February 6, 2013

Bishopville woman, 53, sentenced in school district embezzlement case. A2

Wilder celebrates 100 days of school while dressed for success

SCISA SHOWDOWN LMA, Wilson Hall basketball squads clash in Manning. B1

A3

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013 | SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA

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Man files suit for hazing incident

Shaw personnel have 2nd-highest increase to housing allowance

Student injured by Francis Marion fraternity members

BY NICK McCORMAC nmccormac@theitem.com

BY ROBERT J. BAKER bbaker@theitem.com A Hartsville man, allegedly severely injured by nine Phi Beta Sigma fraternity members in late 2011 at Francis Marion University, has filed suit against the school, the fraternity and its president.

Debbie Green said her son, Daniel McElveen, was only the second person in their family to go to college. “We were proud of the achievements he was making, and we thought Daniel

joining a fraternity would further enrich his college experience,� she said in a release from McLeod Law Group of Charleston, which filed the lawsuit Jan. 15 at the Florence County Courthouse against Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity International Inc.; its national president, Jimmy Hammock; Francis Marion University; and Maurice Lavon Robinson. “However, the brutality that took place against my son has forever scarred him SEE HAZING, PAGE A8

IT’S SHADOW DAY

Military men and women stationed at Shaw Air Force Base received the second-highest increase to their monthly housing allowance this year compared with the rest of the country, according to a new report.

Service members stationed at the base received an average increase of 12 percent to their Basic Allowance for Housing according to TDY Lodging, a database for properties and military housing costs. Nationwide, the average was 3.8 percent.

The allowance helps offset housing costs for those in service and varies by location, pay grade and dependents. “(T)his pay raise should help to offset some of the housing costs for military service members living off base, although in many cases this housing allowance increase does not go far enough,� said Matt Foster of

TDY Lodging. “It’s simply a game of catch up for many military families because while housing and rental prices have remained flat, in most markets utility costs have increased significantly over the last several years due to increasing energy costs.�

For Shaw personnel, rates increased about 8 percent for staff sergeants with dependents, up to $1,536 a month from $1,442 in 2011. The allowance for captains with dependents increased 15 percent, from $1,470 two years ago to $1,689 now.

Personnel with those ranks receive a higher allowance than the same personnel in Greenville, but less than in Charleston.

The highest national increase went to those stationed at Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma, where they received an average increase of 14 percent to their monthly allowance.

SEE ALLOWANCE, PAGE A5

Sheriff ’s Office starts unit for sex-related crimes

BY COREY DAVIS cdavis@theitem.com

IVY MOORE / THE ITEM

My’lik Lloyd, 9, foreground, and Blake Robinson and Cody Dyson, both 17, start out the day Tuesday by washing the Sumter Fire Department’s trucks, just as the firefighters do each day. They were participating in “Shadow Day� at the department. While the observance is normally held on Groundhog Day, it was rescheduled because Feb. 2 was on Saturday. Blake and Cody are Fire Department Explorers, and My’lik is the son of firefighter Kenneth Shaw.

Sheriff Anthony Dennis of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office knew something needed to be done.

Dennis said during the past two years, there had been a high number of sex-related cases in the community which had been reported to the agency. After extensive conversations and meetings with his staff, Dennis decided to put together a team of individuals who have the experience, expertise and training to manage and work only sex-type crimes.

The Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit was formed last October, said Dennis. According to him, the people assigned to the unit have acquired specialized training in the

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areas of sexual abuse, physical abuse, exploitation of juveniles and vulnerable adult victim populations.

Sgt. Melissa Addison, with 13 years of law enforcement experience, supervises the unit. Addison has a master’s degree in counseling with a minor in criminal justice.

She also has certifications in forensics interviewing and experience in investigating child abuse, child fatalities and elder abuse.

The rest of the investigators include Senior Investigator Darlene Dellinger, who has 15 years of law enforcement experience and holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. In addition, Dellinger has specialized training in the area of Internet crimes against SEE SVU, PAGE A5

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013 Contact the newsroom at 803-774-1226 or e-mail news@theitem.com

LOCAL BRIEFS

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From staff reports

National Girl Scout Cookie Day is Friday

Man jailed on charge of attempted murder

If you didn’t have a Girl Scout knocking on your door recently to take a cookie order, you haven’t missed your chance. There will be another opportunity beginning this Friday in recognition of National Girl Scout Cookie Day. On that day, and through March 18, any member in the Girl Scouts of South Carolina – Mountains to Midlands’ council wearing her uniform or Girl Scout T-shirt will have a form with her ready to take orders.

In addition, customers can buy directly from Girl Scouts on weekends from Feb. 22 to March 18 at participating local retailers such as Bi-Lo, Kmart, Lowe’s, Walmart and other area businesses.

All revenue earned from cookie activities stays with the local Girl Scout council that sponsors the sale.

For more information, log onto www.girlscouts. org or call (803) 2408213.

A traffic stop on a Wedgefield highway Monday night ended with a man arrested on an attempted murder charge.

Arsenio Raheem Legette, 23, of 1817 Ernest Finney Ave., Apt. F, Conway, was LEGETTE stopped on S.C. 261 South at 8:20 p.m. when a sheriff ’s deputy noticed his black 1998 BMW 528i was driving with an expired temporary dealer’s tag. Legette reportedly did not have a driver’s license, and his license came back suspended.

After Legette was arrested it was discovered he had outstanding warrants in Conway for attempted murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime. The Conway Police Department requested Legette be extradited.

He was transported to Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center.

Volunteers sought for stream cleanup Sumter Stormwater Solutions needs volunteers to help with a stream cleanup along Shot Pouch Creek.

Volunteers are asked to meet at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, at Ozzie’s the Rustic Market, 33 N. Guignard Drive. The event will last about two hours.

Shot Pouch Creek is an urban stream that drains much of the stormwater that flows from roads and neighborhoods in Sumter. Volunteers should wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes and dress for the weather. Trash bags, water and gloves will be provided.

Youth groups must be accompanied by adults.

Registration is not required. For more information, contact Jolie Brown, (803) 773-5561 or email jolie2@clemson. edu.

Sumter school board to hold retreat The Sumter School District Board of Trustees will hold a retreat from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Thursday at the University of South Carolina Sumter Arts and Letters Building.

Scheduled topics include the following: • School board operational issues; • Role of school board members, relationships with others; • Communications; • Roles and responsibilities of school board and superintendent; • Sorting out strategic from operational responsibilities, and • School board and board member accountability.

Bishopville woman, 53, sentenced in school district embezzlement case

BY ROBERT J. BAKER bbaker@theitem.com Wiletha Fortune told a circuit judge Tuesday that she isn’t exactly sure how more than $30,000 of federal grant money made its way into her Bank of America account.

“But I did know it wasn’t mine, and I did spend some of it,” she told 3rd Circuit Judge George C. “Buck” James at the Lee County Courthouse before pleading guilty to grand larceny of more than $10,000 in public funds.

Fortune, 53, of Rouse Road in Bishopville, was charged in October 2011 with embezzlement after the Lee County School District discovered that Fortune had “transferred or converted for her own use (about) $31,805.39 into her own personal account,” according to a report from the Lee County Sheriff’s Department.

James sentenced Fortune on Tuesday to six years in prison, suspended to five years of proba-

tion. She will also have to pay more than $31,000 in restitution, $6,000 of which must be paid by Feb. 15.

Lee County sheriff’s department Maj. J.D. Dellinger told James that Fortune at all times was cooperative with law enforcement.

“Ms. Fortune was an employee of the school district working with a grant program,” Dellinger said. “The district sent money to the program and then asked the federal government to reimburse the district. At some point, a form with Fortune’s account number was sent and the money was transferred to her through three transactions.”

Fortune said she thought she was turning in a mileage reimbursement form before the mixup occurred.

“We were sent to a seminar in Columbia in (December 2010),” she said. “I turned in a reimbursement form with my account information on it.”

Third Circuit Assistant Solicitor Cliff Scott told James that three deposits were ultimately made to Fortune’s account in April, May and September 2011 for $10,936.26, $9,966.26 and $10,902.87, respectively.

According to the sheriff’s department, district Superintendent Cleo Richardson noticed money missing from the district’s United Way account shortly after the third deposit to Fortune’s account was made.

“I do not know who did the transfer to my account,” Fortune said Tuesday. “But I knew it wasn’t mine, and I did spend it (on bills and other miscellaneous purchases).”

Fortune told James she had roughly $6,000 of the money left.

He said she would have to pay a 20 percent statutory penalty on the remainder of the restitution.

“So, you’re looking at more than just the $25,000 or so once you pay back the $6,000 by Feb. 15,” he said.

Men allegedly tried to cash in stolen tickets The plan two Sumter men apparently hatched to win the lottery ended Monday with both of them in jail.

Johnathan Antrio Goodman, 25, of 228 Lemmon GOODMAN St., and Marvin Keith McBride, 23, of 4627 Blanche Road, were both arMcBRIDE rested Monday after they allegedly attempted to redeem stolen lottery tickets at a convenience store in Dalzell. Goodman is charged with possession of stolen lottery tickets, his third or subsequent property crime offense, and McBride is charged with first-degree burglary and two counts of false passing of stolen lottery tickets.

Officers with the Sumter Police Department think the two suspects tried to use an assortment of $3, $5 and $10 state lottery tickets that were reportedly stolen about 4:20 a.m.

Sunday from a store in the 300 block of North Main Street. Police said evidence from the scene helped tie one of the suspects to the burglary.

Both men are being held at Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center.

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BRADEN BUNCH / THE ITEM

Rosemell Brown meets with officials from the American Red Cross on Tuesday after her home in the 500 block of South Main Street was destroyed by a fire.

House fire displaces family of 3

BY BRADEN BUNCH bbunch@theitem.com Fire destroyed a home Tuesday morning in the 500 block of South Main Street, displacing a family of three.

The residents were home at the time, but no one was injured in the fire that began about 9 a.m. According to officials with the Sumter Fire Department, the fire started in the kitchen, quickly spreading throughout and gutting the brick home.

Rosemell Brown, the 71-yearold woman who has lived in the house for about 55 years, said she was sitting down to breakfast in her bedroom when the fire first broke out.

“There was a noise, and we couldn’t figure out where it was coming from,” Brown said, adding she and her daughter began unplugging appliances trying to locate the sound before returning to breakfast. Five minutes later, Brown said, the house was engulfed. “The fire was shooting over the door from the kitchen,” Brown said.

Battalion Chief David White said preliminary estimates set the damage from the fire at about $75,000. White said the

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Firefighters respond to the blaze. No one was injured in the fire, but the Sumter Fire Department estimates about $75,000 in damage was caused by the blaze.

heat and smoke built up quickly within the home, forcing firefighters to break through the roof in order to ventilate the building.

Firefighters from the department’s headquarters, as well as the Manning and Stadium roads locations, responded to the blaze. The American Red Cross responded to the scene, as well, and plan to provide Brown and her family a hotel room for the next few days.

Brown said she has seen her neighborhood change dramati-

cally during the time she’s lived in the South Main Street home.

As for now, however, she’s not sure if she’ll be able to return to the location she’s lived in since she was a teenager.

“I’m not sure exactly what I’m going to do,” Brown said. “I haven’t had time to think about that.”

Kay Bunch contributed to this story.

Contact Braden Bunch at (803) 774-1201.

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LOCAL

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

THE ITEM

A3

Nature walks begin today

BY STAFF REPORTS Take a walk and learn at the same time. Several spring nature walks are planned, and no registration is required. For all trips it may be useful to bring some binoculars and good walking shoes. • Today, from 8:30 to 10 a.m., Patriot Park, 200 General Drive off Patriot Parkway (S.C. 441) near the intersecton of Loring Mill Road (park at or near the baseball fields if the gate is open.

If not, park at or near the lot at the front circle upon entering.) • Wednesday, March 6, from 8:30 to 10 a.m., Longleaf Pine Heritage Preserve, Lynchburg.

Information about the Preserve, including directions, can be found at https://www.dnr. sc.gov/mlands/directions?p_ id=44.

Longleaf Pine Heritage Preserve is home to several endangered species including the Red-cockaded Woodpecker.

The walk will take participants to the cavities where these birds live. The talk will largely address the biology of this animal and especially the Longleaf Pine Forest it calls home. • Wednesday, April 3, from 8:30 to 10 a.m., Poinsett State Park, Wedgefield. Meet at the visitors center. Information about the park including directions can be found at http:// www.southcarolinaparks.com/ poinsett/introduction.aspx.

Located in the Santee High Hills, this is one of South Carolina’s most magnificent state parks. There is a surprising population of Mountain Laurel here which is draped in Spanish Moss. The spring season is perfect for finding wildflowers, snakes and tadpoles.

JADE ANDERSON / THE ITEM

Sumter Mayor Joe McElveen reads to students at Wilder Elementary School on Monday. As part of celebrating 100 days of school, the school invited 100 men to come out to read to classes.

Wilder celebrates 100th day of school

BY JADE ANDERSON janderson@theitem.com Wilder Elementary School celebrated 100 days of school in style Monday, with faculty and staff encouraging the students to dress for success. “We have more than 100 girls in dresses and boys in ties,� said Floydean McLeod, school counselor.

The school also invited 100 men from the community to read to classes, and everyone came together to release 100 balloons. “I think this is a wonderful thing,� said Kelvin Lowery, minister of music for Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church. “Men need to step up in this area.

That’s something kids hardly ever see men doing. Hopefully it will encourage some of our young men to read more.�

Man accused in shooting seeks immunity from prosecution

BY ROBERT J. BAKER bbaker@theitem.com A 42-year-old Pinewood man accused of shooting his then-girlfriend’s 35-year-old sister in July 2011 is now asking the state Court of Appeals to grant him immunity from prosecution.

Christopher B. Rodko filed an appeal on Monday at the Sumter County Courthouse of 3rd Circuit Judge R. Ferrell Cothran’s decision a little more than two weeks ago denying Rodko such immunity under the state Protection of Persons and Property Act. Rodko’s attorney, William W. Wheeler of Bishopville, argued before Cothran on Jan. 15 and 16 that his client was acting in accordance with the law by protecting himself, his now ex-girlfriend,

Robin McLeod, and her property when he shot Ginger McLeod.

The Sumter County Sheriff ’s Office said Rodko shot six times with a .44-caliber Ruger after the woman argued with her sister.

Two of McLeod’s wounds were fatal.

Cothran denied Rodko immunity on Jan. 16 and filed an

order one week later saying that “Rodko did not act as a reasonable person when he shot and killed Ginger. The altercations between Robin and Ginger and Rodko and Ginger would not result in a reasonable person believing they were (an) imminent peril of death or great bodily injury.�

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Frank Bates agreed after taking time on his day off to read to his son Quashaun’s fourth-grade class. “I thought it was a good thing,� he said. “The way things are today, children don’t see a lot going on that’s positive. I have three boys that go to school here, and it means a lot to me.

We do so much at home, but it’s more important for children to see it here.

Taking one or two hours out of my day helping out, it’s worth it.�

Classes also did activities centered on the number 100. One class helped their teacher decorate a board with 100 reasons why they like second grade. Others did activities in science lab. “We were working with more than 100 grains really, but we looked at salt crystals today,� said Kwitenia Holland, Teacher of the

Year for the school.

She has a single-gender, fifth-grade class this semester, and Superintendent Randolph D. Bynum Sr. read to her students. “My boys really enjoyed it,� Holland said.

Principal David Wright said the first 100 days have gone well and surprisingly fast. Formerly the athletic director for Sumter School District, this is his first year as principal of Wilder. “The kids have been working extremely hard,� Wright said. “We’ve seen a lot of improvement in classroom work and MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing. Our kids are doing great.�

Reach Jade Anderson at (803) 7741250.

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LOCAL

THE ITEM

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

Officers recognized for contributions to community’s safety

BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com They often work in difficult conditions, usually for low pay, and at any moment could be called on to risk their lives. And for most of the year, they do so anonymously.

But Monday night, Sumter County’s most outstanding first responders and law enforcement officers were honored by American Legion Post 15 at its annual Law and Order Night program.

During the dinner at the Legion building on South Artillery Drive, officers from all the area’s emergency agencies were recognized for their contributions to the Sumter community’s safety.

Senior Cpl. Ben Stiles was recognized as the police officer of the year. Stiles is a 10-year law enforcement veteran who serves in the Sumter Police Department’s warrants division. But his quick thinking in a difficult situation earned him the most praise.

“On Sept. 18, 2012, (Cpl. Stiles) responded to a call for service where a construction worker was severely injured with a throat laceration,” said Robert Baker Sr., chairman of the post’s law and order committee, when presenting Stiles with his award. “He took over first aid to the victim by maintaining air flow and applying direct pressure to the victim’s neck.”

Stiles communicated with EMS responders on the scene while keeping the man calm until his injury could be treated.

“His actions saved the victim’s life,” Baker said.

Stiles, like many of the night’s honorees, was surprised to receive the award. Earlier in the day, he didn’t even know he was supposed to attend the dinner.

“I was in the middle of a Bible study group when they came and told me to come here,” the officer of the year said after the ceremony.

“It’s very humbling.”

Firefighter of the Year Lt. Ralph Matt Carroll was also surprised.

“I knew it was the American Legion, so I had some hint,” he said.

“It’s just unexpected. I can’t say the words to describe it. It’s very exciting.”

On Aug. 20, Carroll responded with Sumter Fire Department to a mobile home fire and searched the interior of the home after fighting to get the fire under control.

“During the search, (Carroll) found a victim lying on the floor,” Baker said. “He grabbed the victim and pulled him to the door. With the help of another fire-

fighter, he began resuscitation efforts until Sumter County EMS took over control of the victim.”

Sgt. Jason Tassone is a five-year veteran of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, where he serves on the office’s Interstate 95 Interdiction team.

“He works with the K9 unit that has been instrumental in seizing several pounds of illegal drugs with a street value of $500,000, $1 million in cash and merchandise, and the apprehension of wanted persons,” Baker said, naming Tassone the Deputy Sheriff of the Year.

The Emergency Medical Technician of the Year is Lt. Kevin James Moye, who has served with Sumter EMS since 2005 and currently serves as an assistant supervisor, manages the service’s vehicle fleet, monitors quality assurance and trains new employees.

In 2012, Moye’s coworkers voted him Paramedic of the Year.

Shift Lt. Nancy McMillan with Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center was named Correctional Officer of the Year. As the detention center’s classification officer, she oversees the placement and separation of inmates, thus helping to drop the number of inmate assaults. She also compiles inmates’ time sheets to manage their sentences and oversees compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act. The night’s featured speaker was state Rep. Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, who praised Sumter’s law enforcement community for its dedication to service even at a time when the state’s budget for public safety has been cut. During the past few years, state agencies such as the Department of Corrections, Highway Patrol and the State Law Enforcement Division have lost veteran officers to other agencies that can offer higher pay, while older equipment has gone unreplaced and a backlog of court cases has piled up.

Through it all, Smith said, public safety officers have worked harder to serve the people they live alongside.

“They’re not doing it for the pay. They’re not doing it for the glory.

They do it out of a sense of obligation to their community,” he said.

PHOTOS BY BRISTOW MARCHANT/THE ITEM

Sumter police Cpl. Ben Stiles, center, was named both the City Police Officer of the Year and the American Legion Police Officer of the Year during Monday’s Law and Order Night dinner. He was presented with his awards Monday by, from left, state Rep. Murrell Smith, R-Sumter; Deputy Police Chief Alvin Holston; Legion Law and Order Committee Chairman Robert Baker (over Stiles’ left shoulder); and Post Commander Harry Burchstead.

Sgt. Jason Tassone is named the Deputy Sheriff of the Year.

Tassone works with the interdiction team of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office to make arrests and seize drugs on Interstate 95. He received his award from Sheriff Anthony Dennis, left, and Burchstead.

ABOVE: Lt. Kevin James Moye, the 2012 emergency medical technician of the year, is presented with a check for $500 from Burchstead after receiving the award during the dinner.

LEFT: Officers from all of the public safety agencies in the Sumter area were in attendance.

Reach Bristow Marchant at (803) 7741272.

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Lt. Ralph Matt Carroll shakes hands with Burchstead after being named Firefighter of the Year. The Sumter Fire Department veteran helped pull a man from a burning mobile home in 2012. Carroll said he didn’t know he was being recognized ahead of the dinner.

LOCAL

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

ALLOWANCE from Page A1

SVU from Page A1

Even without the bump in allowance, more and more enlisted personnel are moving back into the Sumter area, according to Sumter Board of Realtors President Michael Bruce. “I think that the people of the Third Army were scared of Sumter to start with.

But I think they’ve realized after being here a while that Sumter is a beautiful place to live,� he said. “The market here has increased and gotten a lot better, and I see it getting better and better.�

Many people in the Air Force and Army settle down in nearby areas such as Columbia and Camden, but Bruce said he’s seen a noticeable increase of military personnel calling Sumter home. And he’s not the only one to see it.

Third Army Lt. Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, the unit’s commanding general, recently said he has also seen more of his personnel migrate back into the area. “We’ve tried to help by amplifying that message of the community to our inbound people, that Sumter’s moving forward and this is our home, this is our base of assignment. Live here. Come and take a look,� Brooks told The Item in a recent interview. “(T)he greatness of the community’s warmth and openness, I think, will be what is the major attraction.�

Reach Nick McCormac at (803) 7741214.

children and is a member of the South Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Other unit members are Senior Investigator Erin Boland, who has 10 years of experience in law enforcement, and Deputy Jennifer Mays, who has worked a year and a half as a victims advocate in the victim assistance unit.

Dennis added the people selected to the special victims unit have a better understanding than most patrol officers or investigators on how to deal with victims of sex crimes. Addison said the most reported sex crimes the sheriff’s office deals with are adults assaulting children with a high number of those cases involving foster and step-children. “Like the sheriff said, it takes special individuals to work these cases because some officers won’t get into the depth of the conversations that we need to have because it is sometimes hard for people to maintain themselves in a situation like that,� Addison said.

In the aftermath of the Penn State University scandal of former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, who was convicted of serial child molestation, Addison said the sheriff’s office received numerous calls from adults saying they were sexually abused while

THE ITEM

they were young. “We’re still getting those calls, but it is very difficult because of the time factor that arises, and you usually have to get some sort of admission of guilt from the perpetrator. I wouldn’t say doing those cases are impossible, but they are very difficult. Nevertheless, we still want to address those people’s concerns.�

Dellinger is trained to perform investigations of child sexual exploitation and child pornography as it relates to the use of the Internet. Dellinger said the major portion of her work is performing undercover sting operations in chat rooms in order to catch child predators who are lurking in cyberspace. She added there is no specific way of stereotyping who may be a sexual predator, while noting the state task force has arrested lawyers, doctors, businessmen, teachers and people serving in government.

While Dellinger has never had to arrange a meeting with a child predator, she said state task force members have had a few instances of travelers coming to Sumter County with the intent to do harm to a child. “We don’t solicit anything, and you wait to see if anyone makes contact,� Dellinger said. “It is very tedious and time consuming. You may not get anybody for weeks, or you may get someone to talk to

you for two or three weeks, but it turns out to be nothing that developed. You luck up, and one may cross the line with you, and that is what you’re waiting for.�

While members of the special victims unit like going out and educating the public about ways to prevent sex crimes, they acknowledge these types of crimes are going to continue. “I think we have a very good chance of decreasing sex crimes, especially with the resources being pulled together to get this effective information out to the community,� Dellinger said. “However, even with a special victims unit assembled, you can’t stop the predator behavior, which is out there. The best thing is providing education and awareness to the public.�

Dennis hopes the special victims unit formation will help more victims, such as children, become comfortable enough to come forward and divulge information that will eventually put a predator behind bars. “What we have learned is anything that can affect a child can affect them the rest of their lives,�

Dennis said. “If we can do our job to prevent a child from being sexually or physically abused, then there will be less predators out there as well.�

Reach Corey Davis at (803) 7741295.

LOCAL BRIEF

Democrats slam cuts set for state unemployment help

BY SEANNA ADCOX Associated Press Writer COLUMBIA — Democratic legislators on Tuesday called the removal of in-person unemployment help from 17 offices an attack on rural South Carolina.

Lawmakers made the accusations a day after the Department of Employment and Workforce announced plans to reduce its offices for unemployment services from 56 to 39 statewide.

The face-to-face help ends at those 17 offices — all in rural areas — on Feb. 15.

The unemployment agency said the consolidation comes because federal money to fund its operations has dropped. Spokeswoman Adrienne Fairwell said the decisions were based on foot-traffic statistics.

State Rep. Grady Brown, D-Bishopville, didn’t mince words when it came to his thoughts on the cutbacks. “It irritates me,� he said. “It’s absolutely unfair, and it downright

smacks in the face of these individuals. ... I just think it’s downright rude on behalf of the leadership of this state to make these kinds of cuts.�

Brown estimated that it would cost someone in Lee County seeking assistance about three gallons of gas just to get from their home to the office in Sumter County. For older individuals or those on a short financial leash, that may not be a viable option. “It’s just another example of how the leadership in this state wants to make it tougher on rural people in rural areas,� Brown said. “Doesn’t make sense in these times to make these cuts.�

Why such services would be cut in areas of the state with the highest rates of unemployment is beyond state Sen. Kevin Johnson, DManning, whose District 36 includes portions of Sumter, Clarendon, Darlington and Florence counties. “You’re closing the offices where they’re needed the most,� he

said. “I think if there is justification for cuts, I think the rural areas are the areas you shouldn’t cut back because you’re hurting the folks who are the most in need.�

Johnson and Brown both agreed that telling people they can just fall back on online services isn’t sufficient since many people in rural areas don’t use computers or can’t readily access them.

Clients can either drive to an office in an adjoining county or go online to access all services, including filing for initial and weekly claims. A toll-free number offers some help but not with initial benefit requests.

House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford said services are

ending in the most vulnerable counties, where unemployment remains above the state average and residents have the most trouble with transportation and computers.

The offices aren’t closing. SC Works career centers will remain open there and offer access to computers.

But Rutherford and others said many rural residents who’ve been laid off lack computer skills and need help navigating the online system. “People may not have a car, and they certainly do not have the gas money� to drive to another county for help, said Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg.

Nick McCormac contributed to this story.

Police step up patrols in areas with crime increase The Sumter Police Department stepped up its enforcement this weekend in areas that have recently seen an increase in crime, leading to 78 citations, three arrests and the seizure of more than $8,000 worth of drugs and cash.

Officers were assigned to give special attention to the Guignard Drive, Liberty Street, Broad Street and Miller Road areas, where crime data and “intelligence-led policing technology� showed a preponderance of drug and property crime and traffic offenses.

Some of the charges resulting from the weekend push include minor traffic violations, disorderly conduct and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. “Though these offenses may seem relatively insignificant, the enforcement activities in the areas have a major impact on the criminal element,� Deputy Chief Alvin Holston said in a news release.

Chief Russell Roark said the police department will continue to focus on areas where deterrence can have an effect. “Citizens want to see us in their neighborhoods,� he said, “and we will continue to commit additional resources in any area that is identified through crime analysis as experiencing high-crime trends.�

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THE ITEM

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

Gun background checks drop by 10 percent in January WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of federal background checks for firearm sales declined last month following a surge in gun sales toward the end of the year that’s left many retailers out of stock as Washington considered new gun-control measures.

An Associated Press analysis of new FBI data published early Tuesday shows the National Instant Criminal Background Check system processed more than 2.78 million checks in December.

That was a 12-month peak following an upward trend through last fall.

The number fell to 2.48 million in January, still greater than any other month last year.

Firearms sales exploded across the country in the wake of the deadly December shooting spree in

Newton, Conn., that left 27 dead, mostly children. The rush to buy guns has left many retailers out of stock. “You can’t do a background check if a guy doesn’t have a gun to buy,� said Mike Fotia, manager at Duke’s Sport Shop in New Castle, Pa. “There’s nothing to buy.�

Fotia said manufacturers and wholesalers can’t fill orders right now because demand is so high.

The number of background checks does not represent the number of firearms purchased, but gun manufacturers use these statistics to measure the health of the gun industry in the U.S. The 10 percent drop between December and January comes amid a fierce national debate on gun control after the horrific school shooting in

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gun owners discuss a potential sale of an AR-15 during the 2013 Rocky Mountain Gun Show in January at the South Towne Expo Center in Sandy, Utah.

Newtown. The number of background checks dropped 26 percent during the same time

rush is over.

Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi saw the largest declines in

background checks from December to January, by about onethird.

Memo gives basis for drone strikes against U.S. citizens

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., left, and Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., listen to former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, President Obama’s choice for defense secretary, on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday during the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his nomination.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sen. Graham says Hagel ‘seems clueless’ on Iran WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said Tuesday that Chuck Hagel “seems clueless� on U.S. policy toward Iran, and he urged the Obama administration to reconsider its defense secretary nominee.

In a statement, the South Carolina lawmaker stopped short of saying he would filibuster the choice if the president pushes forward as expected.

No Democrat has come out in opposi- HAGEL tion to Hagel, two Republican senators back him, and several others, including Sen. John McCain, say they wouldn’t support a filibuster. “Chuck Hagel is a good man, but these are dangerous times,�

Graham said. “What kind of signal are we sending to the Irani-

period a year earlier.

Sales typically decrease in January after the holiday shopping

ans when our nominee for secretary of defense seems clueless about what our policy is? I hope the Obama administration will reconsider his nomination.�

Graham is a member of the Armed Services Committee, which could vote as early as Thursday on the nomination of Hagel, the former two-term Republican senator from Nebraska.

Several senators had requested additional information from Hagel, including copies of recent speeches, before moving ahead on a vote.

The committee said Tuesday that Hagel had submitted the requested information, increasing the likelihood of a vote Thursday.

Hagel stumbled last week at his confirmation hearing on whether the U.S. policy toward Iran is containment, then corrected himself.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — An unclassiUnited States and its citizens from al-Qafied Justice Department memo reveals ida terrorists. that the Obama administration has had “He also takes his responsibility in more lenient rules than publicly known conducting the war against al-Qaida as for when drone attacks can be launched authorized by Congress in a way that is to kill U.S. citizens working abroad with fully consistent with our Constitution terrorists. and all the applicable laws,� Carney said.

The government does not need eviCarney said care is taken to execute dence that a specific attack is imminent, the strikes with precision and avoid the the newly disclosed Justice Department loss of innocent life. white paper says, only that the targeted “These strikes are legal, they are ethisuspect is involved in oncal, and they are wise,� going plotting against the ‘These strikes are Carney said.

United States.

Controversy over U.S. “The threat posed by legal, they are policy for drone attacks al-Qaida and its associatmushroomed after a Seped forces demands a ethical, and they tember 2011 drone strike broader concept of imin Yemen killed Anwar minence in judging when are wise.’ al-Awlaki and Samir a person continually Khan, both U.S. citizens. planning terror attacks In a speech last March, presents an imminent Attorney General Eric threat,� the document White House press Holder said that in assays. sessing when a targeted The undated docusecretary Jay Carney killing against a U.S. citiment surfaced as Obama zen is legal, the governadministration official ment must determine John Brennan, who helped manage the after careful review that a citizen poses drone program, heads to Capitol Hill on an imminent threat of violent attack Thursday for his confirmation hearing to against the U.S. Brennan had made a become CIA director. The hearing will similar speech justifying the strikes as take place as a growing number of sena- self-defense against imminent threat of tors are asking to see a still-classified attack.

Justice Department legal opinion that Asked Tuesday about the definition of justifies the administration’s position on “imminent threat� at a news conference drones and is binding on the entire exec- on an unrelated topic, Holder said that utive branch. “so many of these things are fact-based�

White House press secretary Jay Carand that “you can’t examine the terms ney declined Tuesday to discuss details, without reference to the facts.� He said saying only that President Obama takes such details can be discussed only in a seriously his responsibility to protect the classified setting.

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OPINION

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

THE ITEM

A7

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

COMMENTARY

|

Women in combat

A

senior Defense Department official said the ban on women in combat should be lifted because the military’s goal is “to provide a level, gender-neutral playing field.”

I’d like to think the goal of the military should be to have the toughest, meanest fighting force possible. But let’s look at “gender-neutral playing field.”

The Army’s physical fitness test in basic training is a three-event physical performance test used to assess endurance. The minimum requirement for 17- to 21-year-old males is 35 pushups, 47 situps and a two-mile run in 16 minutes, 36 seconds or less. For females of the same age, the minimum requirement is 13 pushups, 47 situps and a 19:42 two-mile run. Why the difference in fitness requirements? “USMC Women in the Service Restrictions Review” found that women, on average, have 20 percent lower aerobic power, 40 percent lower Walter muscle strength, 47 percent less WILLIAMS lifting strength and 26 percent slower marching speed than men.

William Gregor, professor of social sciences at the Army’s Command and General Staff College, reports that in tests of aerobic capacity, the records show, only 74 of 8,385 Reserve Officers’ Training Corps women attained the level of the lowest 16 percent of men. The “fight load” — the gear an infantryman carries on patrol — is 35 percent of the average man’s body weight but 50 percent of the average Army woman’s weight. In his examination of physical fitness test results from the ROTC, dating back to 1992, and 74,000 records of male and female commissioned officers, only 2.9 percent of women were able to attain the men’s average pushup ability and time in the two-mile run.

In a January report titled “Defense Department ‘Diversity’ Push for Women in Land Combat” (http://tinyurl.com/axn9l93) Elaine Donnelly, director of the Center for Military Readiness, points to U.S. Army studies showing that women are twice as likely to suffer injuries and are three times more undeployable than men.

Women are less likely to be able to march under load — 12.4 miles in five hours with an 83-pound assault load — and to be able to crawl, sprint, negotiate obstacles with that load or move a casualty weighing 165 pounds or more while carrying that load. Plus, there are muscle-challenging feats, even for men, such as field repairs on an M1A1 Abrams tank.

Then there’s the pregnancy issue, which makes women three to four times as likely as men to be undeployable. And once deployed, they often have to be medically evacuated, leaving units understrength. Finally, there’s another difference between men and women rarely considered in deliberation about whether women should be in combat. All measures of physical aggressiveness show that men, maybe because of testosterone levels 10 times higher, are more aggressive, competitive and hostile than women. Those attributes are desirable for combat.

Here are a couple of what-if questions. Suppose a combat unit is retreating in mountainous terrain in Afghanistan, where a person’s aerobic capacity really makes a difference, and the women in the unit can’t keep up with the men. What would you propose, leaving the women behind to possibly be captured by the Taliban or having the unit slow down so the women can keep up, thereby risking causalities or capture? What if a male soldier is washed out of the Army’s Advanced Infantry Training program because he cannot pass its physical fitness test whereas a female soldier who can’t perform at his level is retained? Should male soldiers be able to bring suit and be awarded damages for sex discrimination? How much respect can a male soldier have for his female counterpart, who is held to lower performance standards?

There’s another issue. The Selective Service System’s website has the following message about draft registration: “Even though the Secretary of Defense has decided to allow women in combat jobs, the law has not been changed to include this. Consequently, only men are currently required to register by law with Selective Service during ages 18 thru 25. Women still do not register.” How can that, coupled with differences in performance standards, possibly be consistent with the Defense Department’s stated agenda “to provide a level, gender-neutral playing field”?

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

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Take pity on people driving normal passenger cars Drivers of large vehicles, please take pity on us “little” people in normal passenger cars.

The SUVs, vans and trucks must remember when you are beside us at a stoplight or sign, we can’t see around you, over you or through you. When we edge out to get a better look of traffic to be able to turn, you don’t have to. If you can remember to watch out for us, you will get a big thank you, wave of the hand and just maybe someone will throw you a kiss.

ZAIDER WRIGHT Sumter

Toy gun expulsion doesn’t match state law Sumter School District recently expelled a student for bringing a toy gun to school. They graciously rescinded that expulsion but have stated that they intend to expel any student bringing a weapon or look-alike. This is policy does not match up with state law. SC code 59-63-235 provides expulsion of a student determined to have brought firearm to school. State law also provides us the definition of a firearm. In SC code 16-23-345, “weapon” means firearm (rifle, shotgun, pistol or similar device that propels a projectile through the energy of an explosive), a blackjack, a metal pipe or pole, or any other type of device or object which may be used to inflict bodily injury or death.

As much as the schools seem to want to posture and appear tough on guns, they must confine their ambitions to real firearms, not toy guns. While I agree a toy gun or even a Nerf gun could be a distraction in a classroom, they are no cause for such heavy handed measures.

WES JOHNSTON Dalzell

Councilman Baker sells out constituents again Well, we just got tagged a new county property tax for rainwater runoff water. Only one county councilman voted against this new tax, and it wasn’t Artie Baker. I don’t know what we are supposed to do about the water that God gives us, but our government has found a way to charge us for it. Next I suppose they will find a way to charge us for the air we discharge when we exhale.

I have been contacting our local and state representatives and writing to The Item for several years concerning the condition of the roads in the Dalzell area, particularly Stamey Livestock Road. I have received the response from the government

that there are no funds to re-surface the roads I have complained about, all of which lie in Councilman Artie Baker’s district, who incidentally is impossible to reach, as Cathy Kirby stated in her Friday, June 4, 2010, Letter to the Editor. I am curious as to where all the money goes that we pay in property taxes and road user fees.

Now I see that our county council has decided to donate $150,000 from our county road user fees to the city of Sumter to help repair city streets, in exchange for the city making a possible donation to the new sports complex on Patriot Parkway.

Wasn’t that sports complex supposed to be funded with a new penny sales tax that was recently imposed on us to begin with?

Now let’s see if I have this straight. County council has the money to donate $150,000 to the city but not to keep up the roads in Councilman Baker’s district?

Thank you, Mr. Baker, for selling your constituents out once more. You may have won the primary for your council seat in my area, but it wasn’t that big of a win. I intend to write-in Reb Richardson on my ballot in November, and urge all of Baker’s constituents in Cherryvale, Oakland and Dalzell to do the same.

JOE E. MOORE Jr. Dalzell

Desecrating national anthem should be against the law The children singing America at the football game (Super Bowl) last night brought a lump to the throat and tears to the eyes.

Then to have our national anthem ruined by the woman stylizing it brought bile to the throat and anger to the heart. This is our national anthem. It was written in one way. It can only be sung/played in one way.

It should be against the law to desecrate it in this way. But then when we have a president that doesn’t feel it necessary to cover his heart when it is being presented, I don’t think we can look forward to such a law.

RICHARD SANDERS Rembert

Questions arise about Bynum’s character I read the article on Friday about Naomi McKinney, I put the paper down and took a break, then I went back and read the article again. It hadn’t changed. Both times the article said that a man I was paying to run our school system made a decision that he felt was fair and just and then changed that decision because he received threats.

If the decision was correct in the first place and he changed his mind because of threats, that re-

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

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

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

H.D. OSTEEN 1904-1987 The Item

| ally doesn’t show much character on his part, and I wonder if we really want him leading our teachers and students.

JACK ODYA Sumter

Gay movement trying to ruin Boy Scouts I was greatly saddened to read that the Boy Scouts of America was considering allowing homosexual men and boys to participate in their private organization because failure to do so would mean the loss of donations from major corporations. The very reason the BSA has such a favorable reputation is they uphold their oath which states every scout and leader will live a life that is “morally straight.” (BSA Handbook p.22) My grandfather supported scouts, my father was an eagle and now my son is active in Troop 332. All throughout these generations scouting has been admired and honored because of the young men of character this organization has produced.

Now the gay movement is doing its best to ruin this organization by demanding that the BSA accept their values and their lifestyle as moral and allow gay men to be allowed as its leaders.

To allow this would ruin Boy Scouts forever. The U.S. Supreme Court in the BSA vs. Dale case has stated that the BSA can uphold their membership requirements and that no outside group has a right to come in and change them. The BSA can exclude any member if they fail to uphold the membership requirements. What that means is if one fails to live “morally straight” then they can be required to leave. Needless to say, the gay movement didn’t like that ruling at all.

Can the national BSA leadership tell me the logic of allowing gay men in the leadership of BSA? The BSA is now going through lawsuits because there have been incidences of sexual abuse in the past and now they are going to open the door wide open for homosexual men to be leaders. How is this decision going to protect our innocent boys from future sexual abuse? Such a move would be just plain naive.

But what about financial support you ask? Look at what Chick-fil-A learned last year.

They stood up against the gay movement and boldly stated that they believe marriage is between a man and woman just like God designed.

DAVID HILBISH Sumter Editor’s note: Because this letter exceeded the 350-word length as stated in our Editorial Page Policies which appears regularly on this page, it can be read in its entirety under Opinion on The Item’s website, www.theitem.com.

HUBERT D. OSTEEN JR. | EDITOR AND CHAIRMAN MARGARET W. OSTEEN 1908-1996 The Item

H. GRAHAM OSTEEN II Co-President

KYLE BROWN OSTEEN Co-President

JOHN DUVALL OSTEEN Vice President and Publisher

LARRY MILLER CEO

A8

DAILY PLANNER

THE ITEM

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

HAZING from Page A1 and has become one of the worst experiences our family has ever suffered through,” said Green, who has family in the Sumter area.

The four defendants are accused in the civil suit with varying degrees of negligence, gross negligence, battery, assault and outrage for allowing the Oct. 23, 2011, hazing incident that led to McElveen’s being “hospitalized for several days to treat severe damage to his kidneys and internal organs.”

Robinson is the only named defendant in the suit that is also facing criminal charges for the incident that occurred at his off-campus home.

He and eight others — including Sumter resident Henry James Watson — were charged by the Florence County Sheriff’s Department with one count each of hazing after McElveen was “paddled to such an extent as to have resulted in serious bodily injury requiring an extended stay at an area hospital,” according to reports. Each defendant was eventually granted $5,000 personal recognizance bonds and released. Their cases are pending in 12th Circuit general sessions court.

McElveen alleges in his complaint that the fraternity members forced him to near exhaustion from extreme exercises; made him eat unidentified foods; made him wear the same dirty clothes each night during the rituals; forced him to engage in a “ping pong game” that involved extensive paddling; and deprived him of sleep. The hazing apparently escalated on Oct. 23, “Hell Night,” which was the final night of the mandatory initiation process for the fraternity.

This is not the first time Phi Beta Sigma has been named in such a lawsuit, and McElveen’s attorneys claim Francis Marion University had every reason to know the fraternity had a history of allowing such behavior.

“Our investigation leads us to believe the University turned a blind eye towards Phi Beta Sigma despite the fraternity being implicated in numerous hazing incidents,” said W. Mullins McLeod in a release.

The fraternity’s parent corporation was sued in spring 2010 by the parents of 20-yearold Donnie Wade II of Dallas, who died in

2009 after an “intense physical training session” initiated by fraternity brothers during a pledge week, according to the Dallas Morning News. The case was later settled under undisclosed terms after fraternity members admitted they were instructed to deny any member of the fraternity was present during the early-morning workouts that led to Wade’s death.

Last September the organization was sued again, this time by a former Virginia State University student injured during a hazing initiation more than three years earlier.

Christopher Rudder said he endured numerous acts of hazing — including being forced to eat unknown foods that made him vomit and having hot sauce poured on his genitals — between 2008 and 2009 when he pledged his university’s Phi Beta Sigma chapter.

The Richmond TimesDispatch reported that Rudder eventually underwent surgery to repair physical damage caused by the hazing incidents. That suit is pending.

Calls to FMU were unreturned on Monday, but spokeswoman Angela Crosland said in 2011 that “FMU policy prohibits behavior that involves hazing, and the FMU Office of Student Affairs staff continues to educate members of student organizations of the high standards of behavior required under the FMU Student Honor Code.”

McLeod said the suit does not hold FMU responsible for the battery and assault but said the university is negligent for allowing the injurious activities.

“The injuries ... were caused by the willful, wanton, reckless, grossly negligent and negligent acts of defendants,” the complaint said. “(McElveen) has suffered and continues to suffer ... physical pain, suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, impairment of health and bodily efficiency, loss of (his) enjoyment of life, shock and injury to (his) nervous system, increased susceptibility to future injury, substantial expenses for past and future medical services, loss of income and other past and future economic loss.”

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

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TODAY

TONIGHT

67°

THURSDAY 60°

FRIDAY

SATURDAY 62°

64°

SUNDAY

62°

39° 46°

43°

44°

Mostly sunny and nice

Mainly clear

Mostly sunny and mild

Partly sunny and pleasant

Winds: NNE 3-6 mph

Winds: ENE 4-8 mph

Winds: ENE 7-14 mph

Winds: N 6-12 mph

Winds: ENE 7-14 mph

Winds: ENE 3-6 mph

Chance of rain: 0%

Chance of rain: 10%

Chance of rain: 75%

Chance of rain: 35%

Chance of rain: 5%

Chance of rain: 5%

Sumter through 4 p.m. yesterday

Temperature High ............................................... 67° Low ................................................ 36° Normal high ................................... 57° Normal low ..................................... 34° Record high ....................... 80° in 2008 Record low ......................... 14° in 1996

Greenville 65/39

Rain possible in the morning

35°

Mostly cloudy, rain beginning; cooler

Gaffney 63/36 Spartanburg 66/39

Precipitation 24 hrs ending 4 p.m. yest. ............

Month to date ...............................

Normal month to date ..................

Year to date ..................................

Normal year to date .....................

Full pool 360 76.8 75.5 100

7 a.m. yest.

357.51 74.39 73.84 96.79

24-hr chg +0.06 +0.11 +0.04 +0.33

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

Full pool 12 19 14 14 80 24

7 a.m. yest.

4.47 4.20 4.89 5.50 79.43 12.67

24-hr chg -0.07 none +0.45 -0.01 -0.18 -1.65

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 69/41/s 57/33/s 67/42/s 70/42/s 70/48/s 56/41/s 70/46/s 64/38/s 67/43/s 68/40/s

Bishopville 66/38

0.00” 0.00” 0.60” 1.21” 4.54”

Lake Murray Marion Moultrie Wateree

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 58/44/r 49/38/r 52/42/r 58/45/r 66/56/r 56/50/pc 65/55/r 52/40/r 52/43/r 59/45/r

Sunrise today .......................... 7:14 a.m.

Sunset tonight ......................... 5:57 p.m.

Moonrise today ....................... 3:51 a.m.

Moonset today ........................ 2:19 p.m.

Columbia 68/40 Today: Plenty of sunshine.

Thursday: Cooler and becoming rainy.

Myrtle Beach 64/44

Manning 68/41 Aiken 69/41

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 60/46/r 54/49/pc 62/49/r 59/45/r 62/48/r 79/58/pc 53/40/r 59/45/pc 65/56/r 48/38/r

Feb. 10 Full

Feb. 17 Last

Feb. 25

Mar. 4

Shown is today’s weather.

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

Charleston 70/46 The following tide table lists times for Myrtle Beach.

Wed.

Forecasts and graphics provided

by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2013 Today Hi/Lo/W 66/37/s 56/36/pc 64/37/s 63/35/s 67/39/s 75/54/pc 64/37/s 62/33/s 70/45/s 58/33/s

First

Florence 67/39

Sumter 67/39

Today: Sunny much of the time and delightful. High 63 to 70.

Thursday: Rain at times; breezy in northern parts. High 60 to 66.

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

New

Thu.

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 65/39/s 60/35/s 67/51/s 73/55/pc 67/47/pc 70/50/s 64/43/s 59/36/s 70/48/s 64/44/s

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 51/41/r 50/37/r 64/58/r 78/57/c 58/45/r 60/47/r 52/40/r 50/39/r 64/56/r 60/53/r

High Ht. Low Ht. 5:18 a.m.....3.2 12:16 p.m....-0.2 5:27 p.m.....2.7 ---..... --6:22 a.m.....3.3 12:27 a.m....-0.6 6:31 p.m.....2.9 1:15 p.m....-0.4

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 70/42/s 68/50/s 60/34/s 64/36/s 64/35/s 71/50/pc 66/39/s 68/50/s 65/40/s 58/33/s

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 62/48/r 65/56/r 54/39/pc 53/40/r 59/42/r 69/57/r 52/41/r 64/57/r 63/51/r 51/38/r

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

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

Cold front Showers Rain T-storms Snow Flurries

Ice

Warm front

Today Thu. Today Thu. City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W Albuquerque 59/34/s 54/32/s Las Vegas 66/46/s 66/45/s Anchorage 30/19/sn 28/22/sn Los Angeles 63/49/pc 61/49/pc Atlanta 65/48/s 54/43/r Miami 80/67/s 80/68/s Baltimore 44/26/pc 39/33/pc Minneapolis 30/23/sn 31/12/c Boston 38/19/sf 26/22/s New Orleans 74/60/c 73/58/r Charleston, WV 42/27/pc 54/37/c New York 40/24/sf 33/31/pc Charlotte 64/38/s 52/40/r Oklahoma City 66/51/s 60/37/sh Chicago 32/30/pc 35/28/i Omaha 46/29/pc 42/24/pc Cincinnati 38/28/pc 51/34/c Philadelphia 42/26/pc 37/33/pc Dallas 70/55/sh 71/48/pc Phoenix 72/50/s 70/50/s Denver 56/23/s 52/27/s Pittsburgh 32/18/sf 41/31/c Des Moines 40/32/pc 38/20/pc St. Louis 45/35/s 53/31/sh Detroit 29/19/pc 35/27/sn Salt Lake City 33/21/pc 33/25/pc Helena 43/26/sn 40/23/c San Francisco 56/46/s 54/44/sh Honolulu 80/68/pc 81/67/s Seattle 48/39/sh 45/31/r Indianapolis 36/29/pc 45/30/c Topeka 60/39/pc 54/26/pc Kansas City 58/40/pc 52/26/sh Washington, DC 45/28/pc 44/36/pc Weather(W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice

with what’s going on at ARIES (March 21-April 19): the last word in astrology home or within your Impulsive moves will immediate family, but lead to a mishap or eugenia LAST being an observer rather unfortunate situation. Do than taking sides will be your best to stick to your best alternative. familiar people and places. Expand an interest that you used to SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Work alongside enjoy. people who understand your position and relate to your creative and unique ideals, and TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take charge. Your you will ensure that you receive the help and unique way of viewing an impossible dedication required to reach your goals. situation will enhance your reputation with acquaintances but may hamper your SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Tread carefully. relationship with someone you love.

You will be misinterpreted or misrepresented if you share your thoughts. Arguments will GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Trouble will surface, lead to isolation or an inability to move affecting your position if you aren’t careful forward. what you say or do regarding work or a colleague.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Take care of business. This is an ideal time to reassess your CANCER (June 21-July 22): Follow through with position and to apply for a new job or add your plans and you’ll get the benefits you’re responsibilities to the position you currently hoping for. Changing your residence, hold. spending time with creative people or joining a new group will enhance your life.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.18): Don’t limit the possibilities. Pick up information or skills that LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Cover up mistakes that will help you reach your goals. Don’t let what might cause you sorrow. It’s up to you to deal others do or say spin out of control. Honesty is with anyone making accusations directly the best policy. before a problem has time to escalate.

PISCES (Feb.19-March 20): You may have to VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You’ll be able to keep a secret in order to protect your attract positive attention from colleagues and reputation and future prospects. Starting up a your boss if you take action and responsibility relationship with someone from your past will for a job that is perplexing and difficult. put you in a compromising position.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You may not agree

PICK 3 TUESDAY: 2-9-6 AND 0-0-9 PICK 4 TUESDAY: 3-7-7-0 AND 3-9-5-2 PALMETTO CASH 5 TUESDAY: 2-5-6-9-38 POWERUP: 3

MEGAMILLIONS NUMBERS WERE UNAVAILABLE AT PRESS TIME

FOR SATURDAY: 11-16-33-40-41 POWERBALL: 34

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TOWN OF LYNCHBURG PLANNING COMMISSION Wednesday, 4 p.m., town hall

pictures from the public

Can You Help?

Police Seek Assistance in a Hit -And-Run Investigation Sumter Police are asking anyone who may have knowledge or information regarding a fatal hit and run which occurred on Calhoun Street on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012, at approximately 7:30 a.m. to contact the department at (803) 436-2700 or Crime stoppers at (803) 436-2718. You may remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward.

70-year-old Jeanette Harrison was struck and killed in a hit-and-run collision while crossing Calhoun Street near Tuomey Regional Medical Center. Witnesses reported that a dark-colored car traveling east on Calhoun Street from Washington Street, toward Main Street, hit the victim and left the scene without stopping. Witnesses further stated that the driver of the vehicle appeared to be a white female, approximately 20-30 years of age.

If you or someone you know can provide information, mation please call:

Sumter Police

Crime stoppers

(803) 436-2700

(803) 436-2718

Dennis Selvig comments on his photo submission, “When you go to Charleston on a hot summer day and are looking for a shady spot with a cool breeze off the ocean, go to ‘Battery Point.’ You can turn toward the ocean and see Fort Sumter in the distance from here.”

SPORTS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

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

B1

Speeds up for drivers at Darlington tire test

BY PETE IACOBELLI The Associated Press DARLINGTON — Carl Edwards and several other Sprint Cup stars gave the new, faster Gen-6 race car a thumbs-up after a Goodyear tire test Tuesday at Darlington Raceway.

Edwards said the digital speedometer on his Ford Fusion hit 193 mph right before

entering turn three, a typically unheard of speed at the ultra-tricky track.

“Each time down, you want to watch and see what you’re doing,’’ he said.

“But the fastest EDWARDS point is the point where the track needs your attention and your eyes are not supposed to

be on that monitor. I saw 193 or something, but I can’t look at it any longer before I have to look into the corner.’’

Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., Paul Menard and Juan Pablo Montoya were also at Darlington for the daylong session. NASCAR teams have previously tested the car at Daytona International Speedway and Charlotte Motorspeedway.

Edwards found the new machine to be faster and racers should expect better handling and tighter racing when the circuit returns to NASCAR’s oldest superspeedway for the Southern 500 on May 11.

A few laps around the track “Too Tough To Tame’’ in the new car and Truex was confident someone would shatter Darlington’s record qualifying

speed of 181.254 mph set by Kasey Kahne at the 2011 race.

“We were faster in race trim than we qualified last year and I think we qualified sixth or something,’’ Truex said.

Then again, Darlington may not be the place for higher speeds. The track has a reputation as one of the SEE DARLINGTON, PAGE B3

Sumter, WF split

BY EDDIE LITAKER Special To The Item

was huge, especially after coming off a loss on Friday to Florence Christian. Wilson Hall will host Florence Christian on Friday while LMA, now 15-12 and 3-2 in region play, will travel to Orangeburg Prep.

“It showed a lot of character to beat the No. 1 team in the conference and now we’re tied with them for first place,” Epps said. “They would win the tiebreaker because they beat us by more points, but we feel like we’ve got a chance.”

LMA led 28-23 at halftime, but relinquished the lead to WH after three quarters of play, trailing 37-35.

Sumter High School’s varsity basketball Senior Night turned out to be a spirited affair as both Sumter teams would lead their adversaries from West Florence by double digits in the second half, but only one would come away with a win, and even that took overtime to achieve.

The Lady Gamecocks led 24-11 at halftime and were still up 27-14 with 4:58 left in the third before the Lady Knights began VANDEVANDER a comeback that would end in a 46-43 West Florence victory, breaking a 12-game Sumter winning streak and ending the Lady Gamecocks’ hopes of a third consecutive undefeated run through Region VI. “I’m very proud of the girls for the year we’ve had,” said Sumter girls head coach Chris Vandevander as her team closed regular season play at 17-5 and 7-1. “We’ve got so many young players and so many returning players that really were not our go-to players. I told the girls in the locker room that (with) a 17-5 season, 7-1 in the region, I think we really overachieved. ... Yes, it’s a loss and we really would have liked to have won, but to have the season that we’ve had, we’ve got to take that going into the playoffs and try to finish out strong and win a couple of rounds and see where we go.”

West Florence had cut the Sumter lead to four, 31-27, at the end of the third quarter and finally overtook Sumter on a Maya Jackson bucket with 57 seconds left for a 42-41 lead. Christian Hithe hit a basket after two

SEE SPLIT, PAGE B2

SEE SUMTER, PAGE B2

KEITH GEDMAKE / SPECIAL TO THE ITEM

Laurence Manning’s Maddie Weber, right, tries to deflect a pass intended for Wilson Hall’s Lucion Hall (12) on Tuesday during the Lady Barons’ 44-37 victory on Tuesday at Bubba Davis Gymnasium in Manning.

WH girls, LMA boys win

BY MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER mchristopher@theitem.com

KEITH GEDMAKE / SPECIAL TO THE ITEM

MANNING — Wilson Hall’s varsity girls basketball team took control of its own destiny, holding off Laurence Manning Academy 44-37 on Tuesday, while the LMA boys opened up the SCISA Region II-3A race with a 47-45 victory over the Barons on Senior Night at Bubba Davis gymnasium.

LMA’s Nick Gibbons made a key late steal, but then missed the front end of a 1-and-1 free throw situation, giving Wilson Hall a chance to tie or win the game with 1.9 seconds remaining in the game. WH’s Tyler Pannell threw the ball

Laurence Manning’s Dixie Richburg (21) and Wilson Hall’s Alex Wells go after a loose ball during the Lady Barons’ 44-37 victory on Tuesday in Manning.

on the inbound pass to William Kinney and his shot from halfcourt hit the front of the rim as the Barons fell

to 3-2 in the conference and 12-9 overall.

LMA head coach Will Epps said getting the win

Lewis owes families something

G

od’s grace is truly amazing.

Where man often has a hard time offering forgiveness to one another, God’s forgiving grace is there for those who truly repent of their sins.

Those who are Christians know this forgiveness, yet often have a Dennis hard time applyBRUNSON ing that same forgiveness God supplies to fellow sinners — i.e. everyone else.

A case in point is Ray Lewis, the Baltimore Ravens linebacker who both won a Super Bowl and ended his 17-year National Football League career on Sun-

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis rubs the Lombardi Trophy on Tuesday in front of a cheering crowd at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

day.

For those who for some reason may not already know this, the then 24-year-old Lewis was

tried for the murder of two men who were killed at a post Super SEE BRUNSON, PAGE B3

Kentucky routs Carolina 77-55 LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Julius Mays’ 15 points led five Kentucky players in double figures, and the Wildcats blew out South Carolina 77-55 Tuesday night to move within MAYS a game of first-place Florida in the Southeastern Conference.

Kentucky (16-6, 7-2) began the night two games behind Florida before the No. 2 Gators suffered their first conference loss, 80-69 at Arkansas, earlier in the

evening.

The Wildcats followed with their fourth straight victory and perhaps most complete in conference play as they shot 27 of 44 from the field and outrebounded the Gamecocks 42-25.

Kentucky’s 61-percent shooting was its thirdhighest this season.

Willie Cauley-Stein and Archie Goodwin each added 13 points, Ryan Harrow had 12 and Nerlens Noel 10 along with 10 rebounds and five blocks.

Michael Carrera scored a game-high 18 points for USC (12-10, 2-7).

B2

SPORTS

THE ITEM

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

Crestwood rolls past Darlington 94-68 DARLINGTON — Seth Fitzgerald scored 34 points to lead Crestwood High School’s varsity boys basketball team to a 94-68 victory over Darlington on Tuesday at the Darlington gymnasium.

Garian Williams added 17 points for the Knights and Paris Tindal had 15.

JK Richardson led Darlington with 30 points.

Crestwood will begin play in the state playoffs on Tuesday on the road.

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER JEFFERSON DAVIS

70 61

KJ Dozier and Matthew Rickabaugh both had double-doubles to lead St. Francis Xavier High School to a 70-61 victory over Jefferson Davis Academy on Tuesday at Birnie Hope Center.

Dozier had 25 points and 12 re-

BOYS AREA ROUNDUP

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bounds for the Padres, who improved to 17-7 overall and finished second in SCISA Region I-1A with an 8-2 record.

Rickabaugh had 11 points and 15 rebounds. Matt Mossell added 15.

Dozier and Dalton Foreman were named to the all-region team.

Tuesday at Bubba Davis Gymnasium.

Brandon Spittle led the Barons with 13 points while John Wells Baker had 11.

Tillman Tumbleston led LMA with 11 points.

JEFFERSON DAVIS Davis 14, Gee 15, C. Bearden 12, N. Bearden 7, Poston 2, Lester 3, Garner 8.

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER Dozier 25, Ma. Rickabaugh 11, Mossell 15, White 6, Mi. Rickabaugh 4, Foreman 9.

JUNIOR VARSITY BASKETBALL WILSON HALL LAURENCE MANNING

34 31

MANNING — Wilson Hall improved to 14-4 on the season with a 34-31 victory over Laurence Manning Academy on

SUMTER WEST FLORENCE

46 40

FLORENCE — Sumter High School closed out its regular season with a 46-40 victory over West Florence on Monday at the WF gym.

Ky’Jon Tyler led the Gamecocks with 12 points. Xzavion Burson added 10 and Anthony Simmons had eight.

SHS finished with a 13-8 overall record and won the Region VI-4A title with a 6-2 record.

GIRLS AREA ROUNDUP

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Lady Knights pick up 20th victory DARLINGTON — Crestwood High School’s varsity girls basketball team picked up its 20th victory of the season on Tuesday, beating Darlington 65-33 at the Darlington gymnasium.

The Lady Knights, who are 20-5 overall, won the Region VI-3A title, finishing 10-0. They have won 14 straight games.

Daniquia Lewis led Crestwood with 25 points. Keanua Williams added nine and nine assists. Shaquanda McCray also had nine points. Lanise Smith and Crystal Bennett each had eight points.

Crestwood will be at home in the first round of state playoffs on Monday

SPLIT from Page B1 Gibbons sparked LMA’s late scoring and then converted two free throws to put his team up with 28.2 seconds left. He finished with 11 points.

LMA’s Shakei Green also had 11points as the Swampcats scoring was balanced with Mark Pipkin contributing nine and James Crump adding seven.

Sharp Turner led Wilson Hall with 12 points, but was held out most of the second half because of foul trouble.

Pannell added nine and Kyle Duffy had eight for the Barons.

In the girls game WH senior Lucion Hall and sophomore Hannah Jordan connected on eight of nine free throws late in the fourth quarter to hold off LMA. “Playing LMA on Senior Night when you have two senior girls with a lot of emotion, we knew they were going to come out with a lot of intensity, “Wilson Hall head coach Glen Rector saidy. “I was real proud of

MANNING HARTSVILLE

68 44

MANNING — Manning High School wrapped up second place in Region Vi-3A with a 68-44 victory over Hartsville on Tuesday at Thames Arena.

Lanisha Brown had 21 points and six steals to lead the Lady Monarchs. Makeba Harvin had a double-double of 10 points and 15 rebounds, while Alexia Abraham had 10 points, six rebounds, three steals and five assists.

Monica Nelson also grabbed 10 rebounds.

Manning will be a thome in the first round of the state playoffs on Monday.

HARTSVILLE Rogers 17, Dawson 9, Brewer 3, Godfrey 2, McDan-

iel 3, Heslewood 2, W. Johnson 4, Williams 1, S. Johnson 3.

MANNING Brown 21, Harvin 11, Abraham 10, Brayboy 4, Cousar 3, Nelson 3, York 7, Hilton 4, Green 4.

LAKEWOOD MARLBORO COUNTY

65 60

BENNETTSVILLE — Lakewood High School kept its playoff hopes alive with a 65-60 victory over Marlboro County on Tuesday at the Marlboro gymnasium.

Lakewood improved to 2-7 in Region VI-3A and will play host to 3-6 Darlington on Thursday. If the Lady Gators win the game by more than 16 points, they’ll clinch the fourth and final spot from the region in the state playoffs.

Sonora Dengokl had a double-double of 30 points

and 17 rebounds for the Lady Gators. Muriel Evans had 17 points and Qwintashia had seven poitns and four steals.

JUNIOR VARSITY BASKETBALL WILSON HALL 49 LAURENCE MANNING 24

MANNING — Wilson Hall had three players score in double figures as it defeated Laurence Manning Academy 49-24 on Tuesday at Bubba Davis Gymnasium. ]Mary Margaret Munn had 11 points to pace the Lady Barons, who improved to 14-3 on the season. Nicolette Fisher and Caroline Clark both added 10 points.

Logan McElveen and Courtney Beatson each scored eight points to lead LMA.

our girls in the fourth quarter and free throw shooting was the big difference toward the end of the game.”

LMA’s Hayley Hatfield 3-point basket cut the deficit to 39-33, but that’s as close as the Lady Swampcats would get as Jordan went a perfect 4-for-4 from the freethrow line while Hall added three points late as WH held on to improve to 14-7 overall and 4-1 in the region, good for first place.

WH’s Elizabeth Munn aided the Lady Barons in the early going with two points, nine rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot, all in the first half. She finished with four points and 12 rebounds. Hall led WH with 16 points, including 10 in the first half. She also contributed 10 rebounds and three blocks in the win.

The one bad note for WH was sophomore Hayley Smoak injured her right knee and will have an MRI today to determine the severity of her injury.

LMA was led by Grace Beatson’s 12 points, eight of which came in the first half, while Dixie Richburg added five of her eight in the second half.

KEITH GEDMAKE / SPECIAL TO THE ITEM

Wilson Hall’s Hannah Jordan, right, tries to shoot over Laurence Manning’s Dixie Richburg during the Lady Barons’ 44-37 victory on Tuesday in Manning at Bubba Davis Gymnasium.

SUMTER from Page B1 Lady Knight free throws to make it 44-43, then Tierra Burgess came up short on Sumter’s last shot after two more West Florence free throws.

The third quarter proved to be a momentum changer for the Lady Knights as the Lady Gamecocks struggled to score and did not seem to have many calls go their way on either side of the court.

Burgess ended with 11 for Sumter while senior Julia Sorrells closed with eight, including a dominant stretch in the second quarter where she followed her own miss, hit one free throw then got a basket on the follow of her miss on the second attempt, and came away with a steal on defense.

Fellow senior Passion Wilson closed with three while Jonvanna Helton did not make an appearance in her final regular season home game.

Jackson and Destinee Walker both had 15 for West Florence, which improved to 14-8 and 3-4.

Sumter’s boys seemed poised for a blowout win, racing to an 18-4 lead after one quarter. The Gamecock lead was still 11 at halftime and 10 at the end of three quarters before the Knights took a 57-56 lead with 1:21 left on a Jamal Cummings block and low post drive.

Down 60-57 on its final possession, Sumter turned to Sonny Butler, who drained a 3=point basket with two seconds left to take the game to overtime. Anthony Moses and Brandon Parker then scored four apiece – the only points of the game for both — in the 4-minute overtime period to help propel the Gamecocks to a 72-67 victory.

Sumter seemed to have the game wrapped up late after a rare foul and technical call on the same play. West Florence’s David Driggers had cut the lead to one, 50-49, with a 3-point play before Butler hit two free throws to put the Gamecocks back up by three.

Sumter came away with a steal, miss and then foul on the offensive end, sending Lachell Durant to the line.

Durant missed both free throws, then was called for a foul going after the loose ball.

After the foul call, Durant slammed the ball to the floor, drawing the tech call. Demetrius Anderson hit one of two foul shots, then Butler drained both technical shots to put the Gamecocks up by six, 55-49, with 3:11 to go.

West Florence then got threes from Kelso Wright and Ryan Ellis before Cummings’ goahead basket. Wright hit three of four free throws down the stretch to put the Knights in position to win before Butler’s three to close out regulation.

Anderson closed with 14 and Shyheif Hoskins added 11 for the Gamecocks, who close regular season play at 15-10 and 7-1.

Even with Tiger & Phil, not all the buzz surrounding golf is good

BY DOUG FERGUSON The Associated Press PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — These should be happy times for golf.

Tiger Woods won for the 75th time on the PGA Tour and set a record with his eighth win at Torrey Pines. It was a command performance, the kind that made people think more about where he is going than where he went.

The next week, Phil Mickelson had a chance at 59 until his 25-foot birdie putt on the last hole took a cruel spin around the cup. He thought he had golf’s

magic number and instead shot his tax rate in California. Lefty still sailed to a wire-to-wire win in the Phoenix Open.

It was the first time since 2009 that golf’s two biggest stars won in consecutive weeks.

The trouble is, any discussion about golf these days goes beyond birdies and bogeys. Now it includes “bifurcation.’’

And the day after the buzz was about Tiger, the focus shifted to deer antlers.

PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem might have seen this coming when he said

two weeks ago that while he views the professional game as being the strongest it has ever been, “I don’t like to see distractions.’’

There are too many of them right now.

Vijay Singh was leaving the practice range at SINGH Pebble Beach on Tuesday when one of the few reporters that has a working relationship with the Fijian called out to him. Singh looked at him, said nothing, and kept walking.

“So that would be no comment?’’ the reporter said.

“Yes,’’ Singh replied.

Sports Illustrated reported that Singh paid $9,000 to Sports With Alternative to Steroids in November for products that included deerantler spray, which is said to have an insulinlike growth factor, which is on the PGA Tour’s list of prohibited substances. Singh told the magazine he uses the spray “every couple of hours ... every day.’’

Singh might have been better off keeping quiet, as he often does.

But he issued a state-

ment confirming he used the spray, but was unaware it had a banned substance.

“I am absolutely shocked that deer-antler spray may contain a banned substance and am angry that I have put myself in this position,’’ he said. “I have been in contact with the PGA Tour and am cooperating fully with their review of this matter.’’

The tour will not comment except to say it is looking into the matter, though it is backed into a corner.

Singh’s admission alone constitutes an anti-doping violation. The

first violation is up to a one-year suspension.

The tour has a minimum requirement to publish the name of the player, his anti-doping violation and the sanction.

As long as Singh is in the field, that means the tour has not suspended him. He is playing this week. For now.

The only other player suspended under the anti-doping policy was Doug Barron, the consummate journeyman.

Singh is a three-time major champion who was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2006.

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

THE ITEM

Cards’ Carpenter out for ‘13 ST. LOUIS — Chris Carpenter, one of the best clutch pitchers in the storied history of the St. Louis Cardinals, may have thrown his final pitch.

General manager John Mozeliak and manager Mike Matheny announced Tuesday that Carpenter almost certainly won’t pitch in 2013 and that his star-crossed career is probably over after a recurrence of a nerve injury that cost him most of last season. Carpenter did not attend, CARPENTER and Mozeliak said the emotions for the 37-year-old are still too raw.

Carpenter’s career numbers don’t reflect his value to the team. He is 144-94 with a 3.76 ERA in a career that began in Toronto in 1997. He spent six seasons with the Blue Jays and nine in St. Louis. He won the 2005 NL Cy Young Award, going 21-5 with a 2.83 ERA, and was second in 2009 after going 17-4 with a 2.24 ERA. VONN TEARS KNEE LIGAMENTS, OUT FOR SEASON

SCHLADMING, Austria — Lindsey Vonn’s season came to an end Tuesday after she landed hard and tumbled face first with two ligaments in her right knee torn and a bone in her lower leg broken.

The cascading fall down the slope during the super-G at the world championships knocked out the four-time World Cup champion for the rest of the season.

The U.S. team said in a statement it expects her back for the next World Cup season and the 2014 Sochi Olympics, which

SPORTS ITEMS start a year from this week.

(8) MIAMI BOSTON COLLEGE

ARKANSAS (2)FLORIDA

Bowl party in Atlanta in 2000. He took a plea deal to obstruction of justice in order to testify against two other men charged in the killings. They were both found not guilty, leaving Lewis as the only person charged in any way in the deaths.

Now 37, Lewis said he has gained salvation, and when he announced his plans to retire prior to the start of the playoffs, the love and respect his teammates have for him began to flow. His has truly been a story of redemption, both on and off the field.

That, however, sits wrong with a lot of people, not the least of whom are the families of the two dead men. Some of the family members have spoken out about how Lewis is being celebrated even though he apparently knew enough about the killings to cop a plea deal.

In a taped interview prior to Sunday’s Super Bowl, Lewis was asked about the double stabbing deaths. His response? “If you really knew how God works, He don’t use people who commit anything like that (murder) for His glory,” Lewis said.

First, that is not a humble response to such a serious matter, especially when addressing a still hurting and grieving family.

Second, that statement is simply wrong.

There was someone in the Bible named David who sent a warrior off to war on a suicide mission so David could have his wife, and there was a man named Saul, who became Paul after his conversion, who at least played a role in the deaths of Christians. Yet both were great men of God who were used in tremendous ways to glo-

80 69

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — BJ Young led three players in double figures with 13 points as Arkansas opened quickly and never let up in a shocking 80-69 victory over No. 2 Florida on Tuesday night.

The Razorbacks (14-8, 5-4 Southeastern Conference) opened the game 15 of 20 from the field. Michael Qualls and Marshawn Powell added 11 points each.

PACERS HAWKS

114 103

INDIANAPOLIS — Paul George scored 29 points to lead the Indiana Pacers to their 15th straight home win, 114-103 over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night.

David West had 15 points and seven rebounds and George Hill added 15 points and eight assists.

From wire reports

fully, this car gets us to that place.’’

The Gen-6 car has been faster at each place it’s been tested. What remains to be seen is how it’ll perform with a full field ripping through the corners and jostling for the top.

“This thing’s quite a bit different than what we’re used to,’’ Truex said.

“There’s going to a lot of things to learn for the teams and for the drivers so we’re glad to get out there and get some laps.’’

Goodyear expects to use the information from this test to formulate the type of tire they’ll bring back here in May. If history is any guide, the tire company should bring plenty of rubber. Darlington is known for its abrasive, tire-chewing surface that has shown itself more and more since a 2008 repavement.

“It’s a two-lane highway with a speed limit of 190 mph,’’ joked Brett Bodine,

BRUNSON from Page B1

72 50

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Kenny Kadji scored 10 points during a span of four possessions to start a second-half surge Tuesday night, and No. 8 Miami remained unbeaten in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 72-50 victory over Boston College.

Reserve junior Rion Brown tied a career high with 22 points, and Kadji had 16 points and eight rebounds for the Hurricanes (18-3, 9-0 Atlantic Coast Conference).

DARLINGTON from Page B1 most fearsome layouts in NASCAR. Its misshapen corners — think of an egg’s oval shape — and narrow straightaways make it treacherous with every pass.

The past two races here ended in melees with Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch tangling after the cooldown lap in 2011 and crews for Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman went at it at the end of the 2012 event.

Edwards said the newly designed car should only add to the excitement here and improve the product for fans. The car has shown more ability to grip the surface, meaning drivers can stick it into places not generally accessible expect to the most fearless pilots at Darlington.

“We can always have more exciting racing. The more those cars are sliding sideways and drivers are manhandling around the racetrack, the better off we are,’’ Edwards said. “Hope-

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the former racer who works as NASCAR’s competition director for research and development.

Edwards was happy for the lap time and has been pleased with the Gen-6 car’s performance so far.

He expects a lot of thrills when the season kicks off with the Daytona 500 later this month.

“It seems like NASCAR is putting as much effort as humanly possible in making the cars perform as we all want them to on the race track,’’ Edwards said.

He is planning for additional chances when engineers from the teams and NASCAR see what the car does in competition. In the end, Edwards is confident any adjustments will improve things on the track, even one as difficult as Darlington.

“For me, this test is one I really looked forward to,’’ he said. “I get to work with a new car, a new team, new tires at a track I love. The weather’s nice. This is a great way to spend a Tuesday.’’

rify His kingdom.

This isn’t to question Lewis’ knowledge of theology though, nor is it to question his greatness as football player.

He is arguably the greatest middle linebacker in the game’s history, and I always admired the tenacity with which he played the game. As a fan, you know you weren’t getting shortchanged in the effort department when Lewis was on the field.

As for his dancing and his motivational techniques, they’ve never been my cup of tea, but I had no problems with them.

That’s the way he got himself ready to play a high-impact game, one in which a person puts his body on the line as in no other sport.

As for Lewis’ relationship with God, none of us know his heart, just as no one knows ours. I just pray the man is sincere in his walk with God, and that he is provided both the right amount of humility and bravado in doing God’s work. He has certainly been blessed with a great platform from which to operate on God’s behalf.

All of that being said, Lewis owes those two families a time where he speaks with them about what happened to their loved ones. Not to you, not to me; the world doesn’t need to know anything. Those families do though.

I would say this even if Lewis weren’t a Christian. But since he is, there is even more reason for it to happen. This is a chance for him to show them God’s graciousness up close and personal through him.

What would come out of it? I don’t know, but what I do know is God’s ways are not our ways.

B3

SCOREBOARD TV, RADIO TODAY 7:30 a.m. -- College Football: ESPNU Signing Day Special from Charlotte (ESPNU).

2:30 p.m. -- International Soccer: England vs. Brazil from London (FOX SOCCER).

2:55 p.m. -- International Soccer: Germany vs. France from Paris (ESPN2).

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

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Baylor at Oklahoma State (ESPN).

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Marquette at South Florida (ESPN2).

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Connecticut at St. John’s (ESPNU).

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

7:30 p.m. -- NHL Hockey: Boston at Montreal (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

8 p.m. -- College Basketball: Georgia at Tennessee (WKTC 63).

9 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: San Antonio at Minnesota (ESPN).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Stanford at Arizona (ESPNEWS).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Kansas at Texas Christian (ESPNU).

9:30 p.m. -- International Soccer: World Cup FinalRound Qualifying Match from Mexico City -- Mexico vs.

Jamaica (ESPN2).

PREP SCHEDULE TODAY Varsity Basketball Timberland at Lee Central, 6:30 p.m.

B Team Basketball Calhoun Academy at Laurence Manning, 5 p.m.

THURSDAY Varsity Basketball Darlington at Lakewood, 6 p.m.

Scott’s Branch at East Clarendon, 6 p.m.

Junior Varsity Basketball Lee Central at Timberland, 6:30 p.m.

B Team Basketball East Clarendon at Scott’s Branch (Boys Only), 5 p.m.

FRIDAY Varsity and JV Basketball Florence Christian at Wilson Hall, 4 p.m.

Laurence Manning at Orangeburg Prep, 4 p.m.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCHEDULE Today EAST Hartford at Binghamton, 7 p.m.

NJIT at Colgate, 7 p.m.

George Washington at Duquesne, 7 p.m.

Northeastern at Hofstra, 7 p.m.

Cincinnati at Providence, 7 p.m.

St. Francis (Pa.) at Robert Morris, 7 p.m.

UConn vs. St. John’s at Madison Square Garden, 7 p.m.

Charlotte at Temple, 7 p.m.

Delaware at Towson, 7 p.m.

Albany (NY) at UMBC, 7 p.m.

Rhode Island at UMass, 7 p.m.

New Hampshire at Vermont, 7 p.m.

Mount St. Mary’s at Wagner, 7 p.m.

Louisville at Rutgers, 7:30 p.m.

Saint Louis at Fordham, 8 p.m.

SOUTH High Point at Campbell, 7 p.m.

Charleston Southern at Coastal Carolina, 7 p.m.

William & Mary at James Madison, 7 p.m.

VMI at Longwood, 7 p.m.

Gardner-Webb at Presbyterian, 7 p.m.

Marquette at South Florida, 7 p.m.

Southern Miss. at UCF, 7 p.m.

Winthrop at UNC Asheville, 7 p.m.

Georgia St. at UNC Wilmington, 7 p.m.

Alabama at Auburn, 8 p.m.

Vanderbilt at LSU, 8 p.m.

Texas-Pan American at New Orleans, 8 p.m.

Georgia at Tennessee, 8 p.m.

Marshall at Tulane, 8 p.m.

Mississippi St. at Mississippi, 9 p.m.

MIDWEST Ohio at Ball St., 7 p.m.

St. Bonaventure at Butler, 7 p.m.

Saint Joseph’s at Dayton, 7 p.m.

Buffalo at E. Michigan, 7 p.m.

Minnesota at Michigan St., 7 p.m.

Miami (Ohio) at Toledo, 7 p.m.

Kent St. at W. Michigan, 7 p.m.

Creighton at Indiana St., 7:05 p.m.

Bowling Green at N. Illinois, 8 p.m.

Illinois St. at Drake, 8:05 p.m.

Iowa at Wisconsin, 9 p.m.

SOUTHWEST Baylor at Oklahoma St., 7 p.m.

Memphis at SMU, 8 p.m.

UMKC at Houston Baptist, 8:05 p.m.

UAB at Tulsa, 8:05 p.m.

Kansas at TCU, 9 p.m.

Rice at UTEP, 9 p.m.

FAR WEST Stanford at Arizona, 9 p.m.

UNLV at Fresno St., 9 p.m.

Air Force at New Mexico, 9 p.m.

Wyoming at CS Bakersfield, 10 p.m.

Colorado St. at Nevada, 10 p.m.

Utah at Oregon St., 10 p.m.

Boise St. at San Diego St., 11 p.m.

Thursday EAST St. Francis (NY) at Bryant, 7 p.m.

LIU Brooklyn at CCSU, 7 p.m.

Old Dominion at Drexel, 7 p.m.

St. Peter’s at Fairfield, 7 p.m.

Marist at Iona, 7 p.m.

Canisius at Manhattan, 7 p.m.

Monmouth (NJ) at Quinnipiac, 7 p.m.

Fairleigh Dickinson at Sacred Heart, 7 p.m.

Niagara at Rider, 7:30 p.m.

SOUTH The Citadel at Chattanooga, 7 p.m.

W. Carolina at Davidson, 7 p.m.

FAU at FIU, 7 p.m.

UNC Greensboro at Furman, 7 p.m.

Appalachian St. at Georgia Southern, 7 p.m.

North Florida at Kennesaw St., 7 p.m.

Jacksonville at Mercer, 7 p.m.

Hampton at Savannah St., 7 p.m.

SC-Upstate at Stetson, 7 p.m.

Clemson at Virginia, 7 p.m.

Elon at Wofford, 7 p.m.

ETSU at Florida Gulf Coast, 7:05 p.m.

Tennessee St. at Austin Peay, 8 p.m.

UTSA at Louisiana Tech, 8 p.m.

Arkansas St. at Middle Tennessee, 8 p.m.

Belmont at Murray St., 8 p.m.

Coll. of Charleston at Samford, 8 p.m.

E. Illinois at UT-Martin, 8 p.m.

Troy at South Alabama, 8:05 p.m.

UALR at Louisiana-Monroe, 8:30 p.m.

Oral Roberts at Northwestern St., 8:30 p.m.

NC State at Duke, 9 p.m.

Maryland at Virginia Tech, 9 p.m.

MIDWEST S. Dakota St. at IPFW, 7 p.m.

Indiana at Illinois, 7 p.m.

N. Dakota St. at Oakland, 7 p.m.

Loyola of Chicago at Youngstown St., 7:45 p.m.

Wright St. at Green Bay, 8 p.m.

Detroit at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.

SIU-Edwardsville at SE Missouri, 8 p.m.

Nebraska-Omaha at W. Illinois, 8 p.m.

SOUTHWEST W. Kentucky at North Texas, 8 p.m.

Texas St. at Texas-Arlington, 8 p.m.

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

McNeese St. at Sam Houston St., 8:45 p.m.

Cent. Arkansas at Stephen F. Austin, 9 p.m.

Missouri at Texas A&M, 9 p.m.

FAR WEST Portland St. at N. Arizona, 8:35 p.m.

Seattle at Denver, 9 p.m.

N. Colorado at Montana, 9 p.m.

Idaho at New Mexico St., 9 p.m.

Washington at UCLA, 9 p.m.

S. Utah at Idaho St., 9:05 p.m.

North Dakota at Montana St., 9:05 p.m.

California at Arizona St., 9:30 p.m.

UC Irvine at CS Northridge, 10 p.m.

Pacific at Cal Poly, 10 p.m.

Colorado at Oregon, 10 p.m.

Loyola Marymount at Portland, 10 p.m.

| BYU at San Diego, 10 p.m.

UC Davis at UC Santa Barbara, 10 p.m.

E. Washington at Sacramento St., 10:05 p.m.

Pepperdine at Gonzaga, 11 p.m.

Saint Mary’s (Cal) at Santa Clara, 11 p.m.

Washington St. at Southern Cal, 11:30 p.m.

Long Beach St. at Hawaii, Mid Friday EAST Dartmouth at Columbia, 7 p.m.

Harvard at Cornell, 7 p.m.

Yale at Penn, 7 p.m.

Brown at Princeton, 7 p.m.

Siena at Loyola (Md.), 9 p.m.

SOUTH N. Kentucky at Lipscomb, 7 p.m.

UNC Asheville at VMI, 7 p.m.

FAR WEST Utah St. at San Jose St., 10 p.m.

NBA STANDINGS

By The Associated Press EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pct New York 31 15 .674 Brooklyn 28 19 .596 Boston 24 23 .511 Philadelphia 21 26 .447 Toronto 17 31 .354 Southeast Division W L Pct Miami 31 14 .689 Atlanta 26 20 .565 Orlando 14 34 .292 Washington 12 35 .255 Charlotte 11 36 .234 Central Division W L Pct Chicago 29 19 .604 Indiana 29 19 .604 Milwaukee 25 21 .543 Detroit 18 31 .367 Cleveland 14 34 .292 WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division W L Pct San Antonio 38 11 .776 Memphis 30 16 .652 Houston 26 23 .531 Dallas 20 28 .417 New Orleans 15 33 .313 Northwest Division W L Pct Oklahoma City 36 12 .750 Denver 30 18 .625 Utah 27 22 .551 Portland 25 23 .521 Minnesota 18 27 .400 Pacific Division W L Pct L.A. Clippers 34 16 .680 Golden State 30 17 .638 L.A. Lakers 22 26 .458 Sacramento 17 33 .340 Phoenix 16 32 .333 Monday’s Games Philadelphia 78, Orlando 61 Washington 98, L.A. Clippers 90 Indiana 111, Chicago 101 New York 99, Detroit 85 Miami 99, Charlotte 94 Portland 100, Minnesota 98 Oklahoma City 112, Dallas 91 Utah 98, Sacramento 91, OT Tuesday’s Games Atlanta at Indiana, 7 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.

Golden State at Houston, 8 p.m.

Phoenix at Memphis, 8 p.m.

Milwaukee at Denver, 9 p.m.

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

Indiana at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Boston at Toronto, 7 p.m.

L.A. Clippers at Orlando, 7 p.m.

New York at Washington, 7 p.m.

Memphis at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.

Brooklyn at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.

Houston at Miami, 7:30 p.m.

Phoenix at New Orleans, 8 p.m.

Golden State at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.

Portland at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Milwaukee at Utah, 9 p.m.

San Antonio at Minnesota, 9 p.m.

Thursday’s Games L.A. Lakers at Boston, 8 p.m.

Chicago at Denver, 10:30 p.m.

GB – 31/2 71/2 101/2 15 GB – 51/2 181/2 20 21 GB – – 3 111/2 15 GB – 61/2 12 171/2 221/2 GB – 6 91/2 11 161/2 GB – 21/2 11 17 17

NHL STANDINGS

By The Associated Press EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Pittsburgh 9 6 3 0 12 30 22 New Jersey 8 4 1 3 11 20 19 N.Y. Islanders 8 4 3 1 9 27 26 N.Y. Rangers 8 4 4 0 8 19 22 Philadelphia 9 3 6 0 6 21 26 Northeast Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Boston 8 6 1 1 13 24 19 Montreal 8 6 2 0 12 26 17 Ottawa 9 5 3 1 11 25 16 Toronto 9 4 5 0 8 22 27 Buffalo 9 3 5 1 7 27 33 Southeast Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Tampa Bay 8 6 2 0 12 39 21 Carolina 8 4 4 0 8 22 24 Winnipeg 8 3 4 1 7 24 32 Florida 8 3 5 0 6 20 30 Washington 9 2 6 1 5 21 33 WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Chicago 9 7 0 2 16 28 20 St. Louis 8 6 2 0 12 31 19 Detroit 8 4 3 1 9 22 24 Nashville 8 3 2 3 9 14 20 Columbus 9 3 5 1 7 18 28 Northwest Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Vancouver 9 5 2 2 12 24 22 Edmonton 9 4 3 2 10 22 24 Minnesota 9 4 4 1 9 21 24 Colorado 9 4 5 0 8 21 23 Calgary 6 1 3 2 4 16 24 Pacific Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA San Jose 9 7 1 1 15 31 16 Anaheim 8 6 1 1 13 29 23 Phoenix 10 4 4 2 10 29 27 Dallas 10 4 5 1 9 20 25 Los Angeles 7 2 3 2 6 16 23 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss.

Monday’s Games Carolina 4, Toronto 1 Dallas 3, Colorado 2 Phoenix 2, Minnesota 1 Vancouver 3, Edmonton 2, OT Anaheim 2, San Jose 1 Tuesday’s Games N.Y. Rangers at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

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

Toronto at Washington, 7 p.m.

Los Angeles at Columbus, 7 p.m.

Buffalo at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.

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

Calgary at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.

Florida at Winnipeg, 8 p.m.

Nashville at St. Louis, 8 p.m.

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

Today’s Games Boston at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

Anaheim at Colorado, 9:30 p.m.

Dallas at Edmonton, 10 p.m.

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

Tampa Bay at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

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

Florida at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Washington at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Calgary at Columbus, 7 p.m.

Carolina at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.

Toronto at Winnipeg, 8 p.m.

Detroit at St. Louis, 8 p.m.

Los Angeles at Nashville, 8 p.m.

Vancouver at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

Chicago at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

B4

OBITUARIES

THE ITEM

SUSAN SILVA BEVIER CAMDEN — Susan Silva Bevier, 60, originally from Fall River, Mass., and most recently of Camden, departed this earthly life peacefully on Sunday morning, Feb. 3, 2013.

A service for friends and family will be held at the Quaker Cemetery in Camden at a date to be announced.

Donations in honor of Ms. Bevier should be sent BEVIER to the Walter M. Crowe Animal Shelter, 460S Fair St., Camden, SC 29020.

Ms. Bevier was a graduate of the network engineering program at Midlands Technical College and had recently retired as supervisor for statewide desktop support for the South Carolina Department of Revenue after a multi-year career. Before working at the Department of Revenue, Susan worked as a purchasing executive for Burger King in Miami, Fla., for 17 years.

Susan had a great love for cooking, crafts, pets, sewing and flying with her husband; she was also one of the founding members of the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 1132 in Camden and a longtime supporter of the ASPCA. Most of all, Ms. Bevier was a caring wife, daughter, mother, mother-inlaw, aunt, grandmother, sister-in-law and friend who loved life, family and friends.

Susan is survived by her husband of 15 years, Kim Edward Bevier of Camden; her parents, Januario and Mary Silva of Manning; her daughter, Jamie Williams and her husband, Willy (Donald Jr.) of Catania, Italy; her son, Jason Godber and his wife, Janessa, of Miami; daughter, Diana Bevier-Geddes and her husband, James, of Columbia; son, Steven Bevier of Columbia; her niece, Lori Ann Finelli of Port Richey, Fla.; her grandchildren, Toy (Donald III) and Kaitlyn Williams of Catania, Italy; and her sisterin-law, Nancy of Clearwater, Fla. She was also the sister of the late Jan Silva of Fall River.

Susan’s family and friends will miss her dearly.

Kornegay Funeral Home, Camden Chapel, is assisting the family.

Online condolences may be sent to the Bevier family by visiting www.kornegayfuneral.com.

ALLIE M. HAM GABLE — Allie McFadden Ham, 92, widow of Junious Ham, died Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013, at National HealthCare Center.

She was born Dec. 3, 1920, in the Workman community of Williamsburg County, a daughter of the late John and Josephine Baker McFadden.

Two children, Vera Dobson and Larry Ham, preHAM ceded her in death.

She received her formal education at St. John Parochial School in the Workman community. She was a member of St. John AME Church and served in many capacities.

Survivors are six sons, Famous, Rembert, Ernest (Nancy), Eddie (Gail), Walter (Geraldine) and Joseph (Mary Jane) Ham; one daughter, Merlenia (James) Brown; one additional son-in-law, Donnie Dobson; one brother-inlaw, Winston McClam Sr.; 28 grandchildren; 47 greatgrandchildren; and 13 greatgreat-grandchildren.

A visitation with family and friends will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. today at Hayes F. & LaNelle J. Samuels Memorial Chapel, Manning.

The celebratory services for Mrs. Ham will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at St. John AME Church, Workman community, Kingstree, with the Rev. Fredrick Johnson, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in the churchyard cemetery.

The family is receiving friends at the home of her son-in-law and daughter, James and Merlenia Brown, 1102 Wheeler Circle, Gable.

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

ROBERT TOLBERT CHARLESTON — Robert Red “Bubba” Tolbert, 79, of Rockville, Wadmalaw Island, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013.

Born on Sept. 3, 1933, he left this earth surrounded in peace, grace and love, with his family and friends by his side. Bubba was the son of the late Mark P. and Mary Eva Whaley Tolbert.

A member of a historically progressive South Carolina family, he simultaneously embraced his heritage as the great-grandson of a decorated

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

cavalry officer in General Wade Hampton’s Legion. He was an active duty sailor during the Korean War from 1951 to 1953. He continued protecting his country during the Cold War as a planner and estimator for nuclear missile carriers at the Charleston Naval Shipyard. He later served as plant manager for Seacord Corp. in Orangeburg.

Bubba lived his life serving God, his family, and his country.

He leaves behind: his loving wife of 28 years, Norma Strickland Tolbert; his beloved son from his first marriage, Mark Pope Tolbert II; and a sister, Evelyn Fay Tolbert.

Viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Stuhr’s Funeral Home, 232 Calhoun St., Charleston.

Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at St. John’s Parish Church, 3673 Maybank Highway, Johns Island. Interment will be in the churchyard. Services will be conducted by the Rev. Dr. Gregory A. Snyder and the Rev. Richard I.H. Belser.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior’s Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or to Cashiers Historical Society, P.O. Box 104, Cashiers, NC 28717.

A memorial message may be written to the family by visiting our website at www. jhenrystuhr.com.

WOODROW W. McWHITE Jr. SUMMERTON — Woodrow Wilson McWhite Jr., 70, of Summerton, passed away Monday, Feb. 4, 2013, at Regency Hospital, after an illness.

Mr. McWhite was born in Florence County, a son of the late Woodrow W. and Gertrude Sauls McWhite. He had worked for the Florence Morning News and retired from Southern Bell, having been in advertising for both.

He was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Pamplico.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by his first wife and mother of his children, Carolyn Thompson McWhite, who passed away on June 9, 1971.

Surviving are his daughter, Allison (Tom) Steiner of Greenville; son, Cory (Aimee) McWhite of Manning; grandchildren, Graylyn (Zac) Jennings of Charlotte, N.C., Marc Steiner and David Steiner,

SPORTS

both of Greenville, and Grady McWhite and Brittani Steen, both of Manning; sister, Miriam (Larry) Sims of Florence; brother, Roderick Linwood (Joan) McWhite of Pamplico; several nieces and nephews; his former second wife, who is now Veda Hyman Godman, and her children, Rhonda Hyman of Charleston and John “Kip” Hyman and Kip’s children, Kessler, Jack and Luke; and his extended family friends at the Circle Fountain in Florence.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to Free Will Baptist Church Children’s Home in Turbeville, P.O. Box 229, Turbeville, SC 29162 or to www. lettherebemom.org, 407 Parker-Ivey Drive, Greenville, SC 29607.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home chapel. Burial will follow in Aimwell Cemetery on River Road in Pamplico.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

NERO BRADLEY Jr. BISHOPVILLE — Nero “Sonny Boy” Bradley Jr. was born April 28, 1945, in Lee County, a son of the late Nero Sr. and Edith B. Bradley. He departed this earthly life on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013, at Carolina Medical Hospital in Pineville, N.C. Nero attended the public schools of Lee County. After high school, he moved to Charlotte, N.C., where he was employed with the City of Charlotte for 30 years.

He leaves to cherish his memories: four daughters, Lisa Bradley and Elizabeth Kelly, both of Bishopville, and Dot and Ann Dixon of Baltimore, Md.; four sisters, Teresa (Paul) Ferguson, Linda (Stanley) Anderson, Luella Ragin and Thomasina (Herbert) Huff, all of Sumter; three brothers, Elijah Bradley of Sumter, Johnny Bradley and J.C. (Rosemary) of Minneapolis, Minn.; a host of aunts, nieces, grandchildren, nephews, cousins, and a special friend, Betty Grier.

He was preceded in death by three sisters, Sarah McKnight, Elouise Bradley and Hattie Reames; and three brothers, Bubba, Larry and Lavern Bradley.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Square Deal Funeral Home

|

Ravens’ fans celebrate in packed stadium BALTIMORE — Baltimore celebrated with its Super Bowl champion Ravens on Tuesday, with thousands of fans in purple lining the streets and packing the team’s stadium for a celebration.

Fans filled the square in front of City Hall and cheered when the team arrived and when players held the silver Lombardi trophy aloft. The Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management estimated that 200,000 people took part in the celebration in Charm City, including at City Hall, along the parade route and at the stadium.

Coach John Harbaugh thanked the fans for their support, and safety Ed Reed sang the melody of Eddie Money’s “Two Tickets to Paradise.’’ Retiring middle linebacker Ray Lewis, the only current player to have started with the team when it came to the city from Cleveland in 1996, told fans the team had fulfilled a promise to go to New Orleans and win.

“The city of Baltimore — I love you for ever and ever and ever and ever,’’ Lewis told fans in front of City Hall.

The players were about an hour late arriving, but fans waited to see them pile into military vehicles and set off on their drive to the stadium. The city shot off

MARY R. BILLIE Mary Sumpter R. Billie, 64, wife of Roland Billie, died Monday, Feb. 4, 2013, at her residence in Sumter.

Born in Sumter County, she was a daughter of the late Charlie and Oline Webb Sumpter.

The family will receive friends at the residence, 920 Utah Circle, Sumter.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Palmer Memorial Chapel Inc. of Sumter.

SALLIE McBRIDE PHILLIPS Sallie McBride Phillips, 68, wife of Elijah Phillips, died Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

She was a daughter of the late Arthur Sr. and Mattie Smalls McBride.

The family is receiving friends at the home, 9 Kent St., Sumter, SC 29150.

Funeral plans are incomplete and will be announced

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

RICHARD D. BLANDING MANNING — Richard Deanie Blanding, 57, husband of Felisha Ann Frierson Blanding, died Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013, at his home.

He was born May 21, 1955, in the Home Branch section of Clarendon County, a son of the late Silas Sr. and Susie Mae Butler Blanding.

The family is receiving friends at the home, 1240 Archer Ave., Manning.

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

EDWARD JEFFERSON Edward Jefferson, husband of Rebecca R. Jefferson, died Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, at Palmetto Health Richland in Columbia.

He was a son of Trifenia Ellie Jefferson and the late John Henry Jefferson.

The family is receiving friends at the home, 50 Heyward Drive, Sumter, SC 29150.

Funeral plans are incomplete and will be announced

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

“I Saw It In the Paper!”

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• Sales • Editorials • Reviews

BY JESSICA GRESKO The Associated Press

Chapel. Burial will follow in Broad Branch Cemetery.

These services were entrusted to Square Deal Funeral Home of Bishopville.

Memorials may be sent to the family at esquaredealfun@sc.rr.com.

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Thousands of Baltimore fans fill M&T Bank Stadium on Tuesday to celebrate the team’s Super Bowl XLVII victory during a rally in Baltimore. The Ravens defeated San Francisco 34-31 in New Orleans on Sunday.

purple and white confetti as the parade started and the Queen song “We Are the Champions’’ played over a loudspeaker. Quarterback Joe Flacco and several other players rode in their own camouflage-colored military vehicles, while others stood on a float decorated like a football field with a yellow goal post.

Lewis had a position of honor in a military vehicle that brought up the end of the procession. He touched his hand to his heart and gave fans a double thumbs-up as he started on the parade route.

Fans followed behind, surrounding the back of the vehicle.

Fans wore every article of purple clothing imaginable. In addition to team jerseys, people were dressed in purple hats and scarves, purple Mardi Gras beads, purple wigs. One man wore a Ravens flag as a cape, and many women came wearing purple lipstick and eye shadow.

“My heart goes out for them,’’ said Lewis, who said he had tears in his eyes Sunday when the team beat the San Francisco 49ers 34-31.

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OR TO PLACE YOUR AD ONLINE GO TO WWW.THE ITEM.COM/PLACEMYAD LEGAL NOTICES Legal Notice Public Sale Pursuant to state law, the contents of the following units will be sold at public sale to satisfy storage liens.

The sale will take place on Feb 22, 2013 at 10:00am at Morningstar Mini-Storage 1143 N. Guignard Dr Sumter, SC 29150.

Unit 231—Trina L. Mattocks: Matress, Dresser's, Table, Plastic Tubs, Bunk bed, Microwave, TV, Misc.

Unit 303—Debra A. Wilson: Couch, Chairs, Jars, End Tables, Misc.

Unit 323—Cregg Steffler: Guitar Case, Duffle Bag, Vacuum, CD Player, Cooler, Misc.

Unit403—Shiela McCray: Washer/Dryer, Pool Table, Frames, Bed Frame, TV, Misc.

Unit 409---Robert P. Turner: Fan, Childs Plastic Bed, Child Toys, Safety Gate, Misc.

Unit 411—Tammy C. Najewicz-Lindsey: Table, Dresser, T.V., Computer, Lamp, Plastic Tubs, Boxes, Misc.

Unit 453—Ramon C. Newkirk: Cooler, Saw, Misc.

Unit 463—Dale Swinton: End Tables, Coffee Table, Plastic Containers, Bed Frame, Lamp, Misc.

Unit 560—Jaih Greggory: TV'S, Futon, DVD Player, Speakers, Lamp, Wheelchair, Boxes, Misc.

NOTICE American Storage February 13, 2013 at 1:00 pm or thereafter 4194 Broad Street, Sumter, SC 29154 1) Shaun Sigler - Couch, Cooler 2) Michael Mcintosh - Household Items 3) William Hilton - Household Items

Summons & Notice SUMMONS AND NOTICES (Non-Jury) FORECLOSURE OF REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS C/A NO: 2012-CP-43-01964 STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER The Bank of New York Mellon, fka The Bank of New York as Successor in interest to JP Morgan Chase Bank NA as trustee for GSMPS Mortgage Loan Trust 2003-2, Plaintiff, vs.

Valeria J. Helton-West and W.S. Badcock Corporation, Defendant(s).

TO THE DEFENDANT(S) ABOVE NAMED: Valeria J. Helton-West YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to appear and defend by answering the Complaint in this action, a copy of which is hereby served upon you, and to serve a copy of your Answer on the subscribers at their offices, 3800 Fernandina Road, Suite 110, Columbia, South Carolina, 29210, within thirty (30) days after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; except that the United States of America, if named, shall have sixty (60) days to answer after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; and if you fail to do so, judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint.

TO MINOR(S) OVER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE, AND/OR TO MINOR(S) UNDER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND THE PERSON WITH WHOM THE MINOR(S) RESIDES AND/OR TO PERSONS UNDER SOME LEGAL DISABILITY: YOU ARE FURTHER SUMMONED AND NOTIFIED to apply for the appointment of a guardian ad litem within thirty (30) days after the service of this Summons and Notice upon you. If you fail to do so, application for such appointment will be made by Attorney for Plaintiff.

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

YOU WILL ALSO TAKE NOTICE that under the provisions of South Carolina Code 29-3-100, effective June 16, 1993, any collateral assignment of rents contained in the attached mortgage is perfected and Attorney for Plaintiff hereby gives notice that all rents shall be payable directly to it by delivery to its

Summons & Notice

Summons & Notice

undersigned attorneys from the date of default. In the alternative, Plaintiff will move before a judge of this Circuit on the 10th day after service hereof, or as soon thereafter as counsel may be heard, for an Order enforcing the assignment of rents, if any, and compelling payment of all rents covered by such assignment directly to the Plaintiff, which motion is to be based upon the original note and mortgage and Complaint attached hereto.

accident in Sumter County, South Carolina.

The pleadings in this case are on file in the Office of the Clerk of Court for Sumter County.

LIS PENDENS: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an action has been or will be commenced in this Court upon complaint of the above-named Plaintiff against the above-named Defendant(s) for the foreclosure of a certain mortgage of real estate given

by Willie West and Valeria J. Helton-West to Metro Mortgage Corporation dated April 2, 1996 and recorded on April 2, 1996 in Book 644 at Page 627, in the Sumter County Registry, hereinafter Mortgage.

Thereafter the Mortgage was transferred to the Plaintiff herein by assignment and/or corporate merger.

The premises covered and affected by the said mortgage and by the foreclosure thereof were, at the time of the making thereof and at the time of the filing of this notice, more particularly described in the said mortgage and are more commonly described as: All that certain piece, parcel or lot of land, with improvements thereon, situate, lying and being in the Township and County of Sumter, State of South Carolina, designated as Lot No. 69 of Ashley Creek Village, Sect. No. 2, as shown on a plat by Joseph R. Edwards, R.L.S, dated March 29, 1996, recorded in PB 96 at Page 388, records of Sumter County. Said Lot No. 69 being bounded and measuring as follows: On the North by Lot Nos. 87 and 88, said plat, and measuring thereon 158.52 feet and 39.75 feet; on the East by Lot Nos. 56 and 55, said plat, and measuring thereon 90.00 feet and 152.87 feet; on the Southwest by Lot No. 68, said plat, and measuring thereon 273.91 feet; and on the West by Gin Branch Road, said plat, and fronting thereon 109.41 feet in an arc. Be all dimensions a little more or a little less and according to said plat. This being the identical property conveyed to Willie West and Valeria J. Helton-West, as joint tenants with right of survivorship, by deed of Gregory B. Robinson & Cathleen A. Robinson, dated 4/2/96, and recorded 4/2/96 in Book 644 at Page 624, Sumter County, South Carolina records. Subsequently, Willie West passed away and title to the property passed to Valeria J. Helton-West by operation of law.

Property Address: 2106 Gin Branch Road, Sumter, SC 29154.

TMS No. 208-03-02-009 NOTICE OF FILING COMPLAINT: YOU WILL PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the original Complaint, Cover Sheet for Civil Actions and Certificate of Exemption from ADR in the above entitled action was filed in the Office of the Clerk of Court for Sumter County on October 5, 2012 BROCK & SCOTT, PLLC, Suzanne E. Brown, SC Bar No. 76440 J. Marshall Swails, SC Bar No. 79067 J. Martin Page, SC Bar No. 100200, 3800 Fernandina Road, Suite 110, Columbia, South Carolina 29210 (888) 726-9953 Attorneys for Plaintiff, 1017561

SUMMONS IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT CASE NUMBER: 2012-CP-43-739 STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER Bobby R. Fears, Plaintiff(s), vs.

James R. Kirven, Jr., Defendant(s).

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the complaint herein, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your answer to this complaint upon the subscriber, at the address shown below, within thirty (30) days after service hereof, exclusive of day of such service, and if you fail to answer the complaint, judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint.

In Memory

A. Paul Weissenstein, Jr. Attorney for Plaintiff PO Box 2446 Sumter, SC 29151

SUMMONS IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT CASE NUMBER: 2012-CP-43-2020

Jeanette Wright Sumpter 10/19/43 - 02/06/92 Safely Home I am home in Heaven, dear ones Oh so happy and so bright. There is perfect Joy and beauty in this.

Everlasting light all the pain and grief is over, every restless tossing passed, I am now at peace forever safely Home in Heaven at last.

Love Your Daughter (Lesa)

Jennifer Hudson,

BUSINESS SERVICES

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

Electrical Services Fulton Town Electric, Service any electrical needs. Cert. Master Electrician, 938-3261/883-4607

Flooring Floor covering, repairs & installs.

Carpeting, vinyl, hardwood & tile.

Over 10 yrs exp. 803-468-1335

Adam S. Becker Defendant.

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

Also do Vinyl Siding & Seamless Gutters. 803-840-4542 All Types of Roofing & Repairs All work guaranteed. 30 yrs exp.

SC lic. Virgil Bickley 803-316-4734.

Tree Service

Concrete Driveways, Patios, Sidewalks, etc. 803-934-6692 www.lgdirtbusters.com. Call today

Plaintiff, v.

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

803-316-0128

TW Painting, carpentry & all household needs.

Call 803-460-7629.

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the complaint herein, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your answer to this complaint upon the subscriber, at the address shown below, within thirty (30) days after service hereof, exclusive of day of such service, and if you fail to answer the complaint, judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint.

LIS PENDENS PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that an action has been commenced by the Plaintiff against the Defendant, for the foreclosure of note and mortgage dated February 10, 2010, executed by Adam S. Becker to Jennifer Hudson recorded February 17, 2010 in Mortgage Book 1135 at Page 2806 and in the ROD Office for Sumter County. The description of the property being foreclosed is 2747 Tindal Road, Sumter, South Carolina, and is more particularly described as follows:

Roofing

Home Improvements

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER

In Loving Memory Of Mr. Freddie Edward Wright 03/21/67 - 02/06/12 You were a light in our life, that burns forever in our hearts.

Mother, Father, Daughter & Sister

Jimmy Davis Construction & Repair Cell: 803-840-1566 Sumter, SC Licensed, Bonded, Residential Builder over 20 yrs exp. Any kind of house repairs.

• New Construction •Additions •Remodeling •Kitchen and Bath remodeling •Replacement window/door •Floors •Drywall •Electric •Paint •Trim & Cabinets •Brick Work •Concrete •Plumbing

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

Call Bennie 468-7592

A Notch Above Tree Care Full quality service low rates, lic./ins., free est BBB accredited 983-9721 Ricky's Tree Service Tree removal, stump grinding, Lic & ins, free quote, 803-435-2223 or cell 803-460-8747.

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

STATE TREE SERVICE Worker's Comp & General liability insurance. Top quality service, lowest prices. 803-494-5175 or 803-491-5154 www.statetree.net

All that certain piece, parcel or lot of land with the improvements thereon, if any, situate, lying and being in the Township of Privateer, County of Sumter, State of South Carolina, delineated as Lot No. 10 on a plat of Rabon Terrace Subdivision on Plat

by J.P. Edwards, RLS, recorded in Plat Book Z-30 at Page 117 and known as 2747 Tindal Road, Sumter, SC with tax map number 223-14-01-006.

NOTICE OF FILING Please take notice that an action has been commenced and is now pending concerning real estate generally described as:

Property Address: 2747 Tindal Road, Sumter, South Carolina.

The Plaintiff will move to refer the case to the Master in Equity with any appeal to the South Carolina Supreme Court. The pleadings in this case are on file in the Office of the Clerk of Court for Sumter County.

A. Paul Weissenstein, Jr. Attorney for Plaintiff P.O. Box 2446 Sumter, SC 2915 (803) 418-5700

ANNOUNCEMENTS Announcements Sumter Ghost Finders investigates haunted places for free.

481-8826, on the web.

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

Lost & Found Found Jan. 4th: South Hope Center on Lafayette a male hound mix dog. 883-4849/803-420-4314.

NOTICE OF FILING Please take notice that an action has been commenced and is now pending in the Court of Common Pleas for Sumter County for personal injuries arising from an automobile

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.

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

CITY OF SUMTER

I Found it in the

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

BUSINESS LICENSES he City of Sumter Ordinance regulating licenses for City businesses states that “Every person engaged or intending to engage in any calling, business, occupation or profession within the limits of the City of Sumter, South Carolina is required to pay an annual license fee and obtain a business license.” “he required license fee shall be paid for each business subject thereto according to the applicable rate classiication on or before the 15th day of February each year.”

A 5% PENALTY WILL BE ASSESSED ON ALL LICENSE FEES WHICH ARE NOT PAID BY THE 15TH OF FEBRUARY, AND AN ADDITIONAL 5% PENALTY WILL BE ASSESSED ON THE FIRST OF EACH MONTH THAT THE LICENSE FEE REMAINS UNPAID. If any license fee shall remain unpaid for sixty (60) days ater its due date, the Business License Department shall issue an execution which shall constitute a lien upon the property of the licensee for the tax, penalties and costs of collection.”

If you do not receive an application in the mail, please stop by our oice at 12 W. Liberty Street in the Liberty Center (the old Brody bldg) or give us a call at 774-1601. We will be available to assist you with your application or answer any questions you might have.

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

B6

CLASSIFIEDS

THE ITEM

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 06, 2013

MAYO’S SUITS FOR EVERYMAN BUY ONE SUIT AT REGULAR PRICE &

GET A SECOND SUIT FOR $1.00

Name brand suits like:

Sean John

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Caravelli

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REGULAR & SLIM FITS, BIG & TALL AVAILABLE

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

MERCHANDISE Want to Buy Lafayette Gold & Silver, Buying Gold Jewelry, Diamonds, Silver 925 Jewelry, Silver Coins, Sterling, Open 6 days. 773-8022 143 S. Lafayette Dr.

Auctions

Musical Instruments

Medical Help Wanted

Unfurnished Homes

Mobile Home Rentals

Farms & Acreage

Piano For Sale: Upright, Story and Clark, Wooden Maple cabinet, with bench $950 OBO. Call 481-7314 for more Details.

Optician//Optical Sales Associate: needed for private optometric practice in Sumter area. Experienced individual needed full time, but part time will be considered.

Duties include assisting in frame selection and lens design, as well as assisting at front desk, answering phone, contact lens dispensing//training. Send resume to Office Manager, 127 Broad Street, Sumter, SC 29150 or email to holtonsusan@sc.rr.com.

Tastefully, refurbished, nice 2BR rental in safe neighborhood with heat pump & new flooring. Close Shaw AFB. February rent pro-rated reduction of $65 for good credit. We furnish, stove, refrigerator, dumpster, water & security lights. Security dep reduced by $50. No H/A or PETS! $485/mo + $300/dep. 803-968-5329

Remodeled Homes, 2BR $350, 3BR $425, Quiet area, No pets, Call 840-5734

For Sale By Owner 10 ac $39,000.

Owner Financing.

803-427-3888.

Utility Buildings Steel Buildings Prices Reduced Wholesale/Factory offers On discounted deals Big & Small Source# 18X 800-964-8335

AUCTION! Kirven Estate 2630 Florence Highway Antiques, Glassware John Deere Mower Chevy Pick Up, Furniture Much More!

Preview Dates: 2/3/13 from 3-5 PM 2/5/13 from 4-6 PM ONLINE ONLY BIDDING Bidding closes on 2/7/13 www.jrdixonauctions.com Rafe Dixon, SCAL 4059 (803) 774-6967

Garage, Yard & Estate Sales LARGE GARAGE SALE 1st & 3rd Weekend Tables $1 & Up FLEA MARKET BY SHAW AFB

803-494-5500 or 905-4242

Hshld goods, Cherry bdrm set, mattress set, antiques, glassware & clothing (8, 12 & 14) Sat. 8am to 4pm, Sun 1 to 4. 329 Church St. No sale will be made prior to Sat.

For Sale or Trade OAK FIREWOOD for sale starting @ $4.00 per box. 2 Blocks from Thomas Sumter Academy on Old Camden Rd. Call 840-3842 or 666-8078 Washers, Dryers, Refrigerators, Stoves. Also new Gas stoves.

Guaranteed. 803-464-5439 2 Funeral Plots Evergreen Park.

Incl vaults, one marker, & 2 open/close.

Priced $10,165.

803-775-8537 Split Oak Firewood, $60/dump, $65/stacked. Darrell Newman 803-316-0128. Tree Service also available.

Firewood For Sale, $60/truck load delivered.

Call Chris at 803-464-8743

EMPLOYMENT Help Wanted Full-Time Rusty's Diesel Service is looking for a FT Diesel Mechanic, Must have at least 2 yrs exp, Must have own Tools. Please apply in person @ Rusty's Diesel @ 874 S Guignard Dr. Sumter No Phone Calls Please

SATELLITE TV/INSTALLER FOR DISH NETWORK systems needed for multiple locations in the mid to eastern areas in South Carolina.

REQUIREMENTS: Good written and verbal communication skills.

Basic computer skills. Strong customer service skills. High school diploma or GED. Clean driving record. Must be able to pass a drug and background screen. No experience required, training is available. Send resume to robbie.sandm@yahoo.com.

FULL TIME Customer Service Rep. Apply in person at Colonial Finance, 431 Broad St, Sumter.

Customer Service/Sales Support Location: Sumter, SC Employee Type: Full Time Job Type: In House Customer Service for Industrial Accounts Industry: Industrial Waste streams Req'd Experience: 3-5 years Working knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite Excel and Word Please send all responses to P-Box 292 C/O The Item, PO Box 1677 Sumter SC 29151

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

940 Parsons Ln. 3BR/2.5BA. No Sec 8. Avail. Now! $875/mo + dep. (917) 822-0809 Recently renovated BRICK 3BR//2BA 2.5 acres, new roof, tankless water heater, tiles floors in kitchen//bath, etc. On N. St. Paul Church Rd. LEASE $675 mo. or for sale $89,900. Call 803-464-5872

Mobile Home Rentals 2BR/2BA SW 3 person Max. $375/mo + dep. Incl water, sewage, garbage. No pets. Behind Shaw. 236-3780

STATEBURG COURTYARD 2 & 3 BRs 803-494-4015

Unfurnished Apartments

Iris Winds MHP: 3BR/2BA MH No pets. Ref/dep req'd, $500/mo.

Call 803-775-6816, 803-460-9444

1, 2 & 3//BR Apartments for rent.

Call 803-775-6941

Scenic Lake. 2 Br/2Ba. & 3BR /2BA. No pets. Call between 9am 5pm: (803) 499-1500.

Freshly Painted Duplex,2BR /2BA, W/D hook-up. Walk to mall. $600/mo + dep. 494-4220 or 565-0056.

Unfurnished Homes 4269 Confederate Rd. 2 br, 1 ba, with appliances, $500 mo. + $500 dep. 983-3337.

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

RV parking avail. Call 494-8350

1 & 2 br, remodeled MHs. Appl. incl., heat pump. Water, sewage & trash P/U provided. $300 - $330 /mo+ dep. Call: (803) 464-3437 or 464-7937, 12-8 pm.

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

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

450 Lynam Rd. 3 Br, 2 Ba, 2 car garage, built in 2008. $900 mo. + $900 dep. 983-3337.

3 bd/2bth DW Private Lot, Water/Sewer, Trash incl. 494-8350

2 & 3/BR's Trailers for rent , Cherryvale Dr., $250 & up. (803) 651-9926

Furnished 2BR/1BA MH with appliances, $350 mo + $350 dep.

Free water & garbage. Hwy 441 & Keith Rd. Call 803-406-5582.

REAL ESTATE Homes for Sale Affordable Homes State Housing Finance Don't let State Housing Funds pass you by. Low Down Payment & low monthly payments to qualified buyer's. Call The Omni Group Inc. (803) 775-0077 Today!

Land & Lots for Sale 5775 Cane Savannah Rd. (Wedgefield). 1+ acre land for sale. Perfect for a new home or future investment. Close to Shaw AFB. Call 803-983-2261 4.26 acres 3080 N. Main St (Sumter). Call 919-875-9725 5 MH lots left for sell, Dalzell. 2 home lots for sell Wedgefield Rd. Call Burch 803-720-4129.

1.9 acres on Waiters Rd., Horatio. $5,000 owner financing available.

Call 983-3337.

RECREATION

Hunting /

Manufactured Housing 1998 14x50, 2 br, 1 ba, $6500 OBO. 1987 14x70 2BR//2BA, all appliances, C//H//A. Both in Windsor City or can move. $6,500 OBO. 469-6973.

Pre-owned Manufactured Homes for sale. 2, 3, 4 & 5 Bedroom homes at wholesale prices. Call 803-614-1165.

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 Iris Winds MHP,Sumter Immediate occupancy. 3BR MH. $25,900.

Fin. avail.

803-460-9444, 800-996-9540, 803-775-6816 3 br, 2 bath owner financing. $7,000 down. 983-8084.

Hunting Club 1000 Acres, Lynches River. Trophy Deer & Turkey.

Call 803-468-0260 for all details. $1500 annual membership.

Campers / RV's/ Motorhomes Camp Sites available at Randolph's Landing by the week or month. Call 803-478-2152.

TRANSPORTATION

A Guaranteed Credit Approval AUTO LOANS 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

SHOP 24/7 FOR NEW OR PRE-OWNED VEHICLES

WWW.GOODWINCARS.COM

Seeking FT class a CDL driver flatbed experience and knowledge of building materials preferred.

Apply in person at 1315 20th Century Lane Manning SC 29102

Help Wanted Part-Time $$$ AVON $$$ FREE TRAINING! 803-422-5555 Hiring Cashiers Local Bishopville Convenience store. Mail Resume to PO Box 382 Mullins, SC 29574

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

Trucking Opportunities

Hickory & Oak firewood. Seasoned/Green $60 Delivered. Notch Above Tree Service. 983-9721

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

Oak Firewood for sale, Full size truck $75 . Call Fred 464-5668 or 803-481-2789

Work Wanted

FT Salesperson for local used car dealership. Previous car sales and financing exp req. Exc. opportunity, Call 803-778-6568 M-F, 10AM-3PM for appt.

Expert Tech, New & used heat pumps & A/C. Will install/repair, warranty; Compressor & labor $600. Call 803-968-9549 or 843-992-2364 For Sale - Tupelo and Cypress slab for bowls, rough cut pine 100 years old Cypress timber. call - 803-229-2842

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 02-15-2013. No phone calls please! EOE/AAP/M/F/V

SW 3br 2ba Lrg. kit, very clean, nice area, $450/mo.

Call 840-5734.

GOODWIN AUTOMALL #SPBE 4USFFU t 4VNUFS 4$

worth 1,000 words McDonald’s is re-opening on 8940 Old Number Six Hwy Santee, SC 29142

REAL ESTATE ESTATE AUCTION AUCTION

523 BENTON DRIVE SUMTER, SC

5 BED 2.5 BATH LR & DR Den Sunroom Carport Alice Drive Schools

BID ONLINE OR LIVE! FEBRUARY 12 – 23, 2013 COMPLETE DETAILS AT WWW.JRDIXONAUCTIONS.COM RAFE DIXON SCAL 4059 (803) 774-6967

Include a photo of your item for sale, use up to 7 lines to describe it and run it for 1-week* for only

38

$

Now Hiring Crew & Managers For Santee & Manning Locations Beneits to Include: t Competitive pay t Paid Training Program t Advancement Opportunities t Uniforms Provided t Employee Meals t Flexible Scheduling t Insurance Complete an application online at mcsouthcarolina.com/6081 prior to onsite interviews.

Interviews for Both Stores to be held onsite February 12th & 13th from 9-5 in the rear parking lot in Santee

*NEW ARRIVAL*

COMPLETE BED SETS Twin $25

Full $35

29 Progress St. - Sumter Queen $40 King $45 775-8366 Ext. 37 SET INCLUDES: Store Hours 0RQ 6DW ‡ 9:30 - 5:00 Closed Sunday

a picture is

Comforter, Sheet Sets, Pillow Shams & Bed Ruffle

00

CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT Call, email or fax us today!

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

(803) 774-1234 *1-Week (6-days). No refunds for early cancellations. Private Party only!

Businesses and Commercial accounts ineligible. All ads must be prepaid. All advertising subject to publisher’s approval. Special cannot be combined with any other discounts. Other restrictions may apply.

COME SHOP WITH US FOR YOUR HIDDEN TREASURES! GREAT BARGAINS ARE WAITING

SMALL BATH TOWELS

$2 each WASHCLOTHS

50¢ each

KITCHEN TOWELS 2 for $1

PANORAMA WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

THE ITEM Contact Ivy Moore at (803) 774-1221 or e-mail ivym@theitem.com

C1

Jazz, classic film, ‘Vanishing South’ events coming up

T

PHOTO PROVIDED

ABOVE: The “Guys” from Wilson Hall’s upcoming production “Guys and Dolls” rehearse one of the musical numbers. “Guys and Dolls” can be seen at the school on Feb. 13 and 14. RIGHT: Sam Umbaugh sings about “The Oldest Established” floating crap game in New York. He plays Nathan Detroit, who’s always one step ahead of the police in setting up his gambling venues.

Sit down while they

ROCK THE BOAT ‘Guys and Dolls’ set for Wilson Hall stage

BY IVY MOORE ivym@theitem.com

A

14-year-long engagement, a slick gambler who’s also good with the ladies, a sweet, Savea-Soul Mission worker, an inveterate gambler, some rather lightweight underworld characters and some of Broadway’s most memorable tunes will inhabit Wilson Hall for the first musical production on its main stage in 28 years. “Guys and Dolls Jr.” based on Damon Runyon’s stories of 1940s life in New York, will be presented on Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 13 and 14 by the Wilson Hall Performing Arts Department, directed by drama teacher Hannah Leirmoe with musical direction by Laura Ballard.

“Guys and Dolls” has a cast and crew of around 30, some from the drama classes, others from music classes. Both Ballard and Leirmoe have found the collaboration between their departments advantageous for themselves and the students.

“We work well together, bringing our different talents to the table,” Ballard said. “The students seem really excited to be a part of ‘Guys and Dolls Jr.’ They have particularly enjoyed working on New York accents (this process has been quite humorous) and song and dance numbers ... .”

Among the familiar songs will be “Luck Be a Lady,” “Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat,” “A Bushel and a Peck” and “I’ve Never Been in Love Before.”

Ballard has plenty of experience in musical theater, both during college and since. She was seen most recently at Sumter Little Theatre in “Some Enchanted Evening,” a Rodgers and Hammerstein revue.

While Leirmoe, a Wofford College graduate, has a lot of experience in all aspects of theater, this is her first year teaching drama and set design.

“Guys and Dolls” will be the first fulllength production of the academic year and Leirmoe’s first full-length musical.

She has directed shorter plays throughout the year, but noted that “’Guys and Dolls’ is the most intense thing I’ve done at this school.” She is also the choreographer.

Leirmoe has paired the four lead actors in a system similar to her partnership with Ballard.

“We’ve got

one drama student and one music student in each pair,” Leirmoe said.

“That way, they can draw on each other’s strengths and support each other.”

Ballard agreed: “So often, chorus students are dramatically talented, and drama students are musically talented, so this joint production gives our students the opportunity to share these talents in the performing arts.”

“We wanted a show that would allow all the cast members to shine,” Leirmoe said, adding that both she and Ballard have found “Guys and Dolls” fits that criterion and others.

“We’ve got the actors who can play the demanding roles, too,” she said.

Students also make up the entire production staff, from lighting and sound to stage managers, properties and set construction, Leirmoe said.

Ken Ballard and Daisy Chumbler play Sky Masterson and Sarah Brown, the gambling ladies’ man and the mission worker, while Sam Umbaugh and LeAnne Amick play Nathan Detroit, the gambler who runs the floating crap game and the showgirl, Adelaide.

The plot is set in motion when Nathan bets Sky he can’t get the next woman he meets to fall in love with him. That woman turns out to be Sarah Brown. Under the pretext of concern for the state of his soul, Sky is able to persuade Sarah to go to Havana with him for dinner, and Nathan moves his crap game to the mission while they’re gone.

When Sky and Sarah return to New York, circumstances threaten to derail the relationships of all the couples.

Ken Ballard said that although the musical takes place in 1940s New York, the storyline is still relevant and accessible.

“I think people will be surprised,” Chumbler said.

Amick said the students are enjoying doing a play “that’s more mature, and the music is really good.” Her character, she said, is “kind of crazy, ditzy, a little bit ‘out there.’ I mean, she’s been engaged for 14 years.”

“It’s been a bit of a stretch,” Chumbler admitted.

Ballard, a music student, thinks people will find the story interesting.

“It’s a pretty typical plot line,” he

said, “the guy that’s changed by the girl. My character does a complete 180. It takes place in the ‘40s, and the setting is New York, but as far as themes go, it’s very relatable.”

“Yeah, it’s universal stuff,” drama student Chumbler agreed.

With just a short time left to rehearse, the actors said the show is coming together well.

“I’m definitely learning a lot,” singer Amick said, “accomplishing something I didn’t think I could do.

Singing and dancing while acting is hard.”

“I’ve been working on my ‘jazz square’ at home every night,” Ballard said, laughing. “As a singer, we don’t do a lot of movement, so I’m glad to be adding something else, and the acting helps with learning the reason behind the singing. It’s been fun.”

Chumbler said while she’s not a singer, “I’m singing as a character, and I’m getting comfortable with that.”

Amick said she thinks “Guys and Dolls” is so popular because “it’s accessible to so many age groups, everyone from young kids to adults.”

The cast also includes Drake Shadwell, Ryan Norris, Andrew Clinkscales, Tristan Whitacker, Ryan Corbett, Furman Dabbs, Justin Schaare, Dylan Devore, John Patrick Sears, Sydney Williams, Laura-Clare Thevenet, Gigi Moore, Caroline Monroe, Laura Smith, Lindsey Tisdale, Will Barwick, Louisa Aldrich, Amanda Armfield, Mary Copeland Heath, Emily Hendrix, Kristen Miller, Hanna Niebuhr, Amy Banghardt, Sarena Clifton, Emily Cross and Anna Dixon.

Stage manager is Ann Elizabeth McCreight, assistant stage manager is Will Barwick, and the technical duties and set construction are handled

by Jessica Overfield, Lisa Catoe, Tia Richens, Kyanna Dawson, Catherine Parker, Will Herlong and Kemper Patton.

Two performances of “Guys and Dolls” will be presented at Wilson Hall, 520 Wilson Hall Road, at 7 p.m.

Feb. 13 and 14. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for students, military, seniors, Wilson Hall staff and senior citizens. They are available at the Wilson Hall main office, from cast and crew and at the door on performance nights. Call (803) 469-3475 for more information.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Several of the “Guys and Dolls” sing the title number from the popular musical that will be presented Feb. 13 and 14 by the Wilson Hall Performing Arts Department.

he exhibition of photographs

by Selden “Bud” Hill and accompanying poems and songs by William “Billy” Baldwin has been open at Gallery 135-Patriot Hall since Jan. 28, but two associated events are yet to come. On Friday, Hill and Baldwin will be the guests on “Walter Edgar’s Journal” at noon on ETV Radio, and from 5:307:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 12, they’ll participate in a panel moderated by local historian and Item archivist Sammy Way at Patriot Hall. Both programs will focus on the authors’ experiences in working on their joint book, The Unpainted South: Carolina’s Vanishing World.

Edgar’s award-winning program focuses out & about on South Carolina’s past, as does “The Unpainted South.” He has said, “Everything we do in the state is a a guide to product of the past.” arts & leisure Way’s research and writings are also Ivy MOORE based in the state’s rich history and, especially, Sumter and its surrounding counties; he shares this history with readers of his Reflections column each Sunday in the Panorama section of The Item.

Admission is free, and the public is invited to the Feb. 12 panel discussion in the Booth Room at Patriot Hall, 135 Haynsworth St. Be sure to get in your request for free tickets to Rhythm in Blue, the upcoming concert by the U.S. Air Force Heritage of America jazz band. The concert is brought to us by the Sumter-Shaw Community Concert Association, which has been sponsoring quality entertainment here for more than 65 years.

While admission to the 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 19, concert by the USAF Heritage of America Band Rhythm in Blue concert is free, tickets are required. Send requests to SSCCA, 32 East Calhoun St., Sumter, SC 29150. Include the number of tickets requested and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Allow at least two weeks to receive your tickets. For more information, call (803) 499-4032.

Rhythm in Blue will be presented at Alice Drive Baptist Church at the corner of Wise Drive and Loring Mill Road.

Still to come in the SSCCA concert series are the April 3 performance by the U.S. Air Force Jazz Ambassadors and the April 16 concert by 42Five.

Follow the instructions above to get Jazz Ambassadors tickets; for 42Five, admission is by season membership or $25 at the door.

Terms of Endearment continues the theme of the 2013 Downtown Friday’s Classic Movie series at 7 p.m. All films this season were released in 1983. the multiple awardwinning film stars Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger, Jack Nicholson and Jeff Daniels. Based on a Larry McMurtry (“Lonesome Dove”) novel of the same name, “Terms of Endearment” spans 30 years in the lives of a mother and daughter, played by MacLaine and Winger. It’s a contentious relationship, as they are vastly different, but also deep and loving.

“Terms of Endearment” is a tear jerker with plenty of laughs, mostly from the relationship between MacLaine’s character and the retired astronaut played by Nicholson.

Bringing some hankies might not be a bad idea. The acting and the story are both outstanding.

Among the awards won by “Terms of Endearment” are five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Direction and Best Adapted Screenplay for James L. Brooks, Best Actress for MacLaine and Best Supporting Actor for Nicholson. The film also won four Golden Globes and garnered several more nominations.

Tickets for Downtown Friday’s Classic Movies are $2.50 at the door.

Proceeds benefit the Sumter County Library Children’s Department.

C2

FOOD

THE ITEM

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

Serve your sweetheart Breakfast-in-Bed Strata

BY ELIZABETH KARMEL Associated Press Writer Casseroles are a funny thing. You aren’t likely to see them lauded as the hot new food trend any time soon. Yet make a great one, and suddenly folks clamor for the recipe.

My favorite casserole is one that typically is served for breakfast or brunch. It’s called an egg strata, and I love it because it’s easy to prep ahead of time, and bakes up light and fluffy, and yet is substantial and satisfying — a perfect choice for a romantic breakfast in bed come Valentine’s Day. The other thing that I love about a strata is that you can tailor it to include your favorite flavors, as well as make it sweet or savory. Strata is the plural of stratum, which literally means layers, and you can layer all your favorite ingredients in with the bread and egg custard.

I grew up with the classic cheddar cheese, breakfast sausage egg strata. When I moved to Chicago, I began to experiment with different fillings. I fell in love with this city’s Greek omelet, which is a signature of its ubiquitous diners. I adapted those flavors to create a spinach, feta, onion and tomato strata. Another favorite is wild mushrooms, leeks

and brie cheese.

When I am cooking brunch for a lot of people, I like to make two strata — one sweet, another savory. An applecream cheese stuffed “French toast” strata is my favorite sweet version, but you could add any kind of fruit. If you make a sweet strata for Valentine’s Day, try stuffing it with strawberries and chocolate for a new twist on everyone’s beloved chocolate-covered strawberries. Just leave out the savory spices and add a touch of sugar and lemon zest to make the stuffed French toast of your dreams.

There are simpler strata recipes available, but I still love the original I grew up with. It uses more eggs and a mixture of milk and half-and-half for a richer, more quiche-like custard. I don’t use as much bread as many recipes because I like it to literally melt into the other ingredients. This produces a lighter, puffier strata. I do add a bit more bread to my sweet French toast version because I want a breadier result for that version.

Letting the strata rest before baking allows the bread to become saturated by the egg mixture, as well as the other flavors. I like to let it rest overnight. Not only does this produce the cream-

iest result, it also saves me any trouble in the morning. I just uncover it and pop it in the oven.

But if you prefer to make it the day of, plan to let it rest for at least an hour in the refrigerator.

VALENTINE’S DAY BREAKFAST-IN-BED EGG STRATA

Start to finish: 1 hour 15 minutes (15 minutes active), plus resting time Servings: 4 6 eggs 3/4 cup milk 3/4 cup half-and-half 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon dry mustard Dash nutmeg 1/8 teaspoon white pepper 3 slices white sandwich bread, cubed 1 pound sage breakfast sausage, cooked, drained and crumbled 1 cup grated cheddar cheese 1/4 cup finely chopped scallions Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, half-and-half, salt, mustard, nutmeg and Valentine’s Day Breakfast-In-Bed Egg Strata white pepper.

In the prepared bakWhen ready to cook, a fork to make sure all of ing dish, layer half each heat the oven to 350 F. the ingredients are subof the bread, sausage, Uncover and bake the merged. cheese and scallions, Cover the baking dish strata for 1 hour, or until then repeat using the repuffy and a knife insertwith foil, crimping the maining ingredients to ed at the center comes edges tight. Refrigerate create a second layer of out clean. for at least an hour, or each. Pour the egg mixNutrition informature evenly over the lay- up to overnight (longer tion per serving: 510 ers, gently pressing with is better).

Marinated pork chops simple and versatile

calories; 310 calories from fat (61 percent of total calories); 35 g fat (12 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 375 mg cholesterol; 15g carbohydrate; 1 g fiber; 5 g sugar; 31 g protein; 1,060 mg sodium.

Classic but lean beef stew

BY FAMILY FEATURES

BY J.M. HIRSCH AP Food Editor My goal was simple — a weeknight-friendly pork dish that was all about sticky-sweet-savory deliciousness. Neither take-out nor heavy lifting would be allowed, and versatility was a must.

The solution called for something that could marinate all day — or even all night and all day. That way I could prep it the night before, pop it in the refrigerator to get yummy, and ignore it until dinner the following night. This required a bit of a balancing act. The marinade would need to be tangy and slightly acidic, but not so acidic that it toughened the pork during what could amount to a 24-hour bath.

It also needed to be easy. I was willing to do nothing more than dump all of the marinade ingredients in a bowl, stir, then dump in the meat. Relying on mostly Asian-inspired ingredients made that easy. Most pack big flavor and can be combined with ease. I also wanted a sauce for serving with the finished pork, but I didn’t want to break out more ingredients to make that happen.

That turned out to be an easy fix. All I needed to do was boil down the marinade on the

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sticky Marinated Pork Chops

stovetop while the pork cooked. Instant and easy sticky sauce with no extra effort or expense.

Finally, the versatility.

My favorite recipes are those that aren’t fussy about which cut of meat I use. Because sometimes I have pork chops, sometimes I have tenderloin. Sometimes I even just have chicken.

Any of the above will work nicely in this recipe. If you use chicken, opt for boneless, skinless chicken thighs; they hold up to basic roasting better without drying out.

STICKY MARINATED PORK CHOPS

Start to finish: 30 minutes (plus marinating) Servings: 6 1/2 cup red wine 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce 1/4 cup mirin 1/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons rice vinegar 1 tablespoon vegetable or canola oil 1 teaspoon hot sauce 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke 1 teaspoon dry ground ginger 1 teaspoon garlic powder 6 boneless pork chops Cooked rice, to serve (optional) In a large bowl, whisk together the wine, soy sauce, mirin, brown sugar, vinegar, oil, hot sauce, liquid smoke, ginger and garlic powder. Add the pork chops, turning them with a fork to ensure all of the meat is coated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate at least several hours, or up to 24 hours.

When ready to cook, heat the oven to 400 F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil, then set a wire rack over it. Coat the rack with cooking

spray.

Arrange the pork chops on the rack. Reserve the marinade.

Roast for 15 to 20 minutes, or until starting to brown and the chops reach 145 F at the center.

Meanwhile, pour the reserved marinade into a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high. Cook for 15 minutes, or until slightly reduced and thickened.

Set aside.

Once the pork has cooked, transfer it to a serving plate. Drizzle the hot marinade over it.

Serve immediately, over rice if desired.

Nutrition information per serving: 300 calories; 80 calories from fat (27 percent of total calories); 9 g fat (2.5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 80 mg cholesterol; 15 g carbohydrate; 0 g fiber; 13 g sugar; 32 g protein; 890 mg sodium.

These days, many people are re-evaluating their diets to lower cholesterol and fat. They’re looking closely at foods to eliminate or cut back. One item that shouldn’t be on the chopping block is lean beef.

It may be surprising, but lean and extra lean beef are nutrient-rich sources of protein that complement a low-fat diet. In fact, a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a healthy lean diet that includes lean beef as well as fruit, whole grains, vegetables and nuts, showed similar effects on cardiovascular disease as a similar diet without lean beef. In the study, people using either diet showed a reduction in LDL cholesterol compared to those eating the typical healthy American diet.

For tips and recipes using lean beef, visit www.laurasleanbeef.com.

CLASSIC BEEF STEW

Prep time: 25 minutes Cook time: 2 hours, 45 minutes Makes 8 servings 1 tablespoon oil 2 pounds Laura’s Lean Eye of Round Roast cut into 2-inch cubes 2 cups sliced onions 4 cloves garlic, chopped 1 green bell pepper, sliced 4 large celery stalks, cut into 2-inch pieces 8 medium carrots 4 large baking potatoes (about 2 pounds) cut into eighths 1 28-ounce can whole tomatoes 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 cup fat-free beef stock (double strength) 1 tablespoon dried basil Salt and pepper to taste Preheat oven to 350° F. Heat oil in skillet. On medium-high heat, sear meat cubes in skillet until browned on all sides.

In a separate bowl, combine canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, beef stock, basil, salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly. Pour mixture over meat and vegetables in roasting pan.

Cover and bake for 45 minutes. Reduce heat to 250°F and bake for 2 hours or until meat is very tender to the fork. Baste occasionally.

Source: Laura’s Lean Beef

FOOD

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

THE ITEM

C3

2 wineries have a heart for fundraising

BY MICHELLE LOCKE Associated Press Writer Like a fine romance, the best rose wines are a balancing act — not too sweet, not too heavy and full of flavor.

That’s what Ehlers Estate winemaker Kevin Morrisey is going for when he makes the winery’s annual Sylviane rose (rose-ZAY), a dry, European-style wine released each year on Feb. 14.

But the release date isn’t the only thing that makes this a particularly appropriate Valentine’s Day wine. The bottle is emblazoned with Ehler’s signature “heart� logo, an “E’’ with the inside of the letter formed by a sideways heart, and, like all Ehlers Estate wines, 100 percent of the profits go to support heart research. It adds up to a bottle that “has a lot of love in it,� says Morrisey.

There’s also a lot of heart love going into Colby Red, a California red wine which so far has raised $300,000 for heart-related charities.

The effort at Colby Red was inspired by winemaker Daryl Groom’s son Colby’s battle with heart disease. Now 15, Colby was born with congenital heart disease and needed two open-heart surgeries before he turned 10. The surgeries were successful, but left Colby lagging academically and socially, suffering from depression, and getting teased by other kids for being different. “It was pretty bad,� say Groom. The family talked about it. “We said we can’t change what’s happened to him, but how can we make that negative be something of a positive?� The answer turned out to be getting Colby involved in helping other people going through heart disease.

The fundraising part of the project started small, including Colby putting up a tent up in the backyard and charging people to listen to his artificial heart valve through a stethoscope. That raised $1,000.

Then Colby came up with another idea — Could they make a wine together and donate the profits to heart research?

Groom, a native of Australia who now lives in Sonoma County and is winemaker-consultant at a number of companies as well as owner of his own Groom wines based Down Under, was a little reluctant. Making wine is hard and requires constant attention, he pointed out.

Still, Colby was persistent and Colby Red was launched in 2011.

The plan was to make just two barrels of wine, but after Groom told the story to a friend who happened to be a buyer for the Walgreens chain the output sud-

denly got a lot bigger when that store decided to carry Colby Red. Since then the wine has launched in Canada, donating to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, and is available at some restaurants, including most recently the California Pizza Kitchen chain. “It’s been a rollercoaster emotional journey, but one now with a really happy ending and one where we’ve been blessed by the support of many people,� says Groom.

At Ehlers Estate, a 43-acre estate in St. Helena in the Napa Valley, the charitable efforts are a FrenchAmerican collaboration. The estate, originally founded in 1886

by Bernard Ehlers, is held in trust by the Leducq Foundation, a not-for-profit international foundation with offices in Paris and Boston that has given more than $216 million in cardiovascular research grants over the past 13 years to scientists in 16 countries.

The foundation was created by Jean Leducq and his wife Sylviane.

Leducq, a French entrepreneur was admitted to a hospital in France in the mid-70s for a suspected heart attack and was later treated at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., where he was the beneficiary of the then-revolutionary technology of coronary artery bypass surgery.

Leducq, who died in 2002, re-established the Ehlers Estate in 1985 believing it was capable of producing wines equal to Bordeaux. The winery only uses grapes grown on its own estate, all of which are certified organic.

Some fans come to the winery knowing about Ehlers’ heart connection, others drink it for a while before realizing the heart logo on the bottle has extra meaning, says Morrisey.

Ehlers rose is made of cabernet franc, a red wine grape, and bears no resemblance to the oceans of cheap pink stuff that have given blush wines reason to, well, blush. The grapes are pressed gently and the juice allowed to stay in contact with the skins just long enough to pick up the color but not long enough to pick up the tannins that would take away from the fruity freshness of the wine.

Morrisey jokes that he spends “way, way too much time,� babysitting the wine as it’s made. Then comes release on Valentine’s and “it’s long sold out by Fourth of July.�

It’s a labor of love, says Morrisey, one that comes complete with a romantic inspiration. “My wife and I just love European-style dry rose,� he says, “and she’s a very demanding customer.�

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Winemaker Kevin Morrisey looks over a sample of Rose from a barrel at Ehler’s Estate in St. Helena, Calif. Proceeds from the winery’s sales go to the Leducq Foundation which continues to award more than $30 million annually to directly support international cardiovascular research.

Š 2013 by Vicki Whiting, Editor

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colors of bulb onions: yellow, white and red. Yellow onions make up about % of the world’s onion crop.

Standards Link: Reading Comprehension: Follow written directions.

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B 1 red onion 1 dried chile pepper 3/4 cup vinegar 3 tsp sugar 1 bay leaf 1 pinch of salt 5 dried cloves

With an adult, heat vinegar, salt, seasonings and chile until boiling.

Add sliced red onions, then let simmer for about a minute.

Remove from heat and let cool completely.

Refrigerate the onions and liquid. Use with grilled meats and in salads.

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If you’ve ever ___________ an onion, or been in a kitchen when someone else does, you know that onions can bring __________ to your eyes.

One of the best ways to get rid of “onion breath� is to chew a little fresh parsley.

Cutting an onion breaks down the onion’s _______, causing acids inside to mix, releasing an invisible gas. This gas reacts with the water in your eyes, causing them to _______ and tears to flow.

Onions add flavor to countless recipes from soups to salads to main courses and side dishes, too. Cross out the word ONIONS each time it appears below to reveal more about this multi-layered veggie.

Vol. 29, No. 8

Red onions are often used in salads and sandwiches because they add a bright pop of color to these dishes. Find the two identical red onions.

onions per year.

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Find the words in the puzzle. Then look for each word in this week’s Kid Scoop stories and activities.

N S R O P A V A V W O L O N I O N S O O I O D I B F D L S T T W I S T R L E N B C S O A O E I O R R A B V V Y C A G W E E U A O R O R R H A R L N Y U R T T S T F B A C I D S A R H Standards Link: Letter sequencing. Recognized identical words. Skim and scan reading. Recall spelling patterns.

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Now find three smaller pictures and calculate the area. Do the two larger photos have a greater area than three photos combined?

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Standards Link: Math: Measurement.

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Another way is to cut the onion under water. This keeps those stinging ________ submerged.

Send your story to:

Look through the newspaper for ten or more words with an ing ending added.

Rewrite the word without the ending.

Why do golf balls have dimples?

Deadline: March 3 Published: Week of Mar. 31

Standards Link: Research: Use the newspaper to locate information.

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THE ITEM

COMICS

BIZARRO

SOUP TO NUTZ

DOG EAT DOUG

GARFIELD

ZITS

BEETLE BAILEY

BLONDIE

ANDY CAPP

DILBERT

BORN LOSER

MOTHER GOOSE

Jeff MacNelly’s SHOE

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

Couple’s lack of intimacy is relationships only flaw

THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

D

SUDOKU

EAR ABBY — My whatever his answer is, boyfriend and I you care about him and have been seeing you hope he feels the each other for about a same way about you. year. He was a virgin when we met. Three DEAR ABBY — My months into the relation31-year-old daughter, ship we had sex. I am 18 “Layla,” is beautiful, acand he is 21. complished and earns a We used to good living. She have sex often, has a lot of friends but now he is and always has a completely uninboyfriend. She has terested in anyhad both longthing sexual. I feel term and shortlike he isn’t atterm relationships. tracted to me anyLayla isn’t marmore, although I ried and hopes to Abigail haven’t changed meet the right perVAN BUREN much since we son. I’m very anxstarted dating. ious about it, but Other than sex, we this is her life and her have a great relationship. choice. People constantly We haven’t had a single ask, “How’s your daughfight, but it hurts my feelter? Is she seeing anyings that he doesn’t want one?” And when I meet to have sex with me anysomeone for the first time more. What’s the solution who asks about my chilto our problem? dren, the second question TEEN IN ST. GEORGE, they ask is, “Is she marUTAH ried?” (They don’t ask that about my son.)

DEAR TEEN — Have a This is painful for me. frank, non-confrontation- What should I say in real talk with your boyfriend sponse to this omnipresand ask him what has ent question? changed. It may be that LAYLA’S MOM the novelty wore off. He may have a low sex drive, DEAR MOM — All you or he may be interested in have to do is smile and women only as friends. say: “My daughter is sinBut you will never know gle, loves her job and is until you ask him. When quite successful. Now tell you do, let him know that me about YOUR children.” dear abby

C6

TELEVISION

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013

AROUND TOWN

TW FT

|

7:30

The Ashwood Central High School Classes of 1976 and 1977 will meet at 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10, at McDonald’s in Bishopville. Plans for the Aug. 2-4 reunion will be discussed. Call Debra Martin Mickens at (803) 229-2979 or Barbara Mathis Wactor at (803) 983-5132.

9 PM 9:30 LOCAL CHANNELS

10 PM

10:30

11 PM

11:30

C7

12 AM

WIS News 10 at (:35) The Tonight Show with Jay 11:00pm News Leno Scheduled: country singer and and weather. actor Tim McGraw. (N) (HD) News 19 @ 11pm (:35) Late Show with David LetterA look at the news man Scheduled: Joel McHale; Kenny events of the day. Licklider. (N) (HD) ABC Columbia (:35) Jimmy Kimmel Live Scheduled: News at 11 Nightly Ewan McGregor; Julianne Hough; Gary news report. (HD) Clark Jr. (N) (HD) Tavis Smiley (HD) BBC World News Charlie Rose (N) International news (HD) from the BBC. Everybody Loves Family Guy: Brian Family Guy: Goes Back to Col- Barely Legal Meg Raymond: Pat’s Secret lege loves Brian.

The King of How I Met Your It’s Always Sunny Queens: Veiled Mother Lily’s in Philadelphia Threat (HD) summer. (HD) Landmark. (HD)

CABLE CHANNELS Duck Dynasty Duck Dynasty Duck Dynasty: Duck Dynasty Duck Dynasty Duck Dynasty Barter Kings: First Comes Love, Then (:01)Barter Kings: Swingin’ Deals and (:01)Duck Dy(HD) (HD) Samurai Si (HD) Yearly cook-off. New boyfriend. Willie races. (HD) Comes Trading (N) (HD) Screamin’ Wheels Kids’ toys. (HD) nasty: Samurai Si CSI: Miami: Wolfe in Sheep’s Clothing The Shawshank Redemption (‘94, Drama) aaaa Tim Robbins. A banker wrongly convicted of his wife’s murder The Shawshank Redemption (‘94, Drama) aaaa Ryan kidnapped. (HD) becomes an invaluable asset to a crooked warden and his fellow inmates while still holding hope for his release. (HD) Tim Robbins. A man copes with the horrors of prison. (HD) Swamp Wars Python with meal. (HD) Wildman (HD) Wildman (HD) Gator Boys: Alligator Rampage (HD) Gator Boys: Mississippi or Bust (HD) Wildman (HD) Wildman (HD) Gator Boys (HD) (6:00) 106 & Park Amateurs compete Husbands: 2nd Generations: The Great Divide (‘12, Comedy) Tichina Arnold. A female student of Indian Husbands: Thicke Husbands: It’s The Wendy Wilfor viewers’ votes. (N) (HD) Karma’s a Mitch High Anxiety tantra teachings and the kama sutra develops a game. and Tired Gettin’ Hot liams Show (N) The Real Housewives of Beverly The Real Housewives of Atlanta: Top Chef: Chefs at Sea Sailing to Top Chef: Kings of Alaska Seafood for Watch What Top Chef: Kings of Alaska Seafood for Hills: Kim Nose Best Pole dancing.

Make An A** Out of A Donkey Alaska.

Alaskan locals. (N) Happens: Live (N) Alaskan locals.

The Kudlow Report (N) Shadow Billionaire (‘13) Fugitives A manager is caught.

Greed: Hedge Fund Imposter Mad Money Investment advice.

Fugitives Erin Burnett OutFront Anderson Cooper 360° (N) (HD) Piers Morgan Tonight (N) (HD) Anderson Cooper 360° (HD) Erin Burnett OutFront Tonight (HD) The Colbert Re- Daily Show with Kroll Show: Se- Workaholics: Al- South Park: South Park: T.M.I. Workaholics (N) Kroll Show: Too Daily Show with (:31)The Colbert Workaholics H.S. port (HD) Jon Stewart (HD) cret Room (HD) ice Quits (HD) Margaritaville (HD) (HD) (HD) Much Tuna (N) Jon Stewart (N) Report (N) (HD) sports bets. (HD) Good Luck Char- Dog with a Blog: Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure (‘09, Family) aac Jessie Another Disney’s Shake It Good Luck Char- Jessie Sticky hair A.N.T. Farm: bad Wizards of lie (HD) Woofcraft Mae Whitman. A fairy goes on a fantastic journey. nanny. (HD) Up! (HD) lie (HD) gel. (HD) romANTs (HD) Waverly Place Moonshiners Lost shine; more. (HD) Moonshiners: Hat in Hand (HD) Moonshiners Tickle’s plan; more. (HD) Moonshiners (N) (HD) Moonshiners Tickle’s plan; more. (HD) Moonshiner (HD) College Basketball: Baylor Bears at Oklahoma State Cowboys z{| (HD) NBA Basketball: San Antonio Spurs at Minnesota Timberwolves from Target Center z{| (HD) SportsCenter: from Bristol, Conn.

College Basketball: Marquette Golden Eagles at South Florida Bulls (HD) Pre-Match World Cup Qualifiers: Jamaica at Mexico z{| (HD) Basketball (HD) NFL Live (HD) Another Cinderella Story (‘08, Comedy) aa Selena Gomez. A teenage girl Ramona and Beezus (‘10, Comedy) aac Joey King. An imaginative and ac- The 700 Club (N) Prince: Mother’s falls in love with the teen pop star who attends her school. (HD) cident-prone third grader tries to save the family home. (HD) Day Restaurant: Impossible: Del’s (HD) Restaurant: Impossible (HD) Restaurant: Impossible (HD) Bobby’s Dinner Battle (N) (HD) Restaurant: Impossible (HD) Restaurant (HD) UFC Reloaded: UFC 68: Sylvia vs. Couture no} (HD) The New College Football (HD) World Poker Tour no} (HD) World Poker (HD) Brady: The Voice Brady All the kids Happy Days: Happy Days: Happy Days Ralph Happy Days: Frasier: Three Frasier: War of the Frasier: Deathtrap Frasier: The Love The Golden Girls: of Christmas have the measles. Fonz-How, Inc. Come Home a high roller Fonzie’s Baptism Blind Dates Words You Fake Grab That Dough House Hunters: Renovation (HD) Cousins (N) Cousins Property Brothers (N) (HD) Hunters (N) (HD) International (N) House Hunters: Renovation (HD) Prop Bro (HD) Ancient Aliens (HD) Ancient Aliens (HD) Ancient Aliens (HD) Ancient Aliens Past ET contact. (HD) (:02) Ancient Aliens (HD) (:01) Ancient (HD) Collateral Damage (‘02, Action) aa WWE Main Event (N) The Pelican Brief (‘93, Suspense) aac Julia Roberts. A law student finds herself in danger after she comes up with I Think I Love My Arnold Schwarzenegger. a theory about the recent assassination of two Supreme Court justices.

Wife (‘07) aac Wife Swap: Parker; Robinson Child Wife Swap: Schults; Smith Halloween Wife Swap: McDonald; Robarge Bur- America’s Supernanny: The Wil(:01) Project Runway: Spin Out New (:02)Wife Swap: star mom vs. “Swamp Ape” mom. obsession swaps with swimming. lesque dancer swaps with lumberjack. son-Speer Family Blended family. (N) uniforms for a social club. (HD) Schults; Smith Drake: Football Drake: Smart Girl Full House Full House Full House Full House Nanny Nanny Friends (:33) Friends (:06) Friends Auction (HD) Auction (HD) Auction (HD) Auction (HD) Auction (N) (HD) Auction (HD) Savage (N) Savage Savage Digger (HD) Auction (HD) Ghost Hunters: Ghost Mission TAPS Ghost Hunters: Perscription for Fear Ghost Hunters: Permanent Residents Ghost Mine: Phantom Wind A strange Ghost Hunters: Permanent Residents Ghost Mine: investigates old mission. (HD) Peoria Asylum in Bartonville, Ill. (HD) The 1890 House. (N) (HD) wind troubles miners. (N) The 1890 House in Cortland, N.Y. (HD) Phantom Wind Seinfeld: The Seinfeld: The Family Guy: The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang Conan (N) (HD) The Office: Sex Ed Foundation (HD) Caddy (HD) Dammit Janet Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) (HD) (5:45)The Night of the Iguana (‘64, All Quiet on the Western Front (‘30) aaac Louis Wolheim. Right after they graduate from Imitation of Life (‘34, Drama) aaa Claudette Colbert. A white widow and Drama) Richard Burton. high school, a young man and his closest friends decide to join the German Imperial Army. her black housekeeper face problems with their daughters.

Toddlers and Tiaras Showdown. (HD) Toddlers and Tiaras (HD) Toddlers and Tiaras (N) (HD) Cheer Perfection Columbus. (N) (HD) Toddlers and Tiaras (HD) Cheer (HD) Castle: Last Call Prohibition-era New Castle: Pandora A killer is part of a Castle: Linchpin Search for an eco- Castle: Once Upon A Crime Fairytale CSI: NY: Green Piece Pipe bomb de- CSI: NY: Point of stroys crime scene. (HD) No Return (HD) nomic vulnerability. (HD) characters found dead. (HD) York; quest. (HD) conspiracy. (HD) Gumball NinjaGo Dragons (N) Crew King King American (HD) American (HD) Family Family (:15) Robot Dumbest: World’s Dumbest Partiers 5 Full Throttle Saloon Missing act.

Full Throttle Saloon (N) Lizard Lick Tow Lizard Lick Tow Black Gold (N) Full Throttle MASH MASH Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Hot Cleveland (N) Divorced (N) (HD) Cleveland (HD) Divorced (HD) Queens (HD) NCIS: Freedom Marine beaten to NCIS: Rekindled Warehouse fire re- NCIS: Playing with Fire U.S. Naval se- Necessary Roughness: The Fall Guy (:01) White Collar: Empire City (HD) (:02)CSI: Crime curity is in danger. (HD) Dani tries to control his temper. (N) Scene: Bull (HD) veals Navy documents. (HD) death in backyard. (HD) Charmed: Siren Song (HD) Gold Girl Gold Girl Gold Girl Gold Girl Gold Girl Gold Girl Gold Girl Gold Girl Fix My Family Funniest Home Videos (HD) Rules: Pilot (HD) Rules (HD) Rules (HD) Rules (HD) WGN News at Nine (HD) Funniest Home Videos (HD) Rules (HD)

Hollywood week begins on ‘American Idol’

BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH

The Devine Sistas of PGR will present a “Pink and Yellow Valentine’s Ball” for children age 6 and up 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at Delaine Community Center. Cost is $2 and food will be served.

Call (803) 406-5917 or (803) 406-9621.

8:30

Entertainment Whitney: Space Guys with Kids: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Chicago Fire: A Little Taste Severide Tonight (N) (HD) Invaders Alone The Will Near Monster’s Legacy Death row prisoner finds that he and Eric Whaley share a time. (N) (HD) death. (N) (HD) could be a victim. (N) (HD) familiar past. (N) (HD) Inside Edition (N) Person of Interest: Masquerade Criminal Minds: All That Remains CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: In (HD) Reese is ordered to protect the spoiled Suspicious writer is investigated. (N) Vino Veritas D.B. helps an old friend daughter of a Brazilian diplomat. (HD) (HD) out. (N) (HD) Jeopardy!: Teen The Middle: The The Neighbors: Modern Family: A (:31)Suburgatory: Nashville: I’ve Been Down That Road Tournament (N) Smile Axl’s schol- Space Invaders Slight at the Opera Body Talk Dallas Before Scarlett is struggling financially (HD) arship. (N) (HD) Dating advice. (N) (N) (HD) kicked out. (N) until Gunnar makes an offer. (N) (HD) NatureScene: Mt. Nature: Attenborough’s Life Stories: NOVA: Building Pharaoh’s Chariot Rep- Life on Fire: Pioneers of the Deep Rogers National Our Fragile Planet Naturalist discusses licas tested to determine impact. (N) Blind shrimp and seabirds’ adaptabilRecreation Area humanity’s impact. (N) (HD) (HD) ity. (N) (HD) Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory American Idol: Hollywood Round, Part 1 All of the recipients of golden tickets WACH FOX News at 10 News events Koothrappali’s Leonard remem- during the audition process are called back to Hollywood to begin rigorous of the day, late breaking news and blind date. (HD) bers. (HD) training to see who has what it takes. (N) (HD) weather forecasts are presented.

Family Feud Two Family Feud Two Numb3rs: Judgement Call Charlie Numb3rs: Manhunt Two violent crimi- Access HollyDish Nation Canfamilies compete families compete lends his services to the case of a mur- nals flee from authorities following a wood (N) (HD) did moments from against each other. against each other. dered federal judge’s wife. (HD) prison bus accident. (HD) radio teams.

The Sumter County Library will offer “Get Connected,” a free series about available technology and how it can be used to improve your life. Scheduled programs are as follows: “Just Google It,” 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9; “Going Mobile,” 3 p.m.

Saturday, March 9; and “Getting Social,” 3 p.m.

Saturday, April 13. All programs will be held in the main meeting room of the library, 111 N. Harvin St.

The National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) Sumter Section will meet at 5 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 8, at Mount Zion Enrichment Center, 315 Fulton St.

8 PM

WIS News 10 at 7:00pm Local news update.

News 19 @ 7pm Evening news update.

Wheel of Fortune: NBA Week (N) (HD) Rick Steves’ Europe A lake. (N)

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. You will need: picture ID; Social Security card for all dependents; all W-2s, 1099s and 1098s; all supporting documents if you itemize; and a check for refund to be direct deposited. Call Lynda at (803) 4698322 or Sandra at (803) 469-2052.

An Eagle Scout Court of Honor Induction will be held at 7 p.m. today at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1770 U.S. 15 South.

There will be a presentation by the USAF Honor Guard. The public is invited.

7 PM

THE ITEM

“American Idol” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14) enters its Hollywood round. This is when the competition moves beyond the good-to-awful initial auditions and when possible favorites emerge.

Much of the discussion surrounding “Idol” has centered on its declining ratings. This is to be expected from any series that has been around for more than a decade. And for all of the quibbles, “Idol” still reached nearly 16 million viewers last Wednesday.

The move to add big stars Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban as judges has not helped. At its height, “Idol” was proof of the adage that television does not need stars; it makes them. Nobody had heard of Ryan Seacrest, Randy Jackson or Simon Cowell when the show began. Paula Abdul, the only familiar face, was seen as a kind of genial has-been.

But by the second season, they had all become household names as large as Kelly Clarkson, the first “Idol” winner.

No Initiation Fee!

This has always been true in television. Its earliest household names, Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Jackie Gleason and Lucille Ball, were at best modest stars before they had hit shows.

Television made them superstars, as it did seemingly wooden hosts Ed Sullivan and Lawrence Welk, the Ryan Seacrests of their era.

“Idol” shows its flop sweat every time it concentrates on the built-in freak show factor of Carey and Minaj, or indulging in a “reunion” with Steven Tyler.

People still watch “Idol” for moments like Micah Johnson’s recent audition. Clearly saddled with a speech impediment, the contestant explained how his throat had been injured in tonsil surgery. But that handicap vanished when he opened his mouth to sing.

Corny? You bet. But that’s the kind of feel-good schmaltz viewers have come to expect from “Idol,” a moment of uplift that offered a nice distraction from a show top-heavy with forced celebrity.

• The new spy series “The

Americans” (10 p.m., FX, TVMA) continues to blend fact and fiction in its 1981 setting.

Tonight: Philip and Elizabeth must plant a bug in the office of Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger.

The show debuted to a large audience for FX last Wednesday, but could not attract as many viewers as “Moonshiners” (9 p.m. and 10 p.m., Discovery, TV-14), the most popular cable series of the night.

Tonight’s Other Highlights • Sue’s science project requires a change in demeanor on “The Middle” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).

• A recently released con wants to make up for lost time on “Arrow” (8 p.m., CW, TV14).

• “Nature” (8 p.m., PBS, TVPG) concludes its three-part salute to nature filmmaker David Attenborough.

• A death row prisoner (Mike Tyson) may shed light on a predator on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14).

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Series Notes Diplomatic baby-sitting on “Person of Interest” (8 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14) * Me time for Alex on “Whitney” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-14) * Intimations of mortality on “Guys With Kids” (8:30 p.m., NBC, TV-PG) * Illtimed advice on “The Neighbors” (8:30 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) * Murder between the covers on “Criminal Minds” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14) * Having a go at a golem on “Supernatural” (9 p.m., CW, TV-14) * A change of schools on “Suburgatory” (9:30 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).

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• Manny vies for a part in the school musical on “Modern Family” (9 p.m., ABC, TVPG).

• “NOVA” (9 p.m., PBS, TVPG) looks at the ancient technology required to build chariots for Egypt’s pharaohs.

• Missing in action on “CSI” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14).

• Severide finds a kindred spirit on “Chicago Fire” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14).

• Deacon’s blues on “Nashville” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).

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THE ITEM

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Celebrate Chinese New Year

BY SARA MOULTON Associated Press Writer

C

hinese New Year is the sort of new year celebration I love.

Because unlike the Western tradition of big blowout parties, Chinese New Year is a time to get together with family, to give thanks for what you have, to retire your grudges, and to look forward to a year of peace and happiness. In that way, I think of it much as I do Thanksgiving.

It’s in the spirit of Chinese New Year (which this year starts Feb. 10) that I’ve reconfigured one of my favorite dim sum dishes — shrimp toasts. Not familiar with dim sum is?

Think of it as Chinese tapas, or small plates of food. Traditionally, shrimp toasts are made of chopped or ground shrimp seasoned with soy sauce, sesame oil, scallions and rice wine. This mixture then is mounded onto little toasts and deep-fried. The result is creamy on top, crispy on the bottom, and richly flavorful through and through.

T

hese noodles are a fun and approachable dish equally good for a busy weeknight or to celebrate Chinese New Year.

Asian markets are jammed with many different noodle varieties. We’ve opted for a thick noodle for this quick stir-fry dish, but you can use other varieties for a different texture. Just be sure to cook the noodles until just a few minutes shy of being done; they will continue to cook while being stirfried.

BAKED SESAME SHRIMP TOASTS Start to finish: 40 minutes (20 minutes active) Makes 32 toasts 32 diagonally sliced 1/2-inch-thick baguette slices Cooking spray 1/2 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined 1 large egg white 2 1/2 teaspoons sake, Chinese rice wine or dry sherry 2 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger 1 large garlic clove, minced 1 1/2 teaspoons hot sauce 1 1/2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil, divided Heaping 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon sugar 4-ounce can water chestnuts, drained and finely chopped 2 scallions, finely chopped (about 1/4 cup) 1/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise 2 teaspoons sesame seeds Heat the oven to 400 degrees.

SHRIMP AND SHIITAKE NOODLE STIR-FRY As with all stir-fries, which by definition are cooked fast and at a high heat, it’s best to prep all of your ingredients and have them near the stove before you begin cooking.

Start to finish: 30 minutes Servings: 4 2 tablespoons sesame oil 1 small sweet onion, sliced 7 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stems removed, thinly sliced 1 red bell pepper, cored and thinly sliced 9 1/2-ounce package thick Asian-style noodles, such as udon 1 pound small shrimp,

On a rimmed baking sheet, arrange the baguette slices in a single layer. Spritz the bread slices on both sides with cooking spray. Bake them on the oven’s middle shelf for 4 minutes. Remove them from the oven, turn over each slice, then set aside.

Reduce the oven to 350 degrees.

In a food processor, combine the shrimp, egg white, sake, ginger, garlic, hot sauce, 1/2 teaspoon of the sesame oil, the salt and the sugar. Puree until smooth. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir in the water chestnuts and scallions.

In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise and remaining 1 teaspoon sesame oil. Mound a rounded tablespoon of the shrimp mixture on top of each toast and spread evenly over the toast. Brush the top of each mound with some of the mayonnaise mixture, then sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Bake on the oven’s middle shelf for 12 to 14 minutes, or until the shrimp mixture is just cooked through. Serve hot.

cooked and peeled 2 tablespoons oyster sauce 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds 1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil.

While the water heats, in a large deep skillet or a wok over medium-high, heat the oil. Add the onion and saute for 4 minutes, or until tender. Add the mushrooms and cook for 6 to 7 minutes, or until browned and tender. Add the red pepper and cook for 2 minutes.

Just after adding the red pepper to the pan, add the noodles to the boiling water. Cook for 2 minutes, or until just al dente.

After 2 minutes, use tongs to pull the noodles out of the boiling water and add directly to the wok.

Add the shrimp, oyster sauce and soy sauce, then toss well. Cook until heated through and the noodles have finished cooking, about another 3 to 4 minutes. Toss with the sesame seeds and scallions.

Y

ou can call it a peppercorn all you like, but the peppery ingredient that puts the buzz in Sichuan-style cooking actually isn’t one.

Though it resembles and is used similar to black peppercorns, Sichuan pepper isn’t a peppercorn at all. Rather, it is the dried rind of the berry-like fruit of the prickly ash tree. And you don’t need to be a heat fiend to love it. Because while it does have a peppery bite, its real power is in the tingling, zingly feeling it leaves on your tongue, rather than a true heat.

In Chinese cooking, the Sichuan pepper often is used with meats and is a basic component of five-spice powder. In this weeknight-friendly beef recipe, we combine the Sichuan pepper with spicy chili garlic paste for a dish that will jumpstart your mouth. Serve it over rice or noodles.

SICHUAN BEEF Start to finish: 30 minutes (plus marinating) Servings: 4 1 pound flank steak, thinly sliced across the grain 3 tablespoons chili garlic paste 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger 1 teaspoon Sichuan pepper, crushed 1/4 cup vegetable or canola oil 1 tablespoon soy sauce

2 tablespoons mirin or rice wine 3 stalks celery, thinly sliced on the diagonal 2 carrots, thinly sliced on the diagonal 3 scallions, cut into 1/2 inch pieces Rice or noodles, to serve

Place the flank steak slices in a zip-close plastic bag. Add the chili garlic paste, ginger and Sichuan pepper. Seal the bag, then massage the seasonings into the meat.

Refrigerate and allow to marinate at least 2 hours, and up to overnight.

When ready to cook, in a large, deep skillet or a wok over high, heat the oil until it shimmers. Add the beef and saute for 8 minutes, or until the beef is browned and starting to dry. Add the soy sauce, mirin, celery, carrots and scallions. Cook for another 4 minutes, or until the vegetables are crisp tender. Serve over noodles or rice.

Nutrition information per serving: 330 calories; 180 calories from fat (55 percent of total calories); 20 g fat (3.5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 35 mg cholesterol; 11 g carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 6 g sugar; 26 g protein; 770 mg sodium.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS