Local residents get turn to talk

Parents, students, community discuss issues facing District 50

October 25, 2005

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

Parents, students, teachers and community members had an opportunity Monday to sound off on the issues facing Greenwood School District 50 during “Your Turn To Talk.”
Graduation rates, testing scores, teacher qualifications and parental involvement were among the issues addressed in the meeting at Westview Middle School, which was the first of three community forums scheduled for this week in the district.
In the last few planning sessions, the school board has been discussing ways to improve community discussion on education, District 50 Superintendent Bill Steed said.
“We wanted to reach out to the community, and we thought this would be a way to give the public a chance to give input to the school board and administration,” Steed said. “This is a chance for them to say what is on their minds.”
A wide variety of participants, including middle school students, college students, parents, school administrators and others, formed small focus groups to discuss a list of academic, staff and related factors before assembling as a whole to share their ideas.
District 50 parents Cathy and Earl Dorn said they came to the forum to get a better understanding of the how the district operates.
“It’s good to be educated on what the district is all about. I want to know what I can ask as a parent,” Cathy said, adding that her top concerns dealt with PACT scores and the No Child Left Behind program.
She said speaking with administration and teachers was more reassuring than simply reading about the issues.
“You actually get to hear from the educators, the administrators and the people doing the testing,” she said. “They can tell you what strengths and weaknesses you should be looking for in students and how to help them.”
Takeisha Reid, a junior and teacher cadet at Emerald High School, said the meeting was a great opportunity for students to voice their opinions as well.
“We really get to be heard as students, and we can express what we need, what we want and what is best for our education,” Reid said. “It’s our time to be heard.”
One factor at the top of each focus group’s list was the importance of staffing the schools with teachers who are qualified and educated to teach their subject areas effectively.
Some focus group members said that better student education — which leads to higher test scores and graduation rates — begins with qualified teachers.
“If teachers are well trained, they can communicate with their kids and they can communicate with the parents,” said Randy Shinn, a parent of two District 50 students. “It’s a very basic foundation for the kids to be able to learn. If the teachers aren’t educated, how are they going to educate the kids?”
The next Your Turn To Talk meetings are scheduled for 7-9 p.m. today at Northside Middle School and Thursday at Brewer Middle School.
Once the three meetings have been conducted, Steed said the thoughts and suggestions collected will be reviewed and considered by district administration.
“The goal is to use the information to decide how we can improve the school district: How do we take Greenwood School District 50 and make it better, and how do we reach and serve students in a more efficient way to prepare them for (the future)?” he said.
District 50 board member Frank Coyle said the information also will be placed in a report that will be made available to the public in November or December.
“This is a great start. There were a lot of people, a lot of comments and a lot of good information,” he told the group. “This is the kind of thing we want as a board, and this is the kind of thing you want as a community.”

Lady ’Cats suffer 1st-round loss

October 25, 2005

By MICHAEL STONE
Index-Journal sports editor

NINETY SIX — For the first time in the last four years, the Ninety Six volleyball team won’t be playing in November.
The Lady Wildcats, the Region III-AA champs, were upset by Gilbert, the fourth-place team from Region IV-AA, in five games Monday in the opening round of the Class AA playoffs.
Game scores were 25-22, 27-25, 19-25, 24-26, 15-8.
Ninety Six, which won back-to-back state titles in 2002-03 and went to the Upper State finals last year, finishes the season 17-3.
Gilbert will visit Woodruff or Pendleton in Wednesday’s second round.
Lady Wildcats coach Beth Miller said the problem against the Lady Indians was her team was not focused.
“We didn’t play ’Cat ball,” Miller said. “We were worried about the calls, we were worried about the crowd, and never concentrating on the match.
“We weren’t aggressive, we got out-hustled and we got out-played. Gilbert was a better volleyball team than Ninety Six tonight.”
Ninety Six had its moments, especially during the third and fourth games when the team was able to string several points together.
Erica Patterson led Ninety Six with 20 kills, while Amanda Chrisley added 18 and Kristin Smith 15. Class AA All-State setter Morgan Layne finished with 49 assists.
Layne ran off 10 straight serves in the third game to get the Lady Wildcats some momentum, and Patterson had four kills in the middle of the fourth game to help the team out of an eight-point deficit.
But the Lady Wildcats never led in the first game, lost a five-point lead late in the second and made several mistakes in the fifth and deciding game.
Miller, however, didn’t blame the loss her team’s mistakes.
“I’ve never said that in 20 years and I’m not going to say that now,” she said. “Gilbert beat us.”
The Lady Indians did win, but they did have help. Gilbert jumped out to an early in the opening game, scoring the first four points, and Ninety Six never got over the hump.
Down 8-3, the Lady Wildcats caught up with Chrisley serving, thanks to a kill by Katlin Rexrode and three Gilbert hitting errors.
But Ninety Six gave the points right back on a net serve – one of 11 services errors by the Lady Wildcats - and two bad passes.
Ninety Six got as close as one point down, at 20-19, but a hitting error gave Gilbert the ball back and the Indians held on for a 25-22 win.
As slow as the Lady Wildcats started the first game, they looked ready to even things in the second, jumping to a 6-3 lead.
A kill by Chrisley gave Ninety Six a 14-10 lead, and she added another for a 24-19 advantage.
Rexrode was serving for the game when the mistakes popped up again.
She hit a ball wide, then Smith and Chrisley put balls into the net and Layne was called for going under the net as Gilbert took a 25-24 lead.
Ninety Six got a point back on a net serve, but a Breelyn Harmon kill and another hitting error gave Gilbert the win.
The third game was tied at 10 when Layne went to work.
She had two aces, and Chrisley and Patterson added two kills each as the team took a 20-10 lead. Gilbert got the gap down to 24-19, but setter Erin Shealy was called for a lift and the Lady Wildcats had life.
Gilbert appeared ready to leave with the win in the fourth game, opening a 13-4 lead before Ninety Six rallied.
Dixie Timms had a big kill to get the Lady Wildcats on track before Patterson went to work.
Down 17-11, Patterson had three kills and Chrisley one, and another kill by Timms brought tied the match at 20.
With the game tied at 24, Smith had a kill and before Chrisley’s game-winner, which tied the match a 2.
But Game 5 was all Gilbert.
After Ninety Six scored the first two points, the Lady Indians ran off five straight and the Lady Wildcats never recovered.

Opinion

John Kirkland an example of ‘Greatest’ of America

October 25, 2005

Dr. John H. Kirkland Jr., who died last week at age 83, was one of the good guys in Greenwood. His passing is a stark reminder of how the “Greatest Generation” of Americans is all too quietly and quickly slipping into history.
A dentist, Dr. Kirkland was always active in working for, and for the betterment of his profession. That, however, did not detract from his attention to his family, his church and his community.
Most of all, though, Dr. Kirkland was a shining example of love of country, demonstrating the kind of patriotism that is too often missing among too many younger Americans these days. That’s service to his nation.

DR. KIRKLAND WAS A highly decorated member of the U. S. Army Air Corps in WW II, flying many combat missions. He and his family were proud of his service, which he performed with all his mental and physical being.
He was, in fact, a real hero. You have to wonder why so many today gravitate to the anti-hero that represents the opposite of what Dr. Kirkland and others like him believed and lived.
If we’re wise, maybe we will learn something of the values that drove Dr. Kirkland and the “Greatest Generation.” There’s no better time than now to pick up on the lessons that came out of the sacrifices of our WW II survivors ….. before it’s too late to learn from those who served with honor, distinction and, yes, glory.

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

Obituaries

Ella Ruth Hackett

Ella Ruth Woolridge Hackett, 72, of 101 South St., wife of James “Buck” Hackett, died Monday, Oct. 24, 2005 at her home.
Born in Greenwood County, she was a daughter of the late Leonard Woolridge and Lottie Mae Pitts Woolridge Hackett. She attended Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Survivors include her husband of the home; four sons, David Hackett of Abbeville, Milton Hackett of Concord, N.C., Ronald Hackett and Darren Hackett, both of Greenwood; a daughter, Mrs. Rufus (Paulette) Turner of Greenwood; a brother, Larry Hackett of Bradley; three sisters, Cynthia Mae Hackett and Lucille Wells, both of Greenwood, Mrs. Walter (Henrietta) Bowie of Promised Land; 18 grandchildren, one reared in the home, Yolanda Hackett of Greenwood; 20 great-grandchildren, one of the home, Preston Archie.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com

Lynette Jones

ABBEVILLE — Lynette Jones, 40, of 120 Adams Drive, wife of Lester Galloway, died Sunday, Oct. 23, 2005 at Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.
Born in Washington, D.C., she was a daughter of Lewis Belcher and the late Thelma London Belcher. She was a 1983 Abbeville High School graduate, a member of Springfield Green Olive A.M.E. Church and an employee of Electrolux of Anderson.
Survivors include her husband of Abbeville; her father of Abbeville; a son, Tre’ Galloway of the home; two sisters, Bernice Hill of Abbeville and Pamela Belcher of Greenwood; and a brother, Andre Bridges of Baltimore.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Brown and Walker Funeral Home.

Mary Pardue

GREENWOOD — Mary Martha Biemann Pardue, 88, of 209 Blyth Road, widow of the late John David Pardue, died Saturday, October 22, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Oconee, she was the daughter of the late Fredrick and Mary Brandt Biemann. She was retired from Greenwood Mills, Mathews Plant and was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church.
Surviving is a daughter, Cathy Drummond of Greenwood; a son, William David Pardue of Greenwood, six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
Services will be 3 pm today at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. John Setzler and Rev. Craig Hughes officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Biemann Pardue, Ronald Pardue, Johnny Pardue, Glenn Drummond, Jeff Pardue and Mike Leckliter.
The family is at the home of Mike Leckliter, 1619 Ninety Six Highway.
Memorials may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church, 504 E. Creswell Avenue, Green-wood, SC 29646.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Mary Frances Robinson

Mary Frances Robinson, 75, of 669 Grier St., widow of Charles Newton Robinson, died Monday, Oct. 24, 2005 at Hospice House.
Born in Laurens, she was a daughter of the late Thomas Richard and Clara Mae Lawson Lynch. She retired from Greenwood Mills, Mathews Plant after 30 years of service, where she was a member of the Quarter Century Club. She was a member of Callie Self Memorial Baptist Church, the Aileen Barnes Sunday School Class of the church and the Order of the Eastern Star.
Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Mark (Andreniah) Beach of the home and a grandson of the home, Zachary D. Beach.
Services are 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Callie Self Memorial Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Sandy Scott. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are Mark Beach, Richard Lynch, Jimmy O’Bryant, David Stockman, Jim Strickland, Allen Davis and Beauford Robinson.
Honorary escorts are church deacons.
Visitation is 7-9 tonight at Harley Funeral Home.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to Hospice House, HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Benson Jerry Thomas

Benson Jerry Thomas, 50, of 120 Donegal Drive, husband of Cathy M. Ervin Thomas, died Monday, Oct. 24, 2005 at Providence Hospital in Columbia.
Born in Greenwood County, he was a son of Alice Mae Lites Thomas and the late Benson “Bobby” Thomas. He was a machine operator with Cooper Power Co. He was a member of Mount Olive Baptist Church, the Faith Singers Gospel Chorus and Bible Class of the church and the Black Cats Motorcycle Club.
Survivors include his wife of the home; his mother of Ninety Six; three sons, Lavard Germaell Thomas, Jarret Ramone Thomas and Jerry Devone Thomas, all of the home; a brother, Joseph McClinton Thomas of Ninety Six; two sisters, Mrs. Terry (Elfredia) Lark and Mrs. Earl (Barbara) Welch, both of Ninety Six; and a grandchild.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com