January 5, 2016

MODERN ART? Friends take ‘manscaping’ to new level with back hair shaving A4

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Police ask for info on suspects

Gone for another year Jeff Bremer, a city of Sumter construction worker, begins the process of unplugging and taking down Christmas lights on Liberty Street on Monday afternoon, a sure sign the season is over. And although he was removing a snowflake, the decoration might be appropriate because temperatures were expected to drop to as low as 25 degrees by this morning and 23 degrees by Wednesday morning. However, snow is not in the immediate forecast.

2 Sumter men wanted on attempted murder charges BY KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY konstantin@theitem.com Sumter Police Department is looking for two suspects wanted on attempted murder charges in an incident involving gunfire on Frazier Street on Dec. 29. Authorities are offering a $1,000 reward for any information on Henry Dingle, 21, of 2A David Court, and William Jerquzes Spann, 18, of 28 Carolina DINGLE Ave., said Tonyia McGirt, spokeswoman for the department. Five other men involved in the incident were arrested last week. Officers responded to shots fired on Frazier SPANN

RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM

SEE SHOOTING, PAGE A3

USARCENT: From ‘Dash’ to the Daesh BY SGT. 1ST CLASS LUKE GRAZIANI U.S. Army Central

the law, the personalized counseling has been rehabilitated through Medicare rules. But experts who watch Medicare as the standards setter for the health system are looking elsewhere in the program. They’re paying attention to Medicare’s attempts to remake the way medical care is delivered to patients, by fostering teamwork among clinicians, emphasizing timely preventive services

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE — U.S. Army Central, “Patton’s Own,” Third Army, has a long and distinguished history in and out of battles and conflicts around the world. Headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, with a forward element at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, it is the Army service component command for U.S. Central Command. USARCENT, a forward positioned land power presence, shapes the CENTCOM area of responsibility in order to support operations against extremists, assure access, build partner capacity, develop relationships and deter adversaries while providing a mission command capability that can set the theater and execute unified land operations in support of commander requirements. The vast AOR, spanning some 20

SEE MEDICARE, PAGE A7

SEE ARCENT, PAGE A3

Medicare changes coming this year New counseling, teamwork part of 2016 features BY RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Whether it’s coverage for end-of-life counseling or an experimental payment scheme for common surgeries, Medicare in 2016 is undergoing some of the biggest

changes in its 50 years. Grandma’s Medicare usually just paid the bills as they came in. Today, the nation’s flagship health-care program is seeking better ways to balance cost, quality and access. The effort could redefine the doctor-patient relationship, or it could end up a muddle of well-intentioned but unworkable government regulations. The changes have been building slowly, veiled in a fog of acronyms and bureau-

cratic jargon. So far, the 2016 change getting the most attention is that Medicare will pay clinicians to counsel patients about options for care at the end of life. The voluntary counseling would have been authorized earlier by President Obama’s health care law but for the outcry fanned by former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who charged it would lead to “death panels.” Hastily dropped from

Freezing temperatures sure to bring in residents needing help BY JACK OSTEEN jack@theitem.com Salvation Army social worker Christy Lamb continues to be moved by the clients coming in for assistance. Lamb recently helped an elderly man who buried his wife the week before Christmas. Just a few years ago he was donating his own money to Fireside Fund when he was able.

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Now the tables have turned on him. He spent most of his money and savings taking care of his wife up until the time of her death. However, he

knows she is looking down on him and would be grateful that there are now people donating money that can help him. Although it hasn’t been that cold until this week, his “old bones” still feel the chill, he said. Before he left Lamb’s office, he said that “this is the beginning of my happy year and hope to make someone else have a happy new year.”

DEATHS, B7 Joni Wix Black Michael A. Krzemien Jr. Dorothy W. Scarborough Loraine T. Bagnal Dorcus Spry Warner Shorter

Loretta R. Goodman Willie Mae Thomas Dennis Littles Jr. Hester S. Loney Marvin Nathaniel Marguerite Barwick

This season’s fund is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Charles R. Propst, who died on May 20, 2015, at the age of 90. He founded Sumter Pediatrics with Dr. Ted Young in 1954, where he practiced until 1986. Propst became a prominent member of the Sumter community, serving on the former Sumter School District 17 board, taking part in local

SEE FIRESIDE, PAGE A7

WEATHER, A10

INSIDE

COLDER TODAY

2 SECTIONS, 18 PAGES VOL. 121, NO. 68

Plenty of sunshine today; mainly clear and cold tonight HIGH 42, LOW 25

Classifieds B8 Comics B6 Lotteries A10

Opinion A8 Sports B1 Television A9

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2016

THE SUMTER ITEM

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

Shooting suspect arrested

LOCAL BRIEFS FROM STAFF REPORTS

VIP group to hear sheriff’s report

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Sumter Vision in Progress will hold its first meeting of 2016 at 10 a.m. Wednesday at James E. Clyburn Intermodal Transportation Center on South Harvin Street. Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis will make a state of the community law enforcement presentation at the meeting to which the public is invited. For more information, call Patty Wilson at (803) 491-4910.

Police investigating fatal shooting

Sumter County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Charleston-area man Thursday in connection with the shooting that took place on Manning Avenue on Dec. 29. Raymond Angelo Scott, 26, of 3990 Niagara St., Charleston, is charged with two counts of attempted murder, armed robbery, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and possession of a fire-

arm by a person convicted of a felony. According to a news release from the sheriff’s office, Scott allegedly entered a business in the 600 block of Manning Avenue SCOTT carrying a handgun and robbed the business of an undisclosed amount of cash. Scott allegedly shot the 37-year-old male clerk several times during the rob-

bery. Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Robert Burnish said the victim was in the process of being released from a hospital on Monday evening. The clerk’s 5-year-old son was also in the business at the time of the incident, but the child was not harmed. Once Scott was identified as the suspect, a records check revealed that he is prohibited from acquiring or possessing a handgun or ammunition in South Carolina.

Help for the hungry

Sumter Police Department is investigating a Dec. 30 fatal shooting at Poplar Square Apartments, 925 Miller Road, that claimed the life of a 23-year-old man. Police and emergency officials responded to the apartment complex after receiving a shots fired call about 6:45 p.m. on Dec. 30, according to a police department news release. The victim, Antawne Dominic Dargan, was found unresponsive and was later pronounced dead at the scene, the news release stated. Sumter County Coroner Harvin Bullock said Dargan died from multiple gunshot wounds to his chest and back that lacerated his heart and lungs. Police are following possible leads in the case, said Tonyia McGirt, spokeswoman for Sumter Police Department. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the department at (803) 436-2700. Information can also be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers at (803) 4362718 or 1-888-CRIME-SC. A cash reward may be available for information leading to an arrest.

CORRECTION

KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM

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

Essie Walker and Patricia Williams, volunteers at New Birth Holiness Church, sort food to be given to the needy recently. The church distributes food it receives from Harvest Hope Food Bank and Food Lion on the last Wednesday of the month and usually serves about 150 people. Anyone looking for help may apply to the church.

Flag-raising ceremony celebrates hospital partnership BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com A flag-raising ceremony at 11 a.m. Friday, in the center of the Palmetto Health Tuomey campus, will mark the finalization of the partnership between Tuomey Healthcare System and Palmetto Health, according to a Jan. 1 Palmetto Health news release. Leaders from the two organizations will make comments, and a reception will follow. The two health care systems had been exploring a formal partnership since an announcement in February 2015 that the Tuomey Healthcare System board elected to enter into exclusive negotiations with Palmetto Health. In October, leaders from Palmetto Health and Tuomey announced finalizing negotiations with the goal

for the partnership to become operational on Jan. 1. “Today, we welcome our newest team members, physicians and volunteers to Palmetto Health as part of Palmetto Health Tuomey,” Palmetto Health CEO Charles D. Beaman Jr. said in the release. “Many of us from Palmetto Health and the former Tuomey Healthcare System have been working together for several months to bring our partnership together. Today we are one.” The Palmetto Health release also announced that Michelle Logan-Owens, who has been serving as president and CEO of Tuomey Healthcare System since June 2015, will remain as CEO of Palmetto Health Tuomey. Logan-Owens will oversee the operations of Palmetto Health Tuomey and report directly to Palmetto Health

President John Singerling, the announcement said. The structure is identical to that at other Palmetto Health campuses, according to the release. In a separate news release dated Jan. 1, it was announced the Palmetto Health board of directors has elected the following members as officers: Lester P. Branham Jr., retired member of South Carolina House of Representatives and retired minister, chairman; James E. “Rick” Wheeler, vice president of M-D MetalSource, a Division of M-D Building Products Co., vice chairman; Jean E. Duke, financial consultant, treasurer; Beverly D. Chrisman, retired government executive and political consultant, secretary. Re-elected members of the Palmetto Health board include: Branham Jr.;

Chrisman; Sara B. Fisher, business development, South Carolina Student Loan; Joel E. Johnson, D.M.D., general, cosmetic and sports dentistry; George S. King Jr., executive vice president, director of Private Wealth & Asset Management for South State Wealth; and Jerome D. Odom, Ph.D., retired executive director of USC Foundations. Joining Palmetto Health from the former Tuomey Healthcare System board are James L. Best, vice president of Wells Fargo Advisors LLC; John M. Brabham, broker and owner of Berkshire Hathaway John M. Brabham Real Estate; LeRoy P. Creech, first vice president-investments, branch manager with Wells Fargo Advisors LLC; and Edward Duffy Jr., M.D., radiation oncologist with Tuomey Cancer Treatment Center.

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SHOOTING FROM PAGE A1 Street about 4 p.m. on Dec. 29 after a collision involving two vehicles, according to a department news release. The wreck appeared to be deliberate, and no individuals were found at the scene, the news release stated. Four suspects were taken into custody later that evening, and a fifth suspect was

arrested on Thursday. The five men were each charged with two counts of attempted murder and other charges in connection to the incident, according to the release. Eric Phillips, 24, of 2842 Tindal Road, was charged with two counts attempted murder; Rodriques Lewis, 27, of 861 Carolina Ave., Apt. 9, was charged with two counts of attempted murder, unlawful possession of a handgun and possession of a weapon during a violent

TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2016

crime; Rominique Lewis-Brand, 24, of 861 Carolina Ave., Apt. 9, was charged with two counts of attempted murder, unlawful possession of a handgun and possession of a weapon during a violent crime; Jaquan Johnman Wells, 19, of 12 Flamingo Road, was charged with two counts of attempted murder, unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; and Kevin Dwayne Smith, 20, of

A3

11 Frazier St., was charged with two counts of attempted murder. According to the release, the two wanted men are thought to be armed and dangerous. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the suspects is asked to call Sumter Police Department at (803) 436-2700. Tips can also be given anonymously by calling CrimeStoppers, (803) 4362718 or 1-888-CRIME-SC.

Obama defends his forthcoming gun restrictions

ARCENT FROM PAGE A1 countries in Africa, Asia and the Arabian Peninsula, is arguably the largest and most critical to current and future military operations. “In accordance with the Unified Command Plan, AOR extends from Egypt in the west to Pakistan in the east, and from Yemen in the south to the former Soviet Republic of Kazakhstan in the north,” said Col. Terry Cook, USARCENT assistant chief of staff G3. “It includes key countries that are often in the news — Syria, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon and Afghanistan.” What is known as USARCENT began with the designation as The Third United States Army, which it held for many years. Throughout its history the organization was tasked with several types of missions, became deactivated and then reactivated more than once, fought long battles in times of war, served as an occupying force and at one time or another acted primarily as a training force. The 1918 winter activation order during World War I moved Third Army to Central Germany as an occupation force. It conducted operations and contingency training until being disbanded in the summer of 1919. Before World War II, Third Army was activated once again in 1932 and remained largely a “paper formation,” which meant that primary duties were to hold periodic and less than adequate training exercises. Nevertheless, it was after this brief respite that Third Army would be commanded by Lt. Gen. George S. Patton and claim the designation of “Patton’s Own” and turn the tides of war by taking on the offensive and dashing across France. History was made, blood was shed, and “Patton’s Own” helped make The Battle of the Bulge an allied victory. Third Army again was designated as an occupational

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BY JOSH LEDERMAN The Associated Press

PHOTO PROVIDED BY U.S. ARMY

Lt. Gen. George S. Patton speaks to Brig. Gen. Anthony McAuliffe in January 1945. Patton led Third Army in a sweep across France and played an instrumental role in defeating the German counter offensive in the Ardennes. Patton commanded the Third Army from 1944 to 1945. force and took on the challenge of starting to rebuild postwar Germany until being recalled back to the U.S. in 1947. The organization’s focus returned to acting as a command and training force for units within the U.S. until 1974 when its books were closed, yet again, only temporarily. Near the end of 1982, the Third U.S. Army returned to active status with a new headquarters based at Fort McPherson, Georgia. It was at this stage of the organization’s evolution that it most closely resembled its current state. The mission was to serve as the Army component in a unified command, CENTCOM, which it still does. Many operations through the years have firmly cemented Third Army’s presence in the AOR. After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the organization planned, supported and controlled ground operations that defeated the Taliban government and later toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein. Now, formally designated as USARCENT, the organization maintains flexibili-

ty to change and adapt to any threats as they arise. “Three times, since 2000, the nation has called upon CENTCOM to establish a joint force for operations in its area of responsibility,” Cook said. “Each of these three times, CENTCOM has called upon (USARCENT) to lead the effort — under Lt. Gen. P.T. Mikoloshek, at the start of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2001, under Lt. Gen. David McKiernan at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Kuwait and Iraq in 2003, and most recently under Lt. Gen. James L. Terry, as the CJTF — Operation Inherent Resolve.”

WASHINGTON — Gearing up for a certain confrontation with Congress, President Obama defended his plans to tighten the nation’s gun-control restrictions on his own, insisting Monday that the steps he’ll announce fall within his legal authority and uphold the constitutional right to own a gun. Opening his final year in office on an aggressive note, Obama summoned his attorney general and FBI chief to the Oval Office to firm up a set of measures he said he’d announce during the next few days. Although the details are still uncertain, Obama’s administration has been preparing behind the scenes to expand background checks on gun sales by forcing more sellers to register as dealers. “This is not going to solve every violent crime in this country,” Obama said, tempering expectations for guncontrol advocates calling for far-reaching executive action. “It’s not going to prevent every mass shooting; it’s not going to keep every gun out of the hands of a criminal. It will potentially

save lives and spare families the pain of these extraordinary losses.” More than three years after the massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, with many other mass shootings since, Obama is training his attention once again on a policy goal that has eluded his administration. He tried the legislative route in 2013, pushing hard for a package that included expanded background checks. But that effort collapsed spectacularly in Congress. Obama and his aides have described their inability to move the issue forward as one of the most frustrating failures in his presidency. This time, with barely a year left in office and his political currency dwindling, Obama is eschewing Congress in favor of presidential action. Any proposal for new gun laws would be a non-starter in the Republican-controlled Congress — especially in a presidential election year. Obama’s steps were certain to draw intense opposition in Congress, and indeed, lawmakers and Obama’s political opponents had already started preemptively panning Obama’s plan.

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NATION

TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2016

THE SUMTER ITEM

Cleanup begins in flooded Midwest

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tyler Harding, right, trims a design on Mike Wolfe out of his back hair on Dec. 29 in Nampa, Idaho. Wolfe and Harding meet up several times throughout the year to design a new creation on Wolfe’s back. The designs have since been compiled for a calendar.

Hairy back is the perfect canvas Idaho man creates furry masterpieces NAMPA, Idaho (AP) — One man’s back hair is another man’s canvas. At least that’s how Mike Wolfe, 35, of Nampa, Idaho, has decided to approach manscaping. Wolfe said that after years of feeling ashamed of his body hair, he asked a friend in 2008 to trim an American flag on his back rather than undergoing hair removal processes such as

shaving or waxing. Since then, the two meet up several times throughout the year to design a new creation onto Wolfe’s back. “Pssh, it’s manhandling back hair,” Wolfe said. “It’s disgusting. But it’s funny. You can’t deny it’s funny.” Tyler Harding, a former graphic artist who has been friends with Wolfe for more than a decade, said it takes about an hour to complete the artistic trim. And the creations can now be seen on a calendar — called a Calend-hair — available for $20. Some proceeds will benefit a charity at Wolfe’s church.

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Designs are uniquely named, such as Grim Reap-hair for October and Mhair-achi Band for May. “Everybody always makes fun of the guy with back hair,” Wolfe said. “Well now it’s my turn to shine, right?” Wolfe’s wife takes some credit for him flaunting his fur. When they went on their first date, Wolfe told her he was hairy. He felt nervous at the time, but she took it in stride. “Looking back now this might be because of me,” Jamie Wolfe said. “Maybe I shouldn’t have given him so much confidence in his back hair.”

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KINCAID, Ill. (AP) — Sharon Stivers mustered a smile as a visitor walked into her muddy yard. “Welcome to my flood sale,” Stivers joked, nodding to a tall stack of watersoaked furniture, appliances and belongings pulled from her home and piled high by the road in the flat central Illinois town of Kincaid. “You can have the whole thing for 50 cents.” The Mississippi River and most other waterways in Missouri and Illinois flooded last week after 10-14 inches of rain fell over a wide swath of the two states. The water receded in most places Sunday but continued to rise in a few. Cleanup and damage assessment was only beginning and could take weeks. Twenty-five deaths in the two states were blamed on flooding, nearly all of them the result of vehicles driving on flooded roadways. The death toll rose Sunday when the body of a second teenager missing for several days was found near Kincaid, a town of about 1,400 residents along the South Fork Sangamon River near Springfield. The Mississippi River was receding except in the far southern tip of both states. After that, flooding is expected to worsen in Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and other southern states, though the breadth of the flooding there isn’t expected to match what happened in Missouri and Illinois. The Meramec River, the St. Louis-area tributary of the Mississippi that caused so much damage last week, already was below flood stage in the hard-hit Missouri towns of Pacific and Eureka and dropping elsewhere, just three days after reaching record levels. The worst is still to come along the Illinois River, where near-record crests are expected early this week in the Illinois towns of Beardstown, Meredosia and Valley City. Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner toured flood-damaged homes in Kincaid and urged residents to be careful, noting the rare cold-weather flood carries its own burdens, including the prospect of hypothermia for those wading into water. Stivers and many of her neighbors spent Sunday removing ruined items from their homes and placing them along the street for trash crews to pick up. Stivers shares a home with a 45-year-old daughter battling breast cancer, along with a granddaughter and four dogs. Floodwaters got 4 feet into their home, located in an area where flood insurance wasn’t available. “I lost my home,” Stivers said. “My daughter has cancer and lost her home. Am I mad? When I’m not crying I am.” In Illinois’ St. Clair County near St. Louis, emergency management director Herb Simmons said damage assessment began Sunday after the Mississippi started to fall. Though water reached higher than 1993, this flood wasn’t as bad, Simmons said. “In ’93 that water came up and stayed on the levees for several months,” Simmons said. “This flood came up quick and went down quick.” St. Louis-area cleanup largely was focused around the Meramec. Two wastewater treatment plants were so damaged by the floodwaters that raw sewage spewed into the river. Hundreds of people who had been evacuated in the Missouri communities of Pacific, Eureka, Valley Park and Arnold were cleaning up the mess and filth left behind.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2016

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Strong quake kills at least 8 in India’s northeast Indian soldiers and locals remove debris from a damaged building after an earthquake in Imphal, capital of the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, on Monday. A 6.7-magnitude earthquake hit India’s remote northeast region before dawn on Monday.

BY WASBIR HUSSAIN The Associated Press GAUHATI, India — A strong earthquake damaged buildings, killed at least eight people and injured more than 100 in India’s remote northeast region early Monday. The death and injuries were caused by falling debris. Manipur state’s home minister, G. Gaikhangam, said several areas suffered extensive damage, especially the capital, Imphal. He did not give details but told reporters the situation was still being assessed. Three people were killed in Imphal and five in other parts of the state, said police officer A.K. Jalajit. Media reports said five people were killed in neighboring Bangladesh, but there was no official confirmation. The 6.7-magnitude tremor left large cracks in walls, damaged a bridge on the outskirts of the capital and caused a newly constructed six-story building to collapse. The region is dotted with small houses with few tall buildings. India’s Meteorological Department said the epicenter was in the Tamenglong region of Manipur. It struck 20 miles northwest of Imphal, 10 miles below the surface and not far from the border with Myanmar. Police officer L. Ragui said by telephone that dozens of homes were slightly damaged in Tamenglong.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Shangthon Kamei, a teacher in Tamenglong, said the earthquake rattled buildings. “It lasted for around one minute. We were sleeping and were woken up by the earthquake,” he said. The area is remote, with poor cell-

5 booksellers missing from Hong Kong area HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers said Sunday that they will press the government for answers after a fifth employee of a publishing company specializing in books critical of mainland China’s leadership went missing. Lawmaker Albert Ho said the city was “shocked and appalled” by the disappearance of Lee Bo. Like the four others who have disappeared in recent months, Lee is associated with publisher Mighty Current. While there’s been no official word on what happened to the five missing people, Ho told reporters that it appears their disappearances are linked to the publishing company’s books. “From the available information surrounding the disappearance of Mr.

Lee Bo and his partners earlier, we have strong reason to believe that Mr. Lee Bo was probably kidnapped and then smuggled back to the mainland for political investigation,” Ho said. Ho said that one possible explanation for the disappearances was that the publishing company was being pressured to scrap plans for an upcoming book rumored to be about an old “girlfriend or mistress” of Chinese President Xi Jinping. It’s not uncommon in mainland China for company executives and dissidents to be detained for lengthy periods by the authorities or vanish without anyone claiming responsibility, but the disappearances are unprecedented in Hong Kong and have shocked the city’s publishing industry.

phone and Internet connections, and information about conditions outside of major cities may take time to emerge. Nearly 90 members of the National Disaster Response Force have left to check on remote areas, police said.

Imphal residents said furniture was knocked over and books fell off shelves. “The ground swayed for almost a minute, jolting people awake in their homes,” said one resident, Apem Arthur.

Saudi allies scale back ties to Iran TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Allies of Saudi Arabia followed the kingdom’s lead and began scaling back diplomatic ties to Iran on Monday after the ransacking of Saudi diplomatic missions in the Islamic Republic, violence sparked by the Saudi execution of a prominent opposition Shiite cleric. Sudan and the tiny island kingdom of Bahrain said they would sever ties with Iran, as Saudi Arabia did late Sunday. Within hours, the United Arab Emirates announced it would downgrade ties to Tehran to the level of the charge d’affaires and would only focus on economic issues. Somalia also issued a statement criticizing Iran. The execution Saturday of Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr alNimr and 46 others convicted of terror charges — the largest mass execution carried out by Saudi Arabia since 1980 — laid bare the sectarian divisions gripping the region. Shiite protesters took to the streets from Bahrain to Pakistan, while Arab allies of Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia lined up

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behind the kingdom. The escalating tensions between the two longtime regional rivals looks to further imperil efforts to end the wars in Syria and Yemen, where Saudi Arabia and Iran back rival sides.

Al-Nimr was a central figure in the Arab Spring-inspired protests by Saudi Arabia’s Shiite minority until his arrest in 2012. He was convicted of terrorism charges but denied advocating violence.

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Universities tap into craft beer growth MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — With an explosion in growth in the craft beer industry during the last decade, it’s not enough to simply have a passion for brewing and beer when it comes to starting a brewery or working for one as the industry gets more competitive. Recognizing that, some universities are now offering online programs on the business of craft beer. In the last decade, the number of craft breweries has grown to more than 4,000 in the U.S. today, from more than 1,400 in 2005, according to the Brewers Association. A lot of breweries started out five or 10 years ago with a focus on beer, said Gregory Dunkling, director of the University of Vermont’s new online business of craft beer certificate program, which starts in February. Back then, a home brewer may have been able to create some great recipes but didn’t have the business acumen so along the way hired staff to cover marketing, sales, the business operation, he said. It’s harder to pull that off today. As the industry has grown and become more competitive, the bar has been raised for those starting a brewery or working for one, said Bart Watson, chief economist with the Brewers Association. “Certainly the demand for people with a high level of brewing knowledge has gone up and on the business side

AP FILE PHOTO

Craft beers are served at Maine Beer Co. in Freeport, Maine, in May 2015. With an explosion in growth in the craft beer industry during the last decade, some universities are now offering classes on the business of craft beer. as well. So I think we’re seeing a variety of different programs look for ways that they can capitalize on that,” he said. Portland State University in Oregon started an online business of craft brewing program in 2013, with the first cohort filling up in the first week with about 40 people. It’s become one of the school’s most successful professional

certificate programs, drawing people from around the world, said Scott Gallagher, the university’s director of communications. “We discovered that there’s a huge need for people who wanted to get a certificate. They didn’t necessarily want to go to college or already had a college degree and wanted to open up a brew pub,” Gallagher said. They need-

ed some basic and more advanced knowledge, such as in marketing, he said. The demand is so high that PSU is looking at how to develop and expand the program, Gallagher said. “The truth is ... it’s not all about brewing and drinking beer. There’s a lot of business behind it as well, and that’s usually what they’re lacking,” he said. University of Portland and San Diego State University’s College of Extended Studies also have business of craft beer certificate programs. So far, the University of Vermont program, in a state that has made a name for itself for its craft beers, has drawn applicants from across the country — Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Oregon and Texas — and about half are from the Northeast, Dunkling said. The program costs about $4,400 for the two courses: one on the fundamentals of craft beer and a second course of students’ choosing focused on digital marketing, sales or business operations. Apprenticeships with a network of breweries and distributors are also available. Industry officials agree there’s a need for education and knowledge in the industry and different ways to get it, whether through experience, hiring talent or training, which some breweries provide.

Gadgets around us will keep getting smarter, like it or not BY ANICK JESDANUN AND DAVID HAMILTON AP Technology Writers

sure. At best, you can hope the company keeps its promises on privacy. More important, you have to trust that its computer systems are really secure, or those promises are suddenly worthless. That part is increasingly difficult to guarantee — or believe — as hacking becomes routine. And here’s the chief quandary: Every technological benefit comes with a cost in the form of a threat to privacy. Yet not paying that price has its own cost: an inability to participate in some of technology’s greater achievements. Because

smart gadgets thrive on data — data about you and your habits, data about what large numbers of people do or say or appear to want in particular situations — it’s difficult not to share pretty

much everything with them. Doing otherwise would be like turning off your phone’s location services, which disables many of its most useful features.

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MEDICARE FROM PAGE A1 and paying close attention to patients’ transitions between hospital and home. Primary care doctors, the gatekeepers of health care, are the focus of much of Medicare’s effort. Patrick Conway, Medicare’s chief medical officer, said that nearly 8 million beneficiaries — about 20 percent of those in traditional Medicare — are now in “Accountable Care Organizations.� ACOs are recently introduced networks of doctors and hospitals that strive to deliver better quality care at lower cost. “Five years ago there was minimal incentive to coordinate care,� Conway said. “Physicians wanted to do well for their patients, but the financial incentives were completely aligned with volume.� Under the ACO model, clinical networks get part of their reimbursement for meeting quality or cost targets. The jury’s still out on their long-term impact. Still, a major expansion is planned for 2016, and beneficiaries for the first time will be able to pick an ACO. Currently they can opt out if they don’t like it. “We’re all trying to understand where is that threshold when things will flip,� said Kavita Patel, a Brookings Institution health policy expert who also practices as a primary care doctor. It could be like the switch from snail mail and interoffice memos to communicating via email, she says, but “I’m not sure we have reached critical mass.� Glendon Bassett, a retired chemical engineer, says he can vouch for the

FIRESIDE FROM PAGE A1 clubs and affecting several generations of Sumterites. Started in 1969, Fireside Fund is a partnership between The Sumter Item and The Salvation Army. The newspaper collects the money and gives it to the local nonprofit. The Christian charity then interviews people who need help with heating costs such as past-due electric bills or buying kerosene or wood. Candidates must provide a valid form of picture identification, paycheck stubs and copies of late bills. If you and your family need assistance with heating costs, call The Salvation Army at

teamwork approach that Medicare is promoting. Earlier this year, a primary care team at SAMA Healthcare in El Dorado, Arkansas, prevented what Bassett feared would turn into an extended hospitalization. It started with a swollen leg. SAMA is part of Medicare’s Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative, an experiment in seven regions of the country that involves nearly 400,000 beneficiaries and a much larger number of patients with other types of insurance. The insurers pay primary care practices a monthly fee for care coordination, and the practices also have the opportunity to share in any savings to Medicare. The primary-care teams at SAMA consist of a doctor, a nurse practitioner, three nurses and a care coordinator. The coordinator shepherds patients to avoid gaps in care. The nurses can be an early warning system for the doctor. Bassett said he had a history of circulatory problems in his legs, but this was different. “It was scary,� he said. “Within a week’s time it turned from red to dark.� He thought about the emergency room, but he got in right away to see the nurse practitioner working with Dr. Gary Bevill, his longtime physician. The nurse fetched other clinicians to look at Bassett’s swollen right leg. He was immediately given antibiotics. And the doctor referred him to a cardiologist for an outpatient procedure that has since improved his circulation. While the medical treatment may have followed fairly standard protocols, Bassett thinks the team approach pre-

(803) 775-9336. Donations can be mailed to The Sumter Item, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, SC 29151, or dropped off at the office, 20 N. Magnolia St. Names, including groups, should be spelled completely. When making a donation in someone’s honor, names will be printed as given. Last week’s donations were: Michael and Ginger Cox, $500; in memory of Bill and Teensie Davis from the Denny family, $200; Ralph Lee, $100; in memory of retired Col.Vernon L. Allgood from Jacquelyn Allgood, $100; Christine Stockton, $100; in memory of Richard Seth from Rita Seth, $100; in honor of the Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Regi Thackston from Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Shelley, $100; Jacqueline Summers, $100; James and Frances McIntosh,

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other part of the state, but stays in touch. Medicare is weighing whether to expand the primary care model. Conway said more data is needed. Other notable changes coming in 2016:

HIP AND KNEE SURGERY Joint replacements are the most common surgical procedure for Medicare beneficiaries. Starting in April, hospitals in 67 metro areas and communities will be responsible for managing the total cost of hip and knee replacements. The experiment covers a 90-day window from the initial doctor’s visit, through surgery and rehabilitation. At stake for the hospitals are potential financial rewards and penalties. Medicare’s goal is to improve quality while lowering cost. But hospitals worry about financial consequences, and advocates for patients say there’s a potential to skimp on care. “What we are discovering with all this change is that trying to get to value over volume is very difficult to do,� said Herb Kuhn, who heads the Missouri Hospital Association. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Glendon Bassett does a cardio workout at the Family YMCA in Hot Springs, Arkansas, on Dec. 22. Bassett says he can vouch for the teamwork approach Medicare is promoting. vented serious consequences. “If I hadn’t seen the nurse practitioner when I did, I feel like I would have been in the hospital,� he said. Bassett has since moved to Hot Springs, in an-

$100; in memory of Bob Geyer and Jerry Dix from Gertrude Geyer-Dix, $100; in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Powell Black and Chris Wand from Michelle Herod, $75; in memory of Mike Alexander from Anita Alexander, $50; in honor of Roland and Martha Alston from Rita and William LeNoir, $50; George and Genny Waynick, $50; in memory of Armein Norman from Geraldine L. Scott, $25; in honor of Jenny and Buck Jackson from Charlie Pitts, $25; in loving memory of Charles Jenkins from Bobby Sigley, $5. Total combined anonymous: $414 Total This week: $2,194 Total This Year: $37,728.60 Total Last Year: $56,428.27 Total Since 1969: $1,477,757.06

HOSPICE FLEXIBILITY Patients choosing Medicare’s hospice benefit at the end of their lives have traditionally had to give up most curative care. Under Medicare’s new Care Choices model, patients with a terminal illness will be able to receive hospice services without giving up treatment. A cancer patient could continue to get chemo, for example.

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N.G. Osteen 1843-1936 The Watchman and Southron

H.G. Osteen 1870-1955 Founder, The Item

THE SUMTER ITEM H.D. Osteen 1904-1987 The Item

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

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

COMMENTARY

Before government became reviled

W

ASHINGTON — Soon, voters will have the opportunity and impertinence to insert themselves into the 2016 presidential conversation that thus far has been the preoccupation of journalists and other abnormal people. The voting will begin in Iowa, thanks to Marie Jahn. When, after 38 years as recorder for Plymouth County in northwest Iowa, Jahn decided to retire in February 1975, local Democrats decided to throw her a party. When it came to attracting a speaker, the best they could entice from their party’s national ranks was a former one-term governor of Georgia. AcGeorge cording to Will Steven Hayward in “The Age of Reagan: The Fall of the Old Liberal Order”: “Carter’s obscurity was confirmed when he appeared on the syndicated TV game show ‘What’s My Line?’ He stumped the panel, which not only didn’t recognize him, but failed to guess he was a state governor. When pollster George Gallup drew up a list of 38 potential Democratic presidential candidates in 1975, Carter’s name was not on the list.” Eleven months after the fete for Jahn, Jimmy Carter finished second in the hitherto obscure Iowa caucuses, behind “undecided.” This semi-triumph became his springboard to Olympus. The caucuses would never again be obscure. The moral of this cautionary tale is that voters can be startlingly disruptive. Perhaps they are somewhat less likely to be so today. Surprises might be more difficult to spring now that there is saturation journalism about presidential campaigns that are in high gear a year before the first votes are cast. But American politics often has had quirky aspects, as historian Morton Keller demonstrates in his “America’s Three Regimes: A New Political History” (2007). The Republican Party, Keller says, became known as the Grand Old Party in the 1880s, when it was about 25 years young. In 1840, when William Henry Harrison, scion of wealthy Virginia planters, ran for president as the hardscrabble “log cabin and hard cider candidate,” the resulting paraphernalia included glass log cabins containing whiskey from Pittsburgh’s E.C. Booz distillery, which enriched American slang. The Era of Good Feelings, the decade after 1815, was, Keller says, more an Era of No Feelings: In the 1820

presidential election, Richmond’s 12,000 residents produced 17 votes. Only 568 of Baltimore’s 63,000 residents voted. Nine percent of those eligible in New Jersey voted. No one will ever call 2016 part of an Era of Good Feelings. If, however, Donald Trump’s vitriol pumps up the number of voters, this will at least lay to rest the canard that high voter turnout is a sign of social health. Given the pandemic distaste for today’s politics, it is consoling to remember that things change. In the late 19th century, Robert Ingersoll, aka “The Great Agnostic,” was the nation’s most outspoken atheist and a leading Republican, a combination unlikely today. In the third decade of the 20th century, even a politician with national aspirations could be proudly parochial: The Democrats’ 1928 presidential nominee, New York Gov. Al Smith, reportedly said he would rather be a lamppost on Park Row than the governor of California, and when asked his thoughts about the problems of states west of the Mississippi, he supposedly replied, “What are the states west of the Mississippi?” In 1952, the Democratic presidential nominee, Adlai Stevenson, dismayed by the mainstream media’s conservatism, fretted about “a oneparty press in a two-party country.” Today, there is a sense in which there are few two-party states. In the presidential election 40 years ago, Carter against President Gerald Ford, 20 states were won by five points or less, including the six most populous states: California, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Illinois, Ohio. (Note the absence of Florida, now the third-most populous state.) In 2012, just four states were decided by five points or less (North Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Virginia). Today, Larry J. Sabato, Kyle Kondik and Geoffrey Skelley of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics identify just seven states they consider “superswingy”: Colorado, Florida, Nevada, Ohio and Virginia, all of which voted for George W. Bush and Barack Obama twice, and Iowa and New Hampshire, which have voted Democratic in three of the last four elections. But, again, things change. “One session of the Connecticut Legislature in the 1790s,” Keller writes, “devoted itself primarily to imposing a tax on dogs. The next session was given over to discussing whether or not to remove that levy.” This was, of course, long ago, before government became ambitious, caring and reviled. George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. © 2015, Washington Post Writers Group

COMMENTARY

Obama reshapes presidential politics

O

ne thing that’s striking about the presidential race, which, finally, officially begins soon, is how much the race has been shaped by Barack Obama. The course of the contests for both the Republican and Democratic nominations would be inconceivable absent the course of the Obama presidency. This is most apparent in the phenomenon that goes by the name of Donald Trump. Trump’s gratuitous insults of rivals reflect the coarseness of Obama’s nonstop insults of Republicans and anyone who does not share his views and priorities. Despite his prepresidential promises of nonpartisanship, Obama has been the most grating and vitriolic partisan president of the last 60 years. Trump’s more outlandish proposals — making Michael Mexico pay for a border wall, making common Barone cause with Russia in Syria — can be seen as a variation on Obama’s insistence that climate change is the nation’s No. 1 problem and his acquiescence in, well, making common cause with Russia in Syria. And the adoring crowds that throng Trump’s monster rallies, what do they remind you of ? The crowds that cheered Obama in 2008 as he promised to fundamentally transform America and stop the rise of seas. The Republicans who have emerged as Trump’s chief rivals, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, had interesting beyond-theBeltway careers pre-2008 (Rubio in the Florida legislature, Cruz in the Texas attorney general’s office) but emerged as national figures only after Obama’s inauguration. Both won upset victories against established figures in open Senate races. In 2010 Rubio challenged Gov. Charlie Crist, who famously hugged Obama in February 2009, forced him out of the Republican primary and beat him handily in the threeway general. In 2012 Cruz challenged Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, held him under 50 percent in the primary and then won the runoff and general election. Thus both these freshman senators got elected from the nation’s third and second largest states as Obama opponents. Their differences on immigration and foreign policy are framed as arguments over which one is more anti-Obama. So Trump, never a political candidate until 2015, and Rubio and Cruz, unknowns nationally six years ago, have been far more successful at engaging the attention and winning the support of Republican caucus-goers and primary voters than have rivals with greater but — since they

have not held public office since 2006 — less recent achievements. Jeb Bush is the prime example. I used to write that he was the most effective conservative governor in the last dozen years; now I have to delete “dozen” and substitute “20.” Today’s Republicans seem uninterested in Bush’s genuinely impressive record in Florida. They’re troubled by his current support of Common Core, which he sees as imposing rigor but they see as imposing liberal mushiness, and by his conviction that massive low-skill Latin immigration benefits the nation. Even further down the pack are the last two Iowa caucus winners: Mike Huckabee, who didn’t run for re-election as governor of Arkansas in 2006, and Rick Santorum, who was defeated badly for re-election in Pennsylvania that year. Republican voters seem less interested in John Kasich’s conservative achievements as House Budget chairman in the 1990s than his support of Obama’s Medicaid expansion in 2014. Chris Christie has gained ground by campaigning on his pre2008 record as U.S. attorney and ignoring his post-2008 record as governor of New Jersey. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton’s career predates the Obama presidency by a lot. At Yale Law she worked for Joe Duffey’s Senate campaign in the election of 1970, when Obama was nine and Rubio and Cruz were not yet born. But this year Clinton is running more on, or to the left of, the platform of Obama (who has 44 percent job approval) than on that of Bill Clinton (who left office with 65 percent job approval). She is obviously, though not particularly deftly, responding to a leftward lurch among Democratic voters, an impulse often seen in the final years of Democratic administrations: See Gene McCarthy in 1968, Ted Kennedy in 1980, Ralph Nader in 2000 and Bernie Sanders in 2016. Clinton hopes to replicate Obama’s 51 percent coalition at a time when partisan preferences have been stubbornly stable for two decades. But turnout generally has been falling during the Obama presidency; Clinton is unlikely to match Obama’s turnout and percentage numbers among blacks, and Republican debate viewership has set new records. It’s possible that the Obama presidency, having reshaped the nomination contests, may be reshaping the general electorate — and not to Democrats’ benefit. Michael Barone, senior political analyst at the Washington Examiner (www.washingtonexaminer.com), is a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a Fox News Channel contributor and a co-author of The Almanac of American Politics. © creators.com

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SUGGESTING RESIDENTS a public apology, claiming suggest residents do this. Has HARASS POLICE IS LUDICROUS the black mentality gone so far that’s not what he meant, blah So, here it is. A brand new year, but the same old crap in the news. This time, it is a Mississippi city councilman, from Jackson, suggesting people “in the neighborhoods throw rocks and bottles and bricks at the police. No kidding. Kenneth Stokes want to get the black leadership together and

overboard that these people can actually state this in public? Oh, that’s right. Nothing will be done. I keep forgetting what our government represents. Now, this is what is likely to happen. Stokes will get a phone call from someone in D.C., the next day he will issue

blah blah, end of story. What should happen is that this “public servant” should be arrested, charged with everything they could possibly charge him with, and sent to prison. It’s no wonder the police have to look over their shoulders all the time. I stand firm-

ly with our law enforcement personnel. I just hope Jackson doesn’t turn into a “southern Ferguson.” DENNIS E. VICKERS Wedgefield

THANKS FOR HONORING GOD ON CHRISTMAS EVE I extend my thanks and appreciation to you all for the front page on Thursday, Dec.

24, The Sumter Item. God bless and keep you all, as you keep up your great efforts for honoring God in such a way. Our pastor’s reading of the page brought a roar from the crowd with great appreciation. BOB ROBINSON Sumter, Bethesda Church of God

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BBC World News International news. TMZ (N) 2 Broke Girls Bridal shower. (HD) The Walking Dead: Cherokee Rose The group tries to stay on the farm. (HD)

Charlie Rose (N) (HD) Mike & Molly Spying on neighbor. (HD) Hot in Cleveland Friends share home. (HD)

CABLE CHANNELS Married at First Sight: Meet the (:01) Born This Way: Fears and Born This Way: Love and Chromo- Married at First Couple on vacation. (HD) David gets worried. (HD) In-Laws Fathers Day. (N) (HD) Gears Social life. (N) (HD) somes Search for love. (HD) Sight (HD) Rocky III (‘82, Drama) aaa Sylvester Stallone. A boxer is trained by his former rival Rocky IV (‘85, Drama) aac Sylvester Stallone. A former champion 180 The Green Mile (‘99, Drama) Tom Hanks. A special convict. (HD) to reclaim the boxing championship. (HD) comes out of retirement to challenge a deadly Russian boxer. (HD) 100 River Monsters (HD) River Monsters (HD) Yellowstone: Battle for Life Changing seasons. (HD) River Monsters (HD) Yellowston Zoe Ever After Husbands of Zoe Ever After Husbands (HD) Wendy Williams 162 Top Five (‘14, Comedy) aaa Chris Rock. A comic turning to a serious actor becomes conflicted on which path to follow as he prepares for an on-air wedding to his reality star wife. (N) Hollywood (N) Show (N) The Real House wives of Beverly The Real House wives of Beverly The Real House wives of Beverly Girl friends’ Guide to Di vorce (N) What Hap pens The Real House wives of Beverly 181 Hills: The M Word Hills: Will Power Hills: Hamptons, 90210 (N) (N) (HD) Hills: Hamptons, 90210 62 The Profit: Sweet Pete’s Shark Tank (HD) Shark Tank (HD) The Profit Custom lighting. (N) The Profit: Precise Graphix The Profit 64 Erin Burnett OutFront (N) Anderson Cooper 360° (N) (HD) Anderson Cooper 360° (N) (HD) CNN Tonight with Don Lemon Anderson Cooper 360° (HD) News (HD) Tosh.0 Tweets Tosh.0 (HD) Tosh.0 (HD) Tosh.0: Bad Im- Tosh.0: Bad Ven- Tosh.0 Failed Tosh.0 Religious Daily Show with Nightly Show w/ (:01) @midnight 136 Tosh.0: Brian Atene (HD) from fans. (HD) pressions (HD) triloquist (HD) stuntman. (HD) rapper. (HD) Trevor (N) Wilmore (N) (N) (HD) Horton Hears a Who! (‘08, Family) aaa Jim Carrey. (:35) BUNK’D Best Friends Austin & Ally Girl Meets World K.C. Undercover Jessie Reality TV 80 Liv and Maddie Austin & Ally (HD) (HD) An elephant discovers tiny creatures. (HD) (HD) Whenever (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) show. (HD) 103 Moonshiners (HD) Moonshiners (N) Moonshiners (N) (HD) (:02) Killing Fields (N) (HD) (:03) Moonshiners (HD) Killing (HD) 35 College Basketball: Wisconsin Badgers at Indiana Hoosiers (HD) College Basketball: Kentucky Wildcats at LSU Tigers z{| (HD) SportsCenter (HD) Sports (HD) 39 Harlem Globetrotters 90th (HD) College Basketball: Oklahoma State vs Baylor z{| (HD) NBA Coast to Coast z{| (HD) Basketball Bride Wars (‘09, Comedy) aa Kate Hudson. Friends become bridezillas The 700 Club How to manage Robin Hood: Men 131 The Lucky One (‘12, Drama) aaa Zac Efron. An Iraq veteran searches for the woman from his lucky wartime photograph. (HD) when their wedding plans conflict due to an error. (HD) income and savings. (‘93) (HD) 109 Chopped: Cloche Call (HD) Chopped Junior (N) Chopped: Rock Stars (HD) Chopped: Knife Strife (N) (HD) Chopped Blowfish tail. (HD) Chopped (HD) 74 On the Record with Greta (N) The O’Reilly Factor (N) (HD) The Kelly File News updates. Hannity (N) (HD) The O’Reilly Factor (HD) The Kelly File 42 Predators Knockouts Best of World Poker Tour: Alpha8 (HD) Big East Knockouts World Poker Tour no} (HD) NHL Hockey Golden Sophia 183 Last Man Stand- Last Man Stand- Last Man Stand- Last Man Stand- The Middle (HD) The Middle (HD) The Middle Sue’s The Middle: The The Golden Girls: Golden Girls: ing (HD) ing (HD) ing (HD) ing (HD) crush. (HD) Quarry (HD) Feelings Zborn Again the nun. 112 Fixer Upper Older home. (HD) Fixer Upper (HD) Fixer Upper (N) (HD) Hunters (N) Hunters (N) Fixer Upper Lorena, Texas. (HD) Upper (HD) 110 Curse of Oak Island: Dig (HD) Curse of Oak Island: Dig (N) The Curse of Oak Island (N) Curse of Oak Island Drill (N) The Curse of Oak Island (HD) Curse (HD) 160 Criminal Minds: Into the Woods Wil- Criminal Minds: A Place at the Table Criminal Minds: Protection Vigilante Criminal Minds: The Hunt Abducted Saving Hope: Ride Hard or Go Home Saving Hope derness killer. (HD) Family dead at table (HD) UnSub. (HD) niece. (HD) Last resort. (HD) (HD) Dance Moms: No Moms Allowed (N) Dance Moms: New Season, New (:02) Pitch Slapped: Aca-Gods (:02) Pitch Slapped: Aca-Gods (:02) Dance 145 Dance Moms: Chaos at Nationals Nationals tension. (HD) (HD) Rules (N) (HD) Coaches train teams. (N) (HD) Coaches train teams. (HD) Moms (HD) 76 Hardball with Chris (N) (HD) All in with Chris Hayes (HD) The Rachel Maddow Show (N) Lawrence O’Donnell (HD) All in with Chris Hayes (HD) Maddow (HD) 91 Make Pop (N) Thunderman Henry Nicky Full House Full House Full House Full House Friends (HD) Friends (HD) Friends (HD) 154 Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Cops (HD) Jail (HD) 12 Monkeys: Splinter Man back in 12 Monkeys (HD) 152 (5:00) Blade: Trin- Underworld (‘03, Horror) aaa Kate Beckinsale. A medical student becomes embroiled in a The Expanse: Back to the Butcher ity (‘04) aac war between vampires and werewolves. (HD) Unlikely ally. (N) (HD) time to eradicate plague. (HD) Seinfeld: The The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang Conan Quentin Taratino; Yves 2 Broke Girls 156 Seinfeld: The Blood (HD) Junk Mail (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Rossey and Vince Reffet. (N) (HD) (HD) The Bigamist 186 (6:00) Edison, the Man (‘40, Drama) King Kong (‘33, Adventure) aaac Fay Wray. A giant ape escapes from Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean (‘82, Spencer Tracy. Inventor’s life. its cage and wreaks complete havoc on New York City. (HD) Drama) aac Sandy Dennis. Fans of James Dean gather. (‘53) aaa 157 The Little Couple (HD) The Little Couple (HD) The Little Couple (N) (HD) Kate Plus 8: Deck Party (N) (HD) The Little Couple (HD) Kate Plus (HD) Castle: The Wild Rover Detective Castle: The Lives of Others Castle Castle: The Fast and the Furriest Gi- Castle: The Squab and the Quail Jeal- CSI: NY Missing 158 Castle: Scared to Death Killed by a “haunted” DVD. (HD) Ryan with Irish gang. (HD) broken leg. (HD) ant footprints. (HD) ous Castle. (HD) broker. (HD) 102 Jokers (HD) Jokers (HD) Jokers (HD) Jokers (HD) Jokers (HD) Jokers (HD) Almost (N) 10 Things (N) Jokers (HD) Jokers (HD) Jokers (HD) 161 Facts Life Facts Life Facts Life Facts Life Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) The Shannara Chronicles: Chosen (HD) (:48) The King of Queens (HD) 132 Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family: Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Law & Order: (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) Chirp (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) SVU (HD) Law & Order: Possession (HD) Law & Order (HD) Law & Order (HD) Law & Order (HD) Law & Order: 3 Dawg Night (HD) Law (HD) 172 Batman (‘89, Action) aaa Jack Nicholson. A masked vigilante battles evil. Funniest Home Videos (HD) Funniest Home Videos (HD) How I Met How I Met

A&E

46 130 Married at First Sight: Honeymoons Married at First Sight: Moving In

AMC

48

ANPL

41

BET

61

BRAVO

47

CNBC CNN

35 33

COM

57

DISN

18

DSC ESPN ESPN2

42 26 27

FAM

20

FOOD FOXN FSS

40 37 31

HALL

52

HGTV HIST

39 45

ION

13

LIFE

50

MSNBC NICK SPIKE

36 16 64

SYFY

58

TBS

24

TCM

49

TLC

43

TNT

23

TRUTV TVLAND

38 55

USA

25

WE WGN

68 8

Tonight’s ‘Frontline’ offers profile of Netanyahu BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH “Frontline” (9 p.m., PBS, TVPG, check local listings) presents “Netanyahu at War,” a twohour profile of Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu. It examines aspects of his past and personality that led to his historic confrontation with President Barack Obama and his unprecedented address to Congress last year, criticizing the Obama administration’s efforts to negotiate with Iran. Netanyahu has been at the center of Israeli politics for so long that some forget he first became a public figure on American television, making the case for American pro-Israel lobbying groups beginning in the late 1970s. Viewers of ABC’s “Nightline” during the 1980s could have been forgiven for thinking of Netanyahu as that show’s virtual cohost, so often was he invited to speak. This “Frontline” does an exhaustive job of exploring Netanyahu’s political rise and complicated relationships with American presidents, interviewing dozens of journalists, American foreign policy experts and Netanyahu advisers past and present. It’s interesting to think how Netanyahu’s rise as a “star” of American television news has continued to resonate, and how, unlike Israeli media, which reports on Bibi as one politician among many, American TV media treats him as if he and only he speaks for Israel, and that anyone who challenges his position is at best naive, or worse, hostile to his nation’s best interests. Even this less-than-glowing profile uses words like “fatalist” and “pragmatist” to describe Netanyahu and words like “idealist” and “dreamer” when discussing anyone who doesn’t share his worldview. In 2014, MSNBC contributor Rula Jebreal suggested that American television was failing to tell the whole story about that summer’s Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip, arguing that American media interviewed nine Israelis for every one Palestinian. No one on the network said she was wrong; she was simply terminated. This sent a chilling and obvious message: To even question American cover-

eight weeks prepping for a summer season in the new reality series “Pitch Slapped” (10 p.m., Lifetime, TV-PG).

CULT CHOICE A cop (Russell Crowe) targets a new kind of drug entrepreneur (Denzel Washington) in 1970s Harlem in the 2007 drama “American Gangster” (9 p.m., Sundance). Based on a true story.

SERIES NOTES

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, speaks during a recent weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. age of Netanhayu’s foreign policy was a firing offense. This very thorough “Frontline” also contributes to the notion that Netanyahu is the only story in Israel worth covering. In 2015, some Israelis thought a new contender, Isaac Herzog, could defeat Netanyahu in parliamentary elections. Herzog failed to win. Like too many American newscasts, this “Frontline” doesn’t even mention his name. • The success of NPR’s podcast “Serial” and HBO’s “The Jinx” has spawned new serialized nonfiction detective series, including Netflix’s “Making a Murderer” and now “Killing Fields” (10 p.m., Discovery, TV14), following an active criminal case as it unfolds. “Fields” also borrows thematically from HBO’s “True Detective,” re-examining a series of missing persons cases in the Iberville Parish of Louisiana between 1997 and 2003.

thered” (8:30 p.m., Fox, TV-14). • A sleeper cell is awakened in the Crescent City on “NCIS: New Orleans” (9 p.m., CBS, TV14). • Charles’ ex interferes on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14). • A fireman faces a grave threat on “Chicago Fire” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14). • ABC’s schedule is entirely too reliant on “Shark Tank” (9 p.m., TV-PG) and “Beyond the

Tank” (10 p.m., TV-PG). • Overlapping layers of jealousy and suspicion on “The Grinder” (9:30 p.m., Fox, TVPG). • Brian is forced to scuttle an investigation into a delicate matter on “Limitless” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14). • A firehouse favorite needs urgent care on a crossover episode of “Chicago Med” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14). • A cappella groups spend

Abby’s brother falls under suspicion on “NCIS” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) * Eddie’s first dance on “Fresh Off the Boat” (8:30 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG) * A portal crasher inspires debate on “The Flash” (8 p.m., CW, r, TV-PG) * Ed Helms guest-stars on “The Muppets” (8:30 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG) * Babineaux becomes a suspect in the murder of his ex on “iZombie” (9 p.m., CW, r, TV-14).

LATE NIGHT John Krasinski and George Church are booked on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (11:35 CBS) * Samuel L. Jackson, The Kids in the Hall and Sana Amanat visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC). Copyright 2016, United Feature Syndicate

2015-16

DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF CHARLES R. “PAP” PROPST

TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS • Bold-faced names cavort on “Hollywood Game Night” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-14). • Jess’ plans for Schmidt’s engagement party prove revealing on “New Girl” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-PG). • Jimmy’s doctor phobia raises concerns on “Grandfa-

Please Mail To: The Sumter Item/Fireside Fund PO Box 1677 • Sumter, SC 29150

Or Drop Off At The Item 20 N. Magnolia St.

A10

|

TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2016

AROUND TOWN ette Drive. All area veterans Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Ambassador of Laughter, and active military are invitKelli Argott, will host story time ed. Ringling Bros.onambassador to host lifrom 10:30 to 11 a.m. FriLincoln High School Class of brary story day, Jan. 8, at the time Sumter 1963 will meet at 2 p.m. on County Library, 111 N. Harvin Saturday, Jan. 16, at South St. Sumter Resource Center, 337 Manning Ave. Call Ferdinand Clarendon School District One Burns at (803) 968-4464. will conduct free vision, hearing, speech and developmental The Sumter Branch NAACP’s screenings as part of a child Annual MLK Program will be find effort to identify stuheld at 3 p.m. on Monday, dents with special needs. Jan. 18, at Jehovah MissionScreenings will be held from ary Baptist Church, 805 S. 9 a.m. to noon at the SumHarvin St. merton Early Childhood CenThe Pinedale Neighborhood Aster, 8 South St., Summerton, sociation will meet at 4 p.m. on the following Thursdays: on Thursday, Jan. 21, at the Jan. 14; Feb. 11; March 10; South HOPE Center, 1125 S. April 14; and May 12. Call Lafayette Drive. Call FerdiSadie Williams at (803) 485nand Burns at (803) 9682325, extension 116. 4464. The Sumter Stroke Support The Ruach Bridal Show and Group will meet at 6 p.m. on Special Events, a day of eleThursday, Jan. 14, at the Alice Drive Baptist Church li- gance and romance, will be brary on the corner of Loring held from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 31, at 245 Oswego Mill and Wise Drive. Highway. Event will include The Sumter Combat Veterans door prizes, vendors, a bridGroup will meet at 10 a.m. on al fashion show and more. Friday, Jan. 15, at the South Call (803) 775-5416. HOPE Center, 1125 S. Lafay-

DAILY PLANNER

THE SUMTER ITEM

WEATHER

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2016

AccuWeather® five-day forecast for Sumter TODAY

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Plenty of sunshine

Mainly clear and cold

Periods of sun

Mostly cloudy and warmer

Cloudy with rain tapering off

Mild with partial sunshine

42°

25°

46° / 39°

59° / 49°

62° / 48°

66° / 50°

Chance of rain: 5%

Chance of rain: 10%

Chance of rain: 15%

Chance of rain: 15%

Chance of rain: 75%

Chance of rain: 10%

NE 7-14 mph

NNE 6-12 mph

NE 7-14 mph

ENE 7-14 mph

E 4-8 mph

NW 4-8 mph

TODAY’S SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER

Gaffney 41/18 Spartanburg 42/22

Greenville 43/23

Columbia 44/25

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

IN THE MOUNTAINS

Sumter 42/25

Sumter High School Class of 1976 the youth center in Rembert. Children receive assistance is in the process of planning its 40th class reunion. To cele- with homework, school projects, etc. A nutritious snack is brate this event in a manner served daily. There is a small that only the Class of 1976 Reunion information, op- Registrations monthly fee. can, funds are needed to as- volunteer portunities and more are accepted 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at sist in getting started with the plans. We are asking for a 8455 Camden Highway, U.S. $20 donation from each class- 521, Rembert, in front of the car wash. Call Dr. Juanita Britmate. An account has been established with First Citizens ton at (803) 432-2001. Bank, 201 N. Washington St., The Sumter Combat Veterans Sumter, SC 29150. You can de- Group holds weekly peer to peer posit funds directly or you meetings at 11 a.m. every may call Ruthie Dow at (803) Tuesday at the South HOPE 406-8874, Ella Johnson at (404) Center, 1125 S. Lafayette 435-4971, Bobby Cook at (803) Drive. These meetings are de840-3151 or Glenn Carpenter signed for veterans to help at (704) 621-0869 for details. other veterans with PTSD, coping skills, claims and benThe Single Parent Institute efits. Open to all area vetermeets from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. ans. on the second Monday of each month at the Birnie Having cancer is hard. Finding HOPE Center. Meetings are help shouldn’t be. Free help for open to teenage single parcancer patients from the ents, custodial and non-cusAmerican Cancer Society. todial single parents. You are Transportation to treatment, welcome to bring your chilhelp for appearance related dren as the Single Parent Inside effects of treatment, nustitute is for the entire family. trition help, one-on-one Contact Dr. L. Quaneck Walbreast cancer support, free kes at (803) 223-9408 or lqwal- housing away from home kes@sctechthisout.com. during treatment, help finding clinical trials, someone to talk The Rembert Area Community to — all free from your AmeriCoalition offers an after school can Cancer Society. Call (800) program for students from kindergarten to sixth grade at 227-2345.

Today: Plenty of sunshine. Winds northeast 6-12 mph. Mainly clear. Wednesday: Partly sunny. Winds northeast 4-8 mph.

Aiken 42/23

Charleston 45/30

Today: Sunny and colder. High 41 to 47. Wednesday: Mostly cloudy; warmer in northern parts. High 50 to 54.

LOCAL ALMANAC

LAKE LEVELS

SUMTER THROUGH 4 P.M. YESTERDAY

Temperature High Low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

Today Hi/Lo/W 44/26/s 31/23/s 48/40/pc 30/19/s 54/44/pc 59/49/r 55/48/pc 31/23/s 65/54/pc 31/19/s 63/52/sh 56/47/r 34/21/s

SUN AND MOON 7 a.m. yest. 358.81 76.04 73.94 101.05

24-hr chg -0.60 +0.89 +0.06 -0.83

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

0.00" 0.01" 0.50" 0.01" 1.15" 0.50"

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

Full pool 360 76.8 75.5 100

Lake Murray Marion Moultrie Wateree

48° 38° 54° 32° 77° in 2004 16° in 2002

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

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 48/36/pc 37/30/pc 53/47/r 36/26/pc 63/55/r 58/48/r 63/56/c 41/29/s 70/57/c 40/27/s 61/49/r 54/45/r 42/29/s

Myrtle Beach 42/30

Manning 41/25

ON THE COAST

FYI

Florence 41/24

Bishopville 40/23

Flood 7 a.m. 24-hr stage yest. chg 12 12.05 -0.02 19 13.40 -4.20 14 13.22 -0.64 14 6.44 -3.16 80 86.00 +0.54 24 24.60 -2.84

Sunrise 7:28 a.m. Moonrise 3:10 a.m.

Sunset Moonset

5:26 p.m. 2:13 p.m.

New

First

Full

Last

Jan. 9

Jan. 16

Jan. 23

Jan. 31

TIDES AT MYRTLE BEACH

High 5:21 a.m. 5:22 p.m. 6:10 a.m. 6:13 p.m.

Today Wed.

Ht. 2.8 2.5 2.9 2.6

Low 12:12 p.m. --12:12 a.m. 1:02 p.m.

Ht. 0.5 --0.2 0.3

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 39/15/s 44/24/s 44/24/s 47/31/s 46/43/sh 45/30/s 40/19/s 44/24/s 44/25/s 39/25/s 37/30/pc 38/24/s 39/24/s

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 44/26/pc 46/36/pc 47/38/pc 54/44/c 59/56/c 53/45/c 45/32/pc 48/35/pc 47/39/pc 46/37/pc 53/43/pc 49/39/pc 47/37/pc

Today City Hi/Lo/W Florence 41/24/s Gainesville 55/43/pc Gastonia 41/19/s Goldsboro 37/26/s Goose Creek 42/29/s Greensboro 37/18/s Greenville 43/23/s Hickory 41/18/s Hilton Head 44/33/s Jacksonville, FL 51/41/pc La Grange 46/27/s Macon 46/24/s Marietta 44/25/s

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 47/37/pc 61/49/pc 45/34/pc 47/38/pc 51/44/c 43/30/s 47/34/pc 45/29/s 51/46/c 57/51/sh 50/38/pc 48/36/pc 46/35/pc

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

Today Hi/Lo/W 41/11/s 43/31/s 42/30/s 42/26/s 44/32/s 37/21/s 40/20/s 39/19/s 48/34/s 42/22/s 42/29/s 40/28/s 37/19/s

Wed. Hi/Lo/W 43/23/s 52/46/c 54/44/c 47/39/pc 52/45/c 45/33/pc 44/34/pc 46/34/pc 53/45/pc 46/34/pc 50/43/c 55/45/c 42/29/s

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

PUBLIC AGENDA SUMTER CITY COUNCIL Today, 5:30 p.m., Sumter Opera House, 21 N. Main St.

For Comfort You Can Count On, Better Make It Boykin! 803-775-WARM (9276)

TOWN OF LYNCHBURG PLANNING COMMISSION Wednesday, 4 p.m., town hall

BISHOPVILLE CITY COUNCIL Today, 6:30 p.m., Colclough Building, Council Street, Bishopville

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take control. EUGENIA LAST Refuse to let anyone treat you poorly. Lay down ground rules and offer incentives, and you will find areas of compromise and agreement. Ask for a favor if it will help you reach a personal goal.

The last word in astrology

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Make a contribution, but don’t let anyone take advantage of your generosity. Equality will make your offer more effective. Don’t be afraid to ask others to do their fair share. Your enthusiasm will land you in a position of leadership. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Bring about changes to one or more of your relationships. Don’t hold back if something isn’t going well for you. Speak up and make suggestions that will help you handle your situations more efficiently. Romantic gestures will be misleading. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Let your imagination take over. You’ll come up with some great ideas that will help you convince others to join in. Networking or business trips will bring positive results. A partnership looks promising. Improve your living arrangements. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Making changes will not go over well with those you live with or are close to. Try not to disturb anyone with your choices and you will avoid opposition from others. Focus more on self-improvements that will enhance your knowledge and appearance. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Demands must be dealt with wisely. If someone is putting too much pressure on you, put an end to it. Try to make your position clear and express your willingness

www.boykinacs.com License #M4217

to be involved. Surround yourself with people who believe in equality. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Dig deep and find out exactly what’s going on before you make a bad assumption. Things will not be as they appear. Don’t let anger over past occurrences turn into a costly battle. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Put your time and effort into helping people or supporting a cause you believe in. Positive changes at home can be made if you put a little muscle behind your work. Expand your work space to better suit your needs. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You’ll face opposition and roadblocks if you take on too much. Personal improvements can be made if you are prudent and follow a structured budget. Romance can bring about a positive change in the way you live. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Work with people trying to reach a common goal, and you will achieve what you set out to do and win the approval of those you work alongside. Diplomacy will pay off and lead to greater opportunities. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Set your sights on new beginnings or update an old idea. Take some time for pampering and nurturing the important relationships in your life. An exciting hobby should be developed for future use. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You will learn a lot from helping others, but don’t offer cash when physical action, listening and compassion are required. A problem with friends, relatives or neighbors will escalate due to deception and poor perception.

LOTTERY NUMBERS PALMETTO CASH 5 MONDAY

MEGAMILLIONS FRIDAY

POWERBALL SATURDAY

11-26-30-36-37 PowerUp: 2

7-18-37-38-39 Megaball: 9; Megaplier: 5

5-6-15-29-42 Powerball: 10; Powerplay: 2

PICK 3 MONDAY

PICK 4 MONDAY

LUCKY FOR LIFE THURSDAY

7-9-2 and 2-5-0

7-7-2-2 and 5-8-6-9

23-24-29-40-44; Lucky Ball: 11

PICTURES FROM THE PUBLIC Don and Imogene Mathis share a photo taken during a recent trip to Guilin, China. Don comments, “Fishermen have trained cormorants who dive into the water to catch a fish and then return to the boat. The bird’s neck has a tie around it so it cannot swallow the fish. The fisherman then gets the fish and the bird returns for more. This method has been used for hundreds of years.”

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

SECTION

b

Tuesday, January 5, 2016 Call: (803) 774-1241 | E-mail: sports@theitem.com

Clemson Football

‘So far so good’ Swinney confident Lawson will play against Alabama

usc Football

Coach: Success is not far off Muschamp busy recruiting, hiring By PETE IACOBELLI The Associated Press

FILE/The Associated Press

Clemson’ All-Americdan defensive end Shaq Lawson (90) is expected to play in the national championship game against Alabama on Monday in Glendale, Ariz. Lawson injured his knee in the Tigers’ semifinal victory over Oklahoma.

By RALPH D. RUSSO The Associated Press Clemson coach Dabo Swinney says he is “very optimistic” All-American Shaq Lawson will play in the national title game against Alabama after the defensive end missed most of the Tigers’ semifinal victory with a knee injury. Lawson leads the Tigers (140) with 101/2 sacks and is tops in the country with 231/2 tackles for loss. The junior sprained his left knee in the first quarter of Clemson’s 37-17 victory against Oklahoma on Thursday and hardly played the rest of the game. The top-ranked Tigers (14-0)

face No. 2 Alabama (13-1) on Monday in Glendale, Arizona. Lawson was set to practice today, Swinney said, and has already gone through workouts with the team. “He looked pretty good, so, so far so good,” Swinney said Monday during a teleconference. “We’ll see him out there today, but I think the prognosis is good at this point. But got to get out there and run around a little bit today, and we’ll kind of go from there. I’m very optimistic that he’ll be able to play.” Clemson doesn’t have great defensive line depth and has

See lawson, Page B3

Prep time gives Tigers good chance for title

T

he Clemson Tigers are undefeated and the No. 1 team in the country heading into Monday’s national championship game against No. 2 Alabama. Yet, they are a 6- or 7-point underdog to the Crimson Tide, Clemson was an underdog as well in its 37-13 Orange Bowl national semifinal victory over No. 4 Oklahoma on Thursday.

Dennis Brunson

See title, Page B3

usc basketball

No. 22 Gamecocks open SEC play at Auburn By WILLIE T. SMITH III The Greenville News COLUMBIA – The University of South Carolina men’s basketball team remained at No. 20 in the USA TODAY coaches poll, but moved up two spots to No. 22 in the AP media poll. According to Gamecocks head coach Frank Martin, none of that matters if USC (13-0) isn’t able to defeat Auburn on the road tonight in its Southeastern Conference opener. USC fell to the Tigers on the road a year ago. The Gamecocks return not only attempting to avenge that loss, but to continue to ride their winning wave.

“They’ve got good players in place,” Martin said of Auburn. “(Auburn head coach) Bruce (Pearl) is one of the most creative guys in the business to overcome missing players. I’ll say this: I’m glad we’re playing them now and not at the end of conference play. End of conference play, they’re going to be a real problem.” Auburn (7-5, including 1-0 in SEC games) holds a 23-15 lead in the series and has won six of the past seven. That includes three straight on its home court. But this is a different USC The Associated Press team, one that believes it can South Carolina forward Laimonas Chatkevicius, right, secures a succeed where others have rebound in the Gamecocks’ 86-76 victory over Memphis on failed. Whatever happens,

Saturday. The undefeated and No. 22 Gamecocks open SouthSee sec, Page B5 eastern Conference play today on the road against Auburn.

COLUMBIA — Will Muschamp believes the South Carolina is not that far from being the same kind of football program that went 33-6 over a three-season stretch from 2011-13. He’s been working the last month muschamp to return the program to those lofty levels. “We’re not far off. We need to continue to work and understand where we are and where we want to go,” Muschamp told The Associated Press on Monday. Muschamp was hired Dec. 6 as the Gamecocks coach, replacing Steve Spurrier who stepped down in mid-October with South Carolina struggling. Interim coach Shawn Elliott guided the team through the last half of the season, finishing off a 3-9 campaign with five consecutive defeats. Muschamp understands the gap he needs to bridge to get the Gamecocks back competing for the Southeastern Conference’s Eastern Division. To that end, he’s spent much of his time since being hired recruiting and building a staff. The latest addition to his staff his co-offensive coordinator Kurt Roper, who handled those duties in Muschamp’s last year as Florida head coach. Roper spent this past season as an offensive assistant for the NFL’s Cleveland Browns. Roper will share coordinator duties with Bryan McClendon, who was Georgia’s passing game coordinator, receivers coach and, after Mark Richt’s firing, its interim coach for the Bulldogs’ 24-17 win over Penn State in the Taxslayer Bowl last week. Muschamp is aware of those critical of his offense late in his Florida tenure and believes he’s got the right assistants in place to avoid that issue at South Carolina. “I hire coaches to do a job,” Muschamp said. “Offensively, I just want to be on the same page philosophically of what we want to do. Regardless of what anyone says, the offensive coordinator calls the plays. We’ve got a good staff and I’m excited about their experience.” Muschamp, who was Auburn’s defensive coordinator, will focus on South Carolina’s defense, which was last in the SEC in total defense (allowing 429 yards a game) and next-tolast in points allowed (27.5 per game). Right now, he’s concentrating on bulking up South Carolina’s recruiting. After his introductory press conference, Muschamp headed to a local high school to speak with prospect TJ Brunson at Richland Northeast. He was able to shore up the early enrollee commitment of highly regarded quarterback Brandon McIlwain out of Pennsylvania and get all-state receiver Bryan Edwards of Conway to re-commit to South Carolina after he had backed off because of the mid-year

See coach, Page B3

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sports

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

sports items

Johnson’s 39 lifts No. 6 UNC over FSU 106-90 TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Brice Johnson had careerhighs of 39 points and 23 rebounds to lead No. 6 North Carolina to a 106-90 victory over Florida State on Monday night. It was the first 30-point, 20-rebound game in North Carolina history and it was the first 20-20 game for a Tar Heel since Tyler Zeller had 20 points and 22 rebounds against Ohio in the 2012 NCAA Tournament. Marcus Paige added 30 points for the Tar Heels (14-2, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), who have won seven straight. It was North Carolina’s first win on the road. (17) West Virginia 95 TCU 87

FORT WORTH, Texas — Jaysean Paige scored seven of his 20 points in the late game-

clinching run for foul-plagued No. 17 West Virginia, which beat TCU 95-87 on Monday night for its sixth straight win. Paige led six players scoring in double figures for the Mountaineers (13-1, 2-0 Big 12). They had two players foul out and Paige was among four others who finished the game with four fouls.

NBA Cleveland 122 Toronto 100 CLEVELAND — Kyrie Irving scored a season-high 25 points, J.R. Smith had 24 on eight 3-pointers and the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Toronto Raptors 122-100 on Monday night. Irving, playing his sixth game since returning from a broken left kneecap, was 10 of 16 from the field. The three-

time All-Star, injured in Game 1 of last season’s NBA Finals, added eight assists and six rebounds. LeBron James, who didn’t play in the fourth quarter, had 20 points and seven assists in 31 minutes. Philadelphia 109 Minnesota 99

PHILADELPHIA — Ish Smith had 21 points and 11 assists and Richaun Holmes scored 17 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to 109-99 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night. Still the worst team in the NBA at 4-33, the Sixers have won three of six games and have a new confidence since they named Jerry Colangelo chairman of basketball operations last month. The Associated Press

area boys roundup

Thomas leads Lee Central past Stover 58-38 LUGOFF — Daveon Thomas had a triple-double to lead Lee Central Middle School to a 58-38 boys basketball victory over Stover on Monday at the Lugoff-Elgin gymnasium. Thomas had 27 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocked shots for the Stallions, who improved to 5-0 on the season. Naquan Peeples had a doubledouble of 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Jordan Williams had 11 points and K.J. Holloman had six assists and seven steals. Alice Drive 42 Mayewood 38

Alice Drive Middle School defeated Mayewood 42-38 on Monday at the AD gymnasium. The Hawks’ Jackson Hoshour sank three free throws near the end of regulation to send the game into overtime.

O’Donnell Fortune led Alice Drive with 15 points. Marcus Lane had 12, Carldrelle Cooper added 10 and Hoshour finished with eight. Manning 70 Hillcrest 29

DALZELL — Manning Junior High School improved to 5-2 with a 70-29 victory over Hillcrest on Monday at the Hillcrest gymnasium. Corey Graham and Expehn Richardson both had doubledoubles for the Monarchs. Graham had 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Richardson had 17 points and 15 rebounds. Xavier Hicks added 10.

B TEAM BASKETBALL Orangeburg Prep 30 Laurence Manning 26 MANNING — Laurence

Manning Academy opened its season on Monday with a 30-26 loss to Orangeburg Prep at Bubba Davis Gymnasium. Trey Sharpe led LMA with eight points and Aaron Carlton added six.

VARSITY BASKETBALL West Florence 82 Crestwood 70 FLORENCE — Crestwood High School lost to West Florence 82-70 in the championship game of the Pepsi Carolina Classic on Wednesday. Ja Morant led the Knights with 31 points. Trevion Webber added 15 and Kobe Thomas had 13. On Tuesday in the semifinals, Crestwood beat South Florence 67-59. Morant led the way with 36 and Webber had 13.

area girls roundup

Manning improves to 6-1 with win over Hillcrest DALZELL – Manning Junior High School improved to 6-1 with a 40-23 victory over Hillcrest on Monday at the Hillcrest gymnasium. Sequio Juniois led the Lady Monarchs with 12 points. Measha Jones and Taja Dow added 10 points apiece. Hillcrest, which fell to 1-6, was led by Jaden Stokes with eight. Mya Hayes added seven. Alice Drive 53

WEDNESDAY

TODAY 6:05 p.m. – Talk Show: Sports Talk (WDXY-FM 105.9, WDXY-AM 1240). 7 p.m. – College Basketball: Wisconsin at Indiana (ESPN). 7 p.m. – College Basketball: East Carolina at Tulsa (ESPNEWS). 7 p.m. – College Basketball: Richmond at Rhode Island (ESPNU). 7 p.m. – College Basketball: Marquette at Providence (FOX SPORTS 1). 7 p.m. – Women’s College Basketball: DePaul at Seton Hall (FOX SPORTS 2). 7 p.m. – College Basketball: South Carolina at Auburn (SEC NETWORK, WDXY-FM 105.9, WNKT-FM 107.5, WDXY-AM 1240). 7:30 p.m. – NHL Hockey: Montreal at Philadelphia (NBC SPORTS NETWORK). 8 p.m. – College Basketball: Temple at Connecticut (CBS SPORTS NETWORK). 8 p.m. – College Basketball: Oklahoma State at Baylor (ESPN2). 8 p.m. – College Basketball: Butler at DePaul (FOX SPORTS SOUTHEAST). 8 p.m. – NBA Basketball: Milwaukee at Chicago (NBA TV). 8 p.m. – College Basketball: Clemson at Syracuse (WWBD-FM 94.7). 9 p.m. – College Basketball: Kentucky at Louisiana State (ESPN). 9 p.m. – College Basketball: Tulane at Houston (ESPNU). 9 p.m. – College Basketball: Georgetown at Creighton (FOX SPORTS 1). 9 p.m. – College Basketball: Vanderbilt at Arkansas (SEC NETORK). 10 p.m. – College Basketball: Boise State at Utah State (CBS SPORTS NETWORK). 10:30 p.m. – NBA Basketball: Golden State at Los Angeles Lakers (NBA TV).

AMERICAN CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF PA y-New England 12 4 0 .750 465 315 N.Y. Jets 10 6 0 .625 387 314 Buffalo 8 8 0 .500 379 359 Miami 6 10 0 .375 310 389 South W L T Pct PF PA y-Houston 9 7 0 .563 339 313 Indianapolis 8 8 0 .500 333 408 Jacksonville 5 11 0 .313 376 448 Tennessee 3 13 0 .188 299 423 North W L T Pct PF PA y-Cincinnati 12 4 0 .750 419 279 x-Pittsburgh 10 6 0 .625 423 319 Baltimore 5 11 0 .313 328 401 Cleveland 3 13 0 .188 278 432 West W L T Pct PF PA y-Denver 12 4 0 .750 355 296 x-Kansas City 11 5 0 .688 405 287 Oakland 7 9 0 .438 359 399 San Diego 4 12 0 .250 320 398

NATIONAL CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF PA y-Washington 9 7 0 .563 388 379 Philadelphia 7 9 0 .438 377 430 N.Y. Giants 6 10 0 .375 420 442 Dallas 4 12 0 .250 275 374 South W L T Pct PF PA y-Carolina 15 1 0 .938 500 308 Atlanta 8 8 0 .500 339 345 New Orleans 7 9 0 .438 408 476 Tampa Bay 6 10 0 .375 342 417 North W L T Pct PF PA y-Minnesota 11 5 0 .688 365 302 x-Green Bay 10 6 0 .625 368 323 Detroit 7 9 0 .438 358 400 Chicago 6 10 0 .375 335 397 West W L T Pct PF PA y-Arizona 13 3 0 .813 489 313 x-Seattle 10 6 0 .625 423 277 St. Louis 7 9 0 .438 280 330 San Francisco 5 11 0 .313 238 387 x-clinched playoff spot y-clinched division

Sunday’s Games

Houston 30, Jacksonville 6 Washington 34, Dallas 23 Detroit 24, Chicago 20 Buffalo 22, N.Y. Jets 17 Miami 20, New England 10 New Orleans 20, Atlanta 17 Cincinnati 24, Baltimore 16 Pittsburgh 28, Cleveland 12 Indianapolis 30, Tennessee 24 Philadelphia 35, N.Y. Giants 30 San Francisco 19, St. Louis 16, OT Denver 27, San Diego 20 Seattle 36, Arizona 6 Kansas City 23, Oakland 17 Carolina 38, Tampa Bay 10 Minnesota 20, Green Bay 13

Lee Central 23

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Crestwood 20 BISHOPVILLE – Crestwood High School lost to Lee Central 23-20 on Monday at the Lee Central gymnasium. Sedejah Rembert led Crestwood with four points.

Atlantic Division Toronto Boston New York Brooklyn Philadelphia

DALZELL – Bates Middle School defeated Ebenezer 35-4 on Monday at the Ebenezer gymnasium. Sydney Brownlee led the Lady Bantams with eight points and Nina Edlow added six. Lee Central 33

B TEAM BASKETBALL

Stover 20

Laurence Manning 37 Orangeburg Prep 13 MANNING – Laurence Manning Academy opened its season with a 37-13 victory over Orangeburg Prep on Monday at Bubba Davis Gymnasium. Lexi Bennett led LMA with 11 points and Bre Boykin 6.

Newman, 5 p.m. Middle School Basketball Lee Central at East Clarendon, 5:30 p.m. Varsity Bowling Laurence Manning, Thomas Sumter at Wilson Hall (at Gamecock Lanes), 5 p.m.

THURSDAY

Varsity Basketball Branchville at Scott’s Branch, 6:30 p.m. Varsity and JV Basketball Trinity-Byrnes at Thomas Sumter, 4 p.m. Sumter Christian at Maranatha Christian (No JV Girls), 4 p.m. Junior Varsity Basketball Crestwood at Manning, 6 p.m. Lakewood at Darlington, 6 p.m. The King’s Academy at Laurence Manning, 4 p.m. B Team Basketball Sumter at Spring Valley (Boys Only), 5 p.m. Thomas Sumter at Robert E. Lee, 5 p.m. Middle School Basketball Ebenezer at Alice Drive, 5 p.m. Hillcrest at Furman, 5 p.m. Chestnut Oaks at Bates, 5 p.m.

Mayewood at Manning, 5 p.m.

FRIDAY

Varsity Basketball Manning at Crestwood, 6 p.m. Darlington at Lakewood, 6 p.m. Varsity and JV Basketball Wilson Hall at Palmetto Christian, 4 p.m. Laurence Manning at Carolina Academy, 4 p.m. Robert E. Lee and Trinity-Byrnes, 4 p.m. Clarendon Hall at Dorchester, 4 p.m. South Pointe Christian at Sumter Christian (No JV Girls), 4 p.m. Varsity and B Team Basketball Orangeburg-Wilkinson at Sumter (No B Team Girls), 5 p.m. B Team Basketball Laurence Manning at DP Cooper, 5:30 p.m. Varsity Wrestling Sumter in Region VI-4A Duals (at Conway High), 6 p.m.

SATURDAY

Varsity Basketball Wilson Hall at First Baptist, 3:30 p.m. Varsity Sporting Clays Wilson Hall at Palmetto Shooting Complex (in Edgefield), TBA

Southeast Division Miami Atlanta Orlando Charlotte Washington Central Division Cleveland Chicago Indiana Detroit Milwaukee

W L Pct GB 20 13 .606 — 21 14 .600 — 19 15 .559 1½ 17 16 .515 3 15 17 .469 4½ W L Pct GB 22 9 .710 — 20 12 .625 2½ 19 14 .576 4 18 16 .529 5½ 14 21 .400 10

WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division San Antonio Dallas Memphis Houston New Orleans Northwest Division Oklahoma City Utah Portland Minnesota Denver Pacific Division Golden State L.A. Clippers Sacramento Phoenix L.A. Lakers

W L Pct GB 29 6 .829 — 19 15 .559 9½ 18 17 .514 11 16 19 .457 13 11 22 .333 17 W L Pct GB 24 10 .706 — 15 17 .469 8 15 21 .417 10 12 22 .353 12 12 23 .343 12½ W L Pct GB 31 2 .939 — 22 13 .629 10 13 20 .394 18 12 25 .324 21 8 27 .229 24

Sunday’s Games

Chicago 115, Toronto 113 New York 111, Atlanta 97 Miami 97, Washington 75 Portland 112, Denver 106 L.A. Lakers 97, Phoenix 77

Monday’s Games

NFL STANDINGS By The Associated Press

Ebenezer 4

prep schedule

Varsity and JV Basketball East Clarendon at McBee (No JV Girls), 5 p.m. Calhoun Academy at Robert E. Lee, 4 p.m. B Team Basketball Laurence Manning at Cardinal

TV, RADIO

JUNIOR VARSITY BASKETBALL

LUGOFF – Lee Central remained undefeated with a Tanisha Taylor scored 16 33-20 victory over Stover on points to lead Alice Drive Monday at the Lugoff-Elgin Middle School to a 53-16 victo- gymnasium. ry over Mayewood on Monday Kendra Lesane led the 3-0 at the AD gymnasium. Lady Stallions with 12 ponits Tamarah Brown added 15 and Tashanna Harris added for the Lady Hawks and Mar- 11.

TODAY

Scoreboard

Bates 35

garet Mahon had 14.

Mayewood 16

Varsity Basketball Sumter at Lakewood, 6 p.m. Lee Central at Crestwood, 6 p.m. Scott’s Branch at Bethune-Bowman, 6:30 p.m. Varsity and JV Basketball Manning at East Clarendon (No JV Girls), 5 p.m. Heathwood Hall at Wilson Hall, 4 p.m. Hammond at Laurence Manning, 4 p.m. Ben Lippen at Thomas Sumter, 4 p.m. Robert E. Lee at Carolina Academy, 4 p.m. Clarendon Hall at Jefferson Davis, 4 p.m. Grace Christian at Sumter Christian (No JV Girls), 4 p.m. B Team Basketball Heathwood Hall at Wilson Hall, 4 p.m.

The SUMTER ITEM

Toronto at Cleveland, 7 p.m. Minnesota at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. Indiana at Miami, 7:30 p.m. Boston at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m. Orlando at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. San Antonio at Milwaukee, 8 p.m. Sacramento at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m. Houston at Utah, 9 p.m. Memphis at Portland, 10 p.m. Charlotte at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.

NHL Standings

By The Associated Press

EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Florida 39 23 12 4 50 106 85 Montreal 40 22 15 3 47 116 99 Detroit 39 19 13 7 45 100 106 Boston 37 20 13 4 44 116 102 Tampa Bay 39 19 16 4 42 100 95 Ottawa 39 18 15 6 42 111 118 Toronto 37 15 15 7 37 99 103 Buffalo 39 15 20 4 34 91 105 Metropolitan Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Washington 38 28 7 3 59 121 83 N.Y. Islanders 40 22 13 5 49 113 99 N.Y. Rangers 39 21 14 4 46 112 103 New Jersey 39 20 14 5 45 93 94 Pittsburgh 38 19 15 4 42 91 93 Carolina 39 16 17 6 38 92 110 Philadelphia 37 15 15 7 37 79 102 Columbus 40 15 22 3 33 103 127

WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Dallas 41 28 9 4 60 144 107 Chicago 40 23 13 4 50 111 97 St. Louis 41 23 14 4 50 101 100 Minnesota 38 20 11 7 47 101 90 Nashville 39 19 13 7 45 103 102 Colorado 39 18 18 3 39 109 110 Winnipeg 39 18 19 2 38 104 114 Pacific Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Los Angeles 38 25 11 2 52 104 83 Arizona 38 18 16 4 40 107 122 Anaheim 38 16 15 7 39 73 90 Vancouver 39 15 15 9 39 95 110 San Jose 37 18 17 2 38 101 106 Calgary 38 18 18 2 38 101 121 Edmonton 40 16 21 3 35 101 122

Sunday’s Games

N.Y. Islanders 6, Dallas 5 Florida 2, Minnesota 1 Chicago 3, Ottawa 0 Anaheim 4, Winnipeg 1

Monday’s Games

Detroit at New Jersey, 7 p.m. Ottawa at St. Louis, 8 p.m. Los Angeles at Colorado, 9 p.m. Carolina at Edmonton, 9 p.m. Arizona at Vancouver, 10 p.m.

transactions

By The Associated Press

FOOTBALL National Football League MIAMI DOLPHINS — Named Chris Grier general manager. NEW YORK GIANTS — Announced the resignation of coach Tom Coughlin. TENNESSEE TITANS — Fired general manager Ruston Webster. Named Steve Underwood president and CEO.

NBA Standings

By The Associated Press

W L Pct GB 21 14 .600 — 18 15 .545 2 16 19 .457 5 10 23 .303 10 3 33 .083 18½

HOCKEY National Hockey League ARIZONA COYOTES — Assigned F Craig Cunningham to Springfield (AHL).

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The SUMTER ITEM

sports

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

title

From Page B1

Lynne Sladky/The Associated Press

Clemson running back Wayne Gallman (9) and quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) dance after Gallman scored a touchdown against Oklahoma during the Orange Bowl on Dec. 31 in Miami Gardens, Fla.

lawson

From Page B1

leaned heavily on first-string defensive ends Lawson and Kevin Dodd this season. With Lawson out, freshman Austin Bryant got substantial playing time. Bryant had four tackles and half a sack, including a key hit on a fourth-down stop, against the Sooners. “Really proud of him,” Swinney said. “It was huge. The fourth-and-1, the initial hit, was Austin Bryant, and it was Austin Bryant, Dorian O’Daniel and Kendall Joseph, another freshman who hasn’t played a lot, but those three guys were two freshmen and a sophomore making a big stop on fourth-and-1, which was a key play in the game. But that’s what you hope to get throughout the season is the development of some of those young guys.” Alabama coach Nick Saban said defensive back Tony Brown remains suspended after he was sent home the Cotton Bowl for a violation of team rules. Brown was at No. 2 on Alabama’s depth chart at both cornerback and safety heading into the Cotton Bowl against Michigan State. The sophomore and former fivestar recruit had 16 tackles on the season, including a teamhigh eight on special teams.

Perhaps that’s as it should be. After all, Alabama was expected to be here from the start of the season, and despite those burdensome expectations, that’s exactly where it is. Also, the Tide beat the living daylights out of Michigan State in a 38-0 victory. Think what you want though about ‘Bama being the cream of the crop from the mighty Southeastern Conference and Clemson had an easy path afforded it by being a member of the mediocre Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tigers can easily be returning from Glendale, Ariz., with their second national championship. And why is that? Preparation time. There has been this audio clip playing in which Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney goes over the list of nonconference powers his program has defeated during his tenure, and it is a very impressive bunch. What he and his staff have had on each occasion is an extended time to put together a game plan because it was a bowl game at the end of the season or a matchup to start the season. Whichever, the Tiger coaching staff does a great job throwing together a strategy against the opposition when it has more than the normal one week to prepare during the regular season. While Clemson won’t get two or three weeks to prepare, it will get a few extra days. It will be like playing a Thursday night game during the regular season, taking Saturday off and comin back the next week, only the Tigers will pick up a couple of extra

coach

From Page B1

Joe Skipper/The Associated Press

Clemson wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) runs for a touchdown during Clemson’s Organge Bowl win over Oklahoma.

coaching turmoil. South Carolina is still awaiting a decision from leading tackler Skai Moore on whether he’ll stay for his final season or declare for the NFL draft. Muschamp said he’s talked several times with Moore about the future and will continue those discussions this week. “I know we’ll have a complete meltdown in the fanbase when we don’t get someone,” Muschamp said. “But I’m only worried about the guys that are here.” Muschamp found time the past two weeks to review tape of all South Carolina games from last season. He found the problems that led to the Gamecocks first losing season since 2003. Muschamp also saw effort, physicality and a commitment to team-

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B3

days with the title game on Monday. Now the Alabama coaching staff has a reputation of preparing its team really well when it has added time, but all one has to do is look back to next year and see what Ohio State did to the Tide on the way to winning a national championship to know that it has had some hiccups over the years. Head coach Nick Saban and his staff obviously had a nice bounce-back game against Michigan State, but the Tigers’ offense is going to be a bit harder for which to prepare. However, it is Clemson’s defensive performance in the second half against Oklahoma that leads one to think it has a chance to be victorious on Monday. While the Tigers had struggled defensively coming down the homestretch of the season, against North Carolina in the ACC title game and in the first half against the Sooners. they completely dismantled that explosive offense in the second half. While Oklahoma is known for its passing game, it had been extremely successful running the football, but Clemson absolulely took it away, making the Sooners a 1-dimensional team. Of course, Alabama is a different animal with Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry running the ball and a massive offensive line that just tries to impose its will on you, and normally does. Clemson has to show it can stand up to the Tide offense, but that’s where the extra prep time works to Clemson’s advantage. No doubt Tigers defensive coordinator Brent Venables is already on Plan C in case there are issues with the first two. It should be interesting.

mates he can build on in spring practice. He’ll make no decisions this quickly on who might start or be replaced. Muschamp said he and his staff will have plenty of time for that before next season. “We’ll let our eyeballs tell us that,” he said. Muschamp is grateful to South Carolina for a second chance in the SEC after his four-year stint at Florida. He asserted while things did not end well with the Gators, he cleaned up and turned around a program that won the Eastern Division and played in the SEC title game this season. “A lot of that gets mis-seen because of the result,” Muschamp said. “Let’s go win some games, let’s go score some points and let’s continue to do the other things we did extremely well at Florida and represent things in a first-class manner.”

iris

Bridal Preview

adver tising deadline MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2016

publish date SUNDAY,

JANUARY 31, 2016

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B4

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Tuesday, January 5, 2016

The SUMTER ITEM

pro football

Panthers have regained swagger By STEVE REED The Associated Press

time. “We were all enjoying it,” Olsen said. “It’s not usually CHARLOTTE — Ron Rivera my thing, but I’m all about the believes the Carolina Panthers team.” rediscovered their swagger Rivera said he felt his team during a 38-10 rout of the lost some of its swagger folTampa Bay Buccaneers on lowing the 20-13 loss to Atlanta Sunday — and he couldn’t be in Week 16. more pleased. That setback cost Carolina a “Oh yeah, definitely — did shot to match the 1972 Miami you see the picture?” the PanDolphins as the only unbeaten thers fifth-year coach said exNFL teams. citedly on Monday. When players reported to Rivera was referring to sevwork the following day Rivera eral of his players posing for a was concerned because everyteam picture on the sideline — one was so down. But he said and also doing the “dab” — in my midweek players had rethe waning moments of their sponded and battled back and 11th straight home win, one rediscovered its personality. that assured the Panthers “You just didn’t see” that home-field advantage through swagger, Rivera said. “Going the NFC playoffs. to Atlanta and not playing as The victory photo has bewell as we’re capable of, and come a tradition for the Panthen playing as well as we did thers (15-1) this season, al(on Sunday) is exciting. It realthough some opposing teams ly is. It is great to see the guys have taken exception to the enjoying it and to see their celebration and called it excesconfidence. I think it is part of sive and disrespectful. who we are.” Rivera doesn’t seem to mind, Linebacker Thomas Davis as long as his players “aren’t said it was vital not only that Mike McCarn/The Associated Press the Panthers capture homedoing anything malicious or Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton celebrates with fans after defeating the Tampa Bay Buccahurting anybody.” field advantage, but also to neers 38-10 in Charlotte on Sunday. He doesn’t believe they are. build some momentum head“One thing I did tell these ing into the postseason. guys, keep your personality,” Falcons in early December. around the country began and blessed to be in those situThe Panthers will play Jan. Rivera said. “Keep true to When the Falcons got remimicking his celebration. ations, there’s going to be a lot 27 in the divisional playoffs who you are. And that’s imvenge two weeks later in AtAnd Newton made the “dab” of guys flying around, having against one of three teams — portant, because that’s what lanta and ended Carolina’s insanely popular in recent fun and doing what they love Seattle, Washington or Green makes them who they are as perfect season at the Georgia weeks and soon everyone was doing, just living in the moBay. football players as well as peo- Dome, Schofield harkened doing the dance. ment.” The Panthers have beaten ple. If we’re disappointing back to that loss and said His enthusiastic personality Even normally reserved all three this season. some people, I apologize for there’s a “better way” to show has carried over to his teamtight end Greg Olsen got into “It was important for this that. This is who we are and class if you win a game. mates. the act on Sunday. team to get back on track, and this is how we’re going to do Panthers quarterback Cam “That’s been us ever since Olsen, who took some slack we were able to do that —ofour thing.” Newton is no stranger to cele- Week 1,” Newton said Sunday. on social media for not partici- fensively, defensively and on Falcons linebacker O’Brien brations — and offers no apol- “Nothing is going to change. I pating in some of the recent special teams,” Davis said. Schofield wasn’t happy the ogies. say it all the time. We’re not sideline celebration photos, “Whenever we go out and put Panthers were posing for picWhen he pretended to rip celebrating because we’re loswas right in the mix after the it all together like we did tures in the closing minutes of open his shirt like Superman ing. Panthers wrapped up the today, it’s going to be tough to Carolina’s 38-0 win over the early in his career athletes “Hopefully, if we are able NFC’s No. 1 seed for the first beat this team.”

A good year to be a wild card in playoffs By BARRY WILNER The Associated Press It looks like it’s a good year to be a wild card in the NFL playoffs. The oddsmakers certainly think so, making Kansas City (3 points), Pittsburgh (2 1-2), and Seattle (5 1-2) favorites on the road in the opening round of the postseason. The only wild card that is an underdog is slumping Green Bay, and by only a point at Washington. Those wise guys also have made the sixth-seeded Seahawks the third choice to win the NFC at 9-4, behind Arizona and Carolina, each at 2-1 odds. The AFC’s sixth seed, the Steelers, also are the third choice behind division winners Denver and New England. As for the upcoming weekend, what they are thinking in Las Vegas is that none of the division winners — Redskins, Texans, Bengals or Vikings — is impressive. Indeed, much of the talk the past few weeks around the league was about which opponent was a must to avoid, with the Seahawks, Chiefs and Steelers the front-runners in that race. “You know what, I could honestly care less about what anybody says outside of this locker room,” Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said. “We know that we line up against anybody that we’re confident that we’re going to get the job done.” Although Pittsburgh stumbled badly in Week 16 with its loss at the Ravens, it got another chance when the moment proved too big for the Jets in Buffalo. Also remember the Steelers won in Cincinnati 33-20 a month ago, are 18-7 overall against their AFC North rivals since 2004, have won 21 of 26 at Riverfront or Paul Brown stadiums, and Cincy hasn’t won a playoff game since the 1991. Considering how Minnesota has closed the schedule, winning three straight to grab the NFC North and also with a close defeat at Arizona before

that, some might be surprised to see the Seahawks so heavily favored. If so, those folks have forgotten the shellacking Seattle handed the Vikings in Minneapolis in early December. For further emphasis, this is a more balanced Seahawks team than the squads that reached the past two Super Bowls. Its defense might not be quite as dynamic, but its offense is vastly superior to 2013 and ‘14. And there is this: Seattle fears no one. Only the Packers among the wild cards don’t seem fearsome, mainly because their offense has frozen. Yet they play the perceived weakest of the division champions, so no one is counting out Aaron Rodgers and company.

playoff schedule By The Associated Press

Wild-card Playoffs

Saturday, Jan. 9 Kansas City (11-5) at Houston (97), 4:35 p.m. (ABC/ESPN) Pittsburgh (10-6) at Cincinnati (124), 8:15 p.m. (CBS) Sunday, Jan. 10 Seattle (10-6) at Minnesota (11-6), 1 p.m. (NBC) Green Bay (10-6) at Washington (9-7), 4:30 p.m. (FOX)

Divisional Playoffs

Saturday, Jan. 16 Cincinnati, Houston or Kansas City at New England (12-4), 4:35 (CBS) Minnesota, Washington or Green Bay at Arizona (13-3), 8:15 p.m. (NBC) Sunday, Jan. 17 Seattle, Green Bay or Washington at Carolina (15-1), 1:05 p.m. (FOX) Pittsburgh, Kansas City or Houston at Denver (12-4), 4:30 p.m. (CBS)

Conference Championships

Sunday, Jan. 24 AFC, 3:05 p.m. (CBS) NFC, 6:40 p.m. (FOX)

Pro Bowl

Sunday, Jan. 31 At Honolulu Team Rice vs. Team Irvin, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Super Bowl

Sunday, Feb. 7 At Santa Clara, Calif. TBD, 6:30 p.m. (CBS)

Two-time Super Bowl champion Coughlin resigns as Giants coach By TOM CANAVAN The Associated Press EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Tom Coughlin, who returned the Giants to NFL prominence by winning two Super Bowls, resigned Monday after missing the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year. coughlin The Giants announced the decision one day after the Giants (6-10) capped their third straight losing season with a 35-30 defeat against Philadelphia, their third straight and sixth in seven games. “I met with (owners) John Mara and Steve Tisch this afternoon, and I informed them that it is in the best interest

of the organization that I step down as head coach,” Coughlin said in a statement. “I strongly believe the time is right for me and my family, and the Giants organization.” The move may signal the end of a 20-year NFL head coaching career for the 69-year-old Coughlin, one of 13 coaches to win multiple Super Bowls. Coughlin posted a 110-93 record in 12 seasons with the Giants, winning three division titles in addition to his two league crowns. He was 72-64 in eight seasons with the then-expansion Jacksonville Jaguars, winning two division titles and taking them to two conference championship games. Coughlin came to the Giants in 2004 after Jim Fassel was fired.

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COMICS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2016

THE SUMTER ITEM

BIZARRO

SOUP TO NUTS

ANDY CAPP

GARFIELD

BEETLE BAILEY

BORN LOSER

BLONDIE

ZITS

MOTHER GOOSE

DOG EAT DOUG

DILBERT

JEFF MACNELLY'S SHOE

Grandma-to-be can’t muster enthusiasm DEAR ABBY — My daughterin-law, “Eden,” is married to my daughter. Eden is now pregnant via artificial inDear Abby semination. I ABIGAIL will never meet the VAN BUREN donor and know almost nothing about him. Could this be why I don’t have the enthusiasm for this pregnancy that I should have, since the baby will be my first grandchild? I feel guilty that I’m not excited. I’m wondering if it’s because there is no blood connection, but neither would there be if the baby were adopted. Eden is due in a month. We

DEAR GRANDMA — Yes. Start by doing all the things you would if you WERE excited about this grandchild. Be as participatory as your daughter and daughter-in-law will allow. If you do, while I can’t guarantee that you will feel a bond with the baby, your chances of forming one will be greater.

cannot change another person. Red flags should be addressed DURING THE ENGAGEMENT. That little annoyance will grow and has the potential to blossom into a huge issue. Counseling can be wonderfully useful, but bear in mind it can take several tries to find a counselor who clicks with you. Take it from me, divorce is horrible and can cause damage that can never be undone. Experienced in Tennesseee

DEAR ABBY — As someone on a second marriage, may I point something out to your readers? An engagement is not marriage. People need to take a hard look at the person they are choosing to spend the rest of their lives with, and understand that they

DEAR EXPERIENCED — You’re right; problems don’t solve themselves, and people in love don’t always think rationally. However, I hope they will pay attention to your excellent advice because I couldn’t have said it better myself.

live close by, and I need to generate some enthusiasm. Any suggestions? Grandma-in-waiting

JUMBLE

SUDOKU

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME By David L Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

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

THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

By Tom Uttormark and C.C. Burnikel

ACROSS 1 Nothing, in Nogales 5 A-list invitee 10 Inhale in awe 14 "The Big Country" Oscar winner Ives 15 Hertz competitor 16 Germany's von Bismarck 17 Study at the last minute 18 Decorated anew 19 Grown-up tadpole 20 One hospital celebration? 23 The blahs 24 Radon and ozone 25 One mug from the boxing ring? 29 Joe of "Casino" 32 [Not my typo] 33 Ethan of "Before Midnight" 37 Sound system component 38 "Honest!" 41 Breathable mixture 42 "Count on it" lawnmower brand 44 Fast-spreading Internet phenomena 45 Michelin rating unit 46 One news magazine managing editor?

49 Without question 50 Store posting 52 One adorable romantic threesome? 56 Long-distance swimmer Diana 57 Crime scene clue exposed by dusting 58 Hereditary code carrier 60 Table tennis video game 61 Cozumel cash 62 "__ but not least ... " 63 Trick 64 Look after 65 Barely managed, with "out" DOWN 1 "Parks and Recreation" network 2 Heavenly glows 3 Written (up), as a contract 4 Annually updated reference 5 Pulse-boosting exercise, for short 6 Utility measured in kilowatt hrs. 7 Fill with cargo 8 Qatari bigwig 9 Hispanic convenience store

1/5/16 10 Set sail 11 Make reparations 12 Hangs around 13 Sci-fi escape craft 21 Apply before cooking, as spice to meat 22 Papier-__ 26 Spanish pronoun 27 Words of grande affetto 28 Bass staff symbol 29 On-the-back praise 30 Expressive rock genre 31 "Contents under pressure" containers 34 Plumbing problem 35 Sorento automaker

36 Throw wide of the cutoff man, say 39 Dr. Eric Foreman portrayer on "House" 40 "Honest?" 43 G-rated cry of dismay 45 Sneak across the border 47 Nosh 48 Electrified particle 49 Louisiana wetland 51 Hearing, for one 53 It has bark, but no bite 54 Get out of bed 55 Playing a fourth NHL period 56 Network home to "A Prairie Home Companion" 59 Takeoff approx.

Monday’s Puzzle Solved

©2016 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

1/5/16

OBITUARIES

THE SUMTER ITEM

JONI WIX BLACK COLUMBIA — A memorial service for Joni Wix Black, of Columbia, will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at Dunbar Funeral Home, 3926 Devine Street Chapel, Columbia. Visitation will follow the service at the funeral home. Joni was born BLACK on Nov. 10, 1955, in Columbia, a daughter of the late Thomas Laverne Wix and Dessie “Dee Dee” Ann Lankford Wix. She started her business career at Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Co. She received an associate’s degree in paralegal studies and worked in the offices of the Isadore Lourie Law Firm, followed by the offices of Bolt, Popowski, McCulloch & Strom Law Firm as a paralegal. Joni lived a selfless life, always placing the needs of others ahead of herself. She loved spending time with her family, friends and her canines, Buddy, Peanut and Hershey. She particularly enjoyed large family dinners with as many participants as possible. Joni took great pleasure in cooking these meals and cherished sharing the task with her son. She loved the excitement of dirt bikes, motorcycles, water skiing, snow skiing and skydiving. Joni died on Jan. 1, 2016, at Providence Hospital in Columbia, the same place where she was born, after a courageous yearlong battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband of 32 years, Bryan Anthony Black; son, Hunter Benjamin Black of Columbia; and brothers, Thomas L. Wix Jr., Timothy L. Wix, Terry L. Wix and Jack (Crystal) Wix. Also surviving are numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. The family thanks the nursing staff of Hospice Advantage and Providence Hospital for their excellent care during this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society, 128 Stonemark Lane, Columbia, SC 29210; ASPCA, 424 E. 92nd St., New York, NY 10128-6804; or a charity of one’s choice. Please sign the online guestbook at www.dunbarfunerals. com.

MICHAEL A. KRZEMIEN JR. DALZELL — Michael Anthony Krzemien Jr., age 80, beloved husband of the late Sylvia M. Krzemien, died on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, at his residence. Born in West Hazelton, Pennsylvania, he was a son of the late Michael A. Sr. KRZEMIEN and Kathryn Garbacitc Krzemien. Mr. Krzemien retired from the Unites States Navy in 1956 after serving in the Korean War. He later went on to serve in the United States Air Force and retired in 1978 as a master sergeant. He was a bartender at the Consolidated Club at Shaw Air Force Base for 35 years. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend. Surviving are one son, Shaun Leitner and his wife, Mindy, of North Dakota; four daughters, Michele Smith of Myrtle Beach, Susan Sparks of Dalzell, Shirley Anne Swails and her husband, Stephen, of Crestview, Florida, and Mildred Krzemien of St. Augustine, Florida; one sister, Lillian Onifer of Pennsylvania; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by two sons, Michael

Krzemien III and Samuel Krzemien; two brothers, Leon Krzemien and Louis Krzemien; and one sister, Agnes Vidinskey. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at the Our Lady of the Skies, Friendship Chapel with Mon Senior Rowan officiating. Interment will follow in Florence National Cemetery with full military honors. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Bullock Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Our Lady of the Skies Church, c/o Palmetto Chapel, Building 912 Shaw Drive, Shaw AFB, SC 29152. You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family’s guest book. The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.

DOROTHY W. SCARBOROUGH Dorothy Williams Scarborough, 82, was called home by our heavenly father on Thursday morning, Dec. 31, 2015, at her home. Born on Aug. 15, 1933, in Kershaw County, she was a daughter of the late Dan and Maggie Boykin SCARBOROUGH Bennette. Dot was a member of Union Baptist Church, which was her family church. She later moved her membership to Bethel AME Church. She was a homemaker and a caregiver. She leaves to cherish her memories: her husband, Joe Nathanial Scarborough; her children, Maggie (Randolph) Dinkins of Rembert, Mary Boykin of the home, Shirley Mae Williams of Saint George, Earl (Corine) Williams of Sumter, James Hamp Williams of the home, Martha (Larry) Stuckey of Sumter, James Edward Williams of the home, Charles (Sandra) Williams of Sumter and Debra (William) Truesdale of Lumberton, North Carolina; 25 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; one sister, Corine (Tee) Martin of Rembert; one niece, Debra Martin; one nephew, Kelly Martin; a special friend, Hattie Mae King; and a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at Union Baptist Church, 5840 Springhill Road, Rembert, with the Rev. Walter Robertson III, pastor, and the Rev. Davie Brown, eulogist. The family is receiving friends at her home, 432 Charlotte Ave., Sumter, and the home of her daughter, Martha Stuckey, 8 Spring St., Sumter. The remains will be placed in the church for viewing at 1 p.m. The procession will leave at 1:15 p.m. from her home. Floral bearers and pallbearers will be family and friends. Burial will be in Union Baptist Church cemetery. These services have been entrusted to the management and staff of Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter. Online memorial messages may be sent to the family at williamsfuneralhome@sc.rr. com. Visit us on the web at www. williamsfuneralhomeinc.com.

LORAINE T. BAGNAL MANNING — Loraine Tucker Bagnal, 72, wife of William Edward Bagnal Sr., died on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016,

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at Clarendon Memorial Hospital. Born on June 12, 1943, in Manning, she was a daughter of the late James Henry Tucker and Evelyn Corbett White. She was a member of Union United Methodist Church at WilBAGNAL son and the Ladies Auxiliary. She is survived by her husband of Manning; two sons, William E. “Billy” Bagnal Jr. (Norma Jean) of Clarksville, Tennessee, and James C. “Cliff” Bagnal (Stacey) of Manning; three daughters, Connie Bagnal Gibbons (Kent) of Turbeville, Lisa Bagnal Anderson (Bruce) and Libby Bagnal, both of Manning; a brother, James “Buddy” Tucker of Manning; 12 grandchildren; and seven greatgrandchildren. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at Union United Methodist Church at Wilson with the Rev. Wallace Culp and the Rev. Wright Turbeville officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be J.C. Bagnal, Troy Bagnal, Taylor Foster, Mac Bagnal and David Bagnal. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the residence, 2939 Flinn Road, Manning. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 128 Stonemark Lane, Columbia, SC 29210 or to Union United Methodist Church at Wilson, c/o Dora Holladay, 1980 Lazy Daisy Road, Manning, SC 29102. Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church St., Manning, is in charge of arrangements, (803) 435-2179. www.stephensfuneralhome.org

DORCUS SPRY NEPTUNE, New Jersey — Dorcus Spry, age 80, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, at Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune. Born on Sept. 18, 1936, in Clarendon County, she was a daughter of the late John Wesley Spry and Hattie Simon Spry. The family will begin receiving friends on Wednesday at the home of her sister, Ruth Spry, 3658 Paxville Highway, Manning. Professional services entrusted to Dyson’s Home for Funerals of Summerton, (803) 485-4280.

WARNER SHORTER Warner Shorter, 70, departed this life on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015, at McLeod Regional Medical Center, Florence. He was born on Aug. 1, 1945, in Baltimore, Maryland, a son of the late Harrison and Nora Jones Shorter. Funeral plans are incomplete and will be announced later by Job’s Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., Sumter.

LORETTA R. GOODMAN Loretta R. Goodman, 86, companion of Robert Mack, departed this life on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, at McLeod Hospice House, Florence. She was born on July 27, 1929, in Lynchburg, a daughter of the late Wallace G. Rush and Mattie Burgess. The family will be receiving friends at the home, 9975 Woods Bay Road, Lynchburg. Funeral plans are incomplete and will be announced later by Job’s Mortuary Inc. of Sumter.

WILLIE MAE THOMAS Willie Mae Thomas, 70, widow of Joseph Thomas, died on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, at Palmetto Health Tuomey. Born on Sept. 9, 1945, in

TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2016 Sumter County, she was a daughter of James and Alberta Cook Spain. The family is receiving relatives and friends at the home, 7820 Edwards St., Rembert. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Williams Funeral Home Inc. of Sumter.

DENNIS LITTLES JR. Dennis Littles Jr., 33, died on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, at Palmetto Health Tuomey. Born on Jan. 26, 1982, in Sumter County, he was a son of Dennis and Lorraine Dinkins Littles. The family is receiving relatives and friends at the home, 4001 Camden Highway, Lot 14, Dalzell. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Williams Funeral Home Inc. of Sumter.

HESTER S. LONEY Hester Singleton Loney, 93, widow of Samuel Loney, died on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, at Pruitthealth in Marietta, Georgia. Born in Sumter County, she was a daughter of the late Willie Sr. and Georgiana Dicks Singleton. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Palmer Memorial Chapel Inc. of Sumter.

MARVIN NATHANIEL Marvin “Vino” Nathaniel, 47, entered into eternal life on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015, at Carolinas Healthcare System Union, Monroe, North Carolina. Born on July 14, 1968, in Sumter County, he was a son of Shirley Moultrie Nathaniel and the late Herbert Nathaniel. “Vino” attended the Sumter public school system. He was a self-employed plumber and a well-known disc jockey within the Sumter area. He leaves to cherish his memories: his mother, Shirley Nathaniel of Sumter; two sons, Benjamin Hall of Cleveland, Tennessee, and De’Vaughnte Nathaniel of Sumter; a daughter, Diamond Nathaniel of Sumter; three stepchildren, Steven, Eugene and Cinnamon Johnson of Asheville, North Carolina; one brother, Herbert (Deloris) Nathaniel Jr. of Columbia; four sisters, Sadie Moultrie of Columbia, Sheila (Tommie) Johnson of Dalzell, Brenda Nathaniel of Orangeburg and Andia Nathaniel of Rock Hill; two stepbrothers, Steven and Rodrick Nathaniel; one stepsister, Laquanda Nathaniel; one uncle, Marion Nathaniel of Sumter; two aunts, Lila Mae Paulin of Columbia and Marie (Amos) Myers of Sumter; a special friend, Faye McNeil of Bennettsville; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday at the John Wesley Williams Sr. Memorial Chapel, Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter, with Overseer Marie Myers officiating, eulogist.

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The family is receiving friends at the home of his sister, Sheila Johnson, 2570 Stirrup Lane, Dalzell. The procession will leave at 12:20 p.m. from the home. Floral bearers will be nieces. Pallbearers will be friends of the family. Burial will be in Walker Cemetery. Online memorial messages may be sent to the family at williamsfuneralhome@sc.rr. com. Visit us on the web at www. williamsfuneralhomeinc.com Services directed by the staff and management of Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter.

MARGUERITE BARWICK Marguerite Virginia Coulter Barwick, 80, widow of Joseph E. Barwick Sr., died on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, at her home. Born on Aug. 7, 1935, in Sumter, she was a daughter of the late John Archie and Juanita Cherry Coulter. She was raised by her aunt and uncle, the late Elizabeth and Harry Brewer, on Green Swamp Road in Sumter. She was a graduate of Edmunds High School. As a young girl, Marguerite worked behind the candy counter at the old H.S. Kress Dime Store. She later became a bookkeeper at Home Furniture. After saving $2,000 the first year they were married, Marguerite and Joe, who passed away on April 7, 2014, founded Sumter Marine Supply. At the age of 12, she gave her heart to Jesus in the original Church of God which had sawdust floors. She taught Sunday school for many years at First Pentecostal Holiness Church and later at Westside Baptist Church on Pinewood Road, where she was a member. She also attended Lakewood Baptist Church. She was a beloved mother and grandmother. She leaves behind a legacy of Christian faith and compassion. Marguerite is survived by six children, Joe Barwick Jr., Joyce Morris, Philip Barwick, Richard Barwick, Robbie Barwick and Suzie Meyers; 12 grandchildren; 19 greatgrandchildren; and a greatgreat grandson. She was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Coulter. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday in the Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Sammy Thompson and the Rev. Jimmy Scarborough officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home, 3197 Nazarene Church Road. Memorials may be made to Lakewood Baptist Church Building Fund, 3140 Nazarene Church Road, Sumter, SC 29154. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.

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CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL NOTICES Legal Notice NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF NEED This is to notify you that McLeod Regional Medical Center of the Pee Dee, Inc., doing business as McLeod Home Health, is applying for a Certificate of Need from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (the "CON"). The CON would allow McLeod Home Health to operate a home health agency and provide home health services in Sumter County, South Carolina. The capital cost of the project is estimated to be zero.

Public Storage/ PS Orangeco, Inc. LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY Notice is hereby given that the undersigned will sell to satisfy the lien of owner at public sale by competitive bidding on January 14, 2016 personal and/or business property including but not limited to furniture, clothing, tools and other household / business items located at the properties listed. The sale will begin at 2:00 pm at 1143 N. Guignard Drive, Sumter, SC 29153. The personal goods stored therein by below named occupant(s); 1143 N.Guignard Dr, Sumter, SC 29150 NONE

Estate Notice Sumter County

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES Persons having claim against the following estates are required to deliver or mail their claims to the indicated Personal Representatives, appointed to administer these estates, and to file their claims on Form #371PC with the Probate Court of Sumter County Courthouse, N. Main Street, Sumter, SC, 29150, on or before the date that is eight months after the date of the first publication of this Notice to Creditors, (unless previously barred by operation of Section 62-3-803), or such persons shall be forever barred as to heir claims. All claims are required to be presented in written statements, indicating the name and the address of the claimant, the basis of the claim, the amount claimed, the date when the claim will become due, the nature of any uncertainty as to the amount claimed and the date when due, and a description of any security as to the claim. Estate:

Lois Cogburn Jones #2015ES4300647

Personal Representative Richard C. Jones

C/O J. Cabot Seth Attorney at Law PO Box 1268 Sumter, SC 29151 Estate:

Wendell Mitchell Levi Jr. #2015ES4300651

Personal Representative Kathryn Weiberg Levi

560 Alpine Road Sumter, SC 29154 Estate:

Marie Ervin Jenkins #2015ES4300658

Estate:

260 Rolling Creek Drive Sumter, SC 29153 Evangeline Davis Johnson #2015ES4300659

Personal Representative Tisha S. Johnson

C/O Willie H. Brunson Attorney at Law PO Box 370 Sumter, SC 29151

Dorothy Barrineau #2015ES4300650

Personal Representative Janet B. Derrick

6115 Argyle Drive Wedgefield, SC 29168 Estate: Alexander P. Oldhouser #2015ES4300657 Personal Representative Susan Oldhouser

2155 Tanglewood Road Sumter, SC 29154 Estate:

Christopher Jerome Cooper #2015ES4300648

Personal Representative Lakeisha Cooper

C/O Gerald Malloy Attorney at Law PO Box 1200 Hartsville, SC 29551 Estate:

Phillip Nixon #2015ES4300655

Personal Representative Para Lee Nixon

2030 Claremont Road Sumter, SC 29154 Estate:

Harris S. Rich #2015ES4300600

Personal Representative David Anthony Rich

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Nice 1 Br, 1 Ba apt. in downtown area. Hardwood floors, refrigerator & stove, C/H/A, no pets. $450 mo. Call 803-491-5375.

EMPLOYMENT Help Wanted Full-Time Driver and mechanic needed. Driver will be home on weekends. Call 843-621-0943 or 843-621-2572 Local Tree Service Co. looking for CDL driver, bucket operator & climber. Call 803-478-8299 FT/PT Front Desk Clerk. Some experience & computer knowledge helpful. Apply in person 9 - 3pm. Mon -Fri. at Mt. Vernon Inn, 2 Broad St. Sumter.

Furnished 1 br apt. incl. elec, water, cable, internet, plus trash P/U, flat screen TV. Nice private cabin apt. on 20 ac. No pets, no smoking. $650 mo. $500 dep. 803-464-5439. Septic Tank Cleaning Call the pros for all of your septic pumping needs. 803-316-0429 Proline Utilities, LLC

Unfurnished Homes Home for sale 47 Alice Dr 2 BR 1BA Call 803-469-6318 4980 Hwy 15 S. 3BR 1BA liv. rm, din rm, kit., $650/mo + dep. Call 803-481-7118 Sect 8 OK

Mobile Home Rentals 3 & 4 Br, 2 ba, all appliances, Sumter & Dalzell area. Section 8 accepted. 469-6978. 2, 3 & 4 Bedroom for rent, Cherryvale & Dogwood Area $250 & up. (803) 651-9926

STATEBURG COURTYARD

RENTALS Furnished Apartments

2 & 3 BRs 803-494-4015

Homes for Sale For Sale 821 Holiday Drive 2BR, 1BA, Den, LR. $61,900. Call 803-983-7064.

Manufactured Housing Turn your Tax Refund into your dream home! We have quality used refurbished mobile 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).

Land & Lots for Sale Town of New Zion, Clarendon Co. 206+ /- Acres for sale $850 per ac. Salem Rd. Great Hunting Tract. Shown by appt only. Owner /Agent Call 803-404-8351 SHAW/DALZELL Acre, Paved Rd. Utilities. $3500. 713-870-0216

Clean 3BR 1BA 50 Spider Ct. near Red Bay Rd. $375 mo + $600 dep. No pets. 803-638-9066 lv msg. Scenic Lake MHP 2 & 4 Bedroom, No pets. Call between 9 am - 5 803-499-1500

REAL ESTATE

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Minutes Walmart/Shaw, acre, cleared, septic, water. $13,900. 888-774-5720 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

NOTICE OF ELECTIONS STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

COUNTY OF SUMTER

Tree Service

A Republican Presidential Preference Primary will be held on Saturday, February 20, 2016. A Democratic Presidential Preference Primary will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2016. These primaries will be conducted in the polling places listed in this notice.

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

Voters may participate in only one party’s presidential preference primary. The deadline to register to vote and be eligible to vote in either Presidential Preference Primary is January 27, 2016.

Ricky's Tree Service Tree removal, stump grinding, Lic & ins, free quote, 803-435-2223 or cell 803-460-8747.

MERCHANDISE

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

Open every weekend. Call 803-494-5500

For Sale or Trade Expert Tech, New & used heat pumps & A/C. Will install/repair, warranty; Compressor & labor $600. Call 803-968-9549 or 843-992-2364 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

CONTRACTOR WANTED! MAYESVILLE, ST. CHARLES, ELLIOTT & LYNCHBURG If you have good, dependable transportation, a phone in your home, and a desire to earn extra income Call Dean Benenhaley at 774-1257 or Apply in Person at

1026 Marion Lane Sumter, SC 29150 Estate:

Martin's Used Appliance Washers, Dryers, Refrig., Stoves. Guarantee 464-5439 or 469-7311.

Septic Tank Cleaning

Garage, Yard & Estate Sales

Leroy Jefferson Jr. Seven years ago today I lost my grandpa. It was the hardest thing ever. I miss and love him so much. He will always be in my heart and I will always be his boo-boo. Love Jazmyne & The Jefferson Family

Unfurnished Apartments

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Persons having claim against the following estates are required to deliver or mail their claims to the indicated Personal Representatives, appointed to administer these estates, and to file their claims on Form #371PC with the Probate Court of Sumter County Courthouse, N. Main Street, Sumter, SC, 29150, on or before the date that is eight months after the date of the first publication of this Notice to Creditors, (unless previously barred by operation of Section 62-3-803), or such persons shall be forever barred as to heir claims. All claims are required to be presented in written statements, indicating the name and the address of the claimant, the basis of the claim, the amount claimed, the date when the claim will become due, the nature of any uncertainty as to the amount claimed and the date when due, and a description of any security as to the claim. Estate:

Year-End Payroll Reports Forms W-2 -1099 Tesco 507 Broad St 803-773-1515

A Notch Above Tree Care Full quality service low rates, lic./ins., free est BBB accredited 983-9721

In Memory

For Sale or Trade

Accounting & Bookkeeping

Personal Representative Benjamin Ward

3785 Broad St, Sumter, SC 29154 0318 - Holliday, Eddie 0401 - Ruth, Brittanie 0416 - Woods, Tatyana 0601 - mitchell, Monica 0813 - Grier, Michelle 0831 - Hendrix, Linzer

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES

BUSINESS SERVICES

Estate: Annie McFadden Ward #2015ES4300644

Personal Representative Delores J. Spann

Estate Notice Sumter County

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.

C/O Alan J. Reyner Attorney at Law PO Box 8448 Columbia, SC 29202

1277 Camden Hwy, Sumter, SC 29153 B073 - Grant, Vermica B075 - Hilton, Latoya F012 - Merchant, Shakeema

Purchase must be made with cash only and paid for at the time of sale. All goods are sold as is and must be removed at the time of the sale. Sale is subject to adjournment.

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.

20 N. Magnolia St. Sumter, SC

The polling place locations for some precincts may be combined with others for the primaries as allowed by law. The polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the polling places designated below. These primaries will be held under the rules for providing Photo ID at the polling place. Voters will be asked to provide one of the following Photo IDs at their polling place. • • • • •

S.C. Driver’s License ID Card issued by S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles S.C. Voter Registration Card with Photo Federal Military ID U.S. Passport

If you have one of these IDs, you are ready to vote. Voters should remember to bring one of these IDs with them to the polling place. Voters without Photo ID can get one free of charge from the Department of Motor Vehicles or their county voter registration and elections office. Voters who encounter an obstacle to getting a Photo ID should bring their paper voter registration card without a photo with them to their polling place. These voters can then sign an affidavit swearing to their identity and to their obstacle to obtaining a Photo ID and vote a provisional ballot. This ballot will count unless the county election board has grounds to believe the affidavit is false. For more information on Photo ID, visit scVOTES.org or contact your county board of voter registration and elections. At 9:00 a.m. on February 20, the county board will begin its examination of the absentee ballot return envelopes from the Republican Presidential Preference Primary at Sumter County Courthouse 141 N. Main Street Sumter, South Carolina 29150 (803) 436-2310 At 9:00 a.m. on February 27, the county board will begin its examination of the absentee ballot return envelopes from the Democratic Presidential Preference Primary at Sumter County Courthouse 141 N. Main Street Sumter, South Carolina 29150 (803) 436-2310 On Thursday, February 25, at 10:00 a.m. the County Board of Canvassers will hold a hearing to determine the validity of all provisional ballots cast in the Republican Preference Primary. This hearing will be held at the Courthouse 141 N. Main Street Room 211 Sumter, SC 2915. On Thursday, March 3, at 10:00 a.m. the County Board of Canvassers will hold a hearing to determine the validity of all provisional ballots cast in the Democratic Preference Primary. This hearing will be held at Courthouse 141 N. Main St Room 211 Sumter, SC 29150 The following precincts and polling places will be involved in this election. Precincts

Polling Places (location)

Rembert Horatio Hillcrest Oakland Plant 1 Dalzell 1 Dalzell 2 Oswego Mayesville Salem Oakland Plant 2 McCray’s Mill 1 St. John Mayewood Turkey Creek Mulberry Salterstown Folsom Park Green Swamp 1 Palmetto Park Burns-Downs Second Mill Swan Lake Morris College Hampton Park Crosswell Loring Lemira Magnolia-Harmony Stone Hill South Red Bay Wilder Pocotaligo 1 Savage-Glover Bates Birnie South Liberty Millwood Causeway Branch 1 McCrays Mill 2 Sumter High 1 Sunset Delaine Cherryvale Manchester Forest Pinewood Pocotaligo 2 Privateer Ebenezer 1 Wilson Hall Furman Spectrum St. Paul Shaw Thomas Sumter Sumter High 2 Ebenezer 2 Green Swamp 2 Causeway Branch 2

Rembert Fire Station Horatio Fire Station Hillcrest Middle School Oakland Primary School Hillcrest Middle School Hillcrest Middle School Crestwood High School Mayesville Fire Station Rural Fire Station Oakland Primary School Sumter County Career Cntr St. John Elem School Mayewood Middle School Lemira Elementary School County Training Center Chestnut Oaks Middle Schl Willow Drive Elementary Sumter School District Central Carolina Tech Alice Drive Middle School Elks Lodge Willow Dr Elem. School North Hope Center Santee Senior Resource Cntr Crosswell Elem. School Crosswell Elem. School Lemira Elementary School S.Sumter Resource Center Jehovah Baptist Church South Hope Center Wilder Elem. School Lakewood High School S. Sumter Park Gym Bates Middle School Birnie Hope Center American Legion Home Bldg Millwood Elm. School Millwood Elem School Sumter County Career Cntr Sumter High School Kingsbury Elem. School Delaine Elem. School Cherryvale Community Cntr Wedgefield Fire Station Manchester Elem. School Lakewood High School Pocalla Springs Elem Scho Ebenezer Middle School Wilson Hall School Furman Middle School Sumter City Fire Department Cherryvale Elementary Sch Shaw Heights Elem School Hillcrest Middle School Sumter High School Ebenezer Middle School Sumter School District Millwood Elem School

MAYO’S SUIT CITY

TUXEDOS AVAILABLE for rental or purchase

Winter Clearance Sale IN PROGRESS NOW!

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

Wesmark Plaza • 773-2262 • Mon-Sat 10-7 • www.MayosDiscountSuits.com