January 8, 2014

Duke Energy asks customers to conserve electricity A2

HALL VS. HALL Barons take on Highlanders in hard court action. B1 VOL. 119, NO. 71 WWW.THEITEM.COM

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014 | SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA

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Shaw whistleblower wants harassment inquiry redone BY BRADEN BUNCH bbunch@theitem.com The Shaw-based airman whose complaints of sexual harassment resulted in a

force-wide investigation into the hostile work conditions for women throughout the military branch has appealed the results of the inquiry, saying the penalties did not go far

enough to address the problems facing female airmen serving today. Labeling the investigation concluded by the Air Force last year as “biased and inade-

quate,” lawyers for Tech Sgt. Jennifer Smith filed their appeal with the Board of Military Corrections on Tuesday, calling for the inquiries into her allegations to be restarted.

OLD MAN WINTER FINALLY ARRIVES

Back in October, eight highranking officers at Shaw Air Force Base — two colonels, five lieutenant colonels and a SEE APPEAL, PAGE A8

Health care law could put fire departments in financial, staff bind 160 Sumter volunteer firefighters could be affected by Obamacare STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS About 160 volunteer firefighters with the Sumter Fire Department find themselves awaiting a ruling pertaining to an ambiguity with President Obama’s health care law which could impact their positions. Meanwhile, fire chiefs and lawmakers from around the nation are working to protect the system of volunteer firefighting that has served rural America for more than a century but could find itself threatened. Small and rural fire departments from California to Maine, which has one of the country’s highest percentages of volunteer and on-call firefighters, rely on volunteers to avoid the budget-strapping cost of paying them to be on duty in between fighting fires. The volunteers are considered employees for tax purposes, a classification that grew out of an ongoing effort to attract firefighters

MATT WALSH / THE ITEM

Water from the fountain at Memorial Park is frozen Tuesday morning thanks to a blast of Arctic air from the northeast. Brutal temperatures continued to wreak havoc across the East and South on Tuesday. See more on the cold weather that’s gripping much of the nation on page A3.

by offering them such incentives as stipends, retirement benefits and free gym memberships. That leaves open the question of whether the volunteer firefighters fall under the health care law’s requirement that employers with 50 or more employees working at least 30 hours a week must provide health insurance for them. Fire departments across the county say they can’t afford to pay such a cost. Doug Mathis, county chief emeritus who works with volunteer firefighters, said everything dealing with the guidelines and requirements affect volunteer firefighters in Sumter County. “With requirements and guidelines, everything affects the volunteer firefighters as well. They have to have the same training as everyone else, and they do that on their off hours,” Mathis said. “Volunteers put SEE VOLUNTEERS, PAGE A6

Electronic reading options prove popular at library BY JADE ANDERSON janderson@theitem.com Just because you have an e-reader doesn’t mean you can’t get books from the library. Thanks to the Palmetto Library Consortium, patrons of the Sumter County Library have been able to check out electronic copies of books for their devices for at least the last two years. It’s a trend that continues to grow in popularity, said Ford Simmons, reference and

information services coordinator. “A couple of times a week, I have people asking for help downloading items to their tablets,” he said. The way it works is interested individuals go to the library website, sumtercountylibrary.org, and sign in with the pin from their library cards. From there, they can choose e-books in fiction or non-fiction to read or listen to. “We have over 1,300 titles just in e-books and

20 N. Magnolia St. Sumter, SC 29150 (USPS 525-900)

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a little over 1,000 in audio books,” Simmons said. “You can listen to them on some e-readers or MP3 players, computers or tablets.” Once “checked out,” the books are accessible for two to three weeks. There are no late fees, and when the reading term expires, people can check it out again if it is not checked out already. “Right now, only one ‘copy’ can be checked out at a time,” Simmons said. “We are always

E-BOOK DROP-INS Twice a month, Ford Simmons, reference and information services coordinator for the Sumter County Library, holds an e-reader drop-in where library patrons can get one-on-one assistance with downloading books and audio books to their devices. He usually sees eight to 10 people each time on a first-come, first-serve basis. The next two are as follows: • Thursday, Jan. 23, at 3:30 p.m., at Main Branch, 111 N. SIMMONS Harvin St. • Monday, Jan. 27, at 3:30 p.m., at Wesmark Branch, 180 W. Wesmark Blvd.

adding more titles. Our collection is always growing.” And there is a wide variety of titles from new hits and popular books to the classics, he said.

OUTSIDE

DEATHS Thomas Richard Olsen Sr. Lucille Watson-Brunson Roberta S. Cranford Thelma Brown Kentrell V. Daniels

Having been with the Sumter library system for five years, he has also seen an increase in the use of many library features. “We do get a large

Eva Bell Faulling Ida Lou Smith Karla Hernandez-Sanchez Vivian Kirven B7

amount of users for the e-books, but we have many come in for the regular books,” Simmons said. “Our check out of them is higher than ever. It’s really awesome. “Our use has gone up, especially since the economy went down in 2008. More people than ever are using our computers for job applications and résumés.” Reach Jade Anderson at (803) 774-1250.

INSIDE 3 SECTIONS, 24 PAGES

NOT AS COLD Mostly cloudy today; partly cloudy and chilly tonight HIGH: 44 LOW: 28 A8

Classifieds Comics Daily Planner Food Opinion Television

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SECOND FRONT THE ITEM

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014 Contact the newsroom at 803-774-1226 or e-mail news@theitem.com

Duke Energy asks customers to conserve power FROM STAFF REPORTS With minor outages in Sumter on Tuesday and major outages across the Carolinas, Duke Energy officials asked customers to conserve electricity while the area was experiencing one of its coldest days of the winter so far. “Any time temperatures dip to single-digit lows, we expect that our generation capacity will be tested. Last night (Monday), record cold prompted that expected surge in demand,” said Theo Lane, district manager with government and community relations for Duke Energy. “To assure our ability to meet customer needs, Duke Energy activated demand-response programs across the Carolinas. To the credit of proactive steps to manage this extreme weather event, the related outage numbers in the Sumter area were insignificant.” On Tuesday, Lane was in Greenwood, where the company was re-

sponding to major outages. He said they also had a number of outages in Oconee County, where there were more than 2,500 outages, according to the Duke Energy website. There were more than 3,000 outages reported for Duke Energy customers across the Carolinas throughout Tuesday. According to a news release from Duke Energy on Tuesday, customers can take a number of steps to conserve electricity in their homes during extreme temperatures. • To help save energy and money, select the lowest comfortable setting when home, and bump the thermostat down a degree or two when leaving home. • The ceiling fan in the home is a great way to stay cool in the summer – and warm in the winter. Simply set the fans to operate in a clockwise direction, which pushes warm air back down into the room. • Leave your drapes or blinds open to allow the sun’s rays to warm

the house. • Inefficient heating can also add to monthly power bills during colder temperatures. One of the easiest things customers can do to support heating efficiency is to change air filters regularly. A dirty air filter makes a heating system work harder, which uses more energy. Besides some Sumterites being without power for a while on Tuesday because of low temperatures, a few Sumter School District school buses broke down en route to schools, causing a delay on multiple routes, said Superintendent Dr. Frank Baker. “I was on the road this morning (Tuesday) by 4:30 a.m. to check on our buses and visit schools. Fortunately, despite the cold weather, all of our buses started,” Baker said. “However, four regular and two specialneeds buses broke down en route, which resulted in a slight delay for six routes.” Baker said because of an old bus

fleet, this number of buses breaking down is not atypical on any regular day. Because of the six buses breaking down, the final bus routes to the high schools arrived at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday. The schools didn’t see an increase in parent drop-offs because of the weather, but they noticed an increase in absences throughout the county. Sumter School District will operate on a regular schedule again on Wednesday despite the prediction of more low temperatures throughout the area. Baker explained that the school district monitored weather updates closely and because there was no prediction of precipitation, they decided to start school at the regular time on Tuesday and today. Students in Clarendon School District 1 will have a one-hour delay, and employees are expected at the regular time. Lee County School District will have a two-hour delay for students and staff.

Members of Sumter City Council listen as Assistant City Manager Al Harris details plans for a new, 6-acre water plant planned for U.S. 521 near the Pocotaligo Industrial Park. The new plant would serve expected future industrial development in the area and will be partly paid for with Penny for Progress funds.

BRISTOW MARCHANT / THE ITEM

Proposed water plant could serve new industry BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com City leaders like to tout the early groundwork Sumter laid for Continental Tire by ensuring water and sewer lines along U.S. 521 South were ready long before they knew the plant was coming. Now, Sumter may soon have the water capacity for future industrial developments along the highway south of town, if state health officials approve construction of a new water plant capable of providing millions of extra gallons to customers. The proposed plant, dubbed Water Plant No. 6, would sit on six acres beside the Pocotaligo Wastewater Treatment Plant on Justin Lane, near the U.S. 521 entrance to the law-enforcement firing range, members of Sumter City Council were told at Tuesday’s meeting. The site is part of Pocotaligo Industrial Park and is in-

tended to serve new industries expected to fill the area near Continental’s tire manufacturing facility. “We can push water out of there to the other side of town,” City Manager Deron McCormick told council, and thus complement the rest of the city’s water system. “But if we have big users come in, we’ll be ready to serve them.” Plans for construction will be completed by April or May and submitted to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control for approval, said Al Harris, the assistant city manager for public services. He estimated the project could be bid to contractors by the end of the year. Initially, the plant could provide water customers with 4 million gallons per day (mgd) pulled from an underground reservoir fed by deep wells, but the new plant will also have space to expand production up to 6

REGULAR SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Home Delivery — Tuesday through Sunday: One year $144; Six months - $75.25; Three months - $40; Two months - $27.50; One month - $13.75; EZPay - $12 per month. Saturday and Sunday: One year - $72; Six months - $36.75; Three months - $18.50; One month, $6.25. Mail — One year - $249; Six months - $124.50; Three months - $62.25; one month - $20.95. OUTLYING RURAL ROUTE SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Home Delivery — Tuesday through Sunday: One year -

Sumter City Council Ordinance Status Ordinance

1st Reading

Lease Agreement: allowing farming operations on 345 acres of city-owned land off Stamey Livestock Road for 3 years.

Jan. 7: Approved unanimously

Property transfer: transfering a parcel of city-owned land on 4 Walsh Grove to Sumter County, to develop as part of an adjoining piece of property.

Jan. 7: Approved unanimously

Annexation: annexing a lot on 148 Chippewa Circle into the city

Jan. 7 Approved unanimously

mgd if the need arises. Harris said the lower figure would adequately meet current demand, “but in 15 or 20 years, we might be looking to expand,” he said. Construction of the plant will be partly funded by $8 million raised by the Penny for Progress capital sales tax, which Harris said represented about two-thirds of the funding needed for com-

$153; Six months - $81.25; Three months - $43; Two months, $29; One month - $14.50. EZPay, $12.75 per month. Saturday and Sunday: One year - $84; Six months - $43; Three months - $22; One month - $7.50. HOME DELIVERY: Call (803) 774-1258, Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat./Sun., 7 to 11 a.m. The Item is published six days a week except for July 4, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day (unless it falls on a Sunday) by Osteen Publishing Co., 20 N. Magnolia St., Sumter,

;

Public Hearing

2nd Reading

Not required

Expected at Jan. 21 meeting

Not required

Expected at Jan. 21 meeting

Not required

Expected for Jan. 21 meeting

; ; ;

pletion. The rest would come from city funds set aside for capital needs. Harris said he anticipates the project will cost between $12 million and $13 million in total. If completed beside the existing wastewater plant, he said, “it will almost be like there’s a whole city right there.” In other news, council ap-

proved the purchase of a lot at 9 Tahoe Drive for $97,000 to add to the existing Water Plant No. 5, as well as a new front-loading garbage truck for $233,990 from McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing of Vila Rica, Ga. Council also approved an upgrade of the SCADA computer system for managing water plants, at a price of $127,937 from MR Systems of Norcross, Ga.

SC 29150. Periodical postage paid at Sumter, SC 29150. Postmaster: Send address changes to Osteen Publishing Co., 20 N. Magnolia St., Sumter, SC 29150 Publication No. USPS 525-900 Member, Verified Audit Circulation.

Publishing Co. as agent. No responsibility for advance payments is assumed by the company until the money is received at this office.

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RECYCLING: This newspaper is printed on recycled paper and uses environmentally safe soy inks to reduce ruboff. It is recyclable.

CORRECTIONS: If you see a statement in error, contact the City Desk. Corrections will appear on this page.

NATION

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014

THE ITEM

Recipe for freezing roads not just salt

Cold air spreads over East, South ATLANTA (AP) — of 6 degrees, fountains Brutal, record-breaking froze over, pipes burst cold descended on the and cars wouldn’t start. East and South, sending “This is severely cold the mercury plummetfor these parts,� said ing Tuesday into the sin- Brian Lynn, a National gle digits and teens from Weather Service meteoBoston and New York to rologist in Peachtree Atlanta, Nashville and City, Ga. “Single digits Birmingham — places are a rare event.� where many people Farther south in Penknow almost nothing sacola, Fla., a Gulf Coast about freezing weather. city better known for its The morning weather white-sand beaches map for the eastern half than frost, streets norof the U.S. looked like an mally filled with joggers, algebra worksheet — bikers and people walklots of small, negative ing dogs were deserted numbers. early ‘This is severely Tuesday In fact, the Midwest as tempercold for these atures reand the East were mained in parts. Single digits the teens colder than after sunare a rare event.’ rise. Monmuch of Antarctiica Anderca. son and The Tommy Brian Lynn, Howard deep freeze jumped National Weather up and started in the Middown and Service meteorologist blew on west over the weektheir end and hands spread east, blanketing while they waited for a about half of the counbus, struggling to stay try. In New York City, warm. the high was expected to Anderson said she be 10, and in Boston, couldn’t recall it ever about 18. being so cold. Birmingham, Ala., “I’m not used to it. It dipped to a low of 7, is best just to stay inside shattering the record for until it gets better,� said the date of 11 degrees, Anderson, who had to set in 1970. In Atlanta, get out for an early which saw a record low morning appointment

Sum mter Fam mily

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Doc Cheng bundles up with her chihuahua, Happy, as she braves a cold Arctic blast on Tuesday in Atlanta that brought temperatures down to 6 degrees above zero, closing local schools and shattering cold weather records.

with her doctor. A sign on a bank near the bus stop flashed 19 degrees at about 8 a.m. Patches of ice sparkled in parking lots where puddles froze overnight. The Lower 48 states, when averaged out, reached a low of 13.8 degrees overnight Monday, according to calculations by Ryan Maue of Weather Bell Analytics. Farmers worried about their crops. Diane Cordeau of Kai-Kai Farm in Indiantown, Fla., about 90 miles north of Miami, had to pick her squash

and tomatoes Monday to beat the freeze but said her leafy vegetables, such as kale, will be sweeter and taste better because of the cold. “I’m the queen of lettuce around here, so the colder, the better,� said Cordeau, whose farm serves high-end restaurants that request specific produce or organic vegetables.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — A splash of beet juice, a dollop of molasses, a squeeze of cheese brine. In the coldest weather, the recipe for safer roads often goes beyond the usual sprinkling of salt. Across the nation’s snow belt, transportation officials are in the market for cheap and environmentally friendly ways to make rock salt work better by keeping it on the roads longer and melting ice at lower temperatures. Plain salt is largely ineffective below 16 degrees. Additives can keep it working in temperatures as low as minus 25. “This winter, it’s been a godsend to be able to do that,� said Leland Smithson, the ice and snow expert at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. “It’s been so cold.� In Milwaukee, road crews are experimenting with plentiful cheese brine, leftover from cheese making. New York and Pennsylvania are among states trying sugar beet juice, while molasses and potato juice are flavoring roads elsewhere. “It’s all about availability,� said association spokesman Tony Dorsey. “States are using whatever they can find that works, especially in low temperatures.� Many of the food derivatives are in commercially marketed products with names such as Ice Bite and Magic Salt, but in Milwaukee, transportation officials are mixing their own brew. As part of a pilot program, the city’s fleet operations manager, Jeffrey Tews, has sent trucks to some of Wisconsin’s 140 cheese plants to pick up brine, which is used to pre-wet the roads and rock salt.

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As an Entitlement Community the City of Sumter expects to receive approximately $354,152.00 from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development for iscal year 4/1/14-3/31/15. he city is required to complete an Annual Action Plan that identiies the activities it will undertake. Persons wishing to make comments on the proposed plan may do so in writing or by visiting the Community Development oice. he review period runs from January 8, 2014 to February 8, 2014. he oice is located at the Liberty Center, Oice Designation H, 12 W. Liberty Street, Sumter, SC. Oice hours are 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday. You may call Clarence Gaines at 803-774-1649 for further information. Non-English speaking persons, hearing impaired or deaf persons may call the same phone number for assistance and information. Entry to the Liberty Center is handicap accessible. Speciic Projects Administration (administer the entitlement program) Demolition (eliminate slum and blight in residential and commercial areas) Housing Repair (housing repair for low-moderate-income citizens) Youth Employment (provide summer employment for 45-50 low moderate income youth) United Ministries Minor Rehab (provide minor home repairs for low moderate-income citizens) Wateree Aids Task Force (provide prescription, utility, rent, assistance for HIV/AID clients) YMCA Youth Services (provide vouchers for LMI youth to participate in activities)

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THE ITEM

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014

POLICE BLOTTER CHARGES:

Aaron Christopher Welsh, 21, of 4141 Pantego Drive, was arrested and charged with second-degree assault and battery Monday. According to reports, Welsh beat the victim about the face and body and choked the victim on Dec. 8 at Timmerman Street and Sherry Lane. A warrant was issued for Welsh’s arrest on Dec. 12. Welsh was sent to Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center. VANDALISM:

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., center, joined by Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., left, and Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., meets with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington on Tuesday after legislation to renew jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed unexpectedly cleared an initial Senate hurdle.

Unemployment benefits legislation clears hurdle WASHINGTON (AP) — White House-backed legislation to renew benefits for the long-term unemployed unexpectedly cleared an initial Senate hurdle Tuesday, clearing the way for bipartisan negotiations in the opening days of an election-year session of Congress. President Obama welcomed the vote, adding in an appearance at the White House, “We’ve got to get this across the finish line without obstruction or delay.� The vote was 60-37 to limit debate on the three-month legislation, with a half-dozen Republicans siding with the Democrats on the test vote. At the same time, the Republican leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell of

Kentucky, said he and his rank and file would seek changes so the bill’s $6.4 billion cost would not add to deficits. Senate Democrats have so far rejected that approach, although there were signs they would eventually yield. Shortly after the Senate vote, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, issued a statement expressing views similar to McConnell’s. Almost simultaneously, a senior Senate Democrat, Chuck Schumer of New York, signaled a willingness to consider changes to offset the impact of the bill on the deficit, calling that “the second-best option.� The vote came at the dawn of an election year in which the two parties have made it clear they

intend to battle for the support of millions of voters who have suffered economically through the worst recession in decades and the slow, plodding recovery that followed. The political phrase is income disparity — the difference between the rich and the economically squeezed. In pocketbook terms, Democrats chose first to seek an extension of long-term jobless benefits, to be followed by a proposal to increase the minimum wage that many Republicans also are expected to oppose.

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A white 2007 Jeep Commander was reportedly vandalized between 3 and 5:45 a.m. Friday at a residence in the 500 block of Silver Street. The victim reported that an unknown person scratched all the sides and the hood of the car and broke the antenna, both side mirrors and the tail lights. Damage is estimated at $1,500. A 2009 gold Honda Accord was reported vandalized at 12:26 p.m. Sunday at a residence in the 100 block of Cotton Tail Lane. The victim said a group of people keyed the driver’s side of the car and dented the driver’s side back passenger door. Damage is estimated at $5,000. A 2001 burgundy Cadillac was reported scratched on the driver’s side, the passenger’s side and the trunk at 5:08 p.m. Sunday at a residence in the 400 block of Fleming Street. Damage is estimated at $2,000. STOLEN PROPERTY:

A Dell desktop computer and a Sony 24-inch monitor were reportedly stolen from a residence in the 100 block of Morgan Avenue between 10 a.m. Dec. 5 and 5 p.m. Dec. 29.

| A gray HP laptop valued at $2,500 was reportedly stolen from a residence in the 100 block of South Pike Road between 4 p.m. Thursday and 7:30 a.m. Friday. Copper, valued at $2,500, from a Rheem air conditioner was reportedly stolen from a residence in the 1000 block of Flamingo Road between 2:34 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday. A black refrigerator valued at $1,500 was reported stolen at 12:54 p.m. Saturday from a residence in the 3000 block of McElveen Drive, Dalzell. A set of baby polo shirts, three pairs of shoes, a couple of toys and a drawer containing clothing and a birth certificate were reported stolen at 1:36 p.m. Saturday from a residence in the 1000 block of Old Pocalla Road. The items are valued at $700. A 50-inch Samsung flat-screen TV, a flat-top stove, a turkey cooker and a box of glassware were reported stolen at 5:52 a.m. Sunday from a residence in the 800 block of Myrtle Beach Highway. The items are valued at $4,450. A 1995 white Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, a North American Arms .22-caliber pistol and a silver LG cellphone were reported stolen at 8:30 a.m. Sunday from a residence in the 800 block of Watts Drive. The items are valued at $1,800. A 33-inch black Vizio flatscreen TV, a gray/black cash register containing $200 in cash and a blue, unmarked bank bag containing approximately $200 in cash were reported stolen at 11:07 a.m. Sunday from a restaurant in the 1000 block of Peach Orchard Road. The items are valued at $700.

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NATION

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014

THE ITEM

A5

Shotgun weddings fade, cohabitation gains favor BY HOPE YEN The Associated Press WASHINGTON — No longer taboo, living together has become a more common arrangement for America’s couples who become pregnant while dating. Soon-to-be-released government figures show a major cultural shift since the days of “shotgun weddings� aimed at avoiding family embarrassment. With marriage on the decline, the shift is helping redefine the traditional notion of family. “The emergence of cohabitation as an acceptable context for childbearing has changed the family-formation landscape,� said Christina Gibson-Davis, a sociology professor at Duke University. “Individuals still value the idea of a two-parent family but no longer consider it necessary for the parents to be married.� Still, she cautions that children in cohabiting households may face more difficulties growing up if their unmarried parents are at higher risk of breaking up. In all, the share of unmarried couples who opted to have “shotgun cohabitations� — moving in together after a pregnancy — surpassed “shotgun marriages� for the first time over the last decade, according to a forthcoming paper from the National Cen-

ter for Health Statistics, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The trend was affirmed by three demographers who conducted separate research on the topic. It’s the latest demographic tipping point as cohabitations turn mainstream — a far cry from the days when the father of a pregnant daughter might use coercion, such as a shotgun, to make sure the boyfriend followed through on a wedding. “I want to marry when I’m ready, not because I’m being forced into it. Whenever I see couples do that, things don’t work out,� said Amanda Leigh Pulte, 22, of Austin, Texas, as her 11-month-old daughter Zoey cooed in her arms. Pulte previously had delayed moving in with Matthew Gage, a 29-year-old shipping manager and her boyfriend for three years, wishing to wait until she could earn a bachelor’s degree in film and start a full-time job. An unplanned pregnancy quickly changed that. Completing an associate degree, she agreed to have Gage move in so the couple could work and save on rent while raising Zoey together. Even though they didn’t see marriage as a serious option for now — in part to avoid the additional stress of planning and paying for a wedding, she says — neither was having Pulte

Tom & Mary’s Put & Take

live on her own as a single mother. “For a while, my father was kind of shocked about the whole thing, but ultimately he was just excited to be a grandfather,� she said with a chuckle. The couple is getting child care tips from the nonprofit Any Baby Can, which also helps them with physical therapy for Zoey, who was born with health ailments. The numbers are based on the government’s National Survey of Family Growth, typically issued every four years. It provides the only government data on cohabiting mothers by asking questions on a woman’s relationship

AP FILE PHOTO

Amanda Leigh Pulte, left, and Matthew Gage, right, are seen with their daughter, Zoey, at their home in Austin, Texas, on Dec. 20. The couple decided to live together after an unplanned pregnancy so they could work and save on rent while raising Zoey together. Living together is becoming more common for dating couples who unexpectedly become parents.

status before and after conception and childbirth. Women who say they were single before conception and then

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NATION

THE ITEM

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014

VOLUNTEERS from Page A1 in a lot of work, and sometimes it’s a thankless job. This will be one more thing that will concern an already stretched volunteer system.� Sumter County administrators are keeping a close eye on the law, Mathis said, and once a ruling is made, they will know where they stand and will then decide what to do moving forward. Nationwide, most volunteer fire departments operate on very small budgets. “Most of these are operating on a shoestring budget — holding pancake dinners to raise money to put enough gas in the truck so they can respond to the next fire, the next medical call,� said Dave Finger, director of government relations for the National Volunteer Fire Council. Faced with the cost of insurance, or being fined if they fail to provide it, departments would likely be forced to reduce the number of hours firefighters can volunteer or eliminate the benefit programs, officials said. That has both fire chiefs and lawmakers raising concerns. Darrel Fournier, fire chief in Freeport, a town

of about 8,000 people near the coast in southern Maine that’s home to L.L. Bean, said his department is bracing for what could be significant costs under the health care law. He expects he’ll have to provide coverage for the five firefighters he employs part time. That would cost the city — and ultimately taxpayers — about $75,000, or a penalty of $150,000. Additionally, in a busy winter with lots of fires, emergency calls and accidents, he said his roughly 50 volunteers could work more than 30 hours a week, meeting the threshold under the law that would require him to provide health insurance for them as well. To avoid the penalty, Freeport could cut back on the number of hours part-time and volunteer firefighters have to work. But that would mean finding more volunteers to make up the difference, something the department and others across the country already struggle to do, Fournier said. When he started in Freeport in 1972, there was a waiting list of 25 people. After three months actively recruiting in the community, Fournier said he’s lucky that he’ll

confusion as another example of the problems with the law, which has been plagued by a fumbled rollout and criticism over canceled health-care plans. “This is yet another adverse and unanticipated impact of Obamacare,� said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. City and town leaders are also discussing ways to keep their staff under 50 employees to dodge the costs, Maine Municipal Association officials said. School superintendents are making sure their substitute teachers aren’t working more than 30 hours a week to avoid having to cover them, Collins said. Others point to factors that they say show the concern is overblown. Many small towns only have about 20 to 30 volunteer firefighters, likely making them too small to be affected by the law’s mandate. And though Fournier described a busy winter with a lot of work for firefighters, they often fall short of working enough hours to be affected by the insurance requirement.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Fire Chief Darrel Fournier speaks to a reporter in Freeport, Maine., on Dec. 20 about what could be significant costs to the town’s fire department under the health care law.

soon be interviewing nine potential volunteer firefighters. “It’s pretty amazing how this law is touching different operations,� he said in an interview in Freeport’s brick firehouse, where yellow fire trucks and ambulances were lined up awaiting the next call. “I’m not sure everyone thought that through.� The question is expected to be answered when the Internal Revenue Service releases final regulations this

year before the provision takes effect in 2015. A Treasury spokeswoman said the department is taking the concerns into account as it works toward the final regulations but wouldn’t comment on what they’re likely to include.

In the meantime, Maine’s U.S. senators are backing a recently introduced bill aimed at ensuring volunteer firefighters and other emergency responders are exempt from the health care law requirement. Republicans point to the

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING HUD HOME PROGRAM Annual Action Plan For the Period: April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Tuesday, February 11, 2014 at 6:00 p.m., the Sumter County Regional HOME Consortium will hold a Public Hearing at Santee Lynches Regional &RXQFLO RI *RYHUQPHQWVÂś RIÂżFH 6XPWHU 6 & The purpose of the Public Hearing will be to review the Sumter County Regional HOME Consortium Annual Action Plan which will be submitted to the Department of Housing and Urban Development on or about February 14, 2014. The Plan outlines the availability and utilization of HUD HOME funds for the period April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015.

Only

The Sumter County Regional HOME Consortium and its Member Local Governments do not discriminate on the basis of age, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status or disability in the admission of, access to, or treatment regarding employment in its federally assisted programs or activities. Sharon Durden, Santee-Lynches RCOG, (803) 775-7381, has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in the U.S. Department of HUD’s regulations.

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This Public Hearing and the matters to be discussed are subject to the provisions of the Sumter County HOME Consortium’s Citizen Participation Plan, developed in anticipation of participation in the Federal HUD HOME Program, which provides for the participation of the citizens of Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee and Sumter Counties, as well as the citizens of the City of Sumter in the planning and implementation of projects with HUD HOME funds. The Annual Action Plan and Citizen Participation Plan will be available for review at the Santee /\QFKHV 5HJLRQDO &RXQFLO RI *RYHUQPHQWV RI¿FH :HVW /LEHUW\ 6WUHHW 6XPWHU 6 & EHWZHHQ the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday from January 9, 2014 to February 9, 2014. Persons with questions or comments concerning the Public Hearings or the Citizen Participation Plan may contact Sharon Durden, Santee-Lynches RCOG, (803) 775-7381.

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OPINION

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014

THE ITEM

A7

To submit a letter to the editor, e-mail letters@theitem.com COMMENTARY

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Politics and minimum wage

T

here’s little debate among academic economists about the effect of minimum wages. University of California, Irvine economist David Neumark has examined more than 100 major academic studies on the minimum wage. He reports that 85 percent of the studies “find a negative employment effect on low-skilled workers.” A 1976 American Economic Association survey found that 90 percent of its members agreed that increasing the minimum wage raises unemployment among young and unskilled workers. A 1990 survey reported in the American Economic Review (1992) found that 80 percent of economists agreed with the statement that increases in the minimum wage cause unemployment among the youth and low-skilled. If you’re searching for a consensus in a field of study, most of the time you can examine the field’s introductory and intermediate college textbooks. Economics textbooks that mention the minimum wage say that it increases unemployment for the least skilled worker. The only significant debate about the minimum wage is the magnitude of its effect. Some studies argue that a 10 percent increase in the minimum wage will cause a 1 percent increase in unemployment, whereas others predict a higher increase. How about the politics of the Walter minimum wage? In the political WILLIAMS arena, one dumps on people who can’t dump back on him. Minimum wages have their greatest unemployment impact on the least skilled worker. After all, who’s going to pay a worker an hourly wage of $10 if that worker is so unfortunate as to have skills that enable him to produce only $5 worth of value per hour? Who are these workers? For the most part, they are low-skilled teens or young adults, most of whom are poorly educated blacks and Latinos. The unemployment statistics in our urban areas confirm this prediction, with teen unemployment rates as high as 50 percent. The politics of the minimum wage are simple. No congressman or president owes his office to the poorly educated black and Latino youth vote. Moreover, the victims of the minimum wage do not know why they suffer high unemployment, and neither do most of their “benefactors.” Minimum wage beneficiaries are highly organized, and they do have the necessary political clout to get Congress to price their low-skilled competition out of the market so they can demand higher wages. Concerned about the devastating unemployment effects of the minimum wage, Republican politicians have long resisted increases in the minimum wage, but that makes no political sense. The reason is the beneficiaries of preventing increases in the minimum wage don’t vote Republican no matter what; where’s the political quid pro quo? Higher-skilled and union workers are not the only beneficiaries of higher minimum wages. Among other beneficiaries are manufacturers who produce substitutes for workers. A recent example of this is Wawa’s experiment with customers using touch screens as substitutes for counter clerks. A customer at the convenience store selects his order from a touch screen. He takes a printed slip to the cashier to pay for it while it’s being filled. I imagine that soon the customer’s interaction with the cashier will be eliminated with a swipe of a credit card. Raising the minimum wage and other employment costs speeds up the automation process. I’m old enough to remember attendants at gasoline stations and theater ushers, who are virtually absent today. It’s not because today’s Americans like to smell gasoline fumes and stumble down the aisles in the dark to find their seat. The minimum wage law has eliminated such jobs. Finally, there’s a nastier side to support for minimum wage laws, documented in my book “Race and Economics: How Much Can Be Blamed on Discrimination?” During South Africa’s apartheid era, racist labor unions were the country’s major supporters of minimum wage laws for blacks. Their stated intention was to protect white workers from having to compete with lower-wage black workers. Our nation’s first minimum wage law, the Davis-Bacon Act of 1931, had racist motivation. Among the widespread racist sentiment was that of American Federation of Labor President William Green, who complained, “Colored labor is being sought to demoralize wage rates.” Walter E. Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Prison policy dictates benefit of education Educate law breakers instead of sending them to prison? Prison policy dictates that all inmates will have the benefit of education. The prison system has qualified certified teachers and offers at least a GED certificate to those who want it. It also allows furthering education as well as vocational education to learn a viable trade. There are hundreds of inmates with degrees behind bars. What kind of education do you want them to have besides rehabilitation? P.S. I used to be a corrections officer at Turbeville. MIKE EDWARDS Clyde, N.C.

Animal Control officer goes above and beyond Editor’s note: The following letter was written to Staff Sgt. Anthony Rivers at the law enforcement center. Mr. Fisher and I would like to commend Willie Williams from Animal Control for the outstanding job he did in helping us with a family of cats that decided to go under our home to live. Our call was answered in a timely manner, and he was successful

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in retrieving the mother and the three baby kittens. The last kitten did not “go gently into the night,” but Mr. Williams was patient, and he was finally able to secure all of them. Mr. Williams was kind, courteous and we believe he cares for the animals. He went above and beyond his duties to assist us. We want to thank Animal Control and a special thank you to Mr. Willie for helping us with this situation. It is nice to know that people care. STERLING and BETTYE JO FISHER Sumter

Give Tuomey another chance I’m writing this letter concerning the lawsuit against Tuomey Regional Medical Center. I don’t know what happened, except that the hospital is being accused of Medicare and Medicaid fraud. I don’t know who is to blame or who did what. I do know Sumter has some of the finest doctors anywhere, and they are on staff at Tuomey. I had surgery at Tuomey twice, and the doctors and nurses were great. I think the hospital has 150 physicians on staff, and I don’t think they would do anything wrong.

The outpatient center opened in 2004, and I had surgery there in 2006. I think building the center was a good choice. The staff was nice, and my doctor was great. I can’t believe that one doctor could do so much damage because of his allegations. I don’t know what happened or who is to blame, and I don’t know what will happen or what the outcome will be, but I do know it’s not right to make the people of Sumter and Shaw Air Force Base pay for someone’s mistake. We shouldn’t have to suffer the consequences. I hope there will be a way that the problem will be worked out to maybe make payments or a deal that won’t hurt the people of Sumter. We need our hospital, and we certainly need our doctors, nurses and everyone on staff. People make mistakes all the time, but they are given another chance. I hope Tuomey will be given the chance, and the people won’t suffer, and the doctors and staff keep their jobs to help the “people.” I thank the doctors, nurses and all the people who work at Tuomey for all their hard work and service. SHIRLEY TURNER Sumter

WHO REPRESENTS YOU SUMTER COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 Naomi Sanders 5605 Borden Road Rembert, SC 29128 (803) 499-3947 (home) DISTRICT 2 Artie Baker 3680 Bakersfield Lane Dalzell, SC 29040 803-469-3638 (home) DISTRICT 3 Jimmy R. Byrd Jr. 1084 Broad St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 778-0796 (office) (803) 775-2726 (FAX) countycouncil3@ftc-i.net DISTRICT 4 Charles T. Edens 760 Henderson St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 775-0044 (home) DISTRICT 5 Vivian Fleming-McGhaney 9770 Lynches River Road Lynchburg, SC 29080 (803) 437-2797 (home) (803) 495-3247 (office) DISTRICT 6 Larry Blanding Chairman P.O. Box 1446 Sumter, SC 29151 (803) 775-8518 (home)

DISTRICT 7 Eugene Baten Vice chairman P.O. Box 3193 Sumter, SC 29151 (803) 773-0815 (home) SUMTER CITY COUNCIL MAYOR Joseph T. McElveen Jr. 20 Buford St. Sumter, SC 29150 803-773-0382 jmcelveen@sumter-sc.com WARD 1 Thomas J. Lowery 829 Legare St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 773-9298 WARD 2 Ione Dwyer P.O. Box 1492 Sumter, SC 29151 (803) 481-4284 WARD 3 Calvin K. Hastie Sr. 810 S. Main St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 774-7776 WARD 4 Charlie Burns 422 W. Calhoun St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 773-8859

| WARD 5 Robert Galiano 608 Antlers Drive Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 469-0005 WARD 6 David Merchant 26 Paisley Park Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 773-1086 STATE LAWMAKERS Rep. Grady Brown, D-Bishopville District 50 420 S. Main St. Bishopville, SC 29010 (803) 484-6832 Columbia: (803) 734-2934 Rep. Phillip Lowe, R-Florence District 60 507 W. Cheves St. Florence, SC 29501 (843) 662-1234 Columbia: (803) 734-2975 Rep. Joe Neal, D-Hopkins District 70 P.O. Box 5 Hopkins, SC 29061 (803) 776-0353 Fax: (803) 734-9142 Columbia: (803) 734-2804 jn@schouse.org Rep. Dr. Robert L. Ridgeway III, D-Clarendon District 64 117 N. Brooks St. Manning, SC 29102 (803) 938-3087 Columbia: (803) 212-6929

Rep. Ronnie A. Sabb, D-Greeleyville District 101 P.O. Box 311, Greeleyville, 29056 (843) 355-5349 Columbia: (803) 212-6926 Rep. Murrell Smith Jr., R-Sumter District 67 P.O. Box 580 Sumter, SC 29151 (803) 778-2471 Fax: (803) 778-1643 Columbia: (803) 734-3042 murrellsmith@schouse.gov Rep. J. David Weeks, D-Sumter District 51 2 Marlborough Court Sumter, SC 29154 (803) 775-5856 Columbia: (803) 734-3102 Sen. Gerald Malloy, D-Darlington District 29 1216 Salem Road Hartsville, SC 29550 (843) 339-3000 Columbia: (803) 212-6148 Sen. Kevin L. Johnson, D-Manning District 36 P.O. Box 156, Manning, 29102 (803) 435-8117 Columbia: (803) 212-6108 Sen. J. Thomas McElveen III, D-Sumter District 35 P. O. Box 57, Sumter, 29151 (803) 775-1263 Columbia: (803) 212-6132

NATIONAL LAWMAKERS Rep. Mick Mulvaney — 5th District 1207 Longworth HOB Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-5501 531-A Oxford Drive Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 327-1114 Rep. Jim Clyburn — 6th District 319 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-3315 1703 Gervais St. Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 799-1100 jclyburn@hr.house.gov Sen. Lindsey Graham 290 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 (202) 224-5972 Midlands Regional Office 508 Hampton Street, Suite 202 Columbia, SC 29201 Main: (803) 933-0112 Sen. Tim Scott 167 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 (202) 224-6121 (202) 228-5143 (fax) 1301 Gervais St., Suite 825 Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 771-6112 (803) 771-6455 (fax)

EDITORIAL PAGE POLICIES LETTERS TO THE EDITOR are written by readers of the newspaper. They should be no more than 350 words and sent via email to letters@theitem.com, dropped off at The Item office, 20 N. Magnolia St. or mailed to The Item, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, S.C. 29151, along with the full name of the writer, plus an address and telephone number for verification purposes only. Letters that exceed 350 words will be cut accordingly in the print edition, but available in their entirety online at http://www.theitem.com/opinion/letters_to_editor.

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A8

DAILY PLANNER

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APPEAL from Page A1 captain — had disciplinary actions taken against them by the Air Force as a result of the nearly yearlong investigation, as 14 of Smith’s 38 allegations were found to be substantiated. These charges included tolerating sexual harassment, failing to prevent sexual harassment and condoning display of sexually offensive materials. In Tuesday’s brief, the retired tech sergeant’s lawyers argue the final report did not go far enough. “One of the biggest problems is we don’t know why they made WELLS the decisions they made,” said Ryan Guilds, one of the lawyers for Smith, said Tuesday. “We are left, time and again, to hear the allegations weren’t supported, but generally, they don’t say why. And when they do say why, the reasons are troubling.” As a result of the investigation, the eight officers either received letters of counseling or more severe letters of admonishment, and two of the lieutenant colonels were also reassigned to staff positions. While none of the admonished officers were named in the final report, all of the substantiated charges involved officers Smith interacted with at Shaw, where, according to Tuesday’s brief, “the majority of incidents of sexual harassment” occurred. In addition to the lack of transparency in the investigation, Smith’s lawyers argue the Air Force improperly allowed now-retired Maj. Gen. Lawrence Wells, the former Ninth Air Force Commander at Shaw, to oversee the effort, because Wells himself was the subject of some of the allegations. “Specifically, during a meeting between TSgt Smith and Maj. Gen. Wells in the squadron lounge, a pair of bright yellow ladies’ panties hung, in plain sight, from the tooth of a tiger head mascot mounted on the wall,” the brief reads. “In

dereliction of his duty to provide for an environment free from sexual harassment, Maj. Gen. Wells ignored them.” Smith’s lawyers are also upset with the overall tone of the final report, saying it often downplayed the severity of the issue within the military, pointing out that the report unnecessarily pointed out that between 2008 and 2012, there were no reports of sexual harassment made to the 20th Fighter Wing Military Equal Opportunity Office. “That’s not surprising in an environment where sexual harassment is rampant and people are retaliated against,” Guilds said. To rectify the past investigation, Smith’s lawyers call for a new investigation to be conducted by “military officials outside the chain of command,” and wants “meaningful disciplinary action” when allegations are substantiated. “The ultimate result, for me, is that the next Jen Smith to come down the pike, who wants to devote herself and her career to the Air Force and her country, does not have to endure what Jen Smith had to endure for 17 years,” Guilds said. Previously declassified reports from the Smith investigation verified it was the former technical sergeant’s whistle blowing that led to the “Health and Welfare Inspection” ordered by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III in 2012. During this inspection, which involved more than 100 Air Force installations worldwide and nearly 600,000 military and civilian personnel, officials removed 631 pieces of pornography, 3,987 pieces of “unprofessional material” and 27,598 pieces of “inappropriate or offensive items” from military workplaces. Lt. Col. Brett Ashworth, spokesman for the U.S. Air Force, said the Air Force had not officially received the appeal brief as of Tuesday evening and therefore was unable to comment. Reach Braden Bunch at (803) 774-1201.

NATION

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U.S. stocks rally, breaking slump NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks rallied Tuesday, ending a slump that had ushered in the New Year. The Standard and Poor’s 500 index climbed the most in three weeks, led by gains for healthcare stocks. UnitedHealth Group, the nation’s largest health insurer, and Johnson & Johnson both climbed on recommendations for brokerage firms. After three straight declines, the S&P 500 would have matched its worst opening of a year since 1978 had it closed

lower for a fourth day. The stock market’s slow start to 2014 contrasts with last year’s exceptional performance, when the S&P 500 climbed to record levels after surging almost 30 percent. “To me the trend still looks up, even though we’ve been chopping around,” said Bill Stone, chief investment strategist at PNC Wealth Management Group. The economy “seems to be in the mode that you would expect corporate earnings to continue to grow.”

PUBLIC AGENDA SUMTER COUNTY VOTER REGISTRATION / ELECTION COMMISSION Thursday, 5:30 p.m., registration / election office, 141 N. Main St.

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Chance of rain: 30%

Chance of rain: 30%

Sumter through 4 p.m. yesterday

Temperature High ............................................... 29° Low ................................................ 13° Normal high ................................... 54° Normal low ..................................... 32° Record high ....................... 73° in 2012 Record low ......................... 13° in 2014

Greenville 42/25

Gaffney 39/24 Spartanburg 42/25

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

Full 7 a.m. 24-hr pool yest. chg 360 354.12 +0.12 76.8 75.43 +0.20 75.5 73.52 +0.24 100 94.93 +0.19

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

Full pool 12 19 14 14 80 24

City Aiken Asheville Athens Augusta Beaufort Cape Hatteras Charleston Charlotte Clemson Columbia

Today Hi/Lo/W 44/27/s 40/19/s 42/26/s 46/27/s 49/39/s 40/31/s 50/38/s 40/23/s 45/29/s 42/27/s

7 a.m. yest. 8.12 10.40 8.64 8.00 79.44 7.60

Bishopville 43/28

0.00" 0.38" 0.90" 0.38" 0.90"

Lake Murray Marion Moultrie Wateree

24-hr chg +0.23 +6.24 +0.45 +0.06 -0.78 -9.03

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 44/35/c 45/28/pc 43/33/c 44/35/c 59/46/c 56/48/pc 61/47/c 45/34/pc 46/35/c 44/35/c

Sunrise today .......................... 7:27 a.m. Sunset tonight ......................... 5:29 p.m. Moonrise today ..................... 12:12 p.m. Moonset today ...................... 12:41 a.m.

Columbia 42/27 Today: Mostly sunny. Thursday: Rather cloudy.

Full

Last

Jan. 15 New

Jan. 24 First

Jan. 30

Feb. 6

Florence 42/27

Sumter 44/28

Myrtle Beach 45/34

Manning 45/30 Aiken 44/27

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Charleston 50/38

Today: Mostly sunny. High 45 to 50. Thursday: Mostly cloudy and warmer with a couple of showers. High 57 to 61.

The following tide table lists times for Myrtle Beach.

Wed.

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2014

City Darlington Elizabeth City Elizabethtown Fayetteville Florence Gainesville Gastonia Goldsboro Goose Creek Greensboro

Today Hi/Lo/W 43/26/s 35/21/s 40/26/s 40/23/s 42/27/s 59/44/pc 41/23/s 38/21/s 49/37/s 38/23/s

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 45/36/pc 51/38/pc 48/39/pc 46/37/pc 45/38/pc 68/52/c 44/33/pc 47/38/pc 59/46/c 43/33/pc

Thu.

City Greenville Hickory Hilton Head Jacksonville, FL La Grange Macon Marietta Marion Mount Pleasant Myrtle Beach

Today Hi/Lo/W 42/25/s 38/24/s 48/45/s 55/45/pc 44/25/s 46/26/s 43/25/s 40/21/s 49/40/s 45/34/s

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 42/33/c 45/32/pc 59/51/c 67/51/c 45/34/c 45/35/c 44/34/c 47/30/pc 61/48/c 57/47/pc

High Ht. Low Ht. 2:30 a.m.....3.0 9:25 a.m.....0.2 2:56 p.m.....2.7 9:44 p.m....-0.2 3:30 a.m.....2.9 10:28 a.m.....0.3 3:53 p.m.....2.6 10:40 p.m....-0.1

City Orangeburg Port Royal Raleigh Rock Hill Rockingham Savannah Spartanburg Summerville Wilmington Winston-Salem

Today Hi/Lo/W 46/31/s 49/40/s 38/23/s 40/22/s 40/22/s 50/38/s 42/25/s 49/43/s 44/29/s 38/23/s

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 49/39/c 59/47/c 44/37/pc 43/32/c 41/34/pc 61/44/c 43/34/c 59/49/c 56/45/pc 43/33/pc

Shown are today’s noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day.

-10s -0s 0s 10s 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s 70s 80s 90s 100s 110s Stationary front

Cold front Showers Rain T-storms Snow Flurries

Ice

Warm front

Today Thu. Today Thu. City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W Albuquerque 49/28/s 50/28/c Las Vegas 61/41/pc 61/43/pc Anchorage 30/19/sn 26/17/c Los Angeles 68/50/pc 66/50/pc Atlanta 42/28/s 44/36/c Miami 74/71/sh 81/73/sh Baltimore 27/20/s 36/29/pc Minneapolis -2/-10/s 17/13/pc Boston 22/16/s 31/21/s New Orleans 52/43/pc 65/48/pc Charleston, WV 36/19/pc 45/32/pc New York 23/19/s 32/29/pc Charlotte 40/23/s 45/34/pc Oklahoma City 38/28/c 45/42/pc Chicago 16/3/sf 29/26/sf Omaha 16/6/sn 31/22/pc Cincinnati 29/21/pc 39/32/c Philadelphia 23/19/s 33/29/pc Dallas 47/38/c 53/51/pc Phoenix 67/46/s 67/43/c Denver 38/25/pc 44/24/pc Pittsburgh 22/17/pc 33/27/pc Des Moines 12/2/sf 25/22/c St. Louis 32/22/sn 36/32/sn Detroit 17/5/sf 26/22/sn Salt Lake City 36/26/c 38/26/sn Helena 37/27/pc 38/26/sf San Francisco 56/47/pc 59/44/c Honolulu 78/66/sh 80/65/pc Seattle 49/42/r 49/42/r Indianapolis 24/20/sf 32/28/sn Topeka 26/17/c 35/30/c Kansas City 26/17/c 35/30/c Washington, DC 31/25/s 39/31/pc Weather(W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice

ARIES (March 21-April 19): interest and opportunities the last word in astrology Sharing feelings will be for future prospects. premature. Keep your LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): eugenia LAST intentions a secret until Concentrate on keeping you are sure you will be the peace and improving able to follow through your domestic situation. with your plans. Making a change too quickly The way you speak to loved ones and partners will create problems at home and work. will determine the outcome of these TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Slow, steady motion relationships in the future. will help you reach your destination. Don’t let a SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Getting away may change of plans alter your course. Not seem like a great choice, but don’t leave your everyone has to head in the same direction as plans until the last minute or you may be you for you to be successful. disappointed. Keep your costs low and choose GEMINI (May 21-June 20): An emotional matter a destination that you feel comfortable visiting. is likely to cost you. Check out your financial SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Draw from past situation before you donate or offer to pay for experience. Looking for a position that suits someone. Pay down debt and look for your attributes and skills and that you find alternative ways to bring in more cash. enjoyable should take top priority. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Opportunities may CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Steer clear of not be as gratuitous as you think. Ask questions aggressive and unpredictable people. Minding and find out exactly what’s expected of you your business and sticking to what you do best and what you’ll get in return. Someone may be will help you stay on schedule and avoid trying to take advantage of you. unwanted trouble. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Take heed of what’s being AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Welcome change said, offered to and asked of you. Don’t let and you will shine in whatever situation you demands get you down when you can barter encounter. You can change your direction or in order to get something in return that will put a plan into play that will help you bring in help you make positive changes in your more cash. personal life. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Mingle and become VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Put your best foot better acquainted with people who share your forward and engage in social and networking interests and concerns. Romance is in the stars events that encourage you to make new and including someone you love or meeting contacts. A professional approach will attract someone new will improve your life.

PICK 3 TUESDAY: 6-6-1 AND 8-9-5 PICK 4 TUESDAY: 7-1-8-8 AND 9-7-9-0 PALMETTO CASH 5 TUESDAY: 3-15-20-24-37 POWERUP: 2 MEGAMILLIONS NUMBERS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT PRESS TIME

FOR SATURDAY: 19-20-37-41-58 POWERBALL: 14

pictures from the public

| Dennis Selvig comments on his photo submission, “Colorado has Aspen leaves, but California has its golden leaves too. My wife and I found these on the back deck of a home in San Rafael.”

Have you visited someplace interesting, exciting, beautiful or historical that you’ve taken some pictures of? Would you like to share those images with your fellow Item readers? E-mail your hi-resolution jpegs to sandrah@theitem.com, or mail to Sandra Holbert c/o The Item, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, SC 29150. Include clearly printed or typed name of photographer and photo details. Include selfaddressed, stamped envelope for return of your photo. Amateur photographers only please.

SPORTS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014

THE ITEM

B1

To contact the Sports Department, call (803) 774-1241 or e-mail sports@theitem.com

Connor Shaw: USC legend EDITOR’S NOTE: Hugh Osteen is a staff writer for the Las Cruces (New Mexico) Bulletin, and a frequent sports blogger. This article first appeared on www.sportscityscramble. com.

A

162.9 passer rating, 2,447 passing yards, 24 passing touchdowns, 1 interception, 558 rushing yards, and 6 rushing touchdowns. This isn’t the stat line of AJ McCarron. It’s not Johnny Football. It’s not Zach Mettenberger. It’s Connor Shaw. Shaw had a season for the ages for the South Carolina Gamecocks this year, and, just like that, he’s gone. But he

wouldn’t leave without one last exhibition of his underrated skills. Against Wisconsin in the Capital One Bowl, Shaw proved why he is the heart and soul of the Gamecocks. He passed for 312 yards on 22 of 25 passing for three touchdowns. That’s a completion percentage of 88 percent. He Hugh also rushed for 47 OSTEEN yards and a touchdown. And, for fun, he deMATT WALSH / THE ITEM cided to catch a touchdown pass South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw on an amazing double reverse (14) finished his career as not only one of the pass from Bruce Ellington. He top signal callers in USC history, but as one of SEE OSTEEN, PAGE B4 the top quarterbacks in the country this year.

Carolina 4th in final polls Clemson ranked 7th, 8th FROM STAFF REPORTS COLUMBIA — The University of South Carolina football team finished fourth in the final Associated Press and USA Today/ ESPN Coaches polls, it was announced on Tuesday. It marked the

BY PAUL NEWBERRY The Associated Press

HH girls’ offense, boys’ defense too much for Barons

ATLANTA — There were a lot of guys who threw harder than Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine. No one knew more about pitching. Mad Dog and Glav were stalwarts in the Atlanta Braves rotation, a potent 1-2 punch for an entire decade MADDUX on a team that made the playoffs year after year. Now, they have a chance to come together again for the highest honor of their caGLAVINE reers — membership in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Maddux and Glavine are both eligible for the first time, with the inductees to be announced today. They hope to join their former manager, Bobby Cox, who was picked for the Hall last month in a separate vote. “They’re the guys that got me

BY MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER mchristopher@theitem.com

SEE TROUBLE, PAGE B3

SEE POLLS, PAGE B4

Braves duo looks to enter Hall together

Double trouble for WH

Fans got a display of two types of basketball on Tuesday between Heathwood Hall and Wilson Hall as both games at Nash Student Center were polar opposites – one showcased offense and the other defense. Heathwood’s A’ja Wilson put on an athletic PREP SCHEDULE display in the Lady HighToday Varsity Basketball landers’ Robert E. Lee at Governor’s 74-33 rout of School, 6 p.m. Varsity and JV Basketball Wilson Hall Sumter at Spring Valley (No girls, and JV Boys), 5:30 p.m. B Team Basketball Ryan Ellis Crestwood at Keenan (Boys sparked HH Only), 6 p.m. Dorchester at Thomas Sum- to a 43-34 ter, 6 p.m. victory in the Varsity Bowling Wilson Hall, Laurence Man- boys game. ning, Robert E. Lee at OrIn the boys angeburg Prep (at JC Lanes in Lexington), 5 p.m. game, when Varsity Wrestling Lugoff-Elgin at Sumter, 6 p.m. the Barons were looking to gain control and possibly take momentum away from Heathwood, someone answered with a big play. Ellis, who had a game high 18 points, hit a clutch 3-point shot that extended the Highlanders’ lead to 34-28 with less than five minutes to play. After Brent Carraway’s bucket made

highest postseason ranking in school history. Florida State (140) received every first place vote in both polls, finishing just ahead of Auburn (12-2). Big Ten Champion Michigan State (13-

SEE HALL, PAGE B6

MATT WALSH / THE ITEM

Heathwood Hall’s A’ja Wilson (22) slaps a ball away from Wilson Hall’s Hayley Smoak (4) during the Lady Highlanders’ 74-33 victory on Tuesday at Nash Student Center. Wilson scored 41 points as Heathwood’s offense proved dominant. The opposite was true in the boys game as a stifling defense and Ryan Ellis’ 18 points helped the Highlanders earn a 43-34 victory and a sweep of the Barons.

WHAT: National Baseball Hall of Fame selection announcement WHEN: Noon TV: MLB Network

FSU’s next goal is to maintain championship success BY KAREEM COPELAND Th Associated Press NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher says winning the national championship was the culmination of a four-year process that began when he replaced Bobby Bowden as the head of the program in 2010. The next challenge is to sustain that success. Fisher now finds himself in Bowden’s old shoes where titles will be expected from a passionate fan base. Florida State beat Auburn 34-31 Monday night to win its first crown since 1999. “You’ve got to go back to ground zero and you can’t worry about expectations,’’ Fisher said Tuesday. “That’s the thing, once expectations

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher, left, kisses The Coaches’ Trophy after the Seminoles defeated Auburn 34-31 on Monday in the BCS National Championship game in Pasadena, Calif.

get so high, is to not let complacency set in.’’ “It’s human nature, you take win-

ning for granted. You take success for granted,’’ he said. A quick glance at the roster shows

why Florida State (14-0) will enter 2014 as the favorite. The Seminoles return Heisman quarterback Jameis Winston for his sophomore season and lose just three senior offensive starters. Florida State must replace four senior defensive starters and Fisher said he thinks there are up to three underclassmen who have decisions to make about a possible move to the NFL. “The future is bright,’’ freshman cornerback Jalen Ramsey said. “We know what it takes now. We know how it feels. We don’t be disappointed next year from not being here. “We want to make this thing a dynasty. Florida State is back to where it should always be.’’ That senior class was Fisher’s first as head coach and was the cornerstone of the new foundation. The 2011 class, however, was widely considered the No. SEE SEMINOLES, PAGE B4

B2

SPORTS

THE ITEM

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014

Martin encouraged by USC’s play

PREP SCHEDULE

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

South Carolina head coach Frank Martin, center, has been pleased with his team’s play as of late as the Gamecocks carry a 4-game winning streak into today’s Southeastern Conference opener at Florida.

“He’s one of those guys that always pulling guys to the right side of the fence’’ to have success, Martin said. “Not having that is going to hurt our team until other guys figure it out.’’ South Carolina has not had must SEC success in recent years. The Gamecocks haven’t posted a winning league mark since going 10-6 in 2008-09, combining for a 17-49 mark the past four seasons. Martin double the team’s SEC win total in his first season by going 4-14. South Carolina was picked to finish 12th in the 14-team league year, voted ahead of only Mississippi State and Auburn in the preseason poll last October. Martin’s settled on a starting lineup of three freshmen, a sophomore and secondleading scorer Brenton Williams, who’s averaged 11.2 points a game. Top scorer Johnson has come off the bench the past four games after starting the first nine contests.

BASKETBALL ROUNDUP

|

Cavs acquire Deng in deal for Bynum INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — The risk the Cavaliers took on Andrew Bynum paid off after all. Luol Deng is coming to Cleveland. The Cavs acquired Deng, a two-time All-Star small forward, from the Chicago Bulls early Tuesday for Bynum, the enigmatic center who was signed during the summer and recently dismissed from the team for detrimental DENG conduct. The Bulls are expected to release Bynum, who has chronically bad knees and has played just 24 games the past two seasons. Bynum is due another $6 million on the unique two-year, $24 million contract he signed with Cleveland in July, but the Bulls won’t have to pay him if he’s released by Tuesday afternoon. With their season uprooted by Derrick Rose’s injury, the Bulls can save salary-cap space by cutting Bynum. Cleveland also gave Chicago a first-round pick from Sacramento, two secondround selections and gave Chicago the right to swap first-round choices in 2015 if the Cavs are not in the lottery. GRIZZ, THUNDER, C’S PULL OFF TRADE

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Grizzlies have acquired guard Courtney Lee and have sent guard Jerryd Bayless to the Boston Celtics as part of a three-team trade that also includes the Oklahoma City Thunder. Under terms of the deal announced Tuesday, the

Grizzlies get Lee and a 2016 second-round draft pick from Boston. The Celtics get Bayless and also receive forward Ryan Gomes from Oklahoma City. The Grizzlies sent a 2014 secondround pick they’d acquired from Philadelphia in August and a 2017 second-round pick to the Thunder. Both picks going to Oklahoma City are conditional. WIZARDS BOBCATS

97 83

CHARLOTTE — Bradley Beal scored 21 points, and Washington had five players score in double figures in the victory. Marcin Gortat added 18 points and John Wall had 17 for the Wizards. Gerald Henderson led the Bobcats with a seasonhigh 27 points. Kemba Walker added 19 and Ramon Sessions 10. CAVALIERS 76ERS

111 93

CLEVELAND — C.J. Miles set a team record with 10 3-pointers and scored a season-high 34 points, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 111-93 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night. HEAT PELICANS

TV, RADIO TODAY 1 p.m. -- Professional Basketball: NBA Development League Game from Reno, Nev. -- Erie vs. Idaho (NBA TV). 3:40 p.m. -- Professional Basketball: NBA Development League Game -- Rio Grande Valley at Maine (NBA TV). 6:05 p.m. -- Talk Show: Sports Talk (WDXY-FM 105.9, WDXY-AM 1240). 7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Villanova at Seton Hall (CBS SPORTS NETWORK). 7 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Dallas at San Antonio (ESPN). 7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Kansas at Oklahoma (ESPN2). 7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Harvard vs. Connecticut from Storrs, Conn. (ESPNU). 7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Georgetown at Providence (FOX SPORTS 1). 7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Wake Forest at Virginia (FOX SPORTSOUTH). 7 p.m. -- College Basketball: South Carolina at Florida (WDXY-FM 105.9, WNKT-FM 107;.5, WDXY-AM 1240). 8 p.m. -- NHL Hockey: New York Rangers at Chicago (NBC SPORTS NETWORK). 9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Nevada at Nevada-Las Vegas (CBS SPORTS NETWORK). 9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Miami at North Carolina (ESPN). 9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Texas at Oklahoma State (ESPNU). 9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Arkansas at Texas A&M (FOX SPORTSOUTH). 9:30 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Phoenix at Minnesota (ESPN). 11 p.m. -- College Basketball: Boise State at San Diego State (ESPNU). 12:30 a.m. -- College Basketball: Academy of Art at BYU (Hawaii) (BYUTV).

BY PETE IACOBELLI The Associated Press COLUMBIA — South Carolina head coach Frank Martin likes the spirit he’s seen during the Gamecocks’ four-game win streak and hopes the players can keep that going when they open Southeastern Conference play at No. 10 Florida this week. South Carolina started 2-5, including consecutive home losses to Manhattan and USC Upstate, raised questions about the program. The Gamecocks’ recent opponents have not been the level of competition they’ll face in the SEC, but South Carolina (7-6) has won five of its last six games and opens league play with a growing sense of confidence. Martin says practices have picked up and his young team believes the work they’ve put in is paying off. They will find out how much against the Gators (11-2), who have won four straight over the Gamecocks. “I’m encouraged. We’re starting to develop a corps of guys that are getting it every day,’’ Martin said. Martin understood this season would have a few bumps, particularly with eight newcomers — including seven freshmen — on his roster. Things looked ready to implode last month with the consecutive home losses when the Gamecocks found some stability about 4,600 miles away from campus at the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii during Christmas week. South Carolina defeated St. Mary’s and Akron to finish third and brought that momentum back to the mainland with three straight wins to close out nonconference play. “These last few games, we’ve all been buying into what coach has asked us to do,’’ said Tyrone Johnson, a Villanova transfer playing his first season for the Gamecocks. “I think earlier in the year, we didn’t find ourselves as a team.’’ The Gamecocks will have to improve without one of their most experienced leaders in Bruce Ellington, a two-sport athlete who gave up his final college seasons in basketball and football to enter the NFL draft. Ellington was the leading receiver for Steve Spurrier’s football team. He played three basketball games this season between the end of football’s regular season and the start of workouts for the Gamecocks’ 34-24 win in the Capital One Bowl over Wisconsin. Martin said others will have to fill the leadership void left by Ellington — and in a hurry.

SCOREBOARD

107 88

MIAMI — LeBron James scored 32 points and Dwyane Wade had 22 to power Miami to the win. It was the 10th 30-point game of the season for James. The Heat are 9-1 when he scores that many. PACERS RAPTORS

INDIANAPOLIS — Roy Hibbert scored 22 points and Danny Granger

86 79

matched his season high with 13, helping Indiana to its third consecutive win. KNICKS PISTONS

89 85

NEW YORK — Carmelo Anthony scored 13 of his 34 points in the third quarter, and then made the clinching free throws with 2.9 seconds left as the Knicks handed the Pistons a season-high fifth straight loss. MEN’S TOP 25 (9) IOWA ST. (7) BAYLOR

87 72

AMES, Iowa — DeAndre Kane had a season-high 30 points with nine assists and No. 9 Iowa State rolled past No. 7 Baylor 87-72, setting a school record with its 14th straight win. Melvin Ejim added 18 points for the Cyclones (140, 2-0 Big 12). They outscored Baylor 47-34 in the second half and rolled to a surprisingly decisive win over a fellow Big 12 title contender. (16) DUKE GEORGIA TECH

79 57

DURHAM, N.C. — Rodney Hood scored 15 of his 27 points in the second half, and No. 16 Duke beat Georgia Tech 79-57. Quinn Cook added 13 points and slumping freshman Jabari Parker had 12 on 4-of-12 shooting for the Blue Devils. (25) KANSAS ST. TCU

65 47

FORT WORTH, Texas — Thomas Gipson scored 19 points, Marcus Foster added 16 and No. 25 Kansas State ran its winning streak to 10 games with a 65-47 victory over TCU. From wire reports

Thursday Junior Varsity Basketball Crestwood at Manning, 6 p.m. Lakewood at Darlington, 6 p.m. JV and B Team Basketball Sumter at Dutch Fork (No B Team Girls), 5:30 p.m. B Team Basketball Holly Hill at Clarendon Hall (Girls), 6 p.m. Middle School Basketball Mayewood at Alice Drive, 5 p.m. Bates at Hillcrest, 5 p.m. Lugoff-Elgin at Chestnut Oaks, 5 p.m. Ebenezer at Furman, 5 p.m. Holly Hill at Manning, 6 p.m. Friday Varsity Basketball Dutch Fork at Sumter, 6 p.m. Manning at Crestwood, 6 p.m. Darlington at Lakewood, 6 p.m. St. Francis Xavier at Andrew Jackson Academy (Boys), 7 p.m. Varsity and JV Basketball Wilson Hall at Augusta Christian, 4 p.m. Laurence Manning at Orangeburg Prep, 4 p.m. Thomas Sumter at Dorchester, 4 p.m. Pee Dee at Robert E. Lee, 4 p.m. Jefferson Davis at Clarendon Hall, 4 p.m. Sumter Christian at Conway Christian, 4 p.m. Varsity Wrestling Sumter in Greenwood Invitational, TBA Saturday Varsity Basketball Lower Richland at Sumter, 6 p.m. B Team Basketball Calhoun Academy at Thomas Sumter, 3 p.m. Dillon Christian at Robert E. Lee (Girls), 11 a.m. The King’s Academy at Robert E. Lee (Boys), noon Clarendon Hall at St. John’s Christian (Girls), 3 p.m. Varsity Wrestling Sumter in Greenwood Invitational, TBA

COLLEGE BASKETBALL Schedule Today EAST Army at Lehigh, 7 p.m. UNC Wilmington at Northeastern, 7 p.m. Minnesota at Penn St., 7 p.m. Georgetown at Providence, 7 p.m. Villanova at Seton Hall, 7 p.m. Harvard at UConn, 7 p.m. Saint Joseph’s at UMass, 7 p.m. SOUTH South Carolina at Florida, 7 p.m. UNC Asheville at Gardner-Webb, 7 p.m. Winthrop at Presbyterian, 7 p.m. Liberty at Radford, 7 p.m. Longwood at VMI, 7 p.m. Wake Forest at Virginia, 7 p.m. Coastal Carolina at Charleston Southern, 7:30 p.m. Md.-Eastern Shore at S.C. State, 7:30 p.m. Mississippi St. at Kentucky, 8 p.m. Miami at North Carolina, 9 p.m. MIDWEST Miami (Ohio) at Cent. Michigan, 7 p.m. Ohio at Kent St., 7 p.m. Georgia at Missouri, 8 p.m. Illinois St. at Wichita St., 8 p.m. Illinois at Wisconsin, 9 p.m. SOUTHWEST Kansas at Oklahoma, 7 p.m. Texas at Oklahoma St., 9 p.m. Arkansas at Texas A&M, 9 p.m. FAR WEST Colorado vs. Washington St. at Spokane (Wash.) Arena, 9 p.m. Nevada at UNLV, 9:15 p.m. Air Force at Fresno St., 10:05 p.m. Utah at Washington, 11 p.m. Boise St. at San Diego St., 11:05 p.m. Thursday EAST South Florida at Temple, 7 p.m. SOUTH UNC Greensboro at Appalachian St., 7 p.m. Florida St. at Clemson, 7 p.m. Davidson at Furman, 7 p.m. Memphis at Louisville, 7 p.m. Auburn at Mississippi, 7 p.m. Florida Gulf Coast at North Florida, 7 p.m. N. Kentucky at USC Upstate, 7 p.m. George Mason at VCU, 7 p.m. The Citadel at Wofford, 7 p.m. FAU at Louisiana Tech, 7:30 p.m. E. Illinois at Tennessee Tech, 8 p.m. Georgia St. at W. Kentucky, 8 p.m. MIDWEST DePaul at Butler, 7 p.m. N. Dakota St. at IPFW, 7 p.m. S. Dakota St. at IUPUI, 7 p.m. Idaho St. at North Dakota, 8 p.m. Belmont at SE Missouri, 8 p.m. Northwestern at Iowa, 9 p.m. Michigan at Nebraska, 9 p.m. Marquette at Xavier, 9 p.m. SOUTHWEST Louisiana-Monroe at Texas-Arlington, 1 p.m. Southern Miss. at North Texas, 8 p.m. FIU at Rice, 8 p.m. Idaho at Texas-Pan American, 8 p.m. South Alabama at UALR, 8 p.m. Marshall at UTSA, 8 p.m. Troy at Arkansas St., 8:05 p.m. Stephen F. Austin at Houston Baptist, 8:30 p.m. Nicholls St. at Lamar, 8:30 p.m. Northwestern St. at Texas A&M-CC, 8:30 p.m. McNeese St. at Sam Houston St., 8:45 p.m. Tulane at Tulsa, 9 p.m. Charlotte at UTEP, 9:05 p.m. FAR WEST Sacramento St. at N. Arizona, 8:30 p.m. Pepperdine at BYU, 9 p.m. Seattle at New Mexico St., 9 p.m. Arizona at UCLA, 9 p.m. Montana at E. Washington, 9:05 p.m. Weber St. at N. Colorado, 9:05 p.m. Grand Canyon at CS Bakersfield, 10 p.m. UC Davis at CS Northridge, 10 p.m. Hawaii at Cal Poly, 10 p.m. UC Riverside at Cal St.-Fullerton, 10 p.m. Stanford at Oregon St., 10 p.m. San Francisco at Pacific, 10 p.m. Santa Clara at Saint Mary’s (Cal), 10 p.m. Loyola Marymount at San Diego, 10 p.m. Arizona St. at Southern Cal, 10 p.m. Montana St. at Portland St., 10:05 p.m. UC Irvine at Long Beach St., 11 p.m. California at Oregon, 11 p.m.

| Gonzaga at Portland, 11 p.m.

NFL PLAYOFFS By The Associated Press Wild-card Playoffs Saturday, Jan. 4 Indianapolis 45, Kansas City 44 New Orleans 26, Philadelphia 24 Sunday, Jan. 5 San Diego 27, Cincinnati 10 San Francisco 23, Green Bay 20 Divisional Playoffs Saturday, Jan. 11 New Orleans at Seattle, 4:35 p.m. (FOX) Indianapolis at New England, 8:15 p.m. (CBS) Sunday, Jan. 12 San Francisco at Carolina, 1:05 p.m. (FOX) San Diego at Denver, 4:40 p.m. (CBS) Conference Championships Sunday, Jan. 19 AFC, 3 p.m. (CBS) NFC, 6:30 p.m. (FOX) Pro Bowl Sunday, Jan. 26 At Honolulu TBD, 7:30 p.m. (NBC) Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2 At East Rutherford, N.J. AFC champion vs. NFC champion, 6:30 p.m. (FOX)

NBA STANDINGS By The Associated Press EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pct Toronto 16 16 .500 Boston 13 21 .382 Brooklyn 13 21 .382 Philadelphia 12 22 .353 New York 11 22 .333 Southeast Division W L Pct Miami 26 8 .765 Atlanta 18 17 .514 Washington 14 17 .452 Charlotte 15 20 .429 Orlando 10 24 .294 Central Division W L Pct Indiana 27 6 .818 Chicago 14 18 .438 Detroit 14 20 .412 Cleveland 11 23 .324 Milwaukee 7 26 .212 WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division W L Pct San Antonio 26 8 .765 Houston 22 13 .629 Dallas 19 15 .559 New Orleans 15 17 .469 Memphis 15 18 .455 Northwest Division W L Pct Oklahoma City 27 7 .794 Portland 26 8 .765 Minnesota 17 17 .500 Denver 16 17 .485 Utah 11 25 .306 Pacific Division W L Pct L.A. Clippers 24 13 .649 Golden State 23 13 .639 Phoenix 20 12 .625 L.A. Lakers 14 20 .412 Sacramento 10 22 .313 Monday’s Games Minnesota 126, Philadelphia 95 Brooklyn 91, Atlanta 86 L.A. Clippers 101, Orlando 81 Tuesday’s Games Toronto at Indiana, 7 p.m. Philadelphia at Cleveland, 7 p.m. Washington at Charlotte, 7 p.m. New Orleans at Miami, 7:30 p.m. Detroit at New York, 7:30 p.m. Phoenix at Chicago, 8 p.m. Golden State at Milwaukee, 8 p.m. San Antonio at Memphis, 8 p.m. L.A. Lakers at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. Boston at Denver, 9 p.m. Oklahoma City at Utah, 9 p.m. Portland at Sacramento, 10 p.m. Today’s Games Dallas at San Antonio, 7 p.m. Detroit at Toronto, 7 p.m. Golden State at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m. Indiana at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m. L.A. Lakers at Houston, 8 p.m. Washington at New Orleans, 8 p.m. Phoenix at Minnesota, 9:30 p.m. Orlando at Portland, 10 p.m. Boston at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m. Thursday’s Games Miami at New York, 8 p.m. Oklahoma City at Denver, 10:30 p.m.

GB – 4 4 5 51/2 GB – 81/2 101/2 111/2 16 GB – 121/2 131/2 161/2 20 GB – 41/2 7 10 101/2 GB – 1 10 101/2 17 GB – 1/2 11/2 81/2 111/2

NHL STANDINGS By The Associated Press EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Boston 42 28 12 2 58 124 89 Montreal 44 25 14 5 55 114 103 Tampa Bay 42 25 13 4 54 119 100 Detroit 43 19 14 10 48 114 121 Toronto 43 21 17 5 47 119 127 Ottawa 44 19 18 7 45 126 141 Florida 43 16 21 6 38 102 136 Buffalo 42 12 26 4 28 74 118 Metropolitan Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Pittsburgh 44 31 12 1 63 142 103 Philadelphia 42 21 17 4 46 111 116 Washington 42 20 16 6 46 128 128 Carolina 43 18 16 9 45 105 124 N.Y. Rangers 44 21 20 3 45 108 119 New Jersey 43 17 18 8 42 101 110 Columbus 43 19 20 4 42 117 126 N.Y. Islanders 44 15 22 7 37 119 146 WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Chicago 45 29 7 9 67 167 124 St. Louis 41 29 7 5 63 150 95 Colorado 42 26 12 4 56 123 108 Minnesota 44 22 17 5 49 106 113 Dallas 42 20 15 7 47 123 131 Winnipeg 45 19 21 5 43 123 135 Nashville 43 18 19 6 42 102 129 Pacific Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Anaheim 44 31 8 5 67 146 111 San Jose 43 27 10 6 60 142 111 Los Angeles 43 26 13 4 56 113 89 Vancouver 44 23 13 8 54 117 108 Phoenix 41 20 12 9 49 123 127 Calgary 42 15 21 6 36 100 131 Edmonton 45 14 26 5 33 117 156 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. Monday’s Games Columbus 4, N.Y. Rangers 3, SO N.Y. Islanders 7, Dallas 3 Montreal 2, Florida 1 Calgary 4, Colorado 3 Tuesday’s Games Carolina at Buffalo, ppd., inclement weather N.Y. Islanders at Toronto, 7 p.m. Philadelphia at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m. San Jose at Nashville, 8 p.m. Tampa Bay at Winnipeg, 8 p.m. Calgary at Phoenix, 9 p.m. St. Louis at Edmonton, 9:30 p.m. Pittsburgh at Vancouver, 10 p.m. Boston at Anaheim, 10 p.m. Minnesota at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m. Today’s Games Montreal at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. N.Y. Rangers at Chicago, 8 p.m. Ottawa at Colorado, 9:30 p.m. Thursday’s Games Florida at Buffalo, 7 p.m. Dallas at New Jersey, 7 p.m. Toronto at Carolina, 7 p.m. Washington at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m. Anaheim at Nashville, 8 p.m. St. Louis at Calgary, 9 p.m. Minnesota at Phoenix, 9 p.m. Boston at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m. Detroit at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.

PREP SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014

THE ITEM

B3

Crestwood cruises to 62-19 win SUMMERTON — Crestwood High School’s varsity girls basketball team improved to 11-3 on the season with 62-19 victory over Scott’s Branch on Tuesday at the Scott’s Branch gymnasium. Ladazha Cole led the Lady Eagles with 19 points. Tyana Saunders added 12 and Keanua Williams had 10. LAURENCE MANNING HOLLY HILL

45 32

HOLLY HILL — Laurence Manning Academy defeated Holly Hill 45-32 on Tuesday at the Holly Hill gymnasium. Haley Hatfield led the Lady Swampcats with 11 points. Emily McElveen added 10.

GIRLS AREA ROUNDUP ORANGEBURG PREP THOMAS SUMTER

42 29

DALZELL — Thomas Sumter Academy fell to 6-5 on the season with a 42-29 loss to Orangeburg Prep on Tuesday at Edens Gymnasium. Taylor Knudson led TSA with eight points. Cassidy Hills led OP with 14 points. ORANGEBURG PREP Hills 14, Fralix 5, Mims 2, Williams 8, Eglesias 8, Stephens 2, Fulmer 2, Racey 2. THOMAS SUMTER Knudson 8, Chappell 3, Long 4, Ross 5, Law 4, Nevels 5.

JUNIOR VARSITY BASKETBALL WILSON HALL 34 HEATHWOOD HALL 17

Wilson Hall remained unbeaten on the season with 34-17 victory over Heathwood Hall on Tuesday at Nash Student Center. Mary Margaret

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Munn led the Lady Baron, who improved to 8-0 on the season, with eight points. LAURENCE MANNING HOLLY HILL

31 21

HOLLY HIlL — Laurence Manning Academy defeated Holly Hill 31-21 on Tuesday at the Holly Hill gymnasium. Brooke Bennet led the Lady Swampcats with nine points. Sara Herbert added seven. MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL LEE CENTRAL 15 MCBEE 14

MCBEE — Lee Central defeated McBee 15-14 on Monday at the McBee gymnasium. Brynasia Wesley led Lee Central with eight points. Shawntia Ford added six.

BOYS AREA ROUNDUP MATT WALSH / THE ITEM

Wilson Hall’s Sam Watford (3) battles for a rebound against Heathwood Hall’s Alex Curtin (34) during the Highlanders’ 43-34 victory on Tuesday at Nash Student Center.

TROUBLE fromPageB1

GIRLS HEATHWOOD HALL 74, WILSON HALL 33

it a 1-possession game with the Barons trailing 36-34, Heathwood’s Trenton Flemming hit a 3-pointer to extend the lead to 39-34 with 1:11 left in the game. WH, which fell to 6-5 on the year, could only manage to foul the remainder of the way. “We’re kind of learning on the go what’s good for us and what’s not, but for the most part if you play hard defensively you’re going to give yourself a chance and I thought we did that,� Wilson Hall head coach Eddie Talley said of the game. “We moved the ball fairly well, we just didn’t knock down some shots and hopefully before long we will. Carraway led the Barons with 10 points while Blake Bochette and Grier Schwartz each added six. “I’m not disappointed in the way that we played; I’m disappointed I felt like we had a chance to win this one and we let it slip away,� Talley said. “We’re so new that they don’t know me and I don’t know them, but we’re getting there. We’ll continue to play hard and good things will happen.� Heathwood improved to 7-4. In the girls game, Wilson’s length and height proved too difficult on both ends of the floor for WH as she nearly had double-digit numbers in steals, blocked shots and rebounds. There was even a breakaway dunk opportunity – but she missed it. It was about the only thing that went awry for the Lady Highlanders, who improved to 10-2, as their size provided problems for Wilson Hall all night. “Anytime you have that much length on the inside, and it’s not just A’ja – it’s Gadson (Leftt) and the other girls that are really good players and a lot bigger than we were,� Wilson Hall head coach Glen Rector said. “She’s improved her skills so much and she’s become a much stronger finisher on the inside and she’s such a great player.� In the first half, Wilson paced a 32point first quarter for Heathwood with

HH WH

32 7

17 13

21 4

4 -- 74 9 -- 33

HEATHWOOD HALL Ress 4, Wilson 41, Lefft 10, Joesph 4, Dickerson 15. WILSON HALL Kelley 2, Jordan 1, Alderman 2, Goodson 8, Zilch 4, Fisher 7, Cunningham 4, Hawkins 3, Scott 2.

BOYS HEATHWOOD HALL 43, WILSON HALL 34 HH WH

9 8

7 6

15 12

12 -- 43 8 -- 34

HEATHWOOD HALL Ellis 18, Flemming 5, Vaughn 7, Dryer 2, Hill 1, Caldwell 4, Curtin 3. WILSON HALL Bochette 6, Kinney 4, Ballard 2, Carraway 10, Talley 3, Lowder 3, Schwartz 6.

20 ponts. She had 33 first-half points with her team leading 49-20 at halftime. She added eight in the third quarter and did not play in the fourth to finish with 41. Vicky Dickerson and Lefft also scored in double digits for HH. Dickerson finished with 15. while Lefft pitched in 10. Lauren Goodson led WH with eight points while Nicolette Fisher added seven. Much like the boys squad, the 7-5 Lady Barons are going through growing pains as they lost most of their experience in the post positions. The team has one senior, four juniors and two sophomores who have varsity experience, but for many of them this is their first year of varsity on a regular basis. “Being prepared mentally to play one of the top players in the country can be a little bit intimidating, and I felt like we started out that way,� Rector said. “But I also felt like as the game went on we maintained our composure and tried to play. Rector said despite the loss facing an opponent like Heathwood can only help the team gain confidence both mentally and physically. The team also lowered its turnovers and was more aggressive in the second half as it didn’t try to change its game or the tempo.

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Thomas Sumter tops OP 55-36 DALZELL — Thomas Sumter Academy’s varsity boys basketball team improved to 6-5 on the season with a 55-36 victory over Orangeburg Prep on Tuesday at Edens Gymnasium. Carlton Washington had a double-double for the Generals with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Ronald York added nine points. CRESTWOOD SCOTT’S BRANCH

90 31

SUMMERTON — Tyrell Allen scored 18 points to lead Crestwood High School to a 90-31 victory over Scott’s Branch on Tuesdsay at the Scott’s Branch gymnasium. James Brailsford added 15 points while Darnell Robateau had 14 and Colby Thomas 12. LAURENCE MANNING HOLLY HILL

81 47

HOLLY HILL — Laurence Manning Academy had five players score in double figures in an 81-47 victory over Holly Hill on Tuesday at the Holly Hill gymnasium. Vaughnte Anderson led LMA with 18 points. Rashard Robinson and Cagney Brunson each added 11 points while Shakei Green and Melquan House each had 10. JUNIOR VARSITY BASKETBALL WILSON HALL HEATHWOOD HALL

43 41

Wilson Hall improved to 6-2 on the season with a 43-41 victory over Heathwood Hall on Tuesday at Nash Student Center. Jay Barnes led the Barons with

13 points while Chandler Stone had 10. CRESTWOOD SCOTT’S BRANCH

53 40

SUMMERTON — Crestwood High School defeated Scott’s Branch 53-40 on Tuesday at the Scott’ts Branch gymnasium to improve to 6-0 on the season. Jae Morant led the Knights with 20 points. Tyquan Logan added eight. LAURENCE MANNING HOLLY HILL

57 24

HOLLY HILL — Laurence Manning Academy defeated Holly Hill 57-24 on Tuesday at the Holly Hill gymnasium. Burke Mishoe led LMA with 12 points while Taylor Lee added 11. B TEAM BASKETBALL LAURENCE MANNING CLARENDON COUNTY

32 24

MANNING — Laurence Manning Academy defeated the Clarendon County Trail Blazers 32-24 on Tuesday at Bubba Davis Gymnasium. Chase Lee led LMA with nine points while Brent Jordan added seven. MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL LEE CENTRAL MCBEE

52 34

MCBEE — Lee Central defeated McBee 52-34 on Monday at the Lee Central gymnasium. Tyandre Cousar led Lee Central with 16 points. Dayrice Austin grabbed 12 rebounds. Go Online for Your

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B4

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

THE ITEM

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014

Bitter ending, but high hopes for Auburn BY JOHN ZENOR The Associated Press NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — The Auburn Tigers know there’s only one way to top this season. The Tigers came within 13 seconds of completing the biggest turnaround in college football history, winning a national championship and slapping a triumphant ending on a fairytale season. Instead, they were left with a 34-31 defeat to Florida State and contemplating next season’s mission. “To finish it off,’’ tailback Tre Mason said. “Do whatever it takes to finish. We made it all the way here and we let up off the gas pedal. Next time we need to crank it up to another gear and finish this thing off right.’’ It remains to be seen if the Heisman Trophy finalist and near-hero of the title game will be around to help bring that to fruition. Mason is considering joining All-Southeastern Conference left tackle Greg Robinson in leaving early to enter the NFL draft. Robinson announced his decision on Tuesday. Even if Mason turns pro, the Tigers (12-2) won’t be sneaking up on anybody after finishing with a No. 2 ranking. With quarterback Nick Marshall leading the way, Auburn could well be regarded as an SEC and national title contender again. Certainly, Gus Malzahn’s team raised the bar back to its perch from that 2010 national championship in his

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn, center, and the Tigers have high hopes for next season after a turnaround 2013 campaign.

first season “We’re going up,’’ Malzahn said. “The experience that we had and we’ve got most of our guys coming back, recruiting is going great. Our goal is to get back here, and I really believe we’ll do it.’’ His uptempo offense set school marks for total and rushing yards and became the first SEC team to lead the nation in rushing. The Tigers matched the 2000 Hawaii team for the biggest rebound after going 3-9 in 2012. Jameis Winston dashed the Tigers’ title hopes with an 80-yard drive and 2-yard touchdown pass to Kelvin Benjamin with 13 seconds left.

Top receiver Sammie Coates, center Reese Dismukes and leading tackler linebacker Cassanova McKinzy and defensive tackle Gabe Wright are returning. So are promising freshman defensive linemen Carl Lawson and Montravius Adams, and projected defensive starters Jeff Whitaker and Justin Garrett are back after missing the season with injuries. For the first time in Malzahn’s college career, he could have the same starting quarterback two years in a row. Marshall got better at running the offense as the season went along. He passed for 1,976 yards and ran for 1,068, accounting for 26 total touchdowns. A team

COLLEGE FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK

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Prominent Texas donor bashes Strong hiring AUSTIN, Texas — A billionaire donor to the University of Texas says the hire of new football coach Charlie Strong was like a “kick in the face.’’ Red McCombs has donated millions to Texas, and his name is on the north side of the football stadium. He publicly lobbied for Texas to hire Jon MCCOMBS Gruden. Hours after Strong was introduced Monday at a campus news conference, McCombs, the former STRONG owner of the Minnesota Vikings and the San Antonio Spurs, complained to KZDC-AM in San Antonio that he was ignored in the coaching search. “I think it is a kick in the face,’’ McCombs said. “Beyond the fact of what actually happened. We have boosters that have a lot of knowledge about the game.’’ McCombs said prominent donors had a lot of input when Texas hired Mack Brown in 1997. This time, the coaching search was led by new athletic director Steve Patterson. McCombs said Texas got the

SEMINOLES from Page B1 1 recruiting class in the country and one of the best in school history. Then there’s the 2012 class that includes Winston, another handful of starters and more young talent that had to wait their turn. This was not an old team that will need to replace starters all over the field. “I don’t care how talented

selection “wrong’’ and that Strong would be a good position coach or coordinator. He later said he would support Strong and wished him well when they spoke by phone Sunday night. MIZZOU RB JOSEY DECLARES FOR NFL DRAFT

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri junior running back Henry Josey has declared for the NFL draft. Tuesday’s announcement comes four days after Josey was the offensive player of the game for the Tigers’ Cotton Bowl victory over Oklahoma State with three touchdowns, including the go-ahead score. Josey missed all of 2012 with a left knee injury, and rebounded this year with 1,166 yards and 16 touchdowns. LB HARRIS LEAVING TENNESSEE

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee linebacker Christian Harris has decided to leave the football program. The school announced the decision on Tuesday on the football program’s Twitter account.’ Harris played all 12 games this season while contributing mostly on special teams. He made five tackles. Harris had torn his ACL during 2012 spring practice but returned to play 10 games that season. From wire reports

you are,’’ Fisher maintained. “This team has to go back, get its own identity, get its own leadership and develop that, and that’s going to be our challenge now. It’s how hungry can you stay to be able to do it over and over again, and that’s going to be the challenge and our mindset and that’s going to be my temperament going in, to be able to set that stage so we can do that and stay on top and be very competitive at the top.’’ “That’s our nature as humans, it’s not too grind, it’s

that was picked to finish fifth in the SEC West might be in the vicinity of that in the preseason national rankings. “I’m not sure Top 10, Top 5, whatever,’’ tight end C.J. Uzomah said. “Even if they put us down further, that’s not going to bother anybody. We know that we have to do what we do. We’re going to have an unbelievable offseason. “Nick hasn’t even been in the system for a year. Having him coming back is going to be amazing. The players that we have coming back, they’re going to be difference makers. We’re going to have to have a really good offseason and get back to this place.’’

POLLS from Page B1 1) placed third, with the Gamecocks (11-2) and Missouri (12-2) rounding out the top 5 in both polls. “Being ranked No. 4 in both major polls is an honor for the University of South Carolina and for our football program,” said head coach Steve Spurrier. “Thanks to the players for achieving another 11-2 record. Thanks also to the coaches, the support staff and our fans for their contributions. Also thanks to the voters for thinking so highly of us. We are very appreciative and thankful for being the highest–ranked team in school history and hope to do better next year.” This is the ninth time that Carolina has finished the season ranked in the final Associated Press poll and the third-straight top-10 finish. Carolina’s postseason A.P. rankings are 1958 (13); 1984 (11); 1987 (15); 2000 (19); 2001 (13); 2010 (22); 2011 (9); 2012 (8); 2013 (4). Likewise, Clemson also finished in the top 10. The Tigers were ranked seventh by USA Today and eighth by the Associated Press in the final polls. The number-seven ranking in USA Today is the highest final ranking for the Clemson program in one of the two major polls since 1981 when Clemson won the National Championship according to both wire services. Clemson’s number-eight final ranking in Associated Press is the highest for the program in that poll since a number-eight final ranking in 1982. The 2013 season marks the ninth season Clemson has been ranked in the final top 10 of at least one poll. It is the first time Clemson has had a top 10 final ranking in consecutive years since 1987 and 1988. Clemson was 10th in the final Coaches Poll of 1987 and eighth in the final coaches poll of 1988. This is the third straight season Clemson has finished in the top 25 of both polls. This is the third time in history Clemson has had a run of at least three straight years in the final top 25. Clemson was in the final top 25 for six consecutive years from 1986-91 and for three straight years from 1981-83.

not to push. That’s why there is only one champion at the end,’’ he said. Fisher did get a chance to savor the moment late after the game, surrounded by friends and family in his hotel room. He sat half asleep in a chair, exhausted, and nursed a pulled hamstring he sustained running down the sideline and chasing an official after Auburn wasn’t called for a horse collar tackle at the end of a catchand-run by Rashad Green late in the game. “You feel like you want to

sleep for about a week after these seasons,’’ Fisher said. “We’ll get back tomorrow and give the staff a day or so and then we’ll get back recruiting and we got to get going. “It’s time for another one,’’ he said. Twenty years after Florida State won its first national championship under Bowden, the Seminoles won the third in school history with his successor. The Seminoles broke a string of seven consecutive national champions from the SEC. Now Fisher and Bowden

OSTEEN from Page B1 went out in style. Shaw, fittingly, was named MVP of the game. His stellar display earned him a coveted trip to the NFL Combine, where he is sure to shock some scouts and earn his way on to an NFL roster through his hard work and determination. Many Gamecock fans knew that Connor Shaw would not lose this game. We knew there was no way he was going to do anything but play his best and achieve the third straight 11-win season for South Carolina. He would do whatever it took, and he did. Shaw is going to be sorely missed, not only for his excellent play, but for his toughness and leadership abilities as well. He was the toughest guy on the team, and his will to win is greater than almost anyone I have ever seen play college football. This was perfectly displayed in the miracle game against Missouri, a game in which Shaw was sick and injured. He stepped in down 17-0 in the second half and rallied the troops to a 2-overtime victory. The national media, as I’ve written about before, has not given Shaw the attention he deserves. He is the starting quarterback on a team that ended the season No. 4 in the nation. The Gamecocks have had three 11-win seasons while Shaw was at the helm, no small feat in the SEC. He will definitely be missed in Columbia next year, but leaves the program in good hands, with the very able Dylan Thompson most likely stepping in. We also say goodbye to Ellington. He walks away from the basketball team as well. Ellington emerged as one of Shaw’s favorite targets, and his NFL stock is at an all-time high. He leaves the wide receiver position in the sticky hands of Shaq Roland and the lightning feet of Damierre Byrd. Mike Davis will return as one of the best rushers in the Southeastern Conference, and his Heisman Trophy campaign has already kicked off. Things are looking good for the Gamecock offense next year. It will be a long offseason for Gamecock fans; you get so used to watching every week that you’re spoiled when it ends. The season didn’t end with an SEC championship or a national championship, but the Gamecocks did beat two teams who won BCS games (Clemson and Central Florida). In fact, every bowl-eligible team that South Carolina beat went on to win its bowl game. It was another great season for the Gamecocks, and the end of the Connor Shaw era. USC head coach Steve Spurrier called him the best mobile quarterback that he has ever coached, and went on to say he earned his shot at the NFL. Whatever happens, Shaw will go down as one of the best to ever play at South Carolina.

both have an undefeated season on their resumes. “It’s kind of fitting to me,’’ Fisher said. “It was Miami and Florida State every year. They had the teams. They were in it, the Nebraskas, the Oklahomas. The SEC couldn’t get in it. But I think it’s very fitting that Florida State come full circle back and like I say, maybe we don’t play in the SEC but we play in the South and we’ve got good football.’’ “It’s like the reckoning. Things are getting back in order again,’’ he said.

NFL

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014

THE ITEM

B5

NFL NOTEBOOK

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Ireland out as Dolphins GM MIAMI — Jeff Ireland is out after six seasons as general manager of the Miami Dolphins, who have failed to reach the playoffs the past five years. In a brief announcement Tuesday, owner Stephen Ross said he and Ireland mutually agreed to part ways. Ireland had been unpopular with fans for several years, and a late-season collapse by the team last month left his IRELAND job in jeopardy. The Dolphins, who finished 8-8, said they would conduct an immediate search for a replacement to lead football operations. Still to be determined is Ireland’s role in a lockerroom bullying scandal that drew national scrutiny. The NFL has yet to release a report on its investigation into the case. SAINTS LB HARALSON OUT FOR PLAYOFFS

AP PHOTOS

Indianapolis quarterback Andrew Luck, left, will get a second chance to knock off New England quarterback Tom Brady, right, when the Colts travel to Foxborough, Mass., on Saturday to face the Patriots in the AFC Divisional playoffs. Brady won the only other meeting between the two QBs 59-24 last season.

Luck gets another shot at Brady BY MICHAEL MAROT The Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS — Growing up, Andrew Luck kept trying to emulate the quarterbacks he watched on Sunday afternoons, guys like Peyton Manning and Phillip Rivers. And Tom Brady. Now, the 24-year-old franchise quarterback is all grown up and about to face his next big test — trying to beat Brady on his home turf with a trip to the AFC championship game on the line. “I think there are so many quarterbacks that do so many great things that as a quarterback you’d like to watch all of them and say, ‘They do this so well,’ and see if you can do that,’’ Luck said Tuesday. Brady and the Patriots have won the last three meetings, including last year’s forgettable 59-24 rout in frosty New England when Luck was picked off

three times and lost a fumble. His next chance comes Saturday night when the Colts (125) travel to New England (12-4). Luck has already done his part to live up to the seemingly impossible standards that came with replacing Manning in Indy. The two-time Heisman Trophy runner up spent two college seasons being called everything from the most polished college quarterback since Manning to the most promising quarterback prospect at Stanford since John Elway. Luck just focused on playing his game and the results have been impressive. He has thrown for more

yards (8,196) in his first two seasons than any quarterback in NFL history. His 22 regularseason wins rank No. 2 to Russell Wilson among all second-year quarterbacks since 1970, and with nine career TDs rushing, he already ranks fourth on the franchise’s career list behind only Manning (17), Bert Jones (14) and John Unitas (13) — all previous MVPs. Even when it comes to measuring up to Manning, Luck has done remarkably well. In October, he beat Manning in their first head-tohead meeting. And after rallying Indianapolis (12-5) to the second-greatest comeback in playoff history last weekend, Luck’s first postseason win came four seasons sooner than Manning’s. A win over the Patriots (12-4) would give Luck the same total of playoff wins over Brady than Manning — one.

Seattle’s pass D hopes to be great vs. Saints BY TIM BOOTH The Associated Press RENTON, Wash. — As the newest starter in the Seattle Seahawks secondary, cornerback Byron Maxwell had plenty of time earlier in his career to be an observer. What he noticed about his teammates on the back end of Seattle’s defense was a desire to be great in practice that transferred to the playing field.

“Guys around here they just want that. They want it. They want to be successful. They want to be great,’’ Maxwell said. “You’ve got two dudes who argue, Earl (Thomas) MAXWELL and (Richard Sherman). They go at it. They’re passionate about it. They want to be the best in history.’’ Seattle finished the regular season with the

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best pass defense in the NFL and one of the best in the past decade. They gave up 172 yards passing per game, grabbed 28 interceptions and had an opponent passer rating of 63.4, one of just 15 teams since 2000 to hold opposing passers to a rating of 65.0 or less. The Seahawks’ best performance came in Week 13 against New Orleans, holding Drew Brees to one of the worst games in his ca-

reer in Seattle’s 34-7 blowout victory. Brees threw for just 147 yards in the loss, the fewest for him in any game since the 2006 season. Now comes the challenge of duplicating that success in Saturday’s NFC divisional playoff game against the Saints, knowing that Brees, coach Sean Payton and the rest of the New Orleans offense will try to counter what Seattle does so well.

METAIRIE, La. — Saints coach Sean Payton says outside linebacker Parys Haralson has a torn pectoral muscle and has been placed on injured reserve, ending his season. The injury occurred late in the first half of last Saturday’s playoff game in Philadelphia, when Haralson tackled receiver Jason Avant along the sideline. Haralson started eight games and otherwise played regularly in a reserve role. During the regular season he was credited with 30 tackles, including 3 ½ sacks. REDSKINS ADD WR GETTIS, RG3 TEAMMATE AT BAYLOR

ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Redskins have acquired another one of Robert Griffin III’s former Baylor teammates. The Redskins announced Tuesday that they have signed receiver David Gettis to a reserve-future contract. Griffin and Gettis played together for two seasons at Baylor. Gettis was drafted in the sixth round by the Carolina Panthers in 2010 but has played little since tearing the ACL in his left knee during training camp the following year. Last month, the Redskins claimed Griffin’s college center, J.D. Walton, off waivers from the Denver Broncos. AP SOURCE: GRONKOWSKI KNEE SURGERY ON THURSDAY

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — A person familiar with Rob Gronkowski’s knee injury tells The Associated Press the New England Patriots’ tight end will have surgery Thursday. Gronkowski missed the first six games of the season following offseason operations on his back and left forearm. In his seventh game back, he tore the ACL and MCL on his right knee on Dec. 8 in a 27-26 win over the Cleveland Browns. Before his latest injury, Gronkowski had 39 receptions for 592 yards and four touchdowns this season. The Patriots (12-4) host the Indianapolis Colts (12-5) in an AFC divisional-round playoff game on Saturday night. LAWSUIT: SUPER BOWL TICKETS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR FANS

NEWARK, N.J. — A New Jersey man has sued the National Football League, accusing it of pricing average football fans out of the Super Bowl. Josh Finkelman, of New Brunswick, says the NFL only made 1 percent of all tickets available to the public for purchase at face value. He says that means most fans must buy their tickets on the secondary market, where they can command thousands of dollars. Finkelman’s lawsuit was filed Monday in federal court in Newark. It claims the NFL is violating the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act. Lawyer Bruce Nagel says the lawsuit is seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. The NFL says it is reviewing the suit. It notes that three-quarters of the game’s tickets are given to teams, which sell them at face value to fans who win lotteries. From wire reports

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014

USC a possible destination for 2-sport recruit Ford the Gamecocks renewed consideration. That situation has not changed. “I might set up an official visit with USC,” Ford said. “It depends on how my official visit with Louisville goes.” Ford said he’s continuing to get a strong push from the Gamecocks. “I talk to (assistant) Coach (Everette) Sands pretty much every day,” he said. “He’s been asking when I’m going to take my visit. I like Louisville, but South Carolina is my hometown team. Everything is based off my visit to Louisville. “At the Shrine Bowl I was chilling with some of the South Carolina commitments (Shaq Davidson, Kevin Crosby Jr.) and we kind of bonded. But as of right now, I’m committed to Louisville.” And a third school in the mix, according to Ford, is Missouri. He’ll make the final call on National Signing Day next month. DB DJ Smith of Marietta, Ga., announced on Sunday he will make his commitment on Jan. 13. USC, Clemson and Tennessee have been his top three schools. He has not taken any official visits and is scheduled to be at USC on Jan. 17. Defensive end Darrius Caldwell of Pearl River Junior College in Mississippi got the word from USC last week, but it wasn’t the response he wanted. Caldwell had hoped his transcripts to this point would be good enough to land an offer from the Gamecocks, after which he would commit. He’s going to have to wait a little longer. “It’s all depending on my GPA (grade point average) after the spring,” Caldwell said. “South Carolina is where I want to be, that’s where I want to go. If I get the grade, I’ll get the offer.” And with that in mind, Caldwell said he will wait until after the spring semester to sign. He plans to set official visits to Cincinnati and Memphis. DE Kevin Bronson of Delray Beach, Fla., received an offer in early December from USC and will take an official visit to Columbia on Jan. 17. Not to be outdone, Florida also offered Bronson in early December. He will take his

final official visit to Florida on Jan. 31. Rutgers is the only school to receive an official visit from Bronson thus far. He will also visit VT on Jan. 24. He does not have any favorites. “I’ll know which school is the right one for me when I get on campus and it just feels right,” he said. His official visit to USC will be his first trip to Columbia. Athlete Ra’Shaun Croney of Pahokee, Fla., favors USC and would like to make a commitment to the Gamecocks. Croney is waiting on his test score to see if he has qualified. “I talked to South Carolina and they’re just talking to me about getting my test score up,” he said. “I think I did pretty good on this Phil one. I studied KORNBLUT every day.” Croney visited USC for its spring game and plans to take an official visit to Columbia later this month though he has not scheduled the date. Indiana, Mississippi State and Florida Atlantic are also looking at Croney, but all of the schools are awaiting the results of his test. “I should find out this week or next,” Croney said. Should he qualify, Croney is considering enrolling at USC this upcoming semester. DE Lorenzo Featherston of Greensboro, N.C., announced last week at the Under Armour All-American Game practices a commitment to FSU over Clemson and Florida. Featherston missed much of his senior season with injuries. He was picked for the Shrine Bowl, but missed that with an injury. Linebacker Richard Yeargin III of Hollywood, Fl., took an official visit to Clemson in late November. Notre Dame is the only other official visit Yeargin made and he remains committed to the Fighting Irish. “My family is from that area (Clemson) and that is why I go back and visit so often,” Yeargin said. “I really like Clemson a lot and remain a supporter of theirs. I am 100 percent committed to Notre Dame, but I still like Clemrecruiting corner

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niversity of South Carolina fans thought they may have seen the last of a standout 2-sport star the likes of Bruce Ellington. Another one could fall into the Gamecocks’ lap though. The mother of former Louisville commitment wide receiver Isaiah Ford (6-foot3-inches, 168 pounds) of Jacksonville, Fla., said on Sunday USC is one of the schools they will now look at since Charlie Strong has left Louisville for the head football coaching job at Texas. They will only consider programs that will allow her son to play football and basketball. “That is not negotiable,” Jocelyn Grissett said. “He has to have that outlet to get in the gym and work out. His love is basketball and he has to be able to have that outlet.” Grissett said one of the assistant coaches at Trinity Christian talked with USC recruiter Steve Spurrier Jr. on Saturday or Sunday. “I know South Carolina has hinted they are still interested,” she said. “We will talk with them and wee what they want to offer. It’s closer. He has to be comfortable. He’s already had a good relationship (with USC) and we’ve already been up there.” Ford visited USC last June, a month after committing to Louisville. He and his mother met Ellington on that visit. Ford has taken official visits to Louisville and Virginia Tech. The Hokies and Florida State are two other possibilities along with the Gamecocks. His mother said they will try to schedule official visits to USC and FSU, but her son plays a lot of his basketball games on Saturday so they’ll have to work around that. This is a position, Grissett said, they did not expect to be in. “I understand it’s a business, and I’m not mad at all,” she said of Strong’s departure for Texas. “And my son understood.” At the Shrine Bowl last month, defensive lineman Poona Ford of Hilton Head High School said USC had reentered the picture with him and, despite his commitment to Louisville, he was giving

AREA SCOREBOARD GOLF HOLE-IN-ONES

Tim Clepper and Dennis Bolen made hole-inones at The Links at Lakewood golf course on Dec. 25. Both aced the 127-yard No. 13 hole. Clepper used an 8 iron for his seventh career ace. He was playing with Cody Clepper, Greg Bull, Derek Fluke and Russell Self. Bolen used a 9 iron to ace the hole. He was playing with Kevin Keefe, Kyle Keefe and Herb Keefe. SOCCER YOUTH SPRING SIGNUP

The Sumter County Recreation Department is taking registration for its spring youth soccer leagues through Jan. 23. There will be leagues for children ages 9 and under, 12 and under and 17 and under based on their ages of Sept. 1, 2014. The registration fee is $40 for the 9 and under league and $45 for the 12 and under and 17 and under leagues. There will be no late registration. A coaches meeting will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at the recreation department located at 155 Haynsworth Street for anyone interested in coach. For more information, call the recreation department at (803) 436-2248 or go to www.sumtercountysc.org. MEN’S OPEN SIGNUP

The Sumter County Recreation Department will be taking registration for a men’s open adult soccer league from Jan. 13 through Jan. 24. The entry fee is $375 per team and space is limited. Games will be played on the weekends. A team meeting will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 6 p.m. at the recreation department located at 155 Haynsworth Street. For more information, call the recreation department at (803) 436-2248 or go to www.sumtercountysc.org. CO-ED LEAGUE SIGNUP

The Sumter County Recreation Department will be taking registration for a co-ed adult soccer league from Jan. 13 through Jan. 24. The entry fee is $375 per team and space is lim-

son. I’ll be playing at Notre Dame.” DB Chris Lammons of Fort. Lauderdale, Fla., is committed to Florida and said last week at the U.S. Army All American Game practice that it’s 100 percent solid, but he said he still is interested in Wisconsin and USC. He visited Wisconsin on Nov. 9 and is scheduled to visit USC on Jan. 24. He lists Wisconsin second on his list behind the Gators. Running back Derrell Scott of Havelock, N.C., was offered by Florida last week. Scott has had USC, North Carolina State and Tennessee as his favorites, but the Gators are likely to become a factor as well. Florida lost RB commitment Dalvin Cook to FSU last week. Florida defensive line coach Brad Lawing, a former USC assistant, has recruited Havelock for years and has strong ties to the program. DL Kwamelle Barnes of Saluda High played in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl in Orlando, Fla., last week. South Carolina State is his sole offer, but Barnes wants to see if his exposure from the all-star game will draw more interest. “A lot of coaches evaluate players in that game and wait until after (the game) to make an offer,” Barnes said. “I just want to see what happens.” Barnes has visited SCSU and plans to visit again. NCSU continues to show interest as well. Juniors: Offensive lineman Mason Veal of Charlotte has strong ties to USC through his parents. Both went there and his father played football for the Gamecocks, but that has not prevented Veal from developing strong feelings for two Gamecock rivals. Veal told TarHeelIllustrated.com that he currently favors Clemson and North Carolina though he doesn’t consider the two to be his finalists. Veal said he’d heard the most from the Tigers, Tar Heels and Tennessee prior to the start of the dead period. He plans to make his decision before the start of his senior season. WR Akilian Butler of Mesquite, Texas, only has an offer from Clemson at this point, but while other recruiters

haven’t shown him much love, Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris remains very high on Butler. The two talked last month when Morris made a recruiting stop by the school. “We had a good time talking,” Butler said. “I was just glad to see him and he was glad to see me. He’s really interested in me and wants me for the system. He said I fit their system and I could be a great player for them.” Morris is also recruiting Butler’s quarterback, Chason Virgil, and Morris said he plans to revisit the pair in January. Butler and Virgil visited Clemson for the FSU game and that was the only game visit Butler made this season. He plans to visit Clemson again in the spring or summer. Butler is also hearing from Baylor, Texas A&M, Texas, Texas Tech and Iowa. He does not want to name a favorite right now. Butler had 34 catches for 400 yards and three touchdowns this past season. During the evaluation period last month, USC recruiter GA Mangus stopped in at Chapin High to look over junior center Stephen Haralambis (6-3, 270). Haralambis also plays defensive tackle and had 72 tackles and two QB sacks in eight games this past season. He had 58 tackles and two sacks as a sophomore. Haralambis is also getting interest from Clemson, Wake Forest, Wofford, Appalachian State, The Citadel, Youngstown State, Coastal Carolina and Charleston Southern. He has visited App State and Youngstown. ATH RayRay McCloud of Tampa, Fla., has not cut his list down from his 21 offers, which include Clemson and USC. He told Rivals.com last week the five schools which stand out with him the most right now are Clemson, Florida, UCLA, Ohio State and Kentucky. McCloud gave a couple of reasons for liking Clemson. “Their coaching staff and their tradition,” he said. “Their coaching staff is really great.” McCloud said two of his official visits will be Clemson and UCLA. He also plans to get to Clemson this spring.

| ited. Games will be played on the weekends. A team meeting will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. at the recreation department located at 155 Haynsworth Street. For more information, call the recreation department at (803) 436-2248 or go to www.sumtercountysc.org. BOWLING Weekly High Scores 12/27-1/2 Industrial Mixed Thomas Price 244; Tom Thompson 665, Emanuel Irving 517. Kings & Queens Emanuel Irving 224; Virginia Nathaniel 187. Friday Night Mixed Ricky Dinkins 278-718; EJ Wells-237-612; Sam Green-235-567; Tim Hudnall 246-654, Jim Caywood 265-674; Marc Harton 258-657; Pat Reed 226, Bobby Holladay 257-714, Bill Riles 234-610, Maceo Pack 583, Lynn Fanning 258, Lunesa Ratcliff 201-516, Rosemary Smith 567, Frances Davis 521, Gloria Scott 462. Sunday Night Mixed Jimmy Hargelrode 578 Rhia Tisdel 435. 12/14-12/20 Industrial Mixed Earl Fronabarger 268-596, Emanuel Irving 517, Tom Thompson 648, Johnny Stover 561, Julia Jenkins 507. Friday Night Mixed Luke Hicks 289-680, Dandrel Dukes 279-661, Johnnie Gathers 247-569, Gregg Anderson 300/730, Phillip June 268-654, Richard Allen 279-747, George Russ 234-585, Sean Chapman 278-718, James Canty 257-723, Dustin Hodge 268-782, Jeffrey Scott 215-533, Benniavis 195-489, Ken Rainwater 268-709, Romero Davis 232, Myron Conyers 250-688, John Lewis 245-635, Tim Hudnall 664, Maceo Pack 603, Wardell Stevenson 591, Sam Green 570, Romania Myers 537, Cora Rainwater 259-659, Lynette Allen 223-551. Kings & Queens Tony Friday 581, Sarah Nelson 499. Bantams/Preps Victor Knezevich 136-332; Zayd McColgin 102-284; Amber McFadden 174-364, Reagan Rewis 85-190; Haley Carter 120-319; Arianna Parker 126-330. Jr./Major/Senior: Ryan Wolfe 215-488; Ghassen Green 163-480; Zack Bowen 137; Kristopher Hackett 158; Courtney Simpson 162-451; Emily Batey 173; AJ Tisdel 336; Madison Rewis 304; Kennedy Rewis 362; Shania Lambert 323. Sunday Night Mixed Harold Allan 253; Tom Teigue 489, Geri Arens 421. Hot Shots Jeronia Pringle 444. Tri-Parish Dana Wigle 515, Jim Smith 498, Sherry Black 182, Sandy Claeys 370. Tuesday Night Mixed Jim Caywood 282-696, Ricky Dinkins 279-712, Gregg Anderson 299, Carll Field 247, Al Heath 220-591, Heather Dallaire 170-391, Joe Blake 563, Bobby Holladay 698, Rowland Yates 701, Jerry Beasley 585, Harold Allan 653, Steve Witherspoon 597, Becky Dabbs 574, Felicia Blake 583, Loisann Horne 643, Terry Starnes 501, Tiffany Reynolds 450. Close Encounters Mike Bocchicchia 543, Stan Griggs 453, John Brown 525, Kathy Stafford 487. Extravaganza Tony Friday 237, Brian Jackson 194-493, Norvell Jackson, Jr. 191. Possibilities Frances Bradley 170-417, Ann Dukes 452. Afternoon Delight Bill Cockerill 210, Deb Knezevich 473. Thursday Night Open Tyrone Bailey 265-685, Bing Davis 238-632, Greg Jones 700, Troy Honeycutt 583, Sean Anderson 597, Gregg Anderson 602, Steve Anderson 588, Sue Bailey 246-645.

HALL from Page B1 this far, that’s for sure,’’ Cox said. “I’ve got my fingers crossed for both of them.’’ While Maddux is likely a shoe-in, having won 355 games and four Cy Young awards during his career, Glavine might have a tougher time getting in the first time around despite 305 victories. At some point both should have their names etched at Cooperstown. The only eligible 300game winner not in the Hall is Roger Clemens, who was passed over in 2012 because of doping allegations and figures to be left off plenty of ballots this year, as well. Maddux and Glavine never had Clemens’ type of dominating stuff. Instead, they relied on pinpoint control and changing speeds to keep hitters off balance. Laid back and always up for a vulgar joke away from the field, Maddux was a fierce competitor — hence, the nickname — who would often scream obscenities when a pitch didn’t go exactly where he wanted. He approached his craft like an artist, aware that a subtle stroke could wind up being the mark of genius. Maddux spent untold hours working on his mechanics in the bullpen, constantly seeking the perfect windup, the perfect delivery, the perfect follow-through. Maddux won four straight NL Cy Young awards from 1992-95 and produced two of the greatest years ever at the end of that run. During the strike-shortened 1994 season, Maddux went 16-6 with a career-best 1.56 ERA. Glavine didn’t put up numbers quite that impressive, but he was a two-time Cy Young winner who will forever be remembered in Atlanta for pitching one-hit ball over eight innings to beat Cleveland in decisive Game 6 of the ‘95 World Series. He was MVP of what would be the Braves’ lone Series triumph during an unprecedented run of 14 straight division titles.

OBITUARIES

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014

THOMAS RICHARD OLSEN Sr. Retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Thomas Richard Olsen Sr., husband of Jacquelyn “Jackie� Keels Olsen, died Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014, at Providence Hospital in Columbia. He was born June 28, 1934, to the late Oscar and Catherine OLSEN Olsen. A native of Houston, Gen. Olsen earned his bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University in 1956 and a master of science degree in international relations from George Washington University in 1968. He received his commission through the Air Force ROTC program, entered active duty in January 1957 and completed pilot training in April 1958. As a command pilot with more than 4,400 flying hours, he flew the A-10, F-4, F-86, F-100, F-102 and F-111. Gen. Olsen served in assignments throughout the U.S. and around the world including Germany, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, The Netherlands and the Persian Gulf. During his 35 years of active duty in the U.S. Air Force, he served as vice commander, Headquarters Ninth Air Force, and deputy commander, U.S. Central Command Air Forces, Shaw Air Force Base. In Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, he served as the second in command for all U.S. and Allied Air Forces that destroyed Iraqi forces that had occupied Kuwait. His military decorations and awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 15 Oak Leaf Clusters and Air Force Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. After his retirement from the Air Force in November 1991, Olsen was the executive director of the Sumter Base Defense Committee for 17 years, where he was instrumental in retaining Shaw Air Force Base in the Sumter community. Gen. Olsen served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher at Grace Baptist Church, a 5th District representative to South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA), a member of the S.C. Military Task

Force and Governor’s Military Base Advisory Committee, a member of the Selection Committee for the 5th District Service Academy Candidates under Sen. Jim DeMint, a member and past president of the USC-Sumter Partnership Educational Foundation and past vice-chairman of the South Carolina Commission for Higher Education (5th District representative). He was the founding chairman of The Tuomey Foundation Board of Governors, a member of the Sumter Greater Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee and the Sumter Education Committee, a member of the Sumter Rotary Club and a member and past president of the Sumter Kiwanis Club. Olsen received the Order of the Palmetto from the governor of South Carolina, Mayor’s Community Service Award and the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce. He was also inducted into The National Aviation and Space Exploration Wall of Fame at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, UdvarHazy Center and recently received the Palmetto Patriot Award by The Blue Star Mothers of America. Surviving are his wife, Jackie; four children, retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Richard Olsen (Mary Helen), Lisa Olsen Wesolick (Stephen), Mary Martin Geddings and Mason Geddings; seven grandchildren, Charlie Olsen, Katie Olsen, Joey Olsen (Kendra), Max, Mark and Eric Wesolick and Daniel Geddings; two great-grandchildren; and a sister, Kay Murff (Bill). Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Grace Baptist Church with Dr. Steve Williams and Bobby Richardson officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Sumter Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jeff Faw, Jay Cox, Vernon Geddings, Dan Lyles, Talmadge Tobias, Daly Ward, Craig Justice, Johnny Alford, Gregg Martin and Hugh Cameron. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Tuomey Foundation Board of Governors, members of the Sumter Kiwanis Club and the ROMEOs Breakfast Club.

SPORTS

The family will receive friends from noon to 2 p.m. Friday in the fellowship hall of Grace Baptist Church and other times at the home. Memorials may be made to Grace Baptist Church, 219 W. Calhoun St., Sumter, SC 29150 or to The Tuomey Foundation, 102 N. Main St., Sumter, SC 29150. Online condolences may be sent to www. sumterfunerals.com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.

LUCILLE WATSON-BRUNSON JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Lucille Watson-Brunson of Jersey City, N.J., entered into eternal rest Dec. 28, 2013. She was the loving mother of Janie Jones and Deloris (Jean) Teartt and the be- WATSONloved step- BRUNSON mother of Essie Beals. She is also survived by six grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild and a host of nieces, nephews and many other loving relatives and friends. Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Monumental Baptist Church, 121-127 Lafayette St., Jersey City, N.J. Viewing will be from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the church prior to the service. Interment will be in the Rosehill Cemetery in Linden, N.J. Arrangements are entrusted to Watson Mortuary Service, 26 Gifford Ave., Jersey City, N.J. Please sign guestbook at www.watsonmortuaryservice.com. ROBERTA S. CRANFORD WEDGEFIELD — Roberta Strange Cranford, 94, wife of Grover Cleveland Cranford, died Monday, Jan. 6, 2014, at National Healthcare Parklane in Columbia. Born in Wedgefield, she was the daughter of the late John B. Troublefield and the late Carrie Morgan Andrews. Mrs. Cranford was a member of the Wedgefield Presbyterian Church and was retired from Campbell Soup Co. In addition to her husband of Wedgefield, she is survived by a son, Clyde Berry Strange of

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Greenwood; one daughter, Doris Bales of Columbia; three grandchildren; and six greatgrandchildren. She was preceded in death by two sons, George Strange and Robert Strange, and her first husband, George Strange Sr. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Wedgefield Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Jodie Foster officiating. Burial will follow in Troublefield Cemetery in Wedgefield. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service from 1 to 2 p.m. at Wedgefield Presbyterian Church. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 3223 Sunset Blvd., Suite 100, West Columbia, SC 29169 or to Wedgefield Presbyterian Church, PO Box 36, Wedgefield, SC 29168. Online condolences may be sent to www. sumterfunerals.com. Elmore-Hill-McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.

THELMA BROWN MANNING — Thelma Brown, 53, died Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014, at Clarendon Memorial Hospital in Manning. Born in Clarendon County, she was a daughter of the late Ollie Brown and the late Isabelle Brown. The family will receive friends at the home of her sister, Margarite Brown, 1242 Washington St., Summerton. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be announced by Summerton Funeral Home LLC, 23 S. Duke St., Summerton. KENTRELL V. DANIELS Kentrell Vernard Daniels, of 2410 Elizabeth Road, Dalzell, entered eternal rest at his home Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014. Born Aug. 16, 1987, in Sumter, he was the son of Reginald Vernard Thomas and Joyce Daniels. The family is receiving relatives and friends at the home of Harry and Ada Dukes, 1132 Belmont Drive, Sumter. Community Funeral Home of Sumter will announce funeral plans.

EVA BELL FAULLING Eva Bell Faulling, 82, widow of Louis C. Faulling, passed away Monday, Jan. 6, 2014. Born in Darlington County, she was a daughter of the late Parrott Willis Bell and the late Mary Kate Bundy Bell. She was a member of Grace Baptist Church. Survivors include five children, Libby Faulling, Katherine Faulling, Everett Faulling (Elaine), Tim Faulling (Mandy) and Jane Faulling Moses, all of Sumter; four grandchildren, Rett Faulling (Tonia), Brook Aycock (Patrick), Tee Faulling and Sonny Geddings (Susan); four great-grandchildren, Tillman Aycock, Tony Geddings, Zach Geddings and Katilynn Geddings; a sister, Mary Lou Mitchell (Earl) of Missouri; two brothers, Cecil Bell of Camp Long Ridge and Danny Bell (Carolyn) of Raleigh, N.C.; and a number of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a son, Gene Faulling; an infant daughter; two sisters; and three brothers. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Steve Shumake, the Rev. Earl Mitchell and the Rev. Randy Mitchell officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home. Memorials may be made to Grace Baptist Church, 219 W. Calhoun St., Sumter, SC 29150 or to a charity of one’s choice. The family would like to express a special thanks to Tuomey Hospice and the Tuomey Telemetry Floor nursing staff. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements. IDA LOU SMITH BISHOPVILLE — Ms. Ida Lou Smith entered eternal rest Jan. 7, 2014, at McLeod Hospice House in Florence. The family is receiving friends at 2494 Hubb Kelly Road, Lucknow community of Lee County. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Wilson Funeral Home, 403 S. Main St., Bishopville.

KARLA HERNANDEZ-SANCHEZ Karla HernandezSanchez, 29, died Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be announced by Bullock Funeral Home.

VIVIAN KIRVEN Vivian McDowell Thornhill Kirven, 78, wife of Julius R. “Rusty� Kirven, died Monday, Jan. 6, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center. Born in Conway, she was a daughter of the late Malcolm McDowell and the late Sarah Todd McDowell. She was a member of Alice Drive Baptist Church, where she served as a leader of the Senior Adult Group and on various committees. She was formerly a Sunday school teacher at Westside Baptist Church and was a department manager and buyer for Belk-Stroman Department Store. Survivors include her husband of Sumter; a son, the Rev. Jake Thornhill Jr. (Patsy) of High Point, N.C.; two daughters, Malinda Russell (Stephen) of Holden Beach, N.C., and Cathy Robinson (Jimmie) of Sumter; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; three brothers, David McDowell (Lyn) of Crowley, Texas, Don McDowell of Summerville and Paul McDowell of Sumter; and a sister, Nancy Lee Davis of Myrtle Beach. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Jake Thornhill Sr.; and two sisters, Thelma Herndon and Annabelle Gambrell. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Alice Drive Baptist Church with Dr. Clay Smith officiating and the Rev. Jake Thornhill Jr. assisting. Burial will be in Sumter Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Alice Drive Baptist Church and other times at the home or the Robinson home. Memorials may be made to the National MS Society, PO Box 4527, New York, NY 10163 or JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), 26 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10004. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.

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Vonn out of Sochi Olympics BY HOWARD FENDRICH AND PAT GRAHAM The Associated Press Less than two weeks after reconstructive surgery on her right knee in February 2013, Lindsey Vonn already was sounding a positive note, saying she was “really looking forward to Sochi’’ and defending her Olympic downhill gold medal. Along the way to the next Winter Games, though, Vonn began facing setbacks. As she’d VONN move past one, another would surface. In the end, it was too much, even for Vonn, the most accomplished U.S. ski racer in history. Expected to be one of the biggest stars at these Olympics, Vonn announced Tuesday she won’t be able to race in Russia.

In a Facebook posting, Vonn said she is “devastated’’ to miss the Olympics, “but the reality has sunk in that my knee is just too unstable to compete at this level.’’ Her personal publicist, Lewis Kay, said in a statement the 29-year-old from Vail, Colo., will have knee surgery again “shortly.’’ Like many in her risk-filled sport, Vonn has dealt with injuries often, particularly at major events. She withdrew midway through the 2011 world championships because of a concussion. She raced with a severely bruised shin at the last Olympics. She skipped a race at the 2009 worlds after slicing her thumb open on a champagne bottle. She hurt her knee in training and missed a pair of races at the 2007 worlds. She took a scary fall during training at the 2006 Olympics, then left the hospital to compete.

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803.774.1234

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Card of Thanks

317 Burns Dr. Thurs & Fri daylight til dark. Moving sale. Furn., house decor, sterling, misc.

Legal Notice PUBLIC NOTICE

Sumter County Civic Center Indoor Garage Sale. 700 W. Liberty St. Saturday, February 1, 2014. 8AM - 1PM. Free admission.

There will be a meeting of the Dalzell Rural Water Board of Directors on Monday, January 13, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at the American Legion Community Center in Dalzell, South Carolina

Purchased from Going out of Bus. Sale Handbags, tons of jewelry, scarves, nice rings & more at low low prices. Small vendors welcome. Cash sale Fri 10-4 PalmettoTowers(inside) behind Kmart.

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 23, 2014 personal and/or business property including but not limited to furniture, clothing, tools and other household/business items located at the properties listed.

Robert A. ( Ray) Andrews Thanks to all of our family and friends for all acts of kindness during our son's passing. Robert & Elizabeth Andrews and Family.

In Memory

The sale will begin at 1:00 pm at 1277 Camden Hwy, Sumter, SC 29153. The personal goods stored therein by below named occupant(s);

1143 N.Guignard Dr, Sumter, SC 29150 3785 Broad St, Sumter, SC 29154 0123 - McFadden, Demetrius 0239 - Ray, Malinda 0801 - Stocker, Miree 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.

Willie Holmes Happy 70th Birthday Mary, Tiffany, Chris, Derrick, Grandchildren, Family & Friends

BUSINESS SERVICES Business Services

Home Improvements

The Pre-Bid Conference will be held on Thursday, January 9, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at the project site. The Owner will receive Sealed Bids on Thursday, January 23, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at the Lee County Courthouse, 123 South Main Street, Bishopville, South Carolina, 29010 The County of Lee reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive minor formalities in the bidding, and to award the contract to other than the lowest bidder if deemed to be in the best interest of the County Lee County P.O. Box 309 Bishopville, South Carolina 29010

H.L. Boone, Contractor additions, painting, roofing, gutters, sheetrock, blown ceilings, decks. 773-9904

Roofing Robert's Metal Roofing, 35 Yrs Exp. 18 colors & 45 yr warranty. Financing avail, 803-837-1549.

Tree Service The Tree Doctor Any size tree removal & stump grinding. Trimming & clearing. No job too big or small. Call 775-8560 or 468-1946. We accept credit cards and offer senior discounts STATE TREE SERVICE Worker's Comp & General liability insurance. Top quality service, lowest prices. 803-494-5175 or 803-491-5154 www.statetree.net A Notch Above Tree Care Full quality service low rates, lic./ins., free est BBB accredited 983-9721

PETS & ANIMALS Dogs Teacup Chihuahua: 9 wks old, 3 males, 1 female. $300 ea. 1st shots, CKC registered. Call Tina @ 803-305-7287.

Pets

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pure bred Boxer puppies 1M 4F $300 Call 803-795-5506

Lost & Found

MERCHANDISE FOUND: Young female dog. Corner of Liberty and Lafayette. Tan with some black. Call Sumter SCPA

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

Invitation For Bids

A complete set of Bid Documents may be obtained for $75.00 (non-refundable) per set from the Architect. Contact Jackson & Sims, Architects, 7-1/2 South Main Street, Sumter, SC, 29150, 803-773-4329 or email: jsarch@ftc-i.net by all interested Bidders. Sending documents electronically will no be offered.

Open every weekend. 905-4242

Antique Cherry drop leaf table, 4 Cane bottom chairs. Over 150 yrs old Call 481-2894

Bid Notices

The Scope of Work consists of a pre-manufactured metal building with ancillary metal buildings attached along three sides. There are brick proches on two ends, and an alternate for a 30-inch brick base around the entire building. There is a large main hall for meeting and basketball practice, offices, a smaller meeting room, warming kitchen, toilets and storage rooms. parking and exterior concrete walks are included.

FLEA MARKET BY SHAW AFB

Split Oak Firewood, $60/dump, $70/stacked. Darrell Newman 803-316-0128. Tree Service also available.

Electrical work. New & Repair Call 803-499-4127

The county of Lee invites qualified General Contractors to offer Sealed Bids for a New Community Center located at 397 Chappell Drive, Bishopville, South Carolina.

LARGE GARAGE SALE 1st & 3rd Weekend Tables $1 & Up

Washers, Dryers, Refrigerators, Stoves. Also new Gas stoves. Guaranteed. 803-464-5439

1277 Camden Hwy, Sumter, SC 29153 A014 - Phillips, Standley C047 - Taylor, Whitney C051 - Holmes, Latimore D009 - Hickmon, Cheryl D017 - Reyes, Juan D037 - Jones, Richard E015 - Evans, Thelma E023 - Goodman, Patricia E030 - Mcgee, Jacqueline F010 - Wright, Howard F026 - Newman, Tameka F044 - White, Crystal F049 - Hayes, Latoya G022 - Dargan, Bryan G037 - Habersham, Verna H005 - McFadden, Ray I006 - Edmond, Tonyatta

EJ's Convenience and Variety Reopens at 522 W Liberty St. (On Corner of purdy and liberty) Mon-Sat 9-5. New clothes & shoes at thrift store prices. New things every week.

Sumter County Flea Mkt Hwy 378 E. 803-495-2281 500 tables. Sat. $8 free return Sun.

Glass top dining table with 6 iron framed chairs $350 OBO Call 775-0536 Hickory & Oak firewood. Seasoned/Green $65 Delivered. Notch Above Tree Service. 983-9721 Steel Building Allocated Bargains. 40x60 on up. We do deals. www.gosteelbuildin gs.com. Source #18X 803-335-2030 Softball Equipment- Pitching machine, Backstop, Balls, Bats ETC. Call for details 803-968-2459

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.

Help Wanted Part-Time

Unfurnished Homes

Farms & Acreage

Thomas Sumter Academy in Rembert, SC, is seeking an applicant for a part-time General Ledger Bookkeeper.

4269 Confederate Rd. 2 br, 1 ba, C/H/A, appliances, $500 mo. + $500 dep. 916 Furman Dr. 3 Br, 2 Ba, C/H/A, appliances, $600 mo. + $600 dep. 983-3337.

FSBO: Land, Small & Large acreage. Owner financing. 803-427-3888.

Some of the requirements are: preparing balance sheet and income statements on a monthly basis, reconciling bank accounts, creating and maintaining budget figures, maintaining the financial aid account, and being responsible for all accounts receivable collections and other related duties. Please contact/send resume to Susan Hux, Administrative Assistant, at tsa.generals@thomassumter.org or call 803.499.3378.

Mobile Home Rentals

Dairy Queen. Apply in person bet ween 8-2 Mon-Fri. No phone calls. Exit 108 & I-95, Summerton

Trucking Opportunities Driver Trainees Needed Now! Learn to drive for US Xpress! Earn $800+ per week! No experience needed! CDL -Trained and Job-Ready in 15 days! 1-888-263-7364

Help Wanted Full-Time Porters Fabrication a leading metal Fabrication company seeks an experienced Shipping & Receiving candidate with a CDL Class A license, HS Diploma, 10-yr driving record, basic math skills, and ability to operate hand tools and mechanical equipment. Applications accepted: Tues-Thurs 8-11am 1485 Diebold Dr Sumter, SC 29153 Fax: 803-469-3927 hr@portersfab.com Exp'd Bookkeeper/Secretary needed for busy HVAC company. Must submit to a background check and drug screen. Submit resumes to sheastone80@gmail.com

Established Heating and Air Conditioning Company looking for an experienced HVAC service technician. Must have experience, a valid driver's license, people skills, good personality. Great benefits offered and top pay! Send responses to PO Box 2378 Sumter SC 29151

Multiple lots for sale: 803-236-8495 ask for Bruce.

Call

RECREATION

STATEBURG COURTYARD 2 & 3 BRs 803-494-4015 Winter Special (Dalzell) MHP 2BR/1BA, washer, dryer, sewer & garbage P/U. Section 8 accepted. $360/mo + $360/dep. Call Mark at 803-565-7947.

Resort Rentals Vacation Rentals Santee, Garden City Beach Michelle Hodge, 803-491-4914

Boats / Motors 2007 Triton TR-21X HP Bassmaster Classic Edit. with 250 Mercury XS Call for details 803 968-2459

Campers / RV's/ Motorhomes 2011 Ultra-lite 32' camper. Elec slideout, AC, heat, sleeps 8. Exc cond. $17,500. 803-481-8301

TRANSPORTATION

Office Rentals

Work Wanted Certified Nursing Assistant w/ 20 years exp, seeking private care employment. Call 803-773-1005

RENTALS

217 W. Hampton, 604 sq ft. office space. $525 /mo. Lg. office, sm office/breakroom. Contact C21 Hawkins & Kolb for more info. 803-773-1477. 50 Wesmark Ct. 1,177 sq ft. $1000/mo. + $100 CAM. Reception area, 3 office space, breakroom, 1/2 ba, file/storage room. 773-1477

Commercial Rentals Unfurnished Apartments

Guignard Storage: 57 Neal St. Personal storage units. No deposits. Call 803-491-4914

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

Manning - Hwy 260, Excellent location for Church rental. Across from Santee Electric Co. Call 803-473-0321 B-N-T has commercial space for rent to a Licensed Mechanic with own tools. Call 803-774-4450

Acreage Farm Rentals

2BR/2BA very nice large Apt. located in town. Call 803-236-5953

Unfurnished Homes

EMPLOYMENT

Scenic Lake 2Br, 2Ba. No pets. Call between 9am - 5pm ONLY! (803) 499-1500.

Land & Lots for Sale

Close to Shaw. Dalzell 3br 2ba brick, fenced yd, screen porch, all appl. C/H/A No Pets. $800 /mo+dep 803-316-8105 Several Singlewides, doublewides and brick homes for rent. Manning and Home Branch area. Security deposit req. 225-0389. Available Feb. 1st. 1001 Arnaud St. 2 br, 2 ba, townhouse. Stove, refrig, $750 mo. + dep. 773-5436 Manning Area, House in exc. cond. w/ good neighbors. Centrally located schools, businesses & shopping. 1 yr. lease preferred. Sec. dep. req. Good credit a must. 803-968-4630 or 934-1126.. HOUSE FOR RENT Patriot Parkway 2BR/1BA, LR, den, dining room, C/H/A, gas stove. 803-607-9276.

CKC Boxer puppies. $400 taking $100 deposit now. Born 12/7/13. Tails docked, declaws removed. Ready 01/18. Call 803-883-5055

Autos For Sale 2004 Escalade, Pearl white, loaded, 2004 Dodge Ram Crew Cab 4 Wheel drive, low miles, 99' Chevy Ext. Cab v8 with leather Call R & R Motors 803 494-2886 2004 Mercury Marquis LS 4Dr 58K Mi. $5, 495 Call 803 481-2894 2000 Jeep Wrangler 140k mi. blue canvas top, 5 Speed manual, 1 owner, Asking $4200 Call 803-968-3318 Holiday Special 150 cars $5,000 or less $$$ CASH $$$ Price is Right Auto Sales 3210 Broad St 803-494-4275 93' Nissan truck 215k Mi .$3500 Well maintained Call 469-3152 after 5pm Lv msg

Miscellaneous C&C Recycling Parts & Wrecker Service Top price paid for junk cars! We buy scrap metal, alum cans, batteries, copper. 773-7702

REAL ESTATE Homes for Sale 202 Kirven St. Pinewood, 3 Br, 1 Ba home. W/ stove, refrig, C/ gas heat, window AC. $48,000. Call after 4 pm 983-6193 or 481-5843.

Manufactured Housing 3 & 4BR Doublewides in Dalzell. Owner Financing with large down payments. 803-983-8084 LOW CREDIT SCORE? Been turned down for bad credit? Come try us, we do our own financing. We have 2-3-4-5 bedroom homes on our lot. Layaway program available. For more information, call 843-389-4215.

place my

PETS Puppies for sale...

AD

B-N-T is seeking experienced Drivers & EMT's. Please fax resumes to 803-774-4452 or apply in person.

Seeking PT Certified Pool Operator to check pools daily. Apply in person at Candlewood Suites, 2541 Broad St Sumter or call 803-316-4444. Carolina Healthcare Hospice is seeking Full time & PRN RN's in the Sumter, Clarendon & Florence Counties. Forward resumes to PO Box 464, Sumter SC 29151 or call 803-774-4377. Residential Plumber needed. Exp. req. & must have tools & transportation. Call 491-4616

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PANORAMA WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014

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Contact Ivy Moore at (803) 774-1221 or e-mail ivym@theitem.com

Miley Cyrus pop queen ‘13? Year end review full of singer BY JOCELYN NOVECK AP National Writer

Call her this year’s pop-culture prom queen. A year ago, Miley Cyrus was no stranger to us, of course. But who could have guessed how her star would rise — or rather, explode — in 2013, making this former preteen idol one of the most watched people on the planet? And so it seems only right to make Miley our tour guide (Kim and Kanye, you came close!) as we take our annual, highly selective, chronological tour through the year’s pop culture moments: JANUARY A new year brings an inauguration in Washington, D.C., but even the president admits the weekend’s most important development is a bouncy new hairdo — bangs! — for MICHELLE OBAMA. Mini-scandal: BEYONCE sings the national anthem, only to admit later she lip-synced. At the Golden Globes, JODIE FOSTER makes an awkward, rambling but deeply compelling speech, hailed by many in the gay community as her longawaited coming-out. LANCE ARMSTRONG confesses — to OPRAH WINFREY. Meanwhile, KIM KARDASHIAN basks in the glow of her just-announced pregnancy (proud dad is KANYE WEST) and says she looks forward to privacy — good luck! MILEY CYRUS, beginning her big year, is happily ensconced in her engagement to LIAM HEMSWORTH ... FEBRUARY Or is she? It’s Oscar time, and MILEY, in a sexy backless white dress, makes news for who she ISN’T with at a postOscar party — her fiance. The Oscars bring triumph to BEN AFFLECK and “Argo,” his somewhat-true movie about a truly fake one. And they bring us a new sweetheart: JENNIFER LAWRENCE, who trips onto the Oscar podium and into our hearts. Elsewhere, BEYONCE admits her inauguration lip-syncing, then rocks the SUPER BOWL with a spectacular halftime show, sung live, of course ... MARCH Things are heating up for MILEY — she’s the March Cosmo cover girl. Of her major image change from those HANNAH MONTANA days, she notes: “Some of the worst things that have happened in my career ... have actually been what’s best for me.” That would be music to JUSTIN BIEBER’s ears. In a bad start to a bad year, the

ABOVE: On Jan. 21, 2013, President Barack Obama listens as Beyonce sings the national anthem at the ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington. RIGHT: Jennifer Lawrence accepts the award for best actress in a leading role for “Silver Linings Playbook” during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles last February.

Miley Cyrus performs on NBC’s “Today” show in New York on Oct. 7. It must be mentioned that Miley Cyrus embodied more than one fashion trend this year. Is Cyrus becoming a fashion icon? Not by the standard definition. But heading into 2014 she was one of the most-watched people on the planet.

“Scandal” actress KERRY la’s new movie, “Bling Ring,” WASHINGTON makes glamorabout young bling thieves. ous appearances at New York BIEBER’s monkey officially beFashion Week, where she comes German property. judges “Project Runway” in a JUNE pretty Stella McCartney floral Time for a KIMYE update, number, and at the Emmys, and it’s a biggie: a daughter in an eye-catching Marchesa is born! The couple name her gown. MILEY watch: Her reps North West, inviting inevitaconfirm her engagement to ble comparisons to other Hemsworth is off ... oddly named celebrity progOCTOBER eny (Apple Martin, anyone?) But hey, KIMYE’s getting MILEY watch: “We Can’t Stop” hitched! WEST proposes to is No. 4 on Spotify’s most-viKardashian at the AT&T Park, ral list. Oh yes, and Miley’s home of the San Francisco Gidad, BILLY RAY CYRUS, is getants, with a screen reading: ting divorced from his wife of “PLEEEASE MARRY MEEE!!” He 19 years, Tish Finley Cyrus. also makes an uncomfortable But wait ... appearance with Jimmy KimJULY mel, an effort to defuse a feud Never mind — the divorce stemming from a parody skit. is off. More important, we MILEY hosts “Saturday Night have a royal birth! As she Live,” playing a salacious veremerges from the hospital sion of Michelle Bachmann. holding Prince George, it’s Maybe it’s not a great idea to noted that KATE MIDDLETON, give MILEY advice: After Irish aka the Duchess of Camsinger SINEAD O’CONNOR bridge, isn’t concealing her counsels her publicly to avoid “mommy tummy,” a developbeing sexually exploited by ment cheered by fellow the industry, MILEY strikes moms across the world. On back on Twitter, mentioning the KIMYE front, President O’CONNOR’s struggles with Obama doesn’t help get himbipolar disorder. self on the Christmas card list NOVEMBER when he notes that in his Time for some year-end day, “Kids weren’t monitoring awards. “Twerk” is on the every day what Kim Karshortlist for the Oxford Dicdashian was wearing or tionary word of the year, where Kanye West was going though it loses out to “selfie.” on vacation, and thinking People magazine’s Sexiest that was the mark of success.” Man Alive is singer ADAM Ouch! MILEY gets a docuLEVINE. On the GQ annual list mentary on MTV, “We Can’t of least influential celebrities, Stop” is No. 2 on Billboard’s Miley is No. 6, but don’t feel Hot 100 chart, and she says TOO bad, Miley, President in an interview: “People just a trend of bare skin on red Obama is No. 17. At the evolve, and that’s all that’s carpets. It’s clearly working: American Music Awards, happened to me.” This month, she’s named meanwhile, MILEY doesn’t AUGUST People magazine’s Most disappoint, performing Maybe this is what she Beautiful Woman. MILEY’s ev“Wrecking Ball” as a duet meant by evolving? August is er-changing style morphs with a giant, lip-syncing CGI the month MILEY will be reagain: She seems to be ditchkitten. membered for most, thanks ing her engagement ring and to her infamous performance DECEMBER is wearing longer hair with More nods to MILEY’s on the MTV Video Music side bangs ... pop-culture dominance: MTV Awards, where she twerks MAY names her artist of the year. her way into pop culture hisBut not for long! It’s all As for KARDASHIAN, she tory in a teddy bear leotard bleached, spiky hair for Miley ranks No. 3 on GOOGLE’s list that segues to a skimpy nude at the punk-themed Costume of most-searched people in bikini. Of course, there’s the Institute Gala at the Metrothe U.S., the only non-singer foam hand, too, the conpolitan Museum of Art, on the list. Fiance West is No. stantly stuck-out tongue and where she hobnobs with the 10. And Google’s No. 1 is ... the vulgar gestures. By mornfashion elite, cementing her come on, did you have any ing, we can’t talk about anystatus as someone we’re doubt? MILEY also tops Yathing else. We’d like to stop ... watching this year. At the hoo’s most-searched list. but we can’t! Cannes Film Festival, a real(KARDASHIAN is second.) SEPTEMBER life jewel robbery makes And, as the year ticked to a An “it” girl of the Hollyheadlines, partly because it close, guess who was rocking wood-fashion nexus becoincides with Sofia Coppoout in Times Square? comes even hotter. TV’s

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19-year-old pop star is booed by fans when he shows up late to a concert, struggles with his breathing and faints backstage at a show, is caught on camera clashing with a paparazzo, has his pet monkey confiscated by German authorities when he fails to produce proper papers ... and it’s only March! APRIL Remember KIM KARDASHIAN’s five-minute marriage to NBA star KRIS HUMPHRIES? No? Well, the couple’s divorce comes through. GWYNETH PALTROW makes waves at the “Iron Man 3” premiere in a dress with see-through panels on both sides, leaving little of her lower body to the imagination and embodying

1st commercial flight to Cuba takes off BY ANDY NEWMAN AND CHRISTINE ARMARIO The Associated Press KEY WEST, Fla. — The first commercial passenger flight from Key West to Cuba in more than 50 years landed Dec. 30 in Havana, capping several years of efforts to reunite the two islands, though regular air service still appeared a distant prospect. U.S. Customs and Border Protection gave the final approval for the flight Monday morning, and the nine-passenger aircraft departed 90 minutes later at 10 a.m., Key West International Airport director Peter Horton said. “This is just a test run,” Horton said. “Whether this is going to come and

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Key West Mayor Craig Cates, right, waves goodbye as he boards a chartered aircraft at Key West International Airport on Dec. 30 that flew to Havana, Cuba. The trip was the first legal commercial passenger flight from Key West to Cuba in more than 50 years and carried passengers who would remain until Jan. 3. It was organized by the Florida Keys Tropical Research Ecological Exchange Institute. Cates accompanied the passengers but did not stay in Cuba and returned to Key West. At left is Monroe County Airports Director Peter Horton.

be a regular service I don’t believe has been determined yet.”

Federal officials granted Key West the green light to resume

flights to and from the island country in October 2011. It took more than two years, however, for the first flight to take off. Charter operators said they had trouble getting all of the required approvals from U.S. and Cuban authorities. They have also struggled with capacity issues: Key West is currently only approved to process 10 passengers and crew from Cuba at a time. Cuba and Key West have a long and interwoven history. Before the 1959 revolution, there was regular flight and ferry service to the island. Residents could fly to Havana for lunch and be back in Key West in time for dinner. The Cessna Conquest

II aircraft departed the Florida island Monday carrying nine passengers, five of which planned to participate in a licensed “people-topeople” trip focusing on Cuba’s culture and environment organized by the Florida Keys Tropical Research Ecological Exchange Institute. The Obama administration reinstituted the cultural exchange licenses in 2011, allowing organizations to take U.S. citizens to the island for educational activities that promote understanding and exchange with ordinary Cubans. The Key West travelers were to meet with Cubans at botanical gardens, organic farms and cultural centers.

“We’re doing some really meaningful things there, working with botanical gardens, scientists, researchers, all the people there to help preserve their environment and ecology,” said Carolann Sharkey, the institute’s trip organizer. Key West Mayor Craig Cates flew to Cuba with the group, but returned Monday without venturing beyond the Havana airport terminal. “We’re 90 miles away from Cuba,” Cates said. “We’re closer to Cuba than Miami. We haven’t had flights over there in 50 years. It’s going to be great for the city of Key West — cultural exchange, historic exchange, to be able to go back and forth directly from Key West.”

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FOOD

THE ITEM

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014

Start with celery for a healthy, crunchy salad BY ELIZABETH KARMEL Associated Press Writer I know this will make me sound like some ultra-serious dieter — which I’m not! — but I love raw celery. The humble celery stalk shines in so many ways, from a Bloody Mary to a snack stuffed with peanut butter or pimento cheese. To me, it’s the cracker of the vegetable world. It’s what I reach for when I want a snack or a salad that is pure and simple and uncomplicated. Conveniently, it also happens to be high in fiber and low in calories. There is an urban legend that it has zero calories — meaning that it takes more calories to digest than it contains. That is not true, but it always makes me feel better when I am on a diet. And I bet celery sales spike in January, when everyone is attempting a healthy makeover of their diet. Sadly, raw celery often is relegated to the crudite platter that hardly gets touched when there are more crave-worthy (and fattening) dishes to choose from. But it doesn’t have to be that way! This January, eat your celery in my favorite have-it-your-way celery salad. This crunchy salad is seriously satisfying and elevates celery to gourmet status. The secret is in slicing the celery paper thin with a mandolin, or the slicing blade of a food processor. A tart lemon vinaigrette and thin ribbons of real Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese enhance the dish.

The combination of cool crunchy slices of celery and thin bits of savory cheese is what makes this simple salad so satisfying. It also is a great foundation for addin, one of the reasons that I make it all the time. Depending on my mood or what I find at the market, I fancy it up with mushrooms, fennel, apples, pears, beets — all thinly sliced — and/or walnuts, even pomegranate seeds. Try any ingredients that suit your fancy. Just keep the two main ingredients — celery and Parmesan cheese — the same. HAVE-IT-YOUR-WAY CELERY SALAD

A food processor is the fastest way to thinly slice large amounts of celery, but a mandoline does a better job of getting the slices as thin as possible. The trouble is that it is almost impossible to use the hand guard of the mandoline when slicing celery. Some kitchen shops sell safety gloves for slicing, which can help. Another way to make it easier is to hold several celery stalks together (nestled into one another) when slicing. Start to finish: 15 minutes Servings: 2 2 tablespoons extravirgin olive oil 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard Kosher salt and ground black pepper 8 ribs celery, very thinly sliced crosswise 2-ounce chunk Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese Additional salad in-

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The humble celery stalk — high in fiber and low in calories — provides the foundation for this crunchy salad. Add a lemon vinaigrette, thin ribbons of real Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and the add-ins of your choice to tailor the dish to your taste.

gredients, as desired (fennel, sliced mushrooms, fruit, nuts, etc.) In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice and mustard. Season with salt and pepper, then

add the sliced celery. Toss well to coat, then divide the celery between 2 serving plates. Use a vegetable peeler to shave some of the cheese over each serving, then add additional

salad ingredients as desired. Mushrooms, pluots and fennel make an excellent combination with this celery base. Nutrition information per serving: 280

calories; 190 calories from fat (68 percent of total calories); 22 g fat (6 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 20 mg cholesterol; 9 g carbohydrate; 4 g fiber; 4 g sugar; 12 g protein; 920 mg sodium.

Celebrate food and family with Slow-Braised Ragu and Meatballs BY FAMILY FEATURES Flavor is a universal language. It’s the common thread in family celebrations, friendly get-togethers and cultural gatherings around the world. It connects us across generations and geography and has the power to unite and define us. Growing up in an Italian household, Chef Donatella Arpaia can attest to the power of flavor. For her, flavor memories stem from her Italian family’s traditional Sunday dinners. “One of my most vivid childhood memories is watching my mom in her robe with a wooden spoon getting ready to make her meatballs and Sunday ragu. What I learned at a young age is that in order to develop flavor, you can’t take short cuts; you have to be patient,” said Donatella, now an acclaimed chef and judge on “Iron Chef America.” “Sunday dinners are a tradition that I can’t wait to pass down to my son — to teach him not just the recipe for slow-braised ragu and meatballs, but the recipe for bringing the family together.” Donatella’s passion for flavor is part of the reason she’s partnering with McCormick to celebrate their 125th anniversary. The company’s Flavor of Together program seeks to ignite a global conversation asking people across the world to share their flavor story. For every story shared on McCormick’s brand websites or social channels, McCormick will donate $1, up to $1.25 million, to United Way to help feed those in need. “As one of McCormick’s 125 culinary ambassadors I’m excited to be sharing my family memories for a good cause,” said Arpaia. “We all have a unique story to share. Through Flavor of Together, people will have the opportunity to combine their love for food and flavor

FAMILY FEATURES

Chef Donatella Arpaia shares her recipe for Slow-Braised Ragu and Meatballs.

with giving back to those in need while inspiring a global conversation.” Get a taste of Donatella’s mouthwatering slow-braised ragu and meatballs by trying it out for yourself with the recipe below. To read Donatella’s full flavor story and share your own, visit FlavorofTogether.com. SLOW-BRAISED RAGU AND MEATBALLS

Makes 8-10 servings Ragu Ingredients 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 2 celery stalks with leaves, chopped 1 medium onion, chopped salt & freshly ground black pepper 1 1/2 lbs (6-8) meaty, bone-in-pork spareribs, rinsed 1 1/2 lbs (6-8) sweet Italian sausage with fennel seeds, pierced all over with a

fork 1 garlic clove, chopped 1 cup red wine 3 (35 oz.) cans tomato puree 1 handful fresh basil leaves Warm olive oil in a large, heavy-bottom pan over medium heat. Add celery and onion, season with salt and pepper, and sauté, partially covered about 5 minutes until golden and soft. Add meats and raise the heat to medium-high. Sauté, turning occasionally until browned all over. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the wine and cook until it evaporates, 5 minutes. Add tomato puree, basil, salt and pepper. Partially cover, bring to a boil, and reduce heat. Let it simmer 1 1/2-2

hours. For an extra kick of added flavor, sprinkle McCormick’s Italian Seasoning into the sauce. Meatball Ingredients 1 small loaf stale Italian bread (about 8 thick slices) torn into 2 1/2” chunks 2 lbs. 80 percent lean ground beef chuck, broken up 5 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped 1/2 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley 1 large egg, lightly beaten 1 1/2 cups grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or Grana Padano salt and freshly ground black pepper canola oil for frying Put bread in a bowl and add enough warm water to cover. Let stand for 5 minutes, turning to moisten evenly. Gently squeeze out excess water. Add beef, garlic, parsley, egg and 3/4 cup of Parmigiano to the bread and combine. Season with salt and pepper. Knead the mixture for at least 5 minutes with your hands, until uniformly combined and smooth. Pinch a tablespoon of meat into your palms and shape into a ball. Place on a baking sheet and continue with the rest of the mixture. Fill a 10-inch skillet halfway with canola oil and heat over high heat. When strands form along the bottom, lower 8-10 meatballs at a time into the oil. Do not overcrowd. They should be 3/4 of the way submerged in oil. Reduce the heat to medium and fry for 6-7 minutes each side, turning only once. Remove the meatballs from the oil and turn the heat back up to high before starting the second batch. Twenty minutes before serving, add the meatballs to the simmering ragu. Source: McCormick

FOOD

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014

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Healthy haddock doesn’t taste healthy BY J.M. HIRSCH AP Food Editor We all know that baked white fish is a fast and healthy way to get dinner on the table, particularly during this annual time of dietary vow renewal. What isn’t always quite so clear is how to prepare that white fish without adding tons of fat and calories or rendering it a tasteless hunk of protein. But it’s actually not all that hard. It’s all in how you dress it. For me, that means a flavorful, fresh salsa. For this recipe, I created a pineapplemint salsa that gets tons of flavor from not only its namesake ingredients, but also cilantro, jalapeno, onion and garlic. But if pineapple and mint don’t work for you, this THE ASSOCIATED PRESS versatile recipe works Baked Haddock with Pineapple-Mint Salsa is a fast and healthy way to get dinner on the table. The secret to getting a good tasting baked white fish, great with plenty of alwithout adding tons of fat and calories or rendering it a tasteless hunk of protein, is all in how you dress it. ternatives. Substitute an equal amount of just about any fresh fruit — diced apples, mangos, orange segments, plums, even grapes would be delicious. And if you don’t have time to make fresh salsa? Most jarred salsas are a fast and healthy Can you count how many socks are here? Have a friend try. Did you find the same amount? choice (just read the labels and watch for added sugar). Š 2014 by Vicki Whiting, Editor Jeff Schinkel, Graphics Vol. 30, No. 4

Replace the missing words.

BAKED HADDOCK WITH PINEAPPLE-MINT SALSA

Just in case it isn’t obvious, this kick-butt salsa also is great accompanied by nothing more than a bowl of baked tortilla chips. Or spooned over a baked sweet potato. Start to finish: 30 minutes Servings: 4 1 1/4 pounds haddock fillets Olive oil Kosher salt and ground black pepper 1 pound fresh pineapple flesh, cut into chunks 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped 1 medium red onion, quartered 1/4 cup fresh mint 1/4 cup fresh cilantro Juice of 1 lime Hot sauce, to taste Heat the oven to 400 F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil, then coat it with cooking spray. Arrange the haddock fillets on the baking sheet, then brush them with a bit of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, then bake for 12 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily. Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine the pineapple, jalapeno, onion, mint, cilantro and lime juice. Pulse until roughly chopped. Transfer to a bowl, then season with salt and pepper. Adjust heat by adding hot sauce, if desired. Serve the salsa over the haddock. Nutrition information per serving: 230 calories; 40 calories from fat (17 percent of total calories); 4.5 g fat (0.5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 80 mg cholesterol; 19 g carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 13 g sugar; 28 g protein; 340 mg sodium. J.M. Hirsch is the food editor for The Associated Press. He blogs at http:// www.LunchBoxBlues. com and tweets at http:// twitter.com/JM_Hirsch . Email him at jhirsch@ ap.org

ft fter performing f i iin a local summer show, kids waited around the ______ lobby to get his autograph. He has danced for Ben the Bachelor and the bachelorettes on television’s popular _______, The Bachelor. He has been asked to dance for a local teacher retirement party and other events. Who is this popular dancer? Is he a movie star, a TV star? Has he trained for years under the best ________ instructors? He is Luis Contreras, a 6th grader in Sonoma, CA. He taught himself to dance just like Michael Jackson and amazes audiences of all ages with his incredible imitation.

L i watched t h dY T b videos id Luis YouTube of Jackson dancing and he thought, “I can do that!� That was when he set the _______ of learning a Michael Jackson dance number. Luis kept pausing and rewinding the videos to watch each dance _______ over and over. Then he’d try it.

Standards Link: Visual Discrimination: Find similarities and differences in common objects.

MOONWALK IMITATION MACHINE DANCING SEQUINS GLIDING VIDEOS GOALS TIRED STUDY PROUD CHOIR STEP STAR PUSH

Luis would study Michael Jackson’s dances one step at a time. “It took about ten minutes to master one step. I had to _________ it about 50 times.� “He drove us a bit crazy,� says his mom. “He kept playing the same music over and over and over. But he wouldn’t give up until he got it right.� Luis’s parents are proud of his dedication and the hard work he has undertaken to achieve his goals. His mom ________ sequins onto a pair of socks, one sequin at a time. Each one sewn by ________ with love.

“I first heard about Michael Jackson when the _______ reported his death,� recalls Luis. “I asked my sister, ‘Who’s Michael Jackson?’�

Dancing isn’t the only thing Luis does. He also studies hard, earns good grades in school and plays basketball. But, he does fit in dancing every day. He even dances down the aisles of the grocery store!

Luis is starting to study the dance moves of Justin Bieber and is looking forward to joining the school choir in 7th grade.

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Standards Link: Letter sequencing. Recognized identical words. Skim and scan reading. Recall spelling patterns.

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Look through the newspaper for pictures of people who look determined. Cut these out and make an “I’m Determined!� poster.

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Standards Link: Grammar: Identify compound words.

52 X 6 = _________ X 2 = _________

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Footwear, Moonwalk and homework are compound words – a new word made from two words. Look through the newspaper for 10 compound words and draw a line where the two words divide.

If Luis danced two hours a day six days a week for one year, how many hours has he danced?

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His parents don’t let him practice dancing until his homework is finished. But after that, with only a break for supper, he dances until his mother says to stop or he is just too tired to go on.

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Find the words in the puzzle. Then look for each word in this week’s Kid Scoop stories and activities.

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THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014

Check out these warning signs of potential abusers

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dear abby

EAR ABBY — (5) ISOLATION: Tries to isolate you When my daughter from family and friends; accuses people who are your supporters of “causwas 20, she met a guy who one minute show- ing trouble.” The abuser may deprive ered her with roses and the you of a phone or car, or prevent you from holding a job. next would beat her up. (6) BLAMES OTHERS FOR PROBLEMS: She stayed with him thinkIt’s always someone else’s fault if ing she could change him, something goes wrong. and became (7) MAKES OTHERS RESPONpregnant. On her SIBLE FOR HIS OR HER FEEL21st birthday, she INGS: The abuser says,“You tried to get away make me angry” instead of “I from him. He am angry,” or says,“You’re chased her and hurting me by not doing went to punch what I tell you.” her. When she (8) HYPERSENSITIVITY: Is easiturned to avoid ly insulted. Rants about the the blow, it land- Abigail injustice of things that are ed, hitting the just a part of life. VAN BUREN baby in the head (9) CRUELTY TO ANIMALS OR and killed the CHILDREN: Kills or punishes child. I hope all women in animals brutally. Also may expect children to do things that are far beabusive relationships will yond their ability. see this letter. My daughter (10) “PLAYFUL” USE OF FORCE DURis fine now, married and ING SEX: Enjoys throwing or holding expecting. I pray for the you down against your will during women out there who are sex. going through what she (11) VERBAL ABUSE: Constantly critionce had to. PENNSYLVANIA MOM cizes or says blatantly cruel things. This may also involve waking you with relentless verbal abuse. DEAR MOM — Here (12) RIGID GENDER ROLES: Expects are the warning signs of you to serve, obey, remain at home. an abuser: (13) SUDDEN MOOD SWINGS: (1) PUSHES FOR QUICK INVOLVE- Switches from sweet to violent in MENT: An abuser pressures the new minutes. partner for an exclusive commitment (14) PAST BATTERING: Admits to hitalmost immediately. ting a mate in the past, but says the (2) JEALOUS: Calls constantly or visits person “made” him (or her) do it. unexpectedly; checks the mileage on (15) THREATS OF VIOLENCE: Says your car. things like,“I’ll break your neck” or “I’ll (3) CONTROLLING: If you are late, inkill you,” and then dismisses them terrogates you intensively about with,“Everybody talks that way,” or “I whom you talked to and where you didn’t really mean it.” were; keeps all the money; insists you Readers, if you feel you are at risk, ask permission to go anywhere. contact the National Domestic Vio(4) UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS: Exlence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or pects you to be the perfect mate and www.thehotline.org. meet his or her every need.

SUDOKU

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014

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The Regional Transit Council will meet 10-11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, at the SanteeLynches Council of Governments building, 36 W. Liberty St. The meeting is open to all interested individuals, businesses, agencies, and organizations. The Sumter Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, in the Bultman Conference Room of USC Sumter. All administrative professionals are invited. The Mary McLeod Bethune Branch of the National Council of Negro Women will meet at 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10, at Morris College, North Main Street. Lincoln High School Class of 1964 will hold a class reunion meeting at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at Lincoln High School, Council Street. Call (803) 773-3804, (803) 775-9088 or (803) 775-9660. The Sumter Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind will hold its 2014 membership meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14, at Shiloh-Randolph Manor, 125 W. Bartlette St. Associate member Judy L. Simon will accept annual membership dues. Martha Gaither, of Blind Awareness, will speak. Transportation provided within the mileage radius. Contact Debra Canty at (803) 7755792 or DebraCanC2@ frontier.com. Call the 24-hour recorded message line at (206) 3765992. The National Association for Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) will meet Thursday, Jan 16, at Sunset Country Club. Continuing Education course will be held 11 a.m.-noon. Lunch and the quarterly meeting will be held noon12:45 p.m. followed by Continuing Education course 1-2 p.m. Call Tammy Kelly at (803) 773-8322. The Pinedale Neighborhood Association will meet at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, at the South HOPE Center, 1125 S. Lafayette Drive. Call Ferdinand Burns at (803) 968-4464. The Sumter Combat Veterans Group will meet at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 17, at the South HOPE Center, 1125 S. Lafayette Drive. All area veterans are invited. The Lincoln High School Preservation Alumni Association dinner / fundraiser will be held 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17, at the Lincoln High School gymnasium, 26 Council St. Cost is $6 per dinner and includes spaghetti, salad, garlic bread and tea. There will also be an indoor yard sale and the 2014 membership drive will begin.

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WIS News 10 at Entertainment Revolution: Three Amigos Miles, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: (:01) Chicago P.D.: Stepping Stone 7:00pm Local Tonight (N) (HD) Monroe and Rachel travel south of Psycho/Therapist Lewis in court. (N) Drug cartel murders are investigated. news update. the border together. (N) (HD) (HD) (N) (HD) News 19 @ 7pm Inside Edition (N) 2 Broke Girls: 2 Broke Girls: The 40th Annual People’s Choice Awards An annual, fan-voted awards Evening news up- (HD) And Just Plane And the Tip Slip show hosted by Kat Dennings and Beth Berhs. (HD) date. Magic (HD) (HD) Wheel of Fortune Jeopardy! (N) The Middle: Super Fun Night: Modern Family (:31) Super Fun David Blaine: Real or Magic David (N) (HD) (HD) Sleepless in Orson Li’l Big Kim (N) Phil tricks Luke. Night: Dinner Blaine brings magic to the world. (N) (HD) (HD) (N) (HD) Party (N) (HD) (HD) NatureScene: Expedition Con- Nature: Legendary White Stallions NOVA: Alien Planets Revealed New Chasing Shackleton Explorer seeks nected wildlife. History of Lipizzan stallions explored. worlds and possible inhabitants. (N) truth of survival story. (N) (HD) Bay of Fundy (HD) (HD) The Big Bang The Big Bang Step Brothers (‘08, Comedy) aaa Will Ferrell. Two grown men are WACH FOX News at 10 Local news Theory Friend Theory Keeping a forced to share a bedroom when their parents get married. (HD) report and weather forecast. procedure. (HD) secret. (HD) Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Blink King of the Hill: The Cleveland Family Feud Family Feud Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Student’s death points to gambling Peggy’s Fan Fair Show: Squirt’s Cherry Red New form of Honor (HD) ring. (HD) grave-robbing discovered. (HD)

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BBC World News International news. Two and a Half Two and a Half Men Charlie plays Men One-night dad. (HD) stand. (HD) The Arsenio Hall Show Late night variety/talk show. (HD)

Charlie Rose (N) (HD) The Middle: Winners and Losers (HD) Dish Nation (N)

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Restaurant: Impossible (HD) Restaurant: Impossible (HD) Restaurant Stakeout (N) (HD) Restaurant: Impossible (HD) Diners (HD) Diners (HD) Restaurant On the Record with Greta (N) The O’Reilly Factor (N) (HD) The Kelly File News updates. Hannity Conservative news. (HD) The O’Reilly Factor (HD) The Kelly File College Basketball: Wake Forest vs Virginia z{| College Basketball: Arkansas vs Texas A&M z{| World Poker Tour no} (HD) Basketball The Good Wife: Boom Alicia goes The Good Wife: Mock Peter’s elec- The Good Wife: Unplugged Winner Frasier: Hooping Frasier: Frasier Wealthy Frasier New wine Gold Girl: against her old boss. (HD) tronic alarm goes off. (HD) announced. (HD) Cranes Docu.Drama prey. club. Ebbtide’s Revenge Property Brothers (HD) Property Brothers (HD) Buying and Selling (N) (HD) Hunters (HD) Now? (N) Property Brothers (HD) Buying (HD) American Pickers (HD) American Pickers (HD) American Pickers (N) (HD) American Pickers (HD) (:02) American Pickers (HD) American (HD) Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Pas WWE Main Event (N) Burn Notice: Breaking and Entering Burn Notice: Turn and Burn Waitress Burn Notice: Trust Me Borrowed Burn Notice: de Deux (HD) Kidnapped family. (HD) has a stalker. (HD) money. (HD) Comrades (HD) Kim of Queens: Hillbilly in Heels Kim of Queens: Preacher’s Daughter Wife Swap: Aguirre; Ray Punk/con- Wife Swap: Jeffrey; Greiner Women (:01) Wife Swap: Flynn; Orris Drill ser- (:02) Kim of Ill-mannered client. (HD) Disapproving. (HD) servative. swap homes. geant swaps with prankster. Queens (HD) Sam & Cat Witch Way (N) Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Full Hse Friends (:33) Friends (:06) Friends Ghost Rider (‘07) Nicolas Cage. The Expendables (‘10, Action) aac Sylvester Stallone. Elite mercenaries. (HD) Rambo (‘08, Action) aaa Sylvester Stallone. (HD) Colors (‘88) (6:30) G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (‘09, Action) Channing Tatum. An elite, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (‘89, Adventure) aaac Harrison Ford. In 1938, Indiana Jones embarks on Lost Treasure clandestine military unit battles a supervillain’s forces. (HD) a quest to find his father and the Holy Grail. (HD) (‘08) (HD) The Big Bang The Big Bang The Big Bang Conan (N) (HD) The Office: Seinfeld (HD) Family Guy (HD) Family Guy: Rat- Family Guy Can- The Big Bang cer cure. (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Theory (HD) Scott’s Tots (HD) ings Guy (HD) It Happened at the World’s Fair Gunman in the Streets (‘50, Crime) aac Dane Clark. (:45) Embraceable You (‘48, Drama) aaa Dane (:15) That Way With Women (‘47, Drama) aaa (‘63, Musical) aac Elvis Presley. Fugitive cleverly hides from police. Clark. A killer’s driver falls madly in love. Dane Clark. A millionaire retires with his wife. Extreme Cheapskates (HD) My Strange Addiction (HD) My Strange My Strange My Strange My Strange My Strange My Strange My Strange Castle: Target A business man’s Castle: The Wild Rover Detective Castle: The Lives of Others Castle Castle: Still Beckett steps on a bomb. Hawaii Five-0: Pa Make Loa Deadly Hawaii Five-0: Ua daughter is kidnapped. (HD) Ryan with Irish gang. (HD) broken leg. (HD) (HD) virus. (HD) Hopu (HD) S. Beach S. Beach S. Beach S. Beach S. Beach S. Beach S. Beach (N) Repo (N) (:01) Repo (:31) Repo (:02) S. Beach Griffith (HD) Griffith (HD) Griffith (HD) Griffith (HD) Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Kirstie (N) (HD) The Exes (N) Kirstie (HD) The Exes (HD) Queens (HD) NCIS: Canary Tracking down reModern Family Modern Family psych (N) (:04) Modern (:34) Modern (:04) Modern (:34) Modern (:04) psych nowned cyber-terrorist. 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NBC’s ‘Chicago P.D.’ is often violent, gruesome BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH Producer Dick Wolf moves more law and disorder to the Windy City with his new series “Chicago P.D.” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14). Like the quickly canceled “Ironside,” this drama begins with a scene of an irate police officer beating the stuffing out of a suspect he has no intention of arresting. Sgt. Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) sees it as his personal mission to clear Chicago’s streets of bad guys, with or without the niceties of the law. This could be the reason that some in the precinct house treat him like a pariah. We hear cryptic comments about Voight’s past legal problems and his mysterious reinstatement as the head of an intelligence squad. Apparently, somebody upstairs likes him — or fears him. “Chicago” unfolds at a pretty furious pace and contains many scenes of blatant and/or implied violence of a very gruesome sort. Want to see a severed head in a toilet bowl? This is a show for you. As Voight is assigned to build an undercover team from the bottom up, many of his recruits are young — and, if female, rather beautiful. Voight’s distinguishing characteristic transcends his brusque manner and gruff persona. He speaks with a gravel voice that sounds a bit like Brad Garrett — had Brad Garrett gargled with battery acid. It gets your attention. • Fans choose their favorites in a wide variety of categories on “The 40th Annual People’s Choice Awards” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-PG). Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs host. In a pop culture defined by niche markets, this awards show may be one of the last barometers left capable of detecting mass popularity. And it’s the last chance for a broad audience to announce its opinion before the rest of the awards season begins to celebrate distinguished movies with tiny audiences.

2013 NBCUNIVERSAL MEDIA, LLC

Jason Beghe stars as Hank Voight and Sophia Bush as Erin Lindsay in the premiere episode of “Chicago P.D.” at 10 p.m. on NBC.

• “NOVA” (9 p.m., PBS, TV-G, check local listings) looks at NASA’s Kepler mission and its identification of more than 3,500 potential planets beyond our solar system. Some speculate that a few could sustain life as we know it.

Tonight’s Other Highlights • South of the border on “Revolution” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-14). • Overgrown slobs (Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly) become sibling rivals when their respective parents meet and marry in the 2008 comedy “Step Brothers” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14). • Brick develops new phobias on “The Middle” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-PG). • Hot on the heels of its musical special, “Psych” (9 p.m., USA, TV-PG) enters its eighth season with some silly movie parodies. • Benson’s day in court is bad for her health on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14). • Phil’s scheme lands him behind bars on “Modern Family” (9 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).

• Bal Arneson hosts “Spice of Life” (9 p.m., Cooking). • An illusionist makes jaws drop on “David Blaine: Real or Magic” (10 p.m., ABC, r, TV14). • Former couples re-cohabitate in a San Francisco abode on “The Real World: Ex-plosion” (10 p.m., MTV, TV-14). • Taken by the sky on “American Horror Story: Coven” (10 p.m., FX, TV-MA).

Cult Choice TCM commemorates the King’s birthday with a 14-hour marathon of Elvis Presley’s movies, beginning with “Stay Away, Joe” (6 a.m.) from 1968, co-starring Burgess Meredith and Joan Blondell.

Series Notes On two episodes of “2 Broke Girls” (CBS, r, TV-14): music awards (8 p.m.); talk is cheap (8:30 p.m.) * Lessons from a mission to Moscow on “Arrow” (8 p.m., CW, r, TV-14) * On two episodes of “Super Fun Night” (ABC, TV-14): Kimmie courts a new client (8:30 p.m.); dinner party disasters (9:30 p.m.) *

Ultra wants to pick Stephen’s brain on “The Tomorrow People” (9 p.m., CW, r, TV-PG).

Late Night Richard Cordray is scheduled on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (11 p.m., Comedy Central) * David Mizejewski, Patton Oswalt and The Kin appear on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS) * Moshe Kasher, Fortune Feimster and Dov Davidoff are booked on “Chelsea Lately” (11 p.m., E!) * Ishmael Beah is on “The Colbert Report” (11:30 p.m., Comedy Central) * Scarlett Johansson and John Grant appear on “Late Show With David Letterman” (11:35 p.m., CBS) * Jay Leno welcomes Steve Carell, Kathryn Hahn and Jake Clemons on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) * William H. Macy, Bethenny Frankel and Michael Chiarello visit “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” (12:35 a.m., NBC) * Craig Ferguson hosts Mark Wahlberg and Michaela Conlin on “The Late Late Show” (12:35 a.m., CBS). Copyright 2014, United Feature Syndicate

C8

FOOD WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014

THE ITEM Contact Rhonda Barrick at 803-774-1264 or e-mail rhondab@theitem.com

An easier, speedier way to

EAT MORE

VEGETABLES

BY SARA MOULTON Associated Press Writer

I

t’s the same thing every year. We overindulge during the holidays, then make solemn (and quickly abandoned) promises to eat healthier and shed pounds in the new year. So here’s a sane and simple resolution that will help you achieve both goals in a single stroke — eat more vegetables. It’s no secret that almost all vegetables are naturally low in fat and calories. Most also are good sources of dietary fiber, potassium, folate and vitamins A and C. If you did nothing more than pile your plate with vegetables, add a small portion of lean protein, and ramp up your daily exercise a bit, you’d probably find all that extra holiday baggage dropping away without having to count calories. The only problem with eating more vegetables is that it can take a significant amount of time to prep them, and even more time to cook them. Messing with root vegetables is often a marathon. Beets require 45 minutes to steam or an hour to bake. Carrots or parsnips also can be pretty time-consuming. You can cut the cooking time if you first slice them into smaller pieces, but not all of us are aces with a knife. This is why I love my food processor. If you use it with the grating disk attachment — as I do for this trio of recipes — you’re home free. Those marathon beets? You can grate and saute them in minutes. Same for the carrots and parsnips. Best of all, having

cooked up your grated veggies in a bit of oil, you have maximized their flavor, as opposed to steaming or boiling them, which dilutes it. As an added psychological benefit — at least for me — there’s something crudely satisfying about the raw power of the grater. After a bad day at the office or a rough afternoon with the kids, it’s a pure pleasure to noisily grind down those vegetables chunk by chunk. Enhance the finished product however you want, with nuts, your favorite spices or herbs, or a squeeze of citrus or other acid. Just be sure to put a mix of colors on the plate; for the most part, the brighter the color, the better the nutrition. And on a night when you are truly squeezed for time, you don’t even have to cook your shredded veggies. They’re equally delicious raw. Just toss them with lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Have fun with your vegetables. You’ll be delighted with what happens when you move them to the center of your plate.

WALNUTS RSNIPS WITH SHREDDED PA nish: 15 minutes Start to fi ings: 4 ed Serv d and chopp nuts, toaste al w p cu 4 1/ en raisins in olive oil 1/4 cup gold opped fresh sage ns extra-virgd and grated oo ch sp n le b oo ta p 2 1 teas snips, peele juice 1 pound par e grating disk of a food Fresh lemon rg la e th using , pinch of salt processor snips and a es. Stir in the ar p e th dd lt A e oil. minut Kosher sa ium, heat th ips are tender, about 5 sn illet over med In a large sk ing often, until the par mon juice. percent of le irr from fat (48 then cook, stins, sage and a splash of 0 calories; 110 calories olesterol; 30 g carbohy23 walnuts, rais rmation per serving: 0 g trans fats); 0 mg ch fo d; Nutrition in ; 12 g fat (1.5 g saturate 135 mg sodium. total calories) ; 12 g sugar; 3 g protein; er drate; 6 g fib

SHREDDED SPICY CARROTS Start to finish: 15 minutes Servings: 4 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 pound carrots, peeled and grated using the large grating disk of a food processor Kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or to taste) Fresh lime juice 1/4 cup chopped fresh scallions 1/4 cup unsalted peanuts, toasted and chopped In a large skillet over medium, heat the oil. Add the carrots and a pinch of salt, then cook, stirring often, for 3 minutes. Add the red pepper flakes and cook, stirring often, until the carrots are just tender, about 2 minutes. Stir in a bit of lime juice and the scallions and peanuts. Nutrition information per serving: 160 calories; 100 calories from fat (63 percent of total calories); 11 g fat (1 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 14 g carbohydrate; 4 g fiber; 8 g sugar; 4 g protein; 210 mg sodium.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

From top, Shredded Beets with Balsamic,Shredded Parsnips with Walnuts and Shredded Spicy Carrots.

SHREDDE DB Start to EATS WITH BALSAM finish: 1 IC 2 tablesp Serving 5 minutes 1 pound oons extra-virgin s : 4 the small beets, peeled an olive oil d Ko grating d sor isk of a fograted using 2 sher salt tablesp od proce s1/2 cup oons balsamic v In a large dried ch inegar cook, co skillet over m erries e v cook, co ered, stirring oft dium, heat the o v Nutrition ered, until tendeen, for 5 minutes. il. Add the beets total calo information pe r, about 2 minute Stir in the vineg and a pinch of sa ar and ch lt drate; 5 g ries); 7 g fat (1 g sar serving: 180 ca s more. erries, th and lo fiber; 17 en g sugar; turated; 0 g trans ries; 60 calories fr 3 g prote in; 210 m fats); 0 mg chole om fat (30 percen sterol; 25 g sodium t g carboh of . y-

It’s all in the bag BY SARA MOULTON Associated Press Writer

F

ish en papillote is the elegant-sounding name of a staple recipe of classic French cuisine. Translated into English, it becomes the much less elegant-sounding — “fish in a bag.” By any name, however, this method of baking fish is a smash. Typically, the fish is combined with vegetables and herbs, some butter or oil, and often some wine. All of this is wrapped up in a piece of kitchen parchment and baked. The parchment keeps the flavor and moisture trapped inside during cooking, allowing the juices from the fish and the other ingredients to mingle and become a wonderful sauce. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

And because the parchment is stick-resistant, the recipe requires very little fat. The small amount of oil in this recipe is there for taste and texture only. In this recipe, the relatively few ingredients I’ve added to the salmon are in the service of the sauce. But let’s say you wanted to make a whole meal in a bag, sort of like a high-toned TV dinner. In that case, you could add some substantial vegetables, for example sauteed mushrooms, steamed cooked potato cubes, blanched broccoli or carrots. If you do add vegetables, they’ll need to be pre-cooked. The denser vegetables — such as carrots and broccoli — simply won’t have time to get tender during the 10 to 12 minutes of cooking needed by the salmon. Similarly, if wetter veggies — such as mushrooms and spinach — aren’t pre-cooked, they’ll release too much liquid in the packet and water down the sauce. The only tricky part about cooking en papillote is that you can’t see when the fish is done. If you slice open the bag, you risk losing some of the delicious sauce that’s coming together. My solution is to start with the basic rule of baking fish: In a 400-degree oven, give it 10 minutes of cooking time for every inch of thickness.

When I’m ready to test whether the fish is done, I stick a very sharp thin knife right through the parchment and down through the fish. No or little resistance? The fish is done. Significant resistance? Bake it for a few more minutes. And by the way, this test works well regardless of how you cook the fish. Kitchen parchment — or even premade parchment paper bags — is widely available in the foil and plastic wrap aisle. And by the way, it’s also great for lining baking sheets when making cookies. This recipe includes instructions on how to fold the paper to make a bag yourself, but if you can find the pre-made ones, grab them. I experimented with a pre-made bag while testing this recipe and discovered that it worked perfectly well. You just layer all the ingredients in the bag, fold the bottom under to seal the package, and bake away. The beauty of this dish, besides its deliciousness, is that it requires very little preparation and cooks in no time at all. I invite you to take this concept and run with it, making new recipes based on whichever fish and vegetables are in season. And by the way, much as I love wild salmon, it isn’t always in season. So check for sustainably raised farmed salmon, fresh or frozen.

Salmon is baked in a bag with citrus, olive and chilies. The bag keeps the flavor and moisture trapped inside during cooking, allowing the juices from the fish and the other ingredients to mingle and become a wonderful sauce. SALMON BAKED IN A BAG WITH CITRUS, OLIVES AND CHILIES Start to finish: 35 minutes Servings: 4 1 small orange 1 lemon Four skinless 6-ounce center cut salmon fillet pieces 1/4 cup chopped fresh rosemary Kosher salt 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1/3 cup pitted and chopped olives, preferably oil-cured 1/2 serrano chili, thinly sliced crosswise Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut the orange and lemon in half crosswise. Thinly slice 1/2 of the orange and 1/2 of the lemon into thin slices. Juice the remaining halves of both fruits. Set a 24-inch-long sheet of kitchen parchment on a baking sheet. Fold the sheet in half across the short side, then open the folded parchment (like a book), leaving one half of it on the baking sheet. Arrange about half of the orange and lemon slices in a single layer in the center of the parchment on the baking sheet. Sprinkle half the rosemary over the citrus slices. Set the salmon over the rosemary, then sprinkle with salt, the

citrus juices and oil. Top each piece of salmon with a quarter of the remaining rosemary and citrus slices. Fold the second half of the parchment over the fish, then crimp and fold the edges together to create a sealed packet. Bake — on the sheet pan — on the oven’s middle shelf for 10 to 12 minutes, or until just cooked through (stick a paring knife through the parchment and salmon; it should move easily through the fish if done). Cut open the parchment, discard the citrus slices from the top of the salmon, then place each piece on a serving plate. Spoon some of the olives, chilies, rosemary and juices over each piece.

Nutrition information per serving: 440 calories; 260 calories from fat (59 percent of total calories); 29 g fat (5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 100 mg cholesterol; 9 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 5 g sugar; 35 g protein; 490 mg sodium.