Longtime journalist gets top state honor

December 6, 2006

By RICHARD WHITING
Executive news editor

William A. “Bill” Collins got more than his usual serving of chicken livers, fried chicken and other goodies at The Index-Journal’s annual Christmas party Tuesday. He also was served the state’s highest civilian honor given by the governor, the Order of the Palmetto.
State Rep. Mike Pitts surprised Collins when he showed up at the newspaper’s annual feast, with Collins’ wife, Betsy, their two sons and other family members in tow, to make the presentation.
Surrounded by family and co-workers, Collins listened as Pitts explained why he had nominated longtime newspaperman and Index-Journal editor Collins for the award.
“Freedom of the press is very important because it keeps the public informed of what we in government are doing for them, to them,” Pitts said.
The lawmaker then pointed to what he has seen as a problem in recent years in the field of journalism, print and broadcast. It occurred “right after Watergate,” Pitts said, when “the media in all forms tended to go toward sensationalism and try to make their own stories ... rather than use facts and let” the public decide. But Collins, Pitts said, has always presented both sides of an issue — and fairly.
Pitts said he nominated Collins for the award because of the editor’s continual protection of First Amendment rights, which in turn protects other rights.
Pitts admitted that on more than one occasion Collins has, in his editorials, taken a position contrary to his own. But that doesn’t stop him from praising Collins. Collins has allowed Pitts’ viewpoint, and the viewpoint of others, to be known through the news and editorial pages, and he presents balanced and reasoned commentary on the issues, he said. Pitts also commended Collins for his support of yet another important constitutional amendment, the Second Amendment.
“The only one I know that protects the Constitution more (than the First Amendment) is the Second Amendment because it gives us the ability to revolt against a tyrannical government,” Pitts said.
With help from Collins’ longtime friend Emmett Davis, Pitts presented Collins a National Rifle Association bronzed statue of “The Paratrooper,” representing Collins’ defense of the country and the Constitution’s first and second amendments as soldier and journalist.
“It’s an unexpected honor and I thank Governor Sanford and Representative Pitts for it,” Collins said of receiving the state’s highest honor.
“I’m not sure I deserve such recognition, but I’m absolutely positive that all the people I’ve worked with and for over the years do. Although I have been fortunate to work on great newspapers, none rates higher than The Index-Journal. The confidence shown me by the late Frank and Eleanor Mundy was incomparable.
“That continued with their daughter Judi as publisher, and I am grateful for that, too. She has always given me and this ‘family’ the kind of support that makes coming to work every morning a joy. The people of Greenwood and South Carolina? They speak for themselves. It shows, too. All the proof needed is all around us every day. They are more worthy of the Order of the Palmetto than I.”

Governor’s remarks
Pitts also shared a letter written to Collins by the governor.
In his letter, Sanford wrote:
“You have an outstanding record as an unbiased journalist who reports the facts on all sides of an issue and lets the reader reach his own conclusion. Your reputation for fairness has followed you all the days of your professional life from your tenure with The Times Dispatch in Richmond, Va., to your award-winning leadership with The Index-Journal today.
“As Rep. Mike Pitts wrote me on your behalf, you have protected our freedoms with a gun and our institutions with a pen! You have also been tireless as an ambassador for many causes, and I am impressed just looking at the breadth of your devotion to others — the Greenwood Genetic Center, the boards of visitors of Lander University, Piedmont Technical College and Erskine College, the board of trustees of Francis Marion University, your church, and numerous other civic, church and professional endeavors too numerous to mention.
“In addition, I, along with my fellow South Carolinians and all Americans, thank you for your service in the United States Army during the Korean War.
“South Carolina has greatly benefited from your tremendous work and your steadfast commitment to your fellow man. Your legacy of generosity and leadership continues to thrive because you uphold the highest ideals in serving others.”

About “Bill” Collins
Collins is a Florence native and U.S. Army veteran. He was one of the original Airborne Rangers, having completed his training prior to the age of 18.
A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Collins has done everything on newspapers from sports to crime reporting to editing and publishing, in Greenwood, Columbia and Richmond. He was publisher of the Alexandria (Va.) Gazette in that Washington, D.C., suburb. It was owned by The State newspaper, of Columbia.
Collins was director of public relations and advertising for Blue Cross-Blue Shield of South Carolina and chief of the USC news service. He also has served in Charlotte as public relations manager for the Associated General Contractors of the Carolinas.
Collins is married to the former Betsy Heeseman, of Charlotte. He has three children and five grandchildren, with another on the way.
Collins has lived in Greenwood twice and has been active in civic and service organizations in Greenwood and the state. He has served The Index-Journal as editor, executive editor, general manager and executive editorial editor for 28 years.

Dashing down the street ...
Yuletide spirit heads into Ninety Six

For this town, parade is all about family

December 6, 2006

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

NINETY SIX — Ben Davis, of Greenwood, hadn’t been to the Ninety Six Christmas Parade in a few years, but knew he had to go when someone special to him wanted to go.
Davis’ grandson, Liam Riley, hadn’t been to the parade before and neither had his mother, Delacey Riley, and his father, Taylor, who just got back from spending 14 months in Iraq.
So what could Davis do, but take Liam and family to see the parade.
“When your grandson wants to come, you drop everything and you come,” he said.
The Ninety Six Christmas Parade saw hundreds line S.C. 34 Tuesday night and pack the downtown area for free candy, dazzling floats and a chance at seeing the jolly ol’ elf himself, Santa Claus.
Michelle Conway, of Ninety Six, wasn’t surprised at the turnout.
Participation by townspeople is always high for events such as the parade, as the whole town likes to get together.
“They support their town and their kids,” Conway said.
She wasn’t much different than the rest of Ninety Six in having a personal stake in the parade. Her cousin, son and daughter were in the parade this year, and she has sporadically come to the parade for five years.
Conway enjoys going to the parade, seeing the kids and recognizing most of them.
Haley Roark, 8, of Ninety Six, dressed as a bumblebee and marched with children from Ninety Six Primary School. She’s a parade veteran, having spent six years participating in area parades in some form, including being in this year’s Greenwood Christmas Parade as part of Tara’s House of Dance in Ninety Six.
Haley liked the Ninety Six Fire Department’s fire truck with Santa aboard the best.
Conway’s favorite float was Simple PC’s ambulance “driven” by people dressed as reindeer.
“I thought that was cute,” she said.
The parade was a conga line of unique vehicles, from a green-and-yellow John Deere semi-truck carrying John Deere tractors and a John Deere golf cart, to a low-to-the-ground dune buggy. Floats also ranged from the simple to the complex.
Kelly White, of Ninety Six, favored the Commissioners of Public Works float complete with rocking chairs, Christmas music and fireplace.
She came with her 5-year-old daughter Hannah to see her father and Hannah’s grandfather, Lt. Larry Jones, on Ninety Six’s fire truck.
White has been going to Ninety Six’s Christmas Parade for most of her life.
“It gets better and better every year,” she said.
Chuck Brock has a similar opinion of the parade, even though this is his first year going to the Ninety Six parade. He went to the Greenwood parade this year and says Ninety Six’s parade stacks up well next to it.
“It’s just as good, if not better,” Brock said.

Zoning issue draws crowd

Council sends matter back to committee for more discussion

December 6, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

Regular meetings of the Greenwood County Council are open to the public. On Tuesday night, a large section of the public decided to exercise its right to attend.
Tuesday’s meeting was met with a crowd that overflowed the small courtroom it was planned for. As such, the council was forced to recess in mid-meeting and conduct the rest of the event in the larger main courtroom.
Though there were several items on the meeting’s agenda, one issue drew the crowd: the second reading of a proposal to amend Ordinance 13-86, which would create a forest agriculture zoning district known as FA-2.
The proposed new zoning district allows for the same uses as the existing FA district, as well as the same setback requirements. The difference is FA-2 will allow for a minimum lot size of 2 acres, while the current FA district allows for a minimum lot size of 5 acres.
Under the proposed amendment, citizens who have property zoned FA would not automatically be rezoned FA-2. If the amendment were to pass, those currently zoned in FA would have to apply for a rezoning request with the county council’s planning commission if they wish to rezone.
Much of the land in question lies in the Callison community. People with stances on both sides of the issue spoke during Tuesday’s public hearing.
Ansel Brewer spoke on behalf of those in favor of the amendment.
“I want to be able to give my grandkids 2 acres of land, if that is what I see fit,” Brewer said. “I’m not asking that anybody currently zoned with a minimum of 5 acres be rezoned. I just want the right to help members of my family own 2 acres of land.”
Many who spoke against the amendment were concerned that some who owned hundreds of acres of land in Callison might rezone their properties in order to create large subdivisions or developments that would upset the integrity of the rural, forest-filled area.
“For many of these people here tonight, this is about heritage,” said Kevin Davis. “My family has had land in this area for over 100 years. I inherited land there from my grandfather, which he left me with the understanding that we would stay there.”
Davis said he also was concerned about the lack of infrastructure should the FA-2 amendment pass and people start to rezone their property.
After a number of citizens had their voices heard in the hearing, councilwoman Edith Childs made a motion to send the decision on the issue back to the planning committee for reconsideration.
“I have heard so much on both sides of this issue,” Childs said. “Some of you were sitting in these same spots in this courtroom eight years ago, and that’s OK. But, I’m not ready to make a decision right now. I would like to make a motion to send this issue back to the planning committee.”
The committee will now reconsider the issue before January’s council meeting.
After the conclusion of the FA-2 hearing, almost all of those in attendance Tuesday rose and exited the courtroom. In a bit of lighter business Tuesday, councilman Gonza Bryant took time to congratulate the Greenwood High School football team for its victory in last Friday’s Class AAAA Division II state championship game.
“We are the best in the state,” Bryant said, smiling. “But we already knew that.”
The council said it would formally recognize Greenwood coach Shell Dula and his team at a later date.

Chris Trainor covers area news for The Index-Journal. He can be reached at: ctrainor@indexjournal.com

Deloach wows Saluda crowd

USC signee scores 34 points in win over Abbeville

December 6, 2006

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports editor

SALUDA — The home fans who came to Saluda High School Tuesday night expecting to see one of, if not the area’s best, player go up against one of the Class AA’s top teams came away with something a little more.
Last year’s All-Lakelands player of the year and South Carolina signee Trevor Deloach definitely gave the crowd their price of admission, but Deloach’s teammates helped him send the preseason AA No. 4 Abbeville Panthers home with a loss.
Deloach dropped in 34 points, 20 rebounds and five blocks, while seven other Tigers combined for 42 in a 76-48 victory over the Panthers.
“We really wanted to get that win,” said Deloach, who spent the final 4 minutes, 21 seconds relaxing on the bench as his team’s most vocal supporter. “They’re a good team, but we came out and took care of business. We just had a good night. I’ve been telling them (teammates) all week they had to finish and they came out and finished tonight. I give them credit for taking a lot of pressure off me.”
Teammate Derell Coleman, who, like Deloach, rained down four 3-pointers, scored 16 points, while Ryan Nichols came off the bench for nine.
Junior Toquavius Gilchrist and senior Ty Suit led the Panthers (1-1) with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
But it was pretty much all Deloach all the time for Saluda (4-3) in the first 2 1/2 quarters.
With the senior not facing a gimmick defense, something that has become a routine sight over the past few seasons, Deloach went off early, pouring in 13 of his team’s first 16 points.
“I was expecting a box-and-one. I’m used to it now, but I got in the game and it was straight man-to-man and I love that,” Deloach said.
He scored eight points during a key 14-2 run that broke the game open for the Tigers, turning a 19-all tie into a 33-21 lead. Deloach finished the first half with 21 points to help the Tigers grab a 36-26 first-half lead.
“He definitely deserves one (a gimmick defense),” Abbeville coach James Herman said. “But it’s early in the season and we have to focus on the long run and we have to learn to play defense. It didn’t matter if we played a box-and-one. We didn’t play any defense.”
The Panthers battled back in the second half. Marcus Ray’s putback with 4:12 left in the third made it a single-digit game again, at 43-34.
But that’s when “the other guys” stepped in.
Cassius Bosket banked home a 3-pointer to kickstart a 15-3 Tigers run to close out the third and give Saluda a 58-37 lead heading into the final quarter. Four players not named Deloach accounted for 13 of those points.
Deloach managed only one field goal in that stretch. However, it did happen to be the biggest crowd-pleaser of the night. Trailing a breakaway led by Bosket, Deloach skied to jam home the layup miss, bring the fans to their feet.
“Everybody knows Trevor is our horse. We’re not going to fool anybody like that,” Saluda coach Jimmy Kinard said. “But we are a team. And by far this is the best that the team has played all year. I’m just glad to be guaranteed at least a split with them this season.”
The two teams will rematch Thursday night in Abbeville.
Deloach scored his last field goal with 5:22 remaining that put Saluda up 62-43. The “other guys” outscored the Panthers 12-5 the rest of the way.

Opinion

Effort to stop bullying should be a welcome step

December 6, 2006

Every child who has attended school anywhere in South Carolina more than likely has seen a bully at work. Many of them no doubt, have been victims.
Most of the time, it seems, the bully is the biggest in a group. Contrary to what some might think, the bully is not always a boy. Sometimes it’s a girl who throws her weight around. Male or female, though, both deal in fear and intimidation. They usually pick on the smaller and sometimes younger students. Sometimes, to be sure, students are not only frightened, they are beaten by bullies.

THE DICTIONARY DEFINES A bully as a blustering, browbeating person, particularly one who is habitually cruel to others who are weaker. It defines bullying as to treat abusively, to affect by means of force or coercion; also to use browbeating language or behavior.
A child, though, doesn’t need a dictionary definition to recognize a bully. Unfortunately, too many already know all too well. The effects of bullying has drastically hurt the chances of many boys and girls to learn as they should.
That, of course, has always been a factor in the lives of many school children and, unfortunately, it’s not helped by the violence that’s been seen around the country.
Actually, it could be that some parents never know that a child is suffering at the hands of a bully. It could be emotional and have a long-term effect, or it could be the reason some fall behind in the classroom and ultimately fail.

WHATEVER IT TAKES AND whatever the results, it’s gratifying to see South Carolina make an official effort to address bullying in its public schools. The State Legislature passed and Gov. Mark Sanford signed a new directive to all 85 school districts requiring them to crackdown on bullying. The districts have until the first of the year to adopt an anti-bullying policy. For the first time schools must define bullying and outline procedures to track and punish such behavior.
The dictionary definition is a good place to start. However, as in most things, common sense tells anyone what bullying is and who is doing the bullying.
It’s a good start to an ages-old problem. It won’t be worth anything, though, unless there is accountability, and that requires follow-through.

Obituaries

Ruth Berry Smalls Dennis

McCORMICK — Mrs. Ruth Berry Smalls Dennis, widow of Paul Dennis, Sr., died at her home Dec. 2, 2006 following an extended illness. She was born in McCormick June 26, 1928, a daughter of the late Inez Davis Hudson and the late John Perrin. She was a member of Bethany Baptist Church and was retired from the McCormick Home Health Department. She was twice married, first to the late Taylor Smalls and then to the late Paul Dennis, Sr.
Survivors are three daughters, Ms. Claudia Wideman and Ms. Carolyn Dennis of the home and Mrs. Cynthia (Ronnie) Norman of Lincolnton, Ga.; a stepdaughter, Ms. Bettye Jean Dennis of New Jersey; an adopted daughter, Mrs. Jackie (Samson) Mursier of McCormick; seven sons, Charles (Jessie) Smalls, Joyful Smalls, Paul (Vanessa) Dennis, Jr. and John Dennis, all of McCormick, James Thomas (Frances) Dennis of Antreville, SC, Eddie (Sherry) Dennis of Greenville, SC, Jesse (Gloria) Dennis of Calhoun Falls, SC; one stepson, John Works of Florida; one brother, James Perrin of McCormick; thirty-seven grandchildren, four of whom were reared in the home, Anthony Smalls, Shaneka Dennis, Alicia Smalls and Socorro Dennis; thirteen step-grandchildren; thirty-nine great grandchildren; and fifteen step-great-grandchildren.
Preceding her in death were a son, Billy Ray Smalls and three sisters, Essie Mae Talbert, Gertrude Barker and Mary Searles. Funeral services are 3 p.m. Thursday at Bethany Baptist Church in McCormick with the Pastor Rev. Robert Haskell officiating. Assisting are Rev. James Price, Eric Butler and Cuba Turman. The family is at the home 508 Talbert St. The body is at Walker Funeral Home and will be placed in the church at 2 p.m. Thursday.

Kattie Bell Bryant Kennedy

CALHOUN FALLS — Kattie Bell Bryant Kennedy, 63, of 516 Seneca St., wife of James Kennedy, died Saturday, Dec. 2, 2006 at Abbeville Area Medical Center, Abbeville.
She was born in Calhoun Falls, SC, to the parentage of Henry and Leolia Dubose Bryant. She was retired from Bibb Company and was a member of Glover A.M.E. Church in Calhoun Falls.
Survivors include her husband of the home; two daughters, Katherine B. Williams of Calhoun Falls and Rhonda F. Dean of Union, SC; two sisters, Annie L. Bryant and Maggie Bryant of Calhoun Falls; two brothers, Henry Bryant, Jr. of Calhoun Falls and Julius Bryant of Lawrenceville, GA; three granddaughters; two great-grandchildren; one goddaughter; three godsons.
Services are 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, 2006 at Glover A.M.E Church in Calhoun Falls, with Rev. Larry Merrill officiating; Rev. Clinton Hall, Rev. Robert Johnson, Rev. Howard Herman, Rev. Johnnie Waller and Rev. Brenda Lomax assisting.
Public viewing will be Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2006 at the Abbeville & White Mortuary, Inc. from 1 p.m.-8 p.m.
The family is at the home.
Abbeville & White Mortuary, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.

Richard Timmerman Sr.

Richard Hodges “Doodle” Timmerman, Sr., 75, resident of 208 Woodhaven Court, Greenwood, and Sleepy Creek Road, Edgefield, husband of Marie Anderson Timmerman, passed away Dec. 5, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Edgefield, July 27, 1931, he was a son of the late Raymond T. Timmerman, Sr. and Emily Ouzts Timmerman. Mr. Timmerman was a graduate of Edgefield High School and was formerly employed by the South Carolina Highway Department and Satterfield Construction Company. He retired as owner and operator of Timmerman’s Construction Company and from the National Guard and volunteered at the Greenwood Salvation Army Thrift Store.
Mr. Timmerman was a member of South Main Street Baptist Church and the Couples II Sunday School Class.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home are a daughter, Nancy Timmerman McCurley of Greenwood; two sons, Richard Hodges “Dickie” Timmerman and John Wells Timmerman and wife, Michelle, all of Greenwood; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a brother, Raymond T. Timmerman of Edgefield.
Graveside services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens Dr. Phil McMinn and Rev. Ryan Eklund officiating.
Honorary escort will be members of the Couples II Sunday School Class, along with friends at McKendree Methodist Church in Edgefield and volunteers of the Salvation Army Thrift Store.
The family is at the home on Woodhaven Court and will receive friends immediately following the graveside service at the cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Salvation Army, 516 Montague Ave., Greenwood, SC 29649.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.blythfuneralhome.com. Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Timmerman family.