Horsin’ around

Equestrians trot into Abbeville for Lander-sponsored show

March 6, 2005

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal staff writer

Heads up. Shoulders back. Heels down. Stay in control.
That’s what the members of several collegiate equestrian clubs said went through their minds as they rode through the competition ring Saturday for the Lander University Intercollegiate Horse Show at Cricket Hollow Stables in Abbeville.
More than 70 riders from Lander, Anderson College, Augusta State University, North Georgia College and State University, Judson College, Berry College, Wallace State College, Clemson University and the University of Georgia competed as teams and individually in both flat and fence classes during the show. Riders were given points based on their posture, control and technique while in the ring.
Lander’s Equestrian Club played to host to the event, which continues today, as part of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association’s schedule of competitions. The IHSA is a national organization with more than 300 member colleges in 45 states and Canada.
Based on their accumulated points, winners from this weekend’s competition could possibly go on to compete at the IHSA regional and national levels. The University of Georgia was Saturday’s high-point team, with Lander finishing third.
The Lander club was organized in 2000 and gives all students, whether longtime riders or novices, the opportunity to learn and enjoy equestrian sports, said club president and Lander junior Kristle Argo.
Argo, who joined the club when she was a freshman, said the club has experienced major growth over the past five years, with membership doubling since last year. It currently has 12 members, ranging from freshmen to alumni.
Argo, a lifelong rider, said the Hunter Seat-style team trains at the Abbeville stables twice a week, and she said the long hours of practice help the members form close friendships.
“It’s fun and we all love it. None of us are in sororities because we are all really close (as a team),” she said.
Lander’s first equestrian club dates to the days when the university was still a women’s college. It disbanded years ago, and Lander remained without a team until women students asked to have it reinstated.
“I think (the club) gives the students a great opportunity to show and ride that otherwise they would not have,” said Lander club coach and trainer Harriet Morton.
Morton said the toughest part for riders at the competition is controlling a horse they may not have ridden before. The riders must use the horses provided by the host college, and before entering the ring, riders draw from a hat the name of the horse they will ride.
“The hardest thing in general is having the ability to ride different horses in different conditions,” she said. “It takes concentration and ability, and it’s one of the hardest sports because you are dealing with an animal.”
Berry College senior Sarah Bosko said it takes instinct to jump the fences in a ring.
“You have to find your distance – you see it before you get (to the fence),” she said. “It’s instinct – even with the horse. The horse just knows to jump.”
Lander sophomore Trisha Miller, club secretary and treasurer, said she has been riding since she was 13 years old. She said controlling shaky nerves before a show is essential to a successful ride.
“It takes lots of practice, and when we travel to a show, we have to focus on ourselves and get ready. We try not to be nervous,” she said, laughing. “But when we host a show, we have to get all the horses ready as well. Hosting makes it harder because there are more things to do, but the benefit is that we do know the horses.”
Miller said, for her, riding horses is an “exhilarating” experience.
“It just gives you a rush, especially when you jump,” she said.
Berry College senior Mindy Malcom said she was able to remain calm prior to entering the show ring because she has been riding for years.
“I was nervous when I was a freshman, but as a senior I’m more comfortable with the whole thing,” Malcom said.
The University of Georgia sophomore Laura Adams, president of her university’s equestrian club, said she helped get a new club off of the ground after the school’s previous equestrian program was dropped.
“I felt like there was definitely a lot of interest out there, and that people still wanted the opportunity to ride,” she said, adding that she prefers the IHSA equestrian program to the emerging NCAA program because it allows more riders at all levels to compete. “This is definitely a team experience – it’s a very cool organization.”
Greenwood resident Allie Burns, 11, who currently takes lessons with Lander coach Harriet Morton, was on hand to watch the competition. She said she plans to join an equestrian team when she attends Erskine College.
“I love horses. They are so gentle and sweet, and they are fun to ride,” she said. “I just like to spend time with them.”

LU dream ends too soon

Lady Bearcats fall to Lady Lakers in PBC semifinal

March 6, 2005

By BRIAN HOWARD
Assistant sports editor

AUGUSTA — The Lander University women’s basketball team couldn’t overcome a nine-point, second-half deficit and fell to Clayton College and State University, 74-68, Saturday in the semifinals of the Peach Belt Conference tournament at the Christenberry Fieldhouse.
The Lady Bearcats (14-15) trailed by as many as nine points at the beginning of the second half after April Taylor scored on a putback gave the Lady Lakers a 32-23 lead.
Lander broke a scoring drought of more than five and half minutes as Keunna Thomas started a Lady Bearcats’ 10-4 run on a layup. The run brought Lander within one, 34-33 after a free throw by Jacquay White. But that would be as close as the Lady Bearcats would get during the second half.
“That stretch hurt us,” Lander coach Jonathan Norton said. “I thought we got good looks, but we would turned the ball over or couldn’t make our foul shots.”
In the final 20 minutes, Lander cut the lead to one once, and was within three for more than six minutes.
Clayton State’s Jamika Hindsman, who was named to the first-team All-PBC, led all scorers with 20 points and eight rebounds.
Teammate Shelcey Harp added 16 points, while Jasmine Patterson, who had seven 3-pointers in the first meeting against Lander, finished with 11.
Tracy Jacobs led Lander with 17 points and eight rebounds. White and Thomas each added 13 points, while White, named to the second-team All-PBC, had 12 rebounds.
“I thought today we needed more leadership,” White said holding back tears.
“The bench was silent. I think we had a good season, but we didn’t want it to end in the semifinals.”
Lander was looking to knock off its third consecutive ranked-region opponent Saturday. The Lady Bearcats reached the semifinals by beating Georgia College and State University (No. 8) in the opening round and then USC Aiken (No. 7) in the quarterfinals.
“Our girls came into the tournament thinking we had a chance,” Norton said. “I think if we had shot the ball better we could have won. We just didn’t shoot our best percentage at the free-throw line.”
Lander, which was 29-of-42 at the line against USC Aiken Thursday, was 19-of-32 against the Lady Lakers and struggled during the final 10 minutes.
The Lady Bearcats started the game slowly, trailing 9-8 after the first media timeout. Hemphill gave Lander its first lead on a jumper with 14:22 remaining in the first half. But Clayton State battled back and took a 15-11 lead after a Shanakie Ward 3-pointer, which was followed by a 3 by Hindsman.
Those back-to-back 3s led to a 11-2 Lady Lakers run, giving Clayton State a 20-12 lead with 9:29 left in the first half.
But Lander stormed back, using an 8-0 run, capped by a Dubose jumper with 7:04 left, giving Lander a 21-20 lead. Dubose added another jumper with 4:44 left, which turned out to be the Lady Bearcats’ last field goal of the first half.
Clayton State capitalized on the sluggish shooting, finishing the half with eight straight points, to take a 30-23 lead.
“Each game we have a stretch like that,” Clayton State coach Dennis Cox said. “I thought we defended really hard for forty minutes, but that stretch was big.”
The Lady Lakers led 53-50 after Thomas sank a pair of free throws for Lander with 4:53 left, but Clayton State put the game away on two trips down the floor.
Harp scored on a layup and Hindsman sank a pair of free throws to give Clayton State a 57-50 lead with 4:27 left.
The Lady Lakers, who won the regular-season PBC title, meet Columbus State/Kennesaw State in the finals 1 p.m. today at the Christenberry Fieldhouse.

Opinion

Don’t let ‘scam artists’ add you to a sucker list

March 6, 2005

“There’s a sucker born every minute.” That was circus showman P. T. Barnum’s famous observation that has been proved too many times.
Then there was the equally famous utterance by Edward Albee. That one was “never give a sucker an even break.” Although Albee said it, it was made famous by comedian W. C. Fields.
However, both of these thoughts are alive and well and living among con artists who prey on other people. Greed may be a factor that gives them a certain advantage. There are always some who will take the bait of a come-on. They are the ones who actually believe they can get something for nothing.
Most, if not all of the time, the “sucker” who thinks that ends up paying and getting nothing.

IT’S CALLED A SCAM THESE days, and it usually involves the sucker sending money – whatever the amount – to make them eligible for big money. Very often that money is promised in the form of prizes or bonuses or some other “guarantee” of a big award. The trouble is, of course, the victim of the scam never becomes eligible. That’s because there’s nothing, no money, to become eligible for.
Sometimes we run into these scam artists on the street or in the marketplace. Sometimes they appear at our door. Many, though, come through the U. S. mail, complete with wordy “documents” telling of great rewards ….. if. That if always comes with a loophole, of course.

SOME PEOPLE IN GREENWOOD have received such come-ons within the last few months. Some saw them for what they are and trashed the letters and/or reported them to postal authorities. Some, however, may well have fallen prey to the false promisers.
So, beware ….. and be aware. As we’ve all heard many times, if something looks too good to be true it usually is.
The safest procedure when something with great promises unexpectedly arrives in the mail – especially if it asks for money – is to check with authorities. That’s the postal department or law enforcement.
Be suspicious, too, if someone asks for a personal check or some other form of identification. With identity theft becoming a major problem, that’s something ID thieves are always after.

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

Obituaries

Willie Mae Deal

BRADLEY — Willie Mae Deal, 77, of 510 Indian Road, wife of John Elbert Deal, died Saturday, March 5, 2005 at Abbeville Hospital.
Born in Greenwood County, she was a daughter of the late Johnnie Butler and the late Willie Mae Sullivan Butler. She was a cosmetologist for Revlon, a member of Mount Moriah Baptist Church and the Breeze Wood Comm. Club. She was the last survivor of her immediate family.
Survivors include her husband of the home; a daughter, Mrs. Albert (Carolyn) Grignon of N.J.; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@emeraldis.com

Jeanne Florence

Jeanne Colvin Florence, 64, died Saturday, March 5, 2005 following a long illness.
Born in Greenville County, July 19, 1940, she was a daughter of the late Branson Lee and Frances Inez Hammond Colvin. She was a graduate of Greer High School and received her Bachelors Degree from Lander University and her Masters Degree from Clemson University. She was retired from Piedmont Technical College where she was the Director of the Trio Program for 18 years.
A member of St. Mark United Methodist Church, she was also a former Sunday School teacher of the Pairs and Spares Class of the church.
Surviving are a daughter, Lori Florence of Greenwood; a sister, Mrs. Glenn (Peggy) Byess of Irmo; one niece, Angie Kingsmore and husband, Freddie of Irmo; and one nephew, Jeff Byess and wife, Liz of Chapin; a great niece, Jennifer Kingsmore and great nephews, Mark Kingsmore and Andrew Byess.
Funeral services will be conducted 11:00 a.m. Monday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jim Johnston and Lathan Turner officiating.
Burial will be in Mountain View Cemetery in Greer where a committal service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Monday.
Pallbearers will be Dr. Robert Williams, Tim Powell, Anthony Powell, Wayne “Chip” Powell, Kevin Powell, and Patrick McKinney.
The family is at the home of her daughter in Canterbury and will receive friends from 6 to 8 Sunday evening at Blyth Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the Jeanne C. Florence Memorial Scholarship Fund, Piedmont Technical College Foundation, P.O. Box 1467, Greenwood, SC 29648, or to the St. Mark United Methodist Church Building Fund, 550 By-Pass 72 NW, Greenwood, SC 29649.
The family would like to acknowledge the wonderful, caring people of Magnolia Manor and Hospice Care of the Piedmont.
For additional information please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com. BLYTH FUNERAL HOME IS ASSISTING THE FLORENCE FAMILY.
PAID OBITUARY

Betty Jo Gregory

Betty Jo “BJ” Payne Gregory, 75, of 130 E. Creswell Avenue, died Friday, March 4, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood, she was a daughter of the late Alice Pearle and J. R. Payne. She was Miss Greenwood in 1946 and graduated from Furman University, where she was head majorette. She was the former owner of Betty Jo’s School of Dance; BJ’s Clothing Store and was the former manager of the Gift Shop at Self Regional Medical Center. She was an accredited judge for the Miss SC Beauty Pageant.
Betty Jo was a member of First Baptist Church and the Carpenter Sunday School Class.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Pearle Norman Swearingen and her brothers, John Saxon Payne and infant David Payne.
She is survived by her son and his family, Gregg & Terri Jo Gregory, Payne and Phelps; her daughter and her family, Debbie & Jerry Sims, Justin and Courtney and her fiancé, Gordon Bailes.
Graveside services will be at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Edgewood Cemetery with Dr. Tony Hopkins officiating.
The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the Fellowship Hall of First Baptist Church.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to Youth Missions Program, c/o First Baptist Church, 722 Grace Street, Greenwood, SC 29649.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Dr. Calvin Koonts

DUE WEST — Dr. Calvin “Cal” Koonts, 80, of 10 Haynes St., husband of Cortlandt “Corky” Morper Koonts, died Saturday, March 5, 2005 at his home.
Services will be announced by Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home, Abbeville.

Bertha ‘Chick’ Belcher Morton

Bertha “Chick” Belcher Morton, 89, of 702 Weldon St., widow of Sloan Morton, died Saturday, March 5, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Abbeville County, she was a daughter of the late Will Belcher and the late Emmie Williams Belcher. She retired from Grendel Mills after 30 years, was a member of Dunham Temple C.M.E. Church, the gospel choir and was a stewardess of the church.
Survivors include a son, Sonny Morton of the home; two daughters, Mrs. Charles (Felicia) Morton and Mrs. Asa (Itonya) Parks Jr., both of Greenwood; a sister, Margaret Belcher of Hodges; and six grandchildren.
The family is at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Asa (Itonya) Parks Jr., 453 Ninety Six Highway.
Services will be announced by Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@emeraldis.com

Nettie C. Sandbergen

WARE SHOALS — Nettie Chapman Sandbergen, of 183 Cut-Off Road, died Saturday, March 5, 2005 at Hartland Health Care, Avon, Ind.
Services will be announced by Parker-White Funeral Home.

Ione Temples

HARTWELL, GA. — Ione Broome Temples, 98, of 94 Cade St., widow of James “Bud” Temples, died Thursday, March 3, 2005 at Hartwell Health Care Center.
Born in Franklin County, Ga., she was a daughter of the late Robert L. Broome and Flora Barnside Broome. She was a homemaker and a member of Sardis Baptist Church.
Survivors include six sons, Don Temples of Lawrenceville, Ga., Robert Temples of Pace, Fla., James Temples of Lilburn, Ga., Ray Temples of Anderson, Roy Temples of Cannon, Ga. and Kenneth Temples of Hartwell; seven daughters, Gladys Bond of Bowersville, Ga., Jan Miller of Hartwell, Lou Jones of Spartanburg, Dorothy Wicker of Hartwell, Martha Morrison of Hartwell, Linda Judy of Greenwood, and Ruth Dickerson of Hartwell; a sister, Dot Brown of Bowman, Ga.; 37 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Services are 2 p.m. today at Strickland Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Gary McCurley. Burial is in the Nancy Hart Memorial Park.
Visitation is 12-2 today at Strickland Funeral Home.
The family is at the home.
Strickland Funeral Home is in charge.