January 6, 2016 by The Sumter Item

IN SPORTS: Gamecocks, Gators square off on hardwood in county hoops rivalry B1

Congratulate Clemsonn on their winning season WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2016

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City Council approves land transfer for hotel site BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Sumter City Council approved final reading of an ordinance to transfer .75 acres on North Main Street for the construction of a downtown Hyatt Place hotel after amending the ordinance to extend the hotel site. According to the ordinance, the main hotel site spans from 14 to 22 N. Main St. and the extended hotel site includes 10 N. Main St., along with two public rights of way, or alleyways,

which City Attorney Eric Shytle said are to be closed. He said street closing actions will be issued and ownership of the alleys will be transferred to the city. Construction of the hotel is anticipated to start in March or April and is expected to span 18 months, according to project architect Meredith Drakeford of Drakeford Architects. In other news, council approved final reading of the 2016-17 Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $285,929.

According to the ordinance, the funds will be distributed among several local entities and programs including city administration, demolition, housing repair and sewer improvements; youth employment; Sumter Family YMCA youth services; Wateree AIDS Task Force; and Sumter United Ministries. All of the funds, except those appropriated for city administration, are planned to benefit low- to moderate-income individuals and families and blighted neighborhoods.

Later during the meeting, Councilwoman Colleen Yates asked about the progress of the repaving project on Main Street. City Manager Deron McCormick said repaving Main Street will be the final part of the Main Street Revitalization project which also includes updating the utility lines, sidewalks and crosswalks. He said recent weather has pushed back some portions of the project, but he anticipates that it will be finished by the end of February. During public comment Tues-

day evening, several residents addressed council with concerns about blighted structures and neighborhoods in the city. Eddie Brown, a member of Crosswell Community Improvement Committee, said money should be spent evenly in all of Sumter’s neighborhoods. He said funds should also be prioritized to assist those most in need. Improving the downtown area will not bring more visitors if the surrounding neighborhoods are not also in good shape, Brown said.

Obama outlines gun measures President gives emotional address, will tighten sales, background checks BY JOSH LEDERMAN The Associated Press

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON (AP) — Tears streaking his cheeks, President Obama launched a final-year push Tuesday to tighten sales of firearms in the U.S., using his presidential powers in the absence of tougher gun restrictions that Congress has refused to pass. The president struck a combative tone as he came out with plans for expanded background checks and other modest measures that have drawn consternation from gun rights groups, which Obama accused of making Congress their hostage. Palpable, too, was Obama’s extreme frustration at having made such little progress on gun control since the slaughter of 20 firstgraders in Connecticut confronted the nation more than three years ago. “First-graders,” Obama said woefully, resting his chin on his hand and wiping away tears as he recalled the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School. “Every time I think about those kids, it gets me mad.” Obama’s 10-point plan to keep guns from those who shouldn’t have them marked a concession by the president: He’ll leave office without securing the new gun control laws he’s repeatedly and desperately implored Congress to pass. Although Obama, acting alone, can take action around the margins, only Congress can enact more sweeping changes that gun control advocates say are the only way to truly stem a scourge of mass shootings. “It won’t happen overnight,” Obama

An emotional President Obama pauses as he speaks about the youngest victims of the Sandy Hook shootings on Tuesday in the East Room of the White House in Washington, where he spoke about steps his administration is taking to reduce gun violence.

Provided smoke alarm alerts Lee family to fire BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com A Lee County family escaped a house fire early Tuesday morning after having a smoke alarm installed inside the home during American Red Cross’ Smoke Alarm Blitz program in 2015. Lee County Fire Chief Mike Bedenbaugh said the call

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came in about 2:45 a.m., and when firefighters arrived on scene about at 2:59 a.m., the mobile home was 50 percent involved. The six occupants, a mother and her five children, made it out of the structure in time, he said. He said the children’s ages

SEE ALARM, PAGE A5

Disaster aid applications top 100K BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com The deadline for individuals who suffered damage caused by the October floods to apply for disaster aid from Federal Emergency Management Agency was Monday. The agency received more than 100,000 applications for the federal aid from South Carolina households, said Kirk Pickering, a media relations specialist with

DEATHS, B5 Mary Athlene Thames Betty Lou R. Moody Roger Dennis Sr. Beverly Lawson Robert J. Longtemps Sr.

SEE GUNS, PAGE A5

Windell Palmer Billie Copeland Phillip Newman Antwane Dargan David Lee McGowan

FEMA, and $79.5 million in grants were distributed to individual households statewide. Pickering said that while the number of applications is as of the close of business Monday, the monetary numbers could change as more applications are processed. In the tri-county area, Pickering said, 9,878 applications were received in Sumter County, and $11.6 million was distributed to households, while 1,915 ap-

plications were received in Lee County and $1.2 million in grants was distributed. In Clarendon County, he said, 3,901 applications were received, and $2.3 million has been distributed. Pickering said there tends to be a rush of applications shortly before the deadline. “It’s pretty normal because some people procrastinate by nature, and because of that, we do a lot of

SEE FEMA, PAGE A5

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Hearing may close door on Bishopville election about the election, including that poll workers were poorly trained and city employees were too involved in the election process. The commission decided only an allegation that closed doors prevented access to Ward 2 during ballot counting had merit. Besides staying the results, the commission also ordered a new election. Edward Byrd, Ennis Bryant, Mike Morrow, Willie Mae Muldrow and Ken Currie appealed the stay, and their attorneys will argue that the commission erred in its ruling concerning Ward 2 access. Attorney Melvin Wayne Cockrell argued in his brief for the appellants the testimony at the hearing was not

BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com The validity of a City of Bishopville municipal election held May 12, 2015, may hinge on whether a jammed door is enough to force a new election in the Lee County community. Circuit Court Judge George James will hear a motion to appeal a stay of results in the election at a 9:30 a.m. hearing in the Lee County Courthouse today. The Municipal Election Commission stayed the results in response to a protest by candidates Craig Nesbit and John Latimer, who failed to gain enough votes to be elected. The pair brought up a number of complaints

enough to establish the ballots were counted in secret. He contends the public had other entrances to gain access to the building and those who testified made no effort to seek another entrance or contact anyone for assistance when they were unable to open the door in question. The appellants are seeking to have the results of the election certified, allowing a new council to be seated. With the stay in place, Nesbit, an incumbent, has been able to retain a seat on the council despite the election results. In a respondent brief filed on behalf of Nesbit and Latimer, attorney William E. Hopkins Jr., argued the circuit

court cannot reconsider the factual testimony from the election commission hearing unless it is “wholly unsupported by evidence.” Hopkins argued the testimony concerning the door not opening is enough to support the evidence and the stay must be upheld. Andrew Privette, an attorney for the appellants, said Judge James may or may not make a ruling today. “He can make a ruling or he can take the case under advisement,” Privette said. A hearing had been originally been set for Aug. 28, but James allowed a continuance when attorney Hopkins filed a brief of respondents for the defendants shortly before the hearing.

Activists protest ex-officer’s release from jail on bond

LOCAL BRIEFS FROM STAFF REPORTS

One Sumter group will meet Sunday at church

BY BRUCE SMITH The Associated Press

The One Sumter community group will meet at 6 :30 p.m. Sunday at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 315 W. Fulton St. The public is invited to attend. For more information contact the Rev Joshua Dupree at (803) 795-3600.

CHARLESTON — A former South Carolina policeman charged with murder in the shooting death of an unarmed black motorist will remain under house arrest until his trial begins in the fall, and about two dozen civil rights activists gathered outside the jail in North Charleston on Tuesday to protest his release on bond. “We want Slager back in jail,” they chanted. Representatives of the Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network released a statement calling former officer Michael Slager a danger to the community and a possible flight risk. Slager’s attorney said Tuesday that he’s gratified by his client’s release. “In granting Michael bond, Judge Newman recognized that Michael is presumed innocent and that he should not be punished by remaining in jail during a lengthy pretrial delay,” Andy Savage’s statement said. Slager, a 34-year-old former North Charleston officer, is shown on cellphone video firing eight times as Walter Scott ran from a traffic stop on April 4. The case inflamed a national debate about how blacks are treated by white police officers. Scott’s family is disappointed and “believes at the end of the day that justice will prevail,” family attorney Justin Bamberg said shortly after Monday’s ruling to release Slager. Slager had been in solitary confinement at the Charleston County Detention Center. Now, he will have to remain at an undisclosed location in South Carolina and must have no contact with the victim’s family. He faces 30 years to life without parole if convicted of murder. During an hourlong hearing Monday, Savage told

Santee Cooper increases flow at Santee Spillway MONCKS CORNER — Santee Cooper began increasing its rate of spill from the Santee Spillway on Monday at the Santee Dam on Lake Marion to 97,000 cubic feet of water per second — or approximately 725,000 gallons of water per second. Prolonged rainfall throughout its watershed, combined with spilling operations from upstream reservoirs, has brought increased inflows to the Santee Cooper Lakes system, according to information released by the electric power producer. Santee Cooper initiated the spill on Dec. 25, 2015, at a rate of 20,000 cfs and steadily increased the volume to 50,000 cfs by Dec. 28. Releases into the Santee River were brought to 75,000 cfs on Dec. 31. The 3,400-foot Santee Spillway is part of 40 miles of dams and dikes that surround lakes Marion and Moultrie. Santee Cooper is releasing water through 14 of the Spillway’s 62 gates. Spilling is a normal part of Santee Cooper’s hydroelectric operations in periods of escalated inflows into lakes Marion and Moultrie and will continue until further notice. Information will also be updated each business day on the lakes information line: 1-800-92LAKES. The Santee Cooper Lakes are part of a 15,000-square-mile watershed that stretches into North Carolina. It’s the second largest watershed east of the Mississippi River.

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

BRAD NETTLES / THE POST AND COURIER

Former North Charleston police officer Michael Slager talks with his attorney Andy Savage before a hearing in front of Judge Clifton Newman in Charleston on Monday. The state judge approved bail Monday for the former South Carolina police officer who is charged with killing an unarmed black motorist.

‘If we let him out, he’s going to go home to see his wife and children. All I can look at is a pot of flowers.’ WALTER SCOTT Father of black man Slager is charged with killing Judge Clifton Newman that he was prepared to go to court this spring and that his client should be granted a speedy trial. But prosecutor Scarlett Wilson said the state would not be ready until November. She also is prosecuting Dylann Roof, the white man

charged with murder in the killings of nine black parishioners at a Charleston church. That trial is set to begin in July, and the state Supreme Court has issued an order protecting Wilson from trying other cases before that one. Savage renewed his request for bond after Newman rejected an initial bond request last September. The judge said at the time that Slager posed a threat to the community. Savage said Monday that Slager has health problems and faced another 11 months in jail before even going to trial. Scott’s father, also named Walter, told the judge he often goes to the cemetery to visit his son’s grave, which is adorned with flowers. “If we let him out, he’s going to go home to see his wife and children. All I can look at is a pot of flowers,”

Scott said. Slager told the judge, “I hope you allow me reasonable bond to work on my case.” Newman conceded that “these are excruciating issues for the court to deal with” and said he was troubled that the trial is delayed because of the order in the Roof case. Joe Savitz, a criminal defense attorney in Columbia, said he wasn’t surprised Slager was granted the opportunity to get out of jail, given the major events — including the Charleston church shooting and the ensuing debate over the Confederate flag — in the months since his arrest. “The Roof case is going to be tried fairly soon,” Savitz said. “Everybody is kind of focusing on that.” Associated Press writer Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed to this report.

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sales to U.S. producers who will fill the void in supply. Iran wants to regain some oil exports that it lost while under economic sanctions, soon to be lifted, for its nuclear program. Judith Dwarkin, chief economist at ITG Investment Research, said that the confrontation with Saudi Arabia makes the Saudis unlikely to offset Iranian increases by trimming their own production — potentially adding to the glut. Then there is the question of demand. Weak manufacturing numbers and a plunge in the Shanghai Composite stock index raised new concern about energy demand in China, the world’s second-biggest economy. The U.S. Energy Information Administration forecasts that the average price of U.S. benchmark crude this year will rise about 4 percent over 2015. If that is correct, American motorists will continue getting a break on gasoline compared with prices not long ago. On Monday, the nationwide average price for a gallon of regular was $1.99, according to the auto club AAA — 22 cents cheaper than a year ago. The Energy Information Administration estimates that the average U.S. household saved about $660 on cheaper gasoline last year, compared with 2014.

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DALLAS (AP) — Even the escalating tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia, two big oil-producing countries, can’t halt the slide in energy prices. Oil futures spiked briefly on Monday after the news that Saudi Arabia would cut diplomatic ties with Iran, a development that could be seen as a threat to oil supplies. Investors quickly discounted those fears, however. After rising by $1.35, the price of benchmark U.S. crude ended the day down 28 cents to $36.76 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It fell again in Asian trading on Tuesday, dropping 3 cents to $36.73. Brent crude, reflecting the price of international oils, was down 20 cents at $37.02 in London. While oil markets were seesawing, stock markets sagged on evidence that the global economy might be weaker than expected this year. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 276 points, or 1.6 percent, and was down 468 points earlier in the day. New reports indicated that manufacturing is continuing to struggle, with factory activity falling in December for the second straight month in the U.S. and the 10th straight month in China. Slow growth means that the current oversupply of oil could be more stubborn than expected. Government figures show that the stockpile of U.S. crude oil grew by 2.6 million barrels during the week ended Dec. 25 and were 9.9 million barrels higher than a year ago. Oil prices are likely to remain about where they are until either production drops or the world economy perks up and drives demand higher. Investors may have regarded the flash of tension between the Saudis and the Iranians over Saudi Arabia’s execution of an opposition Shiite cleric as merely saber-rattling. Stewart Glickman, an analyst with S&P Capital IQ, said geopolitical risk has lost some of its ability to influence on oil prices. “It is maybe a sense of security from the marketplace that with this seeming glut of crude oil that you can have tensions in Middle East and they don’t count for as much as they used to three or four years ago,” he said. The explanation lies partly in robust production from the U.S., Glickman said. Saudi officials are reluctant to cut production in a bid to raise prices because they’ll just concede

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U.S. Pacific Fleet shrinks as China grows more aggressive PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) — When the U.S. wanted to show the world it didn’t recognize what it called China’s “excessive” territorial claims in disputed waters of the South China Sea this fall, it sent a warship near one of Beijing’s newly built artificial reefs. The move came amid a debate about whether the U.S. has enough ships to meet challenges posed by a fast-growing, increasingly assertive Chinese navy that is unsettling some of its neighbors. In its latest move, China announced last week that it would build its second aircraft carrier, this one with domestic technology. The Navy and its regional component, the U.S. Pacific Fleet, both have fewer ships now than in the mid-1990s. Navy officials say vastly imAP FILE PHOTO proved technology on those A U.S. Navy helicopter approaches to land on the deck of the U.S. vessels outweighs any disadNavy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt as the USS Normady vantage from a drop in numsails nearby during Exercise Malabar 2015 about 150 miles off Chenbers. nai, India, in October. The U.S. Pacific Fleet is smaller than it was in the Questions about whether the 1990s, helping fuel a debate about whether the U.S. has enough ships Pacific Fleet has enough reto meet challenges posed by fast-growing and increasingly assertive sources are more of a reflecChinese naval forces. tion of regional anxieties than

the Navy’s actual capability, said its commander, Adm. Scott Swift. Even if the entire fleet was in the South China Sea, he said, he’d still get asked whether the U.S. was bringing more forces. “It’s this sense of angst that I hear from those in the region, driven by the uncertainty and the rhetoric and, you know, the challenges that the region is facing right now,” Swift said. “But I’m very comfortable with the resources I have.” An expert at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute think tank said the issue in peacetime is whether there are enough American vessels to reassure friends and allies and demonstrate U.S. capacity to use power when it needs to. In wartime, it comes down to whether enough platforms survive missile strikes to carry on their work, Peter Jennings said. “I think this is emerging as a serious long-term problem,” he said. The Pacific Fleet has 182 vessels, including combat ships such as aircraft carriers as

well as auxiliary and logistics vessels, said spokesman Cmdr. Clay Doss. That compares to 192 nearly two decades ago. Around the world, the Navy has 272 ships usable in combat or to support ships in combat, nearly 20 percent fewer than 1998. The total includes 10 aircraft carriers. Swift said he would rather have the Navy he has today — and its advanced technology — than the Navy of two decades ago. He pointed to the USS Benfold, a guided missile destroyer upgraded with new ballistic missile defenses, as well as three new stealth destroyers, the DDG-1000, in the pipeline, as examples. One consequence of a smaller fleet has been more time at sea. Retired Adm. Zap Zlatoper, who commanded Pacific Fleet in the 1990s, said sixmonth deployments used to be “sacrosanct” as anything longer made it harder for the Navy to retain sailors. Ships now deploy for an average of seven to nine months, though the Navy plans to lower this to seven.

A look at long-fraught relations between Saudi Arabia, Iran DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have been tense since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, though there have been occasional thaws between the two rivals. The tensions have now sharply escalated with Saudi Arabia severing ties with the Islamic Republic after attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran. Here’s a look at how relations between the two Mideast powers have shifted during the last decades: PRE-REVOLUTION RELATIONS: Under the rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Iran had rocky relations with Saudi Arabia, though they improved toward the end of his reign. Both were original members of the oil cartel OPEC. POST-REVOLUTION: After the overthrow of the shah and takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Saudi Arabia quickly became America’s top ally in the region. In the ensuing 1980s war between Iran and Iraq, Saudi Arabia backed Iraq despite its concerns about dictator Saddam Hussein. That war would kill 1 million people. 1987 HAJJ RIOTS: The annual pilgrimage to Islamic holy sites in Saudi Arabia, required of all able-bodied Muslims once in their life, saw bloodshed when Iranians held a political demonstration. Iranian pilgrims later battled Saudi riot police, violence that killed at least 402 people. Iran claimed 600 of its pilgrims were killed and said police fired machine guns at the crowd. In Tehran, mobs attacked the Saudi, Kuwaiti, French and Iraqi embassies, ransacking the first two. SEVERING TIES: In 1988, Saudi Arabia severed ties with Iran, citing the 1987 hajj rioting and Iran’s attacks on shipping in the Persian Gulf. Iranians re-

sponded by boycotting the hajj in 1988 and 1989. The two countries restored diplomatic ties in 1991. EASING TENSIONS: Relations between the two nations improved after Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, a political moderate, took office in 1997. Ties warmed further after historic visits by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah to Tehran in December 1997 and Khatami to the kingdom in May 1999. NUCLEAR DISPUTE: Worries about Iran resumed in Saudi Arabia amid international sanctions against Tehran for its contested nuclear program and the increasingly harsh rhetoric of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Iran and Saudi Arabia each backed opposite sides in Syria’s civil war as well as in the civil war in Yemen. Saudi Arabia also grows increasingly suspicious of Iran as it reaches a deal with world powers concerning its nuclear program. 2015 HAJJ DISASTER: On Sept. 24, a stampede and crush strikes the annual hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. While the kingdom says 769 pilgrims are killed, an Associated Press count shows more than 2,400 people were killed. Iran says at least 464 of its pilgrims were killed and blames Saudi Arabia’s “incompetence” for the deaths. SHEIKH’S EXECUTION: On Jan.

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FEMA FROM PAGE A1 publicity before the deadline,” he said. “We don’t want anybody to lose out because they didn’t register.” The deadline for businesses and nonprofits to apply for direct damage loans was also Monday, but businesses and nonprofits that suffered economic injury as a result of the October flooding have until July 5 to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Adrianne Laneave, a public affairs specialist for the Small Business Administration, said the economic injury loans are for companies or organizations that may not have suffered physical damage but still had their businesses affected. “For instance, individual contractors, such as truckers, had no damage to their rigs, but because there were no roads, they could not pick up their loads or transport their loads,” she

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said. “They were economically impacted.” She said they give those businesses and nonprofits additional time because the financial damage is not as apparent as the physical damage. “We try to give them whatever it takes to keep that working capital going,” Laneave said. “For paying insurance, employees, whatever it takes to keep the lights on so they can move past this.” According to a SBA news release, the loans are designed to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and small businesses engaged in aquaculture as well as most private, nonprofit organizations. Eligible entities may qualify for loans for as much as $2 million. Rates on the loans are 4 percent for small businesses and 2.625 percent for nonprofit organizations with terms as long as

answered. Millions of guns are sold annually in informal settings outside of gun shops, including many through private sales arranged online. But the Obama administration acknowledged it couldn’t quantify how many gun sales would be newly subjected to background checks, nor how many currently unregistered gun sellers would have to obtain a license. Easily reversible by a future president, the government’s guidance to gun sellers lacks the legal oomph of a new law, such as the one Obama and like-minded lawmakers tried but failed to pass in 2013. The Justice Department said online the guidance “has no regulatory effect and is not intended to create or confer any rights, privileges, or benefits in any matter, case, or proceeding.”

said. “It won’t happen during this Congress. It won’t happen during my presidency.” But, he added optimistically, “a lot of things don’t happen overnight.” The centerpiece of Obama’s plan is an attempt to narrow the loophole that exempts gun sales from background checks if the seller isn’t a federal registered dealer. With new federal “guidance,” the administration is clarifying that even those who sell just a few weapons at gun shows, flea markets or online can be deemed dealers and required to conduct checks on prospective buyers. Whether that step can make a significant dent in unregulated gun sales is an open question, and one not easily

30 years with eligibility based on the size and type of business and its financial resources. Businesses or organizations may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba. gov/ela. Laneave said that while FEMA will soon be moving most of its operations away from South Carolina, the SBA will maintain a more visible presence in the state. “Basically the Disaster Recovery Centers will transition to Disaster Loan Outreach Centers and they will still be processing loans,” she said. “People may have more paperwork they need to turn in such as tax forms or some other document is still needed. They will remain a little bit longer because it’s just the nature of the business.” She said the outreach centers are often kept in the same location as the

ALARM FROM PAGE A1 range from 4 to 12 years old. Upon arriving, firefighters were greeted with more kind words than usually expected. Aside from thanking firefighters for responding to the fire, the mother thanked them for installing the smoke alarm inside her home, Bedenbaugh said. The mobile home was destroyed in the fire but the cause of the fire has not been determined, he said. He said the fire department has not ruled out an electric heater or electric wiring as the cause, which will be part of the investigation. Bedenbaugh said the smoke alarm was installed in the family’s home in April, when Lee County

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Disaster Recovery Centers, but specific locations and hours of operation will be announced at a later date. Laneave said that as of Tuesday morning the SBA has approved $122 million in loans in South Carolina in response to October’s flooding. She encouraged anyone who has started an application or who has been referred to the SBA to keep following up so they are not lost in the middle of the process. For more information, call thee SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 ((800) 877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing), or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan applications can also be downloaded from the SBA’s website at www.sba. gov/disaster. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

Fire Department, in partnership with American Red Cross, installed the devices as part of the Smoke Alarm Blitz program. He said firefighters and Red Cross volunteers installed smoke alarms, equipped with 10-year lithium batteries, in about 100 houses. Red Cross first reaches out to fire stations that respond to fire emergencies most frequently, then a specific residential area is chosen for installation, he said. Bedenbaugh said the families are educated about fire safety and how the devices work when the alarms are installed. He said families can also ask to be included in the next Smoke Alarm Blitz, which will take place sometime in February, and the department may be able to

install alarms if there are extras. “I’m very, very thankful that Lee County stepped up and took advantage of the program,” said Gerald Jennings, American Red Cross Disaster Program Specialist for Lee, Sumter and Clarendon counties. Jennings spoke with the mother who said the alarm was the only thing that woke her and her five children in time. Jennings said Sumter County, in partnership with American Red Cross and USC Sumter, will have a Smoke Alarm Blitz on Jan. 16. For more information about the Smoke Alarm Blitz in Sumter and Lee counties, contact Sumter Fire Department at (803) 4362600 and Lee County Fire Department at (803) 428-5952.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2016

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

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2016 H.G. Osteen 1870-1955 Founder, The Item

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

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

COMMENTARY

Unappreciated tax on the poor

few years ago, BET had a commentary titled “Where Are the Grocery Stores in Black Neighborhoods?” One wonders whether anyone thinks that the absence of supermarkets in predominantly black neighborhoods means that white merchants do not like dollars coming out of black Walter hands. Racial Williams discrimination cannot explain the absence of supermarkets in black communities. Compare the operation of a supermarket in a low-crime neighborhood with that of one in a high-crime neighborhood. You will see differences in how they operate. Supermarkets in low-crime neighborhoods often have merchandise on display near entrances. They may have merchandise left unattended outside the store, such as plants and gardening material. Often these items are left out overnight. Supermarket managers’ profit maximizing objective is to maximize merchandise turnover per square foot of leased space. The economic significance of being able to have merchandise located at entrances and outside is the supermarket manager can use all of the space he leases. Supermarket operation differs in high-crime neighborhoods. Merchandise will not be left unattended outside the store — and surely not overnight. Because of greater theft, the manager will not have products near entrances and exits. As a result, the manager cannot use all of the space that he leases. On top of this, it is not unusual to see a guard employed by the store. Because supermarkets operate on a very lean profit margin, typically less than 2 percent, crime makes such a business unprofitable. The larger crime cost is borne by black residents, who must pay higher prices, receive inferior-quality goods at small mom and pop stores and/or bear the transportation cost of having to shop at suburban malls. Crime works as a tax on people who can least afford it. Racial discrimination suits have been brought against pizza companies whose drivers either refuse to deliver pizzas to certain neighbor-

hoods or require customers to come down to their car. In many instances, the pizza deliverymen are black people who are reluctant to deliver pizzas even in their own neighborhoods. For a law-abiding person, not to have deliveries on the same terms as everyone else is insulting, but who is to blame? It is not just pizzas. Recently, Comcast notified a cable customer on the South Side of Chicago the company would not send out a technician because of the violent crime in the area. Delivery companies do not leave packages in high-crime neighborhoods when the customer is not home. The company must bear the costs of making return trips, or more likely, the customer has to bear the cost of going to pick up the package. Taxi drivers, as well as Uber and Lyft drivers, are reluctant to provide services to highcrime neighborhoods. Crime and lack of respect for property rights impose another unappreciated cost. They lower the value of everything in the neighborhood. A house that is not even worth $50,000 might be worth many multiples of that after gentrification. Gentrification is a trend in some urban neighborhoods whereby higher-income people buy up property in poor repair and fix it up. This results in the displacement of lower-income families and small businesses. Before we call gentrification an exclusively racial phenomenon, many gentrifiers are black middle-class, educated people. It is by no means flattering to law-abiding black people that “black” has become synonymous with “crime.” Crime not only imposes high costs on blacks but also sours race relations. Whites are apprehensive of blacks, and blacks are offended by being subjects of that apprehension. That apprehension and offense are exhibited in many insulting ways to law-abiding blacks — for example, jewelers keeping their displays locked and store clerks giving extra surveillance to black shoppers. White people and police officers cannot fix this or other problems of the black community. If blacks do not fix them, they will not be fixed, at least in a pleasing way. Walter E. Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University. © 2016, creators.com

LETTER TO THE EDITOR READER PLEASED WITH FRONT PAGE DESIGN I was so proud of our The Sumter Item on the special front page on Dec. 24. I took it with me on Christmas Day to Florence and Lake City to show family and friends. I promise you, Teri Clinch, taking the Lord out of everything is the reason America is

going down the wrong road. I, and thousands more Christians, say thank you, thank you to the Osteens for the front page. God bless you all, and God bless America. Have a blessed New Year. Christians, please vote in 2016. ROSE PRICE Sumter

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

Western elites, Third World critics both enjoy the Western largesse

rofessing dislike of the West and its culture and legacy is an industry on campus. The subtext of “white privilege” is that it consists of unearned status accorded those of European background. To listen to the anti-Westerners, you would think that the inventors of electrical generation, indoor plumbing and vaccinations were enemies of the planet. Multiculturalism, the orthodoxy of popular culture, and the bite of the media and the arts are all predicated on the idea that Western civilization is more toxic than admirable. Citing the evils of the European tradition can also provide exemption from an occasional politically incorrect gaffe. And assuming a non-Western identity (ask Elizabeth Warren, Ward Churchill, Rachel Dolezal or Shaun King) can offer career dividends. American society lavished scholarships on the uppermiddle-class prep-school graduate Barack Hussein Obama but perhaps would not have done so much for just another Barry Dunham. It is not surprising that when George Zimmerman had been in a fight with Trayvon Martin, his scars were photoshopped away and his 911 call racialized. Would that have happened had he chosen to go by the name of Jorge Mesa? Paradoxes arise in attacking the West in general and the so-called European diaspora in particular. First, there is the obvious question: “Compared to what?” There are plenty of alternative cultures unstained by past Western imperialism and colonialism. Are their legacies more congenial to the present politically correct progressive agendas? Do Islamic republics — Iran, for example — have a more reputable record of protecting gays or urban young women than does Europe or the United States? Is the venerable tradition of China more tolerant of religious and racial minorities? Would Michael Moore be permitted to be an edgier propagandist in Beijing? Are there safe spaces in Cuba or trigger warnings in Nicaragua? In truth, the entire idea of self-criticism and self-reflection is mostly a Western aberration, not found elsewhere in the contemporary or indeed the ancient nonWestern world. So critics of the West must resort to disparaging dead Westerners of a less liberal era even

COMMENTARY though there are plenty of present-day racist, homophobic, nativist, misogynist and xenophobic cultures that would offer far easier targets for their wrath. Why pick on the fairly liberal Victor Davis Western soHanson cieties of the past and ignore the thoroughly illiberal societies of the present? Second, why did a million Africans and Middle Easterners freely seek out Europe last year, and why do hundreds of thousands of Mexicans and Central Americans crowd the southwestern American border? Japan is as affluent as Europe and so is Singapore. Perhaps oil-rich Kuwait or Saudi Arabia might be preferable destinations? Why does immigration flow largely to the West? Its affluence is no longer a monopoly. But rather than affluence alone, is it respect for the individual, tolerance of dissent, and freedom of expression and religion that draw a Libyan or Pakistani toward London or Paris rather than Beijing or Mumbai? Immigration is the most concrete of all polls, in which millions vote not with their cell phones but with their feet. Third, why do the fiercest critics of the Western and European tradition rush, like moths to a flame, to seek it out? Why do even radical Muslims migrate to largely Christian countries, while Christians do not relocate to Islamic societies? Collate what is taught in ethnic-studies classes with concurrent advocacy for illegal immigration, and the result is inevitably nonsense: By identity-politics logic, why would anyone advocate that indigenous peoples should live in a country with supposedly a long record of unfairness to indigenous peoples? Should not immigration more logically flow in the opposite direction, as millions of those sickened by the Western pathologies seek superior models of racial and ethnic tolerance to the south, where there should be more economic opportunity for the Other? Should not ethnic-studies activists station themselves on the border, urging newcomers to turn around and

avoid the racism, sexism, and classism endemic in El Norte? Should not a Chicano Studies professor urge deportation to spare illegal aliens the American ordeal that is the stuff of university seminars? How bizarre to see the critics of capitalism line up for the newest iPhone or the most recent Air Jordan sneaker. Why would hardleft professors in California jet to Europe when they could drive to Oaxaca? Or drive Volvos when Civics are far cheaper and as reliable? Both the elites and the masses — cf. Facebook, video games, and fast food — seem to worship at the altar of capitalist excess. Ponder the progressive Obamas, whose vacations are regal in Louis XIV style; they enjoy, to the hilt, downright mean luxury — and yet seem never more proud of themselves than in the course of such indulgences. Is the logical trajectory of disdain for high-horse Christianity and typicalwhite-person investment really two weeks on Martha’s Vineyard? What explains these hypocritical and incoherent attacks on the West? The answer is important because it reminds us not to take too seriously the agendas of 20-something campus critics of white privilege and those protesting against micro-aggressions and demanding safe spaces and trigger warnings. No civilization in history has been more leisured, affluent or self-critical than the contemporary United States and Europe, Westernized Asia and the British Commonwealth of Nations. Globalization has made former millionaires billionaires and near millionaires multimillionaires; among them are those who run universities, the media, foundations, Wall Street, politics and the arts, whose influence far outweighs their relative small numbers. At some point, for the Western elite class, the acquisitive dreams of the past become the banalities of the present, as luxury cars, penthouses and vacation homes only remind the guilty how blessed they are, whether through inheritance, the power of trilliondollar investments or the global market of 6 billion people. NRO contributor Victor Davis Hanson is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and the author, most recently, of The Savior Generals.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2016

SUPPORT GROUPS Rehabilitation Hospital comAA, AL-ANON, ALATEEN: munity meeting room, 121 E. AA — Monday-Friday, noon Cedar St., Florence. Call and 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8 SUPPORT GROUPS: Jan. 2016 (843)6,661-3746. p.m.; Sundays, 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m., 1 Warren St. (803) Amputee Support Group — Fourth Tuesday each month, 775-1852. 5:30 p.m., Carolinas RehabiliAA Women’s Meeting — tation Hospital cafeteria, 121 Wednesday, 7 p.m., 1 Warren E. Cedar St., Florence. Call St. (803) 775-1852. (843) 661-3746. AA Spanish Speaking — SunEFMP Parent Exchange Group day, 4:30 p.m., 1 Warren St. — Last Tuesday each month, (803) 775-1852. 11 a.m.-noon, Airman and AA “How it Works” Group — Family Readiness Center. Monday and Friday, 8 p.m., Support to service members 1154 Ronda St. Call (803) 494- who have a dependent with 5180. a disability or illness. Call 441 AA Support Group — Mon- Dorcus Haney at (803) 895day, Tuesday and Friday, 8:30 1252/1253 or Sue Zimmerman at (803) 847-2377. p.m., Hair Force, 2090-D S.C. 441. AA Summerton Group — WEDNESDAY MEETINGS: Wednesday, 8 p.m., town hall. Sickle Cell Support Group — last Wednesday each month, Manning Al-Anon Family Group 11 a.m.-1 p.m., South Sumter — Thursday, 7:30 p.m., BeResource Center, 337 Manhavioral Health Building, 14 ning Ave. Call Bertha Willis Church St., Manning. Call at (803) 774-6181. Angie Johnson at (803) 4358085. C/A “Drop the Rock” Group — THURSDAY MEETINGS: Thursday, 9:30 p.m., 1154 TOPS S.C. No. 236 (Take Off Ronda St. Call Elizabeth Pounds Sensibly) — ThursOwens at (803) 607-4543. days, 9 a.m., Spectrum Senior Center,1989 Durant Lane. Call Diane at (803) 775MONDAY MEETINGS: 3926 or Nancy at (803) 469Sumter Vitiligo Support Group 4789. — second Monday of each Alzheimer’s Support Group month, 5:45-6:45 p.m., North HOPE Center, 904 N. Main St. through S.C. Alzheimer’s AssoCall Tiffany at (803) 316-6763. ciation — Every 1st Thursday, Find us on Facebook at Sum- 6-8 p.m., McElveen Manor, 2065 McCrays Mill Road. Call ter Vitiligo Support. Cheryl Fluharty at (803) 9057720 or the Alzheimer’s Association at (800) 636-3346. TUESDAY MEETINGS: Sumter Connective Tissue Sup- Journey of Hope (for family members of the mentally ill), port Group — 1st Tuesday of Journey to Recovery (for the Jan., March, May, July, Sept. mentally ill) and Survivors of and Nov., 7 p.m., 180 Tiller Suicide Support Group — Each Circle. Call (803) 773-0869. group meets every 1st Mothers of Angels (for mothers Thursday, 7 p.m., St. John who have lost a child) — First United Methodist Church, and third Tuesday, 6 p.m., 136 Poinsett Drive. Call Fred Wise Drive Baptist Church. Harmon at (803) 905-5620. Call Betty at (803) 469-2616 or Carol at (803) 469-9426. Sumter Combat Veterans Group FRIDAY MEETINGS: Peer to Peer — Every Tuesday, Celebrate Recovery — Every 11 a.m., South HOPE Center, Friday, 6 p.m. dinner, 7 p.m. 1125 S. Lafayette Drive. Vetprogram, Salt & Light erans helping veterans with Church, Miller Road (across PTSD, coping skills, claims from Food Lion). For help and benefits. with struggles of alcohol, Parkinson’s Support Group — drugs, family problems, Second Tuesday each smoking, etc. month, 5:30 p.m., Carolinas Wateree AIDS Task Force SupRehabilitation Hospital cafe- port Group — Every third Friteria, 121 E. Cedar St., Florday, 11:30 a.m., 508 W. Liberence. Call (843) 661-3746. ty St. Contact Kevin Johnson Sumter Chapter Parents of at (803) 778-0303. Murdered Children (POMC) — Third Tuesday, 5:30-7 p.m., Birnie HOPE Center, 210 S. SATURDAY MEETINGS: Purdy St. Open to all families Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy/ or friends who have lost a loved one to murder in a vio- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Support Group — 1:30 lent way. p.m. every third Saturday, Multiple Sclerosis Support 3785 Blackberry Lane, Lot 7. Group — Third Tuesday each Call Donna Parker at (803) month, 5:30 p.m., Carolinas 481-7521.

DAILY PLANNER

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEATHER

AccuWeather® ﬁve-day forecast for Sumter TODAY

TONIGHT

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Periods of sun

Partly cloudy

Mostly cloudy

Cloudy with rain tapering oﬀ

Cloudy, a t-storm in the p.m.

Partly sunny and pleasant

47°

35°

56° / 46°

58° / 48°

63° / 52°

64° / 40°

Chance of rain: 5%

Chance of rain: 10%

Chance of rain: 20%

Chance of rain: 65%

Chance of rain: 50%

Chance of rain: 15%

NE 7-14 mph

NNE 6-12 mph

NE 7-14 mph

NE 6-12 mph

NE 4-8 mph

WSW 7-14 mph

TODAY’S SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER

Gaﬀney 44/29 Spartanburg 45/30

Greenville 46/31

Columbia 49/36

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

IN THE MOUNTAINS

Sumter 47/35

Aiken 46/34

ON THE COAST

Charleston 52/43

Today: Mostly cloudy and warmer. High 51 to 55. Thursday: Mostly cloudy; a passing shower in southern parts. High 59 to 63.

LOCAL ALMANAC

LAKE LEVELS

SUMTER THROUGH 4 P.M. YESTERDAY

Today Hi/Lo/W 46/35/pc 36/30/pc 50/47/r 35/25/pc 62/56/t 58/47/r 63/55/c 39/28/s 72/57/c 39/25/s 61/49/r 55/46/r 41/28/s

SUN AND MOON 7 a.m. yest. 358.17 76.43 74.17 100.70

24-hr chg -0.64 +0.39 +0.23 -0.35

Sunrise 7:28 a.m. Moonrise 4:05 a.m.

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

0.00" 0.01" 0.63" 0.01" 1.15" 0.63"

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

41° 26° 54° 32° 75° in 2007 11° in 1981

Precipitation 24 hrs ending 4 p.m. yest. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 55/45/c 37/35/r 67/43/pc 39/30/c 70/47/pc 60/47/r 68/53/r 44/32/s 75/59/pc 42/35/pc 57/43/r 53/45/sh 44/35/c

Myrtle Beach 51/43

Manning 49/38

Today: Partly sunny. Winds northeast 4-8 mph. Partly cloudy. Thursday: Mostly cloudy. Winds northeast 4-8 mph.

Temperature High Low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

Florence 48/36

Bishopville 47/35

Flood 7 a.m. stage yest. 12 11.84 19 11.96 14 13.15 14 6.21 80 84.68 24 22.99

Sunset Moonset

5:27 p.m. 2:55 p.m.

New

First

Full

Last

Jan. 9

Jan. 16

Jan. 23

Jan. 31

TIDES

24-hr chg -0.21 -1.44 -0.07 -0.23 -1.32 -1.61

AT MYRTLE BEACH

High 6:10 a.m. 6:13 p.m. 6:57 a.m. 7:00 p.m.

Today Thu.

Ht. 2.9 2.6 3.1 2.6

Low 12:12 a.m. 1:02 p.m. 1:00 a.m. 1:49 p.m.

Ht. 0.2 0.3 0.0 0.1

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 44/23/pc 45/34/pc 49/35/pc 54/43/c 58/54/c 52/43/c 44/29/pc 47/33/pc 49/36/pc 46/35/pc 51/42/pc 48/39/pc 46/36/pc

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 52/37/c 53/44/c 57/46/c 63/52/c 68/57/c 62/50/c 51/38/c 55/45/c 57/46/c 55/45/c 64/50/c 59/46/c 57/44/c

Today City Hi/Lo/W Florence 48/36/pc Gainesville 62/49/pc Gastonia 45/28/pc Goldsboro 46/37/pc Goose Creek 52/42/c Greensboro 42/27/s Greenville 46/31/pc Hickory 42/25/s Hilton Head 53/45/c Jacksonville, FL 58/49/c La Grange 51/36/pc Macon 50/35/pc Marietta 46/34/pc

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 57/45/c 69/55/pc 51/41/c 59/45/c 61/51/c 48/35/c 52/42/c 51/37/c 60/53/c 70/57/c 56/48/c 57/46/c 55/45/c

Today City Hi/Lo/W Marion 43/18/s Mt. Pleasant 53/44/c Myrtle Beach 51/43/c Orangeburg 48/37/pc Port Royal 54/45/c Raleigh 43/33/pc Rock Hill 45/31/pc Rockingham 46/33/pc Savannah 55/44/pc Spartanburg 45/30/pc Summerville 51/41/c Wilmington 51/43/c Winston-Salem 41/27/s

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 50/35/c 62/52/c 63/50/c 57/48/c 62/53/c 51/40/c 51/42/c 55/42/c 64/54/c 52/41/c 60/50/c 66/50/c 47/35/c

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

For Comfort You Can Count On, Better Make It Boykin! 803-775-WARM (9276)

PUBLIC AGENDA

www.boykinacs.com License #M4217

TOWN OF LYNCHBURG PLANNING COMMISSION Today, 4 p.m., town hall

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Stay focused EUGENIA LAST on what you want. You can talk your way in to a position that will bring you the rewards and returns you’re looking for. Love, commitment and future plans should be made.

The last word in astrology

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You need a break. Whether it’s a day at the spa or a short trip with someone you love, turn your plans into a reality. Refuse to let domestic responsibilities stop you from enjoying your life. Focus on reducing stress.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You’ll gain experience and knowledge if you attend a trade show, conference or discussion with colleagues. Delays or problems while traveling or dealing with institutions can be expected. Protect your assets.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Don’t allow a repeat performance of a disappointing scene from your past. Avoid bailing out someone who has already let you down. It’s important to look out for your own interests and to focus on personal gains, not on other people’s losses.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You can outsmart, outmaneuver and outshine anyone you come up against, but in doing so, make sure that the promises you make are doable. A personal partnership will undergo changes that could improve your standard of living.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Do your best to listen and have patience with those who are confused or unable to sort out their problems. Offer suggestions, but don’t take over. Concentrate on your home and improving your standard of living, not on giving cash to others.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Rely on intuition. Your ability to expand your interests, knowledge and friendships will lead to events and activities that will boost your morale and result in positive changes. Don’t underestimate the extent of a job. Do your homework before making an offer.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Look at the big picture and you’ll discover exactly what you should be doing next. You don’t have to make a momentous change in order to get ahead. It’s the little things you do that will bring the best rewards.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Take part in events that involve people who work in your industry or share your interests. You’ll make excellent connections that will bring about unusual and sudden changes to the way you live. Love is highlighted.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Make plans for an upcoming event. A change in the way you live or do things will be rewarding. An interesting approach to an old idea will help you find the time to take better care of your health, appearance and financial situation.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You’ll face problems with family members. Try to be understanding, but demand the whole truth before you decide whether to get involved. A change in your financial situation is apparent. Don’t take on unnecessary debt.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Avoid any kind of controversy. Stick to your own tasks and steer clear of gossip, meddling or dealing with institutions or government agencies. Problems while traveling or dealing with partners can be expected. Sit tight.

LOTTERY NUMBERS PALMETTO CASH 5 TUESDAY

POWERBALL SATURDAY

MEGAMILLIONS TUESDAY

4-15-16-21-22 PowerUp: 2

5-6-15-29-42 Powerball: 10; Powerplay: 2

numbers not available at press time

PICK 3 TUESDAY

PICK 4 TUESDAY

LUCKY FOR LIFE MONDAY

0-8-4 and 2-7-5

4-8-8-9 and 0-6-0-4

1-25-31-43-45; Lucky Ball: 13

SUMTER ANIMAL CONTROL PET OF THE WEEK King, a medium sized boy who really loves people, is available for adoption at Sumter Animal Control. A favorite of the Animal Control volunteers, King would like nothing better than to hang out with you all the time. He greets everyone with a happy smile and a wagging tail. Please don’t make him wait another minute. Come on down to Sumter Animal Control, 1240 Winkles Road, (803) 436-2066, to meet King in kennel 32. If you give this boy a chance, he will be your best friend for life. You can view more animals at Sumter Animal Control on Facebook.

SECTION

Wednesday, January 6, 2016 Call: (803) 774-1241 | E-mail: sports@theitem.com

prep basketball

Sumter sweep

Lady Gamecocks knock off Lakewood 51-37; SHS boys win 72-56

Clemson Football

Title fight: Tigers’ O-line vs. Alabama’s defensive front By PETE IACOBELLI The Associated Press CLEMSON — Clemson’s offensive line has conquered challenges all season. Its final — and perhaps biggest — will come in the national championship game against Alabama’s dominating defense. “We’ve always been a question mark around here,” Tigers center Jay Guillermo said. There certainly will be more questions about the line and the top-ranked Tigers (14-0) leading up to their matchup on Jan. 11 in Arizona with the powerful Crimson Tide (13-1), which SWINNEY completely shut down Big Ten champion Michigan State 38-0 in the Cotton Bowl last Thursday night. No. 2 Alabama held the Spartans to a season-low 239 yards as linebacker Reggie Ragland and defensive end Jonathan Allen had their way Michigan State’s offensive line, combining for four sacks and six tackles for loss. The Clemson offensive line — none who were starters before this year — know they have to fare better, even if there are questions whether they actually can. “People doubt us all the time,” Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said. “Nobody believes in this team except these guys.” The Tigers’ unit is a group that early on didn’t look like it could anchor a national championship run. Of the two returning starters from last season, center Ryan Norton was slowed by an injury and tackle Isaiah Battle left the team for the NFL supplemental draft in the summer. Clemson had to rely on Guillermo, a junior who had given up football last season because of personal issues, to snap the ball to quarterback Deshaun Watson and a talented, yet at that time, unproven true freshman Mitch Hyatt to protect Watson’s blindside.

See clemson, Page B3

college basketball Keith Gedamke/The Sumter Item

Sumter’s Calvin Felder (34) and Jaylenn Corbett (22) defend a shot by Lakewood’s Davonte Pack in the Gamecocks’ 71-56 victory on Tuesday at The Swamp.

BY EDDIE LITAKER Special to The Sumter Item Lakewood High School varsity girls basketball head coach Demetress Adams-Ludd showed she’s still got hops when the former Lee Central post standout unexpectedly took the floor to un-swish a net on the home bench side of the Lady Gators’ home floor on Tuesday.

While the moment did provide some levity after multiple players on both sides failed in the task, that would be the highlight of the first half for Adams-Ludd and her Lakewood squad as a 2-point second quarter doomed the Lady Gators in a 51-37 loss to Sumter. Sumter’s boys made it a sweep with a 72-56 win over the Gators in a game that saw a great disparity in

trips to the free throw line. While Lakewood managed to hit just eight of 15 shots at the line, Sumter’s Tylik Simon alone connected on 12 of 13 shots. Simon and Jaylenn Corbett scored 16 apiece to top the Gamecocks, who finished the night 26 of 37 at the line.

See sumter, Page B4

usc basketball

Gamecocks top Auburn in SEC opener BY JOHN ZENOR The Associated Press AUBURN, Ala. — South Carolina kept its cool down the stretch in Southeastern Conference play much like the Gamecocks have done all season. Sindarius Thornwell scored a season-high 22 points and the 22nd-ranked Gamecocks calmly fought off a second-half challenge to beat Auburn 81-69 on Tuesday night in the Gamecocks’ SEC opener. Sporting their highest AP ranking in 18 years, the Gamecocks (14-0, 1-0) lost most of an 18-point firsthalf lead before building it back with inside baskets and foul shots. It was just another milestone for a team that’s hoping to sustain this success into March. The Gamecocks and SMU are the only undefeated teams remaining in Division I. “There’s no doubt in their minds about our team,” South Carolina head coach Frank Martin said. “There’s none. Zero. I didn’t want to start bad in league play because I

The Associated Press

South Carolina’s Sindarius Thornwell (0) had 22 points and seven assists in the No. 22 Gamecocks’ 81-69 win over Auburn on Tuesday in Auburn, Ala. don’t want any doubt to creep into their minds. “They’re playing aggressively. They’re playing confidently. They enjoy playing with each other and I wanted to make sure that there’s not a cloud that comes in there to create any doubt on anyone on our

team.” Thornwell made 5 of 8 3-point attempts and produced his seasonhigh point total for the second straight game after scoring 18 against Memphis.

See GAMECOCKS, Page B4

Kansas, Oklahoma eye rematch after triple-OT thriller By DAVE SKRETTA The Associated Press LAWRENCE, Kan. — Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield was still wringing wet after a three-overtime thriller against Kansas, the longest game ever played in the long, storied history of Allen Fieldhouse, when he flashed a brilliant smile and said, “I can’t wait for the rematch.” Neither can anybody else. The first 1-2 matchup in their league since the Sooners and Jayhawks met 26 years ago in the Big Eight HIELD tournament not only lived up to expectation, it exceeded every one of them. Hield hit eight 3-pointers and scored 46 points in one of the finest performances in school history, one that earned him a standing ovation from Kansas fans. Jordan Woodard and Ryan Spangler hit critical shots that kept the Sooners going against the nation’s top-ranked team, which was on the ropes several times in an epic clash. On the other side, Perry Ellis was piling up 27 points and 13 rebounds in a virtuoso performance of his own against the second-ranked Sooners. Wayne Selden Jr. and Devonte Graham hit key shots, and Frank Mason III — limping through a bruised shin — picked Hield’s pocket twice to help seal the win. Kansas 109, Oklahoma 106. Round 1 to the Jayhawks. “I’d say about the 2-minute mark in regulation, I looked down there at the bench, and they’re smiling, and I said, ‘God, there’s a bunch of kids playing their tails off, making play after play,”’ Kansas coach Bill Self said. “If we’d have

See THRILLER, Page B4

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

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Scoreboard

PRO Baseball

TV, Radio

The Associated Press

Seattle Mariners star Ken Griffey Jr. is all but certain to be announced as a Baseball Hall of Fame inductee on Wednesday when balloting is released.

Griffey Jr. likely assured of Hall of Fame election By RONALD BLUM The Associated Press NEW YORK — Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and other tainted stars of the Steroids Era appear likely to get a boost in Hall of Fame balloting, but not enough to enter Cooperstown this year. Ken Griffey Jr. seems assured of election on the first try Wednesday, possibly with a BONDS record vote of close to 100 percent. Mike Piazza, Jeff Bagwell and Tim Raines also were strong candidates to gain the 75 percent needed for CLEMENS baseball’s highest honor. Following the elimination of about 100 retired baseball writers from the electorate, Bonds and Clemens were on track for a 5-10 percentage point increase. After drawing about 37 percent of the ballots last year, they were in the 48 percent range this year according to www. bbhoftracker.com , which tabulated public votes adding to more than one-third of the total. Last July, the Hall’s board

of directors cut eligible voters from approximately 575 to roughly 475 by purging writers who had not been covering the game for more than a decade. Previously, the electorate included people who had been active members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America for 10 consecutive years at any point. “We have a somewhat different electorate,” John Thorn, Major League Baseball’s official historian, said Tuesday. “I think possibly the current electorate was not content to keep kicking the PED crowd down into a hole and leaving the Hall of Fame with a crater in its plaque room.” Marc Maturo, a reporter covering New York baseball for Gannett in the 1970s and ‘80s, was among those who lost voting rights. He said he would have voted for Bonds, Clemens, Griffey and Raines. “The whole process I think was done too quickly, wasn’t given enough thought,” he said. A 13-time All-Star who is sixth with 630 homers, Griffey was a lock to be inducted at Cooperstown on July 24. The former Cincinnati and Seattle star appeared on all 166 ballots counted by bbhoftracker and could challenge the record

of 98.84 percent set by Tom Seaver when he was picked by 425 of 430 voters in 1992. Piazza was at about 87 percent in his fourth appearance after falling short by 28 votes last year, when Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz and Craig Biggio became the first quartet elected by the BBWAA in one year since 1955. Bagwell was third at 80 percent in his sixth appearance, followed by Raines at 78 percent in his ninth. Last year, the actual percentage was about 5 percent under the pre-announcement figure on the vote-tracker. Bonds, the only seven-time MVP, and Clemens, the only seven-time Cy Young Award winner, are both making their fourth appearance and are eligible for up to six more years. Reliever Trevor Hoffman, on the ballot for the first time, was at 62 percent on the vote-tracker and seemed likely to fall short. Mark McGwire, one of the first big stars to admit using steroids, was at 13 percent in his final ballot appearance — nearly half his peak of 23.6 percent in 2008. Alan Trammell, also on for the last time, was at 47 percent. Sammy Sosa was at 8 percent in his fourth attempt.

sports items

Texas A&M athletic director Hyman steps down COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Texas A&M athletic director Eric Hyman is stepping down after four years on the job. University President Michael Young announced the move Tuesday. Hyman was hired as athletic director in 2012 and helped the Aggies’ transition from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference. He was also AD at VMI, Miami (Ohio), TCU and South Carolina. Young credited him with helping Texas A&M athletes improve both on the field and in the classroom. Hyman will stay on until his replacement is hired.

Former Clemson, Citadel coach Parker dies at 82 BENTON, Ark. — Former Clemson and Citadel coach Jimmy “Red” Parker, who continued coaching at the high school level until retiring last month, died Monday. He was 82. Parker coached at Clemson from 1973-76 and finished with a record of 17-252. He coached for seven seasons before that at the Citadel, where he was 39-34, and was also an assistant at Vanderbilt and Mississippi in addition to working as the head coach at a number of

lower-level colleges. Parker’s final collegiate coaching stop came at Ouachita Baptist from 199698, but he coached the last six seasons in high school at Harmony Grove where Henley said he started the school’s football program.

Sunday night following a 3-13 season, pulled DePodesta away from the New York Mets to help his organization with decision making. .

Georgia’s Smart adds Virginia Tech’s Beamer

ATHENS, Ga. — Shane Houston lands former Beamer, the associate head Texas A&M QB Allen coach and running backs HOUSTON — Former coach at Virginia Tech the Texas A&M quarterback last five years and son of Kyle Allen is headed to longtime Hokies coach Houston. Frank Beamer, is Georgia’s Allen spent two seasons new special teams coordinawith the Aggies, who have tor and tight ends coach. also seen quarterback Kyler Beamer previously was an Murray transfer and assistant coach at South offensive coordinator Jake Carolina (2007-10) and MisSpavital depart in recent sissippi State (2004-06). He weeks. Allen will sit out next was a wide receiver and long year under NCAA transfer snapper at Virginia Tech rules but will have two seafrom 1995-99. sons of eligibility remaining.

Browns hire baseball executive DePodesta CLEVELAND — The Browns have made an outof-the-batter’s box hire. Owner Jimmy Haslam brought in Paul DePodesta, a baseball executive and analytics expert with 20 years of major league experience, to be the NFL team’s new chief strategy officer. Haslam, who fired coach Mike Pettine and general manager Ray Farmer on

LSU tight end Gordon stabbed in bar fight

BATON ROUGE, La. — LSU coach Les Miles says senior tight end Dillon Gordon was injured during what Baton Rouge police have described as a fight involving a stabbing in a bar near campus. Miles says Dillon needed did not have life-threatening injuries and is expected to recover fully. From wire reports

TODAY Noon – Women’s College Basketball: Rhode Island at Georgetown (NBC SPORTS NETWORK). 3 p.m. – Major League Baseball: Baseball Hall of Fame Announcement (MLB NETWORK). 3:30 p.m. – Professional Basketball: NBA Developmental League Game from Santa Cruz, Calif. – Texas vs. Westchester (NBA TV). 6:05 p.m. – Talk Show: (WPUB-FM 102.7, WDXY-FM 105.9, WDXY-AM 1240). 6:30 p.m. – College Basketball: Missouri at Georgia (SEC NETWORK). 7 p.m. – NBA Basketball: New York at Miami (ESPN). 7 p.m. – College Basketball: South Florida at Central Florida (ESPNEWS). 7 p.m. – College Basketball: Florida at Tennessee (ESPN2). 7 p.m. – College Basketball: Duke at Wake Forest (ESPNU). 7 p.m. – College Basketball: Seton Hall at Villanova (FOX SPORTS 1). 7 p.m. – College Basketball: Georgia Tech at Pittsburgh (FOX SPORTSOUTH). 8 p.m. – College Basketball: Massachusetts at Dayton (CBS SPORTS NETWORK). 8 p.m. – NHL Hockey: Pittsburgh at Chicago (NBC SPORTS NETWORK). 8:30 p.m. – College Basketball: Texas A&M at Mississippi State (SEC NETWORK). 9 p.m. – College Basketball: California at Oregon (ESPN2). 9 p.m. – College Basketball: Texas Tech at Iowa State (ESPNU). 9 p.m. – College Basketball: Xavier at St. John’s (FOX SPORTS 1). 9 p.m. – NBA Basketball: Charlotte at Phoenix (FOX SPORTS SOUTHEAST). 9:30 p.m. – NBA Basketball: Memphis at Oklahoma City (ESPN). 10 p.m. – College Basketball: NevadaLas Vegas at Colorado State (CBS SPORTS NETWORK). 10 p.m. – NHL Hockey: Carolina at Vancouver (FOX SPORTSOUTH). 11 p.m. – College Basketball: Stanford at Oregon State (ESPNU). 3 a.m. – Professional Golf: European PGA Tour South African Open First Round from Johannesburg (GOLF).

PREP SCHEDULE TODAY

Varsity and JV Basketball East Clarendon at McBee (No JV Girls), 5 p.m. Calhoun Academy at Robert E. Lee, 4 p.m. B Team Basketball Laurence Manning at Cardinal Newman, 5 p.m. Middle School Basketball Lee Central at East Clarendon, 5:30 p.m. Varsity Bowling Laurence Manning, Thomas Sumter at Wilson Hall (at Gamecock Lanes), 5 p.m.

THURSDAY

Varsity Basketball Branchville at Scott’s Branch, 6:30 p.m. Varsity and JV Basketball Trinity-Byrnes at Thomas Sumter, 4 p.m. Sumter Christian at Maranatha Christian (No JV Girls), 4 p.m. Junior Varsity Basketball Crestwood at Manning, 6 p.m. Lakewood at Darlington, 6 p.m. The King’s Academy at Laurence Manning, 4 p.m. B Team Basketball Sumter at Spring Valley (Boys Only), 5 p.m. Thomas Sumter at Robert E. Lee, 5 p.m. Middle School Basketball Ebenezer at Alice Drive, 5 p.m. Hillcrest at Furman, 5 p.m. Chestnut Oaks at Bates, 5 p.m. Mayewood at Manning, 5 p.m.

FRIDAY

Varsity Basketball Manning at Crestwood, 6 p.m. Darlington at Lakewood, 6 p.m. Varsity and JV Basketball Wilson Hall at Palmetto Christian, 4 p.m. Laurence Manning at Carolina Academy, 4 p.m. Robert E. Lee and Trinity-Byrnes, 4 p.m. Clarendon Hall at Dorchester, 4 p.m. South Pointe Christian at Sumter Christian (No JV Girls), 4 p.m. Varsity and B Team Basketball Orangeburg-Wilkinson at Sumter (No B Team Girls), 5 p.m. B Team Basketball Laurence Manning at DP Cooper, 5:30 p.m. Varsity Wrestling Sumter in Region VI-4A Duals (at Conway High), 6 p.m.

Orlando Charlotte Washington Central Division Cleveland Chicago Indiana Detroit Milwaukee

19 16 .543 2½ 17 17 .500 4 15 17 .469 5 W L Pct GB 23 9 .719 — 20 12 .625 3 19 15 .559 5 19 16 .543 5½ 14 22 .389 11

WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division San Antonio Dallas Memphis Houston New Orleans Northwest Division Oklahoma City Utah Portland Denver Minnesota Pacific Division Golden State L.A. Clippers Sacramento Phoenix L.A. Lakers

W L Pct GB 30 6 .833 — 19 15 .559 10 19 17 .528 11 17 19 .472 13 11 22 .333 17½ W L Pct GB 24 11 .686 — 15 18 .455 8 15 22 .405 10 12 23 .343 12 12 23 .343 12 W L Pct GB 32 2 .941 — 22 13 .629 10½ 14 20 .412 18 12 25 .324 21½ 8 27 .229 24½

Monday’s Games

Cleveland 122, Toronto 100 Philadelphia 109, Minnesota 99 Miami 103, Indiana 100, OT Boston 103, Brooklyn 94 Detroit 115, Orlando 89 San Antonio 123, Milwaukee 98 Sacramento 116, Oklahoma City 104 Houston 93, Utah 91 Memphis 91, Portland 78 Golden State 111, Charlotte 101

Tuesday’s Games

Milwaukee at Chicago, 8 p.m. New York at Atlanta, 8 p.m. Sacramento at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. Golden State at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.

Wednesday’s Games

New York at Miami, 7 p.m. Indiana at Orlando, 7 p.m. Cleveland at Washington, 7 p.m. Toronto at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m. Detroit at Boston, 7:30 p.m. Denver at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Dallas at New Orleans, 8 p.m. Utah at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m. Charlotte at Phoenix, 9 p.m. Memphis at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m. L.A. Clippers at Portland, 10 p.m.

Thursday’s Games

Atlanta at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. Boston at Chicago, 8 p.m. Utah at Houston, 8 p.m. L.A. Lakers at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.

NHL Standings

By The Associated Press

EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Florida 39 23 12 4 50 106 85 Montreal 40 22 15 3 47 116 99 Detroit 40 20 13 7 47 101 106 Boston 37 20 13 4 44 116 102 Ottawa 40 19 15 6 44 114 120 Tampa Bay 39 19 16 4 42 100 95 Toronto 37 15 15 7 37 99 103 Buffalo 39 15 20 4 34 91 105 Metropolitan Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Washington 38 28 7 3 59 121 83 N.Y. Islanders 40 22 13 5 49 113 99 N.Y. Rangers 39 21 14 4 46 112 103 New Jersey 40 20 15 5 45 93 95 Pittsburgh 38 19 15 4 42 91 93 Carolina 40 16 17 7 39 92 111 Philadelphia 37 15 15 7 37 79 102 Columbus 40 15 22 3 33 103 127

WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Dallas 41 28 9 4 60 144 107 St. Louis 42 23 14 5 51 103 103 Chicago 40 23 13 4 50 111 97 Minnesota 38 20 11 7 47 101 90 Nashville 39 19 13 7 45 103 102 Colorado 40 19 18 3 41 113 111 Winnipeg 39 18 19 2 38 104 114 Pacific Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Los Angeles 39 25 12 2 52 105 87 Arizona 39 19 16 4 42 110 124 Anaheim 38 16 15 7 39 73 90 Vancouver 40 15 16 9 39 97 113 San Jose 37 18 17 2 38 101 106 Calgary 38 18 18 2 38 101 121 Edmonton 41 17 21 3 37 102 122 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss.

Monday’s Games

SATURDAY

Detroit 1, New Jersey 0 Ottawa 3, St. Louis 2, OT Colorado 4, Los Angeles 1 Edmonton 1, Carolina 0, OT Arizona 3, Vancouver 2

NFL Playoffs

Washington at Boston, 7 p.m. Florida at Buffalo, 7 p.m. Dallas at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m. Chicago at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. Minnesota at Columbus, 7 p.m. Montreal at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. Winnipeg at Nashville, 8 p.m. Tampa Bay at Calgary, 9 p.m.

Varsity Basketball Wilson Hall at First Baptist, 3:30 p.m. Varsity Sporting Clays Wilson Hall at Palmetto Shooting Complex (in Edgefield), TBA

By The Associated Press

Wild-card Playoffs Saturday

Kansas City (11-5) at Houston (9-7), 4:35 p.m. (ABC/ESPN) Pittsburgh (10-6) at Cincinnati (12-4), 8:15 p.m. (CBS)

Sunday

Seattle (10-6) at Minnesota (11-6), 1 p.m. (NBC) Green Bay (10-6) at Washington (9-7), 4:30 p.m. (FOX) Divisional Playoffs

Saturday, Jan. 16

Cincinnati, Houston or Kansas City at New England (12-4), 4:35 (CBS) Minnesota, Washington or Green Bay at Arizona (13-3), 8:15 p.m. (NBC)

Sunday, Jan. 17

Seattle, Green Bay or Washington at Carolina (15-1), 1:05 p.m. (FOX) Pittsburgh, Kansas City or Houston at Denver (12-4), 4:30 p.m. (CBS)

Conference Championships Sunday, Jan. 24

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

Pro Bowl Sunday, Jan. 31

At Honolulu Team Rice vs. Team Irvin, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 7

At Santa Clara, Calif. TBD, 6:30 p.m. (CBS)

NBA Standings

By The Associated Press

EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division Toronto Boston New York Brooklyn Philadelphia Southeast Division Miami Atlanta

W L Pct GB 21 15 .583 — 19 15 .559 1 16 19 .457 4½ 10 24 .294 10 4 33 .108 17½ W L Pct GB 21 13 .618 — 21 14 .600 ½

Tuesday’s Games

Wednesday’s Games

New Jersey at Montreal, 7 p.m. Pittsburgh at Chicago, 8 p.m. St. Louis at Colorado, 10 p.m. Carolina at Vancouver, 10 p.m. Toronto at Anaheim, 10 p.m.

Thursday’s Games

Washington at N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m. Florida at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m. Philadelphia at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Winnipeg at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. Arizona at Calgary, 9 p.m. Toronto at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m. Detroit at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.

College Basketball Monday’s Scores

EAST Bryant 85, Fairleigh Dickinson 80 Fairfield 97, Dartmouth 85 Iona 65, Niagara 52 LIU Brooklyn 76, CCSU 67 Manhattan 92, Siena 87, 3OT Monmouth (NJ) 81, Canisius 66 Mount St. Mary’s 44, St. Francis Brooklyn 40, OT Quinnipiac 64, Rider 60 St. Francis (Pa.) 84, Sacred Heart 80 St. Peter’s 68, Marist 60 Wagner 72, Robert Morris 69 SOUTH Delaware St. 93, Baptist Bible (Pa.) 44 ETSU 72, NC Central 68 Grambling St. 84, Alabama St. 81, OT Jackson St. 67, Alabama A&M 66 Kennesaw St. 103, Reinhardt 71 MVSU 66, Ark.-Pine Bluff 60 North Carolina 106, Florida St. 90 Sam Houston St. 94, Northwestern St. 79 Stephen F. Austin 89, SE Louisiana 69 Virginia Tech 70, Virginia 68 MIDWEST Detroit 88, Cleveland St. 80 Green Bay 76, Wright St. 68 Kansas 109, Oklahoma 106, 3OT Milwaukee 76, N. Kentucky 67 Youngstown St. 100, Oakland 98 SOUTHWEST New Orleans 68, Lamar 64 Prairie View 71, Southern U. 65 Texas Southern 74, Alcorn St. 58 West Virginia 95, TCU 87

sports

The SUMTER ITEM

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Area Scoreboard FENCING Reuwer reaches Junior Olympics Luke Reuwer qualified for the fencing competition in the 2016 Junior Olympics by winning the South Carolina Division Junior Olympic Qualifier on Dec. 19 in Columbia. Reuwer, a 15-year-old freshman at Wilson Hall, qualified in both foil and epee in both the Junior and Cadet events. He won gold in Men’s Junior Epee, silver in Men’s Cadet Epee, silver in Men’s Junior Foil and Silver in Men’s Cadet Foil. The Junior Olympics will be held in Cleveland Feb. 12-15.

GOLF CGA Outing The Sumter chapter of the Christian Golfers’ Association will hold its monthly outing on Jan. 16 at Wyboo Golf Club. The devotion will begin at 9:27 a.m. with tee time set for 10. The cost is $20 per player.

BOWLING Gamecock Lane Scores

Dec. 6-12 Sunday Night Mixed: Debbie Becchetti 214–532; Ron Poole 597; Larry Horne 561; Kris Hackett

492; LoisAnne Horne – 675. Hot Shots: Linnie Singleton 485. Tuesday Night Mixed: Charlie Boykin 300-729; Ken Rainwater 289-729; Tucker Tumblin 223-564; Al Heath 264-635; Floyd Christy 246-627; Kenneth Smith 258-682; Steve Shirley 254-675; Rowland Yates 267-750; Jerry Beasley 238-603; Micheal Starnes 214-533; Barry Brown 181; Doug Lauchart 214-537; Ron Poole 223; Don Brown 609; Von Carraway 631; Eduardo Allen 700; Chris Johnson 574; Terrence Williams 658; Tyrone Bailey 686; Leo Mickens 602; Kevin Drost 689; Willie Graham 530; John Garrett 607; Jay Gillion 579; Carll Field 599; Richard Whisnant 529; Gregg Anderson 708; Katrina Mellerson 232- 532; Tanya Foster 243570; Sue Bailey 259-631; Terry Starnes 191-491; Felicia Blake 211-598; Debbie Becchetti 208-574; LoisAnne Horne 249; Becky Dabbs 203-573. AfterNoon Delight: Calvin McMillan 280-726; Elias Wells 248-622; Jerry Coker Jr. 563; Gwen Cofield 510. Industrial Mixed: Otha Johnson 257-654; Elias Wells-259-592; Raynard Jackson 243-684; Moses Jackson 276-684; Ron Rath 244-600; Jay Gillion 222; Russ Ratcliff 265-783; Chuck Scott 226; Alice Oxendine 197; Willie Graham 636; Greg Cunningham 582; Dennis Mickens 646; David Rivers 568. Friday Night Mixed: Micheal Gregg 268-630; Rowland Yates 265-727; Charlie Boykin 269-667; Joe Spangler 264-664; Gregg Anderson 279-766; George Russ 203-514; Gene Jenkins 216-618; Greg Jones 254-662; John Lewis 232; Tim Jenkins 566; Mike Hodge 703; Victor Baker 590; EJ Wells 572; Robert Mainey 472; Micheal Gregg 630; Jerry Beasley 577; Romero D. Davis 499; Romero Davis 538; Leon Williams 647; Kenneth Jenkins 644; Phillip June 659; Don Infelise 647; James Owens 333; Sue Bailey 279-672; Jeronia Pringle 420; Loretta Friday 503; Lois Riles 452. Saturday Morning Bumper Bowlers: Hunter Sweeney 95-163; Bantams/Preps: Luther Bells 116-295; Ahmad June 102-233; Malorie Spiege 126-322. Jr./Mr./Sr.: Keonta Bethea 214-569; Julius Demunn 162-430; Connor Batey 191; Mark Lupori – 553.

Photo Provided

Sumter’s Luke Reuwer, left, displays the gold medal he received for winning the South Carolina Division Junior Olympic Qualifier on Dec. 19 in Columbia. The silver medalist is Maxwell Napier, center, and Alexander Galik, right, won the silver. Reuwer will compete in the National Junior Olympics in Cleveland Feb. 12-15.

CLEMSON

From Page B1

They answered the challenges 14 straight times. The group, which also includes guards Eric Mac Lain and Tyrone Crowder and right tackle Joe Gore, gradually gelled and became the engine that drives Clemson’s relentless offense. Watson and tailback Wayne Gallman surpassed 100 yards on the ground in the 37-17 win over Oklahoma at the Orange Bowl and the Tigers finished with 312 yards rushing, The line helped Watson become Clemson’s single-season total yardage leader (4,731) and Gallman gain the most rushing yards (1,482) in school history. All five of members of the offensive line received honors on one of the three all-Atlantic Coast Conference postseason teams. “It’s been a long journey,” said Mac Lain, the former tight end who had made only one start before this season. Watson, who was coming off a knee injury this offseason, remembers the bond he saw growing among the linemen. “It was just really during summer workouts, all the stuff they did,” Watson said. “Just hanging out. You could see the relationship building.” Once the season began, things did not come so quickly. The Clemson offense was held to 20 points, its lowest total all year, against Louisville in September then 296 yards, also a season low, a game later against Notre Dame. But the linemen knew they were close to putting things together. Clemson has had 10 straight games of 500 yards or more on offense, powering to an undeFile/The Associated Press feated season, an ACC title and Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) is congratulated by linemen Christian Wilkins (42) and Mitch Hyatt after Watson scored a touchthe chance to try for the program’s first national title since down during the Tigers’’ 37-17 victory over Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. Clemson’s offensive line has conquered challenges all season, but its final will likely be its biggest when it faces Alabama’s dominating defense in the national championship game on Monday. 1981. “We really had a mentality here of wanting to prove people wrong,” Guillermo said. Clemson will do that in a big way if it can hold off the Crimson Tide defense, which limited Michigan State to 29 yards rushing. Alabama’s Allen said the Crimson Tide concentrates on taking away the run so they can get after the quarterback. “If you stop the run, you get rewarded with pass rushing,” said Allen, who had two sacks MONDAY, against the Spartans. “That’s JANUARY 11, 2016 just our mentality.” If Alabama shuts down Clemson’s run game, it will go a long way in helping Alabama win its fourth national chamSUNDAY, pionship in seven years. The JANUARY 31, 2016 Tigers, however, believe they can slow down the Crimson Tide so Watson and Gallman can make the plays they’ve made all season.

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girls area roundup

Lady Barons knock off Heathwood Hall 49-36 Wilson Hall improved to 7-4 on the season with a 49-36 varsity girls basketball victory over Heathwood Hall on Tuesday at Nash Student Center. Lauren Goodson led the Barons in scoring with 13 points. Nicolette Fisher followed with 12 points while pulling down eight rebounds and coming up with five steals. Crestwood 51 Lee Central 37

defeated with a 43-7 victory over Heathwood Hall on Tuesday at Nash Student Center. Madison Elmore led the 5-0 Lady Barons with 13 points. Becka Noyes had 10 and Sydney Jarecki added seven. Lakewood 45 Sumter 24

Lashala Harvin scored 17 points to lead Lakewood High School to a 45-24 victory over Sumter on Monday at the SHS gymnasium. Rathesia Burgess added 11 points and Diamond Scarborough had 10 for the Lady Gators. Serena Choice grabbed eight rebounds.

Crestwood High School’s varsity girls basketball team defeated Lee Central 51-37 on Tuesday at The Castle. Jache Whitfield led a balanced Lady Knights scoring attack with 10 points. B TEAM BASKETBALL Shaquanda Miller-McCray Wilson Hall 33 Tyana Saunders both had Heathwood Hall 5 nine while Avis Murphy Wilson Hall improved to added eight. 5-1 with a 33-5 victory over Heathwood Hall on TuesJUNIOR VARSITY day at Nash Student Center. BASKETBALL Gracyn Coker led the Wilson Hall 43 Lady Barons with 10 points. Andi Grae Wingate added Heathwood Hall 7 eight and Owings Holler Wilson Hall remained un- had seven.

THRILLER

From Page B1

Keith Gedamke/The Sumter Item

Sumter’s Kiara Jones (14) tries to grab the basketball while banging into Lakewood’s Taja Randolph in the Lady Gamecocks’ 51-37 victory on Tuesday at The Swamp.

SUMTER

break. Wilson, who added five reFrom Page B1 bounds and three steals, also had a 3-point play late in the Cedric Rembert added 14 third quarter that gave the and Raymond Johnson 10 for Lady Gamecocks a 16-point Sumter. Davonte Pack paced lead before a Tatyana Weldon the Gators with 17 while Jarbucket left Lakewood trailing vis Johnson added 14. by 14, 37-23, heading to the In the girls’ game, Lakewood final quarter. led 7-4 before Sumter’s Kyra Lakewood pulled within Wilson hit 3-point shots in four nine, 39-30, after Taja Rantrips down the floor, helping dolph grabbed two offensive the Lady Gamecocks to a 13-11 boards, following her own lead at the end of one quarter. miss, to score at the 6:17 mark Wilson would hit a fourth 3 in of the final quarter. Sumter the second quarter, closing the responded with a 12-1 run behalf with 16 of her game-high fore Kelsey Madison hit two 25 points as the Sumter lead threes to close out the scoring stood at nine, 22-13, at the and pull the Lady Gators with-

in 14 as the final horn sounded. Randolph closed with a double-double, collecting 12 points and 14 rebounds for the Lady Gators, who dropped to 7-3 on the season. Weldon tallied nine points and five boards while Madison and Shanekia Jackson finished with eight points apiece, with Jackson also grabbing five rebounds. Kiara Jones had a final line of eight points, eight rebounds, two steals and one blocked shot for the Lady Gamecocks, who improved to 10-3. Bre Tyler also hit the glass hard with six boards for Sumter.

boys area roundup

Crisler’s 18 lifts Wilson Hall B Team Denson Crisler scored 18 points to lead Wilson Hall’s B boys basketball team to a 48-26 victory over Heathwood Hall on Tuesday at Nash Student Center. Emery Moore added nine points and Wise Segars had eight for the Barons, who improved to 4-2 on the season.

gamecocks

JUNIOR VARSITY BASKETBALL

Barons with nine points.

Heathwood Hall 43

Crestwood 31

Wilson Hall 28 Wilson Hall fell to 3-4 with a 43-28 loss to Heathwood Hall on Tuesday at Nash Student Center. Brandon Carraway led the

BISHOPVILLE — Crestwood High School fell to 2-3 with a 35-31 loss to Lee Central on Monday at the Lee Central gymnasium. Javarius Bradley led the Knights with 14 points.

This one didn’t come without a second-half threat. AuFrom Page B1 burn wiped out most of the Gamecocks’ 18-point first-half Laimonas Chatkevicius lead with Harris’ inside basadded 12 points and 10 rekets and a 3-point barrage. bounds for South Carolina. Auburn scored nine straight Duane Notice and Michael points, six from Harris and a Carrera both scored 12 and 3-pointer by Brown, to close Marcus Stroman had 10. within 59-54 midway through The Tigers (7-6, 1-1) kept it the second half. The Gameclose largely with Tyler Harcocks were still nursing a sinris’ inside play and Kareem gle-digit lead in the final five Canty’s five 3-pointers. Harris minutes before pounding it inwas 10 of 13 from the field for side either for baskets or free 22 points and Canty scored 21 throws most of the rest of the points and had five assists. way. “Very disappointing effort,” The Tigers made 12 of 30 Auburn head coach Bruce 3-point attempts, including Pearl said. “We’re playing a four quick ones coming out of team that’s undefeated and halftime. we’re playing at home. It takes South Carolina still manabout 10 minutes before we re- aged to keep its winning ways ally turned it up and started to going into league play. compete.” “It’s big for us to start off USC shot 50 percent from the with a win, especially with a field and harried Auburn into win away because that’s been 21 turnovers (while committing a big problem with us,” Thorn19) that led to 28 points. well said. South Carolina hasn’t been TIP-INS ranked this high since rising South Carolina: Martin is 2-4 to No. 5 in 1998. The Gameagainst Auburn. It was the cocks are enjoying their lonGamecocks’ first road win in gest winning streak since the an SEC opener since beating 1979-80 team won 17 straight.

Lee Central 35

Auburn on Jan. 9, 2010. Auburn: Has lost 15 straight games to ranked opponents and 21 of the last 22.

FREEBIES The Gamecocks didn’t approach the school-record 63 free throw attempts from the Memphis game, but did capitalize on trips to the line. South Carolina was 22 of 28 and Stroman made all eight of his attempts. (22) SOUTH CAROLINA 81, AUBURN 69

SOUTH CAROLINA (14-0) Chatkevicius 5-9 2-3 12, Carrera 4-9 3-5 12, Kacinas 2-4 3-4 7, Thornwell 6-10 5-6 22, Dozier 2-5 0-0 4, Stroman 1-1 8-8 10, Notice 4-10 1-2 12, Silva 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 25-50 22-28 81. AUBURN (7-6) Spencer 2-3 0-0 4, Harris 10-13 1-3 22, Granger 2-5 2-2 8, Canty 6-15 4-6 21, Brown 3-10 2-2 11, Bowers 1-7 0-0 3, Keim 0-0 0-0 0, Lang 0-1 0-0 0, Waddell 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-54 9-13 69. Halftime—South Carolina 43-30. 3-Point Goals—South Carolina 9-23 (Thornwell 5-8, Notice 3-6, Carrera 1-4, Kacinas 0-1, Chatkevicius 0-2, Dozier 0-2), Auburn 12-30 (Canty 5-12, Brown 3-9, Granger 2-5, Harris 1-1, Bowers 1-2, Lang 0-1). Fouled Out—Brown. Rebounds—South Carolina 34 (Chatkevicius 10), Auburn 27 (Harris 6). Assists—South Carolina 15 (Thornwell 7), Auburn 12 (Canty 5). Total Fouls—South Carolina 13, Auburn 19. A—7,556.

lost the game, I would have walked into the locker room and said, ‘You’ll never forget this one.”’ At least, until they play Round 2. The brutal benefit of the Big 12 is that everyone plays each other twice, which means the Jayhawks head to Norman on Feb. 13. And who knows? Maybe a third matchup awaits in the Big 12 tournament. Good luck living up to this one, though. Start with Hield, who played on some of the same summer teams as Ellis and at a prep school not far from Lawrence. Kansas recruited him but he ultimately went to Oklahoma, and he certainly made Self wonder what might have been when he was pouring in shots on a night that seemed to never end. Hield played 54 of a possible 55 minutes. His 46 points matched the secondmost by a Kansas opponent, and trumped Oklahoma State’s Randy Rutherford for most by an opposing player in the fieldhouse. It tied for the sixth-most in school history, and the most since Brent Price scored 56 in 1990, the same year as that Big Eight tilt when No. 1 Oklahoma beat No. 2 Kansas 95-77 in the

Big Eight tournament semifinals. Hield was so good that he churned through three different defenders, getting Selden and Graham into foul trouble and forcing Mason onto him for the balance of the game. “He’s as good as there’s been in this building for a long time,” Self said. “And he made hard shots, good gosh. That one there at the end, what were we up, four? And we got the loose ball, got two rebounds that go through our hands — and that’s a great time to shoot 3s is off offensive rebounds. The ball just happens to bounce to him and contest and he made that one. That was ridiculous.” Ultimately, Hield’s brilliance was outmatched by the Jayhawks’ balance. Sure, he got plenty of help from Woodard (27 points) and Spangler (14 points, 18 boards). But Isaiah Cousins struggled with his shot, and the Sooners’ bench only contributed five points. “They deserved to keep going if they could, and they wanted to for sure,” Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger said of his starting lineup. The Jayhawks’ top five did the bulk of the work, too, but Kansas got crucial minutes from just about everyone on the bench. In the end, they seemed to be the fresher team.

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MARY ATHLENE THAMES Mary Athlene Hodge Thames, 80, beloved wife of Frank A. Thames for 62 years, departed this earth for her heavenly home on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, at her home surrounded by all THAMES of her loved ones. Born on Sept. 26, 1935, in Clarendon County, she was a daughter of the late Harvey P. and Susie Lee Hodge. She was a lifetime member of Providence Baptist Church, where she faithfully served her Lord as a Sunday school teacher for more than 60 years. Until her health declined, she was a choir member, GA leader, CIA leader, Vacation Bible School director and teacher, and served on numerous church committees. She was active in the Women’s Missionary Union and was involved in the Partnership Evangelism Program through the International Mission Board. She served as a missionary to Venezuela, Chile and Brazil. She was also known as the community “Soup Lady,” providing her homemade vegetable soup to the shut-ins in her community. She is survived by her husband Frank of Sumter; a son, Jeffrey Thames (Diane) of Manning; a daughter, Hope Thames Turner (Bob) of Sumter; a son-in-law, Tom Brewer of Manning; a daughter-in-law, Donna Thames of Manning; four grandsons, David Geddings (Jennifer) of Ladson, Tommy Brewer (Shanna) of Bishopville, Chris Geddings (April) of Sumter and Kent Thames (Julia) of Charleston; five great-grandchildren, Joseph Buddin, Quinn Brewer, Mary Katherine Geddings, Isabella “Honey” Brewer and Tripp Thames; her brothers, Robert Hodge (Terri) and the Rev. Jerry Hodge (Patsy); and her sisters, Sarah Geddings and Ann McDonald (Frankie). She was preceded in death by two children, Joy Thames Brewer and Andy Thames. They were eagerly awaiting her arrival at the pearly gates. She was also preceded in death by brothers, Ernest Koone, Frank Koone, Carl Koone, John William Hodge, Harvey Hodge Jr. and Jimmie Hodge; and sisters, Gertrude Barbato, Mildred Gardner, Jill Hodge and Jack Hodge. A Celebration of Athlene’s Life will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday at Providence Baptist Church with the Revs. Wayne McElveen, Tom Vassar, Stacey McDonald, Jerry Hodge and Jim Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons and great-grandsons. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Saints Over Sixty Class that Mrs.

Thames taught before her health declined. The family would like to thank Embrace Hospice and Mom’s loving caretakers, Susie Dennis, Nicole Dennis, Kathy Marsh and JoJo Jackson-Brown. With their tender care, Mom’s life with us was extended. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Stephens Funeral Home and at other times at the home of her daughter, Hope Turner, 1860 Hideaway Drive, Sumter. Memorials may be made to Providence Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 2445 Old Manning Road, Sumter, SC 29150. Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church St., Manning, is in charge of arrangements, (803) 435-2179. www.stephensfuneralhome. org

BETTY LOU R. MOODY Betty Lou Rubin Moody, daughter of the late Sallie Pringle and Ivory Rubin, died on Sunday morning, Jan. 3, 2016, at Palmetto Health Tuomey. Funeral arrangements will be announced later by Sumter Funeral Service Inc.

ROGER DENNIS SR. Roger Dennis Sr., 62, departed this earthly life on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, at Palmetto Health Tuomey. Born on July 6, 1953, in Washington, D.C., and later moved to Horatio, he was a son of the late Leon Spann Dennis and Liela Richbow Dennis. “Roy,” as he was affectionately known, attended the public schools of Sumter County. He was employed with Fred’s Painting Co. for more than 29 years, until his health failed. He enjoyed his hobby of working on cars and going to baseball games in the surrounding areas. He was married to Martha McLeod Glover Dennis for 51 years. To this union two sons were born and he fathered his five stepchildren as his own. He was preceded in death by one son, Michael Leon Dennis. He leaves to cherish his memories: his wife, Martha Dennis; two sons, Roger Dennis Jr. (Rebecca Lipscombe) of Rembert and Kevin Miller of Horatio; two stepsons, Frank Glover of Maysville, Kentucky, and Ronnie (Patrica) Glover of Washington, D.C.; three stepdaughters, Janet (Theodore) Robertson of Lugoff, Ethel (Terry) Mathis of Sumter and Patrica Glover of Columbia; one brother, Leon Dennis of Columbia; one sister, Liela Dennis of Columbia; two uncles, Charlie Richbow of Maryland and Rash Richbow of Columbia; 17 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; one brother-in-law; two sistersin-law; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday at John Wesley Sr. Memorial

Chapel, Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter, with the Rev. Willie Dennis, eulogist, and Evangelist Barbara M. Dinkins officiating. The family is receiving relatives and friends at the home, 6055 Ellerby Mill Road, Rembert. The procession will leave at 12:15 p.m. from the home. Floral bearers and pallbearers will be friends of the family. Online messages may be sent to the family at williamsfuneral@sc.rr.com. Visit us on the web at www. williamsfuneralhomeinc.com. Services directed by the management and staff of Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter.

BEVERLY LAWSON Beverly Lawson, 57, widow of Lewis Lawson Sr., died on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, at Palmetto Health Tuomey. Born on May 17, 1958, in Sumter County, she was a daughter of the late Richard Johnson and Mary Louise James. The family is receiving relatives and friends at the home of her brother, Rickey James, 2605 Nicholson Drive. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Williams Funeral Home Inc.

ROBERT J. LONGTEMPS SR. Robert J. Longtemps Sr., 70, husband of Judy Gilmore Longtemps, died on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, at his home. Services will be announced by Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter.

WINDELL PALMER MANNING — Windell “Jack Diamond” Palmer, 66, husband of Mary White Palmer, died on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, at his residence. He was born on June 10, 1949, in the North Santee section of Summerton, a son of Charlie “Bo” and Rosa Bowman Palmer. The family is receiving friends at the residence, 4468 S. Brewington Road, Manning. These services have been entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.

BILLIE COPELAND Billie Cole Wilson Copeland, 100, died on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, at Palmetto Health Tuomey. Born in Florence, she was a daughter of the late William Alexander Cole and Marie Rice Cole. Mrs. Copeland was twice married, first to the late Harry Cooper Wilson for nearly 50 years, and then to the late James Aubrey Copeland. Mrs. Copeland was a member of Mayesville Presbyterian Church, where she served as a Sunday school teacher, a member of the Women of the Church, and in various other capacities. She was a member of the DAR and attended Converse College and Winthrop College.

He was born on June 16, 1964, in Manning, a son of the late Alice Newman Miller and Albert Hayes. The family is receiving friends at the home of his sister, Geneva Miller, 1342 Hyman Drive, Ram Bay section of Manning. These services have been entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.

ANTWANE DARGAN Antwane “Chic” Dargan, 23, departed this earthly life on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015, in Sumter. Born on Sept. 12, 1992, in Sumter County, he was a son of Issac Bobbie Dargan and Reyna Hilton. He was educated in the public schools of Sumter County. He leaves to cherish his memories: his father and mother; one son, Antwane “AJ” Dargan (Laskehia Wheeler); his paternal grandmother, Angeline Dargan; his maternal grandfather, James Evans; two brothers, Jermaine Hilton and Timothy Scarborough, both of Sumter; six uncles; six aunts; four nieces; three nephews; a host of grandaunts, granduncles, cousins, other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held at noon on Thursday at Corinth Baptist Church, Sumter, with Pastor Barbara Lash, pastor, and Minister Jake Sanders, eulogist. The family is receiving friends at the home of his mother, 861 Carolina Ave., Apartment 48, Sumter. The remains will be placed in the church at 11 a.m. The funeral procession will leave at 11:20 a.m. from the home. Floral bearers and pallbearers will be friends of the family. Burial will be in Bradford Cemetery. Services directed by the management and staff of Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter. Online memorial messages may be sent to the family at williamsfuneralhome@sc.rr. com. Visit us on the web at www. williamsfuneralhomeinc.com

DAVID LEE MCGOWAN David Lee McGowan, 53, beloved husband of eight years to Kimberly Jones McGowan, died on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, at Palmetto Health Tuomey. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends following the service. You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family’s guest book. The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.

PHILLIP NEWMAN FLORENCE — Phillip “Phil” Newman, 51, husband of Tora Kimbrough Miller, died on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, at McLeod Regional Medical Center, Florence.

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Billie will be remembered for her love of God, church, family, and friends. To all of us, she manifested a servant’s heart and unparalleled generosity. She spent her entire life doing and caring for other people and all who knew her reaped the benefits. The family is grateful for the love and attention she received from the Mayesville community all of her life. Additionally, the family wishes to recognize the wonderful care, attention, and love that she received from the staff and residents of Solomon’s Home in Sumter. Surviving are one son, Harry C. “Bunt” Wilson Jr. and his wife, Lucy Sanders Wilson, of Sumter; three grandchildren, Lucy Grey Wilson McIver (Benjamin Waverly), Dr. Pressley Rhodes Wilson Warrick (Dr. Michael Todd) and Harry Cooper Wilson III (Mary McArthur); and seven greatgrandchildren, Waverly Bynum McIver, Lucy Morgan Cole McIver, Benjamin Waverly McIver Jr., Michael Cooper Warrick, Wilson Hughes Warrick, Elizabeth Grey Sanders Warrick and William Cole Warrick. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Lucille Cole Hay and Beverly Cole Griffin. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday at Mayesville Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Brian Peake officiating. Burial will be in Mayesville Black River Cemetery. Pallbearers will be William Rhodes Mayes Jr., James E. Mayes Jr., Harold Linwood Turner, James F. Bland Jr., Dr. E. Macdonald DuBose, David S. Watson, the Rev. Dr. William H. “Rusty” Wilson III and Robert Muldrow. The family will receive friends following the graveside service at Mayesville Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall and other times at the home of Lucy and Bunt Wilson, 223 Haynsworth St. Memorials may be made to Mayesville Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 141, Mayesville, SC 29104; to Solomon’s Home, 620 N. Guignard Drive, Sumter, SC 29150; or to a charity of one’s choice. Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals. com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 775-9386.

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CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS Announcements

MERCHANDISE Firewood For Sale Tons of fire wood premium seasoned oak. u haul $50 per pick up load, delivered 1 cord $130. Call Collins Tree Service 803-499-2136

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

Prior and retired military CWP Class Tuesday Jan 19th 6-10 pm. $35.00 Call 803-840-4523.

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CLASSIFIED DEADLINES 11:30 a.m. the day before for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday edition. 9:30 a.m. Friday for Saturday’s edition 11:30 a.m. Friday for Sunday’s edition. We will be happy to change your ad if an error is made; however we are not responsible for errors after the first run day. We shall not be liable for any loss or expense that results from the printing or omission of an advertisement. We reserve the right to edit, refuse or cancel any ad at any time. Help Wanted Full-Time

Mobile Home Rentals

Land & Lots for Sale

Charge Nurse RN or LPN - Full Time Day and Night Shift available with rotating weekends required. Long Term Care and Medicare experience preferred but not required.Apply in person to: Covenant Place 2825 Carter Road Sumter, SC 29150 EOE

Clean 3BR 1BA 50 Spider Ct. near Red Bay Rd. $375 mo + $600 dep. No pets. 803-638-9066 lv msg.

Town of New Zion, Clarendon Co. 206+ /- Acres for sale $850 per ac. Salem Rd. Great Hunting Tract. Shown by appt only. Owner /Agent Call 803-404-8351

Help Wanted Part-Time Immediate Opening The Item has an immediate opening for a part time person for our front desk. This person must be pleasant, neat in appearance, and have working knowledge of computers. This opportunity is Monday thru Friday, 28 hours weekly. Apply in person at: The Item 20 N. Magnolia Street Sumter, SC Ask for Jeff West, CD

Expert Tech, New & used heat pumps & A/C. Will install/repair, warranty; Compressor & labor $600. Call 803-968-9549 or 843-992-2364 Firewood for sale, off Sally & McLaurin. You cut & haul $50 a quart, $25 1/2 & $12.50 a basket. 803-305-2159 or 803-983-7728 Martin's Used Appliance Washers, Dryers, Refrig., Stoves. Guarantee 464-5439 or 469-7311. Lost off Pitts Rd Area Blk & Tan Male Doberman Mix Call 803-720-4078

EMPLOYMENT BUSINESS SERVICES Heating / Air Conditioning Christmas Heating & Air We install and repair residential and MH units. Call 803-494-8847

Home Improvements H.L. Boone, Contractor: Remodel paint roofs gutters drywall blown ceilings ect. 773-9904 JAC Home Improvements 24 Hr Service. We beat everyone's prices, Free Est. Licensed & Bonded 850-316-7980

Legal Service Attorney Timothy L. Griffith 803-607-9087, 360 W. Wesmark. Criminal, Family, Accident, Injury

Musical Service Guitar, Banjo and beginning piano offered in Manning $20 per lesson Call Michael Brown 803-410-8328

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NEWMAN'S TREE SERVICE Tree removal, trimming & stump grinding. Lic/Ins 803-316-0128 STATE TREE SERVICE Worker's Comp & General liability insurance. Top quality service, lowest prices. 803-494-5175 or 803-491-5154 www.statetree.net

Large room for rent No deposit, No lease. Call 803-565-7924.

Furnished Apartments Furnished 1 br apt. incl. elec, water, cable, internet, plus trash P/U, flat screen TV. Nice private cabin apt. on 20 ac. No pets, no smoking. $650 mo. $500 dep. 803-464-5439.

Unfurnished Apartments

Nesbitt Transportation is now hiring Class A CDL Drivers. Must be 23 yrs old and have 2 yrs experience. Home nights and weekends. Also hiring experience diesel mechanic. Call 843-621-0943 or 843-621-2572

Senior Living Apartments for those 62+ (Rent based on income) Shiloh-Randolph Manor 125 W. Bartlette. 775-0575 Studio/1 Bedroom apartments available EHO

Unit Manager Full Time Monday through Friday, with rotating call and occasional weekends required. RN preferred but not required. Long Term Care, Medicare and Charge Nurse experience necessary. This position is responsible for the day to day operations in the 44 bed skilled care unit, under the direction of the Director of Nursing. Apply in person to: Covenant Place 2825 Carter Road Sumter, SC 29150 EOE Local Tree Service Co. looking for CDL driver, bucket operator & climber. Call 803-478-8299 Extremely Busy Veterinary Hospital now hiring F/T: general office help, receptionist, vet asst & a cleaning person. Must pass police background check & drug test. Some college preferred. Have own transportation & good work ref. within past 2 months. Email resume & ref. to: dvm.manager@yahoo.com.

Septic Tank Pump Truck Operator Experience Preferred. Call 803-305-1938

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FT/PT Front Desk Clerk. Some experience & computer knowledge helpful. Apply in person 9 - 3pm. Mon -Fri. at Mt. Vernon Inn, 2 Broad St. Sumter.

Septic Tank Cleaning Call the pros for all of your septic pumping needs. 803-316-0429 Proline Utilities, LLC

RENTALS

Nice 1 Br, 1 Ba apt. in downtown area. Hardwood floors, refrigerator & stove, C/H/A, no pets. $450 mo. Call 803-491-5375.

Unfurnished Homes 3BR 1BA C/H/A w/carport, $700 mo Call 803-394-2112 or 803-563-7202.

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LEGAL NOTICES Legal Notice NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF NEED This is to notify you that McLeod Regional Medical Center of the Pee Dee, Inc., doing business as McLeod Home Health, is applying for a Certificate of Need from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (the "CON"). The CON would allow McLeod Home Health to operate a home health agency and provide home health services in Sumter County, South Carolina. The capital cost of the project is estimated to be zero.

Bid Notices INVITATION TO BID

Autos For Sale 2002 Lincoln Towncar Very Good Cdtn. 63K mi. $3999 Call 803-486-1344

Going on

The County of Sumter is soliciting separate sealed bids from qualified vendors to install Sport Field Lighting at Palmetto Park, Sumter, South Carolina 29150 as per the scope of work. Specifications may be obtained from the County of Sumter, Office of the Purchasing Agent, 13 East Canal Street, Sumter, South Carolina 29150 or via email Purchasing@sumtercountysc.org. The County of Sumter reserves the right to reject any or all bids. The County of Sumter reserves the right to waive any or all technicalities.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2016 Call Ivy Moore at: (803) 774-1221 | E-mail: ivy@theitem.com

Irreverent news veteran Linda Ellerbee retires Famed journalist was a model for TV’s ‘Murphy Brown’ BY DAVID BAUDER AP Television Writer

inda Ellerbee, a veteran newswoman who wrote an irrev-

erent best-seller about her time on television and built a second career at Nickelodeon explaining tough stories to youngsters, says that she has signed off the air for good. Ellerbee, 71, said she retired from TV at the end of the year. Nickelodeon aired a onehour retrospective of her work on Dec. 15. “It’s really nice to be one of the few who walks away from television news on their own time and of their own choice, and I’m really lucky in that,” she said. “That really didn’t happen for so many of my contemporaries, didn’t happen because of age or cutbacks in news. ... I go smiling.” The outspoken Texan and multiple award winner was among the first prominent women in TV news and a

Ellerbee’s 1986 book “And So It Goes” was named for her sign-off phrase. The story of her career to that point in TV news was a bestseller. She recently retired after more than 25 years as head of Nickelodeon’s Nick News.

model for the sitcom character Murphy Brown after actress Candice Bergen studied her work. Ellerbee — and later Murphy Brown — survived breast cancer. Ellerbee began a television news career after being fired by The Associated Press in 1972. On the night desk in Dallas, she wrote a gossipy letter to a friend that was inadvertently sent on the wire to three states. A news director at Houston’s KHOU-TV saw it, thought Ellerbee was a funny writer and hired her. She quickly moved on to local news in New York and then NBC, where she covered politics and co-hosted the prime-time newsmagazine “Weekend” with Lloyd Dobyns. She hosted weekly news segments on the “Today” show and later, “Good Morning America.” Her network news highlight came in the wee hours when she and Dobyns wrote and cohosted the nightly news program “Overnight” from 1984 to 1986 on NBC. When honored by the Alfred I. duPontColumbia University Awards, judges called it “possibly the best-written and most intelligent news program ever.” “There’s never been anything plastic or blow-dried about Linda,” said Cheryl Gould, a creator and senior broadcast producer on “Overnight.” ‘’She has always been the antithesis of your stereotypical, perfectly coiffed anchorwoman. Her emotions are not manufactured for the onair effect. Linda is as real as they come.” Ellerbee’s 1986 book, “And So it Goes” — named for her signature sign-off — was climbing the best-seller lists when she was told her contract would not be renewed. “I wrote it predicated on the assumption that my bosses at NBC News had a sense of humor,” she said. “I turned out to be wrong on that.” After a stop at ABC, Ellerbee and partner Rolfe Tessem opened a production compa-

AP FILE PHOTOS

Ellerbee, a veteran newswoman who wrote a best-seller about her time on television and built a second career at Nickelodeon explaining tough stories to youngsters, says that she has signed off the air for good. Ellerbee, 71, said in December that although she has retired from TV, she will continue to travel and write. ny, and what became their biggest job happened by chance. The new kids’ network Nickelodeon asked her to make a show explaining to youngsters the U.S. war with Iraq in the early 1990s. She was Nick News head for 25 years, making programs tied to events like the 2001 terrorist attacks, the Oklahoma City bombing and Hurricane Katrina. The show delved into social issues like same-sex marriage and AIDS. She won Emmys for shows on AIDS, children of alcoholics, kids living with cancer, the adjustment of parents returning from war, autism and ethnic cleansing. After a decade of

trying, she produced a special this year with dying children talking to their peers. The guiding philosophy was not to talk down to young viewers. Children in a wired world are aware of news events, but might not always have reliable information, she said. “The days are long past, if they ever existed, where kids live in some happy little childhood protected by elves and fairies,” she said. Cyma Zarghami, president of the Viacom Kids and Family Group, said Ellerbee has “helped multiple generations of kids understand the issues of the day, and she helped a

lot of parents navigate how to talk about the tough topics as well. We are deeply grateful for her immeasurable contributions.” The network isn’t replacing Ellerbee, but promised to continue a dialogue with viewers on current issues. While leaving television, Ellerbee said she’ll continue to write and travel. “I can hold my head up, look in the mirror and I didn’t have to be ashamed of anything I ever did or wrote,” she said. “I fought some battles and I won some and lost some. But I get to walk out the door and look back feeling good about it.”

Heeeere’s Johnny — Carson’s back every night BY NICK THOMAS Tinseltown Talks

ohnny Carson fans are in for a New Year’s treat. As of Friday, the Antenna TV Network began broadcasting reruns of the old “Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.” “The full shows have never been aired since Johnny walked off the air in 1992,” said Sean Compton, president of Strategic Programming and Acquisitions for the Tribune Company, which operates 42 television stations including Antenna TV. But getting Carson back on late night didn’t happen overnight. “First, I had to convince Jeff Sotzing, president of Carson Entertainment Group that owns the shows, that our network was the right home for Johnny,” said Compton, who re-branded the show as simply “Johnny Carson” to avoid any conflict with the current “Tonight Show” on NBC. Being a multi-cast network, Antenna TV programs are delivered to customers through both cable and traditional over-the-air broadcast, reaching some 88 percent of U.S. households – a strong selling point, according to Compton. “My plan was also to run the show seven nights a week and broadcast the full shows with minor editing that most people won’t even notice,” explained Compton. With the Carson company on board, the next hurdle was rights issues with the enter-

PHOTO PROVIDED

Band leader Doc Severinsen, star Johnny Carson and “sidekick” and announcer Ed McMahon are shown during the height of the “Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” in the 1970s. Antenna TV is now broadcasting nightly reruns of all of the original shows. tainment guilds and unions. “We had to work with the American Federation of Musicians, the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists, the Director’s Guild, the Screen Actors and the Writers guilds to make sure everyone was treated fairly and got their royalties,” Compton said. “They were actually good to work with, but it took a long time.” That’s because the channel won’t just be running a handful of shows and repeating them over and over. “We’ll be showing 366 unique shows in 2016 – it’s a

leap year!” noted Compton. “I had to watch every show several times and work through all the rights issues for each one.” That included musical guests, who appear in most episodes. Each had to be handled individually. “For instance, just the other day we licensed ‘The Beer Barrel Polka’ for an episode that contained the accordionplaying polka lady,” said Compton, referring to Vlasta, the so-called Queen of the Polka, who was a popular guest on the show. Some broadcasts will be

seasonally timed or coordinated with topical current events. “For example, there will be Christmas episodes in December and Valentine’s Day shows in February,” said Compton. “On March 4, we’ll have the Jim Valvano episode to coincide with the NCAA basketball championship. And for the Super Bowl, we’ll have the show with Art Donovan as guest. So the schedule is now set for the entire first year.” Carson hosted the “Tonight Show” for 30 years, beginning in 1962. With the exception of a few clips, most programs

from the first decade were not preserved, falling victim to the early frugal production practice of reusing videotapes. So only shows from the 1972-1992 years will be aired. Among the hundreds of guests to appear during 2016, contemporary stars will include Robin Williams, Martin Short, Chevy Chase, Ellen DeGeneres, and Eddie Murphy, who will kick off the guest list on the first show (see http:// antennatv.tv for schedule). “We also have the classics such as Orson Welles, Jack Lemmon, Buddy Hackett, Elizabeth Taylor and many more,” said Compton, who describes Carson as a one-ofa-kind talk show host. “He could be funny without the shock value of today’s comedians. And he was one of the first comedians to poke fun at himself when a joke bombed.” Compton also believes the New Year is an ideal time to begin airing the show. “People are still in a nostalgic mood after Christmas when even 30-year-olds have been listening to music by Burl Ives and Bing Crosby,” he said. “So for a few minutes each day, they can suspend everything else that’s happening in real time by just looking in the rear-view mirror and enjoying some real classic television history.” Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Alabama, and has written features, columns and interviews for more than 600 magazines and newspapers.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2016

FOOD

THE SUMTER ITEM

Make tasty chicken chili with secret weapons BY KATIE WORKMAN The Associated Press

ne of the greatest secret weapon ingredients I know is chipotles in

adobo sauce. These are smoked jalapeno peppers that have been stewed in a sauce of tomatoes, garlic, vinegar, salt and various spices, such as cumin, oregano and paprika. Imagine doing all that yourself ! No thanks! Luckily, the whole thing — peppers and sauce — is sold in tiny cans at just about every grocer. The easiest way to use these peppers and sauce is to puree the whole thing. I just dump the contents of the can right into the food processor or blender. Then I store the puree in a sealed container in the fridge. Whenever a soup, stew or a chili (or anything that calls for a little touch of smoky heat) needs a little something extra, in goes a tablespoon or two of the puree. Speaking of secret weapons, one of the best appliances to earn that description is the slow cooker. For many of us, this handy kitchen cooker takes up permanent residence on the counter during the colder months. The unparalleled pleasure of walking into your home at the end of a long day to be greeted by the scent of a cooked meal is hard to overstate. In this chili, these two secret weapons join together to turn juicy and moist boneless, skinless chicken thighs into a somewhat spicy and couldn’t-beeasier chili. I often make chili with ground chicken or turkey, which we all love, but it was nice to change it up with real cubes of chicken. This one is a definite weeknight keeper.

SLOW COOKER CHICKEN CHILI Start to finish: 4 to 6 hours on high, 6 to 8 hours on low (15 minutes active) Servings: 8 1 cup chopped yellow onion 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced 4 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons pureed chipotles in adobo sauce 28-ounce can diced tomatoes, with juices 2 tablespoons chili powder 2 teaspoons ground cumin Two 15 1/2-ounce cans black beans, drained 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of fat and cut into 1-inch pieces

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

2 scallions, trimmed and chopped Juice of 1 lime Kosher salt Shredded cheddar cheese or Mexican cheese blend Sour cream In a large slow cooker, combine the onion, carrots, garlic, chipotles in adobo, tomatoes, chili powder, cumin and beans. Stir to combine, then add the chicken and stir again. Cook in the slow cooker on high for 4 to 6 hours, or low for 6 to 8 hours. Stir in the scallions and lime juice just before serving. Taste, then season with salt. Serve with shredded cheese and sour cream on the side. Nutrition information per serving: 410 calories; 110 calories from fat (27 percent of total calories); 12 g fat (5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 175 mg cholesterol; 910 mg sodium; 29 g carbohydrate; 9 g fiber; 6 g sugar; 44 g protein.

Frittatas: Yum of omelets, but way less effort BY KATIE WORKMAN The Associated Press Eggs for dinner! Talk about serious comfort food. And one of my favorite weeknight ways to prepare them is as frittatas. A frittata is an Italian omelet, but one in which all of the addins (cheese, veggies, meat, rice, what have you) are mixed directly into the eggs (rather than folded into the center). And that makes them so much easier and less fussy. The only real challenge about making frittatas is getting the top to cook. Some brave souls will try to flip them. I’d rather rely on the broiler (meaning I start the frittata on the stovetop to cook the bottom, then pop it under the broiler to finish the top). Or sometimes I just turn to my trusty muffin pan. If you distribute the frittata mixture among the cups of a 12-cup muffin pan, you end up with 12 adorable little frittatas, individually-sized, portable, cute as buttons. Plus, they tend to cook more quickly and with even less effort than if you start them stovetop. You can play with this concept endlessly. Add cubes of tender (cooked) potato, steamed broccoli florets, leftover rice, crumbled cooked sausage or bacon, whatever. Frittatas are a great way to stretch some random bits and pieces languishing in the refrigerator into another lovely meal. Breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, I am happy to see a frittata at any point of the day.

SOUTHWESTERN MINI FRITTATAS Start to finish: 30 minutes Makes 12 mini frittatas 2 tablespoons butter, divided 1 medium yellow onion, chopped 1 red bell pepper, cored and diced Kosher salt and ground black pepper 2 cups chopped button mushrooms 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 10 large eggs 1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco or feta cheese Heat the oven to 350 F. Mist a 12-cup muffin pan with cooking spray. In a medium skillet over medium, heat 1 tablespoon of the butter until melted. Add the onion and red pepper, then season lightly with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are golden brown and tender, about 6 minutes. Transfer the vegetables to a plate, then return the skillet to the heat. Add the remaining tablespoon of butter and add the mushrooms and oregano. Lightly season with salt and pepper, then increase the heat to medium-high. Saute for about 8 minutes, or until there is no liquid left in the pan and the mushrooms are beginning to brown. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, then season them with salt and pepper. Add the onion and pepper mixture along with the mushrooms, then stir to combine. Use a small ladle to fill each muffin cup with the egg and vegetable mixture almost to the top. Sprinkle the cheese evenly over each frittata, then bake until they puff and set, the cheese is melted and the tops are lightly golden, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let sit for 1 to 2 minutes, then use a butter knife to pop the frittatas out of the tins. Let sit for a few more minutes on a wire rack. Serve warm, at room temp or even cold. Nutrition information per frittata: 100 calories; 60 calories from fat (60 percent of total calories); 7 g fat (3 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 190 mg cholesterol; 170 mg sodium; 3 g carbohydrate; 0 g fiber; 1 g sugar; 7 g protein.

FOOD

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2016

Moist chicken breasts are a real possibility BY ELIZABETH KARMEL The Associated Press We’ve all suffered through cardboard-dry chicken breasts. We do it because periodically we commit (or recommit or re-recommit) to healthy eating. And boneless, skinless chicken breasts are a fine and filling lean protein well suited to the job. Except for one thing... Because boneless, skinless chicken breasts are so lean, they overcook and dry out heartbreakingly fast. Doesn’t seem to matter whether I grill them or bake them or saute them. I always end up with dry, chewy and unpleasant chicken breasts. No wonder everyone gets irritable when they’re trying to eat healthy. But I have a secret for cooking chicken breasts that produces moist, tender meat every time. In fact, it’s so foolproof and effortless, you don’t even need to watch the clock. Though the chicken takes just 30 minutes to cook, you can let them go for as long as an hour and you won’t risk ruining them in the slightest. The secret? Poaching the breasts in a blend of stock, wine and seasonings. But my poaching technique is slightly different than what you’re used to. And that’s what makes it so forgiving. First, I use a flavor-packed wine-infused stock to poach instead of water. The flavor difference is big. Second, I use mostly residual heat to cook the meat. As in, I bring the chicken stock, wine and aromatics to a boil, then add the raw boneless, skinless chicken breasts. I bring the liquid back to a boil, then turn off the heat, put a lid on the pot, then let the chicken cook. That’s it. This method allows the chicken to cook slowly, absorbing the seasonings and letting the wine in the broth deepen the flavor of the meat. The chicken is never tough and doesn’t taste “boiled,” which sometimes happens when you put raw chicken in cold water and boil it. I started poaching chicken

in this manner to use in chicken salad. Moist chicken just tastes better in salad than grilled or baked. And because the chicken is so juicy, you need less mayonnaise when you prepare it this way. But now I make poached chicken breasts for many other dishes — on a green salad; sliced and tossed with pasta; chopped and mixed into soup; mixed with barbecue sauce for an easy “pulled” chicken wrap; etc. However you use the chicken, be sure to season it with salt before serving, as there is no added salt in the poaching liquid. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WINE-POACHED CHICKEN BREASTS Start to finish: 45 minutes Makes 6 breasts 1 1/2 quarts low-sodium chicken stock or broth 3 cups white wine 3 medium carrots, cut into 2-inch chunks 3 stalks celery, cut into 2-inch chunks 2 medium yellow onions, halved 4 cloves garlic, smashed 4 sprigs fresh thyme 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts In a large (at least 6-quart) stock pot or Dutch oven over medium-high, combine the chicken stock, wine, carrots, celery, onions, garlic and thyme. Bring to a boil, then gently add the chicken breasts one at a time. If the chicken breasts aren’t entirely covered by liquid, add a bit more stock or water. Return the liquid to a boil. As soon as the liquid boils, turn off the heat and cover the pot. Allow the breasts to poach for 30 minutes, then use tongs or a slotted spoon to remove from the liquid. Chicken can be used immediately, or refrigerated for up to 3 days. The poaching liquid can be saved for another use. It can be frozen, then thawed and boiled before reusing.

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Nutrition information per breast: 150 calories; 30 calories from fat (20 percent of total calories); 3 g fat (0.5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 85 mg cholesterol; 55 mg sodium; 0 g carbohydrate; 0 g fiber; 0 g sugar; 27 g protein.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2016

THE SUMTER ITEM

BIZARRO

SOUP TO NUTS

ANDY CAPP

GARFIELD

BEETLE BAILEY

BORN LOSER

BLONDIE

ZITS

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DILBERT

JEFF MACNELLY'S SHOE

Woman still angry at family for childhood trauma DEAR ABBY — At the age of 15 I was raped by my first boyfriend. It’s how I lost my virginity. Shortly afDear Abby terward, I ABIGAIL became severely deVAN BUREN pressed and bulimic. I blocked my trauma until 11 years later, when I had a flashback. I sought out a therapist and have been seeing him for the past six months. I feel so much resentment and anger toward my family for not having helped me through this difficult time. They didn’t know about the rape, but they knew about my

eating disorder, and I’m sure they must have noticed my depressed mood. They simply looked the other way. I am angry with my mother especially, because she has always been detached and critical of me. I’m afraid to tell her what happened for fear of being blamed. She has now been diagnosed with cancer, and I’m afraid she’ll die before I get the courage to tell her. What can I do? Angry in California DEAR ANGRY — It’s unfair to blame your family for not recognizing something they were never told. It is not uncommon for teenagers to withdraw to some extent in order to establish their own identities, apart from their parents. Your parents may have

thought that was what you were doing. As to your eating disorder, I remember a time in the nottoo-distant past when little was known about anorexia and bulimia. This is not to excuse your mother for her inability to be the parent you needed while growing up. It’s important that you work with your therapist on how to talk to her about all of your feelings. It shouldn’t be done in an accusatory manner, and you should have no fear of being blamed for your rape. It wasn’t your fault that you were assaulted, and no one should be able to make you feel guilty for having been a victim -- not even your mother -- who, I am sure, will be shocked by your revelation.

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.

THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

By Matt Skoczen

ACROSS 1 Big initials in tobacco 4 Devices with scroll wheels 8 Many an old-movie criminal mastermind 14 Perrier, par exemple 15 Sick as __ 16 Jittery 17 Visitor's first attempt 19 Emphatic type 20 Training group 21 Like milligrams and kilograms 23 Baseball family name 24 Actress Thompson of "Family" 25 "My bad!" 29 Queen-to-be, maybe 30 Visitor's second attempt 33 Hum a lullaby for 35 Common starting time 36 Justice Dept. division 37 Sean's mom 39 Unlikely Monopoly outcomes 41 Student carrier 44 Peeled-off item

1/6/16 46 "Big crunch" pickle brand 50 Visitor's third attempt 53 Asti export 54 Kids' __: restaurant offering 55 "The Dukes of Hazzard" deputy 56 Indigo source 57 Ottoman shelter 60 Playing marble 61 Nixes 64 Visitor's last words 66 How megastores buy goods 67 Boo-boo 68 Snitch 69 Assumes to be true 70 Ring units: Abbr. 71 Porter kin

8 Conservationist John 9 Against 10 Church official 11 Start to practice? 12 "__ live and breathe!" 13 B'way setting 18 Seedy 22 Unspoken 24 Chicago suburb 26 Stomach-punch response 27 Banned chem. contaminant 28 Snow glider 31 Sushi chef's array 32 Ship's spine 34 Unable to choose 38 "Rings __ Fingers": 1942 Fonda/Tierney film

40 Wild and fierce 41 Emeril exclamation 42 Le Mans article 43 Peek, for peep: Abbr. 45 Toast, so to speak 47 Ol' Blue Eyes 48 Monogram component 49 "Gigi" author 51 "Right away, madame!" 52 Four Tops' record label 58 Get all mushy 59 Invites 60 Long stretches 61 Bigwig 62 Brian of Roxy Music 63 Airer of some MLB postseason games 65 Clear (of)

Tuesday’s Puzzle Solved

DOWN 1 Baggage handlers 2 Game with cestas and pelotas 3 Seedy 4 Good way to have it? 5 Knot-tying words 6 One with a racket 7 Stirred up

1/6/16

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‘American Idol’ begins its final season tonight BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH “American Idol” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-PG) is leaving the building. The pop cultural phenomenon that dominated the first decade of this century enters its 15th and final season tonight. It’s fitting, all too predictable and emotionally manipulative that the first audition is by a 15-yearold girl who not only grew up with the show, but who can recite every season winner’s name in order. We even get to see an old home video of her 10-year-old self crying when one of her favorites was voted off the contest. At its core, reality television is not so much about real people, but watching these amateurs’ awareness of their own performances. We’re all in on the fact that it’s a hall of mirrors. But is this girl any less real or more pretend when standing before the cameras or singing in front of her vanity into a hairbrush microphone? So it’s entirely “natural” and yet completely artificial to see this young woman, still in braces, appear before Ryan Seacrest and judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. and tell them that she’s been waiting for this moment her entire life. Because, well, she has. You have to be a sucker to buy into this spectacle. And at the same time, you’d have to possess a heart of stone not to root for this enthusiastic kid. Spoiler alert: She performs LeAnn Rimes’ “Blue” and does well enough to move on. Cue the stampede of happy family members and the familiar “American Idol” anthem. A new, final season season has begun. • With “Nashville” on hiatus until spring, ABC airs the second season of “American Crime” (10 p.m., TV-14), starring Felicity Huffman and Timothy Hutton, who also appeared in the first season. This “Crime” takes on an entirely different story, that of a sex scandal involving high school basketball players and class differences between the students and parents at a public and a private high school. Lili Tay-

• Voight’s doctor’s friend falls under suspicion on “Chicago P.D.” (10 p.m., NBC, TV14).

CULT CHOICE An inventor’s (Vincent Price) freakish creation (Johnny Depp) divides a gossipy community in “Edward Scissorhands” (7:10 p.m., Starz), director Tim Burton’s brilliant 1990 evocation of “Frankenstein.”

SERIES NOTES

MICHAEL BECKER / FOX

From left, Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick Jr. return as judges for the final season of “American Idol” premiering at 8 p.m. today on FOX.

lor also returns from season one. Slow to build and artfully shot and produced, “Crime” demonstrated that networks could rival their streaming and cable rivals in producing serious adult drama. • The proliferation of streaming choices has forced shows to try ever harder to get and keep your attention, resulting in comedies that throw subtlety to the wind. Now in its 11th season, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” (10 p.m., FXX, TV-MA) is probably the pioneer of this comedy of excess. Now entering its second season, “Man Seeking Woman” (10:30 p.m., FXX, TV-MA) relies on the low-key approach of its star (Jay Baruchel) to modulate the cartoonlike absurdity of its situations. • “NOVA” (9 p.m., PBS, TVPG, check local listings) presents “Secret Tunnel Warfare,” a glance back at an explosive chapter in World War I. With trench warfare at a stalemate, allied forces tunneled under German lines and planted 600 tons of explosives. Scientists return to the still-dangerous scene of the largest non-nuclear explosion in history, a blast that instantly killed 10,000

German troops and could be heard in London, 150 miles away.

TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS • Slow hands on “2 Broke Girls” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-14). • Carl and Mike enter couples therapy on the premiere of “Mike & Molly” (8:30 p.m.,

CBS, TV-14), now entering its sixth and final season. • Jane Lynch hosts the People’s Choice Awards (9 p.m., CBS). • A student-teacher affair takes a very wrong turn on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14). • A mealtime reality check on “Modern Family” (9 p.m., ABC).

Urban treasure-hunting on “The Mysteries of Laura” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG) * Sue strives for sorority acceptance on “The Middle” (8 p.m., ABC) * Oliver and Diggle tangle on “Arrow” (8 p.m., CW, r, TV-14) * Beverly wants to remodel on “The Goldbergs” (8:30 p.m., ABC) * The Impala offers insights on “Supernatural” (9 p.m., CW, r, TV-14) * Bow is intimidated by Dre’s old pal (Tyra Banks) on “black-ish” (9:30 p.m., ABC).

2015-16

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Breaded Cauliflower Cutlets with Marinara

Ready for breaded cutlets of a different kind? Try cauliflower L BY SARA MOULTON The Associated Press

et’s say that one of your

New Year’s resolutions is to eat healthier and lose some

weight. Join the crowd, right?

In practice, what we probably mean — among other things — is that we plan to eat more vegetables and less meat. It’s a challenge. But if you try this dish — a wonderful vegetarian version of breaded veal (or pork or chicken) cutlets swimming in a marina sauce — you will see how easy and satisfying it can be to turn a resolution into reality. You start by slicing a whole head of cauliflower into cutlets. The idea is to end up with thick slabs of the vegetable. One easy method for doing this is to cut the head in half down the center, then turn each half on its cut side and cut the halves into 1/2-inch-thick slabs. There will always be a few loose bits from the ends, but those also can be breaded and cooked as described below. You’ll want to take care with the breading, too. It’s a three-step process: dust the steaks lightly with cornstarch, coat them well with an egg mixture, then finish them with a layer of breadcrumbs. This is standard operating procedure among culinary pros. The three layers provide a more substantial crust than any other single coating or combo of coatings. Now it’s time to brown your vegetable cutlets. You could do it in a skillet — just as you would a breaded meat cutlet — but that would require a ton of oil (those breadcrumbs just soak it up). And remember, it’s the new year and you’re on a new path. So we bake them instead, which requires a lot less oil. The key is to place the cutlets fairly close to the heat source. In my electric oven that’s the top of the stove. If they’re not properly browned at the end of the prescribed cooking time, just leave them in the oven a little longer. Then dig in. The biggest flavor is going to come from the marinara sauce. Your brain likely won’t care at all whether the cutlet is veal or vegetable. But your body will thank you.

BREADED CAULIFLOWER CUTLETS WITH MARINARA

Start to finish: 1 hour 15 minutes (45 minutes active) Servings: 4 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 teaspoons minced garlic I large head cauliflower 3 large eggs, lightly beaten 1/2 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided 1/2 cup cornstarch 1 3/4 cups panko breadcrumbs 1 ounce grated Parmesan cheese 1 1/2 cups speedy marinara (recipe below) or store-bought marinara, heated Heat the oven to 400 F. In a small bowl, combine the oil and the garlic. Set aside. Pull off any leaves from the stem end of the cauliflower and trim off just enough of the stem so the cauliflower stands flat on the counter. Slice the cauliflower head in half down the center top to bottom. One at a time, set each half onto its cut side. Starting from one end of each half, slice crosswise to create 1/2-inch-thick slices. This will yield 3 to 4 cutlets from the center of each half, with the small ends being chunks. The chunks can be prepared as the cutlets, or reserved for another use. In a shallow bowl or pie plate, whisk together the eggs, yogurt, 3 tablespoons of water and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt. On a sheet of kitchen parchment, combine the cornstarch with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt, stirring the mixture with a fork to combine. On a second sheet of parchment, combine the panko with the cheese, stirring with a fork. One at a time, coat the cauliflower cutlets (and trimmings, if using) on both sides with the cornstarch, knocking off the excess. Next, dip each in the egg mixture, coating them on both sides and letting the excess drip off. Finally, coat them with the panko mixture, patting the crumbs on well. Set aside. Strain the garlic oil through a mesh strainer, pressing hard on the garlic to get out all the oil. Discard the garlic (or reserve for another use). On a rimmed baking sheet, spread half of the oil in an even coating. Set the baking sheet on the oven’s top shelf and heat for 5 minutes. Carefully remove the pan from the oven and quickly arrange the prepared cauliflower on it in a single layer. Return the pan to the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, drizzle the tops of the cauliflower evenly with the remaining oil, turn them over, then bake for another 15 minutes. Divide the cauliflower among 4 serving plates, then serve topped with marinara. Nutrition information per serving: 490 calories; 190 calories from fat (39 percent of total calories); 21 g fat (4.5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 170 mg cholesterol; 1110 mg sodium; 58 g carbohydrate; 6 g fiber; 8 g sugar; 17 g protein.

SPEEDY MARINARA Start to finish: 35 minutes (10 minutes active) Makes about 2 1/2 cups 2 large cloves garlic, smashed 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil Hefty pinch red pepper flakes 28-ounce can plum tomatoes (preferably fire-roasted), chopped Kosher salt In an unheated medium saucepan, combine the garlic and the oil. Turn the heat to medium and cook, turning over the garlic several times, until it is just golden, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes and a hefty pinch of salt, then bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and cook at a brisk simmer until the sauce is reduced to about 2 1/2 cups, 20 to 25 minutes. Discard the garlic. Season with salt. Nutrition information per 1/2 cup: 60 calories; 25 calories from fat (42 percent of total calories); 2.5 g fat (0 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 460 mg sodium; 8 g carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 4 g sugar; 1 g protein.