Ammonia leak at packing plant
leads to evacuation

August 29, 2006

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

Employees at the Carolina Pride Foods Inc. packing plant were evacuated Monday after an ammonia leak was discovered.
A faulty coupling on the roof of the plant caused the ammonia gas leak, said Chief Terry Strange, of the Greenwood Fire Department.
A valve from the air conditioning unit on top of the plant shot off a suction line and leaked ammonia, said Jim Jerome, safety director for Carolina Pride. Ammonia is used in the air conditioning unit as a substitute for Freon.
Four women were treated for breathing problems at Self Regional Medical Center, Jerome said.
The women were treated and released for non-life-threatening injuries at the medical center Monday, hospital spokesman Dan Branyon said.
Two of the women complained of asthma-related problems, while one had bronchitis and the other felt “swimmy-headed,” Jerome said.
“The first whiff of ammonia may have aggravated their problems,” he said.
About 50 employees were evacuated from the plant while the rest were at lunch, Strange said.
Four teams of firefighters checked the roof and the plant to make sure everyone was evacuated from the building, he said.
Ammonia gas was present in about 18 parts per million of oxygen on the roof, Strange said. Most of it dissipated into the air harmlessly once the leak was fixed.
The gas was in such a small amount that no one was seriously hurt, he said. Ammonia can cause burns on the skin and damage to lungs, said Deputy Chief Hal Stockman of the fire department.
“There is some danger to it,” he said.
Carolina Pride workers first noticed the leak about 11:45 a.m. after smelling the ammonia.
Greenwood firefighters and plant employees stopped the leak in 18 minutes, Jerome said.
They used self-contained breathing apparatus suits to avoid the toxic effects of the gas and make the repairs.
Firefighters cleared the plant for employees to return at about 1 p.m., Jerome said.
Employees turned on exhaust fans to make sure all the ammonia was out of the plant.
Jerome said he was thankful no one was seriously hurt, even if it did slow down the plant’s production.
“It certainly had an impact on production, but that wasn’t our concern at the time,” he said.
Jerome said the incident would have little effect on production.

Arrest linked to fatal robbery

Greenwood police say Calhoun Falls man
had gun connected to pawn shop killing

August 29, 2006

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

A Calhoun Falls man arrested during the weekend reportedly was in possession of a gun that is linked to a Greenville pawn shop killing and robbery that occurred earlier this month.
The Greenwood Police Department charged Vandis L. Wilson, 22, of 601 Seneca St., Calhoun Falls, with possession of marijuana, resisting arrest and failure to stop on lawful command.
The handgun and its magazine were found near Applebee’s on S.C. 72 Bypass after police arrested Wilson on Friday night, Police Chief Gerald Brooks said.
Police checked the serial number of the gun in the National Crime Information Center database and found it was one of nearly 100 guns stolen Aug. 12 from First Cash Pawn Shop in Greenville during a robbery in which the shop owner, Timothy Henson, was killed, Brooks said.
Benjamin Erik Case was 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 in connection with the pawn shop robbery and killing.
Two law enforcement agencies will be looking into the gun’s connection to the pawn shop murder and robbery, Brooks said.
The Greenville Police Department is investigating the murder and robbery, while the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is looking into the stolen weapons.
Two .40-caliber rounds were found inside the gun magazine.
Officer David Gurley stopped a burgundy Chevy near the intersection of East Laurel Avenue and Leyland Circle Friday because he heard it playing loud music, according to a Greenwood Police incident report.
Gurley stopped the car in the Food Lion parking lot. As he walked up to the car, Gurley said he smelled marijuana.
While Gurley was writing a ticket for unlawful playing of the radio, he said he noticed the driver reaching under the driver’s seat.
Gurley asked the driver to get out of the car, then searched him. The driver wrestled out of Gurley’s grasp and ran across the parking lot and around the front corner of the Applebee’s restaurant, dropping a magazine to a semi-automatic weapon.
Gurley warned the driver that he was going to use his Taser on him, but the driver tripped and fell.
A witness told Gurley that he saw a woman walk over to the area where the officer and driver struggled. He said she picked up something wrapped in a white cloth and then drove away in a white car.
Police are looking for the woman.

Ulysses Howard Jones

Ulysses Howard Jones, of 912 Chappelle St., died Friday, Aug. 25, 2006 at his home.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of the late Bennie Lee and Ida Mae Hart Jones. He was a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church and an Army veteran of the Vietnam War.
Survivors include a son, Markcus Jones, of Greenwood; three sisters, Beatrice J. Dupree, of Bennettsville, Imojene Sparks, of Woodbridge, Va., and Gladys Ferguson, of Duncanville, Texas; a brother, Billy Ray Jones, of Greenwood.
Services are 4 p.m. Wednesday at Parks Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Jonathan Greene. Burial is in The Evening Star cemetery.
Pallbearers and flower bearers are friends of the family.
Visitation is at the home.
Parks Funeral Home is in charge.

Mrs. Willie Clyde Jones

GREENWOOD — Mrs. Willie Clyde M. Jones, 86, of 141 Lawton Street, widow of Woodrow Wilson Jones, died Monday, August 28, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Eastman, GA, she was a daughter of the late Charlie and Mamie Livingston McCranie. She was retired from Greenwood Mills, having worked in the Mathews and Adams Plants. She was a member of South Main Street Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Bobbie Jean Jones McClain.
Surviving is a son and daughter-in-law, Wilson and Pam Jones of Greenwood; three granddaughters, Melissa McClain of Waterloo, Mrs. Ken (Lynn McClain) Boyter of Greenwood and Mrs. Matt (Hope Jones) Hughes of Kennesaw, GA; two great grandsons, Kenny Boyter and Dylan McClain; two sisters, Alice Stille and Ruby Kelly, both of Greenwood.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Richard McWhite, the Rev. A. B. Parsons and Dr. Phil McMinn officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Lance Dove and deacons and members of South Main Street Baptist Church.
Honorary escort will be the members of the Ladies Sunday School Class and the Ladies Prayer Group of South Main Street Baptist Church.
Special thanks is extended to Dr. Jed Graham and staff, NHC Home Health, HospiceCare of the Piedmont, Self Regional nurses and staff, Ida Mae Walker and all caregivers in the home for their kindness and care and especially Mrs. Sammie Busby for her love and affection.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m.
The family is at the home of her son, Wilson Jones, 405 Marietta Drive.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Eddie Mae Pope

Eddie Mae “Peg” Elam Pope, widow of the Rev. James F. Pope, died Saturday, Aug. 26, 2006 at HospiceCare of the Piedmont.
Born in Greenwood County, she was a daughter of the late Edgar Heyward “Luck” and Anna Hentz Elam. She was a member of Pine Grove AME Church, Callison, where she was a class leader, steward, member of the Missionary Society and Ladies Club and of the AME District for many years. A homemaker, she was also a PAL volunteer and seamstress.
Survivors include two sisters, Daisy Belle Day and Mary Faulkner, both of Greenwood; two brothers, Edgar Heyward Elam, of Greenwood, and Ben Joe Elam, of Rochester, N.Y.
Services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at Pine Grove AME Church, with the Rev. Kenneth Aiken presiding and Elder Oscar A. Klugh officiating. Assisting are the Revs. George Oliver and Annette Edwards. The body will be placed in the church at 10. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers and flower bearers are friends of the family.
Viewing begins at 1 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Visitation is at the home of a sister, Mary Faulkner, 2414 Kateway Drive.
Parks Funeral Home is in charge.

Erskine men’s soccer preparing
for a difficult season with a new coach

August 29, 2006

By JIM JOYCE
Special projects editor

DUE WEST — New men’s soccer coach Warren Turner and Erskine’s Flying Fleet have been practicing in anticipation of Saturday’s opening match against Lander University.
While it is Erskine’s first match of the 2006 season, Lander has victories over St. Andrews and Mt. Olive, both members of the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (same as Erskine).
For Turner, the Lander match won’t be completely new as player or coach.
He played at Presbyterian College and was an assistant coach four years before moving to Roanoke College in Virginia. He came to Erskine from there.
In preparation for the opener, Turner said, “The players have been working very hard. We’re good, but not great. We’ll get some wins because of how hard we work and won’t give up.”
Erskine has special players in a number of positions but, Turner said, they are concerned about depth as the season progresses when injuries occur.
“I hope the players will be able to step up and maintain a high level,” he said.
Of his personnel, Turner pointed out sophomore Kyle Bennett, of Lilburn, Ga., sophomore midfielder Simon Morris, of High Point, N.C., and sophomore midfielder John Michael Leppert, of Germantown, Tenn.
“Kyle does everything right and is a great leader,” Turner said. “If Kyle runs the defense, Simon (Morris) runs the offense. He’s a tough guy to defend and knows where the players are. He’s smart and a good player.”
Leppert, Turner added, “is an outside midfielder who can run all day and do whatever he wants to. He plays defense very hard.”
Brian Endres, a midfielder from Newnan, Ga., has transferred from the University of West Georgia and is expected to move in right away.
“I’m excited about the number of spots we can look to play him,” Turner said. “He’s pretty versatile and athletic, and his work rate is like something I’ve never seen before. He’s very productive.”
Depthwise, Turner said the Fleet remains thin.
“Bryan Amey (of Greenwood) had a strained hip flexer diagnosed in the spring and will have to be red-shirted,” he said. “He’s due to have surgery in September and it’s about a four-month recovery period. That will be a big loss for us. He scores a lot of goals and is a hard worker. We’ll definitely need somebody to step up for him.”
Also, senior goalkeeper Jesse Kraay, of Tucson, Ariz., rolled an ankle in the first five minutes of our first practice, Drew Annas, a goalkeeper, went down the next day and leaves the Fleet with one goalkeeper at full strength at this point — and he’s a freshman.
“Josh Veal has good hands and good technical ability in the goal, but he’s a freshman,” Turner added. “It’s great to have Jesse who can help me get Josh prepared. As it looks today, he’s the man and we’re fortunate he’s a very good player.”
As a whole, Turner said, “The talent is there, and that says great things for the future. We’re very lucky in that the two seniors (Ed Joyce and Bennett) we have are outstanding leaders.”
As for the CVAC, the coach said he likes the team’s chances to compete for the regular season and conference championship.
“At the very top, it looks like a bit of rebuilding and we’re young and upcoming,” he said. “We can be on the level as they are and I like our chances to be there in the end.
“I’m pleased with the players there now. They are doing a good job, but if something happens, we’re in trouble.”

Too many parents flunk tests on their children

August 29, 2006

Youngsters and alcohol. These are two things in common with a number of deaths on South Carolina’s highways. So, what else is new, someone might ask. Haven’t teenagers always “experimented” with alcohol, and haven’t teen highway deaths been pretty much of a constant over the years?
Both of those things may be true, of course, but they appear to be a growing concern in the Palmetto State. Nationally, a back-to-school survey shows a third of American teenagers have attended parties where parents were at home while alcohol or illegal drugs were used. The report paints an overall portrait of a generation of parents who are clueless about their children’s vices.

FROM ALL INDICATIONS, too many parents are not aware of what goes on. Only 12 percent of them see drugs and alcohol as a problem for their children. Many see peer pressures as their child’s biggest issue.
Then there are situations like the ones in Greenwood and Lexington Counties that make you wonder. A Greenwood woman has been charged in connection with a party on her property where alcohol and drugs were found, police say. A number of teens were arrested and charged. In Lexington, a woman was arrested and charged after being accused of hosting parties for teenagers, providing them with alcohol, allowing them to have sex, and giving them birth control pills. All will have their day in court, to be sure, where guilt or innocence will be decided. Still, for many people this kind of case leaves a public image that is not reassuring.
Through it all, many parents apparently don’t connect, according to Joseph Califano Jr., chairman and president of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.

CALIFANO SAYS “THESE parents are like the three monkeys. They see no beer, smell no pot and don’t hear all hell breaking loose in the family room because of the alcohol and drugs ..... It doesn’t take a sharp nose to smell pot (marijuana).
“These parents don’t understand the world their children are living in. There is a lot of denial here,” he says.
True. There always are parents, it seems, who want to be “buddies” instead of parents, and many others simply pass children off for others to raise. Parental irresponsibility seems to be the common denominator. Perhaps that’s created by a generation of children having children, not to mention the decline of the family as a moral and stabilizing force.
One thing’s for sure. Parents have to be parents. Too many, as the survey showed, have no clue.