May 24, 2014

Police seek public input on string of shootings SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2014

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SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 2 SECTIONS, 16 PAGES | VOL. 119, NO. 188

Community leaders join effort to end silence issue

BY ROB COTTINGHAM rcottingham@theitem.com (803) 774-1225 Eight shootings in five months, all within a mile of each other, yet no one knows anything?

“It’s not just going to go away,” said the Rev. James Blassingame of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church. “We have to be proactive instead of reactive

if we’re going to alleviate the problem.”

Officials with Sumter Police Department have been investigating the string of shootings since the first incident in January. The locations of the shootings are in close proximity to each other, encompassing a neighborhood that had grown rather quiet in recent years.

Investigations indicate the shootings are connected and are most likely related to illegal drug activity.

“From the evidence we have, we believe that these shootings are retaliatory in nature,” said Sumter Police Chief Russell F. Roark III. “The parties involved know one another and intentionally targeted each other.

Some of the victims were innocent bystanders.”

SEE SHOOTINGS, PAGE A7

2014 Iris Festival

TASTE OF THE GARDENS

Tough ending Lady Wolverines fall in deciding game of 1A state softball championship series B1 SECOND FRONT

Sheriff ’s office hopes to find homes for dogs seized in drug raid A2 LOCAL NEWS

Clyburn talks new book, controversial comments A4

DEATHS, A7 Hattie Mack-Wilder Patricia A. Simpson Thomas D. Keels Jr. Harristeen L. Bozier Helen Lawson Rhuie Steadman

Geraldine Drayton Nola Bell Jenkins Elizabeth P. Robinson Alvin Mack Lee Vern Bradley

Bill Moloney, above, cools down during the Iris Festival on Friday.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Baker’s Sweets employees, right, set up their tent at the Taste of the Gardens event on Thursday night.

ONGOING EVENTS 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. today / 10 a.m. - 5 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., today and Saturday, and 2-4 p.m. Sunday

Madelyn and Ryland McLeod, below, share chicken nuggets at the Taste of the Gardens.

WEATHER, A8 JUST PEACHY

Today • 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

Less humid with sunshine today; becoming partly cloudy tonight HIGH 84, LOW 62

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PHOTOS BY MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

Crowning of the Iris Festival king and queen on page A6

• 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

Sexual Trauma Services expands; response team officially forms

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

JADE REYNOLDS / THE SUMTER ITEM

Baron O’Neal, Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands community advocate and prevention specialist that will be serving Sumter, talks about some of the educational efforts to end sexual violence. He’ll be working with a local high school and middle school this fall.

Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands continues to make a home in Sumter.

The private, nonprofit agency provides free services to survivors of sexual assault and abuse including a 24-hour crisis hotline, hospital accompaniment, court accompaniment, personal advocacy, individual and group counseling and education about sexual-trauma issues.

On Wednesday, the agency opened a new, larger office in Sumter, and on Friday, representatives from

STSM and partner agencies signed a memorandum of agreement to officially mark the formation of a Sexual Assault Response Team.

SART’s aim is to provide a more comprehensive and coordinated approach to sexual-assault prevention, education and response, said Melanie Snipes, director of crisis services. Such teams are usually made up of law enforcement, medical providers, prosecutors, victims advocates and social service agencies.

While the team may just now be official, representatives from local agencies have been meeting and working together for two years.

“I’ve already seen better communi-

cations across agencies,” Snipes said. “(It) not only makes everyone’s job easier, it gives more community visibility, support and access, and, most importantly, helps create a web of accessibility for clients or victims who must often move across unfamiliar ground in their search for both justice and healing.”

This is the 12th active and newest SART team in the state, Snipes said.

It’s sponsored by The Tuomey Foundation and spearheaded by Eric McFarland, Tuomey Healthcare System’s emergency department manager.

“We’ve had the funds to grow and

SEE STSM, PAGE A7

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SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

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

3rd-annual fish fry honors veterans South Sumter Park will host free event

BY JIM HILLEY (803) 774-1211 jim@theitem.com Organizers of the third-annual Veterans Appreciation Day at South Sumter Park on Memorial Day say this is the perfect opportunity for the community to spend some family time together and say “thank you” to those who have served in the military.

The free event, which begins at noon, includes a fish fry, activities for children and entertainment by a variety of church and school groups.

The event has grown each year, and Sumter City Councilman Calvin Hastie said organizers are learning each year how to make it better.

“This is our third year of doing this in South Sumter Park,” Hastie said. “It started as an idea of trying to recognize and honor our veterans, and we asked our community to come together and assist us. A lot of the churches in that community are assisting us.”

Hastie said organizers also asked churches to provide performers for the event.

“We asked each church to provide a number, a singing group or praise dancers; that’s been going really well. We have been really surprised at the talent we have in the area,” he said. “Now it is churches and

people across the entire city of Sumter. That is one emphasis that we want to make. This is not just for one side of Sumter — this for all of Sumter, and all are welcome.”

The Veterans Appreciation Day will begin with a welcome and invitation by the Rev. James Blassingame. The Sumter High School Color Guard will present the colors, and Najah Blassingame will sing the national anthem. Debbie Brown will lead in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

In an effort to maintain a little more order at the fish fry, a special area will be set aside for children to play, he said.

“It gets a little frustrating for some of the seniors to have the kids running under the tables and stuff,” he said. “We are going to have a lot of things for the kids. We will have bouncers, the water park will be turned on that day, the fire truck will be out there. We will have a group that is cooking hot dogs and fries just for the children all day long.”

The event will have entertainment including a performance by the Alice Drive Middle School Step Team and the singing of “The StarSpangled Banner.”

Hastie said the main program to recognize veterans will start at 2 p.m.

The guest speaker will be the Rev. James Graham Jr., a 20-year Army veteran who grew up in the South Sumter neighborhood and now is pastor at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Herndon, Virginia.

“He is a special friend who grew

up a stone’s throw from the park,” Hastie said. “He was honored when we asked him to speak.”

All veterans in attendance will be pinned with a U.S. flag lapel pin.

There will also be a ceremony to present a plaque to family members of Leroy Bowman, a Tuskegee Airman who lived in Sumter until his death earlier this year.

“We have reached out to World War II veterans in the Sumter area to be present at the ceremony,” organizer Marvin Boykin said. “Our effort is to show the appreciation that we have for all the veterans in this community.

“They say ‘freedom is not free,’ and we have veterans in this community, some of them have paid the supreme price for the freedom that we enjoy, so this is an effort not just for one side of Sumter but for the entire community — for everybody all across the spectrum.’”

Hastie said Mount Zion Baptist Church, 325 W. Fulton St., and Salem Baptist Church, 320 W. Fulton St., will allow the use of their parking lots for the event, and city trolleys will bus people to the park so they do not have a long walk.

“Bring lawn chairs, umbrellas,” Hastie advised. “We will have tents and things for seniors and special areas for seniors and veterans, but other people need to bring their lawn chairs. The city will have benches throughout the park, but there will be so many people we can’t provide benches and tables and things for everyone.”

For more information, call Hastie at (803) 774-7776 or (803) 429-6750.

MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS • Sumter County and the Sumter County Veterans Association will host a Memorial Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. at Gen. George Mabry Veterans Memorial Park on U.S. 378/76 east of Shaw Air Force Base. Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Bush Hanson will be master of ceremonies.

The program includes a keynote speech by retired USAF Maj. Gen. William “Dutch” Holland, a prisoner of war/missing in action tribute and patriotic music by AFJROTC Cadet Maj. Nickolous Knight of Sumter High School and Taps by Austin Harglerode of Lakewood High School.

• Sumter County’s Military History Museum at the James E. Clyburn Intermodal Transportation Center on South Harvin Street will be open from 2 to 5 p.m. Curator Sammy Way will be on hand to assist visitors in interpreting the displays. At 4 p.m., Way will provide a walk-through and brief history of Sumter veterans.

• The Turbeville Ruritan Club, along with the Black River and Douglas American Legion posts, will host a Memorial Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial in Turbeville. Robert Craven of Turbeville First Baptist Church will deliver an address, and the names of east Clarendon County residents who have given their lives in the defense of their country will be remunerated, and veterans in attendance will be recognized. Ike Gibbons of the Black River American Legion Post and Bruce Buddin of the Turbeville American Legion post will place a wreath at the memorial. The ceremony will conclude with a benediction, and Taps will be played.

• The Manning American Legion Post will host a Memorial Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. at the veterans monument on the grounds of the Clarendon County Courthouse. Color guard will be provided by JROTC of Manning High School, and “The Star-Spangled Banner” will be sung my Rena Morrison. A guest speaker from Shaw Air Force Base will give an address, and wreaths will be laid at the monument.

• A Memorial Day Ceremony is scheduled at 11 a.m. at Dogwood Park in Summerton.

Officers hope to find homes for seized dogs Terriers found during raids will be evaluated, prepped for placement

BY BRADEN BUNCH bbunch@theitem.com (803) 774-1201 The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office will maintain custody of more than two dozen pit-bull terriers seized in a Rembert-area drug raid earlier this month and will attempt to place as many up for adoption as possible after the dogs’ owners relinquished their ownership of the animals Friday.

The dogs’ former owners — Kevin Lamont Loney; his wife, Connie; and Norman Christopher Workman — were all arrested during a May 10 raid in which law enforcement seized nearly a quarter-million dollars in illegal drugs. It was during those raids that deputies also came across the pit-bull terriers and what they say was a pit used to fight the dogs.

During a hearing before Sumter County Chief Magistrate Kristi Curtis to determine whether the sheriff’s office had properly seized the animals, Kevin Loney said he and his wife were willing to sign any paperwork needed to officially relinquish ownership of the dogs.

“We’ll just sign everything over,” Loney told Curtis. His wife was not present for the hearing.

Workman, who during the first hearing two weeks ago was claiming the dogs were his, on Friday claimed he was just a caretaker for the ani-

BRADEN BUNCH / THE SUMTER ITEM

Now that Sumter County Sheriff’s Office has official possession of the pit-bull terriers seized during a Rembert-area drug raid earlier this month, the office is hopeful it will be able to adopt out many of the animals, including this mother and her puppies, which were born at the Sumter County Animal Control shelter. mals. “I didn’t do nothing. All I do is clean and feed and water the dogs,” he said in court.

For his alleged treatment of the animals, law enforcement officially charged Kevin Loney, already facing a bevy of drug charges, with eight counts of animal cruelty and eight counts of animal fighting. Officers have said there are potential animal

cruelty charges pending against Workman, as well.

With the dogs now officially in the custody of law enforcement, Sheriff Anthony Dennis said workers at Sumter County Animal Control will start evaluating the terriers on an individual basis, trying to prepare as many as they can for adoption. This includes several puppies born at the

animal shelter after the dogs were seized.

“We can’t continue to house that many for too long,” Dennis said.

“Each and every one will be looked at. Some of them are younger, and those, I believe, can be prepared for adoption. We’ll look to see if they’re vicious, and if they’re not, we’ll certainly adopt those out.”

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SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2014

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Suspect in Tuesday shooting still on the loose

BY BRADEN BUNCH bbunch@theitem.com (803) 774-1201 The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office has requested the U.S. Marshal’s Office assist them in locating Travis Santell Miller, a suspect wanted in connection with a Tuesday shooting that seriously injured a 20-year-old Sumter man.

Miller, wanted on attempted murder charges stemming from a latenight shooting at a business in the

1000 block of Manning Road, continued to elude law enforcement as of Friday evening, despite speaking with officers on the phone and telling them he planned to turn MILLER himself in to authorities.

Sheriff Anthony Dennis said he had remained hopeful Miller would voluntarily report to law enforcement but continued to search for Miller nonetheless. With the possibility Miller has left the

county, Dennis has called on other agencies to assist in the hunt for the man labeled as armed and dangerous.

“He may not be in the Sumter area, but we think he might still be in the state,” Dennis said.

Meanwhile, Dennis said the victim remains in critical condition but has shown some slight improvement in the last 24 hours.

Still, the 20-year-old man, who was shot in the neck Tuesday night, remains on life support at a Columbiaarea hospital. Witnesses told investi-

gators Miller and the shooting victim had been fighting at the establishment.

Miller, who was reportedly seen leaving the scene driving a gray or silver Mercury Grand Marquis, is described as a black man 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 either Crimestoppers at (888) 274-6372 or the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 436-2000.

Millwood celebrates Dr. John B. Hilton Day

BY RAYTEVIA EVANS revans@theitem.com (803) 774-1214 With his beloved rocking chair in tow, Dr. Johnny Hilton spent his Friday morning on the playground at Millwood Elementary School as his family, friends, students, faculty and staff celebrated his long, influential career in education in Sumter County. Hilton, who has been in education for more than 30 years, will retire on June 30.

Millwood PTA and faculty and staff organized Dr. Hilton Day to honor the longtime principal of the elementary school with speeches, student performances and Popsicles to cool off after spending the morning celebrating in the sun.

PHOTO BY RAYTEVIA EVANS / THE SUMTER ITEM Before the students perJohnny Hilton, principal at Millwood Elementary School, stands in the playground with some of his students dressed in his signature khakis formed for Hilton, friend and colleague Delcia Harper-Baxand ties during a celebration honoring Hilton’s 25 years at the school. Hilton will retire from the position at the end of June. ter, principal at Lemira Eletruly miss his students and mer,” a song Hilton composed. mentary School, read a rhythFaculty and staff staff, and he is grateful to have The school’s kindergarten stumic speech she wrote about hold up signs been a part of the team and to Hilton and his dedication to ed- dents sang “Don’t Worry, Be stating “Millwood receive everyone’s support.

Happy.” Second-, third- and ucation and the work he has School Loves Dr. “I’m grateful and thank you fourth-grade students also sang done at Millwood for the past Hilton” during so much to friends and the songs to celebrate Hilton and 25 years.

Friday morning’s Millwood family for making me “I just want to say thank you. his long career, and fifth grade celebration. feel so special,” Hilton said. rounded out the morning fesI can only imagine when you Previously, Hilton said saytivities with their rendition of leave the halls of Millwood, it ing goodbye to everyone will be the song “Happy” by Pharrell will never be the same,” Harpthe hardest part. But he will Williams. er-Baxter said. take his rocking chair, given to PTA presiFormer him by his grandmother, and dent Brenda Mayor Steve move on to other endeavors Bonners said it Creech, reprewhile still supporting schools was important senting the to honor Hilton and education in Sumter City of Sumter School District. for his dedicaand stepping in tion to the stufor Mayor Jodents and their seph McElveen families. The Jr., read the organization proclamation presented Hildeclaring Friton with a lifeday as Dr. John time Millwood B. Hilton Day. PTA MemberCreech said ship.

Hilton has “We all love “dedicated his BRENDA BONNERS Dr. Hilton. life to schools Normally, you and education PTA president just don’t see a in Sumter principal stay County, and with one school for 25 years, I’m proud to call him a friend.” and that’s special,” Bonners Each grade level sang songs said. or recited chants they had preDuring the event, the school pared to show their love and also presented a check to Coins appreciation for Hilton, who sings and plays saxophone with for Alzheimer’s Research Trust in honor of Hilton. Hilton and The Footnotes, a Sumter band his son John Hilton Jr. shed that’s in the Beach Music Hall of Fame. While donning khakis many tears of joy Friday morning while watching the stuand ties — Hilton’s trademark dents perform and listening to attire over the years — the preMillwood staffers’ and friends’ kindergarten students perspeeches. Hilton said he will formed “Grand Strand Sum-

‘We all love Dr. Hilton. Normally, you just don’t see a principal stay with one school for 25 years, and that’s special.’

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SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2014

LOCAL

THE SUMTER ITEM

Clyburn on his book, re-election and controversial comments

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

would never vote for, there are a lot of Republicans I would never vote for, and there are Republicans I would vote for, and Republicans I You can’t say U.S. Rep. Jim have voted for. But small Clyburn hasn’t led an interestthinkers I can’t abide, I don’t ing life. care what color their skin is First elected to Congress in or what party they may be af1992, the South Carolina Demfiliated with. ocrat was the state’s first Can you think of a Republican black congressman in almost you would vote for, in South Car100 years. After more than two olina or anywhere else? decades in office, he is the Well, I have voted for Remost senior member of the publicans in South Carolina state’s congressional delegain the past, but I wouldn’t call tion, served as majority whip their names because I don’t in the House of Representawant to do them any harm. It tives from 2007 to 2011, and might not do them any good has held the House Demofor me to say I voted for them. crats’ assistant leadership poYou’re now the only Democrat sition since. He’s known as a holding such a prominent office politician who has the ear of in the state. How does the DemoPresident Obama. cratic Party turn that around?

Now, Clyburn has compiled The pendulum goes back those experiences, along with BRISTOW MARCHANT / THE SUMTER ITEM and forth. It goes left, and it his childhood growing up in U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn made an appearance in Sumter recently progoes right. In order for the Sumter, into a new memoir, moting his new memoir, “Blessed Experiences: Genuinely Southern, clock to maintain itself, the “Blessed Experiences: GenuProudly Black.” The book traces Clyburn’s life story, from growing up pendulum has to go back and inely Southern, Proudly in Sumter as the son of a pastor to becoming a national leader in the forth. If it gets stuck on the Black.” He sat down with The Democratic Party. right or the left, the clock Sumter Item to talk about writstops working. I see politics ing and politics when he rethe same way. The same SuI don’t think I said that. periences: Genuinely Southcently returned to his homepreme Court that gave us the Someone asked me whether I town for a book-signing event. ern, Proudly Black.’

Dred Scott decision also gave saw his appointment and posI think all so often I have Why write this memoir now, sible election as progress, and us the Brown v. Board of Eduheard people express themand what do you hope people cation decision. The same SuI said, I don’t judge progress selves in insulting ways, and take away from it? preme Court that gave us JC: When I set out to write a their excuse was ‘I’m a South- by the pigmentation of one’s Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 gave skin. My skin and Clarence erner.’ I don’t think being a book some 30 years ago, I was us Brown, too, in 1954. And so, Southerner means you have a Thomas’s skin are the same at a crossroads in my life. I’d I view the state of affairs the pigmentation, and I find his license to be insulting, to be come up against some obstasame way. The electorate gave cles. I was running the Human less than dignified, to put peo- opinions insulting. I don’t us Barack Obama in 2008, and Affairs Commission, which in ple down or even demonstrate think the person wrote all that, so I said this on Morning went the opposite way when hatred. This is what that guy itself was controversial they voted in 2010. We’ll see Joe. I went on to say, if you enough, but then people start- was demonstrating in that what they do in 2014. I don’t call progress voting against ed manufacturing controversy meeting that day. think we’re going to get stuck the confirmation of black It’s an election year. Are you outside of that, and I had to judges, insulting the first Afri- on the right. I think the penmore focused on your own condecide whether to maintain can-American president, then dulum is swinging to the left gressional race, or, as one of the my pursuit of a life in public I guess that’s progress. That’s as we speak. service, or go off and do some- party’s House leaders, on how Is there something the party thing else. I got offered a job in Democrats are doing nationally? what I said, and I stand by can do to bring voters back, or that.

First things first, I’m foMichigan running an agency Could a conservative represent do you just wait for the electorcused on my own re-election. I similar to the one here in ate to change? the black community?

South Carolina, so I spent that don’t know if I have any diffiI don’t think we’re waiting.

I’m as conservative as they culty with a primary where weekend trying to figure out Jaime Harrison, who happens my opponent is an avowed tea come. My parents were both exactly what I wanted to do. to be a protégé of mine, is Republicans. I’m not against When I decided I was going to partier who says the reason doing a great job as chair of conservatism. You’ll find in she’s running against me is continue my pursuit, I sat the (S.C.) Democratic Party. this book I’ve worked very because she has not been satdown and wrote about that Part of my difficulty when it closely with Republicans to isfied with my responses to whole decision-making procomes to politics is that I have get work done. Anybody who cess and what went into it, and her complaints. Well, if anyreally internalized my Chrisbody who thinks the way a tea is out here insulting the first I said to myself, I’m going to tian upbringing. Two or three African-American president, write a book, and this episode partier thinks becomes satispeople have asked me, did you anybody voting against every would be the opening chapter. fied with my responses to find out anything about yourAfrican-American judge, I set it aside for a while, and their complaints, I think it’s that’s what I’m against. If you self when writing this book? time for me to come home. I I said to myself, the kind of And I did. I had not thought call that conservatism, then am diagonally opposed to the book I would want to write, I I’m against that conservatism. about how my growing up in a tea party’s philosophy ... so don’t think I’ve lived long parsonage has impacted me enough, that I had enough ex- I’m not paying too much atten- It’s that simple.

You’ve also made comments to before I started writing this tion to my opponent. The seat periences, to write the book I the Associated Press that suggest book. There are passages of want to write. So I started tak- belongs to the people of the Scripture that always come to ing notes and filing stuff away. 6th Congressional District. I’ll poor conditions in South Carolimind when I start looking at na are due to electing Republilive by their verdict.

So that chapter that I thought politics; the passage that deals cans ...

And nationally? was going to be the first chapThat’s not what I said. I said with being ready, to keep the Midterms are always hard ter is in the book, but as Chaplamps trimmed and burning, on the party who occupies the we in South Carolina are sufter 18. and be ready when the brideWhite House. Historically, the fering from electing people So, about five or six years groom comes. who are small thinkers. party that occupies the White ago, people started bugging That’s the way I see politics.

House tends to have difficulty There’s a big piece in this me to write a book. I had just book about people who do not in an off-year election. The been elected majority whip, think beyond their own ideoloquestion is will we defy that and there were people who gy. All this other stuff is what trend? Well, we have precesaid, ‘I’ve listened to your people imagine I said or put dence for it. Our party defied speeches, read your op-ed their own spin on it. I never that trend in 1998. We picked pieces, seeing what you’ve up seats that year, and in fact, said that, and that’s one of the done with your life, and you problems we have is people Newt (Gingrich) lost his really ought to write a book.’ put their own interpretations Even President Obama said to speakership over that one. on what you said and write it, You’ve gotten flak for some me one time, ‘have you and that’s not what I said. And thought about writing a book?’ comments you made to The I stand by what I said.

Washington Post about the pigI said, ‘Mr. President, I am in So it’s not a partisan thing? fact in the process of writing a mentation of Sen. Tim Scott’s It’s not a partisan thing. skin and how he’s represented book.’

There are a lot of Democrats I the black community...

I told him how I came up with (the title), which has a lot to do with my father, whose favorite hymn was ‘Blessed Assurance.’ He seemed to get so much out of spending all day Saturday reading and writing and humming that hymn in preparation for his Sunday services. The original title was ‘I Too Am a Southerner.’

I had come to that title because when I was in the governor’s office, I was sitting in the committee meeting one day, and a legislator said something I thought was beyond the pale, and after the meeting I went up to the legislator and told him I thought he crossed the line in what he had to say.

His explanation to me was, ‘Well, Clyburn, you have to understand I’m a Southerner.’

That afternoon I talked with Phil Gross, who I worked with in the governor’s office, and I said, ‘You know, I’m a Southerner. My parents are both Southerners. You’re a Southerner. I don’t talk that way, I’ve never heard you talk that way, and I hope you don’t think that way.’ One of these days, I’m going to write about my experiences in this office, and I’m going to call it ‘I Too Am a Southerner.’ When I changed the title of the book, I wanted to maintain the connection to what had motivated me, so I called it ‘Blessed Ex-

We as a party must stay focused on why we’re Democrats, and stay committed to those principles that make us Democrats. Those principles are well-grounded. When you see service to those who are less fortunate, Democrats believe sincerely in creating opportunity for people. You see that. That’s why Democrats passed the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act, to create opportunities. My Republican friends by and large believe in lessening opportunity. That’s why they’ve passed these onerous voter ID laws, why they’re refusing to allow an expansion of Medicaid.

These things suppress people, they suppress activity, and that’s what they do. They can say anything they want to, but when you pass a law that makes it difficult for people to vote, and anybody, I don’t care what their skin color is, if you support that crap, I’ve got a problem with you. It’s just that simple.

Is this a different book from the one you set out to write 30 years ago?

No different. Just more maturity, more experiences. Thirty years ago, I had not served as majority whip. I didn’t know what it was to put together 218 votes to make big things happen like the Affordable Care Act. So, the book is much more mature, the principles of the book are the same.

To say (the title) is a more mature way to look at that thought process (than the original). You can just find more maturity and more selflessness in this book than you would have 30 years ago.

Has your view of what it means to be a Southerner changed then?

No. I’m expressing what I was taught being a Southerner is all about. My grandson today said something in the car as we drove up here today.

He’s a student down at Coastal Carolina. He talked about being a Southern gentleman.

People talk about Southern gentlemen. Are you being a gentleman when you are denigrating somebody because of their skin color, as that man was doing in that committee meeting that day? I don’t think so. I think I am every bit the Southerner I was taught to be, I just think I’ve learned to manage it different. I’m 73 years old. My dad used to say, experience is the best teacher.

I’ve had enough experiences to manage being a Southerner different than when I was 23 years old.

REVIEWS

THE SUMTER ITEM

SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2014

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Tori Amos returns to pop roots

BY GREGORY KATZ The Associated Press

AP FILE PHOTO

Brantley Gilbert performs at the 2014 Stagecoach Music Festival at the Empire Polo Field in Indio, California, on April 25.

Brantley Gilbert’s star-making album

BY CHRIS TALBOTT AP Music Writer Everybody in Nashville has been predicting Brantley Gilbert will be the next big thing in country music for a couple of years now. His new album, the long-awaited “Just as I Am,” is engineered to make that little bit of soothsaying a reality.

The tracks on “Just as I Am” follow the blueprint for modern country success. There’s the drinking song — first single “Bottoms Up” is already a No. 1 hit. There’s a song about his hometown called “Lights of My Hometown.”

He makes sure he defines himself for his female fans on the opener, “If You Want a Bad Boy”; pays tribute to friends and family members that died too young (“One Hell of an Amen”); and doesn’t forget the all-star team-up

(“Small Town Throwdown” with labelmates Justin Moore and Thomas Rhett).

Gilbert had a lot to do with this formula’s popularity as the writer of some of Jason Aldean’s biggest hits, including “My Kinda Party” and “Dirt Road Anthem,” the songs that put Aldean over the top. Since then, there’s been a debate about the direction of country, and Gilbert’s third album is certainly fodder for the discussion.

There’s a difference between following a formula and becoming cliché, however, and Gilbert easily skirts that line with his songwriting, his sonic choices and a more varied vocal approach on the Dann Huffproduced album. Gilbert co-wrote all 11 tracks with the help of some of Nashville’s more distinctive songwriters and feels more invested than

some of his song-mining peers.

“Bottoms Up” is more melancholy love song than a sloppy drunk anthem, and Gilbert’s vocal is subtle. The laidback guitar line that leads off the opener “Bad Boy” is an invitation to listen for interesting instrumentation throughout. “Hometown” builds powerfully with a gospel choir wrapped around a towering guitar solo. And a melancholy line throughout the album finds a home in album-closing “My Faith in You,” a song that reaffirms Gilbert’s faith after a difficult period that’s included the end of his engagement and struggles with alcohol.

If you have bought into mainstream country’s modern sound, “Just as I Am” will be one of your year’s biggest albums. And if not, well, settle in; this one’s going to be on the radio for a while.

‘Words and Pictures’ is a witty adult rom-com LOS ANGELES (AP) — If it wasn’t for the charming topliners who can make literary dialogue sound sexy in their sleep, the war in Fred Schepisi’s “Words and Pictures” would have to be called off after the opening skirmish.

The battlefield is a country prep school where Clive Owen’s drunken English teacher and Juliette Binoche’s prickly art instructor square off, then pair off, in an amusing schoolwide debate about whether literature or painting is best.

The way the challenge between these two sharp minds will play out is the only thing that isn’t a foregone conclusion in the smooth-as-vodka screenplay, a middle-brow mashing together of “Dead Poets Society” and a rom-com for audiences allergic to vulgarity and sex scenes.

The film gives Binoche, who plays Italian painter Dina Delsanto, a chance to show off her own artwork, which is liberally displayed in the film and which looks considerably better and more painterly than simple props. Working with portraiture and large-scale abstraction, she plays a famous artist struck with rheumatoid arthritis and increasingly unable to move her arms and hands freely. Her solution is to use industrial-size paint dispensers hanging from overhead hooks which she can move artistically without fine brushwork. All these difficulties more or less justify her fierce anti-social attitude, which Binoche is able to carry off without becoming an unpleasant character.

Owen pulls out a surprisingly literate side of himself in the role of Jack Marcus, an irrepressibly outspoken English teacher and wordsmith who, on the verge of being ousted from the school for alcoholic disorderliness, does something repulsively unethical to save his job. It’s a bombshell on the order of discovering Mr. Chips has copied his graduate thesis.

Owen is spectacular in maneuvering Jack’s way out of this

mess, in which his grownup son is involved. It’s a tribute to his inner appeal that he overcomes the cruelty of having to wear a grubby beard, heavy glasses and abominable corduroy jackets.

One can sympathize with Jack’s boredom with the faculty who won’t play word games with him, with an exception made for the wry old Walt (Bruce Davison).

But with the spotlight focused on Jack and Dina, there seems to be little interest in developing peripheral characters, and students and teachers alike are hastily sketched, easily predictable figures.

On the plus side, Gerald Di Pego’s screenplay revolves around some truly witty, sassy dialogue that will give the film its raison d’être for many collegiate viewers. The darts fly from the moment Jack and Dina are introduced. Told that Dina is an art teacher and noting her artistically wrapped neck scarf, Jack shoots off “Hence the scarf,” to which Dina, noting he’s an English teacher, replies without batting an eye, “Hence the hence.”

Their caustic banter is always a delight.

Schepisi, whose last film was his adaptation “The Eye of the Storm,” based

on an Australian classic, is a general who marshals actors to bring emotional depth to almost any kind of screenplay. Here the human elements take the foreground, and romance comes trailing along forlornly behind. Not that the chemistry isn’t there between Owen and Binoche, who has rarely looked so beautiful onscreen. But the strange reticence of the scene when the two finally hit the hay feels like a throwback to the 1930s, including a huge cutaway that ends with the protags in bed with the sheets pulled up to their necks, saying how great it all was.

Tori Amos’ 14th album marks a return to her traditional approach — some call it “chamber pop” — after a 2011 experiment with classical music.

The piano playing and singing on “Unrepentant Geraldines” are strong and straightforward, with Amos’ sure touch and confessional approach, while the lyrics can be dense and occasionally confounding even as they deal with the rigors of aging and the challenges women of all ages face in a male-dominated, youth-obsessed society.

The songs do not offer simple answers, but there is pleasure and joy in the process and warmth in her descriptions of the challenging relationships she describes. And, as she deals with turning 50, Amos offers hope to others by suggesting in song that 50 may be “the new black.”

She takes many of her cues from visual artists, including “16 Shades of Blue” — a reference to a painter’s palette — and the title track is inspired by an etching by a 19th century Irish artist.

The first is a plaintive, multi-tracked dissection of a slow-motion breakup tinged with the complaint that “there are those who say that I’m too old to play” that also chronicles the pressures women feel at 15 and 33. The second is about the quest for freedom, with an attack on corporate greed and the vow that “I’m going to heal myself from your religion.” Both are beautifully produced and arranged, as is “Promise,” a somehow optimistic song about loss that showcases a call and response approach with the plea, “Promise not to say that I’m getting too old.”

Far less effective is the sometimes cloying “Giant’s Rolling Pin,” with easy digs at the NSA and FBI and a childfriendly rhythm reminiscent of some of the weaker songs on the Beatles’ “Abbey Road.”

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

This CD cover image released by Mercury shows “Unrepentant Geraldines” by Tori Amos.

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SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

Crowned at the Iris Festival Public officials and the newly crowned Iris Festival King and Queen cut a ribbon to kick off the 2014 Iris Festival on Thursday.

Carolyn Sanders, left, is crowned Iris Queen at the kick off of the Iris Festival on Thursday.

The popular annual festival will continue through Sunday with live entertainment, crafts, shows, food and more at Swan Lake-Iris Gardens.

PHOTOS BY MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

Parents celebrate 1 of the smallest babies in S.C. Born 4 months early, twin only weighed 14 ounces

BY LAUREN SAUSSER The Post and Courier of Charleston ROUND O, S.C. — When Jayden Segura was born at Trident Medical Center on Oct. 17, four months before her official due date, she weighed 14 ounces — barely more than a can of Coca-Cola.

Her whole body fit into a Ziploc bag. Her tiny hand covered only her father’s thumbnail.

Jayden couldn’t breathe or drink milk on her own. She needed heart surgery and almost died twice during those first few weeks.

“Every day was really, really difficult,” her mother said.

“She had a lot of bad days.

They could not explain how she made it.”

Doctors think Jayden is one of the smallest babies ever born in South Carolina that has survived.

“I think it’s very, very remarkable,” said Dr. Jim Martin, the obstetrician who delivered her.

The way her parents tell it, Jayden’s fate was a lucky alignment of advanced maternal-fetal medicine, the power of prayer and good fortune — but this is only half the story.

Jayden has a fraternal twin, although they don’t share the same birthday — not even close. Jordyn Segura was delivered five weeks later on Nov. 22 at Medical University Hospital. She weighed less than 2½ pounds when she was born.

“Taking care of the girls today, I can’t help but think back about how tiny and fragile they were,” their dad, Matt Segura, wrote on the twins’ Facebook page last month.

“Every time I look at them, I thank God for answering our prayers.”

In mid-October, during a trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, for their 15th wedding anniversary, Amanda Segura said she started feeling like “something just wasn’t right.”

The 34-year-old was about 21 weeks pregnant then — a little more than halfway through the regular 40-week gestation period. After adopting two

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this May 9 photo, Amanda Segura, bottom, takes one of their twin daughters, Jayden, from her husband, Matt Segura, as he holds Jordyn, at their Round O home. Jayden was born at 22 weeks, and Jordyn five weeks later. Doctors think Jayden is one of the smallest babies ever born in South Carolina that has survived. children and struggling to conceive a baby of their own for years, a successful round of invitro fertilization answered Matt and Amanda’s prayers.

The couple expected to deliver twins in February, although everything changed after their mountain weekend.

“When I came home, I called the doctor to ask, and they said it seemed normal to them, but it just didn’t seem normal to me,” she said. “So the next day, I asked if they could just see me to make sure.”

During that appointment, Martin discovered Amanda’s cervix was already dilated several centimeters. She was sent to Trident Medical Center and kept in a special bed that elevated her feet above her head on the premise that gravity would keep those babies from progressing down

her birth canal.

Martin tried to admit Amanda to Medical University Hospital, one of five hospitals in South Carolina designated by the Department of Health and Environmental Control to handle the highest-risk pregnancies, but the hospital wouldn’t take her, he said. Martin said they told him the pregnancy wasn’t viable at 22 weeks.

Amanda’s baby wouldn’t survive if she was born that early, they thought.

“Obviously, that’s not the answer she wanted to hear,” Martin said. “I told her at the time, ‘Amanda, this is very serious.’”

He prescribed a drug to stave off delivery, but it didn’t work — at least not for very long. Two days later, Jayden was born at the hospital in North Charleston.

Dr. John Podraza, a neonatologist who regularly works at President’s Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, was filling in for a Trident neonatologist on vacation the night Jayden was born. He didn’t know she was so premature before he successfully resuscitated and intubated her.

“She was born in the middle of the night, and nobody told me what the baby’s age was,” Podraza said.

In fact, Podraza said it’s not standard practice to attempt those life-saving measures for babies born before 23 weeks’ gestation because their survival rates are so low. Even babies born between 23 and 25 weeks only survive half the time, and up to 80 percent of those who make it will suffer severe neurological deficits, he said.

“It was the smallest baby that ever survived that I have seen,” he said. “It was absolutely amazing. It’s life right there — happening in front of you.”

Later that day, Jayden was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit at Medical University Hospital, where she stayed for the next five months. Amanda said one of her hospital bills exceeded $800,000.

“Luckily, I changed my insurance, so they covered a good portion of it. I haven’t seen any big bills yet. Hopefully that won’t change,” she said.

Meanwhile, Martin had an-

other baby to contend with.

Jordyn was still in the womb.

“I knew in my heart that I wasn’t going to deliver both babies, but I couldn’t explain it,” Amanda said recently at home in Round O, about 10 miles east of Walterboro.

She was right. Jordyn remained in utero. Martin ordered strict around-the-clock bed rest for Amanda — with her feet elevated above her head. He prescribed drugs to stall labor and eventually stitched her cervix closed in a procedure called a rescue cerclage designed to physically seal the birth canal.

After three more weeks at Trident and two weeks at home, Amanda recognized those familiar labor pains again. This time, Medical University Hospital admitted her for delivery.

After Jordyn was born at Medical University Hospital on Nov. 22, she was also transferred to the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit. She was released on Jan. 25, almost two full months before her older twin sister.

Six months after their harrowing arrivals, the girls seem to be thriving at home in Colleton County. Jayden is smaller than Jordyn and still has some trouble drinking milk. Both infants are confined inside until their first birthdays and only leave the house for doctor’s appointments. Still, they are otherwise healthy babies.

OBITUARIES

THE SUMTER ITEM

HATTIE MACK-WILDER SUMMERTON — “Mother” Hattie Bell Mack-Wilder was born on Jan. 12, 1925, in Clarendon County, the second child of the late Wally and Annie Gibson Mack. She entered into eternal life on May 22, 2014.

“Mother Wilder” was united in holy matrimony to the late Richard “Nelse” Wilder with 70 years of marriage and to this union they were blessed with 10 children, MACKtwo preceding her WILDER in death, Burnell Wilder and Richard Lee Earnest Wilder.

She leaves to cherish her memories: eight children, Leroy Wilder, Deaconess Joanne Charles, Jacob Wilder, Anne “Lil” Robinson, Minister Betty Robinson, John Agadja, Ray (Sherrie) Wilder and Sandra (Isiah) Mack; 15 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and close friends.

A special thanks to Gussie “Squeekie” Nelson for helping “Aunt Hattie.”

Funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Taw Caw Missionary Baptist Church, 11 Granby Lane, Summerton. Interment will follow at St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery in Pinewood.

Viewing will be held from noon to 6 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be sent to summertonfuneralhome@gmail.com.

The family will receive friends at 4 Third St., Summerton.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Summerton Funeral Home LLC, 23 S. Duke St., Summerton, phone (803) 485-3755.

Moore of Ward, Arkansas, Crystal (Joey) Ray of Panama City, Florida, and Deann Rivera of Haskell; and seven grandchildren.

Memorial services were held Friday at Ashby Funeral Home Chapel in Benton, Arkansas.

Online guest book is available at www.ashbyfuneralhome.

THOMAS D. KEELS Jr. Thomas DuRant Keels Jr., 64, died on Thursday, May 22, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born in Sumter, he was a son of Rachel Farmer Keels and the late Thomas DuRant Keels Sr. He was the owner of T.K. Tank Services Inc. and Jackson Enterprises.

Survivors include his mother of Sumter; a daughter, Casey K. Newman (Jason) of Sumter; two grandchildren, Cooper DuRant Newman and Helen Hadley Newman; two sisters, Linda Keels of Belton and Hyatt Ann Brandt of Irmo; and a brother, Paul Keels of Asheville, North Carolina.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Crystal Marie Keels.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday in the Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Bennie Barwick officiating.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 3 p.m. on Sunday at Elmore-CannonStephens Funeral Home and other times at the home of his daughter.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Crystal Keels/Marty Thames Scholarship Fund, c/o Thomas Sumter Academy, 5265 Camden Highway, Rembert, SC 29128.

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

PATRICIA A. SIMPSON HASKELL, Arkansas — Patricia Ann Simpson, 63, of Haskell, passed away on May 21, 2014.

She was born on May 24, 1950, in Sumter, to the late John and Mary Virginia Wells Cochran.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Johnny Cochran.

Survivors include her sons, George and partner, Scott Farris-Simpson, of Lafayette, Louisiana, and Will (Courtney) Bourque of Atlanta; daughters, Sherri (Marty)

STSM FROM PAGE A1 train SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners),” he said.

“We had one nurse trained when I started three years ago.

Now we have six. It’s very impressive to have that many trained in adult and adolescent care. This year, we’ll train two more in pediatric care.”

In 2013, he said 50 cases of sexual assault were seen in the emergency room, and nearly half of those were children 12 or younger. McFarland was recently named Healthcare Professional of the Year by the S.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault for his work on training Tuomey Healthcare System staff and Sumter’s SART. “I cannot imagine anything more demoralizing than being sexually assaulted,” said Chief Russell F. Roark III. “We have a great partnership with the sheriff’s office; (Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis) and I became lead about the same time, but we’ve worked together for more than 30 years. There are no turf wars.

We are one Sumter, and this will make it safer. Our goal is to improve the quality of life in Sumter.”

Dennis, too, committed to working closely with SART. “The mission of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office talks about treating victims with dignity and respect,” he said.

“Now we have another resource to do that. This adds to our community.”

STSM first came to Sumter in March of 2011 on a temporary basis. Since then, it has responded to 89 hospital accompaniments and provided services to 194 survivors, Snipes said.

HARRISTEEN L. BOZIER Harristeen Lemon Bozier, 92, died on Thursday, May 22, 2014, at her residence in Baltimore, Maryland.

Born on Aug. 8, 1921, in Clarendon County, she was a daughter of the late Charlton and Lurena Jones Lemon.

The family will receive friends beginning on Monday at her home, 1142 Frog Pond Drive, Summerton.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be announced by Summerton Funeral Home LLC.

In August 2012, the United Way member agency’s board of directors approved the permanent adoption of Sumter County. Last June, it opened an office on the fourth floor of the DSS building off Magnolia Street. It was the first one the organization had opened outside of Columbia.

Besides Sumter, STSM serves Lexington, Newberry and Richland.

The new Sumter office is located at 533 C Oxford St. “The other office felt so cramped,” said Baron O’Neal, STSM community advocate and prevention specialist that will be serving Sumter. “This is so much better. We have two offices where we can see clients.”

The Sumter Junior Welfare League and a hotel going out of business in Columbia helped with the furnishing and decorations, said Ginny Waller, STSM’s executive director.

“Sumter has truly embraced us,” she said. “This county really, really believes in what we do.”

Waller presented State Rep. Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, with the 2014 Public Servant Award at Wednesday’s open house for his efforts to restore funding for sexual assault service agencies across South Carolina.

“This is a critical need in the community to improve the quality of life,” Smith said.

“Sumter needs these services.

I’m proud the Sumter County Legislative Delegation embraces this cause.”

Sumter office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

For more information, call (803) 790-8208 or visit stsm.org.

The free, 24-hour hotline is 1-800-491-7273.

HELEN LAWSON SUMMERTON — Helen Lawson, 52, died on Thursday, May 22, 2014, at her residence, 1300 Mac Road, Summerton.

She was born on Sept. 1, 1961, in Summerton, a daughter of the late Joe Louis and Robertha Thames Lawson.

The family is receiving friends at the residence.

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

RHUIE STEADMAN OLANTA — Funeral services for Rhuie “Big Boy” Steadman, who died on May 19, 2014, will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday at AFC Restoration and Deliverance Family Worship Center, 297 W. Main St., Olanta.

The family is receiving friends at the residence.

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

GERALDINE DRAYTON CAMDEN — Funeral service for Geraldine Drayton, 80, of Camden, will be held at 1 p.m. today at Sanders Creek Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery.

She died on Sunday, May 11, 2014.

Collins Funeral Home of Camden is in charge of the arrangements.

NOLA BELL JENKINS Nola Bell Jenkins entered eternal rest on May 22, 2014, at the Sumter Health and Rehab Center.

The family is receiving friends at the home of Mr. and Mrs. David Jenkins III, 4430 Herrington Road, Rembert.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Wilson Funeral Home, 403 S. Main St., Bishopville.

ELIZABETH P. ROBINSON Elizabeth Porter Robinson, 105, widow of Lespy Robinson, entered eternal rest on Tuesday, May 20, 2014, at her home in Sumter.

Born on Dec. 17, 1908, in Sumter County, she was a daughter of the late Lafayette and Tamar Holmes Porter. She received her education in the public schools of Sumter County. She was a lifelong member of Antioch United Methodist Church, where she served on the devotion committee, the choir and as a member of the United Methodist Women. She

SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2014 was also a member of the senior’s committee of the Salterstown Community Center and gave her time and resources to the building fund.

She was called the “mother” of the community because of her love, her light, and her virtuous living.

She was dearly loved by her family, friends, church and community. She was a kind, loving and generous person, who loved the Lord and was not afraid to share Christ with whomever she met. Even after her health failed and she became confined to her bed, you could still hear her praying, praising God and singing one of her favorite hymns, “Jesus Is All the World To Me.” She leaves to cherish her memories: three daughters, Eartha Lee (Robert) Thompson, Rosa Lee Wilson of the home and Annette (Willie) Council of Fredericksburg, Virginia; one son, Lespy (Esther) Robinson of Lexington; 18 grandchildren; 38 greatgrandchildren; 12 great-greatgrandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by two sons, Charles and Ernest Robinson; and six siblings, Marie McBride, Bernie Rock, Alphonso Porter, David Porter, Albertus Porter and Ida Guilliard.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. today at St. Mark United Methodist Church, 1090 Oswego Highway, Sumter, with the Rev. Geneva Stafford, pastor, the Rev. Lawrence Canty, pastor of Antioch United Methodist Church, eulogist, assisted by the Rev. Robert Thompson.

The family is receiving friends and relatives at her home, 965 Oswego Highway, Sumter.

The remains will be placed in the church at noon.

The funeral processional will leave the home at 12:30 p.m.

Floral bearers and pallbearers will be family and friends.

Burial will be in Hillside Memorial Park, Cains Mill Road, Sumter.

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., 821 N. Main St., Sumter.

ALVIN MACK Alvin Mack, 62, died on Friday, May 23, 2014, in Man-

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hattan, New York.

Born on Oct. 9, 1951, in Sumter County, he was a son of Leon and Rebecca Prince Mack.

The family is receiving friends and relatives at the home of John and Elaine Mack, 1665 London Road, Sumter.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Williams Funeral Home Inc. of Sumter.

LEE VERN BRADLEY Lee Vern Bradley, 46, died on Wednesday, May 21, 2014, at Palmetto Health Richland, Columbia.

He was born on Jan. 14, 1968, in Sumter County, a son of the late Turner Lee and Virginia Greene Bradley.

He attended the public schools of Sumter. “Steve,” as he was affectionately called by his family, was kind, gentle and loving.

His survivors include one son, Master Datrick Lamont Gipson of Sumter; two daughters, Stephanie Bradley and Alicia Abrams, both of Sumter; five sisters, Lillie Mae Bradley, Mary Alice (Robert) McKnight, Cathy Dianne Bracey, Sonya Denise Bradley and Vanga (Willie) Bennett, all of Sumter; four brothers, Tommy Lee Bradley, Lomand Bradley and Stanley Bradley, all of Sumter, and Thomas Bradley of Camden; two aunts; one uncle; one grandaunt; and four grandchildren, Kingston Vanburen, Nizhera Vanburen, E’Vana Bell and Jaylin Lamont Gipson, all of Sumter.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Julius Green and Janie Ladson Green; one brother, Richard Lee Bradley; two nephews, Robert McKnight Jr. and Tommie Tyrell Bradley; and a niece, Ebonee Kapria Bradley.

Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday in the chapel of Sumter Funeral Service Inc. with Pastor Eugene Winn officiating, assisted by Elder Carnell Dukes. Interment will follow in the Mulberry Missionary Baptist Church cemetery.

Public viewing will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. on Monday at the chapel of Sumter Funeral Service Inc. The cortege will leave at 1:20 p.m. from the home of his sister, Lillie Mae Bradley, 335 Rolling Creek Drive.

Sumter Funeral Service Inc. is in charge of arrangements.

SHOOTINGS FROM PAGE A1 Police said that less than a handful of witnesses and victims have followed through with giving statements about the shootings, perhaps in fear of any additional consequences.

“We have to address this issue and cooperate with law enforcement,” Blassingame said. “They do a great job in our community, and folks need to come forward if they know about ongoing crime.

Call 911 anonymously, if need be, but we can’t ignore it.”

Recently, community involvement played a vital role in the trial that led to the incarceration of Gary Dargan, who was found guilty of murder in the shooting death of Mario Scott. Along with statements from several witnesses from the community who appeared at the stand during the trial, the testimonies of two brothers sealed Dargan’s fate. “(Dargan) was shocked that my brother told the truth,” Marcus Mellette said during the trial, speaking of his brother, Bernard, “just like he’s shocked to see me here, today.” Dargan was sentenced to life in prison.

On Friday, officials passed out fliers to the community, hoping someone will come forward with information.

While residents of the focus area were willing to listen to what officers had to say, very few were willing to speak about the shootings openly at the time.

“We’re working hard on the situation, but we can’t do anything until more people talk,”

MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

Sumter Police Department officers talk to residents of South Sumter about a series of shootings that have taken place recently.

Roark said before the neighborhood canvassing.

Some residents, however, recognized the need for a combined effort involving their neighbors and law enforcement.

“It’s ridiculous down here,” a Silver Street resident said.

“Why should I pay rent then have to crawl on the floor? I have a 5-month-old grandbaby in my home. It’s crazy.”

“I’ve heard the gunshots several times,” said a Red and White Street resident. “It’s scary. Anyone can get hit by a bullet.”

The chief said it’s not just a matter of catching the “bad guys,” but it’s also a concern for the safety of innocent victims.

“We’re thinking about the 5-year-old boy who gets caught in the crossfire as he’s walking out the barber shop or his own home,” Roark said.

“Innocents are getting hurt out there,” said Deputy Chief Alvin Holston. “There’s also been collateral damage to homes and other property.”

While more information is needed, Roark said investigators have pinned down a few persons of interest.

“We’re not running blind here,” he said, referring to those thought to be involved.

“We know who some of them are, and we’ll be picking them up soon.”

As far as the unknown suspects go, Blassingame said he is confident that his community will answer the call.

“There are genuinely good people in this community that take pride in their neighborhood,” he said. “We should do whatever we can to help law enforcement with this situation and prove ourselves to be as good as we are.”

Anyone with information about these shootings should call Sumter Police Department at (803) 436-2700 or Crime Stoppers at (803) 4362718. Calls to Crime Stoppers can be made anonymously, and a reward of up to $2,500 might be given for information leading to an arrest or conviction.

A8

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SATURDAY, MAY 24, 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 on Monday.

welcome. Call (803) 773-4811.

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

The Palmetto PC Club meets on the second Thursday of each month at the Capital Senior Center in Columbia. Details about the club can be found at http://palmettopc.org/home/.

The Sumter James R. Clark Sickle Cell Memorial Foundation, 337 Manning Ave., offers free Sickle Cell Disease and Sickle Cell Trait screenings to the Sumter and Clarendon communities.

For appointments, call (803) 774-6181.

The DAV will have certified volunteers to assist all veterans in filing claims with the VA from 9 a.m. to noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the VA Clinic, 407 N. Salem St., and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursdays at the Chapter 5 home, 18 Hardpack Drive, off of S.C. 441, behind Shaw Air Force Base.

Call L. Pearson at (803) 4999596 or Paul Fisher at (803) 840-1001.

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

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take a EUGENIA LAST progressive stance when it comes to your rights and environmental issues. Your voice can make a difference as long as you implement diplomacy and charm with a gentle nudge. Take command and make things happen. Love is heightened.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Partnerships are highlighted.

Discuss your thoughts and plans for the future. Lay down some rules and make a promise to someone you love. Honor your choices and your commitments and you will avoid complaints and discord. Love is highlighted.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You’ve got all the right moves and the intelligence and information to back up whatever you decide to do. Don’t waste any opportunity that can help you promote what you have to offer. Voice your opinions and you will be heard.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Ease into whatever you choose to do.

You are better to be safe than sorry, so ask for permission if it’s required before you do something that will affect others. An argument is likely to develop if you don’t play by the rules.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Make positive changes to the way you live. Check out professional opportunities and visit places that you feel may have something to offer you. Love is on the rise, and planning a romantic evening will improve your personal life.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Stick to what you know and do best. You can make a difference if you offer your skills to someone in need.

Don’t make a judgment call based on what you assume. There will be far more to a situation than you realize.

WEATHER

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2014

AccuWeather® five-day forecast for Sumter TODAY

TONIGHT

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Sunshine; pleasant, less humid

Partly cloudy

Partly sunny

A t-storm in spots in the p.m.

Some sun with a t-storm possible

Some sun with t-storms possible

84°

62°

85° / 64°

86° / 67°

90° / 67°

90° / 63°

Chance of rain: 0%

Chance of rain: 10%

Chance of rain: 25%

Chance of rain: 40%

Chance of rain: 30%

Chance of rain: 35%

Winds: NNE 6-12 mph

Winds: ESE 3-6 mph

Winds: S 4-8 mph

Winds: SSW 6-12 mph

Winds: WSW 7-14 mph

Winds: WNW 4-8 mph

TODAY’S SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER

Gaffney 83/58 Spartanburg 83/59

Greenville 82/60

Columbia 86/63

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

IN THE MOUNTAINS

Sumter 84/62

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Explore your options and check out unique philosophies, lifestyles and health regimes. Offering to help someone is likely to backfire. Offer suggestions but don’t meddle. An unexpected accusation can be damaging. Take care of your interests first.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Participate in activities that will bring about home improvements, but don’t go overboard when it comes to luxury items. You can charm someone into doing the things you want to do. Love is on the rise, and romance will make your day.

LOCAL ALMANAC

Aiken 86/61

Charleston 85/63

LAKE LEVELS

SUMTER THROUGH 4 P.M. YESTERDAY

Today Hi/Lo/W 88/66/pc 72/48/s 88/69/pc 74/53/s 88/70/pc 72/61/pc 88/68/pc 71/56/t 95/73/s 74/58/t 91/73/pc 69/54/pc 76/61/pc

SUN AND MOON 7 a.m. yest.

358.08 75.74 75.45 97.21

24-hr chg -0.02 -0.01 none +0.12

Sunrise 6:15 a.m.

Moonrise 3:31 a.m.

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

0.00" 1.59" 2.28" 14.16" 18.64" 16.63"

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

93° 71° 83° 59° 99° in 1953 45° in 1954

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

Sun. Hi/Lo/W 85/67/t 80/62/pc 87/69/pc 79/59/s 88/71/pc 75/62/pc 87/68/s 78/60/pc 91/70/t 80/59/s 95/74/s 72/55/pc 83/62/s

Myrtle Beach 80/61

Manning 84/61

Today: Mostly sunny; less humid in northern parts. High 79 to 86.

Sunday: Sunshine and patchy clouds. High 79 to 86.

Temperature High Low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

Florence 84/60

Bishopville 84/61

ON THE COAST

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

The 101st Airborne Division Vietnam Veterans Organization will hold its 20th Annual Reunion Aug. 28-30, in Charleston. All who served with the 101st Division in Vietnam, their guests and supporters, are invited.

For details, visit www.101namvet.com or call (803) 506-3120.

The Rise and Shine Call Program, sponsored by LifeLine Senior Services Inc., is a free service that provides a daily “reassurance” call to older adults who live alone in the community.

Call (803) 774-7414 for details or to sign up.

The Westside Neighborhood Association meets at 5:30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at the Birnie HOPE Center, 210 S. Purdy St. The Christian Golfers’ Association (CGA) meets at 8 a.m. each Tuesday for Bible study. The group meets at the CGA office in Dillon Park. Refreshments provided and golf after Bible study. Call (803) 773-2171.

UAW Eastern Carolina International Retirees Council meets at 10 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at the VFW in Little River. All UAW retirees are welcome. Call Bob Artus at (803) 481-3622.

The Ballard-Palmer-Bates American Legion Post 202 meets at 7 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at the Post, 310 Palmetto St. All veterans are

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t limit what you can do. Broaden your horizons, ask questions and find out what’s available that will help you advance. The support someone offers you will give you the confidence to push for what you want.

THE SUMTER ITEM

Today: Partly sunny. Winds southeast 4-8 mph. Partly cloudy.

Sunday: Warm; an afternoon thunderstorm. Winds southwest 4-8 mph.

FYI

The last word in astrology

DAILY PLANNER

Flood 7 a.m. stage yest.

12 9.51 19 5.35 14 8.40 14 3.71 80 77.83 24 5.29

8:23 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

New

First

Full

Last

May 28

June 5

June 12

June 19

TIDES

24-hr chg +0.02 +1.28 +0.28 +0.02 -0.20 -0.81

AT MYRTLE BEACH

Today Sun.

High 6:08 a.m.

6:41 p.m.

7:03 a.m.

7:34 p.m.

Ht. 3.0 3.3 3.0 3.4

Low Ht. 12:41 a.m. 0.1 12:57 p.m. -0.4 1:40 a.m. 0.0 1:49 p.m. -0.5

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 78/49/pc 86/61/pc 86/62/pc 86/66/pc 73/62/s 85/63/s 82/55/s 83/62/pc 86/63/s 83/59/s 77/55/pc 83/58/s 83/59/s

Sun. Hi/Lo/W 79/53/pc 85/62/t 85/63/t 86/67/t 77/65/s 85/66/s 83/59/pc 85/63/t 86/64/t 86/63/s 81/61/s 85/63/s 87/63/s

Today City Hi/Lo/W Florence 84/60/s Gainesville 94/68/pc Gastonia 83/57/s Goldsboro 81/58/s Goose Creek 85/63/s Greensboro 80/56/s Greenville 82/60/pc Hickory 82/55/s Hilton Head 82/70/pc Jacksonville, FL 91/68/pc La Grange 88/60/pc Macon 88/64/pc Marietta 86/64/pc

Sun. Hi/Lo/W 86/63/s 88/67/t 83/61/pc 85/61/s 85/66/s 83/61/pc 83/62/t 82/59/pc 82/73/s 87/67/t 89/61/t 87/65/t 86/64/t

Today City Hi/Lo/W Marion 82/54/s Mt. Pleasant 83/63/s Myrtle Beach 80/61/s Orangeburg 84/62/s Port Royal 85/66/pc Raleigh 80/54/s Rock Hill 82/56/s Rockingham 83/54/s Savannah 88/65/pc Spartanburg 83/59/pc Summerville 84/68/pc Wilmington 82/58/s Winston-Salem 80/56/s

Sun. Hi/Lo/W 81/57/pc 84/66/s 80/65/s 85/63/t 84/67/s 84/61/s 84/61/pc 87/61/s 86/66/t 83/61/t 83/69/s 83/63/s 82/60/pc

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

LOTTERY NUMBERS PALMETTO CASH 5 FRIDAY

POWERBALL WEDNESDAY

3-6-16-18-35 PowerUp: 3

4-20-34-39-58 Powerball: 31 Powerplay: 5

PICK 3 FRIDAY

PICK 4 FRIDAY

2-2-3 and 9-0-7

5-2-0-0 and 4-3-3-2

MEGAMILLIONS numbers were unavailable at press time.

PICTURES FROM THE PUBLIC

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Listen, but don’t get involved in a conversation that can lead to a misunderstanding or feud. Stick close to home and take care of personal business. A situation from your past is likely to surface.

Honesty is your best policy.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Revive old goals and friendships with people who shared your dreams. Financial issues should be looked at and revised if necessary.

A romantic gesture will improve your love life and lead to a stable future.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Follow through with your plans. Do your best to help someone in need. Your efforts will not go unnoticed and will help you impress someone who can improve your financial situation. A service you offer will bring higher returns than anticipated.

Sunset Moonset

Perry Register shares pictures of his first irises of the year.

SECTION

Clemson agrees to 6-year deal with Brownell B4

B

SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2014

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

LOCAL TENNIS

DENNIS BRUNSON / THE SUMTER ITEM

Gilchrist continues run; Austin wins

BY KEN BELL Special to The Sumter Item The singles semifinals are all set as the USTA Pro Circuit Palmetto Pro Open continues today at the Palmetto Tennis Center.

And the doubles main draw championship pairing has also been determined.

On Friday, Singles challenger Nadja Gilchrist continued her winning ways from Thursday when she upset top-seeded Elise Mertens in three sets. On Friday, Gilchrist, who played tennis at the University of Georgia, topped Kateryna Yergina 6-0, 6-3 to advance to today’s finals.

After Friday’s match she spoke about her success.

“I was definitely really excited to take out the number one seed,” she said. “I just went out there and played my game. My confidence is way up there.”

Gilchrist, who sat AUSTIN out more than a year with a foot injury that required surgery, said she wasn’t sure she would get to play this week.

“Since I didn’t have any points, I was an alternate,” she said.

“It’s tough getting in with no

Nadja Gilchrist prepares to hit a return to Kateryna Yergina during her 6-0, 6-3, victory on Friday during the quarterfinals of the Palmetto Pro Open tournament at Palmetto Tennis Center.

points.”

Gilchrist said she is looking forward to becoming even more active now that she has proven to herself she can still be competitive.

“Now maybe I can get into more tournaments,” she said.

Another singles’ winner was Petra Januskova of Ottawa, Canada who defeated the USA’s Anne-Liz Jeukeng 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

“At the beginning of the first match, I wasn’t playing very well,” the Penn State grad said.

“I was really tired coming into the match. I’m hoping to play in

SEE GILCHRIST, PAGE B3

PREP SOFTBALL

CLEMSON BASEBALL

Rough way to finish

Jackets shut out Tigers 3-0 FROM ACC REPORTS

asked in a joking manner following the game. “That was that (fifth) inning. I told the girls (during the delay), ‘Let’s go out there and get out of this, and we’ve got nine outs to get something going. But it just wasn’t meant to be for us.

“Everything they hit found a hole, while everything we hit hard was right at some one.”

The top of the fifth started with Dixie’s Keasley Carwile reaching on an error. Anna M. Ferguson followed with a single that sent Carwile to

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Georgia Tech made a strong pitch to reach the ACC Baseball Championship final on Friday afternoon.

Starting right-hander Dusty Isaacs and left-handed reliever Sam Clay combined on a 4-hitter with 13 strikeouts, and Mott Hyde hit a 2-run homer in the ninth inning as the ninth-seeded Yellow Jackets blanked fifthseeded Clemson 3-0 to keep their title hopes alive.

Georgia Tech ISAACS (35-25) finished 2-1 in Pool A play and will await the outcome today’s game between fourthseeded Duke and top-seeded Miami. The Blue Devils would advance to Sunday’s 1 p.m. title game with a win, but a Miami victory would put the Yellow Jackets in the finals for the second time in three years.

Clemson (36-23) was eliminated from ACC title contention but remains hopeful a postseason berth when the NCAA announces its tournament selections on Monday.

Isaacs (7-5) worked the first five innings, allowing one hit while walking four batters and striking out seven. He held the Tigers hitless until Tyler Slaton’s 2-out single in the bottom of the fifth. The Tech senior made his first start since last May 31 versus Illinois in the NCAA Nashville Regional, and earned the win after recording saves in the Yellow Jackets’ earlier ACC Championship wins this week over Wake Forest and Miami. “(I was) trying to use all four pitches, which is something I have not been able to do much this year being in relief,” Isaacs said. “I threw some good change ups, fastballs, sliders,

SEE EC, PAGE B3

SEE TIGERS, PAGE B3

MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

East Clarendon first baseman Mikayla Anderson, right, walks off the field as Dixie players celebrate their 12-0 victory in Game 3 of the 1A state championship softball series on Friday at Ridge Bluff High School in Lexington.

Big 5th inning leads Dixie to 12-0 win over ECHS in deciding game of 1A title series

BY DENNIS BRUNSON dennisb@theitem.com LEXINGTON — When a lightning delay caused the deciding game in the 1A softball state championship series on Friday to be stopped for almost 50 minutes in the fifth inning, East Clarendon High School head coach Lisa Ard was hoping that might be the break her team needed.

Dixie already had one run in with the bases loaded and no outs.

“I was looking for anything to change the momentum,” Ard said. “I was hoping it would give us a chance to

regroup and a chance for them to cool off, anything.”

It didn’t happen.

A bad-hop double cleared the bases and things went down hill quickly for EC from there.

The Lady Hornets ended up with a 12-0, 5-inning victory at the River Bluff High field that gave them ARD the first softball state title in school history, ending the Lady Wolverines’ reign as the title holder.

“You ever have one of those nights you thought would never end,” Ard

AUTO RACING

Kurt Busch’s double-duty bid highlights race weekend

BY JENNA FRYER The Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS — Dale Earnhardt Jr. is going to watch. So will Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Clint Bowyer. NASCAR’s biggest names all plan to tune in to the Indianapolis 500 to KURT BUSCH watch Kurt Busch run the first leg in his attempt to complete The Double.

Millions of other casual

fans will also turn their attention to Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, where Busch’s debut will bring new eyeballs to the “Greatest Spectacle In Racing.’’ Although the Indy 500 has always been the crown jewel of motorsports, the slumping IndyCar Series struggles to gain much traction outside the showcase race.

“I think he does bring attention, and I think the series does need that added attention,’’ 2012 series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay said of Busch. “The racing in the IndyCar Series has been called

the best kept secret in racing, and it is some of the best action out there, so I think it’s a great opportunity for some fans who wouldn’t necessarily tune in to check it out and see what it’s all about and how good the racing is.’’

Fans will be treated to one

of the most wide-open races in recent memory.

No single driver or team has risen to the top this season. And with so much attention on Busch, who will become just the fourth driver in history to compete in both the 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, so many other elements of this magical race at historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway have been somewhat overlooked.

“I don’t know that there’s a favorite at all this year,’’ said Graham Rahal. “I feel like it is extremely wide open at this point, even as a driver myself,

I couldn’t even tell you who I would pick. I have no clue.’’

Indy is a race in which three owners — Andretti, Ganassi and Penske — typically have the cars to beat. That, at least, is no different this year as Andretti Autosport put three of its five entries in the top 10, while Team Penske got all three of its cars in.

“I’m sure we’ve got the winner sitting here,’’ Roger Penske said of Helio Castroneves, Juan Pablo Montoya and Will Power.

But Andretti feels just as

SEE BUSCH, PAGE B4

B2

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SPORTS

SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2014

MLB ROUNDUP

Bucs hold off Nats 4-3 PITTSBURGH — Charlie Morton worked into the sixth inning to snap a lengthy losing streak and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Washington Nationals 4-3 on Friday ALVAREZ night.

Morton (1-6) allowed one run on five hits in 5 2/3 workmanlike innings for his first victory since last September. Pedro Alvarez hit his ninth home run of the season after being dropped from fourth to sixth in the lineup. Ike Davis, who replaced Alvarez as the cleanup hitter, went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Jason Grilli picked up his first save since April 14 in his return from the disabled list.

REDS 5 CARDINALS 3

CINCINNATI — Todd

Frazier hit a three-run homer off Shelby Miller, who had won his last six decisions, and Devin Mesoraco added a solo shot as Cincinnati beat St. Louis 5-3 and tightened the top of the NL Central.

The Reds moved within three games of the second-place Cardinals, who have won seven of their last nine games while staying right behind the division-leading Brewers.

AMERICAN LEAGUE BLUE JAYS 3 ATHLETICS 2

BREWERS 9

TORONTO — Liam Hendriks won his season debut, Steve Tolleson hit a 2-run home run and Toronto was victorious for the ninth time in 11 games with a 3-2 win over Oakland.

Brandon Moss homered for the seventh time in 18 games for the Athletics, who lost their second straight following a 5-game winning streak.

MARLINS 5

ORIOLES 8

MIAMI — Mark Reynolds hit a pair of 2-run homers and Milwaukee won a recordsetting slugfest at Marlins Park, beating Miami 9-5.

Giancarlo Stanton and Garrett Jones hit two solo homers apiece for Miami, and Khris Davis homered for Milwaukee.

The teams combined for seven homers.

INDIANS 4

BALTIMORE — Chris Davis homered and had four RBIs, Adam Jones had three hits and scored three runs and Baltimore beat Cleveland 8-4.

Nelson Cruz hit his 15th homer and Nick Markakis had four hits for the Orioles.

From wire reports

SPORTS ITEMS

Sterling surrendering Clippers control LOS ANGELES — Donald Sterling is turning his ownership stake in the Los Angeles Clippers over to his estranged wife, and she is in talks with the NBA to sell the team, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Friday.

The individual, who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly about the deal, said the couple STERLING reached the agreement after weeks of discussion.

“Donald Sterling is out, and there will be new owners,’’ the individual told the AP. Neither Shelly Sterling nor her attorney had any comment Friday. They have been in talks with NBA lawyers for the last couple weeks.

“She wants to be able to say, ‘I’m selling the team, not the NBA is selling the team,’ and have meaningful control over that transaction,’’ the individual told the AP. Donald Sterling was banned for life and fined $2.5 million by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after the release of a recording last month in which Sterling made racist remarks involving blacks, which comprise the majority of players in the league.

ROOKIE GARNETT LEADS AT COLONIAL

FORT WORTH, Texas — PGA Tour rookie Brice Garnett opened with an eagle Friday on way to a 4-under 66 and the second-round lead at Colonial.

At 7-under 133, Garnett had a 1-stroke lead over Robert Streb and Chris Stroud, who made five putts from more than 20 feet in a 64. Streb shot 68.

Adam Scott, playing as No. 1 in the world for the first time, shot a 68 to get to 1 under. He has made the cut his last 34 PGA Tour events, the longest active streak.

Matt Kuchar had a chance to move to the top with a victory. But he missed the cut by a stroke, shooting 72-70.

First-round leader Dustin Johnson had a 70 drop into a tie for fourth at 5 under.

WATSON HAS SHARE OF SENIOR PGA LEAD

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Tom Watson shot a 3-under 68 on Friday for a share of the lead in the Senior PGA Championship with fellow Hall of Famer Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie and three other players.

The 64-year-old Watson, playing alongside Langer and Montgomerie, had five birdies and a double bogey to reach 4-under 138 after two rounds at Harbor Shores.

Langer also had a 68, and Montgomerie shot 69 to join Watson, Bart Bryant, Steen Tinning and Kiyoshi Murota atop the leaderboard. Bryant shot 67, Tinning 66, and Murota 65.

MATTHEW ATOP AIRBUS LPGA CLASSIC

MOBILE, Ala. — Catriona Matthew remained atop the Airbus LPGA Classic leaderboard Friday, birdieing four of the last seven holes to take a 1-stroke advantage over Charley Hull into the weekend.

The 44-year-old Matthew had a 5-under 67 to reach 13-under 131 on the Crossings Course. The 18-year-old Hull also shot 67.

From wire reports

PRO BASKETBALL

Pacers’ George expected to play, Heat thinking about Oden in lineup

BY TIM REYNOLDS The Associated Press MIAMI — Indiana’s Paul George will play in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals, which comes as no surprise to the Miami Heat.

They were expecting him there all along.

The Pacers announced Friday night that George has been cleared “to return to normal basketball activity,’’ a decision made three days after he was concussed in Game 2 of the Indiana-Miami series.

“Barring any unforeseen complications, he will play’’ today in Miami, the Pacers said.

So that settled one lineup issue.

The Heat now have a lineup decision to make.

Greg Oden — whose last postseason appearance was April 30, 2009 — may be inserted into the Heat rotation after showing Miami’s coach-

es in recent days that back issues that slowed him down for weeks may finally be a thing of the past. Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra suggested that Oden “could’’ get some minutes, which would almost certainly come against Indiana center Roy Hibbert.

“If coach needs me, I’m ready to play,’’ Oden said. “I’m definitely ready whenever he needs me.’’

The series is tied at a game apiece, with Miami grabbing the home-court edge away by rallying for an 87-83 win at Indianapolis in Game 2. The teams have been off since, which figures to be a blessing of sorts for the Pacers — who had several players limping and ailing late in that

game, with George’s concussion the most notable malady.

The back of George’s head was struck by Dwyane Wade’s knee as both were trying to get control of a loose ball during the fourth quarter of that game. George remained in the game but was basically a non-factor the rest of the way, and Miami owned the final minutes. The concussion came to light only after George revealed postgame that he briefly “blacked out.’’

“I probably should have kept that to myself,’’ George said. “It just made a mess. That’s something that, going forward, just keep that between myself and the training staff.’’

The Heat never even considered the possibility that George wouldn’t play in Game 3.

“Why wouldn’t he?’’

Heat star LeBron James asked.

THE SUMTER ITEM

SCOREBOARD TV, RADIO TODAY

7:30 a.m. -- Professional Golf: European PGA Tour BMW PGA Championship Third Round from Virginia Water, England (GOLF).

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

8:30 a.m. -- NASCAR Racing: K&N Pro Series Casey’s General Stores 150 from Newton, Iowa (FOX SPORTS 1).

9:30 a.m. -- NASCAR Racing: Coca-Cola 600 Practice from Concord, N.C. (FOX SPORTS 1).

10:30 a.m. -- NASCAR Racing: Nationwide Series History 300 Pole Qualifying from Concord, N.C. (ESPN2).

10:30 a.m. -- International Hockey: World Championship Semifinal Match from Minsk, Belarus – Czech Republic vs. Russia (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

11 a.m. -- College Baseball: Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament Game Ten from Greensboro, N.C. – Miami vs. Duke (FOX SPORTSOUTH).

Noon -- College Softball: NCAA Tournament Athens Super Regional Game Two from Athens, Ga. – Baylor vs. Georgia (ESPN).

12:30 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: Cleveland at Baltimore or Oakland at Toronto (MLB NETWORK).

1 p.m. -- College Baseball: Southeastern Conference Tournament Semifinal Game from Hoover, Ala. – Mississippi or Arkansas vs. Louisiana State (ESPNEWS).

1 p.m. -- College Lacrosse: NCAA Tournament Semifinal Match from Baltimore – Denver vs. Duke (ESPN2).

1 p.m. -- College Softball: NCAA Tournament Gainesville Super Regional from Gainesville, Fla. – Washington vs. Florida (ESPNU).

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

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

1 p.m. -- International Hockey: World Championship Semifinal Match from Minsk, Belarus – Finland vs. Sweden (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

1 p.m. -- College Track and Field: Big 12 Conference Outdoor Championships from Lubbock, Texas (SPORTSOUTH).

2 p.m. -- International Soccer: UEFA Champions League Final Match from Lisbon, Portugal – Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid (WACH 57).

2:45 p.m. -- NASCAR Racing: Nationwide Series History 300 from Concord, N.C. (WACH 57, WEGX-FM 92.9).

3 p.m. -- Senior PGA Golf: Champions Tour Senior PGA Championship Third Round from Benton Harbor, Mich. (WIS 10).

3 p.m. -- PGA Golf: Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial Third Round from Fort Worth, Texas (WLTX 19).

3 p.m. -- College Softball: NCAA Tournament Athens Super Regional Game Three from Athens, Ga. – Baylor vs. Georgia (If Necessary) (ESPN).

3 p.m. -- College Softball: NCAA Tournament Lafayette Super Regional Game Two from Lafayette, La. – Arizona vs. Louisana-Lafayette (ESPNU).

3 p.m. -- College Baseball: Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament Game Eleven from Greensboro, N.C. – North Carolina vs. Maryland (FOX SPORTSOUTH).

3 p.m. -- LPGA Golf: Airbus LPGA Classic Third Round from Mobile, Ala. (GOLF).

3:30 p.m. -- College Lacrosse: NCAA Tournament Semifinal Match from Baltimore – Notre Dame vs. Maryland (ESPN2).

4 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: Texas at Detroit (FOX SPORTS 1).

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

4:30 p.m. -- College Baseball: Southeastern Conference Tournament Semifinal Game from Hoover, Ala. – Florida or Mississippi State vs. Kentucky (ESPNEWS).

5 p.m. -- College Softball: NCAA Tournament Athens Super Regional Game Two from Norman, Okla. – Tennessee vs. Oklahoma (ESPN).

5 p.m. -- IRL Racing: Indianapolis 500 Festival Parade from Indianapolis (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

6 p.m. -- College Softball: NCAA Tournament Lafayette Super Regional Game Three from Lafayette, La. – Arizona vs. Louisana-Lafayette (If Necessary) (ESPNU).

7 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: Washington at Pittsburgh (WACH 57).

7 p.m. -- College Baseball: Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament Game Twelve from Greensboro, N.C. – Virginia vs. Florida State (FOX SPORTSOUTH).

7:30 p.m. -- Arena Football: Jacksonville at Tampa Bay (CBS SPORTS NETWORK).

8 p.m. -- NHL Hockey: Western Conference Playoffs Final Series Game Three – Chicago at Los Angeles (WIS 10).

8 p.m. -- College Softball: NCAA Tournament Athens Super Regional Game Three from Norman, Okla. – Tennessee vs. Oklahoma (If Necessary) (ESPN2).

8 p.m. -- College Softball: NCAA Tournament Los Angeles Super Regional Game One from Los Angeles – Kentucky vs. UCLA (ESPNU).

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

8:30 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Eastern Conference Playoffs Final Series Game Three – Indiana at Miami (ESPN).

9 p.m. -- Professional Boxing: Adonis Stevenson vs. Andrzej Fonfara for the WBC Light Heavyweight Title and Jermell Charlo vs. Charlie Ota in a Junior Middleweight Bout and David Lemieux vs. Fernando Guerrero in a Middleweight Bout from Montreal (SHOWTIME).

10 p.m. -- College Softball: NCAA Tournament Corvallis Super Regional Game One from Eugene, Ore. – Minnesota vs. Oregon (ESPN).

10 p.m. -- College Baseball: West Coast Conference Tournament Championship Game from Stockton, Calif. (ESPNU).

10 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: Minnesota at San Francisco or Houston at Seattle (MLB NETWORK).

10 p.m. -- Major League Baseball: Chicago Cubs at San Diego (WGN).

10 p.m. -- Professional Boxing: Daniel Geale vs. Matthew Macklin in a Middleweight Bout and Bryant Jennings vs. Mike Perez in a Heavyweight Bout from Corpus Christi, Texas (HBO).

5 a.m. -- Professional Tennis: French Open Men’s and Women’s First-Round Matches from Paris (ESPN2).

MLB STANDINGS

By The Associated Press AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST DIVISION Toronto New York Baltimore Boston Tampa Bay CENTRAL DIVISION Detroit Minnesota Kansas City Chicago Cleveland WEST DIVISION Oakland Los Angeles Seattle Texas Houston

W 26 24 23 20 20

L 22 22 22 26 28

Pct .542 .522 .511 .435 .417

GB – 1 1½ 5 6

W 27 23 23 24 23

L 16 21 23 25 25

Pct .628 .523 .500 .490 .479

GB – 4½ 5½ 6 6½

W 30 26 23 23 17

L 17 20 23 24 31

Pct .638 .565 .500 .489 .354

GB – 3½ 6½ 7 13½

Jimenez 2-5), 12:35 p.m.

Oakland (J.Chavez 4-1) at Toronto (Dickey 4-4), 1:07 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees (Nuno 1-1) at Chicago White Sox (Joh.Danks 3-4), 2:10 p.m.

Texas (N.Martinez 0-1) at Detroit (Porcello 7-1), 4:08 p.m.

Boston (Peavy 1-2) at Tampa Bay (Price 4-4), 4:10 p.m.

Kansas City (Shields 6-3) at L.A. Angels (Shoemaker 2-1), 7:15 p.m.

Minnesota (Nolasco 2-4) at San Francisco (Vogelsong 2-2), 10:05 p.m.

Houston (Keuchel 5-2) at Seattle (Maurer 1-2), 10:10 p.m.

SUNDAY’S GAMES

Oakland at Toronto, 1:07 p.m.

Texas at Detroit, 1:08 p.m.

Cleveland at Baltimore, 1:35 p.m.

Boston at Tampa Bay, 1:40 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees at Chicago White Sox, 2:10 p.m.

Kansas City at L.A. Angels, 3:35 p.m.

Minnesota at San Francisco, 4:05 p.m.

Houston at Seattle, 4:10 p.m.

MONDAY’S GAMES

Boston at Atlanta, 1:10 p.m.

Baltimore at Milwaukee, 2:10 p.m.

Cleveland at Chicago White Sox, 2:10 p.m.

Texas at Minnesota, 2:10 p.m.

Detroit at Oakland, 4:05 p.m.

L.A. Angels at Seattle, 4:10 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees at St. Louis, 4:15 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Toronto, 7:07 p.m.

Houston at Kansas City, 8:10 p.m.

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

W 26 25 24 21 20

L 20 23 23 25 24

Pct .565 .521 .511 .457 .455

GB – 2 2½ 5 5

W 28 26 21 20 17

L 20 21 24 26 28

Pct .583 .553 .467 .435 .378

GB – 1½ 5½ 7 9½

W 29 26 25 21 18

L 18 21 23 27 31

Pct .617 .553 .521 .438 .367

GB – 3 4½ 8½ 12

THURSDAY’S GAMES

Miami 4, Philadelphia 3 Colorado 2, San Francisco 2, tie, 6 innings, susp., rain Pittsburgh 3, Washington 1 N.Y. Mets 5, L.A. Dodgers 3 Atlanta 5, Milwaukee 4 St. Louis 4, Arizona 2 Chicago Cubs 5, San Diego 1

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.

TODAY’S GAMES

L.A. Dodgers (Haren 5-2) at Philadelphia (Buchanan 0-0), 3:05 p.m.

Arizona (Collmenter 2-2) at N.Y. Mets (Z. Wheeler 1-4), 4:10 p.m.

Colorado (Nicasio 4-2) at Atlanta (Minor 2-2), 4:10 p.m.

Milwaukee (W.Peralta 4-3) at Miami (Ja. Turner 0-2), 4:10 p.m.

St. Louis (J.Garcia 0-0) at Cincinnati (Cingrani 2-3), 7:15 p.m.

Washington (Strasburg 3-3) at Pittsburgh (Cole 4-3), 7:15 p.m.

Minnesota (Nolasco 2-4) at San Francisco (Vogelsong 2-2), 10:05 p.m.

Chicago Cubs (T.Wood 4-4) at San Diego (Roach 1-0), 10:10 p.m.

SUNDAY’S GAMES

Arizona at N.Y. Mets, 1:10 p.m.

Milwaukee at Miami, 1:10 p.m.

L.A. Dodgers at Philadelphia, 1:35 p.m.

Washington at Pittsburgh, 1:35 p.m.

Minnesota at San Francisco, 4:05 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at San Diego, 4:10 p.m.

Colorado at Atlanta, 5:10 p.m.

St. Louis at Cincinnati, 8:05 p.m.

MONDAY’S GAMES

Boston at Atlanta, 1:10 p.m.

Pittsburgh at N.Y. Mets, 1:10 p.m.

Miami at Washington, 1:35 p.m.

Baltimore at Milwaukee, 2:10 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at San Francisco, 4:05 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees at St. Louis, 4:15 p.m.

Colorado at Philadelphia, 5:05 p.m.

Cincinnati at L.A. Dodgers, 8:10 p.m.

San Diego at Arizona, 9:40 p.m.

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 Today: Indiana at Miami, 8:30 p.m.

Monday: 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 2, Oklahoma City 0 May 19: San Antonio 122, Oklahoma City 105 May 21: San Antonio 112, Oklahoma City 77 Sunday: San Antonio at Oklahoma City, 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday: San Antonio at Oklahoma City, 9 p.m. x-Thursday: 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 1 May 17: N.Y. Rangers 7, Montreal 2 May 19: NY Rangers 3, Montreal 1 Thursday: Montreal 3, NY Rangers 2, OT Sunday: Montreal at NY Rangers, 8 p.m.

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 1 May 18: Chicago 3, Los Angeles 1 May 21: Los Angeles 6, Chicago 2 Today: Chicago at Los Angeles, 8 p.m.

Monday: Chicago at Los Angeles, 9 p.m.

Wednesday: 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.

GOLF

The Associated Press

COLONIAL PAR SCORES

THURSDAY’S GAMES

Texas 9, Detroit 2 Toronto 7, Boston 2 Tampa Bay 5, Oakland 2, 11 innings Cleveland 8, Baltimore 7, 13 innings Chicago White Sox 3, N.Y. Yankees 2 Seattle 3, Houston 1

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.

TODAY’S GAMES

Cleveland (Kluber 4-3) at Baltimore (U.

Friday At Colonial Country Club Fort Worth, Texas Purse: $6.4 million Yardage: 7,204; Par: 70 (a-amateur) Brice Garnett Chris Stroud Robert Streb Bo Van Pelt Dustin Johnson Aaron Baddeley Chad Campbell Jimmy Walker Tim Clark Brian Davis Jason Dufner Jordan Spieth Harris English David Hearn Brian Harman Brandt Snedeker Matt Jones Hunter Mahan Chris Kirk Marc Leishman Nicholas Thompson Tim Wilkinson

67-66—133 70-64—134 66-68—134 67-68—135 65-70—135 68-67—135 69-66—135 67-68—135 67-68—135 68-67—135 67-69—136 67-69—136 66-70—136 67-69—136 69-67—136 70-66—136 70-67—137 66-71—137 73-64—137 69-68—137 69-68—137 66-71—137

-7 -6 -6 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3

SPORTS

THE SUMTER ITEM

SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2014

third. Kaleigh Price hit a grounder back to pitcher Leslie Altman, and she caught Carwile in a pickle, but Carwile was able to scramble back into third to load the bases.

Delany Laudenbacher hit a shot past diving EC second baseman Olivia Singletary, but the ball hit an umpire. The play was called dead with a run coming in and the bases remaining loaded. That’s when a lightning strike was seen and the game was delayed for 47 minutes.

When the teams got back on the field, Sara B. Sears was at the plate for Dixie, which finished the year with a 26-4 record. On the second pitch, Sears hit a hard grounder toward shortstop Gracen Watts. The ball looked like it was going to stay down, but it took a bad hop, shooting past Watts, and rolling all the way to the fence for a bases-clearing double.

“I thought we might have a play there, but it took that bad hop,” said Ard, whose team finished with a 21-6 record.

Sears scored on a sacrifice fly to make it 8-0 and Altman retired the next batter for the second out. However, the Lady Hornets put together six straight hits — two off of Altman and four off of reliever Singletary -to plate four more runs and make it 12-0.

“They hit the ball really well tonight,” Altman, one of two EC seniors, said of Dixie. “They hit the ball really well, and when we did hit it well it seems we hit it at somebody.”

The Lady Hornets finished with 14 hits. Laudenbacher had three of them, while Samantha Ferguson, Price and Sears had two apiece.

East Clarendon had just two hits off of Laudenbacher. Jessica Welch started the game with a single, was sacrificed to second and went to third on a passed ball.

She was left stranded when Altman lined out to second to end the inning.

KaTerria Rose doubled with one out in the second, but was left stranded when Mikayla Anderson lined out to center.

The Lady Hornets, who lost to East Clarendon in last year’s state championship series, got their first three runs in the second. Laudenbacher doubled with one out and Sears reached on an infield single. Altman walked Snipes to load the bases before getting Haleigh Phillips to pop up on the infield for the second out.

Samantha Ferguson, however, followed with a double to left-center that cleared the bases, making it 3-0.

Despite the game not ending they way she had hoped,

Arkansas edges Mississippi 8-7 HOOVER, Ala. — Brian Anderson’s sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning Friday scored Joe Serrano and lifted seventh-seeded Arkansas to an 8-7 win against second-seeded Ole Miss in the Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

The Razorbacks (38-22), who trailed 7-6 after the seventh inning, rallied with a run in both the eighth and ninth innings to secure the victory. Arkansas advances to face third-seeded LSU in today’s first semifinal with first pitch scheduled for noon. Ole Miss drops to 41-18 with the loss.

Michael Gunn (4-2) earned the victory for Arkansas, pitching 1 2/3 innings and allowing one hit, while Jacob Stone earned his third save of the season, pitching the ninth inning. Wyatt Short (3-3) took the loss for the Rebels, giving up two earned runs.

Serrano went 2-for-4 with three runs scored, while first baseman Eric Fisher had two hits and two RBI. MARYLAND 5 FLORIDA STATE 3 MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

East Clarendon catcher Jordan Evans, top, braces as Dixie’s Leigha Snipes slides into her during EC’s 12-0 loss to the Lady Hornets on Friday at River Bluff High in Lexington.

Ard had nothing but praise for her young squad.

“I’m very proud of these girls,” said Ard, whose only seniors were Altman and catcher Jordan Evans. “We were a young team and to get back here was great. Leslie and Jordan showed a lot of leadership for these girls.”

“It was a major accomplishment,” Altman said of reaching the title series again. “These girls are good.

They’re going to get a (championship) ring before they’re done.”

GILCHRIST FROM PAGE B1

DENNIS BRUNSON / THE SUMTER ITEM

Petra Januskova hits a return to Anne-Liz Jeukeng during Januskova’s 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory on Friday in a singles quarterfinal match in the Palmetto Pro Open at Palmetto Tennis Center.

FROM PAGE B1 couple curveballs, trying to mix it up to keep them off balance.”

Clay went four innings to earn his eighth save of the year, allowing three hits while striking out six and walking none. Clay retired eight straight batters during one stretch. Then, after yielding 1-out singles to Garrett Boulware and Jay Baum in the bottom of the ninth, he struck out Shane Kennedy looking and Chris Okey swinging to end the game.

“Can’t say enough about the performance of Dusty and Sam Clay,” Georgia Tech head coach Danny Hall said.

“Those two guys were very dominant for us today.”

The Tigers came up short despite a strong effort from righthander Clate Schmidt, who went 8 1/3 innings and allowed two earned runs on eight hits while walking just one batter and striking out six.

“I thought Clate did a great job for us, went out and pitched in a great situation and gave us everything he had, put us in a position to win,” Clemson head coach Jack Leggett said. “We could just not get anything going offensively.”

But Schmidt (5-7) refused pin the loss on the Tiger hitters.

“I can’t be mad at them, because they bailed me out plenty of other times, and it’s just how it rolled today,” he said.

After leaving two men on base in each of the first two innings, the Yellow Jackets finally pushed a run home in

B3

ACC / SEC ROUNDUP

EC FROM PAGE B1

TIGERS

|

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 St. 7, (7) North Carolina 1 Thursday (6) Maryland 7, (3) Virginia 6 (4) Duke 6, (9) Georgia Tech 0 (5) Clemson 3, (1) Miami 2 Friday (6) Maryland 5, (2) Florida State 3 (9) Georgia Tech 3, (5) Clemson 0 (3) Virginia vs. (7) North Carolina (late) Today (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)

top of the fifth. Georgia Tech opened the frame with four straight base hits, the last an RBI single by Thomas Smith that made it 1-0 and left the bases loaded. But Schmidt averted further damage by retiring AJ Murray on a called third strike and then coaxing Connor Justus into a doubleplay grounder to short.

Schmidt kept the Tigers within a run until the ninth.

Schmidt hit Mitch Earnest with a pitch to open the inning. Daniel Spignola followed with a sacrifice bunt, and Clemson closer Matt Campbell came on to face Hyde.

Hyde worked the count to 3-2 before driving a pitch over the wall in left for the 2-run shot that made it 3-0 and closed out the scoring.

“We got a timely hit early from Smitty to give us the lead, and Mott, late, gave us some distance, thank God, in that ninth inning, because he gave us a little breathing room,” Hall said.

more tournaments next year. I’m going to Hilton Head Island next week.”

In other singles’ matches, thirdseeded Brooke Austin defeated Josie Kuhlman 6-2, 6-1, and fourthseeded Caitlin Whoriskey topped Kristina N. Smith 6-3, 6-0.

In doubles action, Sophie Chang and Andie K. Daniell will face topseeded Sonja Molnar and Whoriskey in the championship on Sunday.

Chang and Daniell defeated Lauren Albanese and Angeline Gabueva 4-6, 7-6, while Molnar and Whoriskey were 6-3, 6-2, winners over third-seeded Januskova and Liudmila Vasilyeva.

The singles semifinals will be played on Stadium Court today starting at 10 a.m. with back-toback matches.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Jose Cuas drove in three runs to help Maryland beat Florida State 5-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.

Cuas hit a 2-run double in a 4-run third inning, then added a sacrifice fly in the seventh on Friday to give the sixth-seeded Terrapins (36-19) a 5-0 lead.

The second-seeded Seminoles (42-15) scored three in the eighth, two on wild pitches and one on an RBI single from John Nogowski.

Mike Shawaryn (10-3) earned the win, allowing two hits in seven innings.

Mike Compton (7-2) took the loss, pitching 6 1/3 innings and allowing two earned runs. FSU committed two of its three errors in Maryland’s big inning.

The Terrapins improved to 11-0 in May, including 2-0 in at the ACC tournament.

Maryland can clinch an appearance in Sunday’s final when it faces seventh-seeded North Carolina in Pool B on Saturday, while FSU faces No. 3 seed Virginia.

From SEC, wire reports

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 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 — (5) Mississippi St. 12, (4) South Carolina 0 Thursday Game 9 — (2) Ole Miss 7, (6) Vanderbilt 2 Game 10 — (1) Florida 7. (4) South Carolina 2 Game 11 — (3) LSU 7, (7) Arkansas 2 Game 12 — (9) Kentucky 7, (5) Mississippi State 6 Today Game 13 — (7) Arkansas 8, (2) Ole Miss 7 Game 14 — (1) Florida vs. (5) Mississippi State (late) Saturday Game 15 — (7) Arkansas vs. (3) LSU, 1 p.m.

Game 16 — Winner Game 14 vs. (9) Kentucky, TBD Sunday Game 17 — Winner Game 15 vs. Winner Game 16, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

B4

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SPORTS

SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

NASCAR

Harvick seeks 3rd title in 4 years

BY PETE IACOBELLI The Associated Press

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kevin Harvick, front, looks to capture his third Coca-Cola 600 title in the last four years on Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C.

CONCORD, N.C. — Happy Harvick has lived up to his nickname this season, and hopes the good times with new team Stewart-Haas Racing roll on at Charlotte.

Kevin Harvick heads into the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night coming off a win and three top-10s in the last four races. He was in position to win last week’s All-Star race until a slow final pit stop caused him to finish second at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Now he goes into the CocaCola 600 looking for his third win in four years at NASCAR’s longest race of the season. Harvick won the 600miler in 2011 and 2013, and feels he’s got another shot with his new No. 4 Chevrolet.

“The first minute that I was in that car, I haven’t quit smiling,’’ Harvick said. “It’s been so refreshing and so much fun to be part of that every day.’’

Harvick, who won 23 races in 13 seasons driving for Richard Childress Racing, said there’s something different and special about his new Rodney Childers-led crew. He praised Stewart-Haas, too.

“The bottom line is the organization from a whole has given us every resource that we have asked for,’’ Harvick said. “You

running with Superman on his No. 88 machine as part of a multi-year sponsorship deal between Hendrick Motorsports and DC Comics.

LONG, LONG RACE

never talk about money. It’s just what do you need and how do we get it for you.’’

JOHNSON’S SEASON It’s been a long, dry season for defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, who’s been winless this season through 11 races to match his longest drought, at the start of the 2003 season. But Johnson showed some signs he’s ready to break back on top, collecting his first pole of the season for Sunday’s race. Johnson has had success at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a record-tying six previous wins including three in the Coca-Cola 600.

“If I win, then I’m winning too much. If I’m not winning, then it’s ‘Why aren’t you winning?’ So I can’t do it right either way. I learned a long time ago to not pay attention to the outside voices and influences and just worry about my race team,’’ he said.

SUPER DALE JR. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be

In NASCAR’s longest event, it doesn’t pay to take chances early on. Harvick said he keeps telling himself to stay patient because the extra 100-miles gives teams that much more time to get the car perfectly tuned for last stretch. It’s also about nutrition, said Jamie McMurray: “It’s always about trying to get enough food in your system so that you’re not hungry or feel week toward the end.’’

MILITARY SALUTES Few sports honor the military as well as NASCAR and expect another big show at Charlotte. Goodyear again will adorn its race tires with “Salute Our Troops’’ and will match funds up to $50,000 raised through charity auction. Tommy Baldwin Racing teams are also involved in a “Salute The Troops’’ letter writing initiative where people can send notes, cards and letters of thanks and support to military personnel. Count on flyovers and military vehicles, too.

COCA-COLA 600 LINEUP The Associated Press After Thursday qualifying; race Sunday At Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, N.C. Lap length: 1.5 miles (Car number in parentheses) 1. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevy, 194.911.

2. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 194.567.

3. (5) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 193.618.

4. (10) Danica Patrick, Chevy, 193.334.

5. (15) Clint Bowyer, Toyota, 193.244.

6. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 193.119.

7. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 193.092.

8. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 192.472.

9. (9) Marcos Ambrose, Ford, 191.673.

10. (88) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 191.272.

11. (4) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 193.959.

12. (20) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 192.898.

13. (43) Aric Almirola, Ford, 192.692.

14. (21) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 192.486.

15. (78) Martin Truex Jr., Chevy, 192.438.

16. (55) Brian Vickers, Toyota, 192.027.

17. (51) Justin Allgaier, Chevy, 191.945.

18. (14) Tony Stewart, Chevy, 191.925.

19. (33) Brian Scott, Chevrolet, 191.884.

20. (47) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 191.829.

21. (27) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 191.707.

22. (99) Carl Edwards, Ford, 189.98.

23. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 189.208.

24. (16) Greg Biffle, Ford, 184.344.

25. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 190.84.

26. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevy, 190.255.

27. (24) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 189.673.

28. (41) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 189.553.

29. (23) Alex Bowman, Toyota, 189.514.

30. (95) Michael McDowell, Ford, 189.148.

31. (26) Cole Whitt, Toyota, 189.115.

32. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 189.062.

33. (38) David Gilliland, Ford, 188.732.

34. (13) Casey Mears, Chevy, 188.534.

35. (34) David Ragan, Ford, 188.455.

36. (83) Ryan Truex, Toyota, 188.422.

37. (98) Josh Wise, Chevrolet, Owner Points.

38. (66) Joe Nemechek, Toyota, Owner Points.

39. (7) Michael Annett, Chevrolet, Owner Points.

40. (40) Landon Cassill, Chevrolet, Owner Points.

41. (36) Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet, Owner Points.

42. (31) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, Owner Points.

43. (32) Blake Koch, Ford, Owner Points.

Failed to Qualify 44. (44) J.J. Yeley, Chevrolet, 188.062.

45. (77) Dave Blaney, Ford, 187.143.

INDYCAR

Ganassi finds speed, stages rally on Carb Day for Indianapolis 500

BY DAVE SKRETTA The Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS — Scott Dixon insists that Ganassi Racing wasn’t trying to bamboozle anybody.

After struggling last week and failing to put a car in the fast nine for qualifying, the team led by defending Indy 500 winner Tony Kanaan staged a rally on Carb Day. Kanaan was left atop the leaderboard Friday with a lap of 227.838 mph, while Dixon was nextfastest at 227.773 miles per hour.

“We definitely didn’t do it on purpose,’’ said Dixon, who will start in the middle of the fourth row Sunday. “We would like to roll out straightaway and be quick. I think we are normally.’’

Kanaan will start on the inside of the sixth row as he attempts to become the first back-to-back winner since Helio Castroneves in 2003. Teammate Charlie Kimball will start in the ninth row.

“We feel good about it,’’ Kanaan said. “We worked pretty hard together to make up for our Saturday qualifying. We have great people back in the engineering office at Target Chip Ga-

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Scott Dixon drives through the first turn on the second day of qualifications for the Indianapolis 500 IndyCar at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. nassi Racing, and it really showed a little bit after qualifying and today.’’

The turnaround by the Ganassi stable brought back memories of 2012, when the team struggled throughout

the month of May. But by the time Carb Day rolled around, Dario Franchitti had posted the fastest lap of the day, and Dixon was close behind in second.

CLEMSON BASKETBALL

Tigers, Brownell agree on 6-year deal

BY PETE IACOBELLI The Associated Press Clemson plans to keep basketball coach Brad Brownell around a while.

The school announced Friday that it had agreed to a sixyear deal with Brownell worth $10.6 million. The agreement will bring Brownell a $350,000 raise for next season to $1.55 million and will eventually grow to $2 million in the contract’s final year of 2019-20.

Brownell’s chances of lasting past last season were not good with some after his 2013 team went 13-18, the Tigers first losing season in nine years. But Brownell turned things around behind high-flying forward K.J. McDaniels to go 23-13 and advance to the NIT national semifinals this past season.

Brownell thanked Clemson administrators for their confidence in his leadership.

“I look forward to building on the success of this past season and believe there is a

great deal of positive momentum within the program,” Brownell said in a statement.

Brownell can earn a series of bonuses that range from $10,000 for reaching the NIT to $100,000 for winning the ACC or NCAA tournaments.

Should the school fire Brownell without cause next year, it would owe him $5 million. That figure falls to $3.5 million halfway through the six years and to $3 BROWNELL million in the final two years.

If Brownell decides to leave next season, he would owe Clemson $1.5 million. That total also reduces over the length of the deal.

Brownell has gone 74-58 in four seasons. He reached the NCAA tournament his first season in 2011 after replacing Oliver Purnell before two straight non-winning seasons.

Brownell won’t the easiest path to keep Clemson strong in

the super-sized Atlantic Coast Conference. After next season, the Tigers will have to relocate for a season from campus as Littlejohn Coliseum undergoes a massive renovation expected to cost between $60 million and $80 million.

The team will play in Greenville, about 45 minutes away, before returning to the revamped building for the 201617 season.

Clemson came into this season picked 14th in the 15-team ACC. Instead, the Tigers won 10 league games for just the fourth time since joining the ACC in 1953.

A big reason was McDaniels, who became the face of the program this season with his jams and dunks. McDaniels finished the year with 100 blocks and was named the ACC’s defensive player of the year.

Brownell will have his hands full trying to replace McDaniels next season after the junior gave up his final season to enter the NBA draft.

That was how they would finish on Sunday. Franchitti went on to win his third Indy 500, and Takuma Sato’s last-lap spin into the Turn 1 wall allowed Dixon to finish second.

Townsend Bell, three-time winner Helio Castroneves and rookie Mikhail Aleshin joined Kanaan and Dixon among the five fastest laps Friday. Andretti Autosport teammates Ryan Hunter-Reay and Marco Andretti were next on the speed chart, while Juan Pablo Montoya was ninth-quickest.

Kurt Busch stepped into Andretti’s backup car and climbed to 15th on the chart. Busch wrecked his primary car in practice on Monday, forcing his team to convert a car that Andretti had planned to use at Detroit from a road-course setup to an oval setup.

“Just had to get back on my horse,’’ said Busch, who will attempt to run the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte on Sunday. “As the NASCAR guys always say, ‘Got to thank my crew,’ but honestly, this is a thankthe-crew moment from Andretti Autosport.’’

BUSCH FROM PAGE B1 strongly about its chances, especially after James Hinchcliffe qualified in the middle of the front row three days after he was medically cleared to drive following a concussion. He leads the five-car Andretti stable, which has Marco Andretti and Carlos Munoz in the two rows behind Hinchcliffe.

Further back in the field is Hunter-Reay and Busch, the former NASCAR champion who will start 12th in Marco Andretti’s backup car because he crashed his primary on Monday.

If one had to pick a favorite from that group, it would be Marco Andretti, who will make a ninth attempt at ending the family heartache in this race. His grandfather, Mario, won just once, in 1969, while father and car owner Michael never had the chance to drink the celebratory milk in victory lane.

Boy, does Marco want this.

“This is the biggest race in

the world and I have so much respect for it and I want nothing more in my life than to add my name to the list of champions,’’ Andretti said. “I feel like I have the car and the team and the crew to do it, but being the ninth year in it and seeing everything under the sun go wrong, I can’t be overconfident.’’

Why? “I’ve been having this same recurring nightmare of where to be in the closing laps because there’s no right answer,’’ he said. “Do you lead? Should you be fourth? I’ve been in this race with a shot to win a ton of times, and there’s no right answer, and it’s so unsettling for me.’’

Adding to the angst had to be the sudden emergence of the Ganassi cars, which finally showed the speed they’d been lacking for two weeks on Carb Day. After lagging behind and failing to move into the final round of qualifying, defending race winner Tony Kanaan and defending IndyCar champion Scott Dixon went 1-2 in Friday’s final practice session.

TELEVISION

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Game (HD) bility meets luxury. (HD) around the world. (HD) provocative stories. (HD) (HD) Moone Boy: Spy: Codename: Father Brown: The Grim Reaper Doc Martin: Haemophobia Martin’s Jammin at Hippie Sun Studio Ses- Austin City Limits: Mumford and Nature: The Bunch of Marys Double Oh (HD) Gruesome death on local farm. (HD) secret about blood is out.

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(6:00) Gone in 60 Seconds (‘00, Action) aac Nicolas The Fast and the Furious (‘01, Action) aac Paul Walker. An FBI agent becomes involved The Fast and the Furious (‘01, Action) aac Paul Cage. A retired car thief must steal 50 cars. with street gangs and their high-speed road races.

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Failure to Recall: GM Suze Orman The Suze Orman Show (N) Greed Bogus money.

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Sometimes difficult to take, ‘Normal Heart’ is outstanding

BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH Nothing about “The Normal Heart” (9 p.m. Sunday, HBO, TV-MA) is easy to take. But that doesn’t mean it’s not outstanding.

Directed by Ryan Murphy (“Glee,” “American Horror Story”), “Heart” is adapted from Larry Kramer’s autobiographical play set during the early years of the AIDS epidemic. The film tackles a horrific subject and features an admittedly impossible and cantankerous character. It’s frequently polemical, political, didactic and stagey.

All that said, it’s not to be missed.

Mark Ruffalo (“The Kids Are Alright”) stars as Ned Weeks, a brilliant, Jewish, neurotic, gay New York playwright who tortures his friends and his protective brother (Alfred Molina) with his strident opinions, but not half as much as he berates himself.

As “Heart” opens in the summer of 1981, Weeks, a stand-in for author Larry Kramer, is already on the outs with some in the gay community for his published essay suggesting that rampant promiscuity may keep gay men from finding real love and intimacy. His critics contend that the recently formed gay liberation movement should embrace and promote robust sexuality.

This argument is very much in the background as AIDS hits the gay community and New York that same year. “Heart” recalls the climate of fear that existed when nobody knew what caused AIDS, how it spread and how it might be prevented, never mind cured.

As friends and colleagues die in increasing numbers, Weeks helps organize an advocacy group. Matt Bomer (“White Collar”) stars as a journalist who becomes Weeks’ colleague and lover. Julia Roberts plays a doctor studying the contagion and caring for the outcast and afflicted, whose own childhood bout with polio left her with a unique view of a disease that had once defied diagnosis and cure. Jim Parsons (“The Big Bang Theory”) also stars as a friend, fellow organizer and ally who, like all of his friends, endures Weeks’ many tirades.

A play about love, identity, loss and deeply felt political anger, “Heart” gives every

on “The Graham Norton Show” (11:15 p.m., BBC America, TV14).

SUNDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS

HOME BOX OFFICE

Mark Ruffalo, center, stars in the drama “The Normal Heart,” which premieres at 9 p.m. Sunday on HBO.

major character a dynamic speech and a major dramatic moment. Everyone rises to the occasion. It’s hard not to see the “On the Waterfront”-era Brando in Ruffalo’s performance.

As the star of a major mainstream network sitcom, Jim Parsons had the most to lose or gain from his participation in such an angry and confrontational project. His performance is moving and transformational. Move over, Sheldon. As popular as “Big Bang” has made him, Parsons’ turn in “The Normal Heart” hints that a major acting career has just begun.

• Animal Planet gets into the over-the-top shocker business with “Blood Lake: Attack of the Killer Lampreys” (9 p.m. Sunday, TV-14) from the makers of “Sharknado.”

Parents who consider Animal Planet a safe harbor for the kiddies should be aware of this film’s extreme cartoonlike gore. A lamprey eats a homeless fisherman’s eyeball. Then they kill his dog, too.

On the plus side, look for Shannen Doherty as you’ve never seen her. She’s the weary mom of an eye-rolling teen.

She also looks on with incredu-

lity as a fetching blonde neighbor hits on her hunky husband (Jason Brooks), a fish and wildlife expert who spouts facts and figures about lampreys, reminding us that this is an “educational” film, part of Animal Planet’s “Monster Week.”

Christopher Lloyd stars as the clueless mayor, who doesn’t want news about a few “eels” to scare away the tourists. Cue the “Jaws” soundtrack. And if that weren’t enough, there’s also grownup Zack Ward, who’s best known for playing Scut Farkas in “A Christmas Story”!

• Memorial Day weekend marathons include three days of war-themed movies on TCM, beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday — movies that put an emphasis on the average soldier. Films include the 1943 fantasy “A Guy Named Joe” (9 a.m. Saturday), starring Spencer Tracy as a downed pilot who becomes a guardian angel for the guy who takes his place in love and war. Ensemble dramas include “The Dirty Dozen” (8 p.m. Saturday) and “Kelly’s Heroes” (1:30 a.m. Saturday).

Sunday features adaptations of combat stage dramas and comedies, from “Mister Roberts” (noon) to “No Time for Sergeants”

(8 p.m.). Monday culminates with the 1946 Oscar-winning drama “The Best Years of Our Lives” (10:30 p.m.), still one of the best movies to tackle the subject of soldiers returning home from war and their difficult adjustment to “normal” life.

• NASCAR racing in the CocaCola 600 (5:30 p.m., Fox), live from Charlotte, North Carolina.

• Scheduled on “60 Minutes” (7 p.m., CBS): combatting posttraumatic stress; drug dosage and gender; a conversation with Liam Neeson.

• A California beach house becomes the site of the final episode of “American Dream Builders” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG).

• On two episodes of “The Good Wife” (CBS, r, TV-14) opposing counsel (8 p.m.); a test of Will’s (9 p.m.).

• Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna co-host The National Memorial Day Concert (8 p.m., PBS, TV-PG, check local listings), a musical salute to military service, with a special commemoration of the 70th anniversary of D-Day. • Anna infiltrates an exclusive gathering on “Turn” (9 p.m., AMC).

• A suicide victim may have been helped on “Motive” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-14).

• Peggy thinks it’s time to take a flier on “Mad Men” (10 p.m., AMC, TV-14).

• Science brings things to life on “Penny Dreadful” (10 p.m., Showtime, TV-MA).

CULT CHOICE SATURDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS • “Panoramica: Cesar’s Last Fast” (7 p.m., Pivot, TV-14) recalls the farm workers’ organizer Cesar Chavez.

• Charlie Daniels reflects on his past and performs his hits on “The Big Interview” (9 p.m., AXS).

• Starz invites viewers to catch up on “Da Vinci’s Demons” (8 p.m., Starz, TV-MA) with a four-episode marathon.

• Lifetime celebrates Memorial Day with some recent biopics, including “Anna Nicole” (8 p.m.) and “Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret” (10 p.m.).

• Sarah explores the origins of the clone project on “Orphan Black” (9 p.m., BBC America, TV-14).

• Kieren and Simon collaborate on “In the Flesh” (10 p.m., BBC America, TV-14).

• Dawn French, Kirsten Dunst and Sam Smith appear

Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel star in the engaging 2009 romantic comedy “(500) Days of Summer” (8 p.m.

Saturday, E!).

SUNDAY SERIES An auteur makes a homemade Western, starring pugs, on “America’s Funniest Home Videos” (7 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG); a film about aggressive ostriches (8 p.m., r, TV-PG) follows * Bo anticipates trouble underground on “Believe” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14) * Lisa Edelstein guest-stars on “Castle” (9 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG) * The death of DEA agents attracts FBI attention on “The Mentalist” (10 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14) * Dunn and Finley strategize in the Oval Office on “Crisis” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14).

Copyright 2014, United Feature Syndicate

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COMICS

SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2014

BIZARRO

SOUP TO NUTZ

ANDY CAPP

GARFIELD

BEETLE BAILEY

BORN LOSER

BLONDIE

ZITS

MOTHER GOOSE

DOG EAT DOUG

DILBERT

JEFF MACNELLY’S SHOE

Teenager initiates ‘the talk’ but mom dodges it DEAR ABBY — I’m 16 and entering my junior year of high school. My boyfriend, “Jonah,” and I have been Dear Abby dating for almost a year ABIGAIL and we VAN BUREN would like to become sexually active, but I’m scared condoms won’t cut it. I have tried talking to my mom about it, but she doesn’t think I should go on birth control.

Abby, I’m just trying to keep the risk of getting pregnant as low as possible. I’m not sure my mom understands that.

What should I do? I know for sure my mother will find out if I go to my doctor and talk pri-

THE SUMTER ITEM

vately about this with her.

Please help me because I’m just trying to protect myself.

Practical teen in New York DEAR PRACTICAL TEEN — You appear to be a levelheaded young woman who is trying to make mature decisions. Discussing sex with parents can be difficult -- not only for you, but also for them.

If you are willing to talk about this with your mother again, try using a magazine, a TV show or my column as a jumping-off point to start the conversation. Sometimes it may take more than one talk to feel comfortable disclosing your personal feelings and intentions.

You should be able to get confidential health services from your doctor or another health care provider. Depend-

ing upon where you live, however, parental permission may be needed. You will have to check to find out.

In terms of birth control methods, hormonal birth control is effective when used correctly. But using hormonal birth control and a condom TOGETHER offers the best protection from both pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

For many years, I have recommended Planned Parenthood (plannedparenthood.org) for reproductive health services, which include information, contraception, testing and education about a full range of options for women, men and teens across the United States.

Its services are confidential and comply with relevant laws, which may vary from state to state.

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 Chewed the fat 10 Aristophanes satire, with “The” 15 Obligatory joke response 16 Buddhist who has attained Nirvana 17 Pellet shooter 18 Informal qualifier 19 ER needs 20 Bowls, e.g.

22 Boglike 23 Start to do well?

25 Suffix with malt 26 One of a fictional trio 28 Road Runner, e.g.: Abbr.

30 Beantown tower, with “the” 31 Fight sound 32 Ram 37 “La Strada” co-producer 39 ‘60s pro-war words 41 Idaho’s Coeur d’__ River 42 Northwestern legend 43 Divinity sch.

44 Follow 46 Final: Abbr.

47 Common sense

49 Pujols’ team, on scoreboards 51 Holliday companion 55 Seconds 56 Silicon mineral 59 Long, on Lanai 60 Hillside entrances 62 Convinced of 64 Sad 65 Bronson film with four sequels 66 Spanish heater?

67 Illegal heaters?

DOWN 1 Beau 2 Leek relative 3 Game sometimes played near a garage 4 Twin Cities airport, on luggage tags 5 Milo’s pug pal, in a 1989 film 6 “Enough already!”

7 Frat letters 8 Diminish, in a way 9 Sub base?

10 Common word in history texts 11 Food court lure 12 Gulf Coast trawler’s

gear 13 Like some anthems 14 Doesn’t give up on 21 Lake Thun feeder 24 Taken off 27 “You can call me he. You can call me she” speaker 29 Least extroverted 30 Campaign pros 32 Yearbook signer 33 Great teacher, often 34 Some prayers 35 Barely beat, with “out” 36 Lilted sound 38 Like aspen leaves 40 Be virtually the same as

45 Office suite door abbr.

48 Derivative of the past 49 ‘80s “PM Magazine” host 50 “Behind the __ I’ll convey myself”: Polonius 52 Schwarzenegger’s middle name 53 Get up 54 They may be winding 57 Approval letters 58 1984 Hugo Award winner Timothy 61 One has one: Abbr.

63 The Bahamas were once part of it: Abbr.

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Investments 3 Rental Properties for sale.

Take in $1,155/mthly. Asking $21,00 total will consider reasonable offers. Owner financing. Ser. Inquires ONLY. 803-464-5757

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

Kittens purrfect pets. $20. Adult cats FREE, Come & SEE! Call 803-795-5582.

MERCHANDISE Garage, Yard & Estate Sales Garage Sale: Rain/Shine, 6120 Tarleton Rd., Dalzell, Fri/Sat, 7AM-2PM; Antiques, glass, jewelry, cast iron, misc items.

Relay For Life - Kickin' Cancer Outdoor Yard Sale: Bethesda Church of God, 2730 Broad St. Sat. May 24th 7AM. 10+ families.

1071 Sweetbriar Dr Sat- Sun & Mon 7-1 Ceramic bisque, stampen up stamps, hshld, & misc items Multi-Family Yard Sale: 1160 Pinewood Rd. Sat. 7AM Lots misc items.

Health, Beauty & / Fitness Aids

Pets CKC Reg. Black & white Papillon Puppies. $600. Gorgeous. Ready to go. Call Louise 803-553-4868 Cash Only

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

IF YOU USED THE BLOOD THINNER PRADAXA and suffered internal bleeding, hemorrhaging, required hospitalization or a loved one died while taking Pradaxa between October 2010 and the present. You may be entitled to compensation.

Call Attorney Charles H. Johnson 1-800-535-5727

Farm Equipment / Tractors For Sale: (1) 5ft Bush hog & (1) 3 bottom Plow. Good Shape. Asking $650 OBO, 803-468-7120.

Furniture / Furnishings Old Loveseat & two chairs 1920's -2 Spanish style chairs.

Make offer Call 803-428-3803

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!

Roofing

3280 Poppy Ct. Sat. 7 am - 12. Household items, clothing, other misc.

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

SC lic. Virgil Bickley 803-316-4734.

4 Family Yard Sale: 956 Saltwood Rd, off Stadium Rd. Sat. 7-11AM. Clothes, hshld, books, crafts.

DISH TV Retailer - Starting at $19.99/month (for 12 mos.) & High Speed Internet starting at $14.95/month (where available.)

SAVE! Ask About SAME DAY Installation!

CALL Now! 1-800-635-0278

EMPLOYMENT

HIGH SPEED INTERNET BUNDLES NOW AVAILABLE IN YOUR AREA!!! Bundle now with DIRECTV or DISH and $ave Monthly.

Ask for free next day installation.

888-313-8504.

HIGH-TECH CAREER with U.S. Navy. Elite tech training w/great pay, benefits, vacation, $ for school. HS grads ages 17-34. Call Mon-Fri 800-662-7419

Martin's Used Appliance Washers, Dryers, Refrig., Stoves.

COLONIAL LIFE is seeking B2B sales reps. Commissions average $56K+/yr. Training & leads. Sales experience required, LA&H license preferred. Call Elisabeth at 803-391-5536.

Guarantee 464-5439 or 469-7311

Clarendon County School District Three is accepting applications for:

Help Wanted Full-Time

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

Elementary Position and Elementary Special Education Position (Willingness to Immediately begin the Multi-Categorical Certification Process) Applicants must have appropriate South Carolina Certification, Highly Qualified Preferred.

Applications must be received at the address below by 4 pm on Monday, May 26, 2014.

Mail applications to: Connie J. Dennis, Ph.D. Superintendent Clarendon County School District Three P.O. Drawer 270 Turbeville, S.C. 29162 Clarendon County School District Three is an Equal Opportunity Employer

For Sale or Trade

Auctions ADVERTISE YOUR AUCTION in 107 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Your 25-word classified ad will reach more than 2.6 million readers. Call Donna Yount at the S.C. Newspaper Network, 1-888-727-7377.

Help Wanted Full-Time

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 Safe Step Walk-In Tub. Alert for Seniors. Bathroom falls can be fatal. Approved by Arthritis Foundation. Therapeutic Jets. Less Than 4 Inch Step-In. Wide Door.

Anti-Slip Floors. American Made.

Installation Included.

Call 800-714-0627 for $750 Off. REDUCE YOUR CABLE BILL!* Get a whole-home Satellite system installed at NO COST and programming starting at $19.99/mo.

FREE HD/DVR Upgrade to new callers, SO CALL NOW 1-866-981-7319 DirectTV. 2 Year Savings Event!

Over 140 channels only $29.99 a month. Only DirecTV gives you 2 YEARS of savings and a FREE Genie upgrade!

Call 1-800-908-5974 Expert Tech, New & used heat pumps & A/C. Will install/repair, warranty; Compressor & labor $600. Call 803-968-9549 or 843-992-2364 300+ Landscaping bricks, 75+ flat stones 16"x16", $1 ea.

499-4786.

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

I Found it in the

CLASSIFIEDS

JOBS HOMES APARTMENTS CARS BOATS MOTORCYCLES BIKES FURNITURE PETS GARAGE SALES & MORE

GET THE CLASSIFIEDS DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR. 803-774-1258

/ .BHOPMJB 4USFFU t 4VNUFS 4$ XXX UIFJUFN DPN

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CLASSIFIEDS

THE ITEM

SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2014

Help Wanted Full-Time

Medical Help Wanted

Resort Rentals

Farms & Acreage

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

HOSPICE AgapĂŠ Hospice, SC's largest hospice, is proud to serve Newberry and seeking the following positions: CNA, RN, SW, Volunteer Coordinator, Chaplain, and Marketing. Resumes can be mailed or dropped off at 2521 Evans Street, Newberry SC 29108 or apply at AgapeSenior.com.

EOE

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

For Sale By Owner, 10 Acres, 8 miles to Sumter. $55,000. Owner Financing 803-427-3888.

Want A Career Operating Heavy Equipment? Bulldozers, Backhoes, Excavators. "Hands On Training" & Certifications Offered.

National Average 18-22 Hourly!

Lifetime Job Placement Assistance. VA Benefits Eligible!

1-866-362-6497 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

Help Wanted Part-Time $$$ AVON $$$ FREE TRAINING! 803-422-5555

Trucking Opportunities ADVERTISE YOUR DRIVER JOBS in 107 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Your 25-word classified ad will reach more than 2.6 million readers. Call Donna Yount at the S.C. Newspaper Network, 1-888-727-7377.

Drivers: Need CDL A or B Drivers, to relocate vehicles from area body plants to various locations throughout U.S. - No forced dispatch: 1-800-501-3783 or www.mamotransportation.com under Careers WE NEED DRIVERS!! Immediate openings. OTR drivers, minimum 1yr. OTR experience. Late model conventional tractors/48' flatbed trailers. Top pay, insurance. Home most weekends. Senn Freight 1-800-477-0792 Experienced OTR Flatbed Drivers earn 50 up to 55 cpm loaded. $1000 sign on to Qualified drivers.

Home most weekends. Call: 843-266-3731 / www.bulldoghiwa y.com EOE AVERITT EXPRESS New Pay Increase For Regional Drivers! 40 to 46 CPM + Fuel Bonus! Also, Post-Training Pay Increase for Students! (Depending on Domicile) Get Home EVERY Week + Excellent Benefits. CDL-A req.

888-362-8608 Apply @ AverittCareers.com Equal Opportunity Employer - Females, minorities, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

GUARANTEED PAY! CLASS-A -CDL FLATBED DRIVERS NEEDED! Local, regional, OTR. Great pay package/benefits/401k match.

1yr exp. required. Call JGR 864-488-9030 Ext. 319, Greenville and Gaffney SC locations. www.j gr-inc.com Bulldog Hiway Express seeking Experienced CDL-A, Flatbed drivers for Regional service. Earn $900/week. Home every weekend & some wk days. $1000 sign on to Qualified drivers. Must have: GOOD MVR/Work record.

843-266-3731 www.bulldoghiway. com EOE

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 2BR/2BA, Close to Sumter Mall.

All appl & water included, W/D hookup. $600/mo + dep. (803) 491-5618. Avail now.

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

Vacation Rentals ADVERTISE YOUR VACATION PROPERTY FOR RENT OR SALE to more than 2.6 million South Carolina newspaper readers. Your 25-word classified ad will appear in 107 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Call Donna Yount at the South Carolina Newspaper Network, 1-888-727-7377.

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

Outdoorsman's dream! Lodge on 137 acres, 3/12 miles Broad River frontage in National Forest with no conservation easement.

Fishing, hunting, boating. Priced to sell, $479,000 803-635-8940

REAL ESTATE

Non-profit organization looking for 5-10 ac. of Farm Land, partially cleared in Sumter. Please email: katsspecialkneads@yahoo.com

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.

Manufactured Housing

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

No pets Call 803-499-1500. From 9am- 5pm

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

Mobile Home Lots 2540 Burt Gin Rd, Wedgefield .9 acres with storage bldg $150 mo. Agent Owned. Call 236-2425

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

New 6 volt Golf Kart Batteries $85.95 + tax and exchange.

Group 31 truck batteries $65 + tax and exchange. Dealer Discount.

Auto Electric Co. 773-4381.

LEGAL NOTICES Summons & Notice

1996 Chevy S10 Ext Cab, exc. cond. Runs great. Good Heat/AC. Clean inside/out. $2,600.

803-447-5453

Close to Shaw. Dalzell 3br 2ba brick, fenced yd, screen porch, all appl. C/H/A No Pets. $800 /mo+dep 803-316-8105

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

803-506-2370

TRANSPORTATION

35,000 Sq Ft. Warehouse for rent.

803-773-8022

Real Estate Wanted

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.

15ft Game Fisher Aluminum boat, 15HP Yamaha motor. Electric & pull start, 54lb thrust trolling motor, depth finder, trailer w/ new tires. $2,500 OBRO. Call 803-236-2605

Autos For Sale

Unfurnished Homes

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.

Boats / Motors

99 Chevy Blazer, PW, PL, Automatic with overdrive, 4 new wheel, CC. $4,500 803-236-2605

4DR, 4WD, transmission tires, A/C, tilt OBRO. Call

2006 Chevy Avalanche LT Z71 PKG 4x4 Chrome Bumpers & Running Boards. All extras 109k miles. Call 803-934-6124 or 803-469-9232 2005 Buick Park Avenue Ultra, Loaded. High mileage, but exc. condition. Many extras. Must see. $5,000. 803-840-1215 1998 Ford Taurus, white 4Dr, Good body & int. Not running, needs fuel pump. $700 OBO Call 316-5569 SUMMER SALE 200 cars $4,500 or less $$$ CASH $$$ Price is Right Auto Sales 3210 Broad St 803-494-4275

Miscellaneous AIRLINE CAREERS begin here Get trained as FAA certified Aviation Technician. Financial aid for qualified students. Housing and Job placement assistance.

Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 866-367-2513

Summons & Notice MILITARY SERVICE:

RECREATION

Commercial Rentals

Acreage Farm Rentals

Miscellaneous

SUMMONS AND NOTICE OF FILING IN THE PROBATE COURT CASE NUMBER 2003-ES-43-00252 STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER Rochell Grant-Hill, Petitioner, vs.

Estate of Laura Floyd Grant, Deceased, Carrie M. Grant-Johnson, Earl Anthony Grant, Ronald Darell Grant, Roderick Lorenzo Grant, Heirs of Harvin Gilbert Grant: Gladys M. Grant, Jason S. Grant, Jonelle S. Grant, and Stacey Renee Truesdale; Heirs of Debbie Grant-Taylor: Reginald Taylor, WauKeisha Taylor, and Reginald Lorenzo Taylor; John Doe and Richard Roe, as Representatives of all unknown Heirs of Harvin Grant, Sr. Deceased, and all persons entitled to claim under or through them; any unknown adults being, as a class, designated as John Doe, and any unknown infants or persons under disability or persons in Military Service designated, as a class, as Richard Roe, Respondents, IN RE: Harvin Grant, Sr., Deceased.

TO THE RESPONDENTS ABOVE-NAMED: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED And required to appear and defend by answering the Petition To Establish Heirs of Harvin Grant, Sr., Deceased, the original of which is on file in the Probate Court of Sumter County, Sumter Judicial Center, 215 North Harvin Street, Room 111, Sumter, South Carolina 29150, having been filed on March 28, 2014, and to serve a copy of your Answer to the said Petition upon the subscriber at his office at 26 North Main Street, Sumter, South Carolina 29150, within thirty (30) days after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service, and if you fail to answer the Petition within the time aforesaid, judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Petition.

TO MINOR(S) OVER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE, AND/OR TO MINOR(S) UNDER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND THE PERSON(S) WITH WHOM SUCH MINOR(S) RESIDE(S), AND/OR TO PERSONS UNDER SOME LEGAL DISABILITY OR PERSONS IN

YOU ARE FURTHER SUMMONED AND NOTIFIED to apply for the appointment of a Guardian Ad Litem and/or to retain legal counsel, as appropriate, within thirty (30) days after the service of this Summons and Notice upon you. If you fail to so do, application for such appointments will be made by the Attorney for the Petitioner.

ORDER APPOINTING GUARDIAN AD LITEM, APPOINTING AN ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT RESPONDENTS UNDER LEGAL DISABILITY AND IN MILITARY SERVICE, AND FOR SERVICE BY PUBLICATION FOR GOOD CAUSE SHOWN and upon consideration of the filed Petition of the Petitioner for Appointment of Garryl L. Deas, Esquire, as Guardian Ad Litem to protect the interest of the unknown Respondents in this action who may be infants, under legal disability or persons in military service, and as Attorney to represent such Respondents and persons who may be in Military Service, and it appearing that Garryl L. Deas, Esquire, has consented to said appointments, it is hereby ORDERED That Garry L. Deas, Esquire, of the Sumter Bar, whose address is The Deas Law Firm, 201 North Main Street, Sumter, South Carolina 29150, Telephone Number (803) 775-7004, be and he hereby is appointed Guardian Ad Litem to protect the interest of the following Respondents in this action; namely, John Doe and Richard Roe, as Representatives of all unknown Heirs of Harvin Grant, Deceased, and all persons entitled to claim under or through them; any unknown adults being, as a class, designated as John Doe, and any unknown infants or persons under disability or persons in Military Service designated, as a class, as Richard Roe who may be in the Military Service of the United States of America, and may be, as such, entitled to the benefits of the Servicemember's Civil Relief Act, formerly called the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940, and any amendments thereto, excepting, however, the Respondents identified above by name, any and/or all of whom may have or claim to have some interest in the proceedings as heir(s) of the Decedent; and it is

ORDERED that Garryl L. Deas is authorized, empowered and directed to appear on behalf of and to represent said Respondents, unless said Respondents, or someone on their behalf shall within thirty (30) days after service of a copy hereof as directed, procure the appointment of Guardian(s), Guardian(s) Ad Litem and/or Attorney(s) for said Respondents. It is further ORDERED that a copy of this Order shall be forthwith served upon said unknown Respondents by publication in The Item, a newspaper of general circulation published in the County of Sumter, State of South Carolina, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks, together with the Summons and Notice of Filing of Petition To Determine Heirs in the above-entitled action.

AND IT IS SO ORDERED! May 5, 2014 Betty P. Brown, Associate Judge Sumter County Probate Court Sumter, South Carolina

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

STATEBURG COURTYARD 2 & 3 BRs 803-494-4015 3BR/1.5BA, all appl. incl. C/H/A, water & sewer incl. $385/mo + dep. Call 803-464-5757.

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

Call 864-349-1400.

Looking to find...

A NEW BEST FRIEND? CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT

CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT

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Call, email or fax us today!

(803) 774-1234

Call, email or fax us today!

(803) 774-1234