Nowhere to run

Sex offenders face restrictions, including being on state’s registry

June 24, 2005

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

Is there a sex offender living in your neighborhood?
That information is just a mouse click away.
For the past decade, convicted sex offenders living in South Carolina have been required by law to register with the State Law Enforcement Division’s (SLED) Sex Offender Registry.
The registry, available to the public through SLED’s Web site, lists names, photos, offenses and addresses of sex offenders from cities and counties throughout the state.
States across the nation began creating sex offender registries in the mid-1990s as a useful tool for community members to keep track of potentially dangerous criminals who could be living just next door.
According to a report by The Associated Press, some states are even going as far as placing restrictions on where offenders can live or visit, tracking offenders by satellite and sending e-mail alerts regarding sex offenders’ movements.
The report also stated that some legal and behavioral science experts fear that the tighter restrictions may cause added psychological stress for sex offenders, making it harder for them to re-enter society after their release, even pushing them to repeat their crimes.
But state and local officials say tools such as the offender registry are necessary to keep adults and children protected against potential sexual predators.
Though some criminals may complain that having their names and photos on a searchable database makes it hard for them to find and retain housing or employment, Mark Plowden deputy communications director with the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, said he doesn’t believe the registry violates offenders’ civil rights.
“There is simply no excuse for committing these types of heinous crimes. These crimes aren’t the same (as others). They have devastating effects on victims and the community,” Plowden said. “Our philosophy at this office is that these are dangerous offenders, and that residents in communities across the state deserve and need to know when someone convicted of these offenses moves into their neighborhood.”
Eighth Circuit Solicitor Jerry Peace said that all people who break the law – no matter what law that might be – must live with the consequences of their actions, even though they might never repeat their crimes.
“I’m not sorry if (registering) is an inconvenience to them,” he said. “Like with any problem, some people have to bear the negative consequences, but you have to focus on society rather than the individual.”
“Any criminal has similar kinds of problems re-entering society,” said Susan McGinnis, training director with the Sexual Trauma and Counseling Center in Greenwood. “But they made that choice to offend, and this is a consequence.”
Rather than focusing on the negative consequences criminals face, McGinnis said people should be more concerned about the negative consequences victims of the crimes face.
“What happens to the victims? They have the same problems re-entering society. A victim of sexual crime faces all kinds of problems,” she said, adding that post-traumatic stress syndrome, eating and sleep disorders, mental health issues and even self-mutilation can arise in victims of violent crimes.
“It manifests itself in different ways, and these are life-long effects. We see clients who are suffering effects 20 years down the road,” she said. “Where is the sympathy for the victim?”

Giving their time

Volunteers make golf tourney run smoothly

June 24, 2005

By MICHAEL STONE
Index-Journal sports editor

When the golfers start play Saturday in the Festival of Flowers men’s tournament, they will be told when to tee off, which cart to drive and if a shot goes out of bounds.
While the gallery will be watching the players during the annual two-day event, the players will be relying on a score of volunteers to make sure the tournament runs smoothly.
Tommy Pendley, the head professional at the country club, said it takes nearly 20 volunteers to do the “hidden duties,” allowing the GCC staff to run the event smoothly.
“It’s a good bit of work, and it also makes the tournament so special,” Pendley said of the volunteers. “They help us out tremendously.”
Most of those donating their time, such as Ken Flinchum, are club members.
Flinchum and Jim Martin will be handling the starting duties at No. 1 and No. 10 Saturday and Sunday.
Their job is to make sure players are ready to start at their assigned times, the fairways on No. 1 and 10 are clear before groups tee off and the tournament runs on schedule.
Flinchum, who has been a member at the country club since 1956, said he likes being part of “one of the best tournaments in South Carolina.”
“It’s a big tournament. There is a lot of good camaraderie … a lot of good golf,” Flinchum said. The starters get to the course at 7 a.m., about 45 minutes before the first group of three tees off.
But after the last group begins play, about 9:40, the starters have time to watch the tourney.
Flinchum will stay by the clubhouse, helping mark the scores as they come in, but Martin will be out on the course.
One of those guys Martin will be following is son Ben, a Greenwood High School graduate who will be on the Clemson golf team this fall and is playing in the tournament for the first time. “When I played, I always had a good time at the tournament,” the elder Martin said. “I enjoyed participating as a player, but my game is not as good as the guys now.
“I hope Ben has a good time and plays well.”
Roger Helms, a former club president at GCC, has been a volunteer at the tournament more than a dozen times.
Helms, who has played in the tournament and finished in the top 10 in the 1970s, has done just about everything a volunteer can do.
He’s been a rules official, a caller – the person who makes sure players get to the tee box on time – driven carts and kept the scoreboard on No. 15 and No. 18.
“I think it’s something great for the community and club, both of which are dear to me,” Helms said. “We’ve got the greatest people in the world in this area. And someone has to do it.”
Players searching for carts on the weekend will have to see Nick Nicholson.
The 69-year-old will make sure all the players have the right transportation to get around the course.
“I think this is a wonderful event for the city of Greenwood and the surrounding area,” Nicholson said. “Two years ago I decided to stop playing golf and I’m just glad to help.”
This weekend’s field is one of the deepest in tournament history.
Defending champion Chip Whitt is back, along with five other tournament winners – Greenwood’s Greg Rawlings won in 1981, ’82 and ’86; Aiken’s Daran Womack won in 1985; Aiken’s Ron Schroder won in 1987; Williamston’s Josh Campbell won in 1999 and Irmo’s Steve Leibler won in 2002.
There will also be plenty of young talent this year, Pendley said.
Players in their late teens and early 20s include: Clemson signees Vince Hatfield and Ben Martin; recent Emerald High graduates Cooper Tinsley and Brooks Sims; Greenwood graduate Stephen Boggs; and Abbeville’s Drew Davis.
Martin said one of the “young guns” might be able to pull off an upset.
“Vince Hatfield and the kid who won the match play Juniors, Kellen Altman, from the College of Charleston, will be up there,” Martin said. “But Chip knows the course, and he could win again. Really, a host of guys could win the tournament.”
Pendley predicts a score of 138 could claim the title. Whitt won with a 138 last year. The tournament record is 134, set by Greer’s Brent Delahoussaye in 2001.
“If we don’t get any more rain, the green and fairways are going to be soft and there isn’t much rough,” Pendley said. “If you hit the fairways and greens, like Chip did last year, a 67 isn’t going to be that hard.”

Opinion

New domestic abuse law must be strictly enforced

June 24, 2005

Domestic abuse has been such a concern in South Carolina the Legislature approved a tougher law to deal with the violence. It took a controversy to get it done, but it was done, and none too soon.
Hopefully, that will mean a better record in the future. Meanwhile, according to the federal government, child abuse and other forms of violence involving families fell by more than a half between 1993 and 2002.
The rate of family violence fell from about 5.4 victims to 2.1 victims per 1,000 residents age 12 and older, says a report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

SIMPLE ASSAULT WAS THE most frequent type of violent offense. Murder accounted for less than one-half of 1 percent of all family violence between 1998 and 2002. Those are the most recent years analyzed for that report.
It’s encouraging to see improvement, regardless of the category. In South Carolina, though, a state where more women are killed by men than in any other state, the low murder numbers are worthy of note.
While there apparently have been improvements all over the country, it’s still not enough, though, if domestic abuse/violence threatens just one child or one woman. Under the circumstances, the new and tougher law should be strictly enforced. That may not eliminate this plague on humanity, but it’s a good place to start.

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

Obituaries

Alice Louise Harris

HODGES — Services for Alice Louise Williams Harris, of 112 N. Hodges School Road, are 2 p.m. Sunday at Pine Grove A.M.E. Church, with the Rev. James J. Robinson officiating, the Rev. Gregory E. Singleton, pastor, presiding, and the Rev. Bernard White assisting. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are church trustees along with Wayne Harris, Johnny Conway, Curtis Harris, Terry Crawford and Cecil Perrin.
Flower bearers are church missionaries and Joyce Perrin.
The family is at the home and the home of a son Tyrone Harris, 910 Miller Road, Cokesbury.
Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc. is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@emeraldis.com

Christian M. Harris

Graveside services for Christian Messiah Harris are 11 a.m. Saturday at Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery, Ninety Six.
The family is at the home, 1401 Phoenix St., Apt. 12-E.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is in charge.

Rosa Bell Marshall

GREENVILLE — Rosa Bell Marshall, 76, formerly of Hodges, died Monday, June 20, 2005 at Oakmont Nursing Home.
Born in Abbeville County, she was a daughter of the late James and Susie Gaddis Jackson. She retired from Riegel Mills and was a member of Rose of Sharon Church, Hodges, where she was a Senior Choir and Women Missionary member.
Survivors include a daughter, Susie Barton of Greenville; a sister, Bessie L. Williams of Hodges; four grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Services are 2 p.m. Saturday at the Rose of Sharon Church, conducted by Elder Joseph Cohen. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
The family is at the home of a daughter, Susie Barton, 18 Gantt Drive, Greenville, and of a niece, Jessie L. Richardson, 103 Gregg Court, Hodges.
Robinson-Walker Funeral Service, Ware Shoals, is in charge.

Huston L. McCormick

GREENWOOD, SC – Huston L. McCormick, 85, of 137 Patrick Road, husband of Margaret Frances “Marge” Wiseman McCormick, died Wednesday, June 22, 2005, at the Hospice House of Greenwood.
Born in Kentucky, he was a son of the late Addley B. and Josie Canady McCormick. He was retired from General Motors and was a US Navy veteran of World War II. He was a member and deacon of Emerald Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by a son, Victor McCormick.
Surviving is his wife of the home; three sons, Jerry A. McCormick of Madison Heights, MI, Huston S. McCormick of Pontiac, MI and Robin B. McCormick of Troy, MI; 12 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Curt Eidson and the Rev. James Boling officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Ken Mattison, R. T. West, Heyward Duffie, Robert Westmoreland, Albert Freeman, Tuney Blackmon, Henry Hall and Jimmy Hall.
Honorary escort will be the deacons and men of Emerald Baptist Church.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday from 1 to 8 p.m.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY