December 18, 2013

Keep her smiling.

STRONG FINISH

We have a wide selection of anniversary options.

Heading to Capital One Bowl, Clowney says he is healthy B1

Jewelry Wholesale & 8&4."3, #-7% t 46.5&3 4$ t 01&/ 46/%": '30. 1. 1.

VOL. 119, NO. 55 WWW.THEITEM.COM

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013 | SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA

FOUNDED OCTOBER 15, 1894

60 CENTS

Clarendon 2 awarded $25M Students will get electronic devices with Race to the Top money

BY BRADEN BUNCH bbunch@theitem.com A public school consortium led by Clarendon School District 2 has received a nearly $25 million

grant in the 2013 Race to the Top-District program, the U.S. Department of Education announced Tuesday.

Coupled with the schools from Orangeburg

5, Richland 2 and Williamsburg County, the winning grant will allow the Manning-based school district to equip each of its students with electronic learning devices — such as

laptops or tablets — to allow the district to change its teaching methodology to a more personalized approach. “The ultimate goal is to transform education in

Clarendon School District 2,� said Clarendon School District 2 superintendent John Tindal. “We have to do some things differently, SEE GRANT, PAGE A10

‘You never forget the heat, and you never forget the smell’

Sheriff ’s office collects bicycles

7-year-old honored for alerting family to fire

More than 100 amassed for Toys for Tots

BY TYLER SIMPSON tyler@theitem A 7-year-old Thomas Sumter Academy student was honored by the Sumter Fire Department on Tuesday for saving her parents from a house fire in September.

Olivia Diller, who woke her parents up in the middle of the night when their house caught fire, received the Sumter Fire Department’s Bravery and Valor Award, which the department started in March to highlight and promote young students who successfully practice fire safety.

This was the second time the department has presented the award, the first going to a Cherryvale Elementary School student who saved his mother and baby sister when his house caught fire. “She has done a great job for her community, and she has done a great job for her parents,� said Johnnie Rose, battalion chief for the Sumter Fire Department.

Speaking in front of Olivia’s classmates at the Thomas Sumter auditorium, Rose said that 57 TYLER SIMPSON / THE ITEM deaths in South Carolina in 2013 were caused by Assistant Fire Chief Eddie Gardner with the Camden Fire Department presents Thomas Sumter Academy student Olivia Diller with the Bravery and Valor Award as Sumter Fire Department Battalion Chief Johnnie Rose SEE FIRE, PAGE A7 looks on. Olivia, 7, woke up her parents when their home caught on fire in September.

20 N. Magnolia St. Sumter, SC 29150 (USPS 525-900)

www.theitem.com

TINDAL

After collecting more than 100 bicycles for the Toys for Tots campaign, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office wants to thank the community for helping the office bring a better Christmas to some children in need.

INSIDE “EverySumter County body reSheriff’s Office members surpasses goal in their first inaugural Elizabicycle,� beth Foxworth Lt. Lee Helping Hands Food Drive / A2 Monahan said.

While the sheriff’s office has collected and donated toys to the program for a number of years and continues to donate, this was the first year for the bike drive. “We’ve worked with them about eight years,� said Sheriff Anthony Dennis. “We’ve had several kids inquire about bicycles, (so) we set a goal of 100 bikes.

We’ll exceed 100 bikes ... for toddlers to teenagers. It shows people in Sumter have a big heart.�

The sheriff’s office, which SEE BICYCLES, PAGE A7

OUTSIDE PLEASANT

DEATHS Juanita C. Nelson Abraham West Jr. Winston C. Osborne Margery Mae P. Emerson Ian Malcolm MacRae Ruby Mae J. Temoney James W. Mickens

BY JADE ANDERSON janderson@theitem.com

Bernice J. Brunson Carolyn L. Benbow Louise Simmons Michael Nelson Bertha P. Parrott

INSIDE 3 SECTIONS, 26 PAGES

Plenty of sunshine; clear tonight HIGH: 54 LOW: 31 B6

A10

Classifieds Comics Daily Planner Opinion Television

B7 C6 A10 A9 C7

A2

SECOND FRONT THE ITEM

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013 Contact the newsroom at 803-774-1226 or e-mail news@theitem.com

New VA policy to help with health care, disability pay

BY RAYTEVIA EVANS revans@theitem.com Veterans with traumatic brain injuries who are diagnosed with any of five other ailments will have an easier time receiving health care and disability pay under the Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ new regulations, possibly aiding some of the 3,600 veterans cared for at the Sumter County Clinic when the new policy takes effect next month.

“We decide veterans’ disability claims based on the best science available,” said Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs

Eric K. Shinseki in a statement. “As scientific knowledge advances, VA will expand its programs to ensure veterans receive the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve.”

The five ailments include Parkinson’s disease, certain types of dementia, depression, unprovoked seizures or certain diseases of the hypothalamus and pituitary glands.

The new regulations are now printed in the Federal Register and state that if certain veterans with TBI connected to their service in the military also have one of the

five illnesses, the second illness will also be considered connected to their military services for the calculation of VA compensation. This rule stems from a report of the National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine regarding the association between TBI and the five diagnosable illnesses. The IOM report showed evidence that linked moderate or severe levels of TBI with the five ailments.

Eligibility for benefits expansion will be based on the severity of the veteran’s TBI, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of

Veterans Affairs. However, veterans can still file a claim to establish direct service connection for these particular ailments even if they don’t meet the standard levels of severity of TBI for the new regulations.

In the 2012 fiscal year, the Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia along with its seven clinics in South Carolina treated more than 73,600 unique patients. According to Kevin McIver, U.S. Army veteran and public affairs officer for Dorn VAMC, the medical center had more than 900,000 outpatient visits from veterans, and 5,008 veterans expe-

rienced inpatient treatment.

Defense Department data shows that since 2000, more than 287,000 active-duty service members and veterans have been found to have traumatic brain injuries.

To learn more about TBI, visit the Department of Veterans’ Affairs website at http:// www.polytrauma.va.gov/understanding-tbi/.

Veterans with questions or who wish to file new disability claims should visit www. eBenefits.va.gov. Service members who are within 180 days of discharge may also file a pre-discharge claim for TBI online.

Inaugural food drive meets goal

BY JADE ANDERSON janderson@theitem.com One of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office’s efforts to help the community in addition to Toys for Tots is shaping up well.

The inaugural Elizabeth Foxworth Helping Hands Food Drive has 1,652 nonperishable food items, which exceeds the original goal of 1,600 cans.

“I come in here (where they’re stacked), and I feel such peace,” said Lt. Petrina Wiley, coordinator for the drive and friend of the Foxworth family. “It’s awesome. And we still have more to pick up.”

She knew of two schools Tuesday that she needed to pick up goods at, Wilder Elementary School and Sumter Christian School.

Sr. Cpl. Elizabeth Foxworth died in December 2012, and Wiley, who worked with the 45-year-old mother of five, previously told The Item that Foxworth was always giving to others so this is a fitting way to honor her friend.

But it’s not too late to donate. The law enforcement agency will continue to collect canned goods and other nonperishable food items through 5 p.m. Friday at the sheriff’s office, 1281 N. Main St. Volunteers, including sheriff’s office personnel, will pack and deliver the donations to 100 families in need Saturday.

“The goal was 200 families, but now we’ll increase the amount we donate to each family,” Wiley said.

“The community and the sheriff’s office is coming together. It’s a humbling experience.”

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Volunteer Katherine Beaupre takes phone calls from children last Christmas Eve during the annual NORAD Tracks Santa Operation, at the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, at Peterson Air Force Base, in Colorado Springs, Colo.

As NORAD Tracks Santa, critics track NORAD militarism

PHOTOS BY JADE ANDERSON / THE ITEM

ABOVE: Lt. Petrina Wiley with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office said the display of more than 1,600 nonperishable food items brings her peace. She is the coordinator for the inaugural Elizabeth Foxworth Helping Hands Food Drive.

LEFT: Wiley shows off a bag of items that were donated. The office will still collect nonperishable food items through 5 p.m. Friday.

Couple charged in man’s reported ambush

BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com A man’s belt and a metal baseball bat were wielded as weapons in a surprise assault last week when a young man was reportedly ambushed inside a car.

Charles B. Ross Jr., 38, of 2375 Brookgreen Road, was arrested Tuesday and charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and criminal conspiracy. His girlfriend, Amanda Jacque-

line McKinney, 33, of the same address, was also arrested and charged McKINNEY with conspiracy and being an accessory before the fact.

The charges stem from an alleged assault Thursday in the 5600 block of Longview Road.

At 10:25 p.m., a 25-year-old man was reportedly lured into the passenger seat of McKinney’s car, where Ross,

REGULAR SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Home Delivery — Tuesday through Sunday: One year $144; Six months - $75.25; Three months - $40; Two months - $27.50; One month - $13.75; EZPay - $12 per month.

Saturday and Sunday: One year - $72; Six months - $36.75; Three months - $18.50; One month, $6.25.

Mail — One year - $249; Six months - $124.50; Three months - $62.25; one month - $20.95.

OUTLYING RURAL ROUTE SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Home Delivery — Tuesday through Sunday: One year -

who was sitting in the back seat, wrapped a belt around the man’s neck and ROSS began choking him “into near unconsciousness,” according to a news release from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

The younger man managed to get out of the car when it pulled over, but Ross then reportedly pursued the man and struck him

$153; Six months - $81.25; Three months - $43; Two months, $29; One month - $14.50. EZPay, $12.75 per month.

Saturday and Sunday: One year - $84; Six months - $43; Three months - $22; One month - $7.50.

HOME DELIVERY: Call (803) 774-1258, Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat./Sun., 7 to 11 a.m.

The Item is published six days a week except for July 4, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day (unless it falls on a Sunday) by Osteen Publishing Co., 20 N. Magnolia St., Sumter,

with the bat while also threatening to shoot him.

The victim was treated at Tuomey Regional Medical Center for a fractured hand, and a report also notes he had blood coming out of his mouth, a limp and he complained of pain in both elbows.

Both suspects are being held pending bond at the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center, with Ross facing a $60,000 bond and McKinney a $50,000 bond.

DENVER (AP) — The U.S. and Canadian military will entertain millions of kids again this Christmas Eve with second-by-second updates on Santa’s global whereabouts. But there’s something new this year: public criticism.

A children’s advocacy group says an animated video on the NORAD Tracks Santa website injects militarism into Christmas by showing fighter jets escorting Santa’s sleigh. It’s a rare swipe at the popular program, which last year attracted a record 22.3 million unique visitors from around the world to its website.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command defends the video as nonthreatening and safe for kids.

The kerfuffle erupted two weeks ago over a 39-second video on noradsanta.org called “NORAD Tracks Santa Trailer Video 2013.”

A 5-second segment of the video — which is also available on youtube.com — shows two fighter jets flanking Santa.

The Boston-based Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood said the video brings violence and militarism to a beloved tradition. Others had similar criticism. Blogs and Twitter lit up with volleys from both sides.

Josh Golin, the coalition’s associate director, reiterated his criticism in an interview with The Associated Press — but he called the brouhaha “a media-manufactured controversy.” The coalition hadn’t known about the fighter jet video until reporters called, he said.

“Nobody in my organization was out there protesting,” he said.

U.S. Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a NORAD spokesman, said he understands the critics’ point of view but disagrees.

“We really do feel strongly that it’s something that is safe and non-threatening, and not something that would negatively impact children,” he said. “In fact, we think that it’s a lot of fun.”

Davis said the fighter escort is nothing new.

NORAD began depicting jets accompanying Santa and his reindeer in the 1960s, he said.

And he insisted the fighters in the video are unarmed: They’re Canadian Air Force CF-18s, with a large external fuel tank under the belly that might look like a bomb. The wing racks that would carry bombs or missiles are empty, he explained.

SC 29150.

Periodical postage paid at Sumter, SC 29150.

Postmaster: Send address changes to Osteen Publishing Co., 20 N. Magnolia St., Sumter, SC 29150 Publication No. USPS 525-900 Member, Verified Audit Circulation.

Publishing Co. as agent. No responsibility for advance payments is assumed by the company until the money is received at this office.

NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE: All carriers and dealers of The Item are independent contractors. Advance payment for subscriptions may be made directly to Osteen

RECYCLING: This newspaper is printed on recycled paper and uses environmentally safe soy inks to reduce ruboff. It is recyclable.

CORRECTIONS: If you see a statement in error, contact the City Desk. Corrections will appear on this page.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

THE ITEM

A3

A4

POLICE BLOTTER

THE ITEM

CHARGES:

Leandrea Christopher Gibbs, 21, of 725 Radical Road, was arrested and charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor Thursday. The warrant alleges that in December 2012, the suspect touched a 12-year-old boy on the penis and encouraged the boy to touch his penis as well. The suspect also touched the victim inappropriately on the buttocks, according to a Friday news release.

Tawanna Logan, 29, of 314 Mooneyham Road, was charged with criminal domestic violence at 4:10 a.m. Sunday in the 200 block of North Washington Street. According to the report, police responded to the location of the incident in reference to an anonymous call saying that Logan was arguing with her boyfriend. Logan reportedly pulled a knife from her purse and threatened the victim with it. Police arrived to find the victim had sustained cuts to his arm and stomach.

Logan was also charged with resisting arrest after she attempted to pull away from the arresting officer and dug her nails into the officer’s wrists. She was

sent to Sumter Regional Detention Center.

Alexander KennethCharles Cade, 21, of 25 Centerville Road, Ridgeway, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol at 5:30 a.m. Sunday. According to reports, police responded to a twocar wreck on Loring Mill Road involving a 1999 green Buick and a 2004 white Lincoln.

Cade was driving the Buick, and police on scene determined that the Lincoln was abandoned on the side of the road. Police reported that Cade had sustained several cuts to his face.

While questioning him, police could smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from Cade. EMS took Cade to Tuomey Regional Medical Center to be treated for his cuts. Officers inspected Cade’s vehicle to find several open cans of alcohol on the front passenger side and arrived at Tuomey to inform Cade he was being charged with driving under the influence.

Cade could not undergo a breath test because of the cuts on his mouth but consented to a blood test instead.

Joshua Lane, 19, of 6116 Fish Road, Dalzell, was charged for driving under suspension, first

...........Think..........

Lafayette L f G Gold ld & Silver Exchange We Buy Gold & Silver Jewelry Silver Coins/Collections Sterling/925 Diamonds, Pocket Watches & Wrist Watches

Karat 10K 14K 16K 18K 22K

Price per

Price per

Pennyweight (DWT) $24.00 $35.00 $42.00 $46.00 $59.00

Gram (Gr) $15.72 $22.76 $27.24 $29.80 $38.12

All prices above based on gold market price with this ad.

803-773-8022

143 S. Lafayette Dr. Sumter, SC 29150 (at the foot of the bridge inside Vestco Properties)

offense, at 10:54 p.m.

Saturday on the corner of Alice Drive and Wesmark Boulevard. According to reports, officers patrolling Broad Street saw a 2004 Cadillac CTS with no headlights. A traffic stop was issued at the location of the arrest, where Lane could not provide a license because it was suspended for not paying tickets. After Lane was arrested, the officer reportedly found a marijuana grinder, a homemade marijuana pipe and a multi-colored snake-shaped marijuana pipe in the vehicle.

Lane was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

VANDALISM:

A car was vandalized in the 2000 block of Broad Street between 7 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m.

Saturday, causing $5,000 in damage after sugar was poured inside the gas tank.

A black 2003 Chevrolet Malibu was reportedly vandalized on the front driver’s side door in the 2300 block of Boulevard Road after 8 p.m. Sunday, causing about $1,500 in damage.

ASSAULTS:

A 28-year-old woman

30

% OFF

told law enforcement that a 26-year-old man reportedly slammed her head into the refrigerator, body slammed her onto her children and stole her cellphone about 4:30 a.m. Friday in the 6000 block of Catawba Road, Rembert.

A 25-year-old woman told law enforcement that a 26-year-old man reportedly pulled out some of her hair, banged her head against a window inside a vehicle and then pulled her out of the vehicle by her right arm about 10:47 p.m. Friday in the 7000 block of Ruggs Lake Road, Rembert. According to the report, she also told law enforcement that the 26-year-old man threw cinder blocks at the vehicle’s windshield while she was sitting in it.

A woman told police that her child’s father’s 19-year-old girlfriend reportedly assaulted her when she came to pick up her son about 11:24 a.m. Monday in the 3700 block of Barkley Road. The two women argued, and the victim reported that the woman shoved her twice and then began punching her in the face. The father of the victim’s child reportedly

began making threatening phone calls to the victim from his workplace. Police advised the victim to seek a warrant.

A minor reportedly told police that she was involved in an altercation with a 19-year-old woman about 5:28 p.m.

Monday. According to the report, the altercation originally started on Facebook. The suspect then drove to the victim’s home in the 2200 block of Kolb Road, where the victim said the suspect cursed at her and her mother and then punched her in the face several times. EMS responded and transported the victim to Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Because the victim was a minor, her mother was advised to seek a warrant and a restraining order.

At 9 p.m. Dec. 1, one 29-year-old man reportedly pushed another 29-year-old man down the stairs of an apartment in the 100 block of Engleside Street, causing a broken collar bone.

STOLEN PROPERTY:

A refrigerator and washer and dryer set valued at $1,400 were

reported stolen from the 500 block of East Calhoun Street Extension about 12:38 p.m.

Saturday.

A 2010 Nissan valued at $8,000 was reported stolen from the third block of Island Court about 6:11 a.m. Sunday.

A red 8-foot-by-14foot utility trailer valued at $3,900 was reported stolen from the 1000 block of North Kings Highway about 9:16 a.m. Sunday.

A flat-screen TV, a black Xbox game console and a 2014 NCAA football video game valued at $1,050 were reportedly stolen from the 30 block of Baker Street between 2:30 p.m. and 9:35 p.m. Sunday.

A man reportedly told law enforcement about 9:17 a.m. Monday that someone removed his full-blooded, 7-month-old beagle from a pen at his home in the 2300 block of Boulevard Road.

The dog is valued at $3,500.

A 60-inch flatscreen TV and two Yorkshire terriers were reportedly stolen from the 1800 block of West Oakland Avenue between 3 p.m.

Friday and 10 a.m.

Monday. The TV is valued at $750.

Tom & Mary’s Put & Take LAUNDRY AND

CLEANERS t 0SHBOJD %SZ $MFBOJOH t t -BVOESZ t t "MUFSBUJPOT t t 0QFO 4JY %BZT B 8FFL t t 2VBMJUZ 8PSL BU 3FBTPOBCMF 1SJDFT t t "MM 8PSL (VBSBOUFFE t

.&/ 03 -"%*&4 1$ 46*54 %3: $-&"/

%3: $-&"/ 48&"5&34

%\URQ .LQQH\ $XWR 2ZQHUV ,QVXUDQFH RIIHUV EURDG ÀH[LEOH SURWHFWLRQ IRU \RXU FDU DQG \RX &KRRVH IURP D YDULHW\ RI SURJUDPV GHVLJQHG WR ¿W \RXU QHHGV :H DOVR KDYH PDQ\ GLVFRXQWV DYDLODEOH VXFK DV PXOWL SROLF\ PXOWL FDU DQG JRRG VWXGHQW GLVFRXQW Call or visit us today!

$3.00 $8.00

Plus Tax - With Coupon No Limits - Exp. 12-31-13

1SF $ISJTUNBT 4BMF

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

Plus Tax - With Coupon No Limits - Exp. 12-31-13

:LOVRQ +DOO 5RDG 6XPWHU 6 &

E\QXPLQVXUDQFH FRP

All Coupons Must Be Prepaid At Drop Off Time Coupons Valid At 2 Locations:

1784 Peach Orchard Rd (Hwy 441) t 8 8FTNBSL t (Across From Simpsons Hardware)

*Some exclusions apply.

Plush Sets | Extra Firm Sets | Organic Sets | Pillowtop Sets | Cool Gel Sets

Sale Starts December 18th

Gary’s Florist LLC

STOREWIDE

MARKDOWNS NOW UNTIL DEC. 31

R A E Y D

#VMUNBO %S r PS *No Other Discounts Apply.

MENSWEAR We Have You Covered for Christmas!

EN

LARGE SELECTION IN STOCK / FUTONS /IRON BEDS / WATERBED SUPPLIES

FINANCING AVAILABLE

748 BULTMAN DR. SUMTER SC 803.773.0980

Wally’s Christmas Ideas For The Guy’s 12.0 AMP NEBO LED 20% SawzallŽ Recip Saw *5&. Ź

t *ODI 4USPLF -FOHUI t 41.

Kit

Your Choice

$

99

00

Flashlights 8 LED Pocket Work Light

M12™ HACKZALLŽ *5&. Ź Recip Saw Kit

OFF

12 High Powered LEDs Red Laser Pointer WaterResistant Plastic

t 0OMZ w BOE MCT GPS DVUUJOH JO UJHIU TQBDFT

Corner of Wise and Alice Drive 803-905-4299 www.canthonysmenswear.com

Your Sumter Hometown Clothing Store!

Wally’s Hardware

#SPBE 4U &YU t 4VNUFS 4$ 0QFO .PO 'SJ BN QN t 4BU BN QN

469-8531

LOCAL / NATION

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

THE ITEM

Sunday alcohol sales proposal could be up for vote in November

BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com The earliest Sumter residents could get a vote on Sunday alcohol sales is November of next year.

That was the message to Sumter City Council at its final meeting of the year Tuesday after Mayor Joe McElveen confirmed receipt of a letter from the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce asking for the vote in an election referendum. “What I’ve learned is that it has to be done in a general election, not a special election, so if we do it, it’s not going to be for a while,�

McElveen said.

City attorney Eric Shytle

laid out the process the proposal would have to follow before at least some businesses inside city limits are allowed to sell alcoholic beverages on the day of rest. “If council calls for it by ordinance, then it needs two readings in time to get on the ballot,� Shytle said, which means the ballot language needs to be submitted to the election commission by Aug. 15. “So you would have to put it up in May or June to make sure we get it in on time.�

McElveen said he wanted other council members and the public to know where the measure stood. “I’ve gotten emails for it and opposing it, so I asked

A5

Members of Sumter City Council recognized city employees for their lengthy periods of public service on Tuesday. Violet Welch, seen shaking hands with Councilman Bob Galiano, has served as a school crossing guard for 45 years. Behind Welch are Mayor Joe McElveen and Councilwoman Ione Dwyer, right.

BRISTOW MARCHANT / THE ITEM

Eric to spell out what our options are,� he said. “In the end, the voters will decide whether it happens or not.�

Only a few items required council’s attention before the end of the year. Council members set their meeting schedule for 2014, with meetings on the first and third Tuesday of each month, except the first Tuesday in July, which council will take off for the Fourth of July holiday that week. Members also approved a list of registered

voters submitted by the state election commission which will form the jury pool for municipal court cases.

Council also voted to correct a “scrivener’s error� in an earlier franchise agreement with SCE&G. The city has already received a check from the power company for $82,000 to cover an increased fee to run its gas lines on city right-of-ways council approved last month. However, the language of the agreement didn’t set a payment

date prior to the agreement coming into force next July.

Members adopted wording requiring payment by Dec. 31.

Also approved were several board appointments.

Vonda Mociun was named to the Housing Authority Board, while Cheryl Baker and Denise Weeks were appointed to the Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee. The latter two will require joint approval by Sumter County Council.

As food labels get closer look, ingredients vanish NEW YORK (AP) — Take another look at that food label. An ingredient or two may have vanished.

As Americans pay closer attention to what they eat, food and beverage companies are learning that unfamiliar ingredients can invite criticism from online petitions and bloggers. The risk of damaging publicity has proven serious enough that some manufacturers have reformulated top-selling products to re-

move mysterious, unpronounceable components that could draw suspicion.

Earlier this year, for example, PepsiCo Inc. said it would stop using brominated vegetable oil in Gatorade and find another way to evenly distribute color in the sports drink.

Last year, Starbucks said it would stop using a red dye made of crushed bugs based on comments it received “through a variety of means,� includ-

ing an online petition, and switch to a tomato-based extract.

Kraft Foods plans to replace artificial dyes with colors derived from natural spices in select varieties of its macaroni and cheese, a nod to the feedback it’s hearing from parents.

Ali Dibadj, a Bernstein analyst who covers the packaged food and beverage industry, said the changes reflect a shift from “democratization to activism� by consumers.

“It used to be that people would just decide not to buy the product. Now they’re actually agitating for change,� Dibadj said. “There’s a bullhorn — which is the Internet — so you can get a lot of people involved very quickly.�

Companies stand by the safety of their old recipes. Although they don’t typically provide details on production decisions, their reasons for using certain ingredients can include cost and manu-

facturing efficiencies.

Still, food and beverage makers can be sensitive about broadcasting any changes.

Chick-fil-A, for instance, has been removing artificial dyes

and high-fructose corn syrup from its dressings and sauces. The Atlanta-based chain is also testing a “clean ingredient bun� but has not alerted customers.

BUYING GOLD EVERYDAY Paying Top Dollar in Sumter

JEWELRY WHOLESALE & 8FTNBSL #MWE t 778-1031

State of South Carolina Taxpayers: In 2012, tax data at the South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) was compromised due to a security breach. The State of South Carolina has partnered with CSID to provide eligible South Carolina taxpayers and businesses up to one year of CSID identity protection services for free.

Individual taxpayers, their dependents, and businesses who filed electronic South Carolina tax returns between 1998 and 2012 may be eligible for these services.

Visit www.scidprotection.com or call 855-880-2743 for more information.

Enroll today at www.scidprotection.com

CSID’s Identity Protection Includes: • Credit Monitoring: Monitor for credit inquiries, delinquencies, judgments and liens, bankruptcies, new loans and more

• Sex Offender Report: Know if sex ofenders reside in your zip code, and ensure that your identity isn’t being used fraudulently in the sex ofender registry

• Child Monitoring: Monitor all known addresses and aliases associated with your child’s SSN, and alerts you if your child’s personal information is being bought or sold online

• Social Security Number Trace: Know if your SSN becomes associated with another individual’s name or address

• CyberAgentŽ: Monitor websites, chat rooms and bulletin boards 24/7 to identify trading or selling of your personal information

• Identity Theft Insurance: Receive insurance against expenses in the event that your identity is compromised with a $1,000,000 insurance policy

• Court Records: Know if and when your name, date of birth and SSN appear in court records for an ofense that you did not commit

• Identity Restoration: Work with a certified identity theft restoration specialist to restore your ID and let you get on with your life. This service is available for eligible SC taxpayers even if you do not enroll in CSID’s identity protection plan

• Non-Credit Loans: Know if your personal information becomes linked to short-term, high-interest payday loans • Change of Address: Monitor to see if someone has redirected your mail

• Enterprise Threat Intelligence: Monitors business domain names and IP addresses and alerts business to incidence of compromised credentials and malware

A6

NATION

THE ITEM

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

Do vitamins block disease? Some disappointing news such as beta-carotene.

Multivitamins typically contain no more than 100 percent of the daily recommended amount of various nutrients.

They’re marketed as sort of a safety net for nutrition gaps; the industry’s Council for Responsible Nutrition says they’re taken largely for general wellness.

WASHINGTON (AP) — There’s more disappointing news about multivitamins: Two major studies found popping the pills didn’t protect aging men’s brains or help heart attack survivors.

Millions of Americans spend billions of dollars on vitamin combinations, presumably to boost their health and fill gaps in their diets. But while people who don’t eat enough of certain nutrients may be urged to get them in pill form, the government doesn’t recommend routine vitamin supplementation as a way to prevent chronic diseases.

The studies are the latest to test if multivitamins might go that extra step and concluded they don’t. “Evidence is sufficient to advise against routine supplementation,� said an editorial that accompanied Monday’s findings in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.

study. The men were given either multivitamins or dummy pills, without knowing which they were taking.

After a decade of pill use, the vitamin-takers fared no better on memory or other cognitive tests, according to Dr. Howard Sesso of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and his team.

percent. Diet and exercise are more protective.

They also had a similarly lower risk of developing cataracts, common to aging eyes. But the vitamins had no effect on the risk for heart disease or another eye condition, Sesso said.

DID THAT HARVARD STUDY FIND ANY OTHER BENEFIT FROM MULTIVITAMINS?

As part of a broader treatment study, a separate research team asked that question.

They examined 1,700 heart attack survivors,

WHAT ARE THE LATEST FINDINGS?

With Alzheimer’s on the rise as the population ages, Harvard researchers wondered if long-term multivitamin use might help keep older brains agile. They examined a subset of nearly 6,000 male doctors, age 65 or older, who were part of a larger

The results of the Physicians Health Study II have been mixed. Overall it enrolled about 15,000 male doctors age 50 and older, and the vitamintakers had a slightly lower risk of cancer — 8

MIGHT VITAMINS HAVE A DIFFERENT EFFECT ON PEOPLE WHO ALREADY HAVE HEART DISEASE?

mostly men, who were given either a special multivitamin containing higher-than-usual doses of 28 ingredients or dummy pills. But the vitamins didn’t reduce the chances of another heart attack, other cardiovascular problems or death.

WHAT ABOUT WOMEN?

Research involving postmenopausal women a few years ago also concluded multivitamins didn’t prevent cancer or heart disease. But it wasn’t nearly as rigorous a study as Monday’s re-

search, relying on women to recall what vitamins they used.

WHAT’S THE SAFETY ADVICE FOR MULTIVITAMIN USERS?

The preventive services task force cited no safety issues with standard multivitamins. But specialists say to always tell your doctor what over-the-counter supplements you use. Some vitamins interact with some medications, and Sesso said those worried about nutrition should be discussing their diet with their doctor anyway.

WE BUY GOLD! Per Penny Weight Per Gram 10 KT $24.00 14 KT $35.00 16 KT $42.00 18 KT $46.00 22 KT $59.00

10 KT $15.72 14 KT $22.76 16 KT $27.24 18 KT $29.80 22 KT $38.12

All prices above based on gold market price.

“We buy Silver Coins & Sterling also�

WHY THE NEW FOCUS ON MULTIVITAMINS?

Multivitamins have grown more popular in recent years as research showed that taking high doses of single supplements could be risky,

Gold Shop & Big T Jewelers 600 Bultman Drive | Sumter, SC 29150 | (803) 774-6767 520 West Boyce Street | Manning, SC 29102 | (803) 435-8094

Christmas and New Years Display Ad Deadlines EDITION

DEADLINE

4BUVSEBZ %FDFNCFS 4VOEBZ %FDFNCFS 5VFTEBZ %FDFNCFS 5IVSTEBZ %FDFNCFS 'SJEBZ %FDFNCFS 4BUVSEBZ %FDFNCFS 4VOEBZ %FDFNCFS 5VFTEBZ %FDFNCFS 5IVSTEBZ +BOVBSZ 'SJEBZ +BOVBSZ

8FEOFTEBZ %FDFNCFS BU QN 5IVSTEBZ %FDFNCFS BU BN 5IVSTEBZ %FDFNCFS BU QN 'SJEBZ %FDFNCFS BU BN .POEBZ %FDFNCFS BU BN 5IVSTEBZ %FDFNCFS BU BN 5IVSTEBZ %FDFNCFS BU QN 'SJEBZ %FDFNCFS BU BN .POEBZ %FDFNCFS BU BN 5VFTEBZ %FDFNCFS BU BN / .BHOPMJB 4USFFU t t XXX UIFJUFN DPN

59 *0% 89%% .Ę+9 2 ;; *9 +;.%9, 9+97*9/ @B(5R 9+97*9/ @C(5 68, 6806/=

I

I

I Customer Referral

I The Holidays I Loans from $250-$2500 All you need with you when you come in is: ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀

I

฀

฀

฀

฀

฀

฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀

TRY OUR $250 LOAN! No car titles needed!

No checks needed!

฀

฀

I

I Would Like to Recommend

Recommended By

Offer Expires 12/23/13

To activate this special offer, your account must be in good standing. Your account will not be in good standing if any loan or account with us or any other creditor is past due.

Offer void if you have more than two open loans.

I

If we person y make the ou reco a loan of mmend

$250 we pay you will $10!

If they o pen a lo $2,500 w an over pay you e will $50!

GIVE US A TRY TODAY!

LOANS

Lenders

)YVHK :[YLL[ ŕ Ž :\T[LY 803-775-3536 *All loans subject to our liberal credit policies

LOCAL

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

THE ITEM

A7

FIRE from Page A1 fires, but that Olivia’s heroism kept the total from reaching 60. “I am so very proud of her, and it makes you feel so good to know that the kids are learning,� Rose said. “If the kids take this information in and learn from it, they let their parents know because they go home and say stuff like ‘Mom and Dad, I learned about fire prevention,’ and the parents should listen to their kids.�

Thomas Sumter Headmaster Debbie Nix also spoke to the students to praise Olivia and to teach them about real bravery. “Actors and musicians are not heroes,�

Nix said to the students in the auditorium. “A hero can be anyone, even a little girl with a beautiful smile and pretty blonde hair.�

Olivia’s parents, Joel and Elizabeth, couldn’t be more proud of their daughter, nor more grateful for what the school and the fire department have done for her, they said. “It’s phenomenal how the school and the community have come together to recognize her,� Joel Diller said. “I thank God every day that my little angel woke us up.�

Both of Olivia’s parents remember everything that occurred the night of the fire at their Camden home.

Olivia woke up about 4:30 a.m. to the sounds of crumbling and cracking outside her bedroom window, so she opened the blinds to see that the back porch deck was on fire. She rushed into her parents’ bedroom to calmly tell her parents. “By the time we jumped out of bed and

went into the kitchen, the back deck was already spreading and moving, and it was so huge,� said Elizabeth Diller. “Once we saw it, we immediately grabbed our dog and ran out to the front yard.�

Within two minutes, the fire had begun to engulf the entire house. So extensively damaged was the house that to this day, the cause of the fire has never been determined.

After living in a rental house for two weeks after the fire, the family eventually found more comforting shelter with Elizabeth’s stepmother, whose husband passed away a few days before the fire.

Recovery has not been easy for the family, but the people around them — from friends at their church to their home contractor — have made it easier. “Looking back, you never forget the heat, and you never forget the smell,� Elizabeth Diller said. “For whatever reason it happened, every day since then has been one blessing after another.�

Even after the fire, Olivia continued to be brave for her family while enduring the loss they suffered in September. “For the first two months, she would sleep by our window to make sure if we were all right,� Joel said. “There are times where she would be so overwhelmed by the attention that she would want some time for herself or just find a change in atmosphere.�

PHOTOS BY JADE ANDERSON / THE ITEM

From left, Lt. Petrina Wiley with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office; Lee Burton, the current commandant of Marine Corps League Detachment 1202; Lt. Lee Monahan; Bill Hartley, the past commandant and one of the founders of the local branch of the Toys for Tots program; and Sheriff Anthony Dennis show off some of the bicycles and toys they collected for this year’s campaign.

Bicycles for toddlers to teenagers fill a room at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. With the help of Sumter citizens, the law enforcement agency collected more than 100 bikes for Toys for Tots.

BICYCLES from Page A1 had collected bikes since November, also purchased safety helmets for all the bicycles, Dennis said.

Members of the local Marine Corps League Detachment 1202 were thrilled to pick up the bicycles and other toys Tuesday. “It means we’ll make some children happy,� said Bill Hartley, the past commandant and one of the founders of the local branch of the Toys for Tots program. “It means they will have a good Christmas.�

With the economy, rules on what the detachment can purchase can be restricting. “We are limited in what we can buy, but we can give away everything we get,� said Lee Burton, the current commandant.

1202. Monahan will be the coordinator for next year’s toy drive.

This year, the detachment will serve more than 500 families. Last year, it Reach Jade Anderson served about 900 families at (803) 774-1250. including nearly 2,000 children, Monahan said.

Dennis and Monahan are associated members of the Marine Corps League Detachment

Taking you further.

SYKES IS HAVING A ONE DAY JOB FAIR THURSDAY, DEC. 19 FROM 10AM - 4PM IN THE SUMTER MALL FILL OUT AN APPLICATION ON-LINE AT WWW.SYKES.COM/SUMTER TO QUALIFY FOR AN INTERVIEW

Reach Tyler Simpson at (803) 774-1295.

EOE

FREE Space "WBJMBCMF GPS )FBE PG )PVTFIPME FOR A LIMITED TIME

$BMM NOW UP 3FTFSWF :PVS 4QBDF

803-773-6237 EVERGREEN & HILLSIDE MEMORIAL PARKS / (VJHOBSE %SJWF t 4VNUFS 4PVUI $BSPMJOB t 803-773-6237 -*.*5&% 5*.& 0''&3 o $&35"*/ 3&453*$5*0/4 "11-:

DEFEAT the ENERGY GRINCH He is robbing your home of heat, comfort and healthy air. Then this extra expense is added to your electric or gas bill. Your heating costs can be increased by 40% because of the

FURNITURE & MATTRESSES

APPLIANCES & ELECTRONICS 760 S. Pike, Sumter, SC 803-775-9500 1-800-892-9760 FURNITURE FURNIT FUR NITURE NIT URE & MAT MATTRE MATTRESS T SS C TRE CEN CENTER TER

www.FurnitureMattressClearance.com FINANCING | NO CREDIT CHECK | MONDAY-FRIDAY 10AM-6PM & SATURDAY 9AM-5PM

Register to Win A

But now we have a powerful new weapon that will send this energy THIEF packing out of your home.

60� Mitsubishi Flat Screen TV

This highly effective weapon is known as

No purchase necessary.

Home Of The

AEROSEAL and has been sealing 95% of your neighbors existing duct leaks.

See it work - search- YOU TUBE AEROSEAL GOLDFISH

AIR CONDITIONING SERVICES COMFORT‌IT’S WHAT WE DO

803-778-1937

$

197

00

Queen Mattress Set

A8

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

THE ITEM

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

SPECIAL PAID ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE PAGE

New heaters go to South Carolina residents by zip code Brand new heaters are being delivered to all Sumter area residents who find the first 2 digits of their zip code listed below and call before the 48 hour order deadline ends to get the new Mini-Glo Heaters to drastically slash home heat bills SOUTH CAROLINA – The Toll Free Hotlines are ringing off the hook.

That’s because Sumter area residents who find the first two digits of their zip code listed in today’s publication are getting new heaters that quickly put a stop to high heat bills forever.

Sumter area residents who get the new Heat Surge® Mini-Glo Efficiency Heaters by calling the Toll Free Hotlines before the 48-hour order deadline ends will never have to pay high heat bills again.

“We all know that freezing cold weather is setting in and heat bills are going to skyrocket this winter.

That’s why I’ve given the directive to give the first Sumter area residents who call in the next 48 hours a massive discount on our brand new Mini-Glo Efficiency Heaters,” said David Martin, General Manager of U.S. based Heat Surge.

And here’s the best part. Everyone who calls the Toll Free Hotline is getting a massive discount allowing them to claim the new heaters for just $149 and shipping and handling as long as they call before the 48-hour deadline ends.

Demand for Heat Surge heaters has skyrocketed to stardom ever since consumer reviews surfaced showing just how much money ultra-efficient zone heat saves people on heat bills which is why this announcement is being so widely advertised.

According to the avalanche of consumer reviews for the original Heat Surge heaters, people absolutely swear by them, repeatedly saying, “it saves money,” “looks beautiful,” and “keeps you warm and cozy.” That’s why Sumter area residents will be scrambling to get them starting at precisely 8:30am this morning.

In fact, it gives you 74° of bonesoothing room heat even when the home thermostat is turned down to 59˚. That means you can zone heat and never be cold again. And since it only uses about the same energy per hour as a coffee maker you’ll save a ton on your heat bills, too.

“We’re bracing for all the calls and to make sure everyone gets their new Heat Surge Mini-Glo Efficiency Heater before the harsh winter weather hits, UPS® drivers have been instructed to make home deliveries anywhere in the United States,” Martin said.

“Just remember, to get your new heater you must find the first two digits of your zip code listed in today’s publication and be one of the first Sumter area readers to call the Toll Free Hotline at 1-888-414-3591 before the 48-hour deadline ends,” he said.

ON THEIR WAY: New Heat Surge Mini-Glo Efficiency Heaters will soon be delivered to lucky Sumter area residents who beat the 48-hour order deadline and live in one of the zip code areas listed in today’s publication. Everyone’s getting the Upstairs-Downstairs Efficiency Combo of two Heat Surge Mini-Glo Efficiency Heaters because they only use pennies an hour of electricity to drastically slash home heat bills.

Who gets the heaters: Listed below are the Sumter area zip codes that get the new heaters. If you find the first two digits of your zip code listed below immediately call the Toll Free Hotline at: 1-888-414-3591 AK 99 AL 35, 36 AR 71, 72 AZ 85, 86

CA N/A CO 80, 81 CT 06 DC 20

DE 19 FL 32, 33, 34 GA 30, 31, 39 HI 96

IA 50, 51, 52 ID 83 IL 60, 61, 62 IN 46, 47

KS 66, 67 KY 40, 41, 42 LA 70, 71 MA 01, 02, 05

MD 20, 21 ME 03, 04 MI 48, 49 MN 55, 56

MO 63, 64, 65 MS 38, 39 MT 59 NC 27, 28

ND 58 NE 68, 69 NH 03 NJ 07, 08

NM 87, 88 NV 88, 89 NY 00, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 OH 41, 43, 44, 45

OK 73, 74 OR 97 PA 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 RI 02

SC 29 SD 57 TN 37, 38 TX 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 88

UT 84 VA 20, 22, 23, 24 VT 05 WA 98, 99

WI 53, 54 WV 24, 25, 26 WY 82, 83

How It Works: You get 74º of bone-soothing room heat How to get the new heater: Immediately call before the 48-hour deadline ends at 1-888-414-3591 even when the home thermostat is turned down to 59º This is the brand new Heat Surge Mini-Glo Efficiency Heater. This modern marvel is being called a miracle because its micro design easily goes from room to room and uses just a trickle of electricity so you can turn down your thermostat and use its ultra-efficient zone heat to save a ton of money on heat bills based on a U.S. average that says it uses only pennies of electricity an hour, yet it produces up to an amazing 3,685 British Thermal Units (BTU’s) delivering a full 1,200 watts on the standard setting. The Heat Surge Mini-Glo is a showpiece in any room. That’s because it has the ambiance of a real fireplace, but it has no real flames. Its Fireless Room Temp Room Temp with with Flame ® technology makes it safe Heat Surge Mini-Glo Regular Heat to the touch.

At just 13.44"W x 9.43"H x 6.63"D and weighing only 12lbs, the new Heat Surge Mini-Glo ZONE HEATING SLASHES HEAT BILLS: Notice Efficiency Heater is ultra portable how the home thermostat is set at 59º. The and comes fully assembled so left shows the Heat Surge Mini-Glo Efficiency Heater blanketing the whole room with 74º when it arrives, all you do is just of warmth. plug it in.

The Toll Free Hotlines are only open for the next 48 hours beginning at precisely 8:30am this morning. If you miss the deadline you’ll be turned away from this offer and forced to wait for future announcements in this publication or others, if any. So if lines are busy keep trying, all calls will be answered. Only the first Sumter area callers who beat the order deadline and provide the operator with the valid Claim Code HM158 and live in one of the Sumter area zip codes listed above will be permitted to get the new Heat Surge Mini-Glo Efficiency Heater shipped anywhere in the U.S. at a massive discount and cover just $149 and shipping and handling to drastically slash home heat bills.

To get the new heater begin calling at 8:30 a.m. today

1-888-414-3591 HM158 ©2013 HS P6574A OF17695R-1

8000 FREEDOM AVE., N. CANTON, OH 44720

U.S. Gov’t Issued coins go to residents in 43 SC counties Vault Bags loaded with rarely seen U.S. Gov’t issued coins are actually being handed over to South Carolina residents who find their county listed below, but only those who beat the 48 hour deadline are getting the Vault Bags of nearly 100 year old Gov’t issued coins for just $59 SOUTH CAROLINA - The phones are ringing off the hook.

That’s because for the next 48 hours Vault Bags loaded with rarely seen Indian Head coins issued by the U.S. Gov’t nearly 100 years ago are being released to South Carolina residents who find their county highlighted in black on the Distribution Map printed in today’s publication.

Everyone is rushing to get the Vault Bags because each one is loaded with nearly a quarter pound of rarely seen Indian Head coins dating all the way back to the early 1900s.

“It’s hard to tell how much these heavy Vault Bags could be worth someday. That’s because after they were filled with U.S. Gov’t issued coins, the bags were sealed for good,” said Timothy J. Shissler, Director of Vault Operations for the private World Reserve.

Since this advertising announcement can’t stop collectors from hoarding all the rarely seen coins they can get, the World Reserve has imposed a strict limit of 10 Vault Bags per resident.

That’s why it’s important that residents call the National Distribution Hotlines beginning at precisely 8:30am this morning.

Everyone who does is getting the Vault Bags loaded with rarely seen coins issued by the U.S. Gov’t nearly 100 years ago for just $59 and shipping and handling, which is a real steal since just one scarce and highly collectible Indian Head coin alone could be worth up to hundreds of dollars in collec-

Who gets the Vault Bags: Shown below are the South Carolina counties that get the Vault Bags. If you live in one of the counties highlighted in black immediately call the National Distribution Hotline at: 1-866-211-7348 How much are the Vault Bags worth: Coin values always fluctuate and there are never any guarantees, but here’s why residents are rushing to claim the Vault Bags before they’re all gone.

After the Vault Bags were loaded with rarely seen coins issued by the U.S. Gov’t they were sealed for good. That means there’s no telling what you’ll find until you sort through all the coins.

So you better believe at just $ 59 and shipping the Vault Bag fee is a real steal, since just one scarce and high฀RARELY SEEN U.S. COINS LEAVE VAULT: These packages containing Vault Bags loaded with valuable ly collectible Indian Head coin alone Indian Head coins issued by the U.S. Gov’t nearly 100 years ago are being moved from the private vaults of the could be worth up to hundreds of dolWorld Reserve for immediate distribution to South Carolina residents. lars in collector value.

tor value. And here’s the best part.

Everyone who claims four Vault Bags before all the money is gone is getting free shipping and free handling.

“We’re bracing for all the calls because there are just hours left for residents to get the Vault Bags,” Shissler said.

So, South Carolina residents who find their county highlighted in black on the Distribution Map below need to immediately call the National Distribution Hotlines before the 48-hour deadline ends to get the Vault Bags.

If lines are busy keep trying, all calls will be answered.

VALUABLE: ISSUED BY THE U.S. GOV’T NEARLY 100 YEARS AGO

RARELY SEEN: YEAR VARIES 1913-1938

How to get the bags of U.S. Gov’t issued coins

U.S. GOV’T ISSUED COINS: These bags are loaded with rarely seen Indian Head coins that everyone is rushing to get for just $59. That’s because everyone who beats the 48-hour deadline to claim four bags is getting free shipping and free handling.

Shown to the left in black are the South Carolina counties that get the Vault Bags. If you live in one of the counties highlighted in black immediately call the National Distribution Hotline before the 48-hour deadline ends at: 1-866-211-7348

Why is the Vault Bag fee so low: Because thousands of U.S. residents have missed the deadline to claim the money, the World Reserve has reallocated Vault Bags that will be scheduled to be sent out in the next 48 hours.

That means the money is up for grabs and now any resident who finds their county highlighted in black on the Distribution Map printed in today’s publication gets to claim the Vault Bags of money for themselves and keep all the U.S. Gov’t issued coins found inside.

Each Vault Bag loaded with nearly a quarter pound of rarely seen Indian Head coins is set at $78 for residents who miss the deadline, but for those who beat the 48-hour deadline the Vault Bag fee is just $ 59 and the best part is everyone who claims four Vault Bags before all the money is gone is getting free shipping and free handling as long as they call the National Distribution Hotline before the deadline ends.

THE WORLD RESERVE MONETARY EXCHANGE, INC. (WRME) IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. MINT, U.S. GOV’T, A BANK OR ANY GOV’T AGENCY. THE INCREASE IN COLLECTIBLE VALUE OF CERTAIN PRIOR ISSUES OF U.S. CURRENCY DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT CURRENT ISSUES WILL ALSO INCREASE IN VALUE. IF FOR ANY REASON WITHIN 10 DAYS (OR 30 DAYS FOR NV RESIDENTS) OF RECEIVING YOUR PRODUCT YOU ARE DISSATISFIED WITH YOUR PURCHASE, RETURN THE ENTIRE PRODUCT FOR A REFUND LESS SHIPPING AND RETURN POSTAGE. NO RETURNS IF SEAL IS BROKEN. INSURED MAIL IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. THE WRME IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR LOST RETURN SHIPMENTS. ©2013 WRME 8000 FREEDOM AVE., N. CANTON OH 44720 BN870 SPECIAL ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE PAGE

OPINION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

THE ITEM

A9

To submit a letter to the editor, e-mail letters@theitem.com COMMENTARY

|

The pope and capitalism

P

ope Francis, in his apostolic exhortation, levied charges against free market capitalism, denying that “economic growth, encouraged by a free market, will inevitably succeed in bringing about greater justice and inclusiveness in the world” and concluding that “this opinion ... has never been confirmed by the facts.” He went on to label unfettered capitalism as “a new tyranny.” Let’s look at the pope’s tragic vision.

First, I acknowledge that capitalism fails miserably when compared with heaven or a utopia.

Any earthly system is going to come up short in such a compariWalter son. HowWILLIAMS ever, mankind must make choices among alternative economic systems that actually exist on earth. For the common man, capitalism is superior to any system yet devised to deal with his everyday needs and desires.

Capitalism is relatively new in human history. Prior to capitalism, the way people amassed great wealth was by looting, plundering and enslaving their fellow man.

With the rise of capitalism, it became possible to amass great wealth by serving and pleasing your fellow man. Capitalists seek to discover what people want and produce and market it as efficiently as possible as a means to profit. A couple of examples would be J.D. Rockefeller, whose successful marketing drove kerosene prices down from 58 cents a gallon in 1865 to 7 cents in 1900. Henry Ford became rich by producing cars for the common man. Both Ford’s and Rockefeller’s personal benefits pale in comparison with that received by the common man by having cheaper kerosene and cheaper transportation. There are literally thousands of examples of how mankind’s life has been made better by those in the pursuit of profits.

Here’s my question to you: Are people who, by their actions, created unprecedented convenience, longer life expectancy and a more pleasant life for the ordinary person — and became wealthy in the process — deserving of all the scorn and ridicule heaped upon them by intellectuals, politicians and now the pope?

Let’s examine the role of profits but first put it in perspective in terms of magnitude. Between 1960 and 2012, after-tax corporate profit averaged a bit over 6 percent of the gross domestic product, while wages averaged 47 percent of the GDP. Far more important than simple statistics about the magnitude of profits is its role in guiding resources to their highest-valued uses and satisfying people. Try polling people with a few questions.

Ask them what services they are more satisfied with and what they are less satisfied with. On the “more satisfied” list would be profit-making enterprises, such as supermarkets, theaters, clothing stores and computer stores. They’d find less satisfaction with services provided by nonprofit government organizations, such as public schools, post offices and departments of motor vehicles.

Profits force entrepreneurs to find ways to please people in the most efficient ways or go out of business. Of course, they can mess up and stay in business if they can get government to bail them out or give them protection against competition.

Nonprofits have an easier time of it. Public schools, for example, continue to operate whether they do a good job or not and whether they please parents or not. That’s because politicians provide their compensation through coercive property taxes.

I’m sure that we’d be less satisfied with supermarkets if they, too, had the power to take our money through taxes, as opposed to being forced to find ways to get us to voluntarily give them our earnings.

Arthur C. Brooks, president at the American Enterprise Institute and author of “Who Really Cares,” shows that Americans are the most generous people on the face of the earth.

In fact, if you look for generosity around the world, you find virtually all of it in countries that are closer to the free market end of the economic spectrum than they are to the socialist or communist end. Seeing as Pope Francis sees charity as a key part of godliness, he ought to stop demonizing capitalism.

Walter E. Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University. © 2013 creators.com

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Bullock a godsend during wife’s passing Just before Thanksgiving, my wife passed away from COPD. She and I had talked about funeral arrangements before she passed, but when it actually happened, I simply had no idea who to call. Bullock Funeral Home had been mentioned, and I chose to call them to handle the arrangements. Mr. Harvin Bullock has been a godsend to my son, my

daughter and me during the past several weeks. He and his staff were caring and careful about everything. He was a compassionate and caring guide through the whole process when we really didn’t know what needed to be done or in what order. The funeral service was as perfect as it could possibly have been, and he has helped and guided us — particularly me — through all the other things that need to be done as a result of her

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

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

passing. My son, my daughter, and I all agree that there is no possible way a more ideal and caring person could have been selected and that my wife would have been totally pleased and satisfied with everything. I simply do not know how to describe the entire experience any better except to say that he has been the perfect example that angels do walk among us.

GEORGE THOMPSON Sumter

COMMENTARY

|

The one the GOP has been waiting for

W

ASHINGTON — ’Tis the season and Nancy Pelosi has given the hands-down best gift to the American people — her phrase “Embrace the suck.”

Miraculous.

Offered to fellow Democrats as a push to pass the bipartisan budget bill, the phrase has all the characteristics necessary to ensure a permanent place in the popular lexicon. It’s succinct, raunchy-esque and, most important, you know exactly what it means. “It sucks, but it’s the best we’ll get.”

In no time, Embrace The Suck (ETS) had its own hashtag and was launched into the Twitterverse. Suckitude is aloft at a time when nothing floats.

Punctuating her epitaphready mandate, Pelosi added a characteristic subtitle: “We need to get this off the table so we can go forward,” which sounds similar to her previous comment on the Affordable Care Act: “We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.”

We now know she wasn’t kidding. The ACA rollout continues to reveal hitches, glitches and pitches that have Giuseppe’s Pinocchio nose factory working overtime.

And Republicans are on fire.

The real story isn’t that a bipartisan budget bill has been hammered out but that House Speaker John Boehner has ignited.

He and others of like mind obviously have decided to sacrifice party unity in the interest of national well-being. What a concept. Over a couple of days during the budget negotiations, Boehner turned both barrels on insurrectionists — both inside and outside Congress — especially the big conservative action groups that have undermined any efforts at compromise and bipartisanship.

Depending on how things shake out in the remaining days of the jolly season, we could be

witnessing the first shots of an old-guard revolution from which emerges the leader Republicans have been waiting for.

Center stage: Paul Ryan.

As all know, the budget deal was crafted by Ryan and Democrat Patty Murray. It’s a notgrand bargain — i.e., “it sucks” — but it’s something, and it staves off another budget crisis through fiscal year 2015.

Boehner’s rather sudden, unexpected attack on conservative groups such as Heritage Kathleen Action, PARKER FreedomWorks and Americans for Prosperity was to many minds overdue. He condemned the groups for forcing tea party Republicans into corners and encouraging them to fight battles they couldn’t possibly win. Boehner has always thought this, insiders tell me, but had never expressed it publicly. His statements this past week were bold and consequential.

Conservative advocacy groups are “using our members, and they’re using the American people for their own goals,” he said. “This is ridiculous.”

Deliciously refreshing, if I do say. His remarks also leave tea party congressional members a little wiggle room by implying that, though they acted in good faith, they were being manipulated by powerful forces.

This is the part where Angry Tough Guy creates contrast for Cool Pocket-Protector Jock — the budget-savvy, fully seasoned, conservative-but-sane presidential candidate with crossover appeal. No longer is Ryan the kid standing next to the grown-up, he has matured into a full-throated advocate for bipartisan problem-solving with a tough stance on fiscal restraint, who is also humorous, humble and respectful toward

H.D. OSTEEN 1904-1987 The Item

his political opponents. He even speaks with greater authority than when he was Mitt Romney’s sidekick.

At first glance, one wonders whether Republicans are spiking their coffee with testosterone. What’s clear is that the era of Boehner’s bottom-up approach to leadership has ended.

Not again will he allow the obstructionist wing of the party to force showdowns and shutdowns that hurt the American people and the Republican Party. Even if he has to draft Democrats to help him, Boehner enjoys the further benefit of speaking the truth.

Meanwhile, concurrent with Boehner’s one-man firing squad, another significant substory was unfolding. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., leader of the Republican Study Committee, orchestrated the departure of his chief of staff, Paul Teller, who is beloved by these same conservative groups. Teller was thought to be leaking information on budget and other negotiations to these same organizations, according to inside sources.

Boehner hinted at this when he responded to a question about conservative opposition: “You mean the groups that came out and opposed (the budget deal) before they ever saw it?”

Gee, how did they know?!

What everyone will know soon enough is that Paul Ryan is The Guy — the missing leader the GOP has been searching for and who is clearly being groomed for 2016. Until then, if Boehner continues playing hardball and prevails, Democrats really may have to follow Pelosi’s imperative come 2014 — and thereafter.

Kathleen Parker’s email address is kathleenparker@washpost.com. © 2013, Washington Post Writers Group

HUBERT D. OSTEEN JR. | EDITOR AND CHAIRMAN

Founded October 15, 1894 20 N. Magnolia St. Sumter, SC 29150

|

MARGARET W. OSTEEN 1908-1996 The Item

H. GRAHAM OSTEEN II Co-President

KYLE BROWN OSTEEN Co-President

JOHN DUVALL OSTEEN Vice President and Publisher

LARRY MILLER CEO

A10

DAILY PLANNER

THE ITEM

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

GRANT from Page A1 and we believe technology is the tool by which we can do some of the things we need to do to enhance learning.”

District officials hope to start placing the technology in the hands of students starting next school year.

According to their application, the Clarendon school district will use the technology provided to its students to implement virtual classrooms. “Virtual classrooms would be a gateway for students to learn at their own pace without being held back by traditional roadblocks that may be experienced in the traditional classroom,” the grant review reads.

In addition, Clarendon 2 will implement E-Step — Electronic Strategic Template to Empower Progress — to provide educators a student’s individual academic portfolio, academic history and goals and interests. The grant will also go toward training district students in the new methodology.

Funding will come from the government during the next 3½ years and was awarded with the consortium promising to continue the program for an even longer period.

“It’s about a sevenyear commitment, and hopefully it will be much longer than that,” Tindal said. “Our hope is that we will implement this grant to fidelity and therefore we’ll

We have a heating system to fit your budget. With payments as low as $79.00 per month

see a lot of improvement in student learning but also changes in the way teachers instruct students, as well, and making students more independent learners and teachers facilitating learning at a different level.”

The Clarendon-led consortium — the Carolina Consortium for Enterprise Learning — was one of only 217 applicants to be awarded a grant in this latest round of Race to the Top funding from the federal government.

School districts from Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi and Texas received the other four grants. In total, the Department of Education awarded about $120 million Tuesday.

“These winners serve as an example to the rest of the country for how to develop innovative plans to drive education reform and improve student achievement,” U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said.

“These diverse, trailblazing districts have a clear vision and track record of success for models of personalized learning that aim for every child to graduate from high school ready for college and careers.”

Between the four districts making up the local consortium, the application represents nearly 12,000 students, of which about 9,250 come from low-income homes.

Reach Braden Bunch at (803) 774-1201.

TODAY

TONIGHT

54°

THURSDAY 61°

795-4257

FRIDAY

SUNDAY

75°

31°

Pleasant with plenty of sunshine

Clear

Winds: WNW 4-8 mph Chance of rain: 0%

54°

Sunny

Breezy and warm with variable cloudiness

Winds: VAR 2-4 mph

Winds: S 3-6 mph

Chance of rain: 0%

Chance of rain: 5%

Sumter through 4 p.m. yesterday

Temperature High ............................................... 66° Low ................................................ 37° Normal high ................................... 56° Normal low ..................................... 34° Record high ....................... 76° in 1971 Record low ......................... 15° in 1958

Greenville 50/32

Full 7 a.m. 24-hr pool yest. chg 360 350.17 +0.02 76.8 74.38 -0.04 75.5 73.86 +0.08 100 95.32 +0.20

Winds: SW 10-20 mph

Winds: S 7-14 mph

Winds: SSW 12-25 mph

Chance of rain: 10%

Chance of rain: 40%

Chance of rain: 30%

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

Full pool 12 19 14 14 80 24

Today Hi/Lo/W 59/28/s 46/27/s 52/29/s 58/26/s 58/34/s 46/37/s 58/32/s 50/30/s 50/33/s 54/29/s

7 a.m. yest.

7.64 6.10 5.43 7.72 79.00 7.20

24-hr chg +0.21 -0.60 -0.23 +0.12 +0.25 none

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 62/45/s 58/33/s 59/39/pc 63/42/s 65/54/s 57/52/s 66/54/s 58/40/s 58/38/s 63/45/s

Sunrise today .......................... 7:21 a.m.

Sunset tonight ......................... 5:15 p.m.

Moonrise today ....................... 6:42 p.m.

Moonset today ........................ 8:03 a.m.

Gaffney 50/30 Spartanburg 51/31

Columbia 54/29 Today: A full day of sunshine.

Thursday: Mostly sunny.

New

Dec. 25 First

Jan. 1 Full

Jan. 7

Jan. 15

Myrtle Beach 52/34

Manning 56/29

Shown is today’s weather.

Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Aiken 59/28 Charleston 58/32

The following tide table lists times for Myrtle Beach.

Wed.

Forecasts and graphics provided

by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2013 Today Hi/Lo/W 53/29/s 46/28/s 52/30/s 52/29/s 54/30/s 64/34/s 51/30/s 50/29/s 58/31/s 46/30/s

Last

Florence 54/30

Sumter 54/31

Today: Plenty of sunshine; pleasant in northern parts. High 52 to 58.

Thursday: Plenty of sunshine; warmer in southern parts. High 60 to 65.

City Darlington Elizabeth City Elizabethtown Fayetteville Florence Gainesville Gastonia Goldsboro Goose Creek Greensboro

54° Variable clouds with a t-storm possible

Bishopville 54/29

24 hrs ending 4 p.m. yest. ........... 0.00" Month to date .............................. 2.82" Normal month to date .................. 1.73" Year to date ............................... 48.46" Normal year to date .................. 45.33"

Lake Murray Marion Moultrie Wateree

63° Variably cloudy with a shower in places

Precipitation

City Aiken Asheville Athens Augusta Beaufort Cape Hatteras Charleston Charlotte Clemson Columbia

SATURDAY 74°

69°

46°

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 60/45/s 56/43/s 59/46/s 59/42/s 61/47/s 74/50/s 58/39/s 57/41/s 66/53/s 56/39/s

Thu.

City Greenville Hickory Hilton Head Jacksonville, FL La Grange Macon Marietta Marion Mount Pleasant Myrtle Beach

Today Hi/Lo/W 50/32/s 44/29/s 57/43/s 64/37/s 52/30/s 56/27/s 50/29/s 48/27/s 58/36/s 52/34/s

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 58/40/s 56/36/s 62/53/s 70/50/s 61/37/pc 62/41/pc 57/38/pc 57/32/s 65/55/s 61/51/s

High Ht. 9:23 a.m.....3.2 9:45 p.m.....2.7 9:59 a.m.....3.2 10:23 p.m.....2.7

City Orangeburg Port Royal Raleigh Rock Hill Rockingham Savannah Spartanburg Summerville Wilmington Winston-Salem

Low Ht. 3:44 a.m....-0.1 4:26 p.m.....0.2 4:22 a.m.....0.0 5:02 p.m.....0.3

Today Hi/Lo/W 56/31/s 57/37/s 48/30/s 52/29/s 53/26/s 59/33/s 51/31/s 57/41/s 52/28/s 47/29/s

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 63/48/s 64/55/s 58/43/s 59/40/s 60/41/s 68/53/s 58/41/s 63/52/s 61/44/s 54/38/s

Shown are today’s noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day.

-10s -0s 0s 10s 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s 70s 80s 90s 100s 110s Stationary front

Cold front Ice

Warm front

Today Thu. Today Thu. City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W Albuquerque 54/35/s 54/32/s Las Vegas 64/45/pc 57/42/pc Anchorage 10/10/pc 27/21/sn Los Angeles 70/52/pc 60/47/c Atlanta 52/32/s 59/41/pc Miami 78/66/pc 78/72/pc Baltimore 38/24/pc 46/32/pc Minneapolis 34/16/pc 19/8/sn Boston 34/24/sf 38/30/pc New Orleans 64/52/s 71/63/pc Charleston, WV 38/27/pc 56/38/pc New York 36/28/pc 41/35/pc Charlotte 50/30/s 58/40/s Oklahoma City 66/46/s 64/34/pc Chicago 34/30/pc 39/33/r Omaha 44/27/s 32/14/sn Cincinnati 38/34/s 48/42/c Philadelphia 36/25/pc 43/34/pc Dallas 66/51/s 68/56/pc Phoenix 76/52/s 69/49/s Denver 64/31/s 46/14/pc Pittsburgh 29/23/sf 42/37/c Des Moines 42/31/s 36/15/i St. Louis 50/39/s 54/47/c Detroit 26/24/pc 37/32/r Salt Lake City 36/24/pc 35/25/sf Helena 36/7/sn 13/4/sn San Francisco 56/45/pc 55/38/c Honolulu 81/70/s 83/67/s Seattle 44/30/r 41/33/pc Indianapolis 36/33/s 41/38/c Topeka 58/41/s 51/22/r Kansas City 58/41/s 50/24/r Washington, DC 40/28/pc 50/38/pc Weather(W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice

| LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): ARIES (March 21-April 19): the last word in astrology Emotional problems will Do something nice for surface if you’re dealing someone going through eugenia LAST with children or anyone a tough time. Taking a that depends on you. Look stance and speaking up for answers that will help about your beliefs and improve the dynamic of any relationship you concerns will put you in the limelight and feel is worthwhile. create a stir in your community.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Make travel plans or SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Do something unique if you plan to entertain and make an visit friends or relatives you don’t get to see impression on your guests. A change to the often. Talk over changes you want to make way you live will enhance your life and give within an important relationship. you plenty to look forward to.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Keep your secrets SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Make changes locked up. An impulsive move due to an at home that will brighten your environment. emotional situation will leave you in a Consider how you want to ring in the New questionable position. Prepare to make a Year and make plans that include the people decision that will alter who you spend time you enjoy being around the most. with.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Listen to what’s CANCER (June 21-July 22): A little rest will do being said, but don’t take offense. Anger is a you good. Continually trying to make waste of time and constructive criticism, everything perfect for others will take its toll although not favored, can be of help in the on you emotionally, mentally and physically. not-too-distant future.

Romance will ease stress.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Surround yourself LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Do what’s expected of with people who inspire you. Once you get you and keep moving. Hook up with friends started in a direction that allows you to utilize or shop for special items that will make your the things you do best, you’ll be unstoppable. life easier or more comfortable.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Go out and hustle VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Don’t jump to to get all the little things done that have been conclusions. Focus on getting things done nagging at you. A chance to spend time with and spending time with the people you love someone you love to be around should be the most. Updating your look will help boost planned for the evening hours. your confidence.

Nirvana, Kiss headed to Rock Hall of Fame NEW YORK (AP) — Nirvana, Kiss and Peter Gabriel will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year.

The Rock Hall announced Tuesday that Hall and Oates, Linda Ronstadt and Cat Stevens also will be inducted April 10 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Artists are eligible for induction 25 years after their first release. Nirvana received a nomination in its first year of eligibility, and next year the band will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its debut, “Bleach.” The induction comes 20 years after frontman Kurt Cobain committed suicide at age 27.

“For once ... I’m speechless. From the basements, to the dingy clubs, to the brokendown vans, to ... the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,” former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, now the frontman for Foo Fighters, said in a statement Tuesday. “I’d like to thank the committee not only for this induction, but also for recognizing Nirvana for

Call for complete details

Call our office for complete details.

Good on qualifying systems only.

Showers Rain T-storms Snow Flurries

NATION

TRANE 0% APR for 36 equal monthly payments has been extended.

what we were: pure rock and roll.”

This year also marked first-time nominations for Hall and Oates, Gabriel and Ronstadt. Kiss and Stevens, who have been nominated in the past, made the cut after being absent from the list for several years.

Peter Criss, Kiss’ original drummer and vocalist, said the band changed rock forever by raising the bar for live performances.

“We were four guys from New York City who brought Barnum & Bailey into rock and roll,” he said. Criss last toured with the band in 2003 and hopes to be asked to perform with the other three founding members at the induction ceremony.

“We wanted the makeup and the costumes and the bombs,” Criss said. “Our idea was to give people a hell of a lot more for their money. We changed music by insisting you can’t go up there and just sing anymore. That’s going to stand forever.”

PUBLIC AGENDA SUMTER CITY-COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION Today, 3 p.m., Planning Department, conference room, 12 W. Liberty St. CLARENDON SCHOOL DISTRICT 3 Thursday, 7 p.m., district office, Turbeville

PICK 3 TUESDAY: 3-3-5 AND 8-3-0 PICK 4 TUESDAY: 0-9-0-6 AND 5-6-1-1 PALMETTO CASH 5 TUESDAY: 2-3-18-20-33 POWERUP: 4 MEGAMILLIONS NUMBERS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT PRESS TIME

FOR SATURDAY: 14-25-32-33-41 POWERBALL: 34

pictures from the public

| Linda Cox comments on her photo submission, “Me with my three Chihuahuas as I am reading the Sumter Item. Prissy, Dixie and Chachi were all rescued animals. Just want to remind people that if they are going to give a pet for Christmas, please consider adopting. These three are not siblings but love each other so much. My husband, Gerry Cox, took the photo.”

Have you visited someplace interesting, exciting, beautiful or historical that you’ve taken some pictures of? Would you like to share those images with your fellow Item readers? E-mail your hi-resolution jpegs to sandrah@theitem.com, or mail to Sandra Holbert c/o The Item, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, SC 29150. Include clearly printed or typed name of photographer and photo details. Include selfaddressed, stamped envelope for return of your photo. Amateur photographers only please.

SPORTS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

THE ITEM

B1

To contact the Sports Department, call (803) 774-1241 or e-mail sports@theitem.com

USC’s Quarles, Clemson’s Watkins, Beasley named All-Americans FROM WIRE, STAFF REPORTS A trio of Palmetto State players were named Associated Press second-team AllAmericans on Tuesday.

Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley and wide receiver Sammy Watkins were both honored along with South Carolina junior defensive end Kelcy Quarles.

It is the first time Beasley has made an Associated Press All-America team, while it is the second time for Watkins.

Beasley finished the regular season with 12 WATKINS sacks, tied for third in the nation, and had 19 tackles for loss, seventh

best in the nation. Watkins has 85 receptions for 1,237 yards and 10 touchdowns, among the top 15 in the nation in all three categories.

Quarles was BEASLEY the USC team leader in tackles for loss with 13.5 including a team-high

9.5 sacks. Quarles enters the Capital One Bowl with 36 tackles, a pass breakup, a fumble recovery and three quarterback hurries.

Nationally, a tackle-machine QUARLES linebacker, a tackle-busting running back and one of the most disrup-

tive defensive tackles in the country made return appearances.

Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley, Arizona running back Ka’Deem Carey and Arizona State defensive tackle Will Sutton were selected to the first team for the second straight season.

SEE ALL-AMERICANS, PAGE B4

McDowell eyeing rushing milestone

BY AARON BRENNER Post and Courier

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (7) said he’s as healthy as he’s been all season as he prepares for his final collegiate game on New Year’s Day when the Gamecocks face Wisconsin in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla.

CLEMSON — It’s not yet within his grasp, but Roderick McDowell is the equivalent of a 5-foot putt away from achieving every running back’s goal.

Just 44 yards separate the former Sumter High standout from giving Clemson its sixth 1,000-yard rusher in the past eight seasons. James Davis had a pair of such campaigns in 2006-07, Andre Ellington did it twice in 2011-12, and C.J. Spiller ran for 1,212 yards in his All-American year of 2009.

From that group, McDowell, with his club foot from childhood and career backup label, would have the odds most severely stacked against reach-

ing quadruple digits out of the backfield.

“It means a lot, knowing the tradition of running backs here,” McDowell said, looking fit and trim Monday back on the practice field after a couple weeks’ layoff.

“To be in that category … as a question mark coming in, people were like, would we have a 1,000-yard back this year? Me being that person, man, it’s a blessing.”

Of course, McDowell does need to produce a reasonably decent game Jan. 3 in the SEE MCDOWELL, PAGE B4

Finally healthy again Carolina DE Clowney feels strong heading into Capital One Bowl

BY PETE IACOBELLI The Associated Press COLUMBIA — South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney said Tuesday he’s as healthy as he’s been all season and is ready to end his career strongly at the Capital One Bowl.

The eighth-ranked Gamecocks (10-2) face No. 19 Wisconsin (9-3) on New Year’s Day. And a Clowney not slowed by bumps and bruises is a big plus for South Carolina.

The 6-foot-6, 274-pound junior has dealt with bone spurs in his foot and a strained muscle near his ribs this season, along with double and triple teams

WHO: South Carolina (10-2) vs. Wisconsin (9-3) WHEN: Jan. 1, 2014 WHERE: Orlando, Fla. TV: ABC

from opposing teams he’s faced each game.

“Right now, my mind’s on the team, trying to finish the season

off strong and win this game against Wisconsin,’’ Clowney said. “After that, I’ll look forward to doing everything else.’’

For Clowney, that’s prepping for May’s NFL draft. He said a year ago this season would be his last in college and he took a final bow to South Carolina fans at the last home game as he was honored with departing seniors.

Clowney was the face of college football’s offseason, largely because of his oft-replayed, helmet-popping hit on Michigan’s Vincent Smith in last year’s Outback Bowl.

But Clowney acknowledged it SEE CLOWNEY, PAGE B4

It’s that time of year again.

The time of year when high school basketball fans will have a plethora of hardcourt action to take in as a host of local tournaments are set to tip off right before and after the Christmas holiday.

Beginning this weekend, the annual Monarch Holiday Classic Tournament will take place at the John Thames Arena in Manning. Games will be held on Friday and

Saturday as host Manning, Lake Marion, Scott’s Branch and Laurence Manning will square off. The cost to enter the tournament is $6.

“I just think anytime you play someone you’re going to get something out of it,” legendary Manning head girls coach John Thames said of the holiday tourney. “We just try to play as much as we can and that helps us because what we need is experience — most everybody on my team is up from JV, so we need all the experience we can. Win, lose or draw SEE TOURNEYS, PAGE B3

Clemson running back and former Sumter High standout Roderick McDowell (25) is just 44 yards away from crossing the 1,000-yard rushing plateau for the season.

Beamon, Jaspers top Gamecocks

Monarch Holiday Classic kicks off slate of tourneys

BY MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER mchristopher@theitem.com

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BY CHRIS DEARING The Associated Press

ITEM FILE PHOTO

Manning High School head girls basketball coach John Thames, center, and his squad celebrate Thames’ milestone career victory at the 2011 Monarch Holiday Classic in Manning. This year’s tournament tips off on Friday at 4 p.m. at the John Thames Arena.

COLUMBIA — Manhattan has proved to be a true road warrior in the early portion of the season. The Jaspers have only played at home three times in their first ten games, but that has yet to slow them.

The latest BEAMON victim is the first from a BCS conference. George Beamon scored 26 points and Michael Alvarado 20 added as Manhattan won its seventh straight road contest with a 86-68 victory over South Carolina Tuesday night at the Colonial Life

Arena.

The seven road victories is the most by a Division I team against other Division I teams.

“It’s one of those things with this group of guys,” Manhattan coach Steve Masiello said. “They’re really good when you give them one thing to focus on. When we’re on the road, it’s just us playing basketball and hanging out. Sometimes at home you’re getting pulled by family, friends, school, people wanting tickets, just a variety of things so sometimes home can be more distracting than the road. The road simplifies things for us.”

SEE GAMECOCKS, PAGE B3

B2

SPORTS

THE ITEM

Crestwood picks up 1st win The Crestwood High School varsity boys basketball team picked up their first win of the season on Tuesday with a 58-53 victory over Scott’s Branch at The Castle.

Crestwood lost 42-24 on Monday to Lake City.

The Knights, now 1-4, were led by Tyrell Allen’s 22 points with Jaquiel Durant adding 15 points.

Scott’s Branch was led

by Traviant Riley’s 18 points. TreShawn Jones added 15.

LOWER RICHLAND SUMTER

55 51

HOPKINS — Sumter suffered its first loss under first-

BOYS AREA ROUNDUP year head coach Jo Jo English on Tuesday with a 55-51 loss to Lower Richland.

WILLIAMSBURG ACADEMY CLARENDON HALL

61 21

SUMMERTON — Clarendon Hall fell to 0-6 on the season with a 61-21 loss to Williamsburg Academy on Monday.

Wes Keller led the Saints with six points.

CH will travel to Carolina Academy on Thursday.

JUNIOR VARSITY BASKETBALL CRESTWOOD 45 SCOTT’S BRANCH 27

The JV Knights improved to 4-0 on the sea-

|

son with a 45-27 victory over Scott’s Branch on Tuesday at The Castle.

Ja Morant led Crestwood with nine points.

Crestwood travels to Lee Central on Thursday.

CLARENDON HALL WILLIAMSBURG ACADEMY

18 14

SUMMERTON — Matthew Corbett had seven points and six rebounds to lead Clarendon Hall past Williamsburg Academy 18-14 on Monday.

John Lewis added five points and five rebounds as the Saints improved to 3-2.

GIRLS AREA ROUNDUP

|

Lady Knights roll past Scott’s Branch The Crestwood high school varsity girls basketball team improved to 4-2 on the season with a 70-24 victory over Scott’s Branch on Tuesday at The Castle.

Cawasha Ceasar led three players in double figures for the Lady Knights with 14 points. Tyana Saunders had 12 and Briana Pressley added 11. Crestwood hosts Lee Central on Friday.

CRESTWOOD Ceaser 14, Cole 5, Kelly 4, McCall 2, McCray 4, Murphy 6, Pressley 11, Saunders 12, Wilson 5, Jenkins 7.

LOWER RICHLAND SUMTER

50 42

HOPKINS — Sumter High fell to 2-3 on the season with a 50-42 loss to Lower Richland on Tuesday at the Diamond Hornets gymnasium.

Cy Cooper had 13 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Lady Gamecocks while Nijah Davis added eight points in the loss.

SHS hosts Lakewood on Friday.

THOMAS SUMTER CAROLINA ACADEMY

31 30

LAKE CITY — Thomas Sumter Academy improved to 5-3 on the season with a 31-30 victory over Carolina Academy on Monday at the CA gymnasium.

Sydney Long led the Lady Generals with eight points while Kayla Chappell added seven. Ali Baskins led Carolina with 10 points.

TSA will travel to Florence Christian on Friday.

THOMAS SUMTER Kayla Chappell 7, Knudson 6, Sydney Long 8, Jenkins 3, Ross 2, Nevels 1, Law 4.

CAROLINA Matte 3, Gaskins 9, Morris 2, Baskins 10, Weaver 6.

CLARENDON HALL WILLIAMSBURG ACADEMY

37 32

SUMMERTON — Clarendon Hall improved to 4-2 on the season with a 37-32 win over Williamsburg Academy on Monday at the CH gymnasium.

Shannon Corbett led the Saints with 12 points and five rebounds. Delaney Peeler and Holly Carlisle added seven points each with Peeler collecting nine rebounds.

JUNIOR VARSITY BASKETBALL CLARENDON HALL WILLIAMSBURG ACADEMY

17 13

SUMMERTON — The Clarendon Hall JV girls evened their record to 3-3 with a 17-13 victory over Williamsburg Academy on Monday at the CH gymnasium.

Sydney Wells led the Lady Saints with 10 points while Summer Barnes added four points and five rebounds.

THOMAS SUMTER CAROLINA ACADEMY

32 17

LAKE CITY — Carmen Sylvester had 15 points and Emma Gaulke added eight rebounds as the TSA JV squad defeated Carolina Academy 32-17 on Monday at the CA gymnasium.

The Lady Generals travel to Florence Christian on Friday.

BASKETBALL ROUNDUP

|

Walker, Bobcats snap 3-game skid CHARLOTTE — Kemba Walker scored 24 points and the Charlotte Bobcats beat the Sacramento Kings 95-87 on Tuesday night, snapping a 3-game losing streak.

Gerald Henderson added 20 points and reserve Ramon Sessions scored 16 for the Bobcats, who went 8 for 17 from 3-point range. Walker also had five assists in his 10th game with at least 10 points.

DeMarcus Cousins had 30 points and 17 rebounds for Sacramento, which shot 37.5 percent from the field. The Kings have dropped three of four.

TRAIL BLAZERS CAVALIERS

119 116

CLEVELAND — Damian Lillard made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds remaining, lifting the Portland Trail Blazers to a 119-116 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Lillard had a careerhigh eight 3-pointers while scoring 36 points. The 2013 NBA Rookie of the Year also had a fadeaway jumper as time expired to give Portland a 111-109 overtime victory over Detroit on Sunday.

Portland (22-4) has the best record in the NBA and is 11-0 against the Eastern Conference. The Blazers have won five straight and are 12-2 on the road.

MEN’S TOP 25 (5) MICHIGAN STATE NORTH FLORIDA

78 48

EAST LANSING, Mich.

— Adreian Payne scored 15 of his 19 points in the

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Charlotte’s Kemba Walker (15) shoots over Sacramento’s Isaiah Thomas (22) during the Bobcats’ 95-87 victory on Tuesday in Charlotte.

first half and fifth-ranked Michigan State rolled to a 78-48 victory over North Florida on Tuesday night.

Branden Dawson added 12 points and Denzel Valentine scored 11 for the Spartans.

Jalen Nesbitt scored 11 points for the Ospreys (5-7).

WOMEN’S TOP 25 (1) CONNECTICUT (2) DUKE

83 61

DURHAM, N.C. — Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis

scored 21 points on a career-high seven 3-pointers, and No. 1 Connecticut beat second-ranked Duke 83-61 on Tuesday night.

Breanna Stewart had 24 points and 11 rebounds for the Huskies (11-0). Stefanie Dolson had 14 points and Bria Hartley added 13.

Chelsea Gray had 13 points and Haley Peters finished with 11 for Duke (10-1) From wire reports

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

SCOREBOARD

|

TV, RADIO TODAY 1 p.m. -- College Football: NCAA Divsion II Playoffs Semifinal Game -- North Central at Mount Union (ESPNU).

2:30 p.m. -- International Soccer: FIFA Club World Cup Semifinal Match from Marrakech, Morocco -- Atletico Mineiro vs. Raja Casablanca (FOX SPORTS 1).

6:05 p.m. -- Talk Show: Sports Talk (WPUB-FM 102.7, WDXY-FM 105.9, WDXY-AM 1240).

7 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Indiana at Miami (ESPN).

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Texas at North Carolina (ESPN2).

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: North Carolina State at Tennessee (ESPNU).

7 p.m. -- Women’s College Basketball: Mississippi at Baylor (FOX SPORTSOUTH).

7 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Charlotte at Toronto (SPORTSOUTH).

7 p.m. -- Women’s College Basketball: South Carolina vs.

North Carolina from Myrtle Beach (WNKT-FM 107.5).

8 p.m. -- College Basketball: South Florida at St. John’s (FOX SPORTS 1).

8 p.m. -- Professional Golf: Wendy’s 3-Tour Challenge from Henderson, Nev. (GOLF).

8 p.m. -- NHL Hockey: Pittsburgh at New York Rangers (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Stanford vs. Connecticut from Hartford, Conn. (ESPN2).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Louisiana State at Texas Tech (ESPNU).

9:30 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Chicago at Houston (ESPN).

9:30 p.m. -- College Basketball: Northwestern State at Baylor (FOX SPORTSOUTH).

PREP SCHEDULE TODAY Junior Varsity Basketball Lakewood at Camden, 6 p.m.

JV and B Team Basketball Sumter at Spring Valley (No JV Girls), 6 p.m.

Middle School Basketball Scott’s Branch at Mayewood, 5 p.m.

Varsity Wrestling Sumter, Hartsville, Gilbert at Dutch Fork, TBA THURSDAY Varsity and JV Basketball Holly Hill at Laurence Manning, 4 p.m.

Clarendon Hall at Carolina Academy, 4 p.m.

Junior Varsity Basketball Lakewood at Sumter, 6 p.m.

Crestwood at Lee Central, 6 p.m.

B Team Basketball Fairfield Central at Sumter (Boys Only), 5 p.m.

Middle School Basketball Chestnut Oaks at Alice Drive, 5 p.m.

Bates at Ebenezer, 5 p.m.

Mayewood at Hillcrest, 5 p.m.

Manning at Sandy Run, 6 p.m.

FRIDAY Varsity Basketball Lakewood at Sumter, 6 p.m.

Lee Central at Crestwood, 6 p.m.

Manning, Laurence Manning in Manning Boys and Girls Christmas Tournament, TBA St. Francis Xavier at Sumter Christian (Boys Only), 6 p.m.

Varsity and JV Basketball Thomas Sumter at Florence Christian, 4 p.m.

Varsity Wrestling Sumter in Seahawk Slam (at Savannah Civic Center), TBA SATURDAY Varsity Basketball Manning in Manning Boys and Girls Christmas Tournament, TBA B Team Basketball Clarendon Hall at Andrew Jackson Academy (Girls Only), noon Varsity Wrestling Sumter in Seahawk Slam (at Savannah Civic Center), TBA

NBA STANDINGS

By The Associated Press EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pct Boston 12 14 .462 Toronto 9 13 .409 Brooklyn 9 15 .375 New York 7 17 .292 Philadelphia 7 19 .269 Southeast Division W L Pct Miami 18 6 .750 Atlanta 13 12 .520 Washington 10 13 .435 Charlotte 10 14 .417 Orlando 8 17 .320 Central Division W L Pct Indiana 20 4 .833 Detroit 12 14 .462 Chicago 9 14 .391 Cleveland 9 14 .391 Milwaukee 5 19 .208 WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division W L Pct San Antonio 19 5 .792 Houston 16 9 .640 Dallas 14 10 .583 New Orleans 11 11 .500 Memphis 10 13 .435 Northwest Division W L Pct Portland 21 4 .840 Oklahoma City 19 4 .826 Denver 14 9 .609 Minnesota 12 13 .480 Utah 6 21 .222 Pacific Division W L Pct L.A. Clippers 17 9 .654 Phoenix 14 9 .609 Golden State 13 12 .520 L.A. Lakers 11 13 .458 Sacramento 7 15 .318 Monday’s Games Detroit 101, Indiana 96 Brooklyn 130, Philadelphia 94 Boston 101, Minnesota 97 Miami 117, Utah 94 Atlanta 114, L.A. Lakers 100 Washington 102, New York 101 Orlando 83, Chicago 82 L.A. Clippers 115, San Antonio 92 Tuesday’s Games Portland at Cleveland, 7 p.m.

Sacramento at Charlotte, 7 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at Memphis, 8 p.m.

Oklahoma City at Denver, 9 p.m.

New Orleans at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.

Today’s Games Utah at Orlando, 7 p.m.

Indiana at Miami, 7 p.m.

Charlotte at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Detroit at Boston, 7:30 p.m.

Sacramento at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.

Washington at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.

Portland at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

New York at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.

Memphis at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

San Antonio at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

Chicago at Houston, 9:30 p.m.

New Orleans at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.

Thursday’s Games Chicago at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.

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

GB – 1 2 4 5 GB – 51/2 71/2 8 101/2 GB – 9 101/2 101/2 15 GB – 31/2 5 7 81/2 GB – 1 6 9 16 GB – 11/2 31/2 5 8

PF 535 399 343 295

PA 372 255 311 393

PF 364 393 251 305

PA 349 385 357 434

PF 359 328 258 309

PA 270 208 324 388

PF 406 353 362 363

PA 391 362 339 425

PF 380 349 342 316

PA 205 228 291 324

NHL STANDINGS

By The Associated Press EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Boston 33 22 9 2 46 92 70 Montreal 35 20 12 3 43 88 75 Tampa Bay 33 19 11 3 41 90 80 Detroit 35 15 11 9 39 89 94 Toronto 35 17 15 3 37 98 102 Ottawa 35 14 15 6 34 99 113 Florida 34 12 17 5 29 78 109 Buffalo 33 7 23 3 17 55 96 Metropolitan Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Pittsburgh 35 24 10 1 49 108 75 Washington 33 18 12 3 39 105 97 Carolina 34 14 13 7 35 79 94 N.Y. Rangers 34 16 17 1 33 76 91 Philadelphia 33 14 15 4 32 76 91 New Jersey 34 13 15 6 32 78 85 Columbus 34 14 16 4 32 87 95 N.Y. Islanders 34 9 19 6 24 83 118 WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Chicago 36 24 7 5 53 135 101 St. Louis 32 22 6 4 48 112 76 Colorado 32 22 9 1 45 94 75 Minnesota 35 19 11 5 43 81 81 Dallas 32 15 12 5 35 92 99 Nashville 33 16 14 3 35 77 92 Winnipeg 35 15 15 5 35 93 102 Pacific Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Anaheim 35 23 7 5 51 111 89 Los Angeles 34 22 8 4 48 94 68 San Jose 33 20 7 6 46 108 82 Vancouver 35 20 10 5 45 98 83 Phoenix 32 18 9 5 41 104 100 Calgary 33 13 15 5 31 86 106 Edmonton 35 11 21 3 25 93 120 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss.

Monday’s Games Pittsburgh 3, Toronto 1 Winnipeg 3, Columbus 2 Ottawa 3, St. Louis 2, OT Colorado 6, Dallas 2 Tuesday’s Games Calgary at Boston, 7 p.m.

Winnipeg at Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Florida at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Tampa Bay at N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.

Phoenix at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

Anaheim at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.

Washington at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.

San Jose at St. Louis, 8 p.m.

Chicago at Nashville, 8 p.m.

Vancouver at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

Colorado at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Edmonton at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.

Today’s Games Ottawa at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.

Pittsburgh at N.Y. Rangers, 8 p.m.

Thursday’s Games Boston at Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Phoenix at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Columbus at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Minnesota at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Florida at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.

Calgary at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.

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

Montreal at St. Louis, 8 p.m.

Vancouver at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Edmonton at Colorado, 9:30 p.m.

San Jose at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.

TRANSACTIONS

NFL STANDINGS

By The Associated Press AMERICAN CONFERENCE East W L T Pct New England 10 4 0 .714 Miami 8 6 0 .571 N.Y. Jets 6 8 0 .429 Buffalo 5 9 0 .357 South W L T Pct y-Indianapolis 9 5 0 .643 Tennessee 5 9 0 .357 Jacksonville 4 10 0 .286 Houston 2 12 0 .143 North W L T Pct Cincinnati 9 5 0 .643 Baltimore 8 6 0 .571 Pittsburgh 6 8 0 .429 Cleveland 4 10 0 .286 West

W L T Pct 11 3 0 .786 11 3 0 .786 7 7 0 .500 4 10 0 .286 NATIONAL CONFERENCE East W L T Pct Philadelphia 8 6 0 .571 Dallas 7 7 0 .500 N.Y. Giants 5 9 0 .357 Washington 3 11 0 .214 South W L T Pct New Orleans 10 4 0 .714 Carolina 10 4 0 .714 Tampa Bay 4 10 0 .286 Atlanta 4 10 0 .286 North W L T Pct Chicago 8 6 0 .571 Green Bay 7 6 1 .536 Detroit 7 7 0 .500 Minnesota 4 9 1 .321 West W L T Pct x-Seattle 12 2 0 .857 San Francisco 10 4 0 .714 Arizona 9 5 0 .643 St. Louis 6 8 0 .429 x-clinched playoff spot y-clinched division Thursday’s Game San Diego 27, Denver 20 Sunday’s Games Minnesota 48, Philadelphia 30 Atlanta 27, Washington 26 San Francisco 33, Tampa Bay 14 Seattle 23, N.Y. Giants 0 Chicago 38, Cleveland 31 Indianapolis 25, Houston 3 Buffalo 27, Jacksonville 20 Miami 24, New England 20 Kansas City 56, Oakland 31 Carolina 30, N.Y. Jets 20 Arizona 37, Tennessee 34, OT St. Louis 27, New Orleans 16 Green Bay 37, Dallas 36 Pittsburgh 30, Cincinnati 20 Monday’s Game Baltimore 18, Detroit 16 Sunday, Dec. 22 Tampa Bay at St. Louis, 1 p.m.

Indianapolis at Kansas City, 1 p.m.

Denver at Houston, 1 p.m.

Miami at Buffalo, 1 p.m.

New Orleans at Carolina, 1 p.m.

Dallas at Washington, 1 p.m.

Cleveland at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.

Minnesota at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Tennessee at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

Arizona at Seattle, 4:05 p.m.

N.Y. Giants at Detroit, 4:05 p.m.

Oakland at San Diego, 4:25 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Green Bay, 4:25 p.m.

New England at Baltimore, 4:25 p.m.

Chicago at Philadelphia, 8:30 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 23 Atlanta at San Francisco, 8:40 p.m.

x-Denver x-Kansas City San Diego Oakland

PF 369 310 246 300

PA 311 296 367 354

PF 338 326 221 253

PA 319 355 399 375

PF 354 296 321 288

PA 274 277 332 362

By The Associated Press FOOTBALL National Football League INDIANAPOLIS COLTS _ Placed LB Pat Angerer on injured reserve. Agreed to terms with RB Shaun Draughn.

Signed G Zach Allen to the practice squad.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS _ Placed WR Cecil Shorts and G Will Rackley on injured reserve. Signed C Patrick Lewis from Cleveland’s practice squad. Signed G Drew Nowak from the practice squad. Signed DE D’Aundre Reed to the practice squad.

MIAMI DOLPHINS _ Released S D.J. Campbell Claimed DB Jalil Brown off waivers from Indianapolis.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS _ Released RB Joe Banyard.

HOCKEY National Hockey League BUFFALO SABRES _ Assigned F Luke Adam and D Mark Pysyk and Brayden McNabb to Rochester (AHL). Recalled F Kevin Porter and D Chad Ruhwedel from Rochester.

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS _ Recalled F Jack Skille from Springfield (AHL). Sent G Jeremy Smith to Springfield.

DALLAS STARS _ Placed F Vernon Fiddler on injured reserve, retroactive to Dec. 7. Recalled D Cameron Gaunce from Texas (AHL).

WASHINGTON CAPITALS _ Recalled C Casey Wellman from Hershey (AHL).

COLLEGE FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON _ Announced the resignation of women’s soccer coach Rick Stainton to take the same position at Seton Hall.

NORTH GREENVILLE _ Named Corey Struss men’s lacrosse coach.

BASKETBALL

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

THE ITEM

TOURNEYS from Page B1

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley has the No. 10 Lady Gamecocks off and running again with their best ranking in 12 years.

Staley has USC women off to fast start

BY PETE IACOBELLI The Associated Press COLUMBIA — Dawn Staley likes No. 10 South Carolina’s start to the year and, with a few tweaks, believes the Gamecocks can continue the run into Southeastern Conference season.

South Carolina has opened 9-0 for a second straight season and is ranked its highest since 2002. While Staley’s teams have long been built on pressure defense, the Gamecocks have shown such an ability to score that they are one of the Southeastern Conference’s top offenses.

“I know that any of us can produce at any time,’’ leading scorer Tiffany Mitchell said. “So they should be aware of us at all times.’’

Mitchell has averaged 15 points a game, heading up four Gamecocks in double figure scoring. South Carolina leads the SEC and is fifth nationally with .503 shooting percentage.

Staley’s glad to see the points. She just wishes it was accompanied by the in-yourface defense she played during most of her Hall-of-Fame career.

“We forced our program to be a defensive minded team because we didn’t have players that could score the ball,’’ Staley said. “Now we’re constantly trying to teach our defensive philosophy. Slowly, but surely, we’re getting there.’’

The Gamecocks figure to need the defense to kick in tonight when they take on No. 14 North Carolina (8-2) at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. The teams have played there seven times since the 2000-01 season in connection with an area high school holiday tournament.

South Carolina ended the Tar Heels four-game series win streak two years ago with a 79-48 victory on the Grand Strand. This time, it’s North Carolina looking to pull the surprise over a team in the top

GAMECOCKS from Page B1 Beamon likes the aspect of playing at home but said the road games are at times easier.

“We come together more when we play away,” Beamon said. “It’s us against the world and when our backs are against the wall we usually are up for the challenge.”

It was a total team effort for the Jaspers (8-2).

They had ten players score and ten collected at least one rebound with five players tying for team-high honors with five each. They out-rebounded the much bigger Gamecocks 33-27 and finished with more blocks and steals.

“They have a bunch of upperclassmen and are a real good basketball team. I knew that going in,” South Carolina coach Frank Martin said. “They beat us to loose balls, they beat us on the glass, they beat us on blocked shots, they beat us on steals. I wish I could tell you I’m surprised with what happened but I’m not.”

The teams kept things close the opening 13 minutes with neither holding more than a sixpoint advantage.

The Jaspers trailed for the final time with a lit-

10 for the first time since 2002.

Mitchell said the Gamecocks haven’t thought much about the perfect start or the high ranking.

“It’s not something coach Staley’s going to let us get a big head about,’’ said Mitchell, a sophomore.

Especially when there’s so many bigger games ahead.

South Carolina is among five SEC teams in the Top 25, three of those among the top 10. That means, Staley said, that each South Carolina opponent will have similarly skilled players drilled on stopping the Gamecocks offensive success.

Staley said the loss of last year’s seniors in Ieasia Walker and Sancheon White has hurt on the defensive side because the pair were fast and wellversed in how to play Staleystyle defense.

The high scoring — South Carolina has been held to fewer than 70 points just twice this season — has made up for the lagging defense.

tle over seven minutes remaining in the half but closed with a 17-6 run to take a 45-34 lead at the break.

Donovan Kates started the run with two free throws and the Jaspers were perfect on 12 free throws during that stretch. The only two field goals were a three-pointer from Shane Richards and a dunk by Alvarado.

That closing run allowed Manhattan to go 18of-19 from the free throw in the opening twenty minutes. They finished 34-of-39 from the free throw line and consistently frustrated the Gamecocks by getting into the paint, drawing the foul and converting.

Alvarado scored 14 of his points in the first half with eight coming during that closing spurt.

Beamon did most of his damage in the second half. He scored 19 of his points after the break.

South Carolina, who had not played a game in 11 days and just once since November 24, did close within five points twice in the second half but could never get any closer.

Sindarius Thornwell led the Gamecocks (2-4) with 17 points. Ty Johnson chipped in 12 and Michael Carrera added 10.

OPEN MONDAY - SATURDAY 8AM - 6PM

At John Thames Arena, Manning Friday-Saturday Admission: $6 FRIDAY GIRLS GAME 1 — Lake Marion vs. Scott’s Branch, 4 p.m.

GAME 3 — Laurence Manning vs. Manning, 7 p.m.

BOYS GAME 2 — Lake Marion vs. Scott’s Branch, 5:30 p.m.

GAME 4 — Laurence Manning vs. Manning, 8:30 p.m.

SATURDAY GIRLS CONSOLATION GAME 5 — Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.

BOYS CONSOLATION GAME 6 — Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 4, 5:30 p.m.

GIRLS TITLE GAME GAME 7 — Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 3, 7 p.m.

BOYS TITLE GAME GAME 8 — Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 4, 8:30 p.m.

After taking part in the Monarch Holiday Classic this weekend, the Manning boys will play in the Modie Risher Classic at Burke Middle High School the following weekend. The 3-day classic begins Dec. 26 and concludes Dec. 28.

Games start at 4 p.m. daily. Friday’s games will begin with Beaufort taking on Manning followed by Fort Dorchester against Timberland, Estill against Baptist Hill and Bowman against Burke.

A brand new tournament will take place in Sumter as well. Sumter Christian School’s New Year’s Tournament will be held the first weekend in 2014. SCS, Williamsburg Academy, Robert E. Lee Academy and Lighthouse Christian School out of Abbeville will make up the 4-team tournament will tip off on Jan. 3 at 2 p.m. with Williamsburg and REL’s girls. The same two boys’ squads will face off at 3:30 p.m. followed by the Lady Bears and Lighthouse Christian School at 5 p.m.

The boys’ squads will follow at 6 p.m.

On Jan. 4, the girls’ consolation game will be at 1 p.m. followed by the boys’ consolation game at 2:30 p.m. The girls’ championship game is schedule for 4 p.m. with the boys’ title game to follow immediately afterwards. There will be two trophies awarded to both the girls and boys as well as a Most Valuable Player and a Sportsmanship Award.

Thomas Sumter Academy’s boys and girls squads, Wilson Hall’s boys and St. Francis Xavier are not scheduled to partake in any Christmas tournaments.

Splurge a little, for a lot less, in

The Item classifieds 803-774-1234

Sum mter Fam mily Palmetto Farm Supply

MONARCH HOLIDAY CLASSIC TOURNAMENT

we’ll benefit from this; I think every team will.”

The Lake Marion and Scott’s Branch girls will start the tournament at 4 p.m. on Friday followed by the same boys teams at 5:30 p.m. Then the Lady Monarchs will host LMA at 7 p.m. followed by the boys teams at 8:30 p.m. On Saturday, the losers from the two girls games will face off at 4 p.m. while the losers from the boys games meet at 5:30 p.m. in the consolation bracket. The girls’ title game will begin at 7 p.m. followed by the boys’ championship game at 8:30 p.m.

The Crestwood Lady Knights will take part in the Shootout By the Sea this weekend in North Myrtle Beach. They will face Gaffney at 4 p.m. on Saturday in a single-elimination format.

The following weekend, Dec. 26 through Dec. 28, will bring an assortment of local teams together in the 17th Annual District 9 Basketball Officials Christmas Tournament at Crestwood High School and Chestnut Oaks Middle School.

Teams participating are Crestwood’s boys, C.E. Murray, Denmark-Olar, Hartsville, Kingstree, Lake City, Lamar, Lee Central, Manning and Sumter. Cost is $7 for adults and $5 for students per day. A schedule was not available at press time.

The Lakewood and East Clarendon boys will take part in the 13th annual Moody Holiday Classic hosted and played at Northwestern High School Dec. 26-30.

The Gators will begin the tournament at 11 a.m. on Dec. 26 against Allendale-Fairfax. The Lady Gators will participate in the Lake Marion Invitational Dec. 26-28 and will open the tournament against Hannah-Pamplico.

The Lady Barons will partake in the Spartanburg Day School Holiday Tournament Dec. 27-28. The Lady Swampcats will play in a holiday tournament in Chapin from Dec. 27-28.

They will play two games on Friday and one on Saturday.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

B3

www.theitem.com

Eddie C. Durant, Jr., D.D.S. Gregory A. Wheeler, D.M.D.

DENTAL

CENTER

We Offer Pet Grooming!

LeAnn, Jennifer & Suzanne

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE SUMTER FAMILY DENTAL FAMILY TO YOURS

CARDS

AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION

Dr. ise S. W Dr. ise S. W

S. Wise Dr.

Dr.

803-775-1204

Find us on Facebook!

TEMPORARY LOCATION

St.

Bultman

#SPBE 4USFFU r 4VNUFS 4$

MEMBER OF

ad

Dr.

Walk-ins Welcome til 3pm. Call for an appointment.

Us!

Bro

Bultman

With 30 years of combined experience.

NEW PATIENTS ARE WELCOME

s

reen Walg

Bro

ad

St.

740 Bultman Drive Convenient Office Hours: 7:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m. Monday–Friday

CALL TODAY FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT!

803.773.3328

W W W. S U M T E R D E N TA L . C O M

B4

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

THE ITEM

Saban: ‘No talks’ with Texas

BY JOHN ZENOR The Associated Press TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama coach Nick Saban and the football team are moving on.

Saban has put to rest the speculation that he would replace Mack Brown at Texas by striking a new deal with Alabama.

For the third-ranked Crimson Tide, the focus is on getting over the loss to Auburn and trying to finish the season strong in the Jan. 2 Sugar Bowl against No. 11 Oklahoma.

Saban had said Friday night after agreeing to a new contract reportedly worth about $7 million a year that he planned to retire at Alabama.

He said “there were no talks’’ between his representatives and Texas and pointed to comments on ESPN that he “never considered going to Texas.’’

“I think I’ve already made a reaction to that,’’ Saban said. “Don’t you watch ESPN? Didn’t you see what they put down across the bottom line. That’s my reaction to it.

“I don’t have any more reactions to it.

I think it’s kind of over so why do we want to talk about that? We look forward. I’m looking forward. I made a commitment to our players that are here and I’m happy to be committed to them and I want them to make the same kind of commitment to the program and to their future success.’’

Brown announced his resignation at Texas on Saturday.

Several Texas regents and a former regent were involved in a meeting with Saban’s agent last January to gauge the coach’s interest in coming to Texas.

Saban found the best way to quash that talk: Re-upping with the Tide.

Receiver Kevin Norwood never doubted it.

“I went home for the break or whatever, and everybody was basically talking about it,’’ Norwood said. “And I was like, ‘Coach Saban is not going any-

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Alabama head football coach Nick Saban speaks during a news conference on Tuesday in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Saban said that there were ‘no talks’ between him and Texas about the possibility of Saban replacing Mack Brown.

where.’ And whatever social media was saying, whatever was happening after that, I pretty much ignored it.’’

Alabama (11-1) returned to the practice field on Tuesday for the first time since the Iron Bowl.

The game was tied until Chris Davis returned a missed field goal 109 yards for a touchdown on the final play to effectively end Alabama’s bid for a third straight national championship.

CLOWNEY from Page B1 was not the disruptive season he had hoped — he had just three sacks, 10 fewer than his record-setting sophomore year — but the 20-year-old still believes he’s ready for the next level.

Last month, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said Clowney remained his top NFL prospect despite the drop in production.

“My attitude would be unless you need a quarterback or a great left tackle, you take Jadeveon Clowney’’ with the No. 1 selection, Kiper said on a November conference call.

Still, it has not been the easiest road this season for Clowney.

He was bothered by a reoccurrence of bone spurs in his right foot, a problem he’s had since high school. He pulled out of the game with Kentucky a short time before kickoff, citing strained muscles around his ribs. The move surprised and frustrated coach Steve Spurrier and touched off a weeklong debate about Clowney’s commitment to the sport.

“I had to grow up fast,

put it like that,’’ he said.

“I’ve had to grow up faster than people expect.’’

Clowney has shown a stellar work ethic since then, defensive line coach Deke Adams said. Clowney has had 7 1/2 of his 10 1/2 tackles for loss in his last six games. He sat out South Carolina’s 70-10 win over FCS opponent Coastal Carolina on Nov. 23 to rest up for Clemson, where he notched his last sack in a 31-17 victory.

“I think he’s handled himself well,’’ Adam said.

“I think some of the things throughout the year have been blown out of proportion with the way it happened. He’s been great for us here.’’

Clowney believes the Gamecocks line will be ready for Wisconsin’s strong running attack.

South Carolina was second in the Southeastern Conference against the run this season, allowing only 142.2 yards a game.

“They can run the ball pretty well,’’ Clowney said.

“They’ll try to pound it at us. We’ve got to be ready.’’

Clowney said his game has developed and he as

matured the past three seasons, but noted there are always slipups while a person grows. He was stopped earlier this month by the South Carolina Highway Patrol and ticketed for going 110 mph on a stretch of Interstate 77.

“I’m still maturing as ...

I grow into a young man,’’ the 20-year-old said.

Defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles was named a second-team All-American

by The AP, finishing with a team-high 9 1/2 sacks this season. Quarles has credited the attention Clowney got from opponents with freeing him up to make plays. Clowney hasn’t let his on-field frustrations affect his relationships with teammates, Quarles said.

“I told him when he committed that we’re going to try and change the face of South Carolina,’’ Quarles said. “Look what we’ve done.’’

The Gamecocks have gone 32-6 in Clowney’s three seasons.

So Clowney will give himself a final chance to leave another big impression in college.

“I’m going to miss it,’’ he says. “But I’m ready’’ to move on.

McDOWELL from Page B1 Orange Bowl against Ohio State to reach the ledger.

Seeing as the fifth-year senior has topped 44 yards in seven consecutive games (going over 91 four times since Oct. 5, and hitting the 100-yard mark in each of his final two regular season games), McDowell is in prime position.

In fact, this being a test against No. 7 Ohio State, McDowell should be licking his chops. He’s averaged 101.3 yards in Clemson’s three games against top-10 competition this year.

“That’s one thing that’s really driving me, because my

season’s not done. I’ve still got another game, I still have to go compete,” McDowell said. “So being that 1,000 yard-rusher, having that in the bowl game, in a big stage like that against a big opponent, it’s a blessing and I’m ready for it.”

On the year, McDowell has carried 177 times for 956 yards (5.4 yards per carry; better than Davis’ and Ellington’s averages during each of their 1,000-yard seasons) and five touchdowns, all in the Tigers’ last five games.

Heading into bowl season, McDowell checks in at third place on the ACC rushing list,

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

ALL-AMERICANS from Page B1 The teams were selected by a panel of AP college football poll voters.

Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston from Florida State added All-American to his resume after a spectacular redshirt freshman season. Heisman finalists Andre Williams from Boston College and Northern Illinois’ Jordan Lynch also made the first team. Williams joins Carey in the backfield and Lynch, the dualthreat quarterback, was chosen as an all-purpose player.

Carey, a junior, is second in the nation in rushing after leading last year, but said he thinks he’s a better player now.

“I worked hard to improve my speed and strength in the offseason while keeping my speed,’’ Carey said. “I put on 10 pounds of weight and I think that’s helped my durability. I also wanted to be a better blocker away from the ball.

Blocking for our quarterback and our receivers is key to our system and it’s important that I do my part even when I’m not carrying the ball.’’

Mosley, a senior, was the leading tackler for a defense that ranked fifth in the country in yards allowed per game. Sutton, a senior, was named Pac-12 defensive player of the year for the season straight season.

Winston, a landslide Heisman winner last week, is joined on the first team by three Florida State teammates — center Bryan Stork, kicker Roberto Aguayo and cornerback Lamarcus Joyner — to give the top-ranked Seminoles more than any other school.

Florida State defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan made the second team, along with offensive tackle Cameron Erving. The Seminoles had six players on the three teams, the most of any school.

No. 2 Auburn, which plays Florida State on Jan. 6 in the BCS championship game in Pasadena, Calif., placed Heisman finalists Tre’ Mason on the second team at running back and offensive lineman Reese Dismukes and Gregory Robinson on the third team.

Texas A&M Heisman finalist Johnny Manziel, last year’s Heisman winner and All-American quarterback, made the second team. Alabama’s AJ McCarron, another Heisman finalist, is the third-team quarterback for the second consecutive season.

The first-team receivers are Oregon State’s Brandin Cooks, who leads the nation in yards receiving (139.2 per game), and Texas A&M’s Mike Evans, who is averaging 20.3 yards a catch.

Texas Tech’s Jace Amaro is the first-team tight end. The senior leads all tight ends in catches (98) and yards (1,240).

Joining Stork on the offensive line are Texas A&M tackle Jake Matthews and Alabama tackle Cyrus Kouandjio, as well as Baylor guard Cyril Richardson and Stanford guard David Yankey.

Richardson and Yankey were second-team All-Americans last season.

trailing Heisman finalist Andre Williams of Boston College (2,102 yards) and Virginia’s Kevin Parks (1,031 yards) while leading Florida State’s Devonta Freeman by 13 yards.

“I can’t take all the praise. I really got to give it to my offensive line,” McDowell said. “(OL) coach (Robbie) Caldwell, BT (Brandon Thomas), (Tyler) Shatley, all them boys worked hard for me this year. They really separated the line of scrimmage, made me run faster through the holes.”

McDowell received little fanfare for his most recent effort — 111 yards and a score on 14 attempts, the Tigers’ most prolific rusher vs. South

AP ALL-AMERICA TEAMS

By The Associated Press FIRST TEAM OFFENSE Quarterback _ Jameis Winston, redshirt freshman, 6-foot-4, 229 pounds, Florida State.

Running backs _ Andre Williams, senior, 6-0, 227, Boston College; Ka’Deem Carey, junior, 5-10, 196, Arizona.

Tackles _ Jake Matthews, senior, 6-5, 305, Texas A&M; Cyrus Kouandjio, junior, 6-6, 310, Alabama.

Guards _ Cyril Richardson, senior, 6-5, 340, Baylor; David Yankey, senior, 6-5, 313, Stanford.

Center _ Bryan Stork, senior, 6-4, 300, Florida State.

Wide receivers _ Brandin Cooks, junior, 5-10, 186, Oregon State; Mike Evans, sophomore, 6-5, 225, Texas A&M. Tight end _ Jace Amaro, junior, 6-5, 260, Texas Tech.

All-purpose player _ Jordan Lynch, senior, 6-0, 216, Northern Illinois.

Kicker _ Roberto Aguayo, redshirt freshman, 6-1, 203, Florida State.

DEFENSE Ends _ Michael Sam, senior, 6-2, 255, Missouri; Jackson Jeffcoat, senior, 6-5, 250, Texas.

Tackles _ Aaron Donald, senior, 6-0, 285, Pittsburgh; Will Sutton, senior, 6-1, 288, Arizona State.

Linebackers _ Anthony Barr, senior, 6-4, 248, UCLA; C.J. Mosley, senior, 6-2, 238, Alabama; Ryan Shazier, junior, 6-2, 230, Ohio State.

Cornerbacks _ Darqueze Dennard, senior, 5-11, 197, Michigan State; Lamarcus Joyner, senior, 5-8, 190, Florida State.

Safeties _ Cody Prewitt, junior, 6-2, 220, Mississippi; Deone Bucannon, senior, 6-1, 198, Washington State.

Punter _ Tom Hornsey, senior, 6-3, 210, Memphis.

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE Quarterback _ Johnny Manziel, sophomore, Texas A&M. Running backs _ Tre’ Mason, junior, Auburn; Bishop Sankey, junior, Washington.

Tackles _ Cameron Erving, junior, Florida State; Taylor Lewan, senior, Michigan.

Guards _ Gabe Jackson, senior, Mississippi State; Xavier Su’a-Filo, junior, UCLA. Center _ Gabe Ikard, senior, Oklahoma.

Wide receivers _ Sammy Watkins, junior, Clemson; Davante Adams, sophomore, Fresno State.

Tight end _ Eric Ebron, junior, North Carolina.

All-purpose player _ Ty Montgomery, junior, Stanford.

Kicker _ Anthony Fera, senior, Texas.

DEFENSE Ends _ Vic Beasley, junior, Clemson; Shilique Calhoun, sophomore, Michigan State.

Tackles _ Timmy Jernigan, junior, Florida State; Kelcy Quarles, junior, South Carolina.

Linebackers _ Trent Murphy, senior, Stanford; Khalil Mack, senior, Buffalo; Chris Borland, senior, Wisconsin.

Cornerbacks _ Justin Gilbert, senior, Oklahoma State; Jason Verrett, senior, TCU. Safeties _ Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, junior, Alabama; Ahmad Dixon, senior, Baylor.

Punter _ Drew Kaser, sophomore, Texas A&M. THIRD TEAM OFFENSE Quarterback _ A.J. McCarron, senior, Alabama.

Running backs _ Carlos Hyde, senior, Ohio State; Ameer Abdullah, junior, Nebraska.

Tackles _ Jack Mewhort, senior, Ohio State; Gregory Robinson, sophomore, Auburn.

Guards _ John Urschel, senior, Penn State; Ryan Groy, senior, Wisconsin.

Center _ Reese Dismukes, junior, Auburn.

Wide receivers _ Allen Robinson, junior, Penn State; Jordan Matthews, senior, Vanderbilt.

Tight end _ Austin Seferian-Jenkins, junior, Washington.

All-purpose player _ Odell Beckham Jr., junior, LSU. Kicker _ Jeff Budzien, senior, Northwestern.

DEFENSE Ends _ Marcus Smith, senior, Louisville; Jeremiah Attaochu, senior, Georgia Tech.

Tackles _ Ra’Shede Hageman, senior, Minnesota; Leonard Williams, sophomore, Southern California.

Linebackers _Shayne Skov, senior, Stanford; Max Bullough, senior, Michigan State; Denicos Allen, senior, Michigan State.

Cornerbacks _ Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, junior, Oregon; Vernon Hargreaves III, freshman, Florida.

Safeties _ Jimmie Ward, senior, Northern Illinois; Ty Zimmerman, senior, Kansas State.

Punter _ Austin Rehkow, freshman, Idaho.

Mosley and Sutton are on the first-team defense with Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who won the Nagurski and Bednarik awards as the nation’s best defensive player and the Outland and Lombardi as the country’s best lineman.

Missouri’s Michael Sam, the Southeastern Conference defensive player of the year, and Jackson Jeffcoat, the Big 12 defensive player of the year, are the defensive ends. UCLA’s Anthony Barr and Ohio State’s Ryan Shazier round out the linebackers.

Michigan State’s Darqueze Dennard, one of the leaders of the nation’s top-ranked defense, is the other cornerback with Joyner. The safeties are Mississippi’s Cody Prewitt and Washington State’s Deone Bucannon.

Tom Hornsey of Memphis made the first team as the punter.

Florida State helped the Atlantic Coast Conference put six players on the first team, to match the Pac-12 and SEC for the most from any conference.

Carolina in six years — due to the Gamecocks claiming their fifth straight series victory.

“I felt like I gave my all, but we came up short. That game means a lot to me, knowing for a fact I had a good game, but my good game didn’t get us a W,” McDowell said. “I watched film, and was very disappointed in the outcome.

But it’s a whole other game.

Right now, I’m just focused on OSU.” For reinforcement, McDowell turns to Ellington, now a rookie for the Arizona Cardinals having his own breakout season in the NFL. A reserve to start the season, Ellington has 558 yards on 94 carries, good for a leagueleading 5.9 yards per rush.

McDowell and Ellington still text frequently.

“For him to say he’s proud of me, that really means a lot, because I idolized him when he was here,” McDowell said.

“I still idolize him in the league right now.”

McDowell texted Ellington Sunday after his 158total yard effort in Arizona’s overtime victory at Tennessee with congratulations, a message that was reciprocated.

“He said, ‘From Clemson, that’s what we do. We’re ballplayers. We’re game changers.’ I feel the same way,” McDowell said. “Even though people think I’m that poundand-pound back, I’m a game changer.”

NFL

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

THE ITEM

B5

New kickoff rules have made returners restless

BY ARNIE STAPLETON The Associated Press

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker, right, hit a 61-yard field in the closing minute of Monday’s game in Detroit to give the Ravens an 18-16 victory over the Lions.

Tucker boots Ravens past Lions

BY LARRY LAGE The Associated Press DETROIT — Justin Tucker’s powerful leg kicked the Super Bowl champions into playoff gear.

Tucker made six field goals, including a franchise-record 61-yarder with 38 seconds left that lifted the Baltimore Ravens to an 18-16 win over the Detroit Lions in a Monday night matchup with major postseason implications.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh chose to let Tucker try the longest kick of his career — by 5 yards — instead of going for it on fourthand-8 from the Detroit 43. “If they send me out there, they have reason to,’’ Tucker said. “It’s because they think I can make the kick.’’ Rookie safety Matt Elam sealed the victory with an interception — Matthew Stafford’s third of the night — after raising eyebrows

during the week by calling 28-year-old Calvin Johnson “pretty old’’ and saying the plan was to make the star receiver uncomfortable by getting physical with him.

Stafford threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Joseph Fauria with 2:21 left, putting Detroit up 16-15. But the Lions were unable to make a 2-point conversion and couldn’t prevent Baltimore (8-6) from setting up its sensational kicker for his 33rd successful field goal in a row.

Tucker’s kick went just inside the right upright and barely had enough distance — eight days after Denver’s Matt Prater broke the NFL record with a 64-yard field goal. “I definitely felt like I got a lot of leg into it, but it jumped up so high I thought I might have gotten under it,’’ Tucker said.

Tucker, who hasn’t missed a field goal attempt since he was 0 for 2 in Week 2 at Cleveland, has

the NFL’s longest streak since Matt Stover made 36 in a row for the Ravens from 2005-06, according to STATS. “What can you say about Justin Tucker?’’ Harbaugh said. “When we got the ball there, I think at the 45-yard line, I said, ‘Hey, are we kicking this?’ ... He said, ‘I got it.’’’ He sure did.

Moments after his clutch kick, Tucker mentioned in a television interview that his big night also benefited his fantasy football team.

More importantly, his real club won its fourth straight game and maintained control of an AFC wild card as the Ravens seek their sixth consecutive postseason berth and a chance to defend their Super Bowl title.

Detroit (7-7) has hurt its playoff chances by losing four of five, falling out of sole possession of first place in the NFC North to third behind the division-leading Chicago Bears and Green Bay.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Trindon Holliday stands just 5-foot-5 and might tip the scales at 170 pounds if he wolfs down a big breakfast.

Still, he figures he knows exactly how those big, beefy baseball sluggers must feel drawing intentional walks.

Holliday, the Denver Broncos’ speedy kick returner, is flustered that he doesn’t get the chance to showcase his skills all that much on kickoff returns, and he’s not alone. “You feel like it’s time for you to spark your team and you get so anxious and you see the ball go over your head again and again and you get frustrated,’’ said Holliday.

So, when the ball does land in his hands, even if it’s very deep in the end zone, even if the wiser thing to do is take a knee, he wants desperately to bring it out. “It might be the only one you get all day,’’ Holliday said.

Holliday has six special teams return touchdowns in 29 career games, including playoffs, one every 4.8 games, which ranks him first in the league since the 1970

merger. But he hasn’t scored since a 105yard kickoff return against Philadelphia in September, a career-long drought of eight games.

Restless returners are as much a part of the NFL nowadays as the aerial fireworks show that light up the scoreboards every week. “I don’t like taking a knee because I’m a defense guy,’’ said Chiefs returner Quintin Demps, a safety. “So, I’m probably mad because it means they scored, and if they scored a touchdown, I want to score. Yeah, it gets frustrating sometimes.’’ For the first time in NFL history, more than half of all kickoffs could end up as touchbacks this season, three years after the league moved the kickoff up from the 30-yard line to the 35 to reduce the number of returns and, therefore, the number of concussions.

The league says its studies show head injuries on special teams plays have gone down as a result of the change and the data shows a drastic rise in the number of footballs flying out of the back of the end zone and returners taking a knee rather than bringing it out.

Smith hopes Atlanta keeps creating turnovers

BY GEORGE HENRY The Associated Press FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Falcons coach Mike Smith hopes his defense is finally starting to understand how to create takeaways.

Despite being eliminated from playoff contention in a Week 11 home loss to New Orleans, Atlanta has four interceptions and eight fumble recoveries in three games since.

Strong safety William Moore, rookie corner-

back Desmond Trufant and defensive lineman Jonathan Babineaux were the top catalysts in helping the Falcons recover five fumbles and pick off two passes in Sunday’s 27-26 win over Washington.

SMITH Smith, though, stopped short Monday of praising the defense too much, particularly considering that the Falcons are still too susceptible to mistakes.

Atlanta began the game ranked fourthworst in NFL turnover margin, and the abundance of what Smith calls explosive plays had contributed to a fourthworst ranking in average points allowed. “The first (point of emphasis) is winning the turnover battle and the second one is winning the explosive battle,’’ Smith said. “You put those two things together, and it’s the toxic differential that you look at. More times than not, the teams

that are in the top 12, most of those teams are in the playoffs.’’ Since losing last month to the Saints, Atlanta has allowed 21 plays of 15 or more yards.

Smith said he’s not too surprised considering how many young players are on the field at the same time. Five rookies started on defense against the Redskins, but even the most experienced rookies — Trufant and cornerback Robert Alford — struggled at times.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Denver wide receiver and speedy kick returner Trindon Holliday (11) is flustered that he doesn’t get the chance to showcase his skills all that much on kickoff returns, and he’s not alone.

AUTO PLUS PARTS SUPPLIER

Guaranteed Quality parts and value pricing

COOK’S Auto Plus Auto Parts 'SJFSTPO 3E t %BM[FMM 4 $ Phone: 803-499-9086 Fax: 803-499-4388 Email: ccooks@ftc-i.net

o

S

h t u e o r n S y l p im Rotisserie & GrillBistr

Southern Cooking with a Cajun Kick

Book Your Holiday Parties Now and Remember Gift Cards Make Great Gifts It’s Not to Early to Plan Your New Years. We hope you will join us to bring in the New Year!

Timmy & Mickey Barnes - Owners

www.statetree.net

Christmas Special Military & Senior 15% Citizens receive discount

$"5&3*/( t (*'5 $"3%4 t 5",& 065 (ACROSS FROM BILTON LINCOLN)

All other customers receive 10%

803-469-8502

Expires 12/31/13

Sun., Mon., Tues., Wed., & Thurs. 11:00am-2:30pm Wed. and Thur. Dinner 5:00pm-9:00pm Fri. and Sat. 11:00am-9:00pm

494-5175 491-5154 1-866-456-TREE Commercial & Residential

65 W. Wesmark Blvd

Tree & Stump Removal - FREE estimates - Tree Topping & Trimming

B6

OBITUARIES

THE ITEM

JAUNITA C. NELSON SUMMERTON — Jaunita Cain Nelson, 91, widow of Samuel Nelson Sr., died Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013, at her residence, 4154 Moses Dingle Road, Summerton.

She was born March 10, NELSON 1922, in Summerton, Clarendon County, a daughter of the late Thomas and Janie Johnson Cain. She attended the public schools of Clarendon County and graduated from Morris College in Sumter. Mrs. Nelson taught in the public schools of School District 1 for 32 years, retiring in 1980. She was a member of Laurel Hill AME Church. She was an adult Sunday school teacher, member of the senior choir, trustee board member, missionary society member, and served as church clerk for many years.

Survivors are four children, Samuel (Donna) Nelson Jr. of Davis Station, Julian Russell (Lou) Nelson of Manning, Edna Loretta (Charles) McDonald of Manning and Janie (Lee) Gibson of Sanford, Fla.; 16 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Celebratory services for Mrs. Nelson will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Laurel Hill AME Church, D W Rickenbaker Road, Davis Station, with the Rev. Alford Bradley, pastor, officiating, the Rev. Dr. Leroy Green and Licentiate Antonio Green assisting. Burial will follow in Ivory Cemetery, Davis Station.

Mrs. Nelson will lie in repose one hour before funeral time.

The family is receiving friends at the residence, 4154 Moses Dingle Road, Summerton.

These services have been entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.

ABRAHAM WEST Jr. Abraham West Jr. died Dec. 12, 2013, at his residence in Port St. Lucie, Fla. He was born Dec. 18, 1934, in Pinewood, to the late WEST Abraham Sr. and Henrietta Thomas West.

He is survived by three children, Desiree Corbin, Christopher West and Derek West; one brother, Frank “Bobby” West; three sisters, Sallie Ann Thompson, Minnie Ida West and Juanita (John) Levy; and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Talmadge and Johnny Lee West; and a sister, Dorothy Martin.

Funeral services were held Tuesday in Stuart, Fla.

Courtesy announcement by Community Funeral Home of Sumter.

WINSTON C. OSBORNE Winston Chestley Osborne, 83, of Sumter, died Friday, Dec. 13, 2013, after an illness.

Mr. Osborne was born March 12, 1930, in Williamsburg, to the late Henry and Exie Dennis Osborne.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Alma Hyman Osborne; brothers, Leon, Eugene and Otto Osborne; sisters, Gertrude Wilson, Alma Barrineau and Bert Nesbitt; and his parents.

Winston was a member of First Pentecostal Holiness Church in Sumter.

Survivors include his son, Dennis Osborne and his wife, Linda, of Hopkins; grandchildren, David Osborne of Hartsville and Angela Crisp of Nashville, Tenn.; and great-grandchildren, Harry Crisp III, Dalton Crisp, Emily Crisp, Diamond Osborne and Christopher Osborne.

The family will receive friends from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday at Brockington Funeral Home in Lake City.

Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m. Thursday at Brockington Funeral Home Chapel.

Burial will be at High Hill Baptist Church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Pentecostal Holiness Church, 2609 McCrays Mill Road, Sumter, SC 29154.

An online condolence page is available at www.brockingtonfh. com.

MARGERY MAE P. EMERSON MANNING — Margery Mae Perkins Emerson, 93, wife of 62 years to the late Howard John Emerson, died Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2013, at Clarendon Memorial Hospital.

Born Aug. 19, 1920, in Hornell, N.Y., she was a daughter of the late Raymond L. and Velma Benedict Perkins. She was a 1938 graduate of Canisteo Academy in Canisteo, N.Y., and a 1959 graduate of Geneseo State College. She taught first grade for 20 years. She loved to square dance; was a lifetime member of the Kanestio Historical Society; a member of A Second Chance Animal Shelter; a member of the Clarendon County Striped Bass Festival; a golfer with a hole-inone; an avid reader; and a crafter. She was of the Methodist faith.

She is survived by two daughters, Theresa Terrell (Thomas) and Janet Goodwin, both of Manning; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a greatgreat-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by a son, Rodney H. Emerson; and an adopted grandson, Jonathan R.L. Goodwin.

Services will be held

at a later date in Canisteo.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to A Second Chance Animal Shelter, 5079 Alex Harvin Highway, Manning, SC 29102 or to the Kanestio Historical Society, P.O. Box 35, Canisteo, NY 14823.

Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church St., Manning, is in charge of arrangements, (803) 435-2179. www.stephensfuneralhome.org

IAN MALCOLM MacRAE Ian Malcolm MacRae, age 79, beloved husband of Diana C. MacRae, died on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Ian was the loving father of Cheryl, Malcolm, Denise and her husband, Allan, Jeff and his wife, Sara, and Michelle and her husband, Jim; adoring grandfather of Carly, Lauryn and her husband, Cory, Christopher and his wife, Kate, Jackson, Aidan, Blaine, and Cecilia and greatgrandfather of Jack, Ruby and Poppy.

In Australia, Ian served in the Navy, was a police officer and was a state manager of the travel division at the National Australia Bank.

Upon retirement in 1993, Ian and Diana came to the United States and he became a citizen in 1999. Golf was a passion that led him to work at golf courses in Florida, Virginia and South Carolina. Here in Sumter he was involved with the Neighborhood Watch in the Sunset community. Ian lived life to the fullest every day and enjoyed the friendships he developed everywhere he lived and traveled.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Bullock Funeral Home.

Services will be private.

Memorials may be made to New Beginnings Shepherd Rescue, P.O. Box 1671, Holly Hill, SC 29059 or to the Siamese Cat Rescue Center, 366 Meander Run Road, Locust Dale, VA 22948.

You may sign the family’s guest book at www.bullockfuneralhome.com.

The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home of Sumter for the arrangements.

RUBY MAE J. TEMONEY Ruby Mae Jefferson Temoney, 76, wife of James Temoney, departed this life on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

She was born Nov. 26, 1937, in Sumter County, a daughter of the late Henry and Elizabeth Isaac Jefferson.

The family is receiv-

ing friends at the home of her daughter, Patricia A. Jefferson, 3395 Third St., Mayesville, SC 29104.

Funeral plans are incomplete and will be announced later by Job’s Mortuary Inc. of Sumter.

JAMES W. MICKENS Bishop James Wilson Mickens, 82, husband of Van Joe Dennis Mickens, departed this life on Monday, Dec. 16, 2013, at 440 Indigo Ridge Drive, Columbia.

He was born April 12, 1931, in Sumter, a son of the late Wilson M. and Lou Ida Holmes Mickens.

The family is receiving friends at the home, 590 East Brewington Road, Sumter.

Funeral plans are incomplete and will be announced later by Job’s Mortuary Inc. of Sumter.

BERNICE J. BRUNSON Bernice J. Schreiber Brunson, 89, widow of Leland J. Brunson, died Monday, Dec. 16, 2013, at Agape Hospice House in Columbia.

Born in Portland, Ore., she was a daughter of the late Gottfried and Elisabeth Derring Schreiber. Mrs. Brunson was a member of First Presbyterian Church.

She was an avid gardener and loved working in her yard.

Surviving are a son, Samuel Leland “Lee” Brunson (Sharon); two daughters, Cheryl Merager (Jim) and Debra Hodge (Robert), all of Sumter; a brother, Vernon Schreiber of Vancouver, Wash.; five grandchildren, Alicia Holder, Doug Merager, Samuel Brunson, Kyndal Smith and Michael Langston; and six greatgrandchildren, Alivia, Madelynn, Grayson, Kayleigh, Brooklyn and Zane.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Frederick Schreiber and Walter Schreiber.

Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m.

Thursday in the Sumter Cemetery with the Rev. Marion Zeigler officiating.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be sent to www. sumterfunerals.com.

Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 775-9386.

CAROLYN L. BENBOW Carolyn Logan Benbow was born Sept. 7, 1952, in Summerton, a daughter of Steve and Mary Logan.

On Friday, Dec. 13, 2013, “Keema” entered

eEdition subscription

Get the news anytime, anywhere with an eEdition subscription and even get read-out-loud capabilities!

The Item eEdition

www.theitem.com

into eternal rest.

She leaves to cherish her memory: two children, Sheila (Christopher) Carson of Charlotte, N.C., and Peggy Logan of Columbia; seven sisters, Eartha (James) Bannister and Mary Jo Briggs, both of White Plains, N.Y., Betty A. Logan of Pleasantville, N.Y., Delores Logan of Manning, Lula M. Logan of Mt. Vernon, N.Y., and Mattie M. Logan and Bertha Logan, both of Summerton; three brothers, Willie Henry “Charlie” Logan of Summerton, Frank (Sharon) Logan of Seagoville, Texas, and Moses L. Logan of Florence; five grandchildren, Christopher, Shane, Olivia, Jasmine and Charvion; a special friend, Albert Black; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Memorial services for Mrs. Benbow will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Taw Caw Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. W.T. Johnson, pastor, officiating.

Online condolences may be sent to summertonfuneralhome@gmail. com.

No public viewing.

The family will receive friends at the home, 1014 Chalise St., Summerton.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Summerton Funeral Home LLC, 23 S. Duke St., Summerton, (803) 485-3755.

LOUISE SIMMONS Louise Simmons, 57, wife of William P. Simmons Jr., died Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013, at her home.

Born May 20, 1956, in Sumter, she was a daughter of Sadie Cabbagestalk and the late George Butler.

The family will receive friends and relatives at her home, 2645 Yank Haven Drive, Sumter.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced

by Williams Funeral Home Inc. of Sumter.

MICHAEL NELSON Michael Nelson, 57, died Monday, Dec. 16, 2013, at Harlem Bellevue Hospital, New York.

Born Nov. 5, 1956, in New York, N.Y., he was a son of Edna Singleton Nelson and the late Er-

nest Nelson.

The family will receive friends and relatives at the home of his mother, 1618 Pinewood Road, Sumter.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced

by Williams Funeral Home Inc. of Sumter.

BERTHA P. PARROTT Bertha Prescott Parrott, 66, departed this life early Wednesday morning, Dec. 11, 2013, at McCoy Memorial Nursing Home, Bishopville.

Born June 15, 1947, in Lee County, she was a daughter of the late Ernest and Martha Ives Prescott. She attended the public schools of Lee County. She gave her life to Christ at an early age. Her Christian journey led her to become a pastor. Pastor Parrott attended Royal Priesthood Ministries.

Survivors left to cherish her memories are her husband, Junior Parrott of Sumter; two nieces, Bettie PrescottRose of Columbia and Debbie Green of Hackensack, N.J.; five nephews, Sherman Peterson of Florence, Joseph (Tammy) Prescott of Jacksonville, Fla., Oscar Prescott of Columbia, Damon Stone of Bronx, N.Y., and Eric Prescott of Lamar; one aunt, Ella J. Prescott Sanders of Florence; a host of greatnieces, nephews, cousins, brothers, sisters-inlaw, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. today at John Wesley Williams Sr. Memorial Chapel, Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter, with the Rev. Louette Cabbagestalk officiating, eulogist.

The family is receiving friends and relatives at the home of her nephew, Alphonso Jackson, 305 Brown St., Sumter.

The funeral possession will leave at 3:30 p.m. from the home of her nephew.

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

Visit us on the web at www.williamsfuneralhomeinc.com.

Services directed by the management and staff of Williams Funeral Home Inc. of Sumter.

Pick Up Your

HOLIDAY HAM TODAY Complete your meal with our selection of sides and desserts.

Go Online for Your

Take It On the Run.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

$ OFF

5 $ OFF 4

Any Bone-In Ham (Excludes Mini Ham)

MyHoneyBakedStore.com

Offer expires 1/5/14. Only valid at participating retail locations. Must present coupon at time of purchase to receive offer. May not be combined with any other offer. One coupon per person per visit. While supplies last.

Any Boneless Ham

MyHoneyBakedStore.com

Offer expires 1/5/14. Only valid at participating retail locations. Must present coupon at time of purchase to receive offer. May not be combined with any other offer. One coupon per person per visit. While supplies last.

FLORENCE 2151 West Evans St. Florence, SC 29501 SUMTER 532 Bultman Dr. Sumter, SC 29150

(843) 629-8899

Classified lassified

CLASSIFIEDS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

THE ITEM

B7

WWW.THEITEM.COM ITEM.COM

DEADLINES

11:30 a.m. the day before for Tuesday.

Wednesday, Thursday & Friday edition.

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

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

803.774.1234

OR TO PLACE YOUR AD ONLINE GO TO WWW.THE ITEM.COM/PLACEMYAD LEGAL NOTICES Bid Notices Invitation to Bid Sealed Bids for furnishing all material, labor, equipment, and services required for the work know as HUD Capital Funds Project SC 16P023501-13, Sumter, SC will be received until 10:00 am on February 4, 2014 at the office of the Sumter Housing Authority. All bids received will be publicly opened and read aloud at that time and place.

A mandatory pre-bid conference and walk through will be held at 10 AM January 21, 2014 at the office of the Housing Authority, 15 Caldwell Street, Sumter, SC 29150.

Without force and effect on the Bidding Documents and the proposed Contract Documents, the work required is briefly described in the three (3) separate bid packets: (1) Removal and Replacement of: 77 Back Doors and Screen Doors with installation of 39 access panels; (2) Top coat seal of driveway and parking lots at two site locations with restriping; and (3) 26 Bathroom renovation including floors, vanity, plumbing and installation of stair treads.

The work required is fully described in Bidding Documents consisting of this Project Manual which includes Contract forms.

PROJECT MANUALS may be obtained from the office of the Housing Authority of the City of Sumter, 15 Caldwell Street, Sumter, SC 29150.

Only general and residential builders that are bondable need apply. Each bid in excess of $100,000 shall include a Bid Guaranty in an amount equal to five percent of the bid. Provided as one of the following: • A certified check or bank draft payable to The Housing Authority of the City of Sumter • U.S. Government Bonds or as a properly executed Bid Bond with surety acceptable to the PHA. A Surety Company executing the Bid Bond must be authorized to transact business in the Project State, and must appear on the most current U.S. Treasury Department's Circular No. 570. • The successful bidder will be required to provide satisfactory Performance and Payment Bonds prior to execution of the Agreement.

In addition to the Bid Guaranty requirements (IF REQUIRED), each bidder shall include THE SIGNED ORIGINAL AND ONE CONFORMED COPY of the following with the Bid: 1. A fully completed HUD-5369-A Form 2. Bidders Qualification Form 3. Non-Collusive Affidavit Refer to provisions for equal employment opportunities and payments of not less than minimum salaries and wages indicated in the Project Manual.

Bid Notices

Card of Thanks

contact Wayne Turner, 15 Caldwell St. Sumter, SC 29150 or call (803) 774-7315. Three projects manuals are available at $15.00 each per bid packet.

The Housing Authority of City of Sumter is an Equal Housing Opportunity. TDD #1-800-545-1833 Extension 100.

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.

Painting

Farm Products

For Sale or Trade

Int/Ext Painting, Pressure washing. 30 yrs exp. Ref. Quality work/free est. Bennie 468-7592

E & E Farm & Pets. 10% Sweet Feed Wrangler $9.00. Safe Choice Senior $20 per bag. 803-435-2797

Roofing

Garage, Yard & Estate Sales

For Sale: Round Walnut Coffee table, Victorian Walnut (Mrs) Chair, 6 Mahogany chairs, 30's China Cabinet, Metal Glider, big trunk, Piano stool, Andirons, East Lake Mirror, Roland McCollum paintings & more. Phone 803-481-2995

C&B Roofing Superior work afford. prices. Free est., Sr. disc.

Comm/Res 30 yr warr. 290-6152

INVITATION TO BID

Sumter County Flea Mkt Hwy 378 E. 803-495-2281 500 tables. Sat. $8 free return Sun.

Tree Service

The County of Sumter is soliciting separate sealed bids from qualified vendors for the following project:

The Tree Doctor Any size tree removal & stump grinding. Trimming & clearing. No job too big or small. Call 775-8560 or 468-1946. We accept credit cards and offer senior discounts

"Smoke Detectors" Bids will be received until 11:00 AM, Thursday, January 9, 2014 in the Purchasing Department on the 2nd Floor, Sumter County Administration Building, 13 East Canal Street, Sumter, South Carolina 29150.

We, the family of the late Annie Mae Benjamin would like express our THANKS to you for whatever part you participated in during the bereavement of our love one. May God continue to bless you. Submitted by her loving and devoted Husband Manuel Benjamin, Sr. and Family

Bid documents may be obtained from: The County of Sumter Purchasing Department 13 East Canal Street Sumter, South Carolina 29150 Telephone inquiries should be made to (803) 436-2331.

The County of Sumter reserves the right to reject any or all bids. The County of Sumter reserves the right to waive any or all technicalities.

In Memory

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

STATE TREE SERVICE Worker's Comp & General liability insurance. Top quality service, lowest prices. 803-494-5175 or 803-491-5154 www.statetree.net A Notch Above Tree Care Full quality service low rates, lic./ins., free est BBB accredited 983-9721

PETS & ANIMALS

This solicitation is a fire prevention and safety grant administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Dogs English Springer puppies, Born Nov. 1st. Ready to go. Vet checked. Liver & white.1st shots, dewormed, tail docked & dewclaws removed. $300 ea. Call 803-968-2072.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Announcements

Pets Carolina Filters, Inc. is in the process of trying to contact the following past employees. Please contact Lila S. Jacobs for details at 803-418-9710 Monday thru Friday 8:00am-5:00pm. *Johnnie Aiken *Steven B. Arnold *J. Elliot Danner *Hary L. Davis *Gregory Gibson *Michael A. Golden *Eugene Hasty *Jennifer Holliday *Sidney T. Johnson *David L. Kinder *Cheryl L. Landstrom *William Mahoney *Kenneth McFadden *Daniel A. Nesbit *Ron Pearson *Mary A. Roy *Gary T. Verser

In Memory of our dear Mother, Grand & Great Grandmother Mrs. Viola L. Roach 10/30/1930 - 12/16/2012 We love you, and you are truly missed.

BUSINESS SERVICES

HOLIDAY GIFTS $10 & UP! 633 Bultman Drive. 774-7823

Just in time for Christmas!

Puppies $50. Father AKC reg.

Lab/mother full blooded blk tan German Shepard. Both good w/children. Puppies are blk and all look like father. 7 female/5 Male.

Call 803-473-5932 leave msg.

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

Open every weekend.

905-4242

For Sale or Trade Hickory & Oak firewood. Seasoned/Green $65 Delivered. Notch Above Tree Service. 983-9721 Softball Equipment- Pitching machine, Backstop, Balls, Bats ETC. Call for details 803-968-2459 POOL TABLES for CHRISTMAS $800 to $1200 includes balls, cue sticks, rack, and chalk. Free delivery within 25 miles of Manning. 803-433-5544 803-473-0939 Firewood for Sale Will Deliver. Call 803 651-8672 Nice, Side-by-side Frig w/Ice Maker, $300. Office Chair, $25.

Store fixtures, Neg. 803-406-3694 Like new, Little four-wheeler with battery. Cost $175 asking $85.

Like new Razor Go-cart, new batteries Cost $345 asking $150.

Like new Little girls kitchen with foods and accessories. Cost $350 asking $200. Call 803-494-4220 Expert Tech, New & used heat pumps & A/C. Will install/repair, warranty; Compressor & labor $600. Call 803-968-9549 or 843-992-2364

EMPLOYMENT Help Wanted Full-Time Licensed Cosmetologist needed- Booth rental. Call Mary Alexander 803 905-4220 CNA/PCA with experience in home health care wanted for Sumter County and surrounding areas. Call (803) 854-0800 or fax resume to (803) 854-0804.

Plumber and plumber's helper needed at Rourk Plumbing. Must have exp. in comm/new construction and res. repair. Email (wdrourk@aol.com) or fax (773-9342) resume' and 10 yr. driving record.

Help Wanted Part-Time Medical Receptionist needed Part-time. Ideal candidate must have medical office experience, excellent computer and telephone skills.

Fax resume to 803-433-5637 or deliver in person to Lakeside Orthopaedic Center 50 E. Hospital St. Suite 6, Manning, SC 29102. $$$ AVON $$$ FREE TRAINING! 803-422-5555

4 Pom Pups, 6 week old. $100.

Call 803-481-2379, 803-968-6679

MERCHANDISE Want to Buy

Home Improvements Professional Remodelers Home maintenance, ceramic tile, roofing, siding & windows doors, etc. Lic. & Ins. (Cell) 803-459-4773

Small businesses and minority firms are urged to submit proposals.

Certification as a Minority-business Enterprise (or a number of partners, share holders, employees who are members of minority classification or are women) should be included in the Bid proposal. Refer to Articles 38, 39, and 40 of The General Conditions.

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

Lawn Service

The PHA reserves the right to reject any and all bids, and to waive irregularities and formalities in the bidding. No bids may be withdrawn for a period of thirty (30) days subsequent to the opening of bids without the PHA's consent.

Daniel's Lawn Care •Firewood starting at $45 •Tree removal •Leaf removal •Gutter & roof cleaning 803-968-4185

To obtain a project manual please

Golden Kernel Pecan Company 1214 S. Guignard Dr. Sumter, SC 803-968-9432 We buy pecans, We sell Pecan halves & Pieces, Chocolate, Sugarfree Chocolate, Butter Roasted, Sugar & Spiced, Prailine, Honey Glazed, English Toffee Gift Packages available.

Friday 9-5, Saturday 9-1.

Farm Products E & E Farm & Pets. We have Protein tubs and high Mag mineral salt for Cattles. 803-435-2797 E & E Farm & Pets. 2420 RR, $23.75 50lbs. 21% Sports Blend $15 40lbs. Call 803-435-2797

STATEBURG COURTYARD

Looking to ind...

A NEW BEST FRIEND? Spacious 2 & 3 Bedroom Units Paved Streets & Parking Well Landscaped Lawns Central Heat & Air Patrolled by Private Security Quiet Family Living

CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT Call, email or fax us today!

classiied@theitem.com • (803) 775-1024 FAX

(803) 774-1234

Private lot, Near Shaw, 1 block from Peach Orchard Plaza

For More Info Call: 803-494-4015

It’s Mayo’s “More for your money Christmas Sale�! #VZ 3FHVMBS 1SJDFE 4VJU 3FDFJWF OE 4VJU PG &RVBM 7BMVF FREE! Great Selection & Savings!

4)*354 5*&4 1"/54 48&"5&34 4)0&4 #VZ (FU B OE )"-' 13*$& IN-STORE ALTERATIONS, FOR THOSE LAST MINUTE OCCASIONS

MAYO’S SUIT CITY If your suits aren’t becoming to you, It’s a good time to be coming to Mayo’s!

8FTNBSL 1MB[B t t .PO 4BU t 4VOEBZ

B8

CLASSIFIEDS

THE ITEM

JERSEY KNIT SHEET SETS 29 Progress St. - Sumter TWIN ......... $12 PER SET FULL.......... $12 PER SET 775-8366 Ext. 37 QUEEN........ $16 PER SET KING.......... $20 PER SET

Store Hours 0RQ 6DW 9:30 - 5:00 Closed Sunday Trucking Opportunities

Mobile Home Rentals

Driver Trainees Needed Now! Learn to drive for US Xpress! Earn $800+ per week! No experience needed!

CDL -Trained and Job-Ready in 15 days! 1-888-263-7364

Singlewide, 2 br, 1 ba, rents $350 mo + $350 dep. Call Live Oak Realty 803-469-8147

Guignard Storage: 57 Neal St. Personal storage units.

No deposits. Call 803-491-4914 Building for rent, 4 Mi. out of Manning. Might could be used as a church. Call 803-473-3301

2 & 3 BRs 803-494-4015

Medical Help Wanted Hiring Certified Medical Assistants. Fax Resume 803-403-8483

REAL ESTATE

Large DW, 4 br, 2 ba, rents $700 mo + $700 dep. Call Live Oak Realty 803-469-8147

Resort Rentals

RENTALS

Vacation Rentals Santee, Garden City Beach Michelle Hodge, 803-491-4914

Unfurnished Apartments

Homes for Sale INVESTORS DREAM DEAL 50 houses to pick from. You pick, I sell, 1-50. The more you buy, the cheaper they get. Special pricing for Good looking people.

803-773-4391, 803-464-5960

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

775-0575 Studio/1 Bedroom apartments available EHO

Unfurnished Homes 3BR/1BA Completely remodeled, All appl's, large fenced backyard, $575/mo.+ dep. Carolina Ave. 803-316-7958, Mon-Fri 9AM-6PM Approx 1,200 sq ft 2BR//1BA house with garage. $750//mo, utilities included. 803-494-5663

SHOP WITH US FOR GREAT HOLIDAY SAVINGS!

Commercial Rentals

STATEBURG COURTYARD

Manufactured Housing

217 W. Hampton, 604 sq ft. office space. $525 /mo. Lg. office, sm office/breakroom. Contact C21 Hawkins & Kolb for more info.

803-773-1477.

120 Broad St Office Building, Great location Rent is $650 mo Agent Owned Call 236-2425 50 Wesmark Ct. 1,177 sq ft. $1000/mo. + $100 CAM. Reception area, 3 office space, breakroom, 1/2 ba, file/storage room.

773-1477

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

3BR D.W. $3,500, Needs Work.

803-983-8084 LOW CREDIT SCORE? Been turned down for bad credit? Come try us, we do our own financing.

We have 2-3-4-5 bedroom homes on our lot. Layaway program available. For more information, call 843-389-4215.

Land & Lots for Sale

SHOWER CURTAINS $10 EACH SHOWER CURTAIN RODS $8 EACH

Multiple lots for sale: 803-236-8495 ask for Bruce.

Call

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

RECREATION

Holiday Special 150 cars $5,000 or less $$$ CASH $$$ Price is Right Auto Sales 3210 Broad St 803-494-4275 2005 Ford Windstar Van, Loaded. Low mileage with complete check-up. Spent $1,500 to get in great shape. Have all paperwork.

Asking $4,995. Call 803-494-4220

C&C Recycling Parts & Wrecker Service Top price paid for junk cars! We buy scrap metal, alum cans, batteries, copper. 773-7702

2007 Triton TR-21X HP Bassmaster Classic Edit. with 250 Mercury XS Call for details 803 968-2459

2006 DODGE MAGNUM - LOW MILES, LOADED

$11,295

Autos For Sale

2009 PONTIAC G6 - HARDTOP CONVT.

Farms & Acreage

2004 Toyota SR-5 Four Runner.

1 owner, 98k miles. Asking $12,500. Call 803-905-6565

862 E Liberty St Office/Retail 1550 Sq Ft. $250 Mo. Agent Owned Call 803-236-2425

FSBO: Land, Small & Large acreage.

Owner financing.

803-427-3888.

$11,750

2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA

$9,125 LAKE MARION EXTENDED CARE AND REHAB FACILITY

3Br 1 BA For Rent or Rent to own Alderman Camp Rd $600 mo + Dep Call 803-473-3301

(a division of Clarendon Health System) has employment opportunity available for RN, UNIT MANAGER. Qualiied candidates must possess current, unencumbered, active license to practice as RN in the state of SC. Must have, as a minimum, one (1) year of experience as a supervisor in a hospital, nursing care facility, or other related health care facility.

2BR 2 BA MH c/h/a, appliances, .5 acre lot, 5 mins. from Shaw, $450 mo+Dep Call 803-983-7317 428 Green Swamp Rd 2BR/1BA Trailer City Water & Sewage, New Cental Air $350/Mo Electricity dep. required over $300. 803-840-7860 2BR/1BA, lg. yard. $475/mo. + $250/dep. No Pets. Serious Inq only. 481-4469, 406-6159 Very Clean 3BR/2BA, Quiet neighborhood. Suitable for mature older couple ONLY need apply.

No section 8. $450/mo + $400/dep. 803-775-0492 for info.

Position requirements include graduate of an accredited school of nursing; current SC licensure in the State of SC; a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in healthcare management or nursing. Master’s Degree is preferred; minimum of ive (5) years prior experience in nursing services management or supervisory role. Must possess excellent communication skills to support collaborative working relationships between physicians, staff members, and patients including internal and external customers of Clarendon Health System.

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

RV parking avail. Call 494-8350

“NO GIMMICKS”

. PL RQ DOO PLOHV /D\RYHU 3D\ /RDGLQJ XQORDGLQJ IURP st KU *XDUDQWHHG 0LQLPXP 3D\ $FKLHYDEOH *RDOV IRU /XFUDWLYH ,QFHQWLYHV - CDL (Class A) w/ hazmat & tanker - At least 2 yrs. exp. - Clean MVR

CONTACT Pat Joyner at 803-775-1002 Ext. 107 OR visit our website to download a job application and fax to (954) 653-1195 www.sumtertransport.com 170 S. Lafayette Drive Sumter, SC 29150 EOE

Your Community.

Your Newspaper.

Subscribe today, and stay in the local loop.

Sumter Auto Mall 3625 BROAD STREET | SUMTER, SC 803-494-5900 WWW.SUMTERAUTOMALLSC.COM UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP

ix–it the

guide A Directory of Where to Get Repairs on Just About Everything.

advertising deadline:

Monday, January 13, 2014

Shopping Circulars & Coupons Community Developments Special Event Listings Local Dining Reviews Movies & Entertainment School Sports Coverage Local Programming

publication date:

Friday, January 31, 2014

and much more Call 803-774-1258 to start your subscription today, or visit us online at www.theitem.com

Visit our website at www.clarendonhealth.com to complete your on-line application or fax your resume to 803-435-3157.

2006 JEEP COMMANDER, LIMITED - AUTO.

Qualiied candidates may apply on-line at www.clarendonhealth.com, fax resume to 803-435-3157 or forward resume to grichburg@clarendonhealth.com

DRIVERS WANTED

- Excellent pay ($.45 per running mile - includes $.06 per diem non-taxable expense) - Paid Vacation - Paid Holidays - Paid Sick Days - BC/BS Health Ins. - Dental Insurance - Life Insurance - Short Term Disability - 401(k) w/co. Match

$12,950

TRANSPORTATION

Commercial Rentals

Clarendon Memorial Hospital is seeking a dynamic leader to direct our Nursing Services Division. Actively involved, at the executive level, in the leadership of the organization.

Organizes and administers areas of Nursing Services to attain hospital’s objective established by the Governing Body.

2002 FORD F150 SUPER CAB XLT

Boats / Motors

2004 Mercury Marquis LS 4Dr 58K Mi. $5, 495 Call 803 481-2894

SEEKING CHIEF NURSING OFFICER

$6,995

Miscellaneous

3BR or possibly 4BR// 2BA with W/D hook up. On Plowden Mill Rd. Rent or RTO (803)473-3301

Mobile Home Rentals

Assorted Colors

Autos For Sale

2BR 1 BA MH c/h/a, Stove, fridge, Move in Ready $5,000 OBO Call 803-983-7317

ALCOLU: 4BR/2BA in the country for rent. $700/mo + $700/dep.

803-473-3301

KITCHEN CURTAIN SETS – $8 PER SET

20 N. Magnolia Street • Sumter, SC

C2

FOOD

THE ITEM

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

Indulge in Christmas cheesecake

BY ALISON LADMAN Associated Press Cheesecake by definition is rich and decadent. So we knew that if we were going to make a special cheesecake just for Christmas, it would need to be even richer and even more decadent.

So we started with an amazingly indulgent cheesecake base — a mere 32 ounces of cream cheese blended with a cup of sugar and six eggs — then spiked it not only with vanilla bean, but also chopped bittersweet chocolate. But this is not standard chocolate cheesecake. In our recipe, the chocolate remains a distinct, deliciously toothsome confetti strewn throughout the cheesecake.

For that seasonal red and green we have come to expect from our Christmas treats, we top the finished cake with warm red currant jam and chopped pistachios. The result is as delicious as it is beautiful.

RED CURRANT AND CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE Start to finish: 7 1/2 hours (30 minutes active) Servings: 16 6 ounces chocolate wafer cookies (2/3 of a 9-ounce package) 2 tablespoons brown sugar 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, melted Four 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature 1 cup granulated sugar 6 eggs 1 vanilla bean or 2 tablespoons vanilla extract 6 ounces chopped bittersweet chocolate 1/2 cup red currant jelly 1/4 cup chopped pistachios

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Chopped chocolate is strewn through this decadent cheesecake that is topped with pistachios.

Heat the oven to 375 F. Coat a deep 10-inch cake pan with baking spray, then line the bottom with kitchen parchment.

In a food processor, combine the chocolate wafer cookies and brown sugar. Pulse until finely ground. Drizzle in the butter and pulse to combine. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pare and press evenly over the bottom. Bake for 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside. Lower the oven temperature to 300 F. Meanwhile, in a large bowl use an electric mixer on medium-low to beat the cream cheese until smooth. Take care to not beat in any extra air, but to scrape down the bowl thoroughly to avoid any lumps. Add the granulated sugar and beat again, scraping the bowl thoroughly. Add the eggs one at a time, again incorporating gently, but

thoroughly scraping the bowl.

Scrape in the seeds from the vanilla bean or add the vanilla extract. Stir in the bittersweet chocolate. Pour the batter into the prepared pan over the crust. Tap the pan gently on the counter to eliminate any air bubbles. Place the pan into a larger roasting pan.

Pour enough boiling water into the roasting pan, taking care not to get any into the cheesecake, to come halfway up the sides of the cake.

Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until just barely jiggly at the center. Turn off the oven and prop the door open with a spoon. Allow to cool for 2 hours. Remove the pan from the oven and refrigerate until completely cold, at least 4 hours.

When ready to unmold the cheesecake, run a paring knife around the edge. Dip just the bottom of the pan

in hot water for 1 minute to loosen the crust. Place a large plate over the top of the pan, then flip the pan over so that the cheesecake is upside down. The cake should release onto the plate. Remove the parchment from the crust and place a serving platter over it. Flip the cake a second time to end with the cheesecake right side up.

Microwave the red currant jelly for 1 minute and stir until smooth.

Spread evenly over the top of the cheesecake. Garnish the edges with chopped pistachios.

Nutrition information per serving: 420 calories; 280 calories from fat (67 percent of total calories); 31 g fat (18 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 140 mg cholesterol; 33 g carbohydrate; 1 g fiber; 25 g sugar; 9 g protein; 270 mg sodium.

Want a holiday meal that takes minimal time?

BY ALISON LADMAN Associated Press Admittedly, pot roast is not a particularly beautiful dish. But when done well, it is a delicious dish — flavorful, succulent, rich and comforting. In short, it’s everything you want for a holiday feast.

Another perk of pot roast — especially if you’re feeding a crowd — is that it is economical. You’re going to want to select a well-marbled, tougher cut of meat, both of which translate into cheap. And that means you’re going to get a lot of roast for your dollar.

This recipe is easy and designed to give maximum flavor with minimum labor. You brown some vegetables, add you meat and liquid, then walk away for a few hours. Toward the end of roasting, you chop some vegetables and toss those in the oven, too. The resulting roast is spectacular with the gravy made from the drippings and liquid in the pan.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Holiday Pot Roast with Spiced Root Vegetables is designed to give maximum flavor with minimum labor.

HOLIDAY POT ROAST WITH SPICED ROOT VEGETABLES Start to finish: 4 hours (30 minutes active) Servings: 12 For the roast: 2 medium red onions, quartered 2 medium carrots, cut into pieces 3 stalks celery, cut into pieces 2 leeks, trimmed and sliced 2 tablespoons olive oil 6- to 7-pound chuck roast Salt and ground black pepper 3 cups red wine 2 cups unsalted beef stock 1/4 cup tomato paste 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 3 bay leaves 3 sprigs fresh rosemary For the root vegetables:

6 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces 4 parsnips, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces 2 medium red onions, cut into wedges 2 small celeriac roots, peeled and diced 2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds Heat the oven to 350 F. In a food processor, combine the red onions, carrots, celery and leeks. Pulse until finely chopped, but not so finely that

a paste is formed.

In a large Dutch oven or heavy bottomed large pot over medium, heat the olive oil. Add the onion-carrot mixture and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Spoon the mixture out into a bowl.

Trim the chuck roast of any very large pieces of fat. Season the meat liberally with salt and black pepper. Increase the heat under the Dutch oven to high and add the meat. Sear on all sides until well browned, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer the roast to a plate.

Add a bit of the red wine to the pot and scrape up any browned bits on the bottom.

Return the browned vegetable mixture to the pot along with the rest of the red wine, beef

stock, tomato paste, mustard, bay leaves, and rosemary. Stir well. Carefully return the roast to the pot, cover and place in the oven for 3 to 4 hours, or until very tender.

Meanwhile, prepare the roasted vegetables. In a large bowl, toss together the carrots, parsnips, onions, sunchokes and sweet potatoes. Drizzle with the olive oil and toss to coat.

In a small bowl, mix together the salt, black pepper, cumin, coriander and fennel seed. Sprinkle over the vegetables and toss again. Spread onto a rimmed baking sheet.

After the chuck has been roasting for 2 1/2 hours, add the vegetables to the oven. Roast, stirring occasionally, for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until

browned and tender.

When the chuck is finished cooking, remove the pot from the oven and transfer the roast to a plate. Cover with foil. Remove the rosemary and bay leaves from the pot and discard.

Transfer the remaining contents to a blender and blend until smooth, making sure to use caution when blending the hot liquid. Return to the pot and bring to a boil. Simmer until reduced to about 5 cups, or gravy thickness. Serve with the roast and root vegetables.

Nutrition information per serving: 540 calories; 120 calories from fat (22 percent of total calories); 13 g fat (4 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 95 mg cholesterol; 43 g carbohydrate; 8 g fiber; 13 g sugar; 51 g protein; 580 mg sodium.

FOOD

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

THE ITEM

C3

Fancy holiday meal doesn’t require fancy skills

BY SARA MOULTON Associated Press Looking to dazzle your guests during the holidays? I’ve got the perfect “fancy� dish for you. And I promise it requires no advanced culinary skills.

I’ve adapted this from a recipe that first appeared in Gourmet magazine. It boasts a secret ingredient, what the French call a “farce,� but we call it forcemeat. It’s what makes this chicken ridiculously moist and flavorful.

A forcemeat is a mixture of well-seasoned meat, poultry, fish or vegetables, that is finely chopped or ground, then cooked and served alone or used as a stuffing. Some fat usually is added to ensure the forcemeat has a smooth texture. Forcemeat is the base of many charcuterie products, including pates, terrines and sausages.

But in this recipe, it doesn’t just add delicious flavor. It also insulates the chicken from the intensity of the heat in the oven, making it almost impossible for the meat to dry out.

For my forcemeat, I’ve used a mixture of chicken, spinach, lowfat sour cream (in place of the original recipe’s heavy cream), and Mediterranean flavorings, including lemon zest, nutmeg (often paired with spinach) and fennel seed. I’d advise those of you who think you hate fennel (which tastes vaguely of licorice) to give this combo a chance. It’s a delicious blend of flavors and you won’t even notice the fennel.

But before you get going, a few kitchen notes.

We’ll start with the tools. Your best bet for grinding the fennel seeds is a spice or coffee grinder, but you also can crush them with the bottom of a heavy saucepan. As for grating the lemon zest and nutmeg, get yourself a wand-style grater, which makes quick work of both.

If you’re using dry pre-washed spinach, throw a little water into the skillet with it to help it wilt, then stir it often.

Don’t be surprised when it cooks down to almost nothing. You’ll notice then that the spinach has generated water of its own in excess. The best way to lose the water is to wrap batches of the spinach in a dish towel and squeeze hard.

You may wonder whether all the stuffing will fit under the chicken’s skin, or whether the excess will ooze out when you saute the meat. Don’t worry.

Chicken skin is remarkably elastic. And the forcemeat firms right up during cooking and won’t slide out.

Wait a minute!

Doesn’t that skin contain a lot of fat? It does.

But I figure that the holidays are one time of the year you can splurge a little.

And by the way, there’s no reason to confine the enjoyment of this dish to the holidays. You can customize the seasonings or flavorings as you like as long

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Spinach-Stuffed Chicken Thighs is sure to impress your guests.

as you keep the amounts of the core ingredients — chicken, sour cream and ice — untouched. That said, this is indeed a perfect dish for entertaining because you can make it ahead and keep it in the

refrigerator until about 40 minutes before you want to serve it.

SPINACH-STUFFED CHICKEN THIGHS Start to finish: 1 hour 55 minutes (30

minutes active) Servings: 6 5 ounces baby spinach 2 pounds skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs (8 thighs) 2 tablespoons crushed ice 1/3 cup low-fat sour cream Kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg Ground black pepper 1 tablespoon extravirgin olive oil.

In a large skillet over medium heat, wilt the spinach until completely reduced. Let cool until easily handled, then squeeze any moisture from the spinach.

Finely chop the spinach. You should have about 1/3 cup. Set aside.

Using a paring knife, remove the skin and bone from 2 of the

Š 2013 by Vicki Whiting, Editor

Jeff Schinkel, Graphics

chicken thighs. Place the thigh meat in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped.

Add the ice and process until absorbed. Add the sour cream and pulse again until well mixed.

Add the spinach, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, fennel seeds, lemon zest, nutmeg and 1/8 teaspoon of black pepper. Pulse, scraping down the sides, until well mixed.

Set aside.

Arrange the remaining thighs on a cutting board, skin side up.

Carefully pull back the skin, leaving it attached on one end. Divide the ground chicken and spinach mixture evenly between the 6 thighs, spreading it evenly over the meat. Stretch the skin back over the filling on each thigh. Arrange the stuffed thighs on a plate, cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.

When ready to cook,

heat the oven to 400.

In a large oven-safe skillet over mediumhigh, heat the oil. Season the chicken skin lightly with salt and pepper, then add the chicken to the skillet, skin side down. Cook until the skin is golden brown, then use tongs to turn the thighs skin side up. Place the skillet in the oven and roast for 25 minutes, or until the thighs reach 160.

Remove the skillet from the oven and cover with foil. Let rest for 5 minutes before transferring each thigh to a serving plate. Spoon any juices from the skillet over the thighs just before serving.

Nutrition information per serving: 310 calories; 200 calories from fat (65 percent of total calories); 23 g fat (7 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 110 mg cholesterol; 3 g carbohydrate; 1 g fiber; 0 g sugar; 22 g protein; 370 mg sodium.

Replace the missing words in this story about a shelter elter pet.

Vol. 30, No. 1

The Adventurous Justin ustin

by Kyra C.

It’s a sad fact that every year, millions of unwanted pets wind up in animal shelters. Why are there so many unwanted animals? What can you do to help? Find out on today’s Kid Scoop page.

Controlling the pet population in this country is a good place to start being truly kind to animals year a thousands of dogs and animals. Each year, cats are abandoned and then killed.

Sometimes people get a pet and find out, too late, that they can’t care for it. All too often, the pet is then abandoned or left at a shelter.

1. Don’t get a pet unless you are really prepared to care for it. Read at the library about how to care for the pet you want, and then decide if you truly have the time it takes.

2. If you have a cat or dog, get it spayed or neutered so that it won’t breed and produce young.

Justin is an adventurous, cute ute 4-week-old kitten. He is a brown tabby with a white _______. _. He has black stripes on his head, and nd his feet look like socks. n I chose to write about Justin because he ________ my heart when I walked in. w, and he bounces when He has a _________ meow, he eats his food. He crawls around his cage, and it’s like he’s __________, __, “Let me out!�

But wait, it gets worse. Some people do not spay or neuter their pets, which means the ne animals keep producing unwanted young. k Sadly, not enough good homes exist for all the puppies and kittens born into this world.

So these unwanted pets also end up in shelters, where many of them must be put to death.

A good home for Justin would be a big house so he could __________ around. You will have fun if you get him. He will win over a bunch of people.

Standards Link: Reading Comprehension: Follow simple written directions.

One female cat that is not spayed can have eight to ten kittens a year. If each of her kittens has kittens, and all of those kittens have kittens, after five years, the one female cat you started with will have brought over 100,000 cats into the world. If you could get 100,000 cats in one line, it would be about 25 miles long!

Spaying is the operation that prevents female cats and dogs from breeding. Neutering is the operation that prevents male cats and dogs from breeding.

POPULATION SHELTER CLINIC SPAYED PUPPIES KITTENS KIND NEED NEUTER LOST COUNTRY CARE COOL CATS

Find the words in the puzzle. Then look for each word in this week’s Kid Scoop stories and activities.

S

T A C S D E E N S

N C B S B P R E H K E

I

A N E E A E D K

T C B R T T T I

I

I

U E T

L Y C

I

P O E N

O E N E A O P

S D

I

U T

K N S R N O

I

L N

I

T A L U P O P

Y R T N U O C M A L Standards Link: Letter sequencing. Recognized identical words. Skim and scan reading. Recall spelling patterns.

For more information, visit the Humane Society of the United States at: www.hsus.org

Five puppies and five kittens are identical. Can you find both sets of five?

Pet Seeks Owner

Standards Link: Visual discrimination: Observe similarities and differences in common objects.

Imagine that animals could seek owners by running ads in the classified section of the newspaper. Pretend you are an animal.

Write an ad for your ideal owner.

7+2+5 1+2+3

Standards Link: Writing Applications: Write expository descriptions; Write from a point of view.

Cats and dogs communicate with their tails.

What are these animals saying? To find out, add up the numbers next to each animal.

Match the answer with the tail’s message.

9 = “I’ve been a bad dog.�

14 = “Watch out, I might attack!�

9+3+5

6 = “I’m so happy to see you!�

17 = “I’m a good dog!�

13 = “I’m a cool cat.�

3+2+4

4+5+4

‡ 6PDOO &RPPHUFLDO 5HVLGHQWLDO 3OXPELQJ ,QVWDOODWLRQV ‡ *HQHUDO 5HSDLUV ‡ -HW &OHDQLQJ ‡ &DPHUD ,QVSHFWLRQ RI 'UDLQ 3LSHV

#1 IN THE #2 BUSINESS! Columbia, SC (803) 736-6000

Sumter, SC (803) 775-4793

Specializing In Infants, Children, and Adolescents

438 N. Main Street, Sumter 800-849-8884 / 803-773-6689 24/7 EMERGENCY SERVICES

4 Locations To Serve You Better

VESTCO PROPERTIES Buying used Mobile Homes, Lots, Acreage, or Houses In Need of Repair Call 803-773-8022 anytime

“Proud Supporters Of Literacy In Our Community�

Quality Manufactured and Modular Homes at great prices Financing Available 2735 Broad Street - Sumter, SC

803-469-3222

www.claytonhomesofsumter.com

Powering Business Worldwide

This page is brought to you by these community minded businesses.

Call 1-800-293-4709 to sponsor this Exciting Page!

1283 Broad Street Sumter, SC 29150

803-905-5500

Sumter Laundry & Cleaners

1091 Broad St., Sumter 938-9767

Please include your school and grade.

(803) 773-3328

4 .BJO 4U t 4VNUFS )PVST . ' ". 1. t 4BU ". 1.

XXX TVNUFSDVUSBUFESVHT DPN

Deadline: January 13 Published: Week of Feb. 9

740 Bultman Drive, Sumter, SC 29150

“Investing In Our Futures by “Promoting Literacy For Our Kids�

'SFF *O 5PXO %FMJWFSZ 4JODF

Write a sports story about a game you or a friend played.

Be sure to tell who, what, when, where and how!

Sumter Family Dental Center

piggly wiggly

Sumter Cut Rate Drugs 803-773-8432

Send your story to:

Standards Link: Spelling: Arrange words in alphabetical order.

Standards Link: Number Sense: Calculate sums.

Carolina Children’s Dentistry

Look through today’s newspaper and find 10 names that would make good pet names.

Put them in alphabetical order.

FREE Home Pick-up & Delivery

GEICO Field Representative

775-3962

Telephone: 803.938.8200

Roger Armield 639 BULTMAN DRIVE

Buy a Happy Meal or a Ea_`lq Ca\ k E]Yd Yf\ GET A

FREE COOKIE

C6

THE ITEM

COMICS

BIZARRO

SOUP TO NUTZ

DOG EAT DOUG

GARFIELD

ZITS

BEETLE BAILEY

BLONDIE

ANDY CAPP

DILBERT

BORN LOSER

MOTHER GOOSE

Jeff MacNelly’s SHOE

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

Husband on gender journey wants his wife to go along

THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

D

dear abby

EAR ABBY — A to put a boundary on my couple of years marriage? He thinks if he ago, my husband slowly eases me into the informed me that he likes idea that it will be OK. He to dress in women’s cloth- says I am his “world” and ing. Since then he has I should love him no matread books, is seeing a ter what gender he is. Am counselor, and I being selfish? the reality is, he is SOMEWHERE transgender. He IN NORTHWEST now wears his hair long and has DEAR SOMElong fingernails.

WHERE — It is not I have tried to selfish to take care be understanding of yourself. You did Abigail and have gone not enter your marVAN BUREN places with him riage to be partwhen he is nered with another dressed as a woman. He woman, and you should has met other transgennot be made to feel guilty der people who have eiremaining with one if it’s ther made the full transinot what you want. Some tion or are content withspouses stay together; out it. I allow my husband others just can’t. time with these new If you haven’t heard of friends without me. I did the Straight Spouse Netfeel weird that he was work, it is a confidential clothes shopping and support network of curgoing to movies with his rent or former heterosexnew friends. ual spouses or partners of I have reconciled with gay, lesbian, bisexual or these activities and I’m transgender mates. It was OK with them so far. But I founded in 1991, and its have told him that if he mission is to help straight decides to change his spouses or partners cope gender to female, I will with coming-out issues, not be able to be married and help mixed-orientato him. He’s on hormones tion couples and their at the moment and has children build bridges of told me he plans to start understanding. To learn testosterone blockers. more about it and find a I love him, Abby, but support group near you, NOT the woman side of visit www.straightspouse. him. Am I unreasonable org.

SUDOKU

TELEVISION

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

AROUND TOWN

TW FT

|

The Sumter Elks Lodge 855 32nd Annual Turkey Shoot will be held each Sunday through Dec. 29 from 1 p.m. until sundown at 1100 W. Liberty St. All proceeds will be used to provide assistance to veterans in Sumter, Lee and Clarendon counties along with the Dorn VA Medical Center, Columbia.

The Sumter County Education Association-Retired will hold its Christmas program and luncheon at noon today at North HOPE Center, 904 N. Main St. Call Brenda Bethune at (803) 4696588.

The Sumter Combat Veterans Group will meet at 10 a.m.

Friday, Dec. 20, at the South HOPE Center, 1125 S. Lafayette Drive. All area veterans are invited.

Lincoln High School Class of 1963 will hold its Christmas program and dinner at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, at Golden Corral, 2385 Walmart Blvd. Call Ferdinand Burns Jr. at (803) 968-4464.

Sumter High School Class of 1980 will hold its 5th Annual End of the Year Celebration 7 p.m.midnight Friday, Dec. 27, at the Gamecock Shrine Club, 1865 U.S. 15 South.

All classes invited.

Hors d’oeuvres will be served. BYOB. Tickets: $10 per person or $15 at the door.

The Sumter Benedict Alumni Club will hold an important round-up meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6, 2014, at the North HOPE Center.

Call Shirley M. Blassingame at (803) 5064019.

The Sumter Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals will meet at 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014, in the Bultman Conference Room of the University of South Carolina Sumter. All administrative professionals are invited to attend.

The Sumter Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind will hold its 2014 membership meeting at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014, at Shiloh-Randolph Manor, 125 W. Bartlette St. Associate member Judy L. Simon will accept annual membership dues. Martha Gaither, of Blind Awareness, will speak. The spotlight will shine on George Gibbons and the associate member is Rosa Gibbons.

Transportation provided within the mileage radius. Contact Debra Canty at (803) 775-5792 or DebraCanC2@frontier.com. Call the 24hour recorded message line at (206) 376-5992.

7 PM

7:30

8 PM

8:30

9 PM 9:30 LOCAL CHANNELS

THE ITEM 10 PM

10:30

11 PM

11:30

C7

12 AM

WIS News 10 at Entertainment The Sing-Off: Movie Night The six groups remaining in the competition Michael Bublé’s 3rd Annual Christ- WIS News 10 at (:35) The Tonight Show with Jay 7:00pm Local Tonight (N) (HD) choose song choices from big budget feature films, hoping to impress the mas Special Famous musicians sing 11:00pm News Leno Scheduled: actress Christina news update. panel of judges. (N) (HD) holiday classics. (N) (HD) and weather.

Applegate. (N) (HD) Criminal Minds: #6 BAU tracks an CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: News 19 @ 11pm (:35) Late Show with David LetterNews 19 @ 7pm Inside Edition (N) A Home for the Holidays With Celine Dion inspirational stories of UnSub in Detroit. (HD) Double Fault CSI helps out a rising The news of the man Scheduled: Ben Stiller; Brett Evening news up- (HD) date. adoption. (N) (HD) tennis star. (HD) day.

Dennen. (N) (HD) Wheel of Fortune Jeopardy! (N) The Middle: The The Goldbergs Modern Family: (:31) Barbara Walters Presents the 10 Most Fascinat- ABC Columbia (:35) Jimmy Kimmel Live Celebrities (N) (HD) (HD) Drop Off (HD) Driver’s license. Bringing Up Baby ing People of 2013 Barbara Walters presents the people News at 11 (HD) and human-interest subjects. (HD) that made 2013 interesting. (N) (HD) (HD) (HD) Tavis Smiley BBC World News Charlie Rose (N) Nature: Cold Warriors: Wolves and NOVA: Extreme Ice Increased melt- Life on Fire: Icelandic Volcanoes: NatureScene Na- Expedition (HD) International Who Is Next? An aerial search for the (HD) ture’s ecosystem.

Buffalo Animals’ life-and-death rela- ing of glaciers. (HD) news. next eruption. (HD) tionship. (HD) The Big Bang The Big Bang The X Factor: Season Finale, Part One (N) (HD) WACH FOX News at 10 Local news Two and a Half Two and a Half The Middle: The Theory Sheldon’s Theory Former report and weather forecast.

Men: A Lungful of Men: Mmm, Fish. Telling (HD) sister. (HD) bully. (HD) Alan (HD) Yum (HD) King of the Hill: The Cleveland The Arsenio Hall Show Late night Dish Nation (N) Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Family Feud Family Feud Law & Order: Criminal Intent: variety/talk show. (HD) Shandeh Woman becomes a suspect Con-Text Motivational speaker urges Old Glory Bobby Show (HD) gets an A. in murder case. (HD) murder. (HD)

CABLE CHANNELS Duck Dynasty: Aloha, Robertsons! Duck Dynasty Duck Dynasty Duck Dynasty: O Little Town of West Duck Dynasty Duck Dynasty Rodeo Girls: Backstabbing & Barn (:01) Duck DyTrip to Hawaii. (HD) (HD) (HD) Monroe Live nativity. (HD) (HD) (HD) Fights Darcy is angry. (HD) nasty (HD) (5:30) Miss Congeniality (‘00, Com- Home Alone (‘90, Comedy) aaa Macaulay Culkin. A young boy accidentally left at home Home Alone (‘90, Comedy) aaa Macaulay Culkin. A young boy edy) aac Sandra Bullock. (HD) fends off two bumbling burglars. (HD) accidentally left at home fends off two bumbling burglars. (HD) Monsters Inside Me (HD) Monsters Inside Me (N) (HD) Monsters Inside Me (N) (HD) Monsters Inside Me (N) (HD) Monsters Inside Me (HD) Monsters (HD) (6:00) 106 & Park Husbands: Storm Husbands Husbands Scandal: Vermont Is For Lovers, Too Scandal: YOLO The truth of Opera- The Game (HD) The Game: In Wendy Williams (N) (HD) Showers Cyrus finishes plan. (HD) tion Remington. (HD) Treatment (HD) Show (HD) The Real Housewives of Atlanta: Kathy Griffin: Record Breaker Top Chef: Like Mama Made Coffee Top Chef: Giving It the College Try What Happens Top Chef: Giving It the College Try Savann-No Trip to Savannah.

Guinness record. (N) and home-cooking.

Wings; students. (N) (N) LSU students; chicken wings.

The Kudlow Report (N) Mob Money: Murders and Greed A nasal surgeon.

Greed A Ponzi scheme.

Mad Money Investing advice.

Greed Erin Burnett OutFront (N) Anderson Cooper 360° (N) (HD) Piers Morgan LIVE (N) (HD) Anderson Cooper 360° Later The 11th Hour In Case You P. Morgan (:59) The Colbert Daily Show (HD) Key & Peele (HD) South Park (HD) South Park (HD) South Park (HD) South Park Final Key & Peele (N) Daily Show (N) The Colbert Re- (:01) South Park Report (HD) battle. (HD) (HD) (HD) port (N) (HD) (HD) Good Luck Char- Jessie Jessie Good Luck Char- Good Luck Charlie, It’s Christmas! (‘11, Holiday) Bridgit Good Luck Char- Austin & Ally Gravity Falls Jessie Diamond Zack: Christmas lie (HD) pranked. (HD) lie (HD) Mendler. A family travels for the holidays. lie (HD) (HD) (HD) tiara. (HD) at the Tipton Amish Mafia (HD) Amish Mafia: The Devil’s (N) Porter Ridge: Hilljack’d (N) (HD) Moonshiners (N) Porter Ridge: Hilljack’d (HD) Moonshiner NBA Basketball: Indiana Pacers at Miami Heat from AmericanAirlines Arena (HD) NBA Basketball: Chicago Bulls at Houston Rockets from Toyota Center (HD) SportsCenter College Basketball: Texas vs North Carolina z{| (HD) College Basketball: Stanford vs Connecticut z{| (HD) SportsCenter (HD) Olbermann Winnie Pooh & Mickey’s Carol Mary Poppins (‘64, Musical) Julie Andrews. A magically perfect nanny encounters a family and offers both the The 700 Club Scheduled: author Ste- Santa Baby (‘06) Christmas (‘83) aaa (HD) kids and father a view of the world that values the love of friends and family over money. (HD) phen Mansfield. aa (HD) Restaurant: Impossible (HD) Restaurant: Impossible (HD) Restaurant Stakeout (N) (HD) Restaurant: Impossible (N) Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (N) Restaurant On the Record with Greta (N) The O’Reilly Factor (N) (HD) The Kelly File News updates.

Hannity Conservative news. (HD) The O’Reilly Factor (HD) The Kelly File Wom. College Basketball: Ole Miss vs Baylor z{| Icons College Basketball: Northwestern State vs Baylor z{| Game 365 Basketball (6:00) Christmas with Holly (‘12, Hats Off to Christmas! (‘13, Holiday) Haylie Duff. After a shop manager Santa Switch (‘13, Holiday) Ethan Erickson. During the holiday season, A Season for Holiday) Catherine Bérubé. (HD) is overlooked for a position, she trains someone else. (HD) a man takes over Santa Claus’ role. (HD) Miracles (HD) Buying and Selling (HD) Property Brothers (HD) Buying and Selling (N) (HD) Now? (N) Hunters (HD) Property Brothers (HD) Buying (HD) American Pickers (HD) American Pickers (HD) American Pickers (N) (HD) Bible Secrets Revealed (N) (HD) Bible Secrets Revealed (HD) American (HD) Law & Order: Criminal Intent: WWE Main Event (N) Walking Tall (‘04, Action) aa Dwayne Johnson. A former Special Forces Walking Tall (‘04, Action) aa Dwayne Johnson. A man Homo Homini Lupis (HD) operative works to free his hometown from drugs. combats drugs in his hometown.

(6:00) A Very Merry Daughter of Christmas on the Bayou (‘13, Holiday) Hilarie Burton. Busy New York Love at the Christmas Table (‘12, Holiday) aac Dustin Mulligan. Man (:02) Christmas the Bride (‘08) aa (HD) executive decides to spend holidays in Southern hometown. (HD) realizes best friend is “the one.” (HD) on (‘13) (HD) Sam & Cat Hathaways Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Friends (:36) Friends (:12) Friends Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Jail (HD) Highway Strange Haunted Highway: Lake Murray Haunted Highway: Shades of Death; Haunted Highway: Black Angel; Ari- Killer Contact: The Mayan Empire Killer Contact: The Butcher of zona Domes (N) Lord Smoking Shell. (N) Iquique Humberstone, Chili. (N) domes.

Beast; The Donner Party Bridge of doom Seinfeld: The Family Guy: Road to the North Pole Family Guy (HD) The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang Conan Scheduled: Jennifer Lawrence; Trust Me: Frank Gum (HD) Santa taught lesson. (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Bob Odenkirk. (N) (HD) Rice (5:00) Bells Are Now Playing: Broadway Melody of 1940 (‘40, Musical) aaa Fred Astaire. A dancer Easter Parade (‘48, Musical) aaa Judy Garland. A performer loses his Royal Wedding Ringing (‘60) January 2014 almost misses the opportunity of star in a Broadway musical. dance partner over a boast and has trouble forgetting her. (‘51) aaa Bakery Boss Old-school. (HD) Bakery Boss (HD) Bakery Boss (HD) Bakery Boss (HD) Bakery Boss (HD) Bakery (HD) (5:00) The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (‘02, Fantasy) aaaa Mob City: Oxpecker/Stay Down Detective Teague risks his own life in (:04) Mob City: Oxpecker/Stay Down Protecting John Rhys-Davies. Frodo and Sam continue their quest. (HD) order to protect Jasmine from danger. (N) (HD) Jasmine from danger. (HD) S. Beach S. Beach S. Beach S. Beach S. Beach S. Beach S. Beach (N) Repo (N) (:01) Panic (:31) Panic (:02) S. Beach Griffith (HD) Griffith (HD) Griffith (HD) Griffith (HD) Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Kirstie (N) (HD) The Exes (N) Kirstie (HD) The Exes (HD) Queens (HD) Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Fat Young girl attacked. (HD) Criminal Hatred (HD) Monster’s Legacy (HD) Secrets Exhumed (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) Will Grace Will Grace Braxton Family Values (HD) Braxton Family Values (HD) Braxton Family Values (HD) Braxton Family Values (HD) Braxton (HD) Funniest Home Videos (HD) Rules (HD) Rules (HD) Rules (HD) Rules (HD) WGN News at Nine (HD) How I Met Rules (HD) Rules (HD)

Barbara Walters: From hard news to celebrity drivel

BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH It’s terrifically unfair to blame Barbara Walters for the dumbing down of TV news. But few people better personify the dreadful trend. Her very career arc seems to typify and amplify the way that hard news has been crowded out by pop culture and junk culture, celebrity trivia, the craven genuflection before foreign royals, the deification of vulgar exhibitionists and the virtual exclusion of the thought-provoking and significant.

We’re talking, of course, about the annual “Barbara Walters Presents the 10 Most Fascinating People of 2013” (9:30 p.m., ABC).

At first glance, the list is as obvious and absurd as any grouping that includes both a pope and a pop tart like Miley Cyrus.

And as usual, the list is most interesting for what it excludes. There are no scientists here.

No business leaders, no inventors, no authors or developers or technical innovators.

I can’t help feeling that anybody who finds Kim Kardashian “fascinating” is an idiot, or perhaps a cynic who has fashioned her message to appeal to idiots.

For the record: Barbara Walters is no idiot.

Barbara Walters once interviewed presidents and foreign leaders. She was there when Egypt’s Anwar Sadat and Israel’s Menachem Begin took a chance on peace in the Middle East. To go from that to this is too grim to contemplate.

Funny, male correspondents don’t follow this trajectory. Walter’s

contemporary Ted Koppel no longer has a network news perch. But you don’t see him gushing over One Direction. Bob Schieffer doesn’t have to pretend he likes “The Hunger Games.” Even Anderson Cooper, who once hosted “Celebrity Mole,” is allowed to affect more gravitas.

When we celebrate Miley Cyrus’ “twerk,” we tell young women that in order to be popular, it’s OK to behave like a mentally disturbed prostitute. But in celebrating Barbara Walters, we also tell women of all ages that in order to endure, you have to pretend to be shallow.

Which example does more damage?

GAC). “Homes” also visits Tupelo, Miss., the new location of a restored tour bus that once belonged to Elvis Presley.

• “NOVA” (9 p.m., PBS, check local listings) repeats a 2009 installment on “Extreme Ice,” documented in the Arctic, Alaska and the Alps.

• “American Horror Story: Coven” won’t return with another original episode until January 8.

• A rare facial tumor strikes a high school student on “The Girl with Half a Face” (10 p.m., Discovery Fit & Health).

• “Best in Chow” (10:30 p.m., Cooking) visits Banff to find the best burger in the picturesque Canadian city.

Holiday Highlights Series Notes • Tales of adoption abound on “A Home for the Holidays with Celine Dion” (8 p.m., CBS).

• Performers, including Miley Cyrus, Robin Thicke, Pitbull and Enrique Iglesias appear on “The iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2013” (8 p.m., CW).

• “Michael Buble’s 3rd Annual Christmas Special” (10 P.M., NBC).

Axl’s absence liberates Sue on “The Middle” (8 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG) * Vehicular mayhem on “The Goldbergs” (8:30 ABC, r, TV-PG) * The team tracks a Motor City murderer “Criminal Minds” (9 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14) * Jay and Phil bond on “Modern Family” (9 p.m., ABC, r, TV-14) * The gang discovers Hodges’ ex-

Tonight’s Other Highlights • Contestants perform music from the movies on “The SingOff” (8 p.m., NBC, TVPG).

• The top five perform on part one of the season finale of “The XFactor” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14).

• Scotty McCreery shows off his rolling retreat on “Celebrity Motor Homes” (9 p.m.,

Merry Christmas It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and we hope it brings you much joy!

The Item

otic fiancee on “CSI” (10 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14).

Cult Choice An enchanted governess (Julie Andrews) brings joy to a prim banker’s family in the 1964 musical “Mary Poppins” (8 p.m., ABC Family). This beloved film is the subject of the just-opened drama “Saving Mr. Banks,” starring Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson.

Late Night Steve Carell, Will Ferrell, David Koechner and Paul Rudd are scheduled on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (11 p.m., Comedy Central) * Jennifer Lawrence, Bob Odenkirk and Bad Religion appear on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS) * James Marsden, Greg Fitzsimmons, Fortune Feimster and Gary Val-

entine are booked on “Chelsea Lately” (11 p.m., E!) * Keanu Reeves sits down on “The Colbert Report” (11:30 p.m., Comedy Central) * The cast of “Single Ladies” and William Shatner are booked on “The Arsenio Hall Show” (Syndicated, check local listings) * Ben Stiller and Brett Dennen appear on “Late Show With David Letterman” (11:35 p.m., CBS) * Jay Leno welcomes Christina Applegate, Kevin Nealon and the winner of “The Voice” on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) * Bill Simmons, Jalen Rose and Haim appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (11:35 p.m., ABC) * Craig Ferguson hosts Natasha Lyonne on “The Late Late Show” (12:35 a.m., CBS).

Copyright 2013, United Feature Syndicate

C8

FOOD WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

THE ITEM Contact Rhonda Barrick at 803-774-1264 or e-mail rhondab@theitem.com

30 EASY EATS FOR

Fuss-free

Holiday entertaining

PHOTOS BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BY ALISON LADMAN Associated Press

F

antasizing about throwing a big holiday bash but fearful you’ll spend the whole party — or worse, the whole week — in the kitchen prepping? We’ve got you covered.

We’ve assembled an easy mix-and-match approach to holiday entertaining. An hour or so of prep and you’ll have enough nibbles to feed a crowd in high style.

Here’s how it works: We’ve divided the menu into 10 “base” ingredients. Each ingredient is paired with three simple suggestions for dressing it up for the party. All you need to do is pick enough base ingredients to feed your crowd, then decide how you’d like to prepare each. A little shopping, a little prepping, then you’re ready to party.

Many of these options make easy dips, spreads or other toppings for bread, so when you make that trip to the grocer, round out the menu with a variety of crackers and baguettes or pita bread that can be sliced and toasted.

BRIE

 Top a round of brie with purchased fig jam and toasted pecans.  Top slices of brie on a platter with a quick fresh herb sauce (puree 1/2 cup parsley, 1/2 cup chives and 1/4 cup cilantro with 1/4 cup olive oil and 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar, season with salt and black pepper).  Place a round of brie in a small, shallow baking dish. Bake at 250 degrees for 10 minutes, then top with fresh berries and drizzle with warmed orange marmalade.

GOAT CHEESE

 Spread on slices of baguette, then broil for 2 minutes or until lightly browned. Top with sliced strawberries and black pepper.  Stuff into Peppadew or sweet cherry peppers.  Top a log of goat cheese with crumbled bacon and thinly sliced scallions.

MANCHEGO CHEESE

 Skewer cubes of manchego with Castelvetrano olives and grape tomatoes.  Stuff pitted dates with a piece of manchego, then wrap each date with half a slice of prosciutto. Broil for 3 to 4 minutes.  Make a slaw by slicing fennel paper thin, shredding manchego, then tossing both with 2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar, salt and black pepper.

ASPARAGUS Start by arranging the spears (bottoms trimmed) on a baking sheet, misting them with cooking spray, then roasting for 10 minutes at 400 degrees. Then:  Toss with thinly sliced sun-dried tomatoes and a bit of the oil from the jar they were packed in.  Toss with a vinaigrette made from 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, 2 cloves minced garlic, salt and black pepper.  Toss with hoisin sauce and a drizzle of toasted sesame oil. Garnish with thinly sliced scallions.

ROASTED RED PEPPERS Save yourself time and trouble by using jarred. Just drain them well and pat dry with paper towels.  Finely dice and toss the peppers with the zest and juice of 1 lemon, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano and 2 cloves minced garlic.  Slice and mix with 4 mashed anchovies, 2 tablespoons rinsed chopped capers and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes.  Make a roasted red pepper chimichurri pesto. In a food processor, combine a 12-ounce jar of red peppers (drained), 1/2 cup fresh parsley, 2 tablespoons fresh oregano, 1/4 cup fresh mint, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, salt and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Pulse until finely chopped.

PITTED KALAMATA OLIVES

 Marinate 1 cup pitted Kalamata olives in 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary, the zest and juice of 1 orange, and 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar.  Finely chop 1 cup pitted Kalamata olives and mix with 2 tablespoons chopped fresh garlic, 2 tablespoons chives, and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Spoon over purchased hummus.  In a food processor, combine 1/2 cup olives, 4 ounces cream cheese, 2 tablespoons tomato paste, salt and black pepper.

GRAPES

 Roast red grapes on a rimmed baking sheet for 10 minutes at 450 degrees. Toss with 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze, 1 tablespoon honey and 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint.  Cut green grapes in half, then toss with marinated artichoke hearts.  Freeze individual grapes on a rimmed baking sheet. Toss with cinnamon and sugar.

SHRIMP Start with chilled cooked, shelled shrimp.  Toss with diced mango, cucumber, lime juice and minced jalapeno.  Serve with a light dressing made of mayonnaise, roasted garlic and Dijon mustard.  Toss with purchased pesto and diced sweet bell pepper.

COOKED CHICKEN BREAST

 Shred and toss with barbecue sauce spiked with smoked paprika and diced apples. Serve warm.  In a food processor, chop together 1 green bell pepper, 2 stalks of celery, 2 scallions, 2 tablespoons fresh thyme and 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese. Mix in finely chopped chicken breast, 2 tablespoons olive oil, the zest and juice of 1 lemon, salt and black pepper.  Thinly slice cooked and cooled chicken breasts crosswise to form thin medallions. Spoon hot pepper jelly onto each piece, then sprinkle with chopped salted peanuts.

ROASTED MUSHROOMS Start by roasting 8 ounces of crimini or button mushrooms on a rimmed baking sheet for 12 minutes at 450 degrees.  Make a mushroom pate by blending the mushrooms in a food processor with 1/4 cup heavy cream and a hefty pinch of salt and black pepper. Stir in 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme and 1/4 cup minced salami.  Stuff with a blend of crumbled cooked bacon, chopped walnuts, feta cheese, and minced fresh marjoram.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS  Whisk together 2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon soy sauce and a hefty pinch of black Sugared grapes, marinated olives and grapes pepper. Toss the mushrooms in this mixture. with artichoke hearts.