Sister can’t see brother as killer

Suspect was on waiting list for admittance to local drug recovery center

August 17, 2006

By JOANIE BAKER
Index-Journal staff writer

His image flashes on the TV screen several times each day. A voice comes through the background introducing him as Benjamin Erik Case, a suspect arrested and charged with the killing of a pawn shop owner.
But that’s not what Lucy Knight sees.
When she sees her younger brother’s photo in newspapers and on TV, all she can think about is him playing in the yard when he was little or falling off his bike and scraping his knee.
“Every time the news comes on they say he’s a murder suspect,” she said. “That’s my brother they’re talking about, and that’s not easy to hear.”
But Knight said that while she and her family love Case, 23, they do not wish to offer excuses for anything he might have done. She said they want family members of Timothy Henson, the man killed Saturday in the First Cash Pawn Shop in Greenville, to know they are in her family’s prayers.
“He’s a son and a brother and a father and an uncle,” she said of Case. “But there’s nothing excusing what he did, absolutely nothing.”
Knight said that Case tried to admit himself into a drug and alcohol recovery center.
The center said Case filled out an application July 29 and was told there was a waiting list. At the center’s advice, Case called back every day to see if there was an opening until Aug. 8, a worker there said. Knight said that after her brother initially sought help, he disappeared for about a week.
This past Saturday, just days after making the last call for help, the pawn shop in Greenville was robbed, the owner was gunned down and more than 100 guns were stolen. Case, of Greenwood, has been charged in the killing.
“They say in all tragedy something good comes,” Knight said. “If one thing good can come of this, I’d want it to be that some other troubled person could receive help before something like this happens.”
Case was arrested Tuesday afternoon in Laurens County after law officials from multiple agencies pursued him for 30 hours, at times hitting speeds of more than 100 mph.
Police say Case carjacked a van from a woman at gunpoint after ditching a stolen ’80s-model Corvette, which they say he took after abandoning a stolen Ford F-150 truck.
Case has been charged with murder, armed robbery, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, assault and battery with intent to kill and unlawful possession of a weapon. His bond was set at $140,000.
On Tuesday, Case told media at the Greenville Law Enforcement Center that he loved his mom, dad and Paige, Case’s girlfriend.
According to State Law Enforcement Division arrest records, Case’s run-ins with law enforcement began three years ago. In 2003, he struck a plea agreement on unlawful gun charges and received a one-year sentence, but only served one day. According to SLED documents, in 2004, Case was charged with armed robbery, kidnapping and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. He pleaded guilty to the charges of strong-arm robbery and false imprisonment and served 10 months. Case was released in July 2005.
His probation ended two weeks before Saturday’s slaying.
Andrew Moore, of Greenwood, was arrested Tuesday and charged with being an accessory to a felony. Greenville County Sheriff Office Lt. Shea Smith said he hasn’t ruled out other suspects in relation to the case.

Evelyn C. Anderson

CHARLOTTE — Evelyn C. Anderson, 80, died Friday, Aug. 11, 2006 at Presbyterian Hospital.
Born in Hodges, S.C., she was a daughter of the late John and Bessie Anderson.
Survivors include a sister, Mamie A. Singletary of Washington, D.C.
Services are at noon today at Long & Son Mortuary, conducted by the Rev. Reginald Massey. Burial is in Gethsemane Memorial Gardens.
Visitation is 11:30-noon today at the mortuary.
Long and Son Mortuary Service is in charge.

Juanita Priebe Colcolough

COLUMBIA — Juanita Priebe Colcolough, 96, died Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2006.
Services will be announced by Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel.

Emmie Goode Jones

Emmie Goode Jones, 75, of 526 Valley Brook Road, widow of Bennie L. Jones, died Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood, she was a daughter of the late Ulysses Goode Sr. and Inez Chiles Goode Holloway. She was domestic worker and a member of Old Mount Zion Baptist Church, Epworth.
Survivors include a son, Clyde T. Jones of Greenwood; four daughters, Bennie Mae Parks and Willie Mae Latimer, both of Greenwood, Brenda J. Hill of Hodges and Linda J. Anderson of Columbia; a brother, Bennie Lee Holloway of Greenwood; six sisters, Mammie L. Goode, Dorthy Davis and Julia Stewart, all of Greenwood, Mary I. Davis and Florence Holloway, both of Columbia, Anna G. Bell of Mount Ranier, Md.; 10 grandchildren; four 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.

Walter B. Scott

GREENWOOD — Walter B. Scott, 91, died Wednesday, August 16, 2006 at Hospice House, Greenwood, SC. A native of Kentucky, he was the son of the late Rev. James J. Scott and Caroline Fee Scott of Corbin, KY. He was a graduate of Berea College, Berea, KY, with a degree in geology and served as a lieutenant with the US Army Corps of Engineers in North Africa, Italy and Greece during World War II. He graduated from Peabody College, Nashville, TN, with a degree in library science in 1946.
Before joining the Dupont Company in Wilmington, DE, he was a librarian at Auburn University and the Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. From 1952 until his retirement from Dupont, he was a document librarian at the Savannah River Project near Aiken. He and his wife, Grace, moved to Wesley Commons in Greenwood in 1995. He was a member of St. Johns United Methodist Church in Aiken and attended Main Street United Methodist Church in Greenwood.
Walter is survived by his wife, Grace Roberts Scott; a daughter, Patricia Scott Miller and son-in-law, Matthew Miller, of Denver, CO and a son-in-law, Dr. Jeff Duffey of Milledgeville, GA. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Barbara Scott Duffey of Aiken.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Asbury Hall, Wesley Commons, Greenwood, SC, with the Carol Peppers-Wray officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646 or to Wesley Commons, 1110 Marshall Road, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Harley Funeral Home and Crematory of Greenwood is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Betty Jane Shumate

OPELIKA, AL – Graveside service for Betty Jane Shumate, 65, of Opelika, AL is Saturday, 8-19-06 at 1:00 p.m. at Greenwood Memorial Gardens in Greenwood, SC. The Rev. Keith Dixon is officiating. The family will receive friends at the graveside one hour prior to the service.
Mrs. Shumate had been a resident of the Opelika area since 1978. Prior to moving to Opelika, she was employed at Greenwood Mills in Greenwood, SC as a data entry technician and had been associated with the General Telephone Company. Mrs. Shumate also worked for several years in the Data Entry Department of Auburn University. She attended Providence Baptist Church in Opelika, AL.
She was predeceased by her husband, Joe Shumate in May of 2006. She is survived by 2 sons, Mark Shumate, Oxford, AL and Rev. Michael Shumate (Edith), Shelby,NC; a brother, Wilbur Tinsley; and 4 grandchildren, Joshua, Jacob, Rebekah, and Aaron Shumate.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to Union Baptist Church Building Fund, 3800 Polkville Rd., Shelby, NC 28150.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, Opelika, AL.
PAID OBITUARY

Samuel M. Watson

Services for Samuel Mark Watson, of 123 New Market St., are 3 p.m. Friday at Flint Hill Missionary Baptist Church, with the Rev. John W. Paul officiating and Pastor John R. Brightharp presiding. Assisting are Bishop Emmanuel Spearman, Pastor Darryl Hamilton, Elder Darryl Jennings and the Revs. George Oliver, Carnell Morton and Norris Turner. The body will be placed in the church at 2. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers and flower bearers are members of the Brewer High School Class of 1962.
Honorary escorts are retirees of Schlumberger, co-workers of Actaris and Men on the Move.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at Robinson & Son Mortuary.
Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc. is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com.

Lillie Mae Wideman

McCORMICK — Lillie Mae Wideman, 76, died Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2006 at her home.
Born in McCormick County, she was a daughter of the late Johnny and Jennie Walker Wideman. She was a member of Mount Zion AME Church, serving on the Usher Board. Living in Buffalo, N.Y., for about 40 years, she returned to McCormick after retiring about eight years ago.
Survivors include two sons, Robert Wideman of Cleveland, Ohio, and Albert Wideman of Gaithersburg, Md.; two daughters, Linda Wideman of Amhurst, N.Y., and Jeanette Wideman of Wade, N.C.; seven sisters, Sarah Johnson of Detroit, Claudia Harper and Johnnie Mae Martin, both of McCormick, Frances Bridges, Marilyn Luchey, Jennifer Briggs and Betty Wideman, all of Buffalo; two brothers, Dorsey Wideman and Bobby Wideman, both of Columbia; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.
The family is at the home, 124 Spring Song Drive.
Services will be announced by Walker Funeral Home.

Kirk Allan Wilson

ABBEVILLE, SC — Kirk Allan Wilson, 42, of 109-B Greenville St. died Saturday, August 12, 2006 at his residence. He was born in East Liverpool, OH to Daniel K. Wilson, and the late Sue Ann Peck Wilson.
Kirk was known for his organ repair abilities as well as playing the organ for many churches across SC. He attended Trinity Episcopal Church in Abbeville.
He is survived by his father and stepmother, Daniel K. and Elva Wilson, Jr. of Irmo, SC, a brother, Daniel K. Wilson, II and his wife Mary Beth of Stubenville, OH, two nieces, Katie Ruth Wilson, and Lindsey Wilson, a great-nephew, Martin, and a special friend Jamie Baker.
A Celebration of Kirk’s Life will be 2:00PM Saturday, August 19, 2006 in the Harris Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be at a later date in the Columbiana County Memorial Park in Calcutta, OH.
Memorial Contributions may be sent in memory of Kirk to the HospiceCare of the Piedmont 408 W. Alexander Ave. Greenwood, SC 29646.
Online condolences may be sent to the Wilson family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com
HARRIS FUNERAL HOME, of Abbeville is assisting the Wilson family.
PAID OBITUARY

Banged up, not broken

August 17, 2006

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

Torre Donaldson eludes a defender during Dixie’s jamboree matchup against Thornwell. The Hornets face Southside Christian at 7 tonight.

DUE WEST — The Dixie Hornets take on Southside Christian tonight in their first regular season game of 2006. Both teams participated in the jamboree at Ware Shoals last Saturday, which meant the team had a short week of practice. Head coach Steve Dunlap doesn’t mind though, and expects his team will be ready to play come game time.
“The short week doesn’t really bother us because we play Thursday nights, and I think it is more of a disadvantage for our opponents.” Dunlap said.
Dunlap attributes the Hornets’ sluggish start at the jamboree to a host of injuries, and says the main concern at this point is getting players back on the field to help the team. In two jamborees leading up to tonight’s game, the Hornets have been stung by the injury bug.
The Hornets’ coach said that not only are injuries a problem for his team, but there is also a lack of experience at key positions with new players having to fill holes.
“It’s just going to take some time to let them get some confidence and be sure about what they are doing.” Dunlap said. “As a team, we have to improve on consistency, and we’ll have to tweak some things on both sides of the ball.”
Even with some Hornets players banged up, Dunlap says he has been pleased by the effort put forth in practice this week.
“Everything has been positive. They like coming together as a group and the attitude is better than we’ve had in several years,” Dunlap said. “We’ve got a good group of seniors this year that have provided senior leadership and also some experienced juniors who are developing as leaders also.”
The Hornets’ have not won a season opener since the 2000 season when they started out 5-0. Tonight, against Southside Christian, they will have an opportunity to do it again, if all goes according to their game plan, which includes a healthy dose of clock management and methodical play calling.
“We’re going to try to control the ball and just grind it out on them,” Dunlap said. “If we have to, we’ll put the ball up some, but we’d like to control the clock and just run the ball on them.”

Give teachers a chance to control classrooms

August 17, 2006

A South Carolina state law makes it a crime to disturb schools. Now a Greenwood County boy says the law in unconstitutional and is suing. The S. C. Supreme Court will decide if the law is unacceptable.
The Greenwood boy was convicted in 2004 of disturbing a school and simple assault. He was sentenced to 90 days in a juvenile prison and one year of probation. The boy’s attorney, and others, believe the law is too vague and limits his “freedom of expression.”
It’s good the court will decide, and if the law should be struck down, state lawmakers should jump into the mix as soon as possible. From all indications, the law as written may indeed need revisiting.

AS IN MANY CASES, UNINTENDED loopholes may serve to scuttle the challenged law.
There’s no secret that disruptions in the classroom are impediments to a positive teaching/learning environment. There have been too many documented incidents to support that reality. And that, coupled with a serious situation where discipline is too often scorned by too many students, naturally affects the bottom line in education.
It would be helpful if lawmakers adjusted the law as needed to get rid of ambiguous language and/or confusing loopholes. While they are at it, they might look at some of the problems created as a result of the many pressures teachers and administrators face every day.

DOCUMENT THOSE PROBLEMS and provide the necessary “tools” for teachers and administrators to maintain a safe and orderly atmosphere to enhance safety and learning. They are, in effect, saddled with so many extraneous duties and challenges that too often neither of those things exist.
In short, provide enabling legislation - constitutional, of course - that won’t tie officials’ hands. Give them the wherewithal to control the schools and classrooms, and while at it, provide legal protection for upholding the rules.
There’s so much frustration throughout the school system statewide that it speaks to the professionalism of those who manage to overcome the obstacles and still prepare children for a contributing future. Teachers don’t need any other distractions. Give ‘em a break and enhance education overall.