April 9, 2014 by The Sumter Item

‘Marriage of resources’ for Sumter, Lee gets final OK Economic development alliance kicks off; 7 board members will be chosen WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014

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SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 3 SECTIONS, 24 PAGES | VOL. 119, NO. 149

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BY TYLER SIMPSON and BRISTOW MARCHANT tyler@theitem.com, bmarchant@theitem.com (803) 774-1295, (803) 774-1272 “The Link” is now open for business. Both Sumter and Lee county

councils approved final reading of the ordinance approving the new economic development alliance during meetings Tuesday. The idea originally came about when the Sumter Economic Development Board approached Lee County with the suggestion of

forming a new alliance between the two neighbors. Now that The Link has been approved, the next step is selecting a development board for the alliance that will consist of seven voting

SEE ALLIANCE, PAGE A5

Bagnal wins Summerton mayor seat Manning City Council incumbent re-elected BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com (803) 774-1211 Donald “Mac” Bagnal Jr. was elected the new mayor of Summerton after doubling the vote count of Summerton Town Councilman Terrance Tindal 165-81 in the unofficial vote count in Tuesday’s municipal election. Meanwhile, incumbent Manning City councilwoman Diane Georgia survived a challenge from Janice Coney by a 128-90 vote. “It feels good to be leader in this community that I love and deeply care about,” Bagnal said after the vote count, which is expected to be official on Thursday. “I am looking forward to working with all the leaders of this community and the past leaders. I want this town to maintain a family atmosphere, but we also have to have

Gaining ground SHS baseball attempts to climb its way back atop Region VI-4A standings B1 LOCAL

Law enforcement investigates baby’s death A2

DEATHS, B6 Charlie Wilson Trannie S. McClain Thomas C. Britt Marie D. Jackson Ruth Blake

Rodney A. Rollerson Margaret Spitzer Ernestine D. Paige Ronnie M. June Jr.

SEE ELECTIONS, PAGE A5

WEATHER, A8 A USUAL SPRING DAY

MANNING CITY COUNCIL ELECTION

Variable clouds with a storm possible; clear tonight HIGH 73, LOW 46

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Janice Coney, left, hugs Diane Georgia on Tuesday evening outside Clarendon County Family Court building after unofficial results showed Georgia won the Manning City Council District 2 seat.

District 2 Diane Georgia (i) — 128 √ Janice Coney — 90

SUMMERTON MAYOR ELECTION

At right, Terrance Tindal, left, is seen after unofficial results showed he lost the Summerton mayor election to Donald Bagnal Jr.

Mayor Terrance Tindal — 81 Donald Bagnal Jr. — 165 √ * Election results are unofficial as of press time.

PHOTOS BY MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

Bridge the gap at Festival on the Avenue Annual event brings together city residents for weekend events BY IVY MOORE ivym@theitem.com (803) 774-1221

ITEM FILE PHOTO

The Children’s Corner is always popular during the Saturday activities at the Festival on the Avenue. Clowns, art projects and the giant inflatable slide are just a few of the supervised activities kids can participate in at no charge.

When VIP — Vision in Progress — and partners founded the Festival on the Avenue seven years ago, Chairwoman Patti Wilson said their goal was twofold: “to celebrate the people and history of South Sumter,” and to “bridge the gap” between South Sumter and the rest of the city. At the time, she said, the Britton Bridge that marks the transition from South Main Street

to Manning Avenue was seen by many as a barrier. Soon, Wilson hopes, the bridge won’t be seen as a divider at all. Thanks in great part to the festival, it’s now being viewed as a connector, a conduit that takes people both ways, she said. “Oh yes!” Wilson said. “People from all over come to the festival, and we’ve got support from both city and county council, the schools, the military, businesses and community organizations. And not just from Sumter. We have people from

around the Midlands and the state participating in our golf tournament and parade and Saturday’s festival events.” Attendance at the festival is up, also, she said, noting that Sheriff Anthony Dennis had estimated “there were no fewer than 4,000 to 5,000 people there” last year. The Festival on the Avenue opens at 7 p.m. Thursday at the South Sumter Resource Center with a reception and two associated events, the Living Museum

SEE FESTIVAL, PAGE A5

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

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S.C. Senate passes bill allowing legal bridge games BY SEANNA ADCOX The Associated Press COLUMBIA — A bill that would allow retirees to legally play bridge passed the Senate unanimously Tuesday, two weeks after a senator threatened to challenge South Carolina’s centuries-old antigambling laws in court. Under Sen. Tom Davis’ bill, members of social clubs or groups could gather at someone’s home or community clubhouse to play games with cards, dice or tiles. It names bridge, canasta and mahjong as specific ex-

amples. Electronic devices and betting on the games would still be banned. The bill requires another perfunctory vote to head to the House. It represents legislators’ latest attempt to change the state’s 1802 antigambling laws that, if read literally, ban any game with cards or dice. Previous efforts during the last decade have been blocked because of concerns about the re-emergence of video poker or other gambling that might be legalized through any change to the law. But Davis, R-Beaufort, said his bill was aimed solely at allowing people to socially gather and play games, not

gamble. And he warned his colleagues that if anyone blocked his effort, he’d sue to have the outdated law thrown out altogether, allowing for gambling in all forms. Davis said after meeting with gambling foes they realized his bill offered the better option than a lawsuit that could bring “the things they truly fear.” Oran Smith of the Palmetto Family Council said he’s comfortable the amended bill won’t usher in any unintended consequences. It’s much more limited than previous legislation that attempted to allow kitch-

en-table poker, he said. “There’s language in there that locks down all the hatches pretty tightly, so it’s purely about people being allowed to play social games,” Smith said. Davis proposed the bill after state police warned a manager at Sun City Hilton Head last May that the bridge and canasta social clubs it advertised for residents violated state law. That prompted management of the 14,000-resident retiree community to remove all signs and tell the clubs they could no longer play in community game rooms.

Moonshine paraphernalia that was confiscated from a homemade still in Clarendon County is seen Tuesday.

LOCAL BRIEFS FROM STAFF REPORTS

Fire in Clarendon County destroys chicken house Two fires in Clarendon County caused more than $330,000 in damage last week. Firefighters responded to a report of a chicken house on fire Thursday on Elliott Road. With the help of units assisting from Sumter Fire Department, the fire was put out; however, the structure was destroyed. The destroyed property is valued at $300,000. On Saturday, firefighters responded to a report of a fire in the 3200 block of Ward Road. Upon arrival, firefighters found a double-wide mobile home 25 percent engulfed in flames. The fire apparently started in a trash pile and had spread to a nearby shed before involving the mobile home. Firefighters were able to put out the fire, but $37,000 in damage was done to the home and its contents, in addition to $3,000 in damage to the shed and items contained in it.

Education head hopeful receives endorsements South Carolina Rep. Eric Bedingfield recently endorsed Meka Childs, a Republican candidate for state superintendent of education. Current education head Mick Zais, who isn’t seeking re-election, also endorses Childs for the position. “As a former Marine, I know what sacrifice is, and as a devoted military wife, Meka Childs does, too. That is why I am honored to endorse Meka Childs for state superintendent of education,” Bedingfield said in a statement. “I am confident that as our next superintendent, Meka will fight to protect the powers enumerated to South Carolina and will make sure that education decisions are made by parents, teachers and local school districts in the Palmetto State, not by bureaucrats in Washington.” Childs is a former public school teacher. She has also worked as senior education policy adviser to former S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford and as deputy superintendent of education for Zais.

MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

Workers stumble across moonshine still BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com (803) 774-1211 Officers are still trying to determine who was running a moonshine operation out of an abandoned mobile home in the 1000 block of Oriole Place, located south of Manning in Clarendon County.

Capt. Ricky Richards with the Clarendon County Sheriff ’s Office said workers in the area discovered a still in the woods Monday morning and called law enforcement. “They didn’t know what it was,” he said. Richards said when officers went to the scene, they

discovered a moonshine still and followed a wellworn trail back to a nearby home. “We looked inside and saw the jugs and equipment and got a warrant to search the place,” Richards said. He said sheriff’s officers and members of the Narcotics Task Force found 20 gal-

lons of finished moonshine, 700 gallons of mash, corn, a 200-gallon cooking pot and new gallon jugs at the site. “That’s enough mash to make about 600 gallons of moonshine,” Richards said. The owner of the mobile home is deceased, Richards said, and nobody appeared to be living there.

Law enforcement investigates death of baby BY ROB COTTINGHAM rcottingham@theitem.com (803) 774-1225 Officials are waiting for an autopsy report after a 2-month-old child died Monday night. Ronnie M. June Jr. was discovered unconscious in his crib Saturday night by his 21-year-old mother shortly after he was laid down for sleep. According to reports, the mother and father of the child left the home to get something to eat about 8:30 p.m. that night. They reportedly left the mother’s uncle, who lives in the same apartment, to watch the infant. After eating, the mother then reportedly dropped the father off at his father’s home before heading back to her apartment. When she arrived, she found the baby lying face down, unconscious, with blood coming from

his mouth and nose. EMS responded to the Mason Road apartment and transported the baby to Tuomey Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The man reportedly left in charge of the baby told officers he remembers watching the child earlier in the day but couldn’t recall doing so that evening. He said he was in his room when he heard the baby’s mother screaming, “My baby, my baby.” Sumter County Coroner Harvin Bullock said he is awaiting the result of the autopsy before declaring a cause of death. “They’ve still got some additional tissue studies and other tests to do before the autopsy is complete,” Bullock said. “We should know something more by (today).” Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis said his agency is also looking into

the matter and has turned to the state’s chief investigative office to assist with the case. “We’ve already contacted SLED about the baby’s death,” Dennis said. “Any time there’s a suspicious death, especially of a child, we have to get as many involved as possible.” Lt. Robert Burnish, an investigator with the sheriff’s office, said the preliminary autopsy report gave no indication of foul play. “The preliminary report said there were no signs of trauma or physical abuse to the victim,” he said. While the initial analysis is complete, officials are waiting for a toxicology report, which typically takes more than a few days to complete. “A toxicology report doesn’t normally come back for a couple weeks,” Burnish said. “SLED manages those, and it takes time to analyze all that information.”

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At 21, recovering heroin addict starts over AURORA, Ill. (AP) — Just out of Cook County Jail after being arrested with 15 bags of heroin, Cody Lewis had all of $11 in his pocket. But not for long. Almost immediately, he spent $10 on yet another bag of smack, making the buy on the Chicago streets last May as he headed to a police station to retrieve his cellphone. He shot up in a grocery store parking lot, then continued on his way. By then, Lewis was a $100a-day addict. Heroin was no longer fun. He needed it to get rid of the sweats and the shakes, the body cramps, the aches in his bones. “I had to use,” he says, “to feel normal, like a regular person.” Lewis was consumed by heroin. Every day was the same: Get up sick if he hadn’t used in 12 hours. Figure out how to get money. Then drive 35 miles from his suburban home in Aurora to Chicago to score. “My whole existence,” he says, “was just finding ways to get high.” In many ways, Lewis represents the changing face of heroin in America. He is in his 20s, lives in the suburbs — two traits that fit a growing number of users — and graduated to heroin after years of getting high with other drugs. When Lewis snorted his first line at age 18, he’d already used almost every imaginable drug: Marijuana. Cocaine. LSD. Ecstasy. Mushrooms. Pills. Heroin, though, was much more seductive. “It was just like someone had wrapped me in a blanket,” he recalls. “I’d found the drug I was looking for ... all the depression and anxiety and all that stuff that I was going through ... heroin kind of filled the hole. It helped me just completely forget about anything bad. ... I felt like I was king of the world, and this was after doing just one line. It was like, ‘This is GREAT. I’m definitely going to do it again.’” As his habit grew, so did his need for cash. He shoplifted video games from stores and resold them. He broke into cars, pawning anything he could steal along with his mother’s jewelry and laptop. He knew he was living dangerously, but that was part of the allure. Lewis’ upbringing was distinctly middle class. He played Little League and skateboarded, growing up in suburbs filled with cul-de-sacs and strip malls carved from farm fields. Dad designed computer networks; Mom now works for a shipping company. As a child, Lewis took regular family vacations to Florida to see his grandparents and visit Disney World. Still, he traces his problems to a troubled childhood: Constant fights between his parents, who later divorced. The death of a beloved grandmother. And harassment from school bullies. He was a C-student at best; his class work started faltering in third grade. A doctor diagnosed attention deficit disorder and prescribed Adderall. A year later, he was put on antidepressants. At age 12, Lewis started using marijuana. By freshman year, he was smoking weed daily at home — hiding his stash in a bedroom vent — or outside school in Bata-

5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT HEROIN USE, GETTING HELP

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cody Lewis, a recovering heroin addict, talks abut his life and addiction Feb. 20 at the Good Samaritan Methodist Church in Addison, Ill. Lewis speaks openly about his struggles. via, a far western Chicago suburb. “It would bring my mood up,” he says. “I felt ... like a normal teenager.” Lewis began abusing other drugs, too, scouring the family medicine cabinet for painkillers and anxiety pills: Vicodin, Darvocet and Xanax, among others. “It made me forget and just not have to deal with real life,” he says. Though his mother tried different approaches — punishment, lectures, praise when he entered rehab — nothing stuck. About a month after his release from a court-ordered, 8½-month residential treatment program, Lewis, then 17, reverted to his old ways. “I just gave in when I got out,” he says. “You can learn every trick in the book to prevent you from using, but you have to use what they teach you.” He returned to marijuana

and cocaine, then moved on to heroin. Within six months, Lewis — who once was so scared of needles he’d look away when a doctor gave his younger sister shots — was mainlining. Finding the drug was easy. Lewis could always hop on the expressway and head to Chicago. But heroin use also has surged in the prosperous suburbs close to home. In nearby DuPage County, for example, a record 46 heroinrelated deaths were reported in 2013, spurring authorities to develop programs to combat the problem. Lewis never thought of quitting until last May, weeks after his arrest, when a childhood pal called, frantically seeking help. He and a girlfriend had taken heroin with a woman who’d overdosed and died in her sleep. Lewis urged him to call the cops. Afterward, he

Long a scourge of the back alleys of American life, heroin is spreading across the country. Here are five things to know about this issue. 1. RISING USE IN RECENT YEARS The number of past-year heroin users in the U.S. has risen from 373,000 in 2007 to 669,000 in 2012, according to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA. 2. OVERDOSE DEATHS UP Overdose deaths involving heroin rose 45 percent between 2006 and 2010, according to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder recently described the problem as “an urgent and growing public health crisis,” as he called for more first responders to carry an antidote that can reverse the effects of a heroin overdose. But federal statistics also show that in 2010, heroin accounted for less than 10 percent of all drug overdose deaths. 3. STARTING “OLDER” The average age for those using heroin for the first time was 23, according to a 2012 national survey sponsored by SAMHSA. In contrast, it was about 18 for marijuana, 19 for LSD and 20 for cocaine. 4. HARDER TO FIND Heroin is considered much more

says, his mind raced with thoughts of the death — and the prospect his friend could face criminal charges. Nonetheless, he continued using, sometimes blacking out, waking to find heroin bags strewn about the bathroom. After a few days, he decided to get clean. “I was thinking I could have overdosed. I could have been there. I could be in jail right now. ... It was like, ‘This is crazy. What am I thinking?’” Lewis completed rehab and started taking methadone. But after six months, he says, he realized he’d replaced one addiction with another, so he entered a detox program. He has been clean since Oct. 12. He’s severed all connections with drug-using friends and

difficult to obtain than other drugs for younger people. In 2012, nearly half of those 12 to 17 in the national SAMHSA survey said it would be “fairly easy” or “very easy” for them to get marijuana. Only about 1 in 10 said heroin would be that readily available. The 2012 survey also found that from 2002 to 2012, all drugs — marijuana, cocaine, crack, LSD and heroin — became less available. In that 10-year period, the availability of heroin fell from nearly 16 percent to 10 percent. 5. HOTLINES AND HELP The Partnership at Drugfree.org has a toll-free helpline — 1-855-3784373 (DRUGFREE) — that offers assistance to families concerned about a teen’s drug use or drinking. Trained specialists can help parents outline plans for prevention, intervention and other services. They also can direct parents to local and national resources. The EnglishSpanish helpline is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. SAMHSA has a 24-hour hotline — 1-800-662-HELP (4357) — and a directory of more than 11,000 alcohol and drug addiction treatment facilities and programs at http://www.findtreatment.samhsa. gov. Source: The Associated Press

won’t even watch his favorite movie, “Pulp Fiction,” because it depicts drug use. He attends Narcotics Anonymous meetings and group therapy and has begun speaking to church and school groups. He also hopes to attend community college this spring. His mother, Karen, who attends Nar-Anon family group meetings, says the past few years have been an ordeal. She remains devoted to Cody. “I will be there for him as long as I can,” she says tearfully, urging families like hers to do the same. “As soon as they come out of it, that person that you know and love is there. They’ll come out. Cody’s finally ... coming back to the person that he used to be.”

LOCAL

THE SUMTER ITEM

FESTIVAL

ELECTIONS

FESTIVAL ON THE AVENUE SCHEDULE

FROM PAGE A1 and an art exhibition featuring artists from David Sandersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Manning Avenue Free Studio. For the Living Museum, local senior citizens and young people dress as historical characters of their choosing and offer information about their lives and contributions. Friday brings two events, the 8 a.m. golf tournament at Crystal Lakes Golf Course and A Taste of Soul on the Avenue. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Taste is something a lot of people, including myself, look forward to each year,â&#x20AC;? Wilson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always a great band, and people enjoy dancing and listening while they eat a wide variety of soul food.â&#x20AC;? On the menu, attendees should find collard greens, barbecue, fried fish and chicken, turkey wings with gravy, pig feet and a variety of beverages and desserts, including jelly cake, other cakes, pies and more. Hot dogs and hamburgers will also be available. The Taste will be held at the South Sumter Farmers Market, next to the South Sumter Resource Center. Admission is free; food must be purchased. Saturday brings the festival proper, beginning with a 10 a.m. parade with two grand marshals, retired S.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Ernest Finney Jr. and the Rev. Willie Dennis of Rembert. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The (Sumter) Fire Department color guard will lead the parade,â&#x20AC;? Wilson said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have five bands, including Crestwood and Columbiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eau Claire High School band. There will be floats and other units, too.â&#x20AC;? This year, she said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve asked fathers to join the parade and walk across the bridge with their children. We hope this will send a positive message to daddies everywhere. Already, many fathers have committed to that.â&#x20AC;?

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014

FROM PAGE A1

Thursday, April 10 Opening reception The Living Museum & Art Exhibition South Sumter Resource Center 336 Manning Ave. 7 to 9 p.m., free Friday, April 11 â&#x20AC;˘ Festival Golf Tournament Crystal Lakes Golf Course 8 a.m., Shotgun start Call: (803) 983-5868 â&#x20AC;˘ A Taste of Soul on the Avenue 6 to 9 p.m. South Sumter Farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Market Saturday, April 12 â&#x20AC;˘ Parade, 10 a.m. Begins at corner of South Main, Bartlette streets â&#x20AC;˘ Festival events 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Manning Avenue

Once the parade has ended on Manning Avenue, the activities, vendors and exhibitors will get started along the street from the Manning Avenue Free Studio down to the Marion Newton Life Enrichment Center. Three stages with live entertainment, the Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Corner, Raggs the Clown and his balloon animals, a giant inflatable slide, job and health fairs and more will line the avenue. Food, beverages, art, crafts and much more will be available, including festival T-shirts. Proceeds from T-shirt sales will go toward festival expenses and for childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s programs. The stages will be located at the Newton center, the Free Art Studio and the South Sumter Resource Center. For more information visit www. festivalontheavenue.com or call (803) 436-2276.

industry around us to help to support this town,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need people stopping to get gas. The interstate can be huge for us.â&#x20AC;? Bagnal said he was looking forward to working with all the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s employees who he said do a great job. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People live in Summerton because they want to live in Summerton,â&#x20AC;? he said. He thanked all the people who supported him during the campaign and asked for their continued support. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do this by myself,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am looking forward to giving it my all.â&#x20AC;? Tindal was gracious in defeat. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I believe the people of Summerton chose the person who they believe was better for Summerton,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Congratulations to Mr. Bagnal. I pray for his success.â&#x20AC;? In Manning, Georgia said she â&#x20AC;&#x153;felt greatâ&#x20AC;? after retaining her

STATE BRIEF FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS

Report shows schools arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t improving fast enough COLUMBIA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; An annual report by the Education Oversight Committee shows that South Carolina schools are still not improving fast enough to prepare students to be successful for the global economy. The report released Tuesday says improvements in reading, on-time graduation and success

seat on Manning City Council, the only contested race on council. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want to continue with the work we have already begun and continue to make progress in this community,â&#x20AC;? she said. Georgia and Coney embraced both before and after the final results, and both said the contest would leave â&#x20AC;&#x153;no hard feelings.â&#x20AC;? Coney reiterated one of her themes during the campaign. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I always said that if my running would in any way benefit the people of this town that it was worth doing. It was always about the citizens,â&#x20AC;? she said, adding she really enjoyed the campaign, especially the interaction with citizens. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a new experience for me and a new challenge,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I connected with a lot of people. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be an elected official to help people, and I will continue to do that like I always have.â&#x20AC;? Both Tindal and Coney indicated that they will continue to stay politically active and may run for elected office again.

beyond high school lag behind the committeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2020 goals. The unsurprising report looks similar to previous reports. Its release was followed by a screening of the documentary â&#x20AC;&#x153;When the Bough Breaks.â&#x20AC;? It features education initiatives that help at-risk children under 4 years old become successful students. The EOC was created by the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1998 education accountability law. Its 18 members are responsible for evaluating the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s progress toward meeting education goals and issuing state report cards for schools and districts.

NOTICE OF ELECTIONS

ALLIANCE FROM PAGE A1 members. Three members will be selected from Sumter, three from Lee, and the seventh position will rotate each year between the two counties. Lee County Administrator Alan Watkins looks at the alliance as a regional form of marketing. Sumter County, despite its positives, does not have direct access to an interstate as Lee does with I-20, meaning that it canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t market to businesses that wish to establish on interstate exits. With the alliance, Sumter County will be able to bring businesses to any of the four interstate interchanges in Lee County. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good marriage of resources,â&#x20AC;? Watkins said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have some things to bring to the table, and Sumter, with all their past success, has things that we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t.â&#x20AC;? Later in the day, Sumter County Council Chairman Larry Blanding praised the opportunity for joint growth in the two counties after his council approved the alliance unanimously. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When one county benefits, the whole area benefits,â&#x20AC;? Blanding said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They have I-20, we have I-95, they have their industrial park right there on the interstate. Hopefully, this will help Lee County grow.â&#x20AC;? Now, the task for The Link is to get up and running. Staff of the two countiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; economic development offices will double as the staff of the new alliance, Jay Schwedler, president and CEO of Sumter Economic Development Board, told The Sumter Item when the alliance was first proposed. Separate, full-time staff for the alliance may be added later, he said. Even before the alliance, Lee County has found financial opportunities with Sumterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success in attracting big businesses such as Continental Tire, which several Lee County residents currently work for, according to Watkins. There are currently eight alliances of the same kind in South Carolina, and both Sumter and Lee counties have been members of the Central South Carolina alli-

ance, a grouping of 10 counties surrounding the Columbia area. Lee County Council used to pay $72,000 to the alliance but eventually felt it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t getting its moneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth when its previous developer, Jeff Burgess, left in November 2013. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not to say that they were failures, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just not been a successful strategy,â&#x20AC;? Watkins said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We decided to step back and think if there was some other approach when he left. They have more similarities with us than we do with Richland, Lexington and Fairfield.â&#x20AC;? Lee even called a special second meeting in March to

ensure Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ordinance passed on the same timetable as Sumterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, where county council always meets twice a month. Once The Link is up and running, the new alliance will be eligible for state development funds with a local match.

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

CLARENDON COUNTY

The Republican and Democratic parties will hold primaries on Tuesday, June 10, 2014. Any necessary runoffs will be held on Tuesday, June 24. Any person wishing to vote in the primaries and runoffs must register no later than Saturday, May 10. These primaries will be held under new rules for providing Photo ID at the polling place. Voters will be asked to provide one of the following Photo IDs: K&;& <jan]j k Da[]fk] A< ;Yj\ akkm]\ Zq K&;& <]hYjle]fl g^ Eglgj N]`a[d]k K&;& Ngl]j J]_akljYlagf ;Yj\ oal` H`glg >]\]jYd EadalYjq A< M&K& HYkkhgjl If you have one of these IDs, you are ready to vote. Voters should remember to bring one of these IDs with them to the polling place. Voters without Photo ID can get one free of charge from the Department of Motor Vehicles or their county voter j]_akljYlagf g^Ă&#x161;[]& Ngl]jk o`g ]f[gmfl]j Yf gZklY[d] lg _]llaf_ Y H`glg A< k`gmd\ bring their paper voter registration card without a photo with them to their polling hdY[]& L`]k] ngl]jk [Yf l`]f ka_f Yf Y^Ă&#x161;\Ynal ko]Yjaf_ lg l`]aj a\]flalq Yf\ lg l`]aj obstacle to obtaining a Photo ID and vote a provisional ballot. This ballot will count mfd]kk l`] [gmflq ]d][lagf [geeakkagf `Yk _jgmf\k lg Z]da]n] l`] Y^Ă&#x161;\Ynal ak ^Ydk]& For more information on Photo ID, visit scVOTES.org or contact your county election commission. At 9:00 a.m. on election day the County Election Commission will begin its examination of the absentee ballot return envelopes at Clarendon County Voter Registration & =d][lagf G^Ă&#x161;[]$ ,)) Kmfk]l <jan]$ EYffaf_$ K;$ *1)(*$ 0(+%,+-%0*)On Thursday, June 12, at 10:00am the County Board of Canvassers will hold a hearing to determine the validity of all provisional ballots casts in this election. This hearing will be held at Clarendon County Election Central Building, 20 West Keitt Street, Manning, SC 29102. The following precincts and polling places will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.: Precincts

Polling Places

9d[gdm% =d]e]flYjq K[`ggd$ ),*+ @gl]d Kl&$ 9d[gdm& :Yjjaf]Ym% :Yjjaf]Ym >aj] KlYlagf$ +0(* Kl& BYe]k JgY\$ DYc] ;alq& Barrows Mill- Union-Oakdale Fire Station, Fire Tower Road, New Zion. :dggenadd] % DaZ]jlq >aj] KlYlagf$ -))1 :j]o]j JgY\$ EYffaf_& ;YdnYjq % HYfgdY >aj] KlYlagf$ )10, =ddagl JgY\$ Haf]ogg\& Davis Station - Davis Station Fire Station, 2694 M.W. Rickenbaker Road, Manning. @Yjegfq % @Yjegfq Hj]kZql]jaYf ;`mj[` ^]ddgokàh `Ydd$ 0.*1 M&K& +()$ 9d[gdm& @a[ck % Haf]\Yd] H]fl][gklYd @gdaf]kk ;`mj[`$ ,,-. LmjZ]nadd] @a_òYq$ LmjZ]nadd]& Jordan - Wyboo Fire Station, 1101 Herring Drive, Manning. Manning I - Weldon Auditorium lobby, North Brooks Street, Manning. EYffaf_ AA % ;qhj]kk ;]fl]j `gkhalYd [gehd]p$ -( =& @gkhalYd Kl&$ EYffaf_& Manning III - Woodman of the World building, 419 Rudy Road, Manning. Manning IV - Manning Fire Station, 42 W. Boyce St., Manning. Manning V - Manning United Methodist Church, 17 Rigby St., Manning. F]o Ragf % ;dYj]f\gf ;gmflq =EK Zmad\af_$ )-.// M&K& +()$ F]o Ragf& Oakdale - Oakdale Community Center, New Zion. Panola - Mt. Pleasant RUME Church, 14076 Panola Road, Pinewood. HYpnadd] % HYpnadd] >aj] KlYlagf$ K&;& *.) Yf\ M&K& )-$ HYpnadd]& KYj\afaY'?YZd] % KYj\afaY%?YZd] >aj] KlYlagf$ )*0/0 M&K& +()$ ?YZd]& Summerton I - Summerton Town Hall, 10 Main St., Summerton. Kmee]jlgf AA % <aklja[l ) g^Ă&#x161;[]$ ) DYjjq Caf_ @a_òYq$ Kmee]jlgf& Kmee]jlgf AAA % Kmee]jlgf ;mdlmjYd 9jlk ;]fl]j$ f]pl lg <aklja[l ) g^Ă&#x161;[]$ Kmee]jlgf& Turbeville - Turbeville Town Hall, 1292 Green St., Turbeville. Oadkgf%>gj]klgf % Oadkgf%>gj]klgf >aj] KlYlagf$ )()- F& :j]oaf_lgf JgY\$ EYffaf_&

NATION

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

Summer gas prices forecast to fall 1 cent NEW YORK (AP) — Drivers will get the slightest of breaks on gasoline prices this summer, according to the Energy Department. The national average price is forecast to fall — by just one cent — to $3.57 a gallon between April and September, the months when Americans do most of their driving. Still, that would be the lowest average summer price since 2010. For the year, the department’s Energy Information Administration expects gasoline to average $3.45 a gallon, down from $3.51 last year and also the lowest since 2010. World demand for oil is growing, but supplies are growing faster than demand, thanks to higher production in the U.S., Canada and elsewhere. That will keep a lid on the price of crude and gasoline. The price of Brent crude, a benchmark used to price oil used by many U.S. refineries and the most important factor in gasoline prices, is forecast to fall 4 percent this year. U.S. drivers are expected to burn slightly more gasoline than they

did last year, according to the EIA. More people will drive more miles as the economy continues to improve, but they are driving more fuel-efficient cars. That will prevent gasoline demand from rising as fast as the number of miles driven. EIA Administrator Adam Sieminski warned in a conference call with reporters Tuesday that unexpected factors such as refinery outages, pipeline problems or geopolitical events that disrupt crude flows could send prices quickly higher. The sudden return of supplies could also send prices lower. The average price of gasoline last summer was five cents lower than what EIA had forecast last spring. Sieminski said that the amount of oil kept out of the market because of political unrest and logistical factors around the world is far higher now than in the past. Turmoil in Libya, Sudan and elsewhere is keeping about 2.5 million barrels per day of oil off the market, about 3 percent of world demand, up from 500,000 barrels historically, he said.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Eric Henry gases up his car in Sacramento, Calif., on March 7. Drivers will get the slightest of breaks on gasoline prices this summer, according to the Energy Department.

U.S. bacon prices rise after widespread virus kills baby pigs MILWAUKEE (AP) — A virus never before seen in the U.S. has killed millions of baby pigs in less than a year, and with little known about how it spreads or how to stop it, it’s threatening pork production and pushing up prices by 10 percent or more. Scientists think porcine epidemic diarrhea, which does not infect humans or other animals, came from China, but they don’t know how it got into the country or spread to 27 states since last May. The federal government is looking into how such viruses might spread, while the pork industry, wary of future outbreaks, has committed $1.7 million to research the disease. The U.S. is both a top producer and exporter of pork, but production could decline about 7 percent this year compared to last — the biggest drop in more than 30 years, according to a recent report from Rabobank, which focuses on the food, beverage and agribusiness industries. Already, prices have shot up: A pound of bacon averaged $5.46 in February, 13 percent more than a year ago, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ham and chops have gone up too, although not as much. Farmer and longtime veterinarian Craig Rowles did all he could to prevent PED from spreading to his farm in Iowa, the nation’s top pork producer and the state hardest hit by the disease. He trained workers to spot symptoms, had them shower and change

clothing before entering barns and limited deliveries and visitors. Despite his best efforts, the deadly diarrhea attacked in November, killing 13,000 animals in a matter of weeks, most of them less than 2

weeks old. The farm produces about 150,000 pigs each year. Estimates of how many pigs have died in the past year vary, ranging from at least 2.7 million to more than 6 million. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the die-off

has had a hand in shrinking the nation’s pig herd by 3 percent to about 63 million pigs. Diarrhea affects pigs like people: Symptoms that are uncomfortable in adults become life-threatening in newborns that dehydrate quickly.

The best chance at saving young pigs is to wean them and then pump them with clear fluids that hydrate them without taxing their intestines. But nothing could be done for the youngest ones except euthanasia.

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

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 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

Decent folk make terror a possibility “E

ngineering Evil” is a documentary recently shown on the Military History channel. It’s a story of Nazi Germany’s murder campaign before and during World War II. According to some estimates, 16 million Jews and other people died at the hands of Nazis (http://tinyurl.com/6duny9). Though the Holocaust ranks high among the great human tragedies, most people never consider the most important question: How did Adolf Hitler and the Nazis gain the power that they needed to commit such horror? Focusing solely on the evil of the Holocaust won’t get us very far toward the goal of the Jewish slogan “Never Again.” When Hitler came to power, he inherited decades of political consolidation by Otto von Bismarck and later the Weimar Republic that had weakened the political power of local jurisdictions. Through the Enabling Act (1933), whose formal name was “A Law to Remedy the Distress of People and Reich,” Hitler gained the power to enact laws with neither the involvement nor the approval Walter of the Reichstag, Germany’s Williams parliament. The Enabling Act destroyed any remaining local autonomy. The bottom line is that it was decent Germans who made Hitler’s terror possible — Germans who would have never supported his territorial designs and atrocities. The 20th century turned out to be mankind’s most barbaric. Roughly 50 million to 60 million people died in international and civil wars. As tragic as that number is, it pales in comparison with the number of people who were killed at the hands of their own government. Recently deceased Rudolph J. Rummel, professor of political science at the University of Hawaii and author of “Death by Government,” estimated that since the beginning of the 20th century, governments have killed 170 million of their own citizens. Top government killers were the Soviet Union, which, between 1917 and 1987, killed 62 million of its own citizens, and the People’s Republic of China, which, between 1949 and 1987, was responsible for the deaths of 35 million to 40 million of its citizens. In a distant third place were the Nazis, who murdered about 16 million Jews, Slavs, Serbs, Czechs, Poles, Ukrainians and others deemed misfits, such as homosexuals and the mentally ill. We might ask why the 20th century was so barbaric. Surely, there were barbarians during earlier ages. Part of the answer is that during earlier times, there wasn’t the kind of concentration of power that emerged during the 20th century. Had Josef Stalin, Mao Zedong and Hitler been around in earlier times, they could not have engineered the slaughter of tens of millions of people. They wouldn’t have had the authority. There was considerable dispersion of jealously guarded political power in the forms of heads of provincial governments and principalities and nobility and church leaders whose political power within their spheres was often just as strong as the monarch’s. Professor Rummel explained in the very first sentence of “Death by Government” that “Power kills; absolute Power kills absolutely. ... The more power a government has, the more it can act arbitrarily according to the whims and desires of the elite, and the more it will make war on others and murder its foreign and domestic subjects.” That’s the long, tragic, ugly story of government: the elite’s use of government to dupe and forcibly impose its will on the masses. The masses are always duped by wellintentioned phrases. After all, what German could have been against “A Law to Remedy the Distress of People and Reich”? It’s not just Germans who have fallen prey to well-intentioned phrases. After all, who can be against the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act”? We Americans ought to keep the fact in mind that Hitler, Stalin and Mao would have had more success in their reign of terror if they had the kind of control and information about their citizens that agencies such as the NSA, the IRS and the ATF have about us. You might ask, “What are you saying, Williams?” Just put it this way: No German who died before 1930 would have believed the Holocaust possible. Walter E. Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University. © 2014 creators.com

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Electoral College not necessary anymore A few weeks ago I started thinking about why we as voters go to the polls. We read and hear about how it’s so important to go out and vote. I have been reading a lot of information on the Electoral College, including things like how many presidents won the popular vote but lost the election because of the Electoral College. Look it up yourself, it’s on the Internet. Here are a few little known or forgotten facts:

• 1787 — Electoral College established; • 1912 — A form of radio was first adopted by the United States Navy; and • 1925 — Scottish inventor John Logie Baird gave the first demonstration of a television image in motion. Back in 1787, the Electoral College was necessary because that was the only way the voting wishes of the people back home could be counted (one representing many). Members of the college traveled by horse and buggy to Washington to get the voting

wishes of the folks back home counted. It’s sickening to know in the era of television, radio and computers, some people still believe we are back in the horse-andbuggy days. Sounds to me like these folks need to get out and actually earn a paycheck for a change. Once an election is over, what do these folks do for four years until the next cluster clunker comes along? Maybe another shovelready program. LILLIE KALIE Sumter

COMMENTARY

Changing the way Southerners are portrayed

ASHINGTON — After writing close to 3,000 columns, I’ve learned that people sometimes read what they’re looking for, often as a result of a headline, rather than what I wrote. Same words, different prisms. The same is true of the spoken word. What did she just say? Listener 1: “She said all Southerners are stupid.” Listener 2: “No, she didn’t. She was saying that whenever political operatives or the media need to show someone who is confused or clueless, they always find somebody with a Southern accent. Parker’s been writing about this for years. Besides, she is a Southerner.” Let’s hear it for Listener No. 2! This exchange might have taken place after I recently appeared on “Meet the Press,” where I made a comment about Southerners and an ad attacking the Affordable Care Act. Apparently, at least one person with a laptop was offended and social media took it from there. Think Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds.” To recap, NBC host David Gregory showed a clip I hadn’t seen before in which a fellow expresses how confusing he found Obamacare. He said he felt like he was in a “haze.” The clip followed my comment that the greatest challenge to Democrats in the midterm elections is the broad understanding that those who passed Obamacare had no idea what they were doing. Rather than continuing this thread, I reacted to something that has irked me for years — the media stereotype of the Southerner as a befuddled hayseed — and that has been a theme throughout my body of work. In the moment, my gut got the

better of my brain. I said surely they could have found someone without a Southern accent to express confusion about Obamacare. My follow-up was that there are plenty of other people (who might be considered smarter and more sophisticated by certain folks) who were also perplexed by the law. Alas, people unfamiliar with my work had no context for the remark and took offense. Herewith, the rest of the story. First, I would never intentionally insult Southerners or the South. Although I was born in Florida, owing in part to Kathleen my mother’s Parker poor health (she needed a mild climate but died young anyway), South Carolina has been home to my maternal family since 1670. In fact, my mother was the only family member to leave the state up to that point, except for the men who left, some for eternity, to fight in various wars. Her other reason for leaving was because she committed the unpardonable sin of marrying a Yankee pilot during World War II. My father said he couldn’t have found work in South Carolina back then. My Southern résumé otherwise includes the fact that my permanent address is still South Carolina, my first job was at The Charleston Evening Post, and I’m married to a native son whose bona fides are not in question. To those angry emailers who pointed out that I’m no smarter than people with Southern accents, I would add only, “Amen,

sister.” I have one of those accents myself, but I adapt as circumstances require. Catch me on NBC, and I probably sound like the Midwesterner my father was. Catch me on S.C. 97, and you won’t know me from any other local. My grandfather was one of those authentic Southerners whom reporters always hope to find — a farmer who plucked food from the ground a couple of hours before we sat down to say grace, told ghost stories from a rocking chair on the front porch and took us to Turkey Creek to fish and to scavenge for arrowheads. There was nothing dumb about Mr. John B, as everyone called him. If there were a way to capture the smell of him — a combination of leather, tobacco, soil and Old Spice — I’d give it away as tonic to help city children fall asleep at night. My own yearning for the smells and sounds of the motherland brought me back to South Carolina after years of roaming and writing for several newspapers here and there. The reporter in me began to notice the way Southerners were portrayed by the media as ignorant yokels. The Scots-Irish Southerner in me burned with ancient rage. It was with this mindset that I watched the ad and commented. I sure meant no offense and do wish I had chosen my words more carefully. Even so, knowing Southerners as I do, I also know they’re as quick to forgive as to convict if treated respectfully, which was my intent all along. Kathleen Parker’s email address is kathleenparker@washpost.com. © 2014, Washington Post Writers Group

HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? Send your letter to letters@theitem.com, drop it off at The Sumter Item office, 20 N. Magnolia St., or mail it to The Sumter Item, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, SC 29151, along with the writer’s full name, address and telephone number (for verification purposes only). Letters that exceed 350 words will be cut accordingly in the print edition, but available in their entirety at www.theitem.com/opinion/letters_to_editor.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 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) 8951252/1253 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) 9057720 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 SUMTER COUNTY VOTER REGISTRATION / ELECTION COMMISSION Thursday, 5:30 p.m., registration / election office, 141 N. Main St.

SUMTER SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES Monday, April 14, 6:45 p.m., Crestwood High School, 2000 Oswego Road

DAILY PLANNER

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEATHER

AccuWeather® ﬁve-day forecast for Sumter TODAY

TONIGHT

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Variable clouds with a t-storm

Clear

Nice with a full day of sunshine

Mostly sunny, nice and warm

Mostly sunny and warm

Partly sunny and pleasant

73°

46°

75° / 50°

78° / 53°

81° / 55°

81° / 56°

Chance of rain: 55%

Chance of rain: 0%

Chance of rain: 5%

Chance of rain: 10%

Chance of rain: 20%

Winds: NNW 7-14 mph

Winds: NNW 3-6 mph

Winds: SSW 4-8 mph

Winds: SW 7-14 mph

Winds: SW 6-12 mph

Winds: S 6-12 mph

TODAY’S SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER

Gaﬀney 69/42 Spartanburg 69/42

Greenville 68/42

Columbia 74/44

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

IN THE MOUNTAINS

Sumter 73/46

Aiken 72/41

ON THE COAST

Charleston 73/48

Today: A couple of thunderstorms. High 67 to 73. Thursday: Sunny much of the time. High 69 to 74.

LOCAL ALMANAC

LAKE LEVELS

SUMTER THROUGH 4 P.M. YESTERDAY

Today Hi/Lo/W 66/43/s 60/43/s 79/56/s 56/40/pc 78/52/s 84/56/pc 70/51/s 58/40/pc 77/55/pc 62/39/pc 95/71/s 69/52/s 63/44/pc

SUN AND MOON 7 a.m. yest. 358.02 75.15 74.79 97.03

24-hr chg +0.05 -0.02 -0.03 -0.26

Sunrise 6:59 a.m. Moonrise 2:50 p.m.

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

0.33" 0.57" 0.84" 10.24" 11.05" 12.13"

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

Full pool 360 76.8 75.5 100

Lake Murray Marion Moultrie Wateree

72° 59° 73° 47° 92° in 1967 27° in 2007

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

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 72/50/s 62/38/c 81/60/s 65/39/pc 80/60/s 81/56/pc 74/58/s 62/50/s 79/59/pc 68/50/s 97/72/s 70/52/s 70/52/s

Myrtle Beach 68/47

Manning 73/45

Today: A shower in places. Winds westnorthwest 6-12 mph. Thursday: Nice with plenty of sunshine. Winds southwest 4-8 mph.

Temperature High Low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

Florence 72/45

Bishopville 73/45

Sunset Moonset

7:49 p.m. 3:34 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Apr. 15

Apr. 22

Apr. 29

May 6

TIDES

Flood 7 a.m. 24-hr stage yest. chg 12 8.82 -0.17 19 5.18 +0.53 14 6.46 -0.48 14 7.73 +3.84 80 78.12 -0.12 24 8.14 +0.03

AT MYRTLE BEACH

Today Thu.

High 5:14 a.m. 5:54 p.m. 6:07 a.m. 6:46 p.m.

Ht. 2.7 2.6 2.8 2.8

Low 12:19 p.m. --12:37 a.m. 1:08 p.m.

Ht. 0.7 --0.7 0.6

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 60/33/c 69/41/pc 74/42/c 73/50/t 59/48/t 73/48/t 68/41/c 69/44/c 74/44/c 71/44/t 64/40/t 70/45/t 72/45/t

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 70/41/s 73/46/s 76/44/s 73/55/s 64/56/s 75/54/s 73/46/s 73/50/s 76/47/s 75/49/s 70/51/s 74/52/s 75/52/s

Today City Hi/Lo/W Florence 72/45/t Gainesville 75/48/pc Gastonia 69/43/c Goldsboro 70/45/t Goose Creek 73/48/t Greensboro 68/42/c Greenville 68/42/c Hickory 67/40/c Hilton Head 68/52/t Jacksonville, FL 73/49/s La Grange 68/35/s Macon 72/39/s Marietta 67/40/s

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 75/51/s 78/50/s 74/48/s 74/52/s 75/53/s 73/49/s 73/47/s 72/46/s 69/55/s 76/52/s 73/42/s 75/45/s 72/47/s

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 66/39/c 72/48/t 68/47/t 71/45/t 71/50/t 69/42/c 69/41/c 72/41/c 73/48/t 69/42/c 69/49/t 70/45/t 67/42/c

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 72/45/s 74/54/s 70/56/s 75/48/s 72/55/s 74/49/s 73/45/s 75/48/s 76/52/s 73/47/s 70/54/s 74/54/s 72/49/s

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

CLARENDON COUNTY COUNCIL Monday, April 14, 6 p.m., Administration Building, Council Chambers, 411 Sunset Drive, Manning

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take on EUGENIA LAST whatever comes your way. Your go-getter attitude and creative imagination will lead to an intriguing prospect. Interaction and greater involvement with upwardly mobile people will result in a worthwhile partnership. Knowledge equals power. File away what you hear and see.

The last word in astrology

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Stick to what you know and work diligently at your own speed. Avoid emotional impasses with people only interested in controlling your situation. Explore your options and you will find a way to expand your interests personally and professionally. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Explore what’s being offered. Change can be good if it stimulates your mind and helps you head in a direction that promotes advancement. High energy and enthusiasm will grab attention and set you apart from any competition you face. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Let your mind wander and you’ll find a unique way to make extra cash. Revamp a service you used to offer to friends or family and you’ll find a way to go public. You can be helpful and benefit from your good intentions. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Emotions will surface if you experience a change of heart. Insecurity will set off uncertainty or an inability to make a move. Progressive action will bring good results. Get moving and do not look back. Don’t be afraid to do things differently. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Look for ways to implement unique alternatives that will help improve the job you do, and you will receive recognition and consideration for your contribution. An impulsive purchase isn’t likely to please you

once you test it out. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Put your heart into whatever you do, but don’t overreact if someone doesn’t agree with what you are doing. Listen to advice, weigh the pros and cons, and continue to follow the path that makes you feel most comfortable. Nurture important partnerships. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Make positive changes at home and follow through with creative endeavors. Expand your circle of friends to include those who share your interests. Love is on the rise and a positive twist to the way you treat someone special will benefit you. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): A professional trip or mixing business with pleasure will help you discover if a project you want to pursue is feasible or not. Share your concerns and be blunt about what you can bring to the table. Don’t promise financial assistance. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Your timing is questionable. You are caught between what needs to be done and what’s possible. Take a back seat and watch how someone else handles matters. Stepping in and cleaning up will be much easier and will reap rewards.

LOTTERY NUMBERS PALMETTO CASH 5 TUESDAY

POWERBALL SATURDAY

MEGAMILLIONS TUESDAY

2-18-30-31-36 PowerUp: 2

11-21-26-33-34 Powerball: 29; Powerplay: 5

Numbers were unavailable at press time.

PICK 3 TUESDAY

PICK 4 TUESDAY

0-0-5 and 3-5-5

1-7-6-8 and 4-0-2-9

PICTURES FROM THE PUBLIC OCCASION: Donna Harris shares a photo she took of the sculpture in front of Patriot Hall. COMMENT: Harris comments, “There is beauty all around — especially in Sumter —if you open your eyes to see.”

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Take action and you will make progress. Send out your resume or sign up for a course that will help you advance. Money matters can be addressed and a joint venture will bring all sorts of benefits. Sign contracts. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Work quietly behind the scenes. Focus on personal documentation and household needs. Love and personal relationships will improve if you set time aside to spend with a friend, lover or family member. A creative outlet will help ease stress.

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

Did UConn sweep both Final Fours? B5

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

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014

PREP BASEBALL

USC FOOTBALL

Conway, Holmes humbled

Carolina kicker Fry cooking with confidence BY RYAN WOOD Post and Courier

blown save in the seventh inning, Charlie Barnes scored the game-winning run off Crawford’s long fly ball base hit in the eighth as Sumter edged the Tigers 2-1 in the opening game of the series. The Gamecocks, now 11-2-1 overall and 5-2 in the region, took control of the series by hanging a loss on the Conway ace as the Tigers fell to 5-5 and 3-4. The two teams play again today in Conway and on Thursday back in Sumter at 6:30 p.m. on both days. “Phillip just threw a whale of

COLUMBIA — Elliott Fry carried the weight of his entire team last season, typical pressure for any kicker. Each field goal could be the difference between winning and losing. It’s enough for any player to break into cold sweats. For Fry, there was more to worry about than booting the football through goal posts. Fry arrived at South Carolina less than a year ago. He was a walk-on from Frisco, Tex., a fast-growing Dallas suburb. In a big city, his school offered a smalltown feel. Fewer than 1,000 students walked the halls at Prince of Peace Christian. Friday nights were a far stretch from the atFRY mosphere inside 80,000-seat WilliamsBrice Stadium. Fry thought about the massive SEC crowds he’d face on Saturdays, and there was more reason for cold sweats. “Yeah, I was a little worried about that,” Fry admits now. If the Gamecocks’ freshman kicker was intimidated last fall, it never showed. Fry was named to the AllSEC Freshman Team following the season, an unlikely rise for the first freshman kicker to start for South Carolina since 1996. Now, he’s hoping for more success -- and an even bigger role -- as a sophomore. “I think I’m improving pretty steadily,” said Fry, who made all three of his field goals Saturday during the Gamecocks’ scrimmage, including two from 38 yards. “I guess, just working on consistency and staying consistent. ... I still missed kicks last year. You can always improve there.” Fry missed kicks last season, but not many. He made 15 of 18 attempts (83.3 percent) to rank fifth in the SEC. His 15 field goals tied for fourth-most in the league. More importantly, Fry was nearly automatic in pressure moments.

SEE SUMTER, PAGE B2

SEE FRY, PAGE B2

PHOTOS BY JUSTIN DRIGGERS / THE SUMTER ITEM

Sumter High starting pitcher Phillip Watcher, above, throws during the Gamecocks’ 2-1, 8-inning victory over Conway on Tuesday at Gamecock Field. Watcher allowed no runs on two hits with 12 strikeouts in six innings. Sumter High outfielder Chris Crawford, below right, smacks the game-winning fly ball that fell for a hit.

Crawford’s RBI base hit aids 2-1 extra-inning victory for SHS BY JUSTIN DRIGGERS jdriggers@theitem.com The scouts were lined up behind the home plate fence as Conway High School starting pitcher Grant Holmes took the mound in Tuesday’s Region VI-4A contest against Sumter at Gamecock Field. While the highly-touted, hard-throwing right-hander might have been the star attraction, it was Phillip Watcher, Chris Crawford and the Gamecocks who ended the night on a high note. Watcher struck out 12 in six scoreless innings, and after a

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

PRO GOLF

Connecticut guard Terrence Samuel, left, and guard Lasan Kromah hold the championship trophy after beating Kentucky 60-54, in the NCAA tournament national championship game on Monday in Arlington, Texas.

Masters has an open look

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Huskies again star in the underdog role

BY DOUG FERGUSON The Associated Press AUGUSTA, Ga. — One after another, some of the world’s best players and favorites to win the Masters trudged up the hill on the WOODS opening hole to start their practice rounds. Phil Mickelson. Rory McIlroy. Adam Scott. It was typical of any Tuesday at Augusta National, except for the scoreboard to the right of where they were walking. The board has the names of all 97 players in the field, with blank boxes to put

BY JOHN MARSHALL The Associated Press

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rory McIlroy watches his tee shot on the 12th hole during Tuesday’s practice round for the Masters in Augusta, Ga. It’s a mystery as to who will be the favorite to win this weekend’s event with the absence of Tiger Woods. their scores when the tournament begins. On the far right side of the board is a list of this year’s noncompeting invitees.

Tommy Aaron. Doug Ford. Tiger Woods. “It’s a weird feeling not having him here,

SEE MASTERS, PAGE B4

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Connecticut Huskies lost their coach, their teammates, their chance to play at the NCAA tournament for a year. They were castoffs, unwanted mutts without a home, told they had no chance. Well, look who’s woofing now. Playing with a chip-on-their-shoulder mentality and poise down the stretch, UConn starred in the underdog role for the second time in four years, knocking off Kentucky 60-54 Monday night in North Texas. “It feels so good to prove the world wrong,” UConn junior guard Ryan Boatright said. It was quite a journey to get here. UConn won a national title in 2011 behind do-it-all guard Kemba Walker. One setback after another followed.

Coach Jim Calhoun retired in 2012. Players left the program, three who transferred away and two who left for the NBA. The Huskies were barred from the 2013 tournament for failing to meet NCAA academic standards. They scrambled to find a home after the Big East blew up, landing in the American Athletic Conference. UConn fought its way through last season, winning 20 games despite no hope of playing in the postseason, yet still was dismissed heading into this season. The Huskies turned a few heads with an opening nine-game winning streak, but were given little chance of making a run after stumbling late in the season. Of the 11.01 million brackets submitted on ESPN.com,

SEE HUSKIES, PAGE B3

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014

JUSTIN DRIGGERS / THE SUMTER ITEM

BOYS AREA ROUNDUP

Singleton leads Barons in Region II-3A track meet Devin Singleton won three events to lead Wilson Hall to an easy victory in the SCISA Region II-3A meet on Tuesday at Spencer Field. The Barons won with 142 points, followed by Orangeburg prep with 49, Laurence Manning Academy with 39 and Florence Christian School with 24. Singleton won the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes and finished second in the long jump. Charlie Walker won both 110 and 400 hurdles for LMA.

First-Place Finishers WILSON HALL: 4x800 relay (Connor Curtis, Brayden Fidler, Rhett Howell, Campbell Mims); Devin Singleton 100 dash, 200 dash, 400 dash; 4x100 relay (Josh Gentile, Michael Lowery, Brent Carraway, Evans Boyle); Brayden Fidler 800 run; 4x400 relay (Andrik Rivera-Nesala, Campbell Mims, Greyson Young, Josh Gentile); Brent Carraway triple jump; Ken Ballard discus; Tanner Carraway shot put. LAURENCE MANNING: Charlie Walker 110 hurdles, 400 hurdles. Second-Place Finishers WILSON HALL: Matthew Tavarez, 3,200 run; Hayes Goodson 110 hurdle, 400 hurdles; Andrik Rivera-Nesala 800 run; Josh Gentile 200 run; Michael Lowery high jump, pole vault; Devin Singleton long jump; Walker Ard discus; Ken Ballard shot put. LAURENCE MANNING: Aaron Kruger 400 dash; 4x400 relay (Mark Dinkins, Brandon Fenters, Aaron Kruger, Jordan Rock). Third-Place Finishers WILSON HALL: Brad Russell 100 hurdles, 400 hurdles; Josh Gentile 100 dash; Rhett Howell 1,600 run; Justin Timmons 800 run; Evans Boyle long jump, triple jump; Tanner Carraway discus; Walker Ard shot put. LAURENCE MANNING: 4x800 relay (Allex Derus, Bradley Hodge, Curt Joye, Alex Morris); Brandon Fenters 400 dash; Charlie Walker 200 dash.

VARSITY SOCCER LAKEWOOD 5 DARLINGTON 0

Greg McLeod scored three goals and had one assist to lead Lakewood High School to a 5-0 victory over Darlington on Tuesday at J. Frank Baker Stadium. Gianni Jackson scored a goal and had an assist, while Ben Busques had a goal and Blake Carraher had two assists. Mike Paterna had five saves in goal for the Gators, who improved to 9-1 overall and 4-1 in Region VI-3A. WILSON HALL 4 FLORENCE CHRISTIAN 0

FLORENCE – Wilson Hall improved to 4-5 on the season with a 4-0 victory over Florence Christian School at the FCS field. Drake Shadwell scored twice for the Barons, while Harris Jordan and Jake Croft each added single goals. Adam Jennings had a pair of assists. Bailey Hunt and Justin Schaare each had one assist. Christian Albertsen and Jennings combined in the goal for the shutout.

JUNIOR VARSITY SOCCER SUMTER 2 SOUTH FLORENCE 0 Sumter High School improved to 8-3 on the season with a 2-0 victory over South Florence on Tuesday at the SHS field. Chris Reyes and Blake Drown each scored a goal for the Gamecocks, while Dyonn Dingman had an assist.

GIRLS AREA ROUNDUP

Lady Barons roll to easy victory The Wilson Hall varsity girls track and field team came away with an easy victory in the SCISA Region II-3A meet on Tuesday at Spencer Field. Wilson Hall won with a total of 137 points. Orangeburg Prep was second with 75 and Laurence Manning Academy had 21. Anna Lyles led the Lady Barons with victories in the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs. Amy Banghart won both the 100 and 400 hurdles.

First-Place Finishers WILSON HALL: Anna Lyles 3,200 run, 1,600 run, 800 run; 4x800 relay (Kirsten Fisher, Bethany Jennings, Jessica Tetterton, Aubrie Yarbrough); Amy Banghart, 100 hurdles, 400 hurdles; Julia Ladson 400 dash; Cori Moore long jump. Second-Place Finishers WILSON HALL: Tetterton 3,200 run; Cantey Jacocks 100 hurdles, 400 hurdles; Julia Ladson 1,600; 4x100 relay (Dubose Alderman, Lane Herlong, Elliott Kassam, Cori Moore); Aubrie Yarbrough 800 run; 4x400 relay (Banghart, Leah Barwick, Herlong, Ladson); McKenzie Smith high jump, triple jump; Hazel Gray Hudson discus; Mary Peyton Zilch shot put; Leah Barwick pole vault. LAURENCE MANNING: Hannah Graham 100 dash, 400 dash, 200 dash. Third-Place Finishers WILSON HALL: Lauren Yarbrough 3,200 run; Amber Prewitt, 100 hurdles, 400 hurdles; Chandler Curtis 1,600 run, 800 run; Barwick, high jump; Cate McCreight long jump; Cori Moore triple jump; Claire Estep discus; McKenzie Smith pole vault. LAURENCE MANNING: Katenell Locklair, 100 dash; Tolly Horton 400 dash; 4x400 relay (Graham, Horton, Locklair, Destiny Johnson).

VARSITY SOFTBALL LAURENCE MANNING 6 FLORENCE CHRISTIAN 2 FLORENCE – Emily McElveen had two doubles and two runs batted in to lead Laurence Manning Academy to a 6-2 victory over Florence Christian School on Tuesday at the FCS field. Courtney Beatson also had two hits while scoring a run and driving in a run. Beatson was the winning pitcher, striking out six while allowing no earned runs in getting the

win. She allowed six hits and just one walk. Maddie Cantley had a double and two RBI. CLARENDON HALL 8 FIRST BAPTIST 0

SUMMERTON – Gracyn Royce pitched a 4-hit shutout to lead Clarendon Hall to an 8-0 victory over First Baptist on Tuesday at the CH field. Royce struck out 10 and walked just one to help the Lady Saints improve to 13-6 on the season. Shannon Corbett went 3-for-4 to lead the offense. Jordan Carter and Aubrey Johnson each went 2-for-3 with two runs batted in and Brittany Pack was also 2-for-3.

THE SUMTER ITEM

Conway High starting pitcher Grant Holmes throws during the Tigers’ 2-1, 8-inning loss to Sumter on Tuesday at Gamecock Field. Holmes allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits with 14 strikeouts in 7-plus innings.

SUMTER FROM PAGE B1 a game,” SHS head coach Brooks Shumake said. “He was really rolling for most of the game and we were able to grind some at-bats out late and get the win. Really proud of the way Phillip pitched and really proud of the way our guys hung in there and bounced back to win.” Through six innings, Watcher matched, and in some cases, out-dueled Holmes. He allowed just two hits to Holmes’ four, had one more strikeout and, most importantly, didn’t allow a run. “Coach Shumake told me to pitch for the strikeout,” Watcher said. “So I took that to heart. I tried to make my 2-strike pitches a little better and make sure I didn’t hang anything. “I knew Holmes was good coming in. I knew we probably weren’t going to score a lot of runs against him, so I had to pitch well.” Though they threatened several times – leaving four runners in scoring position through five innings – the Gamecocks’ lone early run off Holmes came via a Tiger miscue rather than a hit. River Soles singled to lead off the frame, took second on a stolen base and third on a wild pitch. With two outs, however, Soles looked destined to be stranded 90 feet away. But after Ian McCaffrey struck out for what would have been the final out, the ball got by Conway catcher Dylan Jordan for a passed ball and allowed McCaffrey to go to first and Soles to come home for a 1-0 Sumter lead. It stayed that way until the top of the seventh when Shumake elected to go with SHS ace Barnes over Watcher. “Phillip was rolling, but was at a 100-pitch count,” Shumake said. “Even so, with our ace on the mound, we were confident he would

get the three outs we needed. It really wasn’t a hard decision; it just doesn’t work out sometimes.” This was one of those times. A leadoff walk led to a rough inning for the Clemson signee. After getting two quick outs on a sacrifice bunt and flyout, Barnes walked the No. 9 hitter Colten Redish and then Holmes was walked intentionally to load the bases. Barnes then went to a full count on Colby Ard – who had struck out three times previously – before walking in the tying run. Barnes got his measure of revenge an inning later, though. Leading off with Holmes still on the mound, he lined a double to the center field wall for his third hit of the night off the big righty. Holmes exited and Mason Mabery came in. Jacob Watcher, who had two successful sacrifice bunts already on the night, was walked intentionally. Phillip Watcher laid down his own bunt that was mishandled by McCord to load the bases with no outs. Crawford stepped in, and after fouling off three straight 2-strike pitches, he launched a fly ball to left field that Conway’s Ben Canfield had bounce off his glove to score the winning run. “I was just trying to wait back,” Crawford said. “To go from a guy who throws 93 (miles per hour) to (someone) with an average velocity, the biggest thing is to make yourself wait. I was just trying to find a pitch to drive after that.” Barnes’ double put the loss on Holmes, who went 7-plus innings and allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits with 14 strikeouts and two walks. Jacob Watcher was the only other player besides Barnes to have much success, going 1-for-1 with a triple, two sacrifice bunts and an intentional walk. Crawford got the win on the mound after a 1-2-3 top of the eighth.

SOUTH POINTE CHRISTIAN 13 SUMTER CHRISTIAN 3

Sumter Christian School fell to 1-9 on the season with a 13-3 loss to South Pointe Christian on Tuesday at the SCS field. Ashlan Floyd and Hannah Glass each had two hits to lead the Lady Bears. Floyd had a double and two runs scored. Glass had two runs batted in while Katelynn Mahoney added an RBI.

VARSITY SOCCER LAKEWOOD 1 DARLINGTON 0 Lakewood High School evened its Region VI-3A record at 2-2 with a 1-0 victory over Darlington on Tuesday at J. Frank Baker Stadium. Vannia Moreno Gil scored for the Lady Gators, who improved to 5-2 overall. Creena Gonzales had an assist in the win. Nikki Gonzalez recorded 23 saves in the shutout.

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MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

University of South Carolina placekicker Elliott Fry, looks on after attempting a field goal against Florida last season. Fry, who was named to the All-SEC freshman team, said he has more confidence going into this season.

FRY FROM PAGE B1 Fry made 4 of 5 field goals in a five-point win against Florida, including a career long from 45 yards. Three weeks earlier, he kicked the game-winning field goal in double overtime at Missouri. Fry impressed South Carolina coaches enough to be put on scholarship this semester. As last season progressed, Fry said he had several conversations with special teams coordinator Joe Robinson about receiving a scholarship. The paperwork came through over Winter Break. “I feel almost relieved, actually,” Fry said. “It’s awesome, obviously. Love it. Parents are happy about it, too.” Fry hopes to have more opportuni-

ties to kick this fall. He’s competing to be South Carolina’s kickoff specialist, a job currently held by senior Landon Ard. Either way, he’ll retain field goal duties. Even with South Carolina’s 2014 opener more than four months away, it’s impossible for Fry not to look ahead. The Gamecocks will host Texas A&M on Aug. 28. Like many inside his home state, Fry grew up rooting for the Texas Longhorns. Fry would like nothing more than to kick his next game-winning field goal against the rival Aggies. “I have a lot of family that goes to A&M, a lot of friends go to A&M,” Fry said. “I know I’ve got a lot of people coming down for that game, so that will be really fun. I grew up liking Texas, so I always hated the Aggies. That’ll be cool to play them.”

SPORTS

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014

All-Sumter Middle School Conference basketball teams

PHOTOS BY MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

The Sumter Middle School Conference has selected its boys and girls all-conference basketball teams. Members of the boys team, above, are, first row, left to right: Antonio Anderson, Rufus McCray, Jaron Richardson, Tavarist Wilson and Jerrel Kelley of Mayewood. Second row: Ahkeem Lawson, Jordan Gregg, Trashad Jett, Dione Coleman and Zykiem Jackson of Bates. Third row: Dajon Butts, Shannan Isaac, Javonta Singletary and Isazavion Peterson of Chestnut Oaks. Fourth row: Javarius Bradley, Carl Benjamin and Tyrese Felder of Ebenezer and Juwan Perdue and Kaseem Mcbride of Furman. Fifth row: Khadary Stephens and Sheddrick Ervin of Hillcrest and Grant Singleton, Cameron Singleton and Terrell Houston of Alice Drive. Members of the girls team, above right, are: Shakyla Funchess, Katelyn Dixon, Jahche Whitfield, Latrice Lyons and Malaysia Scales of Alice Drive. Second row: Serena Choice, Rahteisha Burgess, Kiari Cain and Valencia Croom of Furman. Third row: Jayla Bolden, Chazen Regalado and Elizabeth Johnson of Hillcrest and Kiara Jones and Khamaya Hilton of Bates. Fourth row: Keonna McElveen and Shaniya Franklin of Chestnut Oaks and Destinee Jamison and Mya McCray of Ebenezer. Fifth row: Alexus Jackson and Hydeia Fullard of Mayewood.

HUSKIES FROM PAGE B1 only 0.3 percent picked them to win it all. UConn continued to go against the grain of public opinion as it advanced through the bracket, beating the odds while knocking off Villanova, Iowa State, Michigan State and top-seeded Florida to reach the championship game. Again, the Huskies were not supposed to win, told they were no match for the length and athleticism of Kentucky’s one-and-done freshmen, expected to get run over by those speedy ‘Cats. Again, they wouldn’t listen. Relying on its veteran leaders, UConn jumped to a big early lead, kept its composure whenever Kentucky tried to make a run and counterpunched every time the Wildcats landed a blow. Senior Shabazz Napier took what he learned from Walker, his mentor, and became the leader who took the Huskies to a title, finishing with 22 points and six rebounds to bookend his career with national championships. Gritty Ryan Boatright gave Kentucky fits at both ends all night, scoring 14 points while teaming with Napier to lock down the Wildcats’ heralded twins, Aaron and Andrew

Harrison. Kevin Ollie proved a morethan-able caretaker of the program Calhoun built, creating his own legacy by becoming the first coach to win a national title within two years on his first Division I job since Michigan’s Steve Fisher in 1989. When it was over and the confetti fell, the seventh-seeded Huskies were on top of the college basketball for the fourth time as a program. UConn is highest seed to win a national title since Rollie Massimino and eighthseeded Villanova won it in 1985. The Huskies are the first team since Arizona in 1997 to win a national championship without winning a conference regular-season or tournament title. They also won the national title without playing in the NCAA tournament or NIT the season before, a first since North Carolina State in 1974. “You’ve got to continue to believe,” said Napier, the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player. “We had faith in each other and we are here. We won the whole thing. We didn’t listen to any doubters. We just went out there and did what we had to do.”

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

MASTERS NOTEBOOK

The Masters that made McIlroy cry BY DOUG FERGUSON The Associated Press AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy had one of the greatest recoveries in 2011 when he blew a four-shot lead in the final round of the Masters by shooting 80, and then bounced back two months later to set the scoring record in the U.S. Open in his first major win. His father recalled a phone conversation he had with McIlroy that night after the Masters in which the 21-year-old said he was OK. Turns out the phone call with his mother the next morning was different. “That’s probably the only time I’ve cried over golf was the morning after in 2011,” McIlroy said. He was blowing away the field at Augusta that year when everything went wrong, especially the back nine. He took triple bogey on No. 10 after a tee shot into the cabins, three-putted the 11th and four-putted the 12th. So it’s strange to hear that McIlroy has never had a top 10 at the Masters in five appearances. He tied for 15th in 2011. He fell out of contention each of the last two years with a poor round on Saturday, including a 79 last year. Even so, he arrived at Augusta National optimistic instead of wary from past experiences. Asked to describe the emotions he associated with Augusta National, he replied, “Excitement.” “I have no ill feelings toward 2011,” he said. “I thought it was a very important day in my career. It was a big learning curve for me. And I don’t know if I had not had that day, would I be the person and the player that I am sitting here? Because I learned so much from it. I learned exactly not what to do under pressure and contention, and I definitely learned from that day how to handle my emotions better on the course.” LEFTY’S BAG

Sometimes, there really is a method to the madness of Phil Mickelson. He once used two drivers at the Masters. Or he’ll come up with a different fairway metal. Sure, the three-time Masters champion loves to tinker with equipment, but he revealed a reason why he’s always working on new clubs for Augusta National. “It’s because I have two free clubs this week,” Mickelson said. “So for the past six or seven years I’ve played this tournament, I have not had a shot between 90 and 130 yards. So think about that. I have a 40 yard gap there. I take out my sand wedge and gap wedge because I don’t ever need them and it allows me to put in two special clubs. That’s why I’m always working on something.” Mickelson said he doesn’t need anything special this week. He’s putting a 64-degree wedge in the bag. He’s not sure about the other one.

“I’m not going to play with 13 clubs, but I don’t know what the 14th club is going to be,” he said. “I’ll throw one in — the sand or gap wedge — just out of default, but I don’t ever use them here.” Someone asked if there was another course where he knew he wouldn’t need all 14 clubs. “There’s some I need 16, but that’s not really an option,” Mickelson said. “It’s just kind of one of those unique things, when the course got redesigned ... the holes that we used to hit sand wedge, gap wedge in — No. 1, No. 9, sometimes 14, sometimes 17 — you just can’t now.” BUGS ON THE BARBIE

The Masters has produced champions from four continents in five years, which means a little diversity when it comes to the Champions Dinner on Tuesday night. Angel Cabrera had blood sausage on the menu, a staple in Argentina. Charl Schwartzel of South Africa served monkey gland sauce to go on the meats. Bubba Watson had breaded chicken. Adam Scott is bringing in the best bugs Australia has to offer. Except they’re not really bugs. On the menu Tuesday night was Moreton Bay Bugs, an Australian version of lobster. “The bugs are here,” Scott said. “I picked the bugs because I like them. They are one of my favorite foods back home. I thought it would be nice to have something really local to serve. Hopefully, the other guys can get past the name and enjoy a nice bit of our seafood from home. But I think they are going to be pretty happy with what I serve up tonight, and particularly the wine.” Asked by an Australian reporter if the Moreton Bay Bugs were from Brisbane, Scott nodded his head. “They are legitimate bugs, the real deal,” Scott said. “I’m not going to serve up anything second-rate tonight. I’ve got to go all out to impress these guys.” Also on the menu is Pavlova, a pudding that his mother makes. The Augusta National chefs will be using her recipe. “This is going to be maybe a little trickier for them,” Scott said. “Hopefully, they get it right.” BIG THREE, BUT NO FIVE

One of the more interesting groups for the opening two rounds of the Masters is Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed. McIlroy is the old man in the group at 24. Spieth is 20. The two “youngsters” are playing their first Masters — in fact, the 23-year-old Reed is playing his first major. McIlroy looked at it another way. “There’s going to be no top-five players in that group,” he said. That was a reference to Reed, who declared on national TV after he won at Doral that he felt he was one of the top five players in the world. McIlroy is at No. 9, Spieth is at No. 13 and Reed is at No. 23.

MASTERS TEE TIMES

The Associated Press At Augusta National Golf Club Augusta, Ga. a-amateur Thursday-Friday 7:45 a.m.-10:52 a.m. — Stewart Cink, Tim Clark. 7:56 a.m.-11:03 a.m. — Ian Woosnam, John Huh, Kevin Stadler 8:07 a.m.-11:14 a.m. — Ben Crenshaw, Y.E. Yang, Jonas Blixt 8:18 a.m.-11:25 a.m. — Mark O’Meara, Steven Bowditch, a-Jordan Niebrugge 8:29 a.m.-11:36 a.m. — John Senden, Boo Weekley, David Lynn 8:40 a.m.-11:47 a.m. — Craig Stadler, Scott Stallings, Martin Kaymer 8:51 a.m.-12:09 p.m. — Tom Watson, Billy Horschel, Brendon de Jonge 9:02 a.m.-12:20 p.m. — Mike Weir, Matt Every, Robert Castro 9:13 a.m.-12:31 p.m. — Angel Cabrera, Gary Woodland, Ian Poulter 9:24 a.m.-12:42 p.m. — Fred Couples, Webb Simpson, a-Changwoo Lee

9:35 a.m.-12:53 p.m. — Graeme McDowell, Rickie Fowler, Jimmy Walker 9:57 a.m.-1:04 p.m. — Zach Johnson, K.J. Choi, Steve Stricker 10:08 a.m.-1:15 p.m. — Miguel Angel Jimenez, Bill Haas, Matteo Manassero 10:19 a.m.-1:26 p.m. — Hideki Matsuyama, Brandt Snedeker, Jamie Donaldson 10:30 a.m.-1:37 p.m. — Charl Schwartzel, Jim Furyk, Thorbjorn Olesen 10:41 a.m.-1:48 p.m. — Adam Scott, Jason Dufner, a-Matthew Fitzpatrick 10:52 a.m.-1:59 p.m. — Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, Rory McIlroy 11:03 a.m.-7:45 a.m. — Kevin Streelman, D.A. Points 11:14 a.m.-7:56 a.m. — Larry Mize, Branden Grace, a-Michael McCoy 11:25 a.m.-8:07 a.m. — Sandy Lyle, Matt Jones, Ken Duke 11:36 a.m.-8:18 a.m. — Jose Maria Olazabal, Lucas Glover, a-Garrick Porteous 11:47 a.m.-8:29 a.m. — Nick Watney,

AREA SCOREBOARD ETC. SENIOR FITNESS GAMES

The final day to sign up for the Sumter County Senior Fitness Games is on Thursday. There will be several different events in which to compete available beginning with a golf tournament on Thursday, April 24, at Crystal Lakes Golf Course. Some of the other events will include table tennis, horseshoes, shuffleboard, softball throw, football throw, darts, track and field and bowling. Competitors may select a total of five events in which to compete. To register or for more information, call the Sumter County Recreation Department at (803) 436-2248. ROAD RACING RECOVERY ROAD RACE

The Recovery Road Race will be held on Saturday at Swan Lake Iris Gardens. The 5K run/walk is USATF certified and is part of the 2014 Palmetto Grand Prix. The cost to register is $25, including the day of the race. The 10K run/walk fee is $30. Registration is being taken online at www.strictlyrunning.com or by dropping off a registration form and check

Stephen Gallacher, Darren Clarke 12:09 p.m.-8:40 a.m. — Vijay Singh, Thomas Bjorn, Ryan Moore 12:20 p.m.-8:51 a.m. — Matt Kuchar, Louis Oosthuizen, Thongchai Jaidee 12:31 p.m.-9:02 a.m. — Trevor Immelman, Graham DeLaet, a-Oliver Goss 12:42 p.m.-9:13 a.m. — Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, Derek Ernst, Sang-Moon Bae 12:53 p.m.-9:24 a.m. — Bernhard Langer, Francesco Molinari, Chris Kirk 1:04 p.m.-9:35 a.m. — Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Henrik Stenson 1:15 p.m.-9:57 a.m. — Bubba Watson, Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia 1:26 p.m.-10:08 a.m. — Joost Luiten, Marc Leishman, Hunter Mahan 1:37 p.m.-10:19 a.m. — Keegan Bradley, Victor Dubuisson, Peter Hanson 1:48 p.m.-10:30 a.m. — Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Justin Rose 1:59 p.m.-10:41 a.m. — Harris English, Lee Westwood, Russell Henley

at Sumter Family YMCA, to Bronwyn McElveen at the Sumter County Courthouse or any staff member at the Swan Lake Visitors Center. Checks can be made out or to Recovery Road Race. Drop-off deadline is today at 5:30 p.m. RUN FOR THE ROSES 5K

The Run For The Rosers 5K Run/ Walk will be held on Saturday, May 3, 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 in advance and $30 if done on the day of the race. Children age 12 and under are not required to register. Those who register by Friday, April 18, will receiver a tshirt. Registration can be done online at www.strictlyrunning.com. GOLF FESTIVAL ON THE AVENUE TOURNEY

The Third Annual Festival On The Avenue Golf Tournament will be held on Friday at Crystal Lakes Golf Course. The format will be 4-man Captain’s Choice, and the registration fee is $200 per team. For more information, call Perry Tiller at (803) 983-5868, Patty Wilson

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Adam Scott celebrates after winning last year’s Masters in Augusta, Ga. Only one player from the top five in the world has won this year. The last 24 majors have been won by 21 players. The Masters long was known as having the fewest legitimate contenders. That’s no longer the case.

MASTERS FROM PAGE B1 isn’t it?” said Phil Mickelson, a three-time Masters champion and the chief foil for Woods over the years. “He’s been such a mainstay in professional golf and in the majors. It’s awkward to not have him here. I hope he gets back soon. I hope he’s back for the other majors. As much as I want to win — and I know how great he is and tough to beat — it makes it special when he’s in the field and you’re able to win.” Woods hasn’t been the same all year, even before back surgery last week. He is missing the Masters for the first time. His presence looms as large as some of the Georgia pines lining the fairways, though it will be forgotten when the opening shot is in the air Thursday, and a green jacket is awarded Sunday. Even so, Woods brings a buzz to any tournament, even at Augusta National. And this year, his absence has brought talk of the most wide-open Masters in nearly 20 years. Las Vegas has installed Scott and McIlroy as the betting favorites at 10-1, followed by Mickelson, Jason Day and Matt Kuchar at 12-1. McIlroy had his own version of a betting sheet on the table where he sat during his interview — the tee times for the opening two rounds. Told that 97 players were in the field, the 24-year-old from Northern Ireland figured 70 had a chance to win. “There’s a few past champions that play that might not be able to compete. There might be a few first-timers or a few amateurs that won’t compete,” McIlroy said. “But then you’ve got the rest. I’m just looking down the list here. Stewart Cink. Tim Clark. Ian Woosnam — no.” The room filled with laughter as McIlroy smiled and said, “Sorry, Woosie,” referring to the 56-year-old former champion. “You’ve got a lot of guys that can win, a lot of guys that have won PGA Tour events,” McIlroy said. “OK, we’re playing at Augusta. Because it’s the Masters and because it’s so big and so hyped up or whatever you want to say, you ought to remember that you’re still playing against the same guys you play with week in and week out.

at (803) 491-4910, David Sanders at (803) 983-7233, Lewis Watkins at (347) 831-1243, Fred Ballard at (803) 4697778, Joe Jefferson at (803) 469-5558, Edwin McDonald at (803) 316-5964 or Dwight Brooks at (803) 436-0758. ST. FRANCIS XAVIER GOLF CLASSIC

The 19th Annual St. Francis Xavier Golf Classic will be held on Friday, May 9, at Sunset 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) 773-0210, 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

“I’ve beaten them before,” he said. “They’ve beaten me before.” The PGA Tour is 21 tournaments into the season, and only one player (Zach Johnson) won while he was in the top 10 in the world. McIlroy and Scott each had comfortable leads going into the final round and lost to players outside the top 100. “I think in the past, certainly that’s been easy to go to events and look at a guy who is the guy to beat,” Scott said, not naming Woods because he didn’t need to. “I think that scope has kind of broadened now. There’s a lot of guys with the talent and the form that aren’t necessarily standing out above the others. But on their week, they’re going to be tough to beat. “I’d like to think my name is one of those guys,” Scott said. “And I feel like I’m going to be one of the guys who has got a chance if I play well this week.” Scott had one more occasion to wear his green jacket Tuesday night as host of the Champions Dinner. Then, he sets out in a bid to join Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Woods as the only players to win backto-back Masters. For years, the Masters was seen as having the smallest group of contenders, and not just because it had the smallest field of the four majors. Augusta National is a puzzle that can take years to figure out. The roars that reverberate through the trees and from deep in Amen Corner on Sunday can be unsettling. Scott won two years after he was a runner-up. Jason Day has completed two Masters and has yet to finish worse than third. As for Mickelson? There’s no telling what he might accomplish next. Even though he has withdrawn from two tournaments with different injuries this year, Augusta invigorates the 43-year-old Mickelson. All of them would love to be near the top of the leaderboard Sunday afternoon. By then, no one will be thinking about anything except a green jacket. “No matter who is in contention or who is going to win this week, the Masters always provides a great finish,” McIlroy said. “Regardless of who is there.”

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. FISHING BASS FISHING TOURNAMENT

A bass fishing tournament hosted by the Sumter chapter of Delta Waterfowl will be held on Saturday, May 3, 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. Those who register by April 18 will receive a free barbecue chicken plate. Plates will be sold for $5 each on the day of the event. 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) 720-4269.

SPORTS

THE SUMTER ITEM

SCOREBOARD

Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs, late Cincinnati at St. Louis, late Chicago White Sox at Colorado, late Detroit at L.A. Dodgers, late

TV, RADIO 9 a.m. -- PGA Golf: Live From The Masters from Augusta, Ga. (GOLF). 10 a.m. -- International Soccer: CONCACAF Champions League Match -Toluca vs. Alajuelense (FOX SPORTS 1). Noon -- Major League Baseball: San Diego at Cleveland or Oakland at Minnesota (MLB NETWORK). 2:30 p.m. -- International Soccer: UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal Second Leg Match -- Bayern Munich vs. Manchester United (FOX SPORTS 1). 3 p.m. -- PGA Golf: The Masters Par-3 Contest from Augusta, Ga. (GOLF). 4 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: Texas at Boston (MLB NETWORK). 6:05 p.m. -- Talk Show: Sports Talk (WDXY-FM 105.9, WDXY-AM 1240). 6:30 p.m. -- Women’s College Lacrosse: Lehigh at Navy (ESPNU). 7 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: Houston at Toronto (ESPN2). 7 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: New York Mets at Atlanta (FOX SPORTSOUTH, WPUB-FM 102.7). 7 p.m. -- PGA Golf: Live From The Masters from Augusta, Ga. (GOLF). 7 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Charlotte at Washington (SPORTSOUTH). 8 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Miami at Memphis (ESPN). 8 p.m. -- International Soccer: CONCACAF Champions League Semifinal Second Leg Match -- Cruz Azul vs. Tijuana (FOX SPORTS 1). 8 p.m. -- NHL Hockey: Detroit at Pittsburgh (NBC SPORTS NETWORK). 8 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs (WGN). 10:30 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles Clippers (ESPN). 10:30 p.m. -- NHL Hockey: San Jose at Anaheim (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

PREP SCHEDULE TODAY

Varsity Baseball Sumter at Conway, 6:30 p.m. Swansea at Crestwood, 6:30 p.m. Darlington at Manning, 6:30 p.m. Wilson Hall at Orangeburg Prep, 7 p.m. Robert E. Lee at Carolina, 6:30 p.m. Junior Varsity Baseball East Clarendon at Lake City, 5:30 p.m. Wilson Hall at Orangeburg Prep, 4 p.m. Robert E. Lee at Carolina, 4 p.m. B Team Baseball Thomas Sumter at Laurence Manning, 6:30 p.m. Varsity Boys Golf Hammond at Wilson Hall (at Sunset Country Club), 4 p.m. Varsity Boys Soccer Wilson Hall at Thomas Sumter, 6 p.m. Varsity Softball Cross at Crestwood, 6:30 p.m. Orangeburg Prep at Wilson Hall, 4 p.m. Robert E. Lee at Carolina, 6 p.m. Junior Varsity Softball Sumter at Manning, 5:30 p.m. Wilson Hall at Orangeburg Prep, 5 p.m. Robert E. Lee at Carolina, 4 p.m. Varsity Boys Tennis Hartsville at Sumter, 4:30 p.m. Wilson Hall, Thomas Sumter, Robert E. Lee in SCISA State Open (at Palmetto Tennis Center), TBA

AMERICAN LEAGUE L 4 4 4 4 5

Pct .500 .500 .429 .429 .375

GB – – 1/2 1/2 1

L 1 3 3 4 4

Pct .800 .500 .500 .429 .429

GB – 11/2 11/2 2 2

L 2 3 4 4 4

Pct .667 .571 .429 .429 .429

GB – 1/2 11/2 11/2 11/2

MONDAY’S GAMES

N.Y. Yankees 4, Baltimore 2 L.A. Angels 9, Houston 1 Oakland 8, Minnesota 3 San Diego at Cleveland, ppd., rain Boston 5, Texas 1 Kansas City 4, Tampa Bay 2 Colorado 8, Chicago White Sox 1

TUESDAY’S GAMES

Baltimore 14, N.Y. Yankees 5 Texas at Boston, 6:10 p.m. San Diego at Cleveland, 7:05 p.m. Houston at Toronto, 7:07 p.m. Tampa Bay at Kansas City, late Chicago White Sox at Colorado, late Detroit at L.A. Dodgers, 10:10 p.m., late L.A. Angels at Seattle, late

TODAY’S GAMES

San Diego (Stults 0-1) at Cleveland (McAllister 0-0), 12:05 p.m., 1st game Oakland (J.Chavez 0-0) at Minnesota (Hughes 0-0), 1:10 p.m. Tampa Bay (Odorizzi 1-0) at Kansas City (Guthrie 1-0), 2:10 p.m. Chicago White Sox (Er.Johnson 0-1) at Colorado (Nicasio 1-0), 3:10 p.m. San Diego (Erlin 0-0) at Cleveland (Undecided), 3:35 p.m., 2nd game Texas (R.Ross 0-0) at Boston (Peavy 0-0), 4:05 p.m. Baltimore (Mi.Gonzalez 0-1) at N.Y. Yankees (Tanaka 1-0), 7:05 p.m. Houston (Harrell 0-1) at Toronto (Morrow 0-1), 7:07 p.m. Detroit (A.Sanchez 0-0) at L.A. Dodgers (Ryu 1-1), 10:10 p.m. L.A. Angels (Richards 1-0) at Seattle (Elias 0-0), 10:10 p.m.

THURSDAY’S GAMES

Oakland at Minnesota, 1:10 p.m. Boston at N.Y. Yankees, 7:05 p.m. Houston at Toronto, 7:07 p.m. Cleveland at Chicago White Sox, 8:10 p.m.

NATIONAL LEAGUE By The Associated Press EAST DIVISION W Miami 5 Atlanta 4 Washington 4 Philadelphia 3 New York 2 CENTRAL DIVISION W Milwaukee 4 Pittsburgh 4 St. Louis 4 Chicago 2 Cincinnati 2 WEST DIVISION W San Francisco 5 Los Angeles 5 Colorado 4 San Diego 2 Arizona 2

Pct .714 .667 .667 .500 .333

GB – 1/2 1/2 11/2 21/2

L 2 2 3 4 5

Pct .667 .667 .571 .333 .286

GB – – 1/2 2 21/2

L 2 3 4 4 7

Pct .714 .625 .500 .333 .222

GB – 1/2 11/2 21/2 4

MONDAY’S GAMES

Milwaukee at Philadelphia, ppd., rain St. Louis 5, Cincinnati 3 San Diego at Cleveland, ppd., rain Colorado 8, Chicago White Sox 1

TUESDAY’S GAMES

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

THURSDAY’S GAMES

Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 p.m. Miami at Washington, 4:05 p.m. Milwaukee at Philadelphia, 7:05 p.m. N.Y. Mets at Atlanta, 7:10 p.m. Arizona at San Francisco, 10:15 p.m.

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

W 45 42 33 23 17

L 32 34 45 54 60

Pct GB .584 – .553 21/2 .423 121/2 .299 22 .221 28

W 53 40 39 34 22

L 23 37 38 42 55

Pct GB .697 – .519 131/2 .506 141/2 .447 19 .286 311/2

W 53 45 31 28 14

L 25 32 47 49 63

Pct GB .679 – .584 71/2 .397 22 .364 241/2 .182 381/2

WESTERN CONFERENCE SOUTHWEST DIVISION y-San Antonio x-Houston Dallas Memphis New Orleans NORTHWEST DIVISION y-Oklahoma City x-Portland Minnesota Denver Utah PACIFIC DIVISION

W 60 51 47 45 32

L 17 25 31 32 45

Pct GB .779 – .671 81/2 .603 131/2 .584 15 .416 28

W 55 50 38 33 24

L 21 28 38 44 53

Pct GB .724 – .641 6 .500 17 .429 221/2 .312 311/2

W L y-L.A. Clippers 55 23 Golden State 48 29 Phoenix 46 31 Sacramento 27 50 L.A. Lakers 25 52 x-clinched playoff spot y-clinched division

Pct .705 .623 .597 .351 .325

GB – 61/2 81/2 271/2 291/2

MONDAY’S GAMES

No games scheduled

TUESDAY’S GAMES

TODAY’S GAMES

Brooklyn at Orlando, 7 p.m. Charlotte at Washington, 7 p.m. Detroit at Cleveland, 7 p.m. Philadelphia at Toronto, 7 p.m. Boston at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m. Chicago at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Indiana at Milwaukee, 8 p.m. Miami at Memphis, 8 p.m. Phoenix at New Orleans, 8 p.m. Houston at Denver, 9 p.m. Sacramento at Portland, 10 p.m. Oklahoma City at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.

THURSDAY’S GAMES

San Antonio at Dallas, 8 p.m. Denver at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.

NHL STANDINGS By The Associated Press EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION GP W z-Boston 78 53 x-Montreal 79 45 x-Tampa Bay 78 42 Detroit 78 37 Toronto 79 38 Ottawa 78 33 Florida 79 28 Buffalo 78 21 METROPOLITAN DIVISION GP W y-Pittsburgh 79 50 x-N.Y. Rangers 79 43 Philadelphia 78 40 Columbus 78 40 New Jersey 79 34 Washington 78 35 Carolina 78 34 N.Y. Islanders 78 31

L OT Pts GF GA 18 7 113 251 167 27 7 97 212 199 27 9 93 229 211 27 14 88 211 222 33 8 84 229 248 31 14 80 226 261 43 8 64 188 258 48 9 51 150 234 L OT Pts GF GA 24 5 105 240 197 31 5 91 212 190 29 9 89 220 220 31 7 87 219 207 29 16 84 191 201 30 13 83 222 236 33 11 79 196 215 36 11 73 215 258

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Milwaukee at Philadelphia, 4:05 p.m. Arizona at San Francisco, 4:35 p.m. Miami at Washington, 7:05 p.m. San Diego at Cleveland, 7:05 p.m. N.Y. Mets at Atlanta, 7:10 p.m.

UConn routs Irish BY DOUG FEINBERG The Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn.— Geno Auriemma and Connecticut stand alone in women’s college basketball, and they reached the top in unprecedented fashion. The Huskies routed Notre Dame 79-58 Tuesday night in the first championship game featuring undefeated teams, winning their record ninth national title. Auriemma broke a tie with Pat Summitt and Tennessee for most all-time, doing it in her backyard. Breanna Stewart, who was the AP’s player of the year, scored 21 points to lead the Huskies (40-0) while Stefanie Dolson added 17 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists. Auriemma took out his senior center with a minute left and the pair embraced in a long hug. The victory also means that UConn is now the center of the college basketball world with both the men’s and women’s teams winning the championship in the same year again. The men’s team beat Kentucky in the title game Monday night. This pair of victories come a decade after the Huskies became the only school to accomplish the feat. While the names change at UConn, from Rebecca Lobo to Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore and now Stewart, Auriemma has been the

constant, winning nine titles in only 20 seasons — including the last two. He’s never lost in a national championship game. “Congratulations to the UConn Huskies for winning the 2014 NCAA National Championship!,” Summitt said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press. “My compliments also to coach Geno Auriemma for winning his ninth national title. He has accomplished this feat in record time.” It was the fifth unbeaten season for Auriemma and UConn and the first time the Huskies went 40-0 — matching Baylor as the only schools to accomplish that feat. The victory was also Connecticut’s 46th straight dating back to last season’s NCAA tournament title run. It’s the third longest streak in school history — well short of the NCAA record 90 straight they won. The loss was Notre Dame’s third in the title game in the past four years. Kayla McBride finished off her stellar career with 21 points to lead the Irish, who were looking for their first championship since 2001. After proving to be no challenge for the Huskies during the first 15 years of the rivalry which began in 1995, Notre Dame had owned the series lately, winning seven of the previous nine meetings. UConn though has won the last two, eliminating Notre Dame in the Final Four last season before topping them in the championship game this year.

MLB ROUNDUP

Colon dominant as Mets blank Braves ATLANTA — Bartolo Colon combined with two relievers on an eight-hitter, Ruben Tejada drove in two runs with two hits and the New York Mets beat the Atlanta Braves 4-0 on Tuesday night. Jose Valverde loaded the basses in the ninth before Jason Heyward flied to the warning track in center field to end it.

AMERICAN LEAGUE BLUE JAYS 5 ASTROS 2

NATIONALS 5

TORONTO — Melky Cabrera homered for the fourth straight game, Jose Bautista also went deep and the Toronto Blue Jays beat Houston 5-2 on Tuesday night, handing the Astros their fifth loss in six games.

MARLINS 0

ORIOLES 14

WASHINGTON — Gio Gonzalez threw six crisp innings to lead the Washington Nationals to a 5-0 victory over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday.

YANKEES 5

BREWERS 10

NEW YORK — Delmon Young, Adam Jones and Matt Wieters homered as the Baltimore Orioles teed off for 20 hits, battering the New York Yankees 14-5 Tuesday.

PHILLIES 4

RANGERS 10

PHILADELPHIA — All Ryan Braun needed to shake his slump was a trip to Philadelphia. Braun hit three home runs and tied a franchise record with seven RBIs to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to a 10-4 victory Tuesday, spoiling the Phillies’ home opener.

RED SOX 7

BOSTON — Robinson Chirinos started a five-run third inning with his first homer of the season and the Texas Rangers won 10-7 as the Boston Red Sox hit into five double plays Tuesday. From wire reports

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

GP 78 78 79 79 78 78 80

W 52 50 45 41 38 35 35

L OT Pts GF GA 19 7 111 245 177 21 7 107 239 209 19 15 105 259 207 26 12 94 196 194 29 11 87 227 221 32 11 81 198 231 35 10 80 220 233

GP W L OT Pts GF GA x-Anaheim 79 51 20 8 110 254 202 x-San Jose 79 49 21 9 107 239 192 x-Los Angeles 79 45 28 6 96 197 166 Phoenix 78 36 28 14 86 209 221 Vancouver 79 35 33 11 81 187 213 Calgary 79 34 38 7 75 201 228 Edmonton 79 28 42 9 65 197 261 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. x-clinched playoff spot y-clinched division z-clinched conference

MONDAY’S GAMES

L 2 2 2 3 4

Connecticut center Stefanie Dolson (31) celebrates a basket against Notre Dame during the Lady Huskies’ 79-58 victory in the women’s NCAA tournament national championship game on Tuesday in Nashville, Tenn. It was UConn’s ninth title in school history.

San Diego (Stults 0-1) at Cleveland (McAllister 0-0), 12:05 p.m., 1st game Cincinnati (Leake 0-1) at St. Louis (S.Miller 0-1), 1:45 p.m. Chicago White Sox (Er.Johnson 0-1) at Colorado (Nicasio 1-0), 3:10 p.m. San Diego (Erlin 0-0) at Cleveland (Undecided), 3:35 p.m., 2nd game Miami (Ja.Turner 0-0) at Washington (Roark 1-0), 7:05 p.m. Milwaukee (Garza 0-1) at Philadelphia (R.Hernandez 1-0), 7:05 p.m. N.Y. Mets (Wheeler 0-1) at Atlanta (Santana 0-0), 7:10 p.m. Pittsburgh (W.Rodriguez 0-1) at Chicago Cubs (Hammel 1-0), 8:05 p.m. Detroit (A.Sanchez 0-0) at L.A. Dodgers (Ryu 1-1), 10:10 p.m. Arizona (Arroyo 0-0) at San Francisco (Lincecum 0-0), 10:15 p.m.

Detroit at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m. San Antonio at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Brooklyn at Miami, 8 p.m. Dallas at Utah, 9 p.m. Oklahoma City at Sacramento, 10 p.m. Houston at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.

MLB STANDINGS

WOMEN’S FINAL FOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

TODAY’S GAMES

TODAY

By The Associated Press EAST DIVISION W New York 4 Tampa Bay 4 Boston 3 Toronto 3 Baltimore 3 CENTRAL DIVISION W Detroit 4 Cleveland 3 Kansas City 3 Chicago 3 Minnesota 3 WEST DIVISION W Seattle 4 Oakland 4 Houston 3 Los Angeles 3 Texas 3

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014

Calgary 1, New Jersey 0 Minnesota 1, Winnipeg 0 Anaheim 3, Vancouver 0

TUESDAY’S GAMES

Detroit at Buffalo, 7 p.m. Ottawa at N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m. Carolina at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m. Phoenix at Columbus, 7 p.m. Toronto at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m. Philadelphia at Florida, 7:30 p.m. Washington at St. Louis, 8 p.m. Boston at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Nashville at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. Colorado at Edmonton, 9:30 p.m.

TODAY’S GAMES

Montreal at Chicago, 7:30 p.m. Detroit at Pittsburgh, 8 p.m. Columbus at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. Los Angeles at Calgary, 10 p.m. San Jose at Anaheim, 10:30 p.m.

THURSDAY’S GAMES

Buffalo at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m. Washington at Carolina, 7 p.m. N.Y. Islanders at Montreal, 7:30 p.m. New Jersey at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m. Philadelphia at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m. Toronto at Florida, 7:30 p.m. Phoenix at Nashville, 8 p.m. St. Louis at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Boston at Winnipeg, 8 p.m. Los Angeles at Edmonton, 9:30 p.m. Colorado at Vancouver, 10 p.m.

SPORTS ITEMS

Braves celebrate Aaron’s 715 HR anniversary GEORGIA 6

ATLANTA — Baseball commissioner Bud Selig called Hank Aaron “ideally suited to become Babe Ruth’s heir” on Tuesday night as he participated in the Braves’ celebration of the 40th anniversary of Aaron’s recordbreaking 715th homer. Aaron, 80, was given a standing ovation in the ceremony before the Mets-Braves game. Aaron broke Ruth’s record with his homer on April 8, 1974 off the Dodgers’ Al Downing. AARON Aaron hit 755 homers with the Braves and Brewers. Barry Bonds, whose career was tarnished by steroids allegations, broke Aaron’s mark, finishing with 762.

CLEMSON 2 CLEMSON -– Hunter Cole went 3-for-5 with a home run and four runs batted in to lead Georgia to a 6-2 win over No. 14 Clemson at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Tuesday. The Bulldogs (19-13-1) evened the homeand-home series with the Tigers (20-12), who defeated Georgia 16-4 in Athens on March 25. Senior left-handed pitcher Patrick Boling (3-2) earned the win by tossing a careerlong 7 2/3 innings. He gave up just five hits, two runs and three walks with six strikeouts. Tiger starter Brody Koerner (0-1) suffered the loss.

USC 9

LIMESTONE JV 3

FURMAN 2

GAFFNEY – The University of South Carolina Sumter baseball team defeated the Limestone junior varsity team 5-3 on Tuesday at the Limestone field. Another game ended in a 1-1 tie, leaving the Fire Ants with a 22-9-1 record. Taylor Kellner had two hits and a run batted in for USCS, while Trevor Bradley drove in two runs. Dylan Hodge picked up the victory for the South Carolina-Sumter.

GREENVILLE – Fourth-ranked South Carolina belted out 14 hits, including a threerun home run by Kyle Martin, on the way to a 9-2 victory over Furman on Tuesday at Fluor Field. The Gamecocks are now 27-5 with Furman dropping to 11-22 for the season. Freshman right-hander Taylor Widener earned the win in relief for Carolina and is 2-0 on the year. He pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings with just one hit allowed and one walk while striking out four batters.

USC SUMTER 5

From staff, wire reports

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014

CHARLIE WILSON The relatives and friends of Charlie Wilson and those of his beloved wife, the late Rosa Dunham Wilson, are invited to attend his funeral service at noon Thursday at Community Funeral Home, 353 WILSON Manning Ave., Sumter, SC 29150. Interment will be in Beulah AME Church Cemetery. Mr. Wilson died April 5, 2014. Survivors include his loving children, Willie L. (the late Emma), Vincent (Laura) Dunham, Corine McCray, Rose Mell Dunham, Charlie Dunham, Tyrone (Connie) Wilson, Stanley (JaKetha) Wilson, Leon (Dale) Wilson, Willie Wilson, Charlie Smith and Daisy Smith; a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren; siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Viewing for Mr. Wilson will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. today at Community Funeral Home. Final arrangements entrusted to the care of Walker’s Mortuary “Chapel of Peace,” 3407 Old Pond Road, John’s Island, phone (843) 559-0341, fax (843) 559-3415. www.walkersmortuarycop.com

TRANNIE S. McCLAIN Trannie Slater McClain, 91, died Tuesday, April 1, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center. Born in Darlington, she was a daughter of the late Willie and Scotta Dickson Slater. At a McCLAIN young age, Trannie moved to Philadelphia, Pa. While there, she worked for many years at the Delaware Valley Hospital. She also joined John Memorial Baptist Church and served faithfully. After retirement, she relocated to the Sumter community and joined fellowship with Beulah AME Church and served faithfully on the women’s missionary and the ladies’ club. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by an infant child; two brothers, Willie and Theron Slater; and three sisters, Cora Beth, Sara Norman and Virginia Haynesworth. Surviving are a special and devoted friend, Abraham Presley of Sumter; two sisters, Dorothy Bunch of Philadelphia and Lydia Howard of New Jersey; a special nephew, Thomas Presley and his wife, Betty; and a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Beulah AME Church, U.S. 76 (Florence Highway), with the Rev. Dwayne Bruce officiating. The public may view from 1 to 8 p.m. today at Palmer Memorial Chapel, 304 S. Main St., Sumter. Ms. McClain will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. for

viewing until the hour of service. Interment will follow in the Beulah AME Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Presley residence, 1435 Salterstown Road, Sumter. Palmer Memorial Chapel Inc. of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements. Please leave a condolence for the family on their memorial website found at www.palmermemorialchapel.com.

THOMAS C. BRITT FLORENCE — Thomas “Tommy” Clark Britt, 72, died Sunday, April 6, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center, after an illness. Memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Carolina Funeral Home Chapel, Scranton. The family will receive friends from 1:30 BRITT to 2 p.m. prior to the service. Mr. Britt was born July 12, 1941, in Lake City, a son of the late Alford C. and Mary Daniels Britt. He attended Camp Branch Free Will Baptist Church and retired from Sunbeam Bread Co. after 40 years of service. Mr. Britt was a sergeant with the Army National Guard, Lake City Unit, and was also a Mason. He loved to fish and was part owner of Syracuse Hunting and Fishing Club. Surviving are his wife, Gladys Barwick Britt of Florence; a daughter, Tamela B. (Dan) McCaffrey of Sumter; a son, Thomas Clark Britt Jr. of Louisville, Ky.; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three brothers, Billy (Martha) Britt of Trenton, Mich., Bodie (Doris) Britt of Lake City and Danny (Glenda) Britt of Elizabeth City, N.C.; and two sisters, Mary (Roger) Lee of Lake City and Sandra (Lavon) Dennis of Scranton. He was predeceased by a brother, Jerrel Britt; and a sister, Jean Collins. Please sign the guestbook online at www.carolinafuneralhome.net.

MARIE D. JACKSON SUMMERTON — Marie David Jackson, 83, wife of Moses Jackson Sr., died Thursday, April 3, 2014, at Providence Hospital, Columbia. She was born in the Dalzell community, JACKSON Sumter County, a daughter of the late Selvin David and Annaliza Smith David Richburg. She received her formal education in the public schools of Clarendon County. She was employed by Howard Johnson, Summerton Motel, Summerton Apparel, Dorch Residential Community Home and Lake Marion Nursing Home for may years. In her youth, she joined Mt. Chapel Baptist Church. She later

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OBITUARIES joined Gum Spring Missionary Baptist Church, where she served on the usher board, sang with several choirs, and was a member of the missionary auxiliaries. She was a member of Spring Hill Order of Eastern Star, Chapter 263. Survivors are her husband, Moses Jackson Sr. of the home; five daughters, Ann J. Washington of Gwynn Oak, Md., Deloris Johnson of Springfield Gardens, N.Y., Rose Marie Green of the home, Tomasena (Walter) Lewis of Pikesville, Md., and Mosetta Ragin of Sumter; one son, Moses Jackson Jr. of Sumter; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Clara David and Mary R. Jackson; and four brothers-in-law, Jarrett Jackson, Henry Jackson, John Jackson and Alfonzo Billie. Celebratory services for Mrs. Jackson will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Gum Spring Missionary Baptist Church, 6973 Summerton Highway, Pinewood, with the Rev. Michael Collins, pastor, officiating, and the Rev. Ramsey McFadden Jr., Bishop Willie Green Jr., the Rev. Dr. O.J. Hannah and the Rev. Dr. Alvin Barnett assisting. Burial will follow in the churchyard cemetery. Mrs. Jackson will lie in repose one hour prior to funeral time. The family is receiving friends at her residence, 3088 Wash Davis Road, Summerton. These services have been entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.

RUTH BLAKE NORTH CHARLESTON — Ruth Anderson Parker Coker Blake, 87, widow of Joseph Blake Sr., passed to her heavenly home on Monday, April 7, 2014, at her home. Born Dec. 14, 1926, in Turbeville, she was a daughter of the late Eddie and BLAKE Hulda Barfield Anderson. She was a member of Journey Baptist Church. She is survived by two daughters, Betty Welch (Reggie) of North Charleston and Beth Dickerson of Sumter; two grandchildren, Ronnie Welch (Nikki) of Seneca and Melanie Hill of Sumter; four great- grandchildren, John Jordan, Jennifer Hill, Jeremy Welch and Brandon Welch; a brother-in-law, Sampson Parker (Margaret) of Sumter; a sister-in-law, Mary Anderson of Manning; several stepchildren, nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by three husbands, Hazel Parker, Woodrow Coker and Joseph Blake Sr.; four brothers, Lamb, John, Pearley and Buddy Anderson; five sisters, Lizzie Christmas, Edna Welch, Marie Bryant, Juanita Parker and Linnie Mae Mosher; a grandson, Billy Jordan; and a son-in-law, David Dickerson.

THE SUMTER ITEM The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to Heartland Hospice for their love, care and support. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in the chapel of Elmore-CannonStephens Funeral Home, 515 Miller Road, Sumter, with Chaplain Galen Moyer and Pastor Betty C. Gainey officiating. Burial will follow in Sumter Cemetery. The family will serve as pallbearers. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. today at ElmoreCannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home of her daughter, Beth Dickerson, 1004 Marilyn Ave., Sumter. Memorials may be made to Heartland Hospice, 1064 Gardner Road, Suite 204, Charleston, SC 29407 or to Journey Baptist Church, 8723 Salamander Road, North Charleston, SC 29406. Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church St., Manning, is in charge of arrangements, (803) 435-2179. www.stephensfuneralhome.org

es, nephews, other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the John Wesley Williams Sr. Memorial Chapel, Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter, with Pastor Clifton Witherspoon, eulogist, Elder James E. Witherspoon, presiding, assisted by Elder Melvin Smith and Elder John R. Rogers. The family is receiving friends and relatives at the home of his father, James Witherspoon, 1875 N. St. Paul Church Road, Sumter. The funeral procession will leave at 10:20 a.m. from the home. Floral bearers and pallbearers will be family and friends. Burial will be in Fort Jackson National Cemetery, 4170 Percival Road, Columbia. Online memorial messages may be sent to the family at williamsfuneralhome@sc.rr. com. Visit us on the web. Services directed by the management and staff of Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter.

RODNEY A. ROLLERSON

MARGARET SPITZER

Rodney Alonzo Rollerson, 60, departed this life on Sunday, April 6, 2014, at McLeod Hospice House, Florence. Born Jan. 18, 1954, in Sumter County, he was a son of James Witherspoon and Dorothy Butler Wagner. Rodney was educated in the public schools of Sumter County. He later joined the United States Navy, where he was medically discharged on March 30, 1973. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Woodrow and Henrietta Washington; and maternal grandparents, Abraham and Rebecca Butler. He is survived by his father, James (Janie) Witherspoon; his mother, Dorothy (John) Wagner; five brothers, James (Crystal) Witherspoon and Clifton (Claudette) Witherspoon, both of Sumter, Anthony (Tetra) Rollerson of New York, Terrance (Michelle) Rollerson of Minnesota and Kenneth (Yoko) Wagner of Japan; 12 sisters, Cynthia (Odell) Rembert, Doris Johnson, Wanda (Michael) Irby, Cheryl Rollerson, Francina Cowan and Reiko (Rhoadell) Sudduth, all of California, and Jacqueline (Melvin) Smith, Loretta (Russell) Rogers, Fiesta (Dwight) Brooks, Christola (Melvin) Brayboy, Pamala Witherspoon and Quentina (Cephus) Gregg Jr., all of Sumter; two aunts, Frances Smith and Anne Darden; one uncle, Abraham Butler Jr.; and a host of niec-

Margaret Spitzer, age 82, beloved wife of Don Spitzer, died on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at her residence. Arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be announced by Bullock Funeral Home of Sumter.

ERNESTINE D. PAIGE WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ernestine Dixon Paige, 92, widow of Walter Paige, died Tuesday, April 8, 2014, in Washington, D.C. She was born Sept. 3, 1922, in Manning, a daughter of the late Frazier and Alma Stukes Dixon. Funeral arrangements are incomplete. These services have been entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.

RONNIE M. JUNE Jr. Ronnie Markice June Jr., 2 months, died April 7, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center. He was born Feb. 18, 2014, a son of Ronnie Markice June Sr. and Erica Bell. The family is receiving friends at the residence, 3-B Somerset Drive, Sumter. These services have been entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.

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CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL NOTICE Project Name: A & E Services for Facelift Office Space and Restrooms Project Project Number: SWRTA 13/14-02 Project Location: Bishopville, SC area Description of Project: SWRTA is seeking requests for qualifications from firms interested in providing A/E services to include cost estimating, design documentation, specification preparation to include construction scope, bidding and construction administration. This will be a design build project. Anticipated Construction Cost Range: $30,000 - $50,000 General Scope of Work: Painting of office space walls, restroom walls and stalls, carpet installation, window blinds installation, staining of window shutters, installation of a one room petition/divider, repairing of ceiling in offices and restroom space, repair/replace restroom sinks and toilets, and the construction of a restroom space to be ADA accessible. Required for Project: Full architectural & engineering services to include surveying, structural, interior design, electrical, and plumbing. Resume Deadline/Time: 4/22/14 12:00 P.M. Number of Copies: 6 Agency/Owner: Santee Wateree RTA Name & Title of Agency Coordinator: Patricia Drakeford, Compliance Officer Address: 129 South Harvin Street, P.O. Box 2462, Sumter, SC 29151 Telephone: (803) 934-0396 Fax: (803) 938-9867 E-Mail: pdrakeford@swrta.com

Public Notice This is to inform the public that the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) - Sumter Chapter intends to apply for the SFY 2014 - 2015 Section 5310, Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program Application to be submitted to the South Carolina Department of Transportation no later than April 17, 2014. Those interested can attend the NFB-Sumter Chapter meeting on May 13, 2014 at 7 p.m. located at 125 West Bartlette Street Sumter to share comments or learn more about this Section 5310 application. The Section 5310 application provides capital assistance for the purchase of transportation services for the National Federation of the Blind - Sumter Chapter in order to have visually impaired members and associate members attend monthly meetings and other social / educational / cultural / historical life enriching activities. The total estimated amount being requested for the period July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015 is $3,125, with 80% of Federal funds at $2,500 and 20% of local match funds at $625. This application until May 12, 2014 may be inspected at 36 West Liberty Street from 8:30 to 5:00 Monday through Friday, except holidays. Written comments can be sent to P.O. Box 641 Sumter SC 29151 before May 13, 2014.

Public Storage/ PS Orangeco, Inc. LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY Notice is hereby given that the undersigned will sell to satisfy the lien of owner at public sale by competitive bidding on April 24th, 2014 personal and/or business property including but not limited to furniture, clothing, tools and other household/business items located at the properties listed. The sale will begin at 1:00 pm at 1277 Camden Hwy, Sumter, SC 29153. The personal goods stored therein by below named occupant(s); 1143 N.Guignard Dr, Sumter, SC 29150 None 1277 Camden Hwy, Sumter, SC 29153 C015 - Tisdale, Bernard C051 - Holmes, Latimore D037 - Jones, Richard F026 - Newman, Tameka I017 - Millette, Tamika K016 - Singleton, Peggy

Summons & Notice

Place: SWRTA Training Room, James E. Clyburn Intermodal Transportation Center, 129 S. Harvin Street, Sumter, SC Agency/Owner: Santee Wateree Regional Transportation Authority Name & Title of Agency Coordinator: Patricia Drakeford Address: 129 South Harvin Street, P.O. Box 2462, Sumter, SC 29151 Telephone: (803) 934-0396 Fax: (803) 938-9867 E-Mail: pdrakeford@swrta.com Hand Deliver/Fed Ex/UPS Bids to: Compliance Officer, SWRTA, 129 South Harvin Street, Sumter, SC 29150 Mail Bids to: Compliance Officer, SWRTA, P.O. Box 2462, Sumter, SC 29151

action, excepting Respondents Randy H. Workman, Jr., Livevee R. Workman, Roger T. Workman, Robert L. Workman, and Reynney K. Workman, and as Attorney to represent Respondents who may be in Military Service, and it appearing that Garryl L. Deas, Esquire, has consented to said appointments, it is hereby

rules, within thirty (30) days after service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; except that the United States of America, if named, shall have sixty (60) days to answer after the service hereof, exclusive of such service; and if you fail to answer the Complaint or otherwise appear and defend within the time aforesaid, the Plaintiff in this action will apply to the Court for relief demanded therein, and judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

Summons & Notice SUMMONS AND NOTICE OF FILING IN THE PROBATE COURT CASE NUMBER 2014-ES-43-186 STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER Mary Arnold Petitioner, vs. Randy H. Workman, Jr., Livevee R. Workman, Roger T. Workman, Robert L Workman, Reynney K. Workman, John Doe and Richard Roe, as Representatives of all unknown Heirs of Hodge Workman, Deceased, and all persons entitled to claim under or through them; any unknown adults being, as a class, designated as John Doe, and any unknown infants or persons under disability or persons in Military Service designated, as a class, as Richard Roe, Respondents, IN RE: Hodge Workman, Deceased. TO THE RESPONDENTS ABOVE-NAMED: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED And required to appear and defend by answering the Petition To Establish Heirs of Hodge Workman, Deceased, the original of which is on file in the Probate Court of Sumter County, Sumter Judicial Center, 215 North Harvin Street, Room 111, Sumter, South Carolina 29150, having been filed on the 25th day of March 2014, and to serve a copy of your Answer to the said Petition upon the subscriber at his office at 26 North Main Street, Sumter, South Carolina 29150, within thirty (30) days after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service, and if you fail to answer the Petition within the time aforesaid, judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Petition. TO MINOR(S) OVER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE, AND/OR TO MINOR(S) UNDER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND THE PERSON(S) WITH WHOM SUCH MINOR(S) RESIDE(S), AND/OR TO PERSONS UNDER SOME LEGAL DISABILITY: YOU ARE FURTHER SUMMONED AND NOTIFIED to apply for the appointment of a Guardian Ad Litem and/or to retain legal counsel, as appropriate, within thirty (30) days after the service of this Summons and Notice upon you. If you fail to so do, application for such appointments will be made by the Attorney for the Petitioner. O R D E R APPOINTING GUARDIAN AD LITEM, APPOINTING ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT RESPONDENTS UNDER LEGAL DISABILITY AND IN MILITARY SERVICE, AND FOR SERVICE BY PUBLICATION FOR GOOD CAUSE SHOWN and upon consideration of the filed Petition of the Petitioner for Appointment of Garryl L. Deas, Esquire, as Guardian Ad Litem to protect the interest of the above-named Respondents in this

ORDERED That Garry L. Deas, Esquire, of the Sumter Bar, whose address is The Deas Law Firm, 201 North Main Street, Sumter, South Carolina 29150, Telephone Number (803) 775-7004, be and he hereby is appointed Guardian Ad Litem to protect the interest of the following Respondents in this action; namely, John Doe and Richard Roe, as Representatives of all unknown Heirs of Hodge Workman, Deceased, and all persons entitled to claim under or through them; any unknown adults being, as a class, designated as John Doe, and any unknown infants or persons under disability or persons in Military Service designated, as a class, as Richard Roe who may be in the Military Service of the United States of America and may be, as such, entitled to the benefits of the Servicemember's Civil Relief Act, formerly called the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940, and any amendments thereto, excepting, however, the Respondents identified above by name, any and/or all of whom may have or claim to have some interest in the proceedings as heir(s) of the Decedent; and it is ORDERED that Garryl L. Deas is authorized, empowered and directed to appear on behalf of and to represent said Respondents, unless said Respondents, or someone on their behalf shall within thirty (30) days after service of a copy hereof as directed, procure the appointment of Guardian(s), Guardian(s) Ad Litem and/or Attorney(s) for said Respondents. It is further ORDERED that a copy of this Order shall be forthwith served upon said unknown Respondents by publication in The Item, a newspaper of general circulation published in the County of Sumter, State of South Carolina, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks, together with the Summons and Notice of Filing of Petition To Determine Heirs in the above-entitled action. AND IT IS SO ORDERED! Theresa A. Duggan Deputy Judge Sumter County Probate Court Sumter, South Carolina MOORE LAW FIRM, L.L.C. Dwight C. Moore, S.C. Bar No. 63008 26 North Main Street Sumter, South Carolina 29150 Sumter, South Carolina Telephone (803) 778-6520 Fax (803) 775-6365 Attorney for Petitioner

SUMMONS AND NOTICES IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS C/A NO: 14-CP-43-0438 (NON-JURY MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE) STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER U.S. Bank National Association, PLAINTIFF, vs. Jason Henley, DEFENDANT. TO THE NAMED:

DEFENDANTS

ABOVE

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint herein, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, or to otherwise appear and defend, and to serve a copy of your Answer to said Complaint upon the subscribers at their office, 4000 Faber Place, Suite 450, P.O. Box 71727, North Charleston, South Carolina, 29415, or to otherwise appear and defend the action pursuant to applicable court

Shaw Flea Market

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Summons & Notice

Bid Notices

"U 4IBX "'# r

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3785 Broad St, Sumter, SC 29154 0841 - Greenlee, William Purchase must be made with cash only and paid for at the time of sale. All goods are sold as is and must be removed at the time of the sale. Sale is subject to adjournment.

Bid Notices BID NOTICE

YOU ARE FURTHER SUMMONED AND NOTIFIED to apply for the appointment of a guardian ad litem within thirty (30) days after the service of this Summons and Notice upon you. If you fail to do so, application for such appointment will be made by the Plaintiff. YOU WILL ALSO TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Rule 53(b) SCRCP, as amended effective September 1, 2002, the Plaintiff will move for a general Order of Reference to the Master in Equity for Sumter County, which Order shall, pursuant to Rule 53(b) of the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure, specifically provide that the said Master in Equity is authorized and empowered to enter a final judgment in this action. If there are counterclaims requiring a jury trial, any party may file a demand under rule 38, SCRCP and the case will be returned to the Circuit Court.

NOTICE OF FILING COMPLAINT NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the original Complaint in the above entitled action, together with the Summons, was filed in the Office of the Clerk of Court for Sumter County on March 4, 2014 at 2:21 p.m. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT pursuant to the Supreme Court of South Carolina Administrative Order 2011-05-02-01, you may be eligible for foreclosure intervention programs for the purpose of resolving the above-referenced foreclosure action. If you wish to be considered for a foreclosure intervention program, you must contact Finkel Law Firm LLC, 4000 Faber Place Drive, Suite 450 (29405), P.O. Box 71727 (29415), North Charleston, SC 29405, or call (843) 577-5460 within thirty (30) days from the date of this notice. Finkel Law Firm LLC represents the Plaintiff in this action. Our law firm does not represent you and is not authorized to provide you any legal advice. IF YOU FAIL, REFUSE, OR VOLUNTARILY ELECT NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS FORECLOSURE INTERVENTION PROCESS, THE FORECLOSURE MAY PROCEED. NOTICE PURSUANT TO THE FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT (15 U.S.C. Â§ 1692 et seq.): This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information you provide will be used for that purpose. However, if you have previously received a discharge from bankruptcy, this message is not and should be construed as an

attempt to collect a debt, but only as a requirement pursuant to the administrative order.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Announcements

FINKEL LAW FIRM LLC THOMAS A. SHOOK Post Office Box 71727 North Charleston, South Carolina 29415 (843) 577-5460 Attorney for Plaintiff

Harrah's Cherokee Casino, Bus Day Trip departs every 1st Sat, & 2nd Mon. Call for more info 803-316-4684.

SUMM0NS (Jury Trial Requested) IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS Civil Action #2014-CP-40-00291

You Are Cordially Invited Rembert Area Community Coalition (RACC) 2nd Annual Spring Parade When: Sat. April 12, 2014 Where: 7570 Pisgah Rd. Rembert, SC (Dennis Conv. Store)

Time: 9AM-3PM Grand Marshall: Rev. Jesse Washington

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF RICHLAND Cleveland Ford, Plaintiff, vs. Jared Harold Schrack Katherine Giddens,

and

Tara

Defendants TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANT, Tara Katherine Giddens: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint in this action of which a copy is herewith served upon you and to serve a copy of your Answer to the said Complaint on the subscriber at his office, 1419 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, within thirty (30) days from the date of service hereof, exclusive of the date of such service; and if you fail to answer the Complaint within the time aforesaid, judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint. YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Summons and Complaint in the above entitled action was filed in the Richland County Clerk of Court's Office, Columbia, South Carolina on January 16, 2014. YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that if you fail to answer the Summons and Complaint within the time aforesaid, judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in said Complaint. BARRY B. GEORGE PAIGE B. GEORGE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF 1419 Bull Street Columbia, South Carolina 29201 (803) 254-7222

If you would like to be a vendor or participate in the Spring Parade, please contact Dr. Juanita Britton 803-420-1255

Lost & Found Found on Ben Sanders Rd. Dalzell, female mix tri-color small dog. Call 499-7484 to identify.

BUSINESS SERVICES

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS

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

A meeting for private schools is scheduled for Thursday, April 17, 2014, for eligible private schools located within a 25-mile radius of Sumter School District's Title I schools. Private schools may be located in or outside of the district. The purpose of the meeting is to make recommendations regarding participation and the design and plan for the 2014-2015 Title I, Title II, and Title III projects. The meeting will be held at the Sumter School District Annex, 220 Hasel Street, Room 111, at 10:00 a.m.

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

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Project Name: Provide Bus Stop Signs, Posts, and Bus Shelters Project Number: SWRTA 13/14-01 Project Location: Bishopville, SC area Description of Project: Provide bus stop signs, sign posts with schedule holders, and bus shelters to include securing all easements, right of ways, encroachments, permits and installation for the Bishopville, SC area. Signs, posts, and bus shelters will be inspected by Santee Wateree RTA before installation. A separate bid needs to be made for the bus shelters and installation. This will be an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract. Pre-Bid Conf.: Non-mandatory Pre-Bid Date/Time: 4/28/2014 at 2:00 P.M. Place: James E. Clyburn Intermodal Transportation Center - Training Room, 129 S. Harvin Street, Sumter, SC 29150 Bid Opening Date/Time: 2:00P.M., Monday, May 19, 2014

TO MINOR(S) OVER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE, AND/OR TO MINOR(S) UNDER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND THE PERSON WITH WHOM THE MINOR(S) RESIDE(S) AND/OR TO PERSONS UNDER SOME LEGAL DISABILITY:

Summons & Notice

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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

3BR/2BA DW out of Manning on Goodwill Church Rd. $650/dep + $650/mo. Call 473-3301

Lawn Service Four Seasons Lawn Care Serving Sumter for almost 20 yrs! Free est. 494-9169/468-4008 JT's Lawn Care: All your lawn needs, Tree cutting & pressure washing, Senior disc. 840-0322 Hudson's Lawn Care, Mowing, Pine Straw Installation. Licensed and Insured. 803-968-1313 GrassBusters, Lawn Maintenance, Pest & Termite Control. Insured and Lic. 803-983-4539,

Roofing All Types of Roofing & Repairs All work guaranteed. 30 yrs exp. SC lic. Virgil Bickley 803-316-4734.

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

PETS & ANIMALS Dogs 3 Female, Half Rotts 8 weeks , 1st shots , tails docked, $50 Each Call 803-468-0994

EMPLOYMENT Help Wanted Full-Time Auto Mechanic needed ASAP. Apply in person B & C Automotive, 601 Broad St. Cashier needed. Must have some computer knowledge, be selfmotivated, dependable & energetic. Apply at Wally's Hardware, 1291 Broad St. New Papa John's near Shaw AFB is looking for Driver and Inside Workers. Interviews will be conducted 4/11/2014. Please call or email for further information and to schedule your interview. 803-629-8405 or phonso_c@yahoo.com STC Now Hiring Diesel Mechanic Qualified candidates must have:

â&#x20AC;˘Valid driver license â&#x20AC;˘High School Diploma or GED â&#x20AC;˘Three years or more of diesel mechanical experience â&#x20AC;˘Must provide tools / picture at interview STC offers competitive salary and benefits EOE and Drug Free Workplace Contact - Pat Joyner 803-775-1002 x107 Insurance Office seeks CSR /Agent. P & C license, experience helpful but not required. Fax resume to 855-246-9598. Maintenance Technician Electrical, Painting, Plumbing & HVAC certified a plus. Must be able to work on call weekends and holidays if needed. Send resume to: Maintenance Box 356 c//o The Item, PO Box 1677 Sumter SC 29151. EOE

Part-time Assistant needed for a busy office in Manning. Please send all response to P-Box 336 c/o The Item, PO Box 1677 Sumter SC 29151 $$$ AVON $$$ FREE TRAINING! 803-422-5555 Part time help needed for Professional cleaning. Must pass drug test and SLED check. References helpful. 803-495-8018

Trucking Opportunities 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 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 CDL drivers needed 21 & older, two years exp. Call 843-659-8254 or 843-659-2268

Seeking Exp. Rep Payee Coor. Fin. background a must. Quickbooks & BA preferred. Mail resume to PO Box 1541 Sumter SC, 29151

Warehouse Position Must be reliable, some knowledge of hardware. Wally's Hardware 1291 Broad St. Ext.

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

F/T & P/T Class-A CDL Drivers needed in Sumter, SC to haul poultry. Night Shift! Must have 2-yrs verifiable experience and good MVR. Danny 803-236-0682

RENTALS Unfurnished Apartments Senior Living Apartments for those 62+ (Rent based on income) Shiloh-Randolph Manor 125 W. Bartlette. 775-0575 Studio/1 Bedroom apartments available EHO

MERCHANDISE

3 or 4BR house (Alcolu). $700/dep +$700/mo. 473-3301

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 09, 2014

Autos For Sale

REAL ESTATE Manufactured Housing

3Br 1BA near Manning on 301 N. Rd $600/mo + $600/Dep. Call 803-473-3301

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Mobile Home Rentals

Land & Lots for Sale

2BR 2BA off Alice Drive 2000 Sq Ft, Fenced yard, $825 Mo Available now. Call 803-236-9445

STATEBURG COURTYARD

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Commercial Industrial

2 & 3 BRs 803-494-4015 Oaklawn MHP: 2 BR M.H.'s, water/sewer/garbage pk-up incl'd. RV parking avail. Call 494-8350 E. Brewington Rd. near Mayewood School, 3BR/2BA DWMH. $550/mo + $550/SD. NO Section 8. Call 803-934-6845 or 803-938-3174

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

Commercial Rentals Building for rent could use for Church or Other. Near Manning on Silver Rd. 803-473-3301

2001 Lincoln LS 4Dr Silver with Black leather interior, Great cdtn, $3900 Call 803-236-9445

Church Facility located at 16 Kendrick Street. Move in Ready. 10,195 sq ft on 2.35 acres with 1,040 sq ft picnic shelter. Chapel, Fellowship Hall, Sunday School Rooms, Office Complex and Full Working Kitchen. Contact Talmadge Tobias at Re/Max Summit 803-491-4573.

TRANSPORTATION

Autos For Sale

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 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

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014 Call Ivy Moore at: (803) 774-1221 | E-mail: ivym@theitem.com

Take care of the planet

Sumter celebrates Earth Day BY IVY MOORE ivym@theitem.com

wan Lake-Iris Gardens will be the site of Sumter’s largest celebration of spring and Planet Earth. On Saturday, April 12, the city observes Earth Day. From 8 a.m. until noon, the City of Sumter will host “a day of green,” said Lynn Kennedy, the city’s events coordinator. She said the Earth Day celebration offers attendees the “chance to see how to be green with Sumter organizations, schools, industries, businesses, local governments and utilities, more than 30 booths displayed in the gardens.” The event is free and features live music, green activities for young people, information for adults, food and beverages. “It’s going to be a good variety of activities,” Kennedy said. “We’ve got around 25 exhibitors and vendors, and Mary Sheridan from the (Sumter) School District has put together the entertainment. It’s all talented school groups.” Among the groups offering activities and information will be “All the city departments that work with recycling and sanitation,” Kennedy said. “Wastewater will be there with PocoNite,” a byproduct of wastewater treatment that the plant recycles into a soil conditioner or low-grade organic fertilizer. City Horticulturist Brock McDaniel will demonstrate and sell the natural charcoal he makes. “He’ll tell you how it’s a green product,” Kennedy said. “Several outlets around town also sell it.” The Lakewood FFA will have a variety of plants from their greenhouse, probably herbs, tomato and cucumber plants, she said. Mike Dellinger with the Farm Store will have his organic vegetables and fruits, as well as other organic products. Doris Winstead from the Lee County Animal Shelter will have for sale several sizes of tote bags recycled from pet food bags, as well as other re-purposed items. All sales will benefit the shelter. “They’re really nice and attractive,” Kennedy said. Girl Scout Troop 2292 will be on hand once again. Troop Leader Traci Quinn said part of their display will be “teaching kids to think about ways they can re-use or repurpose things they might typically just throw in the trash. ... Our troop will also bring our portable recycling station ... for people to toss their bottles, cans, chip bags and snack wrappers.” Sumter High School art teacher Heidi Adler and students will offer

Several exhibitors will have bedding plants available Saturday, some free for the asking.

EARTH DAY

PHOTO PROVIDED

Performers from several Sumter schools will provide musical entertainment for the city’s Earth Day celebration, Saturday at Swan Lake-Iris Gardens. environmentally friendly items, many made from re-purposed items. Representatives from Greenhaven Preserve will be on hand with information about green burials. Other vendors and exhibitors will include Central Carolina Technical College,Tuomey Healthcare System, Sumter High School’s environmental center and gardens, Glasscho, Jerry Domrese, Master Gardeners, the YMCA, Hatfield Heating and Air Conditioning, Helen Roodman with the City-County Planning Department, Poinsett State Park and others. Admission is free.

ENTERTAINMENT 8:30 a.m. — YMCA Zumba 9 a.m. — Shaw Heights Elementary 9:30 a.m. — Hillcrest/Ebenezer Middle 10 a.m. — Bates Middle 10:30 a.m. — Wilder Elementary 11 a.m. — Pocalla Springs Elementary 11:30 a.m. — Sumter High

Earth Day was founded by the late Gaylord Nelson, former Wisconsin senator, following the massive 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, Calif. He built a coalition of 85 staffers around the nation, and inspired more than 20 million Americans to demonstrate to raise consciousness of the dangers human beings were doing to the planet. Earth Day 1970, the first, was a non-partisan event, uniting politicians, students, environmental protesters and other concerned citizens for the common cause of saving the planet from our own abuse and pollution. The events of that day and the coalition of groups and people from all walks of life directly inspired the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts. In 1990, Earth Day became a global observance, encouraging recycling and other environmentally friendly, or green, events and projects. Nelson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his efforts by President Bill Clinton.

Sumter Jazz Ensemble shows off talented, local musicians It was gratifying to see a good crowd at Friday’s concert by the Sumter Jazz Ensemble. To those music lovers who weren’t there — as my old friend Booth Chilcutt would say — “You really missed it!’ The ensemble, most of them members of the Sumter Community Concert Band, was in fine form. Close your Out & About eyes, and A guide to arts & leisure you’d have thought you IVY MOORE were in a club with one of the classic big bands — except when they were playing numbers like the 1950s’ “La Bamba,” Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five,” a perennial favorite, and the contemporary “Runaway Baby” by Bruno Mars. Glenn Miller should have had such arrangements. Seriously, these are some talented musicians. It’s hard to choose a highlight of the concert because it was all so good. Pianist Kay Rasmussen’s arrangements for the four-piece combo comprising herself, Jay Shealy on

IVY MOORE/THE SUMTER ITEM

Sumter Jazz Ensemble director Rick Mitchum sings “What a Wonderful World” during the group’s concert at the Sumter Opera House. drums, Darren Polutta on bass (string and electric) and Dick Booth on guitar, started the second half of the concert wonderfully with two tunes by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Erroll Garner’s “Misty,” and Jay Althouse’s “The Music of Life,” on which they were joined by the very talented Sean Hackett on alto sax.

Hackett was one of several teachers in the band, all of whom demonstrated that the future looks bright for young musicians in Sumter School District! Tenor saxophonist Christian Sanchez, and alto saxophonist Noah Bruenning, both students at Sumter High School, provided further evidence, with their mature, expressive performances. Solos by Ray Graham on trombone, Emmett Anglin on alto trumpet, playing his own arrangement of “My Funny Valentine,” and the inimitable band leader, trumpet player, emcee and vocalist Rick Mitchum were concert highlights. It was an evening of real, non-manipulated music, and you could tell that couple in the Sumter Opera House’s third row — and several others — were itching to get up and dance on several numbers. Luckily, the band will host its second annual Big Band Dance at the Sumter Elks Lodge on Friday, May 30, offering those who love to take to the floor three sets of very danceable music in a dance club setting.

IVY MOORE/THE SUMTER ITEM

Alto saxophonist Sean Hackett joins the combo of Dick Booth, guitar; Jay Shealy, drums; Darren Polutta, bass; and Kay Rasmussen, piano, on Jay Althouse’s “The Music of Life” at Friday night’s concert by the Sumter Jazz Ensemble. The jazz band will share the Patriot Hall stage with the Sumter High School Jazz Band at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 6, in a free concert, and the Sumter Community Concert Band will also present a free concert at Sumter High School at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 15. The celebrated jazz combo, the Brad Mehldau Trio, will play the Sumter Opera House

at 5 p.m. Sunday. The concert will comprise Mehldau’s own compositions and jazz standards, as well as his arrangements of music by contemporary rock musicians such as The Beatles, Paul Simon, Radiohead, Nick Drake and others. Call (803) 436-2616 or visit http://www.sumtersc.gov/ sumter-opera-house.aspx for more information or tickets.

FOOD

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

Give side dishes the respect they deserve BY ALISON LADMAN Associated Press Writer If Thanksgiving is all about the sides, Easter is all about the main. While we agonize over styles of stuffings, whole or smooth cranberry sauces, sweet potatoes with or without marshmallows, and so many other Turkey Day dilemmas, we tend to just cobble together a what-have-you assortment of sides to accompany the beloved Easter ham or lamb. But we decided Easter side dishes deserve more respect, so we created this assortment of dishes to liven up your offerings. We start with peas. Nobody loves them straight up, but give them a simple saute with butter and a trio of seeds — caraway, coriander and mustard — and suddenly they are a dish worth getting excited about. For a fresh take on salad, we created a broccoli slaw seasoned with Dijon mustard, as well as the zests and juices of a lemon and an orange. Chopped dried apricots add a sweet touch while toasted pine nuts offer a savory crunch. Finally, we have a vegetable patty made from the main ingredients of ratatouille. Finished with fresh oregano, feta cheese and a drizzle of balsamic glaze, this is a side that can hold its own at the Easter table.

BUTTER-SPICED SKILLET PEAS Start to finish: 15 minutes Servings: 4 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds 1 teaspoon coriander seeds 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika 10 ounces sweet peas Kosher salt and black pepper In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the caraway seeds, coriander, mustard and paprika. Cook, stirring frequently, until toasty smelling, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the peas and saute for 3 to 4 minutes, or until just tender. Season with salt and black pepper. Nutrition information per serving: 110 calories; 50 calories from fat (45 percent of total calories); 6 g fat (3.5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 15 mg cholesterol; 10 g carbohydrate; 4 g fiber; 0 g sugar; 4 g protein; 120 mg sodium.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Trio of caraway, coriander and mustard seeds liven up what typically would be just plain peas.

CITRUS-PINE NUT BROCCOLI SLAW Start to finish: 15 minutes Servings: 8 Zest and juice of 1 orange Zest and juice of 1 lemon 1 tablespoon white balsamic or sherry vinegar 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 heads broccoli, very finely chopped (about 6 cups) 1/4 cup finely chopped dried apricots 3 scallions, thinly sliced 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts In a medium bowl, mix together the zests and juices of the orange and lemon. Whisk in the vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper and olive oil. Add the broccoli, apricots and scallions and mix well. Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle with the pine nuts. Nutrition information per serving: 100 calories; 60 calories from fat (60 percent of total calories); 7 g fat (0.5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 9 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 4 g sugar; 3 g protein; 180 mg sodium.

RATATOUILLE CAKES Start to finish: 20 minutes Servings: 8 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1 small red onion, diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 medium red bell pepper, cored and diced 1 small eggplant, grated 1 small zucchini, grated 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 egg, lightly beaten 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme 1/2 cup breadcrumbs 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese or goat cheese 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze 2 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped In a large nonstick skillet over medium-high, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high. Add the onion, garlic and bell pepper and cook until soft, about 7 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl. Set aside. Place the eggplant and zucchini in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze over the sink to remove as much liquid as possible. Add to the onion mixture. Add the the tomato paste, egg, salt, black pepper, thyme and breadcrumbs. Set aside. Wipe out the skillet, then heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil over medium-high. Working in batches, drop the vegetable mixture by the tablespoonful into the pan, flattening them with the back of a spoon. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until cooked through and golden brown. Transfer to a serving plate and sprinkle with the cheese. Drizzle the balsamic glaze over the top and sprinkle with the oregano. Nutrition information per serving: 130 calories; 60 calories from fat (46 percent of total calories); 7 g fat (1.5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 25 mg cholesterol; 13 g carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 5 g sugar; 3 g protein; 310 mg sodium.

Coconut pudding is worthy of your Easter dinner BY J.M. HIRSCH Associated Press Writer A few weeks ago I stumbled upon a Hispanic bakery that changed my understanding of what a delicious pudding could be. When I think pudding, I think mostly of rice- or eggbased recipes made with milk. Rich and sweet, creamy and smooth, these puddings ooze comfort. But this bakery offered something entirely different. Stacked in one of the shop’s refrigerated cases were small, plastic deli containers of something that resembled white butter sprinkled with cinnamon. It looked solid, far more dense than the puddings I grew up with. When I asked,

the baker explained that they were tembleque and she had made them just that morning. I was clueless at the time, but it turns out tembleque is a Puerto Rican pudding made from coconut milk and cornstarch. And when I got my container to the car and dug in, I realized I had been missing something incredible. The pudding was sweet without being cloying, and thick without being chewy. I also realized that the clean, yet rich flavors of this simple pudding made it a perfect finish to an Easter dinner. So of course I had to learn how to make it myself. I in no way pretend that this is a traditional recipe. But it is inspired by what I tasted that day. And it is delicious.

ORANGE-CINNAMON COCONUT PUDDING (TEMBLEQUE) Start to finish: 2 hours 20 minutes (20 minutes active) Servings: 6 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided 1/2 cup cornstarch Two 13 1/2-ounce cans coconut milk Zest of 1 medium orange Pinch salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon In a medium saucepan, whisk together 1/2 cup of the sugar and the cornstarch. Whisk in the coconut milk, orange zest and salt, then set over medium-high heat. Whisk until simmering and thickened. Pour the pudding into a 9-by-9-inch baking dish or individual ramekins. In a small bowl or cup, mix together the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar with the cinnamon. Sprinkle the mixture over the pudding, then cover and refrigerate until set and completely chilled, about 2 hours. Nutrition information per serving: 340 calories; 250 calories from fat (74 percent of total calories); 27 g fat (24 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 29 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 15 g sugar; 3 g protein; 40 mg sodium.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Orange-Cinnamon Coconut Pudding is inspired by a treat discovered at an Hispanic bakery.

FOOD

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014

Egg whites work magic to make omelet for 2 BY SARA MOULTON Associated Press Writer Leaving aside anything made with powdered eggs (which don’t really count as eggs at all in my book), I’ve never met an egg dish I didn’t like. But at the tippy top of my list of favorites is the edible magic trick known as the souffled omelet. The magic is built into the whites of the egg. A three-egg omelet made the usual way comprises a substantial meal for one person. But a souffled omelet made with three whole eggs —plus two whites — makes the traditional omelet look like a midget and is more than enough for two people. How can so few eggs produce such an ample dish? Something about separating the whites from the yolks, beating them, then adding them back to the yolks inflates the omelet to almost comical proportions. Though I personally have never wavered in my partisanship, eggs have shown up now and again as a target of the food police. Happily, the most recent studies question whether the sort of cholesterol found in eggs is what we need to be worried about. And, cholesterol aside, eggs are a terrific source of protein, vitamins and antioxidants — and all at about 77 calories per egg. And did I mention they are very high on the satiation chart? Eggs fill you up. In this recipe, the extra egg whites contribute more protein to the mix with very few extra calories. This recipe stars spinach and feta cheese. Of course, you’re welcome to swap in any kind of sauteed greens and any kind of lean-ish cheese, be it goat cheese or low-fat cheese made from cow’s milk. But whatever you do, don’t leave out the grated lemon zest. This recipe serves two. To make enough for four people, prepare a double batch, pour it into two medium skillets, then bake them in the oven at the same time.

GREEK-STYLE SOUFFLED OMELET Start to finish: 30 minutes Servings: 2 1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided 5 ounces baby spinach Salt and ground black pepper 2 ounces feta cheese, finely crumbled 3 large whole eggs, separated, plus 2 egg whites 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest Chopped fresh dill, to garnish Heat the oven to 450 F. In a large skillet over medium, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil. Add the spinach and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring, until the spinach is wilted. Sprinkle the feta on top and set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks with a hefty pinch of salt, several grinds of pepper and the lemon zest, until the mixture is fluffy, about 4 minutes. In a separate bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until they hold soft peaks; stir one fourth of the whites into the egg yolks, then fold the remaining whites into the yolks gently, just until they are incorporated. In a 10-inch nonstick skillet with an oven-safe handle over medium, heat the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of oil. Pour the egg mixture into the skillet, gently spread it evenly. Place the skillet in the oven on the middle shelf and bake until it is puffed and almost cooked through, about 3 minutes. Meanwhile, reheat the spinach mixture over medium heat, stirring. Remove the omelet from the oven and make an indent down the center with a spatula. Spoon the spinach mixture over one half of the omelet, then use the spatula to fold the other half of the omelet over to cover the filling. Return the omelet to the oven and bake for another 2 to 3 minutes. Divide the omelet in half, sprinkle each half with the dill and serve right away.

Nutrition information per serving: 320 calories; 200 calories from fat (63 percent of total calories); 22 g fat (7 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 295 mg cholesterol; 11 g carbohydrate; 4 g fiber; 4 g sugar; 19 g protein; 710 mg sodium.

Sara Moulton was executive chef at Gourmet magazine for nearly 25 years, and spent a decade hosting several Food Network shows. She currently stars in public television’s “Sara’s Weeknight Meals” and has written three cookbooks, including “Sara Moulton’s Everyday Family Dinners.”

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Spinach and feta cheese fill this Greek-style Souffled Omelet.

COMICS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014

BIZARRO

SOUP TO NUTZ

ANDY CAPP

GARFIELD

BEETLE BAILEY

BORN LOSER

BLONDIE

ZITS

MOTHER GOOSE

DOG EAT DOUG

DILBERT

JEFF MACNELLY’S SHOE

Lover of transgender looks for family support DEAR ABBY — I’m a divorced woman with grown children. I have always supported gay rights and Dear Abby thought of myself as ABIGAIL straight. But VAN BUREN a few months ago, I met a woman, “Stephanie.” We hit it off immediately, and I was shocked to learn she’s a transgender woman who was born male. We have spent a lot of time together and are falling in love. Stephanie will be having surgery soon to complete the transgender process. I have been surprised and

THE SUMTER ITEM

disappointed by the lack of support from my family and friends, whom I always thought were open-minded. Some have voiced support, but have shown no interest in meeting her and seem uncomfortable hearing about her. I’m excited about this relationship and would have thought my family and friends would be happy for me, as I have been alone for a long time. But now I find myself refraining from mentioning Stephanie in conversation. How can I discuss her with others? We are taking things slowly and not jumping into anything, yet we can definitely see ourselves spending the rest of our lives together. We have already faced disapprov-

THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ing strangers and handled it well. Loves My Friend in Ohio DEAR LOVES — It appears Stephanie isn’t the only one in your relationship who is in transition. Both of you are, and because it is new to those around you, they may not understand it -- which is why they are uncomfortable. The fact that Stephanie is transgender should not be mentioned right off the bat. It is not the most important thing about her, and it should not be her defining characteristic. Discuss the matter with your friend and ask how she would like to be introduced and referred to. It’s only logical that this will vary according to how close these people are to you.

JUMBLE

SUDOKU

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

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

ACROSS 1 Lead-in for bird or walk 4 Nervous and irritable 9 Thai cash 13 Musician Turner 14 Words Alice read on a cake 15 Month in Madrid 17 Waist bag 19 Once more 20 “It’s __ bet”: “No risk” 21 Everlasting, to a poet 22 Cal. entry 25 Herbal remedy for indigestion 27 Custard dishes 30 River in NW France 31 “The StarSpangled Banner,” e.g. 32 Countdownending numero 33 Leveling wedge 37 Pen name 38 Renege 41 Amin of Uganda 42 Twice vier 44 Word of surprise 45 __ Zee: area where the Hudson River widens 47 Taj Mahal home 49 Heavenly

higher-ups, in Christianity 50 Piece of Le Creuset cookware 54 Chess piece 55 People with skill 56 Place to store valuables 59 Station 60 Sense of humor 64 Old hat 65 Popeye creator Segar 66 Type of museum 67 Kane’s Rosebud, e.g. 68 Nobel-winning Irish poet 69 It may need a boost DOWN 1 Peanut butter brand 2 Alias, for short 3 Hankering 4 They may be done by ones who have gone too far 5 Family nickname 6 Support crews 7 Game show personality 8 “__War”: Shatner series 9 Defeated 10 49-Across, por ejemplo 11 Soul partner

12 Puzzle video game with three heroes 16 Top draft status 18 “Of course!” 21 Along the way 22 Red Sea port on its own gulf 23 __ Wars: Rome vs. Carthage 24 Tuner’s concern 26 Words to Nanette? 28 Playboy nickname 29 Political fugitives 32 Island instrument 34 River horse 35 Snake River state 36 Belarus capital 39 Tide type

40 Roofer’s supply 43 Stage in a frog’s life 46 Medicare section for physician services 48 Destroyed the inside of, as a building 49 Verse segment 50 Hula Hoop et al. 51 “Golden Boy” dramatist 52 India neighbor 53 Small egg 57 Workbook chapter 58 Strong alkalis 60 “30 Rock” star 61 Be indebted to 62 Pick on 63 Outer: Pref.

TELEVISION

THE SUMTER ITEM TW FT

7 PM

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

8 PM

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014

9 PM 9:30 LOCAL CHANNELS

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Psycho/Therapist Lewis in court. (HD) Survivor: Cagayan: Mad Treasure Hunt (N) (HD)

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Beast’s Obsession Prison escape. (N) (HD) Criminal Minds: What Happens in Mecklinburg... Searching for connection in kidnappings. (N) (HD) The Middle: Hun- Suburgatory: The Modern Family: (:31) Mixology: gry Games (HD) Birds and The Help Male Bruce & Fab (N) Biederman (HD) nanny. (HD) (HD) NatureScen Expeditions: The Nature: My Bionic Pet Stories of ani- NOVA: Inside Animal Minds: Bird GeHidden Side of Ta- mals with prosthetics. (N) (HD) nius Experts test birds’ intellectual ble Rock limits. (N) (HD) The Big Bang The Big Bang American Idol: Finalists Perform (N) (HD) Theory Amy feels Theory Sheldon in left out. (HD) court. (HD) Family Feud Family Feud Arrow: Time of Death Technology to The 100: Murphy’s Law Clarke and break into vaults. (HD) Finn try to contact the Ark. (N) (HD)

10 PM

10:30

11 PM

(:01) Chicago P.D.: Turn the Light Off WIS News 10 at The team investigates a massacre. 11:00pm News (N) (HD) and weather. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: News 19 @ 11pm Consumed Cannibalistic killer that The news of the has help. (N) (HD) day. Nashville: They Don’t Make ‘Em Like ABC Columbia News at 11 (HD) My Daddy Anymore Juliette’s new song. (HD) Your Inner Fish: Your Inner Fish Fish Tavis Smiley responsible for limbs and lungs. (N) (HD) (HD) WACH FOX News at 10 Local news Two and a Half report and weather forecast. Men (HD)

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(:35) The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Comedic skits and celebrity interviews. (HD) (:35) Late Show with David Letterman Popular celebrities are interviewed. (HD) (:35) Jimmy Kimmel Live Kate Upton; Cole Hauser; Neon Trees. (N) (HD) BBC World News Charlie Rose (N) International (HD) news. Two and a Half The Middle: The Men (HD) Paper Route (HD)

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: The Arsenio Hall Pure A psychic assists the detectives. Tangled Doctor murdered in front of Show (HD) (HD) abused wife. (HD)

CABLE CHANNELS Duck Dynasty Duck Dynasty Duck Dynasty Duck Dynasty Duck Dynasty Duck Dynasty Duck Dynasty Duck Dynasty (:01) Duck Dy(:31) Duck Dy(:01) Duck Dy(HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) nasty (HD) nasty (HD) nasty (HD) Speed (‘94, Action) aaa Keanu Die Hard (‘88, Action) aaac Bruce Willis. A New York cop, who is visiting Los Angeles, finds himself pitted (:01) Die Hard 2 (‘90, Action) aaa Bruce Willis. John Reeves. Mad bomber rigs bus. (HD) against a group of ruthless terrorists who are holding guests hostage at a Christmas party. (HD) McClane battles airport terrorists. (HD) River Monsters (HD) River Monsters: Death Ray (HD) Tanked: Tanks on Tap (HD) Tanked: Tank This! (HD) Treehouse Masters (HD) Tanked (HD) Being Mary Jane: Exposed Paul The Game (HD) Let’s Stay ToAbove the Rim (‘94, Drama) aac Duane Martin. A high school basketball The Game (HD) The Game (HD) Wendy Williams hopes to satisfy Helen. gether (HD) star encounters bad company amidst his success. Show (HD) Real Housewives N.Y.: Everybody Million Dollar Listing New York: Million Dollar Listing New York: It’s Flipping Out: Flipping Nashville What Happens Million Dollar Listing New York: It’s Thinks We’re Drag Queens This City Will Eat You Alive Time to Eat the Fish! (N) Nashville home. (N) (N) Time to Eat the Fish! Greed A sham business. Greed City embezzlement. American Greed: Scams (N) Money Talks: Black Eye (N) The Profit: Amazing Grapes Greed Erin Burnett OutFront (N) Anderson Cooper 360° (N) (HD) The Lead with Jake Tapper Death Row: John Thompson Anderson Cooper 360° (HD) Jake Tapper (:59) The Colbert Daily Show (HD) Workaholics South Park Video South Park (HD) South Park: 1% Workaholics (N) TripTank (N) (HD) Daily Show (N) The Colbert Re- (:01) @midnight Report (HD) (HD) return. (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) port (N) (HD) (N) (HD) Jessie Act of kind- Austin & Ally Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam (‘10, Musical) ac Alyson Mickey Mouse: Dog Blog: Stan Austin & Ally Good Luck Char- Jessie Paintball ri- Dadnapped (‘09) ness. (HD) (HD) Stoner. Camps fight. (HD) Potatoland Stops Talking (HD) lie (HD) val. (HD) Dual Survival (HD) Naked and Afraid (HD) Naked and Afraid (HD) Survivorman (N) (HD) Naked and Afraid (HD) Survivor (HD) SportsCenter NBA Count NBA Basketball: Miami Heat at Memphis Grizzlies from FedEx Forum z{| (HD) NBA Basketball: Oklahoma City vs Los Angeles z{| (HD) MLB Baseball: Houston Astros at Toronto Blue Jays from Rogers Centre z{| (HD) Baseball Tonight (HD) SportsCenter (HD) Olbermann Melissa & Joey Melissa & Joey Melissa & Joey Baby Daddy (N) The Sandlot (‘93, Family) aac Tom Guiry. A shy klutz is befriended by a The 700 Club Baby Daddy (HD) (HD) (HD) (N) (HD) (HD) ragtag sandlot baseball team. (HD) Restaurant: Impossible (HD) Save My Bakery (N) Restaurant: Impossible (HD) Restaurant: Impossible (N) Diners (HD) Diners (HD) Restaurant On the Record with Greta (N) The O’Reilly Factor (N) (HD) The Kelly File News updates. Hannity Conservative news. (HD) The O’Reilly Factor (HD) The Kelly File MLB Baseball: New York Mets at Atlanta Braves from Turner Field z{| (HD) Post Game Post Game The Panel The Panel MLB Game The Waltons: The Actress A famous The Waltons: The Fire Teaching of The Middle: Hal- The Middle (HD) Frasier: Can’t Buy Frasier Date with Frasier Lilith re- Frasier Niles’ din- The Golden Girls: actress’s car breaks down. evolution offends parent. loween II (HD) Me Love ex-con. turns. ner plans. The Actor Property Brothers (HD) Property Brothers (HD) Property Brothers (N) (HD) Hunters (N) Hunters (HD) Property Brothers (HD) Prop Bro (HD) American Pickers (HD) American Pickers (HD) American Pickers (N) (HD) Down East Dickering (N) (HD) (:02) Vikings: Unforgiven American (HD) Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Mad Burn Notice: Wanted Man Fiona Burn Notice: Hard Bargain KidBurn Notice: False Flag Daughter kid- Burn Notice: Dead Drop Sam kidBurn Notice (HD) Hops Athlete missing. (HD) searches for a jewel thief. (HD) napped fiancée. (HD) napped. (HD) napped. (HD) Bring It!: “Baby” Doll Don’t Mean Bring It!: Sunjai in Stilettos Sunjai Preachers’ Daughters: Damned If Bring It!: Street Battle Dancing Dolls (:01) Bring It!: Street Battle Dancing Bring It! Sunjai “Baby” Secret weapon. (HD) earns important spot. (HD) You Do... (N) (HD) challenge rivals. (N) (HD) Dolls challenge rivals. (HD) steps up. (HD) Sponge Sam & Cat Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Friends (:36) Friends (:12) Friends The Fifth Element (‘97) aaa (HD) Battle: Los Angeles (‘11, Action) aac Aaron Eckhart. Marines counter a deadly alien invasion. (HD) Resident Evil: Afterlife (‘10) Milla Jovovich. (HD) The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising (‘07, Fantasy) ac Alexander Ludwig. A Stardust (‘07, Fantasy) aaa Claire Danes. While searching for a fallen star in order to impress the object of his Dungeons and boy goes on a quest with high stakes. unrequited affections, a teenager inadvertently crosses the border into a magical realm. Dragons (HD) Seinfeld (HD) Family Guy: Family Guy Family Guy: The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang Deal With It (N) Conan Andy Garcia; Jenna Elfman. The Pete Holmes Stew-Roids Three Kings Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) (N) (HD) Show (N) (6:00) The Very Thought of You (‘44, Waterloo Bridge (‘40, Drama) aac Vivien Leigh. Ballerina loser her job The Philadelphia Story (‘40, Comedy) Cary Grant. A woman becomes ro- Went the Day Romance) Dennis Morgan. and makes the desperate decision to become a prostitute. mantically torn between three men on the eve of her wedding. Well (‘44) aaa Real Life Mysteries (HD) Real Life Mysteries (N) (HD) Women of Homicide (N) (HD) Cyber Stalkers (N) (HD) Women of Homicide (HD) Cyber (HD) Castle: Till Death Do Us Part Double Castle: Dial M for Mayor Traced to Castle: An Embarrassment of Bitches (:02) Castle: The Blue Butterfly Link (:03) Save Our Business: Not Just (:03) Inside Job life. (HD) mayor. (HD) TV star suspected. (HD) to the past. (HD) Bagels Bagel deli. (N) (HD) (N) (HD) S. Beach S. Beach S. Beach S. Beach S. Beach S. Beach S. Beach (N) S. Beach (:01) Repo (:31) Repo (:02) S. Beach Griffith (HD) Gilligan’s (HD) Gilligan’s (HD) Gilligan’s (HD) Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Cleveland (N) Soul Man (N) Cleveland Soul Man (HD) Queens (HD) NCIS: Designated Target Husband NCIS: Shell Shock (Part 1) Murder of NCIS: Shell Shock (Part 2) Hunt for NCIS: Gone Teenage girl sees her NCIS: Los Angeles: Killshot Contrac- NCIS: Los Anmissing. (HD) war vet. (HD) terrorist continues. (HD) friend get taken. (HD) tor murdered. (HD) geles (HD) Law & Order (HD) Law & Order Mercy killer. (HD) Law & Order (HD) Law & Order (HD) Law & Order (HD) Law (HD) Funniest Home Videos (HD) MLB Baseball: Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs from Wrigley Field z{| (HD) Salem (HD) How I Met Parks (HD)

PBS offers viewers a night of animal programming BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH Nothing puts the “humane” in humanity like our love for animals. “NOVA” (9 p.m., PBS, TV-PG, check local listings) launches “Inside Animal Minds,” a three-part series that airs over the next three weeks. “Inside” reflects the latest research in the cognitive power of critters, from soaring starlings to migrating dolphins and African elephants. Their findings go a long way toward dispelling the notion of “dumb” animals using rote tricks and mere “instinct” to go about their business. There’s speculation that some creatures have a sophisticated ability to learn from the past and even anticipate the future. The opening hour, “Bird Genius,” looks at remarkable characters that may change your mind about the old epithet “bird brained.” They include a cockatoo named Muppet, who picks locks, and 007, a crow capable of solving eight-part puzzles. A night of animal programming begins with the “Nature” (8 p.m., PBS, TV-PG, check local listings) presentation “My Bionic Pet.” Over the past decade, the number of animals living with prosthetic limbs and even tails has grown exponentially. This reflects advancing medical technology, as well as changing attitudes about human responsibilities for the animals in their care. Tonight’s creature features conclude with “Your Inner Fish” (10 p.m., PBS, TV-PG, check local listings), a look at how humans and fish share a remarkable amount of DNA, including the genes responsible for building such un-fishlike attributes as arms and limbs. • “Susan Boyle: Her Secret Struggle” (10 p.m., Ovation) looks at the rocky ride of the overnight sensation who con-

quered the Internet and the world with her performance on “Britain’s Got Talent” in 2009. “Secret” follows Boyle on her solo tour and her private battle with Asperger’s syndrome. • Whole networks have been dedicated to women in fear, women in peril, and women done in by their husbands, stalkers and neighbors. The new eight-episode series “Women of Homicide” (9 p.m., TLC, TV-14) reverses the dynamic and follows real-life female homicide detectives in Atlanta and Cincinnati as they work to put killers behind bars.

TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS • The Cartoon Network revives a classic animation franchise with “The Tom and Jerry Show” (5:30 p.m., TVPG). • On two helpings of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (NBC, TV-14): beyond therapy

snapshot of Ron on “Mixology” (9:30 p.m., ABC, TV-14).

LATE NIGHT

KEVIN BACHAR / THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC PBS PRESSROOM

Chris P. Bacon the pig is one of the disabled animals featured on tonight’s “My Bionic Pet” episode of “Nature” airing at 8 p.m. on PBS. (8 p.m., r); Lewis escapes (9 p.m.). • Abby tells Raven there’s room in the pod on “The 100” (9 p.m., CW, TV-14). • Cannibal appetites on “CSI” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14). • Gang violence on “Chicago P.D.” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14). • Philip taps into a primitive computer network to

plant a bug on “The Americans” (10 p.m., FX, TV-MA).

SERIES NOTES The Hecks become the subject of a sermon on “The Middle” (8 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG) * A new link to a kidnapping victim emerges on “Criminal Minds” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14) * A

Colin Firth is booked on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (11 p.m., Comedy Central) * Andy Garcia, Jenna Elfman and Ingrid Michaelson are on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS) * Sheryl Sandberg is on “The Colbert Report” (11:30 p.m., Comedy Central) * Lindsay Lohan, Jamie Edwards and Real Estate are on “Late Show With David Letterman” (11:35 p.m., CBS) * Jennifer Garner, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Stevie Nicks on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) * Kate Upton, Cole Hauser and Neon Trees appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (11:35 p.m., ABC) * Denis Leary, Thomas Middleditch and Fitz and the Tantrums visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC) * Sharon Osbourne and Tony Kanaan on “The Late Late Show” (12:35 a.m., CBS).

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

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

Easter eggs get a makeover FROM MCCORMICK

 Hemlock – 3 drops blue, 12

his season’s Easter eggs are getting a makeover with a wide variety of must-have spring colors and designs. McCormick is offering new color palettes and dyeing

drops green, 6 drops yellow  Cayenne – 14 drops red, 1 drop

blue, 1 drop yellow  Dazzling Blue – 20 drops neon

blue, 1 drop neon purple

techniques, including a painting method that achieves a wa-

 Violet Tulip – 2 drops red, 20

tercolor effect. These Easter eggs will look too good to hide in

 Freesia – 1 drop red, 45 drops

baskets – so put them front-and-center in your seasonal décor.

yellow (25 drops = 1/4 teaspoon)  Celosia Orange – 2 drops red, 17 drops yellow  Placid Blue – 4 drops blue “Get the kids involved – and avoid messy hands – by covering the table in plastic and using a whisk instead of a spoon to dip your eggs into the dye,” added Harrington.

“With our new colors and design tips, it’s easy to make fashionable Easter eggs. Plus, it’s fun to experiment with different color combinations you can’t get from a kit – like our take on Radiant Orchid, the Pantone® color of the year,” said Mary Beth Harrington of the McCor-

mick Kitchens. To create vibrant dyes inspired by must-have spring colors, mix food color with 1/2 of cup of hot water and 1 teaspoon of vinegar. Submerge eggs for at least five minutes:  Radiant Orchid – 7 drops blue, 3 drops neon purple

drops blue

DAZZLING EGG DYEING TIPS Match your eggs to the color palette of your décor and even arrange them in a vase or a bowl for an eye-catching centerpiece. Paint: To create mini works of art, mix food color and 1/2 teaspoon of vinegar in a small container. Paint hard-cooked eggs with a small paintbrush or cotton swab to create a watercolor effect. To achieve the same effect with must-have spring colors, check out the To-DyeFor Eggs color guide at http://www.mccormick. com/food-coloring-andextracts/easter Stripes: Before dyeing, place rubber bands on the eggs to create a design. Once dry, remove the rubber bands to reveal the pattern.

Marbelized eggs

Marbled: Mix 1/4 cup of boiling water, 1 teaspoon of vinegar, 1/8 teaspoon of oil and 4 to 8 drops of food color in a shallow bowl. Gently roll each egg in the mixture for about 30 seconds, or until it is the

Personalized Designs: Customize your eggs before dyeing with these fun ideas:  Place stickers – such as dots, chicks or other springtime favorites – on the eggs to create a design. Once dry, remove stickers to see your masterpiece.  Draw zig zags, swirls or pictures on eggs with a light-colored crayon before dyeing. Or write your guests’ initials on the eggs for Easter brunch place cards. For more egg dyeing tips and Easter recipes, visit www.McCormick. com, www.Facebook.com/McCormickSpice and www.Pinterest.com/ mccormickspices.

EGG DYEING TIPS First, line the work surface with layers of newspaper before dyeing eggs. Then gather all equipment in-

desired shade. Transfer the egg to a second color mixture and repeat the process. Allow the egg to dry then wipe away excess oil with a paper towel. Two-Tone or Three-Color Eggs: Dip top half of a

hard-cooked egg in one color and the bottom half in another. Or, dip each half of the egg in the color for different lengths of time, creating different shades of the same color for an ombre effect.

Personalized eggs cluding small bowls or cups for each food color, spoons for each bowl and paper towels for spills. Bowls should be deep enough to completely submerge the egg. For easy cleanup, use soap and water repeatedly to remove

food color from hands and most kitchen countertops. If needed, use all-purpose cleaner with bleach for countertops. For easy drying, make an egg drying stand out of a paper towel tube cut into sections.