January 13, 2015

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Lee plant settles racial discrimination suit nation lawsuit.

Carolina Metal Finishing, a metal finishing firm headquartered in Bishopville since 2009, was the site of a hostile racial atmosphere which, according to the complaint, was allowed to blossom at the plant between Octo-

BY MATT BRUCE matthew@theitem.com Officials at a Lee County plant recently agreed to terms of a settlement to reconcile a federal racial discrimi-

ber 2011 and May 2012.

The Bishopville factory on Thursday agreed to pay $40,000 in relief and pledged to follow the terms of a multipronged, two-year consent decree to settle the suit. The decree requires Carolina Metal Finishing to hold anti-

discrimination training sessions at its Bishopville facility and includes an injunction prohibiting the company from participating in future acts of racial discrimination.

START GETTING INTO SHAPE NOW

Sumter bodybuilding event coming soon

SEE LAWSUIT, PAGE A7

Hackers target U.S. military websites Officials say no classified info was compromised

KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM

Roselyn “Roz” Ginn and Natascha Szlavik are part of a bodybuilding movement which is drug free and promotes a healthy lifestyle and body type. The two are training for the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation’s Amateur South Carolina Bodybuilding Championships in April.

Competitors stress natural approach to their training

BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com

I

f you’ve ever thought about body building, now is the time to start working your body into shape.

On average, competitors prep for 12 to 14 weeks, said Missy Corrigan, executive of community health with the Sumter Family YMCA. The Y is partnering with the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation to

bring the Amateur South Carolina Bodybuilding Championships to town April 25.

“With the goal of encouraging and motivating local Sumter residents to adopt a healthier lifestyle, we are bringing this event here,” Corrigan said. “Not to mention, we want to crush the common assumption that all bodybuilders are on steroids. Additionally, we have tremendous talent in Sumter with not only the athletes, but the trainers and coaches who help them achieve their goals.”

Martin Daniels, the 2008 WNBF heavyweight bodybuilding pro champion, is scheduled to be the guest poser for the event, Corrigan said, and the

presenting sponsor is GNC. “We’re very much in the business of health, fitness and people’s wellbeing.

We do have two employees planning to compete. I’m so stoked for them,” Latisha Burkes, senior store manager of the local area GNC. Though not a GNC employee, Natascha Szlavik is planning to compete in the bikini category. There are four other categories — Bodybuilding, Men’s Physique, Ms. Fit Body and Figure. In each, the judges are looking for something a little different, Corrigan said. There are also five classes based on age.

SEE BODYBUILDING, PAGE A7

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hackers claiming to be working on behalf of Islamic State militants seized control of the Twitter and YouTube sites of the military’s U.S. Central Command on Monday, but the Pentagon swiftly suspended the sites and said no classified material was breached.

The Twitter site was filled with threats that said “American soldiers, we are coming, watch your back.” Other postings appeared to list names, phone numbers and personal email addresses of military personnel as well as PowerPoint slides and maps.

Most of the material was labeled “FOUO,” which means “For Official Use Only,” but none of it appeared to be classified or sensitive information.

One of the documents appeared to be slides developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lincoln Laboratory, a federally funded research and development center focused on national security. The slides appeared to depict what it called “scenarios” for conflict with North Korea and China.

The tweets came shortly after U.S. Central Command posted its own tweets about the U.S. and partner nations continuing to attack Islamic State terrorists in Iraq and Syria and one repeating a report that said France will deploy an aircraft carrier to the fight.

Maj. Raina M. Coposky, U.S. Army Central Community/ Media Relations at Shaw Air Force Base, said Monday morning, “We’ve seen no effects here (at Shaw). The hacks were on Central Command in Florida.”

Shaw firefighters give big to Fireside Fund this week

BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com Donations surged again this week as the temperatures hovered around freezing the end of last week.

The Shaw Air Force Firefighters Association Fund helped Fireside Fund reach more than $3,400 this week with its contribution of $1,000.

Both shifts A and B collected money through boot drives held at the stores on base during two weekends, said Sgt. Zak Mahmoud.

“We like to help local fami-

lies out and be involved in the community,” he said. “We want to show them Shaw supports them as well as they support us.”

Started in 1969, Fireside Fund is a partnership between The Sumter Item and The Salvation Army. The newspaper collects the money and gives it to the Sumter-

.com

Clarence W. McCoy Joyce Smith Ernest A. Reed Jr. Margaret Graham Phyllis B. Blake John W. Barwick Sr. Mary K. Lowery

JADE REYNOLDS / THE SUMTER ITEM

Members of B shift show off the Shaw Air Force Firefighters Association Fund check giving $1,000 to Fireside Fund. Both A and B shifts SEE FIRESIDE, PAGE A7 helped collect the money, said Sgt. Zak Mahmoud, front center.

DEATHS, B5 and B6

VISIT US ONLINE AT

the

based charity that serves Sumter, Clarendon and Lee counties. The nonprofit then provides vouchers to families for their heating needs.

The 2014-15 season is dedicated to the memory of the late retired Maj. Gen. Tom Olsen, who was known for serving his community as well as his country.

While the station is located on the base and does serve it, the Shaw firefighters also help out off base.

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

LOCAL BRIEFS

Lawsuit: DSS fails to provide basic needs of children in S.C. Shortage of foster homes, excessive caseloads cited

BY MEG KINNARD The Associated Press COLUMBIA — South Carolina’s embattled child welfare agency is endangering kids under its supervision by failing to provide them with basic health care and the right kind of attention, according to a federal lawsuit filed Monday.

The suit faults a shortage of foster homes and excessive caseloads at the Department of Social Services.

Two advocacy groups — Children’s Rights and the South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center — and Columbia attorney Matthew Richardson are suing on behalf of nearly a dozen children in the care of South Carolina’s social services system. They are seeking classaction status on behalf of the thousands of children in the state’s system.

One 16-year-old girl, the lawsuit says, has been through at least a dozen placements in about eight years. That teen, according to the lawsuit, was told by a DSS caseworker that she was in a group facility because the agency doesn’t have enough foster homes. Other children were denied necessary therapy for months, abused by

caretakers and kept from siblings also in the system, according to the lawsuit.

“Despite nearly three decades of repeated notice of dangers to children in DSS custody and multiple opportunities to improve the foster care system, Defendants have continued to ignore those dangers and operate DSS in a manner contrary to law and reasonable professional judgment in deliberate indifference to known harms and imminent risk of known harms to Plaintiff Children, so as to shock the conscience,” according to the lawsuit.

DSS did not immediately comment on the lawsuit Monday. In a written statement, Haley spokeswoman Chaney Adams said the governor “has been actively pursuing a new direction for the agency including hiring new case workers and human services specialists, enhanced training for those professionals and improving coordination with key stakeholders such as law enforcement, mental health and addiction professionals and families.”

The report echoed findings in an October Legislative Audit Council report, which said DSS relies heavily on unreliable data but has failed to ask for extra money and ignores growing problems. The audit also found that caseloads in the child welfare agency are excessive and that the agency also doesn’t do enough to ensure children in

a high and aggravated nature and pointing and presenting firearms at a person in connection with the incident.

According to a Sumter police report, the victim told officers she got home from work about 3 p.m., and Holmes asked to have a conversation with her. When she refused, she said he went into the laundry room and came back out brandishing the handgun. He then pointed the weapon at the victim’s head and said, “If I can’t have you, nobody else will.”

The victim talked Holmes into putting the firearm under a mattress. Moments later, another female entered the room where the two were talking, and the suspect retrieved the gun and pointed it at the second victim. No one was hurt during the incident.

Police searched for the gun and recovered the .40-caliber pistol in plain view in a bush in the front yard.

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Man shot during reported break-in One man was shot during an apparent break-in early Sunday morning in Sumter.

Sumter County deputies are investigating the incident, which occurred just before 1 a.m. at a home in the 1000 block of Hort Street.

According to a Sumter County Sheriff’s Office report, officers arrived and found the victim with an apparent gunshot wound to the upper right thigh. EMS transported the man to Tuomey Regional Medical Center for treatment.

The man told deputies he was asleep on the couch when a banging sound woke him up. He said a gunman described as a black male entered the room and shot him.

Another resident of the house was also at home during the attack. That victim told deputies she was asleep in another room when she too heard a loud banging noise. She then got out of her bed and saw a black man standing in the hallway brandishing a gun and wearing a camouflage jacket with his face partially covered. The woman said she ran back into her room and shut the door and heard a single gunshot ring out moments later.

Investigators found the front door frame broken with its deadbolt lock still intact.

its care are placed in safe homes.

According to the lawsuit, South Carolina’s caseloads can be two or three times those of national and state standards, with some caseworkers having 60 or 70 children at a time.

The audit also found that DSS failed to properly investigate allegations of child abuse and the deaths of children in South Carolina. DSS said last fall it was aware of problems and welcomed any help it can get.

Criticism about exploding caseloads and inadequate child care has swirled around DSS for months. A bipartisan Senate panel has been investigating the agency’s problems for more than a year, holding hearings focusing on the deaths of several children, caseloads that climbed above 100 children for some workers and excessive turnover. Lawmakers have said they expect to release their findings this month.

Haley last month named Susan Alford to lead DSS. The announcement came six months after the departure of former Director Lillian Koller, who resigned amid bipartisan calls for her ousting.

For years, Koller insisted she didn’t need additional money or manpower, but Haley has said that her 2015-16 budget proposal — which she planned to release later Monday — would include more resources for DSS.

Zoning appeals board to meet Wednesday Sumter Board of Zoning Appeals will consider first reading of two requests during its meeting Wednesday at 3 p.m. in Council Chambers, Sumter Opera House, 21 N. Main St. First is a request to approve a drinking place on central business district property at 117-119 N. Main St. The second item on the agenda is a request to build a commercial kennel on agricultural conservation property at 2900 Jereco Road. The applicant also requests a variance from the county zoning standard stating that commercial kennels cannot be closer than 500 feet to any residential land under separate ownership.

The zoning board will also elect its officers during Wednesday’s meeting.

59-year-old reportedly pulls gun in dispute A Sumter man was arrested Sunday following a domestic dispute at his home during which he reportedly pulled a gun on multiple people.

Gregory Holmes, 59, of 504 Dingle St., was charged with criminal domestic violence of

City government, citizens interact at annual forum

BY HAMLET FORT hamlet@theitem.com Sumter City Council along with Mayor Joe McElveen and city departmental employees offered the annual Citizens’ Night on Monday at Sumter Opera House.

The annual event allowed residents the opportunity to meet and pose questions to the department heads of city services such as the fire and police departments, construction and electrical services, tourism, water and sewer distribution, the sanitation department and the Aquatics and the Palmetto Tennis centers, among others. The city employees presented their showcase before the Citizens’ Night forum, updating residents on their department’s progress in 2014 and addressing any questions or concerns posed.

Lt. Don Florence of the Sum-

ter Police Department said the department’s offering at the showcase was to “show how we interact with the community.”

Fire department employees Simon Grant and Chris Geddings were present to advise residents on fire safety. Construction Manager Michael Geddings showcased the Construction Department’s recent projects, including the installation of energy-efficient LED lights in more than 180 street lamps downtown and the construction of a basketball court and shelter at Swan Lake-Iris Gardens.

According to City Manager Deron McCormick, Citizens’ Night was “created to have an opportunity for folks to come in and meet with city employees and to ask questions and get to know what we do for citizens. The council likes to hear what’s im-

portant to them.”

McCormick said the event is recorded for council to formulate plans for the city’s future development.

“The format is to hear from the public, whatever is on the citizen’s mind,” said McCormick. “We do our best to address whatever we can. So far it’s been very helpful for the mayor and the council.”

City Communications and Tourism Director Shelley Kile echoed those statements, adding that “it’s a rare opportunity to have everyone (department heads) in one spot. These are the doers — they can get the job done.”

She said that Sumter’s population influx is an opportunity for the city to learn new strategies for development and growth and that an event such as Citizens’ Night is a chance for city government to learn about new ideas.

“What an opportunity for

HAMLET FORT / THE SUMTER ITEM

Residents learn about water treatment plants from city employees at the Showcase preceding Citizens’ Night at the Sumter Opera House.

Sumter,” she said.

McElveen started the forum with a report on the city’s year in 2014, outlining economic growth and development in construction and other departmental areas. He

concluded his report urging the residents of Sumter to continue their progress.

“Sumter is on a surge, on a roll,” he said. “It’s up to our citizens to carry us the rest of the way.”

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Got help paying for health care? Watch your mailbox WASHINGTON (AP) — If you’re among the millions of consumers who got financial help for health insurance last year under President Obama’s law, better keep an eye on your mailbox.

The administration said Monday it has started sending out tax reporting forms that you’ll need to fill out your 2014 return. Like W-2s for health care, they’re for people who got health insurance tax credits provided under the law.

Because this is the first time Americans will experience the complex connections between the health care law and taxes, there’s concern that some people may not realize the new forms are important, and that they do need to open that envelope. Some consumers may not know what to do with the paperwork.

Called 1095-A, the forms come filled out with information from HealthCare. gov or your state’s insurance exchange.

They list who in each household got subsidized coverage and how much the

government paid each month to help with premiums.

You don’t actually file the form with your tax return, but you can’t complete your return without the information it contains.

Taxpayers, or their tax preparers, will use the financial details to fill out yet another form — 8962. That one is used to determine whether people received the right amount of assistance that they were legally entitled to.

The amount of the tax credit is based on a formula that takes into account income, household size and health insurance costs in your community.

Those who got too much of a subsidy will get their tax refunds reduced by the IRS. For example, you can get dinged if your income went up during the year and you didn’t realize you had to report that to HealthCare.gov or your state insurance exchange.

If you received less of a subsidy than you were entitled to, the IRS will owe

you instead.

The Health and Human Services department said it has started sending out forms to consumers in states where the federal government is running the insurance markets. The first batches should start arriving by midweek. The forms can also be downloaded from your HealthCare.gov account.

States running their own insurance exchanges — including California and New York — will send out the forms separately. But they still must meet a Feb. 2 postmark deadline.

Insurers say the feds have told them that they expect to mail about 4.5 million forms and they’re tackling the massive job state by state.

Tax preparation companies are seeing a whole new line of business in the health care law. But insurers are worried that perplexed consumers will pepper them with tax questions they’re not qualified to answer. The

health care law will mean lots more work for the IRS, and Commissioner John Koskinen is warning Congress that budget cuts could hamper taxpayer services this filing season.

The Obama administration has been trying to offer reassurance.

“In the coming weeks, HHS will work with other agencies, tax preparers and community organizations to arm ... consumers with the information they need to know as they prepare to file their taxes,” Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell said in a statement.

The health care law provides subsidized private health insurance for people who don’t have access to coverage on the job. Funneling the subsidies through the tax system allowed the White House to claim that the law was “the largest tax cut for health care in American history.” But the downside is it adds more complexity to a tax system that’s already impenetrable for many people.

2 Albuquerque officers charged with murder in March shooting

BY RUSSELL CONTRERAS The Associated Press ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Two Albuquerque police officers were charged with murder Monday in the shooting death of a knife-wielding homeless man that led to sometimes violent protests and a federal investigation into the city’s police force.

The decision to bring murder charges occurred at a time when police tactics are under intense scrutiny nationwide, fueled by the fatal shooting of an unarmed 18-year-old in Ferguson, Missouri, and the chokehold death of another unarmed man in New York City. Grand juries declined to charge officers in those cases, leading to large protests.

Acknowledging the frustration over the secrecy of the proceedings in those cases, the Albuquerque district attorney said she would bypass the grand jury process and instead present the murder case to a judge at a preliminary hearing that will be open to the public.

“Unlike Ferguson and unlike in New York City, we’re going to know. The public is going to have that information,” District Attorney Kari Brandenburg said.

Police said SWAT team member Dominique Perez and former detective Keith Sandy fatally shot James Boyd, a mentally ill homeless man who had frequent violent runins with law enforcement.

Video from an officer’s helmet camera showed Boyd appearing to surrender when officers opened fire, but a defense lawyer characterized him as an unstable suspect who was “unpredictably and dangerously

close to a defenseless officer while he was wielding two knives.”

“I’m looking forward ... to the DA’s office presenting one single witness that says this is murder,” said Sam Bergman, a lawyer for Sandy.

The district attorney refused to provide specifics about the reasons for bringing the case, but said it was a lengthy and deliberate process involving several members of her staff.

Each officer faces a single count in the March death of the 38-year-old Boyd. The charges allow prosecutors to pursue either first-degree or second-degree murder against

the officers.

Even before Boyd’s death, the U.S. Justice Department was investigating the use of force by Albuquerque police.

The department recently signed an agreement to make changes after the government issued a harsh report. The agreement requires police to provide better training for officers and to dismantle troubled units.

Since 2010, Albuquerque police have been involved in 40 shootings — 27 of them deadly.

After Boyd’s death, outrage over the trend grew and culminated with protests that included a demonstration where

authorities fired tear gas and another that shut down a City Council meeting.

The criminal charges were the first Brandenburg has brought against officers in a shooting. She is in her fourth term as district attorney and is waging a fight with the Albuquerque Police Department over allegations that she committed bribery while intervening on behalf of her son in a burglary case.

Police think she should be charged with bribery because, they say, she offered to pay a victim not to press charges.

The attorney general’s office is handling the matter.

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France hunts for attack accomplices, deploys 10,000 troops

BY LORI HINNANT AND SYLVIE CORBET The Associated Press PARIS — France ordered 10,000 troops into the streets Monday to protect sensitive sites — nearly half of them to guard Jewish schools — as it hunted for accomplices to the Islamic militants who left 17 people dead as they terrorized the nation.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls said the search is urgent because “the threat is still present” after the attacks that began Wednesday with a massacre at the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and ended when three attackers were killed Friday in two nearly simultaneous clashes with security forces around Paris.

By midday Monday, Paris’ Marais — one of the country’s oldest Jewish neighborhoods — was filled with police and soldiers. Some 4,700 of the security forces would be assigned to protect France’s 717 Jewish schools, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said.

“A little girl was telling me earlier that she wanted to live in peace and learn in peace in her school,” Cazeneuve said as on a visit to a Paris Jewish

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Volunteers pray Monday over the bodies of those killed in Paris by Islamic militants after they were prepared for burial by the Jewish Burial Society. classroom, where the walls were covered with children’s drawings of smiling faces.

“That’s what the government, that’s what the Republic, owes to all the children in France: security in all schools, especially in the schools that could be threatened,” he added.

The children listened and waved both Israeli and French flags.

Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the nationwide deployment of troops would be completed by today and would focus on the most sensitive locations.

“The work on these attacks, on these terrorist and barbaric acts continues ... because we consider that there are most probably some possible accomplices,” Valls told BFM television.

It was not clear exactly how many accomplices French forces were hunting for in addition to Hayat Boumeddiene, the widow of Amedy Coulibaly, the Islamic State group attacker who killed four hostages Friday at a kosher grocery in Paris before being killed by security forces.

But several other possible suspects appeared on their

radar. French police have said the Charlie Hebdo attacks that left 12 dead were carried out by three people, but only two of those attackers — brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi — have been found.

In addition, video emerged Sunday of Coulibaly explaining how the attacks in Paris would unfold. French police want to find the person or persons who shot and posted the video, which was edited after the attacks that ended with Coulibaly being killed Friday.

Boumeddiene herself was seen traveling through Turkey with a male companion before reportedly arriving in Syria with him on Jan. 8 — the day after the Charlie Hebdo attack and the same day Coulibaly began his murderous spree by shooting dead a Paris policewoman.

Security camera video footage shown Monday by Turkey’s Haberturk Television network showed Boumeddiene arriving at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen airport on Jan. 2 — five days before the first terror attack in Paris. A high ranking Turkish official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the woman on the video was Boumeddiene.

Turkish intelligence then tracked Boumeddiene from her arrival.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told the state-run Anadolu Agency that she had stayed at a hotel in Istanbul with another person before crossing into Syria on Thursday. She and her traveling companion, a 23-year-old man, toured Istanbul, then left Jan. 4 for a town near the Turkish border, according to a Turkish intelligence official who was not authorized to speak on the record.

Her last phone signal was on Jan. 8 from the border town of Akcakale, where she crossed over apparently into Islamic State-controlled territory in Syria, the official said. Their Jan. 9 return plane tickets to Madrid went unused.

Survivors say the Charlie Hebdo attackers, two brothers from Paris, claimed they were being supported by al-Qaida in Yemen, the group the U.S. considers the most dangerous offshoot of that network. In his video and in comments to French media before he died, Coulibaly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, which has taken over large sections of Iraq and Syria.

U.S.: Cuba completes release of 53 political prisoners HAVANA (AP) — Cuba has completed the release of 53 political prisoners that was part of last month’s historic deal between the United States and Cuba, the Obama administration said Monday. The move would clear a major hurdle for the normalization of ties between the two countries after more than five decades of estrangement.

Cuba’s leading human rights group said it had not been informed of any prisoner release since Thursday, when the total count stood at 41. The Cuban Commission on Human Rights and National Reconciliation has been keeping close track of the liberation of prisoners since they began last week, re-

porting releases within hours after hearing from family members or prisoners themselves. Most of the released dissidents belong to the Patriotic Union of Cuba, a vehemently anti-government group based in far eastern Cuba.

Jose Daniel Ferrer, head of the group, told The Associated Press that his count was the same as the rights commission’s and he knew of no release since Thursday.

The releases have been shrouded in confusion because of U.S. and Cuban reluctance to release the names of those on the list. In addition, it’s possible that not all of the 53 were in prison. President Raul Castro said on Dec. 17 that Cuba

had agreed to grant “penal benefits including release” to those on the list. That raises the possibility that some on the list were already free but under restrictions including travel bans that may have been lifted as part of the U.S. deal.

The prisoners had been on a list of opposition figures whose release was sought as part of the U.S. agreement last month with the Cuban government. They had been cited by various human rights organizations as being imprisoned by the Cuban government for exercising internationally protected freedoms or for their promotion of political and social reforms in Cuba.

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GM’s electric car could upstage Tesla, its own Volt

BY TOM KRISHER AP Auto Writer DETROIT — With the introduction of an affordable electric car that can go 200 miles on a single charge, General Motors is setting up a showdown with Tesla to sell an electric vehicle to the masses. It may also upstage a car of its own.

GM on Monday unveiled the Chevrolet Bolt, a $30,000 concept car that likely will go on sale in about two years. The range will make it attractive to many who wouldn’t consider a fully electric car for fear of running out of juice. The rollout of the orange compact hatchback eclipsed GM’s unveiling of a revamped Chevrolet Volt on Monday at the Detroit auto show.

When the plug-in gas-electric hybrid Volt was introduced as a concept car in 2007, it was touted as an electric vehicle for everyone. It could go 38 miles on battery power, with a gas generator taking over to end worries of being stranded. But its $40,000 price tag hamstrung sales, even with a $7,500 federal tax credit.

Enter the Bolt, a hatchback with a hefty range and SUV-like cargo area and a price that’s about the same as the average selling price of a new vehicle in America.

Technically the Bolt is a concept car,

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

General Motors CEO Mary Barra presents the Bolt EV electric concept vehicle at the North American International Auto Show on Monday in Detroit. but GM plans to start selling a production version sometime in 2017. That sets up a showdown with Silicon Valley’s Tesla Motors Inc., which plans to deliver a mass-market, 200-mile electric car for about $35,000 in the same time frame.

But the Bolt could leave the updated and restyled Volt behind, even though GM put a significant effort into increasing the Volt’s electric range by one third to 50 miles and adding features that customers want, such as five seats instead of four.

When the Bolt, which looks like a cross between a Volkswagen Golf and BMW’s electric i3, rolled onto a stage at the Chevrolet exhibit, CEO Mary Barra said, “For most people, this car can be their daily drive.”

Although hatchbacks typically haven’t sold well in the U.S., GM says the Bolt’s cargo space and high seating will give it extra appeal. Both those features are fueling a boom in crossover SUV sales. “What we really tried to do is take a lot of things that people love about owning a crossover and try and incorporate that,” said Stuart Norris, director of advanced design for GM in Korea, where much of the Bolt was designed.

But that functionality is another reason that people may pick the Bolt over the Volt.

Four years ago then-GM CEO Dan Akerson predicted the company would sell 60,000 Volts per year. Instead, GM has sold about 73,000 total since the car went on the market. Its best sales year was 2012 at just more than 23,400.

Sales last year dropped 19 percent to just under 19,000.

Neither electric car is likely to get on car buyers’ radar in the short run with gasoline running about $2.15 per gallon, said Jeff Schuster, executive vice president of forecasting for LMC Automotive, an industry consulting firm.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2015

THE SUMTER ITEM

Pakistan school reopens after Taliban massacre

BY ZARAR KHAN AND RIAZ KHAN The Associated Press PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Pakistani children returned on Monday to the school where Taliban gunmen killed 150 of their classmates and teachers last month, clutching their parents’ hands tightly in a poignant symbol of perseverance despite the horrors they had endured.

It was the first time the school had reopened since the assault, and security was tight. The nation has been reeling from the Dec. 16 terrorist attack in Peshawar — one of the worst Pakistan has experienced. The violence carried out by seven Taliban militants heaped pressure on authorities to end the stubborn insurgency that kills and maims thousands every year.

The massacre also horrified parents across the nation and prompted officials to imple-

ment tighter security at schools.

For Peshawar parents like Abid Ali Shah, Monday morning was especially painful as he struggled to get his sons ready for school, something his wife used to do. She was a teacher at the school and was killed in the violence. Both of his sons attended the school.

The youngest was shot in the head but survived after the militants thought he was dead.

“A hollowness in my life is getting greater. I am missing my wife,” Shah said. He said he had wanted to shift his children to a different school or city but decided not to because they still have to take exams this spring: “Everything is ruined here, everything.”

His older son, Sitwat Ali Shah, 17, said that when he saw his brother break down in tears as they prepared to go to school he did as well. Sitwat said both he and his brother have trouble sleeping and

often wake up, crying for their mother.

“Those who have done all this to all of us cannot be called humans,” Sitwat said, adding that he still wanted to go back to school and eventually become an air force officer.

A ceremony was held at the school to mark its reopening, and classes are to resume today. Security was tight, part of a countrywide effort to boost safety measures at schools in the wake of the attack. Schools around Pakistan have raised their boundary walls, added armed guards and installed metal detectors, although many have questioned why it took such a horrible attack to focus attention on school safety.

A psychiatrist in Peshawar, Dr. Iftikhar Hussain, said troubled parents have been calling to ask how they should discuss the attack with their children and how to respond

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mohammad Baqair, who survived last month’s Taliban attack on a military-run school that killed his mother, flashes a victory sign on Monday on his way to the Army Public School which was targeted by Taliban militants, in Peshawar, Pakistan. when their kids have questions about the violence: “It’s a time of great depression and tension for all parents,” he said.

The government has stepped up military operations in the tribal areas, reinstated the death penalty and allowed military courts to try civilians — all attempts to crack down on terrorism. But in an attack on Monday, gunmen killed seven paramilitary soldiers in the southwestern

Baluchistan province, underscoring the dangers the country still faces.

In Peshawar, media and vehicles were kept hundreds of yards away from the Army Public School, which had coils of barbed wire freshly installed on top of the compound’s walls, and two helicopters circled overhead. The chief of Pakistan’s army, Gen. Raheel Sharif, was on hand with his wife to greet and console the students.

Kerry in Pakistan to shore up counterterror cooperation ISLAMABAD (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Pakistan on Monday to press the country’s leadership to step up the fight against extremists and eliminate safe havens for terror groups along the Afghan border.

He was welcomed by Pakistan’s foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz and headed directly into meetings with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Kerry is making the case for more robust efforts against all extremist groups in the country, particularly after last month’s devastating Taliban attack on a Peshawar school that killed 150 people, most of them children.

Pakistan has boosted operations against violent extremists in its recent

months, notably following the Peshawar attack that stunned the nation. But U.S. officials traveling with Kerry said Washington wants to ensure that there is a “real and sustained effort” to limit the abilities of the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban, the Haqqani Network and Laskhar e Tayyiba, which pose direct threats to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, as well as to American interests.

Aziz hinted that Kerry might go to Peshawar today to pay his respects to the victims, saying it would be a nice gesture, but the State Department declined to comment on Kerry’s plans.

Underscoring the importance of the security aspect of Kerry’s trip, he was

being joined in his meetings with Gen. Lloyd Austin, the chief of the U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East and South Asia.

Pakistan has been on edge ever since the Dec. 16 attack on the Peshawar school that was claimed by the Pakistani Taliban as retaliation for an army operation launched in June in the North Waziristan tribal area. In response, Pakistan has boosted operations in the rugged tribal areas, reinstituted the death penalty for terrorists and moved to try civilian terror suspects in military courts.

The extremists, however, have vowed to keep up attacks and just on Friday, a

suicide bomber blew himself up outside a mosque in Rawalpindi, next to Islamabad, killing five people.

Pakistan faces numerous obstacles in combatting extremism, not least from networks of hardline Islamist seminaries and religious schools that promote radical ideology, and a flawed judicial system that has been criticized for an inability to prosecute and convict terror suspects. India reacted sharply last month when an anti-terrorism court granted bail to the chief defendant on trial for the 2008 attack that killed 166 people in the Indian city of Mumbai because of lack of evidence. The suspect has since been rearrested.

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LOCAL

THE SUMTER ITEM

LAWSUIT FROM PAGE A1 It also calls on officials to post notices of the settlement at the factory while also implementing anti-discriminatory policies that ban such acts.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the civil action against Carolina Metal Finishing late last September, filing the lawsuit in a U.S. District Court in Columbia.

The EEOC is a branch of the U.S. government charged with enforcing federal employment discrimination laws and imposing the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1991.

Tieron L. Parks, a 35-year-old powder coater who worked at the Bishopville plant, was the whistleblower who tipped the federal agency off to the conditions at the Bishopville metals workshop. According to the lawsuit, he underwent more than six months of harassment at the hands of two white co-workers, who used the Nword and other variants of the racial slur on an almost daily basis.

Parks, who is black, said the two men used racially charged terms such as “field n-----,” “lazy a-- n-----,” and “s---ting a-- n-----” in his presence or when talking directly to him. He said the two used derogatory slurs openly

when talking about black people and often in the presence of both black and white employees. On one occasion in May 2012, he said one of the workers commented that he named his dog the N-word, and the other began laughing at the statement.

Parks reportedly told managers at the plant about the pair’s use of the slurs on several occasions, including at least three separate times between January and May 2012. However, the plant managers never took action, and the harassment continued, the lawsuit alleged. He eventually filed a report with the EEOC. When he told his supervisors about the complaint to the

This will be Szlavik’s third competition, and Corrigan serves as her trainer.

It’s all about a competition lifestyle, Szlavik said — good diet that builds muscle and helps you lose fat along with exercising five days a week.

“Missy is good about building in rest days,” Szlavik said. “They’re important for muscle growth.

How you space them out is completely up to you.”

As a working student, it’s also important to her that she doesn’t spend her life at the gym. The routines normally take an hour to an hour and a half, Szlavik said.

“I don’t have to give up any other aspect of my life,” she said. “Well, maybe partying, but I still have hobbies. It’s not consuming, and I enjoy it. You learn a lot about yourself.”

Besides the myth of spending hours exercising to achieve these physical results, Corrigan and Szlavik have faced the misconception they starve themselves or use steroids. Corrigan has competed in bodybuilding competitions in the past, but as she is the event organizer, she’s not participating in this one.

“With drug testing, it’s an even, standard playing field,” Szlavik said.

Yes, as the name might imply, there will be drug testing before competition as well as a polygraph, according to the flyer.

“With the testing requirements, anyone has a chance to win,” Corrigan said.

Other myths include buying a bunch of expensive food or supplements and having a boring diet, but Corrigan said it’s more about avoiding processed foods and substances containing high amounts of sugar.

For some, this sort of competition is more of a “bucket list” item to check off, Corrigan said, and for others, it becomes a lifetime sport.

“She told me once I compete, I’d love it or hate it,” said Roselyn “Roz” Ginn. “I fell in love with it. I like the challenge of it. It’s you versus you. I don’t do as much as you might think. It’s not easy, but it’s not a burden.

It’s a lifestyle. If you think you want to do it, just do it.”

Her bodybuilding competition days started in 2011, and last March, she and a friend, Renee McCord, opened Katalyst to help others reach their fitness goals.

Though not participating at this particular bodybuilding event as it is too close to another one for the Phy-

sique competitor, Ginn said she is excited to see it come to Sumter.

“I’m fully supporting it any way possible from marketing to volunteering back stage,” Ginn said. “Now that I’m training, I have a whole new perspective. The coach can tell you a million things to do, but if you don’t like and trust the coach, it’s not going to work. It’s a relationship just like with your doctor or your hair dresser.

It’s been very enlightening and very humbling.”

You have to be 18 or older to participate, and the cost is only $40.

“Since it’s a nonprofit organization, it’s more athlete focused, and with sponsorships, it’s more wallet friendly,” Corrigan said.

Besides GNC, 10 other sponsors have signed up, including The Sumter Item.

The entry form also features a section to share transformation stories, and special awards will be given in this area to inspire and motivate spectators, Corrigan said.

The event is being held at Sumter Opera House, 21 N. Main St., and is open to the public. The prejudging part starts at 10 a.m., and entry is $15. Finals start at 5 p.m., and entry is $20.

For more information, visit ymcasumter.org/scbc or contact Corrigan at mcorrigan@ymcasumter.org or (803) 774-1404.

FIRESIDE

School Class, $200; in honor of Faith Circle from Goodwill Presbyterian Church, $75; Barbara and Buddy Gulledge, $100; in memory of Jean Hoyt from Lula June Stoudenmire Circle St. James Lutheran Church, $75; in memory of Charlene M. Geddings from Charles and Faye McAlister, $100; United Methodist Women of St. Marks United Methodist

Church, $50; Thomas and Mary Tedder, $50; and Afternoon Women’s Bible Study Group from Crosswell Baptist Church, $50; Total Combined Anonymous: $327 Total This Week: $3,427 Total This Year: $38,418.27 Total Last Year: $62,869.17 Total Since 1969: $1,422,598.46

BODYBUILDING FROM PAGE A1

FROM PAGE A1 open, especially if it’s a gas stove,” said Senior Airman Spencer Douglas. “It can be a hazard. Also, make sure you have plenty of space around your space heaters. Those are the two main causes of house fires we see off base.”

The treasurer for the association also recommends testing your heater before you run it each winter to check for shorts or other problems.

Bethel Volunteer Fire Station also gave a large donation of $250 in memory of Station 13 members who have passed away.

If you need heating assistance, call The Salvation Army office at (803) 775-9336.

To donate, mail checks to The Sumter Item, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, SC 29151. Donations also may be dropped off at the office, 20 N. Magnolia St. Names will be printed as given, so please check that they are correct. Spell out acronyms.

Donations as of Monday included: Shaw Air Force Firefighters Association Fund, $1,000; Jimmy and Eunice Bradshaw, $200; Unity Sunday School Class at Crosswell Baptist Church, $100; in memory of Porter Medley Jr. from Gail Medley, $100; in memory of Jeanette Harrison from Faye Heape, $50; in memory of Morsby Holland from Willie Mae Holland, $50; Women’s Literacy Club, $50; Faith Sunday School Class from First Baptist Church, $50; Ruth Sunday School Class from Bethel Baptist Church, $50; and Stanley A. Kohli; $100.

In memory of Station 13 members who have passed away — Frank Sniecinski, Jerry Williams, James Nettles, Bobby Geddings and Tommy Geddings — from Bethel Volunteer Fire Department, $250; Helen Freeman, $50; in memory or Rose Metz from Richard Metz, $200; Mrs. Paul Hoza, $100; Janette Sisk, $50; St. Mark’s Euzelian Sunday

TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2015

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federal agency in May 2012, they fired him by the end of the work day.

“We are pleased that Carolina Metal Finishing settled this case and that the company will provide training to employees on federal anti-discrimination laws,” Lynette A. Barnes, a Charlottebased EEOC attorney, said in a statement from the agency. “Racial discrimination remains a problem in today’s workplaces and a major concern to our agency. The EEOC will continue to fight for the rights of employees affected by such illegal employment practices.”

Officials at the Bishopville plant did not return a request for comment on Monday.

KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM

Roselyn “Roz” Ginn and Natascha Szlavik strike one of the poses they will each use in the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation’s Amateur South Carolina Bodybuilding Championships to be held in Sumter in April.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2015

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

THE SUMTER ITEM

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

H.D. Osteen 1904-1987 The Item

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

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

COMMENTARY

The runaway wedding ring W

eddings are always exceedingly interesting affairs, especially from the standpoint of a dedicated people watcher like yours truly.

And, when given a prime vantage point for such viewing, say as the officiating minister, one could automatically expect some sort of hilarity to occur.

One would be right — except the unintentional comedy was primarily caused by ... me.

Rural Coosa County was the setting for the weekend’s festivities, the nuptials of Cliff friends Brent McCollum Massey and the then-Beth Bishop.

I was there, with my reverend hat on, to help proceed over the ceremonies as best as I could muddle through, backed by passages from my trusty King James Version and a ceremony crafted by the bride herself.

Overall, the whole shindig went somewhat smoothly, despite my somewhat inborn affinity for rather mucking such things up.

I should have recognized the omen of what could be to come when the Google and Apple Map functions on my phone both tried to assure me that a private residence with large, unfriendly looking dogs was the wedding venue site.

As if worrying about being mauled by Cujo and Cujette wasn’t enough, the ... rural aesthetic ... of the home in question made me wonder if the residents possibly: a) were kin to the Hatfields or the McCoys; b) were aware that indoor plumbing wasn’t a fad; and c) were pointing an unseen weapon somewhere in my vicinity.

Thankfully, the owners were sitting on their porch and were kind enough to point me in the correct direction.

Allegedly, confused lay pastors have shown up quite often on their driveway.

Before the actual ceremony, I had taken the couple’s rings with me for safe keeping, slipping them into the pages of

the chapter in Colossians I planned to use with the ring pledge.

Just before kickoff, I began to review my pages and make sure I had the lines, but when I flipped to the New Testament, I saw only the groom’s ring.

There are few moments of panic like when one has been entrusted with something like this and manages to make a mess of it, but I believe only the grandparents might have noticed the color slightly drain from my face and the grimace of exasperation and fear.

I immediately ran back to inform my date Lane of the predicament, who looked at me with the biggest “Oh, crap” look I’ve ever seen.

We began our scouring of the surrounding area, searching for the sheen from the tiny precious metals or shiny stones.

Thankfully, my hawk eye caught a glimpse of the jewelry, and I perhaps too casually attempted the old, “Silly me, I have to tie my shoe” bend and grab (despite the fact I was wearing loafers without laces).

However, in the upswing back to fully standing, I conked my head on a brick overhang, sending me reeling backward into an unused piece of patio furniture at the outdoor venue.

Several wedding attendees were treated to the show.

See — weddings don’t have to be boring affairs.

A little surprise, a little physical comedy; what’s not to love?

Lane and I decided it would, perhaps, not be the best idea to inform the happy couple of this particular incident the day of their wedding.

Words such as “murder” and “horrible dismemberment” might have been used; one’s memory is fuzzy.

However, I know the Masseys are a fun-loving and, hopefully, forgiving couple, so I hope they won’t mind me sharing those stories.

They’ve been happily wed for more than a year and have a beautiful baby girl, Olivia, so I must not have mucked it up for them that badly.

Cliff McCollum is managing editor of Gulf Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at cmccollum@gulfcoastnewspapers. com.

Questions for a nominee

W

ASHINGTON — Senate confirmation hearings put nominees on notice that, as a Michigan state legislator reportedly once said, “I’m watching everything you do with a finetoothed comb.” Loretta Lynch, a talented lawyer and seasoned U.S. attorney, should be confirmed as attorney general. Her hearing, however, should not be perfunctory. Questions such George as the folWill lowing would highlight some festering problems: • Next year is the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, which began the slow, serpentine progress to our modern panoply of rights, including those of persons accused of serious crimes. Today, however, regarding sexual misconduct on campuses, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights uses the threat of withdrawing federal funding to coerce colleges and universities into jettisoning crucial defendants’ protections when adjudicating, in improvised tribunals, accusations of sexual assault. Presumption of innocence? The new presumption is that accusations are valid until disproved. The right to confront one’s accuser? No, it would be traumatizing to the “survivor” (note the prejudgment). Proof beyond a reasonable doubt?

Now a mere “preponderance of the evidence” will suffice.

COMMENTARY Are you comfortable with this traducing of due process?

• Much ink and indignation have been properly expended concerning the torture of some detainees by counterterrorism personnel. But what about the promiscuous use — currently impacting thousands of prisoners — of long-term solitary confinement in prisons? Given its deranging effects, does this practice constitute torture as defined by federal law — conduct “specifically intended to inflict severe physical or mental pain or suffering”?

• Years pass, studies are written, and vows are made, yet the scandal of prison rape persists. When will the government stop this crime against inmates in its custody?

• The U.S. incarceration rate is five times Wales’ and England’s, nine times Germany’s, 14 times Japan’s. In 2010, more than 200,000 inmates — approximately the nation’s total number of prisoners in 1970 — were over the age of 50. How can this be necessary?

• When choosing between two evils, Mae West said, “I always pick the one I never tried before.” The number of drug offenders in federal prisons is 20 times the number in 1980 and accounts for more than half of our federal mass incarceration. The “war on drugs” is horrendously expensive (in money and shattered lives) and hardly effective (drug prices fall as quality rises). Is it time to consider decriminalizing some controlled substances?

• In California, which

spends almost as much on corrections and rehabilitation as on universities, approximately 2,000 persons who have committed no violent or otherwise serious crime are serving 25 years to life under the state’s “three strikes and you’re out” law. It mandates such sentences for any third felony. Do you think that mandatory — and often draconian — minimum sentences prevent judges from judging? And that the threat of such sentences, by extorting guilty pleas, can vitiate the right to a trial?

• The Justice Department has been, to say no more, unhelpful regarding attempts to fully investigate and properly punish the politicization and corruption of the IRS. Given the department’s seeming complicity in the cover-up, would it not be appropriate to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the IRS practice of suppressing the political activity of conservative groups?

• Civil forfeiture — the seizure of property suspected of being produced by, or involved with, crime — has become a lucrative business for lawless law enforcement.

Civil forfeiture treats citizens worse than criminals, seizing the property of persons neither convicted of nor even indicted for a crime. All or a portion of the proceeds from the sale of such property goes to those who seized it.

Do you agree that this practice often is indistinguishable from robbery?

George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. © 2015, Washington Post Writers Group

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS, THOSE WHO HELPED WITH TOUR This is written to thank all of the participants of the 65th Holiday House Tour and Tea which was held on Dec. 6 and sponsored by the Council of Garden Clubs of Sumter. The tour and tea was a great success and enjoyed by all who attended.

Without the help of the sponsors, the garden council could not offer this wonderful experience to the community. We were fortunate enough this year to have a total of 25 sponsors from supportive individuals and businesses in the area.

The sponsors for this year’s tour were: Ard’s Appliance & TV, AycockRichardson Monument Co., Bank of Clarendon, Berkshire-Hathaway John M. Brabham Real Estate, Bryan Law Firm of SC LLP, The Citizens Bank, Covenant Place of Sumter, Disney Investment Co. Inc., Edward Jones Investments, First Citizens Bank, The

Sumter Item, Piggly Wiggly at 1455 S. Guignard, Piggly Wiggly Central, Restorative Arts Dental, G.E. Rabon DMD, FARGD, Grace and Billy Prescott, SAFE Federal Credit Union, Simply Shabby Chic, Smoak Irrigation Co., Southeastern Laser Med Spa and Billy and Cecelia Steele.

The six venues on the tour were the homes of Tony and Mary Anne Scott, David Duprill, Terri Rodriguez in the city of Sumter and Wedrell and Helen Lee and E.B. “Mac” and Joanie McLeod in Pinewood. The sixth site was the historical Harvin Store on the Pinewood road. These tour sites were decorated by the homeowners and the members of the three garden clubs of Sumter. Thank you to these kind folks who gave up their spaces for many days to make our tour a success.

Thanks also to all of the members of the Garden Clubs who shared their time and talents to make this tour happen.

Thank you Sumter for all of the support you give the many projects in which the Council of Garden Clubs of Sumter participates in each year. With your help, we will be able to continue our many projects in the future.

FAIR EDMUNDS President Council of Garden Clubs of Sumter

OBAMA’S LEADERSHIP ABILITIES ARE FRIGHTENINGLY POOR Mr. Brack (Jan. 8 commentary, “Give Obama more credit”) sounds like he might be interviewing to take over for David Axelrod as head cheerleader for our president. I guess it depends on what side of the aisle you view these things from.

Obama has amassed more debt than all the other presidents combined, 50 million Americans (50 million!) on the government dole in one shape or another, economic inequali-

ty worse than ever, the lowest employment participation rate in 40 years (6 1/2 years into this man’s presidency!), scandal after scandal that simply get ignored by the “most open, transparent administration in history,” and perhaps the biggest gap in racial harmony in my lifetime (I am 55).

I am not a Republican and I do not give a rat’s behind what color this man is — the single worst “leader” in my lifetime.

This country has survived bad policy many times, and we were allowed to express that without being called a racist too ... until a man that had never run anything in his entire life got the most important job on the planet. His leadership abilities are so poor it is frightening.

That part of the story got left out in his op-ed.

JOHN SELLAR Sumter

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

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Parks and Recre- Parks and Recreation: 2017 (N) ation (N) (HD) (HD) NCIS: The Enemy Within American terrorist; DiNozzo’s behavior. (N) WLTX E19 (HD) Marvel’s Agent Carter: Bridge and WOLO E25 Tunnel A foe gets one of Howard’s weapons. (HD) Genealogy Roadshow: New Orleans WRJA E27 11 14 - Cabildo Murderer from ancestor’s past uncovered. (N) (HD) The Big Bang The Big Bang MasterChef Junior: Easy As Pie TopWACH E57 6 6 Theory Paintball Theory (HD) ping pies and sausage dishes. (N) game. (HD) (HD) How I Met Your Anger Manage- The Flash: Flash vs. Arrow Oliver, FeWKTC E63 4 22 Mother: Bachelor ment Dubious licity and Diggle visit. (HD) Party (HD) therapist. (HD) E10

WIS

3 10 7:00pm Local

TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2015

Marry Me: Spoil About a Boy Bar Me Favorite show. Mitzvah. (N) (HD) (N) (HD) NCIS: New Orleans: The Abyss Navy Admiral’s daughter suspected. (N) (HD) Marvel’s Agent Carter: Time and Tide The SSR takes Jarvis into custody. (N) (HD) American Experience: Klansville, U.S.A. The re-emergence of the Klan in N.C. (N) (HD) New Girl: Coming The Mindy ProOut (N) (HD) ject Mindy’s old flame. (N) (HD) Arrow: The Brave and the Bold Oliver teams up with The Flash. (HD)

10 PM

10:30

11 PM

Chicago Fire: Ambush Predator Stor- WIS News 10 at age unit fire investigated. (N) (HD) 11:00pm News and weather. (:01) Person of Interest: ConNews 19 @ 11pm trol-Alt-Delete Control questions Sa- The news of the maritan’s purpose. (N) (HD) day.

Forever: Diamonds Are Forever ABC Columbia Ex-con is framed for a major robbery. News at 11 (HD) (N) (HD) Tavis Smiley Frontline: Putin’s Way Vladimir (HD) Putin’s presidency examined. (N) (HD) WACH FOX News at 10 Local news TMZ (N) report and weather forecast.

11:30

|

A9

12 AM

(:35) The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Comedic skits and celebrity interviews. (HD) (:35) Late Show with David Letterman Anderson Cooper; Shovels & Rope. (N) (HD) (:35) Jimmy Kimmel Live Celebrities and human-interest subjects. (HD)

BBC World News International news.

Mike & Molly: Mind Over Molly (HD) Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Three-In-One A man’s body is found Rispetto Partying fashion designer indrained of blood. (HD) vestigated. (HD)

Charlie Rose (N) (HD) Modern Family: Career Day Career day. (HD) Hot in Cleveland: Law & Elka Part 1 (HD)

CABLE CHANNELS Storage Wars Storage Wars Storage Wars Storage Wars (N) Storage Wars (N) (:01) Wild Trans- (:31) Wild Trans- (:02) Wild Trans- (:32) Wild Trans- (:01) Storage (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) port (N) (HD) port (N) (HD) port (HD) port (HD) Wars (HD) 180 (5:00) Godzilla (‘98, Science Fiction) Under Siege (‘92, Action) aac Steven Seagal. A warship with nuclear missiles is seized by Out for Justice (‘91, Action) aa Steven Seagal. A tough Brooklyn cop aa Matthew Broderick. (HD) terrorists led by an ex-CIA agent. (HD) hunts for the drug dealer who killed his best friend. (HD) 100 To Be Announced North Woods Law (HD) North Woods Law (HD) Rocky Mountain Bounty (HD) North Woods Law (HD) North Wood 162 Little Man (‘06, Comedy) ac Marlon Wayans. A criminal little person poses as a baby to re- Husbands Duane Husbands of Hol- Husbands: Model Husbands Duane Husbands Tisha Wendy Williams trieve a stolen diamond. (HD) kicked out. lywood (N) Behavior kicked out. arrested.

Show (N) Guide to Di vorce: Rule #33: When in The Real House wives of Beverly The Real House wives of Beverly Girl friends’ Guide to Di vorce (N) What Hap pens The Real House wives of Beverly 181 Doubt, Run Away Hills: Winning and Dining Hills: Live and Learn (N) (N) Hills: Live and Learn 62 Restaurant Pork vs. anchovies.

Shark Tank New ideas. (HD) Shark Tank Apps; pickles. (HD) Restaurant Startup (N) Shark Tank (HD) Shark (HD) 64 Erin Burnett OutFront (N) Anderson Cooper 360° (N) (HD) CNN Special Report (N) CNN Tonight Anderson Cooper 360° (HD) CNN Spc. Tosh.0: Tay Tosh.0: Kid Tosh.0 Female Tosh.0: IceJJFish Kroll Show (N) Daily Show (N) (:31) @midnight Kroll Show 136 South Park (HD) Tosh.0: Taxi Dave Tosh.0: Take a (HD) Tumble (HD) Zonday (HD) Juggalo (HD) singer. (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (N) (HD) H-O-R-S-E. (HD) Mickey Mouse: I Didn’t Vegetable Austin & Ally Jessie: Teacher’s Blog: Who’s Liv and Maddie Good Luck Char80 Liv and Maddie Girl Meets: Girl Secret of the Wings (‘12, Family) (HD) Meets Brother Timothy Dalton. Winter woods.

Potatoland spray.

(HD) Pest (HD) Training Who? (HD) lie (HD) 103 (6:00) Barrett-Jackson (N) (HD) Moonshiners (N) (HD) Moonshiners (N) (HD) Big Giant Swords (N) (HD) Moonshiners (HD) Big Giant (HD) 35 College Basketball: Michigan vs Ohio State z{| (HD) College Basketball: Missouri Tigers at Kentucky Wildcats (HD) SportsCenter (HD) Sports (HD) 39 College Basketball: Oklahoma State vs Kansas z{| (HD) College Basketball: Miami Hurricanes at Duke Blue Devils (HD) SportsCenter Special (HD) Basketball Pretty Little Liars: Fresh Meat Evi- The 700 Club Pretty Little Liars 131 Pretty Little Liars: Through a Glass, Pretty Little Liars: Fresh Meat Evi- Switched at Birth: Bracing the Darkly Ali eyed as killer. (HD) dence divides. (N) (HD) Waves Interpreter ruins. (N) (HD) dence divides. (HD) (HD) 109 Chopped: Make a Splash! (HD) Chopped Red jalapenos. (HD) Chopped Coffee cake. (HD) Chopped: Money Saver (N) (HD) Chopped: Stacking Up (HD) Chopped (HD) 74 On the Record with Greta (N) The O’Reilly Factor (N) (HD) The Kelly File News updates.

Hannity Conservative news. (HD) The O’Reilly Factor (HD) The Kelly File 42 College Basketball: Virginia Tech vs Louisville z{| UFC Unleashed (HD) Celebrity Sports Invt’l (HD) World Poker Tour no} (HD) Basketball The Waltons: The Anniversary Anni- The Middle Axl The Middle (HD) The Middle Sue The Middle (HD) Golden: A Piece Golden Girls: Golden Girls: Old 183 The Waltons: The Festival Jason teams with Josh for an audition. versary plans. jealous. (HD) wins trip. (HD) of Cake Empty Nest Friends 112 Upper Viking Hills.

Upper Waco, Texas.

Fixer Upper (N) Hunters (HD) Hunters (N) Upper Full house.

Upper 110 The Curse of Oak Island (HD) The Curse of Oak Island (HD) The Curse of Oak Island (N) Ancient Aliens Hidden twin. (HD) (:03) Ancient Aliens (HD) Curse (HD) Criminal Minds: Strange Fruit Back- Criminal Minds: The Caller KidThe Listener: Beginning to See the Listener: Lady in 160 Criminal Minds: The Company Mor- Criminal Minds: The Return Mass gan’s lie. (HD) murder teens. (HD) yard skeletons. (HD) napped young boy. (HD) Light Accident’s answers. the Lake Dance Moms: Abby Got Served (:02) Child Genius: Please Drink (:02) Dance Moms: Abby Got Served (:02) Dance 145 Dance Moms: Girl Talk 2 Questions Dance Moms: 99 Problems But A from fans. (HD) Mom Ain’t One (HD) Abby feels outnumbered. (N) (HD) Some Water (N) (HD) Outnumbered Abby. (HD) Moms (HD) 76 Hardball with Chris (N) (HD) All in with Chris Hayes (HD) The Rachel Maddow Show (N) Lawrence O’Donnell (HD) All in with Chris Hayes (HD) Maddow (HD) 91 Witch Way (N) Max Shred (N) Nick News (N) Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Prince Prince Friends (HD) Friends (HD) Raymond (HD) 154 Bar Rescue (HD) Bar Rescue (HD) Framework: Rock the Boat Framework: King of Pong (N) Bar Rescue Milwaukee bar. (HD) Framework Face Off: One Knight Only Finalists Face Off: Return of the Champions Troy: Street Magic Magic perFace Off: Return of the Champions Troy: Street 152 Face Off: Creature Carnage Giant monsters. (HD) create knight characters. (HD) (N) (HD) formed on streets of London. (N) (HD) Magic The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang Ground Floor (N) Cougar Town (N) Conan Matt LeBlanc; Felicity Jones. Ground: Love & 156 Seinfeld: The Rye Seinfeld: The (HD) Caddy (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) (HD) (N) (HD) Basketball This Property Is Condemned (‘66, Drama) Natalie Wood. A railroad man Barefoot in the Park (‘67, Comedy) aaa Robert Redford. Newlyweds Inside Daisy Clo186 (5:45) Pride and Prejudice (‘40, Drama) aaac Greer Garson. comes to town to shut down the line and falls for a pretty girl. adjust to married life in a fifth-floor walkup flat in New York City. ver (‘65) aac 157 Kate Plus 8 (HD) Kate Plus 8 Party pressure. (HD) Kate Plus 8 (N) (HD) My Big Fat Fabulous Life (N) Kate Plus 8 (HD) Big Fat (HD) Alice in Wonderland (‘10, Fantasy) aaa Johnny Depp. A 19-year-old woman returns to Alice in Wonderland (‘10, Fantasy) aaa Johnny Depp. A 19-year-old 158 Castle: The Lives of Others Castle broken leg. (HD) Wonderland to fight for the world’s freedom. (HD) woman returns to Wonderland to fight for the world’s freedom. (HD) 102 Jokers Jokers Jokers Jokers Jokers Jokers Jokers Hack My (N) (:01) Dumbest Thief shot partner. (:02) Jokers 161 Walker, Texas Ranger (:18) Family Feud (HD) Fam. Feud Raymond (HD) Queens (HD) Queens (HD) Queens (HD) Queens (HD) Friends (HD) Mod ern Fam ily Mod ern Fam ily Mod ern Fam ily Mod ern Fam ily Mod ern Fam ily Mod ern Fam ily Mod ern Fam ily: Mod ern Fam ily Mod ern Fam ily Mod ern Fam ily Law & Order: 132 (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) Sleeper (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) SVU (HD) Law & Order (HD) Law & Order (HD) Law & Order (HD) Law & Order (HD) Law & Order: Mother Love (HD) Law (HD) 172 Funniest Home Videos (HD) Austin Powers in Goldmember (‘02, Comedy) aac Mike Myers.

Wrestling (N) Wrestling (N) Wrestling (HD) Wrestling (HD) Wrestling (HD)

A&E

46 130 Storage Wars

AMC

48

ANPL

41

BET

61

BRAVO

47

CNBC CNN

35 33

COM

57

DISN

18

DSC ESPN ESPN2

42 26 27

FAM

20

FOOD FOXN FSS

40 37 31

HALL

52

HGTV HIST

39 45

ION

13

LIFE

50

MSNBC NICK SPIKE

36 16 64

SYFY

58

TBS

24

TCM

49

TLC

43

TNT

23

TRUTV TVLAND

38 55

USA

25

WE WGN

68 8

Morticians by day, professional wrestlers by night

BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH How does one approach “Wrestling With Death” (10 p.m., WGN, TV-14)? It “stars” LaFonce Latham and his family, operators of the Wilson Funeral Home, an Osceola, Arkansas, institution that neighbors turn to in their hour of grief.

Latham also knows that “there’s not much to do” on a Saturday night in Osceola, so he and his family and employees have started and perform in the Mid-Southern Championship Wrestling League (MCW).

How do you reconcile the solemnity of a mortuary with professional wrestling? Latham believes that working with the bereaved has taught him to grab onto life with gusto. Or at least how to grapple with reality TV from a whole new angle.

• The “American Experience” (9 p.m., PBS, TV-PG, check local listings) presentation “Klansville U.S.A.” examines the motivations that drove thousands in North Carolina to join the Ku Klux Klan in the 1960s at a time when it was considered the most progressive state in the South.

“Klansville” revolves around the meteoric rise and fall of Bob Jones, a failed lightningrod salesman who became the most successful grand dragon in the United States.

Rich with period footage, this documentary offers an evenhanded discussion of Jones and his followers’ motivations.

Jones felt that the wealthier

whites looked down upon him as “trash.” Worse, equal rights for blacks threatened his prospects for employment and his place in the social pecking order. Jones responded to the white supremacy philosophy, the pageantry and regalia of the Klan because it echoed his fears while offering a sense of belonging, purpose and respect.

As a state Klan leader, Jones showed a flair for recruitment and organization, traveling the state to hold Klan rallies that included barbecues, music, carraffles and rousing sermons.

The murder of a white female civil-rights worker in 1965 brought FBI infiltration, surveillance and disruption to Klans across the nation. The investigation would discover and reveal how Jones and his wife had helped themselves to funds to buy a Cadillac and other luxuries. To Klan members, this was a tawdry betrayal.

“Klansville” ends in the late 1960s, with Jones’ disgrace and the disintegration of his vast organization.

• Redundantly titled, the new series “Big Giant Swords” (10 p.m., Discovery) follows Irish artist Michael Craughwell as he fashions weapons inspired by history and fantasy novels and movies.

• Former champions become coaches on the eighth season premiere of “Face Off” (9 p.m., Syfy, TV-14).

TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS • Leslie and the gang enter their final season of “Parks and Recreation” (8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., NBC, TV-PG).

• Approaching the target on “Marvel’s Agent Carter” (9 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).

• Control has questions on “Person of Interest” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14).

• A predator stalks tragedies on “Chicago Fire” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14).

• A victim appears to be connected to Martinez’ late husband on “Forever” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-14).

SERIES NOTES A betrayer within on “NCIS” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-14) * Mood swings on “The Flash” (8 p.m., CW, r, TV-PG) * Indulgences on “Marry Me” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14) * Class trip tensions on “New Girl” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14) * Trust issues on “About a Boy” (9:30 p.m., NBC, TV-14) * California scheming on “The Mindy Project” (9:30 p.m., Fox, TV-14).

LATE NIGHT Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) is booked on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (11 p.m., Comedy Central) * Matt LeBlanc, Felicity Jones and Mariachi El Bronx appear on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS) * Shovels & Rope appear on “Late Show With David Letterman” (11:35 p.m., CBS) * Jimmy Fallon welcomes Chris

JORDIN ALTHAUS / SYFY

“Face Off” begins its eighth season at 9 p.m. today on Syfy with three former champions returning to coach this season’s competitors. From left are season two winner Rayce Bird, season four winner Anthony Kosar, season five winner Laura Tyler and series host McKenzie Westmore.

Hemsworth, Sienna Miller and Joey Bada$$ on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) * Michael Strahan, Olivia Munn and Mark & Jay Duplass visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC) * Seth Green and Melissa Fumero, with

guest hosts Linda Perry, Julie Chen, Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Underwood & Aisha Tyler appear “The Late Late Show” (12:35 a.m., CBS).

Copyright 2015, United Feature Syndicate

NEED SOME CURB APPEAL?

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2014-15

DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF TOM OLSEN

Smoak Irrigation Company ompany LANDSCAPING & IRRIGATION

803-773-3400

JOEY SMOAK

BILLY CARLISLE

Serving Sumter and Surrounding Communities Since 1986

A10

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2015

AROUND TOWN School cafeteria, Council Clarendon School District Two is ready to begin assigning stu- Street. Cost is $7 per dinner and consists of barbecue dent devices as part of its Does your child attend Clarendon turkey wings,School macaroni with one to one technology District Two? cheese or seasoned rice, learning initiative through butterbeans, roll and a the Carolina Consortium of drink. Dine in or take out.

Enterprise Learning. In Call (803) 968-4173. order for students to receive a Mac Book Air laptop The American Legion Auxiliary or iPad Mini, parents are re- No. 202 Ballard-Palmer-Bates quired to attend one of the Unit will hold a mandatory following meetings: 6 p.m. meeting 1:30-2:30 p.m. on today, Manning Primary Saturday, Jan. 17, at 310 PalSchool (MPS); 6 p.m. metto St. Call Barbara J. Wednesday, Jan. 14, ManDavis, president, at (803) ning Elementary School 469-7133.

(MES); and 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, Manning Junior High The Lincoln High School Class School (MJHS) and Manning of 1963 will meet at 2 p.m. on High School (MHS). The dis- Saturday, Jan. 17, at American Legion Post 202, 310 Paltrict’s Acceptable Use Policy, how devices will be used metto St. Lincoln HS Classes 1960 through 1969 are asked and how to care for the deto send a representative to vices will be discussed. A help in planning the reunion $50 user fee is required for to celebrate the modern each student device issued Civil Rights Movement. Call at MPS, MES, MJHS and Ferdinand Burns at (803) MHS. A $25 user fee is re968-4464. quired for each student deThe Lincoln High School Presvice issued at MECC. ervation Alumni Association The Sumter Chapter of the Nawill meet at 4 p.m. on Suntional Federation of the Blind day, Jan. 18, at the Lincoln will hold its monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. today at Shi- High School cafeteria, Council Street. Call James Green loh-Randolph Manor. All at (803) 968-4173. state dues for 2015 are now due. The spotlight will shine The 15th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dream Walk will on Lori Anne Coley and the be held on Monday, Jan. 19. associate member is PatriThis three mile walk will cia White. If you know a start and end at USC Sumter blind or visually impaired person, contact the chapter Nettles Building, 200 Miller Road. Registration will president, Debra Canty, at begin at 8:30 a.m. with walk DebraCanC2@frontier.com beginning at 9:30 a.m. There or via telephone at (803) 775-5792. Mail state dues to: will be a celebratory program at 11 a.m. Call Mary NFB Sumter Chapter, P.O. Sutton at (803) 938-3760.

Box 641, Sumter, SC 29151.

The Pinedale Neighborhood As- The Sumter Branch NAACP’s annual MLK Program will be sociation will meet at 4 p.m. held at 3 p.m. on Monday, on Thursday, Jan. 15, at the Jan. 19, at Jehovah MissionSouth HOPE Center, 1125 S. ary Baptist Church, 805 S. Lafayette Drive. Call (803) Harvin St. 968-4464.

Free income tax filing services The General George L. Mabry and FAFSA applications will be Jr. Chapter 817, Military Order provided Feb. 1 through of the Purple Heart, will meet April 15 as follows: 9:30 at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. a.m.-3:30 p.m. Wednesdays, 15, at the Elks Lodge, 1100 SC Works — Santee Lynches, W. Liberty St. All Purple Heart recipients are invited. 31 E. Calhoun St., (803) 7741300; 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. FriCall (803) 506-3120. days, 3-8 p.m. Saturdays, The Sumter Combat Veterans Group will meet at 10 a.m. on appointments only on Sundays, Goodwill — Job Link Friday, Jan. 16, at the South Center, 1028 Broad St., (803) HOPE Center, 1125 S. Lafayette Drive. All area veterans 774-5006; and 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursdays and 9:30 are invited to attend. a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, Lee The Lincoln High School PresCounty Adult Education, 123 ervation Alumni Association E. College St., Bishopville, will sponsor a dinner fundrais(803) 484-4040. For details er 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Friday, and appointments, call Ms. Jan. 16, at the Lincoln High Samuels at (803) 240-8355.

PUBLIC AGENDA

DAILY PLANNER

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEATHER

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2015

AccuWeather® five-day forecast for Sumter TODAY

TONIGHT

Mostly cloudy with a little rain

Breezy with rain and drizzle

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Mostly cloudy, mist; Cloudy with a touch chilly of rain

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Sunshine

Nice with plenty of sun

47°

32°

44° / 33°

48° / 33°

54° / 29°

59° / 36°

Chance of rain: 65%

Chance of rain: 60%

Chance of rain: 40%

Chance of rain: 70%

Chance of rain: 5%

Chance of rain: 5%

NE 8-16 mph

NNE 10-20 mph

NNE 7-14 mph

NNE 4-8 mph

NNE 7-14 mph

ENE 6-12 mph

TODAY’S SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER

Gaffney 42/30 Spartanburg 44/32

Greenville 43/32

Columbia 49/33

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

Sumter 47/32

IN THE MOUNTAINS Aiken 48/34

ON THE COAST

Charleston 55/38

Today: A touch of rain; cooler in northern parts. High 49 to 59.

Wednesday: A passing shower; cooler in southern parts. High 47 to 52.

LOCAL ALMANAC

LAKE LEVELS

SUMTER THROUGH 4 P.M. YESTERDAY

Full pool 360 76.8 75.5 100

Lake Murray Marion Moultrie Wateree

52° 40° 54° 32° 82° in 2013 8° in 1982

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

Myrtle Beach 50/36

Manning 47/34

Today: Rather cloudy with a little rain.

Winds northeast 8-16 mph.

Wednesday: Morning ice, then spotty drizzle. Winds northeast 4-8 mph.

Temperature High Low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

Florence 48/33

Bishopville 46/32

SUN AND MOON 7 a.m. yest.

358.22 73.81 72.77 96.47

24-hr chg +0.05 -0.10 +0.05 +0.31

Sunrise 7:28 a.m.

Moonrise 12:31 a.m.

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

2.35" 3.50" 1.57" 3.50" 2.23" 1.57"

NATIONAL CITIES

REGIONAL CITIES

Today Wed. City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W Atlanta 49/36/r 50/38/sh Chicago 16/-1/s 16/10/c Dallas 39/32/c 42/29/c Detroit 12/-5/s 14/4/pc Houston 50/39/c 46/36/c Los Angeles 72/52/s 74/50/s New Orleans 54/41/c 52/42/c New York 28/17/s 31/22/pc Orlando 77/60/sh 72/56/c Philadelphia 33/20/s 33/24/c Phoenix 68/48/s 69/47/pc San Francisco 61/45/s 60/45/s Wash., DC 35/25/pc 34/29/i

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 40/31/c 47/33/r 50/36/r 58/39/r 48/44/r 55/38/r 42/29/r 46/35/r 49/33/r 46/31/r 45/36/r 47/32/r 45/31/r

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

Last

New

First

Full

Jan. 13

Jan. 20

Jan. 26

Feb. 3

TIDES

Flood 7 a.m. 24-hr stage yest. chg 12 8.01 -0.19 19 4.74 +0.14 14 8.23 +0.12 14 4.16 -1.43 80 78.68 -0.62 24 6.56 +0.90

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 41/32/sh 48/34/sh 48/32/sh 51/39/c 52/43/r 50/38/c 42/29/i 48/36/r 46/33/sh 43/32/sh 47/38/r 42/33/sh 39/32/sh

Sunset 5:34 p.m.

Moonset 12:05 p.m.

AT MYRTLE BEACH

High 2:15 a.m.

2:19 p.m.

3:11 a.m.

3:15 p.m.

Today Wed.

Today Hi/Lo/W 48/33/r 72/54/sh 42/30/r 44/30/r 55/38/r 39/28/r 43/32/r 40/30/c 57/44/r 66/51/c 55/41/r 55/38/r 48/35/r

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 43/33/sh 65/46/c 42/30/i 38/32/i 49/37/sh 34/28/i 45/31/i 40/31/sh 50/41/c 58/46/c 53/40/sh 51/38/sh 48/36/sh

Ht. 2.5 2.5 2.6 2.5

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

Low 9:05 a.m.

9:15 p.m.

10:06 a.m.

10:12 p.m.

Today Hi/Lo/W 41/29/c 56/39/r 50/36/r 49/35/r 57/41/r 40/29/r 42/29/r 43/29/r 61/41/r 44/32/r 57/43/r 50/35/r 39/28/r

Ht. 0.7 0.4 0.6 0.3

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 41/30/sh 50/39/c 48/36/sh 46/35/sh 50/40/c 36/30/i 41/29/i 39/28/sh 52/40/c 44/32/i 50/40/c 46/36/r 35/29/i

Weather(W): s–sunny, pc–partly cloudy, c–cloudy, sh–showers, t–thunderstorms, r–rain, sf–snow flurries, sn–snow, i–ice LEE COUNTY COUNCIL Today, 9:30 a.m., Family Court room, second floor, courthouse

SUMTER COUNTY COUNCIL Today, 6 p.m., Sumter County Council Chambers

SUMTER HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION Today, noon, Sunset Country Club

PINEWOOD TOWN COUNCIL Today, 6:30 p.m., town hall

SUMTER COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES Today, 5 p.m., library LYNCHBURG TOWN COUNCIL Today, 6 p.m., Teen Center on Magnolia Street, Lynchburg

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Get off your EUGENIA LAST duff and make things happen. Participate in community or industry events that can help you advance. Partnerships are in your best interest and can be negotiated fairly and with good results. Romance is highlighted.

The last word in astrology

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Relax, and don’t fight the inevitable. You can accomplish far more if you keep your life simple and refrain from butting heads with those around you. Keeping busy or doing something physical will help you avoid overindulgence and overreacting.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Make plans early, or you will fall short when it comes to getting what you want. Delays are likely if you leave details up to someone else. Take charge of things and you will be able to manipulate what unfolds.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Do things a tad differently and you will be noticed for your ingenuity and thoughtful input. A moneymaker is within reach if you’re willing to make a contribution to an unusual project. Don’t be afraid to make a move.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Put travel plans into motion. Take a day trip for business, visit a friend or attend a conference. In your search for information, you will make important connections that can add a positive influence to your life.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Stop worrying about what everyone else is thinking or doing. Get fit, healthy and ready to conquer the world.

You can’t let negativity take over or stagnate your progress. A positive attitude will enable you to have a

For Comfort You Can Count On, Better Make It Boykin!

TURBEVILLE TOWN COUNCIL Today, 6:30 p.m., town hall

803-795-4257 www.boykinacs.com

SUMMERTON TOWN COUNCIL Today, 6 p.m., town hall

License #M4217

MAYESVILLE TOWN COUNCIL Today, 7 p.m., town hall

greater impact on others.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Not everyone will be on the same page as you, but if you pursue your beliefs, ideas and plans, you will soon get others to pay attention.

Romance is highlighted, and improving your relationships will bring beneficial results.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Shake things up a bit. You can’t make a difference if you don’t stand up for your rights and beliefs. Take an approach that will surprise your opposition, and you will make headway. You will have to give a little in order to receive.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You may be anxious to make a move, but before you start, consider what it will take to be successful. Don’t hold back. Give everything you have, and don’t stop until you exhaust your resources.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Someone is likely to be in a bad mood. Patience will be necessary if you want to accomplish anything.

Consider hiding out where you can avoid drama and attend to your responsibilities without interruption.

LOTTERY NUMBERS PALMETTO CASH 5 MONDAY

MEGAMILLIONS FRIDAY

POWERBALL SATURDAY

10-18-19-27-36 PowerUp: 2

37-49-50-56-57 Megaball: 8 Megaplier: 5

2-9-19-28-29 Powerball: 19 Powerplay: 5

PICK 3 MONDAY

PICK 4 MONDAY

1-9-1 and 7-5-2

3-8-0-1 and 9-9-6-1

PICTURES FROM THE PUBLIC Sandi Strickland shares a photo she took at her home in Sumter on Nov. 1, 2014, the day the Midlands had snowfall.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Don’t get down in the dumps if something doesn’t go your way.

Pick yourself up and look for a new way to satisfy your needs and implement your ideas and plans.

Love is on the rise.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Look around you and decipher what everyone else is doing before you make promises to pitch in. Effective contributions with the least amount of work will be your best bet. Be true to your beliefs and feelings.

HAVE YOU TAKEN PICTURES OF INTERESTING, EXCITING, BEAUTIFUL OR HISTORICAL PLACES? Would you like to share those images with your fellow Sumter Item readers? E-mail your hi-resolution jpegs to sandrah@theitem.com, or mail to Sandra Holbert c/o The Sumter 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

Tigers DC Venables gets pay increase

B

TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2015

B3

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

PREP BASKETBALL

SHS girls climb into 4A poll as region play begins

BY DENNIS BRUNSON dennis@theitem.com When the Sumter High School varsity girls basketball team opens its Region VI-3A schedule today against South Florence, it will do so as the No. 3 team in the state among 4A schools.

The SHS boys team, on the other hand, will do so as an

unranked squad.

The Lady Gamecocks went from being unranked all the way to No. 3. They aren’t the only local girls squad to bounce into a poll this week; Lakewood broke into the 3A poll at No. 8, joining Crestwood. The Lady Knights dropped a spot from third to fourth.

The Sumter girls are 12-2 on the season and bring an

S.C. COACHES POLL 4A GIRLS 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

W. Florence Greenwood Sumter Irmo Dutch Fork

6. Spartanburg 7. Dorman 8. Westside 9. Wando 10. Ashley Ridge

8-game winning streak into the home game against the Lady Bruins. The No. 1 4A girls team is Sumter’s region

foe, West Florence. WF is 13-1 and Greenwood is second.

The Sumter boys go into its region contest at 6-4 and the owner of a 3-game losing streak. South Florence is 8-7.

Crestwood and Lakewood will be at home in their region games today. Crestwood will meet Marlboro County, while Lakewood will take on Hartsville.

SCISA Region II-3A begins

its region schedule today as well. Wilson Hall will be at home against Orangeburg Prep, while Thomas Sumter Academy will be playing at Laurence Manning Academy.

Lee Central and East Clarendon also begin their region schedules today. Lee Central opens at home against Kingstree, while EC will play at Timmonsville.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Buck the trend Despite 2 turnovers, underdog Ohio St. leads Oregon 21-10 at halftime of national title game

BY SCHUYLER DIXON The Associated Press ARLINGTON, Texas — Ohio State led Oregon 21-10 at halftime of the national game on Monday.

Ezekiel Elliott ran 33 yards for a touchdown to cap a 97-yard drive, Cardale Jones threw a short scoring pass as Ohio State led 14-7 after the first quarter.

The fourth-seeded Buckeyes answered a scoring pass by Heisman Trophy- winning Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota on the opening drive of the first national championship under the 4-team playoff system.

The second-seeded Ducks are bidding for their first national championship, while Mariota is trying to become the seventh player since 1996 to win the Heisman and a national title in the same season. Florida State’s Jameis Winston did it last season.

Slightly more than half of the crowd at the oversized $1.2 billion home of the Dallas Cowboys was filled with red-clad Ohio State fans hoping for the Buckeyes’ fifth national title, but first under coach Urban Meyer.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott, left, runs past Oregon’s Chris Seisay for a 33-yard touchdown during the first quarter of Monday’s College Football SEE BUCK, PAGE B4 Playoff championship game in Arlington, Texas. The Buckeyes led 21-10 at halftime.

PRO FOOTBALL

USC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Mitchell, Carolina rally past UK Pair of rematches highlight conference championships

BY PETE IACOBELLI The Associated Press COLUMBIA — South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley never panicked as she watched Tiffany Mitchell struggle in the first half against No. 10 Kentucky. Staley knew what was ahead for the Wildcats.

“With Tiffany, I’ll take her bad halves because I know a good half is going to be coming,’’ Staley said.

Mitchell, the defending Southeastern Conference player of the year, scored 13 of her 19 points in the second half to keep No. 1 South Carolina perfect at 16-0 this season in a 68-60 victory over Kentucky on Sunday. Mitchell was 2 of 7 shooting in the first 20 minutes as the Gamecocks (4-0 SEC) trailed at the break for just the third time this season.

But with Mitchell leading the way, South Carolina used a 15-6 to start the second half and take control in the first of several ranked-on-ranked SEC matchups left this sea-

BY BARRY WILNER The Associated Press

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

South Carolina’s Tiffany Mitchell, front, drives to basket while Kentucky’s Jennifer O’Neill defends during the Gamecocks’ 68-60 victory on Sunday in Columbia. son.

The victory also kept USC in the top spot of AP Top 25 poll for the eighth straight week.

Gamecocks senior Aleighsa Welch said no one’s harder on Mitchell then herself so Welch

SEE USC, PAGE B4

You again.

Not that the Patriots and Seahawks are likely to mind seeing who has joined them in the NFL’s conference championships.

Remember, New England routed Indianapolis 42-20 and Seattle romped over Green Bay 36-16 to open the season.

Rematches at the final step to reaching the Super Bowl have been common recently. In the AFC, from 2009-14, only in 2011 was the conference championship not a repeat meeting.

In the NFC, it happened in 2010, 2011, 2013 and this season.

Twice in the NFC, intradivision matchups meant a third game between rivals: 2010 when Green Bay won at Chicago, and 2013, when Seattle beat San Francisco.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Seattle’s Michael Bennett, center, will look to get reacquainted with Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) on Sunday when the two teams meet for the second time this season in the NFC championship game.

Not one of the others has involved teams from the same division. Excluding

SEE REMATCHES, PAGE B3

B2

|

SPORTS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2015

SCOREBOARD TV, RADIO TODAY

2:30 p.m. -- International Soccer: FA Cup Match -- Everton vs. West Ham (FOX SPORTS 1).

5:45 p.m. -- Girls and Boys High School Basketball: Westwood at Lugoff-Elgin (WPUB-FM 102.7).

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Michigan at Ohio State (ESPN).

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Oklahoma at West Virginia (ESPNEWS).

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Oklahoma State at Kansas (ESPN2).

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

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Butler at Seton Hall (FOX SPORTS 1).

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Virginia Tech at Louisville (FOX SPORTSOUTH).

7 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: San Antonio at Washington (NBA TV).

7 p.m. -- NHL Hockey: Minnesota at Pittsburgh (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

7 p.m. -- NHL Hockey: Colorado at Carolina (SPORTSOUTH).

7:30 p.m. -- College Basketball: Virginia Commonwealth at Rhode Island (CBS SPORTS NETWORK).

8 p.m. -- College Basketball: Virginia at Clemson (WWBD-FM 94.7).

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

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Miami at Duke (ESPN2).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Alabama at South Carolina (ESPNU, WDXY-FM 105.9, WNKT-FM 107.5, WDXY-AM 1240).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Georgetown at DePaul (FOX SPORTS 1).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Mississippi State at Texas A&M (SEC NETWORK).

9:30 p.m. -- College Basketball: Connecticut at Tulsa (CBS SPORTS NETWORK).

11 p.m. -- College Basketball: UNLV at Boise State (ESPNU).

TODAY

Varsity Basketball South Florence at Sumter, 6 p.m.

Marlboro County at Crestwood, 6 p.m.

Hartsville at Lakewood, 6 p.m.

Darlington at Manning, 6 p.m.

East Clarendon at Timmonsville, 6 p.m.

Varsity and JV Basketball Kingstree at Lee Central (No JV Girls), 5 p.m.

Orangeburg Prep at Wilson Hall, 4 p.m.

Thomas Sumter at Laurence Manning, 4 p.m.

Williamsburg at Robert E. Lee, 4 p.m.

Jefferson Davis at Clarendon Hall, 4 p.m.

Orangeburg Christian at Sumter Christian (JV Girls), 5 p.m.

Junior Varsity Basketball Hope Christian at Sumter Christian (Boys), 4 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

B Team Basketball Robert E. Lee at Thomas Sumter, 5 p.m.

Laurence Manning at Orangeburg Prep, 5 p.m.

Varsity Bowling Laurence Manning, Robert E. Lee at Wilson Hall (at Gamecock Lanes), 5 p.m.

.684 .605 .500

1/2 3 1/2 7 1/2

L 8 19 20 25 31

Pct .789 .486 .459 .342 .139

GB – 11 1/2 12 1/2 17 24

L 5 13 18 21 26

Pct .853 .658 .550 .432 .316

GB – 6 10 14 1/2 19

SPORTS ITEMS

Fox, Denver part ways after 4 years ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Head coach John Fox and the Denver Broncos are parting ways following the team’s latest playoff meltdown.

Fox won the AFC West all four of his years in DenFOX ver, but each of those seasons ended in ugly fashion in the playoffs, including Sunday’s stunning 24-13 loss to Indianapolis.

Fox was 49-22 in Denver after going 73-71 in nine years with the Carolina Panthers.

In three seasons with Peyton Manning, the Broncos went 38-10 in the regular season but were upset twice at home in the divisional round and got upended by the Seahawks 43-8 in last year’s Super Bowl.

The Broncos went 8-8 in Fox’s first year, when Tebowmania was in full pitch. The stakes were raised when Manning replaced Tim Tebow in 2012.

SUNDAY’S GAMES

Atlanta 120, Washington 89 Miami 104, L.A. Clippers 90 Memphis 122, Phoenix 110,2OT Sacramento 103, Cleveland 84 Portland 106, L.A. Lakers 94

MONDAY’S GAMES

Detroit at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.

Houston at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.

New Orleans at Boston, 7:30 p.m.

Orlando at Chicago, 8 p.m.

TUESDAY’S GAMES

Atlanta at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

San Antonio at Washington, 7 p.m.

Minnesota at Indiana, 7 p.m.

Cleveland at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

Golden State at Utah, 9 p.m.

Dallas at Sacramento, 10 p.m.

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

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

Houston at Orlando, 7 p.m.

San Antonio at Charlotte, 7 p.m.

Philadelphia at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.

New Orleans at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.

Memphis at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.

Washington at Chicago, 8 p.m.

Atlanta at Boston, 8 p.m.

Dallas at Denver, 9 p.m.

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

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

NFL PLAYOFFS

By The Associated Press Jan. 3 Carolina 27, Arizona 16 Baltimore 30, Pittsburgh 17 Jan. 4 Indianapolis 26, Cincinnati 10 Dallas 24, Detroit 20

REED RALLIES TO WIN KAPALUA IN A PLAYOFF

DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS

KAPALUA, Hawaii — Four shots behind with four holes to play, Patrick Reed made two birdies and holed out from 80 yards for an eagle Monday, and then closed out his unlikely rally by making an 18-foot birdie putt to beat Jimmy Walker

Saturday New England 35, Baltimore 31 Seattle 31, Carolina 17 Sunday Green Bay 26, Dallas 21 Indianapolis 24, Denver 13

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Jan. 18 Green Bay at Seattle, 3:05 p.m. (FOX) Indianapolis at New England, 6:40 p.m. (CBS)

PRO BOWL

FRIDAY

Varsity Basketball Sumter at Conway, 6 p.m.

Crestwood at Lakewood, 6 p.m.

Manning at Marlboro County, 6 p.m.

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

St. Francis Xavier at Andrew Jackson Academy (Boys Only), 6 p.m.

Varsity and JV Basketball Lake Marion at Lee Central (No JV Girls), 5 p.m.

Hannah-Pamplico at Scott’s Branch (No JV Girls), 5 p.m.

Wilson Hall at Calhoun, 4 p.m.

Orangeburg Prep at Thomas Sumter, 4 p.m.

Northwood at Laurence Manning, 4 p.m.

The King’s Academy at Robert E. Lee, 4 p.m.

Clarendon Hall at Dorchester, 4 p.m.

South Pointe Christian at Sumter Christian, 4 p.m.

B Team Basketball Cardinal Newman at Wilson Hall, 4:30 p.m.

Varsity Wrestling Sumter in Coach Trapp Duals (at Battery Creek High in Beaufort), TBA

SATURDAY

B Team Basketball Wilson Hall at Calhoun, 10 a.m.

Orangeburg Prep at Thomas Sumter, 3 p.m.

Varsity Wrestling Sumter in Coach Trapp Duals (at Battery Creek High in Beaufort), TBA

NBA STANDINGS

By The Associated Press EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION L 11 21 23 29 35

Pct .694 .432 .343 .194 .125

GB – 9 1/2 12 1/2 18 22

L 8 12 21 24 27

Pct .784 .676 .432 .385 .325

GB – 4 13 15 17 1/2

L 12 19 19 24 24

Pct .684 .513 .500 .385 .351

GB – 6 1/2 7 11 1/2 12 1/2

WESTERN CONFERENCE L 11 11

Pct .703 .703

It’s your world.

Read all about it.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills have officially announced they’ve hired Rex Ryan to take over as coach.

The announcement was made in a release issued by the team Monday, a day after the former New York Jets coach accepted the Bills contract offer. Ryan replaces Doug Marrone, who stepped down abruptly on Dec. 31.

Bills owner Terry Pegula credited Ryan for bringing

SYRACUSE F MCCULLOUGH OUT FOR REST OF SEASON SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Freshman forward Chris McCullough of the Syracuse Orange is out for the season.

Coach Jim Boeheim says McCullough suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and will miss the remainder of the season.

McCullough injured the knee Sunday night in the first half against Florida State. He landed awkwardly trying to catch a high pass in transition and could put little pressure on his leg. He was helped to the locker room and never returned.

The 6-foot-10 McCullough was averaging 9.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks and had started all 16 games.

Boeheim said sophomore Tyler Roberson would assume McCullough’s spot in the starting lineup.

From wire reports

Trio leads Hawks past Hillcrest 60-34 Alice Drive Middle School’s boys basketball team defeated Hillcrest 60-34 on Monday at the AD gymnasium.

Carldrelle Cooper led the Hawks with 13 points. Jackson Hoshour added 11, while Kwaleek Jones had 10.

Josh Simon had a doubledouble of 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead Hillcrest.

Josh Goodman added seven points and 13 rebounds.

NHL STANDINGS

By The Associated Press ATLANTIC DIVISION GP W L Tampa Bay 43 27 12 Montreal 41 26 12 Detroit 42 22 11 Boston 43 22 15 Florida 40 20 11 Toronto 42 22 17 Ottawa 41 17 16 Buffalo 43 14 26 METROPOLITAN DIVISION GP W L N.Y. Islanders 42 28 13 Pittsburgh 41 25 10 N.Y. Rangers 39 24 11 Washington 41 22 11 Columbus 40 18 19 Philadelphia 42 16 19 New Jersey 44 15 21 Carolina 42 13 24

OT 4 3 9 6 9 3 8 3

Pts 58 55 53 50 49 47 42 31

GF GA 140 111 111 95 117 106 113 111 100 105 137 130 110 113 81 147

OT 1 6 4 8 3 7 8 5

Pts 57 56 52 52 39 39 38 31

GF GA 131 116 122 98 124 95 123 105 104 131 112 126 96 124 88 112

MAYEWOOD 62 EBENEZER 40

ZXzabien Yates scored 27 points to lead Mayewood Middle School to a 62-40 vic-

WESTERN CONFERENCE CENTRAL DIVISION GP W L OT Pts GF GA Nashville 41 28 9 4 60 125 93 Chicago 43 28 13 2 58 134 95 St. Louis 42 26 13 3 55 136 105 Winnipeg 43 21 14 8 50 113 109 Colorado 42 18 16 8 44 112 122 Dallas 41 18 16 7 43 126 135 Minnesota 41 18 18 5 41 111 121 PACIFIC DIVISION GP W L OT Pts GF GA Anaheim 43 27 10 6 60 121 118 Vancouver 40 23 14 3 49 113 104 San Jose 43 22 16 5 49 116 118 Los Angeles 42 19 13 10 48 119 112 Calgary 43 22 18 3 47 123 114 Arizona 41 16 21 4 36 97 136 Edmonton 43 10 24 9 29 97 145 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss.

tory over Ebenezer on Monday at the Bates gymnasium.

Jamoni Goodley added 15 points for the Vikings.

On Thursday, Mayewood beat Alice Drive 55-43. The Vikings were led by Yates with 23 points and 8 rebounds. Jamar Holliday added 10 points.

On Monday, Jan. 5, Mayewood beat Furman 4240. Javonte McFadden led the Vikings with 11, Yates had 10 and Jamoni Goodley scored nine.

CHESTNUT OAKS 55 FURMAN 53

BEN LIPPEN 28 WILSON HALL 27 Wilson Hall fell to 5-4 with a 28-27 loss to Ben Lippen on Monday at Nash Student Center.

Chandler Scott led the Barons with 15 points.

Nash Student Center.

Waverly McIver led the Lady Barons with 12 points.

Kayla Porter added nine, while Madison Elmore and Grayson Coker both had eight.

gymnasium.

Lena McGhee led the Lady Vikings with six points. Shamonah MackCook led Mayewood with 10 rebounds.

MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL

HILLCREST 25

Tampa Bay at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Colorado at Washington, 7 p.m.

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

TODAY’S GAMES

WILSON HALL 62

EBENEZER 10

BEN LIPPEN 9

Mayewood Middle School defeated Ebenezer 18-10 on Monday at the Mayewood

SUNDAY’S GAMES

Anaheim 5, Winnipeg 4, SO Florida 4, Edmonton 2 Chicago 4, Minnesota 1

MONDAY’S GAMES

Tampa Bay at Boston, 7 p.m.

Detroit at Buffalo, 7 p.m.

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

Minnesota at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Colorado at Carolina, 7 p.m.

Edmonton at St. Louis, 8 p.m.

Vancouver at Nashville, 8 p.m.

Florida at Winnipeg, 8 p.m.

Ottawa at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

San Jose at Arizona, 9 p.m.

Wilson Hall defeated Ben Lippen 62-9 on Monday at

MAYEWOOD 18

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

Call (803) 774-1200 and subscribe today.

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Alice Drive Middle School defeated Hillcrest 39-25 on Monday at the AD gymnasium.

Tamera Brown led the Lady Hawks with 24 points.

Sedajah Rember had 22 to pace Hillcrest.

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B TEAM BASKETBALL

DeLavan’s buzzer-beater lifts TSA B team past LMA MANNING — Riley DeLavan scored at the buzzer to lift Thomas Sumter Academy B girls basketball team to a 26-24 victory over Laurence Manning Academy on Monday at Bubba Davis Gymnasium.

DeLavan led TSA with eight points and Emily Jackson grabbed nine rebounds.

Montreal at Columbus, 7 p.m.

Philadelphia at Washington, 8 p.m.

Toronto at Anaheim, 10 p.m.

New Jersey at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.

Furman Middle School lost to Chestnut Oaks 55-53 on Monday at the Furman gymnasium.

Trevious Epps had a double-double of 23 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Indians. Juwan Perdue added 14 points.

GIRLS AREA ROUNDUP

S UMTER ● 1008 Broad St

Call (803) 774-1200 and get started today.

BILLS ANNOUNCE REX RYAN AS HEAD COACH

“a well of experience and enthusiasm,’’ in a statement released by the team.

Ryan had a 50-52 record, including 4-2 in the playoffs, in six seasons coaching the Bills’ AFC East rival. He was fired along with general manager John Idzik following a 4-12 finish last season.

The Bills interviewed 12 candidates for the position before identifying Ryan as a finalist on Saturday.

BOYS AREA ROUNDUP

SUPER BOWL XLIX

At Glendale, Ariz.

Feb. 1 AFC champion vs. NFC champion, 6:30 p.m. (NBC)

FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1973 GB – –

in a playoff at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

The PGA Tour started a new year without a host of big names, but got a compelling finish at Kapalua.

Reed charged back into the picture with his eagle on the 16th hole, a shot that spun back toward the hole and hit the pin before dropping. After three-putting from 100 feet just off the green for bogey on the 17th, he two-putted from 80 feet for birdie on the par-5 closing hole for a 6-under 67.

For the second straight day, Walker didn’t make birdie after the 10th hole, and this time it cost him.

The only big mistake in regulation was trying to play it safe off the short par-4 14th and hitting 4-iron into a bunker. He went over the green and made bogey, his first bogey in 33 holes.

At Glendale, Ariz.

Jan. 25 Team Irvin vs. Team Carter, 8 p.m.

(ESPN)

EASTERN CONFERENCE

THURSDAY

Varsity Basketball Patrick Henry at St. Francis Xavier (Boys Only), 6 p.m.

Varsity and JV Basketball The King’s Academy at Wilson Hall (No JV Girls), 4 p.m.

Laurence Manning at Trinity-Byrnes, 4 p.m.

Junior Varsity Basketball Conway at Sumter, 6 p.m.

Lakewood at Crestwood, 6 p.m.

Marlboro County at Manning, 6 p.m.

B Team Basketball Laurence Manning at Hammond, 4:30 p.m.

Robert E. Lee at Thomas Hart, 4 p.m.

Middle School Basketball Furman at Alice Drive, 5 p.m.

Bates at Mayewood, 5 p.m.

Ebenezer at Chestnut Oaks, 5 p.m.

SOUTHWEST DIVISION W Houston 26 Memphis 26

12 15 18

WILD-CARD PLAYOFFS

PREP SCHEDULE

W Toronto 25 Brooklyn 16 Boston 12 Philadelphia 7 New York 5 SOUTHEAST DIVISION W Atlanta 29 Washington 25 Miami 16 Charlotte 15 Orlando 13 CENTRAL DIVISION W Chicago 26 Milwaukee 20 Cleveland 19 Indiana 15 Detroit 13

Dallas 26 San Antonio 23 New Orleans 18 NORTHWEST DIVISION W Portland 30 Oklahoma City 18 Denver 17 Utah 13 Minnesota 5 PACIFIC DIVISION W Golden State 29 L.A. Clippers 25 Phoenix 22 Sacramento 16 L.A. Lakers 12

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SPORTS

THE SUMTER ITEM

TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2015

|

B3

CLEMSON BASKETBALL

Tigers set to tangle with unbeaten Cavs down 16 total rebounds to go along with two blocks and two steals. He ranks fifth in the ACC with an average of 3.7 offensive rebounds per game.

“It was really good to see Sidy make a few baskets and hopefully get his confidence going,” Brownell said. “That’s something he really needs — a shot of confidence to go with his physicality.”

Smith also came up with some productive minutes against Pittsburgh, scoring a career-best seven points while corralling four rebounds.

“Josh has had three or four games where he’s come in and in the short minutes he’s gotten has scored six points,” Brownell said. “He has played well and had some productive minutes for us.

“They’re all going to have to play better and produce for us to win ACC games going forward.”

Clemson’s suddenly potent bench won’t have to wait long to get that chance. The Tigers, who improved to 9-6 overall and 1-2 in ACC play with the win in Pittsburgh, face perhaps their biggest challenge to date against the unbeaten Cavaliers, who are 15-0 overall, 3-0 in ACC play, and coming off a six-point win at Notre Dame.

BY SCOTT KEEPFER Greenville News CLEMSON — If Saturday’s victory at Pittsburgh was an adequate indicator, then the Clemson University men’s basketball team’s bench may be rounding into shape in timely fashion.

Contributions from the Tigers’ reserves were key in the 71-62 victory and head coach Brad Brownell will be looking for more of the same as his team ventures further into Atlantic Coast Conference play, beginning with tonight’s game at No. 2 and unbeaten Virginia.

“We’re going to have to play special to win,” Brownell said.

For the Tigers to “play special” will require strong play off the bench from three players who have emerged as key factors of late — junior guard Jordan Roper, sophomore center Sidy Djitte and junior forward-center Josh Smith.

“We need somebody to inspire us, to provide some energy,” Brownell said. “We need Jordan to make some baskets and we need to get rebounding from Josh and Sidy.”

Ask, and ye shall receive.

Roper had eight points and four assists against Pittsburgh as the Tigers’ bench outscored the Panthers’ bench

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The recent play of Clemson’s Sidy Djitte (50) and others have given the Tigers a much-needed recent boost as they get set to face unbeaten Virginia today.

23-7.

“I thought Rope came out of it a little bit at Louisville,” Brownell said. “He’s got to be able to do that for us. What he provides is offense.

“He’s got to be able to come in and make a couple of baskets, have a couple of assists.

Our team desperately needs

that. He’s done that several times in his career and we need that consistency from him.”

Roper had three points in Clemson’s loss to North Carolina in its ACC opener on Jan. 3, but has scored eight points in each of the Tigers’ last two games.

Djitte, meanwhile, matched his career-high with eight points and grabbed seven rebounds against Pittsburgh.

Djitte, in particular, has stepped up his game in league play. In three ACC games, the 6-foot-10 Djitte has averaged 16.3 minutes per games while pulling

CLEMSON FOOTBALL

PRO FOOTBALL

Salary for Venables increased to $1.35M

Teammates didn’t see Manning trying to hide extent of injury

BY SCOTT KEEPFER Greenville News CLEMSON — Producing the nation’s No. 1 defense has produced a nifty financial windfall for Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables.

The school announced Friday that Venables and eight other assistant coach on head coach Dabo Swinney’s football staff had agreed to new contracts.

On Monday, the school revealed the compensation VENABLES attached to those new contracts, including a $475,000 raise for Venables from $875,000 to $1.35 million.

The 54.3-percent raise places Venables among the highestpaid assistants in the country, trailing only Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster and matching Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart.

Venables agreed to a fouryear contract Friday. Clemson’s eight other assistant coaches agreed to new twoyear contracts 11 days after the Tigers capped a fourth consecutive 10-win season by trouncing Oklahoma 40-6 in the Russell Athletic Bowl.

Last year, Swinney’s nineperson staff made a collective $4.42 million — the third-highest compensation for a staff of assistants in the country, trailing only Alabama and LSU. In 2015, Swinney’s assistants will earn a combined a $4.215 million, a slight decrease due primarily to the departure of offensive coordinator Chad Morris to SMU. Morris made $1.3 million last year.

Morris’ replacements — Tony Elliott and Jeff Scott — each will make $400,000 in 2015.

Defensive ends coach Marion Hobby will make $415,000 this year while defensive tackles coach Dan Brooks, offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell and tight ends/special teams coach Danny Pearman each will make $355,000.

Defensive backs coach Mike Reed will make $310,000 and new quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter will make $275,000.

BY ARNIE STAPLETON The Associated Press ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — If Peyton Manning’s injury was worse than he let on, his teammates sure didn’t see it.

In the aftermath of his poor playoff performance in the Broncos’ 24-13 loss to Indianapolis, Manning said the right thigh bruise he suffered Dec. 14 at San Diego lingered but wasn’t bad enough to sideline him.

On Monday, ESPN, citing two people it didn’t name, reported that Manning played with a “torn’’ quad muscle, the severity of which he had tried to conceal.

However, two people with knowledge of Manning’s health told The Associated Press it was “a strain,’’ as the team had characterized it all along. They both spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the subject.

They also said the tearstrain debate could be a matter of semantics because a strain occurs when a muscle is stretched too much and tears. It’s also called a pulled muscle.

After the game, John Fox — who parted ways with the

Broncos on Monday — was asked if Manning was healthy and he said everyMANNING body’s banged up at this time of year, “but he’s definitely healthy enough to play in the game.’’

Manning was ambivalent about his future after the game but didn’t say his health was at issue. He said he just needed time to process Denver’s disappointing loss to his former team before deciding whether he’ll be back for an 18th season in the NFL. He did, however, dispute a report that he had injuries to both thighs, saying “that would be news to me.’’ He said he felt he could manage his right quadriceps injury, adding it felt good heading into the playoff game.

Manning blamed the injury on dehydration from a stomach bug the night before the Chargers game. He missed the team’s next practice, on Dec. 18, although he participated in the walkthrough that day. And he skipped the two days of

practices during the team’s bye week after Denver earned the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs. He practiced all of last week.

Receiver Wes Welker said he couldn’t tell if Manning was hiding the extent of his injury over the last month, and cornerback Chris Harris Jr. said he got no such indications at practice — although he acknowledged

practices weren’t the best barometer.

“Practice is easy for a quarterback: you don’t have to move, you don’t have to run,’’ Harris said. “You probably couldn’t tell that Aaron Rodgers was hurt until the game and then you could see him running with a limp. But in practice, he probably looked like it was nothing.’’

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SPORTS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2015

USC FROM PAGE B1 calmed her down at halftime and told her the shots she’d missed would eventually fall.

“I think she just needed to see one go in and when she got herself off to a quick start in the second half, she got in her rhythm,’’ Welch said.

“You can always count on Tiffany to bounce back when she starts off slow.’’

The Wildcats (14-3, 3-1) closed to 50-46 on Jennifer O’Neill’s bucket with 11:11 left. But Khadijah Sessions followed with her third 3-pointer to restore South Carolina’s margin and Kentucky could get no closer.

The game was marred by a gruesome-looking left ankle injury to Kentucky junior Janee Thompson. She left the court on a stretcher and the initial diagnosis was a left ankle dislocation. The school later announced she had a broken fibula and would miss the rest of the season.

“We are so sad for Janee,’’ UK Hoops head coach Matthew Mitchell said. “We never want to see a player sustain an injury like that. We are particularly sad for Janee because she’s worked so hard and has really come into her own.’’

Thompson’s teammates, South Carolina coach Dawn Staley and leading scorer A’ja Wilson ran out to console the sobbing player as she was helped onto the stretcher, rolled off the court and taken to a hospital. A short time later, Kentucky coach Matthew Mitchell was ejected from the game after two consecutive technical after loudly arguing with officials.

O’Neill scored 13 to lead UK.

BUCK FROM PAGE B1 Jones, Ohio State’s third starting quarterback this season, threw consecutive 26yard passes when the Buckeyes faced third down from their 5-yard line on their first scoring drive.

The first pass was to Corey Smith and the second to Jalin Marshall, who later converted a fourth-and-2 with a run that picked up the first down by the nose of the football. Elliott’s scoring run came two plays later.

It was the second-longest scoring drive of the season for the fourth-seeded Buckeyes.

Elliott, who had 63 yards rushing in the first quarter, ran 17 yards to the Oregon 1, setting up Jones’ scoring pass to Nick Vannett for a 14-7 lead with 1:08 left in the first.

Your community news source www.theitem.com

WOMEN’S AP TOP 25 Record 1. S. Carolina (28) 16-0 2. UConn (7) 14-1 3. Baylor 14-1 4. Louisville 15-1 4. Texas 13-1 6. Tennessee 14-2 7. Notre Dame 15-2 8. Maryland 13-2 9. Oregon St. 14-1 10. Kentucky 14-3 11. Texas A&M 15-3 12. North Carolina 15-2 13. Stanford 12-4 14. Arizona St. 15-1 15. Mississippi St. 18-1 16. Duke 11-5 17. Nebraska 12-3 18. Georgia 15-2 19. Princeton 17-0 20. Florida St. 15-2 21. Oklahoma St. 11-3 22. Iowa 12-3 23. Minnesota 14-2 24. Rutgers 12-4 25. Syracuse 11-5

Pts Prv 868 1 846 2 777 5 728 6 728 3 722 7 678 4 583 12 579 11 545 10 515 9 488 8 453 15 399 18 341 14 332 13 275 19 271 20 178 22 168 — 162 16 139 17 114 23 98 24 91 21

THE SUMTER ITEM

MEN’S AP TOP 25 Record 1. Kentucky (63) 15-0 2. Virginia (2) 15-0 3. Gonzaga 16-1 4. Duke 14-1 5. Villanova 15-1 6. Louisville 14-2 7. Wisconsin 15-2 8. Utah 13-2 9. Kansas 13-2 10. Arizona 14-2 11. Iowa St. 12-2 12. Notre Dame 15-2 13. Wichita St. 14-2 14. Maryland 15-2 15. North Carolina 12-4 16. West Virginia 14-2 17. VCU 13-3 18. Oklahoma 11-4 19. Arkansas 13-2 20. Texas 12-4 21. Seton Hall 13-3 22. Baylor 12-3 23. N. Iowa 14-2 24. Oklahoma St. 12-3 25. Wyoming 15-2

Pts 1,623 1,561 1,446 1,432 1,358 1,264 1,200 1,185 1,100 1,037 922 903 832 801 719 627 578 485 431 345 298 278 212 132 71

Prv 1 3 6 2 8 5 4 9 12 7 17 13 15 11 18 14 20 16 23 10 19 21 — — —

Others receiving votes: W. Kentucky 78, Chattanooga 49, Miami 41, Washington 24, South Florida 21, Iowa St. 19, Northwestern 18, Green Bay 14, Long Beach St. 7, St. John’s 7, Seton Hall 6, California 5, DePaul 4, George Washington 2, Ohio St. 2.

Others receiving votes: Ohio St. 70, Michigan St. 67, Dayton 55, Providence 17, Indiana 15, LSU 12, St. John’s 10, Alabama 7, Georgetown 7, NC State 6, Green Bay 3, Syracuse 3, Butler 2, Oregon 2, San Diego St. 2, TCU 2, Colorado St. 1,

Sessions finished with 12 points and Aleighsa Welch had nine points and 11 rebounds for South Carolina.

South Carolina came out shooting well, Khadijah Sessions hitting a pair of 3s as the Gamecocks took a 16-12 lead. That’s when Kentucky and O’Neill put together a 20-9 run to take control.

O’Neill, a former starter who’s come off the bench in SEC play, opened the surge with a 3-pointer and had two more buckets in the run. When O’Neill closed things with jumper with 4:24 to play, Kentucky was up 32-25 over USC. The Gamecocks got within a point, 36-35, with 14 seconds left in the period, but Thompson drove past three defenders to put the Wildcats up 38-35 at the break. It was just the third time South Carolina had trailed after 20 minutes this season, all to ranked opponents.

The Gamecocks rallied from

their two previous times to defeat No. 21 Syracuse in November and No. 13 Duke last month.

South Carolina’s first-half shooting struggles matched those of its two top scorers.

Wilson, the country’s No. 1 recruit last season, was 1 of 6 from the field. Wilson ended with eight points on 3 of 13 shooting. She also had nine rebounds.

Kentucky went cold during South Carolina’s second-half rally, making just three of its first 19 shots to fall behind.

South Carolina moved in front in part because of its physical play underneath the boards. The Gamecocks took 20 of their 26 foul shots in the second half while Kentucky went to the line just four times after halftime. Mitchell led things with 9 of 10 free throws in the period, including all four foul shots after Mitchell’s technical fouls.

Mariota’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Keanon Lowe capped a 75-yard drive to start the game.

The opening drive was kept alive when a run by Mariota initially ruled a fumble recovered by the Buckeyes was overturned on video replay that showed the Heisman Trophy winner’s knee down before Curtis Grant stripped the

ball.

Jones ran for another touchdown in the second quarter, scoring from a yard out with 5:01 remaining to make it 21-7.

Oregon drove deep into OSU territory late in the quarter, but couldn’t punch it in the end zone. The Ducks had to settle for a 26-yard field goal from Aidan Schneider.

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REMATCHES FROM PAGE B1 2014 — if you know now who is going to win next Sunday, please clue us in — in those rematches, the regular-season winner also won the AFC playoff game only once: Baltimore over New England in 2012.

In the NFC, the Giants lost to the 49ers during the regular schedule, but beat them in overtime in the conference title match.

Rematches are a doubleedged sword. The victor in the first meeting has the confidence of already owning a win and the knowledge that more than enough worked during that regular-season game to handle the opponent. The loser has the revenge factor — and maybe a touch more motivation.

“I’d like to think I’m a better quarterback and we’re a better team and more well-equipped to handle the unknown and the unforeseen,’’ Colts QB Andrew Luck said.

“I think we’ve got a bunch of good football players, and a chance to go up New England and play them and get another crack at it is awesome.

We’ll make sure to take full advantage of it and do what we can.’’

The Colts did plenty on Sunday in dominating Denver, avenging their opening loss of 2014. They also saw the Patriots struggle, twice falling into 14-point holes before rallying to defeat Baltimore on Saturday.

As Patriots coach Bill Belichick noted, dryly of course: “I don’t think that’s

a formula to win a lot of playoff games. They’re a tough group and they never give up, no matter what the situation is.’’

The upcoming situation is simply this: Luck and the Colts have the look of a rising power after two highly impressive postseason performances. New England showed some vulnerability that Luck, who led the NFL with 40 TD passes, and a rapidly improving defense just might be able to take advantage of.

Of course, after vanquishing Peyton Manning and the Broncos, Indy gets Tom Brady, the most accomplished postseason quarterback of his era.

“That’s how it works in the playoffs,’’ safety Mike Adams says. “Everybody we play is top-tier. Everybody we play is big time.

We got to step our game up and be ready.’’

Even more intriguing might be the NFC matchup.

Seattle was on a, well, Super high for the season’s traditional kickoff game, and the defending NFL champs dismantled Green Bay. Then the Seahawks went into a funk and, at one point were 3-3.

They are now 13-4 and have that mean, hungry, determined, versatile and, yes, invincible air about them.

“Guys are playing selfless. There aren’t any egos, there aren’t any agendas, and guys just want to do whatever it takes to win,’’ All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman said.

Keeping Sumter Beautiful Jolie Brown Clemson Extension • Carolina Clear, Sumter County interested in your community, enjoy volunteering and working with people, I had the pleasure of taking the like making new friends, then you Clemson Extension Master Gardner should seriously consider becoming a course online last fall. The course ran member of the Sumter Master from September to December. I thorGardeners. oughly enjoyed the course. I was an To become a member, you first need Agricultural Education major at to sign up for this year’s Master Clemson and I took quite a few hortiGardener course, which starts February culture classes, so some of the course 9th, by calling the Sumter Clemson was a much-needed review, and other Extension office and asking to speak parts were new! I chose to take the with Pat McDaniel. The number at the online course because of my work office is (803) 773-5561 and the schedule. It was more convenient for address is 115. N. Harvin Street, me to be able to go through the videos Sumter, SC 29150. She will give you all and PowerPoints when I had the time, the details you need to sign up for this rather than fitting my schedule around year’s course. During your time as a stua class. dent, you will need to complete a numThrough my work at the Clemson ber of volunteer hours in the gardens at Extension office in Sumter, I have also Swan Lake, the rain garden at Patriot enjoyed teaching a couple of classes to Park, and office hours at the Extension the “new students” at the beginning of office. Once you have completed the each program year. I, of course, give a requirements, you will graduate at a presentation on water quality in Sumter very nice ceremony at the country club and how homeowners can make a dif- with all of your new friends smiling and ference, good or bad, on our water qual- clapping for you. I hope you will conity. I always enjoy presenting to these sider this wonderful opportunity! groups because of their great attitudes Clemson University Cooperative and curiosity. A typical Master Gardener is smart, passionate, and curi- Extension Service offers its programs to ous. In my mind, all three are excellent people of all ages, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, qualities. I have also had the pleasure of sex, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital speaking to and working with the or family status and is an equal opportunity Sumter Master Gardener Association. employer. Should you require special As a matter of fact, I graduated in accommodations due to a disability, please December and am now an official notify our office ten days prior to the event.

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OBITUARIES

THE SUMTER ITEM

CLARENCE W. MCCOY NEW LONDON, Conn. — Wayne McCoy, 58, passed away on Friday, Dec. 26, 2014, in New London, after losing his courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

He was born on April 8, 1957, in Sumter, to the late Leonard and MCCOY Alice Turner McCoy. Wayne served in the United States Navy and retired from General Dynamics as a nuclear waterfront supervisor in Groton, Connecticut.

Wayne is survived by his partner, Cathy Lee; daughters, Melissa and Mallory; stepchildren, Steven and Shelley; four grandchildren; and a brother, Kenny, all of Connecticut.

Also surviving are uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Wayne will be sadly missed by his Uncle “Jr. Boy;” and special friends, Marvin “Chip” McMillan and Steve Curtis, all of Sumter.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, George R. McCoy; and grandparents, Ralph and Marie C. Turner, and Ashby and Louise McCoy. A celebration of life was held on Jan. 2, 2015, in New London.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday in Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery with the Rev. Thomas Timmons officiating.

Donations in Wayne’s memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 950 48th Ave. North, Suite 101, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577.

Courtesy announcement by Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter.

JOYCE SMITH Joyce Marie Huffines Smith, wife of Eugene “Gene” Abbott Smith, died on Jan. 11, 2015, at her home with her family by her side.

Born in Madison, Tennessee, she was a daughter of the late Lewis Clifton and Clara Ethel Forkum Huffines.

She married Eugene at the young age of 17 and they SMITH lived all over the world together while in the military. Sumter has been their home for the last 49 years. They were married for 67 years.

Mrs. Smith was a member of the Church of Christ for most of her life and attended Christ Community Church in her last years. Her interests included traveling, decorating, reading and bridge. She loved to play bridge with her bridge ladies from Shaw Air Force Base. She was a wonderful wife and mother, who devoted her life to her children and their families.

Surviving are her husband of Sumter; a daughter, Pamela Smith Talbott (Clayton) of Sumter; three sons, Roger Curtis Smith (Nancy) of Sumter, Eric Eugene Smith (Christy) of Columbia and Steven Lewis Smith (Rachel) of Summerville; 13 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Cathy Gene Smith.

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday at Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery with Carl Peabody (grandson) officiating.

The family will receive

friends at the home, 102 Henderson St. A special thank you to Caris Hospice for their loving endof-life care.

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.

lls.org/aboutlls/chapters/sc/.

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

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

MARGARET GRAHAM

ERNEST A. REED JR. Ernest “Ernie” Andrew Reed Jr. left this life on Earth for the church triumphant on Jan. 11, 2015, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center, after a prolonged illness.

He was born on Nov. 16, 1956, in Southington, Connecticut, to Virginia Benedict Reed and the late REED Ernest A. Reed Sr. Ernie graduated with honors from Sumter High School in 1974 at the age of 16. He worked for the Office of the Adjutant General for 25 years as a trade specialist at McCready Training Center in Eastover, until his illness required him to retire. He was an avid NASCAR, Carolina Gamecocks, Chicago Bears and New York Mets fan. He also enjoyed going on cruises with his wife and fishing and kayaking with his kids and wife.

Survivors include his wife of 18 years, Crystal Piver Reed; stepmother, Ruth Reed; mother-in-law, Florence Piver; four children, Felicia Dutton and her husband, Jason, of Coward, Ernest “Tripp” A. Reed III of Sumter, Tammy Benjamin and her husband, Nathan, of Columbia and Andrew Bailey of Columbia; four grandchildren, Merrisa, JJ and Karliann Dutton and Abigail Benjamin; three sisters, Gloria Reed of Greenville, North Carolina, Salle Rhodes and her husband, Jim, of Easton, Pennsylvania, and Ginny Wilson and her husband, Ronnie, of Manning; six nieces; two nephews; six great-nieces; four great-nephews; a special caregiver, Karen Piver; special family friends, Charles and Loretta McDuffie; and his “weekend sons,” Nicholas Davis and Anthony Quinones.

In addition to his father, Ernie was preceded in death by a daughter, Melissa Bailey; and a nephew, Walt Woolard.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday in the Bullock Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Keith Getz officiating. Interment will be at Piedmont Cemetery in Bishopville immediately following the service.

Pallbearers will be Tripp Reed, Andrew Bailey, Jason Dutton, Nathan Benjamin, Robert Singleton III of the Sumter Police Department, and Blake Gainous of the Lexington Sheriff’s Department.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Bullock Funeral Home and on Wednesday one hour prior to the service from 1 to 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the South Carolina Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 107 Westpark Blvd., Suite 150, Columbia, SC 29210 or online at http://www.

Margaret Graham, widow of Lenward “Red” Graham, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015.

Born in Rembert, she was a daughter of the late Frank Floyd Sr. and Hattie Floyd Rast. Mrs. Graham was a member of New Salem Baptist Church. She enGRAHAM joyed crafts.

Surviving are her children, Cheryl McLeod (Stanley) of Sumter, Wayne Atkinson (Debbie) of Wedgefield and Cindy Evans (William Porter) of Eastover; brother, Adron Floyd (Bonnie) of Colorado Springs, Colorado; nine grandchildren; and 12 greatgrandchildren.

She was predeceased by a brother, Frank Floyd Jr. Funeral services for Margaret Floyd Graham, 74, will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at Sumter Cemetery. The Rev. Mark Barnette will officiate.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Powers Funeral Home, Lugoff.

Sign the online register at www.powersfuneralhome.net.

PHYLLIS B. BLAKE Phyllis Bradley Blake, 86, was born on Dec. 24, 1928, in Elliott, Lee County, a daughter of the late Walter and Ella Carter Bradley. She departed this life on Jan. 5, 2015, at North Fulton Hospital, Atlanta.

At an early age, she became BLAKE a member of New Zion AME Church, Wisacky. Throughout her life, she served diligently and faithfully in many church and community activities.

She obtained her formal education in the public schools of Lee County and graduated from Mayesville High School, Mayesville. She continued her education at Allen University, Columbia, where she received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She also completed course work toward her master’s degree at North Carolina A&T, Greensboro, North Carolina, and did further studies at the College of Charleston, Charleston, and South Carolina State University, Orangeburg.

In 1958, she was united in holy matrimony to the late Willie Samuel Blake of McClellanville. To this family one daughter was added. For 36 years, Sister Blake was a devoted educator. She was touched by the holy spirit to become a member of the Shiloh Seventh-day Adventist Church, Charleston.

After moving to Sumter, she became a member of Berea Seventh-day Adventist Church, where she served in many capacities of the church.

She leaves to cherish her memory and legacy of faith

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2015 and love: one daughter, Audrey Marcinia Blake of Atlanta; two grandsons, Maurice Heriot Jr. of Columbus, Ohio, and William Blake Heriot of Atlanta; three sisters-in-law; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by four brothers, Edward, Joseph, William and Isaac Bradley; and three sisters, Louise Joe, Mary Stukes and Carrie Simon.

Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. on Monday at Berea Seventh-day Adventist Church, 675 S. Lafayette Drive, Sumter. The pastor, Marquis Jackson, officiated and Pastor Calvin B. Preston served as eulogist.

Burial will be in Hillside Memorial Park, Sumter.

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

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

JOHN W. BARWICK SR. PELL CITY, Ala. — John “Pete” Woodrow Barwick Sr., 73, passed away on Friday, Jan. 9, 2015, at his Pell City residence surrounded by loved ones, following a brave battle with Alzheimer’s.

He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Karen Steadman BarBARWICK wick; and his father, Johnny Howard Barwick. He leaves his four children, John “Woody” Woodrow Barwick Jr. (wife Sarah), Richard “Richie” Michelson Barwick (wife Natalie), Lisa Shai Barwick and Kimberly Barwick Rudelitch (husband Robert); five grandchildren, Brittany Marie Barwick Richardson (husband Jeffery), Bradley Mitchell Barwick, Daphni Barwick Brinson, Isaac Hodges and Joshua Hodges; and a great-grandchild, Asher Lee Richardson.

Of special note, close family friend John “Rusty” Russell Harrington (wife Liz) was regarded by Pete as a son in heart. He also leaves many beloved close friends.

Born on Aug. 19, 1941, and raised in Sumter, he was a son of Johnny Howard Barwick and Elise Outlaw Barwick. He graduated from Edmond High School in 1959.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Elise Outlaw Barwick; his brother, Douglas Franklin Barwick Sr.; and his sister, Sara Mae Outlaw.

With a passion for cars and car racing, Pete spent his youthful years at Sumter Speedway, competing in dirt track races. When he wasn’t racing, he helped promote Sumter Speedway and flagged races. In the late 1960s and early 1970s he began drag racing. His talent and passion earned him a race sponsorship by Marion Burnside Chrysler Plymouth.

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B5

His 1970 Plymouth Duster led him to many successful races.

His love for cars led to his successful career in the automotive industry, serving in top management positions at dealerships and as a consultant throughout his 50-year career. With an esteemed reputation, he was well regarded in his profession, employed with many high-profile car dealers throughout the Southeast and Midwest.

A very proud father, Pete was grateful for the successful and fulfilling lives of his children and grandchildren.

Pete’s happiness and pride were apparent when surrounded by his family. He adored his wife, father, children and grandchildren.

Known to his grandchildren as “Papa Pete,” he felt a deep sense of reward to be honored with that title.

He had a distinguishable charm, and his vibrant personality was always apparent while on the dance floor, always achieving celebrity status at any function with a dance floor and music. He found peace on the water, where he enthusiastically enjoyed deep sea fishing. His competitive nature kept him active in deep sea fishing tournaments throughout the years. He never lost his passion for car racing, and on any given Sunday, he was either at or watching a NASCAR race.

He was a third-degree Master Mason affiliated with the Ben M. Jacobs Lodge No. 643 F&AM Masonic Lodge in Pell City and a Shriner.

With his influential spirit, Pete inspired and guided others his entire life, knowingly and unknowingly. He cherished his close friendships and always encouraged his children to nurture true friendships because he knew how important they were in his life. Known by those close to him for his compassion, clever mind, quick wit and down to earth approach to living, his memory will forever be in our hearts.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday in the Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. James McElveen officiating. Burial will be in Sumter Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Doug Barwick Jr., Brad Barwick, Rusty Harrington, Robert Rudelitch, Jeffery Richardson and Isacc Hodges.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home of his son and daughter-inlaw, 1270 Britton Road.

Memorial donations may be made in lieu of flowers to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org, in his name.

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

SEE OBITUARIES, PAGE B6

B6

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OBITUARIES

TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2015

MARY K. LOWERY Mary Keith Lowery, 101, widow of Joe Si Lowery, died on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, at Sumter Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Born in Sumter County, she was a daughter of the late Horace and Hattie Keith.

The family is receiving friends and relatives at the home of her son, James Lowery, 3625 Peach Orchard Road, Dalzell.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Williams Funeral Home Inc. of Sumter.

CARRIE MAE ROMEO Carrie Mae Romeo, 67, died on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born on Sept. 30, 1947, in Clarendon County, she was a daughter of the late Thomas Sr. and Amellia Romeo.

The family will receive friends at the home of her sister, Lucinda Romeo, 4268 Elliot Road, Pinewood.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Summerton Funeral Home LLC.

WILLIAM K. LAWSON William King “Brother” Lawson, 71, died on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.

Born on March 24, 1943, in Clarendon County, he was a son of the late Nathaniel and Major Louise Lawson.

The family will receive friends at the home, 1555 Lilly Martin Road, Summerton.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Summerton Funeral Home LLC.

ELOISE E. BRADLEY Eloise Emma Bradley, 79, died on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, at Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center, Hartsville.

Born in Sumter County, she was a daughter of George Mickens and Estelle Gallishaw.

The family is receiving friends and relatives at her home, 1422 Flag St., Hartsville, and at 269 Poulas St., Sumter.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Williams Funeral Home Inc. of Sumter.

JULIA D. ARDIS PINEWOOD — Julia Davis Ardis, 70, widow of William Ardis, died on Friday, Jan. 10, 2105, at Laurel Bay Healthcare in Orangeburg.

Born in Sumter, she was a daughter of Arvin Davis and the late Julia Frances Hall Davis.

Surviving are her father of Sumter; three sons, Billy Ardis (Kim) of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and Edward Ardis (Robbie) and Joey Ardis (Becky), both of Sumter; one daughter, Angie Evans (Brent) of Pinewood; two brothers, Donnie Davis of Summerton and Buddy Davis of Sumter; two sisters, Jeannette Moye of Sumter and Deborah Frierson of Sumter; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday in the Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery with the Rev. Dale Turner officiating.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and other times at the home of

It’s your world.

Read all about it.

her son, 1549 Pinecone Road.

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.

GEORGE F. HOFFMAN DALZELL — George Frederick Hoffman, 90, widower of Margaret Sommers Hoffman, died on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born in New York City, New York, he was a son of the late Bertram and Helen Bowman Hoffman. He attended Dalzell United Methodist Church and was a member of American Legion Post 15.

He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and retired from Hughes Appliance and TV. Survivors include three daughters, Kathleen Quinn of Dalzell, and Barbara Smith and Arlene Goble, both of New Jersey; eight grandchildren; 22 greatgrandchildren; a greatgreat-grandson; and a sister-in-law and brother-inlaw, Helen and Edward Bode of Sumter.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday in the Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Wanda Altman officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Men’s Club of Dalzell United Methodist Church.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. today at Elmore-CannonStephens Funeral Home and other times at the home.

Memorials may be made to Dalzell United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 85, Dalzell, SC 29040.

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

ROSA DANTZLER Rosa Lee Singleton Dantzler was born on Aug. 22, 1936, in Clarendon County, to the late Sammie and Dora Singleton. After her mother’s untimely death, she was raised by the late Sammie and Eunice Singleton. She entered eternal rest on Friday, Jan. 9, 2015, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Rosa attended and graduated from Congruity School in Sumter County. She was employed by Korn Industries, until she retired in 1999. Rosa was a loyal and dedicated member of Con-

gruity Presbyterian Church, where she served on the usher board, deacon board, church Sunday school ministry, and as a faithful member of the Presbyterian Women’s Organization.

She leaves behind: her husband, Bernie; two daughters, Lois Ann Dantzler Durant (Charles) of Oak Hill, Virginia, and Bernice Williams (Edward) of Sumter; five grandchildren, Yolanda “Mechele” Williams, Marcus Williams, Monica Williams, Chelsea Durant and Christopher Durant; three great-grandchildren, Christian Williams, Mark “Sincere” Jones and Madisyn Vincent; three sisters, Elouise Williams, Dora Rollins and Mable Adams; a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. today at Congruity Presbyterian Church with burial in the church cemetery with Elder Grace Johnson, the Rev. Carnell Hampton, the Rev. Dr. Ernest Jackson and the Rev. Dr. Franklin Colclough.

Online memorials can be sent to comfhltj@sc.rr.com.

Community Funeral Home of Sumter is in charge of these arrangements.

ELEASE G. WILSON Elease Greene Wilson, widow of Alumont Wilson, died on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, at 4 W. Williams St. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Sumter Funeral Service Inc. The family will receive friends at the home of her grand-niece, Sharon Pinkney, 808 Navada Court.

SAMUEL MARK SR. Samuel Mark Sr., 87, husband of Katie P. Mark, died on Monday, Jan. 12, 2015, at his residence in Sumter.

Born in Lee County, he was a son of the late Alberta and Louise Mark.

The family will receive friends at the residence, 6735 Delores Road, Sumter, SC 29154.

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

NORWARD A. REARDON JR. Norward A. Reardon Jr., 79, husband of Marguerite Hinson Reardon, died on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born in Clarendon County, he was a son of the late Norward A. Sr. and Elizabeth Mahoney Reardon. Mr. Reardon was a member of Grace Baptist Church and American Legion Post 15.

He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. He retired from the parts department at McLaughlin Ford.

Survivors include his wife; three children, Cindy Frenz (Edward) of Charleston, Kenny Reardon of

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Sumter and Paul A. Reardon (Ashley) of Hartsville; six grandchildren, Ryan Reardon, Robert Frenz (Allie), Emily Frenz, Mary Reardon, Morgan Reardon and Mackenzie Reardon; two great-grandchildren, Cameron Reardon and Skylar Reardon; three brothers, George Marion Reardon of Sumter, James L. Reardon (Eunice) of Moncks Corner and Perry L. Reardon (Ann) of Charleston; a sister, Betty R. Poulos of Chapin; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday in the Elmore-CannonStephens Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Dr. Stephen Williams and the Rev. Steve Shumake officiating. Burial will be in the Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Anderson Sunday School class of Grace Baptist Church.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Elmore-CannonStephens Funeral Home and other times at the home.

Memorials may be made to Grace Baptist Church, 219 W. Calhoun St., Sumter, SC 29150.

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

MICHELLE W. KEEN Michelle S. Rybczynski Keen died on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Michelle was a daughter of the late Thomas P. and Carmela Rybczynski. She retired from the United States Air Force as a master sergeant with more than 22 years of dedicated service.

Michelle was a Gulf War veteran and she also served during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. She had received numerous awards and decorations, including the Meritorious Service Medal, seven Outstanding Unit Decorations, one with Valor, three Air Force Commendations, seven Air Force Good Conduct, National Defense and Marksmanship.

Michelle is survived by her children, Michelle Sophie Keck (Keen Jr.) and Charles Richard Keen; brother, Mark Rybczynski and his wife, Diana; sisters, Monica LaPorte and her husband, Robert Jr., Marietta Ziemendorf and Edward Hughes, and Marlena and Samuel Belsito Jr.; nieces, Mindy, KayLee, Wendt and Milania Belsito; and nephew, Marc Rybczynski.

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday in the Bullock Funeral Home Chapel.

Michelle will be laid to rest next to her mother in Am-

hurst, New York.

Honorary pallbearers will be Mark Rybczynski, Edward Hughes, Robert LaPorte Jr., Samuel Belsito Jr., Richard Keck, John Sammons, Michael Braga, Louis Sbizza Jr. and Ronald Haynes.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at Bullock Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 107 Westpark Blvd., Suite 150, Columbia, SC 29210 or online at http:// www.lls.org/aboutlls/chapters/sc/.

The family would like to thank Eddie White, who provided love and care during the past two years.

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

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

STEPHANIE M. BRAND Stephanie Montgomery Brand, 51, entered eternal rest on Monday, Jan. 12, 2015, at Palmetto Health Baptist Medical Center, Columbia.

She was a daughter of Alma Blanding Montgomery and the late Harvey Miller.

The family is receiving relatives and friends at the home, 28 Wayne St., Sumter.

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

GAIL ANN MOORE Gail Ann Moore’s life came to a quiet and serene end on Sunday morning, Jan. 11, 2015, at her residence, 110 Executive Circle, Dalzell.

Born in Camden, she was a daughter of Monett Jordan Douglas and the late Robert Joseph Douglas.

Survivors in addition to her mother include her children, Brittany K. Addison, Joseph C. Outlaw and Kristen Michelle Thorne; grandchildren, Alexander Addison and Izzabella Wilson; siblings, Janice (Eugene) Houk, James “Jerry” D. (Rusty) Douglas and Rosa L. (Edward) Lowe; and a special friend, Kevin Sanders.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Brenda F. Outlaw.

There will be a friends and family visitation from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday at the residence.

A private memorial service will be conducted at 7 p.m. and on Saturday, there will be a going away party featuring Carolina Cruizin of Sumter.

Job’s Mortuary Inc. of Sumter is in charge of these arrangements.

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Search low-cost options for pro-counseling DEAR ABBY — In many advice columns it is often suggested to “seek professional help,” such as a psychologist or Dear Abby psychiatrist.

This is a ABIGAIL practical soVAN BUREN lution, but most often quite expensive, to the point of being prohibitive.

Where else can one turn to find assistance that will be practical, ongoing and cost-effective rather than something that immediately throws up a roadblock to wellness?

Detoured by finances DEAR DETOURED — Some of

THE SUMTER ITEM

these suggestions might be helpful: (1) Contact a university medical school if there is one in your community, and ask to speak to the Department of Psychiatry. Ask if it has an outpatient clinic. If it does, inquire there. If not, ask if someone on the staff deals with problems like the ones you’re experiencing.

(2) If you live in a town with a college, find out if it has a graduate school. If so, does the graduate school have a psychology program and a clinic that charges on a sliding financial scale? If there is no clinic, ask if someone on the staff of the psychology department sees people privately. Then contact that person.

(3) People can get referrals from mental health organiza-

THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

tions. The largest credentialed ones are the American Psychological Association, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and the National Association of Social Workers. These are legitimate organizations and have professional standards.

(4) You can locate government-funded agencies with psychiatric services by going on the Internet. Some hospitals refer to community service organizations. In any emergency room, you can contact the hospital’s outreach to community development programs, as well.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.

DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

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 Tie with a cord 5 Acute anxiety 10 Miss from Madrid: Abbr.

14 Texter’s “That being said ...”

15 Get on the phone, say 16 Lustful look 17 *Miracle Mets center fielder 19 “If all __ fails ...’’

20 Weed whacker 21 Friskies eater 22 “Your choice” 24 Skip over in pronunciation 26 *Creator of Daffy and Bugs 28 Nevada gambling city 29 __ for the course 31 Variety show 32 Dressing component 36 Nav. rank 37 *”Songs About Me” country singer 39 Dashboard meas.

41 Unsettled detail 42 Island near Venezuela 44 Mexican mama bear 45 Official records 49 *He voiced

Buzz Lightyear in “Toy Story” 52 European toast 53 Come by 54 Fraternal club member 56 CCV x X 57 Roughly 58 *Three-time Super Bowlwinning Cowboys quarterback 61 Dumbfound 62 Wished (for) 63 Odometer unit 64 Pajama parts 65 Line in a ledger 66 Fret DOWN 1 Pester 2 Peter of “Goodbye, Mr. Chips” (1969) 3 Chinese noodle dish 4 Unit of resistance 5 Bay __: Oakland’s locale 6 Tidy 7 Joke 8 Bad thing to make in public 9 Bad thing to get at work 10 Record protector 11 Takes over for 12 Trial in simulated conditions

13 “You __ My Sunshine” 18 Skating surface 23 Large game fish 25 Way in 26 High-level betrayal 27 “You betcha!”

29 __ de gallo: salsa fresca 30 Chevy hatchback 33 [I don’t remember the words] 34 Laudatory poems 35 Swedish furniture giant 37 Good sign from Ebert 38 Fargo’s state: Abbr.

39 Yoga class rental 40 Before 43 They’re waved by

conductors 46 Say “I do,” say 47 Huskwrapped Mexican dish, and when divided in three parts, a hint to the answers to starred clues 48 Never seen before 50 Supple 51 Scandalplagued energy giant 52 Enjoy the slopes 54 Watcher 55 Title for Godiva 57 East, to Ernst 59 Make a choice 60 Metric distances: Abbr.

B8

CLASSIFIEDS

THE ITEM

TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2015

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 Saturday’s edition 11:30 a.m. Friday for Sunday’s edition.

CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS Lost & Found FOUND: small male reddish brown terrier mix by General Thomas' tomb.

Owner call to identify 236-9007.

BUSINESS SERVICES Home Improvements Land Clearing avail. includes: Digging pines, excavation, and bulldozer work. Call T & N Septic Tank Co. at 803-481-2428 or 803-481-2421

Lawn Service Four Seasons Lawn Care Serving Sumter for almost 20 yrs!

Free est. 494-9169/468-4008

Roofing All Types of Roofing & Repairs All work guaranteed. 30 yrs exp. SC lic.

Virgil Bickley 803-316-4734.

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

STATE TREE SERVICE Worker's Comp & General liability insurance. Top quality service, lowest prices. 803-494-5175 or 803-491-5154 www.statetree.net Ricky's Tree Service Tree removal, stump grinding, Lic & ins, free quote, 803-435-2223 or cell 803-460-8747.

Mention this ad & get 10% off.

PETS & ANIMALS Dogs Male chocolate, Boykin Spaniel, 10 months old, up to date on shots, $200. Call 803-468-1065.

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

Call Warren 843-319-1884

Garage, Yard & Estate Sales LARGE GARAGE SALE 1st & 3rd Weekend Tables $2 FLEA MARKET BY SHAW AFB

Open every weekend.

905-4242

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

Help Wanted Full-Time

Help Wanted Part-Time

Clarendon Chamber of Commerce seeks Executive Director.

Email: chamber@clarendoncounty.com for job description. Resume required. Closing date: January 30 at 5:00 pm

$$$ AVON $$$ FREE TRAINING! 803-422-5555

Assistant Body Shop Manager Qualifications: customer service / interaction exp., computer knowledge, honest, dependable. Body shop training provided onsite.

Salary + commission, vacation, 401k plan, health benefits, sick leave, paid holidays.

Apply in person M-F 8-6 at Prothro Chevrolet, Buick, GMC 452 N. Brooks St. Manning, SC 803-433-2535 Locally established Heating & Air condition Co. looking for Exp. Service Tech. Needs to have good driving record. Pay range from $33k-$46k a year plus health insurance, retirement, bonus and commission available. Apply in person at 1640 Suber Street.

Utility Billing Clerk Small working office seeks full time billing clerk.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to entry of monthly billing data, processing of customer invoices, answering customer billing inquires, preparing daily bank deposits, answering telephones. Company provides paid employee benefits, holidays. Minimum 1 year experience, with a preference in utility billing experience. Selected candidate subject to background check and drug testing. Send resume and past salary history to Box 383 Utility Billing c//o The Item, PO Box 1677 Sumter SC 29151 Established Loan Office in Sumter is seeking Asst Mgr. Ideal candidate should have at least 2 yrs experience in the lending industry. Must possess excellent customer service skills as well as have experience in collections. This is a full-time position which offers a competitive salary, 401K, health benefits, and many opportunities to grow. Email resume to resumesumter@gmail.com

Autos For Sale

RENTALS Furnished Apartments 1 Bedroom Apt, liv. rm, kit, bath, fully furnished. $475 per month, incl. garbage, water and sewer. Quiet Country Setting. No Smoking, drinking or drugs! 803-481-0015 Excellent for elderly person. Single Occupancy.

Clarendon Memorial Gardens, Inc. - 1 grave space. 45-D, lot #3 in Section F. $700. Call 803-478-7422.

Firewood for Sale Will Deliver. Call 803 651-8672 Expert Tech, New & used heat pumps & A/C. Will install/repair, warranty; Compressor & labor $600.

Call 803-968-9549 or 843-992-2364 Martin's Used Appliance Washers, Dryers, Refrig., Stoves.

Guarantee 464-5439 or 469-7311

EMPLOYMENT

Estate Notice Sumter County

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES

Persons having claim against the following estates are required to deliver or mail their claims to the indicated Personal Representatives, appointed to administer these estates, and to file their claims on Form #371PC with the Probate Court of Sumter County Courthouse, N. Main Street, Sumter, SC, 29150, on or before the date that is eight months after the date of the first publication of this Notice to Creditors, (unless previously barred by operation of Section 62-3-803), or such persons shall be forever barred as to heir claims. All claims are required to be presented in written statements, indicating the name and the address of the claimant, the basis of the claim, the amount claimed, the date when the claim will become due, the nature of any uncertainty as to the amount claimed and the date when due, and a description of any security as to the claim.

Persons having claim against the following estates are required to deliver or mail their claims to the indicated Personal Representatives, appointed to administer these estates, and to file their claims on Form #371PC with the Probate Court of Sumter County Courthouse, N. Main Street, Sumter, SC, 29150, on or before the date that is eight months after the date of the first publication of this Notice to Creditors, (unless previously barred by operation of Section 62-3-803), or such persons shall be forever barred as to heir claims. All claims are required to be presented in written statements, indicating the name and the address of the claimant, the basis of the claim, the amount claimed, the date when the claim will become due, the nature of any uncertainty as to the amount claimed and the date when due, and a description of any security as to the claim.

Eugene C. Brown #2014ES4300011

Personal Representative

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

775-0575 Studio/1 Bedroom apartments available EHO

Unfurnished Homes

Estate:

Buy Here Pay Here, no interest, no credit check, no document fees, Floyds Used Cars, 1640 Toole St. 803-495-9585 or 803-464-2891

Nice 3Br/2Ba dble carport, w appliances 10 mins from Shaw military discount. $850/mo (Diggs), 803-968-4192.

2BR 1.5BA C/H/A, Stv, Frig, W/D. New carpet, paint. No Pets/Smoking $625mo. & dep. 983-8463.

Meter Reader/Utility Maintenance worker.Small utility company seeks full time meter reader/maintenance worker. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to monthly meter reading, disconnects for delinquent accounts, repair and maintenance of water distribution lines and services.

Certification and licensing is a plus but not required. Training will be provided as needed. Company provides paid employee benefits, holidays. Experience in utility maintenance is preferred but not required, with proper aptitude. Selected candidate subject to background check and drug testing. Send resume and past salary history to Box 382 Meter Reader c//o The Item, PO Box 1677 Sumter SC 29151

STATEBURG COURTYARD 2 & 3 BRs 803-494-4015

REAL ESTATE Manufactured Housing For Sale Nice 4Br 2Ba DW w/ lg. lot 803-983-0408 Turn your Tax Refund into your dream home! Low credit score?

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Come try us, we do our own financing.We have 2-3-4 bedroom homes. For more information, call 843-389-4215.

Mobile Home with Lots For Sale 3Br 2Ba DW w/ lot $24000 OBO cash only. 803-972-0900

CONTRACTOR WANTED! For Route In The

Paxville & Home Branch Area Great for person looking for extra income. If you have good dependable transportation and a phone in your home and a desire to earn a good income,

Dorothy Mae Morant #2014ES430001

Estate: Jonnie Mae Harrison A/K/A: Jonnie E. Harrison #2014ES4300716

Personal Representative

Betty Ardis 6 Edgewater Drive Sumter, SC 29150

Personal Representative

Estate:

Leroy Smith #2014ES430006

Personal Representative

Janet Smith Clayton C/O J. David Weeks Attorney at Law PO Box 370 Sumter, SC 29151

Estate Notice Sumter County

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES

Estate:

Persons having claim against the following estates are required to deliver or mail their claims to the indicated Personal Representatives, appointed to administer these estates, and to file their claims on Form #371PC with the Probate Court of Sumter County Courthouse, N. Main Street, Sumter, SC, 29150, on or before the date that is eight months after the date of the first publication of this Notice to Creditors, (unless previously barred by operation of Section 62-3-803), or such persons shall be forever barred as to heir claims. All claims are required to be presented in written statements, indicating the name and the address of the claimant, the basis of the claim, the amount claimed, the date when the claim will become due, the nature of any uncertainty as to the amount claimed and the date when due, and a description of any security as to the claim.

Estate:

Martha McElveen #2014ES4300717

Personal Representative

Emery R. McElveen, Sr. 1800 Queen Chapel Road Sumter, SC 29153

Estate:

Anne S. Lynch #2014ES4300707

Personal Representative

Ellen L. Taylor 1254 Tanglewood Drive Manning, SC 29102 Estate:

Elvera Foecking #2014ES430004

Personal Representative

Claudia Miles 3313 Allen Road Effingham, SC 29541 Estate:

Margaret W. Cain #2014ES4300013

Personal Representative

Richard Scott Cain and Robert Maynard Cain 21854 US Highway 76 Newberry, SC 29108 Estate: Helen Montague James. #2014ES43007143 Personal Representative

Marie Dupre James-Roane 409 Clayton Drive Charleston, SC 29414

ROUTE OPEN IN Whites Mill, Dubose Siding & Cotton Acres

Francis L. Copeland #2014ES4300704

Personal Representative

Virginia S. Copeland C/O Kenneth Hamilton PO Box 52359 Sumter, SC 29152 Estate:

Charlene S Evans C/O Calvin Hastie Attorney At Law 17 East Hampton Street Sumter, SC 29150

Roy Laverne Osteen #2014ES4300014 Hellen W. Osteen 535 E. Brewington Road Sumter, SC 29153

LEGAL NOTICES

Personal Representative

Estate:Marion Eugene Ardis Sr. #2014ES4300713

Estate:

Tallis Yates #2014ES4300709

Personal Representative

Terry W Yates C/O J David Weeks PO Box 370 Sumter, SC 29151

Nicholas M. Morant 3680 Bolden Lane Dalzell, SC 29040

2004 Lincoln Towncar, White, 75500 miles, as good as new, garage kept. $7000 Call 803-481-7171

Estate:

Mary Ann Knight 2358 Stevenson Dr. Charleston, SC 29414

Personal Representative

Nice 3BR 2BA Brick Home, Lg Den w FP, Bonus Rm., Formal Dr., Lg. Fenced backyard, $950 mo+dep Call 803-840-0207

For Sale or Trade Office desks, file cabinet, sm. refridg., chairs. Call 803-810-7633 for viewing.

Estate Notice Sumter County

Estate:

Swan Lake Apts. Apply now.

Remodeled builds. in back, 2Bd 1Ba apts. in quiet, scenic neighborhood.

No section 8. 803-775-4641.

Mobile Home Rentals

Full time Musician Area church is seeking a full time musician. Please call 803-481-4501 to obtain an application or email your contact information to salvation@ftc-i.net and an application will be mailed to you. A background check will be required.

AUCTION 2000 Buick LeSabre Silver, Nicely Equipped Only 74000 miles!

Bid ONLINE at www.jrdixonauctions.com J. Rafe Dixon, SCAL 4059 (803) 774-6967

Unfurnished Apartments

Ding Dong Avon Calling Avon by Vi, ISR. $15 to start. Let's talk 803-934-6292 or join online today! www.startavon.com Ref: Viola

Help Wanted Part-Time

TRANSPORTATION

Jerry Harrison #2014ES4300212-2

Personal Representative

GREAT FOR PERSON LOOKING FOR EXTRA INCOME If you have good, dependable transportation and a phone in your home, apply in person at:

Pamela Harrison 1255 N. Kings Hwy. Sumter, SC 29154

Sell More PLACE AN AD

Circulation Department

20 N. Magnolia Street Sumter, SC 29150 or call Lori at (803) 774-1216

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PETS Puppies for sale...

AD

CALL HARRY PRINGLE at 774-1257 OR COME BY AND APPLY AT

Help Wanted Full-Time Full Time Sales position available.

Some experience preferred but will train. No calls. Apply at Wally's Hardware 1291 broad St .

20 N. Magnolia St. • Sumter, SC

ORDER YOUR CLASSIFIED AD ONLINE 24/7.

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

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