of adult Internet users think their loved ones will want posthumous access to their digital content.

SOURCE AARP survey of 2,998 respondents SAR WISE AND VERONICA BRAVO, USA TODAY

Dave Chappelle, it’s so good to see you on back on TV. The veteran comedian shares two of his never-before-aired performances — from 2015 at Austin City Limits and 2016 in the Hollywood Palladium — on Netﬂix Tuesday. And though Chappelle jokes onstage about how Kevin Hart has stolen his limelight during a 12-year hiatus, he proves that he still has that clever, singular point of view that made his Comedy Central series and tours a success. In the dozen years since he left Chappelle’s Show, the entertainer spent time in South Africa, was hit with a banana peel onstage (”It was premeditated, I could tell,” he says, “It was

brown.”), been booed offstage (a results of smoking “reefer with some rappers”), done a few residencies, played at a couple of comedy festivals and, just last November, hosted Saturday Night Live. He jokes in his special filmed in 2015, “I haven’t been working in 10 years. I had to watch Key and Peele do my show every night.” Chappelle covers much of that in his Netflix shows, and much more: Ebola, sports scandals, Making a Murderer (“If it was about a black dude, it would be called Duh”), homosexuality, genitals, racism, Care Bears and O.J. Simpson all figure into his sets. But never is Chappelle’s take on current events more poignant than when he’s discussing Bill Cosby. Chappelle brings up Cosby in both of his one-hour shows. First, the embattled entertainer is men-

tioned in a bit about Paula Deen, the chef who was dropped by Food Network, because she used a racial epithet years ago: “That (expletive) came back 30 years later, like a Cosby rape,” Chappelle quips. Chappelle references Cosby again in a spiel about the ’60s: “While all of this was going on, Bill Cosby raped 54 women. He’s like the Stephen Curry of rapes.” Ultimately, though, Chappelle treats Cosby’s LESTER COHEN, WIREIMAGE

criminal sexual-assault charges as much more than a punchline. “I’m a 42-year-old black comedian. Obviously, Bill Cosby was a hero to me,” Chappelle says sincerely in his second special, before detailing how Cosby changed the way black characters were portrayed on TV. “I didn’t wanna believe” the allegations, Chappelle says. It would be like “if you heard chocolate ice cream, itself, raped 54 people.” In a running gag, Chappelle likens Cosby to an invented movie superhero — one who must violate a few women in order to access evil-ﬁghting superpowers that protect many. “The point is he rapes, but he saves,” says Chappelle. “That’s the dilemma for the audience.” Dave Chappelle: Deep in the Heart of Texas and Dave Chappelle: The Age of Spin premiere on the streaming service March 21, with a funny opening voiceover from Morgan Freeman. And good news: You can expect another comedy special from Chappelle soon — he’s on the road preparing for a third Netﬂix show.

COMICS

TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2017

THE SUMTER ITEM

BIZARRO

SOUP TO NUTZ

ANDY CAPP

GARFIELD

BEETLE BAILEY

BORN LOSER

BLONDIE

ZITS

MOTHER GOOSE

DOG EAT DOUG

DILBERT

JEFF MACNELLY’S SHOE

Wedding can wait until fiance finds a job DEAR ABBY — My fiance and I have been engaged for two years. Our wedding is set for a year from Dear Abby now. I'm thinking ABIGAIL about callVAN BUREN ing off our wedding, not because I don't love him, or because I don't want to spend the rest of my life with him. I know I want that. It's because I'm the only one with a decent job. He has a job, but doesn't earn enough to support us. I can't be the only one earning an income. How are we supposed to move out of

JUMBLE THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME By David L Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

our parents' houses and start a life together if I'm the one doing everything? What will happen when things need to start getting paid for, and there's no guarantee he'll find something? I have talked to him about it, and he's angry. He knows it's time to change his life around and get serious. Should I keep the date and keep my fingers crossed he'll find a job by then, or postpone our wedding, which has a venue but nothing else planned? I don't need to get married anytime soon, and I'd prefer to wait until he can support himself and we are in a better place financially. Then I feel like we could move forward. Am I making the right decision? Cautious in New Jersey

THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

DEAR CAUTIOUS — Yes, you are. You are thinking with your head instead of being swept away by your emotions, and I applaud you for it. I have said for many years that before a woman marries she should be able to support herself, in case future circumstances require it. Well, the same is true for a man. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www. DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069. To order "How to Write Letters for All Occasions," send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $7 (U.S. funds) to Dear Abby — Letter Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. Shipping and handling are included in the price.

SUDOKU HOW TO PLAY: Each row, column and set of 3-by-3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 through 9 without repetition.

By Kevin Christian

ACROSS 1 __ torch: party light 5 Gone from one’s plate 10 “Eleni” author Nicholas 14 Nailed, as a test 15 Carne __: taco filling 16 Loads (of) 17 *Home of baseball’s Royals 19 Online journal 20 Terminate 21 Sign light 22 Dutch cheese 23 Federal hush-hush org. 24 *Diagonally 27 Lament 29 Clod 30 “Silk Stockings” actress Charisse 31 Wine collector’s datum 32 Gumbo vegetable 33 Laugh half 34 *Large venomous snake 39 Young fellow 42 Opposite of spicy 43 Nile wading bird 47 Here, in Haiti 48 Santa __ winds 49 GI’s mess work 51 *Hang out (with)

55 X, in old Rome 56 Cultural spirit 57 Not on base when req. 58 Org. whose awards ceremony Vince Gill hosted or co-hosted from 1992-2003 59 Indian bread 60 *Martial arts move 63 Raison d’__ 64 Exchange suggestive glances, say 65 Cub scout units 66 Marries 67 Strikeout victim of poetry, and a phonetic hint to the answers to starred clues 68 Canadian tribe DOWN 1 Impressed with 2 Words when the blindfold comes off 3 Japanese ball-and-cups toy 4 Passports, e.g. 5 Enter slowly 6 Foppish neckwear 7 Besmirch 8 Summer hrs. at Yankee Stadium

3/21/17 9 Thumbs-down vote 10 Eva or Zsa Zsa 11 Out for a midday meal 12 The one without the patch, for Bazooka Joe 13 Dueler’s cry 18 “Puppy Love” singer Paul 22 Excel in one’s career 25 Ono from Tokyo 26 Low-__ diet 28 Mork’s planet 32 Med. condition that may involve excessive hand-washing 35 Apple desktops 36 Bogotá boy 37 Glittery rock genre

38 Help 39 Refurbished 40 Protective plastic film 41 Fanatically devoted 44 Cleaver user 45 Agenda start 46 Neural transmission point 49 __ pine: paneling wood 50 Gomer of TV 52 Corn breads 53 “Les Misérables” city 54 Not clueless 60 Col. Sanders’ chain 61 __ carte 62 Atlanta-based public health org.

Monday’s Puzzle Solved

3/21/17