Bixby allowed to visit home

Woman is charged as accessory in slayings of Abbeville law officers

October 13, 2005

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

ABBEVILLE — An Abbeville woman charged as an accessory in the 2003 shooting deaths of two lawmen was allowed to visit her home Wednesday.
Rita Bixby was escorted to her home on S.C. 72, near Union Church Road, by attorneys and SWAT team members from the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office.
Bixby is being held at the Greenwood County Detention Center pending her trial.
Abbeville County Sheriff’s Sgt. Danny Wilson and Constable Donnie Ouzts were shot to death at the Bixby home in December 2003 after going there to mediate a land dispute.
Rita’s son, Steven Bixby, and her husband, Arthur Bixby, are charged with murder.
Rita is charged with accessory before the fact of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and misprision of a felony, which is failure to report the planning of a crime.
The Bixbys were upset about a road-widening project in which the state planned to take a portion of their land. Wilson was shot after he arrived at the home to speak with the Bixbys about the issue. When he did not respond to dispatchers, Ouzts went to the home and was shot as he stepped out of his car.
Officers from across the state and region responded to the scene as Arthur and Steven holed up inside the home.
Rita was at an Abbeville apartment complex at the time of the shootings, where she was arrested peacefully before sundown after reportedly making threats of violence if harm came to her husband and son.
The standoff at the Bixby home ended several hours later after one of the fiercest law enforcement firefights in state history.
The state has served death penalty notices to Steven and Rita but has not announced a decision about seeking the death penalty against Arthur.
On Wednesday, law officers led Rita through her boarded-up home using flashlights, according to televised reports.
WSPA Channel 7 reported that Rita gathered various records, including medical records, and some family photos to send to relatives in New Hampshire.
Eighth Circuit Solicitor Jerry Peace said he was not aware of Rita removing items from the home during the visit.
Rita and officers arrived at the home about 10 a.m. Wednesday and remained for about an hour and a half before she was taken to the Laurens County Detention Center, where she was allowed to visit her husband. She returned to the Greenwood County Detention Center following the visit.
Inside the home, Rita met with her lawyers, said Joseph Smithdeal, one of her attorneys. He said the visit was needed to help attorneys with preparation for the case.
“Often, a defendant needs to go back to where a crime allegedly happened in the course of their lawyers’ investigation of the case,” Smithdeal said. “No one is more familiar with a home than the homeowner.”
The visitation was allowed in an order given by 11th Circuit Judge Marc Westbrook, who was scheduled to preside over Rita’s trial before being killed in a September automobile accident.
Tenth Circuit Judge Alexander Macaulay has been selected to preside over Rita’s accessory case and Steven’s double murder case.

Local educators dish out fast food
at McDonald’s to help their school

October 13, 2005

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

Some Greenwood students got a special treat when they ordered their dinners Wednesday night.
Rather than handing out homework assignments, faculty and staff from Oakland Elementary School were handing out burgers and fries as part of McTeacher’s Night at the McDonald’s restaurant in Piedmont Plaza.
Oakland was one of more than 400 elementary schools throughout North and South Carolina participating in the event, and a portion of the sales goes to each school.
McDonald’s franchise owner and operator Ken Whittington said the partnering of the restaurant with the schools is a “win-win” situation for everyone.
“It’s great. It’s fun for us and it’s fun for them,” said Whittington, who also owns a McDonald’s in Abbeville, where Westbrook Elementary was scheduled to participate. Lakeview Elementary School faculty planned to help at the McDonald’s in Westwood Plaza in Greenwood.
“This goes way beyond the money. It’s a social function,” Whittington said. “The kids come in and hug the teachers. It’s great to see them on a different level.”
Though this was Oakland’s first year participating in McTeacher’s Night, Principal Rex Coates, who greeted customers and even swept the lobby floor, said it was such a success that school officials plan to do the event next year.
Before beginning their shifts, faculty shadowed the restaurant’s staff, picking up advice on how to be efficient and successful McDonald’s employees.
“They told us, ‘Don’t be leaning; be cleaning,’” Oakland fourth-grade teacher Claire Thompson said.
She and cleanup-duty partner Amy Patterson, a third-grade teacher, said they had a great time — even though their feet were hurting.
“We’ve said we’ll never, ever forget this as long as we live,” Thompson said.
Oakland second-grader Tucker Mathews, 7, said it was “kind of crazy” to see his teachers working at cash registers, handing out food, running the drive-thru and cleaning the lobby.
Even though it wasn’t their field of expertise, third-grader Nickie Sullivan, 9, said she thought the teachers did an acceptable job as servers, cashiers and cleaners.
“It’s still weird to see them here,” she said. “They aren’t supposed to be working at McDonald’s.”
First-grade teacher Ronda Rogers said the staff enjoyed the experience as much as the students did.
“It’s wonderful,” she said as she passed out homework advice sheets and greeted customers at the door. “It’s a surprise for the students to see us here.”
Julie Woolie, a K-4 teacher at Oakland, enjoyed her position at the drive-thru window so much, she said it felt like her “second job.”
“I’m having a ball. I just like talking to the people,” she said, pausing for a moment to take a driver’s order over her headset.
“Sometimes it’s hard. Everything is beeping and you don’t know if it’s you,” she added.
Fifth-grade teacher Julian Gale, who helped fill drinks at the drive-thru window, said the fast pace was the most enjoyable — and most stressful — part of the job.
“People want their food fast, and we’re not used to doing this,” he said. “The employees and manager have been very nice, even though we’ve been in their way.”

Discovering plenty to play for

Region title, home playoff games on the line
when Ware Shoals travels to Calhoun Falls

October 13, 2005

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

It was supposed to be a battle for the Region I-A title.
Fans of the Calhoun Falls and Ware Shoals high school football teams have had this Friday circled on their calendars before the two squads started practice in July.
But a funny thing happened on the way to Week 8.
In last week’s hectic, rain-affected football schedule, Calhoun Falls (5-2 overall, 1-0 region) stepped out of region play to defeat Christ Church, 34-0, last Friday.
A day later, however, Ware Shoals suffered its first region loss in a 7-6 defeat at Thornwell, removing some of the allure from the matchup at 8 Friday night at Fulmer Stadium in Calhoun Falls.
But, as Ware Shoals coach Jeff Murdock attested to, the game hasn’t lost all of its appeal.
“I don’t know how much of the hype is gone because I’m still hearing a lot of it,” said Murdock, whose Hornets dropped from No. 4 to No. 9 in the most recent Class A poll.
“We have to come out and execute. We can’t get involved in all of the crowd stuff and the hype, and then get a case of the nerves. We just have to come out and execute.”
Now, the game is important for entirely different reasons, all of which still pertain to the makeup of the Region I-A standings.
The No. 5 Blue Flashes (5-2 overall, 1-0 region), who have games against Dixie and McCormick left, can all but lock up their second straight region title with a win over Ware Shoals.
The Hornets (5-2, 1-1), in order to have a shot at the region title and earn a home playoff game, have to do something they’ve only done once in the last 15 years: win at Fulmer Stadium. Ware Shoals’ last win in Calhoun Falls came in a 28-7 victory Oct. 20, 2000, and the team has suffered four straight losses there.
“It’s certainly still a big game for us,” Calhoun Falls coach Eddie Roberts said. “If we win, it pretty much puts us in the driver’s seat to control our own destiny.
“We can’t worry about what Thornwell or Dixie are doing. We have to take care of our business.”
And if the Hornets need any extra motivation for this game, they can turn to last season’s 52-point loss, 72-20.
“I think not only will (Ware Shoals) be upset about what happened last week, but they will also be upset about what happened last year,” Roberts said. “I know they’ve been waiting 365 days to play this game again. I know, as a coach, that I would be.
“That and losing to Thornwell, I think they’re going to come out and play hard. They’re going to be excited about playing.”
But Murdock doesn’t think the loss to Thornwell has added to his team’s urgency this week. In fact, the Hornets’ coach believes his team should feel liberated.
“I told our kids, ‘Now, the pressure’s off, go out and play, have fun and execute,’” Murdock said. “Our goal is to win our next football game and to win the state championship. The good thing about that goal is if something happens and you get knocked out of your region, it doesn’t end your season.
“Obviously, it’s big that we need to win Friday so that we the opportunity for home playoff games. But we’re not treating it as a life-or-death matter. It’s not playoff time yet.”
One key to the Hornets meeting their first goal of winning the next game will be containing Calhoun Falls’ potent offense.
And that offense might get one of their biggest weapons back this week. All-Lakelands athlete Theo Tillman, who had more than 1,000 yards of offense and 20 touchdowns last season - including 200 yards and three scores against Ware Shoals - has been hampered by injuries this year.
Roberts said Tillman, who suffered an ankle injury Sept. 23 against Emerald and sat out last week’s game against Christ Church, has been cleared to play Friday.
However, the Flashes’ offense has rolled along quite nicely the past few weeks, scoring 70 points in the last six quarters.
“I think they’re all fast,” Murdock said. “No. 7 (Tillman) has all-world speed. But if you start keying on one of them, they’ll hurt you with any other of their backs. Their quarterback runs well and the other wing and the fullback run well.”
Wingback Santonio Tillman is second in the Lakeland with 629 yards rushing, scoring a team-high seven touchdowns. Senior quarterback D.J. Roundtree has added 523 yards and five scores in only five weeks.
Wingback Monterrio Tatum and fullback Adrian Tatum combined for 289 yards rushing in the win over Christ Church.
“They’ve done a tremendous job,” Roberts said, about the two Tatums, Santonio Tillman and Roundtree.
“They seem to play real good together. They block well for each other. We have some talented running backs without Theo. I told them ‘if Theo’s out, we have to move on and you have to pick up the slack,’ and so far, they have. Theo is certainly a bonus for us to have, but we have had guys step up in his place.”
But the Hornets also should have one of their walking wounded back at full strength.
Junior wingback Tony Lomax has been hampered by an injury suffered in the Sept. 15 win over Dixie, but has suited up for the Hornets since the injury.
Murdock said Lomax, who rushed for 240 yards in three games before the injury and 115 since, should be back at 100 percent by Friday.
And Lomax’s speed is something the team has missed. His presence adds another threat to the Ware Shoals offense, to go along with first-year starter Patorious Leverett - who has a team-high 478 rushing yards - and quarterback Keith Stewart - who has 717 passing yards.
“Last week, one of the things we were missing was the big play,” Murdock said. “With what we do on offense, we’re eventually counting on breaking a long one or having a big play.”

Lander men tie No. 7 USC Upstate

October 13, 2005

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

If the referees hadn’t stopped the game, the two teams would probably still be playing.
Despite playing all of regulation and two overtimes, the Lander University (8-2-2) soccer team and Division II No. 7 USC Upstate (8-1-2) couldn’t gain an advantage on each other and the game between the two Peach Belt Conference rivals ended in a 1-1 tie Wednesday night at Lander.
It was a rugged, physical and sometimes erratic game that nearly came to a messy boil in the second overtime.
With both squads clawing for every loose ball, Lander’s Jack Thompson received a yellow card for attempting to trip Spartans’ defender Daniel McKell.
While the players argued their point to the referee, McKell elbowed Lander’s Carlos Lozano in the face. Numerous players from both sides began to argue and push each other. Meanwhile, a rowdy group of Lander fans attempted to storm the field as campus police rushed to suppress them.
All part of what has become a tremendous PBC rivalry.
“It’s one of the best rivalries in America,” Lander forward Luke Ibbettson said.
“It got quite heated there towards the end, but at least we could all shake hands at the end and put it behind us. And our fans over there were unbelievable.”
Ibbettson got things started for the Bearcats very early in the contest.
In the opening moments of the game, the Bearcats pushed the ball into USCU territory. Lander sophomore midfielder Antti Suoniemi darted down the right side of the pitch, dribbling it deftly between Spartan defenders. Spotting Ibbettson flashing towards the goal, Suoniemi rocketed a perfect crossing pass to the forward, and Ibbettson planted it in the back of the net. The goal put the Bearcats up 1-0 with less than 90 seconds into the game.
“That cross Antti sent me was huge,” Ibbettson said. “We swung it out wide and he got it to me.”
Lander coach Van Taylor said the play worked to perfection.
“That was textbook,” Taylor said. “Antti’s cross was great and Luke finished it off just like you draw it up.”
Lander carried the 1-0 advantage into halftime.
The Bearcats were able to stave off USCU’s offensive advances in the second half until there was 8:57 left.
Spartans junior forward Liam Slack collided with Lander keeper Garrett Daum, resulting in a penalty kick for Slack. Slack slipped a low flying bullet past Daum to tie the game 1-1.
Two overtimes, several yellow cards and one near brawl later, the score was still the same between the two rivals.
“Just another Lander versus USC Upstate epic game,” Taylor said. “It was an absolute battle from beginning to end.”
Taylor said the Bearcats would be remiss to dwell on what could have been considered a missed opportunity.
“We have a big game next week with Clayton State,” Taylor said. “We’ll need to put this one behind us and get ready for another big Peach Belt game.”

Opinion

Understanding some signs could make safer schools

October 13, 2005

Few schools, if any, are free of bullies that make a habit of picking on other youngsters. Sometimes it’s for no reason other than the bully just doesn’t like the way another student looks. Sometimes school officials try to handle the problem themselves. Others bring in outside experts to help them.
Recently school administrators and guidance counselors in Dorchester and Berkeley Counties had the benefit of one of those experts providing guidance. They heard from Michael Dorn, a nationally recognized expert on school safety, talk about ways to increase safety awareness. He also talked about terrorism, warning signs of potentially dangerous behaviors and forming plans to make schools safer.

DORN, WHO IS WITH Safe Havens International, listed early warning signs of destructive behavior in students that he and an associate have compiled. They are:
-Social withdrawal.
-Excessive feelings of isolation.
-Excessive feelings of rejection.
-Being a victim of violence.
-Feeling of being picked on/persecuted.
-Low school interest/poor academics.
-Expressions of violence in writing.
-Uncontrolled anger.
-Prejudice and intolerance of differences.
-Patterns of impulsive and chronic hitting, intimidating and bullying behaviors.
-History of discipline problems.
-History of violent and aggressive behavior.
-Drug and alcohol use.
-Affiliation with gangs.
-Inappropriate access to, possession and use of firearms.
-Threats of violence.


SOME OF THESE THINGS are, of course, pure common sense. Seeing them all together, though, helps the recognition process that can be helpful to administrators, teachers, and parents. If they can see what they’re up against, they obviously will have a better chance of dealing successfully with problem students in the classroom and in the home.
One of the major problems teachers have been faced with has been, and still is, fear ….. wondering whether they will be safe while carrying on their educational duties.
Other schools might do well to follow these leaders in taking a proactive approach. Anything that can be done to alleviate student-born problems should be welcome.

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

Obituaries

Muriel Allen

GREENWOOD – Muriel Harris Allen, 85, former resident of 752 Holloway Street, widow of Edward S. Allen, died Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at Hos-pice House of Greenwood.
Born in Greenwood County, June 26, 1920, she was a daughter of the late Frank B. and Pearl Ouzts Harris. Mrs. Allen was retired from the Durst Plant of Greenwood Mills and was a member of the Greenwood Mills Quarter Century Club.
She was a member of Hodges Church of God and the Clara Mae Wells Sunday School Class of Restoration Church where she was a former teacher.
Surviving are three daughters, Trudy A. Johns of Hodges, Dot A. Wood of Greenwood and Frances A. Wideman of Ware Shoals; 14 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; 4 step grandchildren; 10 step great grandchildren.
She was predeceased by two sons, Ronald Allen and Donald Allen.
Funeral services will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. Thursday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Charles Caldwell and Rev. Milton Hannah officiating.
Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Glenn Jones, Todd Jones, Stan Bell, Brad Wood, Jerry Smith, Brent Allen, Ken Cobb, Randy Flowe, Steve Thompson and Jerry Alverson.
The family will be at their respective homes and will receive friends at Blyth Funeral Home from 2 to 3 Thursday afternoon immediately before the service.
Memorials may be made to Hospice House of Greenwood, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
For additional information or to make an online condolence please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com
BLYTH FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE IS ASSISTING THE ALLEN FAMILY.
PAID OBITUARY

Polly Anderson

WARE SHOALS — Pauline “Polly” Anderson, 78, formerly of Route 1, widow of Edward E. Anderson, died Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2005 at University Hospital in Augusta, Ga.
Born in Pickens County, she was a daughter of the late Vando and Addie Knight Morgan. She was a former employee of Judson Mills and Emerald City Laundry, Greenwood, and attended Bethlehem Union Church.
Survivors include a son, Richard Anderson of Waterloo; two daughters, Nancy Orr of Williamston and Mrs. David (Lucy) Stapleton of Waterloo; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Services are 3 p.m. Friday at Parker-White Funeral Home, conducted by the Revs. Bobby Davis and James Kelly. Burial is in Oakbrook Memorial Park, Greenwood.
Grandsons and nephews are pallbearers.
Visitation is 7-9 tonight at the funeral home.
Family members are at their respective homes.
Parker-White Funeral Home is in charge.

Jim Burnett

James William “Jim” Burnett, 31, husband of Jackie Perry Burnett, died Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2005. The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home.

Frank Freeland

McCORMICK — James Frank Freeland, 76, of 1303 Greenfield Road, husband of Hazel Herring Freeland, died Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2005 at Hospice House in Greenwood.
Born in McCormick County, he was a son of the late Robert Frank and Lillian Wilkie Freeland. He was a former employee of Culbertson and Hammond Construction Co. and retired as owner and operator of Frank Freeland’s Garage in McCormick. He was a member of Plum Branch Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife of the home; a daughter, Frankie F. Dove and a son, James Larry Freeland, both of Greenwood; a brother, Albert Freeland of McCormick; three step-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren.
Services are 2 p.m. Friday at Plum Branch Baptist Church, conducted by the Revs. Darrell Engle and Kenneth Boone. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in Plum Branch Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Steve Freeland, Allen Freeland, Vernon Freeman, Chris Wilkie, Shannon Wilkie and Marion Freeland.
Visitation is 5-7 tonight at Blyth Funeral Home.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to Plum Branch Baptist Church, P.O. Box 150, Plum Branch, SC 29845 or Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Greenwood, is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com

Shirley F. Jones

WARE SHOALS — Shirley Frances Evans Jones, 54, of 103 W. Main St. Extension, wife of Elbert Jones Sr., died Sunday, Oct. 9, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Laurens County, she was a daughter of the late Edward Evans Sr. and Katie Jordan Evans. She was a 1970 Sanders High School graduate and a member of Christian Hope Baptist Church, where she was an Usher Board and Senior Choir member.
Survivors include her husband of the home; a daughter, Valeria Evans of Columbia; two stepdaughters, Princella Waller and Lynn Cunningham, both of Ware Shoals; two stepsons, Navy Chief Elbert Jones Jr. of Virginia Beach, Va., and Vernon Jones of Greenville; a sister, Ophelia “BaBa” Richardson of Ware Shoals; six brothers, Apostle Sherwood Evans of Greenville, Edward Evans Jr. of Honea Path, Isaac “Duck” Evans and Alfonzo “Buddy” Evans, both of Ware Shoals, Carroll Wayne Evans of Waterloo and Kavin “Butch” Evans of Greenwood; 15 grandchildren.
Services are 3 p.m. Friday at Christian Hope Baptist Church, conducted by the Revs. Eliza Ballentine, Johnny Goldsmith, Johnny Henderson, James Leverette, Earl Agnes, Thomas Long, Marie Hunter and Minister Doris Warden. The body will be placed in the church at 2. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Viewing begins at noon today at Robinson-Walker Funeral Service.
The family is at the home and the home of a sister Ophelia Richardson, 1083 Turkey Creek Road.
Robinson-Walker Funeral Service is in charge.

Dr. Glen Krohn

GREENWOOD — Dr. Glen Herbert Krohn, 65, resident of Belle Meade, husband of Phyllis Schlange Krohn, died October 12, 2005 at his home.
Born in Hooper, NE, May 22, 1940, he was a son of the late Herbert and Delia Bartling Krohn. Dr. Krohn received a B.S. Degree in Agriculture; M.S. Degree in Agricultural Education and Ph.D. in Adult Education, all from the University of Nebraska. He was formerly employed by the University of Nebraska, Polk County, NE and Sarpy County, NE with the 4-H Program. Dr. Krohn retired in 1994 from Clemson University as chair person of Family and Youth Development.
A founding member, past president and Elder of Greenwood Lutheran Church, LCMS, and was also a delegate for the Southeastern District Mission Board.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home are a son, Phillip Glen and wife Teri Krohn of Omaha, NE; a daughter, Glenda K. and husband Kevin G. Cook of Greenwood; four grandchildren, Jackson Krohn, Griffin Krohn, Riley Krohn, Kierstin Cook.
Dr. Krohn was predeceased by a brother, Robert Krohn.
Funeral services will be conducted 6:00 PM Friday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Christopher J. Patterson officiating.
Entombment will be in Lincoln Memorial Park Mausoleum in Lincoln, NE.
The family is at the home in Belle Meade and will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00 to 6:00 Friday afternoon.
Memorials may be made to Greenwood Lutheran Church, LCMS, 1327 Montague Ave. Ext., Greenwood, SC 29649 or to the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Scholarship Program, c/o Self Regional Health Care Optimum Life Center, 1325 Spring Street, Greenwood, SC 29646.
For additional information and online condolences, visit www.blythfuneralhome.com
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Krohn family.
PAID OBITUARY

James Edward Williams

HODGES — James Edward “Red” Williams, 68, died Monday, Oct. 10, 2005 at Laurens County Hospital.
Born in McCormick County, he was a son of the late Annie M. Williams. He was of the Methodist faith and was a concrete finisher for many years.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Stewart Williams of Greenwood; a daughter, Angelina Williams of Greenwood; two sons, Bruce Stewart and James Edward Williams Jr., both of Greenwood; a sister, Mattie Lee Brown of Greenwood; a brother, Archie W. Talbert of Greenwood; two foster sisters, Mary Ellen Brown of Aberdeen, Md., and Annie Ruth Goodwin of Greenwood; three foster brothers, John Goodwin, Bruce Goodwin and Charles Goodwin, all of Greenwood; 14 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Services are at noon Friday at Parks Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Anthony Boozer, assisted by the Rev. James Holmes. Burial is in Youngs Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Edward Hackett, Ernest Hackett Jr., Albert Durant and friends of the family.
Flower bearers are family friends.
Honorary escorts are Sons of Aid No. 55 members.
Visitation is 7-8 tonight at the funeral home.
The family is at the home, 113 Brown Drive.
Parks Funeral Home, Greenwood, is in charge.