‘Wonderful time to be alive’

Speaker: Leaders
can help Greenwood
overcome challenges

January 13, 2006

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

If you read the newspaper or watch the evening news each day, stories about natural disasters, rising fuel prices, wars and political debates might make some people feel as though the world is going through a dark period.
But research and publishing firm director and acclaimed author Stephen Mansfield doesn’t think it is a horrible time to be alive — he thinks just the opposite.
“We are living in a wonderful time to be alive. It is astonishing what is happening in our culture. Our society is turning toward faith, asking religious questions, wanting to apply the supernatural to the natural in a way that we did not expect,” Mansfield said Thursday as the keynote speaker of the Greenwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Celebration at The Greenwood Civic Center.
Mansfield, a former pastor, gave the crowd of business and community leaders his opinion on society’s recent trends toward faith — even in the wake of perceived “dark” times.
Mansfield, who penned the books “The Faith of George W. Bush” and “The Faith of the American Soldier,” gave examples of how great leaders, such as Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln, were able to use their flaws and failures to rise as great leaders.
“Many times, it is the failures in someone’s life and the character they develop in overcoming that failure that makes them great,” he told the crowd, adding that business and community leaders can work to overcome Greenwood’s challenges.
“The answers are there for people who are willing to commit themselves to a community, to a race, to a city, to a state, to a moment in which there is great need and we answer it with great devotion.”
During the dinner and meeting, S.C. Rep. Gene Pinson presented former Chamber Executive Director Len Bornemann, who retired after nine years of service with the organization, a plaque honoring Bornemann’s service to the community.
Greenwood radiologist Dr. William A. Klauber Jr. was honored as the 39th inductee to the Greenwood County Hall of Fame. Klauber was instrumental in bringing radiological sciences to the Greenwood area and is a “respected, courageous and visionary community leader,” said Greenwood Genetic Center Director Dr. Roger Stevenson, who presented the award.
Palmetto Insurance Associates’ Isaac Shaffer was honored as the 2005 Small Business Person of the Year. Shaffer, who has more than 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, said he was surprised to receive the award.
“My staff and my family kept it a secret,” Shaffer said, smiling. “I’m honored and privileged to be in a position to be recognized with the other people who have received the same award. I’m honored to be in the same class with them.”
Annette Whitley, owner of Lakelands Hardware and Outdoors, was selected as the 2005 Ambassador of the Year. Whitley said her role in building contacts between the business community and the Chamber was fulfilling and aided her in her effort to establish her own business.
The Harley Subdivision Community received the Anna L. Robinson Award for outstanding achievements in neighborhood development. The community has organized cookouts, participated in government functions and developed community programs.
“We cherish our neighborhood very much, and we’ll continue to do good things for our neighbors,” said Earlean Boles, who accepted the award on the neighborhood’s behalf.
Chuck Strawn was introduced as the Chamber’s 2006 board president. He replaces 2005 President Debbie Turner. Angelle LaBorde, who comes to Greenwood from the New Orleans area, spoke to the crowd as the Chamber’s new executive director.

Back to the ballpark

LU coach Jarman hits the field
with his first Bearcat squad

January 13, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

Even though it’s the middle of January, Legion Field was filled with the sounds of balls slapping into gloves, the pinging of aluminum bats and the chatter of baseball players Thursday afternoon.
The Lander University baseball team opened practice this week, officially ushering in the Bill Jarman era.
Jarman, who arrived at Lander after serving as an assistant at Coastal Carolina, is in his first season as the Bearcats’ coach. Lander opens the season Feb. 1 at Legion Field against Lenoir-Rhyne.
“Sunday night before the first practice on Monday, I’m telling you, I was like a kid on Christmas Eve,” Jarman said.
“I was still wide awake at 1 a.m. It was just exciting to be hitting the field for the first full practices.”
Thursday marked a fairly typical day of opening-week practice. Players stretched, jogged, executed base running drills, took infield practice and worked in the batting cage. Pitchers and catchers had a specialized workout earlier in the day.
Jarman said the first week has been on par with what he expected.
“The first couple of days, the pitchers and catchers looked sharp, but we were not very crisp in team practice,” Jarman said. “It was like they forgot everything they learned in fall practice. There were quite a few mistakes.”
Thursday, however, Jarman said the team seemed to step things up a notch. The base running and defense in particular were more to his liking, as was the team’s performance at the plate.
One aspect that has been in the Bearcats’ favor as practice opens is the unseasonably warm weather this week, with temperatures hitting the 60s.
According to Jarman, the conditions were especially pleasing to two recruits from New York, who have been on hand at this week’s workouts.
“Oh, you couldn’t ask for better weather than what we’ve had, even though we had some rain (Wednesday),” Jarman said. “But we know it probably won’t last. There will be days where our guys will have to fight through the cold.”
There have been several projects going on at Legion Field that will please fans and players alike.
One improvement is in the stands, where the bleachers have been touched with a fresh coat of blue paint. The new paint job is an improvement over the cracked, faded appearance of the bleachers in the past.
An on-the-field upgrade has taken place as well. The Bearcats now have a brand new batting cage to practice in.
Also, several subtle adjustments have been made to the infield, making it less vulnerable to the damaging effects of heavy rain.
“It’s exciting, it really is,” Jarman said. “The guys see the work being done out here at the park. A baseball field is kind of like your lawn. You have to do something to it everyday to keep it up.”
Jarman said the Bearcats players seemed just as excited as he was to hit the field. According to the coach, several team members from the West Coast, which has been receiving a record amount of rainy weather, were particularly ready to get back from Christmas break and hit the diamond.
Though it is early in the preseason, Jarman has already seen promise in his pitching staff.
David Glover, a junior right-hander, is expected to compete for a starting role, as is Derrick Wilson, a junior college transfer.
“Derrick was very consistent in fall practice,” Jarman said. “He’s your typical lefty with good movement. We have six to eight guys who will be in the mix for a starting spot. We also should have some stability in the bullpen.”
The with less than three weeks until their first game, the Bearcats will be in full swing preparation for the season.
“We went really hard the first two days,” Jarman said. “I think the guys appreciated the rainout (Wednesday). We still have plenty to do before the first game.”
Chris Trainor covers area sports for The Index-Journal. He can be reached at: ctrainor@indexjournal.com

Opinion

Blame the ‘real’ problem
for failures in education

January 13, 2006

Every once in a while someone gets around the smoke and mirrors that distort the reality of public education in South Carolina. One South Carolinian recently did just that.
He’s Reed Morton, a former Gamecock football player and law school graduate who now works for a pharmaceutical company in Greenville.
Morton looked at the recent decision by Judge Thomas Cooper in a lawsuit involving several state school districts, which claimed the State Legislature didn’t properly fund them.
Morton noted that although the districts’ facilities, spending and teacher quality all met constitutional standards, the court said:
“THE CHILD BORN TO POVERTY whose cognitive abilities have been largely formed by the age of six in a setting largely devoid of the printed word, the life blood of literacy, and other stabilizing influences necessary for normal development, is already behind, before he or she receives the first word of instruction in a formal educational setting. It is for that reason that early childhood intervention at the pre-kindergarten level and continuing through at least grade three is necessary to minimize, to the extent possible, the impact and the effect of poverty on the educational abilities and achievements of those children.”
Morton notes that “What Judge Cooper is saying is clear: Children of poverty-stricken families are not prepared for kindergarten, Or said another way: Poverty-stricken parents are not preparing their children for kindergarten, and the earlier the state can intervene, the better it is for the child.”
MORTON GOES ON TO CITE the litany of legislation and the huge amounts of money spent in the last quarter-century on public education, along with the failures, and the extended litigation of this particular suit, trying to prove what we should have learned from the “Court of Common Sense.”
Stop blaming the state and teachers, he says. Blame the real problem … the evaporation of parental responsibility. The reality, he says, is that we live in a time when too many people expect more from their social worker than from themselves.
Maybe personal responsibility and self-determination can end cyclical poverty and hopelessness, he reasons. Or, he pointedly notes, we could always just add another penny to the sales tax, and let the state take our kids home from the hospital.
Oh, yes, there is one other thing we could throw in: Resolve to stop babies from having babies. That might stop some of the “parental” problems.

Obituaries

Sara Boatwright

GREENWOOD — Sara Wood Boatwright, 81, of 707 New Market Street, widow of B. T. Boatwright, Jr., died Thursday, January 12, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Edgefield, she was a daughter of the late John Ware and Maggie Manson Wood. She was a retired beautician, was a former member of South Main Street Baptist Church and was a member of Eastside Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by a son, Ronald W. Boatwright.
Surviving is a daughter, Norma B. Floyd of Greenwood; a son, B. Thomas Boatwright, III of the home; two sisters, Pansy W. Fulmer of Johnston and Georgia W. Lamb of Aiken; a granddaughter, Sara Jane Vaughn; a grandson, Neil Warren Floyd and a great granddaughter, Katherine Brooke Vaughn, all of Greenwood.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Craig Hughes officiating.
The family will receive friends at Harley Funeral Home & Crematory on Saturday from 12 to 1:30 p.m.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Phillip Brady

Phillip Freeman “Brady” Brady, 55, of 106 Cedar Court, died Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006 at the home of his parents, Charles and Patricia Ann Burnett Brady.
Visitation is after Saturday services.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

E.R. Buzhardt Jr.

WARE SHOALS — Ethbert Rosamond Buzhardt Jr., 80, of Whiting, N.J., formerly of Ware Shoals, husband of Helen Buzhardt, died Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2006 at his home.
Born in Brewerton Community, Laurens County, he was a son of the late E.R. Buzhardt Sr. and Gladys Norrell Buzhardt. He was a 1942 Ware Shoals High School graduate, a Navy World War II veteran, a welder for Riegel Textile Corp. and retired from Johannson Construction Co. in New Jersey. He was a member of Ware Shoals Masonic Lodge No. 306.
Survivors include his wife of the home; a son, Troy Buzhardt of Whiting; two stepchildren of California; and a brother, Grady Buzhardt of New Ellenton.
Graveside Masonic memorial services are 2 p.m. Saturday at Harmony United Methodist Church Cemetery, Ware Shoals.
Memorials may be made to Harmony United Methodist Church, Ware Shoals, 29692.
Parker-White Funeral Home is in charge.

Donald Ferguson

McCORMICK — Donald Genar Ferguson, 50, husband of Krissy Salvo Ferguson, died Wednesday Jan. 11, 2006 at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.
Born in Pickens, he was a son of Evelyn Merck Senn and the late Genar William Ferguson. He received a bachelor of science degree in recreational parks administration from Clemson University in 1977 and was the former state park superintendent at Calhoun Falls State Park and most recently at Hickory Knob State Park, McCormick. He was a member of Lebanon Presbyterian Church, serving as a deacon.
Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Adam and Zane Ferguson of the home; two daughters, Michal and Sara Ferguson of the home; two sisters, Barbara Sue Bracken of Easley and Joan Elizabeth Baker of Pickens; and his mother of Liberty.
Services are 2 p.m. Saturday at Lebanon Presbyterian Church, Abbeville, conducted by the Rev. Arnold Johnson. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Visitation is 1-2 Saturday in the church social hall.
Memorials may be made to Lebanon Presbyterian Church, Deacons Fund, 698 Mt. Carmel Road, Abbeville, SC 29620 or Bethany Christian Services, Greenville, SC.
Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home, Abbeville, is in charge.

Bob Goodin

WATERLOO — Bobby Allen “Bob” Goodin, 67, widower of Joyce Overstreet Goodin, died Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of the late Luther W. and Beatrice Davenport Goodin. He was an Army paratrooper and was a retired radiator mechanic and tree surgeon. He was twice married, first to Judie Tickle Goodin Broxson of Bradenton, Fla.
Survivors include two daughters, April Lynn Waters of Leesburg, Va., and Cynthia DePrenger of Ellsworth, Maine; and a son, James Goodin of Bradenton.
Graveside services are 11 a.m. Saturday at Elmwood Cemetery, Ninety Six, conducted by the Rev. Carroll Harrison.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Greenwood, is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com

Brad Masterson

GREENWOOD — Bradford Peter “Brad” Masterson, 66, resident of 119 Loblolly Circle, husband of Betty Jean Warren Masterson, died January 12, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Springfield, MA, December 19, 1939, he was a son of the late Peter F. and Margaret Latourneau Masterson. He was a graduate of Classical High School, Springfield, MA and received his B.A. degree in Political Science and Master’s degree in Education from Columbus State University, Columbus, GA. He served 14 years in the US Army having served in the Korean and the Vietnam Wars and retired as Major from the US Army Reserve. Mr. Masterson also retired from Columbus State University and was currently employed in security at Fuji Photo Film, Inc.
Formerly of Columbus, GA., Mr. Masterson had made his home in Greenwood since 1996.
A member of Rice Memorial Baptist Church, he was also a member of the Trinity Sunday School Class of the church and American Legion Post #20.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home are a daughter, Dr. Jeanie M Robinson and husband, Dr. Dan Robinson of Greenwood; two sons, US Army Major J.P. Masterson and wife, Hope of Manniheim, Germany and Scott Bradford Masterson and wife, Sonyia of Greenwood; a sister, Cynthia Scott and husband, Gary of Palm Harbor, FL; six grandchildren, Shea and Joshua Masterson, Katey, Jodie and Wes Robinson and Bradford Lee Masterson.
Funeral services will be conducted at 3 pm Saturday at Rice Memorial Baptist Church with Rev. Alvin Hodges officiating.
Burial with military honors will be held in Oakbrook Memorial Park
Active pallbearers will be Jack Jennings, Jonathan Greer, Larry Scott, Ronnie McAlister, Andy Wright, Raymond Davis, Larry Silvers and Brian Bruce.
Honorary escort will be members of the Trinity Sunday School Class of Rice Memorial Baptist Church.
The body is at Blyth Funeral Home and will be placed in the church at 2 pm Saturday.
The family is at the home of Jeanie and Dan Robinson, 209 Kimberly Lane and will receive friends at the funeral home from 10 am to 12 Saturday morning.
Memorials may be made to Rice Memorial Baptist Church, 1975 Hwy 72 W., Greenwood, SC 29649 or to Edgewood Baptist Church, 3564 Forest Road, Columbus, GA 31907.
For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Masterson family.
PAID OBITUARY

Azalee Mae Robinson

Services for Azalee Mae Robinson, of 314 W. Alexander Ave., are 1 p.m. today at Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. James Moss.
The family is at the home.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is in charge.

Dennis Mark Rucker

Dennis Mark Rucker, 44, of 202 Melody Lane, husband of Charlene Roper Rucker, died Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006 at the Hospice House.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of Mary Rucker and the late Willie Rucker. He was a member of Springfield Baptist Church, Laurens Highway, serving as trustee and a former employee of Grede Foundry.
Survivors include his wife of the home; his mother of Greenwood; two daughters, Alisa Roper and Samaria Rucker of the home; a brother, Charles Rucker of Greenwood; a sister, Sharon Rucker of Greenwood; three grandchildren of the home, Marquarius Yeldell, Destinee Hill and Amara Hill. The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.

Nannie Spradley

Nannie Louanna Spradley, 81, of 3043 Gastonia Highway, Lincolnton, N.C., formerly of Greenwood, widow of Worth McNeal Spradley, died Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006 at her home.
Born in Greenwood, she was a daughter of the late Charlie and Elsie Pangle Sweezy. She retired from Greenwood Mills and attended New Life Christian Fellowship Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Kathy Cook of Lincolnton and Judy Watkins of Cross Hill; a son, Tony Spradley of Irmo; 11 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.
Services are 11 a.m. Saturday at North Greenwood Church of God, conducted by the Rev. Richard Saxon. The body will be placed in the church at 10. Burial is in Edgewood Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Delmas Matthews, Shane Holcombe, Chris Beauford, Stacy Spradley, Vernon Shook and Mack Spradley.
Visitation is 7-9 tonight at Harley Funeral Home.
The family is at the home of a granddaughter, Angela and Delmas Matthews, 214 Lake Forest Road, Ponderosa Heights.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Lincoln County, 107 North Cedar St., Lincolnton, NC 28092.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com