Investigator: Jewelry stores
shouldn’t try to be dentists

August 1, 2006

By LESLIE DRAFFIN
Index-Journal intern

In his song “Grillz,” hip-hop artist Nelly sings, “Rob a jewelry store and tell ’em make me a grill.” In Greenwood, theft isn’t necessary since customers can visit at least two local stores to purchase these “blinged-out” mouthpieces. One of the stores, Oxford Perfumes and Jewelry in Greenwood Mall, offers “grills” by first making impressions of customers’ teeth — even though the South Carolina Board of Dentistry says making a teeth impression is illegal without a dental license.
“Here’s the thing: In the South Carolina Code of Dentistry, it states that taking impressions of someone’s mouth requires a dental license,” Elliott Willis, an investigator with the Board of Dentistry, said.
Rion Alvey, an administrator with the Board of Dentistry, said not only is taking an impression of someone’s teeth illegal without a dental license, but “anything that fits over the teeth can be considered a dental appliance, and it is the board’s position that supplying a dental appliance without a dental license is illegal.”
Tyson Griffin, a manager at Long John Silver’s and a grill-wearer, says he went to Oxford Perfumes and Jewelry to get his grill. “I saw some grills on rappers in music videos and thought they looked real nice,” he said.
Griffin’s grill covers six of his top teeth and is made of silver, although he says “it looks like gold and has a diamond cut. It really looks much better than I had originally imagined.”
Griffin said Oxford Perfumes and Jewelry “took a mold of my teeth by having me bite down on some kind of red paste that hardened in about 10 seconds. Then they sent it off and it took about seven days to get it back.”
An employee at Oxford Perfumes and Jewelry, who asked not to be named, explained the process of ordering a grill.
“First, we tell everyone grills are not for dental purposes — at all. We even make customers sign a waiver form when they order their grills.”
The employee said that to make a grill, first an impression of the customer’s mouth is taken, then “we send it off to another jeweler, usually in Atlanta, Georgia, who melts the metals and pours it into the mold.”
The grill waiver, which the employee provided to an Index-Journal reporter, states: “I (the signer) understand that the set of teeth/grills that I am having made is considered jewelry and not to be considered as actual dental work.
Therefore the grills are not to be intended or expected to act as dental replacements but as an accessory to complement an individual’s appearance.”
Willis said “the waiver is worthless and does not affect the legality of making an impression of someone’s teeth without a dental license.”
“When we learn that a jeweler is making grills by doing an illegal impression of someone’s teeth, we usually send an investigator out, and then the board can impound any dental appliances the investigators find,” Alvey says.
Esquire LTD, in the Wal-Mart Shopping Center plaza, also has grills on display, which, according to an employee, were ordered and are ready to be picked up by customers. However, the manager on duty did not want to comment.
No dentist in the Greenwood area has fitted a patient with a grill, although legally providing someone a grill is a dental matter.
According to the American Dental Association Web site, grills are decorative coverings for teeth often made of gold, silver or other jewel-encrusted metals that snap over one or more teeth and can usually be removed. But, despite the aesthetic appeal grills might supply, these removable mouthpieces can cause damaging and long-lasting effects to teeth and gums, the site says.
Dr. Gray Ackerman, of Greenwood, said there are many potential problems.
“Grills can cause chipping of the teeth if they are not fitted properly, tooth decay since they can hold bacteria against the teeth and also gum recession. In some cases of gross negligence, there may even be bone loss.”
“The challenge with this is that too many people thought that because it’s removable it was safe. But there are the same kinds of risks because it snaps over the teeth. Food can get trapped between the grill and teeth, causing tooth decay, gum disease, drifting of teeth and allergic reactions to the metal in some grills,” said Dr. Matt Messina, a dentist in Cleveland, Ohio.
According to the ADA Web site, people who wear grills should be especially careful about brushing and flossing their teeth to prevent problems. Food and other debris can become trapped between the teeth and the grill, allowing bacteria to collect and produce acids. The acids can cause tooth decay and harm gum tissue. Bacteria might also contribute to bad breath. There also is the potential for grills to irritate surrounding oral tissues and to wear the enamel away on the opposing teeth.
Griffin says he uses a rag and silver polish to clean his grill once a day. “I normally wear it during most of the day but take it out to sleep and to eat. They (the jeweler) said you’re not supposed to eat or drink with one in.”
According to the ADA, grills should be removed before eating and should be cleaned daily to remove plaque, bacteria and food debris. Also, wearers should avoid using jewelry cleaners or any products that are dangerous to ingest.
In general, “there are a lot or risks for something that is a short-term fad. We don’t want to see people damaging their teeth which they are going to need for their entire lives,” Messina said.

Experts: After pet dies, don’t hold in feelings

August 1, 2006

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

Judy Jay lost her beloved pet in February. She and her husband had the pet for 11 years.
When it died, Jay asked her friends to pray for her “family friend.”
She told her friends she hoped they wouldn’t laugh at her request.
Even with prayer, the family didn’t recover right away. “It took us a few weeks to come to grips with it,” she said.
People deal with the death of a pet in different ways, experts say.
As a veterinarian, Barry Edwards has seen different emotions from grief-stricken pet owners.
Some people feel relieved after the death of a pet that has suffered for a long time. “They realize the pet is now better off,” he said.
Others are angry or in shock when the loss is quick and unexpected. It’s much like the death of a family member, Edwards said.
Sometimes the pet owner blames himself for whatever has befallen his animal companion.
Talking to someone who has gone through the same situation often helps bereaved pet owners, Edwards said.
When the bond between an owner and a pet is broken, the pain must be dealt with safely, said Diane Pomerance, a grief recovery specialist, dog owner and author of the book “Finding Peace: After the Loss of a Loved Animal Companion.”
“It’s absolutely healthy for us to acknowledge openly and honestly and to express all of our feelings, and that we are missing and grieving the loss of one we dearly and truly loved,” Pomerance said. “We should never be embarrassed to express our true feelings to friends and family members who are sympathetic and empathetic.”
Many pet owners try to deal with the pain of a pet’s death by going to the Humane Society of Greenwood and getting another animal, Karen Pettay, the society’s director, said.
Pettay said people who’ve lost a pet generally have one of two reactions: they don’t want a pet ever again or they want a pet the day of the death of their old pet.
The Humane Society suggests that grieving pet owners wait at least a day before getting a new pet so emotions can settle. That way, they won’t make a mistake, Pettay said.
She encourages pet owners not to watch their pet being euthanized. Pettay watched a few of her pets be put to sleep and says she “wouldn’t do it again.”
Some people never want to let go after a pet’s death. That’s when they see someone such as Bill Walden.
Walden is a taxidermist at American Outdoorsman taxidermy in Laurens. He has mounted and stuffed three pets for pet owners in the past: a dove, a chow and a Chihuahua.
Walden usually prices pet taxidermy very high so he won’t have to do very many.
Pets are more technically and emotionally difficult for Walden.
Because most household animals aren’t normally preserved, a special polyurethane foam has to be sculpted for each pet, he said.
Pet owners also tend to be very particular about how the animal should look.
The amount of detail a pet owners demands can take more than 100 hours of work, Walden said.
He personally doesn’t think mounting a pet is very flattering.
“I always thought it was kind of morbid,” Walden said.

Mrs. Callie Self Coker Besson

NORTH AUGUSTA, SC — Funeral Services for Mrs. Callie Self Coker Besson, 76, of West Martintown Road, North Augusta, SC, who died July 31, 2006, will be conducted Wednesday afternoon at 3 o’clock from the First Christian Church of Augusta. Dr. C. Don Manning officiating. Interment in Westover Memorial Park.
Mrs. Besson was a native of Greenwood, SC, having made North Augusta her home for the past 55 years. She was a member of the First Christian Church of Augusta, where she was active in the restoration of the Sanctuary. Mrs. Besson was the wife of the late Mr. William T. Besson, Jr.
Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Drs. William T. and Cindy Besson, III, Aiken, SC; a daughter and son-in-law, Holly Besson and William N. Jackson, North Augusta; a sister, Holly Coker Brown, Greenwood, SC; a brother-in-law and his wife Brian and Ann Besson, North Augusta; grandchildren, Kerri Jackson, Paul Jackson, Will Besson and John Besson.
Pallbearers will be Scott Besson, Joe Musgrove, Donnie Curry, Dr. Miroslav Zotovic, Ansley Gissendanner and Tom Holley. The family will receive friends at the funeral home this Tuesday evening from 7 to 9. Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church Restora-tion Fund, 629 Greene Street, Augusta, GA 30901.
Stephen D. Posey Funeral Home of North Augusta in charge of arrangements (803-278-1181). Visit the registry online at www.poseyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

John Henry Holloway

SALUDA — John Henry Holloway, 81, of 180 Rowe Boys Road, widower of Emily Hill Holloway, died Saturday, July 29, 2006 at his home.
Born in Asheville, N.C., he was a son of the late Zonnie and Mattie Dozier Holloway. He was a member of Rock Hill Baptist Church, where he was a Deacon Board and Rock Hill Musical Choir member and former Sunday school superintendent. He was also a member of Rock Hill Burial Aide Society, Mine Creek Burial Aide Society and NAACP. A retired employee of Saluda Meat Center, he was a World War II Navy veteran.
Survivors include two sons, Larry Holloway and Stanley Holloway, both of Saluda; two daughters, Dr. Eavon Hickson of Aiken and Carolyn Chapman of Stone Mountain, Ga.; three brothers, Zonnie Abron Holloway and Tommie Lee Holloway, both of Washington, D.C., and Franklin Holloway of Saluda; two sisters, Geneva Woods of Lanham, Md., and Vera Satterwhite of Norristown, Pa.; 12 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren.
Services are 3 p.m. Wednesday at Rock Hill Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Herbert Martin, pastor, assisted by the Revs. Johnny C. Gantt, R.C. Holloway and Raymond Adams. The body will be placed in the church at 2. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are grandsons, nephews and Jacob Herman.
Flower bearers are nieces.
Memorials may be made to Rock Hill Baptist Church, c/o Larry Holloway, 180 Rowe Boy Road, Saluda, SC 29138 Butler & Sons Funeral Home is in charge.

Hayden Monroe Isenhour

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mr. Isenhour, 81, of Charlotte, NC died Monday, July 31, 2006 at Carolinas Medical Center. He was born on September 13, 1924 in Taylorsville, NC to the late Ed and Mettie Isenhour. An army veteran of World War II, he was a member of Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, where he was part of the Charles Rinehardt Sunday School Class, a former trustee and choir member. He was retired from Jenkins Electric Company and was with Cherokee Paper Box Company prior to that. He had a great love for music and formed the band known as the Gum Branch Partners. Hayden was a good man who loved the Lord.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth B. Isenhour; daughters, Sandra I. Ritch and husband Doug of Gastonia, Susan I. Laney and husband Mike of Charlotte, and Cheryl I. Wilson and husband Tod of Greenwood, SC; grandchildren, Chris Ritch, Tina Taylor (Robb), Shannon Pressley (Josh), Lyndsey Laney, Brock Wilson and Hayden Michele Wilson; and great-grandchildren, Stanley Mitchell and Knowles Taylor.
He is preceded in death by brothers, Walter and Ted Isenhour and sisters, Alley Isenhour, Rose Lee Fox, Eva Davis, and Mary Duncan.
Funeral Services will be at 11 AM Wednesday, August 2, 2006 at Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church with Rev. Boyce Huffstetler, Rev. Wesley Judy and Rev. Rex Gibbs officiating. Interment will follow at Pleasant Grove Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7-8:30 PM at the church Tuesday night.
Memorials may be made to the Pleasant Grove Family Life Center, 1915 Oakdale Road, Charlotte, NC 28216.
Raymer Funeral Home, Huntersville, NC is serving the family.
PAID OBITUARY

Nina Moore

HONEA PATH — Nina Agnes Pearman Moore, 79, widow of Joe Moore, formerly of 7761 Highway 252, died Sunday, July 30, 2006 at Abbeville Residential Care.
Born in Abbeville County, she was a daughter of the late Ernest Quinton and Lily Corrie Ashley Moore. She was a member of Keowee Baptist Church and retired from Riegel Textile Co.
Survivors include a son, Jimmy Rex Moore of Honea Path; a sister, Ruth P. Moore of Honea Path; two grandchildren; a great-grandchild.
Services are 2 p.m. Wednesday at Keowee Baptist Church, conducted by the Revs. Jerry Mize and T.T. Faucette. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at Pruitt Funeral Home.
Family members are at their respective homes.
Pruitt Funeral Home is in charge.

Celicia M. Palmore

NEWBERRY — Celicia McMorris Palmore, of White Oak Manor, widow of Sanders Palmore Sr., died Saturday, July 29, 2006 at Newberry County Memorial Hospital.
Born in Newberry County, she was a daughter of the late Henry and Gertrude Harris McMorris.
Survivors include three sons, Robert J. Palmore of Asheville, N.C., Sanders Palmore Jr. of Greenwood and Oliver Palmore of Newberry; 20 grandchildren, four reared in the home, Wesley Palmore, Celicia Wise, Cora Connally and Alfred Wilson; 31 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren.
Services are 1 p.m. Wednesday at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Burial is in Newberry Memorial Gardens.
F.B. Pratt & Son Funeral Home Inc. is in charge.

Lela Mae Peterson

Lela Mae “Lucy Mae” Peterson, 72, of 442 Marion Ave., widow of Willie Peterson Sr., died Sunday, July 30, 2006 at her home.
Born in Greenwood, she was a daughter of the late Jordan and Leola Morton Pinkney. She was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include a daughter, Mildred Peterson Gilbeaux of El Sabrinte, Calif.; 10 grandchildren, three reared in the home, Alvin Hamilton, Rhonda Hamilton and Kassine Peterson; 24 great-grandchildren; 12 great-great-grandchildren. 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.

CORRECTION

For the obituary of the Rev. Mary A. Lipford in Monday’s paper, there were omissions and an error in the information provided to The Index-Journal. Lipford, 86, was a member of Ladies Aid Society No. 85 and East End Bible Club.

Eagles’ practice heats up

August 1, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

When most people in Greenwood and the Lakelands area think of high school football, thoughts of a cool breeze on an autumn night and settling in the bleachers under a blanket likely come to mind.
However, as high school football players from across the area prepare for the upcoming campaign, “cool” is more than likely not a word being bandied about in their vernacular. Since fall practice officially opened last Friday,
temperatures have consistently been in the mid to upper 90s as local squads have been going through rigorous practice sessions.
Training in the oppressive July heat is the investment teams and coaches hope to cash in on with a November run at a state championship.
“The heat is definitely a factor,” Greenwood High School coach Shell Dula said Monday. “It’s has been a very hot, very dry month of July. We make sure these young men get enough water, because it certainly is warm.”
Practice was in full swing at Greenwood Monday morning as the Eagles’ varsity team worked on conditioning, blocking, tackling and other aspects of the game.
While not in full pads, which will come later in the week, the squad did participate in helmets and shoulder pads. Monday’s workout was not full contact, but there was physicality, to be sure. There were high impact tackles that arrived with requisite loud pops of one helmet meeting another at a rapid rate of speed.
More often than not, the hitter and the hittee were met with a high degree of chatter and trash talk from their teammates. Dula said that is part of a solid team chemistry he expects this year’s edition of the Eagles to have.
“We have a really good senior class,” Dula said. “That’s the key to your football team, having a nucleus of seniors that will motivate the team and create that chemistry.”
While fall practice opened last Friday, Dula said, in reality, the Eagles offseason preparations never stopped.
“We’re essentially picking right up where we left off in spring practice,” Dula said. “And our summer workouts have been excellent, and the first few days of practice have reflected that.”
The team did indeed look crisp on offense, a trend that will need to continue as the Eagles look to replace 2005’s 2,000-yard passer-1,000-yard rusher Armanti Edwards at quarterback and 1,000-yard rusher Robert Robinson at tailback, both of whom graduated.
The team will also need to fill a hole at wide receiver that was vacated by Clemson commitment Xavier Dye, who is attempting to transfer to Byrnes.
The Eagles first game is an August 25 tilt against crosstown rival Emerald.

Let the governor appoint constitutional officers

August 1, 2006

A couple of candidates for South Carolina Superintendent of Education this year said the post should be appointed by the governor instead of being elected. They are right, particularly because too much time must be spent on politicking instead of concentrating on better ways to educate children.
Not many office holders who can succeed themselves choose to leave office after one term. That means that much of the first term is spent running for reelection. It’s nothing unheard of, of course. The governor and lieutenant governor, who can only serve two consecutive terms, and all other constitutional officers, who can run and hold office as long as they can win, spend a lot of time courting votes while they hold office.

LAWMAKERS SOMETIMES make a career out of running for reelection, especially members of the House of Representatives who have to run every two years. State senators run ever four years.
There are some who argue that candidates who must be elected by the people are more accountable to those people. Not necessarily. If appointed by the governor they may be accountable to him, but he is accountable to all of the people of South Carolina. If his appointees don’t live up to expectations of the people, they can let the governor know when he seeks reelection to a second term by their yes or no vote. That way they hold the governor and all of his appointees accountable.

SOME RESTRUCTURING OF state government has already occurred, especially under the late Gov. Carroll Campbell. Now Gov. Mark Sanford believes more restructuring is needed. He wants to give the governor power to appoint some of the constitutional officers now elected, believing that would make state government more efficient and accountable.
It’s worth considering, even though there is sure to be opposition to any changes that would even hint of changing the balance of power in state government. It’s a decision the people should make, though. It’s their government. Let them decide in a referendum how they want it structured. Furthermore, it’s their money that funds it all. That should give them the power that too often is denied them.