June 25, 2014

PRIMARIES: McMaster, Spearman, Thompson win elections

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HEALTH

Paid maternity leave President says new moms should have benefit other countries offer A4

SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

75 CENTS

Residents suggest other projects Penny tax hearing held; list passes 2nd reading

BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com (803) 774-1272 According to the appointed commission, there is already $75 million worth of new construction needs in

Sumter County, as identified in the proposal for a renewed penny sales tax. But Tuesday night, several local residents said they would like to add some more.

Members of the public who spoke about the recently unveiled project list before Sumter County Council mostly suggested other needs the penny tax could have addressed.

At the first opportunity many ordi-

nary citizens have had to comment publicly on the list that will go to voters for approval in November, the general feeling seemed to be that other community needs are not being dealt with in the proposal.

“Most (of the projects) are good, but they don’t address what I call Third World living conditions in some portions of the community,” said Ferdinand Burns, president of the Sumter

NAACP. “It could address AfricanAmerican neighborhoods in a more equitable way.”

Instead of one new police headquarters funded by the tax, Burns said he wants to see substations built in high-crime areas, neighborhood improvement efforts along the

EMT COMPETITION

The family that saves together

SEE HEARING, PAGE A6

Woman spreads awareness of vitiligo

BY IVY MOORE ivym@theitem.com (803) 774-1221

paramedic, so this was my last chance to compete in this with my mama,” Osteen said.

When her son was younger, Sinner worked in cafeterias for Sumter School District 2 but then went home and watched “Rescue 911.”

“This was my dream job,” she said.

She studied to become a trained EMT, worked for four years with the private Carolina MedCare ambulance service, then joined EMS because, Sinner said, “911 is more exciting.”

“I studied at home a lot,” she remembered, “and he had to be my patient sometimes, so he became involved

When Tiffany Jefferson founded the Sumter Vitiligo Support Group, it was her goal to spread awareness of the skin disorder that causes the loss of pigment. Today, she is the Ambassador of S.C. for Vitiligo, named to the position June 11

by Gov. LEARN MORE Nikki Haley.

For more The information about nonprofit vitiligo, go online Vitiligo to www. vitiligosupport.org Research and http://www.

Foundaniams.nih.gov/ tion desHealth_Info/ ignated Vitiligo/.

June 25 as World Vitiligo Day as a memorial to Michael Jackson, whose death, unrelated to his vitiligo, occurred on June 25, 2009. He was diagnosed with vitiligo in 1986.

Jefferson said there needs to be a lot more awareness about vitiligo because, despite the fact Jackson was known to have the condition, it’s still widely misunderstood. Not only are those with the disorder subject to emotional suffering as they watch their skin color gradually disappear, but they are also often objects of stares and insensitive comments, a situation Jefferson remembers herself.

In 2012, when Jefferson started the support group, she noted that the loss of her skin pigmentation was progressing faster than that of most people she knew with the condition. Monday, she said she has lost all pigmentation “except for the very tips of my toes and fingers.”

It’s a situation she’s come to

SEE COMPETE, PAGE A6

SEE VITILIGO, PAGE A6

BRISTOW MARCHANT / THE SUMTER ITEM

Pattie Sinner and her son Ethan Osteen teamed up to compete in the Paramedic Savers skills competition in May against other emergency medical technicians. Along with fellow Sumter County EMT Jason Lynch, mother and son came in first in the competition against five teams from neighboring emergency medical services. “ ... This was my last chance to compete in this with my mama,” Osteen said.

Mother, son team up with fellow EMT to win 1st place in challenge

BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com (803) 774-1272

E

than Osteen knew he was entering a high-pressure situation. An emergency medical technician with Sumter Emergency Medical Services, he was on the scene of a car crash filled with medical emergencies, and now he faced a man threatening first responders with a gun. He wanted his mother by his side.

Fortunately, during this simulated scenario testing the EMTs’ skill, mom was right on the other side of the stretcher.

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Pattie Sinner is a veteran EMT with Sumter County EMS who teamed up with her son and their fellow medic Jason Lynch to win the Paramedic Savers competition between local EMTs in Lee County last month. Even though the two have been together at EMS for almost four years, rules governing close relatives ensured they never served on the same ambulance team or even the same shift.

With Osteen knowing he was up for his paramedic certification in June, the May 31 skills competition for basic and intermediate EMTs would be the only time mother and son could work together.

“I knew I was close to becoming a

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

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

Lakewood grad recognized by Junior Civitans

LOCAL & STATE BRIEFS FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Woman hurt in wreck recovering at hospital Gay Peebles, who was injured in a Monday afternoon single-vehicle wreck on Airport Road, is in Richland Lower Hospital intensive care after sustaining non-life threatening injuries. According to family members, she was on her way home from working at BD Co. when her car flipped over into a ditch running alongside the road.

The exact cause of the wreck remains unknown. Peebles was the only person in the car.

Couple sought in Texas slaying arrested in S.C.

BY RAYTEVIA EVANS revans@theitem.com (803) 774-1214 For the past four years, Lakewood High School graduate Baylee McLeod has been an active member of Civitan International, an organization of volunteer service clubs around the world that’s dedicated to helping people in their own communities.

After participating in a number of service projects, including helping disabled community members in Sumter play baseball at Dillon Park, McLeod was surprised when she was recently named International Club Officer of the Year for Junior Civitans.

“I was not expecting it at all. There were so many people who applied, so I didn’t realize it until they started listing things pertaining to me,” McLeod

recalls of receiving the recognition.

McLeod said she first joined the organization her freshman year and decided to continue participating because she enjoyed helping her community. Civitan International has several districts and is also in various countries. The Junior Civitan program is specifically for students interested in giving back to their communities through service and volunteer projects. EstabMcLEOD lished in 1932, Junior Civitans’ purpose is to provide all members with personal and career development opportunities while improving schools and communities through volunteer service.

Civitan members lend a helping hand when needed through different

efforts and projects including collecting food for homeless shelters, volunteering at their local retirement home and building a playground for children with disabilities. There are close to 400 Junior Civitan clubs with more than 12,000 participating members. According to the organization, Junior Civitans have clubs in North America, Asia, Europe and Africa.

McLeod pointed out that a part of Civitan International’s mission focuses on the UAB Civitan International Research Center located on the campus of the University of Alabama, where groundbreaking research into disorders such as autism, Down syndrome, brain tumors and epilepsy take place.

McLeod received recognition for her efforts and dedication to the program for the past four years during the International Convention this summer.

TYLER, Texas — A couple sought in the killing of a North Texas man whose dismembered body was pulled from a Louisiana lake has been arrested in South Carolina.

Thirty-year-old Brandon Daniels and 25-year-old Damonica Evans were being held Tuesday in the Florence County jail. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported they’re charged with capital murder and aggravated robbery.

The remains of 53-year-old Marion Lee Brown were found May 24 in the lake in Shreveport, Louisiana. Other parts of his body were found earlier rolled in a carpet discarded along an East Texas road.

Authorities said the couple dumped the remains as they traveled to South Carolina, where Daniels has family.

Police said Evans has posed as an escort meeting with clients who were then robbed.

Online jail records did not indicate attorneys for the pair.

1,000 commemorative guns will be produced AYNOR — A firearms manufacturer that recently opened a plant in the state is making 1,000 commemorative South Carolina guns, one of which will be given to Gov. Nikki Haley.

The Sun News of Myrtle Beach reported that PTR Industries is making the gun to show its appreciation to the state. Each gun is stamped with the state symbol of the palmetto tree and crescent.

PTR moved to Horry County from Connecticut because lawmakers in that state passed stricter gun-control laws after the Sandy Hook School shootings.

Company vice president John McNamara said the company developed the gun as a way to give something back to South Carolina. The commemorative gun costs $1,200 and can be purchased at several gun stores in the Myrtle Beach area.

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

RAYTEVIA EVANS / THE SUMTER ITEM

Eric Shumpert, right, presents USC Sumter with the U.S. flag that flew over his base in Afghanistan during one of his many tours while serving as a Marine for the past four years. The university encased the flag in a shadow box to be displayed on campus. Also seen is Lynwood Watts, associate dean of student affairs.

Marine gives back to local university Grad presents USC Sumter with U.S. flag

BY RAYTEVIA EVANS revans@theitem.com (803) 774-1214 USC Sumter graduate Eric Shumpert took time out of his short trip to visit his family to acknowledge the university for supporting veterans and the military.

Shumpert, who graduated with a degree in business administration in 2005, pre-

sented the U.S. flag that flew over his base in Afghanistan to the university Tuesday morning.

“I just wanted to give something back to the university,” he said. “I’m an alumnus here, and if it weren’t for the faculty and staff here, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Shumpert has served as a Marine for four years and said he is now stationed out of Fort Knox, Kentucky, with the 126th Infantry Regiment.

Already in town visiting family for a few days in Sumter, Shumpert said it was really important for him to present the school with the flag to

show his appreciation.

“The faculty and staff here worked with me, and I could always go to them. They made the transition a lot easier for me, and this university is military friendly and works well with veterans,” Shumpert said.

During the short presentation in Anderson Library, USC Sumter also took the opportunity to honor Shumpert. He and his mother, Barbara Shumpert, are alumni, and he has served several tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. The school encased the donated flag in a shadow box for permanent display on campus, and

Shumpert and his family got their first look at the encased flag during Tuesday’s presentation.

Shumpert also presented the university with two books written about his squadron — “They Fought for Each Other” by Kelly Kennedy and “The Blue Spaders” by Carl Bradfield.

Marketing Director Misty Hatfield said the two books will be housed in Anderson Library on campus.

Shumpert has been awarded the Bronze Star for leading many combat missions in Iraq. He has also received many merit awards while in the military.

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

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LOCAL | STATE

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

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McMaster wins GOP runoff for lieutenant governor RESULTS FROM TUESDAY’S PRIMARY Unofficial results Key: * = winner Lieutenant Governor — GOP 1,990 of 2,206 precincts — 90 percent * Henry McMaster 76,689 — 64 percent Mike Campbell 44,015 — 36 percent Supt of Education — Dems 1,990 of 2,206 precincts — 90 percent * Tom Thompson 19,658 — 58 percent Sheila Gallagher 14,146 — 42 percent Supt of Education — GOP 1,990 of 2,206 precincts — 90 percent * Molly Spearman 68,155 — 57 percent Sally Atwater 52,472 — 43 percent

POLICE BLOTTER CHARGES Sidney Allen Player, 56, of 970 Kingman St., was arrested Saturday and charged with criminal domestic violence, second offense. At 8:25 a.m., Player reportedly tried to force his way into a home while his 43-year-old girlfriend and her teenage children held the door closed, breaking a front window and shoving a garden rake through the door and scratching the woman on the arm and shoulder.

Courtland Geovantae Lesane, 21, of 1305 Plantation Village, was arrested Sunday and charged with criminal domestic violence. At 1:05 a.m., Lesane reportedly threatened a 21-year-old woman and her 2-year-old child with two kitchen knives in a home in the 2000 block of Gion Street.

Leon Evans, 22, of 226 S. Purdy St., was arrested Friday and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute within a half mile of a public park.

Evans was approached outside the home at 6:34 p.m. and reportedly found to have 164.5 grams of marijuana in various bags in his pants pockets. This location is near the Birnie HOPE Center.

COLUMBIA (AP) — The campaigns of Henry McMaster, Molly Spearman and Tom Thompson will continue until November, as South Carolina voters selected them in their respective primary runoff races on Tuesday.

Former Attorney Gen. McMaster is the Republican nominee to be South Carolina’s lieutenant governor.

Early returns Tuesday showed McMaster trouncing Mike Campbell by a 2-to-1 margin.

The 67-year-old Columbia resident ran on his experience, saying he has the knowledge to get things done. McMaster was a U.S. attorney during former President Ronald Reagan’s first term and state GOP chairman from 1993 to 2002 before being elected to two terms as attorney general.

McMaster had a strong lead in the four-way GOP primary two weeks ago, taking 44 percent of the vote. But he needed more than 50 percent to avoid a runoff.

Campbell actually finished third.

But he advanced to the runoff

Wakema Wilson, 26, of 13-A Dew St., was arrested Sunday and charged with theft of a motor vehicle. During an argument with another woman at the home about 1:50 a.m., Wilson reportedly drove off in the woman’s car as the woman jumped on the hood of the car as it backed away and then fell off. The car was located 30 minutes later on U.S. 15 North near Brewington Road, and Wilson was arrested at the scene. Wilson told deputies the car’s owner left the vehicle there to frame her.

Jeremie Devon Richardson, 30, of 75 Hanover Drive, was arrested Saturday for driving under suspension, ninth offense, and being a habitual traffic offender. At 2:22 p.m., Richardson was pulled over on Broad Street near Bultman Drive by an officer who knew from previous encounters he did not have a driver’s license.

Johnny Williams, 43, of 114 McQueen St., was arrested Sunday and charged with driving under suspension, second offense. At 1:01 a.m., he was stopped at the intersection of Silver and Shannon streets for failure to signal properly.

ASSAULT A man in the 1900 block of Peach Orchard Road told law enforcement that dur-

when second-place finisher Pat McKinney bowed out.

McMaster will face 29-year-old Democratic state Rep. Bakari Sellers in November.

Spearman, meanwhile, is the Republican choice to be South Carolina education superintendent.

With 90 percent of precincts reporting, the director of the state Association of School Administrators led Sally Atwater with 57 percent of the vote as of press time Tuesday. It was the first run for elected office for the widow of GOP strategist Lee Atwater.

Spearman spent the last decade advocating for the state’s 3,600 K-12 administrators. But her career began in the classroom as a music teacher for 18 years, then two years as an assistant principal. Her other roles include legislator, deputy superintendent and chief of staff at the state education agency.

Spearman had a slight lead over Atwater in the eight-way primary two weeks ago.

Atwater’s interview with a conservative Greenville radio station

ing an argument with a 20-year-old woman about 7:48 p.m. Friday, the woman cut him under the nose with a kitchen knife and then chased him down the street.

CAR CHASE At 2:05 a.m. Saturday, a champagne-colored Chevrolet Suburban with a trailer was seen behind a home in the first block of Adolf Circle. When law enforcement attempted to stop the vehicle a short time later on Curtis Drive, the car sped up, then jackknifed, causing the trailer to detach from the vehicle. A passenger then jumped from the car and fled on foot, while the Suburban drove off through a yard and a woodline onto Habitat Drive, where it pulled behind a home in the 1100 block, went through a fence and crashed into a camper.

The driver could not be located. The trailer contained a stolen refrigerator, stove and other items valued at $2,000.

FIRE A mobile home in the 1500 block of Trapper Run caught fire about 8:51 a.m.

Monday. The fire spread through the whole structure before firefighters brought it under control, causing $20,000 worth of damage. A cause for the fire could not

dealt a blow to her runoff campaign.

Meanwhile, Thompson is the Democratic nominee for South Carolina education superintendent.

With over 80 percent of precincts reporting, Thompson was leading Sheila Gallagher with more than 50 percent of the vote as of press time Tuesday.

The former dean of graduate studies at South Carolina State University placed second in the four-way primary two weeks ago.

Gallagher had attracted attention by advocating legalizing and taxing marijuana to raise money for schools.

But Thompson called it absurd to link buying marijuana to quality education.

The Chicago native started his career in 1970 as an inner-city high school math teacher. Thompson came to South Carolina in 1982 from Wisconsin to be the first black principal of Winnsboro High School in Fairfield County.

Thompson ran unsuccessfully for state superintendent in 2010.

be immediately determined.

No injuries were reported, and the Red Cross was notified to assist the residents.

THREATS A woman on Foxworth Street reported Friday she’s received multiple phone calls from a woman with an “altered demonic tone of voice” claiming to be watching her from her back yard and threatening to kill the woman and her grandchildren.

STOLEN PROPERTY A set of stock chrome Cadillac rims and tires was reportedly stolen from the 2500 block of Broad Street between 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The items are valued at $1,400.

An aluminum siding bending machine was reportedly stolen from the 100 block of Armstrong Boulevard between 10 a.m. Thursday and 10:30 p.m. Sunday. The machine is valued at $1,200.

A jigsaw, drain snake and $80 in cash were reportedly stolen from the 100 block of McCormick Drive between 6:30 a.m. June 15 and 9:50 p.m. Sunday. The items are valued at $1,140.

A 2009 black-and-gray 50cc moped was reportedly stolen from the 2500 block of London Road between 3 and 8 a.m. Saturday. The vehicle is valued at $550.

VANDALISM An unknown car performed a series of doughnuts in the front yard of a home in the 1300 block of Morris Way Drive on Saturday, causing damage estimated at $2,000.

A church bus was reportedly vandalized in the 500 block of Pinewood Road between 8 p.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. Sunday. The wires in the engine were cut, the side mirrors were broken off, and a stop sign was bent. The damage is estimated at $2,000.

Five vending machines were reportedly damaged at a car wash in the first block of Commerce Street between 4:30 p.m. Friday and 9:07 a.m. Sunday. The damage is estimated at $1,500.

EMS CALLS On Thursday, Sumter County Emergency Medical Services responded to 46 calls.

Forty were medical calls, three were motor-vehicle wrecks, and three were listed as other trauma.

On Saturday, Sumter County EMS responded to 46 calls. Forty-one were medical calls, and five were listed as other trauma.

On Sunday, Sumter EMS responded to 42 calls. Thirtyeight were medical calls, and four were listed as other trauma.

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NATION

THE SUMTER ITEM

Clinton pushes to get youth in workforce DENVER (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton is encouraging companies to train and hire young people, offering a new jobs pitch during her family’s annual domestic policy summit as she considers another presidential campaign.

The former secretary of state was launching a project called “Job One” at the Clinton Global Initiative America meeting Tuesday, featuring hiring, training and mentoring initiatives from 10 companies, including The Gap, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft and Marriott.

Clinton planned to address economic growth and youth employment during the meeting and was unveiling partnerships aimed at helping people age 16-24 who are out of school and unemployed.

Students preparing for the workforce in the aftermath of the recession have faced persistently high unemployment levels at rates about twice the national average.

“Many Americans are still feeling that they have not recovered from the Great Recession. They are still worried about their future, the future of their children,” Clinton said in an interview last week with Fox News, pointing to culprits such as

student debt, stagnant wages and income inequality. “They look, and they say, ‘What happened to the American dream?’”

Clinton is in the middle of a book tour for her new memoir, “Hard Choices,” which is about her four years at the State Department under President Obama, but interviews surrounding it have brought attention to her own economic circumstances.

The former first lady told ABC News earlier this month that she and former President Bill Clinton were “dead broke” when they left the White House in early 2001. Republicans noted the former president had earned more than $100 million from 2001 to 2007 through book deals, paid speeches and other work, and Hillary Clinton can command $200,000 for a speech.

In an interview with The Guardian published Sunday, Clinton said the public doesn’t see her as part of the problem of the nation’s gap between the wealthy and poor, “because we pay ordinary income tax, unlike a lot of people who are truly well off, not to name names; and we’ve done it through dint of hard work.”

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

President Obama speaks at the White House Summit on Working Families on Monday in Washington. Obama is encouraging more employers to adopt family friendly policies, part of a broader effort to convince employers that providing more flexibility is good for business as well as workers.

Obama touts paid maternity leave

BY NEDRA PICKLER The Associated Press

conservative reforms can help bring the American Dream within reach for millions of single mothers, young Americans WASHINGTON — President Obama said and working families.”

“Telling federal agencies to do what Monday that the United States should join they’re already supposed to do and enthe rest of the industrialized world and dorsing partisan legislation that will offer paid leave for mothers of newborns. never pass is not the sort of bold, innova“Many women can’t even get a paid day off to give birth — now that’s a pretty low tive leadership we need,” Rubio said in a bar,” Obama said at the White House Sum- statement.

While some companies offer paid family mit on Working Families. “That, we leave to attract workers, the 1993 Family should be able to take care of.”

Medical Leave Act only requires that emThe president is touting paid maternity ployers provide unpaid leave for medical leave in the midst of a midterm election campaign focused on women voters, with- and family reasons.

Obama praised California, Rhode Island out describing the details of how he would and New Jersey for creating a state benefund such a system. “If France can figure fit. But he has not endorsed legislation this out, we can figure this out,” Obama that would create a similar national syssaid.

Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, a tem funded by a payroll tax, and he pledged in his 2008 presidential campaign potential 2016 presidential candidate, renot to raise taxes on families making sponded to Obama by announcing he will under $250,000 a year. outline his vision today for “how modern

LOCAL | NATION

THE SUMTER ITEM

Brush up on knowledge of new S.C. legislation COLUMBIA — ETV’s “Palmetto Scene” will take a look at several new laws at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday. In addition to a legislative season and runoff elections wrap-up, the program will discuss: • Emma’s Law, which was formed in response to a young girl who lost her life in an alcohol-induced wreck. This new law requires all drivers who are charged with DUI with a blood-alcohol concentration of .15 or higher to install an ignition interlock device on any vehicle(s) they drive for a period of six months; • A new statewide ban on texting while driving that allows officers to ticket offending drivers; • New legislation that allows those with doctors’ notes to purchase cannabis oil for the treatment of epileptic seizures; and • An initiative known as Fix Our Roads that is bringing residents and business leaders from across the state together to present the importance of fixing our infrastructure to legislators.

The program also airs Sunday at 1 p.m. on ETV; Sunday at 4 p.m. and Tuesday at 5 p.m. on ETV World; and Thursday, July 3, at 8 p.m. on the South Carolina Channel. After the first broadcast, the program will also be available online at scetv.org/palmettoscene.

It’s your world.

Read all about it.

Call (803) 774-1200 and get started today.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

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Iraqi men flash victory signs as they leave the main military recruiting center to join the army in Baghdad on Tuesday. Hundreds of young Iraqi men gripped by religious and nationalistic fervor streamed into volunteer centers, answering a call by the country’s top Shiite cleric to join the fight against Sunni militants advancing in the north. U.S. military forces are arriving in Baghdad to assess Iraqi forces battling the fast-moving Sunni insurgency.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

U.S. forces flow into Baghdad Additional troops expected to arrive

BY LOLITA C. BALDOR The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Nearly half of the roughly 300 U.S. military advisers and special operations forces expected to go to Iraq are now in Baghdad and have begun to assess Iraqi forces in the fight against Sunni militants, the Pentagon said Tuesday as the U.S. ramped up aid to the besieged country.

Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby told reporters the troops there included two teams of special forces and about 90 advisers, intelligence analysts, com-

mandos and some other support personnel needed to set up a joint operations center in Baghdad. Another four teams of special forces would arrive in the next few days, Kirby said.

Those troops, added to the approximately 360 other U.S. forces that are in and around the embassy in Baghdad to perform security, would bring the total U.S. military presence in Iraq to about 560.

Kirby also said the U.S. was conducting up to 35 surveillance missions over Iraq daily to provide intelligence on the situation on the ground as Iraqi troops battle the aggressive and fastmoving insurgency.

President Obama last week announced he would send as many as 300 advisers into Iraq to assess and advise Iraqi security forces. Part of that plan

involved setting up two joint operating centers — one in Baghdad and the other in northern Iraq, where a lot of the fighting has taken place.

The teams, largely made up of Army Green Berets, will evaluate the readiness of Iraqi troops and their senior headquarters commanders in an effort to determine how best the U.S. can bolster the security force and where other additional advisers might be needed.

Kirby said the initial assessments from the teams could be completed in the next two weeks to three weeks, but he said there was no timeline for how long the troops would be in Iraq.

“I don’t have a fixed date for you as a deadline or an end date, but it’s very clear this will be a limited, short-term mission,” he said.

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LOCAL

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

COMPETE FROM PAGE A1 right off the bat.”

Osteen learned enough from watching his mother that once he finished high school, he decided to join EMS himself.

“She’d come home and tell me about a call she’d been on and was kind of rough, but I thought it sounded like fun,” he said.

“You know you’re not going to have the same routine every day.

It’s not the same old boring job you’d have in a factory.”

Last month’s competition was the first chance the two got to do that job side by side. Sinner entered a couple EMT skills competitions on her own, testing her knowledge and emergency reflexes alongside other co-workers, but taking on five neighboring EMT crews in Paramedic Savers (the inside term for basic to intermediate EMTs) was the only time she signed up to compete on the same team as her son.

“We talked a lot to make sure we would go about it the same way,” Sinner said. “We talked for a few hours the night before about what they might throw at us.”

When the Sumter team was “called” to the simulated scene

inside a Lee County fire bay, they found a Jeep jammed between two trees pinning the doors closed. Once the paramedics got their two patients out of the vehicle, they realized both men had gunshot wounds. That’s when the other shoe dropped; another man approached the crash scene waving a gun.

“The other guys apparently froze up,” Osteen said. “But Jason called out ‘scene unsafe.’

Our job then as EMTs is to get out of the scene.”

When the “law enforcement officers” at the crash Tased the gunman, the EMS crew returned only to learn the shooter had stopped breathing.

“We realized we now had three patients,” Osteen said, “and that’s what won us the competition.”

The three technicians won a plaque for the department and some free swag from LifeNet, which sponsored the competition.

It might trouble some mothers to think they led their sons into a career where people with firearms are considered an expected on-the-job hazard, but Sinner doesn’t worry about it.

“I knew he could do it,” she said. “I know what I’ve been through, and I knew he could handle it too.”

VITILIGO FROM PAGE A1 accept, Jefferson said, and she hopes others having difficulty will reach out to the group.

She and Julius Rembert were the only two support group regulars that first year, which they found surprising because .5 percent to 1 percent of the population is affected. Now, though, Jefferson said, the group is growing.

HEARING FROM PAGE A1 Manning Avenue corridor and the establishment of tax-free economic development zones. He’d also like to see more “people needs” addressed with the $4 million allocated to the Shot Pouch pedestrian greenway.

Gloria Felder, who lives on Alice Drive, said the project list would be good for her, but “we have other areas with needs than just Alice Drive and Patriot Hall and Dillon Park.” Instead of new construction, she wanted to see some money go toward demolishing abandoned houses that attract drug users.

“That’s more important than having another place to play,” she said. “You need to get the people in these areas to work with you on this and not have the same group of people every time.”

Jackie Spann, a member of Pinewood Town Council, told county council members his community has several roads that need paving, which weren’t among the streets identified in the penny tax list.

“We only ask for a small dollar amount,” Spann said, “but Pinewood is only getting $200,000 out of $75 million.”

But there’s not much county council can do about the configuration of the list at this point, said Chairman Larry Blanding. After the six-member pennytax commission submitted the 28 final projects last week, the law only allows

“We have several regulars and others come from time to time” to the North HOPE Center for the 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. meetings on the second Monday of each month.

What does Jefferson want people to know about vitiligo, especially during World Vitiligo Month?

“Vitiligo is not contagious, it’s probably not hereditary, it affects people of all complexions, it’s not painful or disabling,” she said. In fact, it doesn’t change you in any way other than the

loss of pigment, Jefferson said. The skin does not change in texture.

The hardest thing for her and others to accept is that “we have to come to terms with the fact that the condition is incurable” at this time, she said.

Jefferson, as the state’s ambassador for vitiligo, said she wants to “spread awareness, get the facts to the people in the community. There are too many people who don’t know about it or who are living in fear and not knowing.”

In addition to the support group,

THE SUMTER ITEM

‘It could be better, but I’m not going to throw out $60 (million) to $70 million worth of projects I like because of five or 10 I don’t .’

SUMTER COUNTY COUNCILMAN EUGENE BATEN council to vote to accept or reject the proposal. Many members noted council was only one of several community groups that submitted suggestions at the beginning of the process.

“I know several of us at this table would change some things if we could,” Blanding said. “This might look different if we could change it.”

Council still approved second reading of the proposal unanimously, with Councilman Charles Edens recusing himself because of a financial interest in one of the projects. Many of the projects have to be done anyway, members said, and will be addressed through regular taxation and budgeting if not through the penny tax.

“It could be better,” Councilman Eugene Baten said, “but I’m not going to throw out $60 (million) to $70 million worth of projects I like because of five or 10 I don’t.”

there are a Facebook page — Sumter Vitiligo Support — and regular meeting notices in the Support Groups section of The Sumter Item. Jefferson has appeared on the radio as well and said she is willing to speak to other groups about vitiligo.

Her message in concise form?

As she emphasizes in her voice mail message and often in person, “Beauty is only skin deep.”

Reach Jefferson at (803) 316-6763 or tiffanywjefferson08@gmail.com.

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

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014 H.G. Osteen 1870-1955 Founder, The Item

H.D. Osteen 1904-1987 The Item

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

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

COMMENTARY

Reducing the ability to think

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any view America’s education as a failure, but in at least one important way, it’s been a success — a success in dumbing down the nation so that we fall easy prey to charlatans, hustlers and quacks. You say, “Williams, that’s insulting! Explain yourself.” OK, let’s start with a question or two.

Are you for or against global warming, later renamed climate change and more recently renamed climate disruption? Environmentalists have renamed it because they don’t want to look silly in the face of cooling temperatures. About 650 million years ago, the Earth was frozen from pole to pole, a period scientists call Snowball Earth. The Earth is no longer frozen from pole to pole. There must have been global warming, and it cannot be blamed on humans. Throughout the Earth’s history, we’ve had both ice ages and higher temperatures when CO2 emissions were 10 times higher than they are today. There’s one immutable fact about climate. It changes, and mankind can’t do anything about it. Only idiocy would conclude that mankind’s capacity to change the climate is Walter more powerful than the Williams forces of nature.

During Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, his slogans were about hope and change. At the time, I asked people whether they were for or against change. Most often, I received a blank stare, whereupon I reminded them that change is a fact of life. Nonetheless, when candidate Obama uttered “hope and change,” it was received with thunderous applause. There was also thunderous applause when Obama promised, “This was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal.” Only a deranged environmental wacko and duped people could believe that a nongod can change ocean depths.

Americans fall easy prey to charlatans of all stripes because of the education establishment’s success in dumbing down the nation. Nowhere has this dumbing down been more successful than it has in creating a historical amnesia. Historian Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. wrote in “The Disuniting of America”: “History is to the nation ... as memory is to the individual. As an individual deprived of memory becomes disoriented and lost, not knowing where he has been or where he is going, so a nation denied a conception of its past will be disabled in dealing with its present and its future.”

But it’s not just K-12 students who are ignorant of our history. In a 1990 survey — and there’s been no improvement since — almost half of college seniors couldn’t locate the Civil War within the correct half-century. More recently, 60 percent of American adults couldn’t name the president who ordered the dropping of the first atomic bomb, and over 20 percent didn’t know where — or even whether — the atomic bomb had been used. The same people didn’t know who America’s enemies were during World War II (Germany, Japan and Italy). In a civics survey, more American teenagers were able to name The Three Stooges (Larry, Moe and Curly) than the three branches of the federal government (executive, legislative and judicial). A third of the people who were asked the origin of the statement “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need” responded by saying it’s from our Bill of Rights, when it’s actually from “The Communist Manifesto.”

I’d say that the education establishment has been successful beyond its wildest dreams in reducing Americans’ ability to think and therefore causing them to have little knowledge of or love for our founding principles.

Walter E. Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University. © 2014 creators.com

COMMENTARY

What trends mean for newspaper industry

BY CAROLINE LITTLE

critical role in our increasingly personalized world. The days of a Editor’s note: Caroline Little is presi- one-size-fits-all solution to news are ending, and newspapers are in dent and CEO of the Newspaper Asa strong position to capitalize. We sociation of America. have enormous amounts of data at he newspaper industry has our disposal to deliver a customized news experience. The opportransformed in a way that tunity lies in analyzing and leverwe could not have imagaging that data to create and ined just a decade ago. strengthen our products for conAcross the globe, there is a resumers and advertisers. newed energy to innovate, strateAs we do this, we will see advergize and meet these growing optisers follow. The advertising landportunities and challenges. That scape has likewise was the theme of the World Newschanged dramatipapers Congress, which I had the cally, as consumpleasure of speaking earlier this ers now choose month, and it rings very true for whether or not our industry in America. they view ads and We are already halfway through insist on relevant, 2014. From the creative solutions personalized mateand trends I am seeing, we are in rial. Advertisers an excellent position to further are looking for evolve and thrive for the rest of Caroline precisely targeted this year and far beyond.

Little audiences, and Newspapers continue to comnewspapers’ data mand a huge audience and remain on user engagement and experithe most-trusted source of news ences will enable them to deliver and information. While that will exactly that. not change, there has been a key Another trend that will signifishift in the way information is decantly shape our industry is thinklivered and audience is engaged.

The World Editors Forum revealed ing about mobile strategy first, intheir Top 10 Trends in 2014 report, stead of it being tacked on as an after-thought. Excellent video and it is intriguing to explore the products have become critical stoway those trends will impact our rytelling vehicles for newspapers, business.

The importance and influence of with the possibility that our quick, data and analytics on every part of agile videos — perfect for mobile platforms — can challenge tradiour industry cannot be underestitional broadcasting. Our focus in mated. It is only going to grow. video over the next few months Much has been made of recent should focus on refining individual ventures in data-focused journalformulas for creating successful ism, such as statistics and datavideos and integrating them even driven predictions that will figure better with our other content ofmore and more heavily in mainstream journalism. Publishers and ferings.

The ways in which journalists journalists across the country are now relying on hard metrics to as- report the news may be changing but the essence of a free press is sess the readership and engagenot, despite being challenged on ment of a given story, and the more we do so, the more successful multiple fronts around the world.

We have seen journalists in Venewe will be as we understand what zuela and Hungary threatened interests drive our unique audiwith violence or had information ences and tailor our offerings acsuppressed in the past couple of cordingly.

As I’ve noted before, data plays a months. Here in the United States,

T

New York Times reporter James Risen could face stiff fines or jail time for not sharing confidential sources, which shows why we need a federal shield law for reporters to be able to covering our government without fear of prosecution.

Newspapers are at the forefront of researching and planning for the explosion of wearable tech, developing and refining the types of journalism that will be most successful. The ubiquity of social media, push notifications and short-form stories for apps has created a distinct, on-the-go audience that will look for even more immediately available, “snackable” content with the influence of wearables.

However, as Reuters’ Digital News Report points out, that will create greater audience segmentation as younger generations use smartphones and tablets to constantly consume news, while more traditional offerings remain the product of choice for other generations. Newspapers are tasked with balancing and integrating strategies across each platform and generation to effectively reach every audience. Indeed, one of the biggest mistakes leaders in any industry could make today is eschewing one platform for another, trendier medium without considering how they complement each other.

As we prepare for the second half of 2014, it is encouraging to look at the amount of growth, innovation and new investment we have seen in the first half. I am proud to say that next year, the NAA will be partnering with the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers in bringing the World Newspaper Congress to our hometown of Washington, D.C. I’m eagerly anticipating where our industry will be in 12 months.

With the wealth of talent and energy at our disposal, I have confidence that these trends forecast a very bright year.

EDITORIAL PAGE POLICIES EDITORIALS represent the views of the owners of this newspaper.

COLUMNS AND COMMENTARY are the personal opinion of the writer whose byline appears. Columns from readers should be typed, double-spaced and no more than 850 words. Send them to The Sumter Item, Opinion Pages, P.O. Box

1677, Sumter, S.C. 29151, or email to hubert@theitem.com or graham@theitem. com.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR are written by readers of the newspaper. They should be no more than 350 words and sent via e-mail to letters@theitem.com, dropped off at The Sumter Item office, 20 N.

Magnolia St. or mailed to The Sumter Item, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, S.C. 29151, along with the full name of the writer, plus an address and telephone number for verification purposes only. Letters that exceed 350 words will be cut accordingly in the print edition, but available in their entirety at www.theitem.com/opinion/ letters_to_editor.

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

FYI The Ballard-Palmer-Bates American Legion Post 202 meets at 7 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at 310 Palmetto St. All veterans are welcome to attend. Call (803) 773-4811.

The Civil Air Patrol Sumter Composite Squadron meets from 7 to 9 p.m. each Monday at the Sumter Airport. Contact Jared Buniel at (803) 481-7915 or JaredLotR@juno.com. Visit the Web site at www.scwg. cap.gov/sumter/.

The Palmetto PC Club meets on the second Thursday of each month at the Capital Senior Center in Columbia.

Club details can be found at http://palmettopc.org/ home/.

The Sumter James R. Clark Sickle Cell Memorial Foundation, 337 Manning Ave., offers free Sickle Cell Disease and Sickle Cell Trait screenings to the Sumter and Clarendon communities. For appointments, call (803) 774-6181.

The DAV will have certified volunteers to assist all veterans in filing claims with the VA from 9 a.m. to noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the VA Clinic, 407 N. Salem St., and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursdays at the Chapter 5 home, 18 Hardpack Drive, off of S.C. 441, behind Shaw Air Force Base. Call L. Pearson at (803) 499-9596 or Paul Fisher at (803) 840-1001.

The United Way Success By 6 Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) offers assistance to parents in Sumter, Clarendon and Lee counties with referrals to childcare programs, information on evaluating quality childcare and funding options for childcare, childcare licensing information, and a resource library with early childhood information. For assistance with childcare information, call (803) 773-7935 or (800) 681-0333.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) office, 1140 S. Guignard Drive, has many animals available for adoption. Adoption fees cover the first shots and first deworming and spaying or neutering. The office is open 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. every day except Wednesday and Sunday. Call (803) 773-9292.

The American Red Cross has a permanent blood service lo-

cated at 1155 N. Guignard Drive, Suite 2. For information on donating blood, call (803) 775-2364. Blood can be donated for the general population or for your own surgery.

The National Kidney Foundation of South Carolina is in need of unwanted vehicles — even ones that don’t run. The car will be towed at no charge to you and you will be provided with a possible tax deduction. The donated vehicle will be sold at auction or recycled for salvageable parts.

Call (800) 488-2277.

The Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation Inc. (MDFF), a nonprofit organization, accepts vehicle contributions. To complete a vehicle donation, contact MDFF to make arrangements by calling 1-800544-1213. Donors may also log onto the organization’s Web site at www.mdff.org and click on the automobile icon to complete an online vehicle donation application.

The Walker Gamble High School Alumni Association Inc. reunion committee will hold a reunion weekend Sept. 26-28 at Walker Gamble Elementary School, New Zion. For further details, write to WGHS Alumni Assoc. Inc., P.O. Box 335, New Zion, SC 29111.

The USS Long Beach CGN-9 Association Inc. 2014 Reunion will be held Sept. 8-14, at the Hilton St. Louis Airport, 10330 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, Missouri. Call (314) 426-5500 for reservations and identify yourself as a member of the USS Long Beach reunion. For more details, call Don Shade at (866) 3522469 or (716) 569-2314; email lbcgn9@aol.com; or visit www.usslongbeach-assoc. org.

The Lincoln High School Class of 1969 will hold a reunion Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 2-3, at the Lincoln High School Alumni Building, 26 Council St. For details, contact Cynthia Mack Harvin at (803) 773-9790 or Rosalie Pringle at (803) 773-5706.

Hillcrest High School Class of 1984 is planning a class reunion for Aug. 8-10. If you are a member of this class or know someone who is, contact Dianna Adams (Miller) at (301) 471-7250, adams_dianna@yahoo.com or visit http://hhs1984wildcats.com.

PUBLIC AGENDA GREATER SUMTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Today, noon, chamber office, 32 E. Calhoun St.

SUMTER COUNTY DEVELOPMENT BOARD Thursday, 7:30 a.m., Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce boardroom, 32 E. Calhoun St.

DAILY PLANNER

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEATHER

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2014

AccuWeather® five-day forecast for Sumter TODAY

TONIGHT

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

A couple of afternoon t-storms

A t-storm in spots this evening

An afternoon t-storm in spots

An afternoon thunderstorm

Clouds and sun, a t-storm; humid

Clouds and sun, a stray t-storm

92°

73°

93° / 72°

96° / 73°

95° / 73°

92° / 74°

Chance of rain: 60%

Chance of rain: 40%

Chance of rain: 40%

Chance of rain: 55%

Chance of rain: 55%

Chance of rain: 50%

Winds: WSW 8-16 mph

Winds: SW 6-12 mph

Winds: WNW 4-8 mph

Winds: SSE 2-4 mph

Winds: S 3-6 mph

Winds: S 4-8 mph

TODAY’S SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER

Gaffney 89/66 Spartanburg 90/65

Greenville 90/64

Columbia 94/70

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

IN THE MOUNTAINS

Sumter 92/73

Aiken 93/68

ON THE COAST

Charleston 93/74

Today: An afternoon shower or thunderstorm. High 88 to 96.

Thursday: Some sun; a couple of thunderstorms in northern parts. High 89 to 94.

LOCAL ALMANAC

LAKE LEVELS

SUMTER THROUGH 4 P.M. YESTERDAY

Today Hi/Lo/W 88/69/pc 75/56/pc 92/74/t 79/59/sh 90/74/t 79/63/pc 89/76/t 84/70/t 94/74/t 86/70/t 106/82/s 69/57/s 89/72/t

SUN AND MOON 7 a.m. yest.

357.98 75.26 75.11 97.54

24-hr chg -0.01 +0.03 -0.03 +0.11

Sunrise 6:12 a.m.

Moonrise 4:58 a.m.

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

trace 2.35" 4.19" 17.92" 23.41" 21.81"

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

Full pool 360 76.8 75.5 100

Lake Murray Marion Moultrie Wateree

88° 73° 89° 68° 101° in 1950 56° in 1972

Precipitation 24 hrs ending 4 p.m. yest.

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

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 91/70/t 76/60/t 91/75/pc 80/61/pc 89/75/t 77/63/pc 88/74/t 84/68/pc 94/75/t 87/69/pc 106/82/s 66/55/pc 88/71/pc

Myrtle Beach 91/75

Manning 93/70

Today: A couple of thunderstorms. Winds west-southwest 7-14 mph.

Thursday: Warm with a stray thunderstorm. Winds light and variable.

Temperature High Low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

Florence 93/70

Bishopville 93/72

Sunset Moonset

8:37 p.m.

7:11 p.m.

New

First

Full

Last

June 27

July 5

July 12

July 18

TIDES

Flood 7 a.m. 24-hr stage yest. chg 12 3.60 -0.18 19 3.14 -1.11 14 2.34 -0.15 14 2.27 -0.22 80 76.31 +0.14 24 4.80 -0.04

AT MYRTLE BEACH

Today Thu.

High 8:20 a.m.

8:46 p.m.

9:07 a.m.

9:29 p.m.

Ht. 2.7 3.4 2.7 3.3

Low Ht. 3:05 a.m. 0.1 3:01 p.m. -0.2 3:52 a.m. 0.1 3:46 p.m. -0.2

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 82/59/t 91/65/c 93/68/t 96/74/t 85/77/pc 93/74/t 88/66/t 90/66/t 94/70/t 94/72/t 88/74/t 93/72/t 92/73/t

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 85/58/t 94/68/t 95/67/t 94/76/t 86/75/t 95/75/t 92/67/t 93/69/t 95/72/t 94/70/t 90/68/t 94/70/t 95/69/t

Today City Hi/Lo/W Florence 93/70/t Gainesville 95/71/t Gastonia 89/66/t Goldsboro 92/71/t Goose Creek 93/73/t Greensboro 88/68/t Greenville 90/64/t Hickory 86/63/t Hilton Head 90/78/t Jacksonville, FL 96/72/pc La Grange 90/67/c Macon 92/67/pc Marietta 87/68/pc

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 94/70/t 92/71/t 92/67/t 93/69/t 94/73/t 90/68/t 92/68/t 90/66/t 90/78/pc 93/72/t 91/67/t 94/68/t 90/69/t

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 86/62/t 92/75/t 91/75/t 92/72/t 92/75/t 90/69/t 91/66/t 93/68/t 95/73/t 90/65/t 90/77/t 92/74/t 86/67/t

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 89/62/t 93/76/pc 91/74/t 93/70/t 92/75/pc 92/66/t 92/67/t 94/67/t 94/73/t 93/69/t 91/77/pc 94/72/t 90/67/t

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

SUMTER CITY-COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION Today, 3 p.m., fourth floor, Sumter Opera House, Council Chambers

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Your “jump to EUGENIA LAST it and do it” attitude will help as long as you don’t expect anyone to keep up with you. Offering to do extra will put you in a good position when it comes to advancement.

Romance is highlighted.

The last word in astrology

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Keep your plans out in the open. You don’t want anyone to accuse you of withholding information. Ask questions if someone is looking for a handout or offering a phony sales pitch. Keep anyone using emotional manipulation at arm’s length.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You’re likely to face delusional situations.

Listen carefully and ask questions if you think you’re being misled.

Offer precise, honest answers. A stalemate will develop if you aren’t willing to compromise. Emotions will be difficult to control.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Don’t make decisions based on hearsay.

Go directly to the source and ask questions to find out exactly what’s going on. Investigate something you would like to pursue before you sign up to do so. Preparation will save you emotionally and financially.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Take action and let everyone see how efficient you are. Your charm and diplomatic way of dealing with controversy will win you points at home and work. Offer physical and intellectual help, but be cautious about promising financial assistance.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Prepare to face opposition. Listen, observe and question until you feel confident you have enough information to make an intelligent decision. Don’t let someone using relentless emotional blackmail coerce you into making a

premature or poor choice.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Don’t waste time. You can make monumental changes that will help you understand and circumvent setbacks. By doing the right thing at the right time, you will overcome any confusion you face along the way. Travel and romance are highlighted.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You can wheel and deal when it comes to investments, but when it comes to affairs of the heart, you are best to guard against emotional manipulation. A spiritual or philosophical lifestyle change will bring positive results.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Play the game of life to win. Your enthusiastic, high-energy approach will capture interest personally and professionally, but don’t make claims that you won’t be able to manufacture. Focus on romantic relationships, home improvements and any youngsters in your life.

LOTTERY NUMBERS PALMETTO CASH 5 TUESDAY

POWERBALL SATURDAY

2-11-17-26-30 PowerUp: 3

5-6-37-41-54 Powerball: 26 Powerplay: 3

PICK 3 TUESDAY

PICK 4 TUESDAY

7-2-2 and 5-2-9

7-9-9-1 and 2-9-1-2

MEGAMILLIONS numbers were unavailable at press time.

PICTURES FROM THE PUBLIC

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Stick close to home and avoid making changes that can disrupt an important relationship. Keep life simple and your expenditures moderate. A challenge may tempt you, but caution should be taken in order to avoid a physical mishap.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Your determination coupled with unique ideas and a good dose of imagination will help you reach your goal. Emotional situations will be enhanced if you make plans to do something special with your family or your lover. Home improvements will pay off.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You may be forced to take action when it comes to misinformation being spread. An emotional situation will be riddled with deception. Protect your heart and your assets.

Someone will try to coerce you into doing something you shouldn’t do.

Donna Green shares photos of some of her beautiful irises.

SECTION

Cavaliers have options with top NBA pick

B

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

B6

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

PREP BASKETBALL

SHS names girls hoops coach Loudenslager to take over Lady Gamecocks program

BY DENNIS BRUNSON dennisb@theitem.com Sumter High School didn’t have to look outside of its hallways to find someone who has been successful as a girls basketball coach at the 4A level as a replacement for Chris Vandevander.

Jason Loudenslager, who won over 100 games and three Region VIII titles in five seasons at Colleton County in Walterboro and has been at SHS the past two seasons, has been hired as the new girls coach.

“I’m excited to be getting this opportunity to PHOTO PROVIDED coach girls basketball again,” said LoudJason Loundenslager, a former Colleton County girls basketball head enslager, who has been both the boys and girls coach with more than 100 wins under his belt, has been named the tennis coach at Sumter for the past two seagirls head coach at Sumter High. Loudenslager led the Lady Cougars sons. “I’ve been away from it for a couple of to three straight region titles from 2007 to 2009, reaching the lower years, and I’ve missed it. I’m impressed with state semifinals in the first two of those seasons. the good, young talent we have throughout the

system.”

Loudenslager was at Colleton County from the 2006-07 season through the ‘10-11 season, compiling a 104-25 record. Colleton County won three straight region titles from ‘07 through ‘09 and reached the lower state semifinals in the first two of those season. The Lady Cougars made the state playoffs each season.

“What I’m most proud of there is the year before I came we finished last in the region, and we won it our first season,” Loudenslager said.

Loudenslager was fired from Colleton County, according to a 2011 story in the Press & Standard newspaper in Walterboro, following his being called into an executive session of the school board. No reason was ever given for Loudenslager’s dismissal, and he chose not to

SEE LOUDENSLAGER, PAGE B3

LEGION BASEBALL

Making right adjustment

MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

Sumter’s Jacob Watcher, left, looks for the call as Dalzell-Shaw second baseman Michal Hoge holds up the ball during the P-15’s 7-1 victory at Riley Park on Tuesday.

Late-inning change in approach, 5 Jets’ throwing errors lead P-15’s to 7-1 victory

BY JUSTIN DRIGGERS jdriggers@theitem.com It took a while for the Sumter P-15’s to catch up to Dalzell-Shaw Post 175 starting pitcher Andrew Wrenn – or more accurately -- to slow down.

The Jets right-hander didn’t have eye-popping velocity, but used his

curveball and both sides of the plate to induce 11 flyball outs through the first seven innings of Tuesday’s American Legion baseball matchup at Riley Park.

“He pitched very well for them,” Sumter head coach Curtis Johnson said of Wrenn. “He knows how to pitch. We were out in front most of the

night and kept popping things up. But we changed our approach a little bit in the eighth and were able to put some pressure on them.”

The P-15’s put the ball on the ground, and the Dalzell-Shaw defense that had been solid all night began to unravel. The Jets committed five throwing errors that allowed six un-

earned runs to cross the plate, and Sumter starter Jacob Watcher took care of the rest in a 7-1 victory.

With the victory, Sumter improved to 15-3 overall and 10-1 in League III, maintaining its 2-game lead over Camden, a 10-3 winner against Hartsville.

SEE SUMTER, PAGE B2

PRO BASKETBALL

PRO GOLF

Don’t cry yet; your team may get King James

Woods says he’s ahead of schedule and without pain

LeBron tells Miami he will become free agent, but still undecided on next move

BY TIM REYNOLDS The Associated Press MIAMI — LeBron James delivered his message loud and clear, without actually saying a word.

He’s willing to leave Miami, if that’s what it will take to win more championships. And what happens next will likely be up to not just the Heat, but Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh as well.

Through his agent, James informed the Heat on Tuesday that he has decided to opt out of the final two years of his contract, a move that means he becomes a free agent on July 1. He will be able to sign with any team, including Miami, and Heat President Pat Riley said he “fully expected” James to take advantage of his early termination option.

“We look forward to sitting down with LeBron and his representatives and talking about our future together,” Riley said.

The Heat have been preparing for this for some time. James, Wade and Bosh all got six-year contracts when they teamed up in Miami in July 2010, the last time free agency was accompanied by the sort of frenzy that will envelop the league over the next few weeks. But each of those deals

SEE JAMES, PAGE B6

BY DOUG FERGUSON The Associated Press

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York Mets fan Darren Meenan holds up a giant cutout of Miami basketball player LeBron James during a game against the Miami Marlins in Miami. James announced on Tuesday he will become a free agent, but has gotten several offers to play for different teams, even in different sports.

BETHESDA, Md. — About two dozen photographers lined up in a row on the range Tuesday at Congressional, a reminder that golf is different when Tiger Woods is around.

And that was before Woods even arrived to hit balls for 35 minutes.

He was last seen WOODS wearing golf shoes on March 9, when he walked gingerly off the golf course at Doral with back pain that had been bothering him off and on since August 2012 and finally reached a point that he chose surgery over playing two majors.

Woods returns at the Quicken Loans National with big hopes and realistic expectations — and with no pain.

Asked for an opening comment on where he is with his recovery, Woods smiled and said, “I’m right here.”

SEE WOODS, PAGE B3

B2

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SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

SPORTS ITEMS

Crosby named NHL MVP Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby won his second Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player Tuesday night at the league’s postseason awards ceremony in Las Vegas.

Crosby also collected the Art Ross Trophy as the league scoring champion and the Ted Lindsay Award as the players’ choice for the NHL’s most outstanding player.

Boston goalie Tuukka Rask won the Vezina Trophy, and Bruins teammate Patrice Bergeron won his second CROSBY Selke Trophy as the NHL’s best defensive forward. Chicago’s Duncan Keith won his second Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman.

Colorado coach Patrick Roy won the Adams Award, while Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon became the youngest player to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie.

JUDGE: HERNANDEZ’S TRIAL SET FOR MAY

BOSTON — A judge on Tuesday scheduled a tentative May trial date for former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez in the 2012 drive-by shootings of two men, and his lawyers asked a judge to issue a gag order because of intense media coverage of the murder case.

Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to killing Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado after a random nightclub encounter.

During a hearing in Suffolk Superior Court, Hernandez’s lawyers asked Judge Jeffrey Locke to issue a gag order prohibiting anyone involved in the case from commenting outside court.

BIG TEN ADVOCATES 4-YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS

The Big Ten said Tuesday that it supports guaranteed four-year scholarships and improved medical coverage for its athletes.

The league announced in a statement signed Tuesday by its 14 presidents that it proposes working within the NCAA structure to provide greater academic security for its athletes by guaranteeing scholarships for four years, even if an athlete can no longer compete or has left for a professional career.

CHARGERS AGREE TO DEAL WITH CB FLOWERS

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Chargers have agreed to a deal with former Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Brandon Flowers.

The team announced the deal Tuesday.

Terms weren’t disclosed.

Kansas City released Flowers earlier this month after three weeks of voluntary workouts during which the former starter was conspicuously absent. Flowers was due to make $5.25 million this season with the Chiefs, and he carried a salary cap number of $10.5 million.

From wire reports

THE SUMTER ITEM

SCOREBOARD TV, RADIO TODAY

7 a.m. – Professional Tennis: Wimbledon Men’s and Women’s SecondtRound Matches from London (ESPN).

11:30 a.m. – International Soccer: FIFA World Cup Group F Match from Salvador, Brazil – Nigeria vs. Argentina (ESPN).

11:30 a.m. – International Soccer: FIFA World Cup Group F Match from Porto Alegre, Brazil – Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Iran (ESPN2).

11:30 a.m. – Professional Tennis: Wimbledon Men’s and Women’s SecondRound Matches from London (ESPNEWS).

2 p.m. – Professional Tennis: Wimbledon Men’s and Women’s SecondRound Matches from London (ESPN2).

2 p.m. – Professional Golf: PGA Professional National Championship Final Round from Myrtle Beach (GOLF).

3 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: St. Louis at Colorado or Washington at Milwaukee (MLB NETWORK).

3:30 p.m. – International Soccer: FIFA World Cup Group E Match from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Ecuador vs. France (ESPN).

3:30 p.m. – International Soccer: FIFA World Cup Group E Match from Manaus, Brazil – Honduras vs. Switzerland (ESPN2).

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

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

8 p.m. -- College Baseball: College World Series Finals Game Three from Omaha, Neb. -- Vanderbilt vs. Virginia (If Necessary) (ESPN).

8 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: Detroit at Texas (ESPN2).

8 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: Atlanta at Houston (SPORTSOUTH, WPUB-FM 102.7).

4:30 a.m. -- Professional Golf: European PGA Tour BMW International Open First Round from Cologne, Germany (GOLF).

MLB STANDINGS

By The Associated Press AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST DIVISION

COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

Vandy beats Virginia 9-8 to open CWS

BY ERIC OLSON The Associated Press OMAHA, Neb. — Virginia held Vanderbilt scoreless for all but one inning.

But boy, what an inning it was.

The Commodores capitalized on Virginia starter Nathan Kirby’s sudden loss of control to score nine runs in the third, then held off the Cavaliers to win 9-8 in Game 1 of the College World Series finals Monday night.

“We’re fortunate to win that game, for sure,” Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin said. “No one could have scripted that particular game, and if anyone said they could, they’re CORBIN lying. I don’t think you could have called a nine-run inning.”

The Commodores (50-20) can win their first national championship in a men’s sport with a win Tuesday night.

“It’s nice to be up 1-0, but that’s not where our mindset is right now,” second baseman Dansby Swanson said. “It’s the same game regardless. You have to go out there, play,

SUMTER FROM PAGE B1 Dalzell-Shaw dropped to 7-11 overall and 5-9 in league play.

The two teams will meet in the series finale today at 7 p.m. at General Field in Dalzell.

Watcher went the distance – the fourth straight Post 15 pitcher to do so – and followed up Taylor McFaddin’s no-hitter with a 7-hit, 8-strikeout performance.

“I thought Jacob commanded the zone all night,” Johnson said. “We’ve had two tremendous efforts from our guys on the mound this week, and if we continue to pitch like that, we’ll be playing for a while.”

It looked as if both teams might play for a while on Tuesday as neither mounted much of an offense and most of the game was spent with the score tied.

Sumter stranded three runners in scoring position in the first two innings before Kemper Patton’s 2-out base hit up the middle drove home Phillip Watcher with the game’s first run in the third.

The Jets tied the game in the top of the fourth on a 2-out RBI single by Shane Bishop that brought home Matt Holloman, who had doubled.

Both teams threatened again in the sixth with a pair of runners in scoring position, but neither side could break through again until the fateful eighth inning.

With one out, Tee Dubose reached first on a single and took second on an errant

compete and just play the tournament like we always talk about. We’re not going out there thinking we’ve only got one more.”

Virginia (52-15) came back after going down by seven runs, scoring three in the third, two in the fifth and another in the eighth. Had it not been for Vanderbilt reliever John Kilichowski getting a cleat on the ball to slow down and redirect a comebacker, saving a run in the eighth, the Cavaliers would have tied it.

“We didn’t really want to fall back and pack it in,” Branden Cogswell said. “We hadn’t done it all year. This is the championship series, and there is no reason to do it now.”

Jared Miller (7-2) got the win for two innings of relief of Walker Buehler. Adam Ravenelle came on in the ninth and earned his second save of the CWS. Tyler Campbell continued his improbable breakout for the Commodores, doubling twice in the third inning. Campbell, who took over for third baseman Xavier Turner on Friday after he was ruled ineligible for an NCAA rules violation, put Vanderbilt up 9-2 with his second double, which came with the bases loaded.

LEAGUE III STANDINGS League Overall Sumter 10 1 .909 - 15 3 .833 Camden 8 3 .727 2 12 5 .706 Hartsville 7 6 .538 4 7 6 .538 Dalzell 5 9 .357 6 ½ 7 11 .389 Manning 5 9 .357 6 ½ 5 11 .313 Cheraw 3 10 .231 8 3 10 .231

MONDAY

Sumter 5, Dalzell-Shaw 0 Manning-Santee 6, Cheraw 3 Manning-Santee 4, Cheraw 0 Hartsville 7, Camden 6

TUESDAY

Sumter 7, Dalzell-Shaw 1 Manning-Santee at Cheraw, ppd.

Camden 10, Hartsville 3

TODAY

Sumter at Dalzell-Shaw, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY

Camden at Hartsville, 7 p.m.

Manning-Santee vs. Potomac Valley, W.Va., in Palmetto Legion Invitational (Legion Field in Florence), 1:30 p.m.

Manning-Santee vs. DuplinSampson, N.C., in Palmetto Legion Invitational (Legion Field in Florence), 4 p.m.

FRIDAY

Sumter vs. Moline, Ill., in Palmetto Legion Invitational (Socastee High School in Myrtle Beach), 5 p.m.

throw. Patton followed with another infield grounder that again missed its mark at first and put runners on second and third with one down.

River Soles followed.

After quickly getting two strikes, he fouled off another pitch and then launched a flyball to right field that scored pinch runner Donnie Brownlee with the go-ahead run.

“That was a big at-bat from River,” Johnson said.

“He’s one of our veteran players and came through in a big spot.”

Three more throwing errors, Chris Crawford stealing home and an RBI double from Javon Martin pushed the lead to 7-1 and closed the book on Wrenn. He went 7 2/3 innings and allowed seven runs, one earned, on 10 hits with one strikeout, no walks and a hit batsman.

SATURDAY

Sumter vs. Wilmington, N.C., in Palmetto Legion Invitational (Socastee High School in Myrtle Beach), 4 p.m.

Sumter vs. Murrells Inlet in Palmetto Legion Invitational (Socastee High School in Myrtle Beach), 7 p.m.

Manning-Santee vs. Whiteville, N.C., in Palmetto Legion Invitational (Conway High School in Conway), 4:30 p.m.

Camden vs. Jacksonville, N.C., in Palmetto Legion Invitational (Legion Field in Florence), 10 a.m.

Camden vs. Garner, N.C., in Palmetto Legion Invitational (Legion Field in Florence), 3 p.m.

SUNDAY

Sumter vs. Georgetown in Palmetto Legion Invitational (Mike Johnson Park in Georgetown), 7 p.m.

Manning-Santee vs. Potomac Valley, W.Va., in Palmetto Legion Invitational (Legion Field in Florence), 1:30 p.m.

Manning-Santee vs. Garner, N.C., in Palmetto Legion Invitational (Legion Field in Florence), 12:30 p.m.

Camden vs. Whiteville, N.C., in Palmetto Legion Invitational (Legion Field in Florence), 5:30 p.m.

“Outstanding performance by Andrew,” Post 175 head coach Steve Campbell said. “That’s the best I’ve ever seen him pitch. He pitched with a lot of courage and pounded the plate for strikes.

“We played solid defense for (seven) innings and in the last inning we had a couple of throws to first that were a little wide. We probably should have come off the bag to make those plays and that’s something we addressed. We just let it get out of hand after that.

But we played very well as a team for most of the game and I’m proud of them for that. We’ll bounce back.”

Bishop and Ron York had two hits apiece to lead the Jets. Phillip Watcher paced the P-15’s with three hits and a run scored while Dubose and Patton each collected two hits.

W Toronto 43 Baltimore 40 New York 39 Boston 35 Tampa Bay 31 CENTRAL DIVISION W Detroit 40 Kansas City 40 Cleveland 37 Minnesota 36 Chicago 35 WEST DIVISION W Oakland 47 Los Angeles 41 Seattle 41 Texas 35 Houston 33

L 35 35 36 42 47

Pct .551 .533 .520 .455 .397

GB – 11/2 21/2 71/2 12

L 32 36 39 38 42

Pct .556 .526 .487 .486 .455

GB – 2 5 5 71/2

L 29 33 36 40 44

Pct .618 .554 .532 .467 .429

GB – 5 61/2 111/2 141/2

MONDAY’S GAMES

Baltimore 6, Chicago White Sox 4 Toronto 8, N.Y. Yankees 3 Pittsburgh 8, Tampa Bay 1 Kansas City 5, L.A. Dodgers 3 Seattle 12, Boston 3

TUESDAY’S GAMES

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

N.Y. Yankees at Toronto, 7:07 p.m.

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

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

Detroit at Texas, 8:05 p.m.

Atlanta at Houston, 8:10 p.m.

L.A. Dodgers at Kansas City, 8:10 p.m.

Cleveland at Arizona, 9:40 p.m.

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

Boston at Seattle, 10:10 p.m.

TODAY’S GAMES

Pittsburgh (Morton 4-8) at Tampa Bay (Price 5-7), 12:10 p.m.

Chicago White Sox (Noesi 2-5) at Baltimore (U.Jimenez 2-8), 7:05 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees (Kuroda 4-5) at Toronto (Hutchison 5-5), 7:07 p.m.

Oakland (Mills 0-0) at N.Y. Mets (Z. Wheeler 3-7), 7:10 p.m.

Detroit (A.Sanchez 4-2) at Texas (J. Saunders 0-3), 8:05 p.m.

Atlanta (A.Wood 5-6) at Houston (McHugh 4-5), 8:10 p.m.

L.A. Dodgers (Haren 7-4) at Kansas City (Shields 8-3), 8:10 p.m.

Cleveland (Kluber 6-5) at Arizona (C. Anderson 5-2), 9:40 p.m.

Minnesota (Pino 0-0) at L.A. Angels (Richards 7-2), 10:05 p.m.

Boston (Doubront 2-4) at Seattle (Iwakuma 5-3), 10:10 p.m.

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST DIVISION Washington Atlanta Miami New York Philadelphia CENTRAL DIVISION Milwaukee St. Louis Cincinnati Pittsburgh Chicago WEST DIVISION San Francisco Los Angeles Colorado San Diego Arizona

W 40 38 38 35 34

L 35 37 38 41 41

Pct .533 .507 .500 .461 .453

GB – 2 21/2 51/2 6

W 47 42 38 38 31

L 31 35 37 38 43

Pct .603 .545 .507 .500 .419

GB – 41/2 71/2 8 14

W 45 42 34 33 32

L 31 36 42 44 47

Pct .592 .538 .447 .429 .405

GB – 4 11 121/2 141/2

MONDAY’S GAMES

Miami 4, Philadelphia 0 Pittsburgh 8, Tampa Bay 1 Cincinnati 6, Chicago Cubs 1 Kansas City 5, L.A. Dodgers 3 Washington 3, Milwaukee 0 St. Louis 8, Colorado 0 San Diego 6, San Francisco 0

TUESDAY’S GAMES

Miami at Philadelphia, 7:05 p.m.

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

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

Cincinnati at Chicago Cubs, 8:05 p.m.

Atlanta at Houston, 8:10 p.m.

L.A. Dodgers at Kansas City, 8:10 p.m.

Washington at Milwaukee, 8:10 p.m.

St. Louis at Colorado, 8:40 p.m.

Cleveland at Arizona, 9:40 p.m.

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

TODAY’S GAMES

Pittsburgh (Morton 4-8) at Tampa Bay (Price 5-7), 12:10 p.m.

Washington (Strasburg 6-5) at Milwaukee (Estrada 6-4), 2:10 p.m.

St. Louis (Gonzales 0-0) at Colorado (Bergman 0-2), 3:10 p.m.

San Diego (Kennedy 5-8) at San Francisco (Lincecum 5-5), 3:45 p.m.

Cincinnati (Latos 0-0) at Chicago Cubs (E.Jackson 5-7), 7:05 p.m.

Miami (H.Alvarez 4-3) at Philadelphia (A.Burnett 5-6), 7:05 p.m.

Oakland (Mills 0-0) at N.Y. Mets (Z. Wheeler 3-7), 7:10 p.m.

Atlanta (A.Wood 5-6) at Houston (McHugh 4-5), 8:10 p.m.

L.A. Dodgers (Haren 7-4) at Kansas City (Shields 8-3), 8:10 p.m.

Cleveland (Kluber 6-5) at Arizona (C. Anderson 5-2), 9:40 p.m.

TENNIS The Associated Press

Wimbledon Results Tuesday At The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club London Purse: $42.5 million (Grand Slam) Surface: Grass-Outdoor Singles Men First Round

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (14), France, def.

Jurgen Melzer, Austria, 6-1, 3-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Stan Wawrinka (5), Switzerland, def.

Joao Sousa, Portugal, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.

Kei Nishikori (10), Japan, def. Kenny de Schepper, France, 6-4, 7-6 (5), 7-5.

Nick Kyrgios, Australia, def. Stephane Robert, France, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (1), 6-7 (6), 6-2.

Lukasz Kubot, Poland, def. Jan-Lennard Struff, Germany, 7-6 (6), 6-4, 6-4.

Santiago Giraldo, Colombia, def. Daniel Gimeno-Traver, Spain, 6-1, 7-5, 6-0.

Yen-hsun Lu, Taiwan, def. Aleksandr Nedovyesov, Kazakhstan, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 1-6, 6-1.

Denis Kudla, United States, def. Marsel Ilhan, Turkey, 7-6 (3), 6-4, 4-6, 7-5.

Sam Querrey, United States, def.

Bradley Klahn, United States, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-1, 7-5.

Lleyton Hewitt, Australia, def. Michal Przysiezny, Poland, 6-2, 6-7 (14), 6-1, 6-4.

Dusan Lajovic, Serbia, def. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (28), Spain, 7-6 (5), 6-2, 3-6, 3-6, 6-3.

Jerzy Janowicz (15), Poland, def.

Somdev Devvarman, India, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

Marcel Granollers (30), Spain, def.

Nicolas Mahut, France, 6-4, 7-6 (6), 6-7 (7), 6-4.

Roger Federer (4), Switzerland, def.

Paolo Lorenzi, Italy, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3.

Richard Gasquet (13), France, def.

James Duckworth, Australia, 6-7 (3), 6-3, 3-6, 6-0, 6-1.

Milos Raonic (8), Canada, def. Matthew Ebden, Australia, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.

Frank Dancevic, Canada, def. Ivo Karlovic (29), Croatia, 6-4, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4).

Lukas Rosol, Czech Republic, def.

Benoit Paire, France, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4.

Mikhail Kukushkin, Kazakhstan, def.

Dudi Sela, Israel, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

Feliciano Lopez (19), Spain, def.

Yuichi Sugita, Japan, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (6), 7-6 (7).

Ante Pavic, Croatia, def. Alejandro Falla, Colombia, 6-4, 6-3, 7-5.

Jiri Vesely, Czech Republic, def. Victor Estrella Burgos, Dominican Republic, 5-1, retired.

Rafael Nadal (2), Spain, def. Martin Klizan, Slovakia, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.

Jack Sock, United States, def. PierreHugues Herbert, France, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 7-6 (5), 6-4.

Gilles Muller, Luxembourg, def. Julien Benneteau, France, 6-4, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5).

John Isner (9), United States, def.

Daniel Smethurst, Britain, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4.

Gael Monfils (24), France, def. Malek Jaziri, Tunisia, 7-6 (5), 7-5, 6-4.

Adrian Mannarino, France, def. Pere Riba, Spain, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4.

Simone Bolelli, Italy, def. Tatsuma Ito, Japan, 7-5, 7-6 (3), 3-6, 7-6 (5).

Philipp Kohlschreiber (22), Germany, def. Igor Sijsling, Netherlands, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.

Jarkko Nieminen, Finland, def. Federico Delbonis, Argentina, 6-3, 7-6 (3), 7-5.

Denis Istomin, Uzbekistan, def. Dmitry Tursunov (32), Russia, 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.

Tommy Robredo (23), Spain, def.

Lukas Lacko, Slovakia, 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Julian Reister, Germany, def. Michael Russell, United States, 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 4-6, 7-5.

Women First Round Andrea Petkovic (20), Germany, def.

Katarzyna Piter, Poland, 6-1, 6-4.

Irina-Camelia Begu, Romania, def.

Virginie Razzano, France, 1-6, 6-4, 7-5.

Alize Cornet (25), France, def. Anna Schmiedlova, Slovakia, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Sabine Lisicki (19), Germany, def.

Julia Glushko, Israel, 6-2, 6-1.

Agnieszka Radwanska (4), Poland, def. Andreea Mitu, Romania, 6-2, 6-1.

Caroline Wozniacki (16), Denmark, def. Shahar Peer, Israel, 6-3, 6-0.

Karolina Pliskova, Czech Republic, def. Karin Knapp, Italy, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 10-8.

Timea Bacsinszky, Switzerland, def.

Sharon Fichman, Canada, 6-1, 6-3.

Caroline Garcia, France, def. Sara Errani (14), Italy, 2-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5.

Varvara Lepchenko, United States, def. Tsvetana Pironkova, Bulgaria, 6-7 (6), 6-2, 6-2.

Madison Keys, United States, def.

Monica Puig, Puerto Rico, 6-3, 6-3.

Heather Watson, Britain, def. Ajla Tomljanovic, Croatia, 6-3, 6-2.

Michelle Larcher de Brito, Portugal, def. Svetlana Kuznetsova (28), Russia, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Belinda Bencic, Switzerland, def.

Magdalena Rybarikova, Slovakia, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Maria Sharapova (5), Russia, def. Samantha Murray, Britain, 6-1, 6-0.

Petra Cetkovska, Czech Republic, def.

Jovana Jaksic, Serbia, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.

Victoria Duval, United States, def.

Sorana Cirstea (29), Romania, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.

Angelique Kerber (9), Germany, def.

Urszula Radwanska, Poland, 6-2, 6-4.

Klara Koukalova (31), Czech Republic, def. Taylor Townsend, United States, 7-5, 6-2.

Eugenie Bouchard (13), Canada, def.

Daniela Hantuchova, Slovakia, 7-5, 7-5.

Serena Williams (1), United States, def. Anna Tatishvili, United States, 6-1, 6-2.

Kaia Kanepi, Estonia, def. Jelena Jankovic (7), Serbia, 6-3, 6-2.

Carla Suarez Navarro (15), Spain, def.

Zhang Shuai, China, 6-1, 6-2.

Lourdes Dominguez Lino, Spain, def.

Petra Martic, Croatia, 6-0, 6-1.

Zheng Jie, China, def. Annika Beck, Germany, 6-1, 6-3.

Yaroslava Shvedova, Kazakhstan, def. Kristyna Pliskova, Czech Republic, 3-6, 6-4, 8-6.

Kirsten Flipkens (24), Belgium, def.

Tamira Paszek, Austria, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2.

Silvia Soler-Espinosa, Spain, def.

Olga Govortsova, Belarus, 6-2, 6-3.

Simona Halep (3), Romania, def. Teliana Pereira, Brazil, 6-2, 6-2.

Alison Riske, United States, def. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (26), Russia, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.

Lesia Tsurenko, Ukraine, def. Dinah Pfizenmaier, Germany, 6-3, 6-0.

Chanelle Scheepers, South Africa, def. Christina McHale, United States, 6-3, 6-3.

Ana Ivanovic (11), Serbia, def. Francesca Schiavone, Italy, 7-6 (6), 6-4.

Camila Giorgi, Italy, def. Alexandra Cadantu, Romania, 6-1, 7-6 (5).

Donna Vekic, Croatia, def. Roberta Vinci (21), Italy, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

Zarina Diyas, Kazakhstan, leads Kristina Mladenovic, France, 7-6 (4), susp., darkness.

Vera Zvonareva, Russia, vs. Tara Moore, Britain, 6-4, 6-7 (3), susp., darkness.

WNBA STANDINGS

By The Associated Press EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlanta Connecticut Indiana Chicago Washington New York

W 9 7 6 6 6 4

L 4 6 6 7 9 10

Pct .692 .538 .500 .462 .400 .286

WESTERN CONFERENCE Phoenix Minnesota San Antonio Tulsa Seattle Los Angeles

W 9 11 7 5 6 4

L 3 4 7 7 9 8

Pct .750 .733 .500 .417 .400 .333

GB – 2 21/2 3 4 51/2 GB 1/2 – 31/2 41/2 5 51/2

TUESDAY’S GAMES

Washington 81, San Antonio 70 Seattle at Los Angeles, 3:30 p.m.

TODAY’S GAMES

Chicago at Connecticut, 7 p.m.

Tulsa at Indiana, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY’S GAMES

Atlanta at San Antonio, 8 p.m.

SPORTS

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

|

B3

PRO TENNIS

Nadal’s grass-court winning streak now at 1

BY HOWARD FENDRICH The Associated Press LONDON — Chasing a shot to his right, Rafael Nadal slipped and tumbled to the Centre Court turf. He popped up, raced across the baseline to get back into the point, and later capped the 14-stroke exchange with a backhand passing winner.

The reason for the two-time Wimbledon champion’s recent inability to play well on grass remains something of a mystery. As far as Nadal was concerned Tuesday, all that mattered was that he dusted himself off and eventually ended a three-match — and sevenset — losing streak on the slick surface.

Overcoming a deficit against a flat-hitting opponent who kept finding lines early, Nadal beat 51st-ranked Martin Klizan of Slovakia 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 to reach the second round. Nadal’s reaction afterward — pumping fists, raising arms aloft, tossing souvenirs to the crowd — was rather over-the-top for a guy who owns 14 Grand Slam titles.

“So happy for the victory. In the end, the match was difficult. After the first set, (it) was even more difficult,” said the Spaniard, who is ranked No. 1 and seeded No. 2 but approached this opening-round encounter with some trepidation. “When you go on court and you lost last year in the first round, the year before in

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rafael Nadal hits a return to Martin Klizan during his 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 victory in the first round of Wimbledon on Tuesday in London. the second round ... (I’m not) going to lie ... it stays in your mind.”

Next for Nadal is a match against the man who beat him in 2012’s second round, Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic.

“He is a very dangerous player; very strong, very powerful at the baseline,” Nadal said.

Other past champions in action on Day 2 advanced, too,

WOODS FROM PAGE B1 “It’s been an interesting road,” Woods said. “This has been quite a tedious little process, but been one where I got to a point where I can play competitive golf again. And it’s pretty exciting.”

Dressed in black, with shoes the company colors of his new endorsement deal (MusclePharm), Woods turned the routine into news. After each booming tee shot, he casually walked forward a few paces, stooped to pick up his tee and to reload for the next shot.

Woods, who had back surgery on March 31, said the British Open was his target all along. He was candid in saying he might not be playing the Quicken Loans National — this is the first year for a new title sponsor — if it did not benefit his foundation.

That’s not to suggest he is coming back too early. Woods said he has been in constant contact with doctors and trainers as he slowly expanded his swing from chipping and putting to irons to wedges, all the way through the bag until he started swinging the driver a few weeks ago. He tried to add 10 yards of distance every couple of days, taking a break and getting

treatment on days it didn’t feel quite right.

When he started putting, he would fill the holes on his practice green with sand to keep from bending over to pluck the ball out of the cup.

When he felt strong enough to play, he said he would ride while standing on the back of the cart to avoid too much sitting.

Woods always has said he doesn’t play if he doesn’t think he can win. That’s still the objective, sprinkled with some reality.

It will have been 109 days without PGA Tour competition when he tees it up Thursday morning with Jordan Spieth and Jason Day. “Expectations don’t change,” Woods said. “That’s the ultimate goal. It’s just that it’s going to be a little bit harder this time. I just haven’t had the amount of prep and reps that I would like. But I’m good enough to play, and I’m going to give it a go.”

The British Open is July 17-20 at Royal Liverpool, where Woods won in 2006 after missing the cut in a major for the first time at the U.S. Open.

It also was his first major since his father died.

LOUDENSLAGER FROM PAGE B1 talk about it other than to say “it came down to a difference of opinion.”

New Sumter athletic director Terrence Scriven is happy to have Loudenslager on board as the new girls coach.

“We were really lucky to have someone so qualified already in the school,” Scriven said. “We had a lot of good candidates in house (in the Sumter School District). It was a tough decision choosing a head coach.”

Loudenslager plans to continue in his roles as the boys and girls tennis coach, saying, “I have a commitment to our tennis program and love my kids.” The Sumter girls have made the state playoffs in both of his years, advancing to the lower state semifinals in ‘12.

Loudenslager will be assisted by former Lakewood boys head coach Ron McBride, who was an assistant this past season for Crestwood, which reached the 3A state title game.

Loudenslager took Sumter

to a team camp last week at the University of South Carolina in Columbia and it went 4-0. “We went over there after having just a couple of small practices, went 4-0 and won each game by double digits against good 4A competition,” he said.

Loudenslager said he likes to play man-to-man defense up and down the court the majority of the time. On offense, he wants to take advantage of his players’ athleticism and push the ball up and down the floor as much as possible.

Vandevander resigned last month after six years at the helm. SHS went 92-45, won outright or shared the Region VI title the last four years, making the state playoffs each year and making at the least the second round three of those years.

“I’m taking over a program that is used to winning,” Loudenslager said. “I guess my job is to maintain that and not let it slip. Coach V did a good job of building the program.”

including Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, all in straight sets.

Last year, when everything around these parts was turned upside down by surprise after surprise, that trio joined Nadal with early exits; Williams was the last of the group standing, and she departed in the fourth round.

Williams needed to cast aside four break points during

a 10-minute first game Tuesday, but after getting that out of the way, breezed to a 6-1, 6-2 win against Anna Tatishvili. Sharapova lost all of one game against British wildcard entry Samantha Murray.

Seven-time champion Federer’s 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 victory dropped Italy’s Paolo Lorenzi to 0-13 for his Grand Slam career, while 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt eliminated Mi-

chal Przysiezny of Poland 6-2, 6-7 (14), 6-1, 6-4.

“This is what I still play for,” said the 33-year-old Hewitt, a former No. 1 now ranked 48th after a series of injury issues. “You do all the hard work to come back and play in places like this. You don’t get sick of coming out here and playing at Wimbledon.”

One seeded man who lost was No. 29 Ivo Karlovic, beaten by Canada’s Frank Dancevic 6-4, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4).

Seeded women on the way out were No. 7 Jelena Jankovic, the 2008 U.S. Open runnerup; No. 28 Svetlana Kuznetsova, a two-time major champion who lost to Michelle Larcher de Brito of Portugal 3-6, 6-3, 6-1; and No. 29 Sorana Cirstea, who was beaten 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 by 18-year-old qualifier Vicky Duval of the United States.

Another U.S. teenager, wild-card entry Taylor Townsend, lost to No. 31 Klara Koukalova of the Czech Republic 7-5, 6-2, but otherwise there was a strong showing by Americans. No. 9 John Isner, Sam Querrey, Jack Sock, Denis Kudla, Madison Keys and Varvara Lepchenko advanced.

For Nadal, everything comes so easily on red clay, and he just added his record ninth trophy at the French Open. But he says grass is a lot tougher on his knees, which have bothered him off and on for years.

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SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

PRO FOOTBALL

WORLD CUP ROUNDUP

Rams’ Sam calls rookie NFL life ‘positive’

Colombia, Costa Rica win groups to advance

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Michael Sam was laughing with teammates during a runningback drill for kids, each youngster stiff-arming and juking his way to a touchdown celebration dance in a makeshift end zone.

On Tuesday, the St. Louis Rams’ defensive end and the league’s first openly gay active SAM player was just another rookie at the NFL’s four-day symposium.

“It’s very positive, it’s very fun,” Sam said. “I’m excited to be playing for the Rams, I’m excited to be in the NFL.” Sam was in town with the other NFC rookies, taking part in a PLAY 60 youth football clinic with local children at the Browns’ training complex.

The full orientation for the players includes presentations and workshops covering a range of topics under four core teaching principles: NFL History, Total Wellness, Professional Experience and Workplace Conduct.

But workplace conduct — that is, experiencing workplace respect and maintaining positive relationships, two main outlined elements — hasn’t been a problem for Sam so far.

Not with his teammates and not among the other rookies.

“You don’t see anyone not talking to him or against him,” said guard Greg Robinson, Sam’s teammate in St. Louis and the second overall pick in April’s draft. “They look at him as a football player.”

That doesn’t mean Sam has to shy away from who he is, though. In a meeting during the symposium, he shared some thoughts on his own life with teammates and rookies from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“Just know someone’s story

before you judge them. That’s pretty much what it comes down to,” said Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Evans.

“He’s a normal guy, just like us. Just here to play football.”

Sam is also quickly becoming known for his sense of humor.

“The Rams love him,” Evans said. “They always joke around with him. He seems like a funloving guy.”

And like any rookie, he is adjusting to the stark contrasts between the college and professional game.

The SEC’s Co-Defensive Player Of The Year last season was taken with the 249th overall pick in the seventh round of the draft. But Sam is working hard to carve out a role on a loaded Rams’ defensive line, led by ends Chris Long and Robert Quinn, who was second in the NFL in sacks last season.

He’s also finding work on special teams.

“It’s every fast. Everything is full speed,” Sam said. “If you make a mistake, it could cost you that win in practice or that win in a game. That one mistake. So you’ve got to pay attention to details.”

As for the details that have followed Sam since he came out to the media in February, they haven’t mattered to most in the league, especially those who have met him.

“He’s just another guy in the locker room,” Robinson said. “He’s really cool once you get to know him, and I feel like he has a great story behind him.”

That story has resulted in a whirlwind year for Sam, without much time to reflect on becoming an NFL player. It’s been a lifelong goal for Sam and others on the field, who were having fun with kids eager to show off their quick feet or sure hands.

AREA SCOREBOARD

athletic department will have a boys basketball camp over the summer.

The boys camp is scheduled for July 8-10.

The camp is open to children who will be entering grades 2-6. It will be held at MHS’ Thames Arena and run from 9 a.m. to noon each day.

The cost is $40.

There will be a cash-only registration available on the first day of the camp from 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. at the camp site.

BASEBALL P-15’S CAMP

The Sumter P-15’s Baseball Camp will be held today through Thursday at Riley Park.

The camp is open to children ages 7-14 and will run from 9 a.m. to noon each day.

The cost is $60 per camper.

Registration will be held on June 23 beginning at 7:45 a.m.

P-15’s coaches and players will run the camp.

For more information, call head coach Curtis Johnson at (803) 464-3972 or go to www.p15.net.

SOCCER YMCA YOUTH CAMP

The Sumter Family YMCA will hold a soccer camp today through Friday.

The camp is open to boys and girls ages 7-12 and will run from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. each day.

The registration fee is $60 for members and $90 for nonmembers who sign up by Thursday. There will be an extra $10 added for those who sign up after Thursday. Also, there is a 1-time $25 camp registration fee.

For more information, call the YMCA at (803) 773-1404 or visit www.ymcasumter.org or www.facebook.com/Sumter/ YMCA. MANNING HIGH CAMP

The Manning High School athletic department will hold a soccer camp over the summer at Manning Junior High School.

A camp for children in grades 4-6 will be held today.

The cost is $40.

There will be a cash-only registration available on the first day of the camps from 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.

BASKETBALL MANNING HIGH CAMP

The Manning High School

DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL

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

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

For more information, contact Smith at (803) 968-6874 or (803) 469-3188.

SUMTER CHRISTIAN CLINICS

Registration is being taken for the Sumter Christian School 2014 Basketball Clinics to be held over the summer.

There are three 5-day sessions remaining at a cost of $45 per camper. A camp for children in grades 3-6 will be held Friday, grades 6-9 July 7-11 and grades 9-12 July 2125. The camps will run each day from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

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

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

FOOTBALL POP WARNER REGISTRATION

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

The last day to register is

CUIABA, Brazil — James Rodriguez delivered a brilliant cameo performance off the bench to inspire Colombia to a 4-1 victory over Japan at the World Cup on Tuesday, helping secure top spot for his team in Group C and eliminating the Asian champions.

COSTA RICA 0 ENGLAND 0

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil — Costa Rica finished first in what many considered the World Cup’s toughest group after a dour 0-0 draw against a secondstring England side Tuesday.

GREECE 2 IVORY COAST 1

FORTALEZA, Brazil — Georgios Samaras scored an injury-time penalty to send Greece into the second round of the World Cup for the first time with a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast on Tuesday, eliminating the Africans in the process.

LAMOUCHI QUITS AFTER EXIT

FORTALEZA, Brazil — Ivory Coast coach Sabri Lamouchi will quit after his squad narrowly missed qualification in the World Cup with an injury-time penalty from Greece.

Lamouchi said he would not seek the renewal of his contract, which ended after the tournament in Brazil.

URUGUAY 1 ITALY 0

NATAL, Brazil — Captain Diego Godin scored in the 81st minute as Uruguay edged 10-man Italy 1-0 Tuesday to reach the second round of the World Cup, al-

July 31 and the registration fee is $80. Payment plans are available.

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

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

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

Volunteers are also needed.

All volunteer applications must be turned in by July 5.

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

OFFICIATING CLASSES

The Santee Wateree Football Officials Association is holding classes for those interested in becoming officials.

Those who pass the course will be able to officiate middle school, junior varsity and varsity games.

Classes will be held each Monday beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Sumter County Parks & Recreation at 155 Haynsworth Street.

The state clinic and examination will be held on July 26.

For more information, contact Granderson James at (803) 968-2391 or at grandersj@ aol.com or Richard Geddings at (803) 468-8858.

MANNING HIGH CAMP

The Manning High School athletic department will have a tennis camp today through Thursday at MHS’ Althea Gibson Tennis Complex.

The camp is open to children who will be entering grades 2-6. The cost is $40.

There will be a cash-only registration available on the first day of the camp.

WRESTLING SHS CAMP

The Gamecock Youth Wrestling Camp will be held July

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Colombia defender Eder Alvarez Balanta, left, heads the ball away from Japan midfielder Toshihiro Aoyama during the first half of Colombia’s 4-1 victory to win Group C in the World Cup at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba, Brazil, on Tuesday. though the victory was overshadowed by a biting incident involving the South American side’s star forward Luis Suarez.

Four-time champion Italy, meanwhile, is heading home after the group phase for the second time in four years.

Godin rose above a crowd of defenders to meet a corner with his left shoulder and veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon had no chance.

Moments earlier, replays showed Suarez apparently bite the shoulder of Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini as

the pair clashed in the Italian penalty area.

PRANDELLI QUITS AS COACH

NATAL, Brazil — Italy coach Cesare Prandelli says he is resigning after his team was eliminated from the World Cup following a 1-0 defeat to Uruguay.

Italy was reduced to 10 men by a red card for midfielder Claudio Marchisio in the second half and Uruguay went on to score the winner in the 81st minute of Tuesday’s Group D match.

From wire reports

7-10 at the Sumter High School mini gymnasium.

The cost of the camp is $30 per student. The camp will run each day from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information or to register, contact SHS wrestling head coach Cody Slaughter at (803) 968-3250.

There will be open registration on the first day of camp as well.

29. Games will begin on Aug. 30 and run through Oct. 25.

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

Volunteers are also needed.

All volunteer applications must be turned in by July 5.

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

ETC.

GOLF

YAS FUNDRAISER

4-PERSON SCRAMBLE

Youth Athletics of Sumter, a division of Pop Warner Little Scholars, will hold YAS Sumter Spartans GALA on Friday at Carolina Skies on Shaw Air Force Base.

The Cost is $30 and includes food, a live band and door prizes. All proceeds benefits YAS’ 2014 football and cheerleading seasons.

For more information, call (803) 464-8453, (803) 201-4531, (803) 720-6242, (813) 786-9265 or (954) 258-6817.

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

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

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

CHEERLEADING POP WARNER REGISTRATION

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

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

The fee includes security, ID badge, use of uniform, use of pom-poms, socks, undergarment and insurance. Parents will be responsible for buying shoes.

The practice season will run from Aug. 1 through Aug.

GOLFERS BIBLE STUDY

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

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

AUTO RACING SPEEDWAY CHAMPS SEARCH

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

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

To provide information, call James Skinner at (803) 7755973 or e-mail Virginia Ayers at vayers@ftc-i.net.

RECRUITING

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

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B5

Charlotte DB Alexander commits to USC

A

strong camp performance earned defensive back Jaire Alexander (5-feet-11-inches, 170 pounds) of Charlotte an offer from the South Carolina football program and a good experience on a visit over the weekend earned the Gamecocks a commitment from the cornerback on Monday.

Alexander had been committed to Charlotte before attending USC’s camp earlier this month. Gamecock secondary coach Grady Brown, who had checked on Alexander in the spring, liked what he saw in person and made the offer. Alexander came back with his parents for a visit on Saturday and that was enough to convince him to accept the offer. He also considered Connecticut, Louisville and Kansas State.

“I liked the sense of urgency, the way Coach Brown offered me after the camp means he liked what he had seen,” Alexander said. “I think I can play early and play big time football. They have a great combination of both. I liked the coaching staff. They really cared about me.”

Alexander played CB last season for the first time. He had 48 tackles, seven interceptions and 13 pass deflections. He feels he showed Brown several positive attributes for playing CB in the Southeastern Conference.

“My size and my length,” Alexander said. “My fluidity in my hips. He likes my recovery speed.”

Alexander also is excited about the chance to play in the SEC after it appeared he was destined for a lesser conference.

“Going from Conference USA to SEC football is a no brainer,” he said. “That was really important. Going to the NFL (National Football League) is important and the SEC can put me in the best position for that.”

Alexander is USC’s 18th commitment for the 2015 class and the third for the secondary.

Another DB who attended the camp over the weekend is planning to make his college decision soon and the Gamecocks are in position to possibly land him as well.

Damon Arnette of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., completed his 3-day trip to USC on Sunday and said he could have a decision this coming week. Arnette brought his parents along on this visit. He also attended USC’s camp earlier this month for a day, but he brought his parents in this time for a closer look. ‘’It went great,” Arnette said of this visit. “I love their system and I think it’s a perfect fit for me.”

Arnette is basically down to the Gamecocks, Kentucky and Ohio State. He has also visited UK and is scheduled to visit Ohio State July 26. ‘”I plan on committing very soon, maybe sometime this week,” Arnette said, “I’m only considering three schools -- USC, Kentucky and Ohio State.”

Arnette did not tip his hand on a favorite. He has enjoyed his two trips to USC, and he was also impressed with what he saw at UK. “I’ve built a really good relationship with (UK head) Coach (Mark) Stoops and (assistant) Coach (Derrick) Ansley,” he said. “Coach Stoops has a great reputation for putting out great DBs. They’re planning on doing some great things up there and they want me to be a part of it.”

Also visiting USC late in the week were DB Jalen Thompson of Mobile, Ala., running back Ty’Son Williams of Crestwood High School, RB Bradrick Shaw of Hoover, Ala., and offensive lineman Jalen Merrick of New Smyrna Beach, Fla. “I loved it,” Thompson said. “I loved the coaches.

The stadium was great and (USC head) Coach (Steve) Spurrier’s talk was the best.”

The Gamecocks were in good shape with Thompson prior to his visit and they remain strong with him. “They

know they’re in my top group,” he said.

UK, Georgia and Miami also have been favorites with him. Thompson plans to visit UK next month. Thompson wants to make a decision around the end of July. Last season, he had 39 tackles, seven INTs, three quarterback sacks and two forced fumbles, while returning four punts for touchdowns.

Williams called his visit to USC “real good. I got a real good detail look into the school.” He also visited North Carolina on Saturday.

Williams made one change to his top five, replacing Clemson with UGA. The Bulldogs join USC, Notre Dame, UNC and Wisconsin on the list. Williams also said he will announce his college decision on Aug. 1. As for any clear cut leader at this point, Williams said it doesn’t exist.

“There is no order,” Williams said. “I’m just trying to make sure everyone gets a look because the order can change frequently.”

His next visit will be to UGA, although a date has yet to be set.

Shaw also visited Mississippi State recently and has the Gamecocks, Bulldogs and Vanderbilt as three of his top schools right now with no leader.

Merrick also enjoyed his time at USC. “Amazing! I was there just about all day and didn’t want to leave,” Merrick said. Merrick has USC among his favorites along with Alabama, Florida, Florida State and Miami.

Defensive end Marquavius Lewis of Hutchinson Junior College in Kansas hasn’t seen much change with his recruiting of late. He feels USC and Auburn are recruiting him the hardest. The Greenwood native recently made an official visit to Arizona State.

Lewis visited USC and Auburn unofficially when he was home last month, and he plans to take some more official visits. He does not have a favorite. Oregon and UK are two new schools to start talking with Lewis, but they have not offered.

Florida Atlantic commitment RB Jordan Scarlett of Fort Lauderdale will try to visit USC within the next couple of weeks. Scarlett also plans to take an official visit to USC in the fall. Scarlett said the Gamecocks have a good chance of getting a future commitment from him.

“It’s an SEC school and that raises the bar,” he said.

“You get to compete against the best.”

Scarlett also is close friends with Gamecock linebacker Skai Moore. Ohio State is the only other school Scarlett plans to visit in the future.

USC OL target Emanuel McGirt of Durham, N.C., committed to UNC. The Gamecocks were in his final four.

OL Greg Little of Allen,

Texas, the son of former USC LB Derrick Little and a ‘16 recruit, committed to Texas A&M. He was just offered by the Gamecocks last week.

USC ‘14 recruit DE Jhaustin Thomas of Atlanta and Trinity Valley JC in Texas will not have the grades to be able to enroll at USC this fall, Thomas’ former high school coach confirmed last week. Thomas originally signed with the Gamecocks in ‘12, but did not qualify for freshman eligibility.

The Gamecocks continue to wait on the qualifying status of defensive lineman Dexter Wideman of Saluda High School. His head coach said earlier this week Wideman is waiting on a final test score to come back and it should be about three weeks before the final result is known.

The Gamecocks did get good news on LB/fullback Joe Blue of Dillon High School. According to Dillon head coach Jackie Hayes, Blue recently got the news he Phil Kornblut was fully qualified.

RECRUITING The news CORNER came too late for him to enroll for the first session of summer school, so he will be enrolling on July 2.

CLEMSON

Clemson recently offered DB Brian Dawkins Jr. (5-7, 158) of Parker, Colo., the son of former Clemson and NFL star safety Brian Dawkins.

Dawkins Jr. attended Clemson’s camp this month and that’s when the offer was made. It’s his first though he’s also drawing the interest of Washington, Colorado, Colorado State, Wyoming, Utah State and Washington State.

The younger Dawkins certainly loves Clemson and was thrilled by the offer, but he’s not ready follow his father’s trail just yet.

“I’ve been praying with my family,” he said. “It’s one step at a time. I’m not rushing anything. I’ll pray about it and leave my options open. I want to evaluate the school more.”

Dawkins added that no one on the staff was bothered when a commitment didn’t come right away. “They told me to take my time and go ahead and pray about it.

They said take it one step at a time and don’t rush it, but the opportunity is there.

They are definitely high on my list because of how familiar I am with the people.”

Dawkins said he will attend camps at Wyoming and Northern Colorado in the coming weeks. Last season, he had 40 tackles and six INTs. He also plays wide receiver.

DE Marques Ford (6-3, 222) of Gibsonton, Fla., has his list down to Clemson, Duke, Rutgers, Central Florida, Tennessee and Miami. His next goal is to narrow his list to three. Ford has visited Rutgers, Duke and Penn State.

He did not name a leader.

DE Trevon Hill of Virginia Beach, Va., visited UNC over the weekend and will visit Virginia this week. He also said he would like to visit ND and FSU before the season begins. And he plans to take an official visit to Clemson this fall.

Clemson has offered athlete Jaason Lewis (6-4, 240) of Virginia Beach. He’s a former UCLA commitment.

CLEMSON AND USC

DL Albert Huggins of Orangeburg-Wilkinson High continues to move at a deliberate pace with his recruiting, and he can do this knowing full well one of his favorites is filling up at his position. Huggins spent a few days at Clemson this month while the camps were going on. Clemson has been one of the schools on Huggins the strongest from the early part of his recruiting and he found his time there last week to be beneficial.

“I got to sit down with the coaches more because I didn’t work out at all,” Huggins said. “I got to sit down with (assistant) Coach (Marion) Hobby, (head) Coach (Dabo) Swinney and (assistant) Coach (Dan) Brooks), and we just had a good talk about life and girlfriends and things like that other than football.”

Huggins said he’s not made up his mind about his future destination. When it was pointed out to him that many in the recruiting world expect him to go to Clemson, Huggins gave a chuckle and said, “We’ll see how it goes.” He said Swinney told him he had one spot left at DE and had a couple of other prospects visiting.

“Hey man, if they commit, you know we can’t take you,” is what Huggins said Swinney told him. “I’m like, ‘Hey coach, I know that, I’m aware of all that, but I need time.

I’ll be graduating mid-year and I need time. I need to pray about this so I need time.” Huggins said he talked to USC about a week ago and told them his plan to take visits out of state to have something to compare with the Gamecocks and Clemson.’ “(USC) assistant) Coach (Deke) Adams said, ‘Hey man, you’ve been up here a lot of times, but we haven’t had the long conversations I want to have,’ ” said Huggins, who added he doesn’t have any immediate plans for a return visit to USC. “I’m going to Georgia in a couple of weeks and see how it is there, and then I’m going to try and go to Florida to see how it is there.”

He also wants to visit FSU and Auburn this summer.

Huggins said he doesn’t have a leader at this point.

WR Darius Slayton of Norcross, Ga., made it to USC for camp this month and said the Gamecocks are moving up his list. “I will say this — I like South Carolina more (after the visit) than I did,” Slayton said.

His other visit this summer has been to Florida. Slayton has not scheduled any other visits for this summer, but does plan to take another trip or two prior to football season. Others on his short list are Clemson, UGA, Auburn, Louisiana State, Ohio State, Alabama and Tennessee.

DE Darian Roseboro of Lincolnton, N.C., plans to visit USC this week. He has the Gamecocks among this final 11 schools as well as Clemson and plans to make a decision the first week of school.

LB Manny Bowen of Barnegat, N.J., committed to PSU on Saturday after a visit. He also had offers from USC and Clemson.

OTHERS

Swansea High School LB Johnathon Sutton (6-0, 223) committed to UNC over the weekend after attending camp there. Sutton missed most of last season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and said earlier this month the Tar Heels never backed off in their interest.

He also sees a chance for early playing time there.

“Their depth chart at linebacker is pretty small,” Sutton said. “I could most likely get some playing time if I go there. It just feels like home, feels like the people here in Swansea. And the coaching staff is good.”

In his sophomore season, Sutton established himself as a major LB prospect by racking up 75 tackles with 21 tackles for loss.

DE Jacob Nelson (6-2, 235), a ‘16 prospect from Ware Shoals High, had 108 tackles and 15 sacks last season. He’s drawing early interest from The Citadel, Presbyterian, North Greenville, Elon and Georgia Southern.

Football and basketball prospect De’Riante Jenkins of Lake Marion High in Santee has transferred to a school in Oldsmar, FL. BASEBALL

The USC baseball team picked up its fifth commitment for the ‘16 class in infielder Carlos Cortes (5-8, 165) of Oviedo, Fla. Cortes can play second base or third base and he’s also a lefthanded pitcher. He also bats from the left side.

Cortes also considered Miami, Florida, FSU and Mississippi. Last season, he batted .325 with two home runs and three doubles. He hit .384 as a freshman with 11 doubles.

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OBITUARIES | SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

JOSEPH E. BRABHAM

AIDAN J. HOFFMASTER

GEORGETOWN — Joseph Eugene “Gene” Brabham, 60, passed away on Saturday, June 21, 2014, in Georgetown.

Mr. Brabham was born in Sumter, a son of the late Robert Franklin and Maude Inez White Brabham. He was the owner and operator of Brabham Co. and he also taught HVAC at Horry Georgetown Tech. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army 101 Airborne; the American Legion; and was of the Methodist faith. He loved fishing, hunting, gardening, woodworking, building furniture, and was a true Civil War buff.

Surviving are his wife, Frances Langley Brabham of the home; daughters, Jennifer (Chad) McCracken of Florence and Sara (Stephen) Stuckey of Nesmith; brother, Robin Brabham; sister, Gail Miles; and grandchildren, Madalyn Kate Stuckey and Maverick Josiah McCraken.

Mr. Brabham was predeceased by a sister, Corinne Lacey.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today in the Morris Funeral Home Chapel in Hemingway. Burial will be held at 2 p.m. at Sumter Cemetery in Sumter.

The family received friends Monday at Morris Funeral Home, 416 N. Main St., Hemingway, SC 29554.

Please sign the guestbook at www.morris-funeralhome. com.

Aidan James Hoffmaster, age 12, beloved son of Robert Bryan Hoffmaster and Betty Denise Williams Hoffmaster, died on Sunday, June 22, 2014, at his residence.

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

DONALD HODGE Donald “Donnie” Hodge, 62, entered into eternal rest on Monday, June 23, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born on June 6, 1952, in Charleston, he was a son of Henry B. and Sena Hodge and the late Bobby Jean Bowen Hodge. He worked at G.R.R. and also served in the U.S. Navy. He loved spending time with his family and going fishing in his spare time. He attended Pinegrove Baptist Church.

Surviving are his wife, Angela “Angie” Hodge of Sumter; his father and stepmother of Walterboro; three daughters, Amanda Hodge (Loren) of Virginia, Amber Davis (Jeremy) and Kelsey Hodge (Louis), both of Sumter; three grandchildren, Hanna and Kinsley Geddings,

and Nolyn Poplin; a brother, Henry B. Hodge Jr. (Gwen) of Sumter; four sisters, Ruth Barwick and Annie Judy (Horace), both of Sumter, Cindy Windham (Carl) of Lamar and Pat Taylor of North Carolina; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Darrell McCoy of Sumter; two stepbrothers, Larry Hill and Richard Glenn Hill, both of Sumter; a stepsister, Brenda Lyles of Oklahoma; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday at Pinegrove Baptist Church with the Rev. Don Riner officiating.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home.

Memorials may be made to Pinegrove Baptist Church, 433 Old Manning Road, Sumter, SC 29150.

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

ALBERT L. CORDES DALZELL — Albert Lewis Cordes, 69, died on Saturday, June 7, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

He was born on April 19, 1945, in Pennsylvania. He was a member of Covenant Baptist Church.

Survivors include special

THE SUMTER ITEM friends, Leo and Debbie Scott of Dalzell, and Dan Prosser of Sumter.

A graveside service will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday in the Scott Family Cemetery in Dalzell.

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

JAMES CANTY James Canty, 57, entered eternal rest on Sunday, June 22, 2014.

He was born on Dec. 8, 1956, in Sumter County, a son of Margaret McFadden Canty and the late Edward Canty Sr. He attended the public schools of Sumter County. He played basketball for Furman High School and was named the most valuable player. He was a member of Friendship Baptist Church in Thomasville, North Carolina, and was employed at Todd Sea Food.

Survivors include two daughters, Jamesha Little and Kaeyasha Little, both of High Point, North Carolina; devoted mother, Margaret McFadden Canty of Sumter; six brothers, Ivory Hickman of Sumter, Edward Canty Jr., Tony Canty, Robert (Albertha) Canty, Henry Canty and John Canty, all of Pinewood; six sisters, Shirley Coullette, Bernice (Alverice) Holland and Marguerit (Thomas)

Thames, all of Pinewood, Linda Canty of Sumter, Viola Canty of Lake City and Felicia (Patrick) Shannon of Columbia; a host of other relatives and friends.

Public viewing for Mr. Canty will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday in the chapel of Community Funeral Home with Evangelist Susan Burgess. Burial will follow in St. John Baptist Church Cemetery, Pinewood.

The family is receiving visitors at the home of his mother, 1105 S. Hampton St., Pinewood.

Online memorials can be e-mailed to comfhltj@sc. rr.com.

Community Funeral Home of Sumter is in charge of these arrangements.

DAVID J. FORSMAN David Jonathan Forsman, age 58, beloved husband of Cheryl Biondy Forsman, died on Monday, June 23, 2014, at McLeod Regional Medical Center.

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

It’s your world.

Read all about it.

PRO BASKETBALL

Cavaliers mull over options with No. 1 draft pick

BY TOM WITHERS The Associated Press CLEVELAND— The Cavaliers have had plenty of practice picking first in the NBA draft.

That doesn’t mean they’ve gotten better at it.

For the second straight year, third time in four years and fourth time since 2003 — when they selected a high school phenom named LeBron James — the Cavs own the No. 1 overall selection. On Thursday night, the Cavs, who only chose new coach David Blatt last week, will once again be the first team on the clock.

They’ve been lucky. Now, they need to be good.

Cleveland is expected to select either Duke forward Jabari Parker or Kansas forward Andrew Wiggins, considered a pair of can’t-miss prospects who could help push the Cavs back to respectability. Either of them could also make their roster more appealing in case James, who opted out of his Miami Heat contract on Tues-

JAMES FROM PAGE B1 came with options to leave either this summer or in 2015, in part to allow both the players and the team to have financial flexibility.

James — who averaged 27.1 points this past season — was owed $42.7 million for the next two seasons, though that seems irrelevant in the sense that he’ll be getting plenty of money from the Heat or someone else for years to come. If he stays with Miami, he could sign a deal that would give the team room to maneuver within the structures of the salary cap and luxury-tax threshold.

So could Wade and Bosh, if they choose to opt out as well — and if both do, Miami would potentially have plenty of cash to spend on roster upgrades. Neither has announced their plans.

“No news here yet,” Wade said Tuesday.

James stayed silent as well, with agent Rich Paul being the one who informed the Heat of the four-time NBA MVP’s plan. But last week, while still dealing with the sting of losing the NBA Finals to San Antonio, James expressed how enticing the idea of flexibility is to him.

“Being able to have flexibility as a professional, anyone, that’s what we all would like,” James said last week.

“That’s in any sport, for a

day, is thinking about bringing his talents back to his native Ohio after four years — and four straight trips to the finals.

James’ decision to hit the free-agent market has Cleve-

land, and nearly every other NBA team, re-evaluating draft plans. The Cavs are in an interesting predicament: They could overhaul their roster by trading star guard Kyrie Irving or another start-

er two to create salary-cap space for James and to possibly land another All-Star, but then risk having James break their hearts again and sign elsewhere; They also could make a play for Minnesota’s Kevin Love.

One thing is certain, the Cavs have several options at No. 1.

They could work a trade to acquire players or picks. It’s possible the Cavs are still intrigued enough with Kansas center Joel Embiid, who recently underwent foot surgery and is expected to be sidelined for six months, to strike a deal, move out of the top spot and select the 7-footer.

Embiid may be raw, but some believe he’s also rare, too rare to pass up.

“I still think Joel Embiid, the big guy, is the best prospect in this draft,” ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said. “I understand the reticence because of his recent injury, but I would have to have a medical team tell me, ‘Don’t take this guy, this is a bad medical risk’ for me to say no to him.”

football player, a baseball player, a basketball player, to have flexibility and be able to control your future or your present. I have a position to be able to do that. ... There’s a lot of times that you’re not in control of your future as a professional.”

He’s in control now. He turns 30 next season. He might just be entering his prime.

And while opting out was largely expected, the ripple effect of James’ move was seen all over the sports world.

The NFL, on its Twitter account, posted a photo of James dunking a football over the crossbar at the stadium his beloved Dallas Cowboys call home, light-heartedly asking him if he wanted to pass some time in a training camp while making his decision. And U.S. Soccer, also in a tweet, said it has a new team for him — then attached a photo of men’s national team jersey bearing James’ name and No. 6.

Even hockey got into the act.

“You know, you’d be 6-10 on skates,” someone posted to the Carolina Hurricanes’ Twitter account, in a message to James.

For now, all that seems certain is James sticking to basketball. What team, that’s now up for debate.

He’s been with the Heat four seasons, been to the NBA Finals in each of those years, winning two championships and winning more games than any other team over that span.

2014 NBA DRAFT ORDER The Associated Press Thursday At Barclays Center, Brooklyn, N.Y. First Round 1. Cleveland 2. Milwaukee 3. Philadelphia 4. Orlando 5. Utah 6. Boston 7. L.A. Lakers 8. Sacramento 9. Charlotte (from Detroit) 10. Philadelphia (from New Orleans) 11. Denver 12. Orlando (from New York via Denver) 13. Minnesota 14. Phoenix 15. Atlanta 16. Chicago (from Charlotte) 17. Boston (from Brooklyn) 18. Phoenix (from Washington) 19. Chicago 20. Toronto 21. Oklahoma City (from Dallas via Houston and L.A. Lakers) 22. Memphis 23. Utah (from Golden State) 24. Charlotte (from Portland) 25. Houston 26. Miami 27. Phoenix (from Indiana) 28. L.A. Clippers 29. Oklahoma City 30. San Antonio

Second Round 31. Milwaukee 32. Philadelphia 33. Cleveland (from Orlando) 34. Dallas (from Boston) 35. Utah 36. Milwaukee (from L.A. Lakers via Minnesota and Phoenix) 37. Toronto (from Sacramento) 38. Detroit 39. Philadelphia (from Cleveland) 40. Minnesota (from New Orleans) 41. Denver 42. Houston (from New York) 43. Atlanta 44. Minnesota 45. Charlotte 46. Washington 47. Philadelphia (from Brooklyn via Dallas and Boston) 48. Milwaukee (from Toronto via Phoenix) 49. Chicago 50. Phoenix 51. Dallas 52. Philadelphia (from Memphis via Cleveland) 53. Minnesota (from Golden State) 54. Philadelphia (from Houston via Milwaukee) 55. Miami 56. Denver (from Portland) 57. Indiana 58. San Antonio (from L.A. Clippers via New Orleans) 59. Toronto (from Oklahoma City via New York) 60. San Antonio

Call (803) 774-1200 and get started today.

CLASSIFIEDS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

THE ITEM

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803-774-1234

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

CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS Card of Thanks

For Sale or Trade

Help Wanted Part-Time

Ricky's Tree Service Tree removal, stump grinding, Lic & ins, free quote, 803-435-2223 or cell 803-460-8747.

Two Cemetery Plots in Evergreen Memorial $4,000 for both.

Call 481-5856

Thomas Sumter Academy, in Rembert, SC is seeking applicants for part-time school bus drivers.

Requirements are: a CDL license and a copy of your driving record for the last ten years. Please send this information along with a resume to: Susan.hux@thomassumter.org.

Dogs Weimaraner pups, AKC, dewclaws & tail docked. Ready for homes. $350 ea. 803-960-1050.

Pets German Shepard puppies (4) F, (2) M. No papers, $150. Call 803-316-1887

MERCHANDISE

BUSINESS SERVICES Business Services JunkYard Dog Trash & Junk Removal-Free Estimates Call Will 443-225-9888 Land clearing on site mulching, tree and brush grinding, Free estimates. David 803-972-1090

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

Auctions Real Estate Auction SELLS TODAY Nominal Opening Bid: $10,000 Sumter, SC 2354 Crossfield Rd. 3 BR 2 BA 2,000+/-sf Property sits on 2 lots totaling .76+/- ac with mature trees.

Fenced backyard with 2 storage bldgs.

Auctions: 10:15 am Wed June 25

Bid live from anywhere at auctionnetwork.com 800.3982.0425 williamsauction.com Daniel S. Nelson Re Lic 78034 Thomas Barnes Auc Lic 3848 5% buyers Premium

Farm Products BLUEBERRIES U pick $10 Gal. I pick $15 GAl 843-992-4913 or 843-659-4895 Okra & cucumbers for sale, Picked daily Call 803-840-1636

Lawn Service

Cooper's Lawn Care General lawn maintenance! Lic. & ins.

Price starts at $30. 803-565-1894

Four Seasons Lawn Care Serving Sumter for almost 20 yrs!

Free est. 494-9169/468-4008

Roofing All Types of Roofing & Repairs All work guaranteed. 30 yrs exp.

SC lic. Virgil Bickley 803-316-4734.

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

Comm/Res 30 yr warr 290-6152 Robert's Metal Roofing 35 Years Experience. 18 colors & 45 year warranty. Financing available. Long list of satisfied customers. Call 803-837-1549.

Tree Service NEWMAN'S TREE SERVICE Tree removal , trimming & stump grinding. Lic & Ins.

803-316-0128

STATE TREE SERVICE Worker's Comp & General liability insurance. Top quality service, lowest prices. 803-494-5175 or 803-491-5154 www.statetree.net

2011 Kioti 30HP 4wd Tractor with loader, backhoe. $19,500. Call 803-795-9166 Kenmore 25 Cu. fridge Side by side w Ice & water dispen. $200 OBO 803 795-9872 Expert Tech, New & used heat pumps & A/C. Will install/repair, warranty; Compressor & labor $600. Call 803-968-9549 or 843-992-2364

EMPLOYMENT Help Wanted Full-Time

Treehouse Nursery 3 gal. perennial Hibiscus & Roses $10 special 499-7601 Annual Sale Palmetto Cornish Chickens $12.00/box (12 birds a box) Palmetto Farm Supply 335 Broad St. Sumter, SC 29150 On Sale starting June 21, 2014 through July 4th While supplies last.

Garage, Yard & Estate Sales LARGE GARAGE SALE 1st & 3rd Weekend Tables $2 FLEA MARKET BY SHAW AFB

Open every weekend.

905-4242

FT MAINTENANCE PERSON needed for a senior apartment community in Sumter. Qualified candidate must have their own tools, valid driver's license, be motivated, organized and results oriented. Painting and cleaning involved. Our company offers competitive salary and benefits.

Must pass criminal check and drug screening. Applications may be picked up at 60 Hillard Drive, Sumter, SC or call 803-934-1449 for information

Exp. Shingle Nailers & Carpenters Must have own transportation. Only experienced need to apply. Call 481-0603 or 968-2459.

No calls after 5!!!

Experienced Shingle Nailers .

Must have own transportation & tools. 803-565-0893 Bubba CDL driver needed to haul sod.

Home nights and weekends.

Good driving record required.

Serious Inquiries only call 803-410-6246.

Driver Needed Palmetto Gas Co. Good pay and benefits. CDL Class A. Haz and tanker preferred. Good Driving record, home every night. Contact Pat Joyner 803-775-1002 or 803-840-5337 Full-time HVAC Tech & HVAC Installer wanted for busy Heating & Cooling Co. in Sumter. Minimum 5 yrs exp. & strong job references required. Paid holidays vacations.

Please call 803-968-2272 Exp. Carpet, Sheet Vinyl & VCT Installer needed for busy carpet company. Apply in person at M & M Carpets Inc, 1285 Peach Orchard Rd, (Hwy 441) Sumter.

LAWNS STARTING @ $25 Call Carlos 803 406-5075

JT's Lawn Care Tree Removal, Purchase Pressure Washing Free Sidewalks, Senior Disc. Call 840-0322

We will be happy to change your ad if an error is made; however we are not responsible for errors after the first run day. We shall not be liable for any loss or expense that results from the printing or omission of an advertisement. We reserve the right to edit, refuse or cancel any ad at any time.

Tree Service

PETS & ANIMALS

Sarah Margaret McBride We appreciate your kindness and prayers. Continue to pray for our strength in the Lord. Thank you for your understanding, love & support during our time of bereavement. May God Bless & keep you.

The Smith & McBride Families

CLASSIFIED DEADLINES 11:30 a.m. the day before for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday edition.

9:30 a.m. Friday for Saturday’s edition 11:30 a.m. Friday for Sunday’s edition.

Experienced HVAC service technician needed. Valid drivers license required and drug test required.

Benefits available.

Please send resumes to: sheastone80@gmail.com Kennel help & Receptionist needed. Apply in person at 87 Market St. Total Pet Care.

Looking for Full-time Assistant Manager. Competitive pay, benefits. No experience needed. Great career opportunity. Apply in person at 103 S. Brook St. Manning, SC. (4) P/T Class-A CDL drivers needed to haul poultry. Night Shift.

Must have 2yrs verifiable exp & good MVR. Call Danny 803-236-0682.

Salesman for busy car lot.

Sales experience required. Salary negotiable. Apply in person at 1282 N Lafayette Dr Sumter. No phone calls.

Mobile Home Rentals

Need help with your Golf Game?

Want to learn how to catch the BIG one at the lake? Can help you lower your golf scores. Show you a variety of fishing techniques to catch more and bigger fish.

Beginners welcomed. Call Mark 803-464-6854 or 803-469-0534

Oaklawn MHP: 2 BR M.H.'s, water/sewer/garbage pk-up incl'd.

RV parking avail. Call 494-8350

Work Wanted I'm Available to clean your home.

Affordable, reliable 16 yrs exp ref's. Melissa 803-938-5204 I will sit with elderly or sick. Will provide ref/exp. Call 803-236-3603 for more info.

RENTALS Unfurnished Apartments

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

1BR Apt, LR, kitchen w/ all appliances. Parking in fenced yard w/ screen porch. 540-209-2678

Medical Help Wanted

Spacious Fully Renovated 1Br /1Ba Apt. Appl. inc. W/D hookup $300/mo + sec dep. 775-7895 after 5pm.

Fast-paced optometric office is hiring a receptionist; the ideal candidate will have excellent time management skills, be detail oriented, efficient at multi-tasking, and have the ability to meet with patients in a professional and friendly manner. Primary duties include speaking with patients on the phone, scheduling patient exams and appointments, greeting patients and other business associates, and providing a variety of front desk administrative duties. Would like to hire someone with experience, but are willing to train someone with good customer service skills and willingness to learn. Must have good computer skills. Must me interested in cross-training to other optical tasks as needed in the office.

Send resume to Office Manager, 127 Broad Street, Sumter SC 29150, or email to ScheeleEyeClinic@sc.rr.com.

RN's And LPN'S needed for 2nd & 3rd shifts. Long term care experience preferred but will train.

Apply in person at 1761 Pinewood Rd Sumter, SC 29154 Or email resume to roberta.smith@adcarehealth.com Paid vacations & Holidays. Only Serious inquirers need to apply.

Busy optometric office is looking for an experienced Optician to join our team. The ideal candidate will have the ability to sell and service eyeglasses with a commitment to provide excellent customer service. Primary responsibilities include assisting and education patients with the selections of eyeglass frames, lenses and lens enhancements, placing orders to maintain inventory, dispensing, and repairs and adjusts of eyeglasses. Qualified candidates will have at least three years experience working in an optometric office, two years experience in a similar position, with excellent computer skills. Send resume to Office Manager, 127 Broad Street Sumter, SC 29150 or email us at ScheeleEyeClinic@sc.rr.com.

313 Pear St Sat 6:30-? clothing , furniture, jewelry, ETC....

For Sale or Trade Dewalt 12 in miter saw & stand $500, 7 1/4 saw $75, Phillips 32 in.TV $100 Call 316-6890

I’ve never seen so many cars and people!

What do you think is going on over there?

Well, I was told she’s having one of those ‘Garage Sales.’

Can you imagine?!

Minnie told me she made over $100 last time she had one... Just by placing a Classified Ad in

Do you think we should have one and place an ad?

It sure would help with Spring Cleaning!

Schools / Instructional

20 N. Magnolia St. Sumter, SC 803.774.1234 www.theitem.com

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

775-0575 Studio/1 Bedroom apartments available EHO

WE'VE MOVED Vestco Southland, Palmetto Properties & Lafayette Gold and Silver 480 E. Liberty Street (Inside the Coca-Cola bldg).

We buy Gold, Silver, Jewelry, Silver Coins/Collections, Sterling, Diamonds, Pocket & Wrist Watches. Business Hours Mon-Fri 8:30AM-5:30PM, Sat 8AM-2PM. 803-773-8022

GOING FAST 2 & 3BR 2BA Homes available immediately! Site rent as low as $180. Refer a friend & get $100. For more info please call 803-469-8515 or visit us at www.mhcomm.com.

STATEBURG COURTYARD 2 & 3 BRs 803-494-4015

Resort Rentals Ocean Lakes 2BR/2BA C/H/A Sleeps 8, near ocean, Also available 6/28-7/5 Call 803-773-2438

Vacation Rentals

Unfurnished Homes

Santee/Lake Marion: Sandy 200 ft beach, 3BR, dock, sleeps 6-7.

Disc. for military. 803-492-3077

Country brick home, 3BR/2BA, stove, frig., D/W, FP, dinette, For. Dining, den, 2+ ac. 469-2738.

Office Rentals

Concord Township - Remodeled: 3 Br, 2 full ba, approx. 1.5 ac. paved drive, 2800 sq ft. stainless steel appliances, U/G pool, basketball court, $800 mo.

843-879-3926 before 8pm

Mobile Home Rentals (Scenic Lake) 3BR 2BA 16x80.

No pets Call 803-499-1500. From 9am- 5pm American MHP, 2 & 3/BRs, lot rentals, water/sewer/garbage pkup inc'd. Sec. 8 ok. 803-494-4300.

3BR/2BA on Plowden Mill Rd out of Manning. $650/mo + $650/dep.

803-473-3301

Retail, Office & Executive Suite rental space available. Busiest corner-intersection in Santee SC. Call today 803-515-3938 Professional Office Space 1500 Sq ft, 6 Offices 2 Baths, Reception area, Kitchen $650 Mo + Sec dep. Call 803-968-0689 or 803-972-1090

Business Rentals Create your own business approx. 35,000 sq ft. $2500/mo. indoor racing go cart track for rent. 7 racing go carts for sale $1,000 ea Bobby Sisson 464-2730

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CLASSIFIEDS

THE ITEM

TRANSPORTATION

Commercial Rentals Building for rent could use for Church or other. Near Manning on Silver Rd. 803-473-3301

A Guaranteed Credit Approval AUTO LOANS

Manufactured Housing

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

KEN-CO HOMES SCOTBILT D.W. $49,900 843-394-2613, myken-co.net 1981 Singlewide Fixer-upper for sale. $500 OBO. Call 803-469-3222 Looking for your DREAM HOME? LOW CREDIT SCORE? Been turned down for bad credit?

Come try us, we do our own financing. We have 3-4-5 bedroom homes. Layaway program available. For more information, call 843-389-4215.

(4) Mobile home in Windsor City.

All occupied. $1,780 per month income. $25,000 CASH or Buy any number. Call for info. 469-6978

Mobile Home Lots Off Pinewood Rd: Almost an acre lot with well & septic tank, $5,900. Call 404-895-3972

1997 Ford Chip Dump Truck F800 with air brakes runs/fair condition. $3,500 OBO. Call 481-4389 ask for ED

Land & Lots for Sale Dalzell 16.57 acre paved. $2425 dn. $580 mo. 120 mos. $2500 Ac. 888-774-5720.

Min. Walmart/Shaw +/- 1 Acre.

Septic, cleared, $2,900 Dn. $216 mo. 60 mos. 888-774-5720

2002 Ford Taurus SES, 4 dr, cold air, good paint, CD, very reliable car, $2800 cash. Call for more info 494-9264.

Miscellaneous

RECREATION

The Santee Wateree Regional Transportation Authority (SWRTA) agrees to a policy of nondiscrimination in the award and administration of United States Department of Transportation ("USDOT") assisted contracts in its Federal Transit Administration assistance program.

The SWRTA has established a tailored disadvantaged business enterprises ("DBE") program, in accordance with applicable law, for the purpose of (a) creating a level playing field on which DBE's can compete fairly for USDOT assisted contracts, (b) ensuring that only firms that fully meet the eligibility standards are permitted to participate as DBE's, (c) helping to remove barriers to the participation of DBE's in USDOT assisted contracts, (d) assisting the development of firms that can compete successfully in the marketplace outside the DBE program, and (e) providing appropriate flexibility to contracts and subcontractors in establishing and providing opportunities for DBE's.

Furthermore, the Santee Wateree RTA, its contractors and subcontractors shall not discriminate on the bases of race, color, national origin and sex in the award and performance of USDOT assisted contracts or in the administration of its DBE program or the requirements of 49 CFR Part 26.

The Santee Wateree RTA shall take all necessary and reasonable steps under 49 CFR Part 26 to implement this policy with its contractors and subcontractors.

This policy statement shall be circulated throughout the SWRTA and to the DBE and non-DBE communities that perform work on the SWRTA's USDOT assisted contracts.

There will be a public meeting regarding the SWRTA's DBE Goals on Thursday, June 26, 2014 at 6:00p.m. in the James McCain Board Room of the Santee Wateree Regional Transportation Authority Building located at 129 S. Harvin Street, Sumter, South Carolina.

Campers / RV's/ Motorhomes 2006 Freedom Spirit tow camper 25ftw/ slide out, sl 8 w/private MBR, 10,000lbs. $5,500 OBO. Runs good 481-4389 ask ED 2010 Travel trailer, Cherokee 26RL, sleeps 6, set up in park near Shaw AFB. Value $17,800, asking $13,500. Sears LTD 1000 lawn tractor, completely rebuilt, $600. Call 315-272-7118

Legal Notice

Lottie Jones Santee Wateree RTA Executive Director

Reconditioned batteries $35. Also have lawn mower, truck, 4 wheeler, golf cart & marine batteries, starters & alternators.

Car dealers/garages ask about special prices. Auto Electric Co. 803-773-4381

Need Cash?

Classifieds - your best deal for making a few bucks on things you no longer need!

Call 774-1234 today!

Classified

Legal Notice Public Storage /PS Orangeco, Inc. LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY Notice is hereby given that the undersigned will sell to satisfy the lien of owner at public sale by competitive bidding on July 10th, 2014 personal and/or business property including but not limited to furniture, clothing, tools and other household/business items located at the properties listed.

The sale will begin at 1:00 pm at 1277 Camden Hwy, Sumter, SC 29153.

The personal goods stored therein by below named occupant(s);

Legal Notice

LEGAL NOTICES

0422 - Hilton, Omar 0814 - Lewis, Mary Anthony 0835 - Stuckey, Sheila B

DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (DBE) PROGRAM POLICY STATEMENT

Autos For Sale

REAL ESTATE

Public Hearing

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

1143 N.Guignard Dr, Sumter, SC 29150 106 - Lawson-Prince, Fredrica 132 - Gooden, Tanya 222 - Winkler, Princess 301 - Willis, Joseph 310 - Pugh, Antoin 316 - Spann, Amanda 332 - Clyburn, Terentia 457 - Rodriquez, Michelle 501 - Iler, John 511 - Witherspoon, Tamalia 516 - Witherspoon, Tamalia 532 - Scott, Antonio 536 - Spann, Jequillar 718 - Smith-Owens, Tracy 748 - Segars, Yvette 1277 Camden Hwy, Sumter, SC 29153 A002 - Morrison, Marchelle A037 - Dennis, Wanda B073 - Wright, Tyrone B074 - Mcduffie, Denisha B084 - Wells, Clint C029 - Gordon, April C043 - Cowell, Francena C051 - Holmes, Latimore C059 - Starnes, Lateka C065 - Lomax, Dennis C071 - Mock, Denise D017 - Gaymon, Latoya F001 - Mcduffie, Patricia F002 - Singletary, Shirley F005 - Grimes, Lakeishia F010 - Dingle, Laurestina F015 - Parker, Antonie F023 - Hodge, Christina F026 - Newman, Tameka G013 - Mouzon, Bertha G037 - Habersham, Verna G039 - Senyckyj, Marilyn I015 - Phillips, Eric K003 - Dais, Thomas K004 - Amos, Sara 3785 Broad St, Sumter, SC 29154 0113 - Williams, Carl 0124 - Jones, Melvin Leroy 0141 - Rogers, Laqueshia 0246 - Lovely, Addie 0316 - Cruz, Allen

Purchase must be made with cash only and paid for at the time of sale.

All goods are sold as is and must be removed at the time of the sale. Sale is subject to adjournment.

Summons & Notice SUMMONS IN THE PROBATE COURT CASE NO.: 2002ES4300172 STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER ANN AUGUST, PETITIONER v.

WILLIE MAE CALLOWAY, THEOLA RICHARDSON, ROSA LEE DIGGS, WILLIAM DAWSON AND WALLACE DAWSON, JR AND ANY UNKNOWN HEIRS OF THE ESTATE OF WALLACE DAWSON, SR.,

Summons & Notice

was filed with the Clarendon County Summary Court on the 16th day of September, 2009. The Guardian ad Litem for any unknown heirs of the Estate of Wallace Dawson, Sr. in this matter is Willie H. Brunson, Esquire, The Weeks Law Office, 35 S. Sumter Street, Post Office Box 370, Sumter, South Carolina.

Garryl L. Deas, Esquire The Deas Law Firm, LLC 201 North Main Street Post Office Box 1211 Sumter, South Carolina 29151 (803) 775-7004 Attorney for the Plaintiff

RESPONDENTS, TO: THE RESPONDENTS ABOVE-NAMED: YOU ARE HEREBY summoned and required to answer the Petition to Determine Heirs in this action which was filed in the Office of the Probate Court for Sumter County, South Carolina, and to serve a copy of your Answer upon the subscriber at 201 N. Main Street, Sumter, SC 29150 within THIRTY (30) days after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service. If you fail to answer the Petition within that time, the relief requested therein will be granted.

NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT ABOVE NAMED: TAKE NOTICE that the Summons in the above mentioned action, together with the Complaint,

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Bobbi Adams of Bishopville, a longtime member of the guild, has exhibited her work nationally and internationally.

Sumter artist David Sanders works in many media, including sculpture. His work is in many private and public collections.

Brad Williams entered this beach scene in the guild show.

Local artists show their best Sumter Artists’ Guild opens exhibition

BY IVY MOORE ivym@theitem.com (803) 774-1221

O

ne of the most highly anticipated exhibitions of the year, the 2014 Sumter Artists’ Guild Show, opens with a 5:50 to 7:30 p.m.

Thursday reception at the Sumter County Gallery of Art. It offers the opportunity to see art by a large number of artists working in the Sumter area.

Gallery director Karen Watson said the many gifted guild artists work in many different media.

“The annual Sumter Artists’ Guild show provides an excellent opportunity for guild members to show their work in a formal exhibition setting,” she said. “Guild members working in visual arts or craft use a wide range of media including but not limited to: oils, watermedia, sculpture, mixed media, natural material such as gourds, fiber arts and ceramics.”

Guild artists are also very active under their president, Carole Carberry, Watson noted.

“The guild actively participates in several community events including the 2014 Iris Festival, and the upcoming The Heart of Sumter’s ‘Art in the Park’ in October in Memorial Park,” she said. “People can also find the work of many guild artists at the Elephant Ear Gallery on Bultman Drive.”

The guild is approaching its 50th anniversary.

Founded in 1966 by some of Sumter’s most prominent artists of that time, the membership includes amateur and professional artists and art enthusiasts, as well. Its mission is “to promote, support and foster interest in art and to create an opportunity for our community of artists to engage in cooperative artistic enterprises and to be further active in supporting a variety of activities associated with art education, art instruction and art appreciation in our community.”

Because the guild offers membership to art lovers, their fun and informative meetings benefit artists and non-artists alike.

These “include a variety of speakers, demonstrations by artists and ‘show and tell,’ where guild members bring their pieces in for comments and critique,” Watson said.

“You can keep up to date with guild happenings by following the Sumter Artists’ Guild Facebook page.”

In August of 1966, the guild held its first exhibition in the basement of the Sumter County Courthouse.

Sumter Artists’ Guild Show Sumter County Gallery of Art 200 Hasel St. Thursday through Aug. 29 Opening reception: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Thursday Admission to reception only: Gallery members free/$5 non-members Admission at all other times is free.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday Closed on Sundays through Aug. 10 (803) 775-0543

The guild was instrumental in founding the Sumter County Gallery of Art, after members had sponsored exhibitions at several locations around town. When artist Elizabeth White died, her house on North Main Street was transformed into an art gallery that opened in 1979.

Forty-eight years later, “The 2014 Sumter Artists Guild Show, like last year’s, is on track to be a wonderful show as many ‘new’ artists are joining the guild,” Watson said. “This influx of work by new artists, coupled with the high quality work of longtime guild artists results in a fresh and diverse Sumter Artists’ Guild Show – a treat for art lovers in Sumter and surrounding areas.”

The guild show is not a typical exhibition, in that it is a “judged” show, rather than a “juried” one, Watson said.

She explained, “Each artist can enter up to three pieces, and every piece of artwork entered will be displayed.”

The judge for the 2014 show is Lake City resident Karen B. Fowler, the executive director of ArtFields, the exciting new citywide art event that takes place annually in Lake City. An Atlanta native, Fowler studied fashion design at Georgia College and has served in various local as well as national organizations. Now working in interior design, Fowler founded The Elegant Bee, LLC and has spent well over the last decade working in design and period furniture, traveling overseas annually on purchasing trips.

Along with a talented team, she created and debuted ArtFields in April of 2013. The success of ArtFields has received worldwide attention. CNN referred to ArtFields as the event for South Carolina in “50

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Stephanie Grimes’ zebra is among artworks entered in the annual Sumter Artists’ Guild Show opening with a reception from 5:30 to 7:30 Thursday at the Sumter County Gallery of Art. States, 50 Spots for 2014.”

After having just completed an equally successful year two, ArtFields is now being referred to as a movement. It is on track to become the platform for the Southeastern artist.

Watson noted that “More than any other exhibition at the gallery, the Sumter Artists’ Guild Show is a true community effort, in that all of the artists are local, and like all of our exhibitions, individuals, businesses and organizations make it possible through their generous sponsorships. Special thanks to this year’s Guild Show sponsors, Ann Eldridge, Donna Weldon and The Evening Pilot Club. Thanks to Jackie Gamble of Poinsett Garden Club Napoleon Bradford, whose work is shown here, is a and the Council of Garden Clubs of Sumter who provide relative newcomer to the Sumter Artists’ Guild Show. our lovely centerpieces.”

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FOOD

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

Grill a colorful July 4th dessert

BY ELIZABETH KARMEL Associated Press As somebody who spends a whole lot of time thinking about grilling, I love that so many Americans celebrate July Fourth by busting out the grill.

So many of us are eating the same thing cooked in the same way, it’s kind of like summer’s version of Thanksgiving. Hamburgers, hot dogs and ribs rule the day. And that’s how I like it. It’s good to keep the main course traditional because that is what everyone looks forward to.

But dessert is your opportunity to switch it up. This year, wow your friends and family with a dessert pizza.

And cook it right on the grill.

This pizza — aptly named a red, white and blue pizza — is not some gimmicky colored icing kind of dessert. It’s quick, easy, fresh, healthy and delicious! Red and blue berries, plus a sweet ricotta cheese, decorate a grilled pizza crust for a beautiful, festive and patriotic finish to your meal. I use blueberries and raspberries most often, but blackberries and raspberries, or sliced strawberries or cherries also are great.

The dough is grilled crisp on both sides to give the dessert a hearty crust that is more substantial than pastry dough and can be grilled hours in advance, then assembled just before serving.

This is the best way to make the pizza so the crust stays crisp and crunchy.

The ricotta cheese base is sweetened with just a touch of sugar, some vanilla, lemon zest and slivers of crystalized

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Red, White and Blue Grilled Fruit Pizza is quick, easy, healthy and tasty. ginger. You could top the lemony-ginger ricotta with fruit and serve it in a bowl, but atop a crisp, crunchy, slightly smoky crust, it becomes an addictive dessert. This pizza would be equally good served for a special brunch on a lazy summer day.

When grilling the dough for this dessert pizza, follow these pizza making tips (many of which apply whether your pizza toppings are sweet or savory).

• Always start with very clean cooking grates • Ensure the grill is hot before adding the dough • Roll the dough as thinly as possible, about 1/8 inch thick • Brush the dough liberally with olive oil on both sides, then sprinkle with coarse polenta or grits • Grill the crust over direct medium heat, usually for 2 to 3 minutes per side (or until golden)

RED, WHITE AND BLUE GRILLED FRUIT PIZZA Start to finish: 30 minutes (10 minutes active) Servings: 6 1 cup ricotta cheese 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 5 tablespoons sugar, divided 2 tablespoons finely chopped crystallized ginger Zest of 1/2 lemon 2 tablespoons uncooked grits or coarse polenta, for rolling the dough 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 20-ounce ball prepared pizza dough, at room temperature 2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil 1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries 1 1/2 cups fresh raspberries 1/4 cup honey Heat the grill to high.

In a medium bowl, stir together the ricotta, vanilla, 2 tablespoons of the sugar, ginger and lemon zest. Set aside.

Sprinkle your work surface with the grits or polenta.

Set the dough on top.

Mix together the remaining 3 tablespoons of sugar and the cinnamon, then sprinkle this mixture over the dough. Knead the cinnamon-sugar into the dough

until well mixed. Let the dough rest for 20 minutes.

Gently roll or stretch the dough out into a 14-inch rectangle or circle about 1/4 inch thick. Brush the top of the dough 1 tablespoon of the oil.

For a gas grill, reduce all burners to medium. Pick up the dough by the 2 corners closest to you and carry it to the grill. In one motion, lay the dough down flat on the grill grate. Close the lid and grill for 3 minutes, then check the crust and, if necessary, continue grilling until the bottom is well marked and evenly browned.

For a charcoal grill, bank all of the gray-ashed briquettes to one side. Pick up the dough by the 2 corners closest to you and carry it to the grill. In one motion, lay the dough down flat on the grill grate on the cooler side of the grill. Close the lid and grill for 3 minutes, then check the crust and, if necessary, rotate the dough and continue grilling until the bottom is well marked and evenly browned.

Spread the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil over the top of the dough, then use tongs to flip it and grill until the second side is well browned.

Transfer the crust to a baking sheet, then immediately spread the ricotta mixture evenly over the top. Arrange the berries over the ricotta, then finish with a generous drizzle of honey. Slice and serve immediately.

Nutrition information per serving: 420 calories; 110 calories from fat (26 percent of total calories); 12 g fat (2.5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 15 mg cholesterol; 75 g carbohydrate; 5 g fiber; 28 g sugar; 12 g protein; 370 mg sodium.

Finally a reason to use the grilling pan

BY J.M. HIRSCH AP Food Editor

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Black Cream and Rickey Brew cocktails are just two new drinks made with craft beer.

Craft brews mix it up in cocktails

BY MICHAEL FELBERBAUM Associated Press Writer Cocktail connoisseurs are falling for craft beers in a new way — as a mixer.

Bars around the country are tapping into the trend of mixing artisanal brews with hard liquor to create new, refreshing cocktails. Can’t see how it works? How about a bold stout blended with white chocolate liqueur? Or maybe

a mojito made with blonde ale and rum?

Beer as a mixer isn’t new, but it has seen an uptick in recent years, fueled largely by the flourishing market of excellent craft beers, according to bar consultant Jacob Grier, who’s publishing a book on beer cocktails next year called “Cocktails on Tap.” Beer is a versatile ingredient that “offers tons of different possibilities that you

wouldn’t get in other mixing spirits,” he says. For example, malty or fruity beers add a sweet element to a cocktail, hoppy beers add bitter and floral notes, and stouts can add a chocolate or roasted flavor.

Here are a couple of craft cocktail recipes for your July Fourth festivities. They would be a fine way to celebrate your freedom from plain-old light beers.

RICKEY BREW

BLACK CREAM

Start to finish: 5 minutes Servings: 1 1 ounce lime juice 1 ounce gin 1/4 cup fresh raspberries 8 ounces raspberry lambic, chilled In a pilsner glass, combine the lime juice, gin and raspberries, using the back of a spoon to crush the raspberries. Fill with raspberry lambic, then stir gently just to combine.

Start to finish: 5 minutes Servings: 1 1 ounce Godiva liqueur 1 ounce coffee liqueur 4 ounces cream soda, chilled 4 ounces dark stout In a tall glass, combine the Godiva and coffee liqueur. Slowly pour the cream soda down the side of the glass, followed by the stout.

(Recipes by Alison Ladman)

Over the years, I’ve received roughly a half dozen of those perforated grilling pans as gifts. You know the ones I mean.

They usually have sloped sides and small holes in them. The idea is that they let you cook smaller items on the grill without fear of losing the food between the grates.

I’ve never used a single one of them. Not even once. Until now.

Maybe it’s because I don’t often grill small things. Or maybe it’s because when I do, I’m lucky enough to get my food to straddle the grates without it falling into the flames. Whatever the reason, I never found the need to dirty a pan. After all, one of the treats of grilling is no cleanup.

But as I contemplated a grilled salad, I realized I might finally have found a use for one of my six pans.

I wanted to try grilling chickpeas for use in a grilled bread salad. Chickpeas are delicious when roasted, so it stands that they also would be delicious when grilled.

But even I would have trouble keeping these suckers from falling through the grates.

Are you one of the few Americans who doesn’t own (and never use) one of these grilling pans? No fear. Just toss the chickpeas with some oil and pop them on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast them in the oven at 450 F for 10 to 15 minutes, or until just starting to brown.

GRILLED CHICKPEA SALAD WITH RED ONION AND SOURDOUGH Start to finish: 15 minutes Servings: 6 Juice of 1 lemon 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 large red onion, cut into thin rounds 1 large red bell pepper, cored and cut into strips 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 1 loaf (about 19 ounces) sourdough bread, cut into 2-inch croutons 5-ounce container arugula Heat a grill to high. Set a perforated grilling pan on the grill directly over the heat source.

In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, the garlic, oregano, cumin, salt and pepper. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine the onion, bell pepper, chickpeas, garlic powder, smoked paprika and 1 tablespoon of oil, tossing to coat evenly. When the grilling pan is very hot, transfer the mixture to the pan. Cook, stirring often, until the onions and peppers are lightly browned and tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a clean serving bowl. Set aside.

In a bowl, toss the croutons with the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Place the croutons directly on the grill grate. Cook, turning often, until lightly browned and crisp. Use tongs to transfer the croutons to the bowl of chickpeas and vegetables. Add the arugula, then toss well to slightly wilt the arugula. Drizzle the dressing over the salad, then toss again to coat.

THE SUMTER ITEM

FOOD

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

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Elevate basic pasta salad with feta, shrimp

BY J.M. HIRSCH AP Food Editor We’ve all suffered through them, those limp, soggy excuses for pasta salad that amount to little more than elbow macaroni doused with bottled vinaigrette and tossed with a bag of frozen peas.

But we can do so much better with a dish that has this much potential. All we need is a little inspiration. Pasta, after all, is a delicious blank slate.

We just need to start there and layer on flavors and textures, building until we have a robust and exciting salad that deserves to be at a summer gathering.

So let’s begin with the pasta.

Elbow macaroni is traditional, but hardly ideal. We want something with lots of ridges, nooks and crannies. Which is to say, something with tons of surface area for trapping dressing. Go with rotini or something similar.

For inspiration, I decided to use a conventional Greek salad. And that means loading up on feta cheese, chopped Kalamata olives, chopped red onion, green bell pepper, some tomatoes and fresh oregano.

For a bit of substance, I also added some garlic-butter shrimp. Tie it all together with a sour cream-spiked vinaigrette, and you have a pasta salad to be proud of.

GREEK SHRIMP AND FETA PASTA SALAD Start to finish: 30 minutes Servings: 10 1 pound rotini pasta 1 tablespoon butter 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 pound raw shrimp, shells and tails removed 3 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 cup sour cream 3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 green bell pepper, cored and finely chopped 1 medium red onion, finely chopped 1 cup pitted and chopped Kalamata olives 1 cup crumbled feta cheese 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano Bring a large pot of salted water to a bowl. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta, then spread on a rimmed baking sheet.

Set aside.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium-high, melt the butter. Add the garlic and shrimp, then saute until the shrimp are just barely firm and pink, about 4 minutes. Transfer the shrimp to the baking sheet with the pasta, spreading everything in an even layer. Place in the freezer until just cool, about 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, sour cream, vinegar, salt and pepper. Add the bell pepper, onion, olives, feta cheese, tomatoes and oregano. Toss until well coated. Once the shrimp and pasta are cooled, add those and gently toss until well coated by the dressing.

Nutrition information per serving: 400 calories; 150 calories from fat (38 percent of total calories); 17 g fat (6 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 95 mg cholesterol; 41 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 5 g sugar; 19 g protein; 660 mg sodium.

The Sumter Item would like to share your Vacation Bible School photos with our readers. Please send your highresolution photos to Jade Reynolds at jade@theitem.com.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Greek Shrimp and Feta Pasta Salad is a lot more than another soggy dish.

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COMICS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

BIZARRO

SOUP TO NUTZ

ANDY CAPP

GARFIELD

BEETLE BAILEY

BORN LOSER

BLONDIE

ZITS

MOTHER GOOSE

DOG EAT DOUG

DILBERT

JEFF MACNELLY’S SHOE

Woman’s puzzled by guy who refuses to get naked DEAR ABBY — I met a guy four months ago. Our relationship is new and pretty casual for the most part. We like Dear Abby each other’s company ABIGAIL and spend VAN BUREN nights together, but when we’re intimate, he keeps his clothes on -- boxers and all. He is only 26, but he has told me about past relationships, so I know he has had experience.

Over the past two years he has lost almost 100 pounds.

He looks great now -- healthy and toned. I have seen him get in and out of the shower.

THE SUMTER ITEM

(I noticed a little excess skin on his stomach, but not much.) It’s really weird. I don’t feel comfortable taking my own clothes off when he doesn’t.

This isn’t exactly a deal breaker for me, as I obviously am attracted to him. I just would like him to be comfortable with me. Should I address this with him, and if so, how? Or should I just leave it be for now?

Awkward situation in Georgia DEAR AWKWARD — It’s apparent that he still has body issues having to do with his extreme weight loss. If you know him well enough to spend nights at his house, you should be able to communicate with him about sex on

THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

a mature level and tell him the experience would be more satisfying for you if there was less between you when you are in his arms.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Good advice for everyone — teens to seniors —is in “The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It.” To order, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $7 (U.S. funds) to Dear Abby, Anger Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)

For an excellent guide to becoming a better conversationalist and a more sociable person, order “How to Be Popular.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $7 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby, Popularity Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

(Shipping and handling are included in the price.)

JUMBLE

SUDOKU

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME

By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

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

ACROSS 1 Looking at the stars 7 Dog star’s first name?

10 Singing an olde-fashioned love song?

14 Saudi neighbors 15 Poetic preposition 16 Opera set in Egypt 17 *Bit of formalwear 18 *Interrupt 20 Wear a long face 21 Lucrative way for a handicapper’s bet to pay off 22 Supply with weapons, old-style 24 Letters for the Queen Mary 25 Numeral 28 Mideast ruler 30 Delaware tribe 31 “General Hospital” extra, for short 34 Territory in dispute between Russia and Ukraine 37 FBI agent 38 U.N. workers’ rights agcy.

39 *Scandal

management ploy 41 Memphis-toNashville dir.

42 CondŽ __ Publications 44 Like Enya’s music 45 Emulated Miss Muffet 46 Vigor 48 Open carriage 50 Jazz player, briefly 51 “__ seen enough!”

53 Stavros superior, in ‘70s TV 57 “Star Wars” weapon 59 Mandlikova of tennis 60 *Less intense workout after a workout 62 Lose when you should have won, and a hint to the start of the answers to starred clues 64 Molokai neighbor 65 When repeated, a Kenyan rebel 66 Puccini’s “La __” 67 Times in the p.m.

68 Suffix with Canton 69 Quarters

DOWN 1 “I dadoor ball brand 10 Asea 11 *Psychologically manipulative tactics 12 Words often said in front of a priest 13 Brown shade 19 Plant stem joint 21 Flourish 23 DL x IV 26 “Brusha, brusha, brusha” toothpaste 27 Maxim 29 “The Twilight Zone” plot device 30 Chuckle 31 Flax fabric 32 Something to fall back on 33 *Snoop

35 Litter sound 36 Pencil topper 40 Busiest type of season 43 Ivy support 47 Alum 49 Start of a pirate’s refrain 51 “__ a dark and stormy night ...”

52 Locale 54 Yakked 55 Cartoon genre 56 Beckinsale and Chopin 58 A few 60 Awards often co-hosted by Carrie Underwood: Abbr.

61 Bungler 62 Mgr.’s degree 63 Toss

TELEVISION

THE SUMTER ITEM TW FT

7 PM

7:30

8 PM

8:30

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

9 PM 9:30 LOCAL CHANNELS

WIS News 10 at Entertainment Tonight (N) (HD) 7:00pm Local news update.

News 19 @ 7pm Inside Edition (N) Evening news up- (HD) date.

Wheel of Fortune Jeopardy! (N) (HD) (HD)

America’s Got Talent: Audition Nick Cannon hosts a night of auditions as people from all walks of life come to show off their talents, ranging from the extraordinary to the bizarre. (HD) Criminal Minds: Gabby Shocking seBig Brother Season 16 kicks off as the participants settle in and intro- crets in hunt for child. (HD) duce themselves. (N) (HD) The Middle: The The Goldbergs: Modern Family (:31) The Optimist (HD) Daddy Daughter Summer to reGoldbergs: Day (HD) member. (HD) Shopping (HD) NatureScen Expeditions with Nature: Fabulous Frogs The world of NOVA: Deadliest Earthquakes AmeriPatrick McMillan frogs is explored. (N) (HD) can geologists enter Haiti. (HD) (N) (HD) The Big Bang The Big Bang So You Think You Can Dance: Pasadena Callbacks The judges head to Theory Sheldon’s Theory Parking Pasadena, Calif., to watch callback performances. (N) (HD) sister. (HD) battle. (HD) Family Feud Family Feud Arrow: League of Assassins The Ca- The 100: Earth Skills Finding Jasper; nary finally gives Oliver answers.

Abby needs escape pod. (HD) (HD)

10 PM

10:30

11 PM

(:01) Taxi Brooklyn: Pilot Detective WIS News 10 at and taxi driver solve cases. (N) (HD) 11:00pm News and weather.

News 19 @ 11pm CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: The news of the Boston Brakes Finlay investigates day. fiery car crash. (HD) Motive: Bad Blonde Search for ABC Columbia injured bartender. (N) (HD) News at 11 (HD) NOVA: Surviving the Tsunami: A NOVA Special Presentation Video-aided stories. (HD) WACH FOX News at 10 Local news report and weather forecast.

Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Slither A high-class European holds a secret. (HD)

11:30

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12 AM

(:35) The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Actor Liam Neeson.

(HD) (:35) Late Show with David Letterman Mark Wahlberg; Ben Falcone.

(N) (HD) (:35) Jimmy Kimmel Live Celebrities and human-interest subjects. (HD)

Tavis Smiley (HD)

BBC World News International news.

Two and a Half Two and a Half Men: Pilot (HD) Men Herb kicked out. (HD) Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Watch Dead woman falls from an aircraft. (HD)

Charlie Rose (N) (HD) The Middle: The Diaper Incident (HD) The Arsenio Hall Show (HD)

CABLE CHANNELS Duck Dynasty Duck Dynasty: Duck Dynasty Duck Dynasty Duck Dynasty Duck Dynasty (N) (:38) Big Smo (N) (:08) Big Smo (:35) Duck DyDuck Dynasty: (HD) Plan Bee (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) nasty (HD) Plan Bee (HD) (5:30) Meet the Fockers (‘04, Com- The Green Mile (‘99, Drama) aaa Tom Hanks. The cynical veteran guard of a prison’s death row struggles with a crisis of conscience when he Space Cowboys edy) aac Robert De Niro. (HD) begins to wonder whether a kindhearted, simple-minded prisoner with healing powers is actually guilty of murdering two girls. (HD) (‘00) aac (HD) To Be Announced Treehouse Masters (HD) Treehouse Masters (HD) The Pool Master (HD) Treehouse Masters (HD) Treehouse The Message: Women, Cash, Friday After Next (‘02, Comedy) aa Ice Cube. Craig and Day-Day finally The Message: The Digital Revolution The Message: The Digital Revolution Wendy Williams Clothes Entrepreneurship. move out of their parents house to live on their own.

Internet utilized. (N) Internet utilized.

Show (N) Million Dollar Listing New York: Re- Million Dollar Listing New York: Re- Million Dollar Listing Miami: The Ul- Untying the Knot Untying EmoWhat Happens Million Dollar Listing New York: union, Part 1 union, Part 2 (N) timate Luxury Playground (N) (N) tional appraisal. (N) Reunion, Part 2 Supermarkets Inc.: Inside Greed A signed confession.

Greed Remodeling scams.

American Greed: Scams (N) Cocaine Cowboys II (‘08) aaa Marijuana Erin Burnett OutFront (N) Anderson Cooper 360° (N) (HD) Anthony: Mississippi Delta CNN Tonight Anderson Cooper 360° (HD) Anthony (:56) The Colbert (:27) Daily Show (:57) Key & Peele (:28) Key & Peele (:58) South Park (:29) South Park South Park: The F South Park (HD) Daily Show (N) The Colbert Re- (:01) @midnight Report (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) Word (HD) (HD) port (N) (HD) (N) (HD) Austin & Ally Blog Something Teen Beach Movie (‘13, Family) Ross Lynch. Two friends (:45) Liv and (:20) Good Luck Jessie: The Blind Date, The Cheap- (:25) Austin & Cory: Ain’t Miss (HD) special. wake up in a movie.

Maddie (HD) Charlie (HD) skate and the Primate (HD) Ally (HD) Behavin’ Dual Survival: On the Edge (HD) Dual Survival: Untamed (N) Dual Survival (N) (HD) Naked and Afraid (HD) Dual Survival (HD) Naked (HD) World Cup Tonight (HD) 2014 NCAA College World Series: from TD Ameritrade Park Omaha in Omaha, Neb. z{| (HD) SportsCenter (HD) SportsCenter 2014 NBA Draft Preview (HD) MLB Baseball: Detroit Tigers at Texas Rangers from Globe Life Park in Arlington z{| (HD) Olbermann (HD) ESPN FC (HD) (5:30) The Devil Wears Prada (‘06, Young & Hungry Mystery Girls (N) Young & Hungry: Mystery Girls Chasing Life: Blood Cancer Sex The 700 Club Young & Hungry: Comedy) aaa Meryl Streep.

(N) (HD) (HD) Pilot (HD) (HD) Carrots Playboy rep found. (HD) Pilot (HD) Restaurant: Impossible (HD) Restaurant Stakeout (HD) Restaurant Stakeout (N) (HD) Restaurant: Impossible (HD) Restaurant: Impossible (HD) Restaurant On the Record with Greta (N) The O’Reilly Factor (N) (HD) The Kelly File News updates.

Hannity Conservative news. (HD) The O’Reilly Factor (HD) The Kelly File Bull Riding no} PowerShares Tennis Series: Oklahoma City no} Car Warriors (HD) World Poker Tour no} (HD) Reloaded (HD) The Waltons: The Typewriter John The Waltons: The Star Zeb believes The Middle: The The Middle (HD) The Middle (HD) The Middle: The Golden Blanche’s The Golden Girls: Golden Stan Boy’s writing. a shooting star is an omen.

Jeans (HD) Yelling (HD) plans.

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Property Brothers (HD) Cousins Undercover (N) Property Brothers (N) (HD) Hunters (N) Hunters (N) Brother vs. Brother Prop Bro (HD) American Pickers (HD) American Pickers (HD) American Pickers (HD) American Pickers (HD) (:02) American Pickers (HD) American (HD) Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Broad Cold Case: Detention Lilly reopens Cold Case: Debut Lilly reopens a Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Loy- Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Loy- Law & Order: Channel (HD) teen suicide. (HD) case from 1968. (HD) alty, Part 1 Pirate ship. (HD) alty, Part 2 Sheikh’s son. (HD) Criminal (HD) Celebrity Wife Swap: Nia Peeples; Little Women: LA: Who Do You Little Women: LA: The Ex-Factor Little Women: LA: Movin’ On Up A (:01) Abby’s Studio Rescue: Abby to (:02) Little Tiffany Hospitality. (HD) Think You Are? (HD) Possible pregnancy. (HD) cooking class. (HD) the Rescue (HD) Women: LA (HD) Hardball with Chris (N) (HD) All in with Chris Hayes (HD) The Rachel Maddow Show (N) Lawrence O’Donnell (HD) All in with Chris Hayes (HD) Maddow (HD) Sam & Cat Webheads (N) Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Friends (:36) Friends (:12) Friends Men II (‘02) aa Men in Black (‘97, Science Fiction) Will Smith. Two secret agents monitor aliens. (HD) Men in Black II (‘02, Action) aa Tommy Lee Jones. Kay & Jay return.

America (HD) (6:30) Halloween II (‘09, Horror) aa Sheri Moon Zombie. A woman’s vil- Priest (‘11, Horror) aac Paul Bettany. A Warrior Priest breaks his vows to Dominion: Pilot Soldier learns he’s Chosen One to lead lainous brother embarks on a deadly rampage in search of her. save his niece from murderous vampires. humanity and end war against angels.

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Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Fight (HD) (6:00) Interrupted Melody (‘55, Dillinger (‘45, Crime) aaac Law- (:15) Badman’s Territory (‘46, Western) aac Randolph Scott. A sheriff Born to Kill (‘47, Crime) aaa Claire Trevor. A woman Drama) Glenn Ford. Fighting polio. rence Tierney. Criminal’s life. and a reporter fight to bring law to an outlaw populated territory. is romanced by a killer.

American Gypsy Wedding (HD) The Girl with Half a Face (HD) Man with the 200lb Tumor (HD) Man Lost Face (HD) The Man with Half a Body (HD) Bubble Man Castle: Probable Cause Murder evi- Castle: The Final Frontier Body at a (:01) Castle: Swan Song Guitarist of a (:02) Castle: After Hours Murder wit- (:03) The Last Ship: Pilot - Phase Six (:03) Falling dence points to Castle. (HD) sci-fi convention. (HD) rock band is murdered. (HD) ness on the run. (HD) Deadly mission. (HD) Skies (HD) S. Beach S. Beach S. Beach S. Beach S. Beach S. Beach (N) Pawn (N) Pawn Motor City: Signature Design (:02) S. Beach Griffith (HD) Griffith (HD) Griffith (HD) Griffith (HD) Queens (HD) Queens (HD) Cleveland (N) Falls (N) (HD) Cleveland Falls (HD) Queens (HD) Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Suits: Two in the Knees Louis and (:01) Graceland: Tinker Bell Bus line Modern Family: (:32) Modern Suits: Two in the Born Psychopath (HD) Traumatic Wound (HD) Jeff bond. (N) (HD) smuggling. (N) (HD) Snip (HD) Family (HD) Knees (HD) Law & Order (HD) Law & Order (HD) Law & Order: Mother’s Milk (HD) Law & Order: Panic (HD) Law & Order: Entitled (HD) Law (HD) MLB Baseball: Cincinnati Reds at Chicago Cubs from Wrigley Field z{| (HD) Rules (HD) Rules (HD) Rules (HD) Rules (HD) Parks (HD) Big Smo (HD)

‘Taxi Brooklyn’ might work as a sitcom, but not a drama

BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH Mass transit never looked so good. After Cat (Chyler Leigh), an impulsive cop, is busted down to foot patrol for reckless driving, she strikes a deal with suave, black, French-born taxi driver Leo Romba (Jacky Ido), who has a quasi-criminal past.

She’ll work to clear his name, if he becomes her wheelman.

Given its high-concept premise, “Taxi Brooklyn” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14) sounds like a half-hour sitcom. But it’s an hourlong police drama that drags after about 15 minutes.

Not to come off like Mr. Sensitive here, or the Robert Langdon of TV racial symbology, but “Taxi Brooklyn” trades in startling and flagrantly obtuse imagery. During the pilot, Romba is either handcuffed to the wheel and coerced to drive, or forced to do so at gunpoint.

Not only does he submit to this involuntary servitude, he does so with a big smile and a sunny disposition while offering the permanently scowling Cat wise, soulful and even mystical advice about her life. Hey, even the guy in “Driving Miss Daisy” got paid!

As if to balance things out, Cat’s last name is Sullivan, and when she visits the gravesite of her father, a cop slain on the job, you can hear bagpipes in the distance. Even the Brooklyn of the show’s title comes off as generic. We do see a tiedyed T-shirt sporting the logo “Keep Brooklyn Weird.” How’s that for local color?

• Tori Spelling returns to scripted drama on “Mystery Girls” (8:30 p.m., ABC Family, TV-14). She’s Holly Hamilton, the former star of a TV detective show that gives this series its name. She co-starred with Charlie Contour, played by Jennie Garth, who shared a screen credit with Spelling on “Beverly Hills, 90210.”

Garth’s Contour is a stay-athome mom who’s rather embarrassed by her brush with fame. Hamilton is so obsessed with it that she continually rereads People magazines from 1994. As you might guess, fate has them reunite to solve real crimes.

Old stereotypes abound here as well. Hamilton is greeted by a fey, explosively effervescent fan of her series who swoons in her presence and then explains that he’s too young to have seen “Mystery Girls” on TV,

NBCUNIVERSAL MEDIA LLC

Chyler Leigh stars as Detective Cat Sullivan and Jacky Ido as Leo Romba in “Taxi Brooklyn” premiering at 10 p.m. today on NBC. but found old DVDs “in a Dumpster by a gay bar when I was 14.” Help yourself.

• Actor Rex Lee returns in the new comedy “Young and Hungry” (8 p.m., ABC Family, TV-14), where he offers a virtual replica of his character on “Entourage.” He plays the gatekeeper for Josh (Jonathan Sadowski), a young and fabulously wealthy tech tycoon. Emily Osment stars as Gabi, a food blogger saddled with debt, desperate to be his personal chef.

Much like the Nickelodeon series “iCarly,” “Young and Hungry” exposes young viewers to a celebration of materialism. In her first scene with Josh, Gabi all but drools over his Sub-Zero refrigerator.

When TV starts selling $4,000 appliances to 11-year-olds, there’s something seriously wrong.

TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS • David Attenborough explores the diversity of “Fabulous Frogs” on “Nature” (8 p.m., PBS, TV-G, check local listings).

• A trained killer arrives on “Arrow” (8 p.m., CW, r, TV-14).

• Phil and Claire want alone time on “Modern Family” (9 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG).

• Harvey seems to be the key to a possible takeover on “Suits” (9 p.m., USA, TV-14).

• An accident victim looks familiar on “CSI” (10 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14).

• A bartender’s last call on “Motive” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-14).

• Ryan mulls a second chance on the season four premiere of “Wilfred” (10 p.m., FXX, TVMA). A second episode follows (10:30 p.m., TV-MA).

of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novel “Dune” (8 p.m., BBC America, TV-PG).

CULT CHOICE

LATE NIGHT

Eric Bana and Andy Serkis appear on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS) * Gabriel Iglesias, Adam Ray, Jen Kirkman and Brad Wollack are booked on “Chelsea Lately” (11 p.m., E!) * Eleanor Holmes Norton is on “The Colbert Report” (11:30 p.m., Comedy Central) * Mark Wahlberg, Ben Falcone and Hurray for the Riff Raff appear on “Late Show With David Letterman” (11:35 p.m., CBS) * Jimmy Fallon welcomes Liam Neeson, Terry Crews and Conor Oberst on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC, r) * Demi Lovato and Dan Bakkedahl visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC, r).

Kyle MacLachlan, Sting and Sean Young star in director David Lynch’s 1985 adaptation

Keira Knightley is booked on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (11 p.m., Comedy Central) *

Copyright 2014, United Feature Syndicate

SERIES NOTES Sue seeks a scholarship on “The Middle” (8 p.m., ABC, r, TVPG) * On two episodes of “The Goldbergs” (ABC, r, TV-PG): skating (8:30 p.m.), shopping (9:30 p.m.) * A child goes missing on “Criminal Minds” (9 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14) * Abby plans an escape on “The 100” (9 p.m., CW, r, TV-14).

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

Call Rhonda Barrick at: (803) 774-1264 | E-mail: rhondab@theitem.com

Summer Snacks that Pop Creating a trail mix to carry on a hike is

FAMILY FEATURES

a cinch when you combine fresh pop-

W

hether you’re gathering the neighborhood kids for a backyard celebration or going on

a weekend hike with family, you can make fueling up for the fun easy with snacks the whole family can enjoy.

Everyone loves popcorn, and this tasty treat is easy to incorporate into a wide range of nibbles perfect for summer.

Popcorn’s wholesome taste makes it an

corn with your favorite sweet dried fruits and lightly salted nuts. Or, if you’re staying closer to home, use popcorn treats as a more nutritious alternative to traditional party desserts.

Each of these recipes features freshly

CHILI LIME POPCORN SNACK MIX

popped popcorn paired with common in-

Yield: 1 quart 1 quart popped popcorn 1 teaspoon brewer’s yeast powder 1 teaspoon lime juice

gredients that appeal to both kids and adults for summery snacks that are big on both flavor and fun.

excellent partner to ingredients that

For more creative recipes that give

tease your taste buds with flavors that

some pop to your summer, visit www.

are sweet, salty or even zesty.

popcorn.org.

1/2 teaspoon chili powder 1/4 teaspoon salt Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Spread popcorn on baking sheet. Sprinkle yeast powder, lime juice, chili powder and salt over popcorn.

Heat about seven minutes and toss just before serving. Serve warm.

SWEET N SALTY POPCORN PRETZEL STICKS Yield: 6 sticks 6 tablespoons peanut butter 6 large pretzel rods 3 cups popped popcorn Sugar sprinkles 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips (optional) Spread 1 tablespoon of peanut butter over each pretzel, leaving a two-inch “handle” without peanut butter.

Press and roll popcorn onto peanut butter to coat.

Sprinkle with sugar sprinkles.

For optional chocolate drizzle, place chocolate chips in small sealable plastic bag and seal. Microwave 30 seconds or until chocolate is melted. Clip small corner from bag and squeeze to drizzle chocolate over popcorn.

Sprinkle with additional sugar sprinkles. Allow chocolate to harden before serving.

POPCORN S’MORES Yield: 20 pieces 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine 1/2 cup corn syrup 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 10 cups freshly popped popcorn 1 package (10 1/2 ounces) miniature marshmallows 2 cups mini graham cookies (teddy bears) 1 cup chocolate chips Combine brown sugar, butter and corn syrup in medium saucepan. Cook over high heat for five minutes; remove from heat and stir in baking soda.

Combine popcorn and marshmallows in large bowl. Pour sugar mixture over popcorn to coat.

Gently stir in graham cookies and chocolate chips.

Spread mixture evenly into greased 15-by-10-inch pan. Let cool completely, then break into pieces.

Store in airtight container.

POPCORN TRAIL MIX BLUEBERRY & POMEGRANATE POWER BARS Yield: 12 bars 8 cups popped popcorn 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats 1 cup dried blueberries 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds 1/2 cup toasted and coarsely chopped whole natural almonds 2/3 cup honey 2/3 cup light brown sugar

2 tablespoons butter or margarine 6 ounces melted bittersweet chocolate Line 13-by-9-inch pan with foil; spray with cooking spray.

Combine popcorn, oats, blueberries, pomegranate seeds and almonds in large bowl.

Combine honey, brown sugar and butter in small saucepan. Cook over low heat

to boiling; boil two minutes. Pour over popcorn mixture and mix thoroughly.

Using damp hands, press mixture firmly into prepared pan. Refrigerate until firm, about two hours. Cut into 12 bars.

Dip bottoms of bars into melted chocolate. Place on wax paper-lined pan.

Store in tight covered container in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Yield: 5 cups 1 quart popped popcorn (air popped) 6 ounces diced, dried fruit (apricots, apples, etc.)

8 ounces raisins Place freshly popped popcorn in large bowl. Add diced fruit and raisins. Toss popcorn and fruit until combined thoroughly.

Note: Add whatever fixings your family enjoys: dried fruits, seeds, nuts, etc.

Source: The Popcorn Board