Man arrested in shooting

Police say victim of Washington St. robbery was wounded in hand, waist

November 1, 2006

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

Greenwood Police have arrested a local man and charged him in connection with an early morning shooting this week at a Washington Street residence.
Dexter Sheppard, 21, of Owens Street in Greenwood, has been charged with assault and battery with intent to kill, first-degree burglary and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime, after police say a Greenwood man was shot twice in a robbery just before 2 a.m. Monday.
Sheppard also was charged with possession of crack cocaine, after police discovered an off-white, rock-like substance during a search of his home following the robbery.
According to a police incident report, officers responding to the scene found the wounded victim lying on the ground in front of the residence. The victim told authorities he was walking out of his front door when a man, dressed all in black and wearing a monkey mask, pushed the victim back into his residence and pointed a gun at him.
The victim said he grabbed for the gun, at which time the masked man pulled the trigger, shooting the victim’s hand and damaging his fingertips. The victim said the masked man shot at him again, this time hitting him near the waist, before running toward the back of the residence.
The victim was treated by emergency medical technicians and taken to Self Regional Hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds.
Witnesses reported hearing a “commotion” coming from the residence during the robbery, adding that after hearing gunshots, they saw the injured victim come out of the house and the masked man run in the direction of Park Alley.
While working the scene, police were approached by two men who identified the masked man as Sheppard and told police where the man could be found, arrest warrants said. One of the witnesses said they had seen Sheppard on a nearby street and had watched the man remove his mask before running away. The men led officers to Sheppard’s home on Owens Street, where he exited the front door of the residence and laid on the ground as instructed by officers.
According to the report, one of the witnesses, who was the victim’s brother, ran behind officers and began to kick Sheppard while he was on the ground. The victim’s brother was placed under arrest for assault and battery.
Arrest warrants and reports said Sheppard lives at the Owens Street residence, about 100 yards from the robbery location, with his girlfriend. She told police that Sheppard left the residence about 30-40 minutes before the robbery took place, and when he returned, Sheppard asked her to walk to another house on the street. When no one answered the door at that house, the couple returned their residence, she said, and she saw police in the area working the robbery.
The warrants said the woman told police no more than 10 minutes had passed between Sheppard arriving home and the police arriving at the scene, adding the man had been talking to her for two weeks about his intentions to commit a robbery.

Candidate for Dist. 50 drops out of race

November 1, 2006

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal Senior staff writer

A candidate seeking a seat on the Greenwood School District 50 Board of Trustees has withdrawn from the race, though his name will still appear on ballots in the Nov. 7 mid-term election.
Willie Evans, who was vying for District 50’s Seat 1, notified the Greenwood County Voter Registration and Elections Office on Monday of his intentions to pull out of the election, said Connie Moody, registration and elections director.
A family member said Evans’ decision was made after consideration and was not politically motivated.
“It (the decision to withdraw) is not out of animosity, but to allow someone else to represent the district Seat 1,” said Tyrone Evans, Willie Evans’ son. “He just wants whoever is qualified.”
Tyrone Evans said his father is a pastor, which takes up quite a bit of his time, though he said his father had been prepared to make time to serve on the board if elected.
“Dad is a preacher and he stays gone a lot,” Tyrone Evans said. “It’s not that he wouldn’t make time to do it, he just feels like somebody else could do a better job. ... If he had continued to run, he would have made the time to do what he had to do.”
The district’s Seat 1 has been vacant for about six months following the April death of trustee Seyvelle Parks, who took over the position in October 2005.
The seat previously was been held by W.T. Holmes, who resigned in July 2005 because he moved to Chester. Moody said Evans’ name will still appear on ballots when voters go to the polls next week, as the decision came too late for election officials to change the ballot. Moody said some absentee ballots have already been mailed.
Moody said officials are in the process of making posters to be displayed in voter precincts and poll locations covered by District 50’s Seat 1 to notify voters of the withdrawal and to help avoid confusion on Election Day.
Officials are also enclosing the posters in absentee ballots that have not yet been mailed.
“We are doing everything we can to keep people from voting for Mr. Evans since he has asked to be withdrawn from the race,” Moody said.
Should Evans receive enough votes to be elected into office, Moody said he would have to either serve or decline to serve, in which case a special election would likely occur to fill the empty seat.
Moody said withdrawals occurring this close to Election Day are rare, adding most candidates make the decision earlier in the race.
“It doesn’t happen very often,” she said. “Normally candidates let us know in time to pull their names off the ballots before printing.”

The trick to getting the treats

Costumed kids take to Greenwood’s streets for annual sugar rush

November 1, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

The streets of Greenwood looked less like municipal thoroughfares Tuesday night and more like the pages of a comic book or scenes from a horror movie.
Children dressed as superheroes, witches, monsters, ghouls, fairies, sprites, cowboys and more took to the sidewalks across town to celebrate Halloween and collect bags full of candy. In fact, neighborhoods all across the Lakelands were brimming with kids in search of sugary goodness.
In Greenwood, the neighborhood around Jennings Avenue was particularly busy. Residents of that area put on their annual trick-or-treat parade, a tradition that has been going for more than 18 years.
“I’ve seen it all over the last 18 years,” said Jennings Avenue resident Pete McKibben.
“I’ve seen as many as 90 kids in that parade,” McKibben continued. “Overall, I’ve had as many as 300 kids come in a night. I usually cut my light off around 8:30 or 9.”
McKibben said he thought the numbers for the parade were down a bit this year, but he found this year’s group to be a spirited bunch.
Neighborhoods weren’t the only places handing out candy to would-be vampires and werewolves. Greenwood Realty set up an inflated haunted maze and welcomed a number of trick-or-treaters.
“We’ve had about two dozen come through so far,” said Lorena Crout, an employee at the agency. “We’ve had some that were brave enough to go in the maze.”
The Greenwood Mall also welcomed a plethora of kids for its annual candy giveaway, a good alternative for parents seeking a climate-controlled environment for the youngest of Halloween revelers.
While some kids’ costumes were fastidiously planned out and prepared, some were put together on a shoestring budget and still came out looking good.
Such was the case with brothers Charlie and Sam Wieters, who went as Jaws and Quint from the film “Jaws.” The boys’ father, Caleb, was pleased with the way the outfits turned out.
“We didn’t know what they were going to be,” Wieters said. “I think they look great. A few people have actually gotten what they are supposed to be.”
While Halloween night always provides ample opportunity for pranks and chicanery, area children seemed to, for the most part, stay safe. Part of that safety includes parents checking their kids’ candy.
Greenwood’s John Scott said he always inspects his two daughters’ treats before they are allowed to dig in.
“Oh, certainly, I always check it,” Scott said. “But I’ve never had any problems. And that’s going all the way back to the 1970s and 1980s and when I used to trick-or-treat. I’ve never had any problems with the candy given out here in Greenwood.”
McKibben said it is unclear which type of candy emerges as he favorite each year.
“Chocolate, gum, all different types,” McKibben said. “Milky Ways are popular. Any type of candy bars. I just enjoy giving them out and having the kids come by. We look forward to it every year.”

Obituaries

Robert Jean Briggs

Robert Jean Briggs, born Nov. 4, 1929, entered into eternal rest Sunday, Oct. 29, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center after an extended illness. She was born to the late Mr. Robert Benjamin Lagroon and the late Hattie Hogan Lagroon.
She was a follower of the Baptist faith. She attended public schools in Greenwood County. Robert Jean is survived by her husband, Johnnie Lee Briggs, Sr. of Bradley; two sons, Johnnie Lee Briggs, Jr. (Shirley) of Plum Branch and Willie James Briggs (Betty) of Troy; one stepdaughter, Margaret Ann Evans (Larry) of North Augusta; a daughter-in-law, Brenda Briggs; one sister, Annie Lou Ross of Greenwood; three grandchildren, Patrick L. Briggs, Kymberly M. Briggs, both of Greenwood and Rodney F. Briggs of Butner, NC; six great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; six step-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Thursday at Percival-Tompkins Funeral Chapel with Minister Margaret Evans officiating.
Burial will be in the Calvary Grove Baptist Church cemetery. Flower bearers will be the nieces, and pallbearers will be friends of the family.
The family is at the granddaughter’s home, Kymberly M. Briggs, 125-A Willowdale Court.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at pertompfh1@earthlink.net.

Charles Collier

ABBEVILLE — Charles Collier, 69, of 706 Branch St., died Monday, Oct. 30, 2006 at his home.
The family is at the home of a son, 802 Haigler St.
Services will be announced by Brown and Walker Funeral Home.

Anna Ruth Gregory

Anna Ruth Crosby Gregory, 103, former resident of Emerald Gardens, widow of Rev. J.T. Gregory, died Oct. 30, 2006 at the Hospice House.
Born in Fountain Inn, Aug. 23, 1903, she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Nora Griffin Crosby. She was a member of Lowell Street United Methodist Church, the Ready to Serve Sunday School Class, Lowell Lites Seniors, Hannah Circle and former member of Dorcas Circle, all of the church. Mrs. Gregory was also a member of the Mary Pinckney Ouzts Chapter No. 1 of the Order of the Eastern Star.
Surviving are a daughter and son-in-law, Myra and Jim Ballard of Greenwood; daughter-in-law, Grace O’Sullivan of Brooklyn, NY; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; four step-grandchildren and ten step-great-grandchildren. Mrs. Gregory was predeceased by a son, James W. O’Sullivan.
Funeral services will be conducted 4 p.m. Thursday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Dick Waldrep officiating.
Entombment will be in Edgewood Mausoleum.
Pallbearers will be Maurice Corley, Jay Thompson, Bobby McDonald, Rick Waldrep, Ed Davis and Frank Wideman.
Honorary escort will be members of Lowell Street United Methodist Women and Employees and Staff of Emerald Gardens.
The family is at the home of Myra and Jim Ballard, 102 Coventry Dr. and will receive friends at the funeral home from 2:30 to 4 Thursday afternoon.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lowell Street United Methodist Church, 300 Lowell Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646 or to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.blythfuneralhome.com
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Gregory family.

Estelle Harper

COLUMBIA — Estelle Corley Harper, 91, resident of 1005 Garden Dale Drive, widow of Charles Edward Harper, died Oct. 29, 2006 at the Lexington Medical Center.
Born in Saluda County, she was a daughter of the late Addy and Daisy Corley Corley. She was a graduate of Greenwood High School and was a charter member of Riverland Hills Baptist Church in Irmo. She spent her adult life in Spartanburg, Greenville and Columbia.
Surviving are four daughters, Kae Childs of Isle of Palms, Mrs. Tom (June) McAbee of Greenville, Patricia H. White of Columbia and Mrs. Wallace (Jo) Webb of Lake Wylie; a brother, Joe Corley of Clinton; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Harper was predeceased by a brother, Gordon Corley and a sister, Nellie Butler.
Funeral services will be conducted at Noon Thursday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel in Greenwood with Dr. J. William Harris officiating.
Burial will be in Edgewood Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Brad Childs, Jack Cobb, Blane Mays, Louis McAbee, Thomas McAbee, David Steele, Wallace Webb.
The family is at their respective homes and will receive friends at the funeral home from 11 to noon Thursday.
For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Harper family.

Willie C. ‘Spud’ Lindsay

Willie C. “Spud” Lindsay, 52, of 1122 Brooks St., Greenwood, S.C., died on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center, Greenwood, S.C. Born in Laurens County, he was the son of the late Coley and Jannie B. Cannon Lindsay.
He was a member of St. Vaughnville Baptist Church, Chappells, S.C. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Eddie Lee and Coley Lindsay, Jr. Surviving are his wife of 21 years, Sandra Christopher Lindsay of the home, one daughter, Cleopatra Lindsay of Laurens, S.C., two sons, Torrey Lindsay, Shannon Nesbitt, both of Kansas City, one brother, Bobby Lindsay of Cross Hill, S.C., four grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006 at 2 p.m. at St. Vaughnville Baptist Church, Chappells, with burial in the church cemetery. Remains will be placed in the church on Thursday at 1 p.m. The family is at the home. Online condolences may be sent by viewing www.sandersthompsonfuneralservice.com.
Sanders-Thompson, Clinton, S.C., is caring for the family.

James Delph McDill, Jr.

ABBEVILLE — James Delph McDill, Jr., 73, formerly of Abbeville, died Thursday, Oct. 26 in Sumter, SC. He was born in New Orleans, LA, to the late James Delph and Esther B. McDill, Sr. He was a resident of the Saleeby Center in Hartsville, SC.
Surviving are his brother, Edwin McDill, a niece, Amy, grand-nephew, Matthew and a grand-niece, Angel, all of Sumter, SC.
Graveside services will be 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, 2006 in Melrose Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent in memory of Mr. McDill to the Saleeby Center, 714 Lewellen Ave. Hartsville, SC 29550.
Harris Funeral Home of Abbeville is assisting the McDill family.

Mable Clinkscales Smith

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Mable Evelyn Clinkscales Smith, 70, widow of Harold Smith, died Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2006, in Alexandria.
Rosedale Funeral Home, 245-01 Francis Lewis Blvd., Rosedale, N.Y., is in charge.
Announcement courtesy of Robinson and Son Mortuary, Greenwood, SC.

Dot Thomas

Dorothy Malcolm Thomas, 82, resident of 123 La Port, wife of Ralph M. Thomas, died Oct. 30, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Bostwick, GA, Nov. 30, 1923, she was a daughter of the late Ralph and Lillian Pace Malcolm. She was a graduate of Bostwick High School.
Mrs. Thomas was a member of Bethlehem Union Church.
Surviving in addition to her husband of the home are two sons, Jimmy Thomas of Williston and Frank Thomas of Waterloo; three daughters, Lynn Boyer of Williston, Vikki Becker of Wilmington, NC, and Rose Mary Jones of Simpsonville; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Bobby Davis officiating.
Entombment will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens Chapel Mausoleum.
Pallbearers will be Eric Carter, Justin Thomas, J.J. Smith, Eddie Thomas, Marty Thomas, Ken Becker and Pat Craig.
The family is at the home in La Port and will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 Wednesday evening.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bethlehem Union Church Building Fund, 4628 Riverfork Road, Waterloo, SC 29384 or to the charity of one’s choice.
For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com. Blyth Funeral Home is assisting the Thomas family.

Ninety Six moves on

Wildcats’ volleyball team continues trek to state title game

November 1, 2006

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

NINETY SIX — The Ninety Six Lady Wildcats volleyball team seems to have a taste for excitement and drama.
Less than a week after avoiding elimination against Chapman, the Lady Wildcats were on the ropes again Tuesday against the Columbia Lady Capitols, but fought back to win the match 3-2 in front of a raucous crowd.
“We have been down many a time this year,” said Lady Wildcats coach Beth Miller. “We are known as the comeback kids and actually we use that as kind of a motivating factor.”
Things were tight from the very beginning of the match as both teams went back and fourth and were tied at 8-8 in the first game.
Ninety Six finally took a slim lead at 14-13 on a shot out of bounds by the Lady Capitols. A shot by Erica Patterson made it 15-13 as the Lady Wildcats also would get a point on another shot out of bounds to take a 16-13 lead, prompting the Lady Capitols to take a timeout.
Following the timeout, the Lady Wildcats would score nine of the next 15 points to take the first game 25-19. The Lady Capitols came out strong in the second game, going on a 14-3 run after trailing 4-2.
Kristen Smith helped the Wildcats get back on the board with a nice shot just inside the back line, but the Lady Capitols were in total control of the game, winning 12-25.
Game three was a see-saw battle after the Lady Wildcats raced out to a 9-1 lead, thanks in-part to the serving of Smith. Coach Anita Mobley rallied her players though and, following a timeout, the Lady Capitols outscored the Lady Wildcats 9-1 to take an 11-10 lead.
“I just think if we would have played our game throughout every game, we would have came out on top,” Mobley said.
“There were times when it was like we were not even on the court. You can’t afford to put yourself in a hole at this point and expect to come back.”
Sara Trowbridge finally ended the drought for the Lady Wildcats with a block at the net, tying the game at 11. The Lady Wildcats took the lead back at 13-12 and never relinquished it as they won a wild third game 25-19.
At this point, the Capitols shook off the cobwebs and thumped the Lady Wildcats 14-25 in game four. Once again, the Wildcats seemed to lose focus as the Lady Capitols went on a 13-3 run during the game, tying the match at two games apiece and forcing a decisive game five.
“We knew they were really strong and we knew that in this volleyball match there were going to be times when we were going to be down,” Miller said. “Our key phrase was just ‘ride the wave.’”
The Lady Capitols began the final game where they left off in game four, taking a 4-0 lead over the Lady Wildcats as coach Miller called a timeout.
Following the timeout, Denise Pope helped the Lady Wildcats get on the board with a solid shot that blew past the Lady Capitols.
The Lady Wildcats began to feed off the crowd’s energy as they took a 7-5 lead. The lead would grow to 13-5 before the Lady Capitols scored another point, but the Lady Wildcats held on to win the final game 15-8 and move on to the semifinals of the Class AA playoffs.
Ninety Six will face the winner of the Keenan-Broome match, which was not available at press time.

Opinion

Jurors answer to numbers as fear of gang a factor

November 1, 2006

There is no longer any doubt that gang activity is a concern in Greenwood and indeed all over South Carolina. Law enforcement agencies, schools and the general public have seen too much evidence to ever again take the threats associated with gangs for granted. Trouble is always a concern when these violence-prone groups spread their influence on those vulnerable enough to fall under their criminal sway.
There are some - a few, maybe - who still believe that talk about gangs is nothing more that talk. They are living in a fool’s paradise and refuse to face reality. Maybe a situation in a Richland County Court will open their doubting eyes.

TWO MONTHS AFTER A MURDER trial there was delayed because jurors were concerned about the accused’s gang ties, a new jury was called by number, not name, to hear the case.
The clerk of court said she decided some time ago to use numbers instead of names for all trials “because of juror concerns that they didn’t feel comfortable with their names being called out.” The judge had halted the murder trial when the jurors told him they were concerned about gang members who might be in the courtroom. It was fear, pure and simple.
The prosecutor has described the shootings as a case of mistaken identity in a gang-related feud.
The two deaths brought a community uproar about gang violence in that part of South Carolina.

THE SITUATION SHOULD ALERT every South Carolinian to what the threat of gangs can mean to any community, though, and that includes Greenwood and every other place in the Lakelands area. It should convince all that gangs are not imaginary. They pose a danger to every child who just might be in the way of a wayward bullet in a case of “mistaken identity” in a gang-related feud. It could be an adult for that matter.
For anyone who might think a gang is some kind of social club, think again. Gangs these days have a darker reason for being. Ask any law officer. Chances are you’ll hear in many cases, if not most, about drug use and drug trafficking ..... or some other kind of illegal activity, including, but not confined to sex.
Be aware. If jurors are afraid for their names to be called, the fear is real.