Victims service agencies in Greenwood,
across S.C. having to stretch budgets

May 12, 2005

By WALLACE McBRIDE
Index-Journal senior staff writer

Changes in federal spending priorities have directors of victims service agencies worried about the future of public funding.
Washington politicians are eyeing the possibility of raiding a federal victims assistance fund that supports rape and crisis centers. Established in 1984, the Crime Victims Fund is pooled from fees charged to federal criminals and distributed to rape and abuse programs across the nation. The program had a $214 million surplus over its $620 million budget from the past fiscal year.
In the three previous years, though, the fund suffered from shortfalls that were covered by tapping surpluses from 2000 and 2001.
“We have only seen the tip of the iceberg when it comes to federal cuts to services,” said Tim Ervolina, director of United Way for Greenwood and Abbeville counties. “Domestic priorities are not a priority for Congress or the administration. That’s just a reality.”
In addition to threatened cuts to the Crime Victims Fund, the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) program is also in danger of being eliminated, said Alice Hodges, executive director of MEG’s House, a women’s shelter servicing McCormick, Edgefield and Greenwood counties.
VOCA provides financial assistance to support a variety of services to assist crime victims.
“They’re saying it’s a possibility that the VOCA fund will be eliminated – possibly completely – in 2007,” Hodges said. “The current administration wants to channel that funding into homeland security.”
Hodges said MEG’s House could look for other grant possibilities, but will probably have to rely more heavily on churches, civic groups and private donations.
“This year we received $44,000 in federal cuts under VOCA,” said Martha Busterna, executive director of the Sexual Trauma and Counseling Center, located in Greenwood. “We’ve been informed through the state coalition that if President Bush’s budget passes he will eliminate the VOCA funds, which will leave us with no funds in 2007.”
Services at the Sexual Trauma and Counseling Center are supported entirely by state and federal dollars, she said.
“With limited sources for grants it has positioned us in a critical position,” Busterna said.
“The congressman understands the concerns of the local folks regarding the funding levels for VOCA programs,” said Colleen Mangone, spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett.
“While taxpayer money does not fund this program, he believes that the money paid to victims by perpetrators should be used to help the victims and not put into a general fund for government expenses,” she said.
Contrary to popular belief, Congress has very little access to discretionary funds, Ervolina said.
“If you’ve got a deficit, a tax cut and a war, the only place you can cut is services to people,” he said. “Our priorities are so screwed up as a country. It’s so overwhelming. I have heard elected officials say that the faith community and United Way will just have to do better raising money — which is so patently absurd that I’m stunned that anyone could believe that.”
“Grant opportunities take time,” Busterna said. “It could be anywhere from six months to a year before you get money from a new source. We’re treading water to see if we’re going to get an increase or a decrease in our state dollars.”
Last year, the United Way raised $4 billion nationally, which Ervolina compared to a minor “rounding error” in the federal budget.
Federal policies have resulted in losses of more than $175 billion since 2002, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a non-partisan organization that conducts research and analysis on a range of federal and state government policies and programs.
South Carolina is among the 11 states hit hardest by changes in federal priorities, according to another CBPP study. The state is also among the 10 lowest in per-capita income and among the highest poverty rates in the country.
“Domestic violence doesn’t know any economic demographic, but what are you going to do?” Ervolina asked. “The federal government is bankrupt and has blown all its money. The average American thinks there’s this huge amount of money available going to what they see as welfare programs, and it’s simply not true.”

Wallace McBride covers Greenwood and general assignments in the Lakelands. He can be reached at 223-1812, or: wmcbride@indexjournal.com

Vikes’ dream season ends

Bishop England defeats Emerald to win Class AA state title

May 12, 2005

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

The Emerald High School baseball team’s magical ride came to a bittersweet end.
The 2005 Vikings set a school record for number of wins in a season (24) and won the school’s first district and Upper State titles.
However, the team fell short of winning its first Class AA state title.
Backed by a complete-game shutout from sophomore starter Bobby Streisel, Bishop England banged out 16 hits to defeat the Vikings, 10-0, Wednesday night at Emerald to win the AA state championship tournament.
“I’m disappointed with what’s going on right now, but I couldn’t be happier with this team,” Emerald coach Chad Evans said, while the Bishop England players were being presented with their gold medals. “They mean the world to me. This is why you coach baseball and why you play baseball, to get an opportunity to play in a game like this.
We’re extremely happy to be here. We would have like to have won, but we were beat by an extremely good team.” The Bishops, who earned their fourth state title in nine years, outhit the Vikings 30-15 and outscored their Upper State foe 22-3 in the two games.
Despite the lopsided score, the Bishops were up only 1-0 heading into the bottom of the third.
In the top of the inning, Emerald starter Blake Moore benefited from a key defensive play from senior Corey Barnes.
With Bishop England’s Harmon Todd on second and one out, Barnes fielded a base hit from USC signee Reese Havens in right field and threw home to nail Todd at the plate.
Havens led Bishop England at the plate with a 4-for-5 effort.
The Vikings responded in the bottom half of the inning.
After Streisel got the first six Emerald batters out in order, Vikings sophomore Josh Lovvorn led off the inning with a bloop single to shallow right.
Andrew Holland looked to sacrifice bunt Lovvorn over to second. However, when Bland’s throw to first sailed high over the head of Todd, Lovvorn broke for third.
But what the Emerald shortstop didn’t see was Welling backing up the play. The Bishops’ second baseman zipped the ball over to Havens, who made the tag for the first out.
“Unfortunately, he didn’t see me. I was asking him to stop,” Evans said. “But he was hustling, and I can’t fault him for that. He was going as hard as he can.”
Streisel settled down and recorded two straight outs to end the inning, starting a stretch of nine straight outs of the next 10 Emerald batters.
After scoring one in the fourth, the Bishops put the game away by scoring seven runs on seven hits over the fifth and sixth innings.
Meanwhile, the Vikings managed only three more hits off Streisel over the final four innings, with two coming in the seventh.
“I really don’t know why we weren’t hitting,” senior second baseman Milton Brown said. “We just didn’t the clutch hit when we had runners on. We were hitting it hard today, but it just wasn’t falling.”
The loss was especially tough for Brown, Barnes and the other three Emerald seniors (Justin Lovvorn, Wade Scott and J.C. Scott).
With the Bishops celebrating their second state title in three years, Evans paused for a moment for a group hug with the five seniors to express his appreciation for their work before the team received its silver medals.
“I’m really going to miss those guys,” Evans said. “I’ve had a couple of them start since they were in ninth grade, and some have played for me for five or six years. And that’s why we’ve been successful.”

Bench helps EHS get back to state

May 12, 2005

By BRIAN HOWARD
Assistant sports editor

Ty Christian came off the bench to score a goal and add an assist as the Emerald High School boys soccer team repeated as Class AA Upper State champs Wednesday at Viking Stadium.
After giving up the first score of the night, the Vikings ran off three straight goals to beat Walhalla, 3-1, and earn a return trip to Columbia for the state finals.
“We had three goals this year,” Emerald coach Brad Nickles said.
“One was to win a region championship and we accomplished that. The second one was to win an Upper State championship and get a chance to defend our championship. Obviously, the third is to win (state) and that is our goal every year.”
The Vikings knocked off Bishop England in the title game last year and Emerald is looking to get its second crown in as many years.
The Razorbacks (14-6) took advantage of their first corner kick opportunity.
Corey Guinn broke free down the right sideline and dribbled the ball to the end line, forcing Emerald goalkeeper C.K. Kirkland off his line. Guinn played the ball to Cesar Flores, whose shot was deflected out of play by Andrew Pillman for a corner kick.
Guinn’s corner kick found a streaking Victor Rojas inside the penalty area as the header found the far right corner of the net for the goal with 7 minutes, 52 seconds left in the first half.
Emerald (16-4) answered with less than a minute remaining in the half.
Joseph Taylor received a pass from Jim Welborn, and Taylor dribbled the ball to the end line, forcing Razorbacks goalkeeper Mario Salinas off his line.
Taylor played a slow ball to the near post, where Ty Christian tapped it in for the equalizer.
“I was just energetic and felt good the whole day,” Christian said. “I just wanted to come out and play. I knew I had it in me and I just showed up and played my game.”
Demetrick Cooper, who scored the winning goal in last year’s Upper State final against Walhalla, put the Vikings ahead for good in the 51st minute.
Cooper broke loose down the left sideline, beat two Razorback defenders, cut back and took to dribbles before firing a shot from about 30 yards away to the far right corner, beating Salinas and giving Emerald a 2-1 advantage.
“I was thinking about what coach said about putting it (the shot) on frame before the game,” Cooper, who will play in Sweden this summer, said. “I was able to cut real fast and take a few dribbles before getting the shot off.”
Walhalla’s best opportunity of the second half came with 26:08 to play, as Adrian Garcia’s shot hit off the crossbar and out of play for a goal kick.
The Vikings put the game away with two minutes left.
Jeremy Welch stole a Walhalla pass near midfield. The senior dribbled right at the defender before playing the ball toward a streaking Christian on the right side. Christian dribbled to the end line, pulling Salinas off his line.
Christian’s through ball into the middle of the penalty area found Taylor, who knocked it into an empty net for the final score.
Both goalkeepers finished with five saves, and both teams recorded nine shots.
Emerald’s Brian Amey, Christopher Tommie, Welborn and Pillman were selected to the Class AA All-State team, while Josh Stephens and Alfonzo Villegas were selected from Walhalla.

Opinion

Major concern should be about illegal immigration

May 12, 2005

Social Security is a major concern for Americans. There are questions whether it will continue to be the retirement “safety net” it’s supposed to be if nothing is done to prevent it from collapsing.
Then there is the war against terrorism, in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, including at home. It, too, is putting a strain on the national budget and, by extension, the American people ….. and their social infrastructure.
While illegal immigration is debated, it doesn’t seem to get as much attention as Social Security and terrorism. Unless some effective way is found to stop the stream of illegal aliens that cross our border every day, however, those two things will seem minor in comparison.
One reason puts the situation in perspective, in South Carolina as much as Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California, not to mention all along the Canadian border. The cost to American taxpayers is huge, and it gets bigger every day.
If the three major concerns for this nation were rated, the war on terror and Social Security would run a distant second and third.

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

Obituaries

Buddy Fuller

NINETY SIX – Starland Jefferson “Buddy” Fuller, 92, of 210 Hollingsworth Road, husband of Lucille Elmore Fuller, died Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at University Hospital in Augusta, GA.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of the late Columbus and Molly Thompson Fuller. He was a retired insurance agent and was a member of Durst Avenue Church of God.
Surviving is his wife of the home; a stepdaughter, Elizabeth Fuller of Ninety Six; a stepson, Edward Doolittle of Ninety Six; thirteen grandchildren, Jerry Fuller, Joe Fuller, Darrell Seymore, Steve Seymore, Sheila Seymore, Ann Williams, Eddie Doolittle, Danny Doolittle, Cathy Arnold, Jody Hudson, Jeff Doolittle, Wayne Doolittle and Allen Doolittle; a number of great grandchildren and 20 great great grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Ray Sawyer, the Rev. W. F. Waters and Bishop Wallace Purvis officiating. Burial will be in Edgewood Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Jerry Fuller, Joe Fuller, Darrell Seymore, Steve Seymore, Jeff Doolittle, Allen Doolittle and Jody Hudson.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m.
The family is at the home.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Genevia Lomax

McCORMICK — Genevia Ammons Lomax, 51, died Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at her home.
Born in Monticello, Ga., she was a daughter of the late Coleman Ammons Sr. and Annie Barber Ammons. She was a member of Springfield A.M.E. Church and an employee of McCormick County Water and Sewer Department.
Survivors include two daughters, Audrey Jackson and Natasha Ammons, both of McCormick; two sons, Danyell Ammons of Atlanta and Joyful Ammons of McCormick; two sisters, Betty Ammons of McCormick and Dollie Manson of Macon, Ga.; a brother, Coleman Ammons Jr. of Round Oak, Ga.; three grandchildren.
The family is at the home, Wilkie Trailer Park, Chamberlain Ferry Road, Highway 378.
Services will be announced by Walker Funeral Home.

Anne J. Ludwig

ANDERSON — Frances Anne Jones Ludwig, 65, of Huntington Apartments, 150 Continental St., died Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at her home.
Born in Greenwood, she was a daughter of the late Thomas G. and Leila Hughley Jones. She graduated from Greenwood High School in 1958 and received an associate degree in licensed practical nursing from Tri-County Technical College. She worked as an LPN at National Health Care and Anderson Area Medical Center. She was a Baptist.
Survivors include two sons, Joey Ludwig of Anderson and Paul Ludwig of Seneca; two sisters, Camilla Bailey and Wilma Bannister of Greenwood; two grandchildren.
Services are 7 p.m. Friday at Sullivan-King Mortuary Northeast Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Bob Marcaurelle.
Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Visitation is 6-7 Friday at the mortuary.
Family members are at their respective homes.
Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association, 84 Villa Road, B-2, Greenville, SC 29615 or Anderson Interfaith Ministries, P.O. Box 1136, Anderson, SC 29622.
Sullivan-King Mortuary Northeast Chapel is in charge.

Nell Q. Shirley

McCORMICK — Nell Quarles Lyon Shirley, 80, of Pine Street, died Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at University Hospital.
A native of Edgefield County, she retired from Riegel Textiles and was a member of Plum Branch Baptist Church. She was first married to the late John E. Lyon Sr. and second to the late Ligon Shirley.
Survivors include four daughters, Susan L. Evans of Martinez, Ga., Celia L. Lewis of Harlem, Ga., Margaret L. Lee of McCormick, and June L. Miner of Greenwood; a son, John E. Lyon Jr. of Plum Branch; two brothers, Broadus Quarles of Cornelia, Ga., and Lloyd Quarles of Greenwood; 11 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Services are 2 p.m. Friday at Plum Branch Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Wade Everett. Burial is in Plum Branch Cemetery.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at the church fellowship hall.
The family is at the home of her son, John E. Lyon Jr.
Edgefield Mercantile Funeral Home is in charge.

Watson Wright

CHESTER — Elliott Watson Wright, 58, of 763 Springwood Lakes Road, husband of Pris Hunter Wright, died Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at his home.
Born in Chester County, he was a son of the late Honorable Luther Clark Jr. and Virginia Lee Brown Wright. He was a Chester High School graduate and current owner of Wright’s Funeral Home. Serving as Chester County coroner since 1989, he was deputy coroner for more than nine years. He was a member of the American College of Forensic Examiners, Springfield, Mo., since 2002, the first forensic examiner in South Carolina and the first forensic examiner in the nation graduating from this college. In 2003, he attended classes in homeland security in Scottsdale, Ariz., and became a homeland security instructor. He was a member of Bethel United Methodist Church, the South Carolina Coroner’s Association and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Association.
Survivors include his wife of the home; a daughter, Stacey W. Gantt of Greenwood; and a son, Chet Wright of Pineville, N.C.
Services are 2:30 Friday at Bethel United Methodist Church. Burial is in Chester Memorial Gardens.
Visitation is 5-7 tonight at Wright’s Funeral Home.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, 120 Wall St., 19th Floor, New York, NY 10005 or a charity of one’s choice.
Announcement courtesy of Blyth Funeral Home, Greenwood.

CORRECTION

For the obituary of the Rev. James Garness Sullivan in Wednesday’s paper, memorials were omitted from the information submitted to The Index-Journal. Memorials may be made to Wesley Commons, 1110 Marshall Road, Greenwood, SC 29646.