August 28, 2014

Employee at nursing home accused of abusing patients 70-year-old woman was reportedly struck in chest THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

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BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bristow@theitem.com (803) 774-1272 An employee at a Sumter nursing home stands accused of abusing and neglecting the patients left in her care.

Andria Martice Lawson, 24, of 1695 Urban Road, Summerton, was arrested Monday and charged with one count of abuse of a vulnerable

adult and one count of neglect of a vulnerable adult.

Lawson was a nurse’s assistant at Sumter Valley Health and Rehabilitation LAWSON Center when sheriff’s deputies responded July 25 to two separate complaints from residents at the facility in the 1700 block of Pinewood Road.

A 70-year-old woman said she asked Lawson to help her change out of a soiled gown. Lawson reportedly became upset and “jerked” the gown off the woman, causing pain in her arm. The nurse’s assistant then reportedly struck the elderly woman repeatedly in the chest.

Separately, a 71-year-old man was found seated in a wheelchair,

SEE ABUSE, PAGE A8

Shredding at the skate park

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Pablo David Contreras drops in on a ramp at the skate park near Shaw Air Force Base on Tuesday afternoon.

County toasts Parnell for work with recreation department

NAACP’s candidates forum set for tonight

BY RAYTEVIA EVANS ray@theitem.com (803) 774-1214

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

Sumter County Council and Sumter County Recreation and Parks Department recognized Phil Parnell, who has been with the department for more than 20 years and was recently inducted into the Dixie Softball Hall of Fame.

County Administrator Gary Mixon and Recreation and Parks Director Rose Ford presented Parnell with a plaque, and county council chairman Larry Blanding presented him with a gift from county council members during Tuesday’s meeting at the county administration building.

“I knew this was the fellow I wanted. I went over to Darlington to get him for Sum-

ter, and I’m proud to say I recruited Phil,” Mixon said. “He’s the best athletic director we’ve ever had in Sumter.”

Ford, who has worked with Parnell for many years, said he works hard and gives everything to events and activities for Recreation and Parks.

“He works so hard and never asks for help. Recreation is our life, and we love recreation and what we do,” Ford said Tuesday.

In other county council news, council members approved first reading of a request to rezone an area on Alpenglow Drive off Camden Highway from agricultural conservation to residential for a subdivision. The board also approved first reading of a request to update the Sumter County

SEE COUNTY, PAGE A8

The Sumter Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is sponsoring a candidates forum starting at 6 p.m. today at Central Carolina Technical College’s Health Sciences Center, 133 S. Main St. “We hope the candidates will come or send a representative,” said Ferdinand Burns, president of the Sumter branch. “Hopefully they’ll be able to answer questions regarding issues that several of

our members have (about items) that got stalled in the House or Senate. We want to know how they plan to address those and whether they’ll actually do anything in Congress or if they’ll go back to the same old tired agenda and motives they had in the past.”

Members have compiled a list of questions for the candidates, and then the floor will be open for the audience to ask questions, he said.

As of Wednesday morning, Thomas Ravenel, Jill Bossi

SEE CANDIDATES, PAGE A8

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Woman allegedly sexually assaulted, kidnapped Victim said she was held at Manning motel overnight

BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com (803) 774-1211 A 40-year-old Clarendon County man was arrested at 3 p.m. Friday by investigators with the Clarendon

County Sheriff ’s Office and charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct, first-degree assault and battery and criminal sexual conduct, according to an incident report from the office.

Eric Stephens, 4191 N. Brewing-

ton Road, was set for a bail hearing at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. The results of that hearing were not known at press time.

According to the report, an investigator responded to Clarendon Memorial Hospital at about 10:40 a.m.

Aug. 21 in reference to an assault victim. At the hospital, the investigator spoke with the alleged victim.

The woman said she went to the Super 8 Motel, 1062 Crossroads Church Road, Manning, the previous day and was physically and sexually assaulted by the suspect, who she said would not allow her to leave the motel until the morning of Aug. 21.

The report said the victim had minor injuries.

Teachers share recipes to raise money Book will be sold to help give scholarships, hold events

BY RAYTEVIA EVANS ray@theitem.com (803) 774-1214 Members of Sumter School District’s Teacher Forum are offering an insight into some of their best recipes in the organization’s cookbook “Let’s Get Cooking” — a compilation of the teachers’ submitted recipes for main dishes, desserts and other delicious meals.

Tina Sorrells, Teacher Forum chairwoman, said as a group they thought of the idea to help raise money for the organization’s scholarships and to start a working fund to help with events throughout the school year.

“Last year, we were trying to raise money for scholarships, and we realized we didn’t have much of a working fund,” Sorrells said. “We decided we needed to do something to raise money. We involved a lot of the teachers, and a lot of them submitted recipes to be included.”

Teacher Forum used Morris Press Cookbooks, where users can assemble and publish their own cookbooks. With the help of Shelly Galloway, spokeswoman for the district, and forum members Suzanne Koty and Meri Wyn Hudson, Sorrells said they compiled the submissions for the book, which they’ll be selling for $10.

The cookbook is made up of about 150 recipes for everything from apple pie and banana cakes to crockpot BBQ and rice pilaf. Sorrells said she finds that some people don’t know what Teacher Forum is or what it does, so the 90-page cookbook also includes information about the purpose and focus of the organization.

The first quarterly meeting for Teacher Forum is scheduled for Sept. 25, where the teacher of the year for each school in Sumter School District will receive some of the cookbooks to sell. Sorrells said they ordered 400 and have already sold close to 100 books so far. The books will be available at Teacher Forum and district events.

The members are also working on a number of other fundraisers throughout the year to help sustain the working fund and to go toward the four scholarships they plan to award high school students at the end of the year. Last year was the first year Teacher Forum awarded scholarships to high school seniors interested in studying education at a South Carolina college or university, and the group raised about $7,500.

“We’ll have the working fund to help with events we have every year like the Celebration of Excellence. The teachers will also have Jeans Day to raise money for the scholarships. The teachers pay $5 to wear jeans for the day,” Sorrells said.

Kate Peyton, the group’s fundraising committee chairwoman, will also come up with and help organize other ideas throughout the year to help raise money.

In the meantime, the organization is preparing for its first meeting in September and organizing town hall meetings throughout October for candidates for state superintendent and the candidates running for multiple seats on Sumter School District board of trustees.

Those looking to get their hands on “Let’s Get Cooking” before the end of September can reach Sorrells via email at tina.sorrells@sumterschools.net.

RAYTEVIA EVANS / THE SUMTER ITEM

Sumter Teacher Forum chairwoman and Alice Drive Elementary School secondgrade teacher Tina Sorrells said the organization has sold close to 100 cookbooks so far. The money will go toward a working fund for the Teacher Forum to fund events and the scholarships the group awards to Sumter School District students.

Dog’s nose helps find lost man

BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bristow@theitem.com (803) 774-1272 An old shirt was all it took for a police dog to locate a blind man who went missing while out for a walk.

K-9 Riley, as the black lab’s handlers know him in Sumter Police Department’s canine unit, used the scent from Leroy Leneau’s shirt to track the man down in a wooded area Tuesday, three days after Leneau was last seen.

“He followed the scent on the ground in the creek bed, and once he picked his nose up and started tugging on the leash, we knew we had found him,” said Tonyia McGirt, public information officer for the department.

Leneau was found about

4:45 p.m. off Perkins Avenue along Noyts Branch stream in the Green Swamp area, ending several hours of searching in the area on the second day of a manhunt for the missing man.

The 61-year-old man, who is legally blind, was said to be conscious when he was located, although he was unable to tell officers how long he had been lost in the area.

He was still being treated at Tuomey Regional Medical Center as of Wednesday afternoon.

Leneau was last seen about 8 a.m. Saturday at the home of a friend in the 900 block of South Main Street.

He reportedly walked nearly a mile from his home on Gulf Street near Pocalla Road to reach his friend but never returned home.

An out-of-town relative who had been unable to reach Leneau by phone since Saturday reported him missing to police on Monday, launching a police search.

The area where Leneau was located Tuesday is approximately a half mile from his last known location, off the route on South Main he would have walked home.

Riley was at the head of a search team drawn from several police divisions, plus one U.S. Marshal. He’s been on the force with the canine unit for about a year.

“They’re trained in tracking and to smell drugs and gunpowder,” McGirt said.

“This shows what a proven asset these dogs are to the department.”

LOCAL BRIEF FROM STAFF REPORTS

Police seek man who tried to run over officers Police are looking for a man who reportedly tried to run over two officers in an escape attempt.

Shaquille Morique Leneau, 22, of 142 Shannon St., is wanted on two counts of attempted murder.

Leneau was reportedly spotted by officers on Brand LENEAU Street about 10 p.m. Tuesday as they were responding to a reported break-in at Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church on Harvin Street.

Two police vehicles managed to “head off” Leneau’s vehicle, according to a department release, blocking the car on each side.

Leneau then reportedly backed up into the patrol car behind him, as an officer stood outside the door.

He then reportedly accelerated forward toward another officer who was on foot and had to jump out of the way to avoid being struck.

Officers pursued the car down Brand Street and eventually located the vehicle abandoned on Red and White Street.

Anyone with information about Leneau’s whereabouts is asked to call Sumter police at (803) 436-2700.

Calls can be made anonymously to Crime Stoppers at (803) 436-2718 or 1-800-CRIME-SC (274-6372).

A cash reward may be available for information leading to an arrest.

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NATION

THE SUMTER ITEM

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

3 ways insurers discourage sick from enrolling Insurers acknowledge that people may see changes in coverage, driven in part by how the Insurers can no longer reject overhaul affects insurance. But customers with expensive med- they say prudent business practices, not discrimination ical conditions thanks to the against the sick, are the key health care overhaul, but factors behind the trends that there’s still wiggle room for have raised concerns. They also them to discourage the sickest point out that if customers find and costliest patients from ena plan they don’t like, they genrolling.

Insurance companies can ex- erally have plenty of additional options to choose from both on clude some well-known cancer and off the exchanges. hospitals or certain individual They also note that the overspecialists who treat pricey haul takes several steps to disconditions from the list of providers they cover under a plan. courage them from avoiding They can dissuade HIV patients costly patients. The law prefrom signing up for coverage by vents them from marketing or designing a plan that would disrequiring heavy initial paycourage someone from applyments of the bill for their preing based on his or her health. scriptions. They also might It also calls for insurers to chip simply wait for competitors to into a pool that compensates jump into a market first and competitors who wind up with take all the risky patients who a more expensive patient popuwere hungry for coverage. lation. That lowers their incenConsumer advocates and intive for discouraging the sick dustry insiders warn that insurers are using tactics such as from enrolling.

“Health plans now guarantee these to limit their coverage of the sick, which can make it dif- coverage for individuals and families regardless of health ficult for the people who need status,” said Clare Krusing, a insurance the most to find the spokeswoman for the trade asright plan. Narrow provider sociation America’s Health Innetworks, in particular, have surance Plans, or AHIP. become more common, espeThere are three major ways cially in coverage sold on new insurers still might steer sick public health insurance exor expensive patients away changes created by the overfrom their coverage: haul.

“It’s the same insurance comFORM NARROW NETWORKS panies that are up to the same strategies: Take in as much preInsurers can lower their mium as possible and pay out chances for covering patients as little as possible,” said Jerry with expensive medical condiFlanagan, an attorney with the tions such as cancer and auadvocacy group Consumer tism simply by limiting the Watchdog. number of doctors and hospi-

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Insurers also say customers have options if they find a prescription plan they dislike. In some markets, a customer may have more than a dozen choices, some of which might offer better coverage or a lower-cost alternative for their prescriptions.

ENTER MARKETS CAUTIOUSLY Another way insurers might land a healthier population is by playing the waiting game.

The nation’s largest health insurer, UnitedHealth Group Inc., will dive into the overhaul’s public insurance exchanges with plans to sell 2015 individual coverage in 24 exchanges. That’s up from only four in 2014.

These exchanges debuted last fall and offer shoppers a chance to compare and buy policies, often with help from an income-based tax credit.

UnitedHealth’s delayed growth could be a savvy way to avoid some of the sickest patients who likely rushed to sign up for insurance in the initial year of the exchanges, said Laszewski, the industry consultant.

That could free UnitedHealth to enter markets and sign up healthier patients after other insurers, most likely nonprofits with deep community roots, have “taken the bullet” the first year, he said.

Health insurers are still figuring out plan options for 2015, so there are no signs yet that other insurers are following UnitedHealth’s example.

UnitedHealth said it had always planned a measured approach. It needed a year to set up provider networks and see how the exchanges worked in their debut before deciding whether to plunge in deeper.

Spokesman Tyler Mason said the insurer wasn’t waiting for those competitors to sign up all the sick patients first.

“Philosophically, we’ve always said the marketplaces would evolve over time and that they would be good markets and that reform is needed,” he said.

BY TOM MURPHY AP Business Writer

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dr. Melanie Thompson examines HIV patient Brian Albright in her office in Atlanta on July 18. Albright, who was diagnosed with HIV in 1987, estimates his prescription drugs cost $30,000 a year. Patient advocates say some insurance companies are making HIV and AIDS drugs unaffordable in plans issued through the Affordable Care Act by shifting much of the cost to customers. tals in a coverage network.

That would send those patients searching for coverage elsewhere because they don’t want to pay expensive, out-of-network rates.

Narrow insurer networks might include only 30 percent or less of a market’s hospitals, as opposed to 70 percent or more for a broader network, according to the consulting firm McKinsey & Co. An Associated Press survey of the nation’s top cancer centers this spring found that patients covered under the health care law could encounter barriers to access in many cases.

Aside from excluding patients, narrow networks also can help insurers form a healthy customer base by lowering the cost of coverage. A narrow provider network gives insurers leverage to squeeze better rates out of doctors who want to be included in that network in order to

get the insurer’s business.

Better rates lead to lower premiums, and young and healthy people generally shop for insurance based on price.

CAUSE PRESCRIPTION STICKER SHOCK Some plans are requiring patients to initially pay 30 percent or more of the bill for drugs that can cost several thousand dollars a month. HIV drugs and multiple sclerosis medications are among them.

The overhaul caps the annual amounts patients are required to pay for these so-called out-ofpocket expenses. Still, some say the higher cost-sharing requirements can steer patients that need these medications away from enrolling.

“It’s another way to send a message to sicker patients that says, ‘If you’re taking these medications, we’d rather not sell insurance to you,” Flanagan said.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

Workers’ comp OK for kickball game injury Court rules in man’s favor because he was required to attend game

AP FILE PHOTO

A problem that occurred during routine maintenance caused a nationwide outage of Time Warner Cable’s Internet service early Wednesday. The company says service has now been restored to most customers.

Time Warner: Outages largely resolved NEW YORK (AP) — Time Warner Cable said Wednesday that service was largely restored after a problem during routine maintenance caused a nationwide outage of its Internet service for hours.

The company said it is still investigating the cause of the problem, which occurred with its Internet backbone — the paths that local or regional networks connect to in order to carry data long distances.

The problem affected all of Time Warner Cable’s markets and started at 4:30 a.m., sparking widespread complaints on social networks. Service was largely restored by 6 a.m. The company is working to bring all customers back online.

Time Warner Cable, which is in the process of being bought by rival Comcast Corp. for $45 billion, has about 11.4 million high-speed data subscribers in 29 states. The Federal Communications Commission is reviewing the deal.

The New York State Department of Public Service will investigate the outage as part of its review of Comcast’s proposed merger with New York-based Time Warner Cable, said New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a Wednesday statement.

There are major outages of at least one telecom provider every year, although typically they aren’t national, said Tim Farrar, an analyst at TMF Associates.

“AT&T had a major outage back in April, Comcast had one last October.

Verizon Wireless had several national outages on its 4G network back in 2012,” he said. “Usually it is related to bugs in new technology and occasionally to routine maintenance where someone did something wrong.”

Separately, on Tuesday, the FCC said Time Warner Cable would pay $1.1 million to resolve outage reporting violations. The FCC found that Time Warner Cable did not report disruptions in service to its networks to the FCC in a timely manner. In addition to the payment, the company is submitting a three-year plan to make sure it will comply with the reporting rules.

Shooting by 9-year-old stirs gun debate PHOENIX (AP) — “All right, full auto,” the firing-range instructor tells a 9-year-old girl.

She braces the Uzi submachine gun and opens fire at a blacksilhouette target. But the recoil wrenches the fully automatic weapon upward, and the instructor is shot in the head and killed.

The death has set off a powerful debate about youngsters and guns, with many people wondering what sort of parents would let a child handle an Uzi. Instructor Charles Vacca, 39, was standing next to the girl Monday at the Last Stop outdoor shooting range in White Hills, Arizona, about 25 miles south of Las Vegas, when she squeezed the trigger.

Sam Scarmardo, a former Lake Havasu City Council member who operates the shooting range, said Wednesday that the girl’s parents had signed waivers saying they understood the rules of the range and were standing nearby, video recording their daughter, when the incident happened.

“I have regret we let this child shoot, and I have regret that Charlie was killed in the incident,” Scarmardo said.

This isn’t the first accidental shooting by a child using an Uzi. An 8-year-old boy died after shooting himself in the head at a gun expo near Springfield, Massachusetts, in 2008. Christopher Bizilj was firing at pumpkins when the Uzi kicked back.

Ronald Scott, a Phoenixbased firearms safety expert, said most shooting ranges have an age limit and strict safety rules when teaching children to shoot. He said instructors usually have their hands on guns when children are firing high-powered weapons.

“You can’t give a 9-year-old an Uzi and expect her to control it,” Scott said.

The instructor’s death generated angry social-media comments about why a child was allowed to use an automatic

weapon. Many readers expressed sympathy for the girl while questioning whether the adults at the gun range were to blame.

Scarmardo said his policy of allowing children 8 and older to fire guns under adult supervision and the watchful eye of an instructor is standard practice in the industry. The range’s policies are under review, he said.

A video released by investigators shows the 9-year-old, whose identity hasn’t been released, holding the stubby weapon in both hands. Vacca, standing to her left, tells her to turn her left leg forward.

“All right, go ahead and give

me one shot,” he tells the girl, whose back is to the camera during the entire 27-second video. He then cheers when she fires one round at the target.

“All right, full auto,” Vacca says. The video, which does not show the actual incident, ends with a series of shots being heard.

Arizona has long had a strong pro-gun culture, including weapon ranges that promote events for children and families. Some of these ranges offer people the thrill of firing weapons such as the Uzi that are heavily restricted and cannot easily be obtained by members of the public.

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COLUMBIA (AP) — Have you ever been hurt in a company softball or kickball game?

The South Carolina Supreme Court says you may be entitled to workers’ compensation.

On Wednesday, the court ruled that Stephen Whigham, who was injured in a company kickball game, is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits because he was required to attend the game as part of his job.

Whigham worked for Jackson Dawson Communications, a public relations firm. With the encouragement of his boss, he organized a kickball game as a team-building event for employees. He rented a facility and had T-shirts made.

During the game, Whigham shattered two bones in his leg while trying to avoid being tagged out. He underwent two surgeries and has been told that he’ll ultimately need a knee replacement, according to court documents.

A hearing will be held to figure out how much Whigham should get.

Workers’ compensation commissioners initially denied Whigham’s claim, saying that he hadn’t been required to be at the game. An appeals court upheld that ruling, but the high court said Whigham had to be there because he organized the game, so it had become part of his job duties.

“Although the event may have been voluntary for company employees generally, the undisputed facts unequivocally indicate Whigham was expected to attend as part of his professional duties,” the court wrote.

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39 45

ION

13

LIFE

50

MSNBC NICK SPIKE

36 16 64

SYFY

58

TBS

24

TCM

49

TLC

43

TNT

23

TRUTV TVLAND

38 55

USA

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WE WGN

68 8

The First 48: Missing Missing Killer Kids: A Scream & Banana Split (:02) The First 48: Bound and Burned (:01) The First 48 Rage Shooting death. (HD) Grove; Good Man Down (HD) woman’s last steps retraced. (HD) Teens’ murder spree. (HD) Dallas man dead. (HD) (HD) The Lost World: Jurassic Park (‘97, Science Fiction) 180 (5:00) The Mummy Returns (‘01, Ad- Jurassic Park (‘93, Science Fiction) aaac Sam Neill. A billionaire invites scientists to inspect his island park venture) Brendan Fraser. (HD) filled with living dinosaurs, but the trip turns deadly when the dinosaurs escape captivity. (HD) aac Jeff Goldblum. Dinosaurs thrive.

100 Alaska Wildlife Troopers (HD) Alaskan Bush: Raised Wild Alaskan Bush People (HD) Ice Lake Rebels (HD) Alaskan Bush People (HD) Ice Lake (HD) Middle of Nowhere (‘12, Drama) aa Emayatzy Corinealdi. A woman drops out of med Wendy Williams 162 (5:30) Ray (‘04, Drama) aaa Jamie Foxx. Ray Charles rises from humble beginnings to become a music industry icon. school to care for her incarcerated husband.

Show (HD) The Real House wives of Or ange Don’t Be: Flip ping Don’t Be: I Need a Don’t Be: Out Ex treme Guide to Parenting Raised Don’t Be: Out The Sin gles Pro ject: Vir tu ally in Love Don’t Be: Out181 County: Reunion Part 1 Out Man ward Bound as jiu-jitsu warriors. (N) ward Bound Lee holds a charity event. ward Bound 62 Greed Internet fraud.

Greed: The Bling Ring Greed A Ponzi scheme.

Greed Mismanaged money.

Greed: The Wizard of Sarasota Greed 64 Erin Burnett OutFront (N) Anderson Cooper 360° (N) (HD) Anderson Cooper 360° (N) (HD) CNN Tonight Anderson Cooper 360° (HD) Simulcast Tosh.0 Shoes Tosh.0 Daniel’s Tosh.0 (HD) Daily Show (N) The Colbert Re- (:01) @midnight 136 (:54) The Colbert (:25) Daily Show (:57) Chappelle’s (:29) It’s Always It’s Always Report (HD) (HD) Show Sunny (HD) Sunny (HD) thrown. (HD) Subaru. (HD) (HD) port (N) (HD) (N) (HD) Blog: Avery-body Jessie: Snack At- Austin & Ally High School Musical 2 (‘07, Musical) ac Zac Efron. The Wildcats find (:55) Girl Meets Blog Something Good Luck Char80 Austin & Ally (HD) Dance Now tack (HD) (HD) work at a local country club and prepare for a talent show. (HD) Jealous Riley. special. lie (HD) 103 Alaskan Monster (HD) Russian Yeti: The Killer Lives Horrific mystery. (HD) Swamp Monsters: The Grunch Russian Yeti: The Killer Lives (HD) 35 Football (HD) College Football: Boise State Broncos vs Ole Miss Rebels from Georgia Dome in Atlanta (HD) SportsCenter (HD) Sports (HD) 39 2014 U.S. Open Tennis: Second Round: from USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center z{| (HD) Olbermann (HD) Baseball (HD) The Last Song (‘10, Drama) aa Miley Cyrus. An angry and rebellious teenager spends the Young & Hungry The 700 Club Author Lysa TerKeurst; Prince: Hilary 131 (6:00) A Walk to Remember (‘02, Romance) aac Shane West. (HD) summer with her estranged father. (HD) (HD) Lauren Nelson.

Gets a Life 109 Chopped: Own It! (HD) Chopped: Food Truck Fight (HD) Chopped (HD) Beat Bobby Beat Bobby Diners (HD) Diners (HD) Chopped (HD) 74 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 42 UFC Reloaded: UFC 145: Jones v Evans no} (HD) New College (HD) ACC Gridiron Live! (HD) West Coast The Middle (HD) The Middle: Leap The Middle Night The Middle (HD) Golden New busi- Golden Lottery Golden Girls: 183 The Waltons: The Conscience Sec- The Waltons: The Obstacle Mike ond thoughts.

Paxton.

Year (HD) vision. (HD) ness. winner.

Scared Straight 112 Upper Missionary parents.

Upper Active lifestyle.

Upper New beginning.

Hunters (HD) the Grid Big Family (N) Big Family (N) Upper 110 Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Criminal Minds: To Hell... Homeless Criminal Minds: ... And Back Cana- Cold Case: Red Glare McCarthy era Cold Case: Mind Hunter Headless Cold Case: 160 Criminal Minds: Roadkill Series of vehicular murders. (HD) disappear. (HD) dian killer. (HD) murder. (HD) victims. (HD) Discretions (HD) Project Runway: The Klum of Doom Project Runway: It’s a Nice Day for a Rock Wedding Un- (:31) Project Runway: It’s a Nice Day for a Rock Wed- (:02) Project Run145 Project Runway: A Suitable Twist Suits repurposed. (HD) A look for Heidi. (HD) conventional wedding dresses. (N) (HD) ding Unconventional wedding dresses. (HD) way (HD) 76 Hardball with Chris (N) (HD) All in with Chris Hayes (HD) The Rachel Maddow Show (N) Lawrence O’Donnell (HD) All in with Chris Hayes (HD) Maddow (HD) 91 Sam & Cat Sponge Thunderman Thunderman Instant (HD) Dad Run Full Hse Full Hse Friends (HD) Friends (HD) Friends (HD) 154 Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Police (HD) Spartacus: Blood and Sand: Old (:05) Defiance: All Things Must Pass Defiance: I Al152 Resident Evil: Extinction (‘07, Sci- Defiance: All Things Must Pass Nolan Defiance: I Almost Prayed Nolan ence Fiction) Milla Jovovich. to stop Irisa. (N) must stop Irisa’s vicious plan. (N) Wounds Pal dies; lady lost.

Nolan to stop Irisa. most Prayed Mom New friend. Family Guy Life Family Guy Re- The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang Conan Jason Segel; Cameron Diaz. The Office (HD) 156 The Big Bang Theory (HD) (HD) change. (HD) union. (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) (HD) (:15) Three Little 186 (6:00) Scene of the Crime (‘49, Mys- Journey to the Center of the Earth (‘59, Adventure) aaa James Mason. Exploration party Wicked as They Come (‘57, Drama) aaa Arlene tery) Van Johnson. Cop killer. enters extinct volcano in search of the Earth’s center.

Dahl. A poor woman wants to rise to the top.

Words (‘50) 157 Gypsy Sisters (N) (HD) Gypsy Sisters (N) (HD) Gypsy Sisters (N) (HD) Extra Bling Ball; extras. (N) (HD) Escaping Alaska (HD) Sisters (HD) (:01) Castle: Hunt Castle finds his (:02) Castle: Scared to Death Killed (:03) Dallas: Dead Reckoning Family (:03) Hawaii 158 Castle: Reality Star Struck Reality TV Castle: Target A business man’s star is found murdered. (HD) daughter is kidnapped. (HD) own life in jeopardy. (HD) by a “haunted” DVD. (HD) death. (HD) Five-0 (HD) 102 truTV Top: Surprise Laughs truTV Top Funniest (N) Jokers Jokers Jokers Jokers (:01) Way Out (:31) Way Out truTV Top 161 Griffith (HD) Griffith (HD) Candid Camera (HD) Cleveland (:46) The King of Queens (HD) Queens (HD) Queens (HD) Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Law & Or der: Spe cial Vic tims Unit: Law & Or der: Spe cial Vic tims Unit: Rush: Be cause I Got High Rush has Sat is fac tion: ...Through Terms and (:02) Rush: Be cause I Got High Rush (:03) Satisfact.

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ABC offers viewers a look at top-20 outrageous ads

BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH Nothing says “nothing’s on TV” quite like “World’s Wildest Commercials” (10 p.m., ABC) appearing on the broadcast schedule. It is the Thursday before Labor Day, after all.

There are three times a year when the networks salute the advertising that pays the bills.

The end of August, the week between Christmas and New Year’s and the week before the Super Bowl. But the latter only salutes Super Bowl commercials.

Chris Parnell (“30 Rock,” “Saturday Night Live”) hosts this top-20 countdown of outrageous ads, many from overseas that exhibit a more extreme take on sexuality and scatology than we’re used to here. But some things need no translation: cute animals and handsome male figures who are attractive to television’s female viewers.

• Greg Kinnear and Miley Cyrus play an estranged father and daughter united by a shared love of music in the 2010 melodrama “The Last Song” (8 p.m., ABC Family, TV-PG).

TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS • Note: Local NFL and MLB coverage may pre-empt some programming below.

• A traitor emerges on the live action game “The Quest” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).

• On back to back episodes of “Defiance” (Syfy, TV-14): Nolan races to save Tommy’s life (8 p.m.); and Nolan fights both the Earth Republic as well as old acquaintances to stop Irisa’s destructive plan in the second season finale (9 p.m.).

• On two helpings of “Welcome to Sweden” (NBC, TV-14): a trip to New York (9 p.m.), Aubrey Plaza guest-stars as herself (9:30 p.m.).

• A rock star patient adds to Rush’s medicine cabinet of temptations on “Rush” (9 p.m.,

USA, TV-14).

• A contest calls for an unusual wedding dress on “Project Runway” (9 p.m., Lifetime, TVPG).

• Anika embarks on a college tour on “Satisfaction” (10 p.m., USA, TV-14).

• Revelations about Nessa emerge in captivity on “The Honorable Woman” (10 p.m., Sundance, TV-MA).

• A familiar heckler spoils a milestone gig on “Garfunkel and Oates” (10 p.m., IFC, TV-14).

• Jimmy’s moment of honesty and vulnerability gives Gretchen the creeps on “You’re the Worst” (10:30 p.m., FX, TVMA).

• Morgan Spurlock’s “7 Deadly Sins” (11 p.m., Showtime, TVMA) explores wrath.

CULT CHOICE A luckless photographer (Red Skelton) chases beautiful women and finds trouble in the 1950 comedy “Watch the Birdie” (8 a.m., TCM), co-starring Arlene Dahl and Ann Miller. Part of a 24-hour marathon of Arlene Dahl movies, including “Journey to the Center of the Earth” (8 p.m., TCM), from 1959.

Dahl is the mother of Lorenzo Lamas, host of “Are You Hot?” and star of “Leave It to Lamas”!

LATE NIGHT Todd Glass is booked on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (11

BEN MARK HOLZBERG / SYFY

Tony Curran, left, stars as Datak Tarr and Jaime Murray as Stahma Tarr in a scene from the second season finale of “Defiance” airing at 9 p.m. today on Syfy. p.m., Comedy Central) * Jason Segel, Cameron Diaz, Matt Walsh and “Weird Al” Yankovic are on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS, r) * JR visits “The Colbert Report” (11:30 p.m., Comedy Central) * Mike Myers and John Fullbright appear on “Late Show With David Letterman” (11:35 p.m., CBS) * Halle Berry, Chris Colfer and Florida Georgia Line on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC, r) * Aaron Paul and Ed Sheeran appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (11:35 p.m., ABC) * Clive Owen, Sarah

IMPORTANT NOTICE DRS. JOSEPH AND BRENDA WILLIAMS will be leaving the private practice of medicine and closing the EXCELSIOR MEDICAL CLINIC, PA on November 21, 2014.

We greatly appreciate the loyal support of our patients these past thirty-two (32) years. Gratitude also is extended to our colleagues and business associates for their support.

Patients may get their medical records Monday through Friday from 10am through 5pm. The last day for picking up medical records will be December 19, 2014.

Please call at least two days in advance to allow time to gather the records.

Paulson and Chase Rice visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC, r) * Craig Fer-

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RELIGION

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

Give thanks for your daily cup of grace We all need grace to help us in our daily lives, struggles

ca-Cola, well played.

Like most Americans, I have a well-developed sense of vanity. As a child, I was a sucker for those novelty license plate souvenirs you find in the gift shops. I believed those ubiquitous inspirational posters that papered my school classroom walls: I was important, unique, special, the holder of a specific array of talents and gifts unparalleled by any other person in this world. It came as a great shock when I found out there be other imFaith Matters would portant, unique JAMIE H. and special people WILSON out there competing for scholarships, jobs, promotions and even potential mates.

It didn’t take long for me to realize that I needed something more besides my falsely inflated self-esteem. I needed grace –— the kind that compensated for both successes and failures. The kind that gave me what I needed depending on the day I was having.

Those of us so inclined believe that such grace is available to us on a daily basis: “My grace is sufficient for you ‌â€? (II Corinthians

I

finally found it. Written in that famous, scripted font that has graced the bottles of that popular carbonated, caramel-colored cocktail for decades was my name: Jamie. I had been looking for my own personalized soda since Coca-Cola’s massively successful marketing campaign began earlier this year. I had gotten close with “James� and “Jackie� but never seemed to spot that one bottle or can meant just for me.

My aunt was the one who found my name and sent me a picture of the Coke that bore my namesake.

For the moment, I was awash in excitement and a feeling of importance — here was my Coke, made just for me by the loving and allknowing people at the Coca-Cola bottling plant. I imagined a jovial Coca-Cola plant worker smiling as the machine secured the label on Jamie’s very own bottle of Coke. “Don’t worry, little guy,� he would say. “You’ll make it to her.�

Oddly enough, I don’t even drink Coke. Yet I still found myself trying to find the one meant just for me. It just seemed wrong to drink Evan’s Coke Zero or Jennifer’s Diet Coke. Well played, Co-

RELIGION BRIEF FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS

Muslim community outraged

by UK sex abuse report

12:9, NIV).

It means the Almighty gives us what we need, when we need it. It’s a grace that is tailor made for each of us.

It took me a while to realize that the grace extended to my friends wasn’t suited for me.

I didn’t need Evan’s grace or Jennifer’s grace; I needed Jamie’s grace.

I perceived that my friends’ lives were significantly easier, that their path was fraught with far less obstacles than my own. It seemed God’s grace in their lives came in a much larger dose than mine. An outsider with no intimate knowledge of their lives, I remember protesting the unfairness of it all. Why wasn’t my plot easier?

I think it’s because God’s daily allotment of grace forces me to grow to a deeper understanding of his plan for my life. It pushes me, molds me and keeps me searching for the answers that don’t come easily. It makes me thirsty for my God. I am so grateful for that daily cup of grace. Every day it’s there, waiting for me to drink and be sated in my God’s all-knowing plan for my day.

ROTHERHAM, England — Members of Britain’s Pakistani community reacted with outrage Wednesday amid reports that officials failed to act on sex abuse cases because of concerns about racism in the English town of Rotherham.

Report author Alexis Jay said between 1997 and 2013, some 1,400 children were sexually exploited in the town of 250,000, mostly by Pakistani men.

Charities that deal with abused children have expressed shock not just at the number of victims but by the apparent reluctance of town authorities to address the fact that people of Pakistani heritage were involved for fear they would be labeled racists.

Muhbeen Hussain, founder of Rotherham Muslim Youth Group, told the Daily Mirror on Wednesday that Muslims are disgusted that justice was not done in Rotherham. “Race, religion or political correctness should never provide a cloak of invisibility to such grotesque crimes,� he said.

Barnardo’s, a charity that works with vulnerable children, unilaterally condemned the abuse that left so many to suffer for so long. “No one should ever be frightened to act decisively because of fear of being seen as racist or politically incorrect,� said Barnardo’s chief executive, Javed Khan.

Church Directory Adventist

Reflecting the Sea

Sumter Seventh-Day Adventist 103 N Pike West 775-4455 Pastor Harry Robinson Sat. Sch: 9:15 am, Worship: 11:00 am Tues Bible Study 7 pm www.sumter22.adventistchurchconnect.org

A

view of the ocean can be calming; the sound of waves, soothing; the mirroring of the sun and moon, uplifting. The hugeness of the sea reminds us of the omnipotence of our Creator, He is reflected in the vast waters He created. God’s vastness and omnipresence, the strength of the waves, His assurance through the dependable rhythms of the tides, the light of God’s wisdom reflected upon the darkness of the sea‌ all of these reflect our Heavenly Father’s love for us. Let life reflect the presence of God in your heart when you worship this week.

Anglican

Church of the Holy Cross 335 North Kings Hwy (Hwy 261 N) 803-494-8101 Father Michael E. Ridgill, C.F.S.B. Sunday School 9:00 am Mass 10:00 am Mon. - Thurs. Chapel 9 am Morning Prayer Wed. Chapel 11:00 qm - Bible Study 12 pm Mass

Baptist - Independent Cherryvale Baptist Church 1502 Cherryvale Dr. * 494-8655 Edward Bowen Sr. Pastor Sun. School 10:00 am Worship 11:00 am & 6:00 pm Wed. Evening Service 7:00 pm

Baptist - Missionary Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church 803 S Harvin St. * 775-4032 Marion H Newton, Pastor Sunday Worship: 7:45 & 10:45 am Sunday Youth Service: 10:45 am Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00 pm

2 Timothy 1.1-18

2 Timothy 2.1-26

Plaza Church of Christ &DPGHQ +Z\ ‡ Stewart Schnur cell 361-8449 Sunday School: 10 am Sunday Worship: 11 am & 6 pm Wed. Bible Class: 7 pm

Photo Credit Istockphoto.com/CAHKT

Titus 2.1-15

Titus 3.1-15

Scriptures Selected by the American Bible Society

Š2014, Keister-Williams Newspaper Services, P.O. Box 8187, Charlottesville, VA 22906, www.kwnews.com

Sun School 10:00 am Worship 11:00 am Sun Evening Worship 6:00 pm Wed Mid Week Service 7:00 pm

Baptist - Southern

Shaw Heights Baptist Church 2030 Peach Orchard Rd 499-4997 Rev. Robert White Pastor Sunday School: 9:45 am Sunday Worship:11 am & 6 pm

Grace Baptist Church 219 W Calhoun St * 778-6417 Dr. Stephen Williams S.S. 9:45 am; Worship 11:00, 6:30 Wed. Meal-Choir-Missions: 5:30 pm Wed. Bible Study: 6:30 pm

Salem Missionary Baptist Church 320 West Fulton Street 803-775-8054 Rev. Lei Ferguson Washington Sun. School 9:00 am Praise Worship 9:55 am Worship 10:00 am

Long Branch Baptist Church 2535 Peach Orchard Rd. Dalzell 499-1838 www.longbranch_baptist.com Rev. Brian Benenhaley

The Catholic Community of Sumter, St. Jude Site : 2DNODQG $YH ‡ www.stjudesumtersc.org Fr. Charles Michael Donovan, C.S.S.R. Saturday Vigil: 5:00 pm Sun. Euch.: 9:00, 11:30 am, 1 pm (Spanish)

Lutheran - ELCA Non-Denominational

St James Lutheran Church 1137 Alice Dr, Sumter 773-2260 / www.stjamessumter.org Pastor Keith Getz Sunday Worship: 10:00 am Sunday School: 9:00 am

Church of Christ Lutheran - NALC

Weekly Scripture Reading 2 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus 3.1-9 3.10-4.8 1.1-16

Hickory Road Baptist Church 1245 Cherryvale Dr 803-494-8281 Dr. Ron Taylor Pastor Sunday School 9:45 am Worship 10:55 am

Reach Jamie H. Wilson at faithmatterssumter@gmail.com.

Catholic - Roman

The Catholic Community of Sumter, St. Anne Site ( /LEHUW\ 6W ‡ Fr. Thomas Burke, C.S.S.R. Weekend Masses: Sat Vigil 5 pm Sun. 7:30, 9:00 and 11:30 am Mass

Immanuel Lutheran Church 3RLQVHWW 'ULYH ‡ Pastor Gary Blobaum Worship Service 9:00 am Sunday School 10:30 am Wed Bible Class: 7:00 pm

Interdenominational Methodist - United

City of Refuge Church 16 Carolina Ave 938-9066 Barbara & Johnny Davis Sun School 10:00 am Worship 11:15 am Bible Study (Wed.) 7:00 pm www.cityofrefugeministry.com Love Covenant Church 2VZHJR +Z\ ‡ Apostle Tommy Fredrick Prophet Angela Frederick Sunday Worship: 11:00 am Thursday Bible Study: 7:00 pm

Spiritual Life Christian Center %URDG 6W ([W ‡ Pastors Randolph & Minerva Paige Sunday Worship: 11:00 am Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00 pm Victory Full Gospel Interdenominational Church 3LWWV 5G ‡ Joann P. Murrill, Pastor Sunday Worship: 11:00 am Youth Bible Study/Respect Monday: 7 pm

Aldersgate United Methodist $OLFH 'U ‡ Dr. Webb Belangia, Reverend Traditional Service 9:00 am Sunday School 10:15 am Contemporary 11:15 am

Bethel United Methodist Church /RGHEDU 5G ‡ Rev. Jeremy Howell Sunday Worship: 8:30 & 11 am Sunday School: 10 am www.yourbethel.org BMethodist@ftc-i.net St John United Methodist Church 136 Poinsett Dr * 803-773-8185 www.stjohnumcsumter.com Rev. J. Robert (Bob) Huggins Sunday School 9:45 am Worship 11:00 am Wed. Night Supper/Bible Study 6:30 pm

Christ Community Church(CCC) 525 Oxford St, Sumter 803-934-9718 Sun. Worship 10:00 am (Patriot Hall) First Church of God &DPGHQ 5G ‡ www.sumterfcg.org Ron Bower, Pastor Sunday Worship: 10:30 am Sunday School: 9:30 am

Sumter Bible Church 420 South Pike West, Sumter ‡ 3DVWRU 5RQ 'DYLV Sunday School 10:00 am Worship 11:00 am & 6:30 pm Wed. Bible Study & Prayer 7:00 pm

Pentecostal

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Lemira Presbyterian Church %RXOHYDUG 5G ‡ Pastor Dan Rowton Sunday School 10:00 am Worship 11:00 am Bible Study 6:00 pm

Canty Memorial Church of God in Christ, Ministries :RRGFUHVW 6W ‡ Superintendent Eugene Canty, SR. Sunday Prayer: 8:00 am Worship: 9:15 am & 5:00 pm First United Penecostal Church 3ORZGHQ 0LOO 5G ‡ Pastor Theron Smith Sunday Service: 10:00 am & 6:30 pm Wednesday Bible Study: 7:30 pm

(803) 774-1075 13 Caldwell Street Sumter, SC

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“Celebrating 110 Years�

First Presbyterian Church of Sumter 9 W Calhoun St (at Main St.) ‡ ZZZ ISFVXPWHU RUJ Interim Pastor Rev. Ray Fancher Sunday School - All Ages 9:30 a.m.

Hospitality & Welcome 10:10 a.m.

(Fellowship Hall) Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. (Sanctuary)

Trinity United Methodist Church : /LEHUW\ 6W ‡ Rev. Regi Thackston Blended Worship 8:45 am Traditional Worship 11:00 am Sunday School 9:45 am trinityumcsumter.org

Carolina Atlas Transmission 3 : /LEHUW\ 6WUHHW ‡ 6XPWHU 6& Filters, Inc. r

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Presbyterian USA

Greater St. Paul Church 200 Watkins Street 803-778-1355 Sunday School - 10:30 am Worship - 11:30 am Evangelistic Service 7:30 pm Wed. Mid Week Service - 7:30 pm

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Sumter First Pentecostal Holiness Church 0F&UD\V 0LOO 5G ‡ S. Paul Howell, Pastor Sunday School: 10:00 am Sunday Worship: 10:45 am & 6:00 pm Wed. Bible Study/Youth Group: 7:00 pm

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To view church information online go to www.theitem.com or www.sumterchurchesonline.com

RELIGION

THE SUMTER ITEM

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

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

SGT. 1ST CLASS NICHOLAS SALCIDO / USARCENT PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Lt. Col. Joey Byrd, U.S. Army Central deputy command chaplain, gives the invocation during the soldier spiritual fitness luncheon at the hall of flags at USARCENT’s headquarters on Aug. 20. The USARCENT chaplain’s directorate sponsors the quarterly event as an opportunity to strengthen the resilience of its soldiers, families and civilians.

Eat pancakes, help church with events In an effort to raise money for youth activities and community-wide events, Mount Moriah United Methodist Church will host a Flapjack Fundraiser from 8 to 10 a.m.

Saturday at Applebee’s, 2497 Broad St. This is the church’s seventh year hosting the fundraiser.

“We’re inviting everyone to come out and show support,” said Dryon Anderson, president of United Methodist Men. “The Flapjack Fundraiser is something we do every year, and the money will go to other planned community events.”

Anderson explained that the church — where the Rev. Wyatt Minton is the pastor

A7

Shop or sale? St. Jude offers chance for both

Spiritual fitness luncheon

BY RAYTEVIA EVANS ray@theitem.com (803) 774-1214

|

— hosts many community and youth events including the Gospel Fest and Fish Fry, where the church offers musical entertainment and free food for youth and members of the church and community.

For the Flapjack Fundraiser, the members of Mount Moriah United Methodist Church are partnering with the Apple Gold Group, a franchisee of Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill and Bar. “Our Sumter Applebee’s team is excited to once again partner with the members of this local church organization as they prepare for their annual community event,” said Michael Olander, president and CEO of the Apple Gold Group. “We encourage you to join us on Aug. 30 at our Broad Street restaurant

for a Flapjack Fundraiser in support of Mount Moriah Methodist.”

Applebee’s often partners with local nonprofit organizations as a way to raise money for causes. From ticket sales to event-day staff, the breakfasts are managed by the nonprofit organization with the assistance of Applebee’s employee volunteers.

Mount Moriah has a number of other events coming up that the church fund raises for, including the 100 Men in Black event scheduled for Sept. 28.

Tickets for the Flapjack Fundraiser are $7 and can be purchased by contacting Anderson at (803) 730-2456.

Breakfast includes a short stack of pancakes, sausage and beverages.

Missionary Baptist Church, will speak. Guest choirs and soloists will be featured.

and trustee wives anniversary program during morning worship.

Cross Road / St. Peter Baptist Church, 845 Webb St., announces: * Sunday — 2014 Youth Blast “Throw Back Sunday” at 11 a.m.

Evangelist Crystal King, of Life In the Word Ministries of Camden, will speak.

Kingdom of God Ministries, 3590 Pinewood Road, announces: * Saturday, Sept. 6 — Fundraiser tractor pull with barbecue pork and chicken dinners beginning at noon. Dinners are $7 each.

DO YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE?

St. Jude Catholic Church is planning an inaugural Shopping Extravaganza on Sept. 6, and there is still time for you to get involved.

“We’ve probably sold about half the tables available,” said Valerie Williams, a member of the fundraising committee for Ladies of St. Peter Claver.

“We’re asking for people who want to promote their business or somebody who does crafts and wants to sell them.”

Tables are $20, and that is the only charge for the vendors.

“They keep everything they sell,” Williams said.

“We’re just taking the table money.”

Admission for shoppers is free.

“We’re always looking for customers,” she said.

Refreshments will be on sale, and a silent auction will take place. There will also be a bake sale.

Money from these areas

Tables cost $20, and vendors keep all proceeds. Deadline to sign up is Sept. 2. To reserve a table or for more information, contact Vernessa Baker at (803) 8839251 or BLESSVEE@yahoo. com or Valerie Williams at vwilliams003@sc.rr.com. Put “Extravaganza” in the subject line of all emails.

WANT TO SHOP? WHAT: St. Jude Catholic Church’s Inaugural Shopping Extravaganza WHEN: Starts at 7:30 a.m.

Sept. 6 WHERE: St. Jude Parish Center, 611 W. Oakland Ave. COST: Admission for shoppers is free.

— refreshment and bake sales as well as the silent auction — and the table fees will go toward the Ladies of St. Peter Claver community work such as a safe Halloween party in October and a seniors Christmas dinner in December.

RELIGION BRIEF FROM STAFF REPORTS

Faith leaders called to community mission If you are a leader in the faith community, then John Sorrells wants to talk to you.

The senior pastor at Crosspoint Baptist Church has connected with the owner of some local apartment complexes about ways to help the Sumter community.

“When the faith commu-

nity partners with multihousing, owners and managers are happy because they have better and longerstaying residents,” he said.

He is calling faith leaders to meet at 3 p.m. today at the church, 2755 Carter Road, to learn more about how they and their congregations can help provide special activities, events and celebrations in these areas.

For more information, call (803) 905-1999.

CHURCH NEWS Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 2571 Joseph Lemon-Dingle Road, Jordan community, Manning, announces: * Sunday, Sept. 21 — Homecoming / church anniversary service at 10 a.m. Pastor Nelson Rivers, of Charity Baptist Church in Charleston, will speak.

Calvary Baptist Church, 459 Calvary Church Road, Bishopville, announces: * Saturday, Sept. 6 — Mid-Caroling singing at 6 p.m. featuring King’s Cause and Cedar Creek Quartet.

Church of God of Prophecy, 1170 Guignard Drive, announces: * Saturday — Praise God through song at 6 p.m. On the program: McClarys; Newboys; Justified; Retha and the Caravans; and more.

Clark United Methodist Church, 2980 U.S. 401 N., Oswego Highway, announces: * Saturday, Sept. 6 — Anointed Jubilaries anniversary celebration at 5 p.m. * Sunday, Sept. 7 — Men of Distinction program at 4 p.m. * Saturday, Sept. 20 — Birthday ministry celebration at 5 p.m.

There will be food and fun for everyone as well as a giveaway of three gas cards. Requesting donations of $5 for fundraiser.

Community Church of Praise, 565 S. Pike Road, announces: * Sunday — Youth Sunday at 10 a.m.

Concord Baptist Church, 1885 Myrtle Beach Highway, announces: * Sunday, Sept. 14 — 38th Homecoming celebration beginning at 10 a.m. Jordan’s Bridge will provide music. Dinner on the grounds also.

Corinth Missionary Baptist Church, 25 Community St., announces: * Friday, Sept. 12 — Pastor anniversary celebration, part one, will be held at 7 p.m. Pastor Larry W. Barnes, of Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, will speak. Refreshments will be served. * Sunday, Sept. 14 — Pastor anniversary celebration, part two, will be held at 5 p.m. Pastor Marion H. Newton, of Jehovah

Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, 105 Dinkins St., Manning, announces: * Sunday, Sept. 7 — Family and friends day at 11 a.m.

Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 421 S. Main St., announces: * Sunday — Fifth Sunday joint service at 10 a.m. at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church on Loring Mill Road. * Sunday, Sept. 7 — Communion worship service. Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. followed by 11:30 a.m. worship.

Faith Outreach Assembly, 42 Callen Drive, announces: * Sunday — Gospel singing at 6 p.m. featuring Armed & Ready, Julie Mahoney and others.

High Hills Missionary Baptist Church, 6750 Meeting House Road, Dalzell, announces: * Sunday, Sept. 7 — Holy communion after 10:15 a.m. worship. * Sunday, Sept. 14 — Trustees / trustee wives anniversary during 10:15 a.m. worship. * Sunday, Sept. 21 — Pastor’s Aide anniversary during 10:15 a.m. worship.

Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church, 803 S. Harvin St., announces: * Saturday — A night of worship at 7 p.m. at M.H. Newton Family Life Center, 415 Manning Ave., featuring the gospel group Immeasurable.

Joshua Baptist Church, 5200 Live Oak Road, Dalzell, announces: * Sunday — Youth service.

Church school begins at 9 a.m. followed by 10 a.m. worship. * Sunday, Sept. 14 — Junior Missionary anniversary program during morning worship. * Sunday, Sept. 21 — Trustee

Knitting Hearts Ministry, meets at Bethesda Church of God, 2730 Broad St., announces: * Saturday, Sept. 13 — Knitting Hearts Café will meet 10 a.m.noon. Laura Jones will speak.

Drama presentation by Diane Parker. www.knittingheartsministry.org LaGree AME Church, 2910 Kolb Road, announces: * Sunday — Gospel singing at 4 p.m. to celebrate the male chorus anniversary.

Land Flowing with Milk & Honey Ministry, 1335 Peach Orchard Road, announces: * Sunday, Sept. 21 — Celebration of the second anniversary of the church at 4 p.m. Elder Dorothy Maple will speak. * Saturday, Oct. 18 — Women of Exertion Conference 2014 “Hear the Command.” Registration 8-8:30 a.m. with workshops 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Pastor Dorothy Maple and Evangelist Tonya Mack will serve as morning facilitators. Prophetess Rose Summers will speak at 6 p.m.

M.H. Newton Family Enrichment Center, 415 Manning Ave., announces: * Sunday — 45th anniversary celebration of Deacon Robert Burgess and the Mighty Soul Searchers. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. with the program beginning at 4:30 p.m. On the program: Joe Ligon and the Mighty Clouds of Joy; Ernest Pearson and the Singing Disciples; Harmonettes & Co.; and many more.

Mount Glory Baptist Church, 841 N. Main St., announces: * Friday, Sept. 5 — Joy night service at 7 p.m. Minister Darryl Cunningham will speak.

Mount Moriah United Methodist Church, 1379 Swimming Pen Road, Mayesville, announces: * Saturday — Flapjack fundrais-

er 8-10 a.m. at Applebee’s, 2497 Broad St. All proceeds will be used to help purchase supplies and food for the church’s annual community-wide gospel fest and fish fry. Tickets are $7 and can be purchased at the door or by calling (803) 730-2456.

Providence Baptist Church, 2445 Old Manning Road, announces: * Sunday — Fifth Sunday night singing at 6:30 p.m. * Saturday, Sept. 6 — Russell Elmore prayer breakfast at 7:30 a.m.

Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church, 7355 Camden Highway, Rembert, announces: * Sunday — Youth Day program.

Sunday school begins at 9:30 a.m. followed by 10:30 a.m. worship.

Second Baptist Church, 323 Alfred Henry Drive, Manning, announces: * Sunday — “Our own talent Sunday night” at 6 p.m.

Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 325 Fulton St., announces: * Sunday — Youth worship service at 10:45 a.m. The Rev. Rossi Ramsay, field missionary, Sumter Baptist M&E Association, will speak. * Sunday, Sept. 7 — The Rev. Alfred Washington will speak at 6 p.m. * Sunday, Sept. 14 — Junior Missionary ministry anniversary celebration at 10:45 a.m. Evangelist Savitrus McFadden will speak. * Saturday, Sept. 20 — Rainbow tea sponsored by the YWA Ministry at noon at the Mount Zion Enrichment Center. Tickets are $10 or adults and $5 for children age 12 and under. Anita M. Blassingame will speak. * Sunday, Sept. 28 — 121st church anniversary and homecoming worship celebration at 10:45 a.m.

New Hope UME Church, 19022 Panola Road, Pinewood, announces: * Sunday — Annual black and white program at 2 p.m. The Rev. Mary L. Brailsford, pastor of Mount Pleasant UME Church, will speak.

Paxville Baptist Church, 10278 Lewis Road, Manning, announces: * Saturday, Sept. 27 — Gospel singing at 6 p.m. to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the church featuring Karen Peck and New River. Tickets are $25.

Call (803) 452-9969 or visit www. paxvillebaptistchurch.org. * Sunday, Sept. 28 — Celebration of the 125th anniversary of the church at 11 a.m. Former pastor Lawrence Dennis will speak. Luncheon will follow in the fellowship hall.

Spring Hill AME Church, 4309 Bill Davis Road, Summerton, announces: * Sunday — J.D. Deline Day at 3 p.m. The Rev. Clifford Gaymon will speak.

St. Jude Catholic Church, 611 W. Oakland Ave., announces: * Saturday, Sept. 6 — The Ladies of St. Peter Claver will host a fall shopping extravaganza and bake sale 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Vendors, yard sale items, craft booths and more. Cost to reserve a space is $20. Contact Vernessa Baker at (803) 8839251 or Blessvee@yahoo.com or Valerie Williams at (803) 7750478 or vwilliams003@sc.rr. com.

Sumter Free Will Baptist Church, 971 Boulevard Road, announces: * Sunday — Gospel singing at 6 p.m. featuring the Sims Family.

Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, 155 Wall St., announces: * Saturday — American Red Cross Blood Drive 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the church.

Unity Baptist Church, 4000 U.S. 15 South, announces: * Saturday — Fifth Saturday singing at 6:30 p.m. featuring the High Ridge Bluegrass Gospel Gand as well as Stacey Farley.

Westminster Presbyterian Church (USA), 9124 Plowden Mill Road, Alcolu, announces: * Sunday, Sept. 7 — Homecoming at 2 p.m. The Rev. Herbert Shackleford, of Charlotte, North Carolina, will speak. * Wednesday-Friday, Sept. 10-12 — Revival services at 7:30 nightly. The Rev. George Windley Jr., of First Baptist Missionary, will speak.

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LOCAL | NATION

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

ABUSE FROM PAGE A1 nude from the waist down.

The man said he asked Lawson to help him get dressed after waking up, but instead she reportedly placed him in the wheelchair and then left him there without dressing him.

Investigators issued an arrest warrant for Lawson on July 30, but it was nearly a month before Lawson was taken into custody. Sumter County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Robert Burnish said he was unsure of the reason for the delay.

A study by the National Center on Elder Abuse, backed by the U.S. Administration on Aging, found that 44 percent of nursing home residents reported being abused by nursing home staff, and 95 percent said they had been neglected or seen another resident neglected.

The U.S. General Accountability Office looked into how states monitor care facilities for elder abuse in 2008 and found that 70 percent of state surveys on the issue miss at least one deficiency and 15 percent overlook “actual harm and immediate jeopardy of a nursing home resident.”

In 2008, 3.2 million Americans lived in nursing homes.

But lest seniors think living at home is the safer choice, the government study also found that in 90 percent of cases, the abuser is a direct family member of the elder being mistreated.

A call to the administrator of Sumter Valley seeking comment was not returned by press time. Burnish said Lawson was no longer employed by the center at the time of her arrest.

CANDIDATES FROM PAGE A1 and Tom Adams have confirmed they will attend, said Elizabeth Kilgore, secretary for the Sumter branch. A representative for Congressman Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., a Sumter native, is also scheduled to be present.

Ravenel, running as an independent candidate, is going up against long-serving Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Democratic candidate Brad Hutto for a U.S. Senate seat. The former state treasurer garnered headlines for his cocaine charges as well as a stint on “Southern Charm,” a reality show that revealed he fathered a child by a younger woman who was also on the show.

Bossi is an American Party candidate vying for the seat held by Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C. Scott took over for Jim DeMint when he stepped down last year to become president of The Heritage Foundation, a conservative research and educational institution.

Adams, a Fort Mill town councilman, is going up against Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., for the 5th Congressional District seat.

Clyburn will face two candidates in the November election, Republican Anthony Culler and Libertarian Kevin Umbaugh.

For more information on the forum, call Kilgore at (803) 468-0181.

RAYTEVIA EVANS / THE SUMTER ITEM

Sumter County Council Chairman Larry Blanding presents Sumter County Recreation and Parks Department’s Phil Parnell with a gift from the board, recognizing his accomplishments with the department through the years. Parnell was recently inducted into the Dixie Softball Hall of Fame.

COUNTY FROM PAGE A1 Comprehensive Plan to reflect minor changing conditions.

Planning Director George McGregor included suggestions for reviewing and updating the county’s comprehensive plan — mentioning, after looking at the census data, that there isn’t evidence that shows they need to make major changes to the plan. However, McGregor did mention possibly adding a few minor changes to the plan, including a new housing policy for below-

MIAMI (AP) — An American freelance journalist held hostage and threatened with death by Islamic militants wanted to tell the world through his writing about oppressed people in the Middle East, his mother said in a video released Wednesday.

Steven Sotloff, 31, was last seen in August 2013 in Syria. He was threatened with death by Islamic State militants on a video released last week unless the U.S. stopped air strikes on the group in Iraq. The same video showed the beheading of fellow American journalist James Foley.

In her video, Shirley Sotloff, who lives in the Miami area, appealed to her son’s captors to have mercy on a man sympathetic to the suffering of Muslims.

“He is an honorable man and has always tried to help the weak,” she said.

The new video marked the first detailed public comments the family has made since Steven Sotloff went missing. Several U.S. officials, including U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., say they have been working behind the scenes to find out more about him and try to secure his release.

“This is a tragic situation, and we have seen that (the Islamic State) has

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no respect for human life,” RosLehtinen said.

At the White House, spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters he did not know whether President Obama had seen Shirley Sotloff’s video, but he said the administration is “deeply engaged” in trying to gain release of all Americans held hostage in the Middle East.

“She obviously, as is evident from the video, feels desperate about the safety and well-being of her son, and understandably so, and that is why our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Sotloff’s family at this very difficult and trying time.”

On his Twitter feed, Sotloff described himself as a “stand-up philosopher from Miami. Currently in Libya.” He also mentions several publications in which his work appeared, including Time and Foreign Policy magazines.

Before Sotloff was shown on the Islamic State video, only a few friends and family knew he had been taken hostage, said Sotloff’s former roommate at the University of Central Florida, Emerson Lotzia. His parents didn’t want anyone to go public. Lotzia said he recently spoke to Sotloff’s father, Arthur Sotloff.

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changing over the immediate years.

Of course, we’ll also take suggestions from council,” McGregor said.

Vice Chairman Eugene Baten asked about low-income housing and if those areas are also considered when deciding on the best areas for future economic development.

McGregor said when looking at areas, they consider the best and most affordable for city and county residents. He explained they also look at possible economic development being located closer to schools and health care facilities.

Mom: Captured son is an ‘honorable man’

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market projects and adding an economic development strategy.

“We review the comprehensive plan every five years. The process we took, we had a number of meetings, and we find that we’ve had slow growth,” McGregor said. “Looking at census data, there’s no telling evidence to make any changes.”

McGregor said the Economic Development Board also suggests designating more of the area going south on U.S. 521 near Continental Tire the Americas for additional economic and commercial development in the future.

“It’s the only corridor we see

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“He was in the best of spirits, then he was in the worst of spirits,” said Lotzia, now a local TV sports anchor in West Palm Beach. “He told me, ‘At last I know my son is alive. But look at the situation.’ It’s killing him, and he’s trying his best to stay on an even keel.”

Just how Sotloff made his way from Florida to Middle East hotspots is not clear. But Lotzia told the UCF student newspaper, the Central Florida Future, that Sotloff was doing what he loved.

“A million people could have told him what he was doing was foolish, it seemed like it to us (as) outsiders looking in, but to him, it was what he loved to do, and you weren’t going to stop him,” Lotzia said. “Steve said it was scary over there. It was dangerous. It wasn’t safe to be over there. He knew it. He kept going back.”

James Denton, publisher and editor in chief of World Affairs, said Sotloff was an occasional and well-regarded contributor.

“He is known to us as an honest and thoughtful journalist who strives to understand the story from local perspectives and report his findings straightforwardly,” Denton said in an email statement. “He is certainly courageous.”

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

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014 H.G. Osteen 1870-1955 Founder, The Item

H.D. Osteen 1904-1987 The Item

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

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

COMMENTARY

What kind of Navy do Americans want?

W

EDITORIAL ROUNDUP Recent editorials from South Carolina newspapers:

The Post and Courier of Charleston Aug. 23

WE MUST SHINE THE LIGHT ON CHILD DEATHS IN S.C. Children need to be protected. And those who suffer because the adults in their lives have failed them need extra care.

But keeping secrets about how children died while under the care of the S.C. Department of Social Services — and whether changes need to be made to prevent another child’s death — is not the way to protect them.

And sadly, 41 percent of all children whose deaths were investigated by SLED last year had interacted with Social Services.

Knowledge of that troubling number lets the public and legislators know that problems exist. But only when DSS identifies the specific problems it faces can it get help from the Legislature and the public to address those problems.

Certainly, each child’s death demands detailed scrutiny.

Those who do have access to such information include the State Law Enforcement Division and the 18-member Child Fatality Advisory Committee. SLED keeps the records, and the present administration says, by law, they are not available for public scrutiny.

However, attorney Reggie Lloyd made the records available when he was SLED director, and he says they should be now. He says SLED is interpreting the law in a way that is “unnecessarily broad.”

As long as children who are, or have been, involved with DSS are dying, the problem requires public awareness to promote reforms and protect the children who most need protection.

The Aiken Standard Aug. 26

EQUABILITY IS NEEDED IN S.C. EDUCATION FUNDING The way we fund education in South Carolina needs to be changed, and thankfully that seemed to be the consensus at a superintendent of education candidate forum in Myrtle Beach this weekend.

The system our state currently has in place is too varied and too complicated for it to effective and equitable.

Lawmakers have in recent years pushed for a more uniform way to fund education, but so far, those plans haven’t been moved forward. In the next legislative session, we urge lawmakers to work with the next superintendent of education — whomever replaces retiring superintendent Mick Zais — to pursue education funding reform, and aim to make it more consistent and simplified.

Bills have been proposed at the Statehouse in the past that would have created a much more even funding distribution, while also providing property tax relief for businesses. This would be a wise measure.

Obviously, equal funding isn’t a fix-all for our state’s education problems and doesn’t guarantee every classroom in the state will be the same.

But it’s imperative that the discussion of equitable funding takes place and that it’s the first part of a larger discussion the state needs to have to curb education problems.

Making transformative changes to the state’s education also hinges on a landmark, yet undecided South Carolina Supreme Court case — Abbeville County School District v. State of South Carolina — that could be decided by the end of the year.

Depending on how, or even if, the case is resolved, it could mean the state makes a greater push to ensure rural school districts are provided greater resources.

If the case is resolved soon, it will give lawmakers a better sense of what kind of education reforms to pursue in Columbia.

We hope the first step is trying to provide adequate funding for schools throughout the state.

The State Aug. 20

SOONER OR LATER, SLED REPORT MUST BE MADE AVAILABLE Since January, House Speaker Bobby Harrell has been demanding the release of the SLED investigation into corruption allegations against him.

And since January, Attorney General Alan Wilson has refused, citing an ongoing State Grand Jury investigation and a state law that prohibits the release of grand jury material.

There was, of course, always a second reason he didn’t release the report: No prosecutor is going to turn over an investigative report when the case is still being investigated. The legal distinction is that the prosecutor gets to decide whether to release such a report — except when the case is before the State Grand Jury.

Mr. Harrell has insisted since questions first were raised about the way he spent campaign money that he has done nothing illegal and that the SLED report would vindicate him and also demonstrate that the attorney general is pursuing a political vendetta against him.

Mr. Wilson has insisted that the report contains serious criminal allegations; indeed, both Mr. Wilson and SLED Chief Mark Keel signed legal documents to that effect, and Circuit Judge Casey Manning approved their use of the State Grand Jury because he concluded that the report detailed corruption allegations that merited further investigation.

Given the immense power that the public has entrusted to both of these men, and the serious questions of abuse of power that this case raises, the people of South Carolina need to know which story is true.

There are only two ways that we’re ever going to know that: if Mr. Harrell is indicted and found either guilty or not guilty, or if the report is released to the public.

But here’s what we do know: Now that the Grand Jury no longer is empaneled, it cannot be argued that there is a legal prohibition on releasing the SLED report. And if Mr. Harrell’s victory dance has any basis — if in fact whatever remains of the criminal investigation is merely pro forma — then there is no reason that Mr. Wilson or Mr. Pascoe or whoever has possession of the report should not release it. Immediately.

It’s understandable that Mr. Wilson wouldn’t want to speak in detail and that the report would remain hidden from the public if the criminal investigation is indeed continuing. But even that must end at some point.

Whenever it ends, and however it ends, the attorney general must give an accounting for the way he has handled the case, and the SLED report must be released to the public.

ASHINGTON — Russia’s ongoing dismemberment of Ukraine and the Islamic State’s erasing of Middle Eastern borders have distracted attention from the harassment of U.S. Navy aircraft by Chinese fighter jets over the South China Sea. Beijing calls this sea, and the Yellow and East China seas, the “near seas,” meaning China’s seas.

The episodes involving aircraft are relevant to one of Adm. Jonathan Greenert’s multiplying preoccupations — CUES, meaning Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea. This is designed to prevent incendiary accidents, a topic of special interest during this month’s centennial commemorations of the beginning of a war George that, ignited Will by miscalculations, ruined the 20th century. Greenert, chief of naval operations, has carrier-based aircraft flying from the Persian Gulf to targets in Iraq. He is, however, always thinking about the far side of the largest ocean.

One hundred years ago, the principal challenge of world diplomacy, which failed spectacularly, was to peacefully integrate a rising, restless power — Germany — into the international system. Today’s comparable challenge is China.

Greenert, who knows well his Chinese counterpart, Adm. Wu Shengli, radiates a serene patience about China.

Today the Chinese have one primitive aircraft carrier built from a hull bought from Ukraine. Greenert says China is about 10 years away from having a seriously large and capable carrier with excellent aircraft. By which time, optimists hope, China will accept the need for orderliness on the seas over which pass 90 percent of the world’s trade (by volume) and beneath which, through cables, pass 95 percent of international phone and Internet traffic.

Greenert’s Navy, which has fewer (290) but much more capable ships than the Navy had during the Reagan buildup (594), can still move nimbly to put anti-missile ships near North Korea or F/A-18s over the Islamic State. But cascading dangers are compelling Americans to think afresh about something they prefer not to think about at all — foreign policy. What they decide that they want will define the kind of nation they want America to be. This abstract question entails a concrete one: What kind of Navy do Americans want? The answer will determine whether U.S. power can, in Greenert’s formulation, “be where it matters when it matters.”

China’s naval buildup is eliciting countervailing forces, in-

cluding Japan’s naval expansion, which Greenert says includes ships as capable as ours.

Japan’s constitution restricts the nation’s Self-Defense Forces to just that — defensive activities — but the constitution can be construed permissively to allow, for example, defenses against ballistic missiles and protection of allies. This is one reason Greenert says it is reasonable to speak of a 1,000-ship naval force encompassing the assets of nations — such as India, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea and the Philippines — that have no agendas beyond maintaining the maritime order on which world commerce depends.

The most momentous naval event in world history, an event more important than the developments of sail and steam power, was the Jan. 17, 1955, signal from the USS Nautilus: “Underway on nuclear power.”

A nuclear Navy can stay on station. Rep. J. Randy Forbes, R-Va., who chairs the Armed Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, notes that with America having fewer land bases overseas, aircraft carriers effectively “move U.S. soil anywhere in the world.”

A Chinese intellectual says his country has an “outwardleaning economy.” China’s economic dynamism, and hence its political stability and geopolitical weight, depends on seaborne imports of natural resources and seaborne exports to distant markets. China, which has territorial disputes in common waters with its neighbors, worries, Forbes says, primarily about America’s Navy.

Forbes worries about China’s development of “carrier-buster” anti-ship missiles that “will back our carriers away from Chinese territory,” including those seas that China considers its own. A carrier can cost approximately $13 billion, but that is, Forbes says, acceptable for a product that will project national power for 50 years.

The Navy, with embarked Marines, is the primary instrument for the use of military power.

The question, however, is: Do Americans, demoralized by squandered valor in Iraq and Afghanistan, and dismayed in dramatically different ways by two consecutive commanders in chief — the recklessness of one and the lassitude of his successor — want U.S. power projected? They will answer that question with the Navy their representatives configure.

The representatives should act on the assumption that every generation lives either in war years or in what subsequent historians will call “interwar years.”

George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. © 2014, Washington Post Writers Group

EDITORIAL PAGE POLICIES COLUMNS AND COMMENTARY are the personal opinion of the writer whose byline appears. Columns from readers should be typed, doublespaced and no more than 850 words.

Send them to The Sumter Item, Opinion Pages, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, S.C. 29151, or email to hubert@ theitem.com or graham@theitem.com.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR are written by readers of the newspaper. They should be no more than 350 words and

sent via e-mail to letters@theitem.com, dropped off at The Sumter Item office, 20 N. Magnolia St. or mailed to The Sumter Item, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, S.C. 29151, along with the full name of the writer, plus an address and telephone number for verification purposes only. Letters that exceed 350 words will be cut accordingly in the print edition, but available in their entirety at www. theitem.com/opinion/letters_to_

editor.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

LABOR DAY SCHEDULE BANKS — All area banks and credit unions will be closed on Monday.

GOVERNMENT — The following will be closed on Monday: federal government offices; U.S. Postal Service; state government offices; City of Sumter offices; County of Sumter offices; Clarendon County offices; and Lee County offices.

SCHOOLS — The following will be closed on Monday: Sumter School District; Lee County Public Schools; St. Anne Catholic School; St. Francis Xavier High School; Thomas Sumter Academy; Laurence Manning Academy; Clarendon Hall; Clarendon School Districts 1, 2 and 3; Sumter Christian School; Wilson Hall; William Thomas Academy; Robert E. Lee Academy; Morris College; Central Carolina Technical College; and USC Sumter.

OTHER — The following will be closed on Monday: Clemson Extension Service; Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce; Harvin Clarendon County Library; Black River Electric Coop.; and Farmers Telephone Coop.

The Sumter County Library will be closed on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

All offices of The Sumter Item will be closed on Monday.

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TONIGHT

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Mostly sunny; hot, low humidity

Mainly clear

Mostly sunny, hot and more humid

Partly sunny, warm and humid

A thunderstorm in the afternoon

A couple of thunderstorms

94°

67°

93° / 69°

90° / 73°

92° / 74°

93° / 74°

Chance of rain: 0%

Chance of rain: 5%

Chance of rain: 5%

Chance of rain: 15%

Chance of rain: 50%

Chance of rain: 60%

Winds: WSW 3-6 mph

Winds: S 3-6 mph

Winds: S 3-6 mph

Winds: W 3-6 mph

Winds: SSW 6-12 mph

Winds: W 4-8 mph

TODAY’S SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER

Gaffney 92/66 Spartanburg 93/67

Greenville 91/67

Columbia 96/67

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

AROUND TOWN a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, The Sumter Unit of the National at the Sumter Donation CenFind out all you need to know about parliaAssociation of Parliamentarians ter, 1155 N. Guignard Drive. will meet atlaw 6:30 p.m. today mentary at the Sumter School District Call (803) 775-2364 to schedbuilding on Wilson Hall Road. ule an appointment. On Friday, Sept. 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 Anyone interested in learning more about any phase of p.m., the Battle of the Badges Blood Drive will be held at parliamentary law is welthe Sumter County Library, come to attend. Meetings 111 N. Harvin St. Call Joey are open to the public. Call Duggan at (803) 436-2721 to (803) 775-0830 for details. schedule a donation time.

The Sumter Branch NAACP will sponsor a candidates forum for Appointments/donation times can also be made at U.S. 5th and 6th Congressioredcrossblood.org and enter nal Districts of South Carolisponsor code “BattleBadgesna and U.S. Senate District Sumter.” All donors will refrom 6 to 8:30 p.m. today at ceive a free Red Cross T-shirt Central Carolina Technical and a coupon by email for a College, Health Science Cenfree haircut at participating ter, 133 S. Main St. Sport Clips locations.

The Shannon Town Community The Clarendon County DemoNeighborhood Association will cratic Party will meet on meet at 6 p.m. today at Thursday, Sept. 4, at the South HOPE Center, 1125 S. Manning Restaurant, 476 N. Lafayette Drive. Call Ms. Brooks St., Manning. The exWatson at (803) 316-9461 or ecutive committee will meet Ms. Witherspoon at (803) at 6 p.m. Dinner will be 773-4730. served at 6:30 p.m. and the An American Red Cross blood meeting will begin at 7 p.m. drive will be held 9 a.m.-2 The public is invited to atp.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30, at tend.

Trinity Missionary Baptist A community-wide yard sale Church, 155 Wall St. Each will be held 8 a.m.-noon on donor will receive a free box Saturday, Sept. 6, in the park of Girl Scout Cookies and all next to the South Sumter Redonors are eligible for a source Center, which is lodrawing for a free massage. cated at 337 Manning Ave. The American Red Cross will Event is sponsored by the offer an Emergency Operations South Sumter Resource CenCenter / Incident Command Liter, Sumter County Youthaison class 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Build and the Farmer’s MarSaturday, Aug. 30, at 1155 N. ket. There will be fresh fruits Guignard Drive. Call (803) and vegetables from local 775-2363 for information or farmers available for purto register for a class. chase also. Call (803) 4362276.

Give the gift of life by joining the 3rd Annual Battle of the The Campbell Soup friends Badges Blood Drive Competilunch group will meet at 11:30 tion. Donor week will be held a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 11 a.m.-7 p.m. MondayGolden Corral.

Wednesday, Sept. 1-3, and 9

Sumter 94/67

IN THE MOUNTAINS Aiken 94/62

ON THE COAST

Charleston 94/70

Today: Sunny to partly cloudy and very warm. High 88 to 92.

Friday: Partly sunny and more humid. High 87 to 91.

LOCAL ALMANAC

LAKE LEVELS

SUMTER THROUGH 4 P.M. YESTERDAY

Today Hi/Lo/W 91/67/s 74/68/pc 96/76/s 76/59/pc 92/75/t 92/68/s 90/78/t 82/63/s 94/75/t 83/61/s 105/80/s 74/60/s 87/65/pc

SUN AND MOON 7 a.m. yest.

357.36 75.18 75.09 96.95

24-hr chg -0.03 -0.07 -0.01 -0.08

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

0.00" 1.94" 4.50" 25.57" 38.31" 32.84"

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

90° 62° 88° 67° 103° in 1954 57° in 1966

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

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 91/70/s 86/70/t 91/76/t 80/68/t 91/76/t 89/68/s 89/79/pc 78/65/s 92/75/t 81/64/s 107/79/s 72/60/pc 84/69/s

Myrtle Beach 90/71

Manning 94/65

Today: Mostly sunny and warm. Winds light and variable.

Friday: Partly sunny, very warm and more humid. Winds south 3-6 mph.

Temperature High Low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

Florence 94/67

Bishopville 94/65

Flood 7 a.m. 24-hr stage yest. chg 12 2.95 -0.18 19 3.18 +0.10 14 2.34 -0.12 14 2.57 +0.22 80 75.98 -0.22 24 8.79 +0.48

Sunrise 6:53 a.m.

Moonrise 9:34 a.m.

Sunset Moonset

7:53 p.m.

9:27 p.m.

First

Full

Last

New

Sep. 2

Sep. 8

Sep. 15

Sep. 24

TIDES AT MYRTLE BEACH

Today Fri.

High 11:32 a.m.

11:35 p.m.

12:07 p.m.

---

Ht. 3.0 3.1 3.1 ---

Low 5:55 a.m.

6:17 p.m.

6:30 a.m.

6:58 p.m.

Ht. 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.6

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 88/63/t 95/64/s 94/61/s 91/70/s 87/74/pc 94/70/s 93/67/s 93/68/s 96/67/s 94/66/s 88/68/pc 92/68/s 95/69/s

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 87/62/pc 95/66/s 94/66/s 91/74/pc 86/74/pc 92/74/pc 91/66/pc 92/68/pc 95/69/s 92/67/pc 84/69/pc 90/70/pc 92/70/pc

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 94/67/s 90/70/s 91/67/s 92/69/s 93/69/s 90/69/s 91/67/s 90/68/s 87/73/s 90/70/t 95/63/s 94/60/s 91/65/s

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 93/69/pc 90/73/t 90/66/pc 89/70/pc 92/72/pc 87/68/pc 90/66/pc 88/67/pc 87/76/pc 91/74/t 95/70/s 95/67/s 91/68/s

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 90/64/t 92/70/s 90/71/s 94/65/s 89/68/s 92/69/s 92/66/s 94/66/s 92/68/s 93/67/s 87/71/s 91/70/s 90/69/s

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 89/63/pc 90/73/pc 87/73/pc 93/69/s 89/73/pc 88/69/pc 91/66/pc 93/66/pc 91/73/pc 92/66/pc 88/75/pc 88/71/pc 87/68/pc

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

PUBLIC AGENDA SUMTER COUNTY DEVELOPMENT BOARD Today, 7:30 a.m., Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce boardroom, 32 E. Calhoun St.

0% APR 48 MONTHS Call our office for complete details.

The last word ARIES (March 21-April 19): in astrology Don’t make EUGENIA LAST waves when you should be aiming to keep things calm. Avoid unnecessary changes, but don’t ignore a good opportunity. Expand your knowledge, friendships and love of life. Make sure you follow your heart and care about what you do.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Know what’s required of you if you want to get ahead or change your direction. Don’t sit idle when it’s up to you to make a choice and make your move. Don’t be shy -- take what belongs to you.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You’ll be a driving force, but if you try to mix business with pleasure, personal information will be revealed that won’t be in your best interest. Say little, observe a lot and you will make unexpected gains. Romance is highlighted.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Emotions will lead you astray. Keep your mind focused on what you need to do, refusing to let others influence an important decision regarding your professional and personal direction. Do what’s best for you.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Check out every angle of a situation. Not everyone will agree with what you want to do, but at least you will know where you stand and what to expect if you move forward with your plans. Follow your heart, but remain levelheaded.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Questioning your direction can be a good thing and can also lead to picking up information and skills that will help you reach your goals and raise your standard of living.

Change can be good if it’s manufactured carefully.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Try to appreciate your own position and focus on your destination. Explore and experiment, but don’t give up what you have when all you need to do is expand your interests, allies and skills. Love is in the stars.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your vision regarding what’s happening in your professional life may be foggy. Don’t count on anything that isn’t signed, sealed and delivered. Focus on networking, communication and building strong alliances with those who require what you have to offer.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Keep a lid on your plans.

Concentrate on making personal improvements that will help you present your skills with more finesse and confidence. Changes to your living arrangements will add to your happiness and bring you greater security.

THIS OFFER IS TOO TO MISS! CALL NOW - ENDS SEPT. 3, 2014

803-795-4257

LOTTERY NUMBERS PALMETTO CASH 5 WEDNESDAY

MEGAMILLIONS TUESDAY

8-14-17-24-31 PowerUp: 4

29-31-51-60-64 Megaball: 1 Megaplier: 5

PICK 3 WEDNESDAY

PICK 4 WEDNESDAY

2-6-0 and 6-0-9

2-7-9-8 and 8-3-4-8

POWERBALL numbers were unavailable at press time.

PICTURES FROM THE PUBLIC

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You may face opposition, but when it comes to making financial, legal or medical decisions, do what you feel is best for you. You can make gains if your choices and decisions are based on your individual needs.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Don’t look at the negative or let anyone who has a different opinion drag you down. Put more energy and attention into positive partnerships and professional changes that will bring you the results you are looking for. Love is on the rise.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): A change regarding an important relationship will catch you by surprise. Resurrect some of your old ideas and bring someone back from your past who can help you make your dreams come true. A persuasive push will lead to a worthwhile reunion.

Jeffrey Byer comments on his photo submission, “I took this shot from a semi-submersible sub at Grand Turk, South of the Bahamas. The fish are yellowtail snappers, which are being fed by a diver.”

SECTION

Newton: I’ll play Week 1 despite rib injury B5

NEWTON

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

B

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

PREP FOOTBALL

Barons’ top priority is offensive identity

BY JUSTIN DRIGGERS justin@theitem.com It’s something Bruce Lane has stressed since taking over at Wilson Hall three years ago, perhaps even as much as going 1-0 every week.

“Whether you’re in Pop Warner or the NFL, I think any team that has to replace key players needs to establish an identity as a football team and an identity on offense,” Lane said.

The last part – an identity on offense – will be something Barons coaches, players and fans will have their eyes on Friday as the defending SCISA 3A state champions open their title defense in Orangeburg at 7:30 p.m. against

the now 2A Orangeburg Prep Indians.

“We’re looking forward to it,” WH fullback John Ballard said. “We’re pretty confident heading into Week 1. We’ve got some new guys and some guys that have changed positions, but overall we like the way our team is and we like the weapons we have on offense.”

Ballard will be one of those weapons along with tailback Robert James as they try to match the production of Jay Goodson and Parker McDuffie from a year ago. That duo combined for 1,717 yards and 24 touchdowns on the ground.

However, Ballard and

MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

Wilson Hall’s John Ballard (20) looks to carry 3A title game experience into the Barons’ season opener on SEE BARONS, PAGE B5 Friday at Orangeburg Prep.

USC FOOTBALL

Season of expectations Spurrier hopes to win SEC title

BY PETE IACOBELLI The Associated Press

COLUMBIA — Steve Spurrier has noticed the makeover No. 9 South Carolina’s home stadium has been given since he arrived almost a decade ago. He hopes to add a Southeastern Conference championship banner to the decorations this season.

“We don’t have many championSPURRIER ships to brag about, so we have had a lot of super individual players and their records up on the (stadium) wall,” he said.

There’s also an 85-foot tall banner of Spurrier hanging down outside Williams-Brice Stadium, where the Gamecocks will look to extend their nation-best 18-game home win streak when they open against No. 21 Texas A&M. The school has spent about $200,000 to spruce up the stadium, including landscaping, posters and other decorative upgrades. Spurrier understands that it’s up to his players to keep fans coming.

“Coaches and players, we can’t worry too much about what happens outside,” he said. “We have to worry about

USC vs. TEXAS A&M WHEN: Today, 6 p.m.

WHERE: Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia TV: SEC Network, Time Warner 383 RADIO: WIBZ-FM 95.5, WNKT-FM 107.5

what happens on the field.

That’s our major thought right there.”

Spurrier has handled that well in recent years, including an unprecedented run of three consecutive 11-2 seasons. Before that, the Gamecocks had only reached double-digit wins (1984, 10-2) once since starting football in 1892.

For Spurrier, things changed when he and his staff began persuading the state’s best talent to play for the Gamecocks. South Carolina has sent several stellar players into the NFL’s early rounds in recent years, including Buffalo cornerback Stephon Gilmore, Chicago receiver Alshon Jeffery and Houston defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, the NFL’s No. 1 selection last May. “They want to play for winners. They want to play where you can graduate your players, guys stay out of trouble, do the right things, and we got a track record for that now,” said Spurrier, 69. “So we got to keep pushing and pushing and see if we can win an SEC someday.”

Spurrier has used a different tact for success at South Carolina than during his pass-happy, title-winning time at Florida in the 1990s,

Five keys to victory

BY DENNIS BRUNSON dennis@theitem.com

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

South Carolina quarterback Dylan Thompson will lead the Gamecocks today against Texas A&M when the college football season kicks off at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia at 6 p.m. USC is riding an 18SEE GAMECOCKS, PAGE B3 game home winning streak.

Well, here we are on the precipice of a new college football season. Sure, there have been a couple of games already played, but everyone knows college football doesn’t really begin until the Southeastern Conference starts up, and that’s today when the University of South Carolina plays host to Texas A&M. OK, now that you’re through laughing, venting your outrage or agreeing with the above statement, let’s get down to the business at hand. Expectations are high in Gamecock Nation, and that’s despite losing the overall No. 1 pick in the National Football League draft in defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, two more of his defensive line mates, three starters in the defensive secondary, the winningest quarterback in school history in Connor Shaw and his favorite target in Bruce Ellington.

However, three straight 11-2 seasons, a best-ever No. 4 finish in the polls, what is supposed to be a deep -- if inexperienced in some spots -roster and being the pick to win the SEC’s Eastern Division has many thinking Carolina can continue its recent run of success. Many think an SEC championship could

SEE 5 KEYS, PAGE B3

CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Tigers defense must stop Gurley

BY AARON BRENNER Post and Courier CLEMSON — Don’t be so quick to assume Georgia’s offense will simply become The Todd Gurley Show.

“They’re too balanced in what they do, whether Aaron Murray’s gone or not,” Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables said Tuesday.

“Offensively, for many years, they have showed tremendous balance and a commitment to both the run and the pass. You can’t gang up on any one thing.”

Sure, Murray’s name is cutTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS copy-pasted throughout reStopping Georgia running back Todd Gurley (3) will be the top priority cord books school and SEC for Clemson’s defense on Saturday when the two teams open their re- alike, and he’s gone to the spective seasons in Athens, Ga. pros.

Yeah, Gurley’s a preseason All-American who hopes nagging injuries marring his sophomore year are in the rearview mirror.

And of course, Clemson’s defense better contain Gurley, and Keith Marshall, and the next wave of Bulldogs’ 5-star horses, freshmen Sony Michel and Nick Chubb Saturday night.

“They’ve got two creatures at running back, and then they signed two more creatures at running back,” Venables acknowledged. “Plenty of sleepless nights with Marshall and Gurley on the horizon. But it’s exciting, the challenge they can present.”

Writing off Murray’s replacement, senior Hutson

Mason, would be an error in judgment — not to mention glossing over history.

In offensive coordinator Mike Bobo’s eight years guiding Georgia, he’s been heralded as a balanced playcaller — making stars out of quarterbacks Murray and Matthew Stafford, and running backs Gurley and Knowshon Moreno.

In six of Bobo’s eight years, the Bulldogs have rated higher nationally in yards per pass attempt than yards per rush attempt. The exceptions are 2007 (No. 36 rush, No. 39 pass) and 2009 (No. 28 rush, No. 35 pass.) The last four years have been even more vivid: Georgia

SEE CLEMSON, PAGE B3

B2

|

SPORTS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

SCOREBOARD TV, RADIO TODAY

5:30 a.m. -- Professional Golf: European PGA Tour Italian Open First Round from Turin, Italy (GOLF).

9:30 a.m. -- Professional Golf: European PGA Tour Italian Open First Round from Turin, Italy (GOLF).

12:30 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati (WGN).

1 p.m. -- Professional Tennis: U.S. Open Men’s and Women’s SecondRound Matches from Flushing, N.Y. (ESPN).

1 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: New York Yankees at Detroit or Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati (WGN).

3 p.m. -- Professional Boxing: Web. com Tour Hotel Fitness Championship First Round from Fort Wayne, Ind. (GOLF).

6 p.m. -- Professional Tennis: U.S. Open Men’s and Women’s SecondRound Matches from Flushing, N.Y. (ESPN2).

6 p.m. -- College Football: Texas A&M at Sumter (SEC NETWORK TIME WARNER 383, WIBZ-FM 95.5, WNKT-FM 107.5).

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

6:30 p.m. -- LPGA Golf: Portland Classic First Round from Portland, Ore. (GOLF).

7 p.m. -- College Football: Wake Forest at Louisiana-Monroe (ESPNU).

7 p.m. -- NFL Preseason Football: New York Jets at Philadelphia (NFL NETWORK).

7 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: Atlanta at New York Mets (SPORTSOUTH, WPUB-FM 102.7).

7:30 p.m. -- NFL Preseason Football: Carolina at Pittsburgh (WACH 57).

8 p.m. -- College Football: Tulane at Tulsa (CBS SPORTS NETWORK).

8 p.m. -- College Football: Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game from Atlanta -- Boise State vs. Mississippi (ESPN).

8 p.m. -- High School Football: C.E. Murray at Kingstree (Tape Delay) (FTC NOW 26).

9:15 p.m. -- College Football: Temple at Vanderbilt (SEC NETWORK TIMER WARNER 383).

10 p.m. -- College Football: Rutgers vs.

Washington State from Seattle (FOX SPORTS 1).

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

10 p.m. -- NFL Preseason Football: Seattle at Oakland (NFL NETWORK).

2 a.m. -- NFL Preseason Football: Denver at Dallas (NFL NETWORK).

MLB STANDINGS

By The Associated Press AMERICAN LEAGUE L 55 62 66 68 74

Pct .577 .523 .500 .485 .439

GB – 7 10 12 18

L 58 59 63 72 73

Pct .557 .546 .515 .450 .443

GB – 11/2 51/2 14 15

L 53 54 59 77 80

Pct .595 .588 .550 .421 .389

GB – 1 6 23 27

TUESDAY’S GAMES

Baltimore 4, Tampa Bay 2 Boston 11, Toronto 7, 11 innings Detroit 5, N.Y. Yankees 2 Cleveland 8, Chicago White Sox 6, 10 innings Kansas City 2, Minnesota 1 Houston 4, Oakland 2 L.A. Angels 8, Miami 2 Seattle 5, Texas 0

TODAY’S GAMES

N.Y. Yankees (Kuroda 9-8) at Detroit (Lobstein 0-0), 1:08 p.m.

Tampa Bay (Hellickson 1-2) at Baltimore (B.Norris 11-8), 7:05 p.m.

Cleveland (Carrasco 5-4) at Chicago White Sox (Joh.Danks 9-8), 8:10 p.m.

Minnesota (Milone 6-4) at Kansas City (Guthrie 10-10), 8:10 p.m.

Texas (Tepesch 4-8) at Houston (McHugh 6-9), 8:10 p.m.

Oakland (Gray 13-7) at L.A. Angels (C.Wilson 10-8), 10:05 p.m.

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

AMERICAN CONFERENCE EAST Miami New England N.Y. Jets Buffalo SOUTH Houston Tennessee Jacksonville Indianapolis NORTH Baltimore Cincinnati Pittsburgh Cleveland WEST Denver Kansas City Oakland San Diego

W 2 2 2 1

L 1 1 1 3

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .667 .667 .667 .250

PF 55 78 62 63

PA 50 65 62 81

W 2 2 1 0

L 1 1 2 3

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .667 .667 .333 .000

PF 50 68 47 53

PA 56 64 43 63

W 3 1 1 0

L 0 2 2 3

T 0 0 0 0

Pct 1.000 .333 .333 .000

PF 83 75 56 49

PA 50 79 67 70

W 2 1 1 1

L 1 2 2 2

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .667 .333 .333 .333

PF 72 69 54 48

PA 34 97 67 69

NATIONAL CONFERENCE EAST N.Y. Giants Washington Philadelphia Dallas SOUTH New Orleans Atlanta Carolina Tampa Bay NORTH Minnesota Chicago Detroit Green Bay WEST

W 4 2 1 0

L 0 1 2 3

T 0 0 0 0

Pct 1.000 .667 .333 .000

PF 99 64 94 57

PA 79 52 97 89

W 3 1 1 1

L 0 2 2 2

T 0 0 0 0

Pct 1.000 .333 .333 .333

PF 80 40 53 51

PA 65 66 66 50

W 3 2 2 2

L 0 1 1 1

T 0 0 0 0

Pct 1.000 .667 .667 .667

PF 70 60 52 68

PA 46 81 51 48

W 2 1 1 1

L 1 2 2 2

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .667 .333 .333 .333

PF 91 73 24 64

PA 41 49 64 61

TODAY

Atlanta at Jacksonville, 6 p.m.

Kansas City at Green Bay, 7 p.m.

Detroit at Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Indianapolis at Cincinnati, 7 p.m.

N.Y. Jets at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

St. Louis at Miami, 7 p.m.

New England at N.Y. Giants, 7:30 p.m.

Carolina at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.

Washington at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.

San Francisco at Houston, 8 p.m.

Baltimore at New Orleans, 8 p.m.

Denver at Dallas, 8 p.m.

Minnesota at Tennessee, 8 p.m.

Chicago at Cleveland, 8 p.m.

Arizona at San Diego, 10 p.m.

Seattle at Oakland, 10 p.m.

TENNIS The Associated Press U.S. OPEN RESULTS WEDNESDAY

At The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center New York Purse: $38.3 million (Grand Slam) Surface: Hard-Outdoor Singles

MEN

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

Texas at Seattle, 3:40 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Baltimore, 7:05 p.m.

Boston at Toronto, 7:07 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees at Detroit, 7:08 p.m.

Cleveland at Chicago White Sox, 8:10 p.m.

Minnesota at Kansas City, 8:10 p.m.

Oakland at Houston, 8:10 p.m.

Miami at L.A. Angels, 10:05 p.m.

W 75 68 65 62 60

L 56 64 66 70 72

Pct .573 .515 .496 .470 .455

GB – 71/2 10 131/2 151/2

W 73 71 68 63 59

L 59 60 64 69 72

Pct .553 .542 .515 .477 .450

GB – 11/2 5 10 131/2

W 75 69 61 55 53

L 58 62 70 77 78

Pct .564 .527 .466 .417 .405

GB – 5 13 191/2 21

TUESDAY’S GAMES

Pittsburgh 5, St. Louis 2 Philadelphia 4, Washington 3 N.Y. Mets 3, Atlanta 2 Chicago Cubs 3, Cincinnati 0 L.A. Dodgers 9, Arizona 5 L.A. Angels 8, Miami 2 San Diego 4, Milwaukee 1 San Francisco 3, Colorado 0

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

St. Louis at Pittsburgh, 12:35 p.m.

Washington at Philadelphia, 7:05 p.m.

Atlanta at N.Y. Mets, 7:10 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati, 7:10 p.m.

Milwaukee at San Diego, 9:10 p.m.

L.A. Dodgers at Arizona, 9:40 p.m.

Miami at L.A. Angels, 10:05 p.m.

Colorado at San Francisco, 10:15 p.m.

TODAY’S GAMES

Chicago Cubs (Arrieta 7-4) at Cincinnati (Axelrod 0-0), 12:35 p.m.

Colorado (Lyles 6-1) at San Francisco (Y.Petit 3-3), 3:45 p.m.

Atlanta (Minor 5-8) at N.Y. Mets (Niese 7-9), 7:10 p.m.

NASCAR LEADERS SPRINT CUP LEADERS

By The Associated Press Through Aug. 24 Points 1, Jeff Gordon, 845. 2, Dale Earnhardt Jr., 818. 3, Brad Keselowski, 776. 4, Joey Logano, 761. 5, Matt Kenseth, 751. 6, Jimmie Johnson, 726. 7, Kevin Harvick, 721. 8, Carl Edwards, 716. 9, Ryan Newman, 710. 10, Clint Bowyer, 699. 11, Greg Biffle, 694. 12, Kyle Larson, 668. 13, Kasey Kahne, 661. 14, Austin Dillon, 654. 15, Paul Menard, 649. 16, Jamie McMurray, 634. 17, Kyle Busch, 629. 18, Marcos Ambrose, 626.

19, Brian Vickers, 621. 20, Denny Hamlin, 594.

Money

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

NFL PRESEASON

By The Associated Press

Seattle Arizona San Francisco St. Louis

EAST DIVISION W Baltimore 75 New York 68 Toronto 66 Tampa Bay 64 Boston 58 CENTRAL DIVISION W Kansas City 73 Detroit 71 Cleveland 67 Chicago 59 Minnesota 58 WEST DIVISION W Los Angeles 78 Oakland 77 Seattle 72 Houston 56 Texas 51

1, Brad Keselowski, $5,267,406. 2, Jeff Gordon, $5,037,828. 3, Jimmie Johnson, $4,851,268. 4, Dale Earnhardt Jr., $4,766,154. 5, Joey Logano, $4,675,343.

6, Jamie McMurray, $4,576,055. 7, Kevin Harvick, $4,552,761. 8, Matt Kenseth, $4,544,862. 9, Kyle Busch, $4,410,980. 10, Denny Hamlin, $4,175,431. 11, Greg Biffle, $3,870,549.

12, Austin Dillon, $3,780,439. 13, Clint Bowyer, $3,703,055. 14, Paul Menard, $3,633,596.

15, Brian Vickers, $3,626,448.

16, Carl Edwards, $3,607,607.

17, Aric Almirola, $3,607,304. 18, Kyle Larson, $3,497,810.

19, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., $3,478,115. 20, Marcos Ambrose, $3,372,265.

THE SUMTER ITEM

First Round Marin Cilic (14), Croatia, def. Marcos Baghdatis, Cyprus, 6-3, 3-1 (0-15), retired.

Feliciano Lopez (19), Spain, def. Ivan Dodig, Croatia, 1-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 1-1 (15-0), retired.

Teymuraz Gabashvili, Russia, def.

Santiago Giraldo (27), Colombia, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-3.

Kevin Anderson (18), South Africa, def. Pablo Cuevas, Uruguay, 6-3, 6-7 (3), 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (1).

Illya Marchenko, Ukraine, def. Marco Chiudinelli, Switzerland, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (13), 7-6 (4).

Jerzy Janowicz, Poland, def. Dusan Lajovic, Serbia, 6-3, 7-5, 5-7, 7-5.

Tomas Berdych (6), Czech Republic, def. Lleyton Hewitt, Australia, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.

Martin Klizan, Slovakia, def. Steve Darcis, Belgium, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5, 6-4.

Alexander Kudryavtsev, Russia, def.

Evgeny Donskoy, Russia, 2-6, 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

David Goffin, Belgium, def. Niels Desein, Belgium, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3.

Tatsuma Ito, Japan, def. Steve Johnson, United States, 6-2, 3-6, 5-7, 4-1, retired.

Dominic Thiem, Austria, def. Lukas Lacko, Slovakia, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2.

Grigor Dimitrov (7), Bulgaria, def.

Ryan Harrison, United States, 6-2, 7-6 (4), 6-2.

WOMEN

Second Round Alize Cornet (22), France, def. Daniela Hantuchova, Slovakia, 6-3, 6-3.

Peng Shuai, China, def. Agnieszka Radwanska (4), Poland, 6-3, 6-4.

Roberta Vinci (28), Italy, def. IrinaCamelia Begu, Romania, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.

Belinda Bencic, Switzerland, def. Kurumi Nara (31), Japan, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.

Johanna Larsson, Sweden, def.

Sloane Stephens (21), United States, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.

Angelique Kerber (6), Germany, def.

Alla Kudryavtseva, Russia, 6-2, 6-4.

Simona Halep (2), Romania, def. Jana Cepelova, Slovakia, 6-2, 6-1.

Jelena Jankovic (9), Serbia, def. Tsvetana Pironkova, Bulgaria, 7-5, 6-4.

Lucie Safarova (14), Czech Republic, def. Zheng Saisai, China, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

Andrea Petkovic (18), Germany, def.

Monica Puig, Puerto Rico, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5).

Caroline Wozniacki (10), Denmark, def. Aliaksandra Sasnovich, Belarus, 6-3, 6-4.

Maria Sharapova (5), Russia, def. Alexandra Dulgheru, Romania, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, Croatia, def Peer, Israel, 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-2.

Sabine Lisicki (26), Germany, def.

Madison Brengle, United States, 6-4, 6-1.

WNBA PLAYOFFS

By The Associated Press

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Southern California cornerback Josh Shaw, left, admitted on Wednesday that he lied about injurying both ankles after leaping from a second-story balcony to save his 7-year-old nephew, Carter, from drowning in a pool.

Trojans’ Shaw admits to lying about injuries, rescue

BY GREG BEACHAM The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — Southern California cornerback Josh Shaw confessed that he lied to school officials about how he sprained his ankles last weekend, retracting his story about jumping off a balcony to save his drowning nephew.

The school swiftly suspended him Wednesday from all team activities and acknowledged his heroic tale was “a complete fabrication.”

The tale began to unravel soon after the team captain was lauded for his heroics in a story on the team’s website Monday. In the account, Shaw described how he instinctively jumped from a balcony, with no one around, to rescue his 7-year-old nephew in a pool in his hometown of Palmdale, California. The school said a day later callers questioned the story, and began vetting it.

But the biggest question remains unanswered: What was he doing, and how did he injure his ankles?

“We are extremely disappointed in Josh,” USC coach Steve Sarkisian said. “He let us all down. As I have said, nothing in his background led us to doubt him when he told us of his injuries, nor did anything after our initial vetting of his story.”

The Los Angeles Police Department has confirmed that a man named Joshua Shaw was mentioned — but not as a suspect — in a report involving a break-in at a downtown apartment building Saturday night. The department has not made the report public.

Shaw is a fifth-year senior, a captain and a key starter in USC’s defensive secondary.

He is widely considered a solid teammate and an important leader for the 15th-ranked Trojans, who begin their first season under Sarkisian at the Coliseum on Saturday against Fresno State.

SPORTS ITEMS

Fedora: UNC suspends 4 players for opener CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — North Carolina coach Larry Fedora said Wednesday the team has suspended four players for this weekend’s season opener, a day after a report FEDORA of an alleged hazing altercation that left a redshirt freshman walk-on receiver with a possible concussion.

Fedora said the four players were suspended for a “violation of team policy,” but offered no other details about what rules were broken. The players suspended were sophomores Des Lawrence and Brian Walker, redshirt freshman Donnie Miles and true freshman M.J. Stewart.

AREA ROUNDUP JUNIOR VARSITY FOOTBALL WILSON HALL 20 ORANGEBURG PREP 0

(x-if necessary)

CONFERENCE FINALS

(Best-of-3) Eastern Conference Indiana vs. Chicago Saturday, Aug. 30: Chicago at Indiana, 7 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 1: Indiana at Chicago, 4 p.m. x-Wednesday, Sept. 3: Chicago at Indiana, 7 p.m.

Western Conference Phoenix vs. Minnesota Friday, Aug. 29: Minnesota at Phoenix, 10 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 31: Phoenix at Minnesota, 3:30 p.m. x-Tuesday, Sept. 1: Minnesota at Phoenix, 10 p.m.

Shaw issued a short statement through criminal defense attorney Donald Etra on Wednesday after being suspended.

“On Saturday, August 23, 2014, I injured myself in a fall,” Shaw said. “I made up a story about this fall that was untrue. I was wrong not to tell the truth. I apologize to USC for this action on my part. My USC coaches, the USC athletic department and especially Coach Sarkisian have all been supportive of me during my college career and for that, I am very grateful.”

Etra didn’t respond to a request for further details about the cause of Shaw’s injuries.

Shaw didn’t attend practice Wednesday, missing his second straight day of workouts. Although he is barred from team activities, his injuries also would keep him out of workouts for at least a few weeks.

Shortly after Shaw’s yarn was made public, the football program received phone calls contradicting Shaw’s version of his injuries. Sarkisian has not said who made the calls, but the school acknowledged the discrepancies Tuesday morning and began investigating Shaw, who initially stuck to his story.

“I appreciate that Josh has now admitted that he lied and has apologized,” Sarkisian said. “Although this type of behavior is out of character for Josh, it is unacceptable.

Honesty and integrity must be at the center of our program. I believe Josh will learn from this. I hope that he will not be defined by this incident, and that the Trojan Family will accept his apology and support him.”

It’s unclear whether Shaw could face additional discipline from USC for lying to school officials. A USC spokesperson didn’t immediately return a request for clarification about the school’s student conduct policies.

Wilson Hall had three players record rushing touchdowns in the second half as the Barons opened their junior varsity football season with a 20-0 victory over Orangeburg Prep on Wednesday at Spencer Field.

Justin Timmons scored from 12 yards out followed

by Brad Goodson from 4

and Greyson Sonntag from 44. Mills Herlong was 2-for2 on PATs. On defense, Timmons and Jacob Cotton each had an interception while Palmer Richburg came away with two. Jackson LeMay led the team with seven tackles, three for loss.

WH, now 1-0, will host Hammond next Thursday.

PITTSBURGH — Ike Davis hit a two-run drive off a speaker above the seats in right-center field in the second inning. A day earlier, Davis had a pinchhit, tiebreaking, three-run homer in the eighth inning of Pittsburgh’s 5-2 win.

JUNIOR VARSITY GIRLS TENNIS

SEATTLE — Three months into his major league career, Rougned Odor became the youngest player to hit a big league grand slam since Jose Reyes in 2003.

Odor homered off Erasmo Ramirez in the third inning to back Colby Lewis, and the last-place Texas Rangers beat Seattle 12-4 Wednesday to take two of three from the Mariners.

HEATHWOOD HALL 6 WILSON HALL 1 COLUMBIA – The Wilson Hall junior varsity girls tennis team fell to 1-1 on the season on Tuesday with a 6-1 loss to Heathwood Hall.

The Lady Barons lost three tiebreakers in singles play before earning a win in the lone doubles match.

WH will host AC Flora on Monday at 4:30 p.m. at Palmetto Tennis Center.

HEATHWOOD HALL 6, WILSON HALL 1 SINGLES 1 – Lautedach (HH) defeated Davis 6-4, 4-6, 10-7.

2 – James (HH) defeated Beasley 6-4, 2-6, 10-4.

3 – Bunch (HH) defeated Goldan 6-2, 6-3.

4 – Merritt (HH) defeated Allred 6-2, 6-3.

5 – Mullins (HH) defeated Land 6-0, 7-6.

6 – Lord (HH) defeated Wingate 6-1, 6-2.

DOUBLES 1 – Land/Coker (WH) defeated HH 8-6.

MLB ROUNDUP PIRATES 3

RANGERS 12 MARINERS 4

CLIPPERS SIGN RIVERS TO CONTRACT EXTENSION

LOS ANGELES — Doc Rivers is staying with the Los Angeles Clippers for another five years.

In Steve Ballmer’s first big move since taking over as the new owner, he gave Rivers a contract extension through the 2018-19 season.

Ballmer said Wednesday it was one of his top priorities to ensure that Rivers remains as the long-term leader of the team.

CARDINALS 1

From staff, wire reports

SPORTS

THE SUMTER ITEM

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

5 KEYS FROM PAGE B1

4. GO AFTER HILL

1. RUN THE FOOTBALL....

2. THEN GO TO THOMPSON

Dylan Thompson isn’t your

MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

South Carolina running back Mike Davis, left, rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season and will be one of the key returning players the Gamecocks will rely on this season as they vie for a SEC championship. everyday new starter at quarterback. He’s a fifth-year senior, who has been under fire before and generally has done quite well. He’s thrown for 1,827 yards and 14 touchdowns in his career and has rushed for five more scores. He’ll always be remembered by the South Carolina faithful for leading the Gamecocks to victory over Clemson in Death Valley in 2012 when Shaw was injured.

All of that being said, this is

the first time Thompson is doing it without the net of Shaw. Even if it was said that Shaw wouldn’t play, there was always that thought in the back of the mind that he was there if needed. Not this year.

With a strong running game, Thompson should be allowed to get his feet under him before letting him open up with the arm.

3. USE THE TIGHT ENDS

While South Carolina has a

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WHERE’S JOHNNY?

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Texas A&M will also debut

Carolina doesn’t need to come out with guns a blazing against A&M, but it can’t afford to put itself in a big early hole. Even with the temperature to be in the mid to upper 90s at kickoff, the sold-out stadium will be rocking at the beginning. There will be a natural lull, but the Gamecocks can’t allow a situation where crickets can be heard as the sun starts to set either.

USC needs the home crowd to be thoroughly engaged in the second half.

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counting on ball control and a strong defense to win games.

Count on seeing that again this season with 1,000-yard rusher Mike Davis in the backfield and enough returning defenders to contain opponents.

Things to watch when No. 9 South Carolina plays No. 21 Texas A&M:

Each side is touting a Clowney clone in its defense.

For Texas A&M, it’s five-star freshman Myles Garrett, a 6-foot-5, 255-pound speedster who will see plenty of action against South Carolina. The Gamecocks will replace Clowney at defensive end with 6-6 Darius English, who’s put on 40 or so pounds while maintaining his speed.

5. KEEP THE HOMEFIELD ADVANTAGE

The right advertising opportunity!

FROM PAGE B1

TWO CLOWNEYS

good group of wide receivers, it also has two outstanding tight ends in Rory Anderson and Jerell Adams who have proven themselves to be dependable pass catchers as well as good blockers.

Using them in the early going as a underneath outlet until Thompson establishes himself would be a good thing. Then Thompson could look downfield more to the likes of Shaq Roland, Damiere Byrd and Nick Jones -- and

Unlike Carolina, Texas A&M doesn’t have an experienced QB stepping up to try and fill Johnny Football’s huge shots. Kenny Hill is a sophomore who threw 22 passes last season and will be making his first start, in front of what should be a hostile Gamecock crowd.

While USC could expose itself since it is breaking in three new defensive linemen and three new players in the secondary, it needs to stack the box and dare Hill to beat it. The Aggies have a strong offensive line, so the Gamecocks need to take away the run, give Hill different looks and dare him to beat them with throws down the field.

If he does, then defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward can adjust accordingly.

Look no further than your local newspaper for

GAMECOCKS

Texas A&M won’t have dynamic, flashy, lightning rod Johnny Manziel at quarterback after the Heisman Trophy winner left for the NFL draft after last season. Sophomore Kenny Hill, who threw for 183 yards and a touchdown in four games last year, takes over under center and doesn’t seem to court attention like his predecessor. Hill has kept a low profile and says he’s not likely to talk about winning the job until after facing the Gamecocks.

B3

Anderson and Adams for that matter.

be in the offing, and if that were to happen, it would almost assure USC a spot in the inaugural 4-team national championship playoff.

That tale will begin to be told today at Williams-Brice Stadium. While a loss in this game certainly doesn’t kill the whole season, it certainly would put South Carolina behind the 8 ball from the start.

And while, the Aggies don’t have Johnny Manziel at quarterback, they are still nationally ranked which speaks to the talent on their roster.

If the Gamecocks are to start the season on the right foot, here are five things that need to happen.

Carolina has one of the top running backs in the country starting for it in Mike Davis and has a strong offensive line as well. A&M was a sieve on defense last season, so logic would tell you to try and see if it has shored itself up defensively from the beginning.

And while USC has an AllSEC first-teamer in Davis, it has Brandon Wilds, Shon Carson and David Williams. Wilds and Carson have proven themselves in bits and pieces and Williams, a redshirt freshman, is supposed to be very good, so there are options a plenty for head coach Steve Spurrier.

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Light Green, Grey Leather, Navigation, 62K

AP FILE PHOTO

Former Scott’s Branch High School standout and South Carolina tight end Jerell Adams (89) could be a key component to the Gamecocks’ offense this season with senior quarterback Dylan Thompson under center. freshman receiver Speedy Noil, who has been compared to former versatile Florida speedster Percy Harvin. Noil brings the Aggies a different threat than they had a year ago with top receiver Mike Evans, among three firstround NFL picks along with Manziel and offensive lineman Jake Matthews this past spring.

THE DIXONS

South Carolina is replacing three-fourths of its defensive front from a year ago with Kelcy Quarles and Chaz Sutton joining Clowney in NFL camps this summer. The Gamecocks are going to the Dixon family to fill much of

that void. Gerald Dixon Jr. will start at defensive tackle while his half brother Gerald Dixon — their father is former South Carolina and NFL linebacker Gerald Dixon Sr. — gets the start at defensive end. Darius English takes over Clowney’s end spot.

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SEC NETWORK

Unless you hate sports or have lived under Clemson’s famed Howard’s Rock, you probably know this game is the first broadcast by the recently launched SEC Network. It’s all hands on deck with network personalities Tim Tebow and Paul Finebaum here for the all-out promotional blitz.

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CLEMSON FROM PAGE B1 was outside the top 70 nationally in rushing average in 2010 and 2011, then improved to 30th with the arrival of Gurley and Marshall in 2012 — but ranked No. 1 in the country in yards per pass attempt that year. In 2013, Murray and Mason helped Georgia to No. 11 in the category, while Gurley and Marshall spearheaded the No. 48-rated yards-per-rush clip.

Maybe Bobo’s ninth year is different, with a proven commodity in Gurley and a longtime backup quarterback in Mason making his third start.

“We don’t expect very much of a dropoff,” defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said. “But we know to beat Georgia, we have to stop the running game at the end of the day, because that’s their bread and butter.”

Georgia did roll up 545 yards last year on Clemson, the most the Bulldogs have gained on the Tigers since yardage totals have been tabulated going back to 1975 — a stretch including 20 games.

“You have to win the trenches, eliminate the big plays and gotta tackle well. You do those three things, and you realistically give yourself a chance to win the game,” Venables said. “But Georgia’s physicality — you don’t take care of that, it’s going to be a nightmare of a game.”

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Georgia is Clemson’s chief rival ... on the recruiting trail.

Pointing out that Athens is 70 miles from Death Valley and Atlanta is just two hours away, head coach Dabo Swinney made an intriguing admission comparing the Bulldogs to Clemson’s natural in-state rival, South Carolina.

“Everybody thinks we recruit head-to-head against South Carolina — we really don’t a whole lot,” Swinney said. “The campuses are so different. Most the time, if a kid really likes Clemson, he’s probably not going to like Columbia, and if he really likes Columbia, he’s probably not going to like Clemson. So we really don’t recruit against them as much as we do Georgia.”

This isn’t a new revelation. Clemson’s 1981 national championship roster rendered state borders useless; the Tigers had 23 players from South Carolina and 22 players from Georgia.

“Georgia is a state we recruit like it’s instate, to be honest with you,” Swinney said.

“We’ve had a lot of success with Georgia kids that have come up here.”

This year’s roster includes 16 from the Peach State, though four can’t play: defensive end Corey Crawford, offensive guard David Beasley and cornerback Garry Peters are suspended while running back Tyshon Dye is out with a knee injury.

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B4

|

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

SCHEDULE The Associated Press (Subject to change)

TODAY EAST E. Kentucky at Robert Morris, 7 p.m.

Bryant at Stony Brook, 7 p.m.

SOUTH Texas A&M at South Carolina, 6 p.m.

Charlotte at Campbell, 7 p.m.

Wake Forest at Louisiana-Monroe, 7 p.m.

Reinhardt at Mercer, 7 p.m.

Missouri St. at Northwestern St., 7 p.m.

Point (Ga.) at Charleston Southern, 7 p.m.

Boise St. vs. Mississippi at Atlanta, 8 p.m.

Union (NY) at Murray St., 8 p.m.

Kentucky Christian at Tennessee Tech, 8 p.m.

Temple at Vanderbilt, 9:15 p.m.

MIDWEST Howard at Akron, 7 p.m.

Chattanooga at Cent. Michigan, 7 p.m.

E. Illinois at Minnesota, 7 p.m.

Presbyterian at N. Illinois, 7 p.m.

Missouri Baptist at SE Missouri, 7 p.m.

Valparaiso at W. Illinois, 7 p.m.

Taylor at S. Illinois, 8 p.m.

SOUTHWEST

Tulane at Tulsa, 8 p.m.

FAR WEST Idaho St. at Utah, 7:30 p.m.

Cal Poly at New Mexico St., 8 p.m.

North Dakota at San Jose St., 10 p.m.

Rutgers at Washington St., 10 p.m.

Weber St. at Arizona St., 10:30 p.m.

FRIDAY EAST BYU at UConn, 7 p.m.

Villanova at Syracuse, 7:30 p.m.

SOUTH Bowling Green at W. Kentucky, 7:30 p.m.

MIDWEST Jacksonville St. at Michigan St., 7:30 p.m.

SOUTHWEST UTSA at Houston, 9 p.m.

FAR WEST Colorado St. vs. Colorado at Denver, 9 p.m.

UNLV at Arizona, 10:30 p.m.

SATURDAY EAST Penn St. vs. UCF at Dublin, Ireland, 8:30 a.m.

Wagner at Georgetown, Noon Ohio St. vs. Navy at Baltimore, Noon Delaware at Pittsburgh, Noon Delaware St. at Monmouth (NJ), 1

p.m.

Boston College at UMass, 3 p.m.

Duquesne at Buffalo, 3:30 p.m.

Holy Cross at Albany (NY), 6 p.m.

VMI at Bucknell, 6 p.m.

St. Francis (Pa.) at Fordham, 6 p.m.

Norfolk St. at Maine, 6 p.m.

Marist at Sacred Heart, 6 p.m.

CCSU at Towson, 6 p.m.

SOUTH UT-Martin at Kentucky, Noon Troy at UAB, Noon UCLA at Virginia, Noon Wofford at Georgia Tech, 12:30 p.m.

Georgia Southern at NC State, 12:30 p.m.

West Virginia vs. Alabama at Atlanta, 3:30 p.m.

James Madison at Maryland, 3:30 p.m.

Hampton at Old Dominion, 3:30 p.m.

Arkansas at Auburn, 4 p.m.

SC State at Benedict, 4 p.m.

William & Mary at Virginia Tech, 4 p.m.

Va. Lynchburg at Alcorn St., 5 p.m.

U. of Faith at MVSU, 5 p.m.

Clemson at Georgia, 5:30 p.m.

Elon at Duke, 6 p.m.

Liberty at North Carolina, 6 p.m.

Morehead St. at Richmond, 6 p.m.

Coastal Carolina at The Citadel, 6 p.m.

College of Faith at Davidson, 7 p.m.

Bethune-Cookman at FIU, 7 p.m.

Idaho at Florida, 7 p.m.

Gardner-Webb at Furman, 7 p.m.

Florida A&M at Jackson St., 7 p.m.

Southern U. at Louisiana, 7 p.m.

Austin Peay at Memphis, 7 p.m.

Savannah St. at Middle Tennessee, 7 p.m.

W. Carolina at South Florida, 7 p.m.

Edward Waters at Tennessee St., 7 p.m.

Stetson at Warner, 7 p.m.

Southern Miss. at Mississippi St., 7:30 p.m.

NC Central at East Carolina, 8 p.m.

Jacksonville at SE Louisiana, 8 p.m.

MIDWEST Youngstown St. at Illinois, Noon Indiana St. at Indiana, Noon N. Iowa at Iowa, Noon N. Dakota St. at Iowa St., Noon Appalachian St. at Michigan, Noon W. Michigan at Purdue, Noon Colgate at Ball St., 2 p.m.

Marshall at Miami (Ohio), 3:30 p.m.

S. Dakota St. at Missouri, 3:30 p.m.

FAU at Nebraska, 3:30 p.m.

California at Northwestern, 3:30 p.m.

Rice at Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m.

Morgan St. at E. Michigan, 6 p.m.

Ohio at Kent St., 6 p.m.

Grand View at Drake, 7 p.m.

Sacramento St. at Incarnate Word, 7 p.m.

New Hampshire at Toledo, 7 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin at Kansas St., 7:10 p.m.

SOUTHWEST

Montana St. at Arkansas St., 7 p.m.

Louisiana Tech at Oklahoma, 7 p.m.

Samford at TCU, 7 p.m.

Ark.-Pine Bluff at Texas St., 7 p.m.

Cent. Arkansas at Texas Tech, 7 p.m.

Alabama St. at Sam Houston St., 7:30 p.m.

Grambling St. at Lamar, 8 p.m.

Florida St. vs. Oklahoma St. at Arlington, Texas, 8 p.m.

North Texas at Texas, 8 p.m.

Wisconsin vs. LSU at Houston, 9 p.m.

FAR WEST Nicholls St. at Air Force, 2 p.m.

S. Utah at Nevada, 3 p.m.

Portland St. at Oregon St., 4 p.m.

UC Davis at Stanford, 4 p.m.

Montana at Wyoming, 4 p.m.

N. Arizona at San Diego St., 7 p.m.

Fresno St. at Southern Cal, 7:30 p.m.

UTEP at New Mexico, 8 p.m.

Montana Western at E. Washington, 10:05 p.m.

Washington at Hawaii, 10:30 p.m.

South Dakota at Oregon, 10:30 p.m.

SUNDAY SOUTH Alabama A&M vs. NC A&T at Orlando, Fla., 11:45 a.m.

Utah St. at Tennessee, 7 p.m.

SOUTHWEST Prairie View vs. Texas Southern at Houston, 5 p.m.

SMU at Baylor, 7:30 p.m.

ACC PREVIEW

SEC PREVIEW

LSU Tigers bring new-look, youth into 2014 campaign

BY BRETT MARTEL The Associated Press BATON ROUGE, La., — LSU coach Les Miles hasn’t had a team fall short of double-digit victories since 2009.

For the Tigers to win at least 10 games for a fifth straight season, it will require more help from new players at key positions than at any time in the past half-decade.

“This is a new team,” said senior running back Terrence Magee, one of the few elder statesmen on the Tigers’ offense. “There is a lot of youth.”

The offense in particular, will require major contributions from players with little or no previous regular season experience. Several of the candidates to take over starting roles are true freshmen, including Brandon Harris, who is challenging sophomore Anthony Jennings to start at quarterback. Whoever wins that job will replace current Tennessee Titans rookie Zach Mettenberger, who last season passed for more than 3,000 yards at LSU. That would be a tough enough void to fill on its own, never mind the fact that the Tigers also sent a pair of 1,000-yard receivers to the NFL: Odell Beckham Jr. to the New York Giants and Jarvis Landry to Miami.

“If we can get the quarterbacks to facilitate and

direction,” Chavis said.

“Athleticism is a big part of what we do.”

5 Things to watch during Auburn’s upcoming season: QB CONTEST

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LSU head coach Les Miles will have a younger Tigers squad this season in Baton Rouge, La., along with a new-look offense. function, we’re going to be good on offense,” Miles said. “I say that with the idea that young players are going to play. I say that with the idea that they’re talented and they were recruited to that void.

“We’re going to coach them hard. We’re going to make sure that we try to anticipate mistakes and avoid them,” Miles added. “I’m not anticipating just terrible growing pains there.”

There will be more experience on defense, and coordinator John Chavis also believes some young players on his unit have the talent to push for playing time at certain positions.

“Athleticism will usually overcome experience if you’re working in the right

Miles does not appear to be in any rush to announce a starting quarterback in advance of the season opener against Wisconsin in Houston on Aug. 30. Jennings has a slight edge in experience. He was forced into action when Mettenberger was injured in the second half of LSU’s 2013 regular season finale against Arkansas and led a game-winning touchdown drive. He then started the Outback Bowl but played inconsistently in the Tigers’ 21-14 victory over Iowa.

“The naming of a starter at quarterback will be when one separates himself from the other. ... We’re not there,” Miles said Sunday.

STYLE POINTS

Coaches say LSU’s offense will probably look a lot different, stylistically, than it did a season ago.

Mettenberger was a tall, strong-armed prototypical pocket passer. Jennings and Harris, meanwhile, both count running with the ball, be it scrambling or running the option, as a significant part of their game. “The constant theme with our quarterbacks is that they’re athletic. They can all run, which is a positive,” offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said.

Former top SEC recruits set for breakout seasons

BY DAVID BRANDT The Associated Press OXFORD, Miss. — Robert Nkemdiche was the consensus No. 1 recruit in the country in 2013, and the defensive lineman arrived at Mississippi with lofty aspirations of dominating the Southeastern Conference.

Then, as the transition to high-level college football often does to young players, Nkemdiche was humbled. He struggled to learn a new position while also trying to get a handle on the playbook. Then came a hamstring injury.

For many highly recruited SEC players, early hype can lead to unrealistic expectations.

Now, Nkemdiche is part of group of young but experienced NKEMDICHE players around the league hoping to have breakout seasons.

While Nkemdiche had a productive season with 34 tackles, including eight for a loss, the 6-foot-4, 280-pound sophomore said in retrospect, he often tried too hard.

“That’s where I was mixed up,” Nkemdiche said. “I felt like I had to do everything.”

Alabama running back Derrick Henry is another former marquee recruit hoping to make an impact.

He has played behind some terrific players at Alabama and he’ll fight for carries in a crowded backfield this year with T.J. Yeldon and Kenyan Drake — established veterans who have played in a lot of big games for the Tide.

But Henry’s talent is getting harder to ignore.

The 6-foot-3, 241-pound five-star recruit arrived at Alabama after breaking the career high school rushing record. And when he did get on the field during his freshman season,

he averaged more than 10 yards per carry and caught a 61-yard touchdown pass in the Sugar Bowl.

“Last year humbled me a lot,” Henry said.

“It gave me the fuel to go into this season, this fall camp, working hard. I just tune it out (the hype) ... just come here and go to work.”

Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said managing expectations for highly recruited freshmen is an ongoing battle.

“This circus around recruiting now and the social media and everything that builds these kids up to be something so phenomenal ... ,” Freeze said. “They are good players, but when they get to the real world of this level of football, there are also a lot of good players here.”

Here are other SEC players who could have breakout seasons: •Shaq Roland, junior WR, South Carolina: Roland was South Carolina’s Mr. Football in 2011 and the wide receiver was touted as another immediate in-state star like fellow Gamecocks Marcus Lattimore and Jadeveon Clowney. But the 6-foot-1 Roland’s first two seasons have not been as impactful as hoped.

He’s looking to improve on his career totals of 30 catches for 535 yards and six touchdowns, although his yards-per-catch average of 18.2 yards a game last fall led South Carolina. Now he’s the unquestioned leader of the receiving corps.

•Reuben Foster, sophomore LB, Alabama: Foster is battling with junior Reggie Ragland — another highly-rated recruit — for a starting linebacker job. Foster had just nine tackles in 12 games last season after being one of the nation’s most sought-after linebacker prospects. Said Ragland: “Reuben’s a stud and when you’re a stud, you’re going to learn what you need to learn to be successful and that’s what we’re doing.”

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher, left, and quarterback Jameis Winston begin their quest for back-to-back national championships on Sunday when the Seminoles face Oklahoma State in Arlington, Texas.

Seminoles attempt to maintain historic offense

BY KAREEM COPELAND The Associated Press TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Jimbo Fisher isn’t looking for the record-setting numbers his Florida State offense put up en route to winning the final BCS national championship.

The coach doesn’t believe the Seminoles need that.

“I don’t talk yards or anything like that or points,” Fisher said. “It’s about the efficiency of our offense and how it fits our defense. I think we can be very efficient. We just have to continue to execute whether we throw it, we run it or we keep the versatility of what passes and things we throw.

“We’ll feature the talents of the players we have.”

The Seminoles offense lost two receivers, two running backs and a center to the NFL, including first-round receiver Kelvin Benjamin, fourth round running back Devonta Freeman and fourth round center Bryan Stork.

Expectations remain high, however, for a group that returns Heisman-winning quarterback Jameis Winston, one of the most prolific receivers in FSU history (Rashad Greene) and an offensive line with four senior starters. Also returning is running back Karlos Williams, who averaged eight yards per carry in 2013.

The Seminoles set an FBS record with 723 points scored in 2013 and their 7,267 offensive yards were an Atlantic Coast Conference record. And Fisher doesn’t run a hurry-upevery-play offense that has trended throughout college football.

“The next step is just keep that thing going, keep putting points up, keep executing day in and day out,” Williams said.

Florida State may lean on the run game more early in the season with a veteran offensive line and Williams running the ball while the receiver position gets sorted out. But there’s still the reigning Heisman winner under center and All-ACC tight end Nick O’Leary will have a larger role.

“We may feature different plays, different players in different ways,” Fisher said. “Or may ask them to do the same things if they do them as well as we did last year. We just have to figure out what they

do well and feature those and keep a great balance with physicality of running it and still being able to throw it.”

RUNNING MAN

The Seminoles lost 1,600 rushing yards and 56 percent of the ground game from the title team to the NFL. Enter Karlos Williams. The preseason all-ACC selection ran for 748 yards and 11 touchdowns after switching from safety last season. The senior needs to prove he can carry the load from the opening whistle with only youngsters joining him in the backfield.

NO FLY ZONE

FSU boasted the top pass defense in the nation in 2014 and had a school record 26 interceptions. The secondary remains the deepest position on the team. P.J. Williams and Jalen Ramsey are stars. Ronald Darby is one of the top cover cornerbacks in the country and Nate Andrews led the team with four interceptions in 2013. Safety Tyler Hunter is back from a neck injury.

HELP THE HEISMAN

Receiver Rashad Greene returns ranked in the top seven in FSU history in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. There is no significant experience at the position outside of Greene. Jameis Winston needs someone to emerge from sophomores Bobo Wilson and Kermit Whitfield, seniors Jarred Haggins and Christian Green and five-star freshmen Travis Rudolph and Ermon Lane.

JUNIOR JACKED

Defensive lineman Mario Edwards, Jr. is ready to join the ranks of the truly dominant Florida State lineman.

The former No. 1 recruit in the nation reshaped his body and diet, increased his speed, is squatting 600 pounds and benching 450 pounds. The goal is double-digits sacks and consistent domination.

TRENCH DIGGING

The Seminoles return five seniors, including four starters to the offensive line. The group has a combined 112 starts between left tackle Cam Erving, right tackle Bobby Hart, center Austin Barron, left guard Josue Matias and right guard Tre Jackson.

SPORTS

THE SUMTER ITEM

U.S. OPEN

Sharapova rallies to outlast Dulgheru Stephens, Radwanska upset at U.S. Open

BY RACHEL COHEN The Associated Press NEW YORK — Maria Sharapova’s serve and her groundstrokes were abandoning her. What she had was her conditioning.

The five-time major champion rallied from a set down to beat 95th-ranked Alexandra Dulgheru 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the second round of the U.S. Open on Wednesday. Sharapova overcame nine double-faults and 46 unforced errors to improve her record in three-set matches this year to 17-6.

Dulgheru had played just twice since mid-July, and she was dragging as the match approached two hours late in the second set.

On a hot, windy day, with the shadows shifting as late afternoon turned to evening, the fifth-seeded Sharapova avoided another upset on the women’s side.

Fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska and 21st-seeded Sloane Stephens lost earlier.

“As tricky as it is, you have to expect not to play your best tennis and find a way to win,” Sharapova said in an on-court interview.

The Russian star won her second French Open title in June but hasn’t looked all that sharp since. Still, she hasn’t lost in the second round at the U.S. Open since her Flushing Meadows debut in 2003.

Dulgheru has never been past the third round at a Grand Slam tournament and fell to 3-14 against top10 opponents. The Romanian was ranked as high as 26th in 2011, but later missed a year because of right knee surgery.

Stephens, once a sure bet to stick around for a while at Grand Slam tourna-

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Maria Sharapova returns a shot to Alexandra Dulgheru during her 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory in the second round of the U.S. Open on Wednesday in New York. ments, suddenly can’t even win there.

The 21-year-old American stumbled to her earliest loss at the U.S. Open, upset by 96th-ranked Johanna Larsson.

“Everyone goes through times like this,” Stephens said. “I’m not the first person and won’t be the last.”

Down a set and a break, Larsson rallied to win 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 to match her best performance at a major tournament. The 26-year-old Swede had been 0-4 at Flushing Meadows before this year.

“I shouted ‘Come on’ a few times, not so much for myself but also to show her that I’m still here to win it,” Larsson said. “I know, myself, that when you have an opponent who is fighting to the last point, it is very difficult.”

When the match ended with her 63rd unforced error, Stephens was in such

a hurry to leave Arthur Ashe Stadium that she briskly walked around the net to Larsson’s side of the court for the handshake.

Larsson has now reached the third round at a major tournament twice this year after breaking through at the French Open.

As Stephens had climbed the rankings, the knock on her was that she would shine in the big-time tournaments and slump in other events: Her Grand Slam record coming into Wimbledon this year was 32-12, while she’s 58-57 everywhere else.

Stephens reached at least the fourth round at six straight major tournaments starting with the 2013 Australian Open, when she stunned Serena Williams to make the semifinals. The longest active streak at the time, it ended with a firstround loss at Wimbledon this summer.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

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PRO FOOTBALL

Newton says he’ll be ready to play in Week 1

BY STEVE REED The Associated Press CHARLOTTE — Cam Newton expects to be ready for the Panthers Sept. 7 regular season opener against Tampa Bay. “There’s no doubt in my mind.,” Newton said Wednesday.

“I’m going to worry about things that I can control and come in and get NEWTON in as much treatment as possible so that my body will be 100 percent.”

Carolina’s fourth-year quarterback is recovering from a hairline fracture to what he described as multiple ribs, but is improving with each day. Newton was injured in Carolina’s preseason game Friday night against New England and hasn’t practiced since.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera also said he expects Newton to be ready for the Bucs.

“For sure. I do,” Rivera said. “I’m optimistic, but I believe in him. I’m watching him progress and get better.”

Rivera said it’s all about getting the soreness to subside.

Newton, who said he feels great, was well enough to travel with the team to Pittsburgh on Wednesday afternoon but will not play against the Steelers Thursday night in the preseason finale.

In the meantime, he will receive treatment while the equipment staff works to alter his flak jacket so it better protects the ribs moving forward.

Rivera called Newton’s injury a bit of fluke, saying that he got hit in the one crease in his protection where the ribs weren’t completely protected.

When asked if it was just one rib he injured, Newton replied, “Ribs, not rib.”

The Panthers will reevaluate Newton this weekend.

They have a light walkthrough on Saturday, but essentially they won’t practice again in pads until Monday. It’s unclear when Newton will start throwing again.

During Wednesday’s practice, Newton donned a pair of shoulder pads, but took them off a few minutes later.

“I wanted to do something I have done at least one time a week — and that’s put my pads on,” Newton said. “It’s a superstition thing.”

It’s unclear if Newton will change his style of play following the injury.

He was hurt when he went headfirst — instead of sliding — and got stepped on.

“I am who I am and things do happen,” said Newton, who has run for 2,032 yards and 28 touchdowns in three seasons. “One thing playing this game, you will get hurt sooner or later. ... You know something is going to happen. It’s a physical sport and needs to be played that way.”

When asked if he considering sliding more, Newton said, “I guess we will all just have to stay tuned and see.”

Rivera said he’s not going to chide Newton for his instinctual decisions on the field.

“Should he slide? Yeah, I would like to see him slide,” Rivera said. “But at the same time I want him to play the way he plays best. ... I just tell him to be careful and be smart. I don’t want to take away who he is as a football player.”

Rivera said Newton’s injury will not affect how the Panthers game plan for the Buccaneers. He said they’ll continue to use the read option, which involves Newton potentially running the football.

“We are going to do what we do,” Rivera said.

NASCAR

Darlington race adds element before Chase is finalized

BY LOU BEZJAK Morning News DARLINGTON — Moving Darlington Raceway’s date back to Labor Day not only is good for tradition but also puts the track in an added spotlight on NASCAR’s schedule.

Darlington’s date of Sept 6 on the schedule falls just a week before the field for NASCAR’s Chase is finalized the following week at Richmond, Virginia.

“That will add an additional elWILE ement,” Darlington Raceway president Chip Wile said.

“There is no lack of sparks when people come to Darlington, so I think it will add another element. The guys that are locked into the Chase can take more risks, and guys that haven’t got locked in have one more opportunity after Darlington to get it. I think you will see a lot more action after Darlington.”

And if the last few years are any indication, there will be plenty of sparks flying next Labor Day weekend.

In 2011, Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick got into a skirmish following Regan Smith’s surprise victory. Harvick leaned in to punch Busch but he hit the gas and shoved Harvick’s unmanned car out of the way, sending it crashing head-first into the pit road wall.

In 2012, a member of Ryan Newman’s pit crew got into an altercation with Kurt Busch following the race.

This year, there were no sparks off the track, but the action late in the race was pretty intense.

Harvick passed fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. with one lap left on a second attempt of a green-white checkered fish to win for the first time at the track.

Darlington also will get the benefit of being the race after Bristol on Aug. 22. The short track is known for thrilling finishes and hot tempers. Drivers will have a week off to regroup from Bristol before heading into the Lady in Black where a victory might lock one driver who hasn’t won yet into the Chase field.

Darlington’s race date change is one of a few changes for next year’s schedule.

Atlanta’s date moves from Labor Day to March 1 and will be the second race of the year. Then the Cup guys will head to the West Coast for dates at Las Vegas, Phoenix and California.

Bristol’s spring date moves from March to April 19.

Other minor changes include moving Daytona’s July race date back to Sunday instead of Saturday on Fourth of July weekend. The move was done to highlight NBC’s return to NASCAR and will go back to Saturday in 2016.

Texas’ spring race moves back to Saturday night after being moved to Sunday to accommodate the Final Four being in Dallas this year.

There were no changes to the Chase schedule, which begins at Chicagoland Speedway and ends at HomesteadMiami Speedway.

MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

Wilson Hall’s Cody Hoover, center, played tight end and kicked for the Barons last season. He is one of a handful of returning offensive skill players for WH this year.

BARONS FROM PAGE B1 James aren’t coming in to a completely new situation. Both had carries last season – with a lot of Ballard’s coming on the biggest stage possible.

Then a sophomore, Ballard took over for McDuffie when he was injured in the 3A semifinal matchup against Laurence Manning Academy. He went on to have a solid game against Hammond in the championship, scoring the Barons’ first touchdown.

“I think that was a big confidence boost for me and all the sophomores that got to play,” Ballard said. “That was the first time I (played) running back at the varsity level, so I think that showed me that I could compete against anyone.”

Ballard and James will also be joined by John Wells Baker and Sam Watford in the backfield. All four play on defense as well, so a rotation will be used to keep everyone fresh, Lane said.

But the biggest hole to file is the one left by quarterback William Kinney. Kinney accounted for 2,050 yards of offense rushing and passing with 35 touchdowns. Sophomore McLendon Sears, who was the junior varsity QB last year, takes over.

“McLendon is an excellent runner,” Lane said. “That’s something he brings to the table from the JV level. He’s worked extremely hard at throwing the football and moving the pocket and sprinting out.

He’s gotten more comfortable every day

and he’s improved every day.

“He’s right on schedule with where he needs to be.”

Brent Carraway, Josh Gentile, Clayton Lowder and Cody Hoover will be the main outside weapons for the Barons as they hope to replicate the balanced attack they’ve had the last two seasons.

“I’m really excited about the skill guys we have,” Ballard said. “(The running backs) are ready to handle the load, but as soon as we’re able to really get comfortable and open things up, it’s going to be a fun offense. We’re going to do a lot of different things and try to keep teams off balance.”

The only question that remains in the mind of Lane is how his team will perform under the lights. OP lost its opener to Ben Lippen 49-13 last week as the Indians adjust to a new classification and a new head coach in Brock Miller. They also graduated 26 seniors heading into this season.

“Brock was at Colleton Prep for a number of years and has been one of the best coaches in SCISA,” Lane said of the former Hudgens Academy head coach. “So you know they’re going to be well coached.

The kids have been in a successful program, too, so they know what to expect and you’re not going to surprise them with anything.

“They run a little bit more of a power game now with some wishbone and 3-back offense, so we’re going to have to execute very well on defense.”

B6

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

MICHAEL W. SPENCER Michael Winfield Spencer, 45, died on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014, at the Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia.

Born in Horatio, he was a son of Margaret Campbell Phelps and Dewey Spencer. Mr. Spencer attended the public schools of SPENCER Sumter County and graduated from Hillcrest High School in the Class of 1987. After high school, he joined the United States Navy and served his country for four years. Mr. Spencer worked for many years with Sloan Construction Co. of South Carolina. He was a member of Willow Grove AME Church in Horatio.

Surviving are his mother and stepfather, Margaret and Robert Phelps of Horatio; his father, Dewey Spencer of Horatio; one sister, Kendra McBride of Columbia; three brothers, Dewey (Joy) Spencer Jr., Gary Spencer of Columbia and Norman Spencer of Horatio; a host of dear relatives and friends to cherish his memories.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday at Willow Grove AME Church, 8105 Sumter Landing Road, Horatio, with the Rev. Wallace Preston officiating. Interment will immediately follow in Willow Grove AME Church cemetery.

The public may view from 2 to 8 p.m. today at Palmer Memorial Chapel, 304 S. Main St., Sumter.

The family will receive friends at 4025 Waiters Road, Horatio.

The family requests that memorials and condolences

be made on their memorial tribute page found at www.

PalmerMemorialChapel.com.

Palmer Memorial Chapel Inc. of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.

HOYT T. FULTON Hoyt Thomas “Tommy” Fulton, 67, husband of Beulah Mae Floyd Fulton, died on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born in Charleston, he was a son of the late Woodrow Wilson Fulton and Margaret Sanders Fulton.

FULTON Mr. Fulton was a member of Meadowbrook Church of God. Survivors include his wife of Sumter; two children, H.E. Floyd (Diane) of Pinewood and Suzan M. Ciconte (Daniel) of Alexandria, Virginia; six grandchildren; two greatgrandchildren; and one brother, John Fulton (Wanda) of Sumter.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Lori Ann Defee.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday at Bloomingvale Baptist Church in Andrews with the Rev. Ron Lee officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Pallbearers will be John “Will” Fulton II, Paul Hanson, Tye Brinson, Jason Gainey, Barry Brinson and John Britton “Trip” Boney III. Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Tallon, Roy Tallon, Cecil Goodroe, Chuck Cobb, Larry Cobb and David Field.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Meadowbrook Church of

OBITUARIES | SPORTS God and other times at the home, 430 Holloway St. Memorials may be made to Meadowbrook Church of God, 920 Meadowbrook Road, Sumter, SC 29153.

Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.

THE SUMTER ITEM of the late Rev. James F. and Emma T. Lonon.

The family is receiving relatives and friends at the home, 509 Knights Bridge Road, Sumter.

Funeral plans will be announced by Community Funeral Home of Sumter.

RUTH J. HOUCK HOWARD E. PURVIS Howard E. Purvis, age 66, passed away on Aug. 15, 2014, at Clarendon Memorial Hospital, Manning.

He is survived by his mother, Jessie Purvis; fiancee, Diana Graham; two brothers; one sister; son, Ricky Purvis; daughter, Faye Purvis; and eight grandchildren.

MARY GRAHAM Mary Graham, 85, died on Friday, Aug. 22, 2014, at St. George Health, St. George.

She was a daughter of the late Heyward and Marie Brand Graham.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday at St. John AME Church, Workman community of Kingstree.

Burial will follow in the churchyard cemetery.

The family is receiving friends at the home of her sister, Idella Seabrook, 200 White Church Road, Summerville.

These services have been entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.

JAMES H. LONON James Harold Lonon, 75, husband of Naomi Jones Lonon, entered eternal rest on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2014, at his home.

Born on Dec. 8, 1938, in Sumter County, he was a son

Ruth Jackson Houck, 86, departed this life on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2014, at her residence.

Born June 19, 1928, in Sumter County, she was a daughter of the late Oneal and Hattie Drayton Jackson.

The family will be receiving friends at the home, 3225 Avins Road, Sumter, SC 29154.

Funeral plans are incomplete and will be announced later by Job’s Mortuary Inc. of Sumter.

MARY BARTLETTE Mary Edora Davis Bartlette, 88, widow of Ervin Phillips Bartlette, died on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2014, at her home.

Born in Pinewood, she was a daughter of the late Richard M. “Kib” and Madge Mae Ardis Davis. Mrs. Bartlette attended Southside Baptist Church. She was a seamstress and also enjoyed crochet and embroidery. She also enjoyed tending to her flowers, but her greatest love was spending time with and taking care of her family.

Survivors include four daughters, Joyce Copeland (Josey) of Bishopville, and Mary Stewart (Robert), Susan Parnell (Phil) and Phyllis Buckner (Pat), all of Sumter; nine grandchildren, Adam Stewart, Chris Stewart, Amanda Roupe, Matthew J. Wilkie Jr., Ariel Wilkie, Phil-

lip Wilkie, Courtney Buckner, Jeremy Buckner and Ferris B. Fender; one great-granddaughter, Abygail Roupe; one sister, Wil Wheeler Mitchum (Jack) of Summerton; and a number of special nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, William L. Davis and Richard M. Davis Jr.; three sisters, Addie Oliver, Mabel Davis and Wilma Davis; a grandson, Shawn Stewart; and a granddaughter-in-law, Brittany Stewart.

Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday in the Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Robert Morris and the Rev. Al Sims officiating.

Burial will be in Sumter Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Billy Wheeler, Pete Anderson, Kenny Anderson, Ricky Davis, Bill Davis, Adam Stewart, the Rev. Patrick Belkin and Paul Newman Sr. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Strat Stavrou, Dr. Usah Lilavivat, Dr. Tepsiri Chong, Dr. Natsurang Chong and the staff of Tuomey Hospice.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home.

Memorials may be made to The Tuomey Foundation — Wig Boutique, 102 N. Main St., Sumter, SC 29150; the American Diabetes Association, 2711 Middleburg Drive — Kittrell Center Suite 110, Columbia, SC 29204; or to the American Heart Association, 4217 Park Place Court, Glen Allen, VA 23060.

Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.

PRO FOOTBALL

NFL suspends Browns’ Gordon for ’14 season

BY TOM WITHERS The Associated Press CLEVELAND— Josh Gordon’s wait is over, so is his 2014 season. The star wide receiver’s career is now in peril.

The Cleveland Browns learned Wednesday that Gordon’s indefinite suspension by the NFL has been upheld and he will miss at least 16 games for another violation of the league’s substance abuse policy. A repeat drug offender, Gordon had appealed the penalty, hoping it would be reduced so he could play this season.

The NFL, though, came down hard on Gordon, who must now pay the price for stepping out of bounds.

The league announced that arbitrator Harold Henderson supported Gordon’s yearlong suspension for marijuana use.

The Pro Bowler, who was subject to more frequent testing, will begin serving his suspension immediately and the league said in its statement that his “eligibility for rein-

statement will be determined following the 2014 season.”

In the meantime, Gordon is not allowed to practice with the team, attend meetings or other club functions. The Browns had no immediate response to the ban.

They had feared for months this would be the outcome, and now that it’s official, the club will have to somehow make up for the league-leading 1,646 yards, 18.9 yards per catch and nine touchdowns Gordon produced last season.

“I’d like to apologize to my teammates, coaches, the Cleveland Browns organization and our fans,” Gordon said in a statement. “I am very disappointed that the NFL and its hearing office didn’t exercise better discretion and judgment in my case. I would like to sincerely thank the people who have been incredibly supportive of me during this challenging time, including my family, my agent, my union, my legal team, and the Cleveland Browns staff.”

While he’s out, Gordon, who served a two-game suspension for a drug violation last season, will need to pass drug tests, comply with treatment and apply for reinstatement with Commissioner Roger Goodell before he plays again.

Gordon could possibly return inside a year if he stays clean.

Gordon met with league officials in New York on Aug. 4 to appeal his suspension. As the days past, there was growing speculation he might not be punished to the letter of the collective bargaining agreement. But Henderson sided with the league’s initial ruling after an exhaustive process.

The Browns have known Gordon could be banished for some time and they’ve been eager for a resolution to his case, which hung over their training camp. He continued to practice and played in Cleveland’s first three exhibition games.

Gordon fought the suspension by hiring attorney Maurice Suh to represent him at

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cleveland wide receiver Josh Gordon, who led the NFL in receiving in 2013, has been suspended for the entire upcoming season for multiple violations of the league’s substance abuse policy. the appeal hearing. Suh, who had successfully gotten a suspension reduced for Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman, argued that Gordon tested positive for marijuana due to secondhand smoke.

Gordon’s representatives also said test results of his sam-

ples were inconsistent and should be thrown out.

There was speculation the league might go softer on Gordon following the public outcry after Baltimore running back Ray Rice was suspended for two games on a domestic violence charge.

COMICS

THE SUMTER ITEM

BIZARRO

SOUP TO NUTZ

ANDY CAPP

GARFIELD

BEETLE BAILEY

BORN LOSER

BLONDIE

ZITS

MOTHER GOOSE

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B7

DOG EAT DOUG

DILBERT

JEFF MACNELLY’S SHOE

Wife is unwilling to shoulder burden DEAR ABBY — My motherin-law is 80 and in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. She lives alone an hour and a Dear Abby half from us.

She also has ABIGAIL a professionVAN BUREN al who takes care of her once a week. My husband, “Fred,” goes to help and entertain her every weekend, and I sometimes accompany him.

She has enough money to stay in an assisted living facility, but Fred wants to build a mother-in-law apartment for her on our property.

Abby, I DON’T LIKE HER. She was a bully when she was younger, and she’s still manip-

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

ulative. She has made some comments about me hitting her, which never happened.

Of course, Fred believed me.

If she lives with us, I will be her main caregiver because I have a home-based business and a flexible schedule.

I have already said no to Fred’s idea, but I don’t want to be the bad guy. His two brothers live states away and don’t want to be involved because of the way their mother treated them during their teens. Fred is the only son willing to overlook past issues and has made peace with her.

Could you help me to sort this out?

Three’s a crowd in Maryland DEAR THREE’S A CROWD — While Fred’s mother can live alone with the help of a professional

once a week now, that will soon not be the case. She will become increasingly helpless and so confused that should an emergency arise in her apartment she will be unable to think sequentially enough to know what to do. She may no longer recognize who you are and become agitated and combative.

For these reasons your mother-in-law should be in an assisted living facility staffed with caregivers who have been trained to take care of people with Alzheimer’s. Because you have a business to run, it can’t be you. Since Fred has made peace with his mother, he should visit her often to ensure she is welltreated. But he should NOT expect the responsibility of caring for her to be yours because it is unrealistic.

JUMBLE

SUDOKU

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME

By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

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

THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS 1 Bon Ami competitor 5 Start of a classic Christmas poem 9 Terra __ 14 “Star Wars” role 15 “Hell __ no fury ...”

16 Isolated 17 Frigg’s husband 18 First name in suburban humor 19 Group scuffle 20 PITCH 23 Justice Fortas 24 Spleen 25 PITCH 34 Some final exams 35 Immature salamanders 36 One who may signal to a bullpen: Abbr.

37 Hall of Fame golfer Middlecoff who had a DDS degree 38 Oscar de la __ 40 Fictional estate near Atlanta 41 Covert maritime org.

42 Notable Cuban bandleader, familiarly

43 Good __ 44 PITCH 48 Hail to Caesar 49 “__ Mine”: Beatles song 50 PITCH 58 Characteristic 59 Cannes cleric 60 Destroy 61 Nemo’s creator 62 Pinochle combination 63 Setting for “The Quiet Man” 64 Swamp grass 65 Peacock tail spots 66 Anti-aircraft fire DOWN 1 Oodles 2 Self-defense method 3 Related 4 Small-screen princess 5 Enforcement org. since 1908 6 Rabbit home 7 “Don’t throw bouquets __”: song lyric 8 NBA nickname 9 Shooting equipment 10 Kitchen gadget 11 Powder in the nursery 12 Low card

13 Ended a fast 21 Metallica drummer Ulrich 22 Utah’s __ Mountains 25 Drink after a day on the slopes 26 Chimp cousin 27 First Brazilian airline 28 Cambridgeshire cathedral town 29 Supernatural lamp occupants 30 Time and again, to a poet 31 Spender of rials 32 Jibe 33 Feature of LBJ speech-

es 38 Fix, as a hem 39 Count ending 40 Chef’s meas.

42 Zealot 43 Headed for an isle, maybe 45 Very eager 46 Like a good alternative 47 War zone correspondents 50 Family __ 51 Tough 52 Not so tough 53 Mind 54 Not kosher 55 Word with spin or wind 56 Biblical prophet 57 Stink 58 Sony products

B8

CLASSIFIEDS

THE ITEM

CLASSIFIEDS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

CLASSIFIED DEADLINES

803-774-1234

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

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

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

We reserve the right to edit, refuse or cancel any ad at any time.

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

Mayo’s Summer Clearance Sale!

Spring & Summer Sports Coats

Linen & Seer Sucker Suits Sizes 36-46 $99.95 Sizes 48-60 $109.95

Buy 1, Get 1 FREE

If your suits aren’t becoming to you, It’s a good time to be coming to Mayo’s!

8FTNBSL 1MB[B r r .PO 4BU r XXX .BZPT%JTDPVOU4VJUT DPN For Sale or Trade

ANNOUNCEMENTS

6x20 Enclosed Trailer w/ rear ramp, and side door. Asking $1,950.

Call 803-469-4917

Lost & Found Found: on Brewington Rd. black/white small dog. Could have had pups. Owner call 803-225-4988 or 473-5859.

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

Lawn Service Four Seasons Lawn Care Serving Sumter for almost 20 yrs!

Free est. 494-9169/468-4008

Roofing Robert's Metal Roofing 35 Years Experience. 18 colors & 45 year warranty. Financing available.

Long list of satisfied customers. Call 803-837-1549.

Septic Tank Cleaning

Ray Tobias & Company Septic tank pumping & services.

(803) 340-1155. Ask about other discounts. $10 off for new customers when you mention this ad! www.raytobiasseptic.com

Tree Service NEWMAN'S TREE SERVICE Tree removal , trimming & stump grinding. Lic & Ins.

803-316-0128

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

Mention this ad & get 10% off.

A Notch Above Tree Care Full quality service low rates, lic./ins., free est BBB accredited 983-9721

MERCHANDISE Farm Products Coastal Bermuda Round bales.

Barn kept, $35/per bale. Call 803-938-2945

Garage, Yard & Estate Sales 3645 Rhododendron St. (Wintergreen Subd), Sat 8-3. Clothes, rider mower, generator, carpets, & more.

LARGE GARAGE SALE 1st & 3rd Weekend Tables $2 FLEA MARKET BY SHAW AFB

Open every weekend.

905-4242 Multi Family 226 Hagan St. Fri & Sat 7-4 Furn, hshld, tools & lots of everything

For Sale or Trade Expert Tech, New & used heat pumps & A/C. Will install/repair, warranty; Compressor & labor $600.

Call 803-968-9549 or 843-992-2364 Cemetery Plots- Two plots with vaults, opening/closing fees and granite marker with vase in Evergreen Memorial Park , Sumter, SC. Save thousands. Call 803-469-9763

Jonny M’s Demolition Company Building Demolition and removal Burn outs, house, barns, shed, abandoned buildings.

No job too small!

968-4887 or 983-4736

EMPLOYMENT Help Wanted Full-Time Tender Care Home Health Care of South Carolina is immediately hiring RNs and LPNs. Pediatric experience is highly desired.

Apply with resume at tchhemployment@att.net (888) 669-0104 Local Insurance Agency representing major auto insurer seeks P & C agent. Experience in auto and home preferred. Excellent oral, written and organizational skills required. Reply with resume to: agentjobsumter@aol.com Covenant Place of Sumter is hiring for the following position(s): •F/T Charge Nurse: Rotating weekends required. Long Term and Medicare experience preferred but not required. •F/T Night Shift Supervisor: Monday-Friday, rotating call and occasional weekends required. RN preferred position but not required.

Long Term, Medicare and Charge Nurse experience necessary. This position is responsible for the day to day operations in the 44 bed skilled care unit, under the direction of the Director of Nursing.

Apply in person to: Covenant Place 2825 Carter Road Sumter, SC 29150 EOE Need OTR Truck Drivers. 2yrs exp.

Good driving records. Dependable, willing to work. Paid weekly. Paid vacations. Call 888-991-1005 PRN/Weekend Night Security needed in a skilled nursing facility for 8pm to 8am shift. Position consists of security walk through and light environmental maintenance. Experience preferred but not required.

Apply in person to: Covenant Place 2825 Carter Road Sumter, SC 29150 EOE Full Time Sales position available.

Some experience preferred but will train. No calls. Apply at Wally's Hardware 1291 broad St .

Experienced Floral Designers needed. Full and part time. Please call Laura at The Daisy Shop 803-773-5114 Child care providers needed (FT/PT/Sub) for local daycare. Prefer at least 6 months exp. Must be HS graduate & dedicated worker. Send resume to P-369 c//o The Item, PO Box 1677, Sumter SC, 29151

Manufactured Housing

RENTALS Unfurnished Apartments SOUTH FORGE APTS. 1 & 2 BR, Water, stove & fridge furnished. Linda at 803-494-8443 Beautiful Lrg 2br Apt. Water & appl. incl. $425/mo dep req. Call after 6pm 775-7895.

Unfurnished Homes 1850 Campbell Ct 3BR 1BA Brick Home $650 Mo+ $650 Dep. Option to buy -Owner Financing. Call 803 968-4185 Alice Dr School Area 4 BR 2 BA carport, fenced yard, $1200 Mo. + Dep Call 704-345-8547 2 & 3BR Apt & houses available in Sumter. No Sec. Dep. required. Call 773-8402 for more info.

Help Wanted Part-Time $$$ AVON $$$ FREE TRAINING! 803-422-5555

Trucking Opportunities Professional Long Distance Truck Driver needed. Flatbed experience and a good driving record required.

Excellent Pay. Send Resume to mdavidgroup@verizon.net. For additional information, please call 803 481-7948 or 443 695-0520(cell).

Beer & Wine License

Miscellaneous

Large 4BR MH with land. $5,000 furniture allowance. Payments approx $550. Call 803-236-5953

Lake Property For Sale: Lake House 1931 Clubhouse Lane on Lizzie's Creek.

1,605 sq ft, 4BR/2BA, Kitchen/Dining Room, Den, Shower house, Boat house, Pier, Carport. 803-469-3807

Autos For Sale 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

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

Legal Notice A-1 Self Storage Sept 9th. 2014 @ 9:00am 3501 Broad Street Ext. Sumter, SC 29150

Recently renovated: 3BR, 1BA home, den w/fireplace. No Pets, $675/mo + sec. dep. 983-8463 after 10am.

The following units are up for auction:

Meadowcroft S/D, Move in Sept.

1st, Beautiful, spacious, clean 3 Br, 2.5 ba, bonus rm, 0.5 ac. Fenced in backyard, tile / hdwd floors, deck, sprinkler, 2 car garage. $1600 mo. + ele. & water. 847-0115.

M. ROSS- E24- MISC FURN, TOOLS, TOTES, BAGS-DOORS, CASING, FRIDGE MISC FURN, M-ROSS-D12MATTRESSES, BAG

3 BR 1BA brick home $675/mo + $675/dep. Call 840-0207 lv msg.

Notice Of Application Notice is hereby given that Akshar Purushottam of Coastal, LLC DBA Munn E Saver, intends to apply to the South Carolina Department of Revenue for a license permit that will allow the sale OFF premises consumption of Beer & Wine at 437 Broad St. Sumter, SC 29150. To object to the issuance of this permit / license, written protest must be postmarked no later than August 30, 2014. For a protest to be valid, it must be in writing, and should include the following information: (1) the name, address and telephone number of the person filing the

3BR MH off Pinewood Rd. $500/mo.

Call 803-983-8084 2/3BR MH. All appliances, C/H/A, Section 8 OK 803-469-6978 or 803-499-1500 Oaklawn MHP: 2 BR M.H.'s, water /sewer/garbage pk-up incl'd. RV parking avail. Call 494-8350

Baconhill Rd./Pinewood SW Mobile Home, 3BR/2BA, stove, frig, $550/mo. + dep. 803-506-4600

protest; (2) the specific reasons why the application should be denied; (3) that the person protesting is willing to attend a hearing (if one is requested by the applicant); (4) that the person protesting resides in the same county where the proposed place of business is located or within five miles of the business; and (5) the name of the applicant and the address of the premises to be licensed. Protests must be mailed to: S.C. Department of Revenue, ATTN: ABL, P.O. Box 125, Columbia, South Carolina 29214; or Faxed to: (803) 896-0110.

Bid Notices INVITATION TO BID Project: ITB #09-14/15 Foxworth Mill Bridge Waterline 2014 Invitation for Sealed Bids for City of Sumter will be received at 303 East Liberty Street, Sumter, SC 29150 until Thursday, September 4th, 2014 at 2:00 pm. For bid documents, plans and specifications contact the Office of the City Engineer at 803-436-2558 o r v i s i t www.sumtersc.gov/purchasing.aspx for more information.

INVITATION TO BID

Beer & Wine License

Mobile Home Rentals

Project: ITB #10-14/15 Montgomery Street Waterline 2014 Invitation for Sealed Bids for City of Sumter will be received at 303 East Liberty Street, Sumter, SC 29150 until Tuesday, September 9th, 2014 at 2:00 pm. For bid documents, plans and specifications contact the Office of the City Engineer at 803-436-2558 or visit www.sumtersc.gov/purchasing.aspx for more information.

STATEBURG COURTYARD 2 & 3 BRs 803-494-4015 Nice 3BR/2BA on nice lot. Near Shaw. $600/mo. Call 803-983-8084

Commercial Rentals For rent: 2 garages, utilities included. $450 & $650. Call Bobby Sisson, 773-4381.

CHEVY/BUICK LABOR DAY SALE THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

REAL ESTATE

0% 72

Homes for Sale

APR FOR

MONTHS FOR QUALIFIED BUYERS ON MOST 2014 VEHICLES IN STOCK

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For Sale by Owner 111 Alice Dr $120,000. 108 ft corner lot, masonry veneer, new roof, 3BR 2BA w/ceramic tile/floor, Lrg LR with buck stove insert in F/P, dining room, family room, kitchen with handmade pine cabinets, dw, hardwoods. Ceiling fan in every room except LR. C/H/A, Patio 2 Car garage, brick fence in back yard with white rod iron gate. Contact # 1-617-276-3306

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Tahoe

D/W on permanent foundation, 1.4 ac, 3 Br, 2 Ba, all appliances, W/D, asking $45K. Make an offer. Call 803-469-8872 Approx. 3,000 sq ft home on Nazarene Ch. Rd. 1.36 acres, 4BR/2.5BA, DR, Den, LR, Lg utility rm, screened porch, carport, garage/shop. Call 803-491-8651

Manufactured Housing 3BR/2BA (Dalzell) with land. Easy Financing. 803-983-8084

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

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

SLIGHTLY IRREGULAR MICROFIBER SHEET SETS Full.............. $4 per set Queen & King..$5 per set

29 Progress St. - Sumter 775-8366 Ext. 37 MICROFIBER DRYING MATS Store Hours 0RQ 6DW ‡ 9:30 - 5:00 Closed Sunday

LEGAL NOTICES

(2) 2BR in Windsor City. Both occupied. $400 profit per month. $8,000 CASH for both. 803-469-6978

Full time Administrative Assistant needed with Quickbooks experience required. Apply in person @ 1282 N. Lafayette. No Phone Calls Please.

The #1 Furniture Retail Company in the U.S. is seeking highly motivated individuals with outgoing personalities to join our Sales Team.

Candidates must have a working knowledge of computers. They will be required to build sales volume by providing superior customer service and knowledge of product and finance options. This full time position is based on a flexible work schedule that includes evenings, Saturdays and some holidays. Offering unlimited income potential based on commission and bonuses. Guaranteed salary during training process. Send resume to 2850 Broad St., Sumter, SC 29150.

TRANSPORTATION

Small..... $2.00 Each Large..... $3.00 Each

$37,841

15 CITY / 21 HWY

#Y044

**Monthlyy pa ppayment y nt is $13 yme $$13.89 .89 for everyy $1,0 $$1,000 , 00 financed. Examp Example ple down payment: paym y ent: 7.2%. Some customers will not qualify. qualifyy. Not compatible compat p ible ers. withh some wit some ot other her off offer s. Dow Down n payment payment paym ent may may be be required require requ iredd at at signing. ssign igning ing.. Residency R Resi esiden dency cy restrictions restri res tricti ctions ons apply. apply ap ply.. Not Not available availa ava ilable ble in Florida Flori Fl orida da and Washington, Washi Wa shingt ngton, on, D D.C C. Excludes E Excl xclude udess leases. leas leases es. Take Take delivery delive del ivery ry by 9/0 9/02/1 2/144. Wit Withh appr aapproved pprove ovedd credit. ccred redit it. Plus Plus Tax an andd T Tags ags. See See dea dealer ler for for details. ddeta etails ils.

D.C. 9/02/14.

Tags.

Prothro Chevrolet WHERE FAMILY VALUES AND CUSTOMER LOYALTY COME FIRST Check out our complete inventory of new and used vehicles at

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014 PHOTO BY MATT WALSH

AGES ANTIQUES Come see our unique blend of old and new Furniture, Accessories and Gifts

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LABOR DAY TRIBUTE

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

What was your first job? Locals share memories

BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com First jobs don’t always lead to full-time careers, but they can certainly teach you valuable lessons and skills.

In honor of Labor Day, The Sumter Item asked some people in Sumter, Clarendon and Lee counties about their first job and what it taught them.

When Sumter

School, started working

DENNIS

County Sher-

at a library in a small

iff Anthony

town when she was 16.

Dennis was in

“The head librarian had been there since my mother was a teenager and worked there,” she said. “She taught me the ins and outs of the library, customer service and proper etiquette when dealing with people. I learned so much more than just how to file books, look up research for patrons and help young children with book selections.

“I learned how to guide patrons and encourage them to expand their reading selections. I also learned how to listen to the life stories of patrons as I checked out their books and offer encouraging comments without judging. I came to understand that some people came to the library not just for the books but for companionship. Even as a young person, I learned patience, and I came to appreciate the life stories of the older generations. The library was the hub of our small town. It was a meeting place for families and retirees alike. Those chance encounters while checking out books were opportunities to touch the lives of others.”

•••

high school, he worked on a night clean-up crew at his fa-

Wanda Andrews, superintendent of Lee County School DisANDREWS

trict, first worked as a

salesperson in Eleanor’s Dress Shop when she was 15.

“I earned $1 an hour,” she said. “I bought my grandmother a coat from the dress shop priced at $25. She was so happy and proud of the coat. Lesson learned: Sometimes you have to work long hours for others, and it is worth it!”

•••

Annie Brown, CEO of Sumter Family Health Center, worked as a bagger at her father’s grocery store.

“It taught me work ethic,” she said. “I think it was the beginning of my ability to relate to people regardless of their background. It taught me about diversity. I never meet a stranger.”

•••

When Ron Davis, pastor of Sumter Bible Church and Sumter Christian School administrator, was in college, he worked in the men’s department of Leggett Department Store in Lynchburg, Virginia. It was his first “real job as a married adult.”

“Learning to deal with the public, especially in connection to customer service, was a valuable experience and helps me today in what I do as pastor and school administrator,” he said.

of St. Francis Xavier High

ther’s industrial plant.

“It was four hours in the evening,” he said. “It was my first real job where I actually got paid before I went to college and into law enforcement. It really taught me the value of money and how to be more responsible. I had a certain time I had to be at work.”

He learned discipline in his home, Dennis said, but the job helped, too.

•••

City Councilwoman Ione Dwyer’s first job was at Shop Rite Grocery

DWYER

Store in South Orange, New Jersey.

“I worked in the meat department wrapping meat one summer while school was out,” she said. “This was the first time that they hired a summer employee for the position. It was a challenge because most of them spoke Greek, and there was one lady besides me. She was a meat cutter.”

•••

Sen. Kevin Johnson, DManning, Dist. 36, Howard

Thomas Sumter Academy, her first job actually did contribute to her career.

“I worked with the Head Start program in Sumter County,” she said. “I knew even in high school I wanted to go into education and the more experience the better, so that was the best place to start. I was an aid or assistant ... I learned a lot about working with young people and doing what I was asked to do so I could be a worthy employee. It was very important whatever you did, even if I cleaned the cafeteria after lunch, to do it the very best I could.”

She appreciated the patience the faculty and staff had with her while she was learning, Nix said, and respects the program.

“Everyone hopes the first job is one they remember fondly, and I do,” she said. “It was just a great experience.”

•••

JOHNSON

Johnson Restaurant in Manning.

“I washed dishes and bussed tables,” he said. “I learned the value of hard work. I learned to get what I want, I have to go work for it.”

•••

Susan Lavergne, principal

downtown development

Joe

manager, first worked for

McElveen’s

his uncle as a “lot boy” at

early jobs was selling restaurant

Ron’s Used Cars.

MCELVEEN

equipment his freshman year of law school.

“I got a good bit of sales experience,” he said. “On Saturdays, I would have to clean the warehouse. By the end of the year, I had a job as a clerk in the Attorney General’s office. I was glad to get that job and not drive all over Richland.”

•••

Sen. Thomas McElveen, D-Sumter, Dist. 35, was a “courtesy clerk” at Piggly Wiggly on Broad Street.

MCELVEEN

as you want to be treated.

“To sum it all up, it sounds cliché, but I learned that hard work pays off,” Owens said.

“I learned to value work, to pour myself into it and to always seek out opportunities for growth.”

•••

For Debbie Nix, Head of

Howie Owens, Sumter’s One of Mayor

worked at a

“I was a bag boy,” he said.

“My main responsibility was cleaning up at night and monitoring the parking lot. I learned the value of money. I made $4.25 an hour plus tips.

It taught me to work hard.”

•••

“I washed cars, cleaned the office and basically did anything my uncle told me to do,” Owens said. “He owned several businesses, so each day brought something new. I worked for him in middle school, high school and even through graduating college. I eventually worked my way into sales and business development with him before beginning a new career path. I was able to learn the different phases of running your own business, and one thing’s for sure, you can’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. When I moved into sales, I was able to work with different people of the community on a daily basis.”

It was during this phase he learned the true meaning of the old adage “you can’t judge a book by the cover” and the importance of the Golden Rule, to treat others

Patricia Watson, head of Robert E. Lee Academy, was in college when she got her first job.

“I commuted to Francis Marion for morning classes and returned to Bishopville around lunch time to work as the secretary for the Lee County Cotton Festival in the afternoons,” she said. “This job consisted of approximately 15 hours of office work including answering the phone; typing letters, meeting minutes and agendas; making contacts with various vendors; writing checks, etc.”

Besides office skills, Watson said she learned time management, financial skills and communication skills.

“The money that I earned during this time paid for my gas, car, lunch and clothes for school,” she said. “I was very proud of the money that I earned because it allowed me some financial freedom from my parents. It also taught me life skills about responsibility that I still use today. I appreciate the opportunity that was given to me through my first job and encourage all young people to seek employment. There are many skills learned through job experiences that often can’t be learned in a classroom.”

•••

Yolanda Debra Wilson, executive director of the YWCA of the Upper Lowlands Inc., first worked at her father’s store, Stephen Bradford’s Grocery Store, Restaurant and Gas Station.

“It was located at 829 N. Main St., next to Williams Funeral Home,” she said. “I got $1 a week. My grandfather instilled in me to work hard. I was counting money and could make change at age 5. My favorite thing to do was selling two-for-a-penny cookies, Mary Jane and Squirrel nut candy to my friends after school.”

Labor Day Weekend Sale At Jacks Shoes!

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Your community news source

LABOR DAY TRIBUTE

THE SUMTER ITEM

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

C3

|

SC Works provides services to employers, job seekers

BY RAYTEVIA EVANS revans@theitem.com One of the major issues in the American economy in the past few years has been the unemployment rate. According to the U.S. Labor Statistics, 6.2 percent of Americans were unemployed in July 2014 — a slight increase from June when only 6.1 percent were unemployed and a decrease from earlier this year when 6.6 percent of Americans were reportedly unemployed in January.

In an effort to prepare people for certain jobs and to assist in gaining more skills in preparation for possible promotion or pay raises on their current jobs, SC Works provides a number of services, and the agency’s local centers create partnerships with businesses.

One of the services SC Works provides is connecting businesses with job seekers and providing training programs for employers and their staff as well as information on starting and maintain-

ITEM FILE PHOTO

SC Works Santee-Lynches in Sumter awarded more than 20 participants in its first basic computer skills class in June. The class, offered for free at the Sumter location, covered basic computer skills, emailing, keyboarding skills and Internet searching. partners with local businesses as well as the Greater Sumter County Chamber of Commerce. Earlier this year, Davis partnered with the Chamber for its Minority Business Forum along

ing a business for entrepreneurs and small business owners.

According to Gwen Davis, operations director for the local SC Works Center in Sumter, the agency also

CCTC’s mechatronics shows strong job placement rates

NO CREDIT years 1904–2014

REFUSED

*

GIANT

SALE

BY RAYTEVIA EVANS revans@theitem.com With the forever changing economy, colleges and universities are always looking at how to better serve students and properly prepare them for the work force. Central Carolina Technical College in Sumter is one of many schools improving programs and making community and business partnerships for better career opportunities for students.

According to CCTC’s recent numbers, 92 percent of the school’s 2012-13 graduates had jobs once they graduated with their degrees and certifications.

“We had the highest placement rate of the 16 technical colleges over the last five years,” explained Public Relations Director Becky Rickenbaker in a recent email. “CCTC’s placement rate was 94.29 percent over this time frame.”

CCTC is currently making a huge push in their mechatronics program as well as other programs in which the economy is in great need of hiring, such as welding and machine tool operation. The school is also focusing on the renovations to its Advanced Manufacturing Technology Training Center, which will house approximately 300 CCTC students studying in three of the school’s programs and will be a main location to train employees for jobs with Continental Tire the Americas.

These improvements are in conjunction with the school’s 100 percent job placement rate for many of its associate degree programs including environ-

with other agencies, including the Service Corps of Retired Executives.

Some of the sessions they offer also include improving skills or learning specific skills for a job an individual already has, and their services cater to all age groups.

Recently, the Sumter location offered its first basic computer skills class for free to the those in the Sumter area.

The course covered basic computer skills such as emailing, keyboarding and Internet searching. The instructor for the course volunteered to provide her services to more than 20 participants.

The SC Works website is also a wealth of information for those looking for a job, employers looking to hire, and providing other workforce resources. The website allows users to search through the agency’s job database and create a resume while looking for a job.

For more information on SC Works or to find a local career center, visit www. scworks.org.

LABOR DAY MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

Joseph Pack, a student in the Basic and Advanced Welding Program at Central Carolina Technical College, welds feathers to a steel sculpture of a blue heron he helped create for this year’s Iris Festival. mental engineering technology, early care and education, accounting, nursing and natural resources management, as well as for many of their certification and diploma programs including advanced HVAC, advanced mechatronics, machine tool operator, massage therapy, medical record coding and practical nursing.

In preparation for jobs with Continental Tire and other companies in the area such as Caterpillar and Eaton, CCTC is also partnering with Sumter School District to provide more classes and training in the mechatronics field for high school students starting in the 10th grade. Through the partnership, CCTC and SSD have put in place a program that will give interested students the opportunity to gain a solid foundation in the fundamentals of mechatronics and continue their education at CCTC after graduation.

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20% OFF 5 pc dinettes include table & four chairs

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up to

ELECTRONICS

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LABOR DAY TRIBUTE

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

Put some pep in Labor Day hot dogs

STATEPOINT PHOTO

Celebrity Chef Michael Symon offers tips for stress-free summer hosting and grilling.

Fire up the grill for Labor Day STATEPOINT — There’s something great about inviting company over, firing up the grill, sitting back and eating a juicy burger. Celebrity chef Michael Symon from the Food Network and ABC’s “The Chew,” is partnering with Bank of America to share tips for stress-free barbecuing.

Nearly six out of 10 Americans planned to grill more than 15 times this summer, according to a survey conducted

by Bank of America. A large majority — 90 percent —

equate barbecuing with entertaining.

“Hosting a barbecue shouldn’t be stressful,” Symon said. “The more you can prepare before guests arrive, the more you can enjoy your party.”

For instance, Symon advises pre-mixing a batch of your favorite cocktail so guests can serve themselves and you can focus on grilling. He also encourages hosts to make their budgets go farther on groceries.

“You can get rewarded for

the purchases you make most by using a credit card like the BankAmericard Cash Rewards Credit Card. Customers earn two percent back on grocery store purchases for barbecues,” Symon said.

To show Chef Symon your summer barbecue creations, use the hashtag #123BBQ on social media for a chance to see your photo on www.seriouseats.com/123bbq.

Don’t miss the party. Make barbecues more fun with some simple planning.

Labor Day great just for relaxing STATEPOINT — Nearly all Americans understand that relaxation time is essential to good health, yet most of us don’t spend nearly enough time unwinding during a typical day or week.

While our society acknowledges that kicking back is indispensable, we don’t seem to be practicing what we preach.

Indeed, 99 percent of Americans think relaxation is important, yet they actually spend less than 5 percent of their day relaxing, according to a new independent research study commissioned

by Princess Cruises.

The goal of the research was to better understand the latest trends about how many

SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO

Labor Day is considered by some to be the end of summer. Why not take some time to relax in the outdoors? of us actually relax and how we go about doing it.

Nearly half of Americans report they’re more stressed than their significant other,

with a whopping 82 percent of men indicating that their partner is the stressed out one.

Music topped the list of relaxation techniques for those surveyed, with 48 percent reporting music helps them take it easy. Interestingly, only 18 percent find exercise is a good relaxation tool.

The most surprising findings were that relaxation causes 62 percent of parents to feel guilty and that nearly one third of Americans surveyed reported being stressed out simply by the thought of relaxing!

So try to beat the odds and make time to unwind. The three-day Labor Day weekend is a perfect time to start.

STATEPOINT — Hot dogs are a perennial favorite for Americans, especially in summer. More than seven billion hot dogs are eaten in the three months between Memorial Day and Labor Day, according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council.

While traditional preparations and fixings are always a hit, consider packing a little more punch with your dogs this summer.

From exotic meat preparations to buns to tasty toppings, there is room for creativity.

“When I think of hot dogs, I see endless possibilities. Toppings are what take a dog from ho-hum to haute,” says Russell Van Kraayenburg, hot dog aficionado and author of the new guide to America’s favorite food obsession, “Haute Dogs: Recipes for Delicious Hot Dogs, Buns, and Condiments.”

Inspired globally, Kraayenburg seeks to reinvent the wheel where this classic is concerned. This Labor Day, he offers a recipe for the “Michigan Dog” aka “The Michiganer,” a spicy, tomato-heavy take on the chili dog that’s popular all over the northeast and even in Quebec.

THE MICHIGAN DOG 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 large white onion, diced 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 tablespoon ground chili powder 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper 1 pound ground beef 1 cup beef stock 8 oz. tomato paste 4 classic buns

STATEPOINT PHOTO

Change up your grilling menu for Labor Day with a spicy Michigan Dog. 4 all-beef hot dogs Yellow mustard Diced white onions Hot sauce, optional Prepare the chili sauce: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until soft and translucent, about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add salt, pepper, spices and beef. Cook until beef is browned and no trace of pink remains. Reduce heat to medium-low and add beef stock and tomato paste. Stir until evenly combined. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Set aside.

Get out four classic buns. Pan fry all-beef hot dogs on a flattop.

Place the dogs in the buns. Top each with a huge pile of chili, a handful of diced onions, and a thin line of yellow mustard. Add a few drops of hot sauce on top, if desired.

More hot dog recipes and information about the book are available at www.quirkbooks.com/hautedogs.

This Labor Day, don’t give your hot dogs short shrift.

Take a cue from experts and put some pep in your prep.

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LABOR DAY TRIBUTE

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

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U.S. labor by the numbers FROM THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU The first observance of Labor Day was likely on Sept. 5, 1882, when some 10,000 workers assembled in New York City for a parade.

That celebration inspired similar events across the country, and by 1894 more than half the states were observing a “working men’s holiday” on one day or another. Later that year, with Congress passing legislation and President Grover Cleveland signing the bill on June 29, the first Monday in September was designated Labor Day. This national holiday is a creation of the labor movement in the late 19th century and pays tribute to the social and economic achievements of American workers.

Who Are We Celebrating?

155.6 million Number of people 16 and over in the nation’s labor force in May 2013.

Our Jobs Largest Occupations May 2013 Number of employees Retail salespeople

4,485,180 Cashiers

3,343,470 Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food

3,022,880

prietors, retail trade

1,119,000 Mine operatives and laborers, crude petroleum and natural gas extraction

NFL traditionally playing its first game the Thursday following Labor Day.

53,981

•••

The number of travel agents employed full time, year-round in 2012. In addition, there were

16.0 million

16,526

The number of wage and salary workers age 16 and over represented by a union in 2013. This group includes both union members (14.5 million) and workers who report no union affiliation but whose jobs are covered by a union contract (1.5 million).

tour and travel guides employed full time, yearround nationwide. On a weekend intended to give U.S. workers a day of rest, many climb into their drivers’ seats or board an airplane for a quick end of the summer getaway.

907,000

14.8 million Number of female workers 16 and over in service occupations in 2012. Among male workers 16 and over, 11.4 million were employed in service-related occupations.

1.8 percent Percentage increase in employment (or 2.3 million) in the U.S. between December 2012 and December 2013. Employment increased in 286 of the 334 largest U.S. counties (large counties are defined as having employment levels of 75,000 or more).

Another Day, Another Dollar

862,630 The number of paid employees (for the pay period including March 12) who worked for a gasoline station in the U.S. in 2012.

Oregon (9,347 paid gasoline station employees) and New Jersey (16,408 paid gasoline station employees) are the only states without selfservice gasoline stations.

Oregon was the first state to make Labor Day a holiday in February 1887.

MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

A city crew works on a broken water line.

The most common time was between 7 and 7:29 a.m. — with 19.8 million commuters.

The Commute to Work

5.9 million

76.3 percent Percentage of workers 16

$49,398 and $37,791

Registered nurses

2,661,890 Waiters and waitresses

2,403,960 Customer service representatives

2,389,580

The average time it took workers in the U.S. to commute to work in 2012.

Maryland and New York had the most time-consuming commutes, both averaging about 32 minutes.

We Care Every Day in Every Way®

The 2012 real median earnings for male and female full-time, year-round workers, respectively.

Office clerks, general

2,832,010

25.7 minutes

4.4 percent Percentage of workers 16 and over who worked from home in 2012.

Number of commuters who left for work between midnight and 4:59 a.m. in 2012. They represented 4.4 percent of all commuters.

and over who drove alone to work in 2012. Another 9.7 percent carpooled and 0.6 percent biked to work.

Fastest Growing Jobs

The Visiting Angels national, private duty network of home care agencies is the nation’s leader for providing non-medical senior care. Our Angels provide in-home care, respite care, senior personal care, elder care, and companion care so that elderly adults can continue to live independently in their own homes throughout America.

49 percent Projected percentage growth from 2012 to 2022 in the number of personal care aides (580,800). Analysts expect this occupation to grow much faster than the average for all occupations.

Meanwhile, the occupation expected to add more positions over this period than any other is registered nurse (526,800).

Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand

Employee Benefits

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2,284,650

84.5 percent

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Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive

Percentage of full-time, year-round workers 18 to 64 covered by health insurance during all or part of 2012.

2,159,000 Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

2,101,810 Largest Occupations 1910 Number of employees Farmers (owners and tenants)

6,132,000 Farm laborers, wageworkers

2,832,000 Farm laborers, unpaid family workers

2,514,000 Operatives and kindred workers, manufacturing

2,318,000 Laborers, nonmanufacturing industries

2,210,000 Laborers, manufacturing

1,487,000

Say Goodbye to Summer Labor Day is celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer and the start of the back-toschool season.

25,455

is on the Way! Are you

READY?

Other choices of retail establishments abound. There were:

25,421 family clothing stores

6,945 children and infants clothing stores

7,443 office supply and stationery stores

7,244 bookstores and

8,196 department stores.

1,454,000

20,893

Housekeepers, private household - living out

The number of sporting goods stores nationwide in 2012. In U.S. sports, college football teams usually play their first games the week before Labor Day, with the

Managers, officials, and pro-

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The number of shoe stores for back-to-school shopping in 2012.

Salesmen and sales clerks, retail trade

1,338,000

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LABOR DAY TRIBUTE

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

U.S. workers owe much to early labor unions

BY IVY MOORE ivym@theitem.com Most people think of Labor Day simply as a day off from work, a last hurrah for summer, time for a cookout or one final trip to the beach. In actuality the more than 100-year-old observance began more than a century ago with the country’s labor unions in an effort to improve the lives of working people.

In the early 1880s, the working class had no protection from the bosses. They worked long hours for little pay and had little or no rights. Children labored alongside adults, generally as long as 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

As oppressed people often have, workers, including mainly members of the Central Labor Union of New York, had finally had enough abuse and organized a march down Broadway on Sept. 5, 1882. Resembling more a

demonstration than a parade, they carried placards summing up their demands and statements in praise of the workers; about 20,000 — a huge number in those days — took part. Some of their signs read “Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, eight hours for recreation” and “Labor creates all wealth.”

By 1885, other cities were observing what was called “a working man’s holiday.”

Then in 1894, 31 states declared an offical Labor Day holiday. That same year, railroad employees working for George Pullman had their wages cut while rent for their homes owned by Pullman and their hours and condi-

tions remained the same and their union representatives were fired. This led 50,000 of them to boycott trains with Pullman Railway cars, and rail traffic, including the U.S. mail, into and out of Chicago was completely stalled. As the public learned of the railroad employees’ working conditions and treatment, President Grover Cleveland signed a proclamation making the first Monday in September a national holiday — it was a Congressional election year.

Even though Cleveland had declared a holiday for workers, he celebrated the Fourth of July in 1894 by breaking the Chicago railway boycott by sending troops to the city; seven men were killed, but the holiday remained intact.

And Cleveland’s Democrats lost heavily in the election that year.

George Pullman was so reviled by the people of Chicago that when he died his grave had tons of concrete poured over it, as it was

feared the angry people might desecrate his body.

For the next few decades, working people held parades on each Labor Day, after observing what was then called Labor Sunday, a day to pray and reflect on the meaning and value of work. Labor unions became stronger and working conditions and worker rights improved greatly.

The history of labor unions includes many successes and some failures, abuses and scandals, but to a great degree, working people still enjoy the improvements made possible by the U.S. labor movement.

Few parades celebrate the working class these days; and so on Monday, as we celebrate with our cookouts and parties, we working and retired people might pause, reflect on the actions that led to this holiday celebrating our contributions to society and the economy and lift a beer or an iced tea to those who fought for our rights.

Brown’s Labor Day Sale This is one of our biggest events of the year. Everything in our store will be on sale, so don’t miss this fantastic event!

Sale Starts Thursday, August 28th and goes through Monday, September 1st We have some of the finest quality furniture in Sumter. And right now, it’s all on sale; even special orders! We look forward to seeing you on this big Labor Day Sale.

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LABOR DAY TRIBUTE

THE SUMTER ITEM

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

Today we salute the working men and women who make progress possible through their dedicated daily efforts. Our nation’s labor force is the backbone of our economy, and we thank all of our local workers for the important roles they play in our community and around the region. To all of the hardworking individuals who make up the U.S. workforce, we salute your contributions to our country. We recognize the extraordinary accomplishments that result from Americans working together, and we remain committed to providing and creating jobs in this industrious community.

Ace Parker Tire

Captain D’s Seafood

Pizza Lane

930 N. Lafayette Blvd.

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1110 Old W. Liberty St. Sumter, SC (803) 775-1015

460 Broad St. Sumter, SC (803) 773-4351 hamid30nbl@hotmail.com

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Destiny Styles All About Pools & Spas 1170 S. Pike West Sumter, SC (803) 469-0211 531 S. Mill St. Manning, SC (803) 433-0211

Archway Academy 2049 McCrays Mill Rd. Sumter, SC (803) 773-6480 www.archwayacademy.us

Ards Appliance Sales & Service 21 W. Wesmark Blvd.

Sumter, SC (803) 773-2737 Like Us @ Facebook

Bilton Lincoln 70 W. Wesmark Blvd.

Sumter, SC (803) 773-7339 www.biltonlincoln.com

Brown’s Furniture & Bedding 31 W. Wesmark Blvd.

Sumter, SC (803) 774-2100

108 S. Main St. Sumter, SC (803) 418-0000

Imports Limited Music & Sound Systems 9 N. Main St. Sumter, SC (803) 773-1908 (803) 491-7122

J.F. Contractors 119 S. Harvin St. Sumter, SC (803) 774-8269

Mid Carolina Exterminating 34 Bridge Ct., Unit 3 Sumter, SC (803) 968-5057 (803) 436-5583

Moore Business Concepts, LLC 545 Oxford St., Suite D Sumter, SC (803) 305-1248

Norman Williams & Associates Employment Services 344 W. Liberty St. Sumter, SC (803) 775-5308 williamstemporary.com

Sumter Rental Equipment, Inc. 419 Broad St. Sumter, SC (803) 473-8822 hamid30nbl@hotmail.com

Sumter Chrysler • Jeep • Dodge 2662 Broad St. Sumter, SC (803) 469-9030 sumterchryslerdodgejeepram.com

The Item 20 N. Magnolia St. Sumter, SC (803) 774-1200

Tracy’s Jewelry 3 N. Main St. Sumter, SC (803) 778-2772

Webster University 389 Shaw Dr., Room 108 Shaw AFB, SC (803) 666-2254 webster.edu/shaw

Wishing you a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend,

Happy Labor Day!

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LABOR DAY TRIBUTE

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

IVY MOORE / THE SUMTER ITEM

Eric Conyers with Ace Parker Tires checks a customer’s tire recently. Air pressure in tires can affect gas mileage significantly and should be checked before Labor Day travel.

Gas prices lowest in S.C., but you can save even more

BY IVY MOORE ivy@theitem.com According to the AAA, the average price of gas in the United States was $3.43 per gallon as of Monday. In South Carolina, the average is $3.14. That’s the lowest in the nation, which means it will cost us less to drive to our Labor Day destinations.

Just last year, it would have cost 11 cents more for a gallon of gas.

While $3.14 might seem pretty high, think about the poor Hawaiians who are paying the highest price at $4.30.

Granted, they can’t drive nearly as far as we might choose to, but still ... And in California, where you would think the Alaskan pipeline would make a difference in prices, they’re paying $3.87.

No matter where you live, there are steps you can take to maximize your gas mileage.

For example, driving fast burns more gas. According to the U.S. government website www.fueleconomy.gov, “While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of

speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 50 mph. You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 50 mph is like paying an additional $0.24 per gallon for gas.”

If you already watch your speed, there are several other things you can do to your vehicle to improve mileage, some that will reduce driving time and still others that involve changing your driving habits.

Tire pro Billy Burrows, vice president of Ace Parker Tires, said taking care of your tires can make a significant difference in gas mileage. Get yourself a “good tire gauge, and check the pressure every two weeks.

Be sure the pressure is what’s recommended for your car and tire size. You can find that on the car’s door jamb.”

That’s borne out by the experts at the Michelin tire company, who note “underinflated tires are one of the biggest causes of using excess fuel in the world.” That increase in gas burning is substantial: “... operating a vehicle with underinflated

tires can result in a 25 percent reduction in fuel economy,” according to AAA. Check tire pressure in the morning, before the tire has been warmed by the heat of the day, which increases the tire pressure, Burrows said.

He added that some tires are made to enhance fuel efficiency, too. “ ... others are made for ‘handling’ and high speed driving,” Burrows said.

Other driving tips from AAA and Michelin include: • Avoid using a rooftop luggage carrier. It increases drag by destroying whatever gas-saving aerodynamics your car design offers.

• Minimize the weight you

carry around in your car.

The more weight it carries, the more fuel it must use. So ... diet? That might help a tiny bit, but cleaning out the trunk and back seat improves fuel efficiency much more. An extra 100 pounds increases fuel consumption by about 2 percent. Some people go so far as to remove their cars’ unused seats.

• Gas is heavy. Ten gallons weigh about 60 pounds. Fill your tank only one-quarter to half full when feasible.

• Stop and speed up gradually. This saves wear and tear on your brakes, too.

• Try to do as many of your errands as possible on one trip, and map out the

shortest route.

• Keep your tires balanced and your front end in alignment. Rotate your tires, too, as uneven wear can reduce mileage.

• Roll up your windows and turn on the A/C when it’s hot. Modern air conditioners create less drag than driving with the windows open, particularly at speeds above 35.

• Keep the air filter clean.

Clogged filters reduce fuel economy and increase exhaust emissions.

• Drive the speed limit.

Visit the websites www.MichelinMan.com and www. aaa.com for more information on saving gas.

Honoring Our Workforce

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On Labor Day, we salute the hardworking men and women of the American workforce who support our economy through even the toughest times. Your dedication and innovation are the backbone of our nation, and we thank you for all that you do.

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Save-the-Date: September 24, 2014 Please join us as we dedicate our newest men’s and women’s residence hall.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

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Team work

SENIOR AIRMAN ASHLEY GARDNER / SPECIAL TO THE SUMTER ITEM

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Elden Ball, 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron phase inspection team member and Staff Sgt. Paul Stevens, 20th EMS floor chief, work together recently to repair an F-16CM Fighting Falcon before re-attaching the left wing at Shaw Air Force Base.

METROCREATIVECONNECTION.COM

Costs associated with fuel, tolls, wear and tear on a vehicle, or even public transportation fees can quickly add up. Public transportation frequently is more cost-effective than driving to work each day.

Reduce the cost of your commute Metrocreativeconnection

EXPLORE MASS TRANSIT OPTIONS

Though the number of telecommuters is on the rise, a large number of people still commute to work each day.

According to a 2011 report from the U.S. Census Bureau, 85 percent of American workers drive to work and have an average commute time of between 25 and 30 minutes.

While many people drive five miles or less to work each day, some still travel 35 miles or more each way.

Commuting to work can be costly. Costs associated with fuel, tolls, wear and tear on a vehicle, or even public transportation fees can quickly add up, but the following suggestions can save commuters a substantial amount of money.

Although mass transit may not be the most direct method of getting to work, it is typically more affordable than driving. What’s more, putting the commute in the hands of a bus driver means commuters can spend time catching up on sleep, reading or listening to music.

CHANGE YOUR WORK SCHEDULE Many employers are amenable to alternate work schedules to help their employees reduce the number of days they must travel to the office.

Rather than working five eight-hour days, employees may be able to work four 10hour days. One less day of commuting each week can add up to considerable savings over time. Those who cannot streamline days may be able to modify the times they go into work and leave. Avoiding rush hour can reduce time spent in traffic, improving fuel economy as a result.

ESTABLISH A CARPOOL OR RIDESHARE PROGRAM Carpooling with colleagues can dramatically cut commuting costs. Rather than driving to work alone, split the week with others going in the same direction who have similar work schedules. Each member of the carpool can contribute some money to pay for fuel and tolls. In addition, time spent commuting may pass more quickly when there is conversation on the way to work, and carpoolers can take advantage of highoccupancy vehicle lanes on the highway.

TRADE IN YOUR VEHICLE Gas guzzlers can eat away at commuting budgets. Commuters who invest in compact, fuel-efficient vehicles can drastically reduce their commuting costs.

INVESTIGATE EMPLOYEE DISCOUNTS Employers may have relationships with nearby parking garages that entitle their employees to discounts on parking expenses. Otherwise, some companies enable workers to set aside pre-tax dollars to use toward commuting fees.

SPEAK WITH A TAX PROFESSIONAL Some commuting costs may be tax deductible. Men and women should speak with their accountants to see if commuting expenses can be written off.

WORK PART-TIME FROM HOME Many workers split their time between the office and a home office. Having the ability to remotely log in to work cuts commuting costs and other expenses involved with traveling to work.

MOVE CLOSER TO THE OFFICE Living too far away from the office can escalate commuting costs. If possible, trade in a remote residence for one closer to the company to save money.

Commuting costs are an inevitable part of working life.

But by following a few strategies, workers can trim expenses involved with getting to and from work each day.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

LABOR DAY TRIBUTE

THE SUMTER ITEM

A dirty job

MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

Roman Farmer does an oil change at Instant Valvoline Oil Change, 661 W. Liberty St.

Bureau of Labor Statistics: Little change in unemployment rate Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 209,000 in July, and there was little change in the unemployment rate — 6.2 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Job gains occurred in professional and business services, manufacturing, retail trade and construction.

Both the unemployment rate of 6.2 percent, and the number of unemployed persons — 9.7 million, changed little in July. Over the past 12 months, the unemployment rate and the number of unemployed persons have declined by 1.1 percentage points and 1.7 million, respectively.

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for adult women increased to 5.7 percent and the rate for blacks edged up to 11.4 percent in July, following declines for both groups in the prior month. The rates for adult men (5.7 percent), teenagers (20.2 percent), whites (5.3 percent) and Hispanics (7.8 percent) showed little or no change in July. The jobless rate for Asians was 4.5 percent (not seasonally adjusted), little changed from a year earlier.

The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) was essen-

tially unchanged at 3.2 million in July. These individuals accounted for 32.9 percent of the unemployed. Over the past 12 months, the number of longterm unemployed has declined by 1.1 million.

The civilian labor force participation rate, at 62.9 percent, changed little in July. The participation rate has been essentially unchanged since April. The employment-population ratio, at 59.0 percent, was unchanged over the month but has edged up by 0.3 percentage point over the past 12 months.

The number of persons employed part time for economic

reasons (sometimes referred to as involuntary part-time workers), at 7.5 million, was unchanged in July. These individuals were working part time because their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to find a full-time job.

In July, 2.2 million persons were marginally attached to the labor force, down by 236,000 from a year earlier.

(The data are not seasonally adjusted.) These individuals were not in the labor force, wanted and were available for work, and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months. They were not count-

Covenant Place

ed as unemployed because they had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey.

Among the marginally attached, there were 741,000 discouraged workers in July, down by 247,000 from a year earlier. (The data are not seasonally adjusted.) Discouraged workers are persons not currently looking for work because they believe no jobs are available for them. The remaining 1.4 million persons marginally attached to the labor force in July had not searched for work for reasons such as school attendance or family responsibilities.

Join Us for the opening of “The Rose Metz” art collection on Thursday, September 11, 2014 at 5pm

HAPPY LABOR DAY FROM ALL OF US AT Covenant Place

Sumter’s Only Full Service Continuing Care Retirement Community

Covenant Place is a locally owned, not-for-profit, continuing care community. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.

Call today for your personal visit to our community.

2825 Carter Road • Sumter, SC 29150

803-469-7007 | www.covenantplace.org

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

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Improve your chances of landing that 1st job Metrocreativeconnection

METROCREATIVECONNECTION

Make sure your résumé doesn’t cost you a job Metrocreativeconnection Many a night’s sleep has been lost worrying about an upcoming job interview.

Questions like “Will I make a good impression?” or “Am I qualified for the job?” can make for a restless night’s sleep on the eve before a job interview.

Writing a résumé is another aspect of the job hunt that can stoke your nerves. Men and women may pore over job timelines and skill summaries for hours in an effort to ensure they have included the right mix of information to get noticed.

Though résumé writing has changed considerably over the years, some conventional wisdom about résumés still prevails, and how closely potential applicants adhere to these rules goes a long way toward determining if they earn a chance at an interview.

ME, MYSELF AND I While the résumé should showcase your professional accomplishments, it also should showcase how your skills relate to the job you’re applying for. This way the

company understands you have researched the position and are in tune with what they’re looking for in an applicant.

the changing economy can make it challenging to maintain steady employment.

OVEREMBELLISHMENT

A résumé is not a static document. It needs to change depending on the job you’re applying to. Although there will be certain information that can remain the same, update the skills and other information based on each position.

Do not embellish your skills. Always be open and honest on your résumé. You may be asked to prove you can perform certain tasks, and if you cannot back up what is included on a résumé, you will have wasted your time and the time the interviewer spent discussing his company’s opening with you.

ONE PAGE IS BEST

IMPERFECTIONS

Applicants were long told to keep their résumés concise, limiting the document to just one page. However, if your experience is extensive or one page cannot contain a long job history, don’t be afraid to submit a two-page résumé.

A résumé is a reflection of you, so one with typographical errors or a poor layout is never acceptable. Ensure your résumé is as professional and error-free as possible. Have a friend or a proofreader look it over before distributing.

FAILING TO BE SELECTIVE

PAID POSITIONS

You need not include your entire job history on a résumé, especially if certain past positions you have held are completely irrelevant to the position for which you are applying. Don’t be afraid of job gaps, either. Many of today’s recruiters understand that

Internships or volunteer work are perfectly acceptable to include on a résumé, particularly for younger applicants who may not have a wealth of professional experience. Include a mix of information on the résumé that will reflect your versatility.

ONE DOCUMENT FOR ALL RESPONSES

Though the job market for newly minted college graduates has proven less than ideal in recent years, members of the class of 2014 entered a job market that was on the rebound. According to the “Job Outlook 2014” survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, employers anticipated hiring nearly 8 percent more 2014 graduates for their domestic operations than they hired from the class of 2013.

That’s good news for new grads, but members of the class of 2014 should still expect a competitive job market in which companies can afford to be patient as they attempt to find the best possible candidate for each opening. Oftentimes the best candidate, especially for entrylevel positions, is the one who combines some experience with a willingness to learn and do whatever it takes to help a company succeed. Many candidates boast such experience and enthusiasm, but there are some additional steps new graduates can take to improve their chances of landing their first jobs out of college.

GAIN SOME RELEVANT EXPERIENCE While college is the best time to gain some experience that’s relevant to your field, that does not mean you can’t still earn an internship now that you have donned your cap and gown and received your diploma. Many businesses look to recent graduates to fill their internships, as recent grads have years of study under their belts and, because they are no longer enrolled in classes, more flexibility than current students. If the job market in your chosen field is tepid, start looking for internships. These can be a great way to start making some professional contacts, and many people find themselves

ultimately working full-time for the company where they first landed an internship.

ESTABLISH AN ONLINE PRESENCE Another way for recent graduates to get noticed is to establish a positive online presence. Something as simple as creating a profile on the professional networking site LinkedIn can help recent graduates get noticed by prospective employers. Even if you have little or no relevant professional experience, create a profile that includes your education history, interests, accolades or awards you earned while in school and even a brief summary of your career goals.

JOIN A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION Other options to network and improve your chances of landing your first job can be attained by joining a professional organization. Many such organizations welcome new members, even those with relatively little or even no professional experience. Your university may even sponsor such an organization and host regularly scheduled forums relevant to your industry. Such forums often feature lectures or talk sessions with already established professionals who can provide advice on landing a first job or internship or furnish grads with industry contacts who might offer similar help. Memberships in such organizations is often free or inexpensive, so take advantage of this opportunity.

Use the resources at your disposal. Many college graduates are unaware that they have valuable resources at their disposal that can greatly increase their chances of securing a job out of college.

The career services office at the university is an invaluable resource that is plugged into the business community in its town or city.

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LABOR DAY TRIBUTE

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

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THE SUMTER ITEM

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49 S. Main Street Sumter, SC 29150

1070 Broad Street Sumter, SC 29150

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