Explosive device found at Greenwood school

Teen arrested; two more bombs seized from his home

September 29, 2005

By VIC MacDONALD
Index-Journal regional editor

A pipe bomb found Wednesday in a pickup truck parked at the Greenwood career center led to the arrest of a 16-year-old student and the discovery of two other bombs at his home.
The SLED bomb squad detonated the three bombs in a parking lot at the G. Frank Russell Career and Technology Center.
“Although the device was relatively small and in a side parking lot, we don’t take chances in regard to the safety of school kids,” said Greenwood County Sheriff Dan Wideman, who oversaw the investigation at the scene. “We always plan for the worst-case scenario.”
A statement from the sheriff’s office said the boy confessed to having the bomb in his truck at the school and to having two more bombs at his Greenwood County home.
The name and address of the boy are not being released because of his age, sheriff’s office Chief Deputy Mike Frederick said.
“It was a potentially very dangerous situation that was handled quickly and without incident,” Greenwood School District 50 Superintendent Bill Steed said.
Steed said there was no evacuation, although some students were prevented from immediately getting to their vehicles.
Once the bomb was detected by a Spartanburg security company’s drug dog, the sheriff’s office was called in and took charge, Steed said.
“We want their expertise,” Steed said.
The sheriff’s office set up a safety perimeter around the truck and the bomb about 1 p.m.
Once the student told investigators about the other bombs, two SLED bomb squad agents and officers went to the boy’s home about 3 p.m. and found two bombs inside.
Then they moved to the career center and took the third bomb from the boy’s truck. The explosive devices were placed in a protective box and detonated.
Frederick said since the school was dismissing about 3 p.m., students were allowed to leave the premises without an evacuation. However, upon detection of gunpowder by the drug dog, teachers and students were not allowed in the side parking lot.
“We cancelled all after-school activities that would have gone on at the school,” Frederick said.
The boy is charged with possession of an incendiary device. He was taken to a S.C. Department of Juvenile Justice jail in Columbia and must have a detention hearing before a Family Court judge within 48 hours, the sheriff’s office statement said.
“School safety is, of course, always a priority, but days like these test our abilities,” Wideman said. “Our deputies and school officials worked together and we were able to safely and quickly resolve the incident.”
R.A.I.D. Corps Inc. was conducting a sweep of the career center when the bomb was detected. Its canines are trained to detect narcotics and weapons, a company flier said. The firm, established in 1995, also offers consulting, assessments and education for businesses and school districts.
Its canines can detect odor from marijuana, hashish, cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin and meth, and detect the presence of smokeless gunpowder odor, the flier said.
Students from Greenwood and Emerald high schools, along with Ware Shoals and Ninety Six schools, attend classes at the career center, named for a former longtime director.
The homemade bomb is known in law enforcement circles as an IED (improvised explosive device).
Steed said his understanding of the device was that it had powder stuffed inside a PVC pipe. It apparently was not designed for widespread destruction, rather for a “loud noise,” he said.
Technicians X-rayed the bombs to determine there was no shrapnel and decided that destroying the bombs on site was preferable to transporting them elsewhere, Frederick said.
The type of bomb would not diminish the seriousness of what the student did, Steed said. “It’s a very serious offense, and the penalty is very severe for that situation,” he said. “It was very poor judgment, and very dangerous.”
Steed and a committee of administrators will hear the disciplinary charge against the student in a hearing to be conducted separately from the boy’s appearance in Family Court.
“I didn’t hear anything (from investigators) that this was to be used to disrupt the school,” Steed said. “It doesn’t really matter what the intent was. It was very dangerous to bring this device on school grounds.”

GHS knows Byrnes can be beat

September 29, 2005

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

Just how good is the Byrnes High School football team?
Well, the Rebels (5-0) were a unanimous No. 1 selection in Class AAAA’s in this week’s AP poll, and are ranked No. 13 in USA Today’s Super 25 national poll.
And the three-time defending AAAA, Division II champions enter Friday night’s game against No. 7 Greenwood (4-1) at J.W. Babb Stadium riding a 15-game winning streak, which started with last year’s 35-14 win over the Eagles in Duncan.
And if that’s not enough, the Rebels have only dropped two of their last 49 games, losing to Gaffney, 12-10, last season and falling to national power Evangel Christian (La.) in 2002.
Despite all of that, Eagles coach Shell Dula isn’t in awe of Byrnes’ impressive credentials.
He realizes the Rebels are a solid football team, but he knows anything can happen on the field.
“Byrnes is an excellent football team, there’s no doubt about that, but they’re still a high school football team. They’re beatable,” said Dula, whose Eagles have lost their last three meetings with the Rebels. “You never know how 16-, 17- or 18-year olds are going to react.
“They are a very, very good high school football team, but they are beatable.”
But it’s easy to understand why the Eagles’ coach would have a tough time explaining just how beatable Byrnes really is, especially after what the team has done in five games.
The Rebels have put up 281 points, including 90 in the second quarter, for an average of 56 a game. They have racked up 2,912 yards of offense, with 2,116 of that coming through the air.
And while most teams turn to one backup quarterback in blowouts, the Rebels have three reserve QBs that have all seen action. That trio has combined for 613 yards passing, 10 touchdowns and only one interception.
But it isn’t necessarily Byrnes’ offense that Dula thinks is the key to the Eagles’ success Friday. He’s more concerned about what the Rebels’ defense has done.
“Everyone is talking about how we’ll do on defense, but I think the key for us is how we play offensively,” Dula said. “If we can play well and get points on the board, then I think we have a very legitimate shot at winning the football game.”
Byrnes has allowed only 37 points in five games, with 27 coming in the fourth quarter. And none of those points have come in the first half.
The defense also has 18 takeaways - eight fumble recoveries and 10 interceptions, with four of those picks coming from University of Georgia recruit Prince Miller.
“You read all about Byrnes’ offense, but I think Byrnes’ success starts with their defense,” Dula said. “Byrnes was very good offensively in coach (Bobby) Bentley’s first few years there, but they weren’t winning a lot of football games. They’ve gotten progressively better defensively.”
The best way to beat a good defense is to play well offensively, Dula said.
“We’re not going to worry about running out the clock. We’re going to do what we do,” he said. “We’re going to do the things that we do offensively, which is a mixture of both run and pass.
“We’re not going to go in thinking ‘run, run, run.’ That’s not our personality. We’re not going in thinking defensively.”
Senior quarterback Armanti Edwards has accounted for 64 percent of the Eagles’ yardage, on 768 passing and 361 rushing. Senior tailback Robert Robinson still leads Lakelands backs with 495 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
But the Greenwood offense is looking to rebound from a tough game last week in Aiken. The Eagles were averaging 35 points and 346 yards of offense, but came away with only 14 points and 180 yards in the loss to the Green Hornets.
Even though Greenwood’s offense picked up just 104 yards rushing and 76 passing last week, it wasn’t for lack success. The Eagles averaged 5.8 yards per play, but only had 31 snaps in 48 minutes.
“We’ve told them from day one that you can’t lavish in the wins and dwell on the losses,” Dula said. “There’s nothing you can do about the past. There’s nothing you can do about the future. All you can take care of is the present.”
Willy Korn, a junior who has already verbally committed to Clemson, is in his second season as the Rebels’ starting quarterback. Through five games this season, Korn is 91-of-130 for 1,529 yards and 20 touchdowns with one interception. And his 216 yards rushing is second on the team behind tailback Derek Young’s 310.
The Byrnes QB has an arsenal of 17 receivers that have caught passes this season, led by 6-foot-1 Jamar Anderson and 6-6 Matt Quinn, who have 31 receptions for 594 yards and eight touchdowns and 30 catches for 430 yards and four scores, respectively.
Despite what happened against Aiken’s wing T last week, Greenwood’s defense, with its speed in the secondary, the linebacking corps and the ends, might be better suited for Byrnes’ style of play.
“We built our defense for this type of offense,” Dula said. “It’s basically what Dorman did, it’s what Byrnes does, it’s what Westside does, it’s what Hanna does. Some games that are very big to us are all offenses with three and four wide outs.
“So, we built it to defend those types of team. Now hopefully, we’ll be able to match up with them and make some things happen.”

Opinion

Sarah Wideman ... service was a hallmark of her life

September 29, 2005

Some people go through life quietly, seldom reaching out to help others. There are those who make a lot of joyful noises, but they, too, don’t give public service much attention. There are others, to be sure, who do good, but who sing their own praises for all to hear.
Then there are people like Mrs. Sarah Wideman who use their lives for the benefit of others, and, like Mrs. Wideman, do it quietly.
For many years Mrs. Wideman lived in the Washington, D. C., area with her late husband Frank and their children. There she made service a hallmark of her life. They moved to Bradley in 1969 and nothing changed but the locale.
Mrs. Wideman, who died this week at age 81, showed the same devotion to the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Greenwood that marked her life in Washington. Here she continued her life of service and became a friend and helping hand to many more.

SHE WAS A CONTRIBUTING member of this community in many ways. Her voluntary work in a couple of organizations, no doubt, exemplify all. She was a founding member of the Saint Nicholas Speech and Hearing Center and managed its thrift shop, the “Wise Penny,” for many years. She also was a volunteer for the Soup Kitchen and the Greenwood Food Bank, two organizations that so many depend on every day.
The magnanimity of her service to her fellow man cannot be overstated. Her life is testimony to that. She showed us all how to be a force for good in the community and indeed the world. Of everything she did, and that was much, this may be the greatest of all.
She was a quiet Samaritan, to be sure. Her life’s work, though, spoke volumes, and that kind “voice” for good echoes on and on.

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

Obituaries

Johnny E. Anderson

Johnny Edward Anderson, 62, of 105-B McKellar Court, died Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.

Mary Barrett

GREENWOOD — Mary Anderson Barrett, 85, resident of 140 Heather Lane, widow of Jasper Barrett, died September 28, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood, August 28, 1920, she was a daughter of the late James Perrin and Leila McFerrin Anderson. She retired from Greenwood Mills, Harris Plant and was a member of the Greenwood Mills Quarter Century Club. She attended Greenwood Baptist Church.
Mrs. Barrett was twice married, first to the late George Hughes.
Surviving are a son, Joe Hughes of Abbeville; two daughters, Theresa Barrett and Brenda Walker, both of Green-wood; eleven grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren.
She is predeceased by two daughters, Betty Seymour and Jane Rearden.
Funeral services will be conducted at 4 pm Friday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. James Boling and Rev. Lloyd Byers officiating.
Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Kenny Seymour, Dennis Seymour, Joey Hughes, Steven Hughes, Randy Rearden and Joey Rearden.
The body is at Blyth Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 Thursday evening.
The family is at the home on Heather Lane.
For additional information please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com
BLYTH FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES IS ASSISTING THE BARRETT FAMILY
PAID OBITUARY

Paul Lyndon Hasting

Paul Lyndon Hasting, 49, of 428 Calhoun Road E., died Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2005 at HospiceCare of the Piedmont Hospice House.
Born in St. Ignace, Mich., he was a son of Virginia Carson Hasting and the late Bailey Odell Hasting.
Survivors include his mother of Greenwood; three brothers, Bailey Hasting and John Hasting, both of Greenwood and David Hasting of Nashville, Tenn., and a sister, Helene Downey of Greenwood.
Graveside services are at noon Friday at Friendship Pentecostal Church Cemetery, conducted by the Rev. Marty Dorn.
Memorials may be made to HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
Cremation Society of South Carolina, Greenville, is in charge.

Marinda Purser

ABBEVILLE, SC — Marinda Jacqueline Purser, 58, resident of 210 Hillcrest drive died Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005 at her home.
Born in Abbeville Co. SC she was a daughter of Vara Campbell Purser and the late Ernest Rigby Purser, Sr.
She was a homemaker and a member of Southside Baptist Church.
Survivors are: mother Vara Campbell Purser of the home, sister Patti Gary and her husband Robbie of Abbeville, SC, brother Ernest R. Purser, Jr. and his wife Kathy, of Calhoun Falls, nieces Valerie Johnson, Danielle Gary and Jean Alewine and nephew Ernest R. Purser, III and his wife Pamela of Kailua, HI.
Funeral services will be conducted Friday Sept. 30. 2005 at 11:00 AM from the Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Earl Hartley officiating. The burial will follow in Long Cane Cemetery.
The body is at The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 AM Friday morning prior to services. The family is at the home, 210 Hillcrest Drive, Abbeville, SC.
Memorials may be made to Southside Baptist Church, Building Fund, 505 West Greenwood, St. Abbeville, SC 29620.
THE CHANDLER-JACKSON FUNERAL, ABBEVILLE, SC IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS.
PAID OBITUARY

Wallace Stephenson

Wallace Durell Stephenson, 62, died Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2005 at Hospice House.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of the late Thomas E. and Azalee Lunsford Stephenson. He was a former employee of Greenwood Mills, Plant No. 5 and a member of Connie Maxwell Baptist Church. Survivors include a sister, Mrs. Henry (Pat) Hall of Greenwood.
A memorial service is 2 p.m. Friday at Blyth Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Doug Kauffman. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Visitation is at the funeral home after the service.
The family is at the home of Pat Hall, 206 Larry Drive.
Memorials may be made to Hospice House, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services are in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Rev. John Tullis

The Rev. John Wickison Tullis Sr., 80, of 146 Shearbrook Drive, husband of Vivian Williams Tullis, died Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2005 at Saluda Nursing Center.
Born in Valrico, Fla., he was a son of the late John Henry and Minnie Florence Aldridge Tullis. He served as pastor and was a member of Enterprise Missionary Baptist Church in Enterprise, Fla. A World War II Navy veteran, he was a member of the American Legion and the D.A.V., where he served as Commander in North Augusta.
Survivors include his wife of the home; five daughters, Inez Dixon of Abbeville, Sheila Hoffer of Zephyrhills, Fla., Sharron Eubanks and Penny Jowers, both of Aiken and Cathy Heitzenrater of Greenwood; a son, John W. Tullis Jr. of McCormick; four sisters, Dorothy Singley of Tampa, Fla., Ann Sledge of Ponca City, Okla., Josephine Stratton of Lakeland, Fla., and Elizabeth Campbell of Brandon, Fla.; three brothers, William Henry “Bill” Tullis of Santa Clara, Calif., Luther Tullis and Russell Tullis, both of Brandon; 15 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
Services are 11 a.m. Saturday at Whitfield Funeral Home, Zephyrhills, Fla. Burial is in Enterprise Cemetery, Dade City.
Pallbearers are Adam Heitzenrater, Larry Shane Kagey, Fritz Heitzenrater, Herbert Eubanks, Greg Pou and Nathan Arhelger.
Visitation is 10-11 Saturday at the funeral home.
The family is at the home of a daughter Sheila Hoffer, 36741 Laurel Oaks Lane, Dade City.
Memorials may be made to Connie Maxwell Children’s Home, PO Box 1178, Greenwood, SC 29648.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Bryon Veach

DUE WEST — Bryon Mitchell Veach, 20, of 4295 Highway 184, died Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2005.
Born in Charleston, he was a son of Thomas Mitchell and Frances Lynn Baggett Veach. He attended Dixie High School, South Carolina Governor’s School of the Arts in Greenville and Kansas City Art Institute in Kansas City, Miss. He was also a professional artist.
Survivors include his parents of the home; a brother, Anthony Paul Rounsaville of New Hampshire; maternal grandparents, Frank and Mabel Baggett of Due West; paternal grandmother, Nora Jane Veach of Louisville, Ky.
Services are 3:30 p.m. Friday at Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home. Burial is in Due West ARP Church Cemetery.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at the funeral home.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to the South Carolina Governor’s School of the Arts, Greenville, SC.
The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home, Abbeville, is in charge.