February 23, 2013

GOVERNMENT DOWNSIZING Spending steadily shrinking but obscured by increase in spending on benefit payments to individuals under “entitlement” programs

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Sumter boys battle Goose Creek for 4A lower state title

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Tuomey hires another lawyer Exercise for good health

BY MISSY CORRIGAN Special to The Item

W

e all know that exercise is necessary for good health. The benefits of exercise are endless, and it not only affects you physically, but also emotionally and mentally. Being consistent in your exercise activities will allow you to see these benefits, which include improved heart CORRIGAN health, higher energy levels, decreased stress and anxiety, improved balance and coordination, increased bone density, raised metabolism and increased muscular strength and endurance.

Many individuals begin an exercise program with a certain goal in mind. However, the most common use for exercise is weight loss and weight management. While some who have never exercised before may see weight reduction when beginning an exercise program, most others do not. Exercise is a means for keeping your body strong and fit; it is not a primary weight loss tool.

In order to maximize the benefits of exercise, both aerobic activity and strength training should be a part of your weekly exercise program. Aerobic exercise such as walking, running or cycling can improve your endurance and SEE HEALTHY LIVING, PAGE A7

Defense team now includes 2 former U.S. attorneys

BY BRADEN BUNCH bbunch@theitem.com Tuomey Healthcare System has named a new lawyer to its defense team in the hospital’s eight-year, ongoing battle with the federal government.

Matthew R. Hubbell, a former assistant U.S. attorney now serving on Tuomey’s legal team, is described by the local

health care system as having “extensive experience with federal health care litigation.”

“I am pleased to join the Tuomey trial team, and I am proud to represent such a fine health care provider,” said the Charleston-based lawyer. Hubbell officially filed paperwork with the United States District Court, District of South Carolina on Friday, declaring his involvement in the case.

A new trial involving accusations of Medicare fraud by

the Sumter hospital is set to begin in April in Columbia.

The complex case is being watched carefully by health care providers and attorneys across the country.

According to Brenda Chase, spokeswoman for Tuomey, not only will Hubbell join the defense team, but Bart Daniel, a former United SEE TUOMEY, PAGE A8

CANADIAN INVASION

PHOTOS BY BRADEN BUNCH / THE ITEM

About 25 students from Brock University in St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada, traveled to Sumter this past week to participate in the Sumter Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge, in which students help construct a home. When completed, the future home on Habitat Court in the organization’s Fuller Gardens subdivision will be the 116th residence constructed by the local Habitat for Humanity organization. The Brock students are just the first of a wave of several coming to Sumter to participate in the event. For the next six weeks, college students from various campuses across the United States are also scheduled to come assist with the local low-income residential development.

Residents give input on transportation plan Sumter City Councilman Charlie Burns, left, looks over a map of proposed changes to Sumter’s transportation plans with retired Maj. Gen. William “Dutch” Holland at Thursday’s open house for the urban area transportation study.

BRISTOW MARCHANT / THE ITEM

BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com Ink marks scribbled onto maps Thursday may help shape the future appearance of Sumter’s roads and walkways.

The Sumter City-County Planning Department held an open house at the City Centre on North Main Street to show the public its proposals for the

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area’s long-term transportation plans — and give them the chance to change them.

About two dozen people came in to contribute their thoughts to the Sumter Urban Area Transportation Study, a five-year plan for improving everything from roads and sidewalks to bus routes and bicycle paths in and around the Gamecock City.

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“We try to look at a holistic way of moving people to their destination in the best way possible, however they travel,” said Allison Fluitt, a consultant with the firm Kimley-Horn and Associates who helped develop the SUATS plan.

But the final shape of the plan will depend on the input of local SEE LOCAL INPUT, PAGE A8

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2013 Contact the newsroom at 803-774-1226 or e-mail news@theitem.com

LOCAL & STATE BRIEFS

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FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Police arrest suspect in convenience store robbery Sumter Police Department officers have made an arrest in connection with a Saturday convenience store robbery.

John Jeffrey Wilson, 38, of 2580 Converse St., was arrested Thursday afternoon and charged with armed robbery.

According to reports, at approximately 1:15 a.m. Saturday, a black male entered a convenience store in the 500 block of Broad Street and approached the clerk behind the counter.

The suspect then allegedly demanded WILSON money from the register while threatening the clerk with the impression that he was armed with a weapon. The suspect took an undetermined amount of money from the register and then fled.

One of the store’s security cameras captured an image of the suspect. The image was publicized, which led to the break in the case.

Detectives, following an anonymous tip, identified Wilson as the suspect in the robbery. During the course of being interviewed by detectives, Wilson reportedly made statements implicating himself in the robbery.

Wilson is being held at SumterLee Regional Detention Center, pending a bond hearing.

Rain barrel workshop comes to Sumter Build a rain barrel and learn about rain harvesting at a workshop hosted by Carolina Clear, Clemson University’s storm water pollution education program.

The workshop will be from 4 to 7 p.m. March 7 at the Sumter County Public Works Training Center, 1289 N. Main St. The class costs $30 per person and includes all materials to make one rain barrel per person. A guest or spouse may attend to assist a paying participant free of charge.

The workshop is limited to 20 participants. To register, download the form at http://www.clemson. edu/media-relations/4719. Mail or deliver the form and payment to Sumter County Extension, 115 N.

Harvin St., 5th Floor, Sumter, SC 29150 by Feb. 28. Make checks payable to Clemson University.

The workshop is hosted jointly with Sumter County, the City of Sumter and Sumter Stormwater Solutions. It’s sponsored by W.P. Law Inc. and Sonoco Recycling.

For more information, contact Mary Caflisch at (803) 865-1216 extension 122, or nevins@clemson. edu.

Environmental educators needed for weekend Boy Scout Troop 339 Hornaday Weekend, March 8-10, is filling up with Scouts, but counselors are still needed for many sessions.

Counselors are still needed for the following areas: energy, geology, fish and wildlife, fishing, fly fishing, mammals and public health.

For more information or to sign up, contact John Nesbitt at (803) 491-7127.

Maintenance for water system will begin Monday The city of Sumter will perform maintenance on its water system on Alice Drive from South Wise Drive to Bay Blossom Avenue and on Kolb Road in the area of Sun Valley Drive beginning Monday and ending Wednesday.

Water customers in the area may experience temporary discolored water.

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

S.C. State to continue its search for new president ORANGEBURG — South Carolina State University trustees have voted to continue looking for a new president.

The Times and Democrat of Orangeburg reported that trustees voted 6-5 on Thursday against a motion to stop the search and give interim President Cynthia Warrick the job full time.

Outside the meeting, students staged a protest in support of Warrick. Student Government President Nathaniel Shazier III said Warrick has reached out to students by coming to classes and hanging out with them at football games.

Rembert man pleads guilty to burglary charges, gets 10 years

BY ROBERT J. BAKER bbaker@theitem.com Third Circuit Judge W. Jeffrey Young had only one question for Sheldon Wayne Cannon this week as the 31-year-old Rembert man pleaded guilty to breaking and entering four private storage facilities last summer.

CANNON “What made you go into these places when you had no business being there?” Young asked.

“To get money to support my drug habit,” Cannon answered.

Young sentenced Cannon on Tuesday to 10 years for four counts of third-degree burglary and a mandatory 366 days for a violation of the sex offender registry, second offense.

Sumter County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Buchanan arrested Cannon on Aug. 6, 2012, after spotting him driving a blue Ford Ranger on Broad Street near Cherryvale Drive. Buchanan wrote in a report that he “had prior knowledge

that Cannon was wanted by the (sheriff’s office) for burglary.”

“A records check revealed Cannon had several outstanding warrants and that his license was suspended for failure to pay traffic tickets,” Buchanan said in his report.

One of those warrants stemmed back to July 19, 2012, when deputies discovered Cannon failed to alert law enforcement that he had moved from his Mayrant Road address. Registered sex offenders are required to notify law enforcement within 10 days of establishing a new residence.

Cannon was convicted in 1998 of criminal sexual conduct with a minor younger than 11. He had a prior failure to register from March 2009.

Cannon had also been linked to burglaries at four separate storage facilities between Aug. 3 and 5. He was also accused of the attempted burglary on July 17, 2012, of a nursery on Thomas Sumter Highway. “(The storage facilities) are all long and thin buildings, essentially, with individual roll-up gates,” said 3rd Circuit

Assistant Solicitor W. Jason Corbett during the plea hearing. “He is clearly spotted in two of the burglaries from surveillance footage.”

Cannon’s attorney, Sumter Assistant Public Defender Tiffany Butler, told Young that her client had not posted bond since his arrest.

“He’s been in jail for over seven months, and he’s used that time to get clean and go to Bible study,” she said. “He knows he faces prison time and is willing to accept responsibility. He’s willing to do the time.”

Citing Cannon’s extensive record, which includes convictions for second-degree burglary, breaking and entering an automobile, receiving stolen goods and forgery as far back as 1999, Young said Cannon’s life is in his own hands when he is released from prison.

“Take note of the fact that you’ll get out when you’re close to 40 years old,” Young said.

“Whether you’re a 60-year-old man still logging time, that’s entirely up to you.”

Reach Robert J. Baker at (803) 774-1211.

DANCING THE NIGHT AWAY

Sex crimes, traffic operations lead to 8 arrests, 64 citations

BY BRADEN BUNCH bbunch@theitem.com Two law enforcement operations, one involving sex crimes and the other targeting traffic offenders, targeted specific areas of Sumter this past week.

An undercover prostitution sting operation on Manning Avenue in South Sumter led to the arrest of eight individuals by the Sumter Police Department on Thursday.

According to reports, officers with the department’s Narcotics & Vice Unit, working with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit, posed as either prostitutes or “johns” in several different locations around the Manning Avenue area, where the suspects reportedly approached them.

Four people were arrested and charged with prostitution, while another four were charged with solicitation. All eight were transported to Sumter-Lee Regional Deten-

tion Center, where they were later released on bond. All eight are scheduled to appear in municipal court on March 7.

Police said the Manning Avenue area was targeted after they received several complaints of prostitution.

Meanwhile, the department’s traffic division worked with the South Carolina Highway Patrol along Broad Street and Miller Road, handing out 64 citations ranging from seatbelt violations to driving under the influence charges.

Police Chief Russell Roark said the recent efforts were part of an ongoing effort of partnering with residents and groups who are concerned with maintaining neighborhood safety. “Through crime analysis data, partnerships with sister law enforcement agencies and citizen involvement, we are able to reduce criminal opportunity which in turn has a major impact on crime in our community,” he said.

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Wilson Hall junior Blake Bochette and sophomore Hayley Smoak shag to beach music during the Winter Chill semiformal. Wilson Hall’s 20th annual semiformal for students in grades 9-12 was held at The O’Donnell House, and the middle school winter dance was held in the Nash Student Center recently. Both dances were organized by the student council.

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LOCAL

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2013

Man sentenced to 10 years on multiple charges

BY ROBERT J. BAKER bbaker@theitem.com David Allen Butler has spent nearly the entire life of his 22-month-old son in Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center.

He will spend 10 more years away from the toddler while in the state Department of Corrections. Butler, 25, pleaded guilty Tuesday before 3rd Circuit Judge W. Jeffrey Young at the Sumter County BUTLER Courthouse to third-degree assault and battery and accessory before the fact to a felony, also entering Alford pleas to breaking and entering a motor vehicle; grand larceny less than $10,000, but more than $2,000; criminal conspiracy; and third-degree burglary, first offense. “With an Alford plea, you admit that there’s enough evidence to convict you, but you do not admit (to committing) the acts,� Young explained. “Sentencing is the exact same for an Alford plea as it would be for a straight guilty plea ...

Altogether, your sentences will mean 10 years in prison.�

Butler was initially charged with the property offenses in April 2011 when the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office arrested him and three co-defendants in connection to several residential burglaries in the 3000 block of Wedgefield Road, car break-ins in the 2600 block of U.S. 15 South and stolen property in the 2000 block of North Main Street and the 3000 block of Starks Ferry Road between March 28 and April 3, 2011.

Attorney Richard Blackmon told Young that his client posted bail in July 2011, only to be re-arrested a little more than a month later with four other codefendants on assault and battery charges. “At that time the original bond was revoked, and he has been in jail since,� Blackmon said.

In that incident, Butler was accused along with four other co-defendants — Sammy Bryant, 22, Kirby Christopher Grant Pearson, 22, Jessica Peebles, 20,

and Travis Alan Compton, 22 — in the assault of Zachary Hein. “The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office received a report on Aug. 6, 2011, that (these) suspects attacked Zachary Hein on (U.S.) 15 South, kicking him about the body and hitting him in the head with a pistol,� 3rd Circuit Assistant Solicitor Bronwyn K. McElveen told Young.

Shortly after that incident, Butler and those four co-defendants were implicated in the break-in of a vehicle belonging to a Sumter Police Department patrolman. “The suspects gained entry by breaking a window and took a Bushmaster assault rifle with double magazines, a Sony HD camcorder, a Sony PSP, a laptop and a 320-gigabyte external hard drive, along with a clip for a Glock 37,�

McElveen said. “There was a family link with (the patrolman) from one of the defendants.�

McElveen said Butler’s co-defendants implicated him in both the assault and the break-in of the police vehicle. “This is a case of a young person falling in with people he doesn’t need to be around,�

Blackmon countered. “I know it’s been said that he’s the ringleader.

But he was a participant in just one incident. He’s not happy now that he has fallen in with this crew. He knows he made a bad decision.�

Young said he was particularly bothered by “the stealing of the assault rifle.� “His involvement in that situation was peripheral,� Blackmon said. “But he still helped it fall into bad hands, whether he was part of selling it or not!� Young said.

Butler addressed Young, saying he just wants to get his time over with. “I’m sorry for what I did,� he said. “I just want to get back to my son.�

Young said Butler will get credit for all time served since his first arrest in April 2011.

According to court records, cases against Butler’s co-defendants from all incidents remain pending.

Reach Robert J. Baker at (803) 7741211.

THE ITEM

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NO INJURIES IN HOUSE FIRE

PHOTO PROVIDED

Sumter Fire Department firefighters try to contain a blaze in the 100 block of Cherokee Street after 2 p.m. Friday that spread from a chimney into the walls of the home. The fire destroyed the residence, but no one was injured, according to Capt. Brian Horton. According to reports, approximately $85,000 in damage to the home and its contents were caused by the fire. The American Red Cross was called to the scene to help the family find temporary shelter.

Annual prayer breakfast will include marriage conference

BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com A new feature added this year to the annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast will extend activities beyond the Thursday-morning breakfast and into the first weekend in May. The featured speakers for this year’s prayer breakfast, scheduled for the National Day of Prayer on May 2, will stay in town to host a two-day marriage conference, and anyone attending the breakfast will be able to go to the conference for free. “Since last year, we’ve been looking to do something broader once we had the breakfast, and God just opened a door for us,� said Chris Moore, who is chairing the prayer breakfast committee this year.

The weekend conference will draw on the talents of speakers Dale and Jena Forehand, a Birmingham, Ala., couple who speak about ways to strengthen marriage at church-related functions across the country. “In the Friday-Saturday conference, we’ll walk through the core areas we face to keep your marriage alive and thriving,� Dale Forehand said in a phone interview from Alabama.

Forehand and his wife have been performing their marriage ministry for 14 years, traveling to 10 states this year alone, and

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PHOTO PROVIDED

Dale and Jena Forehand will lead a two-day marriage conference after speaking at the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast in May. Anyone who attends the breakfast can get into the conference for free.

have also appeared on “The 700 Club.�

The couple focuses on renewing and strengthening the bonds of marriage for men and women wherever they are in their relationship. “Some couples have just lost that connection,� Forehand said. “If we have the challenges of going all over the place, going to the ball game, even going to church, we can put our energy into everything except our relationships.�

The Forehands’ techniques are based on their own experience rebuilding their own relationship after the couple divorced and then re-married each other. “We found the real keys to marriage after

eight-and-a-half years of doing things differently,� Forehand said.

The marriage conference will hold sessions on the evening of May 3 and morning and afternoon sessions on May 4, all at the Sumter Opera House on North Main Street.

Moore hopes all the churches involved with the prayer breakfast will promote the conference to their members. “In order for this to be a success, we needed to hold it on neutral ground,� he said. “So it’s not an Alice Drive thing or a First Baptist thing or a Jehovah (Missionary Baptist) thing. So we approached the city, since the breakfast bears the mayor’s name, and they let us hold it at the Opera House.�

Organizers want the conference to draw a large cross-section of the community. “People will say, ‘Well, my marriage doesn’t have any problems,’ but it’s not just

for people with problems,� Moore said. “It’s about having a relationship with the Lord.

If you put God at the center of your relationship and both draw closer to Him, you’ll also draw closer together.�

Prior to the conference, the Forehands will also be featured as the speakers at the prayer breakfast, hosted this year by Alice Drive Baptist Church.

Their remarks there will focus on the broader theme of human relationships in general. “We’ll share the power of relationships, whether it’s as a coach or a principal or a doctor,� Dale Forehand said. “We’ll talk about what God wants us to do in our relationships.�

Tickets for this year’s prayer breakfast are $10. For more information, call (803) 4362640, or visit www.sumterprays.com. More information on the Forehands can be found at www.daleandjena.com.

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THE ITEM

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2013

Environmental group complains about state’s pollution CONWAY (AP) — The Southern Environmental Law Center has filed a complaint with the federal government saying a Santee Cooper generating plant in Conway is polluting the Waccamaw River.

The Southern Environmental Law Center filed notice with the Environmental Protection Agency and others on Thursday, the Sun News of Myrtle Beach reported. The complaint alleges that ash from the Grainger electric plant is seeping into

the river in violation of the federal Clean Water Act. There is no indication pollution is moving into the river and the allegation is similar to earlier lawsuits the environmental group has filed about the plant, said Mollie Gore, a spokeswoman for the state-owned utility.

Bu Frank Holleman, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, said the group could take Santee Cooper to federal court if the problem isn’t corrected.

Such a lawsuit would seek an injunction against Santee Cooper. A federal judge also could impose penalties of up to $37,500 per violation for each day the utility is not in compliance.

“DHEC has been put on notice that now is the time to act to clean up the pollution that’s been a matter of public record for decades,” said Holleman, whose group brought the complaint on behalf of the Waccamaw Riverkeepers Foundation Inc.

Department of Health and Environmental Control spokesman Jim Beasley said the agency does not comment on pending legal matters.

The notice alleges illegal discharges of pollutants into the river and says Santee Cooper is allowing arsenic and other contaminants to seep through groundwater into the river.

Ash at the plant is stored in unlined ponds totaling about 82 acres.

The Grainger plant

stopped operating on Dec. 31, but the notice says the waste remains in the ponds that are separated from the river by earthen berms. The newspaper reported that the berms are sometimes submerged when the river is high.

Gore said any pollution is confined to groundwater.

“This is another unnecessary distraction in our efforts to properly close the ash ponds through the appropriate regulatory channels,” she said.

U.S., NATO mull Afghan troop strength after combat

BY LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press Writer BRUSSELS — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and his NATO counterparts are considering leaving 8,000 to 12,000 troops in Afghanistan after 2014, but a dispute arose Friday between the U.S. and German defense officials over whether that contingent would be an international force or an American one.

The conflicting accounts came as NATO defense ministers gathered here to discuss the endgame of the 11-year-old war in Afghanistan. President Obama has said that the last combat troops will leave Afghanistan on Dec. 31, 2014, leaving the bulk of the country’s security in the hands of the Afghans.

German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere told reporters Panetta had informed him at the Brussels meeting that the United States would leave between 8,000 and 10,000 troops in the war-torn country at the end of 2014.

But Panetta, speaking to reporters later, called de Maiziere’s comments inaccurate.

Panetta, who will leave Obama’s Cabinet when his successor is confirmed, told reporters that he and the NATO partners instead talked about ranges of options for the post-2014 troop force. And he said the figures

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond lead their delegations during a bilateral meeting at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Defense Ministers Meetings on Friday at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

reflected contributions that other nations would make, in addition to the United States.

“There’s no question in the current budget environment, with deep cuts in European defense spending and the kind of political gridlock that we see in the United States now with regards to our own budget, is putting at risk our ability to effectively act together,” he said. “As I prepare to step down as secretary of defense, I do fear that the alliance will soon be, if it is not already, stretched too thin.”

His spokesman, George Little, told reporters that the range for an international force was 8,000 to 12,000.

“The reports that the U.S. told allies that we are considering 8,000 to 12,000 U.S. troops after 2014 are not correct,” Little said. “A range of 8,000 to 12,000 troops was discussed as the possible size of the overall NATO mission, not the U.S. contribution.”

Little said Obama had not yet decided on the size of the post-2014 force in Afghanistan.

“We will continue to discuss with

allies and the Afghans how we can best carry out two basic missions: targeting the remnants of al-Qaida and its affiliates and training and equipping Afghan forces,” he said.

Panetta said officials are planning to leave troops in all sectors of the country as well as in Kabul.

Pentagon officials have said the military has mapped out plans to carry on its mission of training and advising the Afghan forces and also leave a small counterterrorism force to battle insurgents.

Veterans feel alone in their guilt

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Former Marine Capt. Timothy Kudo is seen outside of his apartment in the Brooklyn borough of New York. A veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Kudo thinks of himself as a killer. “I can’t forgive myself ... and the people who can forgive me are dead,” he said.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, former Marine Capt.

Timothy Kudo thinks of himself as a killer — and he carries the guilt every day.

“I can’t forgive myself,” he said. “And the people who can forgive me are dead.”

With American troops at war for more than a decade, there’s been an unprecedented number of studies into war zone psychology and an evolving understanding of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Clinicians suspect some troops are suffering from what they call “moral injuries” — wounds from having done something, or failed to stop something, that violates their moral code.

Though there may be some overlap in symp-

toms, moral injuries aren’t what most people think of as PTSD, the nightmares and flashbacks of terrifying, lifethreatening combat events. A moral injury tortures the conscience; symptoms include deep shame, guilt and rage.

It’s not a medical problem, and it’s unclear how to treat it, said retired Col. Elspeth Ritchie, former psychiatry consultant to the Army surgeon general.

“The concept ... is more an existentialist one,” she said.

The Marines, who prefer to call moral injuries “inner conflict,” started a few years ago teaching unit leaders to identify the problem.

And the Defense Department has approved funding for a study among Marines at California’s Camp Pendleton to test a therapy that

doctors hope will ease guilt.

But a solution could be a long time off.

“PTSD is a complex issue,” said Navy Cmdr.

Leslie Hull-Ryde, a Pentagon spokeswoman.

Killing in war is the issue for some troops who believe they have a moral injury, but Ritchie said it also can come from a range of experiences, such as guarding prisoners or watching Iraqis kill Iraqis as they did during the sectarian violence in 2006-07.

“You may not have actually done something wrong by the law of war, but by your own humanity you feel that it’s wrong,” said Ritchie, now chief clinical officer at the District of Columbia’s Department of Mental Health.

Kudo’s remorse stems in part from the 2010 accidental killing of two Afghan teenagers on a motorcycle. His unit was fighting insurgents when the pair approached from a distance and appeared to be shooting as well.

Kudo said what Marines mistook for guns were actually “sticks and bindles, like you’d seen in old cartoons with hobos.” What Marines thought were muzzle flashes were likely glints of light bouncing off the motorcycle’s chrome.

“There’s no day — whether it’s in the shower or whether it’s walking down the street ... that I don’t think about things that happened over there,” said Kudo, now a graduate student at New York University.

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NATION

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2013

THE ITEM

A5

College tests fingerprint purchasing technology RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Futurists have long proclaimed the coming of a cashless society, where dollar bills and plastic cards are replaced by fingerprint and retina scanners smart enough to distinguish a living, breathing account holder from an identity thief.

What they probably didn’t see coming was that one such technology would make its debut not in Silicon Valley or MIT but at a small state college in remote western South Dakota, 25 miles from Mount Rushmore.

Two shops on the School of Mines and Technology campus are performing one of the world’s first experiments in Biocryptology — a mix of biometrics (using physical traits for identification) and cryptology (the study of encoding private information). Students at the Rapid City school can buy a bag of potato chips with a machine that non-intrusively detects their hemoglobin to make sure the transaction is legitimate.

Researchers figure their technology would provide a critical safeguard against a morbid scenario sometimes found in spy movies in which a thief removes someone else’s finger to fool the scanner.

On a recent Friday, mechanical engineering major

Christopher Jacques, 22, uses his index finger to pay for an Italian soda at a coffee shop at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology on Friday.

Jacques, an electrical engineering major from Pacific, Wash., is one of about 50 students and four faculty members at the school enrolled in a pilot program that uses Biocryptology — or one’s fingerprint and hemoglobin — in place of cash or credit cards to pay for items.

PHOTOS BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bernard Keeler handed a Red Bull to a cashier in the Miner’s Shack campus shop, typed his birthdate into a pay pad and swiped his finger. Within seconds, the machine had identified his print and checked that blood was pulsing beneath it, allowing him to make the buy.

Afterward, Keeler proudly showed off the receipt he was sent via email on his smartphone.

Fingerprint technology isn’t new, nor is the general concept of using biometrics as a way to pay for goods. But it’s the extra layer of protection — that deeper check to ensure

About 50 students and four faculty members at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology use pay pads such as this one seen recently.

the finger has a pulse — that researchers say sets this technology apart from already-existing digital fingerprint scans,

Dow has 3-digit gain on strong earnings

which are used mostly for criminal background checks.

Al Maas, president of Nexus USA — a subsidiary of Span-

Government downsizes amid GOP demands for more cuts

BY DANIEL WAGNER AP Business Writer Strong earnings from big U.S. companies pushed the Dow Jones industrial average to a rare triple-digit gain Friday, but the S&P 500 index still posted its first weekly loss of the year.

Hewlett-Packard had the biggest gain in the Dow and the Standard & Poor’s 500 index. It posted fiscal first-quarter earnings late Thursday that beat all forecasts, a relief after months of bad news for the computer maker. H-P rose $2.10, or 12.3 percent, to $19.20.

Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. was the S&P 500’s second-best performer, jumping a day after reporting earnings that beat analysts’ expectations. It rose $5.95, or 11.1 percent, to $59.81.

American International Group Inc. rose after its fourth-quarter operating results exceeded analysts’ forecasts.

The company’s net loss was $4 billion, mainly because of claims related to Superstorm Sandy, in the first full quarter after it finished repaying its $182 billion government bailout. AIG rose $1.17, or 3.1 percent, to $38.45.

The Dow closed up 119.95 points, or 0.9 percent, at 14,000.57 — its third-biggest gain this year. The S&P 500 rose 13.18 points, also 0.9 percent, to 1,515.60. The Nasdaq composite index rose 30.33, or 1 percent, to 3,161.82.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed slightly lower for the week, while the Dow edged higher.

Bill Stone, chief investment strategist with PNC Wealth Manage-

ish-based Hanscan Identity Management, which patented the technology — acknowledged South Dakota might seem an unlikely locale to test it, but to him, it was a perfect fit. “I said, if it flies here in the conservative Midwest, it’s going to go anywhere,� Maas said.

Maas grew up near Madison, S.D., and wanted his home state to be the technology’s guinea pig. He convinced Hanscan owner Klaas Zwart that the 2,400-student Mines campus should be used as the starter location.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange recently. The Dow is now just 164 points below its record close of 14,164 reached in October 2007.

ment, said he expects stocks to hold up despite this week’s volatility. “You’re going to get bumps and bruises along the way, but we do believe things are actually getting better, so I think there’s underlying demand� for stocks, Stone said.

Spooked investors sent stocks plunging Wednesday after minutes from the Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting revealed disagreement over how long to keep buying bonds in an effort to boost the economy.

The slide continued Thursday. The Dow lost 155 points over those two days.

Many analysts say the Fed’s bond-buying and resulting low interest rates have driven this year’s stock rally, which lifted indexes to their

highest levels since before the 2008 financial crisis. The Dow is now just 164 points below its record close of 14,164 reached in October 2007.

U.S. stocks followed European stocks higher after a survey of German business optimism rose sharply, adding to evidence that the country will avoid a recession.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans and other fiscal conservatives keep insisting on more federal austerity and a smaller government.

Without much fanfare or acknowledgement, they’ve already gotten much of both.

Spending by federal, state and local governments on payrolls, equipment, buildings, teachers, emergency workers, defense programs and other core governmental functions has been shrinking steadily since the deep 2007-09 recession and as the anemic recovery continues.

This recent shrinkage has largely been obscured by an increase in spending on benefit payments to individuals under “entitlement� programs, including Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and veterans benefits. Retiring baby boomers are driving much of this increase.

Another round of huge cuts — known in Washington parlance as the “sequester� — will hit beginning March 1, potentially meaning layoffs for hundreds of thousands of federal workers unless Congress and President Obama can strike a deficit-reduction deal to avert them.

With the deadline only a week off, Obama and Republicans who control the House are far apart over how to resolve the deadlock. While lastminute budget deals are frequent in Washington, neither side is optimistic of reaching one this time.

NO MATTER WHAT’S HAPPENING OUT THERE... ...IT’S ALWAYS COMFORTABLE IN HERE.

Even as the private sector has been slowly adding jobs, governments have been shedding them, holding down overall employment gains and keeping the jobless rate close to 8 percent, compared with normal nonrecessionary levels of 5 to 6 percent that have prevailed since the 1950s. “It’s a massive drag on the economy. We lost three-quarter million public-sector jobs in the recovery,� said economist Heidi Shierholz of the labor-friendly Economic Policy Institute. “We’re still losing government jobs, although the pace has slowed. But we haven’t turned around yet.�

A larger-than-usual decline in federal spending, notably on defense programs, helped push the economy into negative territory in the final three months of 2012. Economic growth, meanwhile, has been inching along at a weak 1-2 percent — not enough to significantly further drive down the national unemployment rate, which now stands at 7.9 percent.

Although federal spending is projected to decline from 22.8 percent of the gross domestic product recorded last year to 21.5 percent by 2017, it still will exceed the 40-year average of 21.0 percent, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Spending peaked at 25.2 percent of GDP in 2009.

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NATION

THE ITEM

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2013

National park cuts detailed in memo

BY TRACIE CONE The Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The towering giant sequoias at Yosemite National Park would go unprotected from visitors who might trample their shallow roots. At Cape Cod National Seashore, large sections of the Great Beach would close to keep eggs from being destroyed if natural resource managers are cut.

Gettysburg would decrease by one-fifth the number of school children who learn about the historic Pennsylvania battle that was a turning point in the Civil War. As America’s finan-

AP FILE PHOTO

Mount Rainier National Park Ranger Matt Chalup, left, hands park information to one of the first visitors to the park near Ashford, Wash., on Jan. 7, 2012. The Associated Press has obtained a National Park Service memo that compiles a list of potential effects at the nation’s parks because of spending cuts.

cial clock ticks toward forced spending cuts to countless government agencies, The Associated Press has obtained a National Park Service memo that compiles a list of potential effects at the nation’s most beautiful and historic places just as spring vacation season begins.

“We’re planning for this to happen and hoping that it doesn’t,� said Park Service spokesman Jeffrey Olson, who confirmed that the list is authentic and represents cuts the department is considering.

Park Service Director John Jarvis last month asked superintendents

to show by Feb. 11 how they would absorb the 5 percent funding cuts.

The memo includes some of those decisions.

While not all 398 parks had submitted plans by the time the memo was written, a pattern of deep slashes that could harm resources and provide

fewer protections for visitors has emerged.

In Yosemite National Park in California, for example, park administrators fear that less frequent trash pickup would potentially attract bears into campgrounds.

The cuts will be challenging considering they would be imple-

Church Directory Adventist

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

Photo Credit Istockphoto.com/quingwa

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

Interdenominational

Weekly Scripture Reading

City of Refuge Church $BSPMJOB "WF t Pastors Barbara and Johnny Davis 4VOEBZ 4DIPPM BN t 8PSTIJQ BN Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00pm www.cityofrefugeministry.com

John 14:1–14

Love Covenant Church 245 Oswego Hwy * 775-7605 Apostle Tommy Fredrick Prophet Angela Frederick Sunday Worship: 11:00 am Thursday Bible Study: 7:00 pm

John 14:15–31

Salem Missionary Baptist Church 320 West Fulton Street 803-775-8054 Rev. Lei F. Washington Sun. Worship 10:00am Sun School 6:00pm Tue. Prayer Service 5:30pm Wed. Fellowship Dinner 6:00pm

John 15:1–17 Psalms 79

Baptist - Southern Grace Baptist Church 219 W Calhoun St * 778-6417 Dr. Stephen Williams S.S. 9:45 am; Worship 11:00, 6:30 Wed. Meal-Choir-Missions: 5:30 pm Wed. Bible Study: 6:30 pm Hickory Road Baptist Church 1245 Cherryvale Dr 803-494-8281 Dr. Ron Taylor Pastor Sunday School 9:45am Worship 10:55am Long Branch Baptist Church 2535 Peach Orchard Rd. Dalzell 499-1838 www.longbranch_baptist.com James R. Allen Sun School 10:00am Worship 11:00am Sun Evening Worship 6:00pm Wed Mid Week Service 7:00 pm Midway Baptist Church 1210 Plowden Mill Rd 803-481-5064 Raymond Tobias, Pastor Mickey Lloyd Assoc. Pastor Sun. School 10am Worship 11am Tues. 6:30pm Pine Grove Baptist Church 433 Old Manning Road * 481-2041 Rev. Don Riner, Pastor Sunday School 10:00am Worship 10:50am Shaw Heights Baptist Church 2030 Peach Orchard Rd 499-4997 Rev. Walt Phillips Interim Pastor Sunday School 9:45am Sunday Worship 11:00am & 6:00pm

Psalms 88

Who Should Worship

Psalms 89:1–18

On a church bulletin board a sign was posted:

“Do come in-trespassers will be forgiven�. Has there ever been a time that you felt unworthy of God? If the answer is “yes�, it’s not surprising; God’s Word tells us that we all have sinned. But, through divine grace, we are all loved and welcomed equally. God’s house is not a gallery for the display of perfection but a school for the education of the imperfect. Who should worship?

All of us‌regularly‌in our local house of worship.

Psalms 89:19–52

Scriptures Selected by the American Bible Society

Š2013, Keister-Williams Newspaper Services P.O. Box 8187, Charlottesville, VA 22906, www.kwnews.com

Plaza Church of Christ 1402 Camden Hwy. * 905-3163 Stewart Schnur cell 361-8449 Sunday School: 10 am Sunday Worship: 11 am & 6 pm Wed. Bible Class: 7 pm

The Catholic Community of Sumter/ St. Anne Site 216 E Liberty St * 803-773-3524 Fr. Thomas Burke, C.Ss.R. Weekend Masses: Sat Vigil 5pm Sun. 7:30, 9:00 and 11:30 am Mass

Episcopal

The Catholic Community of Sumter, St. Jude Site 611 W. Oakland Ave * 773-9244 www.stjudesumtersc.org Fr. Charles Michael Donovan, C.Ss.R. Saturday Vigil: 5:00 pm Sun. Euch.: 9:00, 11:30 am, 1 pm (Spanish)

Trinity United Methodist Church 226 W Liberty St * 773-9393 Rev. Kevin Gorry Contemporary Worship 8:45 Traditional Worship 11:00 Sunday school 9:45 trinityumcsumter.org

Church of the Holy Cross 335 North Kings Hwy (Hwy 261 N) 803-494-8101 The Rev. Daniel Lee Clarke Jr Christian Education 9:00 am Holy Eucharist 10:00 am Morning Prayer Tues-Thurs 7:30am Holy Communion Wed. 12:00 pm

Presbyterian

Lemira Presbyterian Church 514 Boulevard Rd * 773-7074 Pastor Dan Rowton Sunday School 10:00 am Worship 11:00 am Bible Study 6:00 pm

Bible Fellowship Church 227 Broad St *773-7101 Pastor Jim Ketchum Sunday Worship: 11 am Worship 6:00pm Sunday School: 9:45 am Wed. Prayer Meeting 7:00pm

Victory Full Gospel Interdenominational Church 601 Pitts Rd * 481-7003 Joann P. Murrill, Pastor Sunday Worship: 11:00 am Youth Bible Study/Respect Monday: 7pm

Lutheran - ELCA

Christ Community Church(CCC) 525 Oxford St, Sumter 803-934-9718 Pastor Toby Toburen Sun. Worship 10:00am (Patriot Hall)

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

First Church of God 1835 Camden Rd * 905-5234 www.sumterfcg.org Ron Bower, Pastor Sunday Worship: 10:30 am Sunday School: 9:30 am

Lutheran - NALC

Miracle Deliverance Temple COSC (Church Of A Second Chance) 1010 North Guignard Drive*934-1444 Apostle Larry DeRant, Bishop Sunday School 10:30am & worship 11:30am

Immanuel Lutheran Church 140 Poinsett Drive * 803-883-1049 Worship Service 9:00 am Sunday School 10:30 am Nursery provided Wed Bible Class: 6:30 pm

Swan Lake Presbyterian Church 912 Haynsworth St Sumter 803-775-3146 Pastor Chuck Staggs Sunday School 9:45 Worship 11:00

Contact a Church Representative

The Salvation Army 16 Kendrick St * 775-9336 Major Robbie Robbins Sunday School: 9:45 am Worship Service: 11 am Wednesday Mid Week Lift: 7 pm Wednesday Men Fellowship & Woman’s Home League: 7:30 pm

First Southern Methodist Church 321 Miller Rd * 773-9723 Ellison Evans III, Reverend Sunday School: 9:45 am Sunday Worship: 11:00 am, 6:30 pm Wed. Sevs: 6:30pm, Epworth League Mtg: 6:30pm

Word International Ministries 1010 North Guignard Drive * 934-1444 Apostle Larry DuRant Pastor Woship - 8:00am & 11:15am Sunday: School - 10:30am

Methodist - United Aldersgate United Methodist 211 Alice Dr * 775-1602 Dr. Webb Belangia, Reverend Traditional Service 9:00 am Sunday School 10:15 am Contemporary 11:15 am

Pentecostal-United First United Penecostal Church 14 Plowden Mill Rd * 775-9493 Pastor Theron Smith Sunday Service: 10:00 am & 6:30 pm Wednesday Bible Study: 7:30 pm

Bethel United Methodist Church 5575 Lodebar Rd * 469-2452 Rev. Curtis Wells Sunday Worship: 8:30 & 11 am Sunday School: 10 am www.BethelUMCoswego.org BMethodist@ftc-i.net

Sumter First Pentecostal Holiness Church 2609 McCrays Mill Rd * 481-8887 S. Paul Howell, Pastor Sunday School: 10:00 am Sunday Worship: 10:45 am & 6:00 pm Wed. Worship/Youth Group: 7:00 pm

First Presbyterian Church of Sumter 9 W Calhoun St * 773-3814 11:00 a.m. Morning Worship 9:45 a.m. Sunday School - All Ages 5:00 p.m. Sunday evening program

Non-Denominational

Spiritual Life Christian Center 4672 Broad St. Ext * 968-5771 Pastors Randolph & Minerva Paige Sunday Worship: 11:00 am Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00 pm

Methodist - Southern

Church of Christ

Catholic - Roman

St John United Methodist Church 136 Poinsett Dr * 803-773-8185 Rev. J. Robert (Bob) Huggins Sunday School 9:30 am Worship 11:00 am Wed. Night Supper/Bible Study 6:30pm

mented during the next seven months — peak season for national parks. That’s especially true in Yellowstone, where the summertime crush of millions of visitors in cars and RVs dwarfs those who venture into the park on snowmobiles during the winter.

More than 3 million people typically visit Yellowstone between May and September, 10 times as many as the park gets the rest of the year. “This is a big, complex park, and we provide a lot of services that people don’t realize,�

Yellowstone spokesman Al Nash said. “They don’t realize we’re also the water and wastewater treatment operators and that it’s our job to patch potholes, for heaven’s sake.�

The memo says that in anticipation of the cuts, a hiring freeze is in place and the furloughing of permanent staff for up to four weeks is on the table.

by phone at 800-293-4709 or email at churchrep@kwnews.com to update your church ad or obtain information about listing your church information on the “Sumter Worship Directory�

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

OBITUARIES

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2013

CURTIS LOWERY Sr. NEW YORK — Curtis Lowery Sr., 70, husband of Carrie Faye Lowery, died Friday, Feb. 15, 2013, at Nyack Hospital, Nyack, N.Y. He was born Sept. 10, 1942, in Sumter County, a son of the late Willie and Mary LowLOWERY ery. He attended the public schools of Clarendon County. In his youth, he attended Lodabar AME Church. He was employed with Novartis Pharmaceutical Co. for many years.

Survivors are his wife, Carrie Lowery; two sons, Curtis (Connie) Lowery and Christopher Lowery; three daughters, Shirley Brown, Cynthia Lowery and Karen Morris; eight brothers, Willie McCants, Joesph (Evelyn) Witherspoon, Samuel Lowery, James Lowery, John (Elizabeth) Lowery, Kenneth (Anne) Lowery, William Lowery and Charles Lowery; 10 grandchildren; three greatgrandchildren; two aunts; and three uncles.

The celebratory services for Mr. Lowery will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Hayes F. & LaNelle J. Samuels Sr. Memorial Chapel, 114 N. Church St., Manning, with the Rev. Francis Dennison officiating, the Rev. Otis Blackwell and the Rev. Ricky Simmons assisting.

The family is receiving friends at the home of his niece and her husband, Debra and Anthony Wilson, 8 Garrett St., Sumter.

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

ANNESS O. STAFFORD LEXINGTON — A graveside service for Anness Osteen Stafford, 94, will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday in Greenlawn Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Dunbar FuSTAFFORD neral Home, Devine Street Chapel.

Mrs. Stafford died Friday, Feb. 22, 2013.

Born in Sumter, she was a daughter of the late Noah Graham Osteen Jr. and Marian Nettles Osteen. Mrs. Stafford lived at the Presbyterian Home since 1996. She was an avid bridge player and loved to travel. She loved her beach house in Garden City and played golf at Spring

Valley Country Club. Mrs. Stafford was the niece of the founder of the Sumter Daily Item, Hubert Graham Osteen. She was a member of Eastminster Presbyterian Church and was active in many circles.

Surviving are her two sons, John P. (Kitty) Stafford of Lexington and Dr. Marion W. (Dee Dee) Stafford of Atlanta; five grandchildren, Sandra Stafford, Gy Stafford, Stanton (Courtney) Stafford, Mary Hurt Stafford and Noble Stafford; and four great-grandchildren, Chancellor Stafford, Russell Stafford, Charlotte Stafford and Elizabeth Stafford.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Vance E. Stafford; two brothers, Eugene Osteen and Charles Osteen; and her two sisters, Mae Willis Brunson and Susie Marian Osteen.

Memorials may be made to Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 3200 Trenholm Road, Columbia SC 29203 or The Presbyterian Home, 700 Davega Road, Lexington, SC 29073.

Please sign the online guestbook at www.dunbarfunerals.com.

liam Allen Prather III (Lissa), Jimmy Jackson (Chelsea), Tim Bramlett (Casey), Nicole Jackson, Ryan Bilton, Campbell Mims and Lee Mims; five great-grandchildren; and two brothers, H.D. Prather Jr. of Milwaukee, Wis., and Bobby Prather of New Orleans.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dr. Stephen Williams and Chaplain Allen Lynch officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Allen Prather, Jimmy Jackson, Tim Bramlett, Ryan Bilton and Campbell Mims, and Lanny Bryant, Steve Mims and Robert Mims.

Honorary pallbearer will be his grandson, Lee Mims.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home.

Memorials may be made to Hospice Care of South Carolina, 114 Capital Way, Manning, SC 29102.

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

JEREMIAH GRANT Sr. Jeremiah Grant Sr., husband of Minnie Ruth Grant, died Friday, Feb. 22, 2013, at Toumey Regional Medical Center.

He was a son of the late William and Willie Mae Singleton Grant.

The family is receiving friends at the home, 3760 McCrays Mill Road, Sumter, SC 29154.

Funeral plans are incomplete and will be announced

by Job’s Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., Sumter.

CYNTHIA D. STRICKLAND Cynthia Diane Strickland was born July 13, 1964, in Brooklyn, N.Y., the second child of the late Enoch and Fannie M. Strickland. Cynthia departed her earthly journey on Friday, Feb. 9, 2013.

Homegoing services will be held at 1 p.m. today in the Chapel of Sumter Funeral Service Inc., 623 Manning Ave., Sumter. Interment will follow in Pearson Chapel Churchyard Cemetery.

The management and staff of Sumter Funeral Service Inc., 623 Manning Ave., Sumter, SC 29150 is serving the Strickland family.

Online memorials may be made to the family via sumterfuneralsvs@sc.rr.com.

WILLIAM A. PRATHER Sr. William Allen “Billy” Prather Sr., 79, husband of Frances “Kirby” Bryant Prather, died Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013, at his home.

Born in Charlotte, N.C., he was a son of the late Henry Dewitt Prather and Mollie Kate Thornton Prather. Mr. Prather was a member of Hephzibah Baptist Church in Lincolnton, Ga. Survivors besides his wife of 57 years include four children, William Allen Prather Jr., Marla Prather Bilton, Cindy Prather Jackson (Dwayne) and Lara Prather Mims (Stephen), all of Sumter; seven grandchildren, Wil-

HAMILTON D. HILL Jr. Hamilton Daniel Hill Jr., born on Oct. 21, 1957, entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, at Goodwill Nursing Home, Macon, Ga. Danny was the oldest of five children born to the late Hamilton Daniel Hill Sr. and Deloris Lawson Hill. He was the paternal grandson of the late Deacon James Harrison and Ralphenia Diggs Hill and the maternal grandson of Andrew

WORLD

THE ITEM

Louis Benjamin Lawson and Susan Lillie Lawson.

His early education began at Rafting Creek Elementary School, Rembert, then on to Shaw Heights Elementary and Oakland Middle School, Dalzell. In 1974, he completed his high school education at the age of 16 from Hillcrest High School, Dalzell. Danny went on to further his education at Devry Institute of Technology in Atlanta, where he received an associate degree in electronics engineering technology. He then attended Southern Technical Institute (of the University System of Georgia), Marietta, Ga., where he received a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering; and graduate studies at California State University, electrical engineering, computer hardware and architecture design, Los Angeles, Calif.

He worked for 22 years in the profession he so dearly loved, starting at Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Co. in Marietta, where he was a design engineer. He later transferred to Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. in Sunnyvale, Calif.; then to Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Co. as a project engineer in Burbank, Calif.; Lockheed Martin (formerly LORAL ElectroOptical) as a project electrical engineer, Pasadena, Calif.; and, lastly, at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) as a senior engineer, Pasadena. At JPL, as one of his final projects he served as the project engineer and technical manager for the JPL 05 Mars Mission.

At an early age, he became a member of Hopewell Baptist Church. Danny was a faithful Christian and always found a church home wherever he resided. Before moving back to the east coast from California, his last church home was the Oasis Christian Center in Los Angeles. His personal ministry involved giving back to the community. One achievement was his leadership in the celebration of AfricanAmerican achievements past and present. He spearheaded this celebration while a member of the black history team at Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Despite the illness that came upon our beloved brother, he enjoyed a rich and rewarding life. He traveled whenever he could and loved his family. He had a grounded foundation in his faith in God.

|

Pistorius gets bail; murder trial looms PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — Oscar Pistorius walked out of a South African court Friday a free man — for now — after a magistrate agreed to release him on bail ahead of his premeditated murder trial over the shooting death of his girlfriend.

But even as he was driven away from court and chased by videographers and photographers, questions continued to hound the Paralympian about what actually happened when he opened fire on Valentine’s Day inside his home and killed Reeva Steenkamp.

Chief Magistrate Desmond Nair, who agreed to bail with harsh restrictions for the athlete, expressed his own doubts about Pistorius’ story. Those questions, highlighted at a four-day bail hearing that at times foreshadowed his coming trial, come from Pistorius’ account that he felt threatened and mistook Steenkamp for an intruder when he fired the four shots at her

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius stands in the dock during his bail hearing at magistrates court in Pretoria, South Africa, on Friday. Pistorius was granted bail ahead of his murder trial over the shooting death of his girlfriend.

in his bathroom.

“Why would (Pistorius) venture further into danger?” Nair asked.

Pistorius’ supporters shouted “Yes!” when Nair made his decision after a nearly two-hour explanation of his ruling to a packed courtroom in Pretoria, South Africa’s capital.

Yet when prosecutors and

the defense said they agreed to bail terms, Nair more than doubled those conditions for the 26-yearold runner to be free ahead of trial.

Nair set the bail at 1 million rand ($113,000), with $11,300 in cash up front and proof that the rest is available. The magistrate said Pistorius must hand

over his passports and also turn in any other guns that he owns. Pistorius also cannot leave the district of Pretoria without the permission of his probation officer, Nair said, nor can he take drugs or drink alcohol.

Pistorius’ family members hugged each other after the decision was read, with tears in their eyes.

“We are relieved at the fact that Oscar got bail today, but at the same time we are in mourning for the death of Reeva with her family,” said Pistorius’ uncle, Arnold Pistorius. “As a family, we know Oscar’s version of what happened on that tragic night and we know that that is the truth and that will prevail in the coming court case.”

Sharon Steenkamp, Reeva’s cousin, had said earlier that the family wouldn’t be watching the bail decision and hadn’t been following the hearing in Pretoria.

“It doesn’t make any difference to the fact that we are without Reeva,” she told The Associated Press.

A7

He leaves to cherish his memory: three brothers, Wayne Gerald Hill (Valarie) of Wheaton, Ill., Michael Lopez Hill (Lucretia) of Pooler, Ga., and James Harrison Hill Sr. (Yulonda) of Macon, Ga.; one sister, Debra Hill Gilbert (Eddie) of Stockbridge, Ga.; one great-uncle, Joseph Jones of Sumter; two uncles, Eddie Walker Hill (Rudine) of Willingboro, N.J., and Calvin Lawson of Connecticut; 14 aunts, Ralphenia C. Hill of District Heights, Md., Ida Ursula Clark of Clinton, Md., Alneda Calpurnia Gethers (George) of Sumter, Gracie Teresa Alexander (Carl) of Brooklyn, N.Y., Annie Bell Gooden and Eva Mae Lawson, both of Sumter, Lillian Johnson of New Jersey, Susan Lawson of Pennsauken, N.J., Lenell Bey of Camden, N.J., Katie Hill of Ridgeland, Bernice Hill and Mable Lawson, both of Sumter, Doris Hill of Greenville and Anita Lawson of Camden, N.J.; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Hopewell Baptist Church, 3285 Peach Orchard Road, Dalzell, with the Rev. Richard Addison, pastor, eulogist, the Rev. Burdell Hill, presiding, assisted by Elder James Witherspoon.

The remains will be placed in the church at 2 p.m.

The funeral procession will leave at 2:20 p.m. from the home of his uncle and aunt, George and Alneda C. Hill Gethers, 1 Hallmark Lane, Sumter.

Floral bearers will be ushers and missionary ministry of Hopewell Baptist Church.

Pallbearers will be Rex G. Wright, O’Neal Montgomery, Rudy Loney, Charles Dais, Gregory Dennis, Westley Gardner and William Robinson.

Honorary pallbearers will be Perry W. James, Eugene B. Brooks, the Rev. JC Lane, Myron Williams, Hampton Wright, Donald Anderson and Robert Strickland.

Burial will be in the Hopewell Baptist Churchyard cemetery, Dalzell.

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

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

Services directed by the management and staff of Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter.

LOCAL

|

HEALTHY LIVING from Page A1 aerobic capacity as well as help reduce body fat. Strength training makes your muscles stronger and increases your lean muscle mass, which increases your metabolism and helps reduce body fat even when you are not exercising.

While exercise alone may not help you reach your weight loss goals, it must be a part of your healthy lifestyle. Your body is designed to move and is meant to be active, so focus on all the other good things it does for you.

• Exercise to improve joint mobility; • Exercise to sleep better; • Exercise to strengthen your heart; • Exercise to improve your immune system; and • Exercise to reduce your risk for chronic diseases.

Be sure to check with your physician before beginning an exercise program.

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

SPORTS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2013

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

B1

Big challenge awaits Lady Knights Crestwood must overcome O-W’s size to win LS championship

BY JUSTIN DRIGGERS jdriggers@theitem.com The Crestwood High School girls basketball team finally overcame its third-round roadblock in the 3A state playoffs that had upended the Lady Knights for the last few seasons.

Their reward is a matchup with OrWILSON angeburg-Wilkinson — last year’s Class 4A runner-up and a team that has not lost to anyone from the state of South Carolina — in the 3A lower state championship

CRESTWOOD VS. ORANGEBURG-WILKINSON WHAT: 3A Girls Lower State Championship WHEN: Today, 5 p.m.

WHERE: Florence Civic Center TICKETS: $10 a person, children 5 and under enter for free. Tickets can be purchased at Civic Center box office.

game.

Crestwood and O-W tip off today at 5 p.m. at Florence Civic Center with a ticket to Columbia and a berth in the 3A state championship game going to the winner.

“We’re excited to be in the lower state championship — it’s been a goal of ours for the last few years to get to this level,”

CHS head coach Tony Wilson said. “But we’re not satisfied yet.

We know where we want to be at the end of the season and this is the next step.”

Getting to Colonial Life Arena will be easier said than done, though. The Bruinettes are 26-1 and were the top-ranked 3A team in the state in the final coaches’ poll. The Lady Knights are 23-5 and were No. 6. O-W is riding a 16-game winning streak and its only loss this season came against a team from Virginia. Crestwood is in the midst of a 17-game winning streak.

ITEM FILE PHOTO

Keanua Williams, right, and the rest of the Crestwood girls basketball team look to earn a 3A lower state title today when they SEE CRESTWOOD, PAGE B2 face Orangeburg-Wilkinson at Florence Civic Center at 5 p.m.

USC looks to build on victory over Mississippi

BY DARRYL SLATER Post and Courier

MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER / THE ITEM

Sumter’s Anthony Moses (53) puts up a shot against Goose Creek’s Deshawn Evans during the Gators’ 57-47 victory on Friday in the 4A boys lower state title game at Florence Civic Center.

Gators end SHS’ title hopes

BY DENNIS BRUNSON dennisb@theitem.com

GOOSE CREEK 57, SUMTER 47

FLORENCE — Sumter High School limited Goose Creek standout Dantez Bennamon to just two field goals and the entire Gator team to just 11 in the 4A boys basketball lower state championship game at Florence Civic Center on Friday.

However, SHS couldn’t keep Bennamon or the Gators from getting to the free throw line.

Goose Creek hit 33 of 36 free throws — Bennamon being perfect on all 19 of his attempts — as it won 57-47 to advance to the state championship game

GOOSE CREEK SUMTER

5 10

12 7

15 11

25 -- 57 19 -- 47

GOOSE CREEK Patrick 2, Bennamon 24, Singleton 15, McElveen 5, Abdallah 4, Evans 2.

SUMTER Kyles 9, Butler 6, Parker 2, White 8, Rembert 4, Holloway 6, Moses 8.

next Friday at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia. The Gators will take on Irmo, which beat Hillcrest 63-47 on Friday in Greenville to win the upper state crown.

Gamecock head coach Sam Fuller said he didn’t know if all of the fouls called were warranted, but he didn’t

feel his team did as good a job defensively as it could have.

“We didn’t play as good defensively as I would have liked,” said Fuller, whose team finished the year with an 18-11 record. “We could have maybe had some calls go our way, but when they’re making free throws like that, it makes it really tough on you to win.”

Goose Creek, which improved to 22-4, hit on just 11 of 46 field goal attempts, including 2 of 14 from 3-point range. The Gators were just 6 of 7 from the line in the first half, with the game tied 17-17 at the break. They connected

COLUMBIA — Anyone who heard or read South Carolina coach Frank Martin’s comments on Valentine’s Day, when he openly criticized his team’s demeanor after a 64-46 loss to LSU — maybe the Gamecocks’ lousiest showing of the season — had to wonder just how Martin’s players would respond.

After all, when asked what he could do to motivate them, Martin said if he was in the NBA, he would fine and release them. That’s not MARTIN exactly subtle prodding.

But for much of the season, the Gamecocks had played hard for Martin, one of college basketball’s most hardnosed coaches. And though they lost again two days after LSU, at Alabama, Martin admired how they responded to their lull. They didn’t shrink away after his criticism.

“We don’t want to let Frank down,” said guard Eric Smith.

The 68-58 defeat at Alabama was USC’s sixth straight loss, equaling its longest skid during its four mostly awful seasons under Martin’s predecessor, Darrin Horn. Then the Gamecocks delivered a thoroughly impressive performance Wednesday by beating Mississippi, 63-62.

Yes, the 6-game slide was preceded by a 21-point win over Arkansas — USC’s largest

SEE SUMTER, PAGE B2

SEE USC, PAGE B3

Danica brings new eyes to NASCAR CGA to host night golf

event March 23 at SCC

BY JENNA FRYER The Associated Press

FROM STAFF REPORTS DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The big boys brought their little girls to see NASCAR’s shining star.

Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson all took their daughters to meet Danica Patrick this week at Daytona International Speedway.

It was the ultimate backstage pass.

Patrick dropped to one knee, wrapped her right arm around Ella Gordon’s waist and posed for pictures as the 5-year-old flashed an endless grin in Victory Lane last week.

Every day since, Patrick’s crew has handed out dozens and dozens of lugnuts to little girls

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Danica Patrick signs autographs for fans on Friday after her qualifying run for today’s Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla.

clamoring for souvenirs. Annie Edwards wore GoDaddy green shoes for the special occasion.

Evie Johnson recognizes only SEE DANICA, PAGE B4

If you’ve ever wanted to play a golf course in the dark of night, then the Christian Golfers’ Association has the event just for you.

The CGA will play host to the Shot In The Dark Scramble on Saturday, March 23 at Sunset Country Club. The first nine holes of the tournament will be played in the daylight with a 3 p.m. tee time. After dinner, which will be part of the entry fee, the final nine holes will be played in the moonlight, beginning

approximately at 6:30.

Golfers can bring flashlights if they would like.

The field will be limited to 56 players with an entry fee of $55 per golfer. The team that has the lowest score during the daytime round will receive $200, while the team with the low score in the nighttime round will receive $200.

Also, the winners of a putting contest and a closest to pin shoot-out will each receive $100.

To register for the event, call Tom Winstead at (803) 773-2171 or (803) 983-3457 or Eddie Porter at (803) 506-6104.

B2

SPORTS

THE ITEM

SCOREBOARD

SUMTER from Page B1 on 27 of 29 free throws in the second half.

Bennamon got to the line 15 times in the second half. He finished just 2 of 17 from the floor.

Goose Creek head coach Blake Hall said he didn’t give Bennamon any specific instructions to go to the basket more in the final two quarters.

“He was just taking what the defense was giving him,” Hall said of Bennamon, who finished with 24 points, nine rebounds, five assists and five steals. “If they played off of him, he would take the shot; if they played up on him, he would drive around them. That’s just the way he plays the game.”

Sumter got to the free throw line just 16 times and hit only nine of them. Fuller said his team didn’t take advantage of the opportunities it had.

“We just didn’t make enough plays and they did,” the third-year head coach said.

“There were two good teams out there, and when you get in a game like this, it comes down to who makes plays. They made more than we did.”

The game’s offensive pace finally started to pick up in the second half after the sluggish first half. The Gamecocks took a 26-23 lead on consecutive layups from Erick Wright before the Gators ran off seven straight points to go up 30-26. Three of those came when Bennamon was fouled shooting a 3-pointer.

Goose Creek led 32-28 after three quarters and Kameron Robinson hit two free throws nine seconds into the final stanza to make it 34-28. After a Sumter miss, Bennamon pulled up on a 3-pointer from around 28 feet and buried it build the lead to nine.

SHS called a timeout, but it couldn’t quell the momentum as the Gators finished off an 11-0 run to go up 41-28 with 5:38 to go.

“That 3-ball really got the momentum in their favor,” Fuller said. “Them opening that lead made us look at what we were doing a little differently. It was going to make it tougher for us to get back in the game.”

Bennamon, the quarterback on Goose

CRESTWOOD from Page B1 That streak will be put to the test against the Bruinettes, who have a distinct size advantage over the Lady Knights, Wilson said.

“They’re probably the biggest team we’ve played all year,” he said. “They like to work inside-outside.

They’ve got two girls that are probably better than (6foot). We’re going to have to be physical and really challenge for rebounds.”

O-W’s defense has been the strong suite of the team this season, limiting opponents to 33.4 points per game. Guard Sade Johnson leads the team with 4.3 steals per game and 6-2 junior Vondria Ritter has averaged 2.3 blocked shots and 11.1 rebounds per contest as well. Ritter is also third on the team with 9.8 points per game.

The Bruinettes have held their three playoff opponents to an average of 29 points per game. Only Myrtle Beach (41) broke the 30-point plateau.

“They’re a pretty big team – bigger than we are,” Crestwood senior point guard Daniquia Lewis said.

“But we’re going to try to pack some things in; try to contain their size.”

“We’re going to try to use our quickness and mix things up a lot,” Wilson said. “We’re going to have to box out and beat the big girls to their spots.They love to go to the block and post up. They run a good high-low set, so we have to really play disciplined.”

TV, RADIO

MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER / THE ITEM

Sumter’s Micah McBride, left, puts up a jump shot against Goose Creek’s Jordan McElveen (33) during the Gators’ 57-47 victory on Friday in the 4A boys lower state title game at Florence Civic Center.

Creek’s football team that was barred from defending its state title due to an ineligible player, said he just tried to do what his team needed.

“We’d been working hard on our free throws,” Bennamon said. “We took advantage of it today. It feels good that we’re going to get this chance to play for the title.”

Sumter jumped out to an early 9-4 lead to start the game, hitting four of its first six shots, including a trey from point guard Duane Kyles. They led 10-5 after one quarter, but had to feel as though it could have been more. Sumter had seven turnovers in each of the first two quarters, finishing the game with 19.

“We really feel like that was a missed opportunity on our part,” said the 5-foot4-inch Kyles, who led the Gamecocks with nine points. “We had a chance to grab a big lead early in the game.”

White and Anthony Moses both had eight points for the Gamecocks, while Sonny Butler and Auntrell Holloway had six.

Chris Singleton added 15 for the Gators.

Sumter was 17 for 46 from the floor for the game.

“We felt like we had some good looks throughout the game, but we just couldn’t get a lot to go down,” Fuller said. “You have to give Goose Creek credit though; they played some really good defense.”

SCHSL STATE BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS BOYS 4A Friday Upper State Championship Irmo 63, Hillcrest 49 Lower State Championship Goose Creek 57, Sumter 47 Friday, March 1 State Championship at Colonial Life Arena (Columbia) Irmo vs. Goose Creek, 8:30 p.m.

3A Today Upper State Championship at Bi-Lo Center (Greenville) Eastside vs. Daniel 6:30 p.m.

Lower State Championship at Florence Civic Center Darlington vs. Hartsville, 6:30 p.m.

2A Today Upper State Championship at Bi-Lo Center (Greenville) Newberry vs. Keenan, 3:30 p.m.

Lower State Championship at Florence Civic Center Lake Marion vs. Silver Bluff, 3:30 p.m.

1A Today Upper State Championship at Bi-Lo Center (Greenville) Lewisville vs. Christ Church 12:30 p.m.

Lower State Championship at Florence Civic Center Whale Branch vs. Carvers Bay, 12:30 p.m.

A good part of that responsibility will fall to Crestwood’s post players, Wilson added.

“They’re going to have to step up,” he said. “Lanise Smith, Candace Murray, Shaquanda McCray and Alex Smith are going to have to limit their secondchance shots. But the whole team is really going to have to rebound.”

Dejoria Howard, a 5-11 sophomore point guard, leads the Bruinettes with 12 points per game followed by senior Nabresha Hughes with 11.

Crestwood is led by Lewis’ 18 points per game followed by Keanua Williams’ 12. The duo also combines for six assists per contest. Williams also leads the team with seven boards a game followed by McCray with six. Crystal Bennett is third on the team with eight

GIRLS 4A Friday Upper State Championship Dorman 49, Wade Hampton 45 Lower State Championship Dutch Fork 40, Aiken 24 Friday, March 1 State Championship at Colonial Life Arena (Columbia) Dorman vs. Dutch Fork, 7 p.m.

3A Today Upper State Championship at Bi-Lo Center (Greenville) Wren vs. Lower Richland, 5 p.m.

Lower State Championship at Florence Civic Center Crestwood vs. Orangeburg-Wilkinson, 5 p.m.

2A Today Upper State Championship at Bi-Lo Center (Greenville) Abbeville vs. Keenan 2 p.m.

Lower State Championship at Florence Civic Center Kingstree vs. Bishop England, 2 p.m.

1A Today Upper State Championship at Bi-Lo Center (Greenville) McCormick vs. McBee, 11 a.m.

Lower State Championship at Florence Civic Center Hemingway vs. Timmonsville, 11 a.m.

points per game.

“That’s one of the things I like about my team this year,” Wilson said. “We’re very balanced. We’ve got a number of girls who average five or six points a game and everyone does their jobs on defense.”

The Lady Knights’ season turned around after their debut in the CresCom Bank Invitational at Myrtle Beach earlier this year. Though Crestwood went 0-3, that experience should prove valuable tonight, Lewis said.

“It was great to have that experience and to go up against that kind of competition,” Lewis said. “We didn’t play as well as we would have liked, but I think that helped prepare us for the rest of the season. That set the bar for where we needed to be.

“Now we just have to go out and leave it all on the court (today).”

SCISA STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS 3A at Sumter County Civic Center BOYS Semifinals Friday Game 9 -- (U1) Hammond 63, (U2) Augusta Christian 58 Game 10 -- (L2) Cardinal Newman 63, (L1) Porter-Gaud 49 State Championship Today (U1) Hammond vs. (L2) Cardinal

Newman, 8 p.m.

GIRLS Semifinals Friday Game 9 -- (U2) Heathwood Hall 63, (U1) Northwood 47 Game 10 -- (L1) Pinewood Prep 67, (L2) Hammond 37 State Championship Today (U2) Heathwood Hall vs. (L1) Pinewood Prep, 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2013

2A at Sumter County Civic Center BOYS State Championship Today (U1) Spartanburg Christian vs. (L2) Oakbrook Prep, 4 p.m.

GIRLS State Championship Today (U1) Richard Winn vs. (L4) Marlboro, 2:30 p.m.

1A BOYS State Championship Today at Sumter County Civic Center (U1) Laurens vs. (L1) Christian Academy, 12:30 p.m.

GIRLS State Championship Today (U2) Anderson Christian vs. (L1) James Island Christian, 11 a.m.

TODAY 7:30 a.m. -- International Soccer: English Premier League Match -- Fulham vs. Stoke (ESPN2).

9 a.m. -- NFL Football: NFL Scouting Combine from Indianapolis -- Tight ends, Kickers and Offensive Lineman (NFL NETWORK) 10 a.m. -- International Soccer: English Premier League Match -- QPR vs. Manchester United (FOX SOCCER).

10:30 a.m. -- NASCAR Racing: Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 Practice from Daytona Beach, Fla. (SPEED).

11 a.m. -- College Basketball: Iona at Indiana State (ESPNU).

Noon -- College Basketball: Clemson at Maryland (ESPN2, WWBD-FM 94.7, WPUB-FM 102.7).

Noon -- PGA Golf: WGC-Match Play Championship Quarterfinal Matches from Marana, Ariz. (GOLF).

Noon -- Major League Exhibition Baseball: Washington vs. New York Mets from Port St. Lucie, Fla. (MLB NETWORK).

1 p.m. -- College Basketball: Eastern Kentucky at Valparaiso (ESPNU).

1 p.m. -- College Basketball: Miami at Wake Forest (FOX SPORTSOUTH).

1 p.m. -- College Basketball: Southern Mississippi at Memphis (SPORTSOUTH).

1:15 p.m. -- NASCAR Racing: Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 from Daytona Beach, Fla. (ESPN,WEGXFM 92.9).

1:30 p.m. -- College Basketball: Vanderbilt at Mississippi State (WOLO 25).

1:30 p.m. -- College Lacrosse: Maryland at Loyola (Md.) (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

2 p.m. -- PGA Golf: WGC-Match Play Championship Quarterfinal Matches from Marana, Ariz. (WIS 10).

2 p.m. -- College Basketball: South Carolina at Georgia (WBTW 13, WLTX 19, WDXY-FM 105.9, WNKT-FM 107.5, WDXY-AM 1240).

2 p.m. -- College Basketball: Oklahoma State at West Virginia (ESPN2).

2 p.m. -- LPGA Golf: LPGA Thailand Third Round from Chonburi, Thailand (GOLF).

3 p.m. -- College Basketball: Montana at Davidson (ESPNU).

3 p.m. -- College Basketball: Washington State at Arizona (SPORTSOUTH).

4 p.m. -- College Basketball: Georgetown at Syracuse (WBTW 13, WLTX 19).

4 p.m. -- College Basketball: Tennessee at Texas A&M (WOLO 25).

4 p.m. -- College Basketball: Bowie State at Elizabeth City State (WIS3 TIME WARNER 122).

4 p.m. -- College Basketball: North Carolina State at North Carolina (ESPN).

4 p.m. -- College Basketball: Detroit at Wichita State (ESPN2).

4 p.m. -- College Basketball: New Mexico at Colorado State (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

5 p.m. -- College Basketball: Baylor at Oklahoma (ESPNU).

5 p.m. -- College Basketball: Auburn at Mississippi (FOX SPORTSOUTH).

5 p.m. -- College Baseball: Alabama State vs. Southern from Houston (MLB NETWORK).

6 p.m. -- College Basketball: Creighton at St. Mary’s (Calif.) (ESPN).

6 p.m. -- College Basketball: Marquette at Villanova (ESPN2).

6 p.m. -- College Basketball: Nevada at San Diego State (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Arkansas at Florida (ESPNU).

7 p.m. -- International Soccer: CONCACAF Under-20 Championships Group Match from Puebla, Mexico -Mexico vs. El Salvador (FOX SOCCER).

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

8 p.m. -- College Basketball: South Dakota State at Murray State (ESPN2).

8 p.m. -- Major League Exhibition Soccer: Desert Diamond Cup Championship Match from Tucson, Ariz.

(NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

8:30 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Atlanta at Milwaukee (NBA TV).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Missouri at Kentucky (ESPN).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Providence at Rutgers (ESPNU).

9 p.m. -- Professional Boxing: Devon Alexander vs. Kell Brook for the IBF Welterweight Title, J’Leon Love vs.

Derrick Findley in a Middleweight Bout and Cornelius Bundrage vs. Ishe Smith for the IBF Junior Middleweight Title from Detroit (SHOWTIME).

10 p.m. -- College Basketball: Ohio at Belmont (ESPN2).

10:30 p.m. -- Professional Boxing: Vyachselav Glazgov vs. Malik Scott in a Heavyweight Bout from Huntingon, N.Y. (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

11 p.m. -- College Basketball: Washington at Arizona State (ESPNU).

Midnight -- Women’s Professional Tennis: U.S. National Indoor Championship Semifinal Match from Memphis, Tenn. (SPORTSOUTH).

COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCHEDULE Today EAST Oklahoma St. at West Virginia, 2 p.m.

Charleston Southern at Rider, 4 p.m.

Georgetown at Syracuse, 4 p.m.

Marquette at Villanova, 6 p.m.

Providence at Rutgers, 9 p.m.

SOUTH Seton Hall at Louisville, Noon Clemson at Maryland, Noon Southern Miss. at Memphis, 1 p.m.

Miami at Wake Forest, 1 p.m.

Alabama at LSU, 1:30 p.m.

Vanderbilt at Mississippi St., 1:30 p.m.

South Carolina at Georgia, 2 p.m.

Coastal Carolina at W. Carolina, 2 p.m.

SC State at Bethune-Cookman, 4 p.m.

Gardner-Webb at Coll. of Charleston, 4 p.m.

NC State at North Carolina, 4 p.m.

SE Louisiana at Winthrop, 4 p.m.

SC-Upstate at North Florida, 4:30 p.m.

Auburn at Mississippi, 5 p.m.

Arkansas at Florida, 7 p.m.

Furman at Georgia Southern, 7 p.m.

The Citadel at Presbyterian, 7:45 p.m.

Missouri at Kentucky, 9 p.m.

MIDWEST Texas Tech at Iowa St., 1:45 p.m.

Iowa at Nebraska, 2 p.m.

VCU at Xavier, 2 p.m.

TCU at Kansas, 4 p.m.

UConn at DePaul, 8 p.m.

SOUTHWEST East Carolina at SMU, 3 p.m.

Tennessee at Texas A&M, 4 p.m.

Baylor at Oklahoma, 5 p.m.

Kansas St. at Texas, 8 p.m.

FAR WEST Washington St. at Arizona, 3 p.m.

New Mexico at Colorado St., 4 p.m.

California at Oregon St., 6 p.m.

Creighton at Saint Mary’s (Cal), 6 p.m.

Nevada at San Diego St., 6 p.m.

San Diego at Gonzaga, 7 p.m.

UNLV at Wyoming, 7:30 p.m.

Stanford at Oregon, 8 p.m.

Boise St. at Fresno St., 10 p.m.

Washington at Arizona St., 11 p.m.

MLB SPRING TRAINING Friday’s Games Detroit 2, Atlanta 1 Cleveland 11, Cincinnati 10 San Diego 9, Seattle 3 Texas 5, Kansas City 5, tie Today’s Games Washington vs. N.Y. Mets at Port St. Lucie, Fla., 12:10 p.m.

Toronto vs. Detroit at Lakeland, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Houston vs. Philadelphia at Clearwater, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Minnesota vs. Baltimore at Sarasota, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Pittsburgh vs. Tampa Bay (ss) at Port Charlotte, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

St. Louis vs. Miami at Jupiter, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees vs. Atlanta at Kissimmee, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Tampa Bay (ss) vs. Boston at Fort Myers, Fla., 1:35 p.m.

Chicago White Sox vs. L.A. Dodgers at Glendale, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

Texas vs. Kansas City at Surprise, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

Cleveland vs. Cincinnati at Goodyear, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

Seattle vs. San Diego at Peoria, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

L.A. Angels (ss) vs. San Francisco at Scottsdale, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

Oakland vs. Milwaukee at Phoenix, 3:05 p.m.

Chicago Cubs vs. L.A. Angels (ss) at Tempe, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

Colorado vs. Arizona at Scottsdale, Ariz., 3:10 p.m.

Sunday’s Games Baltimore vs. Toronto (ss) at Dunedin, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

| Boston vs. St. Louis at Jupiter, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Atlanta vs. Pittsburgh at Bradenton, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Toronto (ss) vs. N.Y. Yankees at Tampa, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

N.Y. Mets vs. Houston at Kissimmee, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Miami vs. Washington at Viera, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Philadelphia vs. Detroit at Lakeland, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Tampa Bay vs. Minnesota at Fort Myers, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Kansas City vs. Texas at Surprise, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

Cincinnati vs. Cleveland (ss) at Goodyear, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

San Diego vs. Seattle at Peoria, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

Oakland vs. L.A. Angels at Tempe, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

L.A. Dodgers vs. Chicago White Sox at Glendale, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

San Francisco vs. Chicago Cubs at Mesa, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

Cleveland (ss) vs. Milwaukee at Phoenix, 3:05 p.m.

Arizona vs. Colorado at Scottsdale, Ariz., 3:10 p.m.

NBA STANDINGS

By The Associated Press EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pct GB New York 32 19 .627 – Brooklyn 33 22 .600 1 Boston 28 26 .519 51/2 Philadelphia 22 30 .423 101/2 Toronto 22 33 .400 12 Southeast Division W L Pct GB Miami 38 14 .731 – Atlanta 29 23 .558 9 Washington 15 37 .288 23 Orlando 15 39 .278 24 Charlotte 13 41 .241 26 Central Division W L Pct GB Indiana 33 21 .611 – Chicago 31 23 .574 2 Milwaukee 26 27 .491 61/2 Detroit 22 34 .393 12 Cleveland 17 37 .315 16 WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division W L Pct GB San Antonio 44 12 .786 – Memphis 35 18 .660 71/2 Houston 30 26 .536 14 Dallas 24 29 .453 181/2 New Orleans 19 36 .345 241/2 Northwest Division W L Pct GB Okla. City 39 15 .722 – Denver 34 21 .618 51/2 Utah 31 24 .564 81/2 Portland 25 29 .463 14 Minnesota 20 31 .392 171/2 Pacific Division W L Pct GB L.A. Clippers 39 18 .684 – Golden State 31 23 .574 61/2 L.A. Lakers 26 29 .473 12 Sacramento 19 36 .345 19 Phoenix 18 37 .327 20 Thursday’s Games Miami 86, Chicago 67 San Antonio 116, L.A. Clippers 90 Friday’s Games Chicago at Charlotte, 7 p.m.

New York at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Detroit at Indiana, 7 p.m.

Denver at Washington, 7 p.m.

Sacramento at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.

Houston at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.

Orlando at Memphis, 8 p.m.

Dallas at New Orleans, 8 p.m.

Minnesota at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.

Boston at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

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

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

Today’s Games Denver at Charlotte, 7 p.m.

Cleveland at Orlando, 7 p.m.

Houston at Washington, 7 p.m.

Miami at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.

Indiana at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.

Atlanta at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.

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

Sunday’s Games L.A. Lakers at Dallas, 1 p.m.

Golden State at Minnesota, 3:30 p.m.

Sacramento at New Orleans, 6 p.m.

Cleveland at Miami, 6 p.m.

Philadelphia at New York, 7 p.m.

Memphis at Brooklyn, 7 p.m.

San Antonio at Phoenix, 8 p.m.

Boston at Portland, 9 p.m.

Chicago at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m.

NHL STANDINGS

By The Associated Press EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA New Jersey 17 10 3 4 24 45 40 Pittsburgh 17 11 6 0 22 57 44 N.Y. Rangers 16 8 6 2 18 41 41 Philadelphia 19 8 10 1 17 53 59 N.Y. Islanders 17 7 9 1 15 50 60 Northeast Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Montreal 17 11 4 2 24 49 39 Boston 14 10 2 2 22 41 33 Ottawa 18 10 6 2 22 43 34 Toronto 18 11 7 0 22 51 41 Buffalo 18 6 11 1 13 48 59 Southeast Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Carolina 15 8 6 1 17 44 44 Tampa Bay 16 8 7 1 17 61 51 Winnipeg 16 7 8 1 15 41 50 Florida 16 5 7 4 14 40 58 Washington 16 5 10 1 11 43 54 WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Chicago 16 13 0 3 29 55 34 Nashville 17 8 4 5 21 39 38 St. Louis 17 9 6 2 20 53 51 Detroit 17 7 7 3 17 45 51 Columbus 17 5 10 2 12 39 53 Northwest Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Vancouver 16 9 3 4 22 48 40 Minnesota 16 8 6 2 18 36 39 Colorado 15 7 7 1 15 38 43 Edmonton 16 6 7 3 15 37 44 Calgary 15 5 7 3 13 40 54 Pacific Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Anaheim 15 12 2 1 25 53 39 San Jose 15 8 4 3 19 39 34 Phoenix 16 8 6 2 18 44 41 Dallas 17 8 8 1 17 44 47 Los Angeles 15 7 6 2 16 36 38 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss.

Thursday’s Games Ottawa 3, N.Y. Rangers 2, SO Toronto 3, Buffalo 1 Florida 5, Philadelphia 2 New Jersey 3, Washington 2 Winnipeg 4, Carolina 3 N.Y. Islanders 4, Montreal 3, OT Boston 4, Tampa Bay 2 Columbus 3, Detroit 2 Vancouver 4, Dallas 3 Minnesota 3, Edmonton 1 Friday’s Games Florida at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Vancouver at Nashville, 8 p.m.

San Jose at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday’s Games New Jersey at Washington, 12 p.m.

Winnipeg at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.

Phoenix at Edmonton, 3:30 p.m.

Colorado at Los Angeles, 4 p.m.

Nashville at Detroit, 7 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Carolina, 7 p.m.

Toronto at Ottawa, 7 p.m.

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

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

San Jose at Dallas, 8 p.m.

Columbus at St. Louis, 8 p.m.

Minnesota at Calgary, 10 p.m.

Sunday’s Games Boston at Florida, 3 p.m.

Vancouver at Detroit, 5 p.m.

Winnipeg at New Jersey, 5 p.m.

Columbus at Chicago, 7 p.m.

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

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

Colorado at Anaheim, 8 p.m.

Phoenix at Calgary, 8 p.m.

SPORTS

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2013

THE ITEM

Tigers hope Miami loss doesn’t linger

BY MANDRALLIUS ROBINSON Greenville News CLEMSON — Failure does not bother the apathetic. The indifferent do not stare at the ceiling on sleepless nights tormented by disappointment.

While preparing for today’s visit to Maryland, Clemson men’s basketball coach Brad Brownell observed the anguish his players have endured.

He actually has been encouraged by it.

It reveals that they are still invested, that even through a series of letdowns, they have not surrendered to apathy and began to solicit sympathy.

On Sunday, Clemson suffered a 45-43 loss to Miami. The next day, Miami climbed two spots to No. 2 in the USA TODAY coaches poll, while the Tigers were left pondering the mistakes that could have reversed their fortune.

“Losses can linger,” Brownell said, “situations where you really poured your heart into something and played well and then it doesn’t go well at the end. Think about a lot of us who try anything in sports or whatever it is, music or something. If you put your heart and soul into something and then it doesn’t work out, that really hearts.

“When you don’t put as much into it, it doesn’t hurt as much. The cautionary tale then is when you try like that and it doesn’t work out, the next time maybe I’m not going to try as hard because it’s painful.”

However, those who attempt to protect themselves from the agony of failure also shield themselves from the joy of success.

Clemson has suffered five losses by five or fewer points. Its previous two losses were by a combined three points.

Clemson lost to two teams currently ranked in the Top 3 of the coaches poll, Miami and No. 3 Gonzaga, by a total of 10 points.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Clemson’s Devin Booker, top, hangs on to the rim after dunking over Miami’s Trey Jones in the first half of the Tigers’ 45-43 loss on Sunday in Clemson. The Tigers travel to face Maryland today.

Still, sophomore point guard Rod Hall said the Tigers are not sulking through their setbacks and aimlessly drifting through the remainder of the season.

He said they are intent on immediate change.

“Every (close loss) has been frustrating, because we’ll have the game in our hands and then at the end we’ll have a loss,” Hall said. “We just try to figure out what we did wrong, what we could have done better that could change everything. We always lose the game by one possession or two possessions that kind of seemed like they didn’t matter, but at

the end of the day, they did matter.

“We’ve just got to pay more attention to details. If we pay more attention to the details, we wouldn’t have these losses we have.”

Clemson (13-12 overall) is not sitting on a post-season bubble. The Tigers are ranked No. 137 in the NCAA Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) standings and sit eighth in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 5-8 league record.

Yet, with five regular-season games remaining, Clemson still can salvage a winning season. Clemson has not recorded a losing season since 2004.

BASKETBALL ROUNDUP

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Bulls rout NBA-worst Bobcats 105-75 CHARLOTTE — Taj Gibson scored 17 points on 8-of11 shooting and the Chicago Bulls beat Michael Jordan’s Charlotte Bobcats 105-75 Friday night.

With Jordan looking on from the end of the Bobcats’ bench, the Bulls jumped out to a 38-19 lead midway through the second quarter and never looked back.

Carlos Boozer had 10 points and 10 rebounds as eight Bulls finished in double figures.

PACERS PISTONS

119 113

WASHINGTON — The Washington Wizards put on one of their best offensive shows of the season Friday night, putting seven players in double figures while tak-

106 96

NEW YORK — James Harden and Carlos Delfino each scored 22 points, and the Houston Rockets tied their longest winning streak against any opponent by beating the Brooklyn Nets for the 13th straight time, 106-96 on Friday night.

Houston blew most of a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter before Delfino hit a big 3-pointer with 1:54 left.

He later made another jumper before Harden followed with a 3-pointer to put it away.

114 82

INDIANAPOLIS — David West scored 18 points, George Hill had 15 and the surging Indiana Pacers beat the Detroit Pistons 114-82 on Friday night.

Indiana has won three straight and eight of 10, including a 98-79 victory against Detroit on Jan. 30.

WIZARDS NUGGETS

ROCKETS NETS

COLLEGE SAINT LOUIS (15) BUTLER

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Charlotte’s Ramon Sessions, center, drives between Chicago’s Marco Belinelli, left, and Taj Gibson during the first half the Bulls’ 105-75 victory on Friday in Charlotte.

ing down another contending team with a 119-113 win over the Denver Nuggets.

Emeka Okafor had 17 points and 13 rebounds for

the Wizards. Bradley Beal had 17 points and a careerhigh 12 boards, Trevor Ariza scored 16 points and Martell Webster had 15.

65 61

INDIANAPOLIS —Mike McCall had 18 points and Kwamain Mitchell scored 10 of his 12 in the second half to help Saint Louis rally for a 65-61 victory over No. 15 Butler on Friday night.

Dwayne Evans added 17 points for the Billikens, who won for the fourth time this season against a Top 25 opponent.

From wire reports

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USC from Page B1 margin of victory in a Southeastern Conference game since February 2006.

But considering how USC finished the victory over Mississippi, and that the Rebels were fighting for an NCAA tournament bid, Wednesday’s game stands as USC’s signature win of Martin’s first season.

This afternoon at Georgia, USC will try to do something it hasn’t done since January 2011 — win back-to-back SEC games.

With five games left, the Gamecocks (13-13, 3-10 SEC) are still in contention to end a three-year run of losing regular seasons.

After today, they face Missouri and Mississippi State at home, and Texas A&M and Vanderbilt on the road. Missouri is the toughest of those four, but the Gamecocks lost by just six at Missouri last month, before beating Arkansas.

“We’re not settling here,” Smith said after the Mississippi win.

Georgia was the second team in USC’s 6-game losing streak, and beat the Gamecocks by 11. But after disappearing in those six games, USC’s offense returned in the past two. The Gamecocks shot a season-best 57.7 percent against Arkansas, then dipped badly before shooting 45.1 against Alabama and 40 against Mississippi.

USC’s defensive numbers during the streak were dreadful. Its opponents shot 52.8, 58.1, 61.4, 43.9, 44.1 and 46.8 percent. That irked Martin, who wants to build his program around aggressive defense. USC’s defensive grit against Mississippi, which shot 37.5 percent, resembled the efforts against Arkansas and Missouri — 34.4 and 33.3 percent.

Those are USC’s two best field goal percentage defense showings this season. The 37.5 against Mississippi ranks fourth, behind 36.5 against Appalachian State.

If the Gamecocks continue to defend well against Georgia, which shot 58.1 percent against them, then they could find themselves preparing for Thursday’s home game against Missouri with their first threegame SEC winning streak since January 2009 on the line.

“Those are things that we control,” Martin said of defensive energy.

“That’s why, a week ago (after LSU), I was so upset. Energy, enthusiasm, toughness, attention to detail, scouting reports — those are things that you control.”

Skill position stars use combine as proving ground

BY MICHAEL MAROT The Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS — Matt Barkley and Landry Jones made some tough calls last season.

Instead of taking first-round money and leaving school early, they decided to stick around, hone their skills, chase a national championship and improve their draft stock.

With the NFL draft about two months away, the two quarterbacks once billed as Heisman Trophy front-runners are now trying to improve to enhance their chances of being selected early.

“I’ve learned a lot in this past year that you can’t teach

in a classroom,’’ Barkley said Friday at the NFL scouting combine. “You have to learn through experience in regards to handling adversity at its peak. You have to get guys going in the locker room, in the huddle, on the practice field when you’re not playing for the postseason. It allowed me to step BARKLEY up and be that voice.’’

It’s unclear whether that will help Barkley in a year where there is no clear-cut top choice, even among the quarterbacks.

Scouts saw Barkley and

Southern California’s shot at a national championship — and his chance for the Heisman — come crashing down in a season that went terribly wrong. Becoming the first quarterback taken in the draft took a hit when he sprained his right shoulder in a late-season JONES loss to crosstown rival UCLA. Barkley never took another college snap, and though he acknowledged Friday the rehab program is on track, critics are already wondering why he won’t throw until his March 27 pro day.

Barkley also may find himself answering questions about a locker room dust-up that followed the Trojans’ Sun Bowl loss to Georgia Tech.

“It was a normal football locker room environment. That happens all the time, trust me.

It happens all the time on teams across the country,’’ Barkley said. “It was nothing out of hand. It was guys exchanging words and wanting to set the record straight. But the captains, myself and some of the other seniors, we had everything under control.’’

The concerns about Jones have nothing do with health.

In 2012, he actually threw for more touchdowns, a higher completion percentage and

had fewer interceptions and a better efficiency rating than in the previous season. But the perception after Oklahoma fell out of the title chase was that Jones failed to improve his poise in the pocket or his footwork. His performance at the Senior Bowl (3 of 9 for 16 yards with two sacks) raised more red flags.

Jones believes the extra year in college has made him better.

“I think I showed the things that I wanted to improve on,’’ he said after measuring in at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds in Indy. “I shortened my motion and move around in the pocket a lot more than I have been.’’

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SPORTS

THE ITEM

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2013

Cabrera, Kimbrel duel in Braves’ loss

BY PAUL NEWBERRY The Associated Press KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The first game of spring training can provide some unusual scenarios.

Such as Detroit slugger Miguel Cabrera facing Atlanta closer Craig Kimbrel — in the third inning.

Coming off baseball’s first Triple Crown season since 1967, Cabrera grounded out against Kimbrel before finishing his day with a drive to the warning track in center field, not a factor as the Tigers beat the Braves 2-1 Friday in the opening exhibition game of the year between big league teams.

Cabrera, who led the AL with 44 homers, 139 RBIs and a .330 average, got a chance to pose with Mickey and Minnie Mouse before batting practice, a nod to the game being played at the Braves’ Disney World complex. Then, to chants of “MVP! MVP!’’ from the stands, he grounded out in the first against Tim Hudson.

In the third, Kimbrel took over for Hudson and promptly walked the first two hitters. The closer fanned Quinton Berry and got Omar Infante on a flyout before Cabrera stepped in again.

Kimbrel, coming off a season with 42 saves, 1.01 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 62 2-3 innings, doled out a steady stream of fastballs in the mid-90s. One of them went all the way to the backstop, allowing the runners to move up, but Cabrera grounded a 3-2 pitch to shortstop Andrelton Simmons that ended the threat.

“It’s a little different than rolling out there in the ninth inning,’’ Kimbrel said. “But I was just getting in my work.’’

Both Cabrera (Venezuela) and Kimbrel (United States) will soon be leaving camp to play in the World Baseball Classic. They could wind up facing each other with a lot more on the line.

“I might see him here in a few weeks,’’ Kimbrel said. “I’m happy to get through the inning.’’

Justin and B.J. Upton made their Atlanta spring training debuts. The brothers both went 0 for 2, then scooted out of the clubhouse before the media was allowed in.

The Uptons are part of a new era for the Braves, who must replace retired third baseman Chipper Jones, a stalwart for nearly two decades in the middle of the order. B.J. was signed as a free agent to a $75.25 million, five-year contract, while Justin was acquired in a blockbuster deal with Arizona.

“We do have a lot of new faces,’’ said right fielder

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Kurt Busch had another date with a tow truck.

Nah, not to take away one of his wrecked cars.

Busch had some fun with Mater, the rusty, bucktoothed tow truck and cartoon star of “Cars,’’ on a trip this week to Disney World. Busch playfully stretched the back of his collar to act like he was hooked to Mater’s cable. With his tongue out, the picture on his Twitter feed was a lighthearted snapshot at Busch’s off-track life, chilling with his girlfriend

and her son, and smiling alongside Mater and his best friend, Lightning McQueen.

It’s the kind of awshucks personality so many in NASCAR would like to see from Busch.

Busch’s prodigious talent has never been KURT BUSCH doubted, with 24 career Cup wins and the 2004 championship etched on his resume.

But his prickly personality has cost him major rides, deep-pocketed sponsors, and turned him into a jour-

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Detroit’s Prince Fielder (28) breaks up a double play as Atlanta second baseman Dan Uggla, top, leaps to avoid him during Friday’s exhibition game in Kissimmee, Fla. The Tigers won 2-1.

Jason Heyward, who started alongside the Uptons in one of baseball’s most touted outfield trios. “We just want to get a feel of things, talking and communicating.’’

The Tigers were hitless through seven innings but went ahead in the eighth, long after the starters had departed. Tyler Collins tripled to right-center off Ryan Buchter, and Jeff Kobernus followed with another triple to nearly the same spot. Hernan Perez’s sacrifice fly brought home Kobernus.

Joey Terdoslavich homered for Atlanta in the ninth, and Ramiro Pena nearly tied it with a drive that was hauled in against the wall in left. Jose Alvarez retired Ernesto Mejia on a grounder with the potential tying run on base, earning the save.

The win went to Jose Ortega, who threw a scoreless seventh. Buchter took the loss, surrendering three of Detroit’s four hits in his lone inning.

neyman driver at only 34. His 2013 ride with Furniture Row Racing is his third team in three seasons, and no one would confuse last season’s underfunded spin with Phoenix Racing as anything close to his previous heavyweight stops with Jack Roush and Roger Penske.

“Kurt’s one of the best drivers out there. I can say that,’’ Phoenix owner James Finch said.

“I didn’t say he was the best person.’’

Busch’s propensity for wrecking cars — about two dozen by Finch’s count — his outbursts at the media and dustups with other driv-

ers that landed him on probation were more than Finch could handle. When Busch had the chance to finish last season with Furniture Row, Finch let him walk.

Busch’s aggressive driving followed him to Denver-based Furniture Row. He wrecked the No. 78 Chevrolet during Daytona 500 practice last week and was collected in a costly crash in the exhibition Sprint Unlimited the next night. His Furniture Row team was getting assistance from Richard Childress Racing on car repairs to ensure Busch gets to Sunday’s Daytona 500, where he qualified a solid 11th.

SPORTS ITEMS

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Watson the only top 10 seed left at Match Play MARANA, Ariz. — And then there was one.

One day after Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods went home, more top seeds followed Friday in the Match Play Championship.

Masters champion Bubba Watson was the only player from the top 10 remaining at Dove Mountain.

Watson, the No. 8 WATSON seed, missed two short putts that would have won the match before he finally put away Jim Furyk in 22 holes. It’s the first time since 1999 that only one top-10 seed was remaining after two rounds.

Scott Piercy hammered thirdseeded Luke Donald, Robert Garrigus beat No. 4 Louis Oosthuizen and fifth-seeded Justin Rose fell to Nicolas Colsaerts.

MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS Second Round Friday Seeds in parentheses Nicolas Colsaerts (37), Belgium, def. Justin Rose (5), England, 4 and 2.

Matt Kuchar (21), United States, def. Sergio Garcia (12), Spain, 2 and 1.

Tim Clark (59), South Africa, def. Thorbjorn Olesen (38), Denmark, 3 and 2.

Ian Poulter (11), England, def. Bo Van Pelt (22), United States, 3 and 1.

Bubba Watson (8), United States, def. Jim Furyk (25), United States, 22 holes.

Jason Day (41) Australia, def. vs. Russell Henley (56), United States, 19 holes.

Martin Kaymer (26), Germany, def. Rafael Cabrera Bello (58), Spain, 2 and 1.

Hunter Mahan (23), United States, def. Richard Sterne (55), South Africa, 4 and 3.

Robert Garrigus (36), United States, def. Louis Oosthuizen (4), South Africa, 3 and 2.

Fredrik Jacobson (45), Sweden, def. Marcus Fraser (52), Australia, 4 and 3.

Scott Piercy (35), United States, def. Luke Donald (3), England, 7 and 6.

Steve Stricker (14), United States, def. Nick Watney (19), United States, 21 holes.

Shane Lowry (64), Ireland, def. Carl Pettersson (33), Sweden, 6 and 5.

Graeme McDowell (17), Northern Ireland, def. Alexander Noren (49), Sweden, 20 holes.

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (31), Spain, def. Charles Howell III (63), United States, 6 and 5.

Webb Simpson (15), United States, def. Peter Hanson (18), Sweden, 1 up.

BAYNE ON NATIONWIDE POLE AT DAYTONA

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Former Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne will start from the pole in the Nationwide Series season opener.

Bayne turned the fast lap during qualifying at Daytona Inter-

21. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevy, 195.084.

22. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevy, 195.042.

23. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 194.961.

24. (9) Marcos Ambrose, Ford, 194.793.

25. (29) Kevin Harvick, Chevy, 194.742.

26. (43) Aric Almirola, Ford, 194.742.

27. (16) Greg Biffle, Ford, 194.729.

28. (55) Mark Martin, Toyota, 194.683.

29. (38) David Gilliland, Ford, 194.654.

30. (34) David Ragan, Ford, 194.616.

31. (26) Michael Waltrip, Toyota, 194.313.

32. (35) Josh Wise, Ford, 194.254.

33. (78) Kurt Busch, Chevy, 193.657.

34. (98) Michael McDowell, Ford, 193.544.

35. (95) Scott Speed, Ford, 193.540.

36. (32) Terry Labonte, Ford, 193.515.

37. (51) Regan Smith, Chevy, 193.096.

38. (7) Dave Blaney, Chevy, 192.996.

39. (47) Bobby Labonte, Toyota, 192.563.

40. (36) JJ Yeley, Chevrolet, 192.094.

41. (83) David Reutimann, Toyota, 190.339.

42. (93) Travis Kvapil, Toyota, 190.142.

43. (87) Joe Nemechek, Toyota, owner points.

Failed to qualify 44. (19) Mike Bliss, Toyota, owner points.

45. (52) Brian Keselowski, Toyota, owner points.

DANICA from Page B1

Kurt Busch takes run at success with new team

BY DAN GELSTON The Associated Press

DAYTONA 500 LINEUP The Associated Press After Feb. 17 qualifying; race Sunday At Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Fla. Lap length: 2.5 miles (Car number in parentheses) 1. (10) Danica Patrick, Chevrolet, 196.434 mph.

2. (24) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 196.292.

3. (21) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 195.976.

4. (39) Ryan Newman, Chevy, 195.946.

5. (14) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 195.925.

6. (5) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 195.852.

7. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 195.771.

8. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 195.767.

9. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 195.767.

10. (20) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 195.725.

11. (88) Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Chevrolet, 195.584.

12. (17) Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Ford, 195.537.

13. (42) Juan Montoya, Chevy, 195.508.

14. (27) Paul Menard, Chevy, 195.503.

15. (13) Casey Mears, Ford, 195.495.

16. (33) Austin Dillon, Chevy, 195.385.

17. (99) Carl Edwards, Ford, 195.240.

18. (15) Clint Bowyer, Toyota, 195.228.

19. (56) Martin Truex, Jr., Toyota, 195.207.

20. (31) Jeff Burton, Chevy, 195.156.

national Speedway on Friday, averaging 177.162 mph around the 2 1/2-mile superspeedway.

Bayne is driving the No. 6 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing, the car Ricky Stenhouse Jr. piloted to the last two championships.

USC, CLEMSON BASEBALL GAMES POSTPONED

The South Carolina-Albany baseball game scheduled for Friday has been postponed due to inclement weather in Columbia.

The two teams will begin the series today with a single game scheduled for 4 p.m. at Carolina Stadium. A doubleheader has been scheduled for Sunday beginning at noon. Both games will be nine innings.

Likewise, the Clemson-Wright State series opener has been pushed back a day as well.

The two teams are now scheduled to play a doubleheader today starting at 1 p.m. at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Both games will be 9-inning contests and there will be approximately 30 minutes in between the games.

LEWIS HOLDS 3-SHOT LEAD AT THAILAND

CHONBURI, Thailand — Stacy Lewis shot a 3-under 69 Friday to keep her three-stroke lead after the second round of the LPGA Thailand.

Lewis had five birdies and two bogeys to follow up her 63 Thursday for a 12-under 132 total.

From wire, staff reports

two cars, her Dad said — his and the green one.

“Carl was saying it’s good that she sees me in real life and in person because `To her, you are like some mythical creature that doesn’t exist,’” Patrick said. “Then after qualifying, Jimmie Johnson brought his little girl over.

That’s three pretty big drivers who have little girls that wanted to meet me.’’

Danicamania is in full bloom at Daytona — and with a brand new audience.

The first woman in history to earn the top starting spot in a race at NASCAR’s elite Sprint Cup Series, Patrick will bring new eyeballs to Sunday’s season-opening Daytona 500. She’ll lure in casual sports fans, women who don’t know a muffler from a manifold, and little girls in awe of the glamorous driver and her fast green car.

It’s an ambassador role Patrick has played since her 2005 debut at the Indianapolis 500, where she became the first woman to lead laps in the biggest race in the world. But it’s so much more now.

“You can only lead by example and I don’t necessarily want my example to step outside the box and be a girl in a guy’s world. That’s not what I am trying to say,’’ Patrick said. “But if you have a talent for something, do not be afraid to follow through with it and not feel different. Do not feel like you are less qualified or less competent to be able to do the job because you are different. Ignore that and let it be about what your potential is.’’

And right now, she believes her potential is to win “The Great American Race.’’

Patrick starts first on Sunday, next to fourtime champion Gordon, and after running 32 laps in Friday’s practice and mixing it up with NASCAR’s biggest stars, she was more convinced than ever that she can be a player in the race.

“Can I win? Yeah. Absolutely,’’ Patrick said.

“I feel comfortable in this kind of race situation. I feel comfortable in the draft. I feel comfortable that the speeds are not a problem. I know I am inexperienced. I know I am rookie out there. I will do the best job I can to win. I do believe I have a chance to win. I do believe experience would help, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a chance to win.’’

Crew chief Tony Gibson was even more convinced he’s got a winner for Sunday. He was part of Derrike Cope’s improbable 1990 victory, when Cope inherited the win when the late Dale Earnhnardt blew a tire on the final lap. “ She has got the talent,’’ Gibson said.

“She’s already proven in the Nationwide Series, from what I’ve seen on the speedway stuff, she definitely gets the respect. People know she’s fast. She can draft. She knows how the air works. She gets a lot of that from IndyCar. So I have 100 percent confidence she can win the Daytona 500.

“I remember Derrike Cope, nobody gave him a chance, either, but I saw him in Victory Lane. I know it can be done.’’

But the Daytona 500 is a pressure-packed race unlike anything except the Indy 500. Some of the best drivers never win it — it took 7-time champion Earnhardt 20 tries — and Tony Stewart, Patrick’s teammate and car owner, goes into Sunday’s race seeking his first victory in 15 tries.

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2013

AROUND TOWN

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The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program will offer free income tax assistance and electronic filing for taxpayers with low to middle incomes. Assistance will be available 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays through April 10 at the Shepherd’s Center, 24 Council St. For details, call Lynda at (803) 469-8322 or Sandra at (803) 469-2052.

The Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 817 will meet at 12:30 p.m. today at VFW Post 3034, 1925 Gion St. All Purple Heart recipients and those interested in associate membership are invited. Call (803) 506-3120.

Hillcrest High School Class of 1973 will hold a reunion meeting at 4 p.m. today at Harry Graham’s Place, corner of Queen Chapel Road and Cannery Road, Dalzell, SC 29040. Call (803) 840-2082.

Sumter High School Class of 1974 will hold a reunion meeting at 5:30 p.m. today at VFW Post No. 10813, 610 Manning Ave. For information, call Mechelle Potts at (803) 775-6959.

The Sumter Branch NAACP Annual Black History Program will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24, at Mulberry Missionary Baptist Church, 1400 Mulberry Church Road.

Do you need help with your resume?

The Sumter County Library will offer free resume assistance at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25, at the Wesmark branch, 180 W. Wesmark Blvd. Visit or call to register for oneon-one assistance.

The Sumter County Education Association-Retired will meet at noon Wednesday, Feb. 27, at North HOPE Center, North Main Street. Call (803) 5062832.

The Sumter Unit of the National Association of Parliamentarians (NAP) will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, at the Sumter County Historical Commission, 155 Haynsworth St. NAP meetings and workshops are designed to assist clubs and businesses conduct more orderly and productive meetings through correct usage of parliamentary procedure.

Contact Laura LeGrand at (803) 840-9310 or at lollie@ftc-i.net.

The Campbell Soup lunch group will meet at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 2, at Golden Corral.

A Zumbathon fundraiser for the James R. Clark Sickle Cell Foundation will be held 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 9, at the M.H. Newton Family Life Center, 415 Manning Ave. Contact Angela K. Burkett at (803) 968-3644 or at FoxyAKB@sc.rr.com.

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American Ninja Warrior: Best of Chicago Fire: A Little Taste Severide Saturday Night Live Scheduled: host WIS News 10 at (:29) Saturday Night Live Late-night Northeast Preliminary qualifiers from finds that he and Eric Whaley share a Christoph Waltz; musical guest Ala- 11:00pm News comedy featuring sketch comedy, the Northeast compete once again. familiar past. (HD) bama Shakes. (HD) and weather. celeb hosts, and music. (HD) Inside Edition (N) Paid Program NCIS: Extreme Prejudice The NCIS 48 Hours: The Accuser (N) Vanity Fair’s Hollywood (N) (HD) News 19 @ 11pm CSI: Miami: All Fall Down A serial killer (HD) Sponsored televi- team attempts to overcome their pain A look at the news taunts the team with cryptic mession programming. and find the bombing suspect. (HD) events of the day. sages as the death toll rises. (HD) Jeopardy! (HD) Dreamgirls (‘06, Musical) aaa Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé. Three young ladies with a twinkle in their eyes for stardom ABC Columbia Burn Notice: Good Soldier Michael Wheel of ForNews at 11 Nightly helps a man who is being pressured to are shaped into a popular R&B girl group during the 1960s by their ambitious manager, but the spoils of fame and tune: Great Outnews report. (HD) assist with a heist. (HD) shady acquisitions take a toll on their deep friendship. (HD) doors (HD) Lark Rise to Candleford Alf decides Sherlock Holmes: The Three Gables Last of the Sum- Call the Midwife Jenny cares for a Sun Studio Ses- Austin City Limits: Esperanza Nature: A Murder to throw a celebratory party after Holmes must contend with intimidat- mer Wine: Good- Nonnatus House worker’s brother af- sions: Jakob Dylan Spalding Songs from “Radio Music So- of Crows Mischiemoving into his own cottage. ing Spanish enchantress. night Sweet Ferret ter his cancer diagnosis. (HD) and Three Legs ciety” album. (N) (HD) vous species. (HD) The Big Bang The Big Bang Cops: Street Patrol Cops: Street Ar- The Following: The Siege Hardy and WACH FOX News omg! Insider (N) Hell’s Kitchen: 16 Chefs Compete 30 Seconds to Theory: The Toast Theory Leonard’s #3 Home; knife; rests #3 Suspect the FBI put their plan into motion; at 10 Nightly news (HD) Gordon tasks the 16 chefs with creat- Fame (HD) Derivation (HD) choice. (HD) naked. (N) (HD) hides. (HD) Carroll seeks a lawyer. (HD) report. ing unique & classic American dishes.

The Office: Pool The Office: After The First Family The First Family Mr. Box Office (N) Mr. Box Office Law & Order: Terminal Detectives ap- Access Hollywood (N) (HD) The Collector: Party Robert hosts Hours Scranton (N) (HD) (HD) prehend a suspect with an apparent The Comic Secrets a pool party. (HD) stays late. (HD) secret second life. (HD) exposed. (HD) Entertainment Tonight (N) (HD)

CABLE CHANNELS Storage Wars Storage Wars Storage Wars Storage Wars Storage Wars Storage Wars Southie Rules Southie Rules (N) (:01) Southie (:31) Southie Storage Wars (HD) Kindness; tattoo. Tactics changed. Cold War item. Darrell’s big find. (HD) Minivan tour. (N) (HD) Rules (N) (HD) Rules (N) (HD) Tactics changed.

(6:00) The Shawshank Redemption (‘94, Drama) aaaa Tim Robbins. An The Shawshank Redemption (‘94, Drama) aaaa Tim Robbins. A banker wrongly convicted of his wife’s murder A Few Good Men innocent man convicted of his wife’s murder copes with the horrors of prison. becomes an invaluable asset to a crooked warden and his fellow inmates while still holding hope for his release. (HD) (‘92) aaa (HD) Too Cute!: Curious Kittens (HD) Too Cute!: Kitten Beauties (N) (HD) Pit Boss Replacing Ashley. (N) (HD) Bad Dog!: Naughty By Nature (HD) Pit Boss: Everybody’s Changing (HD) Bad Dog! (HD) (5:30)All About the Benjamins (‘02, Waist Deep (‘06, Action) aa Tyrese Gibson. Recently released convict en- He Got Game (‘98, Drama) aac Denzel Washington. A governor offers a man clemency if his Comedy) aa Ice Cube. lists the aid of a sexy hustler to get his son back. son will play basketball at his college.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta: Bad Boys II (‘03, Action) Martin Lawrence. Tough narcotics cops head up a task force charged Bad Boys II (‘03, Action) aac Martin Lawrence. Tough narcotics cops head Praise the Pageant Cynthia’s pageant. with stopping a dangerous drug kingpin and his batch of ecstasy from hitting the streets of Miami. up a task force to stop a dangerous drug kingpin.

Money in Motion I Made Millions American Greed: Shipwrecked The Suze Orman Show (N) Princess: Treva Princess: Lauren American Greed: Shipwrecked Suze Orman CNN Newsroom Saturday CNN Presents One-topic studies. (HD) Piers Morgan Tonight (HD) CNN Newsroom Saturday CNN Presents One-topic studies. (HD) Tonight (HD) Trading Places Coming to America (‘88) Eddie Murphy. A young African prince flees from an arranged marriage Katt Williams: It’s Pimpin’ Pimpin’ Kevin Hart: Seriously Funny Family, Katt Williams (‘83) Dan Aykroyd. and travels to New York in search of a queen who is as intelligent and strong-willed as himself. (‘08) aaa (HD) fears, cursing and phone sex. (HD) Kattpacalypse Jessie: GreenJessie Lucky Jessie: Jessie’s Big Break Jessie gets a Gravity Falls: Boss Dog With a Blog: A.N.T. Farm: Jessie Tony’s par- Austin & Ally A.N.T. Farm: early Disney’s Shake It Eyed Monsters socks. (HD) job as a stunt double. (HD) Mabel (HD) Stan Stops Talking intelligANT (HD) ents. (HD) Trent is caught. retiremANT (HD) Up! (HD) Fast N’ Loud Barter; accident. (HD) Secrets of the Secret Service (HD) Killing bin Laden Mission details. (HD) Argo: Inside Story (N) (HD) Killing bin Laden Mission details. (HD) Argo: Inside (HD) (6:00) College Basketball z{| (HD) College GameDay (HD) College Basketball: Missouri Tigers at Kentucky Wildcats z{| (HD) SportsCenter: from Bristol, Conn.

SportsCenter (6:00) College Basketball z{| (HD) College Basketball: South Dakota State vs Murray State z{| (HD) College Basketball: Ohio Bobcats at Belmont Bruins z{| (HD) Basketball (HD) The Wedding Planner (‘01, Romance) ac Matthew McConaughey. A successful wedding plan- Burlesque (‘10, Drama) Cher. A small-town girl moves to Los Angeles and works in a failing bur- Coyote Ugly (‘00) ner falls in love with a charming groom-to-be. (HD) lesque lounge, and she is coached by the club owner about the difficulties of being on stage. (HD) Piper Perabo. (HD) Diners (HD) Diners (HD) Diners (HD) Diners (HD) Diners (HD) Diners (HD) Diners (HD) Diners (HD) Iron Chef America Pork fat battle. Diners (HD) NHL Hockey: Tampa Bay Lightning at Carolina Hurricanes from PNC Arena z{| (HD) Hurricanes Live! Postgame (HD) World Poker Tour no} (HD) Basketball Lucy Lucy misun- I Love Lucy: The I Love Lucy: The I Love Lucy: The I Love Lucy: Men I Love Lucy: The Lucy: Lucy Is Jeal- I Love Lucy: I Love Lucy: The I Love Lucy: The I Love Lucy: The derstands Quiz Show Audition Séance Are Messy Fur Coat ous of Girl Singer Drafted Adagio Benefit Amateur Hour House Hunters: Renovation (HD) Love It or List It: Sibling Rivalry (HD) Love It or List It: Daddy Daycare (HD) Hunters (HD) Hunters (HD) Hunters (HD) Hunters (HD) Love It (HD) Pawn Stars (HD) Pawn Stars (HD) Pawn Stars (HD) Pawn Stars (HD) Pawn Stars (HD) Pawn Stars (HD) Pawn Stars (HD) Pawn Stars (HD) Challenge (HD) Pawn Stars (HD) Pawn Stars (HD) House: Birthmarks House diagnoses a House: Lucky Thirteen Thirteen’s House: Joy Man suffering blackouts psych: He Dead Shawn hunts down a psych: High Noon-ish Investigation in psych woman over the phone. (HD) one-night stand falls ill. (HD) and time lapses. (HD) murderer. a Wild West town.

Demon-possessed.

(6:00)Accused at 17 (‘10, Drama) Stalked at 17 (‘12, Drama) aaa Taylor Spreitler. A teenage girl and her new Fugitive at 17 (‘12, Drama) aaa Christina Cox. A teenager with a knack for (:02)Stalked at 17 Cynthia Gibb. Framed for murder. (HD) baby are threatened by her boyfriend. (HD) computer hacking finds herself suspected of murder. (HD) (‘12) aaa (HD) Sponge Sponge Wendell (N) Marvin Marvin Supah Ninjas (N) Wendell Dad Run Nanny Friends (:33) Friends (:06) Friends Underworld (‘03) Kate Beckinsale. Expendables (‘10, Action) aaac Sylvester Stallone. Mercenaries try to take down a dictator. The Expendables (‘10, Action) aaac Sylvester Stallone. Elite mercenaries.

Meteor Storm (‘10, Science Fiction) Michael Trucco. A passing meteor End of the World (‘13, Drama) Brad Dourif. Video clerks & institutionalized sci- Doomsday Prophecy (‘11, Science Fiction) A.J. Buckley. shower changes course and begins destroying San Francisco. (HD) entist-turned-sci-fi writer save mankind.

Man tries to prevent apocalyptic future. (HD) The King of Family Guy: North The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang King of the Nerds: Nerdy Dancing Cougar Town Queens (HD)

by North Quahog Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Music; dance. (HD) (HD) (6:00)Guess Who’s Coming to Din- On the Waterfront (‘54, Drama) aaac Marlon Brando. A dockworker is The Harder They Fall (‘56, Drama) aac Humphrey Bogart. A The Caine Mutiny ner (‘67, Drama) aaac asked to testify after a friend falls victim to corruption. down-and-out reporter becomes the press agent for a shady boxing promoter. (‘54) aaac Untold Stories of the E.R. (HD) Untold Stories of the E.R. (HD) Untold Stories of the E.R. (HD) Untold Stories of the E.R. (HD) Untold Stories of the E.R. (HD) Untold ER (HD) (6:00)The Librarian: The Curse of the War of the Worlds (‘05) aaa Tom Cruise. A father tries to keep his resentful son and preco- War of the Worlds (‘05, Science Fiction) aaa Tom Cruise. A man protects Judas Chalice (‘08) Noah Wyle. (HD) cious daughter alive as they flee from a surprise attack launched by a relentless, alien foe. (HD) his children as aliens launch a deadly attack on Earth. (HD) Robots (‘05, Family) Halle Berry. A robot dreams of impressing a tycoon.

Venture (HD) Family Family Cleveland (HD) Dynamite (HD) Boondcks Bleach (N) Wipeout Obstacle course. (HD) Wipeout Snowboard halfpipe. (HD) Wipeout: Deck the Balls (HD) Upload w/ Shaq Jokers Top 20 Most Shocking: Goin’ Ballistic Top 20 (:05) Cosby (:43) The Cosby Show (:21) Cosby Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Queens (HD) Queens (HD) (5:30)National Treasure: Book of Se- Schindler’s List (‘93, Drama) aaaa Liam Neeson. A Czech businessman who planned to get rich off the Nazis (:18) National Treasure: Book of Secrets (‘07, Comedy) crets (‘07, Comedy) aac during World War II decides to turn his profits toward saving the lives of his Jewish workers. aac Nicolas Cage.

Joan & Melissa Joan Knows (HD) Joan & Melissa Joan Knows (HD) Joan & Melissa Joan Knows (N) (HD) Joan & Melissa Joan Knows (HD) Joan & Melissa Joan Knows (HD) Joan & (HD) Funniest Home Videos (HD) Funniest Home Videos (HD) Funniest Home Videos (HD) WGN News at Nine (HD) Bones: The Secret in the Soil (HD) Bones (HD)

Can MacFarlane pull off Oscars hosting gig?

BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH It’s official. Seth MacFarlane is now big enough to compete against himself. Fans have a choice between watching him host the Oscars (8:30 p.m. Sunday, ABC, TV-14) or watching repeats of his creations “The Cleveland Show,” “Family Guy” and “American Dad” on Fox. It’s a little like when the Emmys ask fans of “Homeland” to choose between watching the show, or watching it win awards. The major difference being that “Homeland” is actually worth watching.

MacFarlane will certainly draw viewers who are curious to see how well, or how badly, he performs. The audience is enormous and the stakes are said to be high, but the consequences of failure are really pretty minuscule. David Letterman, Chris Rock, Jon Stewart, James Franco and Anne Hathaway all bombed to some extent while hosting the big show — with little collateral damage to their careers.

In fact, one could take a contrarian view and argue that it’s the really successful hosts who tend to stagnate. Billy Crystal had been in several hit movies when he started hosting the Oscars. Since then, his reputation has pretty much revolved around the golden guy. The job isn’t a launching pad but a sign that one has arrived at the back nine of a long career.

Longtime hosts Crystal (nine appearances) and Bob Hope (19 appearances) frequently used their Oscar perch as a platform to complain that they weren’t taken seriously enough as filmmakers. Like Crystal, four-time host Whoopi Goldberg had peaked as a box-office attraction when she first hosted in 1993. Five-time host Johnny Carson was not a film actor at all.

And like Stewart, Hathaway and Franco, MacFarlane was clearly hired to reach a younger television audience. But his most difficult task will be connecting with “the room” — the assembled gathering of nominees and other glittering celebs.

The show, even with its pretense of hipness, brings out a rather solemn crowd, a highly paid bunch of folks who take their professions and their extracurricular do-gooding seriously. This isn’t the Golden Globes. Remember the 2005 ceremony, when host Chris Rock lampooned Jude Law? It was seen as an unforgivable lapse in taste.

Speaking of solemnity, the prevailing wisdom has the best picture Oscar going to either “Lincoln” or “Argo.” Both dramas are set in the past. But only “Argo” has a movie industry angle. When in doubt, always bet on Hollywood to congratulate Hollywood. After all, that’s what the Oscars are all about.

• If Pam Grier can appear in a Hallmark movie (“Ladies of the House,” 2008), why not Sonia Braga? The sultry Brazilian actress (“Dona Flora and Her Two Husbands,” “Kiss of the Spider Woman”) stars in the 2013 romantic comedy “Meddling Mom” (8 p.m. Saturday, Hallmark Movie Channel). Tony Plana (“Ugly Betty”) co-stars.

• Brad Dourif stars in the 2013 shocker “End of the World” (9 p.m. Saturday, Syfy).

Think the recent Siberian meteorite story was freaky? Try dollops of blood plasma falling from the sky. The gooey precipitation leads to power outages and all-around chaos. Faced with the apocalypse, two video store employees use their knowledge of every disaster movie ever made to save humanity. Given last week’s events, the most far-fetched aspect of “End of the World” is the existence of a video store!

• “Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?” (9 p.m. Saturday, WE) enters its third season with Melissa mulling the possible end to her relationship with a wealthy pornographer and Joan beginning a budding friendship with an unattached lesbian.

For all of its obvious “outrageousness,” this show breaks little new ground in the fading-celebrity reality genre. There’s about 10 minutes of “drama” in this hourlong ordeal.

• “Masterpiece Contempo-

rary” (9 p.m. Sunday, PBS) offers a repeat of the 2011 drama “Page Eight,” an understated thriller set at the highest levels of British intelligence. When a startling leak threatens to topple the prime minister (Ralph Fiennes), ties both personal and diplomatic come under scrutiny.

A uniformly stellar cast includes Bill Nighy as a dissipated spymaster whose only constant seems to be his longtime boss and former professor (Michael Gambon). Life gets complicated when a fetching new neighbor (Rachel Weisz) suddenly appears, a little too coincidentally.

The fact that she’s linked to a Middle Eastern scandal raises a number of red flags. Look for Judy Davis as Nighy’s venomous co-worker.

Saturday’s Highlights • Jennifer Hudson (“Smash,” “American Idol”) upstaged an all-star cast, including Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles and Eddie Murphy, to snag an Oscar for the 2006 musical “Dreamgirls” (8 p.m., ABC), based on the story of the Supremes.

• Panic spreads among the faithful on “The Following” (9 p.m., Fox, r, TV-14).

• “Vanity Fair’s Hollywood” (10 p.m., CBS) offers a glance inside the making of a magazine issue linked to Sunday’s Oscar ceremonies.

• The 2013 Independent Spirit Awards (10 p.m., IFC, TVMA).

• Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Matt Lucas, Delia Smith and Rita Ora appear on “The Graham Norton Show” (10:15 p.m., BBC America, TV-14).

Sunday’s Highlights • Scheduled on “60 Minutes” (7 p.m., CBS): the raid on Osama bin Laden.

• Adventurers set out to find shipwrecks filled with treasure on “Silver Rush” (8 p.m., Discovery, TV-PG).

• The death of Bishop’s accountant raises troubling questions on “The Good Wife” (9 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14).

• “Saturday Night Live in the 2000s: Time and Again” (9 p.m., NBC, r, TV-14) offers clips and interviews.

• Andrea worries on “The Walking Dead” (9 p.m., AMC, TV-MA).

• Rosanna Arquette gueststars on “Girls” (9 p.m., HBO, TV-MA).

• Tyler tries a soft touch to change Amy’s mind on “Enlightened” (9:30 p.m., HBO, TVMA).

Cult Choice “Nazi Titanic” (9 p.m. Sunday, H2) looks at the 1943 bigbudget epic made at the behest of German Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels that blamed British and American financiers for the ocean liner disaster. At the time, it was the most expensive German movie ever made.

Saturday Series A bombing’s aftermath on “NCIS” (8 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14) * “American Ninja Warrior” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG) * Two helpings of “Cops” (8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., Fox, TV-PG) * Falsely imprisoned on “48 Hours” (9 p.m., CBS) * Severide recognizes a kindred spirit on “Chicago Fire” (9 p.m., NBC, r, TV-14) * Christoph Waltz hosts “Saturday Night Live” (10 p.m., NBC, r, TV-14).

Sunday Series Afraid of the water on “The Amazing Race” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) * “Betty White’s Off Their Rockers” (8 p.m., NBC, r) * Distracted by an addictive game, Homer misplaces the dog on “The Simpsons” (8 p.m., Fox, r, TV-PG) * Homeless for the holidays on “The Cleveland Show” (8:30 p.m., Fox, r, TV-14) * Christmas with the Griffins on “Family Guy” (9 p.m., Fox, r, TV-14) * Songs from the attic on “American Dad” (9:30 p.m., Fox, r, TV-14) * Death in the diamond district on “The Mentalist” (10 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14).

Copyright 2013, United Feature Syndicate

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THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2013

Parents’ hair-trigger anger keeps teen at a distance

D

dear abby

EAR ABBY — I’m advice, although I know a 15-year-old stu- you are very busy. Thank dent who reads you for taking the time to your column every day, read my letter. and I hope you can help HOPEFUL IN NEW me.

YORK I want to be closer to my parents. They DEAR HOPEyell at my siblings FUL — You have and me and call my sympathy. us names. It hurts Harsh words can me very much. If leave wounds that we make a mislast longer than take -- even a little physical bruises. one -- or forget Some parents deAbigail our chores, we velop hair-trigger VAN BUREN can expect to be tempers when insulted, yelled at, they are under fietc. I have learned nancial pressure. to tune them out, but I Others, without realizing don’t understand how it, model their behavior such intelligent people on the way their parents like my parents can act raised THEM and overrethis way. act when their children Years ago, I decided to make mistakes. talk to them about it, but Because you haven’t that was seen as an act of been able to get through defiance. My parents, esto your father, talk to a pecially my father, can’t trusted adult relative take constructive critiabout the fact that you cism and respond with would like to be closer to more yelling. your parents but don’t Each of our arguments know how. If they hear it leaves me upset for days. from another adult, they But I still believe I need to might be more open to do something. I want to the message.

Dear Abby is written by Abbe close to them before igail Van Buren, also known as it’s too late, but I have lost Jeanne Phillips, and was so much respect and trust founded by her mother, Paufor them, and they probaline Phillips.

Write Dear Abby at bly feel the same. www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Please, Abby, I don’t Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA know what to do. I would 90069. greatly appreciate your

SUDOKU

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803.774.1234

OR TO PLACE YOUR AD ONLINE GO TO WWW.THE ITEM.COM/PLACEMYAD Lost & Found

Roofing Robert's Metal Roofing 29 years exp. 18 colors & 45 year warranty. Call 803-837-1549.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Hodge Roofing Solutions, LLC, Lic.& Bonded. Free Estimates.

Also do Vinyl Siding & Seamless Gutters. 803-840-4542

Happy Ads

Tree Service

LOST DOG: Wedgefield Rd. past Sumter Speedway. REWARD Offered.

803-938-3247 or 803-840-1275

Ricky's Tree Service Tree removal, stump grinding, Lic & ins, free quote, 803-435-2223 or cell 803-460-8747.

NEWMAN'S TREE SERVICE Tree removal , trimming & stump grinding. Lic & Ins.

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

Happy 13th Birthday!

Stephen Johnson Love, Mammy, Granddaddy Aunt Stacey, Uncle Steve, Trevor & Laurel

STATE TREE SERVICE Worker's Comp & General liability insurance. Top quality service, lowest prices. 803-494-5175 or 803-491-5154 www.statetree.net LOST: 3 year old Cocker Spaniel//Dachshund, with streaks of Black in hairs of ears and White around his mouth.

Answers to "Red". If seen please call 803-495-8700.

Tree Doctor Call us for an appt. Free est. 7 days/week. Prune trees, remove trees, grind stumps, proper limbing & treatment. 803-773-8402.

PETS & ANIMALS

BUSINESS SERVICES Carpentry

Dogs

Licensed and bonded 15 yrs exp. Big & small jobs. Room addtns, Remodeling, porch tops, decks, ramps, shingles and Etc. Call 236-8714

German Shepherd pups for sale.

(4) M, (1) F. Black/Gray $200. Call 803-406-0064.

Home Improvements Happy 13th Birthday!

Steve Johnson Love, Mammy, Granddaddy Aunt Stacey, Uncle Steve, Trevor & Laurel

Concrete Driveways, Patios, Sidewalks, etc. 803-934-6692 www.lgdirtbusters.com. Call today Need an attic, garage or storage area cleaned? Call 803-481-4269, leave message.

Lawn Service JW PROFESSIONAL LAWN Seasonal lawn maintenance, leaf removal, roof/gutter cleaning, pressure washing, hedging, pine straw, fencing, decks, small additions, and mulch, haul off junk and much more. 20 yrs experience.

Call 803-406-1818

Happy 13th Birthday!

Savannah Johnson Love, Mammy, Granddaddy, Aunt Stacey, Uncle Steve, Trevor & Laurel

Announcements February Fragrance Challenge Call/Email your favorite Perfumes/Colognes & Get 1 Free Sample of Body Oil From your list.

Try It! You might like it! 774-7823 or cjsplus@yahoo.com NBA Fans Mourn the loss of DR. Jerry H Buss Very Truly Yours, Poetry Museum of Mysteries Sumter SC

Lost & Found FOUND: female cat, black & white with bob tail in the Haynsworth area. Please call 795-3978.

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.

Garage, Yard & Estate Sales

For Sale or Trade

For Sale or Trade

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

Portable Folding Firepit $70 OBO, 2 Stainless Steel sinks $150 OBO, Shower tub $550 OBO, Stereo with cabinets $110 OBO. Call 803-406-6159

**CASH** FOR JUNK CARS OR USED Call Gene 803 934-6734

FLEA MARKET BY SHAW AFB

803-494-5500 or 905-4242

The Market on Broad 3277 Broad St. Business closed.

Everything must go! Trees, bushes, plants, planters, fountain, walk in cooler. Sat. 7 am - 12 noon.

Moving sale 3345 Aurora Dr. Sat. 8 am - 12 noon. Lots of furniture & toys.

Estate Sale 65 Carrol Dr Friday 8a-4p & Saturday 8a-2p Furniture, kitchen items, Lg Selection Plus SZ clothing, Hshld Items. Cash Only 3 Family Yard Sale, 1064 Cherryvale Dr. Sat. 8am-4pm. To much to list.

For Sale or Trade Glass top Comp. Desk, Pub tble/4 chrs. Slide top/storage/coffee tble.

Gifts, mirrors, bed, Avon. Call 803-316-7407 In Sumter Cemetary, 2 side by side lots. For more information call1-803-552-4942.

OAK FIREWOOD for sale, only .50 ct each piece, any amount.

Call 840-3842 or 666-8078 Washers, Dryers, Refrigerators, Stoves. Also new Gas stoves.

Guaranteed. 803-464-5439

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

NEEDED

GENERAL LINE TECHNICIAN Pay Based on Experience

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Firewood For Sale $50/Sm load, $100/Lrg load. Call Quinn McLeod 452-5874 lv msg if no answer.

Stokes Craven

Microwave/Convection oven (Counter top) with accessories $25.00.803-469-4119 Split Oak Firewood, $60/dump, $65/stacked. Darrell Newman 803-316-0128. Tree Service also available.

Ashley Matching Sofa, Love seat & Reclining chair (Taupe) $350 OBO. Exc Cond. 803-491-4090

)XZ r .BOOJOH 4$ r

CKC German Shepard Puppies $450 males $500 females UTD shots and dewormed call or text 910-495-6679

Pets Micro pot bellied pig, neutered male. 1.5 yrs old. $50. Call 840-5115.

MERCHANDISE Auctions Storage Auction Moore's Mini Storage 1129 N Main St. Sumter Sat. March 2, 20123 9AM

Route Open In Horatio/Stateburg

Great For Person Looking For Extra Income $800+/- Per month If you have good, dependable transportation and a phone in your home, apply in person at:

Circulation Department

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2013

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8&4."3, 1-";" t t .0/ 4"5 t 888 .":04%*4$06/546*54 $0. t 569&%04 #6: 03 3&/5 Trucking Opportunities

EMPLOYMENT Help Wanted Full-Time I would like to find a female who is single & independent to live in a nice home in Sumter. This is to check in on elderly gentleman, who is semi active. Everything is furnished including furniture food, utilities & etc., no cost to you. No drugs, alcohol, or smoking allowed. If interested mail name, address, phone number and character references to Box 298 c//o The Item, PO Box 1677 Sumter SC 29151.

Fun Job Travel the US. Call today, start work today. 18 yrs & over. Will train. No exp. Company pays transportation. Earn $400 wkly, commission based. Cash advance while in training in sunny Florida. 803-565-0799 Ms. Alston Sales Opening for 2 retail sales associates, Sumter Mall store. Quality products, must be customer focused with outgoing personality.

No sales exp. required, will train.

HS min, great for student or retiree. If you enjoy interacting with people send your resume & letter of introduction to: Sales, PO Box 2445, Sumter, SC 29151.

SC Post Frame Construction Company has openings for individuals with a minimum of 2 years experience in frame carpentry to build pole buildings in and around the Manning area.

Pre-employment drug screening required. We E-Verify all new hires.

Call 1-800-922-3934 Upscale Salon Seeking Exp. Licensed Cosmetologist & Nail Technicians. 1st month booth rent free. Call 803-938-5348 lv. msg. or 803-847-0710.

Help Wanted Part-Time Part Time Help Wanted - Busy Dr's office in Manning needs Friendly and Fast paced worker. mail resume to M-Box 296 c//o Clarendon Sun 41 North Mill St. Manning, S.C. 29102 $$$ AVON $$$ FREE TRAINING! 803-422-5555

CLASSIFIED ADS Will Go To Work For You! To Find Cash Buyers For Your Unused Items

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

Medical Help Wanted Non-profit agency seeks F.T. LPN. Must have current LPN lic and val driv lic. State ins and retirement. Fax resume to: 803-778-0949 or email: thunter@scdsnb.org. No later than 02-28-2013. No phone calls please! EOE/AAP/M/F/V

Work Wanted Need X-TRA Cash?

Sell Home & Body Oil Fragrances. $45 Kit Special! Triple your $$$ with our $100 kit. We Stock America! Call 803-983-0363.

RENTALS Unfurnished Apartments Holly Court Apartments located in Manning S.C, has two bedrooms for rent. Water & Sewer included. We are now offering a MOVE IN SPECIAL. Please call (803) 435-8786, or email management at bfrierson@winnco.com.

Mobile Home Rentals

Homes for Sale

American MHP, 2 & 3/BRs, lot rentals, water/sewer/garbage pkup inc'd. Sec. 8 ok. 803-494-4300.

Cherryvale 3BR/2BA dbl garage, fenced lot, 1/2 rent for work & repairs. 499-2029 LV Message

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

RV parking avail. Call 494-8350

Very nice 2 br house in quiet neighborhood close to Tuomey.

Call 803-494-5090.

3bd/2bth, No Pets! $425 Mo + $300 Dep. Hwy 15 S off Nazarene 5 Person Max. Call 803-481-8134.

STATEBURG COURTYARD 2 & 3 BRs 803-494-4015 425 Loring Place 2BR/1BA. $350/dep + $350/mo. Call 803-236-7375 Scenic Lake. 2 Br/2Ba. & 3BR /2BA. No pets. Call between 9am 5pm: (803) 499-1500.

Winter Special (Dalzell) MHP 2BR/1BA, washer, dryer, sewer & garbage P/U. Section 8 accepted. $360/mo + $360/dep. Call Mark at 803-565-7947.

495 Pioneer(off 15S) 2BR/2BA, frig. & stove. C/H/A $450 mo & $450 dep. 803-469-2380.

3 BD/2BTH DW, private lot, lg great rm & dining rm. Credit Check req. $600 mon + Sec. Dep. NO PETS! Call 919-563-5239 or 919-563-5232 or 336-213-0952

Business Rentals 61 Commerce St. Storage units for rent.2nd month half price.

Bobby Sisson, 464-2730.

REAL ESTATE

Unfurnished Homes Rental house millwood area - 31 Hilltop- 3bdrm/1.5bth, hardwood flr, carport, stove, hookups, fenced bkyard, new cntrl http/ac, $750/$750 dep 803-983-2881.

Waterfront 2BR home at Lake Marion. Private dock, boat ramp, deep water, carport. $900/mo.

Call 570-301-3322 304 Haynsworth 3BR/2BA , Hrdwd flrs, fenced yard. $895/mo + $1,000/dep. Good credit needed. Agent owned 468-1612 Spacious, nice 2BR in safe area.

Convenient to Shaw/Sumter. Dumpster, Water, Heat pump & Sec lights included. No H/A or PETS! $465/mo + $300/dep.

803-983-0043

FSBO: 3BR/2BA, 1,500 sq ft.

Hardwood floors, convenient to schools and shopping. $37,500.

Call 775-9116 leave message.

Manufactured Housing Tired of Renting? Affordable housing. We can Help!! Call 803-469-3252.

3BR/2BA Brick home on 1 ac.

Wedgefield/Westlake Subd. $174,500, 803-494-8475

Sale by Owner Owner Financing available 4221 Tho-

A Guaranteed Credit Approval AUTO LOANS

mas Sumter Hwy $32,500 Tax map#152-03-02-031(p). 54 Acre Gen. Comm. Property Dalzell water & Septic tank.

4730 Thomas Sumter Hwy $39,500 Tax map # 151-00-01-012 3.91 Acre Gen. Comm. Property With High Hills Water Thomas Sumter(across st from 4730)Tax map # 151-00-01-011 $42,500 2.34 Gen. Comm. Property With Dalzell water and fire Hydrant on site. Call Eddie 803-518-4053

We will arrange financing even if you have been turned down before.

Loans available for no credit, bad credit, 1st Time Buyers & Bankruptcy buyers. No co-signers needed. Call Mr. Ashley Brown at 803-926-3235

For

FOR SALE IN MANNING 1465 Herod $350/mo. 1356 Herod Dr. $350/mo. Owner Financing.

803-460-3787 For Sale: 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, land. $350 month. Call 494-5090.

On the lot financing No credit check Free warranty Hair's Auto Sales Inc. 4835 Pinewood Rd. 803-452-6020 2003 Ford Expedition XLT, Black/Tan Ext, Leather Int, TV, PW/PL, 3rd row, 130k miles. $6,400 OBO. 803-464-3526

2011 24 ft Bentley pontoon boat, 115 hp Mercury 4 stroke w/ Wesco trailer. $17,500. Call 495-2107.

3 bed 2 bath 16x80 for sale. Call 803-469-3252.

BAD CREDIT, NO CREDIT Tax Season is here. We have 2-3-4-5 bedroom homes. We have a layaway program & in home financing so you BUY HERE AND PAY HERE! CALL 843-389-4215

1992 Chev G20 Van $2500, 1983 GMC Suburban 1500 $2200, 1999 Chvy Tahoe $3800 Call 803 565-9009

RECREATION

Boats / Motors Pre-owned Manufactured Homes for sale. 2, 3, 4 & 5 Bedroom homes at wholesale prices. Call 803-614-1165.

2004 Classic Chevy Malibu.

Exc, cond, 4DR, all power, auto.

CD/Radio. Cloth interior, 52,200 miles. $6,200. 803-469-3730

Hunting / 1,054 acres available for Hunting Lease (Lynchburg, SC). Call 704-622-6096

2010 Ford F-150 Truck, 4 dr super crew, XLT 4x4, cloth interior, 43 mil, $23,500, 803-491-4214.

TRANSPORTATION

Vans / Trucks / Buses 2000 Ford Explorer LXT, all power. Exc. cond. $3,000 OBO. Call 803-406-7532

Autos For Sale 09 Dodge Ram 4dr $13,995

Homes for Sale

Use Your Tax Money For A Down Payment Recently Foreclosed, Special Financing Available, Any Credit, Any Income, 3BR/1BA, 1290SqFt, located at 3133 Pleasant Grove Rd, Lynchburg, $24,900. Visit www.roselandco.com\ ABX. Drive by then call (800) 292-1550

Autos For Sale

Need a New Home? Can't Get Financing? WE CAN HELP!! Call 803-469-3222.

Farms & Acreage

3BR/1.5BA, 4th BR or office.

Utility Rm, Screened porch, carport. Approx 1400 sq ft.heated area. 1840 Georgianna $79,900.

Day 491-4026, after 3pm 983-2271

Land & Lots for Sale

For Sale By Owner 5 ac. Owner Financing. 803-427-3888.

Over 150 Cars less than $5,000.

WHY GO TO THE AUCTION? Price Is Right Auto Sales

3210 Broad St, 803-494-4275

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