January 7, 2014

HELP ON THE WAY: Dispatch recording shows teamwork as man rescued from car in Second Mill Pond on Friday night. A2

Did Heisman Trophy winner and FSU end SEC’s BCS title reign?

B1 VOL. 119, NO. 70 WWW.THEITEM.COM

TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014 | SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA

As dangerous temps move in, fire risk up

BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com

INSIDE Is your child’s day delayed? A3 ‘Polar vortex’ moves across U.S. A6 5 things to know about the freeze. A6

South Carolina in January is normally warmer than northern Minnesota, but it won’t feel like that today.

The lows today are expected to reach close to zero degrees, after factoring in the wind chill, and nighttime lows could stay well below freezing thanks to a blast of Arctic air from the northwest. And that cold snap can cause serious problems if you’re not prepared.

Ironically, one of the biggest hazards of the cold weather season is fire. As more people try to heat their homes in colder weather, firefighters worry about the po-

tential for fires to burn out of control. So fire experts encourage homeowners to take steps to keep their heaters and fireplaces clean and functioning properly.

“If you use a fireplace, have someone come in and clean it properly,” said Battalion Chief Johnny Rose with Sumter Fire Department. “People don’t realize they can get squirrels and raccoons building their houses in there, and if you start a fire, they don’t vent properly, and the smoke goes into the house.”

A stopped-up chimney can spark a fire in the home’s attic, “and no firefighter wants to see a fire in the attic,” Rose said, SEE COLD SNAP, PAGE A3

HEROIC OFFICER COMMENDED

HOLLY BUNCH / THE ITEM

ABOVE: Sumter County Police Chief Russell Roark speaks during a Monday news conference about the heroic actions of officer Quintin Eley, 25, right. Eley pulled 38-year-old Ioan Marcel Cimpean from his nearly submerged car in Second Mill Pond on Friday.

‘Just another day on the job’ Officer says he acted on instinct to save man

BY TYLER SIMPSON tyler@theitem.com

A

fter only working with the Sumter Police Department for six months, officer Quintin Eley has already made a name for himself by instinctively committing an act of heroism.

The 25-year-old rookie officer was recognized during a press conference Monday at the Sum-

ter Law Enforcement Center for saving the life of 38-year-old Ioan Marcel Cimpean, whose car swerved off the road Friday CIMPEAN night and into Second Mill Pond on West Liberty Street. “(Being hailed a hero) feels SEE ELEY, PAGE A3

BRADEN BUNCH / THE ITEM

A Sumter Police Department officer examines the apparent tire tracks running off Liberty Street near the bridge over where a vehicle left the road and crashed into Second Mill Pond late Friday night.

FOUNDED OCTOBER 15, 1894

60 CENTS

MAJ. GEN. THOMAS R. OLSEN ✦ 1934 - 2014

Retired major general, local leader mourned

T

homas Olsen served his country in the Air Force for more than 30 years, reaching the rank of major general.

But once he retired, as Tuomey Foundation director Jeff Faw said of the foundation board’s former chairman, “that was only the beginning of his accomplishments.”

For the last two decades of his life, Olsen enmeshed himself in his OLSEN adopted community of Sumter before passing away Sunday at the age of 79. The native Texan took up several influential posts, not the least of which was husband to a Sumter woman and father to her children.

“When my first husband died and his wife died, God just brought us together,” said Jackie Olsen, the general’s wife. “It was never a union anybody would have thought about, but I spent the best years of my life with Tom. He never skipped a day without saying ‘I love you.’”

The Olsens married in 1998, after his wife and her husband, who served with Olsen on the USC-Sumter Partnership Educational Foundation, passed away within a few months of each other. Olsen reached out to her and even invited her young son Mason to visit the flight lines at Shaw Air Force Base, where he was the former vice commander of the Ninth Air Force.

“That was a way to help him with the death of his father, and also to help Tom with his loneliness,” Jackie Olsen said.

Since the future Mrs. Olsen was also raising a teenaged daughter, Olsen invited her out for some “adult conversation.” When the general then went to Houston to care for his ailing mother, “we racked up a $1,700 phone bill talking to each other,” she said.

SEE OLSEN, PAGE A8

Temperature drop means urgent need for aid

BY JACK OSTEEN Jack@theitem.com A new year is upon us, and so are some of the coldest days on record. With today’s high temperature still barely above the freezing mark, the Fireside Fund is expected to receive an in-

flux of calls and requests this week.

Support this year for the fund, so far, has been strong, having already passed last year’s total of a little more than $41,000. The nearly $46,000 raised thus far is certainly helping more people this year

2013-14

Dedicated to the memory of Glen Sharp

than ever before.

The needs of some local residents, however,

DEATHS

20 N. Magnolia St. Sumter, SC 29150 (USPS 525-900)

www.theitem.com

continues to be great, so Sumterites are urged to continue to make dona-

tions to Fireside Fund and help make 2014 the most generous year for giving the community has ever seen.

Founded in 1969, Fireside Fund collects money for those Sumterites who need help with heating costs, including past-due elec-

Information: 774-1200 Advertising: 774-1237 Classifieds: 774-1234 Delivery: 774-1258 News, Sports: 774-1226

Nola C. Geddings C. Nelson Cribb Joe louis Blyther Sherwood D. Smith Lucious Davis Jennifer E. Kyle

Maj. Gen. Thomas R. Olsen Robert H. Walters Jo Ann McDowell Ophelia D. King B6

tric bills and vouchers for kerosene and wood.

The Item collects the money, and The Salvation Army interviews candidates, who must provide a valid form of picture identification, paycheck stubs and SEE FIRESIDE, PAGE A8

OUTSIDE BUNDLE UP

INSIDE 3 SECTIONS, 20 PAGES

Temperatures will struggle to reach above freezing HIGH: 30 LOW: 12 A8

Clarendon Sun Classifieds Comics Daily Planner Opinion Television

C1 B8 B7 A8 A7 A5

A2

THE ITEM

SECOND FRONT

TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014

Contact the newsroom at 803-774-1226 or e-mail news@theitem.com

Dispatch recording illustrates teamwork Friday night, Sumter Police Department officer Quintin Eley made a swift decision to save a life. And while the local community is rightfully celebrating the heroic actions of the young officer, recently released dispatch communications from the evening illustrate the amount of teamwork required by local public safety

officers to turn what could have been a tragic scene into a triumphant one.

About two minutes into the dispatch recording, Eley informed base of his location and of the 38-year-old man trapped in the car submerged in Second Mill Pond and requested the assistance of the fire department and EMS. A minute after his initial request, Eley can be heard on the recording saying he could

LOCAL & STATE BRIEFS |

DROP OFF YOUR CHRISTMAS TREES FOR GRINDING

BY RAYTEVIA EVANS revans@theitem.com

go in and get the man from the car if another unit arrived on scene. As Eley waited for a response from base, a number of units and more than 15 officers were en route to his location to provide assistance.

About one minute and five seconds after Eley suggested going in himself, a female officer who had arrived on scene informed officers en route that Eley was attempting to go in the freezing cold

water to rescue the man from the car. At the time, about five officers were already on scene.

One officer clearly responded that the officer should stand by for a minute as more units attempted to get to the incident location.

However, in less than a minute, the female officer said Eley had successfully pulled the man out of the car and was back on the bank.

Responding officers pro-

ceeded to arrive on scene and set up road blocks to accommodate fire and rescue for possible transport to Tuomey Regional Medical Center and to get warm clothes and blankets for the man and Eley.

To hear an edited version of the dispatch recordings, visit The Item’s Facebook page or theitem.com.

Reach Raytevia Evans at (803) 774-1214.

FROM STAFF & WIRE REPORTS

Hydrant flow tests Wednesday, Thursday The City of Sumter will perform fire hydrant flow tests between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday on U.S. 521 South, Mooneyham Road and West Brewington Road. Water customers in the surrounding area may experience temporary discolored water.

Direct any questions or concerns to the City of Sumter Public Services Department at (803) 436-2558.

Man gets 35 years for killing police dog COLUMBIA — A 24-year-old man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for firing at officers and killing a Richland County Sheriff’s Department dog.

Maurice McCreary was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to five counts of attempted murder and one count of the unlawful killing of a police dog.

Authorities said McCreary fired multiple times at sheriff’s deputies and a Columbia police officer during a manhunt after an armed robbery in December 2011.

The police dog, named Fargo, was shot three times and died at a veterinarian’s office.

Graham on plane that returned to airport GREENVILLE — U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham was on board a United Airlines flight to Washington, D.C., that had to turn back to the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport because a warning light came on in the cockpit.

Airport spokesman Rosylin Weston said the plane landed back safely about 3 p.m. Tuesday.

The aircraft had 40 people on board.

CORRECTION

|

The meeting place listed in Sunday’s Public Agenda for tonight’s meeting of Sumter City Council was incorrect.

Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. in the City Centre, 25 N. Main St., beside the Sumter Opera House.

BRADEN BUNCH / THE ITEM

Pat Morales drops off her Christmas tree Monday at Dillon Park for the annual Grinding of the Greens. On Saturday, the trees will be ground into mulch, and from 7 until 10 a.m. that day, residents can take their trucks and containers to the park to get free mulch for use in their gardens and landscaping.

Bond denied in Lee County stabbing case

BY TYLER SIMPSON tyler@theitem.com A 60-year-old man was charged with attempted murder after reportedly stabbing another man early Saturday morning.

Dennis Edwin Hoover, 60, of 717 Eddie Watkins Road, Lee County, was arrested after an altercation at a gas station near U.S. 15 and Interstate 20 near Bishopville led to Hoover reportedly stabbing the other man, which he ap-

parently knew, in the face, arm and abdomen. Hoover was denied bond on the attempted murder charge.

“Due to the conditions of the crime, we asked that bond be denied for the suspect,” said Lee County Sheriff Daniel Simon. “The suspect intended to kill the victim without any thought or concern in assisting in the victim’s medical aid. If that isn’t a menace to society, I don’t know what is.”

The victim, who was alert at the time, was transported to a hospital where he

had surgery for the lacerations to his head. Simon said that the victim was well enough to attend Hoover’s bond hearing Monday morning.

According to Simon, Hoover and the victim have been involved in an ongoing feud, which has led to numerous assault cases filed between the two men.

Hoover was transported to SumterLee Regional Detention Center.

Reach Tyler Simpson at (803) 7741295.

McConnell not running for lieutenant governor

BY SEANNA ADCOX The Associated Press COLUMBIA — Lt. Gov. Glenn McConnell announced Monday that he will not seek election to the statewide office, as he instead pursues leading the College of Charleston.

The 66-year-old Charleston Republican will formally apply for the job as president of his alma mater, for which applications are due next week. Candidates for public office don’t officially file to run until late March. So Mc-

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Connell could have pursued both. But he said he decided it would be neither honorable nor fair to seek the college post while also running for lieutenant governor.

“It would not be fair to the Senate to begin McCONNELL a new session not knowing whether their presiding officer is fully committed to serving a new term. It would not be fair to good candidates who may want to seek this office but

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

who, out of respect for me, will not enter the race until I make a final decision. And most of all, it would not be fair to the voters to ask them to support me for Lt. Governor if there is even a chance I might not remain in the campaign,” he wrote.

His decision could mark the close of 34 years in publicly elected office.

McConnell, a senator since 1981 and Senate president pro tem since 2001, was arguably the state’s most powerful lawmaker when the resignation of Lt. Gov. Ken

Ard caused McConnell to leave his beloved Senate in March 2012 and assume a job largely viewed as ceremonial. He did so reluctantly, saying his conscience wouldn’t allow him to sidestep the state constitution’s then-lines of succession.

But he’s spent the past two years focusing on the job’s role overseeing the Office on Aging, saying his new mission was to help the state’s growing population of seniors live independently while offering reforms that saved the state money.

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CORRECTIONS: If you see a statement in error, contact the City Desk. Corrections will appear on this page.

LOCAL

TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014

ELEY from Page A1 the same as just another day on the job,� Eley said. “In the back of your head, you think that maybe someday you would be able to help somebody, but this situation I never thought of before.�

Sumter Police Chief Russell Roark said Eley’s actions, diving into frigid water without a second thought in order to save a civilian, were nothing short of the definition of heroism and that his actions “really demonstrate what officers do each and every day.� “We always as a society want to define a hero,� Roark said. “I would submit that anyone that would come to a pond in the middle of the night in the winter time, see an individual in a car drowning, remove any equipment

they have on and dive into the water to pull him out and save him is certainly a definition we should be able to use.�

Eley said his decision to become a police officer was out of his own desire to help people. “When I was in college, I was unsure what I wanted to study,� Eley said. “Criminal justice, the teachers and the professors just inspired the desire.�

While on routine patrol along West Liberty Street about 10:30 p.m. Friday, Eley observed several cars stopped on the side of the road with their hazard lights flashing. The officer pulled over to see a vehicle floating several yards into the pond and called for backup. “When I could hear officers responding that they were coming, the vehicle began to sink more quickly,

COLD SNAP from Page A1 “because those can be the worst for us to fight.�

Kerosene heaters also need to be cleaned out to ensure no excess material inside the heater can catch fire, and their filters need to be changed each year. To avoid catching anything on fire, space heaters should be placed in a central location with 3 to 5 feet of clear space around them, but they should also be somewhere “kids won’t bump into them,� Rose said. “Anytime a siren goes off between 3 and 7 p.m., that’s when our hearts stop, because that’s when kids are home by themselves, and that’s when you see things happen,� he said.

As an added step toward fire safety, the fire department provides free installation of smoke

detectors. But if a fire does start, residents should always get out of the house rather than try to fight the fire themselves.

Another danger when temperatures drop is burst pipes when tap water freezes. Assistant Sumter City Manager Al Harris, who oversees the utility department, recommends that any exposed pipes on the outside of a home be wrapped to keep them warm. Most hardware stores sell specialized material to cover pipes, but any kind of covering can help. “You can use newspapers and tape it to hold it in place,� Harris said.

Taps can also be left running — not just dripping, but running a steady stream — to keep the water running

THE ITEM

and I decided that I needed to take some type of action,� Eley said. “When I knew that a Navy reserve officer responded, when I jumped in, I knew that he was going to arrive and help me out.�

Acting on instinct and from what he learned from training at Criminal Justice Academy, Eley removed his duty vest, belt and boots and dove into the freezing water to retrieve the driver of the vehicle, a task that surprisingly wasn’t as difficult as Eley expected. “From movies, you really think that the car door was going to be really hard to open since it was underwater, but it opened right up,� Eley said.

Cimpean was able to tell the officer that no one else was in the vehicle as Eley retrieved him but was unresponsive as Eley brought him to shore.

SOME SCHOOLS DELAYED Laurence Manning Academy will operate on a two-hour delay today.

Students in Clarendon School District 1 will have a one-hour delay today and Wednesday. Employees are expected at the normal time.

Clarendon School District 2 will be delayed until 9 a.m. today.

Students wanting breakfast need to report at 8:30 a.m. Teachers need to report at the regular time.

Sumter School District and Lee County School District will begin school at the regular time.

through the pipes. If the water isn’t stationary inside the pipe, it’s harder for it to freeze. “Sometimes it’s better

to pay a little bit more on your water bill, which won’t be very much anyway, than it is to call a plumber after they

Both Eley and Cimpean were treated at Tuomey Regional Medical Center after the rescue. However, Cimpean was uncooperative with police and hospital staff and was discharged after continuing to be belligerent with staff and removing equipment.

After officers noticed a strong odor of alcohol from Cimpean, he was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, for which he was released on bond Saturday morning. Eley was not involved in the arrest. Cimpean has not attempted to contact Eley to thank him for saving his life.

As of Monday, the car that Cimpean drove still lies at the bottom of Second Mill Pond. Roark was unsure when attempts to recover the vehicle will occur.

Reach Tyler Simpson at (803) 7741295.

freeze,� Harris said.

In addition to keeping human beings warm, pets and animals also have to be kept cozy during a cold snap. “The No. 1 thing, if at all possible, is to bring them inside,� said Sumter Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals manager Cindy Cook. “Or at least inside a closed garage or space that can be heated.�

Dogs and cats should have some kind of shelter from the wind, and

many pet shops even sell special heating pads to warm the interior of doghouses. Bowls also need to be checked so drinking water doesn’t freeze.

Others are doing their part to weather the temperature drop. Transportation officials were prepping Monday to keep roadways open during the deep freeze, and many schools will operate on delayed schedules today.

Reach Bristow Marchant at (803) 774-1272.

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THE ITEM

TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014

Growing number of seniors caring for other seniors

BY MATT SEDENSKY The Associated Press NOBLESVILLE, Ind.— Paul Gregoline lies in bed, awaiting the helper who will get him up, bathed and groomed. He is 92 years old, has Alzheimer’s disease and needs a hand with nearly every task the day brings. When the aide arrives, though, he doesn’t look so different from the client himself — bald and bespectacled. “Just a couple of old geezers,� jokes Warren Manchess, the 74-yearold caregiver.

As demand for senior services provided by nurses’ aides, home health aides and other such workers grows with the aging of baby boomers, so are those professions’ employment of other seniors.

The new face of America’s network of caregivers is increasingly wrinkled.

Among the overall population of directcare workers, 29 percent are projected to be 55 or older by 2018, up from 22 percent a decade earlier, according to an analysis by the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute, or PHI, a New York-based nonprofit advocating for workers caring for the country’s elderly and disabled. In some segments of the workforce, including personal and home care aides, those 55 and older are the largest single age demographic. “I think people are surprised that this workforce is as old as it is,� said Abby Marquand, a researcher at PHI. “There’s often people who have chronic disease themselves who have to muster up the energy to perform these really physically taxing caregiving needs.�

Manchess came out of retirement to work for Home Instead Senior Care after caring for his mother-in-law, who, too, had Alzheimer’s and whom he regarded as his hero. The experience, though taxing, inspired his new career.

Three days a week, he arrives at Gregoline’s house, giving the retired electrician’s wife a needed break. He carefully shaves and dresses his client, prepares breakfast and lunch, cleans the house and quickly remedies any accidents. He does the laundry and swaddles Gregoline in a warm towel from the dryer, reads him the sports page to keep him updated on his beloved Bears and sometimes pulls out dominoes or puzzles to pass the time.

Gregoline is rather sedate this afternoon, relaxing in his favorite chair while occasionally offering glimpses of his trademark wit. Asked if he remembered anything about the Army, he says: “It was a bitch!�

Offered the chance to go outside, he responds: “No! I’ll freeze my ass off out there!� Describing an abrasive person-

ality of long ago, he offers: “He followed me around like a bad conscience.�

Manchess has worked for Gregoline for about a year, and the men are at ease around each other. Past aides to Gregoline have been in their 20s, but Manchess says he thinks his age is an asset. “Age can be an advantage,� he said, pointing to the common conversation points and life experience, including his own health troubles

Caregiver Warren Manchess, 74, washes 92-year-old Paul Gregoline in Noblesville, Ind., on Nov. 27. More and more seniors are serving as home health aides as demand for senior services grows.

AP FILE PHOTO

and aches and pains that can come with age. “We hit it off pretty well.

Maybe I didn’t seem to be too much out of the ordinary.�

Across the country, senior service agencies are seeing a burgeoning share of older workers.

About one-third of Home Instead’s 65,000 caregivers are over 60.

Visiting Angels, another in-home care provider, says about 30 percent of its workers are over 50.

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BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH Sawyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s back! Josh Holloway (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lostâ&#x20AC;?) returns in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Intelligenceâ&#x20AC;? (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14), starring as Gabriel, a Navy SEAL implanted with a supercomputer chip. The plot is as original and preposterous (and occasionally fun) as â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Six Million Dollar Manâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;Knight Rider.â&#x20AC;?

The fetching Meghan Ory (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Once Upon a Timeâ&#x20AC;?) portrays Secret Service agent Riley Neal, assigned to be Gabrielâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s minder and sidekick. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s supposed to keep him out of trouble and from going on freelance missions to find his long-missing wife, but sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s soon game for anything his super noggin can visualize.

Gabriel has the ability to assemble a three-dimensional crime blotter and â&#x20AC;&#x153;walkâ&#x20AC;? through it as he assesses evidence. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also adept at â&#x20AC;&#x153;seeingâ&#x20AC;? satellite intelligence and drone surveillance in his mindâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eye.

The special effects are undercut by comic book dialogue. Intelligence director Lil-

lian Strand (Marg Helgenberger) has few lines that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem wooden. In an odd touch, both she and Riley affect a rather awkward walk, as if to remind us that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in a land where the line between people and robots has become indistinguishable. â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;&#x153;Killer Womenâ&#x20AC;? (10 p.m., ABC, TV-14) didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exactly invent the combination of shapely, underdressed women and gun violence. But it blends them in ways that are both banal and disturbing. In the very early going, the camera lingers admiringly at a miniskirted womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legs and derriere. Then we follow her into a church where a wedding is in progress. But instead of stealing away with the groom, she whips out a gun and assassinates the bride on the altar.

This is clearly a case for Texas Ranger Molly Parker (Tricia Helfer). Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s almost as bodacious as the bride-killer, and twice as persistent. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s soon seen driving an SUV at top speed in a musical montage fit to accompany a com-

mercial for pickup trucks or beer.

Mollyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s way too sassy for mere cops and pure honey to those agents who are man enough for her rootinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;-tootinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ways. At best, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Killerâ&#x20AC;? does a nice job evoking the street culture of parts of Texas where the physical and cultural border between Mexico and the United States has become a mere abstraction.

Tonightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Other Season and Series Premieres â&#x20AC;˘ Laurie and Travis spark discomfort on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cougar Townâ&#x20AC;?

(10 p.m., TBS, TV-14). â&#x20AC;˘ Raylan looks for evidence in the Florida swamps on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Justifiedâ&#x20AC;? (10 p.m., FX, TV-MA). â&#x20AC;˘ Chicago up-and-comers embrace warm weather on â&#x20AC;&#x153;100 Days of Summerâ&#x20AC;? (10 p.m., Bravo). â&#x20AC;˘ A mother of six wants a new life on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Escaping the Prophetâ&#x20AC;? (10 p.m., TLC, TV14). â&#x20AC;˘ Job insecurity abounds on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Being Mary Janeâ&#x20AC;? (10 p.m., BET, TV-14).

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The Regional Transit Council will meet 10-11 a.m.

Thursday, Jan. 9, at the Santee-Lynches Council of Governments building, 36 W. Liberty St. The meeting is open to all interested individuals, businesses, agencies, and organizations.

The Sumter Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind will hold its 2014 membership meeting at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 14, at Shiloh-Randolph Manor, 125 W. Bartlette St. Associate member Judy L. Simon will accept annual membership dues. Martha Gaither, of Blind Awareness, will speak. Transportation provided within the mileage radius.

Contact Debra Canty at (803) 775-5792 or DebraCanC2@frontier.com. Call the 24hour recorded message line at (206) 3765992.

8 PM

A5

Storage Wars Storage Wars Storage Wars Storage Wars Storage Wars Storage Wars Shipping Wars Shipping Wars (:01) Shipping (:31) Shipping (:01) Storage (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) Texas (N) (HD) Texas (N) (HD) (N) (HD) (N) (HD) Wars (HD) Wars (HD) Wars (HD) (5:30) Twister (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;96, Drama) aac Braveheart (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;95, Drama) aaac Mel Gibson. A simple farmer manages to become a legendary hero as he mounts a grassroots resistance against (:01) Reign of Fire Helen Hunt. Storm chasers. (HD) Englandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tyrannical occupation of Scotland. (HD) (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;02) aa (HD) Wild Russia: Primorye (HD) Wild Russia: Caucasus (HD) Africa: Congo Fight to live.

Africa: Cape Ocean currents.

Wild Russia: Caucasus (HD) Africa: Congo (6:00) 106 & Park Top 10 videos se- Being Mary Jane (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;13, Drama) aaa Gabrielle Union. A television news Being Mary Jane: Storm Advisory Being Mary Jane: Storm Advisory Wendy Williams lected by the viewers. (N) (HD) anchor attempts to maintain balance in her life.

Anchor fired. (N) Anchor fired.

Show (N) The Real Housewives of Beverly The Real Housewives of Atlanta: A Shahs of Sunset: Sometimes You 100 Days of Summer: Ship-Faced What Happens Shahs of Sunset: Sometimes You Hills: Catfight on the Catwalk Trip Down Memory Lane Just Have to Drink It Off (N) Sailing on the lake. (N) (N) Just Have to Drink It Off The Kudlow Report (N) Shark Tank (HD) Shark Tank Feline fever. (HD) The Profit: Mr. Green Tea Mad Money Investing advice.

Greed Erin Burnett OutFront (N) Anderson Cooper 360° (N) (HD) Piers Morgan LIVE (N) (HD) Anderson Cooper 360° Later Erin Burnett OutFront P. Morgan The Colbert Re- Daily Show Oscar Kroll Show Yo- Tosh.0 (HD) Tosh.0 Web re- Tosh.0 Peter Pan Tosh.0 (HD) Kroll Show (HD) Daily Show (N) The Colbert Re- (:01) Tosh.0 (HD) port (HD) Isaac. (HD) gurt water. (HD) flection. (HD) girls. (HD) (HD) port (N) (HD) Good Luck Char- Dog with a Blog: Jessie Homework Geek Charming (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;11, Comedy) aa Sarah Hyland. Pop- Mickey Mouse: Good Luck Char- Austin & Ally A.N.T. Farm Lost Good Luck Charlie (HD) Too Short wager. (HD) ular girl stars in documentary.

Potatoland lie (HD) (HD) phone. (HD) lie (HD) Moonshiners (HD) Moonshiners (N) Moonshiners (N) (HD) Moonshiners (N) (HD) Moonshiners (HD) Moonshiner College Basketball: Tennessee Volunteers at LSU Tigers (HD) College Basketball: Ohio State vs Michigan State z{| (HD) SportsCenter (HD) SportsCenter College Basketball: Baylor Bears at Iowa State Cyclones (HD) NBA Coast to Coast (HD) Olbermann (HD) Olbermann Pretty Little Liars: Grave New World Pretty Little Liars: Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s In the Box? Ravenswood: Revival Mirandaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tar- Pretty Little Liars: Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s In the Box? The 700 Club Ravenswood: ReGirls seek Ali. (HD) Girl is still alive. (N) (HD) get has ghostly friend. (N) (HD) Girl is still alive. (HD) vival (HD) Chopped Australian items. (HD) Chopped: Heads Up! (HD) Chopped: Mochi Obliged (HD) Chopped: Waste Not (HD) Diners (HD) Diners (HD) Chopped (HD) On the Record with Greta (N) The Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Reilly Factor (N) (HD) The Kelly File News updates.

Hannity Conservative news. (HD) The Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Reilly Factor (HD) The Kelly File NHL Hockey: Carolina Hurricanes at Buffalo Sabres from First Niagara Center (HD) Postgame UFC Unleashed (HD) World Poker Tour no} (HD) NHL Hockey The Good Wife: Bang Peter works on The Good Wife: Fleas Peter The Good Wife: Heart Insurance re- Frasier: Motor Frasier Bad act- Frasier: Sliding Frasier: Hungry Gold Girl Nun fun. a comeback strategy. (HD) strategizes over his trial. (HD) fuses life-saving surgery. (HD) Skills ing.

Frasier Heart Property (HD) Property (HD) Property (HD) Property (HD) Property (N) Property (N) Hunters (N) Now? (N) House (N) House (N) Property (HD) Counting (HD) Counting (HD) Counting (HD) Counting (HD) Counting (N) Counting (N) American (N) American (N) American (HD) American (HD) Counting (HD) Criminal Minds: Carbon Copy Flashpoint: Business as Usual Mort- Flashpoint: The Criminal Minds: Mayhem Terrorist Criminal Minds: Magnum Opus Per- Criminal Minds: Broken Victims gage CEO. (HD) Fortress (HD) sonal loss. (HD) linked by their watches. (HD) Closing in. (HD) bombing hits the BAU. (HD) Dance Moms: Guess Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Coming Dance Moms: Welcome Back...Now Dance Moms: Two Can Play This Kim of Queens: Preacherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Daughter (:01) Kim of Queens: Hillbilly in Heels Dance Moms to the Dance? Updates. (HD) Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Get Too Comfy (HD) Game Candy Apples. (N) (HD) Disapproving. (N) (HD) Ill-mannered client. (HD) New talent. (HD) Sam & Cat Witch Way (N) Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Friends (:33) Friends (:06) Friends (6:00) Ghost Rider (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;07, Action) aa Nicolas Cage.

The Expendables (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;10, Action) aac Sylvester Stallone. Elite mercenaries. (HD) A Man Apart (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;03, Action) aac Vin Diesel. (HD) (6:30) Stargate (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;94, Science Fiction) aaa Kurt Russell. A language ex- G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;09, Action) aac Channing Tatum. An elite, clandestine military Repo Men (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;10, Science Fiction) pert helps the military open a portal that leads to other worlds. unit battles a supervillainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s forces. (HD) aac Jude Law. (HD) Seinfeld (HD) Family Guy (HD) The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang Cougar Town (N) The Big Bang Conan (N) (HD) Cougar Town Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) (HD) Theory (HD) (HD) (6:00) From Here to Eternity (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;53, On the Waterfront (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;54, Crime) aaac Marlon Brando. A dockworker is The Way We Were (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;73, Romance) aaa Barbra Streisand. An activist Gandhi (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;82) Sir Romance) aaac Burt Lancaster. asked to testify after a friend falls victim to corruption. loves a man who canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t put their political differences aside.

Ben Kingsley.

My 600-lb Life (HD) My 600-lb Life Challenges. (HD) My 600-lb Life (N) (HD) Escaping The Prophet (N) (HD) My 600-lb Life (HD) Escaping (HD) Castle: Significant Others Powerful Castle: The Final Frontier Body at a Bostonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Finest: An Officerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Com- Marshal Law: Texas: Club Killer Bostonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Finest: An Officerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Com- Marshal Law: mitment to the End (HD) Texas (HD) mitment to the End (N) (HD) Nightclub shooting. (N) (HD) attorney murdered. (HD) sci-fi convention. (HD) Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn (N) Pawn Pawn Pawn (:01) Storage (:31) Storage (:02) Pawn Griffith (HD) Griffith (HD) Griffith (HD) (:48) Loves Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Kirstie (HD) The Exes (HD) Queens (HD) Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Law & Order: Svengali (HD) Streetwise (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) SVU (HD) Law & Order: Virtue (HD) Law & Order: Cherished (HD) Law & Order: DWB (HD) Law & Order: Bait (HD) CSI: Miami: Flight Risk (HD) Law (HD) Funniest Home Videos (HD) NBA Basketball: Phoenix Suns at Chicago Bulls from United Center z{| (HD) News (HD) How I Met Rules (HD) Rules (HD)

Diabetes Support Group will meet 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 8, Carolina Diabetes and Kidney Center, 635 W. Wesmark Blvd., in the downstairs education room. Dr. Tepsiri Chongkrairatanakul will speak.

The Mary McLeod Bethune Branch of the National Council of Negro Women will meet at 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10, at Morris College, North Main Street.

7:30

WIS News 10 at Entertainment The Biggest Loser 15: Second Chances Chance to re-enter the competi- Chicago Fire: Shoved in My Face Lt. 7:00pm Local Tonight (N) (HD) tion; kettle bells on the beach. (N) (HD) Casey returns to Firehouse 51. (N) news update.

(HD) News 19 @ 7pm Inside Edition (N) NCIS: Kill Chain The team must track Intelligence: Pilot An intelligence (:01) Person of Interest: Aletheia Evening news up- (HD) down an unmanned drone stolen by a agent has a microchip implanted in Protecting a dying man without date. terrorist. (N) (HD) Reese. (N) (HD) his brain. (N) (HD) Wheel of Fortune Jeopardy! (N) Marvelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: The The Goldbergs: (:31) Trophy Wife: Killer Women: La Sicaria Assistant (N) (HD) (HD) Magical Place (N) (HD) Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Under Foot The Big 5-0 (N) District Attorney is killed. (N) (HD) (N) (HD) (HD) Making It Grow (N) American Experience: Poisonerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Handbook The development in forensic Frontline: To Catch a Trader Insider chemistry & its impact on crime in the 20th century. (N) (HD) trading scandal examined. (N) (HD)

Jordan Crossroads Ministry Center â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Haven of Rest will hold a public meeting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8, at New Covenant Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall. Parking is available in the parking area nearest the entrance to the fellowship hall. Call Ann Driggers at (803) 3098085.

The Sumter Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, in the Bultman Conference Room of the University of South Carolina Sumter. All administrative professionals are invited.

7 PM

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Tonightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Other Highlights â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;&#x153;American Experienceâ&#x20AC;?

(8 p.m., PBS, check local listings) presents â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Poisonerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Handbook,â&#x20AC;? a look at the development of forensic chemistry in police departments in the early 20th century. â&#x20AC;˘ Coulsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s insight comes at a price on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Marvelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.â&#x20AC;? (8 p.m., ABC, TVPG). â&#x20AC;˘ Grave concerns on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pretty Little Liarsâ&#x20AC;? (8 p.m., ABC Family, TV-14). â&#x20AC;˘ Jakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tip on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Brooklyn Nine-Nineâ&#x20AC;? (8:30 p.m., Fox, TV-14). â&#x20AC;˘ Remyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dark dream on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ravenswoodâ&#x20AC;? (9 p.m., ABC Family, TV-14). â&#x20AC;˘ A dying man becomes a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Person of Interestâ&#x20AC;? (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14). â&#x20AC;˘ Casey returns on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chicago Fireâ&#x20AC;? (10 p.m., NBC, TV14).

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Polar vortexâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; pushes frigid air across U.S. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The coldest, most dangerous blast of polar air in decades gripped the Midwest and pushed toward the East and South on Monday, closing schools and day-care centers, grounding flights and forcing people to pull their hoods and scarves tight to protect exposed skin from nearly instant frostbite.

Many across the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s midsection went into virtual hibernation, while others dared to venture

out in temperatures that plunged well below zero. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to try to make it two blocks without turning into crying man,â&#x20AC;? said Brooks Grace, who was bundling up to do some banking and shopping in downtown Minneapolis, where temperatures reached 20 below, with wind chills of minus 50. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not cold â&#x20AC;&#x201D; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s painful.â&#x20AC;?

The mercury also dropped into negative territory in Milwaukee, St. Louis and Chicago, which set a record for the date at minus 16.

Wind chills across the region were 40 below

and colder. Records also fell in Oklahoma and Texas.

Forecasters said some 187 million people in all could feel the effects of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;polar vortexâ&#x20AC;? by the time it spread across the country on Monday night and today.

Record lows were possible in the East and South, with highs in the single digits expected today in Georgia and Alabama.

Below-zero wind chills were forecast up and down the coast, including minus 10 in Atlanta and minus 12 in Baltimore.

Lee Tuttle, 66, takes a break from blowing snow off his driveway on Sunday in Flint, Mich. He said he hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really noticed the icicles forming in his beard.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

5 things to know about the record-breaking freeze CHICAGO (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Much of the country grappled Monday with a historic freeze that shuttered schools and businesses at the start of the first full work week of 2014.

Here are five things to know about the deep freeze.

1. COLD OUTSIDE? YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE NOT ALONE

Nearly 187 million people, more than half of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population, were under a wind-chill warning or advisory Monday.

The winds made it feel like 55 below zero in International Falls, Minn., and parts of the Midwest accustomed to temperatures that are cold â&#x20AC;&#x201D; albeit seldom this cold.

But even in the coal fields of Virginia and West Virginia, the wind chill was negative 35.

The coldest temperature reported in a 24hour period through Monday was -36 degrees at Crane Lake, Minn. The warmest: 84 at Hollywood and Punta Gorda, Fla. 2. FLY AWAY FROM THE WEATHER? THINK AGAIN

Nearly 3,200 flights â&#x20AC;&#x201D; one out of every 10 domestic departures â&#x20AC;&#x201D; were canceled Monday morning, following a weekend of travel disruption across the country. The bulk of those cancellations were in Chicago, Cleveland, New York and Boston.

With wind chills as low as 45 below zero at some airports, workers could only remain exposed on the ramp for a few minutes. That made loading and unloading luggage a challenge.

American Airlines said temperatures are so cold at Chicagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Hare International Airport that fuel and de-icing liquids were actually frozen.

Passengers reported long lines at airports as they tried to rebook on other flights. United Airlines had so many phone calls that it was suggesting travelers use its website to rebook.

3. GROUND TRAVEL DISRUPTED, TOO

Planes werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the only form of mass trans-

portation disrupted by the historic freeze.

Officials with Chicagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commuter rail, Metra, said there were multiple wrecks, including one in which 14 passengers reported injuries â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and six were taken to the hospital with minor injuries â&#x20AC;&#x201D; after a train hit a â&#x20AC;&#x153;bumping postâ&#x20AC;? at a downtown station.

Weather-related engine problems forced an Amtrak train carrying 200 passengers to stop for more than 8½ hours in southwestern Michigan before arriving early Monday in Chicago.

And the Southern Illinois menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball team spent the night on a church floor in central Illinois after their bus got stuck in a snowdrift on Interstate 57 following Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s loss at Illinois State.

Utility officials cautioned some people could be in the cold and dark until Thursday.

The city of Indianapolis evacuated more than 400 residents without heat or power, said Marc Lotter, a spokesman for Mayor Greg Ballard. Many found

4. STORM LEAVES THOUSANDS IN THE DARK

JAMES THORNE 803-905-1911

temporary comfort at warming centers set up across the city, while those needing longterm shelter were sent to the American Red Cross.

5. HEIGHTENED FEARS OF FROSTBITE, HYPOTHERMIA

In Chicago, hospital

emergency rooms treated patients with frostbite, weather-related asthma and head injuries from falls on ice.

Cook Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health system encouraged patients to reschedule

their non-emergency appointments. Cook Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stroger Hospitals treated one homeless man with frostbite, said health system spokeswoman Marisa Kollias.

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OPINION

TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014

THE ITEM

A7

To submit a letter to the editor, e-mail letters@theitem.com

To submit a letter to the editor, e-mail letters@theitem.com COMMENTARY

|

There they go again

W

ASHINGTON — If you happen to be one of those who enjoy politics as a blood sport, 2014’s midterm election promises to be a carnival of gore.

And that’s just in the Republican Party.

Democrats must be giddy.

After ending 2013 with tails tucked, thanks to a series of errors, blunders, glitches and misstatements of true-ish-ness, Democrats were poised to lose control of the Senate. Instead, tea party Republicans seem bent on helping Democrats win.

The formula is familiar by Kathleen now: RePARKER publicans who aren’t conservative enough, meaning they might deign to work with Democrats, are targets for primary challenges by folks who often couldn’t win a staring contest much less a statewide election.

One need think back only to Delaware’s Christine O’Donnell, who is not a witch (because she said so) and who in 2010 defeated the primary favorite, then-Rep. Mike Castle, and handed the Senate seat to Democrat Chris Coons, a relatively unknown county executive.

This isn’t to say tea party candidates can’t succeed because, obviously, they do. Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah come to mind. And then there are the 20 or so House members who, applying the brakes to any tactic considered winnable, cover their ears whenever Speaker John Boehner speaks and sing “La-la-la-la-la-la ... we can’t hear you!”

This year presents a rare, and some would say undeserved, opportunity for Republicans. It is a make-orbreak moment in the crucial debate about where this country is heading and who is going to lead it. Let’s just say, the fat lady is tuning up.

Thus far, 21 Democratic and 14 Republican seats are on the ballots. Of those GOP seats, 12 are being defended by incumbents and two are wide open.

Republicans have a betterthan-good chance of grabbing seven new seats, more than enough to end the Democratic majority, including three that have been held by soon-to-retire Democrats — Montana’s Max Baucus, West Virginia’s Jay Rockefeller and South Dakota’s Tim Johnson.

Republican efforts to secure those seats have been well underway as GOP leadership has reached out to recruit and train candidates with debate, technology and media preparation. What smart Republicans are aiming for are candidates who can win both a primary and a gen-

eral election, actual human beings who can appeal to a wide swath of the electorate, not just the purityproof hard-liners on the right.

Three who fit that category are West Virginia’s Shelley Moore Capito, who has served in the House since 2001; North Carolina’s Thom Tillis, currently his state’s speaker of the House; and Montana’s Steve Daines, a congressman who bridges the gap between far right and right.

Adding to Republican momentum is the fact that incumbent Democrats who won in 2008 — a pretty good year for Democrats — may have shorter coattails to clutch this go-round, depending on how the Affordable Care Act fares this year.

But recruiting and training good candidates may not be enough for a Republican Party still dogged by the purity plank. Tea party organizers have vowed to take on moremainstream candidates, including seven of the 12 Republican incumbents. If a Republican failed to support Cruz’s procedural motion to defund Obamacare (beware John Cornyn), it’s outsville.

Capito could be Exhibit A when it comes to a winning candidate undermined by her own party.

First, she’s from a state where President Obama isn’t very popular and she has won re-election handily to serve a total of seven terms. She is a strong advocate for the coal industry and should have no trouble securing her party’s nomination. She is also favored to win the general election against Secretary of State Natalie Tennant.

Except. Guess who doesn’t like Capito?

The conservative Club for Growth and the Republican Liberty Caucus, which calls itself the “conscience of the Republican Party.” Last August, a “Too Liberal for West Virginia” campaign was launched against Capito because, among other things, she is pro-choice and voted to raise the debt ceiling. In her stead, the RLC is supporting Republican Pat McGeehan, who served in state House of Delegates from 2008 to 2010 but has lost two state Senate election bids.

Despite having tailwinds at their back, Republicans stand to lose to proud purists while Democrats, feet up, admire the shine on their shoes. To put it kindly, pride in LOSING does little to contradict Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s observation that the GOP needs to “stop being the stupid party.”

Wonder what the fat lady will sing?

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Baten needs to take off rose-colored glasses Mr. Baten, I see that you did not make a New Year’s resolution to live in the current life. I “assume” you mean fake history being very kind to Mr. Obama. Actual/ real history will not be kind to the first black president who is a miserable failure. I think it might be time for you to take the rose-colored glasses off and view the real world, not the one you wish would happen. I had high hopes for the first black president. However, it did not take long for Mr. Obama to prove his incompetency and disdain for our country and constitution. Most unfortunate.

DAVID LePAGE Sumter

Education in lieu of jail time ludicrous In response to Mr. Ferdinand Burns’ Letter to the Editor published on Thursday, Jan. 2, in regards to giving criminals an education in lieu of jail time, I can only consider the possibility that he has completely lost his mind.

That would be a great message to send to someone intending to commit a crime.

Break the law and get rewarded with a free education.

To offer criminals a free education in lieu of prison time is the most ludicrous thing I have ever heard proposed by anyone. It is foolish to think we can teach society right from wrong by rewarding someone for committing a crime.

Let’s see, how would that idea work? Shoplifting or other smaller offenses could get you an associate degree, a more serious offense would get you a bachelor’s degree, etc. Wow, you could work your way all the way up to a doctorate with mass murder.

All of this would be at the expense of the taxpayer, of course.

I do totally agree with one statement in his letter; unfortunately it was not made by him, but quoted from James Clingman, NNPA columnist, when Clingman spoke of how black people could avoid prison by boycotting them.

He quoted Clingman as saying, “How do we boycott prisons? Just refrain from doing some of the stupid things we do that result in prison time.”

In short, don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time — period.

As far as prison being a “for-profit industry,” as he stated, I simply don’t see that. I seriously think Mr. Burns should consider seeking some type of counseling and professional help.

JOE E. MOORE Jr. Dalzell

Lack of common sense, bad memory exhibited I just opened the first newspaper of the year. Lo and behold there are two letters to the editor by the two of three men that I promised myself that I would not respond to anymore.

One has bad memory for what has happened the last five years but seems to have no problem remembering what happened before that.

How sad that this man wants to praise his leader so much that he has ears but cannot hear and eyes but refuses to see the truth? His leader owns the title of the No. 1 lie of the year. I must say that you have learned his ways and are his good follower. It is sad that a leader in his community thinks that others are so unaware that he must periodically tell them what to think in hopes that they will continue to believe him.

It is even more sad that some will believe him.

I must take issue with Sammy Way’s article on the Wateree River Bridge.

He makes reference to two of the owners of the ferry over the swamp, but leaves out the most prominent and obvious one.

Perhaps Mr. Way is not aware of why the highway is now known as Garners Ferry Road.

RICHARD SANDERS Rembert

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

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR are written by readers of the newspaper. They should be no more than 350 words and sent via email to letters@theitem.com, dropped off at The Item office, 20 N. Magnolia St. or mailed to The Item, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, S.C. 29151, along with the full name of the writer, plus an address and telephone number for verification purposes only. Letters that exceed 350 words will be cut accordingly in the print edition, but available in their entirety online at http://www.theitem.com/ opinion/letters_to_editor.

© 2014, Washington Post Writers Group

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

Wateree River Bridge article lacks reference

EDITORIALS represent the views of the owners of this newspaper.

Kathleen Parker’s email address is kathleenparker@ washpost.com.

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

The other one also has a need to periodically say things that make no sense to those who can still think for themselves. He quotes James Clingman, NNPA columnist about boycotting prisons.

“How do we boycott prisons? Just refrain from doing some of the stupid things we do that result in prison time.” That makes so much sense to me.

However, our local leader replies by saying, “We know that it is not that simple because prison has now become a for-profit industry.” I know that you won’t answer this question, but are you implying that the justice system goes and rounds up people to put in jail so policemen, lawyers, judges and jail personal will have a job?

Now if you think that is bad, how about paying for people in jail to get a college education. Why wait for college when those children should be getting an education in our public education system?

You are the one who likes to let people know that we can predict the population of our jails by the children who can’t read by the time they are in third grade. Why don’t you spend your time telling first- and secondgraders to get an education?

JACQUELINE K. HUGHES Sumter

EDITORIAL PAGE POLICIES

Founded October 15, 1894 20 N. Magnolia St. Sumter, SC 29150

|

H.D. OSTEEN 1904-1987 The Item

HUBERT D. OSTEEN JR. | EDITOR AND CHAIRMAN MARGARET W. OSTEEN 1908-1996 The Item

H. GRAHAM OSTEEN II Co-President

KYLE BROWN OSTEEN Co-President

JOHN DUVALL OSTEEN Vice President and Publisher

LARRY MILLER CEO

A8

DAILY PLANNER

THE ITEM

OLSEN from Page A1 Olsen joined the Air Force in 1957 after graduating from Texas A&M and was twice stationed at Shaw, in between deployments to Europe and Asia. He retired from the Sumter air base in 1991 after overseeing allied air operations in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War. Upon his retirement from the service, Olsen became the first director of the Sumter Base Defense Committee, where he coordinated relations between the Sumter community and Shaw and led the area through four rounds of federal base closures between 1991 and 2005.

“I can’t count the number of doors Tom Olsen opened,” said Steve Creech, who was mayor at the time Olsen was hired and later served with him on the S.C. Military Task Force on base closures. “He knew the base from the inside, but he could say everything in a way civilians could understand.”

Maj. Gen. William “Dutch” Holland led the Ninth Air Force during Olsen’s time with the city and succeeded him after 17 years in the director’s post.

“Not only did Shaw not decrease, much less close down, it actually grew thanks to his leadership in the community and the state,” Holland said.

Olsen found time to serve in several other community groups.

Starting in 1995, he also served as the founding chairman of the Tuomey Foundation, the charitable arm of the regional hospital system, and

helmed the foundation’s board right up until his death, helping the Tuomey Foundation raise an estimated $13 million under his chairmanship.

“He was just the kind to volunteer to help other people,” Faw said.

“He was the best servant-leader I’ve ever seen. Instead of barking orders, he would always say ‘what can I do to help?’”

That’s how his wife remembers him as well.

“He was a big teddy bear,” she said. “His heart led the way, and he was loved because he was gentle and kind and never said an unkind word to anybody.”

As well as his wife and stepchildren, Mason and Mary Geddings, Olsen is survived by two adult children from his first marriage, Richard Olsen and Lisa Wesolick, who both reside in South Dakota.

“I was fortunate.

Some people don’t have one good father, and I had two amazing fathers,” Mary Geddings said. “He told everybody he met his daughter was in nursing school and how proud he was of what I was doing.”

If his daughter’s career path didn’t ensure Olsen’s legacy would live on, Faw said he wants to see the late chairman memorialized by the foundation.

“His dream was to see Tuomey build a hospice,” he said. “My regret is he didn’t live to see it, but we’re going to make his dream come true, and it’ll have his name on there somewhere.”

— Bristow Marchant

FIRESIDE from Page A1 copies of late bills.

This year’s Fireside Fund is dedicated to the late Glen Sharp, one of Sumter’s greatest philanthropists and businessmen. Recently, his immediate family gave a gift of $15,000 to the fund.

If you need assistance, please try to make an appointment and call for a list of documentation needed.

Families needing assistance should call The Salvation Army at (803) 775-9336. Donations can be mailed to The Item, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, SC 29151 or dropped off at 20 N. Magnolia St. Names, including groups, should be spelled completely. When making a donation in someone’s honor or memory, please include a full name.

Names will be printed as given.

Contributions received as of Monday include: To the Glory of God from Julie & David Ardis, $150; Young at Heart Group at First Church of God, $150; Linda & Bert Montague, $500; James &

Frances McIntosh, $100; In memory of Michael W. Baird, Jr. by Woody & Renee Baird, $100; Linda Hannibal-Wheat, $100; Men’s Bible Class at Graham Baptist Church, $100; In memory of Mary Frances Small by Carlisle & Johnnie Livingston, $100; Trinity Methodist Church, UMW, $100; Alice Andrews/Michaux Bible Class at Bethel United Methodist Church, $210; Woody & Jean Mills, $25.00; Joseph & Mary Krumpotich, $100; Salem Presbyterian Church, $402.25; In memory of Frank & Lucinda Bostick by Daniel & Deborah Shelley, $100; In memory of R. Glen Sharp & DR. Lea B. Givens by Dr. & Mrs. Wendell Levi, $200; Joanne Mcintosh, $50.

Total Combined Anonymous, $100.

Total This Week: $2,587.25 Total This Year: $45,950.44 Total Last Year: $41,221.57 Total Since 1969: $1,367,234.46

PUBLIC AGENDA

TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014

QUIZ 795-4257

TODAY

TONIGHT

30°

WEDNESDAY 43°

THURSDAY 48°

25° Cold

Mostly sunny and not as cold

Winds: NW 4-8 mph

Winds: VAR 2-4 mph

Chance of rain: 5%

Chance of rain: 5%

Winds: VAR 2-4 mph

Winds: NE 6-12 mph

Winds: NNE 4-8 mph

Winds: SSW 6-12 mph

Chance of rain: 10%

Chance of rain: 30%

Chance of rain: 30%

Chance of rain: 75%

Greenville 28/11

Full 7 a.m. 24-hr pool yest. chg 360 354.00 +0.19 76.8 75.23 +0.06 75.5 73.28 +0.24 100 94.74 -0.09

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

Full pool 12 19 14 14 80 24

Today Hi/Lo/W 29/10/s 18/5/s 26/13/s 30/9/s 34/18/pc 27/20/s 34/16/pc 26/9/s 29/14/s 30/11/s

7 a.m. yest.

7.89 4.16 8.19 7.94 80.22 16.63

Bishopville 29/13

0.04" 0.38" 0.77" 0.38" 0.77"

24-hr chg +0.16 -0.04 +0.34 -0.02 -0.35 -2.37

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 44/26/s 40/17/s 42/26/s 46/25/s 46/35/s 40/30/s 49/34/s 41/19/s 44/27/s 44/25/s

Columbia 30/11 Today: Very cold with plenty of sunshine.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny and not as cold.

Jan. 7 Last

Jan. 15 New

Jan. 24

Jan. 30

Myrtle Beach 34/17

Manning 32/14

Shown is today’s weather.

Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Aiken 29/10 Charleston 34/16

The following tide table lists times for Myrtle Beach.

Tue.

Forecasts and graphics provided

by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2014 Today Hi/Lo/W 28/14/s 24/12/s 28/14/s 26/11/s 30/15/s 42/20/pc 26/8/s 24/12/s 34/15/pc 22/10/s

Full

Florence 30/15

Sumter 30/12

Today: Partly sunny and much colder. High 30 to 36.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny; warmer. High 46 to 50.

City Darlington Elizabeth City Elizabethtown Fayetteville Florence Gainesville Gastonia Goldsboro Goose Creek Greensboro

First Sunrise today .......................... 7:27 a.m.

Sunset tonight ......................... 5:28 p.m.

Moonrise today ..................... 11:36 a.m.

Moonset today .............................. none

Gaffney 26/10 Spartanburg 28/12

Precipitation

Lake Murray Marion Moultrie Wateree

50° Mild with rain

Temperature

24 hrs ending 4 p.m. yest. ...........

Month to date ..............................

Normal month to date .................

Year to date .................................

Normal year to date ....................

46° Chance of a little rain; milder

Sumter through 4 p.m. yesterday High ............................................... 60° Low ................................................ 44° Normal high ................................... 54° Normal low ..................................... 32° Record high ....................... 78° in 1956 Record low ......................... 13° in 1969

42° Mostly cloudy with a shower possible

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 43/25/s 39/22/s 43/26/s 42/23/s 43/27/s 59/44/pc 42/20/s 40/23/s 49/33/s 39/23/s

Wed.

City Greenville Hickory Hilton Head Jacksonville, FL La Grange Macon Marietta Marion Mount Pleasant Myrtle Beach

Today Hi/Lo/W 28/11/s 22/9/s 36/24/pc 38/19/pc 26/10/s 30/10/s 25/12/s 22/7/s 34/19/pc 34/17/pc

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 43/21/s 41/23/s 46/42/s 56/43/pc 42/27/s 45/25/s 41/26/s 42/20/s 48/37/s 47/32/s

High Ht. 1:31 a.m.....3.0 2:00 p.m.....3.0 2:30 a.m.....3.0 2:56 p.m.....2.7

City Orangeburg Port Royal Raleigh Rock Hill Rockingham Savannah Spartanburg Summerville Wilmington Winston-Salem

Low Ht. 8:23 a.m....-0.1 8:48 p.m....-0.3 9:25 a.m.....0.2 9:44 p.m....-0.2

Today Hi/Lo/W 32/11/s 35/19/pc 22/12/s 27/8/s 28/8/s 36/15/pc 28/12/s 35/21/pc 30/13/pc 23/8/s

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 45/29/s 46/37/s 41/23/s 42/19/s 42/19/s 51/36/s 43/22/s 46/40/s 44/28/s 41/23/s

Shown are today’s noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day.

-10s -0s 0s 10s 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s 70s 80s 90s 100s 110s Stationary front

Cold front Showers Rain T-storms Snow Flurries

Ice

Warm front

Today Wed. Today Wed. City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W Albuquerque 47/27/pc 49/24/pc Las Vegas 59/38/pc 60/37/pc Anchorage 30/24/pc 28/24/sn Los Angeles 74/52/s 68/52/pc Atlanta 26/15/s 42/28/s Miami 62/55/pc 75/71/c Baltimore 13/8/s 27/20/s Minneapolis 0/-14/c 2/-5/pc Boston 20/11/s 25/20/s New Orleans 37/25/pc 52/45/pc Charleston, WV 12/5/pc 38/20/s New York 13/8/s 25/21/s Charlotte 26/9/s 41/19/s Oklahoma City 48/31/s 44/27/c Chicago 4/0/pc 16/11/sn Omaha 22/6/pc 17/7/sf Cincinnati 10/6/pc 29/25/pc Philadelphia 12/7/s 25/19/s Dallas 46/36/s 53/36/c Phoenix 67/41/s 65/44/s Denver 48/23/pc 42/24/c Pittsburgh 3/2/pc 25/20/pc Des Moines 16/4/pc 15/6/sn St. Louis 22/16/pc 34/26/sn Detroit 0/-1/sf 20/12/sn Salt Lake City 36/27/pc 38/26/c Helena 35/24/sn 40/25/pc San Francisco 58/47/pc 57/47/pc Honolulu 79/67/s 79/69/pc Seattle 46/43/r 48/40/r Indianapolis 6/5/pc 27/22/sn Topeka 36/16/s 28/15/c Kansas City 30/16/pc 27/18/sn Washington, DC 17/11/s 33/26/s Weather(W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice

ARIES (March 21-April 19): will help you make a wise, the last word in astrology Don’t make a snap worthwhile choice. decision that might affect LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): eugenia LAST your income or Don’t judge too quickly. reputation. Wait it out Gather information and ask until you have all the questions if something pertinent information before making a doesn’t sound right. A misunderstanding can commitment. result in a loss of friendship, reputation or cash.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take control of your SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You can take control, destiny. Pick up the information you need to but in doing so, don’t belittle others. It’s protect your position and future. Opportunity important that you are benevolent and is apparent if you’re professional and willing to understanding if you want the people you’re compromise. dealing with to do the best job possible.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Act swiftly when SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You’ll be someone asks for help. What you do for others tempted to take a leap of faith and make will bring high returns when you’re in need of a decisions based on something that’s hearsay. favor. Your understanding and farsightedness Back up before you end up in a situation where will ensure you get the respect you deserve. you’re indebted for something you can’t afford.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Emotional ups and CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Stick close to downs can be expected. Don’t let negativity home and keep your thoughts and plans a get you down. Focus on things you can secret until you have all the quirks figured out. accomplish and the people who are upbeat It’s best to be prepared to avoid being and eager to lend you a helping hand. criticized.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Watch what the AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Not everyone will competition is doing and make subtle changes like the changes or decisions you make. Satisfy that will ensure you have the upper hand when your needs and you’ll protect your future. Use it comes to presentation. An industrious your imagination and follow the path that feels attitude, along with a little Leo pizzazz, will be most comfortable. difficult to beat.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): What you do to VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Make plans that contribute and compliment others, you will get encourage you to get to know your clients and back in favors and cash rewards. Donations, colleagues better. Sharing ideas may be met calling in debts or signing contracts or with constructive criticism, but in the end, it settlements will all work in your favor.

PICK 3 MONDAY: 1-0-2 AND 0-8-7 PICK 4 MONDAY: 9-8-1-9 AND 1-1-7-8 PALMETTO CASH 5 MONDAY: 5-6-7-11-14 POWERUP: 2 MEGAMILLIONS FRIDAY: 22-24-25-40-70 MEGABALL: 5 MEGAPLIER: 5

FOR SATURDAY: 19-20-37-41-58 POWERBALL: 14

pictures from the public

|

SUMTER CITY COUNCIL Today, 5:30 p.m., Swan Lake Visitors Center BISHOPVILLE CITY COUNCIL Today, 6:30 p.m., Colclough Building SUMTER COUNTY VOTER REGISTRATION / ELECTION COMMISSION Thursday, 5:30 p.m., registration / election office, 141 N. Main St.

SATURDAY 64°

12°

Mostly sunny and much colder

City Aiken Asheville Athens Augusta Beaufort Cape Hatteras Charleston Charlotte Clemson Columbia

FRIDAY

58°

Nancy Byer comments on her photo submission, “I think this mockingbird enjoyed having his picture taken! He sat so still while several of us in the Sumter Digital Camera Club snapped photos of him at Pearl Fryar’s beautiful topiary gardens in Bishopville.”

Have you visited someplace interesting, exciting, beautiful or historical that you’ve taken some pictures of? Would you like to share those images with your fellow Item readers? E-mail your hi-resolution jpegs to sandrah@theitem.com, or mail to Sandra Holbert c/o The Item, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, SC 29150. Include clearly printed or typed name of photographer and photo details. Include selfaddressed, stamped envelope for return of your photo. Amateur photographers only please.

SPORTS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014

THE ITEM

B1

To contact the Sports Department, call (803) 774-1241 or e-mail sports@theitem.com

Tigers’ Watkins to enter NFL draft WR Bryant, DB Breeland also foregoing senior seasons FROM STAFF, WIRE REPORTS

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins will forego his senior season and declare for the 2014 NFL draft, he announced on Monday.

CLEMSON — Clemson junior Sammy Watkins announced on Monday that he will make himself available for the 2014 NFL draft.

Clemson will also be without receiver Martavis Bryant and cornerback Baushad Breeland, both who

announced they’d given up their final seasons for the NFL draft.

Watkins leaves BRYANT Clemson as a three-time firstteam All-American and the school’s re-

cord holder in terms of receptions and reception yards on a game, season and career basis.

BREELAND Even though he played just three years, he set 23 Clemson records.

D

FSU rallies past Auburn 34-31 for last BCS title

BY GREG BEACHAM The Associated Press

SEE BCS, PAGE B3

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Florida State’s Chad Abram, top, leaps over Auburn’s Ryan Smith for a touchdown during the Seminoles’ 34-31 victory in Monday’s BCS National Championship game in Pasadena, Calif.

Strong promises Texas will be tough

BY JIM VERTUNO The Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas — Charlie Strong talked about being tough and winning championships. That is exactly what Texas fans wanted to hear from their new football coach.

There’s little doubt he can deliver the first. The second part will determine whether he can revive a dormant proSTRONG gram back and push it back among the na-

tional elite where the Longhorns are desperately longing to be.

“It’s time to put the program back on the national stage,’’ Strong said Monday at his introductory news conference. “The mentality is always going to be mental and physical toughness ...

Rivera: Kaepernick tougher to defend now

BY STEVE REED The Associated Press CHARLOTTE — Panthers coach Ron Rivera is expecting a few more big plays from San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick this time around.

Rivera said Monday that Kaepernick “didn’t play that well” in the RIVERA first meeting against Carolina on Nov. 10. The Panthers limited the third-year quarterback to 91 yards passing, 16 yards rushing and no touchdowns in a 10-9 win over the 49ers at

SEE WATKINS, PAGE B3

Boyd was outstanding college QB

’Nole doubt about it PASADENA, Calif. — Jameis Winston threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Kelvin Benjamin with 13 seconds left and No. 1 Florida State beat No. 2 Auburn 34-31 to win the last BCS national championship game on Monday night.

Winston struggled much of the night but was near perfect when the Seminoles (14-0) needed it most, going 6 for 7 for 77 yards on the game-winning 80-yard drive. A pass interference penalty on Auburn’s Chris Davis gave Florida State a first-and-goal at the 2 and on the next play Winston hit his big receiver for the touchdown.

Tre Mason had given Auburn (12-2) a 31-27 lead with a 37-yard touchdown run with 1:19 left after Kermit Whitfield had put Florida State in the lead for the first time since the first quarter with a 100-yard kickoff return to make it

“I am very thankful for the past three years at Clemson University that have enabled me to grow academically, athletically, and spiritually,” said Watkins. “After much prayerful consideration, I have decided to take the next step in

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

San Francisco QB Colin Kaepernick (7) will be tougher to contain than he was in the regular season, Carolina head coach Ron Rivera said as the two teams meet in the playoffs on Sunday in Charlotte.

Candlestick Park.

On Sunday, the two teams meet again in the NFC divisional playoffs in

Charlotte, and Rivera said he expects Kaepernick will SEE PANTHERS, PAGE B3

We will be a hardnosed football team.’’

That’s the reputation Strong brings to Texas, which has floundered since playing for the 2009 national championship. Four seasons of at least four losses

abo Swinney is right.

After Clemson’s 40-35 victory over Ohio State in the Orange Bowl on Friday, the Tigers head coach proclaimed that since his team lost to West Virginia 70-33 in the Orange Bowl following the 2011 season, it had gone 22-4 and, by virtue of its win over the Buckeyes, became the first team from the state of South Carolina to win a BCS bowl, by God! All true, all true. Sometimes you have to take your victories where you can find them, and that’s certainly what Swinney was doing, all the while getting a dig back at his Dennis BRUNSON counterpart at South Carolina, Steve Spurrier. The BCS remark was in direct response to Spurrier pointing out the Gamecocks’ two straight Capital One Bowl victories were good, but winning that state championship wasn’t bad either.

You know Swinney had that one tucked away in his back pocket should the Tigers beat the Buckeyes. Well played, sir.

What Clemson’s victory over OSU means is the Tigers are a very good team. A loss would have left Clemson as a good team, but one that came up short in three of the four games on its schedule that ultimately mattered. The win over the Buckeyes validates Clemson’s season, just as last season’s win over Louisiana State in the Chick-fil-A Bowl did.

Say what you want about Ohio State being overrated, not being ready to play on Friday or that the Big Ten Conference is overrated, the fact of the matter is this is the team that most everyone had penciled in for the spot opposite Florida

SEE STRONG, PAGE B3

SEE BRUNSON, PAGE B3

PREP SCHEDULE Today Varsity Basketball Manning at Darlington, 6 p.m.

Lake View at East Clarendon, 6 p.m.

Varsity and JV Basketball Crestwood at Scott’s Branch (No JV Girls), 5 p.m.

Heathwood Hall at Wilson Hall, 4 p.m.

Laurence Manning at Holly Hill, 4 p.m.

Thomas Sumter at Orangeburg Prep, 4 p.m.

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

Patrick Henry at Clarendon Hall, 4 p.m.

Northside Christian at Sumter Christian, 4 p.m.

B Team Basketball Robert E. Lee at The King’s Academy (Boys), 4 p.m.

Patrick Henry at Clarendon Hall (Girls), 3 p.m.

Wednesday Varsity Basketball Robert E. Lee at Governor’s School, 6 p.m.

Varsity and JV Basketball Sumter at Spring Valley (No JV Boys), 5:30 p.m.

B Team Basketball Crestwood at Keenan (Boys Only), 6 p.m.

Dorchester at Thomas Sumter, 6 p.m.

Varsity Bowling Wilson Hall, Laurence Manning, Robert E. Lee at Orangeburg Prep (at JC Lanes in Lexington), 5 p.m.

Varsity Wrestling Lugoff-Elgin at Sumter, 6 p.m.

Thursday Junior Varsity Basketball Crestwood at Manning, 6 p.m.

Lakewood at Darlington, 6 p.m.

JV and B Team Basketball Sumter at Dutch Fork (No B Team Girls), 5:30 p.m.

B Team Basketball Holly Hill at Clarendon Hall (Girls), 6 p.m.

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

Bates at Hillcrest, 5 p.m.

Lugoff-Elgin at Chestnut Oaks, 5 p.m.

Ebenezer at Furman, 5 p.m.

Holly Hill at Manning, 6 p.m.

Friday Varsity Basketball Dutch Fork at Sumter, 6 p.m.

Manning at Crestwood, 6 p.m.

Darlington at Lakewood, 6 p.m.

Marlboro County at Manning, 6 p.m.

St. Francis Xavier at Andrew Jackson Academy (Boys), 7 p.m.

Varsity and JV Basketball Wilson Hall at Augusta Christian, 4 p.m.

Laurence Manning at Orangeburg Prep, 4 p.m.

Thomas Sumter at Dorchester, 4 p.m.

Pee Dee at Robert E. Lee, 4 p.m.

Jefferson Davis at Clarendon Hall, 4 p.m.

Sumter Christian at Conway Christian, 4 p.m.

Varsity Wrestling Sumter in Greenwood Invitational, TBA Saturday Varsity Basketball Lower Richland at Sumter, 6 p.m.

B Team Basketball Calhoun Academy at Thomas Sumter, 3 p.m.

Dillon Christian at Robert E. Lee (Girls), 11 a.m.

The King’s Academy at Robert E. Lee (Boys), noon Clarendon Hall at St. John’s Christian (Girls), 3 p.m.

Varsity Wrestling Sumter in Greenwood Invitational, TBA

B2

SPORTS

THE ITEM

SCOREBOARD TV, RADIO TODAY 11 a.m. -- Professional Basketball: NBA Development League Game -- Austin vs. Erie (NBA TV).

1 p.m. -- Professional Basketball: NBA Development League Game -- Canton at Texas (NBA TV).

3:40 p.m. -- Professional Basketball: NBA Development League Game -- Bakersfield vs. Iowa (NBA TV).

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

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: St. Louis at Rhode Island (CBS SPORTS NETWORK).

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

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Baylor at Iowa State (ESPN2).

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Georgia Tech at Duke (ESPNU).

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

7 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Washington at Charlotte (SPORTSOUTH).

7:30 p.m. -- NHL Hockey: Philadelphia at New Jersey (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

8 p.m. -- NBA Basktball: Phoenix at Chicago (WGN).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Cincinnati at Houston (CBS SPORTS NETWORK).

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

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Vanderbilt at Alabama (ESPNU).

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

COLLEGE BASKETBALL AP Men’s Top 25 Poll The Associated Press Record Pts 1. Arizona (60) 15-0 1,620 2. Syracuse (5) 14-0 1,550 3. Ohio St. 15-0 1,470 4. Wisconsin 15-0 1,427 5. Michigan St. 13-1 1,378 6. Wichita St. 15-0 1,203 7. Baylor 12-1 1,169 8. Villanova 13-1 1,141 9. Iowa St. 13-0 1,076 10. Florida 11-2 1,052 11. Oklahoma St. 12-2 934 12. Louisville 13-2 825 13. San Diego St. 12-1 823 14. Kentucky 10-3 808 15. Colorado 13-2 752 16. Duke 11-3 745 17. Oregon 13-1 715 18. Kansas 9-4 367 19. UMass 12-1 364 20. Iowa 12-3 261 21. Missouri 12-1 247 22. Gonzaga 14-2 241 23. Illinois 13-2 178 24. Memphis 10-3 126 25. Kansas St. 11-3 112

Prv 1 2 3 4 5 8 9 11 13 12 6 14 21 15 20 7 10 16 23 22 25 24 NR 18 NR

Others receiving votes: Cincinnati 103, Creighton 82, North Carolina 79, UCLA 79, Pittsburgh 44, Harvard 41, UConn 41, Saint Louis 19, Oklahoma 15, Michigan 11, George Washington 9, SMU 9, Notre Dame 3, Xavier 3, Toledo 2, Arkansas 1.

NFL PLAYOFFS

By The Associated Press Wild Card Saturday Indianapolis 45, Kansas City 44 New Orleans 26, Philadelphia 24 Sunday San Diego 27, Cincinnati 10 San Francisco 23, Green Bay 20 Divisional Jan. 11 New Orleans at Seattle, 4:35 p.m. (FOX) Indianpolis at New England, 8:15 p.m. (CBS) Jan. 12 San Francisco at Carolina, 1:05 p.m. (FOX) San Diego at Denver, 4:40 p.m. (CBS) Conference Championships Jan. 19 AFC, 3 p.m. (CBS) NFC, 6:30 p.m. (FOX) Pro Bowl Jan. 26 At Honolulu TBD, 7:30 p.m. (NBC) Super Bowl XLVIII Feb. 2 At East Rutherford, N.J. AFC champ vs. NFC champ, 6:30 p.m. (FOX)

NBA STANDINGS

By The Associated Press EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pct GB Toronto 16 16 .500 – Boston 13 21 .382 4 Brooklyn 12 21 .364 41/2 Philadelphia 12 21 .364 41/2 New York 11 22 .333 51/2 Southeast Division W L Pct GB Miami 26 8 .765 – Atlanta 18 16 .529 8 Washington 14 17 .452 101/2 Charlotte 15 20 .429 111/2 Orlando 10 23 .303 151/2 Central Division W L Pct GB Indiana 27 6 .818 – Chicago 14 18 .438 121/2 Detroit 14 20 .412 131/2 Cleveland 11 23 .324 161/2 Milwaukee 7 26 .212 20 WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division W L Pct GB San Antonio 26 8 .765 – Houston 22 13 .629 41/2 Dallas 19 15 .559 7 New Orleans 15 17 .469 10 Memphis 15 18 .455 101/2 Northwest Division W L Pct GB Oklahoma City 27 7 .794 – Portland 26 8 .765 1 Denver 16 17 .485 101/2 Minnesota 16 17 .485 101/2 Utah 11 25 .306 17 Pacific Division W L Pct GB Golden State 23 13 .639 – L.A. Clippers 23 13 .639 – Phoenix 20 12 .625 1 L.A. Lakers 14 20 .412 8 Sacramento 10 22 .313 11 Sunday’s Games Memphis 112, Detroit 84 Golden State 112, Washington 96 Indiana 82, Cleveland 78 Miami 102, Toronto 97 Oklahoma City 119, Boston 96 New York 92, Dallas 80

| Denver 137, L.A. Lakers 115 Monday’s Games Minnesota at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Atlanta at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.

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

Today’s Games Toronto at Indiana, 7 p.m.

Philadelphia at Cleveland, 7 p.m.

Washington at Charlotte, 7 p.m.

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

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

Phoenix at Chicago, 8 p.m.

Golden State at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.

San Antonio at Memphis, 8 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Boston at Denver, 9 p.m.

Oklahoma City at Utah, 9 p.m.

Portland at Sacramento, 10 p.m.

Wednesday’s Games Dallas at San Antonio, 7 p.m.

Detroit at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Golden State at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.

Indiana at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at Houston, 8 p.m.

Washington at New Orleans, 8 p.m.

Phoenix at Minnesota, 9:30 p.m.

Orlando at Portland, 10 p.m.

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

NHL STANDINGS

By The Associated Press EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Boston 42 28 12 2 58 124 89 Tampa Bay 42 25 13 4 54 119 100 Montreal 43 24 14 5 53 112 102 Detroit 43 19 14 10 48 114 121 Toronto 43 21 17 5 47 119 127 Ottawa 44 19 18 7 45 126 141 Florida 42 16 20 6 38 101 134 Buffalo 42 12 26 4 28 74 118 Metropolitan Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Pittsburgh 44 31 12 1 63 142 103 Philadelphia 42 21 17 4 46 111 116 Washington 42 20 16 6 46 128 128 Carolina 43 18 16 9 45 105 124 N.Y. Rangers 43 21 20 2 44 105 115 New Jersey 43 17 18 8 42 101 110 Columbus 42 18 20 4 40 113 123 N.Y. Islanders 43 14 22 7 35 112 143 WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Chicago 45 29 7 9 67 167 124 St. Louis 41 29 7 5 63 150 95 Colorado 41 26 11 4 56 120 104 Minnesota 44 22 17 5 49 106 113 Dallas 41 20 14 7 47 120 124 Winnipeg 45 19 21 5 43 123 135 Nashville 43 18 19 6 42 102 129 Pacific Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Anaheim 44 31 8 5 67 146 111 San Jose 43 27 10 6 60 142 111 Los Angeles 43 26 13 4 56 113 89 Vancouver 44 23 13 8 54 117 108 Phoenix 41 20 12 9 49 123 127 Calgary 41 14 21 6 34 96 128 Edmonton 45 14 26 5 33 117 156 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss.

Sunday’s Games San Jose 3, Chicago 2, SO Pittsburgh 6, Winnipeg 5 Carolina 2, Nashville 1 Edmonton 5, Tampa Bay 3 Anaheim 4, Vancouver 3, OT Monday’s Games Dallas at N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.

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

Florida at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

Calgary at Colorado, 9 p.m.

Today’s Games Carolina at Buffalo, 7 p.m.

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

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

San Jose at Nashville, 8 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Winnipeg, 8 p.m.

Calgary at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

St. Louis at Edmonton, 9:30 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Vancouver, 10 p.m.

Boston at Anaheim, 10 p.m.

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

Wednesday’s Games Montreal at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.

N.Y. Rangers at Chicago, 8 p.m.

Ottawa at Colorado, 9:30 p.m.

GOLF Hyundai Tournament of Champions Par Scores The Associated Press Monday At Kapalua Resort, The Plantation Course Kapalua, Hawaii Purse: $5.7 million Yardage: 7,452; Par 73 Final Zach Johnson (500), $1,140,000 67-66-74-66—273 -19 Jordan Spieth (300), $665,000 66-70-69-69—274 -18 Kevin Streelman (163), $382,000 67-71-70-67—275 -17 Webb Simpson (163), $382,000 66-71-68-70—275 -17 Jason Dufner (110), $276,000 67-72-69-69—277 -15 Billy Horschel (89), $198,750 72-72-68-66—278 -14 Matt Kuchar (89), $198,750 68-68-75-67—278 -14 Adam Scott (89), $198,750 70-70-69-69—278 -14 Dustin Johnson (89), $198,750 70-66-69-73—278 -14 Ryan Moore (75), $170,000 67-71-72-69—279 -13 Harris English (68), $155,000 70-71-70-69—280 -12 Brandt Snedeker (68), $155,000 70-69-69-72—280 -12 Brian Gay (58), $130,000 70-76-65-70—281 -11 Woody Austin (58), $130,000 72-70-68-71—281 -11 Gary Woodland (58), $130,000 71-70-67-73—281 -11 Michael Thompson (54), $100,250 66-71-73-72—282 -10 Ken Duke (54), $100,250 70-69-71-72—282 -10 Patrick Reed (54), $100,250 70-72-67-73—282 -10 Chris Kirk (54), $100,250 66-75-68-73—282 -10 Martin Laird (51), $87,000 71-72-70-70—283 -9 Jonas Blixt (49), $79,333 76-70-69-70—285 -7 Sang-Moon Bae (49), $79,333 69-73-71-72—285 -7 Jimmy Walker (49), $79,333 73-73-67-72—285 -7

Bates topples Alice Drive 46-36 Bates Middle School’s boys basketball team avenged a loss to Alice Drive on Saturday with a 46-36 victory over the Hawks on Monday at the AD gymnasium.

On Saturday in the Falcon Invitational at the Chestnut Oaks Middle gymnasium, Alice Drive beat the Bantams 44-40.

On Monday, Zykiem Jackson had a triple-double for Bates with 12 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. Hakeem Lawson had a double-double of 20 points and 15 rebounds to go with five blocked shots.

Terrell Houston had 10 points to lead AD, which fell to 7-4 on the season. Nashawn Carter added seven.

In Saturday’s game, Houston led the Hawks with 27 points.

BOYS AREA ROUNDUP Cameron Singleton added seven.

MAYEWOOD FURMAN

35 19

CHESTNUT OAKS HILLCREST

DALZELL — Hillcrest lost to Chestnut Oaks 46-36 on Monday at the Hillcrest gymnaisum.

Khadary Stevens led Hillcrest with 15 points.

|

day at the REL gymnasium.

Sydney Daniel led the Lady Generals with 11 points.

ALICE DRIVE BATES

MANNING — Manning High School improved to 10-3 on the season with a 59-24 victory over Scott’s Branch on Saturday at Thames Arena.

Mahogany Green had 13 points to lead the Lady Monarchs. Lanish Brown and Catera Manning both added eight points.

Ashley Leonard led Scott’s Branch with eight points.

30 24

Bates lost to Alice Drive 30-24 on Monday at the AD gymnasium.

Alexis McCleod led the Lady Bantams in scoring with eight points to go along with 12 rebounds. Kiara Jones had seven points and a team high 13 rebounds.

B TEAM BASKETBALL THOMAS SUMTER ROBERT E. LEE

32 5

BISHOPVILLE — Thomas Sumter Academy defeated Robert E. Lee Academy 32-5 on Mon-

VARSITY BASKETBALL MANNING SCOTT’S BRANCH

59 24

SCOTT’S BRANCH Leonard 8, Ragin 6, Wimberly 4, Jones 3, Ragin 2, Thompson 1.

MANNING Green 13, Harvin 5, Brown 8, Manning 8, Hilton 6, Brunson 6, Goldsmith 5, Canty 2, Shaffer 2.

Citadel meets with Houston as search nears end

BY JEFF HARTSELL Post and Courier CHARLESTON — Lenoir-Rhyne coach Mike Houston met with The Citadel’s search committee and other officials Monday morning as the military school drew closer to naming a new head football coach.

Houston met with Citadel officials at the Holliday Alumni Center across the street from Johnson Hagood Stadium. He spent the day on campus and visited the football of-

fices at Seignious Hall.

Athletic director Larry Leckonby said no offer has been made, but that The Citadel is close to naming a coach.

“There is light at the end of the tunnel,” he said Monday night. HOUSTON “The end is in sight. We have finished with personal interviews and reviewed those with the search committee. The next step is to take a recom-

mendation to the president (Lt. Gen. John Rosa).”

Houston, 42, just finished his third season as head coach at Division II Lenoir-Rhyne, leading the Bears to a 13-2 record and an appearance in the national championship game.

The 1994 Mars Hill graduate has been named South Atlantic Conference coach of the year twice, and owns a record of 29-8 in three seasons at LenoirRhyne. He was defensive coordinator at Lenoir-Rhyne for four

years and also coached on the college level at Brevard.

A year ago, LenoirRhyne extended his contract through the 2016 season.

Navy assistant Ashley Ingram was one of three finalists for The Citadel job; he reportedly withdrew from consideration today.

The third finalist is Air Force assistant Clay Hendrix.

Former Citadel coach Kevin Higgins resigned Dec. 16 to become an assistant coach at Wake Forest.

Coates leads USC women past Vanderbilt COLUMBIA (AP) — Alaina Coates scored a career-high 24 points, had 10 rebounds and three blocks as No. 13 South Carolina defeated Vanderbilt 76-66 on Sunday.

Coates shot 11 of 16 from the field. She has scored 20 or more points four times this season. The Lady Gamecocks (14-1, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) won its fourth

straight over Vanderbilt.

South Carolina had its largest lead, 52-35 with 17:09 remaining.

Vanderbilt had a 20-9 run to pull within 63-55 with 7:18 to play.

COATES Coates answered with two layups to stretch the lead to 67-55 with 5:52

left.

Tiffany Mitchell scored 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Elem Ibiam added 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds for USC. Christina Foggie scored 14 of her 16 points in the second half, and had five assists to lead Vanderbilt (12-3, 1-1). Jasmine Lister added 13 points for the Lady Commodores.

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MANNING — Manning High School fell to 5-8 on the season with a 57-47 loss to Scott’s Branch on Saturday at Thames Arena.

Rayvon Witherspoon led the Monarchs with 14 points.

Dwaymon Samuel added eight.

DALZELL — Chazen Regalado scored 15 points to lead Hillcrest Middle School’s girls basketball team to a 32-23 victory over Chestnut Oaks on Monday at the Hillcrest gymnaisum.

Jayla Bolden adde seven points for the Lady Wildcats.

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BISHOPVILLE — Thomas Sumter Academy defeated Robert E. Lee Academy on Monday at the REL gymnasium.

Jacob Brown led TSA with nine points. Walker Gainey led REL with eight.

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Antonio Anderson led the Vikings in scoring with 11 points while Jaron Richardson had nine.

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL

TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014

THE ITEM

BCS from Page B1 27-24 with 4:31 left.

Mason ran for 195 yards.

Winston was 20 for 35 for 237 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdown passes.

Nick Marshall ran for a touchdown and threw scoring passes to Mason and Melvin Ray in the first half, and No. 2 Auburn led No. 1 Florida State 21-13 after three quarters Monday night in the final BCS championship game.

All-America kicker Roberto Aguayo’s second field goal of the night accounted for the only third-quarter points for either team as both defenses took charge after a frenetic first half.

The powerful Seminoles trailed by 18 points in the second quarter and 21-10 at halftime, but picked up momentum in the third quarter with solid defensive play and improvements by Winston, who was fighting a case of big-game jitters.

The Heisman Trophy-winning freshman went 6 for 15 for 62 yards in the first half on his 20th birthday, with a key fumble setting up Marshall’s 4-yard TD run 5:01 before halftime. Winston also led a 66-yard scoring drive late in the first half and consistently moved Florida State in the third quarter — but with only three points to show for it.

After trailing for the first time in any game since Sept. 28, Florida State needed a big finish to become the first team to rally from a halftime deficit to win the BCS title game.

Marshall, Winston’s relatively unheralded counterpart, looked sharp in the Auburn backfield. Auburn was the nation’s top rushing team, but coach Gus Malzahn showed the SEC champs can fling it as well while racking up 232

STRONG from Page B1

Auburn’s Tre Mason (21) gets past Florida State’s Telvin Smith (22) during the Tigers’ 34-31 loss in the BCS National Championship game on Monday in Pasadena, Calif.

yards of offense in the first half.

Mason caught a 12-yard TD screen pass in the first quarter, and Ray ran alone down the middle with a 50-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter.

Devonta Freeman had a 3-yard scoring run with 1:28 left in the half for Florida State, which faced its largest deficit and first halftime deficit of the season.

Auburn’s 85-yard drive early in the second quarter ended with a TD catch for Ray, the former minor league baseball player from Tallahassee who had just four receptions in the regular season. Florida State’s Jalen Ramsey failed to pick up Ray all alone down the mid-

State in the BCS Championship Game before it lost to Michigan State in the Big 10 title game. The Buckeyes were ready to play on Friday, but Clemson made more plays and came away with the victory.

And what a way for Tajh Boyd to end his career as a 3-year starter at quarterback for the Tigers. Throwing for 378 yards and five touchdowns and rushing for 127 more and another score is quite a way to send yourself off.

With all due respect to the talents of wide receiver Sammy Watkins, I don’t understand how he was named the game’s most valuable player over Boyd.

Boyd’s career needs to be looked at in the proper perspective as well. The Tigers were 32-8 in his three years as a starter and won an Atlantic Coast Conference championship as he set all kinds of school and ACC records. Talk all you want about the state of the ACC, but Clemson’s record wouldn’t have been nearly as good during that stretch with-

pursuing my lifelong dream of playing in the NFL. “I would not have this opportunity without the support and encouragement of my family, coaches, teammates, and the best fans in college football. No matter where my next steps may lead, I will always take pride in the PAW and will forever be a part of the Clemson family.”

Watkins finished his Clemson career in grand style as

and no Big 12 titles ended with Mack Brown exiting after 16 years, and Texas turning to the coach who led Louisville to a 23-3 mark and two bowl wins the last two seasons.

Strong also had a reputation of being uncomfortable with the media, but with his wife and two daughters sitting in the front row watching him, he breezed through his 45-minute news conference with smiles and jokes before ending with the trademark “Hook’em Horns’’ hand signal for the cameras.

“Let’s go win football games,’’ Strong said. “Let’s go win championships.’’

The 53-year-old Strong clearly has some of the same pages from Brown’s playbook.

He embraced the legacy of Texas’s football tradition when he entered the room and hugged Edith Royal, the widow of former Longhorns coach Darrell Royal who won national titles in 1963 and 1969 and a share of a third in 1970.

And just like Brown did when he arrived in 1997, Strong made a point of embracing Texas high school coaches and his commitment to recruiting the state’s best players.

“We will recruit with fire, recruit with passion,’’ Strong said, adding he wants to “close the border’’ to out-ofstate programs.

Brown, whose last game was Texas’ loss to Oregon in the Holiday Bowl, did not attend the news conference.

Strong said he spoke to Brown over the weekend and assured him he would be welcome around the program.

But he also told Brown: “You ran your program, I have to run mine.’’

Strong said Brown left the program in good shape, even if it hasn’t won in recent years like Texas expects to. The Longhorns last won the Big 12 in 2009. Their last national championship was in 2005.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BRUNSON from Page B1

WATKINS from Page B1

B3

he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Discover Orange Bowl. He had 16 receptions for 227 yards and two scores in Clemson’s 40-35 win over sixth-ranked Ohio State.

The 16 receptions and 227 receiving yards established a Clemson single game record and an Orange Bowl record.

The 16 receptions also tied an ACC standard for any game and established a record for a BCS Bowl game. The 227 yards were the second most receiving yards in any BCS Bowl game.

Watkins finished the 2013 season with 101 receptions

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dle. Ray juked a defender near the goal line and scored as the Tigers’ fans rocked the Rose Bowl stands with cheers.

Auburn’s Angelo Blackson then swatted the ball out of Winston’s hand on a run moments after the Tigers missed a field goal, and Marshall finished the drive by turning the corner on Florida State’s defense for a score.

A successful fake punt finally sparked the Seminoles moments later.

Winston made a 21-yard run complete with a vicious stiff-arm to Auburn’s Kris Frost, and Freeman scored on the next play, trimming Auburn’s halftime lead to 21-10.

out him taking the snaps.

There is no argument that can be made that Boyd was 0-3 against South Carolina and didn’t play particularly well in any of the three games. He was just 1-2 against FSU. In fact, the four losses over the last two years came to those two programs.

Boyd’s career shouldn’t be judged on the shortcomings, but should be considered on the success he and the Tigers enjoyed while he was behind center. As is the case in football, the quarterback gets too much of the credit for victories and too much of the blame for losses. He has been part of a program whose teams have lost five straight games to their arch rival for the first time ever. Boyd certainly had something to do with those losses, but so did all of his teammates who were out on the field.

Is Boyd a product of offensive coordinator Chad Morris’ fast-paced system? To a degree, but he’s still got to go out on the field and do it. More often than not, he did quite well.

He should go down as the greatest quarterback in Clemson history, no debate.

for 1464 yards and 12 touchdowns. He broke Aaron Kelly’s record for receptions in a season (88 in 2007) and receiving yards (DeAndre Hopkins 1405 in 2012).

The native of Fort Myers, Fla., was a first-team AllAmerican this year by the American Football Coaches Association and was a finalist for the 2013 Biletnikoff Award.

Watkins finished his career with 240 receptions for 3,391 yards and 27 touchdowns. The reception total and yardage total are Clemson records and the touchdown total tied former

teammate DeAndre Hopkins, who is now with the Houston Texans of the NFL. He finishes his career ranked second in ACC history in career receptions and third in reception yardage. He is tied for eighth in touchdown receptions and tied for second in 100-yard receiving games with 15. He finished his career with 5,129 all-purpose yards, second in Clemson history to C.J. Spiller’s 7588 and ninth in ACC history.

In terms of national rankings this year, Watkins was seventh in reception yards per game with 112.6, 10th in

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touchdown receptions with 12, and 11th in receptions/ game with 7.8. He led the nation in receptions vs. teams with a winning record with 67 and was second in yardage with 1009. He was the only player in the nation with two receptions of at least 90 yards.

Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney told The Associated Press Monday that Watkins has shown what can be accomplished when you combine talent and work ethic.

“We have won 32 games, the ACC and the Orange Bowl since he arrived,’’ Swinney said. “Pretty obvious the impact he has had.’’

OAK PARK FAMILY & AESTHETIC DENTISTRY

Catherine M. Zyback, DMD

B4

NFL

THE ITEM

TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014

49ers edge Pack 23-20

Efficient Chargers take down Bengals

BY GENARO C. ARMAS The Associated Press GREEN BAY, Wis. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Under pressure in subzero weather, Colin Kaepernick kept his cool.

Facing a blitz on third-and-8, the elusive San Francisco 49ers quarterback scrambled 11 yards out of trouble to set up Phil Dawsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 33-yard field goal as time expired for a 23-20 win Sunday over the Green Bay Packers in an NFC wild-card game.

Doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter where or when â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the 49ers keep figuring out how to beat Green Bay. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think we were going to pull it out, did you?â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; coach Jim Harbaugh said.

When itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kaepernick and the 49ers facing the Packers, the game is never over. Even in the meat locker that was Lambeau Field, where the temperature at kickoff was 5 degrees, with a wind chill of minus-10.

No sweat for Kaepernick. He went sleeveless, and didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wear gloves.

BY JOE KAY The Associated Press CINCINNATI â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Dump it off to the running back, hand it off, let the field goal kicker take it from there.

Philip Rivers didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to do a whole lot to get a playoff win. Not with the way San Diegoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s defense was dominating.

And not with the way Andy Dalton was coming apart in the playoffs again.

The Chargers took advantage of Daltonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s three turnovers in the second half on Sunday, pulling away to a 27-10 victory that extended San Diegoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lateseason surge and pushed the Bengalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; postseason misery to record levels.

With Rivers making accurate throws in the chilling rain, the Chargers (10-7) won their fifth in a row, beating the last team that had knocked them off.

Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll play next Sunday in Denver, which has the AFCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top seed.

The Chargers lost at home to the Broncos 28-20 on Nov. 10, then went to Denver and got a rejuvenating 27-20 victory on Dec. 12 that gave them momentum. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will be confident,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; said Rivers, who was 12 of 16 for 128 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions on a rainy, 40-degree afternoon. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to be careful weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not overconfident, which we wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be. Cincinnati came to our place and won five weeks ago.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The Bengals (11-6) won in San Diego 17-10 on Dec. 1, starting their final push toward the AFC North title. They took advantage of three turnovers in that one.

They turned it over four

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve played in coldweather games before,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I feel like itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more mental than anything.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; San Francisco plays at Carolina next Sunday in the divisional round.

Kaepernick threw for 227 yards, including a 28-yard TD pass to Vernon Davis, and ran for another 98, while Michael Crabtree had eight catches for 125 yards for San Francisco.

In a back-and-forth fourth quarter, the 49ers (13-4) threw the final punch. Kaepernick escaped a blitz to get to the 27 with 1:13 left. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just trying to figure out a way to get that first down,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Kaepernick said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Had a play called, we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get the look that we wanted. It worked out for us.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Dawson nailed the winning kick five plays later â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but only after nearly being blocked by edge rusher Davon House. He was whistled for being offside on the play, but the 49ers declined the penalty with the win in hand.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

San Diego tight end Ladarius Green (89) catches a 4-yard touchdown pass against Cincinnati safety Chris Crocker (32) during the Chargersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 27-10 wild-card victory on Sunday in Cincinnati.

times on Sunday, with Daltonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fumble and two interceptions in the second half leading to one of the most stunning losses in franchise history. The Bengals had been 8-0 at home and brought the NFLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s No. 3 defense â&#x20AC;&#x201D; their highest-ever playoff ranking â&#x20AC;&#x201D; into the game.

With everything in their favor, they unraveled in the second half, getting outscored 20-0.

The Bengals now have the sixth-longest streak of playoff futility in NFL history, stretching all the way back to the 1990 season. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve lost their playoff opener three straight years, matching a league record, according to STATS LLC.

PANTHERS from Page B1 be on his game â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and make it that much tougher on his defense. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect that again,â&#x20AC;? Rivera said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I expect the young man to come out and play well. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good football player and he showed it (Sunday) nightâ&#x20AC;? against Green Bay. The 49ers have won six straight games, including a 23-20 playoff win over the Green Bay Packers this past Sunday at Lambeau Field. Kaepernick threw for 223 yards and a touchdown and ran for 98 yards against the Packers.

Over the past six games, Kaepernick has elevated his play, averaging 231 yards passing per game with 11 touchdowns and three interceptions.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whatever you do during the regular season doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter once you get to the playoffs,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; said Dalton, who is 0-3 in the playoffs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disappointing. All the good stuff we did this year, then to come out and not win this game kind of hurts.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Coach Marvin Lewis fell to 0-5 in the playoffs during his 11 seasons as head coach, but is expected to stick around and get another chance to try again.

A lot of it falls on Dalton, who has a trilogy of bad playoff games. He fumbled and threw two interceptions in the second half. Dalton finished 29 of 51 for 334 yards with a below-average passer rating of 67.

Rivera says the 49ers are a much better team than they played back in November. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All you have to do is watch the way he has played down the stretch,â&#x20AC;? Rivera said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We caught them at a good time and it turned out in our benefit.â&#x20AC;?

Perhaps.

Kaepernick was without wide receiver Michael Crabtree in the last meeting and tight end Vernon Davis left early in the game with a concussion. Crabtree had eight catches for 125 yards in the win over Green Bay. Mario Manningham led the 49ers with 30 yards receiving in the last game against Carolina and San Franciscoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s longest pass play went for 14 yards. The 49ers managed just 10 first downs against Carolina and failed to get into the end zone. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We owe them,â&#x20AC;? Kaepernick said Sunday of the Panthers.

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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

San Francisco kicker Phil Dawson (9) boots the game-winning field goal against Green Bay on Sunday in Green Bay, Wis. The 49ers beat the Packers 23-20 in an NFC wild-card game at Lambeau Field.

San Franciscoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s win over Green Bay served as a stark reminder of what not to do while defending Kaepernick.

Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott pointed to a crucial moment on the final drive when the outside edge rusher lost containment and Kaepernick scooted free for an 11yard gain on third-and-8. Five plays later Phil Dawson kicked the winning field goal as time expired.

McDermott said his defense did a nice job of staying in their rushing lanes and keeping Kaepernick in the pocket last time around, sacking him six times.

He said that will be key on Sunday, too. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I thought our guys played aggressive up front,â&#x20AC;? McDermott said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We played discipline. The coverage was good enough at times to get him to hold the ball.â&#x20AC;?

Defensive tackle Dwan Edwards also stressed the importance of not trying to do too much outside of the scheme. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our defensive ends canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get too far past the quarterback or he takes off and it gives him huge lanes,â&#x20AC;? Edwards said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important that everyone stays in their lanes and when someone does get out of their lane we have to cover that up quickly.â&#x20AC;?

The Panthers will get an offensive boost as wide receiver Steve Smith says heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll play Sunday.

What he canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t predict is how his sprained left knee will feel during the game.

Smith said Monday â&#x20AC;&#x153;itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not about can I go. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about how confident do I feel when I am going. I will play Sunday. But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about how much I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry about the knee â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s when the confidence increases.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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SPORTS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014

THE ITEM

Johnson opens 2014 with Hawaii win

BY DOUG FERGUSON The Associated Press KAPALUA, Hawaii â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Zach Johnson started the new year the same way he ended the last one.

Johnson pulled away with three straight birdies on the back nine at Kapalua and closed with a 7-under 66 for a oneshot victory over Jordan Spieth in the Tournament of Champions on Monday.

Johnson didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need any heroics, like holing out from a drop zone on the last hole when he beat Tiger Woods in the World Challenge last month in California.

This was mainly about chipping and putting, and Johnson is among the best.

He hit a wedge to 8 feet for birdie on the 14th to take the outright lead for the first time.

Facing a dangerous shot up a steep slope to a green with a false front, Johnson caught it perfectly on the 15th for an easy birdie. And he hit wedge to 5 feet for a third straight birdie that gave him control.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Zach Johnson holds the trophy after winning the Tournament of Champions on Monday in Kapalua, Hawaii.

Spieth, who had a one-shot lead going to the back nine, birdied his last two holes for a 69. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just picked it apart,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; said Johnson, who finished at 19under 273. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t deviate from anything I typically do on a golf

course.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Webb Simpson, tied with Spieth and defending champion Dustin Johnson to start the final round, never caught up and closed with a 70. He tied for third with Kevin Streelman, who had a 67.

Jason Dufner was

SPORTS ITEMS

|

four strokes back in fifth after a 69.

Dustin Johnson made three bogeys before making his first birdie.

He shot 73 and tied for sixth.

Zach Johnson might finally get some of the credit he deserves as among the elite in golf, even though he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the raw power of his peers. This was the 11th win of his career.

Since his rookie season in 2004, only Woods, Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh have won more PGA Tour events.

It also was his third win in his last six starts, dating to the BMW Championship north of Chicago in September that qualified him for the winners-only event in Kapalua.

Spieth was playing in the final group for the first time and looked poised as ever. With birdies on both par 5s on the front nine, he had the outright lead and looked as though he might become the youngest player with two PGA Tour wins since Ralph Guldahl in 1932.

B5

BASKETBALL ROUNDUP

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Nets edge Hawks 91-86 NEW YORK â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Joe Johnson snapped out of a slump with 23 points against his former team, and the Brooklyn Nets matched a season high with their third straight victory by beating the Atlanta Hawks 91-86 on Monday night.

Mirza Teletovic scored 16 points and Alan Anderson added 14 starting in place of the injured Deron Williams. Paul Millsap scored 16 points for the Hawks.

TIMBERWOLVES 76ERS

126 95

PHILADELPHIA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Kevin Love scored 16 of his 26 points in a dominant third quarter and Nikola Pekovic had 16 points and 14 rebounds to lead Minnesota to a 126-95 win over Philadelphia.

Kevin Martin scored 18 points and Corey Brewer had 15 for the Timberwolves (17-17).

Thaddeus Young scored 20 points for the Sixers.

COLLEGE CHATTANOOGA THE CITADEL

82 78

CHARLESTON â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Z. Mason scored 30 points with 14 rebounds to lead Chattanooga back from a 12-point second half deficit to beat the Citadel 82-78 on Monday.

The Citadel was led by Ashton Mooreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 21 points, while Brian White had 20 and Matt Van Scyoc added 16.

CHARLESTON SOUTHERN COLUMBIA INTERNATIONAL

105 45

CHARLESTON â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Will Saunders made six 3-pointers en route to 23 points as Charleston Southern eased past Columbia International 105-45.

Bakari Copeland added 17 for the Buccaneers and Paul Gombwer added 11 and 12 rebounds.

From wire reports

Keeping Sumter Beautiful Karen Hyatt "TTU 1VCMJD 8PSLT %JSFDUPS r 4VNUFS $PVOUZ 1VCMJD 8PSLT Grinding of the Greens Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let your beautiful Christmas tree end up buried with the ugly trash. Take your Christmas tree to a â&#x20AC;&#x153;mulchâ&#x20AC;? better place.

Recycle your Christmas tree with the annual â&#x20AC;&#x153;Grinding of the Greensâ&#x20AC;? sponsored by Sumter County Keep America Beautiful, Clemson Extension Service, Sumter County Public Works, and City of Sumter Public Services.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles (5) and running back Storm Johnson will forego their senior seasons and enter the NFL draft, the two announced on Monday.

UCFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bortles, Johnson leaving for NFL ORLANDO, Fla. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; UCF quarterback Blake Bortles and running back Storm Johnson say they will forgo their senior seasons and enter the NFL draft.

They made their announcements Monday during a news conference.

Bortles threw for more than 3,500 yards and 25 touchdowns, while completing 68 percent of his passes. Johnson rushed for more than 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns in his first year as the starter.

ARIZONA NO. 1 IN AP POLL FOR 5TH STRAIGHT WEEK

Arizona is No. 1 in The Associated Press college basketball poll for the fifth straight week, but for the first time in that span there are changes in the Top 25.

The Wildcats (15-0) were still a runaway No. 1, with Syracuse, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Michigan State remaining the next four teams. Arizona received 60 first-place votes from the national media panel, while Syracuse (14-0) got the other five.

Duke, which lost at Notre Dame, dropped to No. 16, the first time the Blue Devils are out of the Top 10 since December 2007.

No. 23 Illinois and No. 25 Kansas State moved into the rankings for the first time this season replacing Connecticut, which had been 17th, and North Carolina, which was 19th.

IOWA STATE HIRES MANGINO AS OC

AMES, Iowa â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Former Kansas coach Mark Mangino has been hired as the offensive coordinator at Iowa State.

Mangino spent eight seasons as the coach at Kansas, winning national coach of the year honors in 2007 and leading the Jayhawks to a win in the Orange Bowl. But Mangino was fired following the 2009 season amid accusations of treating his players poorly.

Mangino was 50-48 at Kansas. He

spent three seasons out of football before serving as the assistant head coach at Youngstown State last year.

UCLA QB HUNDLEY TO RETURN FOR JUNIOR SEASON

LOS ANGELES â&#x20AC;&#x201D; UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley has decided to return to the Bruins for his junior season.

He was named the offensive MVP of the Bruinsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; victory over Virginia Tech in the Sun Bowl last month after passing for 226 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 161 more yards and two scores.

DOLPHINS OC SHERMAN FIRED

MIAMI â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman has been fired, marking the first offseason change for a team that missed the playoffs because of a late-season collapse.

Shermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unit ranked 27th this season in the NFL in yards, allowed a franchise-record 58 sacks and scored once in its final 24 possessions. The Dolphins (8-8) would have made the playoffs if they had won one of their final two games against the Bills and Jets. Instead, they were beaten by a combined score of 39-7.

OF FRANCOEUR AGREES WITH INDIANS

CLEVELAND â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Veteran outfielder Jeff Francoeur has agreed to a minorleague contract with the Indians.

Francoeur turns 30 on Wednesday.

A .263 career hitter, Francoeur played with Kansas City and San Francisco last season, batting a combined .204 with three homers and 17 RBI in 81 games. He has driven in at least 75 runs four times, and he won a Gold Glove with Atlanta in 2007.

Francoeur has 140 career homers and 618 RBI in 1,227 games for the Braves, Mets, Rangers, Royals and Giants. He was drafted in the first round in 2002 by Atlanta.

From wire reports

The purpose of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Grinding of the Greensâ&#x20AC;? is to reduce the number of trees going into the landfill and to provide mulch to residents. Each tree can take up three to five cubic feet of space. Landscape refuse such as leaves, grass clippings, limbs and even Christmas trees accounts for approximately 20 percent of the waste dumped in our landfills. These valuable organic materials can easily be recycled and added back to the landscape as mulch.

Mulch can be used to conserve moisture, reduce weed competition, reduce plant stress, and serve as a unifying element in the landscape. Mulch can be used on container plants, flower beds, under berry bushes or fruit trees and in vegetable gardens. It can also be used on garden paths and along fences to prevent weed growth.

Every Sumter resident will have an opportunity to donate their real Christmas tree until January 9. Before donating your tree to the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Grinding of the Greensâ&#x20AC;?, please

note the following: Only live Christmas trees will be accepted-no wreaths, garland, greenery or tree stands. Please remove all tinsel, lights and decorations.

City residents may donate their trees by removing all decorations and placing them at the curb until January 9. County residents are asked to remove decorations from their real Christmas trees and deliver them to one the following sites until January 9: Â&#x2021; &RXQW\ 5HF\FOLQJ &HQWHUV 5DLQDLUH Boulevard, Stamey Livestock Road, Cane Savannah Road, Pinewood Road, Queen Chapel Road, Bethel Church Road, Alligator Branch Road, Pleasant Grove and Spencer Road Â&#x2021; $W WKH HQWUDQFH WR 'LOORQ 3DUN RII Frontage Road) On Saturday, January 11 from 7 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., at Dillon Park, FREE MULCH made from Christmas trees will be distributed to residents by volunteers on a first-come, first-served basis. If you would like to have some mulch, bring containers or bags, tools to pick it up and a way to haul it. Even those who do not donate a tree can receive mulch.

This is the only time mulch will be distributed and it will be distributed to residents only â&#x20AC;&#x201C; no commercial enterprises.

For more information about recycling your Christmas tree, contact Karen Hyatt, Asst.

Public Works Director at 436-2241.

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B6

OBITUARIES

THE ITEM

NOLA C. GEDDINGS Nola C. Geddings, 89, widow of Douglas E. Geddings, died Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014, at Sumter Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Born in Leesville, she was a daughter of the late Elon B. and GEDDINGS Beatrice Ricard Craps.

She was a member of Paxville United Methodist Church and retired from Pioneer Dress Co. Survivors include a daughter, Linda Thompson (Johnny); five grandchildren, Steve Geddings (Jennifer), Wyman Geddings (Robin), Kelli Martinez (Michael), Holly Blackwood (Russell) and Daniel Thompson (Caitlyn); 12 great-grandchildren; a sister, Hazelee Hallman; a very special daughter-in-law, Beryl Geddings; and her sister, Carol Marshall.

She was preceded in death by a son, Fred J. Geddings; and a sister, Etoleu C. Stowers (Glen).

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m.

Wednesday in the Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Dr. George R. Gain and the Rev. John F. Neel officiating.

Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Steve Geddings, Wyman Geddings, Daniel Thompson, Mike Martinez, Isaac Martinez and Russell Blackwood.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 3 p.m. Wednesday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home.

Memorials may be made to Paxville United Methodist Church, P.O Box 203, Pinewood, SC 29125-0203.

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

C. NELSON CRIBB Carnith Nelson Cribb, 58, husband of Martha Dukes Cribb, died Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, at his home.

Born in Hemingway, he was a son of Iris M. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pennyâ&#x20AC;? Ewing and the late Carnith W. Cribb.

Mr. Cribb was a member of Northside Memorial Baptist Church. He was a telephone engi- CRIBB neer for Frontier Communications.

Survivors besides his wife and mother include a daughter, Chassity Cribb McClam (Derrick) of Sumter; a son, C. Michael Cribb (Allison) of Sumter; four grandchildren, Mariah McClam, Clay McClam, Marlee Cribb and Collin Cribb; his maternal grandmother, Alice Young of Sumter; a sister, Darlene Gainey (Gerald) of Sumter; two brothers, Jack Cribb and Derek Ewing (Mandy), both of Sumter; a sister-in-law, Brenda Cribb of Sumter; special friends, Jerry and Debbie Bozeman; a number of uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces and other extended family members.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m.

Wednesday at Northside Memorial Baptist Church with the Rev. Jimmy Holley and the Rev. Jim Johnson officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Danny Marshall, Randy Durham, Jerry Bozeman, Roger Gantt, Steve

McCabe and Earl Woodward.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. today at ElmoreCannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home.

Memorials may be made to Northside Memorial Baptist Church, 1004 N. Main St., Sumter, SC 29153.

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

JOE LOUIS BLYTHER BISHOPVILLE â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Funeral services for Joe louis Blyther, who passed away on Dec. 31, 2013, will he held today at Gum Spring Baptist Church. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Services entrusted to New Life Funeral Services LLC of Bishopville.

SHERWOOD D. SMITH Sherwood Dean Smith, 65, widower of Carol Geddings Smith, died Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014, at his home.

Born in Sumter, he was a son of the late Sherwood and Ruby Geddings Smith. Mr. Smith was a member of Sumter Baptist Temple and retired from Becton-Dickinson.

Surviving are a daughter, Laura S. Austin (Christopher) of Sumter; one grandson, Dustin H. Avery; and two sisters, Marlene McGee (Larry) and Jean Atkinson (Ronnie), all of Sumter.

He was preceded in death by a son, Reggie Smith; and a brother, Walton Smith.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m.

Wednesday in the Chapel of Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home with the Rev. Daniel Jones officiating. Burial will be in Sumter Cemetery.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014

The family will receive friends from 2 to 3 p.m. Wednesday preceding the service at Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and other times at the home.

Memorials may be made to Sumter Baptist Temple, 2295 Harper St., Sumter, SC 29153.

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.

LUCIOUS DAVIS Lucious Davis, 56, died Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born March 24, 1957, in Sumter County, he was a son of Jasper and Dessie Harris Davis.

The family will receive friends and relatives at the family home, 332 Ferrell Road, Sumter.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced

by Williams Funeral Home Inc. of Sumter.

JENNIFER E. KYLE Jennifer E. Kyle, 55, of Sumter, a master barber and wife of Milton Kyle, died Friday, Jan. 3, 2014.

Arrangements by Palmetto Cremation Society of Charleston.

Maj. Gen. THOMAS R. OLSEN Retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Thomas R. Olsen, 79, husband of Jacquelyn â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jackieâ&#x20AC;? Keels Olsen, died Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014, at Providence Hospital in Columbia.

Services will be announced by Elmore Hill

McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, (803) 775-9386.

ROBERT H. WALTERS WEDGEFIELD â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Robert Harley Walters, 78, husband of Mary Frances Exum Walters, died Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014, at his home.

Born in Greene County, Tenn., he was a son of the late Tennyson and Georgia Hensley Walters. Mr. Walters retired from the U.S. Air Force and was an avid bass fisherman. He was also a member of Wedgefield Baptist Church.

Surviving are his wife of 60 years of Wedgefield; a daughter, Deborah Driggers (David) of Wedgefield; five grandchildren, Robert Odom (Cherry) and Becky Matthews, all of Warner Robins, Ga., Michael Walters (Jaime) and Tasha Barkley (Rookie), all of Sumter, and David Driggers (Anna) of Fort Bragg, N.C.; seven great-grandchildren, Griffin, Amber, Hailey, Junior, Izzy, Peyton and Caroline; and a special daughter-inlaw, Agnes McDaniel.

He was preceded in death by Viola Painter Walters; and three sons, Robert Earl Walters, Bobby Lee Walters and Gary Lee Walters.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m.

Thursday at Wedgefield Baptist Church with Pastor Paul Goff and John Benenhaley officiating. Burial will follow in Wedgefield Baptist Church Cemetery with full military honors.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7

p.m. Wednesday at Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and other times at the home.

Memorials may be made to the Wedgefield Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 265, Wedgefield, SC 29168.

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.

JO ANN McDOWELL Jo Ann McDowell, 71, wife of Douglas Lee McDowell, died Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

You may sign the familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s guest book at www.brunsonfuneralhome.com.

Brunson Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 15 E. Hospital St., Manning, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 433-2273.

OPHELIA D. KING MIAMI, Fla. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Ophelia DuPree King, 87, widow of Frank King, died Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, at Baptist Hospice, Miami.

She was born July 17, 1926, in the Wilson Mill section of Manning, a daughter of the late James and Lurena Bradshaw DuPree.

The family is receiving friends beginning Friday at the home of her nephew and his wife, Darryl and Deloris King, 7980 Greeleyville Highway, Manning.

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

SPORTS

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Elliott to run for Nationwide title with NAPA

BY JENNA FRYER The Associated Press CHARLOTTE â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Budding star Chase Elliott has landed a full-time NASCAR ride for 2014 with JR Motorsports, with surprise sponsorship from NAPA Auto Parts.

Elliott, the son of 1988 NASCAR champion Bill Elliott, will race for the Nationwide Series title at JRM driving the No. 9 Chevrolet in a nod to his fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s longtime number.

The ride became possible

when NAPA reversed its decision to leave NASCAR following the scandal surrounding Michael Waltrip Racingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attempt to manipulate a September race to get Martin Truex Jr. into the Chase for the Sprint Cup championELLIOTT ship.

NAPA issued a harsh rebuke of MWR and ended its multimillion-dollar sponsorship of Truex one year into a three-year contract extension

with MWR. That cost Truex his ride at MWR and forced the organization to lay off about a third of its workforce.

But the Atlanta-based company had a change of heart, deciding to return for a 19th season in NASCAR to back the up-and-coming Elliott. The Elliotts are from Dawsonville, Georgia, roughly an hour from NAPA headquarters, and Chase didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t become eligible to compete full-time in NASCAR until he turned 18 at the end of November. â&#x20AC;&#x153;NAPA is pleased to con-

tinue its long standing involvement in NASCAR, the most popular form of motorsports in the United States supported by its many loyal and passionate fans,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; said Dan Askey, president of NAPA. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chase Elliott is a young and talented, future star in the sport and will represent NAPA well both on and off the track.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; NAPA representatives declined interviews.

Elliott will make his Nationwide debut at the Feb. 22 season opening race at Day-

tona. He will report for testing this weekend and be paired with crew chief Greg Ives, who led Regan Smith to a pair of wins and a third-place finish in the standings at JRM last season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is an opportunity of a lifetime for me, a chance to make a career of this,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Elliott said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ask for anything more than a chance with JR Motorsports, the backing of Rick Hendrick, and the support of NAPA.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Pre- Arrange

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SUMTERâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;SINCE 1933 304 South Main Street (803) 773-3381

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

COMICS

BIZARRO

SOUP TO NUTZ

DOG EAT DOUG

GARFIELD

ZITS

BEETLE BAILEY

BLONDIE

ANDY CAPP

DILBERT

BORN LOSER

MOTHER GOOSE

Jeff MacNelly’s SHOE

THE ITEM

B7

Couple wonders if parenting is worth it 2nd time around

THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

D

dear abby

EAR ABBY — My DEAR MAYBE ONLY husband and I ONE — If you are conare happily marsidering enlarging your ried and will celebrate 15 family only so your years of marriage next daughter will have a sibyear. We have a 5-yearling, I don’t recommend old daughter. Our dilemit. What the six-year age ma is whether or difference means not we should is that your chilhave another dren will not grow child. up “together.” By I’m 38 and my the time the husband is 40. We younger one is have become starting high comfortable with school, the older Abigail the fact that our one will be in colVAN BUREN daughter is getlege and gone. ting more indeEven when they pendent. We plan are closer in age, on doing a lot of travelit’s no guarantee that ing, and I will change siblings will be close. jobs after I complete I cannot — and school. We are not sure should not — decide this about starting over with a for you. I am throwing baby. your question open to We are doing OK fimy readers and will nancially, and if we have share their opinions with a second child, it would you. However, I’m sure have to be within the next they will be varied. year, while I finish my For an excellent guide classes and can be home to becoming a better conto be with the baby. Our versationalist and a more daughter is well-adjustsociable person, order ed, and we plan on put“How to Be Popular.” Send ting her in activities such as dance and gymnastics. your name and mailing address, plus check or money We would like your opinion, and also to hear order for $7 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby, Popularity from parents who had Booklet, P.O. Box 447, only one child, as well as Mount Morris, IL 61054people who were raised 0447. (Shipping and hanwithout a sibling.

MAYBE ONLY ONE dling are included in the IN GEORGIA price.)

SUDOKU

B8

Classified lassified

CLASSIFIEDS

THE ITEM

TUESDAY, JANUARY 07, 2014

WWW.THEITEM.COM EITEM.COM

DEADLINES

11:30 a.m. the day before for Tuesday.

Wednesday, Thursday & Friday edition.

9:30 a.m. Friday for Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edition.

11:30 a.m. Friday for Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edition.

803.774.1234

OR TO PLACE YOUR AD ONLINE GO TO WWW.THE ITEM.COM/PLACEMYAD LEGAL NOTICES Estate Notice Sumter County

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

Estate:

Wilma Barton ES2013ES4300606

Personal Representative Judith B. Zeigler 2820 Loretto Drive Sumter, SC 29150

Estate:

Leon Kelley ES2013ES4300612

Personal Representative Charlotte Kelley 2121 Greenville Circle Sumter, SC 29150

Estate: Gwendolyn P. Kennedy ES2013ES4300600 Personal Representative Eugene F. Kennedy C/O Kenneth Hamilton Attorney At Law PO Box 52359 Sumter, SC 29152

Estate:

Daniel Harry Hill ES2013ES4300605

Personal Representative Corrine E. Hill 345 W. Calhoun Street Sumter, SC 29150

Estate:

Lucious Miller ES2013ES4300604

Personal Representative Patricia Miller Williams 2530 Claremont Road Rembert, SC 29128

Legal Notice Courthouse, Sumter, SC. On Thursday, March 13, 2014 at 9:30 A. M. at the Sumter County Registration/Election Commission Office 141 N. Main Street Room 114, the Pinewood Municipal Election Commission will hold a hearing to determine the validity of any ballots challenged in this election, canvass votes cast in the Election and Certify the results of the election.

Bid Notices

Legal Notice Estate: Raymond J. Mathis, Jr. #2013ES4300614 Personal Representative

Margaret L. Gowder 116 Richmond Farms Circle Lexington, SC 29072 Estate:

Ethel M. Colclough #2013ES4300617

Personal Representative Glenda Colclough Fulwood 13 Buttercup Street Sumter, SC 29150

Estate:

Naomi Stewart Amos #2013ES4300613

Personal Representative Mary Amos Duerod 13714 Weatherstone Circle Charlotte, NC 28278

Estate:

Leon Kelley #2013ES4300612

The Scope of Work consists of a pre-manufactured metal building with ancillary metal buildings attached along three sides. There are brick proches on two ends, and an alternate for a 30-inch brick base around the entire building. There is a large main hall for meeting and basketball practice, offices, a smaller meeting room, warming kitchen, toilets and storage rooms. parking and exterior concrete walks are included.

MERCHANDISE

The Pre-Bid Conference will be held on Thursday, January 9, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at the project site.

The Owner will receive Sealed Bids on Thursday, January 23, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at the Lee County Courthouse, 123 South Main Street, Bishopville, South Carolina, 29010 The County of Lee reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive minor formalities in the bidding, and to award the contract to other than the lowest bidder if deemed to be in the best interest of the County Lee County P.O. Box 309 Bishopville, South Carolina 29010

ANNOUNCEMENTS Lost & Found FOUND: Young female dog.

Corner of Liberty and Lafayette.

Tan with some black. Call Sumter SCPA Found: small female Siamese/tabby cat in the area of Alice Dr/Wesmark Blvd. Owner call 305-7119 to identify.

BUSINESS SERVICES Business Services

TOWN OF PINEWOOD

Home Improvements

following office shall be included in this election: Mayor Citizens desiring to be candidates for the above listed office may file at the Pinewood Town Hall at 16 E. Clark Street Pinewood, SC. Filing will open at 12 noon on January 3, 2014 and will close 12 noon January 13, 2014.

The office hours for filing January 3, from 12 noon -5:00 January 6, thru January 10, 2014 from 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. January 13, from 9:00 A.M. - 12 Noon Petitions will be available for Filing This is a Nonpartisan election, and no party affiliation shall be placed on the ballot The polls shall open at 7:00 A. M. on Election Day and closed at 7:00 P. M. At 10:00 A. M. on Election Day, the poll managers will begin examining the absentee ballot return envelopes.

This examination will be held in the Sumter County Election Commission office in the Sumter County

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

Open every weekend.

905-4242

Sumter County Flea Mkt Hwy 378 E. 803-495-2281 500 tables. Sat. $8 free return Sun.

For Sale or Trade Hickory & Oak firewood. Seasoned/Green $65 Delivered. Notch Above Tree Service. 983-9721 Steel Building Allocated Bargains. 40x60 on up.

We do deals. www.gosteelbuildin gs.com.

Source #18X 803-335-2030 Softball Equipment- Pitching machine, Backstop, Balls, Bats ETC. Call for details 803-968-2459 Washers, Dryers, Refrigerators, Stoves. Also new Gas stoves.

Guaranteed. 803-464-5439

Electrical work. New & Repair Call 803-499-4127

The

Pets Pure bred Boxer puppies 1M 4F $300 Call 803-795-5506

Personal Representative Charlotte Kelley 2121 Greenville Circle Sumter, SC 29154

The Municipal Election Commission of the Town of Pinewood announces a Special Election for the Town of Pinewood will be Tuesday March 11, 2014. Any persons wishing to register to vote in this election must do so no later than February 8, 2014. The Sumter County Voter Registration office will be open on February 8th 2014 from 10:00 - 12:00 noon for those wishing to register to vote in this election. There is no filing fee.

Teacup Chihuahua: 9 wks old, 3 males, 1 female. $300 ea. 1st shots, CKC registered. Call Tina @ 803-305-7287.

Invitation For Bids

A complete set of Bid Documents may be obtained for $75.00 (non-refundable) per set from the Architect. Contact Jackson & Sims, Architects, 7-1/2 South Main Street, Sumter, SC, 29150, 803-773-4329 or email: jsarch@ftc-i.net by all interested Bidders.

Sending documents electronically will no be offered.

H.L. Boone, Contractor additions, painting, roofing, gutters, sheetrock, blown ceilings, decks. 773-9904

Roofing C&B Roofing Superior work afford. prices. Free est., Sr. disc.

Comm/Res 30 yr warr. 290-6152 Robert's Metal Roofing, 35 Yrs Exp. 18 colors & 45 yr warranty.

Financing avail, 803-837-1549.

Help Wanted Part-Time

Mobile Home Rentals

Farms & Acreage

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

3BR/1.5BA, all appl. incl. C/H/A, water & sewer incl. $385/mo + dep. Call 803-464-5757.

FSBO: Land, Small & Large acreage.

Owner financing.

803-427-3888.

Scenic Lake 2Br, 2Ba. No pets.

Call between 9am - 5pm ONLY! (803) 499-1500.

Land & Lots for Sale

Dogs

The county of Lee invites qualified General Contractors to offer Sealed Bids for a New Community Center located at 397 Chappell Drive, Bishopville, South Carolina.

Estate: Preston Lamount Bates ES2013ES4300601 Personal Representative Sonya R. Bates C/O George Sink Attorney At Law 1440 Broad River Road Columbia, SC 29210

PETS & ANIMALS

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.

Split Oak Firewood, $60/dump, $70/stacked. Darrell Newman 803-316-0128. Tree Service also available.

Expert Tech, New & used heat pumps & A/C. Will install/repair, warranty; Compressor & labor $600. Call 803-968-9549 or 843-992-2364

EMPLOYMENT Help Wanted Full-Time Established Heating and Air Conditioning Company looking for an experienced HVAC service technician. Must have experience, a valid driver's license, people skills, good personality. Great benefits offered and top pay!

Send responses to PO Box 2378 Sumter SC 29151

Thomas Sumter Academy in Rembert, SC, is seeking an applicant for a part-time General Ledger Bookkeeper.

Some of the requirements are: preparing balance sheet and income statements on a monthly basis, reconciling bank accounts, creating and maintaining budget figures, maintaining the financial aid account, and being responsible for all accounts receivable collections and other related duties. Please contact/send resume to Susan Hux, Administrative Assistant, at tsa.generals@thomassumter.org or call 803.499.3378.

STATEBURG COURTYARD

Resort Rentals Vacation Rentals Santee, Garden City Beach Michelle Hodge, 803-491-4914

Commercial Rentals Guignard Storage: 57 Neal St. Personal storage units.

No deposits. Call 803-491-4914

Driver Trainees Needed Now! Learn to drive for US Xpress! Earn $800+ per week! No experience needed!

CDL -Trained and Job-Ready in 15 days! 1-888-263-7364

Manning - Hwy 260, Excellent location for Church rental. Across from Santee Electric Co. Call 803-473-0321

Unfurnished Apartments 2BR/2BA very nice large Apt. located in town.

Call 803-236-5953 Senior Living Apartments for those 62+ (Rent based on income) Shiloh-Randolph Manor 125 W. Bartlette.

775-0575 Studio/1 Bedroom apartments available EHO

Unfurnished Homes 4269 Confederate Rd. 2 br, 1 ba, C/H/A, appliances, $500 mo. + $500 dep. 916 Furman Dr. 3 Br, 2 Ba, C/H/A, appliances, $600 mo. + $600 dep. 983-3337.

Close to Shaw. Dalzell 3br 2ba brick, fenced yd, screen porch, all appl. C/H/A No Pets. $800 /mo+dep 803-316-8105 Several Singlewides, doublewides and brick homes for rent.

Manning and Home Branch area.

Security deposit req. 225-0389.

Available Feb. 1st. 1001 Arnaud St. 2 br, 2 ba, townhouse. Stove, refrig, $750 mo. + dep. 773-5436 3BR/1BA home. Section 8, $500/mo + dep. Tesco 773-1515 HOUSE FOR RENT Patriot Parkway 2BR/1BA, LR, den, dining room, C/H/A, gas stove.

803-607-9276.

REAL ESTATE Manufactured Housing Singlewides & Doublewides sold wholesale for CASH... Call Now 983-8084 LOW CREDIT SCORE? Been turned down for bad credit? Come try us, we do our own financing.

We have 2-3-4-5 bedroom homes on our lot. Layaway program available. For more information, call 843-389-4215.

Call

RECREATION

2 & 3 BRs 803-494-4015

Trucking Opportunities

RENTALS

Multiple lots for sale: 803-236-8495 ask for Bruce.

Boats / Motors 2007 Triton TR-21X HP Bassmaster Classic Edit. with 250 Mercury XS Call for details 803 968-2459

TRANSPORTATION

Autos For Sale Holiday Special 150 cars $5,000 or less $$$ CASH $$$ Price is Right Auto Sales 3210 Broad St 803-494-4275 2004 Escalade, Pearl white, loaded, 2004 Dodge Ram Crew Cab 4 Wheel drive, low miles, 99' Chevy Ext. Cab v8 with leather Call R & R Motors 803 494-2886 C&C Recycling Parts & Wrecker Service Top price paid for junk cars! We buy scrap metal, alum cans, batteries, copper. 773-7702

3 & 4BR Doublewides in Dalzell.

Owner Financing with large down payments. 803-983-8084

Mobile Home with Lots MH for rent on .05 acre lot 1302 Alva Dr C/H/A. Near Shaw AFB Call Joey at 468-0342

For details on these and additional jobs, both permanent and temporary, please visit our website......

WILLIAMSTEMPORARY.COM Some of the following current job openings are Direct Hire and some are Temp to Hire.

*CHEMICAL LAB TECHNICIAN *H. R. ADMIN. ASSISTANT *INDUSTRIAL CSR *COMPUTER SPECIALIST *COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR *INSURANCE CSR *PURCHASING AGENT *ACCOUNTANT/CPA *PRESS OPERATORS *TECHNICAL ASSOCIATES Apply in person at:

Norman Williams and Associates, Inc. 344 West Liberty Street No Fees To Applicants.

Looking to ind...

A NEW BEST FRIEND?

Tree Service STATE TREE SERVICE Worker's Comp & General liability insurance. Top quality service, lowest prices. 803-494-5175 or 803-491-5154 www.statetree.net A Notch Above Tree Care Full quality service low rates, lic./ins., free est BBB accredited 983-9721 The Tree Doctor Any size tree removal & stump grinding. Trimming & clearing. No job too big or small. Call 775-8560 or 468-1946. We accept credit cards and offer senior discounts

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