The State from Columbia, South Carolina • 16

2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 wolf B2 SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2002 THE STATE, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA WWW.THESTATE.COM Living Here TODAY RIVERFEST: Today at Riverfront Park and Historic Columbia Canal. Features celebrity raft race, Shire river walk, Mayor's 5K river run, tours, children's area, arts and crafts, food and live entertainment. Proceeds benefit the programs of the Epilepsy Foundation of South Carolina. RUMMAGE SALE: 8 a.m.-noon today in the gymnasium at Lake Murray Presbyterian Church, 2721 Dutch Fork Road, Chapin. KIDS DAY: a.m.-4 p.m.

today at Northminister Presbyterian Church and Greenview Park, David Street. Includes wellness walk, KidPrint IDs, bike rodeo, child seat safety check, face painting and health screenings. For more information, call (803) 935-5903. EASTOVER PARADE AND BARBECUE FESTIVAL: 8:30 a.m.-11 p.m. today at Eastover Park.

Features street dance, parade, arts and crafts, food vendors, softball tournament, carnival rides, 5K and more. PONTOON TOUR OF HOMES: Today on Lake Murray. Features five homes in Spence's Plantation. Tours depart Pine Island a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

$25; members, $20. Sponsored by the Lake Murray Association. (803) 749-3888. SPECIAL OLYMPICS: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. today at various locations on Fort Jackson and USC.

(803) 772-1555, Ext. 30. PLASTIC MODEL SHOW AND SWAP MEET: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. today in the Ellison Building at the State Fairgrounds. $2.

Sponsored by the S.C. Modelers Association. Terry Hutto, (803) 568-3365 after 6 p.m. INTERNET WORKSHOP: 9-10 a.m. today at the main branch of the Lexington County Public Library, 5440 Augusta Road, Lexington.

COLUMBIA MARIONETTE THEATRE: National Day of Puppetry celebration begins at noon today in conjunction with Riverfest. Performances include "Rockin' Through the Ages," noon, 1:30 p.m.; "Cinderella," 12:45 p.m.; "Kids on the Block," 2:15 p.m.; "Litter Trashes 3 p.m.; and "Patrick Packrat," 3:45 p.m. Construct a puppet from 1-3 p.m., $3. Located at 401 Laurel (803) 252-7366. DAY: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

today at C.A. Johnson Preparatory Academy, 2219 Barhamville Road. Includes displays, food, music, fashion show, jewelry, flags, ethnic attire, exhibits and dancing. (803) 253-7092, Ext. 2502.

HOUSEWIFERY GUILD: 10 a.m.-noon today at the Craven House on the grounds of Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site. Living History interpreter Susan Bridges will teach participants how to create an style pincushion. (803) 432-9841. SPRING JAMBOREE: Noon today at Wardlaw Apartments, Elmwood and Park streets. Selling hot dogs, hamburgers, fish sandwiches and barbecue chicken.

Sponsored by the Wardlaw Tenants Association. (803) 256-7219. ROSE SOCIETY SPRING SHOW: p.m. today on the lower level of Columbia Mall near JC Penney. (803) 776-0307.

WEST AFRICAN DRUM WORKSHOP: 2-4 p.m. today at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. $25. Mohamed DaCosta will lead the session. (803) 782-1964.

on the campus of Columbia College. Program will feature the Robert Ivey Ballet, The Dance Department, Crayton Middle School Dancers, Whitney Bryant and the Fred Astaire Dancers, The Moving Company, Columbia City Jazz Company, Columbia Shag Club, Eau Claire High School Dancers, S.C. Native American Dancers, Pine Street Dancers, Marilyn Knight Scottish Dancers, Ly-Ben Christian Dance Theatre, Sharon O'Neils Irish Dancers and Djoliba Don African Drumming and Dance Ensemble. Free. Gail Glover, (803) 772-1462.

CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION: 7- 11 tonight at the fountain in Five Points. Music provided by Rayo Nortefio, Trio Romance and Mariachi Guadalajara. (803) 765-0560. CELEBRATE DANCE! CELEBRATE 7 tonight in Cottingham Theatre "LITTLE SHOP OF 7:30 tonight and 3 p.m. Sunday in the Richland District 2 Auditorium on Brookfield Road.

$6. (803) 699-2800. 8 tonight, Wednesday through May 11, 15-18 and 22-25 at Town Theatre. Matinees at 3 p.m. Sunday and May 19.

$15; seniors, military and college students, $12; youth, $9. (803) 799-2510. "THE 8 tonight, Tuesday through May 11 and 14-15 at Workshop Theatre, 1136 Bull St. Matinee at 3 p.m. Sunday.

$16; students, seniors and military, $14. (803) 799-6551. TIMBER FESTIVAL: Today at the Young Farmers Tractor Pull Site, U.S. 178, Saluda. Parade begins at 10 a.m.

followed by games, food, entertainment, exhibits and timber competitions. Concessions open at noon, no alcoholic beverages. age 12 and younger free. Free admission until 2 p.m. Saturday.

(803) 637-6813 or (864) 445-2043. TRUSTUS REPERTORY: "Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune," tonight, Sunday and Wednesday, Thursday May 17 at Trustus. "The Woolgatherers," Friday, May 11 and May 18. $12- $17.50. Show times are 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. (803) 254-9732. 8 tonight, Thursday through May 11 and 16-18 at the Chapin Community Theater, 107 Columbia Chapin.

$10; students and seniors, $6. (803) 345-6181. "THE 8 tonight, and Thursday through May 11 at the Sumter Little Theatre, 14 Mood Sumter. Matinees at 3 p.m. Sunday and May 12.

$12; students and seniors, $10. METRO markets. Despite the deadline, only about 30 percent of the country's TV stations have digital capabilities. Mel Stebbins, WIS general manager, has consistently maintained that the FCC's deadline was unrealistic. "It takes time and money to get in the necessary equipment," Stebbins said.

"The biggest problem, though, is new towers have to be built. "Only a few companies are capable of building them, and they're -logged with orders." Scott McBride, WACH general manager, said it takes "a million to a million-and-a-half dollars" to make the conversions. "I think a lot of stations just said to heck with definition other TV debuts on McBride said WACH will be broadcasting in hi-def by November, but he's pessimistic that many people will notice. "I just don't think many people are going to rush out and buy those expensive digital sets," McBride said of the television which cost "I know the FCC wants everything to be nothing but digital by the end of 2006, but that's not going to happen. Maybe, by 2010.

Maybe." Meanwhile, WLTX general manager Rich O'Dell said he's delighted to "be up and running." "One day everyone will be digital," O'Dell said. "It might not be as quick as first expected, but it's the future." The CBS affiliate will air all of the network's prime-time high-def SEA TURTLES: ANCIENT, BUT STILL A MYSTERY Sea turtles have been deliberate hunting and them. Biologists have little information about What are sea turtles? Air-breathing reptiles that spend their lives in the ocean; Digital telecasts in response to FCC mandate; other area commercial stations get time extensions By DOUG NYE Television Editor At midday Friday, WLTX-19 became Columbia's first commercial station to broadcast in digital high definition. That was two days after the May 1 deadline set by the Federal Communications Commission. Columbia's other commercial stations WIS-10, WOLO-25 and WACH-57 obtained sixmonth extensions of the deadline from the FCC; a reflection of I Only times on land: during development inside an egg buried in the sand and during the female's egglaying; Unlike land turtles, they cannot pull their heads into their shells.

Turtle facts Can stay underwater several hours. Must surface to breathe, stay on surface for a few minutes before diving again; Strong swimmers; front flippers provide power, rear used for steering; See well when underwater; have a good sense of smell. swimming the oceans for 150 accidents in fishing nets are observed their nesting on beaches, what they do during their How they nest Mature females mate and nest once every two or three years, during the warmest nights of the year on tropical and subtropical beaches. 1 to Fertilized beach female and swims crawls up onto the sand. Often, and for unknown reason, she probes sand with her beak.

2 She chooses a pit for nesting her place, digs a body, then a smaller pit for the eggs. 3 She lays about 100 eggs, fills the pit with sand and tamps it down. Mother turtle's tracks Different species leave different tracks during their crawl up the beach. Loggerheads, Leatherbacks hawksbills and and green turtles ridleys move their move their front flippers in an flippers together, alternating pattern. then their rear.

Sea turtle species Some of the world's seven species: 6-foot Kemp's Hawks- Logger- Green Leatherback human ridley bill head Green turtles have green body fat. Often found in shallow coastal waters. countries use its flesh and eggs for for soup. Beach towns Illumination confuses loggerhead mothers laying eggs and their hatchlings The Associated Press HILTON HEAD ISLAND Officials are asking area residents and visitors to keep the beaches dark at night as sea i turtle nesting season began Wednesday. Beaufort County will begin enforcing the new ordinance requir- out for turtles million years, but now endangering but we have long lives at sea.

2 4 5 Nesting takes from one to three hours. After 60 days in warm sand, eggs usually hatch in cool of the night. 4 in All a the nest eggs hatch at once. Movement of hatching eggs may stimulate others into action. 5 Hatchlings several days digging out of nest.

They suddenly emerge, digging furiously. 6 scramble Hatchlings toward ocean, even if it is hidden from view. 7 They undertow dive to out the to sea. bottom Birds, and ride fish and other predators pose a deadly danger, and they keep swimming for at least 24 hours after entering the water. SOURCES: "Florida's Sea Turtles;" "Turtles of the United States," "So Excellent a Fishe: A Natural History of Sea Turtles," by Archie Carr KNIGHT RIDDER TRIBUNE In 2000, more than 1,000 hatchlings died after wandering into the dunes because of artificial lighting.

Female turtles lay clutches of up to 120 eggs. Scientists estimate that only one of every 10,000 hatchlings reaches sexual maturity. Females that survive return to their natal beaches 20 to 30 years later to dig their own nests. A similar ordinance has been in place for several years on Hilton Head Island. While about 70 violations were noted last year, there were no fines assessed.

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For information, (803) 432-3951 or (803) 765-0777. UPCOMING CAROLINA JAZZ SOCIETY BAND: p.m. Sunday at the Capital Senior Center, Maxcy Gregg Park, Pickens and Blossom streets. Si musicians welcome for second set. (803) 772-5529 or (803) 791-3454.

S.C. READS SCREENING: The film, "Fahrenheit 451," will be shown at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in Bostick Auditorium of the main branch of the Richland County Public Library, 1431 Assembly St. A discussion of the book and the author will follow the screening. (803) 929-3457.

DAILY TOUR OF HOMES: Noon to 6 p.m. weekends through May 19 in 13 featured communities around the Midlands. Copies of the Tour of Homes plan book are available at Food Lion grocery stores in the Columbia area and at all tour locations. Tours will be held in Chestnut Hill, Eagle Point, Eagle's Glenn, GreenHill Parish, Haigs Creek, Heritage Hills, Lake Carolina, Parkside, Plantation Pointe, Richmond Farms, Stonington, Valley and Wood Trace. Sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Greater Columbia.

(803) 256-6238. RICHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY: Fabric designs by Carol C. An- derson on display through June in the Wachovia Gallery at the main branch, 1431 Assembly St. (803) 929- 3449. and the students of Holly Cove Studio on display this month at the main branch, 5440 Augusta Road, Lexington.

LEXINGTON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY: Works by Suzanne Wilkins HISTORIC HOMES TOURS: Tours of the Hampton-Preston Mansion and the Robert Mills House are available from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1-5 p.m. Sundays, beginning at the Robert Mills Welcome Center, 1616 Blanding St. Tickets students, seniors and AAA members ages 6-17 5 and younger free. Family Fun Days are the second Saturday monthly; special programs and free admission for Richland County residents.

(803) 252-1770, Ext. 25. Adventure" on display through Sunday; $3 plus regular museum admission. "Piecing A Quilt of Life: Contemporary Art Quilts by Senior Women" on display through June 3. "Paperwork: Gene Merritt Drawings from the Permanent Collection" on display through Aug.

18. "Home Blown: Beverage Bottles of Laurens Glass Works, 1910- 1996" on display through Jan. 12. "Concrete Knowledge: Constructions and Carvings by L.C. Carson" on display through Aug.

18. Ongoing exhibits include "Meteorites: Windows to the Other Worlds," "Dinosaurs!" and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday. $5 adults; $4 senior citizens, military and college students with ID; $2 for ages 6-17; free for children younger than 6.

Admission is $1 the first Sunday monthly. 301 Gervais (803) 898-4921. STATE MUSEUM: "Theme Park: The Art Science of Universal's Islands of COLUMBIA MUSEUM OF ART: "Vi- sualizing the Blues: Images of the American South, 1862-1999" on display through May 26. "Inner Worlds: Works in Glass" on display on the Garden Terrace. On loan from the Corcoran Gallery are 18 pieces of Italian Renaissance majolica.

Highlights from the museum's collection include works by Claude Monet, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Botticelli, Canaletto, Tintoretto, Gilbert Stuart and Washington Allston. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays; 1-5 p.m. Sundays. seniors, students, ages 5 and younger, free.

Free the first Saturday monthly. Hampton and Main streets. (803) 799- 2810. McKISSICK MUSEUM: "A Portion of the People: Three Hundred Years of Southern Jewish Life" on display through May 19. Seagrass baskets from the South Carolina Lowcountry on display through July 14.

Permanent exhibits and long-term displays include Baruch silver collection and the Laurence L. Smith mineral collection. Located on the USC Horseshoe. Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays Fridays; 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Thursdays; and 1-5 p.m. Sundays. (803) 777-7251. programs about 75 percent of the schedule as well as any sports events in HDTV. WLTX joins PBS station WRLK-35 as the only two offering high-def programming.

S.C. ETV launched digital broadcasting March 7, 2000. For most viewers in the Midlands, the digital hi-def broadcasts will have no impact. To receive WLTX's broadcasts, viewers must have a high-def set and an antenna. It is not yet available on Time Warner although the cable company's officials say negotiations are under way to make that happen.

"We have ETV digital on now," Time Warner's Dan Santelle said, "and I'm confident we will eventually work something out with WLTX." Mother guilty of disrupting school Upstate woman 7 6 caused disturbance in office after claiming her child was abused The Associated Press SPARTANBURG A woman has been found guilty of a misdemeanor offense of disrupting an elementary school in a case tried by the county's chief prosecutor. Trey Gowdy said he took on the prosecution of Robin Scruggs because he wanted to send a message that terrorizing school officials won't be tolerated. Scruggs, 37, was sentenced to 90 days of probation Thursday for disrupting Woodland Heights Elementary School in May 1999. Witnesses testified that Scruggs screamed at officials, repeatedly slammed the school telephone's receiver and accused secretary Susie Dempsey of physically abusing her son, who was 5 at the time. School officials said they had to route students and teachers away from the school's administrative office as employees dealt with the crisis for more than an hour.

"No one has the right to come into a school and take away the safety and security of children," Woodland Heights principal Susan Cox said. Scruggs had testified that she charged into Woodland Heights after dropping her son off only because she saw Dempsey hitting him on his head as she escorted him down a hallway. Scruggs acknowledged that she was upset, but denied screaming or calling Cox a "fat When he questioned Scruggs Thursday, Gowdy reminded the defendant that none of the law enforcement or judicial officials who reviewed the case had pursued child abuse charges against Dempsey. Gowdy spent a large chunk of his cross-examination needling Scruggs over what he characterized as inconsistencies between her testimony and her 2001 deposition in a $1 million lawsuit she has filed over the incident. On one point, Scruggs said a court reporter had "messed with" her deposition testimony.

"The conspiracy gets even bigger, Ms. Scruggs," Gowdy replied. Jurors Mary Brannon and Vanessa Rollins said they simply didn't believe Scruggs. "We felt the school was disrupted," Brannon said. Rollins said Scruggs "changed her story more than once." fat.

They eat seagrass and algae. People in impoverished food; in rich nations, it is used urge lights ing artificial lights visible from the beach be shaded or turned off from dusk to dawn during turtle spawning season, which ends Oct. 31. Female loggerhead sea turtles seek a dark beach to lay their eggs on, and scientists say electric lighting can keep nesting turtles away from the beach. Hatchlings use the light of the night sky as a guide to the ocean, and man-made light can disorient them, actually steering the young turtles away from the water and into the dunes..