Humane Society vandalized
December 18, 2006
By
CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer
The animal shelter at the Humane Society of Greenwood fell victim
to vandalism and robbery Saturday night.
According to officials at the shelter, which is located near the
skate park and baseball fields behind the Greenwood Civic Center,
vandals broke into the shelter sometime during the night on
Saturday, gaining entry by smashing out the window on the front
door of the adoption center. The vandals then let numerous cats
out of their cages and stole the candy machines from the lobby
area. A cat is missing from the shelter.
“We came in about 8 a.m. (Sunday) to clean up,” said
shelter employee Heather Henley. “I was shocked to see what
I found. The window was broken, cages were pushed open and the
cats were out and hysterical.”
Henley said the first thing she did was rush to the phone and
call the Greenwood Police Department. She said an officer was on
the scene within minutes to take a report and ensure the area was
secure.
After calling the authorities, Henley said the next order of
business was to round up all of the cats that were out of their
cages. It was then she noticed one was missing.
The feline that is unaccounted for is a 2 1/2-year-old spayed
female named “Splotch.” Splotch is a mostly black cat
with a white belly and splotches of black on the white parts of
her face.
Henley said she was unsure of whether Splotch had been stolen or
simply leapt out of the broken window during the robbery.
“I don’t know, but I certainly hope she got out on her
own and that someone didn’t steal her,” Henley said.
“I hope all they broke in for was the money out of those
candy machines and not one of these cats.”
Henley said she didn’t know of anyone in particular that
would seek to harm the shelter or its animals.
“We see so many people back here,” Henley said. “There’s
the skate park and the softball fields right here, so there’s
always people back here. I hope we haven’t made someone mad.”
Shelter employees helped in cleaning up after the vandals
throughout the afternoon. Boards were placed over the broken
window until it could be repaired today.
Anyone with information on Splotch, the missing cat, can call
223-2498.
Chris Trainor covers area news for The Index-Journal. He can
be reached at: ctrainor@indexjournal.com.
Christmas celebration honors notable figures
December 18, 2006
By
CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer
The town of Hodges had its 15th annual Caroling Around the
Gazebo event Sunday afternoon, and it was a celebration in more
ways than one.
On one hand, it served as a traditional show of Christmas cheer,
with dozens of men, women and children gathering around the
gazebo in the town square to sing holiday tunes and have
refreshments.
On the other, the event served as a ceremony honoring three
notable figures in Hodges: outgoing mayor Al Nickles, city
councilman Stanley Smith and Bob Piephoff, who is retiring after
20 years as pastor of Hodges Presbyterian Church.
Each of the men received a plaque during the ceremony.
“I was surprised,” Nickles said. “I didn’t
have any idea I would be receiving this honor.”
Former S.C. House of Representatives member Marion Carnell was on
hand to present Nickles his plaque. Nickles, who was born and
raised in Hodges, has been the mayor of the small town for more
than 20 years. Newly elected mayor Michael George will take over
in January.
“Al has done a mighty good job,” Carnell said. “I’m
more than pleased to come out and honor him (Sunday).”
Piephoff, who also has served as official photographer for
Caroling Around the Gazebo for many years, had one comment for
the crowd as he received his plaque.
“If I ever leave this town, I’m going to miss all of ya’ll,”
Piephoff said, smiling and waving.
The comment drew fits of laughter from those in attendance.
Nickles presented Smith with his plaque, but not until Smith took
care of a more pressing matter: Donning a Santa Claus suit and
entertaining the town’s children.
As the carolers sang “Here Comes Santa Claus,” a
Hodges-Cokesbury Fire Department truck came rolling up with
sirens blaring. Smith, plying the role of Kris Kringle, tossed
candy to the crowd, then noted what each child wanted for
Christmas.
The kids present certainly had their share of sugary goodness.
Besides the candy Santa tossed out, there was also a spirited
game of “Guess the Carol,” where the children were
awarded candy for guessing Christmas songs the fastest.
Nickles was thrilled to see a good crowd out on an unseasonably
warm day.
“We’ve done this for 15 years now,” Nickles said.
“The crowds have always been good, and I believe we had more
out today than we did last year. It was good to see many
different members of the community with us this afternoon.”
Chris Trainor covers area news for The Index-Journal. He can
be reached at: ctrainor@indexjournal.com.
Lander bans smoking
December 18, 2006
From
staff reports
Use of tobacco will be prohibited on the Lander University campus
— outdoors and indoors — effective August 2007. The
no-tobacco policy was approved by the Lander Board of Trustees
during its meeting last week in Carnell Learning Center.
The no-tobacco decision eliminates the use of tobacco anywhere on
the campus of the state university. The decision expands on
Lander’s current policy, which prohibits smoking within 25
feet of the entrance to any building on campus.
Lander President Daniel W. Ball said the action by the board
supports the university’s wellness program, which has been
formulated in accordance with the Healthy Campus 2010 guidelines
established by the American College Health Association.
“We will have smoking-cessation programs in place to help
students, faculty and staff who will be trying to quit smoking,”
said Ball. “We already offer programs on such health issues
as exercise, weight control and stress management. In addition,
we pride ourselves on providing a wide selection of healthy foods
in our dining hall.”
“Lander is aware that a smoke-free campus will not be
popular with everyone,” said Ball, “but we are
committed to doing everything we can to promote healthy
lifestyles among our students, faculty, staff and visitors to the
campus. It is important that we as an institution take a stand on
this vital health issue.”
S. Anne Walker, chair of the Board of Trustees, added, “We
appreciate the leadership that Dr. Ball, as president and CEO of
Lander, has demonstrated in dealing with the issue of smoking on
campus, and we are proud that Lander is making the health of its
students a priority.”
Walker also expressed appreciation to the board for its
dedication.
“Only one member was unable to attend the board meeting,”
she said. “That’s a strong indication that board
members take their responsibilities to Lander and its students
very seriously.”
Obituaries
Mary Copeland
Mary
Hughes Copeland, 96, formerly of Ware Shoals and Greenwood, widow
of Luther Leonard Copeland, died Dec. 16, 2006, at the Hospice
House in Greenwood.
Born in Pickens County, she was a daughter of the late Charles T.
and Zelia Freeman Hughes. She was formerly employed by Riegel
Textiles Corporation in Ware Shoals and was a charter member of
the old Ninety Six Genealogical Society.
Ms. Copeland was a lifelong member of Harmony United Methodist
Church where she was very active in all phases of church work.
Surviving are two daughters, Wilma C. Kirkland (Mrs. John H.) of
Greenwood and Mrs. Opal C. Townsend Underwood and her husband,
Charles of Fayetteville, N.C.; one sister, Edna H. Henderson of
Ware Shoals; three grandchildren, Lynn K. Timmerman and husband,
Benny, Chris Kirkland and wife, Joan, all of Greenwood and John
H. Kirkland III and wife, Lauriann of Oxford, N.C.; seven
great-grandchildren, Lacy R. Hall, C.K. Kirkland, Nate Kirkland,
and Thomas Kirkland, all of Greenwood, Marine Lance Corporal John
H. Kirkland IV, of Camp Lejeune, N.C., Matthew Kirkland and Sarah
Kirkland, both of Oxford, N.C. Graveside services will be
conducted at Greenwood Memorial Gardens 3 p.m. Monday with Rev.
Dr. Tony Hopkins and Rev. Joe Melvin Hughes officiating.
The family will be at the home of Mrs. Wilma Kirkland, 145
Rutledge Road in Forest Hills and will receive friends from
1:30-2:30 at Blyth Funeral Home prior to the graveside service.
Memorials may be made to Harmony United Methodist Church, 36
Harmony Road, Ware Shoals, SC 29692 or Hospice Care of the
Piedmont, 408 West Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646 or to a
charity of one’s choice.
For additional information and online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the
Copeland family.
Macy McNeill
ABBEVILLE
— Macy Campbell McNeill, 97, of Abbeville, wife of
the late Lowrie Wilson McNeill, died Sunday, Dec. 17, 2006, at
the Abbeville Nursing Home.
She was born in Abbeville County to the late Cooley and Zillie
Wheeler Campbell. Mrs. McNeill was a member of the Sharon United
Methodist Church.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death
by two sons, William Francis McNeill, and Lowrie W. McNeill Jr.;
a daughter, Judy Gail McNeill.
Survivors include her daughter, Barbara M. Shockley of Abbeville;
a son, Gene McNeill and his wife Ellen of Abbeville; a brother,
Bobby Campbell of Mississippi; a sister, Pauline C. Burdette of
Iva; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two
great-great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends Monday, Dec. 18, 2006, from 5-7
p.m. at Harris Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 2 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2006, in the funeral home chapel. Burial will
follow in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens.
Memorials contributions may be sent in memory of Mrs. McNeill to
the Sharon United Methodist Church 246 Sharon Church Rd.
Abbeville, SC 29620 or to the First Baptist Church of Abbeville
Building Fund, PO Box 825 Abbeville, SC 29620.
The families are at their respective homes.
Online condolences may be sent to the McNeill family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com.
Harris Funeral Home, of Abbeville is assisting the McNeill
family.
Timothy Parsells
LAURENS
— Timothy Joel Parsells, 19, of 257 Lee St., died Saturday,
Dec. 16, 2006, at Self Regional Medical Center, Greenwood.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home &
Crematory.
Lee Roberts
Lee
Forrest Roberts, 84, of 128 Kings Grant Lane, husband of Lydia
Estlelle Fillingim Roberts, died Sunday, Dec. 17, 2006, at his
home.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation
Services.
Lornell Saxon
Lornell
Saxon, 84, of 301 Millway Ave., died Saturday, Dec. 16, 2006, at
Self Regional Medical Center.
The family is at the home of a son, Ricky Saxon, 112 Lawton St.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins.
Opinion
Biogtry
and end of Israel is object of Iran’s hate
December 18, 2006
Talk
about rewriting history. That’s what Iran’s radical
leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been doing from his seat of
authority. Over and over he’s insisted that the Holocaust
was all a myth and a hoax despite all the evidence that Hitler’s
Nazis murdered six to seven million Jews in gas chambers and in
other ways. He uses that lie to seek the annihilation of Israel,
claiming its existence is illegitimate.
Then the man who also wants to kill Americans hosts what might
appear to some to be a legitimate scholarly conference: “Review
of the Holocaust: Global Vision.”
Despite a varied list of people in attendance, including some
rabbis and others who hoped to bring about some truth and
righteousness, the intent was clear to anyone with an open mind.
The target of it all was Israel and its destruction.
One who attended is known to many South Carolinians. American
radical rightwinger David Duke was there to once again
demonstrate the bigotry he’s consistently shown in this
country. But, then, the whole event was based on bigotry, except
this time it had the support of a nation.
Everything about it should be condemned ..... including but not
confined to Duke and his ilk.