January 3, 2015

College playoff championship pits Oregon against Ohio State B1 REVIEW

Read the book, too ‘Unbroken’ film leaves out substance from bestseller SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

A3

75 CENTS

Bill could end tax on military benefits Lawmakers think effort could pass this session

BY SUSANNE M. SCHAFER The Associated Press COLUMBIA — South Carolina’s military supporters are working to end the state’s income tax on military

Nuke talks deal closer to reality

retirement benefits, arguing it will benefit the state in the long run.

Although an attempt to get rid of the tax was overwhelmingly approved by the House last session, it didn’t get out of the Senate.

This time around, backers think they will have a better chance for success.

“I do think we have a better opportunity this session,” said William Bethea, chairman of Gov. Nikki Haley’s Military Base Task Force, which was formed to support and protect the state’s six major military installations.

“We’re hoping to get started earlier this year and get focused so people can pay attention to it during a less hectic time,” said Bethea, a Bluffton attorney.

The state’s Board of Economic Advisors has estimated ending the

SEE TAX, PAGE A5

All in the Braxton family

Negotiators create list of issues for 1st time to help resolve disputes

BY GEORGE JAHN The Associated Press VIENNA — Iran and the United States have tentatively agreed on a formula that Washington hopes will reduce Tehran’s ability to make nuclear arms by committing it to ship to Russia much of the material needed for such weapons, diplomats say.

In another sign of progress, the two diplomats told The Associated Press that negotiators at the December round of nuclear talks drew up for the first time a catalog outlining areas of potential accord and differing approaches to remaining disputes.

The diplomats said differences still dominate ahead of the next round of Iran-six power talks on Jan. 15 in Geneva. But they suggested that even agreement to create a to-do list would have been difficult previously because of wide gaps between the sides.

Iran denies it wants nuclear arms, but it is negotiating with the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany on cuts to its atomic program in hope of ending crippling sanctions. The talks have been extended twice because of stubborn disagreements.

The main conflict is about uranium enrichment, which can create both reactor fuel and the fissile core of nuclear arms. In seeking to reduce Iran’s bomb-making ability, the U.S. has proposed that Tehran export much of its stockpile of enriched uranium — something the Islamic Republic has long said it would not do.

The diplomats said both sides in the talks are still arguing about how much of an enriched uranium stockpile to leave Iran. It now has enough for several bombs, and Washington wants substantial cuts below that level.

But the diplomats said the newly created catalog lists shipping out much of the material as tentatively agreed upon. The diplomats, who are familiar with the talks, spoke to the AP recently and demanded anonymity because they are not authorized to comment on the closed negotiations.

VISIT US ONLINE AT

the

.com

KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM

Brandon Braxton tries for a base hit during the Braxton family’s weekly kickball and softball outing at Dillon Park on Thursday. Between 20 and 25 members of the family play together weekly, usually on Sunday.

U.S. sanctions North Korea after cyberattack North Koreans gather at Mansu Hill on Dec. 16 where the statues of the late leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il tower over them in Pyongyang, North Korea. The U.S. is imposing sanctions on North Korea in retaliation for the cyberattack against Sony Pictures Entertainment.

BY JOSH LEDERMAN The Associated Press HONOLULU — The United States imposed fresh sanctions on North Korea on Friday, targeting the North’s defense industry and spy service in an attempt to punish Pyongyang for a crippling cyberattack against Sony.

The sanctions marked the first public act of retribution by the U.S. for North Korea’s alleged involvement.

Although it was unclear how painful the blow would be — North Korea already is under tough U.S. sanctions — the move signaled that the U.S. was not backing away from its insistence that North Korea is responsible for the attack against Sony. North Korea has denied involvement, and some cybersecurity experts say it’s possible the North wasn’t to blame.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

“The order is not targeted at the people of North Korea but rather is aimed at the government of North Korea and its activities that threaten the United States and others,” President Obama wrote in a letter to

DEATHS, A5 Jeffrey A. Dellefield Reuben Adamson Terrie W. Gainey Ernestine S. Bell Jackson McKinney Ze’Brian A. Jackson

Mildred P. Walker Allen L. Bristol Pertell Loynes Sadie S. Richardson Hercules Smith Jr. Oldest Julius

House and Senate leaders.

Never before has the U.S. slapped sanctions on a foreign nation in direct retaliation for a cyberattack on an

SEE SANCTIONS, PAGE A5

WEATHER, A6

INSIDE

RAINY SATURDAY

2 SECTIONS, 12 PAGES VOL. 120, NO. 66

Cloudy with a shower or two; mild with a shower tonight HIGH 59, LOW 57

Classifieds B6 Comics B5

Lotteries A6 Television B4

A2

|

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

THE SUMTER ITEM

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

LOCAL BRIEFS

WILLIE MCKINLEY JEFFERSON • 1929 - 2014

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Mayesville icon praised for dedication, integrity

Dalzell man killed in U.S. 76 wreck A Dalzell man was killed in a one-vehicle wreck on U.S. 76 early Friday morning.

Blagoja “Bill” Kuzevski, 53, was eastbound, driving a 2002 Toyota, at about 2 a.m. when his vehicle left the road, causing Kuzevski to lose control, the South Carolina Highway Patrol said. The vehicle then re-entered the roadway and rolled in the median several times.

Sumter County Coroner Harvin Bullock said the cause of death was likely blunt-force trauma.

Kuzevski was wearing a seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to reports.

Man faces armed robbery charge Eric Phillips, 23, of Sumter, was arrested Thursday and charged with armed robbery after investigators used a tracking device in a stolen cellphone to locate the suspect.

According to a report from Sumter County Sheriff ’s Office, the victim told officers the suspect approached him as he was walking to his car about 11:15 a.m. Thursday behind businesses in the PHILLIPS 3200 block of Broad Street. He said the unidentifiable suspect hit him in the head with a handgun and knocked him to the ground.

The suspect then pointed the gun at the victim and demanded money while threatening to shoot the man if he did not give up everything he owned.

The suspect made off with a Michael Kors watch, a wallet and an iPhone he took from the victim. Phillips reportedly held the victim hostage in a van for a short time as well.

F

riends and colleagues alike praise former longtime Mayesville mayor Willie Jefferson for his honesty, loyalty, concern and service to the residents of his hometown.

Jefferson, who died Dec. 24, was active in his church on local, statewide and national levels, served in the U.S. Army and in the school system at many levels and entered public service as a town councilman.

He began serving on the Mayesville Town Council in 1961 and continued there for 20 years, becoming the town’s magistrate in 1981 for 10 years. He served as mayor of Mayesville from 1991 to 2007.

When Jefferson stepped down from serving as mayor in 2007, he was described as a “class act” by Mayesville’s longtime clerk-treasurer Bill Rhodes. On Friday, Rhodes reiterated his statement.

“He was such a fine man,” Rhodes said. “He was completely devoted to Mayesville and making it better, especially concerned for children and older people.

“I miss him as a friend, too. We worked together for

close to 50 years. We used to consult on decisions for the town. Mayor Jefferson was always amenable to accepting other people’s input to be sure we made the right decisions.

A few things JEFFERSON have already come up that I wish I could talk about with him.”

Sumter County Councilwoman Vivian Fleming-McGhaney said Jefferson remained committed to his town even when his health was failing.

“When I visited him shortly before he passed,” she said, “he talked with me about goals he wanted me to undertake for Mayesville. He had already accomplished so much, and he planned to do even more.”

Jefferson was “a gentle giant,” she said. “He was like a father figure to me. He was always soft spoken; he had a kind demeanor, but a great determination. He was forever trying to make things better in Mayesville, and he almost always suc-

ceeded in his endeavors.”

Fleming-McGhaney said Jefferson inspired her and that she is “already working on goals he tasked me with.”

Rep. David Weeks, D-Sumter, knew Jefferson for more than 30 years. “[He] was a very gentle spirit,” he said, “and he was a very deliberative, very personable fellow. I can’t think of a person who was more dedicated to education — that was his baby. I’ve heard him many times give words of encouragement to young people, and some older ones, too, to get an education, excel and grow to be positive and productive. He also worked diligently within the African Methodist Episcopal Church district, where he argued strongly for and organized education programs.

“He was a workhorse, a good guy.”

Dr. Clyde Anderson, now Global Mission Specialist in the Area of Congregational Development with The United Methodist Church in New York, grew up with Jefferson on Mayesville’s Institute Street.

“Many of us are better today

because of him and his ability to make things happen,” Anderson said. “My siblings and I grew up under his watchful eye, and he never failed to inspire and encourage us to excel academically and socially. ...

Once while visiting our home, he sat with me and several of my siblings and admonished us to ‘Live a little by what we say, a lot by what we do, but most by who we are.’”

Anderson also praised Jefferson as a “strong and influential advocate, (who) devoted his life to the residents of Mayesville (with an) incredible commitment to ensuring that the poorest of our residents were never forgotten.”

Jefferson’s advice to others on the occasion of the dedication of a portion of U.S. 76 to him indicates that he was one to live by his admonition to others. At that time in 2010, Jefferson shared the motto he said represented a philosophy he always tried to live by.

“Look forward, not backward,” he said. “Look up and not down. And always lend a hand.”

— Ivy Moore

Dalzell lovers’ quarrel turns violent

BY MATT BRUCE matthew@theitem.com A lovers’ quarrel turned violent during an early morning party Friday that ended with two women being stabbed.

Quantasia Jones, 19, of Sumter, faces two counts of attempted murder and a charge of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime in connection with the incident, a Sumter County Sheriff’s Office spokesman said.

Authorities said the stabbings stemmed from a Dalzell house party in the 2300 block of Raccoon Road that grew out of hand. Officers responded to Tuomey Regional Medical Center about 1:30 a.m. Friday amid reports that two women had been stabbed at the gathering and doctors were treat-

ing them for life-threatening wounds.

Authorities identified the victims as 20- and 18-year-old Sumter women.

Sheriff’s office officials said the incident seemed to be a domestic dispute involving an unidentified man, whose current and former love interests were both apparently involved in the altercation.

According to a Sumter County Sheriff’s Office report, the 20-year-old victim said a juvenile female approached her and began arguing with her. She said the minor then grabbed her, picked her up and body slammed her onto the concrete driveway. That’s when Jones allegedly jumped on her and began stabbing her with a knife, the victim said. The 20-year-old sustained two severe cuts on her left upper arm as well as a stab wound to the

back that narrowly missed puncturing her heart, reports indicated.

The second victim told deputies she jumped into the fray to defend her friend, attempting to pull the suspect off the woman. That’s when Jones allegedly turned the blade upon her, stabbing the 18-year-old in the back and left arm, according to the SCSO report.

Officials noted both women’s injuries were substantial as they suffered multiple stab wounds. At least one of the victims was treated and released from Tuomey as of Friday evening, a sheriff’s office spokesman said.

Investigators arrested Jones after taking her into custody at her home later Friday morning. Authorities said more arrests could be forthcoming in the investigation.

Department of Commerce heading back to India

BY SEANNA ADCOX The Associated Press COLUMBIA — The S.C. Department of Commerce is planning another trip to India to follow up with contacts made during Gov. Nikki Haley’s November economic development mission, Secretary Bobby Hitt said Friday.

State officials will likely return to India in the third quarter. No details are yet available, including how many or who will participate.

The 10-day trip in November represented Haley’s first visit to her parents’ native country since she was a toddler.

Commerce spent $51,500 on the 10-day economic development trip that Haley led one week after her re-election win. Commerce paid expenses for Haley, her spokesman, an adviser in her office and four Commerce employees.

No job announcements have yet come from the

trip. Hitt said recruiting foreign companies takes time, and 15 potential projects are in the works. The trip’s success can be measured in the long list of contacts developed, Hitt said.

“We’ve spent the last month following up with companies we met with,” he said. “The name of the game for us is to build leads and develop those leads like any courtship. ... If you want to recruit companies from overseas, you have to go see them.”

Delegation members participated in more than 120 meetings and events with businessmen, diplomats or university officials, up from 90 initially planned. Haley participated in 52 of those, Hitt said.

The media attention that Haley, who was born and raised in rural Bamberg, attracted in her parents’ home country helped generate the additional meetings, Hitt said.

Delegation members split their time between seven cities in six states. Haley traveled to New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and in Punjab, Chandi-

garh and Amritsar.

Airfare, hotel, meals and other expenses for the seven state employees covered by Commerce totaled $32,300. The agency spent $19,200 on marketing materials.

The 18-member delegation also included Haley’s husband and representatives of businesses interested in exporting to India. Hitt has said Michael Haley paid for his own airfare.

A breakdown the agency provided Friday did not include taxpayer-funded costs incurred by the director of the state’s tourism agency or Haley’s security detail.

Of the seven employees Commerce paid for, their individual expenses ranged from $4,050 for Haley adviser Katherine Veldran to nearly $5,700 incurred

by Ford Graham, Commerce’s director of international investment, who’s based in South Carolina’s European office in Munich, Germany. It was unclear why Graham’s expenses were $640 more than anyone else on the list.

HOW TO REACH US IS YOUR PAPER MISSING? ANNOUNCEMENT ARE YOU GOING ON Birth, Engagement, Wedding, VACATION? Anniversary, Obituary 20 N. Magnolia St., Sumter, S.C. 29150 (803) 774-1200 Jack Osteen Editor and Publisher jack@theitem.com (803) 774-1238 Rick Carpenter Managing Editor rick@theitem.com (803) 774-1201 Waverly Williams Sales Manager waverly@theitem.com (803) 774-1237

Earle Woodward Customer Service Manager earle@theitem.com (803) 774-1259 Michele Barr Business Manager michele@theitem.com (803) 774-1249 Gail Mathis Clarendon Bureau Manager gail@theitem-clarendonsun.com (803) 435-4716

Member, Verified Audit Circulation

$40.80; three months - $20.40; one month, $6.80; EZPay, $6.80

Rural Route Home Delivery

Call (803) 774-1258

Call (803) 774-1226

TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

One year - $174.25; six months $91; three months - $47.50; two months, $33; one month $16.50. EZPay, $14.50/month

TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD:

TO BUY A SUBSCRIPTION Call (803) 774-1258 Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES Standard Home Delivery

Mail Delivery

TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

One year - $276; six months - $138; three months - $69; one month - $23 Printed on recycled paper with environmentally safe soy inks to reduce ruboff. The Item is recyclable.

Call (803) 774-1234 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

TO PLACE A NONCLASSIFIED AD: Call (803) 774-1237 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

TO PLACE AN

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

One year - $84; six months - $43; three months - $22; one month $7.50; EZPay, $7.50

One year - $166; Six months - $87; three months - $45.25; two months - $31.50; one month - $15.75; EZPay - $14/month SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

One year - $81.60; six months -

The Sumter Item is published six days a week except for July 4, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day (unless it falls on a Sunday) by Osteen Publishing Co., 20 N. Magnolia St., Sumter, SC 29150.

Periodical postage paid at Sumter, SC 29150.

Postmaster: Send address changes to Osteen Publishing Co., 20 N. Magnolia St., Sumter, SC 29150 Publication No. USPS 525-900

REVIEWS

THE SUMTER ITEM

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

|

A3

Jolie’s ‘Unbroken’ leaves out substance found in bestseller

BY RICK CARPENTER Rick@theitem.com If you’ve read Laura Hillenbrand’s bestseller “Unbroken,” the movie may disappoint you.

After having read the book and buying about a dozen copies for friends and relatives, I couldn’t wait for the movie to come out last week.

The storyline of the movie follows roughly the first 30 years of Louis Zamperini’s life.

It chronicles his conversion from a misbehaving child to an Olympian, becoming a bombardier on an airplane that crashes and floating in the ocean for 47 days after the crash only to be rescued by Japanese soldiers who test his will in prison camps.

If you only see the movie, you will surely grasp the challenges of surviving on a life raft and in a prison camp. Director Angelina Jolie poignantly details the raft and prison scenes, leaving the viewer with

a high dose of empathy for Zamperini (played by Jack O’Connell).

The movie includes a vivid raft scene where Zamperini pledges his life to God’s service if he survives the ordeal. And it details how the POW camp leader whom prisoners called “The Bird” singled out the Olympian for physical torture in front of the other soldiers.

In the book, Hillenbrand takes the reader further to explore what happened to him after he came back.

And a lot happened. But you wouldn’t know it by watching the movie.

Zamperini came home and married. He dealt with a serious case of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder that he often disguised by consuming alcohol. He had flashbacks and nightmares, waking up in the middle of the night from a dream only to realize he was about to hit or choke his wife.

He was so angry and bitter

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jack O’Connell, center, portrays Louis, “Louie,” Zamperini tormented by The Bird, right, in “Unbroken,” an epic drama that follows the life of Olympian and war hero Zamperini who survived in a raft for 47 days after a near-fatal plane crash in WWII—only to be caught by the Japanese Navy and sent to a prisoner-ofwar camp. about his time in the POW camps he decided he would find and kill “The Bird.”

Then as he saw his marriage starting to crumble, he agreed to go to a Billy Graham revival with his wife. While he was sitting there, he realized that God had kept his side of the bargain by getting him home alive.

Zamperini had not.

In that moment, Zamperini vowed to turn his life around — he quit drinking, became a model of a husband and began going to church. Then, he decided he still wanted to see “The Bird,” but this time to offer his forgiveness. “The

Bird” would not meet with him.

Many of the “Unbroken” readers were inspired by Hillenbrand’s book and Zamperini’s life.

Learning about the struggles of returning to normal life and a religious conversion may not be what motivates some readers, but Hillenbrand wrote about the subjects very tactfully — not preachy. Most of us have at least one friend who wears his or her religion boastfully. The book gave us an opportunity to connect with those friends by quietly telling them we understand their strong re-

ligious convictions by simply giving them a book to read.

Only when they read the entire book will they understand why you gave it to them.

Jolie would have likely pulled in even more moviegoers if she had not tiptoed around what was seen by many as the substance of Zamperini’s life experiences: religious conversion and forgiveness.

If you haven’t read the book, see the movie first. Then read the book. It will complement the movie by completing the emotional ride the movie takes you on.

Cotillard shines in simple film, ‘Two Days, One Night’

BY JOCELYN NOVECK The Associated Press “Put yourself in my place.” It’s a line heard a number of times in “Two Days, One Night,” the exquisitely simple and moving new film from Belgium’s Dardenne brothers.

It’s central to the story, but doesn’t the line also encapsulate what cinema is supposed to accomplish, essentially?

Forcing us to put ourselves in the place of those onscreen and to wonder, often with discomfort: What would I do?

Not all filmmakers pull it off, but it’s

something the Dardennes, Jean-Pierre and Luc, are remarkably good at — making us understand just what we share with their characters, workingclass people in industrial Belgian cities who are decidedly neither heroes nor villains, just ordinary folk trying to get by.

And their effort is even more remarkable here, because the writer-directors are working for the first time with a bona fide, glamorous movie star: Marion Cotillard. The fact that it works so well is a tribute both to Cotillard’s committed, selfless work and to the

Dardennes’ unerringly authentic instincts.

Cotillard plays Sandra, a mother of two young children who works at a solar panel factory. It’s significant that we never see Sandra actually doing her work. It doesn’t matter. Over the course of the film we’ll learn just how important that work is — not simply to her economic survival, but to her very identity and sense of place in the world.

The action unfolds at a deliberate pace. Only gradually do we realize Sandra has been on a medical leave for de-

pression. As the film begins, we know only that she’s been hit with a severe blow: The boss has determined that 16 workers can perform the job of 17, with a little overtime. Her fellow workers have been given a choice — a 1,000-euro bonus ($1,200), or Sandra’s return.

They’ve voted for the money.

But Sandra wins a second chance: A new ballot, on Monday morning. All she has to do is convince a majority of the 16 to give up their bonus. She has, as the title says, two days and one night.

Three and a half stars out of four.

C

• M LAUGHLIN FORD •

*OFF

$10,000

MSRP

ALL REMAINING 2014 FORD F-150 CREWCABS EXAMPLE: $39,5 1 5 00 – $ 10,000 00* $29,5 1 5 00

* ALL REBATES AND DEALER INCENTIVES TO DEALER. ALL PRICES PLUS TAX AND TAG. (REMEMBER MCLAUGHLIN FORD HAS NO ADDITIONAL ADD ON ADENDUMS LIKE SOME OTHER DEALERS.)

GOOD CREDIT, NO CREDIT, BAD CREDIT–NO PROBLEM!

773-1481

950 N. Main Street • Sumter, SC • 1-800-948-7764

www.mclaughlinford.com ALL PRICES PLUS TAX & TAGS AND INCLUDES DEALER $249 CLOSING FEE - EXCLUDES SXT & XL MODELS - SEE DEALER FOR DETAILS.

A4

|

NATION | WORLD

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

THE SUMTER ITEM

Increased cage space for chickens likely means costlier eggs

BY SCOTT SMITH The Associated Press FRESNO, California — The new year is expected to bring rising chicken egg prices across the U.S. as California starts requiring farmers to house hens in cages with enough space for them to move around and stretch their wings.

The new standard backed by animal rights advocates has drawn ire nationwide because farmers in Iowa, Ohio and other states who sell eggs in California have to abide by the same requirements.

To comply, farmers have to put fewer hens into each cage or invest in revamped henhouses, passing along the expense to consumers shopping at grocery stores.

California is the nation’s largest consumer of eggs and imports about one third of its supply.

Jim Dean, president and CEO of Centrum Valley Farms in Iowa and Ohio, said one of his buildings that holds 1.5 million hens is now about half full to meet California’s standards, and another building may have to be completely overhauled.

Farmers like him in cold climates will have to install heaters to replace warmth formerly generated by the chickens living close together. Dean said that’s something people in sunny California didn’t consider.

“You’re talking about millions upon millions of dollars,” he said. “It’s not anything that’s cheap or that can be modified easily, not in the Midwest.”

California voters in 2008 approved the law backed by animal rights advocates

to get egg-laying hens out of cramped cages and put them by Jan. 1 in larger enclosures that give them room to stretch, turn around and flap their wings.

State legislators followed with the companion piece in 2010 requiring the outof-state compliance.

In anticipation, egg prices have risen already, said Dave Heylen of the California Grocers Association, adding that the holiday season, cold weather across the country and increased exports to Mexico and Canada also contributed to a year-end price spike. He said he expected that supplies would remain adequate to meet demand.

Daniel Sumner, an agricultural economist at the University of California, Davis, said prices initially could rise dramatically this year, but he expects them to eventually settle anywhere from 10 and 40 percent higher in California and return to their normal price elsewhere in the country.

If farmers cut back the number of chickens so they can comply with California’s cage law, Sumner said that could reduce the number of eggs available.

“When there’s that much uncertainty, I’m thinking there may be some disruption in the market,” he said.

Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, said he thinks the costs to consumers will be minimal and worth it for the welfare of chickens, which provide enough eggs for each person to consume on average 250 a year.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A member of the Indonesia Red Cross prepares coffins for the victims of AirAsia Flight 8501 at the main hospital in Pangkalan Bun, Indonesia, on Friday. More ships arrived Friday with sensitive equipment to hunt for the fuselage of the plane and the victims still missing since it crashed into the sea Sunday.

Some AirAsia victims found belted in seats PANGKALAN BUN, Indonesia (AP) — After nearly a week of searching for the victims of AirAsia Flight 8501, rescue teams battling monsoon rains had their most successful day yet on Friday, more than tripling the number of bodies pulled from the Java Sea, some still strapped to their seats.

Of the 30 corpses recovered so far, 21 were found on Friday, many of them by a U.S. Navy ship, according to officials.

The Airbus A320 carrying 162 passengers and crew went down Sunday, halfway into a flight from Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, to Singapore. Minutes before losing contact, the pilot told air-traffic control he was approaching threatening clouds but was denied permission to climb to a higher altitude because of heavy air traffic.

It remains unclear what caused the plane to plunge into the sea. The crash was AirAsia’s first since it began operations in 2001, quickly becoming one of the region’s

most popular low-cost carriers.

In addition to looking for victims, Search and Rescue Agency chief Henry Bambang Soelistyo said ships from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the U.S. are scouring the ocean floor as they try to pinpoint wreckage and the all-important black boxes.

The data recorder contains crucial information such as engine temperature and vertical and horizontal speed; the voice recorder saves conversations between pilots and other sounds coming from inside the cockpit.

Toos Saniotoso, an Indonesian air safety investigator, said investigators “are looking

at every aspect” as they try to determine why the plane crashed. “From the operational side, the human factor, the technical side, the ATC (airtraffic control) — everything is valuable to us.”

Bad weather, which has hindered the search for the past several days, remained a worry. A drizzle and light clouds covered the area Friday morning, but rain, strong winds and high waves up to 13 feet were forecast until Sunday. Strong sea currents have also kept debris moving.

That has severely slowed recovery efforts as well, as bodies drift farther and farther away.

Ring in the New Year with a new Maytag Dishwasher

Dishwasher

• 24” built-in dishwasher • PowerblastTM cycle • White • Stainless Steel Tub

We’ve Moved!!!

.............T Think hi k............

Lafayette f yettte G Gold olld & S Silver ilv ver er E Exchange x h ng Inside Vestco Properties We Buy: Gold, Silver, .925 Jewelry, Diamonds, Coin Collections, Pocket Watches & Wrist Watches Flatware & Estates

#MDB4949SDH

Dishwasher

480 E. Liberty St. Sumter, SC 29150

Stainless Steel Powerful Dishwasher • 4 blades stainless steel chopper • Stainless steel tub • PowerblastTM cycle

(inside Coca-Cola Building))

Mon. - Fri. 8:30 - 5:30 PM • Sat: 8 - 2 PM

803-773-8022

*Delivery & Installation Extra • We Service What We Sell • Financing Available 1152 Pocalla Rd, Sumter

(803) 773-8016 Open Mon.-Fri. • 9am-5pm

what is stars & stripes?

Stars & Stripes is a newspaper written for the military and has served American servicemen and women with editions printed and distributed around the world for more than 100 years. Now there is a domestic edition of Stars & Stripes that is distributed weekly to servicemen and women stationed on American soil.

Volume 6, No.

Celebrating 46 Years in Business!

18 ©SS 201 3

FRIDAY, A PRIL 18, 2014

WE NOW HAVE TWO LOCATIONS:

Happy New Year from our family to yours!

FAMILY REUNION

One soldier’s journey downr ange

and back hom e

QUEEN SIZE $299 Bedroom Sets

Includes: Headboard, Dresser, Mirror & Chest

| Pages 2-3

FIRST PUBLICATION JANUARY 22, 2015

SOFA & LOVESEATS Starting at $399 Per Set TWIN SET

129

$

ad deadline

FULL SET

199 169

$

QUEEN SET

EVERY FRIDAY AT 11AM

$

PILLOW TOP

399

$

KING SET

FINANCING AVAILABLE • FREE LOCAL DELIVERY

more information at www.stripes.com

FREEDOM FURNITURE 493 N. GUIGNARD • SUMTER, SC 499-2002

★ DISTRIBUTED IN AND AROUND SHAW AFB AND MCENTIRE *AROUND FT. JACKSON - BASE ACCESS PENDING ★ South Mill St. Hwy. 260

Odom Auction

CONTACT YOUR SALES REPRESENTATIVE OR CALL 803.774.1237

Freedom Furniture All About Pools & Spas

539 A S. MILL ST., • MANNING, SC 803-433-2300 Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am-7:00pm •Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm • Sunday Closed

CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK.COM

STATE | NATION

THE SUMTER ITEM

TAX FROM PAGE A1

SANCTIONS FROM PAGE A1

retirement tax would cost the state about $22 million. However, Bethea said his group is working on a new estimate expected this year.

He said he thinks the new study will show that removing the tax will attract more retirees to the state and help pump up the economy.

Depending upon a retiree’s income, the present tax could be as high as 7 percent, Bethea said.

The attorney said he has heard many anecdotal stories about military retirees who decide to go to other states in the region that don’t tax military incomes to the extent South Carolina does, such as Florida, North Carolina or Alabama.

The Department of Defense estimates there are about 58,000 military retirees in South Carolina.

By serving at least 20 years in the military, they have earned a guaranteed pension as well as a variety of other benefits. For example, the retirees have access to tax-exempt commissaries and base exchange stores on the major bases, as well as military-financed medical care and access to entertainment and recreation facilities on military sites.

Because of this, the state’s military retirees cluster near the state’s major military installations, such as the Army training center at Fort Jackson outside Columbia, Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, the Air Force and Navy installations at Joint Base Charleston and the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort.

Sen. Thomas McElveen, a Democrat whose district encompasses Shaw, said his bill would phase in the tax deduction and then end it after 2016.

“I think we would be penny wise and pound foolish not to approve this,” McElveen said.

“Retired military people are very employable.

We want to attract such people to our state. They buy property that is taxed; they have a second income that would be taxed,” the senator said.

He said many retirees are in their 30s and 40s and would be a boon to employers seeking technologically savvy workers.

McElveen noted that opponents of such a measure have in the past not put up a public fight, given the military-friendly nature of the state.

The Democrat said he hopes both sides of the aisle will support their efforts in the House and Senate when lawmakers convene in January.

State Rep. Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, who sits on the Military Base Task Force, introduced the legislation last year that won unanimous support in the House. He said the bill didn’t get to the Senate until late in the session, which might have doomed it.

Smith said he and McElveen have filed companion bills in the House and Senate and across party lines to illustrate a unified effort to move the issue earlier in the legislative cycle.

Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Charleston, said convincing people sometimes takes years. He has signed on to a similar bill, which would cut the tax in four phases.

“Every time we swing the hammer, we get that little crack bigger and bigger, and soon we will bust it open,” Grooms said.

Rick Carpenter of The Sumter Item contributed to this story.

American company. But U.S. officials said the North’s behavior had “crossed a threshold” that necessitated a swift and decisive response.

The U.S. move also served to put North Korea on notice that payback would not be limited to those who perpetrated the attack.

Ten people identified in the sanctions are there because they are associated with the North Korean government, not because of any known involvement with the episode against Sony, Obama admin-

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

istration officials said.

Rather, the U.S. sanctions were aimed at upping the pressure on North Korea by undermining its defense sector and making it nearly impossible for North Korean officials to do business overseas, said the officials, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity.

Anyone who works for or helps North Korea’s government is fair game to be sanctioned under the executive order that Obama signed Friday while vacationing in Hawaii, officials said.

The sanctions also apply to three organizations closely tied to North Korea’s government: the country’s primary intelligence

|

A5

agency, a state-owned arms dealer that exports missile and weapons technology and the Korea Tangun Trading Corp., which supports defense research.

All three of those entities were already subject to sanctions by the U.S., which has an extensive sanctions regime aimed at North Korea’s nuclear program. Re-designating those groups under Obama’s new executive order appeared to be primarily a symbolic move.

Those sanctioned will have any assets in the U.S. frozen and will be barred from using the U.S. financial system. Americans will be prohibited from doing business with them.

Fast-food chains try to revamp their image NEW YORK (AP) — Fast-food chains have a New Year’s resolution: Drop the junk.

As people express distaste for food they think is overly processed, McDonald’s, Taco Bell and other chains are trying to shed their reputation for serving reheated meals that are loaded with chemicals. That includes rethinking the use of artificial preservatives and other ingredients customers find objectionable.

“This demand for fresh and real is on the rise,” said Greg Creed, CEO of Yum Brands, which owns Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut. During the presentation for analysts and investors last month, Creed said the company needs to be more transparent about ingredients and use fewer preservatives.

Recasting fast food as “fresh” and “real” will be tricky, in large part because it’s so universally regarded as cheap and greasy. Another problem is that terms such as “fresh,” “real” and “healthy” have nebulous meanings, making it hard for companies to pin down how to approach transformation.

AP FILE PHOTO

A customer looks at the menu at a McDonald’s drive-thru in Williamsville, New York, in 2009. Some fast-food chains are trying to shed their negative image.

One way chains are looking to redefine themselves is by purging recipes of chemicals people might find unappetizing. Already, packaged food and beverage companies have reformulated products to remove such ingredients, even while standing by their safety.

PepsiCo, for instance, said it would remove brominated vegetable oil from Gatorade after a petition by a teenager noted it isn’t approved for use in some markets overseas.

And fast-food chains are indicating they want to jump on the “clean label” trend too: • Last month, McDonald’s USA President Mike Andres outlined improvements the company is working on, including the simplification of ingredient labels. Without providing details, he said to expect some changes in early 2015.

The remarks came after the company reported a 4.6 percent decline in U.S. sales for November, capping two years of struggling

performance.

“Why do we need to have preservatives in our food?” Andres asked, noting McDonald’s restaurants go through supplies quickly.

“We probably don’t.”

• Subway, a privately held company that does not disclose sales, started airing TV ads Thursday for its new chicken strips free of artificial preservatives and flavors. After suffering bad publicity, the company said earlier last year it would remove an ingredient from its bread that an online petition noted was also used in yoga mats. The ingredient, azodicarbonamide, is approved by the Food and Drug Administration and widely used as a dough conditioner and whitening agent.

• Chick-fil-A said in 2013 it would remove high-fructose corn syrup from buns and artificial dyes from its dressings. A couple months later, it said it plans to serve only chicken raised without antibiotics within five years.

OBITUARIES JEFFREY A. DELLEFIELD DALZELL — Jeffrey Alyn Dellefield, age 57, beloved husband of Maryelizabeth Conyers Dellefield, died on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born in Ohio, he was a son of Clara Rose Dellefield and the DELLEFIELD late Robert Charles Dellefield. Jeffrey had multiple achievements and received numerous awards for his loyal service with the United States Air Force and retired in 2003. He later went to work at the Columbia Post Office. Jeffrey was an avid hunter. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend.

Surviving in addition to his wife and mother are his son, John Mario Dellefield and his wife, Brentney, of Delaware; two brothers, William J. Dellefield and his wife, Donna, and Danny C. Dellefield and his wife, Pauline; three sisters, Kathy Malinovsky and her husband, Rick, Mellony Moore and her husband, Glenn, and Sandra Sanders and her husband, Steve, all of Ohio; and one grandson, Shane Michael Dellefield.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday with full military honors at Bullock Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Steve Sanders officiating.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Sunday at Bullock Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the Harvest Hope Food Bank, 2220 Shop Road, Columbia, SC 29201.

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

The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home of

Sumter for the arrangements.

CAMDEN — Reuben Adamson, 69, of Camden Condos, 1141 Wilder St., and formerly of Baron DeKalb Road, died on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015.

Friends may visit at 2376 Baron DeKalb Road, Camden.

Plans will be announced by Collins Funeral Home of Camden.

He was a son of the late Fred and Sarah Bowman McKinney.

Funeral services for Deacon McKinney will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 2571 Joseph Lemon & Dingle Road, Manning, with the Rev. Sam Livingston Sr., pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in Antioch Memorial Gardens, Manning.

The family is receiving friends at the residence, 1037 William Acres Lane, Manning.

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

TERRIE W. GAINEY

ZE’BRIAN A. JACKSON

Terrie Williams Gainey, age 56, beloved wife of Robbie L. Gainey Sr., died on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be announced by Bullock Funeral Home of Sumter.

Ze’Brian A. Jackson, 32, departed this life on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.

He was born on Feb. 18, 1982, in Sumter, a son of Robert Pearson and Mary Jackson Session (Willie Session).

The family will be receiving friends at the home, 70 Wells Court, Sumter, SC 29154.

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

REUBEN ADAMSON

ERNESTINE S. BELL Ernestine Spann Bell, 52, wife of Herbert Bell Jr., entered into eternal rest on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

She was born on Sept. 18, 1962, in Sumter, a daughter of the late Ernest and Annie Tomlin Spann.

The family is receiving visitors at the home of her sister, Diane Tiller, 54 Burkett Drive, Sumter.

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

JACKSON MCKINNEY MANNING — Deacon Jackson “Bubba” McKinney, 86, husband of Eloise Youngs McKinney, died on Monday, Dec. 29, 2014.

MILDRED P. WALKER Mildred P. Walker, 82, wife of Dayton Walker, died on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence.

Born in Sumter County, she was a daughter of the late James and Hattie Geter Pringle.

The family will receive friends at the Walker home, 105 N. Tondaleia Drive, Sumter.

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

ALLEN L. BRISTOL Allen Lovell Bristol, 33, died on Jan. 1, 2015, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

He was born on Oct. 1, 1981, in Columbia, a son of Terrecenia Morice Bristol and Frank Dickerson and stepson of Lloyd Bristol.

The family is receiving friends at 820 Mathis St., Sumter.

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

PERTELL LOYNES Pertell Loynes, 92, widow of Warren McLeod Sr. and Elliot Loynes, died on Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, at KershawHealth Medical Center at Camden.

Born Nov. 8, 1922, in Sumter County, she was a daughter of the late Harrison and Rose Ann Chapman Sanders.

The family is receiving friends and relatives at her home, 6683 James St., Rembert.

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

SADIE S. RICHARDSON PINEWOOD — Sadie Stack Richardson, 93, widow of John Waring Richardson Sr., died on Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, at NHC Healthcare.

Born in Pinewood, she was a daughter of the late A.G. and Maud Griffin Stack. She was a member of Pinewood United Methodist Church and the Lizzie Griffin Missionary Circle. She worked in retail in Pinewood.

Survivors include three children, Waring Richardson (Tami) of Chapin, Burchell Richardson (Joni) of Sumter and Maudie R. Ewing (Ronny) of Pinewood; six grandchildren, Erin Kelly, Chris Ewing, Brett Richardson, Katherine Ewing, Will Richardson and Keri Richardson; two greatgrandchildren, Emma Kelly and Sadie Kelly; a sister, Jennie Lee Willis of Aiken; and a number of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, four brothers and five sisters.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Pinewood United Methodist Church with the Rev. George Gain officiating. Burial will be in St. Mark’s Episcopal Church cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Brett Richardson, Will Richardson, Chris Ewing, Mark Smith, Hans Swygert and Kevin Kelly.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Burchell Richardson, 2173 Balclutha Lane.

Memorials may be made to Pinewood United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 203, Pinewood, SC 29125.

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

HERCULES SMITH JR. Hercules Smith Jr., 53, departed this life on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, at his residence.

He was born on Feb. 22, 1961, in Sumter, a son of Rosa Mae Pack Smith and the late Hercules Smith Sr. The family will be receiving friends at the home, 4745 Moses Lane, Sumter, SC 29154.

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

OLDEST JULIUS Oldest Julius, 68, widower of Shirley Mae Chandler Julius, died on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, at his residence.

Born on May 14, 1946, in Lee County, he was a son of Dewey C. and Eloise Stuckey Julius.

The family is receiving friends and relatives at the home, 827 Manning Ave., Sumter.

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

A6

|

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 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) 6074543.

HIV/AIDS: Positive Outlook, through Wateree AIDS Task Force, will meet at 11:30 a.m. third Friday of each month. Support group for those living with HIV / AIDS as well as their friends and family. For meeting location, contact Kevin, peer educator and advocate, at (803) 7780303 or via email at watereeaids@sc.rr.com.

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) 316-6763. 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 TODAY

TONIGHT

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Cloudy with a shower or two

Cloudy and mild with a shower

A couple of thunderstorms

Cooler with some sun

Mostly sunny and cooler

Mostly sunny; breezy in the p.m.

59°

57°

73° / 44°

55° / 31°

44° / 31°

49° / 20°

Chance of rain: 60%

Chance of rain: 55%

Chance of rain: 65%

Chance of rain: 10%

Chance of rain: 10%

Chance of rain: 15%

E 4-8 mph

S 7-14 mph

SSW 12-25 mph

NE 6-12 mph

SW 7-14 mph

NNW 8-16 mph

Gaffney 44/50 Spartanburg 45/51

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.

SATURDAY MEETINGS:

TODAY’S SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER

Greenville 46/51

Columbia 46/61

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

Sumter 48/59

IN THE MOUNTAINS Aiken 48/62

ON THE COAST

Charleston 51/70

Today: A thick cloud cover with a few showers; humid. High 62 to 71.

Sunday: A couple of showers and a thunderstorm. High 71 to 75.

LOCAL ALMANAC

LAKE LEVELS

SUMTER YESTERDAY

58° 28° 54° 32° 80° in 1997 15° in 1984

Sat. Hi/Lo/W 59/56/sh 36/28/i 50/32/c 37/36/sn 58/39/r 62/43/s 75/53/t 40/40/c 84/68/pc 43/42/r 54/36/s 59/44/s 44/42/r

SUN AND MOON 7 a.m. yest.

358.24 74.09 73.22 96.30

24-hr chg none +0.03 none -0.73

Sunrise 7:28 a.m.

Moonrise 4:29 p.m.

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

0.00" 0.00" 0.12" 0.00" 0.34" 0.12"

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

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

Sun. Hi/Lo/W 62/34/r 29/0/sf 38/27/s 39/10/sn 51/31/s 70/48/s 62/41/pc 61/35/r 84/68/pc 64/37/r 63/40/s 60/47/pc 64/38/r

Myrtle Beach 51/65

Manning 48/63

Today: Occasional rain and drizzle. Winds east-northeast 4-8 mph.

Sunday: Breezy with rain; warmer. Winds west-southwest 10-20 mph.

Temperature High Low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

Florence 47/60

Bishopville 46/58

Flood 7 a.m. stage yest.

12 9.44 19 5.82 14 12.02 14 4.64 80 79.84 24 16.02

Sunset Moonset

5:25 p.m.

5:51 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Jan. 4

Jan. 13

Jan. 20

Jan. 26

TIDES

24-hr chg -0.03 +0.08 +2.55 -0.75 +0.21 +0.14

AT MYRTLE BEACH

High 7:32 a.m.

7:53 p.m.

8:17 a.m.

8:37 p.m.

Today Sun.

Ht. 3.3 2.8 3.3 2.8

Low 1:47 a.m.

2:33 p.m.

2:34 a.m.

3:17 p.m.

Ht. -0.5 -0.1 -0.5 -0.2

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

Sat. Hi/Lo/W 50/48/sh 56/51/c 64/57/c 71/62/sh 61/56/c 70/62/sh 51/48/r 53/51/r 61/57/sh 57/54/c 61/58/r 60/58/r 56/54/r

Sun. Hi/Lo/W 60/28/r 63/36/r 70/41/t 73/47/t 66/46/t 74/47/t 68/38/t 65/38/r 71/43/t 73/42/t 77/47/t 76/45/t 75/43/t

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

Sat. Hi/Lo/W 60/58/c 80/63/c 51/49/r 56/56/r 69/62/sh 48/44/r 51/48/r 48/45/r 68/59/sh 79/63/c 67/63/t 66/62/c 57/56/sh

Sun. Hi/Lo/W 76/45/t 78/56/t 67/38/t 76/44/t 75/47/t 68/37/t 65/39/r 64/36/r 69/46/t 79/52/t 65/36/r 67/37/r 59/33/r

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

Sat. Hi/Lo/W 50/47/r 69/62/sh 65/60/sh 65/61/sh 69/62/sh 50/48/r 51/49/r 54/52/r 75/63/sh 51/49/r 68/59/sh 65/59/r 46/45/r

Sun. Hi/Lo/W 64/34/r 74/48/t 73/48/t 73/45/t 72/48/t 72/40/t 67/37/t 73/41/t 77/47/t 66/39/r 71/49/t 75/48/t 65/37/t

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

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.

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

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

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Focus on EUGENIA LAST your health, your appearance and your talents.

Invest time in perfecting and preparing to take a leap ahead.

Romance will bring you happiness and lead to a stable, long-lasting connection. Actions will speak louder than words.

The last word in astrology

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Honesty will play a big role in the way things unfold. Speak up and set the record straight if you disagree with someone. Protect your health by eating well and getting the exercise required to build a strong body and progressive attitude.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Make positive personal changes to your surroundings, your outlook and the way you present who you are and what you can do. A serious attitude will help you gain respect and get back on track. Budget wisely and control unwanted debt.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Don’t give in. Stand up for your rights and make it clear how you wish to move forward. You may not come to an agreement, but you will be able to take charge of your life and follow through without feeling guilty.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Check into new hobbies or interests you’d like to pursue this year. Travel plans can be put into motion, along with updating your resume and investing in your skills, knowledge and future. Love is highlighted, and relationships should be nurtured.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Use your skills and connections to get your plans up and running.

Discussing your strategy will be met with positive suggestions

that can help you eliminate setbacks. Sticking to a budget is a must. Expect the unanticipated.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Put greater emphasis on improvement. Fix up your digs or update your image. Don’t let the changes someone else makes influence what you do. Follow your heart and do what’s best for you. Say little and do a lot.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Figure out your strategy, but don’t share your thoughts with others.

Research will give you the confidence and the know-how to move forward without a hitch.

Avoid setbacks by being well informed and ready to conquer.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Travel, connect with old friends and make decisions regarding how you intend to put your talents to good use. Consider offering a service that is in dire need in your community. Start small and build a solid base.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You can take control of your own life, but don’t try to direct others.

Focus on how you can make personal improvements that will encourage you to advance.

Strengthen your skills and find new ways to utilize what you do best.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Take the initiative to learn all you can and to experience whatever will help you improve your skills and outmaneuver the competition.

Utilize your time wisely so you are able to accomplish as much as possible.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Being a team player will work to your advantage. Show an interest in what everyone around you is doing, and you will learn what you need to know in order to move into a position of leadership.

LOTTERY NUMBERS PALMETTO CASH 5 FRIDAY

POWERBALL WEDNESDAY

12-16-18-33-34 PowerUp: 4

17-27-37-40-53 Powerball: 35 Powerplay: 2

PICK 3 FRIDAY

PICK 4 FRIDAY

7-4-9 and 9-0-6

2-1-3-2 and 7-7-6-6

MEGAMILLIONS numbers were unavailable at press time.

SPCA CAT OF THE WEEK Katmandu, a 2-year-old gray tabby neutered male American shorthair, is available for adoption at the Sumter SPCA. He is housebroken and great with other cats.

Katmandu is gentle, affectionate, playful and adores attention. The Sumter SPCA is located at 1140 S. Guignard Drive, (803) 773-9292, and is open 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day except Wednesday and Sunday. Visit the website at www.sumterscspca.com.

SECTION

New faces in rivalry between Steelers, Ravens B3

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

B

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

First of its kind

AP PHOTOS

Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones (12) and Heisman Trophy-winning Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) look to lead their respective teams to victory in the first college football playoff championship game on Jan. 12 in Arlington, Texas.

Ducks, Buckeyes to meet in inaugural college football playoff championship

BY RALPH D. RUSSO The Associated Press Ohio State is looking for its first national title since 2002.

Oregon is seeking its first, period.

Pac-12 champion Oregon and Big Ten champion Ohio State will meet in Arlington, Texas, at the home of the Cowboys on Jan. 12 in the

USC WOMEN

first College Football Playoff championship game.

“It’s perfect,’’ Oregon linebacker Derrick Malone Jr. said. “I need another game.

I’m glad I can still be a part of this. If we didn’t have another game I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.’’

The Ducks (13-1) and Buckeyes (13-1) last played in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Cali-

fornia, in 2010. Ohio State won that game 26-17. Now the Rose Bowl comes to Texas, but with so much more at stake.

Cardale Jones, Ezekiel Elliott and fourth-seeded Ohio State rallied, and then held on for a 42-35 victory over No. 1 Alabama at the Sugar Bowl on Thursday night.

Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota and Oregon

had it much easier. The second-seeded Ducks crushed Florida State 59-20 at the Rose Bowl.

“Oregon won by 40?’’ Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said, startled when he heard about the results during his postgame news conference in New Orleans. “I gotta go. We gotta go get ready for that one.’’

PRO FOOTBALL

Tigers open ACC play against UNC

BY SCOTT KEEPFER Greenville News

BY PETE IACOBELLI The Associated Press

SEE USC, PAGE B2

SEE FIRST, PAGE B3

CLEMSON BASKETBALL

Welch hurt in Carolina’s 77-58 victory over Auburn COLUMBIA — Aleighsa Welch scored 12 points before leaving with a neck sprain and No. 1 South Carolina opened Southeastern Conference play with a 77-58 victory over Auburn on Friday night.

Welch helped the Gamecocks (13-0) build a 20-point lead before she hit hard again a basket post and remained down for several minutes.

WELCH She walked off under her own power and went to the hospital for X-rays.

With the senior gone, Auburn cut the lead to 48-40 on Hasina Muhammad’s basket with 11:42 left.

That’s when the Gamecocks answered with a 12-2 run to restore control, a stretch that included Tiffany Mitchell’s two foul shots after Auburn coach Terri Williams-Flournoy was called for a technical.

Freshman A’ja Wilson had

The oddsmakers have installed the Ducks as sevenpoint favorites.

The College Football Playoff, a four-team tournament that replaced the Bowl Championship Series, has provided a jolt to the sport.

The BCS matched the top two teams and didn’t allow

of him when the Panthers host the Cardinals today in an NFC wild-card game.

“Obviously it’s something that sticks out,’’ Newton said. “I know they will have some wrinkles in for me and hopefully I will be able to dissect them and take what they give me. (But) I’m

CLEMSON — It’s a long college basketball season, but a poor start in conference play can make it seem considerably longer.

That’s why Clemson University men’s head coach Brad Brownell is imploring his team to keep its head above water during a brutal opening stretch that includes games against five of the BROWNELL Atlantic Coast Conference’s top contenders.

It all begins tonight against No. 20 North Carolina at Littlejohn Coliseum.

“It’s a challenge, certainly, but at the same time it’s exciting,” Brownell said.

After facing the Tar Heels, the Tigers will hit the road for games at No. 6 Louisville, Pittsburgh and No. 3 Virginia before returning home to face Syracuse on Jan. 17. The journey could be made a bit easier if the Tigers could pull off Brownell’s first victory

SEE PANTHERS, PAGE B3

SEE TIGERS, PAGE B3

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Carolina running back Jonathan Stewart (28) and the rest of the Panthers look to get their ground game going today against Arizona in an NFC wild-card matchup in Charlotte.

Panthers look to run on Cards

BY STEVE REED The Associated Press CHARLOTTE — The key to the Arizona Cardinals advancing in the NFC playoffs could come down to their ability to slow down Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton in the running game.

Arizona’s defense has struggled against mobile

quarterbacks the past two weeks.

Seattle’s Russell Wilson ran for 88 yards on six carries and San Francisco’s Colin Kaepernick had 63 yards on seven rushes to spearhead wins over Arizona. The Cardinals allowed a combined 473 yards rushing in those two losses.

Newton is well aware of the opportunity in front

B2

|

SPORTS

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

SCOREBOARD

Minnesota PACIFIC DIVISION

TV, RADIO TODAY

10 a.m. – International Soccer: FA Cup Match – Swansea vs. Tranmere (FOX SPORTS 1).

10 a.m. – International Soccer: FA Cup Match – Gateshead vs. West Brom (FOX SPORTS 2).

11 a.m. – College Basketball: Southern Methodist at Cincinnati (ESPN2).

Noon – College Basketball: Kansas State at Oklahoma State (ESPNU).

Noon – College Basketball: Mount Olive at King (CBS SPORTS NETWORK).

Noon – College Football: Birmingham Bowl from Birmingham, Ala. – East Carolina vs. Florida (ESPN).

Noon – College Basketball: Villanova at Seton Hall (FOX SPORTS 1).

Noon – College Basketball: Syracuse at Virginia Tech (FOX SPORTSOUTH).

Noon – Women’s College Basketball: Oklahoma State at Baylor (SPORTSOUTH).

1 p.m. – High School Football: U.S. Army All-American Bowl from San Antonio (WIS 10).

1 p.m. – College Basketball: Duquesne at Dayton (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

1 p.m. – College Basketball: North Alabama at Auburn (SEC NETWORK).

2 p.m. – College Basketball: Connecticut at Florida (WLTX 19).

2 p.m. – College Basketball: George Washington at St. Joseph’s (CBS SPORTS NETWORK).

2 p.m. – College Basketball: Texas at Texas Tech (ESPNU).

2 p.m. – College Basketball: Xavier at DePaul (FOX SPORTS 1).

2 p.m. – College Basketball: Norfolk State at Georgia (FOX SPORTSOUTH).

2 p.m. – College Basketball: Providence at Marquette (SPORTSOUTH).

3 p.m. – College Basketball: Rhode Island at St. Louis (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

3 p.m. – College Basketball: Utah Valley at Arkansas (SEC NETWORK).

3:30 p.m. – College Basketball: Illinois at Ohio State (ESPN2).

4 p.m. – Women’s College Basketball: Maryland at Nebraska (WLTX 19).

4 p.m. – College Basketball: Brigham Young at San Francisco (BYUTV).

4 p.m. – College Basketball: Butler at St. John’s (CBS SPORTS NETWORK).

4 p.m. – College Basketball: Baylor at Oklahoma (ESPNU).

4 p.m. – College Basketball: Creighton at Georgetown (FOX SPORTS 1).

4 p.m. – College Basketball: Boston College at Duke (FOX SPORTSOUTH).

4 p.m. – College Basketball: West Virginia at Texas Christian (SPORTSOUTH).

4:20 p.m. – NFL Football: National Football Conference Playoffs Wild-Card Game – Arizona at Carolina (ESPN, WWFN-FM 100.1, WPUB-FM 102.7).

5 p.m. – College Basketball: Richmond at Davidson (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

5 p.m. – College Basketball: Lipscomb at Missouri (SEC NETWORK).

5:30 p.m. – College Basketball: Virginia at Miami (ESPN2).

6 p.m. – College Basketball: Iowa State vs. South Carolina from Brooklyn, N.Y. (CBS SPORTS NETWORK, WDXY-FM 105.9, WNKT-FM 107.5, WDXY-AM 1240).

6 p.m. – College Basketball: Tulane at Memphis (ESPNU).

7 p.m. – College Hockey: Union College at Boston University (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

7 p.m. – College Basketball: Savannah State at Louisiana State (SEC NETWORK).

7 p.m. – NBA Basketball: Charlotte at Orlando (SPORTSOUTH).

7:30 p.m. – College Basketball: Penn State at Rutgers (ESPN2).

8 p.m. – NFL Football: American Football Conference Playoffs Wild-Card Game – Baltimore at Pittsburgh (WIS 10).

8 p.m. – College Basketball: Colorado State at New Mexico (CBS SPORTS NETWORK).

8 p.m. – College Basketball: Oregon State at Oregon (ESPNU).

8:15 p.m. – College Basketball: North Carolina at Clemson (ESPN, WWBDFM 94.7, WPUB-FM 102.7).

9:30 p.m. – College Basketball: Gonzaga at Portland (ESPN2).

10 p.m. – College Basketball: San Diego State at Fresno State (ESPNU).

NBA STANDINGS

By The Associated Press EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION W Toronto 24 Brooklyn 15 Boston 11 New York 5 Philadelphia 4 SOUTHEAST DIVISION W Atlanta 23 Washington 22 Miami 14 Orlando 13 Charlotte 10 CENTRAL DIVISION W Chicago 23 Cleveland 18 Milwaukee 17 Indiana 12 Detroit 8

L 8 16 18 29 26

Pct GB .750 – .484 8 1/2 .379 11 1/2 .147 20 .133 19

L 8 9 19 22 23

Pct .742 .710 .424 .371 .303

GB – 1 10 12 14

L 10 14 16 21 23

Pct .697 .563 .515 .364 .258

GB – 4 1/2 6 11 14

L 8 9 10 14 16

Pct .742 .710 .697 .588 .500

GB – 1 1 4 1/2 7 1/2

L 7 17 20 21

Pct GB .788 – .485 10 .394 13 .344 14 1/2

WESTERN CONFERENCE SOUTHWEST DIVISION W Memphis 23 Houston 22 Dallas 23 San Antonio 20 New Orleans 16 NORTHWEST DIVISION W Portland 26 Oklahoma City 16 Denver 13 Utah 11

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

5

26

.161

20

W 25 22 18 14 10

L 5 11 16 19 22

Pct GB .833 – .667 4 1/2 .529 9 .424 12 1/2 .313 16

THURSDAY’S GAMES

Chicago 106, Denver 101 Sacramento 110, Minnesota 107

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Brooklyn at Orlando, 7 p.m.

Cleveland at Charlotte, 7 p.m.

Dallas at Boston, 7:30 p.m.

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

Houston at New Orleans, 8 p.m.

Washington at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.

Indiana at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.

Philadelphia at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

Atlanta at Utah, 9 p.m.

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

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

TODAY’S GAMES

Charlotte at Orlando, 7 p.m.

Boston at Chicago, 8 p.m.

Miami at Houston, 8 p.m.

Utah at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

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

Memphis at Denver, 9 p.m.

Atlanta at Portland, 10 p.m.

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

NFL PLAYOFFS

By The Associated Press WILD-CARD PLAYOFFS SATURDAY

Arizona at Carolina, 4:35 p.m. (ESPN) Baltimore at Pittsburgh, 8:15 p.m.

(NBC)

SUNDAY

Cincinnati at Indianapolis, 1:05 (CBS) Detroit at Dallas, 4:40 p.m. (FOX)

DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS JAN. 10

Baltimore, Indianapolis or Cincinnati at New England, 4:35 p.m. (NBC) Arizona, Detroit or Carolina at Seattle, 8:15 p.m. (FOX)

JAN. 11

Arizona, Dallas or Carolina at Green Bay, 1:05 p.m. (FOX) Indianapolis, Cincinnati or Pittsburgh at Denver, 4:40 p.m. (CBS)

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS JAN. 18

NFC, 3:05 p.m. (FOX) AFC, 6:40 p.m. (CBS)

PRO BOWL

At Glendale, Ariz.

JAN. 25

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

(ESPN)

SUPER BOWL XLIX

At Glendale, Ariz.

FEB. 1

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

NHL STANDINGS

By The Associated Press

THE SUMTER ITEM

PRO FOOTBALL

Watt, Gronkowski unanimous All-Pro picks

BY BARRY WILNER The Associated Press NEW YORK — J.J. Watt found a unique way to make the 2014 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team announced Friday.

Houston’s Watt was listed on all 50 ballots by a nationwide panel of media members who regularly cover the league, with 45 of the votes for defensive end and the other five for defensive tackle. So he actually was a first-team end and a secondteam tackle in gaining his third straight selection.

No such confusion for New England’s Rob Gronkowski as the other unanimous pick. He grabbed all the votes for tight end.

Dallas led all teams with four All-Pros, including guard Zack Martin, the only rookie on the squad. League rushing leader DeMarco Murray, tackle Tyron Smith and wide receiver Dez Bryant also made it.

Making their first All-Pro teams were all four Cowboys, plus Seattle inside linebacker Bobby Wagner; Buffalo DE Mario Williams and DT Marcell Dareus; Kansas City outside LB Justin Houston; Pittsburgh WR Antonio Brown and RB Le’Veon Bell; Baltimore guard Marshal Yanda; Green Bay fullback John Kuhn; Cincinnati kick returner Adam Jones; and Indianapolis punter Pat McAfee.

Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri joined McAfee.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers made it for

12 points for South Carolina while Alaina Coates added 11 points and 14 rebounds, her seventh double-double this season.

Muhammad had a seasonhigh 26 points to lead Auburn (9-5).

The Gamecocks’ start matched their best-ever win streak set in 1985-86. The defending SEC champions opened league play with a win for a second straight season.

South Carolina said Welch begged to stay and watch the end of the game before she was sent to the hospital as a precaution.

Gamecocks leading scorer Mitchell, the defending SEC player of the year and sixth in league scoring at 14.8 points a game shot just 1 for 9. Wilson also struggled with her shot,

the second time. Brown was next closest to sweeping the panel, earning 49 votes.

Murray drew 48 and Houston 47.

Cleveland tackle Joe Thomas earned his fifth AllPro spot, the most of anyone on the current team.

Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis got his fourth

All-Pro berth.

The Seahawks were all defensive players: Wagner, cornerback Richard Sherman and safety Earl Thomas.

Repeaters from 2013 were Watt, Thomas, Detroit DT Ndamukong Suh, Carolina inside linebacker Luke Kuechly, Sherman and Thomas.

EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION GP W L OT Pts GF GA Tampa Bay 39 24 11 4 52 127 100 Montreal 37 24 11 2 50 100 86 Detroit 38 20 9 9 49 108 95 Toronto 38 21 14 3 45 128 114 Boston 38 19 15 4 42 101 103 Florida 35 16 10 9 41 82 93 Ottawa 36 15 14 7 37 97 99 Buffalo 38 14 21 3 31 76 128 METROPOLITAN DIVISION GP W L OT Pts GF GA Pittsburgh 37 23 9 5 51 111 87 N.Y. Islanders 37 25 11 1 51 117 103 Washington 37 19 11 7 45 108 96 N.Y. Rangers 35 20 11 4 44 107 89 Columbus 35 16 16 3 35 89 110 Philadelphia 37 14 16 7 35 103 113 New Jersey 39 13 19 7 33 83 111 Carolina 37 10 23 4 24 73 100

WESTERN CONFERENCE CENTRAL DIVISION GP W L OT Pts GF Chicago 38 25 11 2 52 119 Nashville 36 24 9 3 51 106 St. Louis 37 22 12 3 47 108 Winnipeg 38 19 12 7 45 96 Dallas 36 17 14 5 39 108 Minnesota 35 17 14 4 38 100 Colorado 37 14 15 8 36 96 PACIFIC DIVISION GP W L OT Pts GF Anaheim 39 24 9 6 54 107 Los Angeles 39 19 12 8 46 106 Vancouver 36 21 12 3 45 105 San Jose 38 20 13 5 45 104 Calgary 39 21 15 3 45 114 Arizona 37 14 19 4 32 86 Edmonton 38 8 22 8 24 82 NOTE: Two points for a win, point for overtime loss.

GA 81 78 93 92 118 98 112 GA 104 96 97 96 103 121 131 one

THURSDAY’S GAMES

Washington 3, Chicago 2 Los Angeles 3, Vancouver 2

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Florida at Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Montreal at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Philadelphia at Carolina, 7 p.m.

Toronto at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

Edmonton at Colorado, 9 p.m.

N.Y. Islanders at Calgary, 9 p.m.

St. Louis at Anaheim, 10 p.m.

TODAY’S GAMES

Ottawa at Boston, 1 p.m.

Nashville at Los Angeles, 4 p.m.

Philadelphia at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

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

Montreal at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Toronto at Winnipeg, 7 p.m.

Minnesota at Dallas, 8 p.m.

Columbus at Arizona, 8 p.m.

Detroit at Vancouver, 10 p.m.

St. Louis at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.

SPORTS ITEMS

TSA girls roll past Laurens in Ben Lippen tourney COLUMBIA — Thomas Sumter Academy’s varsity girls basketball team defeated Laurens Academy 44-30 on Friday in the Ben Lippen New Year’s Blast at the Ben Lippen gymnasium.

Taylor Knudson led the Lady Generals with 19 points while coming up with five steals. Hannah Jenkins had eight points and 12 rebounds, while Latrice Lyons had seven points and six steals.

TSA faces Ben Lippen today at 2 p.m.

THOMAS SUMTER Knudson 19, Jenkins 8, Lyons 7, Morris 4, Ross 2, Chappell 4.

LAURENS Campbell 4, Berdram 5, Williamson 6, Hughes 5, Butcher 5, Muir 8.

VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL LAURENS 60 THOMAS SUMTER 42

COLUMBIA — Thomas Sumter Academy fell to 2-6 on the season with a 60-42 loss to Laurens Academy on Friday in the Ben Lippen New Year’s Blast at the Ben Lippen gymnasium.

Tanner Brunson led TSA with 16 points, while Ron York had 10. Chase Brewington led Laurens with 32.

The Generals face Ben Lippen today at 3:30 p.m.

THOMAS SUMTER Brunson 16, York 10, Hudson 8, White 6, Kuzbary 2.

USC FROM PAGE B1

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Houston defensive end J.J. Watt was a unanimous selection to the 2014 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team announced on Friday.

finishing 6 for 17 from the floor.

She had 10 rebounds for her third double-double this season.

The Gamecocks were back on the court after nearly two weeks off — their last game was an 84-44 win over Liberty on Dec. 21 — yet the break didn’t seem to slow them down in their first league contest.

Welch had two early buckets and Khadijah Sessions a three-point play as South Carolina broke out to 9-0 lead less than 4 minutes in. The Gamecocks used a 10-0 run midway through the period to increase the margin, despite some spotty play by their two leading scorers in Mitchell and Wilson to lead 34-17 at the break.

With the defense South Carolina played, scoring didn’t matter so much. Auburn made just seven field goals — it had nine turnovers — and missed 10 straight shots at one point.

LAURENS Brewington 32, Martin 13, Holmes 5, Williams 4, Burns 3, Erwick 2, Cortez 1.

TAXSLAYER BOWL TENNESSEE 45 IOWA 28 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Joshua Dobbs accounted for three touchdowns, Jalen Hurd ran for two scores and Tennessee beat Iowa 45-28 on Friday in the TaxSlayer Bowl for its first postseason victory since the Phillip Fulmer era.

The Volunteers (7-6) scored on their first four possessions, leading 28-0 before Iowa (7-6) managed 70 yards.

Hurd broke tackles on nearly every run, capping Tennessee’s first possession with a 3-yard score and adding a 29-yard touchdown scamper on the next drive.

Tennessee made it 21-0 late in the first quarter when Dobbs threw a lateral to running back Marlin Lane in the right flat. Lane, a senior from nearby Daytona Beach, turned and hit Vic Wharton in stride down the sideline.

ARMED FORCES BOWL HOUSTON 35 PITTSBURGH 34 FORT WORTH, Texas — Greg Ward threw three touchdowns in the final 3:41 of the Armed Forces Bowl, two after Houston recovered

onside kicks, and completed a game-winning 2-point conversion as the Cougars beat Pittsburgh 35-34 with an improbable comeback Friday.

Pitt (6-7) led 31-6 when ACC offensive player of the year James Conner had his second touchdown run with 14 minutes left in the game.

Ward had an 8-yard TD pass to Deontay Greenberry before the Cougars (8-5) recovered their first onside kick, then got another after Demarcus Ayers’ 29-yard TD catch on fourth-and-13.

After Greenberry caught a 25-yard touchdown with :59 seconds left, interim coach David Gibbs opted for a win-or-lose 2-point conversion try. Greenberry made a leaping catch in the back corner of the end zone.

AP SOURCE: CHIZIK TO COACH TAR HEELS’ DEFENSE CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Former Auburn head coach Gene Chizik has accepted an offer to coach North Carolina’s struggling defense, a person familiar with the situation said Friday.

The person said Chizik will receive a 3-year contract.

Chizik coached Auburn to the 2010 national championship with Heisman Trophywinning quarterback Cam Newton.

From staff, wire reports

Mt. Olive African Methodist Episcopal Church 145th Church Anniversary “Through God’s Grace and Mercy, We are Rooted in the Past, Alive in the Present, Focused on the Future” Sunday, January 4, 2015 10:30 am. Worship Service Speaker: Rt. Rev. John Hurst Adams, Senior Bishop (Retired) Presiding Prelate of the African Methodist Episcopal Church

Rev. Dr. Friendly J. Gadson, Pastor Webpage: mtolivewoodrow.org

2738 Woodrow Road, Sumter, SC 29153 Email: MtoliveWoodrow@gmail.com

SPORTS

THE SUMTER ITEM

PRO FOOTBALL

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

TIGERS FROM PAGE B1

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, left, and Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco will renew one of the NFL’s most heated rivalries in today’s AFC wild-card game in Pittsburgh.

New faces freshen up Steelers-Ravens rivalry

BY WILL GRAVES The Associated Press PITTSBURGH — Sean Spence’s word choice was not by accident.

Spending three years in the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room has taught the linebacker certain opponents evoke certain feelings. There’s only really one that pops up when the Baltimore Ravens come to mind.

“Just a rich tradition of hatred we have for one another,’’ Spence said.

Even if Spence’s participation in that tradition is limited. He’s hardly alone. The vast majority of players on both sides of the field will be getting their first taste of what one of the NFL’s true blood feuds looks like in the playoffs when the Steelers (115) host the Ravens (10-6) in the wild-card round.

That list, however, will not include Le’Veon Bell. Pittsburgh’s All-Pro running back and team MVP is out with a hyperextended right knee, leaving rookies Josh Harris and Dri Archer and newly acquired Ben Tate in his place.

Tate, on his fourth team in 12 months, was looking for a job a week ago. Now he finds himself

PANTHERS FROM PAGE B1 not going to go into this game thinking that I’m going to have 200-plus yards in the running game myself, because that’s not what it’s about. It’s about being productive and executing the game plan.’’

Carolina’s running game has been in high gear in recent weeks, including a 194yard performance in an NFC South-clinching 34-3 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Newton accounted for 51 yards rushing and a touchdown.

Newton has been an active participant in Carolina’s running game in his last four starts, carrying 39 times for

thrust into one of the league’s longest-running dramas.

“Everyone knows about it,’’ Tate said. “So, it’s nothing new that I’ve never heard about before.’’

And really, that’s kind of the point. Signing with Pittsburgh or Baltimore comes with the underlying expectation that for any season to be successful, you’re going to have to find a way to deal with your archrival.

“That’s one of the reasons I came here,’’ Baltimore linebacker Elvis Dumervil said.

“This is best rivalry I’ve ever been a part of by a long shot.

It’s cool man, to be able to see it early in my career and be a part of it now, to have played in it. And now, for a playoff game, it doesn’t get any better than that.’’

The Ravens and Steelers have been battling for AFC North supremacy off and on for most of the millennium.

Both have two Super Bowl titles since 2000. Three times they’ve met in the playoffs at Heinz Field.

Three times Pittsburgh advanced while Baltimore trudged back to the locker room wondering how its season slipped away. The Ravens led by 14 at the half in the division-

al round in 2010 only to watch the Steelers rally, winning on a Rashard Mendenhall touchdown run with 1:39 to play.

It’s a painful history in Baltimore, though the Ravens hardly sound worried about repeating it.

“The other ones pretty much have their result, but this one doesn’t,’’ Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs said.

“Come Saturday, it’s an opportunity to do something special and do something we haven’t ever done.’’

Besides, most of the faces have changed. Pittsburgh has just 15 players on the active roster who were part of the 2010 team that reached the Super Bowl.

The Ravens only have 19 guys remaining from the group that won the franchise’s second championship two years ago. They split their two regular-season meetings this year, with each club winning by 20 points at home in a couple of rare blowouts in a series where the result usually isn’t determined until the final seconds.

Both sides are preparing to etch another bruising chapter on Saturday. It’s January. It’s Ravens-Steelers. That’s the way it’s supposed to be, right?

246 yards and three touchdowns.

“Unfortunately we’re going against one of those similar offenses that we’ve been having problems with the last few weeks,’’ said Cardinals linebacker Larry Foote. “But we’re comfortable, we’re used to it.’’

Cardinals coach Bruce Ari-

ans called Newton an unbelievable athlete, but is expecting a better effort from his defense this week.

“Hopefully we have learned something,’’ Arians said. “The big thing is cover your guy when you are in blitz. We gave up an easy touchdown and an easy long run in that ball

PLACE YOUR AD IN 107 S.C. NEWSPAPERS and reach more than 2.5 million readers using our small space display ad network

Statewide or regional buys available Donna Yount 888.727.7377 scnewspapernetwork.com South Carolina

Newspaper Network

AIRLINE CAREERS START HERE Get trained as FAA certified Aviation Technician.

Financial aid for qualified students.

Job placement assistance.

Call Aviation Institution of Maintenance for free information

866-367-2513

GOLF SPECIAL Mon.-Thurs. play for $15 Fri, Sat. & Sun play for $18 1435 Davenport Drive Manning, SC (803) 435-8752

www.shannongreensgc.com

Expires January 14, 2015 Must present coupon

against North Carolina in nine tries, but that will easier said than done.

“They’re very good and playing their best basketball right now,” Brownell said of the Tar Heels, who are 10-3 and count wins over UCLA, Florida and No. 18 Ohio State. “Our guys are just focused on this game and what we have to do to win. If we aren’t focused on that, we don’t have a chance.”

Junior guard Marcus Paige leads the Tar Heels in scoring at 13.6 points per game, but the Tigers’ biggest problem, literally, could be a front line anchored by sophomore forward Kennedy Meeks, a 6-foot-9, 270-pounder averaging 12.8 points and 8.9 rebounds.

“They’ve always been great at rebounding,” Brownell said. “And they win a lot of 50-50 balls because they’re so athletic.”

Clemson is 8-4 and seeking to notch a victory against a Top 20 UNC team for the 14th time in school history, all of which have come at home. The Tigers’

FIRST FROM PAGE B1 much room for error. An early slip often could spell doom for a team’s national title hopes.

In the old system, it would have been very difficult for Ohio State to recover from a September home loss to Virginia Tech. The Buckeyes were a team looking for an identity back then. They had lost star quarterback Braxton Miller to a preseason injury and redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett was still developing.

Ohio State lost by 14 to the Hokies on the same day Oregon beat Michigan State.

Two weeks into the season, the Big Ten was already being counted out for the first playoff.

But a funny thing happened. Ohio State just kept getting better.

Barrett turned into a Heisman contender, but then in the season finale against Michigan, he broke his ankle. In stepped Jones, who helped Ohio State blast Wisconsin in the Big

game on mental errors so those two things are easily correctable hopefully.’’

Carolina (7-8-1) is only the second team in NFL history to reach the postseason in a nonstrike-shortened season with a losing record. Nonetheless, the Panthers opened as a 4 1/2-point favorite at home in large because Arizona’s quarterback situation. The num-

|

B3

most recent win in the series was a 19-point triumph against a 12th-ranked North Carolina squad on Jan. 13, 2010 – their lone victory in the past 16 games in the series.

If the Tigers are end that drought, it’ll be imperative they get a big game from sophomore Jaron Blossomgame, who leads the Tigers in both scoring (13.7) and rebounding (8.6) and is coming off his fifth doubledouble of the season.

“I can’t get too consumed with myself and my stats,” Blossomgame said. “We’ve got to figure out how to get everybody playing their best basketball at the same time.”

Tonight would be a good time for that to unfold.

“A win would do a lot for us, a lot for our confidence,” Blossomgame said.

“Our first five games are extremely challenging and most of them are on the road, so when we play at home we have to take care of business. This will be a good game to see where we are.”

Brownell hopes that they will be playing its best game of the season in front of a packed Littlejohn Coliseum.

Ten title game to earn the final spot in the playoff.

It was no fluke. The Buckeyes beat Alabama, eliminating the Southeastern Conference from title contention. After winning seven straight national championships in the BCS, it’s now two straight seasons in which the SEC won’t wear the crown.

Oregon’s loss came at home, too, in early October against Arizona.

The Ducks have been a juggernaut since, winning nine straight games, all by double digits and scoring at least 42 points in each.

Ohio State can put up some points, too. The Buckeyes haven’t scored less than 31 since losing 35-21 to Virginia Tech.

The Ducks and Buckeyes run similar spread offenses.

“We know Oregon. I’ll probably be able to call Oregon’s plays because we study them and they study us,’’ Meyer said.

“There’s a mutual respect.’’

For what it’s worth, Ohio State is 8-0 all-time against Oregon.

ber had climbed to six by Thursday.

Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott is turning up the heat. The Panthers have 17 sacks in the last five games, including six against the Falcons last Sunday. The Panthers are getting a better push from their front seven, led by defensive end Charles Johnson.

B4

|

TW

FT

7 PM

7:30

8 PM

8:30

The Mysteries of Laura: The Mys- The Mysteries of Laura: The Mystery of the Dysfunctional Dynasty Re- tery of the Fertility Fatality Missing doctor. (HD) ligious murder. (HD) Inside Edition (N) Best Pressure NCIS: New Orleans: Master of Hor- Criminal Minds: Persuasion Drown(HD) Cooker ror A corpse is found with a vampire ing deaths in Las Vegas desert. (HD) bite. (HD) Wheel of Fortune Jeopardy! (HD) Hairspray (‘07, Comedy) aaa Nikki Blonsky. An overweight teenager (HD) tries to audition for a dance show with her best friend, but a devious dance queen and her mother try to destroy her plans. (HD) Great Estates Scotland: Dumfries Father Brown: The Bride of Christ In- Doc Martin: Born with a Shotgun House and furniture collection exam- vestigation into nuns’ poisonings.

Martin and Louisa try to comfort ined. (HD) (HD) baby.

The Big Bang The Big Bang Bones: The Money Maker on the Sleepy Hollow: Magnum Opus Theory (HD) Theory Penny’s ri- Merry-Go-Round Billion dollar hedge Sword of Methuselah, a weapon of val. (HD) fund company. (HD) power. (HD) Community Dou- Community: The First Family The First Family Mr. Box Office Mr. Box Office ble date. (HD) Comparative Reli- President’s family. President’s family. Star must teach. Star must teach. gion (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD)

3

10 z{| (HD)

WLTX E19

9

9

WOLO E25

5

12

WRJA E27 11 14

THE SUMTER ITEM

9 PM 9:30 LOCAL CHANNELS

(5:00) NFL Playoffs: NFL Wildcard

E10

WIS

TELEVISION

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

10 PM

10:30

Saturday Night Live Host Martin Short; musician Paul McCartney performs. (HD) 48 Hours Award-winning broadcast journalists present in-depth investigative reports.

20/20: From Best Friends to Killers Girl stabbed to death by best friends.

(HD) Moone Boy: Spy: Codename: Stags and Hens Tramp First day at (HD) MI5. (HD) WACH FOX News Road to Signing at 10 Nightly Day news report.

Anger Manage- Anger Management House ar- ment Prisoner’s rest. (HD) fiancé. (HD)

WACH E57

6

WKTC E63

4 22

A&E

46 130 Criminal Minds: Nameless, Faceless Criminal Minds: Haunted Pharmacy Criminal Minds: To Hell... Homeless Criminal Minds: ... And Back Cana-

AMC

48

ANPL

41

BET

61

6

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

News 19 @ 11pm The news of the day.

ABC Columbia News at 11 (HD)

11:30

12 AM

(:29) Saturday Night Live Host Woody Harrelson; musical guest Kendrick Lamar. (HD) (:35) Scandal: One for the Dog Unexpected assistance from a friend. (HD)

White Collar: Unfinished Business Bond theft turns into murder plot.

(HD) Austin City Limits: The Avett Broth- Jammin at Hipers; Nickel Creek Americana music. pie Jack’s: Angel (N) (HD) Band (:15) Axe Cop Si- (:45) Axe Cop: Ring of Honor lent boy. (HD) The Dumb List Wrestling (N) (HD) (HD) Cougar Town: Pi- Cougar Town: Access Hollylot Modern dating. Ain’t Love Strange wood Top stories.

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

CABLE CHANNELS

BRAVO

47

CNBC CNN

35 33

COM

57

DISN

18

DSC ESPN ESPN2

42 26 27

FAM

20

FOOD FOXN FSS

40 37 31

HALL

52

HGTV HIST

39 45

ION

13

LIFE

50

MSNBC NICK SPIKE

36 16 64

SYFY

58

TBS

24

TCM

49

TLC

43

TNT

23

TRUTV TVLAND

38 55

USA

25

WE WGN

68 8

(:01) Criminal Minds: Safe Haven (:01) Criminal Doctor targeted. (HD) shooting. (HD) disappear. (HD) dian killer. (HD) Midwest killer. (HD) Minds (HD) 180 (6:30) Out for Justice (‘91, Action) aa Steven Seagal. Under Siege (‘92, Action) aac Steven Seagal. A warship with nuclear missiles is seized by Hard to Kill (‘90, Action) ac Steven Seagal. Comatose A cop hunts for his friend’s killer. (HD) terrorists led by an ex-CIA agent. (HD) cop seeks those who shot him. (HD) 100 Pit Bulls and Parolees (HD) Pit Bulls and Parolees (N) (HD) Pit Bulls and Parolees (HD) Pit Bulls and Parolees (N) (HD) Pit Bulls and Parolees (HD) Pit Bulls (HD) Meet the Browns (‘08, Comedy) ac Angela Bassett. A single mother of 162 Nellyville: The Graduates Nelly gives Lottery Ticket (‘10, Comedy) aa Bow Wow. A young man from the projects wins 370speech & records. million dollars in the national lottery. three meets quirky family members she never knew existed.

Maid in Manhattan (‘02, Ro mance) aa Jennifer Lopez.

An up per class Enough (‘02, Drama) aa Jennifer Lopez.

An abused woman trains to Enough (‘02, Drama) aa Jennifer Lopez. Abused 181 politician falls in love with a lower class single mother. protect herself against her violent husband. woman trains to protect herself.

62 The Queen of Versailles (‘12, Documentary) aa Virginia Nebab.

The Suze Orman Show (N) The Queen of Versailles (‘12, Documentary) aa Virginia Nebab.

Suze Orman 64 CNN Spc. A look back at 2014.

To Be Announced To Be Announced To Be Announced To Be Announced TBA Superbad (‘07, Comedy) aaac Jonah Hill. Nerdy high schoolers go to great lengths to buy Step Brothers (‘08, Comedy) aaa Will Ferrell. Two 136 (6:27) Billy Madison (‘95, Comedy) aac Adam Sandler. Millionaire’s lazy son repeats school. (HD) liquor for a party. (HD) grown men must share a bedroom. (HD) Jessie: Gotcha Jessie Lizard love. Austin & Jessie & Ally All Star New Jessie: Jessie’s Big Break Stunt dou- Jessie: The Whin80 Jessie Zuri’s new Jessie The private Jessie Zuri’s re- Jessie Carnivofear. (HD) jet. (HD) port. (HD) rous rats. (HD) Day (HD) (HD) Year Austin’s concert. ble. (HD) ing (HD) 103 Fast N’ Loud (HD) Fast N’ Loud (HD) Fast N’ Loud (HD) Fast N’ Loud (HD) Fast N’ Loud (HD) Fast Loud 35 (6:30) 30 for 30 (HD) (:15) College Basketball: North Carolina vs Clemson z{| (HD) (:15) College GameDay (HD) SportsCenter (HD) NFL Prime.

39 Basketball College Basketball: Penn State vs Rutgers z{| (HD) College Basketball: Gonzaga Bulldogs at Portland Pilots (HD) Highly (HD) Sports (HD) 131 Twilight (‘08, Fantasy) aa Kristen The Twilight Saga: New Moon (‘09, Fantasy) aa Kristen Stewart. When Edward leaves town, Bella turns to Ja- Abduction (‘11, Action) aa Taylor Lautner. Teen disStewart. Vampire love affair. (HD) cob, not knowing his deadly secret. covers his life is fabricated. (HD) 109 Worst Cooks in America (HD) Worst Cooks in America (HD) Worst Cooks in America (HD) Worst Cooks in America (HD) Worst Cooks in America (HD) Worst Cook 74 FOX Report Saturday (HD) Huckabee (N) (HD) Justice with Judge Jeanine (N) Geraldo Rivera Reports Red Eye (HD) Justice (HD) 42 World Poker Tour no} (HD) World Poker Tour no} (HD) Sports Unlimited (HD) Golden Boy Live: Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. Roberto Castaneda (HD) Basketball Golden Prom re- Golden Girls: Golden Sophia 183 My Boyfriends’ Dogs (‘14, Drama) Erika Christensen. A runaway bride re- Surprised By Love (‘15, Romance) Hilarie Burton. Boyfriend tries to win tells the story of how she ended up with three new dogs. (HD) over parents. (HD) venge.

Love for Sale goes to jail.

112 Love It or List It (HD) Property Brothers (HD) Property Brothers: April (HD) House Hunters (N) (HD) Hunters (HD) Hunters (HD) Prop Bro (HD) 110 Ancient Aliens Hidden twin. (HD) Revelation: The End of Days: Trumpets Sound (HD) Revelation: The End of Days: Road to Babylon (HD) Revelation Law & Order: 160 Law & Order: Criminal Intent: F.P.S. Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Mad Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Unre- Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Pas Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Computer games. (HD) Hops Athlete missing. (HD) quited Poisoning victim. (HD) de Deux (HD) Mis-Labeled (HD) Criminal (HD) Damaged (‘15, Thriller) (HD) (:02) The Secret Sex Life of a Single Mom (‘14, Drama) Ashley Jones. (:02) Damaged 145 (6:00) The Wrong Woman (‘13, Thriller) Danica McKellar. (HD) Mother rediscovers her sexual desire. (HD) (‘15) (HD) 76 Caught on Camera (HD) Caught on Camera (HD) Lockup (HD) Lockup Prison gets worse. (HD) Lockup (HD) Lockup (HD) 91 Henry Henry Henry Nicky Thunderman Haunted (HD) Prince Prince Friends (HD) Friends (HD) Raymond (HD) 154 (6:10) 300 (‘07, Action) aaac Gerard Butler. Spartan battle.

The Expendables 2 (‘12, Action) aaa Sylvester Stallone. Revenge mission.

The Condemned (‘07) aac Drive Angry (‘11, Action) aa Nicolas Cage. A man es152 Elektra (‘05, Action) ac Jennifer Garner. A resurrected assassin protects a The Spirit (‘08, Fantasy) aa Gabriel Macht. A resurrected cop tries to young girl from a band of mystical warriors. (HD) keep Central City safe from a diabolical villain. (HD) capes hell to avenge daughters.

The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang Ground: The Love Actually (‘03, Romance) 156 Loves Raymond Loves Raymond The Big Bang (HD) (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Break-Ups aaa Hugh Grant. Love stories.

Requiem for a 186 (6:00) The Time Machine (‘60, Sci- Bus Stop (‘56, Comedy) aac Marilyn Monroe. A naive cowboy decides Rebel Without a Cause (‘55, Drama) aaac James Dean. Misunderence Fiction) aaac Rod Taylor. to marry a sexy saloon singer, despite her objections. stood by their parents and peers, three troubled teens come together.

Heavyweight 157 My 600-lb Life (HD) Untold Stories of the E.R (HD) Untold Stories of the E.R. (HD) Sex Sent Me to the ER (N) (HD) Sex Sent Me to the ER (N) (HD) Untold ER 158 (5:30) Pitch Black The Chronicles of Riddick (‘04, Science Fiction) aac Vin Diesel. Fugitive criminal faces off Transporter: The Series: Chimera Transporter: The Series: Chimera The Librarians (‘00) (HD) against invading empire of genocidal Necromongers. (HD) Chemical weapon. (N) (HD) Chemical weapon. (HD) (HD) 102 Dumbest Hot air balloon.

Jokers Jokers Jokers Jokers Bar (:01) Bar Punks and hipsters. (:02) Jokers 161 Fam. Feud Fam. Feud Fam. Feud Fam. Feud Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Queens (HD) Queens (HD) Queens (HD) Queens (HD) Friends (HD) NCIS: Chas ing Ghosts Na val re serv NCIS: Berlin Ziva finds lead on her fa NCIS: Re venge NCIS seeks re tal i a tion NCIS: Dou ble Blind NCIS scru ti nized NCIS: Damned If You Do Threat ened NCIS: Rekindled 132 ist’s missing husband. (HD) ther’s killer. (HD) for Eli & Jackie. (HD)

by Dept. of Defense. (HD) future. (HD) (HD) Law & Order River murder. (HD) Law & Order: Helpless (HD) Law & Order: Self Defense (HD) Law & Order (HD) Law & Order: Point of View (HD) (:04) Law (HD) 172 Blue Bloods (HD) Blue Bloods: Cellar Boy (HD) Blue Bloods: The Uniform (HD) Blue Bloods: Leap of Faith (HD) Blue Bloods: The Job (HD) How I Met

‘Galavant,’ a musical parody of medieval times, begins

BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH ABC scampers deeper down the rabbit hole of Happily Ever Aftering with “Galavant” (8 p.m., Sunday, TV-14). A musical, or rather a musical parody, of medieval knights, damsels in distress, evil kings and true love’s triumph, “Galavant” features songs written by Broadway and Hollywood award-winning musical composer Alan Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater, both (along with the late Howard Ashman) of “The Little Mermaid” fame.

As the story begins, the streets are filled with a song about Galavant (Joshua Sasse), the hero, and his ardor for Madalena (Mallory Jansen). Filled with double entendres and even more obvious nods, the song celebrates Galavant as both the greatest fighter and the most athletic lover in the land.

But he’s soon disappointed when extra-evil King Richard (Timothy Omundson) kidnaps Madalena and more crestfallen still when it seems that his lusty lover rather likes being the king’s consort, cosseted with riches and treated like a tyrannical queen.

This reversal and betrayal sends Galavant into a drunken shame spiral. He loses his dignity and gains weight. Only the arrival of another damsel in distress seems to wake him from his stupor.

“Galavant” is pure Disney, and that is its undoing. It reeks of a corporate compromise written by committee, trying to please everyone and satisfying no one.

None of the characters are terribly sympathetic. Omundson seems to be having fun as the simpering, cuckolded King Richard, but it’s difficult to giggle at his weakness when he’s also singing about genocidal slaughter. Nearly every line, speaking or sung, is a throwaway. Nothing and no one is to be taken terribly seriously.

That seems more appropriate to an episode of “Family Guy” than this digitally enhanced medieval world.

“Galavant” unfolds in halfhour dollops that seem much longer. ABC has chosen to air them back-to-back, making for a rather interminable hour.

That’s also an easier way to burn through the eight episodes of “Galavant” that it has

hands-on involvement with a fetching student gains the attention of his wife in the 2015 thriller “Damaged” (8 p.m., Lifetime, TV-14).

• Tony and Emily hope that the disappearance of another child may shed light on Oliver’s kidnappers in the penultimate episode of “The Missing” (9 p.m., Starz, TV-MA).

• Liam Neeson, Eddie Redmayne, Anna Kendrick, Bradley Wiggins and Conchita appear on “The Graham Norton Show” (10 p.m., BBC America).

SUNDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS

NICK BRIGGS FOR CARNIVAL FILM & TELEVISION LIMITED 2014 / PBS

The “Masterpiece Classic” presentation of “Downton Abbey” begins its fifth season at 9 p.m. on Sunday on PBS. commissioned and quickly put this musical misfire in our rear view mirror.

• The “Masterpiece Classic” (9 p.m. Sunday, PBS, TV-PG, check local listings) presentation of “Downton Abbey” enters its fifth season. Like many good British series, it should have ended after three. That said, “Downton” plays like an entertaining fashion show, making the most of the clothes and attitudes of the 1920s.

Character development and consistency have been thrown out the lead-paned windows.

By the end of season four, Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) appeared to have reconciled himself to the modern era. He enters season five more of a stick-in-the-mud than ever.

Cousin Rose (Lily James), a source of scandal in season four, has been reduced to a rather respectable bore.

Contrived love interests have been rigged into the plot to dynamite at least four major characters out of their onenote monotony.

If there’s humor to be found in “Downton” this year, it’s in the perverse pleasure everyone takes in belittling poor Edith’s (Laura Carmichael) many tragedies. Not to give too much away, but at one point her bot-

tomless sadness is even eclipsed by concern for the family dog.

There’s no reason “Downton” should go on, and no mystery why it will. It’s become an industry in itself, essential to the health of PBS. A behindthe-scenes documentary “The Manners of Downton Abbey” (10:15 p.m., Sunday, check local listings) follows.

The Smithsonian Channel jumps on the bandwagon with “Million Dollar American Princesses” (8 p.m. Sunday, continuing on January 4th and 11th, TVPG), a three-part look at how cash-poor British aristocrats of the late Victorian era “stooped” to marry untitled women from newly rich American families.

Elizabeth McGovern, who plays Cora, the rich American matriarch on “Downton,” is your host.

• Hallmark Channel dusts itself off after its avalanche of holiday movies and offers something entirely familiar. Hilarie Burton stars in “Surprised

by Love” (9 p.m. Saturday).

She’s Josie, an ambitious chef torn between a seemingly perfect guy and an old love interest who may make up for a meager bankroll with a tad more spontaneity and passion.

Her love life is complicated by

meddling parents who can’t make up their minds about either of these potential Mr. Rights.

Look for Tim Conway in a supporting role. Conway has been a TV fixture for more than half a century. He’s a Cleveland legend for appearing with Ernie Anderson of “Ghoulardi” fame in the late 1950s. He pretty much stole “McHale’s Navy” from Ernest Borgnine in the 1960s, and was an integral part of “The Carol Burnett Show” ensemble in the 1970s. He remained relevant in the VCR era with his odd, legendary “Dorf” videos and has cameoed and guest- starred in too many sitcoms to mention.

His voice loomed large as Barnacle Boy on “SpongeBob SquarePants.”

Conway has to be seen as one of the true giants of the medium, right up there with Bob Newhart, a fellow Midwesterner and master of the wry understatement.

SATURDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS • John Travolta stars in the 2007 adaptation of the 2002 Broadway musical based on director John Waters’ 1988 comedy “Hairspray” (8 p.m., ABC).

• A high school teacher’s

• Scheduled on “60 Minutes” (7 p.m., CBS): interviews with U.S. Gen. John Campbell and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani; Harlem’s adult choir.

• An anniversary celebration takes a back seat to a border crisis on “Madam Secretary” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-14).

• A theme park ride is out of this world on “The Simpsons” (8 P.M., Fox, TV-PG).

• Cary anticipates his new accommodations on “The Good Wife” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14).

• The 2014 documentary “Life Itself” (9 p.m., CNN) profiles the late film critic Roger Ebert.

• Stanley Tucci narrates “Metropolis” (Travel). Each hour celebrates a city’s most famous and obscure delights. “Manhattan” (9 p.m.) is followed by “San Francisco” (10 p.m.).

CULT CHOICE An FBI straight arrow (Keanu Reeves) infiltrates a criminal gang of surfers led by a Buddhist rebel (Patrick Swayze) in the 1991 thriller “Point Break” (8 p.m. Saturday, Encore), directed by Kathryn Bigelow (“The Hurt Locker”).

SUNDAY SERIES A party spoiled on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (8:30 p.m., Fox, TV14) * Time travel on “Family Guy” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14) * A power outage arrives along with a stranger on “Resurrection” (9 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) * School politics on “Bob’s Burgers” (9:30 p.m., Fox, TV-14) * A technicality springs a murder suspect on “CSI” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14) * Grief descends on “Revenge” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).

Copyright 2015, United Feature Syndicate

COMICS

THE SUMTER ITEM

BIZARRO

SOUP TO NUTZ

ANDY CAPP

GARFIELD

BEETLE BAILEY

BORN LOSER

BLONDIE

ZITS

MOTHER GOOSE

|

B5

DOG EAT DOUG

DILBERT

JEFF MACNELLY’S SHOE

Home is where cats are for parents refusing to travel DEAR ABBY — I never thought I would be a cat-hater. My 70-year-old parents are very active, but ever since they brought Dear Abby home two cats, they are ABIGAIL no longer VAN BUREN willing to travel out of town. That means they are now missing many family events. Christmas and Easter are spared because we all travel to see them on those occasions.

I am becoming resentful that their cats are more important to them than spending time with their siblings, children or grandchildren. And, NO — they will not put them in a cat hotel or have someone come

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

into their home to watch them.

Suggestions?

Resentful in Santa Barbara DEAR RESENTFUL — The problem with resentment is that it can fester to the point that it destroys relationships. Has it occurred to you that there may be other reasons your parents no longer want to make these trips? The stress and expense, for instance? Or concern about spending a lot of time driving on freeways? It’s also possible that two family visits a year are all they can handle.

One way to lessen your frustration would be to resolve to accept your parents just the way they are — and also accept that it’s unlikely they are going to change.

DEAR ABBY — I’m 67 and I like sex. My wife doesn’t. She has no drive. It may be health-relat-

THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ed, maybe due to meds. She has no time; she’s a workaholic.

I met a widow who is very tempting. She suggested a “no strings” hookup. I’m starting to think it’s not adultery if my wife is sexless. Your thoughts, Abby?

Pennsylvania senior DEAR SENIOR — I’m glad you asked. Take a pass on the widow’s generous offer. Her “no strings” hookup sounds like a snare that could hang you if the Mrs. gets wind of it.

Your wife’s lack of sex drive may be due to any of the things you mentioned. It could also be that your technique needs improving. Ask her if that might be the problem. If it is, a sex therapist could help you fix that in a jiffy. And it would be cheaper in the long run than what you’re contemplating.

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 Its construction created Lake Nasser 9 Certify 15 “Wuthering Heights” backdrop 16 Want 17 Word not usable with an indefinite article, such as “magic” or “dust” 18 Made up 19 Heave-hos 20 Word with level or devil 21 Bizarre 22 Snicker follower 23 [snicker] 25 Skyler’s sister on “Breaking Bad” 27 CPA’s concern 30 Darn things 32 It can be used to make gin 33 Carolina bisque tinted orange by roe 36 Popular news group 39 It can be used to make gin 40 Bobby Darin record label 41 “Shame on thee!”

42 Weightlifting technique 47 Academic

administrators 49 Lofty letterhead abbr.

51 Tolerated 52 LAX posting 53 Smidge 55 Business, informally 58 Chemical relative 60 Act out, say 61 Deferential bow 62 Ravel, vis-ˆvis “Pictures at an Exhibition” 63 Like Miss Marple’s attire 64 Speech disruptions DOWN 1 No greater than 2 “Entourage” publicist played by Debi Mazar 3 “Far From the Madding Crowd” region 4 Brewery bought out

by Heineken 5 Zilch 6 Access point 7 Frantic, perhaps, with “in” 8 ISP with a butterfly logo 9 In tandem, musically 10 Brunch hr.

11 Pic on a pec 12 Computer self-diagnostics list 13 Bookish 14 Benchley novel 20 Shepherd of “The View” 24 Joint risks?

26 LPGA part: Abbr.

28 One side of the Bering Strait 29 Berth place 31 Squash court features 34 Whirled 35 __-aimŽ: beloved, in French 36 Tool for making precise crosscuts 37 Salad green 38 No View, No Touch Trap

maker 39 Max Ernst, for one 43 Without 44 Tugboat’s fee 45 Evidence of major impact?

46 Bewitching types 48 Farm addition?

50 Pyramid hopper in a 1980s arcade game 54 Multitude 56 Almond relative 57 Sum, in a different form 59 Novelist Rita __ Brown 60 Univ. peer leaders

B6

CLASSIFIEDS

THE ITEM

SATURDAY, JANUARY 03, 2015

803-774-1234

OR TO PLACE YOUR AD ONLINE GO TO WWW.THE ITEM.COM/PLACEMYAD

CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL NOTICES Public Hearing

The City of Sumter, South Carolina, proposes to permanently close that portion of Maxwell Avenue between Pocalla Road and Manning Avenue.

Before ordering such closing, the City Council of the City of Sumter will hold a public hearing on such proposed closings on TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2015, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers located at the Sumter Opera House (21 N. Main Street, Sumter, South Carolina). At the public hearing, all residents of the City and other interested parties will have the opportunity to speak and be heard.

Documents pertaining to the proposed closings are on file in the Office of the Sumter City-County Planning Department and are available to be inspected, studied, and copied by interested parties.

CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SUMTER Joseph T. McElveen, Mayor Linda D. Hammett, City Clerk

Robert's Metal Roofing 35 Years Experience. 18 colors & 45 year warranty. Financing available.

Expert installation. Long list of satisfied customers.

Call 803-837-1549.

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

STATE TREE SERVICE Worker's Comp & General liability insurance. Top quality service, lowest prices. 803-494-5175 or 803-491-5154 www.statetree.net NEWMAN'S TREE SERVICE Tree removal, trimming & stump grinding. Lic & Ins.

803-316-0128

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.

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

Call Warren 843-319-1884

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Garage, Yard & Estate Sales

Card of Thanks

LARGE GARAGE SALE 1st & 3rd Weekend Tables $2 FLEA MARKET BY SHAW AFB

Open every weekend.

905-4242

Inside Sale, 3020 Bruce Cir. (off Bethel Church Rd.) Sat. 8-?, Crib, DR set, curio. ect.

Auction the late Buddy Bradley 3595 Myrtle beach Hwy. Sumter, SC Jan.24 , 2015 9AM Contents of Welding shop. Conducted by Tommy Atkinson SCAL 3879 assisted by Bill's Furniture & Antiques. Go to auctionzip.com for photo's and details.

Estate

George E Gaymon 01/22/41-12/11/14 The family of the late George E Gaymon wants to thank everyone who visited, prayed, supported us, and all other acts of kindness during the loss of our loved one. God bless you. Willie G Moore, John H. Gaymon & Sarah G Johnson

Business Services

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

Free est. 494-9169/468-4008

Of

Sumter County Civic Center Indoor Garage Sale.

700 W. Liberty St. Saturday, January 31, 2015 8 am - 1 pm.

Free admission.

Call 436-2271 for details.

BUSINESS SERVICES

TAXES Income - Payroll - Sales Same day service. 507 Broad St. Locally owned. Tesco 773-1515

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.

Roofing

Notice to the Public

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC STREET (PORTION OF MAXWELL AVENUE) AND NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE CITY OF SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA

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.

For Sale or Trade Split Oak Firewood $70/dumped, $75/stacked.

Newman's Tree Service 803-316-0128.

Expert Tech, New & used heat pumps & A/C. Will install/repair, warranty; Compressor & labor $600.

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

In Memory

In Memory

In Loving Memory Josie Monterey Black Rattz Oct. 30, 1943 - Jan. 3, 2014 One year in Heaven.

I love and miss you.

Joseph C. Rattz

In Loving Memory Josie Monterey Black Rattz Oct. 30, 1943 - Jan. 3, 2014 One year in Heaven.

I love and miss you.

Joseph C. Rattz

EMPLOYMENT Help Wanted Full-Time Utility Billing Clerk Small working office seeks full time billing clerk.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to entry of monthly billing data, processing of customer invoices, answering customer billing inquires, preparing daily bank deposits, answering telephones. Company provides paid employee benefits, holidays. Minimum 1 year experience, with a preference in utility billing experience. Selected candidate subject to background check and drug testing. Send resume and past salary history to Box 383 Utility Billing c//o The Item, PO Box 1677 Sumter SC 29151 Ding Dong Avon Calling Avon by Vi, ISR. $15 to start. Let's talk 803-934-6292 or join online today! www.startavon.com Ref: Viola Secretary position, must have income tax exp. temp. seasonal position. Send resume to: 507 Broad St Sumter SC 29150 Meter Reader/Utility Maintenance worker.Small utility company seeks full time meter reader/maintenance worker. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to monthly meter reading, disconnects for delinquent accounts, repair and maintenance of water distribution lines and services.

Certification and licensing is a plus but not required. Training will be provided as needed. Company provides paid employee benefits, holidays. Experience in utility maintenance is preferred but not required, with proper aptitude. Selected candidate subject to background check and drug testing. Send resume and past salary history to Box 382 Meter Reader c//o The Item, PO Box 1677 Sumter SC 29151 Wait Staff. Must be responsible and good with people. Apply in person at China Palace 459 Broad St. Wanted Body Shop / Sheet metal tech. Apply at Mclaughlin Ford 950 N. Main St., Sumter

Help Wanted Part-Time $$$ AVON $$$ FREE TRAINING! 803-422-5555 Housekeeper needed, must have exp. and references avail. Call 803-236-3603

RENTALS Unfurnished Apartments Swan Lake Apts. Now has openings. 2Bd 1Ba remodeled apts. in quiet, scenic neighborhood. $445 mo+dep 803-775-4641.

Unfurnished Homes 3 & 4 Br Mobile homes & houses, located in Manning & Sumter. 3 - 4 Br houses in Wedgefield / Paxville.

No Sect. 8. Rent + dep. req. Call 803-460-6216.

3BR 2BA No pets $1000 Mo+ Deposit. Call 919-223-7733

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

STATEBURG COURTYARD 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 3BR/2BA, DW, 2 acres, fenced yard, $700/mo + dep. 717-834-7083 or 803-410-1469.

Near Shaw: 3BR/2BA MH, Lg Lot # 46. Previous rental reference required. $550/mo + dep. Mark 803-494-3573, 803-840-3371 2BR 2BA SW $400+ Dep White Oak area No calls after 8pm. No Sect 8.

Fenced Backyard 803-468-1768 Clean 3BR 2BA, suitable for mature couple, $450/mo + $350 Dep No Sect 8. 803-775-0492 lv msg.

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

REAL ESTATE Manufactured Housing Turn your Tax Refund into your dream home! Low credit score?

Been turned down for bad credit?

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

Land & Lots for Sale 399 Rogers Ave., City water & city sewer hookup. $1995 Call Lee 803-983-6965.

Commercial Industrial Offices for rent in Dalzell . 15x15 & 10x10 Newly remodeled w/ access to conf. rm. and full kit.

70x25 Building / Shop for rent w/ 10x10 roll up door. Includes 10x10 office. Dalzell area.

Call Brian for details 843-230-7165.

TRANSPORTATION

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

Look in Sunday’s paper for...

Bridal PLEASE CALL

774-1200

MAYO’S SUIT CITY

TUXEDOS AVAILABLE for rental or purchase

Winter Clearance Sale IN PROGRESS NOW!

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

Wesmark Plaza • 773-2262 • Mon-Sat 10-7 • www.MayosDiscountSuits.com