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Sumter deputy terminated after shot drunkenly fired into home

BY TYLER SIMPSON tyler@theitem.com An officer with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office was arrested late Thursday night after discharging her firearm into an occupied residence in Dalzell Thursday while intoxicated.

DRIGGERS According to Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis, deputy Crystal Driggers, 35,

Arrest made in Clarendon bank robbery

along with her husband, James A. Driggers, 31, of Dalzell, and two friends, Todd Allen Haviland, 51, of Sumter, and Richard Charles Perry, 34, of Columbia, were charged with discharging a firearm into a dwelling.

Dennis said Driggers has also been terminated from her position in the sheriff’s office.

Driggers was drinking with the other suspects at a clubhouse on Thomas Sumter Highway when

A crime scene unit vehicle of Sumter County Sheriff’s Office sits outside the home belonging to a family of four who were shocked late Thursday night when a bullet flew through their living room.

The shot was fired by a group that included a sheriff’s deputy who were reportedly shooting at a trash barrel when one of them missed the barrel, passed through a wooded area behind them and struck the house.

SEE TERMINATED, PAGE A8

ROB COTTINGHAM / THE ITEM

COMMUNITY HELPS STUDENTS CELEBRATE

BY HOLLY BUNCH holly@theitem.com North Carolina law-enforcement officials have arrested the lead suspect in the Bank of Clarendon robbery from earlier this week.

On Friday morning, suspected bank robber Dennis Michael Dickerson was taken into custody by the Durham (N.C.) Police Department.

Dickerson had previously been identified from surveillance videos taken from the Wednesday bank robbery, and Manning police informed North Carolina law enforcement that they thought their suspect had fled to the Durham area.

Local authorities think it was Dickerson who entered the bank about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday and handed a teller a note claiming he had a gun and demanding money.

Cash in hand, Dickerson vacated the premises, making off with an undisclosed amount of money. No one was injured in the incident.

After reviewing the surveillance videos from the bank and interviewing witnesses, Manning police released a statement just a few hours after the robbery.

In their release, local investigators provided the public with a physical description of the suspect, as well as photos taken SEE ROBBERY, PAGE A7

BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com

Sumter Civic Center on Friday.

Dr. Shawn Hagerty, director of specialized programs for the school district, said Winter Wonderland is the result of combining two smaller events that are usually planned for the

The man accused of shooting two sheriff’s deputies in Lee County on Thursday is facing only his latest charges in a long criminal history dating back almost three decades.

Yahchanan Christopher Reames, 52, had been charged with violent offenses beREAMES fore he reportedly shot and injured two officers in the course of a routine traffic stop near Bishopville, Lee Sheriff Daniel Simon said Friday, and Reames was facing still more charges at the time of his arrest.

When deputies pulled Reames over near the intersection of S.C. 441 and Springhill Road, Reames was out on bond on drug charges and charges of resisting arrest in Kershaw County.

Cpl. Shante Demary and Sgt. Leroy Durant also found Reames was wanted in Darlington County on charges of leaving the scene of an accident before the suspect reportedly exited his vehicle with a

SEE WONDERLAND, PAGE A7

SEE BOND DENIED, PAGE A8

MATT WALSH / THE ITEM

Santa Claus visits with children attending the Winter Wonderland event on Friday at the Sumter County Civic Center. The event was put together for the third year by community organizations for Sumter County School District students with special needs.

‘Winter Wonderland’ returns

BY RAYTEVIA EVANS ray@theitem.com For the third year, hundreds of Sumter County School District students celebrated the holiday season and the end of the fall semester with the Winter Wonderland event at the

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Bond denied for suspect in shooting of 2 officers

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2013 Contact the newsroom at 803-774-1226 or e-mail news@theitem.com

Sumter unemployment rate hits 7.5 percent

BY BRADEN BUNCH bbunch@theitem.com

LOCAL UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS

The Sumter unemployment rate continued to drop dramatically in November, falling to its lowest point since April 2008, to 7.5 percent, the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce reported Friday.

While the Sumter area added a nominal number of jobs in November — the DEW estimates about 60 during the last month — the rapid decline also comes with a rapidly declining area-labor force. Last month, an estimated 250 people in Sumter County left the workforce entirely, mainly either by retiring or by simply stopping the search for work.

Sumter County: Clarendon County: Lee County:

NOVEMBER 7.5 percent 9.9 percent 8.3 percent

OCTOBER 8.2 percent 10.4 percent 8.9 percent

An estimated 40,077 residents of Sumter County were working in November, about 250 more people than at the same time last year, when the unemployment rate for the local area sat at 9.7 percent.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the record number of Sumter County residents employed occurred in December 1999, when nearly 45,200 Sumterites had jobs.

Both Clarendon and Lee counties

continued to see their unemployment rates drop in November, as well, with Clarendon’s rate dropping below double digits. The rate in Clarendon fell 0.5 percentage points to 9.9 percent, while the Lee rate fell 0.6 percentage points to 8.3 percent. Both of these counties, however, also saw the drop in their rates driven by declining labor forces, as the two counties combined saw their workforce fall by more than 330 people. The two counties actually saw their total number of employed shrink in November, both by about 100 jobs each, according to the DEW. Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 7.1 percent, down from 7.5 percent the month before. The drop triggered Gov. Nikki

Haley to praise the state’s current economic condition.

“Today’s great news is another testament to our people, our state and the hard work that has made progress like this possible,” Haley said. “The fact that people and companies want to work and grow in South Carolina is no accident — it’s what happens when you combine a dedicated workforce with a strong business environment — and that is a real reason to celebrate.”

During the past year, the state unemployment rate has fallen by 1.5 percentage points and has dropped each of the last four months.

Reach Braden Bunch at (803) 7741201.

STATE BRIEFS | From Associated Press reports

SUMTER HIGH ORCHESTRA PLAYS TO PACKED HOUSE

U.S. flag maker to hire 100 workers in Kingstree KINGSTREE — A Pennsylvania company that makes U.S. flags said it will expand its plant in Williamsburg County and hire an additional 100 workers.

Valley Forge Flag Co. said Friday it is making a $2.5 million investment to expand into a building in Kingstree. The Wyomissing, Pa., company already has 200 workers in South Carolina.

The firm said it should begin hiring for the new jobs in January.

Valley Forge Flags provides U.S. flags to fly over the Capitol in Washington, D.C., and for astronauts to take into space. The company also makes other custom flags and banners.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Under the direction of Erik Hines, the Sumter High School Orchestra performed a concert Tuesday in the presence of a full auditorium. The Alice Drive Middle School Orchestra, under the direction of Michael Baier, kicked off the evening by performing nine holiday selections. From left are James Cascio, Bailey Elmore, Granger Rabon and Justin Baity.

Gaffney man admits to killing mother GAFFNEY — A 45-yearold Gaffney man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for strangling his mother, then stuffing her body in the rolling trash bin at their home.

Prosecutors said Brandon Knuckles pleaded guilty Friday to murder, financial transaction card fraud and other charges.

Authorities said 78-yearold Marjorie Knuckles was missing for several days in February before her body was found by a family member taking out the trash.

Christmas tree fuels fire that killed 2 children IRMO — Investigators said an electrical problem ignited a Christmas tree, causing a fire that killed a 5-yearold boy and his 18-monthold sister in their suburban Columbia apartment.

Irmo Fire District Chief Investigator Jeff Allen said the tree helped the fire to spread quickly after it started Wednesday morning.

The father of the children was asleep with his children in upstairs bedrooms of the apartment when the fire started. The father tried to save his children but got disoriented by the smoke and jumped out a window. The fire was then too hot for him to get back inside.

Local crafts, clothes support charities ry because there is a former Sumter couple who are greatly involved in the organization, and their reports on what this organization is doing are so moving and so heartfelt we just couldn’t do otherwise,” Kight said.

For more information, check out the “Gifts with a Purpose” tab on parkingspacefaith.com.

BY JADE ANDERSON janderson@theitem.com Some locals want to encourage you to consider purchasing from groups who donate some of their proceeds to charity.

“We feel when a gift serves a two-fold purpose of giving and giving some more, there’s none better,” Carolyn Rizer Kight, one of the founders of parkingspacefaith.com, said.

Besides Kight — whose organization sells note cards and note pads for men and women, numbered prints and a variety of custom artwork — two other women in Sumter give a portion of their proceeds to a charity or nonprofit, Lisa Reynolds and Janice Williams.

Reynolds runs La D Das, a women’s boutique off Bultman Drive, and while Williams doesn’t make the cards, as retired and senior volunteer program director and fundraiser with Sumter Senior Services Inc., she coordinates the creation of Christmas cards that benefit the Meals on Wheels programs.

PARKING SPACE FAITH

Kight’s money goes toward two causes.

“First, it is the in-house fundraiser for the women’s

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LA D DAS PHOTO PROVIDED

Sumter Senior Services sells Christmas cards designed by local artists to support its Meals on Wheels program. Some are still available for $5 apiece.

ministry website and Facebook page parkingspacefaith. com,” she said. “We are a ministry that desires to share open-hearted life experiences — the difficult and the joyous — with other women who may be dealing with similar issues. Secondly, what is above that will go to Bread of Life — Africa.”

The Mount Pleasant organization provides resources to address the food, education, medical and spiritual needs of a group of people living in a remote area of Namariat, Kenya.

“We chose Bread of Life — Africa as the other beneficia-

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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,

Reynolds donates to the RDH12 Fund for Sight, a foundation that provides research grants toward a cure for the degenerative disease Leber’s congenital amaurosis caused by a mutation of the RDH12 gene.

“My grand baby has a rare eye disease that causes most to go blind between 14 and 20,” she said. “The sun damages her eyes even when she wears sunglasses. They are teaching her Braille at school. She doesn’t know any different.”

While the 6-year-old Riley doesn’t know different, her grandmother does and hopes a cure is found. She opened the clothing and accessory store about a year ago and has a picture of the little girl in the shop.

“It’s fashion with a cause,” Reynolds said. “You can shop with a conscience be-

cause you know you are doing a good thing.”

For more information, call (803) 774-0006.

MEALS ON WHEELS

For the last five years, Williams has worked with Sumter artists and local businesses to support Sumter Senior Services’ Meals on Wheels program.

“It’s a nice way to spotlight a local artist, (and) it’s been real successful,” she said. “It’s $5 per Christmas card, and that $5 actually buys one meal for the frail elderly.”

While some might balk at that amount for a single card, Williams said it’s even more expensive to go to the store and buy ingredients for a batch of cookies to give to a neighbor.

“And who needs more cookies?” Williams asked.

“Instead of a trinket or another ornament or a bag of cookies, you have fed a senior for $5. Inside, we put a note about ‘a gift has been given by and in your honor.’

There is nothing the matter with feeding someone who is hungry after Christmas.”

For more information, call (803) 773-5508.

Reach Jade Anderson at (803) 774-1250.

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

LOCAL

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2013

ARTIST OF THE MONTH

THE ITEM

A3

ADULT EDUCATION GIFT-GIVING EVENT

John Cotner of Sumter FROM STAFF REPORTS The Sumter Artists Guild Artist of the Month for December is John Cotner.

Cotner was born and raised in Chicago, grew up in the city on the north side and became interested in the arts at an early age.

“My father was a gifted jazz musician,” Cotner said. “He played cornet.”

Cotner’s interest in art continued, and he said, “I began art classes at the Art Institute of Chicago’s young artists studio Saturday program in 1969.”

He started his undergraduate studies in art and music at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, then transferred to Cooper Union in New York City, where he received his bachelor of fine arts degree in 1980. In 1987, he received a master of arts degree from New York University.

“I lived in Italy from 1982-83,” Cotner said.

“My teaching career spanned 28 years, including the 92nd Street YMWHA, Cooper Union and University of Chicago Lab Schools.”

He moved to Sumter in 2009.

WHAT ARTISTS HAVE INFLUENCED YOUR WORK?

“Too many to mention, but let’s name a female, Lee Bontecou, and a male, Martin Puryear.”

WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED MEDIUM(S)?

“My preferred medium is painting; I also enjoy printmaking and sculpture. All the various mediums have validity.”

PHOTO PROVIDED

From left, Carlene Richardson, Debbie Ardis, Sharon Teigue and Superintendent Frank Baker gather for the annual Adult Education gift-giving event for students with children and/or grandchildren 7 and under. Adult Education employees and Sumter School District Office employees donated new and gently used toys. The Sumter Police Department partnered with them to donate bicycles, and Sumter IGA donated bags to load the gifts in. Drawings were held for the bikes. Each parent or grandparent went home with at least two new, age-appropriate toys or games and several other like-new items.

Police create care packages for homeless

BY RAYTEVIA EVANS revans@theitem.com

DESCRIBE THE WORK IN THE SHOW AT THE SUMTER COUNTY GALLERY OF ART. WHAT DROVE YOU TO CHOOSE THE SUBJECT MATTER AND MEDIUM?

“There isn’t a specific theme to the show.

All the work was created here in S.C. It’s rather mystical.”

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW?

“I’m presenting more work in January at the Guild Winners Show. I’ve been busy.”

WHAT ACTIVITIES DO YOU ENJOY OTHER THAN ART?

“Hiking, reading (John Le Carre), swimming, and I love to cook.”

PHOTO PROVIDED

In partnership with local businesses, the Sumter Police Department’s Patrol Division will be collecting personal hygiene items to distribute to the city’s homeless in an effort to promote health and human services in the community.

According to the police department, the “Random Act of Kindness” care packages will also include information about local providers that offer free or low-cost services — such as employment, medical, dental and nutritional — to those in need. If necessary, officers will refer individuals to service providers while distrib-

uting the packages.

Two officers are also making an effort to assist those in need this year. Officer First Class Eric Johnson and his shift mate, patrolwoman Sonya Pruneda, collected shoes for the homeless after witnessing homeless individuals without shoes or socks during the winter months. With the help of a consignment shop that recently closed, the officers were able to collect 102 pairs of shoes to distribute to those in need. In the coming months, the two officers

hope to expand their collection to other necessities to distribute to the homeless.

In 2012, almost 20 percent of the county’s population was below the poverty level, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Based on the county’s poverty rates, Urban Institute research shows that as many as 1,192 residents in the county could become homeless at least once during the course of a year. Anywhere from 199 to 397 people in the county would also be considered

“chronic homeless” individuals, those who rely daily on a local shelter or other means for a place to stay.

“We know the need is great. And as a police force, it is our duty to do whatever we can to address the needs of the individuals our officers come in contact with while performing their everyday duties,” Sumter Police Chief Russell F. Roark III said. “Our jobs go beyond enforcing the law.”

Reach Raytevia Evans at (803) 774-1214.

Merry STOREWIDE SALE Christmas

John Cotner is the Sumter Artists Guild Artist of the Month for December. See his work at the Sumter County Museum of Art.

SOUTHERRN GAATES COLLLECCTIOON AND ALL BRIIDA DAL SSEETTSS DA

from our family to yours

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From all of us at AND

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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. Lincoln High School Class of 1963 will hold its Christmas program and dinner at 6 p.m. today 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.

Jordan Crossroads Ministry Center — Haven of Rest will hold its public monthly meeting at 10 a.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, at New Covenant Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall. Parking is available in the parking area nearest the entrance to the fellowship hall. Call Ann Driggers at (803) 3098085.

The Sumter Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, 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, 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 24-hour recorded message line at (206) 376-5992.

The 14th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dream Walk will be held Monday, Jan. 20, 2014. This three mile walk will start and end at USC Sumter Nettles Building, 200 Miller Road.

Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. with walk beginning at 9:30 a.m. There will be a celebratory program at 11 a.m.

Call Mary Sutton at (803) 938-3760 for details.

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Britney Spears settles down, Las Vegas style

BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH For those who pretend to care, Miley Cyrus appears to be the pop star of the year. She’s executed a strategic campaign to destroy her “Hannah Montana” image and emerge as the most brazen exhibitionist of all time — until the next one comes along.

And what becomes of the shameless celebrity when she’s no longer shocking? She moves to Las Vegas. “I Am Britney Jean” (9 p.m. Sunday, E!) documents the singer-celebrity Britney Spears’ preparation for a two-year stint at a casino resort.

I’m no expert on such things, but a permanent Vegas venue seems a settled-down choice for the 32-year-old performer. It’s perhaps better suited to well-established acts, a place for Celine Dion or Garth Brooks to relax after decades of touring. What’s next for Britney? Branson?

• Event programming continues with ABC’s annual Christmas week broadcast of “The Sound of Music” (7 p.m. Sunday, TV-G). The network has been airing “Sound” for the holidays since 2002.

This year’s broadcast gains special resonance, being the first since NBC’s successful live presentation of the stage version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, starring Carrie Underwood.

It’s also the first since the death of Eleanor Parker on Dec. 9. Parker had a long and varied acting career, appearing in war movies and Westerns, comedies and dramas. She starred as the wife of Frank Sinatra’s heroinaddicted musician in the controversial drama “The Man With the Golden Arm,” and also appeared in the Sinatra comedy “A Hole in the Head.”

But most people know her only as the Baroness from “Sound,” the beautiful, rich, slightly chilly would-be love interest for Christopher Plummer’s Capt. von Trapp, until “a young lady * who will never be a nun” stole his heart.

• A quarter-century after the tragedy, “The Lockerbie Bombing” (8 p.m. Saturday,

Smithsonian) recalls the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, on Dec. 21, 1988.

All 259 passengers and crew were killed, as were 11 on the ground. Debris was scattered over 845 square miles. “Lockerbie” includes archival footage from Scotland’s STV News and interviews with local witnesses.

It also chronicles the years of investigation into the bombing.

Evidence eventually linked Col. Moammar Gadhafi’s Libyan regime to the terror attacks, the worst on American citizens until Sept. 11, 2001. That same year, a Libyan intelligence officer was convicted in a Scottish court of planting the bomb that downed the airliner. Despite that trial, the eventual overthrow of Gaddafi and the passage of 25 years, many questions remain.

• Sundance will repeat all eight episodes of the superb and unsettling French miniseries “The Returned” (noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, TV-MA). Prepare to think about zombies in a whole new light.

• “On the Case With Paula Zahn” (10 p.m. Sunday, ID, TV14) returns for a new season.

First up: “Stabbed in the Heart.”

After finding a 44-year-old mother lying in a pool of blood, investigators are convinced that she was killed in a crime of passion. Few suspected that it would take more than 30 years for the dreadful truth to emerge.

• Colleagues recall the star best known for playing Tony Soprano on “James Gandolfini: Tribute to a Friend” (8:30 p.m.

Sunday, HBO).

Saturday’s Highlights • Minor characters in the Peanuts pantheon (Lucy and Linus’ little brother, ReRun, and Snoopy’s sibling, Spike) loom large in the 2003 holiday cartoon “I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-G).

• Holliday Grainger and Emile Hirsch star in the fourhour “Bonnie and Clyde” miniseries (8 p.m. and 10 p.m., A&E, TV-14).

• On three consecutive helpings of “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown” (CNN, r): Koreatown (8 p.m.), New Mexico (9 p.m) and Detroit (10 p.m.).

• A mystery woman becomes a suspect in a spate of heists on “Marvel’s Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (9 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG).

• Critters frolic on “Too Cute!” (9 p.m., Animal Planet, TV-PG).

• Jeremy discovers how hard it is to clean the shark tanks at a New York aquarium on “Jobs That Bite!” (9 p.m., Nat Geo Wild, TV-PG).

• Beleaguered neighborhood moms take a stand in the 2010 comedy “On Strike for Christmas” (10 p.m., Lifetime, TVPG), starring Daphne Zuniga, David Sutcliffe and Julia Duffy.

• Ben Stiller, Jamie Oliver, Martin Freeman and Rebecca Ferguson appear on “The Graham Norton Show” (10 p.m., BBC America, TV-14).

• Jimmy Fallon hosts “Saturday Night Live” (11:30 p.m., NBC, TV-14), featuring musical guest Justin Timberlake.

Sunday’s Highlights • Scheduled on “60 Minutes” (7 p.m., CBS): National Security Adviser Susan Rice; a quarterback mentor who trains prospects as young as 8; a look at Colorado’s marijuana legalization experiment.

• Stars of the cable series appear in the 2011 TV movie “Good Luck Charlie, It’s Christmas!” (7 p.m., Disney XD, TV-G).

• The Philadelphia Eagles host the Chicago Bears on “Sunday Night Football” (8:20 p.m., NBC).

• The firm scrambles for new business on “The Good Wife” (8 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14).

• Staff and family participate in the annual cricket match on “Downton Abbey” on “Masterpiece Classic” (9 p.m., PBS, TVPG, r, check local listings).

• Log poachers strike on “Ax Men” (9 p.m., History, TV-14).

• An ex-boyfriend tries to win over an old flame at her family home in the 2013 ro-

mance “Christmas on the Bayou” (9 p.m., Lifetime, TVPG).

• Annie disbands her band on “Treme” (9 p.m., HBO, TVMA).

• Swedish-speaking patients complicate matters on “Getting On” (10 p.m., HBO, TV-MA).

Cult Choice The spirit of a zoot-suit era gangster inhabits the body of a New Orleans law student in the 1976 fantasy “J.D.’s Revenge” (8 p.m. Saturday, Bounce, TV-14), starring Glynn Turman and Louis Gossett Jr.

Saturday Series On two helpings of “Two and a Half Men” (CBS, TV-14, r): alone for the holidays (8 p.m.); Jaime Pressly guest-stars (8:30 p.m.) * The music of the movies sets the agenda on “The Sing-Off” (8 p.m., NBC, r, TV-PG) * To serve man on “Almost Human” (8 p.m., Fox, r, TV-14) * Danny’s misstep brings in the bomb squad on “Hawaii Five-0” (9 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14) * A series of killings has links to the FBI on “Bones” (9 p.m., Fox, r, TV-14) * Mysteries, mostly murder on “48 Hours” (10 p.m., CBS) * Paul Rudd hosts “Saturday Night Live” (10 p.m., NBC, r, TV-14) * Death in the deep end on “Castle” (10 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG).

Sunday Series Bob Costas hosts “Football Night in America” (7 p.m., NBC, TV-14) * On two episodes of “The Simpsons” (Fox, r, TVPG): Grandpa returns (8 p.m.), a freak snowstorm (8:30 p.m.) * Peter narrates the Christmas story on “Family Guy” (9 p.m., Fox, r, TV-14) * Death in the Diamond District on “The Mentalist” (9 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14) * An “Animation Domination” presentation of “Axe Cop” (9:30 p.m., Fox, r, TV-14) * Sherlock focuses on Ennis on “Elementary” (10 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14).

Copyright 2013, United Feature Syndicate

LOCAL / NATION

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2013

THE ITEM

A5

Finding health through fitness

W THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

President Obama smiles as he prepares to answer a question during an end-of-the year news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington on Friday.

Obama says 1M signed up for health care WASHINGTON (AP) — His health care plan facing a dicey transition, President Obama said Friday that insurance sign-ups are surging now that the government’s website is working better for consumers. But it was too soon to say the rollout has turned the corner.

More than 1 million people have enrolled since Oct. 1, Obama said at his end-of-theyear press conference.

That’s more than twoand-a-half times the number on Nov. 30, when major fixes to the website were completed. At that point, only 365,000 had signed up through new federal and state markets offering subsidized private insurance.

“That is a big deal,” Obama said of getting coverage for uninsured people. “That’s why I ran for this office.”

Separately, officials said 3.9 million people have qualified for government health care through the law’s Medicaid expansion. Even so, things aren’t exactly humming along.

HealthCare.gov was down for part of the day Friday as technicians attempted to fix an error that occurred Thursday night when the site was undergoing routine maintenance, officials explained.

The administration cannot afford for the balky website to crash this weekend. Because of Monday’s deadline to sign up so coverage can take effect Jan. 1, unusually heavy traffic is expected on the federal site and those run by states.

Largely hidden from consumers, another set of technical problems is frustrating insurers, who say the government continues to send

President says 2014 can be ‘breakthrough year for America’ WASHINGTON (AP) — Citing strong progress on the economy, President Obama said at his annual year-end news conference Friday that 2014 “can be a breakthrough year for America” after a long season of recession and slow recovery.

Yet he suggested that given widespread criticism, he may alter the power of the National Security Agency to collect information on Americans.

And when it came to the universally panned rollout of his health care law, Obama conceded that “we screwed it up” and said, “I’m going to be making appropriate adjustments once we get through this year.”

It was unclear if he meant to signal highlevel personnel changes.

The president praised Congress for a

recent, relatively modest budget compromise. “It’s probably too early to declare an outbreak of bipartisanship. But it’s also fair to say we’re not condemned to endless gridlock,” he said.

He also renewed his long-standing refusal to negotiate concessions with Republicans in exchange for legislation that will be needed in late winter or early spring to raise the nation’s debt limit.

“It is not something that is a negotiating tool. It’s not leverage.

It’s a responsibility of Congress,” he said, although he added that he was willing to discuss other issues separately.

Obama spoke from the White House briefing room podium as he concluded his fifth year as president, his hair far grayer than the day he was first sworn in.

them inaccurate data on some enrolled individuals. Insurers call some of those jumbled enrollment files “orphans” and others “ghosts.”

They could turn into

gremlins after Jan. 1 for some patients trying to use their new coverage. Consumers might show up at the pharmacy counter or doctor’s office only to be told they’re not in

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the system.

That’s not the only potential issue. Administration officials are scrambling to prevent breaks in coverage among more than 4 million people whose individual policies were canceled this fall because they did not meet the law’s requirements.

An estimated 500,000 have yet to secure new coverage. On Thursday, the administration said those individuals would not be penalized for remaining uninsured and that they could also have access to special bare-bones catastrophic insurance plans.

The president minimized the significance of that accommodation Friday, calling it a net to catch a small number of people who may slip through the cracks.

Still tinkering with the website, the administration now faces crucial deadlines within a two-week stretch.

The last day to sign up for coverage to take effect with the new year is Monday. And Jan. 1 is the day people can start using their new policies. Starting then, the law forbids insurers from turning away people with pre-existing medical conditions.

The law’s mandate that virtually all Americans carry coverage also goes into place, although uninsured people can avoid a tax penalty if they pick a plan

by March 31.

hen thinking Battling high blood about impressure and suffering proving your from pain in her hips, health, exercise most back and shoulders, often comes to mind, she could only walk as it should. The for three minutes on health benefits of exer- the treadmill when cise are for everyone, she first started. no matter their gender, Even though that age or can be frustrating and physical you feel like you have ability. a mountain to climb, For cenit is important that turies, ex- you realize that you ercise has have to start somewhere. Knowing that been used as a things could only imCORRIGAN part of prove, Beverly stayed medicine, committed to her and it continues to be journey. She joined used today for improv- SilverSneakers, a ing overall health. group fitness class for The health benefits strength training, and of exercise are hard to continued with her ignore. Not only does walking. By the end of exercise increase mus- the six weeks, she was cular strength and car- able to walk for 30 diovascular endurminutes without any ance, but it also impain. She had lost proves your psychoweight, and her blood logical pressure well-being, has reTIPS FOR GETTING helps to turned to a HEALTHY THROUGH manage normal FITNESS disease rate. and reducExercise • Acknowledge your starting es the risk does not point; of chronic have to be • Find a supportive group; diseases. strenuous • Do the activities you find Beverly to be beneenjoyable; and Jones got ficial, nor • Be consistent. out of does it breath just have to be walking to done inthe mailbox. Overside or in a traditional weight and suffering exercise format. It can from various health is- take place anywhere, sues, her doctor rebut most importantly, ferred her to the Com- it should be fun and mit To Be YFIT proenergizing. Consistengram at the Y to start cy is the key to mainher journey to a taining the benefits of healthier life. Being exercise, meaning that with a group of indiyour exercise must be viduals who are startcurrent in order for ing the same journey the results to show. can help ease the anx- You can’t expect to be iety that often comes in good health if you with changing habits exercised several years and establishing a ago. So get up and get new, healthy routine. moving now.

The six-week program focused on Missy Corrigan is adopting healthy hab- director of healthy livits through exercise, ing for the Sumter healthy eating, stress Family YMCA. She can management, time be reached at mcorrimanagement, spiritugan@ymcasumter.org ality and heart health. or (803) 773-1404.

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LOCAL / NATION

THE ITEM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2013

LEFT: Summary Court came in third in the county’s gingerbread house competition with this fanciful house where a reindeer awaits the return of Santa, who is busy putting gifts under the tree.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE COMPETITION

PHOTOS BY IVY MOORE / THE ITEM

ABOVE: Patriot Hall and the Sumter County Recreation Department took first place in the gingerbread house competition among nine county government departments.

RIGHT: Sumter County Administration was the second-place winner, no doubt for the imaginative use of frosted wheat squares and wasabi peas. Emergency Medical Services’ candy ambulances can be seen at right.

Obama orders military to review sexual assault WASHINGTON (AP) — President Obama on Friday gave the military a one-year deadline to better prevent and respond to a wave of sexual assault in the ranks and warned that if progress isn’t made, he will consider tougher reforms than those approved by Congress.

The ultimatum from their commander in chief and pressure from lawmakers puts the onus on the Pentagon to live up to its vows of zero tolerance for sexual assault or face the potential of losing authority to prosecute offenders in its own courts. “So long as our women and men in uniform face the insider threat of sexual assault, we have an urgent obligation to do more to support victims and hold perpetrators accountable for their crimes, as appropriate under the military justice system,�

Obama said in a statement issued hours after the Senate sent a bill for his signature

that would crack down on the crime.

The president said he wants Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to report back to him by Dec. 1 on improvements they’ve made preventing and responding to sexual assault. “If I do not see the kind of progress I expect, then we will consider additional reforms that may be required to eliminate this crime from our military ranks and protect our brave service members who stand guard for us every day at home and around the world,� Obama said in the statement, his first comments in response to sexual assault legislation that has been furiously debated on Capitol Hill in recent months.

The Pentagon estimates that 26,000 military members were victims last year.

The sexual assault measures were part of a sweeping, $632.8 billion bill the Senate passed

on an 84-15 vote late Thursday that also covers combat pay and other benefits, new ships and aircraft and military bases. The legislation also: • Provides $552.1 billion for the regular military budget and $80.7 billion for the war in Afghanistan and other overseas operations, a reflection of deficit-driven efforts to trim spending and the drawdown in a conflict lasting more than a decade. • Gives the administration additional flexibility to move detainees

out of the U.S. prison at Guantånamo Bay, Cuba, to foreign countries. It stops well short of the president’s goal of closing the detention facility and bans detainee transfers to the United States. • Authorizes funds for the destruction of chemical weapons in Syria, and • Provides money to study the feasibility of establishing a missile defense site on the East Coast.

The legislation would strip military commanders of their ability

30

bill also would provide victims with legal counsel, eliminate the statute of limitations for courtsmartial in rape and sexual assault cases and criminalize retaliation against victims who report a sexual assault.

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LOCAL / STATE

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2013

THE ITEM

A7

WONDERLAND from Page A1

ROBBERY from Page A1

county’s special-needs students. “We want to show the community that we want them to be involved in public education for all of our students,�

Hagerty said.

About 600 students indulged in games, food, music and bounce houses. They also had a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, something 3-year-old Alexzander Disher, who has sensory hearing loss, had never experienced before. “He was very excited to see Santa for the first time,� said Jamie Kellum, Alexzander’s mother. “He’s enjoying the bouncers too. It’s important for everyone to get together and have some fun.�

Hagerty said it took about two months to organize the event, which included getting a few sponsors and support from local businesses, arranging for volunteers to pitch in during the event and organizing transportation for the students. Winter Wonderland had a number of volunteers and support, including food donations or discounts on food from local businesses. The event also received support from the county’s law enforcement, who also had a number of officers at Friday’s event.

PHOTOS BY MATT WALSH / THE ITEM Timothy Rutherford, youth pastor at Church of the Holy Comforter and Conor Wade celebrates a putt he made at the Winter Wonderland event on Friday at disc jockey for the event, said he was the Sumter County Civic Center. It was the third year that special-needs students in asked to provide music for the event Sumter School District could play games, visit with Santa and enjoy Christmas treats. the first year and has been doing it BELOW: A child lines up a dart at a game station at the event on Friday. ever since. “I was invited three years ago, and I wasn’t expecting anything. It’s just great to see all the kids having fun,�

Rutherford said. “Every year, I look forward to a little boy who is blind, and he loves music because he can feel it. I really look forward to seeing him every year.�

The event is strongly supported by the school district. Hagerty explained that Superintendent Dr. J. Frank Baker and Assistant Superintendent Cornelius Leach have to approve the event before they move forward. “The students enjoy coming out and having a good time, and the Sumter County School District is a strong advocate for students with disabilities,� Hagerty said.

Reach Raytevia Evans at (803) 774-1214.

from the security cameras.

On Thursday, while working with the Clarendon County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI, local officials released Dickerson’s name as their top suspect in the robbery.

Less than 24 hours after naming him their prime suspect, Dickerson was located in Durham by one of the city’s night shift police officers.

Currently in custody in North Carolina, Dickerson is awaiting bond and extradition hearings and has pending charges there as well. Manning Police Detective Eric Rosdail said North Carolina authorities informed him about 3:30 a.m. Friday morning of the arrest, adding that Dickerson faced parole violation charges and had several additional warrants for his arrest stemming from other incidents.

Durham officials said Dickerson could have a court hearing as early as Monday but that his hearing could be later because of court closings during the upcoming holidays.

Reach Holly Bunch at (803) 7741211.

STATE BRIEF Man gets 3 years in Berkeley bar fight death

CHARLESTON — A Ladson man has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of a man killed in a Berkeley County bar fight two years ago.

Prosecutors said 28-year-old Jonathan Powell threw a single punch that killed 25-year-old Richard Edward Duttine of Summerville outside the Moonshine Saloon in August 2011.

Powell also must serve five years of probation after the prison sentence.

He originally was charged with voluntary manslaughter.

Twenty-eight-year-old Justin Johnson of Summerville is awaiting trial on a voluntary manslaughter charge.

Prosecutor Bryan Alfaro said evidence indicates that Duttine threw the first punch, targeting Johnson.

Alfaro said Powell jumped from a car to help his friend and punched Duttine, who fell to the ground.

OBITUARIES JOHN SLATER BISHOPVILLE — It is with sorrow that we announce the passing of John Slater on Dec. 17, 2013.

The family is receiving friends at the home, 424 Joy Road, Lamar.

Services are incomplete and will be announced later by New Life Funeral Services LLC of Bishopville.

EUGENE H. MOSES III Eugene Henry Moses III, 84, husband of Rosemary Kickliter Moses to whom he was married for 59 years, died Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013.

Born in Sumter, he was a son of the late E.H. Jr. and Marion DuBose Knight Moses. Mr. Moses was a member of St. Anne Catholic Church. Gene attended Belmont Abbey Prep School and graduated from Edmunds High School and The Citadel, where he was a member of the golf team. He was president of SIFCO Industries, which was founded by his grandfather in 1890. He was the founder of Security Management. He served on the C&S National Bank and Sumter YMCA boards. He was a member of the Assembly, Trian and Thalian Clubs. Gene also belonged to Sunset Country Club, where he held the course record for more than 20 years.

|

From Associated Press

| Gene served at Ramey Air Force Base, Puerto Rico, during the Korean War. He was an avid golfer, duck hunter and offshore fisherman.

Surviving are his wife of Sumter; two daughters, Elizabeth Moses Hancock (Bobby) of Hilton Head and Mary Frances Moses Morton (Jim) of Rock Hill; three sons, John Dowlin Moses (Emily) of Columbia, Charles Neil Moses of Myrtle Beach and Miles Moran Moses of Pawleys Island; nine grandchildren; and 10 nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m.

Monday at St. Anne Catholic Church with the Rev. Thomas Burke, C.Ss.R officiating.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and also following the service in the St. Anne Parish Hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 810 Dutch Square Blvd., Suite 114, Columbia, SC 29210; Eugene H. Moses Scholarship Fund, The Citadel, 171 Moultrie St., Charleston, SC 29409; or to a charity of one’s choice.

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

Elmore Hill Mc-

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

CONNIE E. JACKSON Connie E. Levy Jackson, of 109 Saddleridge Road, died Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013.

Plans will be announced by Palmer Memorial Chapel of Columbia.

CEDRICK McFEDDEN Cedrick McFedden, 30, died Friday, Dec. 20, 2013, at his home in Sumter.

Born Aug. 31, 1983, in Sumter County, he was a son of James and Joyce McGee McFedden.

The family will receive friends and relatives at the family home, 2860 Ambose Drive, Sumter.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced

by Williams Funeral Home Inc. of Sumter.

EDWIN H. HEARON III WEST COLUMBIA — Edwin Herbert Hearon III, beloved husband of 46 years to Rosalind Carrigan Hearon, died on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013, at Lexington Medical Center.

Born in Hartsville,

Mr. Hearon was a son of the late Edwin H. II and Alberta Turner Hearon.

Mr. Hearon loved classical music and reading.

Photography was his hobby and he was a member of the Riverbank Zoo. He enjoyed trips to the beach with his family and traveled to China and Russia as an Eisenhower Exchange Study Program.

He loved all children, especially his beloved family. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father and friend.

Surviving in addition to his wife are two children, Edwin Herbert Hearon IV and Elizabeth Rosalind Hearon and her fiance, Richard Adam Glover, all of West Columbia; and one brother, Adolph Hearon of Lancaster, Pa. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Bullock Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Lawrence Carrigan officiating. Interment will follow in Mount Elon Baptist Church Cemetery in Lyda.

Pallbearers will be Anthony Carrigan, Thomas Gerald Carrigan Jr., Randy Clayton, Jimmy Glass, Rick Glover, Steve Hearon and Corey Prescott.

The family will receive friends on Sunday one hour prior to the service from 1 to 2 p.m.

at Bullock Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association Mid-State SC Chapter, P.O. Box 7044, Columbia, SC 29202-7044.

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

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

MILDRED EPPS NEW ZION — Mildred Helen Craig Epps, 87, widow of Wilbur Clifton Epps Sr., died Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013, at Lexington Medical Center.

Born May 11, 1926, in Columbus, Ga., she was a daughter of the late George and Agnes East Craig. She was a retired secretary with the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and she was a member of Midway Presbyterian Church.

She is survived by her son, Wilbur Clifton Epps Jr. of West Columbia; two daughters, Deborah Epps Geary and Mildred Agnes Epps Monroe, both of Columbia; three grandchildren, Malcolm Monroe (Kitty), Hunter Epps and Cameron Epps, all of Columbia; and three great-grandchildren, Elijah, James and Logan Monroe.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Jack Craig and Jerry Brooks.

A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m.

Sunday at Midway Presbyterian Church Cemetery with the Rev. Dr. Rodney Foster officiating.

Memorials may be made to Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina, 700 Davega Drive, Lexington, SC 29073.

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

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A8

DAILY PLANNER

THE ITEM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2013

TERMINATED from Page A1 they all decided to discharge one full magazine of bullets from their handguns into a burn barrel behind a clubhouse building on Thomas Sumter Highway about 10:30 p.m., according to reports.

“Our job in the community is to protect and serve,” Dennis said.

“Her actions were a total disregard for safety, and we will not tolerate it. After knowing that she was intoxicated, I would have terminated her last night right at the scene.”

According to the report, officers responded to a residence in the 3000 block of Traditions Place where a witness heard nine or more shots fired from the wood line area behind her residence. One of the shots penetrated the rear living-room wall of the residence and barely missed the witness’ husband before it lodged in the front living room closet’s exterior wall.

The family of four that lives in the residence declined comment, but it was confirmed they were not injured during the shooting.

Officers investigated the area to find that the shots came from the clubhouse, and another person on the scene ad-

vised the officers that Driggers and the other suspects were inside the clubhouse.

Officers approached the suspects, who they reported appeared to be highly intoxicated, and they all admitted to firing weapons before they were informed of the incident. Driggers and Haviland fired a Taurus Millennium 9 mm, and Perry fired a Bersa Firestorm 9 mm. The guns were found behind the bar of the clubhouse and in Driggers’ motorcycle, and they were placed into evidence.

Haviland, Perry, Driggers and her husband were taken into custody and sent to Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing as of Friday. South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is currently assisting with the investigation.

Driggers joined the force in March 2012 and was assigned to the Investigations Division.

Dennis said she had received commendations from her fellow officers during her time on the force.

“Generally, (Driggers) was a very good officer,” Dennis said.

“This was all just bad judgment on her part.”

Reach Tyler Simpson at (803) 774-1295.

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

TODAY

TONIGHT

SUNDAY

76°

63° Times of clouds and sun

Partly cloudy, breezy and warm

Mostly cloudy

Winds: S 7-14 mph

Winds: S 10-20 mph

Winds: SSW 10-20 mph

Chance of rain: 15%

Chance of rain: 15%

Chance of rain: 25%

Sumter through 4 p.m. yesterday High ............................................... 71° Low ................................................ 40° Normal high ................................... 55° Normal low ..................................... 33° Record high ....................... 80° in 1967 Record low ......................... 17° in 1981

41°

WEDNESDAY 51°

Greenville 66/63

Mostly sunny

Winds: W 8-16 mph

Winds: N 7-14 mph

Winds: ENE 6-12 mph

Chance of rain: 75%

Chance of rain: 5%

Chance of rain: 10%

Full 7 a.m. 24-hr pool yest. chg 360 350.25 -0.03 76.8 74.37 +0.01 75.5 73.76 -0.04 100 95.87 +0.09

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 77/64/c 62/57/sh 70/63/c 80/64/c 78/65/pc 68/64/c 76/66/pc 68/62/c 66/63/sh 78/65/c

7 a.m. yest.

7.74 6.00 6.12 5.28 78.84 6.30

24-hr chg +0.02 +1.20 +0.21 +0.63 -0.51 -3.10

Sun. Hi/Lo/W 76/63/t 67/51/r 71/58/r 78/64/t 77/63/pc 69/64/pc 78/66/pc 73/59/t 70/59/r 78/65/t

Sunrise today .......................... 7:23 a.m.

Sunset tonight ......................... 5:16 p.m.

Moonrise today ....................... 9:21 p.m.

Moonset today ........................ 9:58 a.m.

Columbia 78/65 Today: Mostly cloudy, breezy and warm with a passing shower or two.

Sunday: Heavy rain and a thunderstorm in the afternoon.

Sumter 76/65

Dec. 25 First

Jan. 1 Full

Jan. 7

Jan. 15

Shown is today’s weather.

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

Aiken 77/64 Charleston 76/66

The following tide table lists times for Myrtle Beach.

Sat.

Forecasts and graphics provided

by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2013 Today Hi/Lo/W 76/63/c 70/62/c 76/65/pc 74/64/c 77/65/pc 81/66/pc 68/63/c 76/66/c 77/66/pc 68/61/c

New

Myrtle Beach 72/66

Manning 78/65

Today: Warm with times of clouds and sun.

High 71 to 78.

Sunday: Breezy and very warm with intervals of clouds and sun. High 72 to 77.

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

Last

Florence 77/65

Bishopville 76/64

24 hrs ending 4 p.m. yest. ........... 0.00" Month to date .............................. 2.82" Normal month to date ................. 2.05" Year to date ............................... 48.46" Normal year to date .................. 45.65"

33°

Not as warm with rain

Precipitation

Lake Murray Marion Moultrie Wateree

26° Cooler with sunshine and patchy clouds

Gaffney 68/61 Spartanburg 68/63

Temperature

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

TUESDAY 52°

65°

Sun. Hi/Lo/W 78/64/c 74/63/pc 77/66/pc 78/64/pc 78/66/pc 82/64/pc 72/60/t 78/66/pc 78/66/pc 73/60/t

Sun.

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 66/63/sh 64/59/sh 73/63/pc 80/64/pc 74/65/c 78/64/c 72/65/c 64/58/sh 75/65/pc 72/66/pc

Sun. Hi/Lo/W 69/59/r 68/56/r 71/63/pc 81/64/pc 72/53/r 76/60/t 71/52/r 67/55/r 77/66/pc 75/64/pc

High Ht. 11:09 a.m.....3.0 11:38 p.m.....2.6 11:45 a.m.....2.9 --- ..... ---

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

Low Ht. 5:37 a.m.....0.3 6:11 p.m.....0.4 6:17 a.m.....0.3 6:47 p.m.....0.4

Today Hi/Lo/W 78/65/pc 76/65/pc 72/61/c 68/63/c 74/64/c 78/65/pc 68/63/c 74/63/pc 76/65/pc 68/61/c

Sun. Hi/Lo/W 77/64/c 76/64/pc 77/62/t 74/60/t 76/63/t 80/64/pc 70/60/t 73/63/pc 76/67/pc 72/60/t

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

-10s -0s 0s 10s

40s

passed the deputy’s patrol car driving left of center. Demary found Reames’ behavior during the stop suspicious and called Durant, who had reportedly encountered Reames the night before during a call to a residence, for backup.

Both officers reportedly smelled the odor of marijuana in Reames’ car and found an outstanding bench warrant during a background check. That was when Reames reportedly exited the vehicle with a gun.

Simon declined to identify the sequence of events in the shooting, citing an ongoing investigation by the State Law Enforcement Division into the incident, but the sheriff said all shots were fired from Reames’ gun and neither deputy fired his weapon. Initial reports had a third officer, Bishopville Police Chief Calvin Collins, arriving on scene and taking the injured Reames into custody.

Simon also declined to say how many shots were fired, but investigators did collect ballistics evidence from the scene.

Reames reportedly has a history of criminal charges dating back to 1986, including burglary, assault and battery, breaking into an automobile and numerous previous drug convictions.

Reach Bristow Marchant at (803) 774-1272.

795-4257

MONDAY 69°

77°

30s

handgun and, in the course of a struggle, shot both officers as well as, apparently, himself.

After being treated for a gunshot wound to his arm, Reames was booked at Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center on two charges of attempted murder, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute marijuana and crack cocaine. Bond on all charges was denied.

Meanwhile, both deputies remained in Palmetto Health Richland Hospital in Columbia on Friday with what are described as nonlife-threatening injuries.

Durant was shot in the abdomen and, according to Simon, was probably saved by his new, department-issued Kevlar vest. Demary was hit twice in the leg. Simon visited both men in the hospital Friday.

“We thought Sgt. Durant was going to be released, and he may still be released today (Friday),” Simon said by phone while traveling between Palmetto Health Richland and Reames’ bond hearing.

“Demary will be held over for the next couple days, and he might still have surgery.”

It was Demary who originally pulled Reames over about 1:45 p.m. when he reportedly

Call for complete details

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

50s 60s 70s 80s 90s 100s 110s Stationary front

Cold front Showers Rain T-storms Snow Flurries

Ice

Warm front

Today Sun. Today Sun. City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W Albuquerque 44/27/c 42/25/pc Las Vegas 56/40/s 56/39/s Anchorage 30/27/sf 30/12/sn Los Angeles 64/48/s 69/50/s Atlanta 74/65/c 71/54/r Miami 83/74/s 83/73/s Baltimore 64/57/c 71/55/sh Minneapolis 20/8/pc 14/-4/sn Boston 54/47/r 60/44/sh New Orleans 78/65/t 75/51/r Charleston, WV 72/60/sh 72/43/r New York 56/53/sh 69/58/sh Charlotte 68/62/c 73/59/t Oklahoma City 38/28/r 36/20/pc Chicago 37/30/i 33/17/sn Omaha 28/11/c 21/1/c Cincinnati 60/55/r 59/32/r Philadelphia 62/57/c 70/57/sh Dallas 56/38/r 48/30/pc Phoenix 59/43/s 61/42/s Denver 38/14/sf 33/20/pc Pittsburgh 59/56/sh 64/37/r Des Moines 28/14/c 22/0/sn St. Louis 38/33/r 38/19/sn Detroit 37/34/r 41/24/sn Salt Lake City 33/24/sn 33/23/pc Helena 26/16/sn 28/19/sn San Francisco 60/44/s 60/43/pc Honolulu 82/68/sh 82/68/pc Seattle 48/43/r 50/45/c Indianapolis 44/39/r 46/25/c Topeka 34/19/sn 28/3/sn Kansas City 33/20/i 26/7/sn Washington, DC 64/61/c 72/59/sh Weather(W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice

cause or the time you ARIES (March 21-April 19): the last word in astrology dedicate to those less Discuss how to best fortunate will make you spend your time. Enjoy eugenia LAST feel good. Don’t let anyone the company of those put you down or make you you care about most. feel guilty about your Don’t let money put a actions. damper on what you can and cannot do.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Don’t let emotional TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Open up your home issues ruin your day. Offer what you can to to friends and family. Share what you have and others and keep moving. Dressing up your be grateful for what’s offered in return. surroundings or making your place more Romance will brighten your day. comfortable will help ease your stress.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Speak from the heart and let your feelings be known. The only way SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Instigate to bring about positive change is to be honest change at home or at work that will help you and straightforward. Make your home a reach your goals. Taking care of last-minute welcome place for friends and family to gather. changes that require special attention will make you feel good about your contribution.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Look for a unique CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Listen to what’s opportunity to learn something new. Traveling being discussed, but don’t feel the need to take or getting involved in social events will play in part in a debate that can only lead to a dispute your favor and help spark some great ideas to and ill feelings. Do your best to be responsible. pursue in the new year.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Listen to criticism and do AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Reaching out to your best to use what’s said to make old friends or making adjustments to how improvements. A change of environment will you’re going to move forward in the future will do you good and help you see new ease your mind and give you the boost you possibilities. need.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Take proper care of PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): A promise will be personal, financial, legal or medical taken seriously and must be honored. Do responsibilities. Dealing with institutions will whatever it takes to please the people you care pose a problem if you don’t have the proper about. A change in an important relationship paperwork. Romance will cheer you up. can also alter your financial situation for better or worse.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The help you offer a

PICK 3 FRIDAY: 3-9-0 AND 7-3-5 PICK 4 FRIDAY: 4-5-1-3 AND 1-7-2-5 PALMETTO CASH 5 FRIDAY: 1-6-12-16-30 POWERUP: 2 MEGAMILLIONS NUMBERS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT PRESS TIME

FOR WEDNESDAY: 7-24-37-39-40 POWERBALL: 1

Christmas closings schedule BANKS — The following will close at 1 p.m. Tuesday and reopen Thursday: SAFE Federal Credit Union; All South Federal Credit Union; The Citizens Bank; First Citizens; and NBSC. The following will close at 2 p.m. Tuesday and reopen Thursday: Bank of America; Bank of Clarendon; BB&T; and Wells Fargo.

GOVERNMENT — The following will be closed Tuesday through Thursday: state government offices; Clarendon County offices; and Lee County offices.

Sumter city and county offices will be closed Wednesday through Friday.

Federal government offices and the U.S. Postal Service will be closed Wednesday.

SCHOOLS — The following will be closed through Friday, Jan. 3, 2014: Clarendon School Districts 1, 2 and 3.

The following will be closed Monday through Friday, Jan. 3, 2014: Sumter School District; Robert E. Lee Academy; Thomas Sumter Academy; Wilson Hall; St. Anne Catholic School; St. Francis Xavier High School; Laurence Manning Academy; Clarendon Hall; and Sumter Christian School.

Central Carolina Technical College will be closed through Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014.

USC Sumter will be closed through Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014.

Morris College will be closed Monday through Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014.

Lee County Public Schools will be closed Monday through Friday, Jan. 3, 2014.

William Thomas Academy will be closed Monday through Friday, Jan. 3, 2014. A teacher in-service day will be observed on Monday, Jan. 6, 2014, and students will return on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014.

UTILITIES — Black River Electric Coop. will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

Farmers Telephone Coop. will be closed Wednesday.

OTHER — Clemson Extension Service will be closed Monday through Friday.

The Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Sumter County Library will be closed Tuesday through Friday.

The Harvin Clarendon County Library will be closed Tuesday through Friday.

All offices of The Item will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday. The Item will not publish on Christmas Day.

SPORTS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2013

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

B1

Sweep sequel

MHS’ Darley eager for Shrine Bowl challenge

SHS takes 2 from Lakewood for 2nd time this season

BY MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER mchristopher@theitem.com As Manning High School senior Cam Darley has practiced with the South Carolina squad this week in preparation for today’s Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas in Spartanburg, he can’t help but be awestruck.

“Our team is loaded with talent,” Darley said of the Sandlappers.

Darley, who has been practicing at both inside and outside linebacker as well as on special teams, said his Shrine Bowl teammates on defense DARLEY are big and fast, which has constantly kept him working harder in preparation for the game.

“I’m here with guys that have been playing all their lives, and I started playing my sophomore year, so I’ve been learning stuff from all the guys and just comparing my natural talents to theirs,” Darley explained. “It’s kind of fun.”

The 77th annual Shrine Bowl will take place at Wofford College’s

BY EDDIE LITAKER Special To The Item Former Sumter High School girls basketball standout Frances Fields’ first visit to her old home court as Lakewood’s varsity girls basketball head coach was not a happy one as the homestanding Lady Gamecocks outscored the Lady Gators 22-2 in the third quarter to break open a close game and come away with a 55-35 victory on Friday.

“In the third quarter Sumter came out ready to attack and we fell back a little bit. We just kind of gave it to them. That’s what it seemed like,” said Fields, whose team trailed 19-16 at the half. “The third quarter hurt us, and not hitting our free throws, and we worked on that every day in practice.”

Friday’s game was Lakewood’s first since falling at home to Sumter 54-35 on Saturday. The Lady Gators hit just 3 of 14 free-throw attempts in the first half and 7 of 21 for the game. Sumter also struggled from the line in the first half, connecting on just 3 of 9 attempts, before making five of their final six to close out the game hitting 9 of 14.

Sumter head coach Chris Vandevander said there were not big adjustments in the locker room.

“I think a lot of our starters got SEE SWEEP, PAGE B2

SEE DARLEY, PAGE B3

MATT WALSH / THE ITEM

Sumter’s Micah McBride (3) tries to shoot on Lakewood’s Raymond Davis (30) during the Gamecocks’ 58-41 victory over the Gators on Friday at the Sumter High School gymnasium. Sumter swept its crosstown rival for the second time in the last week as the Lady Gamecocks earned a 55-35 victory as well.

77TH ANNUAL SHRINE BOWL WHO: N.C. Tarheels vs. S.C. Sandlappers WHEN: 1 p.m.

WHERE: Gibbs Stadium, Spartanburg RADIO: WPUB-FM 102.7

Tigers OT Battle adjusts attitude, improves play

BY AARON BRENNER Post and Courier CLEMSON — Isaiah Battle had to learn the hard way.

Offensive tackle is not a position for the casually interested. No plays can be taken off, consistency is not tolerated, because 12 great blocks can be melted away with one whiff.

BATTLE Which is why despite offensive coordinator Chad Morris practically begging the sophomore Battle, a behemoth 6-7,

275-pounder from Brooklyn with hulking hands and feet, to seize the left tackle job last summer, Battle barely sniffed the starting lineup during fall camp. He became senior Brandon Thomas’ backup, limited to second-team reps.

“It was my attitude, and my preparation coming to practice every day. I wasn’t consistent,” Battle said this week after a bowl practice, his first interview in three months.

“So when they see the consistency and my attitude change from the incident at N.C. State, it was going SEE BATTLE, PAGE B5

USC women edge Winthrop 69-61 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

South Carolina defensive end Gerald Dixon (44) and his brother, defensive tackle Gerald Dixon Jr., will likely see much more time in starting roles next season with the departures of Jadeveon Clowney and Kelcy Quarles.

ferentiate himself from Dixon Jr. “Sometimes you didn’t want to do it, but we fought together and we believed in each other. Next year, we believe, is our year.”

There’s nothing particularly wrong with being a backup on the defensive line at South Carolina, particularly this year when the Gamecocks’ front four

COLUMBIA — Tiffany Mitchell doesn’t mind having the ball in her hands at the biggest moments for No. 10 South Carolina.

“She would want to take those shots and more if it was up to her,’’ Lady Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley said, with a smile.

Mitchell scored 20 points, including a crucial basket to thwart Winthrop’s late charge in a 69-61 victory on Friday. Mitchell was on target against the Eagles of the Big South Conference, making 7 of 9 field goals. Four of

SEE DIXONS, PAGE B5

SEE USC WOMEN, PAGE B3

Dixon brothers could help anchor USC D-line in 2014

BY CHARLES BENNETT Greenville News COLUMBIA — Gerald Dixon Jr. and his brother Gerald Dixon share more than the same first and last name.

They share a dream, and that dream is close to being realized.

The brothers, who have paid their dues playing mostly in backup roles on the defen-

sive line for the past two seasons at South Carolina, have a great chance of playing their way into the starting lineup next season.

“We’ve been DIXON JR. through a lot since we’ve been here, waiting our turn,” said Gerald Dixon, who goes by “Little G” to dif-

BY PETE IACOBELLI The Associated Press

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

South Carolina’s Tiffany Mitchell (25) drives for the basket as Winthrop’s Taylor Calvert (20) tries to block her way during the Lady Gamecocks’ 69-61 victory on Friday in Columbia.

B2

SPORTS

THE ITEM

Knights top Lee Central 52-46 Crestwood High School’s varsity boys basketball team defeated Lee Central 52-46 on Friday at The Castle.

Devin Nelson led the Knights with 13 points.

O’Shea Benjamin led Lee Central with 10 points.

LAURENCE MANNING HOLLY HILL

60 26

MANNING — Laurence Manning Academy defeated Holly Hill 60-26 on Thursday at Bubba Davis Gymnasium.

Shakie Green led the Swampcats with 17 points.

BOYS AREA ROUNDUP Cagney Brunson, Vaughnte Anderson and Drake Hutson each added seven.

HOLLY HILL Cason 6, James 4, Carpenter 3, Swank 1, Brunson 3, Ott 2, Shuler 2, Kays 2, Noller 3.

LAURENCE MANNING Walker 3, M. Green 2, Brunson 7, S. Green 17, Bey 2, Anderson 7, Eppley 2, Hutson 7, House 6, C. Pipkin 2, M. Pipkin 5.

MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL BATES 47 EBENEZER 42

Zykiem Jackson scored 19 points to lead Bates to a 47-42 victory over Ebene-

|

zer on Thursday at the Ebenezer gymnasium.

Trashad Jett added 11 points for the Bantams.

MAYEWOOD HILLCREST

48 35

DALZELL — Jerrel Kelly scored 15 points to lead Mayewood to a 48-35 victory over Hillcrest on Thursday at the Hillcrest gymnasium.

Antonio Anderson added 12 points for the Vikings.

GIRLS AREA ROUNDUP

|

MHS advances at Monarch Holiday Classic MANNING — Manning High School’s varsity girls basketball team defeated Laurence Manning Academy 72-63 in the Monarch Holiday Classic Tournament on Friday at Thames Arena.

Lanisha Brown led the Lady Monarchs, who improved to 8-0 on the season, with 30 points. Kayla Goldsmith had 13 points and Mahagony Green had 11 points and seven steals. Makeba Harvin had nine points and 10 rebounds and Kareena Hilton snagged 18 rebounds.

Haley Hatfield led LMA with 21 points.

Courtney Beatson added 15.

LAURENCE MANNING Hatfield 21, Beatson 15, McElveen 9, Reyes 9, Jackson 7, Eppley 2, MANNING Brown 30, Goldsmith 13, Green 11, Harvin 9, Hilton 5, Manning 2, Brunson 2.

SWEEP from Page B1 into foul trouble in the first half and we had to sit three starters most of the second quarter. We couldn’t get our intensity level that we wanted on the full-court press,” Vandevander said. “In the third quarter when they got in the game, they got a little tired of sitting on the bench and they came out with a very high intensity level. We were able to create some turnovers and score in transition.”

Though the score was nearly identical to that of the first meeting between the schools, Fields said she saw improvement the second time out against the Lady Gamecocks.

“This was very much an improvement from the first time we played them,” said Fields, whose team stands at 4-3 on the season. “I’m happy with how it went, not the loss but how the girls came out and attacked them (in the) first and second (quarters). Now we’ve just got to work with not playing in spurts. I’m not disappointed at all, because we’re getting better and we’re getting ready for conference time.”

Sonora Dengokl led the Lady Gators with 16, including two 3-point baskets.

Ten Sumter players broke into the scoring column, led by Jessica Harris with 13.

“I thought we played pretty good defensively all night long,” said Vandevander, whose team improved to 3-3. “I thought we had a lull in the first half offensively, but our reserve players stepped in and did an excellent job on the defensive end, and that’s why we were able to maintain through that dry period.”

Both teams will next take the floor on Dec. 26 in holiday tournaments.

Lakewood will be playing at Lake Marion High

CRESTWOOD LEE CENTRAL

54 40

Shaquanda McCray had a doubledouble to lead Crestwood High School to a 54-40 victory over Lee Central on Friday at The Castle.

McCray scored 11 points, had 11 rebounds and blocked three shots for the Lady Knights.

Cawasha Ceasar led Crestwood in scoring with 12 points.

JUNIOR VARSITY BASKETBALL THOMAS SUMTER FLORENCE CHRISTIAN

28 6

FLORENCE — Thomas Sumter Academy defeated Florence Christian 28-6 on Friday at the Florence Christian gymnasium.

Danielle Young led TSA with 15 points.

Josie Reed added eight.

GIRLS SUMTER 55, LAKEWOOD 35 LHS SHS

8 12

8 7

2 22

17 - 35 14 - 55

LAKEWOOD Myers 4, Baker 4, De. Richardson 1, Lemon 7, Sonora Dengokl 16, Pack 1, Jackson 2.

SUMTER Brown 6, K. Kennedy 3, Hithe 5, Davis 6, Cooper 7, Wilson 2, McBride 4, Jessica Harris 13, N. Kennedy 7, Da. Richardson 2.

BOYS SUMTER 58, LAKEWOOD 41 LHS SHS

10 19

10 11

7 10

14 - 41 18 - 58

LAKEWOOD J. Johnson 6, Grant 2, White 9, Wactor 2, Wilson 8, Epps 6, C. Johnson 5, Lang 3.

SUMTER Butler 8, Micah McBride 13, Rembert 2, Ta’Bon 4, Richardson 4, Parker 9, Caldwell 3, Kershaw 9, Tyler 2, Moore 4.

School while Sumter will be participating in the District 9 Officials Tournament.

In the boys game, Lakewood showed vast improvement over last Saturday’s effort against Sumter, but the Gators still came up short, falling 58-41 .

“It was definitely a much better effort than the last time we played them,” said Lakewood head coach Terrence Scriven, referring to the Gators’ 57-22 lost to Sumter six days earlier.

“We’re a much better team than what we showed the last time. We know Sumter is one of the elite teams in the state, and definitely in our county, but we don’t want to have a moral victory. We had our chances in the third quarter to cut that lead even closer than that (30-20 halftime deficit). But I am proud of their effort. It was a much better effort.”

Sumter led 19-10 after one quarter, but Lakewood quickly pulled within five at 19-14. A 9-2 Gamecock run pushed the advantage back to 12, 2816, before the Gators cut it to 10 at the break.

It was still a 13-point game heading to the final quarter, with Sumter leading 40-27. Another Gamecock run pushed the lead to a game-high 21, 50-29, before the Gators trimmed

it to the final 17-point margin.

Even with the double digit win, Sumter head coach Jo Jo English saw plenty of room for improvement.

“We didn’t play very well at all,” English said.

“We turned the ball over 26 times, missed a bunch of free throws, and I don’t think that we responded well from the way we played on Tuesday (in a 55-51 loss at Lower Richland). I think there was a little carryover. A lot of guys came to the game not ready to play, but there were several players that came off the bench and picked us up. Lakewood played outstanding.

They played as hard as they could and we just kept the pressure up. We made some shots there at the end and we were able to get the win.”

Jalen White led the Gators in scoring with nine points while Micah McBride topped 10 Gamecocks in the scoring column with 13 points.

Lakewood, now 6-4, will travel to Northwestern High School in Rock Hill on Dec. 26 to begin play in the 13th Annual Moody Classic while the 5-1 Gamecocks will join the Lady Gamecocks that same day to compete in the District 9 Officials Tournament.

LOL - Read Bizarro, Mother Goose, Zits and more on The Item's comics page.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2013

SCOREBOARD

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TV, RADIO TODAY 7:40 a.m. -- International Soccer: Barclays Premier League Match -- Cardiff vs. Liverpool (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

9:55 a.m. -- International Soccer: Barclays Premier League Match -- West Ham vs. Manchester United (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

Noon -- College Basketball: Georgetown at Kansas (ESPN).

Noon -- College Football: NCAA Division II Playoffs Championship Game from Florence, Ala. -- Lenoir-Rhyne vs.

Northwest Missouri State (ESPN2).

Noon -- College Basketball: Belmont at Kentucky (ESPNU).

Noon -- College Basketball: East Carolina at North Carolina State (FOX SPORTSOUTH).

Noon -- College Basketball: Tulsa at Texas Christian (SPORTSOUTH).

Noon -- High School Football: Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas from Spartanburg (WPUB-FM 102.7).

2 p.m. -- College Football: New Mexico Bowl from Albuquerque -- Washington State vs. Colorado State (ESPN).

2 p.m. -- College Football: Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs Semifinal Game -- Towson at Eastern Washington (ESPNU).

2 p.m. -- College Basketball: Youngstown State at St. John’s (FOX SPORTS 1).

2 p.m. -- College Basketball: Maine at Providence (FOX SPORTSOUTH).

2 p.m. -- College Basketball: Florida State vs. Massachusetts from Sunrise, Fla. (SPORTSOUTH).

3 p.m. -- College Basketball: Governor’s Holiday Hoops Classic from Richmond, Va. -- Hampton vs. James Madison (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

3:30 p.m. -- College Basketball: Gonzaga vs. Kansas State from Wichita, Kan. (ESPN2).

3:30 p.m. -- College Football: Las Vegas Bowl from Las Vegas -- Fresno State vs. Southern California (WOLO 25).

4 p.m. -- College Basketball: Michigan State at Texas (WLTX 19).

4 p.m. -- Women’s College Basketball: Utah State at Brigham Young (BYUTV).

4 p.m. -- College Basketball: Rider at Villanova (FOX SPORTS 1).

4 p.m. -- College Basketball: Georgia Tech at Vanderbilt (FOX SPORTSOUTH).

4:30 p.m. -- College Basketball: Florida vs. Fresno State from Sunrise, Fla. (SPORTSOUTH).

5 p.m. -- College Basketball: Davidson at North Carolina (ESPNU).

5:30 p.m. -- College Football: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl from Boise, Idaho -- Buffalo vs. San Diego State (ESPN).

5:30 p.m. -- College Basketball: Illinois vs. Missouri from St. Louis (ESPN2).

5:30 p.m. -- College Basketball: Governor’s Holiday Hoops Classic from Richmond, Va. -- Virginia Commonwealth vs.

Virginia Tech (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

6 p.m. -- College Basketball: Louisville at Florida International (FOX SPORTS 1).

6:30 p.m. -- LPGA Golf: Swinging Skirts World Ladies Masters Second Round from New Taipei, Taiwan (GOLF).

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Big 12/SEC Challenge from Houston -- Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M (ESPNU).

7 p.m. -- NHL Hockey: Carolina at Tampa Bay (FOX SPORTSOUTH).

7:30 p.m. -- College Basketball: Notre Dame vs. Ohio State from Brooklyn, N.Y. (ESPN2).

7:30 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Utah at Charlotte (SPORTSOUTH).

8 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Cleveland at Chicago (NBA TV, WGN).

8:30 p.m. -- College Basketball: Brooklyn Hoops Holiday Invitational from Brooklyn, N.Y. -- Michigan vs. Stanford (FOX SPORTS 1).

9 p.m. -- College Football: New Orleans Bowl from New Orleans -- Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Tulane (ESPN).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Marquette vs. New Mexico from Las Vebas (ESPNU).

9:30 p.m. -- Women’s College Volleyball: NCAA Tournament Championship Match from Seattle -- Wisconsin vs.

Penn State (ESPN2).

10 p.m. -- Professional Golf: Asian Tour/European PGA Tour Royal Trophy Final Round from Guangzhoo, China (GOLF).

10:30 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Denver at Los Angeles Clippers (NBA TV).

11:30 p.m. -- College Basketball: Colorado vs. Oklahoma State from Las Vebas (ESPN2).

PREP SCHEDULE TODAY Varsity Basketball Monarch Holiday Classic At John Thames Arena, Manning Today Laurence Manning, Scott’s Branch, Lake Marion, Manning girls and boys, 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 15 .444 Toronto 9 14 .391 Brooklyn 9 16 .360 New York 8 17 .320 Philadelphia 7 19 .269 Southeast Division W L Pct Miami 19 6 .760 Atlanta 14 12 .538 Charlotte 12 14 .462 Washington 11 13 .458 Orlando 8 18 .308 Central Division W L Pct Indiana 20 5 .800 Detroit 13 14 .481 Cleveland 9 15 .375 Chicago 9 16 .360 Milwaukee 5 20 .200 WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division W L Pct San Antonio 21 5 .808 Houston 17 9 .654 Dallas 15 10 .600 New Orleans 11 13 .458 Memphis 10 15 .400 Northwest Division W L Pct Oklahoma City 21 4 .840 Portland 22 5 .815 Denver 14 10 .583 Minnesota 13 13 .500 Utah 7 21 .250 Pacific Division W L Pct L.A. Clippers 18 9 .667 Phoenix 14 10 .583 Golden State 14 13 .519 L.A. Lakers 12 13 .480 Sacramento 7 17 .292 Thursday’s Games Oklahoma City 107, Chicago 95 San Antonio 104, Golden State 102 Friday’s Games Brooklyn at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Milwaukee at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.

Sacramento at Miami, 7:30 p.m.

Utah at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.

Charlotte at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.

Houston at Indiana, 8 p.m.

Toronto at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Phoenix at Denver, 9 p.m.

Minnesota at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.

Today’s Games Memphis at New York, 12 p.m.

Washington at Boston, 1 p.m.

Sacramento at Orlando, 7 p.m.

Houston at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.

Utah at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.

Cleveland at Chicago, 8 p.m.

Philadelphia at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.

Oklahoma City at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.

Dallas at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

New Orleans at Portland, 10 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.

Denver at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.

Sunday’s Games Boston at Indiana, 6 p.m.

Toronto at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.

Minnesota at L.A. Clippers, 9:30 p.m.

GB – 1 2 3 41/2 GB – 51/2 71/2 71/2 111/2 GB – 8 101/2 11 15 GB – 4 51/2 9 101/2 GB – – 61/2 81/2 151/2 GB – 21/2 4 5 91/2

NFL STANDINGS

By The Associated Press AMERICAN CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF New England 10 4 0 .714 369 Miami 8 6 0 .571 310 N.Y. Jets 6 8 0 .429 246 Buffalo 5 9 0 .357 300 South W L T Pct PF y-Indianapolis 9 5 0 .643 338 Tennessee 5 9 0 .357 326 Jacksonville 4 10 0 .286 221 Houston 2 12 0 .143 253 North W L T Pct PF Cincinnati 9 5 0 .643 354 Baltimore 8 6 0 .571 296 Pittsburgh 6 8 0 .429 321 Cleveland 4 10 0 .286 288 West W L T Pct PF x-Denver 11 3 0 .786 535 x-Kansas City 11 3 0 .786 399 San Diego 7 7 0 .500 343 Oakland 4 10 0 .286 295 NATIONAL CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF Philadelphia 8 6 0 .571 364 Dallas 7 7 0 .500 393 N.Y. Giants 5 9 0 .357 251 Washington 3 11 0 .214 305 South W L T Pct PF New Orleans 10 4 0 .714 359 Carolina 10 4 0 .714 328 Tampa Bay 4 10 0 .286 258 Atlanta 4 10 0 .286 309 North W L T Pct PF Chicago 8 6 0 .571 406 Green Bay 7 6 1 .536 353 Detroit 7 7 0 .500 362 Minnesota 4 9 1 .321 363 West W L T Pct PF x-Seattle 12 2 0 .857 380 San Francisco 10 4 0 .714 349 Arizona 9 5 0 .643 342 St. Louis 6 8 0 .429 316 x-clinched playoff spot y-clinched division Sunday’s Games 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’s Games Atlanta at San Francisco, 8:40 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 29 Green Bay at Chicago, 1 p.m.

Houston at Tennessee, 1 p.m.

Philadelphia at Dallas, 1 p.m.

Detroit at Minnesota, 1 p.m.

Tampa Bay at New Orleans, 1 p.m.

Carolina at Atlanta, 1 p.m.

Cleveland at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.

Washington at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m.

Baltimore at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Jacksonville at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

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

Buffalo at New England, 1 p.m.

Denver at Oakland, 4:25 p.m.

Kansas City at San Diego, 4:25 p.m.

St. Louis at Seattle, 4:25 p.m.

San Francisco at Arizona, 4:25 p.m.

PA 311 296 367 354 PA 319 355 399 375 PA 274 277 332 362 PA 372 255 311 393 PA 349 385 357 434 PA 270 208 324 388 PA 391 362 339 425 PA 205 228 291 324

NHL STANDINGS

By The Associated Press EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Boston 35 23 10 2 48 96 74 Tampa Bay 35 21 11 3 45 97 84 Montreal 37 21 13 3 45 92 81 Detroit 37 16 12 9 41 94 101 Toronto 37 18 16 3 39 101 106 Ottawa 37 14 17 6 34 103 122 Florida 36 14 17 5 33 85 112 Buffalo 35 9 23 3 21 63 100 Metropolitan Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Pittsburgh 37 26 10 1 53 117 80 Washington 34 18 13 3 39 107 102 Philadelphia 35 16 15 4 36 86 97 Carolina 34 14 13 7 35 79 94 N.Y. Rangers 35 16 17 2 34 79 95 New Jersey 35 14 15 6 34 83 87 Columbus 35 14 17 4 32 91 100 N.Y. Islanders 35 9 19 7 25 85 121 WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Chicago 37 25 7 5 55 138 102 St. Louis 34 23 7 4 50 119 81 Colorado 34 23 10 1 47 100 80 Minnesota 37 20 12 5 45 86 88 Dallas 34 17 12 5 39 99 102 Nashville 35 16 16 3 35 80 99 Winnipeg 36 15 16 5 35 95 106 Pacific Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Anaheim 36 24 7 5 53 116 91 Los Angeles 36 24 8 4 52 101 69 San Jose 35 21 8 6 48 113 88 Vancouver 37 20 11 6 46 101 90 Phoenix 34 18 10 6 42 106 105 Calgary 35 13 16 6 32 88 111 Edmonton 37 11 23 3 25 95 127 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss.

Thursday’s Games Toronto 2, Phoenix 1, SO Buffalo 4, Boston 2 Philadelphia 5, Columbus 4 Pittsburgh 5, Minnesota 2 Florida 4, Ottawa 2 Detroit 3, Calgary 2, OT Tampa Bay 4, Nashville 2 St. Louis 5, Montreal 1 Dallas 4, Vancouver 1 Colorado 4, Edmonton 2 Los Angeles 4, San Jose 1 Friday’s Games Anaheim at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

N.Y. Islanders at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.

Washington at Carolina, 7 p.m.

Vancouver at Chicago, 8 p.m.

Florida at Winnipeg, 8 p.m.

Today’s Games Calgary at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.

Phoenix at Ottawa, 2 p.m.

Colorado at Los Angeles, 4 p.m.

New Jersey at Washington, 7 p.m.

Philadelphia at Columbus, 7 p.m.

Montreal at Nashville, 7 p.m.

Buffalo at Boston, 7 p.m.

Detroit at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Carolina at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.

Anaheim at N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.

St. Louis at Edmonton, 10 p.m.

Dallas at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.

Sunday’s Games Minnesota at N.Y. Rangers, 7:30 p.m.

Winnipeg at Vancouver, 8 p.m.

TRANSCATIONS

By The Associated Press BASEBALL MLB _ Suspended Baltimore LHP Troy Patton 25 games, without pay, after testing positive for an amphetamine in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

National League ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS _ Agreed to terms with INF Eric Chavez on a one-year contract.

CHICAGO CUBS _ Agreed to terms with LHPs Jonathan Sanchez, Tsuyoshi Wada and Tommy Hottovy and OF Mitch Maier on minor league contracts.

SPORTS

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2013

THE ITEM

Bobcats rally past Pistons 116-106 AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Kemba Walker scored 34 points and Al Jefferson led a fourth-quarter rally by the Charlotte Bobcats, who overtook the Detroit Pistons 116-106 on Friday night after trailing by as many as 20.

Charlotte was down 14 after three quarters before dominating the fourth. Jefferson scored 13 points during a decisive 16-3 run.

Down 89-75, the Bobcats scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter to get back in the game. Jefferson scored 15 of his 24 points in the fourth.

Charlotte scored 72 points in the second half and outscored the Pistons 41-17 in the final quarter.

Brandon Jennings had 26 points for Detroit.

HEAT KINGS

BASKETBALL ROUNDUP

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From staff, wire reports

(Mitchell) made us pay,’’ he said.

On Wednesday night, Mitchell struggled along with her teammates, going 4 for 13 from the floor in a 74-66 loss to No. 14 North Carolina, the first defeat of the season for the Lady Gamecocks (10-1).

Carolina played without starting point guard Khadijah Sessions, who injured her left ankle in the North Carolina loss. Sessions was on crutches on the bench. She’s also expected to miss South Carolina’s game with South Carolina State on Sunday.

But the Lady Gamecocks started fast Friday afternoon and opened a 14-0 lead in less than five minutes behind Elem Ibiam and Dozier.

However, Winthrop forced

USC into a season-high 20 turnovers.

Sessions’ replacement, Davis, finished with only three points. She also drew the ire of coach Dawn Staley after a late turnover led to an open shot by McClanahan to end the half at 37-23.

South Carolina’s defensive struggles continued in the second half when Winthrop tightened up the game with a 17-8 run. Cook said his team did a good job of taking advantage of Carolina’s mistakes to put up more points than South Carolina typically allows.

“We just kept running.

We’re a go-go team,’’ Cook said. “They’re used to holding people to about 50 a game.

We scored 61. I’d have like to have scored nine more.’’

MIAMI — Chris Bosh scored 25 points, Dwyane Wade added 20 and the Miami Heat put up a season high for points, rolling past the Sacramento Kings 122-103.

LeBron James had 18 points, eight assists and six rebounds while sitting out the fourth quarter for Miami, which has won four straight overall and 18 of its last 19 against the Kings.

Ray Allen added 18 and Mario Chalmers scored 16 for the Heat, who shot 61 percent.

DeMarcus Cousins led Sacramento with 27 points and eight rebounds in 32 minutes. Ben McLemore scored 20 and Rudy Gay added 14 for Sacramento, which has now dropped the first three games of its four-game trip.

121 120

PHILADELPHIA — Evan Turner hit the winning basket at the buzzer and scored 29 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 121-120, overtime win over the Brooklyn Nets.

Paul Pierce hit a 3-pointer with 16.9 seconds left in OT to give the Nets the short-lived lead.

Turner drove past a pair of defenders and tossed up the last-gasp shot. The ball bounced three times around the rim before it dropped through the net. After a brief review, the bucket stood, snapping the Sixers’ seven-game losing streak.

Thaddeus Young scored 25 points for the Sixers, and Michael Carter-Williams had 15 points and 10 assists.

COLLEGE (2) SYRACUSE HIGH POINT

75 54

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Trevor Cooney hit five 3-pointers and scored 17 points, C.J. Fair added 15 points, and No. 2 Syracuse beat High Point 75-54.

Syracuse (11-0) remained unbeaten, but it wasn’t easy.

High Point (3-7) trailed by just three points at halftime and led early in the second period before Syracuse responded with a 28-3 run to put the game away.

Cooney has made at least five 3-pointers in six games this season. Freshman point guard Tyler Ennis had 10 points and

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Charlotte guard Kemba Walker (15) drives past Detroit forward Greg Monroe, right, during the Bobcats’ 116-106 victory on Friday in Auburn Hills, Mich.

Jerami Grant also had 10 points.

FURMAN LIBERTY

86 83

GREENVILLE — Stephen Croone scored 40 points and grabbed 11 rebounds — both career-highs — as Furman nearly blew a 24-point lead, holding on for an 86-83 win over Liberty.

Furman (5-6) scored 15 straight second-half points to extend its lead to 66-42 with 12:26 to play. But Liberty (5-7) later had a run of its own, scoring 10 straight points to cut it to 70-61 with 6:24 remaining.

Antwan Burrus hit a jumper with 39 seconds left to bring Liberty within two at 85-83. Furman then ran down the clock on its ensuing possession, missing a jumper with three seconds to play. Tomasz Gielo got the rebound for Liberty but turned the ball over.

From wire reports

SPORTS ITEMS

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Clemson football to host Notre Dame in 2015 SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame will play at Clemson for the first time since 1977 when the Irish came to Memorial Stadium on October 3, 2015. The Atlantic Coast Conference and the University of Notre Dame announced the dates of Notre Dame’s games with ACC schools for the 201416 seasons on Friday.

The last time the two schools met at Clemson took place on November 12, 1977, when a pair of top 15 football teams met in Clemson’s Death Valley. A fifth-ranked Notre Dame football team led by Joe Montana, defeated a 15thranked Clemson team led by Steve Fuller, 21-17. Both quarterbacks went on to be on Super Bowl winning teams in the NFL. Notre Dame also announced that it will play a home game against Boston College at Fenway Park next season.

USC LOSES WR BYRD TO KNEE INJURY

COLUMBIA — No. 8 South Carolina will be without second-leading receiver Damiere Byrd for the Capital One Bowl after he injured his knee at practice this week.

The school said Friday that Byrd would have arthroscopic surgery in a day or two. The Gamecocks (10-2) will face No. 19 Wisconsin (9-3) in Orlando,

USC WOMEN from Page B1 those were 3-pointers, including one where she got fouled and converted the free throw for a four-point play.

Her biggest basket, though, came after Winthrop cut a 19point lead down to 61-57 in the final four minutes, her jump shot increasing the Lady Gamecocks’ lead to eight points. The Eagles could get no closer than five points the rest of the way.

“I think (Staley) is most comfortable, when we need big shots, to put the ball in my hands,’’ said Mitchell, a 5-foot-9 sophomore guard.

“Not necessarily to have me

Fla., on New Year’s Day. The 5-foot-9 Byrd is from Sicklerville, N.J. He had 33 catches for 575 yards and four touchdowns this fall. His 76-yard touchdown catch at Tennessee on Oct. 19 was the Gamecocks’ longest scoring pass of the year.

Byrd is among South Carolina’s fastest players and competes in sprint events for the Gamecocks’ track team.

Athletic spokesman Steve Fink said the team was hopeful Byrd would be recovered enough for spring practice.

ORIOLES LHP PATTON GETS 25-GAME DRUG SUSPENSION

NEW YORK — Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Troy Patton was suspended

by Major League Baseball on Friday for the first 25 games of next season after a positive test for a banned amphetamine.

Patton told The Baltimore Sun that he took an Adderall pill four days before the season finished, trying to improve his short-term focus.

The 28-year-old left-hander, a veteran of five major league seasons, was 2-0 with a 3.70 ERA this year in 56 relief appearances.

YOUKILIS AGREES TO $4M, 1-YEAR DEAL WITH RAKUTEN

NEW YORK — Kevin Youkilis has agreed to a one-year contract with the Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan’s Pacific League.

A 34-year-old first baseman and third baseman, Youkilis will have a $4 million

shooting the ball, but to get people open as well.’’

Mitchell said the other go-to player is Aleighsa Welch, who added 14 points on 4 of 7 shooting.

USC looked like it would make easy work of Winthrop in the noon game, rushing out to a 14-0 lead in front of grade-school children on holiday break. South Carolina eventually led 33-14.

That’s when Winthrop, a 20-win team last year, turned up its defense and nearly stole one from the Lady Gamecocks.

“I actually think we relaxed a little bit on them and they came and slapped us in the face,’’ Tiffany Davis said.

“Kind of unexpected.’’

Erica Williams’ jumper with 4:34 left drew Winthrop

base salary and can earn $1 million bonuses.

USC NO. 14, CLEMSON NO. 21 IN PRESEASON BASEBALL POLL

South Carolina is ranked No. 14 in the nation in the Collegiate Baseball Preseason Top 40 as announced on Friday morning while Clemson comes in at No. 21.

South Carolina is one of eight SEC schools to be ranked in the preseason poll.

Also ranked are Mississippi State (No. 2), LSU (No. 3), Vanderbilt (No. 9), Florida (No. 16), Texas A&M (No. 25), Alabama (No. 29) and Ole Miss (No. 30). Cal State Fullerton is the preseason No. 1.

Along with Clemson other ACC teams ranked in the top 25 include Florida State (No. 5), N.C. State (No. 10, North Carolina (No. 11), Virginia (No. 12) and Miami (No. 13).

DIVISION III CHAMPIONSHIP WISCONSIN-WHITEWATER MOUNT UNION

52 14

SALEM, Va. — Matt Behrendt threw four touchdown passes and WisconsinWhitewater’s defense stymied Gagliardi Trophy-winner Kevin Burke and Mount Union in a 52-14 victory in the Division III championship Friday night.

Behrendt hit Jake Kumerow and Tyler Huber for two touchdowns each, and Jordan Ratliffe ran for a pair of scores

to 59-55. Mitchell then added a bucket to increase South Carolina’s lead.

Schaquilla Nunn’s putback brought Winthrop within four points before Asia Dozier’s two foul shots and Mitchell’s jumper extended the margin to 65-57 with 1:55 to play.

Dozier had 13 points for the Lady Gamecocks.

Dequesha McClanahan and Williams had 19 points each for the Eagles. McClanahan, who had averaged more than 21 points this season, fouled out on a drive to the basket with under three minutes to go.

Winthrop coach Kevin Cook said his team packed in the middle to negate USC’s size adavantage.

“But that young lady

DARLEY from Page B1 Gibbs Stadium beginning at 1 p.m.

Manning finished 5-5 on the season, but Darley thrived on defense, mostly at linebacker. He accounted for 108 solo tackles, 40 assists and four quarterback hurries.

Offensively he had three catches and a touchdown as a tight end.

“He started out at defensive end and then we moved him around a little bit because he tackled so well,” Felder said of Darley. “We moved him to inside linebacker so I think he’ll fit in pretty good with what they do with their scheme.”

Felder said practicing at three different positions shouldn’t be a problem for Darley and he thinks the competition will only make Darley better.

“He’s versatile and smart enough, whatever they throw at him he’ll make the adjustment,” Felder said. “He played some special teams for us, but he can run and tackle, and at that level you have to do it all.”

While he has been humbled by the experience, Darley said he is optimistic about what this game could bring him should he perform at a high level. Darley is verbally committed to Charlotte, which just completed its first year of football as a Football Championship Subdivision program. It will play one more year at the FCS level before moving to the Football Bowl Subdivision and Conference USA in 2015.

Darley has other options with offers from FBS schools The Citadel and South Carolina State.

“You always have fun when you’re on the field playing football, but this is an opportunity to show schools that didn’t talk to me and didn’t offer me that they’re missing out,” he explained.

Darley said he is proud to be representing not only Manning High, but the town of Manning as well.

“I want them to know that I’m doing this for the whole town of Manning and my teammates,” he said. “It’s not about me.”

For more information about tickets, visit www. shrine-bowl.com. For those who will not be able to attend the game, it will be carried live on WPUB-FM 102.7.

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76ERS NETS

B3

B4

NFL

THE ITEM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2013

Final road trip for Atlanta’s Gonzalez

BY GEORGE HENRY The Associated Press ATLANTA — When he first looked at Atlanta’s 2013 schedule, Tony Gonzalez was thrilled to see a late December rematch with the San Francisco 49ers.

Gonzalez envisioned the Falcons exacting revenge for San Francisco’s victory in last season’s NFC title game in Atlanta.

Unfortunately for Gonzalez, the league’s record-setting tight end, the circumstances couldn’t be much different.

The 49ers are 10-4 and close to securing another trip to the playoffs.

Atlanta, at 4-10, was the first NFC team eliminated from postseason contention, essentially making a disappointment out of Gonzalez’s decision to put off retirement and return for a final season.

“Last year was last year,’’ Gonzalez said Friday. “That’s in the past.’’

Even so, the Falcons’ freefall in the standings hasn’t caused Gonzlaez to close out his career in bitterness.

He has focused instead on the good times, from his first 12 seasons with Kansas City to his last five with the Falcons, and the remarkable consistency as the NFL’s No. 2 career-leading receiver.

“That’s what separates average players from good players, good players from Pro Bowl players and Pro Bowl players from Hall of Famers,’’ Gonzalez said. “That’s what I try to do every time that I’m out there on that field. Every play is a chance for me to go out there on that field and be great.’’

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Atlanta tight end Tony Gonzalez (88) is preparing for his final NFL road game when the Falcons travel to San Francisco on Sunday.

For the most part, despite only one playoff victory in his career, Gonzalez has done just that.

Only Jerry Rice caught more passes. Only Rice, Terrell Owens, Randy Moss and Isaac Bruce had more yards receiving. Only Rice, Moss, Owens, Cris Carter and Marvin Harrison had more touchdown receptions.

Gonzalez redefined his position, statistically surpassing the numbers posted by Dave Casper, Mike Ditka, John Mackey, Ozzie Newsome, Charlie Sanders, Shannon Sharpe, Jackie Smith and Kellen Winslow — eight tight ends enshrined in the Pro Foot-

ball Hall of Fame.

“The great part about him is it doesn’t matter if there’s two games left or we’re in Week 1 or 2 or whatever,’’ Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said, “he approaches each one the same way. He’s intense, focused and excited, and he’s been that way for five years since I’ve been around him.’’

With just two games left, Gonzalez almost can’t believe the end is near.

On one hand, he’s grateful to be almost done because the weekly grind of practice, conditioning and film study is a crashing bore.

NFL NOTEBOOK

|

Packers rule out QB Rodgers vs. Steelers GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers have ruled out Aaron Rodgers for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It will be Green Bay’s seventh straight game without Rodgers since the franchise quarterback fractured his left collarbone during the first series of a 27-20 loss to the Bears on Nov. 4.

Backup Matt Flynn will make a fourth straight start. Coach Mike McCarthy said Friday that Rodgers has not received medical clearance yet, and that the organization feels Rodgers is not ready to play.

“Just as I’ve stated all along.

We’ve got two different circumstances here. We’ve got Aaron RODGERS Rodgers’ health, and obviously where we are as a football team,’’ McCarthy said. “Until we feel good about where Aaron is medically, that will not be part of the second circumstance. So as an organization, we are not ready for him to play.’’

Green Bay (7-6-1) went winless for five games before rallying for two straight comefrom-behind victories with Flynn at quarterback to get back into the NFC North race. The Packers can win the division by beating the Steelers this week and Bears next week.

BRONCOS’ WELKER TO MISS MORE TIME WITH CONCUSSION

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — As expected, Denver Broncos slot receiver Wes Welker was officially ruled out of this weekend’s game at Houston.

He’s also expected to be held out of the Broncos’ regular-season finale at Oakland on Dec. 29 as a precaution against a third head injury this month, which would end his season.

The Broncos (11-3) are hoping to gain home-field advantage in the playoffs and a first-round bye that would give Welker more than a month’s rest.

VIKINGS RB PETERSON PRACTICES

It’s recovery time again for Dallas’ Romo

BY SCHUYLER DIXON The Associated Press IRVING, Texas — Tony Romo is pretty used to this drill by now.

Make a big mistake late to cost the Dallas Cowboys a chance to win. Say he wishes he had that throw back.

Vow to be better the next time.

Now Romo and the Cowboys have to bounce back again Sunday at Washington.

If they do, they’ll get to play for the NFC East title in the finale against Philadelphia at home. If not, they could be eliminated from the playoffs for the fourth straight year.

“I think it’s good for guys to understand how we have everything in front of us,’’ Romo said.

“Like I said before, we have to play better than we’ve played.’’

And avoid another mistake from the quarterback.

The latest recovery routine was triggered by

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dallas quarterback Tony Romo (9) is again trying to recover from another late-game interception and get the Cowboys back on track for the NFC East title.

a much-discussed interception that gave Green Bay new life in a 37-36 win after the Packers trailed by 23 at halftime.

Among the talking points: • Romo shouldn’t have used the bailout option to pass on the run play

sent in by Bill Callahan and coach Jason Garrett.

• The coaches shouldn’t have even given him a choice because running the clock was the only thing that mattered.

• Romo shouldn’t have thrown the pass once he turned and saw linebacker Clay Matthews in his face.

Shouldn’t, shouldn’t, shouldn’t.

“More than anything, I can’t make that decision in that situation,’’ Romo said. “When you look back on one throw right now all year, you’d want that one back.’’

There’s one other part of this routine that’s pretty consistent for Romo: support from his teammates despite a litany of similarly painful errors through the years.

“That’s our guy,’’ receiver Dez Bryant said. “We all love him. And things happen, unfortunate things happen. Those things can be fixed, and that’s by staying together.’’

Broncos’ Bailey ready to return, not retire

BY ARNIE STAPLETON The Associated Press ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Champ Bailey isn’t going to pull a Ray Lewis and inspire his team down the stretch and into the playoffs by declaring this is his last hurrah.

Asked if retirement was on his mind after enduring the most trying season of his stellar career, one in which he’s missed 11 games with a nagging foot injury, the Denver Broncos’ 35-year-old cornerback quickly chortled.

“Oh no,’’ he said. “I’m thinking about winning on Sunday.’’

With rookie Kayvon Webster out following surgery on his right thumb this week, Bailey is expected to play in Denver’s nickel and dime packages when the Broncos (11-3) visit the Houston Texans (2-12).

It will be just his fourth game of the season.

Bailey first sprained his left foot in a preseason game at Seattle and he aggravated it Oct. 20 at Indianapolis in his second game back. He played the first half at Kansas City on Dec. 1 but clearly wasn’t himself, and coach John Fox later acknowledged the 12-time Pro Bowler had been rushed back too soon.

Bailey has much BAILEY more confidence in both his foot and his game now.

“I do feel like I do still have my speed and quickness — I have to in order to be able to play out there,’’ Bailey said. “I feel good about what I can do. I think now it’s just being smart about how I go about doing it and making sure I don’t have any setbacks

and I don’t wear myself down or anything like that. The good thing is I’m fresh, I’m ready to go. I’ve had some time off.’’

Bailey has spent much of this season imparting his wisdom to his fellow defensive backs during the week and on the sideline come game day, wanting desperately to help shore up an injuryriddled defense that’s ranked 28th against the pass and contribute to a team that can clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs for the second straight season.

“Regardless of how we’re playing it’s hard to watch,’’ he said.

“But I do what I can to help these guys get prepared every week, that’s what I’ve been doing. I still do the same thing this week, except I’ll be out there. I’m looking forward to getting out there and helping them while I’m on the field.’’

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Adrian Peterson shouldn’t have any reason to get “hot’’ at Minnesota Vikings coach Leslie Frazier this week.

Peterson returned to practice for Minnesota on Friday and is expected to play in Sunday’s game at Cincinnati as long as he doesn’t have any setbacks with his sprained right foot. The league’s second-leading rusher, Peterson is listed as questionable for the Vikings (4-9-1).

Peterson missed last week’s game after spraining his foot a week earlier at Baltimore.

EAGLES QB FOLES FINED $10K FOR ILLEGAL BLOCK

NEW YORK — Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles was fined $10,000 by the NFL on Friday for an illegal peel-back block on Minnesota’s Erin Henderson during the Eagles’ loss Sunday.

Foles went down low at Henderson’s knees, drawing a penalty and negating DeSean Jackson’s 18-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

STEELERS DE KEISEL RETURNING TO LINEUP

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel Keisel expects to play on Sunday when the Steelers (6-8) travel to Green Bay (7-6-1).

He missed four of the previous five games with plantar fasciitis in his left foot but practiced on Friday without any issues and is listed as probable.

CHIEFS GET MCCLUSTER BACK SUNDAY

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs will have dangerous punt returner Dexter McCluster back from injury when they play the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.

McCluster missed last week’s win at Oakland after developing an infection in his ankle.

THEISMANN: REDSKINS UNIFORM ‘HONORS’ TRIBES

ISELTA PUEBLO, N.M. — Former Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann says that when he wore the uniform as a player he did it to honor American Indians.

But Theismann said Friday at the Isleta Resort & Casino at the Isleta Pueblo that he understands why some Native Americans want the name changed.

Theismann made his comments before his keynote address at a luncheon for Colorado State and Washington State. The teams are scheduled to face off Saturday in the New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque.

From wire reports

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2013

THE ITEM

Bulldogs, Trojans meet in Las Vegas Bowl

BY GREG BEACHAM The Associated Press LAS VEGAS — Although Fresno State fell one win short of a BCS berth, the Bulldogs still got a high-stakes trip to Vegas for the final game of quarterback Derek Carr’s career.

The 21st-ranked Bulldogs (11-1) landed in the Las Vegas Bowl against Southern California (9-4) on Saturday, kicking off bowl season with a compelling California matchup in the shadow of the Strip.

USC is on its third head coach of a tumultuous season, but the talent-rich Trojans are still one of the nation’s highest-profile programs.

With a victory over USC to clinch the first 12-win season in school history, the Bulldogs would stake a compelling claim as the best team ever to suit up in the Central Valley.

“The team is pretty fired up about being here,’’ Fresno State receiver Davante Adams said. “They’ve got a great program, world-renowned, so it’s going to be a lot of fun going against these guys.’’

Adams and Carr are excited about the challenge they’ll face when the Bulldogs have the ball at Sam Boyd Stadium. While the nation’s best passing offense decimated nearly every defense it faced, USC’s undermanned defense still put together an impressive season against the Pac-12’s high-scoring teams, ranking 14th in the nation in scoring defense.

“I don’t like to give anybody too much credit until we go out and face them,’’ said USC safety Dion Bailey, who might head to the NFL after the game. “They’ve got a talented offense, but I don’t think there’s any defense in the country that’s like ours.’’

After every dip and peak in a season that puts the New York-New York casino’s roller coaster to shame, the Trojans say they’re only focused on completing a 10-win season. Offensive coordinator Clay Helton is running the team after Ed Orgeron resigned earlier this month, angry about losing the permanent job to Steve Sarkisian despite going 6-2 as Lane Kiffin’s interim replacement.

The Trojans all seem to admire Helton, who joined the program along with Kiffin in early 2010, but several players made their Vegas motivations clear this week.

BATTLE from Page B1 uphill from there. I learned to control myself, be determined, come out with a hard edge every day.”

After not appearing in the Georgia opener, Battle got plenty of work in the South Carolina State game with the other backups. Then with 93 seconds left in garbage time of the ACC opener at North Carolina State, Wolfpack safety Jarvis Byrd started woofing at Battle and got under the youngster’s skin.

Battle took a step toward Byrd, and floored the senior with a right hand to the face mask. Battle was immediately ejected (and received two lectures from head coach Dabo Swinney), followed by a one-game suspension against Wake Forest for punching an opposing player.

“That was one of the pettiest things I ever did,” Battle said. “That was not the Clemson way. I let the game get the best of me. But it will never happen again.”

And yes, there were coach-imposed

DIXONS from Page B1 was arguably the best in school history.

Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is projected as an NFL first-round choice, and defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles is a first-team All-American and, like Clowney, will be forgoing his final year of eligibility to turn pro after the

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Fresno State’s Derek Carr, right, and Derron Smith will look to lead the 21st-ranked Bulldogs to a victory over Southern California today in the Las Vegas Bowl.

“Everybody in that locker room wants to win for Coach O,’’ USC cornerback Josh Shaw said. “Even Coach Helton has talked about it. We still go through the same routines now that he isn’t here, and we’re going to do it again.’’

Five reasons to watch the most compelling matchup on the first day of bowl season: FRESNO SHOWCASE

The Mountain West champions got to the brink of a BCS breakthrough, but a defensive meltdown in a 62-52 loss to San Jose State ruined it. Fresno State is eager to embrace this chance to show off in front of a national audience, but the Bulldogs also realize USC could cause similar problems for Fresno State coach Tim DeRuyter’s defense with the combined talents of receivers Marqise Lee and Nelson Agholor, quarterback Cody Kessler and tailback Javorius Allen.

backup quarterback in the 1990s.

SARK IN THE WINGS

Sarkisian is in Vegas as an observer, waiting to take over the program after the game. Sarkisian, hired two days after the Trojans’ regular season ended with a loss to UCLA, is allowing the remnants of Kiffin’s coaching staff to run bowl preparations, but he’ll be watching his returning players closely — and he might be scouting the Bulldogs, who will be his first opponent next season.

LONG TIME COMING

For all of its recent success under Pat Hill and DeRuyter, Fresno State hasn’t won a bowl game since 2007, losing five of its last six bowl games overall. Carr is eager to go out with his first bowl victory, which would make him the first senior quarterback to win a bowl game at Fresno State since Jeff Tedford did it in 1982.

LEE’S BIG FINISH?

Kessler and Carr have more in common than their position. They’re both from Bakersfield, Calif., and they’ve known each other for years. Carr is two years older than Kessler, who solidified his hold on the USC job with a midseason surge. Carr holds nearly every significant Fresno State record for his position at the school where Kiffin was a

Almost everybody expects Lee to head to the NFL after his underwhelming junior season, but the 2012 Biletnikoff Award winner should be healthier than he’s been in many weeks when he faces Fresno State’s suspect pass defense. Lee needs 12 catches to pass Robert Woods as USC’s career receptions leader, and Helton might be wise to give him the opportunity.

consequences that whole next week.

“They ran me the whole practice, extra lifting. It was tough,” Battle said.

“I knew I had to be disciplined, to come and do my punishment. I took it as extra work to get better.”

Battle received playing time only sparingly through October, meaning he could only make a statement during the week in practice. All the while, Thomas was excelling at left tackle, but junior Gifford Timothy was struggling at right tackle and freshman Shaq Anthony wasn’t much better.

Then Timothy pulled the plug on his college career due to knee problems, and the coaches gave Battle a chance at right tackle.

“That guy looks like he’s starting to figure it out,” Swinney said the night of Oct. 31. “It looks like he’s getting ready.”

Battle played 37 snaps in a 59-10 win at Virginia, and started each of the final three games of the season. After a reasonably solid performance, he’s expected to handle right tackle again on Jan. 3 against Ohio State.

“The light had been on, but I just wasn’t all the way there,” Battle said.

“Sometimes I would show up and go

through the motions at practice. You learn you have to come every day, because anything can happen to you.

Don’t take it for granted.

“So I worked hard every day. Even though sometimes I feel down, I still play my best. I try with all the energy I have.”

Battle said he’s had an “excellent” few weeks, getting ready for the Buckeyes. Just under a year ago, he was thrust into action when Timothy was injured early in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, and Battle stepped in and handled LSU’s NFL-ready ends well.

“Just got in the game, played hard, and focused on my assignment,” Battle said. “Of course, I was ready the whole time. I’m a competitor, I like to compete. So when they called my name, I was ready.”

Next year, Thomas will leave a void at left tackle — a void that for the first time in a long time, it appears Battle is ready to fill.

“Yes sir, I’m ready to lead the team as much as I can,” Battle said. “If they put me back to left, I’m going to work with left, or if they put me at right, anything to help the team, I’m going to be ready.”

THE FABULOUS BAKERSFIELD BOYS

Gamecocks’ Jan. 1 Capital One Bowl game against Wisconsin.

The Gamecocks also lose starting defensive end Chaz Sutton, leaving the Dixons, both rising juniors, a great opportunity.

Dixon Jr., a 6-foot-3, 318pound defensive tackle, has played in all but one game each of the past two years and this year was in on 15 tackles.

After playing in four games in 2012, Dixon, a 6-2, 268-

pound defensive end, has played in all 12 games this season with one start and has been in on 18 tackles.

The Dixons’ father, Gerald Sr., played linebacker at USC (1990-91) before going on to a 10-year career in the NFL. Though the brothers, born three months apart, have the same name, it hasn’t created any confusion at USC. “If you’re just around one of them you can just say, ‘G’ and he’ll answer,” Quarles said. “Now, if you’re around

both of them, you gotta come up with something else. I’ve got some names for ’em. They know who I’m talking to when I talk to them.”

If the Dixons ascend to the starting lineup, they’ll be part of a solid tradition at USC that also has produced current NFL tackle Travian Robertson and ends defensive Clifton Geathers, Melvin Ingram, Cliff Matthews and Devin Taylor.

“We learned from some of the best players to ever play

B5

BOWL SCHEDULE

By The Associated Press Today New Mexico Bowl At Albuquerque Washington State (6-6) vs. Colorado State (7-6), 2 p.m. (ESPN) Las Vegas Bowl Fresno State (11-1) vs. Southern Cal (9-4), 3:30 p.m. (ABC) Famous Idaho Potato Bowl At Boise, Idaho Buffalo (8-4) vs. San Diego State (7-5), 5:30 p.m.

(ESPN) New Orleans Bowl Tulane (7-5) vs. Louisiana-Lafayette (8-4), 9 p.m.

(ESPN) Monday Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl At St. Petersburg, Fla. Ohio (7-5) vs. East Carolina (9-3), 2 p.m. (ESPN) Tuesday Hawaii Bowl At Honolulu Oregon State (6-6) vs. Boise State (8-4), 8 p.m.

(ESPN) Thursday Little Caesars Pizza Bowl At Detroit Bowling Green (10-3) vs. Pittsburgh (6-6), 6 p.m.

(ESPN) Poinsettia Bowl At San Diego Northern Illinois (12-1) vs. Utah State (8-5), 9:30 p.m. (ESPN) Friday Military Bowl At Annapolis, Md. Marshall (9-4) vs. Maryland (7-5), 2:30 p.m.

(ESPN) Texas Bowl At Houston Minnesota (8-4) vs. Syracuse (6-6), 6 p.m.

(ESPN) Fight Hunger Bowl At San Francisco BYU (8-4) vs. Washington (8-4), 9:30 p.m.

(ESPN) Saturday, Dec. 28 Pinstripe Bowl At New York Notre Dame (8-4) vs. Rutgers (6-6), Noon (ESPN) Belk Bowl At Charlotte Cincinnati (9-3) vs. North Carolina (6-6), 3:20 p.m.

(ESPN) Russell Athletic Bowl At Orlando, Fla. Miami (9-3) vs. Louisville (11-1), 6:45 p.m.

(ESPN) Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl At Tempe, Ariz.

Kansas State (7-5) vs. Michigan (7-5), 10:15 p.m.

(ESPN) Monday, Dec. 30 Armed Forces Bowl At Fort Worth, Texas Middle Tennessee (8-4) vs. Navy (8-4), 11:45 a.m.

(ESPN) Music City Bowl At Nashville, Tenn.

Mississippi (7-5) vs. Georgia Tech (7-5), 3:15 p.m.

(ESPN) Alamo Bowl At San Antonio Oregon (10-2) vs. Texas (8-4), 6:45 p.m. (ESPN) Holiday Bowl At San Diego Arizona State (10-3) vs. Texas Tech (7-5), 10:15 p.m. (ESPN) Tuesday, Dec. 31 AdvoCare V100 Bowl At Shreveport, La. Arizona (7-5) vs. Boston College (7-5), 12:30 p.m.

(ESPN) Sun Bowl At El Paso, Texas Virginia Tech (8-4) vs. UCLA (9-3), 2 p.m. (CBS) Liberty Bowl At Memphis, Tenn.

Rice (9-3) vs. Mississippi State (6-6), 4 p.m.

(ESPN) Chick-fil-A Bowl At Atlanta Texas A&M (8-4) vs. Duke (10-3), 8 p.m. (ESPN) Wednesday, Jan. 1 Heart of Dallas Bowl At Dallas UNLV (7-5) vs. North Texas (8-4), Noon (ESPNU) Gator Bowl At Jacksonville, Fla. Nebraska (8-4) vs. Georgia (8-4), Noon (ESPN2) Capital One Bowl At Orlando, Fla. Wisconsin (9-3) vs. South Carolina (10-2), 1 p.m.

(ABC) Outback Bowl At Tampa, Fla. Iowa (8-4) vs. LSU (9-3), 1 p.m. (ESPN) Rose Bowl At Pasadena, Calif.

Stanford (11-2) vs. Michigan State (12-1), 5 p.m.

(ESPN) Fiesta Bowl At Glendale, Ariz.

Baylor (11-1) vs. UCF (11-1), 8:30 p.m. (ESPN) Thursday, Jan. 2 Sugar Bowl At New Orleans Alabama (11-1) vs. Oklahoma (10-2), 8:30 p.m.

(ESPN) Friday, Jan. 3 Orange Bowl At Miami Ohio State (12-1) vs. Clemson (10-2), 8 p.m.

(ESPN) Cotton Bowl At Arlington, Texas Missouri (11-2) vs. Oklahoma State (10-2), 7:30 p.m. (FOX) Saturday, Jan. 4 BBVA Compass Bowl At Birmingham, Ala. Vanderbilt (8-4) vs. Houston (8-4), 1 p.m. (ESPN) Sunday, Jan. 5 GoDaddy.com Bowl At Mobile, Ala. Arkansas State (7-5) vs. Ball State (10-2), 9 p.m.

(ESPN) Monday, Jan. 6 BCS National Championship At Pasadena, Calif.

Florida State (13-0) vs. Auburn (12-1), 8:30 p.m.

(ESPN) Saturday, Jan. 18 East-West Shrine Classic At St. Petersburg, Fla. East vs. West, 4 p.m. (NFLN) Saturday, Jan. 25 Senior Bowl At Mobile, Ala. South vs. North, 4 p.m. (NFLN)

here,” Dixon Jr. said. “We just know that next year is our time.”

Quarles believes South Carolina’s defensive line legacy is safe with the Dixons.

“They’ll hold it up,” Quarles said. “They’ve got it.

They’ll do it. I know they’ll work hard in the offseason.

They’re looking forward to playing in the bowl game and then coming in for winter and summer workouts and being the leaders.

They’ll be fine.”

THE ITEM

COMICS

BIZARRO

SOUP TO NUTZ

DOG EAT DOUG

GARFIELD

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BEETLE BAILEY

BLONDIE

ANDY CAPP

DILBERT

BORN LOSER

MOTHER GOOSE

Jeff MacNelly’s SHOE

THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2013

Sister immersed in virtual world blocks out the real

D

SUDOKU

EAR ABBY — spend a lot of time on My younger sistheir phones and comter “Lainie” is puters. But when they 14. She has had a smart- become withdrawn and phone for about a year. secretive, it is time for a While I don’t belong to parental intervention. If any social media sites, your folks are equally Lainie is a social media concerned about your junkie. She never goes sister’s behavior, they anywhere without her should step in, find out phone. Sometimes she’ll what’s going on and do have her phone in one something about it, if hand and her necessary. If they tablet in the don’t already, they other, taking could start by schedturns when one uling family dinners or the other beduring which cellgins to bore her. phones are turned It’s almost imoff or put away. possible to interact with her Abigail Dear Abby is writbecause her VAN BUREN ten by Abigail Van face is buried in Buren, also known as the virtual Jeanne Phillips, and world just about every was founded by her mothhour of the day and er, Pauline Phillips. Write night.

Dear Abby at www.DearI miss the way things Abby.com or P.O. Box used to be before she 69440, Los Angeles, CA got that smartphone. I 90069. have talked about this To receive a collection with my parents. While of Abby’s most memorathey are equally conble — and most frequentcerned about Lainie’s ly requested — poems withdrawn, sometimes and essays, send your secretive behavior, they name and mailing adnever do anything about dress, plus check or it. What are your money order for $7 (U.S. thoughts on this topic? funds) to: Dear Abby — GADGET GIRL’S SIS- Keepers Booklet, P.O. Box TER IN NEW MEXICO 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. Shipping and DEAR SISTER — It’s handling are included in common for teens to the price. dear abby

B6

Classified lassified

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2013

THE ITEM

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OR TO PLACE YOUR AD ONLINE GO TO WWW.THE ITEM.COM/PLACEMYAD LEGAL NOTICES Beer & Wine License Notice Of Application Notice is hereby given that The Gold Room, LLC intends to apply to the South Carolina Department of Revenue for a license/permit that will allow the sale and ON premises consumption of Beer, Wine & Liquor at 2199 Kingstree Hwy., Manning, SC 29102. To object to the issuance of this permit/license, written protest must be postmarked no later than December 30, 2013. For a protest to be valid, it must be in writing, and should include the following information: (1) the name, address and telephone number of the person filing the protest; (2) the specific reasons why the application should be denied; (3) that the person protesting is willing to attend a hearing (if one is requested by the applicant); (4) that the person protesting resides in the same county where the proposed place of business is located or within five miles of the business; and (5) the name of the applicant and the address of the premises to be licensed. Protests must be mailed to: S.C. Department of Revenue, ATTN: ABL, P.O. Box 125, Columbia, South Carolina 29214; or Faxed to: (803) 896-0110

Notice Of Application Notice is hereby given that Joseph Moore dba Cali Joe's intends to apply to the South Carolina Department of Revenue for a license permit that will allow the sale ON premises consumption of Beer, Wine and Liquor at 105 E. Wesmark Blvd. Ste 1, Sumter, SC 29150. To object to the issuance of this permit / license, written protest must be postmarked no later than December 23, 2013. For a protest to be valid, it must be in writing, and should include the following information: (1) the name, address and telephone number of the person filing the protest; (2) the specific reasons why the application should be denied; (3) that the person protesting is willing to attend a hearing (if one is requested by the applicant); (4) that the person protesting resides in the same county where the proposed place of business is located or within five miles of the business; and (5) the name of the applicant and the address of the premises to be licensed. Protests must be mailed to: S.C. Department of Revenue, ATTN: ABL, P.O. Box 125, Columbia, South Carolina 29214; or Faxed to: (803) 898-5899.

Abandon Vehicle / Boat

Announcements

Abandoned Vehicle Notice:

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

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The following vehicle was abandoned at Davis Body Shop, 4150 Choice Ct. Sumter, SC 29154.

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Total Due for storage is $4,300.00 as of December 18, 2013. Owner is asked to call 803-968-1736. If not claimed in 30 days. it will be turned over to the Magistrate's Office for public sale.

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JW Professional Pool & Lawn Service Seasonal lawn maintenance, weekly pool cleaning, hedging, pine straw, mulch, pressure washing & more. Satisfaction guaranteed. 803-406-1818

Dogs CKC Peek-a-poo pups. 9wks, paper trained, S/D $300 Cash.

Alice 803-428-3803 Two Red poodles, Teacup and tiny toy. Gorgeous! 803 553-4868 AKC Rottweiler Puppies, 7 wks old. Tails docked, dewclaw removed, 1st shots. $300 each. Call 803-428-7279.

Daniel's Lawn Care •Firewood starting at $45 •Tree removal •Leaf removal •Gutter & roof cleaning 803-968-4185

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

774-1234

We Want to Sell Your Car

Now! 4 Lines

’S TREE SERVICE PO BOYFREE ESTIMATES TREE REMOVAL

TREE CARE t 53*..*/( t 53&& 3&.07"t 456.1 3&.07"Po Boy’s Rex Prescott Tommy Thompson

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.

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JERSEY KNIT SHEET SETS 29 Progress St. - Sumter TWIN ......... $12 PER SET FULL.......... $12 PER SET 775-8366 Ext. 37 Store Hours 0RQ 6DW 9:30 - 5:00 Closed Sunday

QUEEN........ $16 PER SET KING.......... $20 PER SET

$24!

00

469-7606 or 499-4413

20 N. Magnolia Street Sumter, SC www.theitem.com

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No refund for early cancellation.

Private Party Only! Business and commercial accounts not eligible.

All ads must be prepaid. All advertising subject to publisher’s approval.

Special cannot be combined with discounts.

Other restrictions may apply.

774.1234

803. CALL

SHOP WITH US FOR GREAT HOLIDAY SAVINGS!

KITCHEN CURTAIN SETS – $8 PER SET SHOWER CURTAINS $10 EACH SHOWER CURTAIN RODS $8 EACH Assorted Colors

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2013

It’s Mayo’s “More for your money Christmas Sale�! #VZ 3FHVMBS 1SJDFE 4VJU 3FDFJWF OE 4VJU PG &RVBM 7BMVF FREE! Great Selection & Savings!

MAYO’S SUIT CITY

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If your suits aren’t becoming to you, It’s a good time to be coming to Mayo’s!

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IN-STORE ALTERATIONS, FOR THOSE LAST MINUTE OCCASIONS

MERCHANDISE Want to Buy 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.

For Sale or Trade

Work Wanted

2 Cemetery Plots @ Evergreen .

Call 803-795-7630 or 803 883-2982

Will sit with sick & elderly, run errands, light housework, References available 803460-3168

Washers, Dryers, Refrigerators, Stoves. Also new Gas stoves.

Guaranteed. 803-464-5439

RENTALS

Expert Tech, New & used heat pumps & A/C. Will install/repair, warranty; Compressor & labor $600. Call 803-968-9549 or 843-992-2364 Bush hog, $175. New 10 ft.

Basketball goal/stand, $100. VCR & tapes, $55. 983-6182

Unfurnished Apartments Montreat St./Dixie (off Miller Rd.) 2BR 1BA, appliances, no pets $400 mo + dep. 316-8105.

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

775-0575 Studio/1 Bedroom apartments available EHO

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 E & E Farm & Pets. 10% Sweet Feed Wrangler $9.00. Safe Choice Senior $20 per bag. 803-435-2797

Firewood Oak Firewood For Sale @ 1030 S Main St 803 840-7234

Garage, Yard & Estate Sales

EMPLOYMENT Help Wanted Full-Time Hardworking salesmen needed ASAP at car dealership. 5 positions. $3k-4k/mo. We'll teach you to sell. Training class on 12-26 & 31. No exp. nec. Great attitude, good worker & team players only.

8a-9p M-F, 9a-7p Sat, 12-7p Sun. FULL TIME No criminal bkgrd or drug issues please. Valid drvs. lic. req. Call Denis @ 803-454-6815.

Help Wanted Part-Time

Holiday Sale: 445 Rogers Ave Sat 8-12 All items $1.00 jewelry, clothes, books, christmas items, furniture much more!

775 Stratton Ct (off Club Lane), Sat. 7-11AM. Clothes, furn, toys, baby clothes, Christmas decor.

Sumter County Flea Mkt Hwy 378 E. 803-495-2281 500 tables. Sat. $8 free return Sun. LARGE GARAGE SALE 1st & 3rd Weekend Tables $1 & Up

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

Open every weekend.

905-4242

Lawn / Garden / Nursery Christmas Special Pine Straw $3 a bale for 30 or more. Customer pickup. Sat Dec.21st 7-2:30 pm or call for appointment 803-983-7594 or 469-7207

For Sale or Trade Annette Ridgill is retiring. Selling equipment and supplies. May be view or bought early by appointment. Final sale will be at Colony Square Beauty Salon 741 Bultman Dr. Sumter, Sat. Dec. 28th @ 9 am. Call 803-720-4442 Sleeper Sofa & Reclining loveseat, Great Condition! Call for details 803 491-4451 Hickory & Oak firewood. Seasoned/Green $65 Delivered. Notch Above Tree Service. 983-9721

A MUST SEE 2 Units - 1Br 1 full bath & 1Br 2 full baths, hardwood flooring, very spacious. 1st Floor unit has an outdoor deck, both units include frig. & stove. Located at 315 Liberty St. Downtown, $550 incl. water. Contact 803-775-0429 or 803 316-2602

Unfurnished Homes Close to Shaw. Dalzell 3br 2ba brick, fenced yd, screen porch, all appl. C/H/A No Pets. $800 /mo+dep 803-316-8105 428 Loring 2 BR/1BA house.

Stove, refrig, W/D hook-ups.

Hardwood floors. $400/mo. Call Century 21. 773-0221

Trucking Opportunities

FLEA MARKET BY SHAW AFB

211 W. Hampton Ave. 2 BR/2 BATH Apt. located near Tuomey Hospital/Downtown area. Stove, refrig, dishwasher, W/D hook-ups. $550.00 month includes lawn maint. Call Century 21. 773-0221.

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

3 br house on Burgess Ct. C/H/A $495/mo. First month rent free!

774-8512 / 983-5691 Patriot Parkway 2BR/1BA, LR, den, dining room, C/H/A, gas stove. 803-607-9276.

Mobile Home Rentals

Schools / Instructional • Tax Preparer • Training provided Dec. 26th. Day and evening classes available. •Customer Service• Free week long tax preparation class with customer service focus. Learn computerized tax preparation in day or evening classes starting Dec. 26th. Apply for seasonal opportunities. 803-418-0123

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.

2BR/2BA, 14x70, C/H, No Inside Pets! $450 mo + $300dep. 5 Person Max. Tindal Rd. near Lakewood High School. 481-8134.

FOR SALE 2008 Yamaha TTR 125 EX and 2009 TTR 50 EY with helmets. Both in excellent shape with very low hours.

Softball Equipment- Pitching machine, Backstop, Balls, Bats ETC. Call for details 803-968-2459 Sofa & Loveseat, both recline, Excellent condition . $200 Call 469-3771 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 Downsizing estate moving sale!

Lots of furniture - 8 full rooms, attic & garage. Call 494-4220.

Package Price $2800

Call 803-468-2244

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Mobile Home Rentals Scenic Lake 2Br, 2Ba. No pets.

Call between 9am - 5pm ONLY! (803) 499-1500.

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

RV parking avail. Call 494-8350

STATEBURG COURTYARD 2 & 3 BRs 803-494-4015 3BR 2BA DW on 27 acres of land, like new, no pets, no inside smoking, have your own vegetable garden. Convenient to Shaw. $600/mo + $500 dep 905-5608

Land & Lots for Sale Multiple lots for sale: 803-236-8495 ask for Bruce.

Autos For Sale

Call

Commercial Industrial Church Facility located at 16 Kendrick Street. Move in Ready.

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

RECREATION

94' Toyota Camry 2Dr Sport AT, Pwr doors & windows, am fm radio, cass, cd, air cdtn, cruise, sunroof, pwr brakes & steering Must see to appreciate! $2895 OBO 803-236-0488 Runs great!

Office Rentals 120 Broad St Office Building, Great location Rent is $650 mo Agent Owned Call 236-2425

Commercial Rentals 862 E Liberty St Office/Retail 1550 Sq Ft. $250 Mo. Agent Owned Call 803-236-2425

Boats / Motors 2007 Triton TR-21X HP Bassmaster Classic Edit. with 250 Mercury XS Call for details 803 968-2459

TRANSPORTATION

REAL ESTATE Autos For Sale Homes for Sale 2806 Tindal Rd Sumter 3BR 2BA C/H/A Call 803 481-7903 Asking $51,000

Manufactured Housing Singlewides & Doublewides sold wholesale for CASH... Call Now 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.

Farms & Acreage FSBO: Land, Small & Large acreage.

Owner financing.

803-427-3888.

2004 Mercury Marquis LS 4Dr 58K Mi. $5, 495 Call 803 481-2894 Holiday Special 150 cars $5,000 or less $$$ CASH $$$ Price is Right Auto Sales 3210 Broad St 803-494-4275

2007 Hyundai Sonata, 124k mi.

4 cycl, AT, PW, PDL, CC, remote entry. New battery, front brakes, 30 MPG, very well maintained, runs great. $6,350.

Call 803-236-6361