New business coming to town

Fiberglass company buys former National Textiles plant off U.S. 25

November 30, 2006

Special to The Index-Journal

Guardian Fiberglass Inc., a subsidiary of Guardian Building Products Inc., has bought the former National Textiles manufacturing plant off U.S. 25 in Greenwood.
The property, on a 115-acre tract, includes a 500,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. The purchase of the adjacent 262 acres is expected to close in early December.
According to Teri Watson, vice president of marketing with Guardian Building Products Inc., the use of the facility has not been determined.
“The plant was well-maintained,” Watson said. “With our business growth, we know that we will be able to utilize the building for manufacturing or fabrication of products. We are currently exploring several options.”
Local and state officials were instrumental in the recruitment of GBP.
“GBP is pleased with the assistance received from the Greenwood Partnership Alliance in attracting our investment to the area and in particular, the efforts of Jamie Gilbert,” she said. “Jamie added to what has been a very positive experience in South Carolina and we anticipate continued growth as a manufacturer in the state.”
GBP also recognized Wayne Fritz, part of a dynamic Global Business Development team at the S.C. Department of Commerce for adding his “tremendous” value to both Guardian and the Greenwood Partnership Alliance.
It is anticipated that final decisions on the use of the facility will be made in the first quarter of 2007. The most conservative estimate of employment opportunities is in the 25-35 range, once the manufacturing facility is operational.
“We will post advertisements in the media when we are ready to begin the hiring process,” Watson said.
Guardian Building Products Inc., based in Greenville, is one of the largest building products distribution networks in the United States, and through one of its subsidiaries, Guardian Fiberglass Inc., manufactures a complete line of light density fiberglass building insulation products for the residential and commercial construction markets in Canada and the United States. GBP is a division of Guardian Industries Corp., based in Auburn Hills, Mich.
In addition to its spot in the building material industry, Guardian is a worldwide manufacturer of float glass and fabricated glass products for the commercial and residential construction industries. Guardian Automotive provides exterior systems to the global automotive industry. Guardian, its subsidiaries and affiliates employ 19,000 people and operate facilities throughout North America, Europe, South America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
For information, visit the company Web site at www.guardianbp.com.

Waiting for a movie miracle

Local pastor pleased with national release of ‘The Nativity Story’

November 30, 2006

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

It’s a story more than 2,000 years in the telling.
The events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ have inspired Christian believers the world over for centuries.
Now, that story will be told on the silver screen in a highly anticipated Hollywood release — “The Nativity Story,” starring Keisha Castle-Hughes as Jesus’ mother Mary, and Oscar Isaac as Jesus’ stepfather, Joseph.
The movie opens nationwide Friday.
“We’re very much excited about it coming out,” said Phillip McMinn, pastor at South Main Street Baptist Church. “(The film) looks absolutely super. My wife and I are going to make it an event.”
That this story — beginning with the trials of Joseph and Mary and their journey to Joseph’s home of Bethlehem and culminating with the birth of Christ — would even be shown across the world in a day and time when displayed religion in the public arena is often criticized is news in and of itself.
“It could never hurt to have the story come out — set in the context it is — as we today have been inundated with commercialism at this time of year,” said the Rev. John Setzler, of Immanuel Lutheran Church.
The film is sure to get non-believers talking, which is always viewed as a good thing by believers.
“In my view (the movie) is a good thing,” said Tony Hopkins, pastor of First Baptist Church of Greenwood. “But there are two sides of the coin. Until you actually see the movie you don’t know if it’s truly biblical or not, and as a pastor, I am concerned about that.
“On the other side, it will get people talking about the birth of Jesus who might not normally talk about it, and that’s good. (The story) has been lost in our culture during the holidays and anything that reclaims that is a good thing.”
“It definitely increases awareness,” Setzler added. “In a setting like this it’s not being forced on anyone. It’s the perfect way to do it.”
The genesis of “The Nativity Story” traces back to 2004 and the release of a film by director Mel Gibson. It was a singular work, “The Passion of the Christ,” that would change how Hollywood views films of faith.
Without “The Passion of the Christ,” movies such as “The Nativity Story” might never have been conceived, as the overwhelming success of Gibson’s 2004 epic, which grossed more than $600 million worldwide (on a $30 million budget), has paved the way in Hollywood for the production of other Christian-themed films.
“Movies like ‘The Passion’ make it possible,” McMinn said.

THE NATIVITY STORY

Opens nationwide on Friday

Where in Greenwood: The Greenwood Dickinson 10, off Highway 72.
For information: Call 943-0800 for pricing or 943-0101 for automated show listings

Troops’ moms getting help with donation drive

November 30, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

Greenwood Red Cross service center manager Barbara Turnburke stands beside a donation box at the Greenwood Red Cross office. The Red Cross and the Blue Star Mothers are partnering to collect donations to send to troops stationed overseas this Christmas.

The Christmas season is a time of year when people are in a more giving mood than usual.
A pair of Lakelands-area organizations is hoping local residents will carry over that giving spirit to their consideration for deployed military personnel this year.
The Red Cross has partnered with the local Blue Star Mothers group to collect donations for packages to be sent to troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan this Christmas. A donation box is set up at the Red Cross office on Epting Street.
“We thought it would be a good idea to have a drop-off point for donations,” said Mona Johnson, director of the local Blue Star Mothers chapter. “We want to be able to send them care packages and things like that.”
The Blue Star Mothers make up a group that has children, family and/or friends in the military. Group members gather to lend each other support while loved ones are deployed, and to offer support services to the troops themselves.
Johnson said one of the group’s main objectives is to let troops know they are loved.
“Our absolute main goal is to make sure our troops know we care,” Johnson said. “They are in our thoughts and prayers constantly. And we don’t get involved in the politics of the war. Our concern is for the men and women of the military.”
Johnson knows what it is like to have a family member deployed, as she has a daughter who just returned from a one-year tour in Iraq with the South Carolina National Guard 111th Signal Battalion.
This is the first Christmas the local Red Cross and Blue Star Mothers have teamed up on a donation drive.
“We just got started this summer,” Johnson said. “But chapters from all over the state have done things like this before.”
Barbara Turnburke, service center manager of the Greenwood Red Cross, said her organization was happy to partner with the Blue Star Mothers.
“I think the Blue Stars are a good organization,” Turnburke said. “It is wonderful that mothers of 19- or 20-year-old soldiers have a place they can go to support each other and the troops. We were more than happy to host a drop-off point for the donations.”
Turnburke said the Red Cross has long had a solid relationship with the military. She cited a program in which the Red Cross contacts deployed military members when their family has an important announcement — such as a birth or death — as an example of the outreach the organization practices.
The type of items that troops have requested varies greatly. From mixed nuts to Nerf footballs, shaving cream to blank CDs, a wide array of donations is requested.
“One thing that we added to the list was hand and foot warmers,” said Johnson, referring to the warmers that can be slipped into gloves or socks. “It is getting really cold over there, particularly at night.”
There are a number of items the military asks people specifically not to donate. These items are flea collars, home-cooked food, pornography, fireworks, aerosols or glass. If you donate music CDs or DVDs, please write “NOT FOR RESALE” on it as some people are intercepting these and reselling them to soldiers on bases.
Johnson detailed how important these donations can be to military personnel during the holidays.
“They have a tremendous amount of appreciation for donations like this,” Johnson said. “They hear so much negative stuff come back to them over there from the United States. It’s important they also hear the good stuff, the positive stuff. Getting something from home just means a lot to them.”
Johnson said a personal note or card included in a package makes donations even more special to deployed troops.

How can you help?

The Blue Star Mothers are collecting the following items for America’s deployed troops:

Food — Teas, coffees, vanilla creamers (bags, singles and powdered), drink mixes for water (Gatorade, Kool-Aid, Crystal Light, tea bags), sugar packs, hot chocolate mixes, brownies, baklava, microwaveable hot foods, soups, popcorn, chips, Doritos, granola, snacks, cookies, candy, tuna fish, sunflower seeds, protein supplements, mixed nuts, jerky, cheese crackers, sugarless gum, dried foods, canned fruit, dried fruit, road food, protein bars, trail mix.

Personal hygiene/writing supplies — Shaving cream, razors/blades, aftershave lotion, Q-tips, saline eye and nose drops/spray, disposable cameras, toothbrushes, whitening toothpaste, floss, face wash, shower gels, travel-size shampoo and conditioner, bar soap, deodorants, lotions, anti-fungal foot cream, feminine hygiene products, ballpoint pens, school supplies, colored pencils, pads, cheap sharpeners, face wipes, hand sanitizers, small fabric freshener, Neosporin creams, Ziploc bags.

Other — Heated pocket inserts, foot powders, puzzles, books, small board games, blank CDs, sunglasses (always in need), hand and feet warmers, warm hats, postcards, blank note cards, posters, guitar strings, harmonicas, small entertainment items, Nerf balls, handheld games, surge protectors, football team hats, sports items, socks (white and dark), lounging clothes, underwear, long underwear and postage for shipping packages ($8.10 flat rate box)

Luther Belcher

HODGES — Luther Belcher, 84, of 108 Cromer Lane, husband of Izora M. Belcher, died Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2006, at Self Regional Medical Center.
The family is at the home.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is in charge.

Roy Blackwell

HONEA PATH — Roy Melvin Blackwell, 65, husband of Nancy Hembree Blackwell, died Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2006. Services will be announced by Pruitt Funeral Home.

Maggie Oliver Bryson

Maggie Oliver Bryson, 90, of 311 Davis Ave., widow of George Bryson, died Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2006, at National Healthcare.
The family is at the home of her daughter MaeRetta Wideman, 131 Old Sample St.
Services will be announced by Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc.

‘Bucky’ Pearson

Lawrence “Bucky” Frederick Pearson, Jr., 77, of Morningside, widower of Ima Rae Burkett Pearson, died Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2006, at Self Regional Medical Center.
The family is at the home of his daughter, Paula Rae Pearson, 115 Merriman Ave.
Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home and Crematory.

Lela Mae Wilson Walker Perrin

McCORMICK — Mrs. Lela Mae Wilson Walker Perrin, widow of Tarrence Perrin, Sr., died at HospiceCare of the Piedmont, Greenwood, SC, on Nov. 28, 2006. She was born in McCormick, SC, April 6, 1926, a daughter of the late Carrie and Nero Talbert and the late John Henry Walker. She was reared in the home of her grandparents, the late Robert and Mary Walker.
She was a member of Shiloh A.M.E. Church and served on the Senior Choir, the Missionary Board, the Stewardess Board, Assistant Class Leader, Sunday School Teacher and Health Warriors Club. She was also a member of the Women’s Home Aide Society #1, the New Hope Burial Aide Society and the Bethany Chapter Order of Eastern Star #1. She was a former member of the New Hope Baptist Church and a graduate of Mims High School.
Survivors are three daughters, Mrs. Jeanette Perrin Austin (Wright) and Mrs. Mary P. Hill (Jesse), both of Greenwood, SC, and Ms. Debra Perrin of the home; five sons, Torrence Perrin, Jr., (Kimberly) of Greenville, SC, James Robert Perrin (Teresa) of Greenwood, SC, Benjamin Alexander Perrin (Hildreth) of McCormick, SC, Rev. Levi Perrin (Lisa) of Mauldin, SC, and Steve Allen Perrin of Greenville; three sisters, Mrs. Katheleen Franklin (James) of Charlotte, NC, Ms. Eartha Lee Lester and Mrs. Lillian Parks (Robert), both of McCormick, SC; one brother, Harry Truman Talbert of McCormick; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Sarah Thomas (James) of McCormick, SC; twenty-three grandchildren, one of whom was reared in the home, Travis Oneal Perrin; and fourteen great-grandchildren. Funeral services are Saturday at 2 p.m. at Shiloh A.M.E. Church with the Revs. James Louden, III, Michael Butler, Joseph Caldwell, M.L. Taylor and Wayman Coleman, III officiating. Interment is in the church cemetery. Honorary escort will be Women’s Home Aide Society and The Order of Eastern Star #1. The body is at Walker Funeral Home and will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Saturday. The family is at her home at 603 Brown Street in McCormick.

Geneva K. Reeves

Geneva Kellum Reeves “Mama Reeves”, 86, of 1015 Chinquapin Road, widow of the Rev. Ed Reeves, died Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2006, at Self Regional Medical Center.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home and Crematory.

Andrew Sthare

COLUMBIA — Andrew Derwin Sthare, 37, resident of 7651 Garners Ferry Road, died Nov. 28, 2006 at the Lexington Medical Center.
Born in Glen Ridge, NJ, Dec. 19, 1968, he was a son of Derwin K. and Barbara Eliassen Sthare. A graduate of Greenwood High School and a 1991 graduate of the Citadel, he also attended Lander University and received an Associate Degree in Graphic Designing from Piedmont Technical College in 1997. He was employed by IMIC.
Andy was a member of the Emerald Farm Train Club.
Surviving in addition to his parents of Greenwood are two sisters, Ingrid A. Sthare of Greenville and Amy J. Sthare of Columbia; his fiancee, Christine Condon of Columbia; an uncle, Conrad A. Sthare of Lehighton, PA.
Funeral services will be conducted at 4 p.m. Friday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Dr. John Setzler officiating.
Burial will be in Oakbrook Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be Tobias Lanz, Paul Schultz, Kevin McDonald, Chris Kintakis, Greg Ferguson, Pete Zwarck, and Robert DuBois.
The family is at the home of Derwin and Barbara Sthare, 118 Rutledge Road, Forest Hills, in Greenwood and will receive friends at the funeral home from 7 to 9 Thursday evening.
The family requests that flowers be omitted and memorials made to the Greenwood Humane Society, P.O. Box 242, Greenwood, SC 29648; Alzheimer’s Association, Upstate SC Chapter, P.O. Box 658, Greenwood, SC 29648; or to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA, 23058-5261.
For additional information and online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Sthare family.

Tony Lee Young, Jr.

EDGEFIELD — Tony Lee Young, Jr., 62, of 844 Highway 378 East, the husband of Geneva Robinson Young, died on Nov. 27, 2006, in the Medical College of Georgia.
He was born in Edgefield County, son of Irene Stafford Young and the late Tony Young, Sr. He was a member of the Willow Spring Baptist Church and a retired employee of Turkey Creek Kilns Inc.
His survivors include his wife of the home; mother of Edgefield; two sons, Tyrone (Vicky) Young and Terry Young, both of Saluda; daughter, Jenean Young, Newberry; two brothers, Theodore (Joan) Young and Robert Young, both of Edgefield; two sisters, Johnnie Mae Hill, Edgefield and Dorothy Y. Padgett, Saluda; 8 grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at the Willow Spring Baptist Church, conducted by the pastor, Reverend Anthony Gordon. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at noon. Pallbearers are nephews and friends, and flower bearers are nieces and friends. Public viewing will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Friday. The family is at the home.
Butler & Sons Funeral Home, Saluda, is in charge.

Full-on attack

Eagles hope offense will complement their defense in title game

November 30, 2006

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports editor

It’s one thing to get here. It’s quite another to take the final step.
The Greenwood High School football team knows in order to reach the last rung of the championship ladder, it can’t be a one- or even two-trick pony.
In order for the Eagles (12-2) to walk away with their first state title in six years, the team must have all phases clicking when it squares off against Conway (13-1) for the Class AAAA, Division II state title at 8 Friday night at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia.
“It’s going to take a full team effort. It’s going to take the offense, defense and the special teams clicking to come out with a win Friday night,” senior fullback Zach Norman said. “There’s no way you can misfire on any phase when you’re playing in the championship game.”
The defense has received top billing on the Eagles’ marquee for much of the season, but the offense has accomplished quite a lot in the role of the supporting cast.
The Eagles’ offense has averaged more than 275 yards a game through 14 games, led almost extensively by its work on the ground. The Greenwood running game has nearly a 3-to-1 edge on the passing attack, 2,859 rushing to 1,015 passing.
The Eagles have accomplished this with their leading rusher being their quarterback. Junior first-year starter Jay Spearman has 1,002 yards in 14 games this season, including 131 yards in last week’s win over Westside.
However, injuries have kept the Eagles from having one true running back to turn to. Senior Marcus Carroll, who missed several games with a broken hand and played in a couple more with a cast, has 613 yards, getting 126 in Greenwood’s second-round win over Ridge View, while Norman has 631 yards. Senior Jarvie Robinson, who has 291 yards on 71 carries, is back after missing much of the season after a knee injury.
“You look at the total yardage and it’s pretty good,” Dula said. “Jay’s the only one over a 1,000, but Zach’s got over 600 and so does Marcus. Certainly, you aren’t able to run the ball unless you’re able to block. That’s a credit to coach (Dan) Dickerson and coach (Mike) Bridges and our offensive lineman.”
Though the running game has been a force over the course of the season, Dula thinks the passing game — something that hasn’t been the model of efficiency this playoff season — will be needed come Friday.
Spearman completed only six passes on 21 attempts for 55 yards against Ridge View and Westside combined.
Josh Norman, a North All-Star for his work at safety, leads the Eagles’ receivers with 23 catches for 317 yards and two scores. Chris Floyd and Phillip Norman have 19 and 15 receptions, respectively.
“The key thing is that we’re going to have to make some plays in the throwing game,” Dula said.
The Eagles put up similar offensive numbers in the past two weeks, as the team recorded 282 total yards against Ridge View and only 42 less against Westside. However, the major difference was the bulk of Greenwood’s yardage in the win over the Rams came in the second half, including Spearman’s eventual game-winning 67-yard touchdown run.
Greenwood scored first against the Blazers, hitting the end zone in the first quarter. And after back-to-back Ridge View touchdowns, the Eagles responded with 13 unanswered points in the second quarter to regain control.
“We need to be able to make some things happen early in the ballgame to get some confidence offensively,” Dula said. “It’s very important for our offense to do well.”
Conway’s defense, much like Greenwood’s offense, isn’t what the Tigers are best known for. But the Tigers’ D, spearheaded by South All-Star linebacker Jonathan Sharpe, has done well in the postseason, allowing only 25 points in three playoff games, including a shutout of York in the second round.
That’s a marked improvement over the 90 points given up in the team’s last five games of the regular season — all wins.
“Bottom line is you’re going to have to play well on defense to win a championship,” Conway coach Chuck Jordan said. “You’ve got to have stops at opportune times and our defense is going to have to play well.”
Sharpe leads the Tigers’ defense with 138 total tackles, including a team-high 47 solo tackles. Fellow linebacker Chris Walls has 121 total tackles and leads the team in sacks (10), tackles for loss (18) and quarterback pressures (36).
Senior free safety Donald Hunter has eight interceptions, while junior cornerback Jeff Caskey has 10 pass break-ups and six picks.

Ron Cox is the sports editor for The Index-Journal. He can be reached at: rcox@indexjournal.com.

Chiles out with injury

November 30, 2006

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports editor

Former Greenwood High School standout LaShonda Chiles’ homecoming season might have to be put on hold.
The Lander University point guard and team’s leading scorer, who transferred to her hometown for her senior season, suffered a Grade 1 tear of her posterior cruciate ligament in her left knee during her third game with the Lady Bearcats. She likely will be out six to eight weeks with the injury.
A Grade 1 is defined as microscopic tears in the ligament, which doesn’t require surgery to recover from.
“I’m just taking it one day at a time,” said Chiles, who is in the hunt for a NCAA Division II scoring title. “I’m not sure yet what I’m going to do. I just want to try to get better in rehab. Of course I’m disappointed with this being my senior season and everything.”
There is a possibility Chiles could opt for a medical redshirt, allowing the Greenwood native to play her senior season next year. But Lander coach Kevin Pederson, who coached Chiles for two seasons at Anderson University, said that would be something they all would consider after the rehabilitation.
“We’ve got to wait six weeks to reevaluate the situation,” Pederson said. “We will sit down with her then and make the official decision. There’s still a chance that she can play this season. But that decision will be up to her.”
Chiles was named the season’s first Peach Belt Conference player of the week for scoring 59 points in the Lady Bearcats’ first two wins, including 31 in a win over Limestone. She finished third in the nation in scoring last season with 23.8 points-per-game average.
The two-time Division II All-American has scored in double figures in 80 consecutive games. She has scored 2,241 points in her college career and is 567 points shy of becoming the all-time women’s leading scorer in Division II history.
The injury occurred late in the second half of the Lady Bearcats’ Nov. 21 home loss to Clayton State. She went down with less than three minutes to play in a close contest. Chiles, who had played every minute of the 2006-07 season until that point, didn’t return.
“My feet got taken out from under me and I fell pretty hard,” said Chiles, who finished that game with 20 points and nine assists. “I didn’t know how bad it was, but I didn’t think it was a tear. The trainer said it might be torn, but I didn’t find out for sure until a couple days later.”
It was the fewest points Chiles had scored in her return to Greenwood, scoring 31 and 28 in the previous two games. Her 26.3 points per game average is 10 higher than No. 2 scorer Tiara Good, a junior transfer from Wake Forest.
The Lady Bearcats played their first game without their leading scorer on the court Wednesday night at Georgia College, but Chiles was there on the sidelines. Lander lost to Georgia College, 90-67, despite Tiara Good’s 28 points in the game.
“It’s tough when you’ve got one of the top scorers in the nation going down like that,” Pederson said. “We’ve got the ability to step up and recover. We’ve got a good young kid in Tiara Good who can run the point. The biggest thing for us right now is the quick adjustment we’ll have to make. There’s been times where we’ve just looked at her and said go get it done, and now, we’ll have to adjust.”
Despite her short time with the Lander women’s team, it didn’t take the soft-spoken Chiles long to ingratiate herself to her new teammates and become one of the team’s leaders.
“They love her,” Pederson said. “The initial shock at the news was hard on everybody in the locker room. In the little time she’s been here, she’s earned everybody’s respect. Simply because she works so hard and does what ever she can for the team.”

Principal supports CF coach’s departure

November 30, 2006

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

CALHOUN FALLS — Following a one-win season in which his team averaged just under eight points a game, while giving up an average of 45 points each week, Calhoun Falls head football coach and athletic director Kenneth Sanders handed in his letter of resignation Tuesday.
The move came after just one season as coach of the Blue Flashes. It was announced at Tuesday’s Abbeville County school board meeting.
The Blue Flashes’ 1-10 record is the worst since the team finished 4-8 in 1997. The team had enjoyed overwhelming success during the previous four seasons, compiling a 47-6 record under current Greenwood High School defensive coordinator Jimmy Towe (2002-03) and Elbert County High School (Ga.) coach Eddie Roberts (2004-05), including a trip to the 2004 Class A state championship.
Calhoun Falls principal Tommy Hollingsworth said he had spoken with Sanders on a few occasions prior to his decision. “I don’t think this was really a surprise because he and I had talked as soon as the season was over, and he said that he thought that this would be best for him and for the school and the team,” Hollingsworth said. “I told him I’d like for him to take a couple of weeks to think about it. We actually talked about three separate times about making sure this is what he wanted to do.”
Hollingsworth said he supports Sanders’ decision and is ready to move forward in the search for a new athletic director and football coach.
“He’s got the best interest of the school in mind. He’s a good person and a good coach and when I called him in I said, ‘You’ve got my full support,’” Hollingsworth said. “As far as his resignation, he made it effective at the end of the school year. So he’ll stay on as athletic director and teacher until the end of the year. This will give us some leeway so we can go ahead and start looking for a football coach and athletic director.”
Hollingsworth said that if Sanders finds a new job mid-year, then he will work with him.
“At the same time, it’ll allow us to start interviewing early and start looking for our next football coach,” Hollingsworth said. “We’re such a small school that we’ll be looking to bring someone in as a combination of athletic director and head coach.”
Superintendent Ivan Randolph also faces the challenge of hiring another head coach following Sanders’ resignation.
“Mr. Sanders indicated to me that he really enjoyed working with the student-athletes and the community of Calhoun Falls,” Randolph said. “He felt like it was in his best interest if he pursue his coaching and teaching career elsewhere.”
Randolph said the interview process will begin after Christmas vacation and he hopes to have an announcement at the Jan. 23 school board meeting.
“Our plans are to have somebody in the position at the January school board meeting. That’s the quickest we’ll have someone named,” Randolph said. “We want to have someone on board as soon as possible. The person will actually begin work on July 1, but we’d like to get a person named before then.”
Along with talk of hiring a new coach, Randolph also took the time to shoot down rumors surrounding the football program at Calhoun Falls High School before giving his final thoughts on the search for a coach.
“As far as shutting down the football program due to small numbers, it’s never been discussed,” Randolph said. “We want to take our time to find the best person for Calhoun Falls High School.”

Emerald boys fall in season opener

November 30, 2006

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

A tale of two different teams was the case Wednesday night as Emerald High School (0-1) faced Southside (5-1). Those teams were the first half Vikings and the second half Vikings.
The Vikings led 28-27 at halftime, but the Tigers outscored them 35-18 in the second half, including a 22-9 run in the third quarter to seal a 62-46 victory.
“When you’ve got a young team, sometimes you have dry spells,” Vikings coach Robin Scott said. “We were lucky we didn’t have one at the end of the first half. We had one at the end of the third quarter about the same time they stepped up and started playing really well.”
Senior Kadarron Anderson led the way for the Vikings with 17 points and five rebounds.
Junior Trey Woolridge was the only other Vikings player to score in double figures, finishing with 10 points, including a monster jam off an inbounds pass in the first half.
The Vikings finished strong in the first half when junior Ben McIntosh scored his eighth point with less than 15 seconds remaining, giving coach Scott’s squad a one-point halftime lead. McIntosh struggled in the second half, finishing with eight points.
Anderson scored the first five points of the third quarter for the Vikings as they held on to a 33-31 lead following his dunk in front of the student section that sent the crowd into frenzy.
The Tigers’ Justin Edwards made sure the crowd didn’t get too hyped, though, as he continued to hit shot after shot.
He finished with 28 points, with 16 of those coming in the second half, as the Tigers cruised to victory.
“We played the night before and we came out flat tonight. We thought their two big boys were going to be slow but we found out they could move so we had to go back and talk about some things at halftime,” Tigers coach Louie Golden said. “It helped us tonight that we’ve already played five games and this was a good win tonight.”
The Vikings return to the court Friday against Abbeville. Tip off is at 8 p.m.