Educators across state being armed
with knowledge about ‘choking game’

April 1, 2006

By JACKIE R. BROACH
Index-Journal staff writer

It’s called the “choking game,” but don’t be fooled by the fact that they’ve termed it a game. It’s deadly, and it’s becoming a nationwide problem.
Children have someone choke them or they strangle themselves, sometimes using a noose or a belt, until they lose consciousness. The attraction is that the restriction of oxygen to the brain can induce a brief sense of euphoria. It is also reported to enhance erotic feelings and, for some, offers amusement from watching others lose consciousness or behave erratically.
This past week, a 14-year-old Florence boy, Joseph Strawn, died while playing the game, sparking concern in South Carolina schools about the spread of the game.
His death isn’t the first, and others have suffered permanent brain damage while “playing.”
In an effort to inform educators about the choking game and its consequences and to help them spread the word to parents, state Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum armed superintendents, principals, teachers, guidance counselors and school nurses across the state with an arsenal of information about the game and its warning signs. Law enforcement officials estimate that about 50 American children — most between the ages of 9 and 14 — die in a similar manner each year while playing the game, Tenenbaum said.
Nancy Moore, head school nurse for Greenwood School District 50, said she isn’t aware of any incidents in the district, but the matter is being taken seriously. School nurses and guidance counselors have been informed about the game and its epidemic proportions.
“Awareness is the most important thing, I think,” Moore said.
“Parents really need to make themselves aware of this situation, and they need to watch for the tell-tale signs that their child might be playing this game.”
Parents should talk to their children and make sure they understand how dangerous the game is and that it could be fatal, she said.
The choking game is also known as “the pass-out game,” “blackout,” “flatliner” and “space monkey.” Parents are advised to pay attention to the Web sites their child might be viewing and be on the lookout for sites containing key words such as “space cowboy,” “knockout” or “gasp.”
Some of the physical signs parents should look for are marks on the neck, bloodshot or red eyes or reports of severe headaches.
For information about the choking game, visit www.deadlygameschildrenplay.com.

‘I saw him in heaven’

Former Calhoun Falls High cheerleader, wreck survivor tells students to buckle up

April 1, 2006

JOANIE BAKER
Index-Journal staff writer

ABBEVILLE — After a wreck in May 2002, Shannon Ridgeway Evans was in pieces.
Broken ones.
There were two breaks in her neck, one break in her collar bone, three breaks in her back, one break in her arm and wrist, a broken pelvis and a broken femur.
Not to mention all her ribs and two collapsed lungs.
“Mama says that I could have died from almost any of my injuries by themselves, much less the combination of them all,” Evans said.
Doctors told the then-16-year-old’s family that she would be nothing but a vegetable. After the girl’s stopped car was struck by a 75,000 pound tractor-trailer traveling 65 mph, doctors made her out to be a body of donatable organs without the slightest chance of recovery.
“When Shannon talks about heaven, she was there by all accounts,” her mother, Chari Ridgeway, said.
But on Friday, Evans, with all her fully functioning organs, stood on the stage alongside her family, who joined Milliken’s Prom Promise in spreading the word to high school juniors and seniors about the importance of buckling their seat belts and not driving under the influence.
“I told my son ‘whenever you drive, you act like you’re holding a loaded gun pointed at someone’s head because that’s how serious it is,’” Ridgeway said.
After speaking at Calhoun Falls and Dixie high schools on previous days, Evans told students at Abbeville High that her wreck occurred on the last day of school — a day she didn’t even have to attend because her exam scores had exempted her from class.
After kissing her brother and father goodbye, Evans said she slipped into her new car, only to be pulled out of it less than a mile down the road.
The Calhoun Falls High School cheerleader, who remained comatose for 7 1/2 weeks, had prayers coming from residents all over the area who kept signs in their yards and at their places of business, asking all to “pray for Shannon.” Even members of the football team kept her initials on the backs of their helmets until, at last, she was able to come home Dec. 12, 2002, after months of grueling therapy.
“A schoolmate of mine had died in a car wreck just a few weeks after my accident,” Evans said. “No one had discussed this in my presence at the hospital ... I used to ask Mama ‘who died while I’ve been gone?’ and she wouldn’t answer me. One day she answered, ‘OK, Shannon, I’m going to tell you something,’ but before she could tell me, I said, ‘I already know. Colby Hilley died. I know because I saw him in heaven.’”
During Evans’ talk, soft sniffles could be heard throughout the auditorium.
Milliken’s Abbeville Offsite Safety Team member Judy White showed other videos from South Carolina Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. Steve Sluder, who was unable to attend the event in Abbeville but made presentations during the other two events.
The morning of each program, White conducted seat belt audits at all three high schools. At Abbeville High, 77.9 percent of students were wearing seat belts when they got to school. Calhoun Falls students had 86.1 percent and Dixie High School had 97.6 students wearing their belts.
“I hope that the kids were able to see that these are real people and this is reality and what happens,” White said. “We don’t want them to be a statistic. We don’t want their mothers to be one of the mothers in those videos.”

Grand jury indicts brothers
on meth-trafficking charges

April 1, 2006

VIC MacDONALD
Index-Journal regional editor

Two brothers alleged by the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office to be directors of a methamphetamine importation ring connected to Mexico were indicted on a charge each of trafficking the drug.
The indictments were “true billed” Friday by the Greenwood County Grand Jury. The action came after Harold Stanley’s preliminary hearing on the trafficking charge was conducted Wednesday, and Daniel Stanley’s preliminary hearing on a similar charge was conducted Thursday, both in the magistrate’s court.
Before Friday’s indictments of the Stanley brothers, Greenwood County Sheriff Dan Wideman said, “These folks brought a lot of pain and suffering into this county. Now it’s time for them to face the music.”
Eighth Circuit Solicitor Jerry Peace said the indictments move the cases against the Stanley brothers forward in the judicial process. Now, attorneys in his office will negotiate with the Stanleys’ attorneys to determine if there will be a guilty plea or a trial.
The indictments allege that “between the 1st day of September 2004 and the 31st day of October 2005 (the defendants did) willfully, unlawfully and knowingly traffic in Methamphetamine/Ice ....”
The indictments also allege that each Stanley “did sell, manufacture, cultivate, deliver, purchase, or bring into this State, and/or did provide financial assistance or otherwise aid, abet, attempt, or conspire to sell, manufacture, cultivate, deliver, purchase, or bring into this State” more than 400 grams of meth.
Now that the indictments have been handed down, Peace said the earliest the Stanleys and others alleged to have been co-conspirators could go to trial is the first part of May.
“I don’t foresee us doing that,” he said, since a murder re-trial is scheduled during that court term.
The Stanleys were arrested in October on drug charges, and through their statements and others’ statements, the sheriff’s office developed cases against other people for possession or distribution of meth and other drug charges. Officers conducted a mass arrest of other suspects in December, netting 30 people, most from Greenwood County.
Peace said it will take his office “a while” to sort through all the charges against all the defendants.
He said the people charged in connection with the meth ring have varying degrees of complicity. But developing the cases, and determining which defendants could be offered possible sentencing reductions based on their level of cooperation, is “the regular course of business for us,” Peace said.
Lt. Dale Kittles, with the sheriff’s office’s VIDOC (Vice, Illegal Drug & Organized Crime) unit, said during the preliminary hearings that Harold Stanley was the “CEO” of the meth importation ring. But, he said, when Harold Stanley’s meth connection in Anderson County was arrested, Daniel Stanley developed a connection in North Carolina, eventually leading to the establishment of a meth pipeline from Mexico to Greenwood County.
Information from the sheriff’s office’s investigation has been turned over to the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, and Kittles said that has led to ongoing investigations of meth rings in North Carolina and Mexico.

Opinion

Some kind of compromise needed on immigration?

April 1, 2006

There are millions of Hispanic immigrants who came to this country legally. In fact, many of them live and work in South Carolina. Their situations, however, are hurt by the many others who came here illegally. Human tendency, it seems, is to lump all of them together instead of looking at who is legal and who is not, and then proceeding from there.
It has to be a concern for everyone, then, when illegal immigrants take to the streets in protest of Congress’ attempt to approve immigration reforms ..... reforms that are badly needed. Some say Congress is working on giving amnesty to the millions here illegally. If some kind of compromise could be worked out, that just might be acceptable to all concerned. It could go a long way toward getting a grip on the problem.

GRANTING AMNESTY, though, would not correct the situation. That would, no doubt, amount to nothing more than an invitation for others to sneak into the U. S. without legal status, and thereby compound the problem.
You have to wonder who is behind the protests. Somebody, whether on the U. S. side of the border or on Mexico’s, has to be organizing and manipulating the protest movement. There’s no doubt about the protests being designed to stop any immigration reform that might be in the works. Protests involving that many people in so many different places at the same time would indicate the demonstrations just didn’t happen spontaneously.
Apologists for the illegals (or those who benefit from them), make a big to-do over why there are protests. They insist the marching illegals are doing it only because they want to become part of this country.

THAT ARGUMENT JUST doesn’t wash, though, when protesting marchers fly the flag of Mexico and carry anti-American banners .....often with messages that come across as arrogant and full of hate.
As noted before, illegal immigration, especially across the U. S. and Mexican border, cannot be allowed to continue, no matter what reason is given. There is no alternative to controlling our own borders. If we don’t do it soon, the problem will only get worse.
Don’t, however, pretend that anti-American protests by illegal immigrants already here is something that should be a right or negotiable. Pass immigration reform, and do it now. Someone is sure to ask what would happen to American citizens if they broke our laws. They’d likely go to jail. Why, then, shouldn’t illegal immigrants have to go home?

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

Obituaries

Eugene Cole

Eugene Allen Cole, 86, resident of 1006 Pine Forest Drive, husband of Annie Williams Cole, died March 30, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Cross Hill, April 6, 1919, he was a son of the late Richard E. and Bessie Lees Watson Cole. He was a US Army Veteran of WW II having served in the European Theatre under General Patton. Mr. Cole received the Purple Heart and the Oakleaf Cluster. He retired from Greenwood Mills - Mathews Plant after 42 years of service. Mr. Cole was an avid hunter and fisherman, his favorite hobby was using his metal detector and he loved children.
A member of South Main Street Baptist Church, he was also a member of the Greenwood Mills Quarter Century Club. Surviving in addition to his wife of 65 years are a daughter, Patricia “Pat” C. Maffett and husband, Michael of Greenwood; grandsons, Michael K. “Kin” Maffett and Timothy A. and wife Kathy and a great-granddaughter, Miranda L. Maffett, all of Greenwood.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 pm Sunday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Phil McMinn, Rev. Richard McWhite and Rev. Robbie Burton officiating.
Burial will be in Oakbrook Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be Russell Williams, Steve Crocker, Bill Rushton, Joe Hill, John Faris and Milton Rogers.
Honorary escorts will be Julian and Louise Wightman, L.C. Thrailkill, Jack Burton, Evelyn Jordan, Jake Duffie, Kat Gray, Rachel Hill, Wayne Rush, Lib Harmon, Martha Timmerman, Dr. Carlos Manalich, Dr. Allen Turner and Dr. Richard Christian.
The family is at the home and will receive friends at the funeral home from 1:30 to 2:30 Sunday afternoon.
Memorials may be made to South Main Street Baptist Church Building Fund, PO Box 1093, Greenwood, SC 29648.
For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Cole family.
PAID OBITUARY

Brandon James Hendrix

Infant Brandon James Hendrix died Thursday, March 30, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
He was a son of Ashley L. Wilson and William J. Hendrix.
Survivors include his parents of the home; a sister, Elizabeth Hendrix of Lexington; a brother, Mathew Hendrix of Lexington; paternal grandparents Gerald & Shelby Hendrix of Cleveland, Ga.; maternal grandparents Michael and Cindy Wilson of Thomasville, N.C.; maternal great-grandparents James and Jewell Little of High Point, N.C. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Dan Hicks

NINETY SIX — Daniel Morgan “Dan” Hicks, 78, resident of 202 Kate Fowler Road, husband of Sara Gregory Hicks, died March 31, 2006 at his home.
Born in York, PA, October 20, 1927, he was a son of the late Daniel Morgan Sr. and Thelma Proctor Hicks. He was 1943 graduate of Ninety Six High School and attended Clemson and Presbyterian College. He was a US Navy Veteran of WW II. He retired in 1989 as president of Ninety Six Manufacturing Company after 39 years of service.
Mr. Hicks was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church and the Jeffcoat Bible Class of the church. He formerly served on the Ninety Six School Board from 25 years and was an avid supporter of the Ninety Six High Wildcats football team.
A loving husband, father and granddaddy, surviving in addition to his wife are two sons, Daniel Gregory and wife Carol Hicks of Lexington and John Mays Hicks and friend, Marvia Clarke of Ninety Six; daughter-in-law, Sylvia V. Hicks and granddaughters, Amanda, Meredith, Haley and Katheryn Hicks.
Funeral services will be conducted at 4:30 pm Sunday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Steven Todd officiating.
Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Bobby Sargent, Kenny Poston, Roger Burroughs, Rick Sullivan, Todd Dalton, Andy Ellison, Bill Amick and Ricky Cameron.
The honorary escort will be Jones Buchanan, Richard Harris, Champ Jones, Monty Mosley, Fletcher Riley, John C. Young, Roy Young, Dr. Gerald Robinson, Alvis Werts, Childress Buchanan, Bubba Fennell and Ray Frick.
The family is at the home on Kate Fowler Road and will receive friends at the funeral home from 3:30 to 4:30 Sunday afternoon.
Memorials may be made to St. Paul United Methodist Church, 301 Cambridge Street, Ninety Six, SC 29666.
For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Hicks family.
PAID OBITUARY

Roy Johnson

Roy Lee Johnson, 86, of 403 Augusta Circle, husband of Lois Richard Johnson, died Friday, March 31, 2006 at his home.
The family is at the home of a daughter, Betty Abrams, 132 Colonial Drive, Belle Meade.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Frank Phillip Mathis

WATERLOO — Frank Phillip Mathis, 49, of 661 Mystic Hollow, died Monday, March 27, 2006 at his home.
He was a son of Thomas Eugene and Virginia Smith Mathis.
Survivors include his parents of Waynesville, N.C.; a daughter, Kassandra “Kassy” Mathis of Canton, N.C.; a brother, Gene Mathis of Waynesville.
A memorial services was held Thursday at Garrett Funeral Home, Waynesville.
Memorial may be made to HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
Cremation Society of South Carolina, Greenville is in charge.

Jane Ardella Sanderson

ABBEVILLE, SC — Elizabeth McMillan (“Scoot”) Speed, 85, resident of 614 Church St. died March 30, 2006 at NHC Healthcare in Greenwood, SC.
A native of Abbeville and the daughter of the late William Raymond and Elizabeth Faulkner Speed, Miss Speed retired in 1985 from Burlington Industries, Inc. where she had worked as an Executive Secretary and later as a Programmer/Analyst in Greenville, SC. She was a lifelong member of Main Street United Methodist Church in Abbeville.
A 1941 graduate of Furman University, she served as a Staff Sergeant in the Women’s Army Corp, attached to the 2nd Army Air Force Headquarters, Intelligence Training Section, in Colorado Springs, Colorado from 1943 through 1945.
“Scoot” returned to Abbeville after retirement and became active in local volunteer work, including serving as secretary for the Abbeville Spring Festival Association, board member of the Abbeville Chamber of Commerce, and board member and treasurer of the Heritage House. She was a former member of the Literary Lantern Book Club and Daffodil Garden Club. A lifetime animal lover, she supported the Tri-County Animal Rescue in Alexis, N.C., assisting with record-keeping and adopting abandoned dogs.
Survivors are: her sister, Laura Speed (Mrs. Joseph Clyde) Simmons, three nieces: Laura Simmons Hunter (Mrs. Stephen E.) of Greer, Leslie Simmons Manuel (Mrs. Jesse H., Jr.) of Woodruff, and Elizabeth Speed Simmons of Charlotte; and several cousins, including Bill and Molly Savitz of Abbeville.
Visitation will be held at the Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home from 1:30 until 2:30 PM Sunday, April 2, 2006. Funeral services will be conducted at 3:00 PM Sunday at Main Street United Methodist Church, with burial to follow in Melrose Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Main Street United Methodist Church, PO Box 656, Abbeville, SC 29620; or to Tri-County Animal Rescue, PO Box 483, Alexis, N.C. 28006. Online condolences may be sent to the Speed family by visiting www.chandlerjacksonfh.com
THE CHANDLER-JACKSON FUNERAL HOME IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS.
PAID OBITUARY