How hot can it get?

July weather puts local air conditioners to the test

July 27, 2005

By JACKIE R. BROACH
Index-Journal staff writer

With the temperature hovering near 100 degrees Tuesday, it was the hottest day the Upstate has seen since Aug. 18, 2000.
But it was the heat index that really clinched it as a miserable day to be outside, said Bryan McAvoy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
With the heat index, it felt like 110 degrees at mid-afternoon, he said, making it a bad – and dangerous – day to be outdoors.
“We’ve been pacing ourselves, taking breaks in the shade and keeping jugs of water and Gatorade on hand,” said Jason Pendley, a superintendent with Town and Country Construction, of Greenwood. His crew, along with one from C’s Masonry, of Lincolnton, Ga., is working on the construction site at Self Regional Medical Center. Both crews normally work on the site from 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., but on Tuesday, they left at 2:30 p.m. because of the extreme heat. Pendley said the crew will continue working 6 a.m.-2:30 p.m. shifts until temperatures drop.
According the National Weather Service, the heat wave comes from a strong reach of high pressure that migrated here from the lower plains and will move into the western Atlantic in the next few days.
By noon Tuesday, thermometers hit 93, and The Salvation Army in Greenwood had already given away 14 fans to senior citizens. It’s something they do regularly during the summer months for those who need fans but can’t afford them, said Fannie Christopher, a caseworker. She said every person who came in for a fan received a window fan and a small 6-inch fan.
“A lot of these people don’t have central air and some don’t have any kind of fan,” Christopher said. “One lady who came in today just had a little fan and she about burned up yesterday, and it wasn’t quite as hot then.”
At Self Regional Medical Center, one person has been brought in with a heat-related ailment this week, said Dan Branyon, of the hospital’s public relations department.
“Luckily, it looks like most people out there are doing a good job of taking care of themselves in this kind of heat.”
No one was admitted Tuesday with a heat-related illness.
Today’s weather won’t be much better than Tuesday’s, McAvoy said. The high will be near 100 again and, though it might be slightly less humid, there won’t be much of a difference, he said. Though “cool” is a relative term during a South Carolina summer, he added that it is expected to cool down a bit later in the week.
Temperatures are expected to go back to normal, which is about 90, on Thursday and be followed by a wet period. Rain and thunderstorms are predicted through the weekend and possibly the early part of next week. The good news, McAvoy said, is that it should bring the temperatures below normal and into the 80s.

Remaining healthy and strong

EHS trainer speaks to S.C. coaches about shoulder injuries

July 27, 2005

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

Throwing a baseball or javelin is not a natural motion.
However, if Emerald High School athletics trainer Brian Bishop has anything to do with it, it doesn’t have to be a damaging motion.
Bishop was selected by the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association to deliver the speech “The Throwing Shoulder — Tips For Keeping Your Player’s Shoulders Healthy and Strong” Tuesday at the annual coaches clinic in Greenville.
Tuesday marked the third time Bishop has delivered the speech to various coaches and trainers in the last three years.
“It’s a heck of an honor,” Bishop said. “This is a subject that I have become familiar with over the years. I spent some time working in professional baseball and became acquainted with how important it is to keep pitchers’ shoulders healthy. So, for the coaches association to ask me to do the presentation is a major compliment.”
Bishop served as an athletic trainer and physical therapist in the Minnesota Twins organization from 1995-96. Most of his attention was focused on the Twins’ Class A and rookie league affiliates.
“I was working with young guys there,” Bishop said. “Most of them were 19-years-old or so, with some of the Hispanic guys being as young as 16. I began to notice that so many of these young guys were getting arm problems that were preventable.
“It was around that time I began putting together some material on keeping the arm healthy through preventative methods.”
Bishop said many arm problems baseball players, especially high-school age players, incur can be attributed to lower body movement.
Players are often not strong enough or do not properly use their legs and abdomen muscles when pitching a baseball or tossing a javelin, Bishop said.
As a result, they overcompensate with their arms and can oftentimes cause undue stress on the shoulder or elbow.
It’s an issue he addressed with the gathered masses at the clinic.
“You look at someone like Roger Clemens,” said Bishop, who has been at Emerald since August, 2004. “People wonder how he can still be throwing so well at his age. Well, look how strong his legs and lower body are. His technique is correct. We want to help the coaches and trainers understand that it’s not all about arm strength.”
Bishop arrived at Emerald from Mauldin High School. It was at Mauldin that Bishop underwent a life changing experience that led to his ending up at Emerald.
With Bishop working long days at Mauldin and his wife commuting back and forth to Greenwood for her job, he was getting to spend little time with his then infant daughter. While overseeing training at Mauldin in the winter of 2003, a Mavericks basketball player collapsed on the court during a game.
By the time Bishop reached the young man, he was no longer breathing.
“I told an assistant to go and get the de-fibrulator,” Bishop said. “We gave him a shock, then I administered 15 compressions while a coach administered mouth-to-mouth. Thank God, the kid came back. But that changed the way I looked at things.”
Bishop said he saw that day that life is short, and he wanted to spend as much time with his daughter as possible.
“I knew that if I could move to Greenwood that I could see my family more often. I spoke with (Emerald) coach (Frank) Hill and (then Emerald) principal (Chuck) Graves about a position and they had an opening. It’s been great so far.”
Bishop said he hopes to be able to help many schools, players, coaches and trainers with his speech on the throwing shoulder. According to Bishop the shoulder is the least stable joint in the human body.
By preserving the joint through preventative techniques, young players will allow themselves a chance for a longer and more fruitful career.
“Another example from the professional ranks right now is Curt Schilling,” said Bishop of the Boston Red Sox star who recently returned from ankle surgery. “If you ask me, he’s heading for the disabled list. He’s trying to pitch on a bum ankle. That can, and usually does, lead to arm problems.
“Hopefully, we can prevent high school age guys from trying anything like that.”

Opinion

Tracking sex offenders is not effective enough

July 27, 2005

The intent is good. Practical application, however, is far less than it should be. And that, obviously, has put a lot of children at risk. That is, of course, a reference to the status of sex offenders and the law.
Convicted sex offenders in South Carolina are required under the state’s sex-offender registry law to report to the sheriff’s office in the county where they reside once a year. Experience shows, however, that the law hasn’t been able to stop some sex offenders from abusing children again ….. even to the point of murder.
There have been several high-profile cases in recent times – Florida and Utah, for example – where children have been kidnapped, abused and then killed. In one case, a sex offender has been charged in the deaths of a several people, including a child, and the kidnapping and abuse of a little girl from the same family.

THE MAN WAS SENTENCED to wear a tracking device around his ankle. However, that device was found in a ditch after it was discarded by the man later charged in the case.
In South Carolina, in one county alone, it’s reported that 35 sex offenders are missing. Eight of them have been convicted of crimes against children. Two of those missing escaped once before. Greenville County, however, is not alone. Others, including Greenwood, are not immune to similar problems.
Under the circumstances, it’s obvious that something must be done to allay the fears of parents, not to mention society as a whole. When convicted sex criminals are on the loose and unaccounted for, how could parents not worry about the safety of their children?

HOW COULD COMMUNITIES not be concerned that there may be, and often is, a terrible problem in their midst?
There appears to be a viable system in place that addresses the continuing problem of tracking sex offenders. It also appears it needs a lot of fine-tuning to make sure it does what is intended. It’s more than obvious that it’s not working to satisfaction in the Palmetto State.
It’s even more obvious that nationally it’s a disaster.
There are many problems facing us all these days, to be sure. Sex offenders preying on children, though, has to be one of the most reprehensible. Do whatever it takes to protect children. It’s up to all of us. They cannot do it for themselves.

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

Obituaries

Barbara P. Armstrong

WAYNESBORO, Pa. — Barbara P. “Patty” Armstrong, 89, of 2978 Leitersburg Road, formerly of Boonsboro, Md., died Saturday, July 23, 2005 at her home.
Born in South Carolina, she was a daughter of the late Sumpter Alan and Maude Markin Porter. She was the widow of John D. Armstrong Jr., retired lieutenant colonel. A graduate of Lander University, Greenwood, S.C., she was a teacher and homemaker. She initiated several daycare centers in the Boonsboro and Cheverly, Md., areas and was a member of Manor Church of the Brethren.
Survivors include a son, John D. Armstrong III of Waynesboro; a daughter, Karen C. York of Hagerstown; a brother, Sumpter Alan Porter Jr. of Crofton, Md.; three grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.
Graveside services are 9 a.m. Thursday at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., conducted by the Rev. Loyal H. Vanderveer.
There will be no viewing or visitation.
Memorials may be made to Manor Church of the Brethren, 18511 Manor Church Road, Boonsboro, MD 21713.
Bast Funeral Home, Boonsboro, is in charge.

Elizabeth Rhodes Boxx

Elizabeth Rhodes Boxx, 78, of 116 Old Abbeville Highway, died Tuesday, July 26, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home.

Joshua Andrew Lewis

WARE SHOALS — Joshua Andrew Lewis, infant son of Reginald Lewis and Danielle Norman, died Monday, July 25, 2005 at Abbeville County Memorial Hospital.
He was born July 24 in Abbeville County.
Survivors include his parents of Ware Shoals; three brothers, Reginald Lewis Jr., Adrian Lewis and Demark Lewis of Greenwood; three sisters, Quindayshia Norman and Lakayla Lewis of Greenwood and Latonya Wright of Anderson.
The family is at the home, 42 Cork St.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home, Greenwood.

Mrs. Bleka Lindsy White Moore

In Memoriam
ABBEVILLE — Mrs. Bleka Lindsy White Moore passed away during the morning of Monday, July 25th, 2005 at the Abbeville Nursing Home where she had resided for the past several years.
She was preceded in death by her parents,Mr. Edward White and Mrs.Missouri White, 3 brothers and 3 sisters.
Mrs. Moore was born in Rock Hill, SC on February 15, 1912. She completed High School requirements from “Allen Home” in Asheville, NC and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree and later a Master of Science Degree from North Carolina, A&T University in Greensboro, NC.
Mrs. Moore was an educator for over 40 years, 25 of which were given to the people of Abbeville.
Some Highlights of her career were being the recipient of the Mary McCloud Bethune Centennial Award for outstanding Negro Women, and becoming a Guidance Counselor for Abbeville High School. During her long career, Mrs. Moore received many awards and citations for outstanding contributions and to the community of Abbeville.
During her tenure of over twenty-five years in the Abbeville School system, Mrs. Bleka as she was fondly known, was active as a member of the St. James AME Methodist Church, the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the National Education Association and numerous Community Clubs and Committees.
Mrs. Moore has one son, Dr. Lemuel B. Moore, III, one Daughter-in-law, Karen Mitchell Moore, of Gainesville, Florida and two Grandsons Lemuel Wiley Moore, Saint Charles, Mary-land and Lyndon Benjamin Moore, Gainesville, Florida, two Great-Granddaughters Lemmoria Moore, and Attoria Moore both of Maryland.
Mrs. Moore will be remem-bered by many grateful and admiring former students.
Services dates: viewing 11am-8pm Thursday, July 28; Funeral: Friday, July 29, 2005 10am at St. James A.M.E. Church in Abbeville, SC conducted by Rev. Judy Richardson. The body will be placed in the church 9am. Interment: Forest Lawn Memory Gardens.
Church Organization; Booster club, steward, stewardess, missionary and trustee board.
The family will receive friends at Richie Funeral Home Thursday, July 28, 2005 6pm-7pm.
PAID OBITUARY

Earnie ‘Randy’ Turner

Earnie Randall “Randy” Turner, 55, of 1011 Parkland Place Road, died Saturday, July 23, 2005 at The Hospice House in Greenwood.
Born in Anderson, he was a son of the late Mozell Jackson Turner and Frances Strickland Turner Payton. He attended Greenwood public schools and was a former employee of Daniel Construction Co. and Fennell Painting Service. Most recently, he was a self-employed painter.
Survivors include two daughters, Regina T. Butler and Brandi Turner, both of Greenwood; a sister, Shirley T. McNair of Greenwood; two brothers, Kenneth J. Turner and David Payton, both of Greenwood; his stepfather, William Payton of Greenwood; and five grandchildren.
Graveside services are 8:30 a.m. Thursday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens, conducted by the Rev. Peter W. Hawes.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
Cremation Society of South Carolina is in charge.

Thomas E. Walker

SUMMERVILLE — Thomas E. Walker, 76, widower of Dora Tisdale Walker, died Monday, July 25, 2005 at Summerville Medical Center.
Born in Marion County, he was a son of the late James Franklin and Mary Anne McCumbee Walker. He attended Marion County schools and retired as a supervisor from R.M. Manufacturing after 44 years of service. He was a member of Salem Baptist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. John (Mary Ann) Haskell of Williston and Robin Walker of Summerville; two sons, Danny Walker of Bishopville and Kenneth “Kenny” Walker of Summerville; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two sisters, Betty Kennedy of Summerville and Kitty Rogers of Ladson; and a brother, Milton Walker of Florence.
Services are 6 p.m. Thursday at Salem Baptist Church. Burial is in Plantation Memorial Gardens in Moncks Corner.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at the church.
Flowers are accepted or memorials may be made to Salem Baptist Church Building Fund, 321 Old Summerville Road, Summerville, SC 29483 or Living By Faith Church Building Fund, 2026 N. Main St., Summerville, SC 29483.
James A. Dyal Funeral Home is in charge.

David Wayne Williams

TALL TIMBERS, Md. — David Wayne Williams, 35, died Saturday, July 23, 2005 at Kernan Hospital in Gwynn Oak.
Born in Leonardtown, Md., he was a son of John Wayne and Helen Genevieve “Jennie” Bean Williams. He was a 1987 graduate of Leonardtown High School and an electronic engineer for Dyncorp. He was also a SMARTCO volunteer, repairing computers.
Survivors include his parents of Tall Timbers; a daughter, Jessica Dicie Williams of Tall Timbers; and a brother, Kevin A. Williams of Tall Timbers.
A Mass of Christian burial is 11 a.m. today at Holy Face Catholic Church in Great Mills, conducted by the Rev. Joseph R. Sileo. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are Andrew L. Bean, Clarence B. Fox, Kevin A. Williams, Patrick Day, Preston Day and Laura J. Wright.
Memorials may be made to the Jessica Dicie Williams Trust Fund c/o Cedar Point Federal Credit Union, 22745 Maple Road, Lexington Park, MD 20653 or the Ladies of Charity of Holy Face Church, P.O. Box 106, Great Mills, MD 20634.
Brinsfield Funeral Home P.A., Leonardtown, is in charge.