February 6, 2014

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

75 CENTS

Charges, discipline of Shaw airman on hold Man held on base while investigation continues

SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 2 SECTIONS, 18 PAGES | VOL. 119, NO. 96

SPORTS

BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com The airman whose disappearance sparked a multistate search is back at Shaw Air Force Base, being held in detention while Air Force investigators work to determine what, if any, charges he

will face.

Capt. Robby Williams III, who vanished from an off-base apartment just before Christmas, was returned to the air base earlier this week after he was located and arrested by U.S. Marshals in Alabama last Wednesday.

The 30-year-old airman, who

formerly worked as a communications specialist handling contact between the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw and forces deployed to the Middle East, is now being held in pretrial detention on base, according to Lt. Earon Brown

WILLIAMS

SEE AIRMAN, PAGE A10

Justices to determine autopsies’ fate

... on the dotted line 6 area football players make their college picks B1 LOCAL

Local landowners give 13,000 acres to trust A3 DEATHS, B6 Lorraine PaylorConyers Ann E. Hodges Michael T. Brunson

Louise D. Dennis Emily R. Burns Henry O. McLeod Ella Mae Smith

WEATHER, A10

BRISTOW MARCHANT / THE SUMTER ITEM

Andrew F. Lindemann, attorney for Sumter County Coroner Harvin Bullock, listens to a question from Justice Kaye Hearn, far right, during Wednesday’s Supreme Court hearing. Justices are considering whether the state Freedom of Information Act applies to autopsy records. From left facing Lindemann are Chief Justice Jean Toal, Justice Donald W. Beatty and Hearn.

S.C. Supreme Court hears FOIA suit, will set precedent

A LITTLE COOLER Some sun, then clouds and cooler; clouds breaking tonight

BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com

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The shooting death of a Sumter man will soon result in a new legal precedent set by the South Carolina Supreme Court.

Justices will either rule the results of an autopsy conducted by a county coroner are public records accessible under the state’s Freedom of Information Act or decide such records are protected from being made public by medical privacy laws.

Arguments for both positions were made before the court on Wednesday in a lawsuit brought by The Sumter Item to get access to the autopsy report for Aaron Jacobs, who was killed in a police shooting in 2010. Sumter County

value of the report outCoroner Harvin Bullock INSIDE weighs the medical properdenied the paper’s request, ties of the report and that leading to this week’s the handling of a deceased hearing in the high court Toal re-elected person doesn’t meet the reto settle the issue once and as S.C.’s chief quirements for what the for all. justice Legislature considered a Most of the justices’ medical record when the questions centered on A2 law was crafted. whether an autopsy consti“There’s no medical care tutes a “medical record” being delivered,” he said. “The and is therefore exempt from the physician is acting as an agent of law requiring public documents to the government, not to give medibe available to the public. cal care but as part of an investiga“This procedure was performed tion.” by a doctor and, in addition to South Carolina courts have alcause of death, has all kinds of deready ruled in Society of Profestails on the medical condition of sional Journalists v. Sexton that the individual,” Chief Justice Jean death certificates, which also conToal said to Jay Bender, the attorney arguing for The Sumter Item in tain medical information on the the case.

Bender argued the investigative SEE HEARING, PAGE A3

Will your child be at a different school next year?

Baker, board chair want closer look at attendance lines

BY RAYTEVIA EVANS revans@theitem.com Some discussion regarding Sumter School District attendance lines has taken place among local education leaders.

Superintendent Dr. Frank Baker recently said he has mentioned it to the board, and it will be up to the members to decide whether attendance lines in the school district should be addressed.

Board Chairman Keith Schultz said most of the discussion, though not official, has been initiated by him.

Addressing attendance lines can improve bus routes, Schultz said, and Baker has made some recommendations.

At the moment, many students are being bused from one side of town to school, passing multiple schools on

the way. Schultz said it may be time to take a closer look at enrollment and efficiency involving attendance lines.

“It seems we’ve been avoiding attendance line issues in our county for years, and it’s time to address it,” Schultz said. “There has been limited discussion mostly by me, but it’s not on any upcoming agendas. Baker has provided a few recommendations regarding attendance lines, and my goal is to address that in the future.”

Multiple schools in the district are under the maximum student capacity in terms of building utilization. Baker said there hasn’t been any dialogue about consolidating or closing schools for this reason; however, restructuring the attendance lines in the district can possibly decrease the amount of under-utilized space in facilities and make it possible for students to attend neighborhood schools.

“I have kids right here on Carter Road going to Cherryvale. If they’re middle,

‘It seems we’ve been avoiding attendance line issues in our county for years and it’s time to address it.’

KEITH SCHULTZ Sumter School District Board of Trustees they go all the way down to Furman Middle School.

High school, they go all the way to Lakewood. That means that those kids go right by Alice Drive Elementary, Alice Drive Middle and Sumter High,” Baker explained. “Kids out on the Chestnut Oaks side, it would

make a whole lot more sense to serve those kids once they’ve become high school kids at Crestwood rather than bus them all the way back across town to Sumter High.”

The Rev. Ralph Canty Sr., Area 6 district board member, said when the school district consolidated three years ago, he was under the impression that they were satisfied with the current attendance lines for local schools.

“It’s premature at the time, and I’m reluctant to speak about it,” Canty said.

“But I am anxious about this proposal, and I don’t understand why we’re addressing the issue again when three years ago while consolidating I thought we were satisfied with the current attendance lines. I am guarded, and I hope the community is guarded as well.”

Schultz and Baker said the school district will still maintain the open-enrollment policy. So if the board

decides to change schools’ attendance lines in the future, parents will still have a choice in what school their child attends.

“If you still maintain your open-enrollment policy, that still gives parents a choice.

But it is an issue that in my opinion the board needs to address and really needs to be sooner rather than later.

There hasn’t been an official discussion of the issue,” Baker said. “It again wouldn’t be something we could do about it this school year, but I would like the parents to have at least a semester’s notice because that gives them time to think about moving if they want to move into a different zone.”

If the board decides to address attendance lines in the future, Baker said it will take a lot of planning, and they will have to look at the demographics and each facility before any changes are made.

Reach Raytevia Evans at (803) 774-1214.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

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

Sumter EMTs to defend state title in competition

BY TYLER SIMPSON tyler@theitem.com After bringing the 2013 South Carolina Paramedic Championship to Sumter County, Emergency Medical Technicians Bobby Hingst and Kent Hall will return to Myrtle Beach to compete in the 2014 competition to defend the championship titles. This time, they will also face a very familiar foe.

Sumter EMTs Craig Hunt and Kyle Sanders volunteered to represent the Pee Dee region in the competition at Myrtle Beach on March 7, which means they will compete against Hingst and Hall for the state title.

Since Hunt and Sanders were the only team from the Pee Dee region to compete in the regional competition, they were automatically able to progress to the state championship.

“You got two teams competing from the same service,” said Hingst, who serves as director of Sumter EMS. “No matter which team that will win, either way it’s a win for the service.”

As a paramedic team, this competition would be the first time that Hunt and Sanders have competed together.

Hunt said that having all four EMTs competing against some of the best paramedics in the state would “help put the county on the map.”

“It will show just how great our service is in general,” Hunt said. “Just because we get the opportunity to go and compete this year doesn’t mean that not anybody else in this service could go and do the same.”

Hunt also considered himself and Sanders to be underdogs in their friendly rivalry with Hingst and Hall.

“Both Bobby and Kent have pretty much raised both of us from day one when we stepped in here,” Hunt said.

“They trained us, and they know what we are capable of. It will definitely be interesting.”

Both teams are going into the competition unaware of what mock scenario they will have to compete in, which could be anything from a plane crash to a collapsed building, and actors are coached ahead of time on what treatments the competitors would most likely use. Last year’s scenario was a

TYLER SIMPSON / THE SUMTER ITEM

Sumter EMS Director Bobby Hingst, left, and EMT Kent Hall hold the state trophy they won in the 2013 South Carolina Paramedic Championship. They will participate in the 2014 competition against two of their fellow Sumter EMTs, as well as the best EMTs from the other three regions of South Carolina, in Myrtle Beach on March 7. cruise ship that exploded off shore.

“Usually, it’s a multi-patient scenario that they create,” Hingst said. “You might have two patients that are in critical condition, and it takes both of you to work on each patient. Then you might have a scene with five to seven patients.”

But both teams have trained for every possible scenario they can think could be waiting for them at the state competition.

“We set up scenarios around here for individuals who are going to the competitions,” Sanders said. “People who are very willing to help out set different kinds of scenarios because

no one knows what the scenario will be. People are really good about that around here on their days off.”

The competition is broken down into single teams from four regions within the state: Lowcountry, Pee Dee, Midlands and Upstate. A total of five teams actually compete, with the returning state champions receiving a bye from the regional competition.

Hingst and Hall were the first EMS team from the Pee Dee region to win the competition since 1988. They have teamed with each other in competitions since 2005 and made it to the state championship in 2006 before

falling short.

“It felt pretty good to represent our region and bring a win back for our region,” Hingst said. “We hoped that it would help get more people involved and try to get folks in to go to these competitions because it takes a courage for people to go out and compete amongst their peers.”

“It’s just an opportunity to go and have some fun,” Hall said. “A competition is just that. It doesn’t prove anything. It’s just the opportunity to show your friends and your family what you do for a living.”

Reach Tyler Simpson at (803) 774-1295.

Toal re-elected as South Carolina’s chief justice

LOCAL BRIEF FROM STAFF REPORTS

Shooting suspect turns himself in to authorities A 31-year-old Sumter resident who was wanted for reportedly shooting a 48-year-old on Friday turned himself into Sumter police Wednesday.

Terrance DeAnglo Haynesworth approached Sumter Law Enforcement Center on Wednesday morning to turn himself in. He was charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature HAYNESand was transWORTH ported to SumterLee Regional Detention Center where he was granted a surety bond of $10,000.

According to police, Haynesworth shot the victim in the right leg on Sampson Street after the two started arguing over money. The victim identified Haynesworth as the shooter to law enforcement.

He was treated and released from Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

COLUMBIA (AP) — Chief Justice Jean Toal was reelected Wednesday to lead South Carolina’s Supreme Court — and the state’s $61 million court system — and her challenger vowed to seek the top spot again.

Meeting in a joint session, House and Senate members voted 95-74 to elect Toal over Associate Justice Costa Pleicones. After the balloting, both jurists pledged that the outcome would change nothing about how they interact inside or outside of the court.

Last year, Pleicones surprised the state’s legal community when he said he would challenge Toal in her pursuit of a new term. He and Toal have served side by side since 2000, when Toal became chief justice after 12 years on the court — and the first woman to lead the court.

Pleicones, then a circuit court judge, was elected to serve out her unexpired term and has been re-elected in his own right since.

Toal, 70, will serve as chief for roughly the next two

years until she reaches the mandatory judicial retirement age of 72. Pleicones’ current term expires in 2016, and he said Wednesday that he would run again when the chief position comes open.

South Carolina is one of two states where lawmakers elect judges to interpret laws passed by lawmakers. The Judicial Merit Selection Commission — a 10-member panel appointed by legislative leaders — vets the candidates’ qualifications for each seat and can nominate up to three candidates for each position.

Sitting judges typically sail through that process, as Toal and Pleicones both did last year. During a November hearing, Pleicones told the panel that he had both the experience and desire to step up to the court’s top position, stressing his willingness to follow the law even if it means he often dissents from the majority.

“I think that a fresh perspective is beneficial to any business ... from time to time,” Pleicones told the

‘This changes really nothing in the professional relationship at all, nor in the personal relationship. ... I’ve been sitting next to her in one capacity or another for the past 50 years.’

COSTA PLEICONES S.C. Supreme Court Associate Justice panel. “I am prepared for this mission.”

During her time before the commission, Toal said she had “agonized” over the decision to seek another term as

chief but said that she ultimately felt she needed more time to see through projects such as the implementation of a court docket management system.

Both justices said after the vote Wednesday that the outcome would affect neither their personal nor professional interactions. Before the legislative election, the fivemember court heard arguments in three cases and expected to debate privately later Wednesday afternoon.

“We’re professional,” Pleicones said. “This changes really nothing in the professional relationship at all, nor in the personal relationship. ...

I’ve been sitting next to her in one capacity or another for the past 50 years.”

Toal echoed those statements a few moments later, during questioning by reporters outside the House chamber.

“We’ve handled it with a great deal of affection for each other,” Toal said. “Our friendship is deep, and it won’t change because of this.”

HOW TO REACH US IS YOUR PAPER MISSING? ARE YOU GOING ON VACATION? 20 N. Magnolia St., Sumter, S.C. 29150 (803) 774-1200 Jack Osteen Editor and Publisher Jack@theitem.com (803) 774-1238 Braden Bunch Senior News Editor bbunch@theitem.com (803) 774-1201 Waverly Williams Sales Manager wwilliams@theitem.com (803) 774-1237

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THE SUMTER ITEM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

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A3

Landowners give 13,000 acres to Congaree trust

BY THE NUMBERS In addition to helping protect Shaw Air Force Base from development encroaching and guarding it from a base closure round, campsites could be created from recent land donations to a Congaree Land Trust conservation easement.

5 Number of landowners who donated to the Sumter County easement

12 Number of new conservation easements added to the Congaree Land Trust in 2013

$54 billion Economic impact of farming, forestry, outdoor recreation and tourism tied to natural resources in the state

120 Number of acres donated in Lexington County MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

162

The Wateree River offers a beautiful view but currently no public camping in Sumter County. Five landowners in Sumter County donated more than 13,000 acres to the Congaree Land Trust, and 12 boat-in campsites could be coming soon. “It is rather unusual to have this amount of acreage protected in a single year in one specific county,� said Kitty Weiland, membership director of Congaree Land Trust.

Number of acres donated in Bamberg County

Donations could help protect Shaw, include campsites

Number of acres donated in Richland County

BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com It soon may be easier to camp along the Wateree River in Sumter.

The Congaree Land Trust announced Monday that by working with local landowners, it added 12 new conservation easements in six counties totaling more than 16,000 acres. The majority of that, 13,356 acres, is in Sumter County. “The Sumter County easements, in addition to our other easements, will be an asset to the COWASEE Basin, which is a conservation focus area comprised of the Congaree, Wateree and Santee River Basins,� said Kitty Weiland, membership director.

The Trust is a nonprofit organization that aims to preserve natural history and landscapes as well as protect water and air quality in an 11-county focus area in the South Carolina Midlands.

Beyond the obvious pull for tourism, conservation easements along the COWASEE Basin also have an economic impact by helping “protect Fort Jackson, Shaw Air Force Base and McEntire Air National Guard Base from inconsistent

HEARING FROM PAGE A1 deceased, are still considered a public record, Bender said.

He also argued an autopsy report isn’t exempted by the socalled “Dale Earnhardt law� that protects photographs and video of an autopsy from being released to the public. “If an autopsy had been considered a medical record, there would be no need for

development that could hinder ongoing military operations,� according to congareelt.org. The city of Sumter also sees value in such moves, having purchased 694 acres of the unused portion of the Kel-Sam Farms property along Thomas Sumter Highway last month to help prevent development from encroaching on Shaw and help guard it from possible closing should there be another round of Base Realignment and Closure.

Five landowners donated property to the Trust’s easement, Weiland said. Three gave 12,963 acres along the Wateree River where 12 boat-in campsites will be located. “All of these campsites will be on the Sumter County side of the river, west of Wedgefield, which will be a wonderful new attraction for paddlers along the Wateree River Blue Trail,� she said.

Roy Belser, chairman and director of forest and land management services at American Forest Management, agreed. “Right now, you can run a boat up and down the river, but there is really no public camping until you get to the Santee Cooper area,� he said. “We deal with a lot of conservation easements. We like to keep everything in a natural state.�

the Dale Earnhardt law,� he said.

Arguing for Bullock, attorney Andrew F. Lindemann responded to questions of how the autopsy could be exempt if the Freedom of Information Act doesn’t explicitly define it as a medical record. He said the same medical privacy protections attached to a person before his or her death continue to apply after they pass. “Any medical record after his demise has the same information,� Lindemann said.

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Belser represented some of the clients involved in this easement process. Such arrangements limit subdivision of land and provide buffers of conservation. In this case, that means no cutting or harvesting within a designated space along the river and the streams that feed it, he said. “Conservation easements help the lands to retain their rural character and protect them from urban development,� Weiland said. “Protected land uses may include agriculture, sylviculture (forestry) and other general recreational use.�

It typically takes a year to 18 months to complete a conservation easement, she said. “Each of our easement properties is owned by individuals, rather than the county,� she said. “It is rather unusual to have this amount of acreage protected in a single year in one specific county.�

The two other properties comprising the remaining Sumter County acreage are located on high ground near historic Stateburg, Weiland said.

For more information, visit congareelt. org.

Reach Jade Reynolds at (803) 774-1250.

Justice John W. Kittredge asked, “If it’s part of a law enforcement investigation, and the family does not oppose it, once the investigation is over, why not make it available?

Lindemann said what happens at that point is up to the deceased’s relatives, saying Jacobs’ family “could have shared it with The Item or ... with everyone on their street.�

Wednesday’s hearing drew attention from advocates of government transparency.

“I think this case is critical to freedom of information all across the state,� said Trisha O’Connor, chairwoman of the Freedom of Information Committee of the S.C. Press Association. “The purpose is not to find out the contents of his liver. It’s to determine why he was shot and killed by the police.�

Bullock was also present for the hearing, but he and his attorneys declined to answer questions from the press.

Speaking after the hearing,

392 753 Number of acres donated in Kershaw County

1,358 Number of acres donated in Fairfield County

13,356 Number of acres donated in Sumter County

16,141 Number of acres added to the Trust in 2013

52,852 Total number of acreage currently protected by the Trust

463,000 Number of jobs of farming, forestry, outdoor recreation and tourism tied to natural resources in the state Source: Congaree Land Trust

Bender wouldn’t hazard a guess on how the justices will rule. “You never can tell,� he said. “They ask questions either to clarify something or to re-enforce their position.�

Bender said he’d received rulings from the court “as quickly as the day it was argued and as late as a year later,� but expects a ruling won’t come down in this case for at least a few weeks.

Reach Bristow Marchant at (803) 774-1272.

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NATION

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A farmer takes advantage of dry weather to till a field Jan. 30 in preparation for spring planting near England, Ark. Congress has given its final approval to a sweeping five-year farm bill that provides food for the needy and subsidies for farmers. The Senate vote Tuesday sends the measure to President Obama, who is expected to sign it.

Farm bill benefits rural towns, grocery stores President expected to sign measure that will cost nearly $100B per year WASHINGTON (AP) — It isn’t just farmers who will benefit from the sweeping farm bill that Congress has sent President Obama. There’s also help for rural towns, grocery stores in low-income areas and, most notably, the nation’s 47 million food stamp recipients.

After years of setbacks, the Senate passed the nearly $100 billion-a-year measure Tuesday on a 62-38 vote. The White House said the president will sign the bill Friday in Michigan, home state of Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow.

Farmers in every region would still receive generous subsidies — from Southern peanut growers to Midwest corn farmers and dairies across the country. The support is designed to provide a

financial cushion in the face of unpredictable weather and market conditions.

But the bulk of its cost is for the food stamp program, which aids 1 in 7 Americans.

The bill would cut food stamps by $800 million a year, or about 1 percent.

House Republicans had hoped to reduce the bill’s costs even further, pointing to a booming agriculture sector in recent years and arguing that the now $80 billion-a-year food stamp program has spiraled out of control. The House passed a bill in September that would have reduced the cost of food stamps five times more than the eventual cut.

Those partisan disagreements stalled the bill for more than two years, but conservatives were eventually outnumbered as the Democratic Sen-

ate, the White House and a still-powerful bipartisan coalition of farm-state lawmakers pushed to get the bill done.

The White House had been mostly quiet as Congress worked out its differences on the bill. But in a statement after the vote, Obama said the legislation would reduce the deficit “without gutting the vital assistance programs millions of hardworking Americans count on to help put food on the table for their families.�

He said the farm bill isn’t perfect, “but on the whole, it will make a positive difference not only for the rural economies that grow America’s food, but for our nation.�

Obama praised the bill for getting rid of subsidies known as “direct payments,� which are paid to farmers whether they farm or not. Most of that program’s $4.5 billion annual cost was redirected into new, more politically defensible subsidies that would kick in when a farmer has losses.

To gather votes for the bill,

Democrat Stabenow and her House counterpart, Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla., included a major boost for crop insurance popular in the Midwest, higher subsidies for Southern rice and peanut farmers and land payments for Western states.

The bill also sets policy for hundreds of smaller programs, subsidies, loans and grants — from research on wool to loans for honey producers to protections for the catfish industry. The bill would provide assistance for rural Internet services and boost organic agriculture.

Stabenow said the bill is also intended to help consumers, boosting farmers markets, encouraging local food production and seeking to improve access to grocery stores in low-income communities. “We worked long and hard to make sure that policies worked for every region of the country, for all of the different kinds of agricultural production we do in our country,� she said.

‘We worked long and hard to make sure that policies worked for every region of the country, for all of the different kinds of agricultural production we do in our country.’ DEBBIE STABENOW Senate Agriculture chairwoman

Outreach to uninsured Americans planned to stabilize new markets WASHINGTON (AP) — Wanted: Millions of uninsured Americans willing to give President Obama’s health care law a chance.

With time running out, it may not be so hard for the administration and its allies to find them. A study for The Associated Press finds that the uninsured aren’t scattered evenly across the country: half of them live in just 116 of the nation’s 3,143 counties.

That means outreach targeted to select areas can pay off big, reaching millions of prospective customers needed to stabilize the law’s new insurance markets.

The pattern also holds true for the younger uninsured, the health care overhaul’s most coveted demographic. The study found that half

of uninsured people ages 19-39 live in 108 counties. Their premiums are needed to offset the cost of care for older adults.

With most of the bugs out of the HealthCare.gov website, the Obama administration is using the geography of the uninsured to write a playbook for its closing sign-up campaign.

Enrollment ends March 31 for subsidized private insurance, available to people who don’t have coverage at work. “Our efforts are aimed at making sure we can raise awareness in areas with the largest concentration of uninsured people,� said Julie Bataille, communications director for the rollout at the federal Health and Human Services De-

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The administration has done its own geographical research, drilling down even below the county level.

Officials said the pattern coincides with the findings of AP’s study, which was conducted by the State Health Access Data Assistance Center at the University of Minnesota.

With their own research, federal officials are focusing on 25 key metro areas. The top two are in Texas: Dallas and Houston. Next come Miami and Atlanta. In the Northeast, the northern New Jersey megalopolis and Philadelphia are on the list. Midwest markets include Detroit, Cleveland and Indianapolis. Southern cities also include Nashville, Tenn., and Charlotte.

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A part of the HealthCare.gov website is seen recently. Federal officials are now focusing on how to get uninsured Americans to sign up for insurance under the new health care law in order to stabilize the new insurance markets. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve focused on 25 metro areas to determine where outreach needs to take place.

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Wheel of Fortune Jeopardy! (N) The Taste: The Sweetest Thing (N) (HD) Shark Tank Customizable chocolate; ABC Columbia (:35) Jimmy Kimmel Live Scheduled: (N) (HD) (HD) boot socks; purses; lunchbox for chil- News at 11 (HD) the cast from â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Monuments Menâ&#x20AC;? visits the show. (N) (HD) dren. (HD) BBC World News Charlie Rose (N) Europe: European Palmetto Scene Carolina: The Ed- Carolina Stories: Masterpiece: Sherlock, Series III: His Last Vow Sherlockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s investigation into Tavis Smiley some stolen letters leads to a long conflict with a notorious blackmail artist Scheduled: Merry International (HD) (N) (HD) ucation of Harvey Born to Rebel Travel Skills, who the consulting detective truly despises. (HD) Clayton. (HD) Gantt news.

Part 2 The Big Bang The Big Bang American Idol: Hollywood Round, Rake: Cancer A mother defrauds an WACH FOX News at 10 Local news Two and a Half Two and a Half The Middle: Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Week #1 Hollywood Round of com- insurance company with claims that report and weather forecast.

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Ally (HD) lie (HD) Up! (HD) training. (HD) lie (HD) Billy Bobâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gags to Riches Treehouse Masters (HD) Treehouse Masters (HD) Treehouse Masters (HD) Treehouse Masters (HD) Treehouse College Basketball: Connecticut vs Cincinnati z{| (HD) College Basketball: Oregon Ducks at Arizona Wildcats (HD) SportsCenter (HD) SportsCenter College Basketball: LSU Tigers at Georgia Bulldogs z{| (HD) College Basketball: Penn State vs Michigan State z{| (HD) Olbermann (HD) Olbermann Miss Congeniality (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;00, Comedy) Sandra Bullock. A tomboy FBI agent goes Practical Magic (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;98, Fantasy) aac Sandra Bullock. Sibling witches flee The 700 Club Scheduled: one Prince: Will Is undercover as a contestant at a big beauty pageant. (HD) to New England after a boyfriendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inadvertent death. (HD) womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story of healing. from Mars ...

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Lenoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last gig as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Tonight Showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; host

BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH NBC celebrates two milestones tonight: the beginning of the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia (8 p.m.), and Jay Lenoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s final night hosting â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Tonight Showâ&#x20AC;? (11:35 p.m.). This time, NBC means it!

Tonightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Olympics coverage includes figure skating, snowboarding and freestyle skiing. Over the course of the games, NBC, NBC Sports Network (NBCSN), CNBC, MSNBC and USA Network will air a combined 539 hours of Olympics competition.

More than 1,000 hours of live streaming coverage can be found on NBCOlympics.com.

NBC will broadcast tapedelayed coverage of the Opening Ceremonies Friday night.

Remember the 1992 Olympics in Albertville, France?

That was the last time the winter games took place in a leap year. It was also the last time the winter games happened the same year as the summer games. Their paths diverged with the 1994 winter games in Lillehammer, Norway.

Jay Leno also took over hosting â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Tonight Showâ&#x20AC;? in 1992. For tonightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s broadcast, he welcomes two of his earliest guests, stars who were on top of their careers 22 years ago: Billy Crystal (â&#x20AC;&#x153;City Slickersâ&#x20AC;?) and Garth Brooks (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ropinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; the Windâ&#x20AC;?).

Of course, this is not Lenoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first crack at a â&#x20AC;&#x153;finalâ&#x20AC;? show. He departed in 2009 to make way for Conan Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien, his official successor, and he invited Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien on his last show. Of course, later that year, then-NBC chief Jeff Zucker had the bright idea of having Leno return every night for a prime-time gig at 10 p.m. All too predictably, that proved to be a disaster.

Zucker compounded the fi-

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asco by alienating Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien and his fan base and returning Leno to â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Tonight Show,â&#x20AC;? where he has presided since the conclusion of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Zucker is currently working his special magic at CNN, helping that network lose what little audience and credibility it still has.

We all know Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien has neither forgotten nor forgiven NBCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reversal. And tonight he shows up Jayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s celebration of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Murphy Brownâ&#x20AC;?era popular culture by inviting the cast of AMCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Walking Deadâ&#x20AC;? to appear on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Conanâ&#x20AC;? (11 p.m., TBS). Look for Andrew Lincoln (Rick Grimes), Norman Reedus (Daryl Dixon), Lauren Cohan (Maggie Greene), Steven Yeun (Glenn Rhee), Danai Gurira (Michonne) and Melissa McBride (Carol Peletier).

This wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be the first time that Jay Leno attracts a much larger audience than his competition â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and probably not the last time. And Conan Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien is still more in tune with contemporary tastes than Jay Leno. Some things never change. â&#x20AC;˘ TCM continues its month of Oscar by broadcasting all five movies featuring performances nominated for best actress in 1966. That year, two sisters, Lynn Redgrave and Vanessa Redgrave, were nominated for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Georgy Girlâ&#x20AC;?

(10:30 p.m.) and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatmentâ&#x20AC;?

(12:30 a.m.), respectively.

That had happened once before, in 1941, when estranged sisters Olivia de Havilland (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hold Back the Dawnâ&#x20AC;?) and Joan Fontaine (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Suspicionâ&#x20AC;?) were both nominated.

CULT CHOICE The 2013 thriller â&#x20AC;&#x153;After Earthâ&#x20AC;? (9 p.m., Starz) was

widely panned as one of the worst films of the year.

Jaden Smith and his father, Will Smith, star. Together, they have been nominated for a Razzie in the Worst Screen Combo category, as have Jaden himself (Worst Actor), M. Night Shyamalan (Worst Director) and the film (Worst Picture).

TONIGHTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS â&#x20AC;˘ The first week of the Hollywood round on â&#x20AC;&#x153;American Idolâ&#x20AC;? (8 p.m., Fox, TV-PG). â&#x20AC;˘ A womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gambling problem drives her to desperate measures on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rakeâ&#x20AC;? (9 p.m. Fox, TV-14). â&#x20AC;˘ Violent fantasy-fiction proves inspirational on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Project Runway: Under the Gunnâ&#x20AC;? (9 p.m., Lifetime, TVPG). â&#x20AC;˘ Murder in the ballet circuit on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Elementaryâ&#x20AC;? (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14). â&#x20AC;˘ Stylish and profitable to boot on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Shark Tankâ&#x20AC;? (10 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG).

SERIES NOTES Wine country on â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Big Bang Theoryâ&#x20AC;? (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) * Sweet dreams on â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Tasteâ&#x20AC;? (8 p.m., ABC, TV14) * Painful memories on â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Vampire Diariesâ&#x20AC;? (8 p.m., CW, TV-14) * A birthday surprise on â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Millersâ&#x20AC;? (8:30 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) * Simon must praise an unpopular

writer at his funeral on â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Crazy Onesâ&#x20AC;? (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14) * King Henry makes a strong accusation on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Reignâ&#x20AC;? (9 p.m., CW, TV14) * Alan learns Lyndseyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s secret on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Two and a Half Menâ&#x20AC;? (9:30 p.m., CBS, TV14).

LATE NIGHT Robyn Doolittle is scheduled on â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Daily Show With Jon Stewartâ&#x20AC;? (11 p.m., Comedy Central) * McG, Jeff Wild, Cameron Esposito and Matt Braunger are booked on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chelsea Latelyâ&#x20AC;?

(11 p.m., E!) * Charlie Crist sits down on â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Colbert Reportâ&#x20AC;? (11:30 p.m., Comedy Central) * will.i.am, Zoey Deutch and Jason Derulo are booked on â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Arsenio Hall Showâ&#x20AC;? (syndicated, check local listings) * Michael Keaton and The Flaming Lips appear on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Late Show With David Lettermanâ&#x20AC;? (11:35 p.m., CBS) * Matt Damon, George Clooney, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett and Bob Balaban appear on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jimmy Kimmel Liveâ&#x20AC;? (11:35 p.m., ABC) * Colin Farrell, Chris Pratt and 2 Chainz visit â&#x20AC;&#x153;Late Night with Jimmy Fallonâ&#x20AC;?

(12:35 a.m., NBC) * Craig Ferguson hosts John Goodman on â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Late Late Showâ&#x20AC;?

(12:35 a.m., CBS).

Copyright 2014, United Feature Syndicate

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A5

AROUND TOWN The American Red Cross, Sandhills Chapter, 1155 N. Guignard Drive, Suite 2, will offer the following classes: 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, Client Case Work; and 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, New Volunteer Orientation and Disaster Services Overview. Call (803)-7752363 for additional information and to register.

The Shepherdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Center, 24 Council St., will offer free public information sessions 11-11:50 a.m. each Thursday through March 13 as follows: today, federal Medicaid recoupment; Feb. 13, get active/be healthy; Feb. 20, investing in uncertain times; Feb. 27, emergency preparedness; March 6, spring gardening tips; and March 13, you are what you eat.

Free income tax filing services and FAFSA applications will be provided through April 15 as follows: 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays, 3-8 p.m. Saturdays, appointments only on Sundays, Goodwill Job-Link Center, 1028 Broad St., (803) 7745006; and 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m.

Thursdays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Saturdays, Lee County Adult Education, 123 E. College St., Bishopville, (803) 484-4040. For details or appointments, call Ms. Samuels at (803) 240-8355.

The AARP Foundation TaxAide Program will offer free income tax assistance and electronic filing for taxpayers with low to middle incomes. All ages are welcome and you do not have to be an AARP member.

You will need: picture ID; Social Security card for each dependent; all W-dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, 1099s and 1098s; and supporting documents if you plan to itemize. Bring a canceled check if you wish to have your refund direct deposited. Assistance will be available 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays through April 15 at the Shepherdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Center, 24 Council St. For details, call Lynda at (803) 469-8322.

The Transatlantic Brides and Parents Association (British Wives) will meet at 11 a.m.

Friday, Feb. 7, at the Spectrum Senior Citizens Center on Pinewood Road. All British ex pats are invited to join us for a light Lunch.

Call Josie at (803) 775-8052.

An indoor yard sale, sponsored by the Lincoln High School Preservation Alumni Association, will be held 7 a.m.-noon Saturday, Feb. 8, in the Lincoln-Trinity gymnasium, 24 Council St. Call J.L. Green at (803) 9684173 or Ronetta Moses at (803) 983-8161.

Clarendon School District 2 will hold Saturday with the Superintendent 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at the district office, 15 Major Drive. Superintendent John Tindal will be available to meet with anyone in the district or community who would like to speak with him.

A St. Jude Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital fundraiser will be held Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Piggly Wiggly on Pinewood Road.

High Ridge Bluegrass Gospel Band will provide music. There will be hot dogs, drinks and chips for sale. Call Roy Reaves at (803) 464-4492.

Hillcrest High School Class of 1974 will hold a reunion meeting at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at American Legion Post 202, 310 Palmetto St. Call E.B. Brooks at (803) 481-5148 or (803) 316-7652 or Kevin Vannoy at (803) 968-3238.

The General George L. Mabry Jr. Chapter 817, Military Order of the Purple Heart, will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, at the Elks Lodge, 1100 W. Liberty St. All Purple Heart recipients and those interested in associate membership are invited. Call (803) 506-3120.

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RELIGION

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

Push past the doubt, climb obstacles to reach truth

T

here are characters in Scripture that we generally think of when considering a particular character strength or weakness. These characters have worked themselves into modern vernacular. Someone might describe another as having the patience of Job or the might of Samson.

Then there is Thomas, one of the original disciples of Jesus, whose legacy is summed up by the prefix often assigned to his name: doubting.

Doubting Thomasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; legacy stands among the litany of biblical characters, not for his tremendous faith in what relatively few at the time thought was the savior of the world, but for a faltering step in his spiritual walk.

Facebook read more than Bible

BY SETH BORENSTEIN Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Facebookâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s numbers are epic.

More Americans check Facebook daily than read the Bible, and it has more monthly users worldwide than most continents have people.

Facebook, which celebrated its 10th anniversary Tuesday, says worldwide it has 757 million daily active users. Of those, 19 percent are in the U.S. and Canada, so thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more than 143 million people checking Facebook daily.

The Bible used to be the go-to for statistics about reading, pre-digital age. A 2006 CBS News poll found 15 percent of U.S. adults read the Bible or other religious texts daily. There are about 267 million adults in the U.S. and Canada. That means about 40 million people reading the Bible daily.

And then there are monthly users â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Facebook claims 1.23 billion of them. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more people than live in any country but China.

In fact, Facebook is beyond comparing to nations and is more continental in magnitude. Facebookâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s monthly user population is larger than six of the seven continents, only behind Asia.

Facebookâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s monthly user total is about the population of all of North America and Europe combined.

But all those numbers pale behind this one factoid from Facebook: About 400 billion photos have been shared on Facebook.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lots of selfies.

If you printed them out four to a page on regularsized sheets of paper and put the 100 billion sheets end to end, they would stretch for about 17 million miles. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enough snapshots to reach to the moon and back 34 times.

And it all started 10 years ago in a dorm room.

We can easily forget that Thomas was faithful to Jesus despite threats on his life. We brush over the account when Thomas was ready to charge the enemies of Jesus, even if it cost him his life. Thomas witnessed miracle upon miracle, changed life after changed life. He aided Jesus in the events that most believers reference and study today. Yet ask any person about Thomasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; discernible qualities, and â&#x20AC;&#x153;doubtâ&#x20AC;? will most likely fill out the whole of their knowledge of the disciple.

In the life of the believer, there will be seasons of hardships when faith is something worked for â&#x20AC;&#x201D; an idea that seems counterintuitive. Faith is more than a fuzzy feeling in our gut. It is a hard-won victo-

Church Directory

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

>

Anglican

Church of the Holy Cross 335 North Kings Hwy (Hwy 261 N) 803-494-8101 Father Michael E. Ridgill, C.F.S.B. Sunday School 9:00 am Mass 10:00 am

D

Mon. - Thurs. Chapel 9 am Morning Prayer Wed. Chapel 11:00 qm - Bible Study 12 pm Mass

id your name get left off the guest listâ&#x20AC;Śdid your friends go somewhere without you? It hurts when you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make the cut.

Maybe you have shied away from church as well, thinking you are not â&#x20AC;&#x153;invited.â&#x20AC;? God wants us all at His party! Each one of us is special to Him and He loves us no matter how popular we areâ&#x20AC;Ś there is room enough for each and every one of us in His Heart and His House. Worship this week, feel the acceptance of His love and take that confidence everywhere you go.

Baptist - Independent Cherryvale Baptist Church 1502 Cherryvale Dr. * 494-8655 Edward Bowen Sr. Pastor Sun. School 10:00 am Worship 11:00 am & 6:00 pm Wed. Evening Service 7:00 pm

Acts 13.36-52

Acts 14.1-28

Weekly Scripture Reading Acts Acts Acts 15.1-21 15.22-41 16.1-15

Acts 16.16-40

John 2.1-25

Scriptures Selected by the American Bible Society

Š2014, Keister-Williams Newspaper Services, P.O. Box 8187, Charlottesville, VA 22906, www.kwnews.com

Hickory Road Baptist Church 1245 Cherryvale Dr 803-494-8281 Dr. Ron Taylor Pastor Sunday School 9:45 am Worship 10:55 am

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

Long Branch Baptist Church 2535 Peach Orchard Rd. Dalzell 499-1838 www.longbranch_baptist.com Rev. Brian Benenhaley Sun School 10:00 am Worship 11:00 am Sun Evening Worship 6:00 pm Wed Mid Week Service 7:00 pm

Salem Missionary Baptist Church 320 West Fulton Street 803-775-8054 Rev. Lei Ferguson Washington Sun. School 9:00 am Praise Worship 9:55 am Worship 10:00 am

Shaw Heights Baptist Church 2030 Peach Orchard Rd 499-4997 Rev. Robert White Pastor Sunday School: 9:45 am Sunday Worship:11 am & 6 pm

Baptist - Southern Grace Baptist Church 219 W Calhoun St * 778-6417 Dr. Stephen Williams S.S. 9:45 am; Worship 11:00, 6:30 Wed. Meal-Choir-Missions: 5:30 pm Wed. Bible Study: 6:30 pm

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( /LEHUW\ 6W Â&#x2021; Fr. Thomas Burke, C.S.S.R. Weekend Masses: Sat Vigil 5 pm Sun. 7:30, 9:00 and 11:30 am Mass The Catholic Community of Sumter, St. Jude Site : 2DNODQG $YH Â&#x2021; www.stjudesumtersc.org Fr. Charles Michael Donovan, C.S.S.R. Saturday Vigil: 5:00 pm Sun. Euch.: 9:00, 11:30 am, 1 pm (Spanish)

Church of Christ

Plaza Church of Christ &DPGHQ +Z\ Â&#x2021; Stewart Schnur cell 361-8449 Sunday School: 10 am Sunday Worship: 11 am & 6 pm Wed. Bible Class: 7 pm

Catholic - Roman

The Catholic Community of Sumter, St. Anne Site

These are the people who will forever be stunted in their spiritual growth. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve hit the ceiling on what they are willing to believe.

Doubting Thomas wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t content foundering in his doubt but was ready to believe when evidence was presented to him. Interestingly enough, Jesus did not reject Thomas for his doubts. He addressed them head on, offering the proof that would assuage his concerns.

What evidence of faith have you ignored? What obstacles are keeping you from total belief ? Seek the truth today by pushing past the doubt that has enveloped you for so long.

Reach Jamie H. Wilson at faithmatterssumter@gmail.com.

Bethel United M Methodist Church

/RGHEDU 5G Â&#x2021; /RGHEDU Rev. Jeremy Howell Sunday Worship: 8:30 & 11 am Sunday School: 10 am www.yourbethel.org BMethodist@ftc-i.net

Interdenominational

Adventist

City of Refuge Church 16 Carolina Ave 938-9066 Barbara & Johnny Davis Sun School 10:00 am Worship 11:15 am Bible Study (Wed.) 7:00 pm www.cityofrefugeministry.com

Pentecostal-United First United Penecostal Church 3ORZGHQ 0LOO 5G Â&#x2021; Pastor Theron Smith Sunday Service: 10:00 am & 6:30 pm Wednesday Bible Study: 7:30 pm

St John United Methodist Church 136 Poinsett Dr * 803-773-8185 Rev. J. Robert (Bob) Huggins Sunday School 9:45 am Worship 11:00 am Wed. Night Supper/Bible Study 6:30 pm www.stjohnumc.com

Love Covenant Church 2VZHJR +Z\ Â&#x2021; Apostle Tommy Fredrick Prophet Angela Frederick Sunday Worship: 11:00 am Thursday Bible Study: 7:00 pm

Sumter First Pentecostal Holiness Church 0F&UD\V 0LOO 5G Â&#x2021; S. Paul Howell, Pastor Sunday School: 10:00 am Sunday Worship: 10:45 am & 6:00 pm Wed. Worship/Youth Group: 7:00 pm

Trinity United Methodist Church : /LEHUW\ 6W Â&#x2021; Rev. Regi Thackston Blended Worship 8:45 am Traditional Worship 11:00 am Sunday School 9:45 am trinityumcsumter.org

Spiritual Life Christian Center %URDG 6W ([W Â&#x2021; Pastors Randolph & Minerva Paige Sunday Worship: 11:00 am Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00 pm Victory Full Gospel Interdenominational Church 3LWWV 5G Â&#x2021; Joann P. Murrill, Pastor Sunday Worship: 11:00 am Youth Bible Study/Respect Monday: 7 pm

Presbyterian

Non-Denominational Bible Fellowship Church %URDG 6W Â&#x2021; Pastor Jim Ketchum Sunday Worship: 11 am Worship 6:00 pm Sunday School: 9:45 am Wed. Prayer Meeting 7:00 pm

Lutheran - ELCA

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

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

First Church of God &DPGHQ 5G Â&#x2021; www.sumterfcg.org Ron Bower, Pastor Sunday Worship: 10:30 am Sunday School: 9:30 am

Lutheran - NALC Immanuel Lutheran Church 3RLQVHWW 'ULYH Â&#x2021; Pastor Gary Blobaum Worship Service 9:00 am Sunday School 10:30 am Wed Bible Class: 7:00 pm

First Presbyterian Church of Sumter : &DOKRXQ 6W Â&#x2021; Interim Pastor Rev. Ray Fancher Morning Worship 10:30 a.m.

Sunday School - All Ages 9:00 a.m.

Sunday Night Church Program 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Lemira Presbyterian Church %RXOHYDUG 5G Â&#x2021; Pastor Dan Rowton Sunday School 10:00 am Worship 11:00 am Bible Study 6:00 pm Swan Lake Presbyterian Church 912 Haynsworth St Sumter 803-775-3146 Pastor Chuck Staggs Sunday School 9:45 Worship 11:00

Word International Ministries 710 Manning Avenue Apostle Larry DuRant Pastor Woship - 10:45 am Sunday School - 10:30 am Tues. Bible Study - 7:00 pm

Methodist - United

Sumter Bible Church 420 South Pike West, Sumter 803-773-8339 Pastor Ron Davis Sunday School 10:00 am Worship 11:00 am & 6:30 pm Wed. Bible Study & Prayer 7:00 pm

Aldersgate United Methodist $OLFH 'U Â&#x2021; Dr. Webb Belangia, Reverend Traditional Service 9:00 am Sunday School 10:15 am Contemporary 11:15 am

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through the pursuit of truth.

Though Thomas is known for his doubts, his real legacy should be his commitment to find the truth. Thomas wavered in his faith, but when Jesus revealed himself to his dubious disciple, Thomas needed no further proof. He believed once more.

I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think it is realistic to think a believer will never waver in his or her faith. I think Scripture directly supports working out your faith in a constant pursuit of truth. Unfortunately, far too many of us are comfortable living in indecision. Many of us, wishing to free ourselves from the perceived restrictions of faith, tether ourselves to our doubt. Sometimes our devotion to our doubts borders on idolatry.

ry. Sometimes our faith constitutes little more than a temporary maelstrom of uncertainty and half-confidences.

Never is this more apparent than when the obstacles of life descend. In Thomasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; case, the very core of his beliefs was shaken after Faith Matters the death of the man who JAMIE H. he thought WILSON was the Savior.

When we fail in our faith, it is important to remember that each person experiences doubt in his or her convictions. It is our responsibility to quell our uncertainty

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RELIGION

THE SUMTER ITEM

RELIGION BRIEFS Bill Nye defends evolution in debate PETERSBURG, Ky. — Bill Nye the “Science Guy” and the head of the Creation Museum have debated whether evolution or the Bible better explains how everything began.

Nye said it takes magical thinking to believe the universe was created in six days only six-thousand years ago. He said scientific dating methods show that there are rocks and fossils, not to mention distant stars, far older than that.

Creationist Ken Ham responded that dating methods are fallible and that both sides have the same evidence but interpret it differently. Ham said the only witness to how things began is God, who explains it all in Genesis.

Bill Nye said the Bible is not a science book and shouldn’t be taught as such in schools, but Ham said it also takes faith to believe in evolution.

The hours-long debate took place in a sold-out 800seat auditorium in the Creation Museum in northern Kentucky.

MLK’s daughter asked to give up dad’s Nobel ATLANTA — The estate of Martin Luther King Jr. is asking a judge to force the civil rights icon’s daughter to relinquish her father’s Nobel Peace Prize and “traveling” Bible.

The complaint against Bernice King was filed Friday in an Atlanta court by her father’s estate, which is controlled by her brothers, Martin Luther King III and Dexter King.

The lawsuit says Martin Luther King Jr.’s heirs in 1995 assigned their rights to property inherited from the civil rights icon to the Es-

tate of Martin Luther King Jr. Inc. The lawsuit says Bernice King has “secreted and sequestered” the medal and Bible in violation of that agreement.

Bernice King said in a statement that her brothers want to sell the medal and Bible to a private buyer and that she opposes that.

President Obama used the Bible for his oath of office during his ceremonial inauguration when he was sworn in for his second term on the King holiday last year.

Vatican surveys find Catholics reject sex rules VATICAN CITY — Surveys commissioned by the Vatican have shown that the vast majority of Catholics in Germany and Switzerland reject church teaching on contraception, sexual morality, gay unions and divorce.

The Vatican took the unusual step of commissioning the surveys ahead of a major meeting of bishops that Pope Francis has called for October to discuss the family.

This week, German and Swiss bishops reported the results. They were surprising in the near-uniformity of responses: that the church’s teachings on sexuality, morality and marriage are rejected as unrealistic and outdated by the vast majority of Catholics who nevertheless are active in parish life and consider their faith vitally important.

Also surprising was the eagerness with which the bishops publicized the results.

Despite the findings, moral theologians warned that church doctrine won’t change.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

|

A7

Church embraces Black History Month with chronological look at movements

BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com The history of the Civil Rights Movement is returning to its roots this Sunday.

“Most of the great leaders in the black community came from the church,” said the Rev. James Blassingame, pastor of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church. “Here at Mount Zion, we want to highlight them in our worship service (and) incorporate that into our traditional worship.”

Each Sunday during the month of February, his congregation is focusing on the contriBLASSINbutions of various black AmeriGAME cans such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Thurgood Marshall.

This Sunday, the youth will perform “Out of the Past and into the Future,” which was written by Blassingame’s daughter, Anita, who is the youth director at Mount Zion. As a church service, the event is free and open to the public. It begins at 10:45 a.m., and the church is located at 325 Fulton St. “I love doing it, (and) the kids love it,” she said. “The audience feedback was just awesome (last year.)”

Last year, the group focused on slavery to the Civil Rights era, and this year they will start in the Civil Rights era and move through to today.

“It went well,” James Blassingame said.

“It’s back by popular demand. It’s a big day, and we really look forward to it.”

Sections of the skit are separated by transitional music and focus on what is going on

through the eyes of the individual. Anita Blassingame tried to keep the message positive, she said.

“I think it is more of a personal aspect of how I was raised,” she said. “I refuse to reflect negativity. People here in the future can’t answer for people in the past. I wrote it out with a mixed congregation in mind. I don’t want anyone looking hard at someone else. I do want everybody to be informed of history.

“When the child comes up that has to go to the ‘colored only’ water fountain, you hear him talking, and it’s not so much what he is going against as it is that he can’t understand why it’s this way. At the counter sit in, you hear the young lady thinking regardless, she’s not going to move, and she’s going to stand still for equality.”

The drama will wrap up with President Obama.

Her father attended high school in Seneca during desegregation, and he agreed it can be a fine line between taking pride in your heritage and encouraging bitterness.

“It wasn’t too pleasant,” James Blassingame said. “We survived. No one got killed.

We weren’t physically assaulted but verbally.

We got called the ‘N’ word a lot. It was a symptom of the times we lived in.

“But I had classmates that looked out for me, embraced me, took care of me. So it’s not hard to preach love. In the Bible, Jesus talks about loving those who hate you. God loves us all. So you are a different color. You’re unique. God loves all colors, so don’t be ashamed.”

Reach Jade Reynolds at (803) 774-1250.

U.N. committee blasts Vatican on sex abuse VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican “systematically” adopted policies that allowed priests to rape and molest tens of thousands of children over decades, a U.N. human rights committee said Wednesday, urging the Holy See to open its files on pedophiles and bishops who concealed their crimes.

In a devastating report hailed by abuse victims, the U.N. committee severely criticized the Holy See for its atti-

tudes toward homosexuality, contraception and abortion and said it should change its own canon law to ensure children’s rights and their access to health care are guaranteed.

The Vatican promptly objected, and its U.N. ambassador accused the committee of having betrayed the international body’s own objectives by allowing itself to be swayed by pro-gay ideologues. He said it appeared

the committee simply hadn’t listened when the Holy See outlined all the measures it has taken to protect children.

The report, which took the Vatican by surprise in its harsh tone, puts renewed pressure on Pope Francis to move decisively on the abuse front and make good on pledges to create a Vatican commission to study sex abuse and recommend best practices to fight it.

CHURCH NEWS ALIVE Praise & Worship Center, 342 W. Liberty St., announces: * Each Saturday through Feb. 22 — Clothes giveaway 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, 4319 Rowe Drive, Summerton, announces: * Sunday — Missionary ministry’s fourth annual program at 2 p.m. Minister Beatrice Mouzon, associate minister of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, Manning, will speak. Dinner will be served.

Briggs Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 7135 Wash Davis Road, Summerton, announces: * Sunday, Feb. 16 — Black history program during the 11 a.m. service.

Concord Baptist Church, 1885 Myrtle Beach Highway, announces: * Saturday, March 1 — Gospel singing at 6 p.m. featuring Believers Quartet and Beulahland Quartet.

Corinth Missionary Baptist Church, 25 Community St., announces: * Sunday, Feb. 16 — Annual black history month observance at 10:30 a.m. Wear multi-cultural attire. * Sunday, Feb. 23 — 10th anniversary celebration at 10:30 a.m. Bishop S. Francis, pastor of both Crossroads and St. Peter churches, will speak.

Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 421 S. Main St., announces: * Sunday, Feb. 16 — AfricanAmerican history service presented by the youth. Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. followed by 11:30 a.m. worship.

Fellowship Outreach Ministries, 1981 Florence Highway, announces: * Sunday — Black history program at 11 a.m. Prophetess Ella Ingram will speak. * Sunday, Feb. 16 — Missionary service at 11 a.m. Missionary Laura Smith will speak.

* Sunday, Feb. 23 — Elder R. Johnson will speak at 4 p.m.

Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, 182 S. Pike East, announces: * Sunday — Black history worship at 11:30 a.m. * Sunday, Feb. 16 — Trustee union meeting at 3:30 p.m.

Full Proof Deliverance Ministry, 2758 S.C. 341 S., Olanta, announces: * Friday and Sunday — Appreciation program for Pastor Frances Washington and Trustee Willie Washington.

Friday’s program will begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday’s program will begin at 4 p.m. Pastor Gerthene T. Baxter and Prophetess Talithia Harrison will speak.

High Hills Missionary Baptist Church, 6750 Meeting House Road, Dalzell, announces: * Sunday, Feb. 16 — YWA anniversary celebration during 10:15 a.m. worship. * Sunday, Feb. 23 — Black history observance day and male chorus anniversary celebration during 10:15 a.m. worship.

Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church, 803 S. Harvin St., announces: * Today — Heritage month worship services “Civil Rights in Education” with corporate prayer at 6:30 p.m. followed by 7 p.m. worship. Dr. Maggie W. Glover will speak. * Thursday, Feb. 13 — Black history month worship “Civil Rights in Sumter” with corporate prayer at 6:30 p.m. followed by 7 p.m. worship. Dr. Ralph Canty Sr. will speak.

Joshua Baptist Church, 5200 Live Oak Road, Dalzell, announces: * Sunday — Junior Brotherhood anniversary celebration during morning worship. * Sunday, Feb. 16 — 19th pastoral anniversary celebration for the Rev. Eugene G. Dennis. Church school begins at 9 a.m. followed by 10 a.m. worship. The Rev. George P. Windley Jr., pastor of First

Baptist Missionary Church, will speak. * Saturday, Feb. 22 — Youth choir anniversary program at 4 p.m. * Sunday, Feb. 23 — Black history program during morning worship.

Knitting Hearts Ministry, meets at Bethesda Church of God, 2730 Broad St., announces: * Saturday — Knitting Hearts Cafe will be held 10 a.m.-noon. Susan Schuhly White will speak. First Glimpse will provide music and Shelica Daniels will give a praise dance presentation.

Open to all women, this is a community-wide, multi-denominational women’s ministry that meets the second Saturday of each month in the fellowship hall of Bethesda.

Visit www.knittingheartsministry.org.

Land Flowing with Milk & Honey Ministry, 1335 Peach Orchard Road, announces: * Saturday, Feb. 22 — Icebreaker 2 for young men ages 13-25 will be held at 9 a.m. featuring various speakers. * Sunday, Feb. 23 — Pack-apew at 11 a.m. Dr. Alec Bradley will speak.

Liberty Hill AME Church, 2310 Liberty Hill Road, Summerton, announces: * Saturday — Relay for Life participation. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and cost is $10.

Walk begins at 9 a.m. Contact Debra Brailsford at (803) 5349957 or Floridell Solomon at (803) 485-2661.

Lighthouse Baptist Church, 1130 N. St. Paul Church Road, announces: * Sunday — Southern Gospel soloist Lisa Berry will provide music at 5:30 p.m.

Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 325 Fulton St., announces: * Sunday — Education / Youth Accomplishments Sunday and black history month worship celebration at 10:45 a.m. * Sunday, Feb. 16 — Trustee

ministry anniversary / black history month worship celebration at 10:45 a.m. S.C. Sen. Kevin Johnson, D-Manning, trustee ministry chairman of Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, will speak. * Sunday, Feb. 23 — Golden Age fellowship ministry anniversary / black history month worship celebration at 10:45 a.m.

Mulberry Missionary Baptist Church, 1400 Mulberry Church Road, announces: * Sunday, Feb. 16 — Morris College day at 10:45 a.m. Dr. Luns C. Richardson will speak. At 5 p.m., the male chorus will celebrate its 52nd anniversary. * Sunday, Feb. 23 — Family and friends day during 10:45 a.m. service.

Orangehill AME Church, 3035 S. King Highway, Wedgefield, announces: * Sunday, Feb. 16 — Inspirational choir anniversary celebration at 10 a.m. * Sunday, Feb. 23 — Black history celebration at 10 a.m.

Brother Marvis L. Stewart will speak.

Pine Grove AME Church, 41 Pine Grove Road, Rembert, announces: * Sunday — Annual young people’s department day will be celebrated during 11 a.m. worship. * Sunday, Feb. 16 — Allen Christian League will celebrate black history during 11 a.m. worship. Wear African attire. * Sunday, Feb. 23 — Male chorus anniversary celebration at 2 p.m.

St. Jude Catholic Church, 611 W. Oakland Ave., announces: * Sunday, Feb. 23 — Black history program at 3 p.m. sponsored by the Knights and Ladies of St. Peter Claver. Joseph A. DeLaine Jr. will speak. On the program: Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Gospel Choir; Benevolence Choir; Frankie Smalls; St. Jude Choir; Desmond Mitchell; Mitchell Mime Ministry; and Stephen Carson.

St. Mark AME Church, corner of First Street and Larry King Jr. Highway, Summerton, announces: * Sunday, Feb. 16 — Family and friends day at 3 p.m. Dinner will be served immediately after service.

St. Matthias Episcopal Church, 9 N. Duke St., Summerton, announces: * Each Monday in February from 5:30 to 8 p.m., “Parenting Well,” helping good parents become great parents by Christine Donavan, will be presented. Donavan is a PCI certified parent coach from Charleston. Dinner and childcare will be provided. Cost is $125 per family. Call Sandy at (803) 485-2504 to register or for more information.

Taw Caw Missionary Baptist Church, 1130 Granby Lane, Summerton, announces: * Saturday, Feb. 15 — Women’s ministry will present “A Night Under the Stars Valentine Gala” 6-10 p.m. at the Taw Caw Community Center, 1126 Granby Lane, Summerton. Call Karen Johnson at (803) 840-3482 or Rosalind Huggins at (803) 410-9699.

Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, 155 Wall St., announces: * Sunday, Feb. 23 — Black history worship service at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. James Felder, Civil Rights activist, will speak. * Saturday, March 29 — God’s Girls Rock Cotillion will be held at 4 p.m. Call (803) 775-4041 for information.

Unity Universal Baptist Church, 409 Boulevard Road, announces: * Sunday — Miracle service at 5 p.m. Pastor Gwendolyn Credle, of the Rock Church of Sumter, will speak.

Victory Full Gospel Interdenominational Church, 601 Pitts Road, announces: * Sunday, Feb. 16 — Pastor’s Aide fellowship tea at 5 p.m. at the M.H. Newton Family Life Center, 415 Manning Ave.

A8

|

LOCAL | STATE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

Professionals headline gardening workshops

THE SUMTER ITEM

Discussing the real issues with students

BY IVY MOORE ivym@theitem.com

dens and native plants. The one-hour sessions will be taught by Sara Green, director of education for the S.C. WildThe year 2014 marks a cenlife Federation; Rebecca Turk, tury of extension services education coordinator for across the U.S., and Clemson University Extension wants to Moore Farms Botanical Gardens; and Claudia Rainey, seobserve the anniversary by nior planner with the Sumter helping to get 100 South CaroCity-County Planning Departlina residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; yards certified ment. as Carolina Yards. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All of our speakers are â&#x20AC;&#x153;We already have 65 certilocal and will focus on what fied Carolina Yards,â&#x20AC;? said people in Sumter need to do Mary Caflisch, who is in for their yards,â&#x20AC;? Caflisch said. charge of a four-part gardenThe program is part of the ing series titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sumter Carolina Yards program, she Backyard Landscaping: Garsaid, which can dening for the Sumter Backyard save people Natural Environmentâ&#x20AC;? that starts Landscaping Series money and time. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Participants Tuesday at the will get informaSumter County â&#x20AC;˘ Feb. 11 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Pest tion that will help Main Library on Management with Tony them make their Harvin Street and Melton yards better for the will continue â&#x20AC;˘ Feb. 18 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Gardening for environment and there at 6 p.m. for Wildlife with Sara Green easier to take care four consecutive â&#x20AC;˘ Feb. 25 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Rain Gardens of,â&#x20AC;? she continued.

Tuesdays. with Rebecca Turk â&#x20AC;&#x153;The series and The free series â&#x20AC;˘ March 4 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Gardening with the Carolina Yards will be taught by Native Plants with Claudia website can also experts in their Rainey enable them to besubjects, begincome certified as ning with Clemhaving a Carolina Yard. Of son Extension agent Tony course, a lot of people use the Melton, a horticulturist in the website just for information.â&#x20AC;?

Florence County office and a The free series is hosted by frequent guest on ETVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sumter Stormwater Solutions, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Making It Grow.â&#x20AC;? Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be Sumter County, the city of talking about pest manageSumter and Clemson Extenment, â&#x20AC;&#x153;primarily controlling sion. Registration is not repests of landscape plants that quired. For more information, grow in our area.â&#x20AC;? contact Caflisch at (803) 865In addition to pest manage1216, extension 122, or mnevment, topics will include garins@clemson.edu. dening for wildlife, rain gar-

PHOTO PROVIDED

Staff Sgt. Tony Rivers of the Sumter Police Departmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Patrol Division talks to seventh-graders about his experience dealing with young people involved in distracted and impaired driving accidents. Seventh-graders at Wilson Hall recently got a lesson in life and safety from officers with the Sumter Police Department. Along with Rivers, Senior Cpl. Joey Duggan of the Crime Prevention Unit and Senior Detective Kim Coker of the Organized Crime and Vice Unit talked to students about drug and alcohol use and how their decision-making can affect their individual safety and the safety of others. Car wrecks, Rivers said, are the No. 1 cause of death among teens. Sixty percent of those deaths are alcohol related, he added. Rivers gave examples of three young people he encountered early in his career as an officer. Those individuals later died, in part because of the choices they made. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is real life and part of what I deal with on my job,â&#x20AC;? Rivers said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want you to close your eyes and imagine your parents if a police officer came to your door at 3 oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;clock in the morning and told them that you were killed in a traffic accident.â&#x20AC;? With upcoming school dances and other events, officers and Wilson Hall faculty and staff say this is a good time to encourage students to make good decisions.

Medal of Honor Museum Bill would increase time in prison for S.C. gang members seeks $11M from state COLUMBIA (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A gang member would receive a longer prison sentence under a bill proposed in the South Carolina House.

Rep. Phyllis Henderson said Wednesday she hopes her bill, prompted by last Octoberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shooting of University of South Carolina student Martha Childress, helps law enforcement keep gang members off the streets. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It really made me angry,â&#x20AC;? Henderson, RGreer, said of the shooting, noting her daughter is a USC student.

Childress was shot as she waited for a taxi in Columbiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Five Points neighborhood, paralyzing her below the waist. She was not the intended victim. Police said it was a stray bullet.

Hendersonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s measure increases prison time for crimes that benefit a gang.

For most crimes, a conviction for a gang member would result in an extra one to five years. But life imprisonment would result for some felonies.

Jeff Moore of the state Sheriffsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Association said the real crux of the bill is the minimum $50,000 bond requirement for arrested gang members. The bill allows an exception only if the court determines the suspect is unlikely to reoffend and agrees to intensive pretrial supervision. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It sets a high bond automatically. It takes discretion out of their hands,â&#x20AC;?

Moore said, referring to judges who might otherwise set a low bond or let sus-

pects go on their own recognizance.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the part of the bill opposed by the state Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys.

Attorney Heath Taylor said it needs to allow for the possibility that gang members can turn their lives around, then get arrested years later for a crime completely unrelated to any gang. As itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s written, if that personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been removed from the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gang database, a judge would have to set bond at $50,000, he said.

Moore said an amendment should be able to fix that.

The measure would also allow officers to arrest someone for recruiting gang members through encouragement of any sort.

Under the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current gang law, passed in 2007, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s illegal to recruit through threats and violence. Henderson said gangs have become so prevalent in South

Carolina that it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take physical coercion to recruit.

The bill also redefines that a criminal gang can involve as few as three people, down from five, to match federal standards.

A House Judiciary subcommittee is expected to discuss the bill later this month. It was on the agenda for Wednesdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meeting, but the panel adjourned without getting to it.

The panel is also considering a bond reform bill meant to keep violent offenders in jail as they await trial, prompted by high-profile cases of suspects involved in shooting deaths while out on parole. House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford contends that, as written, the bill doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t accomplish its goal. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re asking us to do does not address a single incident Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m aware of, but it makes people feel good,â&#x20AC;? said Rutherford, D-Columbia, who led Wednesdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meeting.

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COLUMBIA (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Organizers of a $100 million National Medal of Honor Museum on the South Carolina coast are asking state lawmakers to provide $11 million for the project.

"This will bring great exposure to the state of South Carolina. This will put us on the map in a way we are not now as a national and international location," retired Marine Maj. Gen. James Livingston, the state's only living Medal of Honor recipient, told a House budget subcommittee.

Plans for the museum at the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant were announced in 2012. The land is being leased to the museum by the state for 99 years for $1 a year.

Livingston asked lawmakers to provide $1 million in initial support and then $2 million a year for five years. He said the proj-

ect has been extensively studied and a business plan developed.

He added the location on Charleston Harbor is fitting because the Medal of Honor was established during the Civil War, which began with the bombardment of Fort Sumter in the harbor.

A master museum plan envisions, among other attractions, a uniform collection, a large format theater where visitors can learn about sacrifices for freedom, a Great Hall honoring the recipients and an interactive media gallery where visitors can hear each recipient's story.

"Think about it as a place where young Americans or older Americans can come in the front door and come out re-energized about what we are as a people," Livingston said. "It's not about guns and uniforms.

It's about a message to reinforce what we should be as a country."

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

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014 H.G. Osteen 1870-1955 Founder, The Item

H.D. Osteen 1904-1987 The Item

|

A9

Margaret W. Osteen 1908-1996 The Item Hubert D. Osteen Jr. Chairman & Editor-in-Chief Graham Osteen Co-President Kyle Osteen Co-President Jack Osteen Editor and Publisher Larry Miller CEO Braden Bunch Senior News Editor

20 North Magnolia Street, Sumter, South Carolina 29150 • Founded October 15, 1894

COMMENTARY

Keep calm, and gossip on

W

basis — the letter does ASHINGTON — We have offi- exist and its contents are of interest. News. But it is cially reached the take-a-step- also damning of Christie’s character without subback moment in the unfoldstantiation, otherwise ing — or unraveling — of known as one man’s word the Chris Christie alleged against another — and bridge/political retributhat’s not good for jourtion/Sandy funds political nalism. scandal.

Before you could say It always happens in heywaitaminute, the any story these days.

Drudge Report led with News stampedes through the scurrilous headline the ether, trampling context and nuance, oblivious “He Knew.” Though Drudge clearly isn’t a to potholes and fissures.

Christie fan (this must be And then corrections terribly painful for the must be made. governor), the result has This isn’t finger-pointbeen a circling of consering at my colleagues. Colvative wagons by those umnists have the luxury who hate the of taking their media more than time with facts, they dislike a modwhile reporters erate Republican are expected to up— as foretold by a date news by the certain columnist minute, or less. In weeks ago. Thus, our amped-up, Christie has been bloglodyte world, invited to speak at stories are chugthe annual Conserging 5-hour EnerKathleen vative Political Acgy shots just to Parker tion Conference keep up with renext month, where porters and, it he was conspicuously not must be said, gossips. invited a year ago.

Thus on Tuesday, Mika Meanwhile, Christie’s Brzezinski said the necesoffice has fired back, imsary on MSNBC’s “Mornpugning Wildstein’s charing Joe”: “Calm down.”

Later, a guest on the show acter, even going back to his high-school days and added, “People need to calling him “tumultuous.” step back,” a sentiment One can only imagine his with which all present yearbook inscription: were in accord.

“Dude, stay as tumultuous For the past several as you are and bridges days on most news shows, will fear you!” the dominant buzz has In a parallel saga, CNN centered on a New York Times story, subsequently recently issued a report poking holes in Hoboken adjusted, that came close Mayor Dawn Zimmer’s to accusing Christie of lying when he has insisted story claiming that Christie’s office threatened to repeatedly that he knew withhold Hurricane nothing about the George Sandy recovery funds if Washington Bridge lane she didn’t support a develclosings that resulted in a opment project the goverfour-day traffic jam and nor favored. that have been characterCNN cited not only conized as political retributradictions and discrepantion. cies but evidence that ZimThe Times story cited a mer may have practiced letter from Alan L. Zegas, the same tactics of which attorney for David Wildshe has accused Christie. stein, the former Port Authority executive and one- The executive director of the Hoboken Housing Autime Christie ally who, thority had sued Zimmer, after an infamous email claiming that the mayor exchange with Christie had “an unwritten policy aide Bridget Anne Kelly of political patronage or (“Time for some traffic ‘pay to play’ to reward ... problems in Fort Lee”), political supporters.” ordered the lane closings.

Shocking.

In the Times story, As the Christie scandal Wildstein was said to have machine grinds on, his “had the evidence” to polling numbers unprove that Christie knew shockingly are plummetcontemporaneously about ing. Once in the lead in a the lane closings. Later, fantasy presidential race, the Times story was he now trails Hillary tweaked to reflect what Clinton 39 percent to 55 the letter actually said: that “evidence exists” that percent. In the race for the GOP nomination, he Christie knew at the time trails Mike Huckabee and of the lane closings.

Rand Paul, tying with Jeb Thank you for the clarifiBush. cation. What evidence?

But, the night is young.

Whose? Where? The voice It remains entirely possiknows. ble that Christie is telling And then she heard it the truth. And evidence again, the same chilling may or may not exist. voice whispering as the curtains fluttered on a still Which means a new narrative must fill the void. It night. “It exists ... it exists goes like this: Even if he’s ... it exists.” telling the truth, Christie But seriously, without confirmation or corrobora- created the culture in which his people felt free tion of such damning evito abuse power. dence, what, really, was Stay tuned ... and stay this latest chapter? The letter was essentially a plea to calm. the Port Authority that it Kathleen Parker’s email pay Wildstein’s legal expenses, which it previously address is kathleenparker@washpost.com. had denied to do. © 2014, Washington Post To be fair, the Times Writers Group story was not without

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Something is wrong with the way our taxes are used There is something wrong with where our tax dollars are going.

I stopped at a local grocery store recently. I picked up a few items and headed to the checkout. A woman came up behind me with three crying children, all of whom looked younger than 5. I saw that the woman was frustrated, so I backed up, and before I could say, “Go

ahead, Ma’am,” she rudely pushed her way past me.

She unloaded her groceries and paid for them with food stamps. Then she paid for a second purchase of beer, two bottles of wine and a carton of cigarettes with a $100 bill.

I checked out and went to my car. I saw the woman loading her items in a brand new Cadillac with the dealer sticker still on the window. I put my items in my 1996 Honda Civic and left,

shaking my head in disbelief.

Back in the ’60’s, Lyndon Baines Johnson declared a “war on poverty.” I think it should have been called a “war on taxpayers.” I’ve faithfully paid taxes for the last 52 years.

Now I know where my tax dollars are going: I’m supporting people so they can have welfare checks, food stamps and a new Cadillac.

BRUCE LARABEE Sumter

NOTABLE AND QUOTABLE A few tips for new executives to follow In “Ten Tips for New Executives,” Fay Vincent writes, “Jokes are risky.

Email is forever. Don’t answer hypothetical questions. Never complain.”

He was the president and CEO of Columbia Pictures Industries Inc., executive vice president of the CocaCola Co., and the eighth commissioner of Major League Baseball. Read it online at www.wsj.com: 1. The less you confide in others in the organization, the better it will go for you.

What you intend as harmless chatter can do serious harm. Keep your speculations and worries to yourself.

2. Be sure to manage down. Spend time with the lower-level employees in your company and try to be decent to all of them.

3. Leadership is a fulltime job and the duty clock is never off.

4. Keep listening to and for advice.

5. The wisecrack you believe is witty often is not.

Your sense of humor is easily misread as patronizing and clumsy.

6. The important thing is to be sure that the important thing remains the important thing.

7. Never complain; never explain. No one listens.

8. Trust your professional advisers and accept their expertise.

9. Be careful about the use of the word “average”—one can drown in a river the average depth of which is six inches. Taking comfort in what’s “average” offers a false sense of security.

10. It’s a cliché, but true: Never do or say anything that you would be unhappy to see written about on a newspaper front page.

Snipers having impact on power grid?

In “Assault on California

Power Station Raises Alarm on Potential for Terrorism,” we learn that an April sniper attack “raises concern for country’s power grid.”

Read it online at www.wsj. com: SAN JOSE, Calif. — The attack began just before 1 a.m. on April 16 last year, when someone slipped into an underground vault not far from a busy freeway and cut telephone cables.

Within half an hour, snipers opened fire on a nearby electrical substation. Shooting for 19 minutes, they surgically knocked out 17 giant transformers that funnel power to Silicon Valley. A minute before a police car arrived, the shooters disappeared into the night.

To avoid a blackout, electric-grid officials rerouted power around the site and asked power plants in Silicon Valley to produce more electricity. But it took utility workers 27 days to make repairs and bring the substation back to life.

“This wasn’t an incident where Billy-Bob and Joe decided, after a few brewskis, to come in and shoot up a substation,” Mark Johnson, retired vice president of transmission for PG&E, told the utility security conference, according to a video of his presentation. “This was an event that was well thought out, well planned and they targeted certain components.”

Overseas, terrorist organizations were linked to 2,500 attacks on transmission lines or towers and at least 500 on substations from 1996 to 2006, according to a January report from the Electric Power Research Institute, an industry-funded research group, which cited State Department data.

To some, the incident has lifted the discussion of serious U.S. grid attacks beyond the theoretical. “The breadth and depth of the attack was unprecedented” in the U.S., said Rich Lordan, senior technical executive for the

Electric Power Research Institute. The motivation, he said, “appears to be preparation for an act of war.”

A logistical take on the Affordable Care Act In The Washington Post, Dana Willbank writes, “Obamacare’s scorekeepers deliver a game-changer.”

For years, the White House has trotted out the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office to show that Obamacare would cut health-care costs and reduce deficits.

Live by the sword, die by the sword, the Bible tells us.

In Washington, it’s slightly different: Live by the CBO, die by the CBO. The congressional number-crunchers, perhaps the capital’s closest thing to a neutral referee, came out with a new report Tuesday, and it wasn’t pretty for Obamacare. The CBO predicted the law would have a “substantially larger” impact on the labor market than it had previously expected: The law would reduce the workforce in 2021 by the equivalent of 2.3 million full-time workers, well more than the 800,000 originally anticipated. This will inevitably be a drag on economic growth, as more people decide government handouts are more attractive than working more and paying higher taxes.

This is grim news for the White House and for Democrats on the ballot in November. This independent arbiter, long embraced by the White House, has validated a core complaint of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) critics: that it will discourage work and become an ungainly entitlement.

Disputing Republicans’ charges is much easier than refuting the federal government’s official scorekeepers.

Notable & Quotable is compiled by Graham Osteen. Contact him at graham@theitem. com.

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

A10

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

DAILY PLANNER

THE SUMTER ITEM

AIRMAN FROM PAGE A1

WEATHER

with the wing’s public affairs office.

Williams has yet to be charged with anything while the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the service’s internal lawenforcement personnel, determine whether Williams’ actions merit prosecution for desertion and possibly other charges.

“There’s an investigation into whether he was deserting or not,” Brown said, “and based on the result, that will be used to determine if he goes to a court martial.”

It’s unclear whether Williams is cooperating with the investigation. Article 31 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice gives a serviceman the same protection against self-incrimination as a civilian would enjoy in a criminal investigation.

But OSI spokeswoman Linda Card said the investigation will likely consist of “a bunch of interviews.”

“They will want to talk to anybody who ever had contact with him,” she said, “before they determine whether or not there’s enough evidence of a felony-level crime to go to a court martial.”

OSI investigators will present their findings to the wing commander, who will ultimately decide what actions should be

AccuWeather® five-day forecast for Sumter

taken against Williams. A discharge or reduction in rank are also penalties available to a commanding officer when dealing with infractions of military discipline.

Officers from Shaw performed a welfare check at Williams’ home in Columbia when he failed to report to base on Dec. 23 and reported him missing to law enforcement when they found no trace of him. More than two weeks later, investigators identified Williams on security camera footage inside a store in Georgia and began tracking his movements across the Southeast. He was finally located by a Marshal in Dothan, Ala. In addition to determining Williams’ motive for vanishing, investigators will also seek to determine whether any mitigating circumstances, such as mental health or substance-abuse issues, may mitigate the captain’s responsibility for his actions.

Card said OSI is not bound to any set timetable for completing its investigation.

“If there’s someone who’s unavailable, the investigation is on hold until that interview gets done,” she said.

Reach Bristow Marchant at (803) 774-1272.

STATE

State Medicaid may cover dental, weight-loss services COLUMBIA (AP) — South Carolina's Medicaid director asked legislators Wednesday to support providing dental care to adults, weight-loss help for obese adults and health screenings.

Those three new benefits were part of director Tony Keck's budget presentation before a House Ways and Means panel.

The initiatives would cost $15.3 million from state taxes and $52 million total when including federal money.

Currently, Medicaid in South Carolina covers only emergency tooth extractions for adults. Even that coverage disappeared between February 2011 and January 2012, as the agency eliminated all adult dental services during the economic downturn to prevent going into a deficit.

The last word ARIES (March 21-April 19): in astrology Don’t get EUGENIA LAST trapped in a no-win situation. Focus on what you can accomplish. Consider the emotional ramifications before you get involved in a topic that could affect your position or reputation.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Express the way you feel and you can make a difference to the outcome of something that’s important to you.

Romantic opportunities will allow you to build a better relationship with someone special.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You may be given a false impression regarding what’s expected of you. Don’t risk making a mistake that could cost you.

Ask questions and get any approval you might require before you move forward.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Relying on someone from your past or calling in a favor owed to you will put you in an interesting position with more options. Love is in the stars. Planning a romantic evening will pay off.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Keep your emotions out of the workplace. Don’t show your feelings or let someone have the upper hand by using emotional manipulation to get his or her way. Focus on making positive changes that will help you excel.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Take a mental, physical or spiritual journey and explore new possibilities.

Experiencing new cultures or ways of

"We recognized it was a cost shift to hospitals and in some cases dentists," but it was a cut the federal government allowed, Keck said.

With the agency ending last fiscal year with a surplus, Keck's plan for the fiscal year that starts July 1 would for the first time cover preventive services.

He told legislators the need for dental care extends beyond improving health, since missing teeth, cavities and abscesses can make it difficult for people to find work and — if they're in pain and can't concentrate — keep it. He estimates that up to 40 percent of the state's Medicaid-eligible adults would use preventive dental services, costing the state roughly $10.3 million.

Children covered through Medicaid already receive full dental services.

doing things will help you find solutions to pending problems.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You can make money by adding value to an asset you already own. Domestic problems, a settlement or legal issue may arise. Do your best to put an end to any situation that has the potential to escalate.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Spread a little joy, show your romantic side and spend time with someone who sparks your enthusiasm. Positive, creative changes at home will add to your happiness and emotional well-being.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Do what’s asked of you and keep moving.

Once you deal with responsibilities, you can make some positive alterations at home that will add to your comfort and entertainment.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Take the initiative when it comes to important relationships. Whether through professional or personal connections, show your creativity by expressing your thoughts with passion and confidence.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Hold your thoughts and secrets until you feel safe and secure sharing what you think and feel. It’s best to observe and consider every angle of a situation that has the potential to alter your life.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Good ideas and offering solutions will put you into the driver’s seat. Share your knowledge, expertise and ideas, and you’ll end up with a deal, contract or agreement that is sure to raise your profile and income.

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2014

TODAY

TONIGHT

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Some sun, then clouds and cooler

Clouds breaking

Mostly cloudy

Cloudy with rain possible

Times of clouds and sun

A full day of sunshine

54°

32°

56° / 36°

51° / 40°

57° / 35°

54° / 34°

Chance of rain: 10%

Chance of rain: 15%

Chance of rain: 10%

Chance of rain: 35%

Chance of rain: 25%

Chance of rain: 10%

Winds: NNE 6-12 mph

Winds: NE 3-6 mph

Winds: ENE 4-8 mph

Winds: NE 6-12 mph

Winds: WSW 8-16 mph

Winds: E 4-8 mph

TODAY’S SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER

Gaffney 48/32 Spartanburg 49/32

Greenville 49/32

Columbia 53/32

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

Sumter 54/32

Today: Some sun, then clouds and cold.

Winds light and variable.

Friday: Sun and some clouds. Winds light and variable.

Aiken 53/30

ON THE COAST

Charleston 57/38

Today: Mostly cloudy and cooler. High 50 to 58.

Friday: Mostly cloudy. High 54 to 58.

LOCAL ALMANAC

LAKE LEVELS

SUMTER THROUGH 4 P.M. YESTERDAY

Today Hi/Lo/W 49/31/pc 6/-6/s 30/15/sf 18/-2/pc 42/32/r 61/50/sh 45/33/r 29/17/pc 70/55/c 30/16/s 66/48/pc 55/47/r 37/24/s

SUN AND MOON 7 a.m. yest.

356.17 74.55 73.82 95.66

24-hr chg +0.05 -0.25 -0.26 +0.08

Sunrise 7:15 a.m.

Moonrise 11:30 a.m.

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

0.04" 0.35" 0.60" 3.09" 1.21" 4.54"

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

Full pool 360 76.8 75.5 100

Lake Murray Marion Moultrie Wateree

68° 41° 57° 34° 80° in 2008 14° in 1996

Precipitation 24 hrs ending 4 p.m. yest.

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

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 55/40/pc 14/1/pc 36/26/c 13/1/pc 43/35/c 64/51/pc 54/43/c 30/19/pc 73/61/c 32/19/s 65/47/c 59/50/pc 40/26/s

Myrtle Beach 51/36

Manning 54/34

IN THE MOUNTAINS

Temperature High Low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

Florence 53/33

Bishopville 53/32

Flood 7 a.m. stage yest.

12 7.69 19 4.16 14 6.03 14 5.43 80 76.97 24 6.33

Sunset 5:57 p.m.

Moonset 12:30 a.m.

First

Full

Last

New

Feb. 6

Feb. 14

Feb. 22

Mar. 1

TIDES

24-hr chg +0.10 -0.24 +0.03 +1.58 -0.37 +0.33

AT MYRTLE BEACH

Today Fri.

High 1:55 a.m.

2:22 p.m.

2:52 a.m.

3:18 p.m.

Ht. 2.9 2.6 2.8 2.5

Low Ht. 8:56 a.m. 0.2 9:08 p.m. -0.1 9:56 a.m. 0.4 10:04 p.m. 0.1

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 43/26/pc 51/31/pc 54/31/pc 58/40/c 42/34/pc 57/38/c 48/31/pc 50/34/pc 53/32/pc 52/31/pc 42/27/s 50/32/pc 48/31/pc

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 49/29/s 57/35/pc 59/37/c 58/46/c 48/38/c 58/44/c 54/35/pc 56/38/pc 57/39/c 56/36/c 47/32/c 55/37/c 55/35/pc

Today City Hi/Lo/W Florence 53/33/pc Gainesville 61/45/sh Gastonia 48/32/pc Goldsboro 48/29/pc Goose Creek 57/38/c Greensboro 46/31/pc Greenville 49/32/pc Hickory 46/28/pc Hilton Head 54/43/c Jacksonville, FL 61/47/c La Grange 50/27/pc Macon 54/32/pc Marietta 48/29/pc

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 57/38/c 60/54/sh 54/35/s 53/34/pc 59/44/c 51/33/s 54/37/pc 52/32/s 55/47/c 60/54/sh 55/32/pc 59/40/c 53/35/pc

Today City Hi/Lo/W Marion 46/29/pc Mt. Pleasant 57/38/c Myrtle Beach 51/36/c Orangeburg 55/34/pc Port Royal 57/40/c Raleigh 46/30/pc Rock Hill 48/29/pc Rockingham 49/29/pc Savannah 59/39/c Spartanburg 49/32/pc Summerville 55/41/c Wilmington 51/31/pc Winston-Salem 46/30/pc

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 51/33/s 58/44/c 54/42/c 57/39/c 56/46/c 52/34/pc 55/34/pc 56/33/pc 59/47/c 54/36/pc 56/47/c 54/39/c 51/33/s

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

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PICTURES FROM THE PUBLIC LOCATION: Kosovo SUBMITTED BY: Jeremy Prince OCCASION: Jeremy Prince took this photo on Christmas Eve 2012 while on assignment to Kosovo with the South Carolina Army National Guard as a Blackhawk helicopter crew chief/mechanic.

HAVE YOU TAKEN PICTURES OF INTERESTING, EXCITING, BEAUTIFUL OR HISTORICAL PLACES? Would you like to share those images with your fellow Item readers? E-mail your hi-resolution jpegs to sandrah@theitem.com, or mail to Sandra Holbert c/o The Item, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, SC 29150. Include clearly printed or typed name of photographer and photo details.

Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of your photo. Amateur photographers only please.

SECTION

Recruiting classes for USC, Clemson B5

Call: (803) 774-1241 | E-mail: sports@theitem.com

B THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

NATIONAL SIGNING DAY

MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

Former Crestwood High School standout linebacker Alonzo McGee, center, signed with the University of Alabama-Birmingham on Wednesday while surrounded by his family at his Dock Road home during National Signing Day.

Sweet home Alabama-Birmingham Former Crestwood LB McGee signs with Division I Blazers

BY DENNIS BRUNSON dennisb@theitem.com When Alonzo McGee made the decision to sign and play football with Georgia Military College on National Signing Day in 2012, the former Crest-

wood High School linebacker did so with the forethought that he would sign with a Football Bowl Subdivision program two years later.

Fast forward approximately 730 days, and that’s exactly what McGee has done.

McGee signed with Alabama-Birmingham on Wednesday at his Dock Road home with around 20 family members and friends in attendance.

“I feel blessed to have this opportunity to play Division I football,” said McGee, who will have three years to

play three with the Blazers after redshirting his first year at GMC. “I decided to come to Georgia Military so hopefully I would get the chance to play at the DI level. I feel like I’m ready for it.”

Blessed could easily be the right way to describe McGee’s signing with UAB. Two weeks ago, McGee was set to sign with Bethune-Cookman, a Football Championship Subdivision school in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. However, UAB hired Bill Clark as its new head

coach on Jan. 22, and he and his staff had to go about the business of quickly putting together a recruiting class.

The Blazers coaching staff saw some film of McGee and invited him for an official visit last weekend. UAB offered McGee, and he made a commitment to the program.

“They told me they were looking for one junior college linebacker,” McGee said UAB. “They liked what they saw

SEE MCGEE, PAGE B4

Manning LB Darley inks with Charlotte, continues Monarchs’ DI tradition

BY MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER mchristopher@theitem.com

MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

MANNING — Manning High School senior Cam Darley just wanted to be next in line of those former studentathletes who came before him.

“I moved in my sopho- DARLEY more year and I was a basketball guy,” he explained. “The whole Manning mentality just took over.

“I just want to hit people (on the football field) and it really instilled in me… We have a slogan called a ‘Manning guy’ and a Manning guy is like a warrior or a tough guy. I see guys like (University of Alabama defensive back) John Fulton and (University of South Carolina defensive tackle) Phillip Dukes who made it, so I wanted to be the next in line really.”

Darley, a 6-foot-3 inch, 245-pound defensive

SEE DARLEY, PAGE B4

Sumter High cornerback Erick Wright (9) signed with Paine College in Augusta, Ga., on Wednesday at the SHS gymnasium.

Last-minute decision reunites Wright brothers at Paine College

BY JUSTIN DRIGGERS jdriggers@theitem.com The past 48 hours have been a whirlwind for Sumter High School standout cornerback Erick Wright — not to mention his family or head coach Reggie Kennedy.

But in the end, Wright’s exactly where he wanted to be all along.

Wright officially signed with Paine College on Wednesday, sending the former Gamecock standout to Augusta, Ga., to

E. WRIGHT

S. WRIGHT

play alongside his brother, Steven.

“He really embodies what a big brother should be,” Wright said of his older brother, who played at Lakewood. “He was a big influence in my decision to go to Paine, but I also really

loved the coaching staff.

They’re a great group of coaches and I know they want the best for me.”

Augusta is a far cry from where Wright was headed less than 12 hours prior to his final decision. He was a late verbal commitment to Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, one of the top programs in the country.

Paine, on the other hand, only recently reestablished its

SEE WRIGHT, PAGE B4

Knights’ placekicker Ray boots way to Limestone

BY DENNIS BRUNSON dennisb@theitem.com Jonathan Ray had some offers to play soccer on the collegiate level, but that’s not where the Crestwood High School senior’s RAY heart was.

“Football is really what I wanted to do,” Ray said.

And the Knights place-

kicker is going to get the opportunity to do just that. Ray signed with Limestone College in Gaffney on Wednesday.

“It’s a blessing to have this opportunity,” Ray said. “I couldn’t have done this without my teammates, my coaches and my family.”

Ray said this was the only football offer he received and it didn’t come together until the last few

SEE RAY, PAGE B4

B2

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SPORTS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

PREP BASKETBALL

BOYS AREA ROUNDUP

WH squads hold off TSA

Sumter falls to Conway 63-51

BY MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER mchristopher@theitem.com DALZELL — The theme of the night was intensity as cross county varsity basketball rivals Wilson Hall and Thomas Sumter Academy took a break from region play on Wednesday at Edens Gymnasium.

Both Wilson Hall teams held off late rallies to sweep TSA. In the girls game, Wilson Hall held on for a 40-37 victory, while the Wilson Hall boys won 51-44.

“Tonight we decided to go full court press because of what we did (on Tuesday), not playing intense (against Orangeburg Prep) and the press forced us to create a little bit more intensity,” Wilson Hall girls head coach Glen Rector said of the victoRECTOR ry, which improved his team to 12-9 on the year. “The girls did a really nice job at trying to trap and press.”

After TSA clawed its way back from a 31-26 deficit to tie the game at 35-35, Wilson Hall’s Hayley Smoak connected on her third 3-pointer of the game, which eventually became the difference in the game. Nicolette Fisher made one of two free throws to put WH up 40-37 with 33.5 seconds left, and TSA junior Taylor Knudson’s game-tying 3-point try at the buzzer fell short.

“We’ve got Palmetto Christian coming up, and this was a great warmup for us to get prepared for that because Wilson Hall has some great shooters,” said TSA girls head coach B.J. Reed. “I challenged our girls at halftime to stop the 3s, and I was a little disappointed in our turnovers, and I thought they came out and executed until the very end of the game.”

Knudson led TSA, which fell to 13-8 on the year, with 15 points. Hannah Jenkins finished with nine.

In the boys game, Drew Talley hit both of

his free throws in the double bonus with 22.3 seconds to play to push the Barons lead to six, 50-44, after the Generals pulled within four after an 8-0 run. John Ballard added another free throw with 12.9 seconds left to secure the win as Wilson Hall improved to 12-7.

Thomas Sumter, which fell to 10-11, was sparked by seven different players. They were led by Carlton Washington’s 11 points. Jordan Smith scored all of his nine points in the second half and kept the Generals in the game with two clutch 3-point basket. Drew Stengel added eight, pitching in five in the final quarter, to help spark a late run.

“We’re definitely not peaking offensively, but defensively we’re hustling our butts off,” Thomas Sumter boys head coach Morgan Watt said. “They got some loose balls, and we had a little spell of turnovers that cost us.

“It would’ve been a great finish if we didn’t turn the ball over,” he said. “But we did, and missed some foul shots, but I’m proud of the guys. We got great contributions from the team.”

The Barons got contributions from six different players, but had trouble hanging onto the ball and running out the clock in the final quarter.

“The guys played hard,” said Wilson Hall boys head coach Eddie Talley. “Some of the mistakes we made tonight are some of the same mistakes we’ve been making and we’ve got to correct it.

“Holding the ball, I don’t think we can hold it,” he explained. “I don’t know why I do that; every time I do, bad things happen, so I’ve got to learn from my mistakes as well.”

The Barons were led by Ballard’s 13 points, seven of which came in the second half. William Kinney had 10 points and Brent Carraway added eight.

CONWAY — Sumter High School’s varsity boys basketball team fell to 4-2 in Region VI-4A with a 63-51 loss to Conway on Wednesday at the Conway gymnasium.

Erick White led the Gamecocks, who are 14-6 overall, with 16 points. Brandon Parker added nine.

Demar Williams led the Tigers with 22 points while Jalen Hennigan had 15 and Christian Jeffords 11.

points for the Eagles.

SUMTER McBride 5, Rembert 6, Richardson 2, White 16, Moore 7, Kershaw 8, Parker 9.

CONWAY Hennigan 12, Jeffords 11, Samuel 7, Best 2, Williams 22, Benson 7, Venable 2.

HOLLY HILL Noller 14, Swank 7, Carpenter 3, Hudson 9, Cason 5, James 2.

THOMAS SUMTER Brunson 11, Washington 8, White 7, Hoge 5, Stengel 9, Robinson 3, Smith 4, York 2, Hunter 2.

St. Francis Xavier 60 Jefferson Davis 47

BLACKVILLE — St. Francis Xavier High School improved to 7-2 in SCISA Region I-1A with a 60-47 victory over Jefferson Davis Academy on Wednesday at the JDA gymnasium.

Jay McFadden had a doubledouble of 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Padres, who are 8-6 overall. Leighton Savage led SFX in scoring with 19 points and Dalton Foreman added 16.

Will Gee led JDA with 15 points and Cameron Holder had 12.

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER Lyons 7, Savage 19, Foreman 16, McFadden 14, Walter 2, Harp 2, JEFFERSON DAVIS Gee 15, Westner 5, Kim 6, Bearden 5, Holder 12, Freelance 2, Atkins 2.

Hemingway 64 Scott’s Branch 54

COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP

Auburn tops USC; Wichita St. stays unbeaten COLUMBIA — Chris Denson and KT Harrell each scored 25 points to lead Auburn to a 79-74 win over South Carolina on Wednesday night.

Auburn (11-9, 3-6 SEC) led by 16 in the second half, but the Gamecocks (8-14, 1-8) went on an 18-2 run in five minutes to tie it at 62. Things got bleaker when Denson and Harrell each picked up their fourth foul within a minute of each other. But Auburn coach Tony Barbee didn’t keep them out of the game for long.

Denson had a 3-point play and two more free throws and Harrell hit back-to-back jumpers to put the Tigers up 73-67 with 2:55 to go.

Brenton Williams led the Gamecocks with 29 points.

Auburn has won three SEC games in a row for the first time in the same season since 2009. The Tigers have won just 15 SEC games in the past four seasons combined, but have beaten the Gamecocks four times in that span. Auburn also has won only three SEC road games in the past four seasons. Two of them have been at South Carolina.

Auburn led by three at halftime, then made eight of its first nine shots of the second half. Payne’s 3-pointer with 13:20 left put the Tigers ahead 60-44.

South Carolina then went on its run. But the Gamecocks never regained the lead as Denson, who is the SEC’s second leading scorer and Harrell, who is fourth in the league in points, took over.

Auburn shot 52.7 percent (29 of 55). It was the first time the Tigers topped 50 percent shooting. South Carolina shot 44 percent (27 of 61).

The Gamecocks have started the SEC 1-8 two of the past three seasons.

Mindaugas Kacinas scored 14 points and Duane Notice added 12 points for the Gamecocks.

(4) WICHITA ST. 65 INDIANA ST. 58

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Cleanthony Early scored 19 points and Tekele Cotton added 14 as No. 4 Wichita State remained unbeaten with a 65-58 victory at Indiana State.

The Shockers (24-0, 11-0 Missouri Valley) extended

SUMMERTON — Scott’s Branch High School lost to Hemingway 64-54 on Wednesday at the Scott’s Branch gymnasium.

Traviant Riley led the Eagles with 19 points.

On Tuesday in Greeleyville, Scott’s Branch lost to C.E. Murray 54-48. Trashawn Jones and Riley both had 14

Thomas Sumter 51 Holly Hill 40

DALZELL — Thomas Sumter Academy improved to 4-3 in SCISA Region II-2A with a 51-40 victory over Holly Hill on Tuesday at Edens Gymnasium.

Tanner Brunson led the Generals with 11 points, Devin Noller had 14 for Holly Hill.

JUNIOR VARSITY BASKETBALL Wilson Hall 30 Thomas Sumter 19

DALZELL — Wilson Hall improved to 13-4 on the season with a 30-19 victory over Thomas Sumter Academy on Wednesday at Edens Gymnaisum.

Chandler Stone led the Barons with 11 points. Jay Barnes and Jake Croft both had seven.

Dante Linder and Kyle Decker both had eight points to lead TSA. On Tuesday in Dalzell, TSA defeated Holly Hill 27-23.

Linder and Decker both had six points.

B TEAM BASKETBALL Laurence Manning 52 Robert E. Lee 13

BISHOPVILLE — Laurence Manning Academy improved to 7-1 on the season with a 52-13 victory over Robert E. Lee Academy on Tuesday at the REL gymnasium.

Jake Jordan led LMA with 13 points, while Brewer Brunson added nine.

Patterson Severance led REL with six points.

GIRLS AREA ROUNDUP

Cooper leads SHS past Lady Tigers CONWAY — Sumter High School’s varsity girls basketball team improved to 6-0 in Region VI-4A with a 46-37 victory over Conway on Wednesday at the Conway gymnasium.

Cy Cooper led the Lady Gamecocks, 14-5 overall, with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Anna McBride had eight points and nine blocked shots. Jessica Harris and Shiniyah Brown also had eight points.

MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL

Lee Central 58 Lake Marion 50

DALZELL — Wilson Hall improved to 17-0 on the season with a 31-10 victory over Thomas Sumter Academy on Wednesday at Edens gymnasium.

Katie Duffy led the Lady Barons with eight points.

Emma Gaulke topped TSA with five.

On Tuesday in Dalzell, Thomas Sumter defeated Holly Hill 35-28. Carmen Silvester led TSA with 12 points while Josie Reed had 11 points and six assists.

SANTEE — Morgan Wilson posted a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds as Lee Central High School earned a 58-50 victory over Lake Marion on Tuesday at the Lake Marion gymnasium.

Asia Wright led the Lady Stallions with 19 points followed by Alexis McMillan with 14.

Lee Central improved to 5-2 in Region VII-2A.

Chestnut Oaks 17 Bates 13

Chestnut Oaks Middle School defeated Bates 17-13 on Wednesday in a quarterfinal game in the Sumter Middle School Conference tournament at the CO gymnasium.

Tiana McElveen led the Lady Falcons with 12 points.

JV BASKETBALL Wilson Hall 31 Thomas Sumter 10

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wichita State forward Cleanthony Early, left, shoots over Indiana State forward Demetrius Moore during the Shockers’ 65-58 victory on Wednesday in Terre Haute, Ind. their school-record winning streak and improved to 11-0 in conference play for the first time in school history.

They have won three straight in the series.

The only undefeated team in Division I is No. 2 Syracuse (22-0).

(10) MICHIGAN 79 NEBRASKA 50

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Freshman Zak Irvin scored all 16 of his points in the first half, and No. 10 Michigan breezed to a 79-50 victory over Nebraska.

(20) VIRGINIA 77 BOSTON COLLEGE 67

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Malcolm Brogdon had 17 points, a career-best 11 rebounds and seven assists and No. 20 Virginia used

two big first-half runs to take command and beat Boston College 77-67, the Cavaliers’ sixth consecutive victory.

WEST VIRGINIA 91 (21) OKLAHOMA 86

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Eron Harris scored 26 of his 28 points after halftime and West Virginia outlasted No. 21 Oklahoma 91-86 in overtime.

(25) PITTSBURGH 59 MIAMI 55

NBA ROUNDUP

Depleted Lakers snap skid CLEVELAND — The depleted Los Angeles Lakers had to keep Robert Sacre on the court after he fouled out in the fourth quarter of a 119-108 victory at the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.

Rookie Ryan Kelly scored a career-high 26 points and Steve Blake had 15 assists for Los Angeles, which snapped a 7-game losing streak. The Lakers went 18 for 37 from 3-point range.

points and 10 rebounds for Boston. The Celtics improved to 17-33, winning their second straight game after losing 19 of 22.

Rajon Rondo added eight points, 11 assists and nine rebounds to help Boston improve to 2-6 since he returned from a serious knee injury.

Brandon Bass had 18 points for the Celtics.

MAGIC 112 PISTONS 98

CELTICS 114

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Lamar Patterson scored 25 points to help No. 25 Pittsburgh end a two-game losing streak with a 57-55 overtime victory over Miami.

From wire reports

76ERS 108

PHILADELPHIA — Jeff Green scored 17 of his 36 points in the third quarter in the Boston Celtics’ 114-108 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night.

Jared Sullinger had 19

ORLANDO, Fla. — Rookie Victor Oladipo came off the bench to score 20 points and Glen Davis had 18, leading the Orlando Magic to a 112-98 victory against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.

From wire reports

SPORTS

THE SUMTER ITEM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014 Detroit Cleveland Milwaukee

SCOREBOARD

SPORTS ITEMS

Seattle turns out for Super Bowl parade SEATTLE — Hundreds of thousands of notoriously loud Seahawks fans cranked up the volume Wednesday, cheering, chanting and going berserk during a parade and ceremony to celebrate the first Super Bowl victory in the history of the franchise.

The mood in Seattle was electrified as the parade featuring the NFL champions began near the Space Needle and made its way to CenturyLink Field, the home of the team.

At a ceremony inside the stadium, the team thanked its loyal followers — the 12th Man — capping a day of boisterous celebration that drew an estimated 700,000 revelers to Seattle.

Players were introduced by the order of their jersey numbers and ended with No. 3, quarterback Russell Wilson, who walked onto the field pumping the Lombardi Trophy in the air to thunderous applause. “Our plan is to win another one for you next year,’’ Wilson said later.

Coach Pete Carroll led the crowd in a “Seahawks! Seahawks!’’ chant and said the team will be back. “We’re just getting warmed up, if you know what I’m talking about,’’ he said.

Hundreds of thousands of fan lined the streets of downtown Seattle early in the day and cheered as the players rolled by.

Thousands of students apparently skipped school to attend. Seattle Public Schools said more than 25 percent of the district’s 51,000 students were absent in the morning. By comparison, about 5 percent were absent the day before. The school district also said 565 teachers were absent, far more than usual.

CBS TO AIR THURSDAY NFL GAMES NEW YORK — The NFL has decided to shift eight of its Thursday night games to a broadcast network, and announced Wednesday that CBS won the bid to showcase more of television’s hottest property.

CBS will air the games during the first eight weeks of the season with its top broadcast team of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms, simulcasting them with the NFL Network. The league’s cable network will show six Thursday night games alone later in the season, produced by CBS with Nantz and Simms also in the booth. Two Saturday games are included in the deal, but it is unclear whether they will be on CBS or the NFL Network.

The NFL said the contract is for one year, and the league has an option to extend it for 2015. Financial terms were not disclosed.

SCHILLING ANNOUNCES HE HAS CANCER HARTFORD, Conn. — Former pitcher Curt Schilling announced Wednesday that he is battling cancer.

The 47-year-old Schilling divulged the news in a statement released through his employer, Bristol-based ESPN. It did not indicate what type of cancer Schilling has, when he was diagnosed or what his prognosis might be.

“With my incredibly talented medical team I’m ready to try and win another big game,’’ said Schilling, who retired in 2009 after 20 years in the major leagues.

“I’ve been so very blessed and I feel grateful for what God has allowed my family to have and experience, and I’ll embrace this fight just like the rest of them, with resolute faith and head on.’’

ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys said Schilling is taking a leave of absence.

He recently signed a multiyear contract extension with the network and was to be part of the “Sunday Night Baseball’’ broadcast team, as well as contribute to the network’s studio coverage, including its spring training coverage, Soltys said.

From wire reports

OLYMPICS

King won’t attend Sochi opening

BY MELISSA MURPHY The Associated Press NEW YORK — Billie Jean King will not attend Friday’s opening ceremony of the Sochi Olympics in Russia because her mother is ill.

King, who was selected to help lead the U.S. delegation to the Games, has been outspoken in her opposition to Russia’s anti-gay law. She also planned to attend ice hockey and figure skating events and meet U.S. athletes during her three-day visit to the games.

The White House announced Wednesday that former U.S. hockey player Caitlin Cahow, originally scheduled for the closing ceremony, will take King’s place.

King told The Associated Press that because of her mother’s “failing health, I will not be able to join the U.S. Presidential delegation at this week’s opening ceremonies of the Sochi Olympics.’’

Betty Moffitt, her 91-year-old mother, lives in Arizona and has been

ill for some time. King will be joined by her brother Randy Moffitt, a former pitcher for the San Francisco Giants.

“It is important for me to be with my mother and my brother at this difficult time. I want to thank President Obama for including me in this historic mission and I look forward to KING supporting our athletes as they compete in Sochi.’’

The openly gay former tennis star has said she would like sexual orientation added to the list of protections in the charter of the International Olympic Committee.

King was chosen in December for the U.S. delegation, along with openly gay former Olympic figure skater Brian Boitano and Cahow.

In June, Russia passed a law banning gay “propaganda’’ to minors. In an interview with the AP last month, King said: “It should be a non-issue.

It’s just like people of color in our country and other places, it has to be a non-issue.’’

President Barack Obama has been publicly critical of the Russian anti-gay law and President Vladimir Putin’s “cold-war’’ mentality on other issues. For the first time since 2000, the U.S. delegation to the Olympics will not include a president, former president, vice president or first lady.

The 70-year-old King, a social justice trailblazer who won 39 Grand Slam titles in her career, was tapped to enter the fray involving the delicate balance of Olympic sports and politics.

Other members of the U.S. delegation for the opening ceremony include former Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul and presidential adviser Rob Nabors.

The White House statement said “The President extends his thoughts and prayers to Ms. King and her family in this difficult time.’’

.396 .327 .188

19 22½ 29

L 13 17 21 21 27

Pct .729 .653 .571 .553 .426

GB – 3½ 7½ 8½ 14½

L 11 14 23 24 32

Pct .780 .708 .500 .500 .333

GB – 4 14 14 22

L 17 19 20 32 32

Pct .667 .604 .592 .347 .333

GB – 3½ 4 16 169

SOUTHWEST DIVISION

TODAY

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

29 33 39

B3

WESTERN CONFERENCE

TV, RADIO

Hundreds of thousands of Seattle fans lined the streets during the Super Bowl championship parade held Wednesday in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated Denver 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.

19 16 9

|

3 p.m. – PGA Golf: Pebble Beach Pro-Am National First Round from Pebble Beach, Calif. (GOLF).

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

7 p.m. – College Basketball: Rhode Island at Virginia Commonwealth (CBS SPORTS NETWORK).

7 p.m. – College Basketball: Connecticut at Cincinnati (ESPN).

7 p.m. – College Basketball: Temple at Southern Methodist (ESPNEWS).

7 p.m. – College Basketball: Louisiana State at Georgia (ESPN2).

7 p.m. – College Basketball: Robert Morris at LIU Brooklyn (ESPNU).

7 p.m. – Women’s College Basketball: Wake Forest at North Carolina State (FOX SPORTSOUTH).

8 p.m. – NBA Basketball: San Antonio at Brooklyn (TNT).

8 p.m. – International Athletics: Winter Olympics Games from Sochi, Russia – Figure Skating, Showboarding and Women’s Freestyle Skiing (WIS 10).

8 p.m. – Women’s College Basketball: South Carolina at Mississippi State (WNKT-FM 107.5).

9 p.m. – College Basketball: Tulsa at Louisiana Tech (CBS SPORTS NETWORK).

9 p.m. – College Basketball: Oregon at Arizona (ESPN).

9 p.m. – College Basketball: Penn State at Michigan State (ESPN2).

9 p.m. – College Basketball: Murray State at Belmont (ESPNU).

10:30 p.m. – NBA Basketball: Chicago at Golden State (TNT).

2 a.m. – NHL Hockey: Nashville at Minnesota (FOX SPORTSOUTH).

W San Antonio 35 Houston 32 Dallas 28 Memphis 26 New Orleans 20 NORTHWEST DIVISION W Oklahoma City 39 Portland 34 Denver 23 Minnesota 24 Utah 16 PACIFIC DIVISION W L.A. Clippers 34 Phoenix 29 Golden State 29 L.A. Lakers 17 Sacramento 16

TUESDAY’S GAMES Indiana 89, Atlanta 85 Minnesota 109, L.A. Lakers 99 Chicago 101, Phoenix 92 Charlotte 91, Golden State 75

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES Orlando 112, Detroit 98 Boston 114, Philadelphia 108 L.A. Lakers 119, Cleveland 108 San Antonio at Washington, 7 p.m.

Phoenix at Houston, 8 p.m.

Minnesota at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.

Dallas at Memphis, 8 p.m.

Atlanta at New Orleans, 8 p.m.

Portland at New York, 8 p.m.

Milwaukee at Denver, 9 p.m.

Toronto at Sacramento, 10 p.m.

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

TODAY’S GAMES

PREP SCHEDULE

San Antonio at Brooklyn, 8 p.m.

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

TODAY

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Varsity and Junior Varsity Basketball Williamsburg at Robert E. Lee, 4 p.m.

Andrew Jackson Academy at Clarendon Hall, 4 p.m.

Junior Varsity Basketball Sumter at Carolina Forest, 6 p.m.

Lakewood at Crestwood, 6 p.m.

Marlboro County at Manning, 6 p.m.

Lee Central at Kingstree, 6 p.m.

B Team Basketball Clarendon Hall at Carolina (Girls Only), 5 p.m.

Middle School Basketball Manning at Holly Hill, 6 p.m.

FRIDAY Varsity Basketball Carolina Forest at Sumter, 6 p.m.

Crestwood at Lakewood, 6 p.m.

Manning at Marlboro County, 6 p.m.

Kingstree at Lee Central, 6 p.m.

C.E. Murray at East Clarendon, 6 p.m.

Varsity and Junior Varsity Basketball Scott’s Branch at Carvers Bay (No JV Girls), 5 p.m.

Laurence Manning at Florence Christian, 4 p.m.

Thomas Sumter at Palmetto Christian, 4 p.m.

Clarendon Hall at Colleton Prep, 4 p.m.

Oklahoma City at Orlando, 7 p.m.

Portland at Indiana, 7 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Cleveland at Washington, 7 p.m.

Sacramento at Boston, 7:30 p.m.

Brooklyn at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.

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

Utah at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Minnesota at New Orleans, 9:30 p.m.

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

NHL STANDINGS

By The Associated Press EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION

Varsity Basketball Laurence Manning at Spartanburg Christian, 2 p.m.

B Team Basketball Laurence Manning at Calhoun, 10 a.m.

GP W Boston 55 36 Tampa Bay 56 32 Montreal 57 30 Toronto 58 30 Detroit 56 25 Ottawa 57 25 Florida 56 22 Buffalo 55 15 METROPOLITAN DIVISION GP W Pittsburgh 56 39 N.Y. Rangers 57 31 Columbus 56 29 Philadelphia 57 28 Carolina 55 25 New Jersey 57 23 Washington 57 25 N.Y. Islanders 58 22

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

CENTRAL DIVISION

SATURDAY

TODAY

FRIDAY EAST Manhattan at Canisius, 7 p.m.

Yale at Dartmouth, 7 p.m.

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

Brown at Harvard, 7 p.m.

Iona at Niagara, 7 p.m.

Cornell at Penn, 7 p.m.

Columbia at Princeton, 7 p.m.

Siena at St. Peter’s, 7 p.m.

Seton Hall at Villanova, 7 p.m.

SOUTH Mercer at Kennesaw St., 7 p.m.

Charlotte at Tulane, 8 p.m.

Marshall at Southern Miss., 9:30 p.m.

MIDWEST Detroit at Valparaiso, 9 p.m.

DePaul at Creighton, 9:07 p.m.

GP 58 55 56 58 56 58 57

GP Anaheim 58 San Jose 57 Los Angeles 58 Vancouver 58 Phoenix 56 Calgary 56 Edmonton 58 NOTE: Two points overtime loss.

W 34 37 36 30 26 28 25

L OT Pts GF GA 10 14 82 205 161 12 6 80 189 130 15 5 77 168 148 21 7 67 142 145 21 9 61 161 161 25 5 61 163 167 23 9 59 142 172

W L OT Pts 40 13 5 85 35 16 6 76 30 22 6 66 27 22 9 63 26 20 10 62 21 28 7 49 19 33 6 44 for a win, one

GF GA 191 143 170 139 137 127 143 152 160 167 132 175 150 196 point for

TUESDAY’S GAMES Ottawa 5, St. Louis 4, SO Boston 3, Vancouver 1 N.Y. Rangers 5, Colorado 1 Winnipeg 2, Carolina 1 Montreal 2, Calgary 0 Florida 4, Toronto 1 N.Y. Islanders 1, Washington 0 Minnesota 2, Tampa Bay 1 Dallas 3, Phoenix 1

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES Pittsburgh at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.

Chicago at Anaheim, 10 p.m.

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

TODAY’S GAMES Calgary at N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.

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

Colorado at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Winnipeg at Washington, 7 p.m.

Vancouver at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

Buffalo at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.

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

Detroit at Florida, 7:30 p.m.

Boston at St. Louis, 8 p.m.

Nashville at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

Columbus at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.

FRIDAY’S GAMES Edmonton at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

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

Florida at Carolina, 7 p.m.

Chicago at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

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

TRANSACTIONS

By The Associated Press BASEBALL AMERICAN LEAGUE BALTIMORE ORIOLES _ Named Dave Machemer special assignment scout, Jeff Stevens ad Dan Durst amateur scouts, Ray Naimoli senior manager of corporate partnership sales, Cathy Jerome senior manager of partnership marketing and Bill Marriott manager of coporate partnership sales.

CLEVELAND INDIANS _ Agreed to terms with 1B/OF Bryan LaHair on a minor league contract.

TEXAS RANGERS _ Announced RHP Chaz Roe rejected outright assignment and elected free agency.

NATIONAL LEAGUE LOS ANGELES DODGERS _ Agreed to terms with INF Justin Turner on a minor league contract.

NEW YORK METS _ Named Haeda Mihaltses executive director, external affairs.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS _ Agreed to terms with C Koyie Hill on a minor league contract.

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL MiLB _ Promoted part-time field evaluator/ instructor Brian Sinclair to full-time status.

BASKETBALL

FOOTBALL NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE ATLANTA FALCONS _ Released CB Asante Samuel and LB Stephen Nicholas.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS _ Named Mike Neu quarterbacks coach.

EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION

Indiana Chicago

Chicago St. Louis Colorado Minnesota Dallas Winnipeg Nashville PACIFIC DIVISION

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PHILADELPHIA 76ERS _ Recalled G Lorenzo Brown from Delaware (NBADL).

NBA STANDINGS

By The Associated Press

Miami Atlanta Washington Charlotte Orlando CENTRAL DIVISION

L OT Pts GF GA 15 2 80 178 133 23 3 65 150 141 23 4 62 167 156 23 6 62 157 165 21 9 59 138 153 21 13 59 133 142 23 9 59 164 173 28 8 52 160 191

WESTERN CONFERENCE

EAST Bryant at CCSU, 7 p.m.

Robert Morris at LIU Brooklyn, 7 p.m.

St. Francis (Pa.) at St. Francis (NY), 7 p.m.

Fairleigh Dickinson at Wagner, 7 p.m.

Marist at Rider, 8:30 p.m.

Mount St. Mary’s at Sacred Heart, 9 p.m.

SOUTH Barber-Scotia at Winthrop, 4 p.m.

The Citadel at Appalachian St., 7 p.m.

UNC Greensboro at Elon, 7 p.m.

Middle Tennessee at FAU, 7 p.m.

UAB at FIU, 7 p.m.

LSU at Georgia, 7 p.m.

SC-Upstate at Lipscomb, 7 p.m.

ETSU at N. Kentucky, 7 p.m.

UTSA at Old Dominion, 7 p.m.

North Florida at Stetson, 7 p.m.

Rhode Island at VCU, 7 p.m.

Georgia Southern at Wofford, 7 p.m.

Jacksonville at Florida Gulf Coast, 7:03 p.m.

Davidson at Samford, 8 p.m.

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

McNeese St. at Northwestern St., 8:30 p.m.

South Alabama at Troy, 8:30 p.m.

Murray St. at Belmont, 9 p.m.

UTEP at East Carolina, 9 p.m.

Tulsa at Louisiana Tech, 9 p.m.

MIDWEST UConn at Cincinnati, 7 p.m.

Cleveland St. at Oakland, 7 p.m.

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

Bradley at Loyola of Chicago, 8 p.m.

IUPUI at N. Dakota St., 8 p.m.

IPFW at S. Dakota St., 8 p.m.

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

Penn St. at Michigan St., 9 p.m.

SOUTHWEST SE Louisiana at Cent. Arkansas, 8 p.m.

North Texas at Rice, 8 p.m.

Temple at SMU, 8 p.m.

Louisiana-Monroe at Texas St., 8 p.m.

Georgia St. at UALR, 8 p.m.

Houston Baptist at Abilene Christian, 8:30 p.m.

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

New Orleans at Oral Roberts, 8:30 p.m.

Louisiana-Lafayette at Texas-Arlington, 8:30 p.m.

Nicholls St. at Stephen F. Austin, 9 p.m.

FAR WEST Oregon at Arizona, 9 p.m.

Utah Valley at Grand Canyon, 9 p.m.

Portland St. at Montana, 9 p.m.

Washington at Utah, 9 p.m.

North Dakota at Weber St., 9 p.m.

N. Colorado at Idaho St., 9:05 p.m.

E. Washington at Montana St., 9:05 p.m.

New Mexico St. at Idaho, 10 p.m.

Pacific at Pepperdine, 10 p.m.

San Francisco at San Diego, 10 p.m.

Texas-Pan American at Seattle, 10 p.m.

CS Northridge at UC Davis, 10 p.m.

Cal St.-Fullerton at UC Riverside, 10 p.m.

N. Arizona at Sacramento St., 10:05 p.m.

Long Beach St. at UC Irvine, 10:30 p.m.

Oregon St. at Arizona St., 11 p.m.

Santa Clara at BYU, 11 p.m.

Saint Mary’s (Cal) at Loyola Marymount, 11 p.m.

UC Santa Barbara at Hawaii, Mid

Toronto Brooklyn New York Boston Philadelphia SOUTHEAST DIVISION

L OT Pts GF GA 16 3 75 167 120 19 5 69 163 139 21 6 66 139 139 22 6 66 171 180 19 12 62 146 158 21 11 61 164 182 27 7 51 137 175 32 8 38 107 164

W 26 21 19 17 15

L 22 25 29 33 35

Pct .542 .457 .396 .340 .300

GB – 4 7 10 12

W 34 25 24 22 14

L 13 22 23 28 37

Pct .723 .532 .511 .440 .275

GB – 9 10 13½ 22

W 38 24

L 10 24

Pct .792 .500

GB – 14

HOCKEY NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE MINNESOTA WILD _ Traded C Chad Rau to San Jose for RW Curt Gogol.

COLLEGE AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE _ Named Carlos Padilla II executive director of the Miami Beach Bowl.

FLORIDA STATE _ Named Charles Kelly defensive coordinator.

IOWA STATE _ Named Mark Mangino tight ends coach and offensive coordinator, Tommy Mangino wide receivers coach and Brandon Blaney offensive line coach. Promoted wide receivers coach Todd Sturdy to quarterbacks coach.

B4

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NATIONAL SIGNING DAY

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

MCGEE FROM PAGE B1

SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO

Lee Central running back/defensive back George Howard, center, signed with Garden City Community College in Kansas on Wednesday at the LCHS library during National Signing Day.

Lee Central’s Howard looks to use Garden City CC as DI springboard

BY DENNIS BRUNSON dennisb@theitem.com BISHOPVILLE — Dorothy knew she wasn’t in Kansas anymore. George Howard knows he has never been to Kansas, but that will soon come to an end.

Howard, a running back and linebacker/defensive back for Lee Central High School, signed to play football with Garden City Community College — in Garden City, Kan. — on Wednesday in the Lee Central Media Center.

And why did Howard sign with a junior college halfway across the country sight unseen?

“Because the opportunity is there for me,” Howard said. “I’ve always wanted to play (NCAA) Division I (Football Bowl Subdivision) football and a couple of years there and hopefully I’ll have a chance to do that.”

Garden HOWARD City had a good selling point in Howard’s eyes — Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall.

After getting kicked off the University of Georgia football team as a freshman for stealing from a teammate, Marshall went

to Garden City for the 2012. He had a great year for GCCC, signed with Auburn, won the starting QB job and led the Tigers to the national championship game.

Howard hopes to get the opportunity to play at a Southeastern Conference school like Auburn.

“I’m going to be building my body up,” Howard said. “My body right now isn’t ready for the SEC. I’m hoping a couple of seasons at Garden City will help me make that transition, and I’ll get the chance to play in the SEC.” Howard had offers from other JCs as well as from

some smaller 4-year schools, but he didn’t want to cheat himself out of a DI opportunity that might be there.

Howard was an all-Region VII-2A selection. As a running back, he rushed for 807 yards and eight touchdowns while picking up 50 tackles and six tackles for loss on the defensive side of the ball.

“George was just an outstanding player for us,” said Lee Central head coach Baron Turner. “He was very good on both sides of the ball.”

Howard said the Garden City coaching staff is looking at using him as an outside linebacker or safety.

Stallions DL Lisbon eager for next challenge at Newberry

BY DENNIS BRUNSON dennisb@theitem.com BISHOPVILLE — When Kinard Lisbon began playing football at Lee Central Middle School six years ago, he, like many teenage boys, dreamed of playing college football.

It was, though, a distant dream.

The dream became more well-defined for Lisbon, however.

“As I got older and better, I began to realize (playing college football) was a possibility,” Lisbon said.

On Wednesday, National Signing Day, Lisbon saw the dream come to fruition as the Lee Central High defensive lineman signed with Newberry College.

“Newberry was just the best fit for

DARLEY FROM PAGE B1 standout for the Monarchs, said his goal was always to play college football and on Wednesday, National Signing Day, Darley signed with Charlotte, a new Football Bowl Subdivision school.

“It’s unreal,” Darley said of signing with the 49ers. “I’ve worked so hard to get here. Just to see all my family here supporting me is a good feeling.

“I’m not going to lie, it felt like home. Because I’m from Alcolu, and when you go to a big city like Charlotte it’s different, but it feels like they put me in a better position to grow as a man and a football player.”

The Shrine Bowler had 108 solo tackles and 62

me,” said Lisbon, who was also considering Winston-Salem State. “It had what I was looking for educationally (a graphic design department). They have a really good football program, and the coaches and the players were nice when I went there on my visit. I just felt like it is where I need to be.”

LISBON Newberry will use the 6-foot-3-inch, 270pound Lisbon on the defensive line, according to Lisbon. He was an 2A All-State defensive tackle for the Stallions, finishing with 90 tackles, 12 of them for loss, and four quarterback sacks. He played center on offense for the Stallions, grading

assists for the Monarchs.

Offensively as a tight end, he had three receptions, one for a touchdown.

Darley also considered South Carolina State, Appalachian State, Georgia Southern and Presbyterian before deciding playing at college football’s highest level was the right move for him.

“I was always motivated,” he said of wanting to achieve his goal of playing college football.

“When you work hard and you still don’t see what you want to see as far as recruitment you start wondering. (Making the Shrine Bowl) reassured me I was doing the things I was supposed to and I always felt like I could play Division I football.”

Darley, who played both defensive end and

out at 87 percent with four pancake blocks.

Lee Central head coach Baron Turner said he is going to miss Lisbon, who was a 3-year starter for Lee Central.

“He’s just a solid, good you man,” Turner said. “I’m proud of him, and he’s such a humble young man. He was a great football player for us, he’s his class valedictorian. To be honest, Kinard did everything right. I’m glad he is getting this opportunity.”

Newberry is a long-time member of the South Atlantic Conference.

The Wolves went 10-3 last season and reached the NCAA Division II playoffs. Newberry lost to fellow SAC member Carson-Newman 37-28 in the opening round.

linebacker for MHS, said the 49ers are giving him the opportunity to play either position, but the ability to start is all on him. Charlotte went 5-6 in its first year in Conference USA. Manning head football coach Tony Felder thinks Darley’s best football is yet to come.

“When he played at the Shrine Bowl against guys who possibly are going to Florida State, Carolina, Clemson — big time Division I programs — not only did Cam compete, but he excelled there at the Shrine Bowl,” Felder said. “I think the deal is Charlotte is getting a great kid, No. 1, a great athlete and his best football is yet to come. His presence as team captain and leadership is certainly going to be missed.”

of me, the visit went good and they offered me. They said they wanted someone who would be able to come in and play right away.”

Crestwood head coach Keith Crolley said McGee is the first player he has had sign with junior college to later sign with a 4-year school. He believes UAB is getting a very good football player.

“He’s bigger, stronger and faster than he was when he played with us, and he was pretty good for us,” Crolley said of McGee, who will receive his associate’s degree from GMC in March.

“I think this is a good opportunity for him because he’s going to be someone that this staff actually brought in, not someone who they inherited. I don’t see why he can’t be successful there.”

McGee will get to play his home games at historic Legion Field in Birmingham.

Also, the Blazers will have road games against Southeastern Conference schools Arkansas and Mississippi State in the 2014 season.

UAB is a member of Conference USA, going 2-10 last season.

McGee has 54 tackles for GMC this past season — 21 solo and 33 assists — seven quarterback sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery heading into the Mississippi Bowl against East Mississippi in the National Junior College Athletic Association national title game. He led GMC in tackles and was named the team’s defensive most valuable player in a losing effort. He had eight tackles, seven of them solo, three tackles for loss and one sack.

Among those celebrating McGee’s signing was Pastor Joann Murrill. She has been his pastor at Victory Full Gospel Church since McGee was small.

“We’re just so proud of him,” Murrill said. “He’s accomplished so much. He’s a great athlete, and he’s always been a good person.”

WRIGHT FROM PAGE B1 football program after a 50-year absence.

The school played club football in 2013 but will compete in a full NCAA Division II slate this year in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference — the same conference Benedict College in Columbia is in.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to play college ball,” Wright said. “I just felt like Paine was the right fit for me.

They run a similar cover-2 scheme like at Sumter and I thought I could come in and be ready to go right away.

“It’s not about the (scholarship) money for me; it’s about the right fit on and off the field.”

Wright also turned down impressive offers from North Greenville and Newberry, including a full ride from the Wolves.

“Both Newberry and North Greenville are great colleges, great programs, but I just really bought into what Paine was offering me,” he said.

The Lions also bought into what Wright showed this past season for SHS. A North-South All-Star Game selection, Wright led Sumter with 11 interceptions, broke up 18 passes and had 51 tackles in helping the Gamecocks earn a berth in the 4A Division I state championship game.

“He was a difference maker in the secondary back there for us this year,” Kennedy said. “He led us in picks, but more importantly, he was a leader for us on and off the field.”

Wright provided Sumter with a coveted shutdown corner, and his skills as a cover man are likely what colleges picked up on as the season progressed, Kennedy said.

“He’s very disciplined in zone (coverage) but also has great man-to-man technique,” Kennedy said. “I think those two things really stood out the farther along in the playoffs we went.”

RAY FROM PAGE B1 weeks. The Limestone coaching staff made contact with Knights head coach Keith Crolley and Ray ended up getting an invitation to a tryout camp Limestone was having in the middle of January.

Ray went to the camp and the Limestone staff was impressed enough to offer him a scholarship.

“What they really liked about Jonathan was his ability to place the ball wherever he wants to,” Crolley said of his 3-year starter.

“He may not have the strongest leg in the world, but he can kick the ball wherever you want. If you want him to kick it to a guy who is not good at returns, he can do it. He could kick the ball to me (on the sidelines) if I asked him to.”

Ray was 39 of 43 on extra point attempts for the Knights this past season and connected on two field goals with a long of 37 yards. He is looking forward to the opportunity to compete for the job at Lime-

stone.

“Here at Crestwood I always knew I was going to be doing the kicking,” Ray said. “It’s going to be fun to have to compete for the job at Limestone.”

Ray said he was told by the staff that it will bring in one more kicker.

“This is a great opportunity for him, going to a program that’s in its first year,” Crolley said. “He’ll be able to set the standards for the school if he wins the job.”

Crolley laments the fact that he won’t have a Ray as a placekicker for the first time since the 2004 season. Jonathan’s brother, B.J., started kicking for Crestwood in the ‘05.

He was followed by Thomas and Jonathan came after him.

Limestone will be playing its first season of collegiate football this year. It will be an NCAA Division II school that will play each of the eight members of the South Atlantic Conference beginning this year and running through 2018.

However, Limestone will not be a member of the conference.

NATIONAL SIGNING DAY

THE SUMTER ITEM

COASTAL CAROLINA SIGNEES Jack Flood, ol, 6-5, 285, Belen Jesuit HS, Miami, Fla. Sedrick Palmer, lb, 5-10, 280, Eagles Landing HS, McDonough, Ga. Alex McLaughlin, db, 5-11, 180, Littleton (Mass.) HS Anthony Chesley, db, 6-0, 165, Gwynn Park HS, Brandywine, Md. Omar Black, wr, 6-2, 190, Hillgrove HS, Marietta, Ga. James Heft, ath, 6-2, 185, Young Americans Christian HS, Covington, Ga. Delano Walters, ath, 5-9, 155, Socastee HS, Myrtle Beach, S.C. Aaron Donalson, lb, 6-2, 204, Christian Brothers Academy, Syracuse, N.Y. Josh Stilley, qb, 6-1, 195, William A. Hough HS, Cornelius, N.C. Hunter Floyd, ol, 6-5, 250, Myrtle Beach (S.C.) HS Christian Gill, dt, 6-4, 240, Navarre (Fla.) HS Isaac Martin, 5-10, 190, rb, Cleveland HS, Clayton, N.C. Dae’quan Harrison, cb, 5-10, 165, Osceola HS, Kissimee, Fla.

FURMAN SIGNEES Issac Garcia, rb, 5-10, 195, Olympic HS, Charlotte, N.C. Matthew Schmidt, ol, 6-3, 287, McMichael HS, Stokesdale, N.C. Ridge Gibson, fb, 5-10, 211, Walton HS, Marietta, Ga. Kealand Dirks, rb, 6-0, 228, West Forsyth HS, Lewisville, N.C. Chris Wade, ol, 6-4, 278, Independence HS, Charlotte, N.C. Chinedu Okonya, de, 6-1, 215, Riverdale (Ga.) HS Joe Farrar, db, 5-9, 185, Tucker (Ga.) HS Kedar Bryant, te, 6-4, 230, Providence HS, Jacksonville, Fla. Jon Croft Hollingsworth, 5-11, 152, k, Greenwood (S.C.) HS Jaylan Reid, dl, 5-11, 266, Marietta (Ga.) HS Bradford Lemmons, wr, 6-3, 175, Dreher HS, Columbia, S.C. A’lencio Graham, wr, 6-0, 173, Flowery Branch HS, Lawrenceville, Ga. Jack Bryant, ol, 6-3, 275, Woodward Academy, Atlanta, Ga. Hunter Branch, wr, 6-0, 175, Mountain Brook HS, Birmingham, Ala. Antonio Wilcox, s, 6-2, 190, Fitzgerald (Ga.) HS PJ Blazejowski, qb, 6-0, 174, Bartram Trail HS, St. Augustine, Fla. Harris Roberts, qb, 6-2, 175, North Forsyth HS, Cumming, Ga. Ajay Williams, te, 6-4, 241, Beddingfield HS, Elm City, N.C. Connor Jackson, de, 6-4, 254, Florida State University School, Tallahassee, Fla. Daniel Butler, dl, 6-3, 265, Enterprise (Ala.) HS Terrell Bush, ol, 6-3, 310, Tuscaloosa Academy, Tuscaloosa, Ala. Evan Jager, ath, 6-2, 200, Lake Highland Prep, Orlando, Fla.

PRESBYTERIAN SIGNEES Hunter Watson, qb, 6-0, 195, Ninety Six (S.C.) HS Ryan Burgess, db, 6-1, 190, Chamblee (Ga.) HS Thomas Hughes, ol, 6-3, 275, Edisto (S.C.) HS Jerry Burk, lb, 6-3, 230, Concord (N.C.) HS Joseph Kelly, ol, 6-3, 280, Brookwood HS, Snellville, Ga. Maleek Catchings, lb, 6-4, 214, Wheeler HS, Marietta, Ga. Darshaughn Lee-Green, ol, 6-4, 300, Berkmar HS, Lawrenceville, Ga. Zachary Cooper, ol, 6-1, 280, Dorman HS, Spartanburg, S.C. Deont’e Davis, dt, 6-1, 280, Lithonia (Ga.) HS Steve Osondu, db, 5-10, 178, Luella HS, McDonough, Ga. Gyasi Yeldell, de, 6-2, 240, Silver Bluff HS, Aiken, S.C. John Biscardi, ol, 6-3, 285, Fleming Island (Fla.) HS DarQuez Watson, wr, 6-2, 205, Lakewood HS, Petersburg, Fla. Zachary Pollard, rb, 5-11, 205, South Caldwell HS, Granite Falls, N.C. Ben Cheek, qb, 6-2, 190, Franklin County HS, Lavonia, Ga. Marcus Moody, lb, 6-0, 200, BambergEhrhardt HS, Bamberg, S.C. Jordan Guyton, lb, 5-11, 210, T.R. Robinson HS, Tampa, Fla. Michael Riley Hilton, te, 6-3, 220, Nation Ford HS, Fort Mill, S.C. Michael Fisher, db, 5-9, 170, South Iredell HS, Mooresville, N.C. Frank Keller, ol, 6-2, 280, Eugene Ashley HS, Wilmington, N.C. Kendric Salley, rb, 5-9, 183, South Carolina, Williston, S.C.

USC finds help on defense

BY JEFFREY COLLINS The Associated Press COLUMBIA — South Carolina signed a recruiting class heavy on defense and the in-state players that have helped the Gamecocks to their most successful seasons in history.

Coach Steve Spurrier targeted defensive players to replace stars like Jadeveon Clowney and Kelcy Quarles, juniors on the defensive line who left early for the NFL. The Gamecocks signed four defensive linemen and four cornerbacks and SpurriSPURRIER er said some of them might be on the field before the year is over.

“There is some opportunities for these freshman to play,’’ Spurrier said. “We’ll let them earn it as they go.

It was a typical Spurrier recruiting class. Spurrier picked up nine players from South Carolina, including several of the state’s prize recruits. He snatched defensive tackle Dexter Wideman, who was leaning toward Florida State and cornerback Chris Lammons, who was seriously considering Wisconsin. But they didn’t crack the top 20 in the major rankings.

But most of Spurrier’s classes have not been highly touted. But they have done unprecedented things on the field. The Gamecocks have gone 11-2 in each of the past three seasons. South Carolina only had one 10-win season when Spurrier took over in 2004.

“We don’t make a lot of noise on signing day for some reason. But we’ve got a lot of good players,’’ Spurrier said.

Whether South Carolina can find spots on the roster for all 21 signees is still up in the air. The team lost just five seniors and four juniors who left school early for the NFL draft. But Gamecocks recruiting coordinator Steve Spurrier Jr. said he thinks academic problems and other shifts will help sort things

SOUTH CAROLINA National rankings (Rivals 22; Scout 30).

Best in class: Bryson Allen-Williams, lb, Ellenwood, Ga. Best of the rest: Dante Sawyer, de, Suwanee, Ga.; Dexter Wideman, dt, Saluda, S.C. Late additions: Chris Lammons, Wideman.

One that got away: None.

SIGNEES Bryson Allen-Williams, lb, 6-1, 231, Ellenwood HS, Cedar Grove, Ga. Joe Blue, fb, 5-10, 255, Dillon (S.C.) HS Kevin Crosby, te, 6-1, 230, Bamberg-Ehrhardt HS, Bamberg, S.C. Shaq Davidson, wr, 5-11, 170, Gaffney (S.C.) HS Terry Googer, wr, 6-4, 210, Woodward Academy, Atlanta Wesley Green, cb, 5-10, 176, Martin Luther King HS, Lithonia, Ga. Al Harris Jr., cb, 5-11, 162, St. Thomas Aquinas HS, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Abu Lamin, dt, 6-4, 295, Fort Scott (Kan.) CC, Fayetteville, N.C. Chris Lammons, cb, 5-10, 172, Plantation HS, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Blake McClain, de, 6-3, 265, Sandalwood HS, Jacksonville, Fla. Kalan Ritchie, de, 6-5, 226, Goose Creek (S.C.) HS Tyshun Samuel, wr, 6-0, 192, Chapman HS, Inman, S.C. Dante Sawyer, de, 6-2, 235, North Gwinnett HS, Suwanee, Ga. Michael Scarncchia, qb, 6-4, 189, Fleming Island (Fla.) HS Darin Smalls, cb, 5-11, 180, Summerville (S.C.) HS D.J. Smith, cb, 5-11, 189, Walton HS, Marietta, Ga. Taylor Stallworth, dt, 6-2, 293, Murphy HS, Mobile, Ala. Donell Stanley, ol, 6-4, 346, Latta (S.C.) HS Jhaustin Thomas, de, 6-6, 255, Trinity Valley (Texas) CC, Covington, Ga. Dexter Wideman, dt, 6-4, 270, Saluda (S.C.) HS Malik Young, ol, 6-3, 318, Woodmont HS, Pelzer, S.C.

out.

The Gamecocks signed nine players from South Carolina, many of whom decided to come to the school as a group. In-state players like Clowney, running back Marcus Lattimore, wide receiver Alshon Jeffery and defensive back Stephon Gilmore have helped the Gamecocks rise to the top of the Southeastern Conference.

“Biggest difference in our program has been to keep those guys in state,’’ Spurrier Jr. said.

Tigers dip into Georgia for latest class

BY PETE IACOBELLI The Associated Press CLEMSON — Clemson reached across the border to Georgia to find a possible heir for record-setting quarterback Tajh Boyd and grab the nephew of Bulldogs Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker.

Tigers coach Dabo Swinney signed 22 players Wednesday, six of them from the neighboring Peach State.

Quarterback Deshaun Watson of Gainesville, Ga., is the SWINNEY state’s career record holder in total offense and combined touchdowns. He enrolled in January to try and compete for Boyd’s starting job.

Longtime Clemson fans still brag about how Walker never scored a touchdown in three games against the Tigers. Now, they’ve got something to else to hold over Walker with the signing of his nephew, tight end Milan Richard of Savannah, Ga. The other Clemson-bound recruits from Georgia are running back Adam Choice of Thomasville; receiver Demarre Kitt of Fayetteville; receiver Kyrin Priester of Lilburn; and linebacker Korie Rogers of Flowery Branch.

All six of the Tigers’ Georgia signees had offers to play for the Bulldogs.

Still, Georgia finished with a highly regarded class of its own, and the Bulldogs take on the Tigers in the season opener in Athens, Ga., on Aug. 30.

CLEMSON National rankings (Rivals 13; Scout 28).

Best in class: Deshaun Watson, QB, Gainesville, Ga. Best of the rest: Artavis Scott, WR, Oldsmar, Fla. Late addition: None.

One that got away: Andrew Williams, DE.

SIGNEES Demarre Kitt, wr, 6-1, 195, Sandy Creek HS, Fayetteville, Ga. Kyrin Priester, wr, 6-1, 185, Brookwood HS, Lilburn, Ga. Chris Register, lb, 6-4, 240, Dudley HS, Browns Summit, N.C. Artavis Scott, wr, 5-11, 185, East Lake HS, Oldsmar, Fla. Deshaun Watson, qb, 6-3, 188, Gainesville (Ga.) HS. Korie Rogers, lb, 6-2, 218, Buford HS, Flowery Branch, Ga. Milan Richard, te, 6-3, 233, Calvary Baptist School, Savannah, Ga. Taylor Hearn, ol, 6-3, 305, Williston-Elko HS, Williston, S.C. Justin Falcinelli, ol, 6-5, 300, Middletown (Md.) HS Adam Choice, rb, 5-10, 200, Thomas County Central HS, Thomasville, Ga. Alex Spence, k, 6-2, 190, West Florence HS, Florence, S.C. Trevion Thompson, wr, 6-3, 185, Hillside HS, Durham, N.C. Jae’lon Oglesby, rb, 5-11, 175, Daniel HS, Central, S.C. Jefferie Gibson, s, 6-3, 191, Gray’s Creek HS, Hope Mills, N.C. Kendall Joseph, lb, 5-11, 228, Belton-Honea Path HS, Belton, S.C. Cannon Smith, te, 6-5, 235, Hammond School, Columbia, S.C. Jalen Williams, lb, 5-11, 220, Blythewood HS, Columbia, S.C. Richard Yeargin, de, 6-4, 225, NOVA University School, Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. C.J. Fuller, rb, 5-11, 198, Easley (S.C.) HS Jabril Robinson, dt, 6-2, 255, North Brunswick HS, Leland, N.C. Judah Davis, lb, 6-2, 212, Daniel HS, Clemson, S.C. J.D. Davis, lb, 6-2, 218, Daniel HS, Clemson, S.C.

CITADEL SIGNEES Jalen Lampkin, qb, 5-10, 176, Westside HS, Augusta, Ga. Logan Robinson, dl, 6-4, 225, Yorktown HS, Arlington, Va. Houston Tyler, dl, 6-0, 260, Southmoore HS, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Shon Belton, qb, 5-11, 187, Lugoff-Elgin HS, Lugoff, S.C. Shy Phillips, db, 6-0, 165, Hartsville (S.C.) HS Reggie Benjamin, db, 5-9, 190, Palm Bay (Fla.) HS Tristan Harkleroad, ol, 6-2, 275, Benedictine Military School, Savannah, Ga. Tre’von White, de, 6-5, 200, Pelham (Ga.) HS Jonathan King, dl, 6-1, 258, South Iradell

HS, Statesville, N.C. Sydney Martin, ol, 6-2, 270, Byrnes HS, Lyman, S.C. Russell Hubbs, lb, 6-1, 222, Northwestern HS, Rock Hill, S.C. Derrick Freeland, ol, 6-1, 245, Mallard Creek HS, Charlotte, N.C. Juaveer Hammond, wr, 5-8, 170, Strom Thurmond HS, Johnston, S.C. Josh Massey, db, 5-11, 190, South Pointe HS, Rock Hill, S.C. Myles Pierce, lb, 6-0, 227, Daphne (Ala.) HS Matt Thompson II, wr, 5-11, 205, Morristown East HS, Morristown, Tenn.

Quinlan Washington, wr, 6-0, 185, Buckholz HS, Gainesville, Fla.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

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B5

S.C. STATE SIGNEES Kwamelle Barnes, ol, 6-5, 315, Saluda (S.C.) HS Jermiane Baxley, db, 6-3, 185, Burke County HS, Waynesboro, Ga. Alex Brown, db, 5-10, 170, Lake Marion HS, Holly Hill, S.C. Quan Caldwell, wr, 5-11, 170, Chester (S.C.) HS Kendall Cobb, te, 6-2, 250, Peachtree Ridge HS, Lawrenceville, Ga. Quadarius Fair, wr, 6-2, 200, Northwestern HS, Rock Hill, S.C. Damu Ford, fb, 5-11, 240, Dillon (S.C.) HS TJ Foster, wr, 6-3, 175, Union County HS, Jonesville, S.C. DeAngelo Frazier, te, 6-5, 213, Baptist Hill HS, Adams Run, S.C. Caleb Harris, ol, 6-5, 260, Dutch Fork HS, Irmo, S.C. Lynard Jamison, wr, 5-9, 165, Blythewood HS, Columbia, S.C. Jontavious Mack, dl, 6-2, 290, Lackawanna College, Darlington, S.C. Austin Ruger, te, 6-2, 225, Dutch Fork HS, Irmo, S.C. Tyler Scandrett, ath, 5-9, 170, Lamar County HS, Barnesville, Ga. Robbie Stephenson, ol, 6-3, 250, Creekside HS, Atlanta, Ga. KJ Williams, te, 6-1, 230, Dutch Fork HS, Irmo, S.C. Bryant Wilson, de, 6-5, 230, Burke County HS, Waynesboro, Ga.

WOFFORD SIGNEES Colton Clemons, lb, 6-0, 226, Whitewater HS, Fayetteville, Ga. Ross Demmel, ol, 6-3, 280, Colerain HS, Cincinnati, Ohio Connor Foradas, ol, 6-6, 305, Hernando HS, Brooksville, Fla. Chandler Gouger, te, 6-4, 235, Baylor School, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Jared Jacon-Duffy, ol, 6-4, 320, Archbishop Moeller HS, Pleasant Plain, Ohio Pierre Johnson, db, 5-10, 175, Pinellas Park HS, Clearwater, Fla. Brandon Kuhn, db, 5-10, 180, Fleming Island (Fla.) HS Tyreik Lyles, lb, 6-0, 183, Byrnes HS, Duncan, S.C. Bryce Motes, wr, 6-0, 170, Fleming Island (Fla.) HS Chase Nelson, fb, 5-10, 225, Chattahoochee HS, Alpharetta, Ga. John Patterson, lb, 6-1, 225, Parkview HS, Lilburn, Ga. Malik Rivera, db, 5-11, 190, Bartram Trail HS, Saint Johns, Fla. Michael Roach, lb, 6-3, 203, Indian Trail HS, Pleasant Prairie, Wisc.

Andre Stoddard, fb, 5-10, 220, St. Joseph’s School, Greenville, S.C. Nick Taylor, ol, 6-6, 275, Broome HS, Spartanburg, S.C. R.J. Taylor, wr, 5-11, 185, Tates Creek HS, Lexington, Ky.

CHARLESTON SOUTHERN SIGNEES Davion Anderson, db, 6-1, 200, Northeast HS, Macon, Ga. D’Andre Belton, qb, 5-11, 185, Fairfield Central HS, Winnsboro, S.C. Marshall Barnette, ol, 6-3, 270, Jack Britt HS, Fayetteville, N.C. Gage Bostwick, ol, 6-2, 270, Lake Brantley HS, Altamonte Springs, Fla. Solomon Brown, lb, 6-1, 200, Daniel HS, Central, S.C. Ramel Crawford, dl, 6-0, 255, Tucker HS, Atlanta, Ga. Zane Cruz, lb, 6-2, 205, Yulee HS, Jacksonville, Fla. Tyrell Dukes, cb, 5-10, 180, St. James HS, Murrells Inlet, S.C. Anthony Ellis, dl, 6-1, 245, Apopka (Fla.) HS Tyrell Fleming, lb, 6-2, 230, Daniel HS, Central, S.C. Keegan Karim, db, 6-2, 180, Harrison HS, Kennesaw, Ga. David Kennedy, k, 5-11, 185, Summerville (S.C.) HS Noah Oliver, dl, 6-3, 255, Lake Brantley HS, Altamonte Springs, Fla. JaJuan Perkins, db, 5-10, 180, East Gadsen HS, Quincy, Fla. Bobby Ruff, lb, West Ashley (S.C.) HS Nick Sands, lb, 6-1, 235, Eastside HS, Taylors, S.C. D.J. Shamlee, db, 6-2, 170, Ridgeview HS, Columbia, S.C. Davontae Shepherd, rb, 6-0, 185, Cross (S.C.) HS Michaeel Simmons, lb, Stratford HS, Goose Creek, S.C. Jonathan Slaton, db, 5-10, 180, Arabia Mountain HS, Lithonia, Ga. Kellen Snider, lb, Fort White (Fla.) HS Kewaun Squirewell, wr, 5-10, 175, Fairfield Central HS, Ridgeway, S.C. Mike Taylor, dl, 6-3, 235, Allendale-Fairfax HS, Fairfax, S.C. Nick Tononi, ol, 5-11, 260, Fort Dorchester HS, North Charleston, S.C. Quan White, db, 6-1, 195, Christ Church School, Greenville, S.C. Patrick Woods, k-p, 5-11, 200, Pine Forest HS, Fayetteville, N.C.

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OBITUARIES | SPORTS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

LORRAINE PAYLOR-CONYERS ROSLYN, N.Y. — Lorraine Paylor-Conyers, 69, wife of Henry Conyers, died Monday, Jan. 27, 2014, at St. Francis Hospital, Roslyn.

She was born June 28, 1944, in New York, N.Y., a daughter of the late Lewis and Epsie Malloy Sampson.

She received her formal education in the New York City Public School System.

She earned her PAYLORbachelor of sciCONYERS ence degree in criminal justice from John Jay College. She was employed as a narcotics correctional officer at New York State Narcotics Addition Control Commission. Later, she was employed by the New York State Department Correctional Service as a correctional officer and was the first African-American female to be promoted to sergeant at Attica Correctional Facility. She also was employed at Edgecomb Rehab Center, Green Haven, Parkside, Queensboro and Sing Sing. She was an ordained as a minister by the House of David Ministries.

Some additional “hats” consisted of the following at her church, Calvary Tabernacle: actress in the drama ministry, missionary and choir member.

Survivors are her husband; one daughter, Kenneeda Taylor-(Robert A.) Sidberry; two grandchildren, Robert K. and Monique Jasmine-Epsie Sidberry; one brother, Lewis Sampson Jr.; one sister, Nona Hilliard; one brother-in-law; four sisters-in-law; and one great-aunt.

The celebratory services for Mrs. Conyers will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Spring Hill AME Church, 4309 Bill Davis Road, Summerton, with the Rev. Emma J. Mellerson, pastor. Burial will follow in the churchyard cemetery.

Mrs. Conyers will lie in repose one hour prior to funeral time.

The family is receiving friends at the family home, 1420 Oliver James Road, Summerton.

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

ANN E. HODGES Ann Elaine Hodges, 44, died Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born in Sumter, she was a daughter of the late Clyde Sr. and Johnnie Ann Brown Hodges. She was a member of Pine Grove Baptist Church and was formerly employed at Pinewood Manufacturing, Young’s Food Stores and High’s Answering Service.

Survivors inHODGES clude two sons, Sean Brown and Daniel Johnson, both of Sumter; two daughters, Stephanie Johnson and Marisssa Johnson, both of Sumter; a grandchild, Pearl Johnson; three brothers, Raymond Henderson (Rose), Clyde Hodges Jr. (Linda) and Dwayne Hodges (Marcie), all of Sumter; a sister, Doris Woodard (Henry) of Greenwood; two nephews; and a niece.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Jimmy Hodges.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in the Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Don Riner officiating.

Burial will be in Green Acres Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Dwayne Hodges, 514 Boulevard Road.

Memorials may be made to Pine Grove Baptist Church,

433 Old Manning Road, Sumter, SC 29150.

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

THE SUMTER ITEM Broad St., Sumter, was in charge of the arrangements, (803) 775-9386.

MICHAEL T. BRUNSON Michael Tyrell Brunson, 29, departed this life on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born Aug. 30, 1984, in Sumter County, he was a son of Michael Prescott and the late Cynthia E. Brunson.

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

LOUISE D. DENNIS Louise DuRant Dennis, widow of William M. Dennis V, passed away on Monday, Feb. 3, 2014, at Magnolia Manor of Columbia.

Born in Sumter, she was a daughter of the late Dr. E.P. and Cora Clyde DuRant. She graduated from Lander University and also served with the American Red Cross during World War II. She married William M. Dennis in 1945 in Leghorn, Italy.

Surviving are two sons, William M. Dennis VI of Vail, Ariz., and Robert C. (Donna) Dennis of Clarksville, Va.; one daughter, Tanney Dennis (Mark) Kuhn of Blythewood; one brother, Dr. Eddie (Gloria) DuRant of Sumter; five grandchildren; and one greatgrandchild.

She was preceded in death by one brother, Harrell DuRant; and two sisters, Harriett D. (Neal) Houston and Clyde D. (Mark) Kirkpatrick.

Private graveside services were held at Sumter Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 3223 Sunset Blvd., Suite 100, West Columbia, SC 29169 or to the charity of one’s choice.

Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221

EMILY R. BURNS Emily “Emmie” Rowland Burns, 85, widow of Richard Buchanan Burns, died Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, at her home.

Born in Sumter, she was a daughter of the late Earle and Edmonia Garrett Rowland.

Mrs. Burns attended Sumter public schools and was a graduate of Salem College.

She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, the Sumter Junior Welfare League, the Daughters Book Club, the Posse Cats and the Assembly Club.

Surviving are four sons, Richard Buchanan Burns Jr. of Sumter, Alwin Caruthers Burns III of Sumter, Claude Garrett Burns (Ellen) of Summerville and Charles Rowland Burns (Marian) of Sumter; and eight grandchildren, Sarah Burns, Margaret Burns, Rowland Burns (Laura), Emily Burns, Rebecca Burns Jenkins (Blake), Anna Burns, Olivia Burns and Banks Burns.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Charles G. Rowland II; and two sisters, Margaret Rowland Bagnal and Edmonia Rowland Stockton.

Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday at Sumter Cemetery with the Rev. Earle Rowland officiating.

The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Sumter Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 2746, Sumter, SC 29151, or to United

Ministries of Sumter County, P.O. Box 1017, Sumter, SC 29151.

The family would like to extend a special word of thanks to the Visiting Angels, Tuomey Hospice and her special friend, Alberta Capers.

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

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

HENRY O. McLEOD MANNING — Henry Oliver McLeod, 47, husband of Patricia Rich McLeod, died Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, at his residence, 5444 Juneburn Road, Manning.

He was born June 23, 1966, in Timmonsville, a son of Annie McLeod Burgess and the late Edward Burgess.

The family is receiving friends at the home of his mother, 1960 McNeil Road, Olanta.

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

ELLA MAE SMITH Ella Mae Smith, 87, widow of John Smith, departed this life on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014, at McLeod Regional Medical Center, Florence.

She was born April 9, 1926, a daughter of the late Will Simmons and Lillie Mae Fulton.

The family will be receiving friends at the home, 1253 U.S. 76, Lynchburg.

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

USC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Even Staley surprised by Lady Gamecocks’ success

BY RYAN WOOD Post and Courier COLUMBIA — Before the season began, Dawn Staley had high expectations for her South Carolina women’s basketball team.

The Gamecocks slowly grew in stature during Staley’s first five seasons in Columbia. They reached the 25-win mark in each of the past two seasons, making the NCAA tournament both years. With a young and talented core returning, South Carolina was primed for more success.

But Staley couldn’t have expected this.

The Gamecocks have been on a torrid pace STALEY this winter, with a 20-2 record and No. 6 national ranking in the Associated Press top 25 poll. South Carolina sits atop the SEC standings with less than a month left in the regular season, one game ahead of Tennessee and Texas A&M. “It really has caught us by surprise,” Staley said last week. “Because I didn’t know what kind of team would take the floor. I knew we would work hard. I knew we’d be a little bit bigger.

I thought it would take us a while to kind of find an identity from an offensive standpoint and a defensive standpoint.

“I think it goes to show what kind of leaders we have. There are players in our program that have been through it all — Sweet 16, and going back to the tournament. So they’re lending their experience from previous seasons to this team, and it’s paying big dividends.”

Junior forward Aleighsa Welch is one of those leaders. A year after being named to the All-SEC second team, Welch has only gotten better this season — averaging 13.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

It’s the team success, not individual numbers, Welch cares about most. As expected from a team leader, she won’t allow her teammates to rest on their accomplishments in the regular season.

“We’re all aware of it, but it’s not something we come in and we talk

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

South Carolina’s Aleighsa Welch (24) has upped her game from last year and is one of the reasons why the sixth-ranked Gamecocks have performed well above expectations. about every day,” said Welch, who played at Goose Creek High School.

“We know every other team that we play is aware of it too. So, you can’t get ahead of yourself.

“Still a lot of games left, and that (20-2) start can go down the drain from here if you get too ahead of yourself.”

The Gamecocks will have a tough

end to their season. Their final three road games will be at No. 16 LSU, No. 15 Kentucky and No. 8 Tennessee.

South Carolina’s remaining home schedule — Arkansas on Sunday, followed by Florida and Georgia — is far from a breeze.

Maybe that’s why Staley won’t let her team look ahead. A regular season conference championship would

be nice. Ultimately, the Gamecocks strive for postseason accomplishments.

“I think this team has been one that stays in the moment,” Staley said. “We need to do what got us here. What got us here is not looking ahead, not skipping over opponents.”

Not skipping over opponents. Just pummeling them, one at a time.

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

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

COMICS

THE SUMTER ITEM

BIZARRO

SOUP TO NUTZ

ANDY CAPP

GARFIELD

BEETLE BAILEY

BORN LOSER

BLONDIE

ZITS

MOTHER GOOSE

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B7

DOG EAT DOUG

DILBERT

JEFF MACNELLY’S SHOE

Handheld electronics may be more than fun DEAR ABBY — I am writing about the letter from “Holding My Tongue” (Nov. 8), the woman who was upset because Dear Abby many chilABIGAIL dren were VAN BUREN playing with electronic devices during her grandchildren’s school concerts and recitals. While I agree that most children should pay attention to the event at hand, as the mother of two children on the autism spectrum, I have a different perspective.

There are apps and games designed to keep these children occupied and help them deal with the stress and anxi-

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

ety of being in a large group of people. I should not have to leave my sons at home because they are on the spectrum, so a harmless, quiet game that allows them to participate without being disruptive is a godsend to me.

Sometimes it is not obvious WHY someone is doing something; so as long as it isn’t disrupting the event, please try to be tolerant.

Laura in Pennsylvania DEAR LAURA — Your point is well-stated, and was one made by a number of parents of children with special needs. Readers had interesting comments on this topic, so I’m sharing a few: DEAR ABBY — If there’s a possibility young children could be unruly during a perfor-

THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

mance, I think they should be allowed to use a tablet or something to keep them occupied.

Sometimes it’s hard to find a sitter or afford one. When children get dragged to programs they have no interest in, they lose patience and become fidgety. If given something to occupy their attention, as long as it has headphones, then I don’t see a problem. I’d rather have that than kids shouting, screaming and crying because they’re unhappy being there.

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

JUMBLE

SUDOKU

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME

By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

HOW TO PLAY: Each row, column and set of 3-by-3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 through 9 without repetition.

Across 1 Easter season: Abbr.

4 62-Across coat 7 Interest fig.

10 Long, on Molokai 11 Experience with enthusiasm 13 Pi follower 14 “Out” crier 15 Chic “Bye” 16 Charged particle 17 Detox place 19 Bridal emanations 21 Reminiscent of venison 22 Dweeb 23 Red state?

26 Easy gaits 29 Given a hand 30 Annabella of “The Sopranos” 31 Chased (after) 32 Whirling 34 Farm feed 35 Computer that once came in “flavors” 37 Biscuit, maybe 38 Strokes a 62-Across 39 Greek cheese 40 First name in one-lin-

ers 41 Actress Charlotte et al.

42 Fountain near the Spanish Steps 44 Buddy 45 __’acte 48 Flute part 50 Big enchilada 57 Babysitter’s handful 58 New evidence may lead to one 59 Fawn spawner 60 With 62-Across, a hint to the starts of this puzzle’s four longest Down answers 61 Slogan sites 62 See 60-Across Down 1 Bit of mudslinging 2 Fruit of ancient Persia 3 Vatican Palace painter 4 Pet rocks, e.g.

5 News agcy. since 1958 6 Regret bitterly

7 Preceding 8 Numbskull 9 Bunches 11 Daedalus’ creation 12 Combativeness 18 Cremona artisan 20 Red Square honoree 23 Lacking purpose 24 Juice extractor 25 Grab, as a line drive 26 D.C. network 27 Like most bawdy films 28 Lays down the law 33 Fig. on 26Down

36 Gave in 38 Groom with care 43 Unmoving 44 Hull stabilizers 46 “__ bien!”

47 Big name in IRAs 48 Rustle 49 “Take __!”

50 Aflame 51 Angst-filled genre 52 Killer Birds, e.g.

53 Calendar abbr.

54 Recipe instruction 55 Soft murmur 56 Barrel at a bash

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CLASSIFIEDS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 06, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

803-774-1234 OR TO PLACE YOUR AD ONLINE GO TO WWW.THE ITEM.COM/PLACEMYAD

CLASSIFIED DEADLINES 11:30 a.m. the day before for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday edition.

9:30 a.m. Friday for Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edition 11:30 a.m. Friday for Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edition.

CLASSIFIEDS

We will be happy to change your ad if an error is made; however we are not responsible for errors after the irst 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.

COMPLETE BED SETS 29 Progress St. - Sumter TWIN ............

FULL.............

775-8366 Ext. 37 QUEEN...........

Store Hours 0RQ 6DW Â&#x2021; 9:30 - 5:00 KING.............

Closed Sunday

LEGAL NOTICES Legal Notice Public Storage/ PS Orangeco, Inc.

Summons & Notice on November 14, 2013 at 2:51 pm.

Theodore von Keller, Esquire B. Lindsay Crawford III, Esquire Sara Hutchins, Esquire Adam H. Schanz, Esquire Attorneys for the Plaintiff Post Office Box 4216 Columbia, SC 29240 Telephone: (803) 790-2626

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY Notice is hereby given that the undersigned will sell to satisfy the lien of owner at public sale by competitive bidding on February 24th , 2014 personal and/or business property including but not limited to furniture, clothing, tools and other household/business items located at the properties listed.

The sale will begin at 1:00 pm at 1277 Camden Hwy, Sumter, SC 29153.

The personal goods stored therein by below named occupant(s);

ANNOUNCEMENTS Lost & Found Found in front of Alice Dr. fire station a crate of ropes & other objects. Owner call 316-3825 to identify.

Found: female young mix dog white w/ black patches in the area of Queen Chapel Rd. 406-9212 to identify.

Found: small dog on Pike Rd. near Farmer's Telephone. Owner call 499-4978/236-9007 to identify

In Memory

Purchase must be made with cash only and paid for at the time of sale.

All goods are sold as is and must be removed at the time of the sale. Sale is subject to adjournment.

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc., as attorney-in-fact for The Bank of New York Mellon, Plaintiff, vs.

Anthony McGee, Defendant.

TO: THE DEFENDANT ABOVE-NAMED: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer 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, 1640 St. Julian Place, Post Office Box 4216, Columbia, SC 29204, within thirty (30) days after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of service; and if you fail to answer the Complaint within the time aforesaid, the Plaintiff will apply to the Court for judgment by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the original Complaint in the above entitled action, together with the Summons, was filed in the Office of the Clerk of Court for Sumter County

MERCHANDISE

Looking to buy 1957 Edmonds High yearbook

Garage, Yard & Estate Sales Lincoln-Trinity Gymnasium Indoor Yard Sale 24 Council St Sat Feb.8 7AM-12PM Contact: J.L Green 803- 968-4173 or Ronetta Moses 803-983-8161 Sumter County Flea Mkt Hwy 378 E. 803-495-2281 500 tables. Sat. $8 free return Sun.

Ladies Diamond Eng ring in 14k Wht Gold, Top is Platinum, 1.50 ct t.w. center dia is 1.00 ct sol.

Written appraisal $6,000, asking $2,800. Call 803-464-8897

Split Oak Firewood, $65/dump, $70/stacked. Darrell Newman 803-316-0128. Tree Service also avail.

In loving memory of Mr. WA (Bill) Williams No one is ever forgotten as long as someone remembers. Get your rest. We love you, but God loves you best. From your loving wife and family.

BUSINESS SERVICES Exterminators FIRE ANT CONTROL GODBOLD ENTERPRISES Residential, Sporting Complexes, Cemeteries, Horse Pastures, Schools $85 For 1 Acre or less O: 843-407-7608 C: 843-687-4401

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

Roofing All Types of Roofing & Repairs All work guaranteed. 30 yrs exp.

SC lic. Virgil Bickley 803-316-4734.

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

SAVE SAVE SAVE! Trucking Opportunities 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

Schools / Instructional Ind. Baseball lessons - $20 for 30 min. $35/hr. Exp. player/coach.

Dyson Coker 843-373-2234.

Work Wanted I'm Available to clean your home.

Affordable, reliable 15 yrs exp ref's. Melissa 803-938-5204

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

Guaranteed.

803-464-5439 or 469-7311

EMPLOYMENT Help Wanted Full-Time Parts Puller needed. Must have own tools. Apply in person at Tim's Auto Parts, 1310 Hubcap Lane, Sumter. No phone calls, please.

50K-100k Opportunity Looking for licensed Ins professionals plus natural sale persons that must earn 50-100K, plus Health and Dental benefits. Fortune 500 training provided. Local Opportunity. Bilingual spanish speaking also urged to apply. Please call 795-3962 for Seminar details.

Car Stereo Plus is looking for positive, dependable (men or women) with automotive electronics experience. Applications can be picked up at 710 S. Pike West., Sumter (no phone calls please).

EXP CONCRETE FINSHER/ Working Foreman, valid Driver license, background/drug test, leadership skills. Submit resumes to Box 349 c//o The Item, PO Box 1677 Sumter SC 29151 B-N-T is looking for EMT's. Competiti ve wages. Fax in resume to: 803-774-4452 or call 803-774-4450.

TWIN ............. $8 EACH FULL............. $10 EACH QUEEN........... $11 EACH KING............. $12 EACH ASST. SHOWER CURTAINS $10 EACH

RECREATION

REAL ESTATE

Boats / Motors

Homes for Sale 2BR 2BA Apt for Sale Handicapped Access. Located in Willow Run. call 803 494-2850 for inspections. No Info on phone.

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

TRANSPORTATION

Use your Tax Money for a Down Payment Recently Foreclosed, Special Financing Available, Any Credit, Any Income. 3BR/1BA, 1290 Sq ft, located at, 3133 Pleasant Grove Rd, Lynchburg, $11,900.

Visit www.roselandco.com\ABX, Drive by then call 800-292-1550

RENTALS Rooms for Rent Roommate needed, access to whole house and utilities $250/mo.

Alice Dr. 803-983-3193 Gary

Tax Time is Here... Low Credit Score? Been turned down for bad credit? Come try us, we do our own financing. We have 3-4-5 bedroom homes. Layaway program available. For more information, call 843-389-4215.

Unfurnished Apartments

4 BR DW in Dalzell Pay approx $550 a mo. in Whispering Meadows Call 494-5010

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

775-0575 Studio/1 Bedroom apartments available EHO

2007 Singlewide. Owner financing with $5,000 down. Call 803-236-5953

Mobile Home with Lots

1983 Pontiac Bonneville, 78,000 original miles. Excellent condition.

Asking 3,900 OBO. 803-968-1004 or 803-983-9599 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

R & R Motors 803-494-2886 2: 2008 Impala's to choose from.

2004 Cadillac Escalade ESV. 2005 Chevy Equinox LT. 2008 Honda Accord EXL.

Small 1BR country apt, A/C, all new appliances. $450/mo w/ all utilities. No Pets. Call 469-8377

Unfurnished Homes 3BR 1BA newly renovated, C/H/A, stove & refrig. Near Lakewood High School $595 Mo+Dep 469-8328 / 983-9711 2BR Home on Patricia Dr. Completely remodeled. Like new!

Den, DR, C/H/A $475/mo. + $475/dep. Call 803-316-7958 or 803-773-1838 Mon-Fri between 9-5pm. Section 8 welcome.

5 Coulter Dr. Wedgefield, Fleetwood 3br 2ba, den w/ fireplace, all appliances, completely remodeled. like new, on 0.45 ac lot in cozy neighborhood. Drastically reduced to $44,900. Please call (803) 468-6029.

2 & 3BR Apt & houses available in Sumter. No Sec. Dep. required.

Call 773-8402 for more info.

2Br home Carolina Ave. & 2Br Apt Miller Rd. $395 mo. First mo. rent free! 774-8512 / 983-5691 In Town Manning 3BR 2BA Brick house $800 Mo/Dep Call 803-473-7577

Mobile Home Rentals Scenic Lake 2Br, 1Ba. No pets.

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

3BR/1.5BA, all appl. incl. C/H/A, water & sewer incl. $385/mo + dep. Call 803-464-5757.

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

RV parking avail. Call 494-8350

Commercial Rentals B-N-T has commercial space for rent to a Licensed Mechanic with own tools. Call 803-774-4450

Help Wanted Part-Time

CLASSIFIED ADS $$$ AVON $$$ FREE TRAINING! 803-422-5555

200 THREAD CT. SHEET SETS

Manufactured Housing

Jewelry

3 Cemetery Plots for sale at Evergreen.

Call for info 843-858-2150

BID SOLICITATION

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS C/A No. 2013-CP- 43-2024

803-316-0128

Firewood for Sale Will Deliver. Call 803 651-8672

Bid Notices

SUMMONS CLAIM AND DELIVERY (NON-JURY)

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

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

3785 Broad St, Sumter, SC 29154

Summons & Notice

Tree Service

For Sale or Trade

1143 N.Guignard Dr, Sumter, SC 29150

A mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will be held at Sumter School District in the Maintenance Department at 1345 Wilson Hall Road, Sumter on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. for Alice Drive Middle School Lighting Project. You will receive bid packets at the Pre-Bid Conference. Sealed bids will be opened on Friday, February 28, 2014 at 2:00 p.m.

$25 EACH $35 EACH $40 EACH $45 EACH

Want to Buy

1277 Camden Hwy, Sumter, SC 29153

B048 - Brenson, Ashley B100 - Scott, Felicia C032 - Wells, Jacqueline C043 - Cowell, Francena C062 - Sigler, Frederick F004 - Smith, Christy F020 - Mouzon, Bertha G036 - HOLLAND, DONNA I013 - Brogdon, Williba I015 - Phillips, Eric J017 - Rose, Robert K016 - Singleton, Peggy

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