Teens rescued

Youths pulled from swift water at Pitts Park

June 29, 2006

By VIC MacDONALD
Index-Journal regional editor

WARE SHOALS — Four local teenagers are lucky to be alive today.
They were plucked from the rain-swollen and raging water at Pitts Park, on the Saluda River, by a swift water rescue team from Greenville.
The popular recreation area sits by the shoals from which the town gets its name, and normally the waters are sedate enough to wade into.
Not Wednesday.
Torrential rains in North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina from a tropical depression sent a flood of water over the shoals, and the water rose so rapidly that the teens never had a chance to get out. They waited more than five hours for their rescues to be successful.
Making the situation even more intense, a person without a boat joined in.
“When I jumped in, I didn’t see nobody,” said Johnny Joe Hughes, who has lived in Ware Shoals “off and on” his whole life. He swam to an island where three teens were trapped about the time the rescue team’s boat arrived.
“I came out of my house and saw the (National Guard) helicopter. I had left town and a kid came and told me there were boys trapped on the river. I knew they weren’t in danger, except for the sinkholes,” he said.
Hughes was handcuffed and led away by authorities after he emerged from the river, with the swift water rescue team’s assistance. It was not known at press time if he was arrested. Police Chief Mickey Boland said Hughes “has a good heart” but became part of the rescue rather than a rescuer.
Even after the three teens were inside a boat, the intensity remained. Rescuers had a difficult time freeing the weighted-down craft from rocks and trees around the island.
They did, and they navigated to the second island where the fourth teen had been stranded. One earlier attempt with a boat had failed to reach this teen, and two swimmers could not make it from the rocky shore to the island, which was little more that a spittle of land with trees on it.
Boland identified the teens as Michael Phillips, 17, Ethan Edwards, 15, and brothers Justin Murray, 15, and Joseph Murray, 17. He said one of the boys injured his foot.
“We had a tragedy here a year ago with the pastor (who drowned), then the kayaker (who got stranded and rescued) after that,” Boland said. “It would have been devastating to this little town to lose any of them.”
Watching the failed attempts to rescue his grandson, Michael Phillips, Clyde Balchin, of Greenwood, said Michael came to the park often for water recreation.
“They said it would be a while before they could get to him,” Balchin said. “We’re grateful he’s alive, and we’re grateful for what they’re trying to do.”
About 8 p.m. rescuers saw people on the opposite side of the river attempting to stretch a rope across part of the river and throw flotation devices attached to rope out to the three teens. The boat rescue was performed shortly after 8.
“I think there was a time factor,” Boland said of the fact that sunlight was fading when the rescue boat reached the island. “They learned something (from the first attempt) and worked it all out,” he said. “They had it right.”
Boland said EMS was examining the teens after the rescue and it was possible they could be taken to the hospital because of dehydration.
George McKinney, director of the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office’s Public Safety Division, coordinated a multi-agency response to the life-threatening situation. The initial on-the-scene evaluation dictated that the swift water rescue team should be called in, he said.
A helicopter was requested from state emergency preparedness, McKinney said, but the one chopper with winch capability was down. The S.C. National Guard provided a helicopter, but its choppers do not have winch capability, he said. The helicopter was at the scene to drop life vests to the teens, if the rescuers had not been able to reach them first.
Aircrafts were en route to Ware Shoals from U.S. Marines and Coast Guard stations, said McKinney, who added that he also made contact with Langley Air Force Base and Miami regional air traffic control in attempts to secure air assistance.
McKinney said the sheriff’s office’s appreciation goes to the swift water rescue team, state emergency management, SLED, the National Guard, Marines and Coast Guard, Ware Shoals and Laurens County law enforcement, fire and rescue, and Greenwood County fire, rescue and emergency medical services. The American Red Cross was on the scene with food and drinks for personnel on the scene.
“Fortunately, we have people trained to respond to these emergencies,” Ware Shoals Mayor George Rush said, “and we’re grateful to those people. There are safety warnings to watch out for rising water (at Pitts Park). I was in North Carolina yesterday in the Tryon area, and they had a lot of rain. All of that comes our way, into the Saluda.
“I have seen (water) all the way up to the first road in the park. That was September, four or five years ago. This is definitely not the 100-year maximum flood. From that point of view, they’re lucky.”

A new Self with a view

Kids’ art brightens hospital

June 29, 2006

By MEGAN VARNER and JOANIE BAKER
Index-Journal staff writers

It took three whole periods of art class to finish.
But the crayon rendition of West Cambridge Park hanging in one of the new pediatric isolation rooms will make a frowning child smile.
At least that’s what the artist hopes.
Kristen Parks, a fifth-grader at Springfield Elementary in Greenwood, was one of 50 child artists chosen to display their work in the pediatric unit of the new patient tower at Self Regional Medical Center.
During the unveiling of the tower on Wednesday, Parks and her family peeked in many rooms before finding the girl’s work hanging in one of the end rooms.
“I hope it makes them feel better,” said Parks, after explaining she was surprised to find out her work was chosen.
About 1,000 hospital employees and Lakelands residents came to the grand opening, which included a ribbon cutting by JoAnn Fennell, one of the first babies born at Self in 1951.
The patient tower, stretching eight stories, is the tallest structure in Self Regional Healthcare’s seven-county coverage area, officials said, offering views of the Fuji Photofilm plant and the Town of Ninety Six from the top floor.
With nearly 232,000 square feet in the 120-foot-tall structure, the patient tower carries a price tag of about $60 million, including construction, architectural fees, equipment, art and furnishings, said Jay Kirby, vice president of support services.
“We are proud to say that we are right on that number,” Kirby said. “We are now tracking under budget, but we may have surprises at the end.”
The new patient tower was included in Self’s 1998-99 master plan. Though Self officials at first heard questions about building an entirely new structure rather than renovating the existing building, Heydel said the current building’s infrastructure would have made the task too costly and inefficient.
“The cost of going in and redoing it (the current building) was just absolutely enormous,” Heydel said.
And if officials had waited any longer to build the tower, the cost would have been more than $100 million because of the price increases in steel, concrete and labor, Heydel said.
The construction was scheduled as a 24-month project, but because of some “fine-tuning,” Kirby said the building’s completion was delayed by about a month and a half. Patients are expected to be gradually moved into the facility in mid-July.
“We are well within the time frame we expected,” Heydel added, “and we are hitting it pretty close for a two-year project.”
The patient tower will house 224 beds, with 32 identical rooms on each of the tower’s eight floors and a basement, where central sterile processing eventually will take place.
The first floor will include an area for post-anesthesia and recovery, and Heydel said extra space on the floor eventually could be used for radiology.
The second floor, a split unit, will have 16 beds for women’s health and 16 beds for a pediatrics unit, with a few rooms used as “swing rooms” that can be used for either unit as needed. A women’s library and playroom for children are included on the floor.
The third floor is also a split unit, with vascular and orthopedic surgery rooms sharing the floor. The fourth floor will be used for post-surgical inpatient care, and floors five and six will each house a 32-bed medical unit. The top two floors will have beds for telemetry units, with each floor having a centralized area where doctors and nurses can monitor patients through computers and other data machines.
A family waiting area and staff lounge are located on every floor overlooking the horizon of Greenwood.
“This is more than what I expected,” said Delores Watson, of Greenwood, after taking in the view from a patient room on the eighth floor. “The rooms are a lot larger than I expected.”
Watson said she hopes the hospital will leave the front portion of the old facility standing because it’s the hospital she will always remember.
Though it will not happen for about another five years, hospital spokesman Dan Branyon said the plan is to take down the top three floors of the old facility while still keeping the cafeteria and behavior center on the third floor. Branyon said some of the patient rooms in the west wing of the old facility might be used for offices and service support.
The tower is designed in a square shape, with patient rooms surrounding an area used for nurses stations, staff and equipment, rather than the current building’s H-shape.
“It makes it much easier for staff and patients to walk,” Heydel said.
The tower not only will give the hospital a new look, but also more room, and Heydel said it represents a “significant” 15-percent growth in what the hospital is currently operating.
Each of the rooms will offer patients and their visitors more privacy and comfort, with larger cabinet and storage space, convertible futon couches and patient beds positioned in a way that is not visible by people passing by in the hallways.
Branyon said that, in addition to the HIPAA privacy laws, patient privacy is also important so that patients can protect their identity if they don’t want people to know they are in the hospital for a certain procedure.
Each patient room also features a clinical station where staff can wash their hands, put on their gowns and gloves to ensure the patient area is clean. Branyon said even though Self’s infection rate is below the national average, these stations are to help improve the sanitation even more.
Heydel said hospital staff did an “incredible job” providing input on what they needed to provide the best service to Self’s patients, offering suggestions about how each room and nurses station should be designed.
“Patient privacy and accessibility was important to us,” said Connie Conner, the hospital’s senior vice president and chief nursing officer.
One design feature Conner said many on the nursing staff were excited to see incorporated was larger, more accessible bathrooms, which she said will make giving patients baths an easier task for caregivers. Sinks near the doors will also help the hospital remain a leader in infection control, she added. A board in each room will display important information for the patient and family, such as the day, date and which doctors and nurses are on call.
The hallways and lobbies are decorated with photography done by local artist jon holloway, and the pediatrics unit is blanketed with colorful artwork submitted by local children.
“It’s the small details that will make a tremendous difference in our patient care,” Conner said.

Greenwood youth to be in national motocross

June 29, 2006

From staff reports


Riley Barnett, a 9-year-old dirt bike racer who attends Hodges Elementary School in Greenwood, has qualified for the largest amateur motocross race in the world.
Barnett will compete Aug. 1-5 in the 25th annual AMA/Air Nautiques Amateur National Motocross Championships at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Tennessee.
Barnett took on more than 20,000 hopefuls from across America to earn one of 1,386 qualifying positions.
“Every motocross racer in the country wants to compete in the amateur nationals,” event Director Tim Cotter said. “A win there can serve as a springboard to a lucrative professional motocross career.”
Most of America’s top professional motocross racers, including Jeremy McGrath, Ricky Carmichael, Travis Pastrana and James Stewart, have won AMA Amateur National Championships.
A victory at this event is so valuable that, last year, Ryan Villopoto, of Poolsbo, Wash., was awarded a six-figure professional contract from the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki factory racing team after winning the championship.
Barnett has been riding since he was 4 years old. Sponsors such as Fox Racing, Champion Cycles of Virginia, Scott USA and parents and grandparents have helped pay his way to races.
He has won several races in the past five years and competes nearly every weekend.
Barnett’s parents, Tracey and Pam, will pack up the family camper and head to Tennessee for the race.
Barnett is one of more than 20,000 bikers who spent the past four months attempting to qualify for the event.
The top finishers in an area and regional qualifiers earn a berth in the national championship race. Racers can enter a variety of classes, from minicycle for children as young as 4, all the way up to a senior division for riders over 45. There are classes for women and classes for stock and modified bikes.
The track is built on a section of Lynn’s ranch and campground in Hurricane Mills, Tenn.

Opinion

Bauer rapidly becoming Lazarus of S. C. politics

June 29, 2006

South Carolina’s Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer is rapidly becoming the Lazarus of politics in the Palmetto State.
Bauer, the Republican incumbent, barely escaped losing in the June 13 primary when Mike Campbell, son of the late Gov. Carroll Campbell finished firmly in front. In the Tuesday runoff, though, he won a stunning victory over Campbell, overcoming what appeared to be odds against him.
Four years ago, when he first ran for lientenant governor, Bauer also ran second in the primary but won in a runoff. So, twice he has come back to political life after some observers predicted his political demise.

A NUMBER OF “REASONS” HAVE been cited for Bauer’s win Tuesday. One was that Campbell didn’t do as good a job getting his supporters to the polls. That may have been one of the primary factors. And, there could be others. It wouldn’t be far off, though, to say that experience played the major role.
Many Campbell supporters cited Bauer’s highway troubles (speeding), as evidence he was lacking in maturity and, therefore, shouldn’t be re-elected. On the other hand, it appears that Bauer’s experience in government trumped any other appeal Campbell had and made the difference in the minds of enough voters.
Now, Bauer can prepare for the general election and work on that maturity thing.

Obituaries

Christine Agnew Coleman

Christine Agnew Coleman, 72, of 1310 Yvonne Ave., widow of Johnnie Edward Coleman, died Tuesday, June 27, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Abbeville, she was a daughter of the late William and Molly Tolbert Agnew. She was a retired textile worker and a member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Abbeville, the church Usher Board and the Order of the Eastern Star 418 Mount Pisgah.
Survivors include three sons, the Rev. Charles Agnew and Johnnie Earl Coleman, both of Greenwood and James Allen Coleman of the home; two stepsons, Bobby Sanders of Greenwood and Earl Sanders of Augusta, Ga.; four stepdaughters, Ella Mae Freeman and Ruby Ross, both of Hodges, Louise Chalmers of Clinton, Rena Bovair of Bronx, N.Y.; a sister, Annie Mae Clark of Asheville, N.C.; 29 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at pertompfh1@earthlink.net

Margaret Craft

GREENWOOD, SC — Margaret Ridings Craft, 91, widow of William Craft, died Monday, June 26, 2006 at Wesley Commons Health Care Center, Greenwood, SC.
Born in Buena Vista, VA, she was a daughter of the late Domer F. and Ruby Wilmer Ridings. She was a graduate of William & Mary College, Kingsport, TN and retired from Atlanta Gas & Light. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Greenwood.
Surviving is a son, Brent McRae and his wife, Carol, of Sanibel, FL; a stepdaughter, Donna Corley and her husband, James, of Laurinburg, NC; two grandchildren, Steven Brent McRae and his wife, Elizabeth, of Cullowhee, NC and Scott Edward McRae of St. Petersburg, FL; and two great grandchildren, Katy McRae and Lucy McRae, both of Cullowhee, NC.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Friday at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel, Greenwood, with the Reverend David Mayo officiating.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home immediately following the service.
It is requested that memorials be made to First Presbyterian Church, 108 E. Cambridge Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.
PAID OBITUARY

Sarah Doolittle

Sarah Ann Doolittle, 17, of 1508 Woodlawn Road, died Tuesday, June 27, 2006 at Greenville Memorial Hospital.
Born in Pensacola, Fla., she was a daughter of Timothy L. and Tammy Marie Edwards Doolittle. She was a student in the Special Needs Class at Brewer Middle School and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include her parents of the home; a sister, Amanda Lynn Doolittle of the home; maternal grandmother, Karen Sexton of Hot Springs, Ark.; paternal grandmother, Norma Doolittle of Greenwood; paternal great-grandmother, Darcus J. Botts of Greenwood.
Services are 1:30 p.m. Friday at Harley Funeral Home, officiated by the Rev. Harvey Peurifoy. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are Bill Bosler, Brett Stackhouse and Fred Norton Jr.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at the funeral home.
The family is at the home of her grandmother Norma Doolittle, 1502 Woodlawn Road.
Memorials may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Ojetta S. Duckett

GREENWOOD — Mrs. Ojetta S. Duckett, 90, of Emerald Garden, formerly of 519 Milwee Ave., widow of the late James Duckett, passed June 27, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
She graduated Booker T. Washington High School and received a B.S. degree from Allen University of Columbia, S.C. She went on to pursue a Master’s Degree at Indiana University. She retired after 35 years of teaching in several elementary schools in District 50-Greenwood and McCormick County.
She was a member of Mount Pisgah AME Church, member of Rochelle Chapter of O.E.S. 298, the Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club, Yellow Jasmine Garden Club, Zeta Phi Beta Greek Organization, the Bridge Club and the Charmelettes.
She is survived by a daughter Deborah Western, a son Charles N. Duckett, daughter-in-law Mrs. Alyce Duckett, one sister Mrs. Mae S. Weaver, Jonesboro, Ga., four grandchildren, Blynthia Duckett-Hall (George), Rochelle Duckett, Michiel Duckett and Xavier Western, 2 great grandchildren, Damien Duckett and Malcom Hall.
Funeral services are incomplete and will be announced.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral is in charge.
Online Condolences: pertompfh1@earthlink.net
PAID OBITUARY

Larry Dyal

WARE SHOALS, SC — Larry Zeain Dyal, 47, of 369 Buddy Knight Road died June 27, 2006. He was born in Greenwood, a son of Henry Daniel and JoAnn Church Dyal of Ware Shoals. He was a member of Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church and was Maintenance Supervisor for Ware Shoals School District 51. He was a member of Brewerton Masonic Lodge #183.
Surviving besides his parents of Ware Shoals are one son: Christopher Daniel Dyal of the home and one daughter, Elizabeth Ann Dyal, of Charleston. Also two brothers, David Dyal, Ware Shoals and Wayne Dyal, Laurens, two nieces, five nephews and one great nephew.
He was pre-deceased by a brother, Ronney Dyal.
Funeral services will be conducted Friday at 4 PM at Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. Marcus Bishop and Dr. Phillip Schuler officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with Masonic Rites.
Active pallbearers will be Christopher Dyal, Dusty Dyal, Kevin Dyal, Mitchell Freeman, Will Dyal, Bobby Loftis and Roy Davis.
The Honorary escort will be the Ware Shoals School District 51 Maintenance Staff.
The body will be placed in the church at 3 PM Friday.
The family is at the home of his parents, 370 Buddy Knight Road and will receive friends Thursday, 7-9 PM at Parker-White Funeral Home.
PAID OBITUARY

John Edward Hill

DUE WEST — John Edward Hill, 52, of 7 Washington St., Apt. 6, died Tuesday, June 27, 2006 at his home.
Born in Abbeville County, he was a son of Mildred Linton Davis and the late Lester Hill. He served as a sergeant in the Army and was a member of Campfield Baptist Church, Abbeville.
Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Marzel Davis Sr., of Donalds; a brother, Marzel Davis Jr. of Donalds; a stepbrother, James Graham of Abbeville; five sisters, Mildred Irene Lewis of Ocean Bay, Long Island, N.Y.; Annie Lee Hill of Ware Shoals; Sherry Hill and Carolyn Davis, both of Due West, Mrs. Richard (Debra) Cade of Donalds.
The family is at the home of his mother and stepfather, 373 Olin L. Smith Road, Donalds.
Services will be announced by Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc., Greenwood.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com

Sean Patrick Reed

PIEDMONT – Mr. Sean Patrick Reed, 43, the husband of Ann Marie Reed died Tuesday at Greenville Memorial Hospital.
Mr. Reed was a native of Freeport, NY and a son of Dawn Nord Reed and the late Joseph Howard Reed. Mr. Reed was a truck driver, an avid gardener and of the Roman Catholic faith.
Surviving, in addition to his wife and mother are one son, Jonathan Reed; one daughter, Courtney Reed, both of Piedmont; and two brothers, Timothy Reed of Lake Panasoffkee, FL and Kevin Reed of Albuquerque, NM.
Memorial services will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the Sean Reed Memorial Fund, C/O Robinson Funeral Home, P. O. Box 387, Easley, SC 29641.
The family is at the residence, 218 Creekstone Dr., Piedmont, SC 29673. The phone number is 864-845-9993.
Robinson Funeral Home ~ Powdersville Road is assisting the family with arrangements.
PAID OBITUARY

Ruby Robinson

NORTH AUGUSTA — Ruby Robinson, of Anne Maria Rehab and Nursing Center, died Monday, June 26, 2006 at University Hospital in Augusta, Ga.
Services will be announced by Parks Funeral Home, Greenwood.

Donna Shibley

SALUDA — Donna Clark Shibley, 71, died Saturday, June 24, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center, Greenwood.
A native of Edgefield County, she was a member of Springfield Baptist Church.
Survivors include a son, Odell Clark of Raleigh, N.C.; two sisters, Pearline King of Staten Island, N.Y., and Beatrice White of McCormick; five brothers, Effort Clark Jr. and John M. Clark of Edgefield, William Clark of Prosperity, O.B. Clark of Bronx, N.Y., and Henry Clark of Ridge Spring.
Services are 2 p.m. Friday at Springfield Baptist Church, Edgefield, conducted by Minister Odell Clark.
Viewing is after 1 today at G.L. Brightharp & Sons Mortuary.
Visitation is at the home of Effort and Ora Bell Clark, Sand Rock Road, Highway 378, Edgefield.
G.L. Brightharp & Sons Mortuary, Edgefield, is in charge.