Emerald ‘idols’ draw cheers at fundraiser

October 7, 2005

By VIC MacDONALD
Index-Journal regional editor

No Paula Abdul. No Randy “Dawg” Jackson. And, thank goodness, no Simon Cowell.
Emerald High School’s “Emerald Idol” talent show to raise money for the United Way had just a bunch of good performances — and an appreciative audience at the close of the Thursday school day.
Emcee Shun Griffin, the student body president, revved up the crowd with his introductions, and the students applauded and yelled — and sometimes danced — for every performer.
The talent show took the place this year of the usual bake sale as a fundraiser for the Greenwood chapter of the United Way, Griffin said. “We have exceeded our goal,” he said of the more than $1,000 raised by the event.
Students paying $2 admission saw the show live in the gym, while students paying $1 watched by closed-circuit TV in their classrooms. The telecast was manned and supervised by students.
“We started planning in the summer,” Griffin said, “and it all came together.”
Local United Way Director Tim Ervolina said the Emerald event is part of the “phenomenal” support provided by the schools.
The Emerald High Show Choir kicked off the talent cavalcade with a spirited rendition of “Sister Act II’s” “Joyful, Joyful.” The Show Choir Girls followed with a Motown medley.
Singers Kayla Kwist, Brittne’ Patterson, Tiffany Jackson, Nicole Ellison and Kayla Anderson performed solos. Other performers were “singers” Paul Benefield and Ryan Oggenfuss, the Emerald High Step Team, guitarist Katherine Doud, singers BJRK — Brooke Hepler, Kristi Plyler, Richele Lee and Jessica Prince, dancers NAZA — Noe Duarte, Otilia Martinez and Rosaura Duarte, singers Jaleesa Bone and Jaleesa Holloway, and rapper Corey Fuller.
Three winners voted on by a four-judge panel will be announced Tuesday. Students will cast votes for 25 cents each for their selection as “Emerald Idol.”
CMSgt. Terrance Christie Sr., an event organizer, said the fundraiser was designed as a way to help students learn the importance of giving back to their community.
“The students did a lot,” in performing, organizing and running the broadcast, Christie said. “It’s important for them to be involved.”

The last dip in the pool

A dozen swimmers from city to compete in state finals on Saturday

October 7, 2005

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

The Emerald 11 and the Greenwood 1 give the Lakelands a dozen high schoolers competing in Saturday’s state swim meet at the University of South Carolina Natatorium in Columbia.
Emerald’s Spencer and Douglas Brandon, Chelsea Kilburn and Kelly McDonald will compete in individual events at the Class AAA meet, which is set to start at 10:30 a.m.
Greenwood’s Henry Spruill will take part in the AAAA meet at 4:30 Saturday afternoon.
“It is a real good honor to reach the state meet,” said Mark Bartz, the Emerald coach. “We are getting to a point where we’re more of a team. Each one is contributing in their own way.
“These 11 earned it this year.”
Douglas Brandon and McDonald are making return trips to the state meet. The two will also participate in relays as well.
Brandon will be a key fixture in the Vikings’ 200 and 400 freestyle relays along with his older brother Spencer, Marco Rodriquez, Tyler Will and Brian McDonald.
Kelly McDonald will help guide the Lady Vikings’ 200 and 400 freestyle relays. Kilburn, Catherine Snelling, Nicole and Lindsey Upton and Lindsey Will join McDonald on the two relays.
Brandon, a freshman and third-year swimmer for Emerald, qualified in the 100-yard freestyle and 100 breaststroke, finishing in seventh-place in both events at the Upper State meet last Saturday in Greenville.
“Douglas has had an outstanding year,” Bartz said.
“He’s really seeded well to do well at the state. His in a good position in both events, and we’re not putting any pressure on him because he’s just a freshman. But he will have a good state meet.”
Spencer Brandon, the lone senior who splits his time as the starting center for the Emerald football team, qualified in the 50 freestyle in his first year of swimming for the Vikings.
Kelly McDonald qualified in the 200 freestyle, after posting a 2-minute, 18.26-second time in the event at Upper State.
“I think our whole team has really stepped up this year,” McDonald said. “We have all had to work really hard to get here.”
Kilburn, who went to the SCISA state meet last season as a member of the Cambridge swim team, was excited to make it in two events in Saturday’s meet.
“It was really an honor to make it this time,” Kilburn said. “Last year, we didn’t have to qualify to go to state. So, this means something.”
Spruill, a sophomore, just missed qualifying for the state meet as a freshman, will compete in the 100-yard breaststroke, after posting a 1:12.12 in the AAAA Upper State meet.
“I was crushed that I didn’t make it last year,” Spruill said. “It was like 0.1 seconds and like one place from making it last year.
“So, I definitely wanted to do it this year.”
While the Emerald 11 and the Greenwood 1 are shooting for state titles, the Lakelands dozen’s main goal is simply to swim their fastest.
“Our goal every year is to have everybody hit personal bests at the state meet,” Bartz said. “We try to tell them that if they do that we’ve had a great meet. We were within one swimmer of doing that last year.”
McDonald agrees.
“It really doesn’t matter to me where I finish. I just want to improve on my times and get better,” she said.

Opinion

Skepticism and mistrust not hard to understand

October 7, 2005

There are some Americans, including some held hostage by Iranian radicals when they took over this nation’s embassy complex a couple of decades ago, who have no doubt that Iran’s new president was one of those hostage-takers.
Whether he was or not, new President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a radical who hates this nation and its people. His talk and actions make that clear. He particularly has been obstinate over Iran’s nuclear program, refusing to accept U. S., European or United Nations efforts to curtail the program. Ahmadinejad has demonstrated a high degree of arrogance anytime anyone talks of his nuclear program. He maintains it is not to develop nuclear weapons but is for producing electricity for his people.

THAT, HOWEVER, PLAYS to skepticism and mistrust in many countries. He hasn’t made it any easier to believe his denials on weaponry with his latest promise (or is it a threat?).
After speaking at the U. N. in New York City, where he aimed belligerent denunciations at the U. S., Ahmadinejad said he is willing to provide nuclear technology to other Muslim nations.
That stance has religious, political and threatening implications all rolled into one. It also is a direct affront to the U. S. and the U. N. He defiantly thumbs his nose at everybody that is not Muslim, and clearly indicates he would help Muslim nations with nuclear technology that could indeed be used to make bombs.
Is there any doubt why there is concern about Iran and why the world should be leery of this radical?

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

Obituaries

Burns Anderson

GREENWOOD — Burns Browning Anderson, 95, widow of Thomas Carson Anderson, Jr., died October 5, 2005.
Born in Laurens County, she was a daughter of the late George Alfred and Lillian Burns Browning. She attended Con-verse College and was a graduate of the University of Southern California. Mrs. Anderson formerly taught at Northside Junior High School and retired from Gleams Head Start of Greenwood.
A member of Main Street United Methodist Church, she was also a member of Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, past president of the Converse College Alumni Association, former board member for the Whitten Center, charter member of the Greenwood Community Theater and served on the Centennial Celebration Committee for Greenwood.
Mrs. Anderson was prede-ceased by her first husband, Thomas Theodore Taylor; two step-sons, Thomas Carson Anderson, III and Joab Mauldin Anderson and a sister, Dodie Browning Piper.
Surviving are a son Thomas Theodore Taylor, Jr. of Clinton and a daughter, B.B. Weavil of Meggett, SC; three step-daughters, Jo Ann Bomar of Tucson, AZ, Ada Anderson Snow of West Port, MA and Nancy Anderson May of Greenwood; a step-son, Geddes Dowling Anderson of Greenwood and a brother, Col. George Alfred Browning of Montgomery, AL. Seventeen grand-children and fourteen great-grandchildren.
Memorial service will be held 11:00 AM Saturday from the Asbury Hall of Wesley Com-mons with Rev. Carol Peppers-Wray officiating.
Family burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens prior to the memorial service.
The body is at Blyth Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 Friday evening.
Memorials may be made to Wesley Commons, 1110 Mar-shall Road, Greenwood, SC 29646 or to Whitten Center, PO Box 239, Clinton, SC 29325.
For additional information and online condolences visit www.blythfuneralhome.com
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Anderson Family.
PAID OBITUARY

Jimmie Lee Carroll

McCORMICK — Jimmie Lee Carroll, 68, died Saturday, Oct. 1, 2005 in Columbia.
Born in Greenwood County, he was a son of the late James and Lillie Mae Sanders Carroll. He was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Lou Carroll of Johnston; seven sons, Jimmy “Bo” Carroll, Roger Carroll, Thomas Carroll, James Mathis, Darnell Carroll, Marvin Carroll and Willie Carroll, all of Johnston; two daughters, Susan Carroll of Johnston and Essie Mathis of Charlotte, N.C.; a brother, Robert Brown of Washington, D.C.; three sisters, Mary Smith of Fort Washington, Md., Linda Clark of Washington, D.C., and Geraldine Brown of Hillcrest Heights, Md.; 31 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Memorial services are 11 a.m. Saturday at Mine Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Saluda, conducted by Pastor George Key.
Butler & Sons Funeral Home, Saluda, is in charge.

Frances Cole

Frances Elizabeth Lisle Styron Cole, 85, of 201-A Brooks Stuart Drive, widow of Troy Cole and James Luther Styron, died Thursday, Oct. 6, 2005 at the Hospice House.
Visitation is 3-4 Sunday at Harley Funeral Home.
Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home

Darquella Elmore

ABBEVILLE — Darquella Elmore, infant daughter of Kendra Elmore and Eric Gray, died Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
The family is at the home, 1201 Secession Ave., Lot 24.
Services will be announced by Abbeville & White Mortuary.

Sarah Reed Kelly

McCORMICK — Sarah Reed Kelly, 82, widow of Elisha Kelly, died Thursday, Oct. 6, 2005 at McCormick County Health Care.
Born in McCormick County, she was a daughter of the late Frank and Mary Ann Settles Reed Sr. She was a member of Tranquil AME Church, Troy, where she served as Usher Board president, a Missionary Society and Stewardess Board member and a Sunday School teacher. She was a member and former president of Women’s Home Aide Society No. 94.
Survivors include two sisters, Lillie Talbert of North Augusta, and Margaret Wright of Troy; and nieces and nephews who were caregivers.
The family is at the home of a niece, Gladys Leverette, 205 Jackson Drive, Promised Land.
Services will be announced by Walker Funeral Home.

Melvin Middleton Jr.

McCORMICK — Graveside services for Melvin Clyde Middleton Jr. are 2 p.m. Saturday at Overbrook Cemetery, conducted by the Revs. Thelma Kelly and Robert Haskell.
Pallbearers are David Quarles, James Quarles, Vernon Quarles, James Cunningham, Dwayne Middleton and Peter Brown.
Flower bearers are Cindy Quarles, Mamie Quarles, Valerie Middleton, Trez Moss, Qucagicla Quarles, Misty Saxon and Jewel Dunlap.
The family is at the home of his mother and stepfather, Larry and Catherine Middleton Almond, Quarles/Wright Road.
Walker Funeral Home is in charge.

John G. Ward

GREENWOOD — John G. Ward, 72, of 451-D Grace Street, husband of Marion Christine Holt Ward, died Thursday, October 6, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
He was born in West Virginia and was a graduate of NC State University. He was a contractor and a member of Searcy Memorial Methodist Church in Griffin, GA.
Surviving is his wife of the home; a daughter, Teresa Vaughan-Harvey of Greenwood; five grandchildren and several sisters and brothers.
He was preceded in death by a son, William F. Vaughan.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Ron Taylor officiating.
It is requested that flowers be omitted and memorials made to the Alzheimer’s Association, PO Box 658, Greenwood, SC 29648.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY