Chief’s suspension upheld

Ninety Six residents angrily ask council ‘Why?’

July 26, 2005

By VIC MacDONALD
Index-Journal regional editor

NINETY SIX — Without explanation, a majority of Town Council voted Monday to maintain the unpaid suspension of Police Chief Pat Dixon.
Then they refused an angry audience’s repeated questions of why the suspension had been imposed in the first place.
Council had been cheered and applauded by a sweltering audience in The Depot – where the called meeting was moved when the audience overflowed the council chambers – after returning to open session after an hour in closed session.
But those derisive cheers quickly turned to boos, shouts of “no” and calls for “recall” when five of the seven council members voted to maintain Dixon’s suspension, imposed Wednesday.
Council members left the room by a back door to a chorus of angry shouts from residents demanding answers.
“Where’s our tax money going?” one person shouted.
“We need our chief back,” another yelled.
A testy Mayor Tim Griffin tried unsuccessfully to restore order.
“You have concerns. We’ll have to address them,” he said. “But tonight’s not the night. Ya’ll will be listened to.”
But when exactly that would happen was unclear. Dixon’s continued suspension came with a stipulation that a hearing would be held, but no date was announced. And Griffin did not call for the council to set another public meeting.
“A personnel issue is a personnel issue,” he told the increasingly hostile audience. “It’s not public.”
Stung by one audience comment, “You had a lot more to say when you were running for mayor,” Griffin shot back, “Ya’ll elected me, OK, and you don’t have to elect me again. The money that I get for this is not worth it. I’m doing this for ya’ll.”
Then he left, through a small aisle surrounded by still angry residents.
Dixon, meanwhile, was surrounded by supporters inside the building, and then outside where a group pressed the idea of collecting money to pay Dixon’s salary while everything gets sorted out. A fund for Dixon is being set up at Palmetto Bank.
“This is a personal thing,” he said, as supporters had his back during a TV interview. “This is not the end of it. The people of this town pay taxes. They’re entitled to police protection.”
About the reason for his unpaid suspension, Dixon would say only that it stemmed from “a remark I made.” He would not elaborate.
Paul Garrick, a town resident, said as the group was dispersing that he had asked Griffin to call the council back into session for a vote on lifting the pay ban for Dixon. Griffin didn’t respond, he said.
“I think they should pay him,” Garrick said.
In addition to their concerns about Dixon personally, residents were expressing concern that the council’s ultimate goal is to get rid of the police department entirely. Council then would turn over patrolling of the town to the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office, they worried aloud.
“The council members I’ve spoken to support the police department, but there are others who want to save money,” said Gayle Ostrowski, who said she worked during the weekend and Monday to turn out a crowd for the council meeting. She put a sign showing support for the police in her side yard on Greenwood Avenue and distributed home-printed flyers calling for people to show up at the meeting for answers.
About 200 people attended.
“There are other places we can cut,” she said. “We have old people here and the cops check on them. I personally know the police have stepped in and talked to a kid who needed a dad. We’re not going to get that from the county.”
Ostrowski said the town takes too many actions without citizens’ comments and the council meets too often on short notice. “We have to get (the word out by) word of mouth,” she said.
“The next few meetings, I hope people will attend. We need to take that (council) over. Someone else has been running things – we need to run things.”

Opinion

How should judge answer questions about abortion?

July 26, 2005

Judge John Roberts, President Bush’s nominee to replace the retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor on the U. S. Supreme Court, has gotten generally favorable reviews across the land, and that includes praise by South Carolina’s two senators, Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint. That doesn’t mean, however, that he’ll get by without taking his lumps from some liberal senators.
Roberts is conservative, that we know. However, without much of “a paper trail” to gauge Roberts across the legal board, a lot of Americans want to know his position on abortion. An Associated Press poll showed that just over half of all Americans, with a majority of women, wants to know his thoughts on that issue before the Senate votes on confirming him.
That’s such a moral and emotional issue, there’s no way Roberts can win by answering that question. Despite everything – Roe vs. Wade, etc. – maybe the best answer, if there is one, is that no where in the Constitution is abortion mentioned. That should mean that it’s left strictly to the states.
But, don’t count on it.

Editorial expression in this feature represents our own views.
Opinions are limited to this page.

Obituaries

Donald Giles Fisher

Donald Giles Fisher, 49, of Easley, SC, died Sunday. Funeral services will be held at 11 am Wednesday, July 27th in the Shellhouse Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Martha Ebel officiating. Interment will follow in Bethany Cemetery.
Mr. Fisher received his BA in Art from USC. He was an Art Therapist, and a member of the Artist Guild. He received the Art Purchase Award in 2003 from the County of Burlington, NJ..
Survivors include his father, David Yount Fisher, Aiken; three brothers, David Y. Fisher, Jr., Easley, SC; Kenneth G. Fisher, Warrenville, SC; Stephen W. Fisher, Wilmington, NC.
Memorials may be directed to the Elizabeth House, 581 S. Allen Rd., Flat Rock, NC 28731 The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Tues. at Shellhouse Funeral Home, Inc., 924 Hayne Ave., Aiken, SC 29801.
Visit our online registry at http://shellhousefuneralhome.com.
PAID OBITUARY

F. Howard Hall

NORTH CHARLESTON —Entered into eternal rest the afternoon of July 24, 2005, F. Howard Hall, widower of Margaret Calvert Hall. Residence, Charleston, South Carolina. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his graveside funeral service at Rehoboth Methodist Church Cemetery in Greenwood, SC, Wednesday, July 27, 2005 at one o’clock. Friends may call at Stuhr’s Greenridge Road Chapel this Tuesday evening from six until eight o’clock.
Born October 5, 1923 in Atlanta, Georgia, Mr. Hall was the son of Alvie A. and Birdie Haynes Hall. He was retired from the S.C. Vocational Rehabilitation Department as a Regional Supervisor with 27 years of service and was also a veteran of the US Army Air Corps during WWII. Mr. Hall was a member of First Baptist Church of Columbia.
Surviving Mr. Hall are a daughter: Karen H. Cheatham of Statesboro, Georgia; a son: Martin M. Hall and wife, Shirley Hall of Dorchester; sister: Ann Hallifield and two brothers, Alvie Hall and Jake Hall, all of Georgia; five grandchildren: Martin, Matthew, Meg, Leesa and Terrie; four great grandchildren: Travis, Candice, Victoria and Ethann.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation, 1501 NW 9th Avenue, Bob Hope Road, Miami, FL 33136.
A memorial message may be written to the family by visiting our website, www.jhenrystuhr.com.
PAID OBITUARY

Jerome ‘Malik’ Harris

GREENVILLE — Jerome Lee “Malik” Harris, of 6 June Lane, died on Friday, July 22, 2005.
Born in New York, N.Y., he was the son of the late Charles Reed and Bessie Bell Harris.
Survivors include his fiancée of the home, Patricia Edwards; four sisters, Twinetta Adams and Cassandra Jones, both of Greenwood, Michelle Phillippeaux of Trooper, Pa., and Valerie Carter of Mauldin; a brother, Johnny Miles Jr. of Atlanta.
Services are 2 p.m. Wednesday at Watkins, Garrett and Woods Mortuary. Burial is in Fort Prince Memorial Gardens, Inman.
Watkins, Garrett and Woods Mortuary is in charge.

Roy Patrick ‘Pat’ McCaslan

Mr. Roy Patrick “Pat” McCaslan, 62, of 410 Burton Drive, Calhoun Falls, died July 24, 2005 at Abbeville Memorial Hospital.
Born in Elbert County, Georgia, Mr. McCaslan was the son of the late Edward Leroy and Rosa Prince McCaslan. He owned and operated Pat’s Discount Fireworks for over 44 years. Mr. McCaslan was preceded in death by one son, Ross McCaslan.
Survivors include his wife, Rochelle McCaslan; sons Grant McCaslan and his wife Ashlee of Greenwood and Max McCaslan of Calhoun Falls; and grandson Bradford McCaslan.
Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, July 26 at 3:00 PM in the Chapel of Calhoun Falls Funeral Home. A private graveside service will follow. The family may be contacted at the home.
Calhoun Falls Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
PAID OBITUARY

Bleka White Moore

ABBEVILLE — Bleka Lindsy White Moore, 93, died Monday, July 25, 2005 at Abbeville Nursing Home.
Services will be announced by Richie Funeral Home.

Lona Rice

NINETY SIX — Lona C. Rice, 88, resident of Alterra Sterling House and formerly of 88 Draper Street, Ninety Six, widow of David Rice, died Monday, July 25, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Edgefield, she was a daughter of the late Frank and Susie Long Coleman. She was retired from Greenwood Mills, Ninety Six Plant and was a member of Ninety Six Pentecostal Holiness Church, where she was a member of the Adult 5 Sunday School Class and the Ladies Auxiliary and served as a Sunday School teacher and Bible School teacher for many years.
She was preceded in death by a son, Bobby Rice.
Surviving is a granddaughter, Wendy Peacock of Orlando, FL and a number of nieces and nephews.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Ninety Six Pentecostal Holiness Church with the Rev. Chris Stansell and the Rev. Terry Carpenter officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Dale Jones, Bill Coleman, Joel Coleman, Steve Bryan, Stan Bryan, Roger Collins, Donnie Alford, Rodney Hollar, Randy Hollar, Bryan Ballentine and Brooks Ballentine.
Honorary escort will be the men of Ninety Six Pentecostal Holiness Church.
The family will receive friends at Harley Funeral Home on Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. The body will be placed in the church at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.
The family is at the home of a great niece, Judy Collins, 326 Shrine Club Road.
Memorials may be made to Ninety Six Pentecostal Holiness Church, 206 State Street, Ninety Six SC 29666.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

James Marse Scott

SALUDA — James Marse Scott, 69, of 1941 McCormick Highway 378 E., husband of Batrice Ryhnes Scott, died Sunday, July 24, 2005 at his home.
Born in Edgefield County, he was a son of the late Joseph Pressley and Emmie Lue Mathis Scott. He was a member of Springfield Baptist Church, Edgefield and a retired logger.
Survivors include his wife of the home; a son, James Derrick Scott of Saluda; a daughter, Geraldine Johnson of Saluda; two sisters, Annie M. Thomas of Greenwood and Edna Williams of Troy; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.
Services are 2 p.m. Wednesday at Springfield Baptist Church, Edgefield, conducted by the Rev. Henry Gilchrist, assisted by the Rev. Roderick Cummings. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are nephews and friends.
Flower bearers are nieces and friends.
The family is at the home.
Butler & Sons Funeral Home is in charge.

Whitney Tilley

Whitney Lynn Tilley, 21, resident of 186 Deer Run died Saturday, July 23, 2005 at Baker Creek State Park.
She was a daughter of Gary and Katy McConnell Tilley.
Whitney was working towards a Pharmaceutical Technology degree at Piedmont Technical College. She was born with her twin Courtney in Kingsport, TN. As she always loved being with her family and friends, she was a cheerleader, ran cross-country and played softball at Abbeville High School. She continued as a captain of the cross-country team at Spartanburg Methodist College. Whitney also helped protect the lives of those around her through life guarding and teaching swimming lessons.
Whitney always had a smile for those around her and brought one to those who didn’t. By naturally having so much love to give, she always surrounded herself with family and friends, whether face-to-face, over the phone or by written word. Whitney would always be anxious to comfort others in such a time as this and her spirit will always remain a part of those who knew her.
Survivors are: parents Gary and Katy Tilley of the home, a twin sister Courtney Tilley of the home, paternal grandfather Bill Tilley of Kingsport, TN, maternal grandfather Woodrow McConnell of Kingsport, TN, aunt and uncle Mark and Trista Tilley of Simpsonville, SC, aunt Pam Tilley of Kingsport, TN, aunt and uncle Larry and Elizabeth Wright of Knoxville, TN, aunt and uncle Bill and Judy McConnell of Kingsport, TN, uncle Richard Onks of Kingsport, TN, and a number of cousins.
Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, July 26, 2005 at 11:00 AM from the Due West ARP Church in Due West, SC with the Revs. Randy Taylor and Jerry Pickens officiating. The burial will follow in Long Cane Cemetery in Abbeville, SC.
The body is at The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home. The family will receive friends Monday evening from 5:00 until 7:00 PM at Main St. United Methodist Church, Abbeville, SC.
The family is at the home 186 Deer Run, Abbeville, SC.
Memorials may be made to Main St. United Methodist Church, 300 N. Main St. Abbeville, SC 29620 or to the American Cancer Society C/O Mrs. Conway Shirley, PO Box 566 Due West, SC 29639.
The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home Abbeville, SC is in charge of arrangements.
PAID OBITUARY

Albert Creswell Todd, III

COLUMBIA — Memorial service for Albert Creswell Todd, III, 55, of Columbia will be held 2 o’clock Wednesday, July 27, 2005 at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church. Inurnment will follow in the church Memorial Garden. Reverend Michael Anderson Bullock will officiate. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the Parrish Hall of the church. Honorary pallbearers will be members and staff of the Todd & Johnson Law Firm. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to University of South Carolina, School of Law, The Albert C. Todd, III Estate Planning Award; Clemson University Foundation, Albert C. Todd, III Endowment; Indian Waters Council, Boy Scouts of America, PO Box 144, Columbia, SC 29202; ALS Assoc., Jim “Catfish” Hunter Chapter, 1425-113 Rock Quarry Rd., Raleigh, NC 27610; Palmetto Hospice, 1400 Pickens St., Columbia, SC 29201; Caringbridge, 3440 Federal Dr., Suite 100, Eagan, MN 55122. Shives Funeral Home is in charge.
Mr. Todd died Sunday, July 24, 2005. Born in Greenwood, SC, he was a son of Marjorie Sims Byrd Todd and the late Albert Creswell Todd, Jr. He was a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law and a partner in the firm of Todd & Johnson, L. L. P. in Columbia, SC. He received his B.S. in Industrial Management in 1972 from Clemson University and J.D. in 1975 from the U. S. C. School of Law. Mr. Todd was admitted to the S. C. Bar in 1975. He received his Masters of Laws in Estate Planning in 1976 from the University of Miami School of Law. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. Mr. Todd lectured frequently to civic groups and taught courses to lawyers, accountants and life underwriters in estate planning, probate and tax law. He taught courses for the S. C. Retirement System, for the S.C. and American Bar Assoc., the Certified Financial Planner Course for the American College and for numerous other groups. He was a Fellow of the American College of Trust & Estate Counsel, member of the American, South Carolina and Richland County Bar Associations, past Chairman of the Estate Planning, Probate, & Trust Law Section of the Richland County Bar, the Probate, Estate Planning and Trust Law Section of the South Carolina Bar and the Specialization Advisory Board. He wrote A Diagrammatic Guide to Estate Planning, a booklet distributed by the S. C. Retirement System and An Overview of Estate Settlement in S.C., distributed by BB&T and several state Probate Courts. He also edited and co-authored a three volume authoritative guide to estate planning entitled Estate Planning in South Carolina, published by the S. C. Bar. He also wrote a Book of Estate Planning Questions and Answers. Mr. Todd received the honor of being one of the twelve S. C. lawyers listed in the Trusts and Estates specialty field in The Best Lawyers in America, published by Seaview/Putnam, NY. Mr. Todd was on the Advisory Board for BB&T, the Board of Directors and a member of the South Carolina Planned Giving Council, a past member of the Board of Directors for Camp Discovery, past Scoutmaster for Troop 4 at St. Martins-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church in Columbia, SC. He was on the Board of Advisors for Columbia International University and the Advisory Committee for the Rutland Center for Ethics at Clemson University. He was a Bethel Bible and Sunday School teacher and actively volunteered with Finley House and Palmetto Hospice.
Survivors include his loving wife of 33 years, Deborah M. Todd; sons, Andrew C. (Sarah Ashleigh) Todd, III, David H. Todd, John S. Todd; daughter, Anna (Christopher Alton) Majure, all of Columbia; grandchild, Samuel H. Todd; brother, James L. (Harriet) Todd of Charlotte, NC; sister, Ann T. (J. Paul Nodtvedt) Nodtvedt; brother-in-law, Edward E. (Tessa) Moore, III of Greenwood; sister-in-law, Paula M. (Lewis Randall) Fleniken of Columbia; nephews, Lewis R. Fleniken, Matthew P. Nodtvedt, Edward E. Moore, IV, Benjamin Nodtvedt, James L. Todd, Jr.; nieces, Sarah F. Traynham, Sarah J. Todd, Katherine M. Fleniken, Anna K. Nodtvedt, Connor Moore Rebecca Todd; mother and father-in-law, Pauline H. Moore and Edward E. Moore, Jr. of Greenwood.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to his caregivers, Darrell Maxwell, Joshua Kean, Stedven Beumer, David Masich, Shedrick Henderson, Kate Alford, Kathy Alford, and Darlene Crough.
PAID OBITUARY

Elsie Traynham

GREENWOOD — Elsie Dickerson Traynham, 97, resident of 1716 Highway 246N., widow of Ryland A. Traynham died July 24, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Elkin, NC, May 14, 1908, she was a daughter of the late Esquire Everette and Chana Luvada Lyon Dickerson. Mrs. Traynham was a member of Coronaca Baptist Church along with the Sims Sunday School Class and the Joy Seniors Group of the church.
Surviving are a son, Dr. Ryland Tyrone Traynham of Greenville and a daughter, Wanda T. Coleman of the home. Five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Traynham was predeceased by a brother, Zane O. Dickerson and two sisters, Hazel Traynham and Lola Garrison.
Funeral services will be conducted at 3:00 PM Wednesday from The Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. David Tester officiating.
Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Harold Blackwell, Carroll Blackwell, Bruce McKee, Chris Garrison, Traynham Thompson and Billy Traynham.
Honorary escort will be the members of the Sims Sunday School Class and the Men of Coronaca Baptist Church.
The family is at the home on Highway 246 N. and will receive friends at the funeral home from 2:00 to 3:00 Wednesday afternoon.
Memorials may be made to Coronaca Baptist Church, 300 Highway 246 N., Greenwood, SC 29646. For additional information please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home is assisting the Traynham family.
PAID OBITUARY