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Local woman lives with worry
after learning of tissue ‘scandal’

January 5, 2006

By VIC MacDONALD
Index-Journal regional editor
Someone’s leg bone is transplanted into your leg. Someone’s tendons reconstruct your damaged tendons. Someone’s skin is graphed to yours to rejuvenate skin damaged by fire.
You’re a recipient of a deceased donor’s gift — a gift of mobility in the case of Kelly Sealy, of Greenwood. Two and a half years ago her knee was broken in a fall, and a knee replacement and accompanying bone graph to her tibia in March finally got her walking again.
Life was on the upswing — in contrast to the darker days when Sealy learned she has kidney disease and then suffered the fall. The 39-year-old mother of two daughters had been through a lot, but could see hope.
Then came the goulish news.
The bone in her leg was obtained by her orthopedic surgeon from Biomedical Tissues Services, of Fort Lee, N.J., which the Food and Drug Administration says might have obtained tissue without proper screening for disease. The bodies of hundreds of people were secretly carved up in the back rooms of several funeral parlors in New York City to remove human bone, skin and tendons without required permission from their families, authorities think. Authorities allege the body parts then were sold to Biomedical Tissue Services. Four processing companies and distributors purchased body parts from the New Jersey company.
“Horrifying,” Sealy said of the situation that she learned about through media reports. “It was a very terrible story to hear about.”
Charleston-area hospitals notified at least 41 patients, and Columbia-area hospitals notified at least 35 patients that the tissue they received might not have been properly screened for disease, and they needed to come in for more testing.
At least 11 patients in the Upstate were notified, including Sealy. She was tested Dec. 2 for infectious diseases, including HIV-1 and 2 (the viruses that cause AIDS), hepatitis B and hepatitis C, and syphillis, that might have come from the unscreened tissue. Four days later, the results came back negative.
“It was a huge relief,” Sealy said.
But these test results couldn’t assuage the lingering doubt — and fear. What if this unscreened, stolen bone caused some substance to enter her blood stream and trigger the failure of her already weakened kidneys? “I have to be tested several times a year for kidney disease,” Sealy said, “so, yes, it does throw another worry in there. My main worry is, can I get another illness?”
The fact that FDA literature said risks are low for infectious diseases from the unscreened tissue was of little consolation to Sealy. “There is a great deal of worry something may happen,” she said.
“The horrible part, to me, is not knowing. My doctor did a great, great surgery on me. But when you learn it’s just a small piece of (donor) bone, you know it’s going to be screened for diseases. Then to find out later … It’s a scandal.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Lagroone’s 30 leads Wildcats past Hornets

January 6, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

NINETY SIX — Some games truly are closer than the final score belies.
Such was the case in the Ninety Six boys basketball team’s 71-60 win over Ware Shoals Thursday night at Ninety Six.
The Wildcats held on for the victory despite a furious fourth quarter comeback attempt by Ware Shoals.
The Wildcats had a 61-41 advantage with 4 minutes, 18 seconds remaining, but saw the lead evaporate over the next two and a half minutes.
Ware Shoals used a full court press and accurate inside shooting to cut the Ninety Six lead to 63-58 with 1:50 left.
However, calm free throw shooting and a re-focused press break propelled the Wildcats to victory in the closing moments.
Ninety Six coach Ike Dickey was pleased his team kept its composure.
“Our guys lost their focus a little bit at the end,” Dickey said.
“We weren’t in the right spots. I told them to calm down and find their spots and they did. We also shot free throws well down the stretch.”
Ninety Six’s victory tied the season series between the two squads at 1-1. Dickey said he wanted the Wildcats to establish the pace of the game from the beginning.
“I stressed to the team it was important to play smart early,” Dickey said.
“They were bigger than us, and I’ll admit they probably beat us up on the boards tonight. But we were able to use our speed and take hold of the game.”
Ninety Six’s Nick Lagroone led all scorers with 30 points.
Meanwhile, Ware Shoals freshman Lance Richardson popped in 15.
The Wildcats busted out to a large lead in the first quarter.
Using inside scoring from Quin McGraw and several slashing hoops from the explosive Lagroone, the Wildcats seemed to overwhelm Ware Shoals.
Ninety Six led 15-4 heading into the second quarter.
The Wildcats increased their lead before halftime.
Ware Shoals appeared to be mounting a charge after going on a 4-0 mini-run.
However, Lagroone canned a 3-pointer while being fouled midway through the quarter, dousing hopes of a more serious Ware Shoals threat.
Ken Mathis’ layup in the final minute of the half sent Ninety Six to the locker room witha 29-15 lead. The third quarter represented more of the same from both squads.
Ware Shoals grabbed several offensive rebounds in the third, converting them into points.
Santonio Mays, who scored 11 points, popped in six points in the quarter.
However, Ninety Six got breakaway hoops from Daniel Longmire and McGraw to stave off any further damage. The Wildcats led, 46-32, heading into the fourth quarter.
Tempers flared in the fourth, as Lagroone and Ware Shoals’ Cameron Dorn exchanged pushes and had a heated exchange near the Hornets’ bench.
“I was glad our guys kept their cool after being tackled over there twice,” Dickey said.

Lady Hornets give coach 1st win over Ninety Six

January 6, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

NINETY SIX — Ware Shoals girls basketball coach Kem Owens encountered a new experience Thursday night: a win over Ninety Six.
The Lady Hornets defeated Ninety Six, 46-37, in a non-region game Thursday at Ninety Six. Ware Shoals’ victory evens the season series between the two teams at 1-1.
“This was big for me, my first win over Ninety Six in my coaching career,” Owens said. “Even though they’re not in our region, Ninety Six has always kind of been a rival of ours.”
Small forward Nydra Edwards led Ware Shoals with 17 points. Amanda Chrisley paced the Lady Wildcats, scoring 26 of her team’s 37 points.
The Lady Hornets raced out to a double-digit lead in the first quarter.
Edwards opened the contest with a long 3-pointer, setting the tone for her night.
Moments later, she once again netted three points, hitting a layup while getting fouled and draining the subsequent free throw.
Ware Shoals point guard Lauren Butler contributed later in the quarter, connecting on a twisting fadeaway jump shot from the right baseline. The Lady Hornets had a 15-5 lead after the first quarter.
The second quarter proved to be disastrous for Ninety Six.
The Lady Hornets began spreading their scoring around evenly, while Ninety Six struggled from the field.
Natalie Batson, Butler and Holly McKee each hit breakaway layups for the Lady Hornets in the quarter.
Meanwhile, the Lady Wildcats managed only two points in the entire quarter. Ware Shoals had a seemingly insurmountable 30-7 halftime lead.
“Our girls played so hard, particularly in that first half,” Owens said.
“I thought it was important to go out and hit good shots early and play hard on defense. We really wanted it.” Ninety Six showed signs of life in the third quarter.
Chrisley, who had only five points in the first half, began to warm up.
The crafty ball handler drained two 3-pointers in the third, as well as an acrobatic running jumper off a crossover dribble.
Still, the Lady Wildcats found themselves down 34-18 heading to the fourth quarter.
The Lady Wildcats drew closer in the final quarter.
Sara Trowbridge, who sat out much of the game with an illness, popped in a layup at the 5:37 mark of the period to cap a 20-4 Ninety Six run and cut the Ware Shoals lead to 34-27.
That would be as close as the Lady Wildcats would get, however, as the Lady Hornets calmly sank several free throws down the stretch.
“There were some tense moments during that comeback,” Owens said. “I thought we did a good job staying calm down the stretch.”

Lady Hornets give coach 1st win over Ninety Six

January 6, 2006

Obituaries

Claire Bouchillon

ANDERSON — Claire Bouchillon, 89, died Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2006 at the Hospice House in Anderson.
Born in Bordeaux, she was a daughter of the late Joe and Armena B. Bouchillon. She lived most of her life at the Whitten Center, Clinton, and lived at Williamston C.T.H. Center for the last 10 years.
She was the last surviving member of her immediate family. Survivors include cousins.
Graveside services are 2 p.m. today at Old Willington Cemetery, conducted by Chaplain Jeff Sager.
Visitation is at the cemetery after the services.
Strom Funeral Home, McCormick, is in charge.

Carroll Clem

GREENWOOD – Carroll James Clem, 61, resident of 108 Chestnut Ridge, husband of Nancy DeHart Clem, died January 4, 2006 at his home.
Born in Greenwood County, September 29, 1944, he was a son of Bessie James Clem and the late Freddie Lee Clem. He was a 1962 graduate of Green-wood High School and a 1968 graduate of Lander University. Mr. Clem was a former high school teacher having taught English at Abbeville High School, Cambridge Academy and Greenwood High School and he was a published author.
A member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, he was also a former Sunday school teacher and member of the Chancel Choir. Mr. Clem served two terms as President of Church Council and also served on a number of various committees. He was the author of the Immanuel Simeon Project.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home and his mother of Greenwood are a son, William Pace Clem of Rock Hill; a daughter, Valerie Bassett and her husband, Kevin of Summerville; a granddaughter, Marley Ann Bassett of Summerville.
Memorial services will be conducted at 3 pm Saturday at Immanuel Lutheran Church with Rev. Dr. John Setzler and Rev. R. Earl McCombs, Jr. officiating.
Inurnment will be in the Immanuel Lutheran Church Columbarium.
The family is at the home on Chestnut Ridge and will have a Celebration of Mr. Clem’s Life in the church Fellowship Center following the memorial service.
The family requests that flowers be omitted and memorials be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church, 501 E. Creswell Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646 or to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646. For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Clem family.
PAID OBITUARY

Jane Crawford

HONEA PATH — Cathy Jane Nelson Crawford, 55, of 602 W. Greer St., wife of Tommy Crawford, died Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2006 at Anderson Area Medical Center.
Born in Anderson County, she was a daughter of Robbie Latimer Nelson and the late Malcolme Q. Nelson. She was a retired schoolteacher’s assistant, teaching for 29 years in Anderson School District 2. A member of Chiquola United Methodist Church, she was assistant treasurer and worked with the senior citizens of the church. Survivors include her husband of the home; her mother of Honea Path; a daughter, Jana Witt of Greenwood; and a grandson.
Services are 11 a.m. Saturday at Chiquola United Methodist Church, conducted by the Revs. Jones Brewer and Floyd Brewer. Burial is in the Garden of Memories.
Visitation is 7-9 tonight at Pruitt Funeral Home.
The family is at the home of her mother, Robbie Nelson, 108 Park Ave.
Pruitt Funeral Home is in charge.

Allean Butler Jackson

Services for Allean Butler “Wimpy” Jackson, of 209 Louvenia Ave., are at noon Sunday at Zion Temple Seventh Day Adventist Church, conducted by Pastor Patrick Carter. The body will be placed in the church at 11. Burial is in Ninety Six Community Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Artis Lewis, Ricky Lewis, Brad Jackson, Lee Barr, Willie Lewis Jr. and Litron Jackson.
Flower bearers are Cindy Chappelle, Shirley Anderson, Christine Adams, Judy Head, Angela Cook and Shateka Jackson.
Visitation is Saturday evening at the home.
Robinson and Son Mortuary Inc. is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com

Annis W. Jenkins

WHITMIRE — Annis Williamson Jenkins, 90, of 1304 Broom St., widow of William Jenkins, died Thursday, Jan. 5, 2006 at Wallace Thomson Hospital.
Born in Newport, Tenn., she was a daughter of the late Ruben and Emiline Williamson. She retired from J.P. Stevens-Whitmire Plant and was of the Baptist Faith.
Survivors include three sons; Horace Jenkins of Ninety Six, John M. Jenkins and Glenn Jenkins, both of Union; a daughter, Pauline Thrift of Richmond, Va.; a sister, Ella Wilbanks of Whitmire; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Services are 3 p.m. Saturday at S.R. Holcombe Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Mike Jenkins. Burial is in Whitmire Cemetery.
Pallbearers are grandsons.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at the funeral home.
Family members are at their respective homes.
Memorials may be made to a Church of one’s choice or to Palmetto Health Hospice, Newberry Chapter, PO Box 352, Newberry, SC 29108-0352.
S.R. Holcombe Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.holcombefuneralhomes.com.

Archie Belle Jones

Archie Belle Jones, 71, of 912 Chappelle St., died Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006 at her home.
Born in Greenwood County, she was a daughter of the late Bennie Lee and Ida Mae Hart Jones. She was a graduate of Brewer High School and Benedict College, Columbia. She was a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church, where she worked with the Youth Choir, Usher Board and BTU. A former teacher at J.S. Wright High School and Abbeville High School in Abbeville County, she also coached girls basketball.
Survivors include three sisters, Beatrice J. Dupree of Bennettsville, Imogene Sparks of Woodbridge, Va., and Gladys Ferguson of Duncanville, Texas and two brothers, Billy Roy Jones and U. Howard Jones, both of Greenwood.
Services are 11 a.m. Saturday at Tabernacle Baptist Church, with the Rev. Dr. Willie S. Harrison officiating and the Rev. Dr. William L. Moore presiding. Assisting are the Revs. Norris Turner, W.A. Pilgrim, Donnie Kennedy and Nathaniel Booker. Burial is in The Evening Star cemetery.
Pallbearers are nephews, and flower bearers are nieces.
Visitation is 6-7 tonight at Parks Funeral Home.
The family is at the home.
Parks Funeral Home is in charge.

Elizabeth Segars Patrick

DUEWEST, SC – Elizabeth Segars “Lib” Patrick, 99, of Due West Retirement Center, formerly of Woodward, SC, widow of Michael Thompson Patrick, died January 4, 2006 at Self Regional Healthcare in Greenwood, SC.
Born in Lee County on July 18, 1906, she was a daughter of Burrell Washington Segars, Jr. and Beulah Moore. She completed high school in Bishopville, and graduated with honors from Winthrop College in 1926. She did additional study at Western Carolina University, Columbia College and the University of South Carolina.
She taught in Rock Hill, Sumter, Chester, and Winns-boro for 46 years. While teaching in Chester she was awarded a Ford Foundation Fellowship as an outstanding science teacher, given a year’s sabbatical with pay and given the use of a new Ford automobile.
She was married to Michael Thompson Patrick for 46 years. She was a longtime member of the White Oak Associate Reformed Presby-terian Church, and more recently, an associate member of the Due West ARP Church. Since 1979 she lived at the Due West Retirement Center. She was an avid landscape painter, a hobby in which she was joined by her husband in later years.
Having no children of their own, she and her husband were immensely involved in the lives of their numerous nieces and nephews covering several generations. She combined her love of friends and flowers as the gracious hostess for many functions in the Woodward/White Oak Communities.
She and her husband loved the ARP Church and made a major contribution to Erskine Theological Seminary to pro-vide scholarships for ARP students. Erskine honored her in 2003 by naming her an honorary member of the Erskine Alumni Association.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, January 7, 2006 at 2pm at the White Oak ARP Church with Dr. Randy Ruble and Rev. Glenn Welsford officiating. Burial will be in the White Oak Cemetery. The family will receive friends after the service. A memorial service will be conducted Friday at 2pm in the Erskine Seminary Chapel in Due West.
Memorials may be made to White Oak ARP Church, 284 Patrick Road, White Oak, SC 29180, Erskine College or Due West Retirement Center.
Pope Funeral Home in Winnsboro, S.C. is serving the Patrick Family.
PAID OBITUARY

Robert Suttles

WATERLOO — Robert Autry Suttles, 65, of 6813 Riverfork Road, husband of Addie Clark Suttles, died Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2006 at his home.
Born in Anderson County, he was a son of the late Rufus and Pauline Morgan Suttles. He was a retired self-employed painter and attended New Life Baptist Church in Woodruff.
Survivors include his wife of Waterloo; five sons, James Robert Suttles and Rex Autry Suttles, both of Easley, Robert Earl Suttles and William Hand Jr., both of Gray Court and Douglas Francis King of Greenville; five daughters, Sandra Denise Suttles Rollins of Easley, Debora Johnson of Fairforest, Cynthia Teal of Gray Court, Tina Jackson of Woodruff and Tracy Leanne Lark of Greenville; two brothers, Morrol “Whitie” Suttles and Rufus Junior Suttles, both of Greenville; two sisters, Eugina Crump of Easley and Barbara Carnes of Hull, Ga.; 23 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Graveside services are 3 p.m. Saturday at Greenhaven Memorial Gardens, Highway 221, Woodruff, conducted by the Rev. Allen Elders.
Visitation is 7-9 tonight at Parker-White Funeral Home.
Family members are at their respective homes.
Parker-White Funeral Home, Ware Shoals, is in charge.

Jacob Cecil Wise Jr.

NEWBERRY — Jacob Cecil Wise Jr., 78, died Thursday, Jan. 5, 2006 at Newberry County Memorial Hospital.
Born in Prosperity, he was a son of the late Jacob Cecil Wise Sr. and Ruby Livingston Wise. He was a retired tile setter, a World War II Army veteran, a member of Summer Memorial Lutheran and the Newberry Moose Lodge.
Survivors include his wife, Glenda Adams Wise; four sons, William Gary Wise of Lilburn, Ga., Roy Jacob Wise of Smyrna, Ga., Kenneth Walter Wise and Allen Cecil Wise, both of Marietta, Ga.; three daughters, Sharon W. Rinehart of Goose Creek formerly of Greenwood, Cecilia Kay Wise of Mount Olive, N.C., and Kathy W. Sease of Whitmire; three sisters, Frances W. Lester, Dorothy W. Bedenbaugh and Marie W. Cronk, all of Newberry; a brother, Richard Earl Wise of Marietta; 10 grandchildren.
Services are 3 p.m. Saturday at Summer Memorial Lutheran Church, conducted by the Rev. Kathy Harris. Burial is in Newberry Memorial Gardens.
Visitation is 7-8 tonight at McSwain-Evans Funeral Home.
McSwain-Evans Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mcswainevans.com.

Opinion

National Guard must have
equipment for its mission

January 6, 2006

It’s understandable why South Carolina units of the National Guard on active duty in Iraq had to leave equipment behind when they came home. It’s simple. The troops over there needed it.
That creates a problem, of course, and there’s a simple explanation for that, too. The Guard needs equipment to carry out its duties and responsibilities at home.
According to Col. Ronald Huff, the Guard’s deputy chief of staff for logistics, the Guard was asked to leave $50 million worth of equipment in Iraq. Included on the list were 24 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, 169 heavy transport trucks and Humvees and hundreds of radios, weapons, tools and other equipment.

LEAVING ALL THOSE things, while justifiable, should not keep the S. C. Guard units from being re-supplied. However, Col. Huff says they are not sure when or if the equipment will be returned or even replaced. If it is returned, it’s likely the equipment will be “battle scared” enough to limit its use and effectiveness. Sand damage alone is enough to require comprehensive overhaul or replacement. That, of course, takes time.
If the National Guard is to stay prepared, there should be no question about replacing most of the stuff. The National Guard has an ongoing mission at home, of course, and recent history proves how national policy depends on it. Many Guard units have been sent to Iraq and elsewhere to handle a variety of duties. If they are to be ready for future emergencies, whether at home or abroad, they should be equipped to respond at a moment’s notice.

AS OF JUNE, ARMY National Guard units, for example, had left more than 64,000 pieces of equipment worth more than $1.2 billion overseas, according to a report released by the Government Accountability Office, Congress’ investigative arm.
Having the necessary equipment restored should not even be a consideration. It should be automatic. When we ask so much of our “citizen soldiers,” the least we can do is give them the military equipment and moral support they need. That should be in war or peace. Anything less would be irresponsible, not to mention foolish.