March 11, 2014 by The Sumter Item

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Trial begins in deaths of infant, grandmother Summerton man charged in 2011 Manning shootings

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TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

3 SECTIONS, 22 PAGES | VOL. 119, NO. 124

ETV crew plans to film Farm to Table event for program BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com (803) 774-1272

BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com (803) 774-1214 MANNING — The trial of a Summerton man charged in the shooting deaths of his nine-monthold son and the child’s grandmother is underway at the Clarendon

County Judicial Center. Twenty-four-year-old Justin Jermaine Johnson will be on trial for two counts of murder, as well as charges including kidnapping, attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime before Circuit Judge Jeffery Young

this week. Attorneys for both sides agreed the case will likely take at least a week at a jury selection hearing Monday at the Clarendon County Judicial Center. Johnson was arrested in April

SEE TRIAL, PAGE A6

Colon cancer in the spotlight during awareness campaign

Attending this week’s Farm to Table event will not only get you some fresh farm produce. It could also get you on TV. A television crew from ETV’s “Making It Grow” will be at Thursday’s Rotary-sponsored event, shooting footage for a future broadcast of the gardening program. Amanda McNulty, host of “Making It Grow” and horticulturalist with Sumter County’s Clemson Extension Service, said the program will highlight locally grown

SEE EVENT, PAGE A6

SPORTS

WH, Sumter get ready for home openers B1

CLARENDON SUN PHOTOS BY JADE REYNOLDS / THE SUMTER ITEM

Anglers expected to flock to Santee Cooper tournament C1 DEATHS, B4, B6 William K. Harrington James Spain Jr. John Ashby Dick Hallie V. McLeod Jean Bell Kevin W. Herring Corsenior B. Bostick Clara Wilson

Roger W. Rice Anna Mae G. Kerr Robert A. Bates Fredderick L. Price Fred Hilton Tiffany R. Franklin Armstead C. Baylor Sam A. Martin Sr.

WEATHER, A10 ANOTHER WARM DAY Mostly sunny and very warm; cloudy tonight with rain possible late. HIGH 78, LOW 57

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Dr. Kent Cunningham of Sumter Gastroenterology shows how a snare fed through a scope appears on a monitor. The snare is used to remove polyps during a colonoscopy. March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

Local doctors share benefits of regular cancer screenings BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com (803) 774-1250 In 2010, it killed more than 52,000 Americans, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources, and each year, an additional 137,000 are diagnosed with this disease. But it’s 90 percent preventable. March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and this weekend was the Center for Colon Cancer Research’s annual Gala, “Unmasking Colon Cancer.” It raises money to provide screenings for the uninsured through the South Carolina Colon Cancer Prevention Network. “A major misconception is if you’re not having symptoms, you don’t need to be tested,” said Dr. Kent Cunningham with Sumter Gastroenterology. “Everybody needs to be tested.” Symptoms include changes in bowel habits or blood in stool, said Dr. Raymond Dominici, general surgeon at Clarendon Memorial Hospital. One in three adults between the ages of 50 and 75 are not getting the recommended screenings, according to the DHHS.

Cunningham feeds a snare through the scope used in a colonoscopy. Colonoscopies are the best method for preventing colorectal cancers, he said, and the recommended testing age depends on your family history of the disease. “The avoidance is often a perceived discomfort,” Dominici said. “Every endoscopist now uses sedation. It’s a relatively comfortable experience. Most people don’t remember having it done. They wake up and ask, ‘is it over yet?’ The hardest part is prepping the day before, the getting cleaned out.” The best method for preventing this type of cancer is screening

for polyps via a colonoscopy. If polyps are present, they can be removed before they become cancerous. “Even if it is colon cancer, if it is caught early, it’s much more likely to be curable,” Cunningham said. Dominici agreed. “Fortunately, the death rate has

SEE CANCER, PAGE A10

Fireside Fund helps 439 with nearly $63K in donations BY JACK OSTEEN jack@theitem.com The annual Salvation Army Fireside Fund Drive has officially ended for the season but not before receiving one final generous donation. Madison Industries Inc. and its employees donated

$2,000 to the fund last week. Robert Perales, personnel manager of Madison, and owner Jay Schwartz stated in a letter that “the work you do for our community is greatly appreciated.” But what’s most important is the number of people who helped with the nearly $63,000 raised this year.

According to Salvation Army social worker Pamela Lassiter, 439 families or individuals received some sort of heating assistance.

Aid consisted of kerosene and propane vouchers, paying past-due electric and gas bills and purchasing wood. Lassiter said the last of the recent donations will be used for a list of appointments she still has. “This year has been somewhat emotional, and there

were many that came through that really appreciated the help,” she said. “I personally have been blessed to be the one helping those who came through. It’s so easy to forget that there are so many who truly need help to just

SEE FIRESIDE, PAGE A10

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

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LOCAL & STATE BRIEFS

Driver in fatal wreck faces charges

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

BY TYLER SIMPSON tyler@theitem.com (803) 774-1295

Authorities: Man locked son out for 3 days A 52-year-old Sumter man was arrested Monday for locking his 15-year-old son out of his residence for three straight days in cold January weather. James Lee McCoy, 52, 1001 Plowden Mill Road, was charged with unlawful neglect of a child after he left his son out in 21- to 27-degree weather starting on Jan. 9 for three days withMcCOY out providing him with any food or shelter. He was sent to Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center to await his bond hearing. Lt. Robert Burnish with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office said that the 15-year old is fine and in good health. Burnish said one of McCoy’s neighbors informed the sheriff’s office of the incident on Jan. 11. After further investigation, a warrant was issued for McCoy’s arrest on Feb. 10, but deputies were unable to locate him at the time. He was located by deputies Monday after they responded to a call for service at his residence.

A driver involved in a head-on collision on U.S. 378 on Friday afternoon faces charges after further investigation by the South Carolina Highway Patrol determined he failed to yield the right of way. Caesar Puente, who was driving a red 2013 Dodge Dart, was also charged with driving without a license. He was transported to Sumter-Lee Regional

Detention Center after being treated for injuries at Tuomey Regional Medical Center. According to a report from Highway Patrol, he wasn’t wearing a seatbelt before the incident. The collision resulted in the death of 67-year-old Clara Wilson of Lynchburg, who was riding in the rear passenger side of a light blue 2006 Kia Spectra. Sumter County Coroner Harvin Bullock determined that she died on impact. The Kia Spectra was traveling east

on U.S. 378 with four passengers, and Puente was traveling west and tried to exit onto East Liberty Street. The driver of the Kia Spectra, who was transported to Tuomey with serious injuries, was wearing her seatbelt, while two other passengers, who were transported to Palmetto Health Richland in critical condition, were not restrained. Bullock said that the three survivors riding in the Kia were Wilson’s sisters. The South Carolina Highway Patrol is still investigating the incident.

Issues reported before Saturday plane crash HARTSVILLE — A 911 caller reported that an experimental plane was having trouble with its landing gear minutes before the plane crashed in a Hartsville subdivision, killing the three men on board, authorities said Sunday. No one on the ground was killed or injured when the plane crashed Saturday evening between two houses in Hartsville, authorities said. When firefighters arrived, the fuselage, grass and woods were in flames, with the fire reaching about 50 feet from the two houses, Hartsville Fire Chief Jeff Burr said Sunday. No homes were damaged. Darlington County Coroner Todd Hardee confirmed the three deaths. Those killed were Joseph Melton Loflin II, 29, of Pelzer; his father-inlaw, George Thomas Rogers, 61, of Society Hill; and Leslie Bradshaw, 75, of Hartsville. The plane had taken off from Darlington County Airport, and the men likely were trying to return there, Sheriff Wayne Byrd said. A 911 caller, whom Byrd said was a family member or friend of the family, called about 6:40 p.m. to say the plane was having problems with its landing gear, he said. The pilot was likely trying to land at Hartsville Regional Airport, about a half-mile from the crash scene, authorities said.

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

RAYTEVIA EVANS / THE SUMTER ITEM

Students at Crosswell Drive Elementary School participate in Walk at School Day on Monday. Last week, the students spent time during classroom instruction discussing safety and what they expected to see and do during their walk. The students recorded information about safety concerns, road signs and other issues they noticed during their walk.

Crosswell students participate in ‘Walk at School’ Day BY RAYTEVIA EVANS revans@theitem.com (803) 774-1214 After postponing the event because of weather last week, students at Crosswell Drive Elementary School finally got the opportunity to walk at school Monday. Kathy Lyons, a Crosswell teacher and one of many who orchestrated the walking event, said Crosswell decided to do “Walk at School” Day instead in order to allow all students to participate in the event. Throughout the day, students were led by their teachers in groups to walk around the perimeter of the school. South Carolina Walk to School Day was originally scheduled for March 5. Lyons said teachers were able to tie in the event with the curriculum during the previous week. Last week, students took time during classroom instruction to discuss safety concerns, what they should

expect to see on their walk and the road signs that they should see while walking. “We had lessons about safety and signs they should see when they’re walking to school. Today, some of them noticed there were cracks in the sidewalks that may cause safety issues, and they recorded that information,” Lyons aid. Thousands participated in the Third Annual South Carolina Walk to School Day across the state. The event is organized by the South Carolina Department of Transportation each year and is part of a large effort by many schools and communities to help students become more active and to improve safety surrounding schools to accommodate more walking and biking to school. “Walk to School events emphasize the importance of increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, concern for the

environment and building connections between families, schools and the broader community,” according to the transportation department. During the walk, some students also mentioned there are no sidewalks along the path from their homes to the school grounds, creating a safety issue. After the walk, students returned to classrooms to record the information they observed. They will write a letter to Principal Anne McFadden about their experience and give recommendations to help create a safer environment surrounding the school. Four other schools in Sumter County also registered to participate in Walk to School Day this year: Oakland Primary School, Pocalla Springs Elementary School, Wilder Elementary School and Willow Drive Elementary School.

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LOCAL | NATION

THE SUMTER ITEM

‘Palmetto Field’ wins photo contest

PHOTO PROVIDED

Senate OKs bill to combat sexual assault in military WASHINGTON — The Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill late Monday making big changes in the military justice system to deal with sexual assault, including scrapping the nearly century-old practice of using a “good soldier defense” to raise doubts that a crime has been committed. On a vote of 97-0, the Senate rallied behind a bipartisan plan crafted by three female senators — Democrat Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Republicans Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Deb Fischer of Nebraska — that would impose a half-dozen changes to combat the pervasive problem of rape and sexual offenses that Pentagon leaders have likened to a cancer within the ranks. “Unanimous agreement in the U.S. Senate is pretty rare — but rarer still is the kind of sweeping, historic change we’ve achieved over the past year in the military justice system,” McCaskill said after the vote. Still, that unanimous sup-

port was in sharp contrast to last week, when military leaders vigorously opposed a measure by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., that would have stripped commanders of their authority to prosecute cases and given that power to seasoned military lawyers outside the chain of command. The Senate voted 55-45 for that farther-reaching bill, but that was five votes short of the necessary 60. Though expressing certain reservations, the Pentagon had been generally accepting of the new bill. The House could act on the legislation as a stand-alone measure or incorporate it into the massive defense policy bill that it pulls together in the spring. This “is not the end of this,” Ayotte said in brief remarks on the Senate floor after the vote. “We will make sure reforms are implemented, commanders are held accountable and victims are treated with dignity and respect.” The new legislation would change the military rules of evidence to prohibit the accused from using good mili-

POLICE BLOTTER

Jessica Oswald’s photo titled “Palmetto Field” was selected as the winner of the Rural Summit Photography Contest by attendees of the 24th Annual Rural Summit held last week in Sumter. Oswald’s entry was one of more than 90 entries for this year’s contest. The entries were narrowed down to five finalist photos by S.C. Department of Commerce staff and displayed at the Rural Summit, where conference attendees voted for their favorites. Oswald, of Gilbert, took the photograph showing a lone South Carolina palmetto tree in a tranquil marsh field.

BY DONNA CASSATA The Associated Press

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

tary character as an element of his defense in court-martial proceedings unless it was directly relevant to the alleged crime. The “good soldier defense” could encompass a defendant’s military record of reliability, dependability, professionalism and reputation as an individual who could be counted on in war and peacetime. McCaskill described it as “the ridiculous notion that how well one flies a plane should have anything to do with whether they committed a crime.” The chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., said Monday that the “military culture has been slow to grasp the painful truth that even a successful professional can also be a sexual predator.”

CHARGES Curtis Leon McMillan, 29, of 924 S. Harvin St., was charged with possession of marijuana and resisting arrest, as well as outstanding warrants, during a traffic stop at 10 a.m. Friday in the 10 block of East Moore Street. According to the report, an officer stopped a tan 1998 Lexus for not having its headlights on in the rain. McMillan, the driver, reportedly jumped out of the car and began running across Lafayette Drive down Copeland Street, only to be found hiding behind a car two blocks away. McMillan continued refusing to follow verbal commands, and the officer was forced to use his Taser when McMillan refused to give up his hands for arrest. Officers searched him and reportedly found six grams of suspected marijuana and a black digital scale. Records showed his driver’s license was suspended, second offense, and he had two outstanding warrants. He was transported to Sumter-Lee Regional Detection Center. Sergio Sirdez Anthony, 26, of 420 Council St., was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana at 10:55 a.m. Friday in the 300 block of Manning Avenue. According to the report, Anthony, who was driving a red Volkswagon Jetta, was stopped for not having his headlights on in the rain. Officers searched the vehicle after smelling a strong odor of marijuana and found approximately 28 grams of marijuana in the glove compartment. Anthony reportedly admitted to ownership, and he was arrested and transported to Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center. Dawn Marie Meighan, 45, of 224 Myrtle Beach Highway, was charged as a fugitive from justice at 9:09 p.m. Friday at her residence. According to the report, officers responded to the incident location in reference to a domestic disturbance. Officers ran names through records for warrants, and Meighan came back as wanted out of Georgia. She was arrested and transported to Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center. Darkus Armon Ford, 21, of 902 Manning Ave., was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and violation of the S.C. gun law at 2:50 a.m. Saturday in the 3000 block of Broad Street. According to the report, officers pulled over a white car traveling 59 miles per hour in a 45-mph zone. A K9 search was issued to check for illegal drugs, and officer found a Taurus .45-caliber gun in the back pocket of the driver’s seat. Ford reportedly said the gun was his, and he was arrested and transported to Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center. AGGRAVTED ASSAULT Officers responded to the 7000 block of Camden Highway, Rembert, at 12:51 a.m. Saturday in reference to a 43-year-old suspect who reportedly grabbed a beer bottle and struck the victim in the face, causing a laceration to the upper lip. The suspect said that he did not hit the victim with the bottle and that the victim fell on the floor, causing the injury. ARSON Law enforcement responded to a building fire in the 700 block of Manning Avenue at 9:55 p.m. Sunday after the fire department informed investigators that someone had broken a window at the rear of the building and poured some type of fuel inside.

ASSAULT AND BATTERY Officers responded to the 500 block of Timmerman Street at 5:20 p.m. Friday in reference to a male saying that a 29-year-old man stabbed him in the hand with a pitchfork. The 29-year-old man told police his actions were in self-defense because the other man pulled out a knife. According to police, the man stabbed by the pitchfork later changed his story, saying he had actually been in an argument with another individual and did not possess a knife. Law enforcement reported finding a knife where the stabbed man was standing. The victim was transported to Tuomey Regional Medical Center and was advised to seek a warrant.

NATION

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

Uninsured rate is still dropping, survey says BY RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR The Associated Press WASHINGTON — With just three weeks left to sign up under President Obama’s health care law, a major survey tracking the rollout finds that the uninsured rate keeps going down. The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, released Monday, found that 15.9 percent of U.S. adults are uninsured thus far in 2014, down from 17.1 percent for the last three months — or calendar quarter— of 2013. That translates roughly to 3 million to 4 million people getting coverage. Gallup said the share of Americans who lack coverage is on track to drop to the lowest quarterly level it measured since 2008, before Obama took office. The survey found that almost every major demographic group made progress getting health insurance, although Hispanics lagged. With the highest uninsured rate of any racial or ethnic group, Latinos were expected to be major beneficiaries of the new health care law. They are a relatively young population and many are on the lower rungs of the middle class, holding down jobs that don’t come with health insurance. But the outreach effort to Hispanics got off to a stumbling start. The Spanish-language enrollment website, CuidadodeSalud.gov, was delayed because of technical problems. Its name sounds like a clunky translation from English: “Care of Health.” A spot check of the Spanish site Sunday showed parts of it still use a mix of Spanish and English to convey information, which can make insurance details even more confusing. All indications point to lackluster Latino numbers, prompting the administration to make a special pitch as the end of open enrollment season approaches on March 31. The president was on Spanish-language television networks last week to raise awareness. Gallup found the biggest drop in the uninsured rate was among households making less than $36,000 a year — a decline of 2.8 percentage points. Among blacks, the uninsured rate was down by 2.6 percentage points. It declined by 1 percentage point among whites. But Latinos saw a drop of just eighttenths of a percentage point. The Gallup poll is considered authoritative because it combines the scope and depth found in government surveys with the timeliness of media sampling. Pollsters interview 500 people a day, 350 days a year. The latest health care results were based on more than 28,000 interviews, or about 28 times as many as in a standard national poll. The survey can be an early indicator of broad shifts in society. Gallup saw a modest decline in the uninsured rate in January, and now two full months of data indicate a trend is taking shape. Gallup said the drop coincides with the start of coverage under the health care law on Jan. 1. The major elements of the Affordable Care Act are now in effect. Virtually all Americans are now required to get covered or risk fines. Insurers can no longer turn away people with health problems. New state-based markets are offering taxpayer-subsidized private insurance to middleclass households.

AP FILE PHOTO

Edward Snowden, who worked as a contract employee at the National Security Agency, is seen June 9 in Hong Kong. The NSA’s massive collection of calling records under secret court orders was revealed by Snowden last June in the first of many disclosures about surveillance programs based on classified documents. U.S. intelligence officials are planning an electronic monitoring system to scan the behavior patterns of many of the 5 million government employees who hold secret clearances, partly in response to the Snowden case.

Intelligence system to monitor workers with secret clearances BY STEPHEN BRAUN The Associated Press WASHINGTON — U.S. intelligence officials are planning a sweeping system of electronic monitoring that would tap into government, financial and other databases to scan the behavior of many of the 5 million federal employees with secret clearances, current and former officials told The Associated Press. The system is intended to identify rogue agents, corrupt officials and leakers, and draws on a Defense Department model under development for more than a decade, according to officials and documents reviewed by the AP. Intelligence officials have long wanted a computerized system that could continuously monitor employees, in part to prevent cases similar to former National Security Agency analyst Edward Snowden. His disclosures bared secretive U.S. surveillance operations. An administration review of the government’s security clearance process due this month is expected to support continuous monitoring as part of a package of comprehensive changes. Privacy advocates and government employee union officials expressed concerns

that continuous electronic monitoring could intrude into individuals’ private lives, prompt flawed investigations and put sensitive personal data at greater risk. Supporters said the system would have safeguards. Workers with secret clearances are already required to undergo background checks of their finances and private lives before they are hired and again during periodic re-investigations. “What we need is a system of continuous evaluation where when someone is in the system and they’re cleared initially, then we have a way of monitoring their behavior, both their electronic behavior on the job as well as off the job,” Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told Congress last month. Clapper provided lawmakers with few details but said the proposed system would extend “across the government,” drawing on “six or seven data streams.” Monitoring of employees at some agencies could begin as early as September and be fully operational across the government by September 2016. The price tag, Clapper conceded, “is going to be costly.” In separate comments last week, retiring NSA Director Keith Alexander said intelli-

gence, Defense and Cyber Command officials are collaborating on “insider threat” planning. Recently declassified federal documents show that the NSA is already conducting electronic monitoring of agency staffers involved in surveillance operations. Budget documents released this week show the Pentagon requesting nearly $9 million next year for its insider threat-related research. Current and former officials familiar with the DNI’s planning said the monitoring system will collect records from multiple sources of information about employees. They will use private credit agencies, law enforcement databases and threat lists, military and other government records, licenses, data services and public record repositories. During random spot checks, the system’s software will sift through the data to spot unusual behavior patterns.

The system could also link to outside databases to flag questionable behavior, said the officials, who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the plans. Investigators will analyze the information along with data separately collected from social media and, when necessary, polygraph tests, officials said. The proposed system would mimic monitoring systems already in use by the airline and banking industries, but it most closely draws from a 10-year-old Pentagon research project known as the Automated Continuous Evaluation System, officials said. The ACES program, designed by researchers from the Monterey, Calif.,-based Defense Personnel and Security Research Center and defense contractor Northrop Grumman, has passed several pilot tests but is not yet in full operation.

NATION | WORLD

THE SUMTER ITEM

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

Investigators chase ‘every angle’ to find jet KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Rescue helicopters and ships searching for a Malaysia Airlines jet rushed Monday to investigate a yellow object that looked like a life raft. It turned out to be moss-covered trash floating in the ocean, once again dashing hopes after more than two days of fruitless search for the plane that disappeared en route to Beijing with 239 people on board. With no confirmation that the Boeing 777 had crashed, hundreds of distraught relatives waited anxiously for any news. Thai police and Interpol questioned the proprietors of a travel agency in the resort town of Pattaya that sold oneway tickets to two men now known to have been traveling on flight MH370 using stolen passports. There has been no indication that the two men had anything to do with the tragedy, but the use of stolen passports fueled speculation of foul play, terrorism or a hijacking gone wrong. Malaysia has shared its details with Chinese and American intelligence agencies. Malaysia’s police chief was quoted by local media as saying that one of the men had been identified. Civil aviation chief Azharuddin Abdul Rahman declined to confirm this, but said they were of “non-Asian” appearance, adding that authorities were looking at the possibility the men were connected to a stolen passport syndicate.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A girl stands next to a “Have Hope” sign at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, Malaysia, on Monday. Questions have emerged about how two passengers managed to board the missing Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 using stolen passports. Asked by a reporter what they looked like “roughly,” he said, “Do you know of a footballer by the name of (Mario) Balotelli? He is an Italian. Do you know how he looks like?” A reporter then asked, “Is he black?” and the aviation chief replied, “Yes.” The search operation has involved 34 aircraft and 40 ships from several countries covering a 50-nautical-mile radius from the point the plane vanished from radar screens between Malaysia and Vietnam, he said. Experts said possible causes

of the apparent crash include an explosion, a catastrophic engine failure, a terrorist attack, extreme turbulence, pilot error or even suicide. Selamat Omar, a Malaysian whose 29-year-old son, Mohamad Khairul Amri Selamat, was a passenger on the flight, expected a call from him at the 6:30 a.m. arrival time. Instead he got a call from the airline saying the plane was missing. “We accept God’s will. Whether he is found alive or dead, we surrender to Allah,” Selamat said.

There have been a few glimmers of hope, but so far no trace of the plane has been found. On Sunday afternoon, a Vietnamese plane spotted a rectangular object that was thought to be one of the missing plane’s doors, but ships working through the night could not locate it. Then on Monday, a Singaporean search plane spotted a yellow object some 87 miles southwest of Tho Chu island, but it turned out to be some sea trash. Malaysian maritime offi-

cials found some oil slicks in the South China Sea and sent a sample to a lab to see if it came from the plane. Tests showed that the oil was not from an aircraft, Rahman said. As relatives of the 239 people on the flight grappled with fading hope, attention focused on how two passengers managed to board the aircraft using stolen passports. Interpol confirmed it knew about the stolen passports but said no authorities checked its vast databases on stolen documents before the jet departed. Warning that “only a handful of countries” routinely make such checks, Interpol Secretary General Ronald Noble chided authorities for “waiting for a tragedy to put prudent security measures in place at borders and boarding gates.” The two stolen passports, one belonging to Austrian Christian Kozel and the other to Luigi Maraldi of Italy, were entered into Interpol’s database after they were stolen in Thailand in 2012 and last year, the police body said. Electronic booking records show that one-way tickets with those names were issued Thursday from a travel agency in the beach resort of Pattaya in eastern Thailand. Thai police Col. Supachai Phuykaeokam said those reservations were placed with the agency by a second travel agency in Pattaya, which told police it had received the bookings from a China Southern Airlines office in Bangkok.

Father about gunman son: ‘You can’t get any more evil’ NEW YORK (AP) — In his most extensive comments about the 2012 Connecticut school massacre, the father of gunman Adam Lanza describes his struggle to comprehend what his son did — an act that “couldn’t get any more evil” — and how he now wishes that his son had never been born. A. LANZA Peter Lanza also told The New Yorker magazine in a series of interviews last fall that he thinks Adam would have killed him, too, if he had the chance. And he often contemplates what he could have done differently in his relationship with Adam, although he thinks the killings couldn’t have been predicted. “Any variation on what I did and how my relationship was had to be good, because no outcome could be worse,” Peter Lanza told the magazine in an article dated March 17. “You can’t get any more evil. ... How much do I beat up on myself about the fact that he’s my son? A lot.” He said he hadn’t seen his son in two years when Adam killed 20 first-graders and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown in December 2012. Adam killed himself as police arrived. He also fatally shot his mother, Nancy, in their Newtown home before going to the school. The magazine interviews are Peter Lanza’s first public comments since he released a statement the day after the massacre expressing sympathy for the victims’ families and puzzlement with his son’s actions. Peter and Nancy Lanza separated in 2001 and divorced in 2009. He last saw Adam in October 2010 and wanted to maintain contact with him. But Nancy Lanza wrote him an email saying Adam didn’t want to see him, despite her efforts to reason with him. Several plans to meet with his son fell through. Peter Lanza said he felt frustrated and even considered hiring a private investigator to find out what his son was doing “so I could bump into him.” He said he felt that show-

ing up unannounced at his son’s home would only make things worse. Peter Lanza said Adam was 13 when a psychiatrist diagnosed him with Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism not associated with violence. But he thinks the syndrome “veiled a contaminant” that wasn’t Asperger’s. “I was thinking it could mask schizophrenia,” said Peter Lanza, who lives in Fairfield County, Conn., and is vice president for taxes at a General Electric subsidiary, GE Energy Financial Services. A spokesman for Peter Lanza said Monday that Lanza would not be commenting further. Peter Lanza told the magazine that his son as a young child was “just a normal little weird kid” who used to spend hours with his father playing with Legos. After the killings, police in-

vestigators discovered that Adam Lanza had written violent stories as a child and later became interested in mass murders. Peter Lanza thinks his son had no affection for him at the time of the shootings. “With hindsight, I know Adam would have killed me in a heartbeat if he’d had the chance. I don’t question that for a minute,” he told the magazine. Peter Lanza said he has searched psychiatric literature on mass killers to try to understand what happened. He was asked how he would feel if he could see his son again. “Quite honestly, I think that I wouldn’t recognize the person I saw,” he said. “All I could picture is there’d be nothing there, there’d be nothing. Almost, like, ‘Who are you, stranger?’”

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TRIAL FROM PAGE A1 2011, accused of shooting Maxine Briggs Caraway and 9-month-old Jayden Caraway. He is also accused of shooting the infant’s mother, Kaisha Tiera Caraway, who was shot in the shoulder but survived. Sheriff Randy JOHNSON Garrett said at the time of the arrest he thought Johnson shot Maxine outside her home on 1076 Carissa Lane, Manning, before going back inside the

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home where he shot Jayden and his girlfriend, the infant’s mother, then 21-yearold Kaisha. Key evidence in the case will be the videotape of Johnson’s alleged confession to the shootings. Prosecutors said the recordings also include information of previous encounters between Johnson and the victims. The proceedings will continue at 9 a.m. today in the council chambers of the Clarendon County Administration Building. The Clarendon County Courthouse remains unavailable because of ongoing renovations. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

EVENT

FARM TO TABLE

FROM PAGE A1 and produced agricultural products. “We’ll get footage of the vendors cooking this stuff and everybody enjoying themselves,” she said. The inaugural Farm to Table event will bring together several local vendors this week at the Sumter County Civic Center. Attendees will be able to sample a variety of meat and produce for the cost of admission, all of it originating not far from a Sumter backyard. “Agriculture is the biggest industry we have,” McNulty said. “We want people to know if you can get it local, it’s fresher and tastier.” Organized by the Sumter Rotary Club, Farm to Table will be open from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday. Proceeds will benefit three local charities: the Crossroads Wounded Warrior Archery Foundation, Rotary’s Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust and Clemson Extension 4-H Club. In fact, about 10 high school and middle school 4-H members will be on scene to help out. “We’ll serve tea and water, and they’ll be at the door to greet people and collect tickets,” said Terri Sumpter, 4-H coordinator with the Extension Service. “If there’s any elderly people there or anyone who can’t get around, they can just sit at a table and the kids can assist them in bringing the food to them.” The 4-H Club has almost 400 members participating in programs at the school and community level, learning about where their food comes from and how big an impact agriculture has on their community. “This will give them a greater appreciation for agriculture. They don’t realize how big it is

“Farm to Table” will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Sumter County Civic Center. Tickets are $30. Vendors at the event will include: • Christi & Co. Catering • Baker’s Sweets • The Farm Store • Harvin Meats • Liberty Seafood • Manchester Farms • Palmetto Pigeon Plant • Piggly Wiggly (Black Crest Farms) • Pilgrim’s Pride • Johnny’s Garden Juice Bar

in Sumter County,” Sumpter said. “Some of these kids have never even been on a farm.” Although this is the first Farm to Table event, the Extension Service was intimately involved with the old Poultry Night event that inspired the new agricultural spotlight. McNulty considers the event part of the service’s mission of promoting South Carolinagrown edibles, especially with all the attention now placed on locally produced foods. “This year is the 100th anniversary of the Extension Service,” she said. “So we have a display with a lot of pictures of farmers from 80 or 90 years ago in their hats farming with mules.” Farm to Table hasn’t yet become an annual event, but McNulty said TV producers are already planning to do use anything they shoot Thursday night to promote next year’s event. “It’s only going to get bigger and better,” she said. Tickets for Farm to Table are on sale now and can be purchased for $30 prior to the event at The Sumter Item, Galloway & Moseley, Southern States, The Farm Store and other retail outlets, as well as from any Rotary Club member.

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A man stands next to a Russian flag during a rally at a central square in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, on Monday. Many Russian speakers in the region continue to protest against the new Ukrainian government following the overthrow of pro-Kremlin President Viktor Yanukovych.

U.S. woos China on Ukraine WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is stepping up its attempts to court China’s support for isolating Russia over its military intervention in Ukraine. With official comments from China appearing studiously neutral since the Ukraine crisis began, President Obama spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping late Sunday in a bid to get Beijing off the fence. The call was their first known conversation since Russian forces took control of Ukraine’s pro-Moscow Crimea region. It came amid signals that Russian President Vladimir Putin was hardening his position on

Crimea, which is due to vote on joining Russia this weekend in a referendum the U.S. and its allies have vowed not to recognize. In making his case, Obama appealed to China’s well-known and vehement opposition to outside intervention in other nations’ domestic affairs, according to a White House statement. However, it remained unclear whether China would side with the U.S. and Europe or with Moscow, which has accused the West of sparking the crisis in Ukraine with inappropriate “meddling” in the internal affairs of the former Soviet republic. China is a frequent ally of Russia in the U.N. Se-

curity Council, where both wield veto power. In his conversation with Xi, Obama “noted his overriding objective of restoring Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and ensuring the Ukrainian people are able to determine their own future without foreign interference,” the White House said. It said the two leaders “agreed on the importance of upholding principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, both in the context of Ukraine and also for the broader functioning of the international system.” They also affirmed their interest in finding a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

STATE

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TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

S.C. considers more protection for heirs’ property COLUMBIA (AP) — South Carolina lawmakers are reviewing stronger protections for land with no clear title that has often been handed down by blacks for generations since slavery. Heirs’ property is any land passed down without a will. In South Carolina, it most often refers to land in the Lowcountry handed down by former slaves that eventually ended up being owned jointly by dozens of descendants. Because there is no clear title, any heir can go to a judge seeking his or her share of the property, and under current law, the only way to get that value is to auction the land. Third parties sometimes purchase an heirs’ interest and force the auction, and in some cases, developers have bought tracts at auction at well below market price.

Land owned by blacks is often vulnerable because they have been less likely to file wills. And as blacks migrated to other states through the years, many lost ties to the land and the family they left behind and were willing to collect money for their share of a tract they had never seen. A decade ago, South Carolina lawmakers passed a bill giving relatives the right of first refusal if someone wants to get their value from the land. The land is appraised, and they are given 45 days to pay fair market value. But with ever-increasing coastal land values, “the big issue with that is that the heirs often have the inability to get the money together to pay,” said Susan Berkowitz, director of the South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center, Now lawmakers are considering

the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act, which went before a Senate subcommittee last week. It maintains the right of first refusal so other family members can purchase the property but also allows, for the first time, a judge to consider more than just economics in deciding how everyone gets their value out of the property. A judge could consider such things as whether the land can be divided, the degree to which the descendants have contributed to property taxes and other costs of keeping the land, and even someone’s sentimental attachment to the land such as it being where his or her ancestors lived. In addition, if a settlement can’t be reached, the judge can require it be sold, not at auction, but on the open market where all the descendants will receive a fair-market price.

“There would be a requirement that the court weigh the totality of all the relevant factors, not just the economic issues,” said Josh Walden, the attorney for the Charleston-based Center for Heirs Property Preservation, a nonprofit that works to help heirs’ property owners obtain clear title and keep their family land. There’s an estimated 41,000 acres of heirs’ property in the six South Carolina counties that the center serves. Walden said considering factors beyond economic value will give the judges and attorneys more leeway “and probably more headaches to be honest.” It will allow “arguments to be made in certain cases that even if they don’t prevent the entire sale of the property, maybe they can allow a partition of a portion of it. Maybe it’s not an all-or-nothing thing,” he said.

2 Aiken County boys save brother from hanging while playing AIKEN (AP) — Call it a case of brotherly love. Two Windsor boys were outside their home playing several weeks ago when their brother accidentally hung himself from a tree with a karate belt. Rather than panic or run into the home to get help, one of the boys lifted the ailing brother up enough so the other could untie the belt. First responders said the boys’ actions likely saved their brother’s life. During the morning TV show at Oakwood-Windsor Elementary School recently, 8-year-old Malachi Padgett and 10-year-old Jaivous Rosario were awarded the Citizens Lifesaving Award by Windsor Fire and Rescue for staying cool under fire on Feb. 14 when their brother, 10-yearold Joehailan Rosario, was in trouble. Firefighters received a call involving an unconscious 10-year-old child about 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 14, according to Shanon Boothe of the Windsor Fire Department. They arrived at the home and found Joehailan unconscious on a bed. “He was playing with a karate belt,” Boothe said. “I don’t know if he was using it as a scarf or something like that. He was climbing trees, and when he came out of the tree, that’s when it caught. His brothers happened to turn around and see what’s going on, and then that’s when they jumped into action.” Jaivous remembered hearing Joehailan call for help. “He had called our names, and we were coming,” he said. “When we got over there, we just saw him laying on the ground. His lips were turning purple.” Boothe and two other firefighters began working on Joehailan and giving him oxygen. Joehailan was transported by ambulance to Georgia

‘We don’t understand why things happen a lot of times, but some good came out of this. We appreciate what they did, and we’re glad to see you here talking with us.’ SHANON BOOTHE Windsor Fire Department Regents Medical Center. Boothe said he never regained consciousness and was later put on a respirator. Taisha Rosario was in Aiken shopping and remembers the horror of receiving a call from her father telling her there’d been an accident. “Between everything going on in the background and me panicking, all I got was that Joehailan hung himself,” she recalled. “It was scary. All I see is a bunch of police cars, an ambulance and firefighters. Doctors were concerned about possible brain damage, Rosario said. He woke up about 4 a.m. that Saturday. “The first thing he did was, he reached out and he rubbed my face,” she said. “I knew he recognized me. You could tell he was coherent, he was trying to talk.” Rosario said Joehailan quickly improved, and later tests confirmed there was no brain damage. He went home that Monday. “Them taking that measure, doing it that quick instead of running and getting somebody, it’s probably the reason this little boy doesn’t have a serious brain injury or didn’t pass away,” Boothe said. Louis Morris, another firefighter who responded to the incident, said Malachi and Jaivous were heroic not only in getting Joehailan down, but also in helping first responders after they arrived

at the home. “Jaivous was at the end of the driveway, waving me and Shanon in,” Morris said. “We’ve seen some pretty bad

things. It gets to you, especially when kids are involved. We both have kids his age, and we hear something like that — your heart sinks because you never know what it could be.” Morris said the two brothers stayed out of the way while rescuers worked on Joehailan, and the brothers were also helpful in answering questions. “For their age, it was really amazing the way they handled it,” Morris said. “I think they might have a future helping other people.” Joehailan recently met the

first responders who helped save him for the first time since the accident. He said the last thing he remembered before it happened was playing in the yard. Then, nothing. “Joehailan, you’re very lucky, buddy,” Boothe told him. “It happened on Valentine’s Day, so that’s why we came up with the brotherly love thing. We don’t understand why things happen a lot of times, but some good came out of this. We appreciate what they did, and we’re glad to see you here talking with us.”

TELEVISION

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WIS News 10 at Entertainment The Voice: The Blind Auditions Con- (:01) About a Boy: (:31) Growing Up Chicago Fire: A Rocket Blasting Off WIS News 10 at (:35) The Tonight Show Starring 7:00pm Local Tonight (N) (HD) tinue Last round of blind auditions. About a Godfather Fisher (N) (HD) Severide suspected of a disappear- 11:00pm News Jimmy Fallon Actor Tyler Perry. (N) news update. (N) (HD) (N) (HD) ance. (N) (HD) and weather. (HD) News 19 @ 7pm Inside Edition (N) NCIS: Anonymous Was A Woman NCIS: Los Angeles: The Livelong Day (:01) Person of Interest: Lady Killer News 19 @ 11pm (:35) Late Show with David LetterEvening news up- (HD) Gibbs and McGee travel to Afghani- Terrorist plot on Los Angeles train. Trap laid for playboy socialite. (HD) The news of the man Jason Bateman; Gary Allan. (N) date. stan. (HD) (HD) day. (HD) Wheel of Fortune Jeopardy! (N) Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Yes (:01) The (:31) Trophy Wife Mind Games: Pet Rock A college stu- ABC Columbia (:35) Jimmy Kimmel Live Celebrities (N) (HD) (HD) Men Lady Loerlei causes trouble for Goldbergs: Lame Katie’s wedding. dent joins a cult. (N) (HD) News at 11 (HD) and human-interest subjects. (HD) Coulson. (N) (HD) Gretzky (N) (HD) (N) (HD) Peter, Paul and Mary 25th Anniversary Concert Peter, Paul and Mary cel- 3 Steps to Incredible Health! with Joel Fuhrman, M.D. Pledge Programming Acclaimed programming high- Pledge Proebrate their 25th anniversary with a live performance. (HD) Dr. Joel Fuhrman looks at the obesity crisis in the US and lights a membership drive encouraging viewer support. gramming how to battle it. (HD) Viewer support. The Big Bang The Big Bang Glee: City of Angels New Directions New Girl: Fired Up Brooklyn Nine- WACH FOX News at 10 Local news Two and a Half Two and a Half The Middle: The Theory Amy’s Theory (HD) visits Los Angeles, Calif., for NaJess fires Coach. Nine Best man report and weather forecast. Men Medical trial Men: Just Like Prom Date difeelings. (HD) tionals. (N) (HD) (N) (HD) Jake. (N) (HD) cash. (HD) Buffalo (HD) lemma. (HD) Family Feud Family Feud Bones: The Secret in the Soil Organic Bones: Mummy in the Maze Killer King of the Hill: The Cleveland The Arsenio Hall Show Late night Dish Nation (N) supermarket owner killed. (HD) claims victim every Halloween. (HD) The Son Also Show Talent variety/talk show. (HD) Roses show. (HD)

CABLE CHANNELS Storage Wars Storage Wars Storage Wars Storage Wars Storage Wars Storage Wars Storage Wars Storage Wars (:01) Storage (:31) Storage (:01) Storage (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) Wars (HD) Wars (HD) Wars (HD) Jaws (‘75, Horror) aaac Roy Scheider. A small-town police chief is convinced that a series of deaths was the Game of Arms: The Cold War Game of Arms: The Cold War FaReign of Fire work of a gigantic shark, but has trouble getting others to believe him. (HD) Fathers wrestle. (N) thers wrestle. (‘02) aa (HD) Wild Amazon (HD) Wild Amazon (HD) Walking the Amazon Explorers’ over two year trek revealed. (HD) Wild Amazon (HD) Walking (HD) (6:00) The Family That Preys (‘08, Drama) c Kathy Bates. A scandal The Game: The Jersey Episode Part The Game (N) Let’s Stay To- The Game (HD) Let’s Stay To- Wendy Williams threatens the lives of two families, so the mothers must save them. One Jersey is retired. (HD) (HD) gether (N) (HD) gether (HD) Show (HD) Real Housewives N.Y.: Don’t Make Real Housewives N.Y.: All’s Well The Real Housewives of New York The Real Housewives of Atlanta: What Happens Real Housewives of New York City: Room for Daddy That Doesn’t End Well City Heather’s birthday. (N) He Said, She Said Mexico trip. (N) If You Can Make It Here The Kudlow Report (N) Shark Tank (HD) Shark Tank (HD) The Profit (N) Shark Tank (HD) Shark (HD) Erin Burnett OutFront (N) Anderson Cooper 360° (N) (HD) Piers Morgan LIVE (N) (HD) Anderson Cooper 360° (HD) Erin Burnett OutFront P. Morgan The Colbert Re- Daily Show (HD) Kroll Show (HD) Tosh.0 Pick-up Tosh.0 New York. Tosh.0 Public Tosh.0 (N) (HD) Kroll Show: Daily Show (N) The Colbert Re- (:01) @midnight port (HD) artist. (HD) (HD) restroom. (HD) Bounce (N) (HD) (HD) port (N) (HD) (N) (HD) Blog: Good Girl I Didn’t Liv and Maddie Austin & Ally Jessie: Snack At- A.N.T. Farm (HD) Jessie Music pro- Dog with Blog: A Austin & Ally Good Luck Char- Good Luck CharGone Bad (HD) (HD) tack (HD) ducer. (HD) New Baby? (HD) lie (HD) lie (HD) Clash of the Ozarks (HD) Amish Mafia: The Devil’s (N) Amish Mafia (N) (HD) Clash of the Ozarks (N) (HD) Amish Mafia: Deadly Sins (HD) Clash (HD) College Basketball z{| (HD) College Basketball: from Orleans Arena in Las Vegas (HD) SportsCenter (HD) SportsCenter College Basketball: NEC Tournament: Championship (HD) College Basketball z{| (HD) Olbermann (HD) Olbermann Pretty Little Liars: Cover for Me New Pretty Little Liars: Unbridled Fashion Twisted: The Son Also Falls Jo for Pretty Little Liars: Unbridled Fashion The 700 Club Twisted: The Son lead in case. (HD) show. (N) (HD) president. (N) show. (HD) Also Falls Chopped Familiar items. (HD) Chopped: Cloche Call (HD) Chopped Chicken livers. (HD) Chopped Alligator. 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Zborn Again Hunters (HD) Hunters (HD) Property (HD) Property (HD) Flop Flop Hunters (HD) Hunters (N) Flip It To Win It (N) Flop Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Counting (HD) Counting (HD) Counting (HD) Counting (HD) American (HD) American (HD) American (HD) American (HD) Counting (HD) Criminal Minds: Omnivore Boston Criminal Minds: Pay It Forward Time Criminal Minds: Alchemy BAU looks Criminal Minds: Nanny Dearest Kid- Flashpoint: A Day in the Life New re- Flashpoint: cruit joins Team One. (HD) Shockwave (HD) napped nannies. (HD) killer ends 10-year hiatus. (HD) capsule. (HD) into ritualistic murders. (HD) Dance Moms: Nothing’s Fair in Dance Moms: No Solo for You Kalani Dance Moms: Blame It on the New Kim of Queens: Allisyn’s Big Bet (:01) Bring It!: You Better Bring It! (:02) Dance Abbyville Chloe vs. Kalani. (HD) seeks solo. (HD) Girl New girl tries out. (N) (HD) Racetrack trip. (N) (HD) Majorettes train. 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TCM (N) TCM (N) and a sportswriter marry despite having nothing in common. Curtis. A reporter pursues a female sexologist. My Five Wives (HD) Long Island Medium (HD) The Little Couple (N) (HD) The Little Couple (N) (HD) (:02) The Little Couple (HD) (:01) Little (HD) Castle: Cloudy with a Chance of Mur- Rizzoli & Isles: Just Push Play Chef Rizzoli & Isles: Food for Thought (:01) Perception: Cobra CIA assassi- (:02) Rizzoli & Isles: Food for (:03) Perception: der Weather girl dead. (HD) poisoned. (HD) Chef poisoned. (N) (HD) nations. (N) (HD) Thought Chef poisoned. 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A princess bride, geek-style, on Syfy special BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH I don’t review many weddingplanning shows. I see the whole genre as the perfect storm of overwrought emotions, flagrant egotism and unbridled consumerism. But that’s just me. Programmers and advertisers love them because they’re designed to separate vulnerable people from their money, all in the name of fantasy, fun, insecurity, status and class. No wonder a whole genre of “Hangover”-type movies has emerged. The typical reaction of the average male to the “Bridezilla” mentality is to kill as many brain cells as possible as quickly as possible. Who can blame them? That said, I had to put aside my loathing for a minute to watch “My Big Fat Geek Wedding” (10 p.m., Syfy), a one-hour special so marinated in nerdy attitude that I was momentarily charmed. Julian and Mandie “met” while playing Final Fantasy online. After a lightning (eightyear) courtship, Julian took the plunge and proposed — at a Renaissance faire. Actually, this is sort of where the charming part ends. Our very pierced lovebirds are now knee-deep in planning for a “Game of Thrones”-themed wedding. “But not a ‘Red Wedding,’” jokes Mandie. Enter wedding planner and special effects wizard Kristin Banta. And the rest of the “Geek” special is basically a product placement for her company and its ability to create castle themes and sword fights and even drag in dragons for that special effect on your special day. • A business perfectionist applies his management techniques to his unruly family in the new reality/comedy hybrid “Chrisley Knows Best” (10 p.m., USA, TV-14). • One of many “can this business be saved” shows, “The Profit” (10 p.m., CNBC) looks at ways that a Chicago fitness center can put its management (a husband and wife) in order before floundering toward bankruptcy. • “24 Hours on Earth” (9 p.m., BBC America, TV-PG) looks at how the arrival and departure of sunlight impacts animal and plant behavior all over the planet. • El Rey, an English language network targeting Hispanic au-

NBCUNIVERSAL

Syfy’s “My Big Fat Geek Wedding” presents the wedding of Julian Roman and Mandie Bettencourt, who enlisted a team of experts to create their medieval fantasy style wedding. diences, launches “From Dusk till Dawn: The Series” (9 p.m., TV14), a 10-episode take on the 1996 vampire spoof movie, written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. El Rey is currently available on Direct TV, Comcast and Time Warner Cable.

TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS • A position of respect on “About a Boy” (9 p.m., NBC, TVPG). • Todd encounters lions and those who poach them on “Dangerous Grounds” (9 p.m., Travel, TV-PG). • Joyce invades her daughter’s space on “Growing Up Fisher” (9:30 p.m., NBC, TV-PG). • A suspect could be the victim on “Person of Interest” (10 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14). • Katie’s kidnapper vanishes on “Chicago Fire” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14). • Parents want their daughter deprogrammed out of the cult life on “Mind Games” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-14). • Raylan’s DEA partner seems annoyingly familiar on “Justified” (10 p.m., FX, TV-MA).

SERIES NOTES Back to Afghanistan on “NCIS” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) * The nationals begin in Los Angeles on “Glee” (8 p.m., Fox, TV14) * Exiles from Asgard spell trouble on “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (8 p.m., ABC, TVPG) * Elijah ignores Klaus’ rage on “The Originals” (8 p.m., CW, TV-PG) * A domestic threat on “NCIS: Los Angeles” (9

p.m., CBS, r, TV-14) * Hiring and firing on “New Girl” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14) * Murray’s superstitions irk Beverly on “The Goldbergs” (9 p.m., ABC, TVPG) * Radical weight loss can be a killer on “Supernatural” (9 p.m., CW, r, TV-14) * Wedding party pressure on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (9:30 p.m., Fox, TV14) * Pete promises Kate a proper wedding ceremony on “Trophy Wife” (9:30 p.m., ABC, TVPG).

LATE NIGHT

Michael Yo, Jamie Lee and Julian McCullough are on “Chelsea Lately” (11 p.m., E!) * Jason Bateman and Gary Allan appear on “Late Show With David Letterman” (11:35 p.m., CBS) * Jimmy Fallon welcomes Tyler Perry, Billy Eichner and Juanes on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) * Rachel Maddow, Ike Barinholtz, Mike O’Brien and Taran Killam visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC) * Jeff Goldblum and Lauren Cohan on “The Late Late Show” (12:35 a.m., CBS).

Ricky Gervais and Goo Goo Dolls appear on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS) * Emily Mortimer,

AROUND TOWN In recognition of March being Credit Education Month, the Sumter County Library will host free programs at the main branch, 111 N. Harvin St., as follows: 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, “Managing Your Finances” with Donna Holmes from SAFE Federal Credit Union; 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 19, the documentary “Why Smart People Do Stupid Things with Money” will be presented; and 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, “Lunch and Learn: Smart Investing and Banking Tips” with a representative from Wells Fargo, bring your lunch and enjoy this presentation while you eat. The Sumter Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind will meet at 7 p.m. today at Shiloh-Randolph Manor, 125 W. Bartlette St. Bertha W. McCants, Ed.D., will speak. Transportation provided within coverage area. Contact Debra Canty at (803) 775-5792 or at DebraCanC2@frontier.com. Call the recorded message line at (206) 376-5992 for ticket information about the April 19 barbecue. The Clarendon County Republican Party will meet Thursday, March 13, at Cornerstone Free Will Baptist Church, 2116 Greeleyville Highway, Manning. Supper will be served at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Leon Winn, GOP candidate for the 6th District congressional seat, Clarendon County NAACP President Robert McFadden and SCGOP Regional Field Director Martha Gravlee will speak. The Mary McLeod Bethune Section — Sumter Branch of the Council of Negro Women will meet at 5 p.m. Friday, March 14, at Morris College. The annual Harambee breakfast of the Mary McLeod Bethune Section — Sumter Branch of the Council of Negro Women will be held at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, March 15, at the North HOPE Center, North Main Street. The Rev. Roneka China will speak. A college planning and preparation workshop, presented by the Sumter Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., will be held 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, March 15, in the community meeting room of Sumter Mall, 1057 Broad St. This workshop is open to all students grades 9-12, parents, guardians, counselors, teachers and community activists. Dr. Christine HandGonzales will speak. Attendees will learn about available scholarships as well as information on completing the FAFSA Federal Scholarship Aid Form. Call Gloria Neal Showers at (803) 9053289. Lincoln High School Class of 1963 will meet at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at American Legion Post 202, 310 Palmetto St. Plans for the 2015 class reunion will be discussed. Call Ferdinand Burns at (803) 968-4464 for more information. Lincoln High School Class of 1969 will hold a meet and greet at 5 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at the Lincoln High School Alumni Center. Call C. Harvin at (803) 7739790 or R. Pringle at (803) 773-5706 for details. The Pinedale Neighborhood Association will meet at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 20, at the South HOPE Center, 1125 S. Lafayette Drive. Call Ferdinand Burns at (803) 968-4464. The Clarendon County Democratic Party County Convention will be held Thursday, March 20, at the Weldon Auditorium, 7 Maple St., Manning. Registration for convention delegates will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Call Glenn Ardis, county chair, at (803) 452-6013.

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

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014 H.G. Osteen 1870-1955 Founder, The Item

H.D. Osteen 1904-1987 The Item

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 North Magnolia Street, Sumter, South Carolina 29150 • Founded October 15, 1894

COMMENTARY

New SAT don’t care ’bout no fancy words W

ASHINGTON — When the going gets tough, well, why not just make the going easier? This seems to be the conclusion of the College Board, which administers the dreaded SAT college entrance exam. Recently announced “improvements” to the test are designed, say board officials, to better gauge what students actually study and learn in high school. Shouldn’t take too long. Thus, the new SAT will take less time and consist of multiplechoice questions as folKathleen lows: (a) Parker yes; (b) no; (c) maybe; (d) none of the above. Fine, perhaps I exaggerate (pardon the multiple syllables) just a tad. But one does fear that such tweaking is really a stab at greater market share — many students have turned from the SAT to ACT — and to adjust to the fact that student scores have been falling. Owing to what, one wonders? Surely not the gradual degradation of pre-college education. By making the test more “accessible,” board officials theorize, more students will be able to attend college, where, presumably, they will flourish. The test no longer will include fancy words, otherwise known as a rich vocabulary, or require a timed essay. The math section will be adapted so that people-who-aren’t-sogood-at-math, including but not limited to future journalists, can pretend they are. These tweaks are a shame inasmuch as educators lose measures that provided critical information. The essay, for instance, wasn’t a call to Emersonian excellence but was a way of determining whether a student can compose a coherent sentence. You know, subject, verb — all that stuff — not to mention whether one can think. If a person can’t write a series of sentences to express a cogent thought, does that person really qualify for a college education? For what purpose? The most entertaining test area — the analogy — was eliminated in 2005. Again, too hard? Analyzing analogies was not aimed at tripping up lower-income students who otherwise would be Fulbright-bound but of evaluating cognitive ability. Can the kid think? Critics of the SAT maintain that the test is biased in favor of students from wealthier families. We all want a level playing field and equal opportunity for children. This is fundamental to who we are. But if we truly want to improve everyone’s chance

at eventual employment and success, the playing field needs to be plowed and seeded well before the harvest of standardized testing. It starts with schools and teachers, and everybody knows it. Yet, today grades are inflated to assuage low student self-esteem and justify flaws in curricula and instruction. In this setting, it seems that rigorous standardized testing is more crucial than ever. As for the income differential in comparing test scores, outcomes have more to do with access to good schools and teachers than whether certain words aren’t common among lower-income students. Does anyone really think that asking a college-bound student to know the difference between punctilious and punctual is a function of income-related bias? One would hope that collegebound students are both of these. It is indeed unfair that children from less-prosperous homes often are stuck with the schools they get, while students from more prosperous families live in areas with better schools or can attend a private school of their choosing. Financially better-off students also have greater access to preparation courses, which the College Board helpfully will begin offering online without charge. But there are other confounding factors that contribute to inequality as measured by testing. More prosperous students also tend to be beneficiaries of educated families that provide a learning-rich environment. Inestimable is the immense advantage of growing up in a house full of books and witnessing parents who read them. We can’t make the world perfectly equal outcome-wise, but we can keep trying to improve opportunity through better schools and teachers. This is where the real challenges lie, but this, too, is perhaps too hard. Making tests easier so that more will pass becomes a far more accessible solution. Periodic revision of standardized testing may be justified and, in some instances, even laudable. A new SAT focus on founding documents and their authors is one welcome shift. As to whether the new test will be useful in advancing capable students who, for whatever reason, weren’t able to demonstrate their abilities through testing -- time will tell. But saying students are ready for college doesn’t make it so. Kathleen Parker’s email address is kathleenparker@washpost.com. © 2014, Washington Post Writers Group

COMMENTARY

‘Minimally adequate’ not good enough

f there’s one thing that permeates our culture, it’s that we want the best — the winning sports team, the best doctor to treat cancer, the best tax rate, the best choices at the store. Just name the product or service and we want the best. But would we want a minimally-adequate football team at Carolina or Clemson? No. A coach who lost season after season wouldn’t be tolerated by everyone from fans to a governor. Would we want to hire a minimally-adequate doctor, lawyer or dentist? No, no and no. How about on a larger scale — would we accept a minimally-adequate power company? A minimally-adequate port? A minimally-adequate police department? A minimally-adequate car? “No” times four. So why in the world do we in South Carolina continue to accept “minimally adequate education” as the standard for our state’s schools? Can’t we do better? (The answer is apparently not because bills to change the constitution to require a high-quality education have floundered during the years.) Some historical context: Back in 1993, 40 poor school districts sued the state to get more funding for public education. It’s generally accepted that these schools, some of which were profiled in Bud Ferillo’s 2005 “Corridor of Shame” film, haven’t had the money to provide the same quality of education found in richer counties of the state. A few years later, the case was appealed to the state Supreme Court, which ruled in 1999 that all that the state

constitution required of public education was a “minimally adequate education.” The court defined the phrase as including the ability to read, write and speak English; understand basic economic, social and political systems, history and governmental processes; and receive academic and vocational skills. This standard — setting a minimum expectation — caused lots Andy of criticism Brack 15 years ago. Even today, former Chief Justice Ernest Finney, who hammered out the wording on the decision, has admitted “that was probably not the brightest moment in my career.” Since the 1999 ruling, a circuit court decided in 2004 after 102 days of a trial with 102 witnesses that poor kids in poor districts did not, in fact, get a “minimally adequate” education up to third grade but did after that. So the judge required the state to fund early childhood intervention programs to satisfy the “minimally adequate” standard. But as we’ve written before, that didn’t make anyone happy, so the case continued and headed back to the Supreme Court in June 2008, where it still sits almost six years later. And today, the state continues to have a low bar for performance of public schools. Wonder what folks today think about that? Here are some Facebook comments recently posted: • “We certainly have a less than minimally-adequate

state government and far less than minimally adequate representation in D.C.” • “Our school system is inadequate to prepare our citizens (myself included) to understand exactly what minimally adequate means and how to differentiate that concept from thoroughly inadequate.” • “‘Minimally adequate’ is not an acceptable standard because it is neither aspirational nor sufficient. Did Steve Jobs or Bill Gates set out to create a “minimally adequate” technology company? ... There is no substitute for striving for excellence (and providing the funding to achieve that goal). That’s the only standard that will make our state and its workers competitive in the global economy.” • “Until South Carolina decides that education and educators are valuable — valuable enough to tax themselves to fund it — hang it up. A business model of education doesn’t work.” • “One reason I am moving out of South Carolina (is) I am tired of too many citizens accepting mediocrity.” Let’s not continue to accept a minimally-adequate educational system. Let state leaders have the courage — especially with budget talks starting on the House floor — to do something about it instead of continuing to lollygag. Ferillo has a new film that will challenge leaders anew to fund education properly. It comes out this month. For more, go to www.StatehouseReport.com. Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Statehouse Report. He can be reached at brack@statehousereport.com.

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 email 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.

A10

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

FIRESIDE FROM PAGE A1 get by.” “Thank you to all the donors for such an incredible year,” Lassiter said. Founded in 1969, the Fireside Fund collects money for those Sumterites who need help with heating costs, including past-due electric bills and vouchers for kerosene and wood. The Sumter Item collects the money, and The Salvation Army interviews candidates. This year’s Fireside Fund was dedicated to the late Glen Sharp, one of Sumter’s greatest philanthropists and businessmen. His family gave a $15,000 donation to the fund this year. Final contributions and

totals for the year: In memory of Walter Ike Johnson and Darrell C Johnson from Minnie Green, $25; in memory of Betty Faye Andrews from Mrs. Marguerite Porter, $25; Love in Action Sunday School Class Westside Baptist Church, $50; Madison Industries Inc., $2,000; Southside Baptist Church Men’s Sunday School Class, $100; Women of Fraser Church, $25. Total Combined Anonymous, $150 Total This Week: $2,375 Total This Year: $62,869.17 Total Last Year: $41,221.57 Total Since 1969: $1,384,183.19

DAILY PLANNER

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEATHER

AccuWeather® ﬁve-day forecast for Sumter TODAY

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Mostly sunny and very warm

Cloudy, mild; a little rain late

A couple of thunderstorms

Mostly sunny, breezy and cooler

A full day of sunshine

Mostly cloudy

78°

57°

72° / 37°

53° / 30°

60° / 41°

68° / 47°

Chance of rain: 0%

Chance of rain: 60%

Chance of rain: 5%

Chance of rain: 25%

Winds: WSW 6-12 mph

Winds: SSW 6-12 mph

Winds: SW 10-20 mph

Winds: NNW 10-20 mph

Winds: SSE 4-8 mph

Winds: SW 4-8 mph

TODAY’S SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER

Gaﬀney 73/53 Spartanburg 74/56

Greenville 74/57

Columbia 78/59

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

Sumter 78/57

IN THE MOUNTAINS

CANCER FROM PAGE A1 been steadily dropping the last 20 years,” he said. “We’ve actually seen a benefit in the screenings and colonoscopies.” The average age of diagnosis is 62, so because it typically is a slow-growing cancer, the recommendation is to start screenings at the age of 50 and then have another colonoscopy every five to 10 years. “But if you’re not scoped every five to 10 years, at least get your stool checked for blood,” Dominici said. “Also, as you get older, your risk increases.” If you have a family history of the disease, the recommendation is 10 years before when the relative was diagnosed. “So if the family member was diagnosed at 45, you should get checked at 35,”

Cunningham said. “Blacks should be screened early, 45, because generally it tends to be slightly more aggressive in them.” Having an inflammatory bowel disease such as colitis or Crohn’s disease can also increase your risk, Dominici said. Diets high in fat and smoking may also put you at a slightly higher risk. Other ways to prevent colon cancer seem to be a diet high in fruit and vegetables, regular exercise, taking aspirin and calcium and avoiding eating a significant amount of red meat. “Basically, a healthy lifestyle decreases the person’s risk,” Cunningham said. For more information, visit cccr.sc.edu or call (803) 777-1231.

STATE BRIEF

seen for about 30 minutes early Saturday morning FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS before he was found crushed to death in maMachine crushes man chinery. His death was ruled an at Newberry plant accident. The Occupational Safety NEWBERRY — Authoriand Health Administraties said a 46-year-old tion is investigating the Greenwood man has died death. after getting trapped in a The Louis Rich plant machine at the Louis Rich makes luncheon meats, meat-processing plant in turkey bacon, chicken Newberry. The coroner’s office said breast strips, ground turkey and other items. Todd Hendrix hadn’t been

Aiken 79/58

ON THE COAST

Charleston 79/61

Today: Mostly sunny. High 69 to 78. Wednesday: A couple of showers and a thunderstorm. High 71 to 78.

LOCAL ALMANAC

LAKE LEVELS

SUMTER THROUGH 4 P.M. YESTERDAY

Full pool 360 76.8 75.5 100

Lake Murray Marion Moultrie Wateree

77° 45° 65° 39° 89° in 1974 21° in 1996

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

Myrtle Beach 71/60

Manning 78/57

Today: Mostly sunny and warm. Winds west-southwest 6-12 mph. Wednesday: A couple of thunderstorms. Winds west-southwest 10-20 mph.

Temperature High Low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

Florence 77/56

Bishopville 78/57

SUN AND MOON 7 a.m. yest. 357.90 74.99 74.03 100.71

24-hr chg +0.02 +0.01 -0.14 -0.36

Sunrise 7:38 a.m. Moonrise 3:12 p.m.

RIVER STAGES

NATIONAL CITIES

REGIONAL CITIES

Today Wed. City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W Atlanta 75/58/s 65/29/t Chicago 43/22/c 27/15/sf Dallas 81/46/s 60/36/s Detroit 44/24/c 27/6/sn Houston 75/55/r 63/41/s Los Angeles 79/57/s 81/55/s New Orleans 70/60/r 72/45/c New York 60/40/pc 53/25/r Orlando 83/63/s 83/60/t Philadelphia 65/43/pc 64/26/r Phoenix 80/58/s 79/52/s San Francisco 69/47/s 68/47/s Wash., DC 69/47/s 71/30/t

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 68/48/s 78/56/s 78/58/s 78/61/s 64/54/s 79/61/s 76/54/s 78/58/s 78/59/s 74/56/s 71/50/s 76/54/s 76/54/s

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 63/25/r 69/32/t 78/37/t 78/46/t 66/39/t 78/41/t 72/29/t 70/32/t 74/38/t 75/34/t 71/33/t 74/37/t 74/36/t

7:26 p.m. 4:21 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Mar. 16

Mar. 23

Mar. 30

Apr. 7

TIDES

Flood 7 a.m. 24-hr stage yest. chg 12 9.87 +0.40 19 9.57 -5.11 14 10.47 +0.49 14 8.40 -1.71 80 80.75 +0.43 24 19.80 -2.10

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

0.00" 2.21" 1.31" 8.00" 5.97" 8.73"

Sunset Moonset

AT MYRTLE BEACH

Today Wed.

Today City Hi/Lo/W Florence 77/56/s Gainesville 80/55/s Gastonia 76/54/s Goldsboro 77/52/s Goose Creek 79/61/s Greensboro 74/51/s Greenville 74/57/s Hickory 70/52/s Hilton Head 72/61/s Jacksonville, FL 80/56/s La Grange 75/56/pc Macon 78/59/s Marietta 76/56/pc

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 78/37/t 78/49/t 72/32/t 75/39/t 78/41/t 72/29/t 70/31/t 67/31/t 71/42/t 78/49/t 68/32/t 73/35/t 65/30/t

High 6:02 a.m. 6:32 p.m. 6:54 a.m. 7:22 p.m.

Ht. 2.7 2.5 2.8 2.7

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

Low 12:21 a.m. 1:07 p.m. 1:15 a.m. 1:55 p.m.

Today Hi/Lo/W 70/53/s 77/61/s 71/60/s 78/60/s 76/61/s 77/52/s 77/54/s 77/53/s 80/60/s 74/56/s 74/60/s 75/58/s 73/51/s

Ht. 0.5 0.6 0.4 0.5

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 66/30/r 78/41/t 73/40/t 77/38/t 77/46/t 74/29/t 72/31/t 77/38/t 76/49/t 70/31/t 72/40/t 76/40/t 70/29/t

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

PUBLIC AGENDA LEE COUNTY COUNCIL Today, 9 a.m., council chambers SUMTER HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION Today, noon, Sunset Country Club LYNCHBURG TOWN COUNCIL Today, 6 p.m., Teen Center on Magnolia Street, Lynchburg SUMTER COUNTY COUNCIL

The last word ARIES (March 21-April 19): in astrology Let others EUGENIA LAST make their own decisions and you’ll avoid getting into a heated discussion that will put a damper on your day. Focus on love, affection and being there for the ones you love. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Listen to what’s being said, but don’t feel you have to be a follower. Changes you make at home should add to your comfort or allow you to develop a plan that will bring in extra cash. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Don’t dillydally. Present the facts and you will get the help you need to follow through with plans. Love and romance are highlighted and can bring about a change in the way you live in the future. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Don’t get angry; get moving. It’s up to you to follow through with plans. Don’t feel you have to wait for someone else to make the first move. Good fortune comes to those willing to go after it. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): If you reveal secret information, you’ll face the consequences. A move or lifestyle change may be necessary if you want to avoid someone infringing on your space. Invest in you and what you have to offer. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Find out who’s up to what before you delve into a time-consuming project. Make sure there’s something in it for you before offering your services. Success will be based on having the best

Today, 6 p.m., Council Chambers PINEWOOD TOWN COUNCIL Today, 6:30 p.m., town hall TURBEVILLE TOWN COUNCIL Today, 6:30 p.m., town hall SUMMERTON TOWN COUNCIL Today, 6 p.m., town hall MAYESVILLE TOWN COUNCIL Today, 7 p.m., town hall

team. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Stay focused on what’s expected of you and deliver the goods. Overreacting or making a fuss will only make you look bad. Show professionalism and you will secure your position. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Sit back and observe. Knowledge is your best weapon when it comes to controversy. Don’t get emotional when there are so many good places to put your energy. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Love is in the stars and you can launch exciting ways to move forward. A deal may not be totally above board, but it is likely to bring in cash. Don’t reveal your situation until you know it’s secure.

LOTTERY NUMBERS PALMETTO CASH 5 MONDAY

POWERBALL SATURDAY

MEGAMILLIONS FRIDAY

4-5-8-24-32 PowerUp: 2

10-14-24-32-41 Powerball: 30 Powerplay: 2

11-13-51-57-69 Megaball: 1 Megaplier: 4

PICK 3 MONDAY

PICK 4 MONDAY

2-4-8 and 4-2-2

6-9-3-7 and 8-7-2-8

PICTURES FROM THE PUBLIC SUBMITTED BY: Kelli Hancock OCCASION: Carroll Wilson created this “ice man” after Winter Storm Pax pounded the area with freezing rain and sleet in February.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Maintaining your reputation should take top priority. Avoid getting drawn into an argument. Don’t meddle or offer advice. Protect your position, partnerships and the way you do business. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Look at what’s being offered, see what you have to contribute and make your move swiftly. Love is highlighted and offering an unusual romantic scenario will capture someone’s interest. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Be true to yourself. Size up your situation and position yourself for success. Socializing will bring greater personal and professional opportunities. Dealing with younger and older individuals will be inspiring and educational.

HAVE YOU TAKEN PICTURES OF INTERESTING, EXCITING, BEAUTIFUL OR HISTORICAL PLACES? Would you like to share those images with your fellow Sumter Item readers? E-mail your hi-resolution jpegs to sandrah@theitem.com, or mail to Sandra Holbert c/o The Sumter Item, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, SC 29150. Include clearly printed or typed name of photographer and photo details. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of your photo. Amateur photographers only please.

SECTION

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014 Call: (803) 774-1241 | E-mail: sports@theitem.com

NASCAR

NASCAR’s Chase changes lead to big finish in Vegas BY GREG BEACHAM The Associated Press

LAS VEGAS — When Brad Keselowski blew past Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the backstretch of the final lap to win Sunday, many concerns about NASCAR’s new Chase for the Sprint Cup championship rules also got left in the dust. Earnhardt felt confident he could gamble on a near-empty tank at Las Vegas Motor Speedway because his spot in the Chase already is virtually secure, thanks to his Daytona 500 win. The new Chase format rewards victory,

pushing drivers to go for every checkered flag — and that usually means better racing. “I think the new format is definitely showing it has tons of positives,” Earnhardt said. “It’s better as far as entertainment for our sport. It gives us freedom, and it’s KESELOWSKI nice to have that freedom to do the things that we did today, even though we knew our odds weren’t good. We really shouldn’t have made it, and we didn’t, but we got to

USC MEN’S BASKETBALL

PREP BASEBALL

try because of the new system.” Keselowski pushed his former mentor and eventually passed him, eager to secure his own Chase spot just three races into the season. He praised Earnhardt and crew chief Steve Letarte for their boldness — and with his own Chase spot now virtually secure after missing entirely last season, the 2012 Sprint Cup champ and crew chief Paul Wolfe plan to emulate them. “It was a good, risky move on their part, because they had nothing to lose because of this format,” Keselowski said. “I think that shows some of the

opportunities that come up and how they can be stress-free days, and I’m looking forward to being able to take those same opportunities. Because believe me, I’m not scared to take them, and I know Paul’s not, so look out. It’s going to be a lot of fun.” Five more developments from NASCAR’s third race of an intriguing season: PENSKE’S PUSH

Both Penske Fords in the NASCAR

SEE NASCAR, PAGE B4

Gamecocks back Martin entering SEC tournament BY PETE IACOBELLI The Associated Press COLUMBIA — South Carolina freshman Sindarius Thornwell joined the Gamecocks because of Frank Martin’s fiery style, and he wants the coach to be himself when he returns from his one-game suspension. Martin was suspended by South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner for harsh language aimed at guard Duane Notice during a loss to topranked Florida last week. Associate head coach Matt Figger led the THORNWELL Gamecocks to a 74-62 win at Mississippi State on Saturday while Martin attended a cheerleading competition for his 8-year-old daughter Amalia in Tennessee with his family. Martin returns to the sideline Wednesday when South Carolina (12-19) faces Auburn (14-15) in the Southeastern Conference tournament. Martin apologized to fans last Friday for his curse-filled outburst at Notice that went viral. He vowed to change, but has taken his share of hits on sports-talk shows and Internet chat rooms the past week. His critics argue that the harsh words can’t possibly help a young team closing a fifth straight losing season, but Thornwell said they misunderstand Martin’s purpose. Gamecock players support their coach and don’t believe his cursing and shouting are meant to demean them, Thornwell said. “I look at it as motivation,” said Thornwell, who is averaging 13.5 points, good for second among Southeastern Conference freshmen. “You see a coach and see how much he loves the game and wants to get after it, (that) makes you want to get after it, too. That’s how all of us look at it.”

SEE MARTIN, PAGE B3

SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTOS

Sumter’s Charlie Barnes, left, and Wilson Hall’s John Patrick Sears are expected to lead their respective teams at the plate and on the mound this season. Both teams play their home openers today, SHS hosting Spring Valley beginning at 6:30 p.m. and Wilson Hall taking on Orangeburg Prep at 7.

Excellent expectations Sumter, Wilson Hall begin home openers with high season hopes BY DENNIS BRUNSON dennisb@theitem.com The Sumter High School and Wilson Hall baseball teams, two teams with high expectations, will play their home openers today after having a successful start to their seasons over the weekend. The Gamecocks, the No. 1 4A team in two preseason polls, will play host to Spring Valley beginning at 6:30 p.m. The Barons, who return several key players from last year’s SCISA 3A state runner-up team, will also be playing SHUMAKE their Region II opener against Orangeburg Prep at 7 p.m. Sumter played in the IP Classic in Georgetown on Saturday and Sunday, finishing third overall with a 3-0-1 record. Because rain caused the postponement of games on Thursday and Friday, the decision was made to shorten the games to five innings with no extra-inning contests. Thus, the Gamecocks tied JONES Summerville 6-6 in the opener. Sumter followed with a 7-5 victory over Dorman in which Chris Crawford worked four innings to get the victory and Javon Martin the save. Charlie Barnes was 3-for-4 with two doubles, while River Soles was 2-for-3 with

a double and two runs batted in. James Barnes was 3-for-3 with three RBI and Phillip Watcher had two hits, including a double. The Gamecocks followed that with a 4-2 victory over Region VI foe Conway. James Barnes worked three innings to get the win and Soles picked up the save. Charlie Barnes was 2-for-3 and Jacob Watcher had a hit and an RBI. In the third-place game, Martin tossed a 3-hit shutout in a 1-0 victory over Greenville. Martin had seven strikeouts and no walks. Charlie Barnes drove in the game’s only run. Sumter head coach Brooks Shumake felt the weekend brought a mixed bag for his team. “We’re happy to be coming home 3-0-1,” said Shumake, who began his second stint as the Sumter head coach. “I felt like we did some things really good, and then some things not so good. “I felt like it was an average performance on our part. We’re going to have to get a lot better if we’re going to contend for a state championship. There are things we’ve just got to work on to get better.” Wilson Hall opened its season on Saturday with an 11-2 road victory over Camden High. John Patrick Sears, William Kinney and Britton Beatson each pitched two innings

SEE BASEBALL, PAGE B2

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Coastal wins Big South tourney title to earn NCAA bid BY PETE IACOBELLI The Associated Press CONWAY — Cliff Ellis proved he still has a little dancing left in him. The Coastal Carolina coach was in the thick of a mid-court dance party Sunday as his Chanticleers earned their first NCAA trip in 21 years with a 76-61 victory over Winthrop to win the Big South Conference tournament. Ellis, who had previously led South Alabama, Clemson and Auburn into the NCAAs, hugged his ELLIS wife near the end of the game, then joined his players for some celebrating. “I can still dance a little bit,” Ellis said with a grin. Apparently so. Coastal Carolina got 22 points from Warren THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Gillis and 19 from Josh Cameron to reach the NCAA tournament for the third time overall Coastal Carolina’s Warren Gillis, left, goes up for a layup in front of Winthrop’s Andre Smith in the Chanticleers’ 76-61 victory in the Big and first since 1993. Ellis has reached the tournament finals on campus twice before as top South Conference tournament championship game on Sunday in seeds in 2010 and 2011, coming up short both Conway.

times. This time, the Chanticleers (21-12) used a 12-0 run in the first-half to build a double-digit lead and held on to beat the Eagles (20-13). Winthrop cut the lead to 61-52 on Keon Johnson’s free throw with 4:36 left, but got no closer. Keon Moore led Winthrop with 19 points before fouling out. It was the first conference tournament title for Ellis in 39 years of coaching at four schools. He joins nine others who have led four schools to the NCAA tournament, trailing the mark of five set last season by Oklahoma’s Lon Kruger. About an hour after cutting down the nets,, Ellis and the Chants returned to the court for another impromptu dance-off. After a team sing-a-long of “Amazing Grace,” Ellis followed freshman guard Colton Ray-St Cyr with some dance moves to the delight of his players. “It’s all elation,” Ellis said. “Every time it happens, I think of every other player who’s ever played for me.” The loss ended an underdog run for the Eagles, who eliminated defend champion Liberty,

SEE COASTAL, PAGE B3

SPORTS

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

GIRLS AREA ROUNDUP

Lady Barons softball opens season with victory Defending SCISA 3A softball state champion Wilson Hall opened its season with a 14-0 victory over Robert E. Lee Academy on Monday at Patriot Park SportsPlex. Holly Scott picked up the victory, striking out seven and allowing only two hits in the 5-inning game. Hannah Jordan led the offense, going 3-for-4 with three runs batted in. Betsy Cunningham had a 2-run triple Haley Hawkins had a 2-run home run and Bailey Connor and Drake Ives both had two hits. Connor also had a double. LMA WINS TOURNAMENT

WALTERBORO – Laurence Manning Academy beat Colleton Prep 3-0 in the championship game to win the Warhawk Invitational on Saturday at the Colleton Prep field. Courtney Beatson pitched a 3-hit shutout and had a double in the title game. Cora Lee Downer had two hits and Emily McElveen had a double. LMA also beat Colleton Prep 9-1 in another game. Downer went 3-for3 with a double, two runs scored and two runs batted in. McElveen was 3-for-4 with four RBI and Katelyn Edwards had two hits, including a double. Beatson was the winner.

LMA split with Clarendon Hall, winning 6-4 and losing 4-3. In the victory McElveen had three hits, including a double, while Maddie Cantley had two hits and two runs. In the loss, Beatson homered while Maggie Eppley and Cantley both had two hits. Beatson won and Dakota Jackson took the loss LMA’s other game was 2-0 victory over Thomas Heyward. Beatson tossed a shutout while Jackson had two hits and McElveen a double. LADY SAINTS GO 1-3

WALTERBORO – Clarendon Hall went 1-3 in the Warhawk Invitational on Saturday at the Colleton Prep field. The Lady Saints lost to Colleton Prep 4-3 in the opener before defeated Laurence Manning Academy 4-3. They then lost to Thomas Heyward 9-2 and to LMA 6-4. Holly Carlisle was 6-for-10 with a double and an inside-the-park home run to lead CH. Shannon Corbett was 7-for-12, while Emily Brunson had four hits, including a double and a triple. Brittany Bays had four hits, two of them doubles, and Aubrey Johnson had four hits, one of them a double.

JUNIOR VARSITY SOFTBALL LMA WINS TOURNAMENT WALTERBORO – Laurence Manning Academy picked up four easy victories to win the Warhawk Invitational at the Colleton Prep field on Saturday. LMA defeated Thomas Heyward 11-1 in the opener. Taylor Lea was 3-for-3 with a double and a triple, while Baylee Elms had three hits and Ashton Rogers two. The Lady Swampcats followed it with a 12-0 win over the Low Country Wildcats. Lea had a triple, while Elms and Brooke Ward both had two hits, including a double. In a 21-0 victory over Colleton Prep, Elms and Christian Hussey both had three hits, including two doubles. Ellen Dinkins and Christian Hodge each had three hits, including a double, while Ward had two hits, one being a double. In the championship game, LMA defeated Low Country 15-2. Ward had two hits, one a double, while Elms and Dinkins both had two hits. Lundee Olsen and Hodge both had a double. Olsen was the winning pitcher in each game, finishing with 27 strikeouts, including 10 in the tourney opener.

PREP SCHEDULE TODAY

Varsity Baseball Spring Valley at Sumter, 6:30 p.m. Marlboro County at Lakewood, 6:30 p.m. Orangeburg Prep at Wilson Hall, 7 p.m. Robert E. Lee at Calhoun, 7 p.m. Sumter Christian at Calvary Christian, 4 p.m. Junior Varsity Baseball Orangeburg Prep at Wilson Hall, 4 p.m. Williamsburg at Thomas Sumter, 4 p.m. Robert E. Lee at Calhoun, 4 p.m. Varsity Boys Golf Ben Lippen at Wilson Hall, 4 p.m. Robert E. Lee at Williamsburg, 3:30 p.m. Varsity Boys Soccer Ashley Ridge at Sumter, 7 p.m. Eau Claire at Lakewood, 7:30 p.m. Junior Varsity Boys Soccer Ashley Ridge at Sumter, 5:30 p.m. Palmetto Athletic Club at Wilson Hall, 5 p.m. Varsity Girls Soccer Eau Claire at Lakewood, 6 p.m. Varsity Softball Sumter at Lugoff-Elgin, 7:30 p.m. Lakewood at Orangeburg-Wilkinson, 7:30 p.m. Marlboro County at Manning, 7:30 p.m. Laurence Manning at East Clarendon, 7 p.m. Wilson Hall at Hammond, 5:15 p.m. Florence Christian at Robert E. Lee, 6 p.m. Clarendon Hall at St. John’s Christian, 6 p.m. Junior Varsity Softball Sumter at Lugoff-Elgin, 6 p.m. Lakewood at Orangeburg-Wilkinson, 5:30 p.m. Laurence Manning at East Clarendon, 5 p.m. Wilson Hall at Hammond, 4 p.m. Florence Christian at Robert E. Lee, 4 p.m. Clarendon Hall at St. John’s Christian, 4 p.m. B Team Softball Robert E. Lee at Laurence Manning, 4 p.m. Varsity Boys Tennis Manning at Hartsville, 5:30 p.m. Varsity Track and Field Lakewood at Spring Valley, 5:30 p.m. Lake City at Manning, 4:30 p.m.

BOYS AREA ROUNDUP

Gamecocks golf team tied with A.C. Flora after 1st round

VARSITY SOCCER

In the opener, Jacob Bartrug went the distance, allowing seven hits while striking out five in five innings of work. Tradd James led the offense with a double, a sacrifice, a run scored and a run batted in. In the win over L-E, Hunter Donnelley pitched 2 1/3 innings to get the victory. He had a hit and a run offensively. James had a hit, a run and two RBI, while Ryland Williamson was 2-for-3 with a double and Ryan Moore had a hit, two runs and an RBI for the 3-0 JV Gamecocks.

LAKEWOOD 7

LMA SWEEPS HAMMOND

LOWER RICHLAND 2 Gianni Jackson scored four goals to lead Lakewood High School to a 7-2 victory over Lower Richland in its season opener on Monday at J. Frank Baker Stadium. Greg McLeod added two goals for the Gators and Jir’bre Brown had one goal and two assists. Jonathan Turcios contributed two assists and Sanchez Morales had one assist.

COLUMBIA – Laurence Manning Academy improved to 6-0 on the season by sweeping a doubleheader from Hammond on Saturday at Folsom Field. LMA won the opener 7-4 and the nightcap 7-0.

LEXINGTON – Sumter High School’s varsity boys golf team was tied with A.C. Flora for first place after the first round of the Battle of the Dam on Monday at Golden Hills Golf Club. Sumter and A.C. Flora both shot a 315. Charlie Dallery led the Gamecocks with a 75. Dixon Flowers had a 77, Daniel Spencer an 81 and John Keffer an 82. The final round will be played today at Timberlake Country Club in Chapin.

JUNIOR VARSITY BASEBALL SUMTER WINS PAIR

CAMDEN – Sumter High School won a pair of games on Saturday at the Camden High field, beating Camden 2-1 in the first game and Lugoff-Elgin 12-3 in the second.

VARSITY BASKETBALL NORTH 110 SOUTH 105 The North All-Stars defeated the South 110-105 in the SCISA All-Star game on Saturday at Wilson Hall’s Nash Student Center. Laurence Manning Academy’s Vaughnte Anderson scored 21 points for the South, while LMA’s Maliq Green had 13.

BASEBALL FROM PAGE B1 for the Barons, while McLendon Sears pitched the final inning. They allowed just three hits. Sears led the offense with a double, a triple and three RBI. Kinney was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI and Jay Goodson had two hits, a walk and two RBI. “When you can go on the road and win to open the season that’s a good thing,” said Wilson Hall head coach Tommy Jones. “To win the we did against a quality program, you’ve got to be happy with that.” The Barons will start either Kinney or John Patrick Sears on the mound today.

SPORTS ITEMS

Gonzalez, Pinollis help Fire Ants sweep Louisburg College Victor Gonzalez and Fernando Pinollis both tossed shutouts to lead the University of South Carolina Sumter baseball team to a sweep of Louisburg College on Sunday at Riley Park. USC Sumter improved to 14-2 on the season in sweeping its Region X twinbill opener. Saturday’s doubleheader was cancelled due to wet field conditions. The righthanded Gonzalez GONZALEZ tossed a 5-hitter in the Fire Ants’ 3-0 victory in the opener, while Pinollis, another righty, tossed a 3-hitter in the 1-0 victory in the PINOLLIS nightcap. Gonzalez had seven strikeouts, while Pinollis had nine Ks against just one walk. Ray Murphy drove in Anthony Paulson with the first run in the opener. Murphy also scored the only run in the second contest. Trevor Bradley was 2-for-6 in both games, while Brett Auckland was 2-for-2 with two walks and a sacrifice. Sumter travels to Allendale to face USC Salkehatchie in doubleheaders on both Saturday and Sunday. DAWKINS LEADS SC ATHLETIC HALL

COLUMBIA — Former NFL defensive back Brian Dawkins, ex-South Carolina shooting guard Zam Fredrick and Olympic gold medalist Monique Hennagan head up newest class of eight selected for the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame. Others named to the class announced Monday include ex-South Carolina State offen-

sive lineman Edwin Bailey, former South Carolina pitcher Randy Martz, ex-Newberry basketball player Carl Short, former Clemson quarterback Rodney Williams and state golf leader and organizer Happ Lathrop. GAMECOCKS SWEEP BROWN

COLUMBIA – Freshman right-hander Wil Crowe struck out a career-high nine batters in eight scoreless innings and an Elliot Caldwell sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth was enough to help lift top ranked South Carolina to a 1-0 victory over Brown to sweep a three-game series at Carolina Stadium. The Gamecocks improve to 15-0 with Brown dropping to 0-3 for the season. South Carolina returns to action today hosting Furman at Carolina Stadium. Fans are encouraged to arrive early at 6:50 p.m. as the Gamecocks

will honor Martha Childress before the contest in a pregame ceremony. First pitch is 7 p.m. CLEMSON SWEEPS HOKIES

CLEMSON—The No.15 Clemson Tigers totaled 16 hits en route to an 11-4 victory over Virginia Tech at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Sunday afternoon to complete the series sweep. Clemson also upped its home winning streak over the Hokies to 17 dating to 1984. Clemson returns to action on Wednesday at 6:30 PM when it hosts Appalachian State. LADY EAGLES WIN BIG SOUTH TITLE

CONWAY — Winthrop coach Kevin Cook crossed the court past his celebrating players and handed his mother a Big South Conference championship hat and Tshirt.

After all, there’s no bigger memento in Winthrop women’s basketball history. Dequesha McClanahan had 24 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Eagles to their first Big South tournament title and NCAA berth after an 87-74 victory over High Point on Sunday. REED ON A ROLL, WINS WGC

DORAL, Fla. — He wore black pants and a red shirt, his Sunday colors. He took a lead into the final round, quickly expanded it with a pair of birdies and then relied on his short game to keep everyone chasing him. He even played it safe off the 18th tee, caring more about the trophy than the final score. That script for years belonged to Tiger Woods. Patrick Reed followed it perfectly to win the Cadillac Championship, replacing Woods as the youngest winner

of a World Golf Championship. HADLEY WINS PUERTO RICO OPEN

RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico — Chesson Hadley dreamed about a day like this as a child — other than the tossing and turning in bed and queasy stomach. He held off Danny Lee by two strokes in wind gusting to 25 mph at Trump International. Making his 13th PGA Tour start, the 26-year-old Hadley birdied the final two holes for a 5-under 67. He’s the first rookie winner since Jordan Spieth in July in the John Deere Classic. Hadley finished at 21-under 267 and earned $630,000, a twoyear tour exemption and spots in The Players Championship, PGA Championship and Tournament of Champions. From staff, wire reports

SPORTS

THE SUMTER ITEM

COASTAL FROM PAGE B1

TOURNAMENT TV SCHEDULE TODAY

regular-season champion High Point and second-seeded UNC Asheville. They met their match in Coastal, which pushed the pace against the tired Eagles. “There were times I’m thinking, ‘Here we go,’” Winthrop coach Pat Kelsey said. “And they came and answered with something.” Fans rushed the court at the HTC Center on Coastal’s campus when it was over, cheering their team’s first league title since 1993. “It was just a surreal moment,” Cameron said. When Gillis, named tournament MVP, went high for an uncontested dunk with 2:41 left, the party kicked up another notch with fans waving teal pompons and chanting “C-C-U.” Ellis has made eight previous NCAA appearances, the last in 2003 when Auburn reached the round of 16. Ellis has challenged his players all season long not to feel satisfied with accomplishments. He will take the same approach — after a few days off — this week in prepping the Chants for a likely first-round matchup against one of college basketball’s best. “We’re not worried about that yet,” Gillis said. “We’re going to enjoy this for a while.” Coastal’s last Big South tournament crown in 1993 was vacated because of NCAA violations. The Chants lost a first-round game to Michigan that year. The Wolverines, national runners-up that year, also had their entire season vacated for rules violations. Coastal fought its way to the finals with a double-overtime win against Charleston Southern on Friday and a 66-62 victory over high-scoring VMI in the semifinals. Winthrop looked ready to continue its giant-killing run as Smith’s 3-pointer and Joab Jerome’s free throws gave the Eagles an 18-16 lead with 10:18 left. That’s when Coastal Caro-

ACC TOURNAMENT At Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, N.C. First Round Wednesday Wake Forest vs. Notre Dame, 1 p.m. Miami vs. Virginia Tech, 3:30 p.m. Georgia Tech vs. Boston College, 7 p.m. Second Round Thursday Maryland vs. Florida State, Noon Pittsburgh vs. Wake Forest-Notre Dame winner, 2:30 p.m. N.C. State vs. Miami-Virginia Tech winner, 7 p.m. Clemson vs. Georgia Tech-Boston College winner, 9:30 p.m. Quarterfinals Friday Virginia vs. Maryland-Florida State winner, Noon North Carolina vs. Pittsburgh-Wake Forest-Notre Dame winner, 2:30 p.m. Syracuse vs. N.C. State_Miami-Virginia Tech winner, 7 p.m. Duke vs. Clemson-Georgia Tech-Boston College winner, 9:30 p.m. Semifinals Saturday Virginia-Maryland-Florida State winner vs. North Carolina-Pittsburgh-Wake Forest-Notre Dame winner, 1 p.m. Syracuse-N.C. State-Miami-Virginia Tech winner vs. Duke-Clemson-Georgia Tech-Boston College winner, 3:30 p.m. Championship Sunday Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.

MEN Horizon 7 p.m. – Championship Game: Wisconsin Green Bay vs. Wright State (ESPN). Northeast 7 p.m. – Championship Game: Mount St. Mary’s at Robert Morris (ESPN2). West Coast 9 p.m. – Championship Game (ESPN). Summit 9 p.m. – Championship Game (ESPN2). WOMEN Big East 9 p.m. – Championship Game (FOX SPORTS 1). Summit 2 p.m. – Championship Game (ESPNU). West Coast 4 p.m. – Championship Game (ESPNU).

lina started a 12-0 run, led by Cameron. The junior broke an 18-all tie with a 3-pointer and made a driving layup to increase the lead to 25-18. He closed the run with another basket that put Coastal ahead 28-18. Gillis scored the Chants’ final four points of the half to give them a 34-24 lead. Coastal Carolina built its lead without top scorer Elijah Wilson, limited to 7 minutes and one missed shot because of two early fouls. He finished with 12 points, all in the second half. Badou Diagne had 17 points for the Chants. Coastal Carolina played for the Big South tournament title at home in 2010 and 2011 at its old gym as the league’s top seed, but lost both times, first to Winthrop and a year later to UNC Asheville. Ellis, 68, said he was not disheartened after those defeats and worked to his players could feel how good it feels to play in the NCAAs. The HTC Center will host this tournament again next year, the last of a three-season deal. Big South commission Kyle Kallander says the league will sit down this spring to evaluate the past two events and decide its next step. But he praised Coastal Carolina’s arena and personnel for their efforts.

NCAA AUTOMATIC BIDS Women’s Bids The Associated Press Fordham—Atlantic 10 Conference Marist—Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Nebraska—Big Ten Conference Notre Dame—Atlantic Coast Conference Southern Cal—Pacific-12 Conference Tennessee—Southeastern Conference UT-Martin—Ohio Valley Conference Winthrop—Big South Conference Men’s Bids Coastal Carolina—Big South Conference Eastern Kentucky—Ohio Valley Conference Harvard—Ivy League Mercer—Atlantic Sun Conference Wichita State—Missouri Valley Conference

MARTIN FROM PAGE B1 Martin, 47, has developed a reputation for intensity since taking over as Kansas State coach before the 2007-08 season. His hard-core stare is a staple of TV highlights and he’s not shy about dressing down players who don’t fulfill assignments. That’s nothing new for Thornwell, a 6-foot-5 guard who says he had coaches throughout his youth career who shouted at times to get their points across. He says he picked the Gamecocks over offers from Florida, Louisville and Ohio State in part because of Martin’s style. “I personally don’t think he needs to change,” Thornwell said. “We like the way he is now. How he coaches is how he coaches. And you can’t really get mad at a guy for showing that much passion.” Martin took time during the weekend to reflect on his behavior and acknowledged he’s got improvements to make. But he says he’s received texts, emails and other messages from past players and colleagues encouraging him to keep his head up through the ordeal. “I felt good about myself,” he said. “Will I be different? I have to be.” Martin wasn’t sure how he would handle missing the regular-season finale last week-

SEC TOURNAMENT At The Georgia Dome Atlanta First Round Wednesday Auburn vs. South Carolina, 7 p.m. Vanderbilt vs. Mississippi State, 9:25 p.m. Second Round Thursday Missouri vs. Texas A&M, 1 p.m. Arkansas vs. Auburn-South Carolina winner, 3:25 p.m. LSU vs. Alabama, 7 p.m. Mississippi vs. Vanderbilt-Mississippi State winner, 9:25 p.m. Quarterfinals Friday Florida vs. Missouri-Texas A&M winner, 1 p.m. Tennessee vs. Arkansas-AuburnSouth Carolina winner, 3:25 p.m. Kentucky vs. LSU-Alabama winner, 7 p.m. Georgia vs. Mississippi-VanderbiltMississippi State winner, 9:25 p.m. Semifinals Saturday Florida-Missouri-Texas A&M winner vs. Tennessee-Arkansas-Auburn-South Carolina winner, 1 p.m. Kentucky-LSU-Alabama winner vs. Georgia-Mississippi-VanderbiltMississippi State winner, 3:25 p.m. Championship Sunday, March 16 Semifinal winners, 3:15 p.m.

end. He told Figger and his assistants if they needed him, he’d take their calls, but didn’t plan to bombard them with directives and strategy. While watching the cheerleading competition, Martin tried to track the game on his phone before giving up. His wife, Anya, had been receiving texts from several people with game updates and shared them with Martin in the car on the way back to the family hotel. Once in the room, Martin turned on his tablet and tuned into the final minute as he watched his players secure their only SEC road win this season. Martin was proud of how his players overcame the adversity their coach had created with the suspension. “That was a personal moment for me,” Martin said. It was personal for the team, as well. “We wanted to go out and win this game for coach,” Thornwell said. Last week was not the first time Martin regretted his on-court behavior. In January, he apologized to leading scorer Brenton Williams for a tirade during a loss to Mississippi. Williams bears no ill will from the encounter and said Martin’s way has been successful on and off the court. “It does get to us too in a motivation way, so I don’t think he needs to change at all,” Williams said.

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

SCOREBOARD TV, RADIO TODAY

7 a.m. – Major League Exhibition Baseball: St. Louis vs. Detroit from Jupiter, Fla. (MLB NETWORK). 10 a.m. – Major League Exhibition Baseball: Oakland vs. Los Angeles Dodgers from Glendale, Ariz. (MLB NETWORK). 1 p.m. – Major League Exhibition Baseball: New York Mets at St. Louis from Jupiter, Fla. (MLB NETWORK). 3:30 p.m. – International Soccer: UEFA Champions League Match – Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal (FOX SPORTS 1). 4 p.m. – Major League Exhibition Baseball: Los Angeles Angels vs. Seattle from Tempe, Ariz. (MLB NETWORK). 6:05 p.m. – Talk Show: Sports Talk (WDXY-FM 105.9, WDXY-AM 1240). 6:15 p.m. – High School Baseball: A.C. Flora at Camden (WPUB-FM 102.7). 7 p.m. – NHL Hockey: New York Rangers at Carolina (FOX SPORTSOUTH). 7:30 p.m. – NHL Hockey: Washington at Pittsburgh (NBC SPORTS NETWORK). 8 p.m. – NBA Basketball: Houston at Oklahoma City (NBA TV). 8 p.m. – NBA Basketball: San Antonio at Chicago (WGN). 8 p.m. – College Baseball: Furman at South Carolina (Joined In Progress) (WNKT-FM 107.5). 9 p.m. – Major League Exhibition Baseball: Washington vs. New York Yankees from Viera, Fla. (MLB NETWORK). 1 a.m. – Major League Exhibition Baseball: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Kansas City from Surprise, Ariz. (MLB NETWORK). 2 a.m. – NHL Hockey: Nashville at Buffalo (FOX SPORTSOUTH). 4 a.m. – Major League Exhibition Baseball: Arizona vs. Cleveland from Scottsdale, Ariz. (MLB NETWORK).

MLB SPRING TRAINING By The Associated Press SUNDAY’S GAMES

Baltimore 9, Pittsburgh (ss) 2 Houston 4, Toronto 3 Boston 4, Pittsburgh (ss) 1 N.Y. Yankees 3, Tampa Bay 3, tie, 10 innings Washington 11, St. Louis 1 Detroit 3, Miami 1 Minnesota 1, Philadelphia 1, tie N.Y. Mets 8, Atlanta 2 San Francisco 3, L.A. Dodgers 2 Chicago Cubs 10, Milwaukee (ss) 8 Seattle 9, Texas 8 Oakland 2, Chicago White Sox 2, tie Colorado 10, Kansas City 1 Cleveland 4, Milwaukee (ss) 2 L.A. Angels 3, Cincinnati 1 Arizona 2, San Diego 2, tie, 10 innings Monday’s Games Boston 6, Tampa Bay 2 Baltimore 7, Pittsburgh 6 Atlanta 8, Philadelphia 1 Miami 11, N.Y. Mets 1

TUESDAY’S GAMES

Toronto vs. Detroit at Lakeland, Fla., 1:05 p.m. N.Y. Yankees vs. Washington at Viera, Fla., 1:05 p.m. Minnesota vs. Tampa Bay at Port Charlotte, Fla., 1:05 p.m. Miami vs. Boston (ss) at Fort Myers, Fla., 1:05 p.m. Philadelphia vs. Atlanta at Kissimmee, Fla., 1:05 p.m. Boston (ss) vs. Baltimore at Sarasota, Fla., 1:05 p.m. N.Y. Mets vs. St. Louis at Jupiter, Fla., 1:05 p.m. Seattle vs. L.A. Angels at Tempe, Ariz., 4:05 p.m. L.A. Dodgers vs. Kansas City at Surprise, Ariz., 4:05 p.m. Colorado vs. Chicago Cubs at Mesa, Ariz., 4:05 p.m. Oakland vs. San Diego at Peoria, Ariz., 4:05 p.m. Texas vs. Chicago White Sox at Glendale, Ariz., 4:05 p.m. San Francisco vs. Cincinnati at Goodyear, Ariz., 4:05 p.m. Cleveland vs. Arizona at Scottsdale, Ariz., 4:10 p.m.

NBA STANDINGS By The Associated Press EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION W Toronto 35 Brooklyn 31 New York 24 Boston 22 Philadelphia 15 SOUTHEAST DIVISION W Miami 43 Washington 33 Charlotte 29 Atlanta 26 Orlando 19 CENTRAL DIVISION W x-Indiana 46 Chicago 35 Detroit 24 Cleveland 24 Milwaukee 12

Hours:

Monday - Friday 9:00am-7:00pm Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm Sunday Closed

L 26 30 40 41 47

Pct .574 .508 .375 .349 .242

GB – 4 121/2 14 201/2

L 17 29 34 35 45

Pct .717 .532 .460 .426 .297

GB – 11 151/2 171/2 26

L 17 28 39 40 50

Pct .730 .556 .381 .375 .194

GB – 11 22 221/2 331/2

WESTERN CONFERENCE SOUTHWEST DIVISION W L Pct GB San Antonio 46 16 .742 – Houston 44 19 .698 21/2 Dallas 38 26 .594 9 Memphis 36 26 .581 10 New Orleans 26 37 .413 201/2 NORTHWEST DIVISION W L Pct GB Oklahoma City 46 17 .730 – Portland 42 21 .667 4 Minnesota 31 31 .500 141/2 Denver 27 35 .435 181/2 Utah 22 41 .349 24 PACIFIC DIVISION W L Pct GB L.A. Clippers 44 20 .688 – Golden State 40 24 .625 4 Phoenix 36 26 .581 7 Sacramento 22 41 .349 211/2 L.A. Lakers 22 42 .344 22 x-clinched playoff spot Sunday’s Games Chicago 95, Miami 88, OT L.A. Lakers 114, Oklahoma City 110 New Orleans 111, Denver 107, OT Brooklyn 104, Sacramento 89 Boston 118, Detroit 111 Toronto 111, Minnesota 104 Houston 118, Portland 113, OT Dallas 105, Indiana 94 Golden State 113, Phoenix 107

TODAY’S GAMES

Boston at Indiana, 7 p.m. Sacramento at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. San Antonio at Chicago, 8 p.m. Milwaukee at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Houston at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m. Portland at Memphis, 8 p.m. Dallas at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.

NHL STANDINGS By The Associated Press EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION GP W L OTPts GF GA Boston 64 42 17 5 89 204 143 Montreal 66 35 24 7 77 166 166 Toronto 65 34 23 8 76 193 198 Tampa Bay 64 34 24 6 74 183 167 Detroit 64 29 2213 71 171 179 Ottawa 64 28 2511 67 182 209 Florida 64 24 33 7 55 156 206 Buffalo 64 19 37 8 46 128 188 METROPOLITAN DIVISION GP W L OTPts GF GA Pittsburgh 63 42 17 4 88 201 157 N.Y. Rangers 65 35 26 4 74 171 162 Philadelphia 64 33 24 7 73 183 188 Columbus 64 33 26 5 71 186 178 Washington 65 30 2510 70 191 197 New Jersey 65 28 2413 69 161 167 Carolina 64 27 28 9 63 160 184 N.Y. Islanders 662433 9 57 181 224

WESTERN CONFERENCE CENTRAL DIVISION GP W L OTPts GF GA St. Louis 64 44 14 6 94 211 145 Chicago 65 38 1314 90 223 172 Colorado 64 41 18 5 87 196 170 Minnesota 64 34 22 8 76 158 157 Dallas 64 31 2310 72 185 179 Winnipeg 65 30 28 7 67 180 189 Nashville 64 26 2810 62 152 191 PACIFIC DIVISION GP W L OTPts GF GA Anaheim 64 43 14 7 93 207 157 San Jose 65 41 17 7 89 199 157 Los Angeles 65 37 22 6 80 159 137 Phoenix 64 29 2411 69 177 185 Vancouver 66 29 2710 68 153 174 Calgary 64 25 32 7 57 150 191 Edmonton 65 22 35 8 52 162 212 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss.

SUNDAY’S GAMES

St. Louis 3, Minnesota 2, SO N.Y. Rangers 3, Detroit 0 Boston 5, Florida 2 Chicago 2, Buffalo 1 Los Angeles 4, Edmonton 2

TODAY’S GAMES

Nashville at Buffalo, 7 p.m. New Jersey at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. N.Y. Rangers at Carolina, 7 p.m. Detroit at Columbus, 7 p.m. Phoenix at Florida, 7:30 p.m. Washington at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m. Dallas at St. Louis, 8 p.m. Edmonton at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Toronto at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.

GOLF By The Associated Press

Cadillac Championship Par Scores Sunday At Trump National Doral (Blue Monster) Doral, Fla. Purse: $9 million Yardage: 7,481; Par: 72 Final Patrick Reed (550), $1,530,000 68-75-69-72–284 -4 Jamie Donaldson, $753,000 74-70-71-70–285 -3 Bubba Watson (258), $753,000 73-72-72-68–285 -3 Dustin Johnson (128), $395,000 69-74-73-72–288 E Puerto Rico Open Par Scores By The Associated Press Sunday At Trump International Golf ClubPuerto Rico Rio Grande, Puerto Rico Purse: $3.5 million Yardage: 7,506; Par: 72 Final Chesson Hadley (300), $630,000 68-65-67-67–267 -21 Danny Lee (165), $378,000 67-68-66-68–269 -19 Ben Martin (105), $238,000 68-67-70-66–271 -17

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

WILLIAM K. HARRINGTON MANNING — William Kirby “W.K.” Harrington, 83, widower of Florene Covington Harrington, died Sunday, March 9, 2014, at National Health Care in Sumter. Born March 29, 1930, in the Brewington community of Manning, he was a son of the late Frazier and HARRINGTON Olive Mae Kirby Harrington. He was a member of the National Guard and a retired deputy sheriff for Clarendon County. He had 34 years of service in law enforcement and he was a volunteer with the Manning Fire Department. He is survived by a son, Carroll Harrington (Denise) of Manning; two daughters, Kay Morris (Tony) of Manning and Beth Harrington of Summerton; a sister-in-law, Mary Harrington of Jacksonville, Fla.; five grandchildren, Casey Ridgeway (Jeremy),

Jennifer Harrington and J.C. Harrington, all of Manning, and Tracy Morgan (Lee) and Kathy Herlong, both of Sumter; and eight great-grandchildren, Kaylin, Allison and Philip Ridgeway, Todd Jr., Brandon and Christian Herlong, Brittany Ardis and Savannah Morgan; and a special friend, Margie Cutter of Manning. He was preceded in death by a son, William K. Harrington Jr.; two brothers, Muldrow and Marion Harrington; and a sister, Ola Mae Owens. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel of Stephens Funeral Home with the Rev. Steve McCutcheon officiating. Burial will follow in Williamsburg Cemetery in Kingstree. Pallbearers will be John Owens, Ronnie Stewart, David Daniels, Chris Price, Buddy Justice and Chris Lee. Honorary pallbearers will be Clarendon County law enforcement officers and mem-

NASCAR FROM PAGE B1 field are off to outstanding starts. Keselowski is second in the overall standings after three straight top-three finishes capped by a weekend sweep in Vegas, including his Nationwide Series victory. Shaking off last season’s struggles and honing in on NASCAR’s new aerodynamics package, Keselowski is just one point behind Earnhardt. Joey Logano is also looking good with a fourth-place finish in Vegas after starting on the pole. Logano sits fourth in the overall standings, 17 points behind Keselowski. HENDRICK HANGS IN

While Penske’s cars rolled, Hendrick Motorsports’ four Chevys finished in the top nine in Vegas. Jimmie Johnson led 34 laps and contended for his fifth career victory at Las Vegas before eventually finishing sixth. The six-time Cup champ is third in the overall standings. Jeff Gordon attempted to KOBALT 400 RESULTS The Associated Press Sunday At Las Vegas Motor Speedway Las Vegas, Nev. Lap length: 1.5 miles (Start position in parentheses) 1. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 267 laps, 134.6 rating, 48 points, $449,048. 2. (14) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 267, 121.7, 43, $263,005. 3. (21) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 267, 108.1, 42, $237,719. 4. (1) Joey Logano, Ford, 267, 109.8, 41, $209,596. 5. (11) Carl Edwards, Ford, 267, 88.2, 40, $170,730. 6. (5) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 267, 124.8, 39, $186,831. 7. (10) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 267, 94, 37, $134,920. 8. (13) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 267, 91.2, 36, $137,470. 9. (15) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 267, 102.7, 35, $162,006. 10. (29) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 267, 92.6, 35, $163,281. 11. (20) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 267, 108.1, 34, $164,076. 12. (27) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 267, 83.1, 33, $121,410. 13. (9) Brian Vickers, Toyota, 267, 83.1, 31, $144,385. 14. (12) Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet, 267, 96.6, 30, $139,068. 15. (7) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 267, 76.4, 29, $144,474. 16. (4) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 267, 82.4, 28, $155,096. 17. (19) Jeff Burton, Toyota, 267, 71.1, 27, $115,960. 18. (18) A J Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 267, 67.7, 26, $125,018. 19. (17) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 266, 76.6, 25, $132,005. 20. (34) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 266, 65.9, 0, $102,060. 21. (22) Danica Patrick, Chevrolet, 266, 58, 23, $112,060. 22. (25) Greg Biffle, Ford, 266, 52.5, 22, $143,435. 23. (3) Clint Bowyer, Toyota, 266, 84.4, 21, $141,851. 24. (43) Marcos Ambrose, Ford, 266, 56, 20, $126,680. 25. (8) Aric Almirola, Ford, 264, 60.3, 19, $136,771. 26. (23) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 264, 62.9, 18, $94,835. 27. (6) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 264, 68.8, 17, $132,960. 28. (30) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 264, 54.6, 16, $120,193. 29. (38) Michael Annett, Chevrolet, 264, 50.8, 15, $109,868. 30. (33) David Gilliland, Ford, 264, 54.1, 14, $116,493. 31. (37) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 264, 42.1, 13, $112,682. 32. (26) David Ragan, Ford, 263, 45.2, 12, $102,435. 33. (24) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 263, 40.3, 11, $125,893. 34. (40) Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet, 262, 41.7, 10, $91,535. 35. (39) Ryan Truex, Toyota, 261, 33.5, 9, $91,310. 36. (28) Cole Whitt, Toyota, 261, 41.5, 8, $91,110. 37. (36) Alex Bowman, Toyota, 259, 33.1, 7, $90,883. 38. (41) Timmy Hill, Chevrolet, 258, 27.3, 6, $85,590. 39. (42) Travis Kvapil, Ford, 253, 27.9, 5, $81,590. 40. (32) Parker Kligerman, Toyota, 240, 28.9, 4, $77,590. 41. (16) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 237, 92.4, 4, $114,623. 42. (31) Josh Wise, Chevrolet, 212, 27.9, 2, $69,590. 43. (35) Michael McDowell, Ford, engine, 141, 33.4, 1, $66,090.

make a quick finish on fuel economy before fading to ninth, while Kasey Kahne finished eighth after being the runner-up in Vegas last year. Gordon is fifth in the overall standings, giving Hendrick three drivers in the top five. Kahne is 15th. NO REPEATS

Matt Kenseth never came close to defending last year’s Las Vegas win. He didn’t lead a lap and finished 10th on what he called “a very tough

OBITUARIES | SPORTS bers of the Manning Fire Department. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Kay and Tony Morris, 301 Toccoa Drive, Manning. The family would like to thank the staff of National Health Care and Dr. William Stuck. Memorials may be made to the Clarendon County Law Enforcement Officer’s Association, 217 Commerce St., Manning, SC 29102. Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church St., Manning, is in charge of arrangements, (803) 435-2179. www.stephensfuneralhome.org

JAMES SPAIN Jr. REMBERT — James Spain Jr., 66, of 7825 Edward St., Rembert, died Sunday, March 9, 2014. Family and friends may call at 7835 Edward St., Rembert. Funeral arrangements are

day.” It wasn’t much better for his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates, either. Kyle Busch wound up 11th despite leading three times for 52 laps on his hometown track, and Denny Hamlin was 12th. Busch was disappointed because a bad pit stop slowed his impressive early progress, and adjustments to his setup sent his car in the wrong direction. “The car was too loose on the first run, and we tightened it up and it was really fast for a while,” Busch said.

THE SUMTER ITEM

incomplete and will be announced at a later date by Brown’s Funeral Home, Camden, who is serving the Spain family.

JOHN ASHBY DICK COLUMBIA — John Ashby Dick, 94, of Columbia, died Friday, March 7, 2014. Born April 9, 1919, in Sumter, he was a son of the late Dr. Leonard White Dick and Mary Emma McLeod Dick. A decorated U.S. Army veteran of World War II, Mr. Dick served both as an infantry commander and later as a chaplain, until his retirement. Following his military career, he served as a professor of English literature at the University of South Carolina, and his love for teaching remained with him throughout his life. Survivors include his nephews, Evans Reynolds Jr. (Sharon) of Lynchburg, Va., Richard Reynolds of Sumter, Ashby Davis (Lynne) of Greenville and Dr. Glenn

“But we kept adjusting on it to try and help, and it was just getting looser and looser, especially on the last run. Just disappointing when we looked like we had a good car earlier in the race.” ROUGH START

The early season struggles at Stewart-Haas Racing even affected Kevin Harvick this time. Harvick went into the race as the lone bright spot for the organization following last week’s win at Phoenix. He had a strong car at Las Vegas,

Davis (Mary Ann) of Raleigh, N.C.; and nieces, Kim Reynolds Franceschi (Gary) of Charlotte, N.C., and Becky Huber (Dick) of Houston, Texas. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Inez Reynolds Dick. The funeral service for Mr. Dick will be held at noon today at Shives Funeral Home, 5202 Colonial Drive, Columbia. A committal service will be held at 2 p.m. at Evergreen Memorial Park, 802 N. Guignard Drive, Sumter. The family will receive friends at the funeral home prior to the service beginning at 11 a.m. Memorials may be made to the Oliver Gospel Mission, P.O. Box 7697, Columbia, SC 29202. Memories and condolences may be shared at ShivesFuneralHome.com.

SEE OBITUARIES, PAGE B6

and he led twice for 23 laps, but a parts failure on the 195th lap sent him to the garage and a 41st-place finish. “It’s hard to complain,” he said. “These guys have given me cars that are good every week. Just a little parts failure there. We will figure out the cause of it and try to just keep that from happening.” BUMPY RIDE

Harvick’s teammates weren’t even close to being competitive, which could lead to an unpleasant SHR team meeting Monday.

COMICS

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

BIZARRO

SOUP TO NUTZ

ANDY CAPP

GARFIELD

BEETLE BAILEY

BORN LOSER

BLONDIE

ZITS

MOTHER GOOSE

DOG EAT DOUG

DILBERT

JEFF MACNELLY’S SHOE

Stalker dates cousin of woman who dumped him DEAR ABBY — About a year ago, I stopped seeing a man I’ll call “Vince.” Since then he has been Dear Abby stalking me. He sends me ABIGAIL texts with VAN BUREN photos he took of us while we were dating, but distorts them to make me look like I’m stabbing him in the heart. He sends videos with my head on a dancing Barbie doll. My neighbors tell me they see him drive past my house. (He lives across town.) I refuse to talk to him now because he scares me. Vince has now begun mak-

THE SUMTER ITEM

ing moves on my cousin “Nancy.” She says their relationship isn’t romantic, but others have told me they have seen them cuddle at restaurants and parks. He still continues to send me scary pictures and emails. How can I tell Nancy about this without her thinking it’s jealous retaliation against their new relationship? I honestly believe he is getting close to her only to spite me and keep an emotional hold on me. His relationship with her has made me afraid to tell her about my personal life or hang out with her for fear that he’ll show up with her. Confused in Oregon DEAR CONFUSED — I don’t blame you for feeling intimi-

dated, which is what your stalker is trying to accomplish. You can put an end to it by having your neighbors document his “drive-bys” and turning the pictures, videos and any other communications Vince has sent you over to the police. If he sent them via U.S. mail, the postmarks on the envelopes (and fingerprints) will prove what he has been up to. It may take a restraining order to put an end to this. As to his relationship with your cousin, I agree that if she has feelings for him, she’ll be reluctant to believe anything you tell her isn’t sour grapes. However, if you show her the texts he’s sending you — I presume they’re time-stamped — she may believe you.

JUMBLE

SUDOKU

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

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

THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS 1 Pi r squared, for a circle 5 Encyclopedia tidbit 9 Big-time 14 Speeds (up) 15 __ about: roughly 16 Render speechless 17 Penniless 19 Powerful person 20 Cozy corner 21 Monogram part: Abbr. 23 Singer DiFranco 24 Crone 26 Like champion sprinters 29 Capri suffix 30 Little lie 31 Churchfounded Dallas sch. 32 FDR’s dog 34 Confused mental states 37 Mythological sky holder 41 Worker in the sky 44 Foil maker 45 Struggling to decide 46 Bone: Pref. 47 Queue after Q 49 20s dispenser, for short 51 Darjeeling, for one 52 Suggest something tentatively

57 “Bad” cholesterol letters 58 Key next to the space bar 59 “A Visit From the Goon Squad” Pulitzer-winning novelist Jennifer 60 March Madness org. 62 Pig __ 64 Piece for two winds 68 Pillar from a fire 69 Film director’s unit 70 Look at rudely 71 Slipped gently (into) 72 Renders speechless 73 Wobbly table stabilizer DOWN 1 “Bow-wow!” 2 Belief sys. 3 Pertaining to the gospel 4 Concerning 5 Warehouse vehicle 6 “It’s __-win situation” 7 Newswoman Roberts 8 River through Nottingham 9 Direct, as a father-son conversation 10 Doctors’ org. 11 Try to punch 12 Layer with

“holes” in it 13 Opener’s second call, in bridge 18 Big Broadway hit, slangily 22 Stipulations 24 Teamsters president James 25 For any reason 27 WWII torpedo craft 28 One-up 33 Greek marketplace 35 Pontiac muscle car relaunched briefly in 2004 36 Valuable violin 38 Comeback victor’s vindication 39 Fed the kitty

40 Filch 42 Hurried 43 International accords 48 Schoolyard game 50 Riot control weapon 52 Like lies 53 Alpaca kin 54 Director Preminger and others 55 U.S.-MexicoCanada commerce pact 56 Bride’s new relative, say 61 Hullabaloos 63 Eisenhower nickname 65 Guitar cousin 66 Brother of Peyton Manning 67 President pro __

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

HALLIE V. McLEOD Hallie V. “Day” McLeod, 86, wife of Roland McLeod, died Monday, March 10, 2014, at her home. Born in Sumter, she was a daughter of the late Joe and Amber Ardis. She was a member of Calvary Nazarene Church and retired from Campbell Soup Co. after 20 years of service. Survivors include her husband; two sons, L.C. Mays Jr. (Helene) and James P. “Jimmy” Mays (Carolyn), all of Sumter; eight grandchildren; a number of greatgrandchildren; and a sister, Barbara Martin. She was preceded in death by a sister, Lizzie Avins; and four brothers, Buddy Ardis, J.T. Ardis, Bill Ardis and Bobby Ardis. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Calvary Nazarene Church with the Rev. Billy Williams, the Rev. Sammy Geddings and the Rev. Dale Turner officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Nazarene Church cemetery. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home of L.C. “Jr.” Mays, 4415 Bush Branch Road. Memorials may be made to Calvary Nazarene Church, 4235 Nazarene Church Road, Sumter, SC 29154. The family would like to thank her special caregiver, Lou Ella, and to Kim Griffin, Lisa Blair and the staff of TriCounty Hospice for all their care and support. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.

JEAN BELL SUMMERTON — Jean Griffin Martin Bell, 79, widow of Jack R. Martin Sr. and Dr. James Edward Bell Jr., died Monday, March 10, 2014, at her home in Summerton. Services will be announced by Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church St., Manning, (803) 435-2179. www. stephensfuneralhome.org

KEVIN W. HERRING Kevin Wayne Herring, 38, died Saturday, March 8, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center. Born in Sumter, he was a son of Dallas F. Sr. and Linda Carrigg Herring. Mr. Herring was of the Pentecostal faith. He was a carpenter at Hunter Builders. Surviving are his fiancé, Beth Moore of Sumter; his mother and father of Turbeville; two brothers, Dallas Herring Jr. of Sumter and Ricky Herring of Turbeville; two nieces; and one nephew. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today in the Chapel of Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home with Dr. Edward Fleming and the

Rev. Bobby Steen officiating. Burial will be in Sumter Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. today at Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Camp Branch Church of God of Prophecy in memory of Kevin, 1104 Jordan Road, Lake City, SC 29560. Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals. com. Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 775-9386.

CORSENIOR B. BOSTICK BISHOPVILLE — Corsenior Burch Bostick died Sunday, March 9, 2014, at her home after a long illness. Services are incomplete and will be announced later by New Life Funeral Services of Bishopville. The family is receiving friends at the home, 2981 Spanish Oak Drive East, Florence.

CLARA WILSON LYNCHBURG — Clara Wilson, 67, died Friday, March 7, 2014, in Sumter County, of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. She was born July 20, 1946, in Sumter County, a daughter of the late Henry and Geneva Epps Wilson. The family is receiving friends at the residence, 1415 Puddin Swamp Road, Lynchburg. These services have been entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.

ROGER W. RICE EUSTIS, Fla. — Roger W. Rice, 83, of The Villages, Fla., passed away March 5, 2014, in Eustis. He was born in Lubec, Maine, and lived in Saugus, Mass., for many years. He retired to Moosehead Lake in Maine. Since 2007, he spent the summer in Lily Bay Township, Maine, and the winter in The Villages. He was a television technician and cameraman at WCVB — Channel 5 in Boston for many years. Roger was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fly fishing, tying his own flies, kayaking, riding snowmobiles and playing golf with his Villages neighbors. He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Audrey. Roger is also survived by his children, Stephen Rice and his wife, Patricia, of Bartlesville, Okla., Pamela Morrissey and her husband, Jay, of Tewksbury, Mass., and Janet Teitgen and her husband, Bob, of Pittsford, N.Y.; his stepchildren, Jeffrey Dia-

OBITUARIES mond and his wife, Denise, of North Reading, Mass., and Susan Whitney and her husband, Mark, of Dunstable, Mass.; as well as his brothers, Malcolm Rice of The Villages and David Rice of Lubec. He was a loving grandfather of Morgan and Matthew Rice, Patrick and Erin Morrissey, Abby and Emma Teitgen, Christian and Haley Diamond, and Samantha and Andrea Whitney. A memorial service will be held in May in Greenville Junction, Maine. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to People’s United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 91, Greenville Junction, ME 04442. You may share your own special thoughts and memories by visiting hamlinhilbish. com. Hamlin & Hilbish Funeral Directors, 326 E. Orange Ave., Eustis, (352) 357-4193.

ANNA MAE G. KERR DALZELL — Anna Mae Gallagher Kerr, 75, wife of Dwain M. Kerr, died Saturday, March 8, 2014, at her home. Born in Atlantic City, N.J., she was a daughter of the late Raymond and Anna Mae Bird Gallagher. Surviving are her husband of Dalzell; four daughters, Kim Rhoden (Tom) of Dalzell, Candice Marshall (Frank) of Egg Harbor, N.J., Brenda Keller (Louis) of Mays Landing, N.J., and Robin Parker of Columbia; 13 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Chapel of Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday at Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and other times at the home. Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals. com. Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 775-9386.

THE SUMTER ITEM Born in St. Louis, Mo., he was a son of the late Lloyd E. and Elsie Gerdt Bates. Mr. Bates was a member of Southside Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and he retired from Sumter Machinery Co. Surviving are his wife of Sumter; and a sister, Carol B. Johnson of St. Louis. He was preceded in death by two sons, Robert Arthur Bates Jr. and Thomas Lloyd Bates. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. today at Sumter Cemetery with the Rev. Tommy Atkinson, the Rev. Lynn Gardner and the Rev. Mark Barnette officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be William Coleman, David Mitchell, Tom Bochette, Garry Franklin, Patrick Davis, Richard Dean Kolb, members of the men’s Sunday school class, deacons, and employees of Sumter Machinery Co. The family will receive friends 30 minutes prior to the service at the graveside. Memorials may be made to Southside Baptist Church, 1116 Manning Road, Sumter, SC 29150. Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals. com. Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 775-9386.

FREDERRICK L. PRICE OLANTA — Frederrick Lamont Price, 36, companion of Anglie Anderson, died Friday, March 7, 2014, at his residence, 12780 Truluck Road, Olanta. He was born June 18, 1977, in Sumter, a son of Pressley Shaw and Roberta Prince Brown. The family is receiving friends at the home of his aunt, Maggie T. Harrison, 4911 1/2 Woodsbay Road, Olanta. These services have been entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.

FRED HILTON ROBERT A. BATES Robert Arthur “Bob” Bates, 76, husband of Edith S. Bates, died Sunday, March 9, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Fred “Freddie” Hilton, 91, widower of Hattie Rogers Hilton and former husband of Annie Streeter Hilton, died Sunday, March 9, 2014, at Lake Marion Nursing Home,

Summerton. He was born Nov. 26, 1922, in the Jordan section of Clarendon County, a son of the late Johnnie and Evelyn Dukes Hilton. The family is receiving friends at the home of his niece, Thelma Hilton, 117 Harvin Ave., Manning. These services have been entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.

TIFFANY R. FRANKLIN ALCOLU — Tiffany Renee Franklin, 30, died Friday, March 7, 2014, at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston. She was born Sept. 17, 1983, in Manning, a daughter of Anthony Franklin and the late Margaret Ann McFadden Franklin. Celebratory services for Ms. Franklin will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Hayes F. & LaNelle J. Samuels Sr. Memorial Chapel, 114 N. Church St., Manning. Burial will follow in Billie Black Simon Cemetery, Sumter. The family is receiving friends at the home of her grandmother, Minnie McFadden, 2581 Spigner Road, Alcolu. These services have been entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.

ARMSTEAD C. BAYLOR Armstead C. Baylor, 55, husband of Percilla Taylor Baylor, died Saturday, March 8, 2014, at the Dorn VA Medical Center, Columbia. Born Feb. 18, 1959, in Sumter County, he was a son of the late Armstead W. and Gracie C. Baylor. The family will receive friends and relatives at the home, 314 Pinson St., Sumter. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Williams Funeral Home Inc. of Sumter.

SAM A. MARTIN Sr. SUMMERTON — Sam Abraham Martin Sr., widower of Annie Gaymon Martin, exchanged his rugged cross for his precious crown on Monday, March 10, 2014, at his residence. Born Feb. 7, 1917, in Summerton, he was a son of the late Jack Sr. and Viola Merchant Martin. The family is receiving relatives and friends at the residence, 1053 Veterans Road, Summerton. Funeral services are incomplete and will be announced by Fleming & Delaine Funeral Home and Chapel.

CLASSIFIEDS

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

THE ITEM

803-774-1234

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

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.

CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL NOTICES Estate Notice Sumter County

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

Becky Purvis Humphries #2014ES4300101

Estate Notice Sumter County

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES

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

Estate:

Catherine Bethea Campbell #2014ES4300112

Personal Representative Edwin Campbell 627 Henderson Street Sumter, SC 29150

Estate:

Ethel M. Prince #2014ES4300104

Personal Representative

Ruth McDuffie 2950 Lowder Road Sumter, SC 29153 Estate:

Robert H. Hammond #2014ES4300120

Personal Representative Jane C. Hammond 113 Salem Street Mayesville, SC 29104

Estate:

Hazel Herbert Willis #2014ES4300109

Personal Representative

Connie Warner PO Box 255 Dalzell, SC 29040

Joreatha Burgess Fullard #2014ES4300129

Estate:

Dorothy T. Hatfield #2014ES4300096

Personal Representative Betty Machelle Geddings C/O Ruben Gray Attorney At Law PO Box 2636 Sumter, SC 29151

Estate:

Daniel Lee Bonnette #2014ES4300107

Personal Representative Rhonda Bonnette 2830 September Drive Sumter, SC 29154

Estate:

Roy L. McCoy, Jr. #2014ES4300100

Personal Representative

John S. McCoy 1055 Waterway Drive Sumter, SC 29154 Estate:

Gertrude Snow #2014ES4300128

Personal Representative

Charles Tolbert 7355 Coon Ridge Road Rembert, SC 29128

Janet M. Davis #2014ES4300121

Personal Representative

Hilton Davis C/O Garryl Davis Attorney At Law PO Box 1211 Sumter, SC 29151

Beer & Wine License

Summons & Notice

Notice Of Application

action pursuant to applicable court rules, within thirty (30) days after service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; except that the United States of America, if named, shall have sixty (60) days to answer after the service hereof, exclusive of such service; and if you fail to answer the Complaint or otherwise appear and defend within the time aforesaid, the Plaintiff in this action will apply to the Court for relief demanded therein, and judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

Notice is hereby given that Main Street Tavern, LLC intends to apply to the South Carolina Department of Revenue for a license permit that will allow the sale ON premises consumption of Beer, Wine and Liquor at 24 N. Main Street, Sumter, SC 29150. To object to the issuance of this permit / license, written protest must be postmarked no later than March 20, 2014. For a protest to be valid, it must be in writing, and should include the following information: (1) the name, address and telephone number of the person filing the protest; (2) the specific reasons why the application should be denied; (3) that the person protesting is willing to attend a hearing (if one is requested by the applicant); (4) that the person protesting resides in the same county where the proposed place of business is located or within five miles of the business; and (5) the name of the applicant and the address of the premises to be licensed. Protests must be mailed to: S.C. Department of Revenue, ATTN: ABL, P.O. Box 125, Columbia, South Carolina 29214; or Faxed to: (803) 896-0110.

Bid Notices

Personal Representative

Daniel McGhaney, Jr PO Box 241 Mayesville, SC 29104 Estate:

Karen Zimmerman #2014ES4300103

Personal Representative Joy Lynne Anderson 451 Quebee Street Denver, CO 80220

Estate:

Victoria Livingston Shaw #2014ES4300117

Personal Representative Bartow S. Shaw Jr C/O Jack W. Erter 126 North Main Street Sumter, SC 29150

Estate:

Glenn H. Stokes #2014ES4300126

Personal Representative

Linda S. Hawkins C/O Thomas E. Player, Jr. Attorney At Law PO Box 3690 Sumter, SC 29151 Estate:

Wade H. Oxendine #2014ES4300080

Personal Representative

Jacob L. Oxendine 104 Sun Chase Drive Easley, SC 29642 Estate:

Robert Jack Burleson #2014ES4300122

Personal Representative

James D. Burleson PO Box 3734 Sumter, SC 29150

Personal Representative

Leon Earl Fullard 2835 Mount Zion Road Olanta, SC 29114

Estate:

Estate: Daniel E. McGhaney, Sr #2014ES4300132

Noel Patel 2291 Founders Hill Court Midlothian, VA 23113

Estate:

Lillian Munoz #2014ES4300125

Personal Representative

Clinton Junior Humphries C/O Willie H. Brunson Attorney At Law PO Box 370 Sumter, SC 29151

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.

Estate:

David Taliaferro Wells #2014ES4300095

Personal Representative Alexander G. Wells 3803 Keswick Road Baltimore, MD 21211

Estate:

Danny Jobe McLeod #2014ES4300102

Personal Representative Janice Louise McLeod 4550 Pond Loop Road Sumter, SC 29154

Estate:

Bobby G. Nobles #2014ES4300097

Personal Representative William R. McGoldrick 204 Village Green Circle Summerville, SC 29483

Estate:

Jeffie Blackwell McDonald #2014ES4300105

Personal Representative

Laura A. Declue C/O Garryl Deas Attorney At Law 201 N. Main Street Sumter, SC 29150

See Your Items In Appliances, Cars, Pets, Furniture, Yard Sales & More.

It’s Easy - Call Today 803-774-1234 www.theitem.com

Estate:

Viola Neal #2014ES4300131

Personal Representative

Ronald Washington 1055 Morris Way Sumter, SC 29154

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 March 27th, 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 2:00 pm at 1277 Camden Hwy, Sumter, SC 29153. The personal goods stored therein by below named occupant(s); 1143 N. Guignard Dr, Sumter, SC 29150 209 - McLeod Jr, Donnie 402 - Bieger, Joanna 404 - Gripper, Adrian 427 - Bracey, Tiffany

INVITATION-TO-BID PROJECT: ITB #25-13/14 LAKE PASSIVE PARK

SWAN

The City of Sumter is requesting competitive SEALED bids from qualified Contractors interested in contracting to provide construction of the Swan Lake Passive Park located at 822 W. Liberty Street, Sumter, SC 29150. There will be a MANDATORY pre bid meeting on Monday March 17, 2014 at 9:30am at Swan Lake Visitor's Center: 822 W. Liberty Street, Sumter, SC 29150. Due date for Bids: Tuesday March 25, 2014 at 2:00pm. For a copy of the bid documents, please contact Alice Bailey at (803) 436-2587 or email: abailey@sumter-sc.com.

Summons & Notice SUMMONS AND NOTICES IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS C/A NO: 14-CP-43-0169 (NON-JURY MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE) STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER

1277 Camden Hwy, Sumter, SC 29153 A013 - Biggs, Zina C047 - Taylor, Whitney E012 - Davis, Lakeyshia F024 - Mullins, Roger I005 - Davis, Lorenzo 3785 Broad St, Sumter, SC 29154 0102 - Benjamin, Fredrick 0129 - Dozier, Gloria 0311 - Burroughs, Tanisha 0316 - Cruz, Allen 0752 - Johnson, Timothy 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.

U.S. Bank National Association, PLAINTIFF, vs. Jonathan E. Higgins; and Anna Lee Higgins, DEFENDANT(S). TO THE NAMED:

DEFENDANTS

ABOVE

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint herein, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, or to otherwise appear and defend, and to serve a copy of your Answer to said Complaint upon the subscribers at their office, 4000 Faber Place, Suite 450, P.O. Box 71727, North Charleston, South Carolina, 29415, or to otherwise appear and defend the

TO MINOR(S) OVER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE, AND/OR TO MINOR(S) UNDER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND THE PERSON WITH WHOM THE MINOR(S) RESIDE(S) AND/OR TO PERSONS UNDER SOME LEGAL DISABILITY: YOU ARE FURTHER SUMMONED AND NOTIFIED to apply for the appointment of a guardian ad litem within thirty (30) days after the service of this Summons and Notice upon you. If you fail to do so, application for such appointment will be made by the Plaintiff. YOU WILL ALSO TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Rule 53(b) SCRCP, as amended effective September 1, 2002, the Plaintiff will move for a general Order of Reference to the Master in Equity for Sumter County, which Order shall, pursuant to Rule 53(b) of the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure, specifically provide that the said Master in Equity is authorized and empowered to enter a final judgment in this action. If there are counterclaims requiring a jury trial, any party may file a demand under rule 38, SCRCP and the case will be returned to the Circuit Court.

NOTICE OF FILING COMPLAINT NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the original Complaint in the above entitled action, together with the Summons, was filed in the Office of the Clerk of Court for Sumter County on January 27, 2014 at 1:26 p.m. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT pursuant to the Supreme Court of South Carolina Administrative Order 2011-05-02-01, you may be eligible for foreclosure intervention programs for the purpose of resolving the above-referenced foreclosure action. If you wish to be considered for a foreclosure intervention program, you must contact Finkel Law Firm LLC, 4000 Faber Place Drive, Suite 450 (29405), P.O. Box 71727 (29415), North Charleston, SC 29405, or call (843) 577-5460 within thirty (30) days from the date of this notice. Finkel Law Firm LLC represents the Plaintiff in this action. Our law firm does not represent you and is not authorized to provide you any legal advice. IF YOU FAIL, REFUSE, OR VOLUNTARILY ELECT NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS FORECLOSURE INTERVENTION PROCESS, THE FORECLOSURE MAY PROCEED. NOTICE PURSUANT TO THE FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT (15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq.): This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information you provide will be used for that purpose. However, if you have previously received a discharge from bankruptcy, this message is not

Summons & Notice

and should be construed as an attempt to collect a debt, but only as a requirement pursuant to the administrative order. FINKEL LAW FIRM LLC THOMAS A. SHOOK Post Office Box 71727 North Charleston, South Carolina 29415 (843) 577-5460 Attorney for Plaintiff

SUMMONS IN THE PROBATE COURT Case No. 2013-ES-43-284 State of South Carolina County of Sumter Estate of McKinley Bailey, AKA M.C. Bailey, McKinley Littlejohn, Petitioner vs To: Any Heirs, Devisees, Claimants, Representatives, or Persons in interest of the Estate of McKinley Bailey aka M.C. Bailey YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to Answer the Petition in this action, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your Answer to said Petition on the Petitioner, or his attorney, Ruben L. Gray within thirty days after the service thereof, exclusive of the day of such service, and if you fail to answer the said Petition within the time aforesaid the Petitioner will apply to the Court for a default judgment granting the relief demanded in said Petition.

NOTICE OF FILING PLEASE FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that the original Petition to establish Heirs and the Order of Publication in the above captioned matter have been filed in the Probate Court for Sumter County, South Carolina, the object and prayer of which is an action to establish the heirs of the decendent and other related relief as set out in said Petition.

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT TO ANY HEIRS, DEVISEES, CLAIMANTS, REPRESENTATIVES, OR PERSONS IN INTEREST OF SAID ESTATE WHO MAY BE UNKOWN, HAVING A LIEN UPON ANY REAL ESTATE IN SAID ESTATE, INFANTS, PERSONS UNDER LEGAL DISABILITY, MENTALLY INCOMPETENT take notice that the Probate court for Sumter County has appointed Deborah V. Dawson, Attorney, 2880 Clarkson Road, Dalzell, SC 29040, (803-499-3956), as Guardian-ad-Litem. You may contact this attorney and advise as to any right, claims or interests you may wish to assert. Ruben L.Gray Attorney for Petitioner Post Office Box 2636 Sumter, SC 29151 803-494-0800

CLASSIFIEDS

THE ITEM

ANNOUNCEMENTS Lost & Found

Lawn Service

For Sale or Trade

Trucking Opportunities

Four Seasons Lawn Care Serving Sumter for almost 20 yrs! Free est. 494-9169/468-4008

Automatic dishwasher, $160. Works fine. Call 803-491-8351

Oxendine & Son Lawn Care All your lawn care needs & pressure washing. Call Jonathan 803-565-2160 or Kerry 316-8726.

Cash for Junk Cars, used Cars, junk Batteries & unwanted gift cards. Call Gene 803-934-6734

Truck Driver Trainees Needed Now at H.O. Wolding Earn $800/wk Local CDL Training NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED! Be trained & based locally! 1-888-263-7364

Tree Service

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

The Tree Doctor Tree removal, stump grinding, trimming & clearing. 50% discount for church / cemetery. Accept credit cards & offer senior discounts. Call 775-8560 / 468-1946. STATE TREE SERVICE Worker's Comp & General liability insurance. Top quality service, lowest prices. 803-494-5175 or 803-491-5154 www.statetree.net

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

803-316-0128

In Memory

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

In Loving Memory of Lottie B. Davis

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

Open every weekend. 905-4242

Auctions

In Loving Memory Of Pearlie Mae Porter Lowery 07/07/45 - 03/10/08

Help Wanted Full-Time Now accepting applications for Child Care giver. With at least one year experience. Apply in person at 1921 Camden Hwy between the hours of 10-4. No phone calls PLEASE. Springhill Suites Marriott will be taking applications in person at Candlewood Suites, Tuesday March 11th through Sunday March 16th.

Salesman for busy car lot. Sales experience required. Salary negotiable. Apply in person at 1282 N Lafayette Dr Sumter. No phone calls. Mechanic needed at busy car lot. Salary based on Exp. Apply in person, at 1282 N. Lafayette Dr. NO PHONE CALLS!!! Valid Driver's License Required. Must have own tools.

We can only have one mother. Patient, kind and true; No other friend in all the world, Will be the same to us. When other friends forsake us, To mother we will return, For all her loving kindness, She asks nothing in return. As we look upon her picture, Sweet memories we recall, Of a face so full of sunshine, And a smile for one and all. Sweet Jesus, take this message. To our dear mother up above; Tell her how we miss her, And give her all our love. Love Schunda, Sheila, Grandchildren, Great-Grandchildren

WANTED INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR SINGLE COPY DELIVERY DRIVER The Item has an opening for a part time independent contractor "Single Copy" driver. This involves loading & unloading newspaper vending machines, delivery to convenience stores and collection and counting of monies from each. Requires 2-3 hours per night. Must have a good dependable car, a phone in your home and clean driving record. GREAT EXTRA INCOME! Apply in person to: The Item, 20 N. Magnolia St. Sumter, SC

Medical Help Wanted

TRANSPORTATION Mopeds / ATVs / Motorcycles

3BR 2BA 14x70 All Appliances, Sect. 8 Accepted Call 803-469-6978 American MHP, 2 & 3/BRs, lot rentals, water/sewer/garbage pkup inc'd. Sec. 8 ok. 803-494-4300.

3BR 2BA 16x80 No pets Call 803-499-1500 No calls after 5pm (Scenic Lake)

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

Gospel and Country musicloving, responsible, trust-worthy, energetic and enthusiastic, middle-aged woman is available at a very reasonable rate to sit with elderly love ones while the family gets a chance to get some well-deserved rest and relaxation. I will gladly and happily do light housework with a SMILE!! Any day or night... weekends included... just call me when you need me. Phone Number: 803-773-4441. References available.

Unfurnished Apartments

Office Rentals Office space & warehouse. Approx. 1200 sq ft ea. Located in Summerton. Separate elec. meters. $900 mo or $500 mo for office or warehouse. Call 803-837-0987.

REAL ESTATE

2003 Ford F-150, Exc condition. Well Kept. 100k orig. miles. $6,800 OBO. 1993 Cadillac DeVille, Exc Cond. $2,000 OBO. 803-447-5453

OPEN Ernest Baker Auto Sales & Equip. Located 3349 N. Main St 5.5 miles from 378 overpass at N. Main., on Hwy 15 N. next to Baker Mini Warehouse. Remember Cars are like Eggs, Cheaper in the Country!!! 803-469-9294 Auto Choice Sales & Rentals Buy Here, Pay Here. No Credit, No Problem. Cash Rentals. 494-8827

Manufactured Housing

Senior Living Apartments for those 62+ (Rent based on income) Shiloh-Randolph Manor 125 W. Bartlette. 775-0575 Studio/1 Bedroom apartments available EHO HOLLY COURT APARTMENTS located in Manning, currently have spacious two bedroom apartments for rent. Fully carpeted with central air and heat, water and sewer included. Please call to inquire about our Move in Special. Ph:( 803) 435-8786

Unfurnished Homes Brick 3BR 1BA Recently renovated. Mayesville Area $450 Mo. +Dep Call 843-374-3555 810 Mathis Dr., Sumter. 3BR /1BA. $500/mo + $500/sec. dep. Call 803-787-2319. Country Home 3BR/2BA C/H/A. $745/mo+$500/dep. No Pets! App't only 9AM-6PM. 406-6159, 481-4469.

New!

2001 Kawasaki Bayou 220, like new. Less than 30hrs. $1500 FIRM. Call 803-260-9866

R & R Motors 803-494-2886 03' Lincoln Town Car, 03' Dodge Stratus- low miles, 08' Mazda 6, 05' Dodge Dakota Quad Cab 4x4, 06' VW Jetta

2 & 3 BRs 803-494-4015

Work Wanted Make Extra $$$ Selling Home/Body Fragrances Kits are $45, $100 or $135 You Buy & We Supply Call 775-7823

2009 Harley-Davidson Roadking with 3100 miles. Garage kept. $13,000 OBO. 803-448-6067

Autos For Sale

STATEBURG COURTYARD

Tax Time is Here... 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.

95' Dodge Ram 1500 with Leer Cap, Sherrod convert , Rhino liner Tow pack., NEW Interior, Stereo XM. Heater, brakes, shocks, exhaust. $4.000 803-435-8075

Mobile Home with Lots

A Guaranteed Credit Approval AUTO LOANS 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

5 Coulter Dr. Wedgefield, Fleetwood 3br 2ba, den w/ fireplace, all appliances, completely remodeled. like new, on 0.45 ac lot in cozy neighborhood. Drastically reduced to $44,900. Please call (803) 468-6029.

Farms & Acreage FSBO: Land, Small & Large acreage. Owner financing. 803-427-3888.

You have a choice!

2014 FORD EDGE SE

BUSINESS SERVICES

3 Lots in City limits (Bishopville). Asking $20,000 or possible trade. Call 803-459-4773

Oaklawn MHP: 2 BR M.H.'s, water/sewer/garbage pk-up incl'd. RV parking avail. Call 494-8350

EMPLOYMENT

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

Martin's Used Appliance Washers, Dryers, Refrig., Stoves. Special front end load washer $399 Guarantee 464-5439/469-7311

Mobile Home Rentals

Medical Associate Needed-Now hiring motivated individual. Strong computer skills required, up to $15 hr. depending on experience. Contact Human Resources Dept 855-633-3424.

Psychotherapist-responsible for individual, group, family therapy, psychosocial assessments and case management. Masters in social work, psychology, or counseling required with current LISW, PC, or LPC. Fax resume to 803-774-2633 or email : lefford.fate@tuomey.com

For Sale or Trade

RENTALS

6ft Broyhill Sofa, new reupholstered. (Chocolate). Asking $325. Call 803-473-6059

Help Wanted Part-Time

Today makes one year since you have been gone. Your loving memories will always be treasured. We miss your transmittable smile and caring generosity. Our lost is heavens gain, because we know you are with the King. The battle fought, the victory won, enter thy Master's joy. We love you! Your husband, children, granddaughters, brother, sister, nieces and nephew.

Land & Lots for Sale

East Palmetto Ambulance Services now accepting applications for Drivers, EMT'S and Paramedics. Apply in person at 3662 Greeleyville HWY , Manning. 803-473-8000

A Notch Above Tree Care Full quality service low rates, lic./ins., free est BBB accredited 983-9721

$200 Reward. Lost 3 legged female calico cat in area of Calhoun & Purdy. Call 968-1312

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

MSRP $28,350 FACTORY SALE PRICE $26,447 FACTORY REBATE $4000

Your price

$22,447

ASK US ABOUT OUR MILITARY REBATE

Home Improvements

Stokes Craven

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

WAC. All rebates and incentives go to dealer. See dealer for details. Plus tax tag. Price includes trade in and $287 admin fee.

DRIVERS WANTED “NO GIMMICKS”

2601 Paxville Hwy., Manning, SC

(803) 433-5400

StokesCraven.com

place my

PETS Puppies for sale...

. PL RQ DOO PLOHV /D\RYHU 3D\ /RDGLQJ XQORDGLQJ IURP st KU *XDUDQWHHG 0LQLPXP 3D\ $FKLHYDEOH *RDOV IRU /XFUDWLYH ,QFHQWLYHV - CDL (Class A) w/ hazmat & tanker - At least 2 yrs. exp. - Clean MVR - Excellent pay ($.45 per running mile - includes $.06 per diem non-taxable expense) - Paid Vacation - Paid Holidays - Paid Sick Days - BC/BS Health Ins. - Dental Insurance - Life Insurance - Short Term Disability - 401(k) w/co. Match

CONTACT Pat Joyner at 803-775-1002 Ext. 107 OR visit our website to download a job application and fax to (954) 653-1195 www.sumtertransport.com 170 S. Lafayette Drive Sumter, SC 29150 EOE

ORDER YOUR CLASSIFIED AD ONLINE 24/7. WWW.THEITEM.COM

Exhibition game: Harlem Rockets in Manning on March 15

C3 SECTION

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014 Online: www.theitem.com/clarendon_sun | Call: (803) 435-8511 | E-mail: jim@theitem.com

Sentimental journey Singing group reunites for Turbeville anniversary BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem (803) 774-1211 Area residents will be able to take a sentimental musical journey with the Puddin’ Swamp Singers at Weldon Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 29. It will be the last appearance in Clarendon County for the singing group which captivated music lovers in South Carolina from 1988 to 2006. “It will be our last appear-

ance in Clarendon County,” said Nancy Goodman, who founded the group in 1988 to sing at a church dinner. The event is one of two reunion concerts the group is doing as part of Turbeville’s 100th anniversary celebration. Pat Goodwin, Stephen Dukes and other members of the Turbeville anniversary committee decided to ask Goodman if she could revive the group. At first, she was hesitant, Dukes said. “We sent Pat Goodwin to try

to beg and plead for her to do this one more time,” he said. Goodman said she would ask members of the group. “Every one of them wanted to sing again.”

A FIRST ENCORE

FILE PHOTO

It all started on a whim. Goodman was the longtime director of music of the United Methodist Church in Turbeville. “We were a very good choir,” she said. Goodman asked the singers

The Puddin’ Swamp Singers perform on the U.S.S. Yorktown during the 50th anniversary of World War 1II in 1995. if they wanted to do something “for fun.” “They said ‘yes,’ so we decided to do a Broadway music

thing with a dinner theater just for the church — one

SEE TURBEVILLE, PAGE C4

Thanks for the warm welcome I

t’s a long way from my former home in Las Cruces, N.M., to the Midlands of South Carolina. More than 1,700 miles if you’re talking about geography, but also a long way in terms of culture, weather and cuisine. Luckily, the people of the area have made my move to South Carolina and The Sumter Item and The Clarendon Sun easy. I have not met anyone so far who hasn’t been kind, considerate and a pleasure to work with or to speak with. While I have lived in several places in New Mexico, and even briefly on the Texas Gulf Coast, this is by far the biggest move I have ever made. The friendliness and welcoming attitude of everyone has been truly appreciated. For the past six years, I have worked at The Sumter Item’s sister paper, The Las Cruces Bulletin, a weekly specializing in local news. Through the Bulletin, I was Jim Hilley able to spend three weeks at THE The Item in October and November of last year, and that CLARENDON gave me a nice introduction SUN to the area. Driving back out here in early February, however, I often wondered if I made a wrong turn and ended up in Minnesota. It was brutally cold as I motored through Texas, and not much warmer in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama or Georgia. My first day back in Sumter was pretty nice. Then there was the ice storm. It can get cold in New Mexico, but ice storms are pretty much unknown in the Land of Enchantment, except perhaps in far east New Mexico. It certainly made the trip a little less scary that as I drove east on Interstate 20, it was a trip backward in time as far as my family history is concerned. On my mother’s side, my grandparents were originally from Parker County, Texas, near Weatherford, and that side of the family had migrated west over a generation, stopping briefly in Mississippi before reaching Parker County. Two of my great-great grandparents, John Marshall Coalson and Mary Eleanor Shirley Coalson, were actually both born in 1816 in the Abbeville District of South Carolina. On my dad’s side, my grandparents were born in northeast Alabama, before moving to far west Texas. I remember my grandmother often visited her family in Centre and Anniston, Ala. While coming to the South is a culture shock, I do have Southern roots. One thing that has been passed down through the generations is a love for Southern food. I love black-eyed peas, fried okra, fried chicken and corn bread cooked with bacon drippings in a cast-iron skillet. Grits, not so much. Being from New Mexico means being a lover of Mexican food and chile, spelled with an “e” and coming in red and green. Chile is a vegetable and is not to be confused with Texas chili, which usually contains dried powdered red chile and can be quite delicious. More on that in a later column. New Mexico and South Carolina are similar in some respects. They are relatively poor states dealing with major challenges in trying times. Both have diverse populations that blend together in unique ways. Both have deep cultural traditions to lean on to cope with an uncertain future. I thank you all for your warm welcome, and I look forward to working with you and learning much more about you and the beautiful state of South Carolina.

CLARENDON SUN FILE PHOTO

Mark Hutson of Moncks Corner holds his 10.05-pound bass that won him the 2013 Forrest L. Wood Walmart Bass Fishing League tournament held on lakes Marion and Moultrie. Hundreds of anglers are expected to take part in this week’s Rayovac FLW Series Tournament sponsored by the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce.

Anglers flock to

Santee Cooper BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem

tournament

(803) 774-1211

s many as 300 pros and co-anglers are expected to take to the waters of the Santee-Cooper lake system March 13-15 for a Rayovac FLW Series Tournament hosted by the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce. The last time the series stopped at Santee Cooper, 13 bass in excess of 20 pounds were brought to the scale. Lakes Marion and Moultrie have a reputation for big fish and for not giving them up easily. “The majority of the fish are probably going to be in a prespawn pattern,” said Anthony Gagliardi, a Chevy pro angler and a nine-time Forrest Wood Cup qualifier. “I haven’t watched the weather closely enough to know for sure, though. They do spawn there at that time, but I don’t know if they’ll be quite ready this year. “The fishing should be good with typical pre-spawn patterns.

A lot of guys should catch them well. Flipping the cypress trees, spinner baits and rattletraps could all produce.” He said that if the predominant pattern was pre-spawn, most of the anglers would probably focus on areas leading into Santee Cooper’s big spawning flats and backwaters. “I’ve probably spent half of my time on the upper lake (Marion) and half of my time on the lower lake (Moultrie),” Gagliardi said. “When the fish are spawning, I like going down to sight fish in the lower lake, but you can catch them anywhere. Guys will be able to spread out a lot. They should catch them pretty good this time of year.” “I think you’re looking at 55 to 60 pounds to win,” he continued. “It could be considerably more than that if the bite turns on and a lot of those big fish move up.” Anglers will take off from John C. Land III Landing located at CR 514-260 (Log Jam/Greenall Road) in Summerton at 7:30 a.m. each day. Weigh-in will be held at

3:30 p.m. at the takeoff location Thursday and Friday beginning at 3:30 p.m. Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at Walmart, 2010 Paxville Highway in Manning, beginning at 4 p.m. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are open to the public. Pros will fish for a top award of $40,000 plus a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard. Co-anglers will cast for a top award consisting of a Ranger Z117 with 90-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and $5,000. Pros and co-anglers must follow Ranger Cup guidelines to qualify for the awards. The Rayovac FLW Series consists of five divisions – Central, Northern, Southeast, Texas and Western. Each division consists of three tournaments, and competitors vie for points in each division to win the opportunity to fish in the Rayovac FLW Series Championship Oct. 30-Nov. 1 on Wheeler Lake in Rogersville, Ala. For more information visit www.flwoutdoors.com.

CLARENDON SUN

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

Sea Coast ribbon cutting

PHOTO PROVIDED GAIL MATHIS / THE CLARENDON SUN

Sea Coast Church members held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday for Sea Coast House on Church Street in Manning. Residents were invited to the event, which featured hot dogs and hamburgers.

Learn hardwood management with Clemson Extension BY COREY CRAIG Clemson Extension Special to The Clarendon Sun Clemson Extension will host a program geared toward landowners and forest professionals in the Pee Dee Region. This educational workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. on Friday, March 21, at the Pee Dee Research and Education Center at 2200 Pocket Road in Florence. This hardwood management program will discuss and teach participants how to better manage their hardwood forest with various goals in mind. The agenda will include presentations on managing bottomland hardwoods for wildlife, properly harvesting hardwood timber to favor wildlife while making a profit, controlling undesirable hardwoods with various chemical treatment methods and establishing artificial hardwood plantations such as poplar and cottonwood to supply increasing biomass and pulpwood markets. There will also be a wild turkey update from The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Outdoor demonstrations will include a herbicide application class teaching participants how to properly calibrate an ATV herbicide sprayer, as well as offering backpack sprayer application tips and methods for

efficiency. Arborgen will display and discuss its established test plots of poplar and cottonwood currently growing on the property. Finally, Wood-Mizer will put to work one of their portable sawmills used to utilize wood that usually gets overlooked in the forest. The program cost is $30 for landowners and the general public. Professional foresters seeking CFE’s will be required to pay $55 for the five-and-ahalf hours attached to this program. This fee covers morning refreshments, a catered lunch and a USB flash drive containing the program content. The program holds 2.5 CCH pesticide credits. Those interested in attending can register online or through the mail. There is a $5 discount for online registrants, making the total costs $25 for the public and $50 foresters. The website is www. eventbrite.com – search the keyword “hardwood.” Checks can be made out to Clemson University and mailed to P.O. Box 700, Kingstree, SC 29556. Please provide contact information along with check. Register by Tuesday, March 18, to lock in your spot. For more information, contact Corey Craig at (843) 3556106, extension 111 (leave voicemail) or email cocraig@ clemson.edu.

PETS OF THE WEEK

JACK

MANNY

Jack is a 2-year-old Chihuahua mix looking for a home. With all the energy this little guy is packing, he’ll need a home with a big, fenced yard and a committed walking partner. Jack is friendly and gets along well with other dogs and cats. He’s currently up to date on vaccines and is already neutered. Feel welcome to visit Jack and all his buddies any time during the shelter’s operating hours. One-year-old Manny is a Manchester Terrier mix who’s up to date on vaccines and already neutered. His lively personality requires plenty of exercise and play time. He would do best with a family who has plenty of time to give. He thrives on attention. Manny is a very sweet, sensitive and affectionate little guy who gets along with everyone — even children, cats or other dogs. See Jack and Manny and many other cats and dogs at A Second Chance Animal Shelter, 5079 Alex Harvin Highway (U.S. 301), which has numerous pets available for adoption. Adoption hours are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. To drop off an animal, call (803) 473-7075 for an appointment. If you’ve lost a pet, check www.ccanimalcontrol.webs. com and www.ASecondChanceAnimalShelter.com.

The Monsanto Fund, represented by Jess Easterling, right rear, recently presented a check for $2,500 to the Clarendon County 4-H Livestock Club. The funding was provided on behalf of America’s Farmers Grow Communities program, which is sponsored by Monsanto.

Local farmers support 4-H MANNING – Local farmers Marie and Maynard Dorr have directed a $2,500 donation to the Clarendon County 4-H Livestock Club. Funded by America’s Farmers Grow Communities, the donation will help the club offer scholarships for camps and other 4-H projects. The group currently offers the only livestock club in the area, and the Dorrs’ children are among the many members. Thanks to the support of farmers such as the Dorrs, more than $3.2 million is being directed to nonprofits in 1,289 counties in 39 states. “Most of our children come from low-income families and want to buy their own animals, and this organization provides funding which will allow them to do

so,” Marie Dorr said. America’s Farmers Grow Communities offers farmers the chance to win $2,500, which is then donated to the farmer’s nonprofit of choice. The search for funding to sustain and enhance programs is a year-round job for nonprofit organizations across the country. Through America’s Farmers Grow Communities, farmers have been able to support a variety of groups, such as schools, fire departments, community centers and youth organizations like 4-H and FFA. America’s Farmers Grow Communities launched in 2010 and has since donated more than $16 million to more than 6,500 nonprofit organizations across the country. America’s Farm-

ers Grow Communities, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, is part of the America’s Farmers initiative, which highlights and celebrates the important contributions of farmers like Marie and Maynard Dorr. For a complete list of Grow Communities winners and more program information, visit growcommunities.com. To learn more, visit America’s Farmers at www. americasfarmers.com. About the Monsanto Fund The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Co., is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the farm communities where farmers and Monsanto Co. employees live and work. Visit the Monsanto Fund at www. monsantofund.org.

Have a St. Paddy’s Day feast

arch 17 is St. Patrick’s Day. This special day was designated to celebrate the life of Patrick, a missionary in Ireland who supposedly drove all the snakes out of the country by beating his drum. Although St. Patrick himself was certainly real, most people believe the feat of driving out the snakes to be more lore than fact. These days we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by having corned beef and cabbage, a traditional dish from Nancy Ireland. The Harrison “corn” in CLEMSON corned beef doesn’t have EXTENSION anything to do with the vegetable corn; rather, it refers to the British use of the word corn to mean any small particle. In this case, the small particles are the grains of salt used to flavor and preserve the beef. Beef brisket is usually the cut of meat used for corned beef, and it’s cured for a week or more in a brine of water, salt and flavorings that include garlic, cloves and thyme. In the Irish kitchen it’s braised in water to which other seasonings may be added. Do be aware

that corned beef is very high in sodium. A 3 1/2 -ounce portion (about the size of a deck of cards) has almost 1,200 milligrams of sodium, or about half the maximum amount of sodium that should be consumed in a day. If you’re on a sodiumrestricted diet, you might want to have a very small portion of corned beef and a hearty serving of cabbage. Cabbage is a very healthy vegetable in the brassica family, which also includes cauliflower, broccoli, mustard, kale, Brussels sprouts, radish, rutabaga and turnip. Green cabbage is a good source of vitamin C and a fair source of vitamin A. It’s high in fiber and is rich in phytochemicals, especially those in the indole and sulphoraphane groups, which help to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. To enjoy cabbage for St. Patrick’s Day, you can steam cabbage leaves for a flavorful vegetable. Select one medium green cabbage, about two pounds. Trim away outer leaves that are damaged. Cut head in half lengthwise. Cut each half into wedges, each including part of the core. Steam until just tender, 5 to 8 minutes. To steam, use about 1/2 inch of water in a pot, place cabbage on a rack or steamer insert, cover and cook over

medium high heat. To serve, spray cabbage wedges with butter-flavored cooking spray and sprinkle with lemon pepper. Transfer wedges to a cutting board, cut away core, and transfer intact to plates. Microwave instructions: For 1 pound of cabbage, prepare for cooking as above. Place in a glass casserole and add 2 tablespoons water. Cook on high power 5 to 7 minutes. Let stand 2 minutes before seasoning and serving. Here is another recipe to try:

SAUSAGE AND CABBAGE ¼ medium cabbage shredded, 2 tablespoons water ¼ cup chopped green pepper ½ pound sausage links cut into 1-inch slices Salt and pepper to taste Combine cabbage and green pepper in a medium skillet; season with salt and pepper. Add water, and heat until water begins to boil. Reduce heat, and place sausage on top of cabbage mixture. Cover and simmer about 15 minutes. Yields 2 servings. Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status, and is an equal opportunity employer.

CLARENDON SUN

THE SUMTER ITEM

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

COMMUNITY CALENDAR CLARENDON DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION The Clarendon County Democratic Party Convention will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 20, at the Weldon Auditorium, 7 Maple St. Registration of convention delegates will begin at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call Glenn Ardis at (803) 452-6013. CLEMSON EXTENSION UPCOMING TRAINING EVENTS Lower Pee Dee Forest Lands Meeting March 14, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Moore Farms Botanical Garden, 100 New Zion Road, Lake City RSVP to (843) 546-4481 Contact Ben Powell at bpowel2@clemson.edu or Corey Craig at cocraig@clemson.edu for more information. Registration fee $10 Confined Animal Manure Manager Training (CAMM) — Poultry and Swine Training** March 19 Phillips Market Center, S.C. State Farmers Market,

3501 Charleston Highway, West Columbia Contact Bryan Smith, (864) 984-2514, extension 112, or wsmth@clemson.edu Registration required by March 12 **Only opportunity for training in 2014 Registration fee $150 Hardwood Management and the Effects on Wildlife and your Wallet* March 21, 8:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Pee Dee Research Center, 2200 Pocket Road, Florence Register online at www.eventbrite.com or call (843) 907-2283. Registration fee $30 *2.5 Pesticide and 5.5/Cat 1 Forestry Credits Bermudagrass Hay/Pasture Production Meeting* April 3, Swan Lake-Iris Gardens Visitors Center, 822 W. Liberty St., Sumter Contact the Florence Extension Office to register — (843) 661-4800 or rii@clemson.edu Registration fee $25 *3 Pesticide credits available

Harlem Rockets in Manning March 15

POLICE BLOTTER MANNING POLICE DEPARTMENT SIMPLE ASSAULT 9:39 a.m. Feb. 19: Police responded to a report of a fight in progress in the 200 block of Commerce Street. The parties were advised it was a mutual combat situation and that both parties could press charges and both would be arrested. Neither party pressed charges. HIT AND RUN 6:15 p.m. Feb. 20: Police responded to a report of a hit and run at a Discount Tobacco. The victim reported someone had damaged the rear bumper and left rear side of her pickup. Damage was estimated at $800. CRIMINAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 4:48 a.m. Feb. 20: Police responded to a report of domestic violence in the 200 block of South Church Street. Complainant was advised how to seek a warrant and left the premises. 7:06 p.m. Feb. 20: David Jermaine Jones, 33, was arrested for criminal domestic violence in the 300 block of East South St. ASSAULT-INTIMIDATION, VANDALISM 11:28 a.m. Feb. 21: Police responded to a disturbance at a business in the 100 block of Sunset Drive. Complainant said he was threatened and his car door was kicked by two men. Complainant was advised to seek a warrant.

PHOTO PROVIDED

The Harlem Rockets, comprising former professional and college basketball players, will visit Manning on Saturday in an exhibition game to raise funds for FFA and other youth activities.

ASSAULT-INTIMIDATION 2:21 a.m. Feb. 23: Police responded to a report of an assault in the 110 block of East Huggins Street. One man was given a trespass notice and advised to return home and seek a trespass notice against the complainant if he wished. CLARENDON CO. SHERIFF’S DEPT. VANDALISM 10 a.m. Feb. 24: Police responded to a report of vandalism in the 2100 Block of Lakeshore Drive in Manning. LARCENY 8:57 a.m. March 3: Police responded to a report of larceny in the 100 block of Pondview Drive in Manning. Complainant reported clothing and beauty products were missing. Items were valued at $500. BURGLARY/BREAKING AND ENTERING 2:20 p.m. March 4: Police responded to a report of vandalism in the 6800 block of M.W. Rickenbaker Road. Officers photographed damage to a utility shed and padlock. Damage was estimated at $350. 3:03 p.m. March 4: Police responded to a report of a burglary in the 2700 block of Arlen Road, Manning. Complainants said their residence had been entered after Feb. 28 and furniture, jewelry, electronics and household items were missing. Missing items were valued at $4,970.

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The Harlem Rockets will play the Manning All Stars at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at Manning High School in a game hosted by Blackriver Missionary Baptist Church Brotherhood to support FFA and youth activities. The Harlem Rockets are a touring comedy basketball team comprising former college and professional players that travel the country advising young people to

avoid alcohol and drugs. Attendees can expect fastpaced basketball, comedy skits and audience participation, particularly with children. Instead of bringing a traveling team, the Rockets play opponents from the local community. Among the players suiting up for the Manning All Stars will be members of local law enforcement and firefighters, along with high school

basketball players from Laurence Manning Academy. Tickets are $6 in advance or $7 at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets, call Rodney Cousar at (803) 4605356 or Jersey Logan at (803) 505-2044. Tickets are also available from the Manning High School FFA or at Today’s Fashions, Radio Shack Manning or Imports Unlimited.

Outdoors adventurer to speak at wild game supper BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com (803) 774-1211 Jimmy Sites, the founder and leader of Spiritual Outdoor Adventures, will be the guest speaker at Summerton Baptist Church’s Wild Game Supper at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 20, at Bell View Farms in Goat Island. The Rev. Bob Ashba of Summerton Baptist Church said this will be the 12th annual wild game supper targeted at fathers and sons that has attracted as many as 2,700 men and boys. Ashba describes Sites as a television speaker, host, au-

thor and professional outdoorsman. “He’s won a lot of different awards and lived in the Amazon wilderness with stone-age tribes and survived being stranded in the Alaska wilderness during a storm,” Ashba said. “We would like anybody to come and be a part of this event, especially if you have a thirst for the Lord.” The menu will include barbecue, catfish, mustard fried meat, perleau and banana pudding. Most of the food will be cooked on site, he said. In addition to an inspirational speech by Sites, the

singing group Loose Stone will perform, and door prizes courtesy of Sites’ sponsors will be given away. There is no charge to attend the gathering, but Ashba said an offering would be taken to defray costs. “The members of the church give very freely to make this event happen,” he said. He said several other churches were providing volunteers. “It takes a lot of volunteers to do this,” Ashba said. For more information or directions, call (803) 485-6023.

THE

ClarendonSun Sun CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL NOTICES Estate Notice Clarendon County

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES All persons having claims against the following estates MUST file their claims on FORM #371ES with the Probate Court of Clarendon County, the address of which is 411 Sunset Dr. Manning, SC 29102, within eight (8) months after the date of the first publication of this Notice to Creditors or within one (1) year from date of death, whichever is earlier (SCPC 62-3-801, et seq.), or such persons shall be forever barred as to their claims. All claims are required to be presented in written statements on the prescribed form (FORM #371ES) indicating the name and address of the claimant, the basis of the claim, the amount claimed, the date when the claim will become due, the nature of any uncertainty as to the claim, and a description of any security as to the claim.

Estate: Verdie Farrow Young #2014ES1400025 Personal Representative: Robert W. Honeycutt 71 Midden Lane Pawleys Island, SC 29585 03/04/14-03/18/14 Estate: Juanita Nelson Murray #2013ES1400288 Personal Representative: Jason J. Stepney 1268 Spratt Drive Pinewood, SC 29125 02/11/14 - 02/25/14 Estate: Billie Jennings Hawkes Nalley #2014ES1400033 Personal Representative: Eugene E. Nalley, Jr. 13499 N. Brewington Rd. Gable, SC 29051 03/04/14-03/18/14 Estate: Nelson R. Greene #2014ES1400040 Personal Representative: Eleanor C. Greene 2171 Spring Hill Road Summerton, SC 29148 03/11/14-03/25/14

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CLARENDON SUN

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

East Clarendon High School students display talents PHOTOS BY JIM HILLEY / THE CLARENDON SUN

Master of Ceremonies Sessie Cave, left, earned top honors in the civil rights category for his stirring recital of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Mountain Top” speech at East Clarendon High School on Friday during the school’s Multicultural Hall of Fame Induction Program. Margaret Shepherd, right, receives congratulations for her work producing the multicultural program for the last time. Shepherd has announced her retirement before next year’s program. Marquice Elmore’s rendition of “Because of Who You Are” earned him top honors in the arts category.

Melissa Woodward, Patricia Stukes, Pat McFadden, Sonya Fuller and David Lowther were judges for the program.

JoAnn Coaxum leads a choir of participants in the program before the competition.

Music category winners Markese Brown and Zachary Whitehead claimed the music category with a performance as Al Green and Jimi Hendrix.

TURBEVILLE FROM PAGE C1 show,” she said. The choice of music stemmed from her love of New York and Broadway. “It just went over wonderfully,” she said. Puddin’ Swamp Singers was born. “I would never have called it Puddin’ Swamp Singers if I knew what was going to happen,” Goodman said. “The group just jelled like a family; we all loved music and singing and performing.” The next time the group performed, just a week later, they had a packed house. The group, directed by the late Lennich Coker, started performing all over the state. “He started with me in 1988, and did it for 10 years, till his health prevented him from doing it anymore. We are going to dedicate this show to Len-

nich,” Goodman said.

A TRIBUTE TO HEROES Goodman said some of her fondest memories are from 1995, the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II. “We did all ’40s music, big band type stuff, things that old veterans knew. We invited veterans of Clarendon County, and they sat at the front,” she said.

“We took that show everywhere. We did the Yacht Club in Charleston, the Yorktown. We did a show for veterans.” The group performed for an additional 11 years, until 2006, performing fundraisers for worthy causes. “We only charged for our expenses, (and) if we had any money left over at the end of the year, we gave it to charity. Nobody was paid but the music director.”

It couldn’t go on forever, however. “We had to cut it off somewhere; all of us worked and had other lives.”

THE LAST GOODBYE Goodman said the March 29 concert will feature Broadway music, some old-time rock ‘n’ roll, spirituals and patriotic music, solos by tenor Matt Evans and Happy Pendergrass and some shagging by Matt

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and Lynn Evans. “We go into a salute to the armed forces,” Goodman said. “We will have representatives of every service.” Expected to be among them is 93-year-old Army veteran Larry Coker, who was the guest speaker at Puddin’ Swamp’s first concert in 1988. “We end with ‘Kiss Today Goodbye,’ because that is what we will be doing,” Goodman said.

BRUNSON’S PHARMACY