July 10, 2014

MILITARY: These men have the power to kill millions, start nuclear war A4

Police sniff out snack truck Missing sodas, chips found in Rimini A2 THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2014

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Grenades found at Goodwill — again Donated inert munitions were ‘gift’ to Shaw airman

BY ROB COTTINGHAM rcottingham@theitem.com (803) 774-1225 They might not have been lethal, but they definitely gave the employees a jolt.

Workers at Goodwill on Broad Street were on pins and needles after an employee

found a box of flashbang grenades among the donations on Wednesday.

According to one employee, a Shaw Air Force Base airman incidentally included the box in her donation which had been picked up from Palmetto Pointe apartments. The devices were found later once em-

Gadget takes CSI: Sumter to ‘new level’

ployees began sorting through donations.

“A co-worker was going through the donations and found them,” the employee said. “She then brought them into the office and asked what they were. I immediately

MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

Personnel from Shaw Air Force Base examine an inert flashbang grenade in the parking lot of Goodwill on Broad Street in Sumter on Wednesday. A box of the devices was reportedly donated accidentally by an airman when Goodwill employees picked up donations from SEE GRENADES, PAGE A8 Palmetto Pointe apartments.

HIGHER EDUCATION

She’s back in school at 73

SLED donates microscope to sheriff ’s office investigators

BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com (803) 774-1272 If all goes according to plan, Sumter County Sheriff’s Office will soon keep a bigger eye on crime.

The sheriff’s chemist’s office, which handles much of the forensic evidence the department collects, is slated to receive a powerful new microscope that would give Sumter County one of the more advanced local crime labs in the state.

Chemist Joseph Powell was recently contacted about taking on a scanning electron microscope, or SEM, currently used by agents at the State Law Enforcement Division.

SLED’s lease with the manufacturer is up, so the state agency is getting rid of the machine. But because the machine is still operable, the company offered it to Powell, a former SLED chemist, on a “zero-dollar lease” for the rest of its usable life.

The new microscope will be a boon to local investigators. Sumter County would be the only law enforcement agency besides SLED to have an SEM. “You see this kind of stuff on ‘CSI’ and all that,” said Sheriff Anthony Dennis. “This will bring us to that whole new level.”

The electron microscope can blow up an image to 100,000 times its true size, giving officers a chance to closely examine evidence without having to send it to an outside lab.

The microscope would primarily be used to examine evidence collected by sheriff’s deputies for gunshot residue.

“We wouldn’t normally handle a suicide, but if there’s a question about whether it was a homicide, you can show if there was gunshot residue on the hands,” Powell said. “But it can be used for any kind of solid material ... in case of a fire, it can determine if a flammable accelerant was used.”

Dennis can foresee sheriff’s investigations where this microscope could play a decisive role.

“In an extreme example, if we had a case where a body was moved, this could help us locate where it was moved from, just looking at the different pollen on the clothing,” he said.

An SEM works by focusing an electron beam onto a sample, producing a highly focused resolution of the

SEE CSI, PAGE A8

RAYTEVIA EVANS / THE SUMTER ITEM

Betty Brown, 73, works with tutor Sharome Henry in the Student Learning Center at Central Carolina Technical College in Sumter recently. After raising six children and retiring twice, Brown has decided to finish school and receive an associate degree in criminal justice. Brown said after earning that degree, she hopes to re-enroll to study for a degree in religion.

Local grandmother fights for dream she has to earn degree

BY RAYTEVIA EVANS revans@theitem.com (803) 774-1214

S

umter resident Betty Brown is not your typical college student. She isn’t an 18-year-old fresh out of high school with the world as her playground. She isn’t inexperienced or unaware of the obstacles in life. In fact, she has encountered a few and overcome them.

She might not be a teenager, but at 73, Brown’s dreams and goals are as big as those of a naïve teenager waiting to start college to experience independence and success.

When Brown sits in her Central Carolina Technical College classes Monday through Wednesday, she is obviously unique — different from her fellow classmates. Like any other student, Brown frequents the Student Learning Center on the school’s main campus and has become familiar with the tutors.

.com

BETTY BROWN Criminal justice student Brown has lived in three states, raised six children and retired twice, but even after those accomplishments, it seems she is just getting started.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS Brown was born in Horatio and raised in the Sumter area, where she attended Green School — a school designated for black children that closed with less than 100 students enrolled in 1968. Brown attended Lincoln High School but dropped out

DEATHS, B5

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‘I’ve had my ups and downs, but through it all, I’m still able to try to make accomplishments. I am proud of that, and it’s really a blessing.’

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in 1957 and didn’t complete her studies.

“I married at 17, and I moved to New York in 1983. Then I lived in New Jersey from 1984 to 2000,” Brown said. “In 1982, one of my daughters graduated from high school, and then in 1983, I received my diploma from adult education.

As a matter of fact, I wore the same gown as my daughter.”

Brown said she was married for 13 years before she returned to South

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THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

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

LOCAL BRIEFS FROM STAFF REPORTS

Authorities seek man wanted in burglary Authorities are looking for a burglary suspect who fled from officers on two separate occasions.

RaQwan Demon Farrar, 19, of 17 Sims Ave., is wanted for first-degree burglary in connection to a Monday night incident. According to reports, officers responded to a home on Shawside Drive early Monday morning FARRAR after the victim, Farrar’s girlfriend, who lives at the residence, received threatening text messages from him.

The victim reportedly called law enforcement and requested a deputy check out the residence before she arrived.

When the officer arrived, Farrar reportedly ran out of the home. Deputies then pursued Farrar on foot but were unable to apprehend him.

Officers then attempted to serve the warrant on Farrar the next day at his residence, but when they arrived, Farrar fled once more.

Farrar is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing about 140 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information about Farrar and his whereabouts should call the sheriff’s office at (803) 436-2000 or (803) 436-2004.

Local Girl Scouts hold summer sessions Girl Scouts of South Carolina — Mountains to Midlands Inc. is holding two summer sessions for rising firstthrough fifth-graders who are not currently in a Girl Scout troop.

The first meeting’s theme will be “Celebrating Girl Scouts” and will be from 3 to 4:30 p.m. July 12 at the Sumter County Library’s main meeting room, 111 N. Harvin St. It will offer the chance to learn about Girl Scouting history, traditions, songs and crafts.

The second meeting’s theme will be “Celebrating New Friends” and will be at the same time and location July 26 and will be a chance to celebrate girls’ friendships all over the world and make new friends. There will be games and crafts.

Registration for each event is $7, and financial assistance is available upon request.

To register or for more information, contact Mandy Kinlaw, community development manager for Sumter and Kershaw counties, at (803) 840-6112 or mkinlaw@ gssc-mm.org.

Couple jailed in pot-growing bust

BY ROB COTTINGHAM rcottingham@theitem.com (803) 774-1225 A Sumter couple is behind bars and facing several charges after their home marijuana-growing operation was discovered by law enforcement.

According to reports, deputies with Sumter County Sheriff’s Office’s Drug Unit in collaboration with Sumter County Aviation conducted a marijuana eradication sweep across the east

and south sides of Sumter County on Tuesday.

During their sweep, authorities observed a quantity of marijuana plants in the yard of a Shetland Street residence. Ground units were immediately directed to the residence, 6265 Shetland St., where they found five marijuana plants ranging in size from 2 to 6 feet tall.

Agents then made contact with the residents of the home, who reportedly gave consent to search the rest of the

home. From that search, officers acquired both processed marijuana and pipes.

Walter Parrott, 64, and Melinda Parrott, 51, both of the incident location, were arrested and charged with manufacturing marijuana, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The estimated street value of the plants is $10,000, and the other items have a total value of $200. Officials said more arrests are expected.

Missing snack truck found

BY ROB COTTINGHAM rcottingham@theitem.com (803) 774-1225 Snack food and soda lovers of Sumter County can rest a little easier. The missing snack truck has been found.

After a two-day search for the stolen vehicle, Sumter County Sheriff’s Office investigators were notified that the Snacktime vending truck was found early Wednesday afternoon in Clarendon County.

“They found it in the Clarendon County portion of Rimini,” said Lt. Robert Burnish of the sheriff’s office.

According to initial reports, the vehicle was stolen while the owner was restocking snack machines at a business in the 2800 block of Broad Street Extension on Monday after the driver reportedly had a small argument with the suspected thief.

The suspect then took off in the snack truck and during the next few hours was spotted across the Pinewood and Wedgefield areas of Sumter County, including a soda-can spill near the intersection of Wedgefield and St. Pauls Church roads and a sighting at a gas station in Pinewood.

Officers followed lead after lead but did not find the truck. They did, however, locate the suspect, who was found walking down Pinewood Road.

When law enforcement found him, Anthony Todd Black, 47, of 4742 Broad St., reportedly told officers he was having a heart attack.

After he was treated at Tu-

ROB COTTINGHAM / THE SUMTER ITEM

Sgt. Michael Bean of Sumter County Sheriff’s Office dusts a few items for prints in a Snacktime vending truck at the impound lot at the sheriff’s office on Wednesday. The truck was stolen Monday and was missing until early Wednesday afternoon. omey Regional Medical Center, Black was arrested and charged for the theft.

Once the victim picked Black out of a lineup, the charge against him was ele-

vated to grand larceny.

Black faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of his charge.

Despite extensive questioning, Black refused to di-

vulge the location of the missing truck to investigators. As quoted by Burnish, Black last spoke of the truck by saying, “I’m not talking about it anymore.”

“From what I’ve heard, he’s still not talking,” said Sgt. Michael Bean, smiling while standing next to the truck.

Investigators waited patiently as the truck was towed from Rimini to the sheriff’s office for processing.

“They said it was back in the woods a good bit,” Bean said. “At first, they couldn’t get the cables to it to tow it out. Eventually, they ended up driving the truck closer to the road so it could be towed.”

With hundreds of soda cans and snacks strewn about the bed of the truck, investigators have quite a bit of work ahead of them.

“We’ll be dusting for latent prints in areas that haven’t been disturbed as much as the items in the back, such as the steering wheel, the dashboard and the outside of the cabin,” Bean said.

“We’ll package a lot of it and send it to (South Carolina Law Enforcement Division), and they’ll do more processing for trace evidence.”

But local investigators have plenty to work with, according to Bean.

“We’ve found footprints on top of the cooler, as well as a palm print,” he said. “And we’ve got some cans that have been recovered that appear to have been opened, as if someone drank from them. We’ll try to pull DNA from those.”

Suspect arrested in vehicle break-ins

CORRECTION

BY ROB COTTINGHAM rcottingham@theitem.com (803) 774-1225

The times for the Business After Hours for the Mary McLeod Bethune Museum were incorrectly listed in an article that appeared in Saturday’s edition of The Sumter Item. It should have read 7 to 9 p.m. July 19 and July 26.

Authorities have arrested a Bishopville man in connection to a string of auto break-ins that occurred during the weekend at a Broad Street hotel.

Traevon Jonathen Shannon, 18, of 55 Sam Hill Drive, Bishopville, was being held at Sumter-Lee Regional

Detention Center on Monday for unrelated charges when investigators with Sumter Police Department linked him to the string of local break-ins.

SHANNON Officials announced Tuesday that Shannon is being charged with five counts of breaking and entering an automobile.

According to reports, those charges

stem from five vehicles that were broken into at Quality Inn between late Thursday night and early Friday morning. Each of the vehicles was apparently rummaged through after a window had been shattered with an unknown object.

So far, officials said the items reported stolen included gift cards, a cellphone charging cable, sunglasses, a GPS device and a radar detection system.

HOW TO REACH US IS YOUR PAPER MISSING? ARE YOU GOING ON VACATION? 20 N. Magnolia St., Sumter, S.C. 29150 (803) 774-1200 Jack Osteen Editor and Publisher Jack@theitem.com (803) 774-1238 Braden Bunch Senior News Editor bbunch@theitem.com (803) 774-1201 Waverly Williams Sales Manager wwilliams@theitem.com (803) 774-1237

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LOCAL | NATION

THE SUMTER ITEM

Soccer player charged in ref ’s murder Man died after punch in throat DETROIT (AP) — A Detroitarea soccer player accused of killing a referee with a punch to the neck was charged Wednesday with second-degree murder.

The charge against Baseel Abdul-Amir Saad was announced eight days after John Bieniewicz died from his injuries.

Bieniewicz, 44, of Westland, was working as a referee at a men’s soccer game in Livonia on June 29 when Saad, faced with ejection, struck him with a punch, Wayne County prosecutor Kym Worthy said.

“This is especially tragic because it happened as the World Cup dominates our television screens,” Worthy said. “The alleged actions of this defendant cannot be tolerated, and there must be action taken in our Legislature to make sure that there are stronger penalties when a referee is the victim during organized sport.”

Saad, 36, of Dearborn had been charged with assault with

intent to do great bodily harm before Bieniewicz died July 1.

That charge will be dropped.

Saad has been in custody since June 30. He will appear again in a Livonia court today on the second-degree murder charge, which carries a punishment of up to life in prison.

Bieniewicz, a part-time referee for two decades, was a dialysis technician at Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor.

He was married and had two sons.

Bieniewicz was punched while working at an over-30 Michigan United Soccer League game.

“Do I think he intended to kill John? No,” said Jim Acho, a lawyer and Bieniewicz family friend. “Nevertheless, there are consequences for even unintended results of a direct act.

“It’s a shame. (Saad) has four children,” Acho said.

“One senseless act has devastated two families in the blink of an eye.”

Manning City Council Dist. 5 run-off election set for July 22

BY JIM HILLEY (803) 774-1211 jim@theitem.com Manning City Council District 5 candidates Julius “J.J.” Dukes and Gloria Frierson will vie to gain the majority of Manning’s voters in two weeks after none of the four candidates in Tuesday’s election were able to garner a majority of the votes necessary in the special election to win the council’s District 5 seat outright.

DUKES Only 125 voters cast ballots in Tuesday’s special election to fill the unexpired term of the late Gregory Witherspoon.

FRIERSON District 5 voters will have the opportunity to exercise their voting rights Tuesday, July 22, in the runoff election.

Unofficial totals in Tuesday’s election showed Dukes as the top vote-getter with 40 votes, or 32 percent, followed

by Frierson with 31 votes, or 24.8 percent. Write-in candidate Sharmane Anderson received 28 votes, and Louis Griffith received 26 votes in Tuesday’s race.

More than half of the votes cast in the special election were absentee ballots.

Poll workers at Manning Fire Station described the voting as “very slow,” a description borne out by the extremely low turnout.

According to a spokesperson at Manning City Hall, city officials made the decision Tuesday night to consolidate all three polling locations at the Cypress Center, 50 Hospital St., for the runoff election. An official announcement of the polling location changes will be made later, she said. Voting hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Dukes said he felt “great” about surviving the first phase of the campaign but expressed his concern about the lack of public participation.

“For whatever reason, the public doesn’t feel that the city council is important,” he said.

THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2014

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County OKs final reading of penny sales tax ordinance

BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com (803) 774-1272 The quest for a new capital penny sales tax reached its final stage this week when Sumter County Council approved the final reading of the ordinance sending the tax to the voters. Council members gave the measure unanimous approval after passing two previous readings. Approval was the last stage before county residents are asked to extend the one-cent tax for another seven years past 2016, to fund 28 listed project areas across the county. The referendum will take place Nov. 4.

Other actions from Tuesday’s council meeting:

• Council approved a $2.5 million bond issue to fund capital needs such as new vehicle purchases in the upcoming fiscal year.

The bond was included in the county budget passed for 2014-15. The bond will likely be offered later this year.

• The zoning ordinance was amended to tighten the definition of a publicly maintained street in the county maintenance system and clarify that property subdivisions must border on a public roadway. The county recently turned down a request to create new subdivisions along a private unpaved road out of concerns it would create demand for new county maintenance.

• Council waived a moratorium on county employees’ purchasing supplemental insurance policies from outside vendors.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

House Speaker Bobby Harrell, flanked by his family, speaks with the media after arguments were heard in the South Carolina Supreme Court on Tuesday in Columbia. The state’s highest court said Wednesday that Attorney General Alan Wilson has the authority to investigate Harrell, overturning a lower court ruling to halt an investigation into allegations that the Charleston Republican abused his power for personal benefit.

Justices say prosecutor can investigate Harrell

BY MEG KINNARD The Associated Press COLUMBIA — South Carolina’s top prosecutor has the authority to investigate House Speaker Bobby Harrell, the state’s highest court ruled Wednesday, saying Attorney General Alan Wilson properly empaneled a state grand jury to consider allegations the powerful Charleston Republican abused his power for personal benefit.

The ruling overturned a lower court’s decision earlier this year to halt the prosecutor’s investigation. Wilson had been appealing a decision by Circuit Judge Casey Manning, who said Wilson hadn’t shown any criminal evidence against Harrell and also ruled that legislative ethics panels — which are only empowered to investigate civil allegations — must first deal with allegations against state lawmakers before prosecutors can be involved.

The court unanimously disagreed with Manning, saying that Wilson’s prosecutorial power operates separately from the legislative ethics process.

“The House Ethics Committee’s concurrent civil regulatory authority does not affect the attorney general’s authority to initiate a criminal investigation in any way, whether or not there is a referral, or even a pending House investigation,” the court wrote.

During arguments last month, Harrell’s attorneys said Manning was right to halt the probe. In defense of their case, prosecutors said the fact that Wilson had asked state police to investigate the speaker, coupled with his subsequent decision to present those findings to a state grand jury, indicate the presence of more than just civil ethics allegations against Harrell.

Ashley Landess of the South Carolina Policy Council — a libertarian-leaning, prolimited-government think tank — initially accused Harrell of using his powerful position for personal benefit, including getting a permit for his pharmaceutical business and appointing his brother to a judicial candidate screening committee.

Landess ultimately took her allegations to Wilson.

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NATION

THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

Nuke missile duty: ‘It weighs on your mind’ These select few have the power to kill millions

BY ROBERT BURNS AP National Security Writer BERTHOLD, N.D. — As a nuclear missileer with his finger on the trigger of the world’s most powerful weapon, Air Force 1st Lt. Andy Parthum faces pressures few others know. He spends his workday awaiting an order he hopes never arrives: to launch nuclear-tipped missiles capable of killing millions and changing the course of history.

Parthum is one of 90 young airmen who carry out their mission not in the air, but in a hole in the ground.

Across the northern tier of the U.S., pairs of missileers sit at consoles inside bomb-proof capsules 60 feet underground and linked to groups of Minuteman 3 missiles, a nucleararmed weapon President John F. Kennedy dubbed an “Ace in the Hole.”

The missileers’ mission was born in the early years of the Cold War, when the threat of nuclear Armageddon was ever-present, yet it lives on despite the emergence of new threats such as global terrorism and cyberattacks and the shrinking of defense budgets.

The missileers have never engaged in combat, although the Air Force calls them combat crew members. Still, no one can exclude the possibility, remote as it may be, that one day a president will deliver the gut-wrenching order that would compel a missileer to unleash a nuclear hell that would alter world history.

“Absolutely, it weighs on your mind,” Parthum, 25, said on a recent afternoon at Juliet-01, a Minuteman 3 missile launch site on a small patch of prairie 9 miles from the village of Berthold and about 25 miles west of Minot Air Force Base, whose 91st Missile Wing controls 150 of the nation’s 450 Minuteman missiles.

It may come as a surprise to some that the Air Force still operates intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs. And therein lies part of the problem for missileers, who feel underappreciated in a military that has long since shifted its main focus.

Government made $100B in improper payments WASHINGTON (AP) — Tax credits for families that don’t qualify. Medicare payments for treatments that might not be necessary. Unemployment benefits for people who are secretly working. Federal agencies reported making $100 billion in payments last year to people who may not have been entitled to receive them.

Congressional investigators say the figure could be even higher.

“The amounts here are absolutely staggering,” said Rep. John Mica, R-Fla. “It’s over $100 billion each of the last five years. That’s a staggering half a trillion dollars in improper payments.”

Mica chairs the House Oversight government operations subcommittee, which held a hearing on improper payments Wednesday.

Each year, federal agencies are required to estimate the amount of improper payments they issue. They include overpayments, underpayments, payments to the wrong recipient and payments that were made without proper documentation.

Some improper payments are the result of fraud, while others are unintentional, caused by clerical errors or mistakes in awarding benefits without proper verification.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Second Lt. Oliver Parsons, left, and 1st Lt. Andy Parthum check systems in the underground control room where they work a 24-hour shift at an intercontinental ballistic missiles launch-control facility near Minot, North Dakota. The crew is responsible for controlling and launching the 10 nuclear-tipped Minuteman 3 missiles located in remote launch sites under their command.

Parthum, however, says he takes pride in his role and accepts its importance.

“It’s something that’s a little abstract, so that could be hard for people, I can see that,” he said. “But once you understand that you’re providing the backbone, the bedrock for United States nuclear deterrence, then it’s a lot easier to appreciate, I think.”

Parthum, a native of Centreville, Virginia, and his crewmate, 23-year-old 2nd Lt. Oliver Parsons of Shawnee, Kansas, showed visitors around the small launch control center where they were several hours into a 24-hour watch over a group of 10 missiles.

It’s a sometimes tedious duty the Air Force calls “standing alert.” Some say their biggest challenge is staying alert.

Missileers, typically 22- to 27-year-old lieutenants and captains, work in pairs, with a relief crew arriving every 24 hours. A missileer generally does two “alerts” a week. It was Parthum’s 118th. (He keeps track.)

It’s not hard to see why some missileers find it hard to adjust to life under the prairie.

An 8-ton blast door seals their launch control center from a

potential incoming nuclear detonation. Twice last year launch officers were disciplined after admitting they left the blast door open while a crewmate was asleep — a security violation. That and other lapses in discipline, training and leadership were documented by The Associated Press during the past year, prompting Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to declare that “something is wrong.”

The ICBM launch control center is actually two separate structures. An outer protective shell is made of reinforced concrete lined with a steel plate. A smaller, box-like enclosure where the missileers work, eat and sleep is suspended inside the protective shell by pneumatic cylinders called “shock isolators” attached to the shell’s ceiling by heavy chains; the isolators are designed to keep the space stable in the event of a nuclear blast.

These underground command posts have changed relatively little since they were built in the early 1960s, although the Air Force recently committed to refurbishing them to make a missileer’s life a bit easier. Juliet-01, the command post an AP reporting team was permitted to visit,

had just been repainted and spruced up to remove corrosion caused by water intrusion, giving it what one officer called “that new car smell.”

The launch center is accessible only from an above-ground building that resembles a small ranch-style home. An access shaft descends from a vestibule inside the building, which is controlled by a security team and surrounded by alarms and a chain-link fence.

Nuclear weapons duty is a deadly, serious business, but it’s not without room for a pinch of missileer humor. A patch on the green leather seat from which Parthum monitors a computer console linked electronically to each of his 10 Minuteman 3 missiles offers these pithy phrases: “This Round’s On The House,” and “Party Til You Nuke.”

In fact, the U.S. has never fired an ICBM, other than for flight testing. Their stated purpose is to help deter nuclear war by convincing a potential attacker that it would have more to lose than to gain.

Upward of two-thirds of missileers were “volunteered” for the job after gaining their officer commission. Once they complete basic ICBM training at Vandenberg Air Force Base

in California, they are sent on four-year tours to one of three missile bases: Minot, Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, or F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming.

The responsibility is enormous, the cost of mistakes potentially colossal, ranging from environmental damage to inadvertently triggering a nuclear war.

That is why the Air Force has long-established rules, procedures and backup safety systems to minimize the possibility of a major error.

Through time, with the passing of the Cold War, the Air Force lost focus on its nuclear mission.

It also lost a good deal of what remained of the allure of serving as a missileer.

“Even during the Cold War while facing down the Soviets, it could be difficult to convince bright young airmen that what they were doing was worthwhile,” Robert W. Stanley II wrote in a research paper in 2011 before becoming vice commander of the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom. Last year he was promoted to commander there but resigned in March 2014 amid a scandal over exam cheating among his missileers.

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(:35) The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Comedian Dana Carvey. (N) (HD) (:35) Late Show with David Letterman Michael Douglas; Paul Morrissey; Kiesza. (N) (HD) (:35) Jimmy Kimmel Live Roseanne Barr; Eric Dane; Tech N9ne. (HD)

Tavis Smiley Alex BBC World News Tizon. (HD) International news.

Two and a Half Two and a Half Men Alan has the Men Unrequited flu. (HD) love. (HD) House: Dead and Buried Young patient’s teenage angst. (HD)

Charlie Rose (N) (HD) The Middle: Valentine’s Day II (HD) The Arsenio Hall Show Tyrese Gibson. (HD)

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Need a laugh? You won’t get it from ‘Welcome to Sweden’

BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH Whenever you hear that a new TV show was “based on the life” of its semi-famous lead actor, you know you’re in for a stinker. Greg Poehler stars in the summer sitcom “Welcome to Sweden” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14), which he co-produces with his sister, comedian Amy Poehler (“Saturday Night Live” and “Parks and Recreation”).

“Sweden” marries the comedy of discomfort of “Parks” and “The Office” with a classic fish-out-of-water tale. Unfortunately for viewers, these are pretty boring fish.

Bruce Evans (Poehler) is an accountant, or rather, a “celebrity accountant” (for guest stars that include Will Ferrell), who chucks away a highpaying job to follow his gorgeous blonde girlfriend, Emma Wiik (Josephine Bornebusch), to her native land.

With Emma’s apartment under renovations, the couple is forced to spend time with her family at a bucolic country estate.

Lena Olin (“Chocolat”) stars as Emma’s judgmental mother, who makes snide subtitled remarks about Bruce’s height, his lack of direction, his inability to speak Swedish, etc.

At first, Bruce’s big predicament is his inability to have sex with Emma because her wacky family keeps showing up. The tone shifts in ghastly fashion in the second episode, when Bruce attends a language class and encounters a man whose life was destroyed by an American bombing raid in some unnamed country.

Ever the wimp, Bruce pretends to be a Canadian. But not even this ruse can protect him from the sight of the man’s maimed relatives. This yanks the comedy from gentle discomfort to something more serious and savage. That may be more than some can endure.

While “Sweden” is based on Greg Poehler’s life, it bears some resemblance to “Lilyhammer,” actor and musician Steven Van Zandt’s comedy about a New York gangster stranded in witness protection in Norway. Its two seasons can be streamed on Netflix.

And it’s a much funnier show.

• If “Welcome to Sweden” is unfunny, at least it’s vaguely interesting. The same can’t be

p.m., Sundance, TV-14).

• Mycroft returns on “Elementary” (10 p.m., CBS, r, TV14).

CULT CHOICE Filmmakers Albert Maysles, David Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin follow four door-todoor Bible peddlers in the 1969 cinema verite documentary “Salesman” (8 p.m., TCM). The film often revolves around one Boston salesman who slowly unravels as he loses the ability to close a deal. A low-budget masterpiece that more than lives up to its “unforgettable” description.

SERIES NOTES Jane Lynch hosts “Hollywood Game Night” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG) * Silas asks too much on “The Vampire Diaries” (8 p.m., CW, r, TV-14) * Grave reservations on “The Millers” (8:30 p.m., CBS, r, TV-PG) * Eviction night on “Big Brother” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14) * A gasp from the past on “The Originals” (9 p.m., CW, r, TV-14) * Ellen DeGeneres visits “Last Comic Standing” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14) * Life-saving measures on “NY Med” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-14).

LATE NIGHT

NBCUNIVERSAL MEDIA LLC

Josephine Bornebusch stars as Emma Wiik and Greg Poehler as Bruce Evans on “Welcome to Sweden” premiering at 9 p.m. today on NBC. said of “Working the Engels” (9:30 p.m., NBC, TV-PG), a comedy about a family of misfits who takes over the law firm of its recently deceased patriarch in order to pay off his debts.

Andrea Martin (“SCTV”) stars as Ceil, a delusional widow whose hospitalization brings the clan together. A master of physical comedy, Martin is reduced here to trying to drink four cocktails at a time and wobbling around on crutches after an apparent suicide attempt. Believe me, that’s as funny as this gets.

• “Kidnapped for Christ” (7:30 p.m., Showtime) documents a religious center for troubled American teens that’s located

in the Dominican Republic, where “therapeutic” methods border on physical and psychological abuse.

• Chris Titus hosts “Pawnography” (10 p.m., History, TV-PG), a game-show-like trivia contest shot in Las Vegas, featuring the guys from “Pawn Stars.”

TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS • Sheldon’s mother has a surprise on “The Big Bang Theory” (8 p.m., CBS, r, TV14).

• Five finalists make the most of leftovers on “Hell’s Kitchen” (8 p.m. Fox, TV-14).

• Intimations of mortality

on “Black Box” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-14).

• A battle in the Badlands on “Defiance” (8 p.m., Syfy, TV14).

• A wrinkle in the threestrikes law causes problems on “Gang Related” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14).

• Undercover with gun-runners on “Rookie Blue” (9 p.m., ABC, TV-14).

• “The Sixties” (9 p.m., CNN) reflects on the British Invasion and changing musical tastes.

• A Vega senator with a selfish agenda shuts down government services on “Dominion” (9 p.m., Syfy, TV-MA).

• Daniel hopes Atlanta can offer anonymity on “Rectify” (9

“The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” and “The Colbert Report” are pre-empted * Lisa Kudrow, George R.R. Martin and Wild Cub appear on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS, r) * Melissa McCarthy, Jeff Wild, Loni Love and Brad Wollack are booked on “Chelsea Lately” (11 p.m., E!, r) * Michael Douglas, Paul Morrissey and Kiesza appear on “Late Show With David Letterman” (11:35 p.m., CBS) * Jimmy Fallon welcomes Dana Carvey, Hailee Steinfeld and MAGIC! on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) * Roseanne Barr, Eric Dane and Tech N9ne appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (11:35 p.m., ABC, r) * Keri Russell, Kevin Millar, Sean Casey and Michelle Wolf visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC) * Craig Ferguson hosts Carl Reiner and Valerie Azlynn on “The Late Late Show” (12:35 a.m., CBS).

Copyright 2014, United Feature Syndicate

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THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2014

Elected officials need our prayers, too

S

nickers fluttered throughout the gathered congregation when the minister asked a small group of children what advice they would give the president if they were to meet.

After a few snide answers, no doubt fueled by their parents’ political leanings, the minister redirected: Should we pray for our president?

Many in the small group adamantly shook their heads, their thought processes painfully obvious: You pray for people you like and who, in your mind, do good things.

Their emphatic answers threw into sharp relief their own parents’ attitude toward prayer, specifically that their personal political views are paramount to their responsibilities in the faith.

It’s dangerous to write a column that encompasses these two polarizing topics, politics and religion, but it’s summer, and I’m hoping my easily agitated readers are on vacation. If not, let me be up front in my opinion in case you want to stop reading, or if you want to get started on that angry letter to the editor.

I believe that spiritual faith is more important than politics. It is also my firm belief that we as believers have an obligation to pray for those in office, regardless of

Faith Matters JAMIE H. WILSON

how we feel about their decisions.

I think it’s easy to pray for the people who share our preferences, just like it’s easy to badmouth those who don’t.

In many situations, we view praying for another person as a way to cheer on a member

of our team.

Perhaps that’s why we often forget to “pray for our enemies” (Matt. 5:44).

A lot of believers feel uncomfortable at the direction of our country with certain leaders at the helm.

What is most discouraging is our attitude and reactions.

When a controversial policy is handed down, they are content to throw their hands up in frustration rather than folding them in prayer.

I Timothy instructs us to pray for “all people — for kings and all those in authority …” (I Tim. 2:21a, NIV). That last verse doesn’t end with “who believe the same things you believe.” It’s a command to pray for our leaders: the good, the bad and those who seem to flip-flop back and forth.

Even those who are diametrically opposed to every edict handed down by our president or other elected or appointed officials should find themselves uttering their names in prayer.

It is evident that our officials, from city council to the president, need prayer.

It’s just as important that our children hear us praying for our government officials.

I hope the parents of the kids who answered the question about prayer were spurred to make some changes in their spiritual instruction at home.

Praying for those you dislike doesn’t come easily. The words may seem sour and unnatural at first, but I encourage you to keep at it.

If the prospect of praying for our officials is still unpalatable, think of it this way: You can still pray for a governing official and be opposed to his or her political ideologies.

Believers on both sides of the aisle can actually find themselves praying toward the same end: That God would guide that elected official into the right decisions.

You can pray that our leaders would do the best thing for our country.

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

THE SUMTER ITEM

RELIGION BRIEFS FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS

House votes to reauthorize religious freedom commission WASHINGTON — The House has approved a five-year reauthorization of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.

The independent government agency reports on violations of religious rights abroad and recommends actions the U.S. could take against countries that persecute or fail to prevent persecution of people of faith.

Virginia Congressman Frank Wolf said, “Without this commission, there would be nobody around to point out what is taking place to these groups.”

Suit challenges abortion clinic buffer zone CONCORD, N.H. — A conservative Christian law group has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to strike down New Hampshire’s 25-foot buffer zone around abortion clinics.

Alliance Defending Freedom said Tuesday that it filed the suit on behalf of several abortion opponents.

The suit says the buffer zone signed into law this year violates the free speech rights of abortion protesters.

ADF filed the Massachusetts lawsuit that led to last month’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down that state’s buffer zone.

RELIGION

THE SUMTER ITEM

THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2014

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Locals named to national positions Sumter couple will help lead convention

BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com (803) 774-1250

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pope Francis celebrates the Angelus noon prayer from his studio window overlooking St. Peter’s square at the Vatican on Sunday. The pope met Monday with six sexual abuse victims and asked them for forgiveness.

Pope: Bishops must be accountable Francis brings abuse scandal into spotlight, asks for forgiveness

“Before God and his people, I express my sorrow for the sins and grave crimes of clerical sexual abuse committed against you. And I humbly ask forgiveness,” Francis said.

“I beg your forgiveness, too, for the sins of omission on the part of church leaders who did not respond adequately to reports of abuse made by family members, as well as by abuse victims themselves,” the pope said. “This led to even greater suffering on the part of those who were abused, and it endangered other minors who were at risk.”

But in speaking of accountability, he made no mention of what countless victims and their families around the globe have waited years to hear: whether bishops and other prelates who shuffled child-molesting priests from parish to parish or didn’t inform police and prosecutors would be fired or demoted.

“All bishops must carry out

their pastoral ministry with utmost care in order to help foster the protection of minors, and they will be held accountable,” Francis said, delivering his homily in his native Spanish. The survivors were allowed to bring a relative or friend and an interpreter.

The U.S.-based victims group SNAP, or the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, reacted skeptically.

“We are glad the pope promises to ‘hold accountable’ Catholic officials who conceal abuse,” SNAP Director David Clohessy said in statement.

“But he hasn’t done it yet, not in Rome, nor in Buenos Aires.

Saying and doing are different things. The first is easy; the second is hard.”

Anne Barrett Doyle, a director of another victims advocacy group, BishopAccountability.org, said the pope’s meeting with the three men and three women was still a positive step.

Allen Chapel AME Church, 471 Lynam Road, announces: * Sunday — Usher’s anniversary program at 10 a.m.

* Outdoor lakeside nondenominational worship service at 9:30 a.m. each Sunday through Aug. 31.

Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 2571 Joseph Lemon-Dingle Road, Jordan community, Manning, announces: * Saturday, Aug. 9 — Annual calendar tea at 5 p.m.

Fellowship Baptist Church, 705 W. Huggins St., Manning, announces: * Saturday — Prayer breakfast at 9 a.m. Pastor Eartha Carter, of Prayer House Mission, will speak.

* Saturday, July 19 — Gospel in the park will be held at Walker Gamble Park, 2358 Walker Gamble Road, New Zion, with fun and games beginning at 10 a.m.

Gospel singing will begin at 3 p.m. featuring the mass choir, male chorus, Caravan of Lake City, Gospel Spirit-Ettes of New Zion and more.

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis begged for forgiveness Monday in his first meeting with Catholics sexually abused by members of the clergy and went further than any of his predecessors by vowing to hold bishops accountable for their handling of pedophile priests.

Abuse victims and their advocates have long demanded that higher-ups be made to answer for the decades-long cover-ups of rape and molestation of youngsters in a scandal that has rocked the church and dismayed its worldwide flock of 1.2 billion.

The pope celebrated a private Mass with six victims — two each from Ireland, Britain and Germany — at his Vatican residence and spent the rest of the morning listening to their accounts, one on one.

Pastor D.L. Grant Sr. and his wife, Sandra R. Grant, were recently named to national positions during the 134th session of the National Baptist Convention of America International Inc. The Sumter residents have served New Israel Missionary Baptist Church in Dalzell since 2004 and Chapel Hill Baptist Church in Santee since 2006.

“I am doubly honored to have been appointed by our denominational leader, Dr. (Samuel) Tolbert, for this job in our national work,” D.L. Grant said. “This will allow my wife and myself to recruit other local and South Carolina churches to assist us with missions, education and evangelism.”

The convention — which represents 1.2 million Baptists across the United States, Panama, Haiti, Bahamas and South Africa — is geared to supporting home missions, foreign missions and support to historically black colleges and universities.

He was reappointed to

the assistant recording secretary of NBCA, and Sandra Grant was named recording secretary of the National Ministers’ Wives and Widows’ Auxiliary of NBCA. “Both of the churches in which I pastor have geared up to assist me with the responsibilities that come naturally with stewardship of such a major task,” D.L. Grant said.

While this is his wife’s first national-level appointment, he has previously served under two national presidents. D.L. Grant was state president of the Baptist Educational and Missionary Congress of Christian Education of South Carolina and is former vice president of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Workers of NBCA. He also currently serves as vice moderator of the Jerusalem Association, which consists of 43 churches in Georgetown County.

Similarly, Sandra Grant also serves in the Jerusalem Baptist Association Ministers’ Wives of Georgetown County. The Ministers’ Wives garner financial support to fund missions and education.

D.L. Grant Sr. and Sandra R. Grant are seen recently.

With their recent appointment to positions at the national level, these Sumterites who serve New Israel Missionary Baptist Church in Dalzell are about to be even busier.

PHOTO PROVIDED

CHURCH NEWS

Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, 4319 Rowe Drive, Summerton, announces: * Sunday, July 20 — Celebration for the 17th pastoral anniversary of the Rev. David Lawson and family at 3 p.m. Dinner will be served. The Rev. Clifford Gaymon, pastor of Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church, Paxville, and moderator of the Black River Missionary Baptist Association, will speak.

Canaan Missionary Baptist Church, 774 Douglas Ave., announces: * Sunday, July 20 — 19th church anniversary celebration at 10:30 a.m. Evangelist Patricia Sumter will speak. * Sunday, July 27 — Church dedication at 3:30 p.m. The Rev. Dr. Sammie D. Simmons will speak.

Concord Baptist Church, 1885 Myrtle Beach Highway, announces: * Saturday, July 19 — Gospel concert at 6 p.m. featuring “The Atkins Family.” A love offering will be received. * Saturday, July 26 — Gospel concert at 6 p.m. featuring Keith Plott. A love offering will be received.

Cross Road / St. Peter Baptist Church, 845 Webb St., announces: * Wednesday-Sunday, July 23-27 — 2014 Holy Convocation as follows: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, prayer and consecration; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Pastor Kenneth Wilder, of New Deliverance Outreach Ministries, Pamplico, will speak; 7:30 p.m. Friday, Prophetess Stephanie Mathis, of Land Flowing with Milk and Honey, will speak; 11 a.m. Saturday, youth day; and 11 a.m. Sunday, Bishop Sylvester Francis II will speak.

Edwin Boyle Santee Summer Ministry, 1098 Lemmon Ave. at Boyle’s Point on Wyboo (across from Camp Bob Cooper):

First Baptist Missionary Church, 219 S. Washington St., announces: * Saturday-Sunday, July 19-20 — Family and friends weekend as follows: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, community cookout; 11 a.m. Sunday, worship services; and 7 p.m. Sunday, “Gospel Jazz on the Yard.”

Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, 182 S. Pike East, announces: * Sunday, July 20 — Choir / praise ministry anniversary celebration at 4 p.m. * Wednesday-Friday, July 23-25 — Revival at 7 nightly.

Greater Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church, 609 Miller Road, announces: * Saturday, July 19 — The senior choir’s 20th anniversary celebration at 4 p.m. at the Marvin Hodge Family Life Center, 609 Miller Road. Call Lottie Spencer at (803) 883-4532.

Greater St. Paul Non-Denominational Church, 200 Watkins St., announces: * Sunday, July 20 — In-house crusade at 5 p.m. Elder James Johnson will speak.

High Hills Missionary Baptist Church, 6750 Meeting House Road, Dalzell, announces: * Sunday, July 20 — Senior choir anniversary program during 10:15 a.m. worship.

Historic Santee AME Church, 1045 Dingle Pond Road, Summerton, announces: * Sunday, July 20 — Lay Organization Day program sponsor the 66 books of the Bible at 3 p.m.

Howard Chapel AME Church, 6338 Old Manning Road, New Zion, announces:

Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church, 803 S. Harvin St., announces: * Applications for the 4k first steps enrollment are available until Sept. 1 at JMBC Christian and Academic School, 415 Manning Ave. * Sunday — S.C. State Congress of Christian Education Welcome Night at 6:30 p.m.

Joshua Baptist Church, 5200 Live Oak Road, Dalzell, announces: * Sunday, July 20 — Pastor’s Aide anniversary celebration during morning worship. * Sunday-Friday, July 27-Aug. 1 — Revival. The Rev. Richard James, pastor of St. John Baptist Church, Camden, will speak at 6 p.m. on Sunday. The Rev. Dr. James E. Wilson Jr., pastor of First Union Baptist Church, Bronx, New York, will speak at 7 nightly Monday-Friday.

Knitting Hearts Ministry, meets at Bethesda Church of God, 2730 Broad St., announces: * Saturday — Knitting Hearts Café will hold a “Summertime Revive Conference” as follows: 10 a.m. morning session; noon, provided lunch; and 1 p.m. workshop on end times. All ladies are invited. Visit www.knittingheartsministry.org.

Mount Carmel Freewill Baptist Church, 209 Reardon St., Manning, announces: * Sunday — Church anniversary celebration at 3 p.m. Evangelist Deborah Trevol, of Goodwill Freewill Baptist Church of Manning, will speak.

Mount Zero Missionary Baptist Church, 7827 S.C. 261, Manning, announces: * Sunday, July 20 — Homecoming worship celebration at 3 p.m. Dr. James Blassingame, pastor of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church and president of the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina, will speak.

Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 325 Fulton St., announces: * Sunday-Thursday, July 27-31 — Revival. Pastor L.W. Barnes, of Bethlehem Baptist Church, will speak at 6 p.m. on Sunday. Pastor Willie Tiller Jr., of First Baptist Church of Ardmore, Oklahoma, will speak at 7 nightly Monday-Thursday.

Mulberry Missionary Baptist Church, 1400 Mulberry Church Road, announces: * Sunday, July 20 — Senior citizen’s day program at 10:45 a.m.

Pastor Willie Dennis, of Union Missionary Baptist Church, Rembert, will speak. Revival services will begin at 5 p.m. with Pastor Clifton Witherspoon, of Grant Hill Missionary Baptist Church, speaking. * Monday-Friday, July 21-25 — Revival services at 7 nightly.

Pastor George P. Windley Jr., of First Baptist Missionary Church, will speak.

New Hope AME Church, 18808 Panola Road, Pinewood, announces: * Thursday-Friday, July 31-Aug. 1 — Revival at 7 nightly. Bishop Leroy T. James will speak.

New Testament Lighthouse Church, 1114 Boulevard Road, announces: * Monday-Friday, July 21-25 — Youth for Christ Vacation Bible School 6-8:30 nightly. The Rev. Kirk Baker will speak.

Orangehill AME Church, 3035 S. King Highway, Wedgefield, announces: * Sunday — The Rev. Jerry Davis Jr., of Indianapolis, Indiana, will speak at 9:50 a.m. * Sunday, July 20 — 139th church anniversary celebration at 12:30 p.m. The Rev. Joshua Dupree Jr. will speak.

St. James United Methodist Church, 720 Broad St., announces: * Friday-Sunday, July 18-20 — Homecoming celebration as follows: 6 p.m. Friday, gospel explosion with Minister Napoleon Bradford as speaker; 1-4 p.m.

Saturday, family fun day; and 11 a.m. Sunday, the Rev. Jeffrey Salley will speak followed by fellowship meal.

St. John United Methodist Church,

136 Poinsett Drive, announces: * Sunday-Wednesday, Aug. 3-6 — Vacation Bible School 6-8 nightly with food, fun, crafts, music and stories of Jesus. A light supper will be available for students. Nursery also available.

St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 27 Broad St., announces: * Monday-Friday, July 14-18 — Vacation Bible School 6-8:30 nightly. Classes for children of all ages and retreat class for adults.

St. Matthews Missionary Baptist Church, 1126 St. Matthew Lane, Manning, announces: * Sunday, July 20 — Pastor installation service for the Rev. Rodney Conyers at 4 p.m. The Rev. Micheal Fullard, pastor of Unity Baptist Church of Hopkins, will speak.

Sumter Free Will Baptist Church, 971 Boulevard Road, announces: * Saturday — Car wash, hot dog sale and bake sale beginning at 8 a.m. * Wednesday-Friday, July 16-18 — Vacation Bible School 6-9 nightly. Dinner will be served.

Taw Caw Missionary Baptist Church, 1130 Granby Lane, Summerton, announces: * Saturday — Grandparent’s ministry will sponsor a “State Pageant” at 3 p.m.

Willow Grove AME Church, 8105 A/B Sumter Landing Road, Horatio, announces: * Sunday, July 27 — Senior and junior ushers anniversary program. Church school begins at 8:30 a.m. followed by 10 a.m. worship.

World End Time Harvest Ministries announces: * Saturday, Aug. 9 — “An Evening with Bishop Carter & Friends” mission fundraiser concert at 5 p.m. at Patriot Hall, 135 N. Haynsworth St. On the program: Abrams Singers; Prayer House Mission Choir of Davis Station; Mt. Olivet Choir of Charleston; Alfonzo Udell & Company of Columbia; and many more. Silver tickets: $10, available at SEACO Music. For additional information or platinum or gold tickets, call (818) 839-2278.

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THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2014

LOCAL

THE SUMTER ITEM

GRENADES FROM PAGE A1 called the police. We wanted to be on the safe side.”

The worker said the words “stun grenade” were clearly printed on the side of the devices, which still had the pins in them. Sumter Fire Department and Sumter Police Department responded to the store shortly after 10 a.m.

Wednesday and proceeded with caution.

“We’re not exactly sure what we’ve got just yet,” said Capt. Joey Duggan of Sumter Fire Department. “We’re waiting on Shaw’s (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) to get here.”

Officials quickly evacuated the building, making sure all employees and customers were safely outside before Shaw personnel responded to the scene. As firefighters and police waited, a woman wearing Air Force fatigues arrived and was identified by one of the store employees as the woman who donated the box of grenades. According to her name tag and rank patch, she is Senior Airman Hargrove.

Shortly after 11 a.m., Shaw and Department of Defense personnel arrived and retrieved the items from inside the store, carrying them in something that resembled a shoe box. The items were placed into a military truck and taken away from the scene.

PHOTOS BY MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

A woman identified by a Goodwill employee as the alleged donor of a box of inert flashbang grenades, above center, stands outside the store on Broad Street in Sumter on Wednesday while being interviewed. The patches on the airman’s uniform identify her as Senior Airman Hargrove.

A Sumter police officer, far right, carries a box containing inert flashbang grenades recovered from Goodwill in Sumter on Wednesday as he walks alongside an airman from Shaw Air Force Base.

DREAMS FROM PAGE A1 Carolina, keeping in mind that she had six children to care for. Before receiving her high school diploma, Brown briefly worked for Pioneer Dress in Sumter and then worked for Olympia Mills in Columbia.

EDUCATION IN THE MIDST OF IT ALL Despite living in different states, working and taking care of her children, Brown said she continued to slowly work toward her goal of completing school and receiving a college degree.

As she worked different jobs, she always signed up for classes at a nearby school, including taking classes while in New York and attending the Newark Skill Center where she learned

Chemist Joseph Powell operates the gas chromatograph, a device for separating and identifying organic compounds in pieces of evidence, at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday.

Powell’s toolkit may soon be complemented by a scanning electron microscope, which can render larger images of inorganic materials. The sheriff’s office would be the only agency in the state besides SLED to have such a microscope.

ZOEY MILLER / THE SUMTER ITEM

CSI FROM PAGE A1 surface. The model Powell would be getting uses an energy-dispersive X-ray to produce a chemical analysis of the evidence.

Powell previously worked with SEMs when he handled evidence in SLED labs before coming to the sheriff’s office.

One of the reasons he was contacted when the microscope became available was because he helped develop SLED’s protocols for working with them.

“Some of the procedures still have my name on them,” Powell said. “I’ve testified in court 300 times on using this instrument, the majority of them on homicides.”

Once the sheriff’s office has the SEM — which Powell estimates would fill the surface of a large desk — the microscope will be available for use by other agencies in the Third Judicial Circuit, which also covers Clarendon, Lee and Williamsburg counties.

While this model might be nearing the end of its operable life, Powell is confident he can keep using it as long as the machine’s operating circuit boards are available.

basic computer skills. In 2005, Brown continued to feed her insatiable appetite for knowledge by completing a semester at USC Sumter and then taking classes from 2011 to 2012 at adult education on Main Street.

“I’ve always been in school off and on and working even when I was in New York and New Jersey. When I went to USC Sumter for a semester, I really wanted to get the feel of being in a college classroom. When you’ve been away for so long, you see everything has changed. Even math seemed to change,” Brown said, laughing.

While juggling a number of responsibilities and taking refresher courses, Brown said she retired from University of Medicine and Dentistry Hospital in Newark, New Jersey, in 2000 and then retired again from Walmart 10 years later.

SEEING IT THROUGH TO THE END In one of her classes, Brown recalled one of her classmates insisted on sitting next to her.

“I can’t remember his name, but he sat next to me and said, ‘I’m sitting with you because you inspire me,’” she said. “That felt good, and it’s just such a blessing.”

With confidence and determination, Brown is taking two classes during the summer session with the desire to receive an associate degree in criminal justice.

Besides taking summer classes, Brown is an active member and usher at Clinton Chapel AME Zion Church in Sumter and a member of Sumter’s Mary McLeod Bethune chapter of the National Council of Negro Women.

After she receives her associate degree in criminal justice, Brown said she hopes to re-enroll at CCTC to get

Lt. Keavy Rake, a public affairs officer at Shaw, said the grenades were later found to be inert and had been a going-away gift for the airman from her previous unit at another base. The explosive had been removed from the grenades, Rake said, but had not been stamped as such, which would be typical protocol.

“They were a parting gift,” Rake said. “There wasn’t any ill intent.”

As for the flashbangs, the public affairs official said the items were taken to Shaw and disposed of by EOD personnel as per their training.

Flashbang grenades, also commonly referred to as stun grenades, are designed to give off a bright light and a large noise and cause disorientation instead of injury.

The incident marks the second time in just more than a year the local store has had a run-in with potentially dangerous munitions. On June 17, 2013, Goodwill employees were shocked when they found what appeared to be a live grenade at the store.

EOD personnel responded to the scene and determined it was actually a training grenade modeled after the most commonly used fragmentation grenade of World War II. The grenade was disarmed at the scene, then taken to Shaw, where it was destroyed using C4 explosives.

a degree in religion.

She said her desire to finally fulfill some of her goals is still strong even after her children have been raised and cared for and after she has retired from two jobs.

“I can now put everything aside to do some things I want to do. My children are grown and able to stand on their own,” she said. “I have time now to have some me time.”

Brown will turn 74 on July 15, and she said she has been through a lot, but reaching her goals is still important to her. Three of her daughters now live in New York, one daughter lives in Florida, and her sons reside in South Carolina.

“I’ve had my ups and downs, but through it all, I’m still able to try to make accomplishments,” she said. “I am proud of that, and it’s really a blessing.”

Call (803) 774-1200 and subscribe today.

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

THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2014 H.G. Osteen 1870-1955 Founder, The Item

H.D. Osteen 1904-1987 The Item

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Margaret W. Osteen 1908-1996 The Item Hubert D. Osteen Jr. Chairman & Editor-in-Chief Graham Osteen Co-President Kyle Osteen Co-President Jack Osteen Editor and Publisher Larry Miller CEO Braden Bunch Senior News Editor

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

COMMENTARY

The high court’s indispensable role

W

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR PARENTS NEED TO BE TEACHING CHILDREN ABOUT MORALS When writing about the violence and the age of the perpetrators of the violence in our community, Mr. Ferdinand Burns Jr. on July 8 asked the questions, “Should parents in the home be responsible or accountable for developing a plan for these young people? Should the parents or the state government hold the schools accountable for making sure an educational plan is developed?”

I think that Mr. Burns knows the answer to his questions should be the first group mentioned in each question - the parents should be responsible. As a former educator, Mr. Burns is well aware, however, that many parents are not at all interested in raising a well-educated child who will become a productive citizen. I do applaud the fact that he is beginning to ask questions about the violence that is occurring in the Sumter community - as he states in his letter, especially in the African-American community.

A person cannot help but feel compassion for these children who are so neglected by their parents, and in many cases by their entire community. How can we expect these children to behave in a manner that they have not been privy to? If the parents do not teach morality, how are the children to learn proper behavior? The first and best teachers are parents in a loving home.

Mr. Burns also asked what role the faithbased community should play. If the parents care so little about their children that they do not start teaching morality at home, the faith community can do little to instill it in the child. And in my opinion, the behavior mentioned in his letter is a direct result of the lack of morals.

The material things of life are nice, admittedly, but not essential as are food, clothing, a place to live and love. It seems to me that the youngsters today are long on material things: phones, TVs, other electronics, name-brand sneakers and clothing, etc. but extremely short on the real necessities, which are listed above.

(Mrs.) F.D. SCHMIDT Sumter Editor’s note: Because this letter exceeded the 350-word length as stated in our Editorial Page Policies which appears regularly on this page, it can be read in its entirety under Opinion on The Item’s website, www.theitem.com.

QUIT THROWING MONEY AWAY ON PROBLEMS THAT AREN’T BEING FIXED In recent days, many have spoken about Mr. Baten’s letter on HIV/AIDS in Sumter County. The letters have degenerated from the topic of cost and prevention and taken on a tone of whether the disease is racist.

Why does everything in this county have to be about race?

Yes AIDS/ HIV is a problem for the community. But we have a lot of other problems, and simply throwing more money at them will not fix anything. I doubt that there is a single person in Sumter County that does not know that HIV/AIDS can be prevented with safe sex. I know that avoiding soft drinks will lower my chances of diabetes, yet I still choose to ignore the risk and drink soda. Many in our community still choose to have unsafe sex and use drugs that increase the risk of HIV/AIDS exposure.

We all know and every kid is preached at year after year that an education is something we all need. Still every year, schools request more and more money to fix the

problems in education. What have we gotten for all this money? More kids drop out of school now than ever before.

I have read where some are asking for solutions. The solution is not for the government to throw more money at these things. Mr. Baten and I were both in attendance at a recent graduation for the students in adult education. One of the students summed up the problem with education when he was speaking of why he dropped out of school and why he decided to come back and get his diploma. He stated that when he was being asked to get his diploma, he was failing because he was not putting forth effort because it was not something he wanted for himself. When he eventually decided to do it for himself he succeeded because it was something he wanted.

As Mr. Baten should know from his work with drug abusers and alcoholics, they do not stop their behavior for others; they stop it for themselves or not at all.

JOHN GAYDOS Wedgefield Editor’s note: Because this letter exceeded the 350-word length as stated in our Editorial Page Policies which appears regularly on this page, it can be read in its entirety under Opinion on The Item’s website, www.theitem.com.

RACISM WILL NEVER GO AWAY WITH PEOPLE SUCH AS BATEN EGGING IT ON I want to ask Mr. Baten a question.

Point blank, sir, why do you consider everyone who disagrees with you a racist?

Did you read the entire letter by Mr. LePage, or did you just read the first sentence, and assume what the rest would say? He said it “seems” like HIV is becoming a black person’s disease. And referring to the numbers you provided (608 blacks versus 73 white/other), I agree with him.

I also agree with Mr. LePage and his opinion that education is the only solution to this problem. The government can send tons of money every year to different organizations (which most of this money is spent paying the salaries of high-ranking officials) to combat the problem, it’s clear that education is the only solution. Again, refer to Mr. LePage’s letter, the problem, along with the solution, is laid out right there.

Mr. Baten, the only way racism is gonna go away is having people such as you, Mr. Burns, Mr. Jackson and Mr. Sharpton stop egging it on when the opportunity arises. And I don’t see that happening in my lifetime. Maybe our grandkids and great-grandkids can one day stand side by side without worrying about the color of their skin. One day.

DENNIS E. VICKERS Wedgefield

PLEASE CONTROL YOUR CHILDREN FROM REMOVING STREET SIGNS This is a letter to the parents who can’t control their teens from riding around at night removing blue and white street signs.

Each sign your child removes costs you and me $168.00 to replace.

What value can you put on a life if EMS can’t find you, if the fire department can’t find a house to put out a house fire and if police responding to an emergency can’t find you?

Thank you for keeping Sumter safer.

BOB ARTUS Sumter

ASHINGTON — Two 5-4 decisions last week on the final decision day of the Supreme Court’s term dealt with issues that illustrate the legal consequences of political tactics by today’s progressives. One case demonstrated how progressivism’s achievement, the regulatory state, manufactures social strife, and can do so in ways politically useful to progressives. The other case arose from government coercion used to conscript unwilling citizens into funding the progressives’ party.

Under the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act, any government action that substantially burdens religious practices will be subject to strict judicial scrutiny to determine if it, rather than some less intrusive measure, is necessary to George achieve a Will compelling government interest. The Affordable Care Act, as supplemented by regulations, requires for-profit employers to provide health care coverage that includes all 20 FDA-approved birth-control methods.

These include four that prevent a fertilized egg from being implanted in the uterus. Some persons consider this tantamount to abortion and oppose these abortifacients for religious reasons.

Why did Congress, having enacted RFRA, write this clearly incompatible birth-control mandate? Congress didn’t.

In the ACA, Congress simply required health plans to provide “preventive care” for women. An executive branch agency decided this meant the full menu of 20 technologies.

So, during oral argument in March, Justice Anthony Kennedy asked: “What kind of constitutional structure do we have if the Congress can give an agency the power to grant or not grant a religious exemption based on what the agency determined?”

The answer is: The constitutional structure we have is the kind progressives prefer, wherein more and more decisions are made by unelected and unaccountable executive branch “experts” exercising vast discretion. In this instance, the experts were, to say no more, willing to provoke a predictable controversy that would be convenient for the Democratic Party’s “war on women” trope.

Today, this war consists of subsidizing only 16 of 20 birth-control methods. The court has held that some “closely held” businesses — often family owned and adhering to religious practices — have a right under RFRA to wage this war.

The court’s other end-ofterm case arose from overreaching by government employees unions and their Democratic allies. At issue were the First Amendment rights of people herded into

unions after being made into government employees by government’s semantic fiat.

In the 1950s, about 35 percent of the private-sector workforce was unionized; today just 6.7 percent is. The labor movement and the Democratic Party’s funding depend on government employees, 35.3 percent of whom are unionized. So, in Illinois, two Democratic governors manufactured government employees out of home health care workers, a growing cohort — and a tempting target for dues-hungry unions — in a nation with an aging population and many infirm elderly.

In 2003, an executive order from Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, of fragrant memory, decreed that thousands of home health care workers are government employees, and resulted in the Service Employees International Union being recognized as their representative.

In 2009, an executive order from the current Democratic governor, Pat Quinn, designated even more home care providers, who essentially are independent contractors, as government employees.

The tenuous theory was that they are government workers because their pay comes indirectly from government — from the Medicaid funds received by the persons who hire them.

Under a 1977 Supreme Court decision, which 26 states take advantage of, government employees can be forced to pay certain fees to unions even if the employees do not wish to be in the union and disagree with its positions. In last week’s case, the court carved out an exemption for people like the home care providers who are not “full-fledged” government employees.

This certainly seems sensible as applied to the lead plaintiff, a woman caring for her severely disabled son. Because the court has now recognized her First Amendment freedom of association — which includes the freedom not to associate — and freedom from compelled speech, she no longer will be required to pay fees to a union she refuses to join.

SEIU will have to look elsewhere for the approximately $10 million in fees it has siphoned annually from people like her. This is real campaign finance reform.

Today’s court — nine fine minds producing written explanations of their reasoning about important principles -has its own discord. It is, nevertheless, a lagoon of logic in the forest primeval of today’s overheated politics and overbearing government. Twice last week the court played its indispensable role as constable, policing portions of this forest where progressivism has produced government guilty of gratuitous bullying.

George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. © 2014, Washington Post Writers Group

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

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AROUND TOWN The Annual Dr. Mary McLeodBethune Celebration will be held Friday-Sunday, July 1113, in Mayesville as follows: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, presentation of the flags, Unsung Heroes, children and adult activities, vendors and food; 6-10:30 p.m. Friday, downtown block party with live music by the Touch Band; 10 a.m. Saturday, dedication of the learning center, gospel singing featuring various groups, praise dancing, hat show, activities for children and adults, vendors, basketball, bounce house, food and games; and 3 p.m. Sunday, antique cars and bikes show.

Call Jeannie Jefferson at (803) 453-5482.

The Transatlantic Brides and Parents Association (a British heritage society) will meet at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 11, at the Spectrum Senior Center, Pinewood Road. All British ex-pats are welcome. Call Josie at (803) 775-8052.

A cookout to honor all veterans will be held 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15, at the VA Clinic, Salem Avenue. Call (803) 506-3120 for information. Luncheon is co-sponsored by the General George L. Mabry Jr. Chapter 817, Military Order of the Purple Heart.

The General George L. Mabry Jr. Chapter 817, Military Order of the Purple Heart, will meet at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 17, at the Elks Lodge, 1100 W. Liberty St. All Purple Heart recipients and those interested in associate membership are invited.

The Sumter Combat Veterans Group will meet at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 18, at the South HOPE Center, 1125 S. Lafayette Drive. All area veterans are invited.

The Goodwill Educational Historical Society Inc. will present its 7th Annual School Restoration Fundraiser Celebration from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, July 18, at Sumter Civic Center, 700 W. Liberty St. The evening will feature entertainment by the Charleston Jazz Initiative Sextet with vocalist Ann Caldwell. Heavy hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served. Admission is by a $50 donation, with all proceeds benefiting the restoration of the former Goodwill Parochial School on Old Brick Church Road. Call (803) 495-3513.

Lincoln High School Class of 1963 will meet at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 19, at American Legion Post 202, 310 Palmetto St. Plans will be made for the 2015 class reunion, which will be celebrated as

the 1960s class reunion of the Civil Rights era. Call Ferdinand Burns at (803) 9684464.

The Red Hill Lodge No. 144 Annual Lodge Banquet will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 19, at St. Paul AME Church, Plowden Mill Road, in the multi-purpose room.

Lewis H. Nelson, most worshipful grand master for the state of South Carolina, will speak. Cost is $25 per ticket.

Call Lester Williams at (803) 983-3568 or Jarvais Wilson at (704) 608-3945.

S.C. Works and Clarendon School District One will sponsor a job fair from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 23, at the Clarendon One Community Resource Center, 1154 Fourth St., Summerton.

Job seekers should dress for success in work-appropriate attire with conservative closed-toe shoes. Be sure to bring copies of your resume.

The Sumter Unit of the National Association of Parliamentarians will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 24, at the Sumter School District office, Wilson Hall Road. Douglas Wilson will speak. Call (803) 775-0830.

A School House Bar-B-Que Inc. fundraiser, sponsored by the YWCA of the Upper Lowlands Inc., will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, July 25, at the Sumter County Recreation Department, 155 Haynsworth St. Tickets are $7.50.

Delivery may be possible for several orders. Call (803) 7737158.

A Sumter Back-to-School Jamboree will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2, at the South Sumter Resource Center, 337 Manning Ave. Event will feature educational and activities exhibits, school supplies, haircuts, wellness screenings and more. Call (803) 9833399.

The Sumter Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 12, at Shiloh-Randolph Manor, 125 W. Bartlette St. The associate members and guest speakers on marital tips will begin with Jerry and Judy L. Simon. The spotlight will shine on Beatrice Oyekan. The associate members are Laura Colclough and Lee James. Transportation will be provided within the coverage area. Contact Debra Canty, chapter president, at DebraCanC2@frontier.com or (803) 775-5792.

For pertinent information about the upcoming gala, call the 24/7 recorded message line at (206) 376-5992.

DAILY PLANNER

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEATHER

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2014

AccuWeather® five-day forecast for Sumter TODAY

TONIGHT

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Heavy thunderstorms

A couple of thunderstorms

Some sun with a t-storm; humid

Partly sunny with a thunderstorm

An afternoon t-storm possible

A stray t-storm in the afternoon

90°

71°

86° / 70°

89° / 71°

90° / 73°

92° / 74°

Chance of rain: 65%

Chance of rain: 60%

Chance of rain: 60%

Chance of rain: 55%

Chance of rain: 30%

Chance of rain: 45%

Winds: SW 4-8 mph

Winds: SSW 3-6 mph

Winds: S 3-6 mph

Winds: ESE 3-6 mph

Winds: SSW 4-8 mph

Winds: SW 8-16 mph

TODAY’S SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER

Gaffney 87/67 Spartanburg 87/68

Greenville 85/67

Columbia 91/72

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

Sumter 90/71

IN THE MOUNTAINS Aiken 90/69

ON THE COAST

Charleston 93/75

Today: A couple of showers and a heavy thunderstorm. High 87 to 93.

Friday: Clouds and sun with a shower or thunderstorm; humid. High 83 to 89.

LOCAL ALMANAC

LAKE LEVELS

SUMTER THROUGH 4 P.M. YESTERDAY

Today Hi/Lo/W 82/69/t 79/62/s 98/76/pc 78/59/pc 91/74/t 79/66/pc 87/75/t 85/69/pc 91/74/t 86/68/pc 99/86/t 71/58/pc 86/72/t

SUN AND MOON 7 a.m. yest.

358.02 75.29 75.19 97.42

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

Sunrise 6:19 a.m.

Moonrise 6:49 p.m.

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

0.00" 0.06" 1.38" 18.48" 29.45" 24.17"

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

Full pool 360 76.8 75.5 100

Lake Murray Marion Moultrie Wateree

98° 74° 91° 70° 105° in 1986 58° in 1979

Precipitation 24 hrs ending 4 p.m. yest.

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

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 86/69/pc 80/67/pc 97/77/s 80/63/s 93/74/pc 81/66/pc 90/76/t 83/68/pc 90/73/t 87/68/pc 103/87/t 70/59/pc 87/71/pc

Myrtle Beach 88/74

Manning 92/72

Today: Clouds and sun with a thunderstorm. Winds southwest 3-6 mph.

Friday: A shower or thunderstorm in spots.

Winds southeast 3-6 mph.

Temperature High Low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

Florence 92/72

Bishopville 91/72

Flood 7 a.m. stage yest.

12 1.97 19 3.04 14 2.65 14 2.22 80 76.06 24 4.17

Sunset Moonset

8:36 p.m.

4:26 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

July 12

July 18

July 26

Aug 3

TIDES

24-hr chg -0.20 -0.04 -0.33 -0.07 -0.13 -0.76

AT MYRTLE BEACH

Today Fri.

High 7:26 a.m.

8:16 p.m.

8:24 a.m.

9:11 p.m.

Ht. 2.8 3.6 2.9 3.7

Low Ht. 2:24 a.m. 0.0 2:23 p.m. -0.5 3:18 a.m. -0.3 3:19 p.m. -0.7

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 79/62/t 86/67/t 90/69/t 92/75/t 85/73/t 93/75/t 84/67/t 85/69/t 91/72/t 89/72/t 86/71/t 87/71/t 89/70/t

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 82/63/pc 89/67/pc 89/68/t 89/73/t 83/70/t 88/74/t 86/67/t 89/70/pc 89/72/t 87/69/t 82/68/t 86/69/t 86/68/t

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 92/72/t 89/70/t 83/67/t 87/71/t 93/75/t 82/67/t 85/67/t 82/65/t 90/75/t 92/72/t 86/70/t 86/68/t 82/68/t

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 87/70/t 89/70/t 85/67/t 84/68/t 88/73/t 85/66/t 87/68/pc 85/65/pc 87/73/t 90/72/t 91/71/t 87/68/t 87/68/pc

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 84/62/t 93/75/t 88/74/t 89/72/t 93/75/t 86/69/t 84/67/t 90/70/t 92/74/t 87/68/t 89/74/t 88/73/t 82/68/t

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 87/63/pc 89/74/t 83/72/t 86/71/t 90/74/t 87/65/t 86/67/t 89/68/t 90/73/t 91/69/pc 88/73/t 85/70/t 85/66/pc

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

PUBLIC AGENDA SUMTER COUNTY VOTER REGISTRATION / ELECTION COMMISSION Today, 5:30 p.m., registration / election office, 141 N. Main St.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You will be EUGENIA LAST tempted to spend on luxury items. You can have fun without being indulgent. An important relationship can be enhanced with less possessiveness and more passion. Selfimprovement projects will turn out well.

The last word in astrology

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Concentrate on putting your own personal touch on any job you do.

Taking an active or aggressive role in your professional advancement will have its benefits. Making a convenient change at home will improve your comfort and lower your stress.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Consider your current personal situation and what you can do to improve your relationship with those you deal with the most. Reviewing the past will help you make a wise choice now. Question motives and be honest about the way you feel.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Keep whatever you do simple and within your means. Moderation is key and not overreacting is necessary. A change of plans may not sit well with you, but it shouldn’t stop you from continuing down the path that you feel suits you best.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Make changes at home that add to your comfort and convenience. Offering assistance to someone who interests you will bring you closer together. Share your feelings and offer alternatives with regard to your current relationship. Romance is in the stars.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Be careful whom you share your personal information with. Don’t mix business with pleasure. Stick to your game plan and don’t make changes to your financial

investments. An offer will not be as good as it appears.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Share your thoughts diplomatically and you will get your way. Any pressure or lack of courtesy will work against you. Listen carefully to what a partner has to say, but don’t overreact or you will end up in a stalemate.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Expand your interests and friendships to include something or someone unusual and you will learn something valuable. A change at work or within the industry you belong to will cause alarm. Don’t overreact; it won’t be as bad as you anticipate.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Uncertainty regarding your direction or who is on your side and who isn’t will develop. Look at your options and head toward the people and the path that will bring you the greatest satisfaction and pleasure. Love is on the rise.

LOTTERY NUMBERS PALMETTO CASH 5 WEDNESDAY

MEGAMILLIONS TUESDAY

13-31-32-33-38 PowerUp: 3

14-25-27-48-49 Megaball: 9 Megaplier: 5

PICK 3 WEDNESDAY

PICK 4 WEDNESDAY

9-3-0 and 5-4-3

7-3-0-7 and 2-0-6-2

POWERBALL numbers were unavailable at press time.

PICTURES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Don’t take a risk. You are best to stick to what you know works best.

Prepare to deal with the unexpected and counteract any situation that has the potential to disrupt a partnership that is vital to your future plans.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Put greater emphasis on you and what you can do to improve your home, business, finances and love life.

One main alteration can have a snowball effect that will improve your life. Helping someone you love will result in personal rewards.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Moving, renovations and home improvements will end up costing more than you anticipate, causing stress and emotional turmoil.

Sticking to a set budget or revising your plans to fit your financial criteria will be necessary. Emotional manipulation is apparent.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sunrise silhouettes the U.S. flags surrounding the Washington Monument on a cloudy morning in the nation’s capital of Washington, D.C.

SECTION

Almirola makes no apologies for Daytona win ALMIROLA

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

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THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2014

LEGION BASEBALL

Sumter faces reversal of fortune Runs scarce, errors aplenty in 8-3 loss to Lake City

BY JUSTIN DRIGGERS jdriggers@theitem.com The prolific run-scoring the Sumter P-15’s enjoyed in the first two games of their series against Lake City (30 runs) seemed to dry up all of sudden on Wednesday at Riley Park.

While runs were hard to come by, errors were unfortunately not as the P-15’s committed seven errors against Post 73 that resulted in four unearned runs during an 8-3 loss that extended the firstround American Legion baseball playoff series at least one more game.

Sumter fell to 21-8 but still leads the best-of-5 series 2-1.

Lake City improved to 4-16 and will host Game 4 tonight at 7 p.m. at Carolina Academy’s Buddy Wallace Field.

The loss negated a solid outing from Britton Beatson, who was locked in early for Sumter. After a leadoff single in the first, he struck out the side to close out the inning, racking up four K’s through the first two innings. He also mowed through the lineup in the third inning of just four pitches.

But mistakes were costly for the right-hander and the

MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

Lake City third baseman Will Prosser stretches to make a catch as Sumter’s Phillip Watcher slides into third base during the P-15’s 8-3 loss to Post 73 on Wednesday at Riley Park. Sumter committed seven errors and didn’t produce the type of offense it showed in its first two victories SEE SUMTER, PAGE B3 over Lake City. The P-15’s lead the best-of-5 series 2-1 and can advance with a win today at Carolina Academy’s Buddy Wallace Field.

Florence drubs Jets 22-0, ending their season

BY LOU BEZJAK Florence Morning News FLORENCE — Zack Newton was able to dodge one shower as rain hit Legion Field late in Wednesday’s game against DalzellShaw Post 175.

But the Post 1 pitcher wasn’t able to dodge the Gatorade shower his teammates dumped on him following his no-hitter in Florence’s 22-0 win over VEASEY CONWAY / FLORENCE MORNING NEWS Dalzell in seven innings at Dalzell-Shaw catcher Matt Holloman throws to first base after a bunt Legion Field. in Florence’s 22-0 victory over on Wednesday at Legion Field in FlorWith the win, Florence ence. Post 1 swept the first-round series from Post 175 3-0 and will swept the best-of-5 Ameriface Manning-Santee in the second round of the American Legion can Legion baseball firstbaseball playoffs next week. round state playoff series

and will face Manning-Santee Post 68 in the second round beginning on Monday in Florence.

“It was cold and kind of shocked me,” Newton said of the Gatorade shower. “I knew what was at stake. I just kept trying to throw strikes and let the defense do their job.”

Newton took a perfect game into the seventh as rain started to fall. The right-hander said he was aware of his perfect game and seemed a little amped up when he walked Tra’Quan Joe to lead off

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

South Carolina quarterback Dylan Thompson has had his moments as throughout his career, but the 2014 season will be the first in which Thompson will be the main starter under center for the Gamecocks. having a great year, blah, blah, blah, and trying to boost me up,” he said

Wednesday. “But let’s be real about it, I threw four touchdowns and three inter-

BY ANDREW MILLER apmiller@postandcourier.com

ceptions last season.

“There’s no reason for me to get hyped up right now,” he said.

There are plenty of Gamecock fans excited about Thompson, especially with the big moments he’s brought to the team when called upon.

It was Thompson who spelled an injured Shaw at Death Valley in 2012, leading the Gamecocks to a 27-17 victory over Clemson — the fourth of South Carolina’s five straight rivalry wins.

Thompson was the supersub a month later when he jumped in for a limping Shaw in the final minute of

SEE THOMPSON, PAGE B4

SEE WOJCIK, PAGE B5

SEE JETS, PAGE B3

Gamecocks QB Thompson looks to prove himself COLUMBIA — Dylan Thompson doesn’t believe he’s done much to show he’s South Carolina’s starting quarterback, even if he’s given the Gamecocks several special moments during his time as backup.

Thompson said that last season he spent most of his time on the bench with little significant action behind starter Connor Shaw during the 11-2 season. So with Shaw off to the NFL, Thompson said he’s ready to prove he belongs in charge of the Gamecocks offense this fall.

“I think a lot of people have been talking about me

Benton kept notes of Wojcik’s recent behavior Bart Benton and his College of Charleston teammates began to notice a pattern of behavior from Doug Wojcik in the earliest days of his tenure as the Cougars’ head basketball coach.

So Benton decided to start making a list of all of Wojcik’s verbal abuse and outbursts. He BENTON kept the “diary” for the entire 2012-13 season, his last year at the College.

“I just felt like it was something I had to do,” BenWOJCIK ton said in a telephone interview from Atlanta. “I felt like someone needed to document what was going on.”

A College of Charleston investigation exposed dozens of examples of Wojcik lashing out at players with obscenities, personal attacks and physical threats. The 50-page report was compiled with input from 12 players, 10 of them anonymous.

Wojcik was placed on a onemonth suspension without pay, or more than $33,000, in August and ordered to undergo mandatory counseling. The college also has established a “zero tolerance” policy for future behavior.

Benton recalled that Wojcik initially blasted him and other players during a preseason team meeting in the fall of 2012.

He said Wojcik told him in front of the team, “Don’t act like a (expletive) lawyer when

USC FOOTBALL

BY PETE IACOBELLI The Associated Press

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

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SPORTS

THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2014

SCOREBOARD TV, RADIO TODAY

5:30 a.m. -- Professional Golf: European PGA Tour Scottish Open First Round from Aberdeen, Scotland (GOLF).

8 a.m. -- International Cycling: Tour de France Stage Six from Reims, France (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

9 a.m. -- LPGA Golf: British Open First Round from Southport, England (ESPN2).

12:30 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati (WGN).

3 p.m. -- PGA Golf: John Deere Classic First Round from Silvis, Ill. (GOLF).

3 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: NBA Summer League Game -- Indiana vs. Miami (NBA TV).

3:30 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: Oakland at San Francisco or Chicago White Sox at Boston (MLB NETWORK).

4 p.m. -- Senior PGA Golf: Champions Tour U.S. Senior Open First Round from Redmond, Okla. (ESPN2).

5 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: NBA Summer League Game -- Boston vs. Orlando (NBA TV).

6 p.m. -- Professional Golf: Web.com Tour Utah Championship First Round from Sandy, Utah (GOLF).

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

6:30 p.m. -- American Legion Baseball: State Playoffs First-Round Series Game Four - Sumter at Lake City (If Necessary) (WWHM-FM 92.3, WWHMFM 93.3, WWHM-AM 1290).

7 p.m. -- Minor League Baseball: South Bend at Dayton (CBS SPORTS NETWORK).

7 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: NBA Summer League Game -- Memphis vs. Houston (NBA TV).

7 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: Atlanta at New York Mets (SPORTSOUTH).

8 p.m. -- High School Football: The Opening from Beaverton, Ore. (ESPNU).

8 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: Los Angeles Angels at Texas or Detroit at Kansas City (MLB NETWORK).

9 p.m. -- International Softball: World Cup IX Game from Irvine, Calif. -United States vs. Canada (ESPN).

9 p.m. -- International Lacrosse: World Championships from Commerce City, Colo. -- United States vs. Canada (ESPN2).

10 p.m. -- Professional Boxing: Argenis Mendez vs. Rances Barthelemy for the IBF Junior Lightweight Title, Erickson Lubin vs. Noe Bolanos in Welterweight Bout and Umberto Savigne vs. Jeff Lacy in a Light Heavyweight Bout from Miami (FOX SPORTS 1).

MLB STANDINGS AMERICAN LEAGUE

By The Associated Press EAST DIVISION W L Baltimore 49 40 Toronto 48 44 New York 45 44 Tampa Bay 42 51 Boston 39 51 CENTRAL DIVISION W L Detroit 49 37 Kansas City 46 43 Cleveland 44 45 Chicago 44 47 Minnesota 40 49 WEST DIVISION W L Oakland 57 33 Los Angeles 52 37 Seattle 49 41 Texas 38 52 Houston 38 54

Pct .551 .522 .506 .452 .433

GB – 21/2 4 9 101/2

Pct .570 .517 .494 .484 .449

GB – 41/2 61/2 71/2 101/2

Pct .633 .584 .544 .422 .413

GB – 41/2 8 19 20

TUESDAY’S GAMES

Cleveland 5, N.Y. Yankees 3 Baltimore at Washington, ppd., rain Detroit 14, L.A. Dodgers 5 Chicago White Sox 8, Boston 3 Tampa Bay 4, Kansas City 3 Houston 8, Texas 3 Oakland 6, San Francisco 1 Toronto 4, L.A. Angels 0 Minnesota 2, Seattle 0

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

L.A. Dodgers at Detroit, 1:08 p.m.

Toronto at L.A. Angels, 3:35 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees at Cleveland, 7:05 p.m.

Washington at Baltimore, 7:05 p.m.

Chicago White Sox at Boston, 7:10 p.m.

Kansas City at Tampa Bay, 7:10 p.m.

Houston at Texas, 8:05 p.m.

Minnesota at Seattle, 10:10 p.m.

Oakland at San Francisco, 10:15 p.m.

TODAY’S GAMES

Oakland (Kazmir 10-3) at San Francisco (Hudson 7-5), 3:45 p.m.

Chicago White Sox (Quintana 5-7) at Boston (Lester 9-7), 4:05 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees (Phelps 3-4) at Cleveland (House 1-2), 7:05 p.m.

Washington (G.Gonzalez 6-4) at Baltimore (W.Chen 8-3), 7:05 p.m.

L.A. Angels (H.Santiago 0-7) at Texas (Lewis 6-5), 8:05 p.m.

Detroit (Smyly 4-8) at Kansas City (Guthrie 5-7), 8:10 p.m.

Minnesota (Pino 0-2) at Seattle (Undecided), 10:10 p.m.

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Chicago White Sox at Cleveland, 7:05 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees at Baltimore, 7:05 p.m.

Toronto at Tampa Bay, 7:10 p.m.

L.A. Angels at Texas, 8:05 p.m.

Boston at Houston, 8:10 p.m.

Detroit at Kansas City, 8:10 p.m.

Minnesota at Colorado, 8:40 p.m.

Oakland at Seattle, 10:10 p.m.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

By The Associated Press EAST DIVISION W Washington 48 Atlanta 49 Miami 44 New York 41 Philadelphia 39 CENTRAL DIVISION W Milwaukee 52 St. Louis 49 Cincinnati 48 Pittsburgh 47 Chicago 38 WEST DIVISION W Los Angeles 51 San Francisco 49 San Diego 40 Colorado 38 Arizona 38

L 40 41 46 49 51

Pct .545 .544 .489 .456 .433

GB – – 5 8 10

L 39 42 42 43 51

Pct .571 .538 .533 .522 .427

GB – 3 31/2 41/2 13

L 41 41 50 53 54

Pct .554 .544 .444 .418 .413

GB – 1 10 121/2 13

TUESDAY’S GAMES

Cincinnati 4, Chicago Cubs 2, 1st game Baltimore at Washington, ppd., rain Detroit 14, L.A. Dodgers 5 N.Y. Mets 8, Atlanta 3 Cincinnati 6, Chicago Cubs 5, 2nd game Philadelphia 9, Milwaukee 7 St. Louis 5, Pittsburgh 4 Colorado 2, San Diego 1 Miami 2, Arizona 1 Oakland 6, San Francisco 1

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

L.A. Dodgers at Detroit, 1:08 p.m.

San Diego at Colorado, 3:10 p.m.

Miami at Arizona, 3:40 p.m.

Washington at Baltimore, 7:05 p.m.

Atlanta at N.Y. Mets, 7:10 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati, 7:10 p.m.

Philadelphia at Milwaukee, 8:10 p.m.

Pittsburgh at St. Louis, 8:15 p.m.

Oakland at San Francisco, 10:15 p.m.

THURSDAY’S GAMES

Chicago Cubs (Hendricks 0-0) at Cincinnati (Bailey 8-5), 12:35 p.m.

Philadelphia (D.Buchanan 4-5) at Milwaukee (Garza 6-5), 2:10 p.m.

Oakland (Kazmir 10-3) at San Francisco (Hudson 7-5), 3:45 p.m.

Washington (G.Gonzalez 6-4) at Baltimore (W.Chen 8-3), 7:05 p.m.

Atlanta (Harang 8-6) at N.Y. Mets (B.Colon 8-7), 7:10 p.m.

Pittsburgh (Volquez 7-6) at St. Louis (S.Miller 7-7), 7:15 p.m.

San Diego (Despaigne 2-0) at L.A. Dodgers (Kershaw 10-2), 10:10 p.m.

THE SUMTER ITEM

SPORTS ITEMS

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Atlanta at Chicago Cubs, 4:05 p.m.

Washington at Philadelphia, 7:05 p.m.

Miami at N.Y. Mets, 7:10 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, 7:10 p.m.

St. Louis at Milwaukee, 8:10 p.m.

Minnesota at Colorado, 8:40 p.m.

San Diego at L.A. Dodgers, 10:10 p.m.

Arizona at San Francisco, 10:15 p.m.

NASCAR

By The Associated Press

Sprint Cup Leaders Through July 6 Points 1, Jeff Gordon, 651. 2, Dale Earnhardt Jr., 624. 3, Jimmie Johnson, 596. 4, Brad Keselowski, 586. 5, Matt Kenseth, 580. 6, Joey Logano, 546. 7, Carl Edwards, 543. 8, Ryan Newman, 534.

9, Kyle Busch, 524. 10, Paul Menard, 516. 11, Kevin Harvick, 514. 12, Clint Bowyer, 509. 13, Austin Dillon, 494. 14, Denny Hamlin, 493. 15, Greg Biffle, 490. 16, Brian Vickers, 484. 17, Kyle Larson, 482. 18, Kasey Kahne, 482. 19, Marcos Ambrose, 472. 20, Tony Stewart, 465.

Money 1, Brad Keselowski, $4,128,138. 2, Dale Earnhardt Jr., $3,972,414. 3, Jimmie Johnson, $3,934,227. 4, Jeff Gordon, $3,825,192. 5, Jamie McMurray, $3,729,761.

6, Kevin Harvick, $3,528,908.

7, Matt Kenseth, $3,464,201. 8, Joey Logano, $3,460,387.

9, Denny Hamlin, $3,371,491. 10, Kyle Busch, $3,328,079. 11, Greg Biffle, $2,963,879.

12, Austin Dillon, $2,882,028.

13, Paul Menard, $2,867,282.

14, Carl Edwards, $2,860,112.

15, Aric Almirola, $2,827,158.

16, Clint Bowyer, $2,822,249.

17, Brian Vickers, $2,820,184.

18, Tony Stewart, $2,732,913. 19, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., $2,637,405. 20, Kyle Larson, $2,616,855.

TENNIS

The Associated Press

ATP WORLD TOUR HALL OF FAME CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS

Wednesday At The International Tennis Hall of Fame Newport, R.I. Purse: $539,730 (WT250) Surface: Grass-Outdoor Singles Second Round Steve Johnson (6), United States, def.

Tatsuma Ito, Japan, 6-3, 2-0, retired.

Nicolas Mahut (4), France, def. Luke Saville, Australia, 6-4, 6-2.

Sam Groth, Australia, def. Malek Jaziri, Tunisia, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (3).

Lleyton Hewitt (3), Australia, def.

Ante Pavic, Croatia, 6-2, 6-2.

Jack Sock (7), United States, def. Rajeev Ram, United States, 7-5, 6-2.

Dudi Sela, Israel, def. Adrian Mannarino (8), France, 6-3, 6-1.

John Isner (1), United States, def.

Austin Krajicek, United States, 6-3, 6-3.

Ivo Karlovic (2), Croatia, def. Sergiy Stakhovsky, Ukraine, 7-5, 7-6 (3).

Doubles First Round Daniel Nestor and Adil Shamasdin (2), Canada, def. Philipp Marx, Germany, and Frederik Nielsen, Denmark, 6-4, 6-4.

Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana, Thailand, def. Alex Kuznetsov, United States, and Peter Polansky, Canada, 3-6, 7-5, 10-5.

Chris Guccione and Lleyton Hewitt, Australia, def. Ryan Harrison, United States, and Michael Venus, New Zealand, 6-3, 6-4.

ATP WORLD TOUR SKISTAR SWEDISH OPEN RESULTS

Wednesday At Bastad Tennis Stadiun Bastad, Sweden Purse: $660,500 (WT250) Surface: Clay-Outdoor Singles Second Round Dusan Lajovic, Serbia, def. Jerzy Janowicz (4), Poland, 6-3, 1-1, retired.

Joao Sousa (5), Portugal, def. Elias Ymer, Sweden, 6-3, 7-5.

Pablo Cuevas, Uruguay, def. Christian Lindell, Sweden, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (2).

Renzo Olivo, Argentina, def. Tommy Robredo (2), Spain, 7-6 (6), 6-3.

Doubles First Round Jeremy Chardy, France, and Oliver Marach, Austria, def. Pablo Andujar and Pablo Carreno Busta, Spain, 7-6 (5), 6-4.

David Marrero and Fernando Verdasco (1), Spain, def. Rameez Junaid, Australia, and Christopher Kas, Germany, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 12-10.

Dustin Brown, Germany, and Dusan Lajovic, Serbia, def. Andre Siljestrom, Sweden, and Igor Zelenay, Slovakia, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 10-6.

Johan Brunstrom, Sweden, and Nicholas Monroe (4), United States, def.

James Cluskey, Ireland, and Mikhail Kukushkin, Kazakhstan, 7-6 (5), 6-4.

Andre Begemann, Germany, and Robert Lindstedt (2), Sweden, def. Paul Hanley, Australia, and Jonathan Marray, Britain, 2-6, 6-4, 11-9.

ATP WORLD TOUR MERCEDES CUP RESULTS

Wednesday At TC Weissenhof Stuttgart, Germany Purse: $660,500 (WT250) Surface: Clay-Outdoor Singles First Round Daniel Gimeno-Traver, Spain, def.

Peter Gojowczyk, Germany, 7-5, 6-3.

Benjamin Becker, Germany, def. Benoit Paire, France, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Yann Marti, Switzerland, vs. Henri Laaksonen, Finland, 7-5, 6-4.

Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (6), Spain, def.

Marco Cecchinato, Italy, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5.

Louk Sorensen, Ireland, def. Igor Sijsling, Netherlands, 6-4, 6-1.

Lukas Rosol, Czech Republic, def. Alexander Zverev, Germany, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (9).

Santiago Giraldo (7), Colombia, def.

Mate Delic, Croatia, 6-4, 6-2.

Philipp Davydenko, Russia, def. Blaz Rola, Slovenia, 6-4, 7-6 (8).

WNBA STANDINGS W Atlanta 13 Indiana 9 Connecticut 9 Chicago 8 Washington 8 New York 7

L 5 10 11 11 12 11

Pct .722 .474 .450 .421 .400 .389

WESTERN CONFERENCE Phoenix Minnesota San Antonio Seattle Los Angeles Tulsa

W 13 14 10 8 7 7

L 3 6 9 12 11 12

Pct .813 .700 .526 .400 .389 .368

ARENBERG, France — An injured wrist was just too much for Tour de France champion Chris Froome, in one of the most memorable and crash-marred stages in recent race history.

The Kenyan-born Briton ended his repeat bid Wednesday, dropping out of cycling’s big event and dropping a bombshell on his competitors after crashing twice in a rain-, mud-, sweat- and blood-soaked fifth stage for the pack through nerve-wracking cobblestones along France’s border with Belgium.

The 29-year-old Team Sky leader, already nursing pain in his left wrist a day earlier, first scuffed up his right hip, tearing his uniform, then scraped his face. Both falls happened even before he got to the start of 13 total kilometers (8 miles) over joint-jangling cobblestones.

Tuesday. The team did not announce the terms of the deal in a two-sentence news release.

JUNIOR P-15’S SEASON COMES TO CLOSE

CHARLOTTE— The Charlotte Hornets are going all out to sign restricted free agent Gordon Hayward.

The Hornets have agreed on a maximum offer sheet with Hayward that would pay the small forward $63 million over the next four years, a person close to with the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The Utah Jazz would have three days to match the deal once Hayward officially signs.

BENNETTSVILLE — The Sumter Junior P-15’s American Legion baseball team saw its season come to an end with a 4-2 loss to Marlboro County on Wednesday at Marlboro County High School.

Sumter starter Ryan Moore took the loss.

He threw 4 1/3 innings, allowing four runs, three earned, on six hits with six strikeouts.

Tradd James pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief, allowing a hit and striking out two batters.

Moore and Josh Whitley each had a hit and run batted in offensively for the Junior P-15’s in the loss.

Sumter finished the season with a 12-6 record.

POPOVICH AGREES TO EXTENSION WITH SPURS

Gregg Popovich has agreed to a multiyear extension with the San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs made the announcement on

GB – 1 41/2 7 7 71/2

Atlanta 83, Connecticut 71 Indiana 78, Tulsa 76 Minnesota 83, Los Angeles 72

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

Washington 72, Chicago 65

TODAY’S GAMES

Connecticut at Indiana, 12 p.m.

Minnesota at Tulsa, 8 p.m.

Los Angeles at New York, 7:30 p.m.

Seattle at San Antonio, 8 p.m.

CAVS AGREE TO MULTIPLAYER, 3-TEAM TRADE

CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers have created salary cap space to make sure they have enough to offer superstar free agent LeBron James a maximum contract.

A person familiar with the deals says the Cavs have agreed to trade guard Jarrett Jack, swingman Sergey Karasev and center Tyler Zeller in a three-team deal. The moves are designed to open room under the salary cap so they can land James, the four-time league MVP and most sought after player on the market.

HORNETS TO SIGN HAYWARD TO OFFER SHEET

CLEMSON BRINGS IN NEW ROWING COACH

CLEMSON — Clemson has hired an NCAA Division II championship coach to take over its rowing program.

The school announced Stephen FrazierWong’s hiring Tuesday. Frazier-Wong had spent the past two years at Nova Southeastern, winning the NCAA crown in 2013 and finishing runner-up last season.

From staff, wire reports

MLB ROUNDUP

Mets’ Gee makes impressive return in 4-1 win NEW YORK — David Wright ignited a tiebreaking rally in the seventh inning with a hustle double, Travis d’Arnaud gave Dillon Gee some cushion with a two-run drive later in the seventh and the New York Mets beat the Atlanta Braves 4-1 on Wednesday night for their first fourgame winning streak in a year.

Gee (4-1) returned from two months on the disabled and pitched seven-plus dominant innings as the Mets won the first three of a four-game series against the Braves after being swept in Atlanta less than two weeks ago.

The Braves have lost four straight after a nine-game winning streak.

MARLINS 3

GB – 41/2 5 51/2 6 6

TUESDAY’S GAMES

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Defending Tour champ Froome withdraws after another crash

ARIZONA 4

By The Associated Press

EASTERN CONFERENCE

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Defending Tour de France champion Christopher Froome, center, gestures to teammate Xabier Zandio, right, after crashing for the third time in two days during the fifth stage on Wednesday. Froome decided to withdraw from the race.

PHOENIX — Paul Goldschmidt doubled in the last two of Arizona’s three runs in the 10th inning and the Diamondbacks beat the Miami Marlins 4-3 on Wednesday.

ROCKIES 6 PADRES 3

DENVER — Troy Tulowitzki hit two of Colorado’s five home runs, and the Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 6-3 on Wednesday.

REDS 4 CUBS 1

CINCINNATI — Alfredo Simon became the NL’s first 12-game winner and

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Atlanta’s B.J. Upton, center, is caught in a rundown between Mets right fielder Curtis Granderson (3) and third baseman David Wright (5) in the Mets’ 4-1 victory on Wednesday in New York.

Billy Hamilton added to his sensational series with a tiebreaking triple Wednesday night, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 4-1 victory over the trade-depleted Chicago Cubs.

INTERLEAGUE TIGERS 4 DODGERS 1 DETROIT — Max Scherzer pitched seven impressive innings, outdueling Zack Greinke and helping the shorthanded Detroit Tigers beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1 on Wednesday.

NATIONALS 6 ORIOLES 2

BALTIMORE — Doug Fister allowed two runs over seven innings and the Washington Nationals hit three solo homers in a 6-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.

AMERICAN LEAGUE ANGELS 8 BLUE JAYS 7

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Albert Pujols hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh inning and Kole Calhoun also connected, leading the Los Angeles Angels to an 8-7 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday in the rubber game of the three-game series.

RED SOX 5 WHITE SOX 4

BOSTON — Daniel Nava doubled in the tying run in the ninth inning and scored on Brock Holt’s single as the Boston Red Sox rallied from a four-run deficit to beat the Chicago White Sox 5-4 on Wednesday night and snap a four-game losing streak.

From wire reports

SPORTS

THE SUMTER ITEM

THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2014

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NASCAR

Almirola: Congrats from Petty a special moment

BY HANK KURZ JR. The Associated Press

STATE PLAYOFFS LOWER STATE

First Round Georgetown vs. Goose Creek Monday Goose Creek 11, Georgetown 9 Tuesday Georgetown 5, Goose Creek 4, series tied 1-1 Wednesday Georgetown at Goose Creek Today Goose Creek at Georgetown (if necessary) Friday Georgetown at Goose Creek (if necessary) Horry vs. Camden Monday Camden 11, Horry 2 Tuesday Camden 4, Horry 3 Wednesday Camden 8, Horry 1, Camden wins series 3-0 Dalzell-Shaw vs. Florence Monday Florence 18, Dalzell-Shaw 2 Tuesday Florence 12, Dalzell-Shaw 8, Wednesday Florence 22, Dalzell-Shaw 0, Florence wins series 3-0 Manning-Santee vs. Beaufort Manning wins series by forfeit, advances to second round Lake City vs. Sumter Monday Sumter 12, Lake City 1 Tuesday Sumter 18, Lake City 10, Sumter leads series 2-0 Wednesday Lake City at Sumter Thursday Sumter at Lake City (if necessary) Friday Lake City at Sumter (if necessary) Hartsville vs. Murrells Inlet Monday Hartsville 9, Murrells Inlet 2 Tuesday Hartsville 2, Murrells Inlet 1, Hartsville leads series 2-0 Wednesday Hartsville at Murrells Inlet Today Murrells Inlet at Hartsville (if necessary) Friday Hartsville at Murrells Inlet (if necessary)

RICHMOND, Va. — Aric Almirola waited two days to experience one of the highlights of his first victory in NASCAR’s premier series.

It came during a dinner Tuesday night when he finally saw car owner Richard Petty, whose famed No. 43 racer Almirola put in Victory Lane on Sunday at Daytona InterALMIROLA national Raceway. It was the iconic car’s first victory in 15 years and a span of 544 races.

“When he walked up to me, he gave me a hug and he told me he was proud of me,” Almirola said Wednesday, reflecting on his meeting with Petty. “To have Richard Petty come up and tell you he’s proud of you, and knowing that you got his No. 43 car back to Victory Lane, is really special.

“I’ll take that with me for the rest of my life.”

Petty, also known as “The King,” is a seven-time series champion who won a record 200 races. Almirola said Petty deserves a lot of credit for making his victory possible.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NASCAR driving legend and team owner Richard Petty poses with his famous No. 43 car, which Aric Amirola drove to victory on Sunday in the Coke Zero 400 in Daytona Beach, Fla. “The reality is that from 1999 and even before 1999, through that time period and over the last 15 years, Richard Petty Motorsports has not been a race team that was really capable of winning races all the time,” Almirola said. “They were doing all they could to just get to the race track.”

It was Petty, he said, who finally realized the team could no longer keep its operation in his hometown of Randleman, North Carolina, but had to move to the

Charlotte area, where most teams have shops.

“That was the start of them basically remaking the race team,” said Almirola, in his third year with RPM. He was contending for a victory at Kansas last season, running side by side with Jimmie Johnson, and dueling Carl Edwards at Bristol this year, but a blown right front tire ruined both runs.

The breakthrough victory came on the 20th anniversary of Petty’s 200th victory,

and while some fans and other drivers grumbled that the race was called too soon after several rain delays, Almirola isn’t apologizing.

“The only way that that would affect me would be if I rode around in 35th all day and everybody wrecked in front of me and I weasled my way through it and got handed the win,” he said. “We were capable of winning with or without that happening.”

Fellow driver Greg Biffle agrees.

“He wasn’t handed anything,” Biffle said. “He had a fast car.”

Conventional wisdom this season suggests that Almirola can now count on a spot in the Chase for the championship because he won a race, but the driver isn’t taking that for granted just yet.

Only eight races remain before the 16 driver field is set in the final regular season race at Richmond International Raceway, and 11 drivers have already won races. If six non-winners thus far win in the coming weeks, there will be more race winners than spots in the playoffs.

It’s unlikely, but possible.

“We’ve got to get through the next couples of weeks and make sure,” Almirola said.

SUMTER FROM PAGE B1

UPPER STATE

Easley vs. Rock Hill Monday Rock Hill 5, Easley 3 Tuesday Rock Hill 11, Easley 5, Rock Hill leads series 2-0 Wednesday Easley at Rock Hill Today Rock Hill at Easley (if necessary) Friday Easley at Rock Hill (if necessary) Lexington vs. Union Tuesday Lexington 17, Union 12, Lexington leads series 1-0 Wednesday Union at Lexington Today Lexington at Union Friday Union at Lexington (if necessary) Saturday Lexington at Union (if necessary) Columbia Northeast vs. Inman Tuesday Inman 9, Columbia Northeast 4, Inman leads series 1-0 Wednesday Inman at Columbia Northeast Today Columbia Northeast at Inman Friday Inman at Columbia Northeast (if necessary) Saturday Columbia Northeast at Inman (if necessary) Belton vs. Fort Mill Monday Fort Mill 17, Belton 4, Fort Mill leads series 1-0 Tuesday Belton 7, Fort Mill 0, series tied 1-1 Wednesday Belton at Fort Mill Today Fort Mill at Belton (if necessary) Friday Belton at Fort Mill (if necessary) Lancaster vs. Greenwood Monday Greenwood 3, Lancaster 2 Tuesday Greenwood 10, Lancaster 0, Greenwood leads series 2-0 Wednesday Lancaster at Greenwood Today Greenwood at Lancaster (if necessary) Friday Lancaster at Greenwood (if necessary) Spartanburg vs. Orangeburg Monday Spartanburg 11, Orangeburg 1 Tuesday Orangeburg 6, Spartanburg 5, series tied 1-1 Wednesday Spartanburg at Orangeburg Today Orangeburg at Spartanburg (if necessary) Friday Spartanburg at Orangeburg (if necessary) Greer vs. Chapin-Newberry Monday Chapin-Newberry 12, Greer 2 Tuesday Chapin-Newberry 8, Greer 5, Chapin-Newberry leads series 2-0 Wednesday Greer at Chapin-Newberry Today Chapin-Newberry at Greer (if necessary) Friday Greer at Chapin-Newberry (if necessary) Clover vs. Greenville Monday Greenville 11, Clover 0 Tuesday Greenville 13, Clover 9, Greenville leads series 2-0 Wednesday Clover at Greenville Today Greenville at Clover (if necessary) Friday Clover at Greenville (if necessary)

SECOND ROUND

Lower State Georgetown or Goose Creek vs.

Camden Manning-Santee vs. Florence Sumter or Lake City vs. Hartsville or Murrells Inlet Upper State Easley or Rock Hill vs. Belton or Fort Mill Lancaster or Greenwood vs. Spartanburg or Orangeburg Greer or Chapin-Newberry vs. Clover or Greenville

P-15’s. A 1-out single in the second was followed by a stolen base, a strikeout and then a throwing error on what would have been the final out as Lake City took a 1-0 lead.

A similar scenario unfolded in the fourth. Beatson walked leadoff hitter Chris Smith and it came back to haunt him three batters later on another P-15’s throwing error to make it 2-0. Sumter wound up making four throwing errors in the first five innings.

Post 73 pushed it to 3-0 in the fifth. Blake Timmons led off with a double and was sacrificed to third.

After a flyout, a Beatson wild pitch pushed across the first earned run of the game for Lake City.

Meanwhile the P-15’s were unable to come up with a clutch hit or any kind of good fortune of their own.

Sumter had the leadoff man aboard in each of the first six innings, but scored just once. A pair of 2-out walks in the first loaded the bases, but to no avail. A force play at third on a sacrifice bunt attempt and a caught stealing negated another threat in the second and Post 73 starter Timmons pitched around runners in scoring position in the third, fourth and sixth innings.

MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

Sumter’s Javon Martin, right, gets caught in a rundown as Lake City players keep their eyes on another runner during Lake City’s 8-3 victory on Wednesday at Riley Park.

The P-15’s finally got on the board an inning later.

Javon Martin walked, took second on a passed ball and was awarded third on a balk. Phillip Watcher came through with a grounder to first that was booted, but the run scored regardless as Sumter cut the deficit to 3-1.

A lightning delay in the sixth ended the night for Beatson, who allowed just one earned run on six hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked one.

Post 73 plated two more runs in the seventh – both a result of Sumter errors.

Matthew Wilson’s sacrifice bunt attempt was thrown away at first and then the relay throw back to first was low and got away from Tee Dubose to score one run. A fielder’s choice grounder to second was thrown wide of home trying to cut down the run as Lake City increased its lead to 5-1.

After another, slightly longer lightning delay in the bottom of the seventh, the game resumed with Timmons still on the mound. The left-hander wasn’t as fortunate is his

second return, however, as River Soles and Taylor McFaddin each had 2-out RBI singles to pull Sumter within 5-3. The P-15’s left the bases loaded, however, as Post 73 reliever Chris Godwin worked out of the jam.

It closed the book on Timmons, who went 6 2/3 and allowed three runs on six hits with three strikeouts and six walks.

Two walks, a RBI double from Wilson and a 2-run single from Vance Timmons upped LC’s advantage to 8-3 in the top of the 8th to put the game out of reach.

JETS FROM PAGE B1 the inning but he got Michal Hoge to ground into a double play and got Edison Aldridge to fly out for Post 1’s first no-hitter since Jeff Jeffords threw one in the 2003 playoffs.

Newton, who redshirted at Francis Marion this year, has come on late in the season for Florence and picked up his third straight decision. He tossed five shutout innings Friday against Sumter and could have pitched longer, but Post 1 head coach Derick Urquhart wanted to get some of his other pitchers some work.

But there was no way he would be pulled against Dalzell despite having long breaks in the second and fifth innings as Florence scored 17 of its 22 runs in those two innings.

“Zack was outstanding,” Urquhart said. “We thought Zack threw his best game Friday against Sumter (in a 6-0 victory), but he topped

that obviously. He came out, threw strikes early and was in command. He got ahead of batters and used offspeed to get the guys at the end.”

Garrett Bevill, Ke’shaun Samuel and CJ Hopkins each homered on the night for Post 1, which scored 52 runs in the3-game series, including 29 straight going back to Game 2’s 12-8 victory on Tuesday.

Bevill had a single and a 3-run homer in the second as Florence, which improvd to 29-3 on the season, scored eight runs in the inning to lead 8-0. Samuel finished with three hits, including a solo blast in the third, and had two runs batted in.

Hopkins singled and then belted a grand slam as part of Florence’s 9-run fifth to give them a 22-0 lead. The 22 runs were second most in a game this season for Florence, which scored 28 against Horry.

Clay Martin added three

VEASEY CONWAY / FLORENCE MORNING NEWS

Florence’s Zack Newton delivers a pitch during his no-hitter in Post 1’s 22-0 victory over Dalzell-Shaw on Wednesday at Legion Field I Florence. Florence swept the best-of-5 first-round state playoffs series with the victory. hits and drove in two runs, and Phillip Herring and Patrick Lovelace also had two hits.

David Hayden took the loss for Dalzell, which finished the year with an 8-17 record.

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SPORTS

THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2014

WORLD CUP

THE SUMTER ITEM

PRO BASKETBALL

Riley makes case to James as to why he should stay with Heat

BY TIM REYNOLDS The Associated Press

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Argentine players react after Maxi Rodriguez scored the winning goal during their 4-2 penalty shootout victory after extra time during Wednesday’s World Cup semifinal in Sao Paulo. Argentina will face Germany in the finals.

Penalty kick composure Argentina tops Netherlands 4-2 to reach finals

BY MIKE CORDER The Associated Press SAO PAULO — Goalkeeper Sergio Romero saved two penalties Wednesday to send Argentina into the World Cup final with a 4-2 shootout win over the Netherlands after the game finished in a 0-0 stalemate.

A day after Germany lit up the World Cup with its clinical 7-1 destruction of host Brazil, the Netherlands and Argentina could not manage a goal between them in 120 minutes before the shootout.

Romero — thought to be a weak link in this Argentine team and not even a starter for his Monaco club most of last season — blocked penalties by Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder. For Argentina, Lionel Messi, Ezequiel Garay, Sergio Aguero and Maxi Rodriguez all converted their spot kicks.

“It’s luck, that’s the truth. You can dive (the right way) and not make it, like happened to their goalkeeper,” Romero said. “I had confidence, thank God things turned out well.”

In a matchup of two of football’s powerhouse nations, two-time champion Argentina will play three-time winner Germany in Sunday’s final at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

That means an extra bitter end to the tournament for Brazilians, who will have to watch their fiercest rivals play for the world title in their most hallowed stadium against a team that humiliated their nation in the semifinals.

It was the second straight penalty shootout following a 0-0 draw for the Dutch. Against Costa Rica in the quarterfinals, coach Louis van Gaal brought on substitute goalkeeper Tim Krul in the last seconds of extra time to replace Jasper Cillessen and Krul saved two spot kicks.

This time, Van Gaal had used up all three substitutions by the end of extra time and Cillessen had to face the shootout. Van Gaal said he would have made the same keeper swap if he’d had a substitution left.

The young Ajax goalkeeper got a hand to Rodriguez’s decisive powerful shot, but could only deflect it into the roof of the net, and then collapsed onto his knees and sank onto his back. Krul walked across the pitch to console him.

Van Gaal said he even had a hand in Romero’s heroics, having trained him at AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch league.

“Penalties are always a matter of luck,” he

said. “And I taught Romero how to stop penalties so that hurts.”

Many of Argentina’s players stripped off their shirts in the rain at the Itaquerao Stadium and danced in front of their fans.

Argentina reached its fifth final, and its first in 24 years. It won the title in 1978 — beating the Dutch — and in 1986. It lost the championship matches in 1930 and 1990. It played West Germany in both the ‘86 and ‘90 finals.

The Netherlands, which has never won the World Cup, was seeking to reach its fourth final.

The tournament’s second semifinal had been billed as a showdown between Messi and Arjen Robben, but both star dribblers were subdued. Instead it was midfield controllers Nigel de Jong and Javier Mascherano who stood out as both sides’ defenses marked two of the World Cup’s biggest stars out of the game.

When Robben finally broke free in stoppage time, Mascherano’s perfectly timed sliding tackle blocked his shot at the near post.

De Jong, who recovered from a groin injury to start, lasted just over an hour before being replaced by Feyenoord midfielder Jordy Clasie, who made his World Cup debut.

After scoring 10 goals in three group matches, the Dutch scoring dried up in the knockout rounds. The team managed two late strikes against Mexico but failed to find the net before eliminating Costa Rica in the quarterfinal shootout.

“The issue in a championship like this one is that you score one more goal than your opponent, which we didn’t do,” Van Gaal said, “We didn’t create very much.”

Argentina also has found goals hard to come by in Brazil, not winning any of its matches by more than a one-goal margin and recording back-to-back 1-0 wins over Switzerland and Belgium in the knockout stages.

The two sides’ attacking impotence was highlighted by a 73rd-minute free kick by Messi from the right corner that sailed over everybody and out of play. Dirk Kuyt followed suit a minute later by sending a long ball off the other end of the pitch.

Argentina tried to finish the match in the second half of extra time, but when the chances came Rodrigo Palacio headed tamely at Cillessen and Maxi Rodriguez mishit a volley.

“Argentina didn’t create very many opportunities, if any,” Van Gaal said. “So there was a balance in the match.”

THOMPSON FROM PAGE B1 the Outback Bowl and connected with Bruce Ellington on a 32-yard touchdown pass with 11 seconds left to beat Michigan — a game remembered more for defensive end Jadeveon Clowney’s helmetdislodging hit on the Wolverine’s Vincent Smith.

Thompson acknowledged thinking the way he ended that season would give him a chance at much more playing time last fall. Instead, Shaw shook off several injuries during the year to become the Gamecocks’ unquestioned leader as they rose to No. 4 nationally.

“It was not that I was upset, but it went different than I had planned,” he said.

“But I learned that every rep matters, every single rep matters.”

In fact, Thompson credits South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier for the mental edge the quarterback developed because he was unsure when

he’d get called on. “I think that helped,” he said.

Thompson’s had his ups and downs with Spurrier, the Heisman Trophy winner known for chewing up passers who don’t perform. One day, Spurrier is barking orders and picking apart his style, Thompson said, and the next he’s cutting up with him. “It’s a lot of you don’t know what you’re going to get,” the quarterback said with a smile.

Spurrier, when asked about his backup quarterbacks in the spring, answered, “Well, we’ll have to keep Dylan healthy.”

Spurrier said last month that Thompson has prepared himself well to take over.

Thompson is more of a downfield passer who is confident that promising receivers like Damiere Byrd and Shaq Lawson will give him fast, lanky targets this fall.

Thompson will also have

one of the deepest offensive lines in the Southeastern Conference led by tackle Brandon Shell and guard A.J. Cann, plus 1,000-yard rusher Mike Davis in the backfield.

Thompson recently returned from a football mission trip to Israel and is heading off Thursday to work at the Manning Passing Academy this weekend. He found out about that in typical Spurrier style with the Gamecocks coach calling him this offseason to say, “Archie Manning’s going to call you.”

Thompson, while blindsided, hung in there and spoke with the Ole Miss and NFL great for 20 minutes or so.

Thompson’s prepared for a similarly surprising ride this season with the Gamecocks, knowing that’s he’s put in the time to succeed.

“If we win the SEC this year, that’s cool,” he said. “If we don’t, I know I did what I could to help the team be as good as we can be.”

LAS VEGAS — Pat Riley has gotten his chance at convincing LeBron James to stay in Miami, said a person familiar with the situation.

The Miami Heat president met with the four-time NBA MVP on Wednesday afternoon in Las Vegas, the person told The Associated Press. James, his agent Rich Paul, Riley and Heat executive Andy Elisburg were at the meeting, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because neither side publicly announced who would be attending the meeting or when it would take place.

It was unclear whether James informed Riley where he would play next season, the person said.

The meeting took place more than two weeks after James opted out of his contract and elected to become a free agent and the day before free agents may begin signing contracts.

James spent part of his day before the meeting at his annual skills academy with some of the nation’s top high school and college players, interacting and observing workouts. That was part of the reason why Riley had to fly across the country to make the meeting happen, with hopes that he would return to Miami from the gambling haven with a huge win — keeping James in Heat colors for at least another season.

Several teams have met with Paul during the freeagent process, but it appears James has only one decision to make: Cleveland or Miami, the same choice he pondered four years ago when he decided play with the Heat. With James, the Heat won four Eastern Conference titles and two NBA

championships.

The Cavaliers didn’t sit idle waiting for James and Riley to meet.

Cleveland created salarycap space earlier Wednesday with a three-team trade with the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets, ensuring they have enough to offer the James a maximum contract.

But James had said he would meet with Riley and the Heat before making his decision.

The meeting came nearly three weeks after Riley addressed reporters following Miami’s loss to San Antonio in the NBA Finals, when he insisted that the Heat needed to make some adjustments to get better — but didn’t need a massive rebuilding job to stay at a championship level.

“You’ve got to stay together if you’ve got the guts, and you don’t find the first door and run out of it if you have an opportunity,” Riley said on June 19. “This is four years now into this era, this team, four finals. It’s only been done three other times before. And two championships. From day one to the end, it was like a Broadway show. Sort of ran out of steam, and we need to retool. We don’t need to rebuild, we need to retool, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

If James leaves, it’ll be more than a retooling project that awaits Miami.

Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh — the other members of Miami’s “Big 3” of the past four seasons — are also free agents, and neither has given any hint as to what they will do, though it’s still expected Wade will not leave the Heat. Miami has just two players under contract for next season, one of those on a partially guaranteed deal.

AP FILE PHOTO

LeBron James, left, and Miami team president Pat Riley are all smiles as they pose with the trophy James received for being named Most Valuable Player. The two met on Wednesday as Riley tried to convince James to stay in Miami.

OBITUARIES | SPORTS

THE SUMTER ITEM

DONT’A O. WILSON Dont’a Orlando Wilson was born on Nov. 27, 1982, in Sumter County, to Bennie and Jennifer McGee Wilson. He departed this life on Thursday, July 3, 2014, at Houston Medical Center, Macon, Georgia. Dont’a joined Beulah AME Church at an early age and accepted the Lord WILSON as his personal Savior. He was reared in a Christian home. Dont’a was a hard worker who lived by the Air Force core values: Integrity first, Service before self, and Excellence in all we do.

He was promoted in June 2006 to staff sergeant. In May 2011, he was promoted to technical sergeant, with responsibility for a large staff and a multimillion-dollar vehicle fleet.

His responsibilities included oversight of ground logistics, dispatching and the operations and servicing of motor vehicles. For his service to this nation, Dont’a received the Air Force Commendation Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Commendation Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster; and the Air Force Achievement Medal. Dont’a was currently stationed at Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Georgia.

Dont’a leaves to cherish his memory: his parents, Bennie and Jennifer Wilson of Sumter; and brother, Benjamin Jamie Wilson of Sumter.

Other loving relatives also cherishing his memory include: special friend, Antebreia Shellman and her mother, Andrea Shellman, of Melbourne, Florida; 14 aunts, Julie Ann ( Pastor Stanley) Hayes of Sumter, Jacqueline (Andre’) Wiley of Sumter, Agnes (the Rev. Abraham) Temoney of Sumter, Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Sally (Ervin) Norwood of Tampa, Florida, Minnie Gregg and Carolyn Gregg of Sumter, Addie L. Wilson of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Amelia Mitchell, Catherine Morant, Maggie Ricks, Gloria Jacobs and Roxanne (Patrick) Josey, all of Sumter,

and Kotel (Phillip) King of Stone Mountain, Georgia; eight uncles, Steven (Lorraine) McGee, Clyde McGee, Roosevelt (Henrietta) McGee and Carlos (Wendy) McGee, all of Sumter, Jerry Wilson of Florence, Sammie (Sandra) Jacobs and Leon Jacobs of Sumter, and James (Louise) Jacobs of Portsmouth, Virginia; one nephew, Jaidynn Wilson; three nieces, Brayleigh, Cytirah and Jada Wilson; and a host of cousins, other relatives, coworkers and friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Vance and Elizabeth Muldrow McGee, and Sammie Lee Gregg and Ida Mae Gregg; and great-grandparents, Lucious “Nineteen” Wilson and Sallie Durant Wilson.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. today at Beulah AME Church, 3175 Florence Highway, Sumter, with the pastor, the Rev. Dwayne Bruce, officiating. Interment will follow in the Beulah AME Church Cemetery.

The family is receiving friends at 121 Fagan St., Sumter.

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

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

LEROY CANTY Leroy Canty, 71, husband of Ruby Frazier Canty, died on Sunday, July 6, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

He was born on July 28, 1942, in the Rimini section of Clarendon County, a son of Emily Hickman Canty and the late Ed Canty.

The family is receiving friends at the home of his daughter, Linda Canty Junious, 225 Curtis Drive, Sumter.

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

MARY E. MARTIN Funeral services for Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Biggs Mar-

AREA SCOREBOARD RACQUETBALL YMCA TOURNAMENT The Sumter Family YMCA is currently taking registration for its first racquetball tournament scheduled for Aug. 16.

Registration will run through Aug. 7 with a fee of $15 for YMCA members and $22 for potential members. After Aug. 7, add a $10 late registration fee.

There will be six divisions -- Open, A, B, C, D and novice. The tournament will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, call (803) 7731404 or visit www.ymcasumter.org or www.facebook.com/SumterYmca.

BASKETBALL DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL

The Hoop Basketball Individual Development Basketball School will be held July 14-17 at the Mayewood Middle School Gymnasium at 4300 East Brewington Road.

The camp will be under the direction of James Smith, Harry Fullwood and Ronnie Brown. The cost of the camp is $50 per camper and is open to boys and girls ages 10 through 16. The camp will run from 8 a.m. until noon each day.

For more information, contact Smith

Andree Patricia Davis, wife of Bernard Davis, died on Tuesday July 1, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

She was born on June 23, 1958, in Bronx, New York, a daughter of the late Eddie Sr. and Amanda O. Jones.

Andree was educated in the public schools in Bronx. At an early age, she attended Goodwill Baptist Church in Bronx, where she accepted Christ as her personal Savior and served on various choirs. In 1977, Andree met the love of her life, Bernard Davis. They were united in holy matrimony on July 15, 1978. Andree found employment with United Cerebral Palsy of New Jersey for 19 years, until relocating to Sumter.

She leaves to cherish precious memories: her devoted husband, Bernard Davis of the home; two sons, Andrew (Felicia) Davis and Daniel Davis, both of New Jersey; one daughter, Cheryl Davis of New Jersey; four grandchildren, Abree, Shanice, Hamairah and Danny; one great-granddaughter, Savannah; one brother, Eddie (Jennifer) Jones Jr.; five sisters, Clealia P. Jones of Brooklyn, New York, Villia E. Jones, Vivian (Carlos) L. Fernandez and Cynthia (Wallace) L. Jones-Wright, all of Sumter; one brother-in-law, Harold Davis of Florida; two sistersin-law, Bernadette DavisCheek of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Lenore (Lawrence) Davis-Smith of New York; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

SUMTER CHRISTIAN CLINIC

Registration is being taken for the Sumter Christian School 2014 Basketball Clinic to be held this month.

It is a 5-day session at a cost of $45 per camper. The camp for children in grades 9-12 will be held July 21-25. It will run each day from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The camp instructors will be the SCS coaching staff of Bobby Baker, Tom Cope and Jimmy Davis.

For more information, call Baker at (803) 469-9304 or (803) 464-3652.

FOOTBALL POP WARNER REGISTRATION

Youth Athletics of Sumter, a division of Pop Warner Little Scholars, is registering children ages 5-16 for football for the 2014 season.

The last day to register is July 31 and the registration fee is $80. Payment plans are available.

The fee includes security, ID Badge, use of shoulder pads, use of helmet, use of practice clothes, insurance and a mouthpiece. Parents will be responsible for buying a game jersey, game pants, cleats, a cup, and socks.

The practice season will run from Aug. 1 through Aug. 29. Games will begin on Aug. 30 and run through Oct. 25.

decided to retire following the 2012 season, but said he had an open mind about Wojcik when the school hired him.

“Everyone loved coach Cremins,” Benton said. “He was going to be a tough act to follow, but I think everyone gave (Wojcik) the benefit of the doubt at first.”

The honeymoon didn’t last long, he said.

“I can take a coach yelling at me and being demanding and tough,” Benton said. “But he crossed the line. He made it personal on levels that he shouldn’t have. It wasn’t just basketball. He talked about parents and players’ girlfriends.”

As the season went on, Benton’s list of transgressions became longer and longer. He

Two brothers-in-law, Lionel Davis and Andrew Davis, preceded her in death.

Memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday at Quinn Chapel AME Church with the pastor, the Rev. Earther McCloud-Joe, officiating.

Sumter Funeral Service Inc. is in charge of arrangements.

The family will receive friends at the home, 5 Cedarwood Circle.

ANDREE P. DAVIS

at (803) 968-6874 or (803) 469-3188.

WOJCIK FROM PAGE B1 you’re on this team. You might can read faster than me, but I’ve got that street (expletive). You’re not (expletive) smarter than me.”

Benton, who is now in law school at Georgia State University, said he was shocked at the time and couldn’t understand why the coach had made his attack so personal.

It wasn’t the first time Benton had been on the receiving end of one of Wojcik’s verbal tirade in the short time the coach had been on the job.

Benton, a walk-on basketball player for the Cougars from 2009-13, had played for three seasons under the easygoing Bobby Cremins. He had loved the game and his time with the basketball team. He was crushed when Cremins

tin, 79, will be held at 10 a.m. today at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Chapel.

The family will receive friends following the service and entombment will follow in Sharon Memorial Park, Charlotte.

Mrs. Martin died on Monday, July 7, 2014.

Online condolences can be made at www.bpafuneralhome.com.

THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2014

RUTH R. LANCASTER Ruth Rhodes Lancaster, 81, widow of John Lancaster, died on Tuesday, July 8, 2014, at Palmetto Health Richland hospital in Columbia.

Born in Sumter County, she was a daughter of the late Hezekiah and Elizabeth Rhodes.

The family will receive friends at 293 Damon Road (formerly Odom Lane), Wedgefield, SC 29168.

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

B5

George Jenkins of Woodrow; one aunt, Laney Hariton of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday at the John Wesley Williams Sr. Memorial Chapel, Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter, with the Rev. Willie Dicks, pastor of St. Matthew United Methodist Church, officiating, eulogist.

The family is receiving friends and relatives at the home of Tonya Porter, 27 Pear St., Woodrow.

Floral bearers and pallbearers will be family and friends.

Burial will be in the St. Matthew United Methodist Churchyard cemetery, 1186 Black River Road, Camden.

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

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

LAURA ANN KLAVON Laura Ann Klavon, 33, died on Monday, July 7, 2014.

Services will be announced

by Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter.

ERIC HOLMES Eric Holmes, 57, entered eternal rest on Saturday, July 5, 2014, at McLeod Regional Medical Center, Florence.

Born on June 17, 1957, in Lee County, he was a son of the late Willie Sr. and Lillie Mae Robinson Holmes. He attended and was a graduate of St. Jude Catholic School, Sumter. Eric worked for many years in construction.

Eric will be remembered by his four children, Lolita (Walter) Thomas of Cassatt, Rick Cabbagestalk, Eric P. Holmes of Florida and Simone Holmes of Bishopville; four beautiful grandchildren, Sharvia, Sharvion, Paris and Nysere; one brother, Willie Bruce Holmes; one uncle,

Registration is being held every Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Golden Corral on Broad Street.

To request registration and volunteer forms or for more information, email youthathleticsofsumteryas@ yahoo.com.

AUTO RACING SPEEDWAY CHAMPS SEARCH

Sumter Speedway is trying to gather information on all of its champions from 1957 to the present.

The name of the driver, the year and the division in which the title was won and the track promoter is the information hoping to be gathered.

To provide information, call James Skinner at (803) 775-5973 or e-mail Virginia Ayers at vayers@ftc-i.net.

CHEERLEADING POP WARNER REGISTRATION

Youth Athletics of Sumter, a division of Pop Warner Little Scholars, is registering children ages 5-16 for cheerleading for the 2014 season.

The last day to register is July 31 and the registration fee is $80. Payment plans are available.

The fee includes security, ID badge, use of uniform, use of pom-poms, socks, undergarment and insurance.

said all the players were aware of the list he was keeping, and as the verbal abuse began to mount, teammates would give him more examples.

“Coach would go off on someone and they’d come up to me after practice and say, “Put that one on the list,”’ Benton said. “All the guys knew what I was doing.”

All of the players interviewed during the investigation said Benton’s list was accurate.

At one point or another every player was a target for one of Wojcik’s rants, but Benton, forward Matt Sundberg and forward Trent Weideman seemed to take the brunt of his wrath.

When the season was over, Benton, Sundberg and Weideman had exit interviews with

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JOSEPH W. DANGERFIELD Joseph Warner Dangerfield, 33, died on Monday, July 7, 2014, in Charleston.

Born in Sumter, he was a son of William D. “Bill” Dangerfield and the late Cynthia Carter Dangerfield. He was employed at Boeing Manufacturing.

Survivors include his parents of Sumter; a son, Noah William Dangerfield of Charleston; and two brothers, Daniel P. Dangerfield and Matt Dangerfield, both of Sumter.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday in the Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home chapel. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday at Elmore-CannonStephens Funeral Home.

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

Parents will be responsible for buying shoes.

The practice season will run from Aug. 1 through Aug. 29. Games will begin on Aug. 30 and run through Oct. 25.

Registration is being held every Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Golden Corral on Broad Street.

Volunteers are also needed. All volunteer applications must be turned in

by July 5.

To request registration and volunteer forms or for more information, email youthathleticsofsumteryas@ yahoo.com.

GOLF 4-PERSON SCRAMBLE

The Links at Lakewood Golf Course will host a 4-person scramble every Thursday.

The cost is $25 per person and includes golf, prizes and food following the scramble.

Call the pro shop at (803) 481-5700 before 4 p.m. on Thursday to sign up.

GOLFERS BIBLE STUDY

The Sumter chapter of the Christian Golfer’s Association holds a golfers Bible study each Tuesday at its offices at Crystal Lakes Golf Course.

The study begins at 8 a.m. and is followed by a round of golf.

College of Charleston Athletic Director Joe Hull. All three gave accounts of the verbal abuse under Wojcik. Benton and Sundberg were seniors and scheduled to graduate.

Weideman, one of the team’s top post players, had decided to transfer to Georgia Southern.

Benton said Hull was shocked to learn of his treatment under Wojcik and told the walk-on that he would take it up with the coach during his end-of-the-year evaluation.

“I think (Hull) was pretty upset and surprised by the whole thing,” Benton said. “I think he genuinely felt bad about what had happened to us and the way coach Wojcik had treated us.”

But Benton wasn’t optimistic that much would come out

of the exit interviews he had with Hull. The Cougars had gone 24-11 in Wojcik’s first season and made it to the finals of the Southern Conference Tournament. They’d also earned a bid to College Basketball Invitational Tournament.

“I knew they were not going to fire him. How could they after they won 24 games?”

Benton said. “I guess what I was hoping for was that someone would talk to him and that the administration knew there was a problem.”

According to the report, Hull discussed the issue with then-college president George Benson. Benson instructed Hull to talk with Wojcik about the issue. In the report, Hull said Wojcik understood that he needed to change his demeanor toward the players.

B6

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COMICS

THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2014

BIZARRO

SOUP TO NUTZ

ANDY CAPP

GARFIELD

BEETLE BAILEY

BORN LOSER

BLONDIE

ZITS

MOTHER GOOSE

DOG EAT DOUG

DILBERT

JEFF MACNELLY’S SHOE

Expectations for maid of honor are adding up DEAR ABBY — My best friend is getting married and asked me to be her maid of honor. She has also Dear Abby asked me to buy an exABIGAIL pensive VAN BUREN dress, host a lavish shower I’m afraid I can’t afford and plan a destination bachelorette party. The cost will be exorbitant.

On top of this, she has asked me to be her “cover” when she lies to her fiance about where she is. She has admitted to me that she has cheated on him, and I think she’s doing it again.

THE SUMTER ITEM

I know it’s not my place to question her or tell her what to do, but this has made me hesitant to commit financially to her wedding. Should I talk to her about this? I don’t want to lose my best friend, but I also don’t want to put my money on the line for someone who isn’t being honest.

Dragging heels in New York DEAR DRAGGING YOUR HEELS — Do not question your friend or tell her what to do, but DO convey to her that you can’t function as her maid of honor because you can’t afford the cost. And the next time she asks you to cover for her, tell her you no longer want to be a party to deceiving her fiance because you’re having trouble looking him in

THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

the eye.

Your best friend sounds like a piece of work, and if it costs you the friendship you won’t have lost much. This girl lacks both judgment and character, and you’ll be better off to distance yourself. Both of you should mingle with people with whom you have more in common.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.

DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

To receive a collection of Abby’s most memorable — and most frequently requested — poems and essays, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $7 (U.S. funds) to Dear Abby — Keepers Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. Shipping and handling are included in the price.

JUMBLE

SUDOKU

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME

By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

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

ACROSS 1 Limo rider 6 Skilled 11 Old map letters 14 Smetana’s “The Bartered Bride,” e.g.

15 Super Mario World dinosaur 16 Own, to Burns 17 Like him or her 19 Morticia’s cousin 20 Roman sun god 21 Bon __ 22 Years in Madrid 23 Campfire remains 26 Cleaning tool 28 Easily perturbed 30 Reagan/Carter debate catchphrase 34 Disney film based on Chinese folklore 35 Steed’s partner 36 Giant thing in a kids’ game 37 Problem with pictures 38 Neeson of “Taken” 41 “Dead Souls” novelist Gogol 43 Summation symbol in

math 44 Fail completely 47 Mobster’s code of honor 48 Bart, to Homer 49 __-Mex 50 “Alice” diner 51 Nonetheless, briefly 54 “Oedipus __” 56 Completely 57 Weakening, in a way, or what 17-, 30and 44-Across are literally doing 62 Inconclusive result 63 Edmonton skater 64 Gladiator’s venue 65 Row 66 First name on a historic B-29 67 Long and lean DOWN 1 Base bed 2 Bk. before Philippians 3 Hawaiian ring 4 Messes up 5 13, to many 6 Sailor’s agreement 7 Temporary quarters 8 Canadian gas brand 9 Occasions for shooting

stars?

10 Its chemical symbol is Sn 11 Illuminate, with “on” 12 Zen enlightenment 13 Certs ingredient 18 Sneaky tactic 22 Like cherubs 23 Alternatives to tellers, briefly 24 Close 25 “Light in My Darkness” author 27 Grapefruit cousin 29 Singer Carly __ Jepsen 31 Slender swords 32 Like some legends 33 Columbia garb

37 Add gradually to a cycle 39 Gallic girlfriend 40 Tailless feline 42 Young fox 43 Dakar is its capital 44 __ paste 45 Bloomer of bloomers fame 46 __ of plenty 52 Radiant ring 53 Hershiser of ESPN 55 Ad come-on word 57 Angst 58 Portfolio holding, briefly 59 Egg layer 60 Octopus’ defense 61 Bit of Senate dissension

CLASSIFIEDS

THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2014

Notice Of Application Notice is hereby given that Saanu, LLC DBA J&D Package Store intends to apply to the South Carolina Department of Revenue for a license permit that will allow the sale OFF premises consumption of Liquor at 4580-A Florence Hwy., Mayesville, SC 29104. To object to the issuance of this permit / license, written protest must be postmarked no later than July 11, 2014. For a protest to be valid, it must be in writing, and should include the following information: (1) the name, address and telephone number of the person filing the protest; (2) the specific reasons why the application should be denied; (3) that the person protesting is willing to attend a hearing (if one is requested by the applicant); (4) that the person protesting resides in the same county where the proposed place of business is located or within five miles of the business; and (5) the name of the applicant and the address of the premises to be licensed. Protests must be mailed to: S.C. Department of Revenue, ATTN: ABL, P.O. Box 125, Columbia, South Carolina 29214; or Faxed to: (803) 896-0110.

CLOSE OUT SALE ON TRACTOR TIRES (7) New Tires (4) 16.9-34, (1) 9.5-32 (1)13.6-36, (1)16.9-24.

Prices reduced for quick sale.

775-4391, 464-5960

Farm Products BLUEBERRIES U pick $10 Gal. I pick $15 GAl 843-992-4913 or 843-659-4895

Garage, Yard & Estate Sales Will buy furniture by piece or bulk, tools, trailers, lawn mowers, 4 wheelers, etc or almost anything of value Call 803-983-5364 Huge Neighborhood Yard Sale (between 10 & 15 houses)Pack Rd -15S area, Fri-Sat. 7AM. Multi-family 5401 Meadow Dr. (Hwy 441 Shaw). Fri-12-6, Sat. 7-12. Furn., hshld, infants, Avon, tools, rm sized rug, books, more.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

LARGE GARAGE SALE 1st & 3rd Weekend Tables $2

Card of Thanks

FLEA MARKET BY SHAW AFB

Open every weekend.

905-4242

Moving Sale! 320 Kendal Ave Sat 7-12 Assorted merchandise!

For Sale or Trade Air Compressor (Campbell Hawsfield), 2HP, 20 gallon 220v, air tools. Asking $200. Wheel Chair Carrier, fits into trailer hitch, not electric. Asking $300. Call 803-472-0950 During our time of sorrow, we learned how much our friends really mean to us. Thank you so much for your kindness and sympathy at a time when it was deeply appreciated. Love, Lula Cantey Pack and the family of the late Samuel Pack

Lost & Found Found 2 M dogs near Queen Chapell & Jefferson Rd Call 803 607-9238 803-236-6323

BUSINESS SERVICES

X-box 360 games and controllers $10 each. , Call 494-4825.

Martin's Used Appliance Washers, Dryers, Refrig., Stoves.

Guarantee 464-5439 or 469-7311

2004 Sea-Doo Jet ski and trailer. $3500. Call 803-494-4825 Expert Tech, New & used heat pumps & A/C. Will install/repair, warranty; Compressor & labor $600. Call 803-968-9549 or 843-992-2364

Business Opportunities

Help Wanted Full-Time

Lawn Service For Sale. Truck, trailer, equipment & account all included. 70-80K gross. $35K sale price. Owner relocating. Call 803-468-5950 6-8pm.

Looking for an Office Helper/Secretary. The job description requires computer skills, filing, dispatching and answering telephones. Good personality, people skills and organization. Full time position. Apply in person at 1640 Suber Street.

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

Investments 3 Rental Properties for sale.

Take in $1,155/mthly. Asking $21,000 total will consider reasonable offers. Owner financing. Ser. Inquires ONLY. 803-464-5757

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

Free est. 494-9169/468-4008

Roofing All Types of Roofing & Repairs All work guaranteed. 30 yrs exp.

SC lic. Virgil Bickley 803-316-4734.

Tree Service Ricky's Tree Service Tree removal, stump grinding, Lic & ins, free quote, 803-435-2223 or cell 803-460-8747.

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

803-316-0128

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

CLASSIFIED ADS Will Go To Work For You! To Find Cash Buyers For Your Unused Items

Established Heating & Air Conditioning Company looking for an exp'd HVAC service technician.

Must have experience minimum of 2 years, a valid driver's license, people skills, good personality.

Great benefits offered and top pay! Send all responses to P-Box 343 c//o The Item, PO Box 1677 Sumter SC 29151

DIESEL TRUCK SHOP SUPERVISOR The applicant should have a minimum 3 years experience in management of a diesel truck shop. Be able to manage a team of technicians to ensure repairs are performed efficiently, cost effectively and on schedule. Applicants submit resume to P-Box 362 c//o The Item, PO Box 1677 Sumter SC 29151 Accountant Needed. Applicant is required to have a Bachelor's Degree in accounting with 3 years of equivalent experience in the field of accounting. Pay is commensurate with experience. Great benefits. Please send all resume to P-Box 360 C/O The Item, PO Box 1677 Sumter SC 29151 Need OTR Truck Drivers. 2yrs exp. Good driving records. Dependable, willing to work. Paid weekly. Paid vacations. Call 888-991-1005 Seek Full-time Legal Assistant/Paralegal for general practice firm. Minimum three years experience. Competitive pay. People skills. Send all resumes to P-Box 361 c//o The Item, PO Box 1677 Sumter SC 29151

1995 Fifteen passenger Van 350 Good cdtn. $3,500 Fifteen passenger Ford 350 Good Cdtn, $6,000 803-435-8136 for more info.

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

Medical Help Wanted

Unfurnished Apartments

REDUCED for quick sale 411 N. Magnolia, Hrwd floors, C/H/A. Garage, workshop & shed. Comm. lot on Lafayette also available. Fin Avail.

775-4391/ 464-5960

REDUCED for quick sale: 6 Middle St. 3BR & 4th optional/2BA. C/H/A. New construction.

Financing Available.

775-4391, 464-5960

SCOTBILT D.W. $49,900 843-394-2613, myken-co.net TOP $$$$ paid for mobile home trade ins. 803-469-3222 (2) 3BR/2BA (Dalzell) with land.

Easy Financing. 803-983-8084

Land & Lots for Sale

2BR for rent. $450/mo. Call 803-983-8084

Mobile Home Lot Rentals 2540 Burt Gin Rd, Wedgefield MH Lot for rent $150 mo. Agent Owned. Call 236-2425

Resort Rentals Ocean Lakes 2BR/2BA C/H/A Sleeps 8, near ocean. Call 803-773-2438

Vacation Rentals Waterfront @ Lake Marion 3BR 2BA DW $750/Mo. + Dep 2BR 1BA SW $525/Mo. + Dep. Call 803 983-9035 or 773-6655

Business Rentals Create your own business approx. 35,000 sq ft. $2500/mo. indoor racing go cart track for rent. 7 racing go carts for sale $1,000 ea Bobby Sisson 464-2730 For Sale 1340 DeBerry Cir Manning 4BR 2BA Call for info 803-410-0499

Reconditioned batteries $35. Also have lawn mower, truck, 4 wheeler, golf cart & marine batteries, starters & alternators.

Car dealers/garages ask about special prices. Auto Electric Co. 803-773-4381

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

Dalzell 16.57 acre paved. $2425 dn. $580 mo. 120 mos. $2500 Ac. 888-774-5720.

3BR/1.5BA Oakland Ave. 1,400 sq ft., lg. yard, Millwood Elem. $750 mo. + dep. 503-590-3398.

1165 McArthur Dr 2BR/2BA $450 Mo/Dep. Call 775-2344

Looking for your DREAM HOME? LOW CREDIT SCORE? Been turned down for bad credit?

Come try us, we do our own financing. We have 3-4-5 bedroom homes. Layaway program available. For more information, call 843-389-4215.

KEN-CO HOMES

Unfurnished Homes

Oaklawn MHP: 2 BR M.H.'s, water/sewer/garbage pk-up incl'd.

RV parking avail. Call 494-8350

Miscellaneous

Manufactured Housing

Summer Blow Out Sale: New & Used Mobile Home.

Call 803-469-3222

2BR 1BA, Conv. to Sumter Mall. $530/mo + dep. 803-775-1281.

3BR/1BA, on 1 acre. $500/mo + $500/dep. Shaw AFB area. Call Mike 803-825-9075

3600 Dallas: Dalzell, 3BR, 2BA. Big Lot. Big storage & workshop. 1/2 ac lot. Financing Available. 775-4391, 464-5960

Drastic Price reduction on new and used Mobile homes for limited time only. 803-469-3252

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

775-0575 Studio/1 Bedroom apartments available EHO

2 & 3 Br homes located in Manning & Sumter. AC & heat pump. $400 - $650 mo. + sec. dep. Must have first month's rent & dep. Call 803-225-0389.

Ford 2000 Van Call

2012 Impala, fully equipped. Extra clean. $12,500. Call 840-7633

Family practice is looking for a FT office Manager Mon-Fri. Exp. req. & must supply references. Send resume to: Office Manager, P-350 c/o The Item, PO Box 1677 Sumter SC 29151

RENTALS

B7

Autos For Sale

Help Wanted Part-Time

Mobile Home Rentals

EMPLOYMENT

THE ITEM

2425 Trinity Rd. (Lynchburg).

2,200 sq ft DW 5BR/2BA on 5 ac lot. Must sell. Financing available.

803-775-4391, 464-5960

CLASSIFIED ADS Will Go To Work For You! To Find Cash Buyers For Your Unused Items

PRICE TO SELL Nice lot. Good neighborhood.

Corner of Winn St.& Willow Dr. Financing also available.

803-775-4391, 464-5960 45.7 acres $1,313 per acre. Great track only min. from Sumter.

Priced to sell at $60k. Call 803-920-0724 Min. Walmart/Shaw +/- 1 Acre.

Septic, cleared, $2,900 Dn. $216 mo. 60 mos. 888-774-5720

774-1234

B8

THE ITEM

CLASSIFIEDS

THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2014