Reorganization plan good news
for Greenwood plant, Solutia manager says

February 15, 2006

By From staff reports


If approved, a plan to reorganize Solutia Inc. will be “good news for the employees” of the Greenwood plant, plant manager Richard Briere said Tuesday.
“It’s the first step in the right direction,” he said.
From its St. Louis, Mo., headquarters, Solutia Inc. announced it has filed a plan of reorganization and disclosure statement with the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.
The plan was supported by the official committee of unsecured creditors, Monsanto Co., Pharmacia Corp. and the official committee of retirees.
“While we still have much to do in order to complete this process, filing our plan of reorganization takes us one significant step closer to successfully reorganizing Solutia,” said Jeffry N. Quinn, president and CEO of Solutia Inc. “This plan of reorganization will enable Solutia to emerge from Chapter 11 later this year with an improved competitive position.”
Solutia has been plagued by retiree benefit, litigation and environmental liability issues, stemming from its 1997 spinoff from the former Monsanto Co., which forced the company to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Dec. 17, 2003.
Locally, Solutia’s Greenwood plant has been restructured and made more cost-competitive over the past few years through attrition and retirements. The reorganization plan does not call for layoffs within the Greenwood plant, Dan Jenkins, director of communications and public affairs, said from his St. Louis office.
In reorganizing, Jenkins said, Solutia has had to look closely at its various operations to determine which ones logically and profitably should be maintained. As a result, some operations have been altered or reduced because they cannot compete with overseas operations.
The Greenwood plant, however, is doing well in the market, he said. This Solutia plant is part of the integrated nylon business. In 2005, integrated nylon comprised about 58 percent of the company’s net sales.
This plant makes the yarn that goes into contract and residential carpets. Its branded carpet for residential use is known as Weardated. It also makes industrial carpeting fibers.
The polymer area produces flake for domestic and international customers. The flake is extruded into nylon yarns and molded products such as electrical connectors, cable ties and automotive parts, including high strength fibers for use in tires and airbags.

GHS uses 4 queens to get to 2nd round

4 starters combine for 53 points in Class AAAA victory

February 15, 2006

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

Four of a kind always beats ace high.
The Greenwood High School girls basketball team advanced to the second round of the Class AAAA playoffs behind another solid outing from its four queens.
Jacena Thompson, Syteria Robinson, Ashly Chandler and Vijya Corbett combined for 53 points in the Lady Eagles’ 57-43 win over Boiling Springs Tuesday night at Greenwood gymnasium.
“I think we played better tonight than we have in the last two games,” Greenwood coach Susan Thompson said. “The girls are excited. That was a great win.
“All of them did a good job out there tonight.”
Greenwood moves on to face Aiken Friday night.
Aiken defeated Rock Hill, 52-47, in Tuesday’s opening round.
The Lady Eagles’ foursome, who scored all 24 of Greenwood’s points in the second half, spoiled an impressive effort from Boiling Springs junior Staley Foster, who pitched in a game-high 23 points.
The 6-foot Foster knocked down four 3-pointers and scored 22 of the Lady Bulldogs’ first 35 points.
“We knew she (Foster) was the one to watch,” Susan Thompson said. “We were a little worried at first because she was able to penetrate. But once our guards realized they had to step down in the lane to stop that we slowed her down.”
Jacena Thompson led the Lady Eagles with 18 points and 13 rebounds.
Chandler scored nine of her 12 in the second half after sitting out the entire second quarter with three fouls. With Chandler on the bench in foul trouble, Robinson picked up the slack, scoring eight of her 15 points in the second.
Corbett added eight points and six assists, while Keisha Simpson was only other Greenwood scorer, with four second-quarter points.
The Lady Eagles took as much as a 12-point lead in the first half and were up 33-27 at the half.

Lady Vikings pound Johnson

February 15, 2006

By JAVAN FRINKS
Special to The Index-Journal

Emerald High School girls basketball team advanced to the second round of the Class AA playoffs by knocking off C.A. Johnson, 57-37, Tuesday at Emerald.
Elizabeth Nicholson led the Lady Vikings to victory with 22 points.
“I was worried at first when we couldn’t get our shots to fall,” Emerald coach Anarie Duckett said. “(C.A. Johnson’s) coach came out to watch us Friday so they had a good idea of what we do.” C.A. Johnson swarmed the paint, keeping the Lady Vikings from running their usual offense.
“They really packed it in, forcing us to go to our outside game,” said Brittany Connor, who finished with 12 points, including a trio of 3-pointers.
There were several battles for the ball that left players on both sides getting up off the floor. C.A. Johnson used double and triple teams to try and slow Emerald down.
“They played more aggressive than other teams in this region, so we had to match them,” Nicholson said.
Rachel Baggett had several rebounds in the game and two of her four points came just before halftime, giving the Lady Vikings a 24-15 lead.
“We had to change our defense,” Duckett said about their halftime adjustments. The Lady Vikings’ passing helped them work around a fast Lady Green Hornets’ defense. Ashley Hall led the Lady Green Hornets with 12 points.

Opinion

Cheney hunting accident: Mountain or a mole hill?

February 15, 2006

Write your own editorial!
The way it looks sometimes, the White House press corps and others in the national media are like a bunch of sharks in a feeding frenzy. When they get their teeth into something they rip it to shreads. Large or small, it makes no difference.
That seems to be the situation surrounding the Texas hunting accident that involved Vice President Dick Cheney and one of his hunting companions. As everyone knows by now, the companion was hit by some bird shot when Mr. Cheney shot at a quail. His injuries were more or less superficial.
However, they determined he later had a “silent” heart attack and put him in intensive care for several days to keep tabs on his condition. He’s OK, though, they say, and that a silent heart attack is not nearly as serious as a typical one.

THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED when the man did not alert the vice president that he was retrieving a downed quail and was at that particular spot when he was hit, which is something he should have done. As far as law enforcement authorities are concerned it was an accident and nothing more. Case closed. However, to hear the national media tell it, the Vice President and, by extension, President Bush, have committed a mortal sin. That, it appears, is not because of the accident itself, but because the national media wasn’t told for some time after it happened. South Carolinians, and indeed all Americans, have to wondcr if the whole thing hasn’t become a “making a mountain out of a mole hill” situation. Hunting accidents happen, and this one by comparison is almost inconsequential. BE THAT AS IT MAY, though, it’s how too many in the media become overly zealous about anything anyone in the Bush Administration does, whether it’s a sneeze or a stumped toe.
That’s not to say that Bush, Cheney or anyone else should not be taken to task when they deserve it. And, sometimes they do deserve it. And, that’s not to say the man’s injury was nothing to be concerned about. However, with so many other serious isssues on the table, it helps nothing when the press goes bananas and makes some event appear to be more than it is. In fact, sensationalizing such events tends to alienate public opinion of the media. You have to wonder why they do it. What’s the purpose?
Is it a case of hurt pride because someone didn’t get a “scoop,” or do such incidents deserve the “damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead” approach?
Write your own editorial!

Editorial expression in this feature represents our own views.
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Obituaries

Michael ‘Buster’ Carroll

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Michael Moses “Buster” Carroll, 61, of 2217 N.W. 20th St., died Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006 at his home.
The family is at the home of his mother, Mattie Carroll, 107 Ebony Drive, Ninety Six, S.C.
Services will be announced by Daniel and Sons Funeral Home, Ninety Six.

Donya Cash

COLUMBIA — Donya Cellanti Cash, 82, widow of Nesbie A. Cash, died Monday, Feb. 13, 2006 at Heartland of Columbia.
Born in Greensburg, Pa., she was a daughter of the late Salvatore and Genevra Maria Carlini Cellanti. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include four sons, Nesbie “Buddy” Cash of Knoxville, Tenn., Edward Cash of Gaston, John Cash and Fredie Cash, both of Sumter; three daughters, Jacqueline Mays of Prattsville, Ala., Billie Jean Floyd of McCormick and Vicki Dorflinger of Charlotte, N.C.; 21 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Graveside services are 2:30 Friday at Plum Branch Cemetery, conducted by the Rev. Darrell Engle. The families are at their respective homes.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at blythfuneralhome.com

Elizabeth Faulkner

GREENWOOD — Anna Elizabeth Nelson Faulkner, 99, widow of Lawton Whatley Faulkner, died February 14, 2006 at National Healthcare of Greenwood.
Born in Pelzer, SC, June 30, 1906, she was a daughter of the late William E. and Lula Satterfield Nelson.
Mrs. Faulkner was a member of West Side Baptist Church and had taught Sunday School for over 60 years at various Greenwood churches.
Surviving is a daughter, Ann Rhodes Bonnette and husband George of Greenwood. Four grand-daughters, Linda F. and husband Jack Jackson of Savannah, GA, Faye F. DeMay of Middleburg, FL, Nancy R. and husband William Holladay of Greenwood and Jennie R. and husband Tommy Bolger of Summerton, SC. Seven great-grandchildren and twelve great-great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Faulkner was predeceased by a son, Marion O’Neal Faulkner.
Funeral services will be conducted 2:00 PM Thursday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Hal Lane officiating.
Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Calvin Packman, Ray Riddle, Tommy Miller, Larry Hightower, George Warren Flury, Scott Holladay and Ray Faulkner.
The family is at the home of Ann and George Bonnette, 718 W. Alexander Ave. and will receive friends at the funeral home from 1:00 to 2:00 Thursday afternoon.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646 or to West Side Baptist Church, 215 Bypass 225 SC, Greenwood, SC 29646.
For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Faulkner family.
PAID OBITUARY

Bernice McCoy-Phillips

Services for Bernice McCoy-Phillips are 1 p.m. Friday at Mount Zion AME Church, conducted by the Rev. James Speed. The body will be placed in the church at 12. Burial is in the church cemetery. Pallbearers are grandsons and nephews, along with Marcus Small, Brian Small and Renard White. Flower bearers are nieces and grand-nieces, along with Andrea White, Nicole White and Shirley White.
The family is at the home, 101 McNair St., Promised Land.
Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc. is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com

Thelma Langford

SALUDA, SC — Mattie Thelma Black Edwards Langford, 81, formerly of 189 Barnes Moody Dr., and a resident of Saluda Nursing Center for the past two years, entered into eternal rest on Monday, February 13, 2006.
Born in Saluda County and a daughter of the late Grady Leon and Essie Mae Black, she was first married to the late James Pickens “Pick” Edwards and was later married to the late Melvin Lavory Langford. Mrs. Langford was owner and operator of the J&J shop.
Surviving are three daughters, Judy E. Price and Shirley Fincher both of Saluda and Janice Patrick of Lexington, two sons, Mark Edwards and Roy Dority both of Saluda, a brother, Jack Black of Saluda, two sisters, Betty Mitchell of Saluda and Ruby Keisler of Gilbert, seventeen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
A son, Leonard “Buggs” Edwards and two sisters, Willie Mae Powell and Louise Rowe, preceded Mrs. Langford in death.
The family will receive friends from 6 until 8PM, Wednesday evening at Ramey Funeral Home and at other times at the home of Mrs. Shirley Fincher, 185 Barnes Moody Dr., Saluda.
Funeral services will be 1PM, Thursday, February 16, 2006 at Ramey Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Edwards Family Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Saluda Nursing Center, P.O. Box 398, Saluda, SC 29138 or to the charity of one’s choice.
PAID OBITUARY