May 22, 2014

Gamecocks win 4A state crown SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2014

75 CENTS

Shooting suspect at large Victim shot in neck, in critical condition

BY ROB COTTINGHAM rcottingham@theitem.com (803) 774-1225 Authorities are looking for a suspect in a shooting that occurred late Tuesday night that has left the victim in critical condition.

Officials with Sumter County Sheriff ’s Office have issued a warrant for Travis Santell Miller, 25, of 25 Harrison St., who has been charged with attempted murder after an investigation indicated him as the lead suspect in the shooting.

“The suspect is still at large,” Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis MILLER said. “We’re considering him to be armed and dangerous.”

According to reports, officers on patrol responded to a shooting at a business in the 1000 block of Manning Road at 10:49 p.m. Tuesday night. When officers arrived, they found a 20-year-old man on the floor, bleeding from a gunshot wound to the neck.

“He’s still listed in critical condition,” Dennis said. “Last we heard, he was on life support at Palmetto Health Richland.”

The victim was reportedly unable to provide a name as to who shot him, but investigators were later able to advise that Miller was the suspected shooter.

A witness told investigators that Miller and the victim got into an altercation in the store, during which the victim reportedly punched Miller.

“We’re still looking into why and how this altercation started,” Dennis said.

The witness said they then heard someone shout that Miller had a gun and then reportedly heard a loud bang.

Miller, who was reportedly seen driving a gray or silver Mercury Grand Marquis, is described as a black male with brown eyes, 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing approximately 180 pounds.

Anyone with information about Miller and his whereabouts is asked to call the Crimestoppers tip line at 1 (888) 274-6372 or Sumter County Sheriff ’s Office at (803) 436-2000.

MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

Sumter High School’s Donnie Brownlee, right, jumps onto the dog pile after the Gamecocks won the 4A state baseball championship on Wednesday night at Gamecock Baseball Stadium. Sumter won the best-of-three series 2-0.

Team finishes season with 21-game winning streak

BY DENNIS BRUNSON dennisb@theitem.com (803) 774-1241 Perhaps Tee Dubose stated it best.

“It means they got it right on the preseason No. 1, for once,” Dubose said.

Indeed, they did.

on Wednesday, beating Northwestern 2-0 at Gamecock Baseball Stadium behind the 4-hit pitching of right-hander Phillip Watcher.

“It means a lot for a team to be No. 1 at the start of the season and

Sumter High School was the preseason No. 1 4A team in the South Carolina Baseball Coaches Association poll, held that spot all season and will now go down in the record books as the No. 1 team for the 2014 season.

The Gamecocks won the program’s third state title in nine years

SEE CROWN, PAGE A5

SUMTER IRIS FESTIVAL Schedule of events, Thursday — Sunday ONGOING EVENTS

Thursday

10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday/10 a.m.-p.m. Sunday • Arts and crafts/Food Court/Marketplace • Swan Lake boat rides/live entertainment • Art of Welding by Central Carolina Technical College • Art in the Gardens • Gateway to Gardening • Flower Show at Alice Boyle Garden Center, 2-5 p.m., Friday and Saturday, and 2-4 p.m. Sunday

• Ribbon cutting/crowning of King & Queen Iris at 5:15 p.m., Heath Pavilion • Taste at the Gardens, 6-9 p.m., Garden Street Stage

• 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Visitors Center, Education Day: Wild About Education and Safety • 2-5 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Iris Festival Flower Show, Alice Boyle Garden Center

Saturday Friday • 9-11 a.m., Visitors Center, Tuomey Health Initiatives • 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Children’s Area, Just Kidding Around • 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Children’s Art in the Park

• 9 a.m., Shrine Day Parade • 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Safe Kids Adventureland • 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Swamp People’s Troy Landry, Visitors Center • 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Pearl Fryar, renowned topiary artist, Bland Gardens • 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Children’s Art in the Park

• 10:45 a.m., Main Stage, introduction of Iris Festival Kings and Queens • 11 a.m., Diaper Derby & Parade, Main Stage • 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Quick Start Tennis Clinic • 11 a.m.-5 p.m., East Coast Golf Cart Show, Visitors Center lawn • 11:30 a.m., Children’s Pet Show, Heath Pavilion • 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Head Turnerz Classic Car Show, Garden Street • 2-5 p.m., Flower Show at Alice Boyle Garden Center

Sunday • 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sumter Cruisers Show & Shine, Garden Street • noon-5 p.m., Just Kidding Around, Children’s Area • noon-5 p.m., Children’s Art in the Park

Turn to page A3 to see information on the Sumter Iris Festival entertainment schedule.

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THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

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

County denies property subdivision request

LOCAL BRIEFS FROM STAFF REPORTS

Autopsy results of Ohio man expected

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

Authorities are awaiting results of an autopsy on the body of a 47-year-old man who was found by horseback riders alongside Bloomville Road in Clarendon County on Saturday.

Coroner Hayes Samuels said Al Hixson had an address listed in Manning but that the man had been reported missing by his family in Ohio on April 29.

The body was sent to Charleston for an autopsy and a toxicology report, he said.

“He had been in the ditch for a while,” Samuels said. “At one time he had been submerged underwater by the recent rains, but as the water receded, his back was exposed.”

Samuels said he could observe no obvious injuries. “The body was in pretty bad shape,” he said.

Maj. Kip Coker of Clarendon County Sheriff’s Department said the department was awaiting the autopsy to determine if foul play was involved in Hixson’s death.

Sumter County should not permit developers to subdivide property along private roads, a meeting of the county’s land use committee decided on Monday.

The committee voted to deny a request to change its policy on rural property unconnected to a public street, out of concern any structures built on the site would not be accessible to county emergency vehicles and that the county would ultimately be called upon to take over maintenance of the roadway.

“We’ve been through this before, and every time we decide it’s something we don’t want to do,” said county councilman Charles Edens, who chairs the committee.

Developer Harry Ives requested a variance from the zoning rules that would create five large lots along Byrd Road in Dalzell. Byrd Road is a private, unpaved road running for more than a mile between U.S. 521 and Camden Highway.

County planners estimated there was space for about 30 homes to be built

along the road, but its condition led the County Planning Commission to reject the request.

“We’re not ready to commit to a private road,” said Councilman Artie Baker, whose district includes Byrd Road. “If we say you can have a one- or five-acre development there, in 10 years, who’s going to maintain the road?”

The Planning Commission’s report found Byrd is “unquestionably in poor condition due to ruts, narrow width, intermittent flooding and other design flaws. ... To allow more subdivision on Byrd Street without any upgrades to the street seems irresponsible” because any structure “would be virtually impossible for public safety vehicles to access.”

If council approved the request, Edens worried, “it would open the way for Public Works to be swamped with requests (for road maintenance). The county can’t afford that, and frankly it would be a liability to take our equipment onto private property.”

Currently, Sumter County’s zoning ordinance only allows land to be subdivided if all lots run along a publicly maintained road. The proposed changes

would allow subdivisions along “rural community drives” if the developer took on the responsibility for maintaining the road. But the committee members ultimately declined to make changes to the current, stricter standards.

The county could take a private drive into the county system but only if it is first brought up to public maintenance standards. But Ives said the road issue is irrelevant to whether a landowner can subdivide his property. He thinks a variance isn’t even required under the law if the subdivision is more than five acres, as all of his proposed lots are.

“I was asked by Sumter County staff to proceed with this amendment, when that’s not really the question that needs to be asked,” Ives said. “They didn’t address the ordinance. They were talking about the county not taking over the road, which is not what they’re being asked to do.”

The committee’s recommendation will now go to the full Sumter County Council for consideration. A public hearing on the issue is scheduled for council’s May 27 meeting at the county administration building, 13 E. Canal St.

Awarded at the Democratic Convention

Jet skier dies after Lake Marion wreck Millicent McDonald, 19, of 9562 Wash Davis Road in Clarendon County, died at approximately 6 p.m. Tuesday at Palmetto Health Richland in Columbia from injuries she received in a jet ski wreck on Lake Marion on Monday.

Capt. Robert McCollough of the Department of Natural Resources said McDonald and a 25-yearold man were each riding jet skis near Taw Caw Campground when McDonald apparently got into the path of the second jet ski and was struck and fatally injured.

McCollough said the incident was still under investigation.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

At left, Sumter Democratic Party chairman Allen Bailey, seen at left, is named county party chair of the year by S.C. Democratic Party chairman Jaime Harrison at the S.C. Democratic Party convention in Columbia on May 3. Above, Gretchen Munroe, seen at left, a Sumter County member on the state executive committee of the Democratic Party, was recognized as an “Unsung Hero” at the convention. Munroe is seen with Sumter County delegate Marisa Bailey.

District prepares for more diploma petitions after HSAP ruling

BY RAYTEVIA EVANS revans@theitem.com (803) 774-1214

LEARN MORE

With graduation season in full swing, Sumter School District is working to clarify to past and present students the actual impact of recent state legislation eliminating the requirement for high school students to pass the High School Assessment Program exam before receiving a diploma.

First and foremost, the legislation signed by Gov. Nikki Haley in midApril does not take effect until next year, meaning it doesn’t affect current high school seniors who have failed to pass the HSAP exam. Cornelius Leach, assistant superintendent for school services, said students in the class of 2014 who have not passed HSAP will need to attend adult education during the summer and take the exam again to receive their diplomas.

Even when the new law becomes valid, high school students will still

Cornelius Leach said parents and students can contact him at the district office with any questions regarding HB3919 and petitioning for diplomas. To read HB3919 in full, visit www.scstatehouse.gov.

have to take the HSAP exam, but there will be no minimum score requirement for students to graduate.

The new law also creates an avenue for those who did not receive a diploma in past years because of failure to pass the exit exam to now receive one.

However, Leach points out it’s important for parents and students to realize the bill only affects those who previously didn’t receive a diploma solely because they didn’t pass the HSAP exam. Those students can petition the local school board to determine whether the student is eligible to receive a diploma.

“What I foresee as a problem is,

some of them may still be lacking in credits or other requirements for a diploma,” Leach said.

Leach said he recently met with the district’s record clerks to discuss the procedure of checking the eligibility of the petitions they expect to receive from previous Sumter School District students.

The records clerks will pull students’ files to determine if they met all other graduation requirements before the petition is presented to the board. Students seeking to receive their diplomas from previous years have to submit their requests to their local school district by Dec. 31, 2015.

According to the bill, the school board will then “transmit diploma requests to the South Carolina Department of Education in accordance with department procedures” to be officially approved by the state.

Previously, David C. Trombly, director of teaching, learning and accountability for Sumter School District, said

the change in the HSAP requirement for high school diplomas will also impact how the state evaluates the individual districts.

“I believe this is just the first step to further changes in the accountability system of the state of South Carolina,” Trombly said.

Leach recently sent out a memo approved by Superintendent Dr. Frank Baker to high school principals and guidance counselors regarding the recent changes and how they will affect students.

“Before we did anything, we wanted to inform the principals and guidance counselors about this,” Leach said.

“We’ve developed a form for petitions, and that will be available on the district website.”

So far, Sumter School District has received three petitions for diplomas and is expecting more as it works toward providing information for students, parents and schools in the district about the recent change.

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

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THE SUMTER ITEM

SUMTER IRIS FESTIVAL ENTERTAINMENT

SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO

A child participates in a past Diaper Derby and Parade at the Sumter Iris Festival. The event is always popular, and this year it will be held on Saturday from 11 to 11:30 a.m.

MAIN STAGE Friday

• 5:30-6 p.m., Last Generation Quartet

• Noon, Crestwood High School Chorus Singing Knights • 1-1:30 p.m., Harmony Church Hands-On Praise Puppets • 2-2:30 p.m., USC Steppers • 2:30-3 p.m., We Three • 3-3:30 p.m., Najah Blassingame • 3:30-4 p.m., Tequan Coe, violinist • 4-5 p.m., Dennis Turner • 5-5:30 p.m., DreamWorks Dance Academy • 5:30-6:15 p.m., Believers Quartet

• 1-4 p.m., Lexi the Clown • 1-1:30 p.m., Bill Eaker • 1:30-3 p.m., Wings and Whimsies • 3-4 p.m., Cross Anchor Quartet, Kenny Brice • 4-4:30 p.m., Najah Blassingame

Saturday

Friday

• 10:45 a.m., Iris Kings and Queens introduced • 11-11:30 a.m., Diaper Derby and Parade sponsored by DreamWorks Dance Academy • 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sumter High Jazz Band • 1-4 p.m., Lexi the Clown • 1-1:30 p.m., Sumter Tae Kwan Do • 1:30-2 p.m., Brendan Kirby • 2-2:30 p.m., Freed School of Performing Arts • 2:30-3:30 p.m., Allison Skipper • 3:30-4 p.m., Palms of Grace • 4:30-5:30 p.m., Miss Libby’s School of Dance

• 2:30-5:30 p.m., Essence Band & Show

Sunday

GARDEN STAGE Thursday • The Taste with 4 Way Stop

Saturday • noon, October Layne • 1 p.m., Faith of Brothers • 2:30-5:30 p.m., KEROLINEA

GAZEBO Frank Fickling will perform noon-4 p.m. Saturday and 1-4 p.m.

Sunday

Hunley museum in the works CHARLESTON (AP) — The South Carolina Hunley Commission has begun working to create a museum to house the H.L. Hunley, the Confederate vessel that was the first submarine to sink an enemy warship.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reported the commission reached an agreement Tuesday with the Charleston Naval Base Redevelopment Authority to create a museum authority to oversee planning and the building

of a $40 million museum at the former base.

Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Robert Ryan said a new agency is needed because the Hunley Commission was not configured to build the museum.

Ryan said there is not enough money to build it. The city of North Charleston has pledged $13 million.

The Hunley sank off Charleston in 1864 after sending the Union blockade ship Housatonic to the bottom. The

Hunley was discovered in 1995 and raised in 2000. Since then, it has been undergoing conservation at a lab in North Charleston.

Scientists this month began soaking the hand-cranked sub in a bath of sodium hydroxide to help loosen the encrustation of sand, sediment and rust coating the hull and interior of the sub. This summer, they will begin using hand tools to remove the encrustation and reveal the hull for the first time in 150 years.

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2014

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POLICE BLOTTER ARMED ROBBERY According to reports, officers responded to a home in the 1900 block of Mason Road in Dalzell at about 11:30 p.m. Monday in reference to a woman who said her boyfriend had been shot. When officers arrived, they noticed the odor of marijuana coming from the house and found the victim on a couch with a pair of pants wrapped around his leg. The victim said three masked black males broke into the home and asked for drugs and money and began ransacking the house. According to the victim, one of the men then pointed a gun at a child who was present and threatened to kill her if he didn’t tell them where the drugs and money were.

One of the suspects reportedly shot the victim in his right thigh. The suspects reportedly fled in a tan fourdoor Honda car. Officers reportedly found a .22-caliber casing in the home. As the victim’s girlfriend walked by an officer, he noticed the odor of marijuana coming from her purse. A consensual search yielded a small amount of suspected marijuana and $2,200 in cash, which she said was from a settlement. Officers searched the home and

found suspected marijuana in the toilet and discovered a 2-gallon freezer bag with suspected marijuana residue in it inside a window air-conditioning unit. No one was arrested, but the woman was ticketed for simple possession.

CHARGES Gary Sharper Jr., 29, of 813 S. Main St., was arrested at 12:18 a.m. on Tuesday and charged with resisting arrest and possession of cocaine. According to reports, officers responded to his home in reference to a domestic dispute between a father and son. When officers arrived, they made contact with Sharper, and during their conversation, it was discovered that Sharper had an outstanding warrant.

Sharper reportedly attempted to flee officers, ignoring orders to stop. He was eventually Tased by one of the officers after he attempted to climb a fence. During a search of Sharper, officers reportedly found 1.8 grams of suspected crack cocaine in his front left pants pocket and 1.5 grams of suspected cocaine in four small, wrapped packages. Sharper was taken to Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center.

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NATION

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2014

Cleaner air could mean higher U.S. electric bills

BY JONATHAN FAHEY AP Energy Writer NEW YORK — Electricity prices are probably on their way up across much of the U.S. as coal-fired plants, the dominant source of cheap power, shut down in response to environmental regulations and economic forces.

New and tighter pollution rules and tough competition from cleaner sources such as natural gas, wind and solar will lead to the closings of dozens of coal-burning plants across 20 states during the next three years. And many of those that stay open will need expensive retrofits.

Because of these and other factors, the Energy Department predicts retail power prices will rise 4 percent on average this year, the biggest increase since 2008. By 2020, prices are expected to climb an additional 13 percent, a forecast that does not include the costs of coming environmental rules.

The Obama administration, state governments and industry are struggling to balance this push for a cleaner environment with the need to keep the grid reliable and prevent prices from rocketing too much higher.

“We’re facing a set of questions that are new to the industry,” said Clair Moeller, who oversees transmission and technology for the Midcontinent Independent System

Operator, which coordinates much of the electric grid between Minnesota and Louisiana.

Coal is the workhorse of the U.S. power system. It is used to produce 40 percent of the nation’s electricity, more than any other fuel. Because it is cheap and abundant and can be stored on power plant grounds, it helps keep prices stable and power flowing even when demand spikes.

Natural gas, which accounts for 26 percent of the nation’s electricity, has dropped in price and become more plentiful because of the fracking boom. But its price is on the rise again, and it is still generally more expensive to produce electricity with gas than with coal. Also, gas isn’t stored at power plants because the cost is prohibitive.

That means it is subject to shortages and soaring prices.

During the brutally cold and snowy winter that just ended, utilities in several states struggled to secure natural gas because so much was also needed to heat homes.

Some utilities couldn’t run gas-fired plants at all, and power prices soared 1,000 percent in some regions.

As Indiana has reduced its reliance on coal to 84 percent from 97 percent over the last decade, its power prices rose far faster than those of its neighbors and the rest of the country.

That makes things tough on

customers, especially big power users such as Rochester Metal Products Corp. in Rochester, Indiana. The hulking furnaces it uses to melt scrap iron consume enough electricity to power 7,000 households.

“As Indiana’s price of electricity becomes less and less competitive, so do we,” says Doug Smith, the company’s maintenance and engineering manager.

Burning coal releases toxic chemicals, soot and smogforming chemicals, as well as twice the amount of carbon dioxide that natural gas produces.

THE SUMTER ITEM A worker puts additives into a furnace at Rochester Metal Products Corp. in Rochester, Indiana, on May 12. The furnaces the plant uses to melt scrap iron consume enough electricity to power 7,000 households.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOCAL | NATION

THE SUMTER ITEM

CROWN FROM PAGE A1 be No. 1 at the end of the season,” said SHS head coach Brooks Shumake, whose team finished the season with a 29-2-1 record and a 21-game winning streak. “I congratulated (head coach) Brian Hucks on Lexington doing that last year, being first from beginning to end. You go back over the years and look, and I just don’t think it has been done that many times.”

Sumter rode the right arm of Watcher to a sweep of the best-ofthree series. After getting off to a slow start, Watcher finished with 12 strikeouts and just two walks.

“That’s what we expect from him all of the time, but, of course, you’re not always going to get that,” Shumake said of Watcher’s performance.

“He just pitched great for us tonight though.

“You know what Phillip is all about, though,” Shumake added. “He hit two home runs in the state championship series (against Byrnes in 2011 as a freshman), one of them against (Clemson All-Atlantic Coast Conference pitcher) Daniel Gossett. He just goes out there and plays. The Watchers — Phillip and Jacob — they’re just baseball players.”

Northwestern got its first two batters of the game on, Dupree Hart drawing a leadoff walk from Phillip Watcher and Drew Patric dropping a single into left field. However, Watcher got Josh Crump to hit into a fielder’s choice, and Garrett Rast hit a high hopper back to him before catching Colton Pagoota looking on an offspeed pitch for the final out.

“It obviously hurt us not getting a run right there,” said Trojans head coach Mitch Walters, whose team finished with a 24-5 record. “We got the first two on, had 3-4-5 (hitters in the

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2014

batting order) up, and we rolled the dice and decided not to bunt. If we had, we probably would have scored on the high hopper. You’ve got to give Watcher credit, though; he just pitched a great game.”

Trojans starting pitcher Will Chitwood set down the first six batters he faced. However, he hung a curveball to Chris Crawford to start the third, and he singled into left. The Gamecocks then played small ball to get a run in.

Crawford stole second and went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Dubose.

On the first pitch to Ian McCaffrey, McCaffrey put a bunt down the first base line and Crawford beat the throw on a safety squeeze for a 1-0 lead.

“We just did a good job of executing there,” Shumake said. “We ask our guys to bunt, and we expect them to do it. Tee got down a good bunt, and Ian got down a great bunt too. Chris

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Crawford read it perfectly and broke at the right time to beat the throw.”

The Gamecocks picked up another run in the fourth. Javon Martin was hit by a pitch and was sacrificed to second by Charlie Barnes. The lefthanded swinging Phillip Watcher hit a line drive the other way that froze Northwestern left fielder Patric.

When he finally started to move, the ball was over Patric’s head for an RBI double that made it 2-0.

Watcher made it stand up. Northwestern got runners into scoring position in each of its last three at-bats, but he got a strikeout to end the fifth and sixth innings and got pinch hitter Bradley Kirkman to pop out to McCaffrey, the catcher, behind home plate to give the Gamecocks the state championship.

Chitwood pitched 5-plus innings, allowing just four hits. He didn’t walk anyone but hit Martin and finished with just one strikeout.

Obama vows fix to veterans’ health care troubles ‘We are going to fix whatever is wrong, and so long as I have the privilege of serving as commander in chief, I’m going to keep on fighting to deliver the care and the benefits and the opportunities that you and your families deserve, now and for decades to come.’

BARACK OBAMA

WASHINGTON (AP) — With outrage mounting over veterans’ health care, President Obama declared Wednesday that allegations of misconduct at VA hospitals will not be tolerated, and he left open the possibility that Secretary Eric Shinseki, a disabled war veteran, could be held to account.

“I will not stand for it — not as commander in chief, but also not as an American,” Obama said after an Oval Office meeting with the embattled Shinseki.

Congress moved to keep up the pressure on the administration, with the House easily approving a measure Wednesday evening that would give the VA secretary more authority to fire or demote the 450 senior career employees who serve as hospital directors or executives in the agency’s 21 regions.

The vote was 390 to 33.

Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, sponsored the measure, saying VA officials who have presided over mismanagement or negligence are more

likely to receive bonuses or glowing performance reviews than any sort of punishment.

He declared that a “widespread and systemic lack of accountability is exacerbating” the department’s problems.

The White House said it supported the goal of seeking greater accountability at the VA but had unspecified concerns about the legislation.

The growing furor surrounding the Department of Veterans Affairs centers on allegations of treatment delays and preventable deaths at VA hospitals. The department’s inspector general’s office says 26 facilities are being investigated nationwide, including a Phoenix hospital facing allegations that 40 people died while waiting for treatment and staff kept a secret list of patients in order to hide delays in care.

The allegations have raised fresh concerns about the administration’s management of a department that has been struggling to keep up with the influx of new veterans returning home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Obama’s comments Wednesday — his first on the matter in more than two weeks — signaled a greater urgency by the White House to keep the matter from spiraling into a deeper political problem in a midterm election year.

“We are going to fix whatev-

er is wrong, and so long as I have the privilege of serving as commander in chief, I’m going to keep on fighting to deliver the care and the benefits and the opportunities that you and your families deserve, now and for decades to come,” Obama said.

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RELIGION

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2014

Don’t let qualities pigeonhole you

I

f the Bible had a superlatives section, Daniel would have, undoubtedly, received “Most Likely to Succeed.” Handsome, smart and well-off, Scripture describes Daniel as a desirable captive as he was taken by royal officials of the Babylonian empire to serve on a sort of advisory committee for their king, Nebuchadnezzar.

To add to his many positive attributes, Daniel was vivacious, health conscious and ready to stand firm in his spiritual convictions despite the tumult of obstacles that faced him living in a pagan nation.

I’m sure we can all relate to Daniel’s life, right?

Show of hands? Anyone?

Someone who can relate to Daniel’s triple combination of good looks, intelligence, wealth?

His consummate adherence to spiritual conviction? Oh well, I’ll keep going anyway.

Most of us would be lucky to hit one of Daniel’s characteristics described here, much less all of them. We might be grateful to have just one. Though he already had a lot going for him, Daniel’s true strength was in the power of his God. He wasn’t satisfied with his natural ability but for the power of God working through

him, which is encouraging because believers shouldn’t be content in their own strength.

In Daniel chapter one, Daniel was taken from his home, given a new name, given a new job, required to change his diet and instructed to study an education that would have gone against everything he knew.

Certainly his natural talents would have afforded him an Faith Matters easy acclimation into this JAMIE H. lifestyle, but WILSON Daniel knew he was more through God’s power. Further, he knew that most of what was being required of him went against the statutes of his faith. He had a choice: Go with the flow and eventually escape capture without incident or stand up for his faith.

Daniel proclaimed his faith to the highest office, the one place that had the quickest impulse to take his life: King Nebuchadnezzar. It wouldn’t be his looks, smarts or position that would get him out of

this life-threatening situation; it would be his Creator.

God vindicated Daniel.

Scripture tells us that the king respected Daniel for his stand, having seen the effect of Daniel’s faith. The king saw the power of God through Daniel.

One of the most encouraging aspects of the believer’s life is that we don’t have to possess several desirable qualities to serve God in a big way. Daniel may have had a leg up in terms of impressive social characteristics, but in the end, it was God’s power that enabled him to have an impact. So is it with the faith community today.

It is far too easy to exclude ourselves from personal ministry by claiming a lack of ability. I’ve known many who profess faith in an all-powerful God but pigeonhole themselves into complacency, citing their lack of gifts and talents. Meanwhile, a host of ministry opportunities pass us by, all because we don’t recognize the potential of God’s power.

Don’t miss the chance to be extraordinary through the power of your faith.

Email Jamie H. Wilson at faithmattersumter@gmail.com.

THE SUMTER ITEM

Christian exodus shadows papal visit to Holy Land BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Pope Francis will arrive this weekend in the land where Christianity was born — and where Christians are disappearing.

This ancient community has dwindled to about 2 percent of the region’s population as economic hardship, violence and the bitter realities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have sent Christians searching for better opportunities overseas.

The Christian exodus, underway for decades, has reached critical levels in recent years. Emigration is a central concern to local Vatican officials, who are trying to stave off the flight with offers of jobs, housing and scholarships.

“I am sad to think that maybe the time will come in which Christianity will disappear from this land,” said the Rev. Juan Solana, a Vatican envoy who oversees the Notre Dame center, a Jerusalem hotel for pilgrims that employs 150 locals, mostly Christians.

Solana said he employs Christians to encourage them “to stay here, to love this land, to be aware of their particular vocation to be the witnesses of Christianity in this land.”

The Christian exodus is taking place across the Middle East. Jordan, where Pope Francis will begin his three-day trip Saturday, has thousands of Christian refugees from war-torn Syria and Iraq.

For the Church, the phenomenon is particularly heartbreaking in the cradle of Christianity. According to Christian tradition, Jesus was born in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, spent much of his life in Nazareth and the northern Galilee region of Israel, and was crucified and resurrected in Jerusalem.

RELIGION

THE SUMTER ITEM

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2014

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Play will highlight pastors’ humanity

The Yoder family first row from left, Rebekah, Caleb’s wife; Naomi; Christian; Moriah Grace; and Carmen; and back row from left, Caleb, Micah and Mark gather for a family shot at a recent graduation.

Naomi and Moriah Grace will be joining their mother, Carmen, and father, Mark, in Sumter as he becomes the new lead pastor at Christ Community Church.

BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com (803) 774-1250

PHOTO PROVIDED

From Sumter to Alabama and back Former Trinity youth pastor Mark Yoder will now lead Christ Community Church

BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com (803) 774-1250 Starting June 1, Christ Community Church will have a new lead pastor.

In a lot of ways for Mark Yoder, though, it’s like coming home.

“We moved to Birmingham from Sumter in 1996,” said the 52-year-old. “At that time, I had served eight years as youth pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church there. We absolutely loved our time in Sumter and still chuckle about all the tears shed in our cars when we pulled out. ...

We’ve spent the last 18 years remarking to people that Sumter is an incredible place to raise a family, and we look forward to getting back. ... The texts, tweets, emails and letters from Sumter people have been so encouraging and filled with care.”

For 14 years, he served in youth ministry at Mountain Brook Community Church in Birmingham, Alabama, and is now wrapping up his last four as a discipleship pastor.

“My responsibilities are basically in the area of encouraging people — both students and now adults — to ‘take the next step’ in

walking in a living relationship with Christ,” Yoder said. “I’m a big ‘next-step’ person. ... By that I mean that regardless of where someone is in their faith journey — whether it’s totally uninterested or virtually sold out — there’s almost always a ‘next step’ God has for us.

The church’s search committee met with and interviewed eight or 10 candidates before offering the job to Yoder.

“We are a nondenominational church, so we don’t have a denomination to go to help us find staff, especially a pastor,” said Barnes Boyle, an elder with Christ Community Church.

“What we did was reached out and networked with people we know in ministry. ... Mark was someone we knew and reached out to, saying, ‘I you know of anybody, let us know.’ As it turned out, he was the one felt called to come.”

Several of the elders had worked with Yoder when he worked at Trinity nearly 20 years ago.

“He’s very relational,” Boyle said. “He’s so good with just oneon-one working with people.

When you’re talking to Mark, you

feel like you’re the only one around. He’s totally focused on you, (and) he’s very humble.”

Yoder’s wife, Carmen, and two younger children — Moriah Grace, 14, and Naomi, 12 — will be coming to Sumter with him.

The couple has three adult children as well.

“He and his wife are a great package,” Boyle said. “The whole family is really. They bring a lot with them.”

Yoder thinks he’s also coming into a place of worship that has a lot to offer.

“I can’t tell you how impressed I am with a church that has been doing ‘portable church’ for so long, and they’re still growing,” said the new lead pastor. “Every week faithful people go and set up at Patriot Hall, starting early in the morning. That’s a beautiful picture of God’s people at work. ...

I love the health of CCC. Churches are like people. There are healthy churches and ailing ones.

CCC seems to us to be a faith family that has some great marks of health. We know we’ll see warts when we get up close — as they will see on us — but this just seems like a great time and a great fit for us to be there.”

A Sumter pastor is about to debut her second play.

“Clap for the Preachers” will be held at 6 p.m. May 31 at Patriot Hall, 135 Haynsworth St. “As preachers, we too have to pray,” said the Rev. Jeanette Collins. “We also make mistakes in life and have to ask for forgiveness. This play will show how preachers are human beings like anybody else. I want (people) to know that we all make mistakes in life, but when we repent of our sin, God is willing to forgive.

That’s the main concept of this play.”

While she is the lead pastor COLLINS of LaGree AME Church in Sumter, the play is not connected to the church.

“It’s my own personal play,” she said. “I wrote this by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It took me about a month. I usually write my play at 2 or 3 a.m. I usually write a story, and then I write my play.”

It features five cast members and three musicians from various churches. Normally, she would have them audition, but not this time.

“They have been part of smaller plays I’ve written, so I knew they’d make good characters in larger plays,” Collins said. “I already knew their abilities.”

One character was in her previous play, “Just in Time,” which was put on at the Sumter Opera House about two years ago.

More than 700 were in attendance.

“It was awesome,” Collins said. “After that play, people kept saying, ‘when will the next play be?’”

Tickets are $10 in advance for adults and $5 for children 5 to 12.

Children under 5 get in free. Doors will open at 5:15 p.m.

CLAP FOR THE PREACHERS WHEN: 6 p.m. May 31; doors open at 5:15 p.m.

WHERE: Patriot Hall, 135 Haynsworth St. COST: In advance, $10 for adults and $5 for children 5 to 12. Day-of, $13 for adults and $8 for children.

Children under 5 are free.

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT: Imports Limited, 9 N. Main St., and New Era Beauty Salon, 624 Manning Ave.

CHURCH NEWS Anointed Word Christian Worship Center, 3525 Camden Highway, Dalzell, announces: * Saturday, May 31 — Yard sale, car wash, fish fry dinners, chicken dinners and more beginning at 6:30 a.m.

Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 2571 Joseph Lemon-Dingle Road, Jordan community, Manning, announces: * Sunday, June 8 — 31st annual youth day will be celebrated during 10 a.m. service. Michael J. Davis, of West Palm Beach, Florida, will speak.

Briggs Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 7135 Wash Davis Road, Summerton, announces: * Tuesday-Friday, May 27-30, and Sunday, June 1 — The 19th pastoral anniversary of Pastor Bobby McDonald will be celebrated at 7 nightly Tuesday-Friday and 11 a.m. on Sunday.

Speakers as follows: Tuesday, Pastor O’Donald Dingle, of Holly Hill Baptist Church and Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church; Wednesday, Pastor Marie Harvin, of Reeseville AME Church; Thursday, Pastor Powell Hampton, of Mount Pleasant; Friday, Elder Prince Sampson Pearson, of Triumph Kingdom of God Church; and Sunday, Pastor Betty Canty, of Holly Hill Baptist Church.

Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church, 1275 Oswego Highway, announces: * Sunday — 38th anniversary celebration of soloist Sister Clara Pringle at 4 p.m. Various gospel groups will provide music.

Church of God of Prophecy, 1670 S. Guignard Drive, announces: * Sunday, June 1 — 18th anniversary celebration of the Corinthian Singers at 5 p.m. On the program: T.C. Smith and the Smith Brothers, Singing Angels and many choirs and groups.

Concord Baptist Church, 1885 Myrtle Beach Highway, announces: * Today — Gospel concert at 7 p.m. featuring LeFevre Quartet.

A love offering will be received.

Dalzell United Methodist Church,

3330 Black River Road, Dalzell, announces: * Saturday, May 31 — A Mission Rally bike ride for all motorcycle enthusiasts will be held.

Registration will begin at 9 a.m. at the church with the run being held from 10 a.m. until noon. Registration is $20 per driver and $10 per rider and includes a pilau dinner, which will be served from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. For dinner only, cost is $6. All proceeds will support mission efforts of the church.

Edwin Boyle Santee Summer Ministry, 1098 Lemmon Ave. at Boyle’s Point on Wyboo (across from Camp Bob Cooper): * Beginning Sunday, an outdoor lakeside nondenominational worship service will be held at 9:30 a.m. each Sunday through Aug. 31.

Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 421 S. Main St., announces: * Sunday — Memorial service to honor veterans. Sunday school will begin at 10 a.m. followed by 11:30 a.m. worship.

Faith Baptist Church, 821 N. Main St., announces: * Sunday, June 8 — Seventh anniversary of the church will be celebrated at 4 p.m. The Rev. Dr. Harry Clark will speak.

Fellowship Baptist Church, 705 W. Huggins St., Manning, announces: * Friday-Saturday, June 13-14 — Missionary Conference at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday. Pastor Lucretia Pugh will speak on Friday. Saturday’s speakers will be Pastor Rosa Fulton and Prophetess Cheryl Graham.

Fellowship Outreach Ministries, 1891 Florence Highway, announces: * Sunday — Bring souls to Christ service at 3 p.m. Pastor Gerthene Baxter, of Lord of Lords of Hope Ministries, will speak.

Full Proof Deliverance Ministry, 2758 S.C. 341 S., Olanta, announces: * Today-Friday — Revival services “Fresh Fire” at 7:30 night-

ly. Dr. Carolyn Robinson will speak.

Grace Full Gospel Church, 1540 Bradham Blvd., announces: * Sunday-Friday, May 30 — Revival services at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday and 7:30 nightly Monday-Friday. The Rev. Keith Speed will speak.

Historic Mount Zion AME Church, M.W. Rickenbaker Road, Summerton, announces: * Thursday-Friday, May 29-30 — Youth revival at 7 nightly. The Rev. Jerrett Washington, of St. James AME Church of Johns Island, will speak.

Holly Hill Missionary Baptist Church, 1304 Hidden Branch Road, Manning, announces: * Sunday — Four Gospels Program at 5 p.m. Pastor Annie L. Riley, Pastor Eartha Carter, Pastor Joan Wilson and Pastor Wessie Brown will speak.

Howard Chapel AME Church, 6338 Old Manning Road, New Zion, announces: * Monday-Wednesday, May 26-28 — Revival at 6:30 nightly.

The Rev. Herbert Temoney, of St. Luke AME Church of Charleston, will speak.

Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church, 803 S. Harvin St., announces: * Sunday — Women’s Day worship service during 10:45 a.m. services. Audrey Neal will speak.

Joshua Baptist Church, 5200 Live Oak Road, Dalzell, announces: * Saturday — Spring festival 10 a.m.-2 p.m. featuring fun, games and food. * Sunday, June 1 — Usher’s anniversary program. Church school will begin at 9 a.m. followed by 10 a.m. worship. * Sunday, June 8 — Youth day will be celebrated during morning worship. * Monday-Friday, June 9-13 — Vacation Bible School 6-8 nightly.

Knitting Hearts Ministry, meets at Bethesda Church of God, 2730 Broad St., announces: * Saturday, June 14 — Knitting

Hearts Café 10 a.m.-noon.

Jenny Hagemeyer, of Promised Land Ministries, PA will speak.

All women are welcome. Knitting Hearts is a communitywide, multi-denominational women’s ministry. www.knittingheartsministry.org Land Flowing with Milk & Honey Ministry, 1335 Peach Orchard Road, announces: * Saturday — Leadership Summit KICK (Knowledge Increasing Catapult for the Kingdom) 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Prophetess Rose Summers will speak.

Mount Carmel Freewill Baptist Church, 209 Reardon St., Manning, announces: * Saturday, June 7 — Joy Night services featuring area groups, choirs and praise dancers.

Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 325 Fulton St., announces: * Saturday-Sunday — Family and friends weekend celebration as follows: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Saturday, workshop, fun and games for all ages and cookout; 10:45 a.m. Sunday, worship celebration.

Orangehill AME Church, 3035 S. King Highway, Wedgefield, announces: * Saturday, May 31 — Stroke summit, reduction of medication(s), mental health issues and professional counseling available in the church from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Speakers include Dr. Temisha H. Budden, Dr. Michael McIlwain and the Rev. Dr. Teresa McIlwain. * Saturday, June 7 — Wedgefield community food pantry noon-2 p.m. Distributing food for registered applicants. Call (803) 506-4323.

Orangehill Independent Methodist Church, 3005 S. King Highway, Wedgefield, announces: * Sunday — Fellowship service at 10 a.m. The Rev. Reginald Floyd will speak. * Sunday, June 8 — Children’s day service at 10 a.m. Minister Jay Prescott will speak. * Sunday, June 15 — Father’s Day service at 10 a.m. The Rev. Matthew Kelley Jr. will speak. * Sunday, June 22 — Celebration at 3 p.m. for the 130th an-

niversary of the church. Elder Thomas Junious will speak.

Pinewood Baptist Church, S.C. 261, Pinewood, announces: * Sunday-Friday, June 8-13 — Vacation Bible School for ages 3 through adult 6-9 p.m. Sunday and 6:30-9 nightly MondayThursday. Family night and commencement will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday followed by supper. Call (803) 452-5373 or visit www.pinewoodbaptist.org.

Providence Baptist Church, 2445 Old Manning Road, announces: * Saturday — Engage service day and backyard Bible study at 7:30 a.m. * Sunday — Graduation Sunday at 11 a.m.

Shaw Heights Baptist Church, 2030 Peach Orchard Road, announces: * Sunday, June 8 — 50th anniversary and homecoming as follows: 9-10:30 a.m., fellowship; 11 a.m., worship; noon, lunch; and 2 p.m. celebration service.

RSVP to (803) 499-4997 or shbc@ftc-i.net.

Spring Hill AME Church, 4309 Bill Davis Road, Summerton, announces: * Sunday — Celebration at 3 p.m. for the 115th church anniversary. The Rev. Patrick Mellerson will speak.

St. Paul AME Church, 835 Plowden Mill Road, announces: * Sunday, June 1 — R.E. Galloway Mass Choir’s annual anniversary program at 4 p.m. The mass choir will be in concert.

Taw Caw Missionary Baptist Church, 1130 Granby Lane, Summerton, announces: * Saturday — Mayfest celebration at 11 a.m. * Sunday — Family and friends day. Sunday school begins at 9:30 a.m. followed by 10:45 a.m. devotional and 11 a.m. worship.

Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, 155 Wall St., announces: * Sunday-Thursday, May 29 — Revival services will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday and 7 nightly Monday-Thursday. Dr. James S. Hall will speak.

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TELEVISION

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2014 TW FT

7 PM

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8 PM

8:30

9 PM 9:30 LOCAL CHANNELS

THE SUMTER ITEM 10 PM

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Hollywood Game Night: Hot in Hol- (:01) Last Comic Standing: Premiere The auditions kick off, but this time lywood Celebrities play hilarious they are by invitation only, leaving 100 comics to compete for 20 spots in party games. (N) (HD) the semi-final round. (N) (HD) (:31) The Millers: (:01) Two and a Bad Teacher: The (:01) Elementary: An Unnatural ArThe Big Bang Driving Miss Crazy Half Men Broken 6th Grade Lock-In rangement Gregson’s home invaded Theory up. (HD) (N) (HD) by masked gunman. (HD) (HD) Thanksgiving.

The Bachelorette Andi meets 25 bachelors, but one for- Modern Family: Black Box: Jerusalem A man shows mer cast member wants to crash the party. (HD) A Fair To Remem- symptoms of an old syndrome. (N) ber (HD) (HD) Election 2014 ETV Debates: Super- South Carolinians in WWII Museum Coming Back with Wes Moore: Eisenhower’s Secret War: From intendent of Education - Democrat shows local impact in WWII. Fitting In Identity during and after de- Warrior to President Dwight D. Eisenployment. (HD) hower nominated. (HD) The Big Bang The Big Bang Hell’s Kitchen: 10 Chefs Compete Gang Related: Pilot Detective Ryan WACH FOX News at 10 Local news Theory (HD) Theory Howard Teams flounder during dinner service. Lopez has a conflict of interest that report and weather forecast. hazed. (HD) (N) (HD) threatens his job. (N) (HD) Family Feud Family Feud Labyrinth: Part 1 Alice Tanner stumbles upon the dreadful past of Alaïs, a House: Bombshells Discoveries girl from the year 1209 whose life revolved around guarding the mystery of about a patient’s life bring danger; the true Grail. (N) (HD) dream guidance. (HD) WIS News 10 at Entertainment Tonight (N) (HD) 7:00pm Local news update.

News 19 @ 7pm Inside Edition: Evening news up- Paralyzed Bride (N) (HD) date.

Wheel of Fortune Jeopardy! (N) (N) (HD) (HD)

11 PM

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(:35) The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Actress Amanda Seyfried. (N) (HD) (:35) Late Show with David Letterman Stephen Colbert; Robin Roberts; Kelis. (N) (HD) (:35) Jimmy Kimmel Live Magic Johnson; T.J. Miller; Little Dragon. (N) (HD) Tavis Smiley BBC World News Charlie Rose (N) (HD) International (HD) news.

Two and a Half Two and a Half The Middle: The Men Charlie’s Men Jake’s Cheerleader (HD) jealousy. (HD) step-dad. (HD) House: Out of the Chute Bullfighter The Arsenio Hall admitted; Masters’ crush. (HD) Show Lil Jon. (HD) WIS News 10 at 11:00pm News and weather.

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Epic adventure miniseries ‘Labyrinth’ begins on CW

BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH Somewhere between fast and furious and loud and stupid lies “Gang Related” (9 p.m., TV-14), a new series from Fox. Ramon Rodriguez stars as Ryan Lopez, the very best cop in the world, according to the head of the police department’s Gang Task Force, Sam Chapel (Terry O’Quinn).

Sam’s so focused on gang activity on the gritty streets of Los Angeles that he doesn’t notice that Ryan is actually living a double life. Sam’s favorite officer is actually a spy and double agent for his patron, avuncular gang leader Javier Acosta (Cliff Curtis).

Ryan’s loyalties are torn after his partner is slain by Javier’s hotheaded son Carlos (Rey Gallegos). Ryan is further conflicted because Javier’s other son, straight-laced Daniel (Jay Hernandez), stole his girlfriend while he was in the military. Daniel is a superslick investment banker who wants the gang to move out of drugs and killing and go legit.

Daniel also looks a lot like Ryan. No wonder Ryan’s exgirlfriend feels confused.

For all of these dual loyalties, the story boils down to sporadic moments of cliched dialogue punctuated by chase scenes, explosions, shootouts and police brutality.

Ryan isn’t the only one with conflicted loyalties. Hardcharging Sam has a thing for breaking heads and breaking rules. This irks the assistant district attorney, Jessica (Shantel VanSanten). She’s suspicious of Sam’s methods and perplexed about the mounting body count. They argue all the time. And wouldn’t you know: She’s Sam’s estranged daughter. Well, actually you would, because almost every moment of this show and every line of dialogue are predictable.

In addition, “Gang Related” revels in blatant ethnic stereotyping. A Latino gang leader really wants to settle down and open a tamale stand. A Korean gang leader is a curvaceous dragon lady. Ryan’s quickly dispatched white partner behaves like a frat boy.

And a black officer, Cassius Green (RZA), rattles on incessantly about “booty” and soul food while singing from the Tina Turner songbook.

• Big-budget miniseries used to be the staples of May

sweeps. So it’s curious that the CW brings us the twopart, two-night 2012 epic “Labyrinth” (8 p.m.) just as sweeps concludes. A 21st-century archaeological dig opens up secrets to the “true” Holy Grail and an adventure spanning eight centuries. Jessica Brown Findlay (Sybil on “Downton Abbey”) and John Hurt (“The Elephant Man” and “Doctor Who”) star.

TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS • Thanksgiving erupts on “The Big Bang Theory” (8 p.m., CBS, r, TV-PG).

• A team competition puts the emphasis on pork on “Hell’s Kitchen” (8 p.m. Fox, TV14).

• Unconscionable un-couplings abound on “The E! True Hollywood Story: Reality Ex Wives” (8 p.m., E!, TV-14).

• “Last Comic Standing” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14) returns for an eighth season.

• Don Wildman explores the stories archived in one of the world’s great art museums on “Greatest Mysteries: Louvre” (9 p.m., Travel, TV-PG).

• Gregson suffers a home invasion on “Elementary” (10 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14).

• A wife feels helpless as her husband gives his assets away on “Black Box” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-14).

• Truck thieves are no match for “Big Rig Bounty Hunters” (10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., History, TV-14).

CULT CHOICE A ring of Nazi spies hopes to recruit German-Americans in Manhattan in the 1945 thriller “The House on 92nd Street” (8 p.m., TCM), made with the cooperation of J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI.

SERIES NOTES Jane Lynch hosts “Hollywood Game Night” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-14) * Andi returns as “The Bachelorette” (8 p.m., ABC, r, TV-14) * Bitter behind the wheel on “The Millers” (8:30 p.m., CBS, r, TV-PG) * News about Lyndsey doesn’t reach Alan on “Two and a Half Men” (9 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14) * Jealousy strikes on “Bad Teacher” (9:30 p.m., CBS, TV-14) * Competitive gifting on “Modern

THE CW TELEVISION NETWORK

Katie McGrath stars as Oriane in the mini-series “Labyrinth,” which begins at 8 p.m. today on CW. Family” (9:30 p.m., ABC, r, TVPG).

LATE NIGHT Drew Barrymore is booked on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (11 p.m., Comedy Central) * Ellen Page, Bob Saget and Jennifer Nettles appear on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS) * Drew Barrymore, Adam Sandler, Jeff Wild, Arden Myrin and Julian McCullough are on “Chelsea Lately” (11 p.m., E!) * Ray Mabus is on “The Colbert Report” (11:30 p.m., Comedy Central) * Randy Jackson, Lil Jon, Jackie Fabulous, Kym Whitley and Jermaine Dupri are on “The Arsenio Hall Show” (syndicated, check local listings, r) * Robin Roberts, Kelis and Stephen Colbert are on “Late Show With David Letterman” (11:35 p.m., CBS, r) * Jimmy Fallon welcomes Amanda Seyfried and Will Ferrell on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) * T.J. Miller, Magic Johnson and Little Dragon are on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (11:35 p.m., ABC) *

Hugh Jackman, Kevin Nealon and Ali Wong visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC) * Craig Ferguson hosts Tom Lennon, Bob Oschack and

2CELLOS on “The Late Late Show” (12:35 a.m., CBS).

Copyright 2014, United Feature Syndicate

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

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2014 H.G. Osteen 1870-1955 Founder, The Item

H.D. Osteen 1904-1987 The Item

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

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

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Does sheriff’s office need such massive firepower?

EDITORIAL ROUNDUP Recent editorials from South Carolina newspapers:

The Greenville News May 17

Move cautiously to ease mortgage lending standards Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should be very cautious about loosening mortgage lending standards given the mayhem that was wrought by overzealous lenders during the housing bust that led to the 2008 economic collapse and the Great Recession.

At the time, banks and mortgage companies were willing to lend money to just about anyone who asked, regardless of their ability to pay. Home buyers were presented with a dizzying array of non-traditional mortgage products, including such mind-bogglingly bad ideas as interest-only mortgages and loans valued at more than the homes they bought. It is no wonder that so many Americans found themselves underwater on their mortgages when artificially high home values plummeted.

In the wake of that disaster, lenders — along with the federally backed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — began to impose stricter lending rules. Nontraditional products were curtailed. The housing market stabilized. The trouble is, fewer and fewer people have been able to get mortgages, the result being a very sluggish housing market that the Obama administration says is holding back the broader economic recovery.

Eager to promote home sales and add fuel to the recovery, the administration is now on the cusp of backtracking on stringent lending rules for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Among the ideas presented by Mel Watt, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency that oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are unwinding a proposed requirement that buyers have a 20 percent down payment for some loans. ... Proponents say the changes will give lenders a sense of stability and encourage them to loosen their own self-imposed standards so that more worthy borrowers can get the loans they need to buy a home. They posit that no one is suggesting a return to the days when a borrower didn’t have to prove his income, had a poor credit score and still could be given an interest-only loan on a home far out of his reach.

Opponents, however, caution that the changes ignore the very reasons the limits were imposed in the first place: The housing bubble not only hurt the housing market, but nearly brought down the entire U.S. economy and plunged the nation into a deep recession whose effects still linger on many families. That is reason for extreme conservatism as lenders and the agencies that back their

loans figure out what limits are appropriate ...

There is room for easing rules and clarifying requirements, but it needs to be done conservatively. The country cannot risk financing a stronger economic recovery on risky mortgages ... A fresh memory is the only protection we have against the government and lenders getting too exuberant about promoting home ownership and losing the sense of caution they have gained since 2008.

The Post and Courier of Charleston May 20

Obama’s loosening grip on congressional Democrats Numerous federal lawmakers expressed serious differences with the White House on a wide range of issues last week. That wouldn’t be particularly newsworthy if they were Republicans.

But they were Democrats — and they appear no longer willing to reflexively back President Barack Obama’s policy positions.

For instance, the administration’s stubborn, protracted refusal to approve completion of the Keystone XL pipeline severely frustrates many congressional Democrats seeking reelection. The administration has failed to make a coherent case for stalling on the project, which by some estimates could create 20,000 American jobs ...

High-ranking Democrats also appear increasingly reluctant to stick with the president in his support of embattled Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shenseki. They understandably share most Americans’ disgust over recent revelations about stunning deficiencies in VA health care on Secretary Shenseki’s watch.

The president is also drawing intensifying resistance from fellow Democrats on Capitol Hill for his proposed tax hikes ..

And Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., was one of 51 senators who signed a letter sent Thursday to Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker objecting to the agency’s exemption of South Korea from a list of nations accused of “dumping” steel exports below cost ..

Clearly, Republicans are no longer the only federal lawmakers finding fault with the administration.

And just as clearly, President Obama, after nearly 5½ years in the White House, finds himself increasingly at odds with Congress.

The Herald of Rock Hill May 18

Politics behind decision to replace Common Core The state Legislature is on the verge of ditching the national educational standards of Common Core

and replacing them with standards developed inside the state. But the motivation for doing so appears to have more to do with politics than the quality of the education the state offers its children.

The state Senate voted May 1 to replace Common Core with state-developed standards beginning with the 2015-16 school year. The bill also would scrap the testing regimen South Carolina has worked with other states to devise and replace it with a new test by next year.

The state House of Representatives already has passed a similar bill.

Opponents of Common Core argue that the standards represent a federal takeover of education. This ignores the fact that grass-roots educators and educational organizations around the nation were involved in drawing up the standards ...

But, as noted, improving the quality of education in the state is not the issue.

Harriet Jaworowski, associate superintendent of instruction in the Rock Hill school district recently stated: “I don’t think this is an educational discussion. I think this is a political discussion.”

Opponents of Common Core complain that the states are ceding control of education to the national government. They say that not enough teachers, parents and other members of states’ educational communities were involved in creating the Common Core standards.

Ironically, though, as Rock Hill school board chairman Jim Vining recently noted, state lawmakers have not talked with local school officials at all before voting to dismantle Common Core.

“Our local legislators have been making decisions on Common Core and have not once, to my knowledge, consulted anyone in education in York County,” said Vining.

School districts have invested considerable time, money and effort into implementing Common Core math and reading standards in classrooms across the state for the past three years. The standards would have been fully integrated during the next school year.

The legislation also abandons tests South Carolina has helped create with 21 other states. If the legislation becomes law, South Carolina will have to come up with replacement tests by next year or risk losing its federal waiver from having to comply with rigid provisions of the No Child Left Behind Law. ... Common Core is not simply a set of standards but also of shared classroom techniques and lessons for use by teachers. Many local schools have been bringing those skills and standards into the classroom for more than three years now, and the system is working.

It is not a perfect system ... But to throw out Common Core just because it is associated with the federal government? That isn’t about education; it’s all about politics.

Regarding Saturday’s article on Sumter County’s acquisition of its latest and greatest military gear including the 27-ton MRAP vehicle: The article states the MRAP comes with “gun mounts designed for things like .50-caliber machine guns or even a 40 mm grenade launcher.” Sheriff Dennis is quoted as saying “The MRAP will be quite useful in a barricade or hostage situations. With something like this, we could practically drive through the building if we needed to.” The article goes on to say that Capt.

Terrance Colclough and Sheriff Dennis employed the adage “Better to have and not need than to need and not have.”

I find these quotes interesting, telling and frightening.

Will there be a time when the sheriff’s MRAP is equipped with .50-caliber machine guns and grenade launchers? Has there ever been a situation in South Carolina, let alone Sumter, when such massive firepower was truly needed? When the Boston bombing suspect was found hiding in the boat in a residential neighborhood, a hail of bullets numbering in the hundreds rang out, all fired by law enforcement officers.

Each of those rounds ended up somewhere; few actually hit Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Can you imagine the potential civilian carnage if those officers had access to a .50-caliber machine gun or grenade launcher? As for having the ability to “drive through a house” in a hostage situation, I certainly hope that doesn’t end with the after action analysis concluding that the operation was a success but unfortunately the patient died. Does anyone remember how that worked out at Waco?

And finally, the comment stating “it is better to have and not need …” if this is Sheriff Dennis’s mantra, why does he oppose me being armed in a restaurant?

SCOTT THIGPEN Columbia The writer resides in Columbia but is employed in Sumter.

WHO REPRESENTS YOU STATE LAWMAKERS Rep. Grady Brown, D-Bishopville District 50 420 S. Main St. Bishopville, SC 29010 (803) 484-6832 Columbia: (803) 734-2934 Rep. Joe Neal, D-Hopkins District 70 P.O. Box 5 Hopkins, SC 29061 (803) 776-0353 Fax: (803) 734-9142 Columbia: (803) 734-2804 jn@schouse.org Rep. Dr. Robert L. Ridgeway III, D-Clarendon District 64 117 N. Brooks St. Manning, SC 29102 (803) 938-3087 Columbia: (803) 212-6929 Rep. Ronnie A. Sabb, D-Greeleyville District 101 P.O. Box 311, Greeleyville, 29056 (843) 355-5349 Columbia: (803) 212-6926

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

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 Main: (803) 933-0112 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)

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THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2014

MEMORIAL DAY SCHEDULE BANKS — All area banks and credit unions will be closed on Monday.

GOVERNMENT — The following will be closed on Monday: federal government offices; U.S. Postal Service; state government offices; City of Sumter offices; County of Sumter offices; Clarendon County offices; and Lee County offices.

SCHOOLS — The following will be closed on Monday: Sumter School District; Lee County Public Schools; Thomas Sumter Academy; St. Anne Catholic School; St. Francis Xavier High School; Laurence Manning Academy; Clarendon Hall; Sumter Christian School; and Robert E. Lee Academy.

Clarendon School Districts 1, 2 and 3 will be open and schools will run as regularly scheduled on Monday.

Morris College administrative offices will be open on Monday but classes will not be held.

Central Carolina Technical College will observe a faculty workday on Monday but classes will not be held.

USC Sumter will be open on Monday.

OTHER — The following will be closed on Monday: Clemson Extension Service; Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce; Harvin Clarendon County Library; the Sumter County Library; Black River Electric Coop.; and Farmers Telephone Coop.

All offices of The Sumter Item will be closed Monday.

SUPPORT GROUPS AA, AL-ANON, ALATEEN: AA — Monday-Friday, noon and 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m., 1 Warren St. (803) 7751852.

AA Women’s Meeting — Wednesday, 7 p.m., 1 Warren St. (803) 775-1852.

AA Spanish Speaking — Sunday, 4:30 p.m., 1 Warren St. (803) 775-1852.

AA “How it Works” Group — Monday and Friday, 8 p.m., 1154 Ronda St. Call (803) 4945180.

Al-Anon “Courage to Change” Support Group — Tuesday, 7 p.m., Alice Drive Baptist Church, Room 204, 1305 Loring Mill Road. Call Dian at (803) 316-0775 or Crystal at (803) 775-3587.

441 AA Support Group — Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 8:30 p.m., Hair Force, 2090-D S.C. 441.

AA Summerton Group — Wednesday, 8 p.m., town hall.

Manning Al-Anon Family Group — Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Behavioral Health Building, 14 Church St., Manning. Call Angie Johnson at (803) 4358085.

C/A “Drop the Rock” Group — Thursday, 9:30 p.m., 1154 Ronda St. Call Elizabeth Owens at (803) 607-4543.

HIV/AIDS: Positive Outlook, through Wateree AIDS Task Force, will meet at 11:30 a.m. third Fri-

day of each month. Support group for those with HIV / AIDS as well as their friends and family. For meeting location, contact Kevin at (803) 778-0303 or at watereeaids@ sc.rr.com.

MONDAY MEETINGS: Sumter Vitiligo Support Group — second Monday of each month, 5:45-6:45 p.m., North HOPE Center, 904 N. Main St. Call Tiffany at (803) 316-6763.

Find us on Facebook at Sumter Vitiligo Support.

TUESDAY MEETINGS: Sumter Connective Tissue Support Group — 1st Tuesday of Jan., March, May, July, Sept. and Nov., 7 p.m., 180 Tiller Circle. Call (803) 773-0869.

Mothers of Angels (for mothers who have lost a child) — Every Tuesday, 6 p.m., Wise Drive Baptist Church. Call Betty at (803) 469-2616 or Carol at (803) 469-9426.

EFMP Parent Exchange Group — Last Tuesday each month, 11 a.m.-noon, Airman and Family Readiness Center.

Support to service members who have a dependent with a disability or illness. Call Dorcus Haney at (803) 8951252/1253 or Sue Zimmerman at (803) 847-2377.

WEDNESDAY MEETINGS: Sickle Cell Support Group — last Wednesday each month, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., South Sumter Resource Center, 337 Manning Ave. Call Bertha Willis at (803) 774-6181.

DAILY PLANNER

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEATHER

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2014

AccuWeather® five-day forecast for Sumter TODAY

TONIGHT

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Partly sunny

Mainly clear, warm and humid

Partly sunny, a t-storm possible

Mostly sunny and pleasant

Mostly sunny

Mostly sunny

95°

69°

93° / 62°

85° / 58°

86° / 62°

89° / 66°

Chance of rain: 0%

Chance of rain: 5%

Chance of rain: 30%

Chance of rain: 0%

Chance of rain: 5%

Chance of rain: 10%

Winds: W 7-14 mph

Winds: NW 4-8 mph

Winds: NNW 3-6 mph

Winds: NNE 6-12 mph

Winds: SE 4-8 mph

Winds: SW 6-12 mph

TODAY’S SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER

Gaffney 91/65 Spartanburg 92/66

Greenville 92/66

Columbia 96/67

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

IN THE MOUNTAINS

Sumter 95/69

Aiken 93/64

ON THE COAST

Charleston 93/69

Today: Partly sunny; however, sunnier in southern parts. High 87 to 94.

Friday: Sunshine; a thunderstorm possible in northern parts. High 85 to 94.

LOCAL ALMANAC

LAKE LEVELS

SUMTER THROUGH 4 P.M. YESTERDAY

Today Hi/Lo/W 90/67/s 71/48/s 86/68/pc 71/49/pc 86/69/pc 72/60/pc 87/67/s 69/56/r 93/70/s 78/57/t 92/69/pc 65/52/s 84/57/t

SUN AND MOON 7 a.m. yest.

358.12 75.74 75.40 97.10

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

Sunrise 6:16 a.m.

Moonrise 2:17 a.m.

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

0.00" 1.59" 2.07" 14.16" 18.43" 16.42"

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

90° 62° 83° 59° 97° in 1996 43° in 2002

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

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 89/65/s 69/48/s 87/67/pc 70/53/pc 88/66/pc 74/60/pc 89/68/s 65/54/sh 95/72/s 72/55/pc 88/70/s 70/54/pc 74/56/pc

Myrtle Beach 88/70

Manning 93/67

Today: Partly sunny and hot. Winds west 6-12 mph. Partly cloudy.

Friday: A thunderstorm possible. Winds west-northwest 4-8 mph.

Temperature High Low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

Florence 94/68

Bishopville 94/68

Sunset Moonset

8:21 p.m.

2:25 p.m.

New

First

Full

Last

May 28

June 5

June 12

June 19

TIDES

Flood 7 a.m. 24-hr stage yest. chg 12 9.65 -0.35 19 4.08 -0.04 14 8.26 +0.09 14 2.90 -0.53 80 78.23 -0.36 24 5.78 -0.92

AT MYRTLE BEACH

Today Fri.

High 4:10 a.m.

4:43 p.m.

5:10 a.m.

5:44 p.m.

Ht. 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.2

Low Ht. 11:05 a.m. -0.3 11:37 p.m. 0.2 12:02 p.m. -0.3 -----

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 85/59/pc 92/65/s 94/64/s 94/71/s 80/69/t 93/69/s 90/64/t 92/67/pc 96/67/pc 94/67/pc 86/62/t 93/68/t 94/67/t

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 83/50/t 92/62/s 95/62/s 94/70/s 78/64/pc 93/67/pc 85/55/t 91/61/pc 94/61/t 92/59/t 80/58/pc 88/61/t 88/60/t

Today City Hi/Lo/W Florence 94/68/pc Gainesville 92/67/s Gastonia 92/65/t Goldsboro 92/66/t Goose Creek 92/69/s Greensboro 90/64/t Greenville 92/66/pc Hickory 89/64/t Hilton Head 89/75/s Jacksonville, FL 93/67/s La Grange 90/61/s Macon 93/64/s Marietta 91/67/s

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 91/62/t 94/69/s 85/56/t 86/59/pc 92/66/pc 84/55/pc 87/59/t 86/54/pc 89/73/s 94/68/s 90/60/s 94/63/s 89/63/s

Today City Hi/Lo/W Marion 88/63/t Mt. Pleasant 91/69/s Myrtle Beach 88/70/pc Orangeburg 93/67/s Port Royal 92/71/s Raleigh 92/64/t Rock Hill 92/64/pc Rockingham 94/66/t Savannah 93/69/s Spartanburg 92/66/pc Summerville 90/73/s Wilmington 92/69/t Winston-Salem 89/65/t

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 86/53/pc 91/67/pc 87/65/t 93/61/pc 93/70/s 83/55/pc 88/55/t 89/56/t 94/68/s 87/58/t 91/72/s 88/62/t 84/54/pc

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

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

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Don’t flirt with EUGENIA LAST temptation.

Look at what’s being offered. Sticking to your budget and keeping things simple will allow you greater freedom in the long run. Don’t overreact when it comes to a personal relationship.

Choose passion over pessimism.

The last word in astrology

position and give you a fail-safe way to move forward.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Charm, diplomacy and a friendly demeanor will help you avoid questions you don’t want to answer. Don’t make assumptions or overreact to what’s going on around you. Spend time making positive personal changes that ensure your happiness.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Stabilize your personal life. Do whatever it takes to bring about more opportunity to spend with the people you care about the most.

Take care of your health. Physical fitness and proper diet is encouraged, but don’t go overboard.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Follow through with creative ideas. Explore how people from different backgrounds handle similar situations. Choosing to live your life in a unique way that fits your routine and lifestyle better should be implemented. A day trip will inspire new ideas.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The people around you will be misleading. Do your own fact-finding before you agree to take part in a joint venture. Socialize with people who can offer you alternatives, but make your mind up based on what you can afford.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Make changes at home that will please someone you love. Don’t give in to emotional blackmail or anyone using you to get ahead. Size up your situation and be explicit about what you want to see happen.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You’ll face difficulties dealing with organizations. You’ll be taken advantage of if you aren’t adamant about what you want and how you want things done. Refuse to let anyone railroad you into a partnership that isn’t to your benefit.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Take care of responsibilities at home and work before you move on to more pleasurable pastimes. Short trips, engaging in romantic activities and taking care of personal needs will rejuvenate you and clear your head to make plans for the future.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): What you observe today will help you make a calculated decision that can save you legally, financially or medically. A unique approach to the way you handle a partnership will secure your

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Read the fine print. Ask questions and gather facts. Impulse is the enemy.

Don’t worry about complainers or those pushing for an answer. Protect your interests regardless of pressure and discord.

LOTTERY NUMBERS PALMETTO CASH 5 WEDNESDAY

MEGAMILLIONS TUESDAY

1-8-22-30-35 PowerUp: 2

10-40-63-64-69 Megaball: 7 Megaplier: 2

PICK 3 WEDNESDAY

PICK 4 WEDNESDAY

7-3-6 and 2-8-4

8-8-1-6 and 0-7-0-5

POWERBALL numbers were unavailable at press time.

PICTURES FROM THE PUBLIC Lilian Peter comments on her photo submission, “This picture is of a rubber plantation near the Cu Chi Tunnels in Vietnam. The plantation was owned

by Michelin.”

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Don’t second-guess what needs to be done. Go to the source and plan your day accordingly. Love is on the rise and leaving time for romance will enhance your personal life and alleviate any uncertainty you may have about the way you feel.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Selfdeception can lead to a setback.

Revisit the facts and go over emotional situations honestly. Once you accept what’s happened, you’ll be able to move forward and make the choice that will help you reach your goal.

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

SECTION

Scott, Elliott among 5 new members selected B2

B

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2014

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

PREP BASEBALL

CLEMSON BASEBALL

Cool under pressure

Crownover, Krieger lead Tigers past Blue Devils

Phillip Watcher settles in to toss 4-hit shutout as SHS claims 4A title

BY DENNIS BRUNSON dennisb@theitem.com

FROM ACC REPORTS

A fidgety uneasiness rippled through the overflow crowd at Gamecock Baseball Stadium on Wednesday when Northwestern High School had its first two batters of the game reach base against Sumter starting pitcher Phillip Watcher in Game 2 of the 4A baseball state championship series.

There wasn’t much worry on the part of Gamecock catcher Ian McCaffrey though because of the man on the mound.

“Nothing really gets to him,” McCaffrey said of Watcher.

“He’s the same if the bases are loaded with no outs or no one is on and there are two outs. I think Phillip probably settled down on the third batter.”

Watcher got through the Nos. 3-5 hitters in the Trojans order without letting a run score, and he performed the same magic over the final six innings as well. The righthander tossed a 4-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts and just two walks as SHS beat Northwestern 2-0 and swept the best-of-3 series 2-0 to win the program’s third state title in nine years.

“It meant a whole lot to get out of that inning without a run scoring,” said Watcher, who along with twin brother Jacob will play collegiately with The Citadel. “For them to get the first two on and not score was big. My defense did a great job behind me.”

Watcher walked Dupree Hart to open the game and Drew Patrick followed with a bloop single into left field. He

MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

The Sumter High baseball team holds up the 4A state championship trophy after defeating NorthSEE PRESSURE, PAGE B3 western 2-0 on Wednesday at Gamecock Baseball Stadium.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — On Monday, Clemson pitcher Matthew Crownover and designated hitter Tyler Krieger earned spots on the 2014 All-Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Team.

Those in attendance at NewBridge Bank Park on Wednesday saw the reasons why.

Crownover delivered 7 2/3 strong innings, and Krieger came CROWNOVER through with a tie-breaking double, keying the fifth-seeded Tigers to a 5-3 win over fourth-seeded Duke as pool play began in the KREIGER 41st annual ACC Baseball Championship.

Crownover (8-5) allowed five hits and issued one walk while striking out nine. The thirdteam All-ACC sophomore departed with a 3-2 lead with two outs in the eighth, and earned the win as the Tigers added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth and the bullpen held on in the bottom of the inning. ”All along the way, Matthew Crownover was excellent for us,” Clemson head coach Jack Leggett said. “He was all around the plate all day long, and really just hit two balls hard off him. I thought he was very good. He’s been pitching like that for us all year long.”

Michael Matuella (1-3) started

SEE TIGERS, PAGE B2

PREP SOFTBALL

MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER / THE SUMTER ITEM

ECHS forces decisive Game 3

East Clarendon’s Gracen Watts rounds third during the first inning of the Lady Wolverines’ 4-3 victory over Dixie on Wednesday in Game 2 of the 1A state softball championship series in Turbeville. The win forced a deciding Game 3 on Friday at a to be determined site.

BY EDDIE LITAKER Special To The Sumter Item TURBEVILLE — East Clarendon head softball coach Lisa Ard has said it takes all 19 of her players working together to win on the field.

On Wednesday, that theory was put to a stern test that the Lady Wolverines passed with flying colors.

Senior Leslie Altman pitched six strong innings in addition to contributing a RBI triple while leadoff hitter Jessica Welch came through with a key run in the fifth and a game-winning

RBI in the sixth to help force a deciding game in the 1A state championship series with Dixie thanks to a 4-3 victory on Wednesday at the EC field.

EC junior Kenzie Lee came up with a pinch-hit single to drive home the tying run and eighth-grader Olivia Singletary closed out the win in the seventh to help force a Game 3 on Friday, which will take place at a site to be determined.

The prospects of a third game seemed bleak after Dixie leadoff hitter Samantha Ferguson sent an Altman pitch over the left-center

fence to open the fifth and give the Lady Hornets a 3-1 lead. EC came through for a run in the bottom of the fifth as Welch drew a 1-out walk off Dixie starter Delanie Laudenbacher, took second on an Elly Floyd single, advanced to third as Altman drew her second walk and scored as Dixie catcher Anna Marie Ferguson attempted to pick Altman off at first.

The winning rally began with Jordan Evans reaching on an infield error. She then took second as Dixie shortstop Sara Beth Sears’ throw

SEE ECHS, PAGE B3

LOCAL TENNIS

Austin, majority of seeded players advance at Pro Open

BY MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER mchristopher@theitem.com It’s amazing how far a little a confidence or change of mental state can go.

Americans Brooke Austin and Anamika Bhargava proved on Wednesday that the right mental attitude can go a long way as both won their first-round matches in the main singles draw of the Palmetto Pro Open at the Palmetto Tennis Center.

Wednesday saw a close to 11 main-draw singles matches and three doubles matches in which all seeded players advanced. Singles matches will

continue at 10 a.m. today with doubles quarterfinal matches taking place as well.

Austin might be the most experienced player in this year’s tournament after finishing as runner-up twice — including last year and in 2011. Still looking for her first

professional victory, she said she had a better mindset going into her match after recently graduating from high school and signing to play tennis with the University of Florida.

“Last summer there were definitely a couple of nights where I would go home and cry because I didn’t know where I was going to go and what I was going to do,” Austin said. “I’m glad that it’s over and I’m excited to go to Gainesville in the fall.”

Austin, a No. 3 seed, took

MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER / THE SUMTER ITEM

Third-seeded Brooke Austin defeated Usue Maitane Arconada 6-3, 7-6 (7) in singles play during Wednesday’s first round of the Palmetto Pro SEE PRO OPEN, PAGE B4 Open main draw at Palmetto Tennis Center.

B2

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SPORTS

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2014

SPORTS ITEMS

Scott, Elliott elected to NASCAR Hall

THE SUMTER ITEM

SCOREBOARD TV, RADIO TODAY

CHARLOTTE — Wendell Scott earned a second NASCAR first on Wednesday: He became the first AfricanAmerican driver to be elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

The late driver from Virginia was among the latest group of five — all drivers, another first — voted in the hall on Wednesday. Scott joins popular NASCAR champion Bill Elliott, 2-time series champ Joe Weatherly, 1960 champion Rex White and 26-time race winner Fred Lorenzen.

Scott competed in NASCAR’s top series from 1961-73. He won his only race at Speedway Park in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1963, taking the checkered flag in the 100-mile feature after starting 15th.

Scott started 495 Sprint Cup events and had a 147 top 10 finishes.

game between Samford and Wofford. Davidson faces the winner of that game tomorrow at 8 p.m.

49ERS’ SMITH PLEADS NO CONTEST

DAVIDSON 9 CITADEL 7

CHARLESTON — The Citadel nearly pulled off its second big comeback in as many days in the Southern Conference Tournament before seeing its rally fall just short in a 9-7 loss to secondseeded Davidson at Riley Park.

The Bulldogs will look to avoid elimination today at 1 p.m. when they take on the loser of Wednesday’s final

SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith pleaded no contest Wednesday to three felony weapons charges and two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence.

In November, Smith pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of illegal possession of an assault weapon after deputies said they found three assault rifles while responding to a complaint about a party in June 2012 at Smith’s home. During the party, Smith fired a handgun in the air and was stabbed as two other people were shot during a melee, authorities said.

From wire, staff reports

SEC TOURNAMENT ROUNDUP

Kentucky takes down top-seeded Gators HOOVER, Ala. — Ninth-seeded Kentucky used a strong offensive output from the top of its lineup, leading from start to finish in a 4-2 upset of top-seeded Florida on Wednesday in the Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

Kentucky (34-22) advances to face the winner between fourth-seeded South Carolina and fifth-seeded Mississippi State in today’s final game. Florida will face the loser between South Carolina and Mississippi State in today’s second game.

The Wildcats got a strong pitching performance from starter Kyle Cody and reliever Chandler Shepherd to keep the Florida offense at bay in the game. Cody earned the win to improve to 4-0, while Shepherd earned his first save of the season.

Kentucky leadoff hitter and center fielder Austin Cousino scored a pair of runs, while third baseman Max Kuhn went 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored.

SEC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE May 20-25 at Hoover Met, Hoover, Ala. Tuesday Game 1 — (6) Vanderbilt 3, (11) Tennessee 2 Game 2 — (7) Arkansas 4, (10) Texas A&M 0 Game 3 — (9) Kentucky 7, (8) Alabama 1 Game 4 — (5) Mississippi State 5, (12) Georgia 4, 10 innings Wednesday Game 5 — (3) LSU 11, (6) Vanderbilt 1 Game 6 — (7) Arkansas 2, (2) Ole Miss 1 Game 7 — (9) Kentucky 4, (1) Florida 2 Game 8 — (4) South Carolina vs. (5) Mississippi State (late) Today Game 9 — (6) Vanderbilt vs. (2) Ole Miss, 10:30 a.m.

Game 10 — (1) Florida vs. Loser Game 8, TBD Game 11 — (3) LSU vs. (7) Arkansas, 5:30 p.m.

Game 12 — (9) Kentucky vs. Winner Game 8, TBD Friday Game 13 — Winner Game 9 vs. Loser Game 11, 3 p.m.

Game 14 — Winner Game 10 vs. Loser 12, TBD Saturday Game 15 — Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 11, 1 p.m.

Game 16 — Winner Game 14 vs. Winner Game 12, TBD Sunday Game 17 — Winner Game 15 vs. Winner Game 16, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

(7) ARKANSAS 2

(3) LSU 11

(2) OLE MISS 1

HOOVER, Ala. — Seventh-seeded Arkansas got on the board in the first inning and cruised to a 2-1 win against second-seeded Ole Miss on Wednesday in the Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

The Razorbacks (37-21) advance to face third-seeded LSU at 5:30 p.m. today while Ole Miss (40-17) will face sixth-seeded Vanderbilt in an elimination game at 11:30 a.m.

Clark Eagan and Andrew Benintendi each tallied a pair of hits and six of the nine players in Arkansas’ lineup charted at least one hit.

(6) VANDERBILT 1

HOOVER, Ala. — Third-seeded LSU scored in five of seven innings played to post a resounding 11-1 run-rule victory against sixthseeded Vanderbilt on Wednesday in the Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

The Tigers (41-14-1) advance to face Arkansas at 5:30 p.m. today. Vanderbilt (41-17) will face Ole Miss at 11:30 a.m.

LSU’s Jared Poche (9-3) turned in a complete seven-inning victory, allowing just one earned run and striking out three in 26 batters faced.

From SEC reports

ACC TOURNAMENT ROUNDUP

Ninth-seeded GT stuns Hurricanes 6-3 GREENSBORO, N.C. — Georgia Tech continues to play like anything but a No. 9 seed in the 2014 ACC Baseball Championship.

The Yellow Jackets pounded out 14 hits and scored three tie-breaking runs in the latter innings to derail top-seeded Miami by a 6-3 score as round-robin pool play began Wednesday afternoon.

Brandon Gold’s 2-out RBI single snapped a 3-3 tie in the top of the eighth inning,

and Matt Gonzalez added a run-scoring base hit in the ninth to make a winner of Yellow Jacket starter Josh Heddinger (4-4). Tech closer Dusty Isaacs worked the final two innings to earn his seventh save of the season.

(2) FLORIDA STATE 7 (7) NORTH CAROLINA 1

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Starting pitcher Billy Strode tossed six shutout innings, while Justin Gonzalez and John Nogowski hit solo

TIGERS FROM PAGE B1 on the mound for the Blue Devils and took the loss. He allowed eight hits and three earned runs while striking out four batters and walking three.

Duke (32-24) will face ninth-seeded Georgia Tech today at 3 p.m., while Clemson (35-22) will meet top-seeded Miami in the 7 p.m. game.

The Blue Devils went up 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning on Wednesday as Chris Marconcini led off with an infield single and Ryan Dietrich sent a 0-1 pitch from Crownover over the wall in left-center for his eighth home run of the season.

Clemson got a run back in the top of the fourth on Garrett Boulware’s RBI single. The Tigers threatened for more with two on and just one out, but a Duke double play ended the half-in-

home runs as second-seeded Florida State earned a 7-1 victory over seventh-seeded North Carolina before 4,738 at NewBridge Bank Park.

The win snapped a sevengame ACC Championship losing streak for FSU. The Seminoles’ last tournament win had come versus Georgia Tech in 2011.

UNC carried a 5-game tournament winning streak into Wednesday.

From ACC reports

ACC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE May 20-25 at NewBridge Bank Park, Greensboro, N.C. Tuesday (7) North Carolina 4, (10) N.C. State 3 (9) Georgia Tech 5, (8) Wake Forest 3 Wednesday (5) Clemson 5, (4) Duke 3 (9) Georgia Tech 6, (1) Miami 3 (2) Florida State 7, (7) North Carolina 1 Today (3) Virginia vs. (6) Maryland, 11 a.m.

(4) Duke vs. (9) Georgia Tech, 3 p.m.

(1) Miami vs. (5) Clemson, 7 p.m.

Friday (2) Florida State vs. (6) Maryland, 11 a.m.

(5) Clemson vs. (9) Georgia Tech, 3 p.m.

(3) Virginia vs. (7) North Carolina, 7 p.m.

Saturday (1) Miami vs. (4) Duke, 11 a.m.

(6) Maryland vs. (7) North Carolina, 3 p.m.

(2) Florida State vs. (3) Virginia, 7 p.m.

Sunday ACC Championship, 1 p.m. (ESPN2)

ning.

The Tigers claimed a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth courtesy of Krieger’s

5 a.m. -- Professional Golf: European PGA Tour BMW PGA Championship First Round from Virginia Water, England (GOLF).

8 a.m. -- Formula One Racing: Monaco Grand Prix Practice from Monaco (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

9:30 a.m. -- International Hockey: World Championship Quarterfinal Match from Minsk, Belarus -- United States vs. Czech Republic (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

10:30 a.m. -- College Baseball: Southeastern Conference Tournament Game Nine from Hoover, Ala. -- Vanderbilt vs. Mississippi (SPORTSOUTH).

11 a.m. -- College Baseball: Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament Game Seven from Greensboro, N.C. -- Maryland vs. Virginia (FOX SPORTSOUTH).

Noon -- Senior PGA Golf: Champions Tour Senior PGA Championship First Round from Benton Harbor, Mich. (GOLF).

1 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: Texas at Detroit or Chicago White Sox at Miami (MLB NETWORK).

1 p.m. -- International Hockey: World Championship Quarterfinal Match from Minsk, Belarus -- Canada vs.

Finland (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

2 p.m. -- College Baseball: Southeastern Conference Tournament Game Ten from Hoover, Ala. (SPORTSOUTH).

2:30 p.m. -- NASCAR Racing: Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 Practice from Concord, N.C. (FOX SPORTS 1).

3 p.m. -- College Baseball: Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament Game Eight from Greensboro, N.C. -- Duke vs. Georgia Tech (FOX SPORTSOUTH).

3 p.m. -- PGA Golf: Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial First Round from Fort Worth, Texas (GOLF).

4 p.m. -- NASCAR Racing: Nationwide Series History 300 Practice from Concord, N.C. (FOX SPORTS 1).

5:30 p.m. -- NASCAR Racing: Nationwide Series History 300 Practice from Concord, N.C. (FOX SPORTS 1).

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

6:30 p.m. -- LPGA Golf: Airbus LPGA Classic First Round from Mobile, Ala. (GOLF).

7 p.m. -- Minor League Baseball: Durham at Columbus (CBS SPORTS NETWORK).

7 p.m. -- College Softball: NCAA Tournament Tallahassee Super Regional Game One from Tallahassee, Fla. -Michigan vs. Florida State (ESPN).

7 p.m. -- College Track and Field: Southeastern Conference Outdoor Championships from Lexington, Ky. (ESPNU).

7 p.m. -- NASCAR Racing: Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 Pole Qualifying from Concord, N.C. (FOX SPORTS 1).

7 p.m. -- College Baseball: Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament Game Nine from Greensboro, N.C. -- Clemson vs. Miami (FOX SPORTSOUTH).

7 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: Washington at Pittsburgh (MLB NETWORK).

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

8 p.m. -- NHL Hockey: Eastern Conference Playoffs Final Series Game Three -- Montreal at New York Rangers (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

9 p.m. -- College Softball: NCAA Tournament Tuscaloosa Super Regional Game One from Tuscaloosa, Ala. -Nebraska vs. Alabama (ESPN).

MLB STANDINGS

By The Associated Press AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST DIVISION W Baltimore 23 New York 24 Toronto 24 Boston 20 Tampa Bay 19 CENTRAL DIVISION W Detroit 27 Minnesota 22 Chicago 23 Kansas City 22 Cleveland 22 WEST DIVISION W Oakland 29 Los Angeles 25 Seattle 22 Texas 22 Houston 17

L 20 21 22 24 27

Pct .535 .533 .522 .455 .413

GB – – ½ 3½ 5½

L 15 21 24 23 25

Pct .643 .512 .489 .489 .468

GB – 5½ 6½ 6½ 7½

L 16 20 23 24 29

Pct .644 .556 .489 .478 .370

GB – 4 7 7½ 12½

TUESDAY’S GAMES

Baltimore 9, Pittsburgh 2 Cleveland 6, Detroit 2 Oakland 3, Tampa Bay 0 Toronto 7, Boston 4 Chicago Cubs 6, N.Y. Yankees 1 Seattle 6, Texas 2 Chicago White Sox 7, Kansas City 6 L.A. Angels 9, Houston 3 Minnesota 5, San Diego 3

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

Cleveland 11, Detroit 10, 13 innings Texas 4, Seattle 3 N.Y. Yankees 4, Chicago Cubs 2, 13 innings Baltimore at Pittsburgh, 7:05 p.m.

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

Toronto at Boston, 7:10 p.m.

Chicago White Sox at Kansas City, 8:10 p.m.

Minnesota at San Diego, 9:10 p.m.

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

TODAY’S GAMES

Texas (Darvish 3-2) at Detroit (Ray 1-0), 1:08 p.m.

Toronto (Buehrle 7-1) at Boston (Lester 4-5), 4:05 p.m.

Oakland (Gray 5-1) at Tampa Bay (Cobb 1-1), 4:10 p.m.

Cleveland (Tomlin 2-1) at Baltimore (W.Chen 5-2), 7:05 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees (Phelps 1-0) at Chicago White Sox (Sale 3-0), 8:10 p.m.

Houston (Cosart 3-3) at Seattle (Elias 3-3), 10:10 p.m.

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Cleveland at Baltimore, 7:05 p.m.

Oakland at Toronto, 7:07 p.m.

Texas at Detroit, 7:08 p.m.

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

N.Y. Yankees at Chicago White Sox, 8:10 p.m.

Kansas City at L.A. Angels, 10:05 p.m.

Houston at Seattle, 10:10 p.m.

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

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST DIVISION

2-out, 2-run double. Krieger sent a 2-0 pitch from Matuella down the right field line following base hits by Chis Okey and Weston Wilson.

Krieger finished 2-for-3 and reached base in four of his five plate appearances. Due to a sore shoulder, Krieger has been filling the designated hitter’s role for the Tigers the past three weeks.

“Obviously, I’d love to be out on the field playing, but my shoulder’s not allowing me to do that,” Krieger said.

“But I’m lucky to be able to swing the bat without any pain and help this team in any way, because I love playing with these guys and I love being able to get a chance in the lineup.”

Steven Duggar came through with a two-run single off Duke reliever Andrew Istler in the top of the ninth, putting the Tigers up 5-2.

W Atlanta 25 Washington 24 Miami 23 Philadelphia 20 New York 20 CENTRAL DIVISION W Milwaukee 27 St. Louis 24 Cincinnati 21 Pittsburgh 18 Chicago 16 WEST DIVISION W San Francisco 28 Colorado 26 Los Angeles 24 San Diego 21 Arizona 18

L 19 22 23 22 24

Pct .568 .522 .500 .476 .455

GB – 2 3 4 5

L 19 21 24 26 28

Pct .587 .533 .467 .409 .364

GB – 2½ 5½ 8 10

L 18 20 22 25 29

Pct .609 .565 .522 .457 .383

GB – 2 4 7 10½

TUESDAY’S GAMES

Baltimore 9, Pittsburgh 2 Washington 9, Cincinnati 4 L.A. Dodgers 9, N.Y. Mets 4 Atlanta 5, Milwaukee 0 Philadelphia 6, Miami 5 Chicago Cubs 6, N.Y. Yankees 1 St. Louis 5, Arizona 0 Colorado 5, San Francisco 4 Minnesota 5, San Diego 3

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

N.Y. Yankees 4, Chicago Cubs 2, 13 innings Cincinnati 2, Washington 1 Baltimore at Pittsburgh, 7:05 p.m.

L.A. Dodgers at N.Y. Mets, 7:10 p.m.

Milwaukee at Atlanta, 7:10 p.m.

Philadelphia at Miami, 7:10 p.m.

Arizona at St. Louis, 8:15 p.m.

San Francisco at Colorado, 8:40 p.m.

Minnesota at San Diego, 9:10 p.m.

TODAY’S GAMES

Philadelphia (Hamels 1-2) at Miami (H.Alvarez 2-3), 12:40 p.m.

San Francisco (Hudson 4-2) at Colorado (J.De La Rosa 5-3), 3:10 p.m.

Washington (Treinen 0-1) at Pittsburgh (Volquez 1-4), 7:05 p.m.

L.A. Dodgers (Greinke 7-1) at N.Y. Mets (Niese 2-3), 7:10 p.m.

Milwaukee (Garza 2-4) at Atlanta (Harang 4-4), 7:10 p.m.

Arizona (Miley 3-4) at St. Louis (Lynn 5-2), 7:15 p.m.

Chicago Cubs (Arrieta 0-0) at San Diego (Stults 2-4), 10:10 p.m.

FRIDAY’S GAMES

L.A. Dodgers at Philadelphia, 7:05 p.m.

Washington at Pittsburgh, 7:05 p.m.

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

Milwaukee at Miami, 7:10 p.m.

St. Louis at Cincinnati, 7:10 p.m.

Colorado at Atlanta, 7:35 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at San Diego, 10:10 p.m.

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

NASCAR

By The Associated Press SPRINT CUP LEADERS

Through May 10 Points 1, Jeff Gordon, 394. 2, Matt Kenseth, 379. 3, Kyle Busch, 373. 4, Dale Earnhardt Jr., 368. 5, Carl Edwards, 367. 6, Joey Logano, 346. 7, Jimmie Johnson, 340. 8, Ryan Newman, 332. 9, Greg Biffle, 328. 10, Brian Vickers, 327. 11, Brad Keselowski, 326. 12, Denny Hamlin, 318. 13, Kyle Larson, 318. 14, Austin Dillon, 306. 15, Kevin Harvick, 302. 16, Kasey Kahne, 294. 17, A J Allmendinger, 293. 18, Paul Menard, 292. 19, Marcos Ambrose, 288. 20, Clint Bowyer, 282.

Money 1, Dale Earnhardt Jr., $2,929,528. 2, Brad Keselowski, $2,709,316. 3, Jeff Gordon, $2,623,139. 4, Denny Hamlin, $2,495,965. 5, Joey Logano, $2,454,659.

6, Jimmie Johnson, $2,252,119. 7, Kyle Busch, $2,247,499. 8, Matt Kenseth, $2,169,063.

9, Kevin Harvick, $2,135,681. 10, Greg Biffle, $1,942,423.

11, Paul Menard, $1,914,977. 12, Austin Dillon, $1,843,209. 13, Brian Vickers, $1,780,278. 14, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., $1,769,678. 15, Kyle Larson, $1,733,193.

16, Carl Edwards, $1,729,663. 17, Tony Stewart, $1,724,871. 18, Clint Bowyer, $1,695,234. 19, Jamie McMurray, $1,685,112. 20, Aric Almirola, $1,650,914.

NBA PLAYOFFS

By The Associated Press

CONFERENCE FINALS (Best-of-7; x-if necessary)

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Indiana 1, Miami 1 May 18: Indiana 107, Miami 96 Tuesday: Miami 87, Indiana 83 Saturday: Indiana at Miami, 8:30 p.m.

May 26: Indiana at Miami, 8:30 p.m.

May 28: Miami at Indiana, 8:30 p.m. x-May 30: Indiana at Miami, 8:30 p.m. x-June 1: Miami at Indiana, 8:30 p.m.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

San Antonio 1, Oklahoma City 0 Monday: San Antonio 122, Oklahoma City 105 Wednesday: Oklahoma City at San Antonio (late) Sunday: San Antonio at Oklahoma City, 8:30 p.m.

May 27: San Antonio at Oklahoma City, 9 p.m. x-May 29: Oklahoma City at San Antonio, 9 p.m. x-May 31: San Antonio at Oklahoma City, 8:30 p.m. x-June 2: Oklahoma City at San Antonio, 9 p.m.

NHL PLAYOFFS

By The Associated Press

CONFERENCE FINALS (Best-of-7; x-if necessary)

EASTERN CONFERENCE

N.Y. Rangers 2, Montreal 0 May 17: N.Y. Rangers 7, Montreal 2 Monday: NY Rangers 3, Montreal 1 Today: Montreal at NY Rangers, 8 p.m.

Sunday: Montreal at NY Rangers, 8 p.m. x-May 27: NY Rangers at Montreal, 8 p.m. x-May 29: Montreal at NY Rangers, 8 p.m. x-May 31: NY Rangers at Montreal, 8 p.m.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Chicago 1, Los Angeles 0 May 18: Chicago 3, Los Angeles 1 Wednesday: Los Angeles at Chicago (late) Saturday: Chicago at Los Angeles, 8 p.m.

May 26: Chicago at Los Angeles, 9 p.m. x-May 28: Los Angeles at Chicago, 8 p.m. x-May 30: Chicago at Los Angeles, 9 p.m. x-June 1: Los Angeles at Chicago, 8 p.m.

“I thought Crownover was really, really good for them,” Blue Devils head coach Chris Pollard said. “He’s a tremendous competitor, and they did a great job getting clutch hits, obviously, the clutch hit in the fourth and a clutch hit again in the ninth inning.”

The Blue Devils didn’t go quietly in their final at-bat, as Grant McCabe and Matt Berezo drew two-out walks from Drew Moyer. Dietrich greeted Clemson closer Matt Campbell with a single for his third RBI of the game, pushing Duke within 5-3. Campbell retired Mike Rosenfeld on a long fly ball to right-center, with Tyler Slaton making a running catch for the final out.

Boulware joined Krieger and Duggar in collecting two hits for Clemson, which outhit Duke 10-6. Dietrich (2-for4, three RBI) was the only Blue Devil with multiple hits.

PREP SPORTS

THE SUMTER ITEM

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2014

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B3

PRESSURE FROM PAGE B1 got Jordan Crump to hit into a fielder’s choice to force Hart at third before Garrett Rast hit a high chopper back to him to move the runners up a base with two outs. He caught Colton Pagoota looking at an offspeed pitch for the final out.

That was the first of six called strikeouts for Watcher, half of his total.

“Once he settled down and got it going, Phillip was great,” said senior teammate Charlie Barnes, who played first base on Wednesday after pitching a complete game in a 6-1 victory in Game 1 on Monday. “He ended up pitching one of the best games of his life.”

Watcher said it was a great feeling to be a part of a state championship team for the second time at Sumter High School.

“It feels amazing,” Watcher said.

“To start with a state championship (as a freshman on the 2011 team) was great, and it is a great way to end my high school career.”

While the Gamecocks were the preseason No. 1 4A team in the South Carolina Baseball Coaches Association poll, it didn’t mean the road to a state title was an easy one.

“It’s a great feeling because this is something we’ve been working on since the fall,” said Barnes, who will be playing at Clemson starting next year. “We put in a lot of work all year long to achieve this.”

McCaffrey echoed the feeling for the Gamecocks, who finish the year with a 29-2-1 record and a 21-game winning streak, at any time during the season.

“It’s always great to be No. 1, but everyone you play is going to have a chip on their shoulder,” he said. “If you’re No. 1, they’re going to give you all they’ve got because they want to beat you.”

MATT WALSH / THE ITEM

Tee Dubose, left, and the rest of the Sumter players run out onto the field after their 2-0 victory over Northwestern on Wednesday at Gamecock Baseball Stadium in the 4A state championship series.

ECHS FROM PAGE B1 sailed wide of the first base bag. KaTerra Rose’s infield single advanced Evans to third before Coach Ard sent the first of two consecutive pinch hitters to the plate. Roxanne Gray took her shot at the right side of the infield but hit the ball to second baseman Brittany Brown, who looked Evans back at third before tossing to Kensley Carwile at first to retire Gray. Lee then stepped to the plate and found the hole that Gray was looking for, sending the ball into right field and bringing Evans home to tie the score at 3-3.

“It was stressful and it was out of nowhere,” Lee said of jumping off the bench into what turned out to be a season-saving at-bat. “But I was praying the whole time. It was all God. I can’t even explain (the thrill of getting the hit). It was amazing and we are really excited; we really want this one.”

A fielder’s choice grounder by Welch brought in the winning run as a diving Rose beat the throw to the plate from Brown.

Ard was pleased to see her bench come through when placed in a challenging situation.

“I put out Roxanne and she tried to get to the gap and didn’t, but Kenzie came in behind her and did, and that was the big run that we needed,” said Ard, whose team takes a 21-5 record into Friday’s title tilt. “Everybody stayed up,

stayed behind each other and we did what we had to do. I’m very proud of them. We got even keel there a little bit but then we kept getting little spurts that kept us going. I was looking to see who was hitting and I told the rest of them to be ready, and they were.”

Altman, who struck out three and walked one, admitted to experiencing a wide range of emotions during the day and throughout the game.

“Earlier today at school I was nervous and Coach Lisa (Ard) was like, ‘You can’t be nervous. You’ve got to go out there and do your thing,” Altman said. “We got here and I threw the first three pitches I was okay, and I kind of got in my groove and everything started working. Then we kind of got to where we were stuck and then we just came out with hits and they started pitching around me and wouldn’t pitch to me. It didn’t really get to me because I knew it was coming, but then you’ve got 19 other people coming in to hit behind me, so I was kind of like, ‘You know what, we’ve got this.’”

Altman was in on the decision to go to Singletary to close out the game on the mound after EC had taken its only lead of the game to close the sixth. Singletary came to the mound from second base and allowed an infield single on which Altman made a play at short but could not beat a diving Samantha Ferguson to the bag.

Singletary then retired the other three batters she faced, including catching Brown looking at a

called third strike.

“I was like, ‘We need to put Olivia in, we need to switch it up,’ because they were starting to hit me,” Altman said. “The top of the lineup was hitting me more than the bottom of the lineup, so I got though the bottom of the lineup (in the sixth) and the top of the lineup came (to bat in the seventh) and Olivia shut them down.

“They moved me back to shortstop and I was like, ‘They are NOT winning state on my field!’ That was it.”

Dixie jumped to an early 2-0 lead after singles from Samantha Ferguson, Carwile and Anna Marie Ferguson, but Altman’s triple brought home Gracen Watts, who had singled, to cut the lead to 2-1.

All eight hits that Altman allowed came to the Lady Hornets’ top four batters, including a thirdinning double by Brown, who would be gunned down at third by a perfect throw from EC leftfielder Caitlin Timmons to Rose as Brown hesitated moving up on a Carwile single. Dixie would close the inning with three hits, as Anna Marie Ferguson followed Carwile’s single with another single, but have nothing to show for their effort on the scoreboard.

Ard said her team feels good heading into a softball championship game against Dixie for the second consecutive year.

“We’ll try one more time,” she said. “We’re going to give it our best shot.”

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SPORTS

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

MLB ROUNDUP

Reynolds’ slam helps lift Brewers past Braves 6-1 ATLANTA — Mark Reynolds hit a first-inning grand slam, Kyle Lohse combined with Francisco Rodriguez on a 5-hitter and the Brewers ended a four-game losing streak by beating the Braves 6-1 Wednesday night.

Carlos Gomez added a two-run homer in the REYNOLDS fourth for Milwaukee.

Lohse (6-1) was sharp in going eight innings to win his sixth straight decision. He gave up one run on four hits with no walks and eight strikeouts. Lohse’s only loss of the season came against

the Braves on April 1.

After being shut out 5-0 Tuesday night, the Brewers skipped batting practice Wednesday and then jumped on Ervin Santana (4-2) in the first inning. Gomez singled, Scooter Gennett doubled and Jonathan Lucroy took a oneout walk before Reynolds’ third career grand slam — a line drive over the left-field wall.

Reynolds snapped a 0-for-12 streak with his ninth homer.

REDS 2 NATIONALS 1

WASHINGTON — Alfredo Simon settled down after a rough start and came back after a 61-minute rain delay to

win his sixth game, allowing one run over seven innings Thursday in the Cincinnati Reds’ 2-1 victory over the Washington Nationals.

Simon gave up a leadoff homer to Denard Span in the first, worked out of a jam in the second, then allowed only three more baserunners as the Reds finished a road trip by taking two of three from Washington.

INTERLEAGUE YANKEES 4 CUBS 2 CHICAGO — Brendan Ryan scored on a wild pitch before John Ryan Murphy capped a two-run 13th inning with an RBI single, and the New York

Yankees beat the Cubs 4-2 Wednesday after Chicago wasted another dominant start by Jeff Samardzija.

New York scored two in the ninth against Hector Rondon to wipe out a 2-0 deficit. Samardzija pitched 4-hit ball over seven innings.

AMERICAN LEAGUE INDIANS 11 TIGERS 10 CLEVELAND — Asdrubal Cabrera scored on Al Alburquerque bases-loaded balk in the 13th inning to give the Cleveland Indians an 11-10 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday.

Alex Avila’s 2-out homer in the top of the inning put De-

PRO OPEN FROM PAGE B1 the first set 6-3 but had to rally from down 4-2 to earn a 7-6 (7) victory in her second set against fellow American Usue Maitane Arconada, who came out of the qualifying draw. She now advances to face Yolimar Ogando of Puerto Rico, who also came out of the qualifying draw and beat American Jessica Lawrence 6-2, 6-3.

“I think it favors me because in situations like that, where I was down in the second set, I definitely don’t freak out as much,” Austin said of her past experience in the Pro Open. “I know that I can hang in there and not do something too stupid. I need to just hang in there; it’s the key to winning tournaments.”

No. 8 seed Anamika Bhargava had trouble in her first set before eventually winning 7-6 (3), but earned a 6-4 win in the second set to advance past a familiar foe in Macall Harkins. Just five spots separate the two in the ITF Women’s Circuit tennis rankings. Harkins, who is ranked 705, had the edge coming into the match having beaten Bhargava, ranked 700, their two previous matches.

That all changed for Bhargava with a positive attitude adjustment.

“I kind of just came out and felt like I had nothing to lose because although I was seeded higher, it doesn’t matter because we’re five points away (in the world rankings),” Bhargava said.

MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER / THE SUMTER ITEM

Eighth-seeded Anamika Bhargava defeated Macall Harkins 7-6 (3), 6-4 in singles play during Wednesday’s first round of the Palmetto Pro Open main draw at Palmetto Tennis Center.

“With that said, she hits such a hard ball that you have to play solid and stay consistent as much as you can. If you can catch her on a bad game, then she’ll miss (shots) or make huge shots like she did when I was up 5-2 (in the first set).”

Looking ahead to her competition in the main draw, Bhargava hopes to keep up mental toughness. She will face Kristina N. Smith — a 3-6, 6-0, 6-0 winner over Samantha Powers.

In other ranked singles matches, Russia’s Angelina Gabueva defeated

troit ahead, but the Indians scored twice for their second walk-off win in the 3-game sweep.

RANGERS 4 MARINERS 3

ARLINGTON, Texas — Nick Tepesch won for the first time in more than 10 months, Shin-Soo Choo hit a tie-breaking home run, and the Texas Rangers defeated the Seattle Mariners 4-3 on Wednesday.

Choo led off the fifth with his homer into the bullpen in left-center. Joakim Soria pitched a perfect inning for his eighth save.

From wire reports

fellow countryman Anastasia Evgenyevna Nefedova 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. Gabueva, a No. 5 seed, will face American Josie Kuhlman, who defeated qualifying draw player Caroline Dolehide 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Elise Mertens of Belarus, the topranked singles player, won her feature match against American Emma Christine Higuchi 6-2, 6-1. That leaves all but the No. 2 seed advancing to the second round.

Recent University of South Carolina signee Megen Cochran bowed out of the tournament after a 6-1, 7-6 loss to Kateryna Yergina of Ukraine. Nadja Gilchrist defeated Khristina Blajkevitch 2-6, 6-3, 6-1; Steffi Carruthers defeated Nicole Frenkel 6-2, 7-6 and Anne-Liz Jeukeng defeated Nicole Mitchell in consecutive 6-2 sets.

In doubles, the top-ranked duo of Caitlin Whoriskey and Canadian Sonja Molnar had little trouble with Nicole Mitchell and Rhiann Newborn, winning 6-2, 6-1.

Sophie Chang and Andie K. Daniell defeated Steffi Carruthers and Sianna Simmons 6-3, 6-2. The Canadian pair of Kelsey Anonsen and Khristina Blajkevitch lost to Lauren Albanese and Angelina Gabueva in a close 7-5, 7-6 (5) match.

The doubles quarterfinals will showcase three of the four seeds still left.

Chang and Daniell are the only remaining wild card left in the doubles tournament. They will face the second-seeded pair of Bhargava and Mertens.

OBITUARIES | SPORTS

THE SUMTER ITEM

KENNEDY JUNIOUS ATHENS, Alabama — Kennedy Junious, 49, died on Saturday, May 17, 2014, at Athens Hospital, Athens.

He was born on Oct. 24, 1964, in Summerton, a son of Mary Lou Riley Junious and the late William Junious Jr. He received his formal education in the public schools of Clarendon CounJUNIOUS ty and graduated from Scott’s Branch High School in 1983. He was employed with Air Cap, Tufco and Federal Mogul, all of Manning. He was a member of Taw Caw Missionary Baptist Church, where he was a member of the choir.

Survivors are his mother, Mary Lou Junious; two sisters, Willie Mae Junious and Patricia Ann (Emanuel) Bannister, both of Summerton; two brothers, Jimmie Lee Junious of Hartford, Connecticut, and Hercules (Chris) Junious of Summerton; two adopted sisters, Ursula and Shirley; several uncles and aunts; 11 nieces and nephews; and two special friends in Alabama who were like his brothers, Jeremiah Smith and James Richardson.

Celebratory services for Mr. Junious will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday at Taw Caw Missionary Baptist Church, 1130 Granby Lane, Summerton, with the Rev. Dr. W.T. John-

son, pastor, officiating, and Pastor Eartha Carter and Minister Barry Ragin assisting. Burial will follow in the churchyard cemetery.

Mr. Junious will lie in repose one hour prior to funeral time.

The family is receiving friends at the home of his sister, Willie Mae Junious, 1264 Wilson Ave., Summerton.

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

HERCULES JOHNSON PINEWOOD — Hercules Johnson, age 77, companion of Annie Sue Johnson, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, May 17, 2014, at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.

Born on July 10, 1936, in the Panola community, he was a son of the late Levi and Estelle Coard JOHNSON Johnson. Hercules was educated in the public schools of Clarendon County.

He worked in New York City in various capacities. He later moved to South Carolina, where he worked at Korn Industries, until his retirement.

He leaves to mourn his passing: his companion, Annie Sue Junious of the home; five daughters, Selina Livingston of Goose Creek, Brittany Johnson and Alexis

Johnson, both of Pinewood, Myrette Stephens and Glenda (William) Stephens, both of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Mary Junious of Columbia, who was raised like a daughter; three sons, Wilford (Frankie) Johnson of Augusta, Georgia, and Hercules (Karen) Stephens and Randall (Phyllis) Stephens, both of Charlotte; two sisters, Rosa Lee Floyd and Julia Hall, both of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; a special little sister, Altheria Henry of Philadelphia; one uncle, Frances Coard of Panola; a sister-inlaw, Irene Johnson of Sumter; a host of grandchildren, other close relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday at Mt. Pleasant RMUE Church, Pinewood, with the Rev. Powell Hampton, pastor, officiating. Final resting place will be Brown Cemetery, Pinewood.

Visitation will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. today at Dyson’s Home for Funerals.

Mr. Johnson will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service (noon).

The family is receiving friends at the home, 834 Barwick Road, Sumter.

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

Professional services entrusted to Dyson’s Home for Funerals, 237 Main St., Summerton, (803) 485-4280.

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2014

JAMES M. LACOSTE BISHOPVILLE — James “Jimmy” M. Lacoste, 72, husband of Carolyn Lacoste, died on May 20, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Funeral arrangements will be announced by Hancock-Elmore-Hill Funeral Home of Bishopville.

JAMES L. ROGERS Sr. James Lee “Jersey” Rogers Sr., 66, departed this earthly life on Friday, May 16, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born on April 5, 1948, in Lee County, he was a son of the late Frank Rogers and Essie Mae Wilson-Rogers. “Jersey,” as he was affectionately known, attended the public schools of Lee County. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.

He leaves to cherish his memories: six children, four daughters, Kessie Mickens, Wanda Rogers, Latarsha Rogers and Renee Rogers, all of Sumter, and two sons, James Lee Rogers Jr. of Atlanta and Jason L. Rogers of Ithica, New York; their mother, Mamie Lee Rogers; two stepdaughters, Loretta Henderson (James) and Nichole Taylor (Carl); three sisters, Essie Mae Caldwell (Leroy) of Maryland, Jessie Mae Tomlin (Isiah) of Sumter and Gladys Wilson-Hall (Tony) of Georgia; two brothers, Robert Lee Rogers of Nichols and Roos-

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B5

evelt Wilson of Miami, Florida; 16 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; a host of aunts, nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law, sisters-inlaw, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Rogers; two sisters, Rosa Wilson-Wood and Alice Bellamy; one brother, Jessie Lee McCray; one granddaughter, Janasia Nelson; and one grandson, Maurice T. Rogers.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday at Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church, 805 S. Harvin St., Sumter, with the Rev. Dr. Marion H. Newton, senior pastor, eulogist.

The family is receiving friends and relatives at the home of his daughter, Kessie Mickens, 1430 Wilma Court, Sumter.

The remains will be placed in the church at 1 p.m.

The procession will leave at 1:30 p.m. from the home of his daughter.

Floral bearers will be granddaughters.

Pallbearers will be nephews.

Online memorial messages may be sent to the family at williamsfuneralhome@sc.rr. com.

Visit us on the web at www. williamsfuneralhomeinc.com.

Services directed by the management and staff of Williams Funeral Home Inc. of Sumter.

PRO BASKETBALL

James, Heat beat Pacers 87-83 in Game 2

BY MICHAEL MAROT The Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana thought it had taken control Tuesday night.

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade stole it right back.

The four-time MVP and perennial All-Star did what they always seem to — bailed out the Heat in a desperate moment. This time the two All-Stars spurred a decisive 12-2 fourth-quarter spurt that led Miami past Indiana 87-83 to tie the Eastern Conference series at 1-1.

“We’re very confident coming down the stretch because we believe in our defense,’’ Wade said. “When our defense is the way it should be us moving around, running around, doing the things we should do offensively we got two guys that we can put the ball in their hands and they make the best play for the team. So you have confidence in that. That’s why we don’t break a sweat too much in those moments.’’

The two mainstays sure had to work hard, especially late, Tuesday.

Wade scored 10 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter, and James scored 12 of his 22 during the same 12-minute stretch. Together, they combined for Miami’s final 20 points and all but three of the Heat’s 25 points in the quarter — just enough to avoid falling into a 2-0 hole for the first time since the first round of the 2010 playoffs.

Miami has won 11 straight postseason games following a loss, a span covering 40 playoff games without backto-back losses, and this one might have been their toughest job yet.

“Today was just about how bad we want it,’’ Wade said. “This wasn’t about Xs and Os. It was just about how bad do we want to win this game? We proved it. We showed it.’’

The Heat can take advantage of their opportunity when the series

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Miami forward LeBron James, left, fouls Indiana guard C.J. Watson during the Heat’s 87-83 victory on Tuesday in Indianapolis that tied the Eastern Conference finals at 1-1. shifts back to Miami for Game 3 on Saturday.

Frustrated Indiana had plenty of chances, too.

After wiping out a 41-37 halftime deficit and building a 63-56 lead late in the third quarter, the Pacers allowing James to find Chris Bosh and Norris Cole for open 3s that made it 63-62.

When the Pacers rebuilt a 73-69 lead midway through the fourth quarter and had a chance to extend it, Roy Hibbert missed a 12-foot jumper.

James and Wade dominated the rest of the game.

Indiana’s Lance Stephenson tied his playoff career high with 25 points.

COLLEGE SPORTS

Call (803) 774-1200 and subscribe today.

Slive: Autonomy hot topic for SEC

BY JOHN ZENOR The Associated Press HOOVER, Ala. — Autonomy will be the hot topic when Southeastern Conference officials, coaches and athletic directors gather for spring meetings.

Commissioner Mike Slive said Wednesday during an interview with The Associated Press the SEC wants to enSLIVE sure that the five biggest football conferences can decide how their own legislative process works in many areas affecting their athletes. The NCAA board of directors is expected to vote on a restructuring in early August.

Paul George had 14.

But it’s the third straight series Indiana has lost home-court advantage in either Game 1 or 2 after fighting so hard to get the top seed in the East, and they know it won’t be easy getting it back.

“We’ve got to go on their floor and take a game the same way they did,’’ George said. “We gave this one away, so we have to work even harder on their floor.’’

If James has anything to say about it, the Heat won’t give up anything easy.

“It’s not going to be pretty. Not in the Eastern Conference,’’ James said. “It’s

The current proposal would require a two-thirds vote by the 65 schools at those power leagues to pass legislation. Slive said that threshold and the interpretation of that legislation are concerns for the SEC, but didn’t discuss specific changes.

“Our presidents and chancellors have unanimously supported this effort to create autonomy in these areas that are related to student-athletes, so I anticipate that we will continue to support it,’’ he said Wednesday in an interview with The Associated Press. “And I do anticipate that we will also want to see that the proposed model is modified so that autonomy really means autonomy, that the five conferences can determine how their own legislative process will work.

never pretty basketball in the Eastern Conference. It’s about who can sustain runs. You know, who can get defensive stops? Who can not turn the ball over and who can get great shots? I think we did that in the fourth.’’

At times, the rough-and-tumble night took on the aura of a football game, especially late.

When George and Wade collided chasing a loose ball, both came up grimacing. Wade held his left knee.

George said afterward he had blurred vision and may have blacked out. He was diagnosed with a concussion on Wednesday.

Another time, James crashed hard to the floor when David West was called for a flagrant one foul in the fourth quarter, which was changed to a common foul following a replay review. There were hard picks, tight defense and James and Wade back in their old groove.

Yet the Pacers were still in control with less than 7 minutes to go.

“We were winning the whole night,’’ guard George Hill said. “We controlled the whole game until the last couple minutes.’’

Miami did it the hard way.

Wade kept things close in the first half, and the defense that allowed 107 points in Game 1, limited the Pacers to nine points during a 10-minute stretch in the first half and closed it out with by allowing just 10 points over the final 7:19.

James hit a 3 to cut Indiana’s lead to 73-72, and after Hibbert answered with a 6-foot hook shot, James scored six straight to start the decisive spurt.

“I needed to do something in the fourth,’’ James said. “I did a great job in the third quarter of attacking and getting my guys some open looks. I hit Cole for two 3s, hit CB for a 3, but I needed to make a few buckets as well to help us in the fourth quarter, and I was able to come through for us.’’

Your community connection

B6

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COMICS

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2014

BIZARRO

SOUP TO NUTZ

ANDY CAPP

GARFIELD

BEETLE BAILEY

BORN LOSER

BLONDIE

ZITS

MOTHER GOOSE

DOG EAT DOUG

DILBERT

JEFF MACNELLY’S SHOE

Homebody’s future is serious concern for family DEAR ABBY — Our niece “Bonnie” has severe attachment problems.

She still lives in her parents’ Dear Abby home and is well into her ABIGAIL 50s. Her faVAN BUREN ther passed away several years ago, and her mother seems to be her only friend.

Bonnie has never had a serious relationship and has spent her life at one job and with her parents. Vacations and holidays have been spent with them only. Bonnie rarely accepts an invitation unless her mom is invited, does not communicate

THE SUMTER ITEM

unless we reach out to her first and is very private about the smallest details in her life.

Her mother is aging and we are wondering how Bonnie will manage once her mom is gone. How do we approach someone who seriously needs help and guidance?

Caring aunt in Pittsburg

that you cared enough to ask.

The second would be to reach out to Bonnie in the event that something does happen to her mother, and let her know that you love her and will be there for her if she needs you. Keep in mind that you cannot force help on anyone who is unwilling to accept it.

DEAR CARING AUNT — I can think of two ways. The first would be to discuss this privately with Bonnie’s mother and ask if there is anything she would like you to do for her daughter in the event of a serious illness or her death. It is a legitimate question if Bonnie is unable to live independently, and her mother might appreciate

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.

DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

To receive a collection of Abby’s most memorable — and most frequently requested — poems and essays, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $7 (U.S. funds) to Dear Abby -- Keepers Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. Shipping and handling are included in the price.

JUMBLE

SUDOKU

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME

By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

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

THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS 1 Kazantzakis title hero 6 Singer James 10 Apple variety 14 “Water is life” brand 15 Bishop’s rte.

16 Jet Propulsion Lab org.

17 “The Goodbye Girl” Oscar winner 20 Classical theaters 21 Private __ 22 Has no obligation to 23 Org. with an interlocking rings logo 25 Journalist Tarbell et al.

26 CD precursors 29 Short-muzzled dog breed 35 Shoe box letters 36 Devoured 37 French 101 word 38 West Coast natl. monument since 2012 40 Disney doe 41 Times for action 42 Honorable 43 Rear 45 Disappoint, with “down” 46 Futuristic car unveiled at the 1933 New York

Auto Show 49 “... good witch, __ bad witch?”

50 Part of Q.E.F. 51 Tourney pass 53 Hallowed 56 __ alai 58 City on the Rh™ne 62 Court wrapup ... and what’s hidden in 17-, 29- and 46-Across?

65 Puma rival 66 Pull down 67 Two-masted craft 68 Stores in a large building?

69 Till opener 70 Iroquois foes DOWN 1 Shutout score feature 2 “Ars amatoria” poet 3 It might be sticky or dirty 4 Religion founded in Persia 5 Actress Gasteyer 6 Current event 7 Current influence 8 Current observer 9 Things to do 10 Pest-ridden 11 Irish revolutionary __ Gonne MacBride

12 NCAA member?: Abbr.

13 Play group 18 Saw again 19 Words said in passing?

24 O.T. book after Amos 25 Damage 26 Some jabs 27 Lab dish inventor 28 Capital city on the Han River 30 Ogle 31 Like some eclipses 32 Author Calvino 33 Fritter maker 34 Pisa party 39 About-face 41 Like early morning links 44 Pulitzer-winning Ferber novel 47 “... harken __

die”: Tennyson 48 Portrayer of Wawa and Litella 52 Film composer Bernstein 53 Phishing lure 54 Menlo Park middle name 55 Slinky, e.g.

56 Lawn game projectile 57 River under the Ponte Vecchio 59 Mountain legend 60 Grimm start 61 Unspecified degrees 63 Agcy. concerned with the federal fiscal outlook 64 Island strings

CLASSIFIEDS

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2014

THE ITEM

B7

803-774-1234

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

CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS Lost & Found FOUND Pug on Lafayette Dr. Call to identify. 803-468-5499 Sumter County/City Animal Control 1240 Winkles Rd. 803-436-2066 or 436-2755.

Mon - Fri, 8:30am - 4:30pm Found on Lafayette Drive, male white pug.

Found Lab -Pinewood Rd Area.

Call to describe 803-340-1092

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

Taylor's Lawn Care Dependable and Affordable Call 803-651-0125 Four Seasons Lawn Care Serving Sumter for almost 20 yrs!

Free est. 494-9169/468-4008 JT's Lawn Care: All your lawn needs, Tree cutting & pressure washing, Senior disc. 840-0322

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

SC lic. Virgil Bickley 803-316-4734.

Tree Service A Notch Above Tree Care Full quality service low rates, lic./ins., free est BBB accredited 983-9721 Ricky's Tree Service Tree removal, stump grinding, Lic & ins, free quote, 803-435-2223 or cell 803-460-8747.

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

MERCHANDISE Want to Buy Looking for a Great Pryneese, St. Bernard or guard dog. Call Ruth 803-494-5744 or 236-4649

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

For Sale or Trade

Help Wanted Full-Time

Unfurnished Homes

Great long term investment!

Limited Time Offer: 2 Cemetery plots at Evergreen Cemetery Park.

Located in Veteran's Garden Lot # 263-A. (You do not need to be a veteran to purchase or side here).

Regular price per lot is $2,145, selling both plots for $3,200. This price includes the property transfer fees. Offer expires: May 30, 2014. Get it before the expiration date...the Ad (not yours), 803-468-1968

Shirt/laundry presser needed.

Apply in person Polar Bear Cleaners 1087 B Alice Dr Sumter

Shannon Dr. behind Jehovah Church & Layfette. 3BR 1BA, completely remodeled, like new!

Fenced yard, den, dining room, C/H/A. $600 sec. dep + $600 mo.

Section 8 welcome! Call Mon - Fri between 9 am - 6 pm 803-316-7958 or 803-773-1838.

Used Hotel furniture for sale.

Days Inn, 2430 Broad St. Sumter.

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

Call 803-972-0900 Two Cremation Niches at Evergreen Cemetery.(1/2 Price.) $2000 for both. Call 843-393-2824 Martin's Used Appliance Washers, Dryers, Refrig., Stoves.

Guarantee 464-5439 or 469-7311

Lawn Service Precision Lawn Care..mowing, weed and insect control, shrub and bed care. Over 40 years experience. 803-840-5257,

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.

EMPLOYMENT Help Wanted Full-Time Immediate opening for 3 Residential Cable Techs. Will train the right candidates, Full time work, Company truck.

Call 803 612-1150 to set up interview.

Assistant Community Manager needed for elderly communities in the Sumter area. This is an exciting yet challenging 30 hrs. per week. If you are a team player who possesses marketing, written and verbal communication plus computer skills, then we need you on our team. Previous Property Management experience is helpful but not required. Must pass criminal check and drug screening. Our company offers competitive salary and benefits. Please fax cover letter and resume to: Ad # 26, 888-940-7773 or email jobs@cfhs1973.com Driver Needed Palmetto Gas Co. Good pay and benefits. CDL Class A. Haz and tanker preferred. Good Driving record, home every night. Contact Pat Joyner 803-775-1002 or 803-840-5337 Farm Machinery Salvage Parts Puller - Basic mechanical knowledge, having own tools a plus, able to lift 50 lbs. EOE / Drug Screen Required. Great Benefits, health insurance, dental, & 401K. Apply at Baker Abilene Machine, 1303 Sumter Hwy, Bishopville.

800-543-2451.

Skilled Serviceman needed.

Experience in Home repairs required.

To apply call 803-469-3222 or drop resumes off at 2735 Broad St. Sumter, SC 29150

Work Wanted I am a reliable CNA looking to sit with your elderly loved ones day or night.

Ref. provided.

Call 803-225-0924 or 803-225-0543 I will sit with elderly or sick. Will provide ref/exp. Call 803-236-3603 for more info.

RENTALS Unfurnished Apartments Montreat St. (off Miller Rd.) 2BR 1BA, appliances, no pets $350 /375 mo + dep. 803-316-8105.

SOUTH FORGE APTS. 1 & 2 BR Water, stove & frig furnished. Linda at 803-494-8443 Large 3BR 2BA Town Home in Historic Neighborhood $950 Dep/Rent Call 468-1900 Senior Living Apartments for those 62+ (Rent based on income) Shiloh-Randolph Manor 125 W. Bartlette.

775-0575 Studio/1 Bedroom apartments available EHO

Unfurnished Homes Nice 3 Br, 3 Ba, downtown historical district, refrig, stove, dishwasher, C/H/A, hardwood floors, FP, fenced in yard, lg. workshop with C/H/A, alarm system. No Pets. $1200 mo. Call 803-491-5375.

3 Br, 1.5 Ba. in country but close to town. Fully carpeted, W/D hookup. Screen back porch. $700 mo. 803-491-5375 Close to Shaw. Dalzell 3br 2ba brick, fenced yd, screen porch, all appl. C/H/A No Pets. $800 /mo+dep 803-316-8105 Beautiful 6BR 4BA home. 10 mi. from Contential Tire. Den, LR, DR, Lg kitchen w/Island, W/D hook-up.

Featuring hardwood tile and carpet. Over-sized BRs & BAs. Huge fenced yard. Back/front patio. Like new. $1,250/mo + $1,250/dep.

Call 803-316-7958 or 773-1838 between 9am-6pm Mon-Fri. 709 Haile, 3BR/2BA, 2,200 sq ft.

Alice Drives Schools. Carport, fireplace, stove, dishwasher, hardwood, and carpet. $1,200/mo + sec. Call 803-983-1811.

977 Hwy 401 2BR/2BA Private lot No pets. $425/mo + 400 dep.

803-506-2370

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

No pets Call 803-499-1500. From 9am- 5pm 242 Tullah 3BR/2BA $550/Mo., 1096 A Cherryvale Dr. 2BR/1BA $450/mo, 4115 Zachary Rd. 3BR /1BA $435/Mo, Sec Dep. starting at $250, Sec. 8 Ok. Call 773-8022 Oaklawn MHP: 2 BR M.H.'s, water/sewer/garbage pk-up incl'd.

RV parking avail. Call 494-8350 WE'VE MOVED. Vestco, Palmetto & Southland Properties & Lafayette Gold and Silver. 480 E Liberty Street (inside Coca-Cola building), 773-8022

Mobile Home Rentals

REAL ESTATE

STATEBURG COURTYARD 2 & 3 BRs 803-494-4015

Homes for Sale

Mobile Home Lot Rentals 130 Hoyt St. Sumter County close to downtown.

Call 864-349-1400.

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

ABSOLUTE AUCTION 4 BR home on 3 acres in Shiloh 1130 Pudding Swamp Rd., Lynchburg, SC. www.jrdixonauctions.com for full details.

Rafe Dixon, SCAL 4059, (803) 774-6967 Open House Sun, May 18th, 2 pm - 5 pm 1024 Pebble Lane, Manning

Office Rentals 1000 sqft office space for lease. 2 offices, conference room and reception area. 730-C Broad St., $650/mo. Call (803) 494-6204

Commercial Rentals 35,000 Sq Ft. Warehouse for rent.

803-773-8022

FSBO, 3 Br, 2 Ba, 1750 sqft, 2 story, 0.75 ac. On pond in Buckhorn. Hardwd flrs. Updated kit. new stainless appl., granite countertops. Huge front porch, large back deck $184,900 803-381-6473 or 803-629-1958

Going on

vacation?

Don’t Miss A Thing!

Let your carrier save your paper for you while you are on vacation!

Call 803-774-1258 Customer Service Dept. Hours Mon-Fri 8am - 5pm

3Br home Burgess Ct. $495/mo & 2Br Apt Miller Rd. $395/mo.

774-8512 / 983-5691

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

Open every weekend.

905-4242

Huge Garage Sale: 1735 Mistletoe Lane, (Wintergreen Subd.) to the right after you pass Eagle Inn. Fri/Sat 7AM-Until. Bring your cash to haul away the bargains!

La-z-boy Reclining Sofa/Loveseat, Ashley tables and lamps, desk shelves, small kitchen appliances, quality brand ladies clothes (med/lg); much more! All priced to sell quickly! Quality items at LOW-BALL PRICES! Garage Sale: Rain/Shine, 6120 Tarleton Rd., Dalzell, Fri/Sat, 7AM-2PM; Antiques, glass, jewelry, cast iron, misc items.

Will buy furniture by piece or bulk, tools, trailers, lawn mowers, 4 wheelers, etc or almost anything of value Call 803-983-5364

20 N. Magnolia Street

803-774-1258

B8

CLASSIFIEDS

THE ITEM

Homes for Sale

Homes for Sale

Land & Lots for Sale

INVESTORS DREAM DEAL Buy three houses get one free.

Anxious to sell. 803-773-4391, 803-464-5960

Minutes Walmart/Shaw, 1 Ac $6,000. 16.2 ac $32,600. Water, Electric, Paved 800-774-5720

RECREATION

Autos For Sale

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2014

Miscellaneous

LEGAL NOTICES

SUMMER SALE 200 cars $4,500 or less $$$ CASH $$$ Price is Right Auto Sales 3210 Broad St 803-494-4275

Legal Notice PUBLIC AUCTION

1037 Acres, near Continental Tires. Newly renovated DW. 3BR/2BA with garden tub. Fin. available. Call 803-775-4391 464-5960

Boats / Motors

REDUCED for quick sale: 3600 Dallas: Dalzell, 3BR, 2BA. Big Lot. Big storage & workshop. 1/2 ac lot. Fin Available. 775-4391, 464-5960

Manufactured Housing REDUCED for quick sale 411 N. Magnolia, Hrwd floors, C/H/A. Garage, workshop & shed. Comm. lot on Lafayette also available. Fin Avail.

775-4391/ 464-5960

99 Horton D/W, 27x64, 3 br, 2 ba, LR, DR, lg eat in kit., side patio, $18,000. Call 803-406-3437 Looking for your DREAM HOME? LOW CREDIT SCORE? Been turned down for bad credit?

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

(2) 3 & 4BR/2BA (Dalzell). Easy Financing. 803-983-8084

REDUCED for quick sale: 6 Middle St. 3BR & 4th optional/2BA. C/H/A. New construction.

Financing Available.

775-4391, 464-5960

SUMTER EAST SELF STORAGE 800 MYRTLE BEACH HWY. AUCTION MAY 31, 2014 10:00 A.M.

Farms & Acreage Looking for 75-105 Acres of farm land with partial woods. Call 494-3515

CLASSIFIED ADS Will Go To Work For You! To Find Cash Buyers For Your Unused Items

2012 Bennington 20ft pontoon boat. 70 hp 4stroke Yahama motor. 8 ft Bimini top, full cover, privacy room, trailer. Garage kept, fresh water only used few times.

Must see $18,500. 803-460-3898 or 910-612-5743

TRANSPORTATION

Reconditioned batteries $35. Also have lawn mower, truck, 4 wheeler, & marine batteries, starters & alternators. Car dealers/garages ask about special prices.

Auto Electric Co. 803-773-4381

UNITS FOR AUCTION A-8 - LAKEISHA BROGDON A-41 - ROZEAL W-BROWN B-5 - MARY M. GREEN C-22 - MARIE MACK C-27 - SHAQUANA JENKINS C-37 - SHAIKEENAN MCDOWELL E-26 - ANNETTE ROBINSON

Autos For Sale 2005 Buick Park Avenue Ultra, Loaded. High mileage, but exc. condition. Many extras. Must see. $5,000. 803-840-1215

I’ve never seen so many cars and people!

What do you think is going on over there?

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

Can you imagine?!

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

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

It sure would help with Spring Cleaning!

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