July 18, 2013

DONATIONS GET LOW:

Body found on Governor Richardson Road near Summerton. See more online at theitem.com.

Help the local Red Cross at upcoming blood drives A3 SPORTS: Former SHS standout leads crowded Clemson backfield B1 VOL. 118, NO. 230 WWW.THEITEM.COM

THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2013 | SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA

FOUNDED OCTOBER 15, 1894

60 CENTS

Testimony ends in gang hit trial

BY ROBERT J. BAKER bbaker@theitem.com The second day of testimony in the state’s case against a 29-year-old Sumter man accused of ordering a

gang hit more than two years ago began Wednesday morning at the Sumter County Judicial Center with one of the man’s alleged underlings telling jurors that he indeed ordered a retaliatory shoot-

ing on March 22, 2011.

That shooting led to the death of 27-year-old Adrian Davis, who is not thought to have any gang connections.

SEE GANG TRIAL, PAGE A7

ROBERT J. BAKER / THE ITEM

Bryant D. Bradley, 22, of Manning testified Wednesday at Sumter County Judicial Center that Mickey M. Johnson ordered a shooting in March 2011 that led to the death of 27-year-old Adrian Davis.

HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS ROLL THROUGH AREA

Some to get free energy upgrade A few low-income areas will receive free Duke service

BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com Residents in one Sumter neighborhood will soon get a free energy-efficient upgrade to their homes, Duke Energy Progress has announced.

The company unveiled its plans in MORE a presenINSIDE tation Tuesday to Check the map Sumter on page A2 to City Coun- see if you are cil, part of eligible for free weatherization Progress’s improvements Neighborfrom Duke Enerhood Engy Progress. ergy Saver Program.

The program will focus on residents around Morris College who are Duke Energy Progress customers.

Program specialist Evans Taylor told council the company will work with residents in the selected neighborhood to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and even have Duke Energy Progress technicians work to install any improvements without them costing the homeowner anything.

“Duke will foot the bill,” Taylor said. “The program is designed to introduce energy savings to our customers.

We’ll go in and install a list of measures free of charge.”

Duke Energy Progress customers in the covered

MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER / THE ITEM

People in apartments around the Gionwood area had trouble getting to and from their homes Wednesday after heavy rains pounded the Sumter area. More thunderstorms are expected today. See more on Wednesday’s storms on page A2.

Base group volunteers at soup kitchen Ministry gets update to bathrooms, assistance with food preparation

BY JADE ANDERSON janderson@theitem.com Wednesday was a day of service for Forest City Housing groups across the nation, and the local one chose to help Emmanuel Soup Kitchen of Sumter.

“It’s been fun,” said Rashaun Downs, resident and relations specialist with Forest City Shaw Air Force Base Housing. “I’ve been doing some painting. It feels good to know you are doing something permanent.

You’re not just giving a donation and walking away.”

Although she and nine

others from maintenance and management remodeled bathrooms, they also brought food and toiletry items donated by both base residents and Forest City employees.

“It helps tremendously,” said Jean Williams, soup kitchen coordinator. “The bathroom really needed to be upgraded.”

The building for the ministry was constructed in 1982, and Williams helped her father behind the scenes handling paper work from then until 1992 when she took a job outside the county. In 2006, she returned to take the reins when her fa-

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Franklin Richardson works under a sink while Dewey Prithcard works above him. Both are maintenance technicians with Forest City Shaw Air Force Base Housing.

ther passed away.

The volunteers helped prepare and serve meals Wednesday, too.

“I didn’t know they were

DEATHS Charlie Davis Jr. Robert C. Reddick George E. Donald Daniel Fry M.L. Leviner

Josephine Bradley Curtis McGee A7

going to do as much as they did,” Williams said.

“We don’t do anything SEE VOLUNTEERS, PAGE A8

SEE ENERGY UPGRADE, PAGE A8

OUTSIDE HOT

INSIDE 2 SECTIONS, 16 PAGES

Partly sunny today; storms around early this afternoon HIGH: 94 LOW: 72 A8

Classifieds Comics Daily Planner Opinion Television

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SECOND FRONT THE ITEM

THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2013 Contact the newsroom at 803-774-1226 or e-mail news@theitem.com

Lareau remembered as conservationist, journalist

BY SAMMY FRETWELL The State Conservationist Jane Lareau, a former newspaper reporter and co-founder of one of the state’s most influential environmental groups, died Monday night at her Lowcountry home after a 13-year battle with cancer.

Lareau was 61.

A former writer with the Columbia Record, Lareau was the first full-time employee hired by Dana Beach when he launched the S.C. Coastal Conservation League in 1989. The league has now grown to a staff of 22 workers and is one of the state’s largest conservation groups, with an operational budget of about $2.5 million.

“Jane was an uncompromising advocate in the best sense of the term,’’ Beach said in an email Monday night to coworkers, fellow environmentalists and friends. “She gave people who

Woman selling stolen metal arrested

didn’t know where to turn for help the unfiltered optimism and courage to protect the places they loved.

“There are very few other people I can think of who have made such an enormous contribution to protecting the natural world.’’

Born in Woonsocket, LAREAU R.I., Lareau was one of eight children whose parents moved to Sumter County when she was 4 years old. The family settled on the edge of a forested, swampy area — which friends say helped shape her love for the environment.

Jane Lareau graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1971, then worked as a journalist for the old Columbia Record, The State newspaper and what later became The (Charleston) Post and Courier.

But conservation issues were her

calling. Feisty and outspoken but almost always cheerful, Lareau helped protect the Congaree Swamp from logging in the 1970s. The swamp, southeast of Columbia, later became a national monument and now is South Carolina’s only national park.

“She had a fighting spirit, which I always admired, but she also had a gift for language and being able to tell stories, and that made a difference with people,’’ said Ann Timberlake, the director of the Conservation Voters of South Carolina, who worked with Lareau to protect Congaree Swamp.

Beach said one of his most vivid memories of Lareau was her effort to stop the proposed Interstate 73 from cutting through the Francis Marion National Forest to Charleston. Dissatisfied by a state Department of Transportation forum that discouraged public speaking, she brought her own podium to the session and let people speak in the

meeting room, Beach said.

Lareau also scored a major victory for conservation groups in the 1990s when she led efforts to protect Sandy Island, an unspoiled area of coastal Georgetown County that was being targeted for development. And she is credited with helping derail a bridge through the pristine Sparkleberry Swamp, a vast wetland along the upper Santee River between Columbia and Sumter. The $150 million bridge project would have linked two towns with just a few hundred people.

Beach said Lareau’s last year had been a difficult one as she continued to fight ovarian cancer. She finally succumbed at her house in the Mount Pleasant area Monday at about 9 p.m., he said.

“She was a superstar,’’ Beach said.Funeral arrangements are being handled by J. Henry Stuhr’s, Mt. Pleasant Chapel.

WEATHERIZATION IMPROVEMENT MAP

BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com A Rembert woman is facing charges related to a string of metal thefts from electric substations around Sumter.

Jennifer Howell, 36, of 3641 Furman Field Road, Rembert, was arrested Friday and charged with receiving stolen goods.

On June 20, Howell reportedly sold several copper fasteners at a business on East Liberty HOWELL Street. The fasteners were later found to belong to Black River Electric Cooperative.

Black River experienced a string of thefts from the co-op’s unmanned power substations in late June and July, causing thousands of dollars worth of damage to power regulators that depend on copper meshes that carry electricity flow. At least one substation was hit repeatedly by metal thieves.

Officials at the electric co-op are concerned about costs and safety hazards related to the thefts and are offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrests of the people involved.

“We’d like to thank the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance and due diligence to apprehend this suspect,” said Sherri Woodward, Black River spokeswoman, on the news about the arrest.

The sheriff’s office is continuing to investigate the thefts and is seeking other suspects who may have provided Howell with the metal. Woodward called on the public to continue to be vigilant for suspicious activity. Thefts from substations not only pose a risk of knocking out power service to the surrounding area, but also costs co-op members to repair the damage.

“We ask everybody to keep their eyes open around our substations for any suspicious activity, and then either call us or call law enforcement,” Woodward said. “Just because this person’s been caught doesn’t mean there are not others out there doing the same thing.”

While other suspects have not yet been arrested in connection to the Black River thefts, Woodward hopes the loss of a reported accomplice with a legal license to sell the copper will deter those involved from any further thefts.

“If we can stop them from selling it, there’s really no market for it,” she said.

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Progress Energy customers in the shaded area will be eligible for free weatherization improvements provided by the company’s Neighborhood Energy Saver Program. Progress will be making contact with residents about the program’s offerings.

Thunderstorms flood roadways across region for much of the evening after the storm swept through about 5 p.m. FloodA strong afternoon thun- ing caused problems for derstorm caused flooding drivers at several places that stranded motorists on along Lafayette Drive, as several streets around the well as Guignard Drive, Sumter area Wednesday.

Alice Drive, Liberty Street Storm-related calls kept and Broad Street, and law emergency responders busy enforcement got several BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem

calls for water impeding traffic and assisting motorists stuck in flooded roadways.

Responders reportedly had to pull a vehicle out of high waters on South Pike West near Main Street when it drove into the bank beside the U.S. 378

flyover bridge.

At least one tree was reported down on Bell Road on Wednesday night, and firefighters had reports of lightning strikes on Broad Street Extension and Wesmark Boulevard, but there were no fires or major structure damage reported.

77th fighter will fly again after grounding BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com One of Shaw's fighter squadrons has been authorized to return to the skies.

The 77th Fighter Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base will soon resume flying after being grounded for some three months due to sequestration-related budget cuts.

On Monday, officers with Air Combat Command in Virginia announced $208 million had been restored to pilot flying hours after Congress authorized the military to shift sequestration cuts onto less vital programs.

Shaw officials confirmed the "reprogramming" will allow pilots with the 77th to return to the air.

"This reprogramming allows all fly-

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ing squadrons at the 20th Fighter Wing to resume normal operations and represents the Air Force's commitment to current combat readiness," said 1st Lt. Keavy L. Rake, chief of public affairs with Shaw's 20th Fighter Wing, in an email to the Item.

Known as the Gamblers, the 77th was stood down shortly after returning from a six-month deployment to Afghanistan, and its pilots haven't flown a military aircraft since.

During the stand down, officers repeatedly stressed the importance of regular flight training to maintaining pilots' fitness, and now want to make up for lost time during the remainder of the fiscal year.

"Reversing the degradation of combat readiness that has occurred over the past

three months will require considerable time," Rake said. "It's important to get back to flying, but we recognize there's a long road ahead to return crews back to combat mission ready status."

The reprieve may be short lived, however. The Air Force has only been permitted to set cut priorities for the remainder of 2013, and units could be grounded again at the end of the fiscal year without further sequestration adjustments from Congress.

Still, Rake said Shaw's pilots will make the best of the time they've been given to resume regular flights.

"With this decision, solely about Fiscal Year 2013, we begin the process of rebuilding our combat-coded units to continue providing for our nation's defense," he said.

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LOCAL

THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2013

THE ITEM

A3

Red Cross: Much more than blood, disaster response

BY JADE ANDERSON janderson@theitem.com Many people associate the American Red Cross with donating blood or responding to a disaster.

While those are tasks the charitable organization handles, it also provides Service to the Armed Forces and specialized classes.

Each day, the Red Cross South Carolina Blood Region needs about 500 donors to give blood, according to a July 10 news release from the organization. But donations were down 10 percent in June, which meant 50,000 fewer donations than expected. “Numbers are down nationwide, including the Sumter area,� said Nancy Cataldo, Red Cross Sandhills Chapter executive director. “A contributing factor is people on vacation because they are not in their normal routines like they are when school is in session.�

High school and college blood drives account for as much as 20 percent of the blood donations during the school year, the release states.

The Sumter Red Cross Donation Center, 1155 N. Guignard Drive, is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Monday through Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday. Walk-ins are welcome, Cataldo said. “Every donation can save at least three lives,� she said.

A number of local churches, schools and other organizations have upcoming blood drives.

To find one, visit www. redcrossblood.org.

VOLUNTEERS

Volunteering is another way of giving of oneself, something Steve Shumake knows all about.

Through his connection with Santee Baptist Association Disaster Relief and the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, he had been around the Red Cross and its training. About two years ago, he added volunteering with this organization to his repertoire.

Earlier this month, he went to do damage assessment of the Rosewood Mobile Home Park in Florence that was struck by a tornado on July 2. “There was one property owner and 25 mobile homes,� Shumake said. “Some were not affected, but about nine were destroyed.

They were off their foundations, and one was thrown over another. One house was totally gone.�

About 40 people were displaced, a July 2 news release states.

Both Shumake and Cataldo got started with disaster relief through fire incidences. “My first fire, I was hooked,� Cataldo said. “I was the chairman of volunteers and then I started with the Service to Armed Forces. I stepped in (on a fire), and it changed my life forever.�

Shumake was at the Swan Lake Apartment fire in October of 2011, and he has much more personal experience with this form of disaster. “I can identify with those going through it,� he said. “You recall the sound, sights and smells.

My brother told me to

STILL A NEED

PHOTO PROVIDED

Children affected by the recent Florence tornado are comforted by stuffed animals from the American Red Cross. Steve Shumake of Sumter responded to the area for disaster assessment earlier this month.

wash the children’s clothes so they don’t go to school smelling like smoke and make a plan for tomorrow. I think when people go through disaster, they are paralyzed in the situation.

They need a companion to come alongside them and provide some relief.�

Generally, the Red Cross can provide three nights of free housing and offer those who have been affected by disaster referrals to other agencies, such as United Ministries, to assist them in replacing lost items. “It takes all the agencies. It’s certainly not just us,� Cataldo said. “There is no way you can get life back to normal in three days, and sometimes not even in six.�

Last week, Shumake was the disaster action member on call. “We are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, even on Christmas, New Year’s Day and Thanksgiving,� Cataldo said. “And we follow up with clients as long as they need.�

Last year the Red Cross dealt with 30 fires in December and another 30 in January. Eleven fires occurred in Sumter, Clarendon and Lee counties during the month of June, Cataldo said.

These counties also have four mandatory hurricane shelters — Sumter High School, East Claren-

don Middle-High School, Manning High School and Lee Central High School. “If the governor declares an emergency, we have four hours to open the schools,� Cataldo said.

This requires quite a team of volunteers, from shelter managers to emergency operatives and logistics delivering supplies to government liaisons, she said.

SAF, CLASSES

From deployment and reconnection workshops to serving as a communication resource during an emergency to assisting financially, the Sandhills chapter works with about 1,200 military members and their families annually through the American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces network, Cataldo said. “We try to make sure they’re OK and provide any other needs they have,� she said.

Other times, their work is a little more fun in nature. This past Sunday they helped a Sumter National Guard unit enjoy their Family Day by providing the cooking and clean up for the event.

The Red Cross also offers a number of classes such as first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, automated external defibrillator and babysitting.

Some are for certification and others are more for

informational purposes, Cataldo said.

Some are offered fully or partially online, and costs vary depending on the class. Discounts are also offered on occasion, and costs often include materials such as reference books or DVDs. If a class is not being offered, such as pet first aid, the interested individual only needs to get four more people to agree to take it, and then they can offer the class, Cataldo said.

All this work takes volunteers and money.

While the local chapter has between 145 and 150 people signed up to volunteer, only 10 percent are available at any given time, Cataldo said, so there is always a need for more. A new volunteer application will be released Friday. Two training classes are required for disaster work.

The budget for the local office is $257,500 between July 1, 2013, and June 30, 2014. Donations are tax-deductible. “We are a United Way agency, but our funding did get cut this year,�

Cataldo said. “That is going to be interesting.�

The Red Cross holds a number of fundraisers to help, including a firefighters’ barbecue contest in November and a golf tournament in April. “We have permission from the family to name it the Capt. Tom Garrity Barbecue Challenge,�

Cataldo said. “The golf tournament and the firefighter’s barbecue raise

the most money.�

Garrity was a volunteer firefighter for more than 20 years, and he was founder and president of G&G Metal Fabrications Inc. and Fire Equipment Services. He died in November 2012 following a diagnosis of multiple system atrophy, a rare neurological disorder.

Other fundraisers include open houses at Pearl Fryar’s Topiary in Lee County and Rutledge Art Gallery in Camden, as well as auctions in Clarendon County.

The organization has also been awarded a $10,000 Lipscomb Family Foundation grant each of the last four years. The money has been used to teach about 20,000 children swimming and water safety at no cost to their families, Cataldo said.

To schedule an appointment to give blood or platelets, call 1-800733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org. For more information, visit www. redcross.org or call (803) 775-2364.

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OPINION THE ITEM

THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2013 To submit a letter to the editor, e-mail letters@theitem.com

GUEST COMMENTARY

|

Schools, educators recognized during successful year

T

he 2012-13 school term was a year filled with success, one in which our schools and educators were recognized at the national and state levels for helping to change the lives of children. Initiatives are underway to help strengthen communication, foster relationships with our stakeholders and provide resources to our schools to ensure success.

I am proud to be a part of this district and Sumter, and I look forRandolph ward to BYNUM another productive year in our schools and at the district level.

Each year brings new challenges and opportunities for our schools, and we will continue to address them in a proactive manner. I commend our students and staff for rising to the occasion to meet these challenges. It is important to note, however, that the totality of what our schools have accomplished is phenomenal in comparison to the trials we have encountered.

When I was hired, one of the main goals I wanted to accomplish was to move the needle on student achievement. I am pleased with the hard work that has been done by all the stakeholders in this venture.

The combined senior classes of 2013 earned over $28 million in merit based scholarships, which was an $8 million increase from 2012. We had one National Merit Scholar, one National Merit Commended Student, and two seniors who earned the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship, which will pay undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral expenses. It is a goal of Sumter School District to continue to expose students to scholarship opportunities, offer assistance in completing applications and increase the scholarship dollars earned by our students.

Our students and employees continued to raise the bar and excel.

Schools in Sumter School District earned higher ratings on the annual report cards released by the South Carolina Department of Education. Overall, 100 percent of our schools improved or maintained their absolute ratings, and 80 percent improved or maintained their growth ratings. Sumter School District earned a rating of B for exceeding state standards on the federal report card. In recognition of high levels of academic achievement

and high rates of student academic improvement, seven Sumter School District schools earned a total of ten Palmetto Gold and Silver awards. Eight teachers in Sumter School District achieved National Board Certification bringing the district’s total to 114. Additionally, our District Teacher of the Year, Trevor T. Ivey, was named an Honor Roll Teacher in the State Teacher of the Year Competition.

The approval of a balanced budget two years sooner than anticipated spoke volumes for the measures we took to increase efficiency. A major goal was to restore the lost step increase for certified staff, and we were able to bring our employees up to date by providing two step increases. Because each member of our team is valued and plays an important role in the education of our children, all employees received a 2 percent increase. Additionally, the budget included increases for instructional supplies, media centers, athletic teams and school security. We will continue to ensure fiscal responsibility and identify cost saving measures in order to provide more resources to our classrooms.

Every person who lives in this community is an important stakeholder in the future of this district and plays a vital role in our accomplishments.

For the residents of Sumter to realize maximum quality of life, the area schools and the support of those schools are vital.

A society is often defined by what it does to nurture and facilitate success for its children. Not just the legacy of Sumter School District, but the legacy of the entire Sumter community will be judged by how effectively we prepare our students for the world, from childhood to adulthood.

The pursuit of excellence is a journey, not a destination, and we are committed to providing the best education possible for all students. We, as educators, hold the primary responsibility for providing quality education and fostering high expectations, but it is virtually impossible for us to succeed without the support of the Sumter community. I sincerely want and welcome your support, and I hope all stakeholders will continue to be interested in and involved with Sumter School District as we do what is necessary for the well-being of our children.

Randolph D. Bynum Sr. is the superintendent for Sumter School District.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Was Florida trip a bribe at taxpayers’ expense?

Citizens: Let your voice be heard at district meeting

I can only assume the latest trip to Florida for the “Florida Sun-Educational Fun” is the farewell tour for Bynum and his “carpet baggers” i.e. Dixon and Norman as well as the other two members of his cabinet from Atlanta. The fact that Schultz, Wilson, McGhaney and Jackson from the so-called school board went along — was this a bribe at the taxpayers’ expense to keep jobs?

I wish someone would tell the taxpayers of Sumter County how much Bynum and his cabinet pay in property taxes in Sumter County. If there is a person who is receiving donations for moving expenses to get this “group” out of Sumter, let the taxpayers know. If necessary, I’ll supply the tractortrailer.

BILL BOATMAN Sumter taxpayer P.S. Monday, July 22, ultimatum date for Bynum — is this another “dog and pony” show like the hiring of Harris and Kennedy at Sumter High? Like the school board has testicles to do something.

If you have ever had a parent, teacher or student discuss with you or make mention in front of you of the terrible situations present in Sumter School District, I encourage you to get involved by writing a letter or calling all of the board members. I encourage each of you that would like to see a change to attend the board meeting on Monday, July 22. I am enraged by the attempt of Mr. Bynum to put a Band-Aid on the issue of low morale and his poor leadership by simply stating that he will discontinue the use of SWEET 16 and not implement the standards based report card for the third grade. The bad news is the board will take this information and congratulate him on his efforts when he is only trying to save his job. The fact that four board members went on a trip with him to Florida tells of their allegiance, and their allegiance is not to the people of Sumter County or the children of Sumter County.

The teachers are the key to student success. Students taught

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

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

by effective teachers continue to show gains as they continue throughout school. School districts have the responsibility of creating a culture and working conditions in schools that support the work of the teacher. Mr. Bynum, Mr. Harris, Dr. Dixon, and Dr. Norman have no desire to support the teachers or students of Sumter School District, which is evident by their actions.

A school district should be characterized by administrative support and appropriate conflict management strategies, but when Dr. Dixon stated in front of 100 teachers two years ago that “we are going to coach you up or coach you out,” she in no way provided administrative support, but instead provided a threat.

Sadly, this theme has followed these folks through their leadership tenure, and only the taxpayers of Sumter County, by making your voice heard, can make the change happen. I urge you to contact the board members and especially the chairman, Keith Schultz, on his cellphone by dialing (803) 983-1968. (This telephone information was provided by accessing the Sumter School District website).

MARY DAVIS Sumter

COMMENTARY

|

All sides disappoint in Zimmerman trial

I

’ve heard enough and I’m sick of it, so it’s time for The Ruckus to sound off for a minute.

There might not be a more sensitive issue that could be mentioned today than the case of Trayvon Martin and his death. To be honest, it’s gotten a little out of hand.

All over Twitter, you can find people who threatened to kill someone at random if Zimmerman were found innocent. Well, he wasn’t necessarily found to be “innocent,” per se, but the jury said he’s not guilty of murder or manslaughter. As far as I know, there hasn’t been any widespread, violent backlash as of yet.

Nor should there.

In addition, the other side has been equally abhorrent. Never in my life have I seen such blatant ignorance so openly displayed by one group as I and many peers have seen through social media by so many non-blacks. Seeing the N-word and other racial slurs painted all over Facebook statuses and Tweets in reference to a dead teenager is sickening, almost maddening. I’ve made it a point to separate myself from such ignorant people all my life, be they family, friends or co-workers.

Initially, all we knew was a teenager was killed in an alleged case of self-defense, and that’s the way it should have stayed. Of course, it didn’t. Within hours, it became the new O.J. Simpson trial as racial lines began to define the issue.

We’re 150-plus years away from the time of slavery and roughly 50 years separated from the harsher times of the civil rights movements of the 1960s, so why was race the primary issue?

Moreover, why was it made the primary issue?

It appears not enough people stopped to consider it, so I have a few points to argue in light of the apparent mass ignorance surrounding the issues of the case.

1) ZIMMERMAN IS HALF WHITE AND HALF HISPANIC ...

... so why is this a black versus white issue? Not once have I heard commentary or seen a finger pointed toward the Hispanic community during this saga. It’s not that it should be, but I’m just saying. The focus has been on his

“white half” apparently, and this is the case on both sides of the fence. I didn’t see any conservatives reaching out to embrace Elian Gonzalez when that was a national issue, but the moment a half-white is involved in the death of a black man, he’s suddenly worthy of Caucasian sympathy from some bigoted minds. Then Martin supporters keep referencing racial bigotry — mainly that beRob tween whites and COTTINGHAM blacks — as the primary fuel for the teen’s death and the allegedly rigged trial that ensued. Save the “race card,” man; it’s a copout. I can’t help but be disgusted with both sides on this element.

2) BEING BLACK WASN’T AS CRUCIAL AS BEING PROFILED

The whole reason Zimmerman approached Trayvon Martin was not simply “because he was black.” There had been multiple reports of young, black men being seen breaking into cars and homes in the area, and Martin fit the description of those individuals. If that general description was white instead of black, I doubt Zimmerman would have given Martin a second look. Why would he? It’s all hypothetical, so we’ll never know, but if both men involved were of the same race, this case would not have made national headlines. Many people say this is about the tragic loss of a young life while they simultaneously acknowledge the race factor. The mixing of the two is beyond ignorant and should not be intertwined to create emotional leverage for the assignment of guilt to either side, especially when they’re not directly connected to the issue at all, and even less so on the basis of race.

3) TRAYVON WASN’T “AN ANGEL”

He might not have deserved death, but Trayvon was no saint (then again, who among us is while we’re living?). Anyone who guises the victim as an “angel” taken from this world obviously ignored several news reports that Martin was using drugs, discussed the use of a .380 pistol in text messages, was recorded van-

H.D. OSTEEN 1904-1987 The Item

dalizing school property, and was even caught with a dozen pieces of women’s jewelry, marijuana and a flat-head screwdriver in school. It seems Trayvon had his hands well-guided by mischief, but does that mean he deserved to die? No, nor does he deserve to be painted as public enemy No. 1.

There are plenty of miscreant teenagers in this country of all races. But he isn’t a holy martyr, either. To be so misguided would mean ignoring your reason to favor your heart. Think about it: If Zimmerman had been killed in the altercation, and all this evidence surfaced, who would be the hero, then? Potential headline: Watchman dies protecting neighborhood.

4) ZIMMERMAN STILL SHOULD HAVE GONE TO PRISON

Of this statement, I have very little doubt, but that’s the way the law works; if there’s doubt, you can’t (or shouldn’t) convict someone of a crime. However, Zimmerman’s fault occurred the moment he stepped out of his vehicle when instructed to stay put by law enforcement. His inability to do so began a chain of events that claimed teenaged Trayvon Martin’s life. That kind of recklessness should be accounted for, and the fact that it wasn’t is a crying shame. Due process begins with a justified arrest by law enforcement, not a wild accusation from a neighborhood watchman.

Heck, I’d react aggressively to such an accusation. If Zimmerman had stayed in his car, Trayvon Martin would still be alive to answer the questions that cast so much doubt on his name.

I guess the only thing left to say is that I’m disappointed. It’s 2013, and race still takes priority.

Was anyone following the developments of the Aurora, Colo., shooting? How about the Boston Marathon bombings? Sandy Hook? Probably not, all because America as a whole can’t look past the most irrelevant of differences.

My grandpa once told me the Bible says we’re all God’s children. The U.S. Constitution says we’re all equal and have the right to pursue happiness.

It would seem far too many forget the most important lessons all too easily.

HUBERT D. OSTEEN JR. | EDITOR AND CHAIRMAN

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

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MARGARET W. OSTEEN 1908-1996 The Item

H. GRAHAM OSTEEN II Co-President

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JOHN DUVALL OSTEEN Vice President and Publisher

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The City of Sumter Aquatics Center will hold family night from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, July 19; and Friday, July 26, at 1115 S. Lafayette Drive. Cost is $5 for a family of four (two adults and two children).

The Sumter Combat Veterans Group will meet at 10 a.m.

Friday, July 19, at the South HOPE Center, corner of South Lafayette Drive and East Red Bay Road. All area veterans are invited.

The Lincoln / Sumter High School Class Reunion for classes 1970 and 1971 will be held Friday-Saturday, July 19-20. Registration / meet-and-greet reception will be held 6-10 p.m. Friday and a class banquet will be held 7-10 p.m. Saturday. Both events will be held at the Lincoln High School cafeteria.

Cost is $50 per person.

Call L.J. Williams Sr. at (803) 240-6072 if you plan to attend.

A Bill English Evangelistic Association flapjack fundraiser will be held 8-10 a.m. Saturday, July 20, at Applebee’s, 2497 Broad St. All proceeds will go toward the support of the radio ministry. Tickets are $6 and can be purchased at the door or by calling (803) 968-4450.

A Sumter High Class of 1978 meeting will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, July 21, at the Sumter County Library, 111 N. Harvin St. Plans are being made for the Aug. 23-24 reunion. Call Altoya Felder Deas at (803) 316-7320 or Delores Evans McMillan at (803) 565-9642.

Second Nature will be the featured band for Downtown Friday Nights 6:30-9 p.m. Friday, July 26, on Main Street. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

The Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 817 will meet at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, July 27, at VFW Post 3034, 1925 Gion St. All Purple Heart recipients and those interested in associate membership are invited. Call (803) 506-3120.

KATS Special Kneads Small Animal Shelter will sponsor a bowl-a-paw fundraiser at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 28, at Gamecock Lanes. Cost: $12.50 per adult; $10 for children age 12 and under. Fee includes three games and shoes. RSVP to Kathy Stafford at (803) 469-3906, Gail McLeod at (803) 840-4519 or email katsspecialkneads@yahoo.com.

All proceeds will benefit the animals.

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Muniz, Bostwick star in Syfy’s goofy ‘Blast Vegas’

BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH Frankie Muniz (“Malcolm in the Middle�) and Barry Bostwick (“The Rocky Horror Picture Show�) star in the goofy 2013 shocker “Blast Vegas� (9 p.m., Syfy), about a pack of hard-partying fraternity boys whose pranks unleash a destructive ancient Egyptian curse on the unsuspecting gambling Mecca.

Last week’s throwaway Syfy thriller “Sharknado� (7 p.m.) received a great deal of attention for generating a firestorm of tweets on Twitter. In fact, it seemed to dominate the social media site while it aired last Thursday. But that did not translate into strong ratings. “Sharknado� was watched by less than a third of the audience for “Pawn Stars� (9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., History, TV-PG), the mostwatched cable offering of the night.

For decades, grade-Z movies filled double bills at drive-ins or went directly to VHS. Many were worthless, but occasionally, they explored political and social subtexts too touchy or weird

for mainstream movies.

At the very least, they were cheap, plentiful and bubbled up from a commercial underground that occasionally tapped society’s dark unconscious.

Syfy’s films echo the cheapness of those old movies, dubbed “Psychotronic� by author and publisher Michael Weldon, but they now seemingly come off a corporate assembly line.

Take a cheeky, genrebending title, add hasbeen(s) and presto! You have a movie. • “Wedding Islandâ€?

(10 p.m., TLC, TV-PG) sounds like a cheesy Syfy movie, but it’s more terrifying. “Island� follows wedding planner Sandy Malone as she prepares memorable ceremonies and receptions for couples who travel to the island of Vieques, located seven miles off the coast of Puerto Rico.

If this were a movie, Malone would be played

by Kathy Bates in a bad mood. She’s formidable, type-A, impatient and self-important. As if cast

by Hollywood, she’s married to a reticent military type, an ex-cop who follows her tirades

with short statements like, “Roger, that!â€? I guess the whole point of “Wedding Islandâ€? is to pit needy “Bridezillaâ€? types against a personality even more unhinged, self-absorbed and loud. • A new season begins for “Project Runwayâ€? (9 p.m., Lifetime, TV-PG).

Tonight’s Other Highlights • On two helpings of “Hell’s Kitchenâ€? (Fox, TV-14): five broil burgers (8 p.m., r), four explore their senses (9 p.m.). • Murder in the real estate game on “Motiveâ€? (9 p.m., ABC, TV14). • Michael and Fiona go undercover as hackers on “Burn Noticeâ€? (9 p.m., USA, TV-PG). • Tainted drugs hit the streets on “Rookie Blueâ€? (10 p.m., ABC, TV-PG). • Briggs comes through for Charlie on “Gracelandâ€? (10 p.m., USA, TV-14).

reer in the 1962 thriller “The Manchurian Candidate� (9:45 p.m., TCM).

Series Notes Bob Newhart appears (as himself) on “The Big Bang Theory� (8 p.m., CBS, r, TV-PG) * Klaus needs Stefan’s help on “The Vampire Diaries�

(8 p.m., CW, r, TV-14) * Walden mopes on Valentine’s Day on “Two and a Half Men� (8:30 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14) * Cat and Vincent go public on “Beauty and the Beast� (9 p.m., CW, r, TV-PG) * Mercy killings on “Elementary� (10 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14).

Late Night Sarah Vowell is booked on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart�

(11 p.m., Comedy Central) * Jeff Garlin, Olivia Munn and Kumail Nanjiani are on “Conan� (11 p.m., TBS) * Snoop Lion,

Cult Choice Frank Sinatra gives one of the strangest performances of his ca-

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Thomas Dale, Kerri Kenney-Silver and James Davis are booked on “Chelsea Lately� (11 p.m., E!) * Jeff Bridges is on “The Colbert Report� (11:30 p.m., Comedy Central) * Liev Schreiber and Adam Newman appear on “Late Show With David Letterman� (11:35 p.m., CBS) * Anthony Hopkins, Amy Schumer and Robert Randolph and the Family Band are on “The Tonight Show� (11:35 p.m., NBC) * Mary-Louise Parker, Idris Elba and Rhye appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live� (11:35 p.m., ABC, r) * Ryan Reynolds, Bob Saget, Fall Out Boy and Michael Winslow visit “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon� (12:35 a.m., NBC) * Jeffrey Tambor and Cristela Alonzo are on “The Late Late Show� (12:35 a.m., CBS).

Copyright 2013, United Feature Syndicate

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THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2013

No FOIA for public bodies MEG KINNARD Associated Press COLUMBIA — Public bodies in South Carolina cannot use the Freedom of Information Act to justify decisions not to release records or hold open meetings, the state’s highest court ruled Wednesday.

In a 3-2 decision, the state Supreme Court ruled that a circuit judge should not have allowed the South Carolina Association of School Administrators to argue that open records requirements harmed its members’ free speech rights.

Charleston-area radio personality Rocky Disabato sued the association after it denied his open records request in 2009 on the basis it wasn’t subject to the law. The association, whose members are public school boards and board members, gets public money, and Disabato — known on-air as “Rocky D� — argued it should therefore be subject to the Freedom of Information Act. In the majority opinion, Justice Kaye Hearn cited a 1991 case in which the court held that even a private corporation supported by public money could be defined as a “public body,� which, under FOIA, must make its meetings and records available to the public.

And, without a requirement that groups that receive public funds be therefore sub-

S.C. man pleads guilty to $1M Medicaid fraud

ject to public scrutiny, the court wrote, agencies could easily push various agendas through third-party groups without such scrutiny. “If public bodies were not subject to the FOIA, governmental bodies could subvert the FOIA by funneling State funds to nonprofit corporations so that those corporations could act, outside the public’s view, as proxies for the state,� the court wrote.

The justices did not decide if the association is a public body and left it up to a lower court to take that issue back up and decide.

Disabato’s lawyers said Wednesday that he will pursue that determination.

In a statement released through the association’s attorneys, SCASA executive director Molly Spearman said she was pleased with the ruling and said her organization remained confident it is not a “public body.�

Jay Bender, a media attorney who filed a brief in the case on behalf of the South Carolina Press Association, applauded the ruling as a victory for open records supporters. “I think this makes it clear, if you’re a public body, you’re required to have your meetings open to the public,� Bender said. “You can’t claim even First Amendment protection to shelter your meetings and shelter your meetings from disclosure. I think that helps democracy.�

CHARGES:

Willie Leon Simmons, 55, of North Augusta, was arrested Friday and charged with failure to register as a sex offender, second offense. Simmons, who reportedly has an out-of-state conviction for criminal sexual conduct, has reportedly been living in Sumter County for “a few months� without informing law enforcement of his presence.

Travis Lamar Tandy, 33, of 2200 Lafayette St., Beaufort, was arrested Tuesday and charged with unlawful carrying of a pistol and simple possession of marijuana.

At 10:24 a.m., Tandy was reportedly pulled over

for speeding on Interstate 95 near mile marker 136. He reportedly had a plastic bag containing six grams of suspected marijuana and a .38 special revolver.

ASSAULT:

At 10:05 p.m. Monday, a man in his 30s identified as “Fudge� reportedly went to the 700 block of Miller Road searching for his girlfriend. When the girlfriend’s 30-year-old sister informed Fudge she wasn’t there, he reportedly became angry and punched the woman in the face. He then left the scene.

At 8 p.m. Sunday, a 48-year-old man in the

STOLEN PROPERTY:

Five thousand dollars in cash was reportedly stolen from a gun safe in the 100 block of Conyers Street between 1 and 2:58 p.m. Tuesday.

Two TVs, a laptop computer, a PlayStation3 and 10 video games

were reportedly stolen from the 2000 block of Essex Drive between 7:45 a.m. and 11:30 p.m.

Tuesday. Items are valued at $2,600.

Four TVs and a jewelry box containing several pieces of jewelry were reportedly stolen from the 2800 block of Lowder Road between 12:30 p.m. Saturday, July 6, and 1 p.m. Tuesday. The items are valued at $2,600.

Interior wiring was reported stolen out of the walls of a home in the first block of James Haskell Road at 8:58

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p.m. Monday. The wiring is valued at $2,500.

A red Tao Tao moped was reportedly stolen from the 3900 block of Ramsey Road between 11 p.m. Monday and 10:55 a.m. Tuesday. The moped is valued at $1,000.

A Raven Arms .25 caliber pistol was reportedly found on the ground in the 1100 block of Cherryvale Drive at 4:39 p.m. Monday. A check revealed the firearm had not been reported stolen.

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| 2600 block of Nixon Street reportedly got into an argument with a man during a family get-together, pushed him down the stairs, pulled his shirt off, struck him several times in the face, dragged him to the backyard and held a knife to his throat. The man also reportedly slapped his daughter in the face.

JULY 15TH JULY 21ST

COLUMBIA (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A South Carolina nursing home operator has pleaded guilty to defrauding $1 million from South Carolinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Medicaid program.

Attorney General Alan Wilson told The Associated Press on Wednesday that 53-year-old Richard C. Cooke of Lake View pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges related to his operation of six nursing homes in Aiken, Bishopville, Fork, Florence, Kingstree and Fountain Inn. From 2009 to 2011, those nursing homes were overpaid by more than $1 million as the result of fraudulent cost reports submitted to Medicaid.

Wilson says Cooke will serve a year of house arrest and five years probation. He was also ordered to make restitution and paid $500,000 toward that on Wednesday.

Court records listed no attorney for Cooke.

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LOCAL

THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2013

GANG TRIAL from Page A1 Mickey M. Johnson is accused of orchestrating the events that led to the man’s death and faces charges of accessory before the fact to murder, pointing and presenting a firearm, unlawful carrying of a pistol and criminal conspiracy.

He faces anywhere from 30 years to life in prison for the first charge alone.

Assistant State Attorneys General Cary Goings and Curtis A. Pauling argue that Johnson ordered Rasheed B. Brandon, 23; Bryant Deante Bradley, 22; and John W. Stamps Jr., 25, to travel to Friendship Apartments that night, go to Apt. 7 and shoot the first person who answered the door.

“I heard (Johnson) tell (Brandon) to shoot whoever came to the door,” Stamps testified Wednesday. “(Johnson) ain’t tell me nothing, though. I was sitting in the back seat of the car. I was dumb by getting in the car. I shouldn’t have got-

Closing arguments in the state’s case against Mickey M. Johnson, 29, will begin at 10 a.m. today at the Sumter County Judicial Center.

ten in the car. I was making bad decisions, drinking a lot. I made too many bad decisions, and something like this was inevitable.”

Apt. 7 was chosen, Stamps said, because someone exiting that apartment had shot at him earlier in the day. This was after members of a rival gang, the Folk Nation, showed up at the complex, which police say is known territory of the 135 Piru, an Eastcoast set of the Bloods gang that the state thinks Johnson is in charge of for the Sumter area. The Folk

PHOTOS BY ROBERT J. BAKER / THE ITEM

John Wesley Stamps Jr., whom the state Attorney General’s Office thinks was the lookout for a gang hit in 2011 that left a 27-year-old man dead, testified on Wednesday at the Sumter County Judicial Center that Mickey M. Johnson, 29, ordered the shooting in retaliation for a rival gang showing up on his turf at Friendship Apartments.

Nation members were apparently returning from a funeral service, according to Sumter Police Det. William Lyons.

At the confrontation between the Folk Nation and Piru, Johnson is alleged to have pulled a gun and fired several shots. No one was in-

THE ITEM

jured in that incident.

“Territory is very important,” said Bradley, who testified Wednesday afternoon.

“Your turf is your turf, and other gangs are supposed to show respect by not coming to your turf. (Johnson) was definitely angry about them being on our turf.”

State Law Enforcement Division Special Agent Mark Berube, who was a trainer on the organization’s gang database system when it was implemented in 2009, agreed.

“You don’t come into another gang’s territory,” Berube said. “It’s a sign of respect. I believe Johnson saw it as very disrespectful.”

Manning attorney Shaun Kent, who is representing Johnson, spent little time cross-examining Berube but took roughly three hours total picking at Stamps’ and Bradley’s testimony. As he did with two gang members who testified on Tuesday, Kent hammered them on plea agreements they have made with the state to secure their testimony against Johnson.

Stamps pleaded guilty to

A7

manslaughter and criminal conspiracy, and the state has recommended a cap of 15 years. Bradley pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary and accessory after the fact to felony murder. He faces at least 15 years. Neither has been sentenced yet.

“You don’t want to spend your life in prison, so you’re going to do whatever you can to reduce that time, right?”

Kent asked Stamps several times.

“I’m fighting for my life here on the stand right now,” Stamps answered.

“But you still have these sentences over your head, right?” Kent asked. “You still have time waiting over your head so that you say what the state wants you to say?”

“I’m saying the truth,” Stamps said.

Kent told At-large Circuit Court Judge William Seals no defense witnesses will be presented. Opening arguments are expected to begin at 10 a.m. today.

Reach Robert J. Baker at (803) 774-1211.

OBITUARIES CHARLIE DAVIS Jr. Charlie Davis Jr., husband of Wilber C. Davis, died Sunday, July 14, 2013, at his residence.

Born in Norfolk, Va., he was a son of the late Charlie Sr. and Mary Davis.

Mr. Davis, also known as “Snuke,” DAVIS was educated in the public schools of Clarendon County. Early in life, he joined New Covenant Presbyterian Church in Sumter and he later faithfully attended Galilee Baptist Church, Mayesville.

After serving in the U.S. Army, he obtained employment at Williams Furniture Co., from which he retired after many years of committed service. At an early age, he was united in holy matrimony to Wilber Clavon Davis and from this union was born 11 children.

Mr. Davis leaves to cherish precious memories: his loving and devoted wife of 63 years, Wilber C. Davis; four sons, Dock (Ronetta) Clavon of Fayetteville, N.C., Charlie Davis III of Sumter, James E. (Loretta) Davis of Jersey City, N.J., and Anthony (Carrie) Davis of Sumter; seven daughters, Bobie (Anthony) Robinson, Betty (Johnny) Mouzon and Patricia (Bobbie) Buckman, all of Sumter, Marilyn (James) Neal of Pinewood, Mary Sanders of Sumter, Theresa Martin of Columbia and Harriett (Franklin) Moore of Sumter; 35 grandchildren; 53 greatgrandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Mack Wilson and Harvey McFadden; a sister, Edna Peterson; and two grandchildren, Raymond Rogers III and Becky A. Davis.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. today at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 325 W. Fulton St., Sumter. Interment will follow in Mayesville Community Cemetery.

Mr. Davis will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. until the hour of service.

| Palmer Memorial Chapel of Sumter is in charge of arrangements. www.palmermemorialchapel.com

ROBERT C. REDDICK Robert C. “Bob” Reddick, 62, husband of Roni G. Reddick, died Monday, July 15, 2013, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born in Albany, Ga., he was a son of the late Emory Cleveland Reddick REDDICK and Bette Kinkead Reddick. Mr. Reddick was the owner and broker-in-charge at Palmetto Coastal Real Estate. Prior to opening his real estate business, he was the owner and operator of Reddick and Associates Seafood Brokerage. He was baptized a Methodist and celebrated his Christian faith.

Survivors include his wife of 35 years; four children, Scott Reddick of Rome, Ga., Robin Rawlins (Ben) of Homeland, Fla., Bobby Reddick of Miami and Jason Reddick of Sumter; two grandchildren, Bethany Reddick and Joey Rawlins; and one sister, Victoria Felter of Orlando.

To celebrate the memories of Bob’s life, the family will greet friends from 3 to 5 p.m.

Saturday at ElmoreCannon-Stephens Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to The Tuomey Foundation, Jeanne C. Watson Oncoogy Unit, 102 N. Main St., Sumter, SC 29150 or The Colon Cancer Alliance, 1025 Vermont Ave., NW, Suite 1066, Washington, DC 20005.

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

GEORGE E. DONALD George Edward Donald, 83, husband of Barbara Jean Conner Donald, died Thursday, June 6, 2013, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born in St. Louis, Mo., he was a son of the late Michael and Elsie Wetzig Donald. After graduating high school, he attended St. Louis University prior to join-

ing the U.S. Air Force.

Mr. Donald was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War, where he flew the F-84 fighter bomber. He was a retired United Airlines pilot with 34 years of service. He was a member of the U.S. Air Force Association and the Daedalians.

Surviving are his wife Barbara of 61 years of Sumter; one son, Greg Michael Donald (Cheryle) of Seattle, Wash.; one daughter, Kaelin Gwynn Kelleher of Colorado Springs, Colo.; five grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Elmer Donald; and a sister, Jane Dalrymple.

A lifelong Episcopalian, Mr. Donald was active throughout his adult life in church choirs and on the vestry.

He last attended The Church of the Ascension in Rembert. Mr. Donald was generous of spirit and in donating his time to support local community and arts organizations. A gifted singer, Mr. Donald was active in local choral groups.

Mr. Donald is remembered as a kind, caring and compassionate man. He genuinely enjoyed people and valued the opportunity to share life with others.

He especially enjoyed encouraging others toward achieving their personal success.

Memorial services will be held at 9:30 a.m.

Saturday in the Chapel of Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home with the Rev. Charles Cooper and the Rev. Michael Donald officiating.

The family will receive friends following the memorial service at Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home.

The family wishes to stress that the memorial and reception afterwards are a celebration of the life of George Donald. We want to

honor the sunshine and enthusiasm he brought to life.

Online condolences may be sent to www. sumterfunerals.com.

Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 775-9386.

DANIEL FRY Dan Fry, of Manning, departed this life June 29, 2013.

A brief tribute of life will be presented at 2 p.m. Sunday at in the fellowship hall of the Presbyterian Church at Manning, 233 N. Brooks St. The family will remain until 4 p.m. to receive friends.

Memorials may be made to the Presbyterian Church at Manning, P.O. Box 207, Manning, SC 29102, education funds or any charity for the elderly.

Layton-Anderson Funeral Home, 4210 W. Palmetto St., Florence, assisted the family.

M.L. LEVINER Martin Luther “M.L.” Leviner, 72, died Monday, July 15, 2013, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born in Sumter, he was a son of the late Neal Archie and Wilton Johnson Leviner. Mr. Leviner attended Northside Memorial Baptist Church. He will be remembered for his love of his family and friends, NASCAR racing, and the Clemson Tigers.

He also enjoyed hunting and fishing and was a retired welder.

Survivors include his daughter, Mallory Leigh Leviner of Sumter; one granddaughter, Kendall Leigh Pierson; three brothers, Wayne Leviner

(Wilma), Jackie Leviner (Tommie Sue) and Robbie Leviner (Cathy), all of Sumter; one sister, Dianne Dalzell (Wayne) of Sumter; and a number of nieces, nephews and other friends.

He was preceded in death by three sisters, Ida Mae Alexander, Carolyn Pollard and Janice Sinner.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in the Elmore-CannonStephens Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Jimmy Holley officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery.

Pallbearers will be his nephews, Joey Leviner, Lee Leviner, Michael Leviner, Rodney Dalzell, Ashley Ardis and Cliff Pollard.

Honorary pallbearers will be his nephews, Jonathan Leviner, Todd Leviner, Tracy Leviner, Mike Pollard and Rob Leviner.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at ElmoreCannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home of his daughter, 3 Marlborough Court.

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

JOSEPHINE BRADLEY MANNING — Josephine Bradley, 51, died Wednesday, July 10, 2013, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

She was born Sept. 6, 1961, in Clarendon County, a daughter of the late Robert and Thelma Samuel Bradley. She was educated in the public schools of Clarendon County. She was a member of Mt. Chapel Missionary Baptist Church.

Survivors are two

daughters, Angie D. Bradley (Jarvis) and Mary D. Bradley (Demont), both of Manning; a lifelong companion, Eddie Lee Dixon; five sisters, Mattie Mae Dingle, Katie Mae (Otis) Mathis, Louise Bradshaw, Virgiree (Sammie Sr.) Murray and Francis Dixon (Danny), all of Manning; seven grandchildren; three aunts; two uncles; and one brother-in-law.

The celebratory service for Ms. Bradley will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Mt. Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, Jordan community of Manning, with the Rev. Carnell Witherspoon, pastor, the Rev. Sam Whack Jr. officiating, and Deacon Ira Witherspoon, presiding, Elder Louis Hilton Jr., the Rev. Eddie Lesaine, Prophetess Cheryl Graham and Elder Amy Pringle assisting.

Ms. Bradley will lie in repose one hour prior to service.

Burial will follow in St. Matthews Cemetery, S.C. 261, Manning.

The family is receiving friends at 1274 Cambridge Drive, Manning.

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

CURTIS McGEE Curtis McGee, 70, died Monday, July 15, 2013, at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.

Born Sept. 4, 1942, in Sumter County, he was a son of the late Alpha and Amelia Harrington McGee. The family will receive friends and relatives at the home, 530 Mims Road, Sumter.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced

by Williams Funeral Home Inc. of Sumter.

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A8

DAILY PLANNER

THE ITEM

ENERGY UPGRADE from Page A1 area will receive information about the benefits of the energy saver program, and Taylor told council Duke Energy Progress will hold a “kickoff event” in the neighborhood to let residents know what benefits they will be eligible for. Duke Power merged with Progress Energy last year, creating Duke Energy Progress.

The Neighborhood Energy Saver Program selects neighborhoods based on residents’ income. If 50 percent of residents in the covered area are within 150 percent of the federal poverty line, all customers are eligible for the program regardless of their personal income.

Eligible residents live west of North Main Street between South Pike West and Broad Street, and around the intersection of Broad and Miller Road west to Wise Drive (see page A2 for a map of the covered area).

Some of the measures offered include “weatherization” of a home to increase energy efficiency — and reduce power bills — as well as insulation for external water pipes, energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs and lowflow faucets.

Sumter will be the 20th city to take part in the program since it began in 2009.

“We’re doing one in

Canton, N.C., right now,” Taylor said. “In South Carolina, cities we’ve already done include Florence, Kingstree, Dillon and Marion.”

Councilwoman Ione Dwyer asked if renters in the covered area would be eligible for the program as well as homeowners. Taylor said all Duke Energy Progress customers in the covered area will be eligible regardless, and that he will be speaking to the managers of any apartment complexes in the area about the program.

“If it’s a single-family home, I’ll certainly talk to the landlord on their behalf,” he said.

Duke Energy Progress employees will be going door to door in the highlighted neighborhood soon to talk with residents about the benefits of the program, according to Taylor.

In other news, council also amended its ordinance on garbage collection to clarify that the fee for commercial customers to use city-provided Roll-a-Waste containers is identical to the residential waste fee.

Council also approved a contract with J.F. Contractors of Sumter for improvements to the Birnie HOPE Center park, at a total cost of $442,920. Lee Construction of Sumter also had its bid approved to relocate a water line affected by the Alice Drive widening project, at a total cost of $467,979.

The Liberty Center will also be re-roofed by AAR of Kernersville, N.C., after council approved a bid of $349,600.

JADE ANDERSON / THE ITEM

Brian King, a quality assurance technician for Forest City Shaw Air Force Base Housing, paints a wall in a bathroom at Emmanuel Soup Kitchen of Sumter. This is the 10th year the group has been involved in a day of service.

VOLUNTEERS from Page A1 halfway,” said Lauren Davis, relocation and servicing/leasing manager. “We do a job all the way. We set you up good, Ms. Jean.”

This is the 10th year of the volunteer program, Downs said. In previous years, they’ve worked with Habitat for Humanity and The John K. Crosswell Home for Children, she said.

Usually 50 to 60 individuals a day come for a free meal and up to 70 the last week of the month, Williams said.

“They come from everywhere — shelters, abandoned houses,” she said. “We may have 10 women, but basically it’s men. This summer we’ve had a few children. They started coming right after vacation Bible school in June, about 10 or 15 almost every day.”

Hot meals are served

from noon to 1 p.m.

Monday through Friday, and bag lunches are given out between 10 and 11 a.m. on Saturdays. Visitors receive two lunches, one for Saturday and one to take with them for Sunday.

Local churches take turns providing food and volunteers, Williams said, and local groups such as Rotary and Sumter Board of Realtors have supplied equipment such as a stove and ice maker.

“The whole Sumter community supports us,” she said.

For more information on the soup kitchen or to help, contact Jean Williams at (803) 7731624 between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Emmanuel Soup Kitchen of Sumter is located at 421 S. Main St., Sumter.

PUBLIC AGENDA CLARENDON SCHOOL DISTRICT 3 Today, 7 p.m., district office, Turbeville

|

THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2013

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TODAY

TONIGHT

FRIDAY

SATURDAY 92°

91° 94°

SUNDAY

MONDAY 88°

90°

72° 73°

73°

73°

71°

A t-storm around early; partly cloudy

Humid with some sun

A thunderstorm in spots in the afternoon

Clouds and sun, a t-storm in the p.m.

Variable clouds with a t-storm; humid

Winds: SSW 3-6 mph

Winds: S 3-6 mph

Winds: SSW 4-8 mph

Winds: SW 8-16 mph

Winds: WSW 8-16 mph

Winds: WSW 4-8 mph

Chance of rain: 25%

Chance of rain: 40%

Chance of rain: 25%

Chance of rain: 40%

Chance of rain: 60%

Chance of rain: 55%

Partly sunny and hot

Sumter through 4 p.m. yesterday

Gaffney 92/71 Spartanburg 91/72

Temperature High ............................................... 92° Low ................................................ 75° Normal high ................................... 91° Normal low ..................................... 70° Record high ..................... 100° in 1993 Record low ......................... 62° in 1967

Greenville 90/72

Precipitation

Bishopville 92/71

24 hrs ending 4 p.m. yest. ........... 0.02" Month to date ............................... 7.57" Normal month to date ................. 2.79" Year to date ................................ 31.71" Normal year to date .................. 25.58"

Lake Murray Marion Moultrie Wateree

Full pool 360 76.8 75.5 100

7 a.m. yest.

357.45 76.59 75.20 98.38

24-hr chg -0.12 +0.11 -0.01 -0.99

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

Full pool 12 19 14 14 80 24

7 a.m. yest.

12.63 8.78 11.96 7.87 81.89 20.35

24-hr chg +0.78 -0.84 -0.71 +0.08 -0.14 -1.01

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 92/70/t 88/67/t 91/71/t 92/69/t 90/73/pc 86/77/pc 90/72/pc 92/72/t 91/72/t 92/72/t

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 91/71/t 85/66/t 90/71/t 91/71/t 90/75/pc 87/78/pc 91/74/pc 90/71/t 91/73/t 91/73/t

Sunrise today .......................... 6:23 a.m.

Sunset tonight ......................... 8:32 p.m.

Moonrise today ....................... 4:26 p.m.

Moonset today ........................ 2:08 a.m.

Columbia 92/72 Today: A couple of showers and a thunderstorm, mainly later.

Friday: Humid with a couple of thunderstorms, mainly later.

Myrtle Beach 90/74

Manning 94/71 Aiken 92/70

July 22 New

July 29 First

Aug. 6

Aug 14

Shown is today’s weather.

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

Charleston 90/72 The following tide table lists times for Myrtle Beach.

Thu.

Forecasts and graphics provided

by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2013 Today Hi/Lo/W 92/72/pc 90/75/s 90/72/pc 94/73/pc 94/72/pc 90/71/t 92/72/t 94/72/pc 90/72/pc 94/72/t

Last

Florence 94/72

Sumter 94/72

Today: Partly sunny and humid. High 86 to 90.

Friday: Some sun; a thunderstorm in the area in southern parts. High 86 to 90.

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

Full

Fri.

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 91/73/pc 91/75/pc 91/72/pc 91/73/pc 91/72/pc 90/72/t 90/72/t 90/72/pc 91/73/pc 94/72/t

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 90/72/t 92/70/t 86/76/pc 88/72/pc 91/70/t 92/70/t 91/72/t 89/68/t 89/73/pc 90/74/pc

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 90/71/t 90/70/t 86/80/pc 91/72/t 91/69/t 91/70/t 90/72/t 90/69/t 89/75/pc 88/76/pc

High Ht. Low Ht. 4:53 a.m.....2.8 11:58 a.m....-0.3 5:53 p.m.....3.4 ---..... --5:58 a.m.....2.9 12:59 a.m.....0.2 6:56 p.m.....3.5 1:01 p.m....-0.4

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 94/71/t 88/73/pc 94/74/t 92/72/t 92/71/pc 90/72/pc 91/72/t 87/73/pc 88/72/pc 92/73/t

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 91/72/t 89/76/pc 93/73/t 90/72/t 91/72/pc 91/74/t 91/72/t 88/79/pc 88/73/pc 91/73/t

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

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

Cold front Showers Rain T-storms Snow Flurries

Ice

Warm front

Today Fri. Today Fri. City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W Albuquerque 84/64/t 87/68/pc Las Vegas 105/89/pc 108/90/t Anchorage 71/60/s 70/56/pc Los Angeles 86/66/pc 87/68/pc Atlanta 90/73/t 90/73/t Miami 89/77/t 90/79/pc Baltimore 97/77/s 97/75/t Minneapolis 92/75/t 86/61/pc Boston 94/76/t 96/76/s New Orleans 90/75/t 89/75/pc Charleston, WV 92/71/t 92/72/t New York 95/78/s 94/77/t Charlotte 92/72/t 90/71/t Oklahoma City 92/72/pc 94/73/s Chicago 92/75/pc 92/70/t Omaha 93/75/s 92/66/t Cincinnati 90/71/t 92/72/s Philadelphia 96/77/s 96/76/t Dallas 95/76/pc 97/78/s Phoenix 105/89/t 103/87/t Denver 92/65/s 87/63/t Pittsburgh 91/73/t 91/71/t Des Moines 92/75/pc 93/68/t St. Louis 94/78/pc 96/75/s Detroit 92/75/pc 92/72/t Salt Lake City 93/70/pc 97/69/pc Helena 89/56/s 89/57/s San Francisco 70/54/pc 71/55/pc Honolulu 88/73/s 87/74/s Seattle 80/58/pc 85/61/s Indianapolis 92/74/pc 90/73/s Topeka 96/74/s 97/71/s Kansas City 94/73/pc 94/71/s Washington, DC 96/78/s 95/79/t Weather(W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice

ARIES (March 21-April 19): undecided individuals. the last word in astrology Concentrate on selfLIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): improvement and Follow your heart and eugenia LAST refrain from getting into intuition when it comes to arguments. Back away work and relationships from anyone trying to with your peers. Show coerce you into taking on responsibilities that your ability to adapt to whatever comes your don’t belong to you. way.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): A mini-vacation or SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Choose your business/pleasure trip with someone you friends and interests based on what you love will enhance your life and relationship. enjoy doing most. Find a way to take your Greater responsibility is likely to develop due skills and explore new ways to turn your to a choice you make. talents into a moneymaking venture.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Elaborate on what SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Let your you have to offer. Diversify and exchange charm and popularity enhance your position. ideas that will help you climb the professional A change in the way you live will bring ladder. Keeping up won’t be difficult, but pleasing results. Before sharing your ideas, being consistent may pose a problem. make sure your plan is doable.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Socialize and take CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Follow your advantage of any opportunity you get to intuition when it comes to changes you want show your talent, skills and adaptability. to make regarding how you earn your living.

Approach anyone you feel may benefit from The key to greater security and stability will what you have to offer. be using what you do best to the fullest.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Prepare to make AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Budget wisely. changes at home. Do what’s best for Too much of anything will be your downfall. everyone, even if it means a major Discipline regarding what you need to do in adjustment for you. Taking on additional order to make positive personal changes responsibility may not be your first choice, should be your prime concern. but in the end it will pay off.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Don’t let emotions VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You’ve got nothing stand between you and success. A lastto lose and everything to gain if you put your minute change must not be allowed to ruin talent to work and dive into a project or your plans. Be prepared to compensate. venture full speed ahead. Don’t worry about Don’t fear moving forward on your own.

PICK 3 WEDNESDAY: 5-1-7 AND 4-9-8 PICK 4 WEDNESDAY: 2-1-2-8 AND 3-1-7-0 PALMETTO CASH 5 WEDNESDAY: 12-16-27-31-36 POWERUP: 2 CAROLINA CASH 6 MONDAY: 1-5-9-10-26-28 MEGAMILLIONS TUESDAY: 10-14-21-40-53 MEGABALL: 20 MEGAPLIER: 2 POWERBALL NUMBERS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT PRESS TIME

pictures from the public While in his backyard recently, Fred Gosnell spotted this rat snake seeking a higher and drier location in Gosnell’s Darlington oak.

Have you visited someplace interesting, exciting, beautiful or historical that you’ve taken some pictures of? Would you like to share those images with your fellow Item readers? E-mail your hi-resolution jpegs to sandrah@theitem.com, or mail to Sandra Holbert c/o The Item, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, SC 29150.

Include clearly printed or typed name of photographer and photo details. Include self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of your photo. Amateur photographers only please.

SPORTS THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2013

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

‘Hot Rod’ ready to go McDowell leading RB committee SUNSET — Like Like many other college football teams, Clemson may have a running back by committee this fall.

But odds are good that Roderick “Hot Rod” McDowell may chair that committee.

“He’s put in that time, he has the most experience,” Clemson running backs coach Tony Elliott said on Tuesday during the annual Dabo Swinney Media Golf Outing at The Reserve at Lake Keowee.

McDowell also shined in limited playing time last season.

The senior out of Sumter High School rushed for 450 yards and five touchdowns on just 83 carries.

“He proved last year in game situations that he was able to provide that consistent running effort you look for,” Elliott said. “Hot Rod’s probably the guy, but the other guys are nipping at his heels.”

Doing the nipping are junior D.J. Howard and sophomore Zac Brooks. Freshmen Tyshon Dye and Wayne Gallman will join the mix come Aug. 2, the opening day of fall practice.

All are expected to

4.46 40 dash adds to Clowney hype

BY JOHN ZENOR The Associated Press | HOOVER, Ala. — Jadeveon Clowney was playing the new NCAA video game one night recently when he made a seemingly improbable declaration for a 6-foot-6, 265pound defensive end.

“I’m going to get up and run a 4.4 in the morning,” Clowney told his roommate. “I just know I’m going to do it.”

Sure enough, the South Carolina star said Tuesday he ran a 4.46 in the 40 — and not by playing as himself on the screen. Just add that freakish feat to the growing legend of a player

BY SCOTT KEEPFER The Greenville News

who has already racked up big sack numbers, made a resounding hit that went viral and drawn buzz that he’ll be the No. 1 NFL draft pick and maybe even win the Heisman Trophy.

Equally important to coach Steve Spurrier: Clowney has avoided some of the pratfalls of that fame. He hasn’t made headlines for offthe-field troubles, unlike some of his peers.

“Jadeveon has done an excellent job staying out of the limelight all summer,” Spurrier said at Southeastern Conference media days. “He’s SEE CLOWNEY, PAGE B3

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Clemson running back Roderick McDowell (25) is currently the frontrunner to lead the Tigers’ multiple-player rushing attack this season. McDowell, a former Sumter High standout, has the most experience going into next season.

get plenty of opportunities to show their skills.

“I think the days of having just one guy carry the load are over,” Elliott said. “At that position you take such a pounding, you don’t know when you’re going to be

good enough to run at full speed.

“These guys have to understand that everybody’s got to be ready to roll at any time. You never know when opportunity may come.”

Elliott has been maximizing his opportunities as the Tigers’

running backs coach for the past two seasons despite joining the staff with limited knowledge of the position.

A former walk-on wide receiver at Clemson, Elliott had SEE MCDOWELL, PAGE B3

PHOTO COURTESY OF STATE

USC defensive end ’Jadevon Clowney recently ran a 4.46 40-yard dash, adding to the hype for his Heisman Trophy campaign for this upcoming season.

Sumter Ponytails win state, headed to Dixie WS FROM STAFF REPORTS NORTH CHARLESTON — The Sumter Ponytails X-Play 11-12 year-old all-star softball team earned a trip to the Dixie Softball World Series with a 14-3 victory over Jefferson on Wednesday in the state tournament at Wescott Park.

The team will travel to Alexandria, La., for the World Series, which will be held Aug. 2-7. The Sumter Angels X-Play team is also going to Alexandria.

Sumter trailed 3-2 before putting up 12 runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to win

the game. After Sydney Baity and Kinsley Waynick drew walks, Baity scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 3-3.

Kaylee Posey had an RBI single before Carly Allred was hit by a pitch. Maggie Josey laid down a bunt single to load the bases before Rebecca Dinkins drew a walk to force in a run followed by RBI hits from Sydney Daniel and Ellen Dinkins to make it 7-3. Erin McCaffrey drew a walk to load the bases before Chelsie Logan hit a double to center field to clear the

Defending British Open champion Ernie Els plays a shot on the 15th hole during Wednesday’s practice round for the British Open, which begins today.

Prepping for British Open unlike any other major

BY DOUG FERGUSON The Associated Press

like Turnberry, Royal Troon and Western Gailes. Justin Rose was at North Berwick. So were Bubba Watson and Luke Donald, who got in plenty of golf along the Firth of Forth the week before the British Open.

It’s not unusual for players to take off from their regular tours a SEE MAJOR, PAGE B2

The Sumter P-15’s will have to wait until today to see if they can wrap up their American Legion baseball second-round state playoff series with Hilton Head.

Wednesday’s third game of the best-of-5 series scheduled for Riley Park was postponed because of the heavy thunderstorm that moved through Sumter Wednesday afternoon.

The game has been rescheduled for Thursday at 7:30 pm. at Riley Park.

Sumter leads the best-of-5 series 2-0. Should a fourth game be needed, it will be played on

T

Friday in Hilton Head beginning at 7 p.m. If the series goes five games, it will be played on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Riley Park.

Sumter is 26-5 on the season after beating Post 185 11-2 and 18-5 in the first two games. The Lowcountry Heat is 15-7.

The winner will advance to the state tournament, which SEE SUMTER, PAGE B2

SEE PLAYERS, PAGE B3

SEE PONYTAILS, PAGE B2

P-15’s will try to close out HH today FROM STAFF REPORTS

Players deserve some pay here were over 1,300 credentials handed out for SEC Media Days, which will have the final day of its 3-day celebration of college football today in Hoover, Ala. Those are staggering numbers, but it tells you just how big college football is right now. Now Southeastern Conference fans may go just a bit overboard with their devotion to the game, but seven Dennis straight BRUNSON national championships might be a reason for all of those fanatics, the word from which fan is derivved.

Of course, the game of college football is doing quite well in the other conferences as well, just ask those head coaches who are cashing in those big paychecks. The coaches aren’t the only ones padding their bank accounts though. School administrators, athletic directors and athletic programs are making money hand over fist because of

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

GULLANE, Scotland — The practice round schedule posted each day at Muirfield is not the only way to determine how players are getting ready for the British Open.

Johnson Wagner’s name was on the tee sheet at St. Andrews over the weekend.

Geoff Ogilvy could be found hundreds of miles away on links courses

B1

SUMTER vs. HILTON HEAD Monday Sumter 11, Hilton Head 2 Tuesday Sumter 18, Hilton Head 5 Wednesday Hilton Head at Sumter, ppd., rain Today Hilton Head at Sumter, 7:30 p.m.

Friday Sumter at Hilton Head, 7 p.m. (if necessary) Saturday Hilton Head at Sumter, 7:30 p.m. (if necessary)

B2

SPORTS

THE ITEM

THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2013

SHS swim team to hold meeting Friday The Sumter High School swim team will hold an organizational/ parent meeting on Friday at 6:30 p.m. in the conference room at the Sumter Family YMCA. The team is open to all boys and girls at Sumter High and seventth- and eighth-graders at Bates, Alice Drive and Chestnut Oaks middle schools.

For more information, send an email to cathykirkhart@yahoo. com.

LOVE COVENANT HOLDING FREE CAMP

Love Covenant Church located at 245 Oswego Highway will hold a free basketball camp on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The camp is open to children ages 12-17.

For more information, contact Omar Stewart at (803) 847-2569.

BOYD, SHAW ON O’BRIEN LIST

COLUMBIA — Clemson’s Tajh Boyd and South Carolina’s Connor Shaw are both on the watch list for the Davey O’Brien Award given to the nation’s top quarterback.

The two were among 34 quarterbacks on the list released Wednesday.

Boyd is the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year after throwing for 3,896 yards and 36 touchdowns last fall in leading Clemson to an 11-2 record.

SPORTS ITEMS Shaw became just the second South Carolina passer ever with more than 3,000 yards passing and over 1,000 yards rushing. He helped the Gamecocks to an 11-2 mark and enters the season with a 17-3 mark as starting quarterback.

The list will be cut to 16 on November 4th with three finalists being named November 25th.

The winner will be announced December 12th.

NCAA STOPS CONTRACT WITH VIDEO GAME

The NCAA says it will no longer allow Electronic Arts Inc. to use its logo and name in video games.

The NCAA announced Wednesday it will not enter into a new contract with EA Sports and NCAA Football 2014 will be the last edition of the popular game.

The move comes as the NCAA fights a lawsuit that demands the NCAA find a way to cut players in on the billions of dollars earned by from live broadcasts, memorabilia sales, video games and in other areas.

The NCAA says in a statement it is confident in its legal position regarding the use of trademarks in video games, but “we determined participating in this game

MAJOR from Page B1 week before a major to prepare. What’s different about the British Open — isn’t everything? — is that preparations aren’t limited to the course they will be playing.

“You can prepare for the U.S. Open on the range,” Ogilvy said Wednesday. “But you can only prepare for The Open on the course. And it doesn’t necessarily have to be the course you’re playing. The seaside courses here, they’re the only courses with turf like this, with sand like this. There’s something different about the seaside wind in Scotland. ... You can fly to Shanghai or Abu Dhabi and work on what you need at home. But you can’t work on what you need at home until you get here.”

Tiger Woods, a three-time Open champion, arrived Sunday morning and has played nine holes a day. There was a time he would leave home a week early and head to Ireland with Mark O’Meara and David Duval, both former Open champions, and play the links courses there.

Woods loves to recall his first experience with links golf in 1995 as the U.S. Amateur champion.

He played the Scottish Open at Carnoustie, and then drove down the North Sea shoreline to St. Andrews for the British Open.

“I absolutely fell in love with it, to be able to dink a 5-iron from 150 yards and bump it on the ground, or vice versa — have 260 out and hit a 4-iron and it bounces over the green. That, to me, is pretty neat. Because we play everywhere

| is not in the best interests of the NCAA.” FEDERER WINS AT GERMAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

HAMBURG, Germany — Roger Federer rallied to beat Daniel Brands 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 Wednesday at the German Tennis Championships in his first match since his second-round loss at Wimbledon.

Using a bigger racket for the first time, Federer served three aces in the opening game but still lost his serve and ultimately the set to the German. The former No. 1 broke once in the second set and twice in the decider to reach the third round.

The 17-time major champion is a four-time winner in Hamburg, the city where he won his first title in 2002 to break into the top 10.

MICHIGAN SIGNS BEILEIN THROUGH ‘18-19

Michigan coach John Beilein isn’t going anywhere soon.

Athletic director Dave Brandon told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Beilein has signed a three-year extension that replaces his previous contract and keeps him with the Wolverines through the 2018-19 season.

From wire, staff reports

around the world — an airborne game where you have to hit the ball straight up in the air and make it stop. Here it’s different. A draw will go one distance, a fade will go another, and they’re so dramatic. And I just absolutely love it.”

True, adjusting to links golf can just as easily take place at Muirfield, where the British Open starts Thursday. Defending champion Ernie Els came down from Castle Stuart and has stayed at Muirfield, wrapping up his final practice round Wednesday just after 6 p.m.

But there are no tricks at Muirfield. There are hardly any blind shots. Most of the bunkers are in plain view from the tee. That’s one of the reasons that Muirfield is a favorite of so many players, who use words like “fair” and “honest test,” which aren’t always heard on other links courses.

“I think of all the Open venues, it’s probably one of the least quirky ones,” Donald said Wednesday. “It’s quite straightforward. Obviously with the weather conditions, it’s playing firm and fast. It’s going to be about controlling your golf ball this week. And the weather looks good.

The course is set up just the way the R&A would like it. It’s bouncy. It’s a little bit of a breeze out there. Firm conditions are a good protector of the golf course, and we certainly have that this week.”

The forecast is dry for the week, with perhaps some mist on the weekend. Even though officials had the course just the way they wanted it early in the week, they have turned on a few sprinklers in the evening to keep it from getting overcooked.

SCOREBOARD TV, RADIO TODAY 7 a.m. -- PGA Golf: British Open First Round from East Lothan, Scotland (ESPN).

6 a.m. -- International Cycling: Tour de France Stage Seventeen from Alpe d’Huez, France (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

9:30 a.m. -- College Football: SEC Media Days from Hoover, Ala. (ESPNU).

2 p.m. -- LPGA Golf: Marathon Classic First Round from Sylvania, Ohio (GOLF).

4 p.m. -- PGA Golf: Sanderson Farms Championship First Round from Madison, Miss.

(GOLF).

4 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: NBA Summer League Game from Las Vegas (NBA TV).

4 p.m. -- Exhibition Golf: American Century Championship First Round from South Lake Tahoe, Nev. (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

6 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: NBA Summer League Game from Las Vegas (NBA TV).

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

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

7 p.m. -- PGA Golf: British Open First Round from East Lothan, Scotland (ESPN).

8 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: NBA Summer League Game from Las Vegas (NBA TV).

10 p.m. -- WNBA Basketball: Phoenix at Los Angeles (ESPN2).

10 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: NBA Summer League Game from Las Vegas (NBA TV).

4 a.m. -- PGA Golf: British Open Second Round from East Lothan, Scotland (ESPN).

MLB STANDINGS American League

By The Associated Press East Division W L Pct GB Boston 58 39 .598 – Tampa Bay 55 41 .573 21/2 Baltimore 53 43 .552 41/2 New York 51 44 .537 6 Toronto 45 49 .479 111/2 Central Division W L Pct GB Detroit 52 42 .553 – Cleveland 51 44 .537 11/2 Kansas City 43 49 .467 8 Minnesota 39 53 .424 12 Chicago 37 55 .402 14 West Division W L Pct GB Oakland 56 39 .589 – Texas 54 41 .568 2 Los Angeles 44 49 .473 11 Seattle 43 52 .453 13 Houston 33 61 .351 221/2 Tuesday’s Games AL All-Stars 3, NL All-Stars 0 Wednesday’s Games No games scheduled Today’s Games No games scheduled Friday’s Games Tampa Bay at Toronto, 7:07 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees at Boston, 7:10 p.m.

Baltimore at Texas, 8:05 p.m.

Atlanta at Chicago White Sox, 8:10 p.m.

Cleveland at Minnesota, 8:10 p.m.

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

Seattle at Houston, 8:10 p.m.

Oakland at L.A. Angels, 10:05 p.m.

National League

By The Associated Press East Division W L Pct GB Atlanta 54 41 .568 – Washington 48 47 .505 6 Philadelphia 48 48 .500 61/2 New York 41 50 .451 11 Miami 35 58 .376 18 Central Division W L Pct GB St. Louis 57 36 .613 – Pittsburgh 56 37 .602 1 Cincinnati 53 42 .558 5 Chicago 42 51 .452 15 Milwaukee 38 56 .404 191/2 West Division W L Pct GB Arizona 50 45 .526 – Los Angeles 47 47 .500 21/2 Colorado 46 50 .479 41/2 San Francisco 43 51 .457 61/2 San Diego 42 54 .438 81/2 Tuesday’s Games AL All-Stars 3, NL All-Stars 0 Wednesday’s Games No games scheduled Today’s Games No games scheduled Friday’s Games L.A. Dodgers at Washington, 7:05 p.m.

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

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, 7:10 p.m.

Atlanta at Chicago White Sox, 8:10 p.m.

Miami at Milwaukee, 8:10 p.m.

San Diego at St. Louis, 8:15 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at Colorado, 8:40 p.m.

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

GOLF

PONYTAILS from Page B1 bases and make it 10-3.

Emily Jackson had an RBI single to make it 11-3. After Riley DeLavan was hit by a pitch, Baity hit one to the shortstop that was misplayed,

allowing Jackson to score and make it 12-3.

Waynick’s single to left scored DeLavan and Baity to end the game.

Rebecca Dinkins was the

SUMTER from Page B1 will be played in Sumter from July 26-31. Sumter has an automatic spot in the 8-team field, but a

winning pitcher, tossing a a complete game. She struck out four while allowing just hits and four walks.

Logan’s three RBI led the way while Daniel had two RBI. Ellen Dinkins had two hits while Rebecca Dinkins had a hit and two walks.

series victory would earn it a spot.

Should the P-15’s win the series, Hilton Head will have a chance to play for the fourth and final spot from the lower state along with the other two lower state second-round series losers.

AMERICAN LEGION STATE PLAYOFFS Lower State Second Round (2) Murrells Inlet vs. (1) Goose Creek Monday Murrells Inlet 9, Goose Creek 8 Tuesday Murrells Inlet 11, Goose Creek 4, Murrells Inlet leads series 2-0 Today Murrells Inlet at Goose Creek Thursday Goose Creek at Murrells Inlet (if necessary) Friday Murrells Inlet at Goose Creek (if necessary) (1) Florence vs. (3) Beaufort Monday Beaufort 12, Florence 11 Tuesday Florence 13, Beaufort 1, series tied 1-1 Wednesday Beaufort at Florence Today Florence at Beaufort Friday Beaufort at Florence (if necessary) (1) Sumter vs. (2) Hilton Head Monday Sumter 11, Hilton Head 2 Tuesday

Sumter 18, Hilton Head 5, Sumter leads series 2-0 Wednesday Hilton Head at Sumter Today Sumter at Hilton Head (if necessary) Friday Hilton Head at Sumter (if necessary) Upper State Second Round (2) West Columbia vs. (1) Inman Monday West Columbia at Inman, ppd., rain Tuesday Inman 6, West Columbia 0, Inman leads series 1-0 Wednesday Inman at West Columbia Today West Columbia at Inman Friday Inman at West Columbia (if necessary) Saturday West Columbia at Inman (if necessary) (2) Spartanburg vs. (1) Irmo-Chapin Monday Spartanburg at Irmo-Chapin, ppd., rain Tuesday Irmo-Chapin 15, Spartanburg 5, Irmo-Chapin leads series 1-0 Wednesday

Irmo-Chapin at Spartanbvurg Today Spartanburg at Irmo-Chapin Friday Irmo-Chapin at Spartanburg (if necessary) Saturday Spartanburg at Irmo-Chapin (if necessary) (1) Lancaster vs. (2) Greenville Generals Wednesday Greenville Generals at Lancaster Today Lancaster at Greenville Generals Friday Greenville Generals at Lancaster Saturday Lancaster at Greenville Generals (if necessary) Sunday Greenville Generals at Lancaster (if necessary) (3) Orangeburg vs. (1) Greenwood Wednesday Orangeburg at Greenwood Today Greenwood at Orangeburg Friday Orangeburg at Greenwood Saturday Greenwood at Orangeburg (if necessary) Sunday Orangeburg at Greenwood (if necessary)

British Open Tee Times The Associated Press At Muirfield Gullane, Scotland Purse: $7.8 million Yardage: 7,191 yards; Par: 71 (a-amateur) Thursday-Friday 1:32 a.m.-6:33 a.m. — Peter Senior, Australia; Lloyd Saltman, Scotland; Oliver Fisher, England.

1:43 a.m.-6:44 a.m. — Robert Karlsson, Sweden, Todd Hamilton, United States; a-Ben Stow, England.

1:54 a.m.-6:55 a.m. — Thomas Aiken, South Africa; Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Thailand; Bud Cauley, United States.

2:05 a.m.-7:06 a.m. — Mikko Ilonen, Finland; Brooks Koepka, United States; Ashun Wu, China.

2:16 a.m.-7:17 a.m. — David Duval, United States; Bernd Wiesberger, Austria; Chris Wood, England.

2:27 a.m.-7:28 a.m. — Scott Stallings, United States; Stewart Cink, United States; Richard McEvoy, England.

2:38 a.m.-7:39 a.m. — K.J. Choi, South Korea; Miguel Angel Jimenez, Spain; Jimmy Walker, United States.

2:49 a.m.-7:50 a.m.. — Ben Curtis, United States; Shane Lowry, Northern Ireland; Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Spain.

3 a.m.- 8:01 a.m. — Jonas Blixt, Sweden; Brian Davis, England; Graham DeLaet, Canada.

3:11 a.m.-8:12 a.m. — Robert Garrigus, United States; John Senden, Australia; Marc Warren, Scotland.

3:22 a.m.-8:23 a.m. — Martin Kaymer, Germany; a-Garrick Porteous, England; Jason Day, Australia.

3:33 a.m.-8:34 a.m. — Carl Pettersson, Sweden; Jason Dufner, United States; David Lynn, England.

3:44 a.m.-8:45 a.m. — Bubba Watson, United States; Nicolas Colsaerts, Belgium; Dustin Johnson, United States.

4 a.m.-9:01 a.m. — Nick Faldo, England; Tom Watson, United States; Fred Couples, United States.

4:11 a.m.-9:12 a.m. — Justin Rose, England; Ernie Els, South Africa; Brandt Snedeker, United States.

4:22 a.m.-9:23 a.m. — Ian Poulter, England; Keegan Bradley, United States; Billy Horschel, United States.

4:33 a.m.-9:34 a.m. — Gonzalo FernandezCastano, Spain; Richard Sterne, South Africa; Nick Watney, United States.

4:44 a.m.-9:45 a.m. — Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland; Hideki Matsuyama, Japan; Phil Mickelson, United States.

4:55 a.m.-9:56 a.m. — Scott Piercy, United

| States; Tim Clark, South Africa; Kevin Streelman, United States.

5:06 a.m.-10:07 a.m. — Zach Johnson, United States; Shingo Katayama, Japan; Thomas Bjorn, Denmark.

5:17 a.m.-10:18 a.m. — Angel Cabrera, Argentina; Camilo Villegas, Colombia; Estanislao Goya, Argentina.

5:28 a.m.-10:29 a.m. — George Coetzee, South Africa; Ken Duke, United States; Mark Calcavecchia, United States.

5:39 a.m.-10:40 a.m. — John Huh, United States; Brendan Jones, Australia; Hyung-sun Kim, South Korea.

5:50 a.m.-10:51 a.m. — Josh Teater, United States; Steven Tiley, England; a-Jimmy Mullen, England.

6:01 a.m.-11:02 a.m. — K.T. Kim, South Korea; Steven Jeffress, Australia; Luke Guthrie, United States.

6:12 a.m.-11:13 a.m. — John Wade, Australia; Gareth Wright, Wales; Makoto Inoue, Japan.

6:33 a.m.-1:32 a.m. — Daniel Willett, England; Y.E. Yang, South Korea; Johnson Wagner, United States.

6:44 a.m.-1:43 a.m. — Thaworn Wiratchant, Thailand; Lucas Glover, United States; Oscar Floren, Sweden.

6:55 a.m.-1:54 a.m. — Boo Weekley, United States; Sandy Lyle, Scotland; Niclas Fasth, Sweden.

7:06 a.m.-2:05 a.m. — Marcus Fraser, Australia; a-Grant Forrest, Scotland; Mark O’Meara, United States.

7:17 a.m.-2:16 a.m. — Tom Lehman, United States; Thongchai Jaidee, Thailand; Freddie Jacobson, Sweden.

7:28 a.m.-2:27 a.m. — Justin Leonard, United States; a-Rhys Pugh, Wales; Marc Leishman, Australia.

7:39 a.m.-2:38 a.m. — Alvaro Quiros, Spain; Kyle Stanley, United States; Alexander Noren, Sweden.

7:50 a.m.-2:49 a.m. — Russell Henley, United States; Jordan Spieth, United States; aMatthew Fitzpatrick, England.

8:01 a.m.-3 a.m. — Padraig Harrington, Ireland; Michael Thompson, United States; Richie Ramsay, Scotland.

8:12 a.m.-3:11 a.m. — Vijay Singh, Fiji; Darren Clarke, Northern Ireland; Martin Laird, Scotland.

8:23 a.m.-3:22 a.m. — Ryan Moore, United States; Henrik Stenson, Sweden; a-Steven Fox, United States.

8:34 a.m.-3:33 a.m. — Thorbjorn Olesen, Denmark, Jim Furyk, United States; Paul Lawrie, Scotland.

8:45 a.m.-3:44 a.m. — Geoff Ogilvy, Australia; Harris English, United States; Stephen Gallacher, Scotland.

9:01 a.m.-4 a.m. — Lee Westwood, England; Charl Schwartzel, South Africa; Sergio Garcia, Spain.

9:12 a.m.-4:11 a.m. — Adam Scott, Australia; Matt Kuchar, United States, Luke Donald, England.

9:23 a.m.-4:22 a.m. — Rickie Fowler, United States; Matteo Manassero, Italy; Hunter Mahan, United States.

9:34 a.m.-4:33 a.m. — Peter Hanson, Sweden; Hiroyuki Fujita, Japan; Bill Haas, United States.

9:45 a.m.-4:44 a.m. — Tiger Woods, United States; Graeme McDowell, Northern Ireland; Louis Oosthuizen, South Africa.

9:56 a.m.-4:55 a.m. — Webb Simpson, United States; Branden Grace, South Africa; Jamie Donaldson, Wales.

10:07 a.m.-5:06 a.m. — Francesco Molinari, Italy; Toru Taniguchi, Japan; Bo Van Pelt, United States.

10:18 a.m.-5:17 a.m. — D.A. Points, United States; Brett Rumford, Australia; Marcel Siem, Germany.

10:29 a.m.-5:28 a.m. — George Murray, Scotland; Mark Brown, New Zealand; Justin Harding, South Africa.

10:40 a.m.-5:39 a.m. — Gregory Bourdy, France; Scott Jamieson, Scotland; Shiv Kapur, India.

10:51 a.m.-5:50 a.m. — Scott Brown, United States; Satoshi Kodaira, Japan; Gareth Maybin, Northern Ireland.

11:02 a.m.-6:01 a.m. — Tyrrell Hatton, England; Eduardo De La Riva, Spain; Kenichi Kuboya, Japan.

11:13 a.m.-6:12 a.m. — Stephen Dartnall, Australia, Darryn Lloyd, South Africa; Daisuke Maruyama, Japan.

TENNIS WTA Sony Swedish Open Results The Associated Press Wednesday At Bastad Tennis Stadium Bastad, Sweden Purse: $220,000 (Intl.)

Surface: Clay-Outdoor Singles First Round Simona Halep (2), Romania, def. Rebecca Peterson, Sweden, 6-4, 6-0.

Second Round Klara Zakopalova (3), Czech Republic, def.

Arantxa Parra Santonja, Spain, 6-3, 6-1.

Virginie Razzano, France, def. Alexandra Dulgheru, Romania, 3-6, 6-0, 6-4.

Johanna Larsson (8), Sweden, def. Nina Bratchikova, Russia, 6-2, 6-3.

Lourdes Dominguez Lino (5), Spain, def. Teliana Pereira, Brazil, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Doubles First Round Irina Buryachok, Ukraine, and Anna Tatishvili (4), Georgia, def. Diana Marcinkevica, Latvia, and Nicola Slater, Britain, 6-1, 6-3.

Alexandra Dulgheru, Romania, and Flavia Pennetta, Italy, def. Richel Hogenkamp and Lesley Kerkhove, Netherlands, 7-6 (4), 6-2.

Anabel Medina Garrigues, Spain, and Klara Zakopalova (1), Czech Republic, def. Nina Bratchikova, Russia, and Caroline Garcia, France, 6-4, 6-0.

WTA Nuernberger Gastein Ladies Results The Associated Press Wednesday At Hotel Europaischer Hof Bad Gastein, Austria Purse: $235,000 (Intl.)

Surface: Clay-Outdoor Singles First Round Yvonne Meusburger, Austria, def. Jasmina Tinjic, Bosnia-Herzegovina, 6-0, 6-0.

Second Round Karin Knapp (8), Italy, def. Alexandra Cadantu, Romania, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-1.

Lisa-Maria Moser, Austria, def. Mona Barthel (1), Germany, 6-2, 6-3.

Andrea Hlavackova, Czech Republic, def.

Viktorija Golubic, Switzerland, 5-7, 6-1, 6-0.

Doubles Quarterfinals Tamara Curovic, Serbia, and Chiara Scholl, United States, def. Mandy Minella, Luxembourg, and Chanelle Scheepers (1), South Africa, 6-2, 3-6, 11-9.

Veronika Kapshay, Ukraine, and Teodora Mircic, Serbia, def. Ines Ferrer Suarez, Spain, and Arantxa Rus, Netherlands, 6-2, 6-3.

WNBA STANDINGS

By The Associated Press EASTERN CONFERENCE W L Pct GB Atlanta 10 3 .769 – Chicago 10 4 .714 1/2 Washington 8 7 .533 3 New York 6 8 .429 41/2 Indiana 5 8 .385 5 Connecticut 4 9 .308 6 WESTERN CONFERENCE W L Pct GB Minnesota 11 3 .786 – Los Angeles 10 4 .714 1 Phoenix 8 7 .533 31/2 Seattle 6 8 .429 5 San Antonio 4 11 .267 71/2 Tulsa 3 13 .188 9

SPORTS

THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2013

THE ITEM

B3

Exit Sandman: Rivera gets solo bow as AL beats NL

BY RONALD BLUM The Associated Press

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Texas A&M quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel talks with reporters during Wednesday’s SECl Media Days in Hoover, Ala.

Johnny Football draws crowd at SEC Media Days

BY DAVID BRANDT The Associated Press HOOVER, Ala. — Johnny Manziel strode into Southeastern Conference Media Days and was swarmed by hundreds of reporters and dozens of television cameras.

He shook some hands and the cameras flashed as he settled into his seat, the star of the SEC’s latest must-see TV show.

If the Texas A&M quarterback was troubled by all the attention, he didn’t show it.

Dressed in a dark blue suit, checkered shirt and striped tie, Manziel answered every question thrown his way during the 30-minute Q&A, some were even about football. He said he largely enjoys the spotlight that comes with winning the Heisman Trophy — even if it sometimes includes unsavory headlines.

“This is just another day,” Johnny Football said with a grin.

The 20-year-old sophomore and face of college football spent most of his three-hour stay at the Wynfrey Hotel, bouncing from one interview session to another. He mostly talked about an eventful offseason that has frequently made him a trending topic.

“I don’t feel like I’ve done anything that’s catastrophic,” Manziel said. “Of course, I’ve made my mistakes. It’s time to grow up.”

The most recent misstep came last weekend at the Manning Passing Academy. Manziel was one of many college quarterback counselors at the camp for

CLEMSON from Page B1 coached receivers at South Carolina State and Furman before joining Swinney’s staff.

Suddenly he found himself coaching a position that he’d never played or coached.

“First and foremost it was probably the best thing that’s happened to me in my coaching career,” Elliott said.

“For one, it pushed me outside of a comfort zone. It caused me to grow and mature.

“The biggest transition was being able to understand the feel of the position. As a former wideout and a coach of wideouts, when I taught something I felt it and I could demonstrate it.”

high school prospects run by Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning in Louisiana, but he left before it was over.

He says he missed activities because he “overslept,” and his absence had nothing to do with being out the night before.

“I was not asked to leave. It was a mutual decision,” Manziel said.

He said that while there were social events every night with the Mannings, he did not miss his meetings because of too much partying.

“The speculation of me being too hung over and that’s the reason I missed the meetings is absolutely incorrect,” he said.

Manziel said he fell asleep without setting his alarm and his phone died during the night. He said he was rooming with Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron, but that McCarron didn’t wake him up.

“I’m definitely not going to pin it on him,” Manziel said. “It’s my fault — 115, 120 percent.”

He said he was disappointed he missed camp activities, but that there were “no hard feelings” between him and the Mannings. He said he’s already been invited back to next summer’s camp and looks forward to attending.

CLOWNEY from Page B1 been a good teammate.

“He’s been there for the workouts.

He’s been there doing what he’s supposed to do.”

Clowney, who was sixth in the Heisman voting as a sophomore, shrugs off talk of being the rare defensive player to win the coveted prize this season.

Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o finished second last season.

“That’s not really a goal for me,” said Clowney, whose table drew easily the biggest crowd of the day. “A goal for me is winning the SEC. That’s our biggest goal right now.”

He won the Hendricks Award as the nation’s top defensive end and joined George Rogers as the Gamecocks’ only unanimous All-Americans. Clowney has 21 sacks, 35.5 tackles for loss and eight forced fumbles in 13 career starts.

He also has The Hit. Clowney, the SEC defensive player of the year, made one of last season’s

PLAYERS from Page B1 the passion for the game and all that goes with it.

Yet the ones who put on the show — under the guidance of those wellcompensated coaches — get some fame out of it and not much else. The players do get a free college education out of it if they choose to use their scholarship properly, but the money that is poured into the FCS programs should afford a little compensation for the athletes.

University of South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier has long been an

advocate for players receiving some sort of stipend, and he made that pitch again on Tuesday in USC’s portion of the media day.

Spurrier said the SEC’s 28 football and men’s basketball coaches were in favor of paying players about $300 a game in football and perhaps a little less in hoops. Spurrier also said the coaches each indicated at spring meetings they were willing to pony up the $280,000 or so he estimated it would cost.

“This is tiny compared to the

NEW YORK — The great ones get the stage to themselves.

Mariano Rivera was held in the bullpen out in rightcenter field until Neil Diamond had sung the final words of “Sweet Caroline” in the middle of the eighth inning during Tuesday night’s AllStar game.

And then the opening notes of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” — his Yankee Stadium theme song but unfamiliar on the road — rang out over the public-address system as the greatest reliever of all-time jogged toward the mound. The record crowd of 45,186 gathered at Citi Field on this humid summer night rose and cheered, knowing this was a moment people will remember much more than the American League’s 3-0 victory.

Quiet, reserved and understated during nearly a quarter-century in a sport that took him from Panama to the pantheon of pinstriped pitchers, Rivera was being honored with that rarest of baseball tributes — a solo bow.

As he reached the brown circle in the center of the green diamond, Rivera realized he was the only person on the field.

Sinatra. Springsteen.

The Mick — Jagger and Mantle. They all got to stand in the spotlight alone. And now it was Rivera’s turn.

He took off his cap, waved it to all sides of the ballpark. He touched his hat to his heart.

His AL All-Star teammates stood by the thirdbase dugout rail and ap-

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

American League pitcher Mariano Rivera delivers a pitch in Tuesday’ MLB All-Star game in New York. Rivera was named MVP in the AL’s 3-0 victory in what was his last All-Star game.

plauded, just like the fans. So did his NL opponents on the first-base side. With no other players in fair territory, he finally started tossing his warmup pitches to catcher Salvador Perez.

Like Ted Williams at Boston’s Fenway Park in 1999 and Cal Ripken Jr. at Seattle’s Safeco Field two years later, one man transcended all the rest of the gathered talent.

“You’re supposed to know your team is behind you,” Rivera said. “I didn’t know what to do.

Just keep throwing the ball, I guess, because it was so weird.”

And then, after a 90-second standing ovation, eight AL position players came on the field. Normalcy resumed. Rivera threw 16 pitches — all cutters — and retired Jean Segura, Allen Craig and Carlos Gomez, sending the side down in order the way he has so many times before.

“He still can pitch for three or four more years.

He’s the best,” Gomez explained. “After I got to the dugout, I say I’m going to be history because I’m the last guy Mariano got out in the

signature plays. His hit on Michigan’s Vincent Smith drew millions of You Tube views after he knocked the runner on his back with a helmet-toppling smack, then reached out with one hand to snare the ball.

SEC quarterbacks took notice. So did much of college football.

“Have I seen it? Wasn’t it like the top play (on ESPN) for a couple of weeks?”

Missouri quarterback James Franklin said. “Yes, sir. It was crazy just when he hit him and he has really long arms so when he reached out and picked the ball up, I thought he was about to run it back for a touchdown.”

Clowney had 1.5 sacks against the Tigers last season.

He had one against Florida, too. Gators coach Will Muschamp, a former defensive coordinator, has a preference over seeing a player from that side of the ball winning the Heisman.

“I’d like to see him come out early (for the NFL) before our game,” Muschamp said. “He’s an outstanding player. He’s a guy you better account

money that’s coming in now,” he said.

“I think we all know that.”

Each player would ger $3,600 or so a year Spurrier figures. It would give players some pocket money and help their parents attend games, according to Spurrier.

And Spurrier is absolutely right. The athletes of those two sports bring lots of money and publicity to their respective schools, which brings in more students — and more money. They deserve some small amount of money to help them along.

I’m not one who has always felt this way, not by a long shot. I thought it was a joke when a player said they were

All-Star game.”

Rivera then walked to the dugout to another standing ovation and was given a hug by Detroit ace Justin Verlander.

“It’s kind of surreal for me,” Verlander said. “I just wanted to give him the respect and the respect that he deserved, I just happened to be standing out there and I was the first one he came to. That’s something that I will never forget.”

AL manager Jim Leyland decided to pitch Rivera in the eighth instead of the ninth, worried that if the NL somehow rallied Rivera might not get into the game.

“I just couldn’t take any chance,” Leyland said. “You know, I’m probably not the most popular manager in baseball. I wanted to make sure I got out of here alive.”

Rivera has never allowed an earned run in nine All-Star innings.

The only older pitcher to appear in an All-Star game was 47-year-old Satchel Paige 60 years ago, according to STATS. At 43, Rivera was the oldest All-Star since Carlton Fisk in 1991.

for every snap. He’s an explosive guy.”

And he is definitely a defensive player. Not a two-way guy like Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson, who won the 1997 Heisman.

Spurrier was asked if there was a chance that Clowney could play on offense. His deadpan response: “Not really. We got a bunch of offensive players that are pretty good.”

Clowney said he had a quiet summer of keeping things simple and hanging out with his group of friends from high school.

His recent training table didn’t feature steak and potatoes but an old favorite after getting down to about 256 pounds.

“I picked up six pounds in two days the other day, eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches all day,” Clowney said. “It was killing my throat. I had to drink a lot of water, but I ate like six peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch and dinner.”

Next on the menu, he hopes: Opposing quarterbacks.

earning nothing, but they had a college education at their disposals. That was before college football turned into the cash cow that it now is and there are people racking up money literally standing on the sidelines rubbing their hands together over the money coming into the coffers.

One of the excuses for not paying athletes is that it will hurt the schools financially. Spurrier takes that away with his proposal, and besides, it is a tiny amount. Five minutes of halftime at concession stands at college football games should be able to cover that.

It’s just time for the players to get a piece of the action.

B4

SPORTS

THE ITEM

THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2013

SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

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And here’s the best part. The sleek micro antenna device called Clear-Cast is so technically advanced it pulls in even more of the channels being broadcast in your area for Free with no monthly bills.

That way you can channel surf through the favorite TV shows. The number of shows and channels you’ll get depends on where you live. People living in large metropolitan areas may get up to 53 staticfree channels, while people in outlying areas will get less. That means even if you’re in a rural area that just pulls in NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX and PBS broadcasts there’s hundreds of shows each year to watch for free.

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SLG453

29001 29010 29040

29046 29051 29080

29102 29104 29111

29125 29148 29150

29152 29153 29154

29162 29168

฀NEVER PAY A BILL AGAIN: South Carolinians will be on the lookout for their postal carrier because thousands of ClearCasts will soon be delivered to lucky Sumter area residents who beat the 48-hour order deadline and live in any of the zip code areas listed above. Everyone is getting Clear-Cast because it pulls in nothing but Free TV channels with no cable, satellite or internet connection and no monthly bills.

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฀NO MORE BILLS: Clear-Cast, the sleek micro antenna device is engineered to pull in nothing but Free TV channels. It was invented by a renowned NASA Space Technology Hall of Fame scientist, who currently holds 23 U.S. Gov’t patents.

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P6418A OF17176R-1

SLG453

SPORTS

THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2013

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THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2013

Mother resists risking money on son’s bad credit

THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

D

dear abby

EAR ABBY — We allowing you to see the have a grown son grandkids, so be it. If you who is married knuckle under to emowith his own family and tional blackmail, it won’t home. He and his wife stop, and it could affect have jobs. My husband your standard of living for and I are semiretired -the rest of your lives. not rich, but we live comfortably. Our DEAR ABBY — credit score is I’m in high school great. and my daddy just My son wants passed away. I want us to co-sign a to know why I have loan for him. I so much anger and know his credit is hurt about this. I not good because feel like he never I get phone calls got to see me reach Abigail from collection any of my goals in VAN BUREN agents looking for life. The main goal him. We really was to see my graddon’t want to co-sign. uation. What is the best How do I explain this way I can get my mind off to him? I feel that because this?

I’m his mother it obligates YOUNG GIRL me. I am also afraid he will stop letting us see the DEAR YOUNG GIRL grandkids if I refuse.

— I am sorry for your loss, SCARED OF THE which is a particularly difDOTTED LINE ficult one at your age.

It’s important that you DEAR SCARED — understand the feelings Since debt collectors are you are experiencing are calling because your son normal. Anger is a part of isn’t paying his bills, do the grieving process, and not co-sign for a loan for it may take some time for him! If you do, you could you to get beyond it. wind up having to pay it The best way to “get off yourselves. your mind off this” would Your son is an adult. be to find a safe place to That you are his mother TALK about it. A grief supdoes not obligate you to port group would be helpassume responsibility in ful. Your clergyperson case he doesn’t pay his could help you find one bills. If he retaliates by not and so could your doctor.

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Office Adminstrator, Finance, Computer, & Group Travel needed. Group travel experience helpful. Church affiliation helpful in 7 cities. Atlanta GA, Brooklyn NY, Chicago IL, Charlotte NC, Los Angles CA, Seattle WA, & Washington DC Send resume & Church Affiliation to , USACS Bags Travel, PO Box 1166 Sumter SC 29151 (And list on lower left corner what city to work in.)

Front Desk and Patient Care Assistant Looking for highly motivated, multi-tasking individual to work full-time in a chiropractic office.

General office/insurance billing experience preferred and computer proficiency required. Will train the person with the right personality. Duties include: Greeting patients, answering phones, scheduling, insurance, basic accounting, and other general office duties. Also coordinate patient care and assist physician as needed. Send resume with handwritten cover letter to: SNBC, 764 W. Liberty St., Sumter, SC 29150.

No phone calls please.

Two positions available for a medical specialty practice in Sumter, South Carolina:

Tired of being taken granted?

Want a job you actually enjoy? A local multi lined insurance agency is looking for the right person to fill a full time salaried office position.

We are an industry leader. You must have or get insurance licensed and pass a background check. Duties include but not limited to great customer service and organizational skills. If interested email resume to: agenta021@yahoo.com

Chiropractic office assistant needed. Computer skills required.

Apply in person w/resume at 429 N. Main St. Sumter, Tues. July 30th, 9-11 am.

Truck Shop Diesel mechanic needed. Local shop looking to grow. General knowledge of trucks/trailers a must. Welding skills desired. CDL pref. but not mandatory. Typical work wk is Tues.-Sat. Competitive hrly salary based on exp/knowledge. Call Michael 803-972-1517 Now hiring all positions, Exp. preferred," East of Chicago Pizza" opening soon. Apply in person at Sports & Wings 841 Broad St between 2-4 pm.

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

Send responses to PO Box 2378 Sumter SC 29151 The SC Army National Guard wants High School Juniors, Seniors, Grads and GED holders, and Prior Service! Ask about college tuition. Receive paid technical training and more while serving your Country and Community on a part-time basis. Call now for this great opportunity!

SSG Michael Wright 803-667-0985 SSG Lorraine Lordy 803-360-1979 EARNING BETTER PAY IS ONE STEP AWAY! Averitt offers Experienced CDL-A Drivers Excellent Benefits and Weekly Hometime.

888-362-8608, Recent Grads w/a CDL-A 1-5/wks Paid Training.

Apply online at AverittCareers.com Equal Opportunity Employer Experienced roofers needed. Apply in person at Southern Roofing Services, Inc. 785 N. Wise Drive, Sumter, SC. Drivers license preferred but not required.

CNC PROGRAMMER/Machinist, Great benefits. Experience needed. Send resumes to Office Manager PO Box 2578, Sumter, SC 29151 Executive Chef 2-3 yrs. executive chef experience required. Contact Robert Teichert at 775-5541 Ext 102.

Local Dealership is seeking a Certified Technician. Please send all responses to P-Box 327 c/o The Item, PO Box 1677 Sumter SC 29151

Help Wanted Part-Time $$$ AVON $$$ FREE TRAINING! 803-422-5555

Trucking Opportunities Local Trucking company looking for CDL driver w/ 2 yrs. exp.

MUST HAVE TWIC CARD. Pick up applications at 232 W. Calhoun St. Sumter, SC 29150.

Driver Trainees Needed Now! Learn to drive for US Xpress! Earn $800+ per week!

No experience needed! CDL -Trained and Job-Ready in 15 days! 1-888-263-7364

â&#x20AC;˘Clinical Assistant- part time/PRN, CMA and BLS certification preferred, two yrs medical office experience and computer proficiency required. â&#x20AC;˘Medical Receptionist/Biller- full time position, Previous medical office experience, ICD and CPT coding knowledge, and computer proficiency required.

Qualified patient focused candidates please email resume to: kroy@websterrogers.com

Schools / Instructional MEDICAL OFFICE TRAINEES NEEDED! Train for a career in Healthcare Management! NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED! Advanced College gets you job ready! HS Diploma/GED & PC/Internet needed. 1-888-528-5176

Statewide Employment AIRLINE CAREERS begin here Get trained as FAA certified Aviation Technician. Housing and Financial aid for qualified students. Job placement assistance.

Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 866-367-2513.

SUPERIOR TRANSPORTATION 3 yrs flatbed or stepdeck & Class-A CDL = GUARANTEED SALARY + EXTRA PAY FOR WEEKENDS, Uniforms, Good benefits. Call Craig 800-736-9486 Ext 266 for details.

OWNER OPERATORS Guaranteed minimum 2,700 miles/week!

All miles paid loaded/empty. 100% fuel surcharge to driver. Class A CDL & 1 year experience. Lease purchase program with down payment assistance. Discount plans for major medical & more.

Fleet Owners Welcome. CALL PAM 888-220-2958 DriveForGreatwide.com CDL-A Drivers: Hiring experienced company drivers and owner operators. Solo and teams.

Competitive pay package. Sign-on incentives. Call 888-705-3217 or apply online at www.drivenctrans. com

More Bang for your buck

Musical Horn, auto, plays 76 tunes $50 Call 469-4119

Utility Buildings Steel Buildings Big or small Save up to 50% For best deal with contract construction to complete Source #18X 800-964-8335

EMPLOYMENT Help Wanted Full-Time ADVERTISE YOUR DRIVER JOBS in 105 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Your 25-word classified ad will reach more than 2.6 million readers. Call Jimmie Haynes at the S.C. Newspaper Network, 1-888-727-7377.

ASE mechanic needed.

Must know front-end alignments, scan diagnostics, brakes, AC & general repairs. Send resume to: Box 328 c/o The Item, PO Box 1677 Sumter SC 29151

CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT Call, email or fax us today!

classiied@theitem.com â&#x20AC;˘ (803) 775-1024 FAX

(803) 774-1234 No refunds for early cancellations. Private Party only! Businesses and Commercial accounts ineligible. All ads must be prepaid. All advertising subject to publisherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s approval. Special cannot be combined with any other discounts. Other restrictions may apply.

July Saleabration at MAYOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SUIT CITY When a Big Sale and Great Service Collide

â&#x20AC;&#x153;ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ALL GOODâ&#x20AC;?

If your suits arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t becoming to you, Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good time to be coming to Mayoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s! 8FTNBSL 1MB[B t t .PO 4BU t XXX .BZPT%JTDPVOU4VJUT DPN

B8

CLASSIFIEDS

THE ITEM

MATCHING LIGHTWEIGHT

BATH TOWELS $2 Each 29 Progress St. - Sumter 775-8366 Ext. 37

HANDTOWELS

Store Hours 0RQ 6DW Â&#x2021; 9:30 - 5:00 Closed Sunday

WASHCLOTHS

2 for $1 3 for $1

Statewide Employment

Mobile Home Rentals

Drivers - HIRING EXPERIENCED / INEXPERIENCED TANKER DRIVERS! Earn up to $.51 per mile!

New fleet Volvo tractors! 1 year OTR Exp. Req. - Tanker Training Available.

Call today: 877-882-6537 www.OakleyTransp ort.com

4359 Confederate St 2BR 1BA $395 Mo., 1130 Middle St. 3BR 1.5 BA $395 Mo., 55 Sawgrass Ct 3BR2BA $550 Mo, 6105 Skinner Rd 3BR 2BA $550 Mo. Sec Dep. starting at $250 Sec. 8 Ok. Call 773 - 8022

WE NEED DRIVERS!! Immediate openings. OTR drivers, minimum 1 yr. OTR experience. Late model conventional tractors/48' flatbed trailers. Top pay, insurance. Home most weekends. Senn Freight 1-800-477-0792.

Experienced OTR Flatbed Drivers earn 50 up to 55 cpm loaded. $1000 sign on to Qualified drivers.

Home most weekends. Call: 843-266-3731 / www.bulldoghiwa y.com EOE Experienced Drivers - Excellent Regional Runs! Great Home Time with Full Benefits! Competitive Weekly Pay & Late Model Equipment. Arnold Transportation www .drivearnold.com 888-742-8056

2BR 2Ba Mobile home off Panola Rd. between Pinewood & paxville $450/mo. 843-884-0346 Oaklawn MHP: 2 BR M.H.'s, water/sewer/garbage pk-up incl'd.

RV parking avail. Call 494-8350 1996 2BR 2BA in Sumter All appl.

Sect 8 Accepted 469-6978 2, 3 & 4/BR's Trailers for rent, Cherryvale & Dogwood & Dalzell Area $250 & up. (803) 651-9926 For Sale, 4Bed/2Bath, Land, $325/mo.

803-494-5090 2/3BR MH, fenced yard, carport, storage room. C/H/A, $400-$500 /mo+dep. 803-968-1004

Resort Rentals

RENTALS Unfurnished Apartments Brick house for rent: Sumter, 2BR 1 BA, Central AC Fenced Yrd, $550 Mo. Call 239-293-5124 Montreat St: (off Miller Rd.) 2BR /1BA, appl's. Gas & elect. No pets. $350 mo + dep. Call 316-8105.

Accepting Applications Oakland Plantation Apts.

5501 Edgehill Rd 499-2157 1, 2, & 3 Br apts. available.

Applications accepted Monday, Wednesday & Friday 8am 4:30pm.

2BR 2.5BA Apt. on Dartmouth Dr $850 Mo/Dep. Call 803 934-0434 Montreat St: (off Miller Rd.) 2BR /1BA, appl's. All elect. No pets. $375 mo + dep. 316-8105.

Unfurnished Homes Nice 3BR/2BA Brick home with garage. Lg fenced yard. $750/mo + $750/dep. Call 803-968-5816 3 bdrm, 2 full bath house for rent.

Silver Community near Summerton. $500 month. 803-840-0477.

3BR/1BA Brick, Quiet Country, W/D hook-up, Carport, 7 mins to Manning. $500/mo. 1st + last + DD 803-473-4400

Ocean Lakes 2BR/2BA C/H/A Sleeps 8, near ocean, Call 803-773-2438

Vacation Rentals ADVERTISE YOUR VACATION PROPERTY to more than 2.6 million South Carolina newspaper readers. Your 25-word classified ad will appear in 105 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Call Jimmie Haynes at the South Carolina Newspaper Network, 1-888-727-7377.

Commercial Rentals Comm. building approx 2,501 s.f office/warehouse, fenced yard. Great for contractor. (Corner of S. Magnolia & Hauser St.) $900/mo. 775-2297

REAL ESTATE Homes for Sale Handyman Special, Cheap!

Cash only. House need some work. Call 704-900-5987 NEAR ASHEVILLE, NC Owner liquidating a 1232 SF cabin shell on 1.53 private acres has new septic, well and paved access. $62,000 needs finishing.

828-286-2981 brkr

3BR house on Burgress Ct. $495, 2br house 137 Carolina Ave. $420. 2br Apts (Miller Rd) $320-$420. 983-5691 or 774-8512.

3BR, 1BA on 15 Shuler. Quiet neigborhood, $450/mo+dep. Call 481-9195 or 418-9444

Mobile Home Rentals

STATEBURG COURTYARD 2 & 3 BRs 803-494-4015

SOUTH FORGE 1 & 2 BEDROOM APTS. Water, stove & refrig.

Call Linda at

Beach Forest 1785 Titanic Ct. Custom Built Quality Home.

Property overlooks pond & community clubhouse/pool. 3BR w/maple hardwood floors, 3 full BA w/ceramic tile. Solid maple 42" kitchen cabinetry w/Charleston Style concrete countertops.

Oversize 2 car garage. All appliances incl'd w/purchase.

Seller will pay $2,500. toward closing. (REDUCED) asking $225,000. Call 803-968-1187 Details & photos @ www.forsaleb yowner.com/23945649 & www.mili tarybyowner.com/MBO 264616

4BR 2BA 2100 sq Ft. 1.16 Acre , Dalzell area $100K Call 803 847-2135

(803) 494-8443 Income Restricted Equal Housing Opportunity Co.

Bill Horne, BIC

Raymond Johnson

McLaughlin Ford would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Raymond Johnson for being named Salesperson of the Month. Raymond says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Come by and see me for the best vehicle purchase experience.â&#x20AC;?

773-1481 Buy Americanâ&#x20AC;Ś Buy Fordâ&#x20AC;Ś Buy McLaughlin!

/ .BJO 4USFFU t 4VNUFS t t .D-BVHIMJO'PSE DPN

THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2013

FOR GREAT SUMMER SAVINGS COME SHOP WITH US!

Manufactured Housing

Mobile Home Lots

LOW CREDIT SCORE? Been turned down for bad credit? Come try us, we do our own financing.

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

Mobile Home Lots for rent. $195/mo.

Call Marshall 803-651-8831

Need a New Home? Can't get Financing? We can Help!! Call: 803-469-3252.

Singlewide in Sumter, SC Call me at 803-469-3252!

Kiss your landlord goodbye!

Call us at 803-469-3252!

Farms & Acreage FSBO: Land, Small & Large acreage.

Owner financing.

803-427-3888.

CLOTH TABLECLOTHS $8 each All Sizes

4PK. NAPKINS $4 Per Pk. SHEER PANELS $5 Each INDIVIDUAL MICROFIBER SHEETS FLAT OR FITTED $1 Each

TRANSPORTATION

Autos For Sale A Guaranteed Credit Approval AUTO LOANS

Vans / Trucks / Buses 2005 Freightliner CST120 Detroit 60, 100,400 miles on overhaul, new radiator, excellent condition. $25,000 OBO. Road ready!!! Call for all specs 803-468-7445.

Autos For Sale For Sale 2010 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer Edition. Fully loaded, like new.

Ext warranty.

803-478-2950

We will arrange financing even if you have been turned down before.

Loans available for no credit, bad credit, 1st Time Buyers & Bankruptcy buyers. No co-signers needed. Call Mr. Ashley Brown at 803-926-3235