September 4, 2014 by The Sumter Item

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Tuomey CEO: Settlement is near BY JOE KEPLER joe@theitem.com (803) 774-1225 Tuomey Healthcare System President and CEO Michael Schwartz addressed community concerns about the hospital’s ongoing federal lawsuit Tuesday morning, speaking with citizens at an open meeting held by the Sumter Vision in Progress organization at James E. Clyburn Intermodal Transportation Center. Along

Streets added to paving project

with highlighting the success of new programs that have helped the hospital grow, Schwartz expressed optimism that the looming lawsuit settlement will be agreed upon within the next year. SCHWARTZ “We are in negotiations with the Department of Justice, and the one thing I can say with pretty

good certainty is that it probably will come to an end in 2015, hopefully in 2014,” Schwartz said of the settlement. Though compensation negotiations continue daily, the next major step in the process will take place Oct. 31. On that day, the hospital’s case will be heard in the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Richmond, Virginia, where representatives of the hospital will present the case. A renegotiated settlement before the

court date is Schwartz’s ultimate goal. “We are hoping to settle, and there is a possibility we will,” he said about a possible resolution before the October appeal. “We are doing everything we can.” The $237 million judgment leveled against Tuomey in 2013 was acknowledged by Schwartz as “impossible” to pay out, but a renegotiated amount is being discussed, as the hospital balances the lawsuit while trying

to bring new programs to benefit the community. “We are coming to a number, and we have to be very careful with this number. It’s like all of you: You’re putting your kid through school, you’re buying a car, your washing machine just broke, you have to pay your mortgage,” Schwartz explained. “You know you can only afford to pay so much. We’ve had

SEE TUOMEY, PAGE A8

Doctors ‘had a really good run’

BY JOE KEPLER joe@theitem.com (803) 774-1225 Sumter City Council gave its final reading to a pair of ordinances Tuesday night at its first meeting of the month and announced minor changes not only to the street paving and resurfacing plan that was initially discussed at the Aug. 21 meeting, but also to the Sumter 2030 Comprehensive Plan. Council unanimously passed an ordinance finalizing a change to zoning rules that would allow for a business planning to offer massage therapy services to move into the former Rascal’s restaurant at 1075-1077 Alice Drive. Massage parlors and spa services were initially forbidden on the list of permitted uses. In a separate ordinance passed Tuesday, council also approved a change to the zoning of a portion of the Sumter School District Administration property at 1345 Wilson Hall Road to allow for the construction of a 250-foot cellphone tower behind the administration building that would boost signal strength in the area. The rezoning also passed council unanimously, moving it from a residential-15 zone to a light industrial-warehouse zone to allow for the addition. A first reading was given to new plans for the paving and resurfacing of state streets, with the addition of four new streets that were not first accounted for during initial discussions at the Aug. 21 council meeting. The most notable addition was Palmetto Street, a 3,250-foot road that stretches between Wards 2 and 3 and runs perpendicular to South Guignard Drive and South Main Street. Councilwoman Ione Dwyer and Councilman Calvin Hastie, of Wards 2 and 3, respectively, spoke in favor of adding the street to the project at the Aug. 21 meeting. Along with Palmetto Street, three roads from Ward 1 were added to the 14-street list. Sims Avenue, Carl Avenue and Adrena Drive are now also part of resurfacing plans. The revised cost of the state street

SEE COUNCIL, PAGE A8

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Drs. Joseph and Brenda Williams work in the lab at Excelsior Medical Clinic. The couple has been in private practice together in Sumter for 32 years. They plan to retire from private practice and close the office in mid-November.

Longtime physicians will close local practice Nov. 21 BY RAYTEVIA EVANS ray@theitem.com (803) 774-1214

hen they originally made the announcement that they would

be retiring from private practice,

‘Even in the belly of poverty, we were honored and privileged to care for them.’ BRENDA WILLIAMS Longtime local doctor

well-known local doctors Joseph and Brenda Williams said people

and decided to go into practice,” Joseph came in and cried, and after many said. The doctors found Sumter’s charm years of having them as patients, and slow pace drew them to start their careers and their family. They opened the longtime doctors cried with the doors of the practice June 1, 1982, them. first locating on Calhoun Street. While moonlighting at Tuomey Hos“We have grown to being accustomed pital, Brenda said she asked a question to being a part of their families,” Bren- that was one of many significant factors in her and Joseph’s decision to da said. start a practice in Sumter. Before making the decision to close “I asked, ‘Do y’all have any black docExcelsior Medical Clinic on North Main tors in town?’” she said. Street, the couple prayed about it and With some encouragement from felasked God to guide them in the next low doctors of color, the Williamses steps of their journey. Married since started to explore the Sumter commuJune 14, 1975, the couple moved from nity, visiting churches and looking at Georgia to Columbia and then, after a the surrounding area — eventually deshort stay in Pittsburgh, to Sumter in ciding it was the perfect place to start 1982. their practice and raise a family. “After going, we changed our minds

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“It was kind of halfway country, halfway city,” Brenda said jokingly. “We didn’t want a big city, and we visited small churches here. We decided we really liked Sumter.” Sumter became their new home, but the physicians kept in mind obstacles that were sure to come up in their private practice endeavors. Although they are graduates of the Medical College of Georgia, they knew they would have some people who would simply refuse to see black doctors. “We grew up in the South, so we knew there would be people who would not come to us because of the color of our skin,” Brenda said. “Some people, black and white, tend to think white doctors know more or are more educated (and that) we don’t know as much. We were cognizant of that, and we took that into consideration. But here, we knew we had a duty, and we have patients of all races.” Overcoming this and other obstacles, Joseph and Brenda have stayed in practice for more than 30 years and have served the community through their profession and their advocacy for the impoverished and disenfranchised — work inspired by their faith and watching their

SEE DOCTORS, PAGE A8

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

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Panel discusses medical marijuana

LOCAL BRIEF FROM STAFF REPORTS

Bishopville woman indicted, could get 32 years in prison Komika Lanova Flores Buffkin, 22, of Bishopville, was charged Wednesday by a federal grand jury in Columbia in a five-count indictment with credit card fraud, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. The maximum penalty the defendant could receive is 32 years’ in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney T. DeWayne Pearson of the Columbia office.

agency is opposed to allowing hemp or marijuana to be grown in South Carolina. Sen. Tom Davis, one of the leaders of the committee, said its main goal is to collect information to give to lawmakers to help refine the state’s marijuana and hemp laws. He called a bill passed this year a baby step allowing residents with severe epilepsy to use oil derived from marijuana if approved by a doctor. He said he hopes the General Assembly can alter SLED’s position. “Implicit in that is the right to

COLUMBIA (AP) — A legislative committee created to study what South Carolina needs to do with medical marijuana and how to implement a bill passed this year allowing a very specific use of oil from the plant has plenty of work to do, one of its leaders said Wednesday. The law also created the medical marijuana committee, which met for the first time. The panel included medical experts, agriculture officials and the chief toxicologist for the State Law Enforcement Division, who said her

grow and manufacture because it would be nonsensical to legalize possession and use of a substance and not allow it to be created,” said Davis, R-Beaufort. But SLED Chief Toxicologist Wendy Bell said once the door opens a crack to allow legal uses of marijuana for medicinal purposes, the experience in Colorado has shown that it is hard to keep the drug away from people who want to just use it to get high. “It was very easy to get a medical marijuana card and divert it for recreational use,” Bell said.

See winning artist’s work at USC Sumter’s gallery FROM STAFF REPORTS

winner in its annual show at the Sumter County Gallery of Art several times. In addition, his work has been juried into Piccolo Spoleto and ArtThe Upstairs Gallery at the Univerfields, two prestigious exhibitions. sity of South Carolina Sumter opens Cotner describes his work as “... a an exhibition of Paintings and Works personal exploration of the American on Paper by artist John Cotner on tradition of abstracted landscapes Wednesday. Cotner has been a Sumand interiors inspired by Western viter resident since 2009 and is an intesual art and traditions considered gral part of the area’s artistic comoutside the mainstream. My work is munity. driven by the desire to create a perBorn in Chicago with a natural apsonal visual language. titude for art and “This vocabulary music, Cotner’s talents WANT TO GO? contains symbolic imwere nurtured early ages that evoke a sense on by his family and WHAT: John Cotner: Paintings of place, a state of his enrollment in the and Works on Paper mind and a sense of Art Institute of ChicaWHEN: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., mystery. These inventgo’s Young Artist StuMonday through Friday, Sept. 10 ed forms illustrate imdio program. to Nov. 26 pressions of nature He later received a COST: Free admission and a personal biograbachelor of fine arts WHERE: USC Sumter Upstairs phy. After relocating to degree from Cooper Gallery, Williams-Brice-Edwards South Carolina, color Union in New York Building, 200 Miller Road and organic forms City and a master of have new, site-specific arts degree from New CONTACT: (803) 938-3858 (the American South) York University in meanings, reflecting a 1987. From 1982-83 he state of mind in transiparticipated in the tion. My most recent work is inspired Steinhardt School/Venice Program. by the prehistoric Mississippian He returned to Chicago in 1992, joinmound-building cultures of the Miding the fine arts department at the west, textiles and early American University of Chicago Lab School. primitive works on paper.” Since the 1980s, Cotner’s work has Visit www.uscsumter.edu for more been exhibited in group and solo information on USC Sumter’s current shows in galleries and art centers in and upcoming exhibitions, or contact New York, Chicago and across South Laura Cardello, USC Sumter’s curaCarolina. An active member of the tor of exhibits, at (803) 938-3858. Sumter Artists’ Guild, he has been a

PHOTO PROVIDED

John Cotner, seen at a recent exhibition, is the featured artist at USC Sumter’s Upstairs Gallery. See John Cotner: Paintings and Works on Paper beginning Wednesday through Nov. 26.

Infant story time, activities, prizes help families with reading BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com (803) 774-1211 September is Family Literacy Month, and a variety of programs are available in Sumter to help promote literacy, especially for children. The Sumter County Library can help children get a jump start on their studies. “We of course have our books, our early readers program and our phonics,” said Janet Galus, director of children’s services at the Wesmark branch of the library. “We have story time for

children 6 weeks and up to about 5. It helps them just hearing someone read,” she said. Story time is at 3 p.m. on the first and third Sundays of each month at the library’s main location, 111 N. Harvin St., and at 10 a.m. each Tuesday at the Wesmark Branch, 180 W. Wesmark Blvd. Galus said an additional resource for children at the library are the early literacy stations. There are two at the Wesmark Branch and three at the main library. The stations feature large screens

and various programs that allow children to play music, create artwork and much more, according to the library’s website, sumtercountylibrary.org. The stations are accessible in both English and Spanish. The library also has summer programs to help children develop their reading skills, she said. Also promoting literacy is Sumter County Adult Education, 902 N. Main St. “We have a family literacy program here in addition to our English-as-a-second-language classes,” said Coralette

Scriven, adult education literacy coordinator. She said the program will have some special activities during September to promote Family Literacy Month. “We will have programs to read poems to students through our adult education program and our literacy program. We will have activities where they have to name the songs, children’s songs, we are giving out books and children’s song books and door prizes,” she said. She said it is important to get families involved in helping children learn to read.

Scriven said they were also pursuing a grant to promote family literacy. “We are doing some things now to enhance what we have been doing,” she said. “Maybe get together once a week to read to children.” Galus said she would like to see more programs targeting childhood literacy. “I think there could always be more, especially getting parents involved and getting them to read to their kids,” she said. “Of course the ones who bring their kids to the library are already motivated.”

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Authorities have said Metts took bribes from restaurant owner Greg Leon in exchange for releasing some his employees who had been detained for being in the country illegally.

FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS

Judge sets January trial date for Lexington sheriff COLUMBIA — South Carolina’s longestserving sheriff is set to go to trial early next year on bribery and conspiracy charges. During a hearing in Columbia on Wednesday, Chief U.S. District Judge Terry Wooten ruled that suspended Lexington County Sheriff James Metts’ trial will begin on Jan. 20. Attorneys said they expect the trial to last about two weeks, and a jury will be picked the week before it begins. The judge also set an Oct. 15 hearing to deal with pretrial issues and motions. Metts and three other men have been accused as part of a federal corruption scheme.

6-year-old boy hit by falling trailer door, dies BEAUFORT — A 6-year-old Beaufort County boy has died after he apparently unlatched a trailer door that fell on him and crushed his chest. Deputy Coroner David Ott told multiple media outlets that James McDiffett Jr. died Monday at Beaufort Memorial Hospital. Ott said an autopsy revealed the accidental death was caused by asphyxia from the door compressing his chest. Sheriff’s Sgt. Robin McIntosh said officers were called to the boy’s home in Burton after residents heard a noise they thought was a gunshot.

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POLICE BLOTTER

A man walks through South Sumter during a shower Tuesday afternoon.

STATE BRIEFS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

CHARGES Herbert Dinkins, 34, of 720 Shedricks Lane, was arrested Thursday at his home and charged with four counts of distribution of marijuana, second offense; one count of distribution of cocaine, second offense; three counts of distribution of crack cocaine, second offense; and possession of marijuana, second offense. Agents with Sumter County Sheriff’s Office’s Narcotics Division conducted an undercover operation from 2012 through 2014, according to a news release, and during that time, the deputies purchased items from the suspect. Joseph Levi Littles, 50, of Sumter, was charged with failure to register as a convicted sex offender, first offense, about 3:15 p.m. Friday. Samuel Leon Davis, 17, of 95101 Desoto Drive, Watertown, New York, was arrested and charged with public disorderly conduct, assault and battery of a police officer, malicious injury to property and resisting arrest about 2 a.m. Saturday in the 1000 block of Wilson Hall Road. When the deputy on scene attempted to escort the suspect out the door of the business, the suspect reportedly knocked the deputy into a table causing about $100 in damage. As the suspect continued to resist arrest, the deputy deployed a Taser twice. Duwayne Debare Belin, 28, of 29-B Somerset Drive, was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, unlawful carrying of a pistol, resisting arrest, felon in possession of a firearm and possession of drug paraphernalia about 11:43 p.m. Tuesday at the intersection of U.S. 521 and North Pike West. Deputies were conducting a driver’s license checkpoint when a silver Mercury SUV ran the stop sign. Law enforcement followed, and when the vehicle came to a stop, the occupants ran. The suspect reportedly tripped, fell and was told to remain on the ground. When he tried to get up, deputies deployed a Taser. Inside a backpack he had, deputies found 125 grams of suspected marijuana, a digital scale and a Taurus .45-caliber handgun fully loaded with eight rounds. The suspect was taken to Tuomey Regional Medical Center for treatment of a lacera-

tion to his shoulder. STOLEN PROPERTY A .32-caliber Taurus valued at $100 and a .22-caliber revolver valued at $40 were reported stolen about 9:41 a.m. Friday from the 1000 block of Race Track Road. A silver 2002 Oldsmobile Alero valued at $2,500 was reported stolen about 1:19 p.m. Friday from the 4000 block of Zachary Road. A Husqvarna riding mower valued at $1,700 was reported stolen about 2 p.m. Saturday from the 1000 block of Mason Road, Dalzell. A storage shed also reportedly sustained $100 in damage. A blue Craftsman generator valued at $500, a Craftsman gas-powered weed trimmer valued at $120 and a Craftsman Sawzall valued at $225 were reported stolen about 9:32 a.m. Monday from the 1000 block of Cherryvale Drive. About $3,000 worth of Tshirts were reported stolen about 8:44 p.m. Monday from the 100 block of Pudding Swamp Road, Shiloh. Assorted clothing valued at $2,000 was reported stolen about 3:15 a.m. Tuesday in the 1000 block of Kentwood Drive. A 2007 tan Toyota Corolla valued at $10,000 was reported stolen about 6:17 a.m. Tuesday from the 2000 block of Peach Orchard Road, Dalzell. A blue Miller welder valued at $4,000, an orange-andwhite Stihl weed trimmer valued at $250 and red Craftsman push lawn mower valued at $250 were reported stolen about 9:38 a.m. Tuesday from the 1000 block of Bradham Boulevard. A purse valued at $400, a wallet valued at $100 and $10 in cash were reportedly stolen between 6:40 and 6:44 p.m. Tuesday from the 1000 block of Dibert Street. DAMAGED PROPERTY A 2003 blue Ford Winstar van sustained an estimated $1,000 in damage about 11:36 a.m. Tuesday in the 500 block of East Calhoun Street Extension. A 1998 Ford Expedition reportedly sustained $2,000 in damage between 2 p.m. Monday and 7:03 a.m. Tuesday in the 200 block of Clement Road. A home in the 1000 block of Cherryvale Drive reportedly sustained an estimated $5,000 in damage about 2:24 p.m. Monday.

Extraordinary Are you a survivor or do you know someone who fought breast cancer?

The Sumter Item is asking for names of these brave people to appear in our special publication, Extraordinary Women on October 4, 2014 Please send submissions to: mary@theitem.com Subject: EXTRAordinary Women Or fill in the form below Deadline for submissions is September 22, 2014

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Global drive meant to cut off jihadists PARIS (AP) — New laws make it easier to seize passports. Suspected fighters are plucked from planes. Authorities block finances and shut down radical mosques. In cyberspace, Silicon Valley firms are wiping extremist content from websites, such as video of the recent beheading of two American journalists. And Western intelligence agencies are exploring new technologies to identify returning fighters at the border. Governments from France to Indonesia have launched urgent drives to cut off one of the Islamic State group’s biggest sources of strength: foreign fighters. At the heart of the drive is mounting concern that the organization is training the next generation of international terrorists.

Those fears have gained urgency from the group’s horrific methods: A British militant is suspected of beheading two American journalists, and a Frenchman who fought with the Islamic State group is accused in a deadly attack on a Jewish museum in Belgium. With each video that ricochets around social networks, the militants gain new recruits. “If neglected, I am certain that after a month they will reach Europe and, after another month, America,” Saudi King Abdullah said Friday, calling for a strong international response to the onslaught in Syria and Iraq. After video emerged online of the killing of an American journalist last month, tech companies drafted plans

to scrub the web of such content and implemented them this week after a second beheading, a Silicon Valley insider said Wednesday. YouTube and Twitter accounts were among those shut down. Islamic State militants who have migrated to Diaspora, a decentralized social network, are in many cases greeted with banners saying they are unwelcome. But they will find newly sophisticated ways to get a message out, according to Jamie Bartlett of the Demos think tank. Britain has taken a particularly active role in censoring content deemed to break the country’s strict rules against extremist propaganda. U.K. officials recently revealed they have been granted “super flagger” status on

sites such as YouTube, meaning their requests to remove videos with grisly content or that encourage terrorism are fast-tracked. During the past four years, an Internet-focused counter-terror unit of London’s Metropolitan Police instigated the removal of 45,000 pieces of content, the force said last week. Islamic State militants, however, have just as quickly found other, more decentralized platforms. In the United States, officials are trying to identify potential jihadis by comparing travel patterns with those of people who have already joined the fight, a counterterrorism official said, speaking only on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss intelligence matters.

Agencies making sure Lowcountry sweetgrass doesn’t vanish forever Development means less space for coastal plant BY BRUCE SMITH The Associated Press ST. STEPHEN — For most of his 80 years, Joe Mazyck has been harvesting the soft, pliable sweetgrass used to make the iconic baskets that have been woven by slaves and their descendants for centuries along the nation’s Southeast coast. But the grass, which gets its name from the fresh fragrance of its leaves, has been harder to come by in recent years because of breakneck development in the coastal areas where it grows, from North Carolina to Texas. “The habitat is just giving out. Every piece of ground there is they are building something on,” the Mount Pleasant resident said Wednesday. “A lot of people like waterfront property, and that’s done away with a lot of the sweetgrass. At one point, basket weaving was considered a dying art,” agreed Lynette Youson, a fifth-generation weaver also from Mount Pleasant. But local, state and federal government agencies are helping to ensure weavers have grass for their baskets, woven by the descendants of slaves in the Gullah-Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor running from North Carolina to Florida. Mazyck and Youson were among a small group of harvesters invited Wednesday to harvest, or pull, sweetgrass on a tract owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about an hour north of Charleston. The grass is naturally growing, but the corps’ Charleston District has also planted more than 13,000 plants in tracts along the coast from the North Carolina line to Daufuskie Island on South Carolina’s southern tip. The town of Mount Pleasant and the state of South Carolina, at its Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site in Charleston, have also planted sweetgrass that can be harvested. The corps’ plantings on the

coast are to reduce erosion and establish sweetgrass again in places where it has been destroyed by development or erosion. In the past, Mazyck said, he has traveled south to Georgia to find the grass, usually woven with pine straw and rushes to make baskets. “Along the coast, it will do great in one spot and not so great in another. It likes sandy soil and a bit of shade,” said Tommy Socha, a plant materials specialist for the corps. “It’s a tough plant, and another great thing about it is the beauty. It blooms in the fall and is really gorgeous.” Indeed, Wednesday was a bit late for the harvest because some of the plants were already showing the delicate pink tips that indicate it is going to seed. Wednesday was the first harvest at the St. Stephen site. In the future, other Corps sweetgrass plantings will be harvested. After about 45 minutes of pulling, Youson had enough grass for four or five baskets. That will keep her busy weaving for about a month and a half. Youson, 50, has been weaving for 46 years. Now that there seems to be a more stable supply of sweetgrass, she worries about handing down the tradition. “Today we are in competition against instant gratification among the younger generation,” she said, adding she has at least taught her daughters to weave baskets. “That’s a big thing to continue the art because maybe one day they will get that interest again and will want to pass it on to their kids,” she said.

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Joe Mazyck, 80, of Mount Pleasant, harvests sweetgrass on Wednesday on property owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers near St. Stephen. It was the first time the corps opened the patch of sweetgrass, used to make the iconic baskets woven by slave descendants along the nation’s Southeast coast, to harvesting. Baskets and other items woven with sweetgrass are seen on Wednesday on property owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers near St. Stephen. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Sunday Night Football: Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks from CenturyLink Field z{| (HD) WIS News 10 at (:05) Tonight WIS News 10 at NFL Kickoff 2014: from Seattle, Wash. (HD) 11:00pm News Show Jimmy Fallon (HD) and weather. news update. News 19 @ 7pm Inside Edition (N) The Big Bang (:31) The Millers: (:01) Big Brother (N) (HD) Elementary: The Grand Experiment News 19 @ 11pm (:35) Late Show with David LetterEvening news up- (HD) Theory (HD) 0072 Tom’s girlSherlock and Joan help indicted The news of the man Steve Buscemi; Indy Car victor; date. friend. (HD) Mycroft. (HD) day. Alt-J. (N) (HD) Wheel of Fortune Jeopardy!: DeThe Quest: Verlox Attacks; The Dragon’s Lair Verlox finally shows his pow- Shark Tank All the sharks bid on one ABC Columbia (:35) Jimmy Kimmel Live Taraji P. (HD) cades - Quarter Fi- ers; a dragon escapes and burns a village. (N) (HD) product; unbaked cookie dough; ce- News at 11 (HD) Henson; Hunter Hayes. (N) (HD) nals (HD) real-flavored milk. (HD) Rick Steves’ Eu- Palmetto Scene Carolina Stories: When the Mill POV: The Uprising of ‘34 (HD) The Uprising of Tavis Smiley BBC World News Charlie Rose (N) rope: Sevilla and (N) (HD) Closes Down Norfolk Southern train ‘34 Follow-Up (N) (HD) International (HD) Andalusia derailment. news. The Big Bang The Big Bang Sleepy Hollow: The Golem Ichabod Bones: The High in the Low MurWACH FOX News at 10 Local news Two and a Half Two and a Half The Middle: The Theory Compan- Theory Penny’s ri- attempts contact with Katrina. (HD) dered art school dropout with Lupus. report and weather forecast. Men Charlie im- Men Charlie’s Safe (HD) ionship. (HD) val. (HD) (HD) potent. (HD) break up. (HD) Family Feud Family Feud The Vampire Diaries: Man on Fire The Originals: An Unblinking Death House: Everybody Dies House reex- House: Pilot Dr. Gregory House and The Arsenio Hall Stefan keeps Elena’s mind off Damon. Cami requests treatment for Kieran. amines his life. (HD) his team of medical experts rush to Show Ray (HD) (HD) save a teacher’s life. (HD) Romano. (HD)

E10

WIS

7:30

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

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The First 48: Blood Money; Fifteen The First 48: Dangerous Attraction; (:01) Killer Kids: Peeping Theodore & (:02) The First 48: Collateral; Driven (:01) The First 48 back Shooting death. (HD) Gunned down. (HD) Candy Lady (HD) The Six Missing girl. (HD) to Kill Killed with a car. (HD) (HD) 180 Hitman (‘07, Thriller) aac Timo- The Matrix (‘99, Science Fiction) Keanu Reeves. A hacker joins a shadowy collective’s struggle to free humankind (:01) The Matrix Reloaded (‘03, Science Fiction) thy Olyphant. Genetic assassin. (HD) from slavery after he discovers reality is nothing more than an engineered illusion. (HD) aaa Keanu Reeves. Zion’s future. (HD) 100 Railroad Alaska: Ice Dagger Alaskan Bush People (HD) (:01) Ice Lake Rebels (HD) (:02) Ice Lake Rebels (HD) (:03) Ice Lake Rebels (HD) Ice Lake (HD) Being Mary Jane (‘13, Drama) aaa Gabrielle Union. A television news College Hill: 162 What’s Love Got to Do with It? (‘93, Drama) aaa Angela Bassett. 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(HD) (HD) port (N) (HD) (N) (HD) Another Cinderella Story (‘08, Comedy) aa Selena (:40) Blog Middle Jessie: Help Not Austin & Ally A.N.T. Farm (HD) I Didn’t Do It: Good Luck Char80 Liv and Maddie Austin & Ally (HD) (HD) Gomez. Teen girl falls in love with a pop star. child. Wanted (HD) (HD) Snow Problem lie (HD) 103 Fast N’ Loud (HD) Alaska: The Last Frontier (HD) Alaska: The Last Frontier (HD) Alaska: The Last Frontier (HD) Alaska: The Last Frontier (HD) Alaska (HD) 35 Insiders (HD) Fantasy 2014 U.S. Open Tennis: Men’s Quarterfinal: from USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (HD) SportsCenter (HD) Sports (HD) 39 SportsCenter (HD) 2014 WSOP no} (HD) 2014 WSOP no} (HD) Baseball Tonight (HD) Olbermann (HD) Baseball (HD) 131 (6:30) Dirty Dancing (‘87, Drama) aac Jennifer Grey. A sheltered teen- Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (‘04, Romance) aa Diego Luna. American The 700 Club Greg Scott on helping Fresh Prince: P.S. ager falls for a dance instructor to the dismay of her father. (HD) girl falls for Cuban dancer. (HD) others eat. I Love You 109 Chopped Pasta dough. (HD) Chopped: Firefighter Chefs (HD) Chopped Amateur winners. (HD) Beat Bobby Beat Bobby Diners (HD) Diners (HD) Chopped (HD) 74 On the Record with Greta (N) The O’Reilly Factor (N) (HD) The Kelly File News updates. Hannity Conservative news. (HD) The O’Reilly Factor (HD) The Kelly File 42 ACC (HD) New College (HD) UFC Unleashed (HD) World Poker Tour no} (HD) World Poker Tour no} (HD) Countdown Unleashed 183 The Waltons: The Starlet Documen- The Waltons: The Journal Publisher The Middle: The The Middle (HD) The Middle (HD) The Middle (HD) Golden Mystery Golden Mystery Golden Blanche is tary on the Pickett plant. to print John-Boy’s book. Smile (HD) illness. illness. upset. 112 Hunters (HD) Hunters (HD) Upper Client rebuilding. Upper Viking Hills. Hunters (N) Hunters (N) Upper Full house. Upper 110 Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars 160 Criminal Minds: Risky Business Teen Criminal Minds: Parasite Unstable Criminal Minds: Public Enemy Killer Cold Case: Family Girl contacted by Cold Case: The Promise Lilly investi- Cold Case: Bad suicides. (HD) con artist. (HD) stirs panic. (HD) deceased father. (HD) gates frat house fire. (HD) Night (HD) (:02) Project Run145 Project Runway: The Klum of Doom Project Runway: Rock the Wedding Project Runway: Chopard Looks based around Chopard (:31) Project Runway: Chopard Looks based around A look for Heidi. (HD) Wedding dresses. (HD) jewelry. (N) (HD) Chopard jewelry. (HD) way (HD) 76 Hardball with Chris (N) (HD) All in with Chris Hayes (HD) The Rachel Maddow Show (N) Lawrence O’Donnell (HD) All in with Chris Hayes (HD) Maddow (HD) 91 Sam & Cat Drake & Josh: Drake & Josh Go Hollywood Instant (HD) Dad Run Full Hse Full Hse Friends (HD) Friends (HD) Friends (HD) 154 Happy Gilmore (‘96, Comedy) aaa Adam Sandler. Tackling golf. (HD) Happy Gilmore (‘96, Comedy) aaa Adam Sandler. Tackling golf. (HD) Coming to America (‘88) aaa Eddie Murphy. (HD) (:10) Thor: Hammer of the Gods (‘09, Action) a 152 (6:30) The Chronicles of Riddick (‘04, Science Fiction) aac Vin Diesel. Spartacus: Blood and Sand: Revela- (:05) Spartacus: Blood and Sand: Criminal battles genocidal invaders. tions Revenge is sought. Kill Them All Aid for revenge. Zachery Ty Bryan. A frustrated young Viking. (HD) Mom Easier life. Family Guy: Road to the North Pole The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang Conan Chris Hardwick; Keizo The Office: Frame 156 The Big Bang Theory (HD) (HD) Santa taught lesson. (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Shimamoto. (N) (HD) Toby (HD) Some Came Running (‘58, Drama) aac Frank Sinatra. A World War II veteran meets with The Asphalt Jungle (‘50, Crime) aaac Sterling Hayden. A crooked law186 The Sniper (‘52, Crime) aaa Adolphe Menjou. derision when he returns to his hometown. yer hires a gang of ace criminals for a jewel heist. 157 American Gypsy Wedding (HD) Gypsy Sisters (HD) Gypsy Sisters (N) (HD) (:01) Extra Bling (N) (HD) (:02) Escaping Alaska (HD) Sisters (HD) (:01) Castle: Ghosts Victim con(:02) Castle: Little Girl Lost Beckett (:03) Rizzoli & Isles: Burden of Proof (:03) Dallas: Hurt 158 Castle: Always Buy Retail Vodun rit- Castle: Home Is Where the Heart ual murder. (HD) Stops Home invasions. (HD) nected to murder mystery. (HD) works with ex on case. (HD) Prosecutor arrested. (HD) (HD) 102 truTV Top Mower wheelies. truTV Top Funniest (N) truTV Top Funniest (N) Jokers Jokers (:01) Top 20: Biggest Boozers 2 truTV Top 161 Hllbillies Hllbillies Hllbillies Cleveland Queens (HD) (:48) The King of Queens (HD) Queens (HD) Queens (HD) Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Satisfact.: 132 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Rush: Get Lucky Rush learns ex-girl- (:01) Satisfaction: ...Through Secu- (:02) Rush: Get Lucky Rush learns Double Strands (HD) Girl Dishonored (HD) friend has changed. (N) rity (N) ex-girlfriend has changed. Through Security Braxton Family Values (HD) Braxton Family Values (HD) Braxton Family Values (N) (HD) SWV Reunited (N) SWV Reunited: WATCHit With (N) 172 Blue Bloods (HD) Blue Bloods: Innocence (HD) Blue Bloods (HD) Blue Bloods Frank’s crisis. (HD) How I Met How I Met How I Met

NBC offers ‘Sunday Night Football’ ... on Thursday BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH Thursday night football is coming to CBS. But not tonight. This Thursday belongs to “Sunday Night Football” (8:30 p.m., NBC) and, therefore, NBC. I guess that makes sense. Before the Seahawks and Packers meet, “NFL Kickoff 2014” (7:30 p.m., NBC) captures the festivities live from Seattle, including a performance by Pharrell Williams. CBS debuts its football night on Sept. 11. When the fall season begins in earnest, “The Big Bang Theory,” television’s most popular sitcom, will move to Monday nights. After the NFL wraps up its schedule, “Bang” moves back to Thursdays. • With CBS and NBC sharing turns airing the nation’s most popular televised sport, ABC has gone into the tank — the “Shark Tank” (10 p.m., r, TV-PG). As if treading water until new shows arrive, the Alphabet Network will air “Shark Tank” every night (except Saturday) through Sept. 12. So just under 30 percent of its prime-time programming will be repeats of “Shark Tank.” I haven’t seen a network so invested in one show since NBC’s prime-time Jay Leno experiment. But ABC’s “Shark Tank”-heavy schedule is only temporary. It’s odd to think of ABC on the sidelines while two network rivals bask in gridiron glory and attendant ratings. ABC Sports visionary Roone Arledge invented prime-time weeknight football, and “Monday Night Football” aired on the network from 1970 to 2005. Since then, it has run on ESPN, while ABC has centered its programming around an audience indifferent to watching huge men crashing into each other in search of a ball. And ABC is hardly alone. ABC Family celebrates the first night of the NFL season with “Dirty Dancing” (6:30 p.m.), followed by “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights” (9 p.m.), the 2004 prequel to the 1987 original. Disney counters with “Another Cinderella Story” (8 p.m., TV-PG) starring Selena Gomez. In this 2008 adaptation, the glass slippers have been replaced by a lost iPod. • Vincente Minnelli’s 1958 adaptation of James Jones’ postwar novel “Some Came Running” (8 p.m., TCM) earned Shirley

MacLaine an Oscar nomination and Frank Sinatra some of the best reviews of his career. Dean Martin was also lauded for his seemingly effortless performance in a dramatic role. Filmmakers including Peter Bogdanovich and Martin Scorsese have lauded the film, particularly for its cinematography. TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS • Into the dragon’s lair on “The Quest” (8 p.m., ABC, TV14). • A jewelry line and a museum visit inspire the contestants on “Project Runway” (9 p.m., Lifetime, TV-PG). • Security matters on “Satisfaction” (10 p.m., USA, TV-PG). • Nessa mulls a business deal in Palestine on “The Honorable Woman” (10 p.m., Sundance, TV-MA). • Switched wigs put the adage “blondes have more fun” to the test on “Garfunkel and Oates” (10 p.m., IFC, TV-14). • Jimmy meets Gretchen’s

parents on “You’re the Worst” (10:30 p.m., FX, TV-MA). • Pride takes center stage on Morgan Spurlock’s “7 Deadly Sins” (11 p.m., Showtime, TVMA).

SERIES NOTES A dubious double date on “The Big Bang Theory” (8 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14) * A flashback to 1960 on “The Vampire Diaries” (8 p.m., CW, r, TV-14) * Nathan frets about Tom’s younger girlfriend on “The Millers” (8:30 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14) * Much ado about wolves on “The Originals” (9 p.m., CW, r, TV-14).

LATE NIGHT Adam Levine is booked on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (11 p.m., Comedy Central) * Doris Kearns Goodwin is on “The Colbert Report” (11:30 p.m., Comedy Central) * Steve Buscemi and Alt-J are on “Late Show With David Letterman” (11:35 p.m., CBS) * Hunter Hayes and Taraji P. Henson ap-

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Korina Emmerich, left, and Tim Gunn discuss the seventh challenge on “Project Runway” airing at 9 p.m. today on Lifetime.

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pear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (11:35 p.m., ABC) * Rachael Ray and Ted Alexandro appear on “The Late Late Show” (12:35 a.m., CBS).

CULT CHOICE The release of military nerve gas turns ordinary townsfolk

into “The Crazies” (9 p.m., Chiller). George Romero (“Night of the Living Dead”) directed this 1973 low-budget shocker. This film, remade in 2010, was also released as “Code Name: Trixie.” Copyright 2014, United Feature Syndicate

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RELIGION

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

RELIGION BRIEFS

Build a spiritual legacy now Grow in your faith for your children

into that morning’s seat-shifting exercise. Like many local churches, we partake in a symbolic observance of the Passover holiday that the Bible says Jesus and his disciples went through before he was killed. This is a highly reverent time in the Christian faith. I had dutifully taken a small cracker and my plastic cup of grape juice when I realized that this would be the first time I partook in communion while pregnant. Because we are currently Faith Matters physically bonded, my daughter JAMIE H. would receive a WILSON taste of a sacrament that symbolized my faith. Suddenly, the act became heavier, more significant, not because I felt that there would be some sort of spiritual benefit to my child at that moment but because I was observing a very important part of my faith. It’s something I desperately want my daughter to observe from the earliest age possible. Statistics show that a lot of young people drop out of an ac-

t nine months pregnant, I’m a little hard to miss on Sunday mornings largely not only because of my protruding belly, but also because I have a knack of clumsily clearing a table or two with my prenatal girth. Just a few months ago, my budding bump inspired smiles and the occasional rub. Now, I just make people nervous. How much longer? You haven’t had that baby yet? You better not get too far away from the hospital! I’m just as tired of seeing me in this state as those well-meaning commenters, but even more so, I can hardly wait to hold the miracle that is our daughter. Also, it’s way too hot to be pregnant. I settled into my regular seat on a recent Sunday morning, shifting to find a comfortable spot, which is an exercise in futility for a nine-month-pregnant lady. I almost grimaced when I saw the covered table in the front of the sanctuary. We would be observing the Lord’s Supper or Eucharist that morning which meant an extra 15 minutes tacked

FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS

Mission group identifies 3rd American with Ebola

tive faith after they graduate high school. Those who hold onto some semblance of their childhood faith will most likely return if they have young children. Why? Probably a lot of reasons. Most find themselves wanting to do right by their kids, but the time to have a spiritual impact on your children is before you have them. Admittedly, that sounds like strange advice. Parents and future parents, we can build our spiritual legacies now. We don’t have to wait until our kids come home with those tough questions to gird ourselves with spiritual knowledge. We begin the process by having enough wisdom to know that our spiritual maturation isn’t simply for the benefit of our children. We can grow and mature in our faith so when our children begin to grip a world view, it’s one founded in faith. Statistics show that parents are still the No. 1 influence on their children — not friends, not teachers, not even church programming. It’s the parents who set the tone — best to do it early.

CHARLOTTE — The president of a missionary group said a third American sickened with the Ebola virus decided to return to Liberia after the other two people became ill. SIM President Bruce Johnson said at a news conference Wednesday that Dr. Rick Sacra returned to Liberia about a month ago after another doctor and a missionary became ill with Ebola. Both survived after treatment at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. Johnson said the 51-year-old Sacra lives in the Boston area. He said Sacra wasn’t caring for Ebola patients but was delivering babies in the SIM hospital’s obstetrics unit.

American Muslim group denounces latest beheading WASHINGTON — The Council on American Islamic Relations is expressing “horror, disgust and sorrow” at the new video released Tuesday purporting to show the beheading of U.S. journalist Steven Sotloff by the Islamic State group. CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad says no one who believes in the Islamic tradition of peace and justice would kill an innocent civilian. In the video titled “A Second Message to America,” the militant who performs the beheading says it’s retribution for continued U.S. airstrikes against Islamic State fighters in Iraq.

Church Directory Adventist Sumter Seventh-Day Adventist 103 N Pike West 775-4455 Pastor Harry Robinson Sat. Sch: 9:15 am, Worship: 11:00 am Tues Bible Study 7 pm www.sumter22.adventistchurchconnect.org

You’ll Never Have to Work

Church of the Holy Cross 335 North Kings Hwy (Hwy 261 N) 803-494-8101 Father Michael E. Ridgill, C.F.S.B. Sunday School 9:00 am Mass 10:00 am

Baptist - Independent

Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church 803 S Harvin St. * 775-4032 Marion H Newton, Pastor Sunday Worship: 7:45 & 10:45 am Sunday Youth Service: 10:45 am Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00 pm

Photo Credit Istockphoto.com/STILLFX

n anonymous quote tells us, “If you find out how to make money at something you love doing, then you’ll never have to work another day in your life.” Meaning, if you love what you’re doing then it’s not “work”! If you don’t have a job that you love maybe you can learn to love what you do. For a better chance at success, you will want to include daily prayer in your plan for fulfillment. Your relationship with God determines your attitude, your confidence, and your peace of mind. Visit His House and give thanks this Labor Day.

Mon. - Thurs. Chapel 9 am Morning Prayer Wed. Chapel 11:00 qm - Bible Study 12 pm Mass

Baptist - Missionary

The Catholic Community of Sumter, St. Jude Site 611 W. Oakland Ave • 773-9244 www.stjudesumtersc.org Fr. Charles Michael Donovan, C.S.S.R. Saturday Vigil: 5:00 pm Sun. Euch.: 9:00, 11:30 am, 1 pm (Spanish)

Lutheran - ELCA Non-Denominational St James Lutheran Church 1137 Alice Dr, Sumter 773-2260 / www.stjamessumter.org Pastor Keith Getz Sunday Worship: 10:00 am Sunday School: 9:00 am

Church of Christ Lutheran - NALC

Anglican

Cherryvale Baptist Church 1502 Cherryvale Dr. * 494-8655 Edward Bowen Sr. Pastor Sun. School 10:00 am Worship 11:00 am & 6:00 pm Wed. Evening Service 7:00 pm

Reach Jamie H. Wilson at faithmatterssumter@gmail.com.

Hebrews 13.1-25

Psalm 37

Weekly Scripture Reading Psalm Psalm Psalm 119.1-16 119.17-32 119.33-48

Psalm 119.49-64

Psalm 119.65-80

Scriptures Selected by the American Bible Society

Sun School 10:00 am Worship 11:00 am Sun Evening Worship 6:00 pm Wed Mid Week Service 7:00 pm

Baptist - Southern

Shaw Heights Baptist Church 2030 Peach Orchard Rd 499-4997 Rev. Robert White Pastor Sunday School: 9:45 am Sunday Worship:11 am & 6 pm

Grace Baptist Church 219 W Calhoun St * 778-6417 Dr. Stephen Williams S.S. 9:45 am; Worship 11:00, 6:30 Wed. Meal-Choir-Missions: 5:30 pm Wed. Bible Study: 6:30 pm

Salem Missionary Baptist Church 320 West Fulton Street 803-775-8054 Rev. Lei Ferguson Washington Sun. School 9:00 am Praise Worship 9:55 am Worship 10:00 am

Hickory Road Baptist Church 1245 Cherryvale Dr 803-494-8281 Dr. Ron Taylor Pastor Sunday School 9:45 am Worship 10:55 am Long Branch Baptist Church 2535 Peach Orchard Rd. Dalzell 499-1838 www.longbranch_baptist.com Rev. Brian Benenhaley

Catholic - Roman

The Catholic Community of Sumter, St. Anne Site 216 E Liberty St • 803-773-3524 Fr. Thomas Burke, C.S.S.R. Weekend Masses: Sat Vigil 5 pm Sun. 7:30, 9:00 and 11:30 am Mass

Plaza Church of Christ 1402 Camden Hwy. • 905-3163 Stewart Schnur cell 361-8449 Sunday School: 10 am Sunday Worship: 11 am & 6 pm Wed. Bible Class: 7 pm

Immanuel Lutheran Church 140 Poinsett Drive • 803-883-1049 Pastor Gary Blobaum Worship Service 9:00 am Sunday School 10:30 am Wed Bible Class: 7:00 pm

Interdenominational Methodist - United

City of Refuge Church 16 Carolina Ave 938-9066 Barbara & Johnny Davis Sun School 10:00 am Worship 11:15 am Bible Study (Wed.) 7:00 pm www.cityofrefugeministry.com Love Covenant Church 245 Oswego Hwy • 775-7605 Apostle Tommy Fredrick Prophet Angela Frederick Sunday Worship: 11:00 am Thursday Bible Study: 7:00 pm

Spiritual Life Christian Center 4672 Broad St. Ext • 968-5771 Pastors Randolph & Minerva Paige Sunday Worship: 11:00 am Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00 pm Victory Full Gospel Interdenominational Church 601 Pitts Rd • 481-7003 Joann P. Murrill, Pastor Sunday Worship: 11:00 am Youth Bible Study/Respect Monday: 7 pm

Aldersgate United Methodist 211 Alice Dr • 775-1602 Dr. Webb Belangia, Reverend Traditional Service 9:00 am Sunday School 10:15 am Contemporary 11:15 am

Bethel United Methodist Church 5575 Lodebar Rd • 469-2452 Rev. Jeremy Howell Sunday Worship: 8:30 & 11 am Sunday School: 10 am www.yourbethel.org BMethodist@ftc-i.net St John United Methodist Church 136 Poinsett Dr * 803-773-8185 www.stjohnumcsumter.com Rev. J. Robert (Bob) Huggins Sunday School 9:45 am Worship 11:00 am Wed. Night Supper/Bible Study 6:30 pm

Christ Community Church(CCC) 525 Oxford St, Sumter 803-934-9718 Sun. Worship 10:00 am (Patriot Hall) First Church of God 1835 Camden Rd • 905-5234 www.sumterfcg.org Ron Bower, Pastor Sunday Worship: 10:30 am Sunday School: 9:30 am

Sumter Machinery Co. “Celebrating 110 Years”

Sumter Bible Church 420 South Pike West, Sumter 803-773-8339 • Pastor Ron Davis Sunday School 10:00 am Worship 11:00 am & 6:30 pm Wed. Bible Study & Prayer 7:00 pm

Pentecostal

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Lemira Presbyterian Church 514 Boulevard Rd • 473-5024 Pastor Dan Rowton Sunday School 10:00 am Worship 11:00 am Bible Study 6:00 pm

Canty Memorial Church of God in Christ, Ministries 873 Woodcrest St. • 773-6226 Superintendent Eugene Canty, SR. Sunday Prayer: 8:00 am Worship: 9:15 am & 5:00 pm First United Penecostal Church 14 Plowden Mill Rd • 775-9493 Pastor Theron Smith Sunday Service: 10:00 am & 6:30 pm Wednesday Bible Study: 7:30 pm

(803) 774-1075 13 Caldwell Street Sumter, SC

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Presbyterian

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First Presbyterian Church of Sumter 9 W Calhoun St (at Main St.) 773-3814 • www.fpcsumter.org Interim Pastor Rev. Ray Fancher Sunday School - All Ages 9:30 a.m. Hospitality & Welcome 10:10 a.m. (Fellowship Hall) Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. (Sanctuary)

Trinity United Methodist Church 226 W Liberty St • 773-9393 Rev. Regi Thackston Blended Worship 8:45 am Traditional Worship 11:00 am Sunday School 9:45 am trinityumcsumter.org

Carolina Atlas Transmission 301 W. Liberty Street • Sumter, SC Filters, Inc. 775-4501 • 1-800-823-2413

70 W. Wesmark Blvd. • 773-7339

Presbyterian USA

Greater St. Paul Church 200 Watkins Street 803-778-1355 Sunday School - 10:30 am Worship - 11:30 am Evangelistic Service 7:30 pm Wed. Mid Week Service - 7:30 pm

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Sumter First Pentecostal Holiness Church 2609 McCrays Mill Rd • 481-8887 S. Paul Howell, Pastor Sunday School: 10:00 am Sunday Worship: 10:45 am & 6:00 pm Wed. Bible Study/Youth Group: 7:00 pm

Seven Convenient Locations

773-5114 •773-3219 “Flowers For All Occasions’’

OFFICE SOLUTIONS 18 E. Liberty St. • 778-2330

1132 Broad Street 208 East Calhoun Bring your Church Bulletin in and receive a free small drink

Sumter Auto Mall

3625 Broad Street • Sumter, SC 803-494-5900 We finance your future... not your past. www.sumterautomallsc.com

To view church information online go to www.theitem.com or www.sumterchurchesonline.com

RELIGION

THE SUMTER ITEM

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

Get Godly advice for starting your own business BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com (803) 774-1250 If you are interested in becoming an entrepreneur God’s way, Ernest Session wants to help you out. The Allstate agent and Crown Business adviser is hosting a seminar Saturday called “How to Start a Business that Matters.” The event will last from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Rafting Creek Baptist Church, 3860 S.C. 261 N., Rembert. The cost is $35 per person. “A lot of people have an interest in starting WANT TO GO? their own business, but in the first five years, a WHAT: “How to Start lot of businesses fail,” a Business that Session said. “They Matters” seminar don’t plan to fail. They WHEN: 9 a.m. to 1 fail to plan.” p.m. Saturday Crown Business is an WHERE: Rafting offshoot of Crown FiCreek Baptist Church, nancial, a business out3860 S.C. 261 N., reach that started more Rembert than 35 years ago, acCOST: $35 cording to crownbiz. com. FOR MORE: Visit crownbiz.com/htsb“We want to teach rembert-sc/ people to do business God’s way,” Session said. “The goal is to reach the marketplace. First of all, we change the hearts and minds of the owners. We help them understand their business belongs to God. They are stewards over it, the finances and also the people that work for them. If we change their attitudes, it will trickle down to the employees.” About 20 spots have been filled, Session said, and more are still available. Topics covered will include: • The purpose of your business; • Starting up in a bad economy; • The Biblical case for entrepreneurship; • The entrepreneur success formula; and • Building a business from start to finish. “Practically we have a number of tools that can help people be more profitable in business and hopefully become debt free,” Session said. “Then, they can try to help their employees become debt free as well. First of all, we’re strengthening the kingdom of God, and then we’re strengthening the community.” Session has his own experience with entrepreneurship. He started an insurance and financial service in 1989, and according to his profile on crownbiz.com, grew it from zero clients and $5,000 capital to more than 2,000 clients and annualized sales of more than $2 million in premiums before selling the business in 2000.

JADE REYNOLDS / THE SUMTER ITEM

Crosspoint Baptist Church is changing its logo and worship times starting Sunday. Senior Pastor John Sorrells said this is in an attempt to allow more time for people to fellowship together.

Crosspoint makes a few changes Baptist church adjusts worship times, creates more modern logo BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com (803) 774-1250 A few changes are taking place at Sumter’s Crosspoint Baptist Church. The first difference you might notice is the logo on the sign at 2755 Carter Road. “Every 10 years or so, it’s time to take a look from the street,” said John Sorrells, senior pastor. “We realize people are looking for churches, and we’re SORRELLS on a major thoroughfare for Shaw Air Force Base families. We learned from the business world that you can’t have the same old signs. God does not need that. The Gospel does not need that. But we want to meet the culture where they are. We want to be a viable option. Churches aren’t competing. We’re here. We want people to know we’re here, (and) we want

NEW SERVICE TIMES First worship service — 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. Sunday school — 10 to 11 a.m. Second worship service — 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

to be inviting. It was time for a change and a fresh, clean look.” But the bigger change is an adjustment of the service times. Starting this Sunday, the first worship service will begin at 8:45 a.m., Sunday school will begin at 10 a.m., and the second worship service will begin at 11:15 a.m. “This schedule allows more time and reflects the vision and mission of our church, which is to grow people in their faith,” said Crosspoint’s senior pastor of six years. “This gives us an opportunity to put back into place time for relationships (and) relationship building. It creates intentional relational environments where people can

love God and love people better. That was not happening to our satisfaction.” For about a year, the church had tried a 9 a.m. worship service, a 10 a.m. Bible study for all ages and an 11 a.m. worship service. “It left everything in a rush,” Sorrells said. “It felt like, ‘we’ve got to hurry to end on time and start on time.’ We unintentionally robbed people of fellowship during service time. It didn’t feel very spirit led. We want to constantly be obedient to God, and we want to be considerate of God’s people and their needs. We want to be a vibrant church where the spirit is present.” The plan to change times was presented to the pastoral staff and deacons before being shared with the congregation at large, he said. Based on some suggestions, a few tweaks were made to come up with the new schedule. “This is not change for the sake of change,” Sorrells said. “It’s for the health of the church.”

CHURCH NEWS Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 2571 Joseph Lemon-Dingle Road, Jordan community, Manning, announces: * Sunday, Sept. 21 — Homecoming / church anniversary service at 10 a.m. Pastor Nelson Rivers, of Charity Baptist Church in Charleston, will speak. Calvary Baptist Church, 459 Calvary Church Road, Bishopville, announces: * Saturday — Mid-Caroling singing at 6 p.m. featuring King’s Cause and Cedar Creek Quartet. Chapel Hill Baptist Church, 8749 Old Highway Six, Santee, announces: * Saturday, Sept. 13 — Grandparents and seniors will be honored from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the fellowship hall. Fun, food and games. * Sunday, Sept. 21 — The Lord’s Supper will be observed at 10 a.m. * Sunday, Sept. 28 — The 135th anniversary of the church will be observed at 10 a.m. The Rev. Robert Carter will speak. Clark United Methodist Church, 2980 U.S. 401 N., Oswego Highway, announces: * Saturday — Anointed Jubilaries anniversary celebration at 5 p.m. * Sunday — Men of Distinction program at 4 p.m. * Saturday, Sept. 20 — Birthday ministry celebration at 5 p.m. There will be food and fun for everyone as well as a giveaway of three gas cards. Requesting donations of $5 for fundraiser. Concord Baptist Church, 1885 Myrtle Beach Highway, announces: * Sunday, Sept. 14 — 38th Homecoming celebration beginning at 10 a.m. Jordan’s Bridge will provide music. Dinner on the grounds also. Corinth Missionary Baptist Church, 25 Community St., announces: * Friday, Sept. 12 — Pastor anniversary celebration, part one, will be held at 7 p.m. Pastor Larry W. Barnes, of Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, will speak. Refreshments will be served. * Sunday, Sept. 14 — Pastor an-

niversary celebration, part two, will be held at 5 p.m. Pastor Marion H. Newton, of Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church, will speak. Guest choirs and soloists will be featured.

Historic Mount Zion AME Church, M.W. Rickenbaker Road, Summerton, announces: * Wednesday-Friday, Sept. 17-19 — Revival at 7 nightly. The Rev. Frederick Wilson will speak.

Dalzell United Methodist Church, 3330 Black River Road, Dalzell, announces: * Saturday, Oct. 4 — Fish fry fundraiser 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Eat in or take out. Tickets are $7 each and the menu includes generous portion of fried catfish, French fries, coleslaw and hush puppies. Call (803) 469-0160 for details. * Sunday-Tuesday, Oct. 5-7 — Revival at 7 nightly. Speakers as follows: Sunday, the Rev. Dr. Robin Dease; Monday, the Rev. Steve Holler; and Tuesday, the Rev. Jeremy Howell.

Joshua Baptist Church, 5200 Live Oak Road, Dalzell, announces: * Sunday, Sept. 14 — Junior Missionary anniversary program during morning worship. * Sunday, Sept. 21 — Trustee and trustee wives anniversary program during morning worship.

Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, 105 Dinkins St., Manning, announces: * Sunday — Family and friends day at 11 a.m. Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 421 S. Main St., announces: * Sunday — Communion worship service. Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. followed by 11:30 a.m. worship. Fellowship Baptist Church, 705 W. Huggins St., Manning, announces: * Sunday, Sept. 21 — Men’s Day program at 3:30 p.m. Heavenly Stars of Manning will provide music. First Baptist Missionary Church, 219 S. Washington St., announces: * Sunday, Sept. 21 — Women’s Day program at 11 a.m. Delcia Harper-Baxter, principal of Lemira Elementary School, will speak. High Hills Missionary Baptist Church, 6750 Meeting House Road, Dalzell, announces: * Sunday — Holy communion after 10:15 a.m. worship. * Sunday, Sept. 14 — Trustees / trustee wives anniversary during 10:15 a.m. worship. * Sunday, Sept. 21 — Pastor’s Aide anniversary during 10:15 a.m. worship.

Kingdom of God Ministries, 3590 Pinewood Road, announces: * Saturday — Fundraiser tractor pull with barbecue pork and chicken dinners beginning at noon. Dinners are $7 each. Knitting Hearts Ministry, meets at Bethesda Church of God, 2730 Broad St., announces: * Saturday, Sept. 13 — Knitting Hearts Café will meet 10 a.m.noon. Laura Jones will speak. Drama presentation by Diane Parker. www.knittingheartsministry.org Land Flowing with Milk & Honey Ministry, 1335 Peach Orchard Road, announces: * Sunday, Sept. 21 — Celebration of the second anniversary of the church at 4 p.m. Elder Dorothy Maple will speak. * Saturday, Oct. 18 — Women of Exertion Conference 2014 “Hear the Command.” Registration 8-8:30 a.m. with workshops 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Pastor Dorothy Maple and Evangelist Tonya Mack will serve as morning facilitators. Prophetess Rose Summers will speak at 6 p.m. Mount Carmel Freewill Baptist Church, 207 Reardon St., Manning, announces: * Sunday, Sept. 14 — Family and friends day at 3 p.m. The Rev. Major Lloyd will speak. Mount Glory Baptist Church, 841 N. Main St., announces: * Friday — Joy night service at 7 p.m. Minister Darryl Cunningham will speak. Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 325 Fulton St., announces:

* Sunday — The Rev. Alfred Washington will speak at 6 p.m. * Sunday, Sept. 14 — Junior Missionary ministry anniversary celebration at 10:45 a.m. Evangelist Savitrus McFadden will speak. * Saturday, Sept. 20 — Rainbow tea sponsored by the YWA Ministry at noon at the Mount Zion Enrichment Center. Tickets are $10 or adults and $5 for children age 12 and under. Anita M. Blassingame will speak. * Sunday, Sept. 28 — 121st church anniversary and homecoming worship celebration at 10:45 a.m. New Fellowship Covenant Ministries, 316 W. Liberty St., announces: * Saturday, Sept. 13 — Clothes giveaway 9 a.m.-1 p.m. * Saturday, Sept. 27 — The youth department will host a “fun day” noon-2 p.m. at Pocalla Springs Clubhouse, 112 Putter Drive, for ages 5-12. Games, food and sharing the word of God. Call Victorica Parker at (803) 847-4160 for details. New Israel Missionary Baptist Church, 5330 Old Camden Highway, Dalzell, announces: * Sunday — Grandparent’s Day will be observed at 1 p.m. * Sunday, Sept. 21 — The Lord’s Supper will be observed. * Sunday, Oct. 12 — The 10th anniversary of the church will be observed at 1 p.m. The Rev. Benny McCants will speak. Dinner will be served.

the church at 11 a.m. Former pastor Lawrence Dennis will speak. Luncheon will follow in the fellowship hall. Providence Baptist Church, 2445 Old Manning Road, announces: * Saturday — Russell Elmore prayer breakfast at 7:30 a.m. * Sunday, Sept. 14 — Homecoming services 10 a.m.-noon. George Autry will speak and Blind Faith will provide music. * Monday, Sept. 15 — Widow’s luncheon at 11 a.m. at the church. * Wednesday, Sept. 17 — Wilma DuBose Missionary Group will meet at 10 a.m. at Betty Steele’s home. St. Jude Catholic Church, 611 W. Oakland Ave., announces: * Saturday — The Ladies of St. Peter Claver will host a fall shopping extravaganza and bake sale 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Vendors, yard sale items, craft booths and more. Cost to reserve a space is $20. Contact Vernessa Baker at (803) 883-9251 or Blessvee@yahoo.com or Valerie Williams at (803) 775-0478 or vwilliams003@sc.rr.com. Sumter Free Will Baptist Church, 971 Boulevard Road, announces: * Today-Saturday — Yard sale 8 a.m.-until. There will also be hot dogs, drinks and sweets available for purchase.

New Salem Baptist Church, 2500 W. Oakland Ave., announces: * Sunday, Sept. 28 — Dr. Robert Carter, of Creation Ministries International, will present “The Alternative: Creation’s Competitive Edge” at 6 p.m.

Taw Caw Missionary Baptist Church, 1130 Granby Lane, Summerton, announces: * Sunday, Sept. 14 — Celebration for the 32nd pastoral anniversary of Pastor William T. Johnson at 10 a.m. Sunday school will begin at 9 a.m. followed by 9:45 a.m. devotional service. The Rev. Rossi Ramsey will speak.

Paxville Baptist Church, 10278 Lewis Road, Manning, announces: * Saturday, Sept. 27 — Gospel singing at 6 p.m. to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the church featuring Karen Peck and New River. Tickets are $25. Call (803) 452-9969 or visit www. paxvillebaptistchurch.org. * Sunday, Sept. 28 — Celebration of the 125th anniversary of

Westminster Presbyterian Church (USA), 9124 Plowden Mill Road, Alcolu, announces: * Sunday — Homecoming at 2 p.m. The Rev. Herbert Shackleford, of Charlotte, North Carolina, will speak. * Wednesday-Friday, Sept. 10-12 — Revival services at 7:30 nightly. The Rev. George Windley Jr., of First Baptist Missionary, will speak.

LOCAL

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

TUOMEY

THE SUMTER ITEM Drs. Joseph and Brenda Williams have been in private practice together at Excelsior Medical Clinic, PA, for 32 years. The couple plans to retire in mid-November.

DOCTORS FROM PAGE A1

FROM PAGE A1 great difficulty convincing the government on what we can pay, but we’re closer.” Schwartz opened the meeting by touching on the newest additions to the 100-year-old hospital. They include the infusion center that was opened in April, the partnership with the Medical University of South Carolina with the telestroke program to aid in the treatment of stroke victims and the electronic intensive care unit, which predated Schwartz’s arrival in December. That system expands the sharing of electronic medical records between hospitals and doctors. Other new developments for the hospital include a new family medical practice on the Tuomey Regional Medical Center campus as well as a developing relationship with the Sumter Walmart’s new clinic. “Health care is a dynamic field and constantly moving ahead. While the lawsuit is very serious, we cannot neglect the quality of the hospital, and we haven’t done that,” Schwartz said after the meeting. “We have purposefully spent a great deal of time on the infusion center, telestroke and electronic ICU because we have to maintain the quality and modernity of the hospital.” The group of 28 citizens and VIP members expressed concerns with the stability of the hospital in the question-and-answer portion of the meeting but came away encouraged with the direction of the settlement, as well as Tuomey’s commitment to keep the community in the loop. Schwartz was similarly pleased with the get-together and plans to return to the public assembly with updates. “I think it’s important to keep the community up to date on what’s going on,” Schwartz said. “This was a good forum that was very representative of the community, and I was happy to speak. As we move forward with the lawsuit, we’ll be back to talk about the future of Tuomey.”

own families work hard to succeed. Unlike some doctors in private practice, the Williamses often visit and care for patients at nursing homes and at their residences, if needed. They also made it their business to make arrangements with patients who needed care but were without health care. “Even in the belly of poverty, we were honored and privileged to care for them,” Brenda said. Brenda and Joseph explained that their parents were good, hardworking people as well. Before he passed away at the age of 79, Brenda’s father was a carpenter and a jack-ofall-trades who took evening classes to expand his knowledge in carpentry. Her mother did domestic work and went to school at night to later become an LPN. Joseph’s mother has a seventh-grade education but worked with a company that made bath towels for 30 years. “I just think we’ve been blessed and received by wonderful people in Sumter,” Joseph said of their long and successful careers. “We were prepared to go until age 70, but we’re tired now. We wanted to go into practice here, and we had an excellent welcoming and a very successful practice. We feel like we had a really good run.” Through the years, the doctors have become pillars of the community, recently speaking out and making national news about voter ID laws that could suppress the minority vote, and they often voice their support of the

COUNCIL FROM PAGE A1 project stands at $747,500. Added to the estimated $170,500 of city streets to be resurfaced, the total estimate of “C” funds money coming from the state’s Department of Transportation will be $918,000. The session’s public hearing concerned the first reading of the review of the Sumter 2030 Comprehensive Plan. By law, the plan must be reviewed every five years in order to amend the plan. George McGregor, planning director for the city, came to the board with up-

MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

Affordable Healthcare Act and universal health care in the future. “We registered people to vote here in this office. We know all about how important it is and how people of color fought for the right to vote,” Brenda said. “Brenda and I knocked on doors and registered people to vote, and she has registered people in prison, who were without felony charges, for many years now,” Joseph added. Though they’re retiring from their first love, they still plan to serve the Sumter community, stating God has plans for them and citing Galatians 6:9 and Psalm 41:1 as their inspiration. The couple has two grandsons and raised three successful daughters — one in the military, one who works at Tuomey Regional Medical Center and

the youngest who recently graduated from Winthrop University. The founders of The Family Unit, Brenda and Joseph plan to dedicate more time to the nonprofit organization, and patients could see Joseph working at Tuomey in the future. The Family Unit is dedicated to improving living conditions of those living in poverty in the Sumter area. “We’re very proud of our children and grandsons. We know we’re not finished. God is not finished with us,” Brenda said. “We held hands and prayed for God to guide us and give us knowledge and courage to change things.” Excelsior Medical Clinic, PA will officially close Nov. 21, and patients can pick up medical records from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday until Dec. 19.

dates to projects already underway as well as suggested minor changes to the plan. The plan has already helped establish an economic priority area in the U.S. 521 corridor as well as new standards for landscaping and traffic study and new revisions to property maintenance code. A project estimating the abandoned lots and buildings in the county was also created, rating the properties on a scale to determine importance. The final major achievement highlighted was a project to update the street signs in the historic district that is underway through the plan.

McGregor said that after analyzing city and county data, there was “no compelling reason” to significantly change the original comprehensive plan. The highlights of the minor changes include a new economic development area by Continental Tire the Americas on U.S. 521 and a plan to steer affordable housing projects toward “supportive neighborhood services” such as schools, recreation, shopping and health care. The initial suggestions offered by McGregor at the meeting were passed unanimously and will be put to final reading at the council’s next meeting.

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

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 H.G. Osteen 1870-1955 Founder, The Item

H.D. Osteen 1904-1987 The Item

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

COMMENTARY

Helping the ‘heroes in a half shell’ I

was thunderstruck by a study from Clemson University about how drivers react to turtles crossing roads. Clemson student Nathan Weaver placed a rubber turtle in the middle of a busy road near the Clemson campus and set out to count the number of drivers who went out of their way to try to run over what they thought was a real turtle. His research showed that about one in every 50 cars attempted to hit the faux turtle, including one who corrected to hit the animal when Weaver was standing less than 20 feet away. “One hit in 50 cars is pretty significant when you consider it might take a turtle 10 minutes to cross the road,” Weaver said in an Associated Press article. While many of us here in the South have grown Cliff up with turMcCollum tles as a somewhat ubiquitous presence, a simple study of basic biology tells us that the turtle population has begun to thin. While the animals are known for their long life spans, of the hundreds of eggs a female turtle might lay in her lifetime, it is not an unrealistic statistic that only a handful of those eggs will survive into adulthood themselves. Loss of habitat and invasive predators surely account for some of the lives lost, but human beings deliberately trying to prove their mettle by running over these slow-moving creatures is like trying to prove your manhood by spotlighting deer at night: it’s unnecessary overkill and probably suggestive of a sadistic streak that may require immediate mental health attention. On several of my amateur herpetological field trips to the Conecuh National Forest, Drs. Cooner, Gentry and I encountered several DOR snakes along the back roads of the area — DOR standing for “dead on road.” We were saddened by these sights, but the public sentiments against snakes have been long-standing and seem destined to never change. People see a rattlesnake and think “Danger,” even though the large Eastern diamondback we encountered was clearly more afraid of us than we were of it, as it continually tried to back away as we took photos. An insane hatred of snakes I can maybe understand, but what did turtles ever do to you? Unless a box turtle made its way into your prized lettuce garden and had itself a smorgasbord, I don’t see how the tiny shelled beast can garner so much hate that people would swerve out of their way to try to take one out. I admit to swerving when I’ve seen turtles crossing the road, but it was almost always to avoid hitting them or to pull over along the side of the road to help them along in their journey.

Such behaviors were instilled in me by my father, Homer McCollum, whom I’ve always felt should have a bumper sticker on his car that said “I brake for box turtles.” Many times in my childhood, we’d get in the old blue truck and cruise the lesser-used county roads with a “bellywasher” in hand, only to have to make a few unexpected stops along the way any time Dad saw a turtle on the road. He explained to young Cliff that turtles were good animals that usually wouldn’t hurt you and that we should help them get across roads before harm came to them. Young Cliff replied he knew turtles were good because the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles battled evil every Saturday morning. Dad stared at young Cliff silently and continued his ecology lecture. So many of our native amphibian and reptile species have seen marked declines over the last few decades, even here in Baldwin County — a place that is home to more species of turtle than any other location on Earth. Their slow march toward extinction does not need to be prodded along by maniacs who feel the need to plow down these poor creatures. When you hunt deer, turkeys, quail or other game, there is a fair amount of sport and skill required in the kill. It gives one a sense of accomplishment and triumph when the mortal wound is finally achieved. Hitting a turtle crossing a road surely can’t bring you that level of satisfaction. If your bloodlust is so high that you feel the need to engage in such behaviors, maybe you ought to be using that rage to slaughter Nazis in a Call of Duty game or, once again, perhaps you ought to visit a trained mental health professional for a series of much-needed therapeutic conversations. We owe it to ourselves and the generations who will come after us to preserve these creatures and their habitats so our children and our children’s children can see the beauties and joys of the natural world. What Southern kids of my generation, or the ones that came before, didn’t at one time have a box turtle for a pet, some poor creature that wandered into a backyard and became a beloved pet. By continuing to maliciously mow down these turtles, we could deprive future generations of the joys we ourselves grew up knowing. Be kind to our slow-footed friends, our shelled compatriots. Run and help them; don’t run over and ruin. Cliff McCollum is an 80-year-old soul trapped in a 20-something body. He is an ordained minister and former community college professor who enjoys British literature and field herpetology. He spends his spare time trying to show Vegans and vegetarians the error of their ways. As managing editor of the Gulf Coast Newspapers in Baldwin County, Alabama — now part of Osteen Publishing Co. — he can be reached at cmccollum@gulfcoastnewspapers.com.

EDITORIAL ROUNUP state’s political leaders and residents favor exploration for offshore oil and gas resources off the state’s coast. But the outlook isn’t necessarily so rosy for the coastal region. The state should The Herald of Rock Hill pay heed to the Lowcountry perspective of Sept. 2 leaders like Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling, who pointed out some of the flaws in CREATE CONSISTENT POLICY the coastal drilling plan in comments to ON HIGH SCHOOL GAME PASSES the Greenville News. “I think it is a huge threat without a Free passes to Friday night high school football games, such as those issued in Rock whole lot of justification,” Mayor Keyserling said. “What is the impact to tourism Hill to fans 65 and older, are a great way to sustain interest in local sports. But the Rock of oil rigs? What is the impact on tourism Hill school district needs a consistent policy of an accident?” And, we’d add, what is the potential imregarding when those passes are honored. Some fans had to scramble to find money pact on the coastal environment? Mayor Keyserling is just one of a numfor tickets after their passes didn’t get them ber of elected Lowcountry officials, ina seat at the Aug. 23 Northwestern High cluding Charleston Mayor Joe Riley and game against Byrnes. Fans with passes in1st District Rep. Mark Sanford, who have cluding “Club 65” passes for seniors and expressed opposition to the drilling “VIP” passes, which are given to a select scheme being advanced by federal regulafew such as teachers of the year, were told tors. they would have to buy a ticket. Oil industry estimates of jobs and inThe reason given earlier on the district’s vestment are understandably generating website and Facebook page was that the game was being televised on ESPN, and dis- some support among South Carolinians particularly those who don’t live along the trict-issued passes wouldn’t be honored coast. The American Petroleum Institute, “due to the district contract with ESPN.” People also were told they couldn’t use their for example, estimates that the oil industry in South Carolina could create 11,000 passes because the game was sponsored by jobs and generate as much as $3.7 billion ESPN. in state revenue over a 20-year period. But the contract with ESPN says nothing Even if there are significant oil and gas about ticket policies. And, while the netreserves beneath the South Carolina work was broadcasting the game, it wasn’t coast, drilling off-shore directly threatens technically sponsoring it. Those running the gate at District 3 Stadi- a proven industry - tourism - that already generates billions of dollars for the state um, realizing this would be a high-profile game, wanted to ensure the stadium was not and employs about one out of every ten residents, according to the S.C. Departovercrowded. But there must be a better ment of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. way than turning away pass-holders. Even under the strictest possible safety The district deserves credit for issuing standards, serious risks remain both from passes. The passes make games more aflarge-scale spills like the Gulf Horizon difordable for seniors and, at the same time, saster and from the natural leaks that help broaden the fan base to include people occur on a daily basis. And pipelines, who might otherwise not attend games. tankers and other oil infrastructure could But lack of a consistent policy regarding easily become eyesores and threaten fragpasses just sows confusion. The district ile coastal ecosystems. needs to spell out well in advance when the Those risks outweigh the projected benpasses won’t be honored. We can understand that the district might efits for South Carolina and its residents. Energy independence is important, and want to limit the use of free passes when a strides have been made by a combination game is likely to sell out. But that happens of decreased consumption and increased only rarely. domestic production to reduce the nation’s We think an option mentioned by Rock reliance on foreign imports. Natural gas Hill schools Superintendent Kelly Pew production, in particular, has sharply might cover most contingencies. The district could ask pass holders to pick up their risen. But there are better ways to boost dogame tickets a few days in advance so the school can gauge how many people to antic- mestic energy production than drilling off the Atlantic Coast. The Obama adminisipate. tration could ease up its opposition to the The topic has been added to the agenda Keystone XL pipeline, for starters. for the school board’s September work sesSouth Carolina needs to attract new jobs sion. We’re confident board members can and revenue, but it would be shortsighted come up with a policy that will be fair but to risk the tourism industry with its demstill will encourage older fans and other onstrated ability to employ tens of thoupass-holders to come to games. sands and generate billions of dollars for one with no track record in South Carolina and a spotty record elsewhere. The Post and Courier Lowcountry leaders are right to oppose of Charleston off-shore drilling, despite the blandishSept. 3 ments of the industry and its advocates, including elected officials in Columbia OFFSHORE DRILLING IS and Washington, D.C. NOT WORTH THE RISKS The state depends on the tourism industry, and coastal tourism leads the way. It Offshore drilling is being sold as the would be foolhardy to risk our most valuprospect of thousands of new jobs and able resources in the process of seeking billions of dollars of revenue for South out an incompatible and troublesome inCarolina. dustry. And presumably that’s why many of the Recent editorials from South Carolina newspapers:

EDITORIAL PAGE POLICIES EDITORIALS represent the views of the owners of this newspaper. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR are written by readers of the newspaper. They should be no more than 350 words and sent via e-mail to letters@ theitem.com, dropped off at The Sumter Item office,

20 N. Magnolia St. or mailed to The Sumter Item, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, S.C. 29151, along with the full name of the writer, plus an address and telephone number for verification purposes only. Letters that exceed 350 words will be cut accordingly in the print edition, but available in their entirety at www.theitem.com/opinion/

A10

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

FYI Hospice Care of Sumter LLC is help shouldn’t be. Free help in need of volunteers in Sumfor cancer patients from the some assistance or volunteer to Society. ter and Find surrounding counAmerican Cancer provide assistance ties. Opportunities available Transportation to treatment, for you to use your time and help for appearance related talents to be of assistance side effects of treatment, include reading, musical tal- nutrition help, one-on-one ents, companionship, light breast cancer support, free housekeeping, etc. Contact housing away from home Joyce Blanding at (803) 883during treatment, help find5606 or hospicecareofsuming clinical trials, someone ter@yahoo.com. to talk to — all free from Agape Hospice is in need of vol- your American Cancer Society. Call (800) 227-2345. unteers. Whether your passion is baking, knitting, read- The South Carolina Association ing, singing, etc., Agape Hos- of Community Action Partnerpice can find a place for you. ships Inc., a non-profit orgaContact Thandi Blanding at nization, announces the S.C. (803) 774-1075, (803) 260-3876 Weatherization Assistance or tblanding@agapsenior. Program. This program helps com. provide weatherization assistance to low-income Hospice Care of South Carolina South Carolinians. Services is in need of volunteers in include, but are not limited Sumter County. Do you have to, insulating attics, walls, one extra hour a week? Opfloors, water heaters and exportunities are available for posed pipes; stripping and patient/family companionship, administrative support, caulking around doors and windows; and replacing bromeal preparation, light ken glass panes. Call the household projects, student Weatherization office of Waeducation and various other teree Community Action tasks. Contact Whitney RogAgency Inc. at (803) 773-9716 ers, regional volunteer cooror the state information line dinator, at (843) 409-7991 or at (888) 771-9404. whitney.rogers@hospicecare.net. Navy and Marine Corps shipmates who served on the USS Amedisys Hospice is in need of Columbus CA-74/CG-12 from volunteers. Volunteer oppor1944 through 1976 and the USS tunities include 1) special Columbus (SSN-762) past and projects of baking, sewing, present, to share memories knitting, crafts, carpentry and camaraderie with old and yard work; 2) administrative/office duties of copy- friends and make new ones, contact Allen R. Hope, presiing, light filing and answerdent, 3828 Hobson Road, Fort ing phones; and 3) patient Wayne, IN 46815-4505; (260) companionship — develop 486-2221 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; fax one-on-one relationships with hospice patients (train- (260) 492-9771; or email at ing provided free of charge). hope4391@verizon.net. Contact Rhoda Keefe, volunSumter Newcomers Club welteer coordinator, at (803) comes new residents (and 469-3047 or rhonda.keefe@ even some longtime resiamedisys.com. dents) with coffees and lunHospice Care of Tri-County is in cheons each month. Call need of volunteers. Volunteers Anna Nunnery at (803) 4690143 or Jeanne Bessel at offer support, companionship and care to the caregiv- (803) 469-0598. er by running errands, readOASIS Care provides free mediing to patients, listening and cal and dental care for qualifyjust being there for patients ing persons living with HIV and who need companionship. AIDS. Call LaVonda Johnson All you need is a willing at (803) 775-8523. heart and some time to give The Rise and Shine Call Proto others. No medical backgram, sponsored by LifeLine ground required. Hospice Senior Services Inc., is a free Care of Tri-County will proservice that provides a daily vide you with the tools you “reassurance” call to older need to become a hospice adults who live alone in the volunteer. Call Carol Tindal community. Call (803) 774at (803) 905-7720. 7414 for details or to sign up. ROAD to RECOVERY is in need The Westside Neighborhood Asof volunteers in the Sumter sociation meets at 5:30 p.m. area. The program provides on the third Monday of each cancer patients with transmonth at the Birnie HOPE portation to and from treatCenter, 210 S. Purdy St. ments. Call the American The Christian Golfers’ AssociaCancer Society at (803) 750tion (CGA) meets at 8 a.m. 1693. each Tuesday for Bible The Sumter Chapter of the Instudy. The group meets at ternational Association of Adthe CGA office in Dillon Park. ministrative Professionals Refreshments provided and (IAAP) meets at 5:30 p.m. on golf after Bible study. Call the second Thursday of each (803) 773-2171. month in the Bultman ConUAW Eastern Carolina Internaference Room at USC Sumtional Retirees Council meets ter. Administrative profesat 10 a.m. on the second sionals, assistants and secWednesday of each month retaries are encouraged to at the VFW in Little River. All attend. Call Mary Sutton at UAW retirees are welcome to (803) 938-3760. attend. Call Bob Artus at Having cancer is hard. Finding (803) 481-3622.

DAILY PLANNER

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEATHER

AccuWeather® ﬁve-day forecast for Sumter TODAY

TONIGHT

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

A stray afternoon thunderstorm

A t-storm around this evening

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

A stray afternoon thunderstorm

A couple of afternoon t-storms

A couple of thunderstorms

91°

71°

90° / 71°

91° / 71°

89° / 69°

82° / 67°

Chance of rain: 45%

Chance of rain: 40%

Chance of rain: 45%

Chance of rain: 65%

Chance of rain: 60%

Winds: SSE 4-8 mph

Winds: SSE 3-6 mph

Winds: ESE 3-6 mph

Winds: SSW 4-8 mph

Winds: NE 4-8 mph

Winds: NE 6-12 mph

TODAY’S SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER

Gaﬀney 86/68 Spartanburg 86/69

Greenville 84/68

Columbia 92/71

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

Sumter 91/71

IN THE MOUNTAINS Aiken 90/69

ON THE COAST

Charleston 89/75

Today: Sunshine; a thunderstorm in northern parts. High 86 to 90. Friday: Clouds and sun with a thunderstorm; humid. High 85 to 89.

LOCAL ALMANAC

LAKE LEVELS

SUMTER THROUGH 4 P.M. YESTERDAY

Today Hi/Lo/W 84/69/t 90/75/pc 97/78/s 87/69/pc 94/75/t 82/65/pc 90/75/t 86/71/s 90/73/t 88/71/pc 105/84/pc 75/59/pc 89/75/pc

7 a.m. yest. 357.25 75.07 74.96 97.24

24-hr chg +0.02 none +0.02 -0.10

Sunrise 6:57 a.m. Moonrise 4:10 p.m.

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

0.00" 0.22" 0.39" 25.88" 38.72" 33.78"

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

SUN AND MOON

Full pool 360 76.8 75.5 100

Lake Murray Marion Moultrie Wateree

94° 71° 87° 66° 97° in 2010 52° in 1967

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

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 84/70/pc 81/61/t 96/76/s 87/60/t 92/73/t 84/66/pc 87/75/t 87/74/s 89/74/t 90/74/pc 102/84/t 75/59/pc 90/77/pc

Myrtle Beach 88/75

Manning 90/71

Today: A shower or storm. Winds eastnortheast 3-6 mph. Friday: Humid with a thunderstorm in spots. Winds southeast 3-6 mph.

Temperature High Low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

Florence 91/71

Bishopville 91/70

Sunset Moonset

7:44 p.m. 1:54 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Sep. 8

Sep. 15

Sep. 24

Oct. 1

TIDES

Flood 7 a.m. 24-hr stage yest. chg 12 1.93 -0.10 19 3.15 +0.17 14 1.67 -0.06 14 2.21 +0.12 80 75.81 -0.02 24 7.88 +2.63

AT MYRTLE BEACH

Today Fri.

High 4:36 a.m. 5:33 p.m. 5:43 a.m. 6:36 p.m.

Ht. 2.9 3.4 3.1 3.6

Low 11:39 a.m. --12:37 a.m. 12:45 p.m.

Ht. 0.2 --0.4 0.0

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 80/64/t 85/67/t 91/68/t 89/74/t 85/75/t 89/75/t 87/70/t 85/71/t 92/71/t 91/70/t 87/72/t 89/71/t 91/71/t

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 81/64/t 89/67/pc 88/68/pc 87/72/pc 85/75/s 89/74/t 88/70/pc 87/71/pc 92/71/pc 89/69/pc 88/73/s 88/71/pc 90/71/pc

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 91/71/t 88/70/t 86/70/t 89/71/t 89/74/t 86/70/t 84/68/t 84/69/t 87/75/s 89/71/t 90/70/t 88/67/t 84/68/t

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 90/70/pc 87/71/t 86/69/pc 89/72/pc 89/73/t 87/71/pc 86/70/pc 85/69/pc 85/74/t 87/71/t 90/68/t 91/67/t 85/68/pc

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 85/66/t 88/74/s 88/75/t 89/70/t 88/73/t 89/70/t 87/68/t 90/72/t 89/73/t 86/69/t 87/74/s 87/72/t 86/70/t

Fri. Hi/Lo/W 86/67/pc 88/73/t 86/74/pc 90/70/t 87/72/t 88/71/pc 87/69/pc 90/69/pc 87/72/t 88/70/pc 85/74/t 86/71/pc 87/71/pc

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

Reduce

DUCT LEAKAGE UP P TO

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take any EUGENIA LAST opportunity you get to enjoy time spent with friends, peers or youngsters. Don’t let an emotional situation cause a rift between you and someone you love. A change of plans shouldn’t disrupt your day. Adaptability will lead to an interesting adventure.

The last word in astrology

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Strive to improve your standard of living. Refuse to let a situation you face with a partner spin out of control. Bide your time, choose your words wisely and keep the peace. Don’t share personal information or intentions. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Reassess your financial situation and make conservative decisions based on the best way to build personal security. Someone who asks for help will have something to offer in return. You can turn this gesture of friendliness into a long-term alliance. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Listen, but don’t retaliate. Not everyone will see things the same way you do. Make changes based on what works for you and allow others the same privilege. Protect against illness or injury. Work alongside your partner regarding domestic changes. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Raise issues that you feel strong about, but be prepared to face opposition. Changes and decisions can be made that will satisfy everyone if you are willing to make concessions. Don’t spend on a gimmick that promises the impossible. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Get organized and you will be able to tie up loose ends. Make plans to do something that will make you feel relaxed and satisfied with your life.

90%

Your discipline and stamina will help you reach your goals. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Don’t get down; get moving. You will face opposition at home where emotional matters are concerned. Get out and take part in an event or activity that will take your mind off personal matters. A romantic gesture will ease tension and stress. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Don’t feel pressured to do things in a big or pronounced manner. Keep things simple, moderate and under control. You’ll come up with unique solutions that will give you greater financial autonomy if you observe what the experts do. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You may have money to burn, but don’t make the mistake of being overly generous or open about what you have. Make personal changes that will add to your comfort and keep you in the running for professional advancement. Love is highlighted.

803-795-4257

LOTTERY NUMBERS PALMETTO CASH 5 WEDNESDAY

MEGAMILLIONS TUESDAY

4-5-17-19-21 PowerUp: 3

1-8-54-69-72 Megaball: 1 Megaplier: 3

PICK 3 WEDNESDAY

PICK 4 WEDNESDAY

5-3-7 and 9-0-7

9-0-0-9 and 1-7-4-5

POWERBALL numbers were unavailable at press time.

PICTURES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Emotions will creep up on you, leaving you in a vulnerable position. Say little and you will avoid ending up in a discussion that will compromise a relationship you have with a friend, relative or someone in your community. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Express your feelings and discuss your plans with someone you feel comfortable with. A trusted partner can help you make a decision that will improve your assets and financial future. Physical changes you make will invite compliments. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Get in touch with people you have worked with in the past, and you will discover an opportunity to pick up where you left off. A deal can be negotiated if you are willing to put the past behind you.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Landscapers trim grass in front of Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman’s latest creation, an 82 feet tall white rabbit, as it leans up against an old aircraft hangar as part of the Taoyuan Land Art Festival in Taoyuan, Taiwan, on Tuesday.

SECTION

Clemson, USC defenses look to shore things up

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

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

PREP FOOTBALL

Barons, Skyhawks set for early-season showdown Teams played for ’13 SCISA 3A state title BY MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER michaelc@theitem.com If there is any game to evaluate what the Wilson Hall football team is capable of this season, Friday’s game in Columbia against Hammond

is perhaps be the best litmus test. A rematch of last year’s SCISA 3A state title game, both teams share a common thread — high expectations. The Barons, 1-0 after a 44-7 victory over Orangeburg Prep, are riding a 14-game winning streak that includes a perfect 13-0 season capped by a 34-27 victory over Ham-

mond for the state title. None of that matters now though as WH opens region play on the road against a SkyMCGINNIS hawks team that clipped Ben Lippen 38-35 in its opener. “The streak is nice to talk about, but at the end of the

day it’s a new season with a different group of players and it’s our time to write our own legacy,” Wilson Hall senior Thomas McGinnis said of the importance of Friday’s contest. Sophomore quarterback McLendon Sears leads the Barons’ option offense. Last week, Sears accounted for 251 all-purpose yards including

PRO FOOTBALL

And so it begins...

five touchdowns. He was 9 of 9 passing for 143 yards and three scores while rushing for 108 yards on eight carries, including two TDs. Hammond seniors quarterback Nick Garrett and running back TJ Brady return to the Skyhawks offense. “They are Hammond,”

SEE BARONS, PAGE B4

Former QB Thigpen to speak to TD Club Friday BY DENNIS BRUNSON dennis@theitem.com

AP PHOTOS

Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, left, and Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman will face off today as the Packers and Seahawks open the 2014 NFL season in Seattle.

Super Bowl champion Seahawks, Packers kick off NFL season with 1st meeting since ‘Fail Mary’ BY TIM BOOTH The Associated Press SEATTLE — At some point they will take a moment to acknowledge the celebration taking place around them. Pete Carroll and his team will step back from an offseason focused on forgetting what happened in 2013 and for a brief second appreciate the festivities

commemorating Seattle’s first Super Bowl title. Once the Super Bowl banner is unveiled, it will be time to embark on the quest to become the first team in a decade to repeat. “There’s a challenge every game, particularly opening game. After coming off the offseason and all that, there’s always a big challenge,’’ Carroll said.

Seattle will raise the curtain on the 2014 NFL season Thursday night hosting fellow NFC contender Green Bay. It’s the first regularseason meeting between the teams since the “Fail Mary’’ two years ago when Seattle won on a disputed touchdown on the final play of a game that also helped bring an end to the use of replacement officials.

But history was not the focus for Seattle this entire offseason, whether it was a controversial win two seasons ago, or its 43-8 romp over Denver in the Super Bowl. “I think the thing that really separates us is we always stay true to who we are,’’ Seattle safety Earl

SEE BEGINS, PAGE B3

Tyler Thigpen, who helped put the Coastal Carolina football program on the map with his play at quarterback and went on to a career in the National Football League, will be the guest speaker at the weekly meeting of the Sumter Touchdown Club on Friday. The meeting will be held at the Quality Inn located at 2390 Broad Street Extension from 7:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Guests are admitted for $10 and that includes a breakfast. Sumter High School’s James THIGPEN Barnes, Crestwood’s Chase Rogers, Wilson Hall’s Edward McMillan and East Clarendon’s Marquice Elmore will be honored as the players of the week. Thigpen was the first quarterback for CCU when its program was started in the 2003 season by David Bennett. He wasn’t the regular quarterback at Fairfield Central High School in Winnsboro, instead playing several positions. He was an outstanding signal caller for the Chanticleers though. He led Coastal to a 34-11 record as a starter and to three straight Big South Conference championships. He was the Big South Offensive Player of the Year in ‘06 and was also a first team All-American. He completed 217 of 339 passes for 3,296 yards and 29 touchdowns, and carried 113 times for 656 yards and five touchdowns. For his career, Thigpen completed 486 of 879 passes for 6,598 yards and 53 touchdowns with 25 interceptions. He rushed 345 times for 1,638 yards, averaging 4.7 yards per carry, with 13 scores. He amassed 6,598 yards of total

SEE THIGPEN, PAGE B4

PRO TENNIS

Serena beats Pennetta to reach U.S. Open semis BY HOWARD FENDRICH The Associated Press NEW YORK — After a bad-as-can-be start, dropping the first three games, Serena Williams quickly turned things around and stretched her U.S. Open winning streak to 19 matches to get back to the semifinals. Considered the best server in women’s tennis, the No. 1-seeded Williams was broken twice in a row at the outset Wednesday night, before taking complete control for a 6-3, 6-2 victory over 11th-seeded Flavia Pennetta of Italy. Williams is bidding to become the first woman with three consecutive U.S. Open titles since Chris Evert took four in a row from 1975-78. The 32-year-old American also is trying to pull even with Evert and Martina Navratilova at 18 Grand Slam singles trophies.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Serena Williams returns a shot to Flavia Pennetta during her 6-3, 6-2 victory on Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open in New York. Williams, a five-time champion at Flushing Meadows, had not yet reached a major semifinal in 2014,

bowing out in the fourth round at the Australian Open, the second round at the French Open, and the third round

at Wimbledon. The last time she didn’t reach at least one Grand Slam title match in a season was 2006, when she entered only two of the sport’s top tournaments. On Friday, Williams will meet Ekaterina Makarova, a Russian seeded 17th who advanced to her first Grand Slam semifinal by eliminating Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 6-2. The other women’s semifinal will be No. 10 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark against unseeded Peng Shuai of China. Earlier Wednesday, Kei Nishikori became the first man from Japan to reach the U.S. Open semifinals in 96 years, outlasting third-seeded Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7), 6-7 (5), 6-4. That match went 4 hours, 15 minutes, and the 10th-seeded Nishikori managed to shake off any lingering

SEE SERENA, PAGE B2

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

AREA ROUNDUP

CH volleyball picks up 1st win of season SUMMERTON — Clarendon Hall’s varsity volleyball squad picked up its first win of the season by defeating St. Francis Xavier 3-0 on Tuesday. Game scores were 25-9, 25-14 and 25-17. Emily Brunson led the Saints with 18 points. Shannon Corbett had 15 points and Ava English added 14. The Saints will travel to Dorchester Academy today for both varsity and junior varsity games beginning at 4:30 p.m. LAKE CITY 3 LAKEWOOD 0

LAKE CITY — Lakewood High School was swept 3-0 by Lake City at the Panthers gymnasium on Wednesday. Game scores were 25-22, 25-13 and 25-12 for Lake City. Peyton Mickens led the Gators with 14 digs and three aces. Katlyn Jones had a kill and nine digs and Shanekia Jenkins added two kills in the loss. The Gators will participate in a 3-team match with East Clarendon and Crestwood High School at 5 p.m. today in Sumter.

JUNIOR VARSITY VOLLEYBALL LAKEWOOD 2 LAKE CITY 0 LAKE CITY — The Lakewood junior varsity volleyball squad defeated Lake City 2-0 on Tuesday at the Panthers gymnasium. Game scores were 25-23 and 25-22 for the Gators. Aubry Quinzy led Lakewood with four aces. Kayla Hickman

and Rachell Harglerode each added an ace.

VARSITY TENNIS WILLIAMSBURG ACADEMY 9 LAURENCE MANNING ACADEMY 0 KINGSTREE — Williamsburg Academy swept Laurence Manning Academy 9-0 on Wednesday at the Stallions courts. SINGLES 1 — M. Adams (W) def. Newman 6-0, 6-0 2 — Tisdale (W) def. Ridgill 6-1, 6-0 3 — Barrett (W) def. Johnson 6-1, 6-2 4 — Reynolds (W) def. Mackenzie Ham 6-1, 6-0 5 — S. Adams (W) def. Mason Ham 6-0, 6-0 6 — Wilson (W) def. Wilson 6-0, 6-0 DOUBLES 1 — M. Adams/Barrett (W) def. Ridgill/ Mackenzie Ham 8-3 2 — Tisdale/McClary (W) def. Johnson/ Mason Ham 8-3 3 — Reynolds/Wilson (W) def. Johnson/ Newman 8-0

JUNIOR VARSITY TENNIS AC FLORA 9 WILSON HALL 0

COLUMBIA —The Wilson Hall junior varsity tennis team fell to 1-2 on the year with a 9-0 loss to AC Flora at the Falcons’ courts on Tuesday. The JV Barons will host Cardinal Newman at Palmetto Tennis Center at 4 p.m. SINGLES 1 — Littlejohn (Flora) def. Davis 7-5, 7-5 2 — Kirkland (Flora) def. Beasley 6-3, 6-4 3 — No. 3 Flora def. Goldan 7-6, 6-4 4 — Sally (Flora) def. Allred 6-2, 6-2 5 — Reynolds (Flora) def. Land 6-3, 7-5 6 — Tanner (Flora) def. Wingate 6-1, 6-1 DOUBLES 1 — Cogle/Chapman (Flora) def. Davis/ Beasley 8-0 2 — (Flora0 def. Goldan/Allred 8-2 3 — Reynolds/Moore (Flora) def. Land/ Wingate 8-2

SPORTS ITEMS

Comcast to take over sponsorship of NASCAR’s Nationwide Series CHARLOTTE — Comcast Corp. on Wednesday signed a 10-year agreement to replace Nationwide Insurance as the title sponsor of NASCAR’s second-tier racing series. The series will be known as the NASCAR Xfinity Series through 2024. The deal matches the longest single agreement around title sponsorship of any NASCAR national series in its history, and Sports Business Daily valued the package at worth close to $200 million. Xfinity, the online video service of Philadelphia-based Comcast, becomes just the third title sponsor in series history. CLEMSON WR PRIESTER DISMISSED FROM TEAM

CLEMSON — Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said freshman receiver Kyrin Preister has been dismissed from the team for a poor attitude. Swinney said Wednesday that Priester had no respect for authority and that he was a good individual who had lost his way, which is why he’s no longer on the team.

SERENA FROM PAGE B1 exhaustion from his previous victory, which lasted 4:19 and ended at 2:26 a.m. Tuesday, equaling the latest finish in tournament history. Nishikori began slowly against the Australian Open champion, but eventually got his bearings and used crisp returns and strong net play to edge ahead. “Actually, I started a little bit tight, but my body was OK,’’ Nishikori said in an on-court interview. “I don’t know how I finished ... but I’m very happy.’’ In the semifinals, Nishikori will face No. 1 Novak Djokovic or No. 8 Andy Murray, who each owns a U.S. Open title and were to face each other in Wednesday’s last match. “Hopefully I can play 100 percent tennis next round,’’ Nishikori said. On Williams’ second serve of her quarterfinal, she was called for a foot fault — an unpleasant reminder of her meltdown after that very same ruling in the closing moments of a loss to Kim Clijsters in the 2009 U.S. Open semifinals. This time, Williams was un-

Priester is a 6-foot-1, 186-pound wideout from Lilburn, Georgia, who had 56 catches for 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns his senior year at Brookwood High. Priester enrolled at Clemson this past January and had hoped to make an early impact for the 23rdranked Tigers. GROUP ASKS BROADCASTERS TO STOP SAYING ‘REDSKINS’

WASHINGTON — A group campaigning for the Washington Redskins to change their name is sending a letter to broadcasters requesting that Redskins not be uttered on the public airwaves. The letter was released Wednesday and is signed by more than 100 Native American, religious and civil rights organizations. It’s being sent by the Change the Mascot movement headed by the Oneida Indian Nation of New York. The letter describes “redskin’’ as a “government-defined racial slur’’ that has been used to disparage American Indians “throughout history.’’ From wire reports

fazed right afterward, and wound up winning the point when Pennetta’s second-serve return found the net. But miscues by Williams led to an opening break, and after about 10 minutes of play, Pennetta — a semifinalist in New York last year, but never a major finalist — was ahead 3-0. The sort of score that looks like a typo. Didn’t last long, though. Williams began taking the ball inside the baseline as much as possible and finding the mark with her serves, putting more pressure on Pennetta while reeling off six straight games to take the first set. Pennetta, who is into the doubles semifinals with partner Martina Hingis, might have been forgiven for giving up at that point. But she made things competitive again — at least briefly. Four aces in one game allowed her to lead 2-1 in the second set. That was pretty much that. Williams broke at love to go up 3-2, raising her left fist overhead to celebrate one particularly impressive shot, in which she raced back to the baseline to retrieve a lob, spun and smacked a forehand winner.

SPORTS

SCOREBOARD TV, RADIO TODAY

5:30 a.m. – Professional Golf: European PGA Tour European Masters First Round from Crans Montana, Switzerland (GOLF). 9:30 a.m. – Professional Golf: European PGA Tour European Masters First Round from Crans Montana, Switzerland (GOLF). 9:30 a.m. – International Basketball: FIBA World Cup Group Play Game from Granada, Spain – Egypt vs. Brazil (NBA TV). 11:30 a.m. – International Basketball: FIBA World Cup Group Play Game from Bilbao, Spain – United States vs. Ukraine (ESPN2). Noon – Professional Tennis: U.S. Open Men’s Singles Quarterfinal and Men’s Doubles Semifinal Matches from Flushing, N.Y. (ESPN). 12:30 p.m. – Professional Golf: Web.com Tour Chiquita Classic First Round from Davidson, N.C. (GOLF). 4 p.m. – PGA Golf: BMW Championship First Round from Cherry Hills Village, Colo. (GOLF). 4 p.m. – International Basketball: FIBA World Cup Group Play Game from Granada, Spain – Spain vs. Serbia (NBA TV). 6:05 p.m. – Talk Show: Sports Talk (WDXY-FM 105.9, WDXY-1240). 7 p.m. – Major League Baseball: Boston at New York Yankees or Cincinnati at Baltimore (MLB NETWORK). 7 p.m. – High School Football: Manning at Scott’s Branch (Tape Delay) (FTC NOW 26). 8 p.m. – Professional Tennis: U.S. Open Men’s Singles Quarterfinal Matches from Flushing, N.Y. (ESPN). 8 p.m. – College Football: Arizona at Texas-San Antonio (FOX SPORTS 1). 8:30 p.m. – NFL Football: Green Bay at Seattle (WIS 10). 9 p.m. – College Football: Grand Valley State at Azuza Pacific (CBS SPORTS NETWORK).

PREP SCHEDULE TODAY

Junior Varsity Football Stratford at Sumter, 6:30 p.m. Fairfield Central at Crestwood, 6 p.m. Johnsonville at Lakewood, 6 p.m. Manning at Marion, 6:30 p.m. Hammond at Wilson Hall, 7 p.m. Laurence Manning at Orangeburg Prep, 7 p.m. B Team Football Camden at Sumter, 5 p.m. Hammond at Wilson Hall, 5 p.m. Laurence Manning at Orangeburg Prep, 5 p.m. Middle School Football Dillon Christian at Thomas Sumter, 6 p.m. Carolina Academy at Robert E. Lee, 6:30 p.m. Varsity Girls Golf Spring Valley, Camden at Sumter (at Beech Creek Golf Club), TBA Varsity Girls Tennis Manning at Berkeley, 4:30 p.m. Wilson Hall at Cardinal Newman, 4 p.m. Junior Varsity Girls Tennis Cardinal Newman at Wilson Hall, 4 p.m. Varsity Volleyball East Clarendon, Crestwood, Lakewood at Sumter, 5 p.m. Varsity and JV Volleyball Thomas Sumter at Carolina Academy, 4 p.m. Dorchester at Clarendon Hall, 4:30 p.m. Junior Varsity Volleyball East Clarendon, Lakewood at Sumter, 5 p.m.

FRIDAY

Varsity Football Sumter at Stratford, 7:30 p.m. Crestwood at Fairfield Central, 7:30 p.m. Lakewood at Johnsonville, 7:30 p.m. Marion at Manning, 7:30 p.m. East Clarendon at North Central, 7:30 p.m. Wilson Hall at Hammond, 7:30 p.m. Laurence Manning at Pinewood Prep, 7:30 p.m. Thomas Sumter at Dillon Christian, 7:30 p.m. Calhoun at Robert E. Lee, 7:30 p.m. Andrew Jackson Academy at Clarendon Hall, 7:30 p.m. Varsity and JV Volleyball Sumter Christian at Conway Christian, 4 p.m.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE The Associated Press TODAY

SOUTHWEST Arizona (1-0) at UTSA (1-0), 8 p.m. Texas College (0-0) at Texas Southern (1-0), 8:30 p.m.

FRIDAY

EAST Pittsburgh (1-0) at Boston College (1-0), 7 p.m. FAR WEST Washington St. (0-1) at Nevada (1-0), 10:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

EAST Buffalo (1-0) at Army (0-0), Noon Akron (1-0) at Penn St. (1-0), Noon Howard (0-1) at Rutgers (1-0), Noon Stony Brook (0-1) at UConn (0-1), Noon James Madison (0-1) at Lehigh (0-0), 12:30 p.m. Merrimack (0-0) at Bryant (1-0), 1 p.m. Clarion (0-0) at St. Francis (Pa.) (0-1), 1 p.m. Navy (0-1) at Temple (1-0), 1 p.m. Morgan St. (0-1) at Holy Cross (0-1), 1:05 p.m. Colorado (0-1) at UMass (0-1), 3 p.m. Fordham (1-0) at Villanova (0-1), 3:30 p.m. Albany (NY) (1-0) at CCSU (1-0), 6 p.m. Delaware St. (0-1) at Delaware (0-1), 6 p.m. Bucknell (1-0) at Marist (0-1), 6 p.m. Lafayette (0-0) at Sacred Heart (1-0), 6 p.m. Towson (0-1) at West Virginia (0-1), 7:30 p.m. SOUTH FAU (0-1) at Alabama (1-0), Noon Johnson C. Smith (0-0) at Charlotte (1-0), Noon Arkansas St. (1-0) at Tennessee (1-0), Noon SC State (1-0) at Clemson (0-1), 12:30 p.m. New Mexico St. (1-0) at Georgia St. (1-0), 2 p.m. UAB (1-0) at Mississippi St. (1-0), 2 p.m. Alabama A&M (0-1) at Tuskegee (0-0), 2 p.m. Ohio (1-0) at Kentucky (1-0), 3:30 p.m. Maryland (1-0) at South Florida (1-0), 3:30 p.m. Richmond (1-0) at Virginia (0-1), 3:30 p.m. Brevard (0-0) at W. Carolina (0-1), 3:30 p.m. E. Michigan (1-0) at Florida (0-0), 4 p.m. Liberty (0-1) at Norfolk St. (0-1), 4 p.m. Georgia Tech (1-0) at Tulane (0-1), 4 p.m. Mississippi (1-0) at Vanderbilt (0-1), 4:30 p.m. Elizabeth City St. (0-0) at NC Central (0-1), 5 p.m. Tennessee St. (1-0) at Alabama St. (0-1), 6 p.m. Campbell (0-1) at Appalachian St. (0-1), 6 p.m. Newberry (0-0) at Charleston Southern (1-0), 6 p.m. Jacksonville St. (0-1) at Chattanooga (0-1), 6 p.m. Wagner (1-0) at FIU (0-1), 6 p.m. Savannah St. (0-1) at Georgia Southern (0-1), 6 p.m. William & Mary (0-1) at Hampton (0-1), 6 p.m. Furman (1-0) at Mercer (1-0), 6 p.m. Pikeville (1-0) at Morehead St. (0-1), 6 p.m. Coastal Carolina (1-0) at NC A&T (1-0), 6 p.m. Old Dominion (1-0) at NC State (1-0), 6 p.m. Gardner-Webb (0-1) at Wake Forest (0-1), 6:30 p.m. San Jose St. (1-0) at Auburn (1-0), 7 p.m. Catawba (0-0) at Davidson (1-0), 7 p.m. Va. Lynchburg (0-1) at Jackson St. (1-0), 7 p.m. Louisiana Tech (0-1) at Louisiana (1-0), 7 p.m. Idaho (0-0) at Louisiana-Monroe (1-0), 7 p.m. Murray St. (1-0) at Louisville (1-0), 7 p.m. Rhode Island (0-0) at Marshall (1-0), 7 p.m. Florida A&M (0-1) at Miami (0-1), 7 p.m. Bluefield South (0-1) at Presbyterian (0-1), 7 p.m. East Carolina (1-0) at South Carolina (0-1), 7 p.m. Alcorn St. (1-0) at Southern Miss. (0-1), 7 p.m. Cent. Methodist (0-0) at Southern U. (0-1), 7 p.m. Florida Tech (0-0) at Stetson (1-0), 7 p.m. Duke (1-0) at Troy (0-1), 7 p.m. The Citadel (0-1) at Florida St. (1-0), 7:30 p.m. Sam Houston St. (1-1) at LSU (1-0), 7:30 p.m. San Diego St. (1-0) at North Carolina (1-0), 8 p.m. S. Utah (0-1) at SE Louisiana (1-0), 8 p.m. MIDWEST W. Kentucky (1-0) at Illinois (1-0), Noon Kansas St. (1-0) at Iowa St. (0-1), Noon McNeese St. (0-0) at Nebraska (1-0), Noon Cent. Michigan (1-0) at Purdue (1-0), Noon Missouri (1-0) at Toledo (1-0), Noon W. Illinois (1-0) at Wisconsin (0-1), Noon Georgetown (0-1) at Dayton (0-0), 1 p.m. South Alabama (0-0) at Kent St. (0-1), 2 p.m. Tennessee Tech (1-0) at Indiana St. (0-1), 3 p.m. William Penn (1-0) at South Dakota (0-1), 3 p.m. VMI (0-1) at Bowling Green (0-1), 3:30 p.m. Ball St. (1-0) at Iowa (1-0), 3:30 p.m. E. Kentucky (1-0) at Miami (Ohio) (0-1), 3:30 p.m. Middle Tennessee (1-0) at Minnesota (1-0), 3:30 p.m. N. Illinois (1-0) at Northwestern (0-1), 3:30 p.m. Duquesne (0-1) at Youngstown St. (0-1), 4 p.m. Truman St. (0-0) at Drake (0-1), 7 p.m. S. Illinois (1-0) at E. Illinois (0-1), 7 p.m. SE Missouri (1-0) at Kansas (0-0), 7 p.m. Robert Morris (0-1) at North Dakota (0-1), 7 p.m. Cal Poly (0-1) at S. Dakota St. (0-1), 7 p.m. Butler (0-0) at Wittenberg (0-0), 7 p.m. MVSU (0-0) at Illinois St. (0-0), 7:30 p.m. Michigan (1-0) at Notre Dame (1-0), 7:30 p.m. Virginia Tech (1-0) at Ohio St. (1-0), 8 p.m. St. Joseph’s (Ind.) (0-0) at Valparaiso (0-1), 8 p.m. SOUTHWEST SMU (0-1) at North Texas (0-1), Noon

THE SUMTER ITEM Oklahoma (1-0) at Tulsa (1-0), Noon Missouri St. (1-0) at Oklahoma St. (0-1), 3:30 p.m. Nicholls St. (0-1) at Arkansas (0-1), 4 p.m. Northwestern St. (0-1) at Baylor (1-0), 7:30 p.m. BYU (1-0) at Texas (1-0), 7:30 p.m. Lamar (1-0) at Texas A&M (1-0), 7:30 p.m. Grambling St. (0-1) at Houston (0-1), 8 p.m. Texas Tech (1-0) at UTEP (1-0), 11 p.m. FAR WEST Sacramento St. (1-0) at California (1-0), 3 p.m. Fresno St. (0-1) at Utah (1-0), 3 p.m. E. Washington (2-0) at Washington (1-0), 3 p.m. Southern Cal (1-0) at Stanford (1-0), 3:30 p.m. Michigan St. (1-0) at Oregon (1-0), 6:30 p.m. Arizona St. (1-0) at New Mexico (0-1), 7 p.m. Memphis (1-0) at UCLA (1-0), 10 p.m. N. Colorado (0-0) at UNLV (0-1), 10 p.m. Colorado St. (1-0) at Boise St. (0-1), 10:15 p.m. Air Force (1-0) at Wyoming (1-0), 10:15 p.m. Oregon St. (1-0) at Hawaii (0-1), 10:30 p.m.

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

W 80 70 70 67 61

L 57 66 67 72 77

Pct .584 .515 .511 .482 .442

GB – 9 1/2 10 14 19 1/2

W 76 76 70 63 60

L 61 62 66 75 78

Pct .555 .551 .515 .457 .435

GB – 1/2 5 1/2 13 1/2 16 1/2

W 83 79 75 60 53

L 54 60 63 79 85

Pct .606 .568 .543 .432 .384

GB – 5 8 1/2 24 30 1/2

TUESDAY’S GAMES

Boston 9, N.Y. Yankees 4 Baltimore 5, Cincinnati 4 Detroit 4, Cleveland 2 Toronto 8, Tampa Bay 2 Chicago White Sox 6, Minnesota 3, 10 innings Houston 8, L.A. Angels 3 Kansas City 2, Texas 1 Seattle 6, Oakland 5

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

Seattle 2, Oakland 1 Boston at N.Y. Yankees, 7:05 p.m. Cincinnati at Baltimore, 7:05 p.m. Detroit at Cleveland, 7:05 p.m. Toronto at Tampa Bay, 7:10 p.m. Chicago White Sox at Minnesota, 8:10 p.m. L.A. Angels at Houston, 8:10 p.m. Texas at Kansas City, 8:10 p.m.

TODAY’S GAMES

Boston (Workman 1-8) at N.Y. Yankees (Capuano 2-3), 7:05 p.m. Cincinnati (Leake 10-11) at Baltimore (Tillman 11-5), 7:05 p.m. Detroit (Scherzer 15-5) at Cleveland (Bauer 5-7), 7:05 p.m. Toronto (Buehrle 11-9) at Tampa Bay (Odorizzi 10-11), 7:10 p.m. Seattle (Elias 9-12) at Texas (S.Baker 3-3), 8:05 p.m. L.A. Angels (H.Santiago 4-7) at Minnesota (Gibson 11-10), 8:10 p.m.

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

W 79 73 67 65 64

L 59 67 70 74 75

Pct .572 .521 .489 .468 .460

GB – 7 111/2 141/2 151/2

W 76 73 71 66 63

L 63 65 68 72 76

Pct .547 .529 .511 .478 .453

GB – 2 1/2 5 9 1/2 13

W 78 76 66 57 56

L 62 64 71 81 84

Pct .557 .543 .482 .413 .400

GB – 2 10 1/2 20 22

TUESDAY’S GAMES

Baltimore 5, Cincinnati 4 N.Y. Mets 8, Miami 6 Philadelphia 4, Atlanta 0 Chicago Cubs 7, Milwaukee 1 St. Louis 6, Pittsburgh 4 San Francisco 12, Colorado 7 San Diego 2, Arizona 1 L.A. Dodgers 4, Washington 1

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

Atlanta 7, Philadelphia 4 St. Louis 1, Pittsburgh 0 Colorado 9, San Francisco 2 Washington 8, L.A. Dodgers 5, 14 innings Cincinnati at Baltimore, 7:05 p.m. N.Y. Mets at Miami, 7:10 p.m. Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs, 8:05 p.m. Arizona at San Diego, 10:05 p.m.

TODAY’S GAMES

Cincinnati (Leake 10-11) at Baltimore (Tillman 11-5), 7:05 p.m. St. Louis (Wacha 5-5) at Milwaukee (W.Peralta 15-9), 8:10 p.m. Arizona (Delgado 2-3) at San Diego (Kennedy 1011), 9:10 p.m.

NASCAR By The Associated Press SPRINT CUP LEADERS

Through Aug. 31 Points 1, Jeff Gordon, 872. 2, Dale Earnhardt Jr., 851. 3, Matt Kenseth, 794. 4, Joey Logano, 791. 5, Brad Keselowski, 782. 6, Jimmie Johnson, 766. 7, Carl Edwards, 755. 8, Kevin Harvick, 748. 9, Ryan Newman, 747. 10, Greg Biffle, 728. 11, Kasey Kahne, 708. 12, Clint Bowyer, 705. 13, Kyle Larson, 704. 14, Paul Menard, 675. 15, Austin Dillon, 674. 16, Jamie McMurray, 666. 17, Kyle Busch, 657. 18, Brian Vickers, 650. 19, Denny Hamlin, 636. 20, Marcos Ambrose, 628. Money 1, Brad Keselowski, $5,397,579. 2, Jeff Gordon, $5,187,374. 3, Jimmie Johnson, $5,049,784. 4, Dale Earnhardt Jr., $4,886,014. 5, Joey Logano, $4,820,469. 6, Matt Kenseth, $4,809,603. 7, Jamie McMurray, $4,720,104. 8, Kevin Harvick, $4,710,979. 9, Kyle Busch, $4,562,731. 10, Denny Hamlin, $4,358,136. 11, Greg Biffle, $4,025,019. 12, Austin Dillon, $3,926,535. 13, Clint Bowyer, $3,825,811. 14, Brian Vickers, $3,768,158. 15, Paul Menard, $3,766,420. 16, Aric Almirola, $3,758,810. 17, Carl Edwards, $3,755,112. 18, Kyle Larson, $3,648,650. 19, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., $3,619,125. 20, Kasey Kahne, $3,479,679.

NFL SCHEDULE THURSDAY’S GAME

Green Bay at Seattle, 8:30 p.m. Sunday’s Games Minnesota at St. Louis, 1 p.m. Buffalo at Chicago, 1 p.m. Washington at Houston, 1 p.m. Tennessee at Kansas City, 1 p.m. New Orleans at Atlanta, 1 p.m. Cleveland at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m. Jacksonville at Philadelphia, 1 p.m. Oakland at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m. Cincinnati at Baltimore, 1 p.m. New England at Miami, 1 p.m. San Francisco at Dallas, 4:25 p.m. Carolina at Tampa Bay, 4:25 p.m. Indianapolis at Denver, 8:30 p.m.

MONDAY’S GAMES

N.Y. Giants at Detroit, 7:10 p.m. San Diego at Arizona, 10:20 p.m.

WNBA PLAYOFFS CONFERENCE FINALS (Best-of-3)

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Indiana 1, Chicago 1 Aug. 30: Indiana 77, Chicago 70 Sept. 1: Chicago 86, Indiana 84, 2OT Wednesday: Chicago 74, Indiana 62

FINALS

(Best-of-5) Sunday: Chicago at Phoenix, 3:30 p.m. Sept. 9: Chicago at Phoenix, 9 p.m. Sept. 12: Phoenix at Chicago, 8 p.m. x-Sept. 14: Phoenix at Chicago, 5:30 p.m. x-Sept. 17: Chicago at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

NFL

THE SUMTER ITEM AFC EAST NEW ENGLAND Still the class of AFC East with Tom Brady on hand, but haven’t won a Super Bowl since 2004 season. MIAMI After 2013 bullying scandal, Dolphins had to heal locker room while improving talent level. NEW YORK JETS Despite offensive additions Michael Vick, Eric Decker and Chris Johnson, defense is Jets' strength. BUFFALO Bills looking to end ignominious playoff drought of 14 seasons. AFC NORTH CINCINNATI After three straight first-round exits, time for Bengals to make playoffs and then advance.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

RG3, new coach Jay Gruden and Skins’ name controversy, make for a ...

Season of uncertainty The Washington Redskins, a team with one of the NFL’s richest traditions, are a franchise in transition. The hopes of an organization that's become accustomed to last-place finishes are riding on RG3’s development into a more traditional quarterback. Leading the transformation is rookie NFL head coach Jay Gruden, hired after Mike Shanahan was let go following a 3-13 season dominated by coach-QB tension. Off the field, the campaign to ditch the "Redskins" name has reached unprecedented momentum over the last 18 months. Owner Dan Snyder maintains his vow never to change the name.

NFC EAST PHILADELPHIA Coach Chip Kelly’s fast-paced offense was dynamic in his first pro season. Could be even better in 2014. DALLAS This could be the worst edition of America’s Team since Jerry Jones’ first team went 1-15 in 1989. WASHINGTON No duo will be more exciting to watch than RG3 throwing to DeSean Jackson. NEW YORK GIANTS Lots of preseason injuries make Giants a huge question mark. NFC NORTH DETROIT New coach Jim Caldwell must bring discipline to Lions, because Detroit already has lots of skill.

PITTSBURGH Steelers need to rebuild what was an elite defense and rediscover powerful running game.

CHICAGO Rebuilt defense makes Bears a threat to dethrone archrival Packers.

BALTIMORE Dynamic WR Steve Smith could be the boost Ravens need to get back to Super Bowl contention.

GREEN BAY When QB Aaron Rodgers is healthy, Packers are championship caliber. They need to protect their jewel.

CLEVELAND Rookie media-magnet Johnny Football starts the season as the backup but there is already talk of a dual-QB system.

MINNESOTA Poor Adrian Peterson. League’s best running back could be wasted with Vikings.

AFC SOUTH

NFC SOUTH

INDIANAPOLIS QB Andrew Luck appears ready to join NFL's elite, and carry Colts to the top of entire league.

Division should be a cakewalk for QB Drew Brees and teammates if they stay healthy.

NEW ORLEANS

HOUSTON Collapse of 2013 was odd considering talent on Texans, including DE J.J. Watt and WR Andre Johnson. TENNESSEE New coach Ken Whisenhunt needs to revitalize offense, but that has been his strength elsewhere.

TAMPA BAY Lovie Smith brings to Bucs a much less paranoid environment, and an impressive coaching resume.

Jay Gruden Head coach

Robert Griffin III Quarterback

CAROLINA Hard to believe QB Cam Newton, recovering from a hairline fracture in his ribs, can manufacture much with this offense.

SEASON CALENDAR SEPT.

OCT.

NOV.

DEC.

JAN.

FEB.

JACKSONVILLE Still rebuilding; seems like that’s been the case for years. AFC WEST KANSAS CITY In first year with Chiefs, veteran coach Andy Reid engineered superb turnaround. Will be difficult to replicate 11 wins.

ATLANTA Sept. 7-8 First full weekend of regular season

Oct. 7-8 Oct. 28 Fall owners Trade meetings, deadline New York

Dec. 28 Regular season ends

Jan. 3-4, 2015 Wild Card playoffs

Jan. 10-11 Divisional Playoffs

Jan. 18 Jan. 25 Conference Pro Bowl Championships Glendale, Arizona

Feb. 1 Super Bowl XLIX, Glendale, Arizona

Defense must make huge strides, as must offensive line and running game. NFC WEST ST. LOUIS QB Sam Bradford’s season-ending torn ACL puts the team’s once-rosy outlook in serious doubt.

Coaches leading new teams

DENVER

SAN FRANCISCO

Still dynamic on offense, Broncos should be improved defensively and remain AFC’s team to beat.

Like last season, 49ers could be No. 2 team in entire league and not win NFC West.

SAN DIEGO QB Philip Rivers comes off Comeback Player award. Chargers need similar comebacks by several others. OAKLAND Raiders brought in lots of skilled free agents, but many appear past their primes.

BEGINS FROM PAGE B1 Thomas said. “We’re going to recapture what we did last year and add a few more things to it.’’ Green Bay knows about winning a title and the pitfalls of trying to repeat. Aaron Rodgers got his championship four seasons ago and followed up by going 15-1 in the 2011 regular season before being bounced in the divisional round of the playoffs by the New York Giants. With the addition of Julius Peppers to the defense, a revamped secondary and Year 2 of Eddie Lacy creating a balanced offense, many pundits believe the Packers can dethrone Seattle in the NFC. That test begins today. “This is a game that we’ve been in before after we won the Super Bowl. We know the excitement that surrounds it,’’ Rodgers said. “It’s a highly rated game. We’re playing at a tough environment with the Super Bowl champions, so it’s going to be a tough test for us.’’ QUALITY QBS

Not a bad matchup of quarterbacks to begin the season with Rodgers and Seattle QB Russell Wilson taking center stage. Both led their respec-

Lovie Smith Tampa Bay Smith was successful in Chicago, got Bears to a Super Bowl, and will bring needed open environment to Bucs after difficult Greg Schiano regime.

Mike Zimmer Ken Whisenhunt Minnesota Tennessee If nothing else, every Viking will know where he stands because Zimmer never minces words. He’s a defensive guru.

Any coach who can turn the Cardinals into a Super Bowl team deserves another shot. But Titans ownership needs patience.

tive offenses with precision during the preseason. Wilson led the Seahawks to scores on 11 of 13 preseason possessions, including nine touchdowns. Rodgers, who missed seven games last season with a collarbone injury, wasn’t quite as dynamic in the preseason but the Packers’ offense looked potent in his limited playing time. WELCOME AND GOOD LUCK

Green Bay rookie center Corey Linsley and Seattle rookie right tackle Justin Britt get difficult introductions to the NFL. Linsley was thrown into a starting role when J.C. Tretter went down with a knee injury during training camp. His challenge will be trying to communicate with the rest of the offensive line and hear Rodgers’ adjustments in the loudest stadium in the NFL. “If I’m a rookie and I’ve got Brandon Mebane my first game — he’s one of the best nose tackles in the league,’’ Seattle linebacker Bruce Irvin said. “So it’s going to be big for him. I’m going to pray for him. It’s going to be a long night, man.’’ Britt won the starting job during training camp. And his NFL debut means having to slow down the pass rush of Clay Matthews and Peppers trying to create havoc off the

Jim Caldwell Detroit

Jay Gruden Washington

Bill O’Brien Houston

Mike Pettine Cleveland

Lions have plenty of talent on both sides of ball, but have had little discipline. Caldwell, a disciple of Tony Dungy, won 2009 AFC crown with Colts.

Younger brother of Jon Gruden, Jay’s most important mission is getting Robert Griffin III on his side immediately.

After succeeding the late Joe Paterno at Penn State, no obstacle can be intimidating to O’Brien; considered an offensive wizard.

Son of a renowned high school coach, Pettine has a doozy of a challenge with such an underachieving franchise.

edges.

rookie Paul Richardson.

SPEED AND MORE SPEED

EIGHT IS ENOUGH

The Packers and Seahawks want their offenses to use speed, but in different ways. The Packers want to push the tempo, going no-huddle and trying to keep opponents from getting their defenses set. Seattle will rely more on speed from the skill positions this season, taking advantage of a healthy Percy Harvin and

Lost in the chaos of the final play two years ago was a miserable first half for Rodgers during which he was sacked eight times. Green Bay could not slow the pass rush of Irvin and Chris Clemons. The Packers went to a jumbo blocking unit in the second half and were finally able to slow Seattle’s rush.

SEATTLE Defending champs look just as strong in 2014. But brutal division could hamper Seahawks getting best NFL record. ARIZONA Another 10-6 record should get Cardinals into playoffs. AP Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner

The personnel is different, but protecting Rodgers will be critical. FORGET THE FAIL MARY

The final play from the last meeting of these two teams will never be forgotten. The “Fail Mary’’ has been a talking point leading into the opener, but the Packers say there is no extra motivation because of the outcome the last time they visited Seattle.

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Advertising deadline: September 19, 2014 Publish date: September 25, 2014

To advertise contact your sales representative or call 803-774-1237

FOOTBALL

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

PRO FOOTBALL

List of suspended stars keeps growing BY BARRY WILNER The Associated Press NEW YORK — Wes Welker. Robert Mathis. Aldon Smith. Josh Gordon. A solid quartet to put on any NFL field. Except that they are among 29 players suspended by the league heading into the 2014 season. Among those big names, Cleveland’s Gordon got the longest ban, sidelined for the entire season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. His absence might be the most damaging, too, and not only for its length. A Pro Bowl wide receiver, Gordon was the only established target on the Browns, who figured to be an also-ran even with him in the lineup. That Gordon’s case lingered for weeks while appeals were heard, and was not decided until just before the season, didn’t help the Browns, either. “How it played out was not ideal circumstances for us, obviously, but that’s behind us,’’ coach Mike Pettine said. “You can’t worry about guys you don’t have. ... I’ve said this all along, you don’t replace a Josh Gordon, a top-five NFL receiver, with just one player.’’ Welker’s four-game suspension, announced Tuesday, shouldn’t hurt the Broncos nearly so much considering the other receiving talent on hand. And having Peyton Manning throwing to them. More harmful: Matt Prater’s four-gamer, which takes away a significant weapon. Prater made 25 of 26 field

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dallas defensive end Michael Sam jogs on the field during practice on Wednesday in Irving, Texas.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Denver wide receiver Wes Welker is among the big NFL names that have been suspended for parts of the upcoming season. The list includes 29 players in all for various violations of the NFL’s drug and conduct policies. goals in 2013, including a record 64-yarder. Denver is going with a rookie, Brandon McManus. Prater has been in the NFL’s drug program, which includes alcohol, since a DUI arrest in 2011. He said he realized one more strike meant he’d face sitting out an entire season when he decided to have some beers “right after the season.’’

“Why did I risk it?’’ Prater said. “I made a mistake. I don’t have an excuse for it. I screwed up and now I’m paying the price for it.’’ For Indianapolis and San Francisco, the loss of key defenders could have a huge impact. Mathis, gone for four games, led the league with 19 1-2 sacks in a career year. The

Colts will face high-powered Denver and Philadelphia in the first two weeks without their best player on that side of the ball. “We’ve got a soldier down,’’ Colts DE Cory Redding said of Mathis. “We’re going to wait for him to come back, but until then, we’re going to hold down the fort.’’ Smith’s absence means San

Sam’s 2nd chance comes with Dallas BY SCHUYLER DIXON The Associated Press IRVING, Texas — Michael Sam waded through a crowd of reporters and was settling in front of yet another bank of cameras when someone asked if this was what it was like in St. Louis. “The heat?’’ Sam said, drawing laughter from two dozen or so people surrounding him as he stood in front of a large Dallas Cowboys star on a wall just outside the locker room. No, the latest version of the circus after the league’s first openly gay player signed to the practice squad of America’s Team. He’s unlikely to get into the opener Sun-

day against San Francisco and might still face long odds of joining an active roster anytime soon. But Sam got his second chance to make it in the NFL four days after the Rams released the seventh-round pick when they had to cut the roster to 53 players. “You guys follow me around like hawks,’’ Sam said after going through his first late-morning workout with the Cowboys. “I’ve been tired of it since February. I expected it.’’ The Cowboys, who are seeking help with their pass rush because of injuries and the offseason release of franchise sacks leader DeMarcus Ware, expected it, too. Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten said

coach Jason Garrett addressed the signing with the team. “I think he does it as good as anybody I’ve ever been around, of addressing issues and moving forward and putting our focus on what it needs to be and that’s a good 49ers football team,’’ Witten said. Garrett said the move was “about football’’ and deflected any questions about the impact of bringing in Sam or how it might affect the locker room. “That’s your decision what question you want to ask,’’ Garrett said. “We’re focused on football. That’s where our attention is, and what people say outside this organization is really up to them.’’

BARONS FROM PAGE B1 Barons head coach Bruce Lane said. “I can’t really say anything different. “They are very aggressive on defense -- they stunt a little bit more than they have in the past, at least they did in the first game, and obviously they’re going to run it first,” he explained. “They like to throw screens at you and control the football.” WH senior middle linebacker John Wells Baker brought up the point that last year playing against Hammond gave him an idea of what to expect when playing in a big game. Still, he feels his squad is primed for a good showing as long as each player knows

THIGPEN FROM PAGE B1 offense, averaging 200.9 yards of total offense over 41 games for his career. Thigpen became the first Big South player to ever be drafted, going to the Minnesota Vikings in the seventh round of the ‘07 draft, the 217th overall pick. Minnesota waived him with plans to put him on its practice squad, but he didn’t clear waivers as he was picked up by the Kansas City Chiefs. Thigpen only threw six passes in the ‘07 season, but he became the starter the next season. He played in 14 games, starting 11, for the 2-14 Chiefs.

Francisco is without two playmakers at linebacker, because All-Pro NaVorro Bowman is recovering from a gruesome knee injury sustained in the NFC title game loss to Seattle. Smith is gone for nine games for violating the drug and personal conduct policies, which means both he and Bowman might not be in the lineup before mid-November.

SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO

Wilson Hall’s Will Watson (47) picks up a loose fumble during the Barons’ SCISA 3A state championship game victory over Hammond last year. The two teams renew their rivalry on Friday in Columbia. his role and plays his assignment. “As a junior, I really didn’t know what to expect so this

However, Thigpen completed 230 of 420 passes for 2,608 yards and 18 TDs against 12 interceptions. He also rushed for 386 yards and three scores on 62 attempts. That, however, wasn’t enough to help him keep the starting job. Thigpen was traded to the Miami Dolphins and was the No. 3 quarterback. He was a backup in 2010 as well and was a backup with the Buffalo Bills the next two seasons. He didn’t play in the 2013 season, but was signed by the Cleveland Browns on May 1. He was cut on Aug. 12. Thigpen is part of Coastal’s 2014 Athletic Hall of Fame class and will be inducted on Nov. 15.

year it gives me a sense of the physicality and rivalry of the game,” he explained. “Last

year I would say there were probably more experienced seniors at all positions, but

this year we fit in with some really good underclassmen and we have some good senior leadership, so I think it matches even with last year.” Lane sounds like a broken record each week because he and his coaching staff put the focus on each day, not the end result. This year’s team motto is “Win the day.” Lane is quick to point out nobody is winning a state title on Friday. “It’s not about winning in three weeks, it’s about taking it day by day and trying to get better day by day,” McGinnis said. “It’s still early in the season but both teams will get better,” Baker said. “I think it will definitely leave a mark on the season.”

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

THE SUMTER ITEM

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Missed tackles a big issue in Tigers’ loss BY MANDRALLIUS ROBINSON Greenville News CLEMSON — During its 45-21 loss to Georgia last week, Clemson demonstrated another helpful hint on tackling. Evidently, it is more difficult when one’s lip is poked out through one’s facemask. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables estimated that Clemson missed 13 tackles during the final 16 minutes. During that span, Georgia’s offense amassed 222 yards, including 213 rushing. Georgia ran the ball on all 15 snaps during the fourth quarter. Clemson limited Georgia to fewer than five yards on merely six of those carries. The only time Georgia was downed behind the line of scrimmage was on the final play of the game — when quarterback Hutson Mason kneeled. “It hits you right between the eyes when it’s on your side of the ball and really at what you hope to stand for, and that’s having physical toughness,” Venables said. “We failed. That’s the tough, humbling part of it.” According to head coach Dabo Swinney, the collapse of Clemson’s defense correlated to the lull the offense endured. The Tigers earned a first down on the final play of the third quarter. They did not advance the chains again. They punted three plays into the final period. Each of the subsequent three drives ended after merely three snaps. Clemson netted a loss of 19 yards on 12 plays. Swinney asserted that the offensive futility frustrated several defenders. Their sulking sapped their intensity on the field. Consequently, the 24-21 edge Georgia held at the start of the fourth quarter quickly expanded. “Defensively, we got a little bit pouty the other night, because they worried about what the offense is doing,” Swinney said. “It don’t matter what the offense is doing. Go play.” Those defenders were justified to feel disappointed while watching the offense sputter. They may have been frustrated that the power running game pitched through fall camp never arrived. They may have been bothered that the tight ends were targeted fewer than five times. They may have been annoyed that their longest respites were during televi-

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Georgia’s Nick Chubb, left, breaks free from the tackle of Clemson’s Stephone Anthony to run for a touchdown in the second half of the Tigers’ 45-21 loss to the Bulldogs last week in Athens, Ga. sion timeouts. Nevertheless, senior defensive tackle Grady Jarrett passionately proclaimed that any frustrations must be forgotten when a defender steps back between the lines. “No one should ever question your effort,” Jarrett said. “When it’s our time to go out there, we have to perform no matter what the offense is doing. … We’re deep. We’ve got bodies. If you’re too tired, then you need to come out the game.” Execution and effort never should hinge on field position, down, distance or even the score. Such despondent responses to adversity exhibit immatu-

rity unexpected from a unit with seven senior starters. Jarrett contended that any fragile attitudes will be adjusted before Clemson hosts South Carolina State on Saturday. “It’s inexcusable to play with bad effort. Believe me, it’s being addressed,” he said. “I highly doubt that we’ll have an effort problem ever again.” “I have no reservations whatsoever about our guys, their character, their toughness,” Venables said. “I know they care.” Clemson crushed S.C. State 52-13 and 54-0 in the teams’ previous two meetings. Thus, the teams are not ex-

It’s your world. Read all about it.

USC FOOTBALL

Gamecock D bracing for another up tempo offense in East Carolina BY WILLIE T. SMITH III Greenville News

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLUMBIA — With a thunderstorm pending, South Carolina spent part of Tuesday’s practice in Williams-Brice Stadium. The Gamecocks did not take it easy, however. The session ended with a long period in which the squad sprinted up the steep steps in the Crews Facility. The team sang militarystyle chants while going through the run, apparently in high spirits. “We’re just practicing quick, practicing fast,” said senior cornerback Brison Williams. “Everything we do is fast, fast, fast. There is no one on the sidelines bending down anymore. Everybody is moving around during practice. So there is no one sitting down anymore like we did last week.” The Gamecocks’ 52-28 loss to Southeastern Conference rival Texas A&M a week ago was a shock. A defense that has long been one of the league’s and nation’s best was torched for a record 688 yards, including 511 passing. That left the squad searching for a way to fix things before facing an East Carolina team that employs many of the same offensive tactics used by the Aggies. “All the guys felt embarrassed, as we should,” sophomore linebacker T.J. Holloman said. “We should feel embarrassed after giving up that many points, setting a school record. But now we’ve just turned that embarrassment into motivation, just keep driving so that doesn’t happen again.” In addition to displaying more energy, the USC defense has devised different tech-

Texas A&M running back Brandon Williams (1) and the entire Aggies offense scorched South Carolina defensive end Blake McClain (91) and the USC defense last week. The Gamecocks are looking to shore things up defensively prior to Saturday’s matchup against East Carolina. niques to improve its pass rush. “We’re doing a lot more pass rush stuff, more stuff that is helping us get back there, things that will help us get to the quarterback, that will help us in the pass rushing game,” senior tackle J.T. Surratt said. “Everybody in practice has been full speed, full go in every drill as far as our pass rush goes.” According to Holloman, there has been more focus on making sure the team is prepared for the start of each offensive play by the opponent. “We had some problems getting lined up,” Holloman said about the A&M game. “But the tempo in practice has been way more up-tempo. We have been working on that.” The Gamecocks managed only one sack against Texas A&M, by sophomore end Gerald Dixon.

Even against go, go, go offenses, that isn’t enough. “(Defensive line) Coach (Deke) Adams has been making us work harder,” Dixon said. “We’ve been going full speed against the (offensive) linemen all week. We’re both preparing for the game. “Hopefully the game plan we have this week will help us out more. Hopefully we get to the passer more than we did last week.” Several players on the defense believe this game could determine the direction of the Gamecocks’ season. “This week is really going to show what kind of team we have, how strong-minded we are,” Surratt said. “We have to get back out there and get back on the bike. We fell off it, but we have to get up and get going. This week is going to test that.”

pected to wrestle deep into the fourth quarter Saturday. Still, Venables has demanded a complete effort, regardless of what personnel group closes. “You can’t cheat the game,” he said. “If you’re off your game, if you’ve got your guard down, if you don’t have a great sense of desperation and great respect for your opponent and for the game itself, then you’ll get exposed, whether it’s Georgia ‘Between the Hedges’ or if it’s South Carolina State. “This isn’t any aberration in regards to finish. You either get it done or you don’t. When you don’t, there’s no trying to play on two sides of the fence.”

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SPORTS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

AREA SCOREBOARD

MLB ROUNDUP

BASKETBALL ROYAL BASH TOURNAMENT

The Royal Bash Tournament will be held Sept. 12-14 at both the Crestwood High School and Chestnut Oaks Middle School gymnasiums. The field is open to 24 teams at a cost of $500 per team. The winning team will receive a $5,000 cash prize. Free school supplies will be given to children who attend as well as autographed Kansas City Royals memorabilia. For more information, contact Ali Williams at (803) 565-2453. OFFICIALS TRAINING CLASSES

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Atlanta starting pitcher Ervin Santana throws during the Braves’ 7-4 victory against Philadelphia on Wednesday in Atlanta.

Braves top Phillies 7-4 ATLANTA — Rookie Christian Bethancourt had three hits in his return to the major leagues, including a fifth-inning single that helped the Atlanta Braves break out of their scoring slump in a 7-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. B.J. Upton hit a two-run homer in a three-run second as the Braves ended a 25-inning scoreless streak. Bethancourt, a catcher recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday following a six-week demotion, drove in the Braves’ first run with an infield single in the second and put Atlanta ahead 5-4 with an RBI single in the fifth. Atlanta began the day 1 1/2 games behind Milwaukee for the NL’s second wild card. Ervin Santana (14-7) won despite allowing four runs and

seven hits in six innings. Craig Kimbrel pitched around a leadoff walk to Cesar Hernandez in the ninth for his major league-leading 42nd save in 46 chances. CARDINALS 1 PIRATES 0

ST. LOUIS — Peter Bourjos singled home the winning run in the ninth inning, giving St. Louis a series sweep and its fifth straight win with a 1-0 win over Pittsburgh. MARINERS 2 ATHLETICS 1

OAKLAND, Calif. — Kyle Seager and Corey Hart homered leading off the seventh inning and Seattle beat Oakland 2-1 to win the three-game series between the AL playoff contenders.

The Wateree Basketball Officials will begin training classes for prospective high school officials on Monday at the Sumter County Recreation Department located at 155 Haynsworth Street. Meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will be held on Monday of each week. The classes are held to prepare officials to call games for the South Carolina High School League Basketball Officials Association. Each training class will cover National Federation rules for high school basketball, South Carolina Basketball Official Association mechanics and SCBOA exam preparation. The statewide clinic and exam will be held on Saturday, Nov. 15, at River Buff High School in Lexington. For more information, call Granderson James, at (803) 968-2391 or e-mail him at grandersj@aol.com.

FOOTBALL SUMTER TOUCHDOWN CLUB

The Sumter Touchdown Club will meet each Friday at the Quality Inn located at 2390 Broad Street Extension from 7:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. The 13-week program features a guest speaker, a devotional, a high school coaches corner, the recognition of The Item Players of the Week, a catered breakfast and a pick’em contest. The speakers will include people involved in different aspects of football on the high school, college and professional levels. The club is accepting members at a price of $100 per membership. It is also looking for sponsorships at a cost of $200. Sponsorship and membership forms are on the club’s website, www.sumtertdclub. com.

BASEBALL ALI WILLIAMS SHOWCASE CAMP

The Ali Williams Showcase Camp will be held Sept. 20-21 at Crestwood High

From wire reports

School located at 2000 Oswego Highway. Williams is a former Crestwood baseball player now pitching in the Kansas City Royals organization. The Sept. 20 session will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., while the Sept. 21 session will run from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Food will be served on Sept. 20 and there will be a showcase event for players ages 14 and up with college and professional scouts in attendance on Sept. 21. Also on Sept. 20 there will be an autograph session with former Major Leaguer Tony Womack, former Sumter High standouts and professional players Travis Witherspoon and Matt Price and professional players C.J. Edwards and Devon Lowery. The cost is $100 for players between the ages of 8-13 and $125 for players 14 and older. For more information, contact Williams at (803) 565-2453.

GOLF PAR 4 PETS TOURNAMENT

The Par 4 Pets 3rd Annual Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday, Sept. 20, at Crystal Lakes Golf Course. The format for the tournament is 4-Man Captain’s Choice. The entry fee is $160 per team or $40 per player. The tournament is limited to the first 20 teams. Prizes will go to the top three teams and prizes will be given to closest to pin on all par 3 holes. The last day to register is Friday. Money raised from the tournament goes to K.A.T.’s Special Kneads. For more information on the organization, check it out on Facebook or go to katsspecialkneads@yahoo.com. For more information on the tournament, call Kathy Stafford at (803) 469-3906, Teresa Durden at (803) 917-4710 or Mike Ardis at (803) 775-1902. LAKEWOOD TEE IT UP CLASSIC

Lakewood Baseball’s First Tee It Up Classic will be held on Dec. 6 at The Links at Lakewood. The format for the tournament will be 4-man Captain’s Choice and will begin at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start. The cost is $200 per team or $50 per player. Lunch will be provided. The registration and payment deadline is Nov. 21. For more information, call Lakewood baseball head coach Mike Chapman at (843) 685-0568 or (803) 506-2700 (Ext. 1001) or email him at Chapmonis@gmail.com. 4-PERSON SCRAMBLE

The Links at Lakewood Golf Course will host a 4-person scramble every Thursday. The cost is $25 per person and includes golf, prizes and food following the scramble. Call the pro shop at (803) 481-5700 before 4 p.m. on Thursday to sign up.

OBITUARIES EMMA P. WRIGHT Emma Porter Wright, 96, peacefully passed on to be with the Lord on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center. Born Jan. 24, 1918, in Sumter County, she was a daughter of the late David and Anna Anderson Porter. Emma was a graduate of MorWRIGHT ris College and became an educator in the Florence County School System, where she worked until her retirement in the 1980s. She was very active in her home church, Antioch United Methodist Church, where she served as president of the United Methodist Women, chairperson of Vacation Bible School, and as a member of the senior choir. She was also one of the founding members of the Shepherd’s Center in Sumter and a member of Alpha Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Pi Chi Sorority Inc. In her free time, she enjoyed crocheting and traveling. She is survived by her daughter, Gilda (Donald) Wilds of Sumter; her siblings, Mercina Porter Butler, Edward (Pretto) Porter and Ernest (Hattie) Porter, all of Sumter, Marion T. Porter of Warner Robins, Georgia, and Lafayette Porter of Fredericksburg, Virginia; daughterin-law, Cynthia Gary-Porter

of Batesburg-Leesville; seven grandchildren; three greatgrandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends who loved her dearly. She was preceded in death by her husband, Webster Wright; her parents, David and Anna Porter; her son, Eugene Porter; and a brother, Reo Porter. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at Antioch United Methodist Church, 4040 Dubose Siding Road, Sumter, with the Rev. Lawrence Canty, pastor, eulogist. The family is receiving rel-

atives and friends at the home, 953 Rebecca Cove, Sumter. The remains will be placed in the church for viewing at 10 a.m. The procession will leave at 10:20 a.m. from the home. Floral bearers will be United Methodist Women and family. Pallbearers will be nephews. Burial will be in Hillside Memorial Park, Sumter. Online memorial messages may be sent to the family at williamsfuneralhome@sc.rr. com. Visit us on the web at

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home, 1118 M Hatcher Road, Pinewood. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Williams Funeral Home Inc. of Sumter.

THE REV. WARREN HATCHER

MARIE BURROUGHS

The Rev. Warren Hatcher, 72, died on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014, at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston. Born on Jan. 26, 1942, in Clarendon County, he was a son of Frank and Mary Hatcher. The family is receiving friends and relatives at the

Marie Burroughs entered eternal rest on Sept. 1, 2014, at McLeod Regional Medical Center, Florence. The family is receiving friends at the residence, 199 Moses Road, Bishopville. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Wilson Funeral Home, 403 S. Main St., Bishopville.

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COMICS

THE SUMTER ITEM

BIZARRO

SOUP TO NUTZ

ANDY CAPP

GARFIELD

BEETLE BAILEY

BORN LOSER

BLONDIE

ZITS

MOTHER GOOSE

DOG EAT DOUG

DILBERT

JEFF MACNELLY’S SHOE

Plans to share a room hit a snag over snoring DEAR ABBY — My son’s out-of-town wedding is coming up. My mother will attend and be traveling with Dear Abby me. I am single, and my ABIGAIL mom is also VAN BUREN single. She’s planning on sharing a room with me. Abby, my mom has a severe snoring problem, and I’m a very light sleeper. I cannot sleep with a snorer! I don’t want to ruin my time at my son’s wedding, and she’s upset about the added expense of another room, which neither of us can really afford, but I don’t know what else to do. Mother of the groom

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

DEAR MOTHER OF THE GROOM — The separate room may be a luxury you can’t “really afford,” but incurring the expense may be worth it so you won’t sleepwalk through your son’s wedding. I’m not recommending earplugs because, while they may dull the racket, they won’t completely eliminate the sound of severe snoring. P.S. If your mother’s physician doesn’t know about her snoring, it should be discussed so the doctor can make sure it isn’t a symptom of a serious health problem.

aunts and uncles were invited. It was a kiddie party, of course, and I jumped into the pool and played with the children. We had a ball! A few weeks later, I heard the stepsister’s mother had said I had “no business” playing in the pool with the kids. I was taken aback. Isn’t that what grandmas are for? Was I wrong for not “acting my age”? The custody fight is ongoing and I don’t want to do anything that would jeopardize my son winning custody. Worried in New York

DEAR ABBY — My son has two children who are in temporary foster care, and has visitation with the ex’s stepsister, who got the right to grant visitation. Recently we had a birthday party for them. All the grandparents,

DEAR WORRIED — I suspect the stepsister’s mother was jealous that she wasn’t the person in the pool, which is why she didn’t speak up during the party and you had to hear it weeks later secondhand.

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 Gusto 5 Reynolds Wrap maker 10 Reptile house attractions 14 __-Seltzer 15 Luxury hotel with a YouFirst rewards program 16 Nothing but 17 Keep one’s landlord happy 19 Cross the threshold 20 Tricky 21 Big name in dangerous stunts 22 Sierra follower, in the NATO alphabet 23 Box instruction 26 Not familiar with 29 Staff symbols 30 Part of Q.E.D. 31 __ Belt 34 Jan. honoree 37 Optional learning 40 Suffix with concert 41 “__ Fideles” 42 Back in the day 43 They may be counted 45 Golden number? 46 Usually not a good way to

get married 51 Exposed 52 Film with talking bugs 53 NFL’s Jaguars, for short 56 “The Year of Magical Thinking” author Didion 57 “You listen to me,” and an instruction about what to look for in 17-, 23-, 37- and 46-Across 60 Qatari bigwig 61 Chicago’s __ Planetarium 62 Roughage source 63 Facetious nickname for a big guy 64 Gnocchi topping 65 Kan. neighbor DOWN 1 Prepares, as leftovers 2 Mideast airline 3 Absolut rival 4 Bit of ink 5 Naproxen brand 6 “Two Women” Oscar winner 7 “Fool for You” Grammy winner

Green 8 Have 9 PEI hours 10 “The African Queen” costar 11 Under consideration 12 Straighten 13 Church council 18 Oct- minus one 22 “The Gondoliers” girl 23 Four-letter word 24 Rainbow __ 25 As a result 26 Fruity soda 27 Yeats’ home 28 Top-rated evening TV show of 1961-62 31 Turkey on rye, e.g. 32 Actress Witherspoon 33 Some badg-

es 35 Centers of activity 36 Seat for a dummy 38 Relaxed 39 Ratted (on) 44 Literary award named for a writer 45 Dix et un 46 __ d’art 47 Wynonna’s mom 48 Cries 49 Commencement 50 In __: unborn 53 Sudden movement 54 __ Sea 55 Lawless character 57 Go out in the afternoon? 58 Keats poem 59 “The Leftovers” airer

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NEW LOCATION TO BETTER SERVE OUR CUSTOMERS 803.774.4040 53 W. Wesmark Blvd. Sumter, SC www.sumterinsurancegroup.com

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MERCHANDISE Garage, Yard & Estate Sales Sumter Freewill Baptist 971 Blvd Rd. Sept. 4th, 5th 6th, 8am -until Hot dogs, drinks & sweets,

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Mobile Home Rentals 2/3BR MH. All appliances, C/H/A, Section 8 OK 803-469-6978 or 803-499-1500 Oaklawn MHP: 2 BR M.H.'s, water /sewer/garbage pk-up incl'd. RV parking avail. Call 494-8350

Baconhill Rd./Pinewood SW Mobile Home, 3BR/2BA, stove, frig, $550 /mo. + dep No Sec 8 803-506-4600

Covenant Place of Sumter is hiring for the following position(s): •F/T Charge Nurse: Rotating weekends required. Long Term and Medicare experience preferred but not required. •F/T Night Shift Supervisor: Monday-Friday, rotating call and occasional weekends required. RN preferred position but not required. Long Term, Medicare and Charge Nurse experience necessary. This position is responsible for the day to day operations in the 44 bed skilled care unit, under the direction of the Director of Nursing.

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Cemetery Plots- Two plots with vaults, opening/closing fees and granite marker with vase in Evergreen Memorial Park , Sumter, SC. Save thousands. Call 803-469-9763 Queen pillow top mattress, new still in plastic, $200. Call 803-614-0866. Can deliver.

Reconditioned batteries $35. Also have lawn mower, truck, 4 wheeler, golf cart & marine batteries, starters & alternators. Car dealers/garages ask about special prices. Auto Electric Co. 803-773-4381

LEGAL NOTICES A-1 Self Storage Sept 9th. 2014 @ 9:00am 3501 Broad Street Ext. Sumter, SC 29150

BID SOLICITATION A mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will be held at Millwood Elementary School, 24 Pinewood Rd., Sumter, SC 29154, in the lobby area, on Friday, September 12, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. The scope of work is to construct a metal roof shelter for student pick-up. You will receive bid packets at the Pre-Bid Conference. Sealed bids will be opened on Friday, September 19, 2014 at 2:00 p.m., in the Maintenance Department, at 1345 Wilson Hall Road, Sumter, SC 29150.

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The following units are up for auction: M. ROSS- E24- MISC FURN, TOOLS, TOTES, BAGS-DOORS, CASING, FRIDGE MISC FURN, M-ROSS-D12MATTRESSES, BAG

774-1234

3BR/2BA (Dalzell) with land. Easy Financing. 803-983-8084

MINS WALMART/SHAW AC +/- SEPTIC, WATER $12,900. 888-774-5720 DALZELL 16.57 ACRES WATER, PAVED ROAD $2250/ACRE 888-774-5720

Autos For Sale

I’ve never seen so many cars and people! What do you think is going on over there?

RENTALS

For Sale or Trade

Bid Notices

Looking for your DREAM HOME? LOW CREDIT SCORE? Been turned down for bad credit? Come try us, we do our own financing. We have 2-3-4 bedroom homes. For more information, call 843-389-4215.

Land & Lots for Sale

302 N Wise Dr Sat 7-1 Wise Dr Church of the Nazarene Family Bake and yard sale.

Miscellaneous

UNITS FOR AUCTION A-26 Cynthia Wilson A-56 Mary Miller A-58 Eddie Morris A-64 Antonio D. Oliver C-26 Anthony Talbott E-26 Annette Robinson H-31 Jacqueline Pringle

(2) 2BR in Windsor City. Both occupied. $400 profit per month. $8,000 CASH for both. 803-469-6978

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

1718 Jessica Dr Sat 8-12 Furniture, dishes, books, pictures, Lots of misc items.

1964 Buick Rivera 425 v8 runs. All Original. New paint. $10,000 OBO. Call 506-4600

Legal Notice Do you need towing storage? If you have a tow truck but need more storage, call 983-3227. No monthly rental, just part of fees.

Multi-family, 5401 Meadow Dr. Hwy 441 Shaw. Fri, 3 -7p, Sat. 7a- 12. Furn., decor, Plus sz, infant, AVON

Housekeeping, low rates, References, Mother sits with elderly. Call 803-406-2418

PUBLIC AUCTION

Commercial Rentals

Yard Sale 400 Colony Rd. Friday & Saturday 7-12 noon. Household items.

Work Wanted

Autos For Sale

SUMTER EAST SELF STORAGE 800 MYRTLE BEACH HWY. AUCTION SEPTEMBER 13, 2014

2 & 3 BRs 803-494-4015

SW 2BR/1BAMH loc on Rental lot in park. $6,500. Owner financing avail. Call 803-464-5757.

Estate Auction From the Living Estate of LeNora Weatherly Conducted by Tommy Atkinson SCAL 3879 assisted by Bill's Furniture & Antiques. Go to auctionzip.com for photo's and details. Auction to be held at 2131 Hwy 15 N on September 13th 9am

Legal Notice

STATEBURG COURTYARD

Local Insurance Agency representing major auto insurer seeks P & C agent. Experience in auto and home preferred. Excellent oral, written and organizational skills required. Reply with resume to: agentjobsumter@aol.com

Pretty is ....... You! Avon by Vi, ISR. $15 to start. Let's talk 803-934-6292 or join online today! www.startavon.com Ref: Viola

TRANSPORTATION

3 BR 2 BA MH C/H/A, carpet, Kitchen w/all appli., LR , DR $700 Mo.+ $700 Deposit. Call 469-9800 or 1-610-809-1691

Grill cook needed. Must be able to work early mornings & some weekend nights. Flexible hours. Must apply in person between 2 pm - 4 pm. J & L Stop & Go, 2114 Hwy 521 S. just past Continental Tire.

382 Seminole Rd. 2 Family sale, Fri., 9am-? Sat & Sun, 7am-? Pool tbl, hot tub, hsehold

Ray Tobias & Company Septic tank pumping & services. (803) 340-1155. Ask about other discounts. $10 off for new customers when you mention this ad! www.raytobiasseptic.com

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted Part-Time

Roofing Robert's Metal Roofing 35 Years Experience. 18 colors & 45 year warranty. Financing available. Long list of satisfied customers. Call 803-837-1549.

53 W. Wesmark Blvd.

Rooms for Rent

Well, I was told she’s having one of those ‘Garage Sales.’ Can you imagine?! Minnie told me she made over $100 last time she had one... Just by placing a Classified Ad in

Large BR for rent. Near Sumter Mall & transportation. Call 803-565-5267 ask for Treasure.

Unfurnished Homes 2 & 3BR Apt & houses available in Sumter. No Sec. Dep. required. Call 773-8402 for more info. Meadowcroft S/D, Move in Sept. 1st, Beautiful, spacious, clean 3 Br, 2.5 ba, bonus rm, 0.5 ac. Fenced in backyard, tile / hdwd floors, deck, sprinkler, 2 car garage. $1600 mo. + ele. & water. 847-0115. 1850 Campbell Ct 3BR 1BA Brick Home $650 Mo+ $650 Dep. Option to buy -Owner Financing. Call 803 968-4185

A Guaranteed Credit Approval AUTO LOANS We will arrange financing even if you have been turned down before. Loans available for no credit, bad credit, 1st Time Buyers & Bankruptcy buyers. No co-signers needed. Call Mr. Ashley Brown at 803-926-3235

Do you think we should have one and place an ad? It sure would help with Spring Cleaning!

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

Mayo’s Summer Clearance Sale! Spring & Summer Sports Coats

Buy 1, Get 1 FREE

Linen & Seer Sucker Suits Sizes 36-46 $99.95 Sizes 48-60 $109.95

If your suits aren’t becoming to you, It’s a good time to be coming to Mayo’s! Wesmark Plaza • 773-2262 • Mon-Sat 10-7 • www.MayosDiscountSuits.com