December 28, 2013

ESCAPING THE SMOKESCREEN

DISTRICT 9 TOURNEY RESUMES

Professionals offer tips to those trying to quit smoking for their New Year’s resolution

Sumter takes on Lee Cent Central in hoops m matchup

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VOL. 119, NO. 63 WWW.THEITEM.COM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2013 | SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA

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Officials search for missing airman

BY TYLER SIMPSON AND BRISTOW MARCHANT tyler@theitem.com, bmarchant@theitem.com U.S. Air Force officials are seeking the help of the public in the search for a missing airman.

Capt. Robby Williams III was reported missing by officers at Shaw Air Force Base on Monday when he did not report to the base.

Williams was last seen leaving the base on Dec. 18.

Officers performed a welfare check at his Columbia metro area home Monday when he failed to report back and found no sign of WILLIAMS him.

“We’re all trying to find Robby now,” said Brig. Gen. Scott Dennis, the U.S. Air

Force Central Command Assistant Commanding Deputy. “Robby is a member of our team and a part of the Air Force family.

We’d like the community’s help in reporting and tips they may have to the local authorities.”

An action officer with the directorate of communications at U.S. Air Forces Central Command, Williams is tasked with managing com-

munications and IT between Shaw and fighters deployed to the AFCENT command area in the Middle East. He’s been stationed at Shaw since November 2012.

Staff at the base are in contact with Williams’ family, who have also not seen the officer in the past week.

“Robby’s an asset for our team. He works in my building,” said Maj. David

Faggard, director of public affairs for AFCENT. “It’s out of character for him not to report in, and this is not indicative of what we’ve seen out of Robby before. We’re worried about him.”

Williams is thought to be driving a 2012 black Jeep Wrangler with S.C. license plate number ITC701. He is described as a black male SEE AIRMAN, PAGE A8

FIRE ON LORING DRIVE

Jobless benefits to end for millions

BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com Weeks after they lost their jobs, many local people looking for work now also face the end of the road of their unemployment benefits.

After today, thousands of South Carolinians will join more than a million other Americans in losing their longterm unemployment benefits, costing many people already struggling to find work a much needed source of weekly income.

This weekend is the last time an estimated 12,900 people in South Carolina will be able to file for the extended benefits, which Congress has scheduled to expire at the end of the year.

Someone who loses a job in South Carolina can claim up to 20 weeks of state benefits while they look for work, after which they can currently

Firefighters with the Sumter Fire Department respond to a fire at a vacant house in the 400 block of Loring Drive on Friday afternoon. While firefighters had the flames under control within minutes of arriving on the scene, an estimated 20 percent of the building was still destroyed by the fire. There were no reported injuries, and the reason for the fire is not yet known, but Captain Joey Duggan of Sumter Fire Department said his department will work with law enforcement investigators to determine a cause for the blaze.

PHOTOS BY HOLLY BUNCH / THE ITEM

SEE BENEFITS, PAGE A8

Manning bank robbery suspect still in N.C.; awaits hearing

BY ROB COTTINGHAM rcottingham@theitem.com Law enforcement in Manning are still awaiting the arrival of a Dec. 18 bank robbery suspect.

According to Sgt. Eric Rosdail of Manning Police Department, Dennis Michael Dickerson, the lead suspect in the robbery that occurred at The Bank of Clarendon’s

Manning branch earlier this month, remains in the custody of Durham Police Department in Durham, N.C. “As far as I know, he’s still awaitDICKERSON ing an extradition hearing,” Rosdail said.

“They’ve also got to handle the charges

they’ve levied against him before we can retrieve him.”

According to Durham County Jail records, Dickerson faces felony larceny and conspiracy to obtain property under false pretenses charges, as well as other traffic charges in North Carolina.

“We should know more by Monday, but until then, we’ll have to

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wait,” he said.

Rosdail did, however, release the official charges the department will press against Dickerson upon his return.

“We’ll be charging him with entering a bank with the intent to steal,” Rosdail said.

“That’s the only charge we’ve decided to pursue at present.”

The official terminology for the charge, as

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Brenda D. Outlaw Eileen A. Henderson Jaylen L. Halley Emma Charles Joseph Walker Willie McCants Sr. Jerry A. Cox

listed in Section 16-11380 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, is Entering a bank, depository or building and loan association with intent to steal; theft or solicitation of person using automated teller machine.

According to the article, Dickerson faces up to 30 years in prison for the offense, if convicted.

Maj. Doug Ridgeway

said once the extradition hearing is finished, Dickerson will be retrieved by Manning Police Department officers.

“We usually send up a cruiser with two officers,” he said. “We’ll go get him ourselves if they decide to release him to us.”

Reach Rob Cottingham at (803) 774-1225.

OUTSIDE CHILLY AND WET

Alice B. Vining Ray L. McCoy Jr. John Couser Jane Willis Richard Wilson

INSIDE 2 SECTIONS, 16 PAGES

Classifieds Comics Daily Planner Obituaries Television

Mostly cloudy with afternoon rain during the day; heavy rain, thunderstorms at night, possible flooding.

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2013 Contact the newsroom at 803-774-1226 or e-mail news@theitem.com

LOCAL BRIEF | FROM STAFF REPORTS

Hydrant flow tests scheduled for Monday The City of Sumter in conjunction with Davis & Floyd Inc. will be performing fire hydrant flow tests on Congruity Road and East Brewington Road.

Water customers in the surrounding area may experience temporary discolored water. Work will be performed between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Monday.

Direct any questions to the City of Sumter Public Services Department at (803) 4362558.

Get 10 free trees from Arbor Day Foundation FROM STAFF REPORTS South Carolinians can ring in the New Year with 10 free flowering trees by joining the Arbor Day Foundation any time during January 2014.

By becoming a part of the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation, new members will receive two Sargent crabapples, three American redbuds, two Washington hawthorns and three white flowering dogwoods.

“These beautiful trees will give your home in South Carolina lovely flowers with pink, yellow and white colors,” said John Rosenow, founder and chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “These trees are perfect for large and small spaces, and they will provide food and habitat for songbirds.”

The free trees are part of the Foundation’s Trees for America campaign.

The trees will be shipped postpaid at the right time for planting, between Feb. 1 and May 31, with enclosed planting instructions. The 6to 12-inch tall trees are guaranteed to grow or they will be replaced free of charge.

Members will also receive a subscription to the Foundation’s bimonthly publication, Arbor Day, and The Tree Book, which includes information about tree planting and care.

To become a member of the Foundation and to receive the free trees, send a $10 contribution to TEN FREE FLOWERING TREES, Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Avenue, Nebraska City, NE 68410, by Jan. 31, 2014. South Carolina residents can also join online at arborday.org/ january.

Execution of 14-year-old riled people in 1944 COLUMBIA (AP) — Leaving a judge to decide whether to throw out the conviction of a 14-year-old boy executed in South Carolina in 1944 reminds supporters of George Stinney of how the teen’s fate was also in one man’s hands nearly 70 years ago.

Gov. Olin Johnston could have commuted Stinney’s death sentence to life in prison if he wanted. He had 54 days between the time the black teen was convicted of killing two white girls in the tiny mill town of Alcolu in Clarendon County and his march to the electric chair with a Bible in his arm.

But Johnston was running for U.S. Senate in 1944, facing a challenger who took a much harder line on segregation. He refused clemency for Stinney, saying he trusted the police, prosecutor and jury. At 14, Stinney was the youngest person executed in this country in the past 100 years, according to statistics gathered by the Death Penalty Information Center.

Stinney’s conviction is being challenged by a lawsuit filed by supporters asking for a new trial, a move unprecedented in South Carolina for someone already put to death.

A hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 21.

Solicitor Ernest A. “Chip” Finney III made a surprise visit to a rally calling for justice for Stinney. He said he has no problem with a judge deciding on the lawsuit and will have little to argue against it because the transcript of the one-day trial and almost all of the evidence has disappeared.

If the judge throws out Stinney’s conviction, Finney said he will try to recreate the 1944 investigation and then decide what to do with the case.

The judge for the hearing has not been picked. But George Frierson, a local school board member who grew up in Stinney’s hometown hearing stories about the case and has been pushing for the teen’s exoneration for nearly a decade, said he is leery to leave the decision in the hands of one person.

“Look at what happened with the governor after the boy was convicted. Political things can happen when one person is deciding things,” Frierson said.

Johnston received hundreds of telegrams and letters as Stinney waited on death row. Many of them asked him to have mercy on Stinney because he was so young. His age captivated writers, and Stinney’s story was in newspapers across the country before his death.

Other letters used crude language and suggested Stinney was part of a larger problem of lawless black men that preyed on white women.

Johnston sent the same note back, over and over again. It acknowledged Stinney’s age, but added that he brutally murdered the girls.

Johnston’s note inaccurately said Stinney killed the younger girl to rape the older girl and violated the older girl after she was dead. Stinney was not tried for rape.

“One other thing, the colored people of Alcolu would

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ABOVE: On Dec. 5, 1939, President Franklin Roosevelt, left, talks to S.C. Gov. Olin Johnston at a breakfast in the mansion at Columbia. Leaving a judge to decide whether to throw out the conviction of 14-year-old George Stinney, who was executed in South Carolina in 1944, reminds his supporters of how the teen’s fate was also in Johnston’s hands nearly 70 years ago. Stinney’s conviction is being challenged by a lawsuit filed by supporters asking for a new trial. A hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 21.

PHOTOS BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ABOVE: George Stinney is seen in an incarceration photograph in 1944. His trial lasted only 2 hours before he was sentenced to death by electric chair after a 10-minute deliberation by the jury.

RIGHT: Supporters of Stinney gather by a monument for Confederate soldiers before a rally at the Clarendon County courthouse to call for justice for Stinney on Dec. 10 in Manning.

Stinney was 14 in 1944 when South Carolina executed him for killing two white girls.

have lynched this boy themselves had it not been for the protection of the officers,” Johnston’s letter concluded.

The messages were preserved by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. They offer a glimpse into a society struggling with discrimination as black soldiers fought in World War II and with fears of crime relevant to anyone who follows the news today.

A woman who signed her letter Mrs. Winnie Ferguson told the governor she went to work at her job in Greenville at 11 p.m. and heard that twothirds of the murders and other crimes are committed by youths, with sex as the chief motive. “Right here in this town where I live it seems the negroes are becoming more belligerent,” she wrote.

And there was Dr. W.S. Lynch from Lake City, who wrote the governor in his medical opinion Stinney was part of a class of criminals that were sexual perverts and no punishment could change that. “Our state does not need such criminals, and will be far better off without

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

them,” he said.

The people asking for clemency for Stinney were a diverse group. There was a Boy Scout leader who said his 25 years around young boys convinced him teens could not be fairly judged by adult standards. About 100 telegrams from labor unions came into Johnston’s office, asking him to show mercy.

With the United States in the middle of World War II, some asked Johnston to hold up American ideas of fairness and justice. Some said executing a 14-year-old boy sounded like something Hitler would do. Several soldiers wrote to Johnston. One of them as H.L. Bailey, whose note was on U.S. Army stationary and said it was written “on behalf of the boys in my outfit.”

“I’m a white Southern boy, but I’ve been in the Army long enough to know that the negro boys are losing their lives for this country and I surely think they should have the same treatment as we whites are getting,” he wrote.

“If not, what in the world are they fighting for?”

Some of the most vitriolic

notes to Johnston were written anonymously with racial slurs. Some compared Stinney to an animal or a little devil. One handwritten note signed “Your People” reminded the governor that two white girls were dead and it would be a shame if their black killer got a life sentence that only turned out to be a few years with a pardon, leaving him to do the same thing again.

“Yes he should die. We have children, and that’s the way we feel,” the letter read.

“We are ashamed of our (whites) who are sticking up for the negroes and we are proud of you.”

C.S. Prescott of Sumter told the governor she was a Sunday school teacher of boys around Stinney’s age and couldn’t believe her state was going to put someone that young to death.

“Just as sure as this child is electrocuted, this deed will be looked back upon with shame and remorse, in later years, by the citizens of South Carolina,” she wrote. “And the finger of scorn will be pointed at us by other states.”

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

STATE / NATION

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2013

THE ITEM

A3

Sex assault reports across the military jump by 50 percent

BY LOLITA C. BALDOR The Associated Press

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ed Currie holds Carolina Reaper peppers in Fort Mill on Dec. 12. Last month, The Guinness Book of World Records decided Currie’s peppers were the hottest on Earth, ending a more than four-year drive to prove no one grows a more scorching chili.

S.C. home to world’s hottest pepper

BY JEFFREY COLLINS The Associated Press FORT MILL — Ed Currie holds one of his world-record Carolina Reaper peppers by the stem, which looks like the tail of a scorpion.

On the other end is the bumpy, oily, fire-engine red fruit with a punch of heat nearly as potent as most pepper sprays used by police.

It’s hot enough to leave even the most seasoned spicy food aficionado crimson-faced, flushed with sweat, trying not to lose his lunch.

Last month, The Guinness Book of World Records decided Currie’s peppers were the hottest on Earth, ending a more than four-year drive to prove no one grows a more scorching chili. The heat of Currie’s peppers was certified by students at Winthrop University who test food as part of their undergraduate classes.

But whether Currie’s peppers are truly the world’s hottest is a question that one scientist said can never be known. The heat of a pepper depends not just on the plant’s genetics, but also where it is grown, said Paul Bosland, director of the Chile Pepper Institute at New Mexico State University. And the heat of a pepper is more about being macho than seasoning. “You have to think of chili heat like salt. A little bit improves the flavor, but a lot ruins it,�

Bosland said.

Some ask Currie if the record should be given to the single hottest pepper tested instead of the mean taken over a whole batch.

After all, Usain Bolt isn’t considered the world’s fastest man because of his average time over several races.

But Currie shakes off

those questions. “What’s the sense in calling something a record if it can’t be replicated? People want to be able to say they ate the world’s hottest pepper,� Currie said.

The record is for the hottest batch of Currie’s peppers that was tested, code name HP22B for “Higher Power, Pot No. 22, Plant B.� Currie said he has peppers from other pots and other plants that have comparable heat.

The science of hot peppers centers around chemical compounds called capsaicinoids.

The higher concentration, the hotter the pepper, said Cliff Calloway, the Winthrop University professor whose students tested Currie’s peppers.

The heat of a pepper is measured in Scoville Heat Units. Zero is bland, and a regular jalapeùo pepper registers about 5,000 on the Scoville scale. Currie’s world record batch of Carolina Reapers comes in at 1,569,300 Scoville Heat Units, with an individual pepper measured at 2.2 million. Pepper spray weighs in at about 2 million Scoville Units.

Pharmacist Wilbur Scoville devised the scale 100 years ago, taking a solution of sugar and water to dilute an extract made from the pepper. A scientist would then taste the solution and dilute it again and again until the heat was no longer detected.

So the rating depended on a scientist’s tongue, a technique that Calloway is glad is no longer necessary. “I haven’t tried Ed’s peppers. I am afraid to,�

Calloway said. “I bite into a jalapeĂąo — that’s too hot for me.â€?

Now, scientists separate the capsaicinoids from the rest of the peppers and use liquid

chromatography to detect the exact amount of the compounds. A formula then converts the readings into Scoville’s old scale.

The world record is nice, but it’s just part of Currie’s grand plan. He’s been interested in peppers all his life, the hotter the better. Ever since he got the taste of a sweet hot pepper from the Caribbean a decade ago, he has been determined to breed the hottest pepper he can. He is also determined to build his company, PuckerButt Pepper Co., into something that will let the 50-year-old entrepreneur retire before his young kids grow up.

The peppers started as a hobby, grown in his Rock Hill backyard. The business now spreads across a number of backyards and a couple dozen acres in Chester County. As his business grew, Currie kept his job at a bank because he promised his wife, whom he wooed a decade ago by making her a fresh batch of salsa, he

wouldn’t leave the lucrative position until they were out of debt.

She released him from that vow in February.

Currie has about a dozen employees. Even with the publicity of the world record, he still gets nervous about making payroll. He said the attention has helped him move closer to the goal of making PuckerButt self-sustaining.

Currie’s peppers aren’t just about heat.

He aims for sweetness, too. He makes sauces and mustards with names like “Voodoo Prince Death Mamba,� “Edible Lava� and “I Dare You Stupit� with a goal to enhance the flavor of food.

WASHINGTON — The number of reported sexual assaults across the military shot up by more than 50 percent this year, an increase that defense officials said might suggest that victims are becoming more willing to come forward after a tumultuous year of scandals that shined a spotlight on the crimes and put pressure on the military to take aggressive action.

A string of high-profile assaults and arrests triggered outrage in Congress and set off months of debate on how to change the military justice system. Military leaders launched a series of new programs intended to beef up accountability and encourage victims to come forward.

According to early data obtained by The Associated Press, there were more than 5,000 reports of sexual assault filed during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, compared to the 3,374 in 2012. Of those 2013 reports, about 10 percent involved incidents that occurred before the victim got into the military, up from just 4 percent only a year ago. That increase, officials said, suggests that confidence in the system is growing and that victims are more willing to come forward.

Asked about the preliminary data, defense officials were cautious in their conclusions.

But they said surveys, focus groups and repeated meetings with service members throughout the year suggest that the number of actual incidents — from unwanted sexual contact and harassment to violent assaults — has remained largely steady. “Given the multiple data points, we assess that this is more reporting,� said Col. Alan R. Metzler, deputy director of the Pentagon’s sexual assault prevention and response office.

He also noted that more victims are agreeing to make official complaints, rather than simply seeking medical care without filing formal accusations.

The military has long struggled to get victims to report sexual harassment and assault in a stern military culture that emphasizes rank, loyalty and toughness. Too often, victims have complained that they were afraid to report assaults to ranking officers, or that their initial complaints were rebuffed or ignored.

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A4

LOCAL / NATION

THE ITEM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2013

Health care law, by the numbers WASHINGTON (AP) — The government churns out tons of numbers, but here’s one you won’t see: 0.0002. That’s the percentage of estimated online visitors to healthcare.gov who actually signed up for

coverage the first day. Altogether, that’s six people out of just over 3 million. The following is a look at the heath care law’s early going, by the numbers:

OBAMACARE, BY ANOTHER NAME, SMELLS SWEETER

81 Percentage of young Democrats who approve of the Affordable Care Act, according to December poll by Harvard’s Institute of Politics.

58 Percentage of young Democrats who approve of “Obamacare,” which is the same thing.

PROBLEM SOLVED? NOT ENTIRELY.

55 million Estimated number of uninsured in America.

31 million 89 91

Remaining number of uninsured in America in 2016, when most of the law’s provisions have taken hold, according to federal projections.

Percentage of all residents expected to have health insurance in 2016.

Percentage of all residents, excluding people living in the country illegally, expected to have health insurance in 2016.

WHO’S IN?

14 36

Making your resolutions stick this year

BY MISSY CORRIGAN Special to The Item With each year comes new resolutions or the rededication to an old resolution. Many will vow to lose weight, adopt better eating habits or exercise more. The gyms will soon be overflowing with enthusiastic individuals on their journey to better health. However, most resolutions fizzle or fail within the first 30 days because they were either unrealistic or too restrictive. But this year, set yourself up for success with these strategies.

States that set up their own health insurance exchanges. District of Columbia also has its own exchange.

MAKE ONE RESOLUTION

States that refused, leaving the federal government to do it.

WHO’S IN? PART TWO.

25 States that are expanding Medicaid to more people under the health care law, along with the District of Columbia.

19 States that refused.

6 States that haven’t decided.

100 Percentage of the cost of the state Medicaid expansion being paid by Washington for three years, then dropping to 90 percent.

WHO’S IN? PART THREE

1 million

People who had signed up for private coverage under the federal health law by Dec. 20, up from 354,682 three weeks earlier.

1.2 million People the administration originally projected would sign up for private coverage under the law, as of Nov. 30.

Research shows that setting multiple resolutions is too overwhelming and increases the risk of failing at all of your resolutions. Making long-lasting changes requires more than just a little willpower. It requires commitment and diligence. Making a commitment to change one habit is a lot more reasonable and realistic than trying to change several things at once.

SET GOALS

Goal setting has proven to increase the success rate by more than 20 percent. Setting small, measureable and specific goals keeps you focused and on track. Rather than making a general statement with the goal to exercise more, set a more specific goal to exercise three days a week. When planning your week, schedule your workouts on your choCORRIGAN sen three days. If you have a really large goal, set small and simple goals that you can reach along the way to meeting your large goal.

KEEP TRACK OF YOUR PROGRESS

LOCATION, LOCATION

227,478 137,204

People who had signed up through the 14 state-run exchanges as of Nov. 30.

People who had signed up through the federally run exchanges operating in 36 states by that same date.

THIS IS PROGRESS?

SHARE YOUR GOALS

65

Percentage of people who reported in early October that they had failed when they tried to buy insurance through the health exchanges, according to an AP-GfK poll.

51

Percentage of people who reported in early December that they had failed when trying to buy from the exchanges, according to another AP-GfK poll.

A NEW FISCAL CLIFF?

$95

Fine for an adult who goes without health insurance in 2014, or 1 percent of taxable income, if greater. Maximum $285 penalty per family.

earning up to this amount should qualify for some level of subsidy to buy private insurance. Same for a family of $46,000 Individuals four earning up to $94,200.

Average estimated monthly premium, before any subsidies, for a mid-range silver plan that covers 70 percent of medical costs.

Estimated cost of that plan in Wyoming. Prices vary widely depending on where you live and other factors.

The most anyone with an individual plan (whether bronze, silver, gold or platinum) will have to pay for medical care in a year, on top of premiums. Family out-of-pocket expenses are capped at $12,700.

WE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE L AW O F F I C E S O F

Charles T. Brooks, III

JUST VISITING

39.1 million

Be thoughtful in planning your goals. Planning takes time, and if you are going to be putting in the effort you want to make sure that you have planned for success. Take the next few days left in this year to set up your game plan for the new year. Make 2014 the year you keep the resolution you make.

Missy Corrigan is director of healthy living for the Sumter Family YMCA. She can be reached at mcorrigan@ymcasumter.org or (803) 773-1404.

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Increase your chance for success by sharing your goals with family and friends. When you publicize your goals, it is harder to abandon them knowing that others will be holding you accountable. Social support is necessary when adopting a new behavior. For some additional encouragement, you may need to seek out a new social support group that has similar goals.

PLAN FOR SUCCESS

for an adult going without health insurance in 2016, or 2.5 percent of taxable income. Up to $2,085 per family. $695 Fine 6 million: The number of people who could be fined in 2016 for going without insurance, according to federal researchers.

$328 $516

Making positive changes takes time and can often take longer than expected. Waiting to see the results of your efforts can be frustrating, so it is important to keep track of your progress. Reward yourself for your dedication and hard work, and focus on the benefits of moving in a positive direction.

Visitors to state and federal health insurance websites as of Nov. 30.

All the best!

With warm wishes and gratitude for your continued patronage.

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NATION

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2013

THE ITEM

A5

Linemen brave frigid temps to restore power

BY COREY WILLIAMS The Associated Press DETROIT — When an ice storm glazed over Michigan last weekend, Tony Carone feared he wouldn’t be spending Christmas at home with his family. “Nobody had to call. I heard it on the top of my roof,� Carone said.

The 52-year-old lineman for Detroit-based DTE Energy is one of the thousands of electrical workers who have put in double shifts trying to restore power to more than a half-million homes and businesses. Outages stretched from the Great Plains to Maine and into eastern Canada. “My power went out the same time as everybody else’s,� Carone said of the power to his Lapeer home, north of Detroit. It was about 7:30 a.m. Sunday, while he was on the phone with his utility’s area leader. He walked out the door a half-hour later and has been working 16 hours a day ever since.

The storm has been blamed for 17 deaths in the U.S. and 10 in Canada.

Five people apparently died from carbon monoxide poisoning tied to using generators.

Michigan bore the brunt of the storm as nearly 600,000 homes and businesses lost power, and as of Friday morning, about 64,000 customers remained in the dark. Maine reported almost 12,000 outages and in eastern Canada, nearly 62,000 still hadn’t had their power restored, including 33,000 in Toronto.

It could have been worse, said Paul

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ice from Monday’s storm still clings to branches as Ken Finnegan loads his truck with firewood Thursday in Litchfield, Maine. Many people in the town have been without power for four days. Up to 7 inches of snow is forecast, worrying utilities that the additional weight on branches and transmission lines could cause setbacks to the around-the-clock efforts to restore power.

Graham, a lineman supervisor from Massachusetts whose crew was helping out in Gardiner, Maine. “If it was a little more ice, poles would have been broken,� Graham said. “Things would be on the ground. ... If there was another quarter of an inch or a half-inch of ice, people would’ve been out for a long, long, long time. But I’m sure no one is thinking they’re lucky, right?�

Many families affected by the outages sought refuge with relatives or

hunkered down with generator-powered space heaters and fireplaces to keep warm. Utility officials said it could be days before power is restored to everyone.

The linemen face a dangerous and physical task, below-freezing temperatures aside. Ice can weigh down power lines so much that they break, or tree branches can fall and take the lines with them. So, the linemen must clear some debris, if needed, and then shimmy up slick utility poles to restring lines using

belts and spiked boots. “You have to take your time. You have to watch what you’re doing,� said Carone, who was working in Columbiaville on Thursday. “It’s not a good feeling, climbing up an icy pole.�

A lineman fell Tuesday from a ladder in Lansing, suffering broken ribs and a shoulder injury. “It underscores the inherent dangers that linemen face in restoration efforts in a storm like this,� Lansing’s Board of Water & Light spokesman Stephen Serkaian said.

Newtown file yields chilling portrait dacted) grade boys to talk about things like this, but Adam’s level of violence was disNEW HAVEN, turbing,� the teacher Conn. — Police in told investigators. The Connecticut reteacher added: “Adam’s leased thousands of creative pages Friday from writing was the investigation so graphic into the Newtown that it school massacre, could not providing the most be shared.� detailed and disThe docturbing picture yet LANZA uments’ reof the rampage, lease marks the end of Adam Lanza’s chill- the investigation into ing fascination with the Dec. 14, 2012, murder, and school shooting at Sandy employees’ brave Hook Elementary and clear-headed School that left 20 firstattempts to protect graders and six educathe children. tors dead.

Lanza went to the Included in the school after killing his file were photographs of the home mother, Nancy, inside their home. He comthe 20-year-old Lanza shared with his mother. They show numerous rounds of ammunition, gun magazines, shot-up paper targets, gun cases, shooting earplugs and a gun safe with a rifle in it.

A former teacher of Lanza’s was quoted as telling investigators that Lanza exhibited anti-social behavior, rarely interacted with other students and obsessed in writings “about battles, destruction and war.� “In all my years of experience, I have known (reBY JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN The Associated Press

AP FILE PHOTO

The National Security Agency campus in Fort Meade, Md., is seen on June 6. A federal judge ruled Friday that the collection of Americans’ telephone records by the NSA is legal.

Federal judge rules surveillance legal NEW YORK (AP) — Citing the Sept. 11 attacks, a federal judge ruled Friday that the National Security Agency’s bulk collection of millions of Americans’ telephone records is legal, a valuable tool in the nation’s arsenal to fight terrorism that “only works because it collects everything.�

U.S. District Judge William Pauley said in a written opinion that the program lets the government connect fragmented and fleeting communications and “represents the government’s counterpunch� to the al-Qaida’s terror network’s use of technology to operate decentralized and plot international terrorist attacks remotely. “This blunt tool only works because it collects everything,� Pauley said. “The collection is broad, but the scope of counterterrorism investigations is unprecedented.�

Pauley’s decision contrasts with a ruling earlier this month by U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon,

who granted a preliminary injunction against the collecting of phone records of two men who had challenged the program. The Washington, D.C., jurist said the program likely violates the U.S. Constitution’s ban on unreasonable search.

The judge has since stayed the effect of his ruling, pending a government appeal.

Both cases now move to appeals courts for a conflict that some think will eventually be settled by the Supreme Court. The chances that the nation’s top court will address it increase if the appeals courts reach conflicting opinions or if the current use of the program is declared illegal.

Pauley said the mass collection of phone data “significantly increases the NSA’s capability to detect the faintest patterns left behind by individuals affiliated with foreign terrorist organizations.

Armed with all the metadata, NSA can draw connections it might otherwise never be able to find.�

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mitted suicide with a handgun as police arrived at the school.

The documents also fill in more details about how the shooting unfolded and how staff members tried to protect the youngsters.

Teachers heard janitor Rick Thorne try to get Lanza to leave the school. One teacher, who was hiding in a closet in the math lab, heard Thorne yell, “Put the gun down!� An aide said she heard gunfire and Thorn told her to close her door. Thorne survived.

Teacher Kaitlin Roig told police she heard “rapid-fire shooting� outside of the school, near her classroom. She rushed her students

into the classroom’s bathroom, pulled a rolling storage unit in front of the bathroom door as a barricade and then closed and locked the door.

She heard a voice say, “Oh, please, no.

Please, no.� Eventually, police officers slid their badges under the bathroom door. Roig refused to come out and told them that if they were truly police, they should be able to get the key to the door — which they did.

The paperwork, photos and videos were heavily blacked out to protect the names of children and to withhold some of the more grisly details of the crime.

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LOCAL / NATION

THE ITEM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2013

You know you want to quit

BY JADE ANDERSON janderson@theitem.com

LONG-TERM BENEFITS

A common New Year’s resolution is to get healthier, and for many, that goal includes putting down cigarettes.

Smoking is the No. 1 preventable cause of death in the United States and causes more than 393,000 deaths per year, according to the American Lung Association, and 8.6 million people suffer from smoking-related lung and heart diseases, the American Cancer Society states.

“Smoking has its well-known effects such as increased lung cancer and heart attacks,” said Dr. Michael Naylor, a vascular surgeon with Tuomey Regional Medical Center. “It causes plaque in arteries in the neck, (which) raises stroke risk, causes aneurysms in the abdomen and causes severe plaque in the legs, which can lead to limb loss.”

Secondhand smoke is also “extremely dangerous” for people who have vascular disease, he said.

This “passive smoking,” as it is sometimes called, is estimated to cause about 50,000 deaths annually, according to the association, and children who grow up in smokers’ homes tend to experience “more ear infections, colds, bronchitis and problems with breathing than children in non-smoking families,” ACS states.

BE A QUITTER The four key components of stopping according to the American Cancer Society are: • Making the decision to quit; • Picking a “Quit Day” and making a plan; • Dealing with withdrawal; and • Staying tobacco-free.

• 20 minutes after quitting, your heart rate and blood pressure drop.

• 12 hours after quitting, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.

• 2 weeks to 3 months after quitting, your circulation improves and your lung function increases.

• 1 to 9 months after quitting, coughing and shortness of breath decrease.

• 1 year after quitting, the excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a continuing smoker’s.

• 2 to 5 years after quitting, stroke risk can fall to that of a non-smoker after 2-5 years.

• 5 years after quitting, risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus and bladder are cut in half.

Cervical cancer risk falls to that of a non-smoker.

• 10 years after quitting, the risk of dying from lung cancer is about half that of a person who is still smoking. The risk of cancer of the voice box and pancreas also decreases.

• 15 years after quitting, the risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker’s.

Source: American Cancer Society “Cold turkey seems to be the most efficient way,” Naylor said. “But some folks need medications. Also, nicotine replacements such as the gum or the inhalers work well for some people. I have no opinion on the e-cigarettes.”

Similarly, the American Cancer Society is still weighing the merits of e-cigarettes. One New Zealand study found them to be about as effective as nicotine patches after six months, but more studies are needed to weigh benefits and risks of the devices.

Talk to your health care provider if you are

Target: Customers’ PINs stolen ATLANTA (AP) — Target said Friday that debitcard PIN numbers were among the financial information stolen from millions of customers who shopped at the retailer earlier this month.

The company said the stolen personal identification numbers, which customers type in to keypads to make secure transactions, were encrypted and that this strongly reduces risk to customers. In addition to the encrypted PINs, customer names, credit and debit card numbers, card expiration dates and the embedded code on the magnetic strip on back of the cards were stolen from about 40 million credit and debit cards used at Target between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15.

Security experts said it’s the second-largest theft of card accounts in

U.S. history, surpassed only by a scam that began in 2005 involving retailer TJX Cos. Target said it doesn’t have access to nor does it store the encryption key within its system, and the PIN information can only be decrypted when it is received by the retailer’s external, independent payment processor.

“We remain confident that PIN numbers are safe and secure,” spokeswoman Molly Snyder said in an emailed statement Friday. “The PIN information was fully encrypted at the keypad, remained encrypted within our system and remained encrypted when it was removed from our systems.”

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interested in medication or want to use a combination of medication and nicotine replacement therapy.

Tuomey offers a four-day smoking cessation program in February. It is free, but registration is required. Call (803) 774-8680 to register. Call (803) 774-8682 for more information.

IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED ...

Less than 10 percent of people are able to quit smoking on any given attempt without assistance, according to the American Cancer Society, and with help, the rate climbs to 25 percent of smokers.

“If at first a smoker does not succeed at a cessation try, try again,” Naylor said.

The health benefits of smoking cessation are far greater than the small weight gain — usually less than 10 pounds — or any emotional or psychological problems that may follow quitting, according to ACS. “Benefits are stabilization of plaque carotid disease can stop progression, leg arterial disease can also start stabilizing and people’s tolerance for exercise can start increasing dramatically,” Naylor said. “Blood pressure comes down and so does cholesterol. Risk for MI (myocardial infarction or heart attack) and stroke starts dropping quickly. Symptoms get better within months. Risks probably go back to baseline after several years.”

For more information, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org. You can also call the American Lung Association at 1-800-586-4872 or visit lung. org.

Reach Jade Anderson at (803) 774-1250.

OBITUARIES

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2013

BRENDA D. OUTLAW Brenda Douglas Outlaw, age 53, beloved wife of Marcus P. Outlaw, died on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born in Andalusia, Ala., she was a daughter of Monnett Jordan and the late Robert Joseph Douglas. Brenda was employed with Sumter Cut OUTLAW Rate Medical Supplies. She enjoyed playing with her grandchildren and will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by two children, Joseph Carter Outlaw of Sumter and Brandy Corliss and Michael of Blythewood; a brother, James Doyle “Rusty” Douglas of Sumter; three sisters, Janice Price Hauk of Sumter, Rosa L. Lowe of Camden and Gail Moore of Sumter; four grandchildren, Eric, Dillon, Hunter and Caylah; and a special friend, Richard Randell.

In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by a grandchild, Julia.

A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Bullock Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Rick Murphy officiating. Burial will be private.

Honorary pallbearers will be friends and coworkers.

The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Bullock Funeral Home and other times at the family home.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 332 N. Lauderdale, Memphis, TN 38105-2479.

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

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

EILEEN A. HENDERSON Phyllis Eileen Ace Henderson, 77, wife of James A. Henderson, died Friday, Dec. 20, 2013, at a local nursing facility.

Born in Manchester,

England, she was a daughter of the late William John Clifford Ace and Phyllis Grace Hitchcock Ace. She was a member of Bible Fellowship Church.

Survivors include her husband of 50 years; one daughter, Maria Gagnon (David) of High Ridge, Mo.; and five grandchildren, Michael Gagnon, Samuel Gagnon, Rose Gagnon, Faith Gagnon and Hope Gagnon.

She was preceded in death by her brother, David Ace. The family will receive friends from 3 to 6 p.m. today at ElmoreCannon-Stephens Funeral Home.

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

JAYLEN L. HALLEY BISHOPVILLE — Jaylen Lamonz Halley passed away on Dec. 21, 2013, from injuries sustained in a traggic accident.

He was the baby boy of Unethia and Jefferey Halley.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. today at Mt. Calvary Holiness Church. Internment will follow in the church cemetery.

These services are entrusted to New Life Funeral Services LLC of Bishopville.

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

EMMA CHARLES Emma Charles, 82, widow of Samuel Charles, departed this life on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born Feb. 14, 1930, in Sumter, she was a daughter of the late Sabie and Mary Hattie Vaughn Howard.

The family is receiving friends at the home, 16 Robinson Lane, Sumter.

Funeral plans are incomplete and will be announced later by Job’s Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., Sumter.

JOSEPH WALKER Joseph Walker died Dec. 25, 2013, at his home in Philadelphia, Pa. Born July 12, 1930, in South Carolina, he was the ninth of 10 children born to Clarence and Lula Walker. As his brothers and sisters before, he was raised in Pinewood and Sumter

and educated in the public school system.

He soon entered the profession that he would serve in for the remainder of his life, brick masonry. In 1958, he married Catherine with whom he would share more than 50 years of marriage. Jobs were rumored to be plentiful in the “North” and so on Jan. 1, 1963, Joseph, Catherine, and their firstborn daughter and son arrived in Philadelphia. After scouting out the less than plentiful jobs, Joseph found work with various construction companies and soon secured a home in the West Oak Lane section of the city in which they raised three additional daughters and another son.

He also mastered carpentry skills, which would serve both as a secondary income and a source of pride as he renovated his home from top to bottom. He became the go-to guy for home projects and never denied a request to “take a look at something” at one of his children’s homes. He loved his hometown Phillies baseball team, but his heart held a special place for the Dodgers and Jackie Robinson. An occasional cigar and listening to blues by B.B King were among his other pleasures in life.

His legacy includes five children, Sandra, Bruce, Robin, Dionne and John; nine grandchildren, Adrienne, Christopher, Russell, Ashlee, Amber, Rashaun, Aliesha, Antanette and Aubrey; three greatgrandchildren, Ayva, Asiah and Bella; and one remaining sibling, his brother, Dayton Walker of South Carolina.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. today in the chapel of JE Williams Funeral Home, Philadelphia.

Courtesy announcement by Sumter Funeral Service Inc.

WILLIE McCANTS Sr. SUMMERTON — Willie “Pompey” McCants Sr., 84, died Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013, at Windsor Manor Nursing Home, Summerton.

He was born Oct. 22, 1932, in Clarendon County, a son of the late Hattie McCants Cooper.

The family is receiving friends at the home of his sister, Johnnie Mae Benbow, 111 Depot St., Manning.

These services have been entrusted to Sam-

THE ITEM

uels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.

JERRY A. COX Jerry Allen Cox, 61, husband of Ellen Boyce Cox, died Friday, Dec. 27, 2013, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Services will be announced by ElmoreCannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter.

ALICE B. VINING Alice B. Vining, 79, wife of George D. Vining, died Friday, Dec. 27, 2013, at Lexington Medical Center.

Services will be announced by ElmoreCannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter.

RAY L. McCOY Jr. Ray Laverne McCoy Jr., 78, widower of Kathryn Davis McCoy, died Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born in Charlotte, N.C,, he was a son of the late Ray Laverne Sr. and Allie Atkinson McCoy. He was the owner and operator of Ray’s Suzuki-Kawasaki until his retirement in 1998. He was an avid race fan. He was a race winner and multi-track champion at dirt tracks around the state. Mr. McCoy was a member of Sumter Masonic Lodge No. 364 and a member of the Elks Lodge. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. Survivors include two sons, Ray L. “Randy” McCoy III (Cornelia Corey) of Clemmons, N.C., and John S. “Johnny” McCoy (Lyn) of Sumter; three grandchildren, Andrea Hyden (Rayn) of San Antonio, Texas, and Christopher McCoy and Joshua McCoy, both of Sumter; and a sister, Lillie McCoy Hucks (Ed) of Garden City.

A graveside service will be held at noon today in the Sumter Cemetery with the Rev. Mark Bordeaux officiating.

Pallbearers will be members of the Sumter Enduro Riders Motorcycle Association (SERMA).

Honorary pallbearers will be members of Sumter Masonic Lodge No. 364.

Memorials may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163-4777.

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

JOHN COUSER John Couser, 65, husband of Gladys Robertson Couser, died Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013, at McLeod Health, Florence.

Born Jan. 15, 1948, in Sumter County, he was a son of George and Ethel Garlan Couser.

The family will receive friends and relatives at the home of his daughter, Ethel Brailey, 8275 Two Mile Road, Lynchburg.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced

by Williams Funeral Home Inc. of Sumter.

JANE WILLIS BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Jane “Janie” Sue Williams Willis departed this life on Dec. 23, 2013.

She was born in Turbeville, Clarendon County, a daughter of the late Rev. John Oscar and Maggie Wheeler Williams and widow of Charles Windell Willis.

She was a graduate of Morris College. As a daughter and granddaughter of ministers, church and religious activities were always a part of her life. At an early age, Janie joined Hickory Grove Freewill Baptist Church. In Brooklyn, she found her Christian home at First Baptist Church. Mrs. Willis was formerly employed with the New York City Board of Education and worked at Public School 242 and later at John Wilson Junior High School. She retired in 1988.

Mrs. Willis was involved in numerous civic organizations and was an advocate for youth.

Through her many community involvements, countless young people were inspired to excel.

Mrs. Willis’ involvement with youth offered summer employment for inner city youth and many were trained as camp counselors.

Survivors include three children, Corliss, Mark (Charlene) and Constance; three siblings, Dorothea Ford, Georgia O’Pharrow (William) and Charles Lincoln (Lottie); 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

In addition to her parents and husband,

A7

she was preceded in death by a daughter, Veronica; and eight siblings, Benjamin Franklin, John Coolidge, Susie, Carrie, Virginia, Olin, Julius and James.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Hickory Grove Freewill Baptist Church, Turbeville, with the Rev. Ronnie McFadden, pastor, officiating.

Fleming and Delanie Home & Chapel of Manning is in charge of services.

Online condolences can be sent to flemingdelaine@aol.com.

RICHARD WILSON Richard “Dick” Wilson, 71, died Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born in York, Maine, he was a son of the late Richard Woodrow Wilson and Sheila McGill Wilson. Mr. Wilson was a veteran of the Vietnam War and retired from the U.S. Air Force after 21 years of service. He was a member of VFW Post 3034 and the Midlands Retired Military Association.

Survivors include three children, Richard Wilson Jr. of Greenville, N.C., Charles “Charlie” McGill Wilson of Sheffield, Ala., and Jenny Wilson of Los Angeles; three grandchildren, Sydney Wilson Richardson, Ragan Wilson and Reese McGill Wilson; one great-grandson, Grady O. Richardson; two brothers, Anthony Wilson of Sumter and Patrick Wilson of Alexandria, Va.; two sisters, Ann Wilson Floyd of Sumter and Megan Wilson of Durham, N.C.; and a number of nieces and nephews.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to his special niece, Toni Wilson, and the fifth floor staff of Tuomey Regional Medical Center for their loving and professional care during Dick’s time of illness.

The family requests memorial donations be made to the United Cerebral Palsy of NW Alabama, 507 N. Hook St., Tuscumbia, AL 35674.

This organization is a generous provider of special services to Dick’s great-grandson.

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

NATION

|

Gambler rewards man who returned $300K left in cab LAS VEGAS (AP) — A poker player who left $300,000 in the back seat of a Las Vegas taxi made good on his promise this week, handing over a $10,000 reward to the honest cabbie who returned the stash.

Yellow Checker Star Cab Company CEO Bill Shranko confirmed Friday that Gerardo Gamboa had been paid by the poker player. The cab company also honored the

driver’s good deed by naming him employee of the year, awarding him $1,000 and giving him a gift certificate to a Las Vegas steakhouse.

It’s unclear how Gamboa plans to spend the belated Christmas gift. He did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press on Friday.

The tale, first reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, started Monday when Gam-

boa made a pickup at the Bellagio casino. A hotel doorman noticed a brown paper bag on the back seat and handed it to him; Gamboa thought it was candy.

The driver said he had another passenger by the time he began wondering what kind of chocolates were in the brown paper bag. He peeked inside at a traffic light and spotted the cash.

“I told my passenger, ‘You

are my witness on this,’” the 13-year taxi driver told the Las Vegas Sun, “and then I immediately called my dispatcher.”

Gamboa took the six bundles of $100 bills to the company’s main office, where Las Vegas police and casino officials linked it to the poker player.

It took several hours to verify the identity of the owner and return the cash.

Authorities aren’t identifying the poker player.

Before he learned about the anonymous gambler’s gift, Gamboa said he wasn’t in it for the money.

“If he doesn’t give me anything, that’s OK,” Gamboa told the Sun earlier this week.

“I’m not waiting for any kind of return. I just wanted to do the right thing, and I appreciate what the company did for me.”

One man's trash is another man's treasure.

Find your treasure in The Item's classifieds. www.theitem.com

A8

DAILY PLANNER

THE ITEM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2013

AIRMAN from Page A1 in his late 20s, standing at 5-foot, 7-inches tall and weighing about 190 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair.

Officials from the Richland County Sheriff ’s Department were

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unable to comment by press time, but tips of Williams’s whereabouts should be reported to the department’s Crime Stoppers line at 1-888-274-6372 or (803) 576-3000.

TONIGHT

SUNDAY

58°

|

Duke nuclear plant endorsed by review CHARLOTTE (AP) — An environmental review of Duke Energy’s plans to build two nuclear reactors in Cherokee County, recommends federal approval of the project.

The study suggests approval for both construction and an operating license for the Lee nuclear station near Gaffney, The Charlotte Observer reported.

Federal regulators are unlikely to make a decision before 2016, after a second report looks at the plant design, location and safety issues. The Charlotte utility is unlikely to commit to the plant before then. That would mean electricity production would not start before 2024.

Duke has spent nearly $350 million on preconstruction costs The Nuclear Regulatory Commission study concluded that most environmental impacts of the two-reactor nu-

clear plant would be small.

The study says the plant would take about 4 percent of the Broad River’s average volume to cool the plant. The river also cools Duke’s Cliffside power plant upstream near the North Carolina-South Carolina state line.

“There was a joke going around that by the time it gets to Columbia, it’s going to be the Skinny River,” said Susan Corbett, chair of the South Carolina Sierra Club.

Duke spokesman Rick Rhodes said the utility does not think the water withdrawals for the Lee station would overstress the river.

The new plant would be built on the site of the partly built Cherokee nuclear station, which Duke canceled in the early 1980s. Two cooling-water ponds already are in place and a third is planned in the event of drought.

Mostly cloudy with afternoon rain

Heavy rain, t-storm; watch for looding

Rain tapering to a couple of showers

Winds: ENE 4-8 mph

Winds: ENE 10-20 mph

Chance of rain: 75%

Chance of rain: 80%

WEDNESDAY 55°

Winds: W 6-12 mph

Winds: NNE 4-8 mph

Winds: E 7-14 mph

Chance of rain: 90%

Chance of rain: 10%

Chance of rain: 10%

Chance of rain: 20%

Greenville 56/43

7 a.m. yest.

351.61 73.83 73.16 97.74

24-hr chg +0.30 -0.06 none -0.66

Gaffney 57/42 Spartanburg 57/43

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

Full pool 12 19 14 14 80 24

7 a.m. yest.

7.56 7.40 4.55 7.13 81.02 20.09

24-hr chg -0.05 -5.60 +0.13 -6.48 +1.02 +0.29

Today Hi/Lo/W 59/49/r 54/37/pc 53/44/r 58/48/r 60/55/r 60/51/pc 62/55/r 59/43/pc 56/45/r 59/48/r

Sun. Hi/Lo/W 62/39/r 51/34/r 55/39/r 61/40/r 70/45/t 68/47/r 73/44/t 57/37/r 61/39/r 59/39/r

Columbia 59/48 Today: Some sun, then turning cloudy with rain late Aiken this afternoon.

59/49 Sunday: Rain ending in the morning; mostly cloudy and breezy.

Plenty of sun

Sunrise today .......................... 7:26 a.m.

Sunset tonight ......................... 5:20 p.m.

Moonrise today ....................... 3:06 a.m.

Moonset today ........................ 2:05 p.m.

New

First

Jan. 1 Full

Jan. 7 Last

Jan. 15

Jan. 24

Florence 60/49

Bishopville 58/48

24 hrs ending 4 p.m. yest. ........... 0.00" Month to date .............................. 3.03" Normal month to date ................. 2.87" Year to date ............................... 48.67" Normal year to date .................. 46.47"

Full pool 360 76.8 75.5 100

39°

Winds: SSW 12-25 mph

Precipitation

Lake Murray Marion Moultrie Wateree

29° Mostly sunny

Temperature High ............................................... 54° Low ................................................ 30° Normal high ................................... 54° Normal low ..................................... 33° Record high ....................... 78° in 1971 Record low ......................... 11° in 1983

36° Sun and some clouds

Sumter through 4 p.m. yesterday

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

TUESDAY 53°

48° 40°

job-seekers to continue to look for work using services from their local SC Works office, which are available to any resident regardless of their benefits status.

“That’s somebody else helping you look for a job,” she said.

Locally, the four counties in the SanteeLynches region — Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee and Sumter — fall under the SC Works program of the Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments. While DEW manages unemployment benefits in the state centrally, the SC Works offices in Sumter, Bishopville, Camden and Manning are operated separately as free resource centers under the federal Workforce Investment Act for anyone looking for work.

“SC Works is focused on employment, whether you’re a displaced worker, a student or someone who retired,” said Dr. Michael Mikota, executive director of the Santee-Lynches COG. Residents can use the resource centers to search for a job or polish a resume, or talk with job specialists who can connect a potential employee with local businesses. Mikota said SC Works is often contacted by employers with vacancies to fill. The program also offers more “intensive” services like educational opportunities, career planning and re-training programs for workers who qualify.

“We’ve had individuals who have changed careers, and ended up in different fields they couldn’t have gone into before,” he said.

REGION

795-4257

MONDAY 63°

68°

apply for up to 29 weeks of additional federal assistance under the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program. But at the name implies, the federal program was originally passed as a temporary measure in the depths of the Great Recession in 2008. After previous extensions, Congress this fall declined to keep the program going into the new year, meaning workers in that 29-week window will only receive benefits for the past week.

“If they file for claims Saturday or Sunday, they’re paid for the week prior, as long as they’re eligible and they didn’t work that week,” said Molly Brantley with the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce, which handles unemployment benefits in the state. “Then they will be paid the first week in January.”

But those workers may not be cut out for long, since Congress could still pass an extension when it reconvenes in January. Brantley said anyone who continues to file for the extended benefits could receive benefits retroactively for any weeks they’re eligible, if and when Congress approves an extension.

“We’ve communicated to all our claimants to keep filing, so we’ll still have them in the system,” she said.

The average payout under EUC in South Carolina is $255 per week, with a maximum of $326 depending on an applicant’s previous wages.

Brantley encouraged

Call for complete details

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TODAY

BENEFITS from Page A1

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

Sumter 58/48

Myrtle Beach 60/53

Manning 60/50

Shown is today’s weather.

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

Charleston 62/55

Today: Rain. High 59 to 63.

Sunday: Periods of rain and a thunderstorm; warmer. High 68 to 73.

The following tide table lists times for Myrtle Beach.

Sat.

Forecasts and graphics provided

by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2013

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 58/46/r 60/44/pc 60/48/r 58/45/pc 60/49/r 74/64/c 59/42/pc 60/45/pc 61/55/r 56/40/pc

Sun. Hi/Lo/W 65/41/r 66/41/r 69/43/r 69/40/r 73/43/r 75/50/t 59/37/r 67/42/r 72/44/t 52/37/r

Sun.

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 56/43/r 54/39/pc 58/57/r 68/63/sh 51/47/r 54/49/r 52/43/r 56/39/pc 61/55/r 60/53/r

Sun. Hi/Lo/W 57/38/r 56/33/r 69/45/t 74/46/t 56/37/r 63/38/sh 53/39/r 52/35/r 72/45/t 71/45/r

High Ht. Low Ht. 4:51 a.m.....3.1 11:55 a.m.....0.3 4:59 p.m.....2.7 11:59 p.m....-0.3 5:51 a.m.....3.2 12:54 p.m....-0.1 5:59 p.m.....2.8 ---..... ---

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 58/50/r 60/55/r 58/40/pc 58/43/r 58/42/r 60/55/r 57/43/r 60/57/r 62/51/c 56/40/pc

Sun. Hi/Lo/W 65/42/r 70/45/t 55/38/r 59/36/r 59/38/r 72/45/t 57/39/r 70/44/t 72/45/r 53/36/r

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

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

Cold front Showers Rain T-storms Snow Flurries

Ice

Warm front

Today Sun. Today Sun. City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W Albuquerque 49/30/pc 43/27/pc Las Vegas 62/42/pc 58/40/s Anchorage 24/22/sn 27/24/sf Los Angeles 75/50/pc 77/50/s Atlanta 51/45/r 56/38/r Miami 81/74/pc 83/71/t Baltimore 52/36/s 44/35/r Minneapolis 34/-2/pc 0/-13/pc Boston 46/33/s 45/34/r New Orleans 54/45/r 61/44/s Charleston, WV 56/35/s 46/32/r New York 49/38/s 46/35/r Charlotte 59/43/pc 57/37/r Oklahoma City 60/29/s 33/19/c Chicago 42/30/pc 30/3/sf Omaha 48/9/pc 12/0/c Cincinnati 48/35/s 47/24/r Philadelphia 50/36/s 44/35/r Dallas 60/41/s 48/26/c Phoenix 66/45/pc 65/42/s Denver 48/16/pc 36/22/pc Pittsburgh 46/34/s 41/28/r Des Moines 40/12/pc 14/-2/c St. Louis 56/34/s 37/15/c Detroit 44/29/pc 39/16/c Salt Lake City 34/16/pc 31/20/s Helena 28/15/sn 31/13/pc San Francisco 63/43/s 64/41/s Honolulu 82/68/s 81/64/pc Seattle 45/35/pc 45/38/c Indianapolis 46/33/s 42/18/c Topeka 50/18/s 22/7/c Kansas City 50/19/s 20/7/c Washington, DC 53/39/s 43/37/r Weather(W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice

ARIES (March 21-April 19): situations that could the last word in astrology Ease into the day. Reflect potentially change the way on the past, make notes you live or what you do for eugenia LAST as to how to avoid a living. Adjustments need making similar mistakes. to be made and resolutions Don’t let anger lead to for the upcoming year set disappointment or the loss of an important into motion. relationship.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Share your traditions TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Share stories and with someone from a different cultural wisdom with young and old alike. Bringing background. Enjoy learning by participating in emotional matters out into the open will help community events. Romance is in the stars. you resolve any issues that you don’t want to Make plans with your lover or go to a singles carry into the new year. Make love and event to meet someone new. romance a priority.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Don’t make GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Impulsive spending drastic changes for the wrong reason. Ride out will lead to worry. Don’t feel obliged to bail any storm you face in business without someone out of a financial mess. Charity upsetting your stability. Reaching out to former begins at home and a budget should be put in colleagues for advice will help you see your place. situation with greater clarity.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Sign up for an activity CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Don’t initiate or class that can help expand your knowledge. change but embrace adjustments being made The unique people you meet along the way around you. Approach your personal and will revive your interest in socializing. Helping professional life with an open mind and do someone will lead to an unexpected reward. your best to offer interesting contributions.

Give love and important relationships more LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Enjoy what life has to time and attention. offer. The people you meet and the sites you see will give you ideas that you can launch in AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Stick close to the new year. Don’t let personal responsibilities people you trust. Don’t give in to demands, but bog you down. Put a halt to anyone making work alongside anyone who’s willing to put in unreasonable demands. as much effort as you. A change in your financial situation due to a vocational VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Offer favors and get opportunity looks positive. into the give-and-take that makes the world go round. Setting up standards to live by and PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Offer assistance to having greater involvement with someone you those in need. Your act of kindness will think is special will lead to your happiness. encourage others to pitch in and help. An interesting financial proposition can change LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You’ll experience highs the way you live. and lows throughout the day. Feel out

PICK 3 FRIDAY: 0-4-2 AND 8-7-9 PICK 4 FRIDAY: 2-9-5-1 AND 9-6-2-1 PALMETTO CASH 5 FRIDAY: 3-6-8-11-19 POWERUP: 3 MEGAMILLIONS NUMBERS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT PRESS TIME

FOR WEDNESDAY: 23-28-38-39-56 POWERBALL: 32

New Year’s closing schedule BANKS — All area banks and credit unions will be closed Wednesday.

GOVERNMENT — The following will be closed Wednesday: federal government offices; U.S. Postal Service; South Carolina state government offices; Sumter city and county offices; Clarendon County offices; Lee County Courthouse; and Bishopville City Hall.

SCHOOLS — The following will be closed through Friday, Jan. 3, 2014: Clarendon School Districts 1, 2 and 3; Sumter School District; Lee County Public Schools; Robert E. Lee Academy; Thomas Sumter Academy; Wilson Hall; St. Anne Catholic School; St. Francis Xavier High School; Laurence Manning Academy; Clarendon Hall; and Sumter Christian School.

Central Carolina Technical College, USC Sumter and Morris College will be closed through Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014.

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

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

OTHER — Clemson Extension Service will be closed Wednesday.

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

The Sumter County Library will be closed Wednesday.

The Harvin Clarendon County Library will close at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and will reopen Thursday.

All offices of The Item will be closed Wednesday. The Item will not publish on New Year’s Day.

SPORTS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2013

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

B1

Boston bombing AP sports story of year

BY RACHEL COHEN The Associated Press NEW YORK — The Boston Marathon bombing was selected the sports story of the year Friday in an annual vote conducted

by The Associated Press.

Two pressure cooker bombs exploded near the finish line of

the April 15 race in an area packed with fans cheering the passing runners.

Three people were killed and more than 260 D. TSARNAEV injured, including at least 16 who lost limbs.

Authorities say

brothers Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, ethnic Chechens from Russia who emigrated to the United States as chilT. TSARNAEV dren, planned and carried out the bombings in retaliation for U.S. in-

volvement in Muslim countries.

Ninety-six ballots were submitted from U.S. editors and news directors. Voters were asked to rank the top 10 sports stories of the year, with the firstplace story receiving 10 points, the secondplace story nine

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SEE BOMBING, PAGE B4

The Boston Marathon bombing has been selected the sports story of the year in an annual vote conducted by The Associated Press.

No secret what USC defense must stop

BY RYAN WOOD Post and Courier

MATT WALSH / THE ITEM

Sumter’s Brandon Parker, right, tries to keep the ball away from Lee Central’s George Howard, left, during the Gamecocks’ 72-60 victory on Friday at Chestnut Oaks Middle School in the District 9 Basketball Officials Christmas Tournament. Sumter advanced to play Crestwood in today’s 7:30 p.m. championship game at The Castle.

Sumter County trifecta Gamecocks beat LCHS, will face Knights for 3rd time with District 9 title at stake

BY EDDIE LITAKER Special To The Item Sumter High School varsity boys basketball head coach Jo Jo English knew his team was in for a stiff test as it took the floor Friday night for its third game in the 17th Annual District 9 Officials Christmas Basketball Tournament, and Lee

Central did not disappoint the former University of South Carolina standout.

The 2A Stallions never trailed by more than 18

against the 4A Gamecocks, who earned a berth in the tournament’s championship game today with a 72-60 victory.

After playing its first three tournament games at Chestnut Oaks Middle School, Sumter will take the floor at Crestwood High School tonight at 7:30 p.m. for its third meeting this

season with the Knights, hoping to take home the championship trophy.

“You know how the rivalry is in intensity,” English said of once more facing off against the Knights. “Guys are going to be ready to play, I’m pretty sure the community is going to be

COLUMBIA — South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier didn’t need the first snippets of Wisconsin’s game film to reveal his defense’s biggest challenge in the Capital One Bowl.

The Badgers are synonymous with running the football, personifying the rugged, ground-andpound style perhaps more than any team in the country. The QUARLES names from their past are a royal lineage of ball carriers — Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne, Heisman finalist Montee Ball, All-American Anthony Davis.

Each is among the Big Ten’s top 10 career rushers, making Wisconsin the only school with three players on that list.

“That’s what Big Ten football is all about,” USC’s All-American defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles said. “Big, physical guys coming off the ball, and let’s (run over) people. That’s what they’re known for. …

We’re ready for it. We play teams that run the ball week in SEE USC, PAGE B2

SEE DISTRICT 9, PAGE B3

DISTRICT 9 BASKETBALL OFFICIALS CHRISTMAS TOURNAMENT GIRLS Thursday at Crestwood High School Lee Central 41, Lamar 39 Lake City 39, Hartsville 36 Hartsville 67, Manning Kingstree 72 C.E. Murray 9 at Chestnut Oaks Middle School Sumter 70, C.E. Murray 28 Lee Central 63, Denmark-Olar 43 Friday

at Crestwood High School Kingstree 80, Denmar-Olar 49 Kingstree 58, Manning 51 Hartsville vs. Sumter at Chestnut Oaks Middle School Manning 55, Lamar 50 Lee Central 64, C.E. Murray 13 Lake City 52, Denmark-Olar 19 Today at Crestwood High School Sumter vs. Kingstree, 6 p.m.

BOYS Thursday at Crestwood High School Crestwood 79, Lamar 25 Crestwood 63, C.E. Murray 51 at Chestnut Oaks Middle School Lee Central 68, Kingstree 53 Sumter 68, Kingstree 43 Friday at Crestwood High School C.E. Murray 79, Lamar 54

Kingstree 52, Crestwood 51 at Chestnut Oaks Middle School Sumter 77, C.E. Murray 40 Lee Central 73, Lamar 48 Sumter 72, Lee Central 60 Today at Crestwood High School Sumter vs. Crestwood, 7:30 p.m.

Admission: $7 for adults, $5 for students per day.

Panthers LB Kuechly earning respect, honors

BY STEVE REED The Associated Press CHARLOTTE — Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott remembers the first time Luke Kuechly made an impression on him.

It was in the team’s dining hall when Kuechly, then a rookie, stood up from the table and looked at the veteran linebackers seated around him and asked politely, “Can I get anybody anything to drink?’’

It caught McDermott’s attention right away.

“It’s a small thing, but you don’t find that around society today,’’ McDermott said. “He’s just a class act through and through, with great core values.

He was raised well by his parents.’’

Defensive tackle Dwan Edwards said while he’s impressed with what Kuechly has done on the field in his first two

WHO: South Carolina (10-2) vs. Wisconsin (9-3) WHEN: Wednesday, 1 p.m.

WHERE: Orlando, Fla. TV: ABC

Clemson D looks for Orange turnaround

BY PETE IACOBELLI The Associated Press

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan recently called Carolina middle linebacker Luke Kuechly (59) a “tackling machine” after his 24-tackle performance against New Orleans, and said “if he’s not the best middle linebacker in the league then I’m not sure who is.”

seasons, it doesn’t begin to compare to what he sees in the locker room.

“He is so incredibly humble,’’

Edwards said. “Nothing is about him. It’s about the team.

SEE KUECHLY, PAGE B4

CLEMSON — Clemson defensive end Corey Crawford knows the Tigers defense can complete a major, two-year turnaround few could have foreseen the last time they played in the Orange Bowl.

ClemCRAWFORD son’s defense was exposed after the 2011 season, unable to halt a relentless West Virginia attack in a 70-33 beatdown at the Orange Bowl. The points were a college football postseason record and led to endless string one-liners

WHO: Clemson (10-2) vs. Ohio State (12-1) WHEN: Jan. 3, 2014, 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: Miami, Fla. TV: ESPN

at Clemson’s expense.

The 12th-ranked Tigers (10-2) hope for a different, more successful showing this time around when they play No. 7 Ohio State (12-1) in the Orange Bowl next Friday.

While the jokes hurt, more devastating, Crawford recalled, was the SEE TIGERS, PAGEB2

B2

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

THE ITEM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2013

Cato, Herd top Terps in Military Bowl ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Rakeem Cato threw for 337 yards and three touchdowns, and Marshall used two fourth-quarter scores to rally past Maryland 31-20 Friday in the Military Bowl.

The Thundering Herd (10-4) trailed 20-17 before Cato brought them back.

After directing a 63-yard march to put Marshall up 24-20 with 12:05 left, Cato clinched it with an 8-yard touchdown throw to Gator Hoskins with 3:42 to play.

Cato completed 28 of 44 passes — with no interceptions — to help Marshall reach double digits in wins for the first time since 2002.

The Thundering Herd came in averaging 43 points per game, but its underappreciated defense played a huge role in this one.

Maryland (7-6) scored only one touchdown after halftime, and A.J. Leggett followed Cato’s final TD pass with an interception to set off a celebration among the huge gathering of Marshall fans among the crowd of 30,163.

TEXAS BOWL SYRACUSE MINNESOTA

21 17

HOUSTON — Terrel Hunt scrambled 12 yards for a touchdown with 1:14 remaining to lift Syracuse to a 21-17 win over Minnesota in the Texas Bowl on Friday night.

Brisly Estime set up Hunt’s touchdown with a

BOWL ROUNDUP

|

Minnesota (8-5) got a boost to start the second half when coach Jerry Kill returned to the sideline for the first time since Sept. 28 before Syracuse rallied for the victory.

Hunt finished with 188 yards passing and 74 rushing with two scores.

POINSETTIA BOWL UTAH ST. (24) NORTHERN ILLINOIS

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Marshall quarterback Raheem Cato (12) throws against Maryland during the Thundering Herd’s 31-20 victory on Friday in the Military Bowl in Annapolis, Md.

70-yard punt return.

Syracuse (7-6) led 14-3 entering the fourth quarter before Mitch Leidner threw two touchdown passes and a 2-point conversion to put the Golden Gophers up 1714.

After the Orange re-

gained the lead, Minnesota attempted two long passes to the end zone on the final plays. The first slipped through the arms of Drew Wolitarsky and the final Hail Mary as time expired was knocked down near the end zone.

21 14

SAN DIEGO — Brian Suite intercepted Jordan Lynch’s pass and recovered a fumble by the Heisman Trophy finalist to help Utah State beat No. 24 Northern Illinois 21-14 on Thursday night in the Poinsettia Bowl.

Joey DeMartino, who went to high school and junior college in San Diego, carried 23 times for 143 yards and a touchdown for Utah State (9-5).

Lynch, who was third in the Heisman Trophy voting and made The Associated Press All-America team as an all-purpose player, had a rough end to his college career. Besides the two turnovers, he was held to just 39 yards rushing, keeping him from becoming the first major college player to rush for 2,000 yards and pass for 2,000 yards in the same season.

Lynch ran for a touchdown and passed for another for NIU (12-2), which lost its second straight game.

From wire reports

Citadel selects 5 coaches for interviews

BY JEFF HARTSELL Post and Courier CHARLESTON — As The Citadel prepares to interview candidates for its vacant head football coaching job, a new name has joined the list of prospective coaches.

The website footballscoop.com reported Friday that former Delaware coach K.C. Keeler is among five coaches The Citadel has asked to interview. Keeler joins a list including Navy assistants Ashley Ingram and Chris Culter, Air Force assistant Clay Hendrix and Lenoir-Rhyne head coach Mike Houston, all previously reported by The Post and Courier to be on the Bulldogs’ short list.

The Citadel is searching for a successor to ex-coach Kevin Higgins, who resigned after nine seasons last week to become assistant head coach at Wake Forest. Athletic director Larry Leckonby has said he would like to have a coach in place in the first week of January.

TIGERS from Page B1 emptiness on campus upon their return home.

Crawford found many of the students were embarrassed and disappointed at the awful showing that night.

“I don’t want that to happen again,’’ Crawford said Friday. “Every time we lose, the campus is just dead. People don’t want to talk to you.’’

Crawford believes he and his defensive teammates have worked the past two years to correct their mistakes and remake themselves into a defense that brings the school pride. The group led the nation this year in tackles for loss and finished the regular season ranked 17th in scoring defense (21.1 points per game), up from 48th a year ago. The Tigers have

Three of the five are assistants with experience at military schools; the other two have been head coaches but have not worked at a military school. Here’s a look at the five prospective coaches: Keeler, 54, was head coach at Delaware from 2002-12, compiling a record of 86-52 with three FCS championship game appearances. The Blue Hens won the title in 2003 with a record of 15-1.

In 2008, Keeler signed a 10-year contract extension that would have kept him at Delaware through 2017.

But he was fired after a 5-6 record in 2012 and worked last season for NFL Films and for ESPN3.com. Keeler

improved from 63rd in overall defense in 2012 to 23rd this season, surrendering almost 50 fewer yards a game in 2013.

Crawford understands a strong showing against the Buckeyes might go a long way toward putting the West Virginia debacle to bed once and for all.

Not the change back to the top on defense has come easily.

Clemson had a wellearned reputation the past few decades as one of the most consistent and stingiest defenses in college football. Coach Danny Ford build his 1981 national champions on the backs of players like linebacker Jeff Davis and defensive end William “Refrigerator’’ Perry. Clemson send a host of standout defenders to the NFL after that, including Terry Kinard, Donnell Woolford, Michael Dean Perry, Ed McDaniel and Levon Kirkland.

Clemson’s defense re-

often brought in transfer quarterbacks to run his offense, including Ravens QB Joe Flacco, who transferred to Delaware from Pitt.

Ingram, 40, is in his sixth season at Navy, where he coaches centers and guards. He was a finalist for the head coaching job at Austin Peay last spring, leading to a promotion to running game coordinator at Navy.

The native of Iron City, Ga., is a 1996 graduate of North Alabama and also has coached at Rhode Island and Bucknell.

Culton, 36, is in his 11th season at Navy, where he coaches the offensive line after previously coaching fullbacks in the Midshipmen’s option offense. He graduated in 2001 from Georgia Southern, where he was a student-assistant for four years after suffering a neck injury as a freshman football player. He’s also coached at Rhode Island. Navy’s team is in Fort Worth, Texas, preparing to play Middle Tennessee State on Monday in the Armed Forces Bowl.

mained a strength in coach Dabo Swinney’s first two full seasons in charge in 2009 and 2010.

“That’s when we had a bit of a change,’’ Swinney acknowledged. “We were real young.’’

Clemson’s defensive problems were masked in 2011 by the high-flying attack of first-year offensive coordinator Chad Morris, new quarterback Tajh Boyd and freshman receiver Sammy Watkins.

The issues resurfaced when Clemson followed an 8-0 start with a 1-3 finish, then subsided after the Tigers held down Virginia Tech in a 38-10 ACC title-game win.

Crawford’s unsure why things went so wrong against West Virginia.

The Tigers got another jolt a week or so later when Swinney dismissed defensive coordinator Kevin Steele and brought in Oklahoma’s longtime defensive boss, Brent Venables.

USC from Page B1 and week out.”

With Wisconsin, the names change every few years. The reputation never wavers. Once again, the Badgers boast a powerful rushing attack, ranked eighth in the country. Sophomore Melvin Gordon (1,466) and senior James White (1,337) are the only teammates in the nation with more than 1,300 rushing yards.

South Carolina knows what’s coming. Earlier this month, Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen said his team would “do what we do.”

That means run the football with force and conviction, presumably down a defense’s throat.

“I think it is a great matchup,” Andersen said. “The front sevens on both sides, offensively and defensively for us and them, this is going to be a very highly contested, physical football game.”

No matchup will be more important than Wisconsin’s rushing attack against South Carolina’s “run defense pants,” as Spurrier called it.

Most expect that edge to go to the Badgers, who averaged 283 rushing yards per game this season. Not co-

BOWL SCHEDULE

By The Associated Press Dec. 21 New Mexico Bowl At Albuquerque Colorado State 48, Washington State 45 Las Vegas Bowl Southern Cal 45, Fresno State 20 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl At Boise, Idaho San Diego State 49, Buffalo 24 New Orleans Bowl Louisiana-Lafayette 24, Tulane 21 Dec. 23 Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl At St. Petersburg, Fla. East Carolina 37, Ohio 20 Dec. 24 Hawaii Bowl At Honolulu Oregon State 38, Boise State 23 Dec. 26 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl At Detroit Pittsburgh 30, Bowling Green 27 Poinsettia Bowl At San Diego Utah State 21, Northern Illinois 14 Friday Military Bowl At Annapolis, Md. Marshall 31, Maryland 20 Texas Bowl At Houston Syracuse 21, Minnesota 17 Fight Hunger Bowl At San Francisco BYU vs. Washington, late Today Pinstripe Bowl At New York Notre Dame (8-4) vs. Rutgers (6-6), Noon (ESPN) Belk Bowl At Charlotte Cincinnati (9-3) vs. North Carolina (6-6), 3:20 p.m. (ESPN) Russell Athletic Bowl At Orlando, Fla. Miami (9-3) vs. Louisville (11-1), 6:45 p.m. (ESPN) Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl At Tempe, Ariz.

Kansas State (7-5) vs. Michigan (7-5), 10:15 p.m. (ESPN) Monday Armed Forces Bowl At Fort Worth, Texas Middle Tennessee (8-4) vs. Navy (8-4), 11:45 a.m. (ESPN) Music City Bowl At Nashville, Tenn.

Mississippi (7-5) vs. Georgia Tech (7-5), 3:15 p.m. (ESPN) Alamo Bowl At San Antonio Oregon (10-2) vs. Texas (8-4), 6:45 p.m. (ESPN) Holiday Bowl At San Diego Arizona State (10-3) vs. Texas Tech (7-5), 10:15 p.m. (ESPN) Tuesday AdvoCare V100 Bowl At Shreveport, La. Arizona (7-5) vs. Boston College (7-5), 12:30 p.m. (ESPN) Sun Bowl At El Paso, Texas Virginia Tech (8-4) vs. UCLA (9-3), 2 p.m. (CBS) Liberty Bowl At Memphis, Tenn.

Rice (9-3) vs. Mississippi State (6-6), 4 p.m. (ESPN) Chick-fil-A Bowl At Atlanta Texas A&M (8-4) vs. Duke (10-3), 8 p.m. (ESPN) Wednesday Heart of Dallas Bowl At Dallas UNLV (7-5) vs. North Texas (8-4), Noon (ESPNU) Gator Bowl At Jacksonville, Fla. Nebraska (8-4) vs. Georgia (8-4), Noon (ESPN2) Capital One Bowl At Orlando, Fla. Wisconsin (9-3) vs. South Carolina (10-2), 1 p.m. (ABC) Outback Bowl At Tampa, Fla. Iowa (8-4) vs. LSU (9-3), 1 p.m. (ESPN) Rose Bowl At Pasadena, Calif.

Stanford (11-2) vs. Michigan State (12-1), 5 p.m. (ESPN) Fiesta Bowl At Glendale, Ariz.

Baylor (11-1) vs. UCF (11-1), 8:30 p.m. (ESPN) Thursday Sugar Bowl At New Orleans Alabama (11-1) vs. Oklahoma (10-2), 8:30 p.m. (ESPN) Jan. 3 Orange Bowl At Miami Ohio State (12-1) vs. Clemson (10-2), 8 p.m. (ESPN) Cotton Bowl At Arlington, Texas Missouri (11-2) vs. Oklahoma State (10-2), 7:30 p.m. (FOX) Jan. 4 BBVA Compass Bowl At Birmingham, Ala. Vanderbilt (8-4) vs. Houston (8-4), 1 p.m. (ESPN) Jan. 5 GoDaddy.com Bowl At Mobile, Ala. Arkansas State (7-5) vs. Ball State (10-2), 9 p.m. (ESPN) Jan. 6 BCS National Championship At Pasadena, Calif.

Florida State (13-0) vs. Auburn (12-1), 8:30 p.m. (ESPN) Jan. 18 East-West Shrine Classic At St. Petersburg, Fla. East vs. West, 4 p.m. (NFLN) Jan. 25 Senior Bowl At Mobile, Ala. South vs. North, 4 p.m. (NFLN)

incidentally, Wisconsin remained a 1-point favorite over South Carolina entering the weekend.

South Carolina’s underdog status wasn’t lost on Spurrier when his team arrived in Orlando, Fla., on Thursday.

“We’ve got to play well if we expect to beat Wisconsin,” Spurrier said. “… Heck, they’re favored over us. So, I guess if we beat them, it’s going to be an upset.”

There is a perception with Wisconsin’s running game, justifiably so. Quarles said the Badgers remind him of LSU, which ran for 258 yards in a win over the Gamecocks last season. Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney said Wisconsin reminds him of Arkansas, which makes sense because first-year Razorbacks coach Bret Bielema formerly held the same position with the Badgers.

In reality, the numbers indicate a closer matchup than some expect.

The Gamecocks rank second in the SEC in run defense, allowing 142.25 rushing yards per game.

That’s behind first-place Alabama (108.33 yards per game) and similar to third-place Florida (142.42 per game), which were considered the top two rushing defenses in the SEC throughout the season.

SPORTS

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2013

McCray’s triple-double powers Crestwood SANTEE — Shaqunda McCray had a triple-double to lead Crestwood High School’s varsity girls basketball team to a 55-51 victory over North Augusta on Friday in the Lake Marion Christmas Tournament at the Lake Marion High gymnasium.

McCray had 12 points, 16 rebounds and 12 blocked shots for the Lady Knights, who improved to 9-3 on the season. Cawasha Ceasar had 14 points and Keanua Williams added 12.

Crestwood plays in the championship game today at 7 p.m.

WILSON HALL CARDINAL NEWMAN

39 28

SPARTANBURG — Wilson Hall improved to 6-3 on the season with a 39-28 victory over Cardinal Newman on Friday in the Spartanburg Day Holiday

AREA ROUNDUP Tournament at the Spartanburg Day gymnasium.

Hannah Jordan and Logan Lee Alderman both had 10 points to lead the Lady Barons.

Wilson Hall will face Brashon Middle College today at 3 p.m. in the championship game.

WILSON HALL Jordan 10, Alderman 10, Smoak 5, Fisher 2, Belk 4, Scott 4.

CARDINAL NEWMAN Charlton 8, Desmond 5, Cummings 2, Beyling 11, Blakeburg 2.

LAURENCE MANNING SPLITS

CHAPIN — Laurence Manning Academy split its games in the Claw Classic at the Chapin High School gymnasium on Friday, falling to Wilson 50-44 before beating Swansea 5946.

In the Wilson game, Perrin Jackson led the Lady Swampcats with 13

| points. Emily McElveen had 11 and Haley Hatfield 10.

In the win over Swansea, Jackson and McElveen both had double-doubles. Jackson had 19 points and 14 rebounds while McElveen had 13 points and 13 rebounds.

Hatfield again had 10 points.

VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL CHARLOTTE UNITED 55 LAKEWOOD 50

ROCK HILL — Lakewood High School fell to 7-5 on the season with a 55-50 loss to Charlotte United Academy in the 14th Annual Moody Holiday Classic at the Northwestern High gymnasium.

Robert Grant led the Gators with 12 points whil Jarvis Johnson had 11 and Carlton Johnson nine.

DISTRICT 9 from Page B1 involved, and it’s kind of good for Sumter County, especially with the Christmas holiday. We have a lot of players that have families that are in town, and I think it’s going to be a good, competitive match.

“Crestwood is always prepared for us, and in games like that anything can happen. Our guys have got to come out from the beginning of the game ready to play and focused, (taking it) one possession at a time. Protect the basketball, block out and play good defense like we do, make free throws and everything will be good for us.”

Lee Central head coach LaVerne Knox knows the importance of good free SUMTER 72 throw shooting.

LEE CENTRAL 60 The Stallions’ woes LCHS 28 32 -- 60 at the free-throw SHS 39 33 -- 72 line Friday likely LEE CENTRAL cost them the game Reginald Jackson 16, Montrell against the GameSmith 13, George Howard 12, Solomon 4, Wilson 9, Benjamin 6. cocks. Lee Central SUMTER players hit six of Sonny Butler 22, Micah McBride 10, Rembert 4, Ta’Bon 4, Erick their first eight free White 14, Richardson 2, Brandon throw attempts and Parker 12, Kershaw 4. connected on their final four, but in between sank just four of 16 shots for a final total of 14 of 28, or 50 percent.

“Free throws are hurting us,” said Knox, whose team dropped to 6-4. “We need to do a better job at the line.”

What they could not hit from the line, the Stallions made up for in long-range shooting. Both teams hit six 3-point baskets, with Reginald Jackson knocking down three for Lee Central and Sonny Butler draining four for Sumter.

English was impressed with what he saw as he scouted Lee Central in earlier tournament wins over Kingstree, 68-53 on Thursday, and Lamar, 73-48 on Friday afternoon. He gave the Stallions credit for bringing the game to the Gamecocks.

“That’s what we needed,” said English, whose team stands at 8-1, including a 77-40 victory over C.E. Murray on Friday afternoon.

“Actually I told the guys before the game, I watched Lee Central play today and I watched them play yesterday and I told them they have very good athletes and we’d have to be ready to play, and our guys were ready to play. In tournaments like these, we don’t look at (our opponents) as 2A, 3A, 4A, it doesn’t matter because they’ve got really good talent over there. It’s a good test for our guys to weather the storm, and the guys did a good job of keeping themselves in the game and playing to the end.”

MATT WALSH / THE ITEM

Sumter’s Micah McBride, left, goes up for a rebound during Friday’s game against Lee Central at Chestnut Oaks Middle School.

English was encouraged that Sumter was able to limit its turnovers, but discouraged by the number of times they allowed Lee Central to step to the free throw line.

Butler scored 13 in the first half as the Gamecocks led 39-28 at the break. He then opened the second half with two treys and an old-fashion three-point play, his second of the game, to close with 22 points.

“I’ve been trying to tell Sonny to be aggressive all year long,” English said.”He’s one of our better scorers, but he’s been in kind of like a little dip in the valley per se and I was trying to just tell him to shoot the ball, shoot the ball. He has a green light to be aggressive out there, and tonight he was aggressive.”

Erick White scored six straight during a stretch of the first half and finished with 14 while Brandon Parker had 12 and Micah McBride added 10 for Sumter.

Jackson topped Lee Central with 16 while Montrell Smith contributed 13 and George Howard chipped in 12.

“I’m glad to see Howard, and Jackson (play so well),” Knox said. “They played one of their better games tonight. I’m proud of the guys’ effort tonight and the way they played. Sumter High has a very good ball team. I think the kids did a pretty good job overall.”

Tonight’s championship round at Crestwood will be a Sumter doubleheader as the Lady Gamecocks take on Kingstree at 6 p.m. attempting to defend the tournament championship that they won last year.

|

Durant leads Thunder past Bobcats

MAGIC PISTONS

109 92

ORLANDO, Fla. — Arron Afflalo scored 23 points to lead five Orlando players in double-figures and the Magic snapped a three-game losing streak

SCOREBOARD TV, RADIO TODAY 7:40 a.m. -- International Soccer: Barclays Premier League Match -- West Brom vs. West Ham (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

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

Noon -- College Football: Pinstripe Bowl from New York -Rutgers vs. Notre Dame (ESPN).

Noon -- College Basketball: Nebraska at Cincinnati (ESPN2).

Noon -- College Basketball: Jackson State at Memphis (ESPNU).

Noon -- College Basketball: Florida International at Georgetown (FOX SPORTS 1).

Noon -- Women’s College Basketball: Savannah State at South Carolina (FOX SPORTSOUTH, WNKT-FM 107.5).

12:30 p.m. -- International Soccer: Barclays Premier League Match -- Sunderland vs. Cardiff (WIS 10).

2 p.m. -- College Basketball: Villanova at Syracuse (WLTX 19).

2 p.m. -- College Basketball: Eastern Michigan at Duke (ESPN2).

2 p.m. -- College Basketball: Prairie View A&M at Wisconsin (ESPNU).

2 p.m. -- College Basketball: Samford at Marquette (SPORTSOUTH).

2:30 p.m. -- College Basketball: Brooklyn Hoops Winter Festival from Brooklyn -- St. John’s vs. Columbia (FOX SPORTS 1).

3 p.m. -- International Athletics: U.S. Olympic Trials from Keams, Utah -- Men’s and Women’s Speedskating Trials (NBC SPORTS N:ETWORK).

3:20 p.m. -- College Football: Belk Bowl from Charlotte -Cincinnati vs. North Carolina (ESPN).

4 p.m. -- College Basketball: Louisville at Kentucky (WLTX 19).

4 p.m. -- Women’s College Basketball: Loyola Marymount at Brigham Young (BYU TV).

4 p.m. -- College Basketball: Akron at South Carolina (ESPNU, WPUB-FM 102.7, WDXY-FM 105.9, WNKT-FM 107.5, WDXY-AM 1240).

4 p.m. -- Women’s International Hockey: United States vs.

Canada from St. Paul, Minn. (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

4:30 p.m. -- Exhibition Golf: Chick-fil-A Bowl Challenge from Greensboro, Ga. (ESPN2).

6 p.m. -- College Basketball: Providence at Massachusetts (ESPNU).

6:30 p.m. -- College Basketball: Old Dominion at Richmond (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

6:45 p.m. -- College Football: Russell Athletic Bowl from Orlando, Fla. -- Louisville vs. Miami (ESPN).

7 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Brooklyn at Indiana (NBA TV).

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

8 p.m. -- College Basketball: Missouri at North Carolina State (ESPN2).

8 p.m. -- College Basketball: Santa Clara at Gonzaga (ESPNU).

10 p.m. -- College Basketball: Alabama at UCLA (ESPN2).

10:15 p.m. -- College Football: Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl from Tempe, Ariz. -- Michigan vs. Kansas State (ESPN).

Midnight -- NHL Hockey: Los Angeles at Nashville (FOX SPORTSOUTH).

with a 109-92 win over the Detroit Pistons on Friday night.

RAPTORS KNICKS

95 83

NEW YORK — Jonas Valanciunas had 16 points and a career-high 18 rebounds, DeMar DeRozan scored 25 points, and the Toronto Raptors rallied for a 95-83 victory over the New York Knicks.

TOP 25 (3) OHIO ST. LOUISIANA-MONROE

COLUMBUS, Ohio —

71 31

Lenzelle Smith Jr. scored 17 points and LaQuinton Ross added 15 to lead No. 3 Ohio State past Louisiana at Monroe 71-31 on Friday night.

(19) NORTH CAROLINA N. KENTUCKY

75 60

CHAPEL HILL — James Michael McAdoo scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half to help No. 19 North Carolina beat Northern Kentucky 75-60 on Friday night.

From wire reports

Today EAST FIU at Georgetown, Noon E. Washington vs. UConn at Webster Bank Arena, Bridgeport, Conn., 1 p.m.

Southern Miss. at Rhode Island, 2 p.m.

Villanova at Syracuse, 2 p.m.

Columbia vs. St. John’s at the Barclays Center, 2:30 p.m.

Kansas St. vs. Tulane at the Barclays Center, 5 p.m.

Providence at UMass, 6 p.m.

VCU vs. Boston College at the Barclays Center, 7:30 p.m.

SOUTH Jackson St. at Memphis, Noon UNC Greensboro at Virginia Tech, Noon E. Michigan at Duke, 2 p.m.

Louisville at Kentucky, 4 p.m.

Akron at South Carolina, 4 p.m.

UNC Wilmington at UNC Asheville, 4:30 p.m.

St. Andrews at Charleston Southern, 5:30 p.m.

Southeastern (Fla.) at Liberty, 5:30 p.m.

Georgia Southern at NC A&T, 6 p.m.

Old Dominion at Richmond, 6:30 p.m.

McNeese St. at LSU, 8 p.m.

Missouri at N.C. State, 8 p.m.

MIDWEST Nebraska at Cincinnati, Noon NJIT at Butler, 1 p.m.

Belmont at Indiana St., 1:05 p.m.

Ill.-Chicago vs. Illinois at the United Center, 2 p.m.

Samford at Marquette, 2 p.m.

Coppin St. at Toledo, 2 p.m.

Prairie View at Wisconsin, 2 p.m.

Tennessee St. at E. Illinois, 3 p.m.

New Orleans at Michigan St., 4:15 p.m.

Wake Forest at Xavier, 5 p.m.

Holy Cross at Michigan, 6:30 p.m.

Cleveland St. at Kent St., 7 p.m.

South Florida at Bradley, 8 p.m.

Texas A&M-CC at Minnesota, 8:30 p.m.

SOUTHWEST LIU Brooklyn at Sam Houston St., 5 p.m.

Alcorn St. vs. Denver at the Don Haskins Center, El Paso, Texas, 7 p.m.

High Point at Arkansas, 8 p.m.

W. Illinois at UTEP, 9 p.m.

FAR WEST UC Irvine at Arizona St., 2 p.m.

Lamar at Colorado St., 4 p.m.

BYU at Loyola Marymount, 4 p.m.

Furman at California, 6 p.m.

UC Merced at Fresno St., 7 p.m.

Santa Clara at Gonzaga, 8 p.m.

San Diego at Pepperdine, 8 p.m.

MVSU at Washington St., 8 p.m.

South Alabama at New Mexico St., 9 p.m.

N. New Mexico at Weber St., 9 p.m.

San Diego Christian at Utah St., 9:05 p.m.

Tennessee Tech at Utah Valley, 9:05 p.m.

Georgia at Colorado, 10 p.m.

Montana at Idaho, 10 p.m.

San Francisco at Portland, 10 p.m.

Alabama at UCLA, 10 p.m.

Cal St.-Fullerton at UNLV, 10 p.m.

Long Beach St. at Nevada, 10:05 p.m.

NBA STANDINGS

By The Associated Press EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pct Toronto 11 15 .423 Boston 12 17 .414 Brooklyn 9 19 .321 New York 9 19 .321 Philadelphia 8 20 .286 Southeast Division W L Pct Miami 22 6 .786 Atlanta 16 13 .552 Charlotte 14 15 .483 Washington 12 13 .480 Orlando 8 20 .286 Central Division W L Pct Indiana 23 5 .821 Detroit 14 16 .467 Chicago 11 16 .407 Cleveland 10 18 .357 Milwaukee 6 22 .214 WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division W L Pct San Antonio 23 7 .767 Houston 20 11 .645 Dallas 16 13 .552 New Orleans 12 14 .462 Memphis 12 16 .429 Northwest Division W L Pct Portland 24 5 .828 Oklahoma City 23 5 .821 Denver 14 13 .519 Minnesota 13 15 .464 Utah 8 23 .258 Pacific Division W L Pct L.A. Clippers 20 11 .645 Phoenix 17 10 .630 Golden State 17 13 .567 L.A. Lakers 13 16 .448 Sacramento 8 19 .296 Thursday’s Games Atlanta 127, Cleveland 125,2OT

B3

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COLLEGE BASKETBALL

BASKETBALL ROUNDUP

CHARLOTTE — Kevin Durant had 34 points and 12 rebounds, and the Oklahoma City Thunder held on to defeat the Charlotte Bobcats 89-85 Friday night without injured guard Russell Westbrook.

THE ITEM

GB – 1/2 3 3 4 GB – 61/2 81/2 81/2 14 GB – 10 111/2 13 17 GB – 31/2 61/2 9 10 GB – 1/2 9 101/2 17 GB – 1 21/2 6 10

Houston 100, Memphis 92 San Antonio 116, Dallas 107 Portland 116, L.A. Clippers 112, OT Friday’s Games Detroit at Orlando, 7 p.m.

Oklahoma City at Charlotte, 7 p.m.

Toronto at New York, 7:30 p.m.

Milwaukee at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.

Washington at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

Denver at New Orleans, 8 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at Utah, 9 p.m.

Miami at Sacramento, 10 p.m.

Phoenix at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.

Today’s Games Cleveland at Boston, 1 p.m.

Brooklyn at Indiana, 7 p.m.

Detroit at Washington, 7 p.m.

New York at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Charlotte at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.

Dallas at Chicago, 8 p.m.

New Orleans at Houston, 8 p.m.

Denver at Memphis, 8 p.m.

Minnesota at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.

Philadelphia at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

Miami at Portland, 10 p.m.

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

Sunday’s Games Atlanta at Orlando, 6 p.m.

Golden State at Cleveland, 6 p.m.

Houston at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.

Sacramento at San Antonio, 7 p.m.

Philadelphia at L.A. Lakers, 9:30 p.m.

NFL STANDINGS

By The Associated Press AMERICAN CONFERENCE East W L T Pct y-New England 11 4 0 .733 Miami 8 7 0 .533 N.Y. Jets 7 8 0 .467 Buffalo 6 9 0 .400 South W L T Pct y-Indianapolis 10 5 0 .667 Tennessee 6 9 0 .400 Jacksonville 4 11 0 .267 Houston 2 13 0 .133 North W L T Pct y-Cincinnati 10 5 0 .667 Baltimore 8 7 0 .533 Pittsburgh 7 8 0 .467 Cleveland 4 11 0 .267 West W L T Pct y-Denver 12 3 0 .800 x-Kansas City 11 4 0 .733 San Diego 8 7 0 .533 Oakland 4 11 0 .267 NATIONAL CONFERENCE East W L T Pct Philadelphia 9 6 0 .600 Dallas 8 7 0 .533 N.Y. Giants 6 9 0 .400 Washington 3 12 0 .200 South W L T Pct x-Carolina 11 4 0 .733 New Orleans 10 5 0 .667 Atlanta 4 11 0 .267 Tampa Bay 4 11 0 .267 North W L T Pct Chicago 8 7 0 .533 Green Bay 7 7 1 .500 Detroit 7 8 0 .467 Minnesota 4 10 1 .300 West W L T Pct x-Seattle 12 3 0 .800 x-San Francisco 11 4 0 .733 Arizona 10 5 0 .667 St. Louis 7 8 0 .467 x-clinched playoff spot y-clinched division Sunday’s Games Houston at Tennessee, 1 p.m.

Detroit at Minnesota, 1 p.m.

Carolina at Atlanta, 1 p.m.

Cleveland at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.

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

Baltimore at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Jacksonville at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

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

Denver at Oakland, 4:25 p.m.

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

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

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

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

Tampa Bay at New Orleans, 4:25 p.m.

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

Philadelphia at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

PF 410 310 270 319

PA 318 315 380 354

PF 361 346 237 266

PA 326 371 419 412

PF 396 303 359 301

PA 288 318 363 386

PF 572 406 369 308

PA 385 278 324 419

PF 418 417 274 328

PA 360 408 377 458

PF 345 372 333 271

PA 221 287 422 347

PF 417 384 382 377

PA 445 400 362 467

PF 390 383 359 339

PA 222 252 301 337

NHL STANDINGS

By The Associated Press EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Boston 37 25 10 2 52 106 77 Tampa Bay 37 23 11 3 49 106 87 Montreal 38 22 13 3 47 96 84 Detroit 39 17 13 9 43 99 108 Toronto 39 18 16 5 41 106 113 Ottawa 39 15 17 7 37 111 126 Florida 38 14 19 5 33 88 123 Buffalo 37 10 24 3 23 66 105 Metropolitan Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Pittsburgh 39 27 11 1 55 121 88 Washington 37 19 14 4 42 117 112 Philadelphia 37 17 16 4 38 93 104 N.Y. Rangers 38 18 18 2 38 88 102 New Jersey 38 15 16 7 37 92 99 Columbus 37 16 17 4 36 101 106 Carolina 37 14 15 8 36 86 105 N.Y. Islanders 38 11 20 7 29 96 129 WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Chicago 39 26 7 6 58 145 107 St. Louis 36 24 7 5 53 128 85 Colorado 36 23 10 3 49 106 88 Minnesota 39 20 14 5 45 88 96 Dallas 36 18 12 6 42 106 107 Winnipeg 39 16 18 5 37 103 116 Nashville 37 16 17 4 36 85 109 Pacific Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Anaheim 39 27 7 5 59 127 98 Los Angeles 38 25 9 4 54 106 76 San Jose 37 23 8 6 52 121 94 Vancouver 39 22 11 6 50 106 93 Phoenix 36 19 10 7 45 111 110 Calgary 37 14 17 6 34 95 118 Edmonton 39 12 24 3 27 101 135 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss.

Thursday’s Games No games scheduled Friday’s Games Ottawa at Boston, 7 p.m.

Buffalo at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Columbus at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

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

Pittsburgh at Carolina, 7 p.m.

Colorado at Chicago, 8 p.m.

Minnesota at Winnipeg, 8 p.m.

Nashville at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Edmonton at Calgary, 9 p.m.

San Jose at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

Today’s Games Boston at Ottawa, 7 p.m.

Montreal at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.

Detroit at Florida, 7 p.m.

New Jersey at N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.

Chicago at St. Louis, 8 p.m.

Los Angeles at Nashville, 8 p.m.

Phoenix at Anaheim, 8 p.m.

Philadelphia at Edmonton, 10 p.m.

Sunday’s Games Washington at Buffalo, 5 p.m.

Montreal at Florida, 5 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Columbus, 6 p.m.

St. Louis at Dallas, 6 p.m.

Carolina at Toronto, 7 p.m.

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

Vancouver at Calgary, 7:30 p.m.

N.Y. Islanders at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

Winnipeg at Colorado, 8 p.m.

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

B4

SPORTS

THE ITEM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2013

Chiefs, 49ers get 8 apiece for Pro Bowl

BOMBING from Page B1

BY OSKAR GARCIA The Associated Press

points and so on.

The marathon attack received 761 points and 67 first-place votes. It was also second in AP’s national/international story of the year poll.

The No. 2 sports story, Lance Armstrong’s admission of doping, had five first-place votes and 517 points.

The top five stories were grim: terrorism, performance-enhancing drug use, legal settlements, murder charges. The first on-field action came in at No. 6 — the Boston Red Sox’s worstto-first World Series title, though even that was tinged by the city’s heartache less than seven months earlier.

Here are 2013’s top 10 stories:

PRO BOWL PICKS

HONOLULU — Kansas City and San Francisco will have plenty of clout in Honolulu if they don’t make it to New Jersey for the Super Bowl.

The NFL revealed Friday that the Chiefs and 49ers each had eight players voted into the Pro Bowl, including running backs Jamaal Charles of Kansas City and Frank Gore of San Francisco.

Denver quarterback Peyton Manning was selected to his 13th Pro Bowl after receiving the most votes among fans, 1.43 million. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees was second among fans with 1.2 million votes.

The NFL combines votes from fans, players and coaches to determine 86 of 88 Pro Bowl players; the other two players are long-snappers selected by Pro Bowl coaches.

Voting ended Thursday.

Under a new format this year, NFL greats Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders will divvy up the players in a twoday draft before the Jan. 26 game. Offensive and defensive players with the most votes who don’t make it past the divisional playoff round will serve as active player captains.

Charles said Friday night on a reveal show on the NFL Network that he should be picked first.

“I think I got the best skillset of anybody on the roster,” Charles said. “I think I can play wide receiver and then put the ball in my hand, also. The only thing I can’t do is throw the ball.”

The schoolyard-style selections mean it’s likely teammates will be forced to play on opposite sides.

San Francisco linebacker NaVorro Bowman said he thinks it would be weird to have to tackle Gore or Pro Bowl tight end Vernon Davis.

“I might not tackle him,” Bowman said. “Just let him score and get his yards or whatever. Yeah, that’d be weird because that hasn’t happened since training camp.”

Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman received 552,600 votes by fans, the most for any defensive player. Houston defensive end J.J. Watt had just under 410,000 fan votes.

By The Associated Press Sunday, Jan. 26 At Aloha Stadium Honolulu OFFENSE Quarterbacks — Tom Brady, Patriots; Drew Brees, Saints; Peyton Manning, Broncos; Cam Newton, Panthers; Philip Rivers, Chargers; Russell Wilson, Seahawks.

Wide Receivers — Antonio Brown, Steelers; Dez Bryant, Cowboys; Josh Gordon, Browns; A.J. Green, Bengals; Andre Johnson, Texans; Calvin Johnson, Lions; Brandon Marshall, Bears; Demaryius Thomas, Broncos.

Tackles — Branden Albert, Chiefs; Jason Peters, Eagles; Tyron Smith, Cowboys; Joe Staley, 49ers; Joe Thomas, Bronws; Trent Williams, Redskins.

Guards — Jahri Evans, Saints; Ben Grubbs, Saints; Mike Iupati, 49ers; Logan Mankins, Patriots; Louis Vasquez, Broncos; Marshal Yanda, Ravens.

Centers — Ryan Kalil, Panthers; Alex Mack, Browns; Mike Pouncey, Dolphins; Max Unger, Seahawks.

Tight Ends — Jordan Cameron, Browns; Vernon Davis, 49ers; Jimmy Graham, Saints; Julius Thomas, Broncos.

Running Backs — Jamaal Charles, Chiefs; Matt Forte, Bears; Frank Gore, 49ers; Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks; LeSean McCoy, Eagles; Adrian Peterson, Vikings.

Fullbacks — Marcel Reece, Raiders; Mike Tolbert, Panthers.

DEFENSE Defensive Ends — Greg Hardy, Panthers; Cameron Jordan, Saints; Robert Quinn, Rams; Cameron Wake, Dolphins; J.J. Watt, Texans; Mario Williams, Bills.

Interior Linemen — Gerald McCoy, Bucs; Haloti Ngata, Ravens; Dontari Poe, Chiefs; Justin Smith, 49ers; Ndamukong Suh, Lions; Kyle Williams, Bills.

Outside Linebackers — John Abraham, Cardinals; Ahmad Brooks, 49ers; Tamba Hali, Chiefs; Justin Houston, Chiefs; Robert Mathis, Colts; Terrell Suggs, Ravens.

Inside/Middle Linebackers — NaVorro Bowman, 49ers; Vontaze Burfict, Bengals; Luke Kuechly, Panthers; Patrick Willis, 49ers.

Cornerbacks — Brandon Flowers, Chiefs; Brent Grimes, Dolphins; Joe Haden, Browns; Patrick Peterson, Cardinals; Darrelle Revis, Bucs; Richard Sherman, Seahawks; Aqib Talib, Patriots; Alterraun Verner, Titans.

Free Safeties — Jairus Byrd, Bills; Earl Thomas, Seahawks; Eric Weddle, Chargers.

Strong Safeties — Eric Berry, Chiefs; Kam Chancellor, Seahawks; Troy Polamalu, Steelers.

SPECIAL TEAMS Punters — Brandon Fields, Dolphins; Johnny Hekker, Rams.

Placekickers — Matt Prater, Broncos; Justin Tucker, Ravens.

Punt Returners — Antonio Brown, Steelers; Dexter McCluster, Chiefs.

Special Teamers — Justin Bethel, Cardinals; Matthew Slater, Patriots.

1. BOSTON MARATHON BOMBINGS

The throngs of spectators lining the streets at a storied big-city marathon were once a wholesome scene of civic pride and friendly support. April’s attack came as a haunting reminder that the crowds at a high-profile event are also a vulnerable target. Bag searches and metal detectors were a common sight at games the rest of the year. As victims persevere on prosthetic limbs, the 118th edition of the world’s oldest marathon is set for the spring, with security undoubtedly heightened but runners determined to take part.

2. LANCE ARMSTRONG

San Francisco is set to send eight players to the game for the second year in a row, though its players missed the game earlier this year because they made the Super Bowl, losing to Baltimore.

Kansas City’s eight selections are up from six last year. The Chiefs are 11-4 this year — up from 2-14 last year — and the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoffs heading into a largely meaningless game for them against San Diego on Sunday.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Friday he has never been big on Pro Bowl selections.

“I’m happy for the guys when and if they make it. I’m proud of them for it,” Reid said.

“But we don’t get caught up in all of the individual accolades. (We’re) just getting ourselves ready to play.”

The disgraced cyclist was also the No. 2 sports story last year. In 2012, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency stripped him of his record seven Tour de France titles, releasing mounds of evidence that he used PEDs to win them. In January, after years of defiant denials, Armstrong finally admitted it, telling Oprah Winfrey: “It’s this myth, this perfect story, and it wasn’t true.’’

3. NFL CONCUSSION SETTLEMENT

The NFL’s settlement of lawsuits brought by thousands of former players will cost the league $765 million but won’t end the turmoil over head injuries in football — or the litigation. The retirees, who had accused the NFL of concealing the long-term dangers of concussions, will be eligible for compensation for certain neurological ailments. The league did not admit to any wrongdoing after mediation resulted in a settlement in August.

4. BASEBALL DRUG BAN

SPORTS ITEMS

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Cowboys’ Romo has surgery, out for Eagles finale IRVING, Texas — Tony Romo’s season is over, and the Dallas Cowboys will have to win without their star quarterback in a third straight playoffs-or-bust finale.

Coach Jason Garrett said Romo had back surgery Friday, and Kyle Orton will start when Dallas faces Philadelphia on Sunday night with the NFC East title ROMO and a postseason berth on the line.

Garrett said Romo underwent treatment all week in hopes of playing after injuring his back in a season-saving 24-23 victory against Washington. The winning touchdown came after the injury on Romo’s fourth-down pass to DeMarco Murray in the final 2 minutes.

season, and the Cubs have a $5.5 million option for 2015 with a $150,000 buyout.

Veras was 0-5 with a 3.02 ERA in 67 games last season for the Houston Astros and Detroit Tigers.

VERAS AGREES TO 1-YEAR DEAL WITH CUBS

USC’S CLOWNEY TELLS OFFICER HE IS LATE

CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs say they have agreed to a one-year contract with reliever Jose Veras that includes a club option for 2015.

Veras is due $3.85 million next

COLUMBIA — Video from a traffic stop shows South Carolina star defensive end Jadeveon Clowney telling an officer he had just three minutes to make it to the stadium when he was

OKC’S WESTBROOK HAS 3RD KNEE SURGERY

CHARLOTTE — Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook has undergone arthroscopic knee surgery and won’t return until after the AllStar break.

General manager Sam Presti says in a statement Friday that Westbrook has been playing pain free, but “recently had experienced increased swelling’’ in his right knee.

Presti says the team consulted with a surgeon in Los Angeles and an MRI determined there was “an area of concern that had not previously existed.’’

KUECHLY from Page B1 And guys see that. I really think that’s the thing about this kid — he’s so humble he really has no idea how good he is.’’

Others certainly do.

Jets coach Rex Ryan recently called Kuechly a “tackling machine’’ and said “if he’s not the best middle linebacker in the league then I’m not sure who is.’’

Falcons coach Mike Smith agreed with Ryan, adding Kuechly is “having a Pro Bowl season with the numbers to back it up.’’

McDermott took it a step further, calling Kuechly the best defensive player in the NFL. “His preparation, his instincts, the willingness to get to the football,’’ McDermott said, shaking his head as if in awe, “He plays with such determination and hunger.’’

Kuechly has more tackles than any player in the NFL since coming in as the ninth overall pick in last year’s draft.

He’s third in the league this season, buoyed by an NFL record-tying 24-tackle performance Sunday against New Orleans. Kuechly also intercepted Drew Brees, earning NFC defensive player weekly honors for the second time this season.

“I’ve never been around an effort like that,’’ McDermott said. “Sometimes you get a guy that’s playing really great in the run game and he’s a little bit more one-dimensional. But just an outstanding

stopped for doing almost 30 mph over the speed limit.

The dash camera video was released Friday by Columbia police, a day after Clowney was stopped on Interstate 26 about six miles from Williams-Brice Stadium. The Gamecocks were gathering there to travel to Florida for the Capital One Bowl against Wisconsin on Wednesday.

The officer tells Clowney he was clocked doing 84 mph in a 55 mph zone. Clowney tells him he was trying to get to the stadium before the team left.

ANGELS SIGN VETERAN OF RAUL IBANEZ

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Veteran outfielder Raul Ibanez has agreed to a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels.

The 41-year-old Ibanez batted .242 with 29 homers and 65 RBI for the Seattle Mariners last year.

He hit his final homer of the season at Angel Stadium on Sept.

21, tying Ted Williams’ record for the most homers by a 40-andover player.

From wire reports

overall effort.’’

Of course, you’d never know it by talking to Kuechly. When told of the latest honor, Kuechly smiled sheepishly and said, “Oh, cool.’’

He went on to do what he does on a regular basis, crediting his coordinator and defensive line for putting him in position to make plays.

“There’s a bunch of other good players out there on the defensive side of the ball you’ve watched the whole year, guys that have made plays every week,’’ Kuechly said.

Kuechly said what mattered the most to him was getting the win. Carolina is now in position to wrap up the NFC South and the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs with a victory Sunday at Atlanta.

“You can see he’s the quarterback of that defense,’’ Smith said. “He can play the run extremely well and is able to match up with tight ends and running backs. ... He’s a guy that you have to scheme to get somebody on — and even then he ends up getting free and making the tackle.’’

Kuechly isn’t just the beneficiary of a defense that has allowed the fewest points in the league. He’s excelled at this tackling thing for quite some time.

He became the first player in NCAA history to lead the nation in tackles twice at Boston College.

He led the ACC in tackles three straight seasons and was awarded the Bronko Nagurski Award as the nation’s top college defensive player as a junior before turning pro.

He led the league in tackles in 2012, earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Alex Rodriguez’s 211-game suspension was the longest of the 13 announced in August for players connected to a Florida anti-aging clinic accused of distributing banned PEDs. The Yankees’ slugger was the only one to contest the penalty, and the year ends with an arbitrator yet to rule. In July, Ryan Braun, the 2011 NL MVP who had previously denied using banned substances, accepted a 65-game suspension.

5. HERNANDEZ ARREST

On Jan. 20, New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez had nine catches for 83 yards in an AFC championship game loss to Baltimore. Just more than five months later, he was charged with murder. Prosecutors accuse him of shooting a friend to death on a secluded gravel road for talking to the wrong people at a nightclub. Hernandez awaits trial amid revelations of a history of violence by the player.

6. RED SOX WIN

Boston’s 2011 season ended with a collapse and tales of fried chicken and beer in the clubhouse; 2012 ended with a last-place finish and 93 losses. New manager John Farrell and his bearded sluggers embraced “Boston Strong’’ and tied for the best record in the majors in a turnaround few predicted. With timely hits up and down the lineup throughout the playoffs, the Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals in six games for their third World Series title in a decade.

7. RAVENS SUPER

The power came back on, and Baltimore held on. Ravens coach John Harbaugh beat younger brother Jim’s San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in the Super Bowl in an unprecedented sibling showdown. But the game will be remembered most for the 34-minute outage at the Superdome in New Orleans. Baltimore star linebacker Ray Lewis rode into retirement with a ring.

8. AWESOME AUBURN

The Tigers’ turnaround from a 3-9 record to the national title game was stunning enough.

Even more shocking was how they did it. A deflected 73-yard touchdown pass with 25 seconds left gave Auburn a 43-38 win over Georgia on Nov. 16. The play that ended their next game will go down as one of the most memorable in college football history: Chris Davis’ return of a missed field goal attempt more than 100 yards to beat No. 1 Alabama 34-28.

9. TE’O HOAX

Heisman Trophy runner-up Manti Te’o struggled in Notre Dame’s lopsided loss to Alabama in the national title game Jan. 7. Nine days later, his name became forever linked to a most bizarre sports story. That tragic tale about his girlfriend’s death told over and over as the linebacker starred for an undefeated team? She didn’t exist. Te’o insisted he was duped into believing the woman he never met in person was real.

10. HEAT TITLE

One more free throw or one more defensive rebound, and the San Antonio Spurs prevent Miami from repeating as champion. Instead, Ray Allen made one of the biggest shots in NBA Finals history, knocking down a second-chance 3-pointer with 5 seconds left to send Game 6 to overtime. The Heat won in the extra period and again in Game 7 to give LeBron James another title.

TELEVISION

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2013

AROUND TOWN

TW FT

|

7 PM

7:30

8 PM

Entertainment Tonight (N) (HD)

The Sumter Elks Lodge 855 32nd Annual Turkey Shoot will be held each Sunday through Dec. 29 from 1 p.m. until sundown at 1100 W. Liberty St.

Inside Edition (N) Andy Griffith (HD) Show: Those Gossipin’ Men Jeopardy! (HD) Wheel of Fortune: America’s Game (HD) Sherlock Holmes: The Eligible Bachelor Groom’s bride disappears on wedding day.

Modern Family: Modern Family: Hit and Run (HD) Go Bullfrogs! (HD)

Clarendon Branch NAACP will hold its Jubilee Day celebration 11 a.m.noon Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014, at the Historical St. Mark AME Church, Summerton.

Community: Ba- Community: Beginner Pottery sic Genealogy (HD) (HD)

Transatlantic Brides and Parents Association (British Wives) will meet at noon Friday, Jan. 3, 2014, at Captain D’s, Pinewood Road and West Liberty Street.

All British expats are invited. Call Josie at (803) 775-8052.

The Campbell Soup friends will meet at 11:30 a.m.

Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, at Golden Corral.

The Sumter Benedict Alumni Club will hold an important round-up meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6, 2014, at the North HOPE Center. Call Shirley Blassingame at (803) 506-4019.

Jordan Crossroads Ministry Center — Haven of Rest will hold its public monthly meeting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, at New Covenant Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall. Parking is available in the parking area nearest the entrance to the fellowship hall. Call (803) 309-8085.

Diabetes Support Group will meet 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, Carolina Diabetes and Kidney Center, 635 W. Wesmark Blvd., in the downstairs education room. Dr. Tepsiri Chongkrairatanakul will speak.

The Sumter Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, in the Bultman Conference Room of the University of South Carolina Sumter. All administrative professionals are invited to attend.

The Sumter Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind will hold its 2014 membership meeting at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 14, at Shiloh-Randolph Manor, 125 W. Bartlette St. Associate member Judy L. Simon will accept annual membership dues. Martha Gaither, of Blind Awareness, will speak. The spotlight will shine on George Gibbons and the associate member is Rosa Gibbons.

Transportation provided within the mileage radius. Contact Debra Canty at (803) 775-5792 or DebraCanC2@frontier.com. Call the 24hour recorded message line at (206) 3765992.

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(HD) Mike & Molly Mom Putting dif- 48 Hours Award-winning broadcast 48 Hours Award-winning broadcast News 19 @ 11pm (:35) CSI: Miami: One of Our Own Harry’s date. (HD) ferences aside for journalists present in-depth investi- journalists present in-depth investi- The news of the Horatio & Delko make personal venfamily. (HD) gative reports. gative reports. day. detta. (HD) Just Go With It (‘11, Comedy) aac Adam Sandler. When a bachelor wears a wedding ring to Trophy Wife: The ABC Columbia White Collar: Front Man Neal helps News at 11 (HD) find a missing girl. (HD) lure women, he meets the woman of his dreams, and to avoid shame, he has his assistant por- Breakup (HD) tray his divorcing wife. (HD) Nature: ChristFather Brown: The Blue Cross Thief Last Wine: Bandit Doc Martin: Cats and Sharks Al tries Sun Studio: Am- Austin City Limits: Rodrigo y ber Rubarth and Gabriela Mix of flamenco, jazz & rock mas in Yellowto pay off father’s debt. threatens to steal prized relic. (HD) From stone (HD) performed. (HD) Dave Egger Stroke-on-Trent Almost Human: Are You Receiving? Bones: The Secrets in the Proposal WACH FOX News The Middle: The (:15) High School (:45) High School The Closer Stunt A group of hostages are held captive. Booth and Brennan rethink relation- at 10 Nightly Smile Axl’s schol- USA!: The Early USA!: Gun Control goes wrong. (HD) news report.

(HD) ship. (HD) (HD) ‘90s (HD) arship. (HD) The Arsenio Hall Show Late night Futurama: Where The First Family The First Family Mr. Box Office Mr. Box Office Access Hollywood (N) (HD) President’s family. President’s family. Star must teach. Star must teach. variety/talk show. (HD) the Buggalo Roam (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD)

CABLE CHANNELS The First 48: Wild Ride Homicide The First 48: Last Stop: Paradise; The First 48: When A Stranger Calls; The First 48: Deadly Morning Time (:01) The First 48: New Year’s Terror; (:01) The First 48 team works fatal stabbing. (HD) Bad Blood (HD) Sweet 16 (HD) alone; pergola. (HD) Deadly Friends (HD) (HD) Breaking Bad: (:28) Breaking Bad: Green Light Walt (:32) Breaking Bad: Más Gus makes (:36) Breaking Bad: Sunset Playing (:40) Breaking Bad: One Minute A (:44) Breaking Bad: I See You I.F.T. (HD) acts crazy. (HD) Walt an enticing offer. (HD) dirty. (HD) new target. (HD) Schemes & pressure. (HD) Pit Bulls and Parolees (HD) Pit Bulls and Parolees (HD) Pit Bulls and Parolees (N) (HD) Pit Bulls and Parolees (HD) Pit Bulls and Parolees (HD) Pit Bulls (HD) Eve’s Bayou (‘97, Drama) aaac Jurnee Smollett. The youngest daughter of a wealthy Louisiana family atThe Secret Life of Bees (‘08, Drama) aaa Dakota Fanning. A girl runs away from her troutempts to cope with her father’s inability to remain faithful to his wife, but she turns to revenge. blesome father and moves into beekeepers’ ranch.

(5:30) xXx (‘02, Action) aa Vin Die- The Fast and the Furious (‘01, Thriller) aac Paul Walker. An FBI agent becomes involved The Fast and the Furious (‘01, Thriller) aac Paul Walker. Street gangs sel. Outlaw secret agent. with street gangs and their high-speed road races. race fast cars.

20 Under 20: Part 1 20 Under 20: Part 2 The Suze Orman Show (N) The Profit: Mr. Green Tea The Profit: LA Dogworks Suze Orman CNN Presents (HD) CNN Presents (HD) Anthony Bourdain Parts Anthony Bourdain Parts CNN Presents (HD) Anthony The Dukes of Hazzard (‘05, Com- The Longest Yard (‘05, Comedy) aac Adam Sandler. Imprisoned pro football player forms Liar Liar (‘97, Comedy) aac Jim Carrey. A boy’s birthday wish prevents edy) aa Johnny Knoxville. (HD) team of convicts to play guards in game. (HD) an unscrupulous lawyer from telling lies.

Austin & Ally Austin & Ally High School Musical (‘06, Musical) ac Zac Efron. A Mickey Mouse: Lab Rats Prank Mighty Med Jessie Seven-foot Jessie Paintball ri- Jessie Another (HD) (HD) jock and a brainiac become friends. (HD) Potatoland war. (HD) lizard. (HD) val. (HD) nanny. (HD) Homicide Hunter (HD) Homicide Hunter (HD) Homicide Hunter (HD) Homicide Hunter (HD) Homicide Hunter (HD) Joe Kenda College Football: 2013 Russell Athletic Bowl: Miami Hurricanes vs Louisville Cardinals z{| (HD) (:15) College Football: Michigan Wolverines vs Kansas State Wildcats z{| (HD) (6:00) SportsCenter (HD) College Basketball: Missouri vs North Carolina State z{| (HD) College Basketball: Alabama Crimson Tide at UCLA Bruins (HD) SportsCenter A Cinderella Story (‘04, Comedy) Cinderella (‘50, Fantasy) aaa Ilene Woods. Humble (:45) The Little Mermaid (‘89, Fantasy) aaa Kenneth Mars. A huAlong Came Polly (‘04, Comedy) Hilary Duff. Internet beau. (HD) woman encounters a prince. (HD) man-obsessed mermaid falls in love with an above-surface Prince. (HD) aa Ben Stiller. (HD) Diners (HD) Diners (HD) Cupcake Wars (N) (HD) Chopped: Teen Talent (HD) Chopped: Tapas Time (HD) On the Rocks (N) Chopped (HD) FOX Report Saturday (HD) Huckabee (N) (HD) Justice with Judge Jeanine (N) Geraldo at Large (HD) Red Eye (HD) Huckabee Driven (HD) Predators Wom. College Basketball: Savannah State vs South Carolina World Poker Tour no} (HD) World Poker Tour no} (HD) NHL Hockey (6:00) The Christmas Card (‘06, Holi- A Princess for Christmas (‘11, Holiday) aac Katie McGrath. A woman Christmas with Holly (‘12, Holiday) aaa Catherine Bérubé. Small town All I Want (‘07) day) aaa John Newton. (HD) falls for a charming prince. shop owners meet. (HD) aac (HD) Property Brothers (HD) Property Brothers (HD) Property Brothers (HD) Hunters (HD) Hunters (HD) Hunters (HD) Hunters (HD) Prop Bro (HD) Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Monk: Mr. Monk Is the Best Man Monk: Mr. Monk and the Badge Monk: Mr. Monk and the End, Part 1 Monk: Mr. Monk and the End, Part 2 Monk: Mr. Monk and the Candidate, Monk Monk Wedding dangers.

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Visiting the past.

The wife killer.

Part 1 Plot to kill mayor. freezes.

(6:00) Hidden Away (‘13, Thriller) The Wrong Woman (‘13, Thriller) Danica McKellar. Woman can’t remember The Husband She Met Online (‘13, Thriller) Jason Gray-Stanford. Woman The Wrong aaaa Emmanuelle Vaugier. (HD) committing crime. (HD) searches for new boyfriend online. (HD) Woman (‘13) (HD) Sam & Cat Sam & Cat Sam & Cat Hathaways Thunderman Awesome Full Hse Full Hse Friends Friends Friends Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Jail (HD) Jail (HD) Jail (HD) (6:00) The Matrix (‘99, Science Fiction) Keanu Reeves. A hacker joins a Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (‘03, Science Fiction) aac Arnold Schwarzenegger. A The Devil’s Advocate (‘97, Thriller) shadowy collective’s struggle to free humankind from slavery. cyborg from the future is sent to back to save the human race. (HD) aaa Keanu Reeves. (HD) Loves Raymond Loves Raymond The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang Ground: Woman I Love You, Man (‘09, Comedy) (HD) (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) on Top aaa Paul Rudd. (HD) Jason and the Argonauts (‘63, Ad- Gaslight (‘44, Thriller) aaac Charles Boyer. An innocent newlywed be- Suspicion (‘41, Thriller) aaac Cary Grant. A shy heiress begins to fear Leave Her to that her dashing husband is planning to kill her.

Heaven (‘45) venture) aaac Todd Armstrong. gins to doubt her sanity when she starts seeing things.

Untold Stories of the E.R. (HD) Untold Stories of the E.R. (HD) Untold Stories of the E.R. (HD) Sex Sent Me to the ER (N) (HD) Untold Stories of the E.R. (HD) Untold ER (5:00) The Da Vinci Code (‘06, Ad- Ocean’s Eleven (‘01, Crime) aaa George Clooney. An ex-con robs three Las Vegas casinos The Da Vinci Code (‘06, Adventure) aac Tom Hanks. A plot to find descendants of the union of Jesus and Mary Magdalene unfolds. (HD) venture) aac Tom Hanks. (HD) to win over his ex-wife. (HD) Dumbest Unusual striptease.

Jokers Jokers Jokers Jokers Jokers Jokers (:01) Dumbest Festival surfer. (:02) Jokers Cosby The Exes (HD) Kirstie (HD) Loves Raymond: Sex Talk (HD) Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Queens (HD) Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Law & Order: Home Invasions (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) SVU: Fault (HD) Will Grace Will Grace Will Grace Will Grace Will Grace Will Grace Will Grace Will Grace Will Grace Will Grace Will Grace Bones Singer killed. (HD) Funniest Home Videos (HD) Funniest Home Videos (HD) Funniest Home Videos (HD) How I Met Rules (HD) Rules (HD)

Santana, Joel, MacLaine among Kennedy Center honorees

BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH Only on CBS can an event be in its 36th year and not be the longest-running show of the night. CBS has been broadcasting the annual “Kennedy Center Honors” (9 p.m. Sunday, TV-PG) since the award ceremony’s inception. But even this yearly rite is a good decade younger than “60 Minutes,” a TV institution since 1968.

This year’s Kennedy Center honorees include soprano Martina Arroyo, pianist Herbie Hancock, guitarist Carlos Santana, singer Billy Joel and actress Shirley MacLaine.

Arroyo is probably the least familiar of the honorees — or, at least, to me. An operatic soprano born in 1937, Arroyo starred in the Zurich Opera from 1963 to 1965, before a distinguished 13-year run at the Metropolitan Opera and a performing and recording career that took her to many of the great opera houses of the world.

Born in 1940, Herbie Hancock has been part of the music scene long enough to have played with Miles Davis in the 1960s, create the funky sounds of the “Head Hunters” album in the 1970s and be part of the MTV revolution of the early 1980s.

If Hancock was part of the jazz-rock fusion sound of the 1970s, no artist did a better job of building bridges between the hard rock scene and Latin music traditions than guitarist Carlos Santana.

And starting with “Piano Man” in 1973, Long Island, N.Y., native Billy Joel was a hit-making machine for the better part of two decades. In recent years, he has devoted a great deal of time composing music in a more classical vein.

It’s rather hard to believe that the pixie star of “The Apartment” turns 80 next year — and she’s still going strong. Few actresses have the staying power of Shirley MacLaine, who first starred in Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Trouble With Harry” in 1955 and appeared on the third season of “Downton Abbey” in 2012. She also turned in a great performance in the 2011 dram-

Jerry Livingston and Al Hoffedy “Bernie,” one of the best, if man animate the 1950 Disney largely unseen, movies of that year. Of course, she was a mem- cartoon feature “Cinderella” (8 p.m., ABC Family). ber of Frank Sinatra’s Rat Pack • Adam Sandler, Jennifer Anand happens to be Warren Beiston and Nicole Kidman star in atty’s older sister. the 2011 comedy “Just Go With • There are only a few days It” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-PG). Savleft to make the list of the sleaziaged by U.S. and U.K. critics est basic cable shows of 2013. alike, “Go” was a box-office hit And getting in just under the in Russia.

Sandler and director wire is the debut of “Sex Sent Dennis Dugan won Golden Me to the ER” (10 p.m. SaturRaspberry Awards in the Worst day, TLC, TV-14).

Actor and Worst Director cateOriginally developed for Disgories.

Actually, they won two. covery Fit and Health, it was They were also cited for their poached by the Honey Boo Boo work on the network. “ER” horrible film offers stories “Jack and Jill.” and tawdry • Profession“re-enactal wrestlers join ments” that entertainers, may hint at including human sexualDaughtry and ity, but are the Jeff Dunham, very opposite on “WWE of erotic or Tribute to the arousing. UnTroops” (8 less stupidity is p.m., NBC). your personal • A happily turn-on. married mom As witless (Danica McKcouples disellar) finds hercuss their furiself accused of ous grappling, CBS BROADCASTING INC. attempted we are shown evidence of Garth Brooks performs at the murder in the beds shaking “36th Annual Kennedy Center 2013 drama and walls Honors,” airing at 9 p.m. Sunday on “The Wrong Woman” (8 pounding, and CBS. p.m., Lifetime, even the TV-14). sounds of angry, • Julie Walters, Miranda Hart, sleepless neighbors asking the Len Goodman and Tinie Temoverzealous lovers to tone it pah appear on “The Graham down. In the spirit of reality TV Norton Show” (10 p.m., BBC exhibitionism, these folks seem America, TV-14). weirdly proud of the over-thetop antics that turn a moment of “intimacy” into a medical Sunday’s Highlights emergency.

• Investigators reveal the seAnyone eager to get his or crets of those who prey on tourher spouse in the mood should ists on two episodes of “Scamavoid this show like the plague. bushed” (7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., It’s enough to turn someone off Travel, TV-G). sex — not to mention television • Daniel Radcliffe stars in the — for life.

2001 adventure “Harry Potter • Giuliana Rancic and Terand the Sorcerer’s Stone” (8 rence Jenkins co-host the onep.m., ABC, TV-PG). hour special “Pop Goes the • The Dallas Cowboys host Year” (10 p.m. Sunday, E!), a the Philadelphia Eagles on glance at the trends, personali“Sunday Night Football” (8:20 ties, scandals and fashion statep.m., NBC). ments of 2013.

• With Mary pregnant, the Crawleys decamp for a HighSaturday’s Highlights lands hunting party on a repeat of “Downton Abbey” on “Mas• The songs of Mack David,

terpiece Classic” (9 p.m., PBS, TV-PG, check local listings).

• Colson mulls a transfer on the series finale of “Treme” (9 p.m., HBO, TV-MA).

• “On the Case With Paula Zahn” (10 p.m., ID, TV-14) recalls a shocking home invasion and murder.

• DiDi feels undervalued and taken advantage of on the season finale of “Getting On” (10:20 p.m., HBO, TV-MA).

Cult Choice A woman (Joan Fontaine) becomes convinced that her husband (Cary Grant) wants to kill her in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1941 thriller “Suspicion” (10 p.m. Saturday, TCM). Joan Fontaine died on Dec. 15.

Saturday Series Victoria picks a Valentine on “Mike & Molly” (8 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14) * In the family way on “Mom” (8:30 p.m., CBS, r, TV14) * Hostage takers foil John and Dorian on “Almost Human” (8 p.m., Fox, r, TV-14) * Mysteries, mostly murder, on two hours of “48 Hours” (9 p.m., CBS) * The FBI searches for a suspect in a subway attack on “The Blacklist” (9 p.m., NBC, r, TV-14) * A climate-controlled cadaver on “Bones” (9 p.m., Fox, r, TV-14) * “Saturday Night Live” (10 p.m., NBC, r, TV-14) * Kate comforts Meg on “Trophy Wife” (10:30 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG).

Sunday Series “60 Minutes” (7 p.m., CBS) * Bob Costas hosts “Football Night in America” (7 p.m., NBC, TV-14) * On two episodes of “The Simpsons” (Fox, r, TVPG): Homer revisits a childhood wish list (8 p.m.) and a funeral inspires reflection (8:30 p.m.) * A wrinkle in time-travel on “Family Guy” (9 p.m., Fox, r, TV-14) * “Lucas Bros. Moving Co.” and “Golan the Insatiable” are featured on “Animation Domination Hi Def” (9:30 p.m., Fox, TV-14).

Copyright 2013, United Feature Syndicate

B6

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COMICS

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DOG EAT DOUG

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THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2013

Teen won’t leave abusive home despite friend’s pleas

D

dear abby

EAR ABBY — If Lana tried to kill herLast week, my self because of what’s best friend, happening at home, she “Lana,” tried to kill hercan no longer remain self. I’m not sure anyone there. Talk to her again. else knows. Her brother Moving in with her boybeats her, and her mom friend is not the answer. yells at her for It could be jumping being “ungratefrom the frying pan ful” when she into the fire. If she asks to spend a lives with him night elseunder these cirwhere. My famcumstances, she ily has offered will be emotionally several times to and financially deAbigail let Lana live pendent, and it’s with us, as have VAN BUREN not a healthy way her grandparto start a relationents. After this ship. week, I have begged her Point out that if she to. She still refuses. lives with her grandparHer plan is to move in ents — who understand with her boyfriend when how dysfunctional her she turns 18 in a few home life has been — or months. He’s a good your family, she will be guy, but I don’t think it in a safe place while she will be good for her. I considers her options know they always say to about finding a job or tell an adult about a sitgetting more education. uation like this one, but Once she’s independent, Lana claims she’s not she will be in a stronger strong enough to actual- position to make wise ly leave before then -decisions about her fuand she kept a secret of ture. mine almost as big.

I’m scared and don’t Dear Abby is written by know what to do. I love Abigail Van Buren, also Lana and I know doing known as Jeanne Phillips, the wrong thing could and was founded by her end up with her dead. mother, Pauline Phillips.

TERRIFIED BFF IN Write Dear Abby at www.

TENNESSEE DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA DEAR TERRIFIED — 90069.

SUDOKU

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OR TO PLACE YOUR AD ONLINE GO TO WWW.THE ITEM.COM/PLACEMYAD LEGAL NOTICES Beer & Wine License Notice Of Application Notice is hereby given that The Links at Lakewood, LLC intends to apply to the South Carolina Department of Revenue for a license permit that will allow the sale ON premises consumption of Beer & Wine at 3600 Green View Parkway, Sumter, SC 29150. To object to the issuance of this permit / license, written protest must be postmarked no later than January 13, 2014. For a protest to be valid, it must be in writing, and should include the following information: (1) the name, address and telephone number of the person filing the protest; (2) the specific reasons why the application should be denied; (3) that the person protesting is willing to attend a hearing (if one is requested by the applicant); (4) that the person protesting resides in the same county where the proposed place of business is located or within five miles of the business; and (5) the name of the applicant and the address of the premises to be licensed. Protests must be mailed to: S.C. Department of Revenue, ATTN: ABL, P.O. Box 125, Columbia, South Carolina 29214; or Faxed to: (803) 898-5899.

Notice Of Application Notice is hereby given that The Gold Room, LLC intends to apply to the South Carolina Department of Revenue for a license/permit that will allow the sale and ON premises consumption of Beer, Wine & Liquor at 2199 Kingstree Hwy., Manning, SC 29102. To object to the issuance of this permit/license, written protest must be postmarked no later than December 30, 2013. For a protest to be valid, it must be in writing, and should include the following information: (1) the name, address and telephone number of the person filing the protest; (2) the specific reasons why the application should be denied; (3) that the person protesting is willing to attend a hearing (if one is requested by the applicant); (4) that the person protesting resides in the same

Beer & Wine License county where the proposed place of business is located or within five miles of the business; and (5) the name of the applicant and the address of the premises to be licensed. Protests must be mailed to: S.C. Department of Revenue, ATTN: ABL, P.O. Box 125, Columbia, South Carolina 29214; or Faxed to: (803) 896-0110

ANNOUNCEMENTS Announcements Dr. Richard Wall Announces his Relocation to North Charleston, SC. Richard Wall, MD announces his departure from Palmetto Family Practice on January 31, 2014.

Current patients who would like to continue to see Dr. Wall at his new location should call MUSC at 843-876-8555. Patients desiring to transfer their records should call Dr. Wall's office at 803-934-0810.

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Financing avail, 803-837-1549.

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

MERCHANDISE Garage, Yard & Estate Sales Sumter County Civic Center Indoor Garage Sale.

700 W. Liberty St. Saturday, February 1, 2014 8 am - 1 pm.

Free admission.

For booth space call 436-2271 on January 31, 2014 @ 9:00am

Home Improvements

LARGE GARAGE SALE 1st & 3rd Weekend Tables $1 & Up

Professional Remodelers Home maintenance, ceramic tile, roofing, siding & windows doors, etc. Lic. & Ins. (Cell) 803-459-4773

FLEA MARKET BY SHAW AFB

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

Open every weekend.

905-4242

For Sale or Trade Mossberg 835 Shot Gun, Ruger M77, 270 Calibur Stainless Rifle, Full size dog box. 803-464-5559 Firewood for sale $45 per load.

Will deliver locally for free. Call 803-499-3843.

Hickory & Oak firewood. Seasoned/Green $65 Delivered. Notch Above Tree Service. 983-9721 Simmons Beautyrest Queen Box spring/Mattress, 9 mos old. Paid $1,400, asking $700.

Call 803-778-1655 Softball Equipment- Pitching machine, Backstop, Balls, Bats ETC. Call for details 803-968-2459

EMPLOYMENT Help Wanted Full-Time Seeking Front Desk Clerk & Maintenance Person. Apply in person at Candlewood Suites,2541 Broad St Sumter.

Kennel help needed. Apply in person at 87 Market St. Total Pet Care.

CLASSIFIED ADS Will Go To Work For You!

Sumter County Flea Mkt Hwy 378 E. 803-495-2281 500 tables. Sat. $8 free return Sun.

Painting

For Sale or Trade

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

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

Guaranteed. 803-464-5439

We will be happy to change your ad if an error is made; however we are not responsible for errors after the first run day. We shall not be liable for any loss or expense that results from the printing or omission of an advertisement. We reserve the right to edit, refuse or cancel any ad at any time.

PLANNING COMMISSION & PUBLIC HEARING The City of Manning Planning Commission will meet on Monday, January 13, 2014, at 6:30 p.m., and Manning City Council will hold a public hearing on Monday, January 27, 2014 at 6:30 p.m., City Hall, 29 W. Boyce Street, to hear the following: &RQÂżUPDWLRQ RI ]RQLQJ FODVVLÂżFDWLRQ IRU WKH SURSHUWLHV RI &RQQHOO\ 'HYHORSPHQW RII (GJHZRRG 'ULYH 7D[ PDS DQG ]RQHG *HQHUDO 5HVLGHQWLDO *5

Documents related to this appeal are available for public inspection during regular business hours at City Hall, 29 W. Boyce Street, Manning, SC 29102.

To Find Cash Buyers For Your Unused Items

I Found it in the

CLASSIFIEDS JOBS HOMES APARTMENTS CARS BOATS MOTORCYCLES BIKES FURNITURE PETS GARAGE SALES & MORE GET THE CLASSIFIEDS DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR. 803-774-1258

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

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CLASSIFIEDS

THE ITEM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2013

It’s Mayo’s “Huge End of The Year Sale�! /PX UISV %FDFNCFS TU

Everything In Stock 1/2 Off Reg. Price!

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MAYO’S SUIT CITY

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If your suits aren’t becoming to you, This IS the time to be coming to Mayo’s!

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HARTT Transportation Systems, Inc.

STATEBURG COURTYARD

Strong Partnerships Make Strong Futures Join us in celebrating more than 50 years of

2 & 3 BRs 803-494-4015

customer Service.

HARTT Transportation Systems, INC. Setting the Service Standard Since 1948

Diesel Mechanic Hartt Transportation Systems, Inc. a recognized leader in the transportation industry is looking to hire a full time mechanic for our Sumter, SC Maintenance Facility.

This ideal candidate should have experience in general maintenance repairs of fleet equipment, including tractors and trailers.

Must be able to trouble shoot diesel engines, air brakes systems, steering, suspension and electrical.

Requirements • Qualifications for this position requires candidate to have three years experience of proven medium to heavy-duty vehicle repair including: PM's, tire & wheel, air & hydraulic brakes, diagnosis, computerized diagnostics, electrical trouble-shooting, electronic component repair with a minimum of 2 years experience in A/C overhauls and rebuilds of heavy-duty diesel engines and transmissions. • Prefer certifications in tire & wheel, brakes, AC &/or EPA, engine rebuild, DOT inspections, transmissions, engines. • Must posses own tools • Ability to read codes and instructions on the computer. • Ability to document repairs on the computer. • Ability to work flexible schedules including shift work, weekends, holidays and on-call rotations for roadside assistance. • Have sufficient physical ability to work in a variety of positions, some of which may be awkward and tiring, to accomplish repairs under all weather conditions. Work is generally performed inside the shop. Work may also be performed outdoors, as required as problems are experienced on a daily basis. • Self motivated. • Clean background screening required. • Ability to lift and move up to 100 pounds. • CDL preferred but not required. • High School Diploma or equivalent.

Responsibilities • Individual is responsible for diagnosing and repairing medium to heavy-duty trucks and trailer sunder minimal supervision. • Repairs will include Preventative Maintenance inspections and repairs, air and hydraulic brake repairs, tire repairs, warranty procedures, driveline, steering & suspension, electrical troubleshooting, AC, overheads, overhauls & rebuilds of engines and transmissions. • Accepts other responsibilities as requested by the Maintenance Director or Shop Foreman. • In addition, individual will assist other mechanics in repairs and will be expected to comply with Safety and EPA procedures and continue to learn new technology in advanced diagnostics, internal engine and transmission repairs.

Hartt Transportation offers a competitive benefit package including: medical and dental package, paid holidays, paid vacations, sick time, short term disability, life insurance and a 401 (K) program.

If you are looking for a career challenge and want to work for a great company, we encourage you to submit your resume and salary requirements either by fax, mail, email or in person at 881 Cockerill Rd., Sumter, SC 29150 Todd Cotier; Maintenance Director Hartt Transportation Systems, Inc. 262 Bomarc Road Bangor, ME 04401 Phone: (207) 852-3882 Fax: (207) 941-0095 Email: tcotier@hartt-trans.com

Driver Services Recruiter Due to our passion for strategic success and growth Hartt Transportation Systems, Inc. has created an opportunity for a dedicated and professional individual whose primary responsibilities would be for the recruitng and retention of both company drivers and owner operators in our southern region. Applicants must be strong leaders with exceptional organizational, communication, interpersonal, computer, and presentation skills. Individuals must be able to develop and maintain excellent rapport with customers and co-workers. Transportation background is required. Hartt Transportation offers and extremely compettive benefits package including medical, dental benefits, paid vacations, holiday pay,and a 401(k) retirement plan. Candidates with solid credentials are encouraged to send their current resume to: RIck Parisien, Human Resources Director Hartt Transportation Systems Inc. PO Box 1385 Bangor, ME 04402-138 Phone:(207)947-1106 Ext 225 Fax:(207)945-5193 Email: OFFhr@hartt-trans.com

Help Wanted Part-Time $$$ AVON $$$ FREE TRAINING! 803-422-5555

934 Gene 3BR 2BA $550 Mo., #1 Plains MHP 2BR 14 BA $410 Mo., 409 Highland Ave 3BR 1BA $525 Mo, Sec Dep. starting at $250, Sec. 8 Ok. Call 773-8022

More Bang for your buck

REAL ESTATE Manufactured Housing Singlewides & Doublewides sold wholesale for CASH... Call Now 983-8084 LOW CREDIT SCORE? Been turned down for bad credit? Come try us, we do our own financing.

We have 2-3-4-5 bedroom homes on our lot. Layaway program available. For more information, call 843-389-4215.

Modular Home located 760 March St 3 Large Bedrooms w/walk in closets, 2BA, Great room, fireplace, dining room, breakfast nook, Laundry Rm, frnt porch, fncd yard, close to Sumter High $675 Mo or lease with option to buy. Call 803-972-0771 14x80 Fleetwood 3BR 2BA W/Shed $1500 Call 464-8397 or 565-9014 (needs work)

Trucking Opportunities

CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT Call, email or fax us today!

classiied@theitem.com • (803) 775-1024 FAX

(803) 774-1234 No refunds for early cancellations. Private Party only! Businesses and Commercial accounts ineligible. All ads must be prepaid. All advertising subject to publisher’s approval. Special cannot be combined with any other discounts. Other restrictions may apply.

Farms & Acreage

Driver Trainees Needed Now! Learn to drive for US Xpress! Earn $800+ per week! No experience needed!

CDL -Trained and Job-Ready in 15 days! 1-888-263-7364

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

FSBO: Land, Small & Large acreage.

Owner financing.

803-427-3888.

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

Look in Sunday’s paper for...

Call

RECREATION

Bridal

RENTALS Boats / Motors Unfurnished Apartments

PLEASE CALL

774-1200

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

775-0575 Studio/1 Bedroom apartments available EHO 211 W. Hampton Ave. 2 BR/2 BATH Apt. located near Tuomey Hospital/Downtown area. Stove, refrig, dishwasher, W/D hook-ups. $550.00 month includes lawn maint. Call Century 21. 773-0221.

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

TRANSPORTATION

’S TREE SERVICE PO BOYFREE ESTIMATES

Autos For Sale

TREE REMOVAL

TREE CARE Holiday Special 150 cars $5,000 or less $$$ CASH $$$ Price is Right Auto Sales 3210 Broad St 803-494-4275

Lg. 2BR-1BA DUPLEX APT. C-H-A, hardwoods, appliances, etc. E. Sumter, quiet-safe area. $500/dep 774-4420

Unfurnished Homes

Classiieds

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YOUR SOURCE FOR A

Nice 3BR/2BA, Quiet area. No Pets! Call 803-469-2068

QUICK SALE!

428 Loring 2 BR/1BA house.

Stove, refrig, W/D hook-ups.

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

20 N. Magnolia St. • Sumter, SC 29150

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OVER 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE LICENSED & INSURED

FIREWOOD DELIVERY

469-7606 or 499-4413

803-774-1234

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

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

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

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

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

RV parking avail. Call 494-8350

DRIVERS WANTED “NO GIMMICKS�

. PL RQ DOO PLOHV ‡ /D\RYHU 3D\ ‡ /RDGLQJ XQORDGLQJ IURP st KU *XDUDQWHHG 0LQLPXP 3D\ ‡ $FKLHYDEOH *RDOV IRU /XFUDWLYH ,QFHQWLYHV - CDL (Class A) w/ hazmat & tanker - At least 2 yrs. exp. - Clean MVR - Excellent pay ($.45 per running mile - includes $.06 per diem non-taxable expense) - Paid Vacation - Paid Holidays - Paid Sick Days - BC/BS Health Ins. - Dental Insurance - Life Insurance - Short Term Disability - 401(k) w/co. Match

CONTACT Pat Joyner at 803-775-1002 Ext. 107 OR visit our website to download a job application and fax to (954) 653-1195 www.sumtertransport.com 170 S. Lafayette Drive Sumter, SC 29150 EOE

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