March 3, 2015

Top educator talks testing with Sumter Rotary Club Spearman names 1st S.C. finalist for Teacher of the Year

BY KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY konstantin@theitem.com

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SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 2 SECTIONS, 20 PAGES | VOL. 120, NO. 116

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100 years of this curvy creation Museum looks at Coca-Cola bottle as art

Newly elected South Carolina Secretary of Education Molly Spearman told Sumter Rotary Club on Monday that she will reinstate a time limit for state testing.

That includes a time-limit requirement on standardized state tests, which high school students take in the 11th grade. There will also be a time-limit requirement for the standardized state test, which students in grades three through eight take each year.

“This is the right way for us to move to improve our students’ rate of success,” Spearman said.

She said students’ test scores may drop this year as a result of having a time-limit requirement but will improve in the years to come.

The superintendent’s speech focused on what needed to be done to engage student learning.

“Leaders in the education realm and the statehouse are realizing

BY KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY konstantin@theitem.com

that we never had a vision for what it is exactly what we want to achieve,” Spearman said. “We have always been worried about children receiving content knowledge but not the other skills that they need to apply to be successful in

State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman announced the first of five finalists for South Carolina’s Teacher of the Year award at Sumter High School on Monday.

Suzanne Koty is one of five finalists for the award.

KOTY Koty teaches English and the Theory of Knowledge at Sumter High. She first worked in the medical field, but after volunteering at a local

SEE SPEARMAN, PAGE A9

SEE KOTY, PAGE A9

KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY / THE SUMTER ITEM

New State Secretary of Education Molly Spearman speaks at Sumter Rotary Club’s meeting on Monday.

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Happy birthday, Dr. Seuss COMING SOON

Google working on developing cellular network plans A8 LOCAL SPORTS

Senior Sumter High wrestler earns state title B1

More parents asking doctors to delay vaccinations A6

DEATHS, B5 Annis Spivey Kelsey L. Cousar Ida Lou Broughton Jeffrey D. Brown Corinne J. Nicholes Linda Christopher

Everlena Scarborough Vera M. Watson Russell Sandifer Sr. Carl E. Willis Anna N. James

WEATHER, A12 A LITTLE COOLER Expect a couple of showers today; mainly cloudy tonight and not as cool HIGH 52, LOW 51

Obama will visit Columbia on Friday

BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com

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RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM

Grant Brazel, 4, in the foreground, follows along with a teacher reading Dr. Seuss’ “A Cat in the Hat” on Monday at St. James Lutheran School. Many area schools celebrated Dr. Seuss’ birthday Tuesday, and at St. James, students wore Dr. Seuss character costumes in honor of the event.

.com

President Obama will make his first visit to South Carolina as president Friday, when he visits Benedict College in Columbia.

Obama was last in the state as a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the office in 2008, which included a visit to M.H. Newton Family Life Enrichment Center in Sumter on Jan. 23 of that year.

Obama has been quoted in national media saying he would like to visit all 50 states as president before he leaves office in January 2017. After his visit to the Palmetto State, only Utah and South Dakota will remain to be crossed off the list.

“I’m pleased to welcome President Barack Obama back to South Carolina on Friday, March 6,” said Sumter native and U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn in announcing the visit. “This is his first trip to the Palmetto State as president, and I thank President David Swinton and OBAMA the Benedict College family for hosting President Obama’s event with students and youth leaders.”

His visit to the historically black college is tied to his My Brother’s Keeper initiative, which the president launched in 2014.

According to the whitehouse.gov website, the initiative is intended “to

address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color and ensure that all young people can reach their full potential.”

The visit follows closely on the heels of comments Obama made Monday about the deaths of unarmed black men in Missouri and New York, saying law enforcement needs to build trust in minority communities, after a White House task force called for independent, outside investigations when police use deadly force.

The president’s full itinerary has not yet been announced. A spokesman at Clyburn’s office said more details would be released by the White House today. See Wednesday’s Sumter Item for more information.

As heating costs rise, so do Fireside Fund donations

BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com When one local family lost heat in their house, it reminded the couple of their desire to give to the Fireside Fund.

“We were fortunate to immediately get it fixed,” Al Douroux said. He and his wife, Vicki, donated $1,000 this week. “I said, ‘you now we’ve been talking about giving to

The (Sumter) Item for The Salvation Army for many months.’ One thing lead to another, and you get busy. It kind of regrouped my attention, you might say.”

Their generous contribution

helped the heating initiative garner more than $3,000 this week.

Started in 1969, the partnership between the publication and the Christian charity has raised more than $1.4 million.

The newspaper collects the donations and gives them to the nonprofit to distribute in the form of vouchers.

Kerosene and help with high electric bills continue to be the

most requested assistance, said Christy Lamb, social worker with The Salvation Army. But they also get requests for gas, wood and propane.

“I have one lady, she was actually an elderly lady going through cancer treatments, and it was either pay for the gas so she could go back and forth to MUSC (Medical University of South Carolina) in

Charleston or pay for her propane,” Lamb said. “We were able to help her through the Fireside Fund to avoid disconnection of her propane.”

Others on fixed incomes have had to choose between groceries and their light or gas bill, she said.

“We don’t help until the disconnection notice,” Lamb said.

SEE FIRESIDE, PAGE A9

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TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

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THE SUMTER ITEM

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

1 dead, 2 arrested in Manning stabbing

Sumter woman accused of stabbing man

BY MATT BRUCE matthew@theitem.com One man is dead and two people are in custody facing murder charges after a fatal stabbing late Sunday night in Manning.

Clarendon County Coroner Hayes Samuels identified the victim as 23-yearold Kelsey Laron Cousar, of 7 Walker St. The Manning man died at Clarendon Memorial Hospital just after midnight Monday from apparent stab wounds to the neck.

His body is expected to be sent to Charleston this morning for an autopsy.

A pair of Manning siblings face charges stemming from the fatal incident,

BY MATT BRUCE matthew@theitem.com A domestic spat led to one man being stabbed in the chest during the weekend.

Jessie Williams, 55, of 20 Brent St., was charged with attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.

She was detained at SumterLee Regional DeWILLIAMS tention Center.

Jail records indicate a judge set her bond at $55,000.

According to a report from Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the suspect’s home in reference to a domestic dispute late Saturday morning and encountered the bloodied victim. He had flagged them down in the street as the investigators arrived.

The man had an apparent stab wound to the chest, and authorities contacted emergency personnel to transport him to Tuomey Regional Medical Center for treatment.

The man told deputies the suspect stabbed him because of a money dispute but was unable to provide more information as he was heavily intoxicated.

Officers proceeded to the suspect’s house, finding blood on the front porch and throughout the residence, reports indicated.

The woman told deputies she and the victim were drinking together when they began arguing and he pushed her.

She said she then picked up a knife and stabbed him in the center of the chest.

Sheriff’s office officials said the victim was treated and has since been released from Tuomey.

which unfolded at the Holly Court Apartments, 211 Dickson St., just after 11 p.m. Sunday.

B. OLIVER Authorities have charged Beverly Simone Oliver, 27, and her 31-year-old brother, Dante Jamaal Oliver, each with a single count of murder in connection with the stabbing.

Investigators continued to question both suspects Monday afternoon and indicated the pair could face an additional charge of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.

According to an incident

D. OLIVER

The aforementioned stairwell had large amounts of blood on the walls, steps and concrete ground. Police investigators also recovered a kitchen knife on the ground at the bottom of the stairwell.

The blood trail, which police followed, led to a passageway that trickled behind the apartment building, across a parking lot to another building down the street from the scene.

That’s where officers found Cousar lying motionless on the ground, bleeding profusely.

Emergency crews transported the victim to Clarendon Memorial, but he died soon after arriving to the hospital, reports stated.

report from the Manning Police Department, officers responded to the apartment complex in reference to a fight involving

two males.

The incident took place in the female suspect’s apartment unit, and reports indicated one of the fighting males got thrown down a flight of stairs.

Police arrived and found the scene vacated with no one around, according to a statement from Manning Police Chief Blair Shaffer.

A heavy trail of blood provided officers with several clues.

4 youth honored for efforts in extinguishing fire

BY RICK CARPENTER rick@theitem.com A Lexington Cub Scout master made sure that four local youth were recognized Friday for putting out fires in Poinsett State Park — and they aren’t even Scouts.

Last November, during a windy day, Troop 507 Cub Scout Master Jack Norris of Lexington and his Assistant Scout Master John Leas were looking over the park campsites to determine whether it would be an appropriate area for their troop to camp. They noticed that there were two campsites that had been left with embers still smoldering in four fires.

They watched the wind fan the embers into flames again, and had decided to get help.

Then they turned and saw four youth who had also witnessed the flair up and they began relaying 20-ounce bottles of water from a spigot to douse the fires. The four kept racing back and fourth to the spigot until the fires were out.

Norris was so proud of the youth for knowing what to do and taking action, he took the time to get their personal information so that they could be hon-

RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM

Poinsett State Park Manager Zabo McCants loads Gracelyn Hall, 7, with one of four awards the youth received for putting out fires at the park. Others awared for their heroic efforts behind them are, left to right, Austin Burke, 10, Kelsie Pittman, 11, and Alexis Burke, 8. ored. Friday, he offered to pay their dues if any of them wanted to join a branch of the Scouts.

By the end of the awards ceremony, Alexis Burke, 8, Austin Burke, 10, Gracelyn Hall, 7, and Kelsie Pittman,

11, had more awards than they could carry.

They were honored for their heroics by the Governor, the Chief of the Sumter Fire Department, the Scout master and South Carolina State Parks.

Economic development board, 2 other organizations make plans to relocate

BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com

T

he Sumter County Economic Development Board is mov-

ing to a new location at 16 E. Liberty St., once the current structure has been demolished and a new building is constructed.

The board shares office space with the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce at 32 E. Calhoun St. but recently

has been looking to find another home.

The Sumter Smarter Growth Initiative and The Link — the Lee and Sumter Economic Alliance — will also relocate with the economic development board.

Jay Schwedler, president and CEO of the economic development board, said the move will provide the environment and capacity needed for the three organizations to grow in order to meet the challenges of today’s fast paced economic development industry.

The board is in the business of selling the Sumter

community, so it’s fitting that it be located right in the heart of the downtown area, said Downtown Development Manager Howie Owens.

For the past several months, the board and other organizations have been looking to move to another building, preferably in a central area of downtown.

Moving to Sumter’s central business district adds to the board’s message that we are serious about improving the entire community, said Schwedler.

The board was looking to renovate a building downtown but the available op-

tions did not provide the needed space.

The great thing, is when the Liberty Street structure is demolished, the board can build exactly what it wants, said Owens.

Sumter’s Historic Preservation Design Review Board voted to have the building demolished during its February meeting because the building did not provide any historical character to the area.

It is suspected that the new building will take a bit of green space from the farmer’s market but the designs and layout have not yet been determined.

Despite the move, the economic development board will continue to have a close relationship with the chamber of commerce.

“This move in no way impacts that relationship and in fact will likely allow for growth and creative expansion of the programs and services of all the entities,” he said.

Schwedler agreed.

“We are really looking forward to this endeavor materializing and eagerly anticipate the future date when we can open the doors to this new facility in downtown Sumter,” he said.

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TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

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Earthen Confederate fortifications visible in Charleston History buffs say more money needed to prevent mounds’ disappearance

BY BO PETERSEN The Post and Courier of Charleston CHARLESTON — The earth mounds can turn up anywhere in the Lowcountry, it seems — odd-shaped crowns or crooked rows, a little too large and too strange to be natural.

They are haunts of the past.

Kevin Byrd was a kid playing in the West Ashley woods near the Ashley River when he came upon the first one to catch his eye, a circle of humps twice as tall as a man.

BYRD He knew it was something but had no idea what.

Even as an adult he keeps looking for it when driving past. He’s now 54 years old.

The mounds he played on are what remains of Fort Bull, an earthworks fortification dug a century earlier by Confederate soldiers as part of a defense network for Charleston that has been described as genius.

They are among more than 200 such earthwork forts in Charleston County alone.

And they’re not the only haunts out there.

Indian mounds — mysterious snakes of dirt rising along the river floodplains — are burial grounds of native peoples.

A lot of the rumpled, mound-and-ditch works found throughout river bottoms were cut during phosphate mining in the late 19th and early 20th century.

What was Fort Bull now is just big bumps in the sweet

gum trees, crossed and crisscrossed by dirt paths, littered with bottles and cans.

The leaves of one small bush along a path have been spray-painted white for no apparent reason.

That’s not unusual. Overgrown, eroded and overrun by humans, a lot of the forts are virtually unrecognizable, known to historians but few others.

Some are so vulnerable that historians are reluctant to locate them specifically.

The acreage is in private hands or squeezed by developments. Fort Bull is one of those.

The little money available to preserve that sort of thing tends to go to higher profile sites, usually where battles were fought.

No known skirmishes were fought at Fort Bull.

The fort briefly snared some public attention when a 2000 study was publicized partly to promote the sites, in order to try to preserve them.

But little has come of it so far.

The South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust, maybe the lead preservation group for the sites, is in the process of identifying the earthworks in Charleston County.

The trust has taken on preservation efforts but, constricted by costs, has made a priority of sites most vulnerable to being lost.

Bull is not a top priority yet.

Only about 50 sites identified so far can still be seen, in one form or another.

Only about half are protected, said Douglas Bostick, trust executive director.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kevin Byrd steps carefully around the base of Fort Bull, an earthen mound that was a Confederate defensive site near Bees Ferry and Ashley River roads in Charleston.

An obscure, virtually unused earthwork wouldn’t appear to have much historic value at first glance, but they could teach important historic and environmental lessons.

You have to look not at the individual sites, but the grand scheme of them across the countryside, said Steven Smith, S.C. Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology director.

“What you see today, you would find them in some of the oddest places,” Smith said.

But that’s because the landscape has changed, after years of draining and development.

They sit at what were pivotal “choke points” for rivers, roads or railroads in what

once were swamps.

They were the work of Confederate Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard, and Gen. Robert E. Lee had an early hand in the design, Smith said.

The fortifications usually were left vacant, but their position along travel paths such as railroads meant they could quickly be manned if Union forces were reported headed that way.

It was a way of fortifying a lot of wetlands with relatively few troops.

“Using the railroad to protect itself, it was quite innovative. It tells the story of the Civil War in the Lowcountry,” Smith said.

Bostick agreed.

“It was the genius of Beauregard,” he said. “It’s the deep

history of the city. It pieces together the history of the community in which we live.”

The sites were so critical that the earthen forts often were built on top of earlier, sometimes Revolutionary War-era earthworks.

And today they really do sit in odd places, one of them along the 11th tee at the Country Club of Charleston, Bostick said.

For Byrd, a history buff, the mounds are riveting.

He’d like to see what’s left of Fort Bull preserved.

“I imagine this was pretty squared off then, and look at it now,” he said. “The important thing is that people know they are here, and the people who live nearby take on a stewardship role.”

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LOCAL

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

POLICE BLOTTER STOLEN PROPERTY A pressure washer valued at $250, a Stihl pole saw valued at $250 and four tires valued at a total of $350 were reportedly stolen from a Dalzell garage in the 4900 block of Ridge Street just after 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

A 2004 Saturn Ion LE coupe valued at $3,500, a 2002 Nissan Altima sedan valued at $4,500 and 10 car batteries valued at $1,500 total were reportedly stolen from a business parking lot in the first block of South Pike East at 11:50 a.m. Wednesday.

A 19-inch TV and several long guns — all of uknown value — were reportedly stolen from a home in the 2600 block of Indigo Drive at 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

A 1995 Honda CBR600 of undetermined value was reportedly stolen from a yard in the 1600 block of Mims Road about 7:20 p.m. Thursday.

A backpack containing several school books valued at $600 was reportedly stolen from a 2012 Ford Focus; and hand tools valued at $300 were reportedly stolen from a 2005 Kia Sorento, while both were parked at a restaurant in the 1300 block of Broad Street between 11:15 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

An iPhone 5S in gold casing valued at $600 was reportedly stolen from the 100 block of West College Street about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

A Yamaha scooter valued at $500, a $50 check and a cellphone valued at $179 were all reportedly stolen from a yard in the 400 block of Loring Drive on Sunday.

Two 32-inch flat-screen TVs valued at $800, a Blu-ray DVD player valued at $200 and another DVD player valued at $20 were reportedly stolen from a home in the 3800 block of Blackberry Lane about 4:20 p.m. Friday.

A 19-inch flat-screen TV valued at $200, PlayStation3 valued at $200, four video games valued at $200 and several pairs of shoes were reportedly stolen from a Dalzell home in the 1900 block of Mason Road at 10:40 a.m.

Saturday.

A 2013 GMC Yukon XL SLT valued at $33,900 was reportedly stolen off the lot at the Jones Buick GMC dealership in the 1200 block of Broad Street before 3 p.m. Saturday.

An envelope containing $660 in cash was reportedly stolen during service at a Pinewood church in the first block of East Avenue South between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday.

A Suzuki dirt bike valued at $2,500, two Stihl weed trimmers valued at $500, and two Stihl blowers valued at $450 were reportedly stolen from a storage building in the 2200 block of Lloyd Drive after 4:45 p.m. Saturday.

CHARGES Don Patrick Buckner, 39, of Sumter, was arrested at a driver license checkpoint near the 4100 block of Wedgefield Road early Saturday morning and charged with his second driving under the influence offense.

Milo Colclough, 32, of Sumter, was arrested during a traffic stop near the 4200 block of Wedgefield Road early Saturday morning. He was charged with his second driving under suspension offense after reports of a short vehicle chase.

Lee Dickey, 31, of Sumter, was arrested Saturday afternoon and charged with his third driving under suspension offense after officers reportedly spotted him driving along Pudding Swamp Road.

Antwan Hampton, 23, of Bishopville, was arrested late Saturday night and charged with his third driving under suspension offense after a traffic stop near the 1300 block of North Main Street.

Zhante Sanders, 21, of Florence, was arrested Saturday evening at a roadway safety checkpoint along Florence Highway and charged with his sixth driving under suspension offense.

Heather Fleming,33, of 1270 B. Pearson Road, was arrested Sunday and charged with hindering officers serving warrant or rescuing prisoners after reports she harbored a suspect in her home and tried to hide him from pursuing law enforcement officers.

THE SUMTER ITEM

Keeping precious cargo safe Quanisha Choice-Rush and her husband, Marcus, work with lead Cpl. Chris Merendino to strap 2-week-old Marcus Jr. into his car seat during Tuomey Safe Kids’ event at Jones Chevrolet on Friday.

Five Sumter police officers and one sheriff’s deputy took a threeday course to learn to teach parents to install the seats correctly.

KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM

3 Sumterites graduate from S.C. Fire Academy FROM STAFF REPORTS The South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation’s South Carolina Fire Academy graduated 24 students on Friday, that included three Sumter Fire Department members, from its eightweek firefighter candidate school in Columbia.

The Sumter Fire Departments students included in the class were Dusty Bussart, Devante Payne and Kevin Wimberly.

Firefighters from 13 fire departments across the state underwent a 320-hour

training program of classroom and hands-on firefighting skills development.

The in-depth training, offered quarterly at the Fire Academy, includes emergency responder first aid training, hazardous materials operations training, auto extrication, flammable liquids and gas firefighting, rescue training and National Fire Protection Association Firefighter I and Firefighter II levels.

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PHOTOS BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Coca-Cola bottles that take people through the history of the Coca-Cola bottle design are displayed during a preview of the High Museum’s new exhibit, “The Coca-Cola Bottle: An American Icon at 100” on Wednesday in Atlanta. The exhibit, which opened Saturday, explores the iconic design and creative legacy of the familiar soda bottle as art.

Museum takes a look at Coca-Cola bottle as art ATLANTA (AP) — The curvy CocaCola bottle is celebrating its 100th birthday, and an art museum is exploring the origins and influence of a bottle design that’s so recognizable, you’d know the brand if you held it in the dark.

“The Coca-Cola Bottle: An American Icon at 100” opened Saturday at Atlanta’s High Museum and is set to run through Oct. 4. Visitors can see original design illustrations, a prototype of the 1915 design and the work of artists who have been inspired by the now-classic design.

Coca-Cola is headquartered in Atlanta.

“To do something that not only stays its course for the company over 100 years, but that also becomes a cultural icon that really is recognizable all over the world is amazing,” said High head of museum interpretation and exhibition curator Julia Forbes. “It really is a design success story.”

Julia Forbes, head of museum interpretation, holds a 3-D printed Coca-Cola bottle at the new exhibit on Wednesday.

The exhibition walks visitors through the history of the bottle’s design, which

was conceived as a way to distinguish Coca-Cola from a multitude of imitators.

In a 1915 memo, the company asked glass companies to come up with “a bottle which a person could recognize even if they felt it in the dark, and so shaped that, even if broken, a person could tell at a glance what it was.”

The Root Glass Co. in Terre Haute, Indiana, developed the winning design in “Georgia Green” glass with a bulge in the center and ridges down the sides.

The exhibition includes a concept sketch and patent for the contour bottle design, both dating from 1915. An original prototype bottle from 1915, one of two known to exist, is also on display.

Opposite a display of Coca-Cola bottles through the years are two dozen posters by contemporary designers created in response to an invitation from Coca-Cola last year to imagine the next century. They were instructed to con-

sider attributes such as “universal happiness” and “stubborn optimism” and to use the colors red, black and white.

An entire gallery in the exhibition is devoted to Andy Warhol. On one wall are two paintings of single Coca-Cola bottles inspired by old ads, one a bit abstract with smudgy lines and the other with lines so crisp and clean it doesn’t even look like a painting. These works from 1961 and 1962 came at the beginning of Warhol’s Pop art style using commercial images.

A Warhol quote from 1975 is printed on the gallery wall: “What’s great about this country is that America started the tradition where the richest consumers buy essentially the same things as the poorest. You can be watching TV and see Coca-Cola, and you know that the president drinks Coca-Cola, Liz Taylor drinks Coca-Cola, and just think, you can drink Coca-Cola, too.”

Upscale N.Y. suburb embroiled in a wily debate about coyotes CHAPPAQUA, N.Y. (AP) — This well-heeled hamlet north of New York City is embroiled in an increasingly nasty debate that seems oddly out of place amid the stately homes and tony boutiques: What should be done about coyotes?

Self-styled coyote spotters in and around Chappaqua have counted 160 incursions into backyards and streets during the last two years and at least 10 recent attacks on pets. That’s been enough to stir animal passions among residents about the question of when and if a coyote deserves to be killed.

Email and social media have swirled with such teethbaring terms as “coyote jihad” and “death map.” And members of a local task force that advocates trapping and killing some of the animals announced they were staying away from a recent public hearing on the issue “in the

interest of our personal safety.”

“I envisioned going down there and having blood thrown on me,” said task force member Joyce StansellWong, who has since resigned.

Chappaqua is better known as the home of former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton than as a playground for coyotes. But wildlife officials say the demise of such predators as wolves and cougars during the last few decades has led to a spread of coyotes into more populated areas across the East Coast, including suburbs. Instagram and Facebook are replete with pictures of the canines scampering across sidewalks and among backyard playsets. Coyotes have even been spotted in New York City’s Central Park and the Bronx.

Robert Greenstein, supervisor of the Town of New Cas-

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tacks on humans, they fear the skulking canines may start to attack small children.

“A menacing coyote, circling the playground, stalking children, that coyote has to go,” said task force member Ann Styles Brochstein, whose Havanese dog Samson was attacked by a coyote in their yard.

A separate group, represented by the New Castle Coyote Awareness and Safety Advisory Committee, is advocating more tolerance, noting

tle, which has about 18,000 residents in Chappaqua, Millwood and unincorporated areas, said that in general, the debate is between two camps: “One group is concerned with protecting the coyotes and the other group is more concerned with protecting our pets.”

The pet-protection camp, represented by the New Castle Coyote Management Task Force, argues for quicker use of “lethal solutions.” Even though there have been no at-

that coyote attacks on humans are very unusual and that a little education — and keeping pets on leashes — can help limit close encounters. In general, they would limit killings to coyotes that attack humans or leashed pets.

“We must encourage responsible pet ownership and not penalize a coyote for taking a small dog when such an act is only doing what comes naturally,” said Victoria Alzapiedi, chairwoman of the advisory committee.

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HEALTH

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

THE SUMTER ITEM

Parents increasingly ask doctors to delay vaccines CHICAGO (AP) — Parents have increasingly pressured doctors to delay vaccines for young children, making their kids and others vulnerable to preventable diseases, a study suggests.

The findings are in a national survey of pediatricians and family doctors asked about parents wanting to postpone some of the many shots recommended for children younger than age 2.

Nearly all doctors said that at least some parents had requested vaccine delays in a typical month; and 1 in 4 said those numbers had increased since the previous year.

More about the survey in Monday’s Pediatrics and delaying childhood vaccines:

than 150 people in several states have been infected with measles, including infants too young to be vaccinated. Most cases are tied to an outbreak at Disneyland in California, which likely began with a traveler who brought it in, as has been the case in other U.S. outbreaks.

The exact source of the Disneyland-linked cases is not known.

Doctors are concerned about unvaccinated or undervaccinated children becoming ill and spreading disease to others.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A pediatrician uses a syringe to vaccinate a 1-year-old with the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine in Northridge, California. cent of parents had requested vaccine delays by spreading them out over more months than is recommended.

Most doctors said the practice puts kids at risk for getting vaccine-preventable diseases and might lead to disease outbreaks, but most also said they at least sometimes agreed to the delays. Only 3 percent said they often or always tell parents who insist on vaccine delays to seek

THE STUDY The researchers surveyed 534 doctors by email or regular mail in 2012. Participants were doctors who are members of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians — the two leading groups of doctors who treat young children. One in 5 doctors said at least 10 per-

care from another doctor.

THE CONCERNS The potential repercussions are worrisome and are happening “right now with the measles outbreak,� said Dr. Allison Kempe, a University of Colorado researcher and a member of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory committee. Kempe is the study’s lead author. More

VACCINE RECOMMENDATIONS Vaccinations against 14 diseases are recommended for children younger than 2, starting at birth and given every few months. Some shots combine vaccines against more than one disease; the measles shot also protects against mumps and German measles. Even so, young children may get five shots at once under the recommended vaccine schedule.

Some parents want to delay shots by spacing them out, partly to spare their

kids from getting jabbed so many times at one sitting.

Doctors surveyed said other reasons include worries about possible long-term complications and other risks from vaccines, which medical experts say are unfounded. The study didn’t ask doctors which vaccines parents asked to delay.

The recommended vaccine schedules are based on research on timing shots to be most effective at preventing disease. Delaying shots meant to be given at a certain age means they may be less effective. It also makes it more likely that children will never get vaccinated, because parents get too busy or forget to schedule another doctor’s visit, said Dr. Robert Frenck, an infectious diseases specialist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. He was not involved in the new study. “People just don’t understand that these diseases are all there, they’re not gone.

They’re just being kept at bay right now. If people stop vaccinating, they come right back,� Frenck said.

Study: Smokers may tap into multiple sources for nicotine WASHINGTON (AP) — The first peek at a major study of how Americans smoke suggests many use combinations of products, and often e-cigarettes are part of the mix.

It’s a preliminary finding, but it highlights some key questions as health officials assess electronic cigarettes. “Are e-cigarettes a step toward a cigarette smoker getting off of cigarettes? Or are ecigarettes a crutch so they can get nicotine in places and times when they wouldn’t normally be allowed to smoke cigarettes?� asked Dr. Andrew Hyland of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, the primary investigator for a huge government study of trends in smoking and tobacco use.

Hyland’s study is one of a number of projects that scientists are watching as they explore the public health implications of e-cigarettes. Here are some things to know:

people to enroll in the study, a baseline as the Food and Drug Administration and National Institutes of Health track how use of tobacco products, or alternatives such as tobacco-free e-cigarettes, is evolving.

A fraction — 28 percent of adults and nearly 9 percent of youths — reported they currently use any type of tobacco product, Hyland said.

About 40 percent of those current tobacco users report using two or more products.

And half say battery-powered e-cigarettes are one of the multiple products they use, Hyland found. In fact, the most common combination was cigarettes and e-cigarettes.

Mitch Zeller, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, said the early findings showing use of more than one type of tobacco product are compelling and underscore “how popular e-cigarettes have become.�

Ultimately, the PATH study — it stands for Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health — will follow 46,000 people ages 12 and older over five years, a source of information as FDA decides how to regulate

MULTIPLE SOURCES OF NICOTINE At a meeting of nicotine researchers late Thursday, Hyland presented preliminary findings from the first 20,000

tobacco-related products.

WHY THE EXTRA INTEREST IN E-CIGARETTES? Policymakers are debating the health effects of “vaping� as it grows in popularity. Many anti-smoking advocates consider e-cigarettes a safer alternative for smokers who can’t or don’t want to quit altogether.

E-cigarettes work by heating liquid nicotine into an inhalable vapor. They contain fewer toxic substances than burning traditional cigarettes. But health officials warn that they shouldn’t be considered harmless and say much more needs to be known about long-term effects.

Critics ask if they keep smokers addicted or even act

as a gateway to hook new users who eventually try tobacco.

have taken.

ADULTS VS. KIDS

No one knows if experimenting with e-cigarettes poses as much risk of hooking someone as experimenting with regular cigarettes, Compton said.

Nicotine levels vary widely by type of e-cigarette, from small amounts to nearly as much as a traditional cigarette, he said. Users learn to puff a bit differently as they draw in vapor, and even the voltage in the device’s wires may affect nicotine delivery, he explained.

NIDA plans to fund development of what Compton calls a “standard e-cigarette� that will be a yardstick for comparison with the different e-cigarettes on the market.

Concern about e-cigarettes grew after a different government study in December found some teens who’d never smoked a real cigarette were trying out the electronic kind. “Is it a passing fancy or something that sticks with them?� Dr. Wilson Compton, deputy director of NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse, asked in an interview with The Associated Press. He hopes that during the next few years, the new PATH study will help tell.

The FDA has proposed regulating e-cigarettes, including banning sales to minors, a step that many states already

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WORLD

THE SUMTER ITEM

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

Cuban cigar makers anticipate big bucks from U.S. travelers HAVANA (AP) — During six decades rolling premium cigars with his small, wrinkled hands, Arnaldo Alfonso has taken pride in seeing his “habanos” sampled by visiting heads of state and other dignitaries.

Now he’s delighted by the idea of customers lighting them up in New York, Los Angeles and elsewhere in the United States, where Cuban cigars have been outlawed since the U.S. embargo took effect in 1962.

“It’s a very beautiful thought,” said a smiling Alfonso, a 78-year-old worker at the tobacco shop of the Palco Hotel in western Havana.

Cuban cigar makers are licking their chops because of new U.S. rules, announced in December as part of a partial detente, allowing more Americans to travel to the island and legally bring back small quantities of the coveted stogies for the first time in decades.

As Havana celebrated the annual Cigar Festival that wrapped up with a gala-dinner bash Friday, officials said that this year alone they expect to double on-island sales of handrolled cigars, known here as “habanos,” from 3 million to 6 million.

“This is an important jump in just one year,” said Jorge Luis Fernandez Maique, vice president of Habanos SA, a mixed venture between Cuba’s state-run Cubatabaco and the

British company Altadis. “It’s a boom for the Cuban market.”

The additional sales would represent a modest increase to the company’s overall annual production of about 90 million to 100 million premium units to meet domestic and international demand, primarily in Europe and China.

But officials see it as just the tip of the cigar: If the U.S. embargo were to fall amid a normalization of diplomatic relations, Habanos thinks it could capture nearly a third of the American market, the world’s largest for cigars.

Almost 600,000 visitors traveled to the island from the United States last year, a figure that includes mostly CubanAmericans on family visits but also tens of thousands of people on legal educational and religious exchanges. The number is expected to rise, though it’s still unclear by how much.

Many visit shops such as the one where Alfonso works.

“They are aware that these are first-rate cigars,” said Teresita Diaz, a saleswoman at the store.

Under the new rules, U.S. travelers are now allowed to bring back up to $100 in combined tobacco and alcohol products, a lot less than the $3,000 to $4,000 sales that Diaz can ring up for some of the Canadian, European and Chinese aficionados who shop there.

U.S. visitors can smoke as

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A7

A woman places the ringed label on a Hoyo de Monterrey cigar at the Corona cigar factory in Havana, Cuba, on Thursday.

Cuban cigar makers are licking their chops because of new U.S. rules that let more Americans travel to the island and legally bring back as much as $100 worth in prized stogies for the first time in decades. Officials said during this week’s annual cigar festival that this year alone, they expect to double sales of hand-rolled “habanos” on the island.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

many cigars as they like while on the island, and can now return with a few five-packs of Montecristo #4 (sale price: $27.75) or Cohiba Siglo I ($34.50) without violating the cap.

If even half of the current number of U.S. travelers were to bring back $50 worth of cigars each, that would add up to some $15 million in new sales for the Habanos company this year.

Getting approval to export cigars to the U.S. would be the real bonanza for Cuba.

Habanos, which reported global sales of $439 million last year, estimates it could sell roughly 70 million to 90 million cigars there, nearly doubling Cuba’s current production, if the embargo were lifted.

That would be possible only with the approval of the Republican-controlled Congress.

After the initial buzz about the Dec. 17 announcement that Washington and Havana would move to restore ties, progress has been slow on resolving far simpler matters such as reopening embassies

in each other’s respective countries.

There are also questions about Cuba’s ability to ramp up production to eventually meet U.S. demand. The country suffers from major infrastructure deficiencies, and tobacco farmers sometimes complain of transportation delays following the harvest that can cause the leaves to go bad.

“It’s clear that even today, the amounts (harvested) are not enough,” said Ricardo Salas, who distributes Cuban cigars in Cyprus.

While American aficionados would initially be intrigued by

the “forbidden fruit” aspect of Cuban cigars, many might find they prefer something more familiar, and less overpowering.

Salas and other experts said milder Cuban brands such as Montecristo and Romeo y Julieta would likely do better in the U.S. than the stronger Partagas and Cohiba varieties.

After more than five decades of separation, “the average American doesn’t know the Cuban product,” said Salas.

“They have as a comparison Central American or Dominican tobacco — they’ve become used to that kind of flavor of a softer, more discreet tobacco.”

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A8

|

BUSINESS

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

THE SUMTER ITEM

Google to offer own cellular network plan

BY JOSEPH WILSON The Associated Press BARCELONA, Spain — Google will soon be offering cellular network plans in a bid to bridge the gap between the realms of Internet services and mobile device software it dominates.

Vice President Sundar Pichai says Google, the leading Internet search engine and mobile software provider, is working with unnamed network operators on developing a cellular plan.

“You will see us announce it in the coming months,” he said at the Mobile World Congress wireless show in Barcelona. “I think we are at a stage where it is important to think about hardware, software and connectability together.

“We want to be able to experiment along those lines.”

Pichai called Google’s plan to offer cellular services “a project” and insisted that the Internet company isn’t a threat to traditional telephone and Internet service providers.

Pichai compared Google’s latest move to its decision to launch its own line of Nexus smartphones, which he said Google uses not to compete with other smartphone makers, rather to introduce innovations in the greater world of mobile hardware.

“We don’t intend to be a network operator at scale,” he said. “Our goal here is to drive a set of innovations which we think the ecosystem should evolve and hopefully will get traction.

Again, we will do it on a small enough scale so that, just like Nexus devices, people see what we are doing and hopefully carrier partners think our ideas are good.”

Pichai offered finding a way to provide a “seamless” Internet connection when a device moves from Wi-Fi to cellular coverage as one example of goals Google would like to target.

Pichai said that Google is also working on “Android Pay,” a mobile payment system similar to “Apple Pay,” that will work across all Android-powered devices.

Gates repeats at top of Forbes’ list of billionaires

Next adventure: Soaring through Amazon jungle

BY MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP Technology Writer SAN FRANCISCO — For its next technological trick, Google will show you what it’s like to zip through trees in the Amazon jungle.

The images released Monday are the latest addition to the diverse collection of photos supplementing Google’s widely used digital maps. The maps’ “Street View” option mostly provides panoramic views of cities and neighborhoods photographed by car-mounted cameras, but Google also has found creative ways to depict exotic locations where there are no roads.

In its latest foray into the wilderness, Google teamed up with environmental protection group Amazonas Sustainable Foundation, or FAS, to explore a remote part of an Amazon rainforest. Google Inc. lent FAS its Trekker device, a camera mounted on an apparatus originally designed to be carried like a backpack by hikers walking on trails.

FAS, though, sent the Trekker down a zip line.

Google is renowned for going out on a technological limb, but even this project made the company nervous at first, said Karin Tuxen-Bettman, who oversees Google’s Street View partnerships.

The setup required FAS workers to tread through the rainforest to find a place where they could string the zip line so the Trekker wouldn’t bump into tree trunks and branches as it zoomed through the thick canopy.

With the help of some monkeys who joined their scouting expedition, FAS workers found just enough room to erect a zip line for the Trekker’s trip.

“One of the things that I love about working at

‘One of the things that I love about working at Google is that if a partner comes to us with a crazy idea, we will probably try it.’

KARIN TUXEN-BETTMAN Oversees Google’s Street View partnerships Google is that if a partner comes to us with a crazy idea, we will probably try it,” Tuxen-Bettman said.

Since Google developed the Trekker camera in 2012, the device has been dispatched on other unusual journeys. The Trekker went scuba diving in the Galápagos Islands to take underwater photographs of the preserve, and traveled on a dog sled in the Canadian Artic to photograph the tundra.

Google’s Street View feature has raised privacy concerns through the years because its photographs have occasionally captured images of unsuspecting bystanders engaged in embarrassing activities or near places where they didn’t want to be seen. Cars carrying Street View cameras also secretly vacuumed up emails and other personal information transmitted over unsecure Wi-Fi networks from 2007 to 2010, sparking outrage and legal action around the world.

Privacy issues shouldn’t be an issue in any of the photography taken by the zip-lining Trekker. Birds and insects are the only visible forms of life in the pictures it took.

$7.05 trillion, up from $6.4 trillion last year.

Most of those on the list were men. But there were 197 women, up from 172 a year ago. The highestranking woman was Christy Walton, the widow of John Walton, a son of the founder of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. She has a net worth of $41.7 billion, according to Forbes.

The world’s youngest billionaire was 24-year-old Evan Spiegel, the CEO and co-founder of mobile messaging company Snapchat, with a net worth of $1.5 billion. Snapchat’s other co-founder, 25-year-old Bobby Murphy, had the same net worth as Spiegel.

Other tech billionaire newcomers were two co-founders of taxi-ordering app Uber and one of its executives. Three co-founders of Airbnb, the vacation-home rental website, also made the list.

Basketball legend Michael Jordan joined the list for the first time this year, thanks to his ownership in basketball team Charlotte Hornets and payouts form his Nike brand.

Jordan had a net worth of $1 billion, the magazine said.

This is the 29th year that Forbes has released its billionaires list. The magazine said it calculated each person’s wealth based on stock prices and exchange rates on Feb. 13, 2015.

NEW YORK (AP) — The world’s richest person got even richer this year. And a basketball superstarturned-owner made the list for the first time.

Forbes said Monday that Bill Gates’s net worth GATES rose to $79.2 billion in 2015 from $76 billion last year. That put him at the top of the magazine’s list of the world’s billionaires for the second consecutive year. The co-founder of Microsoft Corp. has topped the list for 16 of the last 21 years.

In second place is Mexican telecommunications mogul Carlos Slim Helu, with a net worth of $77.1 billion. He had topped the list in 2013.

Next is investor Warren Buffett, who moved up one slot this year with a net worth of $72.7 billion. In fourth place was Amancio Ortega, the Spanish cofounder of clothing retail chain Zara, with a net worth of $64.5 billion.

Rounding out the top five was Larry Ellison, founder of technology company Oracle Corp., with $54.3 billion.

Forbes said there were 1,826 billionaires on its list this year, up from 1,645 in 2014. Added together, they were worth a combined

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SPEARMAN FROM PAGE A1 the workforce.”

Some of the career skills that Spearman referred to include integrity, perseverance and punctuality.

“Every child learns differently,” she said. “We need to figure out how to engage our students.”

One of the ways that Spearman said to do that is to incorporate more technology and use project-based learning.

“Students need to understand what they are learning,” Spearman said. “Too long we’ve been concerned with the students learning the knowledge but not fully letting that knowledge sink in.”

She also said that while college is a great opportunity for some to have fulfilling careers, it is not the only ave-

KOTY FROM PAGE A1 school, Koty discovered her love for teaching, according to a Monday news release. It also said she strengthens her own knowledge through continuous research and contributes to her field as a leader in the local chapter of the National Writing Project.

“Being a finalist for this award is a great achievement that should be celebrated,” Spearman said. “This will be a truly memorable week as I try to meet each finalist in person and share the exciting news with them. This is a wonderful opportunity for local communities to celebrate the success we see in our public schools every day by recognizing these five finalists.”

Sumter School District Superintendent Frank Baker said that Koty represents all the great teachers in Sumter County.

“I am so proud of Suzanne Koty and all the hard work that she puts in day in and day out at Sumter High

FIRESIDE FROM PAGE A1 “It gets so high, we’ve had people come in here with like $800 bills for last month when it’s been so, so cold.

Even though it might start going down, some of it won’t even show until the next billing cycle.”

It was the first time Al and Vicki Douroux gave to Fireside Fund, and now they encourage others to do so, too.

“We do talk it out, and people will say, ‘we give to this. We only have so much to give, and there are so many things to give to,’” Al Douroux said. “We don’t push it, but we do bring it up.”

Do you need help heating your home? If so, call The Salvation Army at (803) 7759336.

If you are interested in donating to Fireside Fund, which this year has been dedicated to the late Maj. Gen. Tom Olsen, you may drop gifts off at the office, 20 N. Magnolia St., or mail your financial contributions

nue to success.

“I’ve found that there are many students who are interested in career fields that they could receive training for at our career centers and technical colleges,” Spearman said.

Another topic that the superintendent addressed was how to offer the same opportunities for students in rural areas as in the cities.

“We’re encouraging school districts to share resources and to work together as efficiently as possible,” she said.

Spearman took office in January after being elected in November.

For the past nine years, Spearman led the South Carolina Association of School Administrators, a professional organization of more than 3,600 principals, superintendents and school leaders in the state.

School,” he said.

Dana Fall, Sumter High School principal, said, “She is bright, articulate and passionate about being an educator.

She is a model of teaching excellence and an example of what great teachers accomplish in Sumter on behalf of their students.”

As a finalist, Koty receives a check for $10,000 and is in the running for the state’s Teacher of the Year honor, which comes with a grand prize of $25,000 and a new BMW to drive for a year. All 82 school districts select a district teacher of the year, and the five finalists are selected from this pool.

Koty will represent Sumter School District at the 50th anniversary of the South Carolina Teacher of the Year Celebration on Wednesday, April 22, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. The annual celebration is a partnership between the South Carolina Department of Education and South Carolina Future Minds, the nonprofit organization that connects private support to South Carolina’s public schools.

to The Sumter Item, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, SC 29151.

When making a donation in someone’s name, please write legibly and check for spelling. Names are printed as given.

Also, please spell out any acronyms.

Contributions received as of Monday included: Al and Vicki Douroux, $1,000; Woodmen of the World Chapter 19, $500; In honor of Burnie Russell from Charlie Pitts, $25; Bush and Nancy Hanson, $50; In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Burroughs Sr. from Dr. Mamie B. DuPree, $25; The Rev. and Mrs. Charles Clanton, $100; In memory of Mayor “Bubba” McElveen from Harry and Tiny Bishop,

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting in his Jerusalem office on Feb. 8. Netanyahu and U.S. officials cast their dispute about Iran as a family squabble on Monday, even as the Israeli leader claimed President Obama did not — and could not — fully understand his nation’s vital security concerns.

Netanyahu assails Iran deal, touts U.S.-Israel ties WASHINGTON (AP) — Seeking to lower tensions, Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. officials cast their dispute about Iran as a family squabble on Monday, even as the Israeli leader claimed President Obama did not — and could not — fully understand his nation’s vital security concerns.

“American leaders worry about the security of their country,” Netanyahu said as he opened a controversial trip to Washington.

“Israeli leaders worry about the survival of their country.”

Netanyahu’s remarks to a friendly crowd at a pro-Israel lobby’s annual conference amounted to a warm-up act for his address to Congress today, an appearance orchestrated by Obama’s political opponents and aimed squarely at undermining the White House’s high-stakes bid for a nuclear deal with Iran.

Netanyahu tried to paper over his personal differences with Obama, insisting he was not in Washington to “disrespect” the president and saying any reports of the demise of U.S.-Israel ties were “not only premature, they’re just wrong.”

The prime minister’s remarks were bracketed by speeches from a pair of top Obama advisers: U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power and National Security Adviser Susan Rice, whose address served as a pre-

emptive rebuttal of Netanyahu’s expected critique of the Iran negotiations today.

With Secretary of State John Kerry opening a new round of talks with Iran in Switzerland, Rice said the U.S. was seeking a deal that would cut off “every single pathway” Iran has to producing a nuclear weapon. She said Obama keeps all options on the table for blocking Tehran’s pursuit of a bomb and declared that “a bad deal is worse than no deal.”

Still, Rice warned against holding out for “unachievable” outcomes, such as getting Iran to fully end domestic enrichment.

“As desirable as that would be, it is neither realistic or achievable,” she said. “If that is our goal, our partners will abandon us.”

Netanyahu appeared to be reserving his most specific criticism of the negotiations for his remarks to lawmakers. But he said he had a “moral obligation to speak up in the face of these dangers while there is still time to avert them.”

Negotiators are working to reach a framework agreement before an end of March deadline. U.S. officials have reported progress toward a prospective agreement that would freeze Iran’s nuclear program for at least 10 years but allow the Iranians to slowly ramp up in later years.

and In memory of Fred Davey from Harry and Tiny Bishop, $25.

Transatlantic Brides and Parents Associations (British Wives of Sumter), $50; Charles and Mary White Jr., $200; Class No. 1 Clinton Chapter AME Zion Church, $25; In memory of Evelyn and Herbert Blackwell, $100; In memory of Mrs. Emma Dargan Davis from Dan and Dotty Lyles, $50; and Senior Adult Sunday School Class at Bethesda Church of God, $100.

Total Combined Anonymous: $790 Total This Week: $3,115 Total This Year: $55,010.27 Total Last Year: $62,869.17 Total Since 1969: $1,439,193.46

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

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

THE SUMTER ITEM H.D. Osteen 1904-1987 The Item

Margaret W. Osteen 1908-1996 The Item Hubert D. Osteen Jr. Chairman & Editor-in-Chief Graham Osteen Co-President Kyle Osteen Co-President Jack Osteen Editor and Publisher Larry Miller CEO Rick Carpenter Managing Editor

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

COMMENTARY

Uncertain trumpet

F

or if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

On to ... certainly not Victory! That would be too definite, too clear, too convincing a goal for a president who, far from convincing the rest of us to support his foreign policy, seems unconvinced himself, his words as nebulous as the policy he’s advocating at the time. That’s assuming he has a policy rather than the wordy mist he offered Congress in the guise of asking its authorization to use military force. Or maybe he was asking for only a show of force, which is something quite different, against the latest outbreak of Islamic terrorism, this time styled Paul the Islamic Greenberg State or some such.

The only thing clear about our president’s latest request to Congress was its lack of clarity. It seems the president wants congressional approval to use military force for a limited time (three years) but at the same time prohibit “enduring offensive combat operations,” which used to be known as war.

Our president isn’t asking for authorization to lead the country into war, not exactly, or anywhere else exactly.

Maybe he just wants the troops to mill around aimlessly for a while, much as his “foreign policy” does. In one sentence, he asks Congress to authorize military action, and in the next to forbid it. Trying to interpret his words is like trying to cut through fog.

This much is clear: Barack Obama’s appeal to Congress certainly wasn’t in the spirit of FDR’s address to Congress and the country the day after Pearl Harbor when that president vowed: “With confidence in our armed forces — with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph — so help us God.” But that was a quite different president; back then the country’s armed forces had a commander in chief, not this vague waffler who can’t seem to decide what he’s after, if anything.

One thing about the Hon. Barack Obama has become obvious, at least to our adversaries. Whether they’re a bunch of bloodthirsty thugs in the Middle East or the bloodthirsty thug in the Kremlin who’s now styled president of all the Russias, which keep multiplying while our president mainly watches, wrings his hands and “leads from behind,” that is, doesn’t lead at all. It didn’t take long for the assorted thugs of the world — from Moscow to Teheran — to figure him out. He’s a pushover. They’ve got his number even if he still mystifies some of us at home.

How summarize this president’s approach to international diplomacy — if he has one at all? The Washington Post’s Dana Milbank, a columnist who’s certainly not right-wing, did as good a job as any at describing this president’s modus operandi, or lack of one, in a story about our chief executive’s

last appearance at that Tower of Babel on the East River known as the United Nations: “This is the way a Nobel Peace Prize laureate goes to war. He smiles warmly at the members of the UN General Assembly. He mentions his grandmother’s village in Kenya and notes that ‘Islam teaches peace.’ He admits his country’s own flaws, praises ‘the path of diplomacy and peace,’ and asserts that lasting gains cannot be ‘won at the barrel of a gun.’ Also, he wades a good 19 minutes into his 40-minute speech (the official time limit is 15 minutes) before getting to the nub of the matter: ‘The terrorist group known as ISIL must be degraded and ultimately destroyed. ... There can be no reasoning, no negotiation, with this brand of evil. The only language understood by killers like this is the language of force. So the United States of America will work with a broad coalition to dismantle this network of death.’ Network of Death! A linguistic heir to George W. Bush’s Axis of Evil, perchance?”

If so, it’s only by chance.

For this president makes it clear he has no stomach for a fight, that his war aims are aimless, and his restrictions on American forces clearer than any commands he might give them. He’s the very picture of impotent outrage, “decided only to be undecided, resolved to be irresolute, adamant for drift, solid for fluidity, all-powerful to be impotent,” to borrow a phrase from the Rt. Hon. Winston S. Churchill, MP, about the appeasers who seemed bent on making the world safe for aggression in his time.

One of our president’s favorite fatuities is that he’s on the “right side of history,” as if history made leaders instead of leaders making history — for good or, maybe in his case, ill. What do you suppose will be his place in history’s long view? If you seek his monument, just look around. Note the victory he squandered after the surge in Iraq, the yearslong passion of Syria and its fleeing people that he’s steadfastly ignored, or the muddle that is Ukraine, or rather what’s left of it after his studied neglect of its continuing vivisection.

Here at home, this president installs his, what, fourth secretary of defense in six years? Secretaries of defense this administration has produced aplenty; it’s just a credible defense it lacks.

Year after year, our president and titular commander in chief continues to dither to no great effect. He even asked Congress to repeal one of the very war resolutions he’s been using to justify his own largely ineffectual air strikes against this Islamic State/Caliphate, compounding his strategic confusion with the legal kind. Even when he sounds Retreat, his is an uncertain trumpet.

Why would anyone in Congress give him a blank check to wage, or maybe not wage, war or peace or neither? Stay tuned if you can bear it, for surely there’s a lot more confusion to come.

Paul Greenberg is the Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial page editor of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

COMMENTARY

A handy guide to Millennial slang

A

re you tired of not being able to understand the supposed words coming out of your children’s mouths?

Do they say mysterious verbs or nouns of uncertain origins?

Have you heard things like “Bae, that’s so on fleek!” or “She’s so basic and ratchet”?

Fear not, dear readers — the McCollum Research Institute has conducted a study into your children and grandchildren’s usage of these interesting additions to the English language and have compiled their definitions for you here in an easy-tocarry form, allowing you to have it with you at all times for possible interactions with any and all Millennials.

So, in no particular order: Bae: (noun) Another way Cliff for youths to say “babe” or McCollum “baby.” While some sources have said it is an acronym meaning “Before Anyone Else,” our researchers found that claim dubious, as we are almost certain most Millennials don’t know what an acronym is.

(If you’d like them to stop using this term, remind them that “bae” is actually the Danish word for poop. That should work.)

On fleek: (adjective) This phrase is about the quality of being perfect and can be thought of as the new version of “on point,” replacing the well-known phrase “come correct.”

(If you are related to the Millennial using this word, we believe you could get away with slapping them if they used this word in your presence. If you aren’t related to the person using the word, just glare at them until they feel awkward and walk away. Our research shows both methods work with some success.)

Basic: (adjective) This word is used to describe any person, place or activity involving incredibly obvious behavior, dress or action — in other words, transparent or unsophisti-

cated. The word is often found with the prefix “so” in front of it.

(We suggest possibly letting this one slide.

As far as Millennial slang goes, this one is actually near its original definition, so it could simply be proof of a language growing to fit the needs of its speakers.)

Turn Up: (verb) This word possibly evolved from the Lil’ Jon song “Turn Down For What” and has come to mean getting loose and having fun, usually at a party. It can be found in the noun form as “turnt up,” but should not be confused with its vegetable homonym “turnip.”

(In all seriousness, adults, this particular slang term can also be synonymous with excessive alcohol, drug use or risky sexual behavior, so seeing or hearing this term should either lead to a serious conversation or a preemptive strike of grounding until further information can be gained.)

Ratchet: (adjective) It is a term used to describe someone or something that is dirty, nasty, ugly or whorish. Its origins may be derived from a mispronunciation or misspelling of the word “wretched.”

(It is definitely not about a socket wrench. We also have no recommendations for stopping the usage of this word; there is no known cure. May God have mercy on us all.)

Fetch: (adjective) While it is allegedly “like, slang from England,” this word should never be used, despite Gretchen Wieners’ best attempts.

Stop trying to make “fetch” happen. It’s not going to happen.

Cliff McCollum is an 80-year-old soul trapped in a 20-something body. He is an ordained minister and former community college professor who enjoys British literature and field herpetology. He spends his spare time trying to show Vegans and vegetarians the error of their ways. As managing editor of the Gulf Coast Newspapers in Baldwin County, Alabama — now part of Osteen Publishing Co. — he can be reached at cmccollum@gulfcoastnewspapers.com.

WHO REPRESENTS YOU SUMTER COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 Naomi D. Sanders 5605 Borden Road Rembert, SC 29128 (803) 499-3947 (home) DISTRICT 2 Artie Baker 3680 Bakersfield Lane Dalzell, SC 29040 803-469-3638 (home) DISTRICT 3 James Byrd Jr. 13 E. Canal St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 468-1719 (mobile) (803) 778-0796 (office) (803) 436-2108 (Fax) jbyrd@sumtercountysc.org DISTRICT 4 Charles T. Edens 760 Henderson St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 775-0044 (home) (803) 236-5759 (mobile) DISTRICT 5 Vivian Fleming-McGhaney 9770 Lynches River Road Lynchburg, SC 29080 (803) 437-2797 (home) (803) 495-3247 (office) DISTRICT 6 James T. McCain Jr. 317 W. Bartlette St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 773-2353 (home) (803) 607-2777 (mobile)

WARD 5 Robert Galiano 608 Antlers Drive Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 469-0005 bgaliano@sumter-sc.com SUMTER CITY COUNCIL WARD 6 David Merchant MAYOR 26 Paisley Park Joseph T. McElveen Jr. Sumter, SC 29150 20 Buford St. (803) 773-1086 Sumter, SC 29150 dmerchant@sumter-sc.com (803) 773-0382 jmcelveen@sumter-sc.com STATE LAWMAKERS WARD 1 Thomas J. Lowery Rep. Grady Brown, 829 Legare St. D-Bishopville Sumter, SC 29150 District 50 (803) 773-9298 420 S. Main St. tlowery@sumter-sc.com Bishopville, SC 29010 (803) 484-6832 (home) WARD 2 (803) 734-2934 (Columbia) Ione Dwyer P.O. Box 1492 Rep. Joe Neal, D-Hopkins Sumter, SC 29151 District 70 (803) 481-4284 P.O. Box 5 idwyer@sumter-sc.com Hopkins, SC 29061 WARD 3 (803) 776-0353 (home) Calvin K. Hastie Sr. (803) 734-9142 (fax) 810 S. Main St. (803) 734-2804 (Columbia) Sumter, SC 29150 jn@schouse.org (803) 774-7776 chastie@sumter-sc.com Rep. Dr. Robert L. Ridgeway III, D-Clarendon WARD 4 District 64 Colleen Yates 117 N. Brooks St. cyates@sumter-sc.com Manning, SC 29102 (803) 938-3087(home) (803) 212-6929 (Columbia) DISTRICT 7 Eugene Baten P.O. Box 3193 Sumter, SC 29151 (803) 773-0815 (home)

Rep. Murrell Smith Jr., R-Sumter District 67 P.O. Box 580 Sumter, SC 29151 (803) 778-2471 (business) (803) 778-1643 (fax) (803) 734-3042 (Columbia) murrellsmith@schouse.gov Rep. J. David Weeks, D-Sumter District 51 2 Marlborough Court Sumter, SC 29154 (803) 775-5856 (business) (803) 734-3102 (Columbia) Sen. Gerald Malloy, D-Darlington District 29 1216 Salem Road Hartsville, SC 29550 (843) 339-3000 (803) 212-6148 (Columbia) Sen. Kevin L. Johnson, D-Manning District 36 P.O. Box 156, Manning, 29102 (803) 435-8117 (home) (803) 212-6108 (Columbia) Sen. J. Thomas McElveen III, D-Sumter District 35 P. O. Box 57, Sumter, 29151 (803) 775-1263 (business (803) 212-6132 (Columbia)

NATIONAL LAWMAKERS Rep. Mick Mulvaney — 5th District 1207 Longworth HOB Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-5501 531-A Oxford Drive Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 327-1114 Rep. Jim Clyburn — 6th District 319 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-3315 1703 Gervais St. Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 799-1100 jclyburn@hr.house.gov Sen. Lindsey Graham 290 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 (202) 224-5972 Midlands Regional Office 508 Hampton Street, Suite 202 Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 933-0112 (main) Sen. Tim Scott 167 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 (202) 224-6121 (202) 228-5143 (fax) 1301 Gervais St., Suite 825 Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 771-6112 (803) 771-6455 (fax)

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

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Adult Now (:02) Born in the Wild: Alaska: Re(:02) Dance 145 Dance Moms: Wild Wild West Coast, Dance Moms: Wild Wild West Coast, Dance Moms: The Great Divide Back (:02) Born in the Wild: Alaska: RePart 1 (HD) Part 2 (HD) in Pittsburgh. (N) (HD) mote and Unassisted (N) (HD) mote and Unassisted (HD) Moms (HD) 76 Hardball with Chris (N) (HD) All in with Chris Hayes (HD) The Rachel Maddow Show (N) Lawrence O’Donnell (HD) All in with Chris Hayes (HD) Maddow (HD) 91 Thunderman Haunted (N) Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Prince Prince Friends (HD) Friends (HD) Raymond (HD) 154 Bar Rescue Austin, Texas. (HD) Bar Rescue: Hole in None (HD) Bar Rescue (HD) Framework Builders create adjustable desks. (N) Bar Rescue Bar Rescue Close Up Kings: San Francisco San Face Off: Dressed to Kill (HD) Close Up Kings 152 Face Off: Troll Bridge Trolls inspired Face Off: Queen Bees Artists must Face Off: Dressed to Kill (N) (HD) by iconic bridges. (HD) body paint nude models. (HD) Francisco. (HD) (HD) Seinfeld (HD) The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang Cougar Town (N) Conan Norman Reedus; Brandi Cougar Town 156 Seinfeld (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) (HD) Carlile. (N) (HD) Jules’ dad. (HD) The King’s Speech (‘11, Drama) aaac Colin Firth. Struggling with a speech impairment, 186 Georgy Girl (‘66, Comedy) aaac The Artist (‘11, Comedy) aaac Jean Dujardin. A silent movie star Lynn Redgrave. A wanted woman. falls in love with a rising star of talkie films.

George VI forms a bond with a therapist.

157 19 Kids and Counting (HD) 19 Kids (N) 19 Kids (N) 19 Kids (N) 19 Kids (N) Our Little (N) Our Little (N) 19 Kids (HD) 19 Kids (HD) Our Little (HD) Rizzoli & Isles: Gumshoe Eager in- Perception: Mirror Uncovering inter- Rizzoli & Isles: Gumshoe Enthusias- Perception: Mir158 Castle: The Final Nail Murder forces Rizzoli & Isles: Foot Loose Body Castle to face a truth. (HD) parts. (HD) vestigator. (N) (HD) national scandal. (N) (HD) tic private investigator. (HD) ror (HD) 102 Jokers Jokers Jokers Jokers Jokers Jokers Jokers Hack My (N) (:01) Hack My (:31) Hack My (:02) Jokers 161 Walker, Texas Ranger: Cyclone Fam. Feud Fam. Feud Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Queens (HD) Queens (HD) Queens (HD) Queens (HD) Friends (HD) Mod ern Fam ily Mod ern Fam ily Mod ern Fam ily Mod ern Fam ily Mod ern Fam ily Mod ern Fam ily Si rens (N) (HD) (:31) Mod ern (:01) Mod ern (:31) Mod ern (:01) Sirens (HD) 132 (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) Family (HD) Family (HD) Family (HD) Law & Order: Hot Pursuit (HD) Law & Order: Paranoia (HD) Law & Order: Humiliation (HD) Law & Order: Angel (HD) Law & Order: Blood Libel (HD) Law (HD) 172 Hope (HD) Tears of the Sun (‘03, Action) aaa Bruce Willis. Rescue plans upset. (HD) Outlaw Country (N) (HD) Outlaw Country (HD) Outlaw (HD)

Natural childbirth to the extreme on ‘Born in the Wild’

BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH As a TV critic, I’m the last guy to complain about his job. But it’s getting increasingly difficult to tell “real” programming from spoofs.

Just last week, WE launched a show called “Sex Box” (don’t ask). At first glance, it seemed so stupid and sleazy I convinced myself that it had to be a puton. Sadly, I was wrong in attributing irony to programmers who were merely finding new room at the bottom of the barrel.

Tonight, Lifetime launches “Born in the Wild” (10 p.m., TV-14). While it’s no “Sex Box,” this series trades in strenuous exhibitionism of the most intimate variety. In short, “Wild” follows couples and expectant mothers who think it is a good idea to give birth in the wilderness, far from hospitals and medical care, but well within range of camera crews.

“Wild” furthers at least two unfortunate media trends. The first is the eagerness to “share,” well, just about every aspect of what used to be called “private” life.

The second is popular culture’s romanticization of the flight from reason, science and medicine. For those who think that’s a good thing, please contemplate the recent measles outbreak at Disneyland, a perfectly preventable medical disaster caused by ignorant egomaniacs who thought they were too “enlightened” to vaccinate their children.

I’m hardly a cheerleader for the medical-industrialcomplex. But surely there is some middle ground between a sterile hospital and giving birth amidst Alaska’s frozen tundra. That’s tonight’s setting for “Born in the Wild,” a show for those who take “natural” childbirth to new extremes.

What’s next for cable, “Medieval Dentistry”?

A recent episode of “Vikings” features a savage scene of the Norsemen amputating a limb and cauterizing the wound with a super-heated ax. Let’s hope no reality TV programmers were watching.

• Speaking of blunt instruments and super heating,

COURTESY OF LIFETIME

The Bird family stars in Lifetime’s all new unscripted series “Born in the Wild” premiering at 10 p.m. today on Lifetime.

“Hell’s Kitchen” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14) returns for a 14th season with 18 competitors.

For those adept at multiplication, that’s a total of 252 would-be “Top Chefs.” Oops, I meant, “Master Chefs,” Or is that “Iron Chefs”? OK, we’re talking “Hell’s Kitchen” aspirants. There have been so many seasons of so many shows, it’s easy to get confused.

What in the name of Rocco DiSpirito do you do to shake things up? And differentiate your “Hell” from the others?

In tonight’s season opener, chef Gordon Ramsay separates the participants into two teams, Blue and Red, men vs. women. Gee, I have not seen that before!

And, in a moment of mind-bending TV novelty, the winning team gets to have dinner with — drumroll please * William Shatner!

TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS • Blind auditions on two hours of “The Voice” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG.) • Both Eddie and his dad’s restaurant receive favorable notice on “Fresh Off the Boat”

(8 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).

• New names and new lives on “Person of Interest” (10 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14).

• Shifting blame on “Chicago Fire” (10 p.m., NBC, TV14).

• Hack-tivism can be murder on “Forever” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-14).

• A personal matter distracts Raylan on “Justified” (10 p.m., FX, TV-MA).

• Police officers and brothers try to link a pot operation to criminal siblings on “Outlaw Country” (10 p.m., WGN, TV-14).

NEW ON DVD TV-themed DVDs available today include the Blu-ray edition of “Outlander: Season One” and “Longmire: Season Three.”

SERIES NOTES Dead man overboard on “NCIS” (8 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14) * An unsound opinion on “The Flash” (8 p.m., CW, r, TV-14) * “Repeat After Me” (8:30 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) * Mardi Gras murders on “NCIS: New Orleans” (9 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14) * A blast from the past on “New Girl” (9

p.m., Fox, TV-14) * Coulson’s team recalibrates on “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D” (9 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) * Video evidence implicates Charlie on “Supernatural” (9 p.m., CW, r, TV-14) * Slow days at the clinic on “The Mindy Project” (9:30 p.m., Fox, TV-14).

night Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) * Tom Selleck, Anne Heche, Marlon James and Kate Pierson visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC) * Drew Carey hosts Angela Kinsey and Paula Poundstone on “The Late Late Show” (12:35 a.m., CBS).

LATE NIGHT

CULT CHOICE

Sigourney Weaver is scheduled on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (11 p.m., Comedy Central) * Norman Reedus and Brandi Carlile appear on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS) * Tom Hanks and Sturgill Simpson appear on “Late Show With David Letterman” (11:35 p.m., CBS, r) * Jimmy Fallon welcomes Judi Dench, Ansel Elgort, GZA and Tom Morello on “The To-

The Oscars may be behind us, but TCM continues its roundup of Academy Award winners and contenders, including films from the last decade, “The Artist” (8 p.m., TCM), “The King’s Speech” (10 p.m.), “No Country for Old Men” (12:30 a.m.) and “The Queen” (2:45 a.m.).

Copyright 2015, United Feature Syndicate

Subscribe today, and stay in the loop

(803) 774-1200

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TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

AROUND TOWN The AARP Foundation Volunteer in tuition credit or $500 cash.

Tax-Aide Program will offer free All proceeds will benefit the school to improve the educaincome tax assistance for lowtion of the students. income or elderly taxpayers.

You will need: all tax forms The Overcomers Stroke Support and information; Are you ingovernneed of free Group tax filing services? will meet at 6 p.m. on ment-issued ID; Social SecuThursday, March 12, in the rity card; all W-2’s, 1099s and Alice Drive Baptist Church li1098s; and supporting docubrary on the corner of Loring ments if you plan to itemize. and Wise. Call Wayne Hunter Assistance will be available at (803) 464-3003.

9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Mondays The Shepherd’s Center will hold and Wednesdays through a one pot cook-off 11 a.m.-1 April 13 at The Spectrum sep.m. on Friday, March 13, at nior center, 1989 Durant Trinity Lincoln Center, 24 Lane. Call (803) 316-0772.

Council St. Tickets are $10 Free income tax filing services for all you can eat. Call (803) and FAFSA applications will be 773-1944. provided through April 15 as The American Red Cross will follows: 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. offer New Volunteer Orientation Wednesdays, SC Works — / Disaster Services Overview Santee Lynches, 31 E. Calfor new Red Cross volunhoun St., (803) 774-1300; 9:30 teers from 9 a.m. to noon on a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays, 3-8 p.m.

Saturday, March 14, at 1155 Saturdays, appointments only on Sundays, Goodwill — N. Guignard Drive. This class is for anyone who would like Job Link Center, 1028 Broad to volunteer in any capacity St., (803) 774-5006; and 9:30 with the Red Cross. Call (803) a.m.-7 p.m. Thursdays and 775-2363 to register.

9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, You can make a difference in Lee County Adult Education, 123 E. College St., Bishopville, the life of an abused, aban(803) 484-4040. Call Ms. Sam- doned or neglected child. The South Carolina Department uels at (803) 240-8355. of Social Services is seeking Clarendon School District One families interested in bewill conduct free vision, hearcoming adoptive or foster / ing, speech and developmental resource parents. The agenscreenings as part of a child cy will host an Adoption and find effort to identify stuFoster Care Expo informadents with special needs. tional meeting from 4 to 7 Screenings will be held from p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 9 a.m. to noon at the Summerton Early Childhood Cen- at the North HOPE Center, 904 N. Main St. Call (800) 763ter on the following Thurs6637. days: March 12; April 9; and VFW Post 11078, Summerton, May 14. Call Sadie Williams will meet at 6 p.m. on Tuesor Audrey Walters at (803) day, March 17, at its quarters 485-2325, extension 221.

The Shepherd’s Center will offer on Canty Street. All members and potential new a public information session on members are invited. tips, tricks and troubleshooting The Lincoln High School Class of iPad and PCs from 11 to 11:50 1966 will hold a planning a.m. on Thursday, March 5, meeting for the 50-year class at 24 Council St. reunion at 4 p.m. on SaturThe Clarendon County Demoday, March 21, at the South cratic Party will meet at 7 Sumter Resource Center. p.m. on Thursday, March 5, The Sumter County Developat Bassard’s Pond House, mental Disabilities Foundation 4162 Rev. JW Carter Road, is proud to announce its inauguSummerton. ral Sumter Disabilities Benefit The Campbell Soup friends lunch group will meet at 11:30 Gala, in celebration of Disa.m. on Saturday, March 7, at abilities Awareness Month (March 2015). This event will Golden Corral. be held from 6:30 to 10 p.m.

Robert E. Lee Academy will hold on Thursday, March 26, at its 15th Annual Cavalier Pride The O’Donnell House. The atAuction on Saturday, March 7, tire for the evening is cockat 630 Cousar St., Bishopville. tail / black tie optional.

Food will be served from 5 to Event will offer a fare of fine 7 p.m. There will be a silent food, a wine tasting experiand live auction with bidding ence and silent auction. Purbeginning at 5:30 p.m. A rafchase advance tickets by fle will be held for a Yeti credit card online at http:// cooler. Event will also featinyurl.com/m9duzgq. ture a chance to win $1,000

PUBLIC AGENDA BISHOPVILLE PLANNING, TAXES & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE Today, 9:30 a.m., main council chambers, first floor of courthouse SUMTER CITY COUNCIL Today, 5:30 p.m., Sumter Opera House, 21 N. Main St.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Muster a EUGENIA LAST to-do list and don’t stop until it’s been completed. The satisfaction and confidence you get from taking care of your responsibilities will give way to having fun with someone whose company you enjoy. Romance is encouraged.

The last word in astrology

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Refrain from bringing up emotional matters until you feel you can handle the consequences. Focus more on work and the contributions you can make that will make a difference to your peers, community and future prospects.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Make changes because you want to, not because someone else pushes you.

You have a much better handle on what you want to see happen than an onlooker has. A love relationship will improve if you discuss and plan to do more together.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Expect to meet with opposition. You may not like change, but it will bring about a favorable new lifestyle.

Don’t fight the inevitable. Make do with what you are given. Accept and move forward and you will get positive results.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Step up and take on a position of leadership. Do your own thing, put your plans into motion and leave time for a little romantic fun. Short trips will lead to a bargain or a reconnection with an old friend.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Money, health and legal matters will be prominent, so do your best to take care of your responsibilities at home. Personal papers are best dealt with sooner rather than later.

Don’t get angry, get moving.

DAILY PLANNER

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEATHER

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2015

AccuWeather® five-day forecast for Sumter TODAY

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Cooler with a couple of showers

Mainly cloudy and not as cool

Cloudy with a passing shower

Breezy and not as warm with rain

Partly sunny and much colder

Mostly cloudy and cool

52°

51°

78° / 64°

68° / 29°

47° / 30°

55° / 36°

Chance of rain: 65%

Chance of rain: 25%

Chance of rain: 55%

Chance of rain: 65%

Chance of rain: 10%

Chance of rain: 10%

ENE 6-12 mph

S 6-12 mph

SW 10-20 mph

NNE 12-25 mph

NE 8-16 mph

ENE 3-6 mph

TODAY’S SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER

Gaffney 47/45 Spartanburg 48/47

Greenville 46/44

Columbia 53/51

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

Sumter 52/51

IN THE MOUNTAINS Aiken 56/53

ON THE COAST

Charleston 60/57

Today: Mostly cloudy with showers around.

High 58 to 62.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy. Areas of fog; mist in northern parts. High 73 to 77.

LOCAL ALMANAC

LAKE LEVELS

SUMTER THROUGH 4 P.M. YESTERDAY

Today Hi/Lo/W 60/57/sh 39/14/sn 62/46/c 39/29/sn 77/63/c 66/48/pc 77/64/pc 34/33/sn 80/65/pc 35/33/sn 65/49/pc 63/47/s 38/36/i

SUN AND MOON 7 a.m. yest.

358.03 75.65 74.93 97.70

24-hr chg +0.44 +0.24 -0.06 -0.28

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

0.01" 0.26" 0.26" 11.32" 5.79" 7.68"

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

Full pool 360 76.8 75.5 100

Lake Murray Marion Moultrie Wateree

70° 41° 62° 38° 83° in 1951 25° in 2009

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

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 73/42/r 19/-2/pc 47/25/i 32/7/pc 73/35/t 71/50/s 81/46/r 45/31/r 86/65/s 45/33/r 69/47/s 66/49/s 50/34/r

Myrtle Beach 54/54

Manning 57/54

Today: Cooler with a few showers. Winds east-northeast 4-8 mph.

Wednesday: A little rain; fog in the morning. Winds southwest 8-16 mph.

Temperature High Low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

Florence 52/50

Bishopville 52/50

Flood 7 a.m. 24-hr stage yest. chg 12 11.03 +0.56 19 4.20 -1.05 14 11.09 -0.23 14 5.57 +0.18 80 80.66 +0.11 24 8.49 -1.75

Sunrise 6:49 a.m.

Moonrise 4:46 p.m.

Sunset Moonset

6:20 p.m.

5:24 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Mar. 5

Mar. 13

Mar. 20

Mar. 27

TIDES AT MYRTLE BEACH

High 7:29 a.m.

7:52 p.m.

8:09 a.m.

8:33 p.m.

Today Wed.

Ht. 3.0 2.8 3.0 2.9

Low Ht. 1:52 a.m. -0.1 2:24 p.m. 0.1 2:35 a.m. -0.2 3:03 p.m. 0.0

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 47/45/sh 51/48/sh 59/54/sh 62/57/c 51/51/r 60/57/sh 46/44/sh 49/47/sh 53/51/sh 51/47/sh 44/41/r 50/49/sh 47/46/r

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 67/41/r 74/54/r 80/64/c 75/61/pc 62/55/sh 75/61/c 74/58/sh 73/59/r 78/66/c 78/60/r 72/50/c 77/62/r 78/57/r

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 52/50/sh 80/61/s 47/44/sh 47/46/r 60/57/sh 41/39/r 46/44/sh 42/40/sh 61/56/c 75/61/c 74/61/sh 69/57/c 56/53/sh

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 80/62/r 83/60/pc 74/58/sh 76/58/r 76/62/c 70/46/sh 73/60/r 69/47/r 71/58/pc 82/60/pc 76/52/r 75/62/sh 72/39/r

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 46/42/sh 60/57/sh 54/54/sh 57/54/sh 62/57/c 41/40/r 47/45/sh 48/47/sh 66/58/c 48/47/sh 62/56/c 53/53/sh 42/40/r

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 69/44/r 74/60/pc 71/61/sh 78/65/c 75/60/pc 74/50/sh 75/60/sh 77/56/c 79/62/pc 74/57/r 73/59/pc 72/61/sh 70/48/sh

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

For Comfort You Can Count On, Better Make It Boykin!

BISHOPVILLE CITY COUNCIL Today, 6:30 p.m., Colclough Building TOWN OF LYNCHBURG PLANNING COMMISSION Wednesday, 4 p.m., town hall

803-795-4257 www.boykinacs.com License #M4217

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Size up your situation and your current position. Partnerships are bountiful and will help you increase your momentum as well as your reputation and confidence. Don’t let someone hold you back. Rid yourself of dead weight and move forward.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Explore different ways of doing things. A tweak here and there to the way you’ve been conducting your life will help you appreciate what you have. An offer is heading your way and must be taken seriously.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Tie up loose ends and make plans to travel or get involved in a home improvement project that will help stabilize your future. Realistic plans coupled with hands-on work will ensure that you are successful.

Love is highlighted.

LOTTERY NUMBERS PALMETTO CASH 5 LUCKY FOR LIFE MONDAY THURSDAY

POWERBALL SATURDAY

10-12-19-20-21 PowerUp: 2

11-17-25-28-46 7-49-53-60-64 Powerball: 12 Powerplay: 2 Megaball: 4 Megaplier: 2

3-4-19-22-36 Lucky Ball: 13

PICK 3 MONDAY

PICK 4 MONDAY

5-8-0 and 1-7-0

3-5-6-4 and 1-7-0-1

MEGAMILLIONS FRIDAY

PICTURES FROM THE PUBLIC

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Avoid travel, communication or being around unpredictable people. Rely on past experiences and your intuition to help you make good decisions now. An exaggerated joint venture will entice you. You are best to take precautions and rely on facts, not hype.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You’ve got the right mindset and moves to make your dreams come true. A moneymaking opportunity is within reach, along with a partnership that can help you expand. Present, promote and enjoy the recognition you receive.

Romance is encouraged.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): A colleague, superior or peer will have a hidden agenda. Take your time and make sure whatever you get involved in is to everyone’s benefit. Question motives as well as how realistic a project or joint venture is. Be smart, not sorry.

Larry Parker shares a picture he took of Loring Mill.

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 hi-resolution jpegs to sandra@theitem.com, or mail to Sandra Holbert c/o The Sumter Item, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, SC 29150. Include printed or typed name of photographer and photo details.

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TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015 Call: (803) 774-1241 | E-mail: sports@theitem.com

COLLEGE TENNIS

USC/CLEMSON BASEBALL

PREP WRESTLING

Tennis making return to USCS

Koerner throws 4-hit shutout in 7-0 Tigers win

BY PETE IACOBELLI The Associated Press

ecstatic. It was a long time coming. I was pretty excited that it finally came true.”

Mota, who defeated Palmer 3-2 to win the lower state title, led 1-0 entering the third period. With Palmer starting on the bottom, Mota allowed him to escape, giving up a point to tie the match at 1-1.

“He’s really quick on the bottom and is very good at reversing people,” Mota said of his strategy against Palmer. “If he reverses me, he gets two points. I just had more confidence on my feet with him.”

The match was still tied as the final 2-minute period was coming to a close, and Mota said he didn’t want to go into overtime. He found an opening and went

COLUMBIA — Brody Koerner pitched a complete-game shutout, Chris Okey had two RBIs and Clemson won its first regular-season series over rival South Carolina in five years with a 7-0 victory on Monday.

Koerner (2-1) is a junior right-hander who held the Gamecocks (7-3) to four singles.

The Tigers (7-3) snapped a sixgame losing streak at Carolina Stadium datKOERNER ing to 2010, the last time Clemson came out on top in the hotly contested series.

It was the first time South Carolina was held scoreless in Carolina Stadium in seven seasons.

Koerner was a huge reason why. He went a career best nine innings and had seven strikeouts, three coming in the final two innings. That secured Clemson’s first shutout over South Carolina since an 8-0 victory over the Gamecocks in 2003 — a span of 47 games.

“It’s definitely nice,” Koerner said. “The two years before, we’ve been knocked out of here twice, so getting a win was definitely big for our team.”

Okey drove in runs with a sacrifice fly in the third inning and a slow chopper to second in Clemson’s three-run seventh that made it 5-0.

Steven Duggar’s run-scoring double to the fence in left started the Tigers big inning that put the game away.

South Carolina committed

SEE MOTA, PAGE B3

SEE TIGERS, PAGE B4

BY DENNIS BRUNSON dennis@theitem.com The University of South Carolina Sumter is preparing to delve back into intercollegiate athletics beyond baseball and softball, announcing it will begin both men’s and women’s tennis programs beginning in the 2015-16 school year.

USC Sumter will play its matches at Palmetto Tennis Center, considered to be one of top tennis facilities in the Southeast. USCS athletics director Lynwood Watts said that played a big role in the deciWATTS sion to go with tennis.

“We had talks with the city about the use of the courts, and they were very kind to us,” Watts said. “They said it would be good to make even better use of the courts.

“We wanted to expand our athletic program, but not in a massive manner,” he added.

“Tennis was the best fit for us in terms of budget.”

Sumter Mayor Joe McElveen is happy with the addition of the programs.

“The city of Sumter is proud to have the Fire Ants as part of Palmetto Tennis Center’” McElveen said in a press release. “Our city has one of the best tennis facilities anywhere, and it is almost on the campus

SEE TENNIS, PAGE B3

PHOTO PROVIDED

Sumter High School’s Mac Mota, left, displays the tournament bracket and the gold medal he received for winning the 152-pound weight class in the 4A individuals state tournament on Saturday at Civic Center of Anderson. Standing with Mota is his brother, Cooper.

Golden finish Gamecock senior Mota realizes dream by winning 4A individuals 152 state title

BY DENNIS BRUNSON dennis@theitem.com When Mac Mota started wrestling in the seventh grade, he had one goal in mind: to win a state championship.

On Saturday, in the final match of his high school career, the Sumter High School senior did just that.

Mota scored four points in the final seconds of his match against White Knoll’s Austin Palmer to win 5-1 and claim the 152-pound weight class in the 4A individuals state tournament at Civic Center of Anderson.

“Words can’t explain how excited I was,” said Mota, who also defeated Palmer to win the lower state championship two weekends ago in Sumter. “I was

PREP BASKETBALL

Sumter foe still undetermined in 4A state title contest Advance tickets for SHS, LHS on sale Wednesday

BY DENNIS BRUNSON dennis@theitem.com The Sumter High School boys basketball team will face either Wade Hampton or Hillcrest for the 4A state championship on Friday at 8:30 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia.

Hillcrest and Wade Hampton were playing in the upper state championship game on Monday at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville.

The game went into double overtime with the scored tied at 70-70.

SHS advanced to its first state championship game in 30 years with a 48-44 victory over James Island on Friday in Florence. The Gamecocks are 19-6 on the season.

Advance tickets for Sumter’s contest as well as the Lakewood High School girls basketball team’s 3A state championship game against Lancaster on Saturday will go on sale at their respective schools on Wednesday morning.

Lakewood tickets can be purchased by going to the school’s main office. Sumter tickets will be on sale at the school’s athletic office by athletic director Terrence Scriven and athletic secretary Shelly Richardson.

Tickets are $10 per person.

Children age 5 and under get in free.

The Lakewood girls, who KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM are 22-4, will face 26-0 Lancaster at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday Sumter’s Charlie Richardson, left, grabs a rebound as teammate Brandon Parker (4) and James Island’s Jordan McDaniel look on during the in Columbia.

Gamecocks’ 48-44 victory for the 4A lower state title on Friday at Florence Civic Center.

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SPORTS

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

SCOREBOARD TV, RADIO TODAY

1 p.m. -- Major League Exhibition Baseball: Pittsburgh vs. Toronto from Dunedin, Fla. (MLB NETWORK).

2:40 p.m. -- International Soccer: Barclays Premier League Match -- West Brom vs. Aston Villa (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

4 p.m. -- Major League Exhibition Baseball: Cleveland vs. Cincinnati from Goodyear, Ariz. (MLB NETWORK).

6 p.m. -- International Soccer: CONCACAF Under-17 Match -- St. Lucia vs.

Mexico (FOX SPORTS 2, UNIVISION).

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

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Rhode Island at Dayton (CBS SPORTS NETWORK).

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Iowa at Indiana (ESPN).

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: North Carolina at Georgia Tech (ESPNU).

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Georgetown at Butler (FOX SPORTS 1).

7 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Los Angeles Lakers at Charlotte (SPORTSOUTH).

7 p.m. -- College Baseball: Charleston Southern at South Carolina (WNKTFM 107.5).

7:30 p.m. -- NHL Hockey: Buffalo at Tampa Bay (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Mississippi at Alabama (SEC NETWORK).

8 p.m. -- International Soccer: CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinal Second Leg Match -- Pachuca vs.

Montreal (FOX SPORTS 2).

8 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Houston at Atlanta (NBA TV).

8 p.m. -- International Soccer: Mexican League Match -- Irapuato vs.

Guadalajara (UNIVISION).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Kentucky at Georgia (ESPN).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: West Virginia at Kansas (ESPN2).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Texas A&M at Florida (ESPNU).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Villanova at Creighton (FOX SPORTS 1).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: North Carolina State at Clemson (FOX SPORTSOUTH, WWBD-FM 94.7).

9 p.m. -- Major League Exhibition Baseball: New York Yankees vs. Philadelphia from Clearwater, Fla. (MLB NETWORK).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Missouri at Auburn (SEC NETWORK).

10 p.m. -- International Soccer: Mexican League Match -- Monterrey vs.

Veracruz (UNIVISION).

Midnight -- NHL Hockey: Nashville at New Jersey (FOX SPORTSOUTH).

2 a.m. -- International Soccer: Mexican League Match -- Altimira vs. UAT (UNIVISION).

COLLEGE BASEBALL BASEBALL AMERICA TOP 25 DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — The top 25 teams in the Baseball America poll through March 1 (voting by the staff of Baseball America): Record Prv 1. Vanderbilt 9-2 1 2. Louisiana State 10-1 2 3. Virginia 10-0 4 4. Florida 10-1 6 5. Texas Tech 9-1 5 6. UCLA 10-1 8 7. Texas Christian 7-1 7 8. Houston 8-4 3 9. Mississippi State 13-0 13 10. Oklahoma State 7-4 10 11. Miami 8-4 11 12. South Carolina 7-2 12 13. Central Florida 10-1 15 14. Texas 8-4 9 15. Rice 8-5 14 16. Maryland 7-2 16 17. Louisville 7-4 17 18. Arizona State 7-4 18 19. Oregon 10-2 20 20. North Carolina 6-3 19 21. Florida State 8-3 25 22. Texas A&M 12-0 NR 23. Dallas Baptist 6-1 23 24. UC Santa Barbara 8-3 22 25. Southern California 12-0 NR

GOLF

By The Associated Press THE HONDA CLASSIC PAR SCORES

Monday At PGA National (Champion Course) Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Purse: $6.1 million Yardage: 7,140; Par: 70 Final (FedEx Cup points in parentheses) Harrington won on second playoff hole Padraig Harrington (500), $1,098,000 67-66-71-70–274 -6 Daniel Berger (300), $658,800 68-71-71-64–274 -6 Paul Casey (145), $317,200 69-70-68-68–275 -5 Russell Knox (145), $317,200 69-68-70-68–275 -5 Ian Poulter (145), $317,200 71-64-66-74–275 -5 Jamie Donaldson (100), $219,600 68-71-71-66–276 -4 Luke Donald (83), $183,763 69-67-74-67–277 -3 Jim Herman (83), $183,763 65-72-71-69–277 -3 Jeff Overton (83), $183,763 71-68-69-69–277 -3 Patrick Reed (83), $183,763 67-67-70-73–277 -3 Brian Harman (62), $129,320 70-74-70-64–278 -2 Joost Luiten, $129,320 71-71-67-69–278 -2 George McNeill (62), $129,320 72-70-68-68–278 -2 Rory Sabbatini (62), $129,320 68-75-69-66–278 -2 Brendan Steele (62), $129,320 66-69-71-72–278 -2 Camilo Villegas (55), $103,700 73-71-67-68–279 -1 Jason Dufner (52), $85,400 71-69-70-70–280 E

HONDA LPGA THAILAND PAR SCORES

Sunday At Siam Country Club (Pattaya Old Course) Chonburi, Thailand Purse: $1.5 million Yardage: 6,568; Par: 72 Final a-amateur Amy Yang, $225,000 67-66-71-69–273 -15 Yani Tseng, $106,941 66-72-70-67–275 -13 Mirim Lee, $106,941 67-69-70-69–275 -13 Stacy Lewis, $106,941 66-64-73-72–275 -13 Beatriz Recari, $57,612 72-71-70-63–276 -12 Sei Young Kim, $57,612 70-73-68-65–276 -12 Inbee Park, $38,536 70-74-68-65–277 -11

MLB SPRING TRAINING SCHEDULE TODAY’S GAMES

Baltimore vs. Detroit at Lakeland, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees vs. Philadelphia at Clearwater, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Pittsburgh vs. Toronto at Dunedin, Fla., 1:07 p.m.

San Francisco vs. Oakland at Mesa, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

Cleveland vs. Cincinnati at Goodyear, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

N.Y. Mets vs. Atlanta at Kissimmee, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Toronto vs. Pittsburgh at Bradenton, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Detroit vs. Baltimore at Sarasota, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Philadelphia vs. N.Y. Yankees at

Tampa, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Oakland vs. San Francisco at Scottsdale, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

Kansas City vs. Texas at Surprise, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

Chicago White Sox vs. L.A. Dodgers at Glendale, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

Cincinnati vs. Cleveland at Goodyear, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

San Diego vs. Seattle at Peoria, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

Arizona vs. Colorado at Scottsdale, Ariz., 3:10 p.m.

EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION

Atlanta Washington Miami Charlotte Orlando CENTRAL DIVISION Chicago Cleveland Milwaukee Indiana Detroit

W 37 24 23 13 12

L 22 33 34 46 46

Pct .627 .421 .404 .220 .207

GB – 12 13 24 241/2

W 47 34 25 24 19

L 12 26 33 33 42

Pct .797 .567 .431 .421 .311

GB – 131/2 211/2 22 29

W 37 37 32 25 23

L 23 24 27 34 36

Pct .617 .607 .542 .424 .390

GB – 1/2 41/2 111/2 131/2

L 16 18 22 23 27

Pct .724 .695 .639 .610 .542

GB – 11/2 41/2 61/2 101/2

L 19 27 35 39 45

Pct .672 .550 .397 .339 .224

GB – 7 16 191/2 26

L 11 21 29 37 42

Pct .807 .650 .517 .351 .276

GB – 81/2 161/2 26 301/2

WESTERN CONFERENCE SOUTHWEST DIVISION W Memphis 42 Houston 41 Dallas 39 San Antonio 36 New Orleans 32 NORTHWEST DIVISION W Portland 39 Oklahoma City 33 Utah 23 Denver 20 Minnesota 13 PACIFIC DIVISION W Golden State 46 L.A. Clippers 39 Phoenix 31 Sacramento 20 L.A. Lakers 16

USC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Carolina controls NCAA bracket destiny with strong SEC showing

BY WILLIE T. SMITH III Greenville News

NBA STANDINGS

By The Associated Press Toronto Brooklyn Boston Philadelphia New York SOUTHEAST DIVISION

THE SUMTER ITEM

SUNDAY’S GAMES

L.A. Clippers 96, Chicago 86 Houston 105, Cleveland 103, OT Portland 110, Sacramento 99 Charlotte 98, Orlando 83 Indiana 94, Philadelphia 74 Golden State 106, Boston 101 Oklahoma City 108, L.A. Lakers 101 New Orleans 99, Denver 92

MONDAY’S GAMES

Toronto at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Phoenix at Miami, 7:30 p.m.

Golden State at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.

L.A. Clippers at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

New Orleans at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

COLUMBIA— If the University of South Carolina takes care of business in the Southeastern Conference women’s basketball tournament, its path to the Final Four will be less complicated than in any of its recent postseason excursions.

The Gamecocks’ loss Sunday at No. 15 Kentucky has eliminated their wiggle room, however. Charlie Crème, a women’s basketball bracketologist for ESPN, has Carolina as his No. 3 overall seed — behind Connecticut and Notre Dame — entering the postseason.

Crème said USC probably would have to advance at least to the SEC Tournament final to remain there or improve its standing.

“Notre Dame’s credentials are pretty strong,” Crème said. “For what it’s worth, and I don’t know that it is a ton at that level, but Notre Dame is the No. 1 RPI team with the No. 2 strength of schedule.

“They are a little bit above South Carolina in both categories. Notre Dame is right there, so if South Carolina were to stumble I don’t see a scenario playing out where South Carolina is not a No. 1 seed right now. I don’t anticipate they are going to have too big of an issue in the

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kentucky’s Alexis Jennings (35) shoots under pressure from South Carolina’s Aleighsa Welch, middle, and Asia Dozier during the Lady Wildcats’ 67-56 victory on Sunday in Lexington, Ky. SEC Tournament, at least until they get the semifinals.

“They would have to lose a really bad game not to get a No. 1.”

But to make sure the Gamecocks (27-2) hold on to a No. 1 seed and to remain in the nearby Greensboro (N.C.) Region, they need to keep winning. Columbia would still serve as a host for the first two rounds of the tournament, but should the Gamecocks advance, they would much prefer a short drive to Greensboro rather than an assignment in one of

the other regions — Albany, New York; Oklahoma City, or Spokane, Washington.

On Monday, Crème placed USC in the Oklahoma City bracket in his ESPN blog.

“If Notre Dame were to surpass them, then Notre Dame would get first crack and Notre Dame would probably go to Greensboro,” Crème said. “I think the scenarios that play out would favor South Carolina being in Greensboro, but there is an outside chance they could end up in Oklahoma City.

TODAY’S GAMES

L.A. Lakers at Charlotte, 7 p.m.

Boston at Cleveland, 7 p.m.

Sacramento at New York, 7 p.m.

Houston at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.

Washington at Chicago, 8 p.m.

Utah at Memphis, 8 p.m.

Milwaukee at Denver, 9 p.m.

BASKETBALL ROUNDUP

Second-ranked UVA tops Syracuse 59-47

NHL STANDINGS

By The Associated Press EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION GP W L OT Pts GF Montreal 62 41 16 5 87 171 Tampa Bay 64 38 20 6 82 210 Detroit 61 35 15 11 81 180 Boston 62 31 22 9 71 165 Florida 63 28 22 13 69 154 Ottawa 60 27 23 10 64 171 Toronto 63 25 33 5 55 170 Buffalo 63 19 39 5 43 123 METROPOLITAN DIVISION GP W L OT Pts GF N.Y. Islanders 64 41 21 2 84 205 N.Y. Rangers 61 38 17 6 82 192 Pittsburgh 62 36 17 9 81 181 Washington 64 34 20 10 78 188 Philadelphia 63 27 25 11 65 168 New Jersey 63 26 27 10 62 141 Columbus 62 26 32 4 56 160 Carolina 61 24 30 7 55 142

GA 135 171 159 161 178 163 193 212 GA 179 152 155 159 183 164 196 162

WESTERN CONFERENCE CENTRAL DIVISION Nashville St. Louis Chicago Winnipeg Minnesota Colorado Dallas PACIFIC DIVISION

GP W L OT Pts GF 63 41 15 7 89 191 63 40 18 5 85 197 63 37 21 5 79 183 64 32 20 12 76 179 62 33 22 7 73 176 63 27 25 11 65 167 63 27 26 10 64 196

GA 151 159 150 172 161 182 210

GP W L OT Pts GF GA Anaheim 64 40 17 7 87 189 177 Vancouver 62 36 23 3 75 180 167 Calgary 62 33 25 4 70 175 160 Los Angeles 62 29 21 12 70 166 162 San Jose 63 30 25 8 68 175 181 Arizona 63 20 36 7 47 138 214 Edmonton 63 18 35 10 46 143 208 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss.

SUNDAY’S GAMES

Vancouver 6, St. Louis 5, SO Winnipeg 5, Los Angeles 2 Florida 4, Tampa Bay 3 Pittsburgh 5, Columbus 3 Washington 4, Toronto 0 Anaheim 3, Dallas 1

MONDAY’S GAMES

Nashville at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.

Carolina at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

Montreal at San Jose, 10 p.m.

TODAY’S GAMES

Nashville at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Calgary at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Washington at Columbus, 7 p.m.

Buffalo at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.

Toronto at Florida, 7:30 p.m.

Ottawa at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

N.Y. Islanders at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Anaheim at Arizona, 9 p.m.

Los Angeles at Edmonton, 9:30 p.m.

San Jose at Vancouver, 10 p.m.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Anthony Gill scored 17 points to lead four Virginia players in double figures and the second-ranked Cavaliers beat Syracuse 59-47 on Monday night to capture the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title for the second straight year.

This was the supreme test for the offensively challenged Orange (1812, 9-8), who had averaged 58 points in the three previous games, two of them losses. Virginia (28-1, 16-1) entered the game leading the nation in scoring defense (50.1) and had limited three opponents — Rutgers (26), Harvard (27) and Georgia Tech (28) to fewer than 30 points.

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PHILADELPHIA — DeMar DeRozan scored a season-high 35 points, Lou

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AUSTIN, Texas — Isaiah Taylor made a teardrop shot in the lane with 4.8 seconds remaining to give Texas a 61-59 victory over No. 14 Baylor in overtime, snapping the Bears’ four-game winning streak and the Longhorns’ four-game losing streak.

Texas (18-12) improved to 7-10 in the Big 12 with one game remaining, keeping its hopes for an NCAA tournament bid alive.

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SPORTS

THE SUMTER ITEM

NASCAR

Johnson pulls away for another Atlanta Sprint Cup victory

BY PAUL NEWBERRY The Associated Press HAMPTON, Ga. — The season just started. The calendar hasn’t even turned to spring.

Yet Jimmie Johnson has all but wrapped up a shot at his record-tying seventh NASCAR Sprint Cup title.

Quickly establishing he’s one of the drivers to beat — boy, does that sound familiar — Johnson pulled away after the final restart with 13 laps remaining to win Sunday at JOHNSON Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The six-time champion picked off drivers left and right after starting near the back in the second race of the year, having failed to get in a qualifying run because of inspection issues.

By the end, the No. 48 Chevrolet left no doubt it was the fastest car on the track, cruising across the finish line a comfortable 1.803 seconds ahead of one of the race favorites, defending Cup champion Kevin Harvick.

“I knew through about two sections of corners that we were going to have an awesome day,” Johnson said.

It was the 71st victory of his career, and his fourth at the 1.54-mile Atlanta track. That should be enough to give him a spot in the season-ending Chase, going for a title that would tie him with Richard Petty and the late Dale Earnhardt.

“I definitely think it gives you a sign of who’s going to be competitive,” said Johnson, who didn’t pick up the first of his four 2014 wins until the 12th race. “It takes the pressure off in some ways.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was third, followed by Daytona 500 winner Joey Logano, who started from the pole, led 84 laps early in the race and, along with Harvick, was expected to be one of the drivers to beat.

Of course, never count out Johnson.

“When he’s on, really switched on, and the car’s in his comfort zone, it’s amazing

FOLDS OF HONOR QUIKTRIP 500 RESULTS The Associated Press Sunday At Atlanta Motor Speedway Hampton, Ga. Lap length: 1.54 miles (Start position in parentheses) 1. (37) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 325 laps, 126.7 rating, 47 points, $335,901.

2. (2) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 325, 131.2, 44, $284,080.

3. (9) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 325, 120.4, 42, $184,755.

4. (1) Joey Logano, Ford, 325, 126.9, 41, $198,838.

5. (36) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 325, 97.6, 40, $170,891.

6. (14) Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet, 325, 103.2, 38, $150,615.

7. (11) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 325, 86.6, 37, $152,278.

8. (22) Brett Moffitt, Toyota, 325, 77.5, 37, $144,284.

9. (12) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 325, 96, 36, $159,261.

10. (7) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 325, 93.9, 34, $144,720.

11. (23) Aric Almirola, Ford, 325, 82.1, 33, $148,746.

12. (5) Carl Edwards, Toyota, 325, 105.7, 32, $107,285.

13. (13) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 325, 79, 31, $118,085.

14. (10) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 324, 99.1, 30, $122,985.

15. (21) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 324, 74.5, 29, $132,943.

16. (18) Danica Patrick, Chevrolet, 324, 70.4, 28, $115,760.

17. (38) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 324, 61, 0, $120,460.

18. (17) David Ragan, Toyota, 323, 78.1, 26, $146,651.

19. (29) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 323, 63.4, 25, $145,510.

20. (16) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 323, 63.2, 24, $126,593.

what he can do with a race car,” said Chad Knaus, Johnson’s crew chief.

After a big crash on lap 305 brought out the red flag for 9 minutes to clean up the mess, Johnson found himself at the front of the pack. When the green flag waved, he got a good jump off the line, fended off Hendrick Motorsports teammate Earnhardt going down the backstretch, and was firmly in control by the time the cars came back around in front of the stands.

There was no catching him from there.

“I got outside of him there on that last restart, but I knew in turns three and four I didn’t have the preferred line,” said Earnhardt, whose chances were further damaged when his car struck some debris.

“He was pretty quick around the bottom.”

Johnson was among four former champions, along with teammate Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth, who never got on the track during qualifying. Thirteen cars were stuck in the garage after failing to pass inspection.

TENNIS FROM PAGE B1 of USC Sumter. Many Sumterites love tennis, so it’s a good fit for the college and the city.”

USC Sumter Dean Dr. Michael Sonntag said the addition of the programs helps expand the school’s brand.

“We appreciate the value of intercollegiate athletics and what it brings to our university,” Sonntag said in a press release. “We are excited to introduce new students to our campus and appreciate the strong partnerships we have built with the city of Sumter.”

Watts hopes to have a head coach for both programs in place in the next couple of days.

The only other National Junior College Athletic Association Region X school to have men’s and women’s tennis programs is Spartanburg Methodist College, according to Watts. Sumter will use the same formula for scheduling that SMC does, going against junior varsity teams at 4-year schools in South Carolina and neighboring states.

“We’re hoping that this will allow some of our local students to play at this level, and hopefully, if they have success here they can go on to a 4-year school,” Watts said.

After not having any intercollegiate athletic teams since 1979, USC Sumter got back into the athletics business in the 2007-08 school year. It started with baseball and softball, two programs that have been very successful. The baseball program is one of the best in Region X and has been nationally ranked on different occasions. The softball program has been steady under

head coach Adrienne Cataldo, who has been the head coach since its first season.

However, USCS has struggled when trying to establish other programs. Men’s and women’s soccer programs were started in ‘08-09 and lasted four years, going through three coaches in that time frame. Also, the women’s

21. (8) Sam Hornish Jr., Ford, 323, 60.7, 23, $129,480.

22. (26) David Gilliland, Ford, 322, 50.6, 23, $121,868.

23. (42) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 322, 53.4, 21, $110,982.

24. (25) Clint Bowyer, Toyota, 321, 73.9, 21, $134,768.

25. (19) Greg Biffle, Ford, 320, 60.4, 19, $130,843.

26. (6) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 320, 76.3, 18, $127,018.

27. (24) Michael McDowell, Ford, 320, 43.8, 17, $95,310.

28. (31) Brendan Gaughan, Chevrolet, 320, 40.1, 0, $97,785.

29. (32) Michael Annett, Chevrolet, 319, 37, 15, $97,510.

30. (39) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 319, 52.6, 14, $126,074.

31. (27) Mike Bliss, Ford, 318, 36.7, 0, $96,710.

32. (33) Josh Wise, Ford, 318, 31.4, 12, $94,035.

33. (28) Joe Nemechek, Ford, 318, 39.2, 0, $93,860.

34. (30) J.J. Yeley, Toyota, 316, 30.4, 0, $93,710.

35. (40) Jeb Burton, Toyota, 316, 30.5, 9, $95,035.

36. (20) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, accident, 302, 53.8, 8, $101,370.

37. (41) Cole Whitt, Ford, engine, 295, 42.5, 7, $93,204.

38. (4) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 284, 93, 7, $111,105.

39. (15) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 282, 44.4, 5, $120,801.

40. (3) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, accident, 256, 73.4, 4, $110,356.

41. (35) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, accident, 256, 71.3, 3, $124,401.

42. (34) Ron Hornaday Jr., Chevrolet, rear gear, 187, 24.8, 2, $71,865.

43. (43) Landon Cassill, Chevrolet, engine, 92, 37.6, 0, $68,365.

Harvick, who qualified on the outside of the front row, also was sent to the back after blowing an engine during Saturday’s practice. He quickly worked his way through slower cars and dominated for long stretches, leading a race-high 116 laps. He settled for the runner-up spot for the second week in a row, having finishing behind Logano at Daytona.

For much of the day, it was clean race even with a new rules package for non-restrictor plate races, which reduced horsepower and drag while giving drivers a device to adjust the car’s balance at nearly 200 mph.

The first big crash came on lap 257, taking out Gordon, Denny Hamlin and Jamie McMurray. Then, on lap 305, Greg Biffle clipped Joe Nemechek going into the third turn, gobbling up four other cars and bringing out the red flag.

In the four-car melee started

by Hamlin, Gordon skidded off the inside of the track and smashed into an exposed inside wall on the backstretch — just beyond a SAFER barrier that would’ve eased the blow.

team didn’t play two seasons for various reasons.

Men’s and women’s basketball teams were established in ‘11-12, but both folded after just one year.

In its initial foray into intercollegiate athletics, USC Sumter had a nationally ranked men’s tennis program. USCS had the program for 10 years, posting a 120-50 record, being nationally ranked three of those seasons.

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MOTA FROM PAGE B1 for a deep double-leg takedown for two points with around 12 seconds left.

Palmer tried to roll through and reverse it, but Mota stopped it and got two more points for a near fall for the final score.

“I knew it was my time,” he said. “I felt confident in myself.”

Sumter head coach Cody Slaughter said Mota saved his best match for last.

“Technically I think it was the best match he has ever wrestled,” Slaughter said of Mota, who finished the year with a 61-4 record. “He was technically sound, kept himself in good position and did a good job of reacting to things the way he should have.”

Mota defeated York’s Chance Dickson in his opening match. He pinned Dickson, the upper state No. 4 seed, 37 seconds into the third period.

In his semifinal match, Mota won by decision3-2 over Goose Creek’s Christian Rubin. While the score was close, Mota said he felt in control during the match.

“I felt like I could take him down when I needed to,” Mota said. “I decided to conserve my energy (for the championship match).”

Mota said he had a lot of people help him in reaching his ultimate

goal.

“I thank all of the coaches I’ve had over the years,” he said. “And I definitely couldn’t have done it without my parents. My parents have been to everyone of my matches over the years.”

Sumter’s David Pringle finished second in the 220pound class. He lost to Julian Gibb of Summerville 5-3 in overtime.

Pringle, the lower state No. 2 seed, finished with a 53-9 record.

“Pringle did a heck of a job.” Slaughter said. “He tied it up (at 3-3) when the other guy was called for stalling and he got a point.

“To me, Pringle was doing all the work in overtime. The other guy was waiting for a mistake. He (Pringle) attempted to take a shot and didn’t get it.”

Pringle defeated upper state No. 3 Josh English of Rock Hill 3-2. In the semifinal match, Pringle pinned upper state champion Pedro Arias of Riverside with three seconds remaining in the second period.

Sumter heavyweight Alex Perales went 0-2. He was pinned by upper state No. 2 seed Stephan Garber of Riverside in his opening match. Perales, the lower state No. 3 seed, was pinned by Rock Hill’s Alan Salgado one minute into the match.

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Keeping Sumter Beautiful

By Breann Liebermann, Clemson Extension - Water Resources Extension Agent Talking Trash about NJ

three cleanups every year and has selected Turkey Creek as the site of Yes, I’m from NJ! When I was in our upcoming cleanup. On Saturday, college in NY, people constantly March 14, from 10am-12, voluntalked trash about NJ. It was mostly teers will meet at the intersection of because they thought NJ had tons of Missouri Street and Fulton Street in garbage everywhere. It turns out Sumter and clear trash from the that much of NJ was not like that at creek and the surrounding roads all! Sure, there were some particuand wooded areas. We will provide larly nasty areas, but in a lot of the trash bags, water, gloves and grabstate, people would never dare litter. bers. This is the perfect chance for I’ve found the same is true in you to help beautify our communiSumter. There are some pristine ty. spots in Sumter, but there are also You will have another chance to many places where you can find beautify Sumter on Saturday, March more garbage than you thought was 28. Amanda McNulty, our wellpossible. known horticulture agent and host Turkey Creek is one of those plac- of Making it Grow, will lead a cleanes. I went out to Turkey Creek a few up in Manchester State Forest. Meet days ago to scout out the area and at the utility shed behind the main found all sorts of trash: a printer, office on Headquarters Road. You beer boxes, a tire, and cans of every will be given trash bags, water, brand of soda imaginable. It’s really gloves, and grabbers. There will be a a shame because Turkey Creek is celebratory picnic afterwards and up one of two main streams that go to $1,200 in beautification awards to through Sumter. It was actually just be won by military, civic, and school a small ditch back in the 70’s that groups with the largest number of overflowed so frequently that the volunteers.

Army Corps of Engineers came in For more information, call and deepened it to prevent flooding. Clemson Extension, 773-5561, or Now, it has become a pit for garvisit the Sumter Stormwater bage. Some trash is thrown right in Solutions Facebook page at facethe creek, while other litter is book.com/sumterstormwatersoluthrown in the surrounding areas and tions. washed into the creek by stormwater when it rains.

Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all Sumter Stormwater Solutions, a ages, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, group that works to enhance water resource protection through educa- national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital or family status and is tion and involvement, organizes an equal opportunity employer.

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SPORTS

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

SPORTS ITEMS

THE SUMTER ITEM

TIGERS FROM PAGE B1

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Padraig Harrington displays the trophy he received after defeating Daniel Berger in a 2-hole playoff to win the Honda Classic on Monday in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

four errors, including one apiece by the team’s generally sure-handed infielders of shortstop Marcus Mooney, second baseman Max Schrock and first baseman Kyle Martin. Schrock and Martin, the Gamecocks three and four hitters in the lineup, were a combined 0-of-8 with two strikeouts.

The two ended South Carolina’s best chance to get back into things trailing 2-0 in the sixth after Gene Cone led off with a walk and took second on Elliott Caldwell’s single. Schrock swung away and into an easy double play. Martin followed with a strike out to strand Cone at third.

“Their good hitters made plays and our good hitters couldn’t do much,” South Carolina coach Chad Holbrook said.

That was the case for much of the three-game series. Clemson knocked around South Carolina

starter Wil Crowe in an 11-4 victory on Friday night to start things. While South Carolina rebounded Saturday with a 4-1 win, it was more about starter Jack Wynkoop’s performance on the mound than the Gamecock batters at the plate.

Clemson coach Jack Leggett entered the series under scrutiny from Tiger fans, several wondering when their team would come out on top once again.

Leggett said after Saturday’s loss that his team’s season would not be defined had they fallen yet again to South Carolina.

Koerner and his hitters made sure he didn’t have to worry about it. “I’m just really excited about how we played out there,” he said.

Reed Rohlman had three hits and an RBI double in Clemson’s two-run ninth.

Duggar and Krieger had two hits each for the Tigers.

“We’re very focused, very locked in, very confi-

dent,” Leggett said. “We had three good games.

There are three good games in the series as there always is and we happened to play just a little bit better.”

For Holbrook and the Gamecocks, there are questions to answer with Southeastern Conference play two weeks away. He’s disappointed with his defense and hitting — and maybe even some leadership.

Schrock had said the Gamecocks were somewhat sluggish in their approach, something Holbrook said was unacceptable for the program.

“We were fearful today, timid,” he said. “That’s not the way South Carolina is supposed to play.”

Koerner believes Clemson is a club on the rise and showed that promise against the Gamecocks.

“I think it shows we’re one of the top 25 teams in the country,” he said.

“We’re a force to be reckoned with.”

Laurence Manning to host baseball 12-0 Trojans to be measured camp on Saturday against 4 straight ranked foes COLLEGE BASEBALL

The 1-day Laurence Manning Academy Baseball Camp will be held on Saturday, March 7.

The camp will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will be held at the school. It is open to boys in grades 1-6 and is $10 per player.

LMA head coach Barry Hatfield and his staff and players will conduct the camp.

All proceeds from the camp will go to the baseball program. For more information, contact Hatfield at (803) 2364768.

VARSITY GIRLS SOCCER SUMTER 4 RIDGE VIEW 0 Sumter High School’s varsity girls soccer team opened its season with a 4-0 victory over Ridge View on Monday at the SHS field.

Jessica Harris led the Lady Gamecocks with two goals.

Jaidon Martin had a goal and an assist while Emma Graham had a goal and Maddie Durant an assist.

Katie Walker had the shutout in goal.

Sumter plays host to Camden today at 7 p.m.

VARSITY BOYS GOLF SUMTER FINISHES SECOND

NORTH CHARLESTON – Sumter High School finished second in the Patriot Invitational at Wescott Plantation on Monday.

The Gamecocks shot a 313.

They were led by Charlie Dallery, who shot a 74 to finish fourth overall and earn a spot on the all-tournament team.

Dixon Flowers shot a 76 to tie for seventh. Daniel Spencer shot a 79 and Austin Baker an 83.

low-40s with light rain and wind gusting to 20 mph, Kempter birdied the final three holes of regulation for a 1-under 71 and got in the playoff when Lopez bogeyed the final hole for a 72.

RAVENS CORNERBACK HAMPTON ARRESTED, CUT BY TEAM

CHARLOTTE — The Baltimore Ravens waived cornerback Victor Hampton after his weekend arrest in Charlotte on a charge of driving while impaired and speeding.

Ravens spokesman Chad Steele said the team waived Hampton on Monday.

North Carolina Highway Patrol Master Trooper John Burgin said Hampton was driving 100 mph in a 55-mph zone on Interstate 77 early Saturday.

Hampton also was charged with reckless driving and having an open container of alcohol in his car.

Steele said the 22-year-old former South Carolina defensive back was signed to a reserve contract in January and had not played for the Ravens.

COWBOYS FRANCHISE TAG BRYANT FOR $12.8 MILLION

IRVING, Texas — Dez Bryant will get four more months to work on a long-term deal with the Cowboys and make $12.8 million next year after the team used its franchise tag on the star wide receiver.

Bryant led the NFL with a club-record 16 touchdowns in the final year of a rookie contract that paid $11.8 million over five years.

From staff, wire reports

BY ERIC OLSON The Associated Press At 12-0, Southern California is off to its best start since 1988 and among four unbeaten teams in Division I. Yet the Trojans’ highest ranking this week is No. 20, and they don’t appear in two of the major polls.

Voters aren’t impressed that nine of the 12 wins have come against Towson, Oakland and Fordham, which have a combined record of 1-23. The other three wins were against Cal State Fullerton, Kentucky and Fresno State, which are a combined 18-13.

“I think people have their perceptions of this team, and that’s fine,” coach Dan Hubbs said Monday. “Had we gotten into regionals last year like we thought we should, it might be a different conversation. But we’re comfortable being the team that’s overlooked and having to go out and put it on the field.”

A lot will be learned about USC this week. First up TuesHUBBS day is a visit to UC Santa Barbara, ranked as high as No. 18. Then comes this weekend’s Dodger Stadium Baseball Classic, where the Trojans face a TCU team ranked No. 1 in one poll, a Vanderbilt team that’s No. 1 in three polls and a UCLA team that’s No. 4 in two polls.

The Trojans returned most of the club that went 29-24 for the program’s first above-.500 record since 2005. A season-ending series win over top-ranked Oregon State had them believing they would make the NCAA tournament.

“Not getting in was a punch in the gut,” Hubbs said. “When we came back to practice, I could tell the kids had a renewed sense of urgency.”

Catcher Garrett Stubbs is batting .429 to lead a balanced offense. No. 1 starter Brent Wheatley (1-0, 2.12 ERA) has 25 strikeouts in 17 innings. Closer Kyle Davis, who was expected to be the No. 1 starter until injuring an ankle last fall, has five saves.

• DRAINAGE WORK • FRENCH DRAINS •SURFACE DRAINS

HARRINGTON WINS HONDA CLASSIC IN A PLAYOFF

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Whether he was piling up majors or playing so poorly that he lost his PGA Tour card, Padraig Harrington never wavered from one goal in golf. Just get him anywhere near the lead with nine holes to play, and he would happily take his chances.

He ran off four straight birdies on the back nine to take the lead. He gave it back with a 5-iron into the water for double bogey on the par-3 17th. He made a 15-foot birdie putt to force a playoff. And given a shot at redemption, he hit 5-iron to 3 feet on the 17th to win on the second playoff hole when 21-year-old rookie Daniel Berger hit into the water and made double bogey.

KEMPTER WINS FIRST SYMETRA TOUR TITLE

BEAUMONT, Calif. — Katie Kempter won the Volvik Championship at Morongo Golf Club in cold, wet conditions Sunday for her first Symetra Tour title, beating Lee Lopez with a par on the second hole of a playoff.

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“We haven’t had to rely on one person to get it all done,” Hubbs said. “The kids flatout believe they can win.”

A look around the nation: BIGGIO’S SON LEADS IRISH

Notre Dame has won nine straight during its 10-1 start. Second baseman Cavan Biggio is batting .525 with seven doubles and two homers. He’s the son of retired Houston Astros great Craig Biggio, who was elected to the Hall of Fame in January.

GEORGIA SOUTHERN SWEEPS

Georgia Southern won three straight one-run games to sweep Georgia for the first time since 1993 and win the series for the fourth year in a row. Jason Richman earned two of the wins, striking out 14 in 9 1-3 innings over the three games.

NO-HITTERS

Alex Robinett pitched the fifth no-hitter in Army history, striking out 10 in a 1-0 victory over Longwood on Saturday. Long Beach State’s Chris Mathewson and Darren McCaughan on Sunday combined for the first no-hitter in school history in a 4-0 win over Wichita State.

MATUELLA’S BRIEF RETURN

Top prospect Michael Matuella of Duke, who missed his start the previous weekend because of arm stiffness, worked one inning against Rider on Sunday. Matuella, who was on a pitch count, worked out of a bases-loaded jam after allowing consecutive singles to open the game.

ROBICHAUX WINS 1,000

Louisiana-Lafayette’s Tony Robichaux became the 17th active Division I coach to win 1,000 games. He reached the milestone with Saturday’s 6-5 victory over Alabama.

“The important thing to me is that all of these wins have come at a mid-major school, and we have had to claw and fight for every one of them,” he said.

SPORTS

THE SUMTER ITEM

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

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B5

PRO BASEBALL

Pierzynski brings experience behind plate to young Braves

BY JEFF BERLINICKE The Associated Press KISSIMMEE, Fla. — A.J. Pierzynski has been called a lot of things during his lengthy major league career, and not many of them are very nice.

Pierzynski realizes that he is known for being an irritant, a pest, and quite a handful for any team wearing a different colored uniform.

He’s also one of the most respected players in baseball as far as his home clubhouse. He said that all he cares about is being a good teammate and he doesn’t care what opponents think about him.

New to the Braves, the

catcher was laughing it up with the Atlanta players during a workout this weekend.

He knows he may have annoyed some of them along the way, but Pierzynski has a way of endearing himself to new teammates.

When the Braves signed him over the offseason, it became his seventh major league stop. He split time with the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox last season before signing with the Braves, who are looking for a mentor to young Christian Bethancourt.

Pierzynski has played in five postseasons and was the catcher when the Chicago White Sox won the 2005 World Series.

He knows he is in Atlanta partly to work with Bethancourt, but he’s also with the Braves to win.

“This team has a tradition of winning and I want to be a part of that. I still have a lot to give this team and it is a great group of guys,” he said.

Pierzynski said he knows his role with the Braves. He’ll mix time with Bethancourt and do some teaching on the side.

So far in spring training, Pierzynski seems to be one of the leaders on a team that went through a transitional offseason. He said he knows he isn’t on the team to make friends, even though his team attitude is already evident around the batting cage.

ployed by and later retired from the NYS Department of Corrections.

When his health allowed, Jeff was an enthusiastic photographer and was an avid Civil War history buff who enjoyed participating in Civil War re-enactment battles.

Jeff was a loving father to Christopher Brown (Caitlin Flintz) and Katelynn Cozzy (Stephen) of Latham, New York, and grandfather to Amaya Jamison, Kayla Cozzy and Jacob Brown. He is also survived by his brother, Mark Brown (Shelly) of Sumter.

Private services and burial will be held in New York.

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.

Born in Coshocton, Ohio, she was the daughter of William Earl Elliott and Betty Lou Roof Elliott. Linda enjoyed sewing and was very active in the Girl Scouts as both a child and an adult. She loved camping and playing cards with her friends and family. Her true joy in life was spending time with her grandchildren. She will be remembered as a loving daughter, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She will be dearly missed by all that knew her.

Linda attended Aldersgate United Methodist Church.

Surviving in addition to her parents are: three daughters, Carrie Gulledge and her husband, William, Jessica Young and her husband, Terry, and Kimberly Christopher and her husband, Arthur, all of Sumter; two brothers, Kevin Elliott and his wife, Candice, of Lugoff, and Kris Elliott and his wife, Carol, of Taylors; five grandchildren, Christian Gulledge, Daniel Davis Jr., Keyon Young, Kamora Grice and Keyra Grice; five nieces Michele Swanson, Chris Thyret, Jennifer Valdez, Megan Elliott and Dylan Elliott; and special friend, Henry Gregg.

Linda was preceded in death by a sister, Lori Sue Elliott, and brother, Kip Alan Elliott.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Aldersgate United Methodist Church with the Rev. Regina Haag and the Rev. Webb Belangia officiating.

The family will receive friends at the home of Linda’s parents William and Betty Elliott.

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

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Atlanta hopes veteran catcher A.J. Pierzynski can bring some leadership to a young pitching staff this season.

OBITUARIES ANNIS SPIVEY Annis Jean Blackman Spivey, 84, widow of Charlie Clifford Spivey, died Saturday, February 28, 2015, at her home.

Born in Darlington, she was the daughter of the late Robert Arthur “R.A.” Blackman and Maude Olive Hatchell Blackman Jordan.

Mrs. Spivey was a member of High Hill Baptist Church in Darlington and was retired from Bank of America.

Surviving are a daughter, Claire Spivey Powers of Sumter; a son, Ronald Thomas Spivey and his wife, Sonia, of Sumter; a granddaughter, Lauren Scott and her husband, Jeremy, of Leeds, Alabama; four great-grandchildren, Aliza, Lucy, Mo and Caleb, all of Leeds; and a brother, Ned J. Blackman, of Hartsville.

Memorial services will be private.

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.

KELSEY L. COUSAR MANNING — Kelsey Laron Cousar, 23, died Monday, March 2, 2015, at Clarendon Memorial Hospital, Manning.

He was born Nov. 19, 1991, in Florence, a son of Leisa Cousar and the late James Hilton and stepson of Allen McFadden.

The family is receiving friends at 7 Walker St., Manning.

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

IDA LOU BROUGHTON LYNCHBURG — Ida Lou Monroe Broughton, 90, widowed of Napoleon Broughton, died Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center, Sumter. She was born Nov. 1, 1924, in the Goodwill community of Sumter County, a daughter of the late George Monroe and Ruth Cooper Monroe.

The family is receiving friend at her residence, 1520 Narrow Paved Road, Lynchburg, and at the home of her daughter, Donise B. White, 345 Freedom Blvd., Sumter.

These services have been entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home, Manning.

JEFFREY D. BROWN Jeffrey David Brown, 56, of Sumter, passed away Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015, at McElveen Manor.

Born June 1, 1958, in Wilmington, North Carolina, he was the son of the late Ashley Dewitt Brown and Dorothy Marie Hulgan Brown.

Jeff graduated from Anderson College in 1980 and proudly served in the U.S. Navy until 1983. He was then em-

CORINNE J. NICHOLES Corinne J. Nicholes, 87, widow of James M. Nicholes, died Sunday, March 1, 2015, at her home.

Born in Sumter County, she was a daughter of the late Albert J. Jackson and the late Eunice Stone Jackson. She was a charter member of Crosspoint Baptist Church and was a former member of Crosswell Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school for many years. She was an active member of the Sumter YMCA and was formerly employed at Sumter School District 17.

Survivors include a daughter, Karen N. Player; a sister, Mary “Sally” Jennings; and an adopted daughter, Merriellen Houtz Edge, all of Sumter.

She was preceded in death by three brothers, A.M. Jackson, Phillip Wade Jackson and Herman D. Jackson.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Crosspoint Baptist Church with the Rev. Ron Richardson and the Rev. John Sorrells officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park.

Pallbearers will be Ronnie Jennings, Jeff Jennings, Phillip Jackson, Daniel Rowland, Farrell Jones and Ricky Nunnery.

Honorary pallbearers will be deacons and former deacons of Crosspoint Baptist Church.

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

Memorials may be made to Crosspoint Baptist Church, 2755 Carter Road, Sumter, SC 29150.

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

LINDA CHRISTOPHER Linda Kay Elliott Christopher, 60, died on Sunday, March 1, 2015, at her residence.

EVERLENA SCARBOROUGH Everlena Yates “Mae” Scarborough, 87, widow of Spurgen Scarborough, entered eternal rest on Friday, Feb., 27, 2015, at the Sumter East Health and Rehab Center.

Born in Lee County on May 5, 1927, she was the daughter of the late Jacob Yates and Maybelle Caper Yates.

She was a faithful member of Mechanicville Untied Methodist Church and served on the UM Women Ministry.

She was educated in the public schools of Lee County.

She was employed as a cook for Lee County Memorial Hospital until she retired.

She is survived by a son, Moses (Mary) Yates; a brother, Luther (Amy) Yates; a sister, Estell Morgan; two aunts, Viola Capers and Anna Lou Jackson; four grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Public viewing from 3:30 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Funeral service will be at 1

p.m. Wednesday at Mechanicville UM Church Lake Ashwood Road, Sumter, with Pastor Kenneth Carter. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family is receiving visitors at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Moses and Mary Yates, 1185 Pulpit St. Online memorials can be sent to comfhltj@sc.rr.com.

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

VERA M. WATSON Vera M. Watson entered eternal rest on Sunday, March 1, 2015, at the McCoy Memorial Nursing Center, Bishopville. The family is receiving friends at the home of her sister, Mrs. Fannie Williams, 223 Ridge St., Bishopville. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Wilson Funeral Home, 403 S. Main St., Bishopville.

RUSSELL SANDIFER SR. Russell Eugene “Genie” Sandifer Sr., 56, husband of Melanie Sandifer, died Saturday, February 28, 2015, at his home.

Born on April 28, 1958, in Spangdahlem, Germany, he was the son of the late James S. Sandifer Sr. and the late Helga Martin Sandifer.

Survivors include his wife; five children, Kelli Bowers, Russell Sandifer Jr., Steven Sandifer, Taylor Sandifer and Samuel Sandifer; four grandchildren, Jamie, Hunter, Tyler, and Brayden; five brothers, James Sandifer Jr., Bobby Sandifer (Teresa), Bruce Sandifer, William Sandifer (Shannon) and John Mark Sandifer (Jennifer); three sisters, Viola Williamson (Troy), Alice Hartzler (Aaron) and Priscilla Shirer (John); along with a number of nieces and nephews; and one special uncle and aunt, Ralph and Elfie Sandifer.

He joined the U.S. Army, and after six years, came home to become a successful small business owner.

Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Jerry M. Watson and the Rev. Dr. Brian Sandifer officiating.

The family will receive friends from 3 to 4 p.m.

Wednesday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home before the service.

The family would like to express its gratitude to the staff of Hospice Care of South Carolina for the exceptional care they have provided.

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

CARL E. WILLIS Carl E. Willis, 84, husband of the late Roberta Southall Willis, died Sunday, March 1, 2015, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born in Homestead, Pennsylvania, he was a son of the late Gerald Willis and the late Glenda Elder Willis. He was a member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church and was a

volunteer at the Sumter VA Clinic. He retired from U.S. Steel after more than 30 years of service and was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. Survivors include a daughter, Mary Jane Schultz (Stephen) of Sumter; a son, Harry Willis (Gustine) of Pittsburg; seven grandchildren; 14 greatgrandchildren; a sister, Eleanor Kasiorek of Pennsylvania; a brother, Edward Willis of Florida; a brother-in-law, Charles Devey (Dorothy) of Pennsylvania; and a sister-inlaw, Patricia Southall of Pennsylvania.

Memorial services will be held at a later date.

Memorials may be made to Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 211 Alice Drive, Sumter, SC 29150.

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

ANNA N. JAMES Anna Nelson James, 88, departed this earthly life on Friday, Feb. 27, 2015, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center. She was born Sept. 12, 1926, to the late Frank Thomas and Estell Nelson Richardson in Clarendon County. She was the widow of Wash Chris James.

Mrs. Anna attended the public schools of Sumter County.

She was a faithful life member of Antioch UME Church, where she served on the Missionary, Prayer Ban, Pulpit Aid, Ministerial Wives Ministries, president of Senior Choir, class leader and building committee. She served in the general church as vice president of E.C.E. League, and as delegates for various conventions and delegate for the general conferences. She retired from Clarendon Memorial Hospital as a CNA. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two children, Bobby James and Rufus Leon James, and two aunts, Elizabeth Nelson Sanders and Posie Nelson Powell.

Survivors are: two sons, Frank Richardson and Washington (Ilona) James; two daughters, Dora (Isham) Polk and Betty Jones; two sisters, Louise T. James and Emma T. Ballard; one daughter-in-law, Georgia James; 17 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews other relatives and friends Funeral services will be held at noon Wednesday at Antioch Union Methodist Episcopal Church with the pastor the Rev. Barry Gadsden, assisting; the Rev. Mary L. Brialsford, the Rev. Dr. Richard James, the Rev. Gloria Brown and Bishop Leroy T. James. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Viewing for Mrs. James will be from 2 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

The family is receiving visitors at the home, 54 Morris St., Pinewood.

Online memorials can be sent to comfhltj@sc.rr.com.

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

B6

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COMICS

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

BIZARRO

SOUP TO NUTZ

ANDY CAPP

GARFIELD

BEETLE BAILEY

BORN LOSER

BLONDIE

ZITS

MOTHER GOOSE

DOG EAT DOUG

DILBERT

JEFF MACNELLY’S SHOE

Invitations don’t need to include everyone at work DEAR ABBY — I teach at a fairly small school. My grade-level teaching team consists of five teachers who work Dear Abby closely together.

ABIGAIL During the VAN BUREN last school year, one of my team members got engaged. This year, we’ve had a change of staff and now have a new member on our team. My colleague has not, and does not, plan to invite this new member to her wedding, although the rest of us are invited. The save-the-dates and shower invitations have all been hand-delivered at school, making it awkward for the per-

THE SUMTER ITEM

son who has not been invited.

I feel it wasn’t appropriate to include all but one of the team simply because she is new to the group. Am I correct in feeling that my colleague did not handle this appropriately?

Frustrated in the first grade DEAR FRUSTRATED — A wedding is not a children’s birthday party to which all the children must be invited if the invitations are handed out at school.

While it would have been more diplomatic if the bride had mailed or emailed the invitations to her teammates, she was in no way obligated to invite someone with whom she hadn’t worked.

DEAR ABBY — I have a man living with me as a boarder, paying weekly rent. He’s a friend as well, but not a

THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

close one.

I’m at a loss as to how to tell him he can’t use my bath towels, washcloth, bar soap, toothpaste or hairbrush. I’m tempted to tape a list on the bathroom mirror saying, “Please do not use the following,” then list the items I feel are too personal to share. I can’t imagine how someone would think it’s OK to use someone else’s personal things.

Grossed-out guy in the South DEAR GROSSED OUT — The thing about silence is that it implies consent. Obviously, your boarder knows or cares nothing about boundaries. If you don’t have the courage to tell him face-to-face that certain things are off-limits and what they are, then by all means tape a large sign to the bathroom mirror.

JUMBLE

SUDOKU

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME

By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

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

ACROSS 1 With 69-Across, subject of this puzzle 7 Portrayer of 1-/69-Across in “Sherlock Holmes” (2009) 14 Not straying from the subject 16 Satan 17 “The Diary of Anne Frank” police 18 Muscle-tobone connectors 19 Audio jack label 20 Took charge of 21 Wise folk 22 Rewrite for the screen 24 Set a price of 26 Northern California town that once had a palindromic bakery 29 Mentally sound 30 Live, in the studio 32 Kool-Aid instruction 33 Ostrich kin 35 “I __ Fine”: Beatles hit 37 Antlered beast 38 Portrayer of 1-/69-Across in the BBC’s “Sherlock” 42 World games org.

43 A bit open 44 “C’est la __” 45 Cry for seconds 47 Battery end 49 Rise dramatically 53 Sticking point 55 Game won by discarding all your cards 56 Iditarod jacket 57 Wood finish 59 DKNY rival 61 Press __ 62 Dannon yogurt brand 64 Natives of Tibet’s capital 66 Unlisted candidate 67 Erode, as savings 68 Portrayer of 1-/69-Across in CBS’ “Elementary” 69 See 1-Across DOWN 1 Rigid beliefs 2 Tableware company named for a New York town 3 ER diagnostic tool 4 Day care attendee 5 Eyeball-bending gallery display 6 TV host Kelly 7 Watercraft rider 8 Eye layer containing the iris 9 Dull-colored 10 Senior offi-

cials 11 It’s brewed in infusers 12 Political writer Coulter 13 Director Anderson 15 With 48Down, 1-/69-Across creator Arthur 23 Jury member 25 Paella spice 27 Ceramics oven 28 Noah’s flood insurance 30 Messagespelling board 31 Superman player Christopher 34 Former Boston commuter org.

36 “Welcome to Hawaii” gift 38 Secure in a harbor 39 Quotation

puzzle 40 Mork’s signoff 41 Southwestern tableland 42 Tough kid to handle 46 Thing 48 See 15-Down 50 Mork’s people 51 Quite like 52 Gives away to the cops 54 “Sold!” punctuator 56 Spanish silver 58 Four, on some sundials 60 “Major Barbara” playwright 62 Hole-making tool 63 French wine word 65 “Grab a chair”

CLASSIFIEDS

TUESDAY, MARCH 03, 2015

THE ITEM

B7

803-774-1234

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

CLASSIFIEDS For Sale or Trade

Announcements

Expert Tech, New & used heat pumps & A/C. Will install/repair, warranty; Compressor & labor $600.

Call 803-968-9549 or 843-992-2364

Abbegail Adams Micheals "youtube.com" Men of God marry Women of God And the rest of us DREAM

HD Utility Trailers all w/ 3,500 lb axles, extra tongue support - jack gate. 6x10 $1190; 6x12 $1290; 6x16 Tandem $1790; 803-972-0900

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BUSINESS SERVICES

EMPLOYMENT

Home Improvements

Help Wanted Full-Time

Vinyl Siding, vinyl windows and seamless gutters by David Brown.

803-236-9296

RN or LPN - Full Time, Day and Night Shifts with rotating weekends required. Long Term Care and Medicare experience preferred but not required.

CNA - Full Time and Part Time needed for 6am-2pm shift, 2pm-10pm shift and 10pm - 6am shift. EOE Apply in person to: Covenant Place 2825 Carter Road Sumter, SC 29150

Land Clearing avail. includes: Digging ponds, excavation, and bulldozer work. Call T & N Septic Tank Co. at 803-481-2428 or 803-481-2421

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

Septic Tank Cleaning

Septic tank pumping & services. Call Ray Tobias & Company (803) 340-1155.

Tree Service Call Carolina Tree Care today to speak to one of our ISA certified arborist. Free est. 1-800-411-1495.

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

Mention this ad & get 10% off.

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 1st & 3rd Weekend Tables $2 FLEA MARKET BY SHAW AFB

Open every weekend.

905-4242

We are now hiring for a full time position at Sleep Inn and Comfort Suites (sister properties). Candidate must maintain a neat professional appearance, have reliable transportation, and possess computer and social skills. We are a customer oriented business looking for someone to join our team who will be dedicated to providing our guest with excellent service! Combination of day and evening shifts. Must be available weekends and holidays.

Resumes accepted at the property.

This position will begin immediately, pending a successful background check. We are hiring for full time, as well as a part time position.

Interviews will be held Thursday March 5th and Friday March 6th from 1 pm - 3 pm in the Comfort Suites meeting room (2500 Broad Street).

Please bring resume!

Farm Mechanic needed to do P.M. & repairs on farm equip, welding exp. or cert. a plus, pay is based on experience. In Gable, SC call 803-473-3303 Customer Service Assoc. Needed ASAP. Full-time. Salary + Comm.

Mon- Fri. Apply at B & C Automotive, 601 Broad St. Local company looking for a skilled carpenter. Pay based on exp. Driving license & pass drug test is a must.

Call 803-968-2870 8 am - 5 pm Monday - Friday or mail resume to: PO Box 3734, Sumter, SC 29151.

Carpenter Helper and Carpenter Laborer, must have drivers license in manning, SC 803- 473-4254 The #1 Furniture Retail Company in the U.S. is seeking highly motivated individuals with outgoing personalities to join our Sales Team.

Candidates must have a working knowledge of computers. They will be required to build sales volume by providing superior customer service and knowledge of product and finance options. This full time position is based on a flexible work schedule that includes evenings, Saturdays and some holidays. Offering unlimited income potential based on commission and bonuses. Guaranteed salary during training process. Send resume to 2850 Broad St., Sumter, SC 29150.

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.

Want to Rent

Help Wanted Full-Time Auto-Technician. Local shop looking for lead tech. Long-term, secure employment with excellent pay. All applicants will be kept confidential.

Top Notch technicians call 803-847-8271. 9-5 Mon- Fri. Rotary Assistant Printer Operator position located in Olanta, SC. Must be able to fit up a pattern and adjust conveyor on rotary printer. Position will require pump and line up color, adjust tension on fabric and inspect for stick ends and smears. Prefer candidate with printing experience.

Please contact Randy at (843) 761-1776 x1412.

Wanted Body Tech. Must be trained in sheet metal, frame & uni-body repair. Exc. wage & benefits. Apply at McLaughlin Ford 950 N. Main St., Sumter Helena Chemical Company seeking driver with CDL license, must have HazMat and tanker endorsements. Please call 803-453-5151 to schedule an interview.

Help Wanted Part-Time $$$ AVON $$$ FREE TRAINING! 803-422-5555 Polar Bear Cleaners part- time jobs, coin laundry att. counter. Apply in person 1087B Alice Dr.

Trucking Opportunities P/T Class-A CDL drivers needed to haul poultry. Night Shift. Must have 2yrs verifiable exp & good MVR. Call 804-784-6166

Medical Help Wanted Part-time Ortho Assistant needed for busy orthodontic practice. Please send resume to: Sumterorthoresume@yahoo.com

FOR RENT BR/BA

Address 6413 Sweet Olive Ct.

$1,000.00

3/2

6417 Sweet Olive Ct.

$1,000.00

2/1

5036 Seymour Rd.

$570.00

Call Jim Weir at: 803-316-3725 Owner is a SC Real Estate Agent Unfurnished Homes RENT TO OWN HOUSE 3 Br/ 1Ba, flexible mthly payments, down payment req. Call 803-468-5710 Must see! Large family friendly waterfront home in Deerfield,4BR 2.5BA Lg Rec room $1600 Mo +Dep Call 803-468-4659 or 469-0555

Mobile Home Rentals

STATEBURG COURTYARD 2 & 3 BRs 803-494-4015 2BR 1BA C/H/A Alcolu, Ideal for singles or a couple. $400+ Dep No calls aft 9pm. 803-468-1768 2, 3 & 4 Bedroom Trailers for rent, Cherryvale & Dogwood Area $250 & up. (803) 651-9926

Resort Rentals

RENTALS Unfurnished Homes LUCKY DAY SPECIAL!!!!

Rent a home and get 50% off discount on your deposit!! This offer is only good within 5 days of this ad!

810 Murray 3 br/2ba $510.00 121 Brent St. 2br/1ba $375.00 605 S. Harvin 2br/1ba $350.00 Come by for application: 294 N. Bultman Dr. 803-938-5524

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

REAL ESTATE

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

150 Milton, Must Sell, 2 Br, lg. corner lot, great shape. Financing avail. Call 803-775-4391 or 464-5960

Legal Notice Public Storage/ PS Orangeco, Inc. LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY Notice is hereby given that the undersigned will sell to satisfy the lien of owner at public sale by competitive bidding on March 12, 2015 personal and/or business property including but not limited to furniture, clothing, tools and other household/business items located at the properties listed.

The sale will begin at 1:00 pm at 1277 Camden Hwy, Sumter, SC 29153.

Manufactured Housing

The personal goods stored therein by below named occupant(s);

Turn your Tax Refund into your dream home! Low credit score?

Been turned down for bad credit?

Come try us, we do our own financing.We have 2-3-4 bedroom homes. For more information, call 843-389-4215 AND also visit our Face Book page (M & M Mobile Homes).

1143 N.Guignard Dr, Sumter, SC 29150 219 - English, Kenneth 226 - Brewer, Brittany 317 - Patrick, James 429 - Workman, Alicha 463 - Swinton, Dale 507 - Brunson, Donna 544 - Rodrigue, Cindy 552 - Vaughn, Sharon 710 - Lesane-Guin, Della

Land & Lots for Sale MIN SHAW AFB, 16 + acres. $1750 per acre paved rd. Water, elec. 888-774-5720 Multiple lots for sale: 803-773-8022 ask for Bruce.

Call

Minutes WALMART. Acre $4,900.

Utilities! 713-870-0216.

MIN TO WALMART/SHAW 1 AC +/- Cleared, septic, water, elec. $12,900. 888-774-5720

Resort Property Brevard/Silva, N.C. area. Beautiful 5.5 ac. Frontage on Hwy 215 at Balsam Grove. North Ford River runs thru middle of property. Backs up to Pisgah National Forest. $20K per ac.

Fin. Avail. Also, 2.5 ac lot in gated community. Tuckasegee area off Hwy 107 & 281. $20Kper ac. Bobby Sisson 803-773-4381 lv msg.

1277 Camden Hwy, Sumter, SC 29153 A048 - Smith, Tonya AA002 - Gipson, Monica B013 - Sims, Robert B030 - Myers, Christina B068 - Berry, Cherelle C051 - Holmes, Latimore C064 - Solomon, Ida G005 - Austin, Latonya G020 - Hayes, Toray G032 - Bratton, Ruth H005 - Stewart, Sandra I006 - Williams, Melissa J009 - Robertson, James J015 - Dixon, Kendrick 3785 Broad St, Sumter, SC 29154 0106 - Grant, Sherrie 0240 - Stone, Tamara 0248 - Stone, Tamara 0316 - Cruz, Allen 0415 - Jackson, Jennifer 0422 - Hilton, Omar 0521 - Edwards, Matthew 0543 - Stuckey, Sheila B 0620 - Hanna, Amelia 0710 - Johnson, II, Robert Henry 0749 - Tedder, Jazzman Purchase must be made with cash only and paid for at the time of sale.

All goods are sold as is and must be removed at the time of the sale. Sale is subject to adjournment.

Autos For Sale Beer & Wine License Notice Of Application Notice is hereby given that Anwar Daralhaj D/B/A Anwar LLC intends to apply to the South Carolina Department of Revenue for a license permit that will allow the sale OFF premises consumption of Beer & Wine at 390 S. Guignard Dr., Sumter, SC 29150. To object to the issuance of this permit / license, written protest must be postmarked no later than March 12, 2015. 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

Homes for Sale

3600 Dallas St. Dalzell Must Sell 3 Br 2 Ba lg. lot, lg. shop Financing avail. Call 803-775-4391 or 464-5960 Water front house & lot. 4bd/ 2 bath, front deck, boat house w/ track, c/h/a, most furniture can go w/ house .26 acres 1050 sq/ft. 1159 Lakeview Dr Manning SC, White Oak Creek in Wyboo Call 843-659-4332

PINEWOOD PANOLA & RIMINI

Appliances, Cars, Pets, Furniture, Yard Sales & More.

Lake House 2 Bd/ 2 Ba deep water, dock, boat ramp, on Tawcaw Creek, $220,000 obo, call 803-928-6326

Must see! Buy or Rent. 3 Br, 1.5 Ba, office, covered carport with workshop in Pinewood. Call Donnie for details 803-972-3110.

LUCKY DAY SPECIAL!!!!

Rent a home and get 50% off discount on your deposit!! This offer is only good within 5 days of this ad!

910 Cherryvale 3br/1ba $505.00 4270 Hickory Rd. 3br/2Ba $475.00 4266 Hickory Rd 2br/1ba $325.00 Come by for application: 294 N. Bultman Dr. 803-938-5524

LEGAL NOTICES

3BR 2BA 1,500 sq ft. Hardwood floors, conv. to schools and shopping. $37,500. As is Call 775-9116 lv msg

$/mo

3/2

CONTRACTOR WANTED!

Sell Your Items In

Homes for Sale

If you have good, dependable transportation, a phone in your home, and a desire to earn extra income Call Harry Pringle at 774-1257 or Apply in Person at

20 N. Magnolia St. Sumter, SC

CONTRACTOR WANTED! For Routes In The

WYBOO PLANTATION WHITE OAK II AREA.

Earn Extra Income If you have good dependable transportation and a phone in your home and a desire to supplement your income,

COME BY & APPLY AT

20 N. Magnolia St. Sumter, SC or Call Harry at (803) 774-1257

MARCH INTO MAYO’S

WHERE $1.00 CAN BUY YOU A SUIT!

Choose ONE suit at our REGULAR PRICE Get SECOND suit of equal or less value for ONLY $1.00!

Because it’s MAGNIFICENT DEALS

If your suits aren’t becoming to you, It’s a good time to be coming to Mayo’s!

Wesmark Plaza • 773-2262 • Mon-Sat 10-7 • www.MayosDiscountSuits.com

B8

CLASSIFIEDS

THE ITEM

MICROFIBER SHEET SETS

29 Progress St. - Sumter 775-8366 Ext. 37

Twin/Full...........$5 per set Queen/King ......$8 per set

JUTE AREA RUGS 60” X 96”

Store Hours Mon. - Sat. • 9:30 - 5:00 Closed Sunday Beer & Wine License be denied; (3) that the person protesting is willing to attend a hearing (if one is requested by the applicant); (4) that the person protesting resides in the same county where the proposed place of business is located or within five miles of the business; and (5) the name of the applicant and the address of the premises to be licensed. Protests must be mailed to: S.C. Department of Revenue, ATTN: ABL, P.O. Box 125, Columbia, South Carolina 29214; or Faxed to: (803) 896-0110.

Summons & Notice SUMMONS IN THE FAMILY COURT THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT Case No.: 2014-DR-43-1292 STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER Andrea Linthicum, Plaintiff, vs.

Derek Linthicum Defendant.

TO THE NAMED:

DEFENDANT

ABOVE

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint in this action, of which a copy is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your Answer to said Complaint on John E. Miles, Sr., 15 South Main Street, Sumter, South Carolina 29150, within THIRTY (30) DAYS after the service hereof, exclusive of the date of such service; and if you fail to answer the Complaint within the time aforesaid, judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

$40 each

FURNITURE THROWS

Chair.....................$8 each Loveseat.............$10 each Sofa....................$12 each Bath Sheets ......... $5 each Bath Towels......... $4 each

Estate Notice Sumter County

Estate Notice Sumter County

Estate Notice Sumter County

Estate Notice Sumter County

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES

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

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

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

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

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

Estate: Wessie Wright Johnson #2015ES4300091

Estate: Wilhelmenia S. Billups #2015ES4300117

Personal Representative

Personal Representative

Estate:

Gloria L. Goff #2015ES4300110

Personal Representative

Robert Charles Goff 1551 Melvin Avenue Sumter, SC 29150 Estate:

Margaret Katherine Burch C/O William A. W. Buxton Attorney at Law PO Box 3220 Sumter, SC 29151 Estate:

Estate:

James Carl Jones #2015ES4300036

Personal Representative

Sharon J. Tuck C/O J Cabot Seth Attorney at Law PO Box 1268 Sumter, SC 29151

Diana M. Hudson C/O Wade S. Kolb Attorney at Law 107 N. Main Street Sumter, SC 29150

Douglas Britton #2015ES4300102

Estate:

Wallace Barnes #2015ES4300010-2 Mary K. Barnes 10215 Nero Circle Lynchburg, SC 29080

Estate:

Charlotte G. Smoak #2015ES4300127

Estate:

Personal Representative

Betty R. Barger 1746 Jefferson Road Sumter, SC 29153

Addie Mae Rose #2015ES4300120

Riley Bracey Jr. C/O Walter G. Newman Attorney at Law PO Box 549 Sumter, SC 29151

Judith H. Ducom 35 Bridgepointe Drive Sumter, SC 29154 Lenora H. Arnette #2015ES4300124

Personal Representative

Carrie Rosenburg 954 Floral Drive Sumter, SC 29150 Estate: Jeffrey Alyn Dellefield #2015ES4300100

Estate: Jessie James Welch, Jr. #2015ES4300104

Estate:

Personal Representative

Mary Elizabeth Dellefield 4430 Maxie Street Dalzell, SC 29040

EmilyCarol Mimms 470 Chippewa Circle Sumter, SC 29150

Johnnie Thomas Sr. #2015ES4300096

Personal Representative

Johnny Thomas Jr. 418 Love Street Sumter, SC 29150 Estate:

Estate: Darnell Joseph Adams, Sr. #2015ES4300118 Personal Representative

Luke Toney III #2015ES4300116

Donovan R. Miers #2015ES4300122

Personal Representative

Linda Annette Fauteux 12817 Aubrey Court Herndon, VA 20171

Personal Representative

Debbie J. Rogers 3349 Nazarene Church Road Sumter, SC 29154

Emily Bolger Mason #2015ES4300113

Personal Representative

Estate:

Estate:

Jenelle B. Amerson #2015ES4300080

Personal Representative

Wilson Amerson 725 W. Emerald Lake Dr. Sumter, SC 29153

Willie Billups 336 Ben Street Sumter, SC 29150 Estate:

Bonnie C. Perdue #2015ES4300129

Personal Representative

Lori Moore Deese 1150 S. Pike West Apt. 108 Sumter, SC 29150 Estate:

Stephen James #2015ES4300085

Personal Representative

Hilda James 1058 Manning Road Sumter, SC 29150 Estate: Sammy Kaye Bryant, III #2015ES4300109 Personal Representative

Sammy Kaye Bryant, Jr. C/O Walter Newman Attorney at Law PO Box 549 Sumter, SC 29151

Darcell Marie Hannon 9012 Laurel Oak Lane Frederickburg, VA 22407

Personal Representative

Dorothy R. Toney 25 Phillips Street Sumter, SC 29150 Estate:

Mary Helen Simmons #2015ES4300106

Personal Representative

Sarah B. Simmons C/O Wade S. Kolb Attorney at Law 107 N. Main Street Sumter, SC 29150

Joyce S. Smith 735 South Hampton Street Pinewood, SC 29125 Irvin F. Barger #2015ES4300082

Personal Representative

Maggie S. Ward C/O J. David Weeks PO Box 370 Sumter, SC 29151

Personal Representative

Estate:

Dorcas Hinckle #2015ES4300095

Personal Representative

Personal Representative

Minnie Britton Garrly Deas Attorney at Law PO Box 1211 Sumter, SC 29151

Estate:

Estate:

Estate: Estate:

Edward E. Hudson, Sr. #2015ES4300108

Personal Representative

Billy Joe Daly #2015ES4300121

Personal Representative

NOTICE OF FILING

John E. Miles, Sr. 15 South Main Street Post Office Box 2687 Sumter, SC 29151 (803) 778-2351 Attorney for the Plaintiff

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Estate Notice Sumter County

Personal Representative

TO THE DEFENDANT ABOVE NAMED: TAKE NOTICE that the Summons in the above mentioned action, together with the Complaint, was filed with the Sumter County Family Court on the 7th day of October, 2014.

TUESDAY, MARCH 03, 2015

Estate:

James P. Lawler #2015ES4300119

Personal Representative

Sylvia Lawler 21 Harby Street Sumter, SC 29150

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We’re part of this community and we believe in Sumter.

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