Write-in candidate to fill empty District 50 board seat
October 10, 2005
By
JACKIE R. BROACH
Index-Journal staff writer
Without a name on the ballot, Tuesday’s special election for
a seat on Greenwood School District 50’s board of trustees
could go any one of a hundred ways, said Connie Moody, director
of voters registration and elections. A write-in election is a
rare and unpredictable occurrence, at least in Moody’s
experience, she said.
“This is only the second time this has happened since I’ve
been in this office,” said Moody, who has worked in
Greenwood County elections for six years.
The last time a write-in election occurred was during a general
election several years ago. In that instance, the seat was that
of soil and water commissioner and 252 candidates were written
in. A winner was declared by only fewer than 20 votes and it took
about four hours for the votes to be tallied.
It’s unlikely that Tuesday’s write-in will be of that
scale, because it’s a special election, Moody said, but the
results are still unpredictable.
“There may be a huge voter turnout or no turnout,”
Moody said. “Really that all depends on if anyone is
campaigning for the position.”
A winner likely will be declared with little trouble if one
person is actively campaigning. If two or more are campaigning,
it could be a close race. On the other hand, if no one is
actively seeking the position, there is a possibility that no
votes will be received. In that case, another special election
will have to be scheduled and the process will continue until a
winner is declared.
Because it is a write-in election, Moody said, there is a chance
that the winner declared may refuse the position or may not even
live in the district served by the seat, in which case the
process would have to start over again.
Moody said she couldn’t speculate as to why no one had filed
for the seat and neither could District 50 Chairwoman Dru James.
“It’s just discouraging to think that one of the most
important elective positions in our county has gone unpursued,”
James said. “The job of a board member has to do with all of
our futures, making sure students in the public education system
get the best education possible.”
In past elections, James said she has devoted time to recruiting
members of the community to run for vacant school board seats,
but did not do so for this election. Personal matters have taken
priority in her life for the past several months, she said.
“I think it is our role as board members to make sure there
are people who run because of an interest in doing what’s
best for public education,” James said. “As board
members, it’s important for all of us to encourage others to
run (for board seats) and to run for the right reasons.”
Board member Larry Davis said he isn’t sure if recruiting
candidates is the role of a board member and he has not pursued
anyone to run for the seat.
He said he is disappointed that such an action would be necessary
in District 50.
“I was hoping someone would step forward without having to
be recruited,” Davis said. “We need board members who
aren’t afraid to speak up and to question things.”
Both Davis and James said they had heard of one person
campaigning in the area, but are uncertain of whether there are
others.
According to Moody, there was one person to go into the elections
office to file for the seat, but she lives outside the district
lines, so she had to be turned away. Moody said she had received
several inquiries about the seat at the onset of the election,
but has seen very little interest in the past few weeks.
“We’re still taking this election as seriously as any
other,” Moody said Friday. “We already had worker
training and it’s business as usual.”
Bill Digby
ANDERSON
— William M. Digby, 77, of 108 Fisherman Club Drive, husband
of Patricia Johnson Digby, died Saturday, Oct. 8, 2005 at the
Anderson Area Medical Center.
Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home, Greenwood.
Charles Lindburg Driggers
GASTON — Graveside services for Charles Lindburg Driggers,
76, will be held Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at 2:00 PM at
Bethlehem Cemetery in Coronaca, SC. Officiating will be Rev.
James Young. The family will receive friends, Monday, October 10,
2005, from 6:00 until 8:00 PM at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home,
Lexington Chapel.
Mr. Driggers died Saturday, October 08, 2005. Born in Woodruff,
SC, he was the son of the late John and Grace Stenett Driggers.
He was a member of Lakeside Pentecostal Church in Greenwood, SC.
Surviving are his wife, Judith McDaniel Driggers of Gaston; son,
Charles R. Driggers of Laurens; daughters, Shirley Wright and
Deborah Lynn Compton both of Greenwood; sisters, Eva Mae All of
West Columbia and Mildred Malee or Baltimore, MD; 12
grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Mr. Driggers was
preceded in death by a son, Billy Ray Driggers.
www.caughmanharmanfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY
Shirley F. Jones
WARE
SHOALS — Shirley F. Evans Jones, 54, of 103 West
Main St. Ext., died Sunday, Oct. 9, 2005 at Self Regional Medical
Center.
The family is at the home and the home of her sister, Ophelia
Evans Richardson, 1083 Turkey Creek Road, Ware Shoals.
Services will be announced by Robinson-Walker Funeral Service.
C. Jack Piotrowski Jr.
ABBEVILLE
— C. Jack Piotrowski, Jr., 47, of 85 Deer Run
Abbeville, husband of Patricia P. Piotrowski died at his
residence on Saturday, October 8, 2005. He was born in Rockfall,
CT., to Genevieve Nowotynski Piotrowski and the late Clemens J.
Piotrowski, Sr. Jack was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic
Church and worked for the United States Postal Service for 8
years presently working in the Greenwood office. Mr. Piotrowski
will be remembered as a devoted family man and a friend to all.
He is survived by his wife of 21 years, his mother, a brother,
Frank Piotrowski of CT., five sisters, Dawn Rudnansky of CT.,
Mary Farrell of PA., Cynthia Costa of CT., Janet Piotrowski of
CT., Terry Piotrowski of CT., and many nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 6:00PM to 8:00PM Tuesday,
October 11, 2005 with a Rosary Prayer service beginning at 6:00PM
at Harris Funeral Home. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be
held 10:00AM Wednesday, October 12, 2005 in the Sacred Heart
Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Long Cane Cemetery at a
later date.
Memorials in memory of Jack may be sent to the Humane Society of
Greenwood, PO Box 242 Greenwood, SC 29648 OR to the Department of
Alcohol and Drug Abuse, PO Box 921 Abbeville, SC 29620.
Online condolences may be sent to the Piotrowski family by
visiting www.harrisfuneral.com
HARRIS FUNERAL HOME, of Abbeville is assisting the Piotrowski.
PAID OBITUARY
Maggie Stewart
GREENWOOD,
SC — Maggie Lusher Stewart, 87, resident of 306
Clairmont Drive, wife of Curtis M. Stewart, Sr., died October 9,
2005 at National Health Care in Greenwood.
Born in Stanaford, West Virginia, April 5, 1918, she was a
daughter of the late James L. and Ora Barrett Lusher. She was a
retired receptionist from Certified Grocery of Ocala, Ocala, FL
and was a member of The First Christian Church in Ocala. She had
made her home in Greenwood since 2003.
Surviving in addition to her husband of the home are a son,
Curtis M. Stewart, Jr. and wife Jackie, with whom she made her
home; three grandchildren, Timi Eddy and Teri Lake, both of
Greenwood and Jeanie Micheals of Dunnellan, FL; six great
grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Stewart was predeceased by a son, James “Bobby”
Stewart.
Services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday in the Oakbrook
Memorial Park Chapel Mausoleum with Rev. Alvin Hodges
officiating.
Entombment will be in the Oakbrook Memorial Park Mausoleum.
The body is at Blyth Funeral Home.
The family is at the home in Druid Hills and will receive friends
immediately following the service at the Oakbrook Memorial Park
Family Center.
Memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
For additional information or online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
BLYTH FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES IS ASSISTING THE
STEWART FAMILY.
PAID OBITUARY
Two Lander coaches honored by university
October 10, 2005
From
staff reports
Joe Cabri and Doug Spears will receive the highest honor a
college can bestow on a coach.
Cabri, the longtime men’s tennis coach at Lander University,
and Spears, the school’s first softball and volleyball
coach, will have athletic fields named after them.
Lander Athletic Director Jeff May said the Lander tennis complex
will be named the Joe Cabri Courts. Cabri, who coached the team
for 31 years, retired from coaching in June after a legendary
career that included 12 national championships. The softball
complex will be named Doug Spears Field. Spears, who inaugurated
the program in 1982, coached for 24 years before announcing his
retirement this past season after 801 victories.
The Lander University Board of Trustees approved the honor, with
the dedication ceremonies for both complexes to take place in the
Spring.
“It is most appropriate that we name the tennis complex in
honor of Joe Cabri and our softball field in honor of Doug
Spears,” said May. “Both are most deserving of this
once in a lifetime honor. On behalf of the Athletic Department,
we appreciate the support of Lander president Dr. Dan Ball on
this request and the Board of Trustees’ unanimous approval.”
Finis Horne, who served as Lander’s athletics director from
1971 until his retirement in 1997, hired Cabri and Spears as
coaches.
“No one could have ever predicted that coach Cabri would
have such an awesome career,” said Horne. “It’s
difficult to describe just how phenomenally successful he has
been as a coach. For 31 years, he dominated the game in such a
convincing manner that his records will stand for generations. In
my opinion, his achievement of 12 national championships will
probably never be surpassed in any sport, at any level.”
Needless to say, Cabri is very appreciative of the recognition.
“I am humbled and honored that President Ball and the Lander
Board of Trustees will name the Lander tennis courts the Cabri
Courts,” said Cabri, who was named a national coach of the
year five times. “Teaching and coaching at Lander have
enriched my life in many ways and both jobs have generated fond
memories. The memories attached to the Lander courts exemplify
the hard work and dedication of many young student-athletes who
raised Lander tennis to national prominence.”
Although he finished his coaching career as a volleyball coach
after agreeing to take over the Lady Bearcat team when Angela
McGuire resigned during the summer of 2005, Spears made a name
for himself on the softball diamond.
“I am very humbled and honored to have the softball field
named after me,” said Spears, who was the seventh winningest
active coach this past season. “I’d like to thank the
Board of Trustees, President Dan Ball, and Athletic Director Jeff
May for their part in bestowing this much appreciated honor on
me.
“A special thanks goes to Athletic Director Emeritus Finis
Horne for giving me the opportunity to coach at Lander 25 years
ago. And most of all, I give many thanks to all the excellent
student athletes who won all those games. I am very, very
appreciative.”
Horne boasted on Spears’ dedication to the game of softball.
“Coach Spears is the ultimate coach so far as dedication
goes,” said Horne. “He worked year ‘round to
improve the softball field and he was active in coaches’
associations at the district, conference and national levels. He
was always concerned with the welfare of his student-athletes,
not only as players, but in the classroom and as young women who
had lives and careers ahead of them. He leaves a strong tradition
to build on for his successor, as a coach who loved the game.”
United Way keeps open a window for tomorrow
October 10, 2005
When
tragedies occur, like hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and
other extraordinary happenings, it’s natural for us to focus
on the plight of the victims. We often go out of our way to help
in those circumstances, as we have done since hurricanes wreaked
havoc on Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas.
People in Greenwood, the Lakelands and all over the Palmetto
State have left no doubt about their concern and compassion. They’ve
given and they’ve taken victims in.
There are other needs, though, that are with us every day, every
year, year after year. Fortunately, for those people in need in
our own communities, there is an answer. It’s the same
people who care about hurricane victims who always answer the
call for help in Greenwood and Abbeville Counties, and they do it
through the United Way.
THIS YEAR THEY ARE BEING asked to continue their
humanitarian efforts locally. And, of course, there is the
hurricane factor. For the victims there will be needs for months
to come ….. maybe years. For that reason, the United Way of
Greenwood and Abbeville Counties raised the campaign goal, from
$1.7 million to $2 million. Every dollar raised over the original
goal will go toward hurricane relief.
How Americans respond to horrific disasters shows the world what
kind of people we are. So many people have been on the receiving
end of America’s generosity over the years that it may not
necessitate any explanation, to be sure. Nevertheless, how we
respond to the needs of each other gives a much broader picture
of a nation where people are together, even when it might
sometimes seem otherwise.
WITHOUT THE DONATIONS TO the United Way, there
are people here who would never have hope. Because of them,
though, there is. And, without hope, what a dreadful world it
would be for every one of us. No matter the circumstances, each
of us needs someone at some time.
Remember the people in our communities who have a window to
tomorrow because we care and give to the United Way. Don’t
forget their needs as we strive to be a continuing friend to our
own people while showing our concern for new friends who had to
learn the hard way that friendship and caring come in all colors,
sizes, gender and sometimes when they are least expected.
The United Way. It’s just another important way of saying
that, as a people, we care ….. here and wherever and
whenever disaster strikes.