Coach subpoenaed in Dye case

Greenwood’s Shell Dula to give deposition as ex-Eagles star tries to play for Byrnes

October 10, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

The Xavier Dye-Byrnes High School saga is much like a top 40 radio station’s playlist: The hits just keep on coming.
The latest hit to former Greenwood standout Dye’s nearly five-month quest to gain athletic eligibility at Byrnes is a subpoena served to Greenwood High School football coach Shell Dula.
Dula was served the subpoena shortly before the Eagles’ game at Westside on Friday night.
“I was issued a subpoena at about 6:20 Friday night, just before our game,” Dula said Monday, as he settled into a chair behind his desk at Greenwood. “That was interesting timing.”
Dula said the subpoena calls for him to give a deposition to Dye’s attorney, Chuck Allen, Oct. 24 at the Greenwood County Courthouse.
Allen is representing Dye, who is the plaintiff in a lawsuit against the South Carolina High School League.
After being denied eligibility at Byrnes three times by the SCHSL and having a temporary injunction denied, Dye and Allen are in the process of trying to gain eligibility through the courts.
Dula said he was shocked to receive a subpoena right before coaching a game.
“I was surprised, certainly,” Dula said. “I’ve never heard of that. Not saying it hasn’t been done, I’ve just never heard of it.”
Dula and the then-No. 6 Eagles fell to Westside, 21-20, just more than three hours after the subpoena was issued.
Allen’s law firm is based in Anderson, where Greenwood took on Westside last Friday. The Eagles will play T.L. Hanna, Allen’s alma mater, Friday night at J.W. Babb Stadium.
Dula said he faxed a copy of his subpoena to the SCHSL Monday morning.
Dula said he is looking forward to the deposition.
“I welcome any inquiries Mr. Allen may have,” Dula said.
In a story published in The State, Allen detailed some of what he planned to ask Dula.
“The contention in the (court) hearing was that Greenwood had nothing to do with Xavier being turned down, and that is contrary to fact. I want to explore that,” Allen said.
Dye’s latest move to gain eligibility with the Rebels, who are 7-0 and ranked No. 2 in the nation by USA Today, is to have his mother and siblings move into Byrnes’ school district. Dye’s mother, Althea Wells, is his full custodial guardian.
The wide receiver has been living with his uncle, A.J. Rogers, as he has been attending school and practicing football at Byrnes. He is committed to play college football at Clemson, where he will team with current Byrnes quarterback Willy Korn, also a Clemson commitment.
In order for Dye to become eligible through that avenue, Wells’ home in Greenwood must be closed and all of Dye’s siblings that are in her custody must move with her.
Once that happens, Byrnes and coach Bobby Bentley must send a request for eligibility to the SCHSL, who will then, once again, issue a ruling on this matter.
While Wells’ move and Byrnes’ possible forthcoming request are in motion, Dye’s lawsuit against the SCHSL will continue.

Young mothers get their own nurturing
thanks to LEGACY

Teen pregnancy program opens doors toward better education, parenting skills

October 10, 2006

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

Sheena Williams reads to 2-year-old daughter TaNaya on Thursday in the Greenwood County LEGACY office. Williams is the mother of two children born during her high school years.

Brittany Terry, 18, was two months along when she discovered she was pregnant.
She didn’t believe it at first.
Her parents were disappointed when they found out. The Greenwood High School student always made good grades, and she was a member of the Beta Club.
Terry was also 15 years old when she had her son, Zearian.
With a baby on the way, she was going to need help to continue going to high school and college.
Enter Greenwood County LEGACY.
Terry was recommended to the program by word of mouth.
LEGACY provided her with literacy vouchers to put Zearian in day care while Terry was in school.
Now attending Piedmont Tech, she’s working toward a degree in medical coding.
Terry knew she had to do something to make things better for her and Zearian.
“I just can’t work at Bi-Lo for the rest of my life,” she said.
LEGACY, or Long-term Enrichment and Growth of Assets in Children and Youth, is a countywide teenage pregnancy intervention program that’s been in practice since 1999, Shaw said.
The program’s mission is to prevent out-of-wedlock birth in Greenwood, promote school readiness for parents and teach parenting skills.
The Teen Parenting program has been funded through the Greenwood County First Steps program since 2001, said Michael Gaskin, executive director of First Steps.
LEGACY encourages young women to stay in school and go on to college.
Women in the program, about 22 presently, work hard and attend monthly meetings along with working part-time jobs, going to school and taking care of their children, said Michelle Shaw, director of LEGACY.
Interacting with other teen moms helps the women draw strength from one another.
Shaw and parent educator Loretta Lewis also help teen moms fill out paperwork for colleges, including financial aid.
Mothers appreciate the help, especially since some are intimidated by the process, Shaw said.
Shenna Williams, 19, gave birth to two children while at Emerald High School.
Pregnancy made school difficult for Williams.
She went into premature labor several times with her first daughter, TaNaya, 2, and later required three months of home schooling and some bed rest.
Lugging a book bag and a baby inside school was also hard, Williams said.
Williams became pregnant with her second child, Christasia, in her senior year of high school.
She graduated from Emerald in 2005.
Finding a good job without a college education has not been easy, Williams said. She works at Mcalister’s Deli.
Williams plans to attend Piedmont Tech in January.
Ytovia and Ytoshia Gilchrist, 19, had their children within the same year. Ytovia’s son, Jayden, is 16 months old, while Ytoshia’s daughter, Amiyan, is 19 months old.
The twins also attend Lander University and major in biology.
Ytovia said that being pregnant at Greenwood High was OK, considering she wasn’t due until June 30, 2005, well after school was over for the summer.
“It flowed very well,” she said.
LaQuondra Timpson, 18, was six months pregnant when she found out.
She continued to go to Greenwood High School after taking a six-week break and graduated in May.
“My mom was going to make me finish school, no matter what,” she said.
Timpson always dreamed of going to college after high school.
She’s taking night classes at Piedmont Tech while her mother watches her 1 1/2-year-old daughter Aaliyah.
Timpson wants to graduate with an associate degree in early childhood education and fitness management. She wants to get her degree to support herself and her daughter.
LEGACY helped her enroll in the school.
She said she wouldn’t have been able to figure out how to apply to college without that help.

Mary Frances Canfield

WATERLOO — Mary Frances Vaughn Canfield, 72, resident of 59 Easton Page Road, died Oct. 5, 2006 at her residence.
Born in Greenville County Sept. 7, 1934, she was a daughter of the late Arthur Hampton and Elizabeth Jeans Vaughn. She was retired from Monsanto and loved to attend Eanes Gospel Singings. She was of the Baptist faith and attended Shade Tree Revival Church.
Survivors include her daughter, Sandra Farmer of Ware Shoals; granddaughter Candace Stone Timmerman of Ware Shoals; great-granddaughter Sean Reagan Biggart, also of Ware Shoals; three brothers, Arthur Vaughn of Pelzer, Albert “Pee-Wee” Vaughn of Asheville, NC, and Bill Vaughn of Ware Shoals. She was preceded in death by her son, Robert Bruce Stevenson.
Memorial services will be conducted at 4 p.m. Wednesday from the chapel of Blyth Funeral Home with Reverend Chuck Sprouse and Reverend Grady Lothridge officiating.
Entombment will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens Mausoleum.
The family will receive friends from 3-4 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
For additional information and online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Canfield family.

Joseph Crockett

Joseph M. Crockett, 87, of 115 Haven Way, died Thursday, Oct. 5, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood, SC.
He was a native of Woodbine, MD, and a long time resident of Mount Pleasant, SC. A graduate of the University of Maryland, he served three years of combat duty in France and Germany with the 100th Infantry Division. With victory in Europe, he was assigned to Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces to command a military government program in Esslingen, Germany.
He was separated from military service as an infantry captain with the following military decorations: Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, three cattle stars for the Ardennes/Alsace, Rhineland, and Central Europe campaigns, and three unit citations for combat achievements.
His industrial career spans forty years in executive positions with ALCOA, The Boeing Company, and Martin Marietta Corporation. He retired in 1987 and served as a consultant to Alumax of SC.
His business and social memberships included Public Relations Society of America, Aerospace Writers Associations, National Press Club, Scottish Society of Charleston, and Sons of the American Revolution.
He was married for sixty-one years to the late Shirley MacKay Crockett, who was the great-granddaughter of renowned labor leader Samuel Gompers, founder and first president of the American Federation of Labor.
He is survived by a son, Joseph M. Crockett Jr. of Santa Barbara, CA; three daughters, Janet Crockett of Tampa, FL, Judith Simon and Jennifer Weaver, both of Portland, OR; and five grandchildren.
A memorial service has not been scheduled. Mr. Crockett and his late wife will be inurned with military honors at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery.
Harley Funeral Home & Crematory in Greenwood, SC is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Donald Daly

McCORMICK — Donald J. Daly, 70, of 210 Daly Place at Savannah Lakes, husband of Dorothea “Dottie” Baylis Daly, died Sunday, Oct. 8, 2006 at Hospice House in Greenwood.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge.

Virginia Vaughn Hess

ABBEVILLE — Virginia Vaughn Hess, 84, of 30 Zackary Dr., wife of the late Charles Hess, died Sunday, Oct. 8, 2006 at her residence. She was born in Oconee County, SC to the late Joel S. and Fannie A. Albertson Vaughn.
Mrs. Vaughn was a member of Southside Baptist Church and the VFW Auxiliary Post #6087.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Connie Brogdea Cooper. Mrs. Hess was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
Surviving Mrs. Hess are her two daughters, Brenda Holtzclaw of Greenwood and Karen Bell of Abbeville, ten grandchildren, Rick Holtzclaw, Mike Holtzclaw, Stacey Forrester, Janice Gassaway, Jon Holtzclaw, Connie Dalton, Gina Suber, Chris Cooper, Kevin Cooper, and Jason Cooper, two step-grandchildren, John and Jim Bell, and nine great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2006 at Harris Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be at 5 p.m. in the funeral home chapel, conducted by the Rev. James Long. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to the Hospice Care of South Carolina, 231 Hampton St. Greenwood, SC 29646.
Online condolences may be sent to the Hess family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com
Harris Funeral Home of Abbeville is assisting the Hess family.

Kindrell Michelle Scott

BRADLEY — Kindrell Michelle “Shell” Scott, 37, of 102 Matthews Ave., died Monday, Oct. 9, 2006 at her home.
The family is at the home of a sister, Brenda Scott, 217 Karenway, Greenwood.
Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc. is in charge.

How do we balance things with death and religion?

October 10, 2006

Death and religion, religion and death. We learn from childhood on how these two things go together. What we are taught, though, is how one positively influences the other. Unfortunately, there’s another side ..... a dark side.
It’s a terrible commentary on the human race how these two things are so closely intertwined as people all over the world kill each other in the name of their gods. Look around. It’s not hard to notice. In fact, you can’t escape it.
Killing always seems to be part of the news in one way or another. However, there have been so many people killed in recent days that it’s a terrible and sad commentary on the times we live in. There are, of course, deaths in the war against terror, but that’s not it.

IT’S THE KILLING OF INNOCENT people in this state and nation that has caused so many to wonder why, all of a sudden, it seems, so many people have gone out of control.
In Charleston, for example, a mother and four children were slain. Around the nation there have been multiple killings that have shocked America, none more than the one where five Amish girls were shot to death in their school, and a sixth is near death.
There have been all kinds of explanations and backgrounds reported, of course, as there always are, but nothing could ever justify the deaths or the brutality involved. And the fear in the minds of the young girls had to be the worst kind of torture.
Something came out of that horrible incident in Pennsylvania, though, that puts the question of faith in a perspective that we talk about as Christians all the time. We seldom witness it, though.

FAMILIES OF THE LITTLE GIRLS shot to death say they forgive the man who killed them and himself, and asked that people pray for him and his family. And, at the behest of Amish leaders, a fund has been set up for the killer’s wife and children.
The Amish in this case have reminded all Christians what the basis of their religion is all about. “Forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Surely there are some around the world asking why Christians under such terrible circumstances can forgive while Muslims can kill each other, and anyone else they consider infidels, and feel good about it.
Death and religion? Who teaches what? Why?

TD Club honors local athletes
for weekly accomplishments

October 10, 2006

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

The Greenwood Touchdown Club gathered Monday at the Greenwood Country Club for its fourth meeting of the year to honor five Lakelands football players for their performances on and off the field.
Former Clemson All-American Kyle Young was the keynote speaker after a last-minute emergency forced Tim Bourret, who has worked with the Clemson Athletic Department for 29 years, to cancel his appearance.
The Touchdown Club began the evening by honoring Ware Shoals’ Chris Carter, McCormick’s Jason White and Ninety Six’s Rashad Booker with the FCA Heart of a Champion Award.
The award honors student-athletes for leadership on and off the field of play.
Award presenter James R. Fowler Jr. added that while performance is considered, student-athletes might not have scored a touchdown or made the most tackles.
Exhibiting the “heart of a champion” includes encouraging teammates and respecting the opponent. Other factors include integrity, leadership, academic excellence and a player’s community and church involvement.
Carter, who plays tight end, has displayed these attributes for the No. 5 Hornets, who trounced Thornwell 49-0 last Friday night. White, a three-year starter for the Chiefs, also serves as the team’s kicker and offensive lineman.
Most notably, White has not missed a practice or off-season workout in three years. Booker is in his second year as a starter for the Wildcats and serves as team captain.
Saluda Tigers quarterback Ryan Nichols and Greenwood Eagles running back Jarvie Robinson were honored as the Lakelands offensive players of the week.
Nichols had his best game of the season against McCormick, finishing 19-23 for 300 yards and five touchdowns.
Robinson rushed for 110 yards on nine carries while scoring two touchdowns against North Augusta.
The club’s speaker made his mark while he was at Clemson.
Young lettered in football at Clemson from 1998-2001. During his time with the Tigers, he was a Strength and Conditioning All-American, two-time All-American on the field and a three-time Academic All-American. He is the only Tiger in school history to be named All-American in all three areas and the second offensive lineman and ACC player in college football history to be named a three-time first team Academic All-American. Young also set school records for knockdowns in a season with 168 and a career with 412.
He was also a two-time finalist for the Dave Rimington Award, which goes to the nation’s top center.
In regards to Clemson, Young amused the crowd when he talked about the “one out of four quarters” the Tigers played against Wake Forest.
Young’s message to the athletes and members in attendance was pride, which he says was talked about regularly during his time at Clemson.
“Pride is how our actions honor our university and our teams,” Young said. “It reflects on the people who surround you.”