January 28, 2015

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Abandoned houses on chopping block

BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Sumter City Council approved first reading of changes to the property maintenance code aimed at reducing the number of abandoned and vacant houses during a special meeting Tuesday.

The changes would require owners of abandoned, vacant and foreclosed real property to register with

the city. It also offers clarifications for garbage pick up and the demolition of vacant houses.

The proposed ordiMCELVEEN nance describes vacant real property as property that is intended for habitation but has not been lawfully inhabited for 60 days, has no evidence of utility usage within the last 60 days, is

Unemployment inches down in December

partially constructed without a valid building permit and buildings containing multiple units with common ownership with at least one occupied unit.

The ordinance would consider those properties “vacant” even if the owner intends to lease the property at a future date.

Any vacant property within the city must be registered and any property that has a violation within the maintenance code is subject

to penalty. Property owned by active duty military members who do not reside at the property because of service do not have to register their property with the city or pay a fee.

“There are going to be some tough decisions on this, but I hope we’ll hang tough and do the things that we’re going to have to do to take us

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Mall celebrates Sumter history, tradition

BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com Numbers released by the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce show the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped from 6.7 percent in November to 6.5 in December. The department said 7,243 more people were working in the state, while the number of unemployed dropped by 2,784.

In the Sumter Metropolitan Statistical Area the estimated number of people employed increased by 100 during the past month, and by 800 during the past year. Numbers for Sumter County show the unadjusted unemployment rate falling from 7.0 to 6.8 percent, with 175 more people listed as employed. The number of people listed as unemployed dropped from 3,075 to 2,991, a decrease of 84.

The statewide numbers for the past year, however, show only a very slight 0.1 percent drop in the unemployment rate. According to SCDEW, the statewide number of unemployed has increased since December 2013 from 142,337 to 143,360, while the number listed as employed has increased from 2,025,887 to 2,058,657.

Nationally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated the seasonably adjusted unemployment rate in December at 5.6 percent. Since December 2013, the bureau reports the unemployment rate in the South Atlantic Region (Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia) has dropped from 6.4 to 5.8 percent. In the region, only Georgia (6.9 percent) and the District of Columbia (7.3 percent) had a higher unemployment rate in December than South Carolina, while Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia were at 5.5 percent or less.

State Rep. David Weeks, D-Sumter, said the numbers were reassuring, but the state still has work to do.

“It’s a nice drop,” he said. “Any time you get a drop in the numbers, that’s encouraging.”

Weeks said the numbers partly reflect what is happening nationally.

“National unemployment is also going down,” he said. “We don’t exist in a vacuum here.”

Mary-Katheryn Craft, a spokeswoman for SCDEW, said while the numbers in South Carolina are going down, they may not track the drop in unemployment seen nationally.

“We have seen from November to December more people employed and more people looking for work, so those are good signs in South Carolina,” she said.

Kaglic agreed the unemployment rate in South Carolina hasn’t fallen as dramatically as in other states because there are more people entering the labor force.

KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM

Bobbie King, back, and Renee Franklin walk past one of the new displays at Sumter Mall that tell about the history, amenities and events in the area. Photographs used in the display were given by Sammy Way, The Sumter Item and other Sumter organizations.

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Lee shelter carries on after changes in leadership

BY MATT BRUCE matthew@theitem.com Willow emerged from her cage Saturday with a buoyant zeal, eagerly licking the faces of those who’ve served as her surrogate owners the past three years.

The brown-and-pepper-speckled pit bull is the longest-tenured resident at the Lee County Animal Shelter, a place to which she literally came on her last legs in December 2011. That’s when animal control officers in Bishopville found Willow in a ditch paralyzed with both her legs broken after possibly being struck by a car. It was volunteers and staffers at the shelter who nursed the pooch back to health, even when doctors said she’d never walk again.

During her stay, employees there affectionately came to regard Willow as a mascot of sorts. She still has a noticeable hitch in her gait from the injuries to her legs. But she is expected to be leaving the kennel for good Friday and heading to an animal rescue sanctuary in Pennsylvania that is poised to find her an adoptive family.

“She’s finally going to get her a home,” said Cherlyn Arrant, president of B.A.R.K., a non-profit Bish-

CONTACT US Information: 774-1200 Advertising: 774-1237 Classifieds: 774-1234 Delivery: 774-1258 News and Sports: 774-1226

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Willow, a pit bull between 6 and 8 years old, gets affection from B.A.R.K. president Cherlyn Arrant, left, as Sara Silfies, a helper at the Lee County Animal Shelter, looks on. Willow, who has resided at the shelter since December 2011, had a farewell party Saturday and will be heading to a rescue haven in Pennsylvania on Friday. opville organization that raises funds to support the Lee County animal shelter.

The effort to find Willow a home reflects the shelter’s heightened commitment to the neglected, abused and abandoned pets it serves. The philosophy is one that

DEATHS, B4 Sanford H. Weaver Sr. Iola May R. Huffine Fernando L. Stewart Jesse J. Welch Jr. Jeroman B. Farmer

Jacqueline W. Smith Marie Isaac Martha S. Willis Brittany Barber

began under its former director and continues to endure despite a recent round of upheaval at the refuge for dogs and cats.

Among those changes was the suspension and subsequent resignation

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

THE SUMTER ITEM

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

State’s DUI regulations mean less road funding for Sumter

BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com The Federal Highway Administration has reduced funding for South Carolina Department of Transportation and, subsequently, the Guideshare Funds in the Sumter region because of state DUI regulations.

Guideshare Funds, which are used for road improvements in the Sumter area, are allocated by S.C. DOT. S.C. DOT lost approximately $3.2 million in federal funding this year because state law for repeat DUI offenders does not meet the mandatory requirements of the federal government.

According to federal regulations, states must either impose mandatory license suspension for repeat DUI offenders or, in some circumstances, require that repeat offenders only operate vehicles installed with ignition interlock devices, without exception. S.C. legislation allows a repeat offender with an ignition interlock restricted license to operate a

vehicle without the device if the vehicle is owned by his or her employer.

An ignition interlock device is similar to a Breathalyzer that has been connected to a vehicle. If the driver’s breath sample contains a higher blood alcohol concentration than the concentration programmed in the device, the engine of the vehicle will not start.

That exception, along with other federal regulations, is the reason behind the 2.5 percent cut in the state’s transportation funds.

The Sumter Urban Area Transportation Study Metropolitan Planning Organization funds have been reduced by $58,814 to $2.48 million.

The final two penny sales tax projects will not be affected. Those projects include improvements to the South Harvin Street, Pocalla Road, Manning Avenue and U.S. 15 area.

That project will begin in April or May. The other project involves securing right-ofway acquisitions of land near Lafayette Drive to begin development.

County gets clean audit Some problems reported with how financial issues are handled

BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Sumter County Council was presented with a clean audit during its regular meeting yesterday even though there were reportedly issues with the way the county handles its financial duties.

Chuck Talbert, a partner at Webster Rogers LLP, presented the audit to council. The internal control and compliance report from the auditor stated records were not complete, accurate or reconciled to prepare timely financial statements. Because of this, the county’s reports “may not fairly present what they purport to display,” and the county runs the risk of making critical decisions “based upon erroneous information.”

The internal control report also states the county listed a construction project in the wrong category according to Department of Labor guidelines. DOL requires that any construction project that does not fit into a specific cat-

egory — residential, building, highway, heavy construction — should be classified as heavy construction.

The project in question was listed under residential construction so the wages paid did not meet the wages, benefits and overtime determined by DOL. The audit report states that this mistake was made because the county “was unaware of the Department of Labor guidelines.”

The county performed well financially overall, with more than $44 million in revenue at the end of fiscal year 2014.

In other news, council: • Approved a request from Sumter School District to lease land to Farmers Telephone Co-op. for a 10-year term. The property will be leased for $600 per month for the first year. That amount will increase by two percent each year thereafter. FTC will have the right to sublet the property. The proceeds of the lease will go to the district’s school fund; • approved third reading of a request to rezone three par-

cels of land at 2581, 2587 and 2577 Broad St. from split zoned general residential and general commercial to entirely commercial properties; • approved second reading of an ordinance to abandon and convey a portion of Maxwell Avenue to the city; • approved second reading of an ordinance to abandon and convey a portion of Paddock Court to the adjoining property owner; and • voted to defer action on a request to rezone property at 2132 and 2138 N. Main St. from agricultural and neighborhood commercial to limited commercial land after having further discussion with the applicant who plans to develop an ambulance service on the property. A public hearing was held for this request, and three individuals from the neighborhood spoke in opposition of the rezoning request. These individuals do not have issue with the ambulance service but fear that rezoning the land will allow for the development of distasteful establishments in the future.

Lee County Stars named

LOCAL BRIEF FROM STAFF REPORTS

From left, Van Smith, Caroline Mack, Desiree Stokes, Roy Atkinson, Amanda Smith and Kelvin Baker were recognized as winners in the Jan. 17 competition of Dancing with the Lee County Stars at Bishopville Opera House.

Sumter man charged with rape of teen girl A Sumter County man remains behind bars after allegations he forcibly raped a teenage girl.

James Wandkte, 37, of Wedgefield, was charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor in connection with WANDKTE the incident.

According to a Sumter County Sheriff’s Office report, deputies responded to Sumter High School late Monday morning to take statements about a possible sexual assault.

The complainant told officers he talked with his girlfriend earlier in the day, and the girlfriend told him the victim confided in her that the suspect raped her on several occasions.

The complainant talked to the victim and asked how many times the suspect raped her, and she said five or six.

Investigators questioned the 15-year-old victim and determined at least one of the incidents occurred about a year ago. A sheriff’s office spokesman said the investigation remains ongoing as deputies continue trying to learn more details about the alleged assaults.

CORRECTION If you see a statement in error, contact the City Desk at 774-1226 or pressrelease@theitem.com.

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Senator will now help oversee DSS on subcommittee

BY HAMLET FORT hamlet@theitem.com State Sen. Billy O’Dell appointed Sen. Thomas McElveen, D-Sumter, to a subcommittee in the state Senate that will help oversee the Department of Social Services and address its “well-publicized issues.”

O’Dell, chairman of the Senate General Committee, said McElveen’s endorsements in the committee would be an advantage for a number of reasons.

“He’s well respected,” said O’Dell.

“He’s very meticulous at what he does; he’s very interested in what’s going on with legislation in the Senate. I think he’ll be fair.”

Both O’Dell and McElveen reference the need for the subcommittee’s institution and expansion as a result of criticisms levied at South Carolina Department of Social Services in the

past year. The department has endured a string of “documented issues,” specifically related to its Child Protective Services and its alleged “gross mishandling” of child welfare cases in the state.

One such case occurred in 2014, when the parents of 4-year-old Robert Guinyard of Richland County were convicted of killing their son a year earlier. DSS said at the time “the system failed Robert,” and Richland County residents criticized the department for their failure to act after being notified numerous times about abuse preceding Guinyard’s death.

Guinyard was placed in foster care at age 2 and was returned to his parents soon after.

McElveen said he was one of many who called for former Director Lillian Koller’s resignation as a result of mounting criticism, which occurred in June 2014.

“During last off season, I became more interested in this the more I learned about it,” said McElveen, referencing the alleged problems with the department’s child welfare handlings.

“Based on what I’ve heard locally and across the state, it will turn you into a child advocate very quickly.”

O’Dell said the subcommittee will not “micromanage DSS by any means” but that it will oversee the department’s direction, starting with the screening of Gov. Nikki Haley’s appointee for a new director. The subcommittee will convene today at 9 a.m. to begin that process.

McElveen said the future of the department must be carefully handled for the future welfare of South Carolina’s children.

“At the end of the day, it’s the best interest of the children that the Department of Social Services is supposed to protect — that has to rule the day,” he said.

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Civil rights protesters to have arrest records erased

BY MEG KINNARD The Associated Press COLUMBIA — Nine black men arrested for integrating a whites-only South Carolina lunch counter 54 years ago may be heroes in the historic record, but in the record of the law they are still convicted trespassers.

That criminal record will soon be erased.

A prosecutor is expected today to ask a judge to vacate the arrests and convictions of the men known as the Friendship Nine.

The men say that brings both relief and a hope for the future.

The eight students at Rock Hill’s Friendship Junior College — Willie McCleod, Robert McCullough, W.T. “Dub” Massey, Clarence Graham, James Wells, David Williamson Jr., John Gaines and Mack Workman — were led

by Thomas Gaither, who came to town as an activist with the Congress of Racial Equality.

About a year had passed since the sit-in at a segregated lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, helped galvanize the nation’s civil rights movement. But change was slow to come to Rock Hill.

They decided to act together, getting arrested in February 1961 for ordering lunch from a whites-only counter at McCrory’s variety store.

Convicted of trespassing and breach of peace, the men

AP FILE PHOTO

Elwin Wilson, left, and Friendship Nine member Willie McCleod, right, look over pictures in 2009 from civil rights incidents in Rock Hill in the 1960s. A prosecutor is expected today to ask a judge to vacate the arrests and convictions of the black men known as the Friendship Nine, who were arrested for integrating a whites-only South Carolina lunch counter 54 years ago. opted for a month’s hard labor in a chain gang rather than allow bail money to be posted for them by civil rights groups. They did not want to contribute to the coffers of segregationists.

That decision drew national headlines, garnering the group the name the “Friendship Nine” and setting the standard for a “jail, no bail” policy emulated by other protesters across the South.

Author Kim Johnson took

an interest in the men’s story, studying their case and publishing a book titled “No Fear For Freedom: The Story of the Friendship 9” last year. After doing some research, Johnson went to Kevin Brackett, the solicitor for York and Union counties, to see what could be done to give the men a clean slate.

“This is an opportunity for us to bring the community together,” Johnson told The Associated Press. “To have the

records vacated essentially says that it should have never happened in the first place.”

Brackett will argue a motion to vacate those convictions before a Rock Hill judge who is expected to do just that.

It comes too late for McCullough, who died in 2006.

But some of the others returned to town ahead of the hearing to reflect on their experience, telling AP they hope their actions can still have an impact.

“It’s been a long wait,” Graham said. “We are sure now that we made the right decision for the right reason.

Being nonviolent was the best thing that we could have done.”

The men’s names are engraved on the stools at the counter of the restaurant on Main Street, now called the Old Town Bistro. A plaque outside marks the spot where they were arrested. And official and personal apologies have been offered to the men through the years.

In 2009, a white man named Elwin Wilson who tried to pull one of the protesters from a stool nearly 50 years earlier returned to the same counter, meeting with some of the men. They forgave him.

Massey said he has no regrets.

“Everything that happened, happened for a reason,” he said. “We have to continue what we’re doing. If we’re backing off from what we’ve done, then there’s a problem here.”

And although their records will soon be clean, the men hope their commitment to nonviolence can remain an example for people protesting various issues today.

“Maybe it might change some of their minds about some of their actions,” Graham said. “Until the hearts change, there won’t be any changes. We still insist that nonviolence is the way to go.”

POLICE BLOTTER STOLEN PROPERTY A 2006 Ford Mustang valued at $10,000 was reported stolen from a Wedgefield home in the 1300 block of Hidden Oaks Drive at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Law enforcement recovered the vehicle abandoned at a wreck that morning before the owner reported it stolen.

A suitcase valued at $100 containing assorted clothing items valued

at $3,000 and two college textbooks valued at $700 as well as two purses valued at $100 containing wallets, IDs, credit and debit cards valued at $150 were reportedly stolen from the 1100 block of Old West Liberty Street between 2:50 a.m. and 11:15 p.m. Friday.

A Tao Tao 50 moped valued at $900 was reportedly stolen from 100 block of Haynsworth Street between 5 and 5:45 p.m. Saturday.

Local Annual Meeting Notice For members of SSC, Inc. Manning Agronomy Plant Friday, January 30, 2015 Business meeting begins at 12:00 Noon SSC, Inc. - Manning Service, 4864 Sumter Highway, Alcolu, South Carolina Agenda includes annual elections and management reports.

By order of the Stockholder Advisory Board Steve Brunson, Chairman

Join us February 13th at 7:00PM for a romantic evening of fine dining and delightful company as the Lou-Von Family Foundation sponsors it’s annual

~Menu~ Garden Salad Steak and Shrimp Garden Potatoes Vegetable Medley

The Imperial Restaurant 451 Broad St., Sumter, SC 29150 Date: February 13, 2015

Sweetheart Dessert Buffet (Consist of a variety of delectable desserts)

Time: 7:00PM

DAMAGED PROPERTY An assortment of clothes valued at $1,825 and a 55-inch flat-screen TV valued at $1,300 were reported destroyed at a home in the 4200 block of Winder Lane on Sunday at 5:20 p.m. A 2007 Audi SUV also reportedly sustained $1,000 in damage during the incident.

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Cash in the amount of $1,000 was reported stolen from a business in the 1200 block of Broad Street at 11 a.m. Monday.

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Law enforcement wants police-tracking app disabled

BY EILEEN SULLIVAN The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Law enforcement is concerned that the popular Waze mobile traffic app by Google Inc., which provides real-time road conditions, can also be used to hunt and harm police.

Waze is a combination of GPS navigation and social networking. Fifty million users in 200 countries turn to the free service for warnings about nearby congestion, car wrecks, speed traps, traffic cameras, construction zones, potholes, stalled vehicles or unsafe weather conditions.

Waze users mark police — who are generally working in public spaces — on maps without much distinction other than “visible” or “hidden.” Users see a police icon, but it’s not immediately clear whether police are there for a speed trap, a sobriety check or a lunch break.

To some in law enforcement, this feature amounts to a stalking app for people who want to harm police. They want

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Waze app, seen on an iPhone in Washington recently, shows police at the scene on a map. Sheriffs are campaigning to pressure Google Inc. to turn off a feature on its Waze traffic software that warns drivers when police are nearby.

Google to disable that feature.

The growing concern is the latest twist in Google’s complicated relationship with government and law enforcement. It places the Internet giant, again, at the center of an ongoing global debate about public safety, consumer rights and privacy.

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck complained in a letter to Google’s chief executive on Dec. 30 that Waze could be “misused by those with criminal intent to endanger police officers and the community.”

The Los Angeles Police Department said Monday it had not heard back from Google about whether it had addressed Beck’s concerns.

Google purchased Waze for $966 million in 2013.

There are no known connections between any attack on police and Waze, although Beck said Waze was used in the killing of two New York Police Department officers on Dec. 20. The Instagram account of the gunman in that case included a screenshot from Waze along with other messages threatening police.

Investigators do not think the shooter, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, used Waze to ambush the NYPD officers, in part because police say Brinsley tossed his cellphone more than two miles from where he shot the officers. In his letter to Google, Beck said that Brinsley had been using the Waze app to track police since early December.

“I am confident your company did not intend the Waze app to be a means to allow those who wish to commit crimes to use the unwitting Waze community as their lookouts for the location of police officers,” Beck wrote.

Some officers, such as Sheriff Mike Brown of Bedford County, Virginia, think it’s only a matter of time before Waze is used to hunt and harm police.

“The police community needs to coordinate an effort to have the owner, Google, act like the responsible corporate citizen they have always been and remove this feature from the application even before any litigation or statutory action,” said Brown, who raised the issue at a National Sheriffs’ Association meeting in Washington on Jan. 23.

Leaders, survivors mark Auschwitz death camp’s liberation 70 years later Russia’s president doesn’t attend ceremony to be our children’s future,” he said to applause, fighting back tears and repeating those words a second time.

Politics cast a shadow on BRZEZINKA, Poland — the event, with Russian Some 300 Holocaust surviPresident Vladimir Putin vors gathered with world absent — even though the leaders Tuesday under an Soviet Red Army liberated enormous tent over the gate the camp — the result of the and railroad tracks that deep chill between the West marked the last journey for and Russia over Ukraine. more than a million people Among those in attenmurdered by the Nazis at dance were French PresiAuschwitz-Birkenau. dent Francois Hollande, The commemorations whose nation was the recent marking the 70th anniversavictim of terrorist attacks ry of the liberation of Austhat targeted Jews and chwitz were tinged with a newspaper satirists. sense of melancholy about Participants also included the fact that it is expected to the presidents of Germany be the last major anniversaand Austria, the perpetrator ry that a significant number nations that have spent deof survivors will be strong cades atoning for their sins, enough to attend — and a sense of anxiety at the grow- as well as Ukrainian President Petro ing antiPoroshenko, Semitism a sign of Poand radicalland’s ism in Eustrong suprope and the port for Middle East.

Ukraine in “Jews are its conflict targeted in with Russia.

Europe once ROMAN KENT Poland apagain beparently cause they Holocaust survivor snubbed are Jews,” Putin, said Ronald though officials don’t say Lauder, president of the that openly. The organizers, World Jewish Congress. the Auschwitz-Birkenau One survivor, Roman State Museum and the InterKent, became emotional as national Auschwitz Council, he issued a plea to world opted for a form of protocol leaders to remember the atrocities and fight for toler- this year that avoided direct invitations by Poland’s presance. ident to his foreign counter“We do not want our past

BY VANESSA GERA The Associated Press

‘We do not want our past to be our children’s future.’

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Holocaust survivor Jehuda Widawski walks in the tent at the entrance of the Birkenau Nazi death camp in Oswiecim, Poland, on Tuesday before the start of the official remembrance ceremony for the 1.1 million people killed at Auschwitz-Birkenau and the millions of others killed in the Holocaust. parts. The organizers instead simply asked countries that are donors to Auschwitz, including Russia, whom they planned to send.

Poland’s Foreign Ministry says Putin could have attended if he wished.

The public spat comes at a low point in relations between Russia and the West, following Moscow’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula, and its support for the rebel forces battling Kiev’s troops in eastern Ukraine. Poland has been one of Europe’s most vocal countries in condemning Russia’s actions in Ukraine, which has plunged the continent into one of the worst East-West crises since the end of the Cold War. The Russian delegation was led by Sergei Ivanov, Putin’s chief of staff.

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NATION

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

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‘National disgrace’ Report: Federal government not doing enough to protect children from abuse

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nicole Gross uses an oral syringe to give her son Chase his daily dose of a medical marijuana oil, known as Charlotte’s Web, at their home in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on Jan. 1. They moved to Colorado from Chicago about a year ago to legally treat Chase, who used to have hundreds of seizures per day.

Medical pot only OK for sick kids failed by other drugs, doctors say

BY LINDSEY TANNER AP Medical Writer CHICAGO — With virtually no hard proof that medical marijuana benefits sick children and evidence that it may harm developing brains, the drug should only be used for severely ill kids who have no other treatment option, the nation’s most influential pediatricians group says in a new policy.

Some parents insist that medical marijuana has cured their kids’ troublesome seizures or led to other improvements, but the American Academy of Pediatrics’ new policy says rigorous research is needed to verify those claims.

To make it easier to study and develop marijuana-based treatments, the group recommends removing marijuana from the government’s most restrictive drug category, which includes heroin, LSD and other narcotics with no accepted medical use, and switching it to the category which includes methadone and oxycodone.

The recommended switch “could help make a big difference in promoting more research,” said Dr. Seth Ammerman, the policy’s lead author and a professor of pediatrics and adolescent medicine at Stanford University.

The academy’s qualified support may lead more pediatricians to prescribe medical marijuana, but the group says pediatric use should only be considered “for children with life-limiting or severely debilitating conditions and for whom current therapies are inadequate.”

The academy also repeated its previous advice against legalizing marijuana for recreational use by adults, suggesting that may enable easier access for kids. It does not address medical marijuana use in adults.

Studies have linked recreational marijuana use in kids with ill effects on health and brain development, including problems with memory, concentration, attention, judgment and reaction time, the group’s policy emphasizes.

(AP) — The federal government’s failure to enforce the nation’s child protection laws is a “national disgrace” that leaves abused children vulnerable to future harm, according to a three-year study by two child advocacy groups.

The 110-page report released Tuesday identified some of the same failures reported in December by The Associated Press after an eight-month investigation into hundreds of children who died of abuse or neglect in plain view of child protection authorities.

“Our laws are weak. We don’t invest in solutions. Federal laws aren’t enforced. And courts are turning their backs. This creates a trifecta of inertia and neglect,” said Amy Harfeld, policy director at the Children’s Advocacy Institute at the University of San Diego School of Law, which wrote the report with the nonprofit group First Star.

AP’s investigation, published Dec. 18, also revealed a system in crisis, hobbled by weak federal oversight, budget constraints, worker shortages and a voluntary data collection system so flawed that nobody can say with accuracy how many children die from abuse or neglect each year.

AP found that at least 786 children died of abuse and neglect during a six-year span — many of them beaten, starved or left alone to drown — while agencies had good reason to know they were in danger. That figure represents the most comprehensive statistics publicly available, but the actual number who died even as authorities

were investigating their families or providing some form of protective services is likely much higher because antiquated confidentiality laws allow many states to withhold vital information, shrouding their failures.

The federal government estimates an average of about 1,650 children have died annually from abuse or neglect in recent years, whether or not they were known to the child welfare system, but many experts think the actual number is twice as high.

And many more suffer from near-fatal abuse and neglect every year.

“Almost everything that happens to these children is cloaked in endemic secrecy, and most efforts by the media and advocates to provide the public with much-needed transparency — which leads to accountability — are thwarted by the very governmental entities and officials who have turned their backs on their official duties to children,” the groups said.

Michael Petit, who was appointed by President Obama to serve on the Federal Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities and serves as adviser to the advocacy group Every Child Matters, said he agreed with what he has read thus far in the report, entitled “Shame on U.S.” “The report is saying what a lot of people have been experiencing,” Petit said, who wasn’t speaking on the commission’s behalf. “I share many of those sentiments that the federal government is not providing the kind of oversight needed.”

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

THE SUMTER ITEM

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

H.D. Osteen 1904-1987 The Item

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

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

COMMENTARY

Defense against demagogues

W

COMMENTARY

The sacrifice of Sarah Palin

W

ASHINGTON — When Democrats were looking for evidence of a Republican war on women, they overlooked Exhibit A — Sarah Palin.

This isn’t to say that Palin was part of the war on women, though many Democrats would say so. Rather she was one of the war’s most conspicuous victims — fragged, you might say — by her own troops.

And yet, she’s back again. And — yet again — she’s assuming her default position of presidential tease. Yes, she’s “seriously interested” in running for president. As evidence, she gave an utterly befuddling speech this past weekend in Iowa, where other likely candidates were gathered.

This time, Palin’s critics include Republicans.

What the heck was she talking about, they wondered. What has happened to Palin, they ask?

As if they shouldn’t know. Palin, though no longer viable in a nationKathleen al race, may deserve more Parker sympathy than scorn. Her incoherence, though not new, has worsened, and she shows signs of someone desperate for relevance. As to the Iowa speech, though her teleprompter apparently froze, a technological glitch can’t be blamed for “This is to forego a conclusion.”

But blame for her general collapse beginning in 2008 can be placed in large part upon her own party, which used her and cast her aside.

Not that long ago, Palin was a breathtakingly attractive politician of a rare sort. A governor who had challenged Big Oil — and won — she could wow a crowd like few others. Republican strategists desperate for a running mate for John McCain with some razzle-dazzle saw her as the game-changer.

It mattered little that they didn’t know much about her. Whatever she might lack in intellectual heft, they apparently reckoned, she made up for in “hot-ness.” Even McCain, a veteran of so many political wars and campaigns, was fooled by Palin’s charms.

What Republicans didn’t know about Palin, however, did hurt them. Despite her many talents, she was “clearly out of her league,” as I wrote in September 2008, drawing a deluge of hate. What is accepted as conventional wisdom now was, by the way, just as obvious then as now.

Let’s be honest. Any man of Palin’s comparable deficits, no matter his winning ways, would have been eliminated from consideration within minutes of opening his mouth. Although Palin ac-

quitted herself well enough in her single debate with then-Sen. Joe Biden, simultaneously winking at her fans and signaling “You betcha” to her critics, the substance of her responses was flash-card deep.

This doesn’t mean that Palin was incapable of becoming a formidable national politician. It only means that she wasn’t ready. She needed to do what former Texas Gov. Rick Perry has done. Recognizing his mistakes in 2012, Perry has spent the past two years meeting with conservative scholars for briefings on economics, health care, budgets, tax policy and so on.

Palin apparently took a different route.

She wrote a couple of books, became fluent in Twitter and dropped in and out of campaigns to endorse tea party candidates. Until Saturday, she seemed content to have become an anointer rather than the anointed. Her seriousness as public servant versus public personality, however, was reflected in her rambling, streamof-consciousness speech.

Sad. If Republican strategists had viewed Palin in 2008 as someone with talent who needed nurturing and support, she might have been ready for a national ticket by 2016. But this possibility exposes the matter of her own judgment. One wonders why Palin would accept the invitation to become McCain’s running mate given how ill-prepared she was, not to mention that she’d just had a baby. Then again, a woman like Sarah, always the brightest star in her orbit, couldn’t resist the roar of the crowd.

What she didn’t count on was the stress of constant travel, performance and cramming for speeches — or the pain of separation from her family. Nor could she have anticipated that her own team ultimately would lose faith in her. Imagine being governor of a frontier state suddenly being placed before millions of armchair critics with Twitter-fingers poised to fire and asked to perform without proper preparation, training or support. This is crazy-making on its face; devastating and crushing to the individual who finds herself alone on the ledge.

In the end, the story of Palin’s rise and fall is a tragedy. And the author wasn’t the media as accused but the Grand Old Party itself. Like worshipers of false gods throughout human history, Republicans handpicked the fair maiden Sarah and placed her on the altar of political expedience.

They sacrificed her.

Kathleen Parker’s email address is kathleenparker@washpost.com. © 2015, Washington Post Writers Group

hen gasoline sold at record prices, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said, “I think it’s time to say to these people, ‘Stop ripping off the American people.’”

When the average price of regular gas was close to $4 a gallon, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called for Congress to look into breaking up giant oil companies. The claim was that “Wall Street greed (was) fueling high gas prices.”

Today in some places, gasoline is selling for less than $2 a gallon, less than half of its peak price in 2008. The idiotic explanation that attributed high oil prices to greed might now be adjusted to argue that Walter big oil execuWilliams tives have been morally rejuvenated. They are no longer greedy and no longer want to rip off the American people. My guess is that everyone in the oil business would like to charge higher prices. Plus, there’s no legal prohibition against big and powerful Exxon Mobil’s selling its regular gas today for $4 a gallon. Exxon stations don’t do so because the market wouldn’t bear that price.

The attempt to explain human behavior by greed is foolhardy. If we define greed as people wanting much more than what they have, then everyone is greedy.

Show me someone who doesn’t want more of something, be it cars, houses, clothing, food, peace, admiration, love or war. The fact that people want more is responsible for most of the good things that get done.

You’ll see Texas cattle ranchers this winter making the personal sacrifice of going out in blizzards to care for their herds. As a result of their sacrifice, New Yorkers will have beef on their grocery shelves. Which do you think best explains cattlemen’s behavior, concern about New Yorkers or their wanting more for themselves?

This year’s congressional efforts to reduce corporate income tax will create great opportunities for demagogues. The United States has the highest corporate income tax rate among the 34 industrialized nations of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

The effect of high corporate taxes gives corporations incentives to lower their effective tax rates by engaging in activities that lower their competitiveness and to shift profits to foreign subsidiaries.

‘The greatest tool in the arsenal of demagogues is economic ignorance ...’

Demagogues will claim that corporations should pay their fair share of taxes. The fact of the matter, which even MIT economists understand but might not publicly admit, is corporations do not pay taxes. An important subject area in economics, called tax incidence, says the entity upon whom a tax is levied does not necessarily bear the full burden of the tax. Some of the tax burden is shifted to another party. If a tax is levied on a corporation — and if the corporation is to survive — it will have one of three responses or some combination thereof. It will raise the price of its product, lower dividends or lay off workers. The important point is that only people, not some legal fiction called a corporation, bear the burden of any tax. Corporations are merely government tax collectors.

Here’s a tax-related question: Which worker receives the higher pay, a worker on a road construction project moving dirt with a shovel or a worker moving dirt atop a giant earthmover? If you said the guy on the earthmover, go to the head of the class.

But why?

It’s not because he’s unionized or that employers just love earthmover operators.

It’s because he is more productive; he has more physical capital with which to work.

It’s not rocket science to conclude that whatever lowers the cost of capital formation will enable companies to buy more capital, such as earthmovers.

The result is that workers will be more productive and earn higher wages. Policies that raise the cost of capital formation — such as capital gains taxes, low depreciation allowances and high corporate income taxes — reduce capital formation and do not serve the interests of workers, investors or consumers.

The greatest tool in the arsenal of demagogues is economic ignorance, which my colleagues in George Mason University’s economics department battle against tooth and nail.

Walter E. Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University. © 2015 creators.com

LETTER TO THE EDITOR NOONAN NOT COMMITTED ENOUGH TO BE SHS HEAD FOOTBALL COACH I enjoyed reading Dennis Brunson’s article about commitment to the Sumter High School football program in the Tuesday, Jan. 20, edition of The Sumter Item.

One of the names mentioned as a replacement for John Jones was Jimmy Noonan. He needs to take a look at his definition of commitment.

A few years ago, he left Spring Valley

(a top-notch program) for the head coaching job at Wilson Hall. His reason for leaving Spring Valley was “to be closer to family.” He left Wilson Hall after one year. Is that commitment? He went to Wando, for whatever reason. Then on Monday, June 9, 2014, he was at the Sumter School District Board of Trustees meeting at Kingsbury Elementary School as part of a “silent group” to protest the hiring of John Jones. I can only assume he was still under contract at Wando. What

was he doing in Sumter, if not campaigning for the SHS head-coach spot?

Maybe he was in town spending time with family — were they all at Kingsbury Elementary?

I wonder what the administration, booster club, and general population at Wando think about these actions. Maybe, and hopefully, he was truthful and up front with them, that he is only “temporarily committed” to their program.

Dr. Phil makes the statement “a person’s past behavior is a good indicator

of future behavior.” Well, I’m sure the political wheels are turning, plenty of phone calls being made, arms being twisted, in search of new coaches at Sumter, Lakewood, Wilson Hall and, most recently, Spring Valley. So, if Noonan hasn’t been contacted, someone needs to let him know about these openings. With the exception of Spring Valley, all of them would put him “closer to family” — once again.

BILL BOATMAN Sumter

LOCAL

THE SUMTER ITEM

HOUSES FROM PAGE A1 to the next level,” said Mayor Joe McElveen.

According to general counsel Eric Shytle, vacant property registration has been successful across the nation but, currently, South Carolina does not have a vacant property registration ordinance.

Under the proposed changes, if a house sits vacant for 60 days, the owner must register the property with the city. Failure to register will result in a $250 fine.

According to a presentation by city Planning Director George McGregor, there are more than 500 houses in the city that are not suitable for human habitation but cannot be demolished because the city cannot contact the owner.

The proposed ordinance will allow property code enforcement officers to allege that a property is unfit for human habitation according to ordinance criteria, and if the cost to remedy the condition of the house is more than 50 percent of the value of the property, the building code officer can order that the building be demolished.

Compliance from the property owner would be needed within a certain time before any action could be taken by the city.

“It’s really an involuntary rehab-demolition statute,” Shytle said.

If the city cannot find the property owner, state law says that a notice can be published in the local newspaper, and the owner will have 60 days to appeal the demolition.

Council expressed concern with the enforcement of ordinance regulations, especially for property owners who do

not live in Sumter. The ordinance proposes ways to help identify and stay in contact with property owners through a vacant property registry, but getting owners to maintain the property may require more work.

“This is reality,” Shytle said.

“There’s no magic wand. This is going to help, but it’s not going to fix it.”

In the ordinance, the city has the right to fix any problems that property owners will not take care of themselves, such as demolish a house, mow the lawn or pick up debris.

McGregor said it may be necessary for the city to have a budget allocation to take care of property maintenance issues in extraordinary circumstances.

“I don’t think it’s a big dollar amount but enough to allow us to do those things,” he said.

Another issue is the assumption that the city will pick up any and all waste left on the curb.

City sanitation provides three primary waste retrieval functions for residents: residential garbage collection, recycling and yard debris. The city will not pick up items that do not fall into those three categories.

“If it doesn’t fit into one of those, we don’t have access to take it somewhere,” said City Manager Deron McCormick.

“People just assume we pick up everything. Literally, we don’t have people and vehicles and an outlet for anything else.”

The proposed property maintenance code offers solutions to problems that the city has faced for years.

“It’s not going to solve everything, but I think it can make a difference, a big difference,” McElveen said.

UNEMPLOYMENT FROM PAGE A1 “Over the year, the labor force in South Carolina has actually expanded by 1.6 percent,” he said. “If you look at North Carolina, they are actually seeing a contraction in the labor force.

That is one of the reasons they are seeing bigger ‘improvement’ in the unemployment rate.”

Nationally, the increase in the labor force has been about .07 percent, he said.

Weeks had praise for the state’s economic development team.

“I applaud everybody involved in economic development — from our economic

department on up to the governor’s office,” he said. “I hope that we can facilitate the right climate in this state so employment will keep going up.”

Kaglic said one striking thing about job gains in South Carolina is that it is relatively broad-based across industry segments.

“You see it in construction, manufacturing, trade, transportation, utilities, professional business services, educational services, hospitality and — for better or worse — government,” he said. “It’s a pretty broad swath of industries that are creating jobs and they

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

SHELTER FROM PAGE A1 of its founder. Doris Winstead established what would become the Lee County shelter nearly 20 years ago in her backyard. She spent several years operating without the support of the county, and served as director of the facility when it officially opened about 15 years ago.

Winstead’s tenure ended amid allegations of animal cruelty in November when the county initiated an investigation into allegations that she illegally tried to neuter a cat adopted from the shelter. According to law enforcement reports, a Bishopville veterinarian said it looked as if someone hacked the pet up and tortured it during the surgery.

Lee County Sheriff’s Office filed a report of the allegations and quickly turned the investigation over to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, citing the relationship between the animal shelter and LCSO’s animal control division.

SLED officials said this month the investigation remains ongoing and any charges will be determined by the 3rd Circuit Solicitor’s Office after it reviews the SLED case file.

Lee County Administrator Alan Watkins questioned Winstead when the allegations surfaced in November and opted to suspend her pending the outcome of the SLED probe. He said she submitted her resignation to him Jan. 9, officially closing the county’s involvement in her case.

Despite her departing circumstances, Watkins described Winstead as a steadying hand at the shelter who kept the facility going many years.

“I appreciate what she has done in the past,” he said. “She’s done a tremendous job and put a lot of programs in place, with rescues (that ensure) a lot of spayed animals from Lee County are adopted throughout the United States. Those programs have greatly reduced the number of animals that are euthanized at the county shelter now.”

Winstead’s exodus comes at a time when the county is priming up to build a new animal shelter more centrally located and closer to town. The facility, which was approved as a capital project

are creating jobs at a faster pace than the rest of the nation. The national average is strong; S.C. is even stronger.”

State Sen. Thomas McElveen, D-Sumter, also praised the efforts of the state’s economic development team and particularly the work done in Sumter County.

“The job they’ve done is astronomical, and if they keep doing the job they are doing the outlook is bright for our part of the state,” he said.

“I think we are definitely seeing somewhat of an industrial renaissance in the state, and we need to keep the momentum going,” McElveen said.

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through the county’s November 2012 penny sales tax referendum, is expected to be somewhat larger than the current one and will be built adjacent to the Public Works building along Airport Road. County officials said they have chosen an architect, finalized specs and hope to put out bids as early as next month. The target date for the move is this fall.

The current animal shelter is nestled in its confines off S.C. 341 at the northern end of the county. The move is expected to give the shelter more manpower, as it puts the facility near the Public Works department, which has worked to fill the void left by Winstead since November.

Watkins installed Public Works Director Steven Atkinson to be interim director at the shelter and assigned another Public Works employee to work there several days a week. For a kennel that has between 50 and 80 animals come through its doors every month, the recent turmoil has not impeded operations much, according to officials.

“It’s business as usual here,” Watkins said. “We have adequate staff and the shelter’s continued to operate on its normal basis with bringing in and adopting out animals.”

Volunteers and staffers at the shelter credit much of the stability to the framework Winstead set up during her tenure.

That includes relationships she developed with several regional and out-of-state rescue havens, where the kennel often sends its animals for adoption. It also includes the use of social media to promote pets to faraway prospects, using the shelter’s Facebook page, which has more than 5,000 followers.

According to officials, the Lee County shelter had a high rate of euthanasia among the animals it housed when it first opened. Now, less than 10 percent of the pets there are euthanized, with the majority of those being sick or hyper-aggressive animals. Employees said the facility has operated as a “no kill” shelter since November, a milestone mark in its short history that means a lot.

“At your kill shelters, Willow would have automatically been put down when she came in like that,” Arrant said. “Out here, they’re at least given a chance.”

Kaglic said the numbers mean good news for the Palmetto State.

“When you look at the preponderance of data there are three things that I always look for,” he said. “You want to see increase in total payroll employment, you want to see de-

clines in the unemployment rate, and you want to see increases in workforce participation.

“Right now South Carolina is seeing all three of those things,” he said. “That is really indicative of a healthy labor market.”

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Sumter Locations

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6 ©SS 2015

FRIDAY, JANUA RY 23, 2015

DeMaras Italian Restaurant Hwy 441 D & L Diner 441 back gate at Shaw Duncan Dogs 5641 Broad Street El Cheapo Gas Station Hwy 76 Across from Shaw Gamecock Bowling Lanes Broad Street Georgios 5500 Sycamore at 5000 area of Shaw Kwik Mart Hwy 441 McDonalds 76/441 at Shaw MRMA #441 Midlands Retirement Military Association Parkway Shell Station Hwy 441 at Shaw SHAW AAFES Gas Station & Shoppette SHAW Base Exchange Grouchos Deli 47817 Forest Drive at Fort Jackson SHAW Commissary Kangaroo Express 5425 Forest Dr. at Fort Jackson Sumter Cut Rate Drug Store 32 S. Main Street McENTIRE Air National Guard Base TWO Main Entrances at Patton Hall 3rd Army Mr Bunkys Hwy76 YMCA Miller Road Ponchos Restaurant 5400 Forest Dr at Fort Jackson Shell/Corner Pantry Forest Drive at Fort Jackson BI-LO 4711 Forest Drive at Fort Jackson Shell/Corner Pantry Forest Drive at Fort Jackson Chic Fil A Forest Dr at Fort Jackson Wal-Mart 5240 Forest Drive at Fort Jackson

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

SUPPORT GROUPS AA, AL-ANON, ALATEEN: AA — Monday-Friday, noon and 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m., 1 Warren St. (803) 775-1852.

AA Women’s Meeting — Wednesday, 7 p.m., 1 Warren St. (803) 775-1852.

AA Spanish Speaking — Sunday, 4:30 p.m., 1 Warren St. (803) 775-1852.

AA “How it Works” Group — Monday and Friday, 8 p.m., 1154 Ronda St. Call (803) 494-5180.

Al-Anon “Courage to Change” Support Group — Tuesday, 7 p.m., Alice Drive Baptist Church, Room 204, 1305 Loring Mill Road. Call Dian at (803) 316-0775 or Crystal at (803) 775-3587.

441 AA Support Group — Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 8:30 p.m., Hair Force, 2090-D S.C. 441.

AA Summerton Group — Wednesday, 8 p.m., town hall.

Manning Al-Anon Family Group — Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Behavioral Health Building, 14 Church St., Manning. Call Angie Johnson at (803) 435-8085.

C/A “Drop the Rock” Group — Thursday, 9:30 p.m., 1154 Ronda St. Call Elizabeth Owens at (803) 607-4543.

MONDAY MEETINGS: Sumter Vitiligo Support Group — second Monday of each month, 5:45-6:45 p.m., North HOPE Center, 904 N. Main St. Call Tiffany at (803) 3166763. Find us on Facebook at Sumter Vitiligo Support.

TUESDAY MEETINGS: Sumter Connective Tissue Support Group — 1st Tuesday of Jan., March, May, July, Sept. and Nov., 7 p.m., 180 Tiller Circle. Call (803) 773-0869.

Mothers of Angels (for mothers who have lost a child) — Every Tuesday, 6 p.m., Wise Drive Baptist Church. Call Betty at (803) 469-2616 or Carol at (803) 469-9426.

EFMP Parent Exchange Group — Last Tuesday each month, 11 a.m.-noon, Airman and Family Readiness Center. Support to service members who have a dependent with a disability or illness. Call Dorcus Haney at (803) 895-1252/1253 or

Sue Zimmerman at (803) 847-2377.

DAILY PLANNER

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEATHER

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2015

AccuWeather® five-day forecast for Sumter WEDNESDAY MEETINGS: Sickle Cell Support Group — last Wednesday each month, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., South Sumter Resource Center, 337 Manning Ave. Call Bertha Willis at (803) 774-6181.

THURSDAY MEETINGS: TOPS S.C. No. 236 (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) — Thursdays, 9 a.m., Spectrum Senior Center,1989 Durant Lane. Call Diane at (803) 775-3926 or Nancy at (803) 469-4789.

Asthma Support Group — Every 1st Thursday, 6 p.m., Clarendon County School District 3 Parenting Center, 2358 Walker Gamble Road, New Zion. Call Mary Howard at (843) 659-2102.

Alzheimer’s Support Group through S.C. Alzheimer’s Association — Every 1st Thursday, 6-8 p.m., McElveen Manor, 2065 McCrays Mill Road. Call Cheryl Fluharty at (803) 905-7720 or the Alzheimer’s Association at (800) 636-3346.

Journey of Hope (for families members of the mentally ill), Journey to Recovery (for the mentally ill) and Survivors of Suicide Support Group — Each group meets every 1st Thursday, 7 p.m., St. John United Methodist Church, 136 Poinsett Drive. Call Fred Harmon at (803) 905-5620.

FRIDAY MEETINGS: Celebrate Recovery — Every Friday, 6 p.m. dinner, 7 p.m. program, Salt & Light Church, Miller Road (across from Food Lion). For help with struggles of alcohol, drugs, family problems, smoking, etc.

Wateree AIDS Task Force Support Group — Every third Friday, 11:30 a.m. Contact Kevin Johnson at (803) 7780303.

SATURDAY MEETINGS: Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy/Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Support Group — 1:30 p.m. every third Saturday, 3785 Blackberry Lane, Lot 7. Call Donna Parker at (803) 481-7521.

TODAY

TONIGHT

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Plenty of sunshine

Clear to partly cloudy

Sunshine mixing with some clouds

Sunny

Sunshine mixing with some clouds

A little rain in the afternoon

48°

27°

56° / 39°

56° / 26°

49° / 34°

56° / 49°

Chance of rain: 0%

Chance of rain: 0%

Chance of rain: 5%

Chance of rain: 0%

Chance of rain: 5%

Chance of rain: 65%

NNW 7-14 mph

VAR 2-4 mph

SSW 6-12 mph

NNW 8-16 mph

E 6-12 mph

SE 7-14 mph

TODAY’S SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER

Gaffney 47/27 Spartanburg 50/29

Greenville 50/29

Columbia 50/27

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

Sumter 48/27

IN THE MOUNTAINS Aiken 51/27

ON THE COAST

Charleston 48/28

Today: Plenty of sunshine. High 46 to 50.

Thursday: Sunshine mixing with some clouds; warmer. High 53 to 57.

LOCAL ALMANAC

LAKE LEVELS

SUMTER THROUGH 4 P.M. YESTERDAY

Today Hi/Lo/W 53/34/s 35/31/pc 78/52/s 28/23/pc 73/51/s 74/56/pc 64/47/s 31/17/s 62/42/s 31/16/s 76/55/pc 63/49/pc 37/24/s

SUN AND MOON 7 a.m. yest.

357.74 74.37 73.82 96.23

24-hr chg none +0.16 +0.06 -0.05

Sunrise 7:22 a.m.

Moonrise 12:51 p.m.

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

trace 4.80" 3.45" 4.80" 2.50" 3.45"

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

49° 30° 56° 33° 79° in 1949 17° 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

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 56/36/s 40/18/sn 67/40/s 38/12/sn 73/50/s 73/55/sh 73/49/s 34/32/pc 69/47/s 35/31/pc 74/59/c 60/49/pc 41/35/c

Myrtle Beach 47/31

Manning 49/26

Today: Plenty of sun. Winds light and variable.

Thursday: A passing shower in the afternoon. Winds southwest 6-12 mph.

Temperature High Low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

Florence 47/28

Bishopville 49/26

Sunset Moonset

5:48 p.m.

1:54 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Feb. 3

Feb. 11

Feb. 18

Feb. 25

TIDES

Flood 7 a.m. 24-hr stage yest. chg 12 9.32 -0.03 19 4.60 -1.24 14 8.39 -0.05 14 5.11 +1.00 80 78.89 +0.36 24 8.96 -3.28

AT MYRTLE BEACH

High 3:29 a.m.

3:56 p.m.

4:32 a.m.

4:56 p.m.

Today Thu.

Ht. 3.0 2.6 3.0 2.6

Low Ht. 10:30 a.m. 0.2 10:42 p.m. -0.2 11:33 a.m. 0.2 11:41 p.m. -0.2

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 45/24/s 53/28/s 51/25/s 51/32/s 38/31/s 48/28/s 47/27/s 52/32/s 50/27/s 47/28/s 41/25/s 45/26/s 47/25/s

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 50/29/c 55/35/s 57/39/s 58/45/s 47/42/s 58/43/s 52/33/pc 55/36/c 58/39/s 53/37/s 48/37/s 52/37/s 52/36/s

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 47/28/s 58/31/s 47/27/s 45/25/s 48/28/s 45/26/s 50/29/s 47/27/s 49/37/s 55/32/s 57/33/s 53/27/s 52/31/s

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 54/38/s 65/40/s 52/33/pc 50/35/s 58/44/s 49/31/c 53/33/s 50/33/c 56/47/s 64/43/s 62/39/s 58/38/s 56/35/pc

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 48/22/s 48/32/s 47/31/s 49/28/s 50/34/s 44/25/s 47/26/s 47/22/s 52/30/s 50/29/s 49/36/s 46/25/s 45/26/s

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 50/32/c 58/45/s 52/44/s 57/41/s 57/46/s 49/33/s 52/34/pc 52/35/s 61/44/s 53/36/pc 56/46/s 52/42/s 48/31/c

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 CITY-COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION Today, 3 p.m., Sumter Opera House, 21 N. Main St., fourth floor, City Council Chambers

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

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Open up EUGENIA LAST conversations with people you believe have something to contribute. Stretch your imagination and diversify your goals until you find common ground with the people you want to include in your plans. Don’t make or give in to demands.

The last word in astrology

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Concentrate on your responsibilities before someone complains. Don’t be afraid to take a different approach when faced with a challenge. The solutions you come up with will far exceed those of anyone competing with you.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You can make changes, but don’t expect everyone to follow your lead.

Expanding your living quarters or indulging in something that will make your personal life more fulfilling should be your goal. Don’t give in to someone using emotional blackmail.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Do things differently. The more unique you are, the more attention you will get. A partnership will undergo change based on what you implement into your lifestyle and how you want to move forward. Do what you want, not what others demand.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Opportunities to travel, learn and interact with people you find interesting are apparent. Do your best to avoid an emotional situation that is geared to disrupt your plans for success. Follow your heart and don’t look back.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Don’t neglect a relationship or your domestic duties. Your ability to work efficiently in the workplace will depend on how smoothly things are running in your personal life. Emotions will surface if

pressure is allowed to mount.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You can make a difference at home and to someone you are in a partnership with if you are willing to compromise and look for an amicable solution. A creative or entertaining event will spark an interesting alternative.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your hard work will bring excellent results as long as you stick to a budget and your plans are realistic.

Don’t let someone trying to mastermind a grand plan persuade you into taking on more than you can handle.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Keep your wits about you. Not everyone will understand or sympathize with your arguments.

Take a defensive approach to any changes being brought about by outside influences. A disciplined strategy and strong willpower will help you come out on top.

LOTTERY NUMBERS PALMETTO CASH 5 TUESDAY

POWERBALL SATURDAY

1-4-19-28-34 PowerUp: 2

16-19-20-29-33 Powerball: 10; Powerplay: 2

PICK 3 TUESDAY

PICK 4 TUESDAY

8-1-4 and 2-3-9

4-6-1-2 and 0-8-4-4

MEGAMILLIONS numbers were unavailable at press time.

PICTURES FROM THE PUBLIC

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The past can reveal important information that will help you get through a trying time now. Don’t let the changes others make throw you off your game. Keep in mind that it’s OK to go it alone. Love is in the stars.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Keep a close watch over your possessions, important relationships and how others treat you. Don’t be fooled by any insincere gestures. Be careful not to let your emotions take over. Having reservations will save you from making a mistake.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Wait and watch. Keep past experiences in mind and you will avoid making a mistake that can affect your reputation or reveal personal information that you wish to keep a secret. Self-improvement is your best course of action.

Biana Romanyk comments on her photo submission of Bamburgh Castle at Bamburgh in Northumberland, England, “My husband and I recently went to Great Britain in September. We did our own castle tour of the country.”

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

SECTION

Nadal ousted; Sharapova advances B4

B

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

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

PREP BASKETBALL

VEASEY CONWAY / MORNING NEWS

Lady Gamecocks topple WF 62-45

West Florence High School’s Kortni Simmons, center, goes up for a shot as Sumter High’s Jessica Harris, right, and Kadejuha Kennedy defend during the Lady Gamecocks’ 62-45 victory on Tuesday in Florence.

Decisive victory gives Sumter lead in region, claim to No. 1 spot in state

BY EDDIE LITAKER Special To The Sumter Item FLORENCE — Sumter High School’s varsity girls basketball team entered West Florence’s version of The Castle on Tuesday as the No. 2 4A team in the state.

After pulling off a convincing 62-45 victory over the top-ranked Lady Knights, the Lady Gamecocks seem poised to take over the top spot when the polls are released next week.

More importantly, Sumter took over Region VI’s top spot, improving to 17-2 overall and a per-

fect 5-0 in the region. Meanwhile, West Florence saw an 11-game winning streak come to an end while falling to 17-2 overall and 4-1.

The Lady Gamecocks led pretty much wire to wire, trailing just briefly in the third quarter.

Sumter got out to a 9-0 lead at the start, only to see West Florence storm back to trail just 12-9 after one quarter. During the Lady Knights’ 9-3 run to close the quarter, Nijah Davis and Kadejuha Kennedy picked up two fouls apiece in rapid succession. Jessica Harris then was whistled for

her second foul early in the second quarter.

Sumter head coach Jason Loudenslager, whose team won its 13th consecutive game, said the early foul trouble among his starters broke up his game plan slightly.

“I planned on having our best players playing in the first half, but that was kind of taken away from us a little bit,” Loudenslager said. “But I thought our bench really stepped up and got us through that first half until we

No experience necessary Young LMA boys grab region lead; WH girls stay on top with victory

PREP FOOTBALL

Crolley, Noonan among list of applicants for SHS coaching job

BY DENNIS BRUNSON dennis@theitem.com

BY MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER michaelc@theitem.com MANNING — There was no lack of intensity as the Wilson Hall varsity girls and Laurence Manning Academy varsity boys basketball teams took a step forward in the progression toward their region destiny with victories over their rivals on Tuesday at Bubba Davis gymnasium.

In the boys game, LMA proved it could compete despite its lack of experience.

It starts two freshmen, two sophomores and a junior, and doesn’t have a senior on the team, but it came away with a 43-39 victory over the Barons “We’re very inexperienced and we won a close game against a great, wellcoached team in Wilson Hall,” LMA head coach Will Epps said. “I’m proud of my guys. It was not pretty, but we gutted it out.”

LMA’s Maliq Cokely hit a 3-point shot with less than two minutes to play, then converted on two of four free throws that helped the Swampcats stay a perfect 4-0 in SCISA Region II-3A and improve to 9-9 overall.

“We told the guys coming in we had to make sure we played hard and that we didn’t let them play harder than us,” Epps said. “And in my opinion, it was an equally played game as far as intensity and effort.

There was a lot of banging, flying and diving around and the referees let us play.”

Cokely, who finished with nine points, connected on the Swampcats only trey of the game to put them up

SEE LMA, PAGE B2

SEE LADY GAMECOCKS, PAGE B2

KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM

Laurence Manning’s Rashaad Robinson (21) puts up a shot as Wilson Hall’s Jake Croft (22) looks on during the Swampcats’ 43-39 victory on Tuesday at Bubba Davis Gymnasium.

There is a lot of interest in the vacant head football coaching position at Sumter High School.

There were nearly 50 applications turned in for the job, according to Sumter High athletic director Terrence Scriven.

The application process came to an end on Sunday and some interesting names have confirmed they have applied for the job.

Wando High head coach Jimmy Noonan and Westwood CROLLEY wide receivers coach Keith West, both finalists for the job last season and Shrine Bowl performers at Sumter, have applied. Also, former Crestwood head coach Keith Crolley has applied as have Chad Hoshour and Grayson Howell, the defensive coordinator and offensive coordinator, respectively, for head coach Paul Sorrells when he resigned following the 2012 season.

Sumter is looking for its fourth head coach in four years.

After Sorrells resigned after 14 years in the position, Reggie Kennedy was hired. He led the Gamecocks to a 9-6 record and to the 4A Division I state championship game in ‘13, but left for the head football job and athletic director position at Irmo in May of ‘14.

Kennedy’s offensive coordinator, John Jones, was hired as his replacement. Jones led SHS to a 7-5 record this past season and a first-round exit in the state playoffs. Jones resigned earlier this month to take a similar position at Darlington.

Scriven said a list of finalists will be selected after all of the applications have been reviewed.

He did not say who would be

SEE SHS JOB, PAGE B2

PRO FOOTBALL

Belichick and The Beast talk, don’t say much at Media Day

BY EDDIE PELLS The Associated Press PHOENIX — Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch knew he had to talk. It didn’t mean he had to say anything.

So, in essence, he didn’t.

And now, onto our regularly scheduled Super Bowl Media Day, where the players and coaches are window dressing, and it’s really more about who’s asking the questions.

There was Barrel Boy. A pair of buck-toothed sock puppets. A guy sporting a purple shirt, a bicycle helmet and seven Go Pro cameras, “so I can catch all the angles, precisely.’’

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

New England head coach Bill Belichick, right, answers questions on Tuesday during Super Bowl XLIX Media Day in Phoenix.

These characters are the sort that have helped turn an event that began as a conve-

nient place to fill up the notebook in advance of the NFL title game into the full-fledged

theatre of the absurd it has become.

On Tuesday, about 2,000 re-

porters — make that people with credentials — filed into the U.S. Airways Center, worked their way down the stairs past a marching band playing a version of Blondie’s 1980 hit, “Call Me,’’ and got down to business.

The New England Patriots filed in and the clock started ticking down from “60:00.’’

As the reporters, cameramen and Nickelodeon superhero Pick Boy elbowed for position, the questions began.

As expected, New England coach Bill Belichick wasn’t forthcoming about much. But now, thanks to a question asked by a kid, we know his

SEE MEDIA DAY, PAGE B3

B2

|

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

BOYS AREA ROUNDUP

St. Francis falls to Colleton Prep 53-51 St. Francis Xavier High School’s varsity boys basketball team lost to Colleton Prep 53-51 on Tuesday at Birnie Hope Center.

Justin Lyons led SFX with 25 points. Dalton Foreman added 23.

On Saturday in St. George, the Padres lost to Dorchester Academy 81-33. Foreman led St. Francis with 19.

JV BASKETBALL LAURENCE MANNING 40 WILSON HALL 31 MANNING — Wilson fell to 5-9 on the season with a 40-31 loss to Laurence Manning Academy on Tuesday at Bubba Davis Gymnasium.

Taylor Lee led LMA with 13 points. Blake Scott led the Barons with six.

B TEAM BASKETBALL WILSON HALL 32 CAMDEN MILITARY 23 Wilson Hall improved to 9-6 with a 32-23 victory over Camden Military on Tuesday at Nash Student Center.

Landon Scott led the Barons with eight points and Landon Van Patten added six.

SUMTER 46 ORANGEBURG-WILKINSON 26

Sumter High School beat Orangeburg-Wilkinson 46-26 on Monday at the SHS gym.

Ronald McGee and Jordan Gregg each had eight points to lead the Gamecocks.

WILSON HALL 39 ORANGEBURG PREP 27

ORANGEBURG — Wilson Hall defeated Orangeburg Prep 39-27 on Monday at the OP gymnasium.

Wilson Hall, which improved to 8-6, was led by Chandler Stone’s 15 points.

LAURENCE MANNING 52 CALHOUN ACADEMY 25

ST. MATTHEWS -- Laurence Manning Academy defeated Calhoun Academy 52-25 on Monday at the Calhoun gym.

Luke DeCosta led 7-2 LMA with 13 points. Chase Lee had 11 points and Wyatt Rowland added eight.

CRESTWOOD 37

Crestwood High School defeated Marlboro County 37-18 on Monday at The Castle.

Deion Van Buren led the Knights with 12 points.

Miller-McCray’s triple-double powers Crestwood past MCHS

LAKEWOOD 53 HARTSVILLE 45

ning Academy on Tuesday at Bubba Davis Gymnasium.

Katie Duffy led the Lady Barons with 10 points, Zan Beasley had eight and Betsy Noyes had seven.

THOMAS SUMTER 23 TRINITY-BYRNES 7

DARLINGTON — Thomas Sumter Academy defeated Trinity-Byrnes 23-7 on Monday at the T-B gymnasium.

Caetlyn Martin led TSA with eight points. Carmen Silvester added six points and four steals.

B TEAM BASKETBALL ROBERT E. LEE 25

HARTSVILLE – Lakewood High School remained undefeated in Region VI-3A with a 53-45 victory over Hartsville on Tuesday at the Hartsville gymnasium.

Sonora Dengokl led the Lady Gators, who improved to 17-3 overall and 6-0 in region play, with 23 points. Shalexia Pack finished with 16.

THOMAS SUMTER 11 BISHOPVILLE — Robert E. Lee Academy improved to 7-1 with a 25-11 victory over Thomas Sumter Academy on Tuesday at the REL gymnasium.

Rebecca Dinkins led REL with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

THOMAS SUMTER 24

LAURENCE MANNING 26

TRINITY-BYRNES 18

CALHOUN ACADEMY 7

DARLINGTON — Thomas Sumter Academy defeated Trinity-Byrnes 24-18 on Monday at the T-B gymnasium.

Latrice Lyons led the Lady Generals with 10 points. Taylor Knudson added eight.

ST. MATTHEWS — Laurence Manning Academy defeated Calhoun Academy 26-7 on Monday at the Calhoun gymnasium to improve to 6-3.

Katherine Burns led LMA with eight points.

THOMAS SUMTER Lyons 10, Knudson 8, Hawkins 2, Jenkins 2, Chappell 2.

TRINITY-BYRNES Goodson 4, Ferrell 9, Gregg 3, Scott 2.

MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL

SUMTER 62 SOCASTEE 43 MYRTLE BEACH — Kadejuha Kennedy connected on four 3-point shots to lead Sumter High School to a 62-43 victory over Socastee on Friday at the Socastee gymnasium.

Kennedy and Cydanisha Cooper led the Lady Gamecocks with 16 points apiece.

Jessica Harris added 15.

JUNIOR VARSITY BASKETBALL WILSON HALL 55 LAURENCE MANNING 13

MANNING — Wilson Hall improved to 11-0 with a 55-13 victory over Laurence Man-

LMA FROM PAGE B1 39-38 and after Rashaad Robinson added a put back LMA had a 41-38 lead with 1:49 to play.

The Barons, who fell to 6-11 overall and 3-1 in league play, were held to without a field goal for the last minute and 22 seconds of the game and shot just 1 of 3 from the charity stripe.

John Ballard tied the game at 36-36 with three and half minutes to play but turnovers hurt down the stretch.

“I didn’t think either team backed down,” Wilson Hall head coach Eddie Talley said. “You’re going to miss some shots sometimes and have some turnovers, but I just felt like we had too many of those tonight. We had some bad turnovers that allowed them some easy baskets and that was the difference.”

WH had a 23-11 lead thanks to a 10-1 run to open the second quarter, but LMA answered with a 9-0 run to make it a 23-20 deficit. LMA’s Jerrell Kelley had an 8-0 personal run that helped build a 34-30 lead early into the fourth. He finished with a game- and

THE SUMTER ITEM team-high 18 points. Cokely finished with nine points and Robinson added eight.

The Barons finished with three players scoring in double figures, led by Ballards’ 13 points. Drew Talley finished with 12 and Brent Carraway added 12.

Despite the loss, Talley said his team isn’t out of the region race yet.

“We just know that we didn’t lose the conference tonight, but that just means we’ve got to take care of business from here on out,” the Barons coach said.

“We’ve got our next conference game on Friday, and we’ve got to go on the road so we’ve got to play better than we did tonight.”

In the girls game, the Lady Barons improved to 14-4 overall and are now perfect through the first half of the region schedule after a 47-31 victory.

“I felt like in the first half we did a nice job of taking care of the basketball; we didn’t have a lot of turnovers,” Wilson Hall head coach Glen Rector said. “We had a lot of scoring opportunities and didn’t necessarily capitalize on them, but we were really getting good shots in the first half which

I thought was good. On offense we we’re not moving as much as I’d like to but we were getting very good shots out of it.”

The WH defense held down the LMA offense as the Lady Barons scored in double digits in each quarter while holding its opponent to no more than nine points, which came in the second and final stanzas. The Lady Barons also shared the ball well as evident by seven of 12 players entering in the scoring column.

Wilson Hall used two 6-0 runs in the first and second quarters to help build a 24-16 halftime lead. LMA was hurt by 16 first-half turnovers, but was led by Brooke Bennett’s eight points. Lauren Goodson and Holly Scott accounted for all ofthe Lady Barons’ scoring in the second quarter. Goodson pitched in 10 while Holly Scott hit a 3-pointer.

Goodson finished with a game and team-high 14 points while Nicolette Fisher and Scott each had nine.

The Lady Swampcats, now 4-14 overall and winless at 0-4 in region play, were also hurt by not finishing their shots, according to their head coach.

MARLBORO COUNTY 18

GIRLS AREA ROUNDUP

BENNETTSVILLE — Shaquanda Miller-McCray had a triple-double to lead Crestwood High School’s varsity girls basketball team to a 61-33 victory over Marlboro County on Tuesday at the Marlboro gymnasium.

Miller-McCray had 12 points, 11 rebounds and 12 blocked shots for the Lady Knights, who improved to 5-1 in Region VI-3A. Cawasha Ceasar added 15 points and Avis Murphy had a doubledouble with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

SPORTS

CHESTNUT OAKS 35 BATES 26

Chestnut Oaks Middle School defeated Bates 35-26 on Monday at the Chestnut Oaks gymnasium.

Cernesie Wells led the Lady Falcons with 13 points. Gynesia Jackson added six.

FURMAN 50 HILLCREST 25

Furman Middle School had three players score in double figures in a 50-25 victory over Hillcrest on Monday at the Furman gymnasium.

Kiari Cain and Lashayla Harvin led the Lady Indians with 11 points apiece. Rahteisha Burgess added 10 and Myla Wilson had eight.

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(803) 774-1200

LADY GAMECOCKS FROM PAGE B1 got our starting five back out there. Then we put the foot down and really took it to them, and I thought we did kind of what we expected to do today. Luckily we’ve got some kids on that bench that can play, and they really came through for us tonight.”

West Florence pulled within one on two occasions in the second quarter, but could never get the lead. Sumter used a 6-0 run, including a Cy Cooper 3-point basket, to pull out to a 24-16 lead, only to see Timesha Bolling answer with consecutive 3s and pull the Lady Knights back within two. West Florence had one last chance to tie or take the lead in the last minute of the quarter, but Kennedy came away with a steal and layup to give the Lady Gamecocks a 26-22 lead at the break.

The Lady Knights gained their first and only lead of the game, 27-26, after Kortni Simmons hit a 3 and Destinee Walker hit a jumper in the lane. Jessica Harris knocked down a 3 of her own to put the Lady Gamecocks back up by two ahead of Kyra Wilson and Simmons swapping 5-point runs to leave the score at 34-32 with 5:30 to go in the quarter.

A Wilson free throw would prove to be the start of a decisive 14-2 run that would leave the Lady Gamecocks up by 13 before a Zadia Davis bucket on the low post made the score 47-36 heading to the final quarter.

A Walker 3 to open the fourth pulled West Florence within eight, but a reverse layup

by Harris pushed the lead back to 10. From that point on, the Sumter lead never went

SHS JOB FROM PAGE B1 part of the committee that will conduct the interviews.

Noonan was a Shrine Bowl fullback on Sumter’s 1987 4A DI state championship team.

Noonan was the head coach at Spring Valley for eight years, posting a 58-42 record before going to Wilson Hall for one season. Noonan was 11-1 with Wilson Hall in 2007.

He went to Wando as an offensive coordinator and became the head coach the next year. He is 34-38 in six years at Wando, going 6-6 this past season.

Crolley was head coach at Crestwood for 16 years before resigning following the

back to single digits, with the final score representing the Lady Gamecocks’ largest lead of the night.

“That says a lot about our team,” Loudenslager said of his team’s response to the West Florence rally to open the half. “We were never up a lot, but we were up six or seven it seemed a good chunk of that first half and they came back and took that from us. The biggest thing is we weren’t really worried. Normally we call a timeout in that situation, but the bottom line was we had played an even game with our bench against their starters in the first half, so we felt like we were going to be okay in that second half.”

Harris finished with 20 points, including 12 of 14 shooting at the free throw line.

Eight of those successful attempts came in the final quarter. Wilson, Davis and Cooper also played large roles as Wilson had a double-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds and four steals. Cooper came one point shy of a double-double, closing with nine points and 18 of her team’s season-high 42 rebounds.

Davis, who learned before the game that she had been selected as a Carolina Classic All-Star, also contributed nine points for Sumter.

Simmons, a Wake Forest signee, led the Lady Knights with 18 points.

In the boys game, Sumter led 30-21 at halftime but saw its lead evaporate in the second half as West Florence rallied for a 60-46 victory.

Brandon Parker scored nine to lead the Gamecocks, who fell to 9-6 and 3-2.

Bryson Williams finished with 15 and Desmond Eaddy added 11 for the Knights, who improved to 14-7 and 3-2.

‘13 season. Crolley, who still works in Sumter School District, went 100-87 with the Knights. He led the Knights to 11 playoff appearances, one 12-win season and two 11-win seasons. They played in the 3A lower state championship once and twice reached the third round of the playoffs.

Howell is a 1989 graduate of SHS and was an assistant for 13 years, the final 10 as the OC. When Sorrells resigned following the ‘12 season, Howell applied for several jobs, including the Sumter job. He was hired as the head coach at Easley. He stayed there for two years before resigning at the end of the ‘14 season. He was 9-14 at Easley.

Hoshour was a star baseball player and a quarterback for SHS before becoming the defensive coordinator under Sorrells. He still teaches at Sumter, although he was not part of the staff for either Kennedy or Jones.

West was the quarterback on Sumter’s ‘87 championship team. He was on the Sumter coaching staff before going on to schools such as Greenwood, Ridge View and Westwood. He was the offensive coordinator at Ridge View, but has never been a head coach.

It isn’t known if Ronnie Baker, the defensive coordinator for both Kennedy and Jones and a finalist for the job last season, has applied for the job.

SPORTS

THE SUMTER ITEM

SPORTS ITEMS

Jury convicts 2 ex-Vandy players of raping woman NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A jury has convicted two exVanderbilt football players of raping a former student inside a dorm room.

The jury deliberated for about three hours before finding Brandon Vandenburg and Cory Batey BATEY guilty. They face decades in prison.

Prosecutors say Vandenburg brought an unconscious 21-year-old woman he had VANDENBURG been seeing back to his dorm room after a night of drinking in 2013 and the assault occurred as he took pictures.

Defense attorneys say Vandenburg took “deplorable’’ photos but did not take part in the assault. Batey testified that he was so drunk he didn’t remember what happened until he later saw cellphone photos and video.

The alleged victim testified she didn’t remember the alleged assault.

RBC HERITAGE GOLF COURSE TO UNDERGO RENOVATIONS HILTON HEAD ISLAND — Harbour Town Golf Links will get spruced up after next April’s PGA Tour event, the RBC Heritage.

The Sea Pines Resort said

MEDIA DAY FROM PAGE B1 favorite stuffed animals are those cute little monkeys you put your fingers in to make them talk.

Those wishing to someday see Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s etchings were in luck.

Sort of. A sketch artist got a credential and spent the morning penning out pictures of the Man himself: Life imitating art imitating Leroy Neiman.

Looking for a Joe Namathlike guarantee at Media Day? “The game will be on Sunday,’’ promised Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski.

Oh, there were moments of actual reporting going on — some even done by people other than ESPN’s Chris Berman, NFL Network’s Deion Sanders and the rest of the reporter-celebrity crowd that fields as many questions as they ask.

Patriots owner Bob Kraft, who had his last say on the deflated-footballs matter during a surprise showing at the New England news conference Monday, came out Tuesday and stood in a corner — not to talk about Deflategate, but, among other things, to talk about why he talked about Deflategate.

Tuesday the course would close for the summer season, starting in May, so tee-boxes, fairways, rough and greens can be renovated. The tee-boxes, fairways and rough would be replaced with Celebration Bermuda grass. The greens at Harbour Town will be regrassed with Tif-Eagle Bermuda, the same type that has been on the putting surfaces since 2001.

There also will be a new irrigation system installed to improve water management and control.

The project is expected to be finished and the course reopened in late September.

The RBC Heritage will be played from April 16-19.

(14) VCU 72 GEORGE WASHINGTON 48 RICHMOND, Va. — Freshman Terry Larrier scored 15 points and No. 14 VCU pulled away with a 16-2 run early in the second half to beat George Washington 72-48 on Tuesday night for its 12th consecutive victory.

Larrier’s point total was his highest since conference play began for the Rams (17-3, 7-0 Atlantic 10), and it came on a night when VCU scoring leader Treveon Graham managed just seven points on a still-tender left ankle.

From wire reports

“The reason I did what I did yesterday was so that all of our fans and (me) and my family can enjoy this game,’’ he said.

Belichick stood by his guns.

He wasn’t going to mention it anymore: “We’re just focused on Seattle this week,’’ he said.

Speaking of Seattle, about a half-hour before the Seahawks took to the floor at the jammed, claustrophobic arena that the NBA’s Phoenix Suns call home, a crowd started gathering around Podium No. 6. Lynch’s name was up there. Quite a surprise, considering he spent last year’s Media Day in a corner, surrounded by teammates who wouldn’t let any reporters near him.

An hour with “The Beast?’’

Seemed promising.

Then, he climbed the stairs, set his timer, said he was doing this so he wouldn’t get fined and pronounced he would answer every question the same way until his time was up. That ended with about 57:30 remaining on the countdown clock, and it’s not a sure thing he was right about the fine thing. The Pro Football Writers Association is talking to the league about what happened and Lynch has been told there’s a potential he could, indeed, have to pay up for leaving early.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

SCOREBOARD

San Antonio New Orleans NORTHWEST DIVISION

TV, RADIO

Portland Oklahoma City Denver Utah Minnesota PACIFIC DIVISION

TODAY

2 p.m. -- LPGA Golf: Coates Golf Championship First Round from Ocala, Fla. (GOLF).

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

6 p.m. -- High School Basketball: McDonald’s All-American Selection Show from Charlotte (ESPNU).

6 p.m. -- International Soccer: United States vs. Chile from Rancagua, Chile (FOX SPORTS 1).

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

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

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Southern Methodist at South Florida (ESPNU).

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Seton Hall at Marquette (FOX SPORTS 2).

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Wake Forest at Florida State (FOX SPORTSOUTH).

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: South Carolina at Louisiana State (SEC NETWORK, WDXY-FM 105.9, WNKT-FM 107.5, WDXY-AM 1240).

7:30 p.m. -- College Basketball: Texas Tech at Oklahoma (ESPNEWS).

7:30 p.m. -- College Basketball: Duke at Notre Dame (ESPN2).

8 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Brooklyn at Atlanta (ESPN).

8 p.m. -- NHL Hockey: Pittsburgh at Washington (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

8:30 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Charlotte at San Antonio (SPORTSOUTH).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: East Carolina at Memphis (CBS SPORTS NETWORK).

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

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: St. John’s at Creighton (FOX SPORTS 1).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Georgia Tech at Miami (FOX SPORTSOUTH).

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

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Clemson at North Carolina State (WWBD-FM 94.7, WPUB-FM 102.7).

9:30 p.m. -- Professional Tennis: Australian Open Women’s Semifinal Matches from Melbourne, Australia (ESPN2).

10:30 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Washington at Phoenix (ESPN).

10:30 p.m. -- NHL Hockey: Chicago at Los Angeles (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

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

1 a.m. -- Professional Golf: European PGA Tour Dubai Desert Classic First Round from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (GOLF).

3:30 a.m. -- Professional Tennis: Australian Open Men’s Semifinal Match from Melbourne, Australia (ESPN).

PREP SCHEDULE TODAY

B Team Basketball Laurence Manning at Thomas Sumter, 6 p.m.

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

THURSDAY

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

Varsity and JV Basketball The King’s Academy at Laurence Manning, 4 p.m.

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

Crestwood at Manning, 6 p.m.

Lakewood at Darlington, 6 p.m.

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

Middle School Basketball Chestnut Oaks at Alice Drive, 5 p.m.

Bates at Ebenezer, 5 p.m.

Mayewood at Hillcrest, 5 p.m.

Hannah-Pamplico at Scott’s Branch, 5:30 p.m.

NBA STANDINGS

By The Associated Press EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION Toronto Brooklyn Boston New York Philadelphia SOUTHEAST DIVISION Atlanta Washington Miami Charlotte Orlando CENTRAL DIVISION Chicago Cleveland Milwaukee Detroit Indiana

W 29 18 16 8 8

L 15 26 27 37 37

Pct .659 .409 .372 .178 .178

GB – 11 12 1/2 21 1/2 21 1/2

W 37 30 20 19 15

L 8 15 24 26 33

Pct .822 .667 .455 .422 .313

GB – 7 16 1/2 18 23 1/2

W 29 25 22 17 16

L 17 20 22 28 30

Pct .630 .556 .500 .378 .348

GB – 3 1/2 6 11 1/2 13

L 12 14 15

Pct .727 .689 .667

GB – 1 1/2 2 1/2

WESTERN CONFERENCE SOUTHWEST DIVISION Memphis Houston Dallas

W 32 31 30

what is stars & stripes?

Golden State L.A. Clippers Phoenix Sacramento L.A. Lakers

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B3

29 24

17 21

.630 .533

4 8 1/2

W 32 23 18 16 7

L 13 22 27 29 37

Pct .711 .511 .400 .356 .159

GB – 9 14 16 24 1/2

W 36 31 26 16 12

L 6 14 20 27 33

Pct .857 .689 .565 .372 .267

GB – 6 1/2 12 20 1/2 25 1/2

MONDAY’S GAMES

Portland at Brooklyn, ppd., snow Sacramento at New York, ppd., snow New Orleans 99, Philadelphia 74 Oklahoma City 92, Minnesota 84 Memphis 103, Orlando 94 Boston 99, Utah 90 L.A. Clippers 102, Denver 98

TUESDAY’S GAMES

Toronto at Indiana, 7 p.m.

Milwaukee at Miami, 7:30 p.m.

Cleveland at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.

Memphis at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

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

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

TODAY’S GAMES

Detroit at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Portland at Cleveland, 7 p.m.

Sacramento at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.

Denver at New Orleans, 8 p.m.

Dallas at Houston, 8 p.m.

Boston at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

Brooklyn at Atlanta, 8 p.m.

Oklahoma City at New York, 8 p.m.

Charlotte at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.

L.A. Clippers at Utah, 9 p.m.

Washington at Phoenix, 10:30 p.m.

NFL PLAYOFFS The Associated Press SUPER BOWL XLIX

Sunday At Glendale, Ariz.

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

NHL STANDINGS

By The Associated Press EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION GP Tampa Bay 48 Detroit 47 Montreal 45 Boston 48 Florida 44 Ottawa 46 Toronto 48 Buffalo 47 METROPOLITAN DIVISION GP N.Y. Islanders 46 Pittsburgh 46 N.Y. Rangers 44 Washington 46 Philadelphia 48 Columbus 45 New Jersey 47 Carolina 46

W 30 27 29 25 20 19 22 14

L 14 11 13 16 14 18 23 30

OT 4 9 3 7 10 9 3 3

Pts 64 63 61 57 50 47 47 31

GF 156 139 123 126 107 126 142 89

GA 127 119 106 121 122 128 150 167

W 31 26 27 24 19 20 17 16

L 14 12 13 13 22 22 22 25

OT 1 8 4 9 7 3 8 5

Pts 63 60 58 57 45 43 42 37

GF 151 138 134 137 130 113 107 98

GA 129 117 106 120 146 142 134 120

L 10 13 15 14 18 18 20

OT 5 4 2 8 10 7 6

Pts 65 62 62 60 50 49 46

GF 137 148 148 135 125 144 128

GA 104 111 108 117 137 151 137

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

GP 45 46 47 48 48 46 46

W 30 29 30 26 20 21 20

GP W L OT Pts GF GA Anaheim 47 31 10 6 68 139 124 San Jose 48 25 17 6 56 131 132 Vancouver 45 26 16 3 55 124 114 Calgary 47 25 19 3 53 136 125 Los Angeles 47 20 15 12 52 129 126 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.

MONDAY’S GAMES

No games scheduled

TUESDAY’S GAMES

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

Arizona at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Winnipeg at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Washington at Columbus, 7 p.m.

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

Dallas at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

Detroit at Florida, 7:30 p.m.

Colorado at Nashville, 8 p.m.

Buffalo at Calgary, 9 p.m.

Minnesota at Edmonton, 9:30 p.m.

Anaheim at Vancouver, 10 p.m.

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

Toronto at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Washington, 8 p.m.

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

Volume 7, No.

6 ©SS 201 5

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

SPORTS

THE SUMTER ITEM

PRO TENNIS

Nadal loses; Sharapova to play all-Russian semi in Australia

BY DENNIS PASSA The Associated Press MELBOURNE, Australia — Rafael Nadal has joined Roger Federer on the sidelines at the Australian Open, taking their combined 31 Grand Slam singles titles with them.

On the women’s side, second-seeded Maria Sharapova, who beat Eugenie Bouchard on Tuesday, and Ekaterina Makarova are still around and will play an all-Russian semifinal.

Nadal’s lack of match fitness from nearly six months of injuries and illness finally caught up with the 14-time major champion in his quarterfinal match against Tomas Berdych. He was never much of a factor and lost 6-2, 6-0, 7-6 (5).

The third-seeded Nadal said before the tournament that his inactivity over the last half of 2014 made him unlikely to win more than a few

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rafael Nadal makes a forehand return to Tomas Berdych during their quarterfinal match on Tuesday in the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia. Berdych upset Nadal 6-2, 6-0, 7-6 (5). rounds. Coming into the Australian Open, Nadal had played only eight matches since last June because of a right wrist injury and appendix surgery in November.

Federer, who has 17 major titles, including four in Australia, departed Melbourne Park after an upset thirdround loss to Andrea Seppi.

Nadal said he was surprised

she was the daughter of the late Charles Martin Roth and Ethel P. Mace Roth. Mrs. Huffine was a memHUFFINE ber of Ohio City United Methodist Church in Ohio City, Ohio, and attended First Southern Methodist Church of Sumter.

She and her husband operated a small farm in Ohio prior to their retirement. Mrs. Huffine was an avid letter writer.

Survivors include one daughter, Janice Breitwieser and her husband, Helmut, of Sumter; four grandchildren, Tammy Robinson (John), Angela Keith (Larry), Jeffrey Breitwieser (fiancé, Martha Duncan) and Stacey Schmierer (Duane); 10 great-grandchildren, Kayla, Lindsey, Michael, Sarah, Riley, Madalyn, Kathryn, Joseph, Luke and Olivia; and a special friend, Dora Polk, with whom she shared many laughs.

She was preceded in death by a son, Charles Vernon Huffine.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Ellison Evans officiating.

The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home.

A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert, Ohio.

Memorials may be made to First Southern Methodist Church, 321 Miller Road, Sumter, or to Ohio City United Methodist Church, 110 North Main St., Ohio City, Ohio 45874.

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

thy can be left at www.whitesmortuary.net.

Services entrusted to Whites Mortuary LLC, 517 N Guignard Drive, Sumter. (803) 774-8200

to have advanced as far as he did in Melbourne.

“It is obvious that I needed something more to be more competitive,’’ Nadal said. “As I said when I arrived here, the process always is not easy.

When you have injuries, comebacks are difficult. But without being at my top level of tennis, I was able to be here in quarterfinals. Is not a bad result at all for me.’’

Berdych said, “I was ready for everything and I think that was the difference ... when you’re playing Rafa you have to keep going to the last point.’’

The seventh-seeded Berdych, who had lost 17 straight matches to Nadal, will play sixth-seeded Andy Murray in the semifinals after the British player beat local hope Nick Kyrgios 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3 in a night match.

Kyrgios came back from two sets down and saved a match point in the fourth round Sunday before beating

Italian Andreas Seppi, the player who had eliminated Federer, but there was no such comeback on Tuesday.

Sharapova moved closer to another Australian Open title, defeating 20-year-old Bouchard 6-3, 6-2.The Russian made all the big points look easy and advanced to play Makarova, who earlier beat thirdseeded Simona Halep 6-4, 6-0.

“I felt pretty good from the start, didn’t feel I had too many letdowns,’’ Sharapova said, adding that her close call in the second round — facing two match points against a qualifier — sharpened her focus for the rest of the tournament.

The other women’s semifinalists will be determined otoday when No. 1-ranked Serena Williams plays last year’s finalist, Dominika Cibulkova, and Venus Williams, playing in her first Grand Slam quarterfinal in nearly five years, takes on 19-year-old American Madison Keys.

of 1971. Pallbearers will be friends of the family.

Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park, 802 North Guignard Drive, Sumter.

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

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

ra W. Colclough of Greenville; two sisters-in-law, Beatrice Sumpter and Minnie House; seven grandchildren; 15 greatgrandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by five brothers; two sisters; and a granddaughter, Michelle W. Brown.

Funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at St. Luke A.M.E. Church, 2355 N. St. Pauls Church Road, Sumter, with the Rev. E. Robert Thomas, pastor, eulogist, assisted by the Rev. Mary Johnson and the Rev. Eliza Black.

The family is receiving family and friends at the home of her daughter, Helen Carter, 103 Wallace St., Sumter.

The remains will be placed in the church at noon.

The funeral procession will leave her home at 12:20 p.m.

Floral bearers will be the Eloise Bradford Women Missionary Society.

Pallbearers will be stewards and trustees.

Burial will be in St. Luke A.M.E. churchyard cemetery, Sumter.

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

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

OBITUARIES SANFORD H. WEAVER SR. Sanford Harold Weaver Sr., age 86, beloved husband of 63 years to Virginia Lou Batten Weaver, died on Monday, Jan. 26, 2015, at his residence.

Born in Indiana, he was the son of the late Samuel and Dolly Weaver.

WEAVER Mr. Weaver served his country proudly in Vietnam and retired from the United States Air Force after 22 years. He enjoyed his time in the Air Force and especially traveling and seeing the world. He loved to read and was an avid fisherman. Mr. Weaver accepted Christ at an early age and loved serving God in his church. He married his true love, Virginia, on Sept. 29, 1951, and loved her for more than 63 years until he passed away. Mr. Weaver will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend.

He will be dearly missed by all who knew him. Mr. Weaver was a member of Alice Drive Baptist Church.

Surviving in addition to his wife are: three sons, Sanford Harold Weaver Jr. and his wife, Martha, of Sumter, Michael G. Weaver and his wife, Lynn, of Florence and Byron Keith Weaver and his wife, Amy, of Sumter; six grandchildren, Kirk Weaver, Michael Clinton Weaver, Christopher Keith Weaver, Kristen Caples and her husband, Sidney, Brandon Lee Weaver and Courtney Maklya Weaver; and two great-grandchildren, Caroline and Hailey Weaver.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Weaver was preceded in death by a son, Christopher Allen Weaver; one brother, Keith Weaver, and two sisters, Kay Hilton and Leona Ward.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday at noon in Bullock Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Sumter Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Timothy Bryson, Todd Bryson, Brandon Weaver, Christopher Weaver, Clint Weaver and Kirk Weaver.

The family will receive friends on Thursday one hour prior to the service from 11 a.m. to noon at Bullock Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Agape Hospice, 13 Caldwell St., Sumter, 29150.

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

The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.

IOLA MAY R. HUFFINE Iola May Roth Huffine, 96, widow of John Phelan Huffine, died Monday, Jan. 26, 2015, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born in Van Wert, Ohio,

FERNANDO L. STEWART Fernando Lorenzo Stewart, aka “Big Sho,” was born Nov. 1, 1982, to Jerry Johnson and Glen Stewart in Sumter.

Fernando was preceded in death by his brother, Lonnie L. Stewart.

“Big Sho” departed this life on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015, at Providence Hospital in Columbia.

“Big Sho’s” memory will be cherished by his son, Taekwon D. Stewart; father, Jerry Johnson; mother, Glen Stewart; two brothers, McKenzie Stewart and Jerry Johnson Jr.; three sisters, Shiree Stewart (Stefan Brown), Demetrius Stewart and Ingrid Stewart; special friend, Ivy Felder; and a host of aunts, uncles, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. at Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, 155 Wall St., Sumter.

The Rev. Larry C. Weston, pastor, officiating. Interment will follow in Bradford Cemetery.

A public viewing will be held today from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the mortuary.

Online messages of sympa-

JESSE J. WELCH JR. Jesse James Welch Jr., 72, died Monday, Jan. 26, 2015, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Services will be announced

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

JEROMAN B. FARMER Jeroman “Jeff” B. Farmer, son of the late Jeroman Bozier Farmer and Viola Waters Farmer and the husband of Wilhemenia Strong Farmer, died on Tuesday morning, Jan. 27, 2015, at his residence, 758 N. Main St. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Sumter Funeral Service Inc.

JACQUELINE W. SMITH Jacqueline W. Smith, 61, entered eternal rest on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015, at Palmetto Richland Hospital, Columbia.

Born July 8, 1953, in Sumter County, she was the daughter of James and Janie Mickens Witherspoon. She was educated in the public school of Sumter County. She was employed as a teacher’s aide with American School in Shape, Belgium, and with the school district of Alexandria, Virginia, where she retired.

She was a faithful member of New Hope Ministries, where she served as mother of the church and president of the Missionary Department. She was blessed to travel on military assignment and attended several worship places.

She is survived by her husband, Melvin N. Smith Jr. of Dudley, North Carolina; one daughter, Kimberly Matthews; two grandchildren, Jalyn and Kiyah of the home; her parents, James and Janie Witherspoon; five sisters, Loretta (Russell), Fiesta (Dwight), Christola (Melvin), Pamala (Kenneth) and Quentina (Cephus); two brothers, Edward (Crystal) and Clifton (Claudette), all of Sumter; two godchildren, Daphne Brooks and Teddi Joyner; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and special friends.

She was preceded in death by one brother, Rodney Rollerson.

Funeral services will be held at noon Thursday at New Hope Ministries, 95 Community St., Sumter, with Elder John R. Rogers, pastor, Pastor Russell Rogers, eulogist, Elder Robert Wilson, officiating, assisted by Bishop David Smith, Elder Wayne Penn and Pastor Willie Hunt.

The family is receiving family and friends at the home of her parents, James and Janie Witherspoon, 1875 N. St. Pauls Church Road, Sumter.

The procession will leave the home of her parents at 11:20 a.m.

Floral bearers will be Class

MARIE ISAAC Marie Isaac, 87, widow of Herman Isaac, died Monday, Jan. 26, 2015, at National Health Care System, Sumter.

Born in Sumter County on June 18, 1927, she was the daughter of Wilson Nickens and Lou Ida Holmes.

The family is receiving friends and relatives at the home, 142 N. Milton St., Sumter.

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

MARTHA S. WILLIS Martha Sumpter Willis, 92, widow of James Willis Jr., departed this life on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center, Sumter. Born in Dalzell on June 29, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Moses and Florence Deas Sumpter.

She was a member of St. Luke A.M.E. Church, where she served as a member of the senior choir, usher board and the Women Missionary Society until her health failed.

Precious memories will be cherished by her children, Charles W. Willis I and Helen W. Carter of Sumter, Edith (Terence) Haoland of Fairhaven, Massachusetts and Barba-

BRITTANY BARBER Brittany Barber, 25, died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at her residence in Sumter. Born in Jacksonville, North Carolina, she was a daughter of Marcia Ragin and Eric Barber Sr. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Palmer Memorial Chapel Inc.

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CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL NOTICES Legal Notice Public Storage/ PS Orangeco, Inc. LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY Notice is hereby given that the undersigned will sell to satisfy the lien of owner at public sale by competitive bidding on February 12, 2015 personal and/or business property including but not limited to furniture, clothing, tools and other household/business items located at the properties listed.

The sale will begin at 1:00 pm at 1277 Camden Hwy, Sumter, SC 29153.

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.

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.

Public Hearing

Lawn Service

Destruction of Special Education Records (300.573) Sumter School District will be destroying special education records for students exiting during or prior to the 2009-2010 school year. Records being destroyed include all special education referral records, evaluation reports, testing protocols, notifications of meetings, Individual Education Plans (IEP), reviews of existing data summaries, and all other personally identifiable information therein. Under state and federal law, special education records must be maintained for a period of five years after special education services have ended.

Former students over the age of 18, or parents of students over the age of 18, who have retained parental rights through the court's determination, may obtain special education records by contacting and making an appointment with Mrs. Lillarweise Seymore at (803) 774-5500 (ext. 210).

Four Seasons Lawn Care Serving Sumter for almost 20 yrs!

Free est. 494-9169/468-4008 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

1277 Camden Hwy, Sumter, SC 29153 A015 - Conrad, Christopher A036 - Medina, Laracha B007 - Watts, Adrian B008 - Greene, Tyrone B033 - Smith, Judie B034 - Hines, Nicola B052 - Pringle, Brenda B081 - Law, Stafford B087 - Lawton, Dominik B094 - Brown, Tamar C012 - Brown, Latoya C050 - Bradley, Stacey C066 - Green, Dacember D016 - hayes, anthony D017 - Gaymon, Latoya D020 - Cantey, Tackia E017 - Green, Linda E032 - Blue, Julia E039 - Evans, Sarah E042 - Hopkins, Jonathan F015 - Miller, Shakil F023 - Lockes, Carlton F046 - Mitchell, Monica F049 - Wright, Mona G024 - Kennedy, Dwight G031 - Rubin, Gary J002 - Boatwright, Kimberly K003 - Dais, Thomas 3785 Broad St, Sumter, SC 29154 0114 - Spann, Edna 0141 - Rogers, Laqueshia 0147 - Dicks, Frankie 0152 - Kershaw, Lillie 0229 - White, Brenda 0232 - Johnson, Christopher 0308 - Reames, Rashandia Shelena 0321 - Burns, Monteak 0404 - Kucera, Crystal 0445 - Wilson, Cusandra 0524 - Allen, Stan 0619 - Clark, Jessica 0737 - Green, Kiana 0743 - Caughman, Stacy Purchase must be made with cash only and paid for at the time of sale.

All goods are sold as is and must be removed at the time of the sale. Sale is subject to adjournment.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Card of Thanks

Septic tank pumping & services. Call Ray Tobias & Company (803) 340-1155.

Found: Lynam Rd. area female long hair black & white cat. Owner call to identify 803-983-1628.

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

OFF

This Saturday Is Your Last Chance To Save

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.

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

McDuffie’s

Tree Service

MERCHANDISE

Lost & Found

75

%

All remaining gift items 75% off Some fixtures also available

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

Nichole Hickman Nichole was in a horrific car accident in November 2014. Nichole is currently doing a lot better, and is still recovering. We want to thank everyone for their support in our time of need. - Nichole and Family

Help Wanted Full-Time

STORE CLOSING

The personal goods stored therein by below named occupant(s); 1143 N.Guignard Dr, Sumter, SC 29150 206 - Jones, Tabbith 228 - Green, Marcus 323 - Mcduffie, Jennifer 337 - Womack, Nikki 418 - Deas-Mack, Sharnetta 501 - Iler, John 505 - Emerson, Ashley 519 - Earp, Raityna 536 - Spann, Jequillar 545 - Gailliard, Stephanie 628 - Murphy, Freda 729 - McCray, Ada

For Sale or Trade

Furniture / Furnishings Victorian Mahogany Furniture 4 pc. set. flowers etched in frames $1200 (downsizing) Call 696-4294

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

Open every weekend.

905-4242

For Sale or Trade We have 92, 400 watt metal hallide fixtures & 480 volt valance. All operational, $35 each will sell in small lots. Call 843-552-6300 Firewood for Sale Will Deliver. Call 803 651-8672 6 x10 -6x12-6x16 Utility Trailers for sale 803-972-0900

Unique Gifts

In the Sumter Mall

by Belk Hours: 10 - 6PM Martin's Used Appliance Washers, Dryers, Refrig., Stoves.

Guarantee 464-5439 or 469-7311 Massey Ferguson 35 gas, very nice, $3750. OBO Cash only. Call 803-972-0900 Expert Tech, New & used heat pumps & A/C. Will install/repair, warranty; Compressor & labor $600.

Call 803-968-9549 or 843-992-2364

Senior Teller Sumter, SC SAFE Federal Credit Union For details, please visit our website at: http:/www.safefed.org Production Workers Must have HS Diploma or GED Work Keys - Math, Observation & Locating. Clean background check and drug screening. Please email your resume to staffing@olsten.com or call 803-773-2700. No walk ins please!

Various Positions Available!! Must have strong Administrative skills, motivated & willing to learn with valid Drivers License. Email resume to Various_ jobs2015@aol.com

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.

ne STOP SHOPPING You can find everything you need for the new house or the new spouse in one convenient placeOUR CLASSIFIEDS! Sporting Goods • Electronics Appliances • Furniture • Cameras Jewelry • Dishes • Books PLUS A WHOLE LOT MORE!

EMPLOYMENT

HARTT

Transprtation Systems, Inc. Setting the Service Standard Since 1948 Parts/Counter Person Hartt Transportation Systems, Inc. has an immediate opening for an experienced, hardworking, energetic individual to join our growing parts department at our Sumter, SC Terminal. This person must be experienced in parts and distribution, detail oriented, a problem solver with superior customer service skills.

This ideal candidate should be capable of working in an active environment and be able to implement new systems to better distribute parts to our employees.

Requirements • Qualifications for this position requires candidate to have three years related truck parts experience.

• Motivated and fast paced personality with serious work ethic.

• Industrial experience is a must (parts sales).

• Excellent computer skills required.

• Excellent organizational skills.

• Excellent phone manners, the ability to multi task and make good decisions.

• Clean background screening required.

• Ability to lift and move up to 100 pounds.

• High School Diploma or equivalent.

Hartt Transportation offers a competitive benefit package including: medical and dental package, paid holidays, paid vacations, sick time, short term disability, vision, life insurance and a 401 (K) program.

If you are looking for a career challenge and want to work for a great company, we encourage you to submit your resume and salary requirements either by fax, mail, email to: Todd Cotier; Maintenance Director Hartt Transportation Systems Inc 262 Bomarc Road Bangor, ME 04401 Phone: (207) 852-3882 Fax: (207) 941-0095 Email: tcotier@hartt-trans.com Drivers needed to hauling chips, local, 3 yrs exp. req., full time, Call 803-804-4742

Medical Help Wanted

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.

Abandon Vehicle / Boat Abandoned Boat Notice To all persons claiming an interest in: 1987 17 foot Cobalt, 17 BR, James Herron will apply to SCDNR for title on watercraft/outboard motor. If you have any claims to the watercraft/outboard motor, contact SCDNR at (803) 734-3858. Upon thirty days after the date of the last advertisement if no claim of interest is made and the watercraft/outboard motor has not been reported stolen, SCDNR shall issue clear title. Case No: 20140808110685

Welders! Welders! Welders!

Must have HS Diploma or GED Work Keys - Math, Observation & Locating. Clean background check and drug screening. Please email your resume to staffing@olsten.com or call 803-773-2700. No walk ins please!

Trucking Opportunities

Job Fair Tues. Feb 3rd 10am-2pm 1761 Pinewood Rd Sumter. Needed RN's, LPN's, CNA's. Only serious applicants need to apply.

774-1234

FT RN (Days) To work in Local County Jail Medical Unit. Excellent 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 by sending resume to: nurseswanted@rocketmail.com

PUBLIC NOTICE

SERVICE TECH NEEDED • Monday • Paid Vacation & Holidays Friday • Paid Training • 401K • Paid • Group Ins. Health & Dental Uniforms

“Don’t make a mistake. Shop the lake.”

Highway 261 • Manning (803) 433-5500 • Santeeautomotive.com CITY OF SUMTER BUSINESS LICENSES The City of Sumter Ordinance regulating licenses for City businesses states that “Every person engaged or intending to engage in any calling, business, occupation or profession within the limits of the City of Sumter, South Carolina is required to pay an annual license fee and obtain a business license.”

“The required license fee shall be paid for each business subject thereto according to the applicable rate classification on or before the 15th day of February each year.”

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

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

State of South Carolina (SC) Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) Bureau of Air Quality (BAQ) 2600 Bull Street • Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 898-4123 Public Notice #15-004-TV-RE Date: January 28, 2015 NOTICE OF A DRAFT/PROPOSED PART 70 AIR QUALITY (TITLE V OPERATING) RENEWAL PERMIT US AIR FORCE: SHAW AIR FORCE BASE 20 CES/CEV 345 CULLEN STREET SHAW AFB, SOUTH CAROLINA (SUMTER / PEE DEE, SUMTER EQC OFFICE) AIR PERMIT NO. TV-2140-0004 SC DHEC, BAQ, has received a Part 70 Operating Permit Renewal Application for this facility, and has drafted an operating permit that will allow the facility to continue to operate as a major source under the requirements of SC DHEC Regulation 61-62.70 “Title V Operating Permit Program.” This permit will enable the facility to operate in compliance with State and Federal Air Quality Regulations. The draft/ proposed permit has not yet been approved and is open to comment from the public and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). If approved, this draft/proposed permit will supersede the existing Title V Operating Permit issued to this facility on April 30, 2001.

Interested persons may review the materials drafted and maintained by DHEC for this facility and submit written comments on the draft permit by the close of business, which is 5:00 p.m., on February 26, 2015, to Kayla Anderson at the above DHEC address or by e-mail at anderske@dhec.sc.gov. All comments received by 5:00 p.m., on February 26, 2015, will be considered when making a decision to approve, disapprove, or modify the draft permit. Where there is a significant amount of public interest, DHEC may hold a public hearing to receive additional comments. Public hearing requests can also be made in writing to Kayla Anderson. If a public hearing is requested and scheduled, notice will be given in this newspaper thirty (30) days in advance. If you have questions concerning the draft permit please contact Steve McCaslin at the phone number listed above. A final review request may be filed after the permit decisions have been made. Information regarding final review procedures is available from DHEC’s legal office at the above address or by calling (803) 898-3350. Information relative to the draft permit will be made available for review through February 26, 2015, at the DHEC Columbia Office listed above and at the following location: SC DHEC, Pee Dee – Sumter EQC Office, 105 Magnolia Street, Sumter, SC 29151 at (803) 778-6548 The draft/proposed permit is also undergoing a parallel permit review by Region 4 of the EPA. The status regarding EPA’s review of the draft/proposed permit and the deadline for a citizen petition is available on EPA’s website at: http://www.epa.gov/region4/air/permits/proposed_index.htm. Should DHEC receive significant comment on the draft/proposed permit and/or make substantive changes, EPA may exercise its rights for an additional 45-day review. However, if no significant comments are received, and no substantive changes have been made, the permit may be issued following the parallel review period.

Information on permit decisions and hearing procedures is available by contacting DHEC at either address listed above. Copies of a draft permit or other related documents may be requested in writing at a $.25 per page charge. Please bring this notice to the attention of persons you know will be interested in this matter.

This public notice, along with the draft permit and statement of basis, may be viewed through February 26, 2015 on DHEC’s website at: http://www.scdhec.gov/PublicNotices/

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CLASSIFIEDS

THE ITEM

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

TUXEDOS AVAILABLE for rental or purchase

MAYO’S SUIT CITY

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 Work Wanted I am a reliable CNA looking to sit with your elderly loved ones day or night.

Ref. provided.

Call 803-225-0924 or 803-225-0543

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

775-0575 Studio/1 Bedroom apartments available EHO 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.

Unfurnished Homes Tired of Renting? 2015 Could be the year you own your own home.

Bad credit Ok, www.wewelcomeallbuyers.com

Mobile Home Rentals

Early Tax Time Special No Payment Til Feb. As Low As $175.00 Per Mo. On Site Rent. For A Limited Time Only.

Why Rent When You Can Own? “Close to Everything” • AC/Heat Bring back this ad & receive FREE application fee.

Call Now! 469-8515

wc.mhcomm.com

Unfurnished Homes

Mobile Home Rentals

3 Bd 1Ba, all laminate floors, country living, $650 mo.+ dep. Call 803-469-3713

2 & 3 BRs 803-494-4015

Oaklawn MHP: 2 BR M.H.'s, water /sewer/garbage pk-up incl'd. RV parking avail. Call 803-494-8350

Commercial Rentals 1 Acre fenced in repo. car lot on E. Liberty St. $400 month. Bobby Sisson 773-4381.

Mobile Home Rentals

Campers / RV's/ Motorhomes 2011 Ultra-lite 32' camper. Elec slideout, AC, heat, sleeps 8. Exc cdtn $14,500. 803-481-8301

REAL ESTATE

2 & 3 Bd houses for rent ( la casa para alquilar) Call 803-406-0113.

Homes for Sale

2, 3 & 4 Br, all appliances, Section 8 accepted. 469-6978 or 499-1500 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.

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

RECREATION

Nice 3Br/2Ba dble carport, w appliances 10 mins from Shaw military discount. $800/mo (Diggs), 803-968-4192.

Nice Area 2BR 1.5BA C/H/A, Appliances. New carpet, paint. No Pets/Smoking $625mo. & dep.

803-983-8463.

TRANSPORTATION

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.

STATEBURG COURTYARD

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 Duplex Historic Dist. private completely renovated, lg yard. 1BR 1BA $495 mo + dep. 464-3598 before 8am or aftr 5pm

Manufactured Housing

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

place my

PETS Puppies for sale...

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• Guarantee Pay • Health & Dental Insurance • 401K Plan

• Great Selection of New & Used Inventory

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“Don’t make a mistake. Shop the lake.”

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The Perfect Housewarming Gift The Sumter Item is locally owned and run.

We’re part of this community and we believe in Sumter.

Highway 261 • Manning (803) 433-5500 • Santeeautomotive.com

20 N. Magnolia St. | Sumter, SC 803.774.1200 www.theitem.com

SECTION

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015 Call Ivy Moore at: (803) 774-1221 | E-mail: ivy@theitem.com

Confederate sub finally visible Crust removed from Hunley’s hull NORTH CHARLESTON – For the first time in more than 150 years, you can actually see the H.L. Hunley. Until recently, the submarine was completely covered by concretion, an encrusted layer of sand, sediment and shells that built up slowly over time. The concretion masked the original surface of the legendary vessel, hiding many of her finer features. For the past four months, Clemson University conservators have been conducting the delicate task of chiseling away this encrustation.

Nearly 70 percent of the submarine’s exterior has been revealed, and they hope to complete the outside of the submarine in the coming weeks. The last areas remaining are being called “forensic hot spots,” indicating areas where they think there may be evidence that could help scientists understand why the Hunley vanished after becoming the world’s first successful combat submarine.

“Being able to see the surface in minute detail for the very first time is shedding new light on our understanding of the submarine,” said Paul Mardikian, senior Hunley conservator with Clemson University.

Until now, archaeologists have been given the difficult task of studying an artifact they could not actually see.

With the exterior of the submarine partially exposed, the Clemson team has already made some interesting discoveries: • In one area of the hull, the metal surface is stamped with the letters “ C N.” The meaning on this stamp is being investigated, but it is thought to represent the foundry where the Hunley’s iron was forged.

• We are learning more about how the weapon system worked. The Hunley’s designers were always looking for ways to improve upon the submarine and its method of attack. Because of this process of evolution, it has been unclear how the small Confederate Hunley was able to deliver and detonate the torpedo that brought down one of the Union’s largest and mightiest ships.

• There are areas below the dive planes where it looks like the metal surface of the submarine had somehow been pushed in, causing it to be dented. At this point, there is no telling what could have caused these areas of deformation on the hull. One possi-

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Paul Mardikian, rear, senior Hunley conservator with Clemson University, holds up a large portion of the concretion adhering to the sides of the H.L. Hunley. Conservators have painstakingly removed much of the concretion, but they still have about 30 percent left. Their work has, however, made the Hunley itself almost fully visible to visitors. ble scenario is they were inflicted by 19th century recovery efforts. In 1863, the Hunley sank twice during test missions. Each time, divers used ropes and chains to bring her back to land for repair.

While removing the concretion has opened up a new avenue of historical discovery, it will also allow for a conservation treatment to be applied to the fragile 19th-century submarine. Conservators have been using small hand tools, drills and chisels to break away the concretion, which in some places is harder than the corroded iron it covers.

They must be careful because even the smallest mistake could potentially damage one of maritime history’s most treasured artifacts.

“Removing the concretion is an intimidating task for all involved. There is no room for error when working on a oneof-a-kind artifact like the Hunley. With our team of well-trained experts and perhaps a little luck, everything has gone according to plan,” said Nestor Gonzalez, associate director of Clemson University’s Warren Lasch Conservation Center.

The Hunley is made from cast and wrought iron. Most of the concretion that has been removed up until this point has been on the wrought iron plates. The cast iron has a greater chance of having retained potentially important historical fingerprints, such

PHOTO PROVIDED

A Clemson University conservator works on removing the concretion from the sides of the H.L. Hunley in North Charleston. Around 70 percent of the encrusted layer of sand, sediment and shell build-up has been removed, so that the Hunley can now be seen. as gunfire, scrapes and other damage. However, cleaning of corroded cast iron is very challenging, as it is quite soft and brittle and can be easily damaged during treatment.

The last areas left to complete on the outside of the submarine are mainly the sections made of cast iron, specifically sections of the bow and conning towers. As these sensitive areas of “forensic hotspots” are uncovered, the team is hopeful to find evidence that will teach us more about the mysterious events surrounding the Hunley’s final voyage and disappearance.

See more photos of the Hunley online at http://youtu. be/E1SUSiPiQls.

THE HUNLEY PROJECT On the evening of Feb. 17, 1864, the H.L. Hunley became the world’s first successful combat submarine by sinking the USS Housatonic. After signaling to shore that the mission had been accomplished, the submarine and her crew of eight mysteriously vanished. Lost at sea for more than a century, the Hunley was located in 1995 by Clive Cussler’s National Underwa-

ter and Marine Agency (NUMA). The innovative hand-cranked vessel was raised in 2000 and delivered to the Warren Lasch Conservation Center, where an international team of scientists are at work to conserve the submarine for future generations and piece together clues to solve the mystery of her disappearance. The Hunley Project is conducted through a partnership with the Clemson University Restoration Institute, South Carolina Hunley Commission, Naval History and Heritage Command, and Friends of the Hunley.

Allen University opens Langston Hughes Center and Library

BY IVY MOORE ivy@theitem.com Allen University will host several events for the grand opening of its new Langston Hughes Poetry Center and Library on Saturday. The center was co-founded by poets Kwame Dawes and Charlene Spearen, who will both participate in the daylong activities, as will National Book Award SPEAREN winner Nikky Finney, a former resident of Sumter. Dawes has also lived in Sumter, where he taught for several years at the University of South Carolina Sumter. The celebration begins at 9 a.m. with a welcome, tour and continental breakfast.

Spearen, also associate professor of English at Allen, said the center will serve as a community and university resource for emerging poets throughout Columbia and the Southeast. She said the library of around 1,000 books includes poetry collections,

anthologies and books about the craft of writing poetry.

Hughes emerged as a poet during the Harlem Renaissance, a period between the World Wars when there was a huge surge in all the arts, and Harlem became a center for black writers, musicians, dancers and visual artists. He is now recognized as one of the country’s most outstanding poets.

Spearen said that while the works in the center’s collection represent many different ethnicities, there is a substantial concentration of works by authors of color.

Many works have been donated, including more than 20 autographed by Nikki Giovanni, the late Amiri Baraka, Terrance Hayes, Marie Howe, Gary Soto, Kevin Young, Li Young Li and more. Dawes and Finney are among the contemporary poets who have donated their works.

Dawes praised Allen’s establishment of the Hughes center and library.

“In cultures where the written word has effectively charted and recorded the history of

those cultures, books have been a necessary and wonderful resource, and libraries have been some of the most important institutions in such cultures,” he said.

DAWES “I can think of no better way of providing a community with a sense of this history and culture than a library full of the rich poetry of that community.

“This is why the Langston Hughes Library at Allen University is as important addition to the enrichment of the life of the state of South Carolina as any of our institutions that celebrate the arts.

“I can think of no other person who has the skill, the passion and the tenacity to make this center come alive than Dr. Charlene Spearen. Allen University’s embrace of this initiative puts it, once again, at the forefront of civic leadership and visionary innovation in Columbia, South Carolina.”

Spearen credited the uni-

versity’s administration, faculty, staff and students for the creation of the library.

“It has come into being because poets, by way of generously contributing their books, see the importance of the art of writing poetry,” she said. “The location of the library on the campus of Allen University, which is within the Historic Waverly Community, is also significant.

“One can take any poetry collection off a shelf and immediately read poems that are a form of music, visual art and dance that speaks to one’s sense of FINNEY self simultaneously in the context of individuality, community, faith and social justice.”

Saturday’s grand opening of the Langston Hughes Poetry Center and Library at 1329 Pine St., Columbia is free and open to the public.

Following the continental breakfast, the morning’s events will include a Master Seminar at 9:30 a.m. with world-renowned poet Kwame

Dawes, and an afternoon Master Seminar at 1 p.m. with National Book Award winner Nikky Finney.

Throughout the day, there will be additional poetry workshops presented by Allen University’s creative writing faculty. The day’s agenda will close with a reading by Kwame Dawes and Nikky Finney, which will include a reception and an open mic session. The entire celebration is free and open to the public.

Allen University is a private, coeducational institution that is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate degrees. For more information visit www.AllenUniversity.edu.

POETRY CENTER DEDICATION WHERE: Allen University, 1329 Pine Stl., Columbia WHEN: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday COST: Free and open to public (803) 7750908 INFORMATION: www.AllenUniversity.edu

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FOOD

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

THE SUMTER ITEM

This Jan. 5, 2015 photo shows spicy clam and kale soup in Concord, N.H. Tucked away between the tofu “cheeses” and textured vegetable protein taco crumbles lies a good go-to and good-for-you ingredient, soy chorizo. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

Looking for big flavor without all the fat?

Try soy chorizo

BY MELISSA D’ARABIAN The Associated Press Tucked away between the tofu “cheeses” and textured vegetable protein taco crumbles lies a tiny package you really should consider including in your lineup of go-to goodfor-you ingredients — soy chorizo.

Vegetarian and vegan readers may well be nodding their heads as they read. Been there, eaten that. I know. But even if you are a steak-loving meat eater, soy chorizo is worth keeping on hand, even if you aren’t normally a fan of pretend meat (as I am not).

Chorizo — the real deal, that is — is a spicy, fatty pork sausage oozing with flavor. Fresh (or Mexican) chorizo is most common in the United States, though sometimes you’ll find the Spanish or dried version.

Chorizo is used primarily to accent other ingredients, mixed in with scrambled eggs, sauteed with vegetables, or added to stuffings, stews or chilies.

Soy chorizo usually is a Mexican-style chorizo, and it’s

just as versatile and flavorful as the real thing. And like the pork version, it usually comes in tube-shaped sausage casings. Squeeze the chorizo out of the casings and it cooks up like ground meat. As it cooks, the chorizo imparts its wonderfully spicy, slightly fatty sauce that makes everything in the dish infinitely better.

But soy chorizo has less than half the fat and calories of pork chorizo. And since the flavor and texture of soy chorizo is close enough to the real thing, it’s a caloric flavor bargain in my book.

In the spirit of Chinese New Year, I’m celebrating clams, which are said to represent financial fortune in the year to come. Enjoy these lucky clams in a just-spicy-enough soy chorizo broth, along with some bright, fresh kale. I took inspiration from classic steamed clams served with slabs of bread for dunking. A few toasty croutons on top sop up the brothy goodness without me resorting to downing an entire baguette.

This easy recipe is a perfect way to try soy chorizo for the vegetarian meat newbie, and it’s a tasty way to bring a little extra luck this year.

SPICY CLAM AND KALE SOUP You’ll find soy chorizo in the grocer’s refrigerated case alongside tofu and other vegetarian “meats.” Some soy chorizo is packed in casings and crumbles easily when they are removed.

Other varieties have a texture similar to chicken sausage and can be sliced or chopped for use in this recipe.

Start to finish: 30 minutes Servings: 4 3 slices French or Italian bread, cut into 1-inch cubes Olive oil cooking spray Salt and ground black pepper 3 tablespoons butter 4 shallots, sliced 1/2 pound soy chorizo sausage, casings removed (if any) 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour 2/3 cup dry white wine 2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken stock 1/2 cup water 3/4 bunch kale, stems discarded, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups) 2 pounds fresh clams, scrubbed 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley Heat the oven to 350 F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with kitchen parchment or foil.

Arrange the bread cubes on the prepared baking sheet, then mist with olive oil, tossing to coat all sides. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, then toast in the oven until golden, about 10 minutes, stirring halfway through. Remove the croutons from the oven and allow to cool.

Meanwhile, make the soup. In a large, heavy saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the shallots and cook, stirring often, until soft, about 5 minutes. Crumble the soy chorizo and add to the pot. Cook until lightly golden, about another 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook another minute, or until very fragrant.

Sprinkle with the flour, then stir. Increase the heat to medium-high and add the wine, stirring constantly for about 1 minute to deglaze the pan. Add the chicken stock and water, then bring to a simmer. Taste and season with salt and pepper, as needed.

Stir in the kale, then gently add the clams.

Cover the pot and let the clams steam just until they open, about 4 minutes, removing the clams as they open and discarding any that don’t. Remove the pot from heat and stir in the opened clams. Stir in the lemon juice, then ladle into serving bowls. Top with croutons and parsley.

Nutrition information per serving: 370 calories; 170 calories from fat (46 percent of total calories); 19 g fat (7 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 45 mg cholesterol; 24 g carbohydrate; 5 g fiber; 3 g sugar; 22 g protein; 1,250 mg sodium.

A carefree deviled egg you won’t need to struggle over

BY ELIZABETH KARMEL The Associated Press For me, it’s just not a party without deviled eggs. Doesn’t matter if it’s a summer barbecue or a winter Super Bowl shindig. I need deviled eggs. And I know I am not alone!

Which isn’t to say it’s always easy to make that happen. The last time I made them for whatever reason the eggs were a devil to peel. I tried all of my regular tricks. I let them sit in cold water. I peeled them under cold water. Didn’t matter. Every one of the 24 eggs I tried to peel was a struggle.

I couldn’t believe this was happening.

I’ve made deviled eggs since I was a kid, so you’d think it would be easy. But my egg whites were pock-marked and homely. And I bet you’ve been there, too. Well, when life gives you ugly egg whites, you go to Plan B...

My solution was to create a new stress-free version of deviled eggs that would deliver the same great taste without the fight.

I started by making the yolk-based deviled egg filling. I put all of the classic ingredients — including a few of the cooked (ugly) whites to break up the richness — into the food processor. In minutes I had beautiful, silky smooth filling.

But rather than fuss with my unattractive whites, I instead piped the filling

DEVILED EGG TOASTS WITH COUNTRY HAM BITS Want to get a jump on this? The toasts can be prepped up to a week ahead and stored in an airtight container. The egg mixture can be made up to 2 days ahead, then refrigerated.

If refrigerated, let the egg mixture come to room temperature before piping.

Start to finish: 1 hour (20 minutes active) Servings: 8

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

onto toasted slices of baguette. Done! A new and much simpler party recipe was born. In some ways I liked it better than the original!

You can pipe the filling onto any bread or cracker you like, but I prefer to make my own melba toasts. I just thinly slice a baguette, then toast the slices in a lowheat oven until dried and crisp.

And you don’t need to be a piping bag pro to do this. If you don’t have a pastry bag, use a plastic storage bag and cut off one of the corners, then squeeze the filling onto the toasts. Or just spoon the filling on the toasts. At the last minute, I sprinkle the toasts with bits of cooked country ham that were leftover from breakfast and that happy accident made the dish.

Half a baguette (8 to 9 ounces) 1 dozen large eggs 1/3 cup mayonnaise 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened 1/4 cup Dijon mustard Zest of 1/2 lemon 1 teaspoon lemon juice Pinch garlic powder Hot sauce, to taste Kosher salt 1/2 cup chopped crisped country ham, proscuitto or thick-cut bacon, to garnish Heat the oven to 250 F. Mist a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.

To prepare the melba toasts, slice the baguette into thin rounds. Arrange the rounds in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, then mist the tops with cooking spray.

Bake for 25 to 30, or until dried and crisp.

Meanwhile, to prepare the deviled egg topping, place the eggs in a large saucepan.

Add enough cool water to cover by 2 inches.

Set the pan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. As soon as the water boils,

cover the pan, turn off the heat and let sit for 12 minutes. After 12 minutes, drain the eggs and run under cold water until the eggs are cool to the touch. Let sit another 10 minutes.

Peel the eggs. You don’t need to worry about keeping the egg whites intact. Cut each egg in half lengthwise and remove the yolks. Set 4 whites aside on a platter and reserve the rest for another use. Place all 12 yolks and the 4 reserved whites in a food processor. Pulse several times to chop.

Add the mayonnaise, butter, mustard, lemon zest and juice, garlic powder and hot sauce. Pulse until smooth. Taste, then season with salt. Spoon the mixture into a pastry bag or quart-size plastic bag. Snip off one corner of the bag, then squeeze to pipe some of the egg mixture onto each of the melba toasts. Top with pieces of country ham, prosciutto or bacon.

Nutrition information per serving: 310 calories; 190 calories from fat (61 percent of total calories); 21 g fat (8 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 320 mg cholesterol; 20 g carbohydrate; 1 g fiber; 0 g sugar; 11 g protein; 490 mg sodium.

FOOD

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

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Serve up collards the way they should be — delicious

BY SUSAN DOHERTY OSTEEN Special to The Sumter Item Now Trending: Collards I have a hate-turned-love relationship with the collard green.

I grew up in Texas where collards are lumped with turnips, mustard and kale and collectively known as “greens.”

This vile vegetable concoction serves the same general purpose as castor oil; it promises health benefits but tastes like a punishment. Until I married and moved to South Carolina, I was convinced greens (collards included) were bitter and bland, a green, grassy stew to be avoided at all costs.

Soon after arriving in the Palmetto State I was enlightened to the true beauty of collard greens. Slow simmered with ham hocks or bacon, the versatile vegetable was delicious on its own or showcased in Southern fusion masterpieces such as the Down South Egg Roll at Magnolia’s in Charleston.

Bitter? No way!

A spoonful of sugar, a bit of pork fat and a splash of vinegar mellows the flavor. But the true way to make great collards is to cook them low, slow and full of love.

And I do love collards now.

What I don’t care for is the renaissance of collards into a vegetable of all trades. I happened to find myself in Columbia a few weeks ago and ran into the Whole Foods grocery store. I needed a pint of slaw to pair with barbecue and went directly to the deli in search of the side dish.

I looked and looked and looked, but I could not find coleslaw. What I did notice were two varieties of collard slaw. I asked the clerk if she had any “real” slaw — vinegar based or mayonnaise bound — I wouldn’t be picky.

But I was informed the only slaw they had in stock was made from collards.

I must have wrinkled my nose because the clerk confronted me with a mini forkful of marinated collard salad and dared me to sample it.

“It’s delicious,” he promised.

The first taste was good, the garlic and spices worked well, but then I started chewing and could only taste grass.

“I think I’ll just make my own slaw,” I said after I managed to choke the bite down. I grabbed a head of cabbage and entered the check out line where I nearly laughed out loud upon reading what was written on the paper grocery bag: COLLARDS ARE THE NEW KALE! Really? Oh, goodness, I hope not, because I used to like kale before it started showing up everywhere naked, raw and juiced. And I had to laugh at Whole Foods for trying to put the spin on collards. It’s a Texas-based food chain; it should know better than to market “greens.”

Luckily, for us in Sumter, we have plenty of cooks who know how to make collards taste like collards should taste – delicious!

Every year crowds line up to enjoy steaming bowls of

Drunken Collards at the Sumter County Museum’s Oyster Roast. I know people who don’t even eat oysters but consider bourbon-laced collards worth the ticket price. Sadly, that treat comes only once a year.

But for a regular collard fix I can always count on those served up at Simply Southern Bistro, where chef and coowner Jeff Dennis has kept them on the daily menu year round since opening the doors five years ago.

Out of a long list of Southern sides, Dennis said collard greens are the second most popular item, edged out by their over-the-top fried macaroni and cheese. For patrons looking to incorporate a real vegetable into their “simply Southern” diet, the collards

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are king. (Yes, I’ve lived in South Carolina long enough to recognize that macaroni and cheese is often considered a vegetable.)

“My recipe was trial and error over a period of time,” Dennis said. “I finally perfected them the way I want and believe they are the best collards anywhere.”

Dennis’ approach to collards is similar to my own: low, slow and full of love.

Home cooks wanting to replicate his recipe must practice patience. “When you cook collards they need to be simmered slow for about three hours,” he said.

Still unconvinced collards are tasty?

“Picky eaters need to try our collards because they are sweet instead of being bitter,”

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CHEF JEFF DENNIS’ SIMPLY SOUTHERN COLLARD GREENS 1 onion, diced 1/2 cup bacon grease

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1/2 cup white vinegar 1/2 cup sugar 1 gallon chicken stock 1 smoked ham hock Red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper (to taste) 2 lbs chopped collard greens In a large pot, sauté the onion in bacon grease. Add white vinegar and sugar. Reduce to low heat.

Add chicken stock, smoked ham hocks, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat. Add collard greens and simmer until they are tender.

Cooking time approximately three hours. (Do not over cook.)

Recipe seasonings can be adjusted according to taste.

For Jeff Dennis’s master collards, order a bowl at his restaurant, Simply Southern Bistro, 65 W. Wesmark Blvd. Open for lunch everyday. Dinner is served Wednesday through Saturday.

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Dennis said.

I wish the greens of my childhood were so enticing.

Many dinner table standoffs could have been avoided.

My children have grown up in Sumter, and, naturally, they really like collards. Why wouldn’t they enjoy something that tastes like bacon and not green grass? My mother, a Texan herself, recently visited us and commented how impressed she was that her grandchildren actually liked “greens.”

I visibly winced when she said that word.

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COMICS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

BIZARRO

SOUP TO NUTZ

ANDY CAPP

GARFIELD

BEETLE BAILEY

BORN LOSER

BLONDIE

ZITS

MOTHER GOOSE

DOG EAT DOUG

DILBERT

JEFF MACNELLY’S SHOE

Husband hopes wife is willing to spice up love life DEAR ABBY — My wife and I have been married for quite a while, and our intimate life became monotonous Dear Abby and unimaginative a ABIGAIL long time VAN BUREN ago. Over the years I have suggested we try things like role-playing and other non-extreme variations during intimate times. My suggestions were met with rolling eyes and retorts like, “I’m your wife, not a hooker.” I finally gave up and try to be content with what we have together.

Then one evening she sur-

THE SUMTER ITEM

prised me and did one of the things I had suggested. It was very nice and she seemed to like it, too. I didn’t know what to say to her. “Thank you” somehow seemed condescending. We have done nothing like it since.

I doubt if the answer is in the etiquette books. What should I have said to her to let her know how much I appreciated her loosening up and hope it will perhaps make her more comfortable spicing things up in the future?

Etiquette Advocate in San Diego DEAR ADVOCATE — Praise is a powerful incentive. Flowers would have been nice. But since you didn’t send any, try this: Invite your wife out to dinner at a nice restaurant.

THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Tell her how surprised and delighted you were with the special surprise she gave you.

A small gift to commemorate the occasion couldn’t hurt either.

A satisfying sex life is all about communication, and if my mail is any indicator, if more wives were uninhibited in the bedroom, there would be a lot less business for the “professionals.”

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

For everything you need to know about wedding planning, order “How to Have a Lovely Wedding.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $7 (U.S. funds) to Dear Abby, Wedding Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)

JUMBLE

SUDOKU

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME

By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

HOW TO PLAY: Each row, column and set of 3-by-3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 through 9 without repetition.

ACROSS 1 Help for Holmes 5 All hands on deck 9 Baby food, usually 14 “Can you give me a __?”

15 Bass’ red triangle, e.g.

16 Dove rival 17 Fraternal meeting place 19 Sense & Spray air freshener maker 20 “Here are the facts,” briefly 21 Garden outcast 22 Dark suit 23 Central church area 25 Pacific Northwest capital 27 “The Cask of Amontillado” writer 31 Reduced in number 32 Track tipsters 33 Train cos.

35 Yankee nickname since 2004 36 Asparagus, mostly 37 Nemesis 38 ENE or WSW 39 Set straight 40 Golfer Palmer, to fans

41 Where to read candidate endorsements 44 Much of the time 45 Kitchen addon?

46 Yemenis’ neighbors 49 “__ been thinking ...”

50 NASA thumbs-up 53 Acme’s opposite 54 Periphery ... and, literally, the periphery of 17-, 27- and 41-Across 57 Most clubs in a pro’s bag 58 Scott Turow memoir 59 Vulcan mind __: Spock’s skill 60 Principle 61 Superstorm response org.

62 Functions DOWN 1 “Cutthroat Kitchen” competitor 2 Easter bloom 3 Critical comment 4 Aliens, briefly 5 Prosperous, after “in” 6 Took the bus 7 FabergŽ creation

8 Reason for hand-wringing 9 Sloppy farm digs 10 Tanning booth light, for short 11 Freeway, e.g.

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fashion 34 “Get it?”

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55 Sorbonne one 56 Aussie runner

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‘Americans’ returns with promise of more drama

BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH “The Americans” (10 p.m., FX, TV-MA) returns for a third season and another trip back to the 1980s. This through-thelooking-glass drama follows the multiple identities and various schemes of Soviet spies Elizabeth and Philip Jennings (Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys), posing as boring American suburban travel agents and parents during the final tricky phases of the Cold War. Elizabeth and Philip may be on the same page when it comes to spy craft, but they don’t see eye-to-eye as parents.

Philip has long made noises about getting out of the game and keeping their two thoroughly American children from ever discovering their secret identities. Things come to a head when their old handler, Gabriel (Frank Langella), arrives from Moscow and suggests that their daughter, Paige (Holly Taylor), might make a great “second-generation asset.”

Philip seethes to see how open his wife is to Gabriel’s plan, and realizes that her sudden interest in their daughter’s church volunteerism and antiwar activism is not entirely maternal.

Langella only appears in a few scenes, but he projects the perfect combination of avuncular concern and veiled threat.

Somewhere in TV heaven we’d get to see him tangle with Mandy Patinkin and F. Murray Abraham from “Homeland.”

Like “Homeland,” “The Americans” is set against a painful intervention in Afghanistan. These tales may be told from entirely different vantage points and separated by more than 30 years — but shared tragedy echoes nonetheless.

Given the Jennings’ highwire act, you have to marvel at Russell and Rhys and their consistently credible performances. Add espionage intrigue, historical reverberations, a great soundtrack and an eye for period details and “The Americans” remains one of the more riveting dramas in a crowded television field.

• Speaking of blasts from the past, VH1 Classic embarks on marathon of “Saturday Night Live” (7 p.m., TV-14) episodes, concluding on Feb. 15 with the very first episode of “SNL” from Oct. 11, 1975, hosted by George Carlin.

CW, TV-14) * On two helpings of “black-ish” (ABC, r, TV-PG): networking (9:30), togetherness (10 p.m.) * A lifeguard attracts a “Stalker” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14) * Voight’s pal becomes a target on “Chicago PD” (10 p.m., NBC, r, TV-14).

LATE NIGHT

MICHAEL PARMELEE / FX NETWORKS

Keri Russell stars as Elizabeth Jennings and Matthew Rhys as Philip Jennings in “The Americans,” returning for a third season at 10 p.m. today on FX. • “Nature” (8 p.m., PBS, TV-G, check local listings) documents the intersection of human activity and animal persistence.

Every year, gentoo penguins surround an obscure British post office in Antarctica, attracting thousands of human visitors, cameras and binoculars in hand.

• “Secrets of the Dead” (10 p.m., PBS, TV-14, check local listings) returns for a 14th season to rattle skeletons from some historical closets, including bones found buried in the basement of a home once owned by Benjamin Franklin.

TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS • Lucious tries to poach a rising star from an industry rival on “Empire” (9 p.m., Fox, TV14).

• “NOVA” (9 p.m., PBS, TV-PG, check local listings) examines the slow-motion terror of sinkholes.

• “Suits” (10 p.m., USA, TV-14) begins the six-episode conclusion of its fourth season.

• A late night to remember on “Man Seeking Woman” (10:30 p.m., FXX, TV-MA).

camping (10:30 p.m.) * Culling the herd on “The 100” (9 p.m.,

Oscar Isaac is scheduled on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (11 p.m., Comedy Central) * Craig Ferguson, Drew Brees and Milo Greene appear on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS) * Viola Davis, Ben Schwartz and Marty Stuart appear on “Late Show With David Letterman” (11:35 p.m., CBS) * Kristin Stewart, Andrew Rannells and Phoebe Robinson visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC, r) * Whitney Cummings guest-hosts Kat Dennings, Beth Behrs and Rhea Seehorn on “The Late Late Show” (12:35 a.m., CBS).

Copyright 2015, United Feature Syndicate

SERIES NOTES Abbott’s old boss returns on “The Mentalist” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-14) * A fertility doctor disappears on “The Mysteries of Laura” (8 p.m., NBC, r, TV-14) * Sacrificing for Sue on “The Middle” (8 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG) * Brick kidnaps city officials on “Arrow” (8 p.m., CW, TV-14) * Charles and Diana inspire on “The Goldbergs” (8:30 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG) * A familiar pattern on “Criminal Minds” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14) * A student’s work in adult films makes her a target on campus on “Law & Order: SVU” (9 p.m., NBC, r, TV14) * On two helpings of “Modern Family” (ABC, r, TV-PG): bad neighbors (9 p.m.), motel

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Clams tell you when they’re done

BY SARA MOULTON The Associated Press ust about all of the tra-

J

ditional dishes served at feasts celebrating the

Chinese New Year — which this year falls on Feb. 19 — symbolize something wonderful to come.

Round foods in particular are rich with meaning, their coin-like shape considered a nod to prosperity.

So let’s cook some clams!

Round, delicious and so easy!

Plus, clams are a twofer — a lean and delicious source of protein and the automatic generator of a tasty, instant sauce.

When the clamshells steam open, the clam juice spills out.

And that juice creates the perfect base for any flavorings you might want to add.

But clams also are quite perishable. So a few words of advice.

Clams are alive when you buy them and they need air, which is why most fishmongers poke holes in the plastic bags that carry them. You’ll want to bring the little fellers home as quickly as possible, take them out of the bag, cover them with a damp towel and store them in the cold back part of the refrigerator. Oh, and be sure to cook them within a few days.

According to Rick Moonen, one of my favorite seafood chefs, most clams these days are cleansed of excess sand before they’re sold. But if you suspect that your batch might be quite sandy inside, soak them in heavily salted water (1/4 cup coarse salt for each quart of water) for 30 minutes.

Then, just before cooking the clams, scrub them well with a brush under cool running water until the shells feel clean and sand-free.

The easy part about cooking clams is that they tell you when they’re done by opening.

The only hitch is that they don’t all open at the same time.

This means that if you leave all of them in the pan until the last guy opens, the first one will be way overcooked. Accordingly, you should remove each clam as its shell pops open. And if there’s one clam whose shell refuses to open, toss it. It’s likely dead and filled with sand.

CLAMS AND BOK CHOY WITH BLACK BEAN SAUCE Can’t find fermented black beans? You can approximate a substitute by mashing together 4 teaspoons drained canned black beans and 2 teaspoons light or red miso.

Start to finish: 40 minutes Servings: 4 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1 1/2 tablespoons finely grated fresh ginger 6 scallions, thinly sliced crosswise, white and greens parts kept separate 2 tablespoons fermented black beans rinsed well and mashed lightly with a fork 3 to 5 dried whole small chilies, or to taste 1 red bell pepper, cored and cut into thin 2-inch strips 3 dozen little neck clams, scrubbed 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth, divided 1 tablespoon rice wine or dry sherry 2 tablespoons cornstarch 2 teaspoons soy sauce 1 pound baby bok choy, halved lengthwise then thinly sliced crosswise Cooked white or brown rice, to serve In a large saucepan over medium-high, heat the oil. Add the garlic, ginger, scallion whites, fermented black beans and chilies. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the red bell pepper and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the clams and 1/2 cup of the broth, then cover the pan tightly and steam the clams. Check the pan regularly and, as they open, transfer the clams to a bowl. Discard any clams that do not open.

In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining 1/2 cup of broth, the rice wine, cornstarch and the soy sauce and add the mixture to the saucepan in a stream, whisking. Bring to a boil and add the bok choy. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Return the clams, along with any juices from the bowl, to the pan. Cook, stirring to coat the clams with the sauce, until the clams are hot.

Serve the clams and broth over rice, then garnish each portion with scallion greens.

Nutrition information per serving: 410 calories; 100 calories from fat (24 percent of total calories); 11 g fat (1 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 60 mg cholesterol; 46 g carbohydrate; 6 g fiber; 6 g sugar; 31 g protein; 1,310 mg sodium.