April 30, 2014 by The Sumter Item

Repeat offenders bill likely won’t advance ‘Crossover’ deadline means some legislation won’t be voted on this year WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com (803) 774-1272

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SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 3 SECTIONS, 26 PAGES | VOL. 119, NO. 167

SPORTS

McELVEEN

A looming legislative deadline appears to be the end of the road for a bill sponsored by Sen. Thomas McElveen, D-Sumter, that

would strengthen sentencing guidelines for repeat offenders. A bill that would add time to the sentences of anyone who commits a crime while out on bond likely won’t come up for a vote in the state Senate before a Thurs-

day deadline for legislation to pass out of at least one house, after one senator raised a procedural objection to the bill. “Unfortunately, I resolved myself a couple weeks ago

SEE BILL, PAGE A8

If the shoe fits, donate it

Path to the prize Check out the local high school baseball, softball playoffs bracket B5 PANORAMA

Microbrew festival is back downtown C1 DEATHS, B7 Samuel E. Steele Sr. Cleo Weeks Suzanne Marrs Susan J. Mack Rebecca T. Davis Joe Lee Nelson Joann Y. Richardson

John H. Blackmon Edward Williams William Roberts Elizabeth M. Kennedy David Williams Leon Eady Sr.

Reggie Hickmon, a forklift operator with Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated in Bishopville, digs for the right size pair of shoes. His company partnered with Samaritan’s Feet and Good Samaritans for All People to bring new shoes to about 150 children at Lower Lee Elementary on Monday.

Students receive footwear thanks to groups’ event

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PHOTOS BY JADE REYNOLDS / THE SUMTER ITEM

Ashlyn Stuckey, left, washes a student’s feet as her mother, Candace Stuckey, adds some soap to the wash. Stuckey brought her 8-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son, Rhett, to the Samaritan’s Feet event at Lower Lee Elementary School on Monday because she thought it was “a great opportunity to learn to serve.”

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BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com (803) 774-1250 Plenty of smiles and high-fives were shared as about 150 students at Lower Lee Elementary School received new pairs of shoes Monday. Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated in Bishopville partnered with Good Samaritans for All People and Samaritan’s Feet International to put on the event. “We’re excited to give them new shoes,” said Troy Santoscoy, plant manager for the Bishopville location. “Now they are ready for summer. We hope they’ll (the shoes) serve as encouragement and let them know they are loved.” This is the second year his company has partnered with these groups to put on

SEE SHOES, PAGE A8

At least 35 dead as South braces for more twisters LOUISVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Ruth Bennett died clutching the last child left at her day care center as a tornado wiped the building off its foundation. A firefighter who came upon the body gently pulled the toddler from her arms. “It makes you just take a breath now,” said next-door neighbor Kenneth Billingsley, who witnessed the scene at what was left of Ruth’s Child Care Center in this logging town of 6,600. “It makes you pay attention

to life.” Bennett, 53, was among at least 35 people killed in a two-day outbreak of twisters and other violent weather that pulverized homes from the Midwest to the Deep South. The child, whose name was not released, was alive when she was pulled from Bennett’s arms and was taken to a hospital. Her condition was not known. As crews in Mississippi and Alabama turned from search-and-rescue efforts to

cleanup, the South braced for a third round of potentially deadly weather on Tuesday. Tornadoes usually strike in the late afternoon and evening. One of the hardest-hit areas in Monday evening’s barrage of twisters was Tupelo, Miss., where a gas station looked as if it had been stepped on by a giant. Francis Gonzalez, who also owns a convenience store and Mexican restaurant attached to the service station, took cover with her

three children and two employees in the store’s cooler as the roof over the gas pumps was reduced to aluminum shards. “My Lord, how can all this happen in just one second?” she said in Spanish. On Tuesday, the growl of chain saws cut through the otherwise still, hazy morning in Tupelo. Massive oak trees, knocked over like toys, blocked roads. Neighbors helped one another cut away limbs. “This does not even look

like a place that I’m familiar with right now,” said Pam Montgomery, walking her dog in her neighborhood. “You look down some of the streets, and it doesn’t even look like there is a street.” By the government’s preliminary count, 11 tornadoes — including one that killed 15 people in Arkansas — struck the nation’s midsection on Sunday, and at least 25 ravaged the South

SEE STORMS, PAGE A8

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

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

Kids get books thanks to nonprofit

LOCAL & STATE BRIEFS FROM STAFF REPORTS

Rx drug take-back sets new record for police Saturday’s prescription drug take-back event produced a record haul for the Sumter Police Department. The old and unused pills turned in to police this weekend weighed a combined 150 pounds, surpassing previous collections taken in locally as part of the national prescription drug take-back day organized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The collection filled 13 trash bags, according to a release from the police department. The DEA regularly works with local law enforcement agencies to collect and destroy old prescription drugs in an effort to prevent addictive substances from being abused. Members of the public surrendered their old prescriptions at Sumter Law Enforcement Center, 107 E. Hampton Ave. During the last national take-back event in October, 324 tons, or 648,000 pounds, of prescription medications were collected by law enforcement across the country. Sumter police will continue to collect old prescription drugs year round at the Law Enforcement Center.

BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com (803) 774-1250

time for me when they were little. Now I get to read ‘Goodnight Moon’ to my granddaughter.” Reach Out and Read is a national nonprofit that tries to prepare children for school by partnering with health care providers to give children free, new, developmentally appropriate books during well visits. “Every time they come in, they know they get a book,” Trzcinski said. “We give them the book at the beginning of the visit. It’s a nice way to see how the parent interacts with the child. We show them it’s not just a book they can read with. It’s so much more than that. They can count pictures in the book.

Reach Out and Read is again encouraging parents to read with their children with its new “Spring in Bloom” reading list. “I read ‘Goodnight Moon’ with my oldest daughter, and I still know it by heart,” said Patti Trzcinski, pediatric nurse practitioner with Sumter Family Health Center. “That bond a parent gets with a child by sitting at the end of the day and reading a book with them, that’s just something that can’t be replaced. It was always a special

You can ask questions like, ‘where’s the ball?’ and have them point. You can ask what color something is. You can kind of see where they are cognitively. Are they able to count? Do they know their colors? Are they ready to go to kindergarten?” Books are available in English, Spanish and sometimes both, she said. After the visit, the children get to take the books home. “A lot of our children have limited financial resources,” Trzcinski said. “This helps them build a little home library.” For more information on the program, visit reachoutandread.org.

Fishing clinic at Lee State Park

Caterpillar will close Fountain Inn plant FOUNTAIN INN — Caterpillar is moving its engine production plant operations from Fountain Inn to Georgia and Texas, affecting 380 full-time and 130 temporary jobs. The move has no known impact on Caterpillar operations in Sumter County. The company said Tuesday its marine engine operation is shifting to Griffin, Georgia, and the C7 engine assembly line is moving to Seguin, Texas. The South Carolina plant is closing by the end of the year. The firm said the move is being made to improve efficiency. The company says severance packages are being offered to full-time employees and they may be considered for the relocated jobs.

Search ends for man who jumped off cruise NASSAU, Bahamas — The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for a 30-year-old American man who reportedly jumped off a cruise ship sailing between the Bahamas and South Florida. The Coast Guard said searchers covered more than 3,000 square miles since James Miller of South Carolina went missing from the ship Bahamas Celebration early Sunday. The search was suspended Tuesday. The cruise ship owned by Celebration Cruise Line was sailing about 27 miles east of Florida’s Delray Beach when Miller was reported missing. The Coast Guard said he reportedly jumped over the railing of the liner.

MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

Lee State Park Ranger Lester Shelley helps Ronald Riffon of Mayesville get his line untangled during a fishing clinic at the park Saturday. Shelley taught participants how to tie fishing knots, bait a hook and cast and land a fish. Shelley said there will be another clinic on Memorial Day weekend. For information on Lee State Park, call (803) 428-5307, email leesp@scprt.com or visit SouthCarolinaParks.com.

‘Quaker Café’ author scheduled for 3 appearances BY IVY MOORE ivym@theitem.com (803) 774-1221 Brenda Bevan Remmes will begin the month of May with three scheduled events at which she will discuss and sign copies of her debut novel, “The Quaker Café.” The book is far from her first published work — the Dabbs Crossroads resident has long written nonfiction in short and long forms. “I’ve had articles in The Petigru Review, The Caroliniana Columns, The Southern Sampler, The Pee Dee Magazine, and a My Turn segment in Newsweek some years ago. In 2008, I selfpublished the narrative history of the Dabbs-McBride family (her own) in the book ‘Everything Happens at the Crossroads,’” she said. While “The Quaker Café” is set in North Carolina, the small community

of Cedar Branch might just as easily have been set in rural South Carolina, which Remmes knows well. The eponymous Quaker Café is the spot where locals meet to catch up on each other’s lives; it’s the virtual center of Cedar Branch. Most of the residents are Quakers, but Liz Hoole, the protagonist, has married into the religion and is still navigating her way through issues such as REMMES the proper spot in backyard family plots to bury recently deceased relatives. There’s also a “scandalous” bit of history Liz feels constrained from revealing, although it could clear a longtime injustice. These fascinating issues, like others in the book, are not unique to Quakers, or even Southerners, but to fallible humans everywhere. With its sympathetic characters and

complex family dynamics, “The Quaker Café” is a gentle, good summertime read. Remmes will sign copies of her book from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at the Elephant Ear Gallery, 672 Bultman Drive, Sumter, and from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Books on Broad, 944 Broad St., Camden. Both events are free and open to the public, and books will be available for purchase. In addition, the Sumter chapter of the S.C. Writers Workshop invites the public to an evening with Remmes at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 19, in the Arts and Humanities Lecture Hall at the University of South Carolina Sumter, 200 Miller Road. The author will read from “The Quaker Café” and will answer questions and sign copies of the book. “The Quaker Café” is available online in paperback and Kindle editions. Visit the websites www.brendaremmes. com and www.amazon.com for more information.

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LOCAL

THE SUMTER ITEM

County council candidates approach race differently BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com (803) 774-1272 With June’s primary election a little more than a month away, two new faces hoping to join Sumter County Council are beginning to introduce themselves to voters. But the way the two men are campaigning display two very different styles. On Friday, Charlie Jones is hosting a town-hall-style event to answer questions from the public and promote his campaign for Council District 6. The following night, he’ll perform as part of a concert at the same venue. His opponent, Jimmy McCain, on the other hand, is eschewing big campaign events in favor of a more community-focused, grassroots campaign, speaking to neighbors one on one. Both Democrats, Jones and McCain are running in the June 10 primary to replace current County Council Chairman Larry Blanding. For his part, Jones will hold a questionand-answer session with the public beginning at 6 p.m. Friday at the hall of American Legion Post 15, 28 S. Artillery Drive. “There will be no limits on the questions. They can ask anything they feel like,” Jones said. “I would invite all of Sumter County to attend, whether they live in my district or not.” Jones and other guest speakers will also address the meeting, and the very next night, Jones, a recording artist, will perform in concert with two other musicians as a fundraising effort at the American Legion at 7 p.m. Saturday. On the other side, McCain says he doesn’t plan to hold any big campaign events before the primary, instead relying

on his local connections in the community to build support for his campaign. “I’m out beating the bushes,” he said. “I’m a big walker, so I walk all over Sumter. I walked five miles the other day, three miles yesterday, and I was going to go out walking today, but my hip was hurting.” McCain hopes his involvement with civic organizations in Sumter has already made him a known quantity among many voters in the district. As president of the Westside Neighborhood Association and a member of the City-County Planning Commission, he’s worked on beautifying and rehabilitating local neighborhoods. McCain also wants to focus on infrastructure and schools as a county councilman. “We’ve had 20 houses torn down on the Westside,” he said. “I’ve worked closely with codes enforcement on that, and that helps to build the relationships you need to be heard and get things done.” Jones is focusing on a similar theme in his campaign, saying he would push for more development and new businesses along the Manning Avenue corridor. If it’s approved by voters this November, he’d like to see a renewed penny sales tax go toward building up the area between the South Main Street bridge and the Continental Tire the Americas plant. “I think (the tax) might be a good thing, if it’s used better than it has been,” Jones said. “We don’t get nothing but a new sidewalk from time to time. I want to see it go to any undeveloped area.” Despite their contrasting styles, the two candidates will cross paths on the campaign trail at least once. Both men will appear in a candidate forum hosted by the Sumter NAACP at Central Carolina Technical College on May 22.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

Batmobile will lead Shrine Day Parade

SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO

Dr. Phillip Lane Latham will serve as grand marshal for the 2014 Shrine Day Parade, leading the procession in his custom-made Batmobile. The parade is presented in conjunction with the Sumter Iris Festival. Arthur Bradley, parade chairman, said anyone wishing to sign up for the May 24 parade can pick up an application at Swan Lake-Iris Gardens or at Ace Parker Tires Inc., 930 N. Lafayette Blvd. Call (803) 491-7665 for more information or to have applications mailed, emailed or faxed.

Car wreck skit aims to curb drunken driving among prom-goers BY RAYTEVIA EVANS revans@theitem.com (803) 774-1214 The juniors and seniors at Sumter High School had a very different kind of experience preparing for Saturday’s prom during a presentation Tuesday. The students were ushered into the gym to view a drunken driving re-enactment as part of the Prom Promise program sponsored by Sumter Police Department. With the help of the drama department, police put on a realistic display of possible con-

sequences when people make the decision to drink and drive. The students were encouraged to have a good time, as prom is a special occasion during their high school years, but it is just as important to make good decisions. “When a person consumes alcohol, it takes away your brain’s ability to divide your attention, and it affects your motor skills,” said Staff Sgt. Tony Rivers. The presentation included a mini prom scene, a mock car wreck in the parking lot and a criminal trial. The stu-

RAYTEVIA EVANS / THE SUMTER ITEM

During a mock presentation for Prom Promise, EMS removes a victim after a staged wreck caused by drunken driving. The Sumter Police Department sponsored the presentation at Sumter High School to encourage students to make the right decisions before prom Saturday.

dents with the drama club also worked with LifeNet, Sumter Fire Department, the coroner’s office, Magistrate Judge Lee Tindal and Bullock Funeral Home to help portray the dangers of drinking and driving. Sen. Thomas McElveen and his wife, Bronwyn, also participated in the mock court proceedings as legal counsel for the defense and victim, respectively. During the mock court proceedings, McElveen said his client — accused of felony DUI with death and felony DUI with bodily injury — would remember the consequences for the rest of his life. At the end of the presentation, Tindal reiterated the importance of making the right decisions and reminded students that they can possibly face her if they end up in a similar scenario as the one presented Tuesday. “I hope you have a wonderful prom, but all of us want you to go home that night and not end up in that black bag and then in that casket two days later,” Tindal said. Crime Prevention Officer Joey Duggan said this is the second time the department

has conducted the event, and they normally do the presentation every other year during the week before prom at Sumter High. It took about three months to plan the entire presentation. Duggan said it was important to get through to the students and make them understand that drinking and

driving can result in lifelong and even fatal consequences. “We planned this ahead because there are so many entities involved. We all as safety department entities have a responsibility,” Duggan said. “So if we can save one life because of this presentation, then it’s worth it.”

LOCAL | STATE

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

‘Lights, Camera, Action’ at prom Wilson Hall senior Gawon Kim, escorted by junior John Eagle Miles, is introduced along with the rest of the senior class during the grand march at the start of Wilson Hall’s 43rd prom.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Wilson Hall senior class president McKenzie Smith offers the blessing before the senior prom dinner held at the home of Molly and Scott McDuffie. Wilson Hall’s 43rd-annual junior-senior prom, held in the Nash Student Center, was sponsored by the junior class as a gift to the seniors. With the theme of “Lights, Camera, Action,” the gym was decorated from floor to ceiling with scenes from popular movies.

Crews rescue father, 2 kids in Congaree National Park where the family entered the CONGAREE NATIONAL park. PARK (AP) — Search crews “I was just hollering have found a father and his names,” said Gurtler. “They two children who had been all hollered back.” missing for more than two When they spotted each days in the vast woods and other on opposite sides of a swamps of Congaree National stream, Gurtler tossed over Park in South Carolina, offithree bottles of water. After cials said Tuesday. meeting up, Kimbler told the Dana Soehn of the National officer he had been on the Park Service said rangers had boardwalk that winds through located J.R. Kimbler, his the park but left it to follow 10-year-old son, Dakota, and another trail when he got lost. 6-year-old daughter, Jade. The Kimbler had taken the chilthree — who carried no food, dren to the park in his taxi water or camping equipment cab. The vehicle was found — got lost after taking to the parked near the visitor’s centrails on Saturday afternoon ter Monday. for what was apparently inThe family had tended to be a no food or water short hike. when they were “They were all rescued, but KimOK,” Soehn said bler said they at a news conferdrank water they ence. “They found in the park. looked remarkMeanwhile, mild ably well.” weather — with The three were low temperatures taken to a local in the 60s — hospital for obser- TAMMY BALLARD helped the family vation, officials endure three said. Mother of children nights in the wild. Eighty searchmissing for two “I don’t know if ers from nearly a it’s luck,” Gurtler dozen agencies days in Congaree said, of finding searched for the National Park the family just family in the hours before 27,000-acre site storms moved since the father sent a text message late Satur- into the area Tuesday. “It just worked out, fortunately, in our day saying they were lost. favor.” Crews flew over the entire The park has marked trails, park, but Soehn said ground but beyond the paths are tansearchers combed 9,000 acres gles of old growth trees, on foot and by vehicle before swamps and underbrush. The finding the family. land has become even more Officials closed the park rugged since an ice storm in Monday afternoon during the February knocked down thousearch. An investigative team sands of trees and limbs. from the National Park SerTammy Ballard, the chilvice checked on possible leads dren’s mother, was at the park outside the park. during the search, walking Park Ranger Jared Gurtler down trails, calling their said he was elated to hear names. Kimbler respond when he “It’s been tough,” Ballard called out his name at about told the AP in the hours be4:30 a.m. Tuesday during his fore the children were found. morning rounds of the park’s “I see so many footprints out trails. Gurtler was about two there.” miles from the visitors’ center

‘It’s been tough. I see so many footprints out there.’

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

J.R. Kimbler receives medical assistance at Congaree National Park in Hopkins on Tuesday. Kimbler and his two children were lost in the park for two days. They were rescued and are all in stable condition.

POLICE BLOTTER

THE SUMTER ITEM

CHARGES Timika Moore, 32, of 18 Eastwood Drive, was charged with assault and battery at 12:50 a.m. Thursday after she reportedly assaulted two victims within her residence. According to the report, the victims, a 52-yearold woman and a 62-yearold man, were sleeping in their bed when Moore entered the room and began hitting them both in the face. Moore then reportedly dragged the woman out into the front yard before leaving the property on foot. Police noticed the man had suffered a small laceration to the right of his forehead and swelling in his left eye, while the woman had glass in her hair, several hair braids missing and dirt on her clothes, indicating that she was dragged out. Police searched around the residence to reportedly find Moore lying inside the back doorway, appearing to be grossly intoxicated. She was arrested and transported to Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center. Debbie Gibson, 44, of 1015 Booker St., was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia at 1:18 a.m. Friday after officers found her in possession of a small glass pipe with burned residue inside. According to the report, officers patrolling Hoyt Street noticed Gibson passing their vehicle three times before checking on her. As they approached her, they noticed that Gibson dropped a crumpled paper towel. Officers checked the paper towel to find the glass pipe, which is thought to have been used to smoke crack cocaine. Gibson was arrested and issued a courtesy summons. Gregory Yakeim Sharper, 24, of 709 Olive St., was charged with unlawful possession of a pistol at 6:33 a.m. Monday in the 100 block of South Lafayette Drive. According to the report, officers observed a silver car traveling south on Lafayette at a high rate of speed, running a red light at the intersection of Lafayette Drive and Liberty Street. Police pursued the vehicle, which crashed on the corner of Lafayette Drive and East Bee Street. Two males exited the vehicle and fled on foot, but the passenger, identified as Sharper, was caught and reportedly refused to reveal the name of the driver. Highway Patrol searched the vehicle and found a Smith & Wesson .40-caliber handgun in the center console. Records showed

Sharper was prohibited from a possessing a firearm. He was arrested and transported to Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center.

found at 12:07 p.m. Sunday inside the drawer of a motel room in the 1000 block of Broad Street.

ARSON

Officers responded on Friday to the 600 block of East Liberty Street where a man told them that two unknown suspects assaulted him about 6:30 p.m. and stole his brown Eastbay backpack containing a black 9 mm Hi-Point handgun, clothing and $80 in cash. The items are valued at $230.

STRONG ARM ROBBERY Officers responded on Saturday to the 200 block of Perkins Street, where a witness said he saw an unknown person park a red 1990 Volkswagen Jetta valued at $2,000 on the side of the road and leave it. The witness said the vehicle was on fire a half hour later. Officers located the vehicle’s owner, who said she left the vehicle parked behind her house with the keys in the vehicle, but someone had stolen it between 11 p.m. Friday and 6:30 a.m. Saturday.

CRIMINAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OF A HIGH AND AGGRAVATED NATURE Officers responded on Thursday to the first block of Idaho Drive where a 36-year-old female said a 50-year-old male assaulted her at the intersection of West Liberty and Purdy streets about 7:30 a.m. She said the man assaulted her while he was driving her white 2007 Ford Expedition down West Liberty Street. Reportedly fearing for her life, she attempted to exit the front passenger door of the vehicle at a red light at the intersection. The man “floored” the gas accelerator, and she fell out of the vehicle, scraping her elbow and sustaining a large bump on her head. EMS treated her, and police advised her to seek a warrant.

DISCHARGING A FIREARM Officers responded to the 200 block of Montreat Street on Thursday where a 21-year-old woman said that her 21-year-old ex-boyfriend fired a round from his firearm at about 12:07 a.m. The woman said her ex-boyfriend, with whom she has a child, approached her residence asking to see his son. When she refused, he reportedly kicked the front screen door and fired a round into the air before fleeing on foot. Police found no evidence that a firearm was discharged but saw the front screen door was damaged. The woman was advised to seek a warrant.

GUN RECOVERED A black .45-caliber ACP HiPoint handgun with nine rounds valued at $500 was

STOLEN PROPERTY An iPhone 5 with a black Otterbox case was reportedly stolen between 4:02 p.m. Oct. 23 and 2 p.m. Oct. 31 from a 2007 silver Dodge Caliber parked in the 1200 block of Broad Street. The items are valued at $645. A 60-inch LG TV, a 32-inch TV and a PlayStation 3 were reported stolen at 11:25 p.m. Thursday from a residence in the 5200 block of DuBose Siding Road. The unknown suspect also scratched the victim’s vehicle. The items are valued at $1,742, and the vehicle damage is estimated at $1,500. An orange riding lawn mower, an 8-by-10-foot trailer and a pressure washer were reported stolen at 9:13 a.m. Friday from a residence in the 800 block of North Wise Drive. The items are valued at $4,300. Two RCA 22-inch flat-screen TVs were reported stolen at 4:45 p.m. Saturday from a residence in the 300 block of Oklahoma Drive. The items are valued at $500. An Emerson DVD/VHS player, a small Brinks 12-by-8inch safe, a 20-by-20-inch beige metal lock box, a set of Pioneer 12-inch speakers, a Stanley dual-action sander, a Campbell Hauser paint gun and $2,000 in cash were reported stolen at 10:48 a.m. Sunday from a residence in the 2800 block of Chinaberry Road. The items are valued at $2,340. A black pit bull valued at $500 was reported stolen at 5:51 p.m. Sunday from a

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014 residence in the 700 block of Olive Street. A 54-inch 6000 Craftsman riding lawn mower, a 5-by10-foot Lowe’s trailer with two vertical boards and a mounted black tool box, two chainsaws and a weed trimmer with an edge trimmer attachment were reported stolen at 6:03 a.m. Monday from a residence in the 1900 block of Mason Road, Dalzell. The items are valued at $4,475. Four 22-inch wheels were reported stolen from a vehicle parked in the 1100 block of Clipper Road at 2:43 p.m. on Monday. The wheels are valued at $2,000. Two speakers, a Compaq laptop computer, two iPads, a beat maker, a Sony radio, a filtered Yeti microphone, three gold necklaces, a camera, a set of headphones and a 20-inch Sony flat-screen Smart TV were reported stolen from a home in the 1200 block of Manning Road at 1:15 p.m. on Monday. The items are valued at $4,000. A goat wearing a red collar was reported stolen from a home in the 4200 block of Reona Avenue at 5:07 p.m. Monday. A 46-inch LG flat-screen TV, an LG surround sound system, an ASUS laptop computer, a Sony PlayStation 4, a Sony PlayStation 3, a Sony PlayStation Vita, a Nintendo Wii U, a Nintendo 3DS, a Microsoft Xbox One and an assortment of video games and controllers were reported stolen from a home in the 2800 block of Frierson Road at 7:30 p.m. on Monday. The items are valued at $5,010, and the frame of the home’s door sustained $1,500 in damage. A black 42-inch RCA flatscreen TV, a black 32-inch Magnavox flat-screen TV and a 32-inch LG flat-screen TV were reported stolen from a home in the 2200 block of Boulevard Road at 10:53 a.m. on Monday. The items are valued at $1,150. A black 2013 Dodge Ram 4x4 valued at $27,550 was reportedly stolen from a business in the 900 block of North Main Street between 11:08 a.m. Saturday and

11:10 a.m. Monday. A red riding lawn mower, a black push mower and a weed trimmer were reportedly stolen from a home in the 800 block of Barwick Road between 8 p.m. Sunday and 8:20 a.m. Monday. The items are valued at $1,580. A Bluemax electric generator valued at $1,000 was reportedly stolen from a home in the first block of East Bartlette Street between 2:30 p.m. Saturday and 8:35 a.m. Sunday.

VANDALISM A silver 2004 Cadillac Deville was reportedly scratched by an unknown suspect between 11 p.m. Tuesday and 8:51 a.m. Wednesday in the 20 block of Shuler Drive. The suspect also threw miscellaneous garbage around the victim’s front yard. The damage is estimated at $1,000. The roof and the front and rear windshields of a silver 2002 Nissan Altima were reportedly scratched by an unknown suspect between 5 p.m. Tuesday and 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in the 100 block of Hoyt Heights. The damage is estimated at $3,000. A blue 1997 Ford Expedition was reportedly scratched with a sharp object by an unknown suspect between 11 p.m. Wednesday and 10:07 a.m. Thursday at a residence in the 100 block of Milton Street. The damage was estimated at $1,000. An unknown suspect flooded an apartment in the 200 block of Boulevard Road by pulling the 6-foot PVC water pipe out of the outside wall below the kitchen window between 5 p.m. Wednesday and 11:30 a.m. Thursday. The damage is estimated at $3,000. A blue 2010 Nissan Altima parked in the 1900 block of Jernigan Trail reportedly sustained $1,200 in damage when an unknown suspect scratched all four doors, the hood, the trunk and the roof of the vehicle between 10:30 p.m. Sunday and 9:30 a.m. Monday.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

LOCAL | REGION

THE SUMTER ITEM

Pinewood Gospel Fest

PHOTO PROVIDED

The Saint James Methodist Choir of Pinewood performs during the Pinewood Gospel Fest on Saturday. The event attracted more than 400 people, and more than 15 gospel groups performed. The purpose of the event was to support local youth groups, which managed to raise $1,200 in food sales and a cake auction.

Employee opens fire at FedEx sorting center KENNESAW, Ga. (AP) — A FedEx employee wearing ammunition draped across his chest “like Rambo” opened fire Tuesday at a packagesorting center outside Atlanta, wounding six people before apparently committing suicide, police and witnesses said. In addition to a shotgun, the gunman also had an undisclosed number of Molotov cocktails, but he did not use them in the attack, police said. The shooter, who was not publicly identified, was found dead inside. He worked as a package handler at the sprawling facility, Cobb County police Sgt. Dana Pierce said. Investigators have an idea of what his motive may have been, but they were not prepared to disclose it yet, Pierce said. Three of the wounded were hospitalized in critical condition, including two who were in surgery with life-threatening injuries. The gunman first shot a security guard at a shack outside the building before heading inside, Pierce said. David Titus, a FedEx truck driver, said he was just coming to work about 6 a.m. when he saw a security guard get shot in the abdomen. He said he heard more gunfire later from inside the building. “It was chaos,” Titus said. “Everyone was running, ducking and hiding, trying to get out of there.” FedEx clerk Liza Aiken said she was working when she heard something drop, looked to her left and saw the gunman. “He had bullets strapped across his chest like Rambo” and held a knife, Aiken said at the entrance to a parking lot where employees had gathered after the attack. Before she could continue, a woman wearing a FedEx jacket told Aiken to stop talking and led her away. The two people in surgery were a 28-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman. The third critical victim was a 22-yearold man, said Dr. Michael Nitzken of Wellstar Kennestone Hospital. Another man, 38, remained at the hospital but was stable. Two other victims — a 42-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man — were treated and released. The FBI and other agencies were working to collect evidence at the package center in Kennesaw. The facility about 25 miles north of Atlanta sorts packages and loads them onto vehicles for delivery. It’s next to the general-aviation airport for suburban Cobb County. After the attack, police blocked roads leading to the FedEx center. Dozens of work-

ers were taken by car and bus to a skating-rink parking lot to call relatives for rides. Some family members got out of their cars and hugged the workers. Several employees said they had been told not to

speak with reporters. The company offered no details about the attack, saying only that it was “focused on the needs of our team members and cooperating with the law enforcement investigation

of this tragedy.” The package center was shut down and surrounded by crime-scene tape. The full investigation is expected to take a long time because authorities have to search every part

of the 500,000-square-foot facility for evidence. Later in the day, the man’s car was towed from the scene, and employees were allowed back to pick up their vehicles and go home for the day.

STATE | NATION

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

New tools available for crime victims BY MEG KINNARD The Associated Press COLUMBIA — Crime victims in South Carolina now have new ways to get information about inmates, officials said Tuesday. Text messaging and a mobile application have been added to the state’s SC SAVIN system, which tracks the locations of offenders incarcerated in state or county facilities or under supervision by probation or parole authorities. Crime victims can now sign up for phone and email notifications when inmates in their cases are moved or released from custody, Department of Corrections director Bryan Stirling told The Associated Press. A mobile application called VINEmobile for smartphones and tablets will offer people a way to sign up for text alerts on inmates’ activity. Alerts are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in English and Spanish. A website also includes the inmate’s photo and other vital information. The program is funded by assessments to inmates’ wages, according to the Corrections Department. Gov. Nikki Haley said that the new system gives people information to keep themselves safe. “This effort by the Department of Corrections speaks volumes about the need to provide the most up-to-date information as quickly as possible and in a way that helps to ensure the public’s safety,” Haley said in a statement.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Vice President Joe Biden hugs Madeleine Smith after he spoke about the release of the First Report of the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault on Tuesday in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. Earlier, Smith recounted her story of being a rape victim while she was a student at Harvard University in Boston. The White House is urging schools to provide victims of sexual assault with a confidential, respectful way to report the crimes and seek treatment.

Task force addresses campus sexual assault BY KIMBERLY HEFLING AP Education Writer WASHINGTON — Want to know whether there’s been a history of sexual assaults on your college campus? The Obama administration has created a new website that will post enforcement actions it’s taken against schools and provide information for victims on where to go for help. A White House task force on sexual assault recommended actions Tuesday that colleges and universities should take to protect victims and inform the public about the magnitude of the problem, such as identifying confidential victim’s advocates and conducting surveys to better gauge the frequency of sexual assault on their campuses.

The recommendations stem from a 90-day review by the task force that President Obama created after his administration heard complaints about the poor treatment of campus rape victims and the hidden nature of such crimes — even when students, parents and community members want to know how safe a campus is. The task force also promised greater transparency. A new website, notalone. gov, will post enforcement actions and offers information to victims about how to seek local help and information about filing a complaint. “Colleges and universities can no longer turn a blind eye or pretend that rape and sexual assault doesn’t occur on their campus,” Vice

President Joe Biden said in announcing the results of the task force’s work. Advocates praised the rare, high-profile attention being given to the issue, even as they acknowledged that much of the action required will still need to come from college administrators. Lisa Maatz, vice president for government affairs with the American Association of University Women, said the “smart schools” will take the recommendations and adopt them. Rory Gerberg, a graduate student at Harvard University who co-founded a coalition of Harvard students to address the university’s sexual assault policy, said that while the task force recommendations will play a central role in determin-

ing how universities deal with sexual assaults, they only go so far. “The recommendations do not create legally binding standards,” Gerberg said in an email. “As students, it will be our responsibility to put pressure on our university administrations to ensure these recommendations are put into practice.”

LOCAL

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

SHOES FROM PAGE A1 such an event. Last year’s was at West Lee Elementary School, and Santoscoy said they will probably do one again next year. “We do all sorts of stewardship activities,” he said. “We want to give back a little we are blessed with.” Forms were sent home with all students, and about half of them returned their signed permission slips to participate, Santoscoy said. Volunteers washed the children’s feet while other volunteers went searching for the right size pair of shoes. The new pair was brought over in a Coca-Cola bag. The volunteers dried off the students’ feet and put new socks on them. Then the children got to try on the new shoes. If they fit, they were good to go. If not, another pair was retrieved. “The new shoes are a confidence boost for these kids,” said Liz Bunn, an elementary school teacher out of Hartsville who was volunteering. “It’s so important for them to feel loved and wanted.” As she worked with the children, she talked to them about their classes. “As the kids are receiving

their new socks and shoes, the volunteers will be able to get to know them and learn what their dreams and hopes are,” said Deni Avant, communications specialist with Samaritan’s Feet International. “We hope that each child leaves feeling encouraged and inspired to reach for their dreams.” Candace Stuckey, a mom with the Hartsville Home Educators group, used it as a learning experience for her two children. “I thought it was a great opportunity for them to learn to serve a little more and to be Christ to the world,” she said. Both Ashlyn, 8, and Rhett, 11, gave thumbs up and said the event was good. “These types of domestic shoe distributions are a core part of Samaritan’s Feet,” Avant said. “This falls under the ‘Shoes of Hope’ program. We typically partner with a local organization, school or company for these types of shoe distributions. We couldn’t do it without these great partners and sponsors. It’s because of them we are able to provide shoes and socks to children that may need them.” For more information on Samaritan’s Feet International, visit samaritansfeet.org.

BILL FROM PAGE A1 that it’s probably going nowhere this year,” McElveen said. Many bills that haven’t moved far enough along the legislative process will meet their end this week because of a procedural deadline for “crossover bills.” Any piece of legislation that has not passed one chamber of the Legislature and been sent to the other by May 1 won’t be considered by legislators during the final month of the legislative session. The crossover deadline limits what bills can be considered in the final weeks of the two-year session, unless the other house votes by a two-thirds majority to accept the bill after the deadline. Any bills that don’t make the cut die and will have to start the process over when a new Legislature convenes in January. McElveen pre-filed a bill in December to impose stiffer sentences on criminals who commit new crimes while out on bond for another crime. If convicted of both crimes, the bill would allow 40 percent of the maximum sentence to be added onto the sentence. The bill was introduced to the Senate when the Legislature convened in January and was sent to the judiciary committee, on which McElveen sits. The committee approved the bill March 12, but Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, attached an unfavorable minority report onto the committee recommendation, which hobbled the bill with so little time remaining in the session. “That has the same practical effect as a senator raising an objection. It put

STORMS FROM PAGE A1

JADE REYNOLDS / THE SUMTER ITEM

Theresa Scott, a receptionist at Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated in Bishopville, tests the toes of a new pair of shoes for a girl at Lower Lee Elementary School on Monday. For the second year in a row, her company partnered with Samaritan’s Feet to bring free, new shoes to children in Lee County.

on Monday, the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center said. Among those killed was 21-year-old University of Alabama swimmer and dean’s list student John Servati, who was taking shelter in the basement of a Tuscaloosa home when a retaining wall collapsed on him. His death — and that of at least two others in Alabama — came the day after the third anniversary of an outbreak of more than 60 tornadoes that killed more than 250 people across the state. In Kimberly, Ala., north of Birmingham, the firehouse was among the buildings heavily damaged. Four firefighters suffered little more than cuts and scrapes, but the bays over the fire trucks were destroyed, and the vehicles were covered with red bricks, concrete blocks and pieces of the roof. The trucks were essentially trapped, so the town had to rely on nearby communities for emergency help. Louisville was also one of the hardest-hit areas, with officials reporting at least nine dead in and around town

THE SUMTER ITEM

it onto the contested calendar,” McElveen said. Based on his conversations with Hutto in the committee, McElveen said his fellow Democrat was concerned the change would disproportionately impact indigent defendants who rely on court-appointed public defenders. “I’ve been a part-time public defender in Sumter County, and the public defenders are just as good as a private attorney,” he said. A call to Hutto seeking comment was not returned by press time. The latest proposal is modeled on a similar bill introduced in the Senate last year, which was ultimately shelved because of due-process concerns. McElveen hoped to avoid that issue by requiring a defendant be convicted of the initial crime first and making the addition of time more flexible. Shortly after the bill was filed in December, two Lee County sheriff’s deputies in McElveen’s district were shot and injured during a traffic stop, allegedly by a man out on bond for other charges. The senator cited that case along with other high-profile violent crimes at the time as justification for the bill. A fiscal impact report that accompanied the bill estimated it would apply to 200 criminal defendants a year. While the bill may not make it through the Legislature this year, McElveen still thinks it would be a critical tool for prosecutors against dangerous criminals and that it has a strong chance of passage when the Legislature convenes for a new twoyear session after November’s election. “I’m disappointed,” he said, “but I’m going to try again next year.”

because of a powerful tornado with a preliminary rating of EF4, just shy of the top of the scale. Sennaphie Yates arrived at the small local hospital to check on her grandfather just ahead of the twister. As the funnel cloud closed in, staff members herded people into a hall. “They had all of us against the wall and gave us pillows. They said, ‘Get down and ... don’t get up,’” she said. The winds knocked down two walls and tore holes in the roof. Doctors moved some emergency room patients to a former operating room and sent some to other hospitals. Bennett’s day care center was not far from the hospital. Her niece Tanisha Lockett had worked at Ruth’s Child Care since it opened seven years ago. She said all but the one child — a 4-year-old girl who had been in the center’s care since she was a baby — had been picked up before the storm. On Tuesday, Bennett’s family and those who worked for her stepped over schoolbooks, first aid supplies and a Hooked on Phonics cassette as they tried to salvage paperwork. “We’re just trying to keep a smile on our faces,” said Jackie Ivy, an employee. “I cried all last night.”

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

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014 H.G. Osteen 1870-1955 Founder, The Item

H.D. Osteen 1904-1987 The Item

Margaret W. Osteen 1908-1996 The Item Hubert D. Osteen Jr. Chairman & Editor-in-Chief Graham Osteen Co-President Kyle Osteen Co-President Jack Osteen Editor and Publisher Larry Miller CEO Braden Bunch Senior News Editor

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

COMMENTARY

Constitution or good ideas?

et me run through a few good ideas. I think it’s a good idea for children to eat healthful, wholesome foods. In the raising of our daughter, before-dinner treats were fresh vegetables, and after-dinner treats were mostly fruits. I arrive at my gym sometime between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m., at least four times a week, to lift weights and use the treadmill. During the warmer months, the treadmill is substituted by a weekly total of 40 to 60 miles on my bike. My exercise regimen is a good idea. Another good idea is to wear a bike helmet while bike riding and wear a seatbelt when driving my car. Among many other good ideas is the enjoyment of two, maybe three, glasses of wine with each evening meal. You say, “So what, Williams? What’s your point?” There’s no question that all of those actions, with the possible exception of the last, are indeed good ideas. As evidence that my exercise regimen is a good idea, my doctors tell me that at 78 years of age, I’m in better health and conditioning than most of their male patients many years my junior. My question to you is whether these commonly agreedupon good ideas should become the law of the Walter land. To be more explicit, Williams should Congress enact a law requiring every ablebodied American to lift weights four times a week and bike 40 to 60 miles each week? Just look at all the benefits of such a law. Americans would be healthier, and that would mean lower health care costs. People would have a longer working life. Men would have the strength to protect their women and children folk from thugs. In a word, there would be no downside to the fitter population that would come from a congressional law mandating physical fitness programs. We might title such a law the “Improving American Health Act.” The law would impose fines and penalties on any able-bodied person not found to be in compliance. What congressman would have the callousness to vote against such a beneficial measure? Needless to say, there would be attacks against the Improving American Health Act, launched mostly by libertarians, conservatives and some Republicans. These people would argue that Congress has no constitutional authority to enact such a liberty-intrusive law. Their arguments would be on weak grounds. Our Constitution’s Article 1, Section 8 says, “The Congress shall have Power To ... provide for the ... general Welfare of the United States.” Our Constitution further empowers Congress to enact the Improving American Health Act by its Article 1, Section 3 — sometimes referred to as the commerce clause — which grants Congress the power “To regulate Commerce ... among the several States.” After all, good health lends itself to more efficient interstate commerce and a larger gross domestic product. Sick Americans adversely affect interstate commerce and are a burden on economic activity. I have no doubt that people who don’t want to see a healthier America — again, mostly libertarians, conservatives and Republicans — will bring suit before the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that Congress has no such authority under either the general welfare clause or the commerce clause. Would you prefer that Chief Justice John Roberts Jr., speaking for a majority, concur by saying, “This court is guided by the U.S. Constitution, and we find no constitutional authority for the Improving American Health Act, despite Congress’ nonsense claims alleging authority under the general welfare and commerce clauses”? Or would you prefer that Justice Roberts, speaking for the majority, engage in mental contortions in which he agrees that forcing people to exercise exceeds congressional authority under both the commerce clause and the general welfare clause but says the Improving American Health Act is indeed constitutional under Congress’ taxing authority? My bottom line question is: Should we be ruled by what are seen as good ideas or by what’s permissible by the U.S. Constitution? Walter E. Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University. © 2014 creators.com

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Rancher criticizes poor while ripping off government It’s perversely ironic for rancher Cliven Bundy to excoriate poor people for collecting government subsidies while ripping off the federal government of a million dollars in grazing fees. But, even if he were to pay up, Bundy and his fellow ranchers would still be living on government welfare. According to the Center for Bio-

logical Diversity, livestock grazing is subsidized by federal agencies on public land in 11 western states to the tune of nearly $300 million annually. Monthly grazing fees per cow and calf on private rangeland average $11.90, but corresponding fees on federal lands are set at a paltry $1.35. Even so, grazing subsidies are dwarfed by other government subsidies and medical, environmental and other external costs

imposed on society by animal agriculture. These extra costs have been estimated at $414 billion annually, or $3,600 per household. Each of us can make our $3,600 annual contribution to the common good by replacing animal products in our diet with the rich variety of grain, nut, and soybased meat and dairy alternatives in our neighborhood supermarket. SAL ISHIMINI Sumter

COMMENTARY

Support nonprofits during Midlands Gives Day BY JoANN TURNQUIST Central Carolina Community Foundation

hat would happen if we all combined our resources on one day in support of nonprofit organizations in our local community? What if we could do this by simply clicking a mouse? On May 6, Central Carolina Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization that connects charitable individuals and businesses with nonprofits that serve our community, will present the Midlands’ first regional day of giving. During this 24hour online giving challenge, Midlands Gives Day will bring our region together as one community by raising money and awareness for 150 Midlands nonprofits, including Sumter County Museum, YWCA of the Upper Lowlands and United Way of Sumter, Clarendon and Lee Counties. Midlands Gives is part of a national day of giving called Give Local America that encourages everyone to support vital causes in their local communities. This effort, a celebration of the centennial anniversary of communi-

ty foundations nationwide, promotes and encourages local philanthropy. Giving Days are becoming widely popular around the country, spurred by engaged communities and social media. They provide an opportunity for anyone to become a philanthropist with an online donation as small as $20. It is easy for anyone with a credit or debit card to participate in Midlands JoAnn Gives Day. On Turnquist Tuesday, May 6, simply visit www.midlandsgives.org between 12:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m., select the nonprofits that you would like to support financially, enter a donation amount and approve the charge. All contributions will go directly to the organizations that you select — organizations that support our community. Why give on May 6? Thanks to our generous sponsors, a gift to any of the participating nonprofit organizations in the Foundation’s 11-county service area will be in-

creased through a bonus pool and prize incentives totaling more than $90,000. Every hour, Golden Ticket prizes will add $500 to a randomly selected donor’s gift for a total of 24 prizes. During six Power Hours scheduled throughout the day, the nonprofit with the most donors during that hour will receive a $1,000 prize. Midlands Gives provides the opportunity to give to one organization or multiple organizations. The participating nonprofits serve a wide range of community opportunities and needs including animal welfare, arts and culture, community improvement, education, environment, health, human services and youth development. The list of organizations and their profiles can be found on www.midlandsgives.org. We look forward to magnifying the Midlands on May 6 by connecting local nonprofits to the many generous people in our community. People like you. JoAnn Turnquist is president and CEO of Central Carolina Community Foundation, which links charitable people and businesses with areas of need in 11 counties in the Midlands.

EDITORIAL PAGE POLICIES EDITORIALS represent the views of the owners of this newspaper. COLUMNS AND COMMENTARY are the personal opinion of the writer whose byline appears. Columns from readers should be typed, double-spaced and no more than 850 words. Send them to The Sumter Item, Opinion Pages, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, S.C. 29151, or email to hubert@theitem.com or graham@theitem.com.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR are written by readers of the newspaper. They should be no more than 350 words and sent via e-mail to letters@theitem.com, dropped off at The Sumter Item office, 20 N. Magnolia St. or mailed to The Sumter Item, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, S.C. 29151, along with the full name of the writer, plus an address and telephone number for verification purposes only. Letters that exceed 350 words will be cut accordingly in the print edition, but available in their entirety at www.theitem.com/opinion/letters_to_editor.

A10

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

SUPPORT GROUPS AA, AL-ANON, ALATEEN: AA — Monday-Friday, noon and 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m., 1 Warren St. (803) 7751852. AA Women’s Meeting — Wednesday, 7 p.m., 1 Warren St. (803) 775-1852. AA Spanish Speaking — Sunday, 4:30 p.m., 1 Warren St. (803) 775-1852. AA “How it Works” Group — Monday and Friday, 8 p.m., 1154 Ronda St. Call (803) 4945180. Al-Anon “Courage to Change” Support Group — Tuesday, 7 p.m., Alice Drive Baptist Church, Room 204, 1305 Loring Mill Road. Call Dian at (803) 316-0775 or Crystal at (803) 775-3587. 441 AA Support Group — Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 8:30 p.m., Hair Force, 2090-D S.C. 441. AA Summerton Group — Wednesday, 8 p.m., town hall. Manning Al-Anon Family Group — Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Behavioral Health Building, 14 Church St., Manning. Call Angie Johnson at (803) 4358085. C/A “Drop the Rock” Group — Thursday, 9:30 p.m., 1154 Ronda St. Call Elizabeth Owens at (803) 607-4543.

HIV/AIDS: Positive Outlook, through Wateree AIDS Task Force, will meet at 11:30 a.m. third Friday of each month. Support group for those living with HIV / AIDS as well as their friends and family. For meeting location, contact Kevin, peer educator and advocate, at (803) 778-0303 or via email at watereeaids@sc.rr.com.

MONDAY MEETINGS: Sumter Vitiligo Support Group — second Monday of each month, 5:45-6:45 p.m., North HOPE Center, 904 N. Main St. Call Tiffany at (803) 316-6763. Find us on Facebook at Sumter Vitiligo Support.

TUESDAY MEETINGS: Sumter Connective Tissue Support Group — 1st Tuesday of Jan., March, May, July, Sept. and Nov., 7 p.m., 180 Tiller Circle. Call (803) 773-0869. Mothers of Angels (for mothers who have lost a child) — Every Tuesday, 6 p.m., Wise Drive Baptist Church. Call Betty at

(803) 469-2616 or Carol at (803) 469-9426. EFMP Parent Exchange Group — Last Tuesday each month, 11 a.m.-noon, Airman and Family Readiness Center. Support to service members who have a dependent with a disability or illness. Call Dorcus Haney at (803) 895-1252/1253 or Sue Zimmerman at (803) 847-2377.

WEDNESDAY MEETINGS: Sickle Cell Support Group — last Wednesday each month, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., South Sumter Resource Center, 337 Manning Ave. Call Bertha Willis at (803) 774-6181.

THURSDAY MEETINGS: TOPS S.C. No. 236 (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) — Thursdays, 9 a.m., Spectrum Senior Center,1989 Durant Lane. Call Diane at (803) 7753926 or Nancy at (803) 4694789. Asthma Support Group — Every 1st Thursday, 6 p.m., Clarendon County School District 3 Parenting Center, 2358 Walker Gamble Road, New Zion. Call Mary Howard at (843) 659-2102. Alzheimer’s Support Group through S.C. Alzheimer’s Association — Every 1st Thursday, 6-8 p.m., McElveen Manor, 2065 McCrays Mill Road. Call Cheryl Fluharty at (803) 905-7720 or the Alzheimer’s Association at (800) 636-3346. Journey of Hope (for families members of the mentally ill), Journey to Recovery (for the mentally ill) and Survivors of Suicide Support Group — Each group meets every 1st Thursday, 7 p.m., St. John United Methodist Church, 136 Poinsett Drive. Call Fred Harmon at (803) 905-5620.

FRIDAY MEETINGS: Celebrate Recovery — Every Friday, 6 p.m. dinner, 7 p.m. program, Salt & Light Church, Miller Road (across from Food Lion). For help with struggles of alcohol, drugs, family problems, smoking, etc.

SATURDAY MEETINGS: Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy/ Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Support Group — 1:30 p.m. every third Saturday, 3785 Blackberry Lane, Lot 7. Call Donna Parker at (803) 481-7521.

PUBLIC AGENDA Colclough Building

SUMTER CITY COUNCIL Tuesday, May 6, 5:30 p.m., Sumter Opera House, 21 N. Main St.

SUMTER COUNTY VOTER REGISTRATION / ELECTION COMMISSION Thursday, May 8, 5:30 p.m., registration / election office, 141 N. Main St.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Your desire to EUGENIA LAST please will lead you into situations that make you feel that you are being taken advantage of. Learn to say no and to limit what you will do for others. Friendship at a cost isn’t likely to last.

The last word in astrology

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Get busy and accomplish what you can instead of standing still and dwelling on what you cannot do. Emotions will run high and must be channeled properly if you want to avoid an unpredictable situation that is nearly impossible to fix. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Don’t reveal personal information. Protect your ideas and plans for the future if you don’t want to face meddling. Put your energy into making the personal changes that will make you feel good about who you are and the way you look.

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEATHER

AccuWeather® ﬁve-day forecast for Sumter TODAY

TONIGHT

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

A shower and heavy thunderstorm

Heavy rain and a gusty t-storm

Mainly cloudy with a t-storm

Clouds and sun

Mostly sunny and pleasant

Nice with plenty of sunshine

84°

66°

81° / 57°

73° / 47°

76° / 48°

80° / 54°

Chance of rain: 70%

Chance of rain: 75%

Chance of rain: 55%

Chance of rain: 25%

Chance of rain: 20%

Chance of rain: 10%

Winds: S 10-20 mph

Winds: S 8-16 mph

Winds: WSW 7-14 mph

Winds: SW 6-12 mph

Winds: W 6-12 mph

Winds: WSW 4-8 mph

TODAY’S SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER

Gaﬀney 79/60 Spartanburg 78/58

Greenville 78/57

Columbia 85/64

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

Sumter 84/66

IN THE MOUNTAINS Aiken 82/63

ON THE COAST

Charleston 84/68

Today: A heavy thunderstorm. High 77 to 85. Thursday: Mostly cloudy with occasional rain and a thunderstorm. High 78 to 82.

LOCAL ALMANAC

LAKE LEVELS

SUMTER THROUGH 4 P.M. YESTERDAY

Full pool 360 76.8 75.5 100

Lake Murray Marion Moultrie Wateree

84° 67° 78° 52° 93° in 1981 38° in 1967

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

Myrtle Beach 78/71

Manning 84/66

Today: Showers, a heavy thunderstorm. Winds southwest 8-16 mph. Thursday: Breezy with clouds and sun. Winds west-southwest 10-20 mph.

Temperature High Low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

Florence 84/67

Bishopville 83/66

SUN AND MOON 7 a.m. yest. 358.07 76.25 74.94 96.97

24-hr chg -0.05 -0.04 none -1.02

Sunrise 6:34 a.m. Moonrise 7:36 a.m.

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

0.00" 2.83" 2.96" 12.50" 14.92" 14.25"

NATIONAL CITIES

REGIONAL CITIES

Today Thu. City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W Atlanta 76/55/t 70/50/pc Chicago 58/42/sh 55/42/sh Dallas 67/43/pc 71/47/pc Detroit 69/47/t 57/43/sh Houston 76/48/s 76/51/pc Los Angeles 91/65/s 96/65/s New Orleans 79/56/s 73/58/pc New York 50/48/r 73/52/t Orlando 91/70/t 88/69/t Philadelphia 58/56/r 76/53/t Phoenix 90/66/s 92/68/s San Francisco 83/58/s 79/55/s Wash., DC 73/63/r 78/55/t

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 74/50/r 78/55/t 83/62/t 85/69/t 73/67/t 84/68/t 79/60/t 78/56/t 85/64/t 82/67/t 77/68/t 82/70/t 83/68/t

City Florence Gainesville Gastonia Goldsboro Goose Creek Greensboro Greenville Hickory Hilton Head Jacksonville, FL La Grange Macon Marietta

8:05 p.m. 9:41 p.m.

First

Full

Last

New

May 6

May 14

May 21

May 28

TIDES

Flood 7 a.m. 24-hr stage yest. chg 12 9.84 -0.24 19 5.81 -0.31 14 10.33 -0.65 14 4.62 -0.41 80 79.61 -0.28 24 17.34 +5.83

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 69/44/pc 75/48/pc 80/54/t 82/61/r 74/63/r 82/60/r 78/52/pc 76/52/pc 81/55/t 81/59/t 81/58/r 81/60/r 82/57/t

Sunset Moonset

AT MYRTLE BEACH

Today Thu.

Today Hi/Lo/W 84/67/t 89/69/t 81/61/t 82/68/t 84/68/t 80/62/t 78/57/t 76/57/t 79/71/t 88/69/t 77/50/t 81/59/t 75/53/t

High 10:43 a.m. 10:59 p.m. 11:27 a.m. 11:40 p.m.

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 81/57/t 85/65/t 78/53/pc 82/59/r 81/60/r 78/51/pc 76/51/pc 75/50/pc 78/65/r 83/63/t 71/44/pc 76/51/t 69/47/pc

Ht. 3.0 3.5 2.9 3.4

City Marion Mt. Pleasant Myrtle Beach Orangeburg Port Royal Raleigh Rock Hill Rockingham Savannah Spartanburg Summerville Wilmington Winston-Salem

Low 5:20 a.m. 5:21 p.m. 6:05 a.m. 6:04 p.m.

Today Hi/Lo/W 75/56/t 82/68/t 78/71/t 83/66/t 83/69/t 81/66/t 80/60/t 83/70/t 86/69/t 78/58/t 80/69/t 81/71/t 79/61/t

Ht. -0.3 -0.4 -0.1 -0.1

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 74/49/pc 80/60/r 80/61/r 79/57/t 81/61/r 78/54/t 78/53/pc 81/58/t 82/59/r 77/51/pc 80/65/r 83/62/r 78/52/pc

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

SANTEE-LYNCHES REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Monday, May 5, 7 p.m., Santee-Lynches Board Room, 36 W. Liberty St.

BISHOPVILLE CITY COUNCIL Tuesday, May 6, 6:30 p.m.,

DAILY PLANNER

TOWN OF LYNCHBURG PLANNING COMMISSION Wednesday, May 7, 4 p.m., town hall

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Pending legal, financial or medical issues must be given top priority. Don’t let the changes going on around you stop you from making the right personal choice for you. Improve your living arrangements any way you can. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Put more effort into learning and improving your surroundings. Building an area that is more convenient to achieving the goals you have set will help improve your confidence and inspire you to forge ahead. Romance is in the stars. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Make sure that whatever changes you are making to your home or personal life are beneficial. You are likely to make a poor decision that can hurt your relationship with someone you’ve known a long time. Think twice before making a move.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Develop your creative ideas and share your concerns with people you trust to help you make the necessary changes. Love is on the rise and spending time with someone who shares your feelings will bring you closer together.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Take a moment to enjoy your friends, family and your domestic scene. Sticking close to home will give you the opportunity to make the little alterations that will bring you greater happiness. Share your joy with the ones you love.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Keep a lid on what you plan to do next. The element of surprise will help you get what you want without interference. An emotional situation can lead to a costly turn of events. Protect your reputation and your assets.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Don’t let temptation take over. Spend less, budget wisely and focus on the changes you can make to cut corners while you improve your earning potential. It’s all about hard work, good organization and your desire to advance.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Talks will lead to progress. The more you learn and interact with others, the further along you will be. Network, share your ideas and put your plans in motion. There is money to be made along with personal improvements.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Share your ideas and spend time with the people you know well and trust. Plan your course of action regarding an investment or project you want to pursue. Financial stabilization is within reach if you make the right choice.

LOTTERY NUMBERS PALMETTO CASH 5 TUESDAY

POWERBALL SATURDAY

MEGAMILLIONS TUESDAY

1-18-29-31-37 PowerUp: 5

3-7-22-30-33 Powerball: 20; Powerplay: 3

Numbers were unavailable at press time.

PICK 3 TUESDAY

PICK 4 TUESDAY

8-3-7 and 7-8-5

0-8-8-5 and 3-3-9-6

PICTURES FROM THE PUBLIC SUBMITTED BY: Amy Vaughn COMMENTS: “Caught the light just right in a lighthouse in Pensacola, Florida, in February. God shows himself every day, even when we don’t expect it.”

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

NBA gives punishment to Clippers owner

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

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

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

PREP BASEBALL & SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS

Houston: Focus for Citadel on instate growth

Path to the prize begins

BY JUSTIN DRIGGERS jdriggers@theitem.com The legacy of a school like The Citadel is most evident in the graduates it produces, new head football coach Mike Houston said. “The evidence of what (The Citadel) has done is in its alumni and the success they’ve had and the kind of people the institution produces,” he said. “It’s obviously a process that works and one that we’re proud to recruit to.” Houston has met a lot of those alumni in the past 4-plus months since becoming the Bulldogs’ 24th head coach, replacing Kevin Higgins in January after Higgins resigned to become an assistant at Wake Forest. He met a few more on Tuesday at the Sumter Citadel Club meeting held at HOUSTON Bar-B-Que Hut on South Guignard Drive. Houston has been meeting with Bulldogs supporters and fans regularly since March’s spring game. “I’ve discussed a lot of things, including our staff and their makeup and wanted to put a huge emphasis on our renovations to our football facility,” he said. “We hope to have the first round done by December, with the majority taking place in June and July – the locker room, the lobby, the team meeting area. “In one to two years, we hope to have the whole facility redone – a good facelift.” Houston has also been on the recruiting trail and has placed a special emphasis on recruiting instate. “The Citadel’s name carries a lot of prestige — no more so than in the state of South Carolina,” he said. “It’s our home state. South Carolina and Clemson are going to get their recruits, but there are enough quality players in this state to build a quality program.” One of those is already entrenched at the school and has already made an impression on his new head coach. Former Sumter High School standout Justin Oxendine had a breakout season in 2013 in his first year as a full-time starter on the defensive line. Named first team AllSouthern Conference by the media and second team by the coaches, Oxendine

SEE HOUSTON, PAGE B3

SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTOS

Defending 1A softball champion East Clarendon, shown displaying the championship trophy above, will begin defense of its crown on Thursday when it plays host to Hannah-Pamplico in its opening game in the District VII tournament. Sumter catcher Ian McCaffrey and his Gamecock teammates will play host to Aiken Thursday in the opening game of the District VI tournament of the 4A playoffs. Brackets for local playoff teams can be found on page B5.

SHS baseball, EC teams earn top seeds to open postseason BY DENNIS BRUNSON dennisb@theitem.com The baseball teams from Sumter High School and East Clarendon High and defending 1A softball state champion East Clarendon will be the top seeds in their respective district tournaments when the South Carolina High School League playoffs begin on Thursday. Also on Thursday, the Scott’s Branch softball team will play, while the Lakewood baseball team and the Manning softball team will begin play on Friday. Sumter will play host to Aiken at 7 p.m. at Gamecock Field in its opening game in the District VI tournament of the 4A baseball state playoffs. The Gamecocks, who are 20-2-1 on the season, are the Region VI champions. Aiken finished fourth in Region V.

SEE PLAYOFFS, PAGE B5

PREP TENNIS

COMMENTARY

WH hopes to avenge loss to HHP in today’s 3A semifinal match

Quackenbush was in his element calling games

BY DENNIS BRUNSON dennisb@theitem.com

Wallie Jones is the former head coach of the Sumter P-15’s American Legion baseball program. Not only did he work with John Quackenbush, the former P-15’s radio announcer who passed away on Sunday, as a coach, but Quackenbush was calling P-15’s games when Jones played for them in the early 1960s.

Semifinals of the SCISA 3A boys tennis state tournament, an undefeated record, and a trip to Hilton Head Island to take on Hilton Head Prep. That has a familiar ring to it for Wilson Hall because that’s exactly what the Barons did last year. They just hope the 3-hour return trip will be a little different this year. HHP beat Wilson Hall 6-0 last season. The Barons will be trying to turn that around and into a trip to the state championship today when they face the Dolphins at 4 p.m. While Hilton Head Prep indeed shut out Wilson Hall in the singles last year, WH head coach Chuck McCord pointed out the closeness MCCORD of the matches. “The match was a lot closer than the 6-0 score indicates,” said McCord, whose team beat Pinewood Prep 6-0 on Monday in the quarterfinals to improve to 15-0 on the season. “They were certainly a better team than us last year, but we hung in there and battled them.” And all six of the Barons’ singles players are back this year – Thomas Brown at No. 1, Trey Davis at No. 2, Tradd Stover at No. 3, Hunter Hendrix at No. 4, Pierce Thompson at No. 5 and Chandler Stone at No. 6. Prep, which finished as runner-up to PorterGaud, returns its top three players in Jared Woodson, Colton Lavery and Amit Kohli. In SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO last year’s match, Woodson beat Thomas Wilson Hall No. 1 singles player Thomas Brown, above, and the rest Brown 7-5, 6-2, Lavery topped Davis 7-6, 6-2 and of the 15-0 Barons will travel to Hilton Head Island today to face Kohli beat Stover 6-1, 6-1.

Hilton Head Prep in the semifinals of the 3A state tournament. SEE BARONS, PAGE B5 HHP beat the Barons in last year’s semifinals.

hen I heard the news of John Quackenbush’s death, different thoughts and visions of John immediately stormed back to me. I never really knew John away from the microphone at ballgames, just like I don’t know what birds do when they’re not flying. Just as birds were made to fly, John was made to hover over a ball diaJONES mond, football field or basketball court with a mike in his hand. Hugh Betchman, a long time P-15’s coach, who knew John in a coach-announcer relationship, said, “John was controversial but he took his job very seriously and was extremely QUACKENBUSH prepared. He was a student of the game. He really knew how to draw out people in an interview.” Kevin Ireland, Quackenbush’s co-announcer for many years who rode many thousands of miles to and from games with John, said, “John was very meticulous in his preparation and delivery of his sportscasting. He knew what he was talking about when it came to sports. He loved all sports.”

SEE QUACKENBUSH, PAGE B5

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

AREA ROUNDUP

Barons golf 3A state runner-up CONWAY – Wilson Hall’s varsity boys golf team finished second to Hilton Head Christian in the 36-hole 3A state tournament at the Hacker Golf Course. The Barons shot a 316 on Tuesday to finish with a 2-round total of 627. HHC shot a 292 on Tuesday to finish at 584. Christian Salzer shot a 74 on Tuesday to lead the Barons, finishing in a tie for third individually at 146. Walker Jones shot a 78, Grier Schwartz and 80 and Easton Ward an 84.

CAMDEN – Laurence Manning Academy won its third straight Intermediate 1st Year Division title in a row for the SC Youth Shooting Foundation Sporting Clay Tournament Series over the weekend at Hermitage Farms. Reid Norris and JD Burroughs both shot 84 out of 100 targets to lead the Swampcats. Trevor Turcotte shot 82 out of 100 for a total team score of 250.

VARSITY SOCCER

VARSITY SOFTBALL

LAKEWOOD 3

WILSON HALL 6

CRESTWOOD 2 Lakewood High School secured a home game in the first round of the 3A state playoffs with a 3-2 victory over Crestwood on Tuesday at J. Frank Baker Stadium. The Gators improved to 11-2 overall and 6-1 in Region VI-3A, giving them at least second place. Sam Bonin, Greg McLeod and Jonathan Turcios all scored goals for the Gators. Gianni Jackson and Blake Carraher each had an assist and Mike Parenta had six saves in goal.

CAROLINA 5

JUNIOR VARSITY SOCCER LAKEWOOD 6 THE KING’S ACADEMY 2 Lakewood High School improved to 2-4-1 on the season with a 6-2 victory over The King’s Academy on Monday at J. Frank Baker Stadium. Christian McDonald led the Gators with two goals and an assist while Blake Carraher had two goals. Ryan Johnson had a goal and an assist while Nick Thurman had a goal and Greg McLeod an assist.

SPORTING CLAYS LMA WINS

GIRLS

Wilson Hall scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat Carolina Academy 6-5 on Monday at Patriot Park SportsPlex. Hannah Jordan, Haley Hawkins and Bailey Connor had consecutive singles to load the bases for the Lady Barons in the seventh. Drake Ives drove in a run before Catherine Kelley came through with a 2-run, walk-off single. Kelley finished the game with three hits, two runs scored and three runs batted in. Hawkins, Ives, Danielle de Holl, and Becka Noyes each had two hits. Holly Scott picked up the win in the circle.

JUNIOR VARSITY SOFTBALL

THE SUMTER ITEM

SCOREBOARD

Houston (Oberholtzer 0-4), 8:10 p.m. Colorado (Lyles 3-0) at Arizona (Collmenter 1-2), 9:40 p.m. San Diego (Erlin 1-3) at San Francisco (Hudson 3-1), 10:15 p.m.

TV, RADIO

THURSDAY’S GAMES

TODAY

11 a.m. -- Professional Golf: Asian Tour Indonesian Masters Final Round from Jakarta, Indonesia (GOLF). 1:30 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: Milwaukee at St. Louis or Detroit at Chicago White Sox (WGN). 2 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: Detroit at Chicago White Sox (WGN). 2:30 p.m. -- International Soccer: UEFA Champions League Semifinal Second Leg -- Chelsea vs. Atletico Madrid (FOX SPORTS 1). 5 p.m. -- Horse Racing: Kentucky Derby Draw from Louisville, Ky. (NBC SPORTS NETWORK). 6:05 p.m. -- Talk Show: Sports Talk (WDXY-FM 105.9, WDXY-AM 1240). 7 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: Tampa Bay at Boston (ESPN). 7 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: Atlanta at Miami (SPORTSOUTH, WPUBFM 102.7). 7 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Western Conference Playoffs Quarterfinal Series Game Five -- Dallas at San Antonio (TNT). 7:30 p.m. -- NHL Hockey: Eastern Conference Playoffs Quarterfinal Series Game Seven -- Philadelphia at New York Rangers (If Necessary) (NBC SPORTS NETWORK). 8 p.m. -- College Gymnastics: NCAA Women’s Championships from Birmingham, Ala. -- Team and Individual Events (ESPNU). 8 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Eastern Conference Playoffs Quarterfinal Series Game Five -- Brooklyn at Toronto (NBA TV). 9:30 p.m. -- NHL Hockey: Western Conference Playoffs Quarterfinal Series Game Seven -- Minnesota at Colorado (CNBC). 9:30 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Western Conference Playoffs Quarterfinal Series Game Five -- Portland at Houston (TNT). 10 p.m. -- NHL Hockey: Western Conference Playoffs Quarterfinal Series Game Seven -- Los Angeles at San Jose (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

PREP SCHEDULE

HAMMOND 7 Aubrey Yarbrough had three hits, including two home runs, to lead Wilson Hall to a 24-7 victory over Hammond on Monday at Patriot Park SportsPlex. Abby Thigphen and Carly Allred both hit a home run and scored four runs. Peyton Geddings had two hits and two runs batted in

Varsity Boys Soccer Wilson Hall at First Baptist, 5 p.m. Junior Varsity Boys Soccer Wilson Hall at Thomas Sumter, 5 p.m. Varsity Girls Soccer Sumter at Ridge View, 7:30 p.m. Junior Varsity Girls Soccer Sumter at Ridge View, 6 p.m. Varsity Boys Tennis Manning at Berkeley, 4:30 p.m. Varsity Track and Field Crestwood, Lakewood, Manning in Region VI-3A Meet (at Ramsey Stadium in Manning), TBA

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Wizards eliminate Bulls, win 75-69 CHICAGO — John Wall finished with 24 points, Nene scored 20, and the Washington Wizards beat the Chicago Bulls 75-69 on Tuesday night to clinch their first-round series in five games. Bradley Beal scored 17 points, and the fifth-seeded Wizards advanced in the postseason for just the third time since the 1970s. They will meet Indiana or Atlanta in the Eastern Conference semifinals. It’s a huge step for a franchise that hadn’t been to the postseason since 2008, but with Wall and Beal leading the way, they won 44 games during the regular season. The Wizards turned a halftime tie into a ninepoint lead heading into the fourth quarter and hung on down the stretch. Chicago’s comeback chances took a big hit early in the final quarter when Taj Gibson crumbled to the court clutching his left ankle after he tried to block a layup by Wall with the Wizards up by six points. He had to be helped off the court and did not return FLYERS 5 RANGERS 2

PHILADELPHIA — Wayne Simmonds scored three goals and Steve Mason stopped 34 shots to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 5-2 win over the New York Rangers on Tuesday night, forcing a decisive Game 7 of their Eastern Conference playoff series. There’s little time for rest, too. The Flyers and Rangers play again Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. Simmonds scored in the first period and twice more in the second for his first career postseason hat trick. Mason survived a busy first period and stopping 31 straight shots until Carl Hagelin scored late in the third. Mats Zuccarello also scored for New York in the final minute. By the third, Simmonds had already helped stake the Flyers to a 4-0 lead and the outcome was a mere formality.

Detroit Minnesota Chicago Kansas City Cleveland WEST DIVISION Oakland Texas Los Angeles Seattle Houston

W 15 12 12 12 11

L 10 12 13 14 15

Pct .600 .500 .480 .462 .423

GB – 21/2 3 31/2 41/2

W 12 12 14 12 11

L 9 11 13 12 15

Pct .571 .522 .519 .500 .423

GB – 1 1 11/2 31/2

W 16 15 12 10 9

L 10 11 13 14 17

Pct .615 .577 .480 .417 .346

GB – 1 31/2 5 7

MONDAY’S GAMES

Oakland 4, Texas 0 Chicago White Sox 7, Tampa Bay 3 L.A. Angels 6, Cleveland 3

TUESDAY’S GAMES

Pittsburgh at Baltimore, 7:05 p.m. Seattle at N.Y. Yankees, 7:05 p.m. Tampa Bay at Boston, 7:10 p.m. Oakland at Texas, 8:05 p.m. Detroit at Chicago White Sox, 8:10 p.m. L.A. Dodgers at Minnesota, ppd., rain Toronto at Kansas City, 8:10 p.m. Washington at Houston, 8:10 p.m. Cleveland at L.A. Angels, 10:05 p.m.

TODAY’S GAMES

Detroit (Scherzer 2-1) at Chicago White Sox (Noesi 0-1), 2:10 p.m. Cleveland (McAllister 3-1) at L.A. Angels (C.Wilson 3-2), 7:05 p.m. Pittsburgh (Cumpton 0-1) at Baltimore (B.Norris 1-2), 7:05 p.m. Seattle (Elias 1-2) at N.Y. Yankees (Phelps 0-0), 7:05 p.m. Tampa Bay (Archer 2-1) at Boston (Doubront 1-3), 7:10 p.m. Oakland (J.Chavez 1-0) at Texas (Ross Jr. 1-1), 8:05 p.m. L.A. Dodgers (Greinke 4-0) at Minnesota (Gibson 3-1), 8:10 p.m. Toronto (Hutchison 1-1) at Kansas City (Ventura 2-1), 8:10 p.m. Washington (Zimmermann 1-1) at Houston (Oberholtzer 0-4), 8:10 p.m.

THURSDAY’S GAMES

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington’s John Wall drives on Chicago’s D.J. Augustin (14) during the Wizards’ 75-69 Game 5 victory on Tuesday in Chicago.

L.A. Dodgers at Minnesota, 1:10 p.m., 1st game Seattle at N.Y. Yankees, 7:05 p.m. L.A. Dodgers at Minnesota, 7:10 p.m., 2nd game Tampa Bay at Boston, 7:10 p.m. Toronto at Kansas City, 8:10 p.m.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

allowed two hits in eight stellar innings, Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run homer and the Miami Marlins opened a homestand by beating the Atlanta Braves 9-0 on Tuesday. Jarrod Saltalamacchia also homered for Miami, which had its third-highest run output of the season. Miami second baseman Ed Lucas had three hits in his season debut after recovering from a broken left hand, and Marcell Ozuna hit a tworun single for the Marlins. Fernandez (4-1) was dominant against the NL East leaders, lowering his ERA to 1.59. He struck out eight and walked two.

outfielder Bryce Harper had surgery on his injured left thumb on Tuesday and will be out for an extended period of time. Manager Matt Williams would not commit to a time frame, but said “that time frame is out there” after reports Monday that he would be out until at least July. The two-time All-Star was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Sunday with what was then called a sprained left thumb. The 21-year-old Harper is batting .289 with one home run and nine RBIs this season.

MARINERS 6

LAS VEGAS — Throw Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s wallet into the ring as a prospective owner of the Los Angeles Clippers. Mayweather said Tuesday he’s interested in putting together a group — with himself as a majority owner — to buy the Clippers if the team is put up for sale.

YANKEES 3

MARLINS 9

NEW YORK — Robinson Cano drove in a run and scored another in a most unwelcome return to Yankee Stadium, helping the Seattle Mariners beat New York 6-3 Tuesday night for their fourth win in five games.

BRAVES 0

NATS’ HARPER HAS SURGERY

MIAMI — Jose Fernandez

New York Baltimore Toronto Boston Tampa Bay CENTRAL DIVISION

HOUSTON— Washington

MAYWEATHER: I’LL BUY CLIPPERS

From wire reports

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

W 17 14 14 13 11

L 7 11 12 12 14

Pct .708 .560 .538 .520 .440

GB – 31/2 4 41/2 61/2

W 19 14 11 10 8

L 7 13 14 16 16

Pct .731 .519 .440 .385 .333

GB – 51/2 71/2 9 10

W 15 15 14 13 8

L 11 12 12 14 21

Pct .577 .556 .538 .481 .276

GB – 1/2 1 21/2 81/2

MONDAY’S GAMES

Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati, ppd., rain Milwaukee 5, St. Louis 3, 12 innings Colorado 8, Arizona 5 San Diego 6, San Francisco 4

TUESDAY’S GAMES

N.Y. Mets at Philadelphia, 7:05 p.m. Pittsburgh at Baltimore, 7:05 p.m. Atlanta at Miami, 7:10 p.m. Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati, 7:10 p.m. L.A. Dodgers at Minnesota, ppd., rain Washington at Houston, 8:10 p.m. Milwaukee at St. Louis, 8:15 p.m. Colorado at Arizona, 9:40 p.m. San Diego at San Francisco, 10:15 p.m.

TODAY’S GAMES

Sprint Cup Leaders Through April 26 Points 1, Jeff Gordon, 341. 2, Matt Kenseth, 336. 3, Carl Edwards, 313. 4, Kyle Busch, 310. 5, Dale Earnhardt Jr., 309. 6, Joey Logano, 292. 7, Brad Keselowski, 287. 8, Jimmie Johnson, 282. 9, Ryan Newman, 272. 10, Brian Vickers, 256. 11, Greg Biffle, 256. 12, Austin Dillon, 252. 13, Kyle Larson, 251. 14, Denny Hamlin, 245. 15, Tony Stewart, 243. 16, Marcos Ambrose, 242. 17, A J Allmendinger, 240. 18, Paul Menard, 226. 19, Jamie McMurray, 226. 20, Kevin Harvick, 220. Money 1, Dale Earnhardt Jr., $2,695,643. 2, Brad Keselowski, $2,447,795. 3, Jeff Gordon, $2,254,487. 4, Joey Logano, $2,162,017. 5, Denny Hamlin, $2,097,885. 6, Jimmie Johnson, $1,958,697. 7, Kyle Busch, $1,956,692. 8, Matt Kenseth, $1,889,020. 9, Kevin Harvick, $1,743,145. 10, Paul Menard, $1,633,314. 11, Austin Dillon, $1,560,762. 12, Greg Biffle, $1,548,698. 13, Tony Stewart, $1,504,000. 14, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., $1,495,568. 15, Carl Edwards, $1,490,838. 16, Kyle Larson, $1,478,943. 17, Brian Vickers, $1,477,753. 18, Jamie McMurray, $1,449,344. 19, Marcos Ambrose, $1,400,653. 20, Aric Almirola, $1,373,542.

NBA PLAYOFFS By The Associated Press

FIRST ROUND (Best-of-7; x-if necessary) Atlanta 3, Indiana 2 Thursday, May 1: Indiana at Atlanta, 7 p.m. x-Saturday, May 3: Atlanta at Indiana, TBA Miami 4, Charlotte 0 Brooklyn 2, Toronto 2 Today: Brooklyn at Toronto, 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 2: Toronto at Brooklyn, TBA x-Sunday, May 4: Brooklyn at Toronto, TBA Washington 3, Chicago 1 x-Thursday, May 1: Chicago at Washington, 7 or 8 p.m. x-Saturday, May 3: Washington at Chicago, TBA

WESTERN CONFERENCE

MLB STANDINGS By The Associated Press EAST DIVISION

SPORTS ITEMS

NASCAR The Associated Press

EASTERN CONFERENCE

TODAY

WILSON HALL 24

L.A. Dodgers at Minnesota, 1:10 p.m., 1st game Atlanta at Miami, 7:10 p.m. L.A. Dodgers at Minnesota, 7:10 p.m., 2nd game Milwaukee at Cincinnati, 7:10 p.m. N.Y. Mets at Colorado, 8:40 p.m.

Milwaukee (Garza 1-2) at St. Louis (S.Miller 2-2), 1:45 p.m. N.Y. Mets (Colon 2-3) at Philadelphia (K.Kendrick 0-2), 7:05 p.m. Pittsburgh (Cumpton 0-1) at Baltimore (B.Norris 1-2), 7:05 p.m. Atlanta (Harang 3-1) at Miami (Eovaldi 1-1), 7:10 p.m. Chicago Cubs (E.Jackson 1-2) at Cincinnati (Cingrani 2-2), 7:10 p.m. L.A. Dodgers (Greinke 4-0) at Minnesota (Gibson 3-1), 8:10 p.m. Washington (Zimmermann 1-1) at

Dallas 2, San Antonio 2 Today: Dallas at San Antonio, 7 p.m. Friday, May 2: San Antonio at Dallas, TBA x-Sunday, May 4: Dallas at San Antonio, TBA Memphis 2, Oklahoma City 2 Thursday, May 1: Oklahoma City at Memphis, 8 or 9:30 p.m. x-Saturday, May 3: Memphis at Oklahoma City, TBA L.A. Clippers 2, Golden State 2 Thursday, May 1: L.A. Clippers at Golden State, 10:30 p.m. x-Saturday, May 3: Golden State at L.A. Clippers, TBA Portland 3, Houston 1 Today: Portland at Houston, 9:30 p.m. x-Friday, May 2: Houston at Portland, TBA x-Sunday, May 4: Portland at Houston, TBA

NHL PLAYOFFS By The Associated Press FIRST ROUND (Best-of-7) (x-if necessary)

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Boston 4, Detroit 1 Friday, April 18: Detroit 1, Boston 0 Sunday, April 20: Boston 4, Detroit 1 Tuesday, April 22: Boston 3, Detroit 0 Thursday, April 24: Boston 3, Detroit 2, OT Saturday, April 26: Boston 4, Detroit 2 Montreal 4, Tampa Bay 0 Wednesday, April 16: Montreal 5, Tampa Bay 4, OT Friday, April 18: Montreal 4, Tampa Bay 1 Sunday, April 20: Montreal 3, Tampa Bay 2 Tuesday, April 22: Montreal 4, Tampa Bay 3 Pittsburgh 4, Columbus 2 Wednesday, April 16: Pittsburgh 4, Columbus 3 Saturday, April 19: Columbus 4, Pittsburgh 3, 2OT Monday, April 21: Pittsburgh 4, Columbus 3 Wednesday, April 23: Columbus 4, Pittsburgh 3, OT Saturday, April 26: Pittsburgh 3, Columbus 1 Monday, April 28: Pittsburgh 4, Columbus 3 N.Y. Rangers 3, Philadelphia 2 Thursday, April 17: N.Y. Rangers 4, Philadelphia 1 Sunday, April 20: Philadelphia 4, N.Y. Rangers 2 Tuesday, April 22: N.Y. Rangers 4, Philadelphia 1 Friday, April 25: Philadelphia 2, N.Y. Rangers 1 Sunday, April 27: N.Y. Rangers 4, Philadelphia 2 Tuesday, April 29: N.Y. Rangers at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. x-Wednesday, April 30: Philadelphia at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Colorado 3, Minnesota 3 Thursday, April 17: Colorado 5, Minnesota 4, OT Saturday, April 19: Colorado 4, Minnesota 2 Monday, April 21: Minnesota 1, Colorado 0, OT Thursday, April 24: Minnesota 2, Colorado 1 Saturday, April 26: Colorado 4, Minnesota 3, OT Monday, April 28: Minnesota 5, Colorado 2 Wednesday, April 30: Minnesota at Colorado, 9:30 p.m. Chicago 4, St. Louis 2 Thursday, April 17: St. Louis 4, Chicago 3, 3OT Saturday, April 19: St. Louis 4, Chicago 3, OT Monday, April 21: Chicago 2, St. Louis 0 Wednesday, April 23: Chicago 4, St. Louis 3, OT Friday, April 25: Chicago 3, St. Louis 2, OT Sunday, April 27: Chicago 5, St. Louis 1 Anaheim 4, Dallas 2 Wednesday, April 16: Anaheim 4, Dallas 3 Friday, April 18: Anaheim 3, Dallas 2 Monday, April 21: Dallas 3, Anaheim 0 Wednesday, April 23: Dallas 4, Anaheim 2 Friday, April 25: Anaheim 6, Dallas 2 Sunday, April 27: Anaheim 5, Dallas 4, OT San Jose 3, Los Angeles 3 Thursday, April 17: San Jose 6, Los Angeles 3 Sunday, April 20: San Jose 7, Los Angeles 2 Tuesday, April 22: San Jose 4, Los Angeles 3, OT Thursday, April 24: Los Angeles 6, San Jose 3 Saturday, April 26: Los Angeles 3, San Jose 0 Monday, April 28: Los Angeles 4, San Jose 1 Wednesday, April 30: Los Angeles at San Jose, 10 p.m.

SPORTS

THE SUMTER ITEM

AREA SCOREBOARD AUTO RACING SUMTER SPEEDWAY CHAMPIONS SEARCH Sumter Speedway is trying to gather information on all of its champions from 1957 to the present. The name of the driver, the year and the division in which the title was won and the track promoter is the information hoping to be gathered. To provide information, call James Skinner at (803) 7755973 or e-mail Virginia Ayers at vayers@ftc-i.net. BOWLING GAMECOCK LANE SCORES

April 6-12 Weekly High Scores Industrial Mixed: Leo Mickens 238; John Loney 222-579; Evvie Prioleau 220-549. Friday Night Mixed: Terence Williams 279-696; Edwardo Allen 300-789; Jim Caywood 275-756; Luke Hicks 253-667; Phillip June 257-660; Tim Jenkins 240; Marie Davis 226-561; Margaret Coleman 192; Kenneth Smith 278-667; Bill Riles 646; Dustin Hodge 723; James Canty 680; Lewis Washington 285-666; Ricky Dinkins 683; Charlie Boykin 731; Mike Hodge 279-663. Hot Shots: Gwen Cofield 266-592; Les Shaw-Rembert 199. Tuesday Night Mixed: Russ Ratcliff 300; Tim Hudnall 267-681; Bobby Holladay 259-686; Ricky Dinkins 726; Don Infelise 719; Rose Wilson 204-482; Tina Gathers 159-413; Steve Anderson 579; Jay Bradley 580; Wendy Smith 558; Tina Merritt 447; Madi Meeker 443; Felicia Blake 551. Close Encounters: Chris Berry 265-/619; Steven Ruighaver 236-650; David Lowe 222-600; Jerry Candee 189-511; Louise Cunningham 189. Extravaganza: Mellissa Jackson 176443; Ceci Hunter 186-470. Possibilities: Cathy Powers 234-609; Julia Jenkins 201. Afternoon Delight: Les Delahunt 469; Tammy Cockerill 223-517. Thursday Night Open: Bing Davis 240606; Von Carraway 237; Jim Caywood 253; Scott Keisling 234-618; Don Infelise 692; Dustin Hodge 639.

BASEBALL MANNING-SANTEE LEGION MEETING The Manning-Santee Post 68 American Legion baseball

program will hold a meeting on Sunday at the Manning Post 68 Legion Hut for all players interested in playing for either junior or senior team. The hut is located at 552 Sunset Drive in Manning.For more information, contact head coach G.G. Cutter at (803) 225-2929 FOOTBALL OFFICIATING CLASSES

The Santee Wateree Football Officials Association will be holding classes for those interested in becoming officials beginning on Monday. Those who pass the course will be able to officiate middle school, junior varsity and varsity games. Classes will be held each Monday beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Sumter County Parks & Recreation at 155 Haynsworth Street. The state clinic and examination will be held on July 26. For more information, contact Granderson James at (803) 968-2391 or at grandersj@ aol.com or Richard Geddings at (803) 468-8858. GOLF LAKEWOOD 4-PERSON SCRAMBLE The Links at Lakewood Golf Course will host a 4-person scramble every Thursday. The cost is $25 per person and includes golf, prizes and food following the scramble. Call the pro shop at (803) 481-5700 before 4 p.m. on Thursday to sign up. ST. FRANCIS XAVIER GOLF CLASSIC

The 19th Annual St. Francis Xavier Golf Classic will be held on Friday, May 9, at Sun-

HOUSTON FROM PAGE B1 led the Bulldogs with 11½ tackles for loss and 4½ quarterback sacks to go along with 46 tackles. “He had a great year, but at the same time, I don’t think he’s even touched his potential yet,” Houston said. “We just finished our end-ofthe-year testing and he tested out off the charts. He ran a sub-4.6 (seconds) 40-yard dash. His jumping is good, his strength is good. “I really think he’s poised to have a great year, and I’ve challenged him to maximize his abilities and really have the type of senior season he has the potential to.” The Citadel will employ a 4-2-5 defensive scheme this season run out of a 3-4 personnel package this season, he went on to say. “It should maximize (Oxendine’s) talents,” Houston said. “He’ll play at our 5-techinique defensive end and we’ll be moving him around a good bit instead of just playing him on the edge. That should maximize his speed and quickness.”

The offense will be tweaked as well, but the triple-option will still be its primary focus. The Bulldogs ran the triple-option under Higgins. It was also used by Lenoir-Rhyne under Houston. The Bears went 29-8 under Houston in three seasons. Last year, L-R won 13 games and advanced to the NCAA Division II title game before falling to Northwest Missouri State. “There’s some similarity with what we ran at LenoirRhyne and what they did here,” he said. “Our style is different, but at least it’s still within the same family. You don’t have to worry about the kids buying into the system because that’s what they came here to play. That’s a big positive. “We had a lot of success with it and we’re hoping to replicate that success here.” The Citadel, which went 5-7 overall and 4-4 in SoCon play last year, begins the Houston era on Aug. 30 against Coastal Carolina in Charleston.

Your community news source www.theitem.com

set Country Club. The tournament format will be a 4-man Captain’s Choice and there will be a shotgun start at 1 p.m. The cost is $65 per person and the minimum team handicap is 60. The cost includes dinner as well. The cost for dinner for guests is $15. There are also several different ways to sponsor the event at prices of $50, $100, $300, $500 and $1,000. For more information or to register, call St. Francis Xavier High School at (803) 7730210, Steve Capinis at (803) 775-2676, Chan Floyd at (803) 774-8555 or Rick Lavergne at (803) 481-3048. FRIEND OF YOUTH TOURNAMENT

The Evening Optimist Club Friend of Youth Golf Tournament will be held on May 17 at Crystal Lakes Golf Club. The tournament format is a 4-person Captain’s Choice, and the entry fee is $40 per golfer. The team must have a minimum handicap of 50, and only one player can have a handicap of 8 or less. The money raised from the tournament will go to the programs of Optimist International. There are sponsorship opportunities of $300, $200 and $100 are available as well. For more information, call Les Perkins at (803) 468-1619. GOLFERS BIBLE STUDY

The Sumter chapter of the Christian Golfer’s Association holds a golfers Bible study each Tuesday at its offices at Crystal Lakes Golf Course. The study begins at 8 a.m.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014 and is followed by a round of golf. RELAY FOR LIFE TOURNAMENT

The Relay For Life Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday at Crystal Lakes Golf Course. The tournament format is 4-man Captain’s Choice at a cost of $40 per player. Tee sponsors are also needed. There will be an 8 a.m. shotgun start and lunch will be provided. For more information, contact Mike Ardis at (803) 7751902. NATIONAL POLICE WEEK TOURNAMENT

The National Police Week Golf Tournament will be held on Monday, May 12, at Sunset Country Club. The cost of the tournament is $200 per team, and the money raised will go to the Crime Stoppers program in honor of Sumter officers killed in the line of duty. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start at 9. For more information or to sign up, contact Lt. Don Florence at (803) 436-2737. ROAD RACING RUN FOR THE ROSES 5K

The Run For The Rosers 5K Run/Walk will be held on Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. The race will begin and end at Rotary Centennial Plaza located at the intersection of Main and Liberty streets. The entry fee is $25 if done in advance and is $30 if done on the day of the race. Children age 12 and under are not required to register. Registration can be done online at www.strictlyrunning.com.

BASKETBALL SUMTER CHRISTIAN CLINICS Registration is being taken for the Sumter Christian School 2014 Basketball Clinics to be held over the summer. There will be four 5-day sessions at a cost of $45 per camper. A camp for children in grades 1-3 will be held June 9-13, grades 3-6 June 2327, grades 6-9 July 7-11 and graves 9-12 July 21-25. The camps will run each day from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The camp instructors will be the SCS coaching staff of Bobby Baker, Tom Cope and Jimmy Davis. For more information, call Baker at (803) 469-9304 or (803) 464-3652. FISHING BASS FISHING TOURNAMENT

A bass fishing tournament hosted by the Sumter chapter of Delta Waterfowl will be held on Saturday at Pack’s Landing in Rimini. The entry fee for the 2-man team tournament is $50 per boat and the fee to compete for the big fish is $10 per boat. Barbecue chicken plates will be sold for $5 each on Saturday. Registration will be taken at Williams Sporting Goods on Broad Street, Dubose Bait & Tackle on U.S. Highway 15 South or online at Facebook/ SumterChapterDeltaWaterfowl. Registration will also be taken beginning at 4:30 a.m. on the day of the event with blast off set for safe light in the order of registration. Weigh-in will be at 3 p.m. For more information, call (803) 464-9741 or (803) 7204269.

League champions McDonald’s Heat went undefeated in winning both the regular-season and tournament titles in the Sumter County Recreation Department’s 7-8 year-old basketball league. Members of the team are, first row, left to right: Kahli Waddell, Khalil Moody, Snia Boone and Justin Rembert. Second row: Coach Cedric Rembert, Davion McBride, Jayden Hale and Valdez Holmes. PHOTO SUBMITTED

NBA

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

Sterling banned for life by NBA

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Atlanta’s Jeff Teague (0) reaches for the basketball after driving between Indiana’s Paul George, left, and David West during the Hawks’ 107-97 victory on Sunday in Indianapolis to take a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.

Pacers still searching for solutions INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Pacers reached the top of the Eastern Conference by relying on hard-nosed defense and a power offense. They’re on the brink of elimination because neither is working. The eighth-seeded Hawks are on the brink of pulling a stunning upset thanks largely to Indiana’s ineptitude to get it right in the playoffs. “We didn’t play as well to end the year off, but I just knew at playoff time, this team would come together,” All-Star starter Paul George said. “But you know this team (Atlanta) is a tough matchup. We’ve never rotated this much, we’ve never ran around the court this much.” They’ve never been in this much trouble, either. Monday night’s 107-97 loss put Indiana in a 3-2 hole and one loss away from becoming just the sixth No. 1 seed in NBA history to lose in the first round. Two months ago, such an exit seemed inconceivable. Indiana was the league’s best team over the first half of the season, going 33-8, and was virtually unbeatable at home. George wound up with the third-most votes for the All-Star game, Roy Hibbert was selected as a backup and Lance Stephenson’s fans said he should have made the team, too. Things changed dramatically after the All-Star break. The Pacers started having problems with spacing and ball movement, the league’s top-rated defense struggled, tempers flared and they lost that air of invincibility. Evan Turner arrived in a trade and hasn’t blossomed. Indiana is just 13-16 since March 1, and despite winding up with home-court advantage through the conference finals, they haven’t resembled the team that looked destined for a rematch with Miami in the Eastern finals. Indiana thought the playoffs would give them a fresh start. Instead, the NBA’s best regular-season home team (35-6) has lost two of three games on its own floor. Hibbert has been virtually invisible. He’s averaging 4.8 points and 3.4 rebounds in roughly 22 minutes per game. Even worse, the runner-up for the NBA’s defensive player of the year has only three blocks in five games and has become a major liability chasing 3-point shooters. Fans want coach Frank Vogel to bench the 7-foot-2 rim protector, especially after scoring no points and grabbing no rebounds in Monday night’s 107-97 loss. “I’m not going to talk a lot about adjustments or lineup changes, potential lineup changes we could make,” Vogel said.

Hibbert said he hasn’t been told whether he’ll start Thursday night in Atlanta. Team chemistry has been problematic, too. After signing Andrew Bynum in early February and dealing longtime fixture Danny Granger to Philadelphia at the trade deadline, an effort to improve Indiana’s bench, the camaraderie started falling apart. Hibbert complained there were some “selfish dudes” in the locker room, a comment Vogel disagreed with and Hibbert later apologized for. Vogel has repeatedly and openly prodded his players to share the ball and trust their passes. Fans have complained about the body language on the court and on the bench, and there are growing questions regarding Vogel’s return next season if the Pacers are ousted this week. Things turned so bleak Monday, when Atlanta’s Mike Scott made four straight 3s during a 41-point second quarter, that even the usually unflappable Larry Bird cradled his head as he watched his team suffer. A few hours later, George’s night got even worse when he returned home to find his $15,000 diamond-and-platinum All-Star ring and a $700 watch were stolen during the game, according to a police report. “It’s being investigated now and that’s all I’ll say about it,” George said. The Pacers’ vaunted defense, which was giving up roughly 90 points per game before the All-Star break, has yielded 95.8 points in the best-of-seven series and allowed the Hawks to shoot 39.0 percent from beyond the arc. Players are hoping to find a solution before Thursday. “We’re used to packing the paint, playing big, playing physical,” George said. “But it’s like playing pickup ball against them, with five perimeter guys. It’s a different feel playing against these guys, we just have to adjust.” Time is running short. Even if the Pacers stay alive in Atlanta, where they’ve won only three times in 7½ years, the two-time Central Division champs would need to protect their home court Saturday to advance. They’ve already lost three times at home to the Hawks this season, and they haven’t won two straight games with their regular starting five on the floor since mid-March. “We can’t think about Game 7. Game 6 is at hand and it’s a must win,” George said. “We can’t think about nothing but Game 6 and if we don’t win, our season’s done. That’s motivation enough right there.”

NEW YORK (AP) — NBA Commissioner Adam Silver delivered the swiftest, strongest penalty he could, then called on NBA owners to force Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling to sell the team for making racist comments that hurt the league. Almost unanimously, owners supported the commissioner Tuesday, as he handed down one of the harshest penalties in the history of U.S. sports. “We stand together in condemning Mr. Sterling’s views. They simply have no place in the NBA,” Silver said at a news conference. Sterling, 80, is banned for life from any association with the league or the Clippers, and fined $2.5 million — the maximum allowable under the NBA constitution. If three-fourths of the other 29 owners agree to Silver’s recommendation, Sterling will be forced to sell the team he has owned since 1981. Players and others cheered Silver’s quick action, with union officials saying that if the league’s punishment hadn’t included a mandate for Sterling to sell the team, players were considering boycotting playoff games, including Tuesday’s Golden State Warriors-Clippers matchup, the team’s first home game since the scandal erupted. “We wanted to be a part of this decision, and we wanted Adam Silver to know where we stood. And we were very clear that anything other than Sterling selling his team was not going to be enough for us,” said Roger Mason Jr., the first vice president of the players’ union. Sterling’s comments — which were recorded by his girlfriend and released by TMZ on Saturday — harmed the league, Silver said. Sponsors were threatening to abandon the NBA, and criticism was coming from fans on social media and even the White House. Sterling criticized V. Stiviano — purportedly the female voice on the tapes — for posting pictures of her with black athletes Magic Johnson and Matt Kemp. “It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people. Do you have to?” Sterling asks the woman on the tape. “Sentiments of this kind are contrary to the principles of inclusion and respect that form the foundation of our diverse, multicultural and multiethnic league,” Silver said. The NBA’s longest-tenured owner keeps his team for now — and Silver said he didn’t

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced on Tuesday that Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has been banned for life by the league in response to racist comments the league says he made in a recorded conversation. know if Sterling would fight to do so permanently. But he can’t attend games or practices, can’t be involved in any personnel decisions or participate in board of governors meetings. Just three days after the scandal broke, and hours before the Clippers hosted their biggest game of the season, Silver apologized to some of the league’s black pioneers while meting out a punishment he believed would satisfy outraged players and fans. Silver said the ban applied only to Sterling and there had been no discussions about whether he could sell to a family member. Many owners supported Silver, and none of them publicly defended Sterling. “We applaud the firm punishment handed out today by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and appreciate the swiftness with which the NBA conducted its investigation,” Warriors co-owner Joe Lacob said in a statement. The fine will be donated to organizations dedicated to anti-discrimination and tolerance efforts, Silver said. Sterling, with an estimated net worth of about $2 billion, did not comment, though Silver said he did not apologize for his remarks. Silver said Sterling confirmed that he was the person on the audiotapes. Silver hasn’t even been on the job three months and already had to face a crisis that threatened the league not only financially — with several companies ending or suspending their sponsorships of the Clippers — but more importantly, socially. The NBA survived the Indiana Pacers’ brawl with Detroit Pistons fans, and referee Tim Donaghy betting on games he officiated.

Sterling’s dismissal would lead to uncertain future LOS ANGELES (AP) — While Donald Sterling’s lifetime ban from the Los Angeles Clippers was greeted with widespread acclaim Tuesday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s decision raised a host of new questions for the owner’s long-troubled franchise. In the first few hours after Silver’s landmark decision, nobody was certain whether Sterling’s wife, Rochelle, would be eligible to take a leadership role with the team in Donald Sterling’s absence. Donald Sterling wasn’t a micromanaging owner, but the 80-year-old real-estate mogul still presided over a large, rotating collection of executives and coaches. “There has been no decision about other members of his family,” Silver said. “This ruling applies specifically to Donald Sterling and Donald Sterling only.” That language likely means Rochelle Sterling is still welcome at the Clippers’ games at Staples Center and their state-of-the-art $60 million training complex built in Playa Vista in 2008.

AP FILE PHOTO

While Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has been banned for life by the NBA in response to racist comments the league says he made in a recorded conversation, it remains to be seen what will be done to other members of the family or what affect his removal as owner would cause. Rochelle Sterling has played a nebulous role in running the team in the past, and she could be allowed to assume a figurehead role in Donald Sterling’s absence. Despite years of estrangement, the Sterlings co-own most of the items in their vast wealth

portfolio under California’s community property laws. The Clippers’ top executives aren’t likely to be shuffled in the short term, particularly while the team is still involved in the NBA postseason. Team President Andy Roeser has been a loyal Sterling employee

for many years, while coach Doc Rivers also has a say in personnel decisions. Despite the urgency of the potential move, Sterling seems almost certain to get the highest sale price in history for an NBA franchise. Even after decades of incompetence under Sterling’s watch, the Clippers are a successful team located in glamorous Los Angeles — and they’re about to get much more valuable. That’s because the Clippers’ television contract with Fox Sports is up after the 2015-16 season, and they’re the only franchise in the nation’s second-largest media market that will be up for bid soon. Fox needs to keep the Clippers after losing the Lakers and the Dodgers to those teams’ own Time Warner Cable-backed networks, but both of those new networks seem likely to bid on the Clippers’ rights as well. If the Clippers go on sale, the potential buyers would include several of the world’s wealthiest men. Magic Johnson, Mark Wal-

ter and their Guggenheim Partners group in the billiondollar purchase of the Los Angeles Dodgers are possible bidders for the team. Billionaire music mogul David Geffen and real-estate tycoon Rick Caruso both have already indicated interest. Patrick Soon-Shiong, the biotech billionaire often described as the richest man in Los Angeles, bought Johnson’s share of the Lakers in 2010, but could be interested in owning his own team. Oracle CEO Larry Ellison has attempted to purchase several sports teams in recent years, but been rebuffed despite his vast fortune. Perhaps the buyer could come from elsewhere, too: Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. and music mogul Sean Combs both claimed interest in buying the team Tuesday. Interest in professional sports franchises is at an unprecedented high. The smallmarket Milwaukee Bucks attracted nine bidders before selling for $550 million to finance executives Marc Lasry and Wesley Edens.

SPORTS

THE SUMTER ITEM

NASCAR

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

LOCAL SCHSL PLAYOFF SCHEDULES BASEBALL 4A

AP FILE PHOTO

Bobby Allison, left, holds the foot of Cale Yarborough after Yarborough kicked him during a fight at the end of the 1979 Daytona 500. The brawl in the closing moments of the first race to be broadcast live in its entirety was a monumental moment for NASCAR, and the lasting image as the traditionally Southern sport officially announced its arrival on the national scene.

No penalty needed for Richmond scrap BY JENNA FRYER The Associated Press CHARLOTTE — Quick quiz: Who won the 1979 Daytona 500? The answer, of course, is Richard Petty. But very few people — if any — equate that race with “The King” grabbing the sixth of his seven Daytona 500 victories. That race is instead infamous for the last-lap crash between Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough as they raced for the lead. The crash sparked a threeman fight after Allison’s brother, Bobby, pulled up to the accident scene. The brawl in the closing moPETTY ments of the first race to be broadcast live in its entirety was a monumental moment for NASCAR, and the lasting image as the traditionally Southern sport officially announced its arrival on the national scene. Fast forward 35 years later to Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway, where tempers flared after the race. It seemed much ado about nothing when Brad Keselowski stomped down pit road to angrily wag his finger at Matt Kenseth in a scene that was just enough to keep viewers from changing the channel, but not enough to generate any real excitement. Then things got really interesting. An overhead camera happened to catch Casey Mears confronting Marcos Ambrose in the garage. About? Who knows. The two were racing each other for 18th place and Fox hardly had its cameras tuned to that battle. But something happened between the two to get Mears upset, and his anger only grew as Ambrose seemed to dismiss him and turn away. So Mears grabbed the Australian, shoved him a bit and Ambrose responded with a right hook to Mears’ eye. It was hard enough to draw blood and knock Mears’ hat

from atop his head. NASCAR is reviewing the incident and considering whether to discipline either of the drivers in its Tuesday penalty notices. If the sanctioning body is smart, it will close the file and move on to Talladega without taking any action against either driver. Forget for a minute that it was a fight that put NASCAR on the national map, and that hard-scrabble, passionate drivers who aren’t afraid of confrontation are the bedrock of the sport. To this day, it’s those incidents that generate the most conversation. Joey Logano’s late pass of Kenseth, Keselowski and Jeff Gordon to win the race didn’t garner many national headlines on Sunday, but Ambrose’s shot to Mears’ face most certainly did. The decision to leave Ambrose and Mears alone isn’t about the attention that a fight draws to the sport. It’s about short-track racing on a Saturday night and the emotions that come from driving hard on tight tracks and in close quarters. Fans watch Bristol and Martinsville and Richmond fully expecting to be treated to bumping and banging and the post-race confrontations that come from explosive tempers. The incidents are celebrated and find their way into promotional materials for the tracks and NASCAR itself. Taking that into account, Mears can’t be punished for confronting Ambrose after the race. Something happened on the track that infuriated him enough to seek out Ambrose. That conversation happened to take place in the garage, NASCAR’s version of the office place, and it happened in a flurry of frenetic, post-race activity. Drivers return their cars to the haulers after the race, and at Richmond, the haulers are lined up in tight quarters. Crews are working furiously to pack up the car and the equipment, fans are milling about trying to chase down their favorite driver, reporters are rushing to seek out interviews before the parties slip away in the darkness.

QUACKENBUSH FROM PAGE B1 John was an inimitable character. His thumb and index finger were permanently shaped in the form of a “C,” perfect for holding a cigarette, which they usually were. John loved sans-a-belt pants. He carried lots of things in his pants pockets -coins, pens, cigarette lighter and a fat wallet. As his belly grew with time, his pants would sag lower and lower causing the cuffs of his pants to drag the floor. John dragged his feet when he walked and wore his heels out quickly. He wore short sleeve, plaid shirts with a pocket for his cigarettes. His shirts were always neatly tucked in on one side. John rarely wore a hat or cap. Caps would interfere with his headset. John had a lot of loose ends in his life outside of the

booth, but he had no loose ends in the booth in front of a microphone. The booth was “home” for John. He was secure and confident there, in control of his life. Like Vic Wallenda, the high wire artist who said, “Life is on the wire; everything else is just waiting.” John’s life was in the booth behind the mike; everything else was just waiting. John would get to the park early to see batting practice of both teams, talk to players and chat with both coaches. He wanted to know the coaches as well as the players. That way, he could let his listening audience get to know the players beyond what they did on the field. Thirty-minute rain delays? No problem! John was prepared. In fact, he had his “rain delay” material always

BARONS FROM PAGE B1 In its 6-0 quarterfinal victory over Ben Lippen on Monday though, Prep had new players at Nos. 4-6. It was in the bottom half of the ladder where Wilson Hall almost pulled out a couple of victories. Thompson lost 5-7, 5-7, while Stone fell 1-6, 7-6, 7-10. “We believe we’re at the level where we can compete with Hilton Head Prep,” McCord said. “Our goal all year has been to get to the state championship, so we have to get on the bus and see what we can do. “We’re looking forward to it. We’re hoping a year of experience playing tournament tennis will prepare us for this. If we can win a cou-

ready to go. Thirty minutes of announcing with no game going on would scare the pants off of most announcers, but not John. Yes, John was controversial. Yes, John had a lot of loose ends in his life, but who doesn’t? I didn’t know John away from game day, but I do know that if all of us would play as hard on game day as John did, we would all win more games. John always gave a lot more than he was paid for. His work was good enough to be heard by a lot more ears than only Sumter County, but those of us who had the good fortune to sit around our radios with John painting pictures for us were richer because of his passion. Quack, you gave it all you had in the booth and that was good enough. Rest in peace. The fat lady sings.

ple of singles and get to the doubles, I think that will energize us.” The Barons’ doubles teams are Brown and Davis at No. 1. Stover and Hendrix at No. 2 and Thompson and Stone at No. 3. The times have been few and far between in which those three teams haven’t played in the matches, regardless of the score of the match at the time. That was done with today in mind. “We want them playing together in doubles as much as possible to develop that chemistry together,” McCord said. “In our practices, we really work more on the doubles than the singles because they can do that on their own. “Sometimes I feel teams don’t focus as much on doubles as they do singles. I hope that will help us.”

District VI Thursday Game 1 – Aiken at Sumter, 7 p.m. Game 2 – Lugoff-Elgin at Summerville Saturday Game 3 – Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser Game 4 – Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner Monday Game 5 – Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Loser Wednesday Game 6 – District VII Game 5 Winner at Game 4 Winner Game 7 – If Necessary 3A Friday Game 1 – Lakewood at Gilbert, 6:30 p.m. Game 2 – James Island at Georgetown Monday Game 3 – Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser Game 4 – Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner Wednesday Game 5 – Game 3 Winner at Game 4 Loser Friday Game 6 – Game 5 Winner at Game 4 Winner Game 7 – If Necessary 1A District VII Thursday Game 1 – Hannah-Pamplico at East Clarendon, 6 p.m. Game 2 – Region V No. 3 at Cross Saturday Game 3 – Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser Game 4 – Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner Monday Game 5 – Game 3 Winner at Game 4 Loser Wednesday Game 6 – Game 5 Winner at Game 4 Winner Game 7 – If Necessary

SOFTBALL 3A

Friday Game 1 – Manning at Gilbert, 6 p.m. Game 2 – James Island at Georgetown Monday Game 3 – Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser Game 4 – Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner Wednesday Game 5 – Game 3 Winner at Game 4 Loser Friday Game 6 – Game 5 Winner at Game 4 Winner Game 7 – If Necessary 1A District V Thursday Game 1 – Region VI No. 4 vs. Region V No. 1 Game 2 – Scott’s Branch at Latta, 5:30 p.m. Saturday Game 3 – Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser Game 4 – Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner Monday Game 5 – Game 3 Winner at Game 4 Loser Wednesday Game 6 – Game 5 Winner at Game 4 Winner Game 7 – If Necessary District VII Thursday Game 1 – Hannah-Pamplico at East Clarendon, 6 p.m. Game 2 – Region V No. 3 at Military Magnet Saturday Game 3 – Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser Game 4 – Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner Monday Game 5 – Game 3 Winner at Game 4 Loser Wednesday Game 6 – Game 5 Winner at Game 4 Winner Game 7 – If Necessary

PLAYOFFS FROM PAGE B1 The other game in the 4-team, double elimination tournament will have No. 2 seed Summerville playing host to No. 3 Lugoff-Elgin on Thursday. The winners and losers will play on Saturday. Sumter will be at home win or lose. Lakewood will play at Gilbert on Friday at 6:30 p.m. in the opening game of the District VII tournament of the 3A playoffs. The Gators, who are 6-10, finished fourth in Region VI while Gilbert won the Region V title. The other game in that district will have Georgetown playing host to James Island. Lakewood will travel to face one of those teams on Monday. The teams from East Clarendon will both play host to Hannah-Pamplico at 6 p.m. on Thursday in their respective District VII tournaments. The Lady Wolverines bring a 14-4 record into the contest. They will play host to either Military Magnet or the No. 3 team from Region V on Saturday. The EC baseball team is 16-2. It will play host to either Cross or the Region V No. 3 team on Saturday. Manning’s softball team will travel to Gilbert on Friday for a 6 p.m. game in the District VII tournament of the 3A playoffs. The Lady Monarchs will be on the road on Saturday as well against either James Island or Georgetown. The Scott’s Branch softball team, which finished third in Region VII-1A, will play at Latta on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. The Lady Eagles are 4-6.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

SPORTS

THE SUMTER ITEM

CLEMSON BASKETBALL

Tigers moving on after McDaniels’ decision BY PETE IACOBELLI The Associated Press CLEMSON — Clemson coach Brad Brownell thought last summer K.J. McDaniels could become one of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s breakout stars and head off early to the NBA. So Brownell and his staff took some big steps to make sure that McDaniels’ departure — he gave up his senior season last week to enter the draft — wouldn’t BROWNELL short-circuit the Tigers’ rising program. McDaniels helped Clemson rebound a 13-18 mark and it’s first losing campaign in nine seasons in 2013 to go 23-13 and reach the NIT semifinals at Madison Square Garden. “I feel very good about where our program’s heading, what we’re doing and who we have returning,” Brownell said. Brownell signed Parade AllAmerican guard Gabe DeVoe and 6-foot-8 Donte Grantham even though he had only one available scholarship had McDaniels returned. “That was one of our factors in over signing a bit last year,” Brownell said. “You’re always concerned about getting caught (short) and I don’t think we got caught.” Brownell acknowledged the adjustment sure to come minus the 6-6 forward, nicknamed “Flight32” for his uniform number and his ability to leap high for slams or blocks.

McDaniels averaged 17.1 points a game, more than a quarter of the team’s total of 63.8 points per contest. His seven rebounds a game were 20 percent of what the Tigers got each game. And the ACC defensive player of the year had 100 blocks — more than 45 percent of Clemson’s total last year. Still, Brownell said McDaniels’ rise didn’t just happen overnight and he’s anticipating similar strides from several returnees. “I think you’ve seen great development from the players in our program,” he said. The biggest moves should come from point guard Rod Hall, scoring guard Damarcus Harrison and 6-foot-10 center Landry Nnoko. Hall became more aggressive as the season went on and was the Tigers leading scorer four times in their final 12 games after doing it just once in the first 24. Harrison, a BYU transfer, also grew into more of a scoring presence in his second full year with the Tigers. He had the team’s second-most 3-pointers (36) behind McDaniels’ 42. The biggest upside could belong to Nnoko, a solid, 255pound post player from Cameroon. Nnoko was second to McDaniels in blocks with 69 and rebounding average at 6.2 per game. He also developed accuracy near the hoop, leading the Tigers in field goal percentage at .548 (92 of 168). “I think everyone here will get better and keep things going,” McDaniels said. When the year began, the Tigers figured to struggle ac-

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

K.J. McDaniels, right, is forgoing his senior year at Clemson to enter the National Basketball Association draft. Tigers head coach Brad Brownell said he and his staff thought McDaniels could possibly leave early for the NBA so plans were made in case that happened. cording to many who wondered how a team without a senior and just one returning double-digit scorer could compete in the expanded ACC. But Clemson, picked next-tolast in the 15-team league in October, rallied to go 10-8 in the conference, just the program’s fourth time reaching double-digit victories in the ACC. McDaniels won’t be the team’s only player not returning. Backup point guard Adonis Filer from Chicago announced intentions to trans-

fer after the season. His spot behind Hall, a senior next year, could be filled some by Harrison, Jordan Roper or signee DeVoe, voted the AP high school player of the year in North Carolina after averaging 34 points a game at Shelby High. Brownell will look to a couple of athletic forwards in McDaniels’ mode to pick up the slack at his position in rising sophomores 6-7 Jaron Blossomgame and 6-5 Austin Ajukwa. Blossomgame showed flash-

es of elevation this fall while Ajukwa saw his playing time increase down the stretch in anticipation of a bigger role next season. Brownell said even without McDaniels, Clemson has players to keep the momentum going. “There’s not another guy that we’re going to have that’s going to make (McDaniels’) plays,” the coach said. “But we do have good players. We’ve recruited well, we’ve developed players well and there’s confidence in our program.”

KENTUCKY DERBY

Wicked Strong running for Boston victims in Derby BY BETH HARRIS The Associated Press LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Wicked Strong has a built-in fan base for the Kentucky Derby. Like the entire city of Boston. The colt named in honor of the victims of last year’s Boston Marathon bombings figures to be among the favorites for Saturday’s race. He’s got the credentials, having impressively won the Wood Memorial at 9-1 odds. Wicked Strong is owned by a Boston-based partnership that has pledged to donate 5 percent of any money won by the bay colt during the Triple Crown series to the fund set up for the bombing victims. “It’s a neat thing,” trainer Jimmy Jerkens said. “Might be an extra force that will help us, if you believe in that kind of stuff.” Does Jerkens? “Sometimes you do,” he replied. “Things seem to happen like that for some unexplained reason.” Wicked Strong began racing with the name Moyne Spun. Donald Little Jr., who heads the Centennial Farms partnership, didn’t like that moniker and decided to rename the

horse with the marathon bombings in mind. His first thought was Boston Strong, but the name was already taken. So the new name became Wicked Strong — giving it a linguistic Boston twist. It seems to fit the onceheadstrong colt, which got away from his handlers a couple times early in his career. That’s why Jerkens keeps a pony waiting to escort Wicked Strong back to the barn after a trip to the track. The colt ranked fourth on the points leaderboard that determines the maximum 20horse field for the 1 ¼-mile Derby. The victory in the Wood — his first in a stakes race — and the 100 points that went to the winner put him in the Derby picture. “He ran terrific,” Jerkens said of the colt’s 3 ½-length win. “He laid up closer to the pace without any effort, which I thought was great. The pace was really lively and he was sitting up five or six (lengths) off the lead without any effort. He certainly finished up good.” The victory in the Wood was just Wicked Strong’s second in six career races.

He will be the first Derby starter for both Centennial Farms, which won the 1993 Belmont Stakes with Colonial Affair, and Jerkens, a 55-yearold son of Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkins. “It’s nerve-wracking, especially when you’re here with only one horse,” the younger Jerkens said. “You’re looking at him so much, you almost start creating problems.” Jerkens has 23 horses in his New York-based stable. He’s currently tied for 16th in the New York Racing Association trainer’s standings, winning at a 25 percent clip. His 85-year-old father tried three times to win the Derby, his best finish being sixth place in 1978 with Sensitive Prince. He sent his son off to Louisville with the advice to treat the Derby like any other race. “A lot of people fall into that trap of second-guessing themselves,” the younger Jerkens said. “You can’t let anybody or anything sway your judgment. Don’t train him any different just because somebody will come up to you and say, ‘So and so went out there and did this with his horse.’ I’m confident in how we’ve handled him so far.”

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kentucky Derby hopeful Wicked Strong runs during a morning workout at Churchill Downs on Monday in Louisville, Ky. Wicked Strong will run in honor of the Boston bombing victims on Saturday.

OBITUARIES

THE SUMTER ITEM

SAMUEL E. STEELE Sr. MANNING — Samuel Eugene Steele Sr., 78, widower of Joan Davis Steele, died on Monday, April 28, 2014, at the home of his son in Alcolu. Born on Feb. 29, 1936, in Sumter, he was a son of the late George William Steele Sr. and Louise Priest Steele Haley. He was a member of the National STEELE Guard, Claremont Masonic Lodge, Eastern Star, Scottish Rite and Jamil Shrine. He was an active member of Cross Roads Bible Fellowship Church. He is survived by a son, Samuel E. “Gene” Steele Jr. (Charlene) of Alcolu; a daughter, Tamara “Tammy” Steele Cornwell (Brian) of Sumter; five grandchildren, Katie Steele, Kristin Steele and Kelsey Steele, all of Alcolu, and Mary Beth Cornwell and Bryson Steele Cornwell, both of Sumter; two brothers, George Steele (Betty) and Billy Steele (Cecilia), both of Sumter; a sister, Alvenia Ottosson (Andy) of Sumter; a sisterin-law, Mary Ann Shands (Lynn) of Texas; two nieces, Leigh Ann Tyler of Texas and Allison Warren of Massachusetts; and a host of other nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Cross Roads Bible Fellowship Church with the Rev. John Hall officiating. Burial will follow in Home Branch Baptist Church cemetery. Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be elders and deacons of Cross Roads Bible Fellowship Church. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday at Cross Roads Bible Fellowship Church and other times at the home of his son and daughter-inlaw, 3811 Alcolu St., Alcolu. The family would like to thank Hospice Care of TriCounty, with a special thanks to Kim, Margie, Sue and Andrew. During his greatest time of need, a special thanks to his private sitters, Sally Sumter, Sandra Davis, Betty Riley, Etta Abrams, Angela Fullwood, Blenda Hayes and Ida Golden. Memorials may be made to Cross Roads Bible Fellowship Church, P.O. Box 449, Manning, SC 29102 or to Home Branch Baptist Church, 1667 Stone Road, Manning, SC 29102. Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church St., Manning, is in charge of arrangements, (803) 4352179. www.stephensfuneralhome.org

CLEO WEEKS Cleo Gelena Whitaker Weeks, widow of Franklin E. Weeks, passed away on Sunday, April 27, 2014, in Sumter. She was born on Oct. 22, 1932, in Gorum, Louisiana, to Algie T. and Lula Kelley Whitaker. Cleo taught school for 30 years, WEEKS teaching at Thomas Sumter Academy for 12 years. After teaching, she began a real estate career with Hawkins and Kolb, where she was the top producing Realtor for more than 20 years and named Realtor of the Year in 2003. She was a longtime member of St. Johns United Methodist Church at Spring Hill and was chairman of the church building committee. Cleo graduated from Louisiana College and traveled all over the world as a military wife. She is survived by two daughters, Dr. Darlene W. Anderson (Dr. L. McTier) and Dr. Denise A. Weeks; and four grandchildren, Anna M. Tamasitis (John), Frankie J. Mohylsky, Kemp M. Anderson and Georgia K. Anderson. Also surviving are a brother, Judge John B. Whitaker; and halfsister, Mary J. Gahagan. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday at St. John’s United Meth-

odist Church in Spring Hill with the Rev. Pat Amick and the Rev. Angela Marshall officiating. The family will receive visitors from 2 to 3 p.m. on Sunday in the church fellowship hall and after the service in the family home. In lieu of flowers, please send any remembrances to St. John’s United Methodist Church, 3919 Spring Hill Road, Rembert, SC 29128 or to Tuomey Hospice Care, 500 Pinewood Road, Suite 2, Sumter, SC 29154. Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com. Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 775-9386.

SUZANNE MARRS DALZELL — A private memorial service for Suzanne Marrs, 67, of Dalzell, will be held today. She died on Sunday, April 27. 2014. She was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, a daughter of the late Loy and Mildred Noel Northrup. Memorials may be made in Suzanne’s memory to the American Cancer Society, c/o Gail Kirkland, 647 Lachicotte Road, Lugoff, SC 29078. Surviving are her daughters, Robyn Brown (Steve) of Lugoff and Samantha (Craig) Marrs of Dalzell; sons, Clint Troop (Debra) of Tybee Island, Georgia, Matthew Marrs (Christy) of Texas and George Marrs of Dalzell; a longtime boyfriend, Scott Bass; and six grandchildren. Kornegay Funeral Home, Lugoff-Elgin Camden Chapel, is assisting the family. Online condolences may be sent to the Marrs family by visiting www.kornegayfuneral.com.

SUSAN J. MACK MANNING — Susan Irene Johnson Mack, 85, widow of Harris Mack, died on Monday evening, April 28, 2014, at Clarendon Memorial Hospital in Manning. She was born on Sept. 19, 1928, in the Jordan community of Manning, a daughter of the late William and Gertrude Robinson Johnson. The family will receive friends at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Lorene and Linwood Perry, 2013 Thompson Drive, Jordan community of Manning. These services have been entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.

REBECCA T. DAVIS Rebecca Tindal Davis entered eternal rest on Monday, April 28, 2014, at Palmetto Health Richland. Born on May 23, 1923, she was a daughter of the late Wallace and Elizabeth Ramsey Tindal Scott. The family is receiving relatives and friends at the home, 102 Branch St., Sumter. Funeral plans will be announced by Community Funeral Home of Sumter.

JOE LEE NELSON Joe Lee Nelson entered eternal rest on Thursday, April 24, 2014. He was born on April 20, 1964, in Sumter County, a son of the late Ida Mae Nelson (Charlie) Hatcher and Theodore Pugh. He attended the public schools of Sumter County. In his youth, he joined Antioch Union Methodist Episcopal Church. He was employed with Carolina Furniture Inc., Sumter. After moving to Baltimore, Maryland, he was employed at Hanson Concrete, until his health declined. Survivors are his wife, Latrisha Nelson; sons, Brandon McCormick and Justin Stephens; a daugh-

ter, Lakeisha Stephens; sister, Deloris Hatcher (Sam); two brothers, Wilbur (Theresa) Hatcher and Rodney Hatcher; three grandchildren, Maleah McCormick, Ayia Mone McCormick and Sha’Heim Stephen; five aunts, Fannie Bell Johnson, Lucille (James) Junious, Elder Sarah (Isiah) Bennett, Marie (Earl) Milton and Ethel (Sam) Bennett; six uncles, Richard Nelson, Elder Amos (Bert) Hatcher, the Rev. Warren Hatcher, Marion (Gladie) Hatcher, Micah Hatcher and Marvin (Monica) Hatcher; motherin-law, Gene Carolyn Miller; a host of other relatives and friends. Public viewing for Mr. Nelson will be held from 2:30 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday at Antioch Union Methodist Episcopal Church with the pastor, the Rev. Barry Gadsden, eulogist, and Elder Sarah Bennett, Bishop Sylvester Frances, and the Rev. Robert James. Burial will follow in Spring Grove Cemetery. The family is receiving relatives and friends at the home of his niece, Ka-vone (Donnavan) Pinckney, 1135 Montana Drive, Sumter. Services have been entrusted to Community Funeral Home of Sumter. Online memorials can be sent to comfhltj@sc.rr.com.

JOANN Y. RICHARDSON FAIRFAX, Va. — Col. Joann Yuki Richardson, daughter of Fumiko Richardson and the late Leroy Richardson, died on Monday, April 28, 2014, in Fairfax. Surviving in addition to her mother are a daughter, Josephine Mathews; and two sisters, Karen Richardson of Sumter and Margie Chappell of Hendersonville, N.C. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday in the Bullock Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery with full military honors. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday at Bullock Funeral Home. You may sign the family’s guest book at www.bullockfuneralhome.com. The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home of Sumter for the arrangements.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014 (Marie) Richbow Sr. of Rembert; great-grand-aunt, Angeline Lloyd (aunt Bessie) of Sumter; 29 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Richbow and Essie Mae Chandler; his lifetime companion, Lula Pollard; and his brother, Harrison Johnson. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. today at Rafting Creek Baptist Church, 3860 S.C. 261 North, Rembert, with the Rev. Melvin Mack, pastor, eulogist. The family will receive friends and relatives at the home of Katherine Pollard Wade, 4980 Dennis Road, Rembert. The procession will leave at 12:30 p.m. from the home. Floral bearers and pallbearers will be family and friends. Burial will be in Rafting Creek Baptist Churchyard cemetery. 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.

WILLIAM ROBERTS William Roberts, age 91, beloved husband of the late Josephine J. Cornwall Roberts, died on Monday, April 28, 2014, at his residence. Born in Germany, he was a son of the late Max and Dora Weismark Rozenberg. Mr. Roberts was a member of Temple Sinai. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Reba Strickland Roberts. A graveside service will be held at 3:30 p.m. today at the Sumter Jewish Cemetery, 700 W. Oakland Ave., Sumter, SC 29150 with Rabbi Sanford Marcus officiating. You may sign the family’s guest book at www.bullockfuneralhome.com. The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home of Sumter for the arrangements.

ELIZABETH M. KENNEDY

JOHN H. BLACKMON John Hiram Blackmon, 72, died on April 29, 2014. Services will be announced by Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, (803) 775-9386.

EDWARD WILLIAMS Edward Williams, 72, affectionately known as “hardworker,” was called peacefully into eternal rest on Thursday, April 24, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center. Born on Nov. 9, 1941, in Sumter County, he was a son of the late Thomas Richbow and Essie Mae Johnson Chandler. He was educated in the public schools of Sumter County. He leaves to cherish his loving memories: his stepchildren, Katherine (Johnnie Lee) Wade, Robert (Betty) Pollard, Bobby and Ralph Pollard and Lillie Clea, all of Rembert, Charlie Pollard of Columbia, and Benjamin (Dorothy) Pollard of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; four sisters, Millie Garrett, Carol Sadler (Stanley), Daisy Brown (Kenny) and Hazel L. Johnson, all of Rembert; his uncle and aunt, Adam

DALZELL — Elizabeth “Lib” McLaughlin Kennedy, widow of William L. Kennedy, died on Monday, April 28, 2014, at her residence. Born on Feb. 20, 1921, in the Providence community of Sumter County, she was a daughter of the late Dr. Bush McLaughlin and Annie L. McLaughlin. Lib graduated from Hillcrest High School and Palmer Business School of Columbia. Lib retired from McLaughlin Motors. She was a member of the Luncheon Pilot Club of Sumter and, as a member, she received the Women of the Year Mildred Henry Davenport Award; served as president; and as a South Carolina governor. Lib was active with the Sumter County Museum and with the Fine Arts Council. She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church of Sumter; where she was a member of the Fellowship Sunday School Class and the United Methodist Women. Surviving are daughters, Betty Kennedy Kane of Dalzell and Judy Kennedy Weeks of Memphis, Tennessee; grandchildren, Mikel Kane, Noel Rawson, Jimmy Weeks and Korey Weeks; and seven great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband and parents, Lib was preceded in death by sisters, Louise Hibberd and Annie Lee Harris; and brothers, Clarence Alexander McLaughlin, Charles “Fred” McLaughlin and John Bush McLaughlin. A celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday in the Bullock

Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dr. Reginald Thackston officiating. A private family burial will be held in Horeb Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. Memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church of Sumter, 226 W. Liberty St., Sumter, SC 29150. You may sign the family’s guest book at www.bullockfuneralhome.com. The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home of Sumter for the arrangements.

DAVID WILLIAMS CHARLOTTE — Minister David Lee Samuel Williams, widower of Clory Conyers Green Williams, departed this life on Sunday, April 27, 2014, at Carolina Medical Center University in Charlotte. Born on Dec. 25, 1928, in Washington, North Carolina, he was a son of the late Jack Lee and Mary Hopkins Williams. The family is receiving relatives and friends at the residence, 1076 Otto Road, Manning. Funeral services are incomplete and will be announced by Fleming & Delaine Funeral Home and Chapel.

LEON EADY Sr. Leon “Nunnie” Eady Sr., 83, widower of Mary Johnson Eady, died on Thursday afternoon, April 24, 2014, at his residence, 1054 Subdivision Road, New Zion. He was born on Sept. 16, 1929, in New Zion, a son of the late Anna Eady. He received his formal education in the public schools of Clarendon County. “Nunnie” left South Carolina and moved to Maryland, where he worked as a construction worker for more than three decades. Upon retiring, “Nunnie” returned to South Carolina to farm his land, and make barbecue and homemade sausage. He attended Lodabar African Methodist Episcopal Church in New Zion. He was married to the late Mary Johnson, and that union was blessed with three children. Later he met the late Lynn Lucas, and that union was blessed with three children. One daughter, Jennifer Lynn, preceded him in death. Survivors are five sons, Leon (Dona) Eady Jr. of Randallstown, Maryland, Dennis Eady of Baltimore, Maryland, Venel Lucas of Balitmore, Roscoe (Pat) McGill Jr. of Charleston and Jeffery Eady of Manning; one daughter, Sharon (Leon) Eady-Corbert; two sisters, Mary Johnson of Baltimore and Lottie Eady of Baltimore; two brothers, Daniel Eady of Baltimore and John (Evelena) of New Zion; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The celebratory services for Mr. Eady will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Lodabar AME Church, 10695 Black Road, New Zion, with the Rev. Francis Dennison, pastor, officiating, and the Rev. Jerome McCray assisting. Mr. Eady will lie in repose one hour prior to service time. Burial will follow in the churchyard cemetery. The family will receive friends at his residence. These services have been entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.

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EMPLOYMENT Help Wanted Full-Time FT MAINTENANCE PERSON needed for a senior apartment community in Sumter. Qualified candidate must have their own tools, valid driver's license, be motivated, organized and results oriented. Painting and cleaning involved. Our company offers competitive salary and benefits. Must pass criminal check and drug screening. Applications may be picked up at 60 Hillard Drive, Sumter, SC or call 803-934-1449 for information. Independent Living Coordinator Prefer LPN with experience in senior living. Coordinate supports and services for seniors living in CCRC apartments. Supervises staff providing non-medical services to seniors. Must have excellent hospitality skills. Full time salaried position. Apply in person to : Covenant Place 2825 Carter Road Sumter, SC 29150 EOE Looking for a Poultry farm Manager needs to be energetic, detail oriented, some maintenance background. Must have a valid DL and equipment operating exp. Salary Position. Please send resume to Box 288 c//o The Item, PO Box 1677 Sumter SC 29151

F/T Service Technician needed for an apartment community located in Sumter. Candidate will handle all phases of maintenance. Must have a valid SC driver's license and reliable transportation. On call is a MUST! HVAC and CPO certifications are MANDATORY. Salary negotiable or commensurate with experience. Experienced Dental Assistant needed for Busy Dental Practice. Fun, professional environment. Great pay benefits. Salary based on experience. Please send resume P-357 c/o The Item, PO Box 1677 Sumter SC 29151. Drivers Wanted- Hiring drivers to run from SC to PA. Avg trip 3 days. Competitive pay. Need 2 years exp and Class A CDL. Clean driving record. Great home time. Health and Life Insurance. Vacation pay. Call 800-334-7503 Charles D. Goodwin Inc. CPC Logistics Inc. is hiring Full & Part time Class A Regional OTR Drivers for a private fleet operation in Timmonsville SC. We require min. 2 yrs OTR experience, min 24 yrs old, good MVR and Safety Record. This position requires Hazmat endorsement. We offer .31 cent per mi. $12 per hour, increased after 90 days. Full health coverage and paid vacations and holidays. Contact CPC 1- 800 -274- 3756 or email: m.petway@callcpc.com for an application.

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Martin's Used Appliance Washers, Dryers, Refrig., Stoves.

Deliver Phone Books Work Your Own Hours, Have Insured Vehicle, Must be at Least 18 yrs old, Valid DL. No Experience Necessary. 1-800-518-1333 x 224 www.deliverthephonebook.com

Expert Tech, New & used heat pumps & A/C. Will install/repair, warranty; Compressor & labor $600. Call 803-968-9549 or 843-992-2364 GENERATOR Big 8,500 Watt, 2014, Honda Electric start. Battery /wheel kit incl'd. Never used. New retail $4,995 Wholesale $3,750. 1st $1,850 Cash, 864-275-6478 Estate Tag Sale of The Late Mary L. Hinson at 2550 Old Camden Hwy. May 1st & 2nd 5:30-7:00pm & Sat. May 3rd 8am-12. Sale being conducted by Bill's Furn. & Antiques, 1107 N. Main St. Over 700 items to be sold. See photos & details on Auctionzip.com. All furniture is good quality, clean and in good shape. 3 pc Entertainment center $500, Solid Oak Queen Headboard, Chest and night table $300, Super nice curved sofa with 2 recliners on ends $800, 2 end tables and coffee table $600, table and 4 chairs $350, table with 4 chairs $250 Solid Rosewood shelf with doors $300, Wood desk with file cabinet $200, 2 Wall ovens works good $300, Solid Oak table Bar height with 2 stools, $400, several tv's not flat screens, pictures are good 26' (1) 19' with dvd & video player $75 each. Call 803-494-4220, 803-565-0056.

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.

Help Wanted Part-Time

Single Bed w/trundle, 2 mattresses and sheet sets. $400. Call 803-565-0643

Guarantee 464-5439 or 469-7311

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11:30 a.m. the day before for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday edition. 9:30 a.m. Friday for Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edition 11:30 a.m. Friday for Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edition.

For Sale or Trade

Business Services Land clearing on site mulching, tree and brush grinding, Free estimates. David 803-972-1090

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

Sumter Pet Sitter is seeking part-time help in Shaw/Center Sumter/Lakewood area. Must 21 yrs of age. Have good references. Email or call sumterpetsitters@sc.rr.com or call 803-468-1414

Trucking Opportunities Long Haul flatbed drivers wanted. CDL Class A. 3 years experience and 25 yrs old required with a clean 10 year MVR. Well maintained equipment. Excellent commission based pay. Steady freight. Call 843-906-7833 Truck Driver Trainees Needed Now at US EXPRESS Earn $800/wk Local CDL Training NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED! Be trained & based locally! 1-888-263-7364 F/T & P/T Class-A CDL Drivers needed to work night shifts hauling live chickens and/or protein in Sumter, SC. Must have 2-yrs verifiable experience and good MVR. Local positions, drivers are home daily, and company offers benefits. Call Danny at 803-236-0682

Medical Help Wanted Physician's Office need Admin staff a& Certified Medical Assistant. Fax resume to 803-774-7004

E. Brewington Rd. near Mayewood School, 3BR/2BA DWMH. $550/mo + $550/SD. NO Section 8. Call 803-934-6845 or 803-938-3174 2BR 1 BA MH partially furnished on N. Brewington in Clarendon Co. Call 803-473-3100 or 803-410-1241.

STATEBURG COURTYARD 2 & 3 BRs 803-494-4015

Mobile Home Lot Rentals Extra large Lots for sale or rent 1008 Booker St. & 119 Murphy St. 840-3904 or after 7pm 778-1083.

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

RECREATION 1986 16' Duracraft, with 1978 35hp Johnson motor, trailer, steering console, $2,500. See @ Savannah pk lot 803-840-7860.

TRANSPORTATION

PUBLIC NOTICE

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

Vacation Rentals

Unfurnished Apartments 2BR/2BA, Close to Sumter Mall. All appl & water included, W/D hookup. $625/mo + dep. (803) 491-5618. Avail now. 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 3Br 1BA near Manning on 301 N. Rd $600/mo + $600/Dep. Call 803-473-3301 3BR/ 2.5BA, 1900 sq ft. $850/mo + dep. Call William Anderson 803-775-0425 3 or 4BR house (Alcolu). $700/dep +$700/mo. 473-3301 3BR 2BA House w/garage , range, fridge., like new condition. Conv. to Shaw & Sumter $800 Mo. Call 803-934-0300 or 803-840-7633 Safe, Affordable 2BR home. Appl's, water, dumspter, sec. lights inc'd. Conv. Shaw. No H/A or PETS! $485/mo + $350/dep. 803-983-0043 Beautiful 6BR/4BA home. Den, LR, DR, Lg kitchen w/Island, W/D hook-up. Featuring hardwood tile and carpet. Over-sized BRs & BAs. Huge fenced yard. Back/front patio. Like new. $1,250/mo + $1,250/dep. Call 803-316-7958 or 803-773-1838 between 9am-6pm Mon-Fri.

Sumter County announces that it's Vector Control Department will begin spraying fro Mosquitos the week of May 5, 2014. Residents who wish to be on the DO NOT spray list as well as Beekeepers are asked to call Vector Control at 803-774-0045 to make sure all lists are updated, Requests for service should be directed to Vector Control at 803-775-0044 or 803-774-0045. Leave a message if no answer and your call will be returned as soon as possible.

Public Hearing Waterfront @ Lake Marion 3BR 2BA DW $700/Mo. + Dep 2BR 1BA SW $525/Mo. + Dep. Call 803 983-9035 or 773-6655

PUBLIC NOTICE Oswego Rural Water Co. Inc, proposes to file an application for a loan/grant with Rural Utilities, a division of Rural Development, and will hold a public meeting on Monday May 12, 2014 at its office located at 3060 Oswego Hwy at 7:30pm. The purpose of the meeting is to give an opportunity to become acquainted with a proposed Rural Utilities project, consisting generally of Expanding the system.

Commercial Rentals

RENTALS

LEGAL NOTICES Legal Notice

Work Wanted I will sit with elderly or sick. Will provide ref/exp. Call 803-236-3603 for more info.

Reconditioned batteries $35. Also have lawn mower, truck, 4 wheeler, & marine batteries, starters & alternators. Car dealers/garages ask about special prices. Auto Electric Co. 803-773-4381

Building for rent could use for Church or Other. Near Manning on Silver Rd. 803-473-3301 Church Building in Mayesville located on Willow St. for rent. Contact 803-453-5187 or 803-775-3975

REAL ESTATE Homes for Sale (Sumter) W. Sherwood Dr- Brick 3BR 1BA 1016 sq ft. attached garage. Lease or Cash. $1,000/down & $605/mo. 877-499-8065

Manufactured Housing

SUMMER SALE 200 cars $4,500 or less $$$ CASH $$$ Price is Right Auto Sales 3210 Broad St 803-494-4275

Citizen will have the opportunity to comment on such items as economic and environmental impacts, service area and alternatives to the project.

1991 Ford Escort, excellent condition. Very clean inside/out. Gas saver. $3,000 OBO. Call 803-447-5453

Projects funded by Rural Utilities, Rural Development are equal opportunity programs and discrimination in the program is prohibited by federal law.

OPEN Ernest Baker Auto Sales & Equip. Located 3349 N. Main St 5.5 miles from 378 overpass at N. Main., on Hwy 15 N. next to Baker Mini Warehouse. Remember Cars are like Eggs, Cheaper in the Country!!! 803-469-9294

Very Nice 4BR DW on 5 ac. Owner fin. w/large down payment or boat trade. Call 803-236-5953 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. (2) 4BR/2BA (Dalzell, 15S). Easy Financing. 983-8084

Farms & Acreage For Sale By Owner, 10 Acres, 8 miles to Sumter. $55,000. Owner Financing 803-427-3888.

Land & Lots for Sale Minutes Walmart/Shaw, 1 Ac $6,000. 16.2 ac $32,600. Water, Electric, Paved 800-774-5720 3.1 acres, 385 W. Foxworth Mill Rd. $15,500 + closing cost. Will Perk. Call 803-607-9500

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014 Call Ivy Moore at: (803) 774-1221 | E-mail: ivym@theitem.com

Participants in a past Downtown Sumter Microbrew Festival enjoy tasting craft beers at la bella vita, which is also a tasting station at the May 9 festival.

Microbrew festival back downtown Enjoy craft beers, help seniors

Downtown Sumter Microbrew Festival 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 9 Sign in at Sumter Opera House 21 N. Main St. (803) 773-5508 Tickets: $25 advance/$30 at door www.sumtermicrobrewfestival.org

BY IVY MOORE

ivym@theitem.com (803) 774-1221

overs of beer, craft beer in particular, take note: The Downtown Sumter Microbrew Festival is back. After a twoyear hiatus, the festival will be presented for the first time by Sumter Senior Services, which also presents the popular Sip and Stroll festival downtown each fall. The Microbrew Festival will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, May 9. It’s a good way to celebrate the end of the work week and to try some new craft beers — all while supporting Sumter’s frail elderly. Janice Williams, director of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program at Sumter Senior Services, said the funds raised by the festival are very important to SSS, particularly with budget cutbacks over the past few years. She had high praise for downtown merchants who play “a big part in making the festival possible and supporting Sumter’s senior citizens by opening their businesses after hours.” Festival chairwoman Leigh Newman said the popular festival will feature more than 30 different craft offerings. “We’ll have at least 10 downtown businesses open where participants can taste at least three different beers,” she said. Ten tasting stations have already been confirmed. “Most of the vendors are those that have participated in the past, and some of them participated in Sip and Stroll,” a similar event that offers wine tastings, Newman said. Sumter Senior Services will also have a tasting station, located in the new park across from the Sumter Opera House, where festival participants will check in. The Microbrew Festival’s stations will also offer

SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTOS

Ronnie Eldridge pours Jason Spangenberg a taste of Rogue Mogul Madness Ale at the Sumter Board of Realtors during the 2011 Microbrew Festival. The venue will participate in this year’s festival on Friday, May 9. TASTING STATIONS: • Angel’s Restaurant

• Sumter Board of Realtors

• La Bella Vita

• Thompson Industrial

• Main Street Tavern

• Attorney Jason Reddick

• Clark Law Firm

• Opera House park —

“bar-type” snacks, Newman said, such as nuts, crackers and cheese, and free water will be available. Also at each venue, descriptions of each of the beers it offers will be posted. There are many different styles, among them lagers, IPAs, ales, porters, stouts, bocks, pilsners and more. Both imported and domestic beers will be featured. Those wanting a meal can choose from foods offered by vendors at the new park across from the Sumter Opera House. The Main Street Society will be selling pizza and the pretzel necklaces so popular at the last

Sumter Senior Services • James Formal Wear • Law Range Barber Shop

Microbrew Festival. Todd Touchberry from the Cut Rate Soda Fountain will have chili dogs and barbecue, and there will be several other items from different vendors, including a food truck with various selections. Soft beverages will be available for purchase, as well. Music will be provided by Power, featuring Terence Lonon of the Untouchables and formerly with Bill Pinkney’s Original Drifters. They will be performing at the Opera House park, where food and beverages will also be available. “They’ll play a variety of music,”

Newman said, “probably a lot of pop and standards. Carmela Bryan and the Sumter County Cultural Commission granted us funds for the entertainment.” On the evening of the festival, participants should go first to the Sumter Opera House, where they must show proof of age — those under 21 will not be eligible to participate in tasting — and receive a bracelet along with a card listing all the participating merchants and the beers offered. “They’ll also get a tasting glass,” Newman said. “They should take the card, which has a map printed on it, to each tasting station and get it stamped. At the end of the evening, when they return to the park, they can use their completed card to enter a drawing for a very nice prize.” Williams said this year’s prize will include a variety of valuable gift certificates from downtown merchants. Once participants have found some favorite beers, they can purchase them by the bottle at the green space across from the Sumter Opera House, where T-shirts can also be purchased. All proceeds from the Microbrew Festival will benefit the nonprofit Sumter Senior Services, which provides services including home-delivered meals, transportation, health and wellness programs, and more, to Sumter’s elderly. Advance tickets for the Downtown Sumter Microbrew Festival are $25; at the door, you’ll play $30. Call Sumter Senior Services at (803) 773-5508.

Downtown Farmers Market offers produce, breakfast, art BY IVY MOORE ivym@theitem.com (803) 774-1221 The Downtown Sumter Farmers Market will open a month earlier this year. On Saturday, the market will set up in the green space at Rotary Centennial Plaza to offer fresh, local produce and much more. It will remain open on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. through September, possibly longer, depending on the weather. Leigh Newman, Growth and Development Coordinator for the city of Sumter, said the market will expand its offerings this year. “Most of last year’s vendors are coming back,” she said, “and we’ll have even more.” Jimmy Long of Country Cured

Meats will offer both prepared breakfast foods and packaged foods to take home. Chef Hugh China will have coffee, other beverages and breakfast cooked on site. “We’ll have local honey, cut flowers from Patti Velday of Greentree Farms of Sumter, handmade furniture by Billy Taylor, art by Karen Walker, Penelope’s pine straw baskets and more,” Newman said. Mike Dellinger of the Farm Store and other local farmers will have their own locally grown produce and other products, including eggs and dairy, at the market each week. “For our first weekend, Miss Libby’s School of Dance will entertain,” Newman said, “and on

May 10, Penny Boyes’ Studio in the Loft will be there. We’ll continue to have small groups and individuals each week.” In addition, several of the Saturdays will have representatives from Habitat for Humanity offering do-it-yourself sessions on such tasks as simple plumbing and painting. “We’ll have a photographer one Saturday, too, who’ll give how-to tips,” Newman said. She noted that the weekly markets have become a meeting place for friends and families, who enjoy shopping and having breakfast on the green. Newman said anyone interested in being part of the Downtown Sumter Market should call her at (803) 436-2635.

SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO

A wide variety of locally grown produce, eggs and dairy products can be found at the Downtown Sumter Farmers Market, which begins Saturday on the corner of Main and Liberty streets at Rotary Centennial Plaza.

FOOD

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

Walk away from this pulled pork to make it better BY J.M. HIRSCH AP Food Editor Here was the problem: I needed dinner ready by 7:15 p.m. But I was going to be out of the house for the two hours before that. Further complicating things, I had a pork tenderloin that I wanted to turn into pulled pork. But my typical stovetop method of braising it until it falls apart wouldn’t work if I wasn’t there to keep an eye on the pot. And I hadn’t planned far enough ahead (welcome to my world...) to have time to use the slow cooker. The solution? Braising the pork in the oven. It’s faster than a slow cooker — but equally hands off — yet far gentler than stovetop cooking. And along the way, I discovered a whole new — and so very effortless — way to make a rich sauce for my pork that had the added benefit of slipping in some vegetables. It actually was pretty simple. I brought a blend of white wine and chicken broth to a simmer, then added chopped butternut squash, sliced onion and my pork tenderloin. I returned the whole thing to a simmer, then popped the pot in the oven and walked away for two hours. By the time I got home, the pork was so tender it was falling apart. So were the vegetables. So I used a slotted spoon to fish out the pork, then I pureed the squash and onion. Add barbecue sauce and the pork (which was so tender it pretty much pulled itself) and I had a vegetable-rich barbecue pulled pork. The sauce was incredible, in part because the squash gave it a great natural sweetness, as well as a velvety texture.

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BUTTERNUT BARBECUE PULLED PORK Start to finish: 2 hours 15 minutes (15 minutes active) Servings: 8 2 cups chicken broth 2 cups white wine 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped 2 cups chopped butternut squash 2 pounds pork tenderloin, cut into 2-inch chunks 1 cup barbecue sauce 1 to 2 tablespoons hot sauce 8 buns Heat the oven 350 F. In a large, oven-safe pot, such as a Dutch oven, over medium-high heat, combine the broth, wine, onion and squash. Bring to a simmer, then

add the pork. Return to a simmer, then cover the pot and carefully transfer it to the oven. Cook for 2 hours, or until the pork is extremely tender and easily falls apart. Remove the pot from the oven and use a slotted spoon to transfer the pork to a plate. Return the pot to the stovetop and heat over high. Bring the liquid and vegetables to a boil and cook until the liquid is nearly gone, about 5 minutes. Be careful not to burn the vegetables. Transfer the vegetables to a blender and puree until smooth. Return the pureed vegetables to the pot. Add the barbecue and hot sauces, stirring well. Return the pork to the pot and stir well to coat. The stirring alone should be sufficient to reduce the pork to strands. If needed, set the pot over medium heat until hot. Serve the pulled pork on buns. Nutrition information per serving: 370 calories; 40 calories from fat (11 percent of total calories); 4.5 g fat (1.5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 75 mg cholesterol; 42 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 14 g sugar; 29 g protein; 810 mg sodium.

A springtime take on classic crabcake BY SARA MOULTON Associated Press Writer As the weather gets warmer, I cook lighter. And in The Husband’s taxonomy of food, crabcakes are relatively light. So I thought I’d employ a couple of seasonal stars — peas and radishes — to put a spring spin on them. I blithely went shopping for fresh crabmeat at my local market, but found to my horror that it’s almost unaffordably pricey — and that pasteurized refrigerated crabmeat isn’t much cheaper. In search of an ingredient with which to stretch the crab (I thought of it as Crab Helper), I settled on boiled shrimp, which are readily available, but not astronomically expensive. Happily, the crab and the shrimp played very nicely together. As this also is the season for fresh peas, I added some of them to the crab/shrimp mix. Their natural sweetness chimes in well with the shellfish, and they add a little crunchy pop to the texture of the cakes. Flavor and texture aside, I used to discount the nutritional value of peas, until I finally scrutinized the data and discovered that the little fellers are packed with protein, fiber and micronutrients. If you find fresh peas at the farmer’s market, by all means scoop them up. But

keep in mind that the sugar in fresh peas starts turning to starch the minute they’re harvested, so be sure to bring them home, shell them and boil them right away. And if your only option is frozen peas, don’t despair. Those guys are picked at the height of their ripeness and blanched immediately in water, which sets their flavor and texture. We bind up the cakes with eggs, mayonnaise and panko breadcrumbs, then season them with tarragon, which always teams up nicely with both shellfish and peas. If you’re not a fan of tarragon, which is unpleasantly reminiscent of licorice to some folks, substitute some dill, chives or parsley. The panko does double duty, thickening the interior of the cakes and adding crunch to their crust. And as long as you brown the cakes in a nonstick or stickresistant skillet, you won’t have to use much oil. The cakes are topped off with a peppery cream flavored by both horseradish and red radishes. Kissing cousins from the same family — brassicaceae — the radishes add a little kick to the otherwise bland shellfish. The sour cream is a moist and tangy complement to the panko crust. The Husband was very happy with my springtime rendition of one of his faves!

SPRING CRAB AND SHRIMP CAKES WITH DOUBLE RADISH SAUCE Start to finish: 30 minutes Serves: 4 1/2 pound peeled and deveined cooked shrimp 1 large egg, plus 1 egg yolk 1 cup cooked English peas or thawed frozen peas 1/2 cup finely chopped scallions 1 2/3 cups panko breadcrumbs, divided 1/4 cup light mayonnaise 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon, or to taste Kosher salt and ground black pepper 1/2 pound lump crabmeat, picked over for any shells 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons light sour cream 1 cup coarsely shredded red radishes 1 tablespoon bottled horseradish (do not drain) Heat the oven to 300 F. In a food processor, pulse the shrimp until very finely chopped, but not reduced to a paste. Transfer the chopped shrimp to a medium bowl and add the egg and egg yolk, peas, scallions, 2/3 cup of the panko, the mayonnaise, tarragon, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Stir well, then gently fold in the crabmeat. Divide the mixture into 8 portions, shaping each into a patty. Coat the patties with the remaining panko. In a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil. Reduce the heat to medium, then add 4 of the patties and cook until golden, about 4 min-

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utes per side. Transfer the patties to a rimmed baking sheet and place them in the oven to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining patties, using the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in the skillet. Meanwhile, in a small bowl whisk together the sour cream, radishes and horseradish. Season with salt and pepper. To serve, arrange 2 patties per plate and top with the radish sauce. Nutrition information per serving: 450 calories; 170 calories from fat (38 percent of total calories); 19 g fat (4 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 250 mg cholesterol; 38 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 5 g sugar; 32 g protein; 900 mg sodium.

THE SUMTER ITEM

FOOD

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

Moving asparagus to the center of your plate add another tablespoon of the oil, the shiitakes and a pinch of salt. Reduce the heat to medium and saute the mushrooms, stirring, until they Asparagus has been a delicious symbol of spring since at are barely tender and golden around least as far back as the Greeks, some of the edges, about 3 minutes. who called it asparagos — liter- Transfer the shiitakes to the bowl ally, “to spring up.” But howev- with the asparagus. Return the skillet to the heat and er it is spelled, it makes me add the remaining tablespoon of the happy. oil and the shrimp. Saute the shrimp, Most grocers sell asparagus in a range of sizes, from thin stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the garlic, and willowy to thick and ginger and chili and cook, stirring, stocky. Whatever the size, look for 1 minute. for stalks that are firm and In a bowl whisk together the smooth from top to bottom, broth, oyster sauce and cornstarch. with tight, un-feathery tips. Add the mixture to the skillet, whiskAlso check that the grocer ing, and bring to a boil. Return the stored it properly, because asasparagus and the mushrooms to paragus is quite perishable. It the skillet and simmer for 1 minute. should be stored stem down in To serve, spoon a mound of rice onto ice or a bit of water. each of 4 plates, then top with a Once you get the asparagus quarter of the asparagus and shrimp home, arrange the stalks stand- mixture. Pan Seared Asparagus with Shrimp, Shiitakes and Chilies

BY SARA MOULTON Associated Press Writer

ing on their bottoms in a glass jar filled with 1/2 inch of water, or in a zip-close plastic bag with damp paper towel wrapped around the bottoms of the stems. And try to eat your beautiful asparagus within a day or two of purchase, when it’s still at its peak of freshness. When it comes to prepping asparagus, I have one rule: If the stem is more than 1/3 inch thick, it must be peeled. Doing so ensures the spear will cook evenly. If you don’t peel it, you’ll overcook the tip before the stem becomes tender. Another reason to lose the peel on a thick stalk is that it’s tough. If, however, it strikes you as wasteful to lose those peels, you can gather them up (along with the tough bottoms of the stalks, which you also need to discard) and simmer them in chicken or vegetable broth to make a clear and flavorful asparagus soup. Once prepped, there are any number of delicious ways to cook asparagus. To start, there’s the old tried and true — briefly boiling or steaming the spears, then topping them with butter or vinaigrette. Simple and wonderful. It also can be grilled, broiled or roasted at high heat, all of which amplify its natural sugars. By the way, I think it is asparagus’ natural sweetness that persuades usually veggie-averse children to make an exception. In this case, though, I’ve moved asparagus from the side to the center of the plate in the form of a one-pot Asian main course. You’ll want to have all the ingredients prepped and lined up on the counter before you start because once you get rolling everything goes into the pan very quickly. The actual cooking time is scarcely 10 minutes. You begin by pan-searing the raw spears in a hot pan to get a little color on them, adding shiitake mushrooms and shrimp, then flavoring it all with ginger, garlic, chili slices and oyster sauce. Serve it with a side of brown rice or your favorite whole grain and you’re good to go.

PAN-SEARED ASPARAGUS WITH SHRIMP, SHIITAKES AND CHILIES Start to finish: 40 minutes Servings: 4 1 pound (about 1 bunch) asparagus, tough ends discarded 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided Salt 5 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stems discarded, caps cut into quarters (or sixths if caps are large) 1 pound large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined 2 teaspoons minced garlic 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger 1 small red or green chili, such as a jalapeno or serrano, seeds and ribs discarded if desired, thinly sliced 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth 2 tablespoons oyster sauce 1 tablespoon cornstarch Cooked brown rice, to serve If the asparagus stalks are very thick, use a vegetable peeler to shave off the thick skins starting just below the tip and down to the bottom. Cut the stalks into angled 1/2inch pieces. In a large skillet over high, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil. When the oil is almost smoking, add all of the asparagus and a pinch of salt. Reduce the heat to medium-high and saute the asparagus, stirring, until it is crisp tender and golden at some of the edges, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer the asparagus to a bowl and set aside. Return the skillet to the heat and

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COMICS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

BIZARRO

SOUP TO NUTZ

ANDY CAPP

GARFIELD

BEETLE BAILEY

BORN LOSER

BLONDIE

ZITS

MOTHER GOOSE

DOG EAT DOUG

DILBERT

JEFF MACNELLY’S SHOE

Boyfriend’s ‘other woman’ is permanently attached DEAR ABBY — My boyfriend and I have been dating for two years. We live together, and his child Dear Abby from another woman ABIGAIL lives with VAN BUREN us. I love my boyfriend and his child, but one thing prevents me from imagining us being married: He has his child’s mother’s name tattooed on his body. The tattoo bothers me for many reasons, and I’d like him to have it covered up if we ever do marry. He says

THE SUMTER ITEM

he doesn’t want to get rid of it. When the topic comes up, we argue. Am I unreasonable for wanting him to get rid of the tattoo? If that woman really is in his past, why does he need a constant reminder of her on his body? In a Stink over Ink

he’s still carrying a torch for someone else. If you love him and the two of you want to get married, my advice is to accept him warts, artwork and all, because regardless of any romance in his past, YOU have habeas corpus. (That’s Latin for “you have the body.”)

DEAR IN A STINK —You’re asking the wrong person. Only your boyfriend can answer that. He may not want to go to the expense, or to experience the pain of having more artwork done. Or he may not like the idea that you are telling him what to do. However, if he has been living with you for two years, I doubt it’s because

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. To receive a collection of Abby’s most memorable -- and most frequently requested -- poems and essays, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $7 (U.S. funds) to Dear Abby -- Keepers 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.

THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS 1 Minor error 6 Catcall 10 Vishnu incarnation 14 “This Old House” carpenter Norm 15 Like many a shoppe 16 Color of Death’s dart, in “Venus and Adonis” 17 What an angry mermaid might do? 20 Not many 21 Pop’s bro 22 Hard to figure out 23 “Baseball Tonight” airer 25 Not good 26 What an angry Santa might do? 30 Frozen dessert franchise 34 Part of NCAA: Abbr. 35 Don’t exist 36 Pong developer 37 Supermodel Cheryl 39 1860s govt. for four years 40 Still in bed 41 Accustom 42 Western Wyoming county 44 __-Foy, Quebec 45 Tabula __: blank slate

46 What an angry Humpty Dumpty might do? 48 Opportunity, metaphorically 50 Backside 51 Verdict challenge 54 Spot for a facial 56 Pool float 59 What an angry witch might do? 62 Undecided 63 Smallest Great Lake by volume 64 Where subs are assembled 65 __’ Pea 66 Actress Meg 67 Skilled DOWN 1 Internet connectivity frustrations 2 Peek-__ 3 Titan who gave fire to humans 4 Least risky 5 “Unbelievable” techno-funk band 6 Philosopher Locke 7 Gas alternative: Abbr. 8 Former “Tonight Show” announcer Hall 9 Be strongly pervaded with 10 Keep ap-

prised of one’s activities, as a superior 11 Assist with a crime 12 Chamonix peak 13 Garcia of “Ocean’s Eleven” 18 Pitch-changing pro 19 Brian who produced or co-produced several Talking Heads albums 24 Terrible twos, one hopes 25 Chips-to-be 26 Fan’s opposite 27 Turner memoir 28 Parish head 29 First stage 31 String-pulling game 32 Ogre

33 “Holy mackerel!” 36 Lennox of the Eurythmics 38 Elementary level 43 Book club leader for 15 years 46 One following a course 47 Worked for 49 Big ape 51 Times to call, in ads 52 Field machine 53 Flammable pile 54 Branch of Islam 55 Hammer part 57 Lose one’s cool 58 Quiz 60 Do one’s best 61 Aquafresh tube letters

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WIS News 10 at Entertainment Tonight (N) (HD) 7:00pm Local news update. News 19 @ 7pm Inside Edition (N) Evening news up- (HD) date. Wheel of Fortune Jeopardy! (N) (N) (HD) (HD) NatureScen

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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: (:01) Chicago P.D.: 8:30 PM The Post-Mortem Blues Lewis’ death is team searches for the bombers. (N) investigated. (N) (HD) (HD) Survivor: Cagayan (N) (HD) Criminal Minds: Fatal Obsessed with CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Greek mythology. (N) (HD) Kitty Cyber crime-related murder. (N) (HD) The Middle: The Suburgatory: Modern Family: (:31) Mixology: Nashville: Your Good Girl’s Gonna Go Optimist (N) (HD) Dalia Nicole Smith Sleeper Phil’s lie. Liv & Jim (N) (HD) Bad Everyone is blaming each other. (N) (HD) (N) (HD) (N) (HD) Nature: Love in the Animal Kingdom NOVA: The Incredible Journey of the Nazi Mega Weapons: Super Tanks Flirting gorilla; flamingo seeks mate. Butterflies Butterfly’s arduous yearly Production of heavy-duty Nazi (HD) migration. (HD) landship. (N) (HD) American Idol: 5 Finalists Perform (N) (HD) WACH FOX News at 10 Local news report and weather forecast. Revolution: $#!& Happens Miles is separated from the group. (N) (HD)

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CABLE CHANNELS Duck Dynasty Duck Dynasty Duck Dynasty Duck Dynasty Duck Dynasty Duck Dynasty Duck Dynasty (:31) Duck Dy(:02) Duck Dy(:32) Duck Dy(:01) Duck Dy(HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) nasty (HD) nasty (HD) nasty (HD) nasty (HD) (5:00) Gladiator (‘00, Drama) aaaa Russell Crowe. The Last Samurai (‘03, Drama) aaa Tom Cruise. A cynical Civil War veteran who is haunted by his memories of killing American Small Town SeRome’s greatest general turns gladiator. (HD) Indians, learns to embrace the samurai culture he was hired to destroy. (HD) curity (HD) River Monsters (HD) River Monsters (HD) River Monsters (HD) River Monsters (HD) River Monsters (HD) River (HD) Being Mary Jane: Uber Love MJ asks The Game (HD) Let’s Stay ToLet’s Stay ToBlack Coffee (‘14, Comedy) Darrin Dewitt Henson. A jobless 30-something The Game (HD) Wendy Williams her friend to be unethical. gether (HD) gether (HD) and the love of his life compete with their exes. 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Shifts in media landscape seem to occur by the hour BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH The more television changes, the more it stays the same. And for some, how you watch has become as interesting as what you watch. Media watchers felt the ground shift a little last week. Everyone, it seems, wants to be the next Netflix. AOL announced it would begin a free streaming movie service and that it made a deal with Miramax for the rights to show more than 700 films from that studio’s library. The AOL news was largely overshadowed by the announcement that the Amazon Prime streaming service would start to show HBO content, beginning May 21. This is important for a number of reasons. It’s a way for Amazon to show that Netflix is hardly the only major player in the growing streaming business. More importantly, it indicates that HBO sees it as necessary to get outside the walled domain of cable and HBO GO. Up until now, you had to subscribe to the premium network in order to watch its shows. And that suited its parent company just fine, because Time Warner was in the cable business. These announcements came during the same week that the FCC hinted at changes in so-called “net neutrality” and the Supreme Court heard a case challenging the Aereo company’s right to rent tiny “private” broadcast antennas to consumers. The shift away from cable is gradual, but gaining steam. An article on rapidtvnews.com cited a survey from Experian Marketing Services, which found that nearly half of U.S. households stream or download video onto their smartphones, consoles and tablets, or onto their TVs via smart DVRs, Roku, Apple TV or other devices. It also estimated that 7.6 million households consider themselves “cord cutters,” who have abandoned cable, up from 5.1 million in 2010. No wonder HBO wants to reach them outside the cable realm. Meanwhile, back on good

old-fashioned TV, Wednesday nights remain a matter of “back to the future.” With the exception of “Modern Family,” now in its fifth season, two of the most-watched Wednesday night shows remain “Survivor” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG), from 2000, and “American Idol” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-PG), from 2002. A repeat of “CSI,” which also debuted in 2000 (technically, last century), was the most-watched show at 10 p.m. last week. • Want another sign of TV’s unchanging nature? You can watch “Mrs. Doubtfire” (8 p.m., The Hub) tonight. According to Variety, the 1993 Robin Williams comedy was the most frequently broadcast movie on basic cable in 2013. • Miles gets separated from the group on “Revolution” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-14). Fans of this show are a dwindling lot, which hasn’t been helped by the series’ hit-and-miss scheduling. • An old enemy sports a new vendetta on “The Americans” (10 p.m., FX, TV-MA). FX announced that this critically acclaimed series would return for a third season.

TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS • Diggle and Felicity put roadblocks in Oliver’s path on “Arrow” (8 p.m., CW, TV14). • Internal affairs targets Benson on “Law & Order: SVU” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14). • Phil’s minor fib sparks major anxiety on “Modern Family” (9 p.m., ABC, TV-PG). • FBI interference on “CSI” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14). • The search for bombs continues on “Chicago P.D.” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14), as does the storyline that began on last night’s “Chicago Fire.” • Scarlett’s breakdown inspires reflection on “Nashville” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-PG). • “Nazi Mega Weapons” (10 p.m., PBS, TV-PG, check local listings) focuses on the Tiger tank.

SERIES NOTES Frankie covers her tracks on “The Middle” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) * Dalia has no safety school on “Suburgatory” (8:30 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) * Greek

CBS BROADCASTING INC.

Nick Stokes (George Eads) and D.B. Russell (Ted Danson) examine some evidence that could be key to the murder of a prominent casino owner’s wife on “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” airing at 10 p.m. on CBS. myths inspire a predator on “Criminal Minds” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14) * A rescue mission proves complicated on “The 100” (9 p.m., CW, TV-14) * Instant karma on “Mixology” (9:30 p.m., ABC, TV-14).

CULT CHOICE Matthew Modine stars in director Stanley Kubrick’s 1987 Vietnam epic “Full Metal Jacket” (10 p.m., Starz).

LATE NIGHT Martin Gilens and Benjamin Page are scheduled on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (11 p.m., Comedy Central) * Seth Green, Dave Attell and O.A.R. appear on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS) * Helen Hunt, John Caparulo, Claire Titelman and Greg Fitzsimmons are booked on “Chelsea Lately” (11 p.m., E!) * Audra McDonald sits down on “The Colbert Report” (11:30 p.m., Comedy Central) * Kiefer Sutherland, Adam Resnick and Benjamin Booker appear on “Late Show With David Letterman” (11:35 p.m., CBS) * Jimmy Fallon welcomes David Spade, Sophia Bush and The Both on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) * Leslie Mann, Tony Hale and Franz Ferdinand appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (11:35 p.m., ABC) * Lucy Liu, Barney Frank and Parquet Courts visit “Late Night With

Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC) * Craig Ferguson hosts Jim Gaffigan and Rachael Taylor on “The Late Late

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

Call Rhonda Barrick at: (803) 774-1264 | E-mail: rhondab@theitem.com

Mexican Style Corn

Celebrate a

Sweet Cinco de Mayo BY FAMILY FEATURES

MEXICAN STYLE CORN

inco de Mayo is, officially, a holiday celebrat-

Serves: 4 4 ears fresh sweet corn, husked 1/4 cup mayonnaise 4 ounces Cotija or feta cheese 1 teaspoon chili powder 4 lime slices Preheat grill or broiler. Grill or broil corn, turning occasionally until hot and some kernels turn golden brown, about 5 minutes. Using knife, coat each ear of corn with about 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise. Crumble cheese on one side of each corn ear. Sprinkle with chili powder, dividing evenly. Broil until cheese starts to melt, approximately 1 to 2 minutes. Serve with lime.

ing Mexico’s victory over France in the 1862 Battle of Puebla. In the U.S., where it is actu-

ally celebrated with more gusto than in its native country, the holiday has become a celebration of Mexican heritage and culture.

The holiday also provides a great excuse to make irresistible Mexican-inspired recipes for entertaining and, of course, a big batch of margaritas to wash it all down. Fresh sweet corn is an essential component of many Mexican dishes and a cultural staple. Luckily, Cinco de Mayo falls right in the middle of Florida’s Sunshine Sweet Corn season, meaning that the sweetest corn, available all year, arrives just in time to be a part of your Cinco de Mayo celebration. Get the fiesta started with this Fire Roasted Corn and Chorizo Dip and a big bowl of tortilla chips. Crunchy, spicy, sweet and creamy, this addictive dip will have your guests asking for more. Next, be sure to serve Mexican Style Corn, a truly authentic and delicious Mexican street food. Crunchy ears of fresh sweet corn are charred to perfection then slathered with a

mixture of cheese and mayo, sprinkled with chili powder and squirted with lime for simple flavor perfection. Finally, no Cinco de Mayo celebration is complete without tacos. For a healthful twist on your typical taco, try this recipe for Charred Corn Tacos with Radish Zucchini Slaw that will have both vegetarians and meat eaters clamoring for seconds. Incorporating more healthful whole foods and veggies into your Cinco de Mayo celebration this year makes it easier to justify one more margarita. No matter what you serve at your Cinco de Mayo celebration, make sure to incorporate the sweet and wholesome flavor of fresh spring sweet corn. Discover more mouth-watering recipes for Cinco de Mayo and every time of year at www.sunshinesweetcorn.com.

CHARRED CORN TACOS WITH RADISH ZUCCHINI SLAW

Charred Corn Tacos with Radish Zucchini Slaw

SIX GLOBAL SPREADS FOR SWEET CORN • North America: Maple Bourbon Butter — Combine one stick butter, 4 teaspoons bourbon, 2 teaspoons maple syrup and pinch of salt.

• Europe: Combine 2 ounces goat cheese, 2 tablespoons butter, 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, and pinch of salt and pepper. Stir until smooth.

• South America: Lime-Avocado Crema — In a blender, combine one avocado, 1/4 cup lime juice, one garlic clove, 1/2 bunch cilantro, 1/2 cup sour cream and pinch of salt. Blend until smooth. Add water if necessary.

• Asia: Sriracha Butter — Combine 1/3 cup butter with 3 tablespoons Sriracha. • Africa: Harissa-Yogurt Spread — Whisk together 1 cup Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon lemon

juice, 2 tablespoons Harissa sauce, one crushed garlic clove and pinch of salt. • Australia: Honey-Ginger BBQ Sauce — In saucepan combine 1 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/2 cup honey, 1/2 cup ketchup, 1 1/2 tablespoons hot sauce, 4 minced garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons minced ginger and 1 teaspoon salt. Simmer, stirring occasionally until thickened and reduced to about 1 1/4 cup, 20 to 25 minutes.

Serves: 4 4 ears sweet corn Extra virgin olive oil, as needed Salt and freshly ground pepper, as needed 1/2 cup torn cilantro, parsley and mint leaves 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced 2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 1 teaspoon maple syrup 1 cup radishes, cut into matchsticks 1 small zucchini, cut into matchsticks 1 jalapeno, seeded and thinly sliced 1/2 cup (2 1/2 ounces) crumbled Cotija or feta cheese 10 to 12 small (6-inch) soft corn tortillas Brush corn with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Over hot grill or open gas stove flame, char ears of corn until well blackened but not completely burnt. Remove from heat; cool. With large knife, shave off kernels into bowl. Add cilantro, parsley and mint; reserve. In small bowl, combine onion and lime juice; let stand 10 minutes. Stir in maple syrup, radishes, zucchini, jalapeno and 2 tablespoons of oil. Season with salt and pepper; set aside. Heat your tortillas one of two ways: Wrap whole stack in foil and place in warm 250 degrees oven for 15 minutes, or coat cast-iron skillet with thin layer of oil and heat over high heat; warm each tortilla 30 seconds to 1 minute each side, until lightly blistered. To make tacos, fill each tortilla with 1/4 cup corn. Top with cheese and radish-zucchini slaw. Serve with lime wedges, if desired.

FIRE ROASTED CORN AND CHORIZO DIP Serves: 8 to 12 3 to 4 ears sweet corn 1 small onion, peeled and sliced into rings 1 small red bell pepper 1 cup cooked chorizo

Fire Roasted Corn and Chorizo Dip

3 cloves garlic, minced 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1/2 pound spicy pepper cheese, like pepperjack or habanero cheddar 1/4 cup chopped green onions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and preheat grill to high heat. Remove cornhusks and corn silk, and place fresh sweet corn, onion slices and red bell pepper on grill. Grill corn and bell pepper for 8 to 10 minutes, turning every 2 minutes until all sides are slightly charred. Grill onion slices for approximately 3 minutes per side. When veggies are cool enough to handle, cut corn off cob. Then chop onions and pepper, removing pepper seeds. In 8-by-8-inch baking dish or onequart souffle dish, mix all ingredients together until well combined. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes until edges are bubbly. Serve warm with tortilla chips.