March 2 2016 by The Sumter Item

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Clinton, Trump sweep South WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton swept through the South on Super Tuesday, with the front-runners claiming victory in their parties’ primaries in delegaterich Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia. Clinton also carried Texas, the night’s biggest prize. On the Republican side, Ted Cruz won his home state of Texas, as well as neighboring Oklahoma. Democrat Bernie Sanders picked up a home-state win as well, in Ver-

mont, and won in Oklahoma, too. Still, the night belonged to Trump and Clinton, who turned the busiest day of the 2016 primaries into a showcase of their strength with a wide swath of American voters. “What a Super Tuesday,” Clinton exclaimed during a victory rally. As Trump’s victories piled up, he fired off “thank you” Twitter notes to the states that landed in his win column. The billionaire businessman scheduled a nighttime news conference at his swanky Mar-a-La-

go resort in Florida, eschewing the traditional election night rally. Cruz desperately needed a win in Texas in order to stay in the race, and was likely to keep campaigning as the only Republican who has been able to defeat Trump in any primary contest. For Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, the night was turning into a disappointment. While a flood of Republican officeholders have rallied

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Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gives a thumbs up at a rally in Spartanburg on Saturday. Trump came out on top in several primary contests on Super Tuesday, including the Georgia SEE TRUMP, PAGE A6 and Virginia Republican primaries.

Disc golf drama

Brown won’t seek re-election Longest-serving rep has been in office 40 years BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com

KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM

“It has been the thrill of my life to represent this district for the past 32 years,” said Rep. Grady Brown, D-Bishopville, after announcing he will not run for reelection to the South Carolina House of Representatives in the upcoming election. “It’s something I have been discussing for six months,” Brown said Tuesday. Brown, a former barber, was first sworn into the S.C. House in 1985 and is the longest serving member of the House. The 71-year-old said the outpouring from friends and neighbors who have heard of his retirement has been amazing. “I am not willing to go BROWN through the mental, physical and psychological stress of campaigning the way I campaign in the type of district I am in,” he said. Rep. David Weeks, D-Sumter, said Brown will be missed by his colleagues. “It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve with Grady Brown,” Weeks said. “He has been a valuable member of the ‘Team Sumter’ legislative delegation and is highly renowned for his constituent service. “Whenever somebody has been here as long as he has, you make friends and become a part of the landscape and a very important part of it all,” Weeks said. Brown said he will not miss the pomp and circumstance of being in the General

Sara Young, a Sumter High School drama student, “putts” on the third hole during a disc golf tournament at Dillon Park on Saturday to benefit the school’s drama department and the course itself.

SEE BROWN, PAGE A6

City council approves moratorium for vacant property registry fines BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Sumter City Council approved a moratorium extending to Dec. 31 on fines associated with the city’s vacant property registry during its regular meeting on Tuesday. Sumter Attorney Eric Shytle said the $250 fine, that will be charged every month to any residential property owner who fails to register vacant property within the allotted 60day period, was intended to start at the end of this month. Owners of vacant residential

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property are still required to register property on the city’s website, sumtersc.gov, on the planning department’s page. Shytle said the city will continue to keep the registry in place to see how it works, and officials will address issues as they arise. City council later approved a resolution authorizing a cost-plus contract between the city and Thompson Turner Construction, the contractor for the parking garage to be built at the corner of Sumter Street and Hampton Avenue. In March 2015, council

voted to exempt the contract for the parking garage from the city’s competitive bidding process to allow Thompson Turner Construction, also the contractor for the Hyatt Place hotel to be built on North Main Street, to take on both projects in order to reduce possible issues because both projects will take place at the same time. The city consulted with Nick Nicholson, managing director of Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A., for the contract. Nicholson told council that the cost-plus contract will re-

DEATHS, B6 Lilia G. Yates John Q. Ross IV Furman J. Ridgeway Willis A. Rosado Sr.

Helen W. Jackson Lou N. Hatfield James Ira Dalton Dewitt Walker Sr.

quire that the city pay a maximum guaranteed price for the project and a fee to the contractor, so the company can make a profit for the project. The city will not be charged if the contractor exceeds the maximum guaranteed price, he said. Nicholson said the price for the project has not yet been set because the designs for the garage are not complete. Also, council approved an amendment to the Community Block Development Grant Entitlement Budget for 2016-17. City Manager Deron McCormick said the budget needed to

be amended because the city is receiving less money than originally planned. He said the budgeting process requires the city to pass the budget before learning the true amount it will receive. The city asked to use figures from the previous year, he said. The original 2016-17 CDBG budget, approved on Jan. 5, was approximately $285,900 and the amended budget is $278,866. McCormick said the city made reductions to the administration and housing repair portions of the budget.

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LOCAL BRIEF

Disaster grants announced

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Candidate seeks seat held by Mulvaney

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Fran Person, a long-time aide to Vice President Joe Biden, has announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 5th Congressional District of South Carolina. Person, who lists his home as Tega Cay, is running as a Democrat. The seat is held by Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-Lancaster. Person, a former scholarship football player at University of South Carolina, announced his candidacy with a video posted on YouTube. In the video, he said Mulvaney went to Congress “to fix a broken Congress in 2010, but the truth is, Congress has just gotten more broken since he’s been there.” Person said he would invest in education, rebuild roads and end the sequester to support the military. He is married to wife Chrystal and has two young daughters. For more information, visit www.personforcongress.com.

Sumter City Manager Deron McCormick said local communities will be eligible for some of the $157 million in grants U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro announced will be awarded to South Carolina for disaster recovery efforts following significant rainfall and flooding in October. The money will help to meet remaining unmet housing, economic development and infrastructure needs that resulted from thousands of homes and small businesses being damaged or destroyed, according to a HUD news release. “After disaster strikes, the most important task is getting folks back to a safe home quickly, so they can return to their daily lives,” Castro said. “With climate change in-

creasing the frequency and intensity of disasters, we must take every opportunity to plan better and ensure faster recovery for communities across the nation. With this $157 million disaster recovery investment, we uphold our commitment to helping these communities recover stronger and be bettear prepared for future disasters.” The disaster recovery funds will be allocated to the following grantees for longterm disaster recovery efforts HUD announced: Lexington County, $16.3 million; Columbia, $19.9 million; Richland County, $23.5 million; and the state of South Carolina, $96.8 million. McCormick said Sumter applied for a direct grant such as Columbia received but was denied. Congress appropriated $300 million to address the

unmet recovery needs in communities that were most impacted and distressed by a major flooding disaster in 2015. Communities in South Carolina and Texas, which will also receive recovery funds, were determined to have significantly higher unmet needs than jurisdictions effected by other eligible disasters last year. With this money, HUD is also encouraging grantees to incorporate resilience measures into their local action plans to ensure communities are more prepared for the next storm. McCormick said the state would be the conduit to the communities that were affected but were not awarded direct funding. “We’ll be coordinating with the state to just what extent we can access our portion of those funds,” he said.

There are two portions of the funding, McCormick said, that for individuals and that for the public infrastructure and local governments. The details of how that money will be distributed has yet to become available, he said. HUD allocates CDBG-Disaster Recovery funds based on the best available data from Federal Emergency Management Agency and Small Business Administration disaster loan programs to identify the areas of greatest need in the impacted region. After a presidential disaster declaration, CDBG-DR funds may be made available to states, local governments and insular areas that have significant unmet recovery needs and the capacity to carry out a disaster recovery program, the news release said.

County offers no help for private property owners Andrew Smith has not seen his backyard since the flood struck in October. His property is inundated with water that drained from his neighborhood and has not receded. Smith has spent thousands of dollars of his own money trying to fix the problem with no luck.

BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Many residents in Sumter County are still dealing with the aftermath of the 1,000-year-flood, but some homeowners are left without many options because they live on private property. Andrew Smith, of Raffield Court in Dalzell, is one of many residents seeking help now that his property is holding an estimated 4 million gallons of water. “This house was built in a drainage area,” Smith said. “Almost every storm drain leads to this area.” He also said the land used to be a pond in the late 1990s and was drained in early 2000s. “If I had known this, I would have never bought the house,” he said. Smith has had to replace the flooring in a portion of his house and now is mostly focused on pumping the water from his yard. He said he reached out to Sumter County Administration for help but the government is unable to provide assistance because he lives on private property. Smith said he is baffled by how the county can let residents live in these situations and cannot offer any kind of assistance to those living on private property.

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“It’s very frustrating,” he said, “I’ve lost all confidence that the county can help at all.” Sumter county officials reiterated the fact that they cannot work on private property but did offer suggestions to homeowners. Storm Water Manager Alfred Conyers said that residents that have large amounts standing water around their houses should consult an engineer to see if the land can be graded to allow

the water to drain into an existing or natural drainage system. He said the seasonal ground water is usually higher in the winter, and the amount of rain that has fallen is adding to the issue. Conyers also said the soil infiltration rate, the rate at which water is absorbed into the ground, has reduced significantly because of the amount of standing water. Sumter County Administrator Gary

Mixon said he and other county officials are receiving numerous calls from around Sumter regarding flooded yards, mostly dealing with private property. Unfortunately, the county cannot do any work on private property, he said. Mixon referenced several opinions from the office of attorney general of South Carolina, all of which referred to the South Carolina Constitution which states that taxes, public funds, must be spent on public purposes and cannot be used to benefit any individual or private entity. The attorney general’s opinions also stated that S.C. Supreme Court has concluded that in some cases it would be up to the legislative branch, which could be the local council, to determine what constitutes a public purpose. The county administrator suggested that homeowners reach out to local organizations that are helping flood victims with repairs.

Church Women United invites public to World Day of Prayer service BY IVY MOORE ivy@theitem.com Church Women United in the Greater Sumter Area, an ecumenical organization comprising women of Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox and other Christian women, will present its annual World Day of Prayer program Friday at Emmanuel United Methodist Church. The local group is a chapter of the national movement, said

Ollie Thomas, ecumenical celebrations chairwoman of the group. Organized in 1972, the Greater Sumter CWU comprises members of more than 30 area churches, representing the denominations African Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, Catholic, Church of God, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian and United Methodist. Christian women of any denomination are eligible to join by simply attending

a CWU event. The group keeps no roll of individual members. Each year, the World Day of Prayer is held in a host church at 4:30 p.m. on the first Friday in March. A global movement, the celebration is written by women from a designated country, and women around the world pray throughout the day. The service is also open to men. The object is to have people all around the world praying with each other, rather

than for each other, according to CWU International. “This year’s program was written by church women in Cuba,” Thomas said. Proceeds from a love offering will be sent there to help women and children with specific needs. She said the theme for this year’s service is “Receive Children, Receive Me,” based on the Scripture Mark 10:13–16; in verse 14, Jesus says “Suffer the little children to

come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” The public is invited to attend Church Women United’s World Day of Prayer service at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 421 S. Main St. For more information about World Day of Prayer or Church Women United in the Greater Sumter Area, call (803) 4810725.

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Navy SEAL receives Medal of Honor at White House event WASHINGTON (AP) — A Navy SEAL who helped rescue an American hostage in Afghanistan received the nation’s highest military honor Monday, hailed by President Obama as “a special breed of warrior who so often serves in the shadows.” Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator Edward Byers Jr. is the first living, active duty member of the Navy to receive the Medal of Honor in four decades. Obama said during a ceremony at the White House that Byers is the “consummate, quiet professional” who would rather be elsewhere, perhaps holding his breath under dark, frigid water. And while many details of Byers’ work remain classified, and many of his teammates cannot be mentioned, Obama said the event provided the chance to pay tribute to special operations members of the military who have borne an extraordinarily heavy load during the fighting in the Middle East. Byers participated in the 2012 rescue of Dr. Dilip Joseph, who was abducted along with his driver and an Afghan interpreter. The rescue was undertaken three days later by members of the Na-

vy’s famed SEAL Team 6. The unit is best known for undertaking the mission that killed Osama bin Laden. “Whenever Americans are taken hostage in the world, we move heaven and earth to bring them home safe,” Obama said. “We send some thunder and some lightning.” The rescue took place at night and after an arduous four-hour hike in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan. Obama recounted during the ceremony how the SEALs rushed the building where the doctor was held. Byers ripped down a layer of blankets covering the entrance, exposing himself to enemy fire. A teammate pushed in and was shot. Byers moved in next and fired at an enemy guard, and then fought with another. Hearing English, Byers moved off of the guard and threw himself on the hostage, using his body to shield Joseph from the bullets, Obama said. Another enemy fighter appeared, and with his bare hands, Byers pinned the fighter to the wall and held him until his teammates took action. “It was over almost as soon as it began. In just minutes, by going after those guards, Ed saved the lives of several teammates, and that hostage,”

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President Obama presents the Medal of Honor to Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator Edward Byers during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington on Monday. Obama said. Once the doctor was moved to a helicopter landing zone, Byers, a certified paramedic, assisted in providing medical aid to his colleague, who died of his wounds. That SEAL was Petty Officer 1st Class Nicolas D. Checque, 28, of Monroeville, Pennsylvania. Obama also honored Checque’s service during Monday’s ceremony, noting that he is among 55 SEALs to make the ultimate sacrifice since the September 11 terrorist attacks and that he was awarded the Navy Cross. “He was an American hero, and he was the hero of that operation,” Byers told reporters in a statement that he read moments after the ceremony. “He

Toxicology reports ruled medical records, but coroner can discuss BY JEFFREY COLLINS The Associated Press COLUMBIA — Toxicology reports from autopsies are medical records that cannot be released to the public, but coroners may talk publicly about the results of blood screenings for alcohol and drugs without violating federal health privacy law, according to an opinion released by the state Attorney General’s Office. The opinion was requested by Spartanburg County Coroner Rusty Clevenger as he investigated the deaths of four University of South Carolina Upstate students in an Oct. 11, 2015, car crash near campus. Clevenger usually releases toxicology reports in cases with a lot of public interest, but some family members of

the students objected to him releasing the results. After reading the opinion, Clevenger released the results from the reports Monday. The driver and two of the three passengers killed had blood-alcohol levels above the 0.08 percent where a jury can consider someone legally drunk in South Carolina, he said. Clevenger said he requested the opinion because he wants to follow the law and also take care of the families of the dead he investigates. “These people take me and my staff in confidence,” Clevenger said. “Their secrets are told to me and my staff.” The opinion issued last week relies on a 2014 state Supreme Court ruling that found autopsy reports are medical records

exempt from public release under South Carolina Freedom of Information Act. “A toxicology report, similar to an autopsy, is a diagnostic test yielding medical information,” assistant attorney general Brenden McDonald wrote in the opinion. Nearly two years after the Supreme Court’s ruling, there remains little guidance on what, if anything, coroners may release to the public about suspicious deaths in their counties. But the state attorney general’s opinion does appear to allow coroners to talk about the results of blood tests without releasing the toxicology report, saying coroners do not appear to be medical providers under the health privacy act known as HIPPA.

died a warrior. He died to bring back another American.” A Navy bio said Byers grew up in Grand Rapids, Ohio, and graduated in 1997 from Otsego High School. He is married and has one daughter. Byers has deployed overseas 11 times with nine combat tours. He was promoted to the rank of senior chief petty officer in January 2016. He is the sixth Navy SEAL in history to receive the Medal of Honor. Byers said he’s unsure how receiving the Medal of Honor will change his life, but he plans to keep doing what he’s doing. “It’s truly the best job in the world, and I love the people I’m around,” Byers said. “I admire them very much.”

POLICE BLOTTER CHARGES Molly Jean Himel, 37, of 2430 Navigator Circle, Sumter, was arrested Sunday for reportedly striking her husband in the face and shoulders with her fist several times after an argument. Himel is charged with third-degree criminal domestic violence and was taken to Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center where she is awaiting a bond hearing. Dontrell Antwan Wilson, 26, of 1099 Utah Circle, Sumter, was arrested Sunday for reportedly punching a woman in the face after an argument, leaving her with “visible swelling and a fresh scratch on the left side of her face,” according to a news release from the sheriff’s office. Wilson is charged with third degree domestic violence and is being held at Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center, awaiting a bond hearing.

Joyce Young, 24, of 720 Barwick Road, was arrested Monday and charged with simple assault for reportedly throwing a soda in her wheelchair-bound grandmother’s face and damaging property inside the home during an argument. STOLEN PROPERTY A 12 gauge shotgun valued at $300; a Dell laptop valued at $250; an HP laptop valued at $300; a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 cellphone valued at $300; a 42-inch Insignia flat screen TV valued at $300; an Xbox One valued at $250; and a Kindle Fire valued at $100 were reportedly stolen from a residence in the 200 block of Idlelake Court between 3 and 3:50 p.m. Monday. Two full pallets of ChiselWall 12-inch Ashland bricks, worth approximately $2,000, were reportedly stolen from the bed of an 18-wheeler while it was parked at a truck stop in the 400 block of Liberty Street between 2 p.m. Thursday and 5:45 a.m. Monday.

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Documentary, album explore Appalachian roots NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — When Loretta Lynn was growing up in Butcher Hollow in Kentucky in 1930s, her home in the coal mining community was always filled with music, either from her own voice echoing through the trees or the sound of the Carter Family’s songs. The country icon’s Appalachian musical roots are explored on a new “American Masters” documentary on PBS as well as her first new studio album in a more than a decade, “Full Circle,” both debuting Friday. Lynn, who was the second of eight children in her family, said her daddy played the banjo, her mama played the guitar and nearly everyone in the “holler,” as she pronounces it, could sing or play as well. “I was singing when I was born, I think,” said the 83-year-old during an interview in Nashville, where she was taping a new music video with Willie Nelson. “Daddy used to come out on the porch where I would be singing and rocking the babies to sleep. He’d say, ‘Loretta, shut that big mouth. People all over this holler can hear you.’ And I said, ‘Daddy, what difference does it make? They are all my cousins.’” The documentary, “Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl,” chronicles Lynn’s remarkable rise from a “Coal Miner’s Daughter” to a counDONN JONES / INVISION try superstar who wrote frank songs about her Loretta Lynn is seen at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tenupbringing and her experiences as a wife and nesse, on Feb. 10. The country icon’s Appalachian musical roots are mother. Although her rags-to-riches story is explored on a new “American Masters” documentary on PBS as well as already well known thanks to a best-selling auher first new studio album in a more than a decade, “Full Circle,” both tobiography and Oscar-winning film starring Sissy Spacek, Lynn has never before recorded debuting on March 4.

many of the Appalachian songs that inspired her career. Her last album, “Van Visit Lear Rose,” produced by http://www. rocker Jack White, earned lorettalynn.com/ her two Grammys in 2005. fullcircle/ “Some of them were songs I sang when I was just a little girl,” Lynn said. “I didn’t dream any of them would get on this album.” It was fitting then that producer John Carter Cash, the son of June Carter and Johnny Cash, helped her revisit some of these songs, including a couple of Carter Family standards, “Black Jack David,” and “I Never Will Marry.” The Carters were a musical dynasty from just across the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia — lead by A.P. Carter, his wife, Sara, and his sister-in-law Maybelle — who wrote legendary songs like “Keep on the Sunny Side,” ‘’Wildwood Flower” and “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” “The Carter Family was the first songs I ever heard,” Lynn recalled. “I was just 2 or 3 years old, maybe a little older. But I remember climbing up on Daddy’s leg, and Daddy was playing the old Victrola and playing Carter Family records.” Cash, who is the grandson of Maybelle Carter, said recording with Lynn at his Cash Cabin studio in Hendersonville, Tennessee, felt like a family project. They have recorded more than 100 songs, some of which will be released on subsequent albums on the Sony Legacy label.

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Rolling Stones to play show in Havana later this month exhibition game in Cuba since 1999, part of an extraordinary string of events in a country that spent the Cold War isolated from the United States and its allies. Cuba and its capital have been flooded with tourists, visiting dignitaries and celebrities more than a year after Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced on Dec. 17, 2014, that they were moving to normalize relations. Cuban fans have been buzzing about a possible concert by “Los Rollings” since lead singer Mick Jagger visited Havana in October. “It’s part of a dream to see the greatest icons of music

HAVANA (AP) — The Rolling Stones announced Tuesday that the group will play a free concert in Havana on March 25, becoming the most famous act to play Cuba since its 1959 revolution. The Stones will play in Havana’s Ciudad Deportiva three days after President Obama visits Havana. The concert is expected to draw a massive audience in a country where the government once persecuted young people for listening to rock music. “We have performed in many special places during our long career, but this show in Havana is going to be a landmark event for us, and, we hope, for all our friends in Cuba too,” the band said in a statement. Along with easing many restrictions on foreign music, art and literature, the Cuban government has increasingly allowed large gatherings not organized by the state in recent years. The Stones concert will almost certainly be one of the largest since Cuba began easing its limits on some nonofficial gatherings in the 1990s. “I’m definitely going to go,” said Ivia Perez, 39. “It makes me think about being in high school after the period of censorship. I listened to a lot of rock back then.” On the same week as the visits by Obama and The Rolling Stones, the Tampa Bay Rays are expected to play the first Major League Baseball

who couldn’t come before for various reasons, above all Cuba’s isolation,” said Cuban music critic Joaquin Borges Triana. “The Rolling Stones are going to magically unite generations of Cubans, from people in their 60s to their children and grandchildren.” The Havana “Concert for Amity” will cap the Stones’ America Latina Ole tour through seven Latin American cities. The band said it will donate instruments and other musical equipment from sponsors to Cuban musicians during their visit. The biggest musical performance in Cuba to date was held in 2009, when the Colom-

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‘Hero’ cop gets lost in Peru’s narco war TALAVERA, Peru (AP) — Johnny Vega rarely carried his 9-mm pistol when he wasn’t on duty. He wishes he had that day. The narcotics cop was chatting with a friend on a park bench, the Andean sun burning the dawn’s chill off this highlands town nearly 10,000 feet above sea level. On that morning of Aug. 20, 2014, Vega had dropped his son Juan at nursery school and then walked to Talavera’s main square. He noticed a tall young man strolling by and wondered if he knew him. Vega was a rarity in this nation where cops, courts and congress are badly compromised by corruption . An earnest provincial narcotics officer, he had made a career of actually doing what he was trained for: locking up criminals. Defying death threats from narcos, he led a hand-picked team of trusted officers who consistently scored trafficker arrests and record drug seizures even as Peru became the world’s No. 1 cocaine producer. In a country where police are as likely to take bribes as to make arrests, Vega was a hero. Three times, he had been named police officer of the year. Vega was deep in conversation when the young man walked by again, stopped and leveled a silencer-equipped Bersa at the cop’s head. “What are you doing, dammit!” Vega shouted, jumping to his feet. The bullet ripped into him just below his solar plexus. Without hesitating, he dashed for a nearby taxi stand, leaning forward and zig-zagging to make himself a smaller target. The hit man kept firing but did not give chase. A stray bullet pierced the thigh of a vendor. “Help! I’m a cop. I’ve been shot!” Vega shouted. A woman passenger pulled the bleeding man into her cab, which sped to a hospital 15 minutes away. In the operating room, surgeons opened him up, pulled out his intestines and laid them out on the table to assess the damage and sew the pierced organs back together. Part of his colon was lost. The local narcotics prosecutor arranged for him to be flown to Lima the next morning in a plane owned by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. As the ambulance bounced up the rutted road to the airport, Vega groaned. His wife, a schoolteacher, clutched his hand. Lima-based drug agents quickly arrested the alleged hit man while Vega was in the operating theater. The motive? Payback for targeting a drug gang. Police said one of its principals, Armando “El Loco” Cardenas, hired the shooter, provided the gun and promised him and an accomplice $10,000 each to kill Vega. El Loco was arrested, too. As news of the shooting spread, accolades for the hero cop poured in. U.S. Ambassador Brian Nichols sent

Vega was the only local officer they trusted. They seized nearly 400 kilograms of coca paste, more than a third of it hidden in a compartment under sacks of potatoes on a tractor-trailer truck. Police said most of the drug was traced back to alleged capo Dimas Urrutia, who they arrested the next month. Four days later, Vega was shot.

A DEAD CAT

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Narcotics police Sgt. Johnny Vega, poses for a portrait in Lima, Peru, in March 2015. In a country where cops are as likely to take bribes as to make arrests, Vega was an anomaly. Three times, he was named his province’s police officer of the year. On Aug. 20, 2014, he was shot in what authorities called payback for taking down a drug clan and is struggling to mend. Read the entire article at www.theitem.com. a letter commending Vega, and then-Interior Minister Daniel Urresti appeared before the press with the arrested men. Vega’s valor would be rewarded, he vowed. “We are going to promote him and give him all he needs to recover and continue with his work,” Urresti said. Drug war analysts were impressed by Vega. But would Peruvian authorities make good on their promise to this officer from Peru’s poorly paid, notoriously neglected police force? From his hospital bed, Vega thought the promise would be kept. He would later conclude that he would have been better off if he had simply had his gun that August morning.

“WATCH OUT FOR YOUR CUTE LITTLE CHILDREN.” Nearly 70 percent of Peru’s cocaine originates in the Apurimac, Ene and Mantaro river valley, a two- to threeday hike from Andahuaylas, the provincial capital 15 minutes from Talavera. What is ultimately refined into the crystalline powder snorted in distant lands arrives as semi-refined coca paste carried out of the valley by young backpackers, or “mochileros .” They call the paste “queso,” or cheese, for its pungent odor. It is typically stashed in bricks amid groves of eucalyptus and acacia until traffickers have enough to dispatch it by road, usually to Bolivia. The youngest of nine, Johnny Vega was sent by his father to finish high school in the state capital in 1986. The next year, his father, the village leader, was seized by Shining Path rebels and disappeared. Johnny joined the army, and searched for his father’s remains. Not until a decade later, after the insurgents were vanquished, were they found.

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By then, Johnny was a cop, and Andahuaylas was becoming a major drugtrafficking corridor. “Andahuaylas is like a sieve. The drugs go in and out every which way,” said Vega, who is tall with a square Andean nose. Provincial police took bribes to let the drugs go through. At least one apparent exception was the regional police chief who in 2009 tapped Vega to form a 15-man squad focused on narcotics. Vega had proven himself years earlier. At a 2002 stakeout, cocaine backpackers hurled a grenade at him that peppered his chest and knee with shrapnel. Vega’s new squad wasn’t equipped for its mission. So he borrowed vehicles and flak vests, scrounged handcuffs and flashlights. Then he did something unheard of: He created a night shift so the squad could work around-the-clock, since the traffickers operated mostly under the cover of darkness. His agents seized more than a half ton of coca paste the first three years, making more than 60 arrests. No other provincial unit did such work, narcotics prosecutor Elvira Aldana said. “He was the only cop sticking his neck out,” she said. The death threats started coming by phone and text message in 2010, the first time Vega was named Andahuaylas’ policeman of the year. “Just as you have your snitches, so do we,” said one. “Watch out for your cute little children.” Vega and his wife asked to be transferred but nothing happened. Nevertheless, Vega did not ease up. In early 2014, elite agents of the Limabased narcotics police set out to take down Andahuaylas’ biggest drug clans, an ambitious undercover operation.

In September 2014, after his nearly monthlong hospital stay, Vega got some good news. He would be promoted to the equivalent of master sergeant and transferred to Lima, where he would have 24 months to recover — or face mandatory retirement. Vega figured he merited special treatment, but no stipend, lodging or transport were offered. He would need to manage alone on his $1,000 monthly salary. His wife, Yesi, had returned home to Talavera — a 20-hour bus ride away — to care for their two boys and resume her teaching job. She was four months pregnant. His new boss wrote the deputy education minister asking that Vega’s wife also be reassigned to Lima because of the “emergency situation.” But nothing was done. Vega moved in with his 84-year-old mother in the dusty hillside Lima slum of San Juan de Miraflores. His wound, initially infected, required going to the hospital to be cleaned, his cab rides costing $10 each way. He wore a colostomy bag to collect his waste while awaiting surgery. With no one to attend to him, Vega cooked, cleaned and washed for himself. He developed a hernia that grew into a four-inch bulge in the center of his gut and wears an elastic girdle. It took 10 months before his colon was reattached, as Vega coped with the usual shortcomings of the police health care system — long waits for tests and consultations, a shortage of doctors and modern equipment. He paid out of pocket for some blood tests and medicines. Only half was reimbursed. With her husband stuck in Lima, Yesi asked the local police chief to send patrol cars past her house as a protective measure, since strange vehicles were crawling by at odd hours. Late one night, someone shattered her front window and tossed in a dead cat, its legs hog-tied. “It had papers jammed in its mouth as if to say, ‘This is how you will all die,’” Yesi recalled, her voice cracking. “I never told my husband. He wasn’t well.” Yesi personally appealed to the national police director for protection. Again, nothing happened. The prosecutor in the case, Aldana, got different treatment. Wiretaps revealed that she, too, had been targeted for assassination. She was assigned four bodyguards then transferred out.

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NATION

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016

THE SUMTER ITEM

Ryan: GOP nominee must reject bigotry

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, laughs as he arrives with his wife, Jane Sanders, and his son, Levi Sanders, to a primary night rally in Essex Junction, Vermont, on Super Tuesday.

TRUMP FROM PAGE A1 around him in recent days, his first victory remained elusive as results rolled in. Still, Rubio, who has launched an aggressive campaign to stop Trump in recent days, vowed to keep up his efforts to “unmask the true nature of the front-runner in this race.” The Florida senator’s longshot White House hopes now rest with his home state, which votes on March 15. But he’s expected to face fresh calls from Trump and others to drop out of the race before then. “He has to get out,” Trump told Fox News earlier in the day. “He hasn’t won anything.” Super Tuesday marked the busiest day of the 2016 primaries, with the biggest single-day delegate haul up for grabs. Democrats voted in 11 states and American Samoa, with 865 delegates at stake. Republicans voted in 11 states, with 595 delegates. Clinton also picked up wins in Alabama and Arkansas, while Trump carried the GOP contests in Alabama and Massachusetts. Clinton steadied herself after an unexpectedly strong challenge from Sanders. The Vermont senator did carry his home state decisively and told the crowd at a raucous victory party that he

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was “so proud to bring Vermont values all across this country.” Exit polls underscored Sanders’ continued weakness with black voters, a core part of the Democratic constituency. Clinton led with blacks, as well as both men and women, in Georgia and Virginia, according to surveys conducted by Edison Research for The Associated Press and television networks. Sanders continued to show strength with young voters, carrying the majority of those under the age of 30. The contests come at a turbulent time for the GOP, given Trump’s strengths in

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FROM PAGE A1 Assembly, but he enjoyed being able to help people who called and asked for his assistance. “Something that might be minute to you and I might be a mountain they can’t climb,” he said. “It has been good to be able to do that all these years. “I will miss that,” he said. Brown said he hopes the next person who represents the area will be able to reach out to people who need help. “A lot of people think coming to Columbia is all about introducing legislation and voting on bills, but there is so much more to being a legislator,” Brown said. He said he let everybody have his cellphone number. “Whether it’s a local person or someone from a corporation, I talk to them, and I try to do what I can to make things work,” he said. When asked about his retirement plans, Brown’s thoughts turned to his family. “Laura and I have three grandboys, one 8 years old, one 15 months and one 18 months,” he said. “Two are in Colorado and one in Bishopville, so we will probably spend more time traveling.” He said he was grateful to be able to represent his district. “If I didn’t say ‘thank you’ to all those people in Sumter, Lee and Kershaw counties who helped me and campaigned for me and worked for me all these years, I would be remiss,” he said. “It’s been a wonderful ride; I am going to miss it,” he said.

the face of opposition from many party leaders. Some in the party establishment fear the anti-Trump campaign has come too late. Trump’s wins in the South were a blow to Cruz, who once saw the region as his opportunity to stake a claim to the nomination. Republicans spent months largely letting Trump go unchallenged, wrongly assuming that his populist appeal with voters would fizzle. Instead, he’s appeared to only grow stronger, winning states and drawing broad support for some of his most controversial proposals.

His two top rivals — Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and Ted Cruz of Texas — criticized Trump and said the GOP must condemn white supremacists. But House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi argued that “Trump’s radical agenda” reflects the House Republican conference. Pelosi said that while some in the GOP are distancing themselves from Trump, Republicans refused to remove the Confederate flag from the Capitol grounds and have blocked renewal of the Voting Rights Act. “The reality is, Donald Trump is just being more candid about the agenda of discrimination House Republicans have been advancing for years,” Pelosi said in a statement. On Tuesday, USA Today reported that a group of about 30 black students from Valdosta State University were kicked out of a Trump rally by law enforcement officials. “The only reason we were given was that Mr. Trump did not want us there,” 22-year-old senior Brooke Gladney told the newspaper. The campaign denied any role in their ouster from the event. Ryan, the GOP’s 2012 vice presidential nominee, bemoaned the discourse in the GOP and said it was time to get back to focusing on how Republicans would solve the nation’s problems.

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Paul Ryan upbraided Donald Trump on Tuesday for his slowmoving disavowal of former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, saying anyone who wants the Republican president nomination must reject a racist group or individual. “This party does not prey on people’s prejudices. We appeal to their highest ideals. This is the Party of Lincoln,” Ryan told reporters as voters in 11 states holding GOP contests headed to the polls on Super Tuesday. At the same time, Ryan reiterated that he will support the eventual GOP presidential nominee. Never mentioning Trump’s name, Ryan was clearly referring to the billionaire businessman’s appearance Sunday on CNN when he declined to disavow the support of Duke and other white supremacists. “When I see something that runs counter to who we are as a party and a country, I will speak up. So today I want to be very clear about something: If a person wants to be the nominee of the Republican Party there can be no evasion and no games. They must reject any group or cause that is built on bigotry,” Ryan said. Trump subsequently disavowed Duke, blaming his interview performance Sunday on a bad earpiece.

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COMMENTARY

What is the fair share of taxes?

residential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders, along with President Obama, say they want highincome earners, otherwise known as the rich, to pay their fair share of income taxes. None of these people, as well as the uninformed in the media and our campus intellecWalter tual elites, Williams will say precisely what is the “fair share” of taxes. That is because they would look ignorant and silly, so they stick with simply saying that the rich should pay more. Let’s you and I take a peek at who pays what in federal income taxes. The following represents 2012 income tax data recently released by the Internal Revenue Service and compiled by the Tax Foundation (http://tinyurl.com/ j5yr8cd). The top 1 percent, 1.37 million taxpayers earning $434,682 and more, paid 38 percent of all federal income taxes. The top 5 percent, those earning $175,817 and more, paid 59 percent. The top 10 percent of income earners, those earning $125,195 and up, paid 70 percent of all federal income taxes. The top 25 percent, those earning $73,354 and up, paid 86 percent. The bottom 50 percent, people earning $36,055 and less, paid a little less than 3 percent of federal income taxes. According to estimates by the Tax Policy Center, slightly more than 45 percent of American households have no federal income tax liability. With this information in hand, you might ask the next person who says the rich do not pay their fair share of taxes: Exactly what percentage of total federal income taxes should the 1-percenters pay? I seriously doubt whether you will get any kind of coherent answer. By the way, since 1-percenter income starts at $435,000, it might be pointed out that $400,000 or $500,000 a year is not even yacht or Learjet money. Plus, if one has two kids in college, a big mortgage and car payments, I doubt he would declare himself rich.

Our demagogues also claim that corporations do not pay their fair share of taxes. The fact of the matter, which even leftist economists understand but might not publicly admit, is corporations do not pay taxes. An important subject area in economics, called tax incidence, says the entity upon whom a tax is levied does not necessarily bear the full burden of the tax. Some of the tax burden can be shifted to another party. If a tax is levied on a corporation, and if the corporation hopes to survive, it will have one of three responses to that tax or some combination thereof. It will raise the price of its product, lower dividends or lay off workers. In each case a flesh-andblood person is made worse off. The important point is that a corporation is a legal fiction and as such does not pay taxes. As it turns out, corporations are merely tax collectors for the government. Politicians love to trick people by suggesting that they will not impose taxes on them but on some other entity instead. To demonstrate the trick, suppose you are a homeowner and a politician tells you that he is not going to tax you, he is just going to tax your land. You would easily see the political chicanery. Land cannot and does not pay taxes. Again, only people pay taxes. Leftist politicians often call for raising the death tax, euphemistically called inheritance tax. The inheritance tax brings in less than 1 percent of federal revenue. It is on the books because it serves the interests of jealousy, envy and our collective desire to tax the so-called rich. The effects of inheritance taxes are economically damaging. It has this effect because in order for people to pay the death tax, they often must sell producing assets, such as farms, factories, stocks and bonds. These are high-powered dollars that are shifted from productive activity to government consumptive activity. Too many Americans are ignorant of tax issues and thus fall easy prey to the nation’s charlatans and quacks. Walter E. Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University. © 2016, creators.com

LETTER TO THE EDITOR JANE FONDA SHOULD BE HILLARY’S RUNNING MATE After reading about Hillary’s dominating win in our state, I have a suggestion. After Hillary’s incompetence in the Benghazi killings, she needs an appropriate running mate. It should be someone who has shown as much anti-U.S. military strength and incompetence as she does. I’m suggesting she pick Jane Fonda for the vice president candidate. Choosing Jane would help her.

She could get all election funds from Ted Turner. No offshore donations, no money from special interest groups, therefore no investigation about election money. I am a Vietnam veteran, and I remember what Lady Jane did to embarrass our country and especially us soldiers. Anyone can research Jane Fonda and find out what she did in the name of “peace.” Those two would make a great Democratic ticket. ROBERT “BOBBY” HERZOG Sumter

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

Breaking down Democratic, Republican voters in S.C.

olitics is all about opinions, and everyone has one. When it comes to partisan politics, our opinions are often based on what we read or see on TV, stereotypes and prejudice and sometimes facts. But not too often facts. Like everyone else, I have my own political opinions and frequent readers of this space read a lot — maybe too many — of my political opinions. So this column is about facts — political facts about who are Democratic and Republican voters in South Carolina. Unlike a lot of other states, in South Carolina we don’t have voter registration by party affiliation, so the only way to really know who is a Democrat and who is a Republican is to either ask them or look at primary elections, i.e., if someone shows up to vote in a Democratic or Republican primary, we can pretty safely assume they are a Democrat or a Republican. This month, we have had the rare circumstance of having both a Democratic and Republican presidential primary one week apart. And because they were primary elections and far fewer people vote than in a general election, we get a look at who are the most hard core partisan voters. Our friends at CNN have done us the great favor of conducting exit polls of voters in these two presidential primaries, and they put the full results on their 2016 Election Central website. These polls are particularly interesting in that they were done by the same high quality professional company, using the same methods, in the same time period and asking many questions with the exact same wording. So, what did these polls tell us? Some responses were what you would expect based on common stereotypes, but some of the results may surprise you. • Gender: Democratic voters are significantly more female than male; Republicans are evenly split. Democrats — 39 percent men, 61percent women, and Republicans — 51percent men, 49 percent women. • Age: On either end of the age spectrum, more Democrats are younger and more Republicans are older; in the middle years, they look about the same. Democrats — 17-29, 15 percent; 30-44, 20 percent; 45-64, 47 percent; and 65 and older, 19%. Republicans — 17-19, 5 percent; 30-44, 17 percent; 45-64, 46 percent; 65 and older, 27 percent. • Race: It will come as no surprise that blacks are more D than R: Democrats — white, 25 percent; black, 61

COMMENTARY percent; Latino, 2 percent; and Asian, 1 percent. And Republicans are virtually all white: Republicans — white 96 percent; black, 1 percent; Latino, 1 percent; Asian, 0 percent. • EducaPhil tion: The Noble results based on education may surprise you. The stereotype of Democrats being poorly educated and Republicans being well educated is just not so in South Carolina. There were some small differences but not a whole lot. Democrats — high school or less, 23 percent; some college, 37 percent; college graduate, 24 percent; and postgraduate, 16 percent. Republicans — high school or less, 16 percent; some college, 30 percent; college graduate, 33 percent; and postgraduate, 21 percent. • Income: On the income scale, the stereotypes hold more true than with education. Democrats — less than $30K, 33 percent; $30-50K, 28 percent; $50-100K, 24 percent; $100-200K, 13 percent; and $200K or more, 2 percent. Republicans – less than $30K, 10 percent; $30-50K, 17 percent; $50-100K, 37 percent; $100200K, 26 percent; and $200K or more, 10 percent. • Ideology: Traditional measures of political ideology show the greatest difference. There are very few Democratic voters that call themselves conservative; and virtually no Republican that calls themselves a liberal. Democrats — conservative, 11 percent; moderate, 35 percent; liberal, and 54 percent. Republicans — conservative, 81 percent; moderate, 17 percent; and liberal 1 percent. • Most important issue: When it comes to what each party’s voters think is the most important issue, there is a fairly sharp difference. Democrats — health care, 21 percent; economy/jobs, 44 percent; terrorism, 10 percent; and income inequality, 10 percent. Republicans — immigration, 10 percent; economy/jobs, 29 percent; terrorism, 32 percent; and government spending, 26 percent. • Economic outlook: Though there are some gradations in attitudes, both parties’ voters are worried a lot about the U.S. economy. Democrats — very worried, 50 percent; somewhat worried, 34 percent; not too worried, 14 percent; and not worried at all, 1 percent. Republicans — very worried, 72 percent; somewhat worried, 14

percent; not too worried, 2 percent; and not worried at all, 0 percent. • Urban, suburban or rural: There is no great surprise here; Democrats are more numerous in rural areas, and Republicans dominate the suburbs. Democrats — urban, 13 percent; suburban, 27 percent; and rural, 60 percent. Republicans — urban, 23 percent; suburban, 48 percent; and rural, 29 percent. • Region of the state: The traditional stereotype of the Upcountry being full of Republicans and the Lowcountry full of Democrats is not really true. Though the general state division holds, it’s not by a lot. Democrats — Upcountry, 18 percent; Piedmont, 11 percent; Central, 34 percent; Pee Dee, 15 percent; and Lowcountry, 23 percent. Republicans — Upcountry, 29 percent; Piedmont, 13 percent; Central, 23 percent; Pee Dee, 15 percent; and Lowcountry, 20 percent. Although most of the questions were the same for both primaries’ voters, some questions were different and provided some interesting insights. Contrary to stereotypes, a lot of Democrats own guns: 41 percent do own guns and 59 percent don’t. More than half of Democrats go to church at least once a week — more than once a week, 27 percent; once a week, 26 percent; a few times a month, 16 percent; a few times a year, 19 percent; and never, 11 percent. The popular perception that S.C. Republicans are a cold and calculating lot that only care about winning is not wholly accurate. When asked what was the most important thing in choosing a candidate, only 15 percent chose electability; it ranked fourth — far behind shares my values at 37 percent, can bring change at 31 percent and tells it like it is at 16 percent. So, what does all this jumble of numbers tell us? First, we are more alike than we think we are. Second, neither side is as one-dimensional as the other side thinks they are. And third, we should all slow down and really listen to each other and not just make assumptions based on knee-jerk, partisan stereotypes. And, most of all, thanks to everyone on both sides, who cares enough to take the time to vote … and answer all these questions. Phil Noble is a businessman in Charleston and is President of the SC New Democrats, an independent reform group started by former Gov. Richard Riley to bring big change and real reform. phil@philnoble.com

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016

SUPPORT GROUPS who have lost a loved one to AA, AL-ANON, ALATEEN: murder in a violent way. AA — Monday-Friday, noon Support Groups: March 2, 2016 Multiple Sclerosis Support Group and 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8 — Third Tuesday each month, p.m.; Sundays, 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Carolinas Rehabilita7 p.m., 1 Warren St. (803) 775tion Hospital, 121 E. Cedar St., 1852. Florence. Call (843) 661-3746. AA Women’s Meeting — Amputee Support Group — Wednesday, 7 p.m., 1 Warren Fourth Tuesday each month, St. (803) 775-1852. 5:30 p.m., Carolinas RehabilitaAA Spanish Speaking — Sunday, tion Hospital, 121 E. Cedar St., 4:30 p.m., 1 Warren St. (803) Florence. Call (843) 661-3746. 775-1852. EFMP Parent Exchange Group — AA “How it Works” Group — Last Tuesday each month, 11 Monday and Friday, 8 p.m., a.m.-noon, Airman and Family 1154 Ronda St. Call (803) 494Readiness Center. Support to 5180. service members who have a 441 AA Support Group — Mondependent with a disability or day, Tuesday and Friday, 8:30 illness. Call Dorcus Haney at p.m., Hair Force, 2090-D S.C. (803) 895-1252/1253 or Sue 441. Zimmerman at (803) 847-2377. AA Summerton Group — Wednesday, 8 p.m., town hall. WEDNESDAY MEETINGS: Manning Al-Anon Family Group — Thursday, 7:30 p.m., BehavSickle Cell Support Group — last ioral Health Building, 14 Wednesday each month, 11 Church St., Manning. Call a.m.-1 p.m., South Sumter ReAngie Johnson at (803) 435source Center, 337 Manning 8085. Ave. Call Bertha Willis at (803) 774-6181. C/A “Drop the Rock” Group — Thursday, 9:30 p.m., 1154 Ronda St. Call Elizabeth THURSDAY MEETINGS: Owens at (803) 607-4543. TOPS S.C. No. 236 (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) — Thursdays, MONDAY MEETINGS: 9 a.m., Spectrum Senior Center,1989 Durant Lane. Call Sumter Vitiligo Support Group — Diane at (803) 775-3926 or second Monday of each Nancy at (803) 469-4789. month, 5:45-6:45 p.m., North HOPE Center, 904 N. Main St. Alzheimer’s Support Group Call Tiffany at (803) 316-6763. through S.C. Alzheimer’s AssociaFind them on Facebook. tion — Every 1st Thursday, 6-8 p.m., National Health Care, 1018 N. Guignard Drive. Call Cheryl Fluharty at (803) 905TUESDAY MEETINGS: 7720 or the Alzheimer’s AssoSumter Connective Tissue Supciation at (800) 636-3346. port Group — 1st Tuesday of Journey of Hope (for family memJan., March, May, July, Sept. bers of the mentally ill), Journey and Nov., 7 p.m., 180 Tiller Cirto Recovery (for the mentally ill) cle. Call (803) 773-0869. and Survivors of Suicide Support Mothers of Angels (for mothers Group — Each group meets who have lost a child) — First every 1st Thursday, 7 p.m., St. Tuesday of each month at John United Methodist noon and third Tuesday of Church, 136 Poinsett Drive. each month at 6 p.m., Wise Call Fred Harmon at (803) 905Drive Baptist Church. Call 5620. Betty at (803) 469-2616, Carolyn Klaege at (803) 469-6059 or Margaret Sanders at (803) FRIDAY MEETINGS: 469-6887. Celebrate Recovery — Every FriSumter Combat Veterans Group day, 6 p.m. dinner, 7 p.m. proPeer to Peer — Every Tuesday, gram, Salt & Light Church, 11 a.m., South HOPE Center, Miller Road (across from Food 1125 S. Lafayette Drive. VeterLion). For help with struggles ans helping veterans with of alcohol, drugs, family probPTSD, coping skills, claims lems, smoking, etc. and benefits. Wateree AIDS Task Force Support Parkinson’s Support Group — Group — Every third Friday, Second Tuesday each month, 5:30 p.m., Carolinas Rehabilita- 11:30 a.m., 508 W. Liberty St. Call Kevin Johnson at (803) tion Hospital, 121 E. Cedar St., 778-0303. Florence. Call (843) 661-3746. Sumter Amputee Support Group — Second Tuesday each SATURDAY MEETINGS: month, 6:30 p.m., Sumter ProsReflex Sympathetic Dystrophy/ thetics & Orthotics, 259 Broad Complex Regional Pain Syndrome St. Call (803) 883-4356. Support Group — 1:30 p.m. Sumter Chapter Parents of Murevery third Saturday, 3785 dered Children (POMC) — Third Blackberry Lane, Lot 7. Call Tuesday, 5:30-7 p.m., Birnie Donna Parker at (803) 481HOPE Center, 210 S. Purdy St. 7521. Open to all families or friends

DAILY PLANNER

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEATHER

AccuWeather® ﬁve-day forecast for Sumter TODAY

TONIGHT

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Partly sunny and cooler

Clear and colder

Partly sunny

Clouds breaking for some sun

Partly sunny

Mostly sunny

61°

35°

61° / 43°

63° / 35°

60° / 39°

65° / 40°

Chance of rain: 0%

Chance of rain: 5%

Chance of rain: 25%

Chance of rain: 0%

Chance of rain: 5%

Chance of rain: 0%

WNW 8-16 mph

NE 3-6 mph

ESE 7-14 mph

NNW 7-14 mph

SSE 4-8 mph

N 6-12 mph

TODAY’S SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER

Gaﬀney 51/27 Spartanburg 53/29

Greenville 55/33

Columbia 61/35

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

IN THE MOUNTAINS

Sumter 61/35

Aiken 58/30

ON THE COAST

Charleston 67/41

Today: Clouds giving way to sun. High 60 to 67. Thursday: Sunny to partly cloudy; cooler in northern parts. High 55 to 66.

SUMTER THROUGH 4 P.M. YESTERDAY

Temperature High Low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

74° 44° 62° 37° 83° in 1951 21° in 2002 0.00" 0.00" 0.13" 9.79" 11.32" 7.68"

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 54/37/s 31/25/pc 71/60/s 28/17/c 73/60/pc 76/54/pc 69/53/s 49/26/r 82/54/pc 47/27/pc 90/60/s 65/55/pc 48/29/pc

LAKE LEVELS

SUN AND MOON

Full pool 360 76.8 75.5 100

Lake Murray Marion Moultrie Wateree

7 a.m. yest. 357.40 76.23 75.37 96.25

24-hr chg +0.04 +0.17 +0.11 +0.51

RIVER STAGES

Precipitation 24 hrs ending 4 p.m. yest. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 61/45/r 34/21/sn 74/43/s 32/15/sn 81/52/pc 72/54/pc 77/56/t 38/30/pc 82/58/pc 40/31/pc 90/58/pc 64/57/c 43/35/pc

Myrtle Beach 61/39

Manning 61/35

Today: Sunny much of the time. Winds northwest 4-8 mph. Thursday: Clouds and sun with spotty showers. Winds southeast 4-8 mph.

LOCAL ALMANAC

Florence 59/35

Bishopville 59/34

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

Flood 7 a.m. 24-hr stage yest. chg 12 11.26 +0.31 19 5.80 +1.50 14 10.23 -0.37 14 4.04 -1.88 80 80.79 -0.24 24 10.37 -2.15

Sunrise 6:49 a.m. Moonrise 1:29 a.m.

Sunset 6:19 p.m. Moonset 12:11 p.m.

New

First

Full

Last

Mar. 8

Mar. 15

Mar. 23

Mar. 31

TIDES AT MYRTLE BEACH

Today Thu.

High 2:39 a.m. 2:52 p.m. 3:41 a.m. 3:54 p.m.

Ht. 2.7 2.4 2.7 2.4

Low 9:43 a.m. 9:43 p.m. 10:45 a.m. 10:47 p.m.

Ht. 0.7 0.5 0.6 0.3

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 44/28/pc 58/34/s 62/34/pc 67/42/pc 58/39/pc 67/41/pc 52/31/pc 58/34/s 61/35/pc 58/33/pc 56/33/pc 58/31/pc 57/32/pc

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 47/34/sh 62/42/c 66/44/pc 66/49/s 51/46/c 65/48/s 55/39/pc 56/39/sh 63/43/pc 59/45/pc 48/38/pc 58/44/pc 57/41/pc

Today City Hi/Lo/W Florence 59/35/pc Gainesville 77/43/pc Gastonia 52/28/pc Goldsboro 54/33/pc Goose Creek 65/37/pc Greensboro 49/31/pc Greenville 55/33/s Hickory 50/30/s Hilton Head 65/43/pc Jacksonville, FL 75/43/pc La Grange 57/34/s Macon 61/34/s Marietta 52/35/s

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 58/44/pc 77/52/pc 53/37/pc 56/41/pc 63/49/s 50/37/pc 53/38/pc 50/35/r 61/50/s 76/53/pc 63/45/t 68/46/pc 59/44/r

Today City Hi/Lo/W Marion 48/23/s Mt. Pleasant 65/41/pc Myrtle Beach 61/39/pc Orangeburg 62/34/pc Port Royal 64/43/pc Raleigh 54/30/pc Rock Hill 53/29/pc Rockingham 55/28/pc Savannah 66/40/pc Spartanburg 53/29/s Summerville 64/36/pc Wilmington 60/36/pc Winston-Salem 48/31/pc

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 48/35/sh 62/50/s 56/46/pc 64/47/pc 63/51/s 53/39/pc 55/39/pc 56/42/pc 71/49/s 53/37/pc 63/48/s 57/45/pc 50/37/pc

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

PUBLIC AGENDA TOWN OF LYNCHBURG PLANNING COMMISSION Today, 4 p.m., town hall

“Where Quality Matters”

803-774-2100

FURNITURE & BEDDING

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take time to EUGENIA LAST treat yourself to something that will make you feel good and look good, as well as give you the incentive you need to forge ahead. Romance is on the rise, and playful action with someone you love will bring you closer together.

The last word in astrology

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You’ll feel pressure if you oppose someone who has as much invested in a project or plan as you do. Use friendly persuasion over brute force and you will find the compromise you need to keep moving forward. Teamwork will pay off. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Listen carefully. Make sure you fully understand what’s expected of you before you commit. It’s OK to be friendly and to want everyone to like you, but don’t let anyone take advantage of you. Focus on selfimprovements, not on helping others. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Take control and make decisions based on your gut feelings. Position yourself to be the nucleus of whatever endeavor you embark on, and you will make an impression and gain popularity among your peers. Don’t be afraid to be different. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Target the problems that are looming, and offer a solution. Taking charge will bring about new interest from your superiors and could make you a hero in the eyes of your friends and family. Romance is on the rise. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Gravitate toward the people who appreciate you and what you have to offer. Look at the big picture, but don’t be too eager to put your cash into

something you cannot control. Trust your instincts, not what someone else tells you. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Get out with friends or make plans with your significant other. Any form of entertainment, travel or pampering will improve your attitude and give you the incentive to do your best in all aspects of life.

SUMTER ANIMAL CONTROL PET OF THE WEEK

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You will face some opposition at home if you try to do things differently. Do your best to keep your plans a secret until they are fully developed and hard to dispute. Someone from your past will contribute to your success. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Venture down a path that will help you explore personal options regarding your skills, appearances and ways you can change the way you live to suit what you want out of life. Romance is encouraged. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): It’s OK to do things differently. Alter your routine and you will keep everyone guessing. A joint venture looks promising and can bring about a development that will improve a personal relationship or your current living arrangement. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Trust in your ability to make good decisions. If you get things done and express unique solutions, it will result in recognition and praise. A positive attitude combined with hard work will result in an unexpected surprise.

Prissy is a diamond in the rough. She is timid with other dogs as well as people and will need some coaxPrissy diamond in the rough Prissy has experienced in her young life, kindness and ing and patience until is shea learns to trust. Whatever love were in short supply. Prissy is becoming friendlier each day with Animal Control volunteers. If you can open your heart to this young girl, we know she will bloom into the perfect pet. Prissy is waiting for her forever home in kennel 19 at Sumter Animal Control, 1240 Winkles Road, (803) 436-2066. Thank you for considering a homeless animal. You can view more found and adoptable pets at the Sumter Animal Control Facebook page.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Put your energy into achieving your objectives. Less talk and more action will help you avoid criticism. Subtle changes in your approach will be your best and quickest route to success. Avoid letting anger take over.

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

Wednesday, March 2, 2016 Call: (803) 774-1241 | E-mail: sports@theitem.com

prep basketball

Is this THE year?

clemson basketball

Lady Gamecocks win away from state crown after disappointing 2014-15 finish

The Associated Press

Virginia’s Devon Hall, center, drives past Clemson’s Landry Nnoko (35) during the Cavs’ 64-57 win on Tuesday in Greenville.

Brogdon leads Cavs past Tigers By PETE IACOBELLI The Associated Press

KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM

Sumter’s Kyra Wilson (5) goes up for a shot in the midst of a group of North Augusta defenders in the Lady Gamecocks’ 41-39 overtime win in the 4A lower state championship game on Saturday at Florence Civic Center. Sumter will face defending state champion Spring Valley for the state title on Friday at 7 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia.

By DENNIS BRUNSON dennis@theitem.com The 2014-15 season was supposed to THE season for the Sumter High School varsity girls basketball program. Under first-year head coach Jason Loudenslager, the Lady Gamecocks spent a large portion of the season at the top of the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association 4A poll. They had a Carolinas Classic pick in

Nijah Davis, a North-South performer in Kadejuha Kennedy, an All-State pick and future Carolinas Classic selection in Jessica Harris and a future All-Stater in Kyra Wilson. SHS took an 18-game winning streak into the state playoffs and rolled to easy wins in their first two games. It all came crashing down in the quarterfinals though as a predetermined bracket had Sumter on the road in the

quarterfinals to No. 2 Irmo and a horrendous fourth quarter led to a 55-40 loss and the end of a 24-3 season. “I really thought last year was going to be the season for us,” Harris said. “We had a very good team.” On Friday though, Harris, Wilson and their teammates get a chance to make this THE season for the Lady Gamecocks.

See sumter, Page B5

4A tickets on sale Tickets for the 4A girls basketball state championship game between Sumter and Spring Valley on Friday go on sale on Wednesday at Sumter High. Tickets will be sold in the school’s athletic office at a cost of $10 per person. Tickets will be on sale until Friday at 3 p.m. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia.

GREENVILLE — Malcolm Brogdon had no doubt of No. 4 Virginia’s fate if it faced this road challenge two months ago. “This is a game we probably would’ve lost earlier in ACC play,” Brogdon said. Instead, the Cavaliers recovered after losing a double-digit lead to defeat Clemson 64-57 on Tuesday night and keep alive their long shot bid for an Atlantic Coast Conference title. “We’re resilient,” said Brogdon, who led Virginia (2376, 12-5) with 18 points. “It just speaks to our maturity.” The Cavaliers have indeed grown from the mess that was a 2-3 start all three defeats on the road to the ACC season. Now, they have won 10 of 12 and with the right set of circumstances could wind up with a share of first place when the weekend’s over. “This year we’ve lost some tough ones and they haven’t made excuses,” Virginia coach Tony Bennett said. “They’ve just showed up and played and realized it’s worth the fight. That’s what I like from them.” The Cavaliers got off to a 12-0 start and looked ready to blow the Tigers out of the building. Instead, Clemson (1613, 9-8) scratched away and led 47-46 on Gabe DeVoe’s 3-pointer with 6:29 remaining. That’s when Virginia scored seven straight points, started by Anthony Gill’s three-point

See CLEMSON, Page B4

women’s college basketball

Wilson leads list of USC women on All-SEC teams

No. 25 Gators potential sleeper at SEC tourney; Gamecocks play Friday By MARK LONG The Associated Press

By Willie T. Smith III Greenville News COLUMBIA – Great things were predicted for A’ja Wilson when she joined the University of South Carolina women’s basketball program. Wilson has not disappointed. The Southeastern Conference coaches proved they’ve noticed. On Tuesday, they named announced Wilson has been selected the league’s player and defensive player of the year. Wilson was joined in the honors by USC head coach Dawn Staley, who was selected the SEC coach of the year, and senior guard Tiffany Mitchell and junior post Alaina Coates, who were selected first-team All-SEC. Under Staley’s guidance, the Gamecocks have become the dominant team in the SEC. In the past three seasons, the Gamecocks have posted a combined 45-3 conference record, becoming only the

ers in each of the previous two seasons. Mitchell, who took the mantle as the team leader this season, got off to a slow start after injuring a foot while playing for the United States’ Pan American Games team during the summer. She has

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The most surprising women’s basketball team in the Southeastern Conference might not be perennial powerhouse Tennessee. No. 25 Florida was picked to finish 12th in the league in the preseason, hardly a huge slight at the time considering the Gators went 13-17 last season and fired two assistant coaches. But Florida responded with arguably the best season in coach Amanda Butler’s nine years. The STALEY Gators (22-7, 10-6 SEC) won three of their final four regular-season games and earned the No. 4 seed and a double bye in the SEC Tournament, which begins Wednesday in Jacksonville. With all the attention on top-seeded and third-ranked South Carolina and the slumping Lady Vols, who are trying to avoid missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time since its inception in 1982, under-the-radar Florida might just be the league’s postseason sleeper.

See WILSON, Page B3

See SEC, Page B3

File/Richard Shiro/The Associated Press

South Carolina’s A’ja Wilson, who is averaging 16.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, was selected SEC player and defensive player of the year. third team to win three consecutive SEC regular-season titles. The Gamecocks, 28-1 and ranked No. 2 nationally in the USA TODAY Sports coaches poll, will attempt this weekend in Jacksonville, Florida, to win their second consecutive SEC Tournament title. Wilson dethroned Mitchell, who was selected the league’s top play-

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

sports

The SUMTER ITEM

Scoreboard

PRO BASEBALL

TV, Radio

The Associated Press

Los Angeles Angels’ Andrelton Simmons hits during practice recently at the team’s spring training complex in Tempe, Ariz. Simmons came over to the Angels in a trade with Atlanta in the offseason.

Angels hope to be dazzled by new shortstop Simmons By GREG BEACHAM The Associated Press

sidered the best defensive player in baseball, a lanky shortstop with nearly limitTEMPE, Ariz. — Andrelless range, exceptional athletton Simmons gets a bit icism and pitcher-grade arm stumped when asked to strength. He leads the majors name his personal favorite in runs saved since his debut defensive play. in 2012, and he ranks among After so many dazzling the elites in most advanced gems in his career with the defensive statistics. Atlanta Braves, the Los An“I’m very excited to watch geles Angels’ new shortstop that,” Trout said of Simcan only narrow his choice mons’ range. “Hopefully a down to genres. couple of base hits up the “I like throwing guys out middle I won’t even have to at home,” Simmons said. “I go for, watching him make think that makes a big difan unbelievable play.” ference. You get the out inWith Simmons, Trout, stead of them getting a run. Kole Calhoun and even PuSo there’s a couple, whenev- jols in the field, Angels maner I’m doing a relay. I think ager Mike Scioscia is eager in Miami last year, I had a to try to win more games pretty good one. So every with defense. year I try to get a new one. I “He’s definitely in a select try to forget the other ones group,” Scioscia said of Simand try to (say), ‘OK, the mons. “We’re just getting to past is the past. Let’s make know him, but it sounds like something new.”’ from talking to people, his The Angels are counting on-field awareness is incredon a whole new highlight ible. His range is as good as reel this year. it gets, and he has that After an offseason in strong, accurate arm. All the which Los Angeles made few things that are important for additions to help Mike Trout a shortstop.” and Albert Pujols, Simmons Simmons is spending the appears to be the Angels’ first weeks of camp learning biggest potential difference- about the playing styles of maker. They traded two top his teammates, including a prospects and Erick Aybar, list of candidates to play sectheir starting shortstop for ond base that includes 2015 the past decade, to add Simstarter Johnny Giavotella mons. and veteran Cliff PenningSimmons is generally con- ton. Simmons likes to know

whether his double-play partners prefer to catch his throws high or low. He is also spending plenty of time in the batting cage, determined to continue chasing the achievements of Derek Jeter, one of his two shortstop idols along with Omar Vizquel. Simmons’ offense has stagnated since he broke into the majors, and while he still harbors hopes of becoming a 100-RBI producer, the Angels would be happy if he simply hits his other goal of becoming a .280 hitter. “I don’t want to look at the end of the year and say, ‘Let me see my numbers,”’ Simmons said. “I want to look at the end of the year and see how many times I came through for my team and how often I helped my team win a game.” Simmons said he still hasn’t visited Orange County since the trade, so he hasn’t figured out where to live in his new home. Although he hasn’t personally met his new fans in Anaheim, they know all about him: YouTube is stocked with lengthy video compilations of his defensive genius — a collection of his 2013 highlights runs for nearly 26 minutes. Instead, the Curacao native spent the offseason mostly with family.

Aybar, Swisher among veterans on young, rebuilding Braves team By DICK SCANLON Associated Press KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Erick Aybar and Nick Swisher are well into their 30s and, after trades, find themselves with the rebuilding Atlanta Braves. As they prepare for another season, both switch-hitters AYBAR are in the final years of their contracts and neither knows how long he will be around. Aybar, a 32-year-old shortstop, came SWISHER to the Braves along with two pitching prospects in a fiveplayer deal that sent young shortstop Andrelton Simmons to the Los Angeles Angels, the only organization he had ever known. “That’s a long time with one team, but that’s baseball. Anything can happen,” Aybar said Sunday. “I said thank you for all the years in Anaheim, but I’m on a new team so I’m going to

come here and work every day, just like I did. If somebody takes you (in a trade), it’s for a good reason.” The reason is to be Atlanta’s starting shortstop, at least for a while. That’s all Aybar needed to know when Braves general manager John Coppolella called him in November to tell him about the trade. “I said thank you, packed everything and went back to the Dominican,” he said. “The first couple days here felt a little different but now I feel like I’ve been here for a while.” It’s a little more complicated for Swisher, who was traded to the Braves late last summer, when they were 10 games under .500 and on their way to 95 losses. “I was here for a month, but it was a tough month,” said the 35-year-old outfielder-first baseman. “More than anything, I think guys are trying to put that season behind us.” With Freddie Freeman established as the Braves’ best player at first base and a crowded outfield, Swisher goes into the season as a pinch hitter.

“Right now I’d like to see him at first base,” manager Fred Gonzalez said. “I think he can play left field with no problem, but I’d like to see him get some ground balls at first base, see him move around the bag a little more.” Swisher spent most of last year recovering from surgery performed on both knees in August of 2014. He played in 30 games for the Cleveland Indians and went on the disabled list in June. By the time he played again, he had been traded to Atlanta. “It’s been fun being here but it’s been tough, too, because you want to win,” he said. “I’ve been doing this for a while and I want to win right now. If you want to win, you’ve got to have some guys who have been there and done that. It’s hard getting a group of guys that have never been there to really understand what that’s like.” Swisher has 185 postseason at-bats, 19 of them in the 2009 World Series with the New York Yankees. He isn’t likely to get more with the Braves, and he isn’t even certain to start the season in Atlanta.

Thursday’s Games

TODAY 11 a.m. – Women’s Professional Golf: RACV Ladies Masters Final Round from Queensland, Australia (GOLF). 11 a.m. – Women’s College Basketball: Southeastern Conference Tournament First-Round Game from Jacksonville, Fla. – Louisiana State vs. Alabama (SEC NETWORK). 1 p.m. – Women’s College Basketball: Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament First-Round Game from Greensboro, N.C. – Pittsburgh vs. North Carolina (FOX SPORTSOUTH). 1 p.m. – Major League Exhibition Baseball: Detroit vs. New York Yankees from Tampa, Fla. (MLB NETWORK). 1 p.m. – Women’s College Basketball: Southeastern Conference Tournament First-Round Game from Jacksonville, Fla. – Mississippi vs. Vanderbilt (SEC NETWORK). 2 p.m. – International Soccer: Bundesliga League Match – Mainz vs. Munich (FOX SPORTS 1). 2 p.m. – International Soccer: Bundesliga League Match – Hamburg vs. Schalke 04 (FOX SPORTS 2). 2:55 p.m. – International Soccer: English Premier League Match – Manchester City vs. Liverpool (NBC SPORTS NETWORK). 3:30 p.m. – Women’s College Basketball: Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament First-Round Game from Greensboro, N.C. – Wake Forest vs. Clemson (FOX SPORTSOUTH). 4 p.m. – College Swimming and Diving: Southeastern Conference Men’s Championships from Columbia, Mo. (ESPNU). 4 p.m. – Major League Exhibition Baseball: Los Angeles Angels vs. San Francisco from Scottsdale, Ariz. (MLB NETWORK). 5:30 p.m. – College Swimming and Diving: Southeastern Conference Men’s Championships from Columbia, Mo. (ESPNU). 6:05 p.m. – Talk Show: Sports Talk (WDXY-FM 105.9, WDXY-AM 1240). 6:30 p.m. – Women’s College Basketball: Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament First-Round Game from Greensboro, N.C. – Virginia Tech vs. Boston College (FOX SPORTSOUTH). 7 p.m. – College Basketball: Davidson at Virginia Commonwealth (CBS SPORTS NETWORK). 7 p.m. – College Basketball: Miami at Notre Dame (ESPN). 7 p.m. – College Basketball: Tulane at Central Florida (ESPNEWS). 7 p.m. – College Basketball: Texas Tech at West Virginia (ESPNU). 7 p.m. – NBA Basketball: Charlotte at Philadelphia (FOX SPORTS SOUTHEAST). 7 p.m. – College Basketball: Mississippi State at Mississippi (SEC NETWORK). 8 p.m. – NBA Basketball: Detroit at San Antonio (ESPN). 8 p.m. – International Soccer: CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinal Second Leg Match – Seattle at America (FOX SPORTS 2, UNIVISION). 8 p.m. – NHL Hockey: Chicago at Detroit (NBC SPORTS NETWORK). 8:30 p.m. – College Basketball: Seton Hall at Butler (FOX SPORTS 1). 9 p.m. – College Basketball: Creighton at Providence (CBS SPORTS NETWORK). 9 p.m. – College Basketball: Oregon at UCLA (ESPN2). 9 p.m. – College Basketball: East Carolina at South Florida (ESPNU). 9 p.m. – College Basketball: Boston College at North Carolina State (FOX SPORTSOUTH). 9 p.m. – Major League Exhibition Baseball: Cleveland vs. Cincinnati from Goodyear, Ariz. (MLB NETWORK). 9 p.m. – College Basketball: Arkansas at Alabama (SEC NETWORK). 10 p.m. – International Soccer: CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinal Second Leg Match – Tigres at Real Salt Lake (FOX SPORTS 2). 10:30 p.m. – NBA Basketball: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles Clippers (ESPN). 10:30 p.m. – LPGA Golf: HSBC Champions First Round from Singapore (GOLF). 11 p.m. – College Basketball: Colorado State at Fresno State (CBS SPORTS NETWORK). 11 p.m. – College Basketball: Washington State at Washington (ESPNU). 11 p.m. – College Basketball: Oregon State at Southern California (FOX SPORTS 1).

nba Standings By The Associated Press

EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division Toronto Boston New York Brooklyn Philadelphia Southeast Division Miami Atlanta Charlotte Washington Orlando Central Division Cleveland Chicago Detroit Indiana Milwaukee

W L Pct GB 39 19 .672 — 36 25 .590 4½ 25 36 .410 15½ 17 43 .283 23 8 52 .133 32 W L Pct GB 33 26 .559 — 33 27 .550 ½ 30 28 .517 2½ 29 30 .492 4 26 32 .448 6½ W L Pct GB 42 17 .712 — 30 28 .517 11½ 31 29 .517 11½ 31 29 .517 11½ 25 35 .417 17½

WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division San Antonio Memphis Dallas Houston New Orleans Northwest Division Oklahoma City Portland Utah Denver Minnesota Pacific Division x-Golden State L.A. Clippers Sacramento Phoenix L.A. Lakers x-clinched playoff

W L Pct GB 50 9 .847 — 35 24 .593 15 32 28 .533 18½ 29 31 .483 21½ 23 35 .397 26½ W L Pct GB 42 18 .700 — 32 28 .533 10 28 31 .475 13½ 23 37 .383 19 19 41 .317 23 W L Pct GB 53 5 .914 — 39 20 .661 14½ 24 34 .414 29 15 44 .254 38½ 11 49 .183 43 spot

Monday’s Games

Cleveland 100, Indiana 96 Washington 116, Philadelphia 108 Boston 100, Utah 95 Milwaukee 128, Houston 121 Memphis 103, Denver 96 Oklahoma City 131, Sacramento 116 L.A. Clippers 105, Brooklyn 95

Tuesday’s Games

Phoenix at Charlotte, 7 p.m. Chicago at Miami, 7:30 p.m. Portland at New York, 7:30 p.m. Orlando at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. Atlanta at Golden State, 10:30 p.m. Brooklyn at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.

Wednesday’s Games

Charlotte at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. Chicago at Orlando, 7 p.m. Utah at Toronto, 7:30 p.m. Portland at Boston, 7:30 p.m. Washington at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Indiana at Milwaukee, 8 p.m. Detroit at San Antonio, 8 p.m. Sacramento at Memphis, 8 p.m. New Orleans at Houston, 8 p.m. L.A. Lakers at Denver, 9 p.m. Oklahoma City at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.

Phoenix at Miami, 7:30 p.m. San Antonio at New Orleans, 8 p.m. Sacramento at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. Oklahoma City at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.

nhl Standings By The Associated Press

EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Florida 62 35 19 8 78 171 146 Tampa Bay 63 37 22 4 78 175 151 Detroit 63 32 20 11 75 161 163 Boston 63 34 23 6 74 195 175 Ottawa 63 30 27 6 66 185 196 Montreal 63 30 28 5 65 173 175 Buffalo 63 25 31 7 57 147 170 Toronto 61 21 30 10 52 147 182 Metropolitan Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Washington 61 45 12 4 94 202 142 N.Y. Rangers 63 37 20 6 80 180 159 N.Y. Islanders 60 33 20 7 73 171 149 Pittsburgh 61 32 21 8 72 165 157 Philadelphia 62 29 22 11 69 157 168 New Jersey 63 30 26 7 67 139 153 Carolina 64 28 26 10 66 155 173 Columbus 64 26 30 8 60 167 196

WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Chicago 64 39 20 5 83 180 153 Dallas 64 38 19 7 83 206 184 St. Louis 65 36 20 9 81 162 159 Nashville 63 31 21 11 73 167 158 Colorado 64 32 28 4 68 172 181 Minnesota 63 28 25 10 66 164 159 Winnipeg 61 26 31 4 56 159 183 Pacific Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Los Angeles 62 37 21 4 78 165 143 Anaheim 61 34 19 8 76 153 144 San Jose 62 34 22 6 74 188 167 Vancouver 61 24 25 12 60 148 175 Arizona 63 27 30 6 60 168 198 Calgary 62 26 32 4 56 169 195 Edmonton 64 23 34 7 53 156 193 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss.

Monday’s Games

N.Y. Rangers 2, Columbus 1 Philadelphia 5, Calgary 3 Pittsburgh 6, Arizona 0 Tampa Bay 2, Toronto 1 Detroit 3, Dallas 2, OT San Jose 6, Montreal 2

Tuesday’s Games

Calgary at Boston, 7 p.m. Carolina at New Jersey, 7 p.m. Edmonton at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m. St. Louis at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m. Pittsburgh at Washington, 7:30 p.m. Dallas at Nashville, 8 p.m. Colorado at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Florida at Winnipeg, 8 p.m. N.Y. Islanders at Vancouver, 10 p.m.

Wednesday’s Games

Toronto at Washington, 7 p.m. Chicago at Detroit, 8 p.m. Montreal at Anaheim, 10 p.m.

Thursday’s Games

Chicago at Boston, 7 p.m. Calgary at Buffalo, 7 p.m. Edmonton at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. N.Y. Rangers at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. Minnesota at Toronto, 7:30 p.m. Tampa Bay at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m. New Jersey at Nashville, 8 p.m. N.Y. Islanders at Winnipeg, 8 p.m. Florida at Colorado, 9 p.m. Anaheim at Arizona, 9 p.m. San Jose at Vancouver, 10 p.m. Montreal at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.

College Basketball By The Associated Press

Monday’s Scores SOUTH Bethune-Cookman 62, NC A&T 52 Chattanooga 67, VMI 65 Hampton 79, Delaware St. 65 Jackson St. 67, Ark.-Pine Bluff 56 MVSU 58, Grambling St. 57 NC Central 61, Savannah St. 44 Nicholls St. 80, New Orleans 76 Norfolk St. 84, Howard 66 North Carolina 75, Syracuse 70 SE Louisiana 84, Northwestern St. 82 MIDWEST Iowa St. 58, Oklahoma St. 50 SOUTHWEST Kansas 86, Texas 56 McNeese St. 77, Lamar 74 Prairie View 85, Alabama A&M 65 Sam Houston St. 83, Cent. Arkansas 73 Stephen F. Austin 84, Incarnate Word 58 Texas Southern 96, Alabama St. 86 TOURNAMENT NSIC Conference Tournament Semifinals Augustana (SD) 83, Winona St. 62 Minn. St.-Moorhead 89, Mary 65 WHAC Conference Tournament Championship Davenport 79, Cornerstone 69

Transactions By The Associated Press

BASEBALL Major League Baseball OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF BASEBALL — Suspended New York Yankees LHP Aroldis Chapman 30 regular-season games under the league’s domestic violence policy. American League KANSAS CITY ROYALS — Agreed to terms with C Salvador Perez on a fiveyear contract extension through the 2021 season. CHICAGO WHITE SOX — Agreed to terms with RHP Yordi Rosario on a minor league contract. TEXAS RANGERS — Agreed to terms with LHPs Alex Claudio and Yohander Mendez and RHP Nick Martinez on one-year contracts. National League ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS — Agreed to terms with LHP Yuhei Nakaushiro on a minor league contract.

FOOTBALL National Football League BALTIMORE RAVENS — Designated K Justin Tucker as its franchise player. BUFFALO BILLS — Designated OT Cordy Glenn as its franchise player. Released RB Boobie Dixon, G Kraig Urbik and DE Mario Williams. CAROLINA PANTHERS — Designated CB Josh Norman as its franchise player. DENVER BRONCOS — Designated LB Von Miller as its franchise player. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS — Designated S Eric Berry as its franchise player. LOS ANGELES RAMS — Designated CB Trumaine Johnson as its franchise player. MIAMI DOLPHINS — Designated DE Olivier Vernon as its transition player. NEW YORK JETS — Designated DE Muhammad Wilkerson as its franchise player. PHILADEPHIA EAGLES — Agreed to terms with QB Sam Bradford on a two-year contract. WASHINGTON REDSKINS — Designated QB Kirk Cousins as its franchise player.

HOCKEY National Hockey League NHL — Suspended Boston F Zac Rinaldo five games for an illegal check to the head of Tampa Bay F Cedric Paquette during a Feb. 28 game.

sports

The SUMTER ITEM

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

South Carolina guard Tiffany Mitchell and the Gamecocks face the Auburn-Missouri winner on Friday in the SEC women’s basketball tournament quarterfinals.

SEC

Jeremy Foley gave Butler another chance at her From Page B1 alma mater, and the Gators delivered one of “We came with the their best seasons in mentality that we knew nearly two decades. New what we wanted to be,” assistants Shimmy Graysaid junior forward Miller and Bill Ferrara Ronni Williams, one of brought fresh ideas, and eight upperclassmen on key returners Williams, Florida’s roster. “Last Haley Lorenzen, January year we felt what it was Miller, Cassie Peoples like to lose and we didn’t and Carlie Needles want to be in that predic- bought in. ament again. It’s been efThe key may have been fort and hard work, a late-developing recruitworking together, playing class that included ing together regardless Eleanna Christinaki, a of what happens. We’re member of Greece’s seplaying these games for nior national team the each other. We stick tolast three years, and jugether and we’re a family nior college transfer through it all.” Simone Westbrook. Florida’s family looked Christinaki ranks like it might be broken second on the team in up after last season. scoring (10.5 points a Butler’s team missed game) and first in assists the NCAA Tournament (101), while Westbrook is for the fourth time in six fifth in scoring (8.1) and years and had few, if any, leads the team in steals excuses for finishing (65). below .500 for the first Aside from Florida’s time since 2010. turnaround, here are But athletic director some other things to

know heading into the tournament: OPENING DAY: The five-day tournament begins Wednesday with 12th-seeded Alabama against No. 13 seed LSU, followed by No. 11 seed Vanderbilt facing 14thseeded Mississippi. USC INVITATIONAL?: South Carolina (281, 16-0) became just the second team in SEC history to finish 16-0 in league play. The Gamecocks held each of their last three opponents to less than 50 points and less than 30 percent shooting. And with three players — Alaina Coates, Tiffany Mitchell and A’ja Wilson — named First Team All-SEC, the biggest question heading into the SEC tournament is whether anyone can knock them off. The Gamecocks, whose only loss was to top-ranked UConn last month, play the Auburn-Missouri winner Friday.

Southeastern conference Women’s Basketball Tournament At Veterans Memorial Arena Jacksonville, Fla. First Round Wednesday, March 2 Alabama vs. LSU, 11 a.m. Vanderbilt vs. Mississippi, 1:30 p.m.

Alabama-LSU winner, 2:30 p.m. Texas A&M vs. TennesseeArkansas winner, 6 p.m. Mississippi State vs. Georgia—VanderbiltMississippi winner, 8:30 p.m.

Second Round Thursday, March 3 Auburn vs. Missouri, Noon Kentucky vs. Alabama-LSU winner, 2:30 p.m. Tennessee vs. Arkansas, 6 p.m. Georgia vs. VanderbiltMississippi winner, 8:30 p.m.

Semifinals Saturday, March 5 South Carolina_AuburnMissouri winner vs. Florida-Kentucky— Auburn-LSU winner, 5 p.m. Texas A&M—TennesseeArkansas winner vs. Mississippi StateGeorgia—VanderbiltMississippi winner, 7:30 p.m.

Quarterfinals Friday, March 4 South Carolina vs. AuburnMissouri winner, Noon Florida vs. Kentucky—

Championship Sunday, March 6 Semifinal winners, 2:30 p.m.

The Associated Press

WILSON

From Page B1

rallied in recent weeks, however. Mitchell is eighth in scoring average in the SEC at 14.6 points per game. Wilson joked before the season that her goal was to become the SEC defensive player of the year. Staley had chided Wilson throughout her freshman season and during the summer to become more of a defensive force. “It really wouldn’t matter to me,” Wilson said Monday when asked which award would mean more. “I’d be blessed to win either one of those awards or any awards at all. It’s a blessing and an honor to win those.” Wilson had been selected the SEC’s freshman of the year after averaging 13.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks during the 2014-15 season, when she played almost exclusively as a reserve. She increased her production this season, averaging 16.7 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game.

women’s college basketball

No. 2 Notre Dame favored again in ACC women’s tournament The Associated Press GREENSBORO, N.C. — The Atlantic Coast Conference women’s basketball tournament sure feels like the Notre Dame Invitational. The second-ranked Fighting Irish (28-1) have won this event every year they’ve played in it, and they’re once again the team to beat when the tournament starts Wednesday. For the second time in three seasons in the league, coach Muffet McGraw’s team went undefeated in league play while earning its third straight top seed and two-round bye in the five-day tournament. The Irish have never lost an ACC Tournament game and have only lost one league game since joining the conference, last year at Miami. McGraw said her seniors — led by graduate student Madison Cable — have been key in helping the Irish establish themselves as the top program in the ACC after going headto-head with Connecticut while in the Big East from 1995-2013. Notre Dame won only one Big East Tournament, in its final season before that league broke apart. “They are competitive. They have a sense of urgency,” McGraw said. “They understand what it takes to be at the level we want to be at. They try to get the freshmen to under-

File/Robert Franklin/The Associated Press

Clemson’s Danielle Edwards (5) and the Tigers face Wake Forest in the first round of the ACC women’s basketball tournament on Wednesday.

stand that, too. Their leadership this year has really been phenomenal.” The team with the best chance to beat them figures to be No. 7 Louisville (24-6), the tournament’s No. 2 seed. The young Cardinals enter the tournament having won 21 of 22 after starting the season 3-5 — with the only loss coming to, naturally, Notre Dame — and coach Jeff Walz traces his team’s success back to the two-a-day practices he held during the semester break. “I think that really helped a lot of them start to learn more about the game of basketball, and that helped us defensively,” Walz said. “Since

then, we’ve really done a tremendous job of guarding, and that’s something if we want to advance in the ACC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament you have to do.” Some other things to know about the ACC Tournament: IN THE POLLS: Notre Dame and Louisville are the only top-10 teams in the field, the second time in three years that just two teams were in the top 10 during the tournament. Fourth-seeded Florida State (23-6), which made its first league tournament final last year, is at No. 14 in the latest poll while third-seeded Syracuse (23-6) is 17th and fifthseeded Miami (22-7) is 21st. TOBACCO ROAD BLUES: Duke and North Carolina have combined to win 17 ACC Tournaments but the longtime powers have struggled this season with the Blue Devils (19-11) seeded eighth and the Tar Heels 13th. It’s the lowest seed for North Carolina (14-17) and Duke’s lowest seed since it was the No. 9 in 1993. AN N.C. STATEMENT?: Sixthseeded North Carolina State (19-10) might be capable of pulling an upset or two. The two higher seeds in the Wolfpack’s bracket are Syracuse and Louisville — and North Carolina State lost to both by a combined seven points. Four of the Wolfpack’s league losses were by 14 total points.

ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE Women’s Basketball Tournament At Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, N.C. First Round Wednesday, March 2 Pittsburgh vs. North Carolina, 1 p.m. Wake Forest vs. Clemson, 3:30 p.m. Virginia Tech vs. Boston College, 6:30 p.m. Second Round Thursday, March 3 Miami vs. PittsburghNorth Carolina winner, 11 a.m. Duke vs. Virginia, 2 p.m. Georgia Tech vs. Wake Forest-Clemson winner, 6 p.m. N.C. State vs. Virginia TechBoston College winner, 8 p.m. Quarterfinals Friday, March 4 Florida State vs. Miami—

Pittsburgh-North Carolina winner, 11 a.m. Notre Dame vs. DukeVirginia winner, 2 p.m. Louisville vs. Georgia Tech—Wake ForestClemson winner, 6 p.m. Syracuse vs. N.C. State— Virginia Tech-Boston College winner, 8 p.m. Semifinals Saturday, March 5 Florida State-Miami— Pittsburgh-North Carolina winner vs. Notre Dame— Duke-Virginia winner, Noon Louisville-Georgia Tech— Wake Forest-Clemson winner vs. Syracuse-N.C. State—Virginia TechBoston College winner, 2:30 p.m. Championship Sunday, March 6 Semifinal winners, 12:30 p.m.

sports

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

The SUMTER ITEM

AREA ROUNDUP

Crestwood boys soccer earns first win against Sumter Crestwood High School’s varsity boys soccer team beat Sumter for the first time in program history on Monday, winning by a 1-0 score at the CHS field. Jonathan Dalcourt scored the match’s only goal on an assist from Rick Martino in the 21st minute of play. Aaron Griffin recorded the shutout in goal. He had some help from Timothy Kranz, who blocked a goal-scoring opportunity for the Gamecocks.

its three games in the Pink Out Cure For Cancer tournament on Saturday at the North Central High field. The Lady Gators lost to Ridge View 1-0 in their opener. They followed it up with a 23-1 victory over Lower Richland and a 2-2 win over Westwood. Thomas Heyward 3 Thomas Sumter 1

DALZELL — The defending 3A state champion Thomas Sumter Academy Lady Generals opened their 2016 campaign with a 3-1 loss to Thomas Heyward Academy on Tuesday at the TSA field. Logan Morris went 2-for-3 with a home run while Sydney Daniel also recorded a hit for TSA. Ellie Hunter struck out six on the mound for the Lady Generals. Hannah Cannon delivered the big blow for Thomas Heyward with a 3-run homer.

JUNIOR VARSITY SOCCER Ashley Ridge 3 The Associated Press

Virginia’s Anthony Gill (13) drives under the basket while defended by Clemson’s and Jaron Blossomgame, left, and Sidy Djitte during the Cavs’ 64-57 victory on Tuesday in Greenville.

CLEMSON

would make. When the Tigers sliced the From Page B1 lead to 18-13, Brogdon hit his fourth 3-pointer of the half to play, to gain control toward its extend the margin. third straight 12-win ACC seaClemson closed to 28-25 on son a feat last accomplished Blossomgame’s free throws from 1981-83 when Ralph Samp- with 2:15 to go, Perrantes conson patrolled the paint for the nected on a long-range basket Cavaliers. to keep Virginia on top. Gill had 11 points and 10 reBrogdon scored 14 points in bounds, his third double-double the half as the Cavaliers led 33for Virginia this season. Lon27. don Perrantes had 13 points, Clemson, as it did in wins including a 3-pointer after here over ranked opponents Clemson closed to 53-52 with Louisville, Duke and Miami under 3 minutes remaining. earlier this season, rallied to “We never stop fighting,” move in front. The Tigers, Perrantes said. “We’re hoping though, could not sustain the it helps in the long run and we run against the Cavaliers’ bestfeel that it has.” in-the-ACC defense. Jaron Blossomgame led Clemson has lost five of its Clemson with 31 points. past seven games by an averBlossomgame finished two age margin of four points. points shy of his career high, TIP-INS set two games ago in a loss at Virginia: The Cavaliers are North Carolina State. looking to win at least 23 games “We just aren’t great at any for a fourth straight season, one thing,” Clemson coach something they had not done in Brad Brownell said. “We’re more than three decades since pretty good at a lot of things, 1980-83 when they were led by but one of them breaks down Sampson. in games and we aren’t good Clemson: The Tigers will finenough or strong enough to ish with more ACC victories overcome it.” Clemson started 0 for 10 from than non-conference wins this season. Clemson has nine the field and the Tigers looked league wins so far. It went just like they were going to get 7-5 in its pre-ACC schedule. blown out in their final regular-season home game. Instead, VIRGINIA HISTORY the Tigers rallied with a 19-9 Bennett said his players run to get back in it. aren’t concerned about matchBut Brogdon and Perrantes ing Virginia’s elite basketball blunted any charge Clemson

history, just about enjoying the ride they’re on at the moment. Bennett said the joy in the game comes from playing well and that’s what Virginia has done the past six weeks. “The accomplishments you get, `OK, that’s nice,’ and maybe you look back on it at some point,” he said. “We talk a lot about just being ready.”

BLOSSOMGAME’S RUN Blossomgame had more than 50 percent of his team’s points (31 of 57), something that had not occurred for the Tigers since Skip Wise scored 38 of their 75 points in a game against Penn in 1974.

UP NEXT Virginia closes the regular season against No. 11 Louisville on Saturday. Clemson finishes ACC regular season play at Boston College on Saturday. VIRGINIA (23-6) Hall 3-5 2-2 9, Gill 4-11 3-3 11, Brogdon 6-14 2-2 18, Wilkins 1-3 2-4 4, Perrantes 4-9 2-2 13, Shayok 3-5 2-2 9, Tobey 0-2 0-0 0, Nolte 0-1 0-0 0, Reuter 0-1 0-0 0, Thompson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-52 13-15 64. CLEMSON (16-13) Blossomgame 10-16 7-9 31, Holmes 0-6 1-2 1, Grantham 1-6 0-0 3, Roper 1-5 0-2 2, Nnoko 4-6 0-0 8, DeVoe 2-5 2-2 7, Hudson 0-0 0-0 0, Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Djitte 2-2 1-1 5. Totals 20-46 11-16 57. Halftime—Virginia 33-27. 3-Point Goals—Virginia 9-19 (Brogdon 4-7, Perrantes 3-8, Shayok 1-1, Hall 1-2, Nolte 0-1), Clemson 6-17 (Blossomgame 4-6, DeVoe 1-2, Grantham 1-5, Roper 0-1, Holmes 0-3). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Virginia 34 (Gill 10), Clemson 27 (Nnoko 6). Assists—Virginia 12 (Perrantes 4), Clemson 12 (DeVoe 6). Total Fouls—Virginia 15, Clemson 13. A—9,626.

Sumter 1

Sumter opened its season with a 3-1 loss to Ashley Ridge on Tuesday at the SHS field. Nicholas Thurman scored Sumter’s lone goal off an assist from Brent Byard. The Gamecocks play again on Thursday at Ridge View.

JUNIOR VARSITY SOFTBALL

VARSITY BASEBALL

Laurence Manning 5

Crestwood goes 1-1 KERSHAW — Crestwood High School split its first two games in the Mid-Carolina Credit Union Preseason Baseball Bash on Saturday at the North Central High field. The Knights defeated Camden Military 8-2 in its opener before falling to Westminster Catawba 8-5 in the second game. Matthew Rogers went the distance on the mound to pick up the victory for CHS. Collin Kremer had a double and two runs batted in, while Richard Scurry had a double and an RBI and Justin Vealy had a hit and an RBI. In the loss, Vealy was 2-for-2 with two RBI.

GIRLS VARSITY SOFTBALL Lakewood goes 2-1 KERSHAW – Lakewood High School won two of

Northwood Academy 3

MANNING — Ashton Rogers went 2-for-2 with two homers and three runs driven in to help power LMA past Northwood Academy on Tuesday at the Lady Swampcats field. Abbie Beard and Trinity Harrington also had hits for LMA. Liz Hussey tossed all five innings, allowing three runs, one earned, on four hits with two walks and 11 strikeouts.

VARSITY SOCCER Ridge View 2 Crestwood 1 Ridge View scored with about 30 seconds left in the second overtime to edge Crestwood 2-1 on Tuesday at the CHS field. Kaylie Kovalcik had the lone goal for the Lady Knights, who fell to 0-2. Crestwood will host Lake City on Friday.

Basketball Roundup

sports items

Hornets roll against Suns

Yankees’ Chapman accepts 30-game suspension

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kemba Walker scored 26 points, and the Charlotte Hornets routed the Phoenix Suns 126-92 on Tuesday night. Al Jefferson had 19 points and seven rebounds for Charlotte, which has won nine of 12. Nicolas Batum and reserve Jeremy Lamb scored 15 points apiece. The Suns had five players score in double figures in their 16th consecutive road loss. Alex Len had 18 points and 12 rebounds, and Mirza Teletovic scored 17 points. Charlotte led by 26 points at halftime and opened its biggest lead at 115-72 on Troy Daniels’ 3-pointer with 7:56 left in the fourth quarter. (3) Villanova 83 DePaul 62

VILLANOVA, Pa. — Kris Jenkins scored 14 straight points and a career-high 31 overall, leading No. 3 Villanova to an 83-62 romp over DePaul on Tuesday night and the outright Big East championship. The Wildcats (26-4, 15-2) are Big East champs for the third straight season and had already clinched the top seed for the conference tournament next week in New York. Jenkins scored 20 points by halftime. DePaul fell to 9-20, 3-14.

the Associated Press

Charlotte’s Kemba Walker (15) shoots over Phoenix’s Ronnie Price (14) during the Hornets’ 126-92 win over the Suns on Tuesday in Charlotte. (22) Kentucky 88

Florida 79 GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Jamal Murray scored 21 points, Tyler Ulis added 19 and No. 22 Kentucky beat Florida 88-79 on Tuesday night, handing the Gators a fourth consecutive loss. Kentucky (22-8, 12-5 Southeastern Conference) had no answer inside for John Egbunu, who finished with nine dunks and a career-high 27 points, but the Cats more than made up for it by hitting 7 of 10 shots from 3-point range. The Gators (17-13, 8-9) shot 16 of 37 from the free-throw line.

From wire reports

NEW YORK — New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman agreed to accept a 30-game suspension under Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy, a penalty stemming from an incident with his girlfriend last October. Under the discipline announced Tuesday, Chapman will serve the penalty from the start of the season in April. He will lose 30 days of pay — $1,856,557 of his $11,325,000 salary. “I found Mr. Chapman’s acknowledged conduct on that day to be inappropriate ... particularly his use of a firearm and the impact of that behavior on his partner,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “I am gratified that Mr. Chapman has taken responsibility for his conduct.” Chapman became the first player penalized a finite number of games under the policy, which MLB and the players’ association agreed to in August following several high-profile incidents among NFL players.

Hornets’ Lin unhappy with Oscars skit Charlotte Hornets guard Jeremy Lin is disappointed about the way Asians were stereotyped during an onstage skit at Sunday night’s Oscars, and said more racial

awareness is needed. “I just feel like sometimes the way people perceive Asians or Asian-Americans today can be disappointing in the way they view them,” Lin said after the Hornets practice on Tuesday. “Even Asian-American masculinity or whatever you want to talk about, just a lot of the ways that Asians are perceived I don’t always agree with.” Clemson 7 Wofford 1

CLEMSON — Alex Schnell, Alex Eubanks, Pat Krall, Ryley Gilliam and Alex Bostic combined to stymie the high-powered Terrier offense in Clemson’s 7-0 victory over Wofford in baseball at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Tuesday. The Tigers (6-1) won their sixth game in a row. It was also Clemson’s 12th win in a row over Wofford (7-1) at home. Eubanks (1-1) earned his first win as a Tiger by retiring all eight batters he faced in relief. Wofford starter John Caskey (1-1) yielded four runs (one earned) on six hits in 31/3 innings pitched. Clemson scored three runs in the fourth inning to take a 4-0 lead, then Chris Okey’s seeing-eye double up the middle plated two more runs. Chase Pinder led the

Tigers’ 11-hit attack with a team-high three hits. The Tigers play No. 18 South Carolina in a 3-game series this weekend starting Friday at Founders Park at 7 p.m. South Carolina 6 The Citadel 3

CHARLESTON — Dom Thompson-Williams had three hits while John Jones, Alex Destino, Chris Cullen and Danny Blair added two each as No. 13 South Carolina earned a 6-3 victory over the Citadel on Tuesday at Joe Riley Park. USC improved to 9-0 while the Bulldogs fell to 5-2. Destino, Cullen and Blair each had an RBI for the Gamecocks, who jumped to a 4-0 lead in the top of the third inning and led 5-0 before Drew Ellis’ 3-run double in the bottom of the sixth cut the deficit to just two runs for the Bulldogs. Adam Hill tossed five scoreless for Carolina, allowing three hits, two walks and striking out eight. Former Sumter High and Sumter P-15’s standout Jacob Watcher last 22/3 innings and gave up four runs on seven hits with three walks and a strikeout for the Citadel. Brother Phillip Watcher was 1-for-4 with a double. From local, wire reports

sports

The SUMTER ITEM

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

recruiting

Gators’ Johnson may commit to USC on Saturday It’s commitment watch time for defensive end Tyreek Johnson of Lakewood High School. Johnson will visit the University of South Carolina on Saturday and he said a commit is possible at that time. Johnson was offered a week ago by USC head coach Will Muschamp, and as a lifelong Gamecock fan, it was the offer for which Johnson was waiting. Johnson said he did not commit right then because his parents want to talk to the coaches and he would prefer to commit in person. Johnson was there for USC’s junior day earlier this month and that gave Muschamp a chance to see him in person and that, along with a review of his junior film, led to the decision to make the offer. “It was a pretty exciting moment for me to get an offer from a SEC (Southeastern Conference) school,” Johnson said. “I was very excited and it was a very important point in my life. He said I’ve got very good grades and on the field I’m physical and have good feet and am very good off the ball.” Johnson also has an offer from Coastal Carolina and Clemson, Duke and Alabama have been showing interest. They want him to visit, but after the USC offer he’s not really seeing the need for that. “My eyes are looking at South Carolina, that’s my favorite school,” he said. Last season, Johnson totaled 89 tackles with 21 tackles for loss and 10 quarterback sacks. Lakewood head coach Brian Jackson said Johnson’s quickness off the snap is impressive. “Probably one of the best first steps I’ve seen,” Jackson said. “The way he separates from offensive linemen, his speed and his eye for the ball and pursuit. He’s a doer and not a talker.” DE Josiah Coatney (6-feet5-inches, 285 pounds), a 2016 recruit from Holmes Junior College in Mississippi was offered by USC last week and will take an official visit on March 19. He’s also planning to visit Alabama, Mississippi and Florida at this point. Coatney said he has a lot of family in the Columbia area and that’s one of the reasons he likes USC. He plans to announce a commitment on April 26. Coatney is a native of Douglasville, Ga., and did not sign with a college out of high school. According to assistant coach Kenyatta Watson of Grayson High School in Loganville, Ga., ‘16 DE Mykelle McDaniel rescheduled his USC official visit for March 19. McDaniel also plans to visit Alabama at some point. He has been to Mississippi State officially. McDaniel has been a big lean to USC. DE Logan Rudolph of Northwestern High in Rock Hill added offers from Baylor, Illinois and Iowa State last week to a group that includes USC, Oklahoma State, North Carolina, Florida State, Tennessee, Penn State, Notre Dame, Michigan and Nebraska. Rudolph visited UF and FSU recently and is going to Tennessee this weekend. He does not have any other visits set after that, but he will take some trips during his spring break. While he has the instate offer from USC, Rudolph said he has nothing going on with

SUMTER

From Page B1

SHS made its way to the state championship contest with a 41-39 overtime win over North Augusta on Saturday at Florence Civic Center. It will face defending state champion Spring Valley on Friday at 7 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia. The Lady Gamecocks bring a 25-4 record into the contest and are looking for the school’s first state title since the 1982-83 season. The last time SHS played for a state title was in the ‘83-84 season when it lost to Union, which was coached by cur-

Clemson at this point. “I have not talked to a Clemson coach since the Wake Forest game, which was when I went up to Phil Kornblut campus,” he said. “I talk to Recruiting South Carolina just about every day. I talk to Coach Muschamp and (assistant) Coach (Bobby) Bentley every day through Twitter and sometimes over the phone. I like them a lot. I think Coach Muschamp is a great coach and is pointing them in the right direction for sure.” Rudolph is keeping his mind open regarding all the schools and has not formulated a favorites list, but if he had one he said USC definitely would be well up the list. “They like me a lot and they’ve got a great position for me,” Rudolph said. “I don’t have any favorites at this point. I’m still playing it by ear and trying to weigh this whole situation out and visit as many places as I can. They will always be there for me. Coach Muschamp is a great guy and I can’t speak highly enough about him and that new staff. “I went up on an unofficial a few weeks ago and he definitely tried to express to me, and the rest of the staff, that I’m needed there and that I’m a priority for them and they’ve got a tailor-made position for me. They couldn’t speak highly enough. I was excited and it’s a great opportunity.” Rudolph said he plans to return to Columbia for a spring practice and possibly for the spring game. Muschamp last week passed out two more offers to QBs on opposite ends of the country. One went to Kadarius Toney (6-0, 180) of Eight Mile, Ala., and the other to Braxton Burmeister (6-0, 211) of La Jolla, CA. Both are considered dualthreat QBs. Toney also has an offer from South Alabama and is drawing interest from Auburn. Burmeister currently is committed to Arizona, and he said that is still in place, but he has known Muschamp and USC assistants Kurt Roper and Coleman Hutzler since their Florida days so he’s interested in learning more about their new situation. “I’m pretty close with Coach Roper and Coach Muschamp and coach Coleman Hutzler there too, so it’s definitely an offer I’m going to look into and consider,” Burmeister said. “Whenever (former USC QB) Connor Shaw would play up there I watched so I saw a ton of games when he was there. I loved Connor Shaw so I was watching.” Burmeister said he will talk with his family about a possible visit to USC this spring or summer. He is also still considering Washington and Utah along with USC and Arizona. His plan is to graduate early. Last season, Burmeister passed for 2,503 yards and 20 touchdowns with two interceptions, and he rushed for 624 yards and 14 TDs. USC recently offered defensive lineman Teair Tart-Spencer (6-4, 295), a native of Philadelphia who will be a sophomore at ASA College in Brook-

rent Spring Valley head coach Anne Long. “We just knew we were going to win it last year,” Wilson said. “It didn’t work out though. Me and Jessica and the rest of the team worked hard to get better every day where we could get to this game.” Sumter was never highly ranked this season, spending most of the year in the lower half of the top 10. It came into the playoffs ranked fourth. It blasted Dutch Fork 74-42 in the opening round and topped Irmo 48-34 in the second round. Due to the predetermined brackets, the Lady Gamecocks knew they would have the quarterfinal game at home and it came

lyn, N.Y., this season. Primarily a basketball player for most of his youth, Tart-Spencer has played just three seasons of football, including just six games last season, but his film showed USC defensive line coach Lance Thompson and Muschamp enough to lead to an offer. “They like my explosiveness off the ball and my size,” TartSpencer said. “I’m more of a pass rusher. It (USC) is a good school and I’ve just got to get down there and check it out. I’ve got a pretty good feeling about how interested they are in me and I get a pretty good vibe they want me.” Tart-Spencer said he had no offers out of high school and now he has offers from USC, Alabama, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Temple. Last season, he totaled only 12 tackles but 7.5 were for loss and he had five sacks. One of USC’s new offers last week went to defensive back Naytron Culpepper (6-1, 175) of Miami. He also has offers from Louisiana State, Kentucky, Illinois, North Carolina State, Iowa State, Central Florida, Syracuse, Louisville, Ohio, Buffalo, Bowling Green and Cincinnati. Culpepper said USC is one of his top schools right now. He’s not sure when he’ll visit USC, and he’s not visited anywhere at this point. Last season, he had over 20 tackles with three interceptions, four passes broken up and one forced fumble. Running back Adarius Lemons of Clearwater, Fla., has USC in his current top four along with UNC, Ohio State and Auburn. DL MJ Webb of Madison, Ga., told the Auburn Rivals website after attending Auburn’s junior day that Auburn and USC are his top two schools right now. He’s also considering Georgia. OL Summie Carlay of Laurens High attended NCSU’s junior day on Saturday and was offered. He also has a USC offer. Other USC offers last week were to linebacker Ventrell Miller of Lakeland, Fla., athlete Juwan Burgess of Tampa, Fla., DL Rutger Reitmaier of Nashville, Tenn., RB Ty Chandler of Nashville, OL Billy Ross of Huntington, W.Va, tight end Kane Taylor of Clearwater, Fla., DL Romello Martin of Brooklyn, wide receiver Ryan Jones of Charlotte, DE Jake Lichtenstein of Weston, Fla., RB CJ Cotman of Clearwater, OL Riley Locklear of Huntington, W.Va., DE Deandre Johnson of Miami, OL Marcus Minor of Hyattsville, Md., and ‘18 QB Jack West of Saraland, Ala. QB Jake Bentley of Opelika, Ala., a USC target, picked up an LSU offer last week.

coach in Urban Meyer. And for those thinking he’s a lock for Clemson, Robinson threw a little cold water one that. “Florida is only two hours away, Clemson is eight hours,” he said in an interview with Rivals. “I mean, it’s hard, knowing that Florida has always been my dream school. Everyone in the house loves Florida. They’re just trying to know where home’s at.” Robinson said he wants to visit UF, FSU, Miami, Clemson and Tennessee. He said he was going to make a decision next month, but now he plans to wait. He said if he were going to make a decision next month, there’s a “slight” chance it would be Clemson. “Those top four schools, all of them are great programs, just trying to find the right home,” he said. Robinson said Oregon is one school that could jump into his top four with an offer. DE Jordan Williams (6-5, 260) of Virginia Beach, Va., attended Clemson’s junior day in January, his first time on the Clemson campus, and he has the Tigers on his reduced list of offering schools he’s considering at this point. The others are PSU, UGA, UF, ND, Southern California, Maryland and Tennessee from his total of 19 offers. “It was really nice to go there and see the campus and meet with the coaches for the first time in person,” Williams said. “I met with (head) Coach (Dabo) Swinney and (assistant) Coach (Marion) Hobby. They said they are a big fan of my motor and the way I play, and a big fan of how I am as a student. They said they could keep me at defensive end. I see myself playing a strongside defensive end and can play the run and the pass.” Williams also has been to Maryland, Duke, PSU, Virginia, NCSU, UNC and Virginia Tech. He plans to visit Tennessee this weekend and is also looking to visit UGA, UF and ND. He may take an official visit to Southern Cal in the fall. Williams plans to cut down his list by June or July and it’s likely Clemson will make the cut. “It definitely opened my eyes up to them because of the way they handle things,” he said. “It was a great experience for me going down there.” Last season, Williams totaled 55 tackles with 11 sacks. QB Cade Fortin. an ‘18 recruit from Suwanee, Ga., visited Clemson last week. Pendleton High DE Brad Johnson was offered on Thursday by Rutgers and visited NCSU on Saturday. Chapman High LB Landon Holden will walk on at Clemson this fall.

CLEMSON

USC AND CLEMSON

One of the top performers at the Rivals’ camp in Orlando, Fla., on Saturday was WR JJ Robinson of Lakeland, Fla. The highly acclaimed WR has his decision down to Clemson, Oklahoma, UF and Ohio State and was thought to be moving closer to announcing a commitment with Clemson widely rumored as the favorite. However, Robinson said he’s still a ways off from a decision and did not declare a favorite. Robinson said UF has always been his dream school, but Ohio State has his dream

DE Tre Lawson of North Augusta High was offered by Southern Cal last week, giving him offers from coast to coast. He also has offers from USC, Tennessee, Nevada-Las Vegas, FSU, Illinois, Ole Miss and UK. Lawson visited USC twice this month and was at FSU over the weekend. He’s also been to UGA and is going to Clemson this weekend and Georgia Tech later in March. He also wants to see Tennessee. USC has jumped on Lawson hard and had him in for junior day earlier in the month and

in handy. They trailed Lexington 23-14 at halftime before a 19-4 run in the third quarter turned the momentum and led to a 45-40 victory. While Sumter may not have the star power it did a year ago, head coach Jason Lousdenslager thinks he possesses a very deep team. “I think we’re a lot like Spring Valley in that we have a lot of depth,” Loudenslager. “We’re able to bring people in off the bench who contribute and give us big minutes.” While Wilson leads the team in scoring at 11.6 followed by Harris at 11.4, Kiara Jones averages 8.5 and Cy Cooper 8.2 Tiarra Abram,

Bre Tyler and D’Erika Hamilton each average over 5.0 points. Rebounding-wise, Sumter has major contributors throughout the team. Jones leads at 8.2 followed by Cooper at 7.2 and Wilson at 7.1 However, three others average at least 4.4 boards. Anna McBride leads in blocked shots at 2.3 and Jones averages 1.8. Harris leads in assists at 5.6 and Wilson leads in steals at 3.9 with Harris close behind at 3.8. “It feels great that we’re here,” Harris said. “It’s kind of crazy when you think about it, because it seemed to take us so long to get here.”

then again on Feb. 21 for an unofficial visit. “I really like them and they really like me,” Lawson said. “They seem like they want me and need me to be a part of their program. The whole staff, including Coach Muschamp, are very eager to talk to me and for me to go down there. If it was up to them I’d be down there every weekend. I really like them. “I’m not going to put them ahead of anyone else, but I really like them and they really want me down there. They definitely are in the main pool of who I want to go to.” Lawson said that main pool consists of all the offering schools. Lawson has not been offered by Clemson, but it does have interest in him, and he’s been in touch with recruiter Mike Reed. “He said when I come down there he wants it to be a more personalized visit, and that’s why I didn’t go to their junior day,” Lawson said. “They are very enthusiastic to talk to and they are coming off playing in the national title game, so for them to give me the time of day is pretty cool.” Lawson is uncertain when he’ll make his decision. It could come prior to his season or during it. And he said he has no preference between staying in state or leaving the state. Last season, Lawson totaled 76 tackles with 18 for loss and 12 sacks. Highly recruited LB Ellis Brooks (6-2, 220) of Richmond, Va., made USC one of his junior day stops earlier this month and saw enough to be convinced to keep USC on his list. Some of his other offers are ND, Duke, VT, East Carolina, Maryland, Michigan, UNC, NCSU, Vanderbilt, UVa and WF. Clemson is among other schools showing interest. He visited Pittsburgh on Sunday and has also been to Duke and UGA. “I don’t have a number listing anything one through 10 with my offers or anything like that, but they are definitely near the top,” Brooks said of USC. “It’s a great school and a great opportunity to play football. They like how physical I am and how I’m a hard hitter, always sticking my head in there. I have a motor and I’m non-stop and I can continue to play no matter what. They see me as a middle linebacker, a Mike or Will type person.” Hutzler is recruiting him for USC, and he’s planning a return visit to USC for a spring practice or the spring game. Last season, he had 117 tackles with 18 TFLs and six sacks. OL Eric Douglas of Charlotte had planned to wait until his team of choice played its spring game to make a commitment, but the decision will come sooner than that. “I’m starting to get the feeling about where I want to, the place that I actually love,” Douglas said. “I don’t know yet but I have a feel for where I want to go.” He was at NCSU on Saturday and visited UNC and UF recently. He’s going to Duke on March 11. He also has USC, Clemson and California on his short list. TE Alex Marshall (6-7, 238) of Andover, Mass., visited Clemson and USC last football season and remains on the board of both teams.

schsl championships At Colonial Life Arena (in Columbia) Friday 4A Girls (1) Spring Valley vs. (1) Sumter, 7 p.m. Boys (1) Byrnes vs. (1) Irmo, 8:30 p.m. Saturday 3A Girls (1) Dreher vs. (1) Myrtle Beach, 5:30 p.m. Boys (1) A.C. Flora vs. (1) Midland Valley, 7 p.m. 2A Girls (1) Keenan 55 vs. (1) Bishop England, 2 p.m. Boys (1) Abbeville vs. (2) Timberland, 4 p.m. 1A Girls (1) Christ Church 64 vs. (1) Timmonsville, 11 a.m. Boys (1) Calhoun County vs. (1) Hemingway, 12:30 p.m.

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Wednesday, March 2, 2016 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016

sports SPORTS

The SUMTER ITEM THE SUMTER ITEM

PRO FOOTBALL

Panthers’ Norman among those given franchise tag By BARRY WILNER The Associated Press

they can’t — and most franchises are eager to get these players locked up for several Where are the All-Pros with- years — then the salary for out contracts going? 2016 is determined by the tag Nowhere, it appears. designation. Super Bowl MVP Von Miller Cousins would earn the and fellow All-Pro players most, $19.9 million, because Josh Norman and Eric Berry quarterbacks have the highest were given franchise tags tag number. Wilkerson would Tuesday, the league’s deadline be next at $15.7 million. to do so. In all, nine players Miami decided against placwere slapped with the franing the franchise tag on Verchise tag and one, Dolphins de- non, and this year’s transition fensive end Olivier Vernon, got number calls for defensive the transition tag. ends to receive $12.734 million. Broncos linebacker Miller A transition tag allows the was the only player to get the player to negotiate with other exclusive tag, at $14.129 milteams, but his current club lion, meaning no other team has the right of first refusal to can make him an offer. match any offer. Should VerPanthers cornerback Nornon leave, there is no compenman and Chiefs safety Berry sation for Miami. were among the eight who reA look at how this game of ceived non-exclusive designatag played out: tions, so other clubs can make Josh Norman, Carolina offers, but their current teams ($13.952 million) — The Panhave the right to match or get thers have seen Norman, 28, compensated with two firstdevelop into one of the best round draft picks. cover men in the NFL. NorAlso getting tagged with free man had four interceptions in agency set to begin on March 9 the first four games last seawere Redskins quarterback son, returning two for touchKirk Cousins, Jets DE Muham- downs, then quarterbacks mad Wilkerson, Bears receiver stopped throwing his way. OpAlshon Jeffery, Ravens placeposing passers had a leaguekicker Justin Tucker, Bills worst 54.0 QB rating when tackle Cordy Glenn and Rams throwing at Norman, who excornerback Trumaine Johnpects to remain in Charlotte. son. “I have been in the CaroliThe players have until July nas my entire life,” Norman 15 to work out a long-term said. “I went to (high school) contract with their teams. If in South Carolina, played at

Coastal Carolina in college and been with the Panthers since Day 1. I have no reason to leave.” Von Miller, Denver ($14.129 million) — Many people consider the 26-year-old Miller the best defensive player in the NFL. Some rate him the best overall player. Clearly, the Broncos weren’t leaving any opening for him to get away. “We’ve had productive talks with Von’s representation, and we’ll continue those discussions with the goal of making sure Von remains a Bronco well into the future,” GM John Elway said in a statement. The outside linebacker has 60 sacks in his first five NFL seasons after being taken second overall behind Cam Newton — the Panthers QB he harassed in the Super Bowl — in 2011. Others include: Eric Berry, Kansas City ($10.806 million) Muhammad Wilkerson, New York Jets ($15.701 million) Alshon Jeffery, Chicago ($14.599 million) Kirk Cousins, Washington ($19.953 million) Cordy Glenn, Buffalo ($13.706 million) Justin Tucker, Baltimore ($4.572 million) Trumaine Johnson, Los Angeles ($13.952 million) Olivier Vernon, Miami ($12.734 million)

The Associated Press

Chicago wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, a former South Carolina standout, received the franchise tag Monday. Jeffery is due just under $14.6 million next season.

OBITUARIES LILIA G. YATES TURBEVILLE — Lilia Gonzales Yates, 55, wife of Harry Edward Yates, died on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, at Clarendon Memorial Hospital. Born on Nov. 14, 1960, in Baguio, Philippines, she was a daughter of Loreta YATES Pamittan Duran and the late Celestino Costales Gonzales. She was a member of Horse Branch Free Will Baptist Church. She is survived by her husband of Turbeville; her mother; two sons, Ryan G. Sanding and Jason G. Sanding; a daughter, Lea Gonzales; three brothers, Renato D. Gonzales, Raymundo D. Gonzales and Raymon D. Gonzales; and three sisters, Lourdes G. Mangundayao, Maria Celeste G. Macalanda and Eden D. Gonzales. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday at Stephens Funeral Home with the Rev. Tommy Atkinson officiating. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at Stephens Funeral Home. Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church St., Manning, is in charge of arrangements, (803) 435-2179. www.stephensfuneralhome.org

JOHN Q. ROSS IV NEW ZION — John Quincy “Jay” Ross IV, 51, husband of Suzanne Jernigan Ross, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, at McLeod Hospice House. Jay was born on May 30, 1964, in Sumter, a son of the late John Quincy III and Harriet Geddings Ross. He attended Furman High School of Sumter and was a machine operator at Embroidery Solutions. Jay was an avid model builder and train enthusiast and enjoyed riding his Harley. He was a member of Midway Presbyterian Church. Surviving in addition to his wife, Suzanne of New Zion, are his sister, Dottie Landry of Columbia; two children, John (Sonya) Ross V and Victoria (Timothy) Phillips, both of Sumter; stepson, Shane (Jamie) McCrea of New Zion; two adopted children, Victoria Taylor and Trey Suggs of New Zion; six grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Johnny and Harriet Ross, Jay was preceded in death by a stepdaughter, Christina Tisdale. Funeral services will be held at noon on Saturday at

Midway Presbyterian Church, followed by burial in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday at Williamsburg Funeral Home in Kingstree and at other times at their residence. Memorials may be made to McLeod Hospice, P.O. Box 100551, Florence, SC 29502. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.WilliamsburgFuneralHome.com.

FURMAN J. RIDGEWAY Furman J. Ridgeway, 80, widower of Yvonne R. Ridgeway, died on Monday, Feb. 29, 2016, at Palmetto Health Tuomey. Born in Clarendon County, he was a son of the late Furman S. and Etheleen Dennis Ridgeway. He retired from the U.S. Air Force after 20 years of service and was a Vietnam veteran. He later retired from Fluor-Daniels Construction Co. He was a member of Lakewood Baptist Church. Survivors include nine children, Donny Blain (Sheila) of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Wesley Blain (Denise) of York, Patricia Galang (Noel) of San Antonio, Texas, Wanda ChellewHodge (Candace) of Hopkins, Denise Mims (Matt) of Savannah, Charleen Harris (Dion) of Sumter, Michelle Marascola (Dave) of Bonaire, Georgia, Joseph Ridgeway (Heather) of Sumter and Silvanna Treaster of Florence; 16 grandchildren; 17 greatgrandchildren; four brothers, Charlie S. Ridgeway, James Ridgeway and George Ridgeway, all of Sumter, and Ellic Ridgeway of Santee; and a number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a sister, Harriett Lufkin; and a brother, Bobby Ridgeway. Funeral services will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Friday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. James Scarborough officiating. Burial with full military honors will be in Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at Elmore-CannonStephens Funeral Home and other times at the home, 3600 Barkley Road. Memorials may be made to Lakewood Baptist Church, 3140 Nazarene Church Road, Sumter, SC 29154. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.

WILLIS A. ROSADO SR. Willis A. Rosado Sr., 44, husband of Shenekquie Brown Rosado, departed this life on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, at Palmetto Health Tuomey. He was born on May 16, 1971, in Bronx, New York, a son of the late William Rosado and Sonia Rodriguez McClary. The family is receiving friends at 3142 Queen Chapel Road. Services are incomplete and will be announced later by Whites Mortuary LLC.

HELEN W. JACKSON Helen Wood Jackson, 92, widow of Ira W. Jackson, died on Monday, Feb. 29, 2016, at Sumter Health and Rehabilitation. Born in Buford, Georgia, she was a daughter of the late Alford and Floy Leach Wood. She was a member of Northside Memorial Baptist Church. Survivors include four children, Joan Hair of Sumter, David Jackson (Liz) of California, Christine West of Ohio and Shirley Mack of Nevada; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a grandson. Services will be held in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Memorials may be made to Northside Memorial Baptist Church, 1004 N. Main St., Sumter, SC 29153 or Amedisys Hospice, 2555 Lin-Do Court, Sumter, SC 29150. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.

LOU N. HATFIELD Cora Louticia “Lou” Nichols Hatfield, 81, widow of Harold Dudley Hatfield, died on Monday, Feb. 29, 2016, at Palmetto Health Tuomey. Born in Manning, she was a daughter of the late Joe W. and Cora Barrineau Nichols. Mrs. Hatfield was a member of Grace Full Gospel Pentecostal Holiness Church. Surviving are two daughters, Donna J. Davis (Terry) of Spartanburg and Judy Barron of Sumter; two sons, Glen Barron (Kathy) of New Zion and Tommy Barron (Margaret) of Sumter; two sisters, Ella Mae Hendrix (Claude) of Sumter and Jo Ann Morgan of Cincinnati, Ohio; seven grandchildren; one stepgrandchild; six great-grandchildren; and three step-greatgrandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday in the chapel of Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home with the Rev. Stacey Floyd officiat-

ing. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and other times at the home, 30 Bluegrass Court. Memorials may be made to Grace Full Gospel Pentecostal Holiness Church, 1540 Bradham Blvd., Sumter, SC 29153. Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals. com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 775-9386.

JAMES IRA DALTON James Ira Dalton, 69, beloved husband of the late Mary Kay Clark Dalton, died on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, at the Medical University of South Carolina. Born in Afton, Iowa, he was a son of the late Albert Jr. and Mary Jean Landers Dalton. He was a graduate of Creston High School in Creston, Iowa. After high school, he joined the United States Air Force as a civil engineer. He served in the Vietnam War and retired in 1988 as a master sergeant. He was a member of the MRMA Club, VFW, and a Jamil Jet with the Shrine Club. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him. Surviving are one son, Brent A. Dalton and his wife, Carolyn, of Walterboro; one daughter, Michelle D. Corsi of Vacaville, California; one brother, Harold Dalton and April Austin of Afton; one sister, Judy Chastain and her husband, Joe, of Afton; and four grandchildren, Victoria Dalton, Cody Dalton, Tyler Corsi and Kayla Corsi. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday at the Bullock Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends on Friday one hour prior to the service from 2 to 3 p.m. at Bullock Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to VFW Post 3034, 1925 Gion St., Sumter, SC 29150 or the Shriners Hospital for Children, 950 W. Faris Road, Greenville, SC 29605.

You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family’s guest book. The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.

DEWITT WALKER SR. Dewitt Walker Sr. was born on March 28, 1944, in Panama City, Florida, to the late Lillie Mae Moore and Dempsy Walker. He was an only child. He departed this life on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, at Palmetto Health Tuomey. He attended the public schools in Bay County, Florida. He was married to Pinky McFadden and to this union they were blessed with two children. Dewitt accepted Christ and joined Jehovah Baptist Church, Sumter. Dewitt Sr. worked for many years in the education field in Lee County and the former Sumter School District 2. He served in many capacities within the school district as a teacher and coach / volunteer with the HYPE Program at Jehovah Baptist. He was a fan of sports, reading, and watching The National Geographic Channel. He is survived by his loving wife of the home, Pinky M. Walker; one daughter, Denise Howell; one son, Dewitt Walker Jr.; two grandchildren, Nina and Dontae Howell, all of Sumter; one brother-in-law, Valdalster McFadden of Sumter; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents. Public viewing will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. today at Job’s Mortuary. Mr. Walker will be placed in the church at noon on Thursday until the hour of service. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday at Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church with Pastor Marion H. Newton officiating. Interment will follow in Walker Cemetery. The family will be receiving friends at the home, 60 W. Patricia Drive, Sumter. Job’s Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., Sumter, is in charge of arrangements. Online memorials may be sent to the family at jobsmortuary@sc.rr.com or visit us on the web at www.jobsmortuary. net.

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 02, 2016

THE ITEM

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

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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. 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.

For Sale or Trade

Help Wanted Full-Time

Unfurnished Homes

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Evergreen Cemetery - Fountain - 4 lots for sale. Call 803-464-5960.

In Memory

Wall Unit Futon Bed Call before 9pm 803-481-4596

Nesbitt Transportation is now hiring Class A CDL Drivers. Must be 23 yrs old and have 2 yrs experience. Home nights and weekends. Also hiring experience diesel mechanic. Call 843-621-0943 or 843-621-2572

Rent to Own 4BR 2BA house, Bishopville. Detached carport, fireplace, $35,000, $3500 down, $450 Mo. 803-929-0577

4 Cemetery plots for sale at Hillside or Evergreen Memorial Park. $1500.00 each. Call 803-468-7479 Martin's Used Appliance Washers, Dryers, Refrig., Stoves. Guarantee 464-5439 or 469-7311. Open 7 Days a week 9am-8pm

Positions Available roofer/roofer helper, plumber/plumber helper, carpenter/carpenter helper & part-time auto mechanic. Apply in person at Roofco 1345 N Pike E , Sumter

Burial Plot in Veteran Section at Evergreen Cemetery $1875 Call 803-481-2147

Help Wanted Part-Time

EMPLOYMENT Help Wanted Full-Time

It's been a year Mary Williams since you left us. You're always in our hearts. We love you always, gone but not forgotten. Love, Shirley, Zyleria, Sedrick, Mary, Rhonda, and Family

BUSINESS SERVICES Home Improvements Lake Marion Flooring & Home Improvements Metal & Shingle Roofing, Custom Tile Work, All Home Improvements Interior & Exterior 803-614-8661 H.L. Boone, Contractor: Remodel paint roofs gutters drywall blown ceilings ect. 773-9904

Legal Service Attorney Timothy L. Griffith 803-607-9087, 360 W. Wesmark. Criminal, Family, Accident, Injury

Painting JD & T Interior Painting LLC Free Estimates Residential & Commercial 803-795-8214

Seeking FT class a CDL driver flatbed experience and knowledge of building materials preferred. Must have clean driving record. Apply in person at 1315 20th Century Lane Manning, SC 29102 Premier Assisted Living Leadership Opportunity. Unique opportunity for Director position. Located in Sumter, SC, as part of a CCRC campus. 100% full with secure memory care available. Work under the direction of Ex. Dir.; no CRCFA license needed. Prefer experience with dementia related challenges. LPN or management experience in a CRCF or CCRC. Please forward Vita and salary requirements to: rlinder@covenantplace.org . CNA's- Full-Time, Part-Time / PRN, 7a-3p & 3p-11p shifts. Apply in person at NHC Healthcare Sumter, 1018 N. Guignard Dr., Sumter, SC 29150 (EOE) Local Church Daycare seeking applicants for full time and part time positions. Previous childcare experience desired. Send Resumes to Box 436 c//o The Item, PO Box 1677 Sumter SC 29151

PT Cashier & PT Bartender Needed for Mariachi's of Manning. Call between 8 am - 5 pm for an interview (803)413-2503 Light maintenance and work. Contact David 843-209-1692

Trucking Opportunities P/T F/T Local Dump Truck Operator Wanted. Clean CDL and Experience a must! Retirees welcome. Send Resume to Box 435 c/o The Item, PO Box 1677 Sumter SC 29151 F/T Class-A CDL driver needed to haul poultry. Night Shift. Must have 2 years verifiable exp & good MVR. Call 803-857-1857 or 540-560-1031 or 804-784-6166

Septic Tank Cleaning

Septic Tank Cleaning Call the pros for all of your septic pumping needs. 803-316-0429 Proline Utilities, LLC

Tree Service STATE TREE SERVICE Worker's Comp & General liability insurance. Top quality service, lowest prices. 803-494-5175 or 803-491-5154 www.statetree.net A Notch Above Tree Care Full quality service low rates, lic./ins., free est BBB accredited 983-9721

MERCHANDISE Garage, Yard & Estate Sales LARGE GARAGE SALE Every Weekend Tables $2 & $3 FLEA MARKET BY SHAW AFB

Open every weekend. Call 803-494-5500 Help Kyle Smile BBQ Fun Raiser!!! Dinner includes bbq, green beans, hash & rice, dinner roll and pound cake, $7. Pick up at Green Acres Assy. of God 537 Lewis Rd. Sumter, Sat 5th 11am-4pm corner of Mcrays Mill and Lewis rd. BBQ by the pound $8.

Homes for Sale 20 Burgess Ct. 3BR 1BA $495 636-A Miller Rd 2BR 1BA $425 Both have Central heat & air 638-B Miller Rd 2BR 1BA $345. Central heat only. Call 803-983-5691 or 803-305-1581

Mobile Home Rentals

1387 Raccoon Rd. Mayesville area. Must Sell! 3 br, 1.5 ba, lg bldg in side yard, 1 ac lot with pond. C/H/A, Fin avail. No dwn pymt. $431 mo. Call 464-5960

STATEBURG COURTYARD 2 & 3 BRs 803-494-4015 2BR 1BA SW located off 521 South. $400 Rent & Deposit. Call 803-464-5757

6 Middle St. Must Sell 3 or 4 Br. 2 Ba. C/H/A. New construction. Financing avail. $330 mo. 464-5960

Vacation Rentals Church Branch: 3 Br, screened porch, pier, swimming area, rent weekly. Call Bobby Sisson at 803-464-2730

A nice 3BR, 2BA DW mobile home with land. Financing available. $64,900 Call 803-469-6973

Manufactured Housing Turn your Tax Refund into your dream home! We have quality used refurbished mobile homes. We specialize in on the lot financing. Low credit score is OK. Call 843-389-4215 AND also visit our Face Book page (M & M Mobile Homes).

Scenic Lake MHP 2 Bedroom 2 bath , No pets. Call between 9 am - 5 pm 803-499-1500

A good investment or starter . 2BR 1BA master/ walk in closet. $55,000 OBO Call 912-980-4386

COUNTY OF SUMTER BUSINESS LICENSES

Medical Help Wanted Full time Medical Assistant back office position in a private Family Medicine practice. Knowledge of Allscripts software desired but not required; phlebotomy skills desired. Send resumes to: Box P-207 c/o The Item, PO Box 1677 Sumter SC 29151

RENTALS

The County of Sumter Ordinance regulating licenses for County businesses states that “Every person engaged or intending to engage in any calling, business, occupation or profession within the limits of the County of Sumter, South Carolina is required to pay an annual license fee and obtain a business license.” “The required license fee shall be paid for each business subject thereto according to the applicable rate classiﬁcation on or before the 15th day of March each year.” A 5% PENALTY WILL BE ASSESSED ON ALL LICENSE FEES WHICH ARE NOT PAID BY THE 15TH OF MARCH, AND AN ADDITIONAL 5% PENALTY WILL BE ASSESSED ON THE FIRST OF EACH MONTH THAT THE LICENSE FEE REMAINS UNPAID. “If any license fee shall remain unpaid for sixty (60) days after its due date, the Business License Department shall issue an execution which shall constitute a lien upon the property of the licensee for the tax, penalties and costs of collection.”

Full time Groomer Needed Must be willing to work Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat. Please send resume to Box 434 c//o The Item, PO Box 1677 Sumter SC 29151

Unfurnished Apartments

Experienced plumber & helper, SC driver license a must. Call 803-720-4121

Montreat St. (off Miller Rd.) 2BR 1BA, all electric, no pets $350-$400 mo + dep. 803-316-8105.

Roofing Robert's Metal Roofing 35 Yrs exp. 45 yr warranty. Financing avail. Expert installation. Long list of satisfied customers. 803-837-1549.

yard Bell

Homes for Sale

REAL ESTATE

If you do not receive an application in the mail, please stop by our ofﬁce at 12 W. Liberty Street in the Liberty Center (the old Brody bldg) or give us a call at 774-1601. We will be available to assist you with your application or answer any questions you might have.

Public Notice of Candidate Filing Sumter County Any candidate seeking a political party’s nomination for any office in the 2016 General Election must file with the appropriate county board of voter registration & elections or the South Carolina Election Commission during the upcoming filing period. Filing opens noon, March 16, 2016, and closes noon, March 30, 2016

Offices U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives (All Districts) Solicitor (Circuits 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 16)

Filing Location State Election Commission (SEC) 1122 Lady Street, Suite 500 Columbia, SC 29201

State Senate (Districts) 35 and 36 (file in county of residence) State House of Representatives 50, 51, 64, 67 & 70 (file in county of residence) County Council Area 1, 3, 5 and 7 County Wide Office Auditor Clerk of Court Coroner Sheriff Treasurer Soil and Water

Sumter County Board of Voter Registration and Elections Sumter County Courthouse 141 N. Main Street Room 111 Sumter, SC 29150 803-436-2310, 803-436-2311, 803-436-2312 or 803-436-2313

SEC Filing hours: Weekdays: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sumter County Board of Voter Registration and Elections Filing hours: Weekdays: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Filing Form: The Statement of Intention of Candidacy & Party Pledge (SICPP) form required for filing is available in the “Candidate Information” section of scVOTES.org and at the county elections office. Filing Fee: Filing fees are paid at the time of filing by candidates seeking the nomination of a party nominating by primary. The list of filing fees is available at scVOTES.org and at the election commission office. Filing fee checks should be made payable to the appropriate state political party. A candidate seeking the nomination of a party nominating by convention does not pay a filing fee. State Ethics Filings: Candidates are required to file a Statement of Economic Interests and a Campaign Disclosure online with the State Ethics Commission at http://ethics.sc.gov. Failure to file these documents may result in a candidate fine but will not disqualify a candidate from the election. Contact the State Ethics Commission for more information.

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THE ITEM Mobile Home Lots

Autos For Sale

40 Percival Ct , fenced lot $15,500 Hook ups avail. 4325 Paige Dr, $12,500 well/septic 803-773-8022

02 Mazda Tribute. Super deal. Hurry, won't last long. Stk# M19545. $1,200 cash. Plus TT&L and $299 doc fee. Call 866-224-5963 or visit us at www.UsedCarsSumter.com.

Land & Lots for Sale

LEGAL NOTICES

Reduced Dalzell-Rembert 3 Mobile Home Lots remaining! Investors or individuals! Call Burch 803-720-4129 7am-7pm

TRANSPORTATION

07 Ford F150. Only 52K original miles, great condition for the year. Stk# A88036. $500 Down, $332.99/mo., 11% APR for 54 mo., $13,995, plus TT&L & $299 doc fee. WAC. Call 866-224-5963 or visit us at www.UsedCarsSumter.com. 97 Ford Expedition. Runs and drives. Solid truck. Stk# B15686. $800 cash. Plus TT&L and $299 doc fee. Call 866-224-5963 or visit us at www.UsedCarsSumter.com. 15 Toyota Tundra SR5. Low miles. If you drive it you'll buy it. Stk# 083186. $2,000 Down, $588.05/mo., 7.9% APR for 72 mo., $34,995, plus TT&L & $299 doc fee. WAC. Call 866-224-5963 or visit us at www.Us edCarsSumter.com. 15 Nissan Frontier SV Crew Cab. Only 4K miles! Like new. Stk# 744181. $20,000 cash. Plus TT&L and $299 doc fee. Call 866-224-5963 or visit us at www.UsedCarsSumter. com.

Autos For Sale 06 Honda Accord. 4 door auto. Good looking car. Stk# 033028. $2,500 cash. Plus TT&L and $299 doc fee. Call 866-224-5963 or visit us at www.UsedCarsSumter.com.

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.

Summons & Notice

NOTICE OF APPLICATION Notice is hereby given that Brewers Social Club intends to apply to the South Carolina Department of Revenue for a license/permit that will allow the sale and ON premises consumption of beer, wine and liquor at 160 E Wesmark Blvd., Sumter, SC 29150. To object to the issuance of this permit/license, written protest must be postmarked no later than March 18, 2016. 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, SC 29214; or faxed to: (803) 896-0110.

Notice Of Application Notice is hereby given that Eulalio Toledo intends to apply to the South Carolina Department of Revenue for a license permit that will allow the sale ON/OFF premises consumption of Beer at 207 Commerce St B, Manning, SC 29102. To object to the issuance of this permit / license, written protest must be postmarked no later than March 17, 2016. 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

07 Chrysler Sebring Touring. Low miles. Sunroof. Very nice. 4 dr. Auto. Stk# 568758. $3,000 cash. Plus TT&L and $299 doc fee. Call 866-224-5963 or visit us at www.Us edCarsSumter.com.

SUMMONS FOR PUBLICATION IN THE FAMILY COURT OF THE THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT 2016-DR-43-101 State of South Carolina County of Sumter Narendrabhai D. Patel Plaintiff vs. Kirtiben Patel, Defendant

Summons & Notice

TO: KIRTIBEN PATEL, THE DEFENDANT ABOVE NAMED YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint in this matter, the original of which has been filed in the office of the Clerk of Court for Sumter County, South Carolina, on January 21, 2016, a copy of which will be delivered to you upon request; to serve a copy of your answer to said Complaint upon the undersigned attorney for the Plaintiff at 5 Law Range, Post Office Box 1268, Sumter, South Carolina 29151-1268, within thirty (30) days following the date of service upon you, exclusive of the day of such service; if you fail to answer said Complaint with the time stated, Plaintiff will apply for judgment by default against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint. Jones, Seth, Shuler & Jones, LLP Richard T. Jones Attorney for Plaintiff 5 Law Range Post Office Box 1268 Sumter, South Carolina 29151 (803) 773-8676

1 Bedroom Apartments for 62 YEARS AND OLDER •Refrigerator •Central Heat & Air •Community Room •Range •Handicap •Coin Operated •Blinds Accessible Laundry Room •Carpet •Emergency Call •Ceiling Fans System **Rent Based On 30% of Adjusted Income** **Utility Allowance Given** 60 Hilliard Drive • Sumter, S.C. 29150 For application or information, please call

803-934-1449 TTY 800-735-8583

“$2,000 - SIGN ON BONUS” Guaranteed Minimum Pay • Achievable Goals for Lucrative Incentives - CDL (Class A) w/ hazmat & tanker - At least 2 yrs. exp. - Clean MVR -

Paid Vacation Paid Holidays Paid Sick Days Health Insurance Dental Insurance Life Insurance Short Term Disability 401(k) w/co. Match

CONTRACTOR WANTED! PINEWOOD PANOLA & RIMINI If you have good, dependable transportation, a phone in your home, and a desire to earn extra income Call Lori Rabon at 774-1216 or Apply in Person at

20 N. Magnolia St. Sumter, SC

Southview

DRIVERS WANTED

05 Chrysler Town and Country LX. Loaded. Runs great. Stk# 518885. $2,500 cash. Plus TT&L and $299 doc fee. Call 866-224-5963 or visit us at www.UsedCarsSumter.com.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 02, 2016

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

The Perfect Housewarming Gift The Sumter Item is locally owned and run. We’re part of this community and we believe in Sumter.

ROUTE OPEN IN Hwy. 15 N., & Dubose Siding Areas GREAT FOR PERSON LOOKING FOR EXTRA INCOME If you have good, dependable transportation and a phone in your home, apply in person at:

Circulation Department

20 N. Magnolia Street Sumter, SC 29150 or call Dean Benenhaley at (803) 774-1257

20 N. Magnolia St. | Sumter, SC 803.774.1200 www.theitem.com

SECTION

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016 Call Ivy Moore at: (803) 774-1221 | E-mail: ivy@theitem.com

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Workshops, cosplay, exhibits to fill Patriot Hall BY IVY MOORE ivy@theitem.com

ollowing the success of the first Sumter Comic Arts Symposium in March 2015, the Sumter

County Arts Commission, in cooperation with the University of South Car-

are both, will participate in the weekend symposium. Roy Thomas is back from last year, Bryan said, “and Kyle Starks, whose series ‘Sexcastle’ has been optioned by Fox. “Thomas will be interviewed by Andy Kunka at 1:30 p.m. Saturday,” she said. “He’s probably the best known, but a lot of the participants have been nominated for an Eisner Award,” considered the Oscar of awards for comics.

olina Sumter and Sumter-Shaw Comic Con, is expanding its offerings this year. The symposium begins Friday with a 2 to 3 p.m. event moderated by Dr. Andrew Kunka, Engish professor at USC Sumter, and continues Saturday with a variety of events from 10 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. at Patriot Hall. Commission director Carmela Bryan said the feedback from those who attended last year guided organizers in adding or augmenting the symposium’s events. “People wanted more activities for children, for one thing,” Bryan said, “and we’re adding a food truck, because so many people stayed THOMAS all day (at Patriot Hall, where the Saturday, March 5 programs will be held again this year).” Other additions will include a costume contest at 6 p.m. Saturday on the auditorium stage. “We’re hoping people will come dressed as their favorite characters all day and then enter the contest,” she said. It will be “an epic evening of comic art and Cosplay. Cosplay, derived from the terms “costume” and “play,” means exactly that: People dressing up in costumes and engaging in role play of their favorite characters.” In addition, there will be many more exhibitors attending this year, because “people told us they wanted the opportunity to peruse more comics-related items,” Bryan said. She said about 20 exhibitors have already registered. “We hope the symposium will be a gateway to an exhibition of comic book art for

PARTICIPANTS ARE: Roy Thomas has written almost every superhero in the Marvel and DC universes, including legendary runs on Conan the Barbarian, The Avengers, X-Men, All-Star Squadron and Infinity Inc. He served as Editor-in-Chief at Marvel in the early 1970s, and he currently edits Alter Ego, a magazine of comics history. Erica Henderson is the artist of the highly acclaimed, New York Times best selling Marvel comic The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl and Archie Comics’ Jughead. Babs Tarr gained international attention for innovative art of her favorite characters, including a “Biker Gang” take on Sailor Moon, before landing the job re-launching Batgirl with a bold new design and direction. Chris Schweizer writes and draws the all-ages, historical graphic novel series Crogan’s Adventures from Oni Press, which has been nominated for two Eisner Awards. PHOTOS PROVIDED Kyle Starks is the creator of Sexcastle, a loving tribute to the absurdities of ‘80s action movies. Sexcastle has been Roy Thomas, who has written almost every recently optioned by Fox with the minds behind superhero in the Marvel and DC universes, in- Workaholics and the producers of Captain America: The cluding Conan the Barbarian, shown here, will Winter Soldier. be featured Saturday in a “conversation with” Sanford Greene has done design work with Lucasfilm Dr. Andy Kunka of the University of South and is currently working on Power Man and Iron Fist for Carolina Sumter. Marvel Comics. He has also worked on Marvel’s Runaways with fellow South Carolina native Noelle Stevenson. aspiring writers/artists,” she said. Jeremy Whitley is the writer of Eisner-nominated Bryan said some of the symposium’s Princeless, as well as a contributor to IDW’s My Little Pony programs will provide information on how series and Marvel’s Secret Love comic. to come up with ideas for comics or graphChris Sims and Chad Bowers are the writers of Marvel’s ic novels, how to create characters and X-Men ’92 and the upcoming Deadpool: Bad Blood, as well even how to use Kickstarter for funding. as the Oni Press graphic novel Down Set Fight. She said she was surprised last year by Matt D. Wilson writes the comic series Copernicus Jones: “the large following of comic books and Robot Detective. He has also written The Supervillain graphic novels in Sumter” and surroundHandbook and The Supervillain Field Manual for Skyhorse ing areas. Publishing. “There’s a big subculture, especially Gabriel Dunston is the creator behind Purgatory Pub, a with the renaissance of comic characters humorous graphic novel series that recently published its on TV and in movies,” Bryan said. “A lot second volume, following a successful Kickstarter of people are completely immersed, especampaign. cially in the graphic novels. They have a Max Miller Dowdle is the artist and the creator of the lot of depth and extraordinary art.” original graphic novel Shattered with a Curve of Horn. Twelve artists or writers, some of whom

Babs Tar, who recently landed the job re-launching Batgirl with a bold new design and direction, will participate in a panel discussion during the Sumter Comic Arts Symposium on Saturday.

SUMTER COMIC ARTS SYMPOSIUM SCHEDULE All events free, open to public Friday, March 4 2 to 3:30 p.m. • USC Sumter, Arts and Letters Lecture Hall, 200 Miller Road • Conversations with Erica Henderson and Kyle Starks, moderated by Dr. Andrew Kunka Saturday, March 5 All events at Patriot Hall, 135 Haynsworth St., Sumter • 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Children’s activities • 10:30 a.m. — Gabriel Dunston: The Creative Process: from Idea to Finished Comic • 11 a.m. — Max Miller Dowdle: Creating a Comic from Script to Final Product: A Focus on Craft • Noon — Chris Schweitzer: A Workshop on Making Comics • 1:30 p.m. — Conversation with Roy Thomas, moderated by Andy Kunka • 3 p.m. — Matt Wilson and Kyle Starks: Managing a Successful Kickstarter Campaign • 4 p.m. — Chris Sims and Chad Bowers: Writing Comics Digitally • 5:15 p.m. — Panel discussion with Erica Henderson, Sanford Greene, Babs Tar, moderated by Andrew Kunka Jeremy Whitley will also participate. For more information, call (803) 4362260.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016

FOOD

THE SUMTER ITEM

4 hacks for leaner, tastier beef roast BY MELISSA D’ARABIAN The Associated Press

n the world of beef roasts, marbling is king. The internal au-

tomatic basting power of tiny fat pockets melting into the meat is amazing. So what are the options for roasting healthier, leaner cuts of meat? There’s the pork tenderloin, which is the leanest choice. But it is so mild in flavor that it sometimes doesn’t quite scratch the roast beefy itch. There’s beef tenderloin, which also is super lean and a mighty tasty roast. But I can only imagine a world where I could justify spending over $100 on my family’s dinner on a regular basis. So for our usual Sunday supper, I turn to the top round or bottom round roasts, which are inexpensive and lean. But they do require a little extra care in order to compete with the flavor and texture of fattier cuts closer to the center of the cow.

After years of practice, I have a few tips: • If you can dry age the roast for a couple of days in the refrigerator, the taste will be intensified and mimic higher quality cuts. Just pat the meat dry, sprinkle on some seasoning salt (or salt and pepper) and let it sit, uncovered, in the refrigerator. • Let the roast sit at room temperature for an hour before cooking. • Use a three-phase cooking method. First, brown the roast on all sides in a large Dutch oven to create a tasty crust. Second, slow-roast at a low temp (250 F) until the internal temperature is about 10 degrees below your final liking (120 F for a final temp of 130 F, about medium-rare). Remove the roast, and raise the oven temperature to 475 F and finish the roast with a blast of heat for 10 minutes. • Tent the roast and let it rest for 10 to 20 minutes before slicing thinly. Pour a little juice over those slices and you are in (thrifty, healthy) beefy nirvana.

LEAN ROAST BEEF WITH MARSALA GRAVY Start to finish: 2 1/2 hours (30 minutes active) Servings: 6 2 1/2- to 3-pound top or bottom round beef roast 2 teaspoons garlic powder 2 teaspoons seasoning salt (such as Lawry’s Seasoned Salt) 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1/2 cup beef stock, divided 1/2 cup dry Marsala wine, divided 1 teaspoon cornstarch Use paper towels to pat the roast dry. In a small bowl, mix the garlic powder, seasoning salt and pepper, then rub the mixture all over the roast. Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour. Heat oven to 250 F. Heat a heavy-bottomed skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high. Rub the oil over the roast, then set into the pan and sear on all sides until a crust is formed, about 15 minutes total. Transfer the roast to a rack fitted in a roasting pan. Return the pan to the heat and pour in 1/2 cup of water. Simmer, scraping the pan with

a wooden spoon, just until the pan is deglazed and any bits on the bottom are loosened. Pour the liquid into the roasting pan. Add half of the beef stock and marsala wine to the roasting pan. Set the roast in the oven and cook until it reaches 120 F to 125 F at the center, depending on desired finished temperature (which will be 10 degrees higher), about 1 1/2 hours. Remove the pan from the oven and increase the heat to 475 F. Once the temperature has been reached, place the roast back in the oven and cook until the top is nice and crusty, about 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, transfer the roast to a carving board, cover it loosely with foil and let it rest while you make the gravy. To make the gravy, place the roasting pan over medium heat on the stovetop. Add the remaining wine and stock, then whisk to release any stuck bits on the pan. In a small glass, mix the cornstarch with 1/4 cup of water, then add to the pan. Simmer, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened. Slice the roast and serve with the gravy. Nutrition information per serving: 270 calories; 90 calories from fat (33 percent of total calories); 10 g fat (3 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 95 mg cholesterol; 410 mg sodium; 3 g carbohydrate; 0 g fiber; 1 g sugar; 35 g protein.

Food Network star Melissa d’Arabian is an expert on healthy eating on a budget. She is the author of the cookbook, “Supermarket Healthy.” http://www.melissadarabian.net

Forget the same old finger foods, try Lemon Curd Cups at your next party.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Lemon Curd Cups are easy, elegant BY ALISON LADMAN The Associated Press

here is a time and place for a pint of ice cream and a spoon. Or for a pile of cookies or box of doughnuts. An elegant gathering is neither the

time nor the place. Which is why we created these simple lemon curd cups, an elegant dessert solution to the finer finger food fixings. You start by making a simple lemon curd, which can be prepped up to a couple days ahead. Then just fill purchased mini phyllo cups with raspberry jam and the curd and top each with fresh berries. Done. The phyllo cups can be found in the grocer’s freezer section. And while you’re at it, buy a few extra boxes and whip up a batch of mini quiches to serve at the same party.

LEMON CURD CUPS Start to finish: 30 minutes, plus cooling Makes 30 cups 1/3 cup sugar 1 tablespoon cornstarch 2 eggs 1/3 cup lemon juice (freshly squeezed will have the best flavor) 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 30 prepared miniature phyllo cups (two 1.9-ounce packages) 5 tablespoons raspberry jam 1 1/2 cups fresh berries of your choice Powdered sugar In a small saucepan, whisk together the sugar and cornstarch. Add the eggs and whisk until completely smooth and no trace of egg whites or yolks remains. Whisk in the lemon juice, then set over medium heat and bring to a simmer, whisking constantly. Once the mixture comes to a thorough simmer, remove from the heat and stir in the butter. Transfer to a bowl, cover and refrigerate until completely cool. Once the lemon curd is chilled, assemble the cups. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon raspberry jam into the bottom of each cup. Divide the lemon curd between the cups, then top each with fresh berries. Dust each with a bit of powdered sugar just before serving. Best if assembled within 1 to 2 hours of being served. Nutrition information per cup: 50 calories; 20 calories from fat (40 percent of total calories); 2 g fat (1 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 15 mg cholesterol; 20 mg sodium; 8 g carbohydrate; 0 g fiber; 4 g sugar; 1 g protein.

Alison Ladman is a chef, food writer and recipe developer for The Associated Press. She also owns The Crust and Crumb Baking Company in Concord, New Hampshire.

FOOD

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016

White bread makes this finger food a healthier bite BY MELISSA D’ARABIAN The Associated Press Finger food can be tricky for the healthy eater. Tiny bites that explode with flavor often are loaded with empty calories and little nutrition. If I’m not paying attention at a party, I can easily inhale a day’s worth of calories, just because, well, I’m hungry. And finger food is so, you know, small. So I eat a lot. But what if we made finger food a little healthier? A slightly more fun version of something I feel good about eating? And that’s what this week’s recipe is — a salad stuffed with protein and veggies, but turned portable thanks to my little secret for making a better-for-you crispy tart crust. The trick? White bread. Yes, white bread! Don’t panic. Of course, normally I go for whole-grain. But compared to a butter- or shortening-filled pie crust, a simple slice of white bread is a great compromise. And it’s for a party. And did I mention it is holding salad? White bread squished flat until doughy, then sprayed lightly with olive oil and baked in a muffin tin makes an amazing crust! Usually, these little tartlet

Salade Nicoise Tartlets is a salad stuffed with protein and veggies, but turned portable thanks to this recipe’s secret for making a healthier crispy tart crust. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

crusts are my party vehicle of choice for salad, everything from a Chinese chicken salad to a Greek salad with salmon and yogurt dressing. Since we try to eat fish several times a week in our home, I always have some high-quality tuna stashed in my cupboard. So this week, try my salade nicoise tartlets, then feel free to make these tartlet crusts your own. A fun idea: use coconut oil instead of olive oil and fill with something sweet, such as berries and chopped mint.

SALADE NICOISE TARTLETS Start to finish: 45 minutes Makes 10 tartlets 10 slices of white sandwich bread, crusts removed Olive oil cooking spray Kosher salt and ground black pepper 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme 10 small cherry tomatoes, quartered 1 cup chopped romaine lettuce 1/4 pound thin green beans, steamed to crisp-tender and roughly chopped 5 small new or baby potatoes, cooked and thinly sliced 5-ounce can oil-packed tuna, drained 2 hardboiled eggs, chopped 2 tablespoons chopped marinated olives 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives Heat the oven to 375 F. Use a rolling pin to flatten the bread slices until doughy and thin. Spritz both sides of each slice with olive oil cooking spray, then sprinkle light with salt and pepper. Press each slice into a muffin tin cup. Bake until golden, about 13 minutes. Remove the bread cups from the pan, then set aside to cool on a rack. Meanwhile, prepare the salad. In a medium bowl, whisk together the mustard, red wine vinegar and lemon juice. Drizzle in the olive oil, whisking into a vinaigrette. Add the thyme, then season with salt and pepper. Set aside half of the vinaigrette to use later. Add the tomatoes, lettuce and green beans to the remaining dressing and toss to coat. Once the tartlet crusts are cooled, layer the sliced potatoes on the bottom of each cup. Top the potatoes with the tomato mixture, then the crumbled eggs, tuna, chopped olives and chives. Finish each with a drizzle of dressing on top.

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Nutrition information per tartlet: 220 calories; 60 calories from fat (27 percent of total calories); 7 g fat (1.5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 45 mg cholesterol; 320 mg sodium; 32 g carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 4 g sugar; 9 g protein.

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016

THE SUMTER ITEM

BIZARRO

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ANDY CAPP

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JEFF MACNELLY'S SHOE

Secret past revealed makes fiancé doubt future DEAR ABBY — My fiancee and I have known each other since high school. I was the “good kid” with honors Dear Abby and the ABIGAIL right parents. She VAN BUREN was considered trouble and didn’t have the best home life. Rumor had it that she moonlighted as a stripper our senior year, but I always blew it off as false. Fast-forward 12 years: I ran into her recently, and we decided to have dinner. I fell in love with her on that date. A few months went by and I mentioned the rumors. She

wasn’t upset and matter-offactly explained that she did start stripping in high school and continued through college. It bothered me, but the benefits of being with her far outweighed the negatives. Now that we are engaged, she told me she had to “come clean.” She said there were times in college when she had sex with some of her regular clients. I am floored. She basically admitted she had prostituted herself. I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to blame her for her past indiscretions, but this is a big deal. I don’t know how to let it go. Advice, please! Guy who needs advice DEAR GUY — You now see your fiancee clearly — warts

THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

and all. The problem with “falling in love” (what I define as infatuation) is that you don’t yet know who the person IS. Regardless of how your fiancee financed her education, she deserves respect for being honest with you. She has done as much as she can to improve her life. You must now ask yourself if you can see past her past, and if she is someone you would be happy spending the rest of your life with. Remember, I live in Los Angeles, and in this town, her revelation wouldn’t necessarily be a deal-breaker. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www. DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

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.

By Pawel Fludzinski

ACROSS 1 Gin and tonic, e.g. 6 Outback birds 10 "Pardon the Interruption" channel 14 Photographer Leibovitz 15 Island hoppers 17 1985 film featuring Doc Brown and Marty McFly 19 Sesame __ 20 Julio to julio 21 Potter's practice 22 Possible place for a train ticket 27 AFL partner 28 __ Bator 29 Dude 32 How storybooks are often read 35 Bibliography abbr. 36 "Nessun dorma," e.g. 37 Concept that small changes can have large consequences, as in theoretical time travel 40 Cheese with an edible rind 41 Shakes a leg 42 White House staffers 43 "You got it!" 44 Bombard

45 Michael Caine title 46 Improvisational music genre 51 Pastoral tribe of Kenya 54 Sch. with a Phoenix campus 55 "__ you nuts?" 56 Olympic medley found in order at the starts of this puzzle's four other longest answers 61 Heredity sources 62 Gala or ball 63 Got off the ground 64 Brogan or brogue 65 Fizzy beverages DOWN 1 Big wheel 2 Broadcast sign 3 Claudius, to Caligula 4 Suffix with peace 5 Shelve 6 Legally prohibit 7 "Whatevs" 8 Oil-rich fed. 9 50+, e.g., on a L'Oréal tube: Abbr. 10 Erode 11 Form-fitting 12 Meter starter? 13 Fraction of a min.

3/2/16 16 Light bulb unit 18 Hip about 23 Under 90 degrees 24 Factory stores 25 Potter's supplies 26 Mustard family member 29 Born partner 30 Stuffed pepper filling 31 Wild things to sow 32 First name in advice 33 It may be found at the end of the line 34 Big name in elevators 35 Taxpayer's option 36 Burning 38 South Korea's first president

39 Learning opportunities for many 44 Do the do just so 45 Betting aid: Abbr. 46 Renowned 47 Café cup 48 Did a fall chore 49 Venue that often sells its naming rights 50 Kid brothers or sisters, at times 51 High-ranking NCO 52 __ bit: slightly 53 Trig ratio 57 Apple mobile platform 58 Japanese drama 59 Shine, in brand names 60 Ab __: from day one

Tuesday’s Puzzle Solved

3/2/16

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Plimpton returns to TV in ABC’s ‘Real O’Neals’ BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH Situation comedies often involve a delicate dance of the real and the fake. Sometimes the more a comedy tries to be “real,” the faker it seems. And nothing is more “daring” and, at the same time, artificial than injecting religion into the punch lines. In some ways, “The Real O’Neals” (8:30 p.m., ABC) appears to be a natural outgrowth of the network’s current trend of ethnic sitcoms. You don’t need an advanced degree to determine the background of the families on “black-ish,” “The Goldbergs,” or “Fresh Off the Boat.” “The Real O’Neals” informs viewers of the family’s IrishCatholicism right off the bat and then reminds us repeatedly. The narration from teenage son Kenny (Noah Galvin) tells us this, and his mother, Eileen (Martha Plimpton), all but shouts, “We’re Catholic!” in every other scene. “The Real O’Neals” is not as crude as CBS’ Irish-Catholic fiasco “The McCarthys,” but like that quickly canceled series, it’s hardly subtle. Its central story concerns a family coming to grips with the cracks in its facade of perfectionism and the “comedy” that ensues from honestly facing up to perceived dysfunctions. The pilot features revelations of every stripe from its central characters, including Kenny and his mom; police officer dad, Pat (Jay R. Ferguson, “Mad Men”); eldest son, Jimmy (Matt Shively); and precocious daughter, Shannon (Bebe Wood). Plimpton seemed far more comfortable as the slob matriarch on Fox’s “Raising Hope.” Here she comes off a bit too frantic and brittle as a priestpleasing perfectionist. “The Real O’Neals” features a few wacky narrative tricks. Kenny indulges in conversations with figures who appear in his bathroom mirror, from an object of desire to Jesus himself. While apparently set in the present day, the series has the timeless feel of a retrospective period piece, as if a 1980s crossover with “The Goldbergs” is not out of the question. A second episode (9:30 p.m.) follows. • Unlikely pals get up to eccentric adventures, some crim-

PG) * “Dirty Dancing” on “The Goldbergs” (8 p.m., ABC) * Morgan is abducted on “Criminal Minds” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14) * Paintball adds to the flavor on “Hell’s Kitchen” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14) * Python gets personal on “CSI: Cyber” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14) * Off-duty violence on “Chicago P.D.” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14).

LATE NIGHT

SERIES NOTES

Chrissy Teigen is booked on “The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” (11 p.m., Comedy Central) * Sacha Baron Cohen, Jimmy Pardo and Parquet Courts appear on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS) * Jon Connor and Keke Palmer sit down on “The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore” (11:35 p.m., Comedy Central) * Octavia Spencer, John Stamos, Bob Saget, Dave Coulier and Lucius are booked on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (11:35 p.m., CBS) * Jimmy Fallon welcomes Tina Fey, Rachel Maddow and Santigold on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) * Keri Russell, Ilana Glazer, Abbi Jacobson, LP and Patrick Carney visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC) * Lea Michele and Ginnifer Goodwin appear on “The Late Late Show With James Corden” (12:35 a.m., CBS).

A case against a drug lord gets dangerous on “The Mysteries of Laura” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-

EDDY CHEN / FOX

Villa (Jaina Lee Ortiz), left, puts her romance with Mike on hold as she and Rosewood (Morris Chestnut), right, search for a killer on the loose in the “Paralytics and Priorities” episode of “Rosewood,” airing at 8 p.m. today on FOX. inal, in the six-part series “Hap and Leonard” (10 p.m., Sundance, TV-MA), starring James Purefoy, Michael Kenneth Williams and Christina Hendricks and based on a series of novels by Joe R. Lansdale.

TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS • A killer’s technique presents a ticking clock on “Rosewood” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14). • “Experts” determine the 10 greatest animal advertisements on “Greatest Animal Commercials Countdown” (8 p.m., CW, TVPG). • “A Year in Space” (8 p.m., PBS, TV-PG, check local listings) follows astronaut Scott Kelly’s time on the International Space Station. • The 1960 slave-uprising epic “Spartacus” (8 p.m., TCM), directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Kirk Douglas, all but ended the Hollywood blacklist when Dalton Trumbo received public credit for his screenplay. • An investigation of schoolgirl exploitation ensnares a surprising group of suspects on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14). • Claire seems suspiciously well-adjusted on “Modern Family” (9 p.m., ABC).

• The CW celebrates a Fox series on the “MADtv 20th Anniversary Reunion” (9 p.m., r, TV14). • Willie visits Nashville on the season finale of “Duck Dynasty” (9 p.m., A&E, TV-PG). • A tragic turn brings recrimination and reflection on “American Crime” (10 p.m., ABC). • Mike rolls the dice one

more time on the season finale of “Suits” (10 p.m., USA, TV14). • Rosa lays down the law on “Man Seeking Woman” (10:30 p.m., FXX, TV-MA).

2015-16

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Pulled pork is possible with only 6 ingredients, almost no effort BY KATIE WORKMAN The Associated Press

nce upon a time (like, yesterday) I had a hefty hunk of pork, no time and no specific thing I wanted to make. But even

with so little going for me, and so little inspiration (see, it happens to all of us), I did know one thing: A container of homemade shredded pork in the refrigerator means that there will be dinner later in the week and that my future frazzled self will look back on my current frazzled self and be grateful. So I seared the pork, tossed in some garlic and chicken broth, and tossed the whole thing into the slow cooker for a while. For very little hands on effort, I was richly rewarded. A delicious, tender, falling apart pork bathed in an equally delicious sauce. And it took just six ingredients — a number that includes the salt and pepper! If you want a bit more flavor, you can throw in some branches of fresh oregano or other herbs when you add the chicken broth. A diced onion or can of diced tomatoes would be delightful, too. But hardly essential. Now, what to do with this pork? Pile it high on buns for a pulled pork sandwich (and if you need more flavor, a squirt of any kind of barbecue sauce — Texas-style, Memphis-style, North-Carolina style, your choice — will tie it all together). Or go Asian by mixing in a bit of hoisin sauce and serve in lettuce wraps with some fresh ginger, mint and shredded carrot. It also would be great added to a stir-fry. Or do the taco or enchilada thing, or add it to a lasagna or some manicotti. The options last as long as the pork does.

6-INGREDIENT SLOW COOKER PULLED PORK Start to finish: 6 1/2 hours (30 minutes active) Servings: 10 1 tablespoon olive oil 5- to 6-pound bone-in pork picnic shoulder, skin removed 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 10 garlic cloves, skin on 3 to 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth or stock, plus more for drizzling In a large skillet over high, heat the oil. Season the pork with the salt and pepper, then add the pork to the skillet and sear on all sides until very well browned, with a nice outer crust, about 15 minutes in all. After 10 minutes, add the garlic cloves, turning them every once in a while so that they brown on all sides as well. Transfer the pork, fatty side up, to a 7- to 8-quart slow cooker. Return the skillet to high heat. Add 1 cup of broth and bring to a simmer, scraping the bottom of the pan to release any stuck bits. When the skillet bottom looks clean, pour the liquid over the pork, then add another 2 cups of broth to the slow cooker. Cook for 5 1/2 to 6 hours on high or 9 to 10 hours on low, or until the pork starts to fall apart when prodded with a fork. It should reach at least 170 F. Let the pork rest for 20 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to scoop out the garlic cloves, then squeeze them out of the papers into the liquid. Transfer the pork to a large bowl or large cutting board, then use 2 forks to pull apart the meat intro shreds. Moisten the meat with the juices in the slow cooker (use as much or as little as you like). Mix well to moisten and flavor the meat with the juices. Nutrition information per serving: 260 calories; 90 calories from fat (35 percent of total calories); 10 g fat (3 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 110 mg cholesterol; 420 mg sodium; 2 g carbohydrate; 0 g fiber; 0 g sugar; 38 g protein.

Katie Workman has written two cookbooks focused on easy, family-friendly cooking, “Dinner Solved!” and “The Mom 100 Cookbook.” She blogs at http://www.themom100.com/about-

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Six-ingredient Slow Cooked Pulled Pork has endless possibilities such as in a taco or an enchilada.