January 22, 2015

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Tuomey looks to merge Officials: Once lawsuit is settled, partnership likely

10 YEARS AT A GLANCE Tuomey Healthcare System has been feeling a financial strain for the last decade. The following are some highlights of the hospital’s battle with the federal government: October 2005

KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM

After talks of litigation and bankruptcy, Tuomey Healthcare System discussed a possible merger with a yet-to-be-identified health care system Wednesday.

Health care system yet to be identified in possible merger

BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com Tuomey Healthcare System is proposing a possible merger with a yet-to-be-identified health care system.

“We have no choice but to merge with a larger hospital system in order to complete a financial turnaround,” said Michael Schwartz, interim president and CEO of Tuomey Healthcare System, at Wednesday’s Kiwanis Club meeting. “We want to ensure that Tuomey is here, bigger and better, and offering more options. We’re an institute that serves the public, and a partnership will allow us to do it better and more efficiently.”

An announcement as to which of the fewer than five health care systems the Sumter one might merge with should come in the next 30 to 60 days after a decision is reached on the latest appeal of the federal lawsuit.

That list was narrowed from the initial 11 groups, said Tuomey Board of Directors Chairman John Brabham.

“Rumors started that we were already sold,”

he said. “We’re not sold. We’re not going to sell.

We may take on a partner. This is the biggest decision for Tuomey in 100 years. It’s not something the board takes lightly.”

With consolidation being a national trend, a merger was inevitable, Schwartz said. The financial situation just sped up the search.

“It’s best to do it while you have strength, while you can pick the best partner, than when you’re destitute,” he SCHWARTZ said. “It’s best for somebody to take you on when you have the best resources to make an informed decision, when you have a choice. Tuomey is blessed with some good choices.”

In fact, a number of health care systems approached Tuomey about three months ago, Brabham said.

Even if a partner is selected, it will probably take another six months to a year to finalize a merger, Schwartz said.

If you owe Tuomey money, don’t get excited that this means a sudden reduction.

“Those that have bills with Tuomey still owe,” Schwartz said. “They still have to pay their bills.”

If you’re a new patient, the partnership would lead to improved and expanded services as well as more efficient health care, he said.

The Tuomey representatives are scheduled to give presentations and answer questions at more than a dozen other community groups and gatherings in the next month.

You can also contact the hospital by mail — 129 N. Washington St., Sumter, SC 29150 — or speak to board members, Schwartz said.

ADDRESSING CHALLENGES The glaring financial monster has been and continues to be the 10-year battle with the Department of Justice that has had both sides brought before the district court and the appellate court. It’s been an expensive legal battle costing more than $4 million in legal fees last year alone, according to Tuomey’s presentation Wednesday.

Drakeford v. Tuomey Healthcare System Inc. filed. Dr. Michael Drakeford alleges that Tuomey offered him a contract that would require him to perform procedures only at Tuomey’s facilities. While he declined the offer and later told the federal government, 19 other physicians took the offer that, according to the federal government, created an illegal kickback system where the doctors received a percentage of the money the hospital would receive from Medicare and private insurance companies in referral fees.

March 2010 First jury trial held.

Tuomey is found guilty of violating Stark Law, legislation that governs physician self-referral for Medicare and Medicaid patients, but not the False Claims Act. Tuomey appealed, stating the federal government had vetted the contracts and attorneys had advised them all was in order.

June 2010 Federal judge orders Tuomey to pay millions in fines and interest as well as

SEE TIMELINE, PAGE A4

SEE TUOMEY, PAGE A4

Sumter native takes over state DJJ

BY MATT BRUCE matthew@theitem.com It’s been two weeks since Sylvia Murray catapulted to the foremost position of one of South Carolina’s most recognizable agencies.

Gov. Nikki Haley appointed Murray as the acting director of the Department of Juvenile Justice to a deluge of flowers and fanfare earlier this month. The announcement

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came during a Jan. 8 press conference in Columbia, when Murray took over her new role immediately.

Fourteen days have passed, and the rose-scented optimism has yet to fade from the newly minted director’s outlook. She takes over a team of about 1,400 employees charged with providing treatment and restorative care to embattled children in South Carolina. Her title becomes official when she un-

dergoes the confirmation process later this month and the S.C. General Assembly approves Haley’s nomination.

“I am humbled to be given this opportunity to continue the legacy of S.C. Department of Juvenile Justice being a national leader in juvenile justice programs and practices,” Murray said via a statement issued

DEATHS, B4 Alice B. Shorter Clara Jo Turner Levan Hilton Wayne Mitchum Aline Wright Heyward A. Holliday

Benjamin F. Hickmon Rebecca M. Duncan John V. Moore Audrey M. James Easter G. Ladson Eddie Lee Glover

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Sumterite Sylvia Murray, left, is seen with Gov. Nikki Haley after Murray was named Department of JuveSEE MURRAY, PAGE A4 nile Justice acting director Jan. 8.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015

THE SUMTER ITEM

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

Deputies nab 2 suspected drug runners on Interstate

BY MATT BRUCE matthew@theitem.com A pair of northwest Pennsylvania men were arrested after deputies discovered pills and drugs in their vehicle during a traffic stop along Interstate 95.

Brian Duffy, 42, of Milford, Pennsylvania, and Matthew Kowinsky, 26, of Shohola, Pennsylvania, were both booked on four drug-related charges in connection with the incident.

Duffy also faces DUFFY a fugitive from justice warrant stemming from an unrelated non-criminal offense.

According to a report from KOWINSKY Sumter County Sheriff ’s Office, deputies spotted the men traveling southbound along the interstate thruway in a rented Chevrolet Traverse just before 8 p.m. Tuesday. Officers initiated a traffic stop on the car near the highway’s 137-mile marker after determining it was tailgating an 18-wheeler at speeds of 70 miles per hour.

Deputies noted Duffy appeared visibly nervous and was overly friendly with them, indicating he tried to control the conversation by not letting the other suspect respond to officers’ questions. During questioning, Kowinsky told officers he did not know where they were going or who rented the car.

He said he’d been paid $1,000 to drive the vehicle, at one point remarking he was, “just the (expletive deleted) driver.”

Officers began searching the vehicle and found an orange pill bottle on the passenger’s side floor board that contained six suspected heroine bundles, 9.5 suspected Oxycodone pills, one Tylenol with codeine, and 5.5 suspected Meloxicam (anti-inflammatory) pills, the report stated. Duffy told officers someone likely dumped the narcotics in their vehicle when they stopped at a store to buy snacks during the trip. Deputies searched the car again and found a small quantity of cocaine, needles that had apparent drug residue on them and more suspected controlled substances – including LSD doses and 24.5 Alprazolam (anti-anxiety) pills. Deputies seized $4,058 from Duffy and $205 from

City approves Bultman Drive rezoning

BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com The development of a grocery store at the corner of Bultman Drive and Kilgo Street became more likely Tuesday after Sumter City Council approved the final reading of a request to rezone part of the property.

City council approved final reading of the ordinance to rezone 2.21 acres of land at 585 Bultman Drive and Kilgo Street from residential land to limited commercial. Now that the land has been rezoned, it will be added to the

other 5.31 acres of limited commercial land on the property to be used as the site for a 33,000-square-foot grocery store and fuel center. The 7.52 acres of land that will be used for the store is part of an overall 13.26 acres of property at Bultman Drive and Kilgo Street owned by Sumter School District.

Polestar Development LLC, the developer, still has to complete other requirements before it can begin the construction of the building. A traffic study will need to be conducted as part of the site plan review process which may lead

to improvements to Kilgo Street and Bultman Drive.

The name of the store has still not been released.

In other action, council: • approved first and final reading of a resolution to authorize the sale and consumption of beer and wine at annual events including: Sumter Green Fall Feast, Sumter Downtown Market, Taste at the Gardens, Fourth Fridays on Main, and Porches of Sumter. The resolution was approved with a majority vote; four votes in favor of the resolution, Councilwoman Ione Dwyer voted against

the resolution and Councilman Robert Galiano was not present for the vote; • approved a resolution authorizing the purchase of a rear loader garbage truck for the city; • canceled its regular scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 3; and • approved final reading of an ordinance to close a portion of Maxwell Avenue between Pocalla Road and Manning Road after holding a public hearing for the matter.

The portion of the road that is now closed is unpaved and not used by the public.

Haley OK with gas tax hike, conditionally

BY SEANNA ADCOX The Associated Press COLUMBIA — Gov. Nikki Haley said Wednesday that she will support a gas tax increase, but only if the Legislature cuts South Carolina’s income taxes and restructures the Department of Transportation.

Haley used her fifth-annual State of the State address to lay out her much-anticipated plan to fund road and bridge work — shockingly, by raising gas taxes, an idea she’s repeatedly promised to veto.

In her 40-minute speech, the Republican governor initially seemed to repeat that pledge.

“We have not gotten to where we are as a state, with our strengthening and growing economy, by raising taxes,” she said.

But she offers a twist, saying she’ll veto a “straight-up increase.”

She then offers legislators a deal: Reduce the state’s top income tax bracket from 7 percent to 5 percent over a decade, get rid of the DOT’s elected commissioners, and she’ll support raising the gas tax by 10 cents over three years.

The 16-cents-per-gallon tax has not changed since

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley, right, hugs Chief Justice Jean Toal after delivering her State of the State address to the joint session of the Legislature on Wednesday at the Statehouse in Columbia.

1987. At 26 cents, the tax would still be below neighboring North Carolina and Georgia, she notes.

Haley, who every year has called for lowering personal income taxes, said her proposal still provides an overall tax decrease.

“Now, I hope everyone listened carefully to what I

said. This is a three-part package deal,” she said. “If we do all of those things, we will have better roads and a stronger economic engine for our people. That’s a winwin.”

The DOT has said it needs an additional $1.5 million yearly for the next two decades just to bring roads to

good condition. The 41,000mile system is the nation’s fourth largest, funded largely by one of the nation’s lowest gas taxes. Last year, Haley told legislators to invest more in infrastructure but added, “I will veto any bill that reaches my desk that raises taxes on gasoline.”

Sumter native expanding organization to help students

ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com

A Sumter native hopes to give back to the community by leading local youth down the path toward higher education.

Marlo Prioleau, co-founder of CareerBound Inc., is expanding the Charlottebased organization to his hometown of Sumter to help students plan for life after high school.

Prioleau and his wife, Fonda Prioleau, founded CareerBound Inc. in 2011 in Charlotte with the goal of helping local high school juniors and seniors plan for college. The program takes an

extra step by also teaching students how to handle themselves and stay focused while seeking higher education.

“Everyone tells you, you need to go to college, but no one ever tells you how to go to college,” Prioleau said.

When he was a senior at Sumter High School, Prioleau had a mentor who explained what he needed to do in order to succeed in college. Now, 20 years after graduating from SHS, he plans to provide current students with a support system similar to what he once had.

“It was always a goal of mine,” Prioleau said. “The moment I knew the program

was going to work, my next goal was getting it to Sumter.”

Students will complete worksheets and activities similar to that of a normal classroom as well as learn about college planning. Participants will also have the opportunity to visit local, instate and out-of-state colleges and universities.

“We will be touring schools in South Carolina and we definitely plan to take students out of state to Georgia and North Carolina,” Prioleau said.

CareerBound will host its first program, College Development and Awareness, in Sumter on Tuesday, Feb. 3,

at 5 p.m. at the Birnie HOPE Center, 210 S. Purdy St. It will be the first of a threepart series explaining the importance of higher education to students.

If the first series of sessions proves successful, the program will extend to a full year, with one session per month.

All juniors and seniors from high schools in Sumter are invited to attend.

An information session for parents and students will be held today at 5:30 p.m. at the center.

For more information, visit www.careerbounds.org or call Marlo Prioleau at 704-299-4874.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015

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SUMTER ARTISTS’ GUILD ARTIST OF THE MONTH

Watercolorist Don Hatcher The Sumter Artists’ Guild Artist of the Month for January is Don “Doc” Hatcher.

Originally from Tennessee, he has lived in Sumter for several years after retiring from the U.S. Air Force. He practiced dentistry for 30 years and said he thoroughly enjoyed the artistic aspect of improving patients’ teeth and smiles. He began drawing and painting with oils early but has never had any formal training or art classes. Although he worked on pieces occasionally through the years, it was not until his wife died a few years ago that he became so prolific.

Working with watermedia on canvas and paper, Hatcher has produced more than 200 acrylics and watercolors during the last four years and has works hanging in several states. He says he would like to have a large studio and a setup for making his own print reproductions to give friends and to make them available for

purchase on the Internet.

In his artist’s statement, Hatcher wrote: “I have always been enamored with the arts and the world around me. I took piano lessons for nine years starting when I was 6, but it was pencil and brush and colors that brought me the greatest satisfaction of expression. I love trying to capture moments or emotions through my art, and I hope I make connections with others who view my attempts. I prefer painting from photographs from my experiences, covering a wide variety of subject matter, style and textures. I tried using oils long ago but prefer the bold brush of acrylic on canvas or the subtlety of watercolors on paper. Being a member of the artists’ guild has been a great outlet, and I look forward to continuing the affiliation.”

What artists have influenced your work?

“I guess I was first impressed

with the great masters — they didn’t have photography to record the world around them.

Then the Impressionists representing what they saw in a fresh beautiful way. I enjoy looking at and attempting a variety of styles. I like anything that moves me, either the emotion of someone’s piece or amazement that someone could paint or make or play the music of “that.” Art Appreciation and Music Appreciation in college certainly exposed me to the world of art. Over the years I’ve visited a number of art galleries, and of course, today one can see and listen to as much art as their heart desires on the Internet! I wish I were really talented!”

Describe the work in your show at the Sumter County Gallery of Art. What are you working on currently?

“I have a variety in the show, from a very simple watercolor, some more detailed,

IVY MOORE / THE SUMTER ITEM

Don Hatcher, Sumter Artists’ Guild Artist of the Month, works mainly in watermedia. This watercolor shows his nephew kayaking Sycamore Creek in Hatcher’s home state of Tennessee. It’s titled “Sycamore Creek #2.” and some bold acrylics. I try to always have something I’m working on on my easel at home.”

26,000 miles); my two grown daughters; reading and writing; (and) taking care of my yard and house.”

What activities do you enjoy other than art?

See Don Hatcher’s exhibition at the Sumter County Gallery of Art, 200 Hasell St. in the Sumter County Cultural Center, through January. For more information, call (803) 775-0543.

I’ve had to slow down a little lately; my knee is suddenly not wanting to heal, (as it) always has before. Piano, golf, tennis, windsurfing, ski, exercise in general (I’ve run over

— Ivy Moore

POLICE BLOTTER STOLEN PROPERTY Three flat-screen TVs valued at $250, an older-style TV valued at $100, a microwave valued at $75, a dresser valued at $50, a kitchen stove valued at $100, a refrigerator valued at $100, a washing machine valued at $125 and a dryer valued at $125 were reportedly stolen from a residence in the 300 block of Wyoming Drive between Dec. 30 and 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

A washing machine and dryer valued at $400 apiece were reported stolen from a home in the 4100 block of

Broad Street about 4:15 p.m.

Tuesday.

A water pump valued at $500 was reportedly stolen from a Wedgefield pump house in the 100 block of Sally Street between 6:40 a.m. and 7:25 p.m. Tuesday.

A sound system valued at $99, a Blu-ray electronic system valued at $148 and a 40inch LED TV valued at $298 were reportedly stolen from the 1200 block of Broad Street between 4:15 and 4:40 p.m. Tuesday. The store’s loss-prevention team recovered the TV before the alleged suspect fled the store.

PROPERTY DAMAGE A 2008 Honda sustained an estimated $1,500 in damage after it was reportedly vandalized and all four tires were flattened between 8 p.m. Monday and 8:30 a.m.

Tuesday in the 100 block of Poinsett Drive.

A Wedgefield home in the 4400 block of Farmers Road sustained an estimated $500 in damage after an unidentified person reportedly fired a bullet from a small-caliber rifle that penetrated two walls in the residence and was found in a small bathroom. Several people were

reportedly inside the home at the time, but no one was injured. Deputies think the

bullet was possibly fired from a wooded area surrounding the home.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015

TUOMEY FROM PAGE A1 In 2005, Tuomey offered a contract to Dr. Michael Drakeford that would require the physician to perform procedures only at Tuomey facilities. While Drakeford did not take the offer and later reported the offer to the government, 19 other doctors did sign such a contract.

This arrangement created an illegal kickback, the government argued, in which these doctors received a portion of the money the hospital would receive from Medicare and private insurance companies in referral fees. In 2010, a jury convened for U.S. District Court found Tuomey in violation of Stark Law, the legislation that governs physician self-referral for Medicare and Medicaid patients.

The Sumter hospital argued that attorneys advised the contracts aimed at recruiting physicians to the area were legal and that the federal government had also vetted the documents before they were offered to the health care providers.

Thus began the extensive back and forth.

The last court judgment had the hospital paying $239 million, a figure Tuomey appealed in October and is still awaiting the results of.

“We’ve tried to settle from day one,” Brabham said. “It’s always been too high a cost to settle. You can’t, as a board member, settle when you know you’d leave the hospital insolvent. We would give every penny we could and still stay open.”

But this is not the only hardship the hospital has faced. Slides show an 8 percent decline in admissions at the hospital.

“Admissions equal money,” Schwartz said.

The way hospitals are paid has changed dramatically and has resulted in a loss of revenue. Since 2012, the hospital has lost about $25 million because of admissions and other factors.

Those who are admitted or visit the emergency room are not always able to pay.

About 85 percent of Sumter patients require some kind of subsidized assistance, Schwartz said.

The hospital also needs a new emergency department. Originally designed to handle about 40,000 patients a year, the Tuomey ER is seeing closer to 66,000 a year, he said.

MURRAY FROM PAGE A1 by the agency Wednesday. “I appreciate the passion and dedication that our DJJ family demonstrates on a daily basis to serve the youth and families of this state. I look forward to working with all of you in the coming months and years as we together to take SCDJJ to the next level.”

Murray rose to the ranks as one of the state’s premier leaders from local nectars.

The 53-year-old Gamecock City native grew up near Cane Savannah and is a product of Sumter County public schools. She graduated from Hillcrest High School in the late 1970s before taking off for nearby Columbia College, where she earned her undergraduate degree in public affairs. She later earned a master’s degree in management at Webster University.

Murray began her public service career in 1995, when she became a business manager at S.C. Department of Natural Resources. After five years there, she took over as accounting manager at Department of Consumer Affairs.

It was not until 2004 that Murray made her debut at Department of Juvenile Justice, first as a business manager and then as a senior business manager. In 2013, Murray became the agency’s deputy director of administrative service, working directly under former DJJ Director Margaret Barber. Haley cited Murray’s wide-ranging background during her Jan. 8 introduction

THE SUMTER ITEM

‘We’ve tried to settle from day one. It’s always been too high a cost to settle. You can’t, as a board member, settle when you know you’d leave the hospital insolvent. We would give every penny we could and still stay open.’

JOHN BRABHAM

TIMELINE FROM PAGE A1 retrial for False Claims Act while the Stark Law violation verdict remained intact.

May 2014

March 2012

June 2014

A three-judge panel from the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the ruling and remanded the case to federal district court. A new federal judge ordered both sides to attempt negotiations. When no settlement was reached by the courtappointed August deadline, a retrial was set for January 2013. An attorney’s illness later moved it to April 2013.

Facing a $239 million judgment, Tuomey argues with Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals that it cannot afford to set aside more than $30 million to continue to appeal the ruling, while prosecutors said Tuomey should set aside $70 million, a sum Senior U.S. District Judge Margaret B. Seymour ruled in favor of in April 2014. Without a ruling, the figure would be $300 million, an amount neither side thought possible.

April 2013

Tuomey board of directors chairman But the Sumter hospital administration and board has not sat idly by while coming to this conclusion. Other cost-saving measures have included eliminating positions and reducing staff as well as reducing length of stay for patients, one of the factors in the reimbursement calculations. So far this has saved the institute about $4.4 million.

But it’s not enough. Even without the substantial litigation costs, the hospital needs between $8 million and $11 million annually just to cover capital improvements. Last year, it spent $4 million, Schwartz said.

“If we have to replace an MRI because it breaks, that’s a couple million bucks,” he said. “We’re a capital-intensive industry.

Yesterday we spent $100,000 on sterilization equipment.”

While the hospital will continue to look at cost-saving initiatives, the board’s strongest option is the one involving a partner.

“We’re looking at a merger not just because it’s a trend,” Brabham said. “If we didn’t have all these things hanging over us, in my opinion we’d have considered it at some point. This financial pressure just quickened it.”

The jury sides with the prosecution after a four-week trial, and Tuomey is ordered to pay $239 million. The hospital’s CEO and vice president resigned.

to the public, calling her Barber’s right hand. Barber, who was appointed in 2011, retired from the director’s spot in December, ending a public service career that spanned all the way back to 1968. Barber spent much of her career in DJJ, leaving a legacy of growth and success. She and Murray worked closely together during her four-year term as director, as Murray served essentially as her second in command.

“Sylvia is going to take this agency to another level,” Barber said. “We have been so proud to get where we are right now. I want to say to everybody in South Carolina that DJJ’s team has made South Carolina proud, and I know we will continue to do that with Sylvia Murray taking the lead.”

Officials noted Murray’s nononsense approach fueled by a high resolve and tempered by her compassion for the juveniles in the agency’s care.

DJJ is one of the state’s cabinet agencies, responsible for providing rehabilitative and custodial care to incarcerated South Carolina children. The department is also chartered with caring for juveniles on

probation or parole or in community placement for a criminal or status offense. There are about 110 children incarnated in the state and about 4,000 more under some type of community supervision.

Murray became the third black cabinet chief Haley has appointed among the 17 agency leadership positions since she was elected in 2010. Officials note the Agency Head Salary Commission will re-examine her initial salary of $118,545 and reportedly propose she get a pay increase.

“This agency is all about saving the children, rehabilitating the kids and making them better citizens so that when they leave us they will be productive citizens, they will have developed skills through our job training programs, and they will leave us better than they were when they came to us,” Murray said. “How we do that is by first making sure they are held accountable for their actions, helping them learn the error of their ways, ensuring they realize the severity of their crimes and offenses and then preparing them to live the rest of their lives as productive members of society.”

GET A

October 2014

Michael Schwartz is named interim president and CEO.

The appeal of Tuomey Healthcare System is presented to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Charlotte. The ruling is expected in next 60 days.

January 2014 Rumors circulate that Tuomey could close.

November 2014 January through November 2014 Tuomey eliminated 36 full-timeequivalent positions reducing expenses by more than $2 million per year. It also eliminated the chief operating officer position, four administrative director positions and three manager positions. The length of stay was reduced by three-fourths of a day between May and November.

Three board trustees resign. Two were replaced in June.

Fifty-six full-time positions are eliminated through a combination of 23 layoffs and 33 positions through attrition and scheduling adjustments. This move saved $2.4 million, according to a recent presentation.

January 2015 Tuomey announces plans to merge with another health care entity. The hospital is set to announce a partner name in next 30 to 60 days. The list of possible partners was narrowed from 11 to fewer than five.

EXPELLED FROM HEAVEN An Exposition from Revelation 12 11:00am January 25, 2015

Sumter Bible Church www.sumterbiblechurch.org

Home to

Sumter Christian School 420 S. Pike West Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 773-8339 Ron Davis, Pastor

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THE SUMTER ITEM

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015

|

A5

THE CLARENDON SUN Call: (803) 774-1211 | E-mail: jim@theitem.com

Alcolu mill house has new home, prospects

JIM HILLEY / THE SUMTER ITEM

Robert “Bobby” Boykin sits at his desk in his Sumter office at the National Bank of South Carolina recently as he talks about joining Clarendon County as interim development director.

Boykin: Keep the momentum

A truck from Joe Powell House Moving pulls an Alcolu mill house past the building that was once the D.W. Alderman and Sons Co. Store to its new location on Clarendon Baptist Church property, where it will house a collection of artifacts illustrating Alcolu’s history.

BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com

Workers remove a portion of the chimney of the mill house in the photo at right so it will fit under a power line during Tuesday’s move PHOTOS BY JIM HILLEY / THE SUMTER ITEM

Structure will display artifacts from Alcolu’s vanishing history

BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com

A

t one time, there were probably about 200 homes in Alcolu built to house workers at the D.W. Alder-

man and Sons Co. lumber mill in Alcolu, said Alcolu Preservation Society President Janice Richburg.

Today, fewer than 20 remain, she said.

A major step toward preserving one of the remaining “mill houses” took place Tuesday, as one of the old structures was moved from Motel Street in Alcolu to the grounds of the Clarendon Baptist Church.

“We think it looks great,” Richburg said of its new location. “It looks wonderful where it is, and we are thrilled to death how it turned out.”

The house was prepped and put on jacks Monday, but the actual moving took place Tuesday. A rig and crew from Joe Powell House Moving out of Kingstree gingerly pulled the house off its original lot, past the old company store and into a grassy lot near the old vaults once used by the lumber company to house payroll.

The move was slowed several times by masonry falling off the fireplace inside and crashing through the floor. However, workers quickly removed the bricks from beneath the building, and got the house creeping down the street again.

The move is part of an effort by members of the Alcolu community to preserve the history of the old mill town. An exhibit on Alcolu has been on display at the Clarendon County Museum in Manning, but it is

scheduled to be removed for a new exhibit in February.

“We wanted a place where we could keep our relics together,” Richburg said. “We have lots of big ideas and dreams and hopes for Alcolu, and there is a possibility we will move another (mill house) and do some other things in Alcolu.”

The society decided an old mill house would be the perfect place for a display of Alcolu history.

“The Clarendon County Museum is going to highlight another aspect of county history starting in February, so we decided to find a place for these things,” Richburg said. “That’s how this got started.”

She said a group met in August and formed the Alcolu Preservation Society, with Richburg as president, Bobby Reaves as vice president, Jean Hodge as secretary and Violet Moody as treasurer.

Richburg said the next step is to get the mill house restored.

“We will have to take the things out of the museum and house them in somebody’s garage or a storage bin,” Richburg said.

She said the committee has a goal of having the home restored by May. In the meantime, Richburg said the committee is asking the community for help.

“We need volunteers, we need some kind of monetary contributions, and we need people with some kind of skill to help us restore it,” Richburg said.

She said the group has mailed letters and was able to raise funds for the move at a community reunion in October 2014.

“We tried to explain to everybody what we were trying to do, and that’s how we came up with the money for this project,” she said.

“We are hoping we can continue with this project; we have big plans for it.”

Richburg said there is a lot of interest in preserving Alcolu’s history.

“It has a lot of history, and we are trying to keep it all together,” she said. “A lot is gone now, and all we have are pictures.”

Turbeville chief dismisses complaints

BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com Turbeville Police Chief David Jones has released a letter to Garland Baker saying he found no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of Turbeville police Lt. Grant Cannon.

Baker had complained to Turbeville Town Council at its meeting Jan. 13, alleging he had seen Cannon driving by his home at excessive speed and had also seen him patrolling outside town limits.

Jones said council was unable to respond to Baker at that time. Baker requested that town council fire the officer.

“I told him that if he put his complaint in writing, I would respond in writing,” the police chief said.

Jones said it is not unusual for Turbeville police to be seen outside of the town limits.

“Crime doesn’t just occur here in town,” Jones said.

“We have people just outside of town who will call us instead of the Clarendon

County Sheriff’s Office.”

He said the Turbeville Police Department and the CCSO have an operating agreement allowing officers from the two agencies to support each other.

Jones said Baker has been making complaints concerning Cannon since the officer came to work in Turbeville five years ago from CCSO. A recording at a telephone number listed for Baker indicated the number was no longer in service.

“I thoroughly enjoyed it,” he said. “It’s a wonderful community.”

He and Gayle have two chilRobert “Bobby” Boykin recently retired from the Nation- dren, Tripp Boykin, assistant headmaster at Laurence Manal Bank of South Carolina.

After working for the bank for ning Academy, and Grae Boykin who lives in Goose 45 years, Boykin now lives on Creek.

Lake Marion in a home he Bobby Boykin said he plans shares with his wife, Gayle. on being involved in day-toNo one could fault Boykin day operations. for spending his well-earned “I will be there to assist any retirement boating, fishing and just relaxing on the shores clients coming in, to assist existing industry and to make of the lake.

Instead, the retired regional sure that all the things that vice president of NBSC will be they have been doing continue to be done,” he said. spending the next three He said months pitchClarendon ing in to help County posClarendon sesses some County with great assets. its economic “It has the development interstate team. running The former through it Director of with a lot of Economic Detraffic and it velopment, has Lake John TruMarion,” he luck, left his said. position Dec. “I think 1, 2014, and the lake is a the county is hidden searching nagem,” he tionwide for a said. “You permanent have it all, replacement. from those Boykin said who like to he asked if he fish and could be of hunt to assistance. those who “I talked to ROBERT “BOBBY” BOYKIN like water G.G. Cutter, sports. Then who’s the you have the chairman of serenity for those who just the development board down there, and I said if there is any like to sit and watch the sunset.” way I could possibly help, I He said the lake is a great atwould like to,” Boykin said. traction for retirees.

“We came to an agreement “They are great for the comthat I would do this for 90 days munity because they don’t put — just a short period of time a burden on the school system, — and that would help them they don’t put a burden on the find a good replacement for police system and they are Truluck.” good taxpayers.”

Boykin said he thinks it is Attracting industry remains important that the county not skip a beat as it tries to attract a top priority, he said.

“With that I-95 corridor, we industry and jobs to the area. have the megasite out there,” “There are a lot of good he said. “We are getting closer things happening in Clarenand closer to it being marketed, don County, and we don’t getting it ready for industry.” want to lose that momenThe site can be a boon to the tum,” Boykin said. “I am entire area, he said. there to try to keep that mo“If we can land something mentum going and help find on that site it can change the the right person to take Truface of this community,” luck’s spot.”

Boykins said. “Clarendon Clarendon County Council County, Sumter County, Lee Chairman Dwight Stewart County and Williamsburg all said Boykin would be a great are part of that deal.” person to fill the job.

The county will also contin“We are glad to have him and he brings a lot of experience to ue to seek a tenant for the Federal Mogul building near Sumthe table,” Stewart said. merton, as well.

Boykin was born in Colum“The goal is to get that medibia, and moved to Sumter an income up so the quality of when he was 5 years old, he life will continue to be good,” said. he said.

He attended Sumter High “I am looking forward for to School, The Citadel and the working for Clarendon CounUniversity of South Carolina. ty, and hopefully I can be a Right out of school, he said, he began working at NBSC, in- benefit for them,” he said.

“And, I will enjoy the 15-mincluding a seven-year stint in ute commute.”

Manning.

“There are a lot of good things happening in Clarendon County, and we don’t want to lose that momentum.

I am there to try to keep that momentum going and help find the right person to take Truluck’s spot.”

A6

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CLARENDON SUN

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015

Program at MECC promotes kindness

BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com Manning Early Childhood Center, 2759 Raccoon Road, is encouraging community members and businesses to come together and participate in The Great Kindness Challenge, Jan. 26-30. The Great Kindness Challenge is a positive, proactive bullying prevention initiative, reaching millions of students during the last full week of January every year.

Activities to help support a safe and caring school environment include a kickoff Act of Kindness video, daily quotes on kindness, a class competition to visually rep-

resent the theme of kindness through the Cover the Cafeteria in Kindness Contest, making kindness bracelets, staff wearing kindness buttons to help remind one another to be kind, daily homework assignments to complete a kindness checklist and a culminating award assembly to recognize those who displayed the most kind acts during the week. MECC, in collaboration with Kids for Peace, is sponsoring the event.

“It only takes seconds to be kind to someone, but it takes a lifetime to overcome hurt and despair. Being kind to others improves every aspect of our lives. Pay it forward

whenever you get an opportunity,” said Betty Harrington, principal of MECC. The Great Kindness Challenge School Edition was created by Kids for Peace to provide schools a tool for creating a positive school environment. In 2014, more than 550,000 students participated and performed more than 27 million acts of kindness nationwide. The Great Kindness Challenge is sponsored by Dignity Health, ViaSat, SDGE, NRG, The Code Crew, ExaMobile and Kinvolved.

For more information, visit www.greatkindnesschallenge. org or call Jill McManigal at (760) 730-3320.

THE SUMTER ITEM

PETS OF THE WEEK

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Pumpkin is a female orange domestic shorthair with a white face. She is 2 months old, has been spayed and is current on her shots. Meet Pumpkin and many other cats and dogs at A Second Chance Animal Shelter, 5079 Alex Harvin Highway (U.S. 301), which has numerous pets available for adoption. The shelter is running a special through Jan. 31: kittens under 6 months for $65, and cats 6 months and older for $50. Adoption hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. To drop off an animal, call (803) 473-7075 for an appointment. If you’ve lost a pet, check www.ccanimalcontrol.webs.com and www.

ASecondChanceAnimalShelter.com.

POLICE BLOTTER Manning Police Department FRAUD/CONFIDENCE GAME/BREACH OF TRUST 2:17 p.m. Jan 14: An officer responded to the Piggly Wiggly for a bad check call. On arrival complainant said the suspect had just run out the side door. The officer drove to the side of the building but saw no one. He turned around, and complainant was pointing toward Sunset Drive. The officer observed a man matching the suspect’s description running toward Party World. The officer activated his blue lights, but the suspect did not stop running. The office caught up to the suspect as he was about to run behind Party World and apprehended him at Taser-point as another officer arrived on scene. The complainant said the suspect had cashed a forged check made out to Barnard Green for $456. The suspect, Barnard Keith Green, 45, 1190 Lillie Martin Road, Summerton was charged with fraud/confidence game/breach of trust and transported to Clarendon County Detention Center.

OUTSTANDING WARRANTS/RESISTING ARREST 9:17 a.m. Jan. 15: An officer responded to the main entrance of Manning High School in response to a 911 call in which a woman was complaining a man would not get out of her car. The man was identified as Tony Maurice Fulton, 30, 2130 Malette Road, Manning, and another female present was identified as his mother. The officer told Fulton he would run a warrant check on him, and if it was clean he could leave with his mother. The officer reported the warrant check came back with two bench warrants. Fulton was advised to stand still as he was being placed under arrest, the officer said, but he ran away. A foot pursuit continued until Fulton tired and gave up. Fulton was charged with resisting arrested and detained for outstanding warrants.

CRIMINAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 2:11 P.M. Jan. 16: Units responded to the 900 block of Berry Street concerning an alterca-

tion. Complainant said her husband came home from class and the two began to argue.

Complainant said her husband hit her in the face and caused a cut on a finger of her right hand. The husband said the wife had been drinking and was verbally abusive to him. He said she was striking him on his arms and body and he tried to get her off. The officers made the determination Tammy Teresa Miller, 52, was the aggressor and charged her with criminal domestic violence.

CRIMINAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE — AGGRAVATED 8:58 a.m. Jan. 17: Officers were dispatched to the 100 block of Major Drive in reference to a woman complaining about her neighbors arguing. When police arrived the woman said the male had already left the house. The officers knocked on the door of the house and found it unlocked. The victim came to the door and said she just wanted to go home to Maryland. She said her mother was buying her a train ticket. Officers escorted her to the police station where she told the officers the man had hit her on the back with a broomstick and scratched her across the breast. The victim’s advocate was contacted.

The woman said she was pregnant and wanted to go to the hospital. EMS transported the victim to the hospital. After her discharge from the hospital the victim was brought back to the police station where the victim’s advocate called the woman’s mother who said she would buy the train ticket, and she would be transported to the train station in Kingstree. A suspect was later arrested on unrelated charges.

12:03 a.m. Jan. 18: An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of Boundary Street in reference to a report of a man with a gun. Complainant said her separated husband went to her daughter’s residence and told her he was going to kill her and was going to drive to the county to kill a man. The suspect then reportedly drove to Liberty Hill Church Road and shot at a man and busted windows out of his vehicles. Larry Harrison, 52, 8464 Black River Road, was arrested for criminal domestic violence – aggravated.

LOCAL BRIEFS FROM STAFF REPORTS

JOIN WALKERS CLUB AT 7:30 SATURDAY MORNING

tion, call Ann Driggers at (803) 460-5572.

The Let’s Move Manning Walkers Club meets every Saturday at 7:30 a.m. at the Gazebo on Church Street. For more information, call (803) 4358477.

MENTORING PROGRAM TO SERVE AT-RISK YOUTHS Rural Leadership Institute-Clarendon is beginning a mentoring program, called Operation Generation, for at-risk youths in Clarendon County School District 1.

Initially, the program will focus on students at Summerton Early Childhood Center and St. Paul Elementary School.

The board members of Rural Leadership Institute Clarendon are asking adult members of the Clarendon community to volunteer to be-

JORDAN CROSSROADS MINISTRY PUBLIC MEETING Jordan Crossroads Ministry Center - Haven of Rest will hold its public monthly meeting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at New Covenant Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall. Parking is available in the parking area nearest the entrance to the Fellowship Hall. For more informa-

come mentors.

For more information, call Bea Rivers at (803) 485-8164, Lesley Dykes at (803) 707-4901 or email rliclarendoncounty@ gmail.com.

PLANNING A PARTY OR HOLIDAY EVENT?

Clarendon Health System reports almost 20 hospitalized with flu

BY HAMLET FORT hamlet@theitem.com Flu season is in full swing, and hospitals in Sumter and Clarendon counties are putting out annual reminders of how to stay healthy.

According to Clarendon Health Systems, 18 patients have been hospitalized with the flu since Dec. 1. The average length of stay is four days, and the hospital recommends if you are sick with the flu to stay home and refrain from visiting the hospital or going out in the community.

According to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control flu statistics, the virus is widespread, and Clarendon Health System says “This season’s flu viruses are showing to affect mostly the elderly population, 65 and older, and children aged zero to four.”

They say they’ve administered more than 400 employee

flu vaccines and encourage receiving a vaccination as the best method of combatting the potential of contracting the virus. Pointing out the existence of multiple strains of the flu virus, the organizations encourage “Receiving a vaccination with the four different strains versus two or three may decrease your odds in picking up that strain of influenza virus.”

In addition to the vaccination, health providers are reminding citizens of basic health practices. A spokesperson from Clarendon Health System said “We encourage staff as well as visitors to use careful hand hygiene practices and cough etiquette.”

The hospital placed an additional 50 hand sanitizers throughout the hospital in hallways and public areas, and they have ordered additional sanitation stations for available masks and sanitizers to be used.

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CLARENDON SUN

THE SUMTER ITEM

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015

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A7

What are food additives, and how do they affect us?

A

dditives confer many benefits on foods. Some reduce the risk of foodborne illness. For example, nitrites used in curing meat prevent poisoning from the botulinum toxin. Others enhance the quality of nutrients (as in vitamin D-fortified milk).

Most additives help prevent spoilage during the time it takes to deliver foods long distances.

Nancy Some addiHarrison tives simply RETIRED CLEMSON make foods look and taste EXTENSION AGENT good.

Intentional additives are put into food on purpose, while indirect additives may get in unintentionally before or during processing.

To receive permission to use new additives in food products,

the manufacturer must first satisfy the FDA that the additive is: • Effective — it does what is supposed to do; • Detectable and measurable in the final food product; and • Safe — when a large dose is fed to animals under strict control conditions, it causes no cancer, birth defects or other injury.

When approving an additive’s use, the FDA writes a regulation stating the amounts and foods in which the additive may be used. No additive receives permanent approval; all must undergo periodic review.

Other regulations governing additives are: • The GRAS (generally recognized as safe) list — this is a list first established by the FDA in the early years of food additives that had long been in use. The list is subject to revision as new facts become known. Several hundred substances are on the GRAS list,

including such items as salt, sugar, caffeine and herbs.

• The Delaney Clause — In this clause, the FDA states that no substance that is known to cause cancer in animals or human beings at any dose level shall be added to foods.

• Margin of safety — To consumers, when speaking of food additives, this is considered a zone between the concentration normally used and that at which a hazard exists. For common table salt, the margin of safety is 1/5, meaning that five times the amount normally used would be hazardous.

• Risks versus benefits — To consumers, additives would not be used if they only presented risk. Additives offer benefits that outweigh the risks they present or make the risks worth taking. In some cases adding color additives only enhances the appearance of foods but does not improve their health value or safety.

Intentional food additives

give them some desirable characteristic: resistance to spoilage, color, flavor, texture, stability or nutritional value. Intentional food additives are: • Antimicrobial agents — preservatives that prevent microorganisms from growing.

The most widely used antimicrobial agents are ordinary salt and sugar.

• Antioxidants — preservatives that prevent rancidity of fats in foods and other damage to food caused by oxygen.

• Artificial colors — certified (approved by the FDA) food colors added to enhance appearance.

• Artificial flavors, flavor enhancers — chemicals that mimic natural flavors and those that enhance flavor.

• Bleaching agents — substances used to whiten goods such as flour and cheese; and • Nutrient additives — vitamins and minerals added to improve nutritive value.

Indirect Food Additives:

Consumers need to beware of indirect or incidental additive substances that find their way into foods during harvesting, production, processing, storage or packaging. Incidental additives include tiny bits of plastic, glass, paper, tin and other substances from packages as well as chemicals from processing. One indirect additive in the news is microwave packaging. When the FDA regulations were established in the ’50s, the use of microwave ovens was unforeseen. Regulations did not specify the temperature at which packages should be tested to determine if incidental additives migrated to foods at high temperatures. It is advised to use only glass or ceramic containers designed for use in microwave ovens and avoid reusing disposable containers.

On the whole, the benefits of food additives seem to justify the risks associated with their use.

THE

Clarendon Sun CLASSIFIEDS

DEADLINE 56&4DAY 11AM

LEGAL NOTICES

Estate Notice Clarendon County

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES All persons having claims against the following estates MUST file their claims on FORM #371ES with the Probate Court of Clarendon County, the address of which is 411 Sunset Dr. Manning, SC 29102, within eight (8) months after the date of the first publication of this Notice to Creditors or within one (1) year from date of death, whichever is earlier (SCPC 62-3-801, et seq.), or such persons shall be forever barred as to their claims. All claims are required to be presented in written statements on the prescribed form (FORM #371ES) indicating the name and 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 claim, and a description of any security as to the claim.

Estate: Helen Evelyn Upton Toft #2014ES1400001 Personal Representative: Tami Toft Hobson 1098 Winding Pond Road Manning, SC 29102 01/08/15 - 01/22/15 Estate: Cathy Louise McDaniel AKA Kathy L. McDaniel AKA Kate L. McDaniel #2014ES1400012 Personal Representative: Andrew C. Palsa 1052 J. Hilton King Road Summerton, SC 29148 01/22/15-02/5/15

Summons & Notice SUMMONS IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS CASE NO. 2014-CP-14-523

Summons & Notice

by the Plaintiff.

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your Answer on the subscribers at their offices, 1640 St. Julian Place, Columbia, South Carolina 29202, within thirty (30) days after service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; except that the United States of America, if named, shall have sixty (60) days to answer after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; and if you fail to answer the Complaint within the time aforesaid, the Plaintiff in this action will apply to the Court for a judgment by default granting the relief demanded in the Complaint.

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

Richard Roe, Defendants herein.

NOTICE OF FILING COMPLAINT YOU WILL PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Summons and Complaint in the above-captioned action were filed on November 3, 2014, in the Office of the Clerk of Court for Clarendon County, South Carolina.

NOTICE OF ORDER APPOINTING GUARDIAN AD LITEM NISI AND NOTICE A GUARDIAN AD LITEM APPOINTED PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT an action involving real property known as 2524 Bill Davis Rd., Manning, SC 29102, in which you may have an interest, has been commenced in the Court of Common Pleas for Clarendon County, South Carolina and that, by Order of the Clerk of Court filed therein on December 19, 2014, Kelley Yarborough Woody, Esquire has been appointed Guardian ad Litem Nisi for all minors and persons under legal disability as a class designated as

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT, unless you or someone on your behalf apply to the Court for appointment of a suitable person to act as Guardian ad Litem herein, within thirty (30) days after service by publication of this Notice, the appointment of Kelley Yarborough Woody, Esquire as Guardian ad Litem shall be made absolute.

LIS PENDENS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an action has been commenced and is now pending in this Court upon the Complaint of the above-named Plaintiff for the foreclosure of a certain mortgage of real estate given

by Roland L. Benoit and May E. Benoit to Ardent Mortgage Company, LLC dated May 9, 2005, and recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Clarendon County on May 17, 2005 at 1:45 PM in Book 629 at Page 52 The premises covered and affected by the said mortgage and the foreclosure thereof, were, at the time of making thereof and at the time of the filing of the Lis Pendens, as described on the attached Exhibit "A".

EXHIBIT "A" All that certain piece, parcel or lot of

Walnut Village Apartments

220 Bradham Ave., Manning, SC 29102

803-435-2897 Applications Accepted At The Site Office Thursdays or by Appointments 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

1 & 2 BEDROOM APARTMENTS HOUSING FOR PERSONS 62 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, HANDICAP/DISABLED, REGARDLESS OF AGE

FULL RENTAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR QUALIFIED APPLICANTS “THIS INSTITUTION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER AND EMPLOYER.” “IF YOU WISH TO FILE A CIVIL RIGHTS PROGRAM COMPLAINT OF DISCRIMINATION, COMPLETE THE USDA PROGRAM DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT FORM, FOUND ONLINE AT HTTP://WWW.ASCR.USDA. GOV/COMPLAINT_FILING_CUST.HTML, OR AT ANY USDA OFFICE, OR CALL (866) 632-9992 TO REQUEST THE FORM. YOU MAY ALSO WRITE A LETTER CONTAINING ALL OF THE INFORMATION REQUESTED IN THE FORM. SEND YOUR COMPLETED COMPLAINT FORM OR LETTER TO US BY MAIL AT U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF ADJUDICATION, 1400 INDEPENDENCE AVENUE, S.W., WASHINGTON, D.C. 20250-9410, BY FAX (202) 690-7442 OR EMAIL AT PROGRAM.INTAKE@USDA.GOV.”

Accessible Units TDD Relay# 1-800-735-2905 Reasonable Accommodations

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CLARENDON Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc. Plaintiff, -vsRoland L. Benoit (deceased), The Estate of May E. Benoit , Brandon Benoit individually and as personal representative of The Estate of May E. Benoit, The Estate of Jeannette Ann Benoit, Brandon Benoit individually and as personal representative of The Estate of Jeanette Ann Benoit, Tuomey Regional Medical Center, South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, and any and all persons claiming any right, title, estate or interest in real estate described in the Complaint any unknown adults being as a class designated as John Doe, and any unknown infants or persons under disability being as a class designated as Richard Roe, Defendant(s)

Summons & Notice

Lisa Bair RENTALS 7020 Kingstree Hwy. 3 bed, 2 bath SWMH in excellent condition................$600/mos 316 S Church St. 2-3 bed, 1 bath older home on corner lot........................$450/mos 153 Nelson Circle. COMING FEB! 3 bed, 1 bath with carport.......................$450/mos 1022 Azalea Rd. Convenience store/grill in Alcolu. Reduced to....................$500/mos 1005 Overlook Lane. 3 bed, 2 bath brick home near Ram Bay.....$575/mos *View more homes and pictures on the website listed below.

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323 S. Mill St., Manning, SC

803-433-7368

Lisa Moore

www.lisabairrentals.zoomshare.com lisabairrentals@hotmail.com

Mannington Place Apartments 625 S. Mill St., Manning, SC 29102

803-435-2751 Applications Accepted At The Site Office Tues., Wed., & Fri., 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

1 BEDROOM APARTMENTS

Summons & Notice

Summons & Notice

land lying, being and situate in the County of Clarendon, State of South Carolina, containing 28.68 acres, more or less, with the exception of the 2.44 acre portion being know as Lot 6 as designated on a plat of Wilson subdivision prepared by Thomas B. Richardson, SCPLS No. 8612, dated August 15, 1998 and recorded in the Office of The RMC for Clarendon County in Plat Book A45, page 3; said lot having such size, shape, metes, courses, and distances as will by reference to said plat more fully appear. This being the same property, less lot 6, conveyed to William L. Wilson by deed of E. W. Odom dated June 2, 1998 and recorded June 2, 1998 in the Office of the Clerk of Court for Clarendon County in Book A0347, at Page 275; a portion designated as Lot 6 of said property was then conveyed to Roland L. Benoit and Mary E. Benoit by deed of William L. Wilson dated May 10, 2005 and recorded in the Office of the Clerk of Court for

Clarendon County at Book A0571 at page 290 which incorrectly described Lot 6 as consisting of the entire 28.68 acres as opposed to it being a portion of said acreage. This deed is for the purpose of clarifying that the property described in the deed found in Book A0571 at page 290 was not the entire 28.68 acres, but only a portion of this acreage designated as Lot 6.

LESS All that certain piece, parcel or lot of land situate, lying and being in the County of Clarendon, State of South Carolina and being set forth and shown as Lot 6 containing 2.44 acres, more or less, designated as Lot 6 on a Plat of Wilson Sub-Division 28.68 acres total, prepared by Thomas B. Richardson, SCPLS No 8612, dated August 15, 1998 and recorded in the Office of the RMC for Clarendon County in Plat Book A45, Page 3; said lot having such size, shape, metes, courses, and distances and will by reference to said plat more fully

Summons & Notice

appear.

Being the same property conveyed to Roland L. Benoit and May E. Benoit by deed dated May 10, 2005 and being recorded May 17, 2005 in Book A0571 at Page 290. See also Corrective deed filed February 9 2007 and being recorded in Book A0648 at Page 00235. See also Corrective deed filed March 12, 2007 and being recorded in Book A0652 at Page 00007.

Crawford & von Keller, LLC. PO Box 4216 1640 St. Julian Place (29204) Columbia, SC 29240 Phone: 803-790-2626 Attorneys for Plaintiff Columbia, South Carolina December 30, 2014

NOTICE OF FILING AND ELECTION No ce is hereby given that on March 10, 2015 a nonpar san elec on will be held in School District No. 3, Clarendon County, South Carolina. The purpose of this elec on is to elect two trustees for School District No. 3. The seats to be filled are Seat 3 and Seat 4.

FILING WILL OPEN AT NOON ON JANUARY 16, 2015 AND CLOSE AT NOON ON JANUARY 30, 2015. CANDIDATES SHOULD FILE AT THE CLARENDON COUNTY VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS OFFICE, 411 SUNSET DRIVE, MANNING, SOUTH CAROLINA. The polls shall open at 7:00 a.m. in the forenoon and shall close at 7:00 p.m. in the a ernoon on the day of the elec on and shall be held open during these hours without intermission or adjournment.

If a runoff is necessary, it will be held on March 24, 2015.

The following is a list of the polling places within the County of Clarendon that will be open: New Zion

Clarendon County EMS Building, New Zion

Sardinia-Gable

Sardinia-Gable fire Sta on, Gable

Turbeville

Turbeville Town Hall, Turbeville

The Clarendon County Voter Registra on and Elec ons Board will receive and canvass the votes a er the polls close on the day of elec on at the Clarendon County Elec on Central Building, 20 West Kei Street, Manning, South Carolina, 29102, and will declare the official results on Wednesday following the elec on.

Spotlight On Clarendon County Businesses TO O ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS CALL 803 803.464.1157 464 11 1157 SALES & SERVICE STUKES HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, LLC State MEC Licensed P.O. Box 293 Summerton, SC 29148

40 years Experience (803) 485-6110 • (803) 473-4926

Alfreda Pearson Toll Free 1-800-948-5077 Agent

JIA

Jeffords Insurance Agency 803-433-0060 • 803-374-9655 Cell

Auto • Home • Farm • Business • Boats • Life 40 North Mill St. • Manning, SC 29102 www.jeffordsinsurance.com • alfredap@jeffordsinsurance.com

HOUSING FOR PERSONS 62 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, HANDICAP/DISABLED, REGARDLESS OF AGE

FULL RENTAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR QUALIFIED APPLICANTS “THIS INSTITUTION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER AND EMPLOYER.” “IF YOU WISH TO FILE A CIVIL RIGHTS PROGRAM COMPLAINT OF DISCRIMINATION, COMPLETE THE USDA PROGRAM DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT FORM, FOUND ONLINE AT HTTP://WWW.ASCR.USDA. GOV/COMPLAINT_FILING_CUST.HTML, OR AT ANY USDA OFFICE, OR CALL (866) 632-9992 TO REQUEST THE FORM. YOU MAY ALSO WRITE A LETTER CONTAINING ALL OF THE INFORMATION REQUESTED IN THE FORM. SEND YOUR COMPLETED COMPLAINT FORM OR LETTER TO US BY MAIL AT U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF ADJUDICATION, 1400 INDEPENDENCE AVENUE, S.W., WASHINGTON, D.C. 20250-9410, BY FAX (202) 690-7442 OR EMAIL AT PROGRAM.INTAKE@USDA.GOV.”

Accessible Units TDD Relay# 1-800-735-2905 Reasonable Accommodations

T O P LACE A C LASSIFIED A D O R F OR C IRCULLATION

F OR D ISPLAY A DVERTISING OR S TORY I DEAS P LEASE C ALL M E A T

C ALL

435-8511

P ENNY H ODGE

464-1157

G AIL M ATHIS

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NATION

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015

THE SUMTER ITEM

Obama claims credit for an incomplete recovery adjusted median household income reached $53,880 in November 2014, according to an analysis of government data by Sentier Research. That is still 4.5 percent lower than the $56,447 median income in December 2007, the month the recession began.

Booming energy production is indeed a reality, but that’s a phenomenon many years in the making, with the development of cost-effective extraction from fracking and other means playing into the rise of the U.S. as an energy production giant.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. may not have “risen from recession” quite as rousingly as President Obama suggested in his State of the Union speech Tuesday night. Seven years after that severe downturn began, household income hasn’t recovered, and healthy job growth is complicated by the poor quality, and pay, of many of those jobs.

A look at some of his claims, and the facts and the political climate behind them: OBAMA: “At this moment — with a growing economy, shrinking deficits, bustling industry and booming energy production — we have risen from recession freer to write our own future than any other nation on Earth.”

THE FACTS: By many measures, the economy is still recovering from the deep scars left by the Great Recession.

Job growth has been healthy but fueled in part by lower-paying jobs in areas such as retail and restaurants, which have replaced many higher-paying positions. Parttime jobs also remain elevated: There are still 1.7 million fewer workers with full-time jobs than when the recession

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

President Obama waves before giving his State of the Union address on Capitol Hill in Washington on Tuesday as House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio and Vice President Joe Biden applaud. began in December 2007.

And the faster hiring hasn’t pushed up wages much. They have been growing at a tepid pace of about 2 percent a year since the recession ended 5½ years ago. That’s barely ahead

of inflation and below the annual pace of about 3.5 percent to 4 percent that is typical of a fully healthy economy.

That has left the income of the typical household below its pre-recession level. Inflation-

OBAMA: “I am sending this Congress a bold new plan to lower the cost of community college — to zero.”

THE FACTS: Zero for qualifying students; an estimated $60 billion in 10 years to the treasury.

Obama confronts a Republican-controlled Congress that can be expected to be wary of a new program costing that much. Moreover, the proposal requires states to contribute about a quarter of the money, and getting them to go along is bound to be tough. Many states refused to expand Medicaid under the health care law, for

Church Directory Adventist

e pass this way but once. Each twentyfour hours God gives us one “today”. Did we do everything we wanted to do today? We procrastinate for many reasons. Maybe we’re afraid of failure, maybe we can’t decide how to get our work done, and maybe we don’t think we have the time. How do we do that thing we want to get done today? A German proverb says, “Begin to weave and God will give you the thread.” Visit your house of worship this week and find the way to reach your goals. Faith in Him will give you the courage to live life to the fullest today and every day.

Anglican Church of the Holy Cross 335 North Kings Hwy (Hwy 261 N) 803-494-8101 Father Michael E. Ridgill, C.F.S.B. Sunday School 9:00 am Mass 10:00 am Mon. - Thurs. Chapel 9 am Morning Prayer Wed. Chapel 11:00 qm - Bible Study 12 pm Mass Photo Credit Istockphoto.com/AlexMax

Baptist - Missionary

Mark 5:1-20

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

Mark 5:21-43

Weekly Scripture Reading Mark Mark Mark 6:1-29 6:30-56 7:1-23

Mark 7:24-37

Mark 8:1-26

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

Interdenominational

City of Refuge Church 16 Carolina Ave 938-9066 Barbara & Johnny Davis Sun School 10:00 am Worship 11:15 am Bible Study (Wed.) 7:00 pm www.cityofrefugeministry.com Spiritual Life Christian Center 4672 Broad St. Ext • 968-5771 Pastors Randolph & Minerva Paige Sunday Worship: 11:00 am Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00 pm

Scriptures Selected by the American Bible Society

©2015, Keister-Williams Newspaper Services, P.O. Box 8187, Charlottesville, VA 22906, www.kwnews.com

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

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

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

Baptist - Southern Grace Baptist Church 219 W Calhoun St * 778-6417 Dr. Stephen Williams S.S. 9:45 am; Worship 11:00 am Evening Worship/Bible Study 6:30 pm Wed. Prayer Meeting 6:30 pm Wed. Bible Study: 6:30 pm

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

Catholic - Roman

The Catholic Community of Sumter, St. Anne Site 216 E Liberty St • 803-773-3524 Fr. Thomas Burke, C.S.S.R. Weekend Masses: Sat Vigil 5 pm Sun. 7:30, 9:00 and 11:30 am Mass The Catholic Community of Sumter, St. Jude Site 611 W. Oakland Ave • 773-9244 www.stjudesumtersc.org Fr. Charles Michael Donovan, C.S.S.R. Saturday Vigil: 5:00 pm Sun. Euch.: 9:00, 11:30 am, 1 pm (Spanish)

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

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

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

Calvary Christian Outreach Ministry “Multi-Cultural” 220 Hasel Street, Sumter, SC (Sumter School District Annex Building) Sunday Worship 11:00 am LaShonda McElveen, Pastor

Lutheran - NALC

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

Immanuel Lutheran Church 140 Poinsett Drive • 803-883-1049 Pastor Gary Blobaum Worship Service 9:00 am Sunday School 10:30 am Wed Bible Class: 7:00 pm

First Presbyterian Church of Sumter 9 W Calhoun St (at Main St.) (803) 773-3814 • info@fpcsumter.org Interim Pastor Rev. Ray Fancher Sunday School (all ages) 9:30 a.m.

Hospitality/Fellowship 10:10 a.m.

Morning Worship 10:30 a.m.

Night Church Schedule: 4:45 p.m. Children & Youth 5:00 p.m. Adults 6:30 p.m. Supper (all ages)

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

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

Lutheran - ELCA Non-Denominational

Presbyterian USA

Greater St. Paul Church 200 Watkins Street 803-778-1355 Founder Bishop W.T. English Sunday School - 10:30 am Worship - 11:30 am Evangelistic Service 6:30 pm Wed. Mid Week Service - 7:30 pm

Bethel United Methodist Church 5575 Lodebar Rd • 469-2452 Rev. Jeremy Howell Sunday Worship: 8:30 & 11 am Sunday School: 10 am www.yourbethel.org BMethodist@ftc-i.net

Trinity United Methodist Church 226 W Liberty St • 773-9393 Rev. Steve Holler Blended Worship 8:45 am Traditional Worship 11:00 am Sunday School 9:45 am trinityumcsumter.org

OBAMA: “In Iraq and Syria, American leadership — including our military power — is stopping ISIL’s advance. Instead of getting dragged into another ground war in the Middle East, we are leading a broad coalition, including Arab nations, to degrade and ultimately destroy this terrorist group. We’re also supporting a moderate opposition in Syria that can help us in this effort.”

THE FACTS: The U.S. also has been slow to set up long-promised training for the moderate Syrian opposition and has yet to begin the actual vetting of the rebels. The U.S. hasn’t sent the more lethal weapons they want. U.S. officials have expressed concerns that the weapons could end up in the hands of insurgents.

Military leaders, however, agree that coalition airstrikes and the military effort in Syria and Iraq have stopped the momentum of the Islamic State group, or ISIL, made it hard for the insurgents to communicate and travel and hurt their oil revenues.

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

Church of Christ Methodist - United

W

TODAY

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

example, even though Washington is picking up the entire cost in the first years.

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

Presbyterian Lemira Presbyterian Church 514 Boulevard Rd • 473-5024 Pastor Dan Rowton Sunday School 10:00 am Worship 11:00 am Bible Study 6:00 pm

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

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS Carolina Atlas Transmission 301 W. Liberty Street • Sumter, SC Filters, Inc. 775-4501 • 1-800-823-2413

(803) 774-1075 13 Caldwell Street Sumter, SC

Sumter Machinery Co. “Serving Sumter Since 1904” Mill Supplies • Steel Sales Machine Shop • Rewinding Shop

803-773-1441 103 Brooklyn St. • Sumter, SC

PRO GLO AUTO PAINT, BODY, GLASS & FRAME WORK, INC.

109 EAST NEWBERRY AVENUE 773-6842 MANAGEMENT AND STAFF

We Respect Your Vehicle,Time & Money

Job’s Mortuary

Norman Williams & Associates Employment Services

Ingram & TAXAssoFIRM ciates

344 West Liberty Street Sumter, SC 29150

Locally Owned • Established 1966 FULL SERVICE TAX FIRM

312 S. Main St., Sumter (803) 773-3323

“The Home Of Distinctively Finer Funeral Service’’

Free Diagnostic • Foreign/Domestic Free Pickup & Delivery • Financing Available

803-775-5308

216 South Pike West •775-7434 “Join us after church for dinner’’

M-F 9:30-7:00 • Sat 9:30-5:00 Closed Sunday

803-469-8733 www.outletfurniture.com

322 S. S. M Main St. • Sumter

Let Your Light Li Shine.

2645 Warehouse Blvd., Sumter, SC

Allow All ow YYour ou Business to Glorify God!

Benton Young, Owner

803-481-8200 www.advanceheating-air.com

piggly wiggly OF SUMTER

494-8292

Discount Furniture Sumter Cut Rate Drugs Outlet 803-773-8432 2891 Broad St. • Sumter

Insurance Work Welcomed Don’t Fuss Call Us 2085 Jefferson Road, Sumter, S.C. 29153 Phone (803) 469-3895 • FAX (803) 469-2414 Billy Caples, Sr.

Seven Convenient Locations

773-5114 •773-3219 “Flowers For All Occasions’’

“Please worship at the Church of your choice’’

18 E. Liberty St. • 778-2330 1132 Broad Street 208 East Calhoun Bring your Church Bulletin in and receive a free small drink

To Advertise On This Page Call 800-293-4709

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

RELIGION

THE SUMTER ITEM

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015

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A9

Sticking with God’s plan not easy but worth the trouble

S

arai, of Genesis 16, was incredulous that God would use her elderly frame to carry the baby that would be the start of God’s chosen people. Certainly any child wouldn’t come biologically, she concluded, so she employed a then culturally-acceptable solution. Her servant, Hagar, would serve as a surrogate. Her husband, Abram, complied, and soon Hagar was pregnant.

Then Sarai realized she was pregnant. Cue the Jerry Springer moment when Sarai kicks Hagar to the curb and the situation dissolves into a huge mess.

If Sarai had only waited, she would have experienced providence that defied her scope of reason. Her decisions have been repeated many times in the lives of believers, even recently, as we continue to force God’s plan through our own means.

There are the ones who falsify spiritual experiences in an effort to validate their faith.

They are the church leaders who feel it necessary to change Faith Matters Scripture to reach an unreached demoJAMIE H. graphic in the name WILSON of God. They are the ones who understand God’s plan but use immoral or dubious schemes to accomplish it.

I’m assuming that these actions were motivated at least in part by an altruistic desire to encourage people in faith in some fashion, not for wealth or position, which is sometimes the case. I’m speaking specifically of those who are compelled to pro-

vide alternate routes to God’s perfect plan.

They have the best intentions but the worst practices. Such situations raise the question: Does the process matter if the same spiritual result is achieved? And as long as people are deepening their faith, anything goes, right? Further, it would seem that anything that forced a positive result justifies the means it took.

Not quite. God is not only the God of the destination, but also the journey.

If we have been blessed enough to discern his plan then we should be wise enough to know that our steps have been mapped. His plans don’t need our annotations or modifications. He wants us wholly committed to His will in our lives.

The danger inherent in our meddling is that we compromise the potency of our faith. When we try to

work out God’s will through our own efforts we essentially concede that God needs our help, that faith is a result of our effort. It may seem antiquated in terms of popular culture, but I believe the process of faith shouldn’t be cheapened or watered down. True faith is not easily practiced, but it is well worth the effort.

I wonder what type of faith we will boast in if these practices are continually tolerated. It seems like eventually we would have to quantify our faith in percentages i.e. 60 percent trust in Almighty and 40 percent trust in personal effort. I can see it now, “First Church of the 70 percent God.” It’s hard to be 100 percent committed to God’s plan, but if we stick with it, we will experience the unseen, the unexpected, the miraculous.

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

Pope Francis angers conservatives over stance on climate change

BY RACHEL ZOLL The AP Religion Writer NEW YORK — Conservative distrust of Pope Francis, which has been building in the U.S. throughout his pontificate, is reaching a boiling point over his plan to urge action on climate change — and to do so through a document traditionally used for the most important papal teachings.

For months, Francis has been drafting an encyclical on the environment and global warming which he hopes to release by June or July. Encyclicals are written with the help of a small group of advisers working under strict secrecy. But in a news conference as he traveled last week to the Philippines, Francis gave his strongest signal yet of the direction he’ll take.

He said global warming was “mostly” man-made. And he said he wanted his encyclical out in plenty of time to be absorbed before the next round of U.N. climate change talks in Paris in November after the last round in Lima, Peru, failed to reach an agreement.

“I don’t know if it (human activity) is the only cause, but mostly, in great part, it is man who has slapped nature in the face,” Francis said. “We have in a sense taken over nature.”

Even before these remarks, several conservative U.S. commentators had been pre-emptively attacking the encyclical. At Investor’s Business Daily, Forbes and TownHall.com, writers had accused the pope of adopting a radical environmental agenda.

AP FILE PHOTO

Solar panels cover the roof of the Paul VI Hall, at the Vatican, in this 2008 file photo.

Pope Benedict XVI was dubbed “the Green Pope” for his frequent calls to stop ecological devastation and his efforts to bring solar power to the Vatican city-state. His successor has angered conservatives over the same issue.

“Pope Francis — and I say this as a Catholic — is a complete disaster when it comes to his public policy pronouncements,” wrote Steve Moore, chief economist of The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. “On the economy, and even more so on the environment, the pope has allied himself with the far left and has embraced an ideology that would make people poorer and less free.”

At the website of the Catholic journal First Things, a blogger accused the pope of promoting “theologized propaganda” on conservation — a post the journal’s editor later disavowed — and published guidance by prominent Catholic thinker

Robert George about what should be considered authoritative in an encyclical and what could be ignored.

“For the most part, they are conservatives who have criticized other Catholics in the past for disagreeing with definitive statements in papal encyclicals.” said David Cloutier, a theologian at Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland who specializes in the environment. “They’re scared that the document is going to say something definitive that they can’t agree with. That will put them in a very difficult situation.”

While Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI took strong stands in favor of environmental protection, Francis will

be the first to address climate change in such a significant way. He will be doing so following a series of sermons, interviews and writings that have unsettled American conservatives accustomed to hearing many of their priorities — on abortion and marriage especially — echoed loudly from Rome.

Francis’ strong and frequent denunciations of the global financial system and trickle-down economic theories prompted radio host Rush Limbaugh to call the pope’s economic views “pure Marxism.” The pontiff has said he is simply quoting church teaching on helping the poor.

After Francis helped normalize U.S. relations with Cuba, Sen. Marco Rubio, a Cuban-American and Florida Republican who opposed detente, said he would “ask His Holiness to take up the cause of freedom and democracy.”

By tackling climate change, Francis is marching through yet another U.S. partisan minefield and taking a position abhorrent to many Republicans. Democrats are far more likely than Republicans to consider climate change real and largely man-made. While about a quarter of Republicans or Republicanleaning independents agree, the rest blame natural patterns, say not enough is known or insist warming is not occurring at all, according to the Pew Research Center. In the new GOP-controlled Senate, Oklahoma Sen. James Inhofe, who has called global warming a “hoax,” has been chosen by fellow Republicans as head of the Environment and Public Works Committee.

CHURCH NEWS Agape Outreach Ministries, 328 W. Liberty St., announces: * Sunday — Sunday evening glory at 5 p.m. Pastor Napoleon A. Bradford will speak.

Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 2571 Joseph LemonDingle Road, Jordan community, Manning, announces: * Saturday, Feb. 7 — “Falling in Love with Jesus Gospel Explosion” concert at 7 p.m. at Weldon Auditorium, Manning, featuring The Heavenly Stars.

There will also be performances by the mass choir, the male choir, the praise team, youth choir and dance ministry. Call Deaconess Mable B. Billups at (803) 478-5333 or Sister Loretta Benbow at (803) 478-4922 for ticket information. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.

Bethel AME Church, 219 E. Calhoun St., announces: * Saturday — Dedication of the new sanctuary / cornerstone laying at noon.

Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, 4319 Rowe Drive, Summerton, announces: * Sunday, Feb. 8 — Missionary ministry’s fifth annual program at 2 p.m. The Rev. Emma Mellerson will speak. “A Taste of Ole South” will be served immediately after the service.

Calvary Baptist Church, 459 Calvary Church Road, Bishopville, announces: * Saturday, Feb. 7 — Mid-Carolina Singing at 6 p.m. featuring God’s Tool Box and Cedar Creek Quartet.

Church of Christ, 313 Mooneyham Road, announces: * Sunday, Feb. 1 — Resurrection, first part of the second anniversary celebration, at 4 p.m. featuring BHN Singers, St. Paul Male Chorus and others.

Community Church of Praise, 565 S. Pike Road, announces: * Friday-Saturday, Jan. 30-31 —

Prayer Conference as follows: 7 p.m. Friday, Donna Jackson of St. Matthews AME Church, Lynchburg, will speak; and 8:30 a.m. Saturday, workshops, Pastor Dorothy Maple will speak.

Dalzell United Methodist Church, 3330 Black River Road, Dalzell, announces: * Thursday, Jan. 29 — A spaghetti lunch fundraiser to benefit the charitable activities of the church will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 per plate. Eat in or take out.

Call (803) 469-0160 for details. * Friday-Saturday, Feb. 27-28 — “Shop til You Drop ... Dead” dinner theatre will be presented. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person or $25 per couple. Funds raised benefit Relay for Life. Call Wava at (803) 499-5190 or (803) 2361041. * Sunday-Friday, June 21-26 — Vacation Bible School will be held from 6 to 8 nightly. Free dinner will be served each evening at 5:30. This year’s program is “EVEREST — Conquering Challenges with God’s Mighty Power.” Children age 2 and older are welcome.

ognition. Church school will be held at 9 a.m. followed by 10 a.m. worship. * Sunday, Feb. 15 — The 20th pastoral anniversary celebration of Pastor Eugene G. Dennis. Church school will be held at 9 a.m. followed by 10 a.m. worship. The Rev. Marion H. Newton, pastor of Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church, will speak. * Sunday, Feb. 22 — Black History program will be held during morning worship.

Kingdom Life International Ministries, 404 Broad St., announces: * Today-Friday — Unstoppable Favor Revival at 7:30 nightly.

Speakers vary.

Knitting Hearts Ministry, meets at Bethesda Church of God, 2730 Broad St., announces: * Saturday, Feb. 14 — Knitting Hearts Café will meet from 10 a.m. to noon. Meredith Mateer will speak. Visit www.knittingheartsministry.org for details.

Full Proof Deliverance Ministry, 2758 S.C. 341 S., Olanta, announces: * Thursday-Friday, Feb. 5-6, and Sunday, Feb. 8 — Pastoral anniversary celebration for Frances (Willie) Washington at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 3 p.m. on Sunday. Apostle Johnnie Gilliam Jr. and Prophetess Talitha Harrison will speak.

LaGree AME Church, 2910 Kolb Road, announces: * Sunday, Feb. 1 — “An Hour of Power” program at 4 p.m.

Speakers: Minister Kenny Charles of Allen Chapel AME Church will speak on “Wake Up;” Minister Eric Ramsey of Unionville AME Church, Mayesville, will speak on “Shut Up;” Minister Deloris Harris of Orangehill AME Church, Wedgefield, will speak on “Speak Up;” the Rev. Mary Harvin of Mount Glory Baptist Church will speak on “Prayed Up;” the Rev. Donna Jackson of St. Matthew AME Church, Lynchburg, will speak on “Stand Up;” Minister Cynthia Myers of Ebenezer AME Church, Mayesville, will speak on “Rise Up;” and the Rev. Irene Anthony of Golden Gate Fellowship Ministry will speak on “Fired Up.” Each minister / pastor will speak for seven minutes.

Joshua Baptist Church, 5200 Live Oak Road, Dalzell, announces: * Sunday, Feb. 8 — Junior Brotherhood anniversary rec-

Mount Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 5918 S.C. 260, Manning, announces: * Sunday — Male chorus min-

Faith Missionary Baptist Church No. 1, 115 Laurel St., announces: * Sunday — Pastor’s Aide program at 2 p.m. at God Is In the House Ministry. Dr. Otis Butler Jr. will speak.

istry’s anniversary program at 3 p.m.

Mount Glory Baptist Church, 841 N. Main St., announces: * Sunday — Family and friends day at 11 a.m. Thomas “Bubba” Lowery will speak.

New Hope AME Church, 18808 Panola Road, Pinewood, announces: * Sunday — Pack-a-pew program at 2:30 p.m. Minister Bobby Brunson, of Grace Community Christian Church, Amityville, New York, will speak.

New Start Community Church of the Nazarene, 4686 J.W. Rhames Road, Manning, announces: * Sunday, Feb. 8 — Christian comedian and ventriloquist service at 6 p.m. featuring Trish Dunn.

One Step Christian Ministries, 125 S. Nettles St., Bishopville, announces: * Saturday-Sunday — Usher’s workshops, brunch and anniversary service as follows: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, workshop and brunch; and 4 p.m. Sunday, anniversary worship. The Rev. Paula Koonce, pastor of Victory Outreach Ministries, Bishopville, will speak.

Pine Hill AME Church, 1505 U.S. 521 S., announces: * Sunday — Family and friends day at 10:45 a.m. Anthony Anderson will speak.

Sheppard Ministries announces: * Saturday, Jan. 31 — 46th anniversary gospel singing of The Singing Sheppards at 6 p.m. at Shiloh Pentecostal Holiness Church, 260 Myrtle Beach Highway. On the program: Whiteman-Gore; The Sims Family; and The Singing Sheppards.

St. John Baptist Church, 3944 Brewer Road, Manning, announces: * Sunday — The 90th anniver-

sary of the church will be celebrated at 4 p.m. G.K. Carter, of Fourth Cross Road Baptist Church of Manning, will speak.

St. Luke AME Church, 2355 St. Paul Church Road, announces: * Wednesday, April 1 — Under the Blood program at 4 p.m. featuring Gary and Green Ensemble.

St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, 2371 Frank Rhames Road, Pinewood, announces: * Sunday — The January birthday month program will be held at 3 p.m. The Rev. Michael Anthony Wright Jr. of Red Hill Baptist Church, Santee, will speak. Wear deep red if your Zodiac sign is Capricorn or purple if you are an Aquarius.

St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, 7650 Summerton Highway, Silver community, Pinewood, announces: * Sunday — January Birthday Month Program at 3 p.m. The Rev. Michael Anthony Wright Sr. of Red Hill Missionary Baptist Church, Santee, will speak.

St. Paul AME Church, 835 Plowden Mill Road, announces: * Sunday — Martin Luther King celebration at 10 a.m. Dale Donnell, president of the Sumter District Lay Organization Northeast Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and a member of Mount Olive AME Church, will speak.

Taw Caw Missionary Baptist Church, 1130 Granby Lane, Summerton, announces: * Sunday — Officer installation service during the 10:45 a.m. service. Bishop Darrell McFadden will speak.

Unity Baptist Church, 4000 U.S. 15 South, announces: * Saturday, Jan. 31 — Gospel singing at 6 p.m. featuring the Heavenly Tones, Armed & Ready and the church singers.

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The Big Bang The Big Bang Theory North Theory (HD) Pole. (HD) How I Met Your Anger ManageMother: Little ment Charlie’s Boys (HD) exes. (HD)

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The Biggest Loser: End Zone Final Bad Judge: Case A to Z: M is for Parenthood: We Made It Through four return to journey’s start. (N) Closed (N) (HD) Meant to Be (N) The Night Zeek’s health decision is (HD) (HD) made. (N) (HD) The Big Bang (:31) Mom Unex- (:01) Two and a The Big Bang Elementary: The Illustrious Client Theory (HD) pected death. (N) Half Men (N) Theory (HD) Getting rid of a threat to Kitty Winter.

(HD) (HD) (N) (HD) The Taste: The Finale The finalists face a last set of challenges that will de- How to Get Away with Murder: Kill termine who walks away with the prize and who will be leaving empty Me, Kill Me, Kill Me The night of handed. (N) (HD) Sam’s death. (HD) Rickover: The Birth of Nuclear Power Told is the story of the man who A Chef’s Life A Chef’s Life: Ramp recipes. (N) built the first nuclear-powered submarine, nuclear-powered aircraft and Chicken Lickin’ commercial nuclear power plant. (N) (HD) (HD) (HD) American Idol: Auditions #6 The Backstrom: Dragon Slayer Suicide WACH FOX News at 10 Local news judges enter their sixth night of vocal turns out to be a homicide. (N) (HD) report and weather forecast. auditions. (N) (HD) College Basketball: North Carolina State Wolfpack at Miami Hurricanes The Vampire Diaries: Woke Up with from BankUnited Center z{| a Monster Liv and Alaric try to prepare Jo. (N) (HD)

11 PM WIS News 10 at 11:00pm News and weather.

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Carolina Stories: BBC World News Jail No Bail International news.

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The First 48: Dead Wrong Valuable The First 48: Lying in Wait: With This Nightwatch: Retaliation Bleeding in (:02) Nightwatch: Retaliation Bleed- (:01) The First 48 found dead in trunk of car. (HD) footage. (HD) Ring (N) (HD) street. (N) (HD) ing in street. (HD) (HD) Braveheart (‘95, Drama) aaac Mel Gibson. A simple farmer manages to become a legendary hero as he mounts a grassroots resistance against Tombstone (‘93) 180 (5:00) Casino Royale (‘06, Thriller) Daniel Craig. High stakes. (HD) England’s tyrannical occupation of Scotland. (HD) aaa (HD) 100 Wild West Alaska (HD) Wild West Alaska (N) (HD) Alaska: Battle on the Bay (HD) Alaska: Battle on the Bay (N) Alaska: Battle on the Bay (HD) Alaska (HD) 162 (4:30) Set It Off It’s a Mann’s World: She’s the Man Nellyville: Nellyville: The Family Spe- The Game Public Husbands: Model Husbands: Vote Husbands Duane Husbands Tisha Wendy Williams (‘96) aa Difficult patient. cial Memorable moments. ridicule. (HD) Behavior for Kidney kicked out. arrested.

Show (N) (:12) Match maker Patti tries to help (:14) The Real House wives of At Real House wives Real House wives The Mil lion aire Match maker: What Hap pens The Mil lion aire Match maker: 181 end bad habit. lanta: Divide and “KI- KI” Atlanta (N) Beverly (N) Marysol Patton, Luke Rockhold (N) (N) Marysol Patton, Luke Rockhold 62 Greed A murder plot.

Shark Tank (HD) Greed Equity theft.

American Greed: Scams (N) Greed: Master of Deadly Deceit Greed 64 Erin Burnett OutFront (N) Anderson Cooper 360° (N) (HD) Inside Man: Morganbot CNN Tonight The Sixties Historical events.

Inside Man Workaholics Tosh.0 Shot by a Tosh.0: Bubb Tosh.0: Cliff Daily Show (N) Nightly Show w/ (:01) @midnight 136 (:58) South Park (:29) South Park Broad City Abbi Workaholics (HD) (HD) trains. (HD) (HD) (HD) cannon. (HD) Rubb (HD) Jumper (HD) (HD) Wilmore (N) (N) (HD) Hop (‘11, Family) aac James Marsden. Easter Bunny (:40) Girl Meets Jessie: Trashin’ Liv and Maddie Dog Blog: The A.N.T. Farm (HD) K.C. Undercover: 80 Girl Meets: Girl Austin & Ally Meets Father (HD) suffers an injury.

Truth telling.

Fashion (HD) (HD) Bone Identity Pilot 103 Alaska: The Last Frontier (HD) Alaska: The Last Frontier (HD) Alaska: The Last Frontier (HD) Alaska: The Last Frontier (HD) Alaska: The Last Frontier (HD) Alaska (HD) 35 College Basketball: Ohio State vs Northwestern z{| (HD) X Games Aspen 2015 z{| (HD) SportsCenter (HD) Sports (HD) 39 College Basketball: Alabama vs Arkansas z{| (HD) College Basketball: Arizona Wildcats at Stanford Cardinal (HD) 2015 Australian Open: Third Round z{| (HD) Pretty Woman (‘90, Romance) aaa Richard Gere. An emotionally-detached businessman The 700 Club Young boy bullied by Boy Meets 131 (6:30) Bruce Almighty (‘03, Comedy) aaa Jim Carrey. God gives complainer almighty powers. (HD) hires a streetwalker to be his companion. (HD) his peers.

World: The Beard 109 Chopped Coffee cake. (HD) Chopped: Money Saver (HD) Chopped Canada (N) Beat Bobby Beat Bobby Diners (HD) Diners (HD) Chopped 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: Notre Dame vs Virginia Tech z{| College Basketball: UTEP vs Western Kentucky z{| World Poker Tour no} (HD) Basketball The Waltons: The Outsider Ben and The Middle (HD) The Middle: Leap The Middle Night The Middle: The Golden Perfect Golden Blanche’s The Golden Girls: 183 The Waltons: The Legacy Ashley Longworth Jr. at Baldwin home. his wife.

Year (HD) vision. (HD) Clover (HD) nectarine. plans.

Yokel Hero 112 Flop Flop Addict (HD) Addict (HD) Addict (N) (HD) Addict (HD) Hunters (N) Hunters (HD) Hunters (HD) Hunters (HD) Addict (HD) 110 Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn. (N) (HD) Pawn. (N) (HD) Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Blue Bloods: Devil’s Breath Disori- Blue Bloods: The Bitter End Danny’s Blue Bloods: This Way Out Reagan’s Blue Bloods: The City That Never Blue Bloods (HD) 160 Blue Bloods: Ends & Means Judgment call. (HD) ented man. (HD) protection. (HD) rally. (HD) Sleeps Actor stabbed. (HD) (:02) Project Run145 Project Runway All Stars: Making A Project Runway All Stars: Sketching Project Runway All Stars: Versatile (:02) Little Women: LA: A Little Fired (:02) Big Women: Big Love: Exes Splash Swimsuits. (HD) with Sharks (HD) Tops and Bottoms (N) (HD) Up (HD) and Hot Messes (HD) way (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) Sam & Cat Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Prince Prince Friends (HD) Friends (HD) Raymond (HD) 154 The One (‘01, Action) Jet Li. (HD) The Man with the Iron Fists (‘12, Action) aa Russell Crowe. Hunt for gold.

Ninja Assassin (‘09, Action) aac Rain. Ninja goes rogue. (HD) (:59) WWE SmackDown (HD) Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (‘08, Adventure) aac Harrison Ford.

152 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (‘89) Harrison Ford. (HD) Indiana Jones and a ruthless Soviet agent hunt for a powerful artifact. (HD) Seinfeld: The Pot- Family Guy: Family Guy (HD) The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang Conan Ron Howard; Regina Hall. (N) The Office: Coun156 Seinfeld: The Susie (HD) hole (HD) Amish Guy (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) (HD) seling (HD) 186 (6:30) Fools for Scandal (‘38, Com- Singin’ in the Rain (‘52, Musical) aaac Gene Kelly. A movie star tries The Catered Affair (‘56, Drama) aaa Bette Davis. A (:45) The Mating Game (‘59, Comedy) aa Carole Lombard. to make the transition from silent to talking pictures. woman wants an expensive wedding. edy) aac Debbie Reynolds.

157 48 Hours Wired girlfriend. (HD) 48 Hours: AKA Rockefeller (HD) 48 Hours: Last Chance (HD) 48 Hours (HD) 48 Hours: Last Chance (HD) 48 Hours (HD) NBA Basketball: San Antonio Spurs at Chicago Bulls from United Center z{| (HD) NBA Basketball: Brooklyn Nets at Los Angeles Clippers from Staples Center 158 NBA Tip-Off z{| (HD) 102 Jokers Jokers Jokers Jokers Jokers Jokers Carbonaro (N) How to Be (N) How to Be (N) (:31) Jokers (:02) Jokers 161 Walker: Unfinished Business Fam. Feud Fam. Feud Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Queens (HD) Queens (HD) Queens (HD) Queens (HD) Friends (HD) Law & Or der: Spe cial Vic tims Unit: Law & Or der: Spe cial Vic tims Unit: Law & Or der: Spe cial Vic tims Unit: Law & Or der: Spe cial Vic tims Unit: Mod ern Fam ily Mod ern Fam ily: Mod ern Family 132 Perfect (HD) Dreams Deferred (HD) Beautiful Frame (HD) Criminal Hatred (HD) Fencing. (HD) Chirp (HD) (HD) SWV Reunited: No Backup SWV Reunit: Lelee’s Heartache SWV Reunited: Wedding Hells Love Thy Sister (N) (:07) Love Thy SWV Reunit 172 Funniest Home Videos (HD) Funniest Home Videos (HD) How I Met How I Met How I Met How I Met How I Met How I Met Rules (HD)

Odd detective series ‘Backstrom’ just doesn’t gel

BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH Failure teaches just how special, and rare, success can be. Nobody sets out to make a bad or unsuccessful television show, but it’s the rare exception that survives and thrives in an increasingly competitive environment.

Let’s chalk up the new detective dramedy “Backstrom” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14) as one of those instructional failures.

Based on a series of Swedish crime novels by Leif G.W. Persson, “Backstrom” stars Rainn Wilson, best known as his absurd character Dwight from NBC’s “The Office.”

Here, he’s Everett Backstrom, a detective with an uncanny intuition based on an unfailingly bleak view of human nature.

He’s an alcoholic, cigarsmoking, overweight misanthrope who insults and alienates everyone he encounters.

But since he always sees the worst in everyone, he’s very good at thinking like criminals, and outsmarting them.

The city of Portland and its ceaseless downpours, brooding skies, eccentric population and politically correct vibe play a supporting role here, as does Dennis Haysbert (“24”) as Backstrom’s polar opposite, Detective John Almond, a deeply moral man who moonlights as a pastor on weekends. Given to following his hunches, Backstrom despises the squad’s forensics expert, Peter Niedermayer (Kristoffer Polaha), particularly since he’s likely to quote the Buddha when describing evidence.

Determined to insult every known religion, Backstrom even spouts anti-Hindu epithets at his Indian-born physician, yet another character who speaks in precious, cryptic aphorisms.

Backstrom also shares a disgusting apartment with the flamboyant Gregory Valentine (Thomas Dekker), his link to the criminal demimonde.

Created by Hart Hanson (“Bones”), this odd, dark detective series probably has five quirky elements too many. Wilson’s bizarre turn as Dwight on “The Office” perfectly fit the throwaway nature of a comedy where there was little at stake — no homicides, dead bodies, junkies and prostitutes. Here, he’s supposed to play “Columbo”

SERGEI BACHLAKOV / FOX

Detectives Everett Backstrom (Rainn Wilson) and Nicole Gravely (Genevieve Angelson) investigate the death of a senator’s son in the series premiere episode of “Backstrom,” airing at 9 p.m. today on FOX. by way of “House” and it just doesn’t gel.

A purported chain-smoker, Backstrom seems rather ill at ease with his ever-present cigar. Peter Falk knew how to smoke, or at least how to fool his audiences into thinking he did on “Columbo.” Backstrom holds his stogie like a prop in an improv bit. And that sets the tone for the entire series.

We’re given very little to explain his dyspeptic nature, so after a while, it merely seems like an annoying affectation.

• Dick Wolf (“Law & Order”) expands his nonfiction empire with “Nightwatch” (10 p.m., A&E, TV-14) documenting police officers, firefighters and EMTs working the night shift in New Orleans, a city with a larger-than-life reputation for celebration as well as one of the nation’s highest murder rates.

Tonight’s “Nightwatch” includes an ambulance ride to save the life of a stabbing victim, an arson call and a single-car accident caused, it

seems, by an impaired driver who refuses to admit he’s on drugs.

CULT CHOICE A glum detective (Harrison Ford) hunts down rogue androids in the 1982 science-fiction drama “Blade Runner” (10:05 p.m., Cinemax).

• Watson’s corporate job offers new leads on “Elementary” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14).

• Amber appears to go into labor on “Parenthood” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-PG).

• Secrets behind Sam’s death revealed on “How to Get Away With Murder” (10 p.m., ABC, r, TV-14).

SERIES NOTES TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS • Auditions continue on “American Idol” (8 p.m. Fox, TVPG).

• A winner emerges on the season three finale of “The Taste” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-14).

• The third season premiere of “Morgan Spurlock: Inside Man” (9 p.m., CNN) puts personal robots to the test.

• A Nashville predator on “American Greed” (9 p.m., CNBC), whose ninth season premiered last week.

• Health emergencies call for solutions on “Portlandia” (10 p.m., IFC, TV-14).

A steamy simulation on “The Big Bang Theory” (8 p.m., CBS, r, TV-PG) * Kai overpowers Elena on “The Vampire Diaries” (8 p.m., CW, TV-14) * A sudden tragedy puts things in perspective on “Mom” (8:30 p.m., CBS, TV-14) * Walden finds refuge on “Two and a Half Men” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14) * Rebecca feels thwarted on the series finale of “Bad Judge” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14) * Things get nasty for Conde on “Reign” (9 p.m., CW, TV-14) * A ref’s questionable call on “The McCarthys” (9:30 p.m., CBS, TV-14) * “A to Z” (9:30 p.m., NBC, TV-14) wraps up half-

way through the alphabet.

LATE NIGHT Jennifer Aniston is booked on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (11 p.m., Comedy Central) * Ron Howard, Regina Hall and Rae Sremmurd are on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS) * Jeff Goldblum, Michael Somerville and Nicole Atkins are on “Late Show With David Letterman” (11:35 p.m., CBS) * Jimmy Fallon welcomes Blake Shelton, Bob Costas and Motley Crue on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) * Edward Norton, Al Michaels and The Decemberists appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (11:35 p.m., ABC) * Felicity Jones and Sebastian Maniscalco visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC) * Judd Apatow guest-hosts Adam Sandler, Lena Dunham and Maria Bamford on “The Late Late Show” (12:35 a.m., CBS).

Copyright 2015, United Feature Syndicate

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

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015 H.G. Osteen 1870-1955 Founder, The Item

H.D. Osteen 1904-1987 The Item

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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

Hold on. It’s going to be a bumpy ride O

ne thing is certain about President Obama: He’s consistent.

Last night, his State of the Union speech contained the usual boilerplate: taxes, taxes and more taxes. Plus there were the standard income redistribution schemes, stealing from Peter to pay Paul. One would think his party had recaptured control of Congress.

No wonder the Republican leadership is declaring his far-left proposals dead on arrival, much the same as what Democrats crowed when they had

EDITORIAL

full control of Congress. The president actually had the audacity to demand new taxes on savings and investment to finance his newest Ponzi scheme.

Obama keeps returning to his tired refrain that he is only trying to help the middle class in this country. The problem is that his policies have led to reduced middle-class incomes, plus by trying to confiscate more earnings from hard-working Americans he is penalizing the successful. Even Bill Clinton recognized that by cutting

capital gains taxes during his administration would lead to more prosperity and more money in every American’s pocket.

While the president continues his infatuation with more taxes, there is a serious matter he hardly mentioned in his bombastic bilge: the threat that the rise of the Islamic State poses throughout the world, aided and abetted by radical Islamists who glory in killing innocent people, especially Americans. They are poised to seek a way to attack our homeland as well as the countries that are allies of the

United States. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.

In the meantime, the nation should expect more of the same from the president who continues to wallow in his own perceived infallibility. More gridlock is on the way between Capitol Hill and the White House. It’s what one would expect from a president who insists on his way or the highway when it comes to the tough job of governing, leaving no room for negotiation or compromise.

Obama’s final two years should be a bumpy ride for the nation.

COMMENTARY

Think before you forward

L

eft to their own devices, the consonants ‘f,’ ‘w’ and ‘d’ are fairly innocuous.

We find them in words such as “foreshadow,” not doing any harm to anyone.

While they have proven to be useful letters in our vernacular, there is one particular usage of them that I will soon be forced to no longer tolerate.

Fw. FW. Fwd. FWD. Or some such variation.

Every time I see such mashups, I can’t reach for the delete button quickly enough.

Flee from such e-mails, dear readers, for these days, few things but untruths and misdirections await you if you click and open.

Those letters should serve as a grave warning.

The more times they appear (as in the subject “Fwd: FWD: fw: Fwd: Congress Hates the Troops), the less seriously you should actually take the “facts” presented within Cliff said e-mail.

McCollum (For that matter, these messages also tend to have subject lines written by people with no understanding of modern captialization practices. THERE IS NO NEED TO WRITE IN ALL CAPS AT ANY TIME. IT MAKES YOU SOUND AS IF YOU ARE CONSTANTLY YELLING AND MAKES YOU LOOK MORE THAN A BIT FOOLISH. PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY, SWEET AND GOOD, STOP THE INSANITY, AND STOP THE ALL CAPS.) What pretends to be fact backed by figures is often scantilly-clad fiction, able to quickly be undressed and shamed by a quick visit to numerous fact-checking websites.

It should, perhaps, serve as commentary that as soon as these “NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW” e-mails pop up, one of the aforementioned fact checking sites go to work to test its validity.

I don’t wish to offend any of the wonderful friends who like to e-mail me, even if 98.3 percent of it is the “Fwd” sort of mail.

But, would it be too difficult for all of us to perhaps do our own fact-checking the next time we get one of these multi-forwarded messages.

Trust me when I say it isn’t that hard to Google a few lines of the text and find an appropriate site to help ferret out the truth.

And, if the message passes muster, by all means, pass it along and give all your friends the vital information they will surely need for their everyday life.

But, if the “facts” prove to be false, as I’ve often found they do, maybe you shouldn’t “Fwd” this one along.

In fact, it might be a nice thing to message back the person who tagged you with the posting and inform them of the error.

I know if I was spreading slander, I’d want my friends to let me know and stop me from doing it.

Let’s all use just a modicum of discretion and think before we forward.

Cliff McCollum is an 80-year-old soul trapped in a 20-something body. He is an ordained minister and former community college professor who enjoys British literature and field herpetology. He spends his spare time trying to show Vegans and vegetarians the error of their ways. As managing editor of the Gulf Coast Newspapers in Baldwin County, Alabama — now part of Osteen Publishing Co. — he can be reached at cmccollum@gulfcoastnewspapers.com.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR PARENTS, NOT THE GOVERNMENT, ARE FAILING TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP In response to Mr. Eugene Baten’s letter to the editor on Sunday, Jan. 18: Mr. Baten, you are correct. We have an inexcusable failure in leadership; however, that failure is not at the state or even at the community level. It is in the home. There are very few of our families that take responsibility to lead their own children or siblings, and seemingly fewer still that understand, much less take personal responsibility for their family’s or even their own actions, preferring to blame personal failures on government.

Instead of facing the reality of their own or family’s action, why do so many try to blame the government? True leadership begins in the home with mothers and fathers setting the example for their children and older brothers and sisters setting examples for their younger siblings. Teachers in our schools cannot undo the failure of parents in their homes. Our primary problem is not a government failure in leadership, but a parental failure in leadership that leads to the problems that you seem to feel should be corrected by the government.

Let us all redouble our efforts to insure that government is not called upon to correct our failures as parents; let’s begin to take personal responsibility for our own actions; let’s send our children to school prepared to learn; let’s defend our teachers for trying to undo the failure of parents to discipline their own children; let’s not blame the state for the fact that our children beat up other children because of our failures; let’s all stand up and place the blame where it belongs: In our own homes, on our own shoulders.

Only then can we ask our government to provide protection to the statistical few who fall through the crack. Our government was not established to be our children’s parents — we took that responsibility when we chose to become parents. Now let each of us, man/woman up to the responsibility that we chose to undertake. That is the solution that will

allow our state government to unburden itself from our parental failures and lack of personal responsibility that now occupy too much of its time. In that way, our state government will have the assets to properly address those things that government was designed to do, like fixing our roads.

DON CANN Sumter

TURNING LANE INSTEAD OF ROAD WIDENING ON ALICE DRIVE WOULD SAVE MONEY, TIME Recently read some comments by Mr. Edens concerning the ongoing work on Alice Drive, which I fully agree with. Furthermore, I have never understood why the road had to be widened to five lanes. It always seemed to me that the major traffic problem on Alice Drive between Wise and Wesmark was the fact that traffic going in either direction trying to make a left turn would cause traffic blockages because there was no turn lane. It seems to me that widening Alice Drive to only three lanes between Wise and Wesmark would 1) take less time (be done now) and 2) cost less money (thus leaving some funds to repair some of the deplorable streets and roads around town).

Concerning the condition of streets and roads and the gas tax: Has anyone in the S.C. Legislature considered raising the gas tax by one-half cent every time the cost of gas goes down one cent? Drivers would still see a decrease in the cost of gas, but little by little the funding for road repairs would be addressed.

Finally, is there a website where a driver could go to inform the Sumter City/County DOT (or whatever department it is) of potholes? There are two goodsized potholes in the northbound lane of Wilson Hall road between Wise and Wesmark just waiting for an opportunity to tear up a tire or car and lots of others in other locations.

BOB THOMPSON Sumter

EDITORIAL PAGE POLICIES EDITORIALS represent the views of the owners of this newspaper.

COLUMNS AND COMMENTARY are the personal opinion of the writer whose byline appears. Columns from readers should be typed, double-spaced and no more than 850 words. Send them to The Sumter Item, Opinion Pages, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, S.C. 29151, or email to hubert@theitem.com or graham@theitem.com.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR are written by readers of the newspaper. They should be no more than 350 words and sent via e-mail to letters@theitem.com, dropped off at The Sumter Item office, 20 N. Magnolia St. or mailed to The Sumter Item, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, S.C. 29151, along with the full name of the writer, plus an 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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THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015

AROUND TOWN The Sumter County Education The Shepherd’s Center, 24 Council St., will offer public in- Association-Retired will meet formation sessions from 11 to at noon on Wednesday, Jan. Shepherd’s Center offers infor28, at public the North HOPE Cen11:50 a.m. on Thursdays as sessions ter, 904 N. Main St. Call follows: mation today, healthy Brenda Bethune at (803) aging with Jeanne Price 469-6588.

Pack, Tuomey Health & Wellness Coordinator; Jan. Free income tax filing services 29, CSI-Forensic and elder and FAFSA applications will be safety with Carlotta Stackprovided Feb. 1 through house of Morris College; April 15 as follows: 9:30 Feb. 5, senior scans and a.m.-3:30 p.m. Wednesdays, safety with Patty Patterson, SC Works — Santee Lynchretired police chief; Feb. 19, es, 31 E. Calhoun St., (803) estate planning with Aman- 774-1300; 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. da Miller of Edward Jones; Fridays, 3-8 p.m. Saturdays, Feb. 26, planning your appointments only on Sunspring garden with a Clemdays, Goodwill — Job Link son Extension Service repCenter, 1028 Broad St., (803) resentative; March 5, tips, 774-5006; and 9:30 a.m.-7 tricks and troubleshooting p.m. Thursdays and 9:30 iPad and PCs. a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, Lee County Adult Education, 123 Clarendon School District Two is assigning student devices as E. College St., Bishopville, part of its one to one technolo- (803) 484-4040. For details and appointments, call Ms. gy learning initiative through Samuels at (803) 240-8355. the Carolina Consortium of Enterprise Learning. In The Clarendon County Demoorder for students to recratic Party will meet at 7 ceive a Mac Book Air laptop p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5, at or iPad Mini, parents are reBassard’s Pond House, 4162 quired to attend one of the fol- Rev JW Carter Road, Sumlowing meetings in the lecmerton. ture hall of Manning High The Sumter Chapter of the NaSchool: 2-5:30 p.m. today or tional Federation of the Blind 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23. The district’s Acceptable will hold its monthly meetUse Policy, how devices will ing with the “King or be used and how to care for Queen” contest at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at Shilohthe devices will be disRandolph Manor. Willie cussed. Stop in anytime to Wester, president of the view the information and Summerville Chapter of the make payments. Cash only.

National Federation of the Clarendon School District One Blind, will speak. If you will conduct free vision, hearknow a blind or visually iming, speech and developmental paired person, contact screenings as part of a child Debra Canty, chapter presifind effort to identify student, at DebraCanC2@frondents with special needs. tier.com or via telephone at Screenings will be held from (803) 775-5792. For updated 9 a.m. to noon at the Suminformation, call the recordmerton Early Childhood ed message line at (206) Center on the following 376-5992.

Thursdays: Feb. 12; March The Stroke Support Group 12; April 9; and May 14. For (Overcomers) will meet at 6 details, call Sadie Williams p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12, in or Audrey Walters at (803) the Alice Drive Baptist 485-2325, extension 221.

Church library. Those who Celebrating its “Mission in Achave had a stroke or heart tion,” the YMCA of Sumter will attack, their caregivers or hold its annual meeting from encouragers are invited to noon to 2 p.m. today at Sun- attend. Call Joyce or Wayne set Country Club, 1005 GolfHunter at (803) 464-7865. crest Road. Retired Sumter St. Anne Catholic School’s sixth physician Mary Blanchard, annual benefit auction will be MD, will speak. Open to the held from 6 to 10 p.m. on community, the luncheon will feature the YMCA’s year Friday, May 1, at the O’Donnell House. Event will in review and will provide a include heavy hors variety of awards and recd’oeuvres, music, a cash bar ognition to community and silent auction. A live members and volunteers auction will also be conwho have helped to promote the YMCA’s mission of ducted. Tickets are $25 per person. All proceeds will building a healthy spirit, benefit St. Anne Catholic mind and body for all. Cost is $12. Contact Denise Lewis School and assist in conat (803) 773-1404 or dlewis@ tinuing its various programs and funding scholarships. ymcasumter.org to make Call (803) 775-3632 for tickreservations as seating is ets or more information. limited.

DAILY PLANNER

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEATHER

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2015

AccuWeather® five-day forecast for Sumter TODAY

TONIGHT

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Sunny to partly cloudy

Mostly cloudy

Cooler with rain beginning

Morning rain, then clearing

Mostly sunny

Mostly cloudy with rain possible

61°

42°

48° / 40°

54° / 33°

58° / 41°

57° / 32°

Chance of rain: 5%

Chance of rain: 25%

Chance of rain: 75%

Chance of rain: 85%

Chance of rain: 10%

Chance of rain: 35%

NE 4-8 mph

NE 6-12 mph

ENE 8-16 mph

WNW 10-20 mph

WSW 7-14 mph

WSW 10-20 mph

TODAY’S SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER

Gaffney 56/35 Spartanburg 56/37

Greenville 56/36

Columbia 62/44

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

IN THE MOUNTAINS

Sumter 61/42

Aiken 60/41

ON THE COAST

Charleston 64/45

Today: Sunshine and patchy clouds. High 60 to 65.

Friday: Periods of rain; breezy in northern parts. High 54 to 58.

LOCAL ALMANAC

LAKE LEVELS

SUMTER THROUGH 4 P.M. YESTERDAY

Today Hi/Lo/W 57/41/s 35/25/pc 43/37/r 32/21/pc 57/41/r 76/50/s 57/45/r 40/26/pc 77/61/pc 41/23/pc 67/45/s 62/47/pc 46/30/pc

SUN AND MOON 7 a.m. yest.

357.75 74.18 73.18 95.75

24-hr chg +0.01 -0.03 +0.04 -0.04

Sunrise 7:25 a.m.

Moonrise 8:44 a.m.

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

0.00" 3.68" 2.72" 3.68" 2.50" 2.72"

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

Full pool 360 76.8 75.5 100

Lake Murray Marion Moultrie Wateree

69° 46° 55° 32° 77° in 1954 2° in 1985

Precipitation 24 hrs ending 4 p.m. yest.

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

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 44/37/r 38/30/s 51/33/pc 34/24/pc 51/34/r 77/52/pc 51/37/r 37/31/s 79/63/sh 39/31/pc 67/45/pc 64/50/s 43/36/pc

Myrtle Beach 61/44

Manning 62/43

Today: Sunshine giving way to clouds.

Winds light and variable.

Friday: Cooler and becoming rainy. Winds northeast 8-16 mph.

Temperature High Low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

Florence 60/41

Bishopville 61/40

Sunset Moonset

5:42 p.m.

8:31 p.m.

First

Full

Last

New

Jan. 26

Feb. 3

Feb. 11

Feb. 18

TIDES

Flood 7 a.m. 24-hr stage yest. chg 12 8.48 +0.03 19 4.53 +0.04 14 12.56 -0.41 14 3.03 -1.89 80 78.70 -0.41 24 10.12 +1.09

AT MYRTLE BEACH

High 10:22 a.m.

10:36 p.m.

11:12 a.m.

11:30 p.m.

Today Fri.

Ht. 3.6 3.2 3.5 3.2

Low 4:37 a.m.

5:14 p.m.

5:30 a.m.

6:04 p.m.

Ht. -1.1 -1.0 -1.0 -1.0

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 51/31/pc 58/38/s 61/42/s 65/49/s 53/38/s 64/45/s 57/36/pc 57/40/s 62/44/s 59/39/s 57/33/s 59/38/s 58/37/s

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 37/31/r 42/36/r 46/39/r 57/49/r 49/45/r 55/49/r 43/33/r 43/38/r 48/39/r 47/39/r 49/39/r 48/41/r 47/38/r

Today City Hi/Lo/W Florence 60/41/s Gainesville 71/55/pc Gastonia 57/36/pc Goldsboro 58/35/s Goose Creek 64/45/s Greensboro 53/33/pc Greenville 56/36/pc Hickory 55/34/pc Hilton Head 61/51/pc Jacksonville, FL 67/53/pc La Grange 59/44/s Macon 59/42/s Marietta 56/38/s

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 49/41/r 70/56/r 42/34/r 47/39/r 54/48/r 41/32/r 41/35/r 41/33/r 58/50/r 70/54/r 50/38/r 48/38/r 43/35/r

Today City Hi/Lo/W Marion 55/32/pc Mt. Pleasant 63/47/s Myrtle Beach 61/44/s Orangeburg 62/45/s Port Royal 63/50/s Raleigh 54/33/s Rock Hill 57/36/pc Rockingham 58/36/s Savannah 65/49/pc Spartanburg 56/37/pc Summerville 61/51/pc Wilmington 60/39/s Winston-Salem 53/33/pc

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 39/33/r 55/50/r 55/48/r 51/41/r 57/51/r 44/36/r 42/34/r 46/38/r 58/46/r 42/36/r 58/51/r 53/51/r 40/33/r

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

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

PUBLIC AGENDA SUMTER COUNTY DEVELOPMENT BOARD Today, 7:45 a.m., Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce boardroom, 32 E. Calhoun St.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE Today, 3:30 p.m., Conference Room, Planning Department Office, 12 W. Liberty St.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Reconnect EUGENIA LAST with people you’ve worked with in the past and get ready to make changes to your life that will give you greater incentive to do your very best. Romance is in the stars.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Surround yourself with friends, family or your special someone. Love is on the rise, so whether you have a partner already or are searching for one, showing affection and being flirtatious will play in your favor.

The last word in astrology

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Keep busy and refrain from engaging in discussions that are likely to lead to a heated debate. Make love, not war, and do your best to take care of your personal affairs and responsibilities. Work alone for best results.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take a look at what you have and why.

Appreciation will give you a sense of accomplishment. You don’t have to impress others by being an overachiever or a big spender.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Charity begins at home, where it will secure what’s important to you. Pleasure trips or spending time GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Be ready with good friends or neighbors will to experience both highs and lows. improve your outlook. Do something that will contribute to Trust in yourself. A competitive your looks or enhance an individual will try to outdo you. important relationship. Love is on Don’t fuel an argument when it’s the rise and a commitment should your success that will be the best revenge. Romance and celebration be made. are highlighted.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Take CANCER (June 21-July 22): A little effort and affection will make a difference to someone you love.

Plan a trip or visit someone who can offer you insight into your heritage. Don’t make an impulsive decision regarding your work that might affect your reputation.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Plan to do something you find exhilarating. A challenge will enable you to impress someone who can help you get ahead or make favorable lifestyle changes. Do your best to turn a wrong into a right. Speak up.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Take care of your health needs. Check into natural remedies and a fitness regimen that suits your needs.

Partnerships may need an adjustment if the balance isn’t equal. Determine what needs to be done and make it happen.

care of health concerns. Volunteer your services or touch base with someone who owes you a favor. A determined attitude will help you bring about the changes you feel are necessary to your community or a partnership.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Your dynamic personality will be difficult to ignore. Share your experiences and tell stories that will captivate your audience.

Romance will be a highpoint in your life if you do something nice for the one you love.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): An observant approach to whatever is going on around you will help you avoid loss, setbacks or being put in an awkward position. Use your intelligence and your intuition to come up with workable solutions.

803-795-4257 www.boykinacs.com License #M4217

LOTTERY NUMBERS PALMETTO CASH 5 WEDNESDAY

MEGAMILLIONS TUESDAY

11-19-22-25-35 PowerUp: 5

31-35-56-59-63 Megaball: 6 Megaplier: 5

PICK 3 WEDNESDAY

PICK 4 WEDNESDAY

1-5-1 and 3-6-6

6-3-5-7 and 9-1-3-2

POWERBALL numbers were unavailable at press time.

PICTURES FROM THE PUBLIC Les Odom shares a photo of his orange tree in Alcolu.

Odom comments, “We bought the orange tree from McKenzie Farms in Scranton last spring, and it produced seven oranges this year!”

SECTION

Sharapova, Nadal survive Down Under B3

B

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015

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

PREP WRESTLING

Home-mat advantage?

SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO

Sumter’s Mac Mota, top, and the rest of the Gamecocks look to earn their first tournament victory this weekend when they host the Gamecock Duals on Friday and Saturday at the SHS gymnasium.

Host Sumter looks to grab tournament win in this weekend’s Gamecock Duals

BY DENNIS BRUNSON dennis@theitem.com The Sumter High School wrestling team is 22-6 on the season in dual matches and has finished second in one weekend tournament and third in two others.

SHS would like to make its

USC BASKETBALL

first tournament victory happen this weekend when it hosts the Gamecock Duals on Friday and Saturday.

“I feel like we’ve got a good chance to be in the championship match on Saturday,” SHS head coach Cody Slaughter said. “We’ve had some good starts and then run out of gas

in some weight classes. We’ve been working to get better in all (14) weight classes.”

Sumter will be one of 16 teams in the tournament. The teams will be split up into four 4-team pools with the pool competition taking place on Friday. Weigh-ins will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Friday

with the matches starting at 5:30.

The Gamecocks, ranked 10th among 4A teams in the most recent scmat.com poll, will be in Pool A along with No. 18 4A Stratford, 3A Lake City and Central Academy of Monroe, N.C. Other 4A teams will include

PRO FOOTBALL

Lady Barons look to defend state title today

BY DENNIS BRUNSON dennis@theitem.com

with a pump provided by the home team to adjust air pressure as needed.

Footballs are required to have at least 12.5 psi and no more than 13.5 psi. Releasing air can make the football easier to grip, especially when wet. Some quarterbacks prefer a softer ball to control the spin more, while others like more air. A drop in temperature — from the officials’ dressing room to an outdoor field — also can cause a football to

The Wilson Hall girls bowling team will try to defend its SCISA state championship today at Royal Z Lanes in Columbia. The Lady Barons will try to do so without two of its key performers from last year, Kaylee Pitts and Kristen Miller, now WH graduates.

Still, Wilson Hall head coach Gabe Reynolds likes his REYNOLDS team’s chances in the state championships, which starts at 2:20 p.m.

“The girls have bowled a 190 game this season,” Reynolds said. “They’ve been very consistent all season. We just need to put together some good frames and see what happens.”

Wilson Hall won the title last year by taking advantage of a new format. Each of the teams bowled three games in the preliminary round with the top four scoring teams advancing to the championship round.

Those teams then bowl three more games with the one highest score from those three games winning the title.

The Lady Barons got in the championship round last year by finishing fourth in the preliminary round. Wilson Hall won the title by 19 pins.

“We squeezed in there at No. 4,”Reynolds said. “You want to get there and see what happens.”

Audrey Ann Atkinson will lead off Wilson Hall followed

by Kelly Brady, Delaney Johnson, Cynthia Hall and Allison

SEE DEFLATE, PAGE B3

SEE WH, PAGE B2

BY PETE IACOBELLI The Associated Press

SEE USC, PAGE B3

SEE DUALS, PAGE B3

PREP BOWLING

Carolina rally falls short vs.

Tennessee COLUMBIA — Tennessee is off to an even better start in the Southeastern Conference than Kevin Punter thought.

A few more victories like this and everyone will be attention to the Vols in the SEC. Punter and Josh Richardson had 13 points each as the Vols hung on to win their 15th straight over South Carolina, 66-62, on Tuesday PUNTER night.

“We were two and one, now we’re three and one,’’ Punter said before he was corrected on his team’s 4-1 SEC start. “Oh, we’re four and one. I’ll tell you something, we can’t be complacent. Every game we come into, we’ve got to play with a chip on our shoulder.’’

So far, that style has lifted Tennessee into solo second place in the SEC behind undefeated and top-ranked Kentucky.

The Vols held a 56-39 lead with 8:40 to go and appeared ready to cruise to victory. Instead, the Gamecocks rallied down the stretch with a 23-8 run that sliced Tennessee’s big lead to 64-62. But Richardson and Derek Reese made crucial foul shots in the final 30 seconds for the win.

No. 12 Dutch Fork, No. 17 Bluffton, No. 20 Wando, Irmo, Conway, Laurens and LugoffElgin. The Nos. 4-7 teams in the 2A-1A poll — BambergEhrhardt, Battery Creek, Marion and Aynor — are in as well as SCISA No. 1 Cardinal

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

New England quarterback Tom Brady (12) has a ball tossed to him during warmups prior to Sunday’s AFC Championship game against Indianapolis in Foxborough, Mass. The NFL says its investigation into whether the Patriots used underinflated footballs is ongoing after a report on Tuesday claimed the league found 11 balls were not properly inflated.

Some things to know about deflate-gate ’15

BY TERESA M. WALKER The Associated Press The NFL is very precise about its game and equipment — including the number of footballs prepared for games, how much each must weigh, and who monitors them until kickoff.

One rule is very clear: Don’t tamper with a football once it has been inspected for use in a game.

The NFL is investigating a report that the New England Patriots used underinflated footballs in

the AFC championship game while beating the Indianapolis Colts 45-7.

ESPN cited anonymous sources Tuesday night in reporting the league found that 11 of 12 balls were underinflated by 2 pounds per square inch of air.

Here are some things to know about the issue:

CHAIN OF CUSTODY Footballs are delivered to the officials’ dressing room 2 hours, 15 minutes before kickoff. The referee inspects each one,

B2

|

SPORTS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015

SCOREBOARD

Cleveland Milwaukee Detroit Indiana

22 21 16 15

20 20 26 28

.524 .512 .381 .349

4 1/2 5 10 1/2 12

L 12 13 13 16 21

Pct .707 .690 .690 .628 .488

GB – 1/2 1/2 3 9

L 11 20 24 27 33

Pct .738 .512 .429 .341 .175

GB – 9 1/2 13 16 1/2 23

L 6 14 18 25 30

Pct .846 .667 .581 .390 .286

GB – 6 1/2 10 18 22 1/2

TV, RADIO

WESTERN CONFERENCE

TODAY

SOUTHWEST DIVISION W Memphis 29 Dallas 29 Houston 29 San Antonio 27 New Orleans 20 NORTHWEST DIVISION W Portland 31 Oklahoma City 21 Denver 18 Utah 14 Minnesota 7 PACIFIC DIVISION W Golden State 33 L.A. Clippers 28 Phoenix 25 Sacramento 16 L.A. Lakers 12

6 a.m. -- Professional Golf: European PGA Tour Qatar Masters Second Round from Doha, Qatar (GOLF).

3 p.m. -- Professional Tennis: Australian Open Men’s and Women’s Second-Round Matches from Melbourne, Australia (ESPN2).

3 p.m. -- College Football: Senior Bowl Practice from Mobile, Ala. (NFL NETWORK).

5 p.m. -- PGA Golf: Humana Challenge First Round from La Quinta, Calif. (GOLF).

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

6:30 p.m. -- College Basketball: South Florida at Temple (ESPNEWS).

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Central Florida at Connecticut (CBS SPORTS NETWORK).

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

7 p.m . -- College Basketball: Alabama at Arkansas (ESPN2).

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Coastal Carolina at North Carolina-Asheville (ESPNU).

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

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

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: George Washington at Fordham (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Louisiana State at Tennessee (SEC NETWORK).

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Xavier at Providence (SPORTSOUTH).

7 p.m. -- Talk Show: Sports Talk (Joined In Progress) (WPUB-FM 102.7).

8 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: San Antonio at Chicago (TNT).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Murray State at Eastern Illinois (CBS SPORTS NETWORK).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Arizona at Stanford (ESPN2).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Maryland at Indiana (ESPNU).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Texas-El Paso at Western Kentucky (FOX SPORTSOUTH).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Mississippi at Mississippi State (SEC NETWORK).

9 p.m. -- Women’s College Basketball: Auburn at Alabama (SPORTSOUTH).

9:30 p.m. -- College Basketball: Washington at Colorado (FOX SPORTS 1).

10:30 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Brooklyn at Los Angeles Clippers (TNT).

11 p.m. -- Professional Tennis: Australian Open Men’s and Women’s Third-Round Matches from Melbourne, Australia (ESPN2).

11 p.m. -- College Basketball: St. Mary’s (Calif.) at Gonzaga (ESPNU).

3 a.m. -- Professional Tennis: Australian Open Men’s and Women’s Third-Round Matches from Melbourne, Australia (ESPN2).

4:30 a.m. -- Professional Golf: European PGA Tour Qatar Masters Third Round from Doha, Qatar (GOLF).

BOYS AREA ROUNDUP

Sumter Christian stays unbeaten in region play

TUESDAY’S GAMES

Oklahoma City 94, Miami 86 San Antonio 109, Denver 99

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

New York at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Miami at Charlotte, 7 p.m.

Utah at Cleveland, 7 p.m.

Indiana at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.

Orlando at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at New Orleans, 8 p.m.

Toronto at Memphis, 8 p.m.

Dallas at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

Oklahoma City at Washington, 8 p.m.

Portland at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

Brooklyn at Sacramento, 10 p.m.

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

FRIDAY

Varsity Basketball Sumter at Socastee, 6 p.m.

Hartsville at Crestwood, 6 p.m.

Lakewood at Manning, 6 p.m.

Hannah-Pamplico at East Clarendon, 6 p.m.

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

Scott’s Branch at Timmonsville (No JV Girls), 5 p.m.

Thomas Sumter at Wilson Hall, 4 p.m.

Calhoun Academy at Laurence Manning, 4 p.m.

Marlboro Academy at Robert E. Lee, 4 p.m.

Patrick Henry at Clarendon Hall, 4 p.m.

Sumter Christian at Calvary Christian (No Varsity Girls), 4 p.m.

B Team Basketball Thomas Sumter at Wilson Hall, 4 p.m.

Varsity Wrestling Sumter in Gamecock Duals, 5 p.m.

Pct .659 .415 .333 .195 .143

GB – 10 13 19 21 1/2

L 8 13 23 25 29

Pct .810 .690 .439 .405 .341

GB – 5 15 1/2 17 20

L 16

Pct .628

GB –

ALICE DRIVE 54

DALZELL — Thomas Sumter Academy improved to 2-1 in SCISA Region II-3A with a 49-46 victory over Calhoun Academy on Tuesday.

Tanner Brunson led the Generals, 5-9, with 27 points. Austin Hudson followed with 11.

LEE CENTRAL 50 BISHOPVILLE—Alice Drive Middle School defeated Lee Central 54-50 on Wednesday.

The Hawks were led by Kwaleek Jones’ 16 points and 14 rebounds.

Keonte Gregg had 15 points and six assists. Naqwan Mickens and Jackson Hoshour added six and five points respectively. AD will travel to Ebenezer on Monday.

Javonte McCloud led LCMS with 14 points. Deablo Halley added a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds.

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Toronto at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Oklahoma City at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.

Indiana at Miami, 7:30 p.m.

Charlotte at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.

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

Chicago at Dallas, 8 p.m.

New Orleans at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.

Houston at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

Boston at Denver, 9 p.m.

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

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER 52 HOLLY HILL 46

St. Francis Xavier High School improved to 5-3 in SCISA Region III-1A with a 52-46 victory over Holly Hill on Tuesday.

Jay McFadden led the 10-8 Padres with 19 points. Dalton Foreman added 18 and Justin Lyons had seven assists.

NFL PLAYOFFS PRO BOWL

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER Lyons 6, Foreman 18, McFadden 19, Rickabaugh 4, Harp 5.

Feb. 1 At Glendale, Ariz.

New England vs. Seattle, 6:30 p.m. (NBC)

CALHOUN 34

ATLANTIC DIVISION GP W Tampa Bay 48 30 Detroit 47 27 Montreal 45 29 Boston 47 25 Florida 44 20 Toronto 47 22 Ottawa 45 18 Buffalo 47 14 METROPOLITAN DIVISION GP W N.Y. Islanders 46 31 Pittsburgh 45 26 N.Y. Rangers 44 27 Washington 46 24 Philadelphia 48 19 Columbus 44 20 New Jersey 47 17 Carolina 46 16

L 14 11 13 16 14 22 18 30

OT 4 9 3 6 10 3 9 3

Pts 64 63 61 56 50 47 45 31

GF 156 139 123 124 107 139 122 89

GA 127 119 106 118 122 146 125 167

L 14 12 13 13 22 21 22 25

OT 1 7 4 9 7 3 8 5

Pts 63 59 58 57 45 43 42 37

GF 151 136 134 137 130 113 107 98

GA 129 114 106 120 146 138 134 120

OT 5 4 2 8 7 10 6

Pts 65 62 60 58 49 48 46

GF 137 148 145 131 144 122 128

GA 104 111 106 117 151 135 137

WESTERN CONFERENCE CENTRAL DIVISION Nashville St. Louis Chicago Winnipeg Dallas Colorado Minnesota PACIFIC DIVISION

GP 45 46 46 47 46 47 46

W 30 29 29 25 21 19 20

L 10 13 15 14 18 18 20

Edmonton 5, Washington 4, SO Detroit 5, Minnesota 4, SO N.Y. Rangers 3, Ottawa 2, OT Philadelphia 3, Pittsburgh 2, OT Montreal 2, Nashville 1, OT Tampa Bay 4, Vancouver 1 Chicago 6, Arizona 1 Boston 3, Dallas 1

DALZELL — Thomas Sumter Academy improved to 6-4 with a 41-34 victory over Calhoun Academy on Tuesday at Edens Gymnasium.

Ryan Dixon led TSA with 11 points and Zach Fugate had eight.

SUMTER CHRISTIAN 28 GRACE CHRISTIAN 14

DALZELL — Thomas Sumter Academy improved to 2-1 in SCISA Region II-3A with a 36-24 victory over Calhoun Academy on Tuesday at Edens Gymnasium.

Taylor Knudson led TSA with 17 points. Latrice Lyons added seven.

Savannah Barker led CA with 13.

CALHOUN Way 4, Conger 7, Barker 13.

THOMAS SUMTER Chappell 6, Knudson 17, Nevels 2, Morris 2, Hawkins 2, Lyons 7.

No games scheduled

CLEVELAND — LeBron James scored 26 points, Kevin

WH FROM PAGE B1 Owens.

Wilson Hall will also have a co-ed team competing in the

JUNIOR VARSITY BASKETBALL SUMTER CHRISTIAN 29 GRACE CHRISTIAN 14 Sumter Christian School improved to 5-3 with a 29-14 victory over Grace Christian on Tuesday at the SCS gymnasium.

Susanna Hutson led the Lady Bears with 19 points. Sarah Fraser had eight.

Love added 19 and the rejuvenated Cleveland Cavaliers won their fourth straight, 10692 over the Utah Jazz .

Shaking off a flu bug that forced him to miss practice Tuesday and also slowed Kyrie Irving, James added nine assists and seven rebounds.

Irving added 18 points and Timofey Mozgov 16 for Cleveland, beginning to find its stride following a stretch of injuries and two major trades.

J.R. Smith scored 15 as all five Cavs starters scored at least that many for the second straight game.

Enes Kanter scored 24 with 17 rebounds and Gordon Hayward scored 14 for Utah.

boys tournament. It had just two boys last year, but has four this season, including 2013 individual state champion Alex Price.

Price will be the fifth bowler

COLLEGE (15) NORTH CAROLINA 87 WAKE FOREST 71

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Kennedy Meeks scored 12 of his 16 points after halftime to help No. 15 North Carolina pull away and beat Wake Forest 87-71 on Wednesday night.

Brice Johnson had 19 points as the other half of a twoheaded inside attack that helped the Tar Heels (15-4, 5-1 ACC) score 50 points in the paint on the way to their fourth straight league win.

Freshman Justin Jackson added 17 points as the Tar Heels shot 60 percent for the game.

From wire reports

for WH. Callie Glaser will start off with Sean McAlister second and Carl Sneltz third.

Either Patricia DuBose or Brave Dumrongkiate will bowl fourth.

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JAZZ 92

TIMBERLAND 38 ST. STEPHEN — Lee Central High School picked up its first Region VII-2A victory (1-2) with a 42-38 win over Timberland on Tuesday at the Timberland gymnasium.

Alexus McMillian led the Lady Stallions with 12 points. Asia Wright had 10 and Shy Davis added eight.

Shaleah Belton grabbed 10 rebounds.

WE NOW HAVE TWO LOCATIONS:

Hornets beat Heat for 8th win in 9 games

CAVALIERS 106

LEE CENTRAL 42

TODAY’S GAMES

BASKETBALL ROUNDUP

CHARLOTTE — Kemba Walker scored 15 points, Bismack Biyombo had 12 points and 12 rebounds, and the surging Charlotte Hornets edged the Miami Heat 78-76 on Wednesday night.

Charlotte won for the eighth time in nine games despite going without a field goal in the final seven minutes.

Miami had a chance to win the game on its final possession, but Chris Bosh and Mario Chalmers missed 3-pointers.

Bosh and Dwyane Wade each had 17 points for Miami.

MANNING—Laurence Manning Academy improved to 6-1 on the season with a 45-14 victory over Wilson Hall on Wednesday at Bubba Davis Gymnasium.

Wyatt Rowland scored 14 points to lead LMA. Chase Lee added seven.

Seth Stamps and Luke DeCosta each had six points in the win. LMA will travel to Heathwood Hall today.

Wilson Hall was led by Grey Holler’s six points. The Barons, who fell to 6-6 on the year, will host Thomas Sumter Academy on Friday.

Knudson leads TSA past Calhoun Academy

GRACE CHRISTIAN 28 Sumter Christian improved to 4-1 in SCACS Coastal Region I with a 33-28 victory over Grace Christian on Tuesday at the SCS gymnasium.

Susanna Hutson led the 9-6 Lady Bears with 15 points. Dixie Jones added 10.

Toronto at Ottawa, 7 p.m.

Chicago at Pittsburgh, 8 p.m.

Columbus at Winnipeg, 9 p.m.

Boston at Colorado, 10 p.m.

Calgary at Anaheim, 10 p.m.

Los Angeles at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.

ORANGEBURG-WILKINSON 39 ORANGEBURG—Sumter High defeated Orangeburg Wilkinson 44-39 on Wednesday at the Bruins gymnasium.

Randall Wilson led Sumter with 10 points. Michael Soulberg and Jordan Gregg each had seven points.

SHS will host Orangeburg-Wilkinson on Monday.

GIRLS AREA ROUNDUP

SUMTER CHRISTIAN 33

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

SUMTER 44

WILSON HALL 15

THOMAS SUMTER 41

EASTERN CONFERENCE

B TEAM BASKETBALL

LAURENCE MANNING ACADEMY 45

JUNIOR VARSITY BASKETBALL

NHL STANDINGS

By The Associated Press

TUESDAY’S GAMES

L 14 24 26 33 36

CALHOUN 46

Wilson Hall lost to Augusta Christian School on Tuesday at Nash Student Center.

Grier Schwartz led the Barons with 12 points. John Ballard added 10.

EASTERN CONFERENCE W Toronto 27 Brooklyn 17 Boston 13 Philadelphia 8 New York 6 SOUTHEAST DIVISION W Atlanta 34 Washington 29 Miami 18 Charlotte 17 Orlando 15 CENTRAL DIVISION W Chicago 27

MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL

WILSON HALL 42

San Antonio at Chicago, 8 p.m.

Utah at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.

Boston at Portland, 10 p.m.

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

NBA STANDINGS

By The Associated Press ATLANTIC DIVISION

THOMAS SUMTER 49

AUGUSTA CHRISTIAN 69

GP W L OT Pts GF GA Anaheim 46 30 10 6 66 133 121 Vancouver 45 26 16 3 55 124 114 San Jose 47 24 17 6 54 127 130 Calgary 46 25 18 3 53 133 119 Los Angeles 46 20 14 12 52 127 122 Arizona 46 16 25 5 37 105 156 Edmonton 47 12 26 9 33 109 158 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss.

SATURDAY

Varsity Basketball St. Francis Xavier at Dorchester (Boys Only), 5 p.m.

Varsity Wrestling Sumter in Gamecock Duals, 9 a.m.

Sumter Christian School improved to 13-0 with a 28-14 victory over Grace Christian on Tuesday at the SCS gymnasium.

Lawrence Fraser led the Bears with 12 points. Grayson Dennis added nine.

TODAY’S GAMES

SUPER BOWL XLIX

TODAY

Varsity Basketball St. Francis Xavier at Clarendon Hall (Boys Only), 6 p.m.

Varsity and JV Basketball Florence Christian at Laurence Manning, 4 p.m.

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

Crestwood at Hartsville, 6 p.m.

Manning at Lakewood, 6 p.m.

Manning at Lakewood, 6 p.m.

B Team Basketball Laurence Manning at Heathwood Hall, 4 p.m.

Robert E. Lee at Carolina, 5 p.m.

Middle School Basketball Alice Drive at Lee Central, 5 p.m.

Furman at Bates, 5 p.m.

Mayewood at Chestnut Oaks, 5 p.m.

Ebenezer at Hillcrest, 5 p.m.

Scott’s Branch at C.E. Murray, 5:30 p.m.

Varsity Bowling Wilson Hall, Laurence Manning, Robert E. Lee in SCISA Team State Championship (at Royal Z Lanes in Columbia, 2:20 p.m.

Sumter Christian School’s varsity boys basketball team remained undefeated in SCACS Coastal Region I with a 62-46 victory over Grace Christian on Tuesday.

TJ Barron led the Bears, 13-2 and 5-0, with 21 points. Desmond Sigler added 14 and Grayson Dennis had 10.

THOMAS SUMTER Brunson 27, Hudson 11, Stengel 7, York 2, Decker 2.

Sunday At Glendale, Ariz.

Team Irvin vs. Team Carter, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

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SPORTS

THE SUMTER ITEM

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015

|

B3

PRO TENNIS

Nadal, Sharapova survive scares in 2nd round at Aussie Open

BY JOHN PYE The Associated Press MELBOURNE, Australia — Rafael Nadal dropped to his knees, clasping his hands tightly and appearing to be on the verge of tears as he celebrated a win at the Australian Open.

The 14-time Grand Slam champion has played some epic matches on Rod Laver Arena, including an almost six-hour final. This was a SHARAPOVA comeback second-round win over U.S. qualifier Tim Smyczek, a player ranked No. 112 who had never beaten a top 10 player.

But the 6-2, 3-6, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 7-5 win Wednesday was a breakthrough of sorts for the third-seeded Nadal, who came into the first major of the season after playing just four tournaments since Wimbledon due to a right wrist injury

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rafael Nadal makes a backhand return to Tim Smyczek during his 6-2, 3-6, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 7-5 second-round victory on Wednesday at the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia. and appendix surgery.

At the end of the third game of the third set, Nadal called for assistance and was given medication for stomach pain. At times in the match he was doubled over in pain, seemingly on the verge of sickness or exhaustion.

Patriots while Andrew Luck handled footballs brought by the Colts.

DEFLATE FROM PAGE B1 lose pressure.

THE REF RULES The referee is the sole judge of whether a ball is fit for play and marks each one approved for the game. The rule says the footballs “shall remain under the supervision of the Referee until they are delivered to the ball attendant just prior to the start of the game.’’ The referee for the game was Walt Anderson. A key question in the investigation is whether the balls improperly passed inspection or were either switched or tampered with after Anderson’s inspection. As the home team,

DUALS

Yet he pulled through, earning the only break of the fifth set in the 11th game and then serving it out — after wasting three match points — in 4 hours, 12 minutes.

Smyczek pushed Nadal to the limits, and played fair.

When a spectator screamed

the Patriots were responsible for having someone handle the footballs on each sideline.

BALL CONTROL Footballs are sent directly to teams. Equipment managers can brush them and even use a damp towel to rub off the oil used to preserve the leather to the preferences of each quarterback. The quarterbacks can even practice with the footballs during a game week as long as the footballs remain in good enough condition to pass the referee’s inspection as a new ball. Each team brings at least 12 balls each, so Tom Brady threw footballs provided by the

POTENTIAL PUNISHMENT If the NFL finds anyone with the Patriots underinflated the footballs, Commissioner Roger Goodell has wide latitude for punishment. This includes a fine that can be as low as $25,000 for anyone deemed responsible for tampering with a football, even if it’s the head coach. Goodell could strip the team of draft picks, suspend people for “unfair acts,’’ and reverse a game’s result or reschedule a game.

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forced errors as she went for the lines, but kept swinging hard and saved some of her best ground strokes for when she needed them.

“I’m just happy to get through — I was one point away twice today from being out of the tournament,’’ said Sharapova, who started the season by winning the Brisbane International title. “I was not playing my best tennis today. I think she played a pretty inspired match.’’

The only Grand Slam champion remaining in her half of the draw, Sharapova next plays No. 31 Zarina Diyas.

French Open finalist and third-seeded Simona Halep beat Jarmila Gajdsova 6-2, 6-2.

No. 7 Eugenie Bouchard, who reached the semifinals or better at three of the four majors in 2014, needed just 54 minutes to beat Kiki Bertens 6-0, 6-3. Also advancing were No. 10 Ekaterina Makarova, No. 21 Peng Shuai and No. 22 Karolina Pliskova.

and the Patriots $250,000 along with stripping the team of a first-round draft pick in 2007 for having an assistant spy on the New York Jets’ defensive signals by using a sideline camera.

to be simpler to have one set of balls, which was the case for many years,’’ Rooney said.

“The officials brought the balls out and everybody used the same ball, and it seems like that would be an easy answer to this.’’

FURTHER REVIEW Steelers president Art Rooney II said Wednesday he expects the competition committee to study whether the rule should change, but he thinks everyone should use the same balls. “It would seem

ODDS FOR PUNISHMENT One bookmaker — Bovada. lv — posted odds of 3-2 that Belichick could be suspended at least one game, and 15-2 that he could be suspended for the Super Bowl.

BARGAINS

PREVIOUS OFFENSE Goodell fined New England coach Bill Belichick $500,000

USC FROM PAGE B1

FROM PAGE B1 Newman.

The teams will be re-seeded based on their pool performances. The third- and fourthplace teams will begin wrestling at 9 a.m. on Saturday with the first- and secondplace squads set to go off around 1 p.m. The championship match is scheduled to begin at 5.

The Gamecocks will send four wrestlers to the mats who are ranked in the top eight in the state in 4A. Trevor Keffer is No. 6 at 126 pounds, while Mac Mota and Donovan Jones are both ranked at 152. Mota is second and Jones is eighth. David Pringle is third at 220.

Admission is $6 per day.

out as Nadal tossed the ball for his serve at 30-0 in the last game, the American insisted Nadal replay the serve.

“Very tough night for me.

Just first of all I want to congratulate Tim — he’s a real gentleman,’’ Nadal said.

“What he did in the last game is ... not a lot of people will do something like this at 6-5 in the fifth set.’’

The highly-ranked seeds didn’t get it entirely their way on day three.

No. 2-ranked Maria Sharapova saved two match points before escaping with a 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 second-round win over fellow Russian Alexandra Panova, a qualifier ranked No. 150.

Roger Federer dropped the first set and needed medical advice on his sore right pinkie finger — scolding a camera operator by saying “Do you have to be that close?’’ — before beating Simone Bolelli 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to reach the third round.

Sharapova made 51 un-

“I thought that our team was fortunate to make about one more play than they did and get out of the gym alive,’’ Tennessee coach Donnie Tyndall said.

South Carolina had a chance to tie, trailing 65-62, but Justin McKie’s 3-pointer rolled around the rim and out with 14 seconds left.

Reese followed with his free throw to close out the win.

Tennessee won its thirdstraight SEC road game to start a season for the first time since 2009.

Sindarius Thornwell had 17 points for South Carolina, which has not beaten Tennessee since 2007.

The Vols hit 10 3-pointers, finishing with a season’s best shooting percentage of 57.5 (23 of 40).

Punter and Richardson combined to go 9 of 11 from

the field with each hitting two 3-pointers.

It almost didn’t matter with South Carolina’s late rally, which took flight when McKie and Thornwell hit consecutive 3-pointers to shrink the double-digit lead to 62-55.

Thornwell was fouled on a 3 and made all the foul shots to draw closer before Michael Carrera made two foul shots and then a basket to make it 64-62 with 32.9 seconds remaining.

The Gamecocks had high hopes entering the SEC, but have started 1-4 or worse in league play each of head coach Frank Martin’s three seasons.

“Right now, we’re a bunch of guys driving our own cars in different lanes, and unless we try and get back in that van we were all in together, we’re not going to beat the teams we have to play,’’ Martin said.

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B4

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015

ALICE B. SHORTER

LEVAN HILTON

COLUMBIA — Alice Bethune Shorter, the first deputy director of the S.C. State Ethics Commission, which was created in 1976, died on Monday, Jan. 19, 2015.

Mrs. Shorter, wife of Furman Levan Shorter, was born in Manning, a daughter SHORTER of the late John Franklin Bethune and Ruth Gertrude Winter Mills Bethune. She received a bachelor’s degree from University of South Carolina and was seeking a master’s degree in international business at USC at the time of her death.

She is survived by her husband of 63 years; son and daughter-in-law, Furman Terrell and JoAnn Hawkins Shorter of Lexington; son, Mark Dwayne Shorter of Columbia; grandchildren, Mallory Grace Shorter and Charles Wesley Shorter of Lexington; sister, Viola Bethune Harley of Summerville; sister-in-law, Dorothy Smith Bethune of Orangeburg; as well as nine nieces and seven nephews.

She was a dedicated member of North Trenholm Baptist Church; a former Sunday school teacher; president of the Azalea Garden Club; was voted one of Columbia’s Top 20 Best-dressed Career Women; received the National 4-H Club Congress No. 1 Dress Review Award in Chicago; a member of the S.C. Council of Garden Clubs; and the Woodlake Home and Garden Club. She was also a member of the National Council of Governmental Ethics Laws; International Personnel Association; American Management Association; S.C. Association of Finance Officials; S.C. Association of Purchasing Officials; S.C. Human Resource Management; and Summit Security Commission.

Funeral service will be held at noon on Friday at North Trenholm Baptist Church with interment in Fort Jackson National Cemetery, 4170 Percival Road, Columbia, SC 29229.

The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Bill Donahue Sunday School Class.

Memorials may be made to North Trenholm Baptist Church Building Fund, 6515 N. Trenholm Road, Columbia, SC 29206.

Please sign the online guest book at http://www.kornegayandmoseley.com/.

MANNING — Levan Hilton, 93, widower of Chinese Wells Hilton, died on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015, at Clarendon Memorial Hospital, Manning.

He was born on Sept. 29, 1912, in Manning, a son of the late Joe and Margaret Stukes Hilton. He HILTON received his formal education in the public schools of Clarendon County.

He was a carpenter and a successful farmer. In his youth, he joined Mt. Calvary Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas, where he served on the trustee board and deacon board.

Survivors are four daughters, Juanita (Willie) McFadden, Lillie M. (Floyd Sr.) Blackwell, Johanna (Maceo) Pack and Mahalia (Richard) Taylor, all of Manning; three sons, Johnnie (Dorthina) Hilton and James (Roberta) Hilton, both of Manning, and Will Earl (Mable) Hilton of Orangeburg; an adopted son, the Rev. Curtis (Jackie) Cantey of Manning; two daughters-in-law, Essie Hilton and Barbaretta Hilton of Manning; one brother-in-law, the Rev. Cecil (Sallie) Hilton of Manning; three additional sisters-in-law, Mamie Hilton and Celestine Martin, both of Manning, and Hattie Hilton of Akron, Ohio; 30 grandchildren; 58 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren.

Celebratory services for Mr. Hilton will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday at Mt. Zero Missionary Baptist Church, 7827 Paxville Highway, Manning, with the Rev. Dr. Lucious Dixon, pastor, the Rev. Wayne Blackwell, eulogist, the Rev. Dr. Cornelius Alexander, presiding, and the Rev. Major Lloyd, the Rev. Dennis Jeffcoat and the Rev. Lillian Wright assisting. Burial will follow in the churchyard cemetery.

Mr. Hilton will lie in repose one hour prior to funeral time.

The family is receiving friends at the home of his sonin-law and daughter, Deacon Maceo and Johanna Pack, 1183 Acorn Lane, Manning.

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

CARLA JO TURNER VERO BEACH, Florida — Carla Jo Turner, 47, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015, in Vero Beach.

Ms. Turner was born in Tucson, Arizona, a daughter of Shannon Rotha Turner and Joe Turner.

She is survived by her longtime TURNER companion and the love of her life, Brenden Booth; mother, Shannon Rotha Turner of Sumter; her father, Joe (Cathy) Turner of Florence; her children, T.J. Turner and Angel Wicher, both of Sevierville, Tennessee; and her grandchildren, Taylor Marie Turner and Landon Turner, and their mother, Lisa Karto. She is also survived by many dear friends, including her lifelong dear friend, Crystal Pope.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Steven Joe Turner; her paternal grandparents, Otis and Ruby Turner; and her maternal grandparents, Nathan and Lorene Floyd.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Mt. Zion Baptist Church.

Burial will follow at Mount Zion Baptist Church Cemetery, directed by Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home.

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

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Please sign the tribute wall for Ms. Turner at the obit section of www.stoudenmiredowling.com.

WAYNE MITCHUM Wayne Mitchum, 69, husband of Susan E. Mitchum, died on Monday, Jan. 19, 2015, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born in Sumter, he was a son of the late Ernest and Fannie James Mitchum. He was a member of Providence Baptist Church, where he served as the worship leader.

Wayne was an accomplished musician and guitar player and was the co-founder of the group Chapter 2. He was also the emcee at the Gospel Music Barn on Thursday nights. He was a master cabinet and furniture maker as well as a master carpenter.

Survivors include his wife; three children, Lisa Noel Marshel (Chris) of Las Vegas, Nevada, Eric Mitchum of Sumter and Wesley Pellerin (Sarah) of Cayce; and two grandchildren, Zachery Marshel and Sybil Pellerin.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Providence Baptist Church with the Rev. Graham Bochman, Pastor Wayne McElveen and the Rev. Dearld Sterling officiating.

The family will receive friends from noon to 1 p.m. on Saturday at Providence Baptist Church and other times at the home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 950 48th Ave. North, Suite 101, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 or to the Providence Baptist Church Building Fund, 2445 Old Manning Road, Sumter, SC 29150.

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

ALINE WRIGHT BISHOPVILLE — It is with sorrow that the passing of Aline Wright, 89, is announced. She passed away on Jan. 17, 2015, at her home.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. today at the Living Church in McBee. Interment

OBITUARIES will follow in Pine Forest Cemetery.

Online condolences can be sent to www.newlifefuneralservices.com.

Services entrusted to New Life Funeral Services of Bishopville.

HEYWARD A. HOLLIDAY Heyward Alvin Holliday, 74, husband of Mavis Haley Holliday, died on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015, in Sumter.

Services will be announced

by Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church St., Manning, (803) 435-2179. www. stephensfuneralhome.org

BENJAMIN F. HICKMON WASHINGTON, D.C. — Benjamin Frank Hickmon entered eternal rest on Monday, Jan. 19, 2015, at his residence.

Born in Sumter County, he was a son of the late Benjamin and Vermell Brunson Hickmon.

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

REBECCA M. DUNCAN Rebecca Mary Duncan, 60, departed this life on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

She was born on Dec. 27, 1954, in Wedgefield, a daughter of Hattie Mae Washington Duncan and the late Henry Duncan Jr. The family will be receiving friends at 6680 Racking Lane, Wedgefield, SC 29168.

Funeral plans are incomplete and will be announced later by Job’s Mortuary Inc. of Sumter.

JOHN V. MOORE Deacon John Vincent Moore was born on Sept. 12, 1932, in Williamsburg County, a son of the late John Wesley and Leila Jane Williams Moore. He died on Jan. 18, 2015.

John was reared in a loving home and was taught to love God, work hard and to serve others. He received his early education in the public schools of Williamsburg County. John entered military service with the United States Army in 1951, serving valiantly in Korea and Germany. Following his military service, John returned to Williamsburg County and later moved to Sumter. John was a hardworking man. He was employed by Santee Print Works and later by Exide Battery. In 1967, John completed a degree in industrial electronics at Sumter Area Technical College. He then became employed by General Telephone (Verizon).

John enjoyed his work with General Telephone and was a very active leader with the employee union, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. John was a leader and used his skills to advocate for many co-workers through IBEW. Following his retirement from General Telephone, John decided to return to work as a supervisor with FKW Communications at Shaw Air Force Base.

John loved to serve his community. He worked diligently with Sumter County National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and served as chairman of Sumter County Democratic Party. John also worked with Turkey Creek Neighborhood Association and Sumter Sheriff ’s Community Policing endeavor.

John loved the Lord and, at an early age, he accepted

THE SUMTER ITEM Christ as his personal Lord and savior. During his adult life, John was a dedicated member of Mulberry Missionary Baptist Church, where he served for many years as a deacon, a Sunday school teacher and on many committees throughout the years.

John was a kind and generous man who truly never met a stranger. He loved his family and friends and did not mind going the extra mile to help others. Those who knew him best can attest that he loved to laugh and to make others laugh. He had many stories to tell. John made it his business to encourage others, especially encouraging people to excel in life.

Fond and loving memories will be cherished by his wife of 56 years, Mary Lee Pringle Moore; three daughters, Sandra Moore Williams of Sumter, Grace Moore Covington of Charlotte and Stephanie Moore (Gerry) Wardlaw of Harrisburg, North Carolina; two granddaughters, Jessica Marie Canty of Sumter and Jennifer Marie (David) Rivers of Colorado Springs, Colorado; two great-grandchildren, David Jamel Rivers and Janelle Candice Rivers; a beloved niece, Patricia Clinton of Washington, D.C.; a brother-in-law, Reuben (Millicent) Pringle; four sisters-in-law, Martha Ann (Levester) Wilson, Ruby Pringle, Rosa Lee Pringle and Martha Pringle; a dedicated friend, Walter “Sonny” Newman; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by a brother, Albertus Moore.

Public viewing will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. today at Job’s Mortuary.

Deacon Moore will be placed in the church at 10 a.m. on Friday for viewing until the hour of service.

Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at Mulberry Missionary Baptist Church, 1400 Mulberry Church Road, Sumter, with Pastor Nate Brock officiating.

Interment will follow in Mulberry Baptist Church cemetery.

The family will be receiving friends at the home, 102 E. Patricia Drive, Sumter.

Job’s Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., Sumter, is in charge of arrangements.

Online memorials may be sent to the family at jobsmortuary@sc.rr.com, or visit us on the web at www.jobsmortuary. net.

AUDREY M. JAMES Audrey Mitchell James, age 77, widow of Henry L. James, entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015, at Tuomey Medical Regional Center.

Born on Sept. 23, 1937, in Clarendon County, she was a daughter of the late George and Virginia Mitchell.

The family will receive friends at the home, 1933 White & Rivers Road, Rimini community, Pinewood.

Professional services entrusted to Dyson’s Home for Funerals, 237 Main St., Summerton.

EASTER G. LADSON Easter Green Ladson, widow of Frank Ladson, was born on Oct. 16, 1936, in Clarendon County, a daughter of the late Lewis Sr. and Ruby Oliver Green. She departed this life on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015, at her home.

Mrs. Easter joined Orange Hill RUME Church in Wedgefield at an early age.

She later joined Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church, where she faithfully attended until her departure. She attended the public schools of Sumter County. She was employed as a domestic worker for many years until her health failed. Mrs. Easter was a loving mother, sister, grandmother and aunt.

Mrs. Easter was a wonderful person who touched the lives of all who came in contact with her. She always had a smile on her face and would do anything for anyone. She took time to listen to the problems of others and give her godly advice, even if they did not want to hear it.

Mrs. Easter leaves to cherish her precious memories: her three children, Julius (Wilgina) Rembert, Frances (Roosevelt) Moses and Samuel Rembert, all of Sumter; one foster son, Willie “JR” Galloway of Sumter; 13 grandchildren, Leroy, Julius, Jerome, Kewvan, Antonio, Tywvan, Quandra, Brandon, Samuel and Kayla, all of Sumter, Natasha of Greenville, Barbarajean of Columbia and Patrick of North Carolina; 34 great-grandchildren; one sister, Louise (Edward) Choice; one special nephew, Lewis Green of Sumter; one special niece, Maggie McQuilla of Sumter; one brother-inlaw, Leroy (Rosa Lee) Ladson of New York; two sisters-inlaw, Elder Everlyn Haynes and Minister Thelma Lawrence of Philadelphia; two loving friends, Naomi McFadden and Essie Brunson; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Easter Mae Ladson; two granddaughters, Yolanda Holliday and Casondra Cowell; one grandson, Quincey Moses; and one sister, Dorothy Scriven.

Public viewing will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. on Friday at Job’s Mortuary.

Mrs. Ladson will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. on Saturday for viewing until the hour of service.

Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church, 803 S. Harvin St., Sumter, with the pastor, the Rev. Marion H. Newton, officiating.

Interment will follow in Walker Cemetery.

The family will be receiving friends at the home, 525 E. Calhoun St., Sumter Apartment No. 81 (Friendship Apartments).

Job’s Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., Sumter, is in charge of arrangements.

Online memorials may be sent to the family at jobsmortuary@sc.rr.com or visit us on the web at www.jobsmortuary. net.

EDDIE LEE GLOVER Eddie Lee Glover, 53, died on Friday, Jan. 16, 2015, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Born on Aug. 24, 1961, in Sumter County, he was a son of Eddie Sr. and Julia Mae Green Glover.

The family is receiving friends and relatives at the home of Thomas and Catherine Council, 1152 Hezekiah Road, Eastover.

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

COMICS

THE SUMTER ITEM

BIZARRO

SOUP TO NUTZ

ANDY CAPP

GARFIELD

BEETLE BAILEY

BORN LOSER

BLONDIE

ZITS

MOTHER GOOSE

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B5

DOG EAT DOUG

DILBERT

JEFF MACNELLY’S SHOE

Readers share reasons for choosing cremation DEAR ABBY — I just finished the letter from “Plotting and Planning in Arizona” (Oct. 5), regarding why Dear Abby cremation is so popular.

ABIGAIL There are VAN BUREN also other reasons.

My father, a WWII veteran, had planned to be buried in a national veterans’ cemetery.

After his death we were informed that the only option currently available was interment in the veterans’ wall of honor columbarium, because the cemetery had run out of space for traditional burials.

Proud daughter of WWII Vet

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015

DEAR PROUD DAUGHTER — “Plotting and Planning” guessed one reason was cost, while another might be that we live in a more mobile society. Readers agreed, but offered input: DEAR ABBY — Several people I know prefer cremation because they are claustrophobic.

Even the thought of being shut up in a casket gives them the heebie-jeebies.

David in East Moline, Ill. DEAR ABBY — Rather than be buried in a cemetery ($$$) or be cremated (my kids objected), I’m donating my body to medical science. I have degenerative arthritis, asthma and other minor conditions. Perhaps by doing this, I can help one of my own or someone else, contribute to medical sci-

THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ence and prolong a few lives.

Carol in Long Beach, Calif.

DEAR ABBY — A few reasons why I have requested cremation: First, due to modern technology, it is now possible to take a portion of one’s cremains and turn them into diamondlike gems, one of which I’d like to leave to my dear mother-in-law to be.

Second, because of the proliferation of fine mini-urns — which may be used as jewelry — I intend to have a portion of my ashes distributed to a few of the women who have touched my life in various ways over the years. I feel it is not only my right but also my duty to avoid saddling others with the exorbitant costs of today’s funeral extravaganzas.

Kiffin, the Pragmatist

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 Modern “Keep in touch!”

7 Ann’s sister 11 Extras may comprise one 14 Tennis star Gibson 15 The real thing, so to speak 17 Riddles 18 Regretting a wild night, maybe 19 *Beginning 21 Field of study 24 “We __ Family”: 1979 hit 25 Tamper 26 *They carry remainders 31 Org. where weight matters 32 Without __: riskily 33 On a streak 36 Capp and Capone 37 Syr. neighbor 38 Jueves, por ejemplo 39 Natural resource 40 Tease 42 Vibrater in a wind 43 Like Gen. Powell 44 *Bike safety device 47 __ Men: “Who Let the Dogs

Out” band 49 Edible Asian shoot 50 Greek mount 51 *The rest 56 Burns poem that starts, “Wee, sleekit, cow’rin, tim’rous beastie” 57 Time of your life 61 Marching band instrument 62 Mill around 63 Passing stat.

64 Egyptian symbols of royalty 65 Both words in each answer to a starred clue begin and end with the same one DOWN 1 Keep time, in a way 2 Symphonic rock gp.

3 Cadillac sedan 4 Store to “fall into,” in old ads 5 Scant 6 First word of the chorus of “The Sidewalks of New York” 7 Parched 8 Dark-haired

guy 9 Cask stopper 10 Safecracker 11 Some Cannes films 12 They have hoods and racks 13 Cold-water hazards 16 Was impending 20 Perp subduer 21 Egyptian dam 22 100 kopecks 23 Parts opposite points 27 First name in women’s boxing 28 Racing family name 29 Bay window 30 Aptly named novelist 34 Easily crumbled cookies

35 Betta tankmate 38 “Colonel Jack” novelist 41 “Oh, my!”

42 Uses, as credit card rewards 45 Amasses 46 Work on together, in a way 47 LPGA great Rawls 48 Stay clear of 52 “The boy you trained, gone he is” speaker 53 Sharing word 54 Relax 55 Blackthorn fruit 58 QB’s stat 59 Turn right 60 Go wrong

B6

CLASSIFIEDS

THE ITEM

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 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

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.

4 PIECE PLACEMAT SETS Sale $3.00 per set Reg. $5.00

29 Progress St. - Sumter 775-8366 Ext. 37 Store Hours Mon. - Sat. • 9:30 - 5:00 Closed Sunday

LEGAL NOTICES

TABLE RUNNERS Sale $2.00 each Reg. $4.00

SELECTED ROUND COTTON BRAIDED AREA RUGS 1/2 OFF Regular Price

MERCHANDISE Garage, Yard & Estate Sales

Sumter School District IFB#15-0001 Maintenance/Custodial Uniforms Sumter School District is seeking qualified vendors to submit sealed bids for maintenance and custodial staff uniforms. The specifications and other pertinent information can be found on the District's website district.sumterschools.net Departments/Procurement Services.

You may also pick up specifications from Sumter School District Maintenance Department, 1345 Wilson Hall Road, Sumter, SC 29150.

The sealed bids will be opened on Thursday, January 29, 2015 at 2:00 P.M. in the Maintenance Department.

Happy Ads

LARGE GARAGE SALE 1st & 3rd Weekend Tables $2 FLEA MARKET BY SHAW AFB

Open every weekend.

905-4242 Large Yard Sale at St. Anne's Catholic Church Hall Sat 7-11 AM

For Sale or Trade

George Andrew (Andy) Johnson Oct. 8, 1957 - Jan. 22, 2014 We can't believe it's been a year since you heroically left us. Not a day goes by that we don't talk about you, we have memories for a lifetime.

We will always love you and miss you dearly.

Your Wife: Carolyn, Daughters: Andrea and Kendra, and Granddaughter: Kaylen

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

Massey Ferguson 35 gas, very nice, $3750. OBO Cash only. Call 803-972-0900 Closing Business Sale, several desk like new, lanier copy mach., fax, chairs, sm fridge., drink mach.

(12oz cns., 8 flav.) Will sell individually or as a group. Call 803-499-4207 or 803-840-7556.

Thermador Double Oven Model cmt231 , gas cook top used like new $1650. 803-968-2392 Firewood for Sale Will Deliver. Call 803 651-8672

Happy Birthday Dericia Dejnay Farmer "Dee Dee" 13 years old. We love you. Mother, Julese Farmer, Brothers & Sisters

Card of Thanks

Lifestyles Lawn Service New Year Clean-up Specials!

Mil.-Sen. Disc.! Erik 968-8655

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

Virgil Bickley 803-316-4734.

Septic Tank Cleaning

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 Help Wanted Full-Time Assistant Manager needed by the Sumter Branch of World Acceptance Corp. Valid Drivers License and Auto required. This is a Manager's Trainee position and a career opportunity that offers excellent salary and a complete fringe benefits package. Promotion to Manager is possible within 15 months. No experience necessary.

Apply in person at People's Finance 730-B Broad St. Sumter.

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.

Septic tank pumping & services. Call Ray Tobias & Company (803) 340-1155.

Deaconess Wessie W. Johnson Words cannot express the gratitude of all the prays, calls, visits, and words of comfort given during our time of need. May God continue to bless and keep everyone of you in his care.

Sincerely, The Johnson, Sharper, and Wright Family

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.

call us TODAY

Experienced Diesel Technician Needed. Immediate opening for experienced Diesel/truck Technician for a locally based truck fleet.

Duties include trouble shooting, general repair and PM Service.

Experience with CAT, Cummins and Detroit along with hydraulic systems a plus. Benefit package includes: medical, dental, prescription plan and life insurance. Paid holidays, paid vacation, 401K, profit sharing and uniforms supplied. Must have tools and pass pre employment physical and have a valid driver's license. Salary will be commensurate with experience. Apply at FCI 132 Myrtle Beach Hwy, Sumter, SC 29153 or e-mail resume to tkrigbaum@freeholdcartage.com or call 803-773-2611 ext. 25 for Todd

Metal roofer installers & sheet metal mechanics. Must have own transportation. Only exp. need to apply. Call 968-2459 before 5 pm!!!

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

PT LPN (Sat night only) To work in the Sumter-Lee Regional Jail Medical Units. Competitive pay.

All Applicants are subject to Drug Screening and the Issuance of Security Clearance by the Facility in Which work is to be performed.

Apply online at: www.southernhealth partners.com

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

ASSORTED SHOWER CURTAINS $10.00 each LIGHT WEIGHT BATH TOWELS $2.00 each SELECTED HAND TOWELS 3 for $1.00

REAL ESTATE Homes for Sale 2 Br, 2Ba New windows, new wiring and fuse box, well insulted, gas furnace, c/a, fire place, tax appr. $46000 sell $29000.

Call 803-883-2877

Manufactured Housing Turn your Tax Refund into your dream home! Low credit score?

Been turned down for bad credit?

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

Commercial Industrial Restaurant for lease. 50 seat dinning room, complete commercial kitchen, Call 803-972-7188

TRANSPORTATION

Autos For Sale 150 Milton, Must Sell, 2 Br, lg. corner lot, great shape. Financing avail. Call 803-775-4391 or 464-5960

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

RENTALS Unfurnished Apartments

3600 Dallas St. Dalzell Must Sell 3 Br 2 Ba lg. lot, lg. shop Financing avail. Call 803-775-4391 or 464-5960

Swan Lake Apts. Apply now.

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

No section 8. 803-775-4641.

2BR/2BA, Close to Sumter Mall. All appl incl., W/D hookup. $625/mo + dep. (803) 491-5618. Avail now.

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

6 Middle St. Must Sell 3/4 Br. 2 Ba New construction Financing avail.

Call 775-4391 or 464-5960

Manufactured Housing For Sale Nice 4Br 2Ba DW w/ lg. lot 803-983-0408

2010 Chevy 2500 HD Z71, crew cab, excellent condition, 60,000 miles, $25,500 2002 Isuzu Axiom SUV, clean, fully loaded, 171,230 miles, $4000 Call 803-469-4442 or 803-905-7760

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Must see! Large family friendly waterfront home in Deerfield,4BR 2.5BA Lg Rec room $1800 Mo +Dep Call 803-468-4659 or 469-0555 2 - 3Bd 2Ba Brick Homes for rent good subdivisions $1350 $1250 mo.+dep. Call 803-469-8147

2BR/2BA, Lrg private lot, fenced yard (Dalzell). $550/mo + $550 /dep. 803-499-1265, 468-1913

Mobile Home Rentals

STATEBURG COURTYARD 2 & 3 BRs 803-494-4015 3BR 1 1/2BA MH partially furnished on N. Brewington in Clarendon Co. Call 803-473-3100 or 803-410-1241.

Oaklawn MHP: 2 BR M.H.'s, water /sewer/garbage pk-up incl'd. RV parking avail. Call 803-494-8350

2BR 1 BA MH partially furnished on N. Brewington in Clarendon Co. Call 803-473-3100 or 803-410-1241.

2, 3 & 4 Br, all appliances, Section 8 accepted. 469-6978 or 499-1500

CLASSIFIED ADS

NEW ARRIVALS

Medical Help Wanted

6 x10 -6x12-6x16 Utility Trailers for sale 803-972-0900

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

Free est. 494-9169/468-4008

SAVE! SAVE! SAVE! Low Low Prices Trucking Opportunities

Card of Thanks

Bid Notices

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Shop with us and Save on all of Your Household Needs . . .

Beautiful 3 bedroom/1 bathroom mobile home for rent. Only $599.00 per month.Located in Sumter, SC. Available for immediate occupancy, act now this home won't last! Call 803-469-8515 for additional details.

MAYO’S SUIT CITY

I’ve never seen so many cars and people!

What do you think is going on over there?

Well, I was told she’s having one of those ‘Garage Sales.’

Can you imagine?!

Minnie told me she made over $100 last time she had one... Just by placing a Classified Ad in

Do you think we should have one and place an ad?

It sure would help with Spring Cleaning!

20 N. Magnolia St. Sumter, SC 803.774.1234 www.theitem.com

TUXEDOS AVAILABLE for rental or purchase

Winter Clearance Sale IN PROGRESS NOW!

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

Wesmark Plaza • 773-2262 • Mon-Sat 10-7 • www.MayosDiscountSuits.com