Luck of the Irish

Comes to Wesley Commons

March 18, 2006

By VIC MACDONALD
Index-Journal regional editor

His is short legs carried him a long, long way. Wesley Commons’ mascot, Mr. Higgins, walked the whole route of Friday’s second annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, with receptionist Irene Turner holding the leash. In the process, he earned the first- place blue ribbon as the parade’s best participant.
The “Westie” finally earned a well-deserved rest, lying on the foyer carpet of the retirement center, after a program of celebration for the traditional Irish day of celebration of a patron saint. Mr. Higgins’ owners, Jack and Helen Wilson, said the 7-year-old former stray is the perfect dog for them — friendly, and up for any outing.
“We found him wandering in Simpsonville,” Helen said.
“So, he’s ours now,” Jack said.
“He loves everybody,” Helen said.
“And everybody loves Mr. Higgins. They take me as an aside,” Jack said.
The parade award-winning dog’s name is derived from a character in a children’s book, Jack said. The fact that the name could have come from the crusty linguistics professor in “My Fair Lady” is just a plus.
“We had an absolute blast,” Jack said of the parade that winded its way along the main entrance road of retirement community off Marshall Road in Greenwood and wrapped up with a brief program and refreshments.
Second place for parade participation went to the Greenwood Humane Society, while the Wild Turkey Band took the third place ribbon.
“It’s a thrill to come to Wesley Commons for the activities,” said Mayor Floyd Nicholson, the parade grand marshal, who rode in a police vehicle sporting green and white paint, appropriate for The Emerald City. “I love to come out and see all the beautiful women. We have to live each day to the fullest and activities here make each individual live to their fullest.”
A freshman at Erskine College, Grace Washin led the parade playing the bagpipes and performed a closing number of the program. As the oldest of three children, Washin said her mom had insisted that all the children learn to play an instrument. Since Grace said she didn’t want to learn, she figured she would pick an instrument no one could teach her to play. Her mom was resourceful, however, and found a teacher.
Washin said now, she practices in the chapel at Erskine, which she said is never locked to encourage students to practice their music.
Several dogs were part of the parade, without any serious encounters. Gucci, who walked with Ralph Keown, was draped with a sign, “Irish Setter today only.”
“These people are all crazy, so many people are involved in goofy things, like the kitchen band,” said Keown, who’s been at Wesley Commons six months. “These people make you want to get involved. Of course, I came from a dull area — Myrtle Beach.”

Benjamin E. Crawford

ABBEVILLE — Benjamin Elijah Crawford, 27, of 206 Raymond Road, died Friday, March 17, 2006 at his home.
Born in Abbeville, he was a son of Norris and Mary Elmore Crawford. He was a member of Mount Olive Baptist Church and attended Abbeville High School. He was a former hospital employee in Atlanta.
Survivors include his parents of the home; a sister, Suzette Crawford of the home; four brothers, Calvin Crawford and Norris Crawford III, both of the home, Richard Crawford of Ware Shoals and James Crawford of Morgan, Ga.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Brown and Walker Funeral Home.

Tom Hutto

GREENWOOD — Thomas Lauder “Tom” Hutto, 81, resident of 105 Mayapple, husband of Ann Mason Hutto, died March 16, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Asheville, NC, he was a son of the late Stansell S. and Katherine Lanier Hutto. The family, originally from Augusta, GA, returned there when Tom was eight. A graduate of Richmond Academy in Augusta, he received the George Traylor Memorial Medal for Outstanding Sophomore and the Outstanding Senior Award. Prior to joining the Army Air Corps in 1943, he received the Associate of Arts degree from Augusta College. He was a veteran of WW II where he served as a B-17 Aircraft Navigator in the 8th Air Force in European Theatre. He retired from the US Air Force Reserve with the rank of Major.
After the war Tom attended Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia where he earned a B A degree in journalism. He began his association with Lander College in 1949 as Director of Publicity, where he also served for 10 years as Alumni Director. He rose to the position of Vice President of Public Affairs. He was founder and first editor of “The Lander Magazine” and was founder and director of the S C High School Yearbook Association. After retirement in 1979 from Lander, he opened a photography studio in downtown Greenwood.
He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, the Greenwood Country Club and was a past member of the board of the Literacy Council.
Tom was predeceased by a grandson, Daniel Lauder Wiggins and by a sister, Mary Jane H. Rucker.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home are two daughters, Denise and husband, Randall Wiggins of Madison, WI and Mary Ann and husband, William Brady of Woodruff; grandsons, Benjamin Taylor Wiggins and Ross Mason Brady; a beloved brother-in-law, James F. Rucker of N. Augusta, three nieces and a nephew.
Funeral services will be conducted at 4:30 pm Sunday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. David Mayo officiating.
Private family burial will be in Oakbrook Memorial Park.
The family is at the home in Mayapple and will receive friends at the funeral home from 3:30 to 4:30 Sunday afternoon.
Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, PO Box 426, Greenwood, SC 29648, the “Thomas and Ann Hutto Voice Scholarship” c/o The Lander Foundation, Lander University, 320 Stanley Ave., Greenwood, SC 29649 or to the charity of one’s choice.
For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Hutto family.

Samuel T. Spencer

ABBEVILLE — Samuel T. Spencer, 73, of 966 Gassoway Farm Road, died Thursday, March 16, 2006 at Abbeville County Memorial Hospital.
Born in Abbeville County, he was a son of the late Booker T. and Malinda Spencer. He was a member of Grace Chapel AME Church and a former employee of Reelco Mill.
Survivors include a sister, Sarah Cobb of the home; a grand-nephew of the home, Christopher Dawson.
Services are 1 p.m. Monday at Grace Chapel AME Church, conducted by the Rev. Libbie Ligon. The body will be placed in the church at 12. Burial is in Harbison Cemetery.
Pallbearers are friends and nephews.
Viewing is 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday at Richie Funeral Home.
The family is at the home.
Richie Funeral Home is in charge.

Rosemary Trakas

GREENVILLE — Rosemary Motsinger Trakas, 83, resident of 25 Hillandale Circle, widow of Charles M. Trakas, became God’s Angel in Heaven on March 16, 2006 at St. Francis Hospital in Greenville.
Born in Coronaca, April 22, 1922, she was a daughter of the late Jay M. and Minnie VeRelle Motsinger. She was a graduate of Greenwood High School and attended Winthrop College. Mrs. Trakas was a life long resident of Greenwood County where she served as Associate Probate Judge from 1973-1977 and as Probate Judge from July 1, 1977 to January 6, 1987. She was formerly married to the late D. T. “Tommy” Joyce and the late Howard P. Norton.
Rosemary was an avid gardener whose flower arrangements won many ribbons at the Greenwood County Fair. Other passions include the Atlanta Braves, needlework, cooking and hummingbirds.
She was predeceased by a sister, Roberta Jayne Motsinger.
Surviving are two daughters, Anne Joyce Pittman and husband, Louis, with whom she made her home and Carole Joyce Copp and husband, Glenn of Charlotte, NC; a brother, Jay Marvin Motsinger, Jr. and wife, Anne of Coronaca; her granddaughters, Casey Copp, Kendall Copp Taylor and husband, Rob, Keri Copp Patterson and husband, Dan, Kristen Copp Shaver and husband, Edwin; her great-grandchildren, Alex and Anna Taylor, Todd Patterson and Lucas Shaver, other survivors include step-daughters, Lisa Britt, Cheri Midulla and Debra Edwards; step-grandchildren, Todd Pittman, Burrell Pittman, Blake Pittman, Ford and Hadley Britt, Grayson and Barrett Midulla, Joshua and Heath Edwards. Funeral services will be conducted at 3 pm Sunday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Tommy Kay officiating.
Burial will be in Bethlehem Cemetery in Coronaca.
The family is at their respective homes and will receive friends at the funeral home from 2 to 3 Sunday afternoon. The family requests that memorials be made to the Greenwood Humane Society, PO Box 242, Greenwood, SC 29648, the Alzheimer’s Asso-ciation, Upstate Chapter, P. O. Box 658, Greenwood, SC 29648 or to the American Heart Association, PO Box 6604, Columbia, SC 29260-6604.
Rosie’s children would like to thank Fannie Mae Jackson for 65 years of love and devotion, Willie T (Mike Humphries) for many years of faithful service and Marty Tanner for her love and care. Also, Shelia Neal, Martha Costell, Virginia King and Beth Garrett for their special care.
For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Trakas family.
PAID OBITUARY

Freddie Lee Walker

Freddie Lee Walker, 82, died Thursday, March 16, 2006 at Newberry County Memorial Hospital.
Services will be announced by Parks Funeral Home, Greenwood.

In her family’s footsteps

Andrea Downey carries on family’s running tradition at Ninety Six

March 18, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

NINETY SIX — Ninety Six High School track star Andrea Downey has proven to be a solid commodity for the Lady Wildcats for the last five years.
To hear her tell it, running is a family tradition.
Downey, a junior, has been running for the Lady Wildcats since seventh grade. She has become Ninety Six’s top distance runner, routinely finishing first in the 3,200-, 1,600- and 800-meter races during the Lady Wildcats’ meets. The spunky Downey said she owes her love of running to her family.
“My mom was a runner when she went to school here,” Downey said. “And my brother, Brandon, was an all-state runner at Ninety Six. I always looked up to him, so running came naturally.”
Brandon Downey, 25, who now resides in Charleston, was on the track team at Newberry after graduating from Ninety Six. According to Andrea Downey, her brother keeps close track of her exploits.
“He just called me to see how I did in the 4x800 (relay),” said Downey, sitting sprawled across the infield grass at the Ninety Six track during the Lady Wildcats Thursday meet against Emerald and Dixie. “I told him I ran a 2:40 on my leg, which is OK. I’m not going to kill myself on that one, seeing as how I’ve got two more races today.”
That type of straight-forward honesty is apparently Downey’s trademark, said Ninety Six girls track coach Beth Miller.
“She’s just a happy-go-lucky kid,” Miller said. “She’ll probably live to be 152 years old, while the rest of us will drop over dead from stress. She’s fun to be around.”
Miller said Downey carries her off-track personality into competition from time to time.
“Whether she runs a 6:01 or a 6:20, it doesn’t make a difference to her,” the coach said.
“On one hand, that drives me crazy as a coach; on the other hand, that can be a good attitude to have.”
Though the track season is moderately young, Downey has already notched several impressive victories. Chief among those were wins in the 1,600, 3,200 and as member of the 4x800 team in a March 9 meet against Greenwood, and wins in the 800 and 1,600 in the March 14 rematch with the Lady Eagles. The Lady Wildcats won both meets.
Downey said defeating its AAAA neighbors from Greenwood was crucial for Ninety Six.
“Those two wins felt really good,” Downey said. “Some people were saying we weren’t any good. But we’ve got fight in us. Those two wins against a AAAA school puts Ninety Six on the map a little bit. Sometimes big things come in small packages.”
Downey conceded it is unique competing in a team sport that relies so heavily on individual effort. The junior said she is always aware of how her effort affects her team’s scoring, and strives to do everything possible to benefit the Lady Wildcats.
The junior has excelled despite missing two weeks of practice because of surgery she underwent to remove a small spot — diagnosed as abnormal cells — on her shoulder.
“I did miss two weeks,” Downey said. “But everything’s fine. I’m glad to be back.”
Downey also excels in cross country and had a good showing in last fall’s Class AA/A state championship meet at the Sandhills Research Center in Columbia, finishing 24th out of 160 competitors.
The junior said she likes cross country just as much as track, and especially enjoys running for Ninety Six cross country coach Sandi Zehr.
“I love Mrs. Zehr. She always praises you and encourages you,” said Downey, with a smile. “And we’re so much alike. I call her my second mama.”
Though she has the rest of her junior year and all of her senior year still ahead of her, Downey said she would entertain trying to continue her running career in college.
“I would definitely think about it,” Downey said. “I love to run, but I want to focus on my grades, too. I want to be a neo-natal intensive care nurse, so, obviously, school will be important.”

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

Newspaper company gains media advantage in S. C.

March 18, 2006

The new owner of The State newspaper in Columbia and The Sun-News in Myrtle Beach already owns the daily newspapers in Rock Hill, Beaufort and Hilton Head in South Carolina. With the purchase of the Knight-Ridder chain, it also takes over The Charlotte Observer, which has a significant presence in the Palmetto State.
The McClatchy Co. also owns The News and Observer in Raleigh and now moves up to become the nation’s second-largest newspaper company.
What does that mean for people in Greenwood, the Lakelands area and the rest of South Carolina? Nothing, unless you factor in the added political influence it will be able to exert from its strong circulation base, including the Capital City where our lawmakers are always under scrutiny from the media.

WILL THAT HAVE AN effect on what those lawmakers do that will ultimately affect us? Some will say that won’t happen. Others, though, know that media coverage of the political world and the corresponding influence cannot be overlooked. With almost blanket coverage of the state, from the North Carolina border to Georgia and beyond, the California-based company will enjoy a media advantage that has never been seen in this state.
There are 15 daily newspapers in the state and McClatchy will own a third of them. While chains own all but Greenwood, Sumter and Charleston, which also owns the Aiken Standard and is a group unto itself, none will dominate in numbers as much as McClatchy.
Will that translate into unprecedented clout? Who knows? It’s really up to the people.

THIS CONSOLIDATION OF the newspaper industry in outside hands is a growing phenomenon of the information age, maybe, but, fortunately, the people of Greenwood, Sumter and Charleston have their own newspapers that provide a local identity. They know the owners and the news, advertising, production and circulation staffs, people who are an integral part of the community in every respect. They are determined to maintain a local presence and concentrate on giving the community and its neighbors a strong, local, and balanced product.
The Index-Journal has come a long way since its birth in 1919, when The Index and The Journal merged. It represents and reflects the day-to-day lives, the hopes and dreams ..... and memories of the people of Greenwood and the Lakelands. That never changes.