S.C. law will have drivers buckling up or paying up

November 7, 2005

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

Starting next month, motorists on South Carolina highways who don’t buckle up might have to pay up.
The state’s new primary enforcement safety belt law takes effect Dec. 9, 2005.
According to the S.C. Department of Public Safety, every occupant of a motor vehicle in operation on public streets and highways must wear a fastened safety belt or be secured in a child restraint system. The driver of the vehicle is responsible for requiring occupants under the age of 17 to wear safety belts, unless those occupants have a driver’s license, special restricted license or beginner’s permit.
Under the current law, safety belt violations are a secondary offense, meaning that officers can only cite motorists for the violation if they have been stopped for another violation.
When the law changes to primary enforcement, officers will have the authority to stop motorists if they spot drivers or occupants of the vehicle not buckled up or properly restrained.
Though the violation will not become part of a person’s permanent driving record, violators of the safety belt law can face a fine of $25. The fines cannot exceed $50 for any one incident of more than one violation.
The goal of the change to a primary law is to increase safety belt usage, thus reducing serious injuries and deaths that occur on the state’s highways and roads, S.C. Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. Steve Sluder said.
According to statistics from the S.C. Department of Public Safety, the change to primary enforcement could increase seat belt usage to 81 percent across the state, preventing about 64 fatalities and 650 serious injuries each year.
So far in 2005, there have been more than 900 fatalities reported across the state — more than 80 above the number reported during the same time frame last year.
Of those fatalities, more than 70 percent of the passengers who had access to safety belts were not wearing the devices.
It’s a “huge” problem that is mirrored in Greenwood and the surrounding counties, Sluder said.
“A lot of people have misconceptions about seat belts,” he said, adding that some people might think the devices are uncomfortable or could create entrapment hazards after accidents. “But that is completely untrue as we see it in accidents. Most of the time, people (who aren’t wearing seat belts) are ejected from the car during an accident, or are thrown around in the car, causing more injuries to themselves or other passengers.”
In fact, the S.C. Department of Public Safety reports that seat belt usage can reduce the risk of dying in a vehicle collision by up to 50 percent.
Sluder said law enforcement officials throughout the state are providing informational programs that “get the word” out about the changing law and the importance of wearing seat belts. “We want people to put their seat belts on by their own choice,” he said.

McCormick pays tribute to plane crash victim

Town dedicates park in honor of James Strom

November 7, 2005

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

McCORMICK — If you struck up a conversation with anyone mingling Sunday in this town’s newest park, it wouldn’t take very long for you to learn that James Strom loved McCormick.
On Sunday, the town showed its own appreciation and love for the McCormick businessman who, along with wife Robin and children Brittney and Bradley, died in a Jan. 7 plane crash in Greenwood County.
Town officials gathered with Strom family members and friends to dedicate a small landscaped terrace, located beside the Chamber of Commerce, to the memory of Strom, who was instrumental in bringing revitalization to the downtown area, McCormick Mayor Miriam Patterson said.
“He was the first person to invest money in the downtown area,” Patterson said, adding that, beginning in the 1980s, Strom purchased several old buildings in the town and completely restored them to bring in new business to the area.
“He loved the town, and he showed it because he gave his time and he gave his money,” Patterson said.
Officials were awarded the contract to build the park earlier this year, and town council members this summer decided to name the park, which is built on a lot that used to house a service station, in Strom’s honor, Patterson said. A plaque at the park also commemorates Strom’s service to the community.
The park is part of the town’s streetscape project, and Strom’s sister Sudie Stansell, of Greenville, said the park was a fitting memorial to her brother.
“It is a credit to what he believed in. He believed in this town,” she said. “That’s why he stayed in McCormick — he loved it and he wanted to see it prosper.”
Stansell, along with sisters Martha Huey, of Seneca, and Melva Joiner, of Jacksonville, Fla., were among those at the Sunday dedication service.
“This is a wonderful tribute to my brother. He would be very, very proud,” Huey said, adding that the past year has been difficult for family members and friends. “It’s been traumatic and it has been a time of adjustment. He was our only brother, and we miss him and the whole family so much.”
For Geneva Gilchrist, who said she worked for years as a housekeeper for the family, the dedication of the park was a heart-warming moment.
“It is so nice,” she said. “It makes me think about them (the Stroms). It brings back so many memories.”

Ex-EHS’ Woolridge realizing his dream

November 7, 2005

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

In order to reach their dreams, people sometimes have to take a different route than originally intended.
For former Emerald High School football player Joe Woolridge, whose dream was to play Division I college football, that different route took him through junior college at Georgia Military, before he landed with Western Kentucky University.
Woolridge, a senior majoring in recreation management, is making the most of his opportunity playing for the Hilltoppers, who are ranked No. 6 in Division I-AA.
Woolridge, the team’s starting nose guard, has 31 tackles, including five for losses.
“Everything is going really well up here,” said Woolridge, who played his last regular-season home game against Northern Iowa Saturday. “We’ve had a good season, and we’ve accomplished a bunch of our goals. There’s still a lot of work to be done, though.”
Woolridge said his one regret at Western Kentucky is that he wasn’t able to get there earlier.
Because of academic problems in high school, Woolridge had to go the junior college route after graduating from Emerald.
Looking back, Woolridge said he wishes he had realized how important good grades were. It’s a revelation he shares with current Emerald players.
“A lot of the guys playing there now listen to me,” the 6-foot-1, 295-pound defensive lineman said. “I tell every one of them to focus on their classes. It could mean the difference between playing college ball or not.”
There is one aspect of playing Division I-AA football that gives Woolridge and his teammates bragging rights over those in the more highly regarded Division I-A: a playoff system.
Division I-AA has a 16-team playoff to determine a national champion, unlike the bowl and computer system used by Division I. Woolridge is excited about the prospects of playing in the postseason.
“We just have to keep doing what we’ve been doing,” Woolridge said. “We want to make a big push in the playoffs. If we do the little things, we’ll have a chance at running the table.”
Woolridge enjoys playing nose guard in Western Kentucky’s 3-3-5 defense, which puts him squarely in the middle of all the action.
He said he has learned to use his hands, as well as improved footwork, to get into opposing backfields and stop the run. The only thing he doesn’t like about the position is the tremendous amount of contact and the physical pounding his body takes.
In order to prepare for the physicality of the game at this level, Woolridge has taken full advantage of the university’s strength and conditioning program. Since arriving on the Bowling Green, Ky., campus, Woolridge has increased his squat lift from 525 pounds to 650, and his bench press from 290 to 335.
Woolridge has been closely following the exploits of this year’s Emerald team. He spoke about his pride in what the Vikings have accomplished.
“I was over there in the summer and watched them practice,” he said. “I knew that new offense was going to be good. I hope they go all the way.”
Woolridge’s love for South Carolina high school football is evident. While being interviewed, he had a litany of questions about different area teams and players, and how their seasons were going. He also wanted to know the Web sites he could visit so he could keep up with Lakelands area teams during the playoffs.
Woolridge said his time playing football at Emerald was a fantastic launching pad for his stellar college career. He credits former Emerald coach Frank Hill with instilling in him a positive attitude and the proper basic fundamentals of defensive football.
With the end of his senior football season quickly approaching, Woolridge spoke briefly about his plans after graduation.
“I really would like to continue playing football somewhere,” Woolridge said. “It doesn’t matter where. If not, I’ll probably end up coaching or working with kids. I really enjoy working with kids and helping them learn.”

Obituaries

Roberta Hall Davis

GREENWOOD — Roberta Hall Davis, 89, of 112 Hunt Street, widow of Earl Rufus Davis, died Saturday, November 5, 2005 at National Health Care of Greenwood.
Mrs. Davis was born May 5, 1916 in Greenwood County a daughter of the late John Alexander and Ida Earle Tolbert Hall. She was retired from Greenwood Mills Plant #5 where she worked for over forty years. She was a member of the Lowell Street United Methodist Church since the early 1940’s and was a member of the Cheerful Workers Sunday School Class and the United Methodist Women.
Survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law, Rufus and Christine Davis and Broadus and Mary Davis, all of Greenwood; grandchildren, Kenneth and Karen Davis of Greenwood, Phyllis Smith of Ninety Six, Melissa and Travis Blizzard of Greenwood and Elizabeth and James Nugent of Greenville; brother, Branch Hall of Greenwood; and sister, Marjorie Evans also of Greenwood; and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted Monday at 4:00 PM from the Lowell Street United Methodist Church with Reverend Richard W. Waldrep and Reverend David Templeton officiating.
Private burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Honorary escort will be the Cheerful Workers Sunday School Class and the United Methodist Women of Lowell Street United Methodist Church.
The family is at the home of her son, Rufus Davis, 1407 Woodlawn Road, Greenwood and will receive friends following the service at the church.
Those desiring may make contributions to Lowell Street United Methodist Church, 300 Lowell Ave. Greenwood 29646 in memory of Mrs. Davis or to a charity of one’s choice.
For additional information and online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is serving the Davis family.
PAID OBITUARY

Sarah Ezell

RICHMOND, VA. — Sarah Kernells Ezell, 90, former resident of Cokesbury, widow of Haskell H. Ezell, died Sunday, Nov. 6, 2005.
Visitation is 7-9 Tuesday at Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Kathryn Patton

ABBEVILLE — Kathryn Cooper Dillard Patton, 87, of Due West Retirement Center, wife of Paul Patton, died Sunday, Nov. 6, 2005 at the HospiceCare of Piedmont Inc., Greenwood.
Services will be announced by The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home.

Al Turner Jr.

COLUMBIA — Service for Morrall Alexander “Al” Turner, Jr. 60, will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at St. Andrews Baptist Church with burial in Siloam Baptist Church Cemetery, Ninety Six, at 2:30 p.m. Serving as active pallbearers will be Robert Lollis, Mick Kunkle, Keith Carter, Mark Zion, Phil Jackson, DMD, Jerry Rollings, Eddie Crain and Brian Crain. Glen Knight and David Rogers will serve as honorary pallbearers. Memorials may be made to Harvest Hope Food Bank or Habitat for Humanity.
Mr. Turner died Thursday, November 3, 2005. Born in Greenwood, he was the son of Mabel Gilmer Turner and the late Morrall Alexander, Sr. He was a graduate of the U.S.C. School of Business with a B.S. degree in Business Administration. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, he was a former Director of Financial Services at Self Regional Healthcare in Greenwood. He was an active member of SCHFMA where he earned many prestigious awards and served in all offices from treasurer to president. He was a member of St. Andrews Baptist Church where he served as Deacon, Sunday School teacher, choir member and chaperon of many youth mission trips.
Mr. Turner loved traveling, music and spending time with his family. He enjoyed cooking, especially barbecue.
Surviving are his wife, Nancy B. Turner; daughter and son-in-law, Brittany Leara and Timothy Owens of Reno, Nev.; son, David E. Lewis of Columbia; his mother of Ninety Six; brother-in-law and his wife, Calvin L. and Debra Stanfield of Columbia; and sister-in-law, Shirley A. Stanfield of Columbia.
PAID OBITUARY

Opinion

Cruelty to animals helps predict future behavior

November 7, 2005

Just when you think you couldn’t see or hear anything new about the human character, something happens to prove you wrong.
Some human acts demonstrate how cruel and abusive we can be. That’s especially noticeable when we mistreat pets, particularly dogs and cats. Never has that been more evident than a recent incident in the Charleston suburb of Ladson. There a domestic cat was found partially skinned.
The affectionate tortoise shell feline wandered up to a home with the terrible wound. She was lucky. She got to caring people. An animal rescue official called the triumphant spirit of the little cat amazing. They named her Angel and, fortunately, there are people who are the exact opposite of whoever did such a thing. The cat is getting expert treatment and, most importantly, the needed affection.

HOPEFULLY, THE GUILTY abuser will be found and punished. Animal abuse is something seen more and more in South Carolina. The fact that humans do such things to defenseless and loving creatures is a reflection on all of us, nor just those who are so cruel.
Cats, in their own way, crave human companionship – and love – as much as dogs. In fact, it’s kind of amazing that both cats and dogs gravitate to their human acquaintances more than they do to others of their species.
Many believe that people who abuse animals give us a glimpse of what kind of behavior to expect from them down the road. If they are capable of cruel acts, like skinning a live cat, that capability is likely to be demonstrated in criminal ways later in life ….. like domestic abuse.

SUCH DEPRAVITY IS inexcusable, whether it’s cruelty to animals or other people. We see them both in South Carolina and, thank goodness, many strive to alleviate and, hopefully, eradicate domestic and other abuse of human beings.
Animal abuse, however, is something else. Too many people abuse animals hereabouts and think nothing of it. Abandoning them, for example, is a form of abuse. The worst part of all, though, is that our abusive acts teach our children. And, whether we abuse humans or animals, it’s a terrible commentary on all of us and an even more damning legacy.
A wise man once observed that cruelty has a human heart. When someone skins a live cat and leaves it to suffer, what more proof does anyone need?

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