The CATS meow

Creative arts fuel fire of learning at local camp

June 9, 2005

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal staff writer

Dramatic arts students, from left, Justin Wilson, 10, an Oakland Elementary student, Bradley Koone, 10, a Springfield Elementary student, and Taylor Bradley, 10, a Woodfields Elementary student, act out an improvised skit during a workshop at CATS Camp.

Some Greenwood School District 50 students are taking a few weeks out of their summer vacation to gain a better understanding of the world of creative arts.
More than 50 children from elementary schools throughout the district are participating in this year’s Creative Artistically Talented Students’ (CATS) Camp.
The daily camp, featuring workshops in dramatic arts, visual arts, music and dance, began this week at Pinecrest Elementary. It concludes June 24 with a special production featuring the students and their work.
“With this program, the students strengthen their academic skills as well as their skills in fine arts,” said CATS program coordinator Peggy Swofford, an instructional specialist at Woodfields Elementary. “Once students are exposed to challenging problems through the arts, they become better problem-solvers and critical thinkers throughout all learning experiences.”
To be considered for the program, which is open to third- through fifth-grade students, participants had to first be nominated by a teacher, Swofford said. The nominees then auditioned for spots in the camp’s four program areas.
This week, students in the dance program have been learning about modern and African dances from Nicole Almeida, a teacher at Westview Middle. Dramatic arts instructor Cathey Chapman, a Pinecrest Elementary teacher, has been leading students in activities that sharpen their improvisational and acting skills.
Students in the music program are studying musical rhythm and coordination with Lakeview Elementary teacher Ann Brewer.
Throughout the three-week camp, students in the visual arts program will use each day to focus on a different artist.
Instructor Betty Strange, an art teacher at Woodfields Elementary, said she picked the visual art curriculum, which includes researching artists and creating pieces in different mediums, to help the students discover their favorite artists.
“I’ve challenged them to find something about the artists that I don’t already know,” Strange said. “They go home and do their research, and they have really begun to learn a lot about these artists.”
The artist who has made the biggest impression on 11-year-old Alison Gregory, who will be attending Brewer Middle in the fall, is Georgia O’Keeffe, an American painter who focused on floral scenes and images from the American West.
“There were only a few women artists, and I think she was really good at what she did,” Gregory said. “I love her floral designs. They are really pretty and have a lot of colors.”
Swofford said camp organizers have even invited artists from the South Carolina Arts Commission to visit the school and talk with the students about their areas of expertise.
“These children get the opportunity to be exposed to all of the different kinds of art, and they just absolutely love having an expert come in to speak with them,” Swofford said. “The kids love this camp, and you can tell because they never miss a day.”

Megan Varner covers general assignments in Greenwood and the Lakelands. She can be reached at 223-1811, ext. 3308, or: mvarner@indexjournal.com

Opinion

European Union problems not unlike some in S. C.

June 9, 2005

It may sound a little farfetched, but the controversy over a constitution for the European Union has elements that aren’t much different than some in communities around South Carolina.
The European Union, of course, is an effort to join together all the nations of Europe to form a body that would rival the United States, particularly as an economic force to be reckoned with.
Considering the implications of such a union, the outcome surely could have presented problems for this country. To become a reality, though, the proposed constitution for the EU needed to be approved by all the nations involved.

BUT, THE VOTERS OF France first said no by a heavy margin, giving French President Jacques Chirac a critical defeat. That was followed by an even larger defeat by the Dutch voters of The Netherlands.
Unless something unusual happens, those two defeats probably mean the end of the EU, at least for the time being. Why did the voters of both nations reject the document? Two reasons. One, they were concerned that they would lose their national identities, with everything that implies. Second, they had reservations about the formation of another huge bureaucracy, with everything that implies.
How is all this similar to South Carolina communities? Like number one above, talk of restructuring some governing agencies, such as school boards, for example, generates identity concerns that cannot and should not be taken lightly.

RIGHT, WRONG OR indifferent, people have pride in their communities and will resist any thought of anything that could change that in any way.
It’s not hard to empathize with the people of those communities. That helps us to understand why it will be difficult for a European Union to become a major rival of the United States, whether it’s economically, militarily or anything else.
That’s not a bad thing, either. The thing that comes to mind is the old saying ….. if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Only those elite leaders of Europe, with visions of leadership grandeur on their minds, want to do that. It’s obvious that the average person doesn’t ….. at least those in France and The Netherlands.

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

Obituaries

Arthur Blizzard

NEWBERRY — Arthur Blizzard, 70, of White Oak Manor, formerly of 1104 Delta Road, Whitmire, husband of Doris Robertson Blizzard, died Tuesday, June 7, 2005 at Newberry County Hospital after an extended illness.
The family is at the home.
Lewis Funeral Home, Union, is in charge.

Winelle G. Bone

Winelle G. Bone, 78, widow of Ralph L. Bone, died Wednesday, June 8, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
The family is at the home of a brother, Raymond Davis, 408 Bond Ave.
Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home.

Michael Knox

WARE SHOALS — Michael Shelton Knox, 59, of 53 Fairview Avenue, died Wednesday, June 8, 2005 at his home.
Born in Brunswick, Georgia, he was the son of Beatrice Cheek Milligan of Ware Shoals and the late William David Knox. He attended Ware Shoals Schools, served in the US Navy and was a graduate of Piedmont Technical College. He was a member of the Young Believers Sunday School Class of Ware Shoals First Baptist Church.
Surviving in addition to his mother of Ware Shoals, are one sister, Priscilla Knox Crawford of Atlanta, Georgia and one half-brother, Daryl Crawford of Myrtle Beach, SC, and eight nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by one half-brother, Bruce Crawford.
A memorial service will be conducted Friday at 4 PM at Parker-White Funeral Home by Rev. Leon Jones. Visitation will be at 3 PM Friday at Parker-White Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Ware Shoals First Baptist Church.
PAID OBITUARY

John S. Loftis

WARE SHOALS — John S. Loftis, of 11 Davis Drive, died Wednesday, June 8, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Services will be announced by Parker-White Funeral Home.

Mariel Nicholson

ABBEVILLE — Mariel Nicholson, of 112 College Ave., died Wednesday June 8, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
Services will be announced by The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home.

Barbara Rousey

ABBEVILLE, SC – Barbara Yvonne Rousey, 52, resident of 114 Whitehall St., wife of Danny ‘Red’ Rousey died Tuesday June 7, 2005 at her home.
Born in Dothan, Alabama she was a daughter of William Earl and Robbie Nell Martin Deese.
She was formerly employed with Wal-Mart, Inc. and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors are: her husband Danny ‘Red’ Rousey of the home, 3 daughters, Machelle Moore of Water Valley, Miss., Rhonda Green of Dothan, Alabama, Sherry Mathis of Myrtle Beach, SC, 1 son Jerome Mathis of Little River, SC, 2 brothers Billy Deese of Clayton, GA, Bobby Deese of Dothan, Alabama, 2 sisters Virginia Roe of Westminister, SC, Jean Stanton of Dothan, Alabama, 5 grandsons Travis Johnson, Chris Moore, Jeremy Moore, Dillon Moore and Cody Rollins, 3 granddaughters, Taylor Johnson, Chasity Rollins and Halley Green, and her parents, William Earl and Robbie Nell Martin Deese.
Funeral services will be conducted Friday June 10, 2005 at 10:00 AM from The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jeffery Lang officiating. The burial will follow in Long Cane Cemetery.
The body is at The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 7:30 PM Thursday evening. The family is at the home, 114 Whitehall St., Abbeville, SC.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, C/O Mrs. Conway Shirley, PO Box 566, Due West, SC 29639-0566.
THE CHANDLER-JACK-SON FUNERAL HOME IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGE-MENTS.
PAID OBITUARY

Jimmy R. Williams

CALHOUN FALLS, SC – Jimmy Ray Williams, age 42, of 609 Aiken Street, died Wednesday, June 8, 2005 at his home.
Jimmy was the son of the late Eddie and Irene Shiflet Williams. He was an electrician at West Point Stevens, Calhoun Plant.
Survivors include his wife, Donna L. Williams of the home; Brother, Eddie Williams of Lowndesville; Sisters, Kathy Manning of Calhoun Falls, Ruthie Pitts of Elberton, GA, Susan Partridge and Rebekah Parnell both of Calhoun Falls; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held Friday, June 10, 2005 at 3:00PM in the Chapel of Calhoun Falls Funeral Home with Reverends Jerry Dalton and Harold Lawrence, Jr. officiating. Burial will follow at Latimer Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00PM until service time Friday at the funeral home.
Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Hospicecare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Calhoun Falls Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
PAID OBITUARY