Day of Service in Greenwood

Local senior citizens work to beautify Magnolia Park

May 13, 2005

By SHAVONNE POTTS
Index-Journal staff writer

Members of the American Association of Retired Persons volunteer their time Thursday for service projects during the 2005 Day of Service. Chloe Pulliam, left, makes a hole in the ground as Henry O. Watts and Edith Childs wait to put flowers into it during the Greenwood service project at Magnolia Park.

On a day when others escaped the heat, about 10 members of the American Association of Retired Persons volunteered their afternoon to plant flowers at Magnolia Park in Greenwood.
They were volunteering as part of a Day of Service program Thursday in which people throughout the state and nation gather to serve in their communities.
“Last year, we fed the fire department lunch, and this year we decided to do something for the community at-large,” Greenwood AARP Chapter President David Connor said.
The park already had a few plants at each entryway, and the volunteers planted assorted daylilies, hibiscus and hydrangea.
“It’s so good to do things for the community and, even though we’re retired, we want to be active in the community,” Connor said.
Linda Chamberlain, of Greenwood, participated in the Day of Service for the second year.
“It’s important because of the need and it’s in need of beautifying,” she said of the park.
Chamberlain said it was also important that children and families who attend the park have something nice to view.
“We did something that would mean the most to the most people,” Chamberlain said, “We go where we’re needed the most.”
Janie Klugh said she thought it was a good idea to plant the flowers at the park.
“It’s good to do something for the community, and we try to do what we can for the community,” she said.
Klugh also participated in last year’s Day of Service, and she also volunteers her time for other service organizations including Meals on Wheels.
Park Seed Co. donated the flowers for the project.
Both the state AARP office and the Greenwood Chapter of AARP provided volunteers to assist with the community service program.

Shooting for goals sweep

Vikings’ last task is Class AA state final vs. Bishop England

May 13, 2005

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

The Emerald High School boys soccer team is a third of the way from reaching its three preseason goals.
After once again claiming the Region III-AA title, the Vikings marked off their second objective with Wednesday’s 3-1 victory over Walhalla to earn their second straight Upper State title.
Now, only Lower State champion Bishop England stands in the way of Emerald reaching goal No. 3: a successful defense of its 2004 state title.
“I’m very well pleased with the opportunity to go back there and play,” Vikings coach Brad Nickles said. “And we’re looking forward to having some success down there Saturday.
“One thing we’ve talked about all year long is if we’re going to win a championship, we have to play our game every time and let other people deal with us.”
The Vikings (16-4) and the Bishops (19-9) will play 2 p.m. Saturday at Eugene E. Stone III Stadium on the campus of the University of South Carolina.
“Our goal was to get back here,” senior midfielder Brian Amey said. “Because if we didn’t get back here, we feel like we would have failed as a team.
“We want to go out there and show that last year wasn’t a fluke.”
The 2005 Class AA state championships will be a rematch of last year’s final game, where the Vikings won 2-1 for their first-ever title.
“It is fitting that it’s against Bishop England again,” senior Jeremy Welch said. “It’s going to be interesting to see how the people that they lost and the people that we lost, and go back and match up again.”
Amey, who will play soccer at Erskine College next season, is one of four Vikings named to the Class AA all-state team.
Senior defenders Andrew Pillman and Chris Tommie, and junior forward Jim Welborn round out the rest of the team’s all-state honorees.
Welborn leads the Vikings in scoring this season, tallying 28 goals. Amey is second with 14 scores, while freshman Joseph Taylor has recorded 11 goals and 15 assists. Junior forward Demetrick Cooper, who was injured for most of the season, has five goals in eight games.
But offense hasn’t really been the Vikings’ forte. Defense, led by the seniors defenders Tommie, Pillman and Welch, has been the key to the team’s success this season.
“We haven’t been scoring much this year, but we play as a team,” Tommie said. “I don’t care about how everyone is saying we’re just a defensive team. That’s fine with me.”
Pillman, Tommie and Welch proved to be crucial for the Vikings, especially when senior goalkeeper C.K. Kirkland, who was an all-state player last year, went down with a preseason injury and missed most of the regular season.
“They show up all of the time,” Amey said. “They never seem to have an off night.”
The Vikings, with sophomore Josh Dean in goal with Kirkland out, allow only 21 goals through 20 games, with seven shutouts.
Kirkland has started each of the Vikings’ three playoff games, allowing only two scores, with one coming on a penalty kick.
“We’ve learned to play within our strengths,” Nickles said. “We’re definitely a defensive team that likes a counter-attack. That’s the only way we’re going to be successful.”
But that tight defensive line may be in question for the championship game. Nickles said that Pillman, who made a spectacular chest save on an open-goal shot against Walhalla, is listed as questionable after injuring his knee on a tackle in Wednesday’s game.
The Vikings’ D will be put to the ultimate test against the Bishops, who have scored 105 goals in 27 games, including 17 in three playoff games.
“It’s got to be tight if we’re to have success,” Nickles said. “It’s got to be a 1-nil or 2-1 type thing. The lower the score the more it’s going to be in our favor.
“Really when you play a team like that, it’s got to be mistake-free.”

Opinion

Stopping spread of gangs object of new legislation

May 13, 2005

If gang activity were not a problem, why would anyone in Congress want to pass a law to make some gang-related violent offenses federal crimes?
In Greenwood, and other Lakelands communities, not to mention the rest of South Carolina, there have been reports and many rumors from time to time that gang members were responsible for criminal activity of one kind or another. Sometimes, some officials have either denied the existence of gangs, or downplayed their responsibility for something that happened.
Considering that such reports and rumors have persisted, it would seem foolish to ignore even the possibility of gang activity.

MAYBE IN SOME COMMUNITIES around South Carolina those “nonexistent” gangs will get more attention now. That’s because legislation has been approved by the U. S. House that addresses gang activity and makes some of it a federal offense.
The new measure is intended to provide a means to stop the rapid spread of vicious street gangs, particularly in larger cities, its backers say.
Such a measure, according to its supporters, is the only effective way to counterattack gang violence. Opponents, however, say it is an overreaction that could further strain federal courts and adult prisons.

THE LEGISLATION, IF IT gets through the Senate, would allow U. S. prosecutors to try 16- and 17-year olds as adults. It also would turn many gang-related violent offenses into federal crimes punishable by mandatory sentences of at least 10 years and expand the range of crimes punishable by death.
Whatever the situation, there hardly seems to be a question of “if” gangs exist, here and elsewhere in the Lakelands area. The question should be how many and how active they are and where their focus lies.
Whether there is a need for such legislation is debatable, no doubt. You have to wonder, though, if there would be a reason to even discuss providing federal penalties if gangs were prosecuted more on a local and/or state level.

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

Obituaries

Ruby Rose Cooper

CLINTON — Ruby Rose Cooper, 82, of 603 Bailey St., wife of John C. Cooper, died Thursday, May 12, 2005 at her home.
Born in Greenwood, she was a daughter of the late Willie and Beatrice Maynard King. She was retired from Clinton Mills.
Survivors include her husband of the home; two sons, Steve Cooper of Clinton and Billy Ray Hyde of Greenwood; a daughter, Donna Simmons of Clinton; a sister, Frances King Cooper of Greenwood, eight grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
Services are 11 a.m. Saturday at Clinton First Pentecostal Holiness Church. Burial is in Pinelawn Memory Gardens.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at Gray Funeral Home.
Gray Funeral Home is in charge.

Bill Jones

James Wilson “Bill” Jones, 74, formerly of 1113 Florence St., died Wednesday, May 11, 2005 in Tampa, Fla.
Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home.

James ‘Buddy’ McMahan

BELTON — James “Buddy” Albert McMahan, 61, of 120 Clamp Drive, husband of Vera Jackson McMahan, died Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at Hospice of the Upstate.
Born in Anderson County, he was a son of Nell McGill McMahan and the late Jack McMahan. He was a member of Bethany Baptist Church and retired from Duke Power. He was an Army veteran.
Survivors include mother; his wife; two stepdaughters, Angela Medlock of Honea Path and Pamela Queen of Anderson; a stepson, William Gregory Perkins of Anderson; two brothers, Terry McMahan of Belton and David McMahan of Abbeville; a sister, Jackie Davis of Belton; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Services are 3 p.m. Saturday at Bethany Baptist Church, conducted by the Revs. Carroll Plemmons and Greg Black. Burial is in Belton City Cemetery.
Visitation is 6:30-8:30 tonight at Cox Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Upstate, 1835 Rogers Road, Anderson, SC 29621.
The family is at the home.
Cox Funeral Home is in charge.

Augstine Jetemi Omogun

Minister Augstine Jetemi Omogun, 47, of 306 Manning Road, died Friday, May 6, 2005.
Born in Igarra-Akoko Edo Nigeria, he was a son of Omugo Omogun and the late Opetu Omogun. He was an engineer at Capsugel and a member of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church.
Survivors include his mother of Nigeria; two sons, Demar Baylor and Kenan Omogun of Greenwood; a daughter, Ometre Omogun of Greenwood; two brothers, Jimmy Omogun and Taiye Omogun, both of Nigeria; and a sister, Edow Omogun of Nigeria.
Services are 11 a.m. Saturday at Robinson & Son Mortuary, conducted by the Rev. Otis Cunningham, assisted by Ministers Curtis Bowman and Ricky Oliver. Burial is in Mount Pisgah Baptist Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Mount Pisgah Baptist Church trustees and James Hawkins.
Service participants assemble at the mortuary at 10:45 a.m. Saturday.
Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc. is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@emeraldis.com

Ida Mae Perrin

McCORMICK — Ida Mae Perrin, 92, widow of John Perrin, died Thursday, May 12, 2005 at National Health Care in Greenwood.
Born in McCormick, she was a daughter of the late Anna Murray Anthony. She retired as a health care provider, serving in New York City for many years. She was a member of Zion Temple Seventh Day Adventist Church, Greenwood.
Survivors include a sister, Alberta Freeman of McCormick.
Visitation is at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher Pierce, Pierce Drive.
Services will be announced by Walker Funeral Home.

Carrie Lou Williams

NINETY SIX — Carrie Lou Williams, 74, of 3121 Highway 248, widow of Daniel Williams Sr., died Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
Born in Greenwood County, she was a daughter of the late Pete and Alice Martin Holloway. She was a retired dietician with Greenwood County School District 52 and a member of Old Mount Zion Baptist Church, Epworth, where she was a Missionary Society member and an usher. She was also a member of Women’s Aid Society No. 104.
Survivors include seven sons, Willie Joe Williams, Daniel Williams Jr., Pastor Arthur L. Williams, Alvin Williams, Vernon Williams and Rufus Williams, all of Greenwood and Reginald Williams Sr. of Ninety Six; two daughters, Mary Alice Williams of Ninety Six and Carolyn Williams Allen of Greenwood; two brothers, Soloman J. Holloway of Columbia and Bennie Lee Holloway of Greenwood; seven sisters, Anna Mae Campbell of Washington, D.C., Florence Holloway and Mary Davis, both of Columbia, Mrs. James (Julia Belle) Stewart, Mrs. Charlie (Dorothy) Davis, Emmie Jones and Mamie Goode, all of Greenwood; 15 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc., Greenwood.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@emeraldis.com