Responding to emergencies

Public safety director, new for Greenwood County,
consolidates four roles into one post

October 30, 2005

By VIC MacDONALD
Index-Journal regional editor

Four Greenwood County administrative positions are being consolidated into one director’s post within the Sheriff’s Office.
It is part of a trend nationwide in county administration to have one person responsible for a jurisdiction’s response to natural and man-made disasters. With the consolidated position, counties can apply for grant funding through the Department of Homeland Security.
County Manager Jim Kier said Greenwood County is interviewing for the position, public safety director, which will be answerable to Sheriff Dan Wideman. The position will consolidate the duties of the directors of 911, emergency preparedness, fire service and emergency medical service.
One of the positions is vacant, with the resignation of Bob Smith as emergency preparedness director. Kier said the resignation was “mutually agreed on,” but he declined to discuss the personnel matter in detail.
Herb Vaughn, county fire services director, is filling in the emergency preparedness position, but will not be the public safety director, Kier said. Vaughn has said he is retiring from the fire services position this year. He was the county’s emergency preparedness director for 20 years.
Smith did not comment on the changes or his departure from the post. He is on the county payroll until the end of November.
Having a public safety director will give Greenwood County “a single element of command in an emergency,” Kier said. “If you continue to get Homeland Security funds, you have to have it.”
Kier said he met with each director whose position would be affected by the move to the public safety director position and explained what the county would be doing.
The public safety director position will be filled “in the next few months,” Kier said, and the fire and emergency medical services will come under the position by the first of the year. Kier said he would meet with the entire EMS staff to discuss the transition. Responsibility for 911 telecommunications already is under the Sheriff’s Office.
Wideman said the new position will enable the county to better coordinate its response to emergencies. “The government is requesting that we do some things under the instant command in case of a disaster,” he said. Having a public safety director will prepare the county to submit applications for the 2006 round of federal fire and law enforcement grants, Wideman said.
The director will have the rank of major in the Sheriff’s Office and will attend all command staff meetings.
Wideman said the county is looking for someone with fire experience because the Sheriff’s Office will serve as an assistance agency for the county’s volunteer fire departments. “We’ve had a good range of applicants,” he said.
In assuming directorship of the fire service, the public safety director’s position will oversee a $1 million-a-year investment by Greenwood County, Kier said. “Our purpose is to assist them to lower insurance rates,” he said.
The county is not necessarily looking for a sworn law officer to fill the job. Kier said someone with that experience will be considered but applicants with fire and EMS experience also will be in the running.
Lexington County pioneered this type of arrangement to bring the emergency response departments under one directorship. The county won the 2004 J. Mitchell Graham Memorial Award for innovation from the South Carolina Association of Counties for “responding in a comprehensive, innovative and cost-effective way to the demands of a post 9/11 world,” according to an article in the association’s magazine.
The county named Sheriff James Metts as its chief of Homeland Security and tapped the assistant sheriff as director of public safety. That new position evolved into deputy county administrator/law enforcement, public safety.
The county consolidated its public safety and communications resources, provided specialized training and designed a unified command structure to work with Homeland Security, the magazine article said.
It is a model for innovation that Kier said Greenwood County can follow.
“With this new department we will see new faces, new ideas,” Kier said, “and renewed enthusiasm.”

Bearcats focused on PBC Tournament

October 30, 2005

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

Now, the Lander University men’s soccer team can focus at the task at hand: the Peach Belt Conference tournament. The Bearcats (10-3-3) closed out the regular season with a 4-0 win over Presbyterian College Saturday night in Clinton. But as the team opens the first round of the conference tournament at home Wednesday, Lander is looking to use the PBC tourney as a springboard to its ultimate goal of reaching the college soccer’s big dance.
“We know what we have to do to get to the national tournament and basically, that’s for us to win out,” senior goalkeeper Ryan Peck said. “Everybody’s real focused and positive about it. This is my fourth year and every year; we’ve been at the same spot where we had to win out to get there.
“I think everybody realizes we have the talent, but we just have to put it all together to get to the next level.” The Bearcats haven’t reached the NCAA Division II National Tournament since the 2001 team finished the season ranked sixth in the country.
One sure way Lander can qualify for the national tournament is win its next three games and finish as PBC tourney champions.
“We have to win the whole thing,” senior midfielder Carlos Lozano said. “But to do that we have to beat two of the other top teams, Clayton, (UNC) Pembroke and (USC Upstate) Spartanburg. Most definitely, we can do it. Everybody is very excited about the tournament, and we all know we have to win it all to make it to the national tournament. We feel like it’s all or nothing.”
The Bearcats can qualify as an at-large team if they fail to win the tourney, but the players don’t want to leave it in the hands of the selection committee.
“The way we’re looking at it is that we want to put in our own hands,” said Peck, who splits time in goal with fellow senior Garrett Daum.
“There are things that could happen where we make it if we get to the finals … maybe. But we want to know that we made it.”
Bearcats coach Van Taylor likes his players’ mindset about the importance of a good showing this week.
“That means they are focused and that they understand what’s ahead of them,” Taylor said.
At press time, Lander wasn’t sure which team it would play in the first round. But the one thing the Bearcats knew was that they would be home.
“The first-round opponent doesn’t really matter,” Taylor said before the game with Presbyterian. “The fact that we are at home for the first game is very important.”
The Bearcats head into postseason play with a two-game winning streak, including Saturday’s non-conference win over Presbyterian. Despite the fact that Saturday’s game had little impact on this week’s conference tournament, it was a win the players felt they needed to have.
“A loss wouldn’t look good, but me personally, there are like six guys on the team that I grew up with,” said Peck, was in goal for the Bearcats against the Blue Hose and made two key saves in a span of two minutes, including one on a penalty kick. “So, I definitely would like to stick it with them.
“For the team, we want to keep the ball rolling.”
It was Peck’s seventh game in goal this season and his third shutout. The senior from Atlanta has allowed only eight goals on the year and now has 26 saves.
Daum has been the primary keeper, seeing time in nine games where he has made 39 saves and given up 11 goals.
Lozano chipped in his fourth goal of the season late in the second half against the Blue Hose, giving the Bearcats a 3-0 lead.
Nick Cooke put the finishing touches on the Bearcats’ 10th victory with his second goal of the match coming with 8 minutes remaining.
Lander’s Drew Courtney scored the first goal of the game, 21 minutes into the contest for the eventual game-winner. Jack Thompson added a pair of assists.
Presbyterian did keep PBC’s leading goal-scorer Luke Ibbetson from finding the net. The junior forward has a conference-leading 19 goals on the season. Ibbetson, who has 58 career goals at Lander, leads the PBC in points (42), shots (66) and game-winners (5).
“It’s tough because teams concentrate on Luke, but somehow, he still finds a way to get open for us,” Lozano said. “He’s such an unbelievable player. He just scores so many goals. It takes the pressure off our defense and the midfield.”
The Bearcats, at times, have been an offensive machine, outscoring opponents 39-17 in 16 games. However as the team enters the next phase of season, Taylor knows the high scoring games most likely are a thing of the past, leaving the critical part of the game in the middle portion of the field.
“It’s clearly going to come down to possession,” Taylor said. “We know we can create and score goals, but now that we have advanced to the next level, we’ll be seeing one-goal games. So, keeping possession of the ball and not giving it away in the wrong areas will be key. It has to be done collectively. Each player has to do their thing.”

Opinion

Real patriot reminds us of values to remember

October 30, 2005

Sometimes we all take things for granted, especially the privilege and good fortune of being Americans ….. or living here. Sometimes our consciences need a little nudge to encourage us to look, really look, at what we have.
Some thoughts of Dr. John Kirkland, a Greenwood dentist who died recently at age 83, are worth sharing. They are keepers. They follow.
“Before I entered the service, I read lots of books about the USA and foreign countries. After I entered service in January 1943, I met many young men and realized that America was really a melting pot for people of all countries in the world.
“I had friends whose parents had come to America from several foreign countries and they were just as much American as I was. My forefathers had come from Scotland and I am considered Scots-Irish.

“SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS were from Jewish countries and my best friend was a descendant of Hungarian Polish. Some were from German descent and others from all parts of the world. It did not matter to anyone where one’s family had originated.
“We were all free Americans willing to fight for our country. We all flew the B-29 and many gave their life so that America would remain free. We are a nation of individuals of many countries and will continue to fight and die for the freedom of future generations.
“America has always been the greatest country in the world and my travels in WW II only reinforced my feelings. People here are allowed to protest anything they have on their minds and much to my dismay, even the current war with Iraq. This can be done without fear of any punishment.

“WE COME TO THE AID of any country that needs us if the reason is necessary to protect them, fight for them, feed them or give monetary aid. Even though thousands of our service men and women have died on foreign soil, some of those countries will not help us when we need them. We continue to share our resources when they are needed.
“God blessed America during WW II and we will continue to be blessed under God!”
That sentiment once was almost universal among all Americans. There are times, these days, when many that “remember when” must wonder: Where did the patriotic – and good – times go? For them, it’s a strange new world, one that is often confusing and devoid of good, old-fashioned common sense.
People like Dr. John Kirkland remind us of the way we were when the world was much simpler and values were not constantly eroded by the times.

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

Obituaries

Dannella ‘Dee’ ‘Sis’ Aiken

DONALDS — Dannella Aiken, 43, of 523 Olin Smith Road, formerly of Mauldin, S.C., died Saturday, Oct. 29, 2005 at the home of her sister.
Born in Abbeville County, she was a daughter of the late James and Gladys Davis Aiken. She was a graduate of Dixie High School, North Greenville College and Lander University. She was a member of Mount Zion A.M.E. Church in Hodges, attended Redemption World Outreach Center in Greenville and was active in the Greenville American Cancer Society support group. She began her career in law enforcement and retired from Mental Health Services.
Survivors include three sisters, Gloria Aiken and Allison Aiken, both of Donalds, Wanda Thomas of Due West; five brothers, Billy Davis and Carol Aiken, both of Donalds, Perry Aiken and Keith Aiken, both of Due West and James Aiken Jr. of Hickory, N.C.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Brown and Walker Funeral Home, Abbeville.

Mae ‘Mae-Mae’ Copeland Alexander

MOUNTVILLE, S.C. — Mae “Mae-Mae” Copeland Alexander, age 75, of 9182 Hwy. 72 W. died Saturday, October 29th in the Laurens County Hospital.
She was born in Laurens County and was a daughter of the late James M. Copeland, Sr. and Willie Mae Ferguson Copeland.
Mrs. Alexander and her husband were the owners and operators of Alexander’s U-Pick Strawberries and members of Mountville Baptist Church. She grew up in Renno, S.C., but moved to Mountville when she and Edwin married on October 19, 1949. She worked at Watts Mill for a short time, but devoted most her life to raising her family and managing the business of the farm. Mae-Mae took great pride in her family and her happiest moments were when she could help her children and grandchildren.
Surviving are her husband of 56 years, Edwin Alexander of the home; and her four children, Jimmy and Debbie Alexander of Cross Hill, Janet Ploghoft of Chapel Hill, NC, Tricia and Jerry Green of Clinton, Mike and Georgia Alexander of Mountville; sisters, Sara Frances Longshore and Lena Cox; brothers, James M. “Buddy” Copeland, Jr. and Richard Copeland; grandchildren, Justin Alexander, Katie Ploghoft, Molly Ploghoft, Anna Ploghoft, Jordan Green, Mary-Grace Green, Dawson Green, Cole Alexander and Abbie Alexander.
She was predeceased by a grandson, Jared Green, April 2005.
Graveside services will be conducted Sunday, October 30th at 3:00 p.m. in the Mountville Cemetery immediately followed by a memorial service at Mountville Baptist Church.
The family will receive friends immediately following the memorial service in the church fellowship hall (School Building).
Memorials may be made to the Mountville Baptist Church Building and Grounds Fund, Mountville, SC 29370.
Condolences may be expressed at www.grayfuneralhome.com.
Gray Funeral Home of Clinton
PAID OBITUARY

Ed Garvey

Edmond “Ed” Raphael Garvey, 87, of 1110 Marshall Road, Palmetto Place, Apt. 6106, husband of Ruth Stockbridge Garvey, died Thursday, Oct. 27, 2005 at Wesley Commons.
Born in Fairfax County, Va., he was a son of the late Charles Joseph and Camille Nolard Garvey. He attended George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and retired from Sanders-Lockheed Corp. in 1980. He was a retired Army Captain, having served in WWII and Korea and a member of the Retired Officers Assoc. He was a member of Main Street United Methodist Church where he participated in the Mason Sunday School Class, Men’s Club and the church choir.
Survivors include his wife of the home; two daughters, Suzanne Camille Gauron of Seabrook, N.H. and Jo-Ann Ruth Conti of Ellicott City, Md.; and six grandchildren.
Memorial services are 11 a.m. Monday at Asbury Hall, Wesley Commons, conducted by the Rev. Carol Peppers Ray. The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to Wesley Commons, 1110 Marshall Road, Greenwood, S.C. 29646.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Cornelia Norman Johnson

Cornelia Norman Johnson, 88, of 622 Lorenzo Road, widow of Homer Johnson, died Saturday, Oct. 29, 2005 at NHC Healthcare of Greenwood.
Born in Lincolnton, Ga., she was a daughter of the late Jack Norman and Ellen Gunter Norman. She was a member of the Cross Road Baptist Church, the Missionary Society and Women’s Aide Society No. 69.
Survivors include a son, Thomas Lee Burt, Greer, S.C.; a brother, Jack Norman, Greenwood; a nephew, Dennis Norman, reared in the home; five grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Services will be announced by Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com

Claude C. Kay Jr.

ABBEVILLE — Claude C. Kay Jr., 87, formerly of 425 Campfield Church Road, died Saturday, Oct. 29, 2005 at the Abbeville Nursing Home.
Services will be announced by Harris Funeral Home.

Don Kemper

June 28, 1934 – Oct. 29, 2005
MCCORMICK, SC — Donald James Kemper, age 71, husband of Susan “Sue” Wannemacher Kemper, of 111 Rivanna Lane, McCormick, SC passed away on Saturday, October 29, 2005 at AnMed Health Medical Center in Anderson, SC.
Born in Minster, OH on June 28, 1934, Mr. Kemper was a son of the late Lawrence Kemper and the late Ruth Gaier Kemper. Mr. Kemper retired from General Telephone Company-now know as Verizon after more than 30 years service. He was also an OHSA Football Official for 30 years, a former Real Estate Agent with Realty Plus in Marion, OH, and a former Marion Township Zoning Inspector.
Mr. Kemper is survived by his wife, Sue Kemper of the home; a son, Thomas Kemper and his wife Cindy of Marion, OH a daughter, Karen Kemper-Harris of Marion, OH, one brother, James Kemper and wife Carol of Ft. Loramie, OH; sister-in-law, Jeanne Kemper of Minster, OH; four grandchildren, Brandon and Jacqueline Kemper and Krystle and Kandace Harris and a great-granddaughter, Korynn Reale all of Marion, OH.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Kemper was preceded in death by one brother, Larry Kemper.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
The family is at the residence.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to The Leukemia Society of America, 1247 Lake Murray Road, Irmo, SC 29063.
A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.mcdougaldfuneralhome.com
THE MCDOUGALD FUNERAL HOME, Anderson, SC is in charge of arrangements.
PAID OBITUARY

Pete Mentis

Feb. 2, 1932 – Oct. 29, 2005
ANDERSON, SC — Peter George Mentis, age 73, husband of Bessie Rozakos Mentis, of 403 Ponce de Leon Drive, Anderson, SC passed away Saturday, October 29, 2005 after a lengthy illness.
Born on February 2, 1932 in Arahova, Greece, Mr. Mentis was a son of the late George Mentis and the late Demitra Mentis. He was a retired restaurateur having owned and operated Pete’s #5, Murph’s Grill, Capri’s, and Big John’s Luncheonette. Mr. Mentis served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War as an interpreter and was a member of St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Greenville, SC.
Mr. Mentis is survived by his wife Bessie Mentis of the home; two sons, George Mentis of Anderson, SC and James Mentis and his wife Tamara of Greenwood, SC; a sister, Mary Mentis of TN; and five grandchildren, Marina and Mia Mentis of Anderson, SC and Peter James, Lauren and Pelagia Mentis of Greenwood, SC.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Mentis was preceded in death by a brother, Tommy Mentis.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 31, 2005 at 11:00 am at Grace Episcopal Church in Anderson SC officiated by Father Tom Pistolis. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, October 30, 2005 from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm at The McDougald Funeral Home, Anderson, SC. A Trisagian Memorial Service will be held at 7:00 pm.
The family is at the residence.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials may be made to St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral Building Fund, 406 North Academy Street, Greenville, SC 29601.
A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.mcdougladfuneralhome.com
THE MCDOUGALD FUNERAL HOME, Anderson, SC is in charge of arrangements.
PAID OBITUARY

Katharine H. Mims

EDGEFIELD, SC — Miss Katharine Hill Mims, 92, died Friday, 10-28-05 at Trinity Mission Health and Rehab. Graveside Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Monday 10-31-05 at Willowbrook Cemetery.
Miss Mims was born in Edgefield on December 5, 1912. She was the daughter of the late Benjamin Lovick and Sarah Sheppard Mims. She was a graduate of Edgefield High and Winthrop College with a BS in music in 1934. Miss Mims was a WW II veteran having served in the U.S. Navy WAVES. From 1953-1981 she served as a church worker in various positions. She was the Director of Christian Education at Westminster Presbyterian, St. Louis, MO, First Presbyterian Church, Greenwood, SC and First Scots Presbyterian Church, Charleston, SC. She also was a missionary with PCUS in the Republic of Zaire, Africa.
Survivors include her sister-in-law Mrs. B.L. Mims Jr., Edgefield. Nieces Sarah S. Mims, Asheville, NC, Mrs. Kem M. Schroeder, Winston-Salem, NC and Mrs. Jane P. Voyles, Clarksville, GA. Nephews James T. Pressly, Rock Hill, SC, John L. Pressly, Columbia, SC and B. Lovick Mims III, Edgefield, SC.
Memorials may be made to The Edgefield County Hospital, P.O. Box 590, Edgefield, SC 29824 or The First Presbyterian Church of Greenwood, SC.
Friends may call Edgefield Mercantile Funeral Home and the family will receive friends at the home of Mrs. B.L. Mims Jr., 311 Gray Street, Edgefield immediately following the services.
PAID OBITUARY

Emma L. Smith

Emma L. Smith, 56, of 419 Bintage Road, died Thursday, Oct. 27, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood County, she was a daughter of Yancey Smith and Mamie Lou Ross Hill. She was a 1967 graduate of Brewer High School and retired from Greenwood School District No. 50. She was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include her mother of Greenwood; her father of Cincinnati, Ohio; three sons, Heath Smith of Tampa, Fla., A01 Jocque Smith of Oak Harbor, Wash. and Myreon Smith of Greenwood; two sisters, Mary E. Smith of New Orleans, La. and Mamie Johnson of Greenwood; a brother, James E. “Smitty” Smith of Greenwood; two grandchildren.
Services are noon Monday at Parks Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Ray A. Pilgrim, assisted by Evangelist Teresa Henderson. Burial is in the Second Damascus Baptist Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Leroy Crawford, nephews and friends of the family.
Flower bearers are nieces and friends of the family.
Honorary escort is the Brewer High School Class of 1967.
Viewing will be private.
The family is at the home of her mother, 534 Hackett Ave.
Parks Funeral Home is in charge.

Kenneth Turner

Kenneth Jackson Turner, 61, of 815 A Phoenix St., died Friday, Oct. 28, 2005 at his home.
Services will be announce by Harley Funeral Home.