April 1, 2014

IN THE CLARENDON SUN: Manning, Summerton voters go to polls April 8 C1

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Filing closes; some races uncontested

BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com (803) 774-1272 With filing now closed for the 2014 election, some candidates will be running unopposed on November’s ballot while others will have to survive a primary challenge to get into office.

Filing for this year’s partisan races closed at courthouses across the state at noon Sunday.

Of the five state House districts that touch on Sumter County, three repre-

sentatives face no opposition in either the primary or the general election.

Barring a late challenge from a petition candidate or write-in campaign, Murrell Smith, R-Sumter; David Weeks, D-Sumter; and Joe Neal, DRichland, are all but assured of winning re-election.

Also running unopposed are Democrat Dale Atkinson for county probate judge and Republicans Artie Baker and Charles Edens for Sumter County Council. Democrat Ernest “Chip” Finney III also has no opponent in the

INSIDE Check out a list of the candidates on page A6.

race for solicitor in the Third Circuit.

Two other local legislators will face primary challenges in their race for re-election. In House District 64, Dr. Robert Ridgeway is facing a challenge from Willie Bethune in the Democratic primary, with the winner of that race facing Republican and Clarendon

Retiring assistant fire chief reflects on years of service

BY TYLER SIMPSON tyler@theitem.com (803) 774-1295

SEE MATHIS, PAGE A10

SEE ELECTION, PAGE A6

Shooting suspect to plead guilty

‘After 42 years, it’s time’

Assistant Fire Chief Doug Mathis is planning on retiring from the Sumter Fire Department at the end of June ... for the second time.

“After 42 years, it’s time,” Mathis said. “I don’t think there’s a better job in the world. ... It’s been a privilege working with these brave men and women.”

After retiring once already from the fire department in 2001, he couldn’t stay away, as the job had become as much a part of him as the blood in his veins. But having just turned 62, he said he really means it this time and finds it hard to believe that his time with what he considers to be “one of the best fire departments in the nation” is coming to an end.

“If you don’t feel that way about your department, then something is wrong,” Mathis said. “You think that you can find a better department, but I promise you that you can always find a department worse.”

Mathis remembers the very day he was invited to join the Sumter Fire Department immediately after graduating high school; he was given the choice between the fire department or the Sumter Police Department.

“You always think as a little kid that you want to be a fireman, and you still have little kids today who want to be firemen,” Mathis said.

“It really is a lifelong dream.”

As one of the oldest officers with the fire department, Mathis has seen plenty of change within the fire department for the better, such as the fabric of the uniforms changing from rubber to cotton and more fire stations constructed throughout the county.

Mathis said he’ll also always remember the emotional turmoil that comes with the job. He

County NAACP President Robert McFadden in the November election. In District 50, longtime Rep. Grady Brown will have a Democratic primary challenge from Rembert resident Brian Alston.

Alston said he respected Brown’s long period of service, but the 25-year-old challenger feels the time has come for the 30-year incumbent to “pass the torch.”

“I think it’s great for the district to

Lee prison guard was shot during orchestrated hit

BY MEG KINNARD The Associated Press

TYLER SIMPSON / THE SUMTER ITEM

Assistant Fire Chief Doug Mathis plans to retire at the end of June. Here, he looks back at his time with the Sumter Fire Department, from joining right after graduating from high school to becoming fire chief shortly before his first retirement in 2001.

COLUMBIA — An Orangeburg man charged with conspiring to kill a prison guard in a hit orchestrated by an inmate on an illegal cellphone has signed a plea agreement, according to court papers.

Last week, Sean Echols, 30, signed an agreement to plead guilty to conspiracy to use interstate facilities to arrange a murder-for-hire. Prosecutors and Echols’ defense attorney had said during a February hearing that they were trying to work out the plea.

Echols faces a possible 20year federal sentence. A formal hearing has been set for April 10 in Columbia.

Echols was indicted last year on charges including conspiring to murder a prison guard for $6,000. That conspiracy, according to the plea agreement, began in January 2010 and continued until the shooting in the spring of that year.

In March 2010, Capt. Robert Johnson was a 15-year Corrections Department veteran who oversaw efforts to keep contraband such as cellphones out of Lee Correctional Institution.

Johnson was shot six times early one morning at his Sumter home, and police said an inmate organized the hit using a cellphone smuggled into prison.

Johnson, who authorities have said was the first U.S. corrections officer harmed by

SEE SHOOTING, PAGE A5

Vouchers provide caregivers with chance to ‘let hair down’

BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com (803) 774-1250 It’s not easy being a caregiver, especially when there is no break in site.

But the Aging and Disability Resource Center, within the Santee-

VISIT US ONLINE AT

the

.com

Lynches Area Agency on Aging, has a program that can help. It provides vouchers to qualifying primary caregivers so that they in turn can get someone to watch their loved ones while the primary caregiver takes respite.

“It helped to give me a little break

from Mom,” Judy Roman said. “I can pay someone else to sit with her and let my hair down. It does the same for the grand kids. It’s really a good program. Other than that, I’d never leave home.”

People can be hesitant at first.

“I tell them, ‘if nothing else, sit in

DEATHS, B4 and B5 Codell Epps Judy W. McGhaney Spencer M. Washington Yardley O. Robinson Kelsey L. Player Rosa Lee Wade Joyce E. Dozier

Kathleen B. Wise Shirley Givens-Jenkins Alimenia R. Alston Lois Gainey Robert White Emma Brailsford Nathaniel Huggins

your backyard, prop your feet up and read a book,’” said Toni Brew, family caregiver advocate with the program.

After years of caring for her parents and now tending to her husband who

SEE VOUCHERS, PAGE A10

WEATHER, A10

INSIDE

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Partly sunny and warm today; clear skies tonight HIGH 80, LOW 51

Classifieds B7 Comics B6 Lotteries A10

Opinion A9 Television A8

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TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: pressrelease@theitem.com

CORRECTION

The Norwegians are famous for saying that the only guarantee in life is death, taxes and a profound sense of regret if you ever have the misfortune of attending the University of North Carolina.

But errors, unfortunately, are inevitable in life as well. To that end, we feel we should make the following corrections to yesterday’s paper: To state Sen. Thomas McElveen, D-Sumter, our sincerest apologizes for implying, after seeing the picture at right, that he was possibly arrested as part of the “rotund transvestite prostitution” ring arrests made by SLED during the weekend. Upon further investigation, the reporter filing the report now thinks it was “relatively unlikely” Sen. McElveen was caught up in the sting operation that swept through Horry County. Instead, we now think it was actually state Sen. Tom Davis, RBeaufort, who was the politician captured in the Myrtle Beach brothel, but to that fact we are not completely sure.

Our reporter will be visiting the location to make his own first-hand assessment tomorrow.

For renaming our police blotter section the “Merc City Daily Bulletin” in Monday’s edition, we apologize. While some readers have informed us that the new label might be a more accurate description of this section, after reflection we think the new name to be in somewhat poor taste and apologize.

To the outdoor cat-owning residents of West Calhoun

After a seven-month investigation, we now feel relatively confident that this photograph does not indicate any kind of sex scandal for the young state senator.

Street, a very sincere apology.

While it’s no excuse, it’s worth noting that the journalist was under a lot of pressure to produce a hard-hitting story for Monday’s edition. Still, reporting there is a serial cat killer on Calhoun Street and being a serial cat killer on Calhoun Street are two completely different things, and the latter rarely falls into the purview of our profession. In addition, the decision to run the pictures of the victims might have been a little beyond the pale.

While we think it would be within the realm of his many talents, we were incorrect in reporting that Dr. Tim Hardee,

president of Central Carolina Technical College, was the ghost songwriter behind most of the hits of Katy Perry. Since Monday’s report, we have learned from an unnamed source that the songs “Roar,” “California Girls” and “I Kissed a Girl” were, in fact, written by the musical duo made up by Sumter City Manager Deron McCormick and Sumter County Council Vice Chairman Eugene Baten.

While we thank her for the exclusive, three-page interview, our apologies to Gov. Nikki Haley, who was incorrectly quoted in Monday’s edition as calling her expected

challenger in the upcoming November election, state Sen. Vincent Sheheen, “a scheming, misanthropic, four-toed sloth.” She, in fact, said nothing of the kind, and quite frankly we’re still trying to understand how we misheard her.

Apologies also go out to Mr. Sheheen who we think, had we not read to him the mistaken quotation from the governor, would most likely had not responded by calling her a “harpoon-wenching beedlebum.”

We must admit, however, that we’re not quite sure what that means, and it is entirely possibly his words, when read,

could be construed as a term of endearment. Given the tone in Mr. Sheheen’s voice at the time of the comment, however, we find that to be highly unlikely and hereby apologize.

Our apologies to sloths, as well, for it was not until after running the misheard quote from Gov. Haley that we learned that sloths only come in two- and three-toed varieties.

Finally, our sincerest apologies to the Columbia television stations, with specific apologizes to WLTX. We recognize their method of covering the Sumter area is to simply take our stories and read them over the air the next day, so we realize the residual hardships these inaccuracies might cause them.

For these slight mistakes, the others we have likely missed, and the few that we feel are simply best not to refer to again, we apologize. Rest assured, swift actions have been taken, and I’m pleased to inform you that not only has our Monday Edition Editor been fired, but the people that fired the Monday Edition Editor, after a brief but intense severance negotiation, have also been fired.

In the future, we simply ask our readers remember that we at The Sumpter Item are only human, and are prone to the occasional error. We promise we will try not to make it a habit.

And for those who still do not understand this article, we strongly recomend you examine the date on the top of the page.

Lakewood gets a lesson in prom night behavior

BY RAYTEVIA EVANS revans@theitem.com (803) 774-1214 Before they party the night away at their prom this Saturday, Lakewood High School students were reminded to have safe fun and make good decisions.

Representatives from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office and the Sumter Fire Department participated in a mock drinking and driving presentation for the students who have already purchased tickets for Saturday’s festivities.

Cpl. Gene Hobbs with the sheriff’s office told the students he has seen way too many body bags where high school students or young people have been involved in wrecks. Hobbs said they reached out to the high schools and because Lakewood’s prom is this Saturday, they wanted to conduct the presentation on Monday to give

‘It’s just a reminder, and they’ll remember that something like this could happen to them.’

CPL. GENE HOBBS WITH SUMTER SHERIFF’S OFFICE the students a visual of things that could happen if they decide to drink and drive.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, another 28 people die every day in the U.S. as a result of drunken driving. Mixing alcohol with someone who is a fairly new driver is not a safe combination, Hobbs said.

During the presentation, paramedics and members of the fire department conducted procedures that would be used during a serious car wreck, including using the Jaws of Life and CPR. The van used in the presentation will stay on the grounds of the high school through-

out the week as a reminder of the possible result of bad decisions.

“We’ll leave this car here, and they have to pass by it every day until prom on Saturday,” Hobbs said. “It’s just a reminder, and they’ll remember that something like this could happen to them.”

Chief Johnnie Rose told the students he lost his two best friends in wrecks that involved drunken driving, and it took a lot to get over the loss. He said he didn’t want to see that happen to more students, and he also reminded them to avoid texting and driving. Rose said it was important to show the students the mock drinking and driving presenta-

RAYTEVIA EVANS / THE SUMTER ITEM

Members of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office and the Sumter Fire and Rescue Department put on a mock drinking and driving presentation Monday for Lakewood High School students who plan to go to the school’s prom on Saturday. tion so they can relate and take it seriously.

“The main thing is to let them see it, and something turns on in here (pointing to his head) and they think something like this could happen to me,”

Rose said. “They may even think about a friend or family member who was in a car accident and this reminds them.”

Lakewood’s Susie Ellisor said the school has about 230 students who

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purchased tickets for Saturday’s prom. Hobbs said they plan to return to the school and have the students sign a prom promise where they will pledge to not drink and drive during prom Saturday night.

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LOCAL

THE SUMTER ITEM

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

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Rain doesn’t slow down Heart Walk

CHRIS MOORE / SPECIAL TO THE SUMTER ITEM

Despite the gloomy weather, hundreds of walkers — some pulling children in wagons and others with their dogs —showed up for the 2014 Sumter County Heart Walk on Saturday. The walk raises awareness of heart disease and stroke, celebrates with those who have survived and honor those who died, and of course raises money for the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association. The goal was to raise $210,000, and as of Monday the count is $184,522 with more to come. If you would like to make a donation, visit sumtercountyheartwalk.org.

Want to get involved? Sumter Jaycees has busy year planned

BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com (803) 774-1250 With two successful events under its belt, the Sumter Jaycees is moving forward with a number of projects this year.

Those include a steak dinner to benefit the state camp for children with disabilities and a bowl-a-thon to raise money for the John K. Crosswell Home for Children.

President Stephanie Griffin kicked off the revitalization of the local organization known for leadership through community service last August, and in October, the chapter hosted a Shag Night.

“It went very well,” she said.

“It exceeded our expectations.

We were able to raise over $1,500 and helped 28 children this past Christmas.”

The group held a party at Church of the Holy Comforter where they served the children breakfast, played games and created crafts before Joey Duggan dressed as Santa Claus gave out presents.

“I joined the Sumter Jaycees to give back to my community and lend a helping hand,” Chris Sumpter said. “I’ve always stood for making a ‘have not’ a ‘have,’ and that’s truly what the Sumter Jaycees is accomplishing. I would encourage anyone to join so we can all make a difference together.”

The next fundraiser will be a steak dinner May 2 at the Sumter Elk’s Lodge No. 855, 1100 W.

Liberty St. Tickets are $30 per person or $50 for a couple. Proceeds will benefit the local chapter as well as Jaycee Camp Hope, a statewide residential camp that strives to give children 7 and older with special needs positive, healthy outdoor experiences.

Sumter Jaycees memorabilia will be on display, and a live auction will be held.

“It’s a chance for people to see items from the past, get to meet the new Jaycees and see what’s coming up in the future,” Griffin said.

The group is seeking donations for the auction. To contribute, contact Griffin at StephanieGriffin2014@yahoo. com.

Another chance to meet

members will be during the Iris Festival May 23-25 at the Sumter Jaycees booth. The Sumter Jaycees took leadership of the festival in the 1960s and continued to sponsor it until the Iris Festival Commission was formed in 1989.

The date hasn’t been finalized yet, but in June, the chapter will host a benefit for the John K. Crosswell Home for Children. People will sponsor children and pay a set amount per pin that the children knock down in a two-hour session, Griffin said.

She hopes to bring the Shag Night back in October, and in November, the state Jaycee conference will be held in Sumter, which she said is an honor.

If you can’t wait until May to get involved, the chapter meets about every two weeks at various local restaurants.

For more information or to join, contact Griffin at StephanieGriffin2014@yahoo.com. The chapter’s Facebook page is also regularly updated, she said.

Membership is $50 annually and covers local, state, national and international dues.

The U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce, as it was originally known, was founded in 1920, and the Sumter chapter formed in 1940. Ten years later, the local group started the tradition of helping children at Christmas, which continued through 2011 and resurged last year.

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TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

Unattended fire causes $40,000 in damage

TYLER SIMPSON / THE SUMTER ITEM

Unattended burning of trash led to a shed explosion Tuesday in the 500 block of Timmerman Street. According to Battalion Chief Bud Ivey with the Sumter Fire Department, firefighters responded to the fire at 2:23 p.m., but the fire had already spread through a full acre of land and reached a neighboring shed which contained several containers of propane gas. Ivey said damage is estimated at $40,000. The South Carolina Forestry Commission will take over investigating the fire.

Congress to pass bill to stop cut to Medicare

BY ANDREW TAYLOR Associated Press WASHINGTON — Congress is poised to give doctors who treat Medicare patients an 11th-hour reprieve from a cut in their government fees.

Monday’s planned Senate vote would send legislation to repair Medicare’s flawed payment formula for a year to President Obama for his signature. It comes just hours before a midnight deadline.

The $21 billion measure would stave off a 24 percent cut in Medicare reimbursements to doctors for a year and extend dozens of other expiring health care provisions such as higher payment rates for rural hospitals. The legislation is paid for by cuts to health care providers, but fully half of the cuts won’t kick in for 10 years.

It’s the 17th temporary “patch” to a broken payment formula that dates to 1997 and comes after lawmakers failed to reach a deal on financing a permanent fix.

The measure passed the House on Thursday, but only after top leaders in both parties engineered a voice vote

when it became clear they were having difficulty mustering the two-thirds vote required to advance it under expedited procedures. Several top Democrats opposed the bill, saying it would take momentum away from the drive to permanently solve the payment formula problem.

There’s widespread agreement on bipartisan legislation to redesign the payment formula that would doctors 0.5 percent annual fee increases and implement reforms aimed at giving doctors incentives to provide less costly care. But there’s no agreement on how to pay the approximately $140 billion cost of scrapping the old formula.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., promised to keep pressing ahead with a long-term solution, proposing to use savings from the troop drawdown in Afghanistan to pay the cost.

Republicans and most budget experts say such savings are phony and are demanding at least some of the money to come from cuts to Obama’s Affordable Care Act. “Paying for this through

(war savings) is the mother of all gimmicks,” said Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. “We just don’t have the votes right now to fix this problem for good,” said Majority leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who negotiated the measure with House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.

“For the millions of elderly Americans and their doctors this fix is good news. It means the promise of accessible, quality health care to our nation’s seniors is being honored for another year.”

The heavily lobbied measure blends $16 billion to address Medicare physicians’ payments with about $5 billion more for a variety of other expiring health care provisions, like higher Medicare payments to rural hospitals and for ambulance rides in rural areas.

Manufacturers of certain drugs to treat kidney disease catch a break, as do dialysis providers and the state of California, which receives increases in Medicare physician fees in 14 counties such as San Diego and Sacramento that are designated as rural and whose doctors therefore receive lower payments than their urban

counterparts.

The bill increases spending by $17 billion over the next three years, offsetting the cost with cuts to health care providers. The authors of the bill employed considerable gimmickry to amass the cuts, however, and fully half of them don’t appear for 10 years. For instance, the bill claims $5 billion in savings through a timing shift in Medicare cuts in 2024.

Other savings come from curbs on payments to hospitals that care for a large share of indigent patients. But those hospitals first get a one-year reprieve from cuts scheduled in 2016.

The measure would give Medicare doctors a 0.5 percent

fee increase through the end of the year. It also creates two new mental health grant programs, including $1.1 billion over four years for improvements to community health centers and $60 million over four years for outpatient treatment for people with serious mental illness.

The measure solves the fee schedule problem through next March.

Because of a flawed formula dating to 1997, Medicare doctors are threatened with big fee cuts almost every year. After allowing a 4.8 percent Medicare fee cut to take effect in 2002, Congress has since stepped in 16 times to prevent the cuts.

LOCAL | NATION

THE SUMTER ITEM

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

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Test accurately rules out heart attacks in the ER

BY MARILYNN MARCHIONE AP Chief Medical Writer

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bill Fales, a rancher in Carbondale, Colo., scrapped plans to purchase a new baler and a better irrigation system for his grass-fed cattle when he saw his new his new health insurance premiums.

Rural residents confront higher health care costs

BY KRISTEN WYATT Associated Press Writer DENVER — Bill Fales wanted a new baler and a better irrigation system for the 700-acre ranch where he raises grass-fed beef cattle, but he scrapped those plans when he saw his new health insurance premiums.

His Cold Mountain Ranch is in western Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, a rural area where outpatient services are twice as expensive as the state average. Fales recently saw his monthly premiums jump 50 percent, to about $1,800 a month.

Health care has always been more expensive in farflung communities, where actuarial insurance data show fewer doctors, specialists and hospitals, as well as older residents in need of more health care services.

But the rural-urban cost divide has been exacerbated by the Affordable Care Act. “We’ve gone from letting the insurance companies use a pre-existing medical condition to jack up rates to having a pre-existing zip code being the reason health insurance is unaffordable,” Fales said. “It’s just wrong.”

Geography is one of only three determinants insurance companies are allowed to use to set premiums under the federal health care law, along with age and tobacco use. Insurance officials say they need such controls to remain viable.

“If premiums are not allowed to keep up with underlying medical costs, no company is going to survive,” said Robert Zirkelbach, a spokesman with America’s Health Insurance Plans, a Washington, D.C.-based industry group.

The nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation recently rated the Colorado region where Fales lives as the nation’s priciest, based on rates for the lowest-priced “silver” plan, a mid-level policy. In this part of the state, a region that includes Aspen, the cheapest mid-level plan is $483 a month. In Denver, the same plan is about $280 a month.

Other insurance price zones on the most-expensive list include rural areas in Georgia, Nevada, Wisconsin

‘We’ve gone from letting the insurance companies use a pre-existing medical condition to jack up rates to having a preexisting zip code being the reason health insurance is unaffordable.’

COLORADO RANCHER BILL FALES and Wyoming. But the cost differences between densely and sparsely populated areas shouldn’t come as a shock, Zirkelbach said, because it’s simply more expensive to deliver care in such communities.

“That’s not new at all.

Health insurance premiums track the underlying cost of medical care. This was true before the ACA, and it’s true now,” he said. “Hopefully, the exchanges will shine a spotlight on the variances that exist in the cost of medical care.”

States have only one option

to reduce the premium divide between their urban and rural areas. They can set a single statewide rating zone, an option that would reduce premiums for those in rural areas by shifting costs onto more-populated regions.

It’s something officials in all but the smallest states are reluctant to do. Only five states — Delaware, Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Vermont — chose a single rating zone, in addition to Washington, D.C., according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

WASHINGTON — A simple test appears very good at ruling out heart attacks in people who go to emergency rooms with chest pain, a big public health issue and a huge worry for patients.

A large study in Sweden found that the blood test plus the usual electrocardiogram of the heartbeat were 99 percent accurate at showing which patients could safely be sent home rather than be admitted for observation and more diagnostics.

Of nearly 9,000 patients judged low risk by the blood test and with normal electrocardiograms, only 15 went on to suffer a heart attack in the next month, and not a single one died.

“We believe that with this strategy, 20 to 25 percent of admissions to hospitals for chest pain may

be avoided,” said Dr. Nadia Bandstein of the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm.

She helped lead the study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and presented Sunday at the cardiology college’s annual conference in Washington.

Chest pain sends more than 15 million people to emergency rooms in the United States and Europe each year, and it usually turns out to be due to anxiety, indigestion or other less-serious things than a heart attack. Yet doctors don’t want to miss one — about 2 percent of patients having heart attacks are mistakenly sent home.

People may feel reassured by being admitted to a hospital so doctors can keep an eye on them, but that raises the risk of picking up an infection and having expensive care they’ll have to pay a share of, plus unnecessary tests.

SHOOTING FROM PAGE A1 a hit ordered from an inmate’s cellphone, survived after months of surgeries and rehabilitation. Before retiring from the corrections department in 2011, he appeared alongside thenGov. Mark Sanford and prisons officials to implore the Federal Communications Commission to let South Carolina jam the signals of cellphones being used illicitly by prisoners.

“I don’t want someone else to go through what I’ve gone through,” Johnson said. “I would like to tell the industry to come talk to me and get off their bottom dollar and do what’s right, and that is block cellphones.”

Last year, Johnson, who has endured more than 18 surgeries to deal with his injuries from the attack, sued multiple cellphone companies, claiming they were more than partially responsible for what happened to him and his family. His case, however, was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie.

Authorities have not named the inmate who allegedly organized the plot to kill Johnson. When he was charged with the federal crimes, Echols was already in state prison, sentenced to 25 years on armed robbery and assault charges following a 2011 arrest.

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TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

ELECTIONS FROM PAGE A1

LOCAL RACES WE’RE WATCHING

Filing for partisan nominations statewide has now closed. The following candidates are running for office in the Nov. 4 election. Multiple candidates seeking office under the same party label will meet in primary elections June 10.

GOVERNOR: Nikki Haley (R) Tom Ervin (R) Vincent Sheheen (D) Steve French (Libertarian) Morgan Bruce Reeves (United Citizens) LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR: Bakari Sellers (D) Mike Campbell (R) Pat McKinney (R) Henry McMaster (R) Ray Moore (R) SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION: Montrio M. Belton Sr. (D) Sheila C. Gallagher (D) Jerry Govan (D) Tom Thompson (D) Sally Atwater (R) Gary Burgess (R) Meka Bosket Childs (R) Amy Cofield (R) Sheri Few (R) Don Jordan (R) Elizabeth Moffly (R) Molly Mitchell Spearman (R) Ed Murray (American) ATTORNEY GENERAL: Alan Wilson (R) Parnell Diggs (D) TREASURER: Curtis Loftis (R) Brian Adams (R) COMPTROLLER GENERAL: Richard Eckstrom (R) Robert D. Shelley (R) Kyle Herbert (D) SECRETARY OF STATE: Mark Hammond (R) Ginny Deerin (D)

AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER: Hugh E. Weathers (R) Joe Farmer (R) Emile DeFelice (American) David Edmond (United Citizens) ADJUTANT GENERAL: Bob Livingston (R) James Breazeale (R) U.S. SENATE: Lindsey Graham (R) Det Bowers (R) Lee Bright (R) Richard Cash (R) Bill Connor (R) Benjamin Dunn (R) Nancy Mace (R) Brad Hutto (D) Jay Stamper (D) Victor Kocher (Libertarian) U.S. SENATE — SPECIAL ELECTION: Tim Scott (R) Randall Young (R) Joyce Dickerson (D) Sidney Moore (D) Harry Pavilack (D) Jill Bossi (American) U.S. HOUSE DISTRICT 5: Mick Mulvaney (R) Tom Adams (D) U.S. HOUSE DISTRICT 6: Jim Clyburn (D) Karen Smith (D) Leon Winn (R) Anthony Culler (R) Kevin Umbaugh (Libertarian) SOLICITOR CIRCUIT 3: Ernest “Chip” Finney III (D) S.C. HOUSE DISTRICT 50: Grady Brown (D) Brian L. Alston (D) S.C. HOUSE DISTRICT 51: David Weeks (D)

THE SUMTER ITEM

S.C. HOUSE DISTRICT 64: Willie Bethune (D) Robert L. Ridgeway III (D) Robert A. McFadden Sr. (R) S.C. HOUSE DISTRICT 67: Murrell Smith (R) S.C. HOUSE DISTRICT 70: Joe Neal (D) SUMTER COUNTY COUNCIL: Artie Baker (R-District 2) Charles Edens (R-District 4) Charlie Jones (D-District 6) James T. McCain (D-District 6) SUMTER COUNTY PROBATE JUDGE: Dale W. Atkinson (D) CLARENDON COUNTY COUNCIL: Loretta Pollard (D-District 1) Nathaniel Pugh (D-District 1) Billy Richardson (D-District 1) W.J. Frierson (D-District 2) Benton Blakely (D-District 3) CLARENDON COUNTY TREASURER: Matt Evans (D) CLARENDON COUNTY AUDITOR: Patricia Pringle (D) LEE COUNTY COUNCIL: David Addison (D-District 3) Gordon W. Eckley (D-District 4) Charles Arthur Beasley (D-District 6) Frank Brent Millican Jr. (D-District 6) Johnette McCutchen Caughman (D-District 7) Sheila Johnson Moses (D-District 7) LEE COUNTY TREASURER: H. Wayne Capell (D) LEE COUNTY AUDITOR: Cecil LaVear Stevens (D) LEE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD: Robert Don Bowman (D-District 4) Sylvia A. Scott (D-District 4) Nathaniel Brunson (D-District 6)

have a fresh face,” he said. “I want to give the district back to the people of. Kershaw, Lee and Sumter counties, and I want to create educational programs to fill demand for the jobs of the 21st century.”

Voters in Sumter County Council District 6 will also have to choose between Charlie Jones and Jimmy McCain in a Democratic primary. The winner will succeed outgoing Councilman Larry Blanding.

In area congressional races, U.S. Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., will face Democrat Tom Adams of Fort Mill in the Fifth Congressional District. The ballot will be more crowded in the Sixth Congressional District, where Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., is facing a primary challenge from Karen Smith of Dorchester.

Republicans will also have a primary race as the Rev. Leon Winn of Sumter will face Anthony Culler of Kingstree.

Winn said he’ll need a “grassroots effort” to win in what’s long been considered a safe Democratic district.

“The Republican Party liberated the black population. A lot of the pioneers I grew up looking up to, a lot of our heroes, those people were Republicans. Martin Luther King was a Republican,” he said.

“We’ve got to understand that we need to vote our values, and a lot of our values are in line with Republican values.”

Sumter resident Kevin Umbaugh, who describes himself as a “disenchanted conservative,” has also filed to run as a Libertarian Party candidate.

“The Libertarian Party supports small government. When you have a large bureaucratic machine, it’s costly, it’s ineffi-

‘The Republican Party liberated the black population. ...We’ve got to understand that we need to vote our values, and a lot of our values are in line with Republican values.’

THE REV. LEON WINN Republican candidate for Sixth Congressional District cient and it creates opportunities for corruption,” Umbaugh said. “Both major parties have put forward plans that would only increase the deficit.”

In Clarendon County, voters are faced with a three-way Democratic primary in County Council District 1, where incumbent Councilman Billy Richardson faces challenges from Loretta Pollard and Nathaniel Pugh.

In Lee County, another incumbent, Charles A. Beasley has a Democratic primary opponent in Frank Brent Millican Jr. in County Council District 6, while two Democrats, Johnette McCutchen Caughman and Sheila Johnson Moses, are competing for an open seat in County Council District 7.

Lee County School Board will also see a partisan race in District 4, where Don Bowman has a challenge from Sylvia A. Scott in the Democratic primary.

NATION

THE SUMTER ITEM

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

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Minimum wage value falling but fairness is debated

BY ALAN FRAM Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON — The federal minimum wage has been below what’s needed to keep a family of three out of poverty since 1980. It’s also well shy of the peak of its buying power almost half a century ago.

Is the current $7.25 hourly minimum fair? Is now the time to raise it, and if so, by how much?

There is no objective answer.

It depends on the political slant of lawmakers or the views of economists being asked.

Economic data over the minimum wage’s 76-year history doesn’t provide definitive help.

It shows erosion over time in the plight of minimum-wage earners, but that reflects what the nation’s political system has produced, not necessarily what’s fair.

Democrats backed by President Obama are preparing to force election-year votes on gradually increasing today’s minimum to $10.10 by 2016, an effort that seems likely to fail in Congress but that Democrats hope will drive their supporters to the polls in November’s congressional elections. Republicans generally oppose the proposal, saying it would cost too many jobs.

As a Senate clash over the issue approaches — perhaps this week — here’s a look at the equity questions the dispute raises.

WHAT SHOULD BE THE MINIMUM WAGE’S GOAL? Along with labor and liberal groups, Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, sponsor of the $10.10 push, says the aim should be to boost low-earners and their families over the federal poverty line.

As recently as 1979, when minimum-wage workers earned $2.90 hourly, they made an annual $6,032 for a 40-hour work week. That exceeded that year’s poverty line of $5,784 for a family of three.

The following year, when the hourly minimum rose to $3.10, a full-time worker earned $6,448. But that dipped below that year’s $6,565 poverty level for the same-sized family, and it’s stayed beneath the threshold since.

The current $7.25 minimum leaves that worker earning $15,080, well below the 2013 poverty level of $18,552 for a family of three. By reaching $10.10 in 2016, minimum-wage workers would earn $21,008 — surpassing the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office’s poverty level projection for that year by around $2,300.

WHAT DO REPUBLICANS SAY? Many don’t offer an alternative figure and say their counterproposal remains a work in progress.

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., a leading GOP opponent of Harkin’s bill, says an increase to $10.10 is unfair to low-wage workers because it would cost too many of them their jobs — about 500,000, according to a

Congressional Budget Office report in February. That same report said 16.5 million lowpaid workers would see higher earnings, and about 900,000 people would be lifted over the poverty threshold.

Thune says that while the federal minimum wage isn’t going away, regional economies and hiring markets vary so much that states should be allowed to set their own minimum wage levels. All but five states already have minimums, but currently the law requires that the federal level prevails if it is higher than a state’s.

Republicans and conservatives also say the focus should be on creating a stronger economy with more jobs and better educated workers who can demand higher wages and not have to rely on a federal minimum.

HISTORICALLY, HAS THE MINIMUM WAGE HAD THE SAME BUYING POWER FOR WORKERS? No. Since it stays stagnant unless Congress votes to change it, its buying power has fluctuated widely and today is well below its peak.

The federal minimum wage first took effect in 1938 and was 25 cents. That was worth about $4.06 in today’s dollars, its lowest value, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, which analyzes issues for lawmakers.

The minimum wage crested in value in 1968, when it was $1.60 but had $10.69 in buying power in today’s dollars. That was well above today’s $7.25.

The peaks and valleys of the minimum wage tend to reflect the political party in power. It

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

President Obama speaks about raising the minimum wage during a visit to a Costco store in Lanham, Md., in January. “Give America a raise!” Obama implored Congress in his State of the Union address. didn’t change during the 1980s under Republican President Ronald Reagan. The last increase was enacted under President George W. Bush in 2007 after Democrats took control of Congress.

That year, the federal minimum of $1.60 was 54 percent of average private sector earnings of $2.95.

It’s eroded since then. The current $7.25 federal minimum was just 36 percent of the $20.31 average in the private sector in November.

their credit exceeds taxes owed.

Conservatives say the credit is more effective because it wouldn’t cost jobs and virtually all the money would go to poorer people. Because some minimum-wage workers are members of higher-earning famiHOW HAS THE MINIMUM WAGE lies, about 30 percent of the COMPARED WITH WORKERS’ higher earnings from an inAVERAGE EARNINGS OVER THE DO CONSERVATIVES CONCEDE creased minimum wage would THAT POINT? YEARS? go to families making over triple the poverty level, the ConBy that measure, too, the No. They argue that if the gressional Budget Office estiminimum wage has taken some real goal is improving the mates. hits in recent years. It’s anothplight of low-income workers, One problem: While a minier comparison that supporters it would be more efficient to inmum-wage increase would be cite to argue that it’s time to crease the earned income tax boost the federal minimum. credit. That program — started paid by employers, enlarging the earned income tax credit, a According to the Congressio- under GOP President Gerald $60 billion program, would cost nal Research Service, miniFord and expanded by Reagan mum-wage earners fared best — provides tax breaks to lower- federal taxpayers. That’s an additional drain on the Treasury in 1968 compared with their co- earning families, including that some Republicans oppose. workers in private industry. government cash payments if

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TELEVISION

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014 TW FT

7 PM

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WIS News 10 at Entertainment The Voice: The Battles, Round 2 7:00pm Local Tonight (N) (HD) Continues More artist pairs face off. news update.

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(N) (HD) Making It Grow (N) The Story of the Jews with Simon Schama: A Leap of Faith Jewish renaissance. (N) (HD) The Big Bang The Big Bang Glee: New New York The glee club Theory Battle of Theory (HD) alumni evolve in New York. (N) (HD) wills. (HD) Family Feud Family Feud The Originals: Long Way Back from Hell Rebekah is being held in captivity. (HD)

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TCM offers daylong salute to slapstick

BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH Decades after the end of the silent era, movie directors created affectionate tributes to the slapstick antics of silent comics.

TCM airs two examples in prime time, the 1964 hospital comedy “The Disorderly Orderly” (8 p.m.) starring director Jerry Lewis, and the 1973 satire “Sleeper” (9:45 p.m.), from actor/director Woody Allen.

A daylong salute to slapstick movies (check listings) begins TCM’s month-long celebration of its 20th birthday. Unlike so many cable networks, TCM has never strayed from its original mission. It’s a classic movie channel. Period.

We forget that most of the movies shown on TCM were bound for obscurity scant years after they ran in theaters. Some found homes on “The Late, Late Show” on network TV. Some big cities and university towns had revival or art house theaters that might have offered chances to see old movies.

But many of these motion pictures were lost to posterity, fading from popular memory and, in some cases, literally disintegrating in old canisters.

TCM has created a very sophisticated revival cinema in everyone’s living room, where it has screened tens of thousands of films over two decades. All commercial-free.

TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS • “The Story of the Jews With

Simon Schama” (8 p.m. to 11 p.m., PBS, check local listings) concludes.

• Marcus pushes his luck on “About a Boy” (9 p.m., NBC, TVPG).

• Confessions change everything on the season finale of “Twisted” (9 p.m., ABC Family, TV-14).

• Illicit substances on “Growing Up Fisher” (9:30 p.m., NBC, TV-PG).

• A “Person of Interest” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14) attends a high school reunion.

• Blood on the tracks on “Chicago Fire” (10 p.m., NBC, r, TV14).

• A philanderer embraces fidelity on “Mind Games” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-14).

• Raylan shakes the Crowe’s nest on “Justified” (10 p.m., FX, TV-MA).

Free income tax filing services and FAFSA applications will be provided through April 15 as follows: 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays, 3-8 p.m. Saturdays, appointments only on Sundays, Goodwill JobLink Center, 1028 Broad St., (803) 774-5006; and 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursdays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, Lee County Adult Education, 123 E. College St., Bishopville, (803) 4844040. For details or appointments, call Ms. Samuels at (803) 240-8355.

The AARP Foundation TaxAide Program will offer free income tax assistance and electronic filing for taxpayers with low to middle incomes. All ages are welcome and you do not have to be an AARP member. Assistance will be available 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays through April 15 at the Shepherd’s Center, 24 Council St. For details, call Lynda at (803) 4698322.

Lincoln High School Class of 1964 will hold a reunion meeting at 12:30 p.m. today at the South Sumter Resource Center, 337 Manning Ave. The Clarendon County Democratic Party will meet Thursday, April 3, at the Manning Restaurant, 476 N. Brooks St., Manning.

Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. followed by the meeting at 7 p.m.

The Transatlantic Brides and Parents Association (British Wives) will meet at 11 a.m.

Friday, April 4, at The Spectrum, Pinewood Road. All British ex pats are welcome to join. Bring your Easter bonnets and enjoy a spring lunch. Call Josie at (803) 775-8052.

The 4th Annual Daffodil Arts & Crafts Show will be held 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, April 5, and 1-4 p.m. Sunday, April 6, at American Legion Post 15, 30 Artillery Drive. Vendors will include: Amy with Scentsy; Lisa’s Pillow Case Dresses; Origami Owl with Pam; Just Kil n’ Time; Bows and More; Natural Handmade Soaps; and many more. Please bring a nonperishable food item.

Lincoln High School Class of 1960 will hold a class reunion planning meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 5, at the Alumni Building, Council Street. All classmates are invited to attend. Call Lucile Davis at (803) 775-6253.

CBS PRESS EXPRESS

Gibbs (Mark Harmon), left, and Special Agent Pride (Scott Bakula) chase leads in New Orleans after evidence points to a copycat of the Privileged Killer on the conclusion of a two-part episode of “NCIS” airing at 8 p.m. on CBS. Pete fibs on “Trophy Wife” (9:30 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).

SERIES NOTES A copycat killer on “NCIS” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) * The gang takes stock in New York on “Glee” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14) * A clairvoyant doesn’t see it coming on “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (8 p.m., ABC, TVPG) * Rebekah’s past resurfaces on “The Originals” (8 p.m., CW, r, TV-PG) * The Taliban strikes on “NCIS: Los Angeles” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14) * Mindy and Danny face the music on “The Mindy Project” (9 p.m., Fox, TV14) * Survival of the fattest on “The Goldbergs” (9 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) * Signs of life on “The 100” (9 p.m., CW, r, TV-14) *

AROUND TOWN

LATE NIGHT Seth Rogen and Phillip Phillips are on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS) * Demian Bichir, Ben Gleib, Arden Myrin and Kurt Braunohler are booked on “Chelsea Lately” (11 p.m., E!) * John Malkovich is on “The Colbert Report” (11:30 p.m., Comedy Central) * Kristin Chenoweth and Amy Schumer appear on “Late Show With David Letterman” (11:35 p.m., CBS) * Samuel L. Jackson, Minnie Driver and Pitbull are on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) * David Duchovny, Danai Gurira and Pete Davidson on “Jimmy Kim-

mel Live” (11:35 p.m., ABC) * Nick Cannon and Brett Eldredge visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC) * Jim Parsons visits “The Late Late Show” (12:35 a.m., CBS, r).

Copyright 2014, United Feature Syndicate

The Sumter Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind will meet at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, April 8, at Shiloh-Randolph Manor, 125 W. Bartlette St. Charles E. Black, president of the Kershaw Area Chapter of the NFB, will speak. Transportation provided within the coverage area. Contact Debra Canty, chapter president, at DebraCanC2@frontier.com or (803) 775-5792. For more information, call the 24/7 recorded message line at (206) 376-5992.

The Col. Matthew Singleton Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, at the S.C. National Guard Armory, 395 N. Pike Road West. Visitors welcome.

THE SUMTER ITEM N.G. Osteen 1843-1936 The Watchman and Southron

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014 H.G. Osteen 1870-1955 Founder, The Item

H.D. Osteen 1904-1987 The Item

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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 Braden Bunch Senior News Editor

20 N. Magnolia St., Sumter, South Carolina 29150 • Founded October 15, 1894

COMMENTARY

Why don’t legislators stay home next year?

I

t used to be that when people went into public service as legislators, they helped to do great things that really benefitted people.

At the federal level, think about the Interstate system (Eisenhower), envisioning putting a man on the moon and all the cool stuff that came from that (Kennedy), civil rights legislation (Johnson), Medicare and Medicaid (Johnson), expanding freedom (Reagan) and, regardless of what you think of it, the Affordable Care Act (Obama).

At the state level, past leaders created the technical college system, educational television, boosted manufacturing, raised taxes for better education and built lots of roads — so many that we now have a hard time maintaining them.

But as is frequent in politics, it’s normal to ask, “What have you done for me, lately?”

The blatantly obvious answer is, “Not much.”

Sure, it’s good the legislature passes budgets and keeps most of the state’s agencies running.

It’s great the state Senate is looking into the big mess at the state Department of Social Services. It’s certainly helpful for the state Department of Commerce to lure more jobs here.

But that’s what they’re supAndy posed to do. What about thinkBrack ing big to do things to really impact South Carolinians, one of five of whom are on food stamps?

When we posed this question a week or so ago to a group of people trying to better understand what was going on in the state, the best answer we got was that lawmakers in the last 25 years had gotten rid of miscegenation — the law that made it illegal for people of different races to marry.

Really? That’s it? Sure, some of the folks in the group weren’t from South Carolina, but it’s pretty pitiful if 35 smart people can’t come up with more than that. That is not a reflection on them, but it is telling in so many ways.

What it should highlight is just how little actually gets accomplished by legislators that is really meaningful for most South Carolinians.

During the last 25 years, two highlights are the state lottery, which has generated $3.4 billion for education since 2002, and the Transportation Infrastructure Bank, which currently funds $549 million in highway projects.

One cynic, however, pointed out that both are responses to a failing political structure. The legislature wouldn’t pay more for higher education with tax dollars, so they let residents — many of them poor — gamble away their few dollars in hopes of winning and, in turn, helping to pay for college for mostly white middle-class kids. Similarly, state legislators couldn’t keep their fingers out of the transportation pot for pet roads, so they had to create another agency that could get things done that really needed to be done.

In the last 25 years, legislators also created the state Conservation Bank to protect property, but they have to argue every year whether to give it a few million to protect special places. They’ve done sentencing reform, which is slowly dropping the prison population by lowering numbers of non-violent prisoners in jail. Legislative funding helped to cut the teen pregnancy rate in half.

And lawmakers funded pro-business measures that most people don’t recall readily.

But this is also the state that turned the tax structure on its head with the Act 388 tax swap that replaced some property taxes with higher sales taxes, which put a larger burden on the poor and middle class. Legislators also took the Confederate flag off the Statehouse dome, only to put it in a more conspicuous place in front of the Statehouse.

One wag notes, “Maybe the story is nothing has been accomplished” during the last 25 years.

Another bitterly skewers our leaders, “That bunch in Columbia is such a bunch of lightweights, they wouldn’t even leave footprints in the newly driven snow.”

On balance for 25 years, is this a record for us to break out the champagne? Lots of South Carolinians are still poor, hungry and uneducated.

Makes you wonder why those legislators meet so long and so often in Columbia. How about if they just stay home next year?

Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Statehouse Report. He can be reached at: brack@statehousereport.com.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Our president is the one who can’t compromise Concerning the letters by the Rev. Joseph Darby (Charleston NAACP) on Mar 14, A. Frazier on March 21 and Claude Garrett on March 25.

The Rev. Darby claims “that Republicans oppose everything proposed by President Obama instead of coming to the table of compromise.” I remember him being the one who said he wouldn’t compromise, and yet he has made nearly 30 changes to Obamacare. How may more will come? I refuse to call it the Affordable Care Act because it is not affordable unless you are a freeloader or looking for and receiving handouts. Voter suppression through voter ID laws is about legitimate as the “war on women.” I would love to be a fly on the wall of the room where people come up with all this stuff. Do they sit and laugh about how many people actually believe all that nonsense?

Ms. Frazier, I wish you would have told President Bush there were no WMDs. If our country was in such big, big trouble then it should have been easy for President Obama to make things better. Time will tell who told the biggest lies. Many people are unaware of what is going on so some people don’t know that President Obama won the PolitiFact’s “Lie of the Year” prize for 2013.

Mr. Garrett, what would you call the lies that your king/god tells the American people? Your preference of adjectives before liar, he is still a liar. Do you know Mr. Bradley well enough to say “I think the real reason is one I refuse to discuss with the likes of you” or is that just your way of bringing drama to the discussion? I wish you and Ms. Frazier would have told President Bush that there were no WMDs, or are you two just good “Monday morning quarterbacks”? Using phrases such as “Why don’t you grow up?” and “acting like a spoiled child” makes it sound like you have some experience in this realm of name calling. Who isn’t respecting whom? I also have the “nerve” to mention impeachment, and the sooner the better.

Is your last line the real joke or is your bias showing?

JACQUELINE K. HUGHES Sumter

It is not name calling when it’s based on fact In response to Claude Garrett’s letter dated March 25: Let’s get this straight. My statements were based on facts, so it was not name calling. Now, I’ll say it again — President Obama is a two-faced liar and will be known as the worst president ever. Get it? Ever.

What policies are you referring to? Please describe.

A new low, even for me. You don’t know me, and I won’t write something if I can’t back it up with facts. You think the real reason is one you won’t discuss with me. You are taking the coward’s way out by not wanting to discuss it rationally.

Why don’t I grow up? Respect is earned, not given.

Let me mention impeachment again. (You say it’s a joke.) We know of four ongoing scandal investigations, but you are so deep in denial, I’m sure you know nothing about that.

If you change your mind about discussing the real reason with me, man up and let’s do it. If not, maybe you are the spoiled child.

In response to the president preceding Obama, does 9/11 click any memory; the UN found proof of WMD and Saddam Hussein had them destroyed. Also, this man chemically (or gassed) hundreds of thousands of his own people. The primary reason for retaliation on Afghanistan and Iraq was to let al-Qaida know that we won’t put up with invasions on American soil. Freedom does not come free. President Bush and the U.S. military did a pretty good job of proving that.

Most of us that read your letter can read between the lines; you just don’t have the nerve to say it.

I hope you aren’t as miserable as you sound.

Please get real. Open both eyes and both ears, and just maybe you’ll stop being in denial about President Obama. Whether he’s wrong or right you defend him.

Until next time, peace.

GENE BRADLEY Sumter

Bright might be the man to send Graham packing Lindsey Graham has outlived his stay in Washington. He is no longer standing up to the principles of good judgment. He is no longer listening to the people of South Carolina on key issues, such as gun control and immigration reform. I would like to hear more about his opponents.

Very little is seen or heard in the paper and local media on local election issues. The newspaper, radio and TV are the primary areas where we the citizens look for news about the candidates. I, for one, would like to hear a whole lot more about Mr. Bright.

With what little information that I have of this gentleman, he sounds to me as though he just might be the man to oust Mr. Graham and to give us better representation in Washington. I would like to hear more about his stand on both national and local issues and how he is going to go about getting things done should he be elected. I would also like to know more about his ethical and

moral beliefs. It is exceptionally important for a man to have good ethical and moral beliefs, especially with all of the corruption in Washington and the deterioration of our religious beliefs and freedoms.

JOHN INGHAM Dalzell

Obama critics should stop hating, be thankful instead People are foolish to think everyone likes them. We all have our critics. Unfortunately, most critics are mislabeled as haters.

Haters act irrational and have no regard for the feelings of others.

They say hateful things and try to degrade people who are successful. The bottom line is, “haters envy the accomplishments of others.”

To be elected president of the United States is a great accomplishment. However, to be reelected is a magnificent accomplishment. When the majority of Americans re-elected President Obama, they were confirming their approval of his past job performance.

Let’s be factual. When President Obama took office in 2009, our country was in a Great Recession, the worst recession in the history of our country. We were headed for another depression. If you don’t know about the beginning and impact of the Great Depression, then you don’t know American history. When he signed his $800 billion stimulus bill five years ago, the U.S. economy was losing 700,000 jobs a month and contracting at a Depression-level rate.

While the GOP laughed, the Recovery Act (Stimulus Bill) launched a recovery. The economy started growing again in the summer of 2009. It started adding jobs again in 2010. The Recovery Act increased GDP by 2 to 2.5 percentage points from late 2009 through mid-2011, averting a double-dip recession. The act also produced a 2 to 3 percent increase in GDP in every quarter from late 2009 through 2012.

The Recovery Act did more than stimulate. It improved nearly 42,000 miles of road, provided tax cuts to 160 million workers, launched a revolution in electric vehicles, LED lighting and solar power, upgraded more than 110,000 miles of broadband infrastructure and it launched Race to the Top, the most ambitious national education reform in decades.

President Obama is not above criticism. However, the call for his impeachment is coming from haters who are full of envy. His critics should stop hating and be grateful that they had a job and didn’t have to stand in a soup line.

EUGENE R. BATEN Sumter

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

DAILY PLANNER

VOUCHERS FROM PAGE A1

WEATHER

A10

|

has dementia, Evelyn Brown was one such cautious caregiver.

“I used to have to make myself do it, but now I love it,” she said. “It’s really been a blessing. The vouchers get me out of the house for awhile. Just the freedom has been wonderful. It wears on you. Unless you’ve experienced it, you can’t understand it.”

Brew laughed.

“Now when I call, I get the (other) caregiver, and I say, ‘What? She’s (Brown’s) out again,’” Brew said. “’Good for her.’”

Both Brown and Roman also like the flexibility with this program. It allows people to pick their own caregiver substitute instead of having to use a specified agency, something both had run into before.

“We can interview people and use our own judgment,” Roman said. “You just have to be real careful who you let into your home.”

Vouchers are for up to

$1,500 per family per fiscal year, which runs July 1 through June 30. Requirements are as follows, Brew said: • Be a primary caregiver to a person 60 or older that needs assistance with at least two daily living activities or has cognitive deficits; • Be a grandparent or other relative watching children 18 and under; or • Be 55 or older watching a 19- to 59-year-old with severe disabilities.

“Not everyone will qualify,” Brown said.

The amount is based on the assessment score and the priority of that score, Brew said.

“Sometimes, word gets out about this program, and a person calls saying he or she lives alone and needs a caregiver,” Brew said.

“That’s not what this program is about. It’s to give caregivers a respite.”

For more information, call Toni Brew at (803) 7757381.

MATHIS FROM PAGE A1 recalls plenty of instances where calls would impact his fellow firefighters emotionally, witnessing many firemen hiding behind the trucks to cry after seeing victims that reminded them of their own loved ones.

“You don’t know which calls are going to affect you,” Mathis said. “You usually don’t think of emergency personnel crying, but law enforcement, EMS and the fire department all have a job to do. It’s tough.”

But Mathis never worried about the firemen who would let out their frustrations and worries that come with the job. He always worried about the firemen who wouldn’t. He remembers one incident in which three children were killed in a car wreck — he gave his firemen the opportunity to talk about it, but one refused.

“If that didn’t bother him, then something was definitely wrong with him,” Mathis said. “But part of it is the image of firefighters, that they have to be the tough man. Nobody wants

the public to see you cry.”

Personally, Mathis has had more than his own fair share of troubling moments while on the job, such as losing three firemen in Rembert in the line of duty and watching fellow firemen who served during 9/11.

It was about this time that Mathis decided to retire from the fire department after 30 years of service, even though he was promoted to fire chief a year earlier. But when he was asked to return and serve as assistant fire chief, he just couldn’t say no.

“I thought that after I made it to the chief’s position, I had done what I wanted to do,” Mathis said.

“But after several weeks, it just killed me. I believe in any profession you get into, if it gets in your blood and becomes something you like, it’s hard not to do it.”

And after retiring in June, he will still be around if the fire department ever needs him again.

“If I could do it all again, I would have started months earlier,” Mathis said.

THE SUMTER ITEM

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2014

AccuWeather® five-day forecast for Sumter TODAY

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Partly sunny and pleasantly warm

Clear

Mostly sunny and pleasantly warm

Partly sunny and very warm

Remaining warm with some sun

A thunderstorm possible

80°

51°

83° / 56°

83° / 60°

85° / 61°

78° / 54°

Chance of rain: 5%

Chance of rain: 5%

Chance of rain: 5%

Chance of rain: 5%

Chance of rain: 25%

Chance of rain: 30%

Winds: SW 4-8 mph

Winds: SSW 3-6 mph

Winds: SW 6-12 mph

Winds: SW 7-14 mph

Winds: SW 7-14 mph

Winds: SW 10-20 mph

TODAY’S SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER

Gaffney 80/48 Spartanburg 81/49

Greenville 80/50

Columbia 83/49

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

IN THE MOUNTAINS

Sumter 80/51

Aiken 82/45

ON THE COAST

Charleston 81/54

Today: Partly sunny and pleasant. High 71 to 79.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny and pleasant.

High 75 to 82.

LOCAL ALMANAC

LAKE LEVELS

SUMTER THROUGH 4 P.M. YESTERDAY

Today Hi/Lo/W 78/53/s 51/34/pc 77/67/sh 56/36/pc 77/66/sh 66/53/r 76/66/pc 58/42/s 82/57/s 60/42/s 76/57/s 57/46/t 64/48/pc

SUN AND MOON 7 a.m. yest.

358.06 75.44 75.02 97.84

24-hr chg +0.04 -0.08 +0.26 +0.24

Sunrise 7:10 a.m.

Moonrise 8:18 a.m.

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

0.00" 3.88" 3.87" 9.67" 9.88" 11.29"

NATIONAL CITIES City Atlanta Chicago Dallas Detroit Houston Los Angeles New Orleans New York Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix San Francisco Wash., DC

Full pool 360 76.8 75.5 100

Lake Murray Marion Moultrie Wateree

73° 38° 71° 45° 88° in 1985 25° in 1964

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

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 80/59/pc 41/34/r 80/68/c 48/31/c 81/69/sh 66/52/t 77/68/c 60/46/pc 82/59/s 63/45/pc 72/54/pc 58/46/pc 71/52/pc

Myrtle Beach 73/55

Manning 81/50

Today: Partly sunny and nice. Winds southwest 4-8 mph. Clear.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, nice and warm.

Winds southwest 6-12 mph.

Temperature High Low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

Florence 80/50

Bishopville 81/50

Sunset Moonset

7:42 p.m.

9:58 p.m.

First

Full

Last

New

Apr. 7

Apr. 15

Apr. 22

Apr. 29

TIDES

Flood 7 a.m. 24-hr stage yest. chg 12 9.65 +0.34 19 4.10 -1.06 14 9.67 -0.33 14 5.06 -0.03 80 79.07 -0.10 24 7.58 -0.03

AT MYRTLE BEACH

Today Wed.

High 11:09 a.m.

11:25 p.m.

11:54 a.m.

---

Ht. 3.2 3.5 3.0 ---

Low 5:40 a.m.

5:49 p.m.

6:27 a.m.

6:33 p.m.

Ht. -0.6 -0.6 -0.4 -0.4

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 76/40/pc 81/49/s 84/46/s 79/54/s 59/49/pc 81/54/pc 79/48/pc 81/52/s 83/49/pc 80/49/pc 66/46/pc 77/52/pc 78/51/pc

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 77/49/pc 81/56/s 84/52/s 82/58/s 66/58/s 83/58/s 81/55/s 82/58/s 86/56/s 83/54/s 78/53/s 82/56/s 83/56/s

Today City Hi/Lo/W Florence 80/50/pc Gainesville 82/50/s Gastonia 80/49/pc Goldsboro 78/51/pc Goose Creek 81/54/pc Greensboro 77/50/pc Greenville 80/50/pc Hickory 78/48/pc Hilton Head 73/57/s Jacksonville, FL 81/51/s La Grange 78/45/s Macon 81/46/s Marietta 79/50/s

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 85/55/s 83/52/s 84/57/s 83/56/s 84/58/s 81/56/s 82/57/s 81/55/s 74/59/s 81/54/s 80/52/pc 82/52/s 81/56/pc

Today City Hi/Lo/W Marion 78/46/pc Mt. Pleasant 79/54/pc Myrtle Beach 73/55/pc Orangeburg 81/50/s Port Royal 77/54/s Raleigh 78/50/pc Rock Hill 80/47/pc Rockingham 79/45/pc Savannah 82/53/s Spartanburg 81/49/pc Summerville 75/54/s Wilmington 76/53/pc Winston-Salem 77/51/pc

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 80/53/pc 82/58/s 76/60/s 84/55/s 79/58/s 81/56/s 84/54/s 86/52/s 82/57/s 83/56/s 76/58/s 80/58/s 81/56/s

Weather(W): s–sunny, pc–partly cloudy, c–cloudy, sh–showers, t–thunderstorms, r–rain, sf–snow flurries, sn–snow, i–ice

PUBLIC AGENDA SUMTER CITY COUNCIL Today, 5:30 p.m., Council Chambers, fourth floor, Sumter Opera House, 21 N. Main St.

TOWN OF LYNCHBURG PLANNING COMMISSION Wednesday, 4 p.m., town hall

BISHOPVILLE CITY COUNCIL Today, 6:30 p.m., Colclough Building

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You’ll be asked EUGENIA LAST for advice, but meddling will lead to bad feelings. Listen and show interest, but don’t get involved. You are best to work on your own personal issues for now.

The last word in astrology

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): An emotional situation should be dealt with discreetly. Sharing too much information will leave you in a vulnerable position. Offering to help someone is fine, but don’t go overboard, or you’ll be taken for granted.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Put your charm, creativity and flirtatious personality to work for you and you will find a way to reach your goal.

Love is on the rise. Spend a romantic evening with someone special.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Put your memory to work and you’ll come up with solutions based on past experience that make you look like a genius. Don’t let anyone acting irrational control a situation that requires steady, reasonable action.

LOTTERY NUMBERS LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): A resourceful outlet will be your best friend. Get the answers you need before making a decision. Someone will try to railroad you into doing something you will regret. Love is on the rise.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Take care of your health and home. Don’t take a risk based on a sales pitch that has little merit. Do something creative and it will occupy your time, keep you out of trouble and lead to an opportunity.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Situations will escalate quickly if you aren’t explicit in your description of what’s taking place. You may be inclined to make unexpected changes, but before doing so, get the OK from anyone affected by your decision.

PALMETTO CASH 5 MONDAY

POWERBALL SATURDAY

MEGAMILLIONS FRIDAY

2-5-16-19-22 PowerUp: 4

2-3-12-27-38 Powerball: 17; Powerplay: 2

2-3-9-50-73 Megaball: 12 Megaplier: 3

PICK 3 MONDAY 3-5-7 and 8-8-3

PICK 4 MONDAY 6-0-4-6 and 4-0-2-7

PICTURES FROM THE PUBLIC LOCATION: Poinsett State Park SUBMITTED BY: Jeff Byer

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Keep your head down and your thoughts to yourself. You’ll be judged by what you say and do. Someone you least expect will turn out to be your ally.

Keep your business and personal life separate.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Don’t make too many changes unless you’ve worked out every detail. If you make a mistake, you can rest assured it will be costly. Physical activities will help you blow off steam and lower stress.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Step up and do your share. Being a team player will help you advance. A change in the way you make or handle your money will help you raise your standard of living.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Your focus should be on learning and discovering cultural or spiritual differences. Sharing with people from all walks of life will help you make a decision that will point you in a new direction.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Focus on contracts, settlements, investments and any dealings you have with institutions or government agencies.

You can make headway if you take a different approach to the way you manage your personal affairs.

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 sandrah@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.

SECTION

2014 MLB season opens with several surprises B4

B

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

Call: (803) 774-1241 | E-mail: sports@theitem.com

PREP FOOTBALL

Nelson new CHS football coach; Jackson named AC

BY DENNIS BRUNSON dennisb@theitem.com Roosevelt Nelson, a Shrine Bowl linebacker at Crestwood High School in 2000 and the defensive coordinator at Lakewood the past two seasons, will be retuning to his old stomping grounds as the Crestwood’s football head coach.

Nelson was introduced as the Knights head coach to the Crestwood faculty by Sumter School District Superintendent Frank Baker on Mon-

day, along with Brian Jackson as the school’s new athletic coordinator.

Nelson and Jackson fill the spots left vacant by the resignation of longNELSON time head coach Keith Crolley in February.

“This is a blessing to be able to come back to where I played football,” said the 32-year-old Nelson, who graduated from Crestwood in 2001 and went on to play collegiately at Clemson. “I’m glad that I

JACKSON

get a chance to be part of this school, to be part of this Crestwood community.”

Baker said the decision to split the positions between Nelson and Jackson was based on making the most of the talents

available.

“We decided to take advantage of the individual strengths and abilities of the people within the district who were being considered,” said Baker,

who was one of four people on the selection committee.

Jackson, who has been at Crestwood for 17 years and the last several as the offensive coordinator for the football team, is excited about the opportunity to be the athletic coordinator.

“This is something that I’ve been wanting to do since I’ve got a Masters in sports administration,” Jackson said. “I’ve wanted to follow this

SEE KNIGHTS, PAGE B3

CLEMSON MEN’S BASKETBALL

USC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Making it count

Staley expects USC to be a constant force

BY JANIE MCCAULEY The Associated Press STANFORD, Calif. — Dawn Staley expects her young South Carolina team to be playing well into March for years to come.

The top-seeded Gamecocks never led in their 65-58 loss to No. 4 seed North Carolina in the Stanford Regional semifinals Sunday night, and Staley will find plenty of lessons from this game — this big stage — to motivate her young women moving forward.

“I’m just disappointed our season ends tonight. I am proud of the team we put on the floor,” Staley STALEY said. “Our players did what most people thought they couldn’t do.

This won’t be the last time you see this South Carolina team here this late in the season. I’m looking forward to the future.

Now, it’s back to the gym and film room.

Even a limping Diamond DeShields proved too much for South Carolina in this rematch for Carolina bragging rights.

DeShields escaped two close calls with injury to score 19 points, leading North Carolina one win closer to a sweet reunion with healing coach Sylvia Hatchell.

SEE USC, PAGE B3

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Clemson’s K.J. McDaniels prepares to dunk during the Tigers’ 73-68 victory over Belmont in the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament. Clemson will face Southern Methodist today at 7 p.m. in the NIT semifinals at Madison Square Garden in New York. The game will be televised on ESPN2 and will be followed by Florida State and Minnesota in the other semifinal.

Tigers to face Mustangs in NIT semifinal

BY AARON BRENNER Post and Courier NEW YORK — Everyone else could have Selection Sunday a few weeks back. The Brownell household was home to Appreciation Sunday.

Only the most optimistic Clemson fan might have expected the orange Tiger Paw to appear during CBS’ NCAA tournament selection show March 16. But Clemson coach Brad Brownell wanted to recognize Clemson for doing what few thought it could do, and that’s play basketball be-

yond the ACC tournament.

When ESPNU aired the NIT tournament field and the Tigers were presented as expected, it wasn’t like the house’s foundation was tested.

“I still gathered my team together BROWNELL and we had an NIT party, really, to rally the spirits of our team, to educate our players a little bit on the significance of this tournament,” Brownell said. “We weren’t jumping around and

going crazy like we would have if it had been an NCAA tournament.

“But we were clapping and certainly excited. We had a nice meal together and spent time together with some players’ families, to let the guys know … it wasn’t something to take lightly.”

These days, college basketball’s bluebloods look down their nose at the National Invitation Tournament. Ever since the media and marketing for March

SEE TIGERS, PAGE B3

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

North Carolina forward Xylina McDaniel (34) collides with South Carolina guard Khadijah Sessions during the Tar Heels’ 65-58 victory in the regional semifinals of the NCAA tournament in Stanford, Calif., on Sunday.

PRO BASEBALL

Brewers beat Braves 2-0 in Braun’s 1st game back since PED suspension

BY GENARO C. ARMAS The Associated Press

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Atlanta shortstop Andrelton Simmons, right, forces out Milwaukee’s Scooter Gennett and throws to complete a double play during the Brewers’ 2-0 openingday victory on Monday in Milwaukee. Simmons had two hits to lead the Braves in the loss.

MILWAUKEE — Ryan Braun stepped into the batter’s box, admittedly a BRAUN bit anxious. The sellout crowd at Miller Park quickly put him at ease, showering him with a standing ovation.

First day back on the job after a drug suspension was already a day to remember for the Brewers slugger.

Then he added another unique footnote to his career.

Braun went 1 for 4 and stole a base that helped set up a two-run inning, and later was ruled out in the first call overturned under baseball’s expanded replay system as Milwaukee beat the Atlanta Braves 2-0 on Monday in a sea-

GALLARDO

son opener.

The former MVP was returning from suspension for the final 65 games last year in the Biogenesis doping scandal. Played his first game as a right fielder, too.

What a way to start the

season.

“It was special. It was an emotional moment for me,” Braun said.

Braun said the ovation affected him.

He flied out to left.

“Swung at some pitches that I typically don’t swing at, but it’s something that I’m very thankful for and very appreciative,” Braun said.

Among the 45,691 people in attendance was Commissioner Bud Selig.

SEE BREWERS, PAGE B3

B2

|

SPORTS

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

SCOREBOARD TV, RADIO TODAY

2:30 p.m. -- International Soccer: UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal First Leg -- Bayern Munich at Manchester United (FOX SPORTS 1).

6:05 p.m. -- Talk Show: Sports Talk (WDXY-FM 105.9, WDXY-AM 1240).

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: CIT Semifinal Game -- Yale at Virginia Military Institute (CBS SPORTS NETWORK).

7 p.m. -- Women’s College Basketball: NCAA Tournament Regional Final Game from Louisville, Ky. -- Maryland vs. Louisville (ESPN).

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: National Invitation Tournament Semifinal Game from New York -- Clemson vs.

Southern Methodist (ESPN2, WWBDFM 94.7, WPUB-FM 102.7).

7 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: New York Yankees at Houston or Toronto at Tampa Bay (MLB NETWORK).

7 p.m. -- College Baseball: Appalachian State at South Carolina (WNKTFM 107.5).

8 p.m. -- NHL Hockey: Philadelphia at St. Louis (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

8 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: Atlanta at Milwaukee (SPORTSOUTH).

8 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Houston at Brooklyn (TNT).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: CIT Semifinal Game -- Pacific at Murray State (CBS SPORTS NETWORK).

9 p.m. -- Women’s College Basketball: NCAA Tournament Regional Final Game from Stanford, Calif. -- North Carolina vs. Stanford (ESPN).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: National Invitation Tournament Semifinal Game from New York -- Minnesota vs.

Florida State (ESPN2).

10 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: Cleveland at Oakland or Seattle at Los Angeles Angels (MLB NETWORK).

10:30 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Portland at Los Angeles Lakers (TNT).

PREP SCHEDULE TODAY

Varsity Baseball Manning at Crestwood, 7:30 p.m.

Crestwood at Hartsville, 6:30 p.m.

East Clarendon at Carvers Bay, 5:30 p.m.

Wilson Hall at Heathwood Hall, 7 p.m.

Thomas Sumter at Palmetto Christian, 6 p.m.

Dillon Christian at Robert E. Lee, 6:30 p.m.

Colleton Prep at Clarendon Hall, 6:30 p.m.

North Walterboro Christian at Sumter Christian, 5 p.m.

Junior Varsity Baseball Manning at Crestwood, 5 p.m.

Wilson Hall at Heathwood Hall, 4 p.m.

Colleton Prep at Clarendon Hall, 4 p.m.

B Team Baseball Edisto at Laurence Manning, 5:30 p.m.

Dillon Christian at Robert E. Lee, 4 p.m.

Varsity Boys Golf East Clarendon at Lee Central (at Bishopville Country Club), TBA First Baptist at Wilson Hall (at Sunset Country Club). 4 p.m.

Thomas Sumter at Florence Christian (at The Crossings Golf Club), 3:30 p.m.

Robert E. Lee at Pee Dee, 3:30 p.m.

Varsity Boys Soccer West Florence at Sumter, 7:30 p.m.

Lakewood at Crestwood, 6:30 p.m.

Marlboro County at Manning, 5:30 p.m.

Wilson Hall at Porter-Gaud, 5 p.m.

Pinewood Prep at Laurence Manning, 5 p.m.

Florence Christian at Thomas Sumter, 6 p.m.

Junior Varsity Boys Soccer West Florence at Sumter, 6 p.m.

Wilson Hall at Porter-Gaud, 4 p.m.

Varsity Girls Soccer West Florence at Sumter, 6 p.m.

Lakewood at Crestwood, 5 p.m.

Junior Varsity Girls Soccer Sumter at West Florence, 6 p.m.

Varsity Softball Manning at Crestwood, 6:30 p.m.

Hartsville at Lakewood, 7:30 p.m.

East Clarendon at Carvers Bay, 6 p.m.

Wilson Hall at Thomas Sumter, 4 p.m.

Dillon Christian at Robert E. Lee, 5:30 p.m.

Colleton Prep at Clarendon Hall, 6 p.m.

North Walterboro Christian at Sumter Christian, 5 p.m.

Junior Varsity Softball Hartsville at Lakewood, 5:30 p.m.

Thomas Sumter at Wilson Hall, 4 p.m.

Colleton Prep at Clarendon Hall, 4 p.m.

B Team Softball Dillon Christian at Robert E. Lee, 4 p.m.

Varsity Boys Tennis West Florence at Sumter, 5 p.m.

Hartsville at Manning, 5 p.m.

A.C. Flora at Wilson Hall, 4 p.m.

Varsity Track and Field Crestwood at Manning, 4:30 p.m.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL The Associated Press

EAST REGIONAL Regional Semifinals At Madison Square Garden New York Friday UConn 81, Iowa State 76 Michigan State 61, Virginia 59 Regional Championship Sunday UConn 60, Michigan State 54 SOUTH REGIONAL Regional Semifinals At FedExForum Memphis, Tenn.

Thursday Dayton 82, Stanford 72 Florida 79, UCLA 68 Regional Championship Saturday Florida 62, Dayton 52 MIDWEST REGIONAL Regional Semifinals At Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis Friday Michigan 73, Tennessee 71 Kentucky 74, Louisville 69 Regional Championship Sunday Kentucky 75, Michigan 72 WEST REGIONAL Regional Semifinals At The Honda Center Anaheim, Calif.

Thursday Wisconsin 69, Baylor 52 Arizona 70, San Diego State 64 Regional Championship Saturday Wisconsin 64, Arizona 63, OT FINAL FOUR At AT&T Stadium Arlington, Texas National Semifinals Saturday, April 5 UConn (30-8) vs. Florida (36-2), 6:09 p.m.

Kentucky (28-10) vs. Wisconsin (307), 8:49 p.m.

National Championship Monday, April 7 Semifinal winners, 9:10 p.m.

WOMEN’S NCAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

LINCOLN REGIONAL Regional Semifinals At Lincoln, Neb. Saturday UConn 70, BYU 51 Texas A&M 84, DePaul 65 Monday Regional Championship UConn (37-0) vs. Texas A&M (27-8), (late) STANFORD REGIONAL Regional Semifinals At Stanford, Calif.

Sunday Stanford 82, Penn State 57 North Carolina 65, South Carolina 58

Regional Championship Today Stanford (32-3) vs. North Carolina (27-9), 9 p.m.

NOTRE DAME REGIONAL Regional Semifinals At Notre Dame, Ind. Saturday Baylor 90, Kentucky 72 Notre Dame 89, Oklahoma State 72 Regional Championship Monday Baylor (32-4) vs. Notre Dame (35-0), 7:30 p.m.

LOUISVILLE REGIONAL Regional Semifinals At Louisville, Ky. Sunday Maryland 73, Tennessee 62 Louisville 73, LSU 47 Regional Championship Today Maryland (27-6) vs. Louisville (33-4), 7 p.m.

FINAL FOUR At Nashville, Tenn.

National Semifinals Lincoln regional champion vs. Stanford regional champion, 6:30 or 8:30 p.m.

Notre Dame regional champion vs.

Louisville regional champion, 6:30 or 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 6 National Championship Tuesday, April 8 Semifinal winners, 8:30 p.m.

MLB STANDINGS AMERICAN LEAGUE

By The Associated Press EAST DIVISION W L Baltimore 1 0 Tampa Bay 1 0 New York 0 0 Boston 0 1 Toronto 0 1 CENTRAL DIVISION W L Chicago 1 0 Detroit 1 0 Cleveland 0 0 Kansas City 0 1 Minnesota 0 1 WEST DIVISION W L Houston 0 0 Los Angeles 0 0 Oakland 0 0 Seattle 0 0 Texas 0 1

Pct GB 1.000 – 1.000 – .000 1/2 .000 1 .000 1 Pct GB 1.000 – 1.000 – .000 1/2 .000 1 .000 1 Pct .000 .000 .000 .000 .000

GB – – – – 1/2

THE SUMTER ITEM

AREA ROUNDUP

Barnes, SHS shut out Carolina Forest MYRTLE BEACH — Charlie Barnes tossed a 3-hit shutout to lift the Sumter High School baseball team to a 2-0 victory over Carolina Forest on Monday at the CF field.

Barnes struck out and didn’t walk a batter for the Gamecocks, who improved to 8-2-1 overall and 2-2 in Region VI-4A. Barnes and Phillip Watcher both went 2-for-4 with a double. Tee Dubose had a hit and two runs batted in.

DARLINGTON 4 CRESTWOOD 0

Crestwood High School came up on the short end of a no-hitter on Monday, falling to Darlington 4-0 at the Crestwood field.

The Knights, who fell to 0-8 overall and 0-4 in Region VI-3A, had three runners reach on walks and another on an error.

Cole Benenhaley took the loss, despite allowing just three earned runs.

VARSITY GOLF WILSON HALL 154 HAMMOND 160 COLUMBIA — Wilson

Hall picked up a 6-stroke victory over Hammond on Monday at the Wildwood Country Club course, shooting a 154 to the Skyhawks’ 160.

Christian Salzer led the Barons with a 36 while Walker Jones shot a 37.

Raines Waggett had a 40 and Grier Schwartz a 41.

VARSITY TENNIS WILSON HALL 9 TRINITY-BYRNES 0 Wilson Hall defeated Trinity-Byrnes 9-0 on Monday at Palmetto Tennis Center.

The Barons improved to 6-0 on the season.

SINGLES 1 -- Brown (WH) defeated Head 6-1, 6-2.

2 -- Davis (WH) defeated Harwell 6-0, 6-0.

3 -- Stover (WH) defeaed Aiken 4-6, 6-3., 10-4.

4 -- Hendrix (WH) defeated McMillan 6-0, 6-0.

5 -- Thompson (WH) defeated McLain 6-0, 6-0.

6 -- Stone (WH) defeated Freeman 6-0, 6-0.

DOUBLES 1 -- Brown/Davis (WH) defeated Head/Harwell 8-3.

2 -- Stover/Hendrix (WH) defeated McMillan/Aiken 8-4.

3 -- King/Kellogg (WH) defeated McLain/Freeman 8-1.

JUNIOR VARSITY GOLF

SUMTER 187 CAMDEN 211 CAMDEN — Sumter High School picked up a 24-stroke victory over Camden on Monday, shooting a 187 to the Bulldogs’ 211 at the Camden Country Club course.

Brandon Griffin led the Gamecocks with a 44, while his brother, Andrew Griffin, shot a 46. Jenkins Dwight had a 47 while Bradley Coulter and J.P. Montgomery both shot a 50.

GIRLS B TEAM SOFTBALL LAURENCE MANNING 10 ROBERT E. LEE 0

MANNING — Laurence Manning Academy closed out its season with a 14-0 record with a 10-0 victory over Robert E. Lee Academy on Monday at the LMA field.

Olivia Coker went 3-for-3 with an inside-the-park home run and three runs scored Caroline Robinson also had three hits, while Trinity Harrington was 2-for-2 with two runs batted in. Breanna Hodge had a hit and two RBI and Liz Hussey had a triple.

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST DIVISION Philadelphia Washington Miami Atlanta New York CENTRAL DIVISION Milwaukee Pittsburgh St. Louis Chicago Cincinnati WEST DIVISION San Diego Los Angeles Colorado San Francisco Arizona

W 1 1 0 0 0

L Pct GB 0 1.000 – 0 1.000 – 0 .000 1/2 1 .000 1 1 .000 1

W 1 1 1 0 0

L Pct GB 0 1.000 – 0 1.000 – 0 1.000 – 1 .000 1 1 .000 1

W 1 2 0 0 0

L Pct GB 0 1.000 – 1 .667 – 0 .000 1/2 0 .000 1/2 2 .000 11/2

TODAY’S GAMES

L.A. Dodgers (Greinke 0-0) at San Diego (Kennedy 0-0), 6:40 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees (Sabathia 0-0) at Houston (Feldman 0-0), 7:10 p.m.

Toronto (Hutchison 0-0) at Tampa Bay (Cobb 0-0), 7:10 p.m.

Colorado (Anderson 0-0) at Miami (Eovaldi 0-0), 7:10 p.m.

Philadelphia (Burnett 0-0) at Texas (M.Perez 0-0), 8:05 p.m.

Philadelphia (Burnett 0-0) at Texas (M.Perez 0-0), 8:05 p.m.

Atlanta (Wood 0-0) at Milwaukee (Lohse 0-0), 8:10 p.m.

San Francisco (Cain 0-0) at Arizona (Miley 0-1), 9:40 p.m.

Cleveland (Kluber 0-0) at Oakland (Kazmir 0-0), 10:05 p.m.

Seattle (Ramirez 0-0) at L.A. Angels (Wilson 0-0), 10:05 p.m.

NBA STANDINGS

By The Associated Press EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION x-Toronto Brooklyn New York Boston Philadelphia SOUTHEAST DIVISION y-Miami Washington Charlotte Atlanta Orlando CENTRAL DIVISION y-Indiana x-Chicago Cleveland Detroit Milwaukee

W 42 39 31 23 16

L Pct GB 31 .575 – 33 .542 21/2 43 .419 111/2 50 .315 19 57 .219 26

W 50 38 35 31 21

L Pct GB 22 .694 – 35 .521 121/2 38 .479 151/2 41 .431 19 53 .284 30

W 52 41 30 26 14

L Pct 22 .703 32 .562 45 .400 47 .356 59 .192

SPORTS ITEMS

McDermott leads AP All-America team Doug McDermott spent his senior season passing a lot of big names on the career scoring list. He is now among some very select company.

The senior forward from Creighton was a unanimous choice for The Associated Press All-America team on Monday.

McDermott was one of four seniors on this year’s team, which included freshman Jabari Parker of Duke. The other seniors all came from the first-year American Athletic Conference: Russ Smith MCDERMOTT of Louisville, Shabazz Napier of Connecticut and Sean Kilpatrick of Cincinnati.

Nick Johnson of Arizona was the leading vote-getter on the second team and was joined by freshman Andrew Wiggins of Kansas, Nik Stauskas of Michigan, Melvin Ejim of Iowa State and T.J. Warren of North Carolina State.

an 8-0 victory over 20th ranked Tennessee.

The Gamecocks swept the 3-game series against the Volunteers and improve to 24-3 and 6-3 in league play while Tennessee falls to 19-7 and 3-6 in the SEC. The Gamecocks return to action tonight hosting Appalachian State at 7 p.m.

FIRE ANTS DOUBLEHEADERS POSTPONED

KURT BUSCH WINS AT MARTINSVILLE

The University of South Carolina Sumter baseball team had both of its doubleheaders against Pitt Community College on Saturday and Sunday in Greenville, N.C., postponed because of rain and wet field conditions, respectively.

The Fire Ants are scheduled to play host to the Limestone junior varsity team in a twinbill today at Riley Park beginning at 2 p.m.

MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Kurt Busch’s Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, in some ways, was like his career wrapped into one afternoon.

It started with a pit road confrontation with Brad Keselowski, one that had Busch threatening over his radio to rearrange Keselowski’s face when the race was finished, and ended with Busch ending an 83-race victory drought.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was third, followed by Joey Logano and Marcos Ambrose.

BOBCATS 100 WIZARDS 94

GB – 101/2 221/2 251/2 371/2

WESTERN CONFERENCE SOUTHWEST DIVISION W L Pct x-San Antonio 57 16 .781 Houston 49 23 .681 Dallas 44 30 .595 Memphis 43 30 .589 New Orleans 32 41 .438 NORTHWEST DIVISION W L Pct x-Oklahoma City 54 19 .740 Portland 48 27 .640 Minnesota 36 36 .500 Denver 32 41 .438 Utah 23 51 .311 PACIFIC DIVISION W L Pct x-L.A. Clippers 52 22 .703 Golden State 45 28 .616 Phoenix 44 30 .595 L.A. Lakers 25 48 .342 Sacramento 25 48 .342 x-clinched playoff spot y-clinched division

GB – 71/2 131/2 14 25 GB – 7 171/2 22 311/2 GB – 61/2 8 261/2 261/2

CHARLOTTE — Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson each had a double-double and the Charlotte Bobcats rallied from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Washington 100-94 Monday night, preventing the Wizards from clinching their first playoff berth since 2008.

CLEMSON-MARYLAND RAINED OUT

COLLEGE PARK, MD. - Due to rain and a soaked playing surface at Bob Smith Stadium, the series finale between Clemson and Maryland was rained out and will not be made up. Therefore, Clemson won the series 2-0 in the last regular-season meetings between the two as ACC members.

It marked the first time since 1999 that Clemson did not play all three games of an ACC regular-season series. That also came at Maryland in College Park, a series Clemson won 2-0.

The Tigers return to action 6:30 p.m. today at home against Furman.

BOWDITCH WINS TEXAS OPEN

SPURS 103

SAN ANTONIO — Steven Bowditch held on to win the Texas Open in windy conditions Sunday for his first PGA Tour victory and a spot in the Masters.

The 30-year-old Australian bogeyed the par-5 18th for a 4-over 76 for a one-stroke victory.

PACERS 77

NORDQVIST RALLIES TO WIN KIA CLASSIC

INDIANAPOLIS — Tony Parker scored 22 points in the San Antonio Spurs’ franchiserecord 18th straight victory, a 103-77 rout of the slumping Indiana Pacers on Monday.

CARLSBAD, Calif.— Anna Nordqvist rallied to win the Kia Classic on Sunday at Aviara for her second victory in her last four LPGA Tour starts.

Two strokes behind leaders Cristie Kerr and Lizette Salas entering the round, Nordqvist closed with her second straight 5-under 67 for a one-stroke victory over Salas.

USC COMPLETES WEEKEND SWEEP OF VOLS

COLUMBIA- Freshman right-hander Wil Crowe improved to 6-0 on the year with 7.1 scoreless innings of work and secondranked South Carolina pounded out 13 hits en route to its 11th shutout of the season in

From staff, wire reports

SPORTS

THE SUMTER ITEM

TIGERS FROM PAGE B1 Madness expanded, the NIT has been akin to off-the-radar bowl games in Boise or Shreveport — a consolation prize, battling for less than the big prize.

Thing is, Brownell, 45, is the least-equipped of the four head coaches in New York City prepping for Tuesday night’s semifinals to illustrate to his players just how meaningful the NIT used to be.

Southern Methodist’s Larry Brown and Florida State’s Leonard Hamilton have each coached in college since the 1970s, and Minnesota’s Richard Pitino, 31, simply needs to dial up his famous dad, Rick, for a history lesson.

Brown is the rock star of this “other” final four, and not just because he’s the most wellknown of the participating players and coaches. He led the Knicks for one season in 2005-06, and he hails from Brooklyn.

“I look at this as a tremendous honor and privilege to be playing in this tournament,” Brown said. “When I was growing up, the NIT was the best tournament. Playing in the Garden is exciting for my team because there’s no better place to play.”

SMU was the biggest snub from the NCAA draw — the Mustangs were ranked in the second-to-last AP and coaches polls, preceding the conference tournaments. ESPN analyst Fran Frascilla, one of Brown’s close friends and fellow Brooklyn natives who now lives in Dallas near SMU, spoke to Brown’s players about the opportunity.

“Fran talked about what the NIT meant, and I kind of talked a little bit about it,” Brown said. “But (the players) aren’t silly. They know the Garden and historically what that building means.”

USC FROM PAGE B1 “I didn’t want to have that burden on my shoulders not having done everything I could to contribute to the team win. I didn’t hold my team back,” DeShields said.

“Coach trusted me, trusted my instincts. He put me out there and he gave me a chance.”

Brittany Rountree converted a pair of free throws with 1:14 left and two more at the 36.4-second mark to help seal it for the No. 4 seed Tar Heels (27-9), who backed up their December victory against the Gamecocks with another on the NCAA tournament stage.

The Tar Heels will play in Tuesday night’s regional final against second-seeded Stanford (32-3), an 82-57 winner on its home court against No. 3 seed Penn State in Sunday’s first game.

Alaina Coates hit several key baskets down the stretch on the way to 22 points for South Carolina (29-5), held to 37.7-percent shooting while committing 13 turnovers.

“They put us back on our heels and forced us into some foul trouble you don’t want to anticipate coming into a game

Before even Brown’s time, the NIT champion was regarded as the national champion. After the NCAA tournament became king in the 1950s, the NIT remained just as relevant for a few decades.

“Before the NCAA tournament, people would turn down the NCAA tournament to go to the NIT,” Pitino said. “So I know it’s got great, great tradition.”

Tradition is a nice touch, but so is rewarding roughly 60 college players from the southern or midwestern states with a trip to New York City. All of the top Tigers had never been to Madison Square Garden before their Monday morning shootaround.

“I think our kids are extremely excited and humbled,” Brownell said. “We had half of them acting like Carmelo Anthony shooting jumpers in MSG today.”

Point guard Rod Hall revealed a midseason conversation with forward K.J. McDaniels that, without mentioning the NIT, they talked about how cool it would be to play in the world’s most famous basketball arena.

“It’s kind of like a dream come true, that we talked about it and we actually get to play in the Garden,” Hall said. “It’ll be a once-in-a-lifetime chance, so we’ll make the best of it.”

Said McDaniels, “I already knew it was the mecca of basketball just because the greats have played in there.”

Clemson assistant Earl Grant reminded the Tigers this weekend of how few teams — the NCAA champ, the NIT champ, the CBI and CIT champs — are able to close their season with a victory.

“That’s what we want to do,” guard Damarcus Harrison said. “That really stuck with us, because we have a chance to end our season with a W, so we want to go all out and play our hardest in these next couple games.”

like this,” Staley said.

North Carolina needs one more win to be reunited with Hatchell, whose doctors have said she could travel to the Final Four in Nashville, Tenn., after recently undergoing her final chemotherapy session for leukemia.

Hatchell hasn’t coached this season after being diagnosed with leukemia in October, though she does plenty of game planning with associate coach Andrew Calder by phone. She texts her players encouraging words before games, too.

“She said, ‘I have faith in you, I’m proud of you, go out and play hard,’” DeShields said.

DeShields threw everything at advancing her team to Tuesday night’s regional final against second-seeded Stanford (32-3).

The Atlantic Coast Conference’s top freshman blocked South Carolina’s opening shot of the second half, and jumped in the passing lane for a steal six minutes later.

The arena fell silent when DeShields first went down with an apparent right ankle injury just 2:23 into the game.

DeShields returned five min-

utes later and hit a jumper to push North Carolina’s lead to 11-6.

She went down again at the 7:51 mark, grabbing left leg before hustling to the bench with a limp and grimacing in pain. She scored under the basket on the play.

Following the media timeout, she came back out, calmly hit a free throw to complete the three-point play and give Tar Heels a 20-10 advantage, and then returned to the bench.

On a late possession in the first half, she knocked down a baseline jumper with the shot clock winding down to put her team ahead 29-15. But there would be one more scary moment. With 1:09 to play in the half, DeShields slammed into the basket support and bounced right back.

Tiffany Davis knocked down a 3-pointer 22 seconds before halftime to bring South Carolina within 29-21 at intermission.

Tiffany Mitchell hit back-toback 3-pointers to keep South Carolina close midway through the second half, then Coates scored four straight points to pull the Gamecocks within 43-42 at the 8:43 mark.

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

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B3

BREWERS FROM PAGE B1 Two years ago, Braun became the first MLB player to get a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs overturned. Originally banned for 50 games, he filed a grievance and won.

“Fans are fans. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. He’s their hometown player and it was a wonderful reaction. I wish everybody well,” Selig said.

Later, Braun had his infield single to lead off the sixth overturned to out after the call was challenged by Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez under Major League Baseball’s new replay format.

The review took 58 seconds.

“I had a pretty good idea that I was out,” Braun said, drawing laughs. “For all of us, we just hope they get it right, and they did get it right.”

Yovani Gallardo (1-0) tossed six shutout innings for the win. He allowed just four hits in becoming the first pitcher in franchise history to make five straight opening day starts.

A Braves lineup being relied on to help overcome

the adversity to the injuryplagued pitching staff was silenced. Andrelton Simmons finished with two hits.

“You go up there, your third at-bat and (Gallardo) will throw you something completely different,” said cleanup hitter Chris Johnson, who went 1 for 4 with a double. “Where did that come from? ... He’s one of the tougher guys in the league.”

In a bit of a surprise, Francisco Rodriguez struck out two in the ninth for his 305th career save.

The veteran righty looked fine about two weeks after accidentally stepping on a cactus during spring training.

Manager Ron Roenicke said he turned to Rodriguez because Jim Henderson, who had 28 saves last season, was having a little trouble of late with his stuff. He hoped a couple outings outside the ninth would help Henderson get straightened out.

With injuries to pitchers including Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy, Atlanta started Julio Teheran (0-1) after a nice spring.

KNIGHTS FROM PAGE B1 path.”

While Baker said the decision to name Jackson AC was unanimous. However, the choice for head coach was split, but Baker had the final decision and decided to go with Nelson.

“I just like the way he connects with the kids,” Baker said. “He has some good ideas with the educational aspect of the athletes.”

Crolley was the head coach at Crestwood for 16 years.

B4

OBITUARIES

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

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CODELL EPPS LYNCHBURG — Codell Epps died Monday, March 31, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

The family is receiving friends at the home, 8190 Rufun Drive, Lynchburg.

Arrangements will be announced by Jefferson Funeral Home, 130 McIntosh St., Lynchburg.

JUDY W. McGHANEY The earthly journey of Judy W. McGhaney, 64, wife of Barnell McGhaney Sr., ended on March 27, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medial Center.

She was born Feb. 6, 1950, to the late Laney and Maybell Williams. She was educated in the public schools of Sumter and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1968. She attended college at Claflin University, Orangeburg. She was employed as an accounts payable clerk at Georgia-Pacific, Sumter, before the plant closed. Later, she worked as an instructional assistant at Kingsbury Elementary School before becoming ill. She joined Salem Missionary Baptist Church at an early age.

She leaves to cherish her memories: her husband; three sons, Steven Williams, Earnell II (Melinda) and Jerome McGhaney, all of Sumter; two

grandchildren, Alissah Renae and Matthew Williams of Sumter; a brother-in-law, the Rev. Daniel (Eartha) McGhaney; a sister-in-law, Ophelia (Raymond) Morrison of Hollywood, Fla.; and a host of other relatives and friends who are deeply grieved by her passing.

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Bradford Cemetery, U.S. 15 South, with the Rev. Daryl McGhaney officiating, assisted by the Rev. Daniel McGhaney and the Rev. Leroy Commander.

Public viewing will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. today.

The family is receiving friends at the residence, 36 E. Patricia Drive.

Sumter Funeral Service Inc. is in charge of arrangements.

SPENCER M. WASHINGTON MARQUE, Texas — Spencer McGarrett Washington, 40, died Friday, March 28, 2014, at University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Texas.

He was born Sunday, Dec. 16, 1973, in Holly Hill, to David and Bertha Adams Washington.

The family is receiving friends at the home of his uncle, Nathanial Washington, 774 Hessman St., Holly Hill, SC 29059.

Services have been entrust-

ed in the professional care of King-Fields Mortuary, Summerton.

YARDLEY O. ROBINSON Yardley Orrin Robinson, 50, husband of Maxine Lucky Robinson, heard the call of the Lord and without a word he slipped away into a peaceful and forever sleep on Thursday, March 27, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born Oct. 20, 1963, in Sumter, he was a son of Betty Wright Robinson and the late Matthew Robinson. He received his education in the public schools of Sumter County and was a graduate of Sumter High School Class of 1981. Yardley was an active member of Salem Missionary Baptist Church, until his health began to decline.

He leaves to cherish his everlasting memories: his wife, Maxine L. Robinson; his mother, Betty Wright Robinson; two daughters, Nikoya Robinson and Sanquanetta Lucky, all of Sumter; one son, Staff Sgt. Robert T. (Staff Sgt. Candace) Greene of Grand Rapid City, S.D.; four sisters, Quenna R. (Gregory) McRae of Birmingham, Ala., Stefan Robinson of Charlotte, N.C., Savritria R. (Jimmie) Spann and Eddra J. Thornton, both of Sumter; three brothers, Ricardo M.

THE SUMTER ITEM (Rebecca) Robinson of Sumter, Gabriel D. Robinson of Charlotte and Stacy A. Robinson of Lafayette, La.; his mother-inlaw, Evelyn Lucky of Sumter; two grandchildren, Raymond Ruth of Sumter and Nylah Greene of Grand Rapid City; maternal grandmother, Flora Lee Wright of Sumter; a very special niece, Shaquanda C. Robinson of Sumter; three brothers-in-law; nine sistersin-law; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Salem Missionary Baptist Church, 320 W. Fulton St., Sumter, with the Rev. Lei F. Washington, pastor, eulogist, assisted by the Rev. Joshua Dupree, the Rev. Geneva Stafford, the Rev. William Jefferson and the Rev. Darryl Washington.

The family will be receiving friends and relatives at the home, 2630 Lorentz Drive, Sumter.

The remains will be placed in the church at 2 p.m.

The procession will leave at 2:20 p.m. from the home.

Flower bearers and pallbearers will be classmates of Sumter High School Class of 1981.

Burial will be in Hillside

Memorial Park.

Online memorial messages may be sent to the family at williamsfuneralhome@sc.rr. com. Visit us on the web at www.williamsfuneralhomeinc. com.

Services directed by the management and staff of Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter.

KELSEY L. PLAYER TURBEVILLE — Kelsey Lewis Player, 20, died Sunday, March 30, 2014, at Clarendon Memorial Hospital.

Services will be announced

by Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church St., Manning, (803) 435-2179.

ROSA LEE WADE Rosa Lee Wade, 89, widow of Martin Wade, departed this life on Friday, March 28, 2014, in Brooklyn, N.Y. She was born Feb. 22, 1922, in Sumter County.

The family will receive friends and relatives at the home of Myrteen Wade King, 6985 Camden Highway, Rembert.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Williams Funeral Home Inc. of Sumter.

SEE OBITUARIES, PAGE B5

MLB ROUNDUP

Cruz’s go-ahead HR lifts Orioles past champs Red Sox in opener BALTIMORE — Nelson Cruz celebrated his Orioles debut by hitting a tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning and Baltimore beat Jon Lester and the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox 2-1 Monday beCRUZ fore an appreciative sellout crowd on opening day.

Signed as a free agent in February, Cruz lined a solo shot into the left-field seats to put the Orioles ahead. He hit 27 homers last year with Texas during a season marred by a 50-game suspension from Major League Baseball in the Biogenesis drug scandal.

TIGERS 4 ROYALS 3

DETROIT — Alex Gonzalez drove in the winning run in his Detroit debut, lining a single to left off Greg Holland in the ninth inning that gave the Tigers a 4-3 opening-day victory over the Kansas City Royals on Monday.

RAYS 9 BLUE JAYS 2

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — David Price took a shutout into the eighth inning and Matt Joyce drove in three runs Monday to help the Tampa Bay Rays begin the season with a 9-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

WHITE SOX 5 TWINS 3

CHICAGO — Alejandro De Aza hit two homers, and Jose Abreu had two hits in his major league debut to back Chris Sale and lead the Chicago White Sox to a 5-3 season-opening victory over the Minnesota Twins on Monday.

INTERLEAGUE PHILLIES 14 RANGERS 10 ARLINGTON, Texas — Jimmy Rollins hit a grand slam and pinch-hitter John Mayberry Jr. had a two-run double that put Philadelphia ahead to stay in a wild opening 14-10 victory over the Texas Rangers on Monday.

NATIONAL LEAGUE PIRATES 1 CUBS 0 PITTSBURGH — Neil Walker homered off Carlos Villanueva leading off the 10th inning Monday, and the Pittsburgh Pirates benefited from an overturned to call to beat the Chicago Cubs 1-0 on opening day Monday.

NATIONALS 9 METS 7

NEW YORK — Anthony Rendon hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning and

drove in a career-high four runs, twice rallying the Washington Nationals against the New York Mets’ suspect bullpen for a 9-7

opening-day victory Monday afternoon.

CARDINALS 1 REDS 0

CINCINNATI — Yadier Molina’s homer broke a seventhinning tie and drew another round of loud boos while he rounded the bases on Mon-

day, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 1-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

From wire reports

OBITUARIES

THE SUMTER ITEM

JOYCE E. DOZIER ALCOLU — Joyce Evins Dozier, 52, wife of Barney Ray Dozier, died Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at her residence, 5782 Brogdon Road, Alcolu.

She was born July 27, 1961, in Norwalk, Conn., a daughter of Shirley Taylor Evins and the late Deacon Hazel “June” DOZIER Evins Jr. She graduated from Norwalk High School. She attended Southern Connecticut State College in New Haven, Conn., and received her bachelor of arts degree in education from South Carolina State University, Orangeburg. She volunteered at Alcolu Elementary School and was later hired by Clarendon School District 2 as a teacher’s aide. In 1996, she was hired in Clarendon County School District 2 as a sixth grade science teacher.

She retired after 21 years of service. She was awarded the honor of Teacher of the Year for 2003-2004. She was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church of East Norwalk, Conn., and sang with the youth choir.

After relocating to South Carolina, she joined Mt. Nebo Missionary Baptist Church, where she sang with the mass choir, worked with the youth department, and was an ordained deaconess.

Survivors are her husband, Barney Ray Dozier of the home; three daughters, Deneia L. Dozier of Sumter, Jorayia T. Dozier of Alcolu and Felecial R. Dozier of Sumter; devoted mother, Shirley Evins of the home; sister, Adrienne (Pressley) Harvin of Alcolu; brother, Micah Franklin of Bridgeport, Conn.; two grandchildren; special devoted aunt and caregiver, Martha Frierson of Alcolu; 11 aunts; five uncles; seven sisters-in-law; and four brothers-in-law.

Celebratory services for Mrs. Dozier were held at 11 a.m. Monday at 10331 Plowden Mill Road, Alcolu.

Pastor Hazel Charles officiated and was assisted by the Rev. Cheryl Graham, Minister Lawrence Dozier, the Rev. Henry Blackwell and the Rev. Matthew Singleton. Burial followed in the churchyard cemetery.

The family is receiving friends at the residence.

These services were entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.

KATHLEEN B. WISE Kathleen Brewer Wise, 81, widow of Cecil Cisrow Wise, died Sunday, March 30, 2014, at Sumter Health and Rehab.

Born July 24, 1932, in Manning, she was a daughter of the late John Biniard Brewer and Eula Baggette Brewer. She was WISE a member of Woodmen of the World and Northside Memorial Baptist Church.

She is survived by two daughters, Kathy Mathis (L.G.) of Manning and Debbie Royer (Bruce) of Summerton; a son, Mark Wise of Sumter; a brother, John Brewer (Pauline) of Manning; three sisters, Ruby Styron (Milton) of Davis, N.C., and Doris Haberkorn and Ann Morris, both of Manning; 12 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Heyward Brewer; and a sister, Judy Brewer.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Northside Memorial Baptist Church with the Rev. Jimmy Holley officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Steven Carter, Lou Spigner, Jim Johnson, Gregg Handal, Mickey Brewer and Ben Brewer.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Stephens Funeral Home and other times at 1152 Brewer Road, Manning.

Memorials may be made to Oak Grove Cemetery Fund, c/o Louise B. Thompson, 8178 Moses Dingle Road, Manning, SC 29102.

Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church St., Manning, is in charge of ar-

rangements, (803) 435-2179. www.stephensfuneralhome.org

SHIRLEY GIVENS-JENKINS Shirley Ann Givens-Jenkins departed this life on March 29, 2014, at Covenant Place.

Born March 25, 1937, in Sumter County, she was a daughter of the late John and Margaret Jenkins. Shirley was a faithful and dedicated member of Mechanicsville United Methodist Church, where she served on numerous minis- JENKINS tries to include the United Methodist Women and church and society. Shirley attended the public schools in Sumter County and was a graduate of Lincoln High School Class of 1955.

After graduation from high school, she attended Morris College in Sumter. Shirley was a retired U.S. Postal Service employee of 34 years. She was a lifelong member of the U.S. Postal Service Union as well as a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Post 10813.

Her precious memories will be cherished by her son, Freddie Eugene McCullough of Sumter; one grandson, Andre Eugene (Latonya) McCullough of Atlanta; one great-granddaughter, Courtney McFadden of Lake City; first cousins, Hammie Junior McQuillia, Eva Mae Jones, Mack McQuillia, Lillie Mae McQuillia, Bessie McQuillia and Mary McQuillia; three special cousins, Donald McQuillia, Maybell McQuillia and Harold McQuillia, all of Portsmouth, Va.; one brotherin-law, Fred (Mary) Loney of Cheltenham, Md.; one niece, Sheila M. Wooden of Laplata, Md.; one nephew, Stephen W. Loney of Clinton, Md.; two special caregivers, Dinah Shaw and Ophelia Davis; a special friend, Elder Evans; and a host of other relatives and special friends.

Shirley was preceded in death by her loving husband, Haskel Jenkins; one son, Alvin Dale Jenkins; two special aunts “Annie” Eva McQuillia and Bessie McQuillia.

Public viewing will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. today at Job’s Mortuary.

The body will be placed in the church at 11 a.m. Wednesday for viewing until the hour of service.

Funeral services will be held at noon Wednesday at Mechanicsville United Methodist Church, 184 Lake Ashwood Road, Sumter, with the Rev. Kenneth Carter, pastor, officiating. Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Park, Sumter.

The family is receiving friends at 14 Brogdon St., Sumter.

Job’s Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., Sumter, is in charge of arrangements.

Online memorials may be sent to the family at jobsmortuary@sc.rr.com or visit us on the web at www.jobsmortuary. net.

ALIMENIA R. ALSTON Alimenia “Emma” Roach Alston, also known as Almeta, 95, passed away on Sunday, March 30, 2014, at Sumter Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Born Oct. 20, 1918, in Sumter, she was a daugh- ALSTON ter of the late Willie and Matilda Prioleau Roach. Emma attended the public schools of Sumter County. She was a member of High Hills AME Church, where she sang with the senior choir, served as a member of the Emma Louise Robinson Women’s Missionary Society, and as a stewardess.

She was married to the late James Alston Sr. for more than 60 years. Her employment history includes more than 20 years as a domestic and child care giver at Shaw Air Force Base.

She is survived by her children, Almeta (Henry) Murray, Ethel Lee Murray of Bridgeport, Conn., James (Jane) Alston Jr., Edward (Bertha G.) Alston, Beverly Ann Weathers of Washington, D.C., and Frances Palmer of New York; a sister, Wilhelmenia Keith of Harrisburg, Pa.; a brother, James Roach of Sumter; and a host of grandchildren, greatgrandchildren, great-greatgrandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and a daughter, Shirley Cowherd.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at High Hills AME Church, 6780 Meeting House Road, Dalzell, with the Rev. Thomas H. Habersham, pastor, eulogist, assisted by Presiding Elder James S. Cooper, the Rev. Charlie Howard, the Rev. Henry J. Murray, the Rev. Linda Richbow and the Rev. Ruth E. Robinson.

The family is receiving friends and relatives at the home of James and Jane Alston, 6415 Fish Road, Dalzell.

The funeral procession will leave at 12:20 p.m. from the home.

Floral bearers will be nieces.

Pallbearers will be nephews.

Burial will be in High Hills AME Churchyard cemetery.

Online memorial messages may be sent to the family at williamsfuneralhome@sc.rr. com. Visit us on the web.

Services directed by the management and staff of Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter.

LOIS GAINEY KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — Lois Evelyn Hayden Gainey, 81, of Kannapolis, died Wednesday, March 26, 2014, at Liberty Commons Nursing Center in Salisbury, N.C. Lois was born June 24, 1932, in Darlington County, a daughter of the late James

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014 and Ada Harrell Hayden.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Luther C. Gainey, who died on Dec. 13, 2002; a daughter, April H. Richardson; and a son, Dennis Gainey.

Mrs. Gainey retired from the former Cannon Mills Co. after 35 years of service working as a spooler. Her life was centered on the love of her family.

Survivors include two daughters, Melanie Dukes of Biloxi, Miss., and Donna Gainey of Jacksonville, Fla.; two sons, Delray Gainey and Kenneth Gainey, both of Kannapolis; 16 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and her sister, Melvin Dixon of Darlington.

A graveside service for Lois will be held at noon today at National Cemetery, Salisbury, conducted by the Rev. Ed Hodge.

The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. today at Whitley’s Funeral Home.

Online condolences can be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com.

ROBERT WHITE BISHOPVILLE — Funeral services for Robert Harvey “Bob” White Sr., 76, will be held at 11 a.m. today at Ashland United Methodist Church. The Rev. Kimberly Evans and the Rev. Steve Winburn will officiate. Burial will be in Westview Memorial Park Cemetery.

The family received friends Monday at BrownPennington-Atkins Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Ashland United Methodist Church, c/o Larry W. McKenzie, P.O. Box 9, Lydia, SC 29079.

Mr. White passed away on Saturday, March 29, 2014.

Born Jan. 15, 1938, in Sumter, he was a son of the late Harvey W. and Dorothy Bradham White. He was a member of Ashland United Methodist Church, where he had served as a trustee, chairman of trustees, usher, deacon, Sunday school teacher, and other offices in the church. He was a former member of the Lions Club, Gamecock Club, and president of the Booster Club at Robert E. Lee Academy. Bob graduated from Edmunds High School in Sumter. He retired from National Can in Bishopville and most recently from Brown-PenningtonAtkins Funeral Home.

Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Lessie Windham White of Bishopville; son, Robert H. (Susan) White Jr. of Greenville; granddaughter, Carrie W. (Doug) Winesett of Greenville; grandsons, Joseph (Tina) Fanning and Daniel Fanning, both of Charleston; great-grandson, Hunter Fanning of Charleston; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his precious daughter, Vicki W. Fanning of Charles-

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ton; and his sister, Betty W. Patten of Ohio.

The family would like to express their appreciation to Dr. Mac Chapman as well as Cherrie Truluck and her staff for the excellent care of Bob at Morrell Rehab Center.

Online condolences can be given at www.bpafuneralhome.com.

EMMA BRAILSFORD SUMMERTON — Emma Julia Oliver Brailsford, 94, beloved widow of Willie “Friendly” Brailsford Sr., died Friday morning, March 28, 2014, at her home in Summerton. She was the last survivor of nine children of the late Charlie and Rebecca Johnson Oliver.

Emma was born Nov. 6, 1919. She was a devoted member of Historic Liberty Hill AME Church.

Survivors include four sons, Allen I. (Lynn) Brailsford of Asheville, N.C., Joe M. Brailsford of Ridgefield Park, N.J., Willie F. (Debra) Brailsford Jr. of Orangeburg and Eddie H. Brailsford of Greensboro, N.C.; six daughters, Isabelle Jackson of Sumter, Joyce Jenkins of Brooklyn, N.Y., Gwendolyn Brailsford-Cato of Raleigh, N.C., Rosetta (Troy) Hamilton of West Chester, Ohio, Thelma Limehouse of Lithonia, Ga., and Sandra (Stephen) Brooks of Duluth, Ga.; one niece reared as a daughter, Loretta (Ernest) Fullwood of Leland, N.C.; 24 grandchildren; 14 greatgrandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Survivors also include an honorary son, William (Doris) Dallas of Summerton.

She was preceded in death by two sons, Charlie Benjamin and Clyde Leslie Brailsford.

Homegoing services for Emma Julia Oliver Brailsford will be held at 11 a.m.

Wednesday at Historic Liberty Hill AME Church, 2310 Liberty Hill Road, Summerton, where the Rev. Dr. Leslie J. Lovett will bring words of comfort. The service of committal, benediction and interment will follow at the church cemetery.

Fleming & DeLaine Funeral Home and Chapel of Manning is in charge of services.

Online condolences may be sent to Flemingdelaine@aol. com.

NATHANIEL HUGGINS BISHOPVILLE — Funeral services for Nathanial Huggins, who passed away on March 26, 2014, will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Mary Magdaline Baptist Church, Lamar, with Dr. Reverand Luther Shuller, pastor. Internment will be in Sandy Grove Cemetery in Lamar.

Viewing will be held at the Tribe of Judah Ministry, South Fifth Street, Hartsville.

Services are entrusted to New Life Funeral Services of Bishopville.

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COMICS

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

BIZARRO

SOUP TO NUTZ

ANDY CAPP

GARFIELD

BEETLE BAILEY

BORN LOSER

BLONDIE

ZITS

MOTHER GOOSE

DOG EAT DOUG

DILBERT

JEFF MACNELLY’S SHOE

Readers full of foolishness help celebrate DEAR READERS — It’s April Fools’ Day, the one day I can share some of the more unique letters that Dear Abby come my way — ABIGAIL clearly, VAN BUREN more than a few of which were written in an attempt to have some fun with me. Enjoy!

DEAR ABBY — I have a dear old friend I talk with on the phone several times a day.

She is the talkative type and sometimes keeps me on the phone for half an hour at a time. The problem is I have

THE SUMTER ITEM

an overactive bladder and sometimes must rush to the bathroom. It’s very embarrassing. Is there a nice way to tell her I need to get off the phone for a few minutes without being rude or too specific?

Leaking in Las Vegas DEAR LEAKING — Yes. Tell her to hang on, you’ll be back in a flush.

DEAR ABBY — All the letters you have printed about pennies brought back the memories of what happened in our family when I was very small. My mother won a $10 gold piece for her sponge cake, but our family dog swallowed the coin.

You are probably wondering if we got the coin back.

THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

No, we didn’t. Turned out the coin was counterfeit, and the dog couldn’t “pass it.”

Gotcha!

DEAR GOTCHA! — Now that’s a shaggy dog story if I ever heard one. (And for a moment, I swallowed it.)

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Write Dear Abby at www.

DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Good advice for everyone — teens to seniors — is in “The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It.” To order, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $7 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby, Anger Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

(Shipping and handling are included in the price.)

JUMBLE

SUDOKU

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME

By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

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

ACROSS 1 Bart’s mom 6 Pooch in whodunits 10 Super-fast fliers, briefly 14 Multiple choice options 15 Tater 16 Poi base 17 City on Spain’s Southwestern coast 18 School semester 19 Some Neruda poems 20 Collegian’s specialty 23 Take home the trophy 24 ‘70s-’80s TV role for Robin Williams 25 Bawl out 28 Make illegal 29 “Love __ Madly”: Doors hit 30 Actor Wallach 31 “I __ sorry” 34 TV athletic award 37 Surgical beam 39 Retire 42 Practical joke 43 Prince William’s alma mater 44 Chooses, with “for” 45 Escape

46 Sound system part 48 Lid for a lad 50 Rio Grande city 52 City north of Pittsburgh 54 Tank or tee 57 Kitchen appliance 60 Turn over 62 Reagan secretary of state 63 Megastars 64 In excess of 65 Footwear insert 66 Former midsize Pontiac named for a native Mexican 67 Cancœn cash 68 Tiff 69 Skeptical DOWN 1 Colorful parrot 2 Counters with beads 3 Flying ‘50s film monster 4 Graph paper design 5 Itchy skin inflammation 6 Up and about 7 Bit of dust 8 Gang land 9 Look up to 10 Casual vodka order 11 Prepares for the cattle drive 12 Three, in

Turin 13 Distress letters 21 “Water Lilies” painter Claude 22 Ranks below marquises 26 Fully attentive 27 Loses energy 28 Timely benefit 29 Source of a shot 31 Orchard tree 32 Work on a wall 33 Cattle drive concerns 35 Ladder leadin 36 Greenhouse container 38 Physics particle 40 Decree in imperial

Russia 41 Practical joke 47 Coffeehouse orders 49 Old reception aid 51 Last Olds made 52 Writer Jong 53 “Correctomundo!”

54 Govt. security 55 One with an unsettling look 56 Irritating 58 One may be on a woodpile 59 Wood-shaping tool 60 Badge bearer 61 One who succumbed to a serpent

CLASSIFIEDS

TUESDAY, APRIL 01, 2014

THE ITEM

B7

803-774-1234

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

CLASSIFIED DEADLINES 11:30 a.m. the day before for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday edition.

9:30 a.m. Friday for Saturday’s edition 11:30 a.m. Friday for Sunday’s edition.

CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL NOTICES 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:

Lawrence E. Gross #2014ES4300149

Estate Notice Sumter County

Estate Notice Sumter County

Estate Notice Sumter County

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES

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.

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.

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:

Helen Askins Pack #2014ES4300146

Personal Representative Richard E. McLawhorn Jr. 115 Cargill Way, Suite B Hartsville, SC 29550

Estate:

Richard D. Lawrence #2014ES4300137

Personal Representative Sandra J. Gross 5865 Wessex Drive Wedgefield, SC 29168

Personal Representative Willie B. Lawrence 640 Rainbow Dr. Sumter, SC 29154

Estate:

Estate:

John C. Hutson #2014ES4300176

Personal Representative Delanie Hutson Avins 1105 Timberline Lane Alcolu, SC 29001

Estate:

Vincent Anthony Jackson #2014ES4300147

Estate:

Benny Benenhaley #2014ES4300139

Personal Representative April Benenhaley 3060 Gainous Road Dalzell, SC 29040

Estate: Annie Caroline Thames Cody #2014ES4300184 Personal Representative

Paul Rondy Cody 2303 Harper Street Sumter, SC 29153 Estate:

Laurie T. Davis #2014ES4300169

Personal Representative Leslie Haynes 201 Garmon Road Columbia, SC 29212

Estate:

Louie C. Hinson #2014ES4300160

Personal Representative

Carla Hinson 2033 Cains Mill Road Sumter, SC 29154 Estate:

Mary S. Jones #2014ES4300156

Personal Representative Samuel Jenkins C/O Larry Weston Attorney At Law 201 N. Main Street Sumter, SC 29150

Estate: George Andrew Johnson #2014ES4300111

Lohman Dale Reiter #2014ES4300152

Personal Representative Adele C. Reiter C/O Kenneth Young Jr. Attorney At Law 23 West Calhoun Street Sumter, SC 29150

Estate:

Personal Representative

Barbara P. Jackson C/O Calvin Hastie Attorney At Law 7 East Hampton Avenue Sumter, SC 29150

Elizabeth M. James #2014ES4300182

Personal Representative Charles B. James Jr. 150 Tradd Circle Sumter, SC 29150

Estate:

Cedrick McFedden #2014ES4300168

Personal Representative Joyce McFedden 2860 Ambose Drive Sumter, SC 29153

Estate:

Adele Corbett #2014ES4300151

Personal Representative Adele C. Reiter C/O Kenneth Young Jr. Attorney At Law 23 West Calhoun Street Sumter, SC 29150

Thomas R. Olsen #2014ES4300155

Personal Representative Jacquelyn K. Olsen 3030 Lowfalls Lane Sumter, SC 29150

Estate:

John Calvin Hodge #2014ES4300188

Mildred T. Allen #2014ES4300178

Personal Representative Melinda K. Popovich C/O J. Cabot Seth Attorney At Law PO Box 1268 Sumter, SC 29151

Estate:

Enid Walkup #2014ES4300167

Personal Representative Thomas M. Dabbs PO Box 147 Sumter, SC 29151

Estate:

Estate:

Maggie Chenise Dukes 2404 Winchester Street Apt O Baltimore, MD 21216 Estate:

Richard Wilson #2014ES4300142

Personal Representative Ann Wilson Floyd C/O Kenneth Hamilton Attorney At Law PO Box 52359 Sumter, SC 29152

J.D. Caples #2014ES4300143

Personal Representative Kitty L. Caples C/O Kenneth Hamilton Attorney At Law PO Box 52359 Sumter, SC 29152

Estate:

Sherwood D. Smith #2014ES4300174

Estate:

Estate:

Melvin Vassar #2014ES4300145

Estate:

Estate:

Terry Johnson #2014ES4300162

Personal Representative Betty Johnson 1815 West Avenue South Pinewood, SC 29125

Summons & Notice

Louise Brunson Witherspoon #2014ES4300076

Personal Representative Dorothy Ann W. Larson 915 Windrow Court Sumter, SC 29150

Estate:

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS (NON-JURY MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE) C/A NO: 2014-CP-43-00259 Deficiency Waived

Personal Representative William T. Reynolds III PO Box 11262 Columbia, SC 29211

Estate:

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER Trustmark National Bank, Plaintiff, vs.

Justin D. Biser, Defendant(s) TO THE DEFENDANTS, 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, 1300 Pickens Street, Columbia, SC 29201 within thirty (30) days after service hereof upon you, 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 in the Complaint, and judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

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 February 10, 2014

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE INTERVENTION

Ann T. Reynolds #2014ES4300177

Marion English #2014ES4300136

Personal Representative Sophia C. English 6460 Nakia Drive Rembert, SC 29128

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

WE’RE ALL EARS Questions?

Comments?

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Let us know how we’re doing.

20 N. Magnolia Street 803.774.1200 www.theitem.com

Summons & Notice communicate with and otherwise deal with the Plaintiff through its law firm, Korn Law Firm, P.A., Post Office Box 12369, Columbia, SC 29211, or call (803) 252-5817. Korn Law Firm, P.A., represents the Plaintiff in this action and does not represent you. Under our ethical rules, we are prohibited from giving you any legal advice.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Card of Thanks

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 AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. THIS COMMUNICATION IS FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. Korn Law Firm, P.A. 1300 Pickens Street Columbia, SC 29201 BY: MICHAL KALWAJTYS Attorney for Plaintiff

SUMMONS AND NOTICES

Estelle Stephens #2014ES4300187

Personal Representative

Roger Mae Bugg #2014ES4300170

Personal Representative Marcia Yvonne Bugg C/O Cabot Seth Attorney At Law PO Box 1268 Sumter, SC 29151

Lillian F. Choice #2014ES4300148

Estate:

Personal Representative Debra Ann Grooms 1735 N. Pike East Sumter, SC 29153

Estate:

Personal Representative Roberta C. June 3984 McCrays Mill Road Sumter, SC 29154

Estate:

Leon Coulter #2014ES4300140

Personal Representative Melvin Coulter 1790 Campbell Court Sumter, SC 29154

Personal Representative Betty Mouzon 4351 Granada Drive Sumter, SC 29154

Personal Representative Laura S. Austin 9 Catie Street Sumter, SC 29150

Robert Marion Grooms #2014ES4300171

Estate:

Charlie Davis #2014ES4300161

Personal Representative Lillian Lavonne Bailey A/K/A Lavonne H. Bailey 1605 Old Abbeville Highway Greenwood, SC 29649

Personal Representative Nancy Vassar 453 Heartwood Drive Lexington, SC 29073

Vernon T. Underwood #2014ES4300172

Estate:

Estate: Estate:

Personal Representative Carolyn Johnson 1008 Nathaniel Street Sumter, SC 29150

Personal Representative Henry R. Baker 803 Acacia Drive Sumter, SC 29150

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.

Legal Notice

Andre D. Wiley 03/30/12- 03/30/13 Andre, It has been two year since you went on to be with the Lord.

We miss you so much but your precious memories are still with us. We all love and miss you. Your mom, Wife, Children, Grandchildren, Sister, Brother, Nieces, Nephew ,other family member & church family .

Public Auction Notice is hereby given that the contents of the rental units listed herein will be offered for sale at public auction per the South Carolina Storage Act. The property list contained herein will be sold to satisfy liens imposed by American Storage on 04/15/2014 at 1 PM, or thereafter. The sale will occur on the premises at American Storage, located at 4194 Broad St., Sumter, SC 29154, in the County of Sumter, SC.

Lost & Found Found: male beagle mix puppy @ the Old Camden Hwy. Owner call 803-607-9639 to identify.

In Memory

#229 Fatima Blacknall - baby car seat, 4 chairs and a table. #28 Paul Burroughs - Rocking Chair, Patio seat, futon, medical chair. #189 Amber Tate - Dresser, space heater, household items. #49 Xzoria Pringle - 20 different household items, love seat, sofa. #113 Toy Larkin - Clothes, End table with lamp, Ironing board.

American Storage reserves the right to reject all bids. All contents are sold "as is". Contents of the unit must be removed immediately or the storage unit containing the items must be rented by the purchaser.

Sale is subject to cancellation at any time.

Savondria N. Shannon 03/31/1980 - 12/09/2005 This young lady celebrates another day. Oh thank you God for having your way. We'll remember today that you're 34, and we'll celebrate many more. Sadly Missed Mom, Brother, & Family

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CLASSIFIEDS

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TUESDAY, APRIL 01, 2014

Help Wanted Part-Time

BUSINESS SERVICES

MERCHANDISE

Business Services Landscaping & Constr. No job is too big or small. Free Est..

Rodney 803-305-1496

Home Improvements H.L. Boone, Contractor additions, painting, roofing, gutters, sheetrock, blown ceilings, decks. 773-9904

Furniture / Furnishings

Help Wanted Full-Time

Beautiful Mahogany Dining Set: Table w/ 12 chairs, 2 china cabinets, 2 storage chests, server with bar, (2) 6ft storage buffet cabinets. Custom built overseas.

Beautiful hand carvings on doors.

A real steal, cost over $35,000.

Must see to appreciate. Asking $8,000. Call 803-494-4220

Law office seeks employee for Secretarial position requiring efficient typing, dictaphone, computer and office skills. Send resume to Box 338 c//o The Item, PO Box 1677 Sumter SC 29151

Daniel's Lawn Care • Tree removal • Lawn Service • Mulch / Pine straw • Debris removal 803-968-4185

Garage, Yard & Estate Sales

Oxendine & Son Lawn Care All your lawn care needs & pressure washing. Call Jonathan 803-565-2160 or Kerry 316-8726.

GrassBusters, Lawn Maintenance, Pest & Termite Control.

Insured and Lic. 803-983-4539,

Jenni's Exchange 340 Pinewood Rd Sidewalk Sale Fri April 4 10am-6pm Sat April 5 10am-5pm Store Wide Bargains!

Four Seasons Lawn Care Serving Sumter for almost 20 yrs!

Free est. 494-9169/468-4008

LARGE GARAGE SALE 1st & 3rd Weekend Tables $1 & Up FLEA MARKET BY SHAW AFB

Roofing

Open every weekend.

905-4242

All Types of Roofing & Repairs All work guaranteed. 30 yrs exp.

SC lic. Virgil Bickley 803-316-4734.

For Sale or Trade

Tree Service STATE TREE SERVICE Worker's Comp & General liability insurance. Top quality service, lowest prices. 803-494-5175 or 803-491-5154 www.statetree.net A Notch Above Tree Care Full quality service low rates, lic./ins., free est BBB accredited 983-9721 Ricky's Tree Service Tree removal, stump grinding, Lic & ins, free quote, 803-435-2223 or cell 803-460-8747.

PETS & ANIMALS

STC Now Hiring Diesel Mechanic Qualified candidates must have:

All Upscale Furn: Table w/4 chairs $250. Curved Sofa w/2 recliners $800. 3pc Ent center $600. Solid wood desk and file cabinet $300.

Rosewood Shelf $300. Black desk & chair $200. 2 Armoires with drawers and mirrored doors $600 both. 803-494-4220

Lawn Service

EMPLOYMENT

•Valid driver license •High School Diploma or GED •Three years or more of diesel mechanical experience •Must provide tools / picture at interview STC offers competitive salary and benefits EOE and Drug Free Workplace Contact - Pat Joyner 803-775-1002 x107 Experienced Part Time Secretary, for local church Requirements: Strong people, organizational, and computer skills. Please send resume to: Att. Secretarial Position, Box 355 c//o The Item, PO Box 1677 Sumter SC 29151 Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center is accepting applications for the following positions: •Director of Resource Management-Full-Time •RN- Women and Children Services (L/D, OB, Peds)Full-Time/PRN •RN-ICU-Full-Time/PRN •RN-Med/Surg-Full-Time/PRN •CST-OP Services-Full-Time

Cash For Junk Cars, used Cars, junk Batteries & unwanted gift cards. Call Gene *Night shift openings with 803-934-6734 competitive shift differentials* Martin's Used Appliance Washers, Dryers, Refrig., Stoves.

Special front end load washer $399 Guarantee 464-5439/469-7311

Antiques / Collectibles

We offer competitive benefits and salary. You may go online: www.cprmc.com for online applications. We Drug Test, EOE. This hospital is partially owned by physicians

(2) Full Size Carousel Horses.

Beautifully hand-painted (2) Small horses. (1) with music box. All four $2,700. Very Great Steal. Call 803-494-4220

Help Wanted Part-Time

Psychotherapist-responsible for individual, group, family therapy, psychosocial assessments and case management. Masters in social work, psychology, or counseling required with current LISW, PC, or LPC. Fax resume to 803-774-2633 or email : lefford.fate@tuomey.com

Trucking Opportunities Truck Driver Trainees Needed Now at H.O. Wolding Earn $800/wk Local CDL Training NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED! Be trained & based locally!

1-888-263-7364 CDL drivers needed 21 & older, two years exp. Call 843-659-8254 or 843-659-2268

Mobile Home Rentals

STATEBURG COURTYARD

4BR/2BA (Paxville), LR, DR, Family Rm, eat in kitchen, C/H/A, all appl's. $775/Mo. 452-5544 or 704-615-5622.

Senior Living Apartments for those 62+ (Rent based on income) Shiloh-Randolph Manor 125 W. Bartlette.

775-0575 Studio/1 Bedroom apartments available EHO

Unfurnished Homes For Rent -1425 Morris Way 3BR/2BA, 1,900 sq ft. fenced yard. sprinkler system, new roof, new carpet. washer/dryer incl. Very spacious. $1100 Mo. Call 803-310-8745

1998 Ford Ranger XLT Ext. cab, 109K mi. Exc. cond. $5200 OBO. Call 803-447-5453

Autos For Sale

Oaklawn MHP: 2 BR M.H.'s, water/sewer/garbage pk-up incl'd.

RV parking avail. Call 494-8350

Resort Rentals Ocean Lakes 2BR/2BA C/H/A Sleeps 8, near ocean, Call 803-773-2438

REAL ESTATE

Live-in CNA needed. Hrs: 9 am Fri - 9 am Sun. Non-smokers, must be strong & able to do stand/pivot transfers. Call 803-478-7434.

Unfurnished Apartments

Vans / Trucks / Buses

2 & 3 BRs 803-494-4015

Medical Help Wanted

RENTALS

TRANSPORTATION

A Guaranteed Credit Approval AUTO LOANS We will arrange financing even if you have been turned down before.

Loans available for no credit, bad credit, 1st Time Buyers & Bankruptcy buyers. No co-signers needed. Call Mr. Ashley Brown at 803-926-3235

2002 Chevy Cavalier 87K mi.

Exc. Cond, gas saver. Asking $2,700 OBO. Call 803-447-5453

Manufactured Housing Looking for your DREAM HOME? LOW CREDIT SCORE? Been turned down for bad credit?

Come try us, we do our own financing. We have 3-4-5 bedroom homes. Layaway program available. For more information, call 843-389-4215.

Farms & Acreage For Sale By Owner, 10 Acres , 8 mi. N of Sumter. Owner Financing 803-427-3888.

Land & Lots for Sale 3 Lots in City limits (Bishopville).

Asking $20,000 or possible trade.

Call 803-459-4773 Hwy 441 Dalzell, ac, cleared, water, septic, elec $3K dn $225 mo 60 mo $13K. 713-870-0216

$$$ AVON $$$ FREE TRAINING! 803-422-5555

Dogs

AKC Maltese pups are 6 weeks in time for everyone's Easter delight. (M) $500 OBO, (F) $750 FRIM. Health guaranteed in writing. 803 499-1360

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See Your Items In Appliances, Cars, Pets, Furniture, Yard Sales & More.

It’s Easy - Call Today 803-774-1234 www.theitem.com

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MES: Poster contest features Francis Marion theme C4 SECTION

C

Online: www.theitem.com/clarendon_sun | Call: (803) 435-4716 | E-mail: jim@theitem.com

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

Manning, Summerton voters go to polls April 8

BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com As Manning prepares for City Council elections on April 8, no date has been determined for a special election to replace Gregory Witherspoon, who died March 20, said Princess Lang, deputy director of the Clarendon County Voter Registration Office.

“We have not yet been officially notified of his death,” Lang said.

Even though Witherspoon was not running for re-election, there are no declared candidates for his District 5 council seat in the April 8 election, and

no one filed as a write-in candidate.

The only names appearing on the City Council ballot in Manning are District 2 incumbent Diane Georgia and challenger Janice Coney.

Georgia was first elected to the seat in 2006. She is director of guidance and dropout prevention coordinator in Clarendon School District One. GEORGIA Challenger Janice Coney is making her first run for elected office. She has worked for the Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments, Central Carolina

Technical College and the U.S. Department of Commerce.

A 1978 graduate of Manning High School, Coney has associate degrees in secretarial science and computer science and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science from Strayer University, an online program.

Coney said she would CONEY work to get more sidewalks and better lighting in Manning.

“I see too many school kids having to walk in the street or on the grass or in

the mud,” she said.

She said she is not going to get into criticizing the incumbent.

“I tell people you have a choice,” Coney said. “If you have what you like and you are getting what you want then you have no reason to change, but that’s not what I am hearing.”

Coney said she believes Manning has a lot of potential, but would like to see citizens become more involved.

“We have a role as citizens,” she said.

“Elected officials have a role of pushing out information to us but there are

SEE ELECTION, PAGE C4

Clarendon 1 projects lower operations spending

BY RAYTEVIA EVANS revans@theitem.com (803) 774-1214 Nearly 11 percent of school districts in South Carolina, including Clarendon School District 1, spent more money on district operations than on teacher salaries in 2011-12, according to a recent news release from S.C. Superintendent of Education Dr. Mick Zais.

Clarendon 1 was one of nine districts highlighted in recent ZAIS data showing the operations budget, enrollment numbers and cost per student WILDER — statistics Zais said he found disappointing.

“These data give taxpayers insight into where their money goes.

I hope parents and the press in these districts start asking some tough questions,” Zais stated.

According to the data provided by Zais’ office on March 25, Clarendon 1 had an operations budget of $2,400,248 in 201112 with 884 students enrolled. The cost per student of district operations was $2,715. The data showed that the average cost per student for the 2011-12 school year was $1,357.

Clarendon 1 Superintendent Dr. Rose Wilder defended the spending from that school year, explaining that a lot of the money spent in operations was not for district office salaries, but for maintaining two older facilities in the district.

“There are two reasons for that. That is

“Teachers are to education what doctors are to medicine, the providers of the service for which the institution exists’ DR. MICK ZAIS S.C. Superintendent of Education where we spent a large amount of money for facilities maintenance. We were operating out of two very old schools, which is no longer the case. So the maintenance cost will definitely go down tremendously,” Wilder said. “The other part is that we have really expanded our technology. We have spent a large percentage of our operations budget on maintenance and technology – not in district salaries.”

Operations costs include maintenance, data processing and business operations, as well as legal costs and district office staff salaries/ fringe benefits. The nine districts that spent more on district operations than on teacher salaries was determined based on statewide average teacher salary of $47,376 with an average class size of 22 students.

“Teachers are to education what doctors are to medicine, the providers of the service for which the institution exists,” Zais said. “Any expense that doesn’t directly impact student

SEE CLARENDON 1, PAGE C3

PHOTO PROVIDED

Lex Costas of Daniel Island won the first Walmart Bass Fishing League South Carolina Division tournament of 2014 on Santee Cooper.

Walmart bass tourney results announced

BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com (803) 774-1250

L

ex Costas of Daniel Island weighed a fivebass limit totaling 32 pounds, 14 ounces on March 22 to win the first Walmart Bass Fishing League South Carolina Division tournament of 2014 on Santee Cooper. For his victory, Costas earned $3,255.

A former guide on Santee Cooper, Costas used his local knowledge to bring in the massive limit that would have topped any single day catch in the Rayovac FLW Series event held just one week before.

“I never thought I would catch 32 pounds,” said Costas.

“You always hope to, of course, and it was certainly nice to do.”

Costas said that he fished an area with current to start the day and caught part of his limit there with a white bucktail jig.

He said he finished his limit and culled a few times by targeting other pre-spawn areas in 6 to 12 feet of water with Yamamoto Senkos and a medium-diving crankbait.

“I caught fish in five different places,” explained Costas. “We just bounced around and picked

‘It felt great. I’ve come close quite a few times.

I’m happy to finally get one under my belt.’

LEX COSTAS 2014 Walmart Bass tournament winner up one fish here and two fish there. Other than our first stop we didn’t catch more than two fish anywhere.

“It felt great. I’ve come close quite a few times. I’m happy to finally get one under my belt.”

Rounding out the top 10 pros were: Kyle Giella, Irmo, five bass, 22-9, $1,628; Ken Ellis, Bowman, five bass, 19-13, $1,084; Ron Brown, Mount Pleasant, five bass, 19-5, $760; Anthony Colacurcio, Mount Pleasant, five bass, 18-9, $651; Freddie Gamble Jr., Sumter, three bass, 18-8, $597; Mark Curry, Conway, five bass, 17-12, $543; Thomas Rubbo, Lexington, five bass, 17-3, $488; Greg Rikard, Leesville, five bass, 16-8, $434; and

Norm Attaway, Clearwater, five bass, 13-11, $380.

For complete results, visit FLWOutdoors.com.

Lonnie Drusch of Sumter weighed in four bass totaling 15 pounds, 7 ounces to win $1,628 in the co-angler division.

Rounding out the top 10 coanglers were: Carluss King, Galivants Ferry, three bass, 1213, $814; Jack Daniel Hoy, Hollywood, five bass, 11-6, $542; Mike Field, Columbia, two bass, 9-2, $380; John King, Santee, three bass, 9-0, $326; Tom Patten, Brandon, Vt., two bass, 7-8, $298; Gregory Littles, Columbia, two bass, 5-14, $257; Dale Webber, Kernersville, two bass, 5-14, $257; Michael Petras, Summerville, two bass, 5-13, $217; and Jamie Amerson, Savannah, Ga., three bass, 5-11, $190.

The top 40 boaters and 40 coanglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 2-4 Regional Championship on the James River in Richmond, Va. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and a Chevy Silverado, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.

C2

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CLARENDON SUN

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

BRIEF ENCOUNTERS FISH FRY The Manning Lions Club will hold a fish fry from 4:30 to 7 p.m.

Friday, April 4, at the Manning Restaurant, 476 N. Brooks St, Manning. The menu includes fish, grits, cole slaw, hushpuppies and a soft drink. Tickets are $8 for adults, $4 for children 5-14.

Children age 4 and younger eat free. Funds raised will be used to provide eyeglasses and eye exams for needy families.

For more information, call Ray at (803) 473-4377.

PETS OF THE WEEK

10:30 a.m.- Noon — Morris Animal Clinic, Manning April 12: 8:30-10 a.m. — Old Town Hall, Summerton 10:30 a.m.- Noon — Morris Animal Clinic, Manning April 19: 8:30 a.m.-Noon — Morris Animal Clinic, Manning

Goods on Broad Street or Dubose Bait and Tackle on U.S. 15 South, both in Sumter, or online at Facebook/SumterChapterDeltawaterfowl. For additional information, call Melvin at (803) 464-9741 or Richard at (803) 7204269.

CLOSING

PRESERVATION MONTH

Preservation Month is held annually each May and was designed to promote historic places for the purpose of instilling national and community pride, promoting heritage tourism, and HARAMBEE BREAKFAST showing the social and economic The Clarendon Council of benefits of historic preservation.

Negro Women invites the public This year Main Street Manning, to its Annual Harambee Breaka department of the City and the fast at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 5 at Clarendon County Historical SoTaw Caw Community Outreach ciety Museum have joined to Center, 1126 Granby Lane, in recognize the biggest preservaSummerton. A great breakfast, tion project in Manning and enjoyable program and dynamic Clarendon County, the renovamotivational speaker, Jeffrey tion of the Clarendon County Lampkin promise a wonderful Courthouse.

LIBRARY CLOSING spring event. The venerable hisStudents are encouraged to The Harvin Clarendon County participate in our Preservation toric organization donates all Library will be closed for The fundraiser profits to local chariMonth Writing Project. StuStriped Bass Festival Events on ties. dents can write in any format a Saturday, April 5, 2014 and rePresident Elease Fulton expoem, essay, or short story. open on Monday, April 7, 2014 presses her appreciation of all Following are some prompts who supported the CNCNW Pag- from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. The to help the students with the eant and Showcase of Young Tal- book drop will be available for re- writing project: ent last September. Brodice Din- turn of unrestricted materials.

Younger grades: What do For more information, please call judges do? What happens at the gle, a Clarendon District Two the library at 803-435-8633. student was crowned the courthouse?

CNCNW First King. New memOlder grades: What is preserbership is welcomed and needed BASS FISHING TOURNAMENT vation? Memory of the courtSumter Chapter of Delta Wato continue serving the needs of house? terfowl will hold its Bass Fishing Clarendon County families. For Artists of all ages are invited Tournament (two-man team) on to participate in a related art exmore information call (803) 478Saturday, May 3, at Pack’s Land- hibition. Depict the Clarendon 2939, or 485-2071. ing. Preregister by April 18 and County Courthouse in a medium 2014 RABIES CLINICS receive a free barbecue chicken of your choosing and frame it.

Dr. Wayne Morris, DVM, will plate. Plates will also be sold for The deadline for both the writvaccinate cats and dogs at the $5 each. Registration will begin ing project and the art exhibition 2014 rabies clinics listed below. at 4:30 a.m. the day of the event. is April 16. Submitted entries The charge is $8 per pet. For Blast-off will be at safe light in will be used during Preservation more information, call the Morthe order of registration. Weigh- Month displays and activities. ris Animal clinic at (803) 435-8001. in will be at 3 p.m. Entry fee: $50 For more information call April 5: 8:30-10 a.m. — Davis per boat. Big fish: $10 per boat.

Carrie Trebil at City Hall at Building, Summerton Register at Williams Sporting (803) 435-8477.

CLARIFICATION In last week’s edition of The Clarendon Sun, there was an event omitted from the Striped Bass Festival itinerary.

The Sumter Cruisers will be hosting a Truck/Car Cruise-In on Mill Street next to the post office on Saturday, April 5, as part of the festivities.

A portion on Liberty Church Road between S-14-262 and S-1448 in Clarendon County will be closed for approximately three months beginning Monday, April 14, as the South Carolina Department of Transportation replaces a bridge. The SCDOT expects the new bridge to be open by June 18.

Motorists will be detoured on 2-14-262 and S-14-262. Some school bus routes in Clarendon School District 2 will be affected.

For more information, call (803) 435-4431.

THE SUMTER ITEM

GIZMO

SKEETER

Gizmo was found extremely frightened and covered in mats and debris, wandering on the streets of Clarendon County; she was taken to the shelter, where she didn’t know whom to trust and didn’t seem friendly. However, after being cleaned up, fed and given lots of attention, she’s done a complete turnaround. Always happy to meet new people and running about in the office, Gizzy would make some lucky family with no children very happy.

She’s leash trained, up to date on vaccines and has already been spayed.

Skeeter is a 1-year-old Chihuahua who enjoys being spoiled. He exemplifies the term “lap dog.” Skeeter is leash trained and does well with other animals, including cats, and will make some lucky family very happy. He has already been neutered and is vaccinated, up to date.

See Gizmo and Skeeter and many other cats and dogs at A Second Chance Animal Shelter, 5079 Alex Harvin Highway (U.S. 301), which has numerous pets available for adoption. Adoption hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. To drop off an animal, call (803) 473-7075 for an appointment. If you’ve lost a pet, check www.ccanimalcontrol.webs.com and www.ASecondChanceAnimalShelter.com.

C4

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CLARENDON SUN

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014

Poster contest features Francis Marion theme

THE SUMTER ITEM

LMA softballers take Challenge Pre-Season tourney title

PHOTO PROVIDED

Laurence Manning Academy B-team girls won the SCISA vs.

SCHSL Challenge Pre-season Tournament Saturday, March 15 at Palmetto Park in Sumter for the second year in a row.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Manning Elementary School students who participated in the SAR poster contest are: Front row: Derrick Canty, Mikalyn West Renner, McKenzie Rose Casselman and Joy Murray; second row, Taylor Markle, Jefferson Bennett and Aubrey Edwards; third: Timothy Goldsmith, Tracie Holladay and Jessalynn Valerie Lang. Teachers pictured are Frank Brown and George Summers, both on the left, Carole Summers and art teacher Alan Roberts, both on the right. The posters reflect the theme “Francis Marion.” Miklayn West Rennet from Ms. Bozard’s fifth grade class at Manning Elementary won the competition from SumterClarendon Col. Matthew Singleton SAR. Her poster will be entered in the state SAR competition on Saturday.

Frank Brown, left, congratulates Taylor Lyles, Laurence Manning Academy eighth-grader, on winning the Sons of the American Revolution poster contest at her school.

ELECTION FROM PAGE C1 things we can do, too, as citizens. One of the things I am definitely encouraging is for people to attend council meetings and learn what issues are talked about.

If after this election ... the citizens benefit either way it is a winner for me.”

Coney said she has worked helping people her entire career and feels like a position on the council would help her continue that public service.

In Summerton, the only contested race is between current City Councilman Terrance Tindal and Donald “Mac” Bagnal Jr. to replace current Mayor Jay Bruner, who is not seeking re-election.

In Summerton, the mayor and all six council members are elected at large and serve

four-year staggered terms.

Bagnal is the director of chapter development for the South Carolina Waterfowl Association (SCWA), which operates Camp Woodie near Pinewood.

Bagnal said he believes he has the experience necessary to manage the city budget as a fundraiser for SCWA .

“I raise $1.5 million annually for the association,” he said, “I want people to understand that I am very familiar with budgets and managing large organizations.”

Bagnal said he was born in Clarendon County and adopted by an aunt and uncle in Manning.

“I am not some tourist that came in and decided to stay,” he said.

Bagnal said he wants to

have a harmonious relationship with the Summerton Town Council “I know that if I win I am still only one vote sitting around that table,” he said.

He is currently a councilman in Summerton, first elected to the seat in 2010.

Tindal is a former teacher at Summerton Early Childhood Center and is founder of the Teaching God’s Truth Ministries, a performing arts ministry.

An issue in the Summerton mayor’s race is Tindal’s late filing of campaign reports to the South Carolina Ethics Commission from 2010-13. According to the SCEC website, that has led to the councilman owing $21,500 in penalties, late filing penalties and fees. The website shows Tindal filed reports for those years and this year’s Jan. 21 election.

Gourmet campfire cooking at Santee State Park Charleston Cooks! will present a two-night cooking class at Santee State Park on April 29 through May 1. No ordinary campfire cooking class, this event features Charleston Cooks! chefs leading participants through preparing, cooking and eating a delicious meal and dessert. Gourmet cooks will walk you through preparing your own gourmet meal.

You’ll receive great kitchen tips as well as several gourmet recipes that will impress your friends and family for years to come. Program fee includes two nights stay in the lakeside cabin, hands-on training with a chef, one gourmet meal plus a bonus dessert and all taxes and fees. Class-size is limited to 15 participants. Fee is $200/single occupancy, $150/double occupancy. Everything needed for the class is included.

Call the park for reservations. Check in after 3 p.m. April 29, check out 10 a.m. May 1.

Santee State Park, 251 State Park Road, Santee, SC 29142.

Contact Santee State Park santeesp@scprt.com or (803) 8542408.

Look no further than your local newspaper for

The right advertising opportunity!

Call (803) 774-1200 and get started today.

Call (803) 464-1157 and get started today