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County gets clean audit for fiscal 2016 Council still plans to sell spec building

The audit report states that the county ended the fiscal year 2016 with approximately $47.2 million in general fund revenues and $52.2 million in general fund expenditures, with an approximate $5 million difference. Thirty-seven percent of the county’s expenditures went toward public safety and 30 percent was spent on general government administration, according to the report. The report also states that the county’s capital assets increased by more

BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Sumter County Council received an unmodified opinion, or clean audit, from Webster Rogers LLP during its regular meeting on Tuesday.

than $5 million with the purchase of approximately $4.3 million in land and facility construction; about $685,000 in patrol vehicles for the sheriff’s office and fire department equipment; and about $785,000 in public works equipment. In other news, county council approved second reading of an ordinance to authorize the option and sale of the county spec building on North Wise Drive to a potential investor, a South Carolina limited liability company,

only identified as Project Volcano. According to a draft of the option agreement, the purchaser will make an initial payment of $50,000 to the county on the effective date, which had not been set as of Tuesday evening. The initial payment will comprise a $10,000 consideration payment and $40,000 as an earnest money deposit. The total cost for the building is $225,000

SEE COUNCIL, PAGE A7

SUMTER SCHOOL DISTRICT

Confusion, frustration at marathon meeting

PHOTOS BY RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM

Sumter School District Superintendent Frank Baker, left, was asked by trustee the Rev. Ralph Canty, right, why the financial director for the district doesn’t attend board meetings to answer budget questions. Left, Bernadette R. Hampton, president of the South Carolina Education Association, addresses the Sumter School District Board of Trustees Monday night at Mayewood Middle School.

District official clarifies changes to financial report; board members still seeking answers about projects BY BRUCE MILLS bruce@theitem.com The Sumter School District’s executive director of finance says a relatively easy explanation can be made for many changes to a financial report that board members were confused about during Monday’s board meeting and caused two Sumter School Board members

to lament once again about the district’s financial reporting. Board members Johnny Hilton and the Rev. Ralph Canty made their opinions and feelings known Monday night at the trustees’ regular monthly board meeting at Mayewood Middle School, 4300 E. Brewington Road.

Right, former Sumter Mayor Steve Creech asks the Sumter School Board to get its affairs in order because the long-term impact of poor decisions could affect Shaw Air Force Base.

SEE BOARD, PAGE A7

Ten candidates vie for District 70 S.C. state house seat BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com Ten people are active candidates for the South Carolina House of Representatives District 70 seat that became vacant when Rep. Joe Neal of Hopkins passed away Jan. 14. According to www.scvotes.org, three candidates from Sumter County are now entered in the race, including Democratic candidates Patrick Morris of Sumter and Jermaine Walker of Pinewood. In addition, Bill Strickland of Sumter has filed his candidacy for the Republican Party

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nomination. Strickland is the only Republican candidate running for the seat. In addition to Morris and Walker, Democratic candidates include Wendy Brawley, Norma Jackson and George B. Wilson from Hopkins, Erin Brown and H. Heath Hill from Eastover, Harry Reese Sr. from Columbia and Levola Taylor from Gadsden. The primary election will be May 2, with a run off election May 16, if needed. Unless there is an unexpected write-in campaign for the Republican nomination or he withdraws,

Strickland will be on the ballot as a Republican for the June 20 election. The election is running concurrently with the U.S. House of Representatives District 5 election to replace Mick Mulvaney, who left the seat to became director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget for the Trump administration. Sumter County Democratic Party Chairman Allen Daily said he was not familiar with most of the candidates for the Democratic nomination other than Morris, who he said has long been active in the local Demo-

DEATHS, B5 and B6 John H. McJunkin Charles W. Troublefield Christopher A. Bailey Charles J. James Albert Vaughn Vera L. Jones

Donald R. Fink Lillie B. Floyd Richard B. Griffin Luther Harriott James L. Wilson Jessie L. Jenkins

cratic Party. Daily said Walker had contacted him recently but he has not yet spoken with him. Wilson said he is the son of S. George Wilson, who held the District 70 seat as a Democrat from 1974 to 1978. He said he currently works with his father doing construction work. Wilson said he has bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice and political science from Benedict College. Brawley said she is small business owner who publishes “IMARA

SEE SEAT, PAGE A7

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Sunny, breezy and cold today with no chance of rain; tonight, very cold. HIGH 48, LOW 23

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017

THE SUMTER ITEM

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

Sheriff Dennis opposes ‘tricky’ marijuana legislation BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com

He said the bills could also encourage drug dealers to increase their activity or encourage dealers who have left the state to come back. As they are written, the bills do not require FDA regulations, so the drug cannot be sold at a pharmacy and a doctor cannot prescribe medical marijuana to a patient, DENNIS Dennis said. A doctor would only be able to create a document indicating that medical marijuana will be beneficial to the patient’s health and the patient would take that document to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control for a registry card, he said. Although there is a limit to the amount of medical marijuana a card

Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis shared his concerns with the medical marijuana bills currently under review by the state house and senate during the Sumter Rotary Club luncheon on Monday at the O’Donnell House. He said the legislation is filled with trickery because it does little to regulate the strength of the marijuana and the amount a patient can have access to at one time. Dennis said he is not opposed to the use of remedies that could assist people with medical conditions but opposes the language of the bills. The language of the bills could have more negative effects on the community than positive, he said.

LOCAL BRIEFS FROM STAFF REPORTS

holder can have according to the bills, Dennis said there are many opportunities for abuse. Under the proposed legislation, a patient can possess no more than 2 ounces of marijuana at a time but a designated caregiver can posses no more than 5 ounces per patient at any given time, he said. A caregiver can have no more than five patients but there is no limit on the number a patients a caregiver at a residential facility can have, he said. A caregiver, according to the bills, is someone who is at least 21 years old, unless they are the parent of the patient, and they do not need to have a medical background, he said. Dennis said 2 ounces of marijuana is enough to make 80 to 120 marijuana cigarettes. He said the bills are also lenient on the requirements for dispensaries and

dispensary operators. Dispensary employees do not need to have medical training and the business is not required to have malpractice insurance, Dennis said. The legislation requires that employees be at least 21 years old and do not have a felony conviction within five years prior to being hired, he said. But the legislation does not list disqualifying charges and the no felony charge requirement can be waived, Dennis said. The “neighborhood pot shops” could be opened in commercial zones in the city and county and the planning boards cannot do anything to stop them from opening, he said. He said the bills are gaining support and even if the governor vetoes the legislation, a two-thirds vote from the legislators could override his vote.

Red Cross Month in Sumter Sumter Mayor Joe McElveen signed a city proclamation Thursday declaring March as Red Cross Month. Flanking McElveen are Rebecca Jordan, chapter executive for the Central Carolina Chapter of the Red Cross, left, and Nancy Cataldo, regional director of services to armed forces. Back row, from left, are Sheila Davis, volunteer; Gerald Jennings, disaster program specialist for the Red Cross; and Jennie Geddings, volunteer. The proclamation signed by McElveen on Thursday states that the month of March is dedicated to those who support the commitment of American Red Cross and its service to the community.

Rembert organization hosts final day of tax fair Rembert Area Community Coalition and SC Thrive will host the final day of its tax fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at RACC Administration, 8455 Camden Highway, Rembert. The event is free and open to the public, based on income. To be eligible, those filing as single should have an income of $65,000 or less, and joint filers’ combined income must be $95,000 or less. SC Thrive representatives will be present to assist in filing federal and state income taxes electronically. As spaces are limited, those wishing assistance must call ahead for an appointment. Contact RACC at (803) 432-2001 or (803) 420-1255 for a reservation. For more information on SC Thrive, visit the website www. scthrive.org.

Marines will train at Poinsett Combat range U.S. Marines from Marine Wing Support Detachment 31 in Beaufort will conduct training operations at Poinsett Range through Thursday during evening hours and March 21 to 30 during extended hours. The Marines will practice Joint Tactical Air Control operations with F/A-18 Hornets from Marine Aircraft Group 31. During this time, the Marines will convoy several vehicles on South Carolina Highway 120 to include heavy equipment and weapons without ammunition. Those who live near the range may experience louder than normal noise outside of regular daytime training hours. For more information, contact the 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs office at 20FWPublicAffairs@us.af.mil or (803) 895-2015.

CORRECTIONS If you see a statement in error, contact the City Desk at 774-1226 or pressrelease@theitem.com.

RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM

Historical society will announce essay, scholarship winners FROM STAFF REPORTS Sumter County Historical Society will present awards to the five winners of its annual Myrtis Osteen Essay Contest and to the winner of its scholarship at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Heritage Education Center of Sumter County Museum, 122 N. Washington St. Both competitions are held in order to further the society’s mission to encourage interest in the history of the Sumter area. During the meeting, the five essayists will be introduced and will read their essays, all written on the theme “The Value of History to Me.” The students, who represent grades nine through 12, will receive prizes totaling $1,150. The competition sponsored by Beauregard Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Sumter County Historical Commission

and Sumter County Historical Society was open to all Sumter County high school students, who were asked to submit a two- to three-page essay on the topic that is unchanged since it began. This year marks the 13th year for the essay contest, named for Myrtis Ginn Osteen, who was a OSTEEN co-founder of both Sumter County Historical Commission and Sumter County Historical Society. She was a Sumter resident for 65 years and died at the age of 80. Her interest in preserving local history earned her an outstanding service award from the Daughters of the American Revolution; she was also named Sumter County historian in 1988. Osteen collected historical material

and kept her archives in her home on Magnolia Street for many years; they are now located at Sumter County Museum. The Sumter County Historical Society Scholarship is open to Sumter County high school seniors who plan to continue their education beyond graduation. There is only one recipient annually; he or she will receive a $1,000 scholarship. Michael Carraher, a member of the society’s board, is in charge of its essay contests and scholarships projects, and Dr. William Ferrell coordinates the judging of both. The public is invited to the 3 p.m. Sunday Student Recognition Program in Sumter County Museum’s Heritage Education Center, 122 N. Washington St. Refreshments will be served after the program. For more information, call the museum at (803) 775-0908.

HOW TO REACH US IS YOUR PAPER MISSING? ARE YOU GOING ON VACATION? 36 W. Liberty St., Sumter, S.C. 29150 (803) 774-1200 Jack Osteen Editor and Publisher / Advertising jack@theitem.com (803) 774-1238 Michele Barr Rick Carpenter Business Manager Managing Editor michele@theitem.com rick@theitem.com (803) 774-1249 (803) 774-1201 Gail Mathis Jeff West Clarendon Bureau Manager Customer Service Manager gail@theitem-clarendonsun.com jeff@theitem.com (803) 435-4716 (803) 774-1259

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The Sumter Item is published five days a week except for July 4, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day (unless those fall on a Sunday) by Osteen Publishing Co., 36 W. Liberty St., Sumter, SC 29150. Periodical postage paid at Sumter, SC 29150. Postmaster: Send address changes to Osteen Publishing Co., 36 W. Liberty St., Sumter, SC 29150 Publication No. USPS 525-900

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House seeks to zero out Public Safety director BY SEANNA ADCOX The Associated Press COLUMBIA — Legislators voted Tuesday to fire the director of South Carolina’s Department of Public Safety through the state budget, saying his micromanaging is decimating trooper ranks. The House voted 76-20 to eliminate the director’s position and reduce the agency’s funding. If the clause remains in the 2017-18 budget, which is still being debated, it would effectively fire Leroy Smith, who’s been at the helm since November 2011. Smith “has destroyed the morale at the highway patrol,” said House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford, DColumbia, who proposed the budget amendment. Smith is one of three black Cabinet leaders. Rutherford, who is black, said Smith told the Legislative Black Caucus earlier this year complaints about his leadership were due to racism. A House Oversight SMITH panel has been investigating the Department of Public Safety. “As I delved down into the details and the data, it was clear he is the problem,” Rutherford said. “The reality is nobody wants to work for him, so they’re quitting. The reality is that the people he hires, he fires. It’s a total waste of state resources because we’re training these troopers for him to fire them for the silliest of reasons.” A spokesman for Smith didn’t immediately respond to questions. Rep. Russell Ott, D-St. Matthews, said Smith’s employment is a decision for the governor. “Let the governor, who wants that responsibility and power, own it,” he said. But Rep. Mike Pitts, RLaurens, said the move represents legislators’ only recourse. Both former Gov. Nikki Haley, who appointed Smith, and Gov. Henry McMaster, who ascended to the office in January, have rejected calls to fire the Cabinet director, he said.

“The budget process is the only way we have to speak our mind about what’s going on,” said Pitts, a retired Greenville police officer who leads a Ways and Means panel that writes state law enforcement sections of the budget. McMaster spokesman Brian Symmes said the governor takes legislators’ concerns seriously but is not considering firing Smith. Under current state law, the DPS director serves a fouryear term, but the governor can fire the agency’s leader at any time for a variety of reasons. “The governor is supportive of Director Smith,” Symmes said. The Department of Public Safety oversees the state Highway Patrol, the state Transport Police and Bureau of Protective Services. Legislators say the problems are mainly with the troopers. Pitts attributes high turnover in the Highway Patrol to low morale due to troopers’ fears of being fired and worries Smith won’t support their roadside decisions if someone complains. Rep. Eddie Tallon said troopers have told him if a stop “looks like it will be a problem,” they return to their vehicle and drive away. “The DPS under Director Smith is not safe,” said Tallon, R-Spartanburg, a retired State Law Enforcement Division officer. According to House Oversight data, troopers wrote 164,000 fewer warnings and tickets from 2013 through 2016. Rutherford also cited fatality statistics, with a 30 percent rise in collisions and fatalities in that same time frame. But Rep. Justin Bamberg said much of that can be explained by the state’s crumbling roads and bridges. “The tone of the agency among troopers is, ‘If I make the smallest mistake, I can’t feed my children.’ That is a problem, but I don’t think this is the way to do it,” said the Democrat from Bamberg, whose brother is a trooper. “We can’t just beat up on Director Smith and the Highway Patrol. We’ve got to fix our roads.”

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STATE | NATION

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017

THE SUMTER ITEM

15 register for 5th Congressional District race BY BRISTOW MARCHANT The State The 5th District ballot is set for the special election to succeed Republican Mick Mulvaney in Congress. Seven Republicans, three Democrats and five third-party candidates filed for the 5th District race before Monday’s noon filing deadline. A third Democrat joined the race. Meanwhile, a GOP candidate dropped out, endorsing a third-party challenger. Democrat Les Murphy announced his candidacy over the weekend. The Indian Land Marine veteran works with the nonprofit Carolina Veterans Commission. Murphy’s own announcement notes he is a “political unknown” but contends his eight years in the Marines

and work with the veterans community could make him a “potential favorite” with military voters. Murphy is the third Democrat to enter the race, joining Sumter’s Archie Parnell, a former senior adviser at Goldman Sachs, and Alexis Frank, a student and Army veteran. On the GOP side, former congressional candidate Ray Craig became the seventh candidate to file. Craig, a former nonprofit aid worker, won 21 percent of the vote in his 2016 GOP primary challenge against Mulvaney, who resigned to join the Trump administration. Now, Craig hopes he can capitalize on his name recognition in the district. “I thought to defer to the old lions in (Tommy) Pope and (Ralph) Norman,” Craig said, referring to the two York

County GOP legislators running for the seat. “But if you’re going to drain the swamp, you don’t send one of two swamp monsters up there.” The other Republican candidates are: former S.C. GOP chairman Chad Connelly of Newberry; anti-Common Core education activist Sheri Few of Lugoff; Camden attorney and S.C. State Guard commander Tom Mullikin; former state Rep. Norman; S.C. House Speaker Pro Tempore Pope; and Indian Land attorney Kris Wampler. Meanwhile, Penry Gustafson, who previously announced, dropped out of the race for the Republican nomination, endorsing American Party candidate Josh Thornton, a Rock Hill educator. Gustafson said she thought running as a Republican would be the only via-

ble way to win in South Carolina but, ultimately, decided the small, centrist American Party was a better fit for her moderate beliefs. “The American Party addresses our growing political dysfunction and offers more choices for the voting public.” Thornton won’t be the only thirdparty candidate on the ballot. David Kulma will be the Green Party candidate, and 2016 U.S. Senate candidate Bill Bledsoe has filed for both the Libertarian and Constitution Party nominations. Bledsoe faces a challenge from two other Libertarian candidates, Nathaniel Cooper and Victor Kocher, the party’s 2014 Senate nominee. Primary elections will be held May 2. Voters will pick their congressman in a special election June 20.

Northeast gets clobbered by a sloppy late-season storm NEW YORK (AP) — A sloppy, blustery late-season storm lashed the Northeast with sleet and more than a foot of snow in places Tuesday, paralyzing much of the Washington-toBoston corridor after a remarkably mild February had lulled people into thinking the worst of winter was over. The powerful nor’easter grounded nearly 6,000 flights, knocked out power to almost a quarter-million customers from Virginia northward, closed schools in cities big and small and prompted dire warnings to stay off the roads. Amtrak suspended service and the post office halted mail delivery. As the morning wore on, the storm track shifted slightly and snow switched to sleet in Philadelphia and New York, prompting forecasters to lift blizzard warnings for the two big cities and cut their prediction of a foot or more of snow by over half. But Boston was still in the crosshairs, with up to a foot expected in the metropolitan area and gusts up to 75 mph forecast along the Massachusetts coast. And inland areas up and down the Northeast got clobbered. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, received at least a foot of snow, and Wantage, New Jersey, got at least 17 inches. New York’s Hudson Valley had up to 20 inches by midafternoon. “The winters seem to be upside down now. January and February are nice and then March and April seem to be more wintry than they were in the past,” said Bob Clifford, who ventured out on an early morning grocery run for his family in Altamont, near Albany, New York. His advice: “Just hide inside. Hibernate.”

A 16-year-old girl was killed in New Hampshire after she lost control of her car on a snowy road and hit a tree. But many other people were home, and stayed there, when the storm rolled in Monday night and Tuesday morning. “Good day to make brownies ... and or read a book,” said Gov. Dannel P. Malloy of Connecticut, which was expecting up to 2 feet of snow in some areas. The above-ground portions of the New York subway system were shut down, and the flight cancellations included nearly 3,300 in the New York City area alone. Hundreds of passengers were stranded at airports. Laura and Matthew Balderstone of West Yorkshire, England, intended to spend their honeymoon in Florida but found themselves stuck at the Newark, New Jersey, airport and couldn’t find a hotel room. “It’s better safe than sorry, especially flying. I suppose it’s a shame that we can’t get another way around this. It’s just the way it is, unfortunately,” Matthew Balderstone said. In the nation’s capital, the federal government announced a three-hour delayed arrival for non-emergency employees, with an option to take the day off or telecommute. The nor’easter came a week after the region saw temperatures climb into the 60s, and less than a week before the official start of spring. A few days ago, workers on Washington’s National Mall were making plans to turn on the fountains. “Obviously all that has to come to an abrupt stop until we get all the snow cleared,” said Jeff Gowen, the acting facility manager for the National Mall and Memorial Parks.

A pedestrian crosses East Broadway during a snowstorm on Tuesday in the Chinatown neighborhood of New York City. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kolb, Murphy & Givens, Attorneys at Law, LLC announces the association of Suzanna R. MacLean University of Nebraska at Lincoln, BA University of South Carolina School of Law, JD Practicing Law in Sumter Since 2012 Areas of Practice: Bankruptcy • Real Estate Family and Marital Law • Criminal Defense Personal Injury • Social Security Disability

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THE SUMTER ITEM

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017

Rotarians pick up litter along Wesmark

Charleston workers find buried bones

Sumter Rotary club members (left to right) Michael Sonntag, Jonathan Zimpleman, Charlie Allen and Joshua Hanes pose for a photo after doing a Roadside Cleanup along Wesmark Boulevard recently. Several times a year Rotarians from the Sumter Rotary Club gather early Saturday mornings to pick up trash along the Wesmark corridor.

CHARLESTON (AP) — Workers on a drainage project in Charleston have found human bones buried near a high school athletic field. Local media reported work at the site near Burke High School has stopped while archaeologists study the remains. Charleston attorney Susan Herdina says one intact skeleton and other separate bones were found beneath the 13acre athletic field. Herdina says the coroner’s office has been notified. Archaeologists are checking the land around the site. Other gravesites have been found in the area in recent years, including 340 graves under the Citadel’s football stadium. Historians think the area was used as a burial site in the 19th and early 20th centuries for sailors, Civil War soldiers and the city’s poor. Herdina says the archaeologists will advise the city on how to proceed.

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THE SUMTER ITEM

Obama’s last year: U.S. spent $36 million in records lawsuits BY TED BRIDIS Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Obama administration in its final year in office spent a record $36.2 million on legal costs defending its refusal to turn over federal records under the Freedom of Information Act, according to an Associated Press analysis of new U.S. data that also showed poor performance in other categories measuring transparency in government. For a second consecutive year, the Obama administration set a record for times federal employees told citizens, journalists and others that despite searching they couldn’t find a single page of files that were requested. And it set records for outright denial of access to files, refusing to quickly consider requests described as especially newsworthy, and forcing people to pay for records who had asked the government to waive search and copy fees. The government acknowledged when challenged that it had been wrong to initially refuse to turn over all or parts of records in more than onethird of such cases, the highest rate in at least six years. In courtrooms, the number of lawsuits filed by news organizations under the Freedom of Information Act surged during the past four years, led by the New York Times, Center for Public Integrity and The Associated Press, according to a litigation study by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University. The AP on Mon-

AP FILE PHOTO

The State Department sign is used as a backdrop at the State Department in Washington. The Obama administration in its final year in office spent a record $36.2 million on legal costs defending its refusal to turn over federal records under the Freedom of Information Act, according to an Associated Press analysis of new U.S. data that also showed poor performance in other categories measuring transparency in government. For a second consecutive year, the Obama administration set a record for times federal employees told citizens, journalists and others that despite searching they couldn’t find a single page of files that were requested. day settled its 2015 lawsuit against the State Department for files about Hillary Clinton’s time as secretary of state, at AP’s request, and received $150,546 from the department to cover part of its legal fees. The AP has pending lawsuits against the FBI for records about its decision to impersonate an AP journalist during a criminal investigation and about who helped the FBI hack into a mass shooting suspect’s iPhone and how much the government paid to do it. Of the $36.2 million in legal costs fighting such lawsuits

last year, the Justice Department accounted for $12 million, the Homeland Security Department for $6.3 million and the Pentagon for $4.8 million. The three departments accounted for more than half the government’s total records requests last year. The figures reflect the final struggles of the Obama administration during the 2016 election to meet President Obama’s pledge that it was “the most transparent administration in history,” despite wide recognition of serious problems coping with requests under the information

law. It received a record 788,769 requests for files last year and spent a record $478 million answering them and employed 4,263 full-time FOIA employees across more than 100 federal departments and agencies. That was higher by 142 such employees the previous year. A spokesman for former President Obama did not immediately respond to an email request for comment late Monday. The White House under Obama routinely defended its efforts under the information law in recent years and said federal employees worked diligently on such requests for records. It remains unclear how President Trump’s administration will perform under the Freedom of Information Act or other measures of government transparency. Trump has not spoken extensively about transparency. In his private business and his presidential campaign, Trump required employees and advisers to sign non-disclosure agreements that barred them from discussing their work. His administration has barred some mainstream news organizations from campaign rallies and one White House press briefing. And Trump broke with tradition by refusing to disclose his tax returns. Trump’s secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, is traveling to Asia this week on a small plane without a contingent of journalists or a designated pool reporter who would send reports to the broader diplomatic press corps, de-

parting from 50 years of practice. Overall, in the final year of Obama’s administration, people who asked for records under the law received censored files or nothing in 77 percent of requests, about the same as the previous year. In the first full year after Obama’s election, that figure was only 65 percent of cases. The government released the new figures in the days ahead of Sunshine Week, which ends Sunday, when news organizations promote open government and freedom of information. Under the records law, citizens and foreigners can compel the U.S. government to turn over copies of federal records for zero or little cost. Anyone who seeks information through the law is generally supposed to get it unless disclosure would hurt national security, violate personal privacy or expose business secrets or confidential decisionmaking in certain areas.

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THE SUMTER ITEM

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017

PHOTOS BY RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM

Sumter School District Board of Trustees member Johnny Hilton, left, holds up a capital expense document that he’s asking a question about to Superintendent Frank Baker, right.

BOARD FROM PAGE A1 When a quarterly capital projects report was first made to the board by Superintendent Frank Baker on Feb. 27, it lacked any listing of two current, major renovation projects of elementary school cafeterias in the school district. After tabling the agenda item, Baker and his finance staff made necessary additions to the report with the district’s accounting software,

and the updated report was sent out to board members for their review in advance of Monday’s meeting. However, district staff didn’t inform board members that its accounting software automatically updates unpaid purchase orders — also known as encumbrances — depending on the date the report is run. In addition, an original budget column was allocated against expenditures and unpaid purchase orders as they were posted in the computer system, according to an email Tuesday

COUNCIL FROM PAGE A1 Later, during public comment, multiple residents of Scott’s Branch Road stated their concerns with the status of the roadway. Many of the people who spoke mentioned safety for people in the area,

mainly children, saying that craters form in the road after heavy rain. One woman said the ditches along the road are getting bigger while the road is getting smaller. Another resident said the road has also become a place for illegal activity because it is difficult to travel and therefore isolated except for the residents.

SEAT FROM PAGE A1 Women Magazine.” She has a bachelor’s degree from USC and a Master of Business Administration degree from Webster University. Brawley said she is a former member and chair of the Richland One Board of Commissioners and she said has previously run for a seat in the S.C. Senate. She has been married to Paul Brawley for 36 years, she said. Hill is a farmer and president of the Tri-County Electric Coop Board of Directors. He has been married to Christi for 22 years, he said. Hill said he farms cotton, corn, wheat and peanuts “right over the river” near Eastover. Taylor said she worked for the state government for 32 years including as a school teacher in the Richland One School District. She said she also has experience in the S.C. House after serving two years filling out a term after the previous office holder was involved in the Operation Lost Trust scandal in 1990. She also served on the Richland One Board of Commissioners, she said. Taylor said she is a graduate of Benedict College and has taken advanced studies at USC. She is married to Zach Taylor and has three grown children, she said. The Item spoke very briefly with Harry Reese Sr. who said he is a licensed social worker, and CEO of his own company. Strickland retired from the Air Force after 22 years of active duty and also worked

from Nancy McMillian, the district’s executive director of finance. So, when the capital projects report was run two weeks later by district staff with the accounting software, various line items were adjusted because they had been paid during the time frame. The result was an updated report with numerous major changes in budgeted line items, and board members said they didn’t know why. They were just expecting the updated report to include the two cafeteria projects that had been left

as a civilian at Shaw Air Force Base as technical director. He said he has a Mas-

Financial consultant Scott Allan discusses the impact of a bond-rating change to the Sumter School District Board of Trustees Monday night at Mayewood Middle School. off the first report two weeks earlier and not further updates based on bills paid. “We did a complete update, that’s why the numbers changed,” Baker said at the meeting. Hilton and Canty said they were frustrated because that was not what they requested and the dates provided at the top of the report were still listed as July 1, 2016, to Jan. 31, 2017. “We only needed the up-

A county public works employee also said the road is dangerous and that one end of the road has become too narrow for two cars to pass at one time. Sumter School District Superintendent Frank Baker who also attended the meeting said more than 20 students get dropped off on Scott’s

ter’s Degree and professional certification in information technology. He is married to Sandi Strickland. He is also treasurer for the Sumter County Republican Party

dates to the cafeteria projects,” Hilton said. In other matters, Hilton announced that the board’s finance committee will meet on Thursday at 10 a.m. at the district office, 1345 Wilson Hall Road. Monday’s meeting was filled with banter, a public participation period, a lengthy executive session and lasted more than 6½ hours before it adjourned at 12:45 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Branch Road by bus. He said buses are actually not allowed to make stops on the road after heavy rain because the vehicles could get stuck. It costs about $500 to pull each bus out, he said. Councilman Chris Sumpter said the road is on the county’s list of roads to be paved.

and a Clemson Extension Service Master Gardener, he said. Rueben Martin, who was previously listed as a candidate for the District 70 seat

reportedly withdrew from the race. Brown, Walker, Jackson and Morris could not be reached for comment as of deadline.

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NATION

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017

THE SUMTER ITEM

City alleges drugmaker let OxyContin flood black market EVERETT, Wash. (AP) — As deaths from painkillers and heroin abuse spiked and street crimes increased, the mayor of Everett took major steps to tackle the opioid epidemic devastating this working-class city north of Seattle. Mayor Ray Stephanson stepped up patrols, hired social workers to ride with officers and pushed for more permanent housing for chronically homeless people. The city says it has spent millions combating OxyContin and heroin abuse — and expects the tab to rise. So Everett is suing Purdue Pharma, maker of the opioid pain medication OxyContin, in an unusual case that alleges the drugmaker knowingly allowed pills to be funneled into the black market and the city of about 108,000. Everett alleges the drugmaker did nothing to stop it and must pay for damages caused to the community. Everett’s lawsuit, now in federal court in Seattle, accuses Purdue Pharma of gross negligence and nuisance. The city seeks to hold the company accountable, the lawsuit alleges, for “supplying OxyContin to obviously suspicious pharmacies and physicians and enabling the illegal diversion of OxyContin into the black market” and into Everett, despite a company program to track suspicious flows. “Our community has been significantly damaged, and we need to be made whole,” said Stephanson, who grew up in Everett and is its longestserving mayor, holding the job since 2003. He said the opioid crisis caused by “Purdue’s drive for profit” has overwhelmed the city’s resources, stretching everyone from first responders to park crews who clean up discarded syringes. The lawsuit doesn’t say how much money the city is seeking, but the mayor says Everett will attempt to quantify its costs in coming months. Connecticut-based Purdue Pharma

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Leroy Henry, center, steps out of his tent in the woods to talk with police officer Kevin Davis, left, and Sgt. Mike Braley in Everett, Washington. As overdose deaths from opioids and heroin spiked, the mayor of Everett took steps to tackle the epidemic devastating this working-class city north of Seattle. Mayor Ray Stephanson has spent thousands to clean up streets, hire social workers to ride along with police officers and build permanent housing for the chronically homeless. says the lawsuit paints a flawed and inaccurate picture of the events that led to the crisis in Everett. “We look forward to presenting the facts in court,” the company said in a statement. Purdue said it is “deeply troubled by the abuse and misuse of our medication,” and noted it leads the industry in developing medicines with proper-

ties that deter abuse, even though its products account for less than 2 percent of all U.S. opioid prescriptions. In 2007, Purdue Pharma and its executives paid more than $630 million in legal penalties to the federal government for willfully misrepresenting the drug’s addiction risks. The same year, it also settled with Washington and other states that claimed

the company aggressively marketed OxyContin to doctors while downplaying the addiction risk. As part of that settlement, it agreed to continue internal controls to identify potential diversion or abuse. MORE TO THE STORY Read on at www.theitem.com.

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

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017 H.G. Osteen 1870-1955 Founder, The Item

H.D. Osteen 1904-1987 The Item

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

36 W. Liberty St., Sumter, South Carolina 29150 • Founded October 15, 1894

COMMENTARY

End the partisan warfare on health care

OLUMBUS, Ohio — Americans are relying on leaders in Washington to fix health care, not engage in yet another unproductive partisan standoff. In 2010, one side of the political aisle in Congress, the Democrats, chose to “fix” health care unilaterally, without bipartisan support. The result was Obamacare, which has run up government spending while failing to drive down the cost of health care. John Now, with Kasich the political tables turned in Washington, the Republicans are starting down the same unilateral path, a course that can only further divide the nation. A true and lasting reform of the health insurance system must be accomplished by bringing the two sides together, not by replacing one divisive wedge with another. Throughout my career, I’ve learned that meaningful change happens only with bipartisan support. When I was chairman of the House Budget Committee in the 1990s, we were able to make over Pentagon spending, revamp welfare and balance the federal budget for the first time in decades because Democrats and Republicans made a commitment to work together. We disagreed and debated, but in the end we agreed to changes that strengthened our country. A responsible, and necessary, repeal and replacement of Obamacare must balance cost and coverage. It is unrealistic to think that cutting coverage saves any money, since we will only see uninsured people returning to the emergency room for their care — and walking away from unpaid bills. We can avoid that problem by embracing a plan that both preserves coverage for those who have it and achieves savings with badly needed Medicaid reforms. I have always opposed Obamacare and consistently called for it to be replaced with more conservative, market-driven reforms that actually control health care costs. Republican legislation now moving swiftly through the House takes steps in that direction. But the legislation also phases out the expanded Medicaid coverage that is in place in Ohio and 30 other states. Not having a viable alternative is counterproductive and unnecessarily puts at risk our

ability to treat the drug-addicted, mentally ill and working poor who now have access to a dependable source of care. Republicans and Democrats can start by working together to stabilize insurance markets, which are slipping into crisis in both red and blue states. Americans without access to employer-sponsored coverage or government plans like Medicare and Medicaid need to have a market that allows them to choose a health plan that ts their needs and is affordable. Some states, including Ohio, have reformed Medicaid programs to control costs while covering more people, proving that coverage and cost containment can be achieved together. States often serve as the laboratories of change, and Congress should listen to governors who have already done the work necessary to make our Medicaid programs more sustainable while preserving coverage for those who need it most. One of my first steps as governor was to rein in Medicaid costs. As a result, the state has bent the cost curve of Medicaid from more than 9 percent annual growth to below 3 percent. Today we’re providing better coordinated care, Ohio’s Medicaid program is financially stable and per-member spending has been at for over six years. We’ve been able to extend health care coverage to about 1 million Ohioans, more than 700,000 of them low-income adults. In my state, we believe that a job is the best anti-poverty program, so we are working to help neighbors who need a hand move up the economic ladder and get the skills and training they need. As we seek to do this, however, we can’t pull the ladder out from under them by taking away their health care. Health care is one of the most complex and pressing problems facing the country. If we are to establish a lasting and successful replacement for Obamacare, Republicans should reach across the aisle for help, and Democrats should accept the offer. Cutting Democrats out of the process will only make the results less effective. And if Democrats refuse to cooperate with Republicans, they will be forgoing the opportunity to solve a core problem for millions of Americans, including the most vulnerable, who are dependent on reliable health care coverage. John Kasich, a Republican, is the governor of Ohio.

FROM OUR TIMELINE @THEITEM

COMMENTARY

Is Turkey lost to the West?

ot long ago, a democratizing Turkey, with the second-largest army in NATO, appeared on track to join the European Union. That’s not likely now, or perhaps ever. Last week, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan compared Angela Merkel’s Germany to Hitler’s, said the Netherlands was full of ‘’Nazi remnants’’ and ‘’fascists,’’ and sugPat gested the Buchanan Dutch ambassador go home. What precipitated Erdogan’s outbursts? City officials in Germany refused to let him campaign in Turkish immigrant communities on behalf of an April 16 referendum proposal to augment his powers. When the Netherlands denied Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu landing rights, he exploded, saying: ‘’The Netherlands ... are reminiscent of the Europe of World War II. The same racism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, anti-Semitism.’’ When Turkey’s family and social policies minister, Betul Sayan Kaya, drove from Germany to Rotterdam to campaign, Dutch police blocked her from entering the Turkish consulate and escorted her back to Germany. Liberal Europeans see Erdogan’s referendum as a power grab by an unpredictable and volatile ruler who has fired 100,000 civil servants and jailed 40,000 Turks after last summer’s attempted coup, and is converting his country into a dictatorship. This crisis was tailormade for Geert Wilders, the anti-EU, anti-Muslim Dutch nationalist who is on the ballot in Wednesday’s Dutch general election. Claiming credit for the tough stance of conservative Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Wilders tweeted: ‘’I am telling all Turks in the Netherlands that agree with Erdogan: GO to Turkey and NEVER come back!’’ ‘’Wilders is a racist, fasThe Sumter Item is on Twitter @theitem. Follow us and keep your eye on what’s going on in the world! We will occasionally share a few noteworthy tweets with you here.

cist Nazi,’’ replied Cavusoglu. Wilders had been fading from his front-runner position, but this episode may have brought him back. While no major Dutch party would join a government led by Wilders, if he runs first in the election March 15, the shock to Europe would be tremendous. Rutte, however, who dominated the media through the weekend confrontation with the Turks, could be the beneficiary, as a resurgent nationalism pulls all parties toward the right. All Europe now seems to be piling on the Turks. Danes, Swedes and Swiss are taking Europe’s side against Erdogan. Marine Le Pen, leader of the populist National Front in France, called on the socialist regime to deny Turkish leaders permission to campaign in Turkish communities. She was echoed by conservative party candidate Francois Fillon, whose once-bright hopes for the presidency all but collapsed after it was learned his wife and children had held donothing jobs on the government payroll. On April 23 comes the first round of the French elections. And one outcome appears predictable. Neither of the major parties -- the socialists of President Francois Hollande or the Republicans of ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy -- may make it into the May 7 finals. Le Pen, the anti-EU populist who would lift sanctions on Putin’s Russia, is running even with 39-year-old Emmanuel Macron, a socialist running as the independent leader of a new movement. Should Le Pen run first in April, the shock to Europe would be far greater than when her father, JeanMarie Le Pen, made the finals in 2002. At the end of 2017, neither Wilders nor Le Pen is likely to be in power, but the forces driving their candidacies are growing stronger. Foremost among these is the gnawing ethnonational fear across Europe that the migration from the South -Maghreb, the Middle East and the sub-Sahara -- is unstoppable and will eventually swamp the countries, cul-

tures and civilization of Europe and the West. The ugly and brutal diplomatic confrontation with Turkey may make things worse, as the Turks, after generous payments from Germany, have kept Syrian civil war refugees from crossing its borders into Europe. Should Ankara open the gates, a new immigration crisis could engulf Europe this spring and summer. Other ethnonational crises are brewing in a familiar place, the Balkans, among the successor states born of the 1990s breakup of Yugoslavia. In Bosnia, secessionists seek to pull the Serb Republic away from Sarajevo toward Belgrade. The Albanian minority in Macedonia is denouncing political discrimination. The Serbs left behind after Kosovo broke loose in 1999, thanks to 78 days of U.S. bombing of Serbia, have never been reconciled to their fate. Montenegro has charged Russia with backing an attempted coup late last year to prevent the tiny nation from joining NATO. The Financial Times sees Vladimir Putin’s hand in what is going on in the Western Balkans, where World War I was ignited with the June 1914 assassination of the Austrian archduke in Sarajevo. The upshot of all this: Turkey, a powerful and reliable ally of the U.S. through the Cold War, appears to be coming unmoored from Europe and the West, and is becoming increasingly sectarian, autocratic and nationalistic. While anti-immigrant and anti-EU parties across Europe may not take power anywhere in 2017, theirs is now a permanent and growing presence, leeching away support from centrist parties left and right. With Russia’s deepening ties to populist and nationalist parties across Europe, from Paris to Istanbul, Vlad is back in the game. Patrick J. Buchanan is the author of the new book ‘’The Greatest Comeback: How Richard Nixon Rose From Defeat to Create the New Majority.’’

HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? Send your letter to letters@theitem.com, drop it off at The Sumter Item office, 36 W. Liberty St., or mail it to The Sumter Item, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, SC 29151, along with the writer’s full name, address and telephone number (for verification purposes only). Letters that exceed 350 words will be cut accordingly in the print edition, but available in their entirety at www.theitem.com/opinion/letters_to_editor.

A10

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017

SUPPORT GROUPS Tuesday, 5:30-7 p.m., Birnie AA, AL-ANON, ALATEEN: HOPE Center, 210 S. Purdy St. AA — Monday-Friday, noon March 15, 2017 Support Groups: Open to anyone who has lost and 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a loved one to murder in a viop.m.; Sundays, 10:30 a.m. and lent way. 7 p.m., 1 Warren St. (803) 775Multiple Sclerosis Support Group 1852. — Third Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., AA Women’s Meeting — Carolinas Rehabilitation HosWednesdays, 7 p.m., 1 Warren pital, 121 E. Cedar St., FlorSt. (803) 775-1852. ence. Call (843) 661-3746. AA Spanish Speaking — SunEFMP Parent Exchange Group — days, 4:30 p.m., 1 Warren St. Last Tuesday, 11 a.m.-noon, (803) 775-1852. Airman and Family Readiness AA “How it Works” Group — Center. Support to service Mondays and Fridays, 8 p.m., members who have a depen1154 Ronda St. Call (803) 494dent with a disability or ill5180. ness. Call (803) 895-1252/1253 or (803) 847-2377. 441 AA Support Group — Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, WEDNESDAY MEETINGS: 8:30 p.m., Hair Force, 2090-D S.C. 441. Sickle Cell Support Group — Last Wednesday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., AA Summerton Group — South Sumter Resource CenWednesday, 8 p.m., town hall. ter, 337 Manning Ave. Call Manning Al-Anon Family Group — (803) 774-6181. Thursdays, 7:30 p.m., Behavioral Divorce Care — Wednesdays, Health Building, 14 Church St., 6:30 p.m., Bethel Baptist Manning. Call (803) 435-8085. Church, 2401 Bethel Church C/A “Drop the Rock” Group — Road. Call (803) 481-2160. Thursdays, 9:30 p.m., 1154 Grief Share — Wednesdays, Ronda St. Call (803) 607-4543. 6:30 p.m., Bethel Baptist Church, 2401 Bethel Church MONDAY MEETINGS: Road. Call (803) 481-2160. Sumter Vitiligo Support Group — Second Monday, 5:45-6:45 THURSDAY MEETINGS: p.m., North HOPE Center, 904 TOPS S.C. No. 236 (Take Off N. Main St. Call (803) 316-6763. Pounds Sensibly) — Thursdays, The group is on Facebook. 9 a.m., Spectrum Senior Center,1989 Durant Lane. Call TUESDAY MEETINGS: (803) 775-3926 or (803) 469Heroin Anonymous — Tuesdays, 4789. 9:30-10:30 p.m., 4742 Broad St.. Alzheimer’s Support Group Call (803) 494-5180. through S.C. Alzheimer’s AssociaSumter Connective Tissue Suption — First Thursday, 6-8 p.m., port Group — First Tuesday of National Health Care, 1018 N. January, March, May, July, Guignard Drive. Call (803) 905September and November, 7 7720 or the Alzheimer’s Assop.m., 180 Tiller Circle. Call ciation at (800) 636-3346. (803) 773-0869. Journey of Hope (for family memMothers of Angels (for mothers bers of the mentally ill), Journey who have lost a child) — First to Recovery (for the mentally ill) Tuesday at noon and third and Survivors of Suicide Support Tuesday at 6 p.m., Wise Drive Group — Each group meets Baptist Church. Call (803) 469first Thursday, 7 p.m., St. John 6059, (803) 979-4498, (803) 469United Methodist Church, 136 4506 or (803) 938-8544. Poinsett Drive. Call (803) 905Sumter Combat Veterans Group 5620. Peer to Peer — Tuesdays, 11 Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support a.m., South HOPE Center, 1125 Group — Fourth Thursday, 10S. Lafayette Drive. Veterans 11:30 a.m., Palmetto Health helping veterans with PTSD, Tuomey Hospice, 500 Pinecoping skills, claims and benwood Road, Suite 2. Call (803) efits. 773-4663. “The Gathering” — Second Tuesday, 5:30-6:30 p.m., North FRIDAY MEETINGS: HOPE Center, 904 N. Main St. Celebrate Recovery — Fridays, 6 For teens and adults with spep.m. dinner, 7 p.m. program, cial needs. Call (803) 972-0051 Salt & Light Church, Miller or (803) 468-5745 or email theRoad (across from Food Lion). gathering23@aol.com. Help with struggles of alcohol, Parkinson’s Support Group — drugs, family problems, etc. Second Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., Wateree AIDS Task Force Support Carolinas Rehabilitation HosGroup — Third Friday, 11:30 pital, 121 E. Cedar St., Flora.m., 508 W. Liberty St. Call ence. Call (843) 661-3746. (803) 778-0303. Sumter Amputee Support Group SATURDAY MEETINGS: — Second Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Sumter Prosthetics & OrthotReflex Sympathetic Dystrophy/ ics, 259 Broad St. Call (803) Complex Regional Pain Syndrome 883-4356. Support Group — Third Saturday, 1:30 p.m., 3785 Blackberry Sumter Chapter Parents of MurLane, Lot 7. Call (803) 481-7521. dered Children (POMC) — Third

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Chance of rain: 5%

Chance of rain: 60%

Chance of rain: 0%

NW 10-20 mph

NW 4-8 mph

WNW 6-12 mph

SSE 4-8 mph

WSW 10-20 mph

NW 8-16 mph

TODAY’S SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER

Gaﬀney 42/20 Spartanburg 42/22

Greenville 43/21

Columbia 50/24

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

Sumter 48/23

IN THE MOUNTAINS Aiken 47/22

ON THE COAST

Charleston 49/26

Today: Sunshine and colder. High 46 to 53. Thursday: Plenty of sunshine, but cold. High 51 to 56.

LOCAL ALMANAC

LAKE LEVELS

SUMTER THROUGH 4 P.M. YESTERDAY

Today Hi/Lo/W 45/27/s 31/15/s 65/53/pc 30/18/pc 70/53/pc 82/56/pc 59/46/s 29/21/sf 62/37/s 29/20/sf 92/63/s 65/52/c 32/21/sf

SUN AND MOON 7 a.m. yest. 356.84 74.75 74.76 98.09

24-hr chg +0.01 +0.02 +0.05 +0.27

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

0.36" 0.87" 1.84" 6.45" 10.22" 9.26"

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

Full pool 360 76.8 75.5 100

Lake Murray Marion Moultrie Wateree

57° 38° 66° 40° 87° in 1990 22° in 1960

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

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 54/37/s 40/34/s 74/63/c 40/24/s 73/62/c 80/58/pc 66/53/s 35/24/s 65/42/s 37/22/s 92/63/s 66/49/c 41/24/s

Myrtle Beach 46/27

Manning 48/23

Today: Mostly sunny. Winds northwest 6-12 mph. Clear and very cold. Thursday: Mostly sunny and cool. Winds south-southwest 4-8 mph.

Temperature High Low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

Florence 46/23

Bishopville 46/23

Flood 7 a.m. stage yest. 12 6.41 19 3.93 14 4.56 14 2.57 80 75.96 24 5.61

24-hr chg -0.05 +0.31 +0.02 +0.58 +0.04 -0.02

Sunrise 7:32 a.m. Moonrise 10:32 p.m.

Sunset Moonset

7:30 p.m. 9:24 a.m.

Last

New

First

Full

Mar. 20

Mar. 27

Apr. 3

Apr. 11

TIDES AT MYRTLE BEACH

Today Thu.

High 11:47 a.m. --12:14 a.m. 12:24 p.m.

Ht. 2.9 --3.1 2.8

Low Ht. 6:26 a.m. -0.2 6:36 p.m. 0.0 7:07 a.m. 0.0 7:11 p.m. 0.2

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 34/18/s 48/23/s 52/23/s 51/29/s 43/34/sf 49/26/s 42/20/s 47/25/s 50/24/s 46/24/s 40/23/pc 45/24/pc 45/23/s

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 48/24/s 56/31/s 58/28/s 56/34/s 47/39/s 55/32/s 52/26/s 57/33/s 56/30/s 53/27/s 46/26/s 51/26/s 52/26/s

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 46/23/s 58/26/s 43/20/s 43/24/s 49/26/s 40/21/s 43/21/s 40/21/s 50/32/s 55/27/s 49/25/s 50/23/s 44/24/s

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 53/28/s 62/33/s 53/24/s 49/25/s 55/29/s 49/24/s 52/28/s 50/26/s 55/36/s 59/33/s 57/34/s 57/31/s 52/34/s

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 39/19/s 50/30/s 46/27/s 48/24/s 51/31/s 41/22/s 43/21/s 44/21/s 51/27/s 42/22/s 49/25/s 44/23/s 39/22/s

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 49/25/s 55/34/s 52/33/s 54/28/s 56/34/s 49/23/s 52/26/s 52/23/s 57/33/s 52/27/s 55/28/s 51/27/s 48/25/s

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

Brown’s

“Where Quality Matters”

PUBLIC AGENDA CENTRAL CAROLINA TECHNICAL COLLEGE AREA COMMISSION Thursday, 5:30 p.m., 506 N. Guignard Drive, building M500, second floor, President’s Conference Room

FURNITURE & BEDDING

CLARENDON SCHOOL DISTRICT 3 Thursday, 7:30 p.m., district office, Turbeville

Generous Comfort. Smooth Operation. Unmatched Quality. 31 West Wesmark Blvd • Sumter, SC

774-2100

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Pick up the EUGENIA LAST pace and strive to do things that will improve your physical, emotional and mental outlook. Knowing what you want will help you make wise choices. Act fearlessly to bring about positive changes.

The last word in astrology

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Impulsiveness will lead to mistakes and frustration. Taking a realistic view of the situation you face will be necessary. Aim for stability, not outcomes that will have divisive effects. Truth and integrity will make a difference in the end. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Opportunities will bring about change. Don’t disclose information that may be incriminating. Instead, handle matters with diplomacy to avoid being forced to do so. A clearheaded approach to what others have to say will buy time. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Keep an open mind and consider what others suggest. Working with others will help you gain trust and achieve the foresight to make choices that will improve your popularity as well as your clout. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Look inward and question your position and your long-term goals. Consider new ways to help you achieve what’s most important to you. Don’t let anger cloud your vision or cause you to end up in a stalemate. Aim to get along with others. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Show how passionate you are about reaching your goals and you will gain support from an unusual source. Take hold of situations without making a fuss or being aggressive or critical. How you

handle others will determine the outcome. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Money matters will intensify. When dealing with others or sorting out pending problems with contracts or agreements, try your best to avoid letting your anger rise to the surface. You’ll accomplish more if you offer friendly alternatives. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Emotions will rise to the surface. Express your thoughts carefully and you will have a positive impact on those you come into contact with. Anger will lead to frustration and a stalemate. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Emotions will set off a fire in your belly. Follow your heart and keep your head and you’ll come up with a plan that will work in your favor. Love and romance will alleviate some of the problems you face. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Spur-of-the-moment decisions can be exciting, but will also cause emotional turmoil for those who don’t embrace change. Think twice before you upset someone on your team. Aim for simple and moderate actions. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Get involved in what’s going on in your community. You can make a difference if you stand up for your rights. Look back and draw on what has worked well for you in the past. Romance is encouraged. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Schmooze, play the game and develop good relationships with the people you meet without giving away your personal secrets or big ideas. Offering friendly banter will result in greater popularity and the promise of favors and support.

SUMTER ANIMAL CONTROL PET OF THE WEEK Meet Zoey, a young girl with enough personality and charm to fill up a room. At 2 years old and 50 pounds, Zoey is a fully grown young lady who lovesZoey human attenis just tion and interaction. about perfect in every way She lives to please and would thrive in a home that can offer her companionship and direction so that she can be safe and loved. In kennel 33 at Sumter Animal Control, 1240 Winkles Road, (803) 436-2066, Zoey is just about perfect in every way. Thank you for considering a homeless animal. Please check Sumter Animal Control on Facebook to view lost / found / adoptable animals.

HAVE YOU TAKEN PICTURES OF INTERESTING, EXCITING, BEAUTIFUL OR HISTORICAL PLACES? Would you like to share those images with your fellow Sumter Item readers? E-mail your hi-resolution jpegs to sandra@theitem.com, or mail to Sandra Holbert c/o The Sumter Item, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, SC 29150. Include clearly printed or typed name of photographer and photo details. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of your photo. Amateur photographers only please. Photos of poor reproduction quality may not publish. With the exception of pictures that are of a timely nature, submitted photos will publish in the order in which they are received.

SECTION

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017 Call: (803) 774-1241 | E-mail: sports@theitem.com

PREP BOY’S SOCCER

PREP GOLF

Last-minute victory

Sumter 2nd, Barons 4th at Magnolia BY EDDIE LITAKER Special to The Sumter Item

RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM

Sumter High School’s Connor McAlister (12) triers to get the ball away from his goal as Carolina Forest’s Trenton Mann (8) gives him a little push. McAlister scored both goals for Sumter High in the Gamecocks’ 2-1 last-minute winover the Panthers on Tuesday at SHS field.

Sumter’s McAlister scores twice, including game-winner in final moments as Gamecocks top Carolina Forest 2-1 BY PATRICK ENZOR Special to The Sumter Item With the wind on Tuesday night at the Sumter High School soccer field, it was just about finding a way to win. With a constant strong wind blowing toward the south goal, solid attempts on

either goal for the Gamecocks’ varsity boys team and Carolina Forest were tough to come by. In the end, Connor McAlister slotted home a low shot from 20 yards in the game’s final minute to lift SHS to a 2-1 victory. Sumter High moves to 4-2 overall and evens up their

Region VI-5A record at 1-1. “If you had the wind, you had the ball,” said SHS head coach Jimmy Watson. “In the first half, we held up and second half we scored two goals.” Sumter had numerous chances in the second half with the wind at their back, but found themselves down

1-0 just two minutes into the half after the Panthers scored on a second chance goal after goalkeeper Curtis McNeil came out to make the initial save. At the 50th minute, McAlister evened the game by

SEE VICTORY, PAGE B3

USC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Road to Final Four gets a bit rocky South Carolina’s Coates to miss NCAA Tournament with injury BY PETE IACOBELLI AP Sports Writer COLUMBIA — South Carolina’s road to a possible return to the Final Four just got a little more difficult. Gamecocks forward Alaina Coates will not return to the lineup for the NCAA Tournament because of a right ankle sprain she suffered more than three weeks ago. The 6-foot-4 Coates has missed three of the past five games since first suffering the injury in a 62-60 loss at Missouri on Feb. 19. South Carolina, the top seed in the Stockton Regional, opens NCAA play Friday against 16th-seeded UNC Asheville (19-14). If the Gamecocks (27-4) advance, they would take on either Arizona State or Michigan State for a spot in the Sweet 16. Coates was expected to be a major part of whatever success the Gamecocks have in the tournament. The senior led the Southeastern Conference in rebounding this year, averaging 10.7 boards a game and 12.9 points. Her presence alongside 6-5 A’ja Wilson, the two-time reigning SEC player of the year, gave the Gamecocks perhaps the country’s best low-post tandem. South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said Monday night that Coates had not practiced with the team over the weekend and she would test out her ankle as the team prepared to start the NCAAs. Staley announced Coates’ status on Tuesday, but did not comment about the impact her absence will have on the Gamecocks. A team spokesman said Staley would

The varsity golf teams from Sumter High School and Wilson Hall overcame some unusually cold and wet conditions Monday and Tuesday to claim finishes among the top five teams in the 16-team Magnolia Invitational field, with their respective No. 1 players tying for third place in the individual competition at the Beech Creek Golf Club event. SHS started Tuesday’s play 12 strokes off the pace in the team competition after posting an opening round of 249. Dixon Flowers scorched the course for a 69, the tournament’s only round under par and a 14-stroke improvement over an opening-round 83, to lead a Day 2 team-best score of 226 for a total of 475. The Gamecocks would settle for second place as first-round coleader Rock Hill followed its opening-round 237 with a 230 to close at 467 for top honors. “The weather was a lot better today and I just came out today thinking it’s a different day, don’t worry about yesterday,” said Flowers, a junior, after posting his lowest score at Beech Creek in tournament play. “I try to always keep myself in it, even after a bad round. You’ve just got to go out there and try to do the best that you can, just don’t give up.” No. 2 Evans Lewis also finished strong for SHS, following an 82 on Monday with a 73 for

SEE MAGNOLIA, PAGE B3

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Tigers blow 20-point lead, fall in NIT opener FROM LOCAL REPORTS CLEMSON — Oakland overcame a 20-point deficit to defeat Clemson in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament on Tuesday, 74-69. The Tigers ended their season with a 17-16 overall record, while the Golden Grizzlies improved to 25-8 to advance to the next round against either Alabama or Richmond. Jaron Blossomgame ended his career by joining the top five scorers in Clemson history, posting a game-high 24 points to pass Trevor Booker in the record books. Blossomgame and Shelton Mitchell (13) were the only double-figure scorers for the Tigers, who struggled to just 27 percent shooting in the second frame after a sizzling first half. Martez Walker and Sherron Dorsey-Walker combined for 44 to lead Oakland. Mitchell got the Tigers off

SEE TIGERS, PAGE B3 AP FILE PHOTO

South Carolina center Alaina Coates goes down to the court after getting injured on a play in the second half against Kentucky in the Southeastern Conference Tournament on March 4 in Greenville. Coates will miss the NCAA Tournament with the injury. not discuss Coates until Thursday’s media session prior to the NCAA Tournament. Coates is one of the major reasons the Gamecocks have won four straight SEC titles and three consecutive league tourney crowns. She ends her college career as South Carolina’s second leading rebounder (1,230) and second in career double-

doubles (57). The Gamecocks have played well in Coates’ absence, winning all five games since the ankle injury. “It has been a resilient team,” Staley said during the SEC Tournament. Coates tweaked her injured ankle twice down the stretch, both times against Kentucky. She returned to action in the final regular-season game

TV SCHEDULE COLLEGE BASKETBALL TODAY

NCAA First Four TRUTV 6:30 p.m. – North Carolina Central vs. California (Davis) 9 p.m. – Providence vs. Southern California NIT First Round ESPN2 7 p.m. – South Dakota at Iowa 9 p.m. – Texas-Arlington at Brigham Young ESPNU 7:30 p.m. – Akron at Houston 9:30 p.m. – California-Irvine at Illinois State

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017

SCOREBOARD

ria, Ariz., 4:10 p.m. L.A. Angels vs. Colorado at Scottsdale, Ariz., 4:10 p.m. Philadelphia vs. Baltimore at Sarasota, Fla., 6:05 p.m. Pittsburgh vs. Boston at Fort Myers, Fla., 6:05 p.m.

TV, RADIO TODAY

6 a.m. – International Baseball: World Baseball Classic Second-Round Game from Tokyo – Israel vs. Japan (MLB NETWORK). 1 p.m. – Major League Exhibition Baseball: Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh from Bradenton, Fla. (MLB NETWORK). 2 p.m. – Professional Tennis: BNP Paribas Open Women’s Quarterfinal and Men’s Round-of-16 Matches from Indian Wells, Calif. (TENNIS). 3:30 p.m. – International Soccer: UEFA Champions League Round-of-16 Second Leg Match – Monaco vs. Manchester (FOX SPORTS 1). 3:30 p.m. – International Soccer: UEFA Champions League Roundof-16 Second Leg Match – Bayer Leverkusen vs. Atletico Madrid (FOX SPORTS 2). 4 p.m. – Major League Exhibition Baseball: Los Angeles Angels vs. San Francisco from Scottsdale, Ariz. (MLB NETWORK). 5 p.m. – PGA Golf: Arnold Palmer Invitational Pro-Am from Orlando, Fla. (GOLF). 6 p.m. – College Softball: Maine at Brigham Young Game One (BYUTV). 6 p.m. – College Softball: Notre Dame at Mercer (TIME WARNER 1250). 6:05 p.m. – Talk Show: Sports Talk (WDXY-FM 105.9, WDXY-AM 1240). 7 p.m. – NBA Basketball: Charlotte at Indiana (FOX SPORTS SOUTHEAST). 7:30 p.m. – NHL Hockey: Pittsburgh at Philadelphia (NBC SPORTS NETWORK). 7:30 p.m. – College Basketball: Chicago State at Missouri (SEC NETWORK). 8 p.m. – NBA Basketball: Portland at San Antonio (ESPN). 8 p.m. – Professional Tennis: BNP Paribas Open Women’s Quarterfinal and Men’s Round-of-16 Matches from Indian Wells, Calif. (TENNIS). 8 p.m. – International Soccer: CONCACAF Champions League Match – Pachuca vs. Dallas (UNIVISION). 8:30 p.m. – College Softball: Maine at Brigham Young Game Two (BYUTV). 9 p.m. – International Baseball: World Baseball Classic SecondRound Game from San Diego – Venezuela vs. United States (MLB NETWORK). 10 p.m. – NHL Hockey: St. Louis at Anaheim (NBC SPORTS NETWORK). 10:30 p.m. – NBA Basketball: Milwaukee at Los Angeles Clippers (ESPN). 10:55 p.m. – International Soccer: Mexican League Match – FC Juarez vs. Guadalajara (UNIVISION). 1 a.m. – Major League Exhibition Baseball: Philadelphia vs. New York Yankees from Tampa, Fla. (MLB NETWORK). 4 a.m. – Major League Exhibition Baseball: Arizona vs. Chicago Cubs (MLB NETWORK).

SPRING TRAINING AMERICAN LEAGUE W 13 10 10 9 10 10 10 9 8 8 8 5 5 5 5

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

EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION Boston Toronto New York Philadelphia Brooklyn SOUTHEAST DIVISION Washington Atlanta Miami Charlotte Orlando CENTRAL DIVISION Cleveland Indiana Detroit Milwaukee Chicago

W 42 39 26 24 12

L 25 28 41 42 53

Pct .627 .582 .388 .364 .185

GB — 3 16 17½ 29

W 41 37 32 29 24

L 25 30 35 38 44

Pct .621 .552 .478 .433 .353

GB — 4½ 9½ 12½ 18

W 43 34 33 32 32

L 22 32 33 34 35

Pct .662 .515 .500 .485 .478

GB — 9½ 10½ 11½ 12

L 14 21 30 38 40

Pct .788 .687 .552 .424 .394

GB — 6½ 15½ 24 26

L 25 29 35 36 38

Pct .627 .561 .478 .446 .424

GB — 4½ 10 12 13½

L 14 27 41 45 47

Pct .788 .597 .388 .328 .299

GB — 12½ 26½ 30½ 32½

WESTERN CONFERENCE SOUTHWEST DIVISION W x-San Antonio 52 Houston 46 Memphis 37 Dallas 28 New Orleans 26 NORTHWEST DIVISION W Utah 42 Oklahoma City 37 Denver 32 Portland 29 Minnesota 28 PACIFIC DIVISION W x-Golden State 52 L.A. Clippers 40 Sacramento 26 Phoenix 22 L.A. Lakers 20

W 11 12 10 10 9 10 8 8 7 6 8 7 6 6 4

L 5 5 6 6 7 7 7 8 8 8 10 10 11 11 12

Pct. 0.722 0.667 0.625 0.600 0.588 0.588 0.588 0.529 0.500 0.500 0.444 0.333 0.313 0.313 0.294

L 4 5 8 8 8 9 8 8 7 8 11 11 10 11 10

Pct. 0.733 0.706 0.556 0.556 0.529 0.526 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.429 0.421 0.389 0.375 0.353 0.286

MONDAY’S GAMES

Detroit 3, Washington 3, 10 innings St. Louis 6, Houston 3 Baltimore 6, Philadelphia 4 Atlanta 7, Pittsburgh 6 Minnesota 9, Tampa Bay 4 Toronto 4, Boston 3 N.Y. Mets 6, Miami 4 Chicago White Sox 9, Cleveland 5 Cincinnati 3, Oakland 1 Milwaukee 24, Seattle 3 Chicago Cubs 3, San Diego 1 Kansas City 4, Colorado 2 L.A. Dodgers 3, L.A. Angels 1 Texas 7, San Francisco 1

TUESDAY’S GAMES

Philadelphia 9, Atlanta 0 Detroit 7, Miami 1 N.Y. Mets 2, Houston 1 Tampa Bay (ss) 10, N.Y. Yankees 6 Tampa Bay (ss) 9, Baltimore 6 Boston 5, Toronto 4 Cincinnati vs. L.A. Dodgers at Glendale, Ariz., 4:05 p.m. Colorado vs. Oakland at Mesa, Ariz., 4:05 p.m. L.A. Angels vs. Kansas City at Surprise, Ariz., 4:05 p.m. Milwaukee vs. Chicago Cubs at Mesa, Ariz., 4:05 p.m. San Francisco vs. Cleveland at Goodyear, Ariz., 4:05 p.m. Chicago White Sox vs. Seattle at Peoria, Ariz., 4:10 p.m. Texas vs. Arizona at Scottsdale, Ariz., 4:10 p.m.

TODAY’S GAMES

Atlanta vs. Detroit at Lakeland, Fla., 1:05 p.m. Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh at Bradenton, Fla., 1:05 p.m. Boston vs. Tampa Bay at Port Charlotte, Fla., 1:05 p.m. N.Y. Mets vs. Miami at Jupiter, Fla., 1:05 p.m. St. Louis vs. Minnesota at Fort Myers, Fla., 1:05 p.m. Washington vs. Houston at West Palm Beach, Fla., 1:05 p.m. Cleveland vs. Texas at Surprise, Ariz., 4:05 p.m. Kansas City vs. Chicago White Sox at Glendale, Ariz., 4:05 p.m. L.A. Angels vs. San Francisco at Scottsdale, Ariz., 4:05 p.m. San Diego vs. Cincinnati at Goodyear, Ariz., 4:05 p.m. L.A. Dodgers vs. Seattle at Peoria, Ariz., 4:10 p.m. Milwaukee vs. Colorado at Scottsdale, Ariz., 4:10 p.m. Philadelphia vs. N.Y. Yankees at Tampa, Fla., 6:35 p.m. Arizona vs. Chicago Cubs at Mesa, Ariz., 10:05 p.m.

THURSDAY’S GAMES

Detroit vs. Atlanta at Kissimmee, Fla., 1:05 p.m. Minnesota vs. St. Louis at Jupiter, Fla., 1:05 p.m. N.Y. Mets vs. Washington at West Palm Beach, Fla., 1:05 p.m. N.Y. Yankees vs. Toronto at Dunedin, Fla., 1:07 p.m. Arizona vs. Milwaukee at Phoenix, 4:05 p.m. Chicago Cubs vs. L.A. Dodgers at Glendale, Ariz., 4:05 p.m. Oakland vs. Cleveland at Goodyear, Ariz., 4:05 p.m. Seattle vs. Kansas City (ss) at Surprise, Ariz., 4:05 p.m. Kansas City (ss) vs. San Diego at Peo-

SPORTS ITEMS

P-15’s season tickets on sale Season tickets for the upcoming Sumter Post 15 American Legion baseball season are now on sale. Tickets are $30 apiece. They can be purchased at Danny’s Trophy Shop at 713 Bultman Drive.

CLEMSON TO ADD WOMEN’S SOFTBALL AND DROP WOMEN’S DIVING CLEMSON — Clemson is ending its women’s diving program and adding softball, saying it is a rapidly expanding sport in South Carolina. The school announced Tuesday it hopes to field its first softball team in 2020, depending on how fast a stadium can be built. Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich says 13 Atlantic Coast Conference schools already play softball and more than 200 high schools around the state offer the sport. Women’s diving finished its final season earlier this month. Radakovich says the athletes can transfer to any school they wish or can continue to get the same financial aid and academic support if they want to stay. Clemson already eliminated swimming and men’s diving in 2012, and was the only school in the ACC with a women’s diving team.

COLLEGE BASEBALL CLEMSON 10 YALE 6

Oklahoma City at Toronto, 7 p.m. Utah at Cleveland, 7 p.m. Brooklyn at New York, 7:30 p.m. Memphis at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m. L.A. Clippers at Denver, 9 p.m. Orlando at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.

CLEMSON — Chris Williams’ 3-run homer in the seventh inning propelled No. 9 Clemson to a 10-6 win over Yale on Tuesday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Tigers, who won their seventh game in a row, improved to 13-3, while the Bulldogs dropped to 3-6. Clemson scored three runs in the first inning, highlighted by Seth Beer’s 2-run double. The Tigers added a run in the second inning on Chase Pinder’s sacrifice fly. After Tyler Jackson retired the first 12 batters of the game, the Bulldogs rallied for six runs off the right-hander in the fifth inning. Alec Hoeschel led off with a double and scored on an error, then Alex Stiegler belted a 2-run homer. Later in the inning with two outs, Harrison White hit a 3-run homer to give Yale a 6-4 lead. But in the seventh inning, Reed Rohlman drew a 2-out walk and Beer singled, then Williams crushed a 3-run homer to left field, his first long ball of the season, to give Clemson a 7-6 lead. Andrew Cox followed with a solo homer, his second home run of the season. Clemson added two runs in the eighth inning to double its lead.

FRIDAY’S GAMES

USC-FURMAN GAME POSTPONED

x-clinched playoff spot

MONDAY’S GAMES

Chicago 115, Charlotte 109 Toronto 100, Dallas 78 Memphis 113, Milwaukee 93 Minnesota 119, Washington 104 San Antonio 107, Atlanta 99 Utah 114, L.A. Clippers 108 Denver 129, L.A. Lakers 101 Sacramento 120, Orlando 115

TUESDAY’S GAMES

Detroit at Cleveland, 7 p.m. Indiana at New York, 7:30 p.m. Oklahoma City at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m. Portland at New Orleans, 8 p.m. Philadelphia at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.

TODAY’S GAMES

MLB The Associated Press New York Oakland Los Angeles Minnesota Chicago Baltimore Seattle Tampa Bay Cleveland Kansas City Boston Houston Texas Toronto Detroit

NBA The Associated Press

THE SUMTER ITEM

Charlotte at Indiana, 7 p.m. Dallas at Washington, 7 p.m. Minnesota at Boston, 7:30 p.m. New Orleans at Miami, 7:30 p.m. Utah at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. L.A. Lakers at Houston, 8 p.m. Memphis at Chicago, 8 p.m. Portland at San Antonio, 8 p.m. Sacramento at Phoenix, 10 p.m. Milwaukee at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.

THURSDAY’S GAMES

Chicago at Washington, 7 p.m. Dallas at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. Boston at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m. Toronto at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. Houston at New Orleans, 8 p.m. Minnesota at Miami, 8 p.m. Orlando at Phoenix, 10 p.m. Milwaukee at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.

NHL The Associated Press ATLANTIC DIVISION GP W L

OT Pts GF

Montreal Ottawa Boston Toronto Tampa Bay Florida Buffalo Detroit

8 6 6 14 9 11 12 11

189 182 196 204 189 168 177 166

172 173 179 199 186 193 203 202

METROPOLITAN DIVISION GP W L

OT Pts GF

Washington Pittsburgh Columbus N.Y. Rangers N.Y. Islanders Philadelphia Carolina New Jersey

7 9 6 2 11 8 11 12

152 190 160 183 209 204 193 197

68 68 68 70 68 68 66 68

39 39 37 31 33 29 28 26

44 43 44 44 32 31 28 25

22 22 26 22 26 27 29 30

17 16 18 24 25 29 27 31

86 84 80 76 75 69 68 63

95 95 94 90 75 70 67 62

218 239 219 225 203 176 170 153

WESTERN CONFERENCE CENTRAL DIVISION GP W L

OT Pts GF

Minnesota Chicago Nashville St. Louis Winnipeg Dallas Colorado

6 5 11 5 7 10 3

163 171 196 190 224 221 222

67 68 69 68 70 68 68

43 43 34 36 30 27 19

18 20 24 27 33 31 46

92 91 79 77 67 64 41

223 204 205 189 208 189 131

PACIFIC DIVISION GP W L

OT Pts GF

San Jose Calgary Anaheim Edmonton Los Angeles Vancouver Arizona

7 4 10 9 6 9 8

158 185 174 181 171 201 217

68 69 69 68 68 69 68

41 39 36 35 33 28 25

20 26 23 24 29 32 35

89 82 82 79 72 65 58

190 191 181 191 169 159 165

NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss.

MONDAY’S GAMES

Columbus 5, Philadelphia 3 Tampa Bay 3, N.Y. Rangers 2 Carolina 8, N.Y. Islanders 4 Nashville 5, Winnipeg 4, OT Calgary 4, Pittsburgh 3, SO Arizona 1, Colorado 0 St. Louis 3, Los Angeles 1 Boston 6, Vancouver 3

TUESDAY’S GAMES

Winnipeg at New Jersey, ppd. Minnesota at Washington, 7 p.m. N.Y. Islanders at Carolina, 7 p.m. Tampa Bay at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m. Toronto at Florida, 7:30 p.m. Chicago at Montreal, 7:30 p.m. Dallas at Edmonton, 9 p.m. Buffalo at San Jose, 10:30 p.m. Arizona at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.

TODAY’S GAMES

Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. Boston at Calgary, 9 p.m. Detroit at Colorado, 9:30 p.m. St. Louis at Anaheim, 10 p.m.

THURSDAY’S GAMES

Winnipeg at N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m. Nashville at Washington, 7 p.m. Philadelphia at New Jersey, 7 p.m. Florida at Columbus, 7 p.m. Minnesota at Carolina, 7 p.m. Toronto at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m. Chicago at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m. Boston at Edmonton, 9 p.m. Detroit at Arizona, 10 p.m. Dallas at Vancouver, 10 p.m. Buffalo at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m. St. Louis at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.

FRIDAY’S GAMES

NBA CAVALIERS 128 PISTONS 96 CLEVELAND — LeBron James got his 52nd career triple-double, Kyrie Irving scored 26 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers used a blazing start to overpower the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night. James picked up his 10th triple-double of the season and third in the last four games at the 3:45 mark of the third quarter. In only 28 minutes, the four-time MVP finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists. Cleveland had lost four of five, but James helped them cruise in this one. He even overpowered a teammate at one point, flattening Irving while grabbing a rebound in the third quarter. James helped Irving to his feet then dribbled the ball up the floor. Cleveland’s hot shooting buried Detroit early. The Cavaliers made their first 10 3-pointers and started by hitting 22 of 25 shots for a 60-33 lead early in the second quarter. Iman Shumpert scored a season-high 18 points for Cleveland, which is 3-5 in March but still leads Boston by 2 1/2 games for the best record in the Eastern Conference. Tobias Harris led Detroit with 17 points. The Pistons are seventh in the East but are in a tight battle with several teams for a playoff spot. Andre Drummond had 14 rebounds and Marcus Morris scored 13 points for the Pistons. Cleveland made 19 of 30 3-pointers and shot 60 percent from the field.

THUNDER 22 NETS 104 NEW YORK — Russell Westbrook had 25 points, 19 assists and 12 rebounds in his 33rd triple-double of the season, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Brooklyn Nets 122-104 on Tuesday night. Westbrook shot just 6 of 18 from the field after scoring 40 or more points in five of his previous eight games, but as usual he was the dominant player on the floor even when his shot didn’t fall. He was loudly cheered throughout the night by what appeared a full and lively crowd despite a winter storm that pounded New York on Tuesday, and the fans roared when he grabbed his 10th rebound with just under 5 minutes to play for the 70th tripledouble of his career. Victor Oladipo added 21 points for the Thunder, who won their third straight game. Brook Lopez scored 25 points and Jeremy Lin had 24 for the Nets. From staff, local and wire reports

AREA ROUNDUP

EASTERN CONFERENCE 69 67 69 67 68 67 69 67

The South Carolina-Furman baseball game at Fluor Field in Greenville scheduled for Tuesday was postponed due to expected cold temperatures. A makeup date between the two teams

will be announced at a later date.

New Jersey at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. Florida at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m. Dallas at Calgary, 9 p.m. Buffalo at Anaheim, 10 p.m.

Sumter High wins 4 events at Optimist Relays The Sumter High School varsity boys and girls track teams won four events in the Optimist Relays on Saturday at Sumter Memorial Stadium. The team of Trinity Brown, MacKenzie Zimmerman, Anya Bethea and Lorien Clark won the girls 4x800-meter relay. Elizabeth Delaney and Carolyn Alan combined to win the girls pole vault relay. Shannon Isaac, Anthony Dinkins-McCall, Kerrion Ramsey and Robert McKnight won the sprint relay, while Brandon Poston, Jaylen Jackson, Robert Lewis and Anthony Gabriel won the distances medley. In the junior varsity portion of the relays, Sumter’s Ayania Parrott, Juelle King, Ni’Sheray Scott and Niya Womack won the 4x100 relay. The boys 4x100 relay team of McKnight, Richburg Canty, Ashton Rogers and Tyrese Witherspoon also won.

VARSITY FIRST PLACE GIRLS

4x800 Relay – Trinity Brown, MacKenzie Zimmerman, Anya Bethea, Lorien Clark Pole Vault Relay – Elizabeth Delaney, Carolyn Alan

SECOND PLACE

4x400 Relay – Trinity Brown, MacKenzie Zimmerman, Anya Bethea, Juelle King

BOYS FIRST PLACE

Sprint Medley – Shannon Isaac, Anthony Dinkins-McCall, Kerrion Ramsey, Robert McKnight Distances Medley – Brandon Poston, Jaylen Jackson, Robert Lewis, Antony Gabriel

SECOND PLACE

4x800 – Stacey Shaw, Theron Bradford, Brandon Poston, Christopher Thomas Shuttle Hurdle Relay – Damien Din-

kins-McCall, Kerrion Ramsey, Tyren Horace, Ahkeem Williams Pole Vault Relay – Zachary Delaney, Kendell Crank Long Jump Relay – Tyrese Witherspoon, Anthony Dinkins-McCall Shotput Relay – Pressley Harvin, Michael Ransom Discus Relay – Pressley Harvin, Keishawn Brown

THIRD PLACE

Triple Jump Relay – Tyrese Witherspoon, Tyren Horace

JV FIRST PLACE GIRLS

4x100 – Ayania Parrot, Juelle King, Ni’Sheray Scott, Niya Womack

BOYS

(4x100) – Robert McKnight, Richburg Canty, Ashton Rogers, Tyrese Witherspoon

VARSITY BASEBALL WILSON HALL 6 CAMDEN 3 McLendon Sears had a double and drove in two runs as Wilson Hall earned a 6-3 victory over Camden on Tuesday at Barons Field. Daulton Dabbs was 2-for-2 with an RBI for the Barons, who improved to 4-1 overall.

CAMDEN MILITARY 8 CRESTWOOD 7 Camden Military Academy earned an 8-7 victory in 10 innings over Crestwood on Tuesday at the CHS field. Jesse Lucas and Josh Goodman had two hits each to lead the Knights. Goodman had double, scored three runs and drove in two while DaJour Neal scored three run. The Knights, who fell to 1-3 on the season, will host Manning tonight at 6:30 p.m.

VARSITY TENNIS SUMTER 4 CAROLINA FOREST 2 Sumter took three of the

five singles matches en route to a 4-2 victory over Carolina Forest on Tuesday at the SHS courts. The Gamecocks will travel to West Florence on Thursday for a 5 p.m. match.

SINGLES

1 – E. Witt (S) defeated Leer 6-3, 6-0. 2 – Berry (S) defeated Joshua Mallon 7-6 (7-5), 7-5. 3 – A. Witt (CF) defeated Smithhart 6-4, 7-5. 4 – Jonathan Mallon (CF) defeated McDuffie 6-4, 7-6 (7-1). 5 – Lance Gould (S) wins by forfeit 6-0, 6-0.

DOUBLES

1 – Black/Kelly (S) defeated Case/ Bao 7-5, 6-2.

JV SOCCER CAROLINA FOREST 3 SUMTER 1 Carolina Forest scored two goals in the overtime period to hand Sumter a 3-1 loss on Tuesday at the SHS field. Ja’Von Perry had the lone unassisted goal for the Gamecocks, who fell to 2-2 overall and will travel to West Florence on Friday.

GIRLS VARSITY SOCCER CRESTWOOD 4 DARLINGTON 1 Jasmyn Taylor had two goals as Crestwood earned a 4-1 region victory over Darlington on Tuesday at the CHS field. Caylie Kovalcki and Alexandra Manzo each added a goal and an assist for the Lady Knights while Ashley Prater dished out two assists. Shannon Marie made three saves in goal as Crestwood improved to 4-3 overall and 1-1 in Region VI-4A. The Lady Knights host Lower Richland today.

MAGNOLIA FROM PAGE B1 an overall of 155. Other Gamecock scores were 87-84-171 for Jenkins Dwight and 84-92-176 for Andrew Griffin. “I am very happy with the way they turned it around from day one to day two,” SHS head coach Ronnie Flowers said of his team’s 23-stroke improvement. “They went into today in eighth place and we came out finishing second. Today I didn’t really criticize them too much about their scores because yesterday was brutal, with the weather and the conditions. They hung in there, had a couple of other teams that did shoot a little better, posted a better score, but our guys did show what they’re made of today. They came back and showed the kind of scores they are capable of shooting. I’m very proud of and very pleased with their performance.” Wilson Hall was at 240 after play on Monday, only three strokes off the first-round pace set by Rock Hill and Easley. The Barons totaled 237 on Tuesday, with Easton Ward posting a 75 for a 2-day score of 155. WH No. 1 Walker Jones followed his opening-round 73 with a 79 to pull even with Flowers at 152. WH’s team score of 477 was good enough for fourth overall. “I’d say yesterday (Monday) was probably one of the hardest days that I’ve ever had to play in,” said Jones, a junior. “Yesterday, my short game was just great and I was able to get the ball up and down. I was the opposite today. I hit the ball a little bit better but it all comes down to chipping and putting, and I didn’t do that nearly as well. I definitely struggled with the wind some today and the greens, I don’t think they were able to cut them from the rain yesterday and it definitely played a lot softer around the greens. It changed up a lot from yesterday.” Even with two rounds in the 70s under adverse conditions, Jones still felt he could have done more to push his team higher up on the leaderboard. “Easton played a lot better today,” Jones said. “I put most of that blame (for not finishing higher as a team) on myself though, because I think I should be able to be consistent in the low 70s to high 60s being a No. 1.” Other Barons competing were Jones’ brother Miller, who closed at 87-83-170, and Will Barnes (111-106-217). SHS was the team leader in the clubhouse for a while and stood strong as teams ahead of them could not match the Gamecocks’ strong second-day effort. After both posting opening rounds of 242, Region VI-5A foe Carolina Forest and Fox Creek had varying second-round

results. CF closed at 234 for a 2-day score of 476, a stroke behind SHS for a third-place finish, while FC dropped to sixth with a 248 on Tuesday and 490 for the tournament. Easley had the largest team fall-off among those at the top of the leaderboard on Monday, carding a team score of 251 on Tuesday. The final score of 488 left the Green Wave in fifth place after their promising start. Sumter’s B-team came in 10th overall with a final tally of 254-253-507, with Bradley Coulter posting the team-low score of 83-78-161. “I’m very proud of them. They were put in as a second team, just to give them some experience, and finishing close to the top half of the field, I’m very impressed and proud of what those guys did,” Ronnie Flowers said. “Bradley’s game is coming around. He’s had some (events) where he can come out here and he’s doing some very strong qualifiers but when we get a little bit more competitive rounds, that’s where his numbers would go up a little bit. Now he’s starting to get in the groove of things and I’m hoping he’ll start being a little bit more consistent with his numbers in the 70s. If he does, he will continue to be a part of those top five (traveling team members).” Fox Creek’s Chad Carter led the 7-man alltournament team by posting a par 72 on Monday and following that up with a 77 for an individual low score of 149. “I’m a long hitter off the tee on a normal day, so going into bad conditions -- rainy, windy, you know -- I feel I have an advantage over normal people, so yesterday (Monday) I kind of kept my cool and played like I owned the golf course,” said Carter, a junior playing Beech Creek for the fourth time. “I went out there and I made a lot of putts that I needed and made some birdies. Coming into today, I didn’t hit very many greens but my short game came through and I got up and down a lot to shoot 77. I wanted it (individual honors) so I went out and got it.” Rounding out the all-tournament team were Carolina Forest’s Kevin Burns (76-74-150, second place), Flowers, Jones and three golfers who tied for fifth, at 153. Among those were Rock Hill’s Manning Sloop (78-75) and Nick Mayfield (77-76) and Carolina Forest’s Chris Fortenberry (81-72). Ronnie Flowers thanked Beech Creek General Manager Ken Rosefield and Greens Superintendent Todd Kirkley for their work assisting with the tournament and preparing the course through a Monday morning frost and rain on both days, along with Ken’s wife Angie, who provided food and refreshments for all who participated.

LOCAL PREP SCHEDULE TODAY

Varsity Baseball Manning at Crestwood, 6:30 p.m. North Central at Lee Central, 6 p.m. McBee at Robert E. Lee, 6 p.m. Junior Varsity Baseball Johnsonville at East Clarendon, 6 p.m. B Team Baseball Wilson Hall at Laurence Manning (at J.C. Britton Park), 4:30 p.m. Varsity Boys Soccer Lower Richland at Crestwood, 7:30 p.m. Junior Varsity Boys Soccer Pee Dee at Wilson Hall, 5 p.m. Varsity Girls Soccer Lower Richland at Crestwood, 6 p.m. Varsity Softball North Central at Lee Central, 6 p.m. Florence Christian at Thomas Sumter, 5 p.m. Varsity and JV Softball Manning at Waccamaw, 5 p.m. Junior Varsity Softball Johnsonville at East Clarendon, 6 p.m. Varsity Track and Field Thomas Sumter at Wilson Hall, 3:45 p.m.

Laurence Manning at Orangeburg Prep, 4 p.m. Scott’s Branch in Home Meet, 5 p.m.

THURSDAY

Varsity Baseball River Bluff at Sumter, 6:30 p.m. Thomas Sumter at Crestwood, 6:30 p.m. Lee Central at Columbia, 5:30 p.m. Varsity and JV Baseball Dorchester at Clarendon Hall, 4 p.m. Junior Varsity Baseball Sumter at South Florence, 6 p.m. Crestwood at Manning, 6 p.m. Lakewood at Hartsville, 6 p.m. Green Sea-Floyds at East Clarendon (DH), 5:30 p.m. B Team Baseball Colleton Prep at Robert E. Lee, 5 p.m. Varsity Boys Golf East Clarendon at Manning, 4:30 p.m. Heathwood Hall at Wilson Hall (at Sunset Country Club), 4 p.m. Varsity Boys Soccer Porter-Gaud at Laurence Manning, 5 p.m. Northwood at Thomas Sumter, 6 p.m.

Junior Varsity Boys Soccer Crestwood at Hartsville, 6 p.m. Varsity Softball Lee Central at Columbia, 5:30 p.m. Varsity and JV Softball Manning at Crestwood, 5 p.m. Lakewood at Orangeburg-Wilkinson, 5:30 p.m. Wilson Hall at Pee Dee, 5 p.m. Laurence Manning at Robert E. Lee, 4 p.m. Dorchester at Clarendon Hall, 5 p.m. Junior Varsity Softball South Florence at Sumter (DH), 5:30 p.m. B Team Softball Wilson Hall at First Baptist, 5 p.m. Varsity Boys Tennis Sumter at West Florence, 5 p.m. Manning at Hanahan, 4:30 p.m. Varsity Track and Field Hartsville, Lakewood at Crestwood, 5:30 p.m. East Clarendon at Lee Central, 5 p.m. Middle School Track and Field Bates, Ebenezer at Chestnut Oaks, 4:30 p.m. Alice Drive, Hillcrest, Mayewood at Furman (at Lakewood High School), 4:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017

RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM

Sumter High School’s Brayan Martinez (9) defends his position on the ball against Carolina Forest’s Cole Clark (6) in the Gamecocks’ 2-1 win on Tuesday at SHS field.

VICTORY FROM PAGE B1 taking a thru ball and drilling it home at the near-post. “We created opportunities in the first half, but we missed them,” said Watson. “I knew the wind would help us, it was just a matter of getting going.” From there, the Gamecock back four and McNeil kept turning the Panthers away, giving the attack its chance to win the game. “He (McNeil) made a couple of key decisions in the back to come out (of the box to stop CF attack),” said Watson. “The back is

kind of new for us and they are still gelling.” McAlister scored the game-winner after a Carolina Forest turnover. He slid the ball over to his right to get it on his powerful right foot and hit a low line drive right at the goalkeeper. At the last second, the wind shifted the ball down and the ball slipped through the keeper’s legs to hand Sumter the victory. Sumter travels to West Florence on Friday for another region matchup.

TIGERS FROM PAGE B1 and running. An early driving baseline dunk brought the crowd to its feet, and later a four-point play lifted Clemson to a 23-16 lead. Clemson cooled considerably in the second half, and watched Oakland take its first lead on a 12-0 run with less than 7 minutes left. A banked jumper in the paint by Dorsey-Walker put the Grizzlies up 63-61.

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COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP

NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament

Mount St. Mary’s beats New Orleans DAYTON, Ohio — Diminutive point guard Junior Robinson scored 23 points, including the go-ahead jumper with 1:27 to play, and Mount St. Mary’s held on for a 67-66 victory over New Orleans on Tuesday night in the opening game of the First Four. Robinson, the smallest player in Division I at 5-foot-5, carried the Mountaineers (20-15) to only their second NCAA Tournament win. They’ll head to Buffalo to play defending national champion and top overall seed Villanova in the East Regional on Thursday. Mount St. Mary’s led most of the way, but New Orleans (20-12) pulled off a comeback befitting its resurgent season. The Privateers had a chance for a final shot, but Erik Thomas’ inbound pass with 2.6 seconds left was off target and stolen by the Mountaineers’ Chris Wray to clinch it.

NIT — FIRST ROUND MISSISSIPPI 91 MONMOUTH 83

ILLINOIS 82 VALPARAISO 57

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mount St. Mary’s Miles Wilson, right, shoots over New Orleans’ Makur Puou in the Mounties’ 67-66 win on Tuesday in a First Four game of the NCAA Men’s Tournament in Dayton, Ohio. ble of the season, Deandre Burnett scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half and Mississippi beat Monmouth on Tuesday night in the first round of the NIT. Saiz finished with 23 points, on 6-of-9 shooting, and 11 rebounds and Burnett hit four 3-pointers. Cullen Neal, Breein Tyree and Terence Davis scored 11 points apiece for Ole

2017

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. — Sebastian Saiz had his school-record 21st double-dou-

Miss (21-13), the fifth seed in its bracket. Diago Quinn scored six points and Je’lon Hornbeak hit a 3-pointer during an 11-0 run that gave Monmouth (277) a 67-64 lead on Quinn’s dunk with 9:06 to play. The Rebels answered with a 12-3 spurt to take the lead for good as the Hawks went the next 4:29 without a basket.

First Round March 17-18

Second Round

1 UConn (32-0)

March 19-20

Storrs

SOUTH REGIONAL

First Round Thursday, March 16 At BMO Harris Bradley Center Milwaukee Butler (23-8) vs. Winthrop (26-6), 1:30 p.m. Minnesota (24-9) vs. Middle Tennessee (30-4), 4 p.m. Friday, March 17 At Bon Secours Wellness Arena Greenville, S.C. Arkansas (25-9) vs. Seton Hall (2111), 1:30 p.m. North Carolina (27-7) vs. Texas Southern (23-11), 4 p.m. At Bankers Life Fieldhouse Indianapolis Dayton (24-7) vs. Wichita State (30-4),

From wire reports

Sweet 16

March 24-25

8 Syracuse (21-10)

Mar. 20

Elite 8

March 26-27

Mar. 25

March 19-20

Fri. 5 p.m.

5 Ohio St. (26-6) 12 Western Ky. (27-6) Mar. 19

Dallas

Bridgeport, Conn.

Lexington, K y.

Mar. 27

Mar. 26

13 Belmont (27-5) 6 N. Carolina St. (22-8) Fri. 12 p.m.

11 Auburn (17-14) Mar. 19

Mar. 19

Fri. 12 p.m.

Fri. 2:30 p.m. Mar. 25

Mar. 24

Sat. 4 p.m.

National Championship

10 Oregon (20-13) Mar. 20

7 Kansas St. (22-10) 10 Drake (28-4) Mar. 20

April 2

Sat. 9 p.m.

15 New Mexico St. (24-6)

1 Baylor (30-3)

1 South Carolina (27-4)

Sat. 6:30 p.m.

Fri. 5 p.m.

16 Texas So. (23-9)

16 UNC Asheville (19-14) Mar. 20

Mar. 19

Sat. 9 p.m.

8 Arizona St. (19-12) Fri. 7:30 p.m.

9 California (19-13)

Columbia

Waco

2 Stanford (28-5) Sat. 1:30 p.m.

15 Hampton (20-12)

9 Michigan St. (21-11) Mar. 24

5 Tennessee (19-11)

Mar. 25

5 Marquette (25-7)

Sat. 4 p.m.

Sat. 1:30 p.m.

12 Dayton (22-9)

12 Quinnipiac (27-6) Mar. 20

Mar. 20

4 Miami (FL) (23-8) Sat. 4 p.m.

Sat. 1:30 p.m.

13 Chattanooga (21-10) 6 Oklahoma (22-9)

Stockton, Calif.

Mar. 26

Mar. 27

Sat. 6:30 p.m.

6 Missouri (21-10) Fri. 5 p.m.

11 Gonzaga (26-6)

11 South Fla. (24-8) Mar. 20

Mar. 19

All times EDT

3 Florida St. (25-6) Fri. 7:30 p.m.

Sat. 9 p.m.

14 Montana St. (25-6)

14 Western Ill. (26-6) Mar. 24

7 DePaul (26-7)

Mar. 25

7 Creighton (23-7) Fri. 7:30 p.m.

10 UNI (24-8)

10 Toledo (25-8) Mar. 19

Mar. 19

2 Oregon St. (29-4) Fri. 5 p.m.

Corvallis

Fri. 12 p.m.

Fri. 2:30 p.m.

Tallahassee

Oklahoma City

13 FGCU (26-8)

Coral Gables

Louisville

Manhattan

Sat. 6:30 p.m.

Seattle

3 Texas (23-8) 14 Central Ark. (26-4)

14 Bucknell (27-5) 7 Temple (24-7)

Starkville

Austin

11 Elon (27-6)

4 Kentucky (21-10) Fri. 12 p.m.

March 31

Fri. 2:30 p.m.

2 Mississippi St. (29-4)

8 Green Bay (27-5) 9 Purdue (22-12)

Final Four

Mar. 20

6 West Virginia (23-10)

3 Washington (27-5)

1 Notre Dame (30-3)

Fri. 2:30 p.m.

13 Boise St. (25-7)

4 Louisville (27-7)

March 17-18 Fri. 7:30 p.m.

Mar. 24

Sat. 6:30 p.m.

8 LSU (20-11)

WEST REGIONAL

First Round Thursday, March 16 At KeyBank Center Buffalo, N.Y. Notre Dame (25-9) vs. Princeton (236), 12:15 p.m. West Virginia (26-8) vs. Bucknell (26-8), 2:45 p.m. At Amway Center Orlando, Fla. Maryland (24-8) vs. Xavier (21-13), 6:50 p.m. Florida State (25-8) vs. Florida Gulf Coast (26-7), 9:20 p.m. At Vivint Smart Home Arena Salt Lake City Gonzaga (32-1) vs. South Dakota State (18-16), 2 p.m. Northwestern (23-11) vs. Vanderbilt (19-15), 4:30 p.m. Saint Mary’s (28-4) vs. VCU (26-8), 7:20 p.m. Arizona (30-4) vs. North Dakota (229), 9:50 p.m.

First Round

Mar. 19

Elite 8

12 Penn (22-7)

2 Duke (27-5)

First Round Thursday, March 16 At BMO Harris Bradley Center Milwaukee Purdue (25-7) vs. Vermont (29-5), 7:27 p.m. Iowa State (23-10) vs. Nevada (28-6), 9:57 p.m. Friday, March 17 At Bankers Life Fieldhouse Indianapolis Michigan (24-11) vs. Oklahoma State (20-12), 12:15 p.m. Louisville (24-8) vs. Jacksonville State (20-14), 2:45 p.m. At BOK Center Tulsa, Okla. Kansas (28-4) vs. N.C. Central-UC Davis winner, 6:50 p.m. Miami (21-11) vs. Michigan State (19-14), 9:20 p.m. At Golden 1 Center Sacramento, Calif. Oregon (29-5) vs. Iona (22-12), 2 p.m. Creighton (25-9) vs. Rhode Island (24-9), 4:30 p.m.

Second Round

Sat. 9 p.m.

3 Maryland (30-2)

MIDWEST REGIONAL

16 Robert Morris (22-10)

Sat. 1:30 p.m.

4 UCLA (23-8)

7:10 p.m. Kentucky (29-5) vs. Northern Kentucky (24-10), 9:40 p.m. At Golden 1 Center Sacramento, Calif. Cincinnati (29-5) vs. Kansas StateWake Forest winner, 7:27 p.m. UCLA (29-4) vs. Kent State (22-13), 9:57 p.m.

Lexington

Los Angeles

First Round Thursday, March 16 At KeyBank Center Buffalo, N.Y. Villanova (31-3) vs. Mount St. Mary’s-New Orleans winner, 7:10 p.m. Wisconsin (25-9) vs. Virginia Tech (22-10), 9:40 p.m. At Amway Center Orlando, Fla. Virginia (22-10) vs. UNC Wilmington (29-5), 12:40 p.m. Florida (24-8) vs. ETSU (27-7), 3:10 p.m. Friday, March 17 At Bon Secours Wellness Arena Greenville, S.C. Duke (27-8) vs. Troy (22-14), 7:20 p.m. South Carolina (22-10) vs. Marquette (19-12), 9:50 p.m. At BOK Center Tulsa, Okla. Baylor (25-7) vs. New Mexico State (28-5), 12:40 p.m. SMU (29-4) vs. Providence-Southern Cal winner, 3:10 p.m.

16 Albany (NY) (21-11)

5 Texas A&M (21-11)

College Park

EAST REGIONAL

NCAA TOURNAMENT

9 Iowa St. (18-12)

Durham

At UD Arena Dayton, Ohio Tuesday, March 14 Mount St. Mary’s (19-15) vs. New Orleans (20-11), 6:40 p.m. Kansas State (20-13) vs. Wake Forest (19-13), 9:10 p.m. Wednesday, March 15 N.C. Central (25-8) vs. UC Davis (2212), 6:40 p.m. Providence (20-12) vs. Southern Cal (24-9), 9:10 p.m.

Notre Dame

Sat. 11 a.m.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Malcolm Hill scored 25 points, Leron Black had a double-double and Jamall Walker picked up a win in his debut as the interim coach for Illinois, a romp over short-handled Valparaiso in an opening game of the NIT on Tuesday night. Hill made 7 of 12 shots, including four 3-pointers, and 7 of 8 free throws and became the fourth player to surpass 1,800 points for the Illini (1914), who are seeded second in their bracket. Black had 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds. Tevonn Walker had 25 points for Valparaiso (24-9).

FIRST FOUR

15 Long Beach St. (23-10)

15 Troy (22-10)

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on Feb. 26, playing 27 minutes against the Wildcats. But she left the court in pain after crumpling to the floor following a made layup. Coates played against Kentucky again in the SEC Tournament semifinals for just four minutes before injuring the ankle again and heading into the locker room. Coates sat out South Carolina’s 59-49 victory over Mississippi State in the SEC title game March 5. She was named to the all-SEC first team the past two years and was the SEC’s freshman of the year and sixth player of the year in 2014.

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Sumter Family YMCA All-Stars

PHOTO PROVIDED

The Sumter Family YMCA 11- 12-year-old All-Star team won the 3rd Annual Jerry Coffey Invitational Tournament in Newberry on Saturday. Members of the team are Caleb Jenkins, Jaden Sanders, John Osteen, Braden Tinch, Tyrell Counts, Xavier Johnson, Ravon Harris, Rylan Dix, Michael Osborne and Jabaar Carmack II. Coaches are Ivan Sanders and Jabaar Carmack. Caleb Jenkins was named most valuable player.

PHOTO PROVIDED

The Sumter Family YMCA 9- 10-year-old All-Star team was runner-up in the 3rd Annual Jerry Coffey Invitational Tournament in Newberry on Saturday. Members of the team are, front row, left to right: Shannon Davis, Brentston Rembert, Dylan Jones and Jones DesChamps. Second row: Coach Brian Frerichs, Jennings Frerichs, Connor Speller, Stephen Nichols, Treyvon Smith and coach Stephen DesChamps.

Middle School Conference Champions

PHOTO PROVIDED

The Alice Drive Middle School boys’ basketball team displays its hardware after winning the Sumter Middle School Conference tournament championship. Members of the team are first row, left to right: Nakeem Isaac, Kameron Pearson, Jalen White, Joseph Durant, Marcus Lane, Jaiven Lowery-Isaac, Deanta Porter, Victor Brown and Austin Anderson. Second row: P.J Washington and Jaden McCants. Third row: Coach Jarvis Holmes, Devin Boston, Coach Steve Sinkler, Quindon Sanders, Trevonte Brunson, Head Coach Pedro Washington, Ryan McCants and Brandon Oliver.

OBITUARIES JOHN H. MCJUNKIN John Henry McJunkin, 82, beloved husband of Ann McJunkin, passed away on Monday, March 13, 2017, at home. Services will be announced by Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium.

CHARLES. W. TROUBLEFIELD Charles W. Troublefield Sr., 67, husband of Harriett Maxcy Troublefield, died on Tuesday, March 14, 2017, at Palmetto Health Tuomey. Born July 28, 1949, in Sumter, he was a son of the late Emmett and Oleta Bell Troublefield. He was a member of New Hope Baptist Church where he served as head usher and deacon. He was a U.S. Army veteran having served during the Vietnam War. He retired from Bellsouth after 32 years

of service and AT&T after 6 years. Charles was an avid outdoors-man and loved to hunt and fish with his grandchildren. Survivors include his wife of 47 years; two sons, Charles W. “Chuck” Troublefield Jr. (Tiffany) and Brad Aaron Troublefield (Karen), all of Rembert; six grandchildren, Shelby Troublefield, Bailey Troublefield, Charles William Troublefield III, Reagan Troublefield, Matthew Troublefield, and Matthew Troy “T.J.” Troublefield Jr.; two sisters, Carolyn T. Hatfield (John) and Arlene T. McCormack (Jerry), all of Dalzell; and two sistersin-law, Mary Bradley and Ann Frye, both of Rembert. He was preceded in death by a son, Matthew “Troy” Troublefield; two brothers, Cornelius Troublefield and Bobby L. Troublefield; and a

PHOTO PROVIDED

The Alice Drive Middle School girls’ basketball team won the Sumter Middle School Conference tournament championship. Members of the team are first row, left to right: Ava Andrle, Tajanique Johnson, Alisha Oliver, Emily Watson, Angela Dennis, Ty’Mya Myers and Ciera Washington. Second row: Stevye Sinkler, Genesis Ragland, Jada Sawyer, Markia Wilson, coach Jarvis Holmes, Candace Dozier, Zanah Boyd, Jalyn Matthews, Inga Colclough, Na’Air Choice and head coach Terry Lowery.

sister, Marian Smith. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday at New Hope Baptist Church with the Rev. Vince Earls officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be Andy Troublefield, Mitch Troublefield, Maxcy Frye, Chris Frye, John Bradley Jr., Jimmy Mathis, Mark Troublefield, and Boyd Shannon. Honorary pallbearers will be John W. Bradley, Danny Frye, Carey Cook and the retired men of Bellsouth. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at Elmore-CannonStephens Funeral Home and other times at the home, 1690 Stuckeytown Road, Rembert. Memorials may be made to New Hope Baptist Church Building Fund, c/o Harriett Troublefield, 1690 Stuckeytown Road, Rembert, SC 29128. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematori-

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um of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.

CHRISTOPHER A. BAILEY Christopher Allen Bailey, 67, son of the late Charles and Viola Brown Bailey, departed this life on Saturday evening, March 11, 2017, at Palmetto Health Tuomey in Sumter. Christopher Allen Bailey accepted Christ as his savior at St. James Bethel Church where he served as a faithful member for many years. Loving and fond memories will be cherished by his three daughters, Mrs. Monica (Michael) Watts of Irmo, Mrs. Kimberly (Rod) Singleton and Ms. Sherina Bailey, both of Sumter; three brothers, Mr. Charles (Bernice) Bailey, Mr. Tony Bailey, both of Charleston, and Mr. Abraham (San-

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dra) Bailey of Asbury, New Jersey; and two sisters, Mrs. Lillie Joyner and Mrs. Shirley (Allen) Patterson. One sister, Loretta Evans, preceded him in death. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church with pastor Willie A. Wright Jr. officiating, assisted by the Rev. William Jones and the Rev. William Jackson. Interment will follow in the Bradford Cemetery. The body will lie in repose from noon until 1 p.m. The funeral cortege will leave the home, 823 Webb St., Sumter, at 12:20 p.m. Sumter Funeral Service Inc. is in charge of arrangements.

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OBITUARIES

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017

CHARLES J. JAMES MANNING — Charles Junior “Charlie” James, 80, husband of Sandy Brown James, died on Monday, March 13, 2017, at McLeod Health Clarendon. Born Jan. 8, 1937, in Kimberley, West VirginJAMES ia, he was a son of the late Mont Garfield and Claudia Macil Gibson James. He married Sandy Brown on Aug. 16, 1981. He worked his way up from mail room clerk in Washington, D.C. to postmaster of Columbia; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and he was district manager in Columbus, Ohio, during his 34year career. Charlie loved to watch football and play golf. He attended the Masters Golf Tournament for the past 25 years and was a frequent tailgater at University of South Carolina. He was Gamecock Fan of the Year in 2010. He is survived by his wife of Manning; three daughters, Pam Paliga (Brian) of Powell, Ohio, Donna Jones (David) of Greenville and Anita Ladd (Gary) of Charleston; a son, Robbie Mathis (Danny Mendez) of Lansing, Michigan; six grandchildren, Drew Paliga, Charlie Jones (Amber), Richie Jones (Stephanie), Danny Jones (Tiffany), Meredith Ladd and Madison Ladd; two great-grandchildren, Henry Jones and Sunny Jones; a brother, Bobby James of Manning; a sister, Freda Fox (Carl) of Columbus, Ohio; and his first wife, Barbara James of Greenville. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Helen Marie Hinkle. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at Sardinia Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Robert Jolly and the Rev. John Dodd officiating. Burial will follow in Sardinia-Gable Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Todd McDonald, Christian McDonald, Charlie Jones, Richie Jones, Danny Jones and Heow Goodman. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the residence, 1277 Doral Drive, Manning. Memorials may be made to Sardinia Presbyterian Church, 1386 Garland Road, New Zion, SC 29111; and A Second Chance Animal Shelter, 5079 Alex Harvin Highway, Manning, SC 29102. Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church St., Manning, is in charge of arrangements, (803) 435-2179. www.stephensfuneralhome. org

Tomlin; nine sisters, Mary Scarbourough, Emma Jones, Joann Ferrell, Norma Jean Townsell, Ann Tomlin, Utrenna Wilson, Stacey Vaughn, Sonya Vaughn and Loraine Vaughn; 10 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Public viewing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday at Word International Ministries. 1010 N. Guignard Drive, Sumter. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday at Word International Ministries.

VERA L. JONES Vera Louise Jones, beloved wife of the late Robert L. Jones, died on Thursday, March 9, 2017, at her residence. Born in Homestead, Florida, she was the daughter of the late Meshech and Willie Pearl JONES Brock Laing. Mrs. Jones was a very loving and caring woman. She loved kids and was always willing to serve. She was an active member of New Beginnings Assembly of God. She served her church in many ways and truly loved the Lord with all her being. She always met people with a warm smile and she loved to hug and kiss every soul she came in contact with. She will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother, cousin and friend. She will be dearly missed by all who had the pleasure to know her. Surviving are three sons, Lewis Pate Jr. and his wife Grace of San Antonio, Texas, Eric Jones and his wife Pamela of Melburne, Florida, and Robert Jones and his wife Shawn of Melburne, Florida; 12 grandchildren; four greatgrandchildren; and many special cousins. In addition to her parents and spouse she was preceded in death by two sons, Alphonso Pate and Arthur Jones; one daughter, Anita Pate; one brother, John Laing; and one sister, Betty Monies. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday at New Beginnings Assembly of God with pastor Erwin R. Vizcarra officiating. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday at Bullock Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to New Beginnings, BGMC, 5155 Patriot Parkway, Sumter, SC 29154. You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family’s guest book. The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.

ALBERT VAUGHN Albert Vaughn, 62, died on Friday, March 10, 2017. He was born May 21, 1954, in Clarendon County. He is a graduate of Sumter County public schools. He is the son of the late Harold Tomlin VAUGHN and Maggie Mae Vaughn. Survivors include his wife, Easter M. Vaughn; son, Johnny Vaughn; three daughters, Amy Vaughn, Nicole Vaughn and LaKenya Vaughn-Smalls; eight brothers, Joe-Lewis Vaughn, Leroy Jones, Robert Jones, Sammie Jones, Clarence Tomlin, Gerald Tomlin, Charles Tomlin and Coray

DONALD R. FINK Donald “Don” Robert Fink, husband of 35 years to Shirley Ann Fink, died on Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. Born on Sept. 19, 1952, in Binghamton, New York, he was the eldest son of Barbara Oliver Fink and the late FINK Lawrence J. Fink. Don was educated in the public school system and graduated from Vestal High School, class of 1970. He proudly served our military

in the United States Air Force for 13 years as a weather observer and forecaster, leaving to pursue a career in nursing. He started his career at Tuomey hospital as a registered nurse working in the Emergency Department and later in the Heart Cath Lab and ICU. He then worked at Kershaw Health in the ICU and later with Palmetto GBA (Blue Cross Blue Shield) in Columbia as a supervisor. He loved his family and had a great passion for music. He played the bass guitar and sang for more than 50 years, starting as part of a teen garage band in New York. Upon settling in Sumter, he played in numerous bands, including the St. Jude Church Choir, Sumter local bands, several Christian rock bands and his latest endeavor, The Bendz. Don was part of the St. Anne and St. Jude Catholic Parish family for more than 20 years, serving as a lector and playing with the Saturday evening contemporary church choir. He leaves behind to cherish his memories his wife, Shirley; two children, Michael Fink and his wife Jennifer, and Stephanie Fink and her fiancée Ashley Turner; two grandchildren, Bryson and Emiko; one sister, Debra Edwards and her husband George; three brothers, Daniel Fink and his wife Amy, Dana Fink and his wife Barbara, and Dennis Fink and his wife Tammy; and several very special nieces and nephews. A memorial mass was held at noon on Feb. 1 at St. Jude Catholic Church with the Rev. Noly Berjuega, C.R.M., officiating. The family will received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 31 at Bullock Funeral Home and other times at the home. In lieu of flowers, memorials were made to a charity of one’s choice. You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family’s guest book. The family chose Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.

THE SUMTER ITEM The family would like to thank the staff of Amedisys Hospice of Sumter and the staff of Sumter Health and Rehab for their care and support of her and the family. Memorials may be made to Pine Dale P.H. Church, 4450 Turbeville Highway, Turbeville, S.C. 29162. Please visit www.floydfuneral.com for online condolences.

RICHARD B. GRIFFIN Richard Bryan Griffin, 91, widower of Ruth Johnson Griffin, died on Monday, March 13, 2017, at The Village at Summerville. Born in Sumter, he was a son of the late Richard Bryan and Allee Marie Jones Griffin Sr. Mr. Griffin was a member of Grace Baptist Church. He was a U S. Navy veteran of World War II and retired from DuPont. He was a former member of the Sumter Lions Club. Surviving are two daughters, Pamela G. Summers of Columbia, and Elizabeth G. Moore, of Mt. Pleasant; four grandchildren, Bryan Eric Summers (Theresa), Jason McConnell Summers (Meg), Paul Kendall Moore Jr. and Elizabeth Collin Moore Rumph (David); four greatgrandchildren, Anna Louise Summers, Margaret Elizabeth Summers, Catherine Caldwell Summers, and Luke Goodman Summers. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Grace Baptist Church with Dr. Steve Williams officiating. Burial will be in Sumter Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday at the home, 112 Burns Drive. Memorials may be made to Crosswell Home for Children, 11 Crosswell Drive, Sumter, SC 29150. The family would like to extend special thanks to the staff at The Village at Summerville, to Vickie Brown and Hospice of Charleston, and also to Loretta Bosier for their loving care and compassion. Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals. com. Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements.

LILLIE B. FLOYD NEW ZION — Mrs. Lille Bell Floyd, 85, widow of J.L. Floyd, passed away on Monday, March 13, 2017. She was the daughter of the late Walter Dudley and Bertie Floyd Beard. She was the retired owner and operator of Lillie’s Flower and Gift Shop in New Zion and she was a member of Pine Dale P.H. Church. Surviving are a daughter, Marilyn (Dexter) Culick, of New Zion; and a son, Wayne “Squrl” (Sharon) Floyd of New Zion; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a sister, Lavona Thornbrew, of New Zion. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Eleanor Welch and Annie Lou Morris; and a brother, Ivey Beard. A visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at Pine Dale Pentecostal Holiness Church. A funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday at the church with burial to follow in the church cemetery, directed by Floyd Funeral Home.

Wisacky, where he was a member of the choir, at an early age. Luther was united in marriage to the late Mary Frances Scott on June 16, 1956. This union was blessed with seven children. He leaves to cherish his memories seven children, James Harriott of Wisacky, Gloria Harriott, Harold (Evaline) Harriott, Judy Bradley, Gary Harriott, all of Elliott, Vernessa (Andre) Peterson and Shernia Williams of Bishopville; one adopted son, Rickey (Theresa) Harriott of Thomasville, North Carolina; one daughter-in-law, Gayle Harriott of Elliott; 16 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; four sisters, Eva Bell Wilson of Lamar, Minnie Solomon of Elliott, Annie Mae Bradford of Apex, North Carolina and Rosetta Fleming of Lynchburg; three brothers, Charles Harriott of Richmond, Virginia, Edward Harriott of Elliott and Joe Louis (Sylvia) Harriott of Danville, Virginia; six sisters-in-law; one brother-in-law; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and special friends. Celebration of Life services will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday at Lee Central High School Auditorium, 1800 Wisacky Highway, Bishopville, with the Rev. Arthur Gamble presiding and elder Rickey Harriott, pastor of New Birth Church of Christ UCCI, Walnut Cove, North Carolina, as eulogist. The family is receiving relatives and friends at the home, 101 Casual Branch Road, Elliott. The remains will be placed in the auditorium at 3 p.m. The funeral procession will leave from home at 3:20 p.m. Floral bearers will be nieces. Pall Bearers will be nephews. Burial will be in the St. Paul Cemetery, Wisacky. Services are directed by the management and staff of Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter. Online memorial messages may be sent to the family at williamsfuneralhome@sc.rr. com. Visit us on the Web at www. WilliamsFuneralHomeInc.com.

JAMES L. WILSON James L. Wilson, formerly of Lynchburg, died on Monday, March 6, 2017. Arrangements will be announced by Bacote-Eaddy Funeral Home. The family is receiving friends at 4675 Trinity Road, Lynchburg.

JESSIE L. JENKINS LUTHER HARRIOTT Luther Harriott, 82, answered the call of our Lord and Savior on Thursday, March 9, 2017, at McLeod Hospice House, Florence. Born July 27, 1934, in Lee County, he was the seventh of 14 children of the late Wilson and Louise Addison Harriott. He attended the public schools of Lee County. He became a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church of

BISHOPVILLE — Jessie Lee Jenkins, 59, passed on Saturday, March 11, 2017, at his residence in Bishopville. Born in Lee County, he was a son of Veleree Jenkins. The family will receive friends and relatives at the home of his sister, Ruby Jenkins, 318 Piedmont Road, Bishopville. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Square Deal Funeral Home, 106 McIntosh St., Bishopville.

MORNINGSIDE OF SUMTER FIVE STAR

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CLASSIFIEDS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017

THE ITEM

CLASSIFIED DEADLINES

CLASSIFIEDS BUSINESS SERVICES

803-774-12

OR TO PLACE YOUR AD ONLINE GO TO WWW.THE ITEM.COM/PLACEMYAD Help Wanted Full-Time

H.L. Boone, Contractor: Remodel paint roofs gutters drywall blown ceilings ect. 773-9904

RN / LPN Night Shift Supervisor Full Time Monday through Friday, with rotating call and occasional weekends required. Long Term Care and Medicare experience necessary. This position is responsible for the daily operations in a 44 bed skilled care unit. CNA's Needed We are currently accepting applications for Full Time, Part Time and PRN CNA positions. Apply in person to: Covenant Place 2825 Carter Road Sumter, SC 29150

Mickey's Home improvements & Repairs. Roofs, Whole house inside & out. Call 803-840-6911 or 494-5418

is looking for an exp. Food Equipment Service Technician.

Home Improvements All out Home Improvements We beat everybody's price Licensed & Bonded 803-316-8969

Roofing All Types of Roofing & Repairs All work guaranteed. 30 yrs exp. SC lic. Virgil Bickley 803-316-4734.

Tree Service NEWMAN'S TREE SERVICE Tree removal, trimming & stump grinding. Lic/Ins 803-316-0128 A Notch Above Tree Care Full quality service low rates, lic./ins., free est BBB accredited 983-9721 Ricky's Tree Service Tree removal, stump grinding, Lic & ins, free quote, 803-435-2223 or cell 803-460-8747.

MERCHANDISE Garage, Yard & Estate Sales Garage Sale! Fri. & Sat. 7-? at 3210 Highway 521 South.

LARGE GARAGE SALE Every Weekend Tables $2 & $3 FLEA MARKET BY SHAW AFB

Open every weekend. Call 803-494-5500

For Sale or Trade Split Oak Firewood $50 for truck load, 2 truck loads for $80. Delivered stacked. 843-536-6050 Martin's Used Appliance Washers, Dryers, Refrig., Stoves. Guarantee 464-5439 or 469-7311. Open 7 Days a week 9am-8pm 4 grave plots side by side for sale at Evergreen Memorial Park. Cost per plot $2200. Call 803-614-7596

EMPLOYMENT Help Wanted Full-Time Wanted laborer with CDL license, welding experience is a plus. Salary negotiable. For more info. 803-494-9590. Chef/CDM/Kitchen Manager Please apply in person at NHC HealthCare Sumter 1018 N. Guignard Dr. Sumter, SC (EOE)

McDonald's

To be considered you must have: • Excellent mechanics, electrical and electronic aptitude • Commercial Refrigeration Experience EPA Universal • Accredited High School Diploma/GED • 3-6+ years of Food Equipment Service experience or • Valid drivers license with an acceptable driving record • Able to travel and attend training schools Physical Requirements • Lifting 50-75 pounds with or without assistance • Extensive walking 3-5 miles per day • Kneeling squatting, bending, pushing and pulling • Exposure to noise, heat, cold and slippery wet conditions • Overtime and On-Call Duty as required Fax resume to: 1-866-385-3188 Pre-employment screening preformed which includes background checks and drug screening. Truck Shop Diesel mechanic needed. Local shop looking to grow. General knowledge of trucks/trailers a must. Welding skills desired. CDL pref. but not mandatory. Typical work wk is Tues.-Sat. Competitive hrly salary based on exp/knowledge. Call Pete Baker 803-316-2113

TRANSPORTATION

F/T HVAC Service Tech position available. Gene's Heating & Air, LLC, Requirements: • Valid SCDL with clean record • Reliable attendance & punctuality • Excellent customer service skills • Prefer 5 yr. with NATE certified Applications available Email resume to: geneshvacap @ftc-i.net

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

Beer & Wine License

RENTALS Unfurnished Apartments Senior Living Apartments for those 62+ (Rent based on income) Shiloh-Randolph Manor 125 W. Bartlette. 775-0575 Studio/1 Bedroom apartments available EHO

Autos For Sale 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix, 163k, 4 door, white sedan, $1800. Call 803-840-8190 2004 Chev. 1500 Silverado Crew Cab, silver w/gray leather int., 5.3 engine, garage kept. 140k miles. $9,500. Call L.Mcleod 803-481-9093

Miscellaneous

Good condition Apts. 2BR 1BA All new appliances C/H/A, $600 7A Wright St Call 803-773-5186 or 631-626-3460 Huntington Place Apartments Rents from $625 per month 1 Month free* *13 Month lease required Leasing office located at Ashton Mill Apartment Homes 595 Ashton Mill Drive 803-773-3600 Office Hours: Mon-Fri 9-5

Mobile Home Rentals Oaklawn MHP: 2 BR M.H.'s, water//sewer//garbage pk-up incl'd. RV parking avail. Call 803-494-8350

Office Rentals Office Space for Lease 50 Wesmark Ct Reception area & 3 Offices 1177 Sq Ft $1100 per mo. Call Midland Mgmt. 803-773-1477

REAL ESTATE Homes for Sale

FT maintenance person for Apartment Communities located in Bishopville, SC and surrounding areas. Successful candidate will perform various maintenance duties necessary to maintain and enhance the value of the communities. Duties include plumbing, light electrical, painting, cleaning, etc. Applicant must have own tools and reliable transportation. Box 469 c//o The Item, PO Box 1677 Sumter SC 29151 Cashier needed full time. Must have some computer knowledge, be self-motivated, dependable & energetic. Apply at Wally's Hardware from 1pm-3pm, 1291 Broad St.

11:30 a.m. the day before for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday edition. 11:30 a.m. Friday for Sunday’s edition.

Bid Notices Refurbished batteries as low as $45. New batteries as low as $59.95. 6v golf cart battery as low as $59.95. Auto Electric Co., 102 Blvd Rd. 803-773-4381

LEGAL NOTICES Legal Notice All property now stored in the units below is being sold pursuant to the assertion of a lien for rent. If the tenant does not respond by 5:00 P.M., March 16, 2017, their property will be sold at Storage Plus on March 25, 2017 at 830 South Pike West at 9:00 A.M. CASH ONLY! All goods are sold as is and must be removed at the time of the sale. Storage Plus reserves the right to refuse any and all bids. Unit 003 - Stephanie Evans - Misc. Household items; Unit 005 & 041 - Barbara Braxton Furniture, Household items; Unit 008 - Michelle Schmidt Household items, Unit 023 - Ron Scriven - Furniture and Tools; Unit 052 - Erica Jenkins - Household items; Unit 067 - Edward Roberts III Household and misc.; Unit 073 - Vondell Jacobs Household and misc. Unit 116 - Joseph Pryor - Household and misc.

6 Middle St. Price reduced. 3 or 4 Br. 2 Ba. C/H/A. New construction. Financing available. Call 803-464-5960 or 803-775-4391

Mobile Home with Lots

Notice Of Application Notice is hereby given that MAA Khodiyar of Sumter, LLC DBA Munn-E-Saver #2 intends to apply to the South Carolina Department of Revenue for a license permit that will allow the sale and OFF premises consumption of Beer & Wine at 741 N. Main Street, Sumter, SC 29150. To object to the issuance of this permit / license, written protest must be postmarked no later than March 17, 2017. For a protest to be valid, it must be in writing, and should include the following information: (1) the name, address and telephone number of the person filing the protest; (2) the specific reasons why the application should be denied; (3) that the person protesting is willing to attend a hearing (if one is requested by the applicant); (4) that the person protesting resides in the same county where the proposed place of business is located or within five miles of the business; and (5) the name of the applicant and the address of the premises to be licensed. Protests must be mailed to: S.C. Department of Revenue, ABL, P.O. Box 125, Columbia, South Carolina 29214-0907; or Faxed to: (803) 896-0110.

INVITATION TO BID The County of Sumter is soliciting separate sealed bids from qualified vendors for the following project: US 378/76 INTERCHANGE IMPROVEMENT Bids will be received until 3:00 PM, Thursday, April 6, 2017 in the Sumter County Council Chambers on the 3rd Floor, Sumter County Administration Building, 13 East Canal Street, Sumter, South Carolina 29150. Bid documents and project manuals may be obtained from: The County of Sumter Purchasing Department 13 East Canal Street Sumter, South Carolina 29150 E m a i l : P u r c h a s i n g @sumtercountysc.org or website:ww w.sumtercountysc.org Plans and Specifications may be obtained from: http://www.kimley-horn.com/Project s/SumterUS378-76Interchange/ Telephone inquiries should be made to (803) 436-2329. The County of Sumter reserves the right to reject any or all bids. The County of Sumter reserves the right to waive any or all technicalities

Summons & Notice SUMMONS AND NOTICE OF FILING OF COMPLAINT (Non-Jury) Foreclosure IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT C/A #: 2017-CP-43-00160 STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER TRUSTMARK NATIONAL BANK, Plaintiff, vs. WADDELL MACK III, FLOSSIE A. MACK, NORTH STAR CAPITAL ACQUISITION LLC A/K/A NORTH STAR CAPITAL ACQUISITION LLC; SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE; AND SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES, Defendants. TO THE DEFENDANT FLOSSIE A. MACK ABOVE NAMED: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint in this action, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your answer to the said Complaint upon the subscribers, at their office, 1703 Laurel Street (29201), Post Office Box 11682, Columbia, South Carolina 29211, within thirty (30) days after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; and if you fail to answer the Complaint in the time aforesaid, judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the original Complaint in the above entitled action was filed in the office of the Clerk of Court for Sumter County on January 30, 2017. GRIMSLEY LAW FIRM, LLC Benjamin E. Grimsley Attorney for the Plaintiff P. O. Box 11682 Columbia, South Carolina 29211 (803) 233-1177

SUMMONS AND NOTICES IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS CASE NO. 2016-CP-43-02242 STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER U.S. Bank National Trust Association as Indenture Trustee for CIM Trust 2015-4AG Mortgage-Backed Notes, Series 2015-4AG, PLAINTIFF, VS. Shirley A. Sainz; Any Heirs-at-Law or Devisees of the Estate of Evelyn Hill Bailey, Deceased, their heirs or devisees, successors and assigns, and all other persons entitled to claim through them; all unknown persons with any right, title or interest in the real estate described herein; also any persons who may be in the military service of the United States of America, being a class designated as John Doe; and any unknown minors or persons under a disability being a

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The Freedom Auto Group Adds Mike Boan as Used Car Manager We’re excited to have Mike join us here at Freedom. Mike brings over 3 decades of automotive experience right here in the Sumter community. Mike has a reputation for finding the right car for the right person.

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Summons & Notice

class designated as Richard Roe; Any Heirs-at-Law or Devisees of the Estate of Otis Leroy Bailey, Deceased, their heirs or devisees, successors and assigns, and all other persons entitled to claim through them; all unknown persons with any right, title or interest in the real estate described herein; also any persons who may be in the military service of the United States of America, being a class designated as Jane Doe; and any unknown minors or persons under a disability being a class designated as Rachel Roe; and The United States of America, acting by and through its agency, The Internal Revenue Service, DEFENDANT(S).

disability; for any unknown heirs-at-law of Evelyn Hill Bailey and Otis Leroy Bailey, including their heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns, and all other persons entitled to claim through them; and for all other unknown persons with any right, title, or interest in and to the real estate that is the subject of this foreclosure action, was filed in the Office of the Clerk of Court for Sumter County on the 24th day of February, 2017.

The Plaintiff is informed and believes that the Mortgage identified herein and given to the Plaintiff, which is the subject of this foreclosure action, contains a provision wherein it created and granted a security interest in favor of the Plaintiff in the following collateral:

CAROLINA REVENUE,

One 1985 CRAF CH183 mobile/manufactured home, Serial No. CH183257, including any fixtures.

YOU WILL FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that unless the said Defendants, or someone in their behalf or in behalf of any of them, shall within thirty (30) days after service of notice of this order upon them by publication, exclusive of the day of such service, procure to be appointed for them, or any of them, a Guardian Ad Litem to represent them or any of them for the purposes of this action, the Plaintiff will apply for an order making the appointment of said Guardian Ad Litem Nisi absolute.

The Plaintiff is also informed and believes that the Defendant is presently in possession of the mobile/manufactured home and the Plaintiff is informed and believes it is entitled to possession and o w n e r s h i p o f t h e mobile/manufactured home as a permanent fixture and/or improvement under the real estate mortgage of the Plaintiff as herein identified and the applicable common and statutory laws of South Carolina.

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint in this action, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your answer to the said Complaint upon the subscribers, at their office, 1703 Laurel Street (29201), Post Office Box 11682, Columbia, South Carolina 29211, within thirty (30) days after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; and if you fail to answer the Complaint in the time aforesaid, judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

TO THE DEFENDANT(S) ABOVE-NAMED: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to appear and defend by answering the Complaint in this action, of which a copy is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your Answer on the subscribers at their offices, 2712 Middleburg Drive, Suite 200, Columbia, Post Office Box 2065, Columbia, South Carolina, 29202-2065, within thirty (30) days after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; except that the United States of America, if named, shall have sixty (60) days to answer after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; and if you fail to do so, judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint. YOU WILL ALSO TAKE NOTICE that should you fail to Answer the foregoing Summons, the Plaintiff will move for a general Order of Reference of this cause to the Master-In-Equity or Special Referee for Sumter County, which Order shall, pursuant to Rule 53 (e) of the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedures, specifically provide that the said Master-In-Equity or Special Master is authorized and empowered to enter a final judgment in this cause. TO MINOR(S) OVER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND/OR MINOR(S) UNDER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND THE PERSON WITH WHOM THE MINOR(S) RESIDES AND/OR TO PERSONS UNDER SOME LEGAL DISABILITY: YOU ARE FURTHER SUMMONED AND NOTIFIED to apply for the appointment of a Guardian Ad Litem within thirty (30) days after the service of this Summons and Notice upon you. If you fail to do so, Plaintiff will apply to have the appointment of the Guardian ad Litem Nisi, Anne Bell Fant, made absolute.

NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANTS: YOU WILL PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Summons and Complaint, of which the foregoing is a copy of the Summons, were filed with the Clerk of Court for Sumter County, South Carolina on December 9, 2016. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the order appointing Anne Bell Fant, whose address is PO Box 796, Simpsonville, SC 29681, as Guardian Ad Litem Nisi for all persons whomsoever herein collectively designated as Richard Roe, defendants herein whose names and addresses are unknown, including any thereof who may be minors, incapacitated, or under other legal disability, whether residents or non-residents of South Carolina; for all named Defendants, addresses unknown, who may be infants, incapacitated, or under a legal

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AMENDED LIS PENDENS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an action has been commenced by the Plaintiff above named against the Defendants above named for the foreclosure of a certain mortgage given by Shirley A. Sainz and Jesse M. Sainz to Equity One, Inc., dated July 25, 2007, recorded July 25, 2007, in the office of the Clerk of Court/Register of Deeds for Sumter County, in Book 1087, at Page 1883; thereafter, said Mortgage was assigned to American General Financial Services, Inc. by assignment instrument dated February 29, 2008 and recorded March 11, 2008 in Book 1102 at Page 241; thereafter, assigned to U.S. Bank National Association, as Indenture Trustee for Springleaf Mortgage Loan Trust 2012-3 by assignment instrument dated August 13, 2015 and recorded August 25, 2015 in Book 1214 at Page 2362; thereafter, assigned to U.S. Bank National Trust Association as Indenture Trustee for CIM Trust 2015-4AG Mortgage-Backed Notes, Series 2015-4AG by assignment instrument dated January 6, 2016 and recorded January 6, 2016 in Book 1217 at Page 5651. The description of the premises is as follows: All that certain piece, parcel, or lot of land, together with the improvements thereon, if any, situate, lying, and being in the Township and County of Sumter, State of South Carolina, being shown and designated as Lot #25, containing 0.82 acres, more or less, of Quail Lawn Subdivision, as shown on that certain plat prepared by Arthur E. White, Jr., RLS, dated September 6, 1994, and recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Sumter County in Plat Book 94 at Page 1278, and having such metes and bounds as are shown on said plat, this description being in lieu of metes and bounds, as permitted under Section 30-5-250 of the 1976 Code of Laws of South Carolina, as amended.

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This being the same property conveyed to Jesse M. Sainz and Shirley A. Sainz, as joint tenants with the right of survivorship, by deed of Otis L. Bailey and Evelyn M. Bailey, dated July 25, 2007 and recorded July 25, 2007 in Book 1087 at Page 1879 in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Sumter County. Upon information and belief, Jesse M. Sainz died January 6, 2016, thus vesting his interest in the subject property in the surviving joint tenant, namely, Shirley A. Sainz.

TMS No. 1820804001 Property address: 1015 Mana Drive Sumter, SC 29153 SCOTT AND CORLEY, P.A. Ronald C. Scott, SC Bar #4996 Reginald P. Corley, SC Bar #69453 Angelia J. Grant, SC Bar #78334 Jessica S. Corley, SC Bar #80470 Allison E. Heffernan, SC Bar #68530 Matthew E. Rupert, SC Bar #100740 William P. Stork, SC Bar #100242 Louise M. Johnson, SC Bar #16586 Tasha B. Thompson, SC Bar #76415 Jane S. Ruschky, SC Bar #70472 ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF 2712 Middleburg Drive, Suite 200 Columbia, SC 29204 803-252-3340

SUMMONS AND NOTICE OF FILING OF COMPLAINT (Non-Jury) Foreclosure IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT C/A #: 2017-CP-43-00112 STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER TRUSTMARK NATIONAL BANK, Plaintiff, vs. BRADEN BUNCH A/K/A BRADEN A. BUNCH; A. WREN BUNCH A/K/A ANNA WREN BUNCH and SOUTH

DEPARTMENT

Defendants. TO THE DEFENDANTS BRADEN BUNCH A/K/A BRADEN A. BUNCH AND A. WREN BUNCH A/K/A ANNA WREN BUNCH ABOVE NAMED:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the original Complaint in the above entitled action was filed in the office of the Clerk of Court for Sumter County on January 20, 2017. GRIMSLEY LAW FIRM, LLC P. O. Box 11682 Columbia, South Carolina 29211 (803) 233-1177 Benjamin E. Grimsley Attorney for the Plaintiff

SUMMONS IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT CIVIL ACTION NO: 2017-CP-43-00326 STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER

Plaintiff, vs. Daniel Bryant, Clauzell Cheniere, Joe Louise Champion, David Champion, Jonathan Champion, Sonya Champion, Tonya Louise Champion, Coshnia Hargrove, Urania Danielle Chambers, Louise Champion Sidney Champion, II, Irvignia Champion, and Sherrell Barnes, as heirs at law of Henry Champion, Geneva Champion and/or Sidney Champion, and any other children and heirs at law, distributes and devisees, and if any be deceased, then any persons entitled to claim under or through them; also all other Persons unknown claiming any right, title, estate, interest in or lien upon the real estate described in the complaint herein, designated as John Doe, and any minors or incompetent persons or persons in the military designated as Richard Roe, Defendants.

judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Announcements

LIS PENDENS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an action has been commenced by the Plaintiff against the Defendants, to quiet title in the name of Louise Holman and/or partition property described as follows:

BARBARA NAVE

All that lot of land together with any improvements thereon being in Sumter County, South Carolina, shown as Lot 14 on plat of Palmer & Malone dated October 28, 1946 and recorded in the ROD Office for Sumter County in plat book ZZ-5 at Page 200 and containing about 12.5 acres. This lot is TMS#1570003040 and is known as 4995 Cane Savannah Rd., Wedgefield, SC. This is the property conveyed to Henry Manning Champion and Geneva Champion by deed of J. Carlyle Stuckey dated November 1, 1946 and recorded November 9, 1946 in Deed Book M-6 at Page 332 in the ROD Office for Sumter County.

HAVE YOU SEEN ME? If you have any information on Barbara's whereabouts, contact Sumter County Sheriff's dept 803-436-2000 or Crime Stoppers 803-436-2718.

ALSO: a 1980 Titan singlewide mobile home located at 6160 JCC Road, Wedgefield, SC with TMS# 4000005463.

Lost & Found

NOTICE OF GUARDIAN ad LITEM Attorney James A. Stoddard has been appointed Guardian ad Litem Nisi for unknown heirs.

NOTICE OF FILING Please take notice that the Plaintiff will move to refer the case to the Master in Equity with any appeal to the South Carolina Supreme Court. The pleadings in this case are on file in the Office of the Clerk of Court for Sumter County. A. Paul Weissenstein, Jr. SC Bar #: 6013 Attorney for Plaintiffs P.O. Box 2446 Sumter, SC 29151 (803) 418-5700

$100 REWARD for a lost male brown dachshund @ 635 W. Liberty St. on March 9th. Answers to Louie & wearing a purple collar with red rabies tag. If found, call 803-236-3242.

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the complaint herein, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your answer to this complaint upon the subscriber, at the address shown below, within thirty (30) days after service hereof, exclusive of day of such service, and if you fail to answer the complaint,

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Come in and ask for Chris Weber or call (803) 469-2595 COUNTY OF SUMTER BUSINESS LICENSES

The County of Sumter Ordinance regulating licenses for County businesses states that “Every person engaged or intending to engage in any calling, business, occupation or profession within the limits of the County of Sumter, South Carolina is required to pay an annual license fee and obtain a business license.” “The required license fee shall be paid for each business subject thereto according to the applicable rate classiﬁcation on or before the 15th day of March each year.” A 5% PENALTY WILL BE ASSESSED ON ALL LICENSE FEES WHICH ARE NOT PAID BY THE 15TH OF MARCH, AND AN ADDITIONAL 5% PENALTY WILL BE ASSESSED ON THE FIRST OF EACH MONTH THAT THE LICENSE FEE REMAINS UNPAID. If any license fee shall remain unpaid for sixty (60) days after its due date, the Business License Department shall issue an execution which shall constitute a lien upon the property of the licensee for the tax, penalties and costs of collection.” If you do not receive an application in the mail, please stop by our ofﬁce at 12 W. Liberty Street in the Liberty Center (the old Brody bldg) or give us a call at 774-1601. We will be available to assist you with your application or answer any questions you might have.

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017 Call Ivy Moore at: (803) 774-1221 | E-mail: ivy@theitem.com

Andrew Schwartz, right foreground, leads members of the cast of “Cyrano” in a swordfighting class in preparation for Sumter Little Theatre’s production of the famous Edmund Rostand play. Schwartz teaches theater at Coker College in Hartsville. “Cyrano” opens on Thursday, March 23.

SLT presents love story ‘Cyrano’ Language, hero’s nose make the play BY IVY MOORE ivy@theitem.com Cyrano de Bergerac has everything going for him — except his nose, a banana-sized proboscis he thinks would prevent anyone from falling in love with him — although he’s a nobleman, a distinguished soldier, a poet and a musician who is in love with his cousin Roxane. Edmund Rostand’s play, in a “much edited, adapted version,” titled simply “Cyrano” and based on a real person, tells the story of how Cyrano, resigned to his fate, helps his friend Christian woo Roxane. The convoluted story opens Thursday, March 23, at Sumter Little Theatre. Director Eric Bultman said the twoact play, although shortened somewhat in this adaptation by Tonya Hays, “is not missing any of the plot. It’s one young people will understand and adults will enjoy.” He added that, although “Cyrano” is classified as a comedy, “it’s a love story, kind of tragic. ... It’s got a lot of

music in it. The actors have even had to learn ‘La Marseillaise’ (French national anthem).” “Cyrano” also has sword fighting and a narrator, Katherine Grace Singleton. Andrew Schwartz, who’s on the theater faculty at Coker College, has taught Cyrano and Christian, played by Tristan Pack and Logan Martin, to fight with swords and has choreographed the sword-fighting scene. Skylar Head plays Roxane. All three actors have a great deal of experience, and each has researched his or her character in preparation for the show. Skylar is excited to be playing a more exciting character, after having portrayed Beauty in “Beauty and the Beast” and other more reserved characters. “In the beginning, Roxane is rather shallow, loving Christian for his ‘comeliness,’” she said, “but later, it’s because of how she’s wooed,” not knowing that Cyrano is supplying Christian’s poetic dialogue. Like Skylar, Logan finds his character, Christian, “one of the most challenging I’ve done, and I get to wear a

musketeer costume.” Tristan said he finds the play has “language very reminiscent of Shakespeare, except it doesn’t have the same rhythm. There are different thought and speech patterns, especially since they’re French. It’s easier to understand to the common ear. “The show focuses on its own language — it’s a big element in the play.” The three young actors had high praise for Sylvia Pickell’s costumes and Sumer Jarvis’ skill with the prosthetics, mainly Cyrano’s nose, which Tristan said is a “catalyst for the plot.” Cast members include Logan Smith, Colby Rearden, Christian Clayborne, Kylie Timmons, Justin Floyd, CJ Waters, Lauren Graves, Will Lane, Lauren Carneal, Caroline Getz, Maggie Morse, Madison Niles, Kenya Flippin and Madison Niles. Michael Bacon is sound technician, David Shoemaker is light designer, Paul Brown is music director. Michael Duffy is transforming the set into scenes in 17th century France. SLT Youth Theatre presents “Cyrano” March 23 to 26 and March 30 to April 2.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Cyrano, who believes no one could love him because of his unusually large nose, is played by Tristan Pack, shown here in full makeup and costume. Shows start at 7:30 p.m., except for 3 p.m. Sunday matinees. Tickets are $15 for students, seniors and military, and $20 for adults. “Cyrano” is suitable for all audiences. For more information or tickets, visit the website www.sumterlittletheatre.com or call (803) 775-2150.

Ruth Buzzi, 80, trades Gladys for ranching BY NICK THOMAS Tinseltown Talks

“She’s retired, waiting to go to the Smithsonian Museum in a box,” said Buzzi. “I haven’t apDrab, handbag-wielding TV peared as Gladys in so long, but character Gladys Ormphby she was always fun to do.” never met a celebrity she didn’t If Buzzi’s return feel compelled to smack sensevisits to Hollyless at the slightest provocation. wood are any indication, Gladys still Short in both stature and pahas her fans. tience, the feisty spinster’s vic“So many peotims — such as Dean Martin or ple ask me to hit Frank Sinatra — were more them with my likely to be paralyzed by laugh- BUZZI purse, Buzzi said. ter than fear. Portrayed by comedic actress “In fact, a few years ago we were at a Beverly Hills party Ruth Buzzi in the late ’60s TV and in walked Elton John. He show “Laugh-In,” Gladys soon found her way into the popular immediately made his way over culture of the day, landing guest to me and said, ‘For God’s sake, Ruth, please hit me with your spots on other shows such as purse. That’s been on my buckthe Dean Martin Celebrity et list for years!’” Roasts of the ’70s. Growing up in the ConnectiToday, Buzzi, who turned 80 last year, is chilling out on a 600- cut/Rhode Island region, young Ruth moved out West where she acre cattle and horse ranch in attended college in Pasadena the Lone Star state with husband, Kent Perkins. But what of and began appearing in revues. Early on, she formed a comedy Gladys?

duo with Dom DeLuise. “We were together working small comedy venues,” she said. “He asked me to be his ‘magician’s helper,’ and I named her Shakundala. We wrote several bits, and they all just killed the audience. Soon we were spotted by ‘The Entertainers’ host, our friend Carol Burnett. She was ahead of us career-wise, already on a big hit series, and it was a huge thrill to go out and get a fantastic audience reaction with our silly magic act.” Despite being best-known for one “Laugh-In” character, Gladys, it wasn’t her favorite. Yet she remains grateful for the frumpy little old lady. “My favorite character to play was actually ‘Doris Sidebottom,’ the sloppy drunk,” she explained. “I also had fun with ‘Busy Buzzi’ the gossip columnist, and my hooker character, ‘Kim Hither.’” Buzzi is also quick to credit

others who helped refine Gladys. “She is mostly a creation of mine from my rendition of Agnes Gooch in ‘Auntie Mame,’” she explained. “But she got more refined by the writers on ‘Laugh-In’ and it was Arte Johnson’s brother Coslough ‘Cos’ Johnson, a very funny guy, too, who actually thought of putting Arte and me together as ‘Tyrone and Gladys’ on the show.” Her later appearances with Dean Martin were always highly anticipated by the audiences and guests. “The audience was aware someone would get beaten to a pulp,” Buzzi said, “and they were never disappointed.” Contrary to appearances, her handbag lashings were harmless. “No, it didn’t hurt,” she revealed. “It looked vicious, but it was just a felt purse lined and

filled with old pantyhose and cotton. I was able to swing it with all my might and it still wouldn’t hurt anyone, although it looked great and sounded great with a ‘thud’ when it landed.” But did she ever consider stuffing a horseshoe in her purse to batter someone who was particularly annoying? “Yes, you,” she said, “if this interview doesn’t wind down pretty soon!” Today, Ruth and Kent are happily retired on their Texas ranch in Erath County, about 60 miles from Dallas/Fort Worth. “Living in the beauty and solitude of this ranch is the perfect way to unwind from a hectic career and the hustle and bustle of Hollywood,” she said. Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Alabama. See www.tinseltowntalks.com.

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COMICS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017

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

Measure success by how your kids describe you DEAR ABBY — My son and his wife just gave us the news that they are expecting their first child. They have Dear Abby waited five ABIGAIL years for this wonderful VAN BUREN milestone, and I am delighted. I know they will be excellent parents. I remember seeing a short poem in your column called “Success.” Could you reprint it? I’d like to clip it and give it to the parents-to-be. Marie in Dayton, Ohio DEAR MARIE — I’m glad to oblige, and I hope your son and daughter-in-law will enjoy it. It was penned by Martin Bux-

JUMBLE THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME By David L Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

SUCCESS You can use any measure When you’re speaking of success. You can measure it in fancy home, Expensive car or dress. But the measure of your real success Is the one you cannot spend. It’s the way your kids describe you When they’re talking to a friend.

be complete until he gets to enjoy his life the way he wants, and I’m tired of having my feelings hurt each time he meets someone he wants to be with. I’m a 51-year-old woman who is still very sexually active, yet I am not enough for him. I have tried everything. I’m tired. Dear Abby, please help. Doesn’t want to share him

DEAR ABBY — My husband wants to be with other women. He has spent the last 12 years asking for a threesome. I love him and don’t want to share him with the world, but he doesn’t love me the same. We have been together more than 29 years. He says he just wants to have fun. Since I’m not interested in swinging with him and others, should I just get a divorce? I believe he won’t

DEAR DOESN’T WANT TO SHARE HIM — Because your husband wants an open marriage and you don’t, it appears the two of you have reached an impasse. Your husband craves the one thing no one woman can give him — variety. It has nothing to do with your not being “enough.” For this reason you should consult an attorney about your options. I am truly sorry for your pain.

baum, a noted poet from Maryland who passed away in 1991. Read on:

SUDOKU 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

By Mark McClain

ACROSS 1 Franklin’s faith 6 Civil rights org. 11 Nursery offering 14 More than just saber-rattling 15 Not as well 16 Numero __ 17 1980 Clint Eastwood film about a Wild West show 19 Elton’s title 20 Forward 21 “Isn’t that something” 22 “Hold it right there!” 23 1965 Jerry Lewis/Tony Curtis farce involving flight attendants 26 Prey for cheetahs 29 Little League airer 30 Fishing spot 31 GPS suggestion 33 Milk source 37 Pro 38 Low-budget cinema ... and, literally, the four longest puzzle answers 41 Program file ending 42 Two-step, e.g.

3/15/17 44 College URL ending 45 Lyra’s brightest star 46 Et __ 49 Really dull 51 2005 Christian Bale superhero thriller 55 Jackson 5 hairdo 56 Item under many a top 57 Requiring quarters, briefly 61 __ Mini: Nintendo console 62 2003 Disney animated feature with talking grizzlies 64 Hip-hop Dr. 65 New York mayor before Koch 66 Top-flight 67 “Of course!” 68 Asp cousin 69 Robert’s “Out of Africa” role DOWN 1 Puts on gently 2 Basic French verb 3 Victor’s cry 4 Shallows hazard 5 Hip dude 6 Tip of a Bic 7 Set straight

8 Claim 9 Tabloid subjects 10 Snoop 11 Rolls with rice 12 Salad bar sliver 13 Bandanna cousin 18 Like challenging push-ups 22 Go on (one’s way) 24 Comparison phrase 25 Composer’s work 26 Tablet with Mini and Pro versions 27 Flaky mineral 28 Hammer end 32 Genesis matriarch 34 Thoughtprovoking 35 Army vet 36 Predict using, as tea leaves

38 Banjo legend Fleck 39 “Gotcha, man” 40 Special Olympics founder Shriver 43 Hunter’s garb, for short 45 Easily seen 47 Deep-seated 48 Using one’s passport, say 50 Didn’t sleep quietly 51 Indecent 52 Burning 53 Takes a shot at 54 Cake words Alice abided by 58 Düsseldorf denial 59 Like granola bars 60 W. or LBJ 62 Management major’s deg. 63 __ Honor

Tuesday’s Puzzle Solved

3/15/17

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Buddy comedy ‘Hap and Leonard: Mucho Mojo’ returns BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH Tonight marks the first season finales of “Lethal Weapon” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14) and “Star” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14). “Lethal Weapon” has broken a recent spell for series adapted from movie franchises. “Rush Hour,” “Limitless” and “Training Day” performed poorly for CBS. “Frequency” failed on the CW. “Lethal Weapon” wins no points for originality, but the breezy banter between Murtaugh (Damon Wayans) and Riggs (Clayne Crawford) is often fun to watch. The backstage diva melodrama “Star” may be the worst new network series of the season. But it has a sloppy audacity to its terribleness that makes it catnip for some viewers. A few days back, I cited the 1995 megabomb “Showgirls” as a cult choice and I thought to myself, “They just don’t make them this deliciously bad anymore.” Then I thought of “Star.” • “Hap and Leonard: Mucho Mojo” (10 p.m., Sundance, TVMA) returns for a second season. This over-the-top Southern Gothic absurdist comic-drama is based on a series of novels by Joe R. Lansdale. Set in the late 1980s, it concerns the schemes and fevered dreams of its two unemployable and improbably lovable characters. Leonard (Michael Kenneth Williams, “Boardwalk Empire”) is an angry, gay, black Vietnam vet with a certain al-

lergy for idealistic politics. Hap (James Purefoy, “The Following”) is a childhood friend, a straight, white ex-con. They bicker like a foul-mouthed married couple when not settling scores with their fists. In some ways, this preposterous interracial buddy comedy is a bit like “Lethal Weapon” on the other side of the law. Not believable for a second, “Hap and Leonard” has fun characters, bracing dialogue and an assured sense of place. • “Greenleaf” (10 p.m., OWN, TV-14) also enters its second season. This melodrama follows Grace “Gigi” Greenleaf (Merle Dandridge) as she returns to the megachurch run by her father, Bishop James Greenleaf (Keith David), and her mother, Lady Mae Greenleaf (Lynn Whitfield), and uncovers shameful secrets in the religious empire and in her own family. At first I thought of “Greenleaf” as a “Nashville” take on the black Southern church. But

in many ways, it’s closer to “The Godfather,” with Grace as Michael Corleone, somebody who returns for a visit, wanting nothing to do with the family business. It’s fun to see how those lofty plans unravel. “Greenleaf” is rare for television, a series steeped in biblical fluency, with characters eager to talk and argue about faith. At the same time, it depicts organized religion as not terribly different than organized crime. Producer Oprah Winfrey also returns as Mavis McCready, Grace’s wayward aunt who runs a bar on Beale Street and is a keeper of dark family lore. The first seasons of both “Greenleaf” and “Hap and Leonard” are streaming on Netflix.

TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS • Urned but not saved on “Modern Family” (9 p.m., ABC, TV-PG). • Out on a limb on “Major Crimes” (9 p.m., TNT, TV-14).

• The first games of the 2017 NCAA Basketball Tournament (6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., TruTV). • Pieces of the conspiracy puzzle come together on “Designated Survivor” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-14). • Kalief seeks a trial on “TIME: The Kalief Browder Story” (10 p.m., Spike, TV-14). • Back to the beginning on “Legion” (10 p.m., FX, TV-MA). • Rosalee has a new pursuer on “Underground” (10 p.m., WGN, TV-MA).

SERIES NOTES College decision day on “The Goldbergs” (8 p.m., ABC, TVPG) * Oliver confronts the truth on “Arrow” (8 p.m., CW, TV-14) * A fender bender on “Speechless” (8:30 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) * The bone crusher on “Criminal Minds” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14) * Clarke and Roan collaborate on “The 100” (9 p.m., CW, TV-14) * Bow shows on “black-ish” (9:30 p.m., ABC, TVPG) * Tourist terror on “Crimi-

nal Minds: Beyond Borders” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14) * A sex offender’s death points to a vigilante squad on “Chicago P.D.” (10 p.m., NBC, r, TV-14).

LATE NIGHT Jesse Williams is booked on “The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” (11 p.m., Comedy Central) * Adam Sandler, Dana White and Seaton Smith are on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS) * Jessica Lange, Bassem Youssef and Todd Barry visit “Late Night With Stephen Colbert” (11:35 p.m., CBS) * Jimmy Fallon welcomes Ice Cube, Paris Jackson and Khalid on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) * Keri Russell, Peter Krause, J.D. Vance and Nicko McBrain visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC) * Reese Witherspoon and Andy Shauf are on “The Late Late Show With James Corden” (12:35 a.m., CBS). Copyright 2017 United Feature Syndicate

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These tricks equal healthier enchiladas BY MELISSA D’ARABIAN Associated Press

he weather we've been having this winter has me

craving some stick-toyour-ribs comfort food. Because I grew up in Tucson, Arizona, comfort food was always something Mexican or southwestern, involving tortillas, rice, beans, cheese and a tasty sauce to drown it all in. Which is a long way of saying: Enchiladas are pretty much my dream food. So it became my goal to create a version of enchiladas that mimicked the flavors and comfort of my childhood but didn't make me feel weighed down and searching for my elastic waist-band sweatpants. I swapped out white rice for brown rice to boost the nutri-

ent profile and used black beans without added fat (I almost don't miss the lard). While cheese enchiladas are honestly my flavor of choice, I added chicken to give heft and protein, which enabled me to reduce drastically the amount of cheese. Without the extra fat, I needed some moisture to keep the filling luscious and tasty. Surprisingly, finely chopped baby spinach worked great, adding nary a calorie but a little boost of vitamins (A, C, folate) and iron. Win-win. I whipped up a simple enchilada sauce using canned whole tomatoes. And my final victory? I used large chard leaves instead of tortillas. Chard is an incredible source of vitamin K (one cup has 4 times your daily requirement), while also providing vitamin C and A. And one cup of chard has, get ready: seven calories. Using chard as a casserole wrapper is way easier than it sounds. Trim away the thick stem, and then boil the leaves for two minutes, which softens them just enough to fill and roll without falling apart. Try today's recipe for enchiladas, and once you master the rollup technique, try swapping chard leaves for pasta in Italian dishes such as manicotti.

CHARD-WRAPPED ENCHILADAS Start to finish: 1 hour Servings: 8 For the sauce: 1 28-ounce can of whole peeled tomatoes 1/2 large yellow onion, roughly chopped 3 cloves garlic, smashed 2 teaspoons chili powder 1 teaspoon olive oil For the filling: 1/2 cup cooked brown rice 3/4 cup cooked black beans, rinsed and drained if canned 3/4 cup cubed or shredded cooked chicken breast 3/4 cup baby spinach leaves, chopped 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon granulated garlic 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt pinch cayenne (optional) 8 large chard leaves 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1/4 cup cilantro leaves 1/4 cup plain low-fat Greek yogurt Heat the oven to 375 degrees F. Make the sauce: Place all the sauce ingredients in a medium saucepan, and simmer over medium-low heat, partially covered with a lid, for 20 minutes, gently smashing open the tomatoes with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Turn off heat, and allow to cool a little. Carefully blend sauce with an immersion blender or in a regular blender (be very careful of steam if using a regular blender). Prepare the chard leaves: Cut away the stems below the leaves

(you can chop and saute stems for another side dish). Then, if the stems are tough, gently cut out the first inch or so of stem within the leaf, cutting it out in a "V'' shape with a knife. Parboil the leaves in a large pan of simmering water over medium-low heat until tender, but not falling apart, about 2 minutes. (Err on undercooking, not overcooking.) Make the filling: Combine all the filling ingredients (through cayenne) in a large bowl and stir. Roll the enchiladas: Place the softened chard leaf on a cutting board with the stem end closest to you. Place about 1/4-1/3 cup of filling on the leaf, about 1 inch from the bottom of the leaf. Gently fold the sides of the leaf inward and then roll up the leaf from the bottom. (Note: if the stem is still a little tough, go ahead and let it "break" as you roll; it will be in the center of the rollup, so it won't be visible.) You should have a nicely shaped enchilada-like packet. Repeat with remaining leaves. Spray a 9-by-9 or 2-quart baking dish with nonstick spray. Spread about 1/4 cup of the sauce on the bottom of the pan and then lay the eight enchiladas in pan. Pour the sauce on top, tightly cover with foil, and bake until hot throughout, about 20 minutes. Remove the foil, top with remaining 1/4 cup of cheese, and bake uncovered for 10 more minutes. Top with yogurt and cilantro and serve. Nutrition information per serving: 169 calories; 58 calories from fat; 6 g fat (3 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 30 mg cholesterol; 597 mg sodium; 15 g carbohydrate; 4 g fiber; 4 g sugar; 13 g protein.

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