December 24, 2014

Merry Christmas

SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2014

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‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’

Isaiah 9:6

Keith Gedamke / The Sumter Item

Mary and Joseph tend to baby Jesus during The Living Christmas Story at Trinity United Methodist Church on Dec. 13.

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DEATHS, B6 Alan L. Cotton James E. Jones Cherise J. Mitchell Dallas McFadden Mildred B. Moore

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

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

4 die in Tuesday morning wreck

LOCAL & STATE BRIEFS FROM STAFF REPORTS

BY JIM HILLEY AND JADE REYNOLDS jim@theitem.com, jade@theitem.com

Robbery suspect captured A bandit has been unmasked, and he is active duty with the U.S. Army stationed at Fort Jackson.

Cedrick Gaines, 36, is charged with nine counts of armed robbery, attempted armed robbery and unlawful carrying of a weapon, states a Richland County Sheriff’s Department Wednesday news release.

The suspect, known as the “Hockey Mask Bandit,” will face additional charges of kidnapping in Richland County and charges for committing crimes in the City of Sumter, City of Columbia, Forest Acres and Lexington County.

A little after 8 p.m. Monday, Gaines was arrested on Two Notch Road near I-77 after allegedly committing armed robbery of a GameStop in the 300 block of Killian Road. When the suspect was taken into custody, he had in his possession stolen money from the store, a handgun and a hockey mask, the release states.

Four out-of-state people are dead after a single vehicle wrecked on Interstate 95 in Sumter County early Tuesday morning.

Juan Escoboza Sr., a 56-year-old man from Brooklyn, New York, was the driver of the Honda Pilot, said Sumter County Coroner Harvin Bullock. He died on scene. His wife who was in the passenger seat sustained a broken hand.

The three individuals in the middle – Maria Tapia, a 52-year-old woman from Brooklyn, New York; Luis Alberto Tapia, a 21-year-old man from Brooklyn, New York; and Clarabel Montero, a 31-year-old woman from Augusta, New Jersey, were also pronounced dead on scene, Bullock said.

The two passengers in the back of the vehicle also survived the crash.

Two of the survivors were transported to McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence, he said. One was taken to Tuomey Regional Medical Center in Sumter before being flown out to Pal-

JIM HILLEY / THE SUMTER ITEM

Four passengers were killed early Tuesday morning when a Honda Pilot veered off Interstate 95 South near the 141 mile marker near Shiloh in rural Sumter County. metto Health Richland in Columbia.

The Honda Pilot was registered in New York. It was traveling south bound near the 141 mile marker, the Shiloh area of Sumter County, about 6:17 a.m. when it veered off the road and struck several trees, said Lance Cpl. David Jones with the S.C. Highway Patrol. One tree

sheared off the left side of the vehicle.

The SUV then veered into a guard rail.

Traffic was down to one lane about 12:30 p.m. with several hours of cleanup still to go, Jones said.

The incident remains under investigation by the S.C. Highway Patrol’s Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team.

Santa under NORAD surveillance

Council to swear in new members

BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com

Sumter County Council will host a special swearing-in ceremony and reception for new council members at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 5 at Patriot Hall, 135 Haynsworth St. Newly-elected council members include Artie Baker, District 2; Charles Edens, District 4; and James McCain Jr., District 6.

County council meets at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month except it skips the first regular meeting date in July and the last one in December. Meetings are held in the County Council Chambers at 13 E. Canal St. For more information, contact Mary W. Blanding, clerk to Sumter County Council, County Administration Building, 436-2106.

Important government officials involved in tracking Santa on Christmas Eve said off the record they firmly think they can overcome any new stealth technology developed by the elves. They said they are confident kids who won’t go to bed Wednesday night will be able to track the Jolly Old Elf on the Internet with the help of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

One source told The Sumter Item they were initially concerned about emissions from Rudolph’s nose fouling government information systems, but the problem has been solved.

“We wiped that off our list, twice,” the source said.

The agency and its prede-

cessor have successfully tracked Santa and his tiny little reindeer as they made their way from the North Pole to bring presents to nice little boys and girls everywhere since 1955, according to their web page.

Not only can kids track Santa on Christmas Eve, but they can also find games, music and fun at www.noradsanta.org. Patience is advised however, as tests by a specially- trained Sumter Item employee found download times annoyingly long. Unfortunately, government studies have shown that kids develop a mysterious lack of patience in the days right before the Christmas holiday. Further study is called for, the scientists said, and they assured the public they are seeking grants to continue investigating the mysterious ailment.

A reliable source said he could not comment on whether NORAD employees are involved in the WIAWIP (Who is Asleep and Who is Pretending) alert system and couldn’t answer any inquiries without first checking “upstairs.”

The Sumter Item contacted McEntire Joint National Guard Base to ask about rumors NORAD is developing NKNKDT (Nice Kid Naughty Kid Detection Technology), but was referred to www.norad.santa. org. One person who could not be named because he did not have the authority to comment said the agency’s efforts hit the skids when neither Santa nor his elves would cooperate with their efforts.

In a parallel program, agents are rumored to have

briefly detained an undisclosed number of elves for questioning but were unable to gain access to Santa’s list despite applying their best snowboarding technique.

“It all went downhill very quickly,” a source said.

However, they were able to uncover some information about an ominous elven operation which may target agency employees known only as “lumps.”

Second Lt. Stephen Hudson of the Swamp Fox Public Affairs team of South Carolina Air National Guard 169th Fighter Wing did deliver an important message for all those awaiting a visit from the denizen of the North Pole on Christmas Eve. “Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,” he said.

Daniel’s Law in action: Mother surrenders infant at fire station

BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com A local firefighter got quite a surprise last Wednesday when a woman surrendered her baby to him.

“It was about 9 p.m., and the mother rang the doorbell to the Stadium Road fire station,” said Capt. Joey Duggan, spokesman for Sumter Fire Department. “She had the infant in her arms and handed him to one of the firefighters. She said she couldn’t care for the child anymore, and she knew if she gave the child to a firefighter, it would be OK. She left the diaper bag there, turned around and walked away. The firefighter tried to get her to come back, but she kept walking and went on out. It was a real brief encounter.”

Under Daniel’s Law, fire stations are considered a safe haven for abandoned babies, such as this little boy. Signed

into law in June 2000, the act was named for an infant boy who survived being buried in a landfill shortly after his birth, according to the Department of Social Services brochure on the matter.

Originally, the law covered hospitals, but in 2006, it was amended to include other locations such as law enforcement, emergency medical services stations and houses of worship during staffed hours. As long as a parent or someone acting on behalf of the parent gives the infant to someone working at one of these facilities, he or she will not face prosecution as long as the child is in good health.

This was the first time a baby had been left at a Sumter station, Duggan said.

“I can say that on behalf of the fire department, it’s unfortunate that this happened, and at the same time, it’s fortunate we were able to assist some-

body in that time of stress in her life,” he said.

The battalion chief on duty was called, along with EMS and law enforcement. Though the little boy seemed to be in good condition, he was taken by ambulance to Tuomey Regional Medical Center to be checked out.

He did go to the Tuomey emergency room for an assessment, confirmed Brenda Chase, spokeswoman for the Sumter health care system. Everything was fine, and he was turned over to the Department of Social Services.

About 7 a.m. the next day, Dec. 18, the mother called back to the fire department. She gave the child’s full name and date of birth, Duggan said, but she did not leave her name. The information was passed on to law enforcement.

The woman also asked how the child was doing.

“I guess that goes to show the mother did the most she could,” Duggan said. “My heart goes out to the family, to the mother, not knowing her circumstances. We hate to know this circumstance had to take place, but we’re glad we could help somebody in that time of need.”

When she surrendered the child, the mother told the firefighter he was 2 months old. When she gave the baby’s birthday, that confirmed his age.

Normally, Daniel’s Law only applies to children 30 days old and younger, but Tonyia McGirt, public information officer with Sumter Police Department, said no charges were being pursued.

The baby boy is now in foster care and should soon be available for adoption.

For more information on Daniel’s Law, foster care or adoption, visit dss. sc.gov or call 1-888-722-2580.

HOW TO REACH US IS YOUR PAPER MISSING? ANNOUNCEMENT ARE YOU GOING ON Birth, Engagement, Wedding, VACATION? Anniversary, Obituary 20 N. Magnolia St., Sumter, S.C. 29150 (803) 774-1200 Jack Osteen Editor and Publisher jack@theitem.com (803) 774-1238 Rick Carpenter Managing Editor rick@theitem.com (803) 774-1201 Waverly Williams Sales Manager waverly@theitem.com (803) 774-1237

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First Presbyterian features ‘Nine Lessons and Carols’ First Presbyterian Church featured the “Nine Lessons and Carols” as its service Sunday with musical presentations and alternate readings from Scripture outlining the story of man’s passage from Eden to spiritual grace through Jesus.

The Taylor String Quartet, bottom right, and trumpeters Jon Hopkins and Evan Thompson, bottom left, all participated.

PHOTOS BY JIM HILLEY / THE SUMTER ITEM

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THE SUMTER ITEM

Christmases past — family traditions blend, evolve

M

PHOTO PROVIDED

Dale Evans was a childhood idol elevated to “superhero” status before that became a buzzword. meant we had to bow our heads for what seemed like an interminable “Grace.”

Feigning sibling jealousy, Aunt Eddie always asked,

“Why do they have to say ‘Grace’? Why can’t they say me sometimes?”

The Moore and Hatchell Christmases fit fairly neatly

ground as we unwrap gifts and eat dinner, featuring Maple’s barbecue and probably a ham. New traditions have been established, but still, many of the old ones endure, including some menu items.

Cindy will make red velvet cake, and Mama will make her famous ambrosia; I’ll make something gluten free for my nephew-in-law, and we’ll have numerous casseroles.

As long as families and friends get together for Christmas, some traditions will never change: Kids still love hot cocoa with marshmallows, candy canes, visiting Santa Claus, riding around to see all the colorful lights, listening to Christmas songs, seeing presents under the tree and playing until they fall asleep from exhaustion.

I still dream of a “White Christmas,” but perhaps it’s a 1950s carol by Meredith Willson that expresses the best part of the holidays: It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas; Soon the bells will start, And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing Right within your heart.

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into the lyrics of classic Christmas music, including Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” even without the snow. That didn’t stop us kids from dreaming about it.

Maybe it’s because it snowed in Sumter on Christmas day the year I was born that I still long for the falling flakes each December.

Mama and her nine siblings and Daddy and his eight had no snow wishes; after all, they’d walked miles to school in three feet of snow and sub-freezing temperatures, uphill both ways.

On the rare occasions that we did get snow, Mama would make snow “ice cream” for us with sugar, cream, vanilla and snow.

These days, we spend Christmas day wherever the baby of the family lives. My great-nephew is 6 months old; his 5-year-old brother still gets excited when he comes downstairs to see what Santa has brought. Chances are he’ll get DVDs of Disney and Pixar films, LEGO, action figures and more. He’ll also get books. Thank goodness, he’s a reader already.

There will be Christmas music playing in the back-

‘Watching the younger members of the family build new traditions, while still honoring some of the old ones, is always a topic of Christmas conversations ... .’

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ama and I didn’t make fruitcakes this year. While we both love them, it’s hard to make just enough for two. It seems we’re the only ones left Out & About who eat the A guide to fruit- and arts & leisure nut-filled IVY MOORE cakes.

Mama long ago stopped making fruitcakes for the family; this was after she accidentally found four — that’s four years’ worth — in the crisper of my sister’s refrigerator. Cindy does not share our love for the muchmaligned dessert. (And yes, they were still fresh, no mold in sight. Must be the whiskey the currants were soaked in.)

I miss the fruitcakes, and I miss the nutty fingers, those delicious, melt-in-your-mouth cookies my Aunt Alma always made at Christmas; Aunt Eddie’s chocolate meringue pie; Aunt Merlene’s caramel cake; Uncle Buster’s barbecue rabbit; anything Aunt Grace made ... . I could go on. There are a lot of things I miss, now that all my aunts and uncles and some of my cousins are gone. I especially miss them.

Watching the younger members of the family build new traditions, while still honoring some of the old ones, is always a topic of Christmas conversations, even when the kids ask what Santa brought us before toys were invented.

As I recall, we kids basically just had to stay relatively clean and out of the way of the grown-ups as they hummed carols, chatted, laughed, did their own reminiscing and prepared Christmas dinner. By that time, we had our gifts from Santa, so we spent the morning mixing and matching them to create various scenarios for our play.

What did we want to find under the tree way back in the 20th century?

An early feminist, according to my family, in my new cowgirl outfit I promoted Dale Evans to super heroine, routing all the bad guys and saving Roy Rogers and Davy Crockett — raccoon cap and all — from certain death at the hands of black-hatted villains.

Those who got bicycles clothes-pinned playing cards to the spokes to recreate the sound of motorcycles and raced recklessly up and down hills until someone got a scraped knee and started bawling, thereby alerting the mothers.

Among my favorite gifts when I was 6 or 7 were three long-sleeved Buster Brown Tshirts in red, blue and green; I tried to wear them exclusively to Willow Drive school every day in January, but Mama wouldn’t allow it. Otherwise, as today, clothes were not popular gifts for the cousins, except for new sneakers.

Once dinner was on the table, the bikes, T-shirts, BB guns, stick horses and marbles were forgotten. The women — and most of the men — in the family could cook!

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2014

Swans a-swimming

KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM

it. It was also linked to the death of a Georgia man this year.

Caffeine powder is usually marketed as a dietary supplement and is unregulated, unlike caffeine added to soda. Since the FDA doesn’t have the legal authority to just pull such a substance off the shelves, the agency is in process of building a legal case against those who are marketing it in bulk in an attempt to persuade them to stop.

Michael Taylor, FDA’s deputy commissioner of foods, said in an interview with The Associated Press Monday that it is “inherently irresponsible” to market such a potentially dangerous product.

“I would hope that people would get the message that they just ought to stop selling it,” Taylor said.

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FDA going after sellers of pure caffeine powder WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration is building a legal case against companies that sell pure powdered caffeine, which can be fatal even in small doses.

The FDA warned consumers to avoid pure powdered caffeine this summer after the death of an Ohio teen. Some major retailers have stopped selling it in bulk, but the substance is still widely available on the Internet and in some stores.

Even a teaspoon of the powder can be lethal — it is equivalent to 25 cups of coffee. Some teenagers and young adults have been particularly drawn to the powder for its perceived energy boost.

Eighteen-year-old Logan Stiner of LaGrange, Ohio, died in May after consuming

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

Trinity United Methodist Christmas carolers

JIM HILLEY / THE SUMTER ITEM

Visitors to Trinity United Methodist Church were serenaded by the carolers in period costume Sunday evening.

Hearing set for former state Rep. Viers in money-laundering case

BY MEG KINNARD The Associated Press COLUMBIA — A former South Carolina House member is expected in court next month as part of a federal money-laundering case against him.

A Jan. 6 hearing has been scheduled for former state Rep. Thad Viers, 36, according to court records. Jury selec-

tion has been scheduled for February.

The Myrtle Beach Republican has pleaded not guilty to 14 charges, including money laundering and fraud. Federal prosecutors say Viers, who is a lawyer, helped a businessman hide assets, then lied about it to federal agents.

That businessman, Marlon Weaver, owned a paving company and failed to uphold a contract to pave part of Interstate 95. The default cost an insur-

ance company $6 million, and prosecutors have said the company went looking for assets Weaver had to pay back some of the money it lost.

Weaver listed ownership in a marina and several investments when he was given the contract. Viers helped move those assets to Weaver’s daughters, and Weaver backdated the paperwork so it looked like the money was transferred before the default, accord-

ing to indictments.

Viers also lied, telling an IRS agent that Weaver never told him he was trying to hide the assets, the government says. Weaver pleaded guilty to money laundering in July 2013, and his sentencing has been delayed while he cooperates with prosecutors.

Viers faces more than 100 years in prison if convicted on all federal charges.

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Tsunami victim’s mother learns body wasn’t lost Thailand cemetery holds remains of hundreds SEINT PAING, Myanmar (AP) — Of all the moments to chase a dream, May Aye Nwe chose the morning of Dec. 26, 2004.

A child of rural Myanmar, she boarded a small boat seeking a better life in Thailand, just as the Indian Ocean tsunami raced in.

Ten days later, her mother got a phone call that her 20-year-old daughter had died and apparently vanished at sea in one of modern history’s worst natural disasters.

It took her nearly 10 years to learn the truth. Her daughter’s body had in fact been recovered after the tsunami and was buried in an anonymous grave. It lies today beside more than 400 unclaimed bodies at the Tsunami Victims’ Cemetery in southern Thailand, a memorial to the disaster’s forgotten victims.

The tombstones are marked with numbers, not names.

An Associated Press investigation helped track down two families with loved ones at the cemetery, including May Aye Nwe’s mother. As the 10th anniversary of the disaster approaches, Aye Pu, now a 55-year-old widow, says her healing can finally begin.

“For so long, I believed my child was lost,” said Aye Pu, her eyes filled with tears, during an interview at her remote village in Myanmar’s southern Karen state, where she taps rubber trees for a living. “It’s impossible to put into words how very sad — and very happy — I now feel.”

The discovery has rekindled emotion and memories of her daughter, a bright star in a family of farmers who was on the cusp of a new life.

May Aye Nwe dreamed of becoming a nurse and set off for Thailand to earn money, as do so many of Myanmar’s poor. She and a childhood friend, Khin Htway Yee, traveled 600 miles from their village to the country’s southern tip. At about 10 a.m. on Dec. 26, 2004, they boarded a boat to cross a tiny patch of the Andaman Sea to Thailand, a trip that takes about 15 minutes.

Earlier that morning, a magnitude-9.1 earthquake tore open a vast stretch of sea bed off Indonesia’s Sumatra coast. It displaced billions of tons of water, sending waves roaring across the Indian Ocean, in some places at jet-

liner speeds. It killed about 230,000 people in 14 countries.

More than 5,000 died on Thailand’s Andaman Sea coast, where the waves swallowed resort beaches and flattened fishing villages.

Khin Htway Yee, who survived, said the calm sea turned violent a few minutes into the boat ride. She and May had never seen the ocean before and didn’t realize the waves were unusual.

The boat flipped, and there was panic, screaming, struggling. Khin Htway Yee, now 31, remains haunted by her friend’s desperate last moments.

“We were grabbing at one another,” she said, speaking in the shade of her friend’s family home. “She tried to pull me, but finally I had to push her away.

“There was nothing I could do. I was struggling for my life, and I couldn’t save her,” Khin Htway Yee said. She said she survived by holding onto a plastic container bobbing in the water.

After an hour at sea, she

Aye Pu, mother of May Aye Nwe, 20, who was thought to be lost at sea during the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, holds up her daughter’s student identification card in November at her home in Seint Paing, Myanmar. An Associated Press investigation helped track down two families with loved ones at the Tsunami Victims’ Cemetery in southern Thailand, including May Aye Nwe’s mother. As the 10th anniversary of the disaster approaches, Aye Pu, now a 55-year-old widow, says her healing process can finally begin.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

struggled ashore with one goal: to evade arrest. She had entered Thailand illegally and was too afraid to report what had happened to authorities.

She disappeared into the illegal workforce and stayed two years in Thailand before returning home and starting a family.

May Aye Nwe’s story helps

explain why there are 418 unclaimed bodies at the Tsunami Victims’ Cemetery, in the town of Ban Bangmuang. Experts think most of those buried are migrant workers from Myanmar, also known as Burma, who came to do the jobs that Thais shun. Then, as now, many were working in

the area illegally and had no documents. When they died, no one knew who they were, and those who did know were too scared to go to authorities.

“I believe that over 90 percent of these bodies are Burmese migrant workers,” said Htoo Chit, a human rights advocate for Myanmar migrants, during an interview at the cemetery. “Many migrants who lost their loved ones, they were afraid of being arrested and deported. That’s why there are so many bodies here.”

The Imperial Dining and Live entertainment

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A8

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

THE CLARENDON SUN Call: (803) 774-1211 | E-mail: jim@theitem.com

Mayor’s transplant recovery going well

BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com Manning Mayor Julia Nelson said Monday she is recovering well from her Dec. 11 kidney transplant.

Nelson said she was in Charleston undergoing follow up tests.

“They are very pleased with my progress and all of my numbers are going down,” she said.

She will probably return to Charleston about once a week for tests, but as her recovery progresses she will be able to use a lab in Sumter for testing, she said.

“The pain is going down, and there are no signs of reNELSON jection,” Nelson said. “I am feeling very blessed.”

Meanwhile, Arlene Anderson McCloud, a Sumter School District employee who donated a kidney to the Indiana man whose daughter provided Nelson’s kidney is also recovering, and said she was “Glad to help Julia get a kidney.”

“I am doing very well — can’t complain,” she said Monday. “I have a little tenderness in my abdomen from the incision.”

McCloud was discharged Sunday, Dec. 14, the same day Nelson was released to a “kidney house” in Charleston, she said.

The impact of her generosity and courage has not yet set in, she said.

“I was just trying to do the right thing.”

McCloud said she read about Nelson’s “A Kidney for Christmas” campaign last year and wanted to help.

“I was trying to help her then,” she said. “but donating a kidney is a complicated thing. They were still able to get me on the living donor list.”

Being on that list allowed McCloud’s kidney to be matched to the Indiana man and opened the way for the man’s daughter to donate a kidney for Nelson.

McCloud said the Indiana man who received her kidney seems to be on the path of recovery as well and has exhibited signs the kidney is functioning properly.

“They told me he has shown no signs of rejection,” she said.

PHOTOS BY JIM HILLEY/THE SUMTER ITEM

Pulbic Works Director Ruben Hardy points to sludge removed by the plant’s existing skimmers.

Phase I of treatment plant nears completion

BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com

P

hase I of the City of Manning’s expansion of its water treatment plant isn’t going to be complete until late April, Manning City Administrator Scott Tanner said, but that doesn’t mean the city isn’t already getting benefits from the project.

While most of the people of Manning slept, workers for the City of Manning utility department connected a 24-inch sewage line to the new plant, putting to use some of the $8.2 million cost to build Phase I of the water treatment plant expansion.

“We were up at one in the morning tying together lines,” Public Works Director Ruben Hardy said.

On Thursday, Hardy and Tanner led a tour of the new facility, which loosely followed the path water flows through the new facility.

First stop was the new head works, where incoming effluent is first stored in a 25-foot-deep underground tank before being pumped by three new Gorman Rupp pumps to rotating drums for removal of solids. The new pumps will basically double the amount of flow through the facility, from 2.5 to 5 million gallons per day, Hardy said.

Inside the pump room is a bank of computers, which assist in regulating how much effluent flows through the facility.

He said the new system will monitor how much effluent is entering the system, and will turn pumps on and off automatically.

“In the past we had to run these manually,” Hardy said. “We had to figure out percentages to determine how long to set the pumps.”

Screen drums remove solids from effluent entering the water treatment plant. Manning City Administrator Scott Tanner, below, peers at trash removed from the effluent by two large rotating drums.

Under normal operating conditions, only one pump is running at a time, he said, but as the flow increases additional pumps are turned on to handle it.

The effluent is first pumped to rotating drums that screen the effluent atop what workers call “Stone Mountain,” where anything solid is removed by rotating screens and emptied into a bin below.

Hardy said some surprising things have been found in the trash that is deposited in the drum, including a $50 bill.

“We like to think of it as a tip from customers,” he said with a laugh.

Hardy then showed the plant’s new diesel-powered emergency generators.

He also showed some elements of the existing facility that will be phased out as more work is done at the plant, including tanks where effluent is skimmed and a facility where polymers are added to the sludge, which adds a slight electrical charge to the effluent, causing the sludge and water to separate.

Among the advantages of the new system, Hardy said, is that chemicals such as sulphur and chlorine will no longer be needed to treat bacteria in the water; instead, the water will flow underneath ultraviolet lamps to kill any bacteria.

“That is a big safety enhancement,” he said.

A new lab building is also nearing completion at the facility. Besides a new laboratory, the building also contains restrooms and showers and a control room on the second floor from which the entire plant can be monitored.

Tanner said Phase II of the facility, which will include sequencing batch aerators that will further purify the sludge is nearing the bidding phase.

Phase II will include enhancements the plant’s bio-solid treatment.

LMA spelling champs to compete at SCISA bee Laurence Manning Academy students who will be competing in the SCISA Regional Spelling Bee on Jan. 15 at Wilson Hall are: 1st Grade Winner Lynzie Hodge, Runner-up JJ Ward; 2nd Grade Winner Lainy Baggette, Runner-up Campbell McInnis; 3rd Grade Winner Emma Taylor, Runner-up Bryson Smith; 4th Grade Winner Nathan Phan, Runner-up Parker Tisdale; 5th Grade Winner Luke Lambert, Runner-up Lola Grace Livingston; 6th Grade Winner Britton Morris, Runner-up Aly Elliott; 7th Grade Winner Darby Watford, Runner-up Aaron Carlton; 8th Grade Winner Seth Stamps, Runner-up Matthew Gizzi.

CLARENDON SUN

THE SUMTER ITEM

The library will close for the Christmas holiday today through 27, 2014 and reopen on Monday, Dec. 29 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and will close again on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015 for New Year’s Day and reopen on Friday, Jan. 2, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The book drop will be available for return of unrestricted materials when the library is closed. For more information, call (803) 435-8633.

JORDAN CROSSROADS MINISTRY MEETING Jordan Crossroads Ministry Center - Haven of Rest will hold its public monthly meeting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015 at New Covenant Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall. Parking is available in the parking area nearest the entrance to the Fellowship Hall. For more information call Ann Driggers at (803) 460-5572.

BOYS TO MEN: BREAKING BREAD The Youth Ministry of St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church in Pinewood, SC will sponsor a “Boys to Men: Breaking Bread“ Program at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015. The ministry encourages all parents to bring their young men out to take part in this mentoring program.

Adults and young ladies are also welcome. Refreshments will be served.

MANNING YOUTH COUNCIL The Manning Youth Coun-

|

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PETS OF THE WEEK

BRIEF ENCOUNTERS HARVIN CLARENDON LIBRARY CLOSING

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2014

cil is now accepting applications. Applicants must be Clarendon County residents attending Laurence Manning Academy or Manning High School, or home-schooled students in grades 9 through 12.

The Youth Council will serve Manning by planning and implementing social, educational, recreational and other activities for the youth and community. Students will also learn about the city government in a fun environment.

For more information and to obtain an application, contact City Hall at (803) 435-8477.

MENTORING PROGRAM Rural Leadership InstituteClarendon is beginning a mentoring program, called Operation Generation, for atrisk youths in Clarendon County School District 1. Initially, the program will focus on students at Summerton Early Childhood Center and St. Paul Elementary School.

The board members of Rural Leadership Institute Clarendon are asking adult members of the Clarendon community to volunteer to become mentors.

For more information, call Bea Rivers at (803) 485-8164, Lesley Dykes at (803) 707-4901 or email rliclarendoncounty@gmail.com.

LET’S MOVE MANNING The Let’s Move Manning Walkers Club meets every Saturday at 7:30 a.m. at the Gazebo on Church Street. For more information, call (803) 435-8477.

BABY

CANDY

Baby is a 2-year-old, male, white Maltese mix. He is a sweet boy that wants to be held and petted and wants a loving home. He is current on his shots and has been neutered.

Candy is a 3-month-old, female, orange, tabby domestic shorthair kitten. She is the sister of Cara, Colette and Dash. She is up-to-date on her shots and has been spayed. Stop by and see these cute kittens.

Meet Baby, Candy and many other cats and dogs at A Second Chance Animal Shelter, 5079 Alex Harvin Highway (U.S. 301), which has numerous pets available for adoption. Adoption hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. To drop off an animal, call (803) 4737075 for an appointment. If you’ve lost a pet, check www.ccanimalcontrol.webs.com and www.

ASecondChanceAnimalShelter.com.

Merry Christmas CLARENDON HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING Phone: 803-435-2320 803-854-4536 ductbuster@ftc-i.net

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Morris Animal Clinic

The Town Council for the Town of Summerton will conduct a public hearing at Town Hall on January 13, 2015 at 6:00 pm on a zoning map ammendment request for a change in zoning classification for the property located at 27 First St. (TMX# 078-09-05-034). The property is currently zoned General Residential and the request is for Neighborhood Commercial.

Forest Management • Timber Appraisals • Land Acquisition

Dwight Stewart, Jr. and Associates Consulting Foresters www.dwightstewart.com 26 E. Boyce St., Manning, SC

803-435-2301

BRUNSON’S PHARMACY 12 N. Brooks Street Manning, SC

Wayne Morris, DVM 2093 Alex Harvin Hwy. Manning, SC

Phone 435-2511/435-4235

www.morrisanimalclinic.com

Jamie Mathis PharmD RPh

803-435-8001

Notice of Public Hearing for the Town of Summerton Town Council

Looking For Land?

PALMETTO Outdoor Power Equipment

Since 1904

First Palmetto Bank

Merry Christmas from Carl & Michael

111 Brooks St. Manning, SC 29102 (803) 435-8815

344 Sunset Dr. • Manning, SC Carl A. Farley • 803-433-7673

Drive-in Opens at 8:30 Mon. - Thurs. 9-5 • Fri. 9-6

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city of We wish you the very best Holiday Season MANNING

2742 Paxville Hwy. 803-669-4481

29 West Boyce St. Manning, SC 29102 (803) 435-8477

Jesus is the reason for the Season

AARP Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford Now available from your local independent agent!

40 N. Mill Street • Manning, SC 803-433-0060

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Happy Holidays from John, Olivia, Ben and Alfreda

803-433-0060

Second Baptist Church 323 Alfred Henry Dr., Manning, SC 803-435-4168

piggly wiggly Quality Specialty Feeds For Livestock & Pets

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We specialize in Over stock items. All our items 40-70% off Retail everyday. Our inventory changes all the time from furniture, tools and more.

33 W. Rigby Street, Manning • 803-249-1032

The AARP Automobile Insurance Program from The Hartford is underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affiliates. One Hartford Plaza, Hartford CT 06155. CA license number 5152. AARP membersip is required for Program eligibility in most states.

AARP does not employ or endorse agents or brokers. You have the option of purchasing a policy directly from The Hartford. Your price, however, could vary, and you will not have the advice, counsel or services of your independent agent. ®

Local Since FOREVER

36 Sunset Dr., Manning, SC 29102 803-433-2118 • Deli: 803-433-8544 Pharmacy: 803-433-2412

Lyles Package Store “Be America, Buy America”

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CLARENDON SUN

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

Follow 3 P’s to remove holiday stains; tips for leftover turkey

M

cific types of stains: BEVERAGES: Alcoholic, coffee, soft drinks, tea, wine.

Sponge stain promptly with cold water or soak in cold water for 30 minutes. Pretreat remaining stain. Launder with an appropriate bleach.

CANDLE WAX: Rub with an ice cube and carefully scrape off excess wax with a dull knife. Place several layers of facial tissue or paper towels and press with a warm iron.

To remove remaining stain, sponge with safe cleaning fluid, and rinse. If colored stain remains, launder in the hottest water safe for fabric.

Use appropriate bleach.

CHOCOLATE/COCOA: Soak in cold water. Pre-treat remaining stain. Launder using the hottest water safe for the fabric. Use appropriate bleach. If stain remains, sponge with a safe cleaning fluid and rinse.

Launder again.

EGG, MEAT JUICE, GRAVY: If

ost stains can eventually be removed by following these pro-

cedures.

Always follow the “THREE P’s” of Stain Removal: PROMPTNESS: Treat stains as quickly as possible before laundering. Age and laundering before pre-treating can set some stains.

PATIENCE: If the garment is worth saving, it is worth a little Nancy extra time and effort to Harrison follow stain CLEMSON removal proEXTENSION cedures.

PERSEVERANCE: Because some stains are difficult to remove, it may be necessary to repeat a procedure several times.

Here are tips for some spe-

dried; scrape off as much as possible with a dull knife.

Soak in cold water. Pre-treat remaining stain. Launder using the hottest water safe for the fabric. Use appropriate bleach.

GREASE AND OIL: Butter, shortening, vegetable oil.

Pre-treat stain and then launder in the hottest water safe for the fabric. Use appropriate bleach. If stain persists, sponge thoroughly and launder again.

HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH LEFTOVER TURKEY After the holiday has come and gone, do you get tired of all those turkey leftovers? You can eat only so many turkey sandwiches before you’re ready to give up on the bird.

Well, you need to try a new recipe. Turkey makes great chowder, sandwich, chili and casseroles. It’s a great ingredient to include in stir-fry dishes, too. Try this recipe:

TURKEY COTTAGE PIE

Nancy Harrison is a retired food safety and nutrition educator with Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service.

Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.

2 tablespoons margarine/butter ½ cup onion, chopped ½ cup celery, chopped ½ cup carrots, peeled and chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1 cups turkey stock or chicken broth

1 ½ cups cooked, chopped turkey ¼ teaspoon thyme ½ cup frozen peas 1 ½ cups instant mashed potatoes Rosemary sprigs

In saucepan, melt the margarine/butter. Add onion, celery, garlic, and carrots and sauté over medium heat, stirring often, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in gravy and thyme. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer 15 minutes.

Divide turkey meat and peas between two 1½ to 2 cup casseroles.

Add gravy and vegetables.

Prepare instant mashed potatoes according to the package directions. Spread carefully over turkey mixture. Bake at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes, until potatoes are brown and pies are bubbly. Garnish with rosemary sprigs.

We will be Closed on Christmas Day! We Will RE-OPEN Friday, December 26, 2014

Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

Manning Restaurant 476 N. Brooks St. Mon. - Fri., 6 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sat. 6 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Sunday 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

435-4212 Let us give you our quote before you decide–You’ll Save Hundreds!

Wishing you and your family a very merry season.

OVER 32 YEARS EXPERIENCE LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED

Chris Mathis

We will be closing at 1pm on Christmas Eve.

B12RUNSON ’S PHARMACY N. Brooks Street • Manning, SC 29102

Jimmy’s Heating and Air, LLC

803-435-2511 or 803-435-4235 Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8:30 - 6:00 • Sat. 8:30 - Noon • Sun. Closed

803-460-5420 OR 803-478-5957

Additional parking available behind the pharmacy

SALES & SERVICE ON ALL BRANDS

Jamie Mathis, Pharm D RPh • 435-2365

Jimmy Mathis

Clarendon Sun CLASSIFIEDS THE

DEADLINE 56&4DAY 11AM

LEGAL NOTICES

Notice of Sale NOTICE OF SALE IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS CASE NO. 2014-CP-14-3347 STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CLARENDON The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as trustee for GreenPoint Manufactured Housing Contract Trust, Pass-Through Certificate, Series 2000-2 Plaintiff, -vsEarl J. Clark, Defendant(s) BY VIRTUE of a judgment heretofore granted in the case of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as trustee for GreenPoint Manufactured Housing Contract Trust, Pass-Through Certificate, Series 2000-2 vs. Earl J. Clark, I, Frances Ricci Land Welch, as Special Referee for Clarendon County, will sell on January 5, 2015, at 11:00 am, at the Clarendon County Administration Building, 411 Sunset Drive, Manning, SC 29102, to the highest bidder: All that certain piece, parcel or lot of land, lying, being and situate in the County of Clarendon, State of South Carolina, containing 1.00 acres, and bounding and measuring, now or formerly, as follows: on the NORTH by the remainder of Lot 1 of Sugar Hill Farm Plantation, Section 1 and measuring thereon 457.20 feet; On the SOUTHEAST by the 50' right of way of Wayne's Drive, and measuring thereon 117.25 feet; On the SOUTH

by Lot 2A of Sugar Hill Farm Plantation, Section 1 and measuring thereon 370.38 feet; and on the WEST by Windsor Properties, Inc. and measuring thereon 128.61 feet.

For a more particular description of said lot, reference may be had to a plat made by Robert G. Mathis, RLS, dated July 15, 1999 recorded in the Office of the Clerk of Court for Clarendon County in Plat Book S 50 at Page 60, whereon said lot is designated as Lot #1C. Said property having been conveyed to Earl J. Clark and Inez Clark by deed of J.C. Pelfrey, dated October 8, 1999, recorded in the Office of the Clerk of Court for Clarendon County in Deed Book A-388 at Page 119.

Subsequently, Inez Clark died and an Estate was filed with Case number 2009-ES-14-16.

Said lot being designated as a portion of Clarendon County TMS#215-00-01-074.

TMS #: 215-00-01-086-00 (land) 215-00-01-086-01 (mh) Physical Address:

Notice of Sale

Notice of Sale

Estate Notice Clarendon County

1158 Waynes Drive, Manning, SC 29102

sale to date of compliance with the bid at the rate of 3.625% per annum.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES

Mobile Home: 1999 General VID# GMHGA1019923613AB

SUBJECT TO CLARENDON COUNTY TAXES TERMS OF SALE: The successful bidder, other than the Plaintiff, will deposit with the Special Referee at conclusion of the bidding, five (5%) of his bid, in cash or equivalent, as evidence of good faith, the same to be applied to purchase price in case of compliance, but to be forfeited and applied first to costs and then to Plaintiff's debt in the case of noncompliance. Should the last and highest bidder fail or refuse to make the required deposit at the time of the bid or comply with the other terms or the bid within twenty (20) days, then the Special Referee may resell the property on the same terms and conditions on some subsequent Sales Day (at the risk of the former highest bidder). A personal or deficiency judgment having been demanded by the Plaintiff, the sale of the subject property will remain open for thirty (30) days pursuant to Section 15-39-720, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976; provided, however, that the Court recognizes the option reserved by the Plaintiff to waive such deficiency judgment prior to the sale, and notice is given that the Plaintiff may waive in writing the deficiency judgment prior to the sale; and that should the Plaintiff elect to waive a deficiency judgment, without notice other than the announcement at the sale and notice in writing to the debtor defendant(s) that a deficiency judgment has been waived and that the sale will be final, the bidding will not remain open after the date of sale, but compliance with the bid may be made immediately.

Frances Ricci Land Welch Special Referee for Clarendon County Theodore von Keller, Esquire B. Lindsay Crawford, III, Esquire Sara Hutchins Columbia, South Carolina Attorney for Plaintiff

Estate Notice Clarendon County

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES All persons having claims against the following estates MUST file their claims on FORM #371ES with the Probate Court of Clarendon County, the address of which is 411 Sunset Dr. Manning, SC 29102, within eight (8) months after the date of the first publication of this Notice to Creditors or within one (1) year from date of death, whichever is earlier (SCPC 62-3-801, et seq.), or such persons shall be forever barred as to their claims. All claims are required to be presented in written statements on the prescribed form (FORM #371ES) indicating the name and address of the claimant, the basis of the claim, the amount claimed, the date when the claim will become due, the nature of any uncertainty as to the claim, and a description of any security as to the claim.

Estate: John Henry Horton, IV #2014ES1400279 Personal Representative: John Henry Horton, III 4246 MW Rickenbaker Road Manning, SC 29102 12/18/14 - 12/31/14

The successful bidder will be required to pay interest on the amount of the bid from the date of

All persons having claims against the following estates MUST file their claims on FORM #371ES with the Probate Court of Clarendon County, the address of which is 411 Sunset Dr. Manning, SC 29102, within eight (8) months after the date of the first publication of this Notice to Creditors or within one (1) year from date of death, whichever is earlier (SCPC 62-3-801, et seq.), or such persons shall be forever barred as to their claims. All claims are required to be presented in written statements on the prescribed form (FORM #371ES) indicating the name and address of the claimant, the basis of the claim, the amount claimed, the date when the claim will become due, the nature of any uncertainty as to the claim, and a description of any security as to the claim.

Estate: John Raymond Frederick #2014ES1400270 Personal Representative: Alice M. Frederick 3560 Dingle Pond Road Summerton, SC 29148 12/11/14 - 12/24/14

from Lisa and Robin.

If you are looking for somewhere to rent for the holidays, please call us.

Lisa Bair RENTALS *View more homes and pictures on the website listed below.

All homes are plus utilities and require application approval and security deposit in addition to first month’s rent to move in!

323 S. Mill St., Manning, SC

803-433-7368

Spotlight Lisa Moore

On Clarendon County Businesses TO O ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS CALL 803 803.464.1157 464 11 1157

SALES & SERVICE STUKES HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, LLC Chris Steele

David Timmons

Drive to your Holiday Dinner in a New Car or Truck from us!

Happy Holidays from

www.lisabairrentals.zoomshare.com lisabairrentals@hotmail.com

State MEC Licensed P.O. Box 293 Summerton, SC 29148

40 years Experience (803) 485-6110 • (803) 473-4926

PROTHRO CHEVROLET, INC. BUICK - GMC

T O P LACE A C LASSIFIED A D O R F OR C IRCULLATION

452 N. Brooks Street • Manning, SC www.prothrochevy.com 803-433-2535 or 1-800-968-9934

435-8511

Alfreda Pearson Toll Free 1-800-948-5077 Agent

JIA

Jeffords Insurance Agency 803-433-0060 • 803-374-9655 Cell

Auto • Home • Farm • Business • Boats • Life 40 North Mill St. • Manning, SC 29102 www.jeffordsinsurance.com • alfredap@jeffordsinsurance.com

F OR D ISPLAY A DVERTISING OR S TORY I DEAS P LEASE C ALL M E A T

C ALL

P ENNY H ODGE

464-1157

G AIL M ATHIS

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

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2014 H.G. Osteen 1870-1955 Founder, The Item

H.D. Osteen 1904-1987 The Item

|

A11

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

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

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence.

We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The external light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus!

You might as well not believe ••• in fairies. You might get your We take pleasure in answer- papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christing thus prominently the mas Eve to catch Santa Claus, communication below, expressing at the same time our but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, great gratification that its what would that prove? Nofaithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun: body sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real Dear Editor: things in the world are those I am 8 years old. Some of that neither children nor men my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If can see. Did you ever see fairyou see it in The Sun, it’s so.” ies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof Please tell me the truth, is that they are not there. Nothere a Santa Claus? body can conceive or imagine Virginia O’Hanlon all the wonders there are un115 West Ninety Fifth St. seen and unseeable in the world.

Virginia, your little friends You tear apart the baby’s are wrong. They have been afrattle and see what makes the fected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not be- noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world lieve except they see. They which not the strongest man, think that nothing can be nor even the united strength which is not comprehensible of all the strongest men that by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they ever lived could tear apart. be men’s or children’s, are lit- Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that tle. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory ant, in his intellect as combeyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virpared with the boundless world about him, as measured ginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. by the intelligence capable of No Santa Claus! Thank God! grasping the whole of truth He lives and lives forever. A and knowledge. thousand years from now, Yes, Virginia, there is a Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 Santa Claus. He exists as ceryears from now, he will containly as love and generosity tinue to make glad the heart and devotion exist, and you of childhood. know that they abound and EDITOR’S NOTE: In keeping with many years’ custom, we present the famous editorial, “Is There a Santa Claus?” written by the editor of the New York Sun, Francis Pharcellus Church, in 1897. The question of the editor was asked by Virginia O’Hanlon.

His reply was the memorable “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus,” which has been quoted ever since by newspaper editors who agree with the sentiments of Mr. Church

A politically correct ‘Night Before Christmas’ ‘Twas the night before Christmas and Santa’s a wreck.

How to live in a world that’s politically correct?

His workers no longer would answer to “Elves,” “Vertically challenged” they were calling themselves.

And labor conditions at the North Pole, were alleged by the union to stifle the soul.

Which meant nothing for him or nothing for her.

Nothing to aim, nothing to shoot, Nothing that clamored or made lots of noise.

Nothing for just girls and nothing for just boys.

Nothing that claimed to be gender specific, Nothing that’s warlike or non-pacifistic.

Four reindeer had vanished without much propriety, released to the wilds by the Humane Society.

And equal employment had made it quite clear, that Santa had better not use just reindeer.

So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid, were replaced with four pigs, and you know that looked stupid!

No candy or sweets, they were bad for the tooth.

Nothing that seemed to embellish upon the truth.

And fairy tales, while not yet forbidden, were like Ken and Barbie, better off hidden, for they raised the hackles of those psychological, who claimed the only good gift was one ecological.

The runners had been removed from his beautiful sleigh, because the ruts were deemed dangerous by the EPA. And millions of people were calling the cops, when they heard sled noises upon their roof tops.

Second-hand smoke from his pipe had his workers quite frightened, and his fur-trimmed red suit was called “unenlightened.”

To show you the strangeness of today’s ebbs and flows, Rudolf was suing over unauthorized use of his nose.

He went to Geraldo, in front of the nation, demanding millions in overdue compensation.

So half of the reindeer were gone, and his wife who suddenly said she’d had enough of this life, joined a self-help group, packed and left in a whiz, demanding from now on that her title was Ms. And as for gifts, why, he’d never had the notion that making a choice could cause such commotion.

Nothing of leather, nothing of fur,

No baseball, no football, someone might get hurt, besides — playing sports exposed kids to dirt.

Dolls were said to be sexist and should be passe. and Nintendo would rot your entire brain away.

So Santa just stood there, disheveled and perplexed, he just couldn’t figure out what to do next?

He tried to be merry he tried to be gay, but you must have to admit he was having a very bad day.

His sack was quite empty, it was flat on the ground, nothing fully acceptable was anywhere to be found.

Something special was needed, a gift that he might, give to us all, without angering the left or the right.

A gift that would satisfy — with no indecision, each group of people in every religion.

Every race, every hue, everyone, everywhere, even you!

So here is that gift, its price beyond worth, May you and your loved ones enjoy peace on Earth. @1992 Harvey Ehrlich

COMMENTARY

Progression and retrogression in the black community

T

here is no question, though it’s not acknowledged enough, that black Americans have made greater gains, over some of the highest hurdles and in a very short span of time, than any other racial group in mankind’s history. What’s the evidence? If black Americans were thought of as a nation with their own gross domestic product, they’d rank among the 20 wealthiest nations. It was a black American, Gen. Colin Powell, who headed the mightiest military in mankind’s history. A few black Americans are among the world’s wealthiest. Many black Americans are among the world’s most famous personalities.

The significance of all this is that in 1865, neither an exslave nor an ex-slave owner would have believed that such progress would be possible in less than a century and a half. As such, it speaks to the intestinal fortitude of a

people. Just as importantly, it speaks to the greatness of a nation within which such progress was possible. That progress would have been impossible anywhere except in the United States of America.

The challenge that lies before us is how those gains can be extended to a large percentage of black people for whom Walter they appear Williams elusive.

A good start to meeting that challenge is to recognize that much of the pathology seen in many black communities is entirely new in black history. Let’s look at some of that history. In the late 1800s, depending on the city, 70 to 80 percent of black households were two-parent. In 1925 New York City, 85 percent of black households were two-parent.

As late as 1950, only 18 percent of black households were single-parent. From 1890 to 1940, a slightly higher percentage of black adults had married than white adults. In 1940, black illegitimacy was about 14 percent.

Today it’s an entirely different story. Black illegitimacy is 75 percent. Close to 50 percent of marriage-age blacks never marry. Close to 70 percent of black households are female-headed. If one thinks family structure doesn’t matter, consider that the poverty rate among black female-headed families is about 47 percent but among married families it has been in the single digits for more than two decades. It’s not just poverty. Children raised by single parents are likelier to be physically abused; use drugs; engage in violent, delinquent and criminal behavior; have emotional and behavioral problems; and drop out of school.

What about employment?

Every census from 1890 to 1950 showed that black labor force participation rates were higher than those of whites.

Today it’s a mere fraction.

Prior to the mid-’50s, the unemployment rate for black 16and 17-year-olds was under 10 percent and less than that of whites. Who would argue that this more favorable employment picture was because there was less racial discrimination in the job market in earlier times? Labor laws such as the Davis-Bacon Act of 1931 — a federal minimum wage law for construction workers — and the 1938 federal minimum wage law for all workers reduced work opportunities for blacks.

Then there’s the high crime rate. Each year, roughly 7,000 blacks are murdered. Ninetyfour percent of the time, the murderer is another black person. Though blacks are 13 percent of the nation’s population, they are more than 50 percent of homicide victims.

Nationally, the black homi-

cide victimization rate is six times that of whites, and in some cities, it’s 22 times that of whites. Along with being most of the nation’s homicide victims, blacks are most of the victims of violent personal crimes, such as assault and robbery.

Older black people, who were raised in an era when there was far greater discrimination and who faced far fewer opportunities, need to speak out against behavior and excuses that their parents would have never accepted. Otherwise, the race hustlers, poverty pimps and white liberals will continue with the narrative that black problems are a result of racism and racist cops and condemn future generations of blacks to a lifetime of mediocrity.

Walter E. Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University. © 2014 creators.com

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

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2014

CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE BANKS — The following will close at 1 p.m. Wednesday and reopen Friday: SAFE Federal Credit Union; All South Federal Credit Union; The Citizens Bank; First Citizens; and NBSC. The following will close at 2 p.m. Wednesday and reopen Friday: Bank of America; Bank of Clarendon; BB&T; and Wells Fargo.

GOVERNMENT — The following will be closed Wednesday through Friday: City of Sumter offices; Sumter County offices; Clarendon County offices; Lee County offices; City of Manning offices; and City of Bishopville offices.

State government offices will be closed Christmas Day and Friday.

Federal government offices and the U.S. Postal Service will be closed Christmas Day. SCHOOLS — The following will be closed through Jan. 2, 2015: Sumter School District; Clarendon School Districts 1, 2 and 3; Lee County Public Schools; Robert E. Lee Academy; Thomas Sumter Academy; Wilson Hall; St. Anne Catholic School; St. Francis Xavier High School; William Thomas Academy; Laurence Manning Academy; and Clarendon Hall.

Sumter Christian School will be closed through Jan. 1, 2015. A faculty in-service day will be observed on Jan. 2, 2015, and students will return on Jan. 5, 2015.

Central Carolina Technical College will be closed through Jan. 2, 2015.

USC Sumter and Morris College will be closed through Jan. 1, 2015.

UTILITIES — Black River Electric Coop. will be closed Christmas Day and Friday.

Farmers Telephone Coop. will be closed Christmas Day. OTHER — Clemson Extension Service will be closed through Friday.

The Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce will be closed today and Christmas Day. The Sumter County Library will be closed through Friday.

The Harvin Clarendon County Library will be closed through Saturday.

All offices of The Sumter Item will be closed today and Christmas Day. The newspaper will not publish on Christmas Day.

SUPPORT GROUPS AA, AL-ANON, ALATEEN: AA — Monday-Friday, noon and 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m., 1 Warren St. (803) 7751852.

AA Women’s Meeting — Wednesday, 7 p.m., 1 Warren St. (803) 775-1852.

AA Spanish Speaking — Sunday, 4:30 p.m., 1 Warren St. (803) 775-1852.

AA “How it Works” Group — Monday and Friday, 8 p.m., 1154 Ronda St. Call (803) 4945180.

Al-Anon “Courage to Change” Support Group — Tuesday, 7 p.m., Alice Drive Baptist Church, Room 204, 1305 Loring Mill Road. Call Dian at (803) 316-0775 or Crystal at (803) 775-3587.

441 AA Support Group — Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 8:30 p.m., Hair Force, 2090-D S.C. 441.

AA Summerton Group — Wednesday, 8 p.m., town hall.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Listen EUGENIA LAST attentively and offer innovative suggestions, but don’t get into debates. Getting along with family is not always easy, and keeping the peace will be in your best interest. Look at the big picture and be gracious in all your dealings.

The last word in astrology

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Travel about and share information, memories and future plans. Spend time helping elderly relatives or youngsters who need assistance.

Your gestures will be appreciated and repaid in interesting and thoughtful manners. Love and romance are in the stars.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): This can be a difficult day where money matters are concerned. Look for ways to cut costs and it will relieve the stress you are feeling. Offer to lend a helping hand rather than an expensive present.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): What you give, you will get in return.

Don’t put a dollar figure on love.

What comes from the heart will end up meaning so much more. A personal partnership will go through a development that will bring about change in the new year.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Looking for a special gift for someone you love won’t measure up to spending quality time together. Talking from the heart will be what makes a difference to the ones you love.

Live in the moment, and love unconditionally.

Manning Al-Anon Family Group — Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Behavioral Health Building, 14 Church St., Manning. Call Angie Johnson at (803) 4358085.

C/A “Drop the Rock” Group — Thursday, 9:30 p.m., 1154 Ronda St. Call Elizabeth Owens at (803) 607-4543.

HIV/AIDS: Positive Outlook, through Wateree AIDS Task Force, meets at 11:30 a.m. third Friday of each month. Support group for those with HIV/AIDS, their friends and family. For location, contact Kevin at (803) 778-0303 or at watereeaids@ sc.rr.com.

DAILY PLANNER

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEATHER

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2014

AccuWeather® five-day forecast for Sumter TODAY

TONIGHT

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Heavy rain and a t-storm; warmer

Cloudy with a couple of t-storms

Sunny and cooler

Sunshine and pleasant

Turning cloudy

Cloudy with a couple of t-storms

72°

45°

59° / 35°

61° / 39°

65° / 50°

66° / 50°

Chance of rain: 75%

Chance of rain: 60%

Chance of rain: 10%

Chance of rain: 10%

Chance of rain: 25%

Chance of rain: 60%

S 10-20 mph

WSW 10-20 mph

W 7-14 mph

SE 3-6 mph

SSW 3-6 mph

NE 7-14 mph

TODAY’S SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER

Gaffney 46/68 Spartanburg 47/67

Greenville 47/67

Columbia 54/73

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

Sumter 55/72

IN THE MOUNTAINS Aiken 54/71

ON THE COAST

Charleston 61/73

Today: A couple of showers and a thunderstorm. High 69 to 73.

Thursday: Plenty of sunshine; cooler in southern parts. High 58 to 62.

LOCAL ALMANAC

LAKE LEVELS

SUMTER YESTERDAY

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 65/39/r 38/31/r 48/34/pc 53/35/r 55/35/pc 72/51/s 57/38/pc 58/56/r 82/59/t 62/55/r 64/43/s 60/49/pc 65/53/r

SUN AND MOON 7 a.m. yest.

356.81 73.38 73.14 95.84

24-hr chg -0.01 -0.08 -0.07 -0.06

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

0.23" 0.50" 2.28" 35.51" 48.66" 45.88"

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

Full pool 360 76.8 75.5 100

Lake Murray Marion Moultrie Wateree

44° 41° 55° 33° 80° in 2013 13° in 1985

Precipitation Yesterday Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 53/34/s 38/33/pc 58/45/s 41/31/c 62/52/s 65/46/pc 58/46/s 58/37/pc 68/52/pc 56/36/pc 63/39/pc 57/47/pc 55/36/pc

Myrtle Beach 58/71

Manning 56/73

Today: Rain. Winds south-southwest 12-25 mph.

Thursday: Plenty of sunshine. Winds west-southwest 6-12 mph.

Temperature High Low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

Florence 54/73

Bishopville 53/71

Flood 7 a.m. 24-hr stage yest. chg 12 4.78 -0.13 19 3.69 +0.34 14 3.91 -0.02 14 3.52 -0.01 80 74.89 -0.34 24 5.53 +1.13

Sunrise 7:25 a.m.

Moonrise 9:22 a.m.

Sunset Moonset

5:18 p.m.

8:33 p.m.

First

Full

Last

New

Dec. 28

Jan. 4

Jan. 13

Jan. 20

TIDES AT MYRTLE BEACH

Today Thu.

High 10:36 a.m.

10:49 p.m.

11:27 a.m.

11:44 p.m.

Ht. 3.6 3.1 3.5 3.1

Low 4:49 a.m.

5:33 p.m.

5:41 a.m.

6:24 p.m.

Ht. -0.7 -0.6 -0.6 -0.6

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

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 62/37/r 67/40/r 72/43/r 72/51/t 65/56/r 73/50/t 69/43/r 68/43/r 73/45/r 72/49/r 73/60/r 72/54/r 71/53/r

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 50/29/s 56/32/s 59/31/s 59/39/s 57/42/c 60/37/s 56/32/s 58/35/s 59/35/s 59/34/s 61/37/s 59/37/s 60/35/s

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

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 73/50/r 77/53/t 69/43/r 72/56/r 73/49/t 68/46/r 67/42/r 64/41/r 69/47/t 77/53/t 68/38/r 69/40/r 66/38/r

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 60/36/s 64/39/s 57/33/s 59/36/s 59/37/s 54/33/s 56/33/s 54/31/s 57/43/s 63/39/s 56/31/s 58/32/s 52/31/s

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

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 63/40/r 72/50/t 71/50/r 72/46/r 70/49/t 69/51/r 68/42/r 71/48/r 74/51/t 67/43/r 70/49/t 71/55/r 67/46/r

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 54/28/s 60/39/s 59/39/s 59/36/s 59/39/s 57/34/s 56/31/s 58/31/s 61/39/s 57/33/s 58/41/s 59/35/s 54/32/s

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

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

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Drop in to see friends, relatives or neighbors, and you will have a great time. A heartfelt approach to the activities and events you attend will attract plenty of attention. Don’t let someone’s jealousy ruin your plans.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Refuse to talk about private emotional issues with anyone. Keeping your life a secret will help you avoid backlash from someone looking for an excuse to pick on you. Stick close to your biggest supporters.

Love conquers all.

The Most Reliable Team With the Most Reliable Comfort Systems 803-795-4257

LOTTERY NUMBERS Lottery numbers were not available at press time

PICTURES FROM THE PUBLIC

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Problems with authority figures will lead to an unsavory situation.

Don’t drink and drive or do anything that goes against rules or regulations. Stick close to home and make improvements that will please friends and family.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Keep secrets tucked away in a safe place. Don’t make changes based on what someone else does. Follow your instincts and do what works best for you. Observation will save you from making a big mistake.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Discipline coupled with innovation and the willingness to make positive changes will be admired.

Share your plans and honest suggestions will be made that will help you make personal and professional changes in the new year.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Reconnect with people from your VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Stay on past, but don’t believe everything top of your financial situation and you hear. Someone is likely to you will enjoy the festivities. embellish what’s been going on Socializing and sharing with people and what’s to come. Focus on truth you don’t get to see often will and know in your heart that we are bring you closer to your roots and all responsible for our own help you find ways to maintain contact in the new year. happiness.

Joy and Ann Louise Williams visit with Santa after performing in the living Christmas tree program at First Baptist Church in Honea Path. Photo submitted by Phyllis Williams.

SECTION

B

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2014 Call: (803) 774-1241 | E-mail: sports@theitem.com

PRO FOOTBALL

Bengals pick off Manning 4 times to reach playoffs

BY JOE KAY The Associated Press

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cincinnati running back Jeremy Hill (32) celebrates an 85-yard touchdown run during the Bengals’ 37-28 victory over Denver on Monday in Cincinnati.

CINCINNATI — Four minutes were left when Peyton Manning took the field to try to lead his 51st game-winning drive.

Plenty of time for the Broncos to pull it out.

One bad throw brought the playoffs into sharper focus.

Dre Kirkpatrick returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown with 2:41 to go, then picked off Manning again in the close seconds to secure a 37-28 victory on Monday night that put the Cincinnati Bengals

back in the playoffs.

Cincinnati (10-4-1) will play in Pittsburgh next Sunday night, with the winner getting the AFC North title. The loser gets a wild card. The Bengals will have one thing in their favor: Finally breaking out of their prime time funk.

The Bengals got blown out in their two previous night games this season and were 18-41 all-time in prime time, including 10-20 on Monday nights.

This one was particularly soothing.

“Until we had a win like this, people kept saying we couldn’t win in prime

time,’’ said Andy Dalton, who is only 3-6 in prime time and 0-3 in the playoffs. “So it was big for us to get this win. Regardless of what people were saying, this win meant more because it got us into the playoffs.’’

The Broncos (11-4) were already there as AFC West champions. They could have clinched a first-round bye with a win on Monday. Instead, New England got home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Denver can still clinch the No. 2 seed by beating Oakland at home.

SEE BENGALS, PAGE B5

USC FOOTBALL

Better to give than receive Carolina OL Cann has sights set solely on delivering bowl victory and not NFL draft

BY RICHARD BREEN Greenville News COLUMBIA — The presents have been piling up at his doorstep, but A.J. Cann is apparently one of those disciplined souls who takes “do not open until Christmas” seriously.

Or in his case, “do not open until Dec. 28.” The University of South Carolina offensive guard said he’s more concerned with getting a win Saturday in the Duck Commander Independence Bowl than any of the postseason accolades or NFL draft projections that have been coming his way.

“It’s an honor and a blessing … but we’ve still got work to do here,” Cann said as the Gamecocks practiced for their game against the University of Miami. “I don’t even pay attention to the All-American stuff unless someone tweets it at me.”

The “All-American stuff” is a lot of stuff. In the past few weeks, USC’s senior co-captain has been selected secondteam AP All-American, first team by ESPN.com and CBS Sports, second team by Walter Camp, and third team by College Sports Madness.

He was also voted to the first-team All-SEC squad by league coaches and secondteam All-SEC by The Associated Press.

“A.J.’s not one that’s big on

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

South Carolina offensive lineman A.J. Cann (50) has garnered recent All-American honors among others and is a prime candidate to be drafted into the NFL, but his focus has been set solely on delivering an Independence Bowl victory for USC on Saturday. awards and everything like that,” said fellow senior offensive lineman Corey Robinson.

“He’s going to work anyway and he’s gonna play hard re-

gardless of whether they recognize him or not. I’m proud of him, but it’s not gonna change his focus.”

Several analysts that track

the NFL draft are projecting the 6-foot-4, 311-pound Cann to go in the second round in 2015. Cann said he asks exGamecocks who are currently

in the pros what it’s like.

“You’ve got to come to work every week,” is what he said

SEE CANN, PAGE B3

COMMENTARY

CLEMSON BASKETBALL

Back by popular demand, real BCS solves playoff chaos T

Tigers top Oakland 60-50

SEE BRUNSON, PAGE B4

SEE TIGERS, PAGE B6

he unrest and dissension is out there. There is no doubt there is dissatisfaction in the world of college football.

Is that really a surprise though? Not really, but it was supposed to be different this year and from here on out with the start of the Playoff Selection Committee.

The committee’s job was to select four teams for a playoff based purely on the merit of their respective seasons. With the release of its first several polls, the com-

mittee seemed to be on the up and up.

However, when it came Dennis time for Brunson the rubber to hit the road, the pedal to hit the metal, the committee took the easy way out. Ohio State made it into the top four, jumping both Baylor and Texas Christian, who closed their seasons with

convincing victories.

The committee just couldn’t bypass having THE (it makes me laugh every time I hear it) Ohio State in its final four.

The Buckeyes certainly made a great recovery from a horrendous season-opening home loss to Virginia Tech, which broke .500 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. They didn’t lose again with their second-string quarterback and winning the Big 10 championship game with their third-

BY JOHN CLAYTON The Associated Press CLEMSON — It was the type of game Clemson’s Jaron Blossomgame had been waiting for.

The redshirt sophomore scored a career-high 26 points to lead the Tigers to a 60-50 win over Oakland Monday night at Littlejohn Coliseum.

Blossomgame has scored in double figures in nine of his last 10 games and set the tone early with a 3-pointer for the first bucket of the game. He scored nine of Clemson’s first 18 points and had 19 at the half.

“I was really focused all day today _ really thinking about the game all day,’’ Blossomgame said.

“I got in early here. I got in some 3s early and some free throws. Obvi-

ously, it translated to the game.’’

The Tigers (7-4) led by as many as 15 points in the second half, but held off an BLOSSOMGAME Oakland comeback attempt that cut the Clemson lead to 56-52 on a pair of Kahlil Felder free throws with 5:46 to play.

Felder led the Golden Grizzlies with 22 points and Dante Williams chipped in 10 points off the bench.

With Blossomgame hitting from the perimeter — 8 of 10 from the field, including 3 of 3 beyond the 3-point arc — the Clemson offense opened up for junior center Landry Nnoko, who scored 17 points and added seven rebounds

B2

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SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2014

SPORTS ITEMS

Browns sign QB Thigpen BEREA, Ohio — The Browns have signed veteran quarterback Tyler Thigpen to help them get through their season finale at Baltimore.

With quarterbacks Johnny Manziel and Brian Hoyer injured, the Browns will likely start rookie Connor Shaw against the Ravens with Thigpen backing him up. Thigpen knows Cleveland’s offense after spending time with them during training camp this summer.

The 6-foot-1 Thigpen is in his seventh NFL season out of Coastal Carolina. He’s appeared in 29 games and made 12 starts while playing for Kansas City, Miami and Buffalo.

MEMPHIS, BYU ATHLETIC DIRECTORS EXPRESS REGRETS OVER FIGHT The athletic directors at Memphis and BYU expressed regret over the fight following the Tigers’ 55-48 OT victory in the Miami Beach Bowl.

Memphis athletic director Tom Bowen said he and coach Justin Fuente will review video over the next few days and take “appropriate disciplinary measures.’’ He adds in a statement Tuesday: “Hopefully, it will be a learning lesson for both teams.’’

After DaShaughn Terry’s gameclinching interception in overtime Monday, dozens from both sidelines headed toward the middle of the field, with many punching and grabbing. Cameras showed blood streaming from the face of BYU defensive back Kai Nacua as he came from behind to punch Memphis tight end Alan Cross in the head.

NFL MOVES 2 GAMES TO LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON NEW YORK — The division-deciding games at Green Bay and Atlanta will be played late Sunday afternoon.

The NFL moved the Lions-Packers game for the NFC North to 4:25 p.m.

EST. It also put the Panthers-Falcons game in that time slot, but switched networks for that showdown for the NFC South crown to CBS. DetroitGreen Bay will be on Fox. The prime-time game is Cincinnati at Pittsburgh to decide the AFC North.

Jacksonville at Houston has been moved from late afternoon to 1 p.m. for the final day of the regular season.

From wire reports

PREP BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS SCHEDULE DISTRICT 9 OFFICIALS FRIDAY

at Crestwood High School 10:30 a.m.

Crestwood vs. Lamar boys 12 p.m.

3-point contest 12:30 p.m.

Lamar vs. Fairfield Central girls 2 p.m.

Crestwood vs. Spring Valley girls 3:30 p.m.

Manning vs. Blythewood girls 5 p.m.

3-point contest 5:30 p.m.

Lake City vs. CA Johnson girls 7 p.m.

Crestwood vs. Kingstree girls 8:30 p.m.

Crestwood vs. Lee Central boys

FRIDAY

At Chestnut Oaks Middle School 10:30 a.m.

Spring Valley vs. Kingstree girls 12:30 p.m.

Lee Central vs. Fairfield Central boys 2 p.m.

Hephizbah, N.C., vs. CA Johnson girls 3:30 p.m.

Lamar vs. Manning boys 5:30 p.m.

Darlington vs. Manning girls 7 p.m.

C.A. Johnson vs. Lee Central girls 8:30 p.m.

C.E. Murray vs. Manning boys

SATURDAY

At Crestwood High School 10:30 a.m.

Darlington vs. Blythewood girls Noon Crestwood vs. Hephizbah, N.C., girls 1:30 p.m.

C.E. Murray vs. Fairfield Central boys 3 p.m.

C.A. Johnson vs. Darlington girls 4:30 p.m.

Manning vs. Lee Central girls 6 p.m.

3-point Championship 6:30 p.m.

C.E. Murray vs. Lamar boys 8 p.m.

Crestwood vs. Fairfield Central boys

SATURDAY

At Chestnut Oaks Middle School Noon Kingstree vs. Lake City girls 1:30 p.m.

Lee Central vs. Fairfield Central girls 3 p.m.

Lamar vs. Spring Valley girls 4:30 p.m.

Hephizbah, N.C., vs. Lake City girls 6:30 p.m.

Blythewood vs. Fairfield Central girls 8 p.m.

Lee Central vs. Manning boys

MONDAY

at Crestwood High School 6 p.m.

Girls championship game 7:30 p.m.

Boys championship game

LAKE MARION INVITATIONAL FRIDAY

Boys Green Bracket 10 a.m.

Cross vs. Scott’s Branch, (Auxiliary gym) 2:30 p.m.

Berkeley vs. Orangeburg Prep (Main gym) 4 p.m.

Colleton County vs. Edisto (Auxiliary gym) 8:30 p.m.

Hunter Kinard Tyler vs. Lake Marion (Main gym) Black Bracket 11 a.m.

Estill vs. Sumter (Main gym) 1 p.m.

Wade Hampton vs. Bethune-Bowman (Main gym) 5:30 p.m.

Cane Bay vs. Orangeburg-Wilkinson (Main gym) 7 p.m.

Marlboro County vs. Rock Hill (Auxiliary gym)

SATURDAY

Boys Black Bracket 11 a.m.

Estill/Sumter winner vs. Marlboro County/ Rock Hill winner (Main gym) 1 p.m.

Estill/Sumter loser vs. Marlboro County/ Rock Hill loser (Auxiliary gym) 4 p.m.

Wade Hampton/Bethune-Bowman loser vs.

Cane Bay/O-W loser (Auxiliary gym) 5:30 p.m.

Wade Hampton/Bethune-Bowman winner vs. Cane Bay/O-W winner (Main gym)

SATURDAY

Boys Green Bracket 10 a.m.

Loser Game 1 and Loser Game 5 2:30 p.m.

Cross/Scott’s Branch winner vs. Colleton County/Edisto winner (Main gym) 7 p.m.

Loser Game 4 and Loser Game 8 8:30 p.m.

Berkely/O-P winner vs. HKT vs. Lake Marion winner (Main gym)

MONDAY

9 a.m.

Loser from Game 11 vs. Loser Game 15 (Auxiliary gym) 11:30 a.m.

Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 15 (Auxiliary gym) 2:30 p.m. (Third place game) Loser Game 14 vs. Loser Game 16 (Main gym) 8:30 p.m. (Green Bracket Championship) Winner Game 12 vs. Winner Game 16

MONDAY

11 a.m.

Loser Game 10 vs. Loser Game 12 (Main gym) 2 p.m.

Loser Game 19 vs. Loser Game 13 (Auxiliary gym) 4:30 p.m.

Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 13 (Auxiliary gym) 5:30 p.m.

Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 14 (Main gym)

FRIDAY

Girls Green Bracket 10 a.m.

Keenan vs. Denmark (Main gym) 11:30 a.m.

Estill vs. Scott’s Branch (Auxiliary gym) 2:30 p.m.

Westside vs. Sumter (Auxiliary gym) 7 p.m.

Edisto vs. Lake Marion (Main gym)

SATURDAY

10 a.m.

Keenan/Denmark winner vs. Westside/Sumter winner (Main gym) 2:30 p.m.

Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 4 (Auxiliary gym) 7 p.m.

Estill/Scott’s Branch winner vs. Edisto/Lake Marion winner (Main gym) 8:30 p.m.

Keenan/Denmark loser vs. Westside/Sumter loser (Auxiliary gym)

SUNDAY

10:15 a.m.

Loser Game 16 vs. Loser Game 12 1 p.m. (Third-place game) Loser Game 9 vs. Loser Game 15 3:15 p.m.

Winner Game 12 vs. Winner Game 16 7 p.m. (Green Bracket Championship) Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 15

THE SUMTER ITEM

SCOREBOARD

Portland Oklahoma City Denver Utah Minnesota PACIFIC DIVISION

TV, RADIO TODAY

Noon – College Football: Bahamas Bowl from Nassau, Bahamas – Central Michigan vs.

Western Kentucky (ESPN).

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

8 p.m. – College Football: Hawaii Bow from Honolulu – Rice vs. Fresno State (ESPN).

THURSDAY

Noon – NBA Basketball: Washington at New York (ESPN).

2:30 p.m. – NBA Basketball: Oklahoma City at San Antonio (WOLO 25).

4 p.m. – College Basketball: Diamond Head Classic Consolation Game from Honolulu (ESPNU).

5 p.m. – NBA Basketball: Cleveland at Miami (WOLO 25).

6:30 p.m. – College Basketball: Diamond Head Classic Third-Place Game from Honolulu (ESPN2).

8 p.m. – NBA Basketball: Los Angeles Lakers at Chicago (TNT).

8:30 p.m. – College Basketball: Diamond Head Classic Championship Game from Honolulu (ESPN2).

10:30 p.m. – NBA Basketball: Golden State at Los Angeles Clippers (TNT).

SATURDAY

2 p.m.

Roland Park, Md., vs. Lakewood girls Northwood vs. Whale Branch girls 3:30 p.m.

Scotland County, N.C., vs. Dutchtown girls Stephenson, Ga., vs. West Charlotte girls

MOODY HOLIDAY CLASSIC DEC. 29-JAN. 1

At Northwestern High, Rock Hill

DEC. 29

10:15 a.m.

Bethesda Aca vs. Lakewood

RICHARD WINN CHRISTMAS CLASSIC DEC. 29

2 p.m.

Lewisville vs. Wilson Hall (girls) 3:30 p.m.

Lewisville vs. Woodruff (boys) 5 p.m.

Richard Winn vs. Chesnee (girls) 6:30 p.m.

Richard Winn vs. Fountain Inn Christian (boys)

DECEMBER 30 Consolation Girls Consolation Boys

2 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

5 p.m.

Championship Girls 6:30 p.m.

Championship Boys

NORTH CENTRAL HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT DEC. 29-30

at North Central High School REL Boys vs. TBA

7 15 16 20 21

.759 .464 .429 .310 .192

– 8 1/2 9 1/2 13 15 1/2

W 23 19 15 12 8

L 3 9 14 16 19

Pct .885 .679 .517 .429 .296

GB – 5 9 1/2 12 15 1/2

MONDAY’S GAMES

Charlotte 110, Denver 82 Chicago 129, Toronto 120 Houston 110, Portland 95 Utah 97, Memphis 91 Atlanta 105, Dallas 102 San Antonio 125, L.A. Clippers 118 Golden State 128, Sacramento 108

TUESDAY’S GAMES

Chicago at Washington, 7 p.m.

Boston at Orlando, 7 p.m.

New Orleans at Indiana, 7 p.m.

Minnesota at Cleveland, 7 p.m.

L.A. Clippers at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.

Philadelphia at Miami, 7:30 p.m.

Denver at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.

Portland at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.

Charlotte at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.

Dallas at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

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

THURSDAY’S GAMES

Washington at New York, 12 p.m.

Oklahoma City at San Antonio, 2:30 p.m.

Cleveland at Miami, 5 p.m.

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

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

COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL SCHEDULE TODAY

Bahamas Bowl At Nassau Western Kentucky (7-5) vs. Central Michigan (7-5), Noon (ESPN) Hawaii Bowl At Honolulu Rice (7-5) vs. Fresno State (6-7), 8 p.m. (ESPN)

FRIDAY

Heart of Dallas Bowl Illinois (6-6) vs. Louisiana Tech (8-4), 1 p.m.

(ESPN) Quick Lane Bowl At Detroit Rutgers (7-5) vs. North Carolina (6-6), 4:30 p.m. (ESPN) St. Petersburg (Fla.) Bowl UCF (9-3) vs. N.C. State (7-5), 8 p.m. (ESPN)

SATURDAY

Military Bowl At Annapolis, Md. Virginia Tech (6-6) vs. Cincinnati (9-3), 1 p.m.

(ESPN) Sun Bowl At El Paso, Texas Duke (9-3) vs. Arizona State (9-3), 2 p.m.

(CBS) Independence Bowl At Shreveport, La. Miami (6-6) vs. South Carolina (6-6), 4 p.m.

(ESPN2) Pinstripe Bowl At Bronx, N.Y. Boston College (7-5) vs. Penn State (6-6), 4:30 p.m. (ESPN) Holiday Bowl At San Diego Nebraska (9-3) vs. Southern Cal (8-4), 8 p.m.

(ESPN)

MONDAY

NFL STANDINGS

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

W L 12 3 8 7 8 7 3 12

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .800 .533 .533 .200

PF 459 364 326 246

PA 296 336 280 377

W L 10 5 8 7 3 12 2 13

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .667 .533 .200 .133

PF 431 349 232 244

PA 359 290 389 411

W 10 10 9 7

L 4 5 6 8

T 1 0 0 0

Pct .700 .667 .600 .467

PF 348 409 389 289

PA 317 351 292 317

W L 11 4 9 6 8 7 3 12

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .733 .600 .533 .200

PF 435 341 334 239

PA 340 329 274 405

NATIONAL CONFERENCE EAST y-Dallas Philadelphia N.Y. Giants Washington SOUTH

W L 11 4 9 6 6 9 4 11

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .733 .600 .400 .267

PF 423 440 354 284

PA 335 374 366 394

W L 6 8 6 9 6 9 2 13

T 1 0 0 0

Pct .433 .400 .400 .133

PF 305 378 378 257

PA 371 383 404 387

Liberty Bowl At Memphis, Tenn.

West Virginia (7-5) vs. Texas A&M (7-5), 2 p.m. (ESPN) Russell Athletic Bowl At Orlando, Fla. Clemson (9-3) vs. Oklahoma (8-4), 5:30 p.m.

(ESPN) Texas Bowl At Houston Texas (6-6) vs. Arkansas (6-6), 9 p.m. (ESPN)

Carolina Atlanta New Orleans Tampa Bay NORTH

W L 11 4 11 4 6 9 5 10

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .733 .733 .400 .333

PF 301 456 312 310

PA 252 328 334 429

TUESDAY

W L x-Seattle 11 4 x-Arizona 11 4 San Francisco 7 8 St. Louis 6 9 x-clinched playoff spot y-clinched division

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .733 .733 .467 .400

PF 374 293 286 318

PA 248 279 323 334

Music City Bowl At Nashville, Tenn.

Notre Dame (7-5) vs. LSU (8-4), 3 p.m. (ESPN) Belk Bowl At Charlotte Louisville (9-3) vs. Georgia (9-3), 6:30 p.m.

(ESPN) Fosters Farm Bowl At Santa Clara, Calif.

Stanford (7-5) vs. Maryland (7-5), 10 p.m.

(ESPN)

DEC. 31

CAROLINA INVITATIONAL at North Charleston

Golden State L.A. Clippers Phoenix Sacramento L.A. Lakers

22 13 12 9 5

Peach Bowl At Atlanta Mississippi (9-3) vs. TCU (11-1), 12:30 p.m.

(ESPN) Fiesta Bowl At Glendale, Ariz.

Boise State (11-2) vs. Arizona (10-3), 4 p.m.

(ESPN) Orange Bowl At Miami Gardens, Fla. Mississippi State (10-2) vs. Georgia Tech (103), 8 p.m. (ESPN)

JAN. 1

Outback Bowl At Tampa, Fla. Wisconsin (10-3) vs. Auburn (8-4), Noon (ESPN2) Cotton Bowl Classic At Arlington, Texas Michigan State (10-2) vs. Baylor (11-1), 12:30 p.m. (ESPN) Citrus Bowl At Orlando, Fla. Minnesota (8-4) vs. Missouri (10-3), 1 p.m.

(ABC) Rose Bowl At Pasadena, Calif.

Playoff semifinal: Oregon (12-1) vs. Florida State (13-0), 5 p.m. (ESPN) Sugar Bowl At New Orleans Playoff semifinal: Alabama (12-1) vs. Ohio State (12-1), 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)

JAN. 2

x-Detroit x-Green Bay Minnesota Chicago WEST

SUNDAY’S GAMES

Houston 25, Baltimore 13 Detroit 20, Chicago 14 Atlanta 30, New Orleans 14 Miami 37, Minnesota 35 Carolina 17, Cleveland 13 Green Bay 20, Tampa Bay 3 Pittsburgh 20, Kansas City 12 New England 17, N.Y. Jets 16 N.Y. Giants 37, St. Louis 27 Oakland 26, Buffalo 24 Dallas 42, Indianapolis 7 Seattle 35, Arizona 6

MONDAY’S GAME

Cincinnati 37, Denver 28

SUNDAY, DEC. 28

Indianapolis at Tennessee, 1 p.m.

Jacksonville at Houston, 1 p.m.

San Diego at Kansas City, 1 p.m.

Chicago at Minnesota, 1 p.m.

Cleveland at Baltimore, 1 p.m.

Dallas at Washington, 1 p.m.

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

Buffalo at New England, 1 p.m.

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

New Orleans at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

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

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

Oakland at Denver, 4:25 p.m.

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

Carolina at Atlanta, 4:25 p.m.

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, 8:30 p.m.

NHL STANDINGS

By The Associated Press EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION

Armed Forces Bowl At Fort Worth, Texas Pittsburgh (6-6) vs. Houston (7-5), Noon (ESPN) TaxSlayer Bowl At Jacksonville, Fla. Iowa (7-5) vs. Tennessee (6-6), 3:20 p.m.

(ESPN) Alamo Bowl At San Antonio UCLA (9-3) vs. Kansas State (9-3), 6:45 p.m.

(ESPN) Cactus Bowl At Tempe, Ariz.

Oklahoma State (6-6) vs. Washington (8-5), 10:15 p.m. (ESPN)

JAN. 12

College Football Championship At Arlington, Texas Sugar Bowl winner vs. Rose Bowl winner, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)

GP W Montreal 34 21 Tampa Bay 35 20 Detroit 34 17 Toronto 34 19 Florida 32 15 Boston 34 17 Ottawa 34 14 Buffalo 34 13 METROPOLITAN DIVISION GP W Pittsburgh 33 22 N.Y. Islanders 33 23 Washington 33 17 N.Y. Rangers 31 17 Philadelphia 33 13 Columbus 33 14 New Jersey 35 12 Carolina 33 9

L OT Pts GF GA 11 2 44 92 83 11 4 44 113 93 8 9 43 94 84 12 3 41 114 102 9 8 38 73 82 14 3 37 86 88 14 6 34 90 94 18 3 29 66 109 L OT Pts GF GA 6 5 49 105 76 10 0 46 104 91 10 6 40 97 86 10 4 38 93 81 14 6 32 92 99 16 3 31 80 107 17 6 30 77 102 20 4 22 68 92

WESTERN CONFERENCE CENTRAL DIVISION

BEN LIPPEN NEW YEAR’S BLAST JAN. 2

Thomas Sumter Academy girls & boys vs.

Laurens Academy

JAN. 3

Thomas Sumter Academy girls & boys vs.

Ben Lippen

SUMTER CHRISTIAN SCHOOL TOURNAMENT JAN. 2

3 p.m.

Marantha Christian girls vs. Sumter Christian girls 4:30 p.m.

Marantha Christian boys vs. Sumter Christian boys 6 p.m.

Lake Point girls vs. Mountain View girls 7:30 p.m.

Lake Point boys vs. Mountain View boys

JAN. 3

1 p.m.

Girls consolation game 2:30 p.m.

Boys consolation game 4 p.m.

Girls championship game 5:30 p.m.

Boys championship game

NBA STANDINGS

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

W 22 11 10 5 3

L 7 15 15 25 23

Pct .759 .423 .400 .167 .115

GB – 9 1/2 10 17 1/2 17 1/2

W 20 19 13 10 9

L 7 7 15 20 19

Pct .741 .731 .464 .333 .321

GB – 1/2 7 1/2 11 1/2 11 1/2

W 18 16 14 9 5

L 9 10 14 19 23

Pct .667 .615 .500 .321 .179

GB – 1 1/2 4 1/2 9 1/2 13 1/2

GP 34 32 33 34 31 32 33

W 23 22 21 17 16 14 12

L OT Pts GF GA 9 2 48 106 67 8 2 46 92 65 9 3 45 100 81 10 7 41 83 80 12 3 35 91 84 13 5 33 95 109 13 8 32 85 101

GP Anaheim 36 San Jose 35 Vancouver 33 Los Angeles 35 Calgary 36 Arizona 33 Edmonton 34 NOTE: Two points overtime loss.

W 23 19 20 17 18 11 7 for

L OT Pts GF GA 8 5 51 104 98 11 5 43 99 90 11 2 42 99 91 11 7 41 97 88 15 3 39 104 98 18 4 26 75 111 20 7 21 74 116 a win, one point for

Chicago Nashville St. Louis Winnipeg Minnesota Dallas Colorado PACIFIC DIVISION

MONDAY’S GAMES

TUESDAY’S GAMES

WESTERN CONFERENCE SOUTHWEST DIVISION W Memphis 21 Houston 20 Dallas 20 San Antonio 18 New Orleans 14 NORTHWEST DIVISION W

Florida 4, Pittsburgh 3, SO Washington 2, Ottawa 1 Nashville 5, Columbus 1 Vancouver 7, Arizona 1 Anaheim 3, San Jose 2, OT Calgary 4, Los Angeles 3, OT

L 7 7 9 11 13

Pct .750 .741 .690 .621 .519

GB – 1/2 1 1/2 3 1/2 6 1/2

L

Pct

GB

Nashville at Boston, 7 p.m.

Carolina at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

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

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

Philadelphia at Minnesota, 7 p.m.

Toronto at Dallas, 7 p.m.

Buffalo at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.

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

Arizona at Edmonton, 8 p.m.

St. Louis at Colorado, 8 p.m.

Winnipeg at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2014

|

B3

Oregon QB Mariota named AP player of year SCOOP AND SCORE

BY RALPH D. RUSSO The Associated Press The only thing left for Marcus Mariota to win at Oregon is the national championship.

The Ducks’ star quarterback is The Associated Press college football player of the year, adding yet another honor to his spectacular season.

Mariota won the AP vote in the same landslide fashion he won the Heisman Trophy. He received 49 of the 54 votes submitted by the AP Top 25 media panel. Alabama receiver Amari Cooper drew three votes. Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon and Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston had one vote each.

Mariota is the first Oregon player to win AP player of the year, which was first awarded in 1998, and the eighth quarterback to win it in the last nine years.

The junior has also won the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp player of the year, and the Davey O’Brien and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which go to the top quarterbacks in the country.

Oregon will face Florida State and last year’s Heisman winner and AP player of the year, Winston, in the College Football Playoff semifinals on Jan. 1 at the Rose Bowl. The winner will face Alabama or Ohio State in the national championship game Jan. 12 at AT&T Stadium in North Texas.

With his combination of speed and a strong arm, Mariota is a play of the day waiting to happen.

He set a Pac-12 record by ac-

As good as Mariota is, a little luck helps. Against UCLA, the Ducks were dominating when Mariota was driving them toward another score in the third quarter. He faked a handoff and the ball slipped from his hand and hit the turf. The ball bounced back into Mariota’s hands and he secured it on the go bursting into an untouched sprint to the end zone from 23 yards out.

DUCK TOUGH

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota is The Associated Press college football player of the year. He won the AP vote in the same landslide fashion he won the Heisman Trophy, receiving 49 of the 54 votes submitted by the AP Top 25 media panel. counting for 53 touchdowns, including 38 TD passes. He is the highest rated passer in the country (186.33) and has thrown for 3,783 yards and just two interceptions.

“He’s an absolute competitor, an incredible perfectionist,’’ Oregon coach Mark Helfrich said.

Here are a few of the most memorable Mariota moments from 2014:

THE SHOVEL In what was perhaps the biggest nonconference game of the season, Michigan State had Oregon in trouble in the second half. It was 27-18 Spartans midway through the third quarter and the Ducks were facing a third-and-10 after having already punted away their first two secondhalf possessions.

Michigan State collapsed

Rice, Fresno St. go from 0-3 to Hawaii Bowl

BY DOUG FERGUSON The Associated Press HONOLULU — Fresno State and Rice were winless after three games in September, two teams that were going nowhere.

Somehow, they found their way to paradise.

Even with a few pineapple showers forcing their press conference to be moved to shelter, it was hard for Fresno State coach Tim DeRuyter and Rice coach David Bailiff not to gaze out at the shores of Waikiki Beach and wonder what they were doing there.

Dating to 1980, there have been 496 FBS teams that start-

ed a season at 0-3. Only 21 of them made it to a bowl game.

That small group includes Fresno State and Rice, who face each other on Christmas Eve in the Hawaii Bowl.

It might as well be called the “Turnaround Bowl.’’

“There are benefits,’’ Bailiff said about the slow start by the Owls (7-5, 5-3 C-USA). “Nobody likes to lose. You go into those games thinking you’re going to win. But as we lost, we said we were a good football team. We had good seniors. They continued to believe. As hard as it was, it was never to a point where we were giving up. As long as you’re improving, and you get

into conference play healthy, those games help you.’’

Rice opened with blowout losses to Notre Dame and Texas A&M, and then saw a late rally fall short when Old Dominion kicked a game-winning field goal with no time left.

The Bulldogs (6-7, 5-3 Mountain West), the only bowl team this year with a losing record, gave up a combined 166 points in losses to Southern California, Utah and Nebraska. They endured another three-game losing streak in conference play, but rallied to get into the conference title game before losing to Boise State.

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BURNING ARIZONA From Oregon’s first big game of the season to its latest. The Ducks and Mariota had already jumped out to a huge lead against Arizona and Mariota assured there would be no miracle comebacks in the Pac-12 championship.

Mariota escaped a crumbling pocket and rolled to his right with his eyes down field.

On the move, he stepped into a long twisting throw that hit Darren Carrington in the numbers for a 46-yard gain.

Merry Christmas From Cook’s Parts City

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Bobby

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COOK’S PARTS CITY

CANN FROM PAGE B1 he’s been told. “The speed is different, the whole game is different at the next level.”

USC coach Steve Spurrier describes Cann as a good run blocker who formed a solid combination with Robinson on the left side of the line.

“He’s a wonderful young man that does everything the coaches ask,” Spurrier said.

“Never any problems with A.J. Cann. Hopefully he can end his career on a positive in the Independence Bowl.”

Cann has started 50 of 51 games the past four seasons, second-most in USC history.

Time is drawing short for the Bamberg native. A last time on the practice field, last time in the locker room, last time in the trenches with familiar teammates.

“It’s bittersweet,” Cann said.“You’re excited to go on to what’s next in life, but it’s also going to be sad, leaving everything behind.”

One thing that Cann and the rest of the Gamecocks would like to leave behind is the disappointment of a 6-6 regular season. Defeating the Hurricanes would create momentum going into 2015 and bowl preparation gives the younger Gamecocks more time to practice.

“They’re getting reps, trying to get ready for next season,” Cann said. “I think we’ll be fine next year.”

the pocket around Mariota, who eluded three defenders, slipping and stepping around a mess of Spartans around his feet. Mariota stumbled out of the pocket and pushed a pass to Royce Freeman, who went for 17 yards.

That drive ended soon after with a touchdown. And so did the next Oregon drive. And the next one. The Ducks went on to win 46-27.

Oregon’s rout of Stanford, Mariota’s first win after two losses to the Cardinal, had plenty of flashy plays from Hawaii native. Still, it was an 8-yard run early in the second quarter on a third-and-5 around midfield which said more about Mariota than any of the big gains and great throws.

The Stanford losses called into question the Ducks’ toughness. On this play it was Mariota busting through a tackle and dragging a Stanford defender for a first down that led to a touchdown. The final: 45-16 Ducks.

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Wed.,December 17 at 2pm Thurs., December 18 at 11am Thurs., December 18 at 2pm Fri., December 19 at 11am Mon., December 22 at 11am Tues., December 23 at 11am Tues., December 23 at 2pm Fri., December 26 at 11am Mon., December 29 at 11am Tues., December 30 at 11am Wed., December 31 at 11am Wed., December 31 at 2pm Fri., January 2 at 11am

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B4

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SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2014

BRUNSON FROM PAGE B1 string quarterback.

Not only did Ohio State beat Wisconsin with its thirdstring quarterback, it annihilated the Badgers 59-0. So does that tell me just how good the Buckeyes are or just how sorry the Big 10 is?

I go with the ineptitude of the rest of the conference or perhaps — just perhaps — it had Wisconsin throw the game so OSU could have a shot at making it into the playoff. Think about it; the Buckeyes not only won, they massacred the Badgers.

OK, maybe that’s too big of a stretch, but there is no doubt the committee went for the money and the television ratings by selecting big, bad Ohio State and bypassing TCU and Baylor.

What’s that? I hear the chants, “Bring back the BCS!” No, not the Bowl Championship Series for crying out loud. Instead, the Brunson Championship Series.

If you remember, at this time last year I thought the Brunson Championship Series would be done with the new playoff. The door was left

open for a possible return though and it’s a good thing.

It might be needed more now than ever.

So, for you longtime readers, here once again is your yearly edition of the Brunson Championship Series. For those seeing this for the first time, be enthralled in the genius, yet the simplicity, of it all: • Take the champion from each of the 10 football-playing Football Bowl Subdivision conferences — the Power 5 conference champions going automatically and the champions from the American Athletic, Mid-American, Sun Belt and Mountain West conferences and Conference USA with at least 10 victories entering their respective conference championship games qualifying as well.

The 10 champions are Florida State (Atlantic Coast) Memphis (American Athletic), Ohio State (Big 10), Baylor (Big 12), Northern Illinois (MAC), Boise State (Mountain West), Oregon (Pacific 10), Alabama (Southeastern), Louisiana-Lafayette (Sun Belt) and Marshall (Conference USA).

Memphis, 9-3 before its bowl game, and Lafayette, 8-4 before its bowl game, would not

THE SUMTER ITEM

make the field.

• With eight champions eligible, each of the runner-ups from the Power 5 conferences would be eligible to make the field; the second-place team would be either the title game loser or the second-place team in the standings for the conferences that don’t have title games. Also, to make the Brunson Championship Series, the runner-up needed to be above .500 in overall record entering the conference title game.

However, if all 10 conferences are represented and Notre Dame — through a stipulation which says if it wins nine games while playing at least eight games against Power 5 conference schools — makes the field, , the runner-up with the worst record among the six would not get in.

The five runner-ups are Arizona (Pac-10), the aforementioned Wisconsin (Big 10), Missouri (SEC), Georgia Tech (ACC) and Oklahoma (Big 12).

Each of the runner-ups are in because all five were easily above .500. Notre Dame, which is 7-5, is out.

• With eight conference champions and five runnerups, you have 13 teams. Since you’re short three teams, go

with the highest-ranked remaining teams in The Associated Press poll from the Power 5 conferences. The three teams would be No. 7 Michigan State, No. 8 Mississippi State and No. 9 Mississippi.

• Seed the teams, making sure that no conference runner-up is seeded above its conference champion and that teams from the same conference do not face each other in the first round. That would give you eight first-round games with those games played on the second Saturday in December at the site of the higher-seeded team.

That would lead to eight nice little paydays. There might be a clunker or two, but you could have some great games.

Here would be the firstround games with the abovementioned teams: Boise State (16) at Alabama (1); Northern Illinois (15) at Oregon (2); Marshall (14) at Florida State (3); Missouri (13) at Baylor (4); Arizona (12) at TCU (5); Georgia Tech (11) at Ohio State (6); Wisconsin (10) at Mississippi State (7) and Ole Miss (9) at Michigan State (8).

• Starting with the four quarterfinal games, the four BCS

bowls — Sugar, Fiesta, Orange and Rose — along with the longstanding Cotton Bowl, could be worked into the mix where these sites still could get the big games and the bigdollar fans into their cities.

Rotate the current bowl sites with two quarterfinal cities, two semifinal cities and a championship game city. Also, two major cities, preferably in the Northeast and Midwest because of the lack of bowl sites, could host a quarterfinal game each year.

And, assuming the higher seeds all win their first-round games, here would be the quarterfinal matchups: Alabama vs. Michigan State, Oregon vs. Mississippi State, Florida State vs. Ohio State and Texas Christian vs. Baylor.

Again, packed houses should rule, just as there would be for two semifinal games and the national championship game on New Year’s Day. Of course, the television networks would be standing in line with gobs of money so the country could see the games.

You could still have the smaller bowls for the teams that didn’t make the top 16.

Everyone needs to be happy.

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SPORTS

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2014

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B5

BENGALS FROM PAGE B1 “It’s disappointing,’’ said Manning, who threw a season-high four interceptions. “We had an opportunity to win this game tonight. We would have preferred that. We have another opportunity next week.’’

ABOUT THOSE PLAYOFFS Cincinnati’s four straight playoff appearances are a franchise first. Cincinnati hasn’t won a playoff game since the 1990 season, tied for the sixth-longest streak of futility in NFL history. They’re 0-5 in the postseason since then, with all of the losses coming under coach Marvin Lewis.

HILL IS SOME ROOKIE Jeremy Hill ran for 147 yards against the NFL’s second-ranked run defense, including an 85-yard touchdown for Cincinnati’s first points. He became the 10th Bengals player to run for 1,000 in a season. According to STATS, Hill is the third rookie in NFL history to rush for 140 yards four times in a season, joining Eric Dickerson (1983) and Curtis Martin (1995).

ANOTHER DALTON MISFIRE Dalton threw too high to A.J. Green on Cincinnati’s second series, resulting in an interception that Aqib Talib returned 33 yards for a touchdown. It was a reminder of Dalton’s penchant for being off-target in the big games.

The Bengals made sure Dalton spent much of the game handing it off or throwing short passes — 14 of his 17

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Denver quarterback Peyton Manning (18) was picked off four times during the Broncos’ 37-28 loss to Cincinnati on Monday in Cincinnati. completions went to a tight end or running back.

IMPERFECT PEYTON Manning was 8-0 against Cincinnati coming into the game, throwing for 20

touchdowns with only five interceptions. He had nearly that many on Monday night, throwing a season-high four. The showing raised more questions about the quarterback, who missed much of practice last week

with a strained right thigh.

“It wasn’t good,’’ said Manning, who was 28 of 44 for 311 yards with two touchdowns. “With four interceptions, you’re not going to beat many good football teams.’’

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B6

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SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2014

TIGERS FROM PAGE B1 on 7-of-10 shooting for Clemson.

“It helped get Landry 7 of 10 at the rim,’’ Clemson head coach Brad Brownell said of Blossomgame’s shooting night. “That’s an important stat line for us.’’

Clemson forward Donte Grantham added 12 points and eight boards.

Oakland All-Horizon League center Corey Petros got into early foul trouble and was held to seven points and seven rebounds.

After Felder’s free throws cut the Tigers’ lead to four points, Clemson answered

‘We had a good two days of practice coming in, and I think the guys were really focused. I challenged the guys to defend early, and I think they did that.’

CLEMSON HEAD COACH BRAD BROWNELL On one of the keys to the Tigers’ 60-50 victory over Oakland with a pair of 3-pointers from senior point guard Rod Hall and Damarcus Harrison to stem the rally.

“We’ve had four tough road games in eight days, so we knew we were going to be a little leg weary when we started, and we were,’’ said Oak-

OBITUARIES ALAN L. COTTON Alan Lee Cotton, 44, husband of Karen Hipp Cotton, died Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014.

Born in Madisonville, Kentucky, he was a son of Connie Dafhene Downey.

Survivors besides his wife and parents include a daughter, Kellsie Pillson; a stepson, Matthew Allen Birdsong; a granddaughter, COTTON Layla Birdsong; a brother, Larry Wayne Cotton; and an uncle and aunt, James and Sue Gibson.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Providence Baptist Church with the Rev. Graham Bochman officiating.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and following the service at the home of Samantha McFarland, 3400 Barkley Road.

Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements. www.ecsfuneralhome.com

JAMES E. JONES James “Jamie” Edward Jones, born Jan. 29, 1986, 28 years old, entered into eternal rest on Dec. 21, 2014. He was a lifelong resident of Sumter. He was preceded in death by his father, Evan Jones Sr. Survivors are his mother, Devoria “Cissy” Jones of Sumter; siblings, Evan (Lisa) Jones Jr. of Sumter, Lance Jones of Columbia, Donna Willis of Jacksonville, Florida, Angie Rich of Jacksonville and Bill “Bubba” (Kathy) Willis of Wilmington, North Carolina; and many nieces and nephews, including a special niece, Ariel (Anthony) Augustine of Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Aside from his family, he leaves behind countless friends that loved and adored him. He will be remembered for his big heart, generosity and sense of humor.

Jamie was a longtime employee of Carolina Collision Center of Sumter and was a certified auto body technician among other things.

He loved spending time and traveling with his friends of Thee Buzzards and had a great passion for dirt bikes, mopeds, go-karts, mudslinging and fast cars. He was exceptionally skilled in all things mechanical and was self-taught. He found great joy in anything to do with body or mechanical work on any motorized vehicle of any sort.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. today at ElmoreCannon-Stephens Funeral Home, 515 Miller Road, Sumter, SC 29150. Visitation with family will follow the memorial.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 950 48th Avenue N., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577, or to a charity of one’s choice.

Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements. www.ecsfuneralhome.com

CHERISE J. MITCHELL Cherise J. McQuilla Mitchell, wife of Robert Mitchell, entered eternal rest on Monday, Dec. 22, 2014, at her home, Bowie, Maryland.

Born Feb. 15, 1972, in Sumter County, she was the daughter

of Joshua McQuilla and Lucille Spann McQuilla.

The family is receiving relatives and friends at the home of her mother, 2942 Sylvan Way, Sumter, starting Thursday afternoon.

Funeral plans will be announced by Community Funeral Home of Sumter.

DALLAS MCFADDEN Dallas McFadden, husband of Thelma Reams McFadden, died Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014.

Funeral services for Mr. McFadden will be held at 11 a.m.

Friday at AFC Restoration & Deliverance Family Worship Center, 297 W. Main St., Olanta, with Pastor Minnie Pearl Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in the New McFadden Cemetery, Olanta.

These service have been entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC, Manning.

land head coach Greg Kampe.

“We made really some bad plays and gave them some shots and didn’t guard very well. Then, we got mad and got back in the game.’’

The Tigers went on a 10-0 run over the first four minutes of the game and never

phens Funeral Home.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff of PruittHealth-Blythewood and her caregivers, Pam, Nancy, Jenn, Carmelita and Darilyn for the exceptional care they provided.

Memorials may be made to Northside Memorial Baptist Church, 1004 N. Main St., Sumter, SC 29153.

Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements. www.ecsfuneralhome.com

ARLINE R. GRUBB Arline R. Grubb, age 70, beloved wife of the late JD Grubb died on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be announced by Bullock Funeral Home.

MILDRED B. MOORE Mildred Brunson Moore, 95, widow of Leroy Conrade “Connie” Moore, died Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014, at PruittHealth-Blythewood.

Born in Sumter, she was a daughter of the late Robert Bass Brunson and the late Florence Jones Brunson. Mrs. Moore was a charter member of Northside Memorial Baptist Church.

Survivors include two children, Beth Donahue (Danny) of Blythewood and Ray Moore (Susan) of Elgin; four grandchildren, Carmen Ridgeway (Jason), Martin Neese (Jenn), Olivia Mann (Bill) and Kristin Hannah (Joe); seven greatgrandchildren, Cami, Carli, Duke, Jesse, Kayleigh, McKenzie and Ryan; and one sister, Mary Delk of Sumter.

She was preceded in death by four brothers, Edward Brunson, Bobby Brunson, William Brunson and Luther Brunson; and three sisters, Violet Barwick, Hilda Davis and Roberta McClard.

A graveside service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Jimmy Holley officiating.

The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at Elmore-Cannon-Ste-

DONALD R. FLESCH Donald Robert Flesch born July 6, 1938, in Covington, Kentucky, to the late Robert and Angela Flesch, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family and friends on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014. Donald is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren and siblings. He will be remembered as a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, wonderful friend and mentor to many.

The funeral Mass will be held Monday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Michael’s the Archangel Catholic Church, 490 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock, Georgia, 30188. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The St. Vincent De Paul Society, in care of St. Michael’s Catholic Church. Online condolences may be expressed at www.woodstockfuneralhome. com.

ELIZABETH A. HELMS Elizabeth “Beth” Ann Helms, age 64, beloved wife of Peter Talmadge Helms, died on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014, at Tuomey

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THE SUMTER ITEM trailed, but could never quite slam the door on the Grizzlies until the final minutes despite what appeared to be comfortable leads.

Oakland (4-9) rallied to cut an 18-5 Clemson lead to 25-22 when Jalen Hayes’ runner in the lane ended an 8-3 run with 3:40 to play in the half.

But Clemson answered with 11 unanswered points over the next three minutes and led 36-26 at the break.

“We had a good two days of practice coming in, and I think the guys were really focused,’’ Brownell said. “I challenged the guys to defend early, and I think they did that.’’

TIP-INS Oakland: The loss was Oak-

Regional Medical Center.

Born in Columbia, she was the daughter of Barbara Campbell Griffin Bowman Turbeville and the late Sible Joseph Griffin. Beth loved cooking and spending time with her children and grandchildren which were her spark. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, sister and grandmother.

Surviving in addition to her husband and mother are: two sons, Kevin Richardson and his wife, Vickie, of Bishopville and Christopher Helms of Sumter; two brothers, Larry Griffin and his wife, Patricia, and Jody Griffin, all of Sumter; two sisters, Sybil Giger and her husband, Joseph, and Alice Christman and her husband, Mark, all of Sumter; three grandchildren, Dylan Helms, Emily Grace Helms and Lacie Bramlett; and five stepbrothers and their families.

A funeral service will be held on Friday at 3 p.m. in Bullock Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Michael Bowman and the Rev. Jason Williams officiating.

Honorary pallbearers will be Leon Allen, Michael Baxley, Trey Baxley and Mike Stevens.

Memorials may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 107 Westpark Blvd., Columbia, SC 29210.

You may sign the family’s guest book at www.bullockfuneralhome.com The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.

EVELENA A. MCCAIN Evelena Anthony McCain, 93, affectionately known as “Diva,” departed this earthly life on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center, Sumter. Born Dec. 5, 1921, in Sumter County, she was the daughter of the late Eugene Anthony and Sylvia Peterson Anthony. She was educated in the public schools of Sumter county. She was a lifelong member of Shepherd

land’s fourth straight and next-to-last game in a brutal stretch that has also included Michigan State, No. 3 Arizona and Pittsburgh.

Clemson: Jaron Blossomgame needed just 17 minutes of playing time in the first half to score 19 points to eclipse his previous career high of 17 points, which came in Clemson’s Dec. 7 win over Arkansas.

SHOT OF THE GAME After watching Clemson’s 15point second-half lead dwindle to only four points, Damarcus Harrison drained a 3-pointer from the corner with 3:10 to play to extend the Tigers’ lead to 64-57. It was Harrison’s only basket of the game. He was 1 of 8 from the floor.

United Methodist Church, where she served on the usher board and as a member of the United Methodist Women. She loved the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and her church.

Evelena loved her family, they were her joy; she instilled in them to love everybody and help someone if you can. Most of all she wanted her family to stay in church, love the Lord and each other.

She was a strong believer in God. Her favorite Scripture was Matthew 7:8: Ask and ye shall be given, knock and the door shall be open.

Evelena is survived by her husband of 61 years, Clyde McCain Sr.; her children, Clyde (Ann) McCain Jr., James (Raychelle) McCain, Steve (Ella) MCain, John (Angela) McCain, Bobby Anthony, Leon Anthony and Evelyn McCain; a special granddaughter, Quashana (Shaun) McCain; a special caregiver, Mary Wood; her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She will miss truly be missed by her family and friends.

She was preceded in death by three sons, Manning Brown Sr., WJ Anthony and Frankie Lee McCain.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday from Shepherd United Methodist Church, 2210 N. Main St., Sumter, with the Rev. Lawrence Cantey Jr., pastor, eulogist, assisted by Minister Irene Anthony The family is receiving friends and relatives at the home, 622 Colonial Drive, Sumter.

The remains will be placed in the church at 1 p.m.

The funeral procession will leave from the home at 1:30 p.m.

Floral bearers and pallbearers will be family and friends.

Burial will be in the White’s Cemetery, Airport Road, Sumter.

Online memorial messages may be sent to the family at williamsfuneralhome@sc.rr. com. Visit us on the web at www.williamsfuneralhomeinc. com.

Services directed by Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter.

Merry Christmas!

We will be closed 12/26 and will re-open Saturday 12/27.

With appreciation for your friendship and patronage, we wish you a warm and wonderful season. Customers like you have really made our year special. Thanks, and Happy Holidays!

Your Sumter Hometown Clothing Store

Open Mon.-Fri. • 9am-5pm

MENSWEAR

Celebrating 46 Years in Business!

www.canthonysmenswear.com

1152 Pocalla Rd, Sumter

(803) 773-8016

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BUSINESS SERVICES Business Services

Garage, Yard & Estate Sales LARGE GARAGE SALE 1st & 3rd Weekend Tables $2

Lifestyles Lawn Service Holiday Clean-up Specials!

Leaf removal, hedge trimming, pine straw instal. Mil.-Sen. Disc.!

Call Erik 803-968-8655

FLEA MARKET BY SHAW AFB

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Four Seasons Lawn Care Serving Sumter for almost 20 yrs!

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Tree Service A Notch Above Tree Care Full quality service low rates, lic./ins., free est BBB accredited 983-9721

For Sale or Trade AKC Maltese Pups that will look adorable in a bright red stocking.

Deposit will hold until Christmas Eve Health guarantee in writing. $450 OBO . 803-499-1360

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

Guarantee 464-5439 or 469-7311

Split Oak Firewood $70/dumped, $75/stacked.

Newman's Tree Service 803-316-0128.

Expert Tech, New & used heat pumps & A/C. Will install/repair, warranty; Compressor & labor $600.

Call 803-968-9549 or 843-992-2364 Firewood for Sale Will Deliver. Call 803 651-8672

STATE TREE SERVICE Worker's Comp & General liability insurance. Top quality service, lowest prices. 803-494-5175 or 803-491-5154 www.statetree.net NEWMAN'S TREE SERVICE Tree removal, trimming & stump grinding. Lic & Ins.

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ROUTE OPEN IN Boulevard Road & Sherwood Forest Area Great job for a person looking for extra income!

If you have good, dependable transportation and a phone in your home, apply in person at:

Circulation Department 20 N. Magnolia Street Sumter, SC 29150 Call Harry Pringle at 774-1257

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RENTALS

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

775-0575 Studio/1 Bedroom apartments available EHO

Rooms for Rent

Horse Hay for sale. Tight sq. bails $5. Some for $4. Heavy rnd. bails $40. Some $35 Corn oats hog feed.

Call Warren 843-319-1884

Lawn Service

Robert's Metal Roofing 35 Years Experience. 18 colors & 45 year warranty. Financing available.

Expert installation. Long list of satisfied customers.

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Fire wood 803-883-8056

Unfurnished Apartments

Farm Products

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TAXES Income - Payroll - Sales Same day service. 507 Broad St. Locally owned. Tesco 773-1515

Roofing

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PETS & ANIMALS MERCHANDISE

EMPLOYMENT Help Wanted Full-Time Wanted exp. full time Service Tech.

Must have real exp in carpentry and plumbing. Must have reliable transportation, qualified applicants only.

Please drop off resume to: Clayton Homes 2735 Broad St. Ext., Sumter, 29150 Position to provide Budget Management support for the USAFCENT organization at Shaw AFB, SC. Primary role to advise Resource Manager on budget estimates, execution & decision support. 1-3 years of Air Force Budget experience required; AF accounting experience a plus.

Apply at www.teksouth.jobs.

EOE/M/F/D/V Full/Part time cooks, Experience a must. Apply in person at 2114 Hwy 521 S.

Help Wanted Part-Time

Bordering house with open rooms for female occupants.

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FROM $590 PER MONTH

1 MONTH FREE THIRTEEN (13) MONTH LEASE REQUIRED

2br, 1.5ba dpx C/H/A, Stove, Frig, W/D. New carpet/paint.

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Duplex Historic Dist. private completely renovated, lg yard. 1BR 1BA $465 mo + dep. 513-827-5383 before 8am or aftr 5pm for appt.

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Mobile Home Rentals

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221 Fagan St 2BR 1BA $425 mo. Sect 8 OK Call 803-236-3230 2, 3 & 4 Br, all appliances, Section 8 accepted. 469-6978 or 499-1500

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It’s Mayo’s “More for your money Christmas Sale�!

Buy 1 Regular Priced Suit, Receive 2nd Suit of Equal Value FREE! Great Selection & Savings!

SHIRTS, TIES, PANTS & SHOES Buy 1, Get a 2nd HALF PRICE! IN-STORE ALTERATIONS, FOR THOSE LAST MINUTE OCCASIONS

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

Wesmark Plaza • 773-2262 • Mon-Sat 10-7

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Store Hours Mon. - Sat. • 9:30 - 5:00 Closed Sunday Mobile Home Rentals

3/$1.00 LIGHTWEIGHT Bath Towels..........$2 each

Oaklawn MHP: 2 BR M.H.'s, water /sewer/garbage pk-up incl'd. RV parking avail. Call 803-494-8350 Close to SAFB: DW, 3 Br, 2 Ba, large private lot. $850 mo. + sec. dep. Call 803-491-4595

Miscellaneous

REAL ESTATE Homes for Sale On 88 acres of Farm and wooded land, Monte Carlo Ln., 4BR 2BA, Heat pump, carpet & vinyl floors, Contact: R. Davis 270-839-0459

Manufactured Housing For Sale Nice 4 Br 2 Ba D/W MH w/ dinning rm, den w fire place, bonus rm. c//h//a, new carpet & paint, brick underpinning, lg fenced lot 803-983-0408 LOW CREDIT SCORE? Been turned down for bad credit? Come try us, we do our own financing. We have 2-3-4 bedroom homes. For more information, call 843-389-4215.

Mobile Home Lots Lot For Rent $165/mo.Incl's water & Sewage. Peaceful neighborhood. Off 521 N 803-983-3121

Land & Lots for Sale Minutes Walmart/Shaw AFB 1 acre water, electric, paved $4990.

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Call 491-4595.

WALMART/SHAW 16.6 ACRES PAVED, ELEC. WATER $2350/ACRE 713-870-0216

Reconditioned batteries $40. New batteries, UBX 75-7850. Golf cart batteries, 6V. exchange $300 per set, while they last. Auto Electric Co. 803-773-4381

LEGAL NOTICES Public Hearing Destruction of Special Education Records (300.573) Sumter School District will be destroying special education records for students exiting during or prior to the 2009-2010 school year. Records being destroyed include all special education referral records, evaluation reports, testing protocols, notifications of meetings, Individual Education Plans (IEP), reviews of existing data summaries, and all other personally identifiable information therein. Under state and federal law, special education records must be maintained for a period of five years after special education services have ended.

Former students over the age of 18, or parents of students over the age of 18, who have retained parental rights through the court's determination, may obtain special education records by contacting and making an appointment with Mrs. Lillarweise Seymore at (803) 774-5500 (ext. 210).

Summons & Notice

Autos For Sale

SUMMONS AND NOTICES IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS C/A NO.: 2014-CP-43-02162 FORECLOSURE OF REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE (Non-Jury) STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Plaintiff, vs.

Stormy H. Olson; Equity Holding Corp., as Trustee of the Silo Road Trust No. 2503819; South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles; Bullhead Investments, LLC; Group "A" Associates, a Pennsylvania Partnership, Defendant(s).

LAST WEEK FOR DECEMBER CLEARANCE

Summons & Notice

Summons & Notice

and required to appear and defend by answering the Complaint in this action, a copy of which is hereby served upon you, and to serve a copy of your Answer on the subscribers at their offices at 3800 Fernandina Road, Suite 110, Columbia, SC 29210, within thirty (30) days after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; except that the United States of America, if named, shall have sixty (60) days to answer after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; and if you fail to do so, judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

Plaintiff, -vsLEWIS WOODS, NELL WOODS, SHELDON SERUYA, and SERUYA PROPERTIES, Defendants.

TRANSPORTATION

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

TO: THE ABOVE DEFENDANT(S):

YOU WILL ALSO TAKE NOTICE that Plaintiff will move for an Order of Reference or the Court may issue a general Order of Reference of this action to a Master-in-Equity/Special Referee, pursuant to Rule 53 of the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure.

YOU WILL ALSO TAKE NOTICE that under the provisions of S.C. Code Ann. § 29-3-100, effective June 16, 1993, any collateral assignment of rents contained in the referenced Mortgage is perfected and Attorney for Plaintiff hereby gives notice that all rents shall be payable directly to it by delivery to its undersigned attorneys from the date of default. In the alternative, Plaintiff will move before a judge of this Circuit on the 10th day after service hereof, or as soon thereafter as counsel may be heard, for an Order enforcing the assignment of rents, if any, and compelling payment of all rents covered by such assignment directly to the Plaintiff, which motion is to be based upon the original Note and Mortgage herein and the Complaint attached hereto.

NOTICE OF FILING COMPLAINT DEFENDANTS

ABOVE

YOU WILL PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the original Complaint, Cover Sheet for Civil Actions and Certificate of Exemption from ADR in the above entitled action was filed in the Office of the Clerk of Court for Sumter County on October 9, 2014.

J. Martin Page, SC Bar No. 100200 Brock & Scott, PLLC 3800 Fernandina Road, Suite 110 Columbia, SC 29210 Phone 888-726-9953 Fax 866-676-7658 Attorneys for Plaintiff

SUMMONS IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS C/A No.: 2014-CP-43-1809

TO THE DEFENDANT(S) ABOVE NAMED:

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED

MARY C. TOMLIN,

$10 each

200 CT. THREAD SHEET SETS

Twin .................... $8 each Full .................... $10 each Queen................ $11 each King .................. $12 each

Summons & Notice

NAMED

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint in this action, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your Answer to the said Complaint on the Plaintiff or their attorney, J. Thomas McElveen, III, 17 East Calhoun Street, Sumter, South Carolina 29151, within thirty (30) days after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service, and if you fail to

Summons & Notice 2011.

answer the Complaint within the time aforesaid, the Plaintiffs in this action will apply to the Court for the relief demanded in this Complaint.

NOTICE OF FILING COMPLAINT NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Complaint was filed in the above entitled action in the Office of the Clerk of Court for Sumter County on August 29, 2014, for the purpose of instituting an action against the Defendants as a result of a slip and fall which occurred on August 31,

BRYAN LAW FIRM OF SC, L.L.P. J. Thomas McElveen, III P. O. Box 2038 17 East Calhoun Street Sumter, SC 29151 (803) 775-1263 ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF

Sell More PLACE AN AD

Auction

YOU ARE FURTHER SUMMONED AND NOTIFIED to apply for the appointment of a guardian ad litem within thirty (30) days after the service of this Summons and Notice upon you. If you fail to do so, application for such appointment will be made by Attorney for Plaintiff.

TO THE NAMED:

ASSORTED SHOWER CURTAINS

HURRY IN...

HAND TOWELS & WASH CLOTHS 29 Progress St. - Sumter 775-8366 Ext. 37

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2014

Estate of Jack Gibbs 4200 Bethel Church Rd., Sumter, S.C. 29154 Saturday January 3, 2015 at 10:00 A. M. Directions: From I-95 take exit 119, turn onto Hwy 261 W for approx. 8 miles, turn right onto Eathen Stone Rd (S-14-108) for 5.2 miles to Bethel Church Rd. Auction site will be on the left. From Sumter take Hwy 15- S, for 3 miles, turn right on Bethel Church Rd., go 4.2 miles to Auction site. WATCH FOR AUCTION SIGNS!!

AUCTIONEER’S NOTE: Most of this equipment is late models with low hours. Mr. Gibbs purchased top quality equipment and was very particular about the maintenance. You will find this equipment to be the very best.

TRACTORS – COMBINES – HY-CYCLES JD 9410R, 1398 HRS, GREEN STAR2, POWER SHIFT TRANSMISSION, 18FWD 6 REV,650/85-R38 JD 6190R, 345 HRS, GREEN STAR, POWER QUAD, W/MFD &DUALS 480/80-R46 JD 4730 HI-CYCLE 2091 HRS, GPS & SWATH CONTROL, 90’ BOOM CASE IH 8230 COMBINE, ENGINE HRS 368, THRESHING HRS 237, AFS PRO 700 MONITOR W/TRACK FORD 5610 TRACTOR TRUCKS – TRAILERS 1995 FREIGHTLINER TRUCK W/SLEEPER 1992 36’ ALUM DUMP 24’ HOOPER GOOSENECK FLAT BED TRAILER 1988 PETERBUILT W/SLEEPER FRAMELESS 36’ ALUM. DUMP 1988 42’ FONTAIN DROP DECK TRAILER W/HYD RAMP 1999 PETERBUILT DAY CAB (LIKE NEW) 2012 INTG 42’ ALUM HOPPER BOTTOM 102” 1985 FREIGHTLINER (Nice) 1993 FORD F350 SUPER DUTY DUALLY, 8’X11’ FLATBED, 2 TOOL BOXES, 7.3 POWER STROKE 2002 FORD RANGER 24’ DOWN TO EARTH GOOSENECK FLATBED TRAILER SEMI TRAILER W/2 2500 GAL. TANKS & MIXING TANKS EQUIPMENT 2012 30’ HORST HEADER TRAILER 2012 CASE INT 35’ DRAPER HEADER MODEL G156915 KMC 12 NO-TILL SUBSOILER W/JD PLANTERS W/PRECISION CONTROL & YETTER ASSIST WHEELS 20” ROW, W/RAVEN SPRAY CONTROL & SMART BOXES LAND PRIDE DITCH BANK CUTTER EZ TRAIL GRAIN KART # 710 1995 MASHI CRAFT FORKLIFT 2012 3412 CASE IH 12 ROW 20’ CORN HEADER JD CORN PICKER 3/ROW, 30” ROW LIKE NEW HEADER TRAILER UM H.T. 30 500 GAL FUEL TRAILER FORD 655 A BACKHOE 3PT RHINO 3500 ALL HYD. SCRAPE BLADE WESTFIELD 13” X 61’ GRAIN AUGER WESTFIELD LOAD OUT AUGER & MOTOR WESTFIELD 8” X 51’ GRAIN AUGER CHANDLER PULL SPREADER CS 500 16, HYD, W/GPS (LIKE NEW) NEW HOLLAND L 785 SKID STEER LOADER CASE IH TILLAGE TOOL 35’ MODEL 340 JD 14’ BUSH HOG MODEL HX14 RED BALL HOODED SPRAYER 12 ROW 30” ROW W/300 GALLON TANK 2-8 ROW NO-TILL DMI SUBSOILERS W/1700 JD PLANTERS W/PRECISION CONTROLS & 2 JOHN BLUE PUMPS & MARTIN CLOSING WHEELS, 20/20 SEED SENSOR PRECISION PLANTING, E SETS VARIABLE RATE DRIVE, ROW CLUTHES JD 450 BALER W/NET WRAP SPEEDY SPREADER GFE 2012; 7’x8’, PULL TYPE GRASS WORKS WEED WIPER 21” JD 335 BALER JD 10 WHEEL HYD RAKE NEW HOLLAND 617 DISC MOWER (4) TIRES ( UN-USED) 650/85R38 MISCELLANEOUS SHOP TOOLS • WELDER • AIR COMPRESSOR • GENERATOR • PARTS • SMALL AMOUNT OF VARIOUS CHEMICALS

WE ARE ACCEPTING APPROVED CONSIGNMENTS TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF AUCTION

Christmas and New Years EDITION

In-Line Deadlines

Friday, December 26 Saturday, December 27 Sunday, December 28 Tuesday, December 30 Wednesday, December 31 Friday, January 2

DEADLINE

Monday, December 22 at 11:30am Tuesday, December 23 at 9:30am Tuesday, December 23 at 11:30am Monday, December 29 at 11:30am Tuesday, December 30 at 11:30am Wednesday, December 31 at 11:30am

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday!

1.

EVERYTHING MUST BE PAID IN FULL ON THE DAY OF AUCTION regardless of when it is picked up with cash or cashier’s check.

Personal and company checks must have a current Bank Letter of Guarantee made payable to JGBA&R Inc. We also accept credit card with a three (3%) percent convenience fee.

2.

Everything will be sold “as is, where is” with no guarantees of any kind, regardless of statement of condition made from the auction block. Buyers shall rely entirely on their own inspection and information.

3.

Every effort is made to “guard” merchandise throughout the auction; however, the bidder becomes solely responsible for all items purchased by him/her immediately following the winning bid. Therefore, he/she us advised to further guard their items at his own discretion.

4.

The bidder is responsible for knowing which item he/she is bidding on. If they are unsure, they should inquire or not bid. When you become the winning bidder at auction you have effected a contract and will be expected to pay for items in which you were evidenced to be successful bidder. Auctioneer will not honor “MISTAKES”.

5.

The auctioneer reserves the right to accept bids in any increment he feels is in the best interest of his client, the seller. The Auctioneer reserves the right to reject the bidding of any person whose conduct, actions or adverse comments he feels are not in the best interest of the seller.

6.

Buyers are responsible for loading, removal, and transportation of any purchase. JGBA&R Inc., will assist in loading to the best of our ability but is in no way responsible for loading. JGBA& R Inc., will not secure loads. All sales are final.

7.

JGBA& R Inc., is not responsible for theft or damages of/on any items.

ALL ANNOUNCEMENTS MADE ON THE DAY OF THE SALE SUPERSDED ANY PRINTED MATERIAL.

20 N. Magnolia Street • 803-774-1234 • www.theitem.com

The business office will be closed December 24th, December 25th and January 1.

Buddy Lewis 803.983.5040

J G Blocker Auction & Realty Inc. Post Office Box 484 Walterboro, S. C. – SCAL # 110 843.538.2276 Frankie Godley 704.533.0184

Jimmy Blocker 843.908.3866

SECTION

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2014 Call Ivy Moore at: (803) 774-1221 | E-mail: ivy@theitem.com

DEE MITCHUM/SPECIAL TO THE ITEM

A large crowd heard the Sumter Community Concert Band’s Christmas concert at the Sumter Opera House on Dec. 13.

Sumter celebrates Christmas S

umter celebrated Advent and Christmas with many events, both sacred and secular, under the umbrella of the annual Sumter

Poinsettia Festival. On the eve of Christmas, we look back on several of the programs and happenings of the past month.

KEITH GEDAMKE/THE SUMTER ITEM

Rudolph and Santa join the Sumter Civic Dance Company for the Christmas Can Can during Jingle with the Arts on Dec. 12.

From caroling, pageants, church services, school programs to a Singing Christmas, a stroll with Santa, a parade and much more, Sumter has welcomed the holidays in style.

KEITH GEDAMKE/THE SUMTER ITEM

Mary and Joseph prepare for their journey to Bethlehem in this scene from Trinity United Methodist Church’s Living Christmas Story.

Several different scenes were set up on the grounds of the church so that the public could drive by and see the story unfold. The program has become an annual Christmas event at the church.

LIN BRADFORD/SPECIAL TO THE SUMTER ITEM

Jane Sterling puts the finishing touches on a gingerbread house for David Deprill, far left, whose house was on the Council of Garden Clubs’ Holiday House Tour Dec. 6.

MATT WALSH/THE SUMTER ITEM

Ellie Morse as Gladys Herdman, who plays the Angel of the Lord, covers the “Baby Jesus” — a little battered from rehearsals with the Herdman siblings — in this scene from Sumter Little Theatre’s “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” The play at Sumter Little Theatre was touching as well as humorous.

GAIL MATHIS/THE CLARENDON SUN

With Dec. 24 rapidly approaching, Santa dropped in on Keri Welch in Manning for a hair and beard trim in preparation for circumnavigating the globe tonight.

KEITH GEDAMKE/THE SUMTER ITEM

Kaezlyn Hawkins, 6, gets help walking on stilts from Hands on History student Annah Beck during the Carolina Backcountry Christmas on Dec. 13 at the Sumter County Museum.

PHOTO PROVIDED

The Trinity United Methodist Church presented “A Classic Christmas” Sunday, beginning with Caroling on the Lawn at 5 p.m. and followed by a service of Nine Lessons and Carols in the sanctuary.

PHOTO PROVIDED

The Snow Scene in the Nutcracker ballet, when it snows on the stage of Patriot Hall, is always a highlight of the presentation by Columbia City Ballet. More than 100 local dancers performed in two productions of the Tchaikovsky classic Christmas favorite.

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FOOD

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

Coconut Patty Pie is a must-have dessert

BY ELIZABETH KARMEL The Associated Press Coconut is my family’s must-have sweet during the holidays. Usually we have a fresh coconut cake, but my mom has been known to sneak a Mounds bar — her favorite candy — when the urge strikes.

So this Christmas season, I decided to tie it all together with this recipe for chocolate coconut pie. And I wanted it to be more than just another coconut pie. I wanted it to taste more like a candy bar. So I made the crust from sweetened dried coconut and butter, similar to how I would make a graham cracker crust.

The coconut is processed with a bit of butter to help bind and brown it. It then is pressed into a pie plate and baked before the custard filling is added. But you know what? The crust worked out so nicely, I’d consider using it for all sorts of pie fillings.

For this pie, I upped the coconut volume even more by sprinkling a layer of additional sweetened coconut over the baked crust before adding the custard.

Once the custard filling is baked and cooled, it gets topped with a chocolate glaze. I usually make my glaze — a ganache, really —by heating the cream on the stove, but I found it was just as easy to do in the microwave. If you want to try it, just microwave the heavy cream until nearly boiling, then proceed with the recipe as directed.

After two hours of chilling, the pie was perfect to serve. This is a simple but sublimely rich pie. And it is perfect for the holidays!

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Coconut Patty Pie is reminiscent of a Mounds candy bar.

COCONUT PATTY PIE I made this pie in honor of my mother. Her favorite candy bar is a Mounds, and this pie is reminiscent of that dark chocolate and coconut confection. If you’d like to make this recipe gluten-free, substitute 1/2 tablespoon of cornstarch for the all-purpose flour called for in the custard.

Start to finish: 4 hours (30 minutes active) Servings: 8 For the coconut crust: 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened 14-ounce bag sweetened shredded coconut, divided Pinch of salt For the custard: 3 large egg yolks 1 cup heavy cream 1/4 cup coconut milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup sugar

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour Pinch salt Pinch fresh nutmeg For the chocolate glaze: 1/2 cup heavy cream 8 ounces (1 1/3 cups) semi-sweet chocolate chips Pinch salt 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Heat the oven to 350 F. To prepare the crust, in a food processor combine the butter, all but 1 cup of the coconut, and the salt. Pulse until the mixture begins to come together but before it forms a ball, about 40 pulses. Transfer the mixture to a 9-inch pie plate. Press the coconut mixture evenly over the bottom and up sides of the pan to form crust.

Set the pie plate on a baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown. Transfer the pie plate to a wire rack to cool completely. Leave the oven on.

Meanwhile, prepare the custard filling. In a large bowl, mix together the egg yolks, cream, coconut milk and vanilla. In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, salt and

nutmeg, then add to the liquid ingredients. Mix well and set aside.

When the coconut crust is cool, sprinkle the bottom with the remaining 1 cup of coconut and pour the custard over it. Bake until set, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven, set on a cooling rack and let cool.

While the pie cools, prepare the chocolate glaze.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring the heavy cream to a boil. Place the chocolate in a medium bowl, then pour the hot cream over it. Let sit for 1 to 2 minutes, then stir until the chocolate is completely melted. Stir in the vanilla and salt until the mixture is glossy.

When the pie has cooled, but is still just warm to the touch, pour the chocolate glaze over it, spreading it evenly all the way to the edge of the crust. Refrigerate, uncovered, until the filling is set, about 2 hours. Cover the pie and keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Nutrition information per serving: 650 calories; 450 calories from fat (69 percent of total calories); 50 g fat (36 g saturated; 0.5 g trans fats); 145 mg cholesterol; 50 g carbohydrate; 5 g fiber; 43 g sugar; 8 g protein; 180 mg sodium.

Dress up a basic gingerbread by making a trifle

BY ALISON LADMAN The Associated Press Gingerbread is such an iconic flavor — and aroma — of Christmas, yet it can be a letdown as a dessert for the big day.

CHRISTMAS GINGERBREAD TRIFLE Start to finish: 1 hour, plus chilling Servings: 12 For the vanilla bean pudding: 4 cups whole milk 1 vanilla bean 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/3 cup cornstarch 4 eggs 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces For the orange-black pepper caramel: 1 cup packed dark brown sugar 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter 1/2 cup light cream Pinch of sea salt 1 teaspoon ground black pepper (more or less, to taste) Zest of 1 orange For the trifle: 1 cup heavy cream 1 loaf (about 1 1/2 pounds) purchased or homemade gingerbread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes 1/2 cup finely chopped crystallized (candied) ginger In a medium saucepan over medium, heat the milk until scalded (bring it just to the boiling point), then remove from the heat. Split the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrap the seeds into the milk.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar and cornstarch.

Add the eggs and beat until completely smooth and no trace of egg lumps or sugar remains. When the milk is scalded, while whisking the egg mixture, pour half of the hot milk in a thin stream into the bowl.

Pour the egg-milk mixture back

It’s mostly because a gingerbread — no matter how delicious — is kind of simple for such a day of big celebrations.

So we decided to jazz it up a bit, turning your basic gingerbread into a far more festive trifle.

into the saucepan of remaining milk.

Return the mixture to the stove and, whisking continuously and scraping the bottom and corners of the pan, cook over medium heat until the mixture comes to a simmer and thickens. Return the pudding to the bowl and whisk in the butter. Press a sheet of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the pudding and refrigerate until chilled.

Meanwhile, make the caramel.

In a medium saucepan, combine the brown sugar, butter, cream, salt and black pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook, stirring continuously, until slightly thickened, about 2 to 3 minutes.

Stir in the orange zest, then set aside and cool to room temperature.

When the pudding and caramel have cooled, prepare to assemble the trifle. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the heavy cream to medium peaks, about 3 to 5 minutes. Divide the chilled pudding in three portions, then gently fold the whipped cream into one of the portions of the pudding.

Arrange a third of the gingerbread cubes in an even layer in the bottom of a trifle dish. Drizzle with a third of the caramel sauce, then sprinkle a third of the chopped ginger over that. Spread one of the plain pudding thirds (not the batch mixed with cream) over the ginger, then repeat the layering with the remaining ingredients. Finish the trifle by topping it with the creampudding mixture. Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Christmas Gingerbread Trifle is taken up a notch with orange-black pepper caramel.

FOOD

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2014

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However you stuff it, a roulade makes a merry meal

BY SARA MOULTON The Associated Press Think of a roulade as a big edible cigar-shaped container for just about any filling of your choice. Almost like an edible Christmas present!

Even the roll itself is versatile and can be made from any number of ingredients.

Savory roulades — the term means “to roll” in French — can be made from beef, chicken or turkey. Sweet roulades — such as American jelly rolls and French buche de Noel — can be made from cake. The latter, a yule log frosted with chocolate bark, is reserved for Christmas.

And that’s how I think of this egg roulade, which wraps a souffle-like sheet of baked egg around a savory filling of prosciutto, spinach and cheese. It’s special for breakfast for Christmas morning, a way of making a spongy and elegant omelet for eight people. It’s delicious and practical. Not only does one recipe feed a crowd (rather than making separate omelets), it also can be partly prepped ahead of time.

To make it a day ahead, just bake off the egg wrapper as directed, then store it overnight in the refrigerator.

Fifteen minutes before serving, you just stuff it, roll it, and pop it in the oven. You also can freeze the cooked wrapper, covering it first in plastic, then in foil. Just defrost in the refrigerator before proceeding with the recipe.

To make the egg wrapper, you start with a bechamel (thickened milk) base leavened with beaten egg whites.

It’s sort of like a thin rectangular souffle, though a roulade is far less delicate than a souffle (which is good since you will be handling and rolling it). Just make sure your baking sheet is well buttered and floured.

The only tricky part about making a roulade is getting it to roll evenly around your chosen fillings. After the egg wrapping is baked and cooled, a damp towel is used to help roll it around the fillings. The towel serves the same purpose as the reed mat used to form sushi rolls; it helps to lift up the wrapping completely and uniformly and to roll it tightly.

If the wrapping has been chilled overnight or frozen and defrosted, it needs to be heated slightly. Put the wrapping, parchment side down, back in the rimmed sheet pan, then place the pan over two stovetop burners on low heat for just a couple minutes. This will warm up the bottom of the wrapping and enable you to peel off the parchment.

As for the filling, almost anything will do, though my preference is to always include cheese. Cheese not only boasts great flavor and texture, it also is gluey enough to keep the filling ingredients in place in the center of the roll. But whichever fillings you choose, make sure to cook them first to get rid of any excess water. Raw spinach or mushrooms, for example, would make a very wet filling.

Once you’re done, you may find the eggs and some good times rolling in equal measure. Merry Christmas!

EGG ROULADE STUFFED WITH PROSCIUTTO, SPINACH AND ROASTED RED PEPPER Start to finish: 1 hour Servings: 8 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus extra 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus extra 1 1/4 cups whole milk, warmed 4 large egg yolks, room temperature 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 6 large egg whites, room temperature Pinch of cream of tartar 2 tablespoons olive oil 10 ounces baby spinach 1 teaspoon minced garlic

8 ounces coarsely grated fontina or Gruyere cheese (about 2 cups) 3 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto 3/4 cup roasted red peppers, cut into thin strips Heat the oven to 350 F. Use a bit of butter to lightly coat a 15-by-10-inch rimmed baking sheet. Line the baking sheet with kitchen parchment, leaving about 1 inch hanging over each of the pan’s shorter sides, then lightly butter the parchment. Sprinkle the parchment with a bit of flour, then tilt the pan and tap gently to spread the flour and discard any excess.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the 5 tablespoons of butter. Add the 6 tablespoons of flour and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Add the milk in a stream, whisking, and bring the

mixture to a boil, whisking the entire time. Turn down to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.

Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and whisk in the egg yolks, one at a time. Stir in the salt and pepper.

In a separate large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar and a pinch of salt until they form soft peaks. Stir a quarter of the whites into the yolk mixture, then fold in the rest, gently but thoroughly. Pour the batter into the prepared sheet pan and carefully smooth with a metal spatula.

Bake on the oven’s middle shelf, rotating the pan after 7 minutes. Bake for another 7 to 8 minutes, or until golden and firm to the touch. Set the pan on a rack to cool slightly. Increase the oven to 375 F.

While the roulade is baking, in a large skillet over high, heat the oil. Add half of the spinach and cook, stirring, until it starts to wilt, then add the remaining spinach and cook until all the spinach has wilted. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.

Transfer the mixture to a colander to drain, pressing lightly on the spinach to drain any excess liquid.

Season with salt and pepper.

Use a bit of butter to lightly coat one side of a sheet of kitchen parchment cut to the same size as the egg sponge. Place the parchment, buttered side down, onto the top of the sponge. Cover with a damp kitchen towel, then carefully invert the sponge onto a work surface. Peel off the parchment from the top of the sponge.

Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the sponge, leaving a 1/2-inch

border on all sides. Top the cheese with the prosciutto in an even layer, followed by the spinach. Arrange the red pepper strips in one line down the center (starting and ending at the short sides).

Starting with one of the longer sides, use the towel to help roll up the sponge, enclosing the filling, jelly roll-fashion. Carefully pick up the roulade and place it seam side down on the baking sheet. Bake it in the middle of the oven until the cheese has melted, 8 to 10 minutes. Use a serrated knife to cut crosswise into 1/2inch thick slices.

Nutrition information per serving: 340 calories; 230 calories from fat (68 percent of total calories); 26 g fat (13 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 160 mg cholesterol; 11 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 3 g sugar; 17 g protein; 770 mg sodium.

Season’s Greetings

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WEDNESDAY COMICS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2014

BIZARRO

SOUP TO NUTZ

ANDY CAPP

GARFIELD

BEETLE BAILEY

BORN LOSER

BLONDIE

ZITS

MOTHER GOOSE

DOG EAT DOUG

DILBERT

JEFF MACNELLY’S SHOE

Wife of transgender searches for ways to cope DEAR ABBY — A year ago, my husband of four years disclosed to me that he’s transgender.

We have a 3-year-old Dear Abby who has medical ABIGAIL problems, VAN BUREN which has resulted in numerous surgeries. Our lives have changed beyond belief, and I’m afraid our marriage has been damaged beyond repair.

He has come out of the closet, and I have gone into one to protect his secret and hide my heartache and devastation. The pain I feel is mostly for the lifelong struggles

THE SUMTER ITEM

my husband has endured, but now I’m feeling the loss of my husband and our happy future together because I can’t be the wife he needs.

How do I know that I’ve tried every option to make this work, especially when I am the only one regularly seeking therapy? When do I resign myself to the fact that my expectations of our marriage will never be achievable? And how do I say I want out without risking his (her) well-being?

Last straw in the Midwest DEAR LAST STRAW — It would be helpful for you to get emotional support in addition to the counselor you have been seeing. There are no “magic words” to tell your husband you can no longer live with

THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

the new person he’s becoming.

However, I know of a group that can help you. You would benefit greatly by contacting the Straight Spouse Network, a group that was started by Amity Pierce Buxton, Ph.D., in the ‘80s. It offers peer support, as well as an online (worldwide) network of support groups. Just knowing you’re not alone with this problem should be comforting. Find it at www.straightspouse.org.

What teens need to know about sex, drugs, AIDS and getting along with peers and parents is in “What Every Teen Should Know.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $7 (U.S. funds) to Dear Abby, Teen Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)

JUMBLE

SUDOKU

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME

By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

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

ACROSS 1 Flexible lunch hour 7 PC speed unit 11 D.C. United’s __ Stadium 14 Marvel Entertainment parent company 15 Cinders of old comics 16 Reef dweller 17 Needing to be bailed out, maybe 18 “Double, double, __ and trouble”: “Macbeth” 19 DCIV Ö IV 20 Spreadsheet figure 22 Individual : SSN :: corp. : __ 23 Hospital fluids 24 “Impressive!”

25 Take by force 27 Happen afterward 29 Capital on the Dnieper River 30 Tot’s recitation 33 Prosecutors, at times 37 Cheering word 38 Nod from the maestro 39 Short or gross measure 40 See 59-Across 41 Ones making the rounds?

44 “The Thin Man” pooch 45 Dot on un mapa 46 Capital of Senegal 48 Debate subject 50 Bon __: Comet rival 51 Sports fan’s factoid 54 Clever remark 55 Classic 6-Down suggested by this puzzle’s circles 59 With 40-Across, trumped-up charge 60 Holiday purchase 61 Remove all doubt 62 A, in Oaxaca 63 Gremlins and Matadors 64 Lustrous fabric 65 Mag staff 66 “... be good for goodness’ __!”

67 Determined ahead of time DOWN 1 Like many Keats poems 2 Bogot‡ boys 3 Online transaction 4 Harms 5 Crew member 6 “Ave Maria,” e.g.

7 Copycat 8 A deadly sin 9 Oscar-winning director Kazan 10 Station identification letters 11 Stereo components 12 “__ Navidad”: Feliciano song 13 Kevin of “Dave” 21 Took the show on the road 26 Poetic time of day 28 Post-workout destination 29 Mall stand 30 Wall St. hedger 31 Cote cry 32 Present day?

34 Transport in an Ellington classic 35 Informant

36 Hotel amenity 38 Instruments that sound similar to glockenspiels 42 The Tigers of the Ohio Valley Conf.

43 Attorney general under Ronald Reagan 44 Entertainer 47 Equally hot or cold?

48 Inspire deeply (with) 49 In good shape 50 Smart guy?

52 Fits of fever 53 French hens count 56 “__ la Douce” 57 Recipe meas.

58 Hiker’s shelter

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2014

BIZARRO

SOUP TO NUTZ

ANDY CAPP

GARFIELD

BEETLE BAILEY

BORN LOSER

BLONDIE

ZITS

MOTHER GOOSE

DOG EAT DOUG

DILBERT

JEFF MACNELLY’S SHOE

Peeping stepfather is reason for rift in family DEAR ABBY — My mother and I haven’t spoken in five years.

She didn’t go to my wedding, nor has she met my Dear Abby children. I want to make ABIGAIL up with her VAN BUREN and the family, but our argument is not the reason preventing me from reaching out.

It’s my stepfather.

He has been my dad since I was 5. When I was a teen, he got caught “peeping” at me inappropriately. When my brother discovered it, they got into an altercation. The whole family knows about it, but my mother took no action other

THE SUMTER ITEM

than blaming me and telling me to be more careful.

Now, with my own daughter, I worry it could happen to her one day. I miss my family, but am I better off leaving things how they are and remaining strangers?

Estranged in California DEAR ESTRANGED — Yes, because you know your stepfather is a peeping Tom — which has been known to escalate — and your mother was willing to tolerate it rather than insist on his getting the help he needed.

DEAR ABBY — My husband and I are retired and can schedule our lives pretty much as we like. However, one thing we disagree on is the scheduling of meals. Formerly, we ate at 7

THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

a.m., noon and 6 p.m. Now my husband wants to eat lunch at 10:30 and dinner at 4 o’clock.

It’s making me crazy! Pretty soon we’ll be eating breakfast the night before.

I have tried talking to him about this, but it makes no difference. Since he does most of the cooking, he just goes ahead on his own schedule. I married him “for better or worse,” but not for “brunch”! Help, please.

Annoyed in Virginia DEAR ANNOYED — I think much depends upon why your husband has changed the schedule. Has he told you why? If it’s health-related, accommodate him. If you’re not ready to eat when he needs to, have him put some food aside for you to reheat and eat later — or prepare your own meals.

JUMBLE

SUDOKU

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME

By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

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

ACROSS 1 Resting places 10 Port south of Hamilton, Ont. 16 Approximately 17 One in a shower 18 Eponymous Detroit exec 19 Speaks for __ 20 “Gnarly!”

21 Lean-__ 22 Bit of baby talk 23 Vine genus 27 Gains 31 Keebler cookie brand 32 “Go right ahead” 33 Star Wars letters 34 Author Fleming 35 Swiss river 36 Seasonal children’s book about a watchful worker, who is graphically represented eight times in this puzzle 43 Feminine principle 44 Guitar, slangily 45 __ green 46 Dives 50 Gives a hand 54 Actress Jenna et al.

55 Third quarters?

56 ‘80s Peppard co-star

57 Pres. after JAG 58 Canada’s smallest prov.

59 1962 Best Picture title locale 62 Refuel, as red blood cells 66 House speaker before Boehner 67 House flipper, e.g.

68 2002 eBay acquisition 69 False claims DOWN 1 Pressure 2 Still __: nonetheless 3 Rapper who played Chuck Berry in “Cadillac Records” 4 Calculus leadin 5 Pitcher Maglie 6 Pugilists’ org.

7 Schoolmate of Blair, Jo and Natalie on “The Facts of Life” 8 Barcelona bread 9 Criteria: Abbr.

10 Ellis Island arrival 11 Update the workshop 12 Cancellation notice 13 Big shoes to fill?

14 Beltway insider, for short

15 Sound from the pound 24 Deliberate 25 Extra: Abbr.

26 “I’ve waited all week for this!”

27 Phnom __ 28 Requiem title word 29 Blue-green shade 30 Medieval peon 32 The way it goes 34 “New Sensation” band 36 Kind 37 Incline 38 Ample, informally 39 Feed in a stable 40 Sport with blades 41 Elite commando 42 Word with mile or marathon 47 1997 Hanson

#1 hit 48 Tomei of “My Cousin Vinny” 49 Require 50 Wrestler Johnson known as “The Rock” 51 March observance, for short 52 Hall of Fame placekicker Lou Groza’s apt nickname 53 Basketry twigs 55 One imposing levies 57 Inc. cousin 59 Online store offering 60 Stephen of “In Dreams” 61 Prince __ Khan 63 Grasped 64 Christmas __ 65 Indian flatbread

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WIS Special: Christmas Eve Service It’s a Wonderful Life (‘47, Holiday) aaaa James Stewart. On Christmas Eve, a discouraged, suicidal man gains a new perspective on life when his guardian angel grants him a chance to see what the lives of his friends, family and neighbors in his small town would have been like if he had never been born.

Andy Griffith Inside Edition (N) I Love Lucy Christmas Special Re- (:01) Madam Secretary: Another Scorpion: Plutonium Is Forever ReShow: The Christ- (HD) flections; Lucy and Ethel get jobs.

Benghazi Balancing Yemen and pro- pairing a Los Angeles nuclear reactor. mas Story (HD) testing daughter. (HD) (HD) Wheel of Fortune Jeopardy! (N) The Middle: The The Goldbergs Modern Family: (:31) black-ish: black-ish: Black black-ish: Crazy (N) (HD) (HD) Walk (HD) Marvin has news. Three Dinners Crime and Punish- Santa/White Mom Motherly (HD) (HD) ment (HD) Christmas (HD) duties. (HD) The First Silent Night Simon Callow Nature: The Himalayas Snow leop- NOVA: Building the Great Cathedrals NOVA: Great Cathedral Mystery World’s marvels of Gothic architec- Bricklayers build a smaller Duomo. examines the world’s most popular ards found in the Himelayas. (HD) (HD) ture. (HD) Christmas carol. (HD) The Big Bang The Big Bang Bob’s Burgers: Bob’s Burgers: Brooklyn Brooklyn WACH FOX News at 10 Local news Theory Rebound Theory (HD) Full Bars TrickNude Beach (HD) Nine-Nine Drug Nine-Nine: Hal- report and weather forecast. dates. (HD) or-treat. (HD) dealer. (HD) loween II (HD) How I Met Your Anger Manage- Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol Befuddled pessimist is Merry Madagas- The Walking Dead: Hounded Glenn Mother Lily ment Relations. visited by three omniscient spirits on Christmas Eve. car Animals de- and Maggie go on a run. (HD) moves in. (HD) (HD) (HD) liver. (HD)

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THE SUMTER ITEM

WIS News 10 at 11:00pm News and weather.

News 19 @ 11pm The news of the day.

ABC Columbia News at 11 (HD) Tavis Smiley (HD) TMZ (N)

11:30

12 AM

(:35) The Christmas Eve Mass From St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome Midnight mass. (HD) (:35) Christmas at the Cathedral Holy Family Presentation of the Christmas story. (N) (HD) (:35) Jimmy Kimmel Live Country musician Blake Shelton; actress Laura Dern from “Wild.” (HD) BBC World News Charlie Rose (N) (HD) International news.

Mike & Molly: Modern Family: Windy City (HD) My Hero (HD)

The Walking Dead: When the Dead Hot in Cleveland: Come Knocking Rick makes drastic The Proposal (HD) decision. (HD)

CABLE CHANNELS

BRAVO

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Duck Dynasty Duck Dynasty: I’m Dreaming of a Duck Dynasty: O Little Town of West Duck Dynasty (:31) Duck Dy(:02) Duck Dynasty: Till Duck Do Us (:01) Duck Dy(HD) (HD) Redneck Christmas (HD) Monroe Live nativity. (HD) (HD) nasty (HD) Part Surprise wedding. (HD) nasty (HD) Rio Bravo (‘59, Western) aaac John Wayne. While he attempts to keep a well-connected killer from escaping 180 Big Jake (‘71, Western) aaa John Wayne. A man is called home by his estranged wife to rescue his kidnapped grandson. (HD) justice, a small town sheriff gets help from an old man, a drunk and a young gunslinger. (HD) 100 Too Cute! (N) (HD) Too Cute! (HD) Too Cute! (HD) (:01) Too Cute! (HD) (:01) Too Cute! (HD) (:01) Too Cute!

Nellyville: Bahama Mama Chris Rock: Bring the Pain Comic’s Wendy Williams 162 Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family (‘11, Comedy) ac Tyler Perry. A woman must help her niece gather her family to share upsetting news with them. controversial set.

Show (HD) (6:00) Pearl Har bor (‘01, Ac tion) ac Ben Affleck.

A love tri an gle di vides Pearl Har bor (‘01, Ac tion) ac Ben Affleck.

Two fighter pi lots fight for a woman’s love as they are thrown Gangs of New 181 old friends as they fly into battle in World War II. into the tumult of World War II by a surprise Japanese attack on their Hawaiian airbase.

York (‘02) 62 Rich Guide Rich Guide Shark Tank Joining forces. (HD) Shark Tank (HD) Shark Tank (HD) Shark Tank New pitches. (HD) Rich Guide 64 Anthony: Myanmar Anthony: Punjab, India Anthony: Tokyo The dark side.

Anthony: Thailand Anthony: Shanghai Anthony 136 Jeff Dunham’s Very Special Christ- Jeff Dunham: All Over the Map Jeff Gabriel Iglesias: Aloha Fluffy Stand-up comedy from Gabriel Iglesias: I’m Not Fat ... I’m (:33) Gabriel Iglesias: Hot and mas Special Ventriloquist. and puppet friends on tour.

Hawaii. (HD) Fluffy Hilarious voices. (HD) Fluffy People impressions. (:10) Home Alone 3 (‘97, Comedy) a Alex D. Linz. A home-ridden youth Star Wars Rebels Dog Blog: The Austin & Ally Jessie: Trashin’ ‘Twas the Night 80 Home Alone: The Holiday Heist (‘12, Comedy) Christian Martyn. torments a gang of clumsy burglars.

(HD) Bone Identity (HD) Fashion (HD) (‘01) aa 103 Alaska: The Last Frontier (HD) Alaska: The Last Frontier (HD) Alaska: The Last Frontier (HD) Alaska: The Last Frontier (HD) Alaska: The Last Frontier (HD) Alaska (HD) 35 (6:00) SportsCenter (HD) College Football: 2014 Hawaii Bowl: Fresno State Bulldogs vs Rice Owls from Aloha Stadium in Honolulu (HD) SportsCenter (HD) 39 30 for 30: The U (HD) 30 for 30: The U Part 2 (HD) 30 for 30: Rand University (HD) 30 for 30 (HD) Elf (‘03, Holiday) aaa Will Ferrell. A man who is raised by elves travels The 700 Club Scrooged (‘88) 131 National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (‘89, Comedy) aaa Chevy Chase. A klutz plans a holiday celebration. (HD) to New York to find his real father. (HD) aaa (HD) 109 Cutthroat Tough decision.

Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives (HD) Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (N) Kitchen Inferno: Fired Up (N) Cutthroat: Hakuna Frittata Diners (HD) 74 On the Record with Greta (N) A FOX & Friends Christmas (N) Hannity Conservative news. (HD) A FOX & Friends Christmas 42 UFC Unleashed (HD) Golden Boy Live: Alan Sanchez vs. Ed Paredes no} (HD) Darts Champ.: The Semi Finals World Poker Tour no} (HD) Golden (HD) Best Christmas Party Ever (‘14, Holiday) Torrey DeVitto. Event planner Northpole (‘14, Family) Tiffani Thiessen. A boy is relied upon to keep the Cartwright’s (‘14) 183 (6:00) Christmas with Holly (‘12, Holiday) Catherine Bérubé. (HD) deals with holiday party. (HD) holiday spirit going and the North Pole strong. (HD) (HD) 112 Hunt Hunt Property Brothers (HD) Property Brothers (HD) Hunters (HD) Hunters (HD) Property Brothers (HD) Prop Bro (HD) 110 American Pickers (HD) American Pickers (HD) American Pickers (HD) American Pickers (HD) (:03) Swamp People (HD) American (HD) A Christmas Kiss II (‘14, Holiday) Elisabeth Harnois. A woman shares a A Christmas Kiss (‘11, Holiday) aac Elisabeth Röhm.

160 A Christmas Mystery (‘14, Holiday) Esmé Bianco. A woman looks for the man who sent her deceased mother letters of love. whimsical kiss with a billionaire, but later resists his charm.

Competition ensues between co-workers.

Holiday Switch (‘07, Holiday) aa Nicole Eggert. A married woman imag- Christmas Krank 145 (6:00) All About Christmas Eve (‘12, Christmas with the Kranks (‘04, Comedy) aa Tim Allen. Family Holiday) aac Haylie Duff. (HD) prepares last-minute celebration. (HD) ines how life would’ve been if she married her old lover. (HD) (‘04) aa (HD) 76 Lockup (HD) Lockup The best stories. (HD) Lockup Serious decisions. (HD) Lockup Nothing to lose. (HD) Lockup Prison relations. (HD) Lockup (HD) 91 (6:30) Sponge Sponge Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Prince Prince Friends (HD) Friends (HD) How I Met 154 Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Impact (N) Wizard Wars: Rated ARRRGH! PiWizard Wars: Blown Away Teams Wizard Wars: Battle of the Vegas Wizard Wars: Birds of a Feather The Prestige 152 Wizard Wars: Puppy Love Dog snacks take over stage. rate’s costume and tarot cards. turn leaf blower into magic act.

Strip Las Vegas.

Comedy magicians. (‘06) aaaa A Christmas Story (‘83, Holiday) aaac Melinda Dillon. A 9-year-old A Christmas 156 Seinfeld: The Dog Seinfeld: The Li- A Christmas Story (‘83, Holiday) aaac Melinda Dillon. A 9-year-old (HD) brary (HD) boy dreams of owning a BB gun. (HD) boy dreams of owning a BB gun. (HD) Story (‘83) (HD) Cover Girl (‘44) 186 Meet Me in St. Louis (‘44, Musical) The Man Who Came to Dinner (‘42, Comedy) aac Bette Davis. A bitter Christmas in Connecticut (‘45, Comedy) aaa Barbara Stanwyck. A Judy Garland. Small-town life. radio celebrity is stranded in a suburban home. career woman faces domestic duties.

Rita Hayworth.

157 (6:00) The Secret Santa (HD) The Secret Santa Reporter investigates mystery miracles. (HD) The Secret Santa Reporter investigates mystery miracles. (HD) Secret (HD) A Christmas Story (‘83, Holiday) aaac Melinda Dillon. A 9-year-old A Christmas Story (‘83, Holiday) aaac Melinda Dillon. A 9-year-old A Christmas 158 Castle: Rise Castle’s guilt; new Captain in charge. (HD) boy dreams of owning a BB gun. (HD) boy dreams of owning a BB gun. (HD) Story (‘83) (HD) 102 Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Bar Class vs. sass.

Barmageddon Chicago bars. (N) (:01) Bar Baltimore bar swap. (:02) Pawn 161 Walker: A Ranger’s Christmas (:18) Loves Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Cleveland The Exes (HD) Queens (HD) Queens (HD) Friends (HD) 132 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Modern Family Modern Family Chrisley Knows Bombshell (HD) Strange Beauty (HD) Deadly Ambition (HD) Poisoned Motive (HD) (HD) (HD) Best (HD) Law & Order (HD) Law & Order (HD) Law & Order (HD) Law & Order: Possession (HD) Law & Order (HD) Law (HD) 172 Muppet Christmas Carol (‘92) (:15) The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (‘06) Tim Allen. (HD) (:20) The Family Man (‘00, Drama) aac Nicolas Cage. Bachelor’s choice.

Christmas specials, movies dominate tonight’s TV

BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH Christmas Eve brings a glut of holiday movies, specials and episodes, and the bittersweet sensation that the much-anticipated holiday is both about to begin and soon to be over.

The frantic anticipation for the big tomorrow comes mingled with, if not overwhelmed by, so many backward glances.

It’s interesting to note that of the three Christmas specials on network TV tonight, the “youngest” was created more than half a century ago.

NBC continues its tradition of airing the 1946 favorite “It’s a Wonderful Life” (8 p.m.). The enduring appeal of this production surely rests on its audience’s affection and desire to separate the darkness from the light. Like many films directed

by Frank Capra, “Life” has been considered “corn” by some. But while Capra’s movie does culminate in an angel getting his wings, it’s hardly Hallmark fluff. Without George Bailey’s desire to have never been born, a grim concept that leads to a suicide attempt, “It’s a Wonderful Life” would have no reason for being.

Ten years “younger” than Capra’s movie, the “I Love Lucy Christmas Special” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-G) seems more dated. Perhaps that’s because “It’s a Wonderful Life” didn’t become a holiday repeat TV tradition until the 1980s, while “Lucy” repeats have been part of the fabric of television for a solid 60 years.

“Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol” (8 p.m., CW, TV-G) seems older still. The first Christmas cartoon created especially for television in 1962, “Magoo” has only recently returned to the TV rotation.

Cable brings holiday treats of a more recent vintage. “Elf” (9 p.m., ABC Family, TV-PG) from 2003 perfectly channels Will Ferrell’s manic energy, and his deranged naivete and passion is enough to melt even the most cynical city slicker’s (James Caan) heart.

Speaking of holiday traditions, this marks the 18th annual 24-hour “A Christmas Story” (8 p.m., TBS, TV-PG) marathon.

Like “It’s a Wonderful Life,” this movie was only a modest box-office success when it debuted in 1983.

According to the network, TBS first aired “A Christmas Story” in 1992. Between TBS,

SCREEN GRAB / CBS

Among the Christmas Eve programming is the “I Love Lucy Christmas Special” airing at 8 p.m. on CBS. TNT and TCM, they have aired the film some 275 times. TNT first aired the 24-hour marathon in 1997. It moved to TBS in 2004.

Like Ralphie himself, fans of “A Christmas Story” know when they’re being fed a “lousy Ovaltine commercial.” That’s why so few clamored to see “A Christmas Story 2” (8 p.m., CMT, TV-PG).

Separating the wheat from the chaff seems to come natural to fans of holiday films. The focus on competitive decorations and Christmas lights that seems funny and endearing in the 1989 comedy “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (7 p.m., ABC Family) left audiences rather cold in the 2006 effort “Deck the Halls” (8 p.m., Cinemax).

Tastes in holiday films all come down to personal preference and family traditions. I wasn’t born a critic, but even as a child, I rather resented slick Hollywood takes on my favorite stories. Perhaps that’s why I gravitated to the perfectly

gloomy and occasionally terrifying 1951 British-made adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” (7 p.m., 9 p.m. 11 p.m. and 1 a.m., FXM, TV-G) starring Alastair Sim as Scrooge.

Merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah and happy holidays to all who read this newspaper and this column.

Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Cedric the Entertainer and Andy Richter animate the 2009 cartoon “Merry Madagascar” (9:30 p.m., CW, TV-PG).

• A reactor threatens to explode on “Scorpion” (10 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14).

CULT CHOICE SERIES NOTES

TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS • Morning show personalities and prime-time prognosticators gather for a “Fox & Friends Christmas” (8 p.m., Fox News Channel).

• Elizabeth battles crises foreign and domestic on “Madam Secretary” (9 p.m., CBS, r, TV14).

• Three awkward dinners on “Modern Family” (9 p.m., ABC, r, TV-14).

• On three episodes of “blackish” (ABC, r, TV-14), a general rule about corporal punishment (9:30 p.m.), time for a black Santa (10 p.m.) Dre’s maternal side (10:30 p.m.).

• The voices of Carl Reiner,

PG) * Murray’s brother descends for Thanksgiving on “The Goldbergs” (8:30 ABC, TVPG) * On two episodes of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (Fox, r, TV14), a car thief may squeal (9 p.m.), Halloween pranks (9:30 p.m.).

On two episodes of “Bob’s Burgers” (Fox, r, TV-14), Halloween (8 p.m.), the health inspector hits a sour note (8:30 p.m.) * Proms and circumstance on “The Middle” (8 p.m., ABC, r, TV-

A good woman (Rene Russo) inspires washed-up golf talent (Kevin Costner) to a return to the game and a stint at the U.S. Open in the 1996 sports fantasy romance “Tin Cup” (6 p.m., Golf Channel).

Winning isn’t everything.

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How Murray Saved Christmas A Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas Christmas in Rockefeller Center grumpy deli owner fills in for Santa. Man raised by elves travels south.

Tree lighting welcomes the holidays.

(HD) (HD) (HD) The Big Bang (:31) Mom Rising (:01) Two and a The McCarthys: Elementary: On the Line Holmes and Theory Christmas tension. (HD) Half Men Ideal Love, McCarthys Watson discover the identity of a tree. (HD) dates. (HD) Style (HD) cold case serial killer. (HD) NBA Basketball: NBA Postgame How the Grinch Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (‘00, Holiday) aac Jim Carrey. A shunned, Cleveland vs Mi- (HD) Stole Christmas spiteful and revenge-seeking Grinch and his dog plot to destroy the joyous Christmas celebraami (HD) (HD) tion of the citizens of Whoville. (HD) A Chef’s Life: Pe- A Chef’s Life: Tur- Call the Midwife: Holiday Special 2014 Sunday school’s Vicious: Holiday Call the Midwife: Holiday Special can Palooza (HD) nips - The Roots holiday concert; Chummy takes over at home for preg- Special A holiday 2014 Nonnatus community celeparty. (HD) nant women. (HD) (N) (HD) brates holidays. (N) (HD) The Big Bang The Big Bang Bones: The Lance to the Heart The Bones: The Purging of the Pundit Ra- WACH FOX News at 10 Local news Theory Gift eti- Theory (HD) team finds foreign DNA on a victim. dio talk show host is found dead. report and weather forecast. quette. (HD) (HD) (HD) How I Met Your Anger Manage- The 12 Dogs of Christmas (‘05, Holiday) aa Jordan-Claire Green. A The Mentalist: The Scarlet Letter Mother Ted’s sis- ment Ed in trou- young girl is relocated to a small town where dogs are not allowed. (HD) Case of a Senator’s murdered intern. ter. (HD) ble. (HD) (HD)

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(:35) The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Comedic skits and celebrity interviews. (HD) (:35) Late Show with David Letterman Popular celebrities are interviewed. (HD) Midland’s Most (:35) Jimmy Kimmel Live Mindy Fascinating (N) Kaling; Ronda Rousey; Rick Ross. (HD) (HD) Tavis Smiley BBC World News Charlie Rose (N) (HD) (HD) International news.

TMZ (N) Mike & Molly: Modern Family: Karaoke Christ- Undeck the Halls mas (HD) (HD) The Mentalist: Red Badge Lisbon is Hot in Cleveland: accused of killing a criminal. (HD) No Glove, No Love (HD)

WIS News 10 at 11:00pm News and weather.

News 19 Year Ender (N)

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Duck Dynasty Duck Dynasty: O Little Town of West Duck Dynasty Duck Dynasty: I’m Dreaming of a (:31) Duck Dy(:02) Duck Dynasty: Glory is the Re- (:01) Duck Dy(HD) (HD) Monroe Live nativity. (HD) (HD) Redneck Christmas (HD) nasty (HD) ward of Mallard (HD) nasty (HD) True Grit (‘69, Western) aaa John Wayne. A tomboy with a mission to avenge her father’s death enlists the The Sons of Katie Elder (‘65, West180 (5:30) The Cowboys (‘72, Western) aac John Wayne. Rancher and 11 boys drive cattle herd. (HD) help of an old U.S. Marshal who has a reputation for completing a job and a Texas Ranger. (HD) ern) aaa John Wayne. (HD) 100 Wildman (HD) Wildman (HD) Wildman (HD) Wildman (HD) Wildman (N) Wildman (HD) Wildman (HD) Wildman (HD) Wildman (HD) Wildman (HD) Wildman (HD) Chris Rock: Bring the Pain Comic’s Nellyville: Bahama Mama Wendy Williams 162 Lottery Ticket (‘10, Comedy) aa Bow Wow. A young man wins the lottery, but when his greedy neighbors find out, he is forced to survive Fourth of July weekend before cashing in his ticket. controversial set.

Show (HD) Bee Movie (‘07, Com edy) aac Jerry Seinfeld.

Young hon ey bee part ners Dirty Danc ing (‘87, Drama) aac Jennifer Grey.

A shel tered teen ager falls Dirty Danc ing (‘87, Drama) aac Jennifer Grey. Teen181 up with florist when he decides to venture outside hive. for a dance instructor to the dismay of her father. ager finds love on vacation.

62 Shark Tank Gourmet food. (HD) Shark Tank (HD) Shark Tank New ideas. (HD) Shark Tank (HD) Shark Tank (HD) Shark (HD) 64 Anthony: Las Vegas Anthony: Mississippi Delta Anthony: The Bronx Anthony: Massachusetts Anthony: Detroit Anthony Hot Tub Time Machine (‘10, Comedy) aac John Cusack. Middle-aged (:15) Hot Tub Time Machine (‘10, Comedy) aac John Cusack. Middle-aged friends travel 136 (:56) Jeff Dunham: All Over the Map On tour. friends travel back to the 1980s in a time-traveling hot tub. (HD) back to the 1980s in a time-traveling hot tub. (HD) Girl Meets Jeal- Blog: Avery’s First Star Wars Rebels Jessie School pet. Good Luck Char80 Jessie: Jessie’s Aloha Holidays with Girl Meets Christ- Blog: Stan Steals Liv and Maddie I Didn’t Do It: Parker and Joey (HD) mas dinner.

Christmas (HD) Merry Miss Sis ous Riley.

Breakup (HD) (HD) lie (HD) 103 Monster Hammerhead (HD) Lair of the Mega Shark (HD) Shark of Darkness: Wrath of Submarine (HD) Megalodon: The Extended Cut (HD) 35 (6:00) SportsCenter (HD) 30 for 30: Fan’s Choice (HD) SportsCenter (HD) Sports (HD) 39 (6:30) College Basketball z{| (HD) College Basketball: from Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu z{| (HD) SportsCenter (HD) Special (HD) Home Alone (‘90, Comedy) aaa Macaulay Culkin. A young boy The 700 Club Home Alone 3 131 Elf (‘03, Holiday) aaa Will Ferrell. A man who is raised by elves travels to New York to find his real father. (HD) accidentally left at home fends off two bumbling burglars. (HD) (‘97) a (HD) 109 Chopped Seitan; mezcal. (HD) Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives (HD) Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (N) Beat Bobby Beat Bobby Diners (HD) Diners (HD) Diners (HD) 74 On the Record with Greta (N) The O’Reilly Factor (N) (HD) The Kelly File News updates.

Hannity Conservative news. (HD) The O’Reilly Factor (HD) The Kelly File 42 World Poker Tour no} (HD) World Poker Tour no} (HD) World Poker Tour no} (HD) World Poker Tour no} (HD) World Poker Tour no} (HD) Wrld Poker Christmas Under Wraps (‘14, Drama) Sage Adler. A Royal Christmas (‘14, Romance) Lacey Chabert. Prince Cookie Cutter 183 (6:00) Northpole Christmas at Cartwright’s (‘14, Holiday) Alicia Witt. (‘14) (HD) Single mother finds work as store Santa. (HD) driven doctor moves to Alaska. (HD) abandons royal customs for love. (HD) (‘14) (HD) 112 Tiny House Tiny Hunters Addict (HD) Addict (HD) Addict (HD) Addict (HD) Hunters (HD) Hunters (HD) House Hunters (HD) Addict (HD) 110 Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars A Perfect Christmas List (‘14, Holiday) Ellen Hollman. A woman embarks Merry Ex-Mas (‘14, Holiday) Jodi Lyn O’Keefe.

160 Back to Christmas (‘14, Holiday) Kelly Overton. A woman travels back in time for a second chance to save her engagement. on a Christmas adventure upon her grandmother’s request.

Trapped in a cabin with family.

Santa Con (‘14, Holiday) Barry Watson. A con-man Santa promises 12 Men Of Christ145 All She Wants for Christmas (‘06, 12 Men Of Christmas (‘09, Romance) aa Kristin Chenoweth. A New Holiday) Monica Keena. (HD) York publicist heads to Montana. (HD) he will reunite a young boy’s parents for Christmas. (HD) mas aa (HD) 76 Lockup Beaten by inmates. (HD) Lockup An inmate outburst. (HD) Lockup Two murder trials. (HD) Lockup A suspect talks. (HD) Lockup (HD) Lockup (HD) 91 Santa (‘14) Nicky Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Prince Prince Friends (HD) Friends (HD) How I Met 154 (6:00) Troy (‘04, Action) aaa Brad Pitt. Assault on Troy by united Greek forces. (HD) X2 (‘03, Adventure) aaac Patrick Stewart. A madman plans mutant genocide.

Christmas Icetastrophe (‘14, Science Fiction) Victor Webster. ColdIce Quake (‘10, Science Fiction) ac Brendan Fehr.

152 Snowmageddon (‘11, Science Fiction) ac Magda Apanowicz. A snow globe affects real-world weather. (HD) carrying asteroid crashes in Lennox, engulfing town in ice.

Earthquakes from melting permafrost. (HD) Family Guy (HD) Family Guy Chris’ The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang Conan Dana Carvey; Cristin Milioti; Cougar Town 156 A Christmas Story (‘83, Holiday) Melinda Dillon. A boy’s life. (HD) crush. (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Gary Gulman. (HD) (HD) 186 (6:00) Love Finds Andy Hardy (‘38, High Anxiety (‘77, Comedy) aac Mel Brooks. A psychiatrist with a fear Silent Movie (‘76, Comedy) aac Mel Brooks. A direc- (:45) To Be or Not to Be (‘83, ComComedy) aac Lewis Stone. of heights is framed for murder by a fellow doctor. tor tries to make a silent movie. edy) Mel Brooks. Polish actor.

157 90 Day Fiance (HD) 90 Day Fiance (HD) 90 Day Fiance: Red Flags (HD) 90 Day Fiance (HD) 90 Day Fiance (HD) 90 Day (HD) NBA Basketball: Los Angeles Lakers at Chicago Bulls from United Center z{| (HD) NBA Basketball: Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers from 158 A Christmas Story (‘83, Holiday) Melinda Dillon. A boy’s life. (HD) Staples Center z{| (HD) 102 Jokers Jokers Carbonaro Carbonaro Carbonaro Carbonaro Carbonaro (N) How to Be (N) Carbonaro Carbonaro Carbonaro 161 Barbara Walters Presents (HD) (:18) Loves Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Queens (HD) Queens (HD) Queens (HD) Queens (HD) Friends (HD) Lit tle Fockers (‘10, Com edy) aa Rob ert De Niro.

A man fo cuses on be ing Brides maids (‘11, Com edy) aaa Kristen Wiig.

A love lorn and broke Jin gle All the Way 2 (‘14, Hol i day) Larry the Cable Guy. 132 a good father while trying to impress his father-in-law. woman accepts to be her best friend’s maid of honor. (HD) Fathers try to find hottest toy.

Mean Girls (‘04, Comedy) aaa Lindsay Lohan. A-list girl clique.

Mean Girls (‘04, Comedy) aaa Lindsay Lohan. A-list girl clique. (:04) Mean Girls (‘04, Comedy) aaa Lindsay Lohan.

172 Funniest Home Videos (HD) Funniest Home Videos (HD) Funniest Home Videos (HD) Funniest Home Videos (HD) Funniest Home Videos (HD) Home Vid

2014 gave viewers great shows on air, online

BY FRAZIER MOORE AP Television Writer

scenes from Nixon’s Oval Office archive with tender, loving care while exposing them with full comic effect.

NEW YORK — From the ex• “The Tonight Show Starring traordinary Maggie GyllenhaalJimmy Fallon” (NBC). What matstarring miniseries “The Hontered when Jimmy Fallon took orable Woman” on SundanceTV over from Jay Leno (and “The to Syfy’s goofy “Sharknado 2: Tonight Show” returned to The Second One,” TV delivered Manhattan after four decades) in 2014 — streaming, on cable was this: Fallon just kept doing and over the air. what he’d done so successfully Showtime’s “Homeland” as host of NBC’s “Late Night” roared back from last year’s — just bigger and better on this muddle with a season of whitegrander stage. knuckle suspense. CBS’ “The • “Transparent” (Amazon InGood Wife” killed off a main stant Video). Any family, no character to give the show its matter how seemingly stable, is latest burst of life. FX’s “Sons of just one revelation away from Anarchy” ended its seven-seaupheaval. The Pfeffermans are son run with explosive closure. no different, especially when its HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire” patriarch, Mort, shocks his exwrapped its saga with a fasciwife and grown children by nating season that juggled three coming out as a would-be matriphases in the life of Atlantic arch re-christened as Maura.

City potentate Nucky ThompWith Jeffrey Tambor starring son. as a man on the search for AMC’s “Mad Men” teed up THE ASSOCIATED PRESS womanhood, this transgender satisfyingly for its final round comedy is funny, poignant, perMatthew McConaughey, left, and Woody Harrelson star in the HBO series “True Detective.” in 2015. Showtime’s “The Afceptive and relatable. fair” gave fair warning against • “True Detective” (HBO). A of comic sketches. But, no: called “investigative comedy,” cheating on your spouse, while thor dispensing radiant advice ghoulish 1995 murder is investiHarry Shearer has dramatized making such a misdeed seem ir- for a successful family life while Oliver has applied his British gated and solved by a pair of the real-life President Richard brand of wry bemusement to resistible. her own marriage is coming Louisiana State Police detecNixon with an eye toward augender-pay inequality, anti-gay And ABC’s “Scandal” was apart. . tives. Or was it? Pressed by inthenticity, not parody. Shearer laws in Uganda, exaggerated wackier than ever.

• “Gotham” (Fox). The comic vestigators in 2012, the by-thenmimics the man known to declaims for Miss America scholConsider them winning probook crowd can embrace it as former partners are forced to tractors as Tricky Dick in bigrams, one and all. But here are an “origin” series about the lad arships and net neutrality. In zarre but actual interludes lifted relive the case, as well as their these seminars-cum-ser10 that get a special nod: who would grow up to become stormy relationship, amid growword-for-word from the White monettes, he’s hilarious and il• “black-ish” (ABC). The diver- Batman. Fans of noir thrillers House recordings Nixon secret- ing doubt that the right man luminating. sity of life is celebrated within can savor the sleek storytelling ly made — the very tapes whose was charged years before. Mat• “Nixon’s the One” (Online: the seeming confines of an upand brooding stylishness. “Gothew McConaughey and Woody revelations wrecked his presihttp://harryshearer.com). At scale African-American family tham” has everything: largerHarrelson both were masterful whose patriarch is determined than-life characters completely first glance, it might seem like a dency. In the series’ six halfcheap shot tossed off as a bunch hours, Shearer has reanimated in their bifurcated portrayals. to uphold a sense of cultural at home in the free-floating world of this crime-ridden city. identity for his four kids. StarA terrific cast (led by Ben McKring Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross as his far-less- enzie and Donal Logue) that fretful wife, it’s a smart comedy plays the twisted narrative comthat addresses race, culture and pletely straight. And gorgeous production values. class.

• “Jane the Virgin” (CW). Jane • “Fargo” (FX). This deliciousVillanueva, a young Miami ly deranged series channeled the 1996 crime classic while set- woman whose eyes are trained on professional success and ting off in fresh new tracks DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF TOM OLSEN whose knees have stayed virtuacross the Minnesota tundra. ously clamped together, finds Its brand-new crop of oddball characters was led by Billy Bob her plans upended after she’s Thornton as Lorne Malvo, a sot- mistakenly impregnated with a specimen meant for someone to-voce psycho on a byzantine else. After that, the show is as trail of deadly mischief. Black unpredictable as Jane’s life, and comedy never shone so bright.

• “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce” as big-hearted as she is.

• “Last Week Tonight with John (Bravo). Truth may be stranger Oliver” (HBO). A balm for the than fiction, but sometimes ficimminent pain of losing Cometion is more true-to-life than dy Central’s “The Colbert Retruth. Exhibit A: This fine new port,” this weekly half-hour comedy-drama, the first scriptswiftly proved itself with its ined series on a network identified with reality fare such as the depth looks-plus-laughs at serious subjects that “serious” TV “Real Housewives” franchise and “Millionaire Matchmaker.” news routinely overlooks. Employing a style that’s been Lisa Edelstein is a how-to au-

2014-15

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Bacon-Apple Baked Pancake

Start Christmas day with a pancake that has it all

BY J.M. HIRSCH The Associated Press

BACON-APPLE BAKED PANCAKE

L

ike Thanksgiving, Christmas is one of those holidays that requires aroma.

On Thanksgiving, we need the house to smell of turkey and stuffing and sweet potatoes. On Christmas, we need whiffs of indulgent breakfast items, like cinnamon rolls or a bubbling fruit crisp. Or maybe you prefer hash browns and bacon. Those get the job done nicely, too.

This year I wanted both sweet and savory, so I created this baked pancake inspired by an upside down cake. For ease, it can partially prepped the night before. To do that, just make the batter as directed in a blender, then refrigerate it overnight in the blender carafe. In the morning, just give it a quick whir to freshen it, then you’re ready to assemble the pancake.

And that’s when things get good. You start by frying bacon in a skillet. Once the bacon is crisp, you top it with a layer of thinly sliced apples. Give those a couple minutes to soften, then you add a hefty sprinkle of brown sugar and cinnamon. Finally, you pour on the batter and pop the whole thing in the oven to finish.

When it’s done, you overturn the pancake onto a serving platter and cut it into wedges. You may not need to, but there’s no harm in dousing the whole thing with maple syrup.

Start to finish: 45 minutes Servings: 4 3/4 cup whole milk 1 egg 1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

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For information about advertising, contact (803) 774-1212 or (803) 774-1284 1 cup all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder Kosher salt 1 large apple 8 strips bacon 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Heat the oven to 375 degrees.

In a blender, combine the milk, egg, oil and vanilla. Blender until smooth. With the blender running on low, sprinkle in the flour, sugar, baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stop blending as soon as the mixture is smooth. Set aside.

Use an apple corer or melon baller to core the apple, but leave the fruit intact. Set the apple on its side, then cut it into thin round slices. Set aside.

Heat a large oven-safe skillet over medium. Add the bacon and cook for 6 to 7 minutes on one side. Spoon out and discard about half of the fat in the pan, then turn the bacon strips to cook on the other side, laying them flat and evenly over the bottom of the pan. Top the bacon with the apple slices, arranging them evenly. Cover the pan and cook for 2 minutes.

Mix together the brown sugar, cinnamon and a pinch of salt, then sprinkle the mixture over the apples. Carefully and evenly pour the pancake batter over the apples and bacon. Place the skillet in the oven and bake until lightly browned and cooked through, about 20 minutes.

Let the pancake cool for 5 minutes. Use a paring knife to loosen the edges of the pancake, then overturn a large serving plate over the skillet. Invert the skillet to release the pancake onto the plate. Cut into wedges.

Nutrition information per serving: 530 calories; 260 calories from fat (49 percent of total calories); 29 g fat (9 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 95 mg cholesterol; 54 g carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 27 g sugar; 13 g protein; 860 mg sodium.

Go Italian with

Lobster manicotti

BY ALISON LADMAN The Associated Press

A robust Italian dinner feels just about right for Christmas. It’s rich and comforting and — particularly in the case of our lobster manicotti — decadent without being fussy.

We start our manicotti with a lobster and ricotta cheese filling, but if lobster is too

much trouble (or not in the budget) just substitute cooked and peeled shrimp. You also could make this dish vegetarian by skipping the seafood entirely and using well-drained chopped and cooked spinach. Whatever you use, a zippy — but not scorching — fra diavolo sauce ties everything together wonderfully.

And to help keep your holiday running smoothly, this dish can be prepared the night before and refrigerated until ready to bake.

LOBSTER MANICOTTI FRA DIAVOLO Start to finish: 1 hour Servings: 5 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 medium yellow onions, chopped 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (more or less, to taste) 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

28-ounce can crushed fireroasted tomatoes 2 tablespoons lemon juice Kosher salt and ground black pepper 7 ounces cooked lobster meat, drained, patted dry and roughly chopped (about 1

mounded cup) 1 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, plus extra for garnish 8-ounce box wide lasagna noodle sheets (10 sheets) Grated romano cheese (optional)

In a medium saucepan over medium-high, heat the oil. Add the onion and cook until tender and beginning to brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer half of the onions to a medium bowl. Add the red pepper flakes and garlic to the saucepan and continue to cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cover.

Cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice, then season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Add the lobster, ricotta and basil to the bowl of onion. Stir to combine, then season with salt and pepper.

Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Spread 1/2 cup of the sauce over the bottom of a 9-by-9-inch baking dish.

Cook the pasta in the boiling water according to package directions, then drain well. Working quickly and carefully with one sheet of pasta at a time, lay a pasta sheet flat in front of you. Spoon 1/4 cup of the lobster-ricotta filling across the bottom edge of the pasta sheet. Roll the pasta away from you, forming a tube around the filling. Lay the rolled and filled pasta (manicotti) on the sauce in the baking dish.

Repeat with the remaining pasta sheets, filling and lining the manicotti in a row in the prepared pan.

Spoon the remaining sauce over the tops of the manicotti. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbling and browning around the edges. Serve topped with basil and grated romano, if desired.

Nutrition information per serving: 410 calories; 120 calories from fat (29 percent of total calories); 13 g fat (5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 85 mg cholesterol; 53 g carbohydrate; 5 g fiber; 10 g sugar; 22 g protein; 730 mg sodium.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS