District 50 faces suit over financial plan

November 4, 2006

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

Greenwood School District 50 was sued Friday over its new bond plan.
Henry Johnson, a Rental Center employee, is the plaintiff in a lawsuit against District 50 and its installment purchase bond plan, superintendent Darrell Johnson and board of trustees chairwoman Dru James.
The bond plan would provide millions of dollars to build, modify and renovate schools and facilities in District 50. Bonds are typically sold by government agencies to the public and investors to fund large projects. The money derived from the bond sale is given to the issuing agency and paid back over an established amount of time.
Dan Richardson served the civil lawsuit to the district Friday afternoon, Darrell Johnson said.
Richardson is a candidate for seat six on District 50’s board of trustees.
The lawsuit challenges the installment bond plan and the district’s procurement process, said Jim Carpenter, Henry Johnson’s attorney from the Carpenter Law Firm in Greenville. Procurement is how the district is required to spend taxpayers’ money.
Carpenter said the district completely avoided the procurement process by wanting to borrow $145 million, more money than the 8 percent state constitutional debt limit allows. The lawsuit also came with a copy of the district’s state-required procurement policy.
Carpenter said the board violated its own procurement policy, similar to the state procurement plan. He thinks the district quickly pushed through the bond issue and hasn’t allowed it to be voted on by taxpayers who have to pay it back.
The lawsuit also accuses the district of violating the Freedom of Information Act; specifically, for open meetings and documents.
Carpenter said a board subcommittee met without public notice or a record of the minutes of the meeting.
Greenwood County Councilman Dee Compton accused District 50 on Oct. 27 of meeting off the record and requested all unrecorded meeting information in an FOIA request.
Henry Johnson said he hired Carpenter last week to see the bond issue discussed further with taxpayers, adding the bond issue is making a lot of people uncomfortable. The lawsuit will help people get the answers to questions they’ve posed to the district, he said.
He said he didn’t know how Richardson became the person who served the lawsuit to the district.
Darrell Johnson directed all questions about the lawsuit through the Childs and Halligan law firm out of Columbia.
Allen Smith, an attorney at Childs and Halligan, forwarded the district’s response to the lawsuit to The Index-Journal Friday evening.
The lawsuit papers have been given to Childs and Halligan, who will be preparing the district’s response, Johnson said.
The district gave a preliminary statement on the lawsuit because it hasn’t had the chance to examine it in detail, according to the official response. District 50 has acted in good faith and on the advice of its legal counsel and financial advisers throughout the bond plan, the response said, adding the district has acted legally, openly and above board for the entire bond process.
District 50 has significant facility needs that must be met. An installment purchase bond plan gives the district the best opportunities to improve its facilities and provide for students in the fastest and most cost-effective manner, the statement said.
It also says District 50 regrets being put to the expense and potential delay that could result from the lawsuit.
James said she firmly believes the district has acted in good faith with advice from its financial advisers. Board members Tony Bowers and Lary Davis declined to comment because they weren’t aware of the lawsuit. No other board members were reached for comment.

Colleton lawsuit

District 50’s bond plan isn’t the only one coming under fire in South Carolina.
The state Supreme Court on Tuesday heard arguments over the legality of Colleton County’s $90 million plan, the Post and Courier of Charleston reported Wednesday. At issue is whether the Colleton district can use an alternative financing plan that allows a nonprofit corporation to build the schools and then sell the schools back to the district over time.
Justices focused on two things Tuesday: whether a $100 million loan breaks the law requiring a referendum and whether the district plans to use taxpayer revenue to pay it back, the newspaper reported. Greenwood’s James Moore is among the justices hearing the case.
Jim Carpenter, the attorney for the plaintiff, made an argument similar to the complaint in the District 50 case that the plan violates the constitutional article that restricts school districts from borrowing a principal balance of more than 8 percent of their assessed value, the newspaper reported. In Colleton’s case, that’s about $13 million.
The Colleton district has asked for a ruling by Nov. 15 to beat a Dec. 31 deadline imposed by a new state law that says a government agency can’t use funds from any source other than general obligation bonds to make installment payments. The court has not said when the ruling would be issued, the Post and Courier reports.

Managing Editor R. Shawn Lewis contributed to this report.

Man shot at home

Victim bled to death at Leonard St. residence

November 4, 2006

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

A Greenwood man was shot and killed Thursday night at a home near S.C. 72.
Calvin Lamont Parker, 30, died of gunshot wounds to the chest late Thursday at his 112 Leonard St. home behind Lil’ Cricket on S.C. 72, said Maj. Urban Mitchell, of the Greenwood City Police.
Parker died at about 9:25 p.m. Thursday, said Greenwood County Coroner Jim Coursey. An autopsy Friday determined Parker died after an artery in his left leg was severed, causing him to bleed to death.
Greenwood City Police and the Greenwood Sheriff’s Office are investigating the shooting, said Mike Frederick, chief deputy of the sheriff’s office.
Greenwood Police were called to Parker’s home after reports of a shooting surfaced. When they approached the house, they found what appeared to be a large amount of blood on the front-porch steps, Mitchell said.
The blood led from the front door to a bedroom where Parker was found lying face down on the floor.
The man who called the police also was in the house, Mitchell said. Parker had called the man and told him that he had been shot. The man had found Parker on the floor when he arrived, Mitchell said.
Parker told one of the officers he had been shot after answering the front door.
Two black men were standing at the door, Mitchell said. Parker said one or both of the men shot him.
He was unable to give any other description of the men or what type of firearm they were using, Mitchell said.
Parker told police that he recognized one of the men, but didn’t know his name.
EMS personnel began treating Parker soon after, but he stopped breathing and couldn’t be revived, Mitchell said.
A witness who lives on Leonard Street told police she looked out the window after hearing a single gunshot and saw two black men run from Parker’s house, according to a Greenwood Police incident report. She said one of the men was about 5-feet-9 inches tall and “chubby” with dark-colored baggy shorts, a white T-shirt and a black jacket.
Both men had short hair, but the witness couldn’t tell what the other man was wearing, according to the incident report. The men jumped into a small silver car in the nearby Lil’ Cricket parking lot and drove away without the lights on.
Parker didn’t offer any reason why he was shot, Mitchell said.

Greenwood’s D stifles Laurens

November 4, 2006

By R. SHAWN LEWIS
Index-Journal managing editor

Defense wins championships.
The best offense is a good defense.
If these and other clichés indeed are true, Class AAAA No. 10 Greenwood might have a legitimate shot at another state title.
The Eagles’ defense stifled visiting Laurens Friday on Senior Night, while the offense did just enough en route to a 31-10 victory. The win, combined with T.L. Hanna’s 26-21 defeat of Westside, put Greenwood (9-2 overall, 3-1 Region I-AAAA) in a three-way tie for the conference crown.
The banner will hang at the Eagles’ house, however, thanks to their stingy defense. The tiebreaker in the region is based on the number of points allowed. Along with the banner, Greenwood gained the top seed out of Region I-AAAA in the Class AAAA, Division II playoffs.
“We’ve given up the fewest points in the games involving those teams, so we’ll be the number one seed,” said coach Shell Dula. “We’re at least assured the first home game, and if we’re able to win that one, we’ll get another one.” Dula praised his defensive unit for “getting the job done.”
“Our defense played great. They played great all night,” he said. “It was a hard-fought football game.”
The Eagles’ defenders scored the game’s first points when junior defensive back Phillip Norman blocked a punt at the Laurens 20 on the Raiders’ first possession.
The ball was recovered by sophomore defensive back Byron Best in the end zone for a touchdown. Best also intercepted a pass in the third quarter, returning it to the Laurens 2 to set up another Greenwood score.
“It was joyful,” an elated Best said of his first defensive touchdown. “I wanted to do it for my team. I gave the ball back to my team. It’s a blessing to be with this team.
“We have the best coaches in the state. We’re really close ... we’re a family.”
The defensive side of that family forced three turnovers — two interceptions (Best and Mackenzie Tharpe) and a fumble — that gave the offensive side the short field to work with most of the night.
Greenwood managed 218 yards on offense, including 169 on the ground.
Senior Marcus Carroll, playing with just one hand because of an injury, led the Eagles with 74 yards on 19 carries.
Junior quarterback Jay Spearman had two rushing touchdowns as part of his 12 carries for 40 yards. Spearman also went 5-for-8 passing for 59 yards with an interception.
Senior Zachary Norman added 53 yards on 13 carries, while D.J. Swearinger made the most of his single tote — a 2-yard touchdown run.
Place kicker Andrew Timms chipped in a 26-yard field goal for the Eagles’ other score.
The Greenwood defense held Laurens (4-7, 2-2) to 168 yards of total offense.
Laurens’ lone touchdown came on the final drive of the fourth quarter. The Raiders also benefited from a second-quarter safety after they blocked a punt and the ball rolled out of the end zone.
Class 4A playoff pairings will be announced later today.

Ware Shoals stings N. Central

November 4, 2006

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports editor

WARE SHOALS — The Ware Shoals High School football team showed exactly how a top-seed should open postseason play.
With the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds in the Class A, Division I Upper State bracket falling in upsets, the Region I-A champion Hornets dominated offensively and defensively and rolled to a 44-6 victory over North Central Friday night in the first round of the playoffs.
“We practiced really good all week. We came out clicking,” Ware Shoals coach Jeff Murdock said. “They (North Central) were a good team. We just came out clicking. And when we play like that I think we have a shot.
“What we have to guard against is not having a letdown.”
No. 2 seed Lewisville and No. 3 Bamberg-Ehrhardt lost at home Friday night, falling to Landrum and Allendale-Fairfax.
Ware Shoals hosts Chesterfield, coached by former Cambridge Academy coach Steve Taneyhill, at 8 p.m..next Friday.
The Hornets scored on their first five possessions. The first came just 90 seconds into the ballgame when sophomore quarterback LaDarius Hawthorne capped a three-play drive with a 26-yard touchdown run.
It was the first of two touchdowns for Hawthorne, who set up the first score by running back the opening kickoff 40 yards. Hawthorne also grabbed three interceptions on defense, returning one 25 yards for a touchdown.
Wingback Tony Lomax and fullback Lance Richardson also added a pair of touchdowns for the Hornets.
Lomax, who finished with 129 yards rushing, followed Hawthorne’s first TD with a 1-yard score to cap a 10-play drive.
Lomax’s second touchdown was a little longer in distance. The senior closed out Ware Shoals’ first-half scoring by taking a handoff out to the left sideline and sprinting 90 yards for the Hornets’ longest score of the season.
“I knew after watching them on film that they wouldn’t catch me if I got outside,” said Lomax, whose long score gave Ware Shoals a 37-0 halftime lead. “Lance Richardson made the key block for me. I went outside of his block and I just saw green grass in front of me.”
Richardson scored his second touchdown, opening the second half with a 12-yard run up the middle. Kicker Bo Brown booted his second extra point of the night to put Ware Shoals ahead 44-0 with 9 minutes, 31 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
That score lasted for more than 9 minutes. That’s when North Central recovered a fumble at the Ware Shoals 15. Two plays later, against mostly Hornets second-teamers, Knights quarterback Taghi Williams hit Marcus Payne on a 23-yard touchdown.

Abbeville has heroic night in win

November 4, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

ABBEVILLE — Sometimes, heroes aren’t hard to find. According to Abbeville High School football coach Jamie Nickles, the Panthers found one Friday night.
Top-seeded Abbeville (11-0) destroyed No. 4 seed Blacksburg, 55-12, Friday on Dennis Botts Field at Hite Stadium in the first round of the Class AA state playoffs. With the win, the Panthers advance to face Columbia next Friday at home.
Columbia downed Ninety Six, 14-7, Friday.
Abbeville was paced by halfback James Moore. Moore, who has spent the season as Abbeville’s third most prolific runner behind Toquavius Gilchrist and Desmond Peterson, rushed for a team-high 122 yards and two touchdowns against the Wildcats.
“He is just a really, really solid football player,” Nickles said of Moore. “He ran the ball well tonight, and he has all year. James is sort of the unsung hero of this football team.”
Peterson added 79 yards and two scores for Abbeville. Meanwhile, Panthers’ quarterback Mack Hite tossed a 30-yard touchdown pass and added a rushing score.
Blacksburg was paced by quarterback Gary Gaut. Gaut had 149 yards rushing and scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns.
Though the game was never in question — Abbeville was ahead 42-0 at halftime — there was a moment of high tension for Panthers’ players coaches and fans early in the first quarter.
On Abbeville’s second possession, Gilchrist, who is one of the state’s top rushers with nearly 1,400 yards on the year, ripped off a long run down the right sideline and appeared ready to cruise for a touchdown.
However, Gilchrist slowed and ducked out of bounds, grabbing his left leg in the process.
The large Panthers’ crowd fell silent as the standout runner limped back to the sideline.
Gilchrist was able to return to the game, finishing with 50 yards on four carries. However, he returned to the sidelines in street clothes in the second half, though with the game firmly in hand, his removal was likely for precautionary reasons.
Abbeville kicker Tyler McMurtury, who has proven a reliable weapon for the Panthers this season, also sustained an injury in the game, hurting his right leg after having a punt blocked.
Nickles was not sure of the extent of either players’ ailments.
The coach said he expects a solid effort from Columbia next Friday.
“I haven’t seen them this year,” Nickles said. “But if they beat Ninety Six, you can bet they are pretty darn good football team.”

Opinion

Too many things at stake for voters to stay home

November 4, 2006

Conventional wisdom says that voter turnout this year will be considerably less because there is no presidential election. History may prove that, to be sure, but it would be foolish for Americans to stay home Tuesday. The presidency may not be up for grabs, but what the president will be able to do in the next two years surely is. And that depends entirely on voter turnout.
One of the most important issues ahead is the matter of taxes. Should the Bush tax cuts, which have given a tremendous boost to the economy, be made permanent, or should the cuts be rolled back?
What many people appear to overlook is the effect the tax cuts have had on the stock market.

NATIONAL DEMOCRATS HAVE preached their usual class-divisive sermons that tax cuts have helped only the rich. In reality, they have helped everyone.
Retirement programs for most Americans invest in stocks. Millions depend on the stability of those stocks for their golden years. Without the tax cuts, does anyone really think the stock market would have performed as well as it has? If taxes go back up, stocks are likely to take a dive ..... and likely so will retirement funds.
Democratic leaders have said on numerous occasions, on television and in printed interviews with the national media, they would not let the Bush tax cuts stand. That, alone, means tax increases, not to mention other programs they’ve touted that will require other taxes to fund them.

THERE HAVE BEEN ALL KINDS of smoke screens laid down in this political campaign to hide reality. It doesn’t matter what’s said, or whether it’s true. Say it enough and somebody will believe it. What’s frightening is that people who should be sharp enough to see through smokescreens are often the very ones to be taken in by the siren songs of the political spellbinders.
More than a few people in Greenwood have remarked that the political climate this year is nastier and angrier than they’ve ever seen it. In politics, it seems, there’s no such thing as the golden rule. It’s do unto others, do it first, and keep on doing it until your opponent is down ..... and keep kicking him while he’s down.
Hey! What’s honor when politics is concerned? Right? Oh, yeah. Let’s make sure our children learn our political “games” while we’re at it!

Obituaries

John Sibert Holland, Sr.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — John Sibert Holland, Sr., 85, husband of Merial Black Holland, of 331 Staffordshire Road, Winston-Salem, NC, died Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006, at Springwood Care of Forsyth. He was born Aug. 29, 1921, in Ninety-Six, SC. He graduated from the University of South Carolina with degrees in Chemistry, Biology, and Pharmacy. While at USC, he was a member of Pi Kappa Phi, Blue Key, and various other organizations. He proudly served his country from 1942-1945 as a test pilot and instructor for P-51 airplanes. In 1955, he and his family moved to Winston-Salem after Eckerd Drug had just opened a store in the new Thruway Shopping Center where he was the pharmacist for 32 years. He and his wife have been active members of Ardmore Baptist Church for 51 years. He served many positions with the church and volunteered for committees as needed. John served as an assistant scout master with Troop 749 at Ardmore Methodist Church. During his service with the scouts, he attended summer camps at Raven Knob, Philmont (1970), and was involved with the Order of the Arrow in Wahissa Lodge. He was a Master Mason for 52 years beginning in Clinton Lodge, Marion, SC, and continuing in Salem Lodge No. 289 in Winston-Salem. He enjoyed playing golf, dancing, his summer garden (sharing his tomatoes), and especially his wood shop. He enjoyed assisting his son, grandchildren, and children of many friends in making their Pinewood Derby cars for cub scouts. He was preceded in death by his parents, George E. Holland and Sarah Sibert Holland; his brother, George Ernest Holland; his sisters, Mary Evelyn Holland, Margaret Holland Ford, and Martha Holland Gregg. He is survived by his wife, Merial Black Holland; his daughter, Elaine Holland Royster of Mt. Airy; his son, John S. Holland, Jr. and wife, Judy Bernier Holland of Lexington, NC; six grandsons, Joshua Bryan Royster and wife, Heather of Raleigh; Matthew Stephen Royster of Cherokee, Iowa, John Andrew Holland, Michael Alexander Holland, Christopher Austin Holland of Clemmons, and Mitchell Bernier Cook of Lexington; one granddaughter, Meghan McNeely Cook of Lexington; three great-grandsons, Kaeleb Holland Royster, Kaiden Matthew Royster and Kameron Trison Royster of Cherokee, Iowa. He is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Sadie Metz Black of Elloree, SC, and Susanne Geist Black, MD of Dillon, SC and West Jefferson, NC; and numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 4, 2006, at Ardmore Baptist Church. The family will receive friends following the service. Memorials may be made to the Building Fund of Ardmore Baptist Church, P.O. Drawer 5507, Winston-Salem, NC 27113 or to the memorial of your choice. A special thanks to the staff at Springwood Care of Forsyth and Salem Family Practice who cared for him for many years. Also special thanks to the Elizabeth and Tab Williams Adult Day Center. (Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek)

Miles Moss

E. Miles Moss, 83, resident of 409 Dogwood Dr., husband of Lucretia Smith Moss, died Nov. 1, 2006 at the Hospice House.
Born in Walhalla, Aug. 21, 1923, he was a son of the late John Walter and Gertrude Slatton Moss. He was a graduate of Seneca High School and a 1949 graduate of Clemson College. During WW II, Mr. Moss served in the US Army Air Corps. He was formerly employed by Abney Mills and retired as a vice president of Greenwood Mills.
He was a member of South Main Street Baptist Church.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home are a daughter, Mrs. Bob (Cynthia) Britt of Greenwood; two sons, Samuel M. Moss and wife Gwen of Greer and Gary M. Moss of the home; grandchildren, Ashley M. McKenzie and husband Parrish of Charleston and Hunter Miles Moss of Greenville; a brother, Ralph Moss and wife, Doris of Seneca.
Mr. Moss was predeceased by a son, Richard Dan Moss and a brother, John Walter Moss, Jr.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Phil McMinn officiating.
Burial will be in Oakbrook Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be Norman Ouzts, Charlie Pinson, Steve Byrd, Jimmy Burton, Wayne Sumerel and Richard Butler.
The family is at the home on Dogwood Drive and will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 Saturday evening and immediately following the graveside service in the Oakbrook Memorial Park Family Center.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the following foundations: Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Vascular Fund (which is dedicated to the training and education of the exceptional vascular nurses who cared for our husband, father and grandfather), memorials may be sent to 1325 Spring St., Greenwood, SC 29646 or to the Lander Foundation Moss Family Scholarship, c/o Lander University, 320 Stanley Ave., Greenwood, SC 29649.
For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Moss family.

Calvin Lamont Parker

Calvin Lamont Parker, of 112 Leonard St., died Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006, at his home.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.

Beatrice Rhynes Scott

EDGEFIELD — Beatrice Rhynes Scott, 66, of 1941 McCormick Highway, widow of James M. Scott, died Friday, Nov. 3, 2006, at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
The family is at the home.
Butler & Sons Funeral Home, Saluda, is in charge.