December 26, 2015 by The Sumter Item

IN SPORTS: Former SHS, USC star Montgomery rising fast in Yankees organization B1 INSIDE

The do’s and don’ts of gift return A2 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2015

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Mayesville resident thankful to be alive after rare infection BY KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY konstantin@theitem.com Mayesville resident Teri Whitaker woke up one morning in late October with a large, dark boil on her body. A few days later she was in the intensive care unit at Doctors Hospital of Augusta. Whitaker was diagnosed with necrotizing soft tissue infection, a rare infection of the deeper layers of skin. Such infections are more likely to occur in people with compromised immune systems as a result of a chronic disease, according to an article in American Family Physician. Whitaker has suffered from dia-

betes for about 17 years. She said doctors told her the boil was a result of her diabetes. She had to undergo six surgeries and stay at the hospital in Augusta for about a month and a half, she said. “I am lucky to be alive,” she said. “God gave me a second chance.” Whitaker said she did not live a healthy lifestyle before the infection. “I wasn’t eating right; I wasn’t taking my medicine; I just wasn’t doing what I was supposed to do,” she said. After staying in bed for about a month and a half at the hospital, she was finally able to get up and walk a short distance with a walker

from her room to the nurses’ station and back. That was the physical test that allowed her to be discharged from the hospital, she said. “I still am weak and tired all the time,” Whitaker said. “I can’t walk more than from one room to the other in my house without a walker. I just want to be healthy again.” Doctors told her it will take between six and 12 months for her to recover fully, she said. When she returned home last week, Whitaker found a stack of medical bills. Insurance did not cover all of her medical expenses, she said. With six children, four of

KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY / THE SUMTER ITEM

Mayesville resident Teri Whitaker is recovering at her home after being diagnosed with necrotizing soft tissue infection and spending about two SEE INFECTION, PAGE A3 months in the hospital.

Christmas Dinner for 400

Southern storm survivors glad to see Christmas BY BILL BARROW The Associated Press

PHOTOS BY RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM

Wyteria Andrew, left, accepts a plate of food from Mary Zimmerman to take to people seated in the M.H. Newman Family Center. Members of the Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church put on the annual dinner so that everyone has an opportunity to have a Christmas meal. Members of the congregation volunteer to prepare the food, serve it to guests and clean up afterwards.

Church cooks up opportunity for all to have special day BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church held its fourth Community Christmas Dinner Friday for all Sumterites who wanted to spend the holiday with family members, neighbors and strangers. The gathering, which began as an opportunity to provide a holiday meal to the homeless, has grown to provide food for anyone who wanted a Christmas dinner. After a morning Christmas service in the church’s sanctuary, the guests walked across the street to the M.H. Newton Family Life Center to eat. Although the dinner lasted from about 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the day started at 8:30 a.m. for some of the volunteers who decorated the gym and prepared the food. Event Coordinator Shekia Bradford said more than 300 people had come to the dinner by 1:30 p.m., and she expected more than 400 guests in total. She said volunteers also packed and delivered at least 200 to-go trays for community members who were unable to make it to the dinner.

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Mae and Ralph Robateau sing God’s praise with the congregation during a Christmas Day service at Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church just before serving a free meal to the public Friday. Bradford said volunteering during the dinner goes a long way. Putting in the work and hours is worth it when someone remembers the kindness that was shown to them, she said. She mentioned an instance when she was recognized by a guest of a past dinner. “It’s a good feeling,” Bradford said. Sheri Wharton, a volunteer, said all that matters is seeing the smiles on the guest’s faces. This is the first year Wharton has participated with the dinner, and she is already looking forward to coming back next year. “I love it,” she said.

She said the best thing is to see the guests smiling when they are treated with the kindness they deserve. “I’m home 364 days of the year,” Wharton answered when asked how she felt about spending most of Christmas day away from home. For a day deemed by most to be the most special of the year, she wanted to spend her time giving to others. “A lot of people don’t have a home to go to, and they don’t receive presents,” she said. It’s important for those who are less fortunate to feel as special today as others do the rest of the year, she said.

DEATHS, A6 and A7 Jean D. Gulledge Nancy Kaiser Margaret G. Cummings Travis J. Davis Julia H. Pate Daniel J. McKiever Randy McElveen

John E. Felder Gaynell McFadden Ted Ogburn Seward Abraham Cynthia D. Price-Smith Franklin H. Johnson Dorothea W. Ford

Dozens of people lost their homes, yet they say they are thankful to see another Christmas. Tony Goodwin ducked into a storm shelter with seven others as a storm pounded Tennessee and other states in the southeastern U.S. He emerged to find his house in Linden had been knocked off its foundation and hurled down a hill by high winds. Goodwin’s neighbors weren’t so fortunate. Two people in one home were killed. “It makes you thankful to be alive with your family,” he said. Unseasonably warm weather on Wednesday helped spawn torrential rain and deadly tornadoes that left at least 14 people dead and left dozens of families homeless by Christmas Eve. Parts of Mississippi remained under a flood warning Friday. Weather forecasters from the National Weather Service warned that a strong storm crossing the central part of the state could produce hail and winds of more than 40 mph. The storm was bringing with it the risk of falling trees, downed power lines and flash flooding, officials said. But that didn’t stop some from spending their Christmas giving rather than receiving. Nicholas Garbacz, disaster program manager for the American Red Cross of North Mississippi, said members of the Marine Corps brought donated toys to a center in Holly Springs for children whose families were hit hard by the storms. Two of the seven people killed in Mississippi were from the Holly Springs area. Dozens of children and their families showed up Friday morning to pick up a toy or other items they might need to recover from the storm, Garbacz said. More severe weather was also in store for parts of Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee that were again being pounded with rain. Residents were warned to brace for flash flooding and possible tornadoes. Among the dead were seven people from Mississippi, including a 7-yearold boy who perished while riding in a car that was swept up and tossed by storm winds. Six people were killed in Tennessee, including three who were found in a car submerged in a creek, according to the Columbia Police Department. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said the victims were a 19-year-old female and two 22-year-old males. One person died in Arkansas, and dozens of homes were damaged or destroyed.

SEE WEATHER, PAGE A3

WEATHER, A8

INSIDE

TROPICAL UPDATE

2 SECTIONS, 16 PAGES VOL. 121, NO. 61

Continued warm and humid today and tonight with intervals of clear and cloudy; good chance of some rain. HIGH 79, LOW 61

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2015

THE SUMTER ITEM

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

Learn the do’s, don’ts of gift return store’s return policies, said South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs Administrator Carri Lybarker. Hopefully, the gift-giver took steps to make the process easier. “Always ask for a gift receipt if you are gifting that product to someone, because that could lessen any headaches if they do decide to return it,” she said. “What you really want is for your family member or friend to be happy with what they are getting, and you don’t want to make it any more difficult for them.” Lybarker said to always take any documentation you have or send any documentation if you are returning something by mail. “Make sure you are keeping copies for yourself of receipts or transaction reports,” she said. “That may allow you

BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com The sweater just doesn’t fit. You already have four coffee makers, and that’s just counting the ones in the closet. Your truck’s engine expired, and there isn’t room in your new sedan for a gun rack. It could happen to anyone. Luckily, most retail outlets allow a little time to bring in returns and exchanges, so procrastination isn’t totally out of the question, but there is no excuse for not being prepared. If it’s time to head back to the mall or that big box store and return or exchange a gift, know what you are up against. “It is really important to know the

STATE BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

Spartanburg inmate death being investigated SPARTANBURG — Authorities are investigating after an inmate was found unresponsive at the Spartanburg County Detention Center and later died. Randy Bogan of the Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office said that 54-year-old James Douglas Glenn died at the Spartanburg Medical Center after being transported from the jail on Wednesday. An autopsy was performed although the results are not yet in. The State Law Enforcement Division is assisting in the investigation.

N. Charleston shooting kills 1, injures another NORTH CHARLESTON — Police are investigating a Christmas Eve shooting at a North Charleston motel that left one man dead and another wounded. Police spokesman Spencer Pryor tells local media outlets that the shooting happened about 3 a.m. on Thursday. Two people were taken to Medical University of North Carolina hospital where one of them, identified as 19-year-old Derek Burgess of North Charleston, later died. A 24-year-old man remains hospitalized. Pryor says that Burgess went to the hotel for a date that he arranged at an online site. He said a woman let Burgess and another person armed with a pistol into the room. Two other people came to the room, and shots were fired. Police say the gunman fled the scene.

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

to get back a gift card or actual money back if you decide to return it.” Consumers should be aware many retailers charge restocking fees, Lybarker said, especially for electronics, so it may be more advantageous to keep an item rather than return it. “You may not get the full value when you return it,” she said. One strategy many people use to avoid returns is to give gift cards, but even then there can be problems. Lybarker said if you receive a gift card, don’t wait too long to use it. “Whenever you are getting a gift card, use it,” she said. “They don’t expire for at least five years, but the value can go away if that company goes belly up.” If your gift giver shopped locally it can also make returning items less of a hassle.

Chip Bracalente, owner of C. Anthony’s Menswear, said returns have never been a problem at his store. “We don’t get many returns because we know our customers so well,” he said. “We try to be very lenient; we don’t leave our customers holding the bag.” Suzanne Horton, at Jewelry Wholesale on Wesmark Boulevard, said it’s good when customers bring receipts, but with modern computer systems, they are able to verify sales even if the customer doesn’t bring one. “We don’t get a lot of returns,” she said, “but we do get a lot of people who bring jewelry back for an upgrade.” Lybarker said anyone having a complaint or issue can call the Department of Consumer Affairs toll free at (800) 922-1594 or they can visit consumer. sc.gov and file a complaint online.

Greenville woman’s prayer tree touches lives around the world GREENVILLE (AP) — There’s a well decorated tree in Tina Delk’s front yard in southern Greenville County. But this diminutive tree has no Christmas lights. No garland. No ornaments either. The decorations on this tree have nothing to do with the colorful displays of the Christmas season. Although, they have plenty to do with the spirit of the Christmas season and why it’s celebrated. Delk started decorating this tree in April with different colored ribbons. It’s her “prayer tree.” Each of the 250 ribbons hanging there represents a prayer for someone or some family in need. “Prayer has always been a big part of my life,” Delk said. “Being raised here by good Christian parents, I love prayer, and it always works.” The prayer tree started several months after Delk’s son-in-law lost his job. Through his severance pay, the family made it through last Christmas. But after the new year, times began to get hard. Delk prayed for her daughter’s family. Then one day while working in her front yard, Delk said she heard a message from God. “God said, ‘are you really praying with all your heart?’ and it just made me think,” Delk said. “I looked at this tree and I thought, I’m going to prove my prayers are genuine and start tying a ribbon on the tree.” On April 21, Delk tied her first ribbon and prayed for her son-in-law to find a job. She did the same thing each day for nearly two weeks. On the 13th day, he found work. “I went out and tied a white ribbon on the tree that

BART BOATWRIGHT / THE GREENVILLE NEWS

Tina Delk places ribbons on her prayer tree in the front yard of her Greenville home on Dec. 18. day because God answered a prayer,” Delk said. “He found a job, and I was so happy.” She shared her news with a friend, who encouraged her to keep the prayer tree going, “because so many believe in prayer.” As Delk kept praying and hanging ribbons, word spread about the tree, and prayer requests started coming. From fellow members of Sandy Spring Baptist Church in Pelzer to family and friends in 20 different states, England and Nova Scotia, Delk gladly accepted them all. She keeps a log to track each one. That comes as no surprise to Delk’s pastor, Dan Green. “She’s one of the absolute strongest prayer warriors we have,” Green said. “She’s constantly in prayer and requesting prayer for other people. People love to be around Tina and talk to her.” Just as she did after her son-in-law found a new job, Delk replaces the ribbons of answered prayers with a

white ribbon. She does the same for those who are sick and pass away. “I tie a white ribbon because that was an answered prayer, whether they got well or went to heaven to be with Jesus,” Delk said. Her pastor thinks the white ribbons are a very important part of the tree. “The white ribbons allow people to actually see what God is doing through prayer,” Green said. “It’s a wonderful ministry that she’s started, and I hope it will continue. “The other day she told me she may have to start tying ribbons to another tree because this one has so many.” Word about the prayer tree has now spread beyond friends and family. Delk said it fills her heart when she’s adding a ribbon to the tree and passers by honk their horn and give her a thumbs up because they know what she’s doing. Delk has watched strangers pull over in front of her house, tie a ribbon to the

tree, pause for prayer, then get back in their cars and drive away. That doesn’t bother her in the least. “It’s what God wants me to do,” Delk said. Recently, a special prayer request was sought by a young stranger from across the street at Robert E. Cashion Elementary School. The youngster didn’t stop at the tree though. “Right before Thanksgiving, there was a knock on my front door. It was a little boy who said, ‘ma’am, I’ve come to ask to tie a ribbon on your tree and pray for my classmate who’s really sick.’ I said, ‘I’d be glad to.’ “Delk said. “I said, ‘as a matter of fact, let’s go to the garage to get a ribbon and you and I will tie a ribbon on the tree.’” Delk never got his name, but she prayed with the boy, who Delk thinks is probably in the second grade. “All of this has been the biggest blessing for me,” Delk said, “but that little boy really touched my heart.”

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20 N. Magnolia St., Sumter, S.C. 29150 (803) 774-1200 Jack Osteen Editor and Publisher jack@theitem.com (803) 774-1238 Rick Carpenter Managing Editor rick@theitem.com (803) 774-1201 Waverly Williams Sales Manager waverly@theitem.com (803) 774-1237

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Historic World War II bomber seeks new S.C. home — one of seven B-25C Mitchells still in existence — is being restored again, its owners want to give the piece of S.C. history a permanent home. The plane, once known as “Skunkie,” is being housed in Hangar Y1 at Jim HamiltonL.B. Owens Airport. A team of volunteers, armed with $20,000 in grants from the Richland County Conservation Commission and small donations from supporters, is about halfway through a second restoration intended to make the bomber museum worthy. “We’re trying to make it look just like the ones that sat on the flight line at the old Co-

COLUMBIA (AP) — On D-Day, June 6, 1944, as Allied troops were storming the beaches of Normandy during World War II, the crew of a “C’’ model B-25 Mitchell bomber dipped low to the water over Lake Greenwood and crashed during a training run. The plane was raised from the lake in 1983, and since has had a sometimes glorious but mostly ignominious fate. It was restored once and served as a centerpiece of several reunions of the famous World War II Doolittle Raiders. But it deteriorated while bouncing from owner to owner. Now that the bomber

lumbia Air Base because it sat on that flight line,” said Ken Berry, president of the S.C. Historic Aviation Foundation, which owns the bomber and is leading the restoration. The work is being done in a nondescript hangar near Owens Field terminal. It’s a 70-foot by 70-foot standard hangar packed with not only the bomber but also a wide array of other military and aviation artifacts. The group hopes to one day open a museum and learning center at the downtown general-aviation airport. “We need something about six times bigger,” Berry said. B-25s were medium-sized,

two-engine bombers that flew throughout World War II. They were used for bombing and strafing soldier strongholds from Europe to the Pacific. Most famously, Col. Jimmy Doolittle led a raid on Tokyo with the planes, loading 16 of the usually land-based bombers on an aircraft carrier and bombing Japan shortly after the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. The Raiders volunteered for what many considered a suicide mission in 1942 at Columbia Army Air Base — now Columbia Metropolitan Airport which was the largest B-25 training base in the nation. In addition to the Columbia

Colonial FP partners with Varsity Healthcare Partners

WEATHER FROM PAGE A1 As the rain continued to fall, Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley on Friday issued an emergency declaration that covers any part of the state experiencing flash flooding. Officials in southeast Alabama are particularly concerned, as Pea River is approaching record-levels near the town of Elba, which has a history of severe flooding. Dozens of people were injured in earlier storms, some seriously, said Greg Flynn, spokesman for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. Search teams combed damaged homes and businesses for people still missing, a hunt made complicated because so many had left for the holidays.

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“Until they know for sure where those folks are, they’re going to keep looking, because

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we’ve had in some cases houses leveled, and they’re just not there anymore,” Flynn said.

Whitaker’s medical bills. Anyone wanting to assist with Whitaker’s medical bills, can send checks to The Dogg Pound Bike & Car Club, P.O. Box 1224, Bishopville, SC 29010. For more information, contact LaToya Harry, president of The Dogg Pound Bike & Car Club, at (803) 229-2480.

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ry care practices in South Carolina and to centralize nonclinical management functions in order to maximize provider productivity. “Our growth partnership with VHP will open new opportunities for our physicians and staff as we build on our differentiated patient care capabilities, technology and culture in what should be an exciting chapter of growth for Colonial,” Colonial managing partner Clay Lowder, said. “VHP brings deep healthcare expertise, a strong track record of growing physician practice management business models and a strong entrepreneurial spirit.”z

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Christmas, donating digital tablets, a bicycle, a basketball goal, a coat and other items. The group, along with another motorcycle club, Love Doctors of Bishopville, are planning to do a fundraiser after the holidays to help with

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Varsity Healthcare Partners, a healthcare servicesfocused private equity investment firm, announced Tuesday that it had closed a capital investment in Colonial Family Practice, one of the largest providers of primary care and patient diagnostic services in South Carolina, through a recapitalization transaction in partnership with Colonial’s shareholder physicians, according to a news release. VHP and Colonial’s physician partners have formed Family Care Partners, a holding company established to consolidate prima-

A Christmas Tree stands among damage done to a home on Falcon Road in Selmer, Tennessee, on Thursday after a tornado passed through the area Wednesday evening. No deaths or injuries were reported.

INFECTION FROM PAGE A1

training base, satellite bases were located in Greenville, Charleston, Myrtle Beach and smaller cities throughout the state. Skunkie was on temporary assignment to Greenville Army Air Base when it crashed into Lake Greenwood. Of the 1,660 “C’’ model B-25s that were built, most came to South Carolina and Columbia Air Base. And 268 men died in training accidents in the state. At one point, the South Carolina Historic Aviation Foundation had considered restoring the plane to flying condition as a traveling tribute to all those planes and pilots. But its fragile condition made it more viable as a static display.

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CABLE CHANNELS The First 48: Blood on Bourbon Mass (:01) The First 48: Last Run; Mean (:02) The First 48: Deadly Obsession; (:01) The First 48 ing Point Team of killers. (HD) ther ambushed. (HD) shooting. (HD) Mugging Pizza delivery. (HD) The Killer You Know (HD) (HD) (6:00) The Green Mile (‘99, Drama) aaaa Tom Hanks. A Death Row prison guard be gins to be lieve a con One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (‘75, Drama) aaaa Jack Nichol son. A convicted crimi180 demned convict is innocent. (HD) nal is sent to a mental asylum after he pretends to be insane. (HD) 100 Dr. Dee: Alaska Vet (HD) Dr. Dee: Alaska Vet (HD) Dr. Dee: Alaska Vet (N) (HD) Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain (N) (:03) Dr. Dee: Alaska Vet (HD) Dr. Jeff (HD) Ty ler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By My self (‘09, Drama) ac Ty ler Perry. A trou bled woman raises niece and neph Just Wright (‘10, Com edy) aa Queen Latifah. A tough phys i cal ther a pist be comes romanti162 ews, as a man urges her to make changes. (HD) cally involved with an NBA star. The Real Housewives of Atlanta: Bravo First Looks Friday (‘95, Comedy) aaa Ice Cube. Young men try to survive on the Friday (‘95, Comedy) aaa Ice 181 The Real Housewives of Atlanta: Bienvendio a Miami Miami Spice (N) gang-ridden mean streets of Los Angeles. Cube. Los Angeles life. 62 Undercover Boss (HD) Undercover Boss (HD) Undercover Boss (HD) Undercover Boss (HD) Undercover Boss (HD) Undercover 64 Sixties TV’s influence. Sixties Counterculture. The Sixties: The British Invasion The Sixties: 1968 Sixties Social movements. Sixties (:52) The Cam paign (‘12, Com edy) aac Will Ferrell. An un likely can di Dumb & Dumber (‘94, Com edy) aaa Jim Carrey. Two bum bling buf foons drive crossGrandma’s Boy (‘06, Comedy) 136 date challenges a long-time congressman in North Carolina. (HD) country to return ill-gotten money. (HD) aaa Allen Covert. (HD) The Game Plan (‘07, Comedy) aac Dwayne Johnson. A superstar quar- Lab Rats Tailgate Gamer’s Guide Kirby Buckets: Best Friends Jessie India pro80 BUNK’D Making Best Friends friends. (HD) Whenever (HD) terback discovers he is the father of an 8-year-old girl. rivalry. (HD) to Pretty (HD) Atta Boy (HD) Whenever (HD) ject. (HD) 103 Deadliest Catch (HD) Deadliest Catch (HD) Deadliest Catch (HD) Deadliest Catch (HD) Deadliest Catch (HD) Deadliest (HD) 35 (5:45) College Football: Tulsa vs Virginia Tech z{| (HD) (:15) College Football: UCLA Bruins vs Nebraska Cornhuskers from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. z{| (HD) 39 Think Tank: Ideas of Year (HD) His & Hers (HD) NBA Coast to Coast z{| (HD) SportsCenter (HD) (6:15) Harry Pot ter and the Gob let of Fire (‘05, Fan tasy) aaac Dan iel Radcliffe. A young wiz ard com petes in Shadowhunters Harry Pot ter and the Order of the Phoenix (‘07, Fantasy) aaa Daniel 131 a hazardous tournament between rival schools. (HD) (HD) Radcliffe. New teacher seizes control of Hogwarts. (HD) 109 Diners (HD) American (HD) Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives (HD) Diners (HD) Diners (HD) Diners (HD) Diners (HD) Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives (HD) Diners (HD) 74 FOX Report Saturday (HD) FOX News Channel Justice with Judge Jeanine (N) The Greg Gutfeld Show (N) Red Eye News satire. (HD) Justice (HD) 42 NHL Hockey: New Jersey Devils at Carolina Hurricanes from PNC Arena (HD) Postgame Driven: Ron Francis (HD) Driven (HD) NHL Hockey When Calls the Heart: New Year’s Wish Jack and Elizabeth start again; Let It Snow (‘13, Holiday) aac Candace Cameron Bure. A talented busi- A Bride for 183 Christmas Under Wraps (‘14) aaa Candace Cameron Bure. (HD) Rosemary and Lee have an exciting experience. (N) (HD) nesswoman must inspect a new property for her company. (HD) Christmas (HD) 112 Tiny House Tiny House Tiny House Tiny House Tiny House Tiny House Tiny House Tiny House Tiny Lux (N) Tiny Lux (HD) Tiny House 110 The Curse of Oak Island (HD) The Curse of Oak Island (HD) The Curse of Oak Island (HD) The Curse of Oak Island (HD) The Curse of Oak Island (HD) Curse (HD) 160 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Law & Order: Snatched Kidnapping. (HD) Transitions (HD) Lead (HD) Ballerina Strip club. (HD) Hell Devil worshipper. (HD) SVU (HD) Stalked By My Doctor (‘15, Thriller) aa Amy Pietz. Obsessed heart doc- (:02) A Wife’s Nightmare (‘14, Thriller) aac Jennifer Beals. Long-lost Stalked By My 145 (6:00) A Mother Betrayed (‘15, Thriller) Lynn Collins. (HD) tor fakes teenage girl’s death so he can have her to himself. (HD) daughter causes suspicions. (HD) Doctor (HD) 76 Young Kids, Hard Time (HD) Young Kids, Hard Time (HD) Lockup Longer jail stays. (HD) Lockup (N) (HD) Lockup (HD) Lockup (HD) 91 Henry: One Henry, Three Girls Henry Shakers Thunderman Nicky Full House Full House Friends (HD) Friends (HD) Friends (HD) 154 (6:30) The Fast and the Furious (‘01, Action) aaa Paul Walker. (HD) 2 Fast 2 Furious (‘03, Action) aac Paul Walker. Street racing. (HD) Transformers: Revenge (HD) (6:30) Hellboy (‘04, Ac tion) aaa Ron Perlman. A demon com bats a The Mor tal In stru ments: City of Bones (‘13, Ac tion) aaa Lily Col lins. A teen be comes in volved in an ancient Fright Night (‘11) 152 madman intent on releasing hellish creatures upon the Earth. battle between angels and demons. aac The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang Rush Hour 3 (‘07, Comedy) aac Chris Tucker. Detec156 2 Broke Girls (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) tives go to Paris to track Triad. (HD) (5:00) The Bridge on the River Kwai Swing Time (‘36, Mu si cal) aaac Fred Astaire. A man en gaged to his Top Hat (‘35, Mu si cal) aaac Fred Astaire. A dancer falls in love with a Shall We Dance 186 (‘57, Drama) William Holden. hometown sweetheart falls in love with his dance teacher. (HD) woman, but she mistakes him for a married man. (HD) (‘37) aac 157 Real Life Mysteries (HD) Real Life Mysteries (HD) Real Life Mysteries (HD) Real Life Mysteries (HD) Real Life Mysteries (HD) Mysteries 158 The Blind Side (‘09, Drama) Sandra The Hunger Games (‘12, Action) aaa Jennifer Lawrence. In a post-apocalyptic future, an annual event is held Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (‘07, AdvenBullock. A boy gets help. (HD) in which 24 young people are pitted against each other in a bloody game of survival. (HD) ture) aaa Johnny Depp. All-pirate war. (HD) 102 Jokers (HD) Jokers (HD) Jokers (HD) Jokers (HD) Jokers (HD) Jokers (HD) Carbonaro Carbonaro Carbonaro Carbonaro Jokers (HD) 161 Reba (HD) Reba (HD) Reba (HD) Reba (HD) Loves Raymond: Mozart (HD) Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Queens (HD) Queens (HD) Queens (HD) NCIS: Cadence DiNozzo revisits teen- NCIS: Status Update A murder links Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family 132 NCIS: Kill the Messenger Murdered NCIS: The Searchers False charity Lieutenant. (HD) targets grieving families. (HD) age memories. (HD) to a terror group. (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) Law & Order: Panic (HD) Law & Order: Entitled (HD) Law & Order Sisterly love. (HD) Law & Order: Trade This (HD) Law & Order (HD) Law (HD) 172 Blue Bloods Judgment call. (HD) Blue Bloods (HD) Blue Bloods (HD) Blue Bloods: This Way Out (HD) The Big Lebowski (‘98, Comedy) Jeff Bridges.

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Weekend TV stuffed with marathon programming BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein did not live long enough to watch “Sharknado.” But the spirit of that silly movie helps explain the appeal of the 2013 television musical “The Sound of Music Live!” (8 p.m. Saturday, NBC, TV-G). This adaptation was the first of the network’s live experiments in musical theater (that now include “Peter Pan” and “The Wiz”), and it succeeded in attracting a large audience and generating social media chatter both positive and negative. And the latter got the most attention. Star Carrie Underwood’s fan base did not take kindly to critics and “haters,” who pointed out the obvious: that the “American Idol” winner was a good singer, but an untrained actress. At the same time, the high school musical aspects of “The Sound of Music Live!” made it more appealing and refreshing for some. By airing a live musical that aired two years ago, NBC perfectly captures the lazy spirit of the day-after-Christmas programming. It’s all about the leftovers. TLC invites viewers to nibble on a “Dateline” marathon (noon Saturday to 3 a.m. Sunday). National Geographic hopes we’re glued to their igloo with a “Life Below Zero” marathon (9 a.m. Saturday, TV-14). Having just binged on 24 hours of “A Christmas Story,” TBS limits itself to six consecutive helpings of “The Big Bang Theory” (8 p.m. Saturday, TVPG). Nat Geo Wild thinks it’s a perfect day for an evening marathon of “Aloha Vet” (5 p.m. Saturday, TV-PG). The Science Channel has been airing nothing but “MythBusters” episodes since Thursday, and plans to do so until Jan. 2. By those standards, the “Deadliest Catch” marathon (9 a.m. Saturday, Discovery, TV14) is pretty brief — a mere 18 hours. So is the 12-hour “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (1 p.m. Saturday, ION, TV-14) run. Viewers with the stomach for 19th-century surgery techniques can catch up with 10 episodes of “The Knick” (3 p.m. Saturday, Cinemax, TV-MA). News takes a backseat on Saturday as CNN unspools nine episodes of “The Sixties”

• The Minnesota Vikings host the New York Giants in “Sunday Night Football” (8:20 p.m., NBC). • “Undercover Boss” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) lets the chocolate chips fall. • Las Vegas comes to a standstill on the two-hour series finale of “CSI” (9 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14), featuring the return of Gil Grissom (William Petersen) and Catherine Willows (Marg Helgenberger). • Some have described the 2014 thriller “Gone Girl” (9 p.m., HBO Signature) as “the most expensive Lifetime Movie ever made.” I quite agree. • Chris Sacca, formerly of Google, guest-stars on “Shark Tank” (10 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG).

CULT CHOICE MARY CYBULSKI / CINEMAX

Clive Owen stars in the Cinemax original series “The Knick,” airing a 10-episode marathon beginning at 3 p.m. today. (7 p.m.), followed Sunday night with seven servings of “The Seventies” (7 p.m.). Over on BBC America, a “Doctor Who” marathon, ongoing since Tuesday, will run until Monday morning. • Having indulged in some holiday romantic comedies, Lifetime returns to form in the 2015 shocker “Stalked by My Doctor” (8 p.m. Saturday) about a fetching teen who captures the attention of a creepy stethoscope-wearer who’s all too happy to make house calls. Not to be confused with “Deadly Daycare” (8 p.m. Saturday, LMN). • Viewers have more than 10 hours to enter “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” (1:22 p.m. Sunday, BET). Fox recently announced that the prolific Perry will be hosting a live musical version of “The Passion” for the network in March. This retelling of Jesus’ final hours will be set in the present time, broadcast from Perry’s hometown of New Orleans. • PBS anticipates the return of its really big show with a repeat of the behind-thescenes special “The Manners of Downton Abbey” (8 p.m. Sunday, TV-PG, check local listings), examining the rituals of the aristocratic set depicted on this elaborate soap opera.

“Downton Abbey” enters its sixth and final season next Sunday. • Two television trends, exploited well beyond exhaustion, combine in “Cupcake Wars Kids” (9 p.m. Sunday, Food, TVG). The burgeoning field of shows about juvenile chefs leaves me with a sour feeling. Precocity is an entertainment ingredient best kept to a minimum. This is at least the third series to trot out the junior set. And I thought the cupcake craze fizzled years ago. “Wars” features talents ages 9 to 14. Their first challenge is to bake for a party celebrating “Scooby-Doo.” Look for Kate Micucci, the voice of Velma in “Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!” as a judge, as well as Grey Griffin, the voice of Daphne.

SATURDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS • Sundance offers late 1970s escapism starring Burt Reynolds and Sally Field. Look for “Smokey and the Bandit” (6 p.m. and 10:45 p.m.) and “Smokey and the Bandit II” (8:15 p.m. and 1 a.m.). • Viewers worried about a sentimental letdown have at least one network left to handle their sugar fix. The Christmas onslaught continues on Hallmark, with “A Christmas Melody” (6 p.m.), a New Year’s

helping of “When Calls the Heart” (8 p.m.) and “Christmas Incorporated” (10 p.m.). • Brennan and Booth and Abbie and Ichabod share information on crossover episodes of “Bones” (8 p.m., Fox, r, TV-14) and “Sleepy Hollow” (9 p.m., Fox, r, TV-14). • Politics as violent spectacle takes center stage in Ridley Scott’s 2000 epic “Gladiator” (8 p.m., CMT), starring Russell Crowe. • TCM climbs the Astaireway to heaven with three consecutive dancing musicals: “Swing Time” (8 p.m.); “Top Hat” (10 p.m.) and “Shall We Dance” (midnight). • The Philadelphia Eagles host the Washington Redskins in NFL action (8:25 p.m., NFL). • Ash faces his greatest foe on “Ash vs Evil Dead” (9 p.m., Starz, TV-MA).

SUNDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS • Now that Santa’s returned to the North Pole, we can unwind watching 20 hours of “Finding Bigfoot” (9 a.m., Animal Planet, TV-PG). • Scheduled on “60 Minutes” (7 p.m., CBS): profiles of mobsters, including James “Whitey” Bulger, John Gotti and Jack Garcia, a FBI agent who infiltrated the Gambino crime family.

The sentimental 1957 favorite “An Affair to Remember” (8 p.m., Sunday, TCM), starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, was inspired by the 1939 romance “Love Affair,” starring Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer. It went on to inspire the 1993 romantic comedy “Sleepless in Seattle,” starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.

SATURDAY SERIES Contagious bird flu on “Hawaii Five-0” (8 p.m., CBS, r, TV14) * Two hours of “America’s Funniest Home Videos” (8 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG) * Two episodes of “48 Hours” (9 p.m., CBS) * “20/20” (10 p.m.).

SUNDAY SERIES Guest-starring on four episodes of “The Muppets” (ABC, r, TV-PG): Jason Bateman (8 p.m.), Kristin Chenoweth (8:30 p.m.), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (9 p.m.) and Mindy Kaling (9:30 p.m.) * Homer’s Christmas Eve drinking bout is too much for Marge on “The Simpsons” (8 p.m., Fox, r, TV-PG) * Gina and Boyle have their worries on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (8:30 p.m., Fox, r, TV-14) * Peter worries about Jesus on “Family Guy” (9 p.m., Fox, r, TV-14) * Separation anxiety on “The Last Man on Earth” (9:30 p.m., Fox, r, TV-14). Copyright 2015, United Feature Syndicate

TELEVISION

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WIS News 10 at Fix It & Finish It: 11:00pm News Radical Renovaand weather. tions (HD) 60 Minutes (N) (HD) Undercover Boss: Nestlé Toll House CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Immortality When a cataclysmic event News 19 @ 11pm (:35) Scandal: Hunting Season ScanCafé by Chip COO cannot meet her devastates the city of Las Vegas, the CSI team receives aid from Gil The news of the dal bombshell dropped at Pope. (HD) own demands. (N) (HD) Grissom, Catherine Willows and Jim Brass. (HD) day. America’s Funniest Home Videos The Muppets: The Muppets: The Muppets: The Muppets: Shark Tank Tech education busiABC Columbia Paid Program Person of InterTrick-or-treating mishaps; rubber Pig’s in a Blackout The Ex-Factor Going, Going, Single All the Way ness; home rental website; hot drink; News at 11 (HD) Sponsored. est: Bury the Lede shark. (HD) (HD) (HD) Gonzo (HD) (HD) inflation device. (HD) (HD) Royal Paintbox Works of art by past Masterpiece EdMasterpiece: Downton Abbey V The Crawleys heads to a castle in Great Houses With Julian Fellowes: Masterpiece: The Manners of wardian manners. and present members of the royal Downton Abbey Special Edwardian Northumberland County for a shooting party, and after returning to their Goodwood House Fellowes learns (HD) family showcased. (HD) Downton Abbey home, they celebrate Christmas. (HD) manners. (HD) about royal affair. (HD) (4:25) NFL Foot- The OT z{| The Simpsons Brooklyn Family Guy: The The Last Man on WACH FOX News The Big Bang The Big Bang Celebrity Name TMZ (N) ball z{| (HD) (HD) Out drinking. (HD) Nine-Nine Drug 2,000-Year-Old Earth: The Boo at 10 Nightly Theory Online Theory (HD) Game (HD) dealer. (HD) Virgin (HD) (HD) news report. robbery. (HD) How I Met Your How I Met Your Movie Family Guy Qua- Family Guy Qua- The Office Work- The Office Work- The Office WorkMother (HD) Mother (HD) hog family. hog family. day at Dunder. day at Dunder. day at Dunder. (HD) (HD) (HD)

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Twister (‘96) scientists on one last, dangerous run into Oklahoma’s “Tornado Alley.” (HD) casinos to win over his ex-wife. (HD) Helen Hunt. (HD) (4:00) Ar ma ged Gone in 60 Sec onds (‘00, Ac tion) aaa Nicolas Cage. A mob ster de mands a re tired car Ar ma ged don (‘98, Sci ence Fic tion) aaa Bruce Wil lis. An un ruly crew of oil rig workers is 180 don (‘98) (HD) thief to supply him with 50 exotic cars. (HD) trained to destroy a killer asteroid. (HD) 100 Finding Bigfoot (HD) Finding Bigfoot: Further (N) Finding Bigfoot: Further Evidence (N) (HD) Finding Bigfoot Untold (HD) Finding (HD) House of Payne House of Payne House of Payne House of Payne House of Payne House of Payne House of Payne House of Payne House of Payne House of Payne BET Inspiration 162 (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) The Real Housewives of Atlanta Work Out New York: Cry of the Tiger Real Housewives: There’s No Busi- Real Housewives: There’s No Busi- Work Out: Cry of 181 Atlanta Social (N) (HD) (N) (N) ness Like Friend Business ness Like Friend Business the Tiger 62 American Greed: Shipwrecked! Greed: Crash for Cash Greed: Murder in Memphis Greed: The Sky’s the Limit Greed: The Playboy of Indiana Greed 64 The Seventies (HD) The Seventies (HD) The Seventies (HD) The Seventies (HD) The Seventies (HD) Seventies Tommy Boy (‘95, Com edy) Chris (:56) Dumb & Dumber (‘94, Com edy) aaa Jim Carrey. Two bum bling buf foons drive Tommy Boy (‘95, Com edy) aac Chris Farley. Un der achiever teams up 136 Farley. Duo saves business. (HD) cross-country to return ill-gotten money. (HD) with snide accountant to try and save his dad’s business. (HD) Despicable Me (‘10, Comedy) aaac Steve Carell. A Best Friends (:10) Girl Meets Austin & Ally Liv and Maddie Girl Meets World Jessie Chess con80 Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (‘02) Antonio Banderas. master thief plans his next big heist. Whenever (HD) World (HD) New band. (HD) (HD) (HD) test. (HD) 103 Alaska: The Last Frontier (HD) Alaska: The Last Frontier (N) Alaska: The Last Frontier (N) Alaska: The Last Frontier (HD) Alaska: The Last Frontier (HD) Alaska (HD) 35 2015 WSOP SportsCenter (HD) Think Tank: Ideas of Year (HD) 30 for 30: Chasing Tyson (HD) SportsCenter (HD) 39 30 for 30 (HD) 2015 WSOP 2015 World Series Poker (HD) 2015 World Series Poker (HD) 2015 World Series Poker (HD) 2015 World Series Poker (HD) ESPN FC (HD) (5:00) Harry Pot ter and the Deathly Hal lows: Part 1 (:45) Harry Pot ter and the Deathly Hal lows: Part 2 (‘11, Fan tasy) aaac Dan iel Radcliffe. Harry, Ron and Hermione search Joel Osteen 131 (‘10, Adventure) aaac Daniel Radcliffe. (HD) for the three remaining Horcruxes. (HD) 109 Guy’s Grocery Games (HD) Guy’s Grocery Games (N) (HD) Cupcake Wars Kids (N) (HD) Cutthroat Kitchen (N) (HD) Cutthroat Kitchen Haggis. (HD) Cupcake (HD) 74 FOX Report Sunday (HD) FOX News Channel FOX News Channel The Greg Gutfeld Show FOX News Channel FOX Report 42 NHL Hockey: Carolina Hurricanes at Chicago Blackhawks from United Center (HD) Postgame World Poker Tour no} (HD) World Poker Tour no} (HD) NHL Hockey Crown for 183 (6:00) 12 Gifts of Christmas (‘15, Ro- A Christmas Melody (‘15, Holiday) Mariah Carey. A single mother returns A Christmas Detour (‘15, Romance) aac Candace Cameron Bure. mance) aac Katrina Law. (HD) to her hometown with her young daughter. (HD) Woman needs help to reach destination. (HD) Christmas (HD) 112 Hunters (HD) Hunters (HD) Hunt (HD) Hunt (HD) Life (HD) Life (HD) Island (HD) Island (HD) Hunters (HD) Hunters (HD) Life (HD) 110 Ax Men: Sloppy Joe (HD) Ax Men: Logged (N) (HD) Ax Men (N) (HD) The Curse of Oak Island (HD) (:03) Ax Men: Sloppy Joe (HD) Ax Men (HD) Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (‘03, Science Fiction) aac Arnold Max Payne (‘08, Thriller) aa Mark Wahlberg. A detec160 Under Siege (‘92, Action) aac Steven Seagal. A warship with nuclear missiles is seized by terrorists led by an ex-CIA agent. Schwarzenegger. Cyborg protects Earth’s future leader. tive tracks his family’s killer. The House Sitter (‘15, Horror) Neal Gyles, Lin Hultgren. (HD) (:02) Stalked By My Doctor (‘15, Thriller) aa Amy 145 Stalked By My Doctor (‘15, Thriller) aa Amy Pietz. Obsessed heart doctor fakes teenage girl’s death so he can have her to himself. (HD) Pietz. Obsessed doctor fakes girl’s death. (HD) 76 Sex Slaves: Florida (HD) Sex Slaves: Polk County (HD) Locked Up Abroad (HD) Locked Up Abroad (HD) Lockup (HD) Lockup (HD) 91 SpongeBob: Truth or Square Sponge Sponge Full House Full House Full House Full House Friends (HD) Friends (HD) Friends (HD) 154 (6:30) 2 Fast 2 Furious (‘03, Action) Paul Walker. Street racing. (HD) Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (‘09, Action) aac Shia LaBeouf. Evil robots seek artifact to be rulers. (HD) Oz the Great and Powerful (‘13, Fantasy) aac James Franco. A magician finds himself in a whimsical place Oz the Great and Powerful (‘13, Fantasy) aac James 152 The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (‘13, Action) Lily Collins. and tries to make his mark. (HD) Franco. Magical land. (HD) The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang Old School (‘03, Comedy) aaa Luke Wilson. Three 156 The Big Bang Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) men start a college fraternity. (HD) An Affair to Remember (‘57, Romance) Cary Grant. Lovers engaged to (:15) Affair in Trinidad (‘52, Thriller) aac Rita Hayworth. A singer enlists The King of Kings 186 (5:30) The Lion in Winter (‘68, Drama) aaac Peter O’Toole. other people commit to a reunion at the Empire State Building. her brother-in-law’s help to find her husband’s killer. (‘27) aaac 157 Jill & Jessa: Counting On (HD) Jill & Jessa: Counting On (N) Jill & Jessa: Counting On (N) Married By Mom & Dad (N) (HD) The Room (N) Jill & Jessa: Counting On (HD) Agent X: Fidelity (N) (HD) The Librarians: And the Final Curtain Agent X: 158 (5:00) The Hunger Games (‘12, Ac- The Librarians: And the Final Curtain Agent X: Penultimatum (N) (HD) tion) Jennifer Lawrence. (HD) (N) (HD) (HD) Penultimatum 102 truTV Top Funniest (HD) truTV Top Funniest (HD) truTV Top Funniest (HD) truTV Top Funniest (HD) (:01) truTV Top Funniest (HD) truTV Top 161 Reba (HD) Reba (HD) Reba (HD) Reba (HD) Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Queens (HD) Queens (HD) Queens (HD) NCIS: No Good Deed DiNozzo and his NCIS: Lost in Translation Murdered NCIS: Neverland A bombing overseas Modern Family Modern Family Safe Haven (‘13) 132 NCIS: The Artful Dodger Switched painting. (HD) girlfriend partner up. (HD) Marine. (HD) by “The Calling.” (HD) (HD) (HD) aac (HD) CSI: Miami (HD) CSI: Miami (HD) CSI: Miami: Inside Out (HD) CSI: Miami: Deep Freeze (HD) CSI: Miami: Burned (HD) CSI Miami 172 Blue Bloods: Brothers (HD) Blue Bloods: Privilege (HD) Blue Bloods: Officer Down (HD) Blue Bloods: Smack Attack (HD) Grumpy Old Men (‘93) aaa Jack Lemmon. (HD)

A new classic is born in ‘Hateful Eight’

FILM REVIEWS

BY LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

From left, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro and Edgar Ramirez are seen in a scene from the film “Joy,” which opened in theaters on Christmas Day.

Jennifer Lawrence carries ambitious, imperfect ‘Joy’ BY SANDY COHEN AP Entertainment Writer Jennifer Lawrence is a force, whether as the hero of “The Hunger Games” or the overburdened, inventive single mother she plays in “Joy.” The Oscar winner is in every frame of David O. Russell’s new film, shining even among a star-studded cast with a performance that brings continuity to the writer-director’s ambitious but flawed story about the dogged persistence of a determined entrepreneur. Lawrence plays the title character, Joy, whose last name is never revealed but who’s based on real-life home-shopping magnate Joy Mangano, creator of the Miracle Mop and an executive producer of the film. Text onscreen at its opening says it is “inspired by true stories of daring women, one in particular.” Russell’s eighth feature film introduces Joy in the years before she makes herself a millionaire. Working in a meaningless job, she struggles as the financial and emotional center of a dysfunctional, multigenerational family. She lives in a crumbling house with her

grandmother (Diane Ladd), her soap-opera obsessed mom (Virginia Madsen), along with her two children and her ex-husband, who lives in the basement. Flashbacks and daydreams show Joy as a bright, imaginative child who reluctantly followed a more conventional path when family responsibilities took hold. But when a flash of inspiration hits after years of life dissatisfaction, she bets her future on it. With moral support from her grandmother and ex-husband, seed money from her father’s wealthy girlfriend (Isabella Rossellini), and a glimmer of hope from a QVC executive (Bradley Cooper), Joy stakes everything she has on her new invention: a self-wringing mop with a machine-washable head. Along the way, she experiences elation and despair, personally and professionally. Lawrence brings all the power and intensity required to portray a devoted mother and fierce businesswoman growing up through her 30s, even if the actress looks sweetly youthful throughout. It’s her fire and range that speaks. And the 25-year-old star

doesn’t take anything away from older actresses, who relish in delicious opportunities of their own. Rossellini, 63, is perfectly cast as an Italian widow, while 80-year-old Ladd glows as a doting grandmother and the film’s narrator. Madsen, 54, melts into her character, a recluse in oversized glasses whose whole world is a TV soap opera starring Susan Lucci. Lucci, 68, plays a powerful heroine in the fictional soap that’s meant to be analogous to Joy’s journey of self-discovery, but the technique doesn’t really work, especially since the mother’s obsession with the show seems to border on mental illness. Still, it’s great to see Lucci back in her element. Returning Russell collaborators Robert DeNiro (“Silver Linings Playbook”) and Cooper (“Silver Linings Playbook,” ‘’American Hustle”) each predictably deliver, even if their characters aren’t well-drawn. Despite the convoluted family dynamics and less-than-successful use of the show-withina-show trope, Lawrence makes Joy easy to believe and easy to root for, no matter what she’s selling.

“The Hateful Eight” is not for the faint at heart. What Quentin Tarantino movie is? But while cinema’s favorite cinephile is up to some of his old tricks in his eighth feature, this over three hour long drawing room thriller also feels like a step forward for the wayward enfant terrible — a step toward maturity. That’s not to say he’s mellowed. You need only spend a minute with 87-year-old Ennio Morricone’s throbbing, malicious score to know that to be true. Instead, Tarantino shows relaxed power with “The Hateful Eight.” It’s easy authority that’s less manic than the cinematic language we’ve grown to expect from him. And it still packs a punch to the gut, or, in the spirit of Jennifer Jason Leigh’s murderous prisoner, some repeated blows to the head. This tale of eight unsavory creatures stranded in a one-room haberdashery in the middle of a nasty Wyoming blizzard is in no hurry to get where it’s going, and the audience is better off for it. It’s a whodunit when no one has done anything yet — more like a who’s gonna do it, and what exactly are they gonna do. Everyone is bad, everyone has a secret, and everyone is the hero of their own story. There’s Samuel L. Jackson as the hyper literate bounty hunter Major Marquis Warren who carries a personal letter from Abraham Lincoln in his coat pocket; Kurt Russell as the violently affable John Ruth who’s transporting a prisoner to town to be hanged for a $10,000 bounty; Leigh as said prisoner; Daisy Domergue, whose bloody Cheshire grin says more than any monologue ever could. Walton Goggins plays Chris Mannix, the soon-to-be sheriff who may be a master manipulator or just plain dumb; Demian Bechir is Bob, who runs

the Haberdashery; Michael Madsen as Joe Gage, the menacingly quiet one in the corner; Tim Roth as Oswaldo Mobray, a British hangman who seems like a Christoph Waltz stand-in before he finds his groove; and Bruce Dern as an ornery Confederate general, wondering what’s become of his life now that the war is done. It seems like a lot, but it’s really not. That’s the brilliance of Tarantino. Each of his characters is so distinctive, so rich, that they pop off the screen as soon as you meet them. It is refreshing when so many ensemble movies seem to confuse character development with something more akin to “here’s a famous person who you’ll remember.” Vivid costuming work from Courtney Hoffman only adds to their uniqueness. Tarantino also keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering who to trust, or, at the very least, side with. It changes every 15 minutes as the mystery unravels, and then explodes. The conversations are as nimble as ever, whether they’re talking coffee, war, or the benefits of transporting prisoners dead or alive. A big deal has been made about the presentation of “The Hateful Eight.” Tarantino and his cinematographer Robert Richardson shot the film in Ultra Panavision 70, a basically dead format that was used on only a few films, such as “Mutiny on the Bounty.” There’s even an overture and an intermission at the roadshow presentations. It’s hard to see how that’s not mostly posturing as most of the film is set in one room, but it does add a theatrical wonder to it all even if the “glorious 70mm” depends a great deal on the individual projectionist. In the screening I attended, the film was so blurry that they switched to digital at intermission. For what it’s worth, the digital looked great.

OBITUARIES

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2015

JEAN D. GULLEDGE Jean Geer Dobson Gulledge, RN, beloved wife of Lucius “Lu” Marion Gulledge, died Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015, at Roper Hospital in Charleston. Born Nov. 4, 1931, in Alcolu, she was the daughter of the late Mary Alderman Dobson. She and Lu lived in Sumter and North Myrtle Beach for most of their 64 years of marriage. Jean was a member of Alice Drive Baptist Church and was one of 24 founders and builders of The Bible Fellowship Baptist Church in North Myrtle Beach. She was a graduate of Tuomey School of Nursing, serving others at Tuomey, Orangeburg and Grand Strand hospitals for more than 50 years. Survivors, in addition to her husband, are three sons, Mike (Pat) of Summerville, Bob (Michelle) of California and Richard (Beverly) of Wedgefield; three grandsons, Luke Gulledge (Hope) of Irmo, Whit Gulledge (Meg) of Blythewood and Clint Gulledge (Michelle) of California; three granddaughters, Leslie Day Gulledge Caughman (Bryan) of Mayesville, Alison Gulledge and Kelly Gulledge, both of Charleston; nine great-grandchildren, Reagan, Delaney, Summer, Winnie Day, Hunter, Ryleigh, Lyla, Ella, and Maxwell Lucius; a sister, Betsy Richardson (Bobby) of Sumter; and many dear nieces and nephews. She was affectionately referred to as “Nana.” She was preceded in death by a son, Steven Geer; her mother; and a sister, Mary Drexel “Decky” Strange (Oscar). A celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Alice Drive Baptist Church, 1305 Loring Mill Road, Sumter. The Rev. Matthew Palmar of Grace Community Church, Hilton Head, will officiate. Inter-

ment will follow at a later date. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday at Alice Drive Baptist Church and other times at the home. Memorials may be made to Open Door Offering, ADBC, 1305 Loring Mill Road, Sumter, SC 29150, or to Jews For Jesus, 60 Haight St., San Francisco, California 94102. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.

THE SUMTER ITEM

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FROM THE U.S. CENSUS NSUS BUREAU In the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims — early settlers of Plymouth Colony three-day feast to celebrate — held a harvest. rvest. This event is regardeda bountiful by many as the nation’s first Thanksgiving. The Wampanoag oag Indians in attendance played a key role. Historians storians have recorded ceremonies of thanks among mong other groups of European settlers in North These include the British orth America. colonists nists in Virginia as early as The legacy of thanks 1619. and st have survived the centuries, the feast as be came a national holiday the eventt be152 years ago go (Oct. 3, 1863) when President Abraham m Lincoln proclaimed the November as a national last Thursday off day of thanksgivving. Later, President Franklin clarified that Thanksgiving Roosevelt should alwayss be celebrated on the fourth the month to encourage Thursday of shopping, never on the earlier holidayy occasional fifthh Thursday.

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WHERE TO FEASTT 117 million

Number of occupied housing across cross ss the nation in the second units ac quarter — all potential stops uarter of 22015 for Thanksgiving Thanksgiviing dinner. nner.

4.5 million

Number of multigenerationa l households househollds in the U.S. in 2014. It is households, consisting possible thesee of re generations, will have three or more to purchase largee quantities of food to accommodate all th the he family members sitting around for the holiday holida ffeast — even the tablee if there aree no guests!

NANCY KAISER

Nancy Lynn Glenn Kaiser, 61, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015, in Sumter. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Nancy was a resident of Ladson. She is survived by her sons, Steven E. Holliday (Silvia) of Sumter and Daniel C. Holliday of Charleston. A private memorial service will be held at a later date in Charleston. Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals. com. Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 7759386.

Number of places in the named after the holiday’ United States s traditional main course. Turkey Creek Village, Louisiana, was the most populous in residents, followed by 2014, with 443 Turkey Creek, Arizona (412), Turkey City, Texas key Town, North Carolina (396) and Tur(296). There are also 11 townships in the U.S. with “Turkey” inn the thhe name.

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Number of places and townships in the United States that are named Cranberry, a popular side dish at Thanksgiving. Cranberry township (Butler County), Pennsylvania, was the most populous of these places in 2014, with 30,170 residents. Cranberry township (Venango Pennsylvania, was next County), (6,546).

Number of counties, places and townships in the United States named Plymouth, as in Plymouth Rock, the landing site of the first Pilgrims. The two counties, both named Plymouth, are in Massachusetts (507,022) and Iowa Plymouth, Minnesota, (24,874). is lous place, with 75,057 the most popuresidents in 2014. There are two places in the United States named Pilgrim: one, a township in Dade County, Missouri, had a population the other, a census designated of 129; Michigan, had a population place in of 36. And then there is Mayflower, population was 2,345, Arkansas, whose and lage, California, whose Mayflower Vilpopulation was 5,662.

Participants in the First Feast 24.4 million

umber of U.S. residents of y as of 2014. Some could English ancesbe descendants f the Plymo th l

Jayson Hoagland, second from the of their two youngest left, and his wife Jennifer, children. Eight-yearJayden, 4 months, old Jackson, center,second from the right, stand and his grandmoth with their newly JIM stands with his ers, Nancy Browne, expanded family HILLEY / THE SUMTER ITEM sister Jemma, 5, far left, and Sharon after the adoption brother Jentry, McMillion, far right. 22 months, youngest g sis ssister stter

Biaan Bian annnnnual ual eve eveennntt prov even pr ides pr id id

BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com

Just in time for days, 20 children the holiwere adopted into their forever families during Adoption Day at Sumter Finalization County Family

Sumterites grateful for family, friends

BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com

15 families with

Court on Monday. Third Judicial Circuit Judge family court, really,” he George M. McFaddin said. The Jr. start- twice special day is held ed Adoption every year, once Finalization Day in 2008 to expedite in June and once in November the numer. ous backlogge November is d adoption also cases in the nized as National recogarea. “This is the happiest Month, declared Adoption such in 1995 day in by President Bill Clinton, to

flag from the Statehouse People around grounds to the are taking stock Sumter heroic efforts of their blessings this Thanksgivof South Caroing after a momentou linians helps year in the Palmetto HARVIN ing each other the Charleston State. From recover from shootings to the 1,000-year flood, it nearly twoseems as though feet of rain and South raging Carolina has floodwaters. reeled from one catastroph At a time like e to another. this, people But there is say they are much to b most tha kf l h

new members promote awareness of the children in need of permanent families. South Carolina of Social Services Department is promoting communit y education

SEE ADOPTION , PAGE A7

2 children killed in Monday blaze

BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@the

and Clarendon item.com counties stayed at the scene until 5 The start of a.m. Tuesday. the holiday season hit a low The residence after two girls died Monday with fire when was engulfed night in a Pinefirst respondwood house ers arrived, fire. Christmas said. Sumter County He said there Harvin Bullock Coroner ple, including were four peothe two chil5-year-old Isa said the girls, dren in id C

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MARGARET G. CUMMINGS Margaret G. Cummings, 56, widow of Gary I. Cummings, died Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015, at a local nursing facility. Services will be announced by Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter.

SEE OBITUARIES, PAGE A7

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OBITUARIES

THE SUMTER ITEM

TRAVIS J. DAVIS Travis J. Davis, 68, died Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015, at Palmetto Health-Richland in Columbia. Born in Turbeville, she was a daughter of the late Henry Edward Gibbons and Julia Burrows Driggers. She was a member of Promise Land Ministries Church. Survivors include three sons, Richard E. Corliss, Robert A. Corliss and Charles A. McCoy; one daughter, Melissa Cromer (Patrick); four grandchildren, Justin W. Cromer (Caroline), Austin S. Cromer, Santana G. Hardee and Eric S. Corliss; one sister, Patricia Montgomery; and three brothers, Carl Gibbons, L.G. Mathis and Jerry Blackmon. She was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Julia Corliss; a brother, Jimmy Gibbons; and a sister, Pauline Ridgeway. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Promise Land Ministries Church with the Rev. James McElveen officiating. The family will receive friends at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, 5 Maplewood Drive. Memorials may be made to Promise Land Ministries, 1880 Myrtle Beach Highway, Sumter, SC 29153. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in Charge of the arrangements.

JULIA H. PATE Julia Hinson Pate, 75, widow of John W. Pate and Charles A. Pate, died Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015, at her home. Born in Lee County, she was a daughter of the late Sing and Jessie Outlaw Hinson. Mrs. Pate was a member of Eastside Baptist Church and a humble servant of God, who exemplified the meaning of the greatest gift ever, “God’s eternal, never ending love.” She was a dedicated participant in the church’s devotional ministry at McElveen Manor. She was retired from Campbell’s Soup Company and was a passionate gardener. Survivors include three children, Joan Lyons (Johnny) of Manning, Johnny Pate of Sumter and Brenda Sue Mullins (William) of Pittsboro, North Carolina; four grandchildren, Clay Mooneyham, Adam Mooneyham, McKenzee Parrott and Nicholas Mullins; six great-grandchildren; one stepbrother, Jimmy Watson (Libby) of Columbia; and a very special sister-in-law, Sherrill Roberts (Skip), of Warner Robins, Georgia. She was preceded in death by 12 brothers and sisters. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today in Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dale Turner and the Rev. George Smith officiating. Burial will be in the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. today at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Eastside Baptist Church, 701 Boulevard Road, Sumter, SC 29153, or the American Cancer Society, 128 Stonemark Lane, Columbia, SC 29210. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.

DANIEL J. MCKIEVER MOUNTAIN BROOK, Alabama — On Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015, Daniel Joseph McKiever, a native of Sumter and a longtime resident of Mountain Brook, was called home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Private graveside services were conducted at Sumter Cemetery by the Rev. Bob Norris, pastor of the Church at Sandhurst in Florence. Mr. McKiever was predeceased by a daughter, Elizabeth Leigh McKiever Lineberger (Scott); his parents,

Daniel J. McKiever and Lucile Baker McKiever of Sumter; and his sisters, Lucile McKiever of Sumter, Mary McKiever Hunter (Macon) of Hartsville and Virginia McKiever McLaurin (Jack) of Dillon. He is survived by his loving wife, Elizabeth Leonard McKiever of Mountain Brook; their son, Dr. Daniel Joseph McKiever Jr. (Katherine) of Meridian, Mississippi; and their grandchildren, Katherine Elizabeth McKiever of Meridian and Melissa and Jonathan Reno of Myrtle Beach. A veteran of World War II, Mr. McKiever voluntarily enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 18 and served his country honorably for more than three years. He graduated from Edmunds High School in Sumter (1941) as well as University of Michigan with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering (1947). In addition, he matriculated in the engineering curriculums at The Citadel and University of South Carolina. He was one of a few soldiers who completed the Army Specialized Training during World War II in electrical engineering at University of Nebraska, University of Michigan, and Michigan State University. Following his graduation from University of Michigan, he began a business career in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was employed by the Leeds and Northrup Co., a manufacturer of electrical measuring instruments and process controls. He was promoted to the position of district manager and transferred to Birmingham, Alabama, where he was in charge of all company operations in the southeastern states. After an extended period of loyal and dedicated service with the Leeds & Northrup Co., he resigned and became self-employed to pursue other financial opportunities and diversified business interests in Alabama. He retired following a highly successful business career in commercial real estate and development and commercial banking. Mr. McKiever’s many civic activities, honors and accomplishments included holding multiple offices, including president and board of directors in the Shades Valley Rotary Club, Birmingham, Alabama. On the 25th club anniversary celebration, Mr. McKiever was presented the Paul Harris Fellow award for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations between the peoples of the world. At the time of his death, he held a record in his Rotary Club with more than 49 years of perfect attendance. As the sole founder of the Educational Foundation of the Shades Valley Rotary Club, which annually awards more than $60,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors from area high schools, Mr. McKiever has an annual college scholarship awarded in his name. As the District Governor’s Special Representative, he was the founder of the Eastwood (Irondale) Rotary Club. He held memberships in many professional organizations including the Instrument Society of America, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Birmingham Board of Realtors, Birmingham Association of Home Builders, Mortgage Bankers Association of America and the National Association of Industrial and Office Parks. A devout Christian, Mr. McKiever was a founding member of Bluff Park Bible Church in Birmingham. Graveside services were

held at Sumter Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Educational Foundation of the Shades Valley Rotary Club, P.O. Box 530701, Birmingham, AL 35253-0701 or to Big Oak Ranch, P.O. Box 507, Springville, AL 35146. Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals. com Elmore Hill McCreight of Sumter was in charge of arrangements.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2015 entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC, Manning.

GAYNELL MCFADDEN TURBEVILLE — Gaynell McFadden, 58, companion of Robert Green, died Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015, at Carolinas Hospital, Florence. She was born July 20, 1957, in Turbeville section of Clarendon County, a daughter of the late Luther McFadden Sr. and Eliza Herring McFadden. The family is receiving friends at 1639 Olanta Highway, Turbeville. These services have been entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC, Manning.

TED OGBURN RANDY MCELVEEN Thurman Randolph “Randy” McElveen, 75, husband of Gwen Floyd McElveen, died Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015, at Lexington Medical Center in West Columbia. Born in Sumter, he was a son of the late Thurman Earl and Sudie Bryant McElveen. Mr. McElveen was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church and the Berean Sunday School class. He was a U. S. Army veteran. He was retired from Campbell Soup Company; was a former vice president of operations of Young’s Food Stores; a former employee of Sumter Transport; and retired from S.C. Department of Corrections as the branch chief of canteen/commissary. Surviving are his wife of Sumter; two sons, Todd R. McElveen (Amanda) of Charleston and Jason C. McElveen of Los Angeles, California; a brother, Allen Bryant McElveen of Mayesville; and a grandson, Tyler R. McElveen. Memorial services will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday at Trinity United Methodist Church with Dr. Steve Holler, the Rev. Angela Marshall and the Rev. Stephen Taylor officiating. Inurnment will be in the Trinity United Methodist Church Memorial Garden. The family will receive friends following the memorial service in the church fellowship hall. Memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 226 W. Liberty St., Sumter, SC 29150. Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 775-9386.

JOHN E. FELDER GAFFNEY — John Evans Felder Jr., 54, died Monday, Dec. 21, 2015. A son of Lauran Blackwell Felder and the late John Evans Felder Sr. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Monday at Reeseville AME Church, U.S. 521, Alcolu, with the Rev. Valarie Bartley, pastor, officiating and Minister James Felder assisting. Burial will follow in the church yard cemetery. The family is receiving friends at the home of his mother, 211 Dickson St., Cambridge Court, Apt. 5-H, Manning. These services have been

CAMDEN — J. Larry “Ted” Ogburn, 74, passed away on Dec. 23, 2015, in Camden. Larry was the son of the late Fred Marshall and Nettie Smyrl Ogburn. He was married to his high school sweetheart, Serena Roberts Ogburn, for 52 years. They have a son, Andy Ogburn (Shane), and a daughter, Liz McGinnis (John), and two grandchildren, Thomas McGinnis and Caroline Ogburn. He is survived by two brothers, Gary Ogburn (Nancy) and Onnie Ogburn, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother, Fred Ogburn, and sister, Nettie Leese Brown. Ted was considered by many to be the father of scuba diving in South Carolina. He followed his passion and founded Wateree Dive Center in the mid 70s. He was a leader in his profession through both training and travel. This dream opened the doors for many who love the sport to experience the underwater around the globe. Some of his greatest accomplishments include diving the USS Monitor, Instructor of the Year for Professional Association of Diving Instructors, developing and implementing underwater search and rescue programs for South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and other public safety agencies. He also worked for the Department of Defense and was a member of the elite Red Ryder 100M Club. He loved the great outdoors and his country. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. today Bethesda Presbyterian Church in Camden. The family will greet friends following the service at John Knox Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Walter M. Crowe Animal Shelter, 128 Black River Road, Camden, or Kershaw County Historical Society, 811 Fair St., Camden, SC 29020. Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals. com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 775-9386.

SEWARD ABRAHAM MANNING — Seward “Sonny” Abraham, 77, husband of Julia Mae Wilson Abraham died Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015, at Clarendon Memorial Hospital Manning. He was born Oct. 28, 1938, in Manning, a son of the late King and Anna Wilson Abraham.

The family will receive friends at the home of his wife, 201 East Hospital St., Village St. Clare Apt. 4-C, Manning. These services have been entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC, Manning.

CYNTHIA D. PRICE-SMITH Cynthia Deborah PriceSmith, 53, entered eternal rest on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015. Born Sept. 9, 1962, in Sumter, she was the daughter of the late Leroy Sr. and Ada Ruth Capers- Price. She attended the public schools of Sumter County and Morris College. She was a member of Jehovah MBC. She is survived by her husband, Robert Smith; three children, Brandalyn Latia Heathcote (Jeremiah), Rondesia Candace Smith and SrA Kayron Deshay Smith Sr. (Salita); five grandchildren; four sisters, Dorothy C. Herriott, Betty P. Williamson, Thelma T. Brunson (Steve) and Ret. SFC Velma Price; five brothers, Charlie Price (Analisa), Thomas Price (Annie), James Price, Marion Price (Barbara) and Gerald Price; special brother/cousin, Leroy McFadden; a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today at Jehovah MBC with Pastor Marion H. Newton, Pastor Napoleon Bradford, eulogist, Minister Savitrus McFadden and Pastor Ricky Simmons, assisting. The family is receiving relatives and friends at the home, 311 Foxworth St., Sumter. Community Funeral Home of Sumter is in charge of arrangements. Online memorials can be sent to comfhltj@ sc.rr.com

FRANKLIN H. JOHNSON The relatives and friends of the Rev. Dr. Franklin Herman Johnson; those of his beloved wife, Mrs. Elizabeth C. Johnson; children, Vanessa Curry (James), Frankye Johnson, Venita Wilson (Bertram) and Chenita Frierson; late parents, Fred and Marie Johnson; siblings, Charles Johnson (Janie), Arnetta Osborne and Janice Harris; grandchildren; nieces; nephews; and a host of cousins are invited to attend his home going service at noon today at Centenary U. M. Church, 60 Wentworth St., Charleston. Mr. Johnson passed away Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015. Viewing for the Rev. Johnson will be 11 a.m. today at the church. Interment will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Beaufort National Cemetery, Beaufort. Friends may call Fielding Home For Funerals, (843) 7223348 or 1-800-290-5954.

DOROTHEA W. FORD CHARLESTON — On Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015, Dorothea Williams Ford departed this life at Medical University Hospital in Charleston. Born in the Turbeville Community of Clarendon County, on Oct. 19, 1928, she was a daughter of the late Maggie Wheeler and the Rev. John Oscar Williams. Public viewing will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Chapel of Fleming and DeLaine FH. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Santee Wateree Expo, 302 W. Boyce St., Manning, SC 29102. Online condolences may be sent to Flemingdelaine@aol. com or www.FlemingDeLaine. com Funeral services are incomplete and will be announced by Fleming & Delaine Funeral Home & Chapel.

FREE SPEAKING PROGRAMS Glenn Givens is an Attorney and Experienced Speaker who is offering free speaking programs to local social, civic, religious, school and business organizations with 15 or more meeting attendees. Are you an organization looking for an upcoming speaker? Are you an employer or administrator who wants to reward your employees by offering an informative program? Glenn is offering speaking programs for Sumter, Clarendon and Lee Counties on the following separate topics from which to select: 1. Wills and Dying without a Will; 2. Trusts and Avoiding Probate and Distribution Planning; 3. Health and Financial Powers of Attorney and Living Wills. The programs allow for audience participation and questions during and after the program. If you are interested and have at least 15 meeting attendees, contact Glenn at (803) 418-0800; ext. 108.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2015

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE BANKS — All area banks and credit unions will be closed Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. Christmas — Holiday Schedule: Dec. 2015Monday: GOVERNMENT The following will be26, closed Clarendon County offices; Lee County offices; City of Manning offices; City of Bishopville offices; and South Carolina state government offices. The following will be closed Friday, Jan. 1, 2016: federal government offices; South Carolina state government offices; U.S. Postal Service; City of Sumter offices; Sumter County offices; Clarendon County offices; Lee County offices; City of Manning offices; and City of Bishopville offices. SCHOOLS — The following will be closed through Jan. 3, 2016: Sumter School District; Clarendon School Districts 1, 2 and 3; Lee County Public Schools; Robert E. Lee Academy; Thomas Sumter Academy; Wilson Hall; St. Anne Catholic School; St. Francis Xavier High School; and Laurence Manning Academy. Clarendon Hall will be closed through Jan. 4, 2016. Sumter Christian School will be closed through Jan. 3, 2016. A faculty in-service day will be observed on Jan. 4, 2016, and students will return on Jan. 5, 2016. Central Carolina Technical College will be closed through Jan. 3, 2016. USC Sumter will be closed through Jan. 1, 2016. UTILITIES — Black River Electric Coop. and Farmers Telephone Coop. will be closed Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. OTHER — Clemson Extension Service will be closed Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. The Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce will be closed Thursday, Dec. 31, and Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. The Sumter County Library will be closed through Sunday. The library will close at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 31, and will remain closed Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. The Harvin Clarendon County Library will be closed through Monday and will also be closed on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. City of Sumter will collect household garbage and recyclables on New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, 2016. All offices of The Sumter Item will be closed Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. The Sumter Item will not publish on New Year’s Day.

FYI Sumter High School Class of 1976 The Sumter Combat Veterans Group holds weekly peer to is in the process of planning its 40th class reunion. To cele- peer meetings at 11 a.m. Reunion volunteer opporevery Tuesday at the South brate this event ininformation, a manner tunities and more HOPE Center, 1125 S. Lafaythat only the Class of 1976 ette Drive. These meetings can, funds are needed to asare designed for veterans to sist in getting started with the plans. We are asking for a help other veterans with $20 donation from each class- PTSD, coping skills, claims and benefits. Open to all area mate. An account has been established with First Citizens veterans. Bank, 201 N. Washington St., Having cancer is hard. Finding Sumter, SC 29150. You can de- help shouldn’t be. Free help for posit funds directly or you cancer patients from the may contact Ruthie Dow at American Cancer Society. (803) 406-8874, Ella Johnson at Transportation to treatment, (404) 435-4971, Bobby Cook at help for appearance related (803) 840-3151 or Glenn Carside effects of treatment, nupenter at (704) 621-0869 for trition help, one-on-one details. breast cancer support, free housing away from home The Single Parent Institute during treatment, help finding meets from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. clinical trials, someone to talk on the second Monday of to — all free. Call (800) 227each month at the Birnie 2345. HOPE Center. Meetings are open to teenage single parThe Rembert Area Community ents, custodial and non-cusCoalition (RACC) offers a senior todial single parents. You are citizens program 10 a.m.-noon welcome to bring your chileach Monday and Wednesdren as the Single Parent Inday at 6785 Bradley St. (bestitute is for the entire family. hind community car wash), Contact Dr. L. Quaneck WalRembert, SC 29128. Transporkes at (803) 223-9408 or lqwal- tation is available. For details, kes@sctechthisout.com. call (803) 432-2001.

DAILY PLANNER

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEATHER

AccuWeather® ﬁve-day forecast for Sumter TODAY

TONIGHT

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Intervals of clouds and sun

Mostly cloudy, warm and humid

More clouds than sun

A couple of afternoon showers

A shower and t-storm around

An a.m. shower, then t-storms

79°

61°

76° / 64°

79° / 64°

73° / 52°

68° / 55°

Chance of rain: 25%

Chance of rain: 60%

Chance of rain: 65%

SSW 4-8 mph

SSE 3-6 mph

SSW 4-8 mph

SSE 7-14 mph

SW 8-16 mph

E 4-8 mph

TODAY’S SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER

Gaﬀney 64/73 Spartanburg 63/73

Greenville 64/75

Columbia 64/80

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

Sumter 63/79

IN THE MOUNTAINS Aiken 62/77

ON THE COAST

Charleston 64/81

Today: Very warm and humid with times of sun and clouds. High 72 to 78. Sunday: Very warm and humid with times of clouds and sun. High 72 to 78.

LOCAL ALMANAC

LAKE LEVELS

SUMTER YESTERDAY

Full pool 360 76.8 75.5 100

Lake Murray Marion Moultrie Wateree

77° 65° 55° 33° 79° in 1990 14° in 1989

Precipitation Yesterday Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date

Myrtle Beach 64/77

Manning 66/80

Today: Mainly cloudy and very warm. Winds south 4-8 mph. Sunday: Warm with a shower or two. Winds south-southwest 3-6 mph.

Temperature High Low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

Florence 63/79

Bishopville 65/79

SUN AND MOON 7 a.m. yest. 358.47 75.04 73.62 99.76

24-hr chg +0.62 +0.08 +0.05 +2.45

Sunrise 7:25 a.m. Moonrise 6:55 p.m.

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

0.02" 3.38" 2.51" 60.74" 38.86" 46.11"

NATIONAL CITIES

REGIONAL CITIES

Sat. Sun. City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W Atlanta 76/63/c 75/66/c Chicago 43/34/r 39/30/c Dallas 75/51/r 52/33/r Detroit 46/42/r 43/28/r Houston 80/70/c 73/38/t Los Angeles 61/39/s 61/37/pc New Orleans 80/69/c 80/59/c New York 52/48/r 65/45/r Orlando 84/67/pc 84/67/pc Philadelphia 55/50/r 69/46/r Phoenix 56/37/s 57/36/s San Francisco 52/37/s 50/39/pc Wash., DC 57/51/r 72/49/c

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

Sat. Hi/Lo/W 71/59/c 77/61/pc 80/58/pc 77/61/pc 72/62/c 81/62/pc 76/60/c 74/62/c 80/61/pc 78/62/pc 75/61/c 77/63/pc 78/63/pc

Flood 7 a.m. stage yest. 12 10.19 19 20.60 14 12.89 14 15.07 80 80.68 24 23.10

Sun. Hi/Lo/W 70/59/c 74/63/c 78/63/c 78/64/pc 72/61/c 79/66/pc 73/62/c 71/63/c 77/65/c 74/63/c 75/62/c 76/63/c 76/64/c

Sunset Moonset

5:19 p.m. 8:08 a.m.

Last

New

First

Full

Jan. 2

Jan. 9

Jan. 16

Jan. 23

TIDES

24-hr chg +0.69 +2.10 +1.46 +0.81 +0.30 +2.27

AT MYRTLE BEACH

High 9:27 a.m. 9:50 p.m. 10:11 a.m. 10:37 p.m.

Today Sun.

Sat. City Hi/Lo/W Florence 79/60/pc Gainesville 82/65/pc Gastonia 75/60/c Goldsboro 77/63/c Goose Creek 81/63/pc Greensboro 73/61/c Greenville 75/61/c Hickory 73/60/c Hilton Head 75/64/pc Jacksonville, FL 81/65/pc La Grange 76/65/pc Macon 80/60/pc Marietta 75/64/c

Sun. Hi/Lo/W 76/64/c 83/65/pc 71/61/c 77/62/c 78/65/pc 72/60/c 72/62/c 70/60/c 76/66/pc 82/65/pc 75/67/c 76/63/c 74/63/c

Ht. 3.5 3.0 3.4 2.9

Low 3:44 a.m. 4:28 p.m. 4:31 a.m. 5:13 p.m.

Sat. City Hi/Lo/W Marion 70/59/c Mt. Pleasant 78/63/pc Myrtle Beach 77/62/pc Orangeburg 79/64/pc Port Royal 75/62/pc Raleigh 75/61/c Rock Hill 75/60/pc Rockingham 77/61/pc Savannah 80/64/pc Spartanburg 73/59/c Summerville 80/63/pc Wilmington 79/62/pc Winston-Salem 74/61/c

Ht. -0.8 -0.4 -0.6 -0.3

Sun. Hi/Lo/W 69/57/c 77/65/pc 77/64/c 77/66/c 75/64/pc 74/63/c 70/62/c 73/64/c 80/66/pc 70/60/c 78/64/pc 78/63/c 72/60/c

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

For Comfort You Can Count On, Better Make It Boykin! 803-775-WARM (9276) www.boykinacs.com License #M4217

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Don’t make EUGENIA LAST decisions or changes based on emotions. Your tendency to overreact will lead to regret. Work on your mental and emotional outlook and make positive changes by signing up for courses or improving your image or resume.

The last word in astrology

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Invite friends over or relax at home with your family. Talks will lead to some interesting opinions regarding your professional direction and current lifestyle. A romantic evening will bring you closer to the one you love. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You’ll be looking ahead when you should be clearing up unfinished business. Self-improvement, taking a day of rest or revising your to-do list will be fruitful and keep you out of trouble. Use your energy to make personal improvements. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Memories will fill your day. Talking with people who have a unique perspective on life will open your mind to a host of interesting possibilities that you can explore in the future. Arguing will be a waste of time. Be mindful.

gratifying. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Keep your opinions to yourself and concentrate on a project that needs to be finished before the year comes to a close. The less you try to engage with others, the easier it will be to avoid emotional disruptions. Keep the peace. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You can clear up any personal matters by discussing your thoughts and plans for the future. Don’t put personal changes on hold. Do something to improve your image or appearance. Romance and travel are highlighted. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Overdoing it financially or physically will have consequences. Think before you do or say something that could jeopardize your future. Don’t let trying to impress someone lead to mistakes you’ll regret. Avoid temptation.

LOTTERY NUMBERS no numbers as of press time

PICK 3 FRIDAY

PALMETTO CASH 5 FRIDAY

POWERBALL WEDNESDAY

PICK 4 FRIDAY

no numbers as of press time

MEGAMILLIONS FRIDAY

16-38-55-63-67 Powerball: 25; Powerplay: 4

no numbers as of press time

LUCKY FOR LIFE THURSDAY 13-17-28-29-30; Lucky Ball: 5

SUMTER SPCA PETS OF THE WEEK

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You’ll have everything under control. Your ability to handle touchy situations will help you gain respect. Work on your plan to advance and you will develop the groundwork for something quite lucrative. Put aside time for romance.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Do something for the people who have helped you in the past. If you decide to travel, make a point of going somewhere with someone who can offer you knowledge and information. Make subtle changes to your surroundings.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Exercise your right to make personal decisions and to alter your plans for the future. Welcome any input you get, but make it clear that the final decision is yours. Don’t back down when you should be stepping up.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Enjoy getting together with friends. Sharing information and planning future events or activities will give you a better idea of how to best budget for the year ahead. Romance is highlighted, and updating your appearance will be

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Take time to take part in things that will boost your confidence. Enjoying a relaxing day with someone you love will bring you closer together. Discuss travel plans or the possibility of expanding your family with more children or a pet.

Ebenezer, a 9-month-old tricolored male beagle mix, is available for adoption at the Sumter SPCA. He is playful, affectionate, gentle and friendly. He adores lots of attention. Ebenezer is super with other dogs and would be great for a family. Jerry, a 3-year-old blue point male Siamese, is available for adoption at the Sumter SPCA. He adores lots of scratches and love. He is friendly and affectionate. Jerry is an active fellow who would make an excellent family buddy. The SPCA is located at 1140 S. Guignard Drive, (803) 773-9292, and is open 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day except Wednesday and Sunday. Visit the website at www.sumterscspca.com.

SECTION

Saturday, December 26, 2015 Call: (803) 774-1241 | E-mail: sports@theitem.com

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

Former USC star Greiner adjusting to life in minors By justin driggers justin@theitem.com

MARK LOMOGLIO / TAMPA YANKEES

Former Sumter High School, Sumter P-15’s and University of South Carolina standout pitcher Jordan Montgomery earned a promotion to Single-A Advanced Tampa this past season among other honors. He was also named pitcher of the week twice and earned an Organizational All-Star nod from the New York Yankees.

Fast track to N.Y.?

Montgomery’s stellar 2015 season leads to promotion, organizational honor for former SHS, P-15’s standout By justin driggers justin@theitem.com Jordan Montgomery might have been the last person to hear the good news. “My mom actually called me up and told me I’d been named an Organizational All-Star (for the New York Yankees),” said Montgomery, who pitches in the Yankees organization. “I don’t really read up on that stuff. It’s an honor that they think so highly of me, though. “But I’m just going to keep working until I make it to the majors.” Based on his first full year in the minors, the dream of walking onto a

major league mound might not be that far off. The former Sumter High School, Sumter P-15’s and University of South Carolina standout turned in a remarkable 2015 season — one that saw him get called up to the Yankees’ Single-A Advanced team in Tampa, Fla., and end the year as the No. 25 overall prospect in the organization. “It was fun playing in Charleston (the first month of the season), but it’s always nice getting the promotion and seeing that the work you’re putting in is noticed,” the 6-foot-4-inch left-hander said. Montgomery went 4-3 with a 2.68

earned run average in nine games started for the RiverDogs. In 432/3 innings pitched, he struck out 55 and walked 12. He was named the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week for the week ending on May 24. During that span, he went 1-0 with a 0.79 ERA in two games started. He allowed one run in 111/3 innings, including seven shutout innings against Greenville on May 23. Montgomery allowed two hits and struck out eight in what was to that point the best game of his minor league career.

see MONTGOMERY, Page B3

tigers football

Religion, football converge at Clemson By RALPH D. RUSSO The Associated Press

— and a re-examination of rules — for how Christianity has been interwoven into the CLEMSON — Clemson program at Clemson. coach Dabo Swinney pats Swinney said his faith has Howard’s Rock and then helped build a culture that is leads his team down the hill the foundation for the team’s into a hyped Memorial Stadi- success. The top-ranked Tium. There are few pregame gers enter the College Footrituals in college football as ball Playoff semifinal at the recognizable as the Tigers’ Orange Bowl on Dec. 31 blood-pumping entrance. against Oklahoma in search But before Death Valley of the school’s first national becomes one of the most rau- title since 1981. cous sites in sports, it falls as “I try to be who I am. I try quiet as church while a to be transparent. I try to live prayer is said by a local relimy life in a way that I hope is gious leader over the public pleasing to my maker,” Swinaddress system. ney said. “As a program, we Faith and football go totry to challenge these guys to gether at Clemson, as they be the best that they can be do at many universities. every day.” Here, though, where SwinSwinney was raised in a ney’s devotion to Christianifamily with divorced parents. ty is a pronounced part of He said he went to church his and the team’s identity, when his mother dragged may be one of most promihim there. In high school, nent displays of religion at a when he was searching for public university. guidance, Swinney found his “As a Christian I hope a way to the Fellowship of light shines through me,” Christian Athletes. The Swinney said. “I don’t want turning point was an FCA to be persecuted for that and talk by one of his idols, forI don’t try to persecute some- mer Alabama wide receiver body else because they have Joey Jones, who is now the different beliefs.” head coach at South AlaThe convergence of relibama. gion and football has its critsee CLEMSON, Page B3 ics. There has been scrutiny

File/The Associated Press

Faith and football go together at Clemson, where head coach Dabo Swinney’s background as a Christian is a prominent part of both his and his team’s identity.

It’s been said that playing baseball collegiately in the Southeastern Conference is comparable to Double-A in the minors. Grayson Greiner begs to differ. The former standout backstop for the University of South Carolina just completed his first full season with Lakeland, the Detroit Tigers’ Single-A Advanced affiliate, and already the comparison has lost its merit, he said. “On a Friday night in the SEC, yeah it’s probably GREINER comparable,” the 23-year-old said. “But as far as a full staff, every day in the minors you’re going out and there and facing a big-time college arm or a big-time Latin American prospect. “The SEC certainly gets you prepared for professional baseball, but I don’t think it’s quite as close to Double-A, High-A baseball as you might think.” The former Blythewood High School star found that out the hard way this past season. He performed well in 26 games with Class A West Michigan in 2014, posting a .322 batting average with two homers and 16 runs batted in. In 2015, he spent the full season with Lakeland in the Florida State League. In 89 games, he batted .183 with three homers, 21 RBI and 90 strikeouts. “It was definitely a struggle offensively,” Greiner said. “It was the first time I’ve caught pretty much every day. In

see GREINER, Page B3

gamecocks Basketball

USC basketball squads riding undefeated wave By Willie T. Smith III Greenville News COLUMBIA — If anyone tells you they predicted the University of South Carolina men’s and women’s basketball teams would be a combined 23-0 entering the holiday season, call them on it. USC is the only STALEY program in NCAA Division I with both basketball teams undefeated. The women’s squad that entered the season ranked No. 2 nationally has had those exMARTIN pectations for years and delivered. Following a 78-63 win over Elon on Tuesday night, the women broke for the holidays with a 12-0 record and that No. 2 ranking. The men, on the other hand, have been one of basketball’s surprises. The Gamecocks, who topped St. John’s 75-61 on Tuesday to improve to 11-0 and remain one of five undefeated Division I men’s programs, are ranked No. 23 in the USA TODAY Sports coaches poll and No. 25

see USC, Page B2

sports

Saturday, December 26, 2015

SPORTS ITEMS

Bulls hold off Thunder OKLAHOMA CITY — Jimmy Butler scored 23 points, and Pau Gasol had 21 points and 13 rebounds in the Chicago Bulls’ 105-96 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. Derrick Rose added 19 points, and Taj Gibson had 13 points and 10 rebounds to help the Bulls snap a threegame losing streak. Kevin Durant had 29 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for Oklahoma City, and Russell Westbrook added 26 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Heat 94 Pelicans 88 (OT)

MIAMI — Chris Bosh scored 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Dwyane Wade added 19 points to move into No. 3 on the NBA’s all-time Christmas Day list and the Miami Heat survived some shaky moments to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 94-88 in overtime on Friday. Hassan Whiteside had 17 rebounds for the Heat, who improved to an NBA-best 10-2 all-time on the holiday. Anthony Davis was stellar in his Christmas debut, leading the Pelicans with 29 points and 15 rebounds. Raiders 23 Chargers 20 (OT)

OAKLAND, Calif. — Philip Rivers’ last pass fell incomplete near Charles Woodson’s feet and the celebration began. Woodson got a Gatorade shower and then led the fans in a chant of “Rai-ders! Rai-ders!” What was Woodson’s final game in Oakland and might have been the last for the Raiders as well was far from pretty but it ended in a win. Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 31-yard field goal in

The Associated Press

Chicago’s Jimmy Butler, left, drives past Oklahoma City’s Steven Adams during the Bulls’ 105-96 win on Friday in OKC. overtime and the Raiders got a defensive stop to seal a 23-20 victory over the San Diego Chargers on Thursday night. Derek Carr threw a touchdown pass and led the winning overtime drive for the Raiders (7-8), who could be moving to the Los Angeles area after the season. Rivers threw for 277 yards and a TD for San Diego (4-11), also possibly on the move to the L.A. area.

Williams honored by AP as top female athlete Serena Williams, who nearly become the first tennis player in more than a quarter-century to win all four Grand Slam tournaments in a season, was chosen as The Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year for the fourth time In a vote by U.S. editors and news directors. Williams collected 50 firstplace votes and 352 points. Carli Lloyd, whose hat trick in the final lifted the U.S. women’s soccer team to the World Cup title, was the

runner-up, with 14 firstplace votes and 243 points. UFC stars Ronda Rousey and Holly Holm were third and fourth, respectively. UConn basketball player Breanna Stewart was fifth. The AP Male Athlete of the Year will be announced Saturday.

USC Sumter hosting U.S. Baseball Academy Camp The University of South Carolina Sumter is hosting a 4-week baseball camp beginning on Jan. 2, 2016. USC Sumter head coach Tim Medlin will direct the program in conjunction with U.S. Baseball Academy. Classes are available for players in grades 1-12 and are limited to six players per coach. Sessions are offered in advanced hitting, pitching, catching, fielding and base running. Registration is now under way. For more information, visit www. USBaseballAcademy.com, or call toll-free at 866-622-4487. From staff, wire reports

area roundup

Knights win Kingstree Invitational tournament KINGTSTREE — Ja Morant had 26 points and 10 assists as the Crestwood High School varsity boys basketball team defeated Latta 81-62 on Wednesday to win the Kingstree Basketball Invitational tournament at Kingstree High School. Dakota Jennings added 13 points, seven rebounds and five blocks for the Knights. Kobe Thomas had 12 points. Crestwood will compete in the Pepsi Classic in Florence beginning on Monday, CRESTWOOD Morant 26, Jennings 13, Thomas 12, Yates 6, Houston 6, Webber 5, Williams 4, Lambert 4, Massingale 3, Logan 2.

on Wednesday in the semifinals of the Panther Invitational tournament at Carolina Forest High School. Grant Singleton added 10 points for the Gators. LAKEWOOD Wilson 11, Pack 11, Singleton 10, Richarson 9, Johnson 7, RogersAnderson 7, Cocklin 4, Tindal 4, Osborne 2, Perdue 2.

GIRLS VARSITY BASKETBALL Westwood 64 Wilson Hall 29

COLUMBIA — Unique Drake scored 20 points to earn the Home Pest Control Holiday Classic Tournament Lakewood 67 MVP award and help lead Brookland-Cayce 51 Westwood to a 64-29 victory MYRTLE BEACH — Malik over Wilson Hall in the Wilson and Davonte Pack championship game held at each scored 11 points to help the Heathwood Hall gymnalead Lakewood to a 67-51 vic- sium. tory over Brookland-Cayce Mariyan Lockett added 16

USC

From Page B1 in The Associated Press media poll. It is the first time since 2004 the Gamecocks are ranked in both polls. Most expected Frank Martin’s team to be improved, but very few thought it would be undefeated at Christmas. “Sindarius (Thornwell) and all the junior guys and all the senior guys, it is about a winning mentality now,” said senior forward Michael Carrera. “It’s not about losing any more. It’s about your job, just do whatever Coach says or whatever the other coaches say.” The Gamecocks are an experienced team that also features talented newcomers. The squad plays in-yourface, physical man-to-man defense and have many scoring options. In his fourth season at USC, Martin appears finally

to have the type of team he wants. Head coach Dawn Staley’s squad has been near the top of women’s college basketball for a couple of seasons. Although the team has not played as well as expected, it has defeated four teams that are either ranked or were ranked when USC faced them. The women’s pre-Southeastern Conference season is over, and their next game will be against Arkansas on Jan. 3. “We’ve been getting everybody’s best shot,” Staley said. “It feels like we’re still adjusting to that. It’s a different team, and they are kind of taking things in at the beginning of games. “I don’t think it is intentional, it’s just that sometimes they just need to see it for a while at the beginning of the first quarter, although it is not something we do in practice or anything.” The men have two more games before beginning SEC

points for Westwood and was named to the all-tournament team. Nicolette Fisher led the Lady Barons (6-4) with eight points followed by Diamond Crawford with seven and Lauren Goodson with 6. Goodson and Fisher were named to the all-tournament team as well.

The SUMTER ITEM

Scoreboard TV, RADIO

TODAY 7:40 a.m. – International Soccer: English Premier League Match – Manchester United vs. Stoke City (NBC SPORTS NETWORK). 9:55 a.m. – International Soccer: English Premier League Match – Leicester vs. Liverpool (NBC SPORTS NETWORK). 10 a.m. – International Soccer: English Premier League Match – Watford vs. Chelsea (USA). 11 a.m. – College Football: St. Petersburg Bowl from St. Petersburg, Fla. – Connecticut vs. Marshall (ESPN). Noon – College Basketball: Louisville at Kentucky (WLTX 19). 12:30 p.m. – International Soccer: English Premier League Match – Everton vs. Newcastle (WIS 10). 2 p.m. – College Football: Sun Bowl from El Paso, Texas – Miami vs. Washington State (WLTX 19). 2:20 p.m. – College Football: Heart of Dallas Bowl from Dallas – Washington vs. Southern Mississippi (ESPN). 2:30 p.m. – International Soccer: English Premier League Match – Arsenal vs. Southampton (WIS 10). 3:30 p.m. – College Football: Pinstripe Bowl from New York – Indiana vs. Duke (WOLO 25). 4 p.m. – High School Football: Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas from Spartanburg (ESPNU). 5:45 p.m. – College Football: Independence Bowl from Shreveport, La. – Tulsa vs. Virginia Tech (ESPN). 7 p.m. – NBA Basketball: Memphis at Charlotte (FOX SPORS SOUTHEAST). 7 p.m. – NHL Hockey: New Jersey at Carolina (FOX SPORTSOUTH). 7 p.m. – NBA Basketball: Houston at New Orleans (NBA TV). 8 p.m. – NFL Football: Washington at Philadelphia (NFL NETWORK, WWFNFM 100.1, WNKT-FM 107.5). 9:15 p.m. – College Football: Foster Farms Bowl from Santa Clara, Calif. – UCLA vs. Nebraska (ESPN).

NFL STANDINGS

By The Associated Press

AMERICAN CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF PA y-New England 12 2 0 .857 435 269 N.Y. Jets 9 5 0 .643 344 272 Buffalo 6 8 0 .429 341 336 Miami 5 9 0 .357 278 361 South W L T Pct PF PA Houston 7 7 0 .500 275 301 Indianapolis 6 8 0 .429 285 372 Jacksonville 5 9 0 .357 343 380 Tennessee 3 11 0 .214 269 359 North W L T Pct PF PA x-Cincinnati 11 3 0 .786 378 243 Pittsburgh 9 5 0 .643 378 287 Baltimore 4 10 0 .286 292 360 Cleveland 3 11 0 .214 253 387 West W L T Pct PF PA Denver 10 4 0 .714 308 259 Kansas City 9 5 0 .643 365 257 Oakland 7 8 0 .467 342 376 San Diego 4 11 0 .267 300 371

NATIONAL CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF PA Washington 7 7 0 .500 316 332 Philadelphia 6 8 0 .429 318 362 N.Y. Giants 6 8 0 .429 373 358 Dallas 4 10 0 .286 246 324 South W L T Pct PF PA y-Carolina 14 0 0 1.000 449 278 Atlanta 7 7 0 .500 302 312 Tampa Bay 6 8 0 .429 311 353 New Orleans 5 9 0 .357 350 432 North W L T Pct PF PA x-Green Bay 10 4 0 .714 347 265 Minnesota 9 5 0 .643 296 272 Detroit 5 9 0 .357 302 363 Chicago 5 9 0 .357 289 352 West W L T Pct PF PA y-Arizona 12 2 0 .857 445 269 x-Seattle 9 5 0 .643 370 248 St. Louis 6 8 0 .429 241 294 San Francisco 4 10 0 .286 202 339 x-clinched playoff spot y-clinched division

Thursday’s game

Oakland 23, San Diego 20, OT

Saturday’s game

Washington at Philadelphia, 8:25 p.m.

Sunday’s games

Chestnut Oaks 39

Houston at Tennessee, 1 p.m. Cleveland at Kansas City, 1 p.m. New England at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m. Indianapolis at Miami, 1 p.m. San Francisco at Detroit, 1 p.m. Dallas at Buffalo, 1 p.m. Chicago at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m. Carolina at Atlanta, 1 p.m. Pittsburgh at Baltimore, 1 p.m. Jacksonville at New Orleans, 4:05 p.m. St. Louis at Seattle, 4:25 p.m. Green Bay at Arizona, 4:25 p.m. N.Y. Giants at Minnesota, 8:30 p.m.

Alice Drive 22

Monday’s game

WILSON HALL Fisher 8, Crawford 7, Goodson 6, Clark 3, Stokes 2, Kelley 2, Munn 1.

MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL Carnesia Wells had 17 points to help lead Chestnut Oaks past Alice Drive 39-22 on Tuesday in the championship game of the Chestnut Oaks Middle School Christmas Tournament. Dynesia Jackson added six points for the Lady Falcons.

play. They host Francis Marion on Dec. 30 and Memphis on Jan. 2. Martin is not taking his team’s early success seriously, but believes it has helped the squad’s confidence. “It picks the guys spirits up,” he said. “But we can’t get wrapped up in it. “When the season is over, we can look back at all this stuff that is happening and then we can say, ‘We’re proud of you guys.’ We tell our guys we are proud of them because of how they work every day.” Martin is clear about his goal and doesn’t want his team to take its foot off the pedal. “We’re trying to play in the month of March, that’s what we’re trying to do,” he said. “I don’t want to sit at the establishment across the street from (The Colonial Life Arena) and watch basketball in March. “This kids have worked their tails off to make that happen.”

Cincinnati at Denver, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 3

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

Sacramento Phoenix L.A. Lakers

12 17 .414 15½ 12 19 .387 16½ 5 24 .172 22½

Thursday’s Games

No games scheduled

Friday’s Games

Miami 94, New Orleans 88, OT Chicago 105, Oklahoma City 96 Cleveland at Golden State, 5 p.m. San Antonio at Houston, 8 p.m. L.A. Clippers at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.

Saturday’s Games

Washington at Brooklyn, 4 p.m. Toronto at Milwaukee, 5 p.m. Houston at New Orleans, 7 p.m. Miami at Orlando, 7 p.m. Memphis at Charlotte, 7 p.m. Boston at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. New York at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m. Indiana at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Denver at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m. Chicago at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. L.A. Clippers at Utah, 9 p.m. Philadelphia at Phoenix, 9 p.m. Cleveland at Portland, 10 p.m.

Sunday’s Games

L.A. Lakers at Memphis, 6 p.m. Denver at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m. New York at Boston, 7 p.m. Portland at Sacramento, 9 p.m.

NBA All-Star Voting

By The Associated Press Game: Feb. 14 at Air Canada Centre, Toronto

Eastern Conference Frontcourt 1, LeBron James, Cleveland, 357,937. 2, Paul George, Indiana, 283,785. 3, Andre Drummond, Detroit, 148,278. 4, Carmelo Anthony, New York, 132,119. 5, Pau Gasol, Chicago, 109,585. 6, Kevin Love, Cleveland, 92,177. 7, Chris Bosh, Miami, 91,896. 8, Kristaps Porzingis, New York, 85,606. 9, Hassan Whiteside, Miami, 72,923. 10, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee, 25,926. 11, Jonas Valanciunas, Toronto, 12,341. 12, Joakim Noah, Chicago, 10,808. 13, Paul Millsap, Atlanta, 10,501. 14, Marcin Gortat, Washington, 9,443. 15, DeMarre Carroll, Toronto, 8,885. Guards 1, Dwyane Wade, Miami, 300,595. 2, Kyrie Irving, Cleveland, 138,191. 3, Kyle Lowry, Toronto, 128,131. 4, Jimmy Butler, Chicago, 111,220. 5, John Wall, Washington, 103,094. 6, Derrick Rose, Chicago, 72,709. 7, DeMar DeRozan, Toronto, 69,042. 8, Jeremy Lin, Charlotte, 61,832. 9, Isaiah Thomas. Boston, 45,014. 10, Nicolas Batum, Charlotte, 20,596.

Western Conference Frontcourt 1, Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers, 719,235. 2, Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City, 349,473. 3, Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers, 182,107. 4, Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio, 164,521. 5, Draymond Green, Golden State, 160,350. 6, Anthony Davis, New Orleans, 156,161. 7, Tim Duncan, San Antonio, 127,543. 8, DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento, 101,930. 9, Dwight Howard, Houston, 66,598. 10, LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio, 65,019. 11, Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas, 56,377. 12, DeAndre Jordan, L.A. Clippers, 49,696. 13, Enes Kanter, Oklahoma City, 47,806. 14, Harrison Barnes, Golden State, 43,343. 15, Kevin Garnett, Minnesota, 42,285. Guards 1, Stephen Curry, Golden State, 510,202. 2, Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City, 267,699. 3, Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers, 146,335. 4, Klay Thompson, Golden State, 138,587. 5, James Harden, Houston, 135,531. 6, Rajon Rondo, Sacramento, 66,164. 7, Andre Iguodala, Golden State, 62,407. 8, Damian Lillard, Portland, 47,615. 9, Manu Ginobili, San Antonio, 42,413. 10, Tony Parker, San Antonio, 40,693.

NHL Standings

By The Associated Press

EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Montreal 36 20 13 3 43 105 89 Boston 33 19 10 4 42 104 85 Florida 35 19 12 4 42 95 81 Detroit 34 17 10 7 41 89 89 Ottawa 35 17 12 6 40 105 104 Tampa Bay 35 17 15 3 37 87 82 Buffalo 34 14 16 4 32 79 89 Toronto 33 12 14 7 31 86 93 Metropolitan Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Washington 33 25 6 2 52 105 71 N.Y. Rangers 36 20 12 4 44 104 93 N.Y. Islanders 35 19 11 5 43 96 82 New Jersey 35 17 13 5 39 83 87 Philadelphia 34 15 12 7 37 74 92 Pittsburgh 33 16 14 3 35 76 84 Carolina 34 13 16 5 31 80 101 Columbus 36 13 20 3 29 88 112

WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Dallas 35 26 7 2 54 124 88 St. Louis 36 21 11 4 46 92 85 Chicago 36 20 12 4 44 96 87 Minnesota 33 18 9 6 42 91 80 Nashville 34 17 11 6 40 90 86 Colorado 35 17 17 1 35 99 97 Winnipeg 34 15 17 2 32 92 104 Pacific Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Los Angeles 33 20 11 2 42 84 76 San Jose 34 17 15 2 36 93 94 Vancouver 36 13 14 9 35 91 103 Arizona 33 16 15 2 34 90 104 Calgary 34 16 16 2 34 91 113 Edmonton 35 15 18 2 32 91 106 Anaheim 33 12 15 6 30 62 85 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss.

Thursday’s Games

NBA Standings

No games scheduled

EASTERN CONFERENCE

No games scheduled

By The Associated Press

Atlantic Division W L Pct GB Toronto 18 12 .600 — Boston 16 13 .552 1½ New York 14 16 .467 4 Brooklyn 8 21 .276 9½ Philadelphia 1 30 .032 17½ Southeast Division W L Pct GB Atlanta 19 12 .613 — Miami 17 11 .607 ½ Orlando 17 12 .586 1 Charlotte 15 13 .536 2½ Washington 13 14 .481 4 Central Division W L Pct GB Cleveland 19 7 .731 — Chicago 16 11 .593 3½ Indiana 16 12 .571 4 Detroit 17 13 .567 4 Milwaukee 12 18 .400 9 WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division W L Pct GB San Antonio 25 5 .833 — Dallas 16 13 .552 8½ Memphis 16 15 .516 9½ Houston 15 15 .500 10 New Orleans 9 20 .310 15½ Northwest Division W L Pct GB Oklahoma City 20 10 .667 — Utah 12 15 .444 6½ Denver 12 17 .414 7½ Minnesota 11 18 .379 8½ Portland 11 20 .355 9½ Pacific Division W L Pct GB Golden State 27 1 .964 — L.A. Clippers 16 13 .552 11½

Friday’s Games

Saturday’s Games

Buffalo at Boston, 7 p.m. Columbus at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m. Montreal at Washington, 7 p.m. New Jersey at Carolina, 7 p.m. Dallas at St. Louis, 8 p.m. Detroit at Nashville, 8 p.m. Pittsburgh at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Los Angeles at Arizona, 9 p.m. Edmonton at Vancouver, 10 p.m.

College Basketball Schedule

By The Associated Press

Saturday

SOUTH Louisville at Kentucky, Noon

Sunday

EAST Fairfield at Bucknell, 2 p.m. Texas Southern at Syracuse, 2 p.m. SOUTH Central Pennsylvania at Radford, 3 p.m. Marshall at Maryland, 4 p.m. Liberty at VCU, 5 p.m. MIDWEST Presbyterian at Marquette, 2 p.m. Harris-Stowe at SE Missouri, 3 p.m. Middle Tennessee vs. S. Dakota St. at the Sanford Pentagon, Sioux Falls, S.D., 5:30 p.m. SC State at Ohio St., 6 p.m. Loyola (Md.) at Northwestern, 8 p.m. FAR WEST Pacific Union at Fresno St., 4 p.m. Carroll (Mont.) at Stanford, 9 p.m.

sports

The SUMTER ITEM

Saturday, December 26, 2015

MONTGOMERY

From Page B1

File/The Associated Press

Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, left, said his faith played a small part in his deciding to attend Clemson. “But it was a part of it, of course, knowing that my coach is a man of God,” Watson said.

CLEMSON

“You just knew that that’s something that was important From Page B1 to him. It wasn’t something he hid or shied away from. You “I thought he was going to knew it up front, but it was talk about touchdowns and all nothing that he ever forced on the money he made playing for us and made us feel like we the Falcons and for the USFL had to do that,” Kelly said. Stallions,” Swinney said. “All Swinney did not bring he talked about was his faith Christianity to Clemson footin Christ and his relationship ball. In fact, in some ways it is there. If you’re not saved and what led him to Clemson. His you want to be saved here’s predecessor and first boss at what you have to do. I realized Clemson, Tommy Bowden, I wasn’t saved. was also a devout Christian. “Joey Jones led me to the When Bowden offered SwinLord that night.” ney the job as receivers coach Swinney dismisses any sug- in 2003, they both agreed to gestion that he and his staff pray on it before he accepted. cross the divide between Clemson’s at-times overt dischurch and state, and Clemson plays of Christianity — includathletic director Dan Radakov- ing a player being baptized ich said a review by the school after practice with coaches in 2014 supported his coach. and teammates watching — Radakovich points out careful drew the attention of the nonguidelines are followed and profit watchdog group Freethe pregame invocation is sub- dom From Religion Foundamitted to school officials for tion in 2014. approval before it is read on FFRF sent a letter of comSaturday. plaint to Clemson, saying the “People who are doing this, football program promotes they live in today’s world and Christianity in a way that viothey know and understand lates constitutional guidelines. that this is a unique, special Radakovich said after rehonor for them to be able to do ceiving the complaint the unithat and they understand what versity called on its legal the audience is and what the counsel to ensure policies law of the state is,” Radakovwere being followed. ich said. “In that review, we found All-America quarterback De- that we were,” Radakovich shaun Watson, a cross hanging said. from the chain he wears Radakovich said Swinney around his neck, said his faith and his staff did not need to played a small part in his dechange their practices, but the ciding to attend Clemson. review was an opportunity to “But it was a part of it, of provide some clarification as course, knowing that my to what is a mandatory team coach is a man of God,” Watactivity. son said. As for Swinney, he hopes to Former Clemson receiver build more than winning footAaron Kelly played for the Tiball teams, but he also knows gers when Swinney was rethat wins and losses determine ceivers coach and when he whether he stays employed. first became head coach in “We’re going to play the best 2008. Kelly, a Jehovah’s Witfootball players. We don’t play ness, said he didn’t feel comthe best Christians. I can asfortable going to church with sure you that,” he said. “We the team or taking part in probably wouldn’t have five 10Bible studies and it was never plus win seasons if that was a problem. the standard.”

It was likely not a coincidence that following his stellar outings he was promoted to Tampa on June 1. “The talent is obviously better, but it’s just baseball,” Montgomery said. “As a pitcher, you’re just trying to hit your spots and locate and change speeds. That’s what I’ve always done and I was just trying to stick to that. But you’re always nervous when you first get there. It was a big confidence booster to have a good outing my first time pitching (for Tampa).” In fact, against Lakeland on June 3, the tall lefty allowed one unearned run on no hits with six strikeouts and no walks in 62/3 innings. He outdid himself a few months later when he was perfect for six innings against Daytona during an Aug. 28 start. Montgomery had eight strikeouts in a performance that helped him earn the Florida State League Pitcher of the Week honor.

For the season, Montgomery went 6-5 with a 3.08 ERA and had 77 strikeouts and 24 walks in 902/3 innings pitched at High-A ball. He had a combined 2.95 ERA with 132 strikeouts to just 36 walks and held opponents to a .236 batting average between Charleston and Tampa. “We actually switched up my whole mechanics with about three starts to go last year,” Montgomery said. “I’m keeping my head back more and using my legs more. So I’m trying to do that and just locate everything really. I actually lost my changeup for a little while this year and started to rely more on my curveball, which is what the Yankees wanted.” Montgomery is not sure where or at what level the Yankees will start him out at this season, but he hopes a call to Double-A Trenton (N.J.) isn’t far off. “You just kind of show up and they tell you where they want you, but yeah, I’d definitely like to get the call to move up again,” he said. “I had a good year in Class A ball, so I’m anxious to keep going and to keep working my way to the highest level.”

GREINER

dan Montgomery. Both taken in the 2014 draft, From Page B1 Greiner was a third-round pick of the Tigers while college you catch a few Montgomery, the former games, then get a few days Sumter High School and off. As a starting catcher Sumter P-15’s standout, was here you play four or five a fourth-round selection by days in a row and then the New York Yankees. maybe get a day off. It was Montgomery was promotmore of grind and I was obed to High-A Tampa in early viously facing a lot of good June and the former battery pitching, too.” mates faced each other three Greiner shined defensively times during the course of though, posting a .988 fieldthe season. Greiner went ing percentage after commit- 1-for-6 against the tall lefty ting just eight errors in 667 with four strikeouts and a total chances. He also threw single. out 40 baserunners. “It’s so weird,” Greiner Though he had to have his said of facing Montgomery. knee scoped (his third such “I caught him for three operation) because of a years so I know everything slight tear in his meniscus his ball does. It’s more of a this offseason, Greiner said chess match. I’m at the plate he’s healthy and ready to go thinking he knows what I’m in 2016. looking for, but then you “I stayed healthy for the think, ‘Does he know that whole season and just too?’ You overthink things worked on my defense, more than you would which is the most important against somebody you’ve part of my game,” he said. never faced before.” “Now I’m just anxious for It was the same mindset the season to get started for Montgomery, too. again and to keep working “I was pretty sure he was on things I need to improve reading my mind on what I on.” wanted to throw him,” Another first for Greiner Montgomery said. “So I just this past season was facing tried to do the complete former USC teammate Joropposite of what I would

have done in college. I just threw fastballs and curveballs.” Greiner earned his lone hit off a fastball, but the four punchouts gave Montgomery bragging rights for now — something he’s been on the other side of himself. “The first hit I ever gave up in pro ball was to (former USC shortstop and teammate) Joey Pankake,” Montgomery said. “He never lets me forget that.” Still, it’s always better to see a familiar face even if it is on the opposing side, Greiner said. “Minor league ball is pretty lonely sometimes because you don’t know a lot of people,” he said. “So yeah, it’s always good to see a familiar face that you played against or especially someone you played with. You maybe give a little smile at them when you get in the box, but then you do your job and he does his. “But it’s cool to be able to go out to dinner with guys and catch up or maybe hang out before a game. It’s weird, but it’s great because you get to see all of your best friends trying to chase their dream, same as you.”

YEAR END

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sports

Saturday, December 26, 2015

The SUMTER ITEM

Pro FOOTBALL

Panthers QB Newton beating teams with arm, too By STEVE REED The Associated Press

guy who’s really valuable.” Newton said there is no magic formula to his improved CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Cam production, but rather a matNewton is reminding everyone ter of the team playing well he can beat teams with his and executing better. right arm. He said being in his fifth Newton is viewed as peryear with the Panthers has haps the NFL’s best rushing paid off, too. quarterback, but this year he’s Newton burst on the scene putting up Tom Brady-like as a rookie, throwing for more numbers in the passing game than 4,000 yards but still had for the unbeaten Carolina Panto go through an adjustment thers. period. Newton has thrown for 3,402 The Panthers tinkered with yards and already shattered his mechanics and there was his career-high with 33 touchstill the matter of learning to down passes in 14 games. Only read NFL defenses. Brady, with 35, has thrown for Newton had, after all, only more TD passes than Newton. spent one season playing at The Panthers’ QB has been the Division I level after on a tear of late with 18 touchtransferring to Auburn from down passes in the last five Blinn College before turning games — including three sepapro. rate five-TD games — and has The team also went to a nothe league’s sixth-best passer huddle offense late season rating. which Newton finds comfortNewton won his fourth NFC able. File/The Associated Press Offensive Player of the Week Newton still leads all quarCarolina quarterback Cam Newton (1) has thrown for 3,402 yards and 33 touchdowns for the Panthers, honor this season on Wednesterbacks with 580 yards rushday after throwing for five TDs who are undefeated at 14-0 heading into Sunday’s road game against Atlanta. ing and seven touchdowns. and leading the game-winning But now, five years into his drive in the final minute to NFL career, he’s become a and looked at him while prebeing “irrelevant to me right that (MVP) conversation,” beat the New York Giants 38-35 paring for the (2001) draft, we now.” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. more complete passer — one this past weekend. that some critics wondered if came away saying, ‘Man, he He said his focus is on his “He’s had some opportunities His success comes as no sur- can make all of the throws,’ ” return home to Atlanta on at the end of the game to come he’d ever become. prise to coach Ron Rivera, who Rivera said. All of that hardly matters to Sunday, where the Panthers through and help the (Panalways felt the former HeisNewton’s NFL-best 40 comcan clinch home-field advanthers) win — whether it was a Newton. man Trophy winner had the When asked if he takes bined touchdowns and the tage throughout the NFC play- throw, a pass, a scramble. And arm strength and savvy to be- team’s 14-0 record have made offs with a victory or a tie. so, it’s kind of those moments added satisfaction in proving come an elite passer. the people he can beat them him a leading candidate to “I have no time to even think where to finish with (the “Everybody is so surprised earn league-MVP honors this about it,” Newton said of the game) at hand and he was able with his arm, Newton smiled to capitalize on it — and I by his ability to throw the foot- season, a notion he quickly and said, “I take more satisfacMVP talk. ball, but when we studied him dismissed on Wednesday as tion in beating people.” “He’s very deserving to be in think that’s a real sign of a

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Bowl schedule By The Associated Press

(ESPN)

Saturday, Dec. 19

Wednesday, Dec. 30

Celebration Bowl Atlanta N.C. A&T 41, Alcorn State 34 New Mexico Bowl Albuquerque Arizona 45, New Mexico 37 Las Vegas Bowl Utah 35, BYU 28 Camellia Bowl Montgomery, Ala. Appalachian State 31, Ohio 29 Cure Bowl Orlando, Fla. San Jose State 27, Georgia State 16 New Orleans Bowl Louisiana Tech 47, Arkansas St. 28

Birmingham (Ala.) Bowl Auburn (6-6) vs. Memphis (9-3), Noon (ESPN) Belk Bowl Charlotte, N.C. NC State (7-5) vs. Mississippi St. (84), 3:30 p.m. (ESPN) Music City Bowl Nashville, Tenn. Louisville (7-5) vs. Texas A&M (8-4), 7 p.m. (ESPN) Holiday Bowl San Diego Wisconsin (9-3) vs. Southern Cal (85), 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Monday, Dec. 21

Thursday, Dec. 31

Miami Beach Bowl W. Kentucky 45, South Florida 35

Tuesday, Dec. 22

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Boise Akron 23, Utah State 21 Boca Raton (Fla.) Bowl Toledo 32, Temple 17

Wednesday, Dec. 23

Poinsettia Bowl San Diego Boise State 55, Northern Illinois 7 GoDaddy Bowl Mobile, Ala. Georgia Southern 58, Bowling Green 27

Thursday, Dec. 24

Bahamas Bowl Nassau W. Michigan 45, Middle Tenn. 31 Hawaii Bowl Honolulu San Diego State 42, Cincinnati 7

Saturday, Dec. 26

St. Petersburg (Fla.) Bowl Marshall (9-3) vs. UConn (6-6), 11 a.m. (ESPN) Sun Bowl El Paso, Texas Miami (8-4) vs. Washington State (8-4), 2 p.m. (CBS) Heart of Dallas Bowl Washington (6-6) vs. Southern Mississippi (9-4), 3:20 p.m. (ESPN) Pinstripe Bowl Bronx, N.Y. Duke (7-5) vs. Indiana (6-6), 3:30 p.m. (ABC) Independence Bowl Shreveport, La. Virginia Tech (6-6) vs. Tulsa (6-6), 5:45 p.m. (ESPN) Foster Farms Bowl Santa Clara, Calif. Nebraska (5-7) vs. UCLA (8-4), 9:15 p.m. (ESPN)

Monday, Dec. 28

Military Bowl Annapolis, Md. Navy (10-2) vs. Pittsburgh (8-4), 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) Quick Lane Bowl Detroit Central Michigan (7-5) vs. Minnesota (5-7), 5 p.m. (ESPN2)

Tuesday, Dec. 29

Armed Forces Bowl Fort Worth, Texas Air Force (8-5) vs. California (7-5), 2 p.m. (ESPN) Russell Athletic Bowl Orlando, Fla. North Carolina (11-2) vs. Baylor (93), 5:30 p.m. (ESPN) Arizona Bowl Tucson Nevada (6-6) vs. Colorado State (75), 7:30 p.m. (ASN) Texas Bowl Houston Texas Tech (7-5) vs. LSU (8-3), 9 p.m.

Peach Bowl Atlanta Houston (12-1) vs. Florida State (102), Noon (ESPN) Orange Bowl (Playoff Semifinal) Miami Gardens, Fla. Clemson (13-0) vs. Oklahoma (11-1), 4 p.m. (ESPN) Cotton Bowl Classic (Playoff Semifinal) Arlington, Texas Alabama (12-1) vs. Michigan State (12-1), 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Friday, Jan. 1

Outback Bowl Tampa, Fla. Northwestern (10-2) vs. Tennessee (8-4), Noon (ESPN2) Citrus Bowl Orlando, Fla. Michigan (9-3) vs. Florida (10-3), 1 p.m. (ABC) Fiesta Bowl Glendale, Ariz. Notre Dame (10-2) vs. Ohio State (11-1), 1 p.m. (ESPN) Rose Bowl Pasadena, Calif. Iowa (12-1) vs. Stanford (11-2), 5 p.m. (ESPN) Sugar Bowl New Orleans Oklahoma State (10-2) vs. Mississippi (9-3), 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Saturday, Jan. 2 TaxSlayer Bowl Jacksonville, Fla. Penn St. (7-5) vs. Georgia (9-3), Noon (ESPN) Liberty Bowl Memphis, Tenn. Kansas St. (6-6) vs. Arkansas (7-5), 3:20 p.m. (ESPN) Alamo Bowl San Antonio Oregon (9-3) vs. TCU (10-2), 6:45 p.m. (ESPN) Cactus Bowl Phoenix West Virginia (7-5) vs. Arizona State (6-6), 10:15 p.m. (ESPN)

Monday, Jan. 11

College Football Championship Game Glendale, Ariz. Orange Bowl winner vs. Cotton Bowl winner, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)

San Diego State rips Cincinnati in Hawaii Bowl HONOLULU — Rashaad Penny returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and San Diego State routed Cincinnati 42-7 in the Hawaii Bowl on Thursday. The Aztecs (11-3) won their final 10 games to match the longest winning streak in school history. Penny had his third kickoff return for a score this season — and second 100-yarder — and broke the Hawaii bowl record for the longest return before a sparse crowd of 14,537 at Aloha Stadium. San Diego State rushed for 207 yards, topping the 200yard mark for the 10th consecutive game, and finished with 336 yards of total offense. Donnell Pumphrey, the Mountain West offensive player of the year, had 99 yards on 25 carries. He threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Dakota Gordon and had a 1-yard scoring run early in the fourth quarter. Gordon also had a 1-yard run and finished with four catches for 58 yards. Cincinnati finished 7-5. Redshirt freshman Christian Chapman made his second straight start with starter Maxwell Smith out with a knee injury. Chapman threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Mikah Holder to cap an 85yard, nine-play drive on San Diego State’s first offensive possession. The touchdown came a play after Cincinnati defensive Alex Pace left with an undisclosed injury. He ap-

The Associated Press

San Diego State’s Dakota Gordon (46) dives into the end zone for a touchdown past Cincinnati’s Zach Edwards during the Aztecs’ 42-7 victory in the Hawaii Bowl on Thursday in Honolulu. peared to be favoring his left arm and did not return. Chapman was 8 of 11 for 113 yards. Cincinnati’s Hayden Moore, a redshirt freshman, made his third career start in place of junior Gunner Kiel, who did not make the trip because of undisclosed personal reasons. Moore was 19 of 30 for 202 yards. Bahamas Bowl Western Michigan 45 Middle Tennessee 31

NASSAU, Bahamas — Jamauri Bogan ran for 215 yards and four touchdowns to help Western Michigan beat Middle Tennessee 45-31 on Thursday in the Bahamas Bowl for its first bowl victory. Western Michigan (8-5)

had lost its previous six bowl games. Bogan broke a tie a 1-yard touchdown with 6:12 left, setting up the score with a 61yard burst. He had another 1-yard score with 5 minutes remaining after Rontavious Atkins’ 29-yard interception return to the 4. Bogan also had 62- and 46-yard scoring runs. Zach Terrell was 18 of 26 for 297 yards and two touchdowns. Corey Davis had eight catches for 183 yards and a touchdown, and Daniel Braverman had five catches for 101 yards and a score. Richie James had two touchdown catches and a scoring run for Middle Tennessee (7-6). From wire reports

Saturday, Jan. 23

East-West Shrine Classic At St. Petersburg, Fla. East vs. West, 4 p.m. (NFLN) NFLPA Collegiate Bowl At Carson, Calif. National vs. American, 6 (ESPN2)

Saturday, Jan. 30

p.m.

Senior Bowl At Mobile, Ala. North vs. South, 2:30 p.m. (NFLN)

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Offhand comment about weight still stings

Dear Abby ABIGAIL VAN BUREN

DEAR ABBY — I recently went on a cruise with several other women. I was friendly with one of them, but didn’t know the others. I am overweight. One of the other women, “Dolores,” was also overweight, heavier than me, in fact. She’s very proud of being Christian, but she made the comment, in front of several other people, that she didn’t mind going places with me because with me around she didn’t feel so

fat. I was so stunned I remained silent. Actually, I was afraid that if I spoke I’d say too much, but I felt very hurt and ashamed. Even though I have tried to ignore it, this has bothered me for months and I don’t know what to do. Should I say something to Dolores or continue to ignore it? I don’t really want to be friends with her now because I don’t know what kind of snide remark may come out of

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

THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

her mouth next. And I certainly don’t want to go anywhere with her again. Taken aback in Texas DEAR TAKEN ABACK — When mankind was created, a delete button should have been installed at the end of our tongues. However, it’s possible our creator thought common sense would suffice. Obviously, Dolores was elsewhere when it was handed out. While her comment was tactless, it says far more about how she feels about herself than it does about you. Because this is still bothering you, I don’t think it would be at all out of line for you to tell her how hurtful her comment was. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069. For everything you need to know about wedding planning, order “How to Have a Lovely Wedding.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $7 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby, Wedding Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)

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

By Ed Sessa

ACROSS 1 Hero married to Jimena Díaz 6 Lip 10 Quarter moons, e.g. 14 Sierra __ 15 Coaster section 16 Gun barrel measure 17 Condition resulting from oversharing 20 Florida horse country city 21 SEAL insignia 22 Discipline 24 Grouse or carp 25 Dull finishes 26 Commercial prize 28 Word for a lady 29 Space 30 Graceful 32 Noodles and beans dish 37 Cat, at times 38 Road warning 40 Dinner hrs. 43 A&W rival 44 44-Down model 46 May 1 Hawaiian celebration 48 Across the board 49 First name in '60s beach party films 51 Met approval

12/26/15 52 Little Johnny Jones, in a George M. Cohan song 56 Miracle Mets star Tommie 57 City SSE of Sana'a 58 "Fingers crossed" 59 Koppel and Knight 60 Org. whose logo includes a cocktail and a car key 61 Spanish seashore DOWN 1 St. Nicholas, in the poem 2 Verdant stretch 3 Reggae singer whose name sounds like a beverage 4 Blissful 5 It has its pros and cons 6 "Wake of the Ferry" painter 7 Thumbs-up 8 "Wait a moment," to Romeo 9 Like some live wires 10 Put up with 11 Webster's cousin?

12 Nestlé chocolate bar 13 Bristle 18 Fútbol cheers 19 Copenhagen's __ Gardens 22 Awards cohosted by Brad Paisley: Abbr. 23 Instrument featured in the opening of "Waltz of the Flowers" 26 Some Wi-Fi providers 27 Storyteller 30 Neuter, as a horse 31 "Song of the Volga Boatmen" refrain 33 Until now 34 One getting more boos than cheers

35 "La Bamba" band 36 IHOP section?: Abbr. 39 Michael's wife in "The Godfather" films 40 Not be serious about 41 Household 42 Transgressed 44 44-Across maker 45 Stressed, in a way 47 Hockey maneuvers 48 Govt. debt instrument 50 Icelandic literary work 53 Ref. section staple 54 Go (for) 55 Vote for

Friday’s Puzzle Solved

12/26/15

CLASSIFIEDS

THE ITEM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2015

803-774-1234

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

CLASSIFIEDS In Memory

Lost & Found

Reward with safe return. Questions asked. 803-840-2693

In Memory

Happy Belated Birthday Lewis!!! We would like to thank each and every one who surrounded us with their love and care during our period of bereavement. We appreciate the numerous calls, visits, prayers and words of encouragement. Your love and support meant a great deal to us and we are forever grateful. Happy Birthday to our beloved Angel "Lewis Edward Grant, Sr. " You left us so quietly and quickly with many questions unanswered and words unspoken…but one thing we know for sure and without a doubt was the love you had for us all. Words can't begin to express how we feel but we know you are in God's hands now resting peacefully. From your loving wife, children, grandchildren, mother, sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews. We Love You!

BUSINESS SERVICES Home Improvements

In Loving Memory of Roosevelt Sanders December 26, 2013 A million times I'll need you, A million times I'll cry, If love alone could have saved you, You never would have died. In life I loved you dearly; In death I love you still. In my heart you hold a place, No one else can ever fill. It broke my heart to lose you, But you didn't go alone, Part of me went with you, The day God took you home. Love always, Naomi & Marilyn

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. Roofing

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CLASSIFIED DEADLINES 11:30 a.m. the day before for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday edition. 9:30 a.m. Friday for Saturday’s edition 11:30 a.m. Friday for Sunday’s edition.

JAC Home Improvements 24 Hr Service. We beat everyone's prices, Free Est. Licensed & Bonded 850-316-7980

Legal Service Attorney Timothy L. Griffith 803-607-9087, 360 W. Wesmark. Criminal, Family, Accident, Injury

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

CONTRACTOR WANTED! LAKEWOOD & HWY 15 SOUTH

NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED. Must have RELIABLE transportation and a phone in your home. 6 Days a week CALL HARRY PRINGLE at 774-1257 or come in to fill out an application. 20 N. Magnolia Street

Sell More PLACE AN AD

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

At Shaw AFB • 494-5500

Shaw Flea Market Tables $2 and Up

GOT STUFF?

CLASSIFIEDS

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2015

THE ITEM

It’s Mayo’s “More for your money Christmas Sale”! Buy 1 Regular Priced Suit, Receive 2nd Suit of Equal Value FREE! Great Selection & Savings!

SHIRTS, TIES, PANTS & SHOES Buy 1, Get a 2nd HALF PRICE! IN-STORE ALTERATIONS, FOR THOSE LAST MINUTE OCCASIONS Septic Tank Cleaning

Septic Tank Cleaning Call the pros for all of your septic pumping needs. 803-316-0429 Proline Utilities, LLC

Tree Service NEWMAN'S TREE SERVICE Tree removal, trimming & stump grinding. Lic/Ins 803-316-0128 Ricky's Tree Service Tree removal, stump grinding, Lic & ins, free quote, 803-435-2223 or cell 803-460-8747.

STATE TREE SERVICE Worker's Comp & General liability insurance. Top quality service, lowest prices. 803-494-5175 or 803-491-5154 www.statetree.net A Notch Above Tree Care Full quality service low rates, lic./ins., free est BBB accredited 983-9721

Garage, Yard & Estate Sales LARGE GARAGE SALE Every Weekend Tables $2 & $3

Local / Regional Drivers Immediate openings for experienced Van, Tanker & Rolloff drivers. Class A CDL with Hazmat & Tank endorsements required with 2 years verifiable experience. Mileage starts as high as .41 per mile and top rate .45 per mile along with stop pay, hourly pay and per diem on overnight trips. $1,000.00 sign on bonus and assigned equipment. Medical, Dental, Prescription & Life Insurance plans along with 401K and profit sharing. Paid Holidays, Earned PTO time and .03 per mile yearly Safety/Performance Bonus plan. Applicants can apply in person at FCI 132 Myrtle Beach Hwy Sumter, SC 29153 or call 1-888-249-2651 ext-24

Schools / Instructional • Tax Preparer • Training provided Jan 2nd. Day and evening classes available. •Customer Service• Free week long tax preparation class with customer service focus. Learn computerized tax preparation in day or evening classes starting Jan 2nd. Apply for seasonal opportunities. 803-418-0123

Need Help putting your house back together since the storm? Specializing in cabinets & trim work. 803-481-4464

931 Lamorak St. Sat. 7-11 Household goods, books, toys & clothing

For Sale or Trade Firewood for sale, off Sally & McLaurin. You cut & haul $50 a quart, $25 1/2 & $12.50 a basket. 803-305-2159 or 803-983-7728 Martin's Used Appliance Washers, Dryers, Refrig., Stoves. Guarantee 464-5439 or 469-7311. Expert Tech, New & used heat pumps & A/C. Will install/repair, warranty; Compressor & labor $600. Call 803-968-9549 or 843-992-2364

EMPLOYMENT Help Wanted Full-Time Local grading and paving contractor looking for experienced concrete finishers and heavy equipment operators. Please call (803) 469-7483 to set up an appointment. Driver and mechanic needed. Driver will be home on weekends. Call 843-621-0943 or 843-621-2572 F/T Class-A CDL driver needed to haul poultry. Night Shift. Must have 2 years verifiable exp & good MVR. Call 803-857-1857 or 540-560-1031 Body Tech Needed Must be Experienced in sheet metal, frame & uni-body repair. Exc. wage & benefits. Apply at McLaughlin Ford 950 N. Main St. SEASONAL TAX PREP Est. office in Sumter. Exp. with Drake, personal and business tax prep required. Flex hrs. M-S Resume & 3 ref. to bjavin@sc.rr.com Seasonal Fr. Desk/Bookkeeping Asst. for busy tax off. Skills: tele, comp, scheduling. Prefer Bookkeeping exp. Resume & 3 ref. to bjavin@sc.rr.com Carolina Healthcare Hospice is seeking RN's and CNA's in the Sumter, Columbia & Clarendon Counties. Forward resumes to PO Box 464, Sumter SC 29151 or call 803-774-4377.

ne STOP SHOPPING You can find everything you need

for the new house or the new spouse in one convenient placeOUR CLASSIFIEDS! Sporting Goods • Electronics Appliances • Furniture • Cameras Jewelry • Dishes • Books PLUS A WHOLE LOT MORE!

Wesmark Plaza • 773-2262 • Mon-Sat 10-7

REAL ESTATE Homes for Sale

For Sale, Christmas Special! 1387 Raccoon Rd. Mayesville area. Must Sell! 3 br, 1.5 ba, lg bldg side yard, 1 ac lot C/H/A. Fin avail. No dwn pymt. Pymt of $431 mo. 464-5960 For Sale 821 Holiday Drive 2BR, 1BA, Den, LR. $61,900. Call 803-983-7064.

Manufactured Housing Was your home affected by the recent FLOODS? Use your FEMA CHECK for a down payment on one of our quality used refurbished homes. We specialize in on the lot financing. Low credit score is OK. Call 843-389-4215 AND also visit our Face Book Page (M&M Mobile Homes)

Commercial Industrial

RENTALS

FLEA MARKET BY SHAW AFB

Open every weekend. Call 803-494-5500

If your suits aren’t becoming to you, It’s a good time to be coming to Mayo’s!

Trucking Opportunities

Work Wanted

MERCHANDISE

MAYO’S SUIT CITY

Unfurnished Apartments Nice 1 Br, 1 Ba apt. in downtown area. Hardwood floors, refrigerator & stove, C/H/A, no pets. $450 mo. Call 803-491-5375. Senior Living Apartments for those 62+ (Rent based on income) Shiloh-Randolph Manor 125 W. Bartlette. 775-0575 Studio/1 Bedroom apartments available EHO

Unfurnished Homes

For Sale- Lake Side Restaurant, Bar, Convenience Store, gas pumps & docks. Property is leased. Lake Marion. All equipment & furniture are included. Call 904-554-7663

By typing my name, I, the undersigned, certify that I am signing this document as the person whose signature is required, or as agent of the person(s) whose signature would be required who has authorized me to sign this document on his/her behalf, or in both capacities. I further certify that I have completed all required fields, and that the information in this document is true and correct and in compliance with the applicable chapter of Minnesota Statues. I understand that by signing this document I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Section 609.48 as if I had signed this document under oath. Signed by: Boler, Maggie Anne Mailing address: None provided Email for official notices: bolermaggie@yahoo.com

COMPLAINT

Repairs to Huckabee Road Sumter, SC Bids will be received until 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 6, 2016 in the Sumter County Public Works Conference Room, 1289 North Main Street, Sumter, South Carolina 29153. Plans and bid documents may be obtained from: Sumter County Public Works 1289 North Main Street Sumter, South Carolina 29153 khyatt@sumtercountysc.org Telephone inquires should be made to (803) 436-2241. 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

Vans / Trucks / Buses

2014 Honda Accord Sport, black int/ext. Very clean, garage kept. 48K mi. Extras. $17,500. 803-938-2945.

Autos For Sale Nice 2 BR 1 BA home. Safe area. $480 mo. + sec dep. No pets. Sec. 8 OK. Close to Shaw. Call 803-968-5329.

Mobile Home Rentals

STATEBURG COURTYARD 2 & 3 BRs 803-494-4015

2, 3 & 4 Bedroom.Scenic Lake MHP, in Sumter/Dalzell area. 499-1500/469-6978 9pm-5pm

Unfurnished Homes

HUNTINGTON PLACE APARTMENTS

FROM $575 PER MONTH

1 MONTH FREE THIRTEEN (13) MONTH LEASE REQUIRED

NAMED:

Invitation to Bid The Sumter County Public Works Department is soliciting separate sealed bids from qualified vendors for the following project:

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT C/A NO.: 2015-CP-43-__________

Autos For Sale

Summons & Notice

Bid Notices

SUMMONS

2007 Toyota Tacoma, Dble cab, pre runner, blue w/ gray int., $14,000 OBO. Call 803-938-3689.

LEGAL NOTICES

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint in this proceeding, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your Answer to the said Complaint on the undersigned at 1281 North Main St., P.O. Box 430, Sumter, South Carolina 29151-0430 within thirty (30) days after the service hereof, exclusive of the date of such service, and if you fail to answer the Complaint within the time aforesaid, judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

TRANSPORTATION

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER Ernest A. Finney, III, Solicitor, Third Judicial Circuit, Plaintiff, vs. Real Estate situate at 675 Bernice Ct., Sumter, SC, Sumter County Tax Map #1560001050, and Matthew Lewis, Derrick Lewis, John Lewis, Tanya Lewis, a/k/a Tanya L. Burgess, Wayne Lewis, and the Heirs of Elizabeth Lewis, all of whom are interested owners of the subject Real Estate, Defendants. TO: THE DEFENDANTS AND INTERESTED OWNERS ABOVE

The Plaintiff respectfully asserts the following: 1. The Plaintiff is the Solicitor of the Third Judicial Circuit of the State of South Carolina, and is authorized by South Carolina Code §44-53-530 (1976), as amended, to initiate this Complaint for the forfeiture of the Defendant property. 2. The Defendant Real Estate is further described as that lot of land in Stateburg Township, Sumter County, State of South Carolina, shown as Lot 2-B on a plat by Joseph R. Edwards, RLS, dated March 1, 1991 and recorded in the Register of Deeds for Sumter County in Plat Book 91 at page 1383, and having such shapes, metes, bounds and measurements as shown on said plat. This being the same property conveyed to the above captioned interested owners by deed of Wayne Lewis, Sr. dated October 26, 2006 and recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds for Sumter County in Book 1050 at Page 1865 on October 26, 2006. 3. On information and belief, the Defendants/Interested Owners all have an ownership interest in the Defendant Real Estate based on a review of the public records of the Register of Deeds for Sumter County, South Carolina. 3. The Defendant Real Estate was seized by the Sumter County Sheriff's Office on or about May 8, 2014 pursuant to a Seizure Warrant issued by The Honorable R. Ferrell Cothran, Judge for the Third Judicial Circuit. 4. The Defendant Real Estate is subject to seizure and forfeiture pursuant to South Carolina Code §44-53-520(a)(4)(1976, as amended), as the Defendant Real Estate falls within the statutory category of "All property, both real and personal, which in any manner is knowingly used to facilitate production, manufacturing, distribution, sale, importation, exportation, or trafficking in various controlled substances as defined in this article."

Summons & Notice marijuana have been made by the Sumter County Sheriff's Office and/or search warrants executed on the premises of the subject Real Estate. Such incidents are more fully set forth on the "Affidavit of Seizure Warrant" which is attached hereto as EXHIBIT A and incorporated herein by reference. One or more of the Defendants/Interested Owners were present and/or arrested in conjunction with or as a result of each of the incidents described on EXHIBIT A. Each of the Defendants/Interested Owners charged in connection with the incidents set forth in EXHIBIT A was subsequently convicted or pled guilty to one or more of the drug charges described therein. 7. Upon information and belief, the Defendant Real Estate has been knowingly used to facilitate production, manufacturing, distribution, sale, importation, exportation, or trafficking in controlled substances as defined in this article; manufacture, distribute, dispense, deliver, purchase, aid, abet, attempt, or conspire to manufacture, distribute, dispense, deliver, or purchase, or possess with the intent to manufacture, distribute, dispense, deliver, or purchase a controlled substance; and/or used, or was used to facilitate in any manner a violation of §44-53-370(b). Therefore, the Defendant property is subject to seizure and forfeiture under the provisions of §44-53-520, et seq. 8.By reason of these premises, the Defendant property is and should be forfeited to the State of South Carolina. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays that this Court issue its Order confirming the forfeiture of the Defendant Real Estate to the Sumter County Sheriff's Office, Third Circuit Solicitor's Office and such other agencies entitled to any portion of such forfeiture pursuant to South Carolina Code §44-53-520, et. seq., and such other relief as is deemed proper. Kathy L. Ward, General Counsel Sumter County Sheriff's Office 1281 North Main Street Post Office Box 430 Sumter, S.C. 29151-0430 (803) 436-2000 Margaret M. Held, Assistant Solicitor 215 N. Harvin St Sumter, SC 29150 803-436-2185 ATTORNEYS FOR THE PLAINTIFF

5. Subject matter jurisdiction over civil forfeiture proceedings is vested in the Court of Common Pleas pursuant to South Carolina Code §44-53-530, as amended. 6. Multiple controlled buys of

’S TREE SERVICE PO BOYFREE ESTIMATES TREE REMOVAL

TREE CARE

• TOPPING • SPRAYING • PRUNING • FERTILIZING • BUSH HOGGING

• TRIMMING • TREE REMOVAL • STUMP REMOVAL Po Boy’s Rex Prescott Tommy Thompson

OVER 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE LICENSED & INSURED

FIREWOOD DELIVERY

469-7606 or 499-4413

(803) 773-3600 POWERS PROPERTIES

803-773-3600

595 Ashton Mill Drive Office Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9-5

CONTRACTOR WANTED!

• WEDGEFIELD & WEDGEFIELD ROAD AREAS

Classified in-line Advertising NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED. Must have RELIABLE transportation and a phone in your home. 6 Days a week

CALL DEAN BENENHALEY AT 774-1257 or come in to fill out an application

774-1234

Legal Notice

20 N. Magnolia Street Sumter, SC 29150

Deadline Edition Tues., December 22 at 9:30am Wed., December 23 Thurs., December 24 Sat., December 26 Sun., December 27 Thurs., December 31 Sat., January 3 Tues., January 5

Tues., December 22 at 11:30am Wed., December 23 at 9:30am Wed., December 23 at 11:30am Wed., December 30 at 11:30am Thurs., December 31 at 9:30am Thurs., December 31 at 11:30am

Have a Safe and Merry Christmas! NO PROOF DEADLINES Deadline is 24 hours earlier if proof is required Business office will be closed December 24th and 25th and January 1

20 N. Magnolia Street • Sumter, SC 803-774-1200

CLASSIFIEDS

THE ITEM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2015

LAWN CARE

Here's My

Fall & Winter Clean Up

Card

DAD’S SMALL ENGINES LAWN & GARDEN EQUIPMENT • SALES & SERVICE Don & Faye 1000 Myrtle Beach Highway Sumter, SC 29153

(803) 495-4411 Parts & Service Center

Senior Citizen & Military Discount

M-F 8:00-5:00 | Sat 8:00-12:00

Styles by Delores G Press N Curls • Blowouts • Cuts Brush & Flat Iron • Wave Nouveau Monday - Friday: Appointments & Walk-Ins Welcome Contact: Ms. G (803)968-8240 Mamaleen’s amaleen’ B Beauty Salon

130 N. Main Street, Sumter, SC

William Bode 803-847-3324

Piano Tuning Repairs & Refinishing

Jimmy Jordan Plumbing Service

WALKER PIANO

Repairs and New Installation

Cincinnati Conservatory Certified Since 1947

1936 Pinewood Road Sumter, SC 29154

For Expert Service

CALL ALGIE WALKER

803-506-2111

803-485-8705 19 S. Cantey Street

Over 20 years experience Cell: 803-397-6278

Summerton, SC

TUNING • REFINISHING • REPAIRS

Timothy L. Griffith Attorney at Law

CLINT BARWICK

803.607.9087

Piano Service

Family Law • Divorce Visitation & Custody Criminal Defense • DUI • Federal and State Court

26 Crescent St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 773-8955

www.tlgriffith.com

THE GAMECOCK SHRINE CLUB

LEAF GUARD INSTALLATION GUTTER AND SPOUT CLEANING OR REPAIRS

SEAMLESS ALUMINUM RAIN GUTTERS

is Available for Rent!

Ernie Baker

McLean Marechal Insurance Associate Agent

JONATHAN E. GOFF 803-968-4802

CALL NOW FOR DATE AVAILABILITY!

712 Bultman Drive | Sumter, SC 29150 Sumter: 803-774-0118 | Florence: 843-669-5858 Cell: 803-491-4417 | bakee1@nationwide.com

Straw/Mulch Pressure Washing Dethatching/Aeration Shrub/Tree Work Yard Work of all Types

Rent for your “Special Occasions” Craft Shows • Weddings • Banquets • Retirement Parties• Family Reunions Call 983-1376 or 491-7665

J.GOFF76@YAHOO.COM

Rentals Available!

SUMTER ELKS LODGE #855 Sweet 16 Parties, Business Meetings, Weddings, Reunions, Birthday Parties and more... Sizes for all functions.

2535 Tahoe Dr. (Across from Hardee Cove)

Call Cindy Davis at 316-3396 or 469-8899 1100 W. Liberty Street • Sumter, SC

Tidwell Septic Tanks & Pumping SALES • INSTALLATION • PUMPING REPAIRS • DRAIN LINES TANK INSPECTION Serving Sumter & the Surrounding Areas Over 30 Years Experience • Family Owned & Operated

For all your septic tank needs! (803) 481-2966 (803) 481-7719 FAX

1665 Lewis Road Sumter, SC 29154

H.L. Boone

BEFORE YOU BUY

CHECK OUT OUR SELECTION AND VALUE PRICING AT

Jimmy’s

ACE PARKER TIRE

Heating and Air LLC

We have always been just around the corner. As lifelong residents of Clarendon County, you know who we are and that c we are committed to provide you with all the comforts of home.

OVER 32 YEARS EXPERIENCE

FREE DELIVERY AND FREE SETUP!*

LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED 803-460-5420 OR 803-478-5957

*within a 50 mile ra radius

930 N. LAFAYETTE DR. • SUMTER • 803-775-1277 • ACEPARKER@FTC-I.NET SERVING SUMTER & THE SURROUNDING AREAS FOR 34 YEARS!

SALES & SERVICE ON ALL BRANDS

Chris Mathis

Jimmy Mathis

J&T’s Local Moving and More, LLC

Owner / Notary Public

“Saving time & money with no worries” Over 20 years of experience

H.L. Boone, Contractor All Types of Improvements

1 Monte Carlo Court Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 773-9904

905-3473

Remodeling, Painting, Carports, Decks, Blow Ceilings, Ect.

64 Wilder Street Sumter, SC 29150 803-236-4008 or 803-773-3934

Jamie Singleton Owner

*Free Estimates *Moving (Home & Ofﬁce) www.jtslocalmovingmore.com

OPEN YEAR ROUND 61 W. Wesmark Blvd. Sumter, SC 29150 www.jacksonhewitt.com

Tel: (803) 469-8899 Fax: (803) 469-8890 Hours: M-F 10am-6pm

RANDY BONNER Store Manager

FRASIER TIRE SERVICE INC

310 E. Liberty Street Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 773-1423 - Fax (803) 778-1512

one Right! Cleaning D

Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Water & Fire Damage • Smoke/Odor Removal Mold Sampling and Remitiation 24/7 Emergency Service Hiram Spittle 1500 Airport Road 803-938-5441 Sumter, SC 29153 www.spittlescleaning.com

McElveen Builders, LLC

Quality Residential Construction

Carolina Caregivers

Keith McElveen Jr

“A Helping Hand for Those You Love.”

Owner/Builder

“Parade of Homes” Award Winning Builder Building Coastal & Sumter area 803-477-5264 (cell) mcelveenbuildersllc@yahoo.com Recommendations from prior Homeowners on request

Your Local Authorized Xerox Sales Agency

18 E. Liberty St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 778-2330 Xerox® is a Trademark of Xerox Corporation

803-236-3603 Wendy Felder owner Louisiana Lass Piano Studio Bronwyn Rabon 907 Lamorak Street Sumter, SC 29154 803-236-1425 $10 per 30 minute lesson weekly plus cost of music books

PLEASE CALL 803-774-1234 FOR MORE INFORMATION!