An explosive crime

Police charge 3 in connection with homemade bomb

August 18, 2006

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

Three men were arrested Thursday in connection with the detonation of a homemade bomb that destroyed a clothes dryer. Residents and CPW workers were shaken by the explosion Wednesday afternoon near the Fuji Film plant off Puckett Ferry Road.
Kyle Barnell and David Temple, both 19, have been charged with two counts of possession/manufacture and/or transportation of a destructive device, said Chief Deputy Mike Frederick of the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office.
Dean Shinalt, 17, has also been charged with two counts of possession/manufacture and/or transportation of a destructive device.
The felony charges could bring the men up to 30 years in prison each, Frederick said.
Five others could be charged as soon as today.
Barnell admitted to building the homemade bomb, according to his warrant.
Using his cell phone camera, one of the men recorded the dryer explosion and another earlier explosion near Puckett Pointe Road, Frederick said.
Electrician Vincent Price was sitting in his office Wed­nesday at the Commissioners of Public Works Water Plant near the Fuji Film plant when he heard a loud explosion.
The sound and accompanying plume of smoke came at about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday from a nearby water plant substation in the Harborside subdivision, Price said.
He said he and his crew felt the plant shake when the explosive went off.
Price checked on his crew outside when he saw smoke rising from the woods toward Harborside Drive.
CPW workers checked the water plant substation near where the smoke was seen and found pieces of a dryer scattered across a dirt clearing, Price said.
Parts of the dryer were lying in an approximate 50-yard radius around one central piece of the dryer, according to the incident report.
Price decided to call the Sheriff’s Office after he found a 12-ounce glass bottle with a foamy substance near the demolished dryer.
The eight people might also be involved with setting off other bombs in the area, Frederick said.
The Sheriff’s Office arrested the men after their bloodhound team followed the scent of explosives to Harborside subdivision.
Deputies questioned frightened residents who led them to question the three men arrested, Frederick said.
The men had reportedly been terrorizing the neighborhood with explosions for some time, Frederick said.
Two men also slept with bombs in their house before detonating the dryer, something extremely dangerous to do, Frederick said.
He said he was surprised that the men didn’t hurt or kill themselves using the homemade explosives.
The bombs were set off with a combination of copper and an explosive chemical, according to Barnell’s warrant. The men found instructions for the bomb on the Internet.
Homemade devices aren’t difficult to make, unfortunately, Frederick said.
“It’s easier than we wish it was,” he said.
The bombs made were as deadly as hand grenades.
Frank Annese heard the explosion near his den window in his Harborside home.
“I thought it was a sonic boom at first,” Annese said.
It wasn’t until his wife came home later that day and told him about seeing South Carolina Law Enforcement Division agents at the road near the water plant substation that he found out it was an explosion.

No charges filed in shooting of 12-year-old boy

Victim shot by 11-year-old after finding gun in home

August 18, 2006

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal staff writer

No charges have been filed in what authorities are calling an “accidental shooting” Wednesday of a 12-year-old boy in Greenwood.
The shooting took place about 5 p.m. at a home on Singletree Road, according to an incident report from the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office. The report gave the following account: The 12-year-old victim, whose name has not been released because of his status as a juvenile, was playing in the home with an 11-year-old friend when the pair found a gun hidden under a mattress in a bedroom. The 11-year-old’s grandmother told deputies she was in another room at the home when she heard a loud noise. When she went into the bedroom, she saw the 12-year-old lying on the bed and bleeding.
The 11-year-old boy told authorities he found the gun under the bed, and when he pulled out the clip, he didn’t see any bullets. He said he thought the gun was empty, and when he went to put the gun down, he hit the trigger and it went off, hitting the 12-year-old boy in the neck.
Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mike Frederick said the victim was still alive on Thursday, adding that the 11-year-old and his grandmother had not been charged in the incident.
Wednesday’s shooting is the second accidental shooting of a juvenile to take place in Greenwood County in less than a month.
On July 31,17-year-old Josh Anderson, of Greenwood, died after receiving a gunshot wound to the neck area when he and his 16-year-old friend found a gun in the 16-year-old’s home on Moss Creek Lane in Greenwood. Greenwood Police charged the 16-year-old with involuntary manslaughter in that case, and Greenwood Police Chief Gerald Brooks said Thursday that no additional charges have been filed in that case.
The accidents highlight the importance of gun safety in homes, law enforcement officials said.
“We want parents to lock up their guns,” Frederick said. “Hiding a gun is not good enough. A kid is going to find that gun.”
Lt. Tara Scott, with the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office, said gun locks can often prevent tragedies like the ones that have occurred in the past weeks. The locks are available at the sheriff’s office, and Brooks said that the police department also offers gun locks at some public events.
“We know people want to have guns in their houses for safety, but it is imperative that people store their guns safely and use gun locks,” Scott said. “If you can’t use a lock, store the weapons in a locked box and store the ammunition in a separate location.”
After the first accidental shooting, Brooks said in an interview with The Index-Journal that “something similar to this happens in the U.S. on a daily basis,” though he and other law enforcement officials added that the accidents are still rare in the Greenwood area.
“It is a horrible thing for any family to have to go through, but it is so easily prevented,” Scott said. “It is a needless thing to happen.”
She said parents need to not only talk to their children about gun safety in their own home, but gun safety at other locations, too.
“Your friend’s house might not be as safe,” Scott said. “If someone finds a gun, the child needs to make sure they leave the area immediately and tell an adult.”
Brooks said gun manufacturers and gun groups, such as the National Rifle Association (NRA), offer numerous tips to prevent gun accidents.
According to the NRA’s Web site, the primary rule of gun safety is to keep the gun pointed in a safe direction so that, even if the gun fires, the bullet would not cause damage or injury. The Web site says the person handling the gun should keep their finger off the trigger until they are ready to shoot. The gun should also be stored unloaded. Brooks said in the earlier interview that the most important step of gun safety is to do whatever is necessary to ensure the gun isn’t accessible to children.
“The first cardinal rule of firearm safety is that guns should be kept out of the hands of children,” he said.

Juanita Priebe Colcolough

COLUMBIA — Funeral Mass for Juanita Priebe Colcolough, 96, will be celebrated Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Farewell Prayers and Final Commendation will be at St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery. The Rosary will be recited Friday at 6 p.m. with visitation until 8 p.m at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel.
Mrs. Colcolough, wife of the late John J. Colcolough, died on Wednesday, August 16, 2006.
Born in Charleston on June 27, 1910, Mrs. Colcolough was the daughter of the late Charles Priebe and Soledad Collins Priebe. She grew up in Charleston and Summerville. After graduating from St. Francis Xavier School of Nursing in Charleston in 1930, she served as a floor nurse at St. Francis Xavier Hospital. On September 9, 1930, she married John J. Colcolough in Summerville. They lived in Charleston and then on Sullivan’s Island with their three children until 1940 when they moved to Columbia.
Mrs. Colcolough’s life was marked by her devotion to her family and friends, her deep Catholic faith, and her service to the community. She was a kind and loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who enjoyed the company of her family and was surrounded by them until the end of her life. She will be remembered by her family for her love of nature, particularly gardening, her joy in cooking and entertaining guests in her home, her keen sense of humor, her compassion and generosity. Until she was in her eighties, “Nan,” as she was called by her family, enjoyed trips to her beloved Charleston and would even swim in the ocean with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a devoted friend who was always willing to nurse the sick and provide consolation to those in need. She enjoyed dining out with friends and had a passion for travel. She took many trips with the St. Joseph Seniors group and, along with her daughter Barbara and daughter-in-law Loretta, made a memorable trip to Italy in 1993 with the St. Joseph Choir where they attended an audience with Pope John Paul II. She was an active member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church and later of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Her many church-related activities include service in the Altar Societies at both churches. At St. Joseph, she was a member of the Walsh Guild and regularly attended state conventions of the South Carolina Council of Catholic Women, of which she served as President. She founded the Catholic Nurses Association in Columbia in 1954 and served a term as President in 1961. She was an active participant with the Catholic ministry at the State Department of Mental Health and Crafts Farrow Hospital. For many years, she assisted the priests at services for the patients at these hospitals in addition to serving as a Eucharistic Minister to the sick homebound and a member of the Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament endeavor at Providence Hospital. Her association with Providence Hospital spanned fifty-five years, during which time she provided countless hours of volunteer service. She became a member of the Providence Hospital Auxiliary in 1940 and served in a number of capacities. In the early 1950s, at the hospital’s request, she began teaching a candy striper’s course for aspiring nurses. Each summer, she taught courses in basic hospital aide practices and continued to help with that service through the early 1980s. In the early 1970’s, she worked as a floor nurse at Providence. From 1973 - 1975, she served as President of the Providence Auxiliary and continued her volunteer work there until her own health problems caused her to stop in 1995. From 1974 - 1982, she volunteered as Social Director at Christopher Towers, a retirement community established by the Knights of Columbus. From 1975 - 1985, she was a member of the support group Widows or Widowers Club and served as President for several years. She touched countless lives through her many activities and will be remembered by her friends and family as a selfless and humble woman, her life a testimony to the faith she professed.
Mrs. Colcolough is survived by her son, John. J. Colcolough Jr. and his wife, Marlene Hudson Colcolough; her daughter, Barbara Colcolough Walker and her husband, Frank Walker; her son, Theodore Edward Colcolough and his wife, Loretta Brown Colcolough; thirteen grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her brothers, Lawrence Priebe, Charles Priebe, Milton Priebe and Eugene Priebe.
The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to all the staff at Atria Assisted Living for the care and compassion they gave to Mrs. Colcolough during her residence there during the past two and a half years. The family would especially like to thank Anne, Brenda, Delphine, and Bill; and are also deeply grateful to Palmetto Health Hospice, especially for the extraordinary care provided by Susan Uehling. Finally, sincere thanks is extended to Susie Booker for her compassionate and loving care.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Joseph Church Building Fund or to Providence Hospital. www.dunbarfunerals.com.
PAID OBITUARY

John Daniel Coleman Sr.

ABBEVILLE — Services for John Daniel Coleman Sr., of 2670 Secession Ave. Extension, are 3 p.m. Saturday at Long Cane AME Church, conducted by the Rev. Dr. Julius M. Johnson, Elder Oscar A. Klugh and the Revs. Robert Johnson, Kenneth Aiken and Willie Black. The body will be placed in the church at 2. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are Carl Tolbert, Ernest Coleman, Shelton Burton, Phillip Crawford, Calvin Wharton and Demetrius Gray.
Flower bearers are members of Wright High School Class of 1970.
The family is at the home.
Brown and Walker Funeral Home is in charge.

Clyde J. Johnson III

Clyde J. Johnson III, 53, died Saturday, Aug. 12, 2006 at his home.
He was born in Marlboro County.
Survivors include two daughters, Christy Johnson and Misty London, both of Maiden, N.C.; a companion of the home, Lillian Coakley; a brother, Kenneth Johnson of Hertford, N.C.
The Cremation Society of South Carolina.

Bobbie Kirkland

A memorial service for Bobbie Dianne Kirkland is 3 p.m. Sunday at Callie Self Memorial Baptist Church.
Kirkland died Saturday, Aug. 5, 2006.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Arnold Thomasson

ABBEVILLE — Robert Arnold Thomasson, 69, of 309 Brooks St., husband of Patricia ‘Pat’ Powell Thomasson, died Thursday, Aug. 17, 2006 at his home.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home.

Southside Christian downs Dixie in overtime thriller

August 18, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

DUE WEST — If the rest of the high school football games in the Lakelands area in 2006 are like the first one, the cardiology wing at Self Regional will be busy.
Southside Christian downed Dixie, 31-30, in overtime Thursday night in the area’s first regular season game of the year in front of a large crowd at Dixie.
For a while, it didn’t seem as if it was going to be much of a game at all. Southside Christian led 24-2 in the third quarter, helped by the fact that Dixie had eight turnovers, including six in the first half.
Dixie coach Steve Dunlap said he wasn’t sure why the Hornets accrued so many turnovers.
“I honestly don’t know what happened,” Dunlap said. “We’ve had two scrimmages and a jamboree and I don’t think we’ve had a single turnover. I don’t know if it was a lack of concentration or what, but that killed us.”
Despite all the giveaways, Dixie found itself in solid position for a win late in the contest.
Down 24-18, the Hornets took possession of the ball with four minutes remaining, and proceeded to drive the ball 60 yards in 2:59. Running back Ontavious Plumer capped the drive with a three-yard scoring run, tying the game at 24 all.
However, kicker Matthew Graham’s kick was blocked, sending the game into overtime.
After Dixie won the overtime coin toss and deferred, Southside Christian wasted little time scoring. Sabres’ quarterback Ryan Kirkland lobbed a high fade pass to 6-foot-6 receiver Daniel Adderly for the touchdown. After the PAT, Southside Christian was up 31-24.
Facing a score-or-lose situation, Dixie struck back. The Hornets’ Kyle Crawford, who rushed for 209 yards on the night, carried the ball across the goal line from six yards out on Dixie’s second OT play, making the score 31-30.
Rather than going for the extra point, Dixie chose to attempt a two-point conversion. Crawford took a pitch sweep wide to the left, but was tackled at the one-yard line, sealing the Hornets’ defeat and sending the Sabres into a wild mid-field celebration.
“I give our guys a lot of credit, they didn’t quit,” Dunlap said. “With all the turnovers, they could have gotten down on themselves, but they didn’t. They fought hard all the way.”

BOX SCORES

Southside Christian 9 6 9 0 7—31
Dixie 0 2 8 14 6—30

Scoring Summary

First Quarter
S-Daniel Adderly 67 pass from Ryan Kirkland (kick failed)
S- Hunter Wyer 28 field goal

Second quarter
S- Daniel York 75 pass from Kirkland
D- Defensive safety

Third quarter
S- Ben Glidden 36 fumble return
S- Nathan Burgess 21 field goal
D- Kyle Crawford 52 run (Matthew Graham conversion)

Fourth quarter
D-Ontavious Plumer 8 run (Crawford conversion)
D- Plumer 3 run (kick failed)

Overtime
S-Adderly 10 pass from Kirkland (Burgess kick)
D-Crawford 6 run (conversion failed)

Individual statistics
RUSHING— D: Crawford 23-209, Graham 17-95, Ontavious Plumer 7-66, Demario Washington 6-38, Robert Miller 3-9, Drake Dunlap 3-3 S: Jeremiah Morgan 13-63, Ryan Kirkland 12-56, White 1-3
PASSING— D: Dunlap 0-1-1-0, Miller 1-2-0-22 S:Kirkland 11-28-2-166
RECEIVING—D: Dunlap 1-22 S: Adderly 8-153, York 2-105, Hudson Frickie 1-8

Diplomacy is no answer in dealings with fanatics

August 18, 2006

We should use diplomacy as the means for reaching agreements with Middle Eastern Muslim terrorists who use their “religion” as an excuse to terrorize. That’s what some very naive Americans recommend. Call it what you will, diplomacy, negotiations, reasoning. It won’t work.
Terrorists have proved that too many times for the peace-loving nations of the world to be duped into believing anything different could be achieved. Terrorists today have taken radicalism to new heights. Putting it in perspective might help clear up any doubts about coming to terms with radical people. Being reasonable is not a factor in dealing with unreasonable, radical, committed and determined fanatics who will do anything to bolster their cause.

THEIR CAUSE RESTS SQUARELY on the concept of fear and violence, including killing anyone who happens to have a different view of the world ..... and that includes some of their own kind.
So, put it in the perspective of University of South Carolina and Clemson University football fans’ attitudes. Some of them are as radical as a fan can be. Winning and image mean everything. They mean a lot to all fans, of course, but for the few that exist for that and that only, it runs to the excessive.
Those extremist USC/Clemson fans, though, pale into insignificance when compared to radical terrorists who hide behind their religion. We see examples of the murder, mayhem, and hatred every day. However, one plot recently uncovered demonstrates how radical some Muslim terrorists are. It also shows the kind of threat they pose, especially to Americans.

IT’S HARD TO ENVISION, BUT try. A young Muslim couple was arrested and charged with an offense that Americans would consider outrageous. They put an explosive liquid in the bottle of their months-old baby and planned to blast a passenger liner out of the sky, thereby sacrificing their baby and themselves. From all indications, they are the rule instead of the exception, too.
When parents will kill their children by using them as human bombs against their enemies, it is indeed hard for civilized people to fathom. It shows, however, that we are in a struggle for our very existence.
If we don’t understand what makes Muslim terrorists tick, we’re fooling ourselves.