Candidate facing charges

Council hopeful calls claim of assault ‘politically motivated’

October 20, 2006

By MEGAN VARNER
Senior staff writer

A candidate for Greenwood County Council has been charged with simple assault in connection with an Oct. 13 incident at a home on Callison Highway.
Rhett Dominick, 51, of 525 Phoenix Road, Greenwood, was charged after a person claimed Dominick slapped him in the back of the head, according to a Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office incident report.
Dominick is running unopposed in the Nov. 7 general election, seeking to fill the seat for District 2, which is currently held by Greenwood County Councilman Ron Bussey.
According to the report, the victim, D. Ansel Brewer, said Friday’s incident occurred after Brewer’s daughter requested he come to her home because Dominick was at the residence.
When Brewer arrived at the house, the report said, he approached Dominick to shake hands and asked Dominick “when he was going to quit lying.” Brewer said he then bent down to pick something up from the ground, which is when he claims Dominick slapped the back of his head, causing his hat to fall to the floor.
The report indicates Dominick told deputies that he did make a motion to simulate something Brewer had done to Dominick’s brother, but claimed to only have touched Brewer’s hat. Dominick told deputies he was not trying to hit the man, the report said.
In an interview Thursday with The Index-Journal, Dominick, a special-education teacher at Emerald High School, declined to comment on the details of the incident, instead referring all questions to his attorney, Billy Garrett. Dominick also would not discuss in depth why the incident occurred, saying only that “this is all politically motivated. It is due to an upcoming zoning debate.”
“It is nothing more than a sophomoric political attempt to impugn my integrity,” Dominick added.
Garrett, with the Garrett Law Firm in Greenwood, said his client is innocent until proven guilty, adding Dominick has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He said Dominick is requesting a jury trial and is “looking forward” to clearing up the matter with a trial.
Garrett said Dominick and Brewer are “longtime friends” who are “both very stout people in their beliefs.”
“I don’t think there has been any kind of bad blood between these people,” Garrett said, adding Dominick was at Brewer’s daughter’s home “upon invitation.”
Randy Vaughn, assistant superintendent for human resources with Greenwood School District 50, said Dominick has informed the district of the charge against him.
“We are still investigating the matter and are awaiting additional information pertaining to this matter,” Vaughn said.
“Mr. Dominick has a very sound reputation with the school district and we do not believe he is a threat to any student, parent or employee at this time.”B Brewer, president of Greenwood Financial Services Inc., said Thursday the dispute stemmed over zoning requests that are pending in the Greenwood City/County Joint Planning Commission.
Brewer, who owns more than 860 acres of land in the area of County Line Road, Beaverdam Creek Road and Callison Highway, said his land is part of a larger district in the Phoenix and Callison communities that is currently zoned FA (Forest/Agricultural).
Under current zoning law for FA, land lots must be at least 5 acres in size to allow for the building of residential structures or placement of mobile homes on the lots, Brewer said, unless the property was deeded before the FA zoning district was created.
Brewer said he is seeking to reduce the acreage requirement to two acres.
“My thoughts are that young folks today can’t afford to buy 5 acres of land and build a house or buy a mobile home,” he said.
Brewer said he purchased a list of property owners within the FA zone, and in September he sent those owners surveys to ask them if they would vote “Yes” or “No” to a resolution to change the ordinance. Brewer said Dominick has sent surveys to residents in the zoning district seeking their disapproval of the requested acreage reduction.
“What was supposed to be a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ has turned into a nightmare,” Brewer said, adding that a four-page letter has been sent to residents in the zoning district claiming he intends to use his land to create a “dense housing development.”
The letter said Brewer has an “agenda to change our community to suit his own purposes,” and that lowering the acreage restriction would bring thousands of houses into the area and could create potential waste and water problems, increase the crime rate, lower property values and create traffic problems.
The letter has no clear author but instructs residents to send any questions to Dominick, listing a phone number.
Brewer said he is not sure who wrote the letter or how many copies were distributed, but he said the claims made in the letter are “inflammatory” and “lies.”
Brewer said he has no plans to create a dense housing development, such as a trailer park, adding FA restrictions would not even allow that type of residential development. But, he said, letters such as the one sent to the district residents “put fear in the minds of people.”
Brewer said he had just learned of the four-page letter when he met with Dominick on Friday, adding that the claims of building a trailer park were the “lies” he referred to in the incident report.
“I opposed him (Dominick) on the 5-acre restriction, and now we are on different sides of the fence on reducing it to 2 acres,” Brewer said.

Obituaries

Dessie Bagby

McCORMICK — Dessie Lou Bonnett Bagby, 90, resident of 713 South Mine Street, Apartment B1, widow of Earl E. Bagby, died Oct. 19, 2006 at the Self Regional Medical Center.
Born Jan. 22, 1916 in Aiken County, she had worked at the McCormick Senior Center for many years. She was a member of Bethany Baptist Church in Clarks Hill.
Survivors include her daughter, Barbara B. Miller of Tybee Island, GA; grandson, Michael S. Miller and wife Bobbie G. Miller of Pendleton; and great-grandchildren, Katherine and Erin Miller, both of Pendleton.
Those desiring may make memorials to McCormick Meals On Wheels, PO Box 684, McCormick, SC 29835 in memory of Mrs. Bagby. For additional information and online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Bagby family.

Willie James ‘Noot’ Collier

ABBEVILLE — Willie J. Collier, age 61, of 121 Oaklawn Drive, died Oct. 15, 2006 at Abbeville Area Medical Center. He was the son of Inez Collier Rollinson and the late Thomas L. Rollinson. Services will be Friday, Oct. 20, 2006 at 1 p.m. at Westside Church of Christ, with Bro. Thomas Collier officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens. Surviving are his mother of the home; brothers, Johnny, Theodore and Rudolph Rollinson; sisters, Thomosina Rollinson and Mattie R. Julien. The family is at the home of a brother Rudolph Rollinson, 89 Oaklawn Drive. Brown and Walker Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Virginia Dorn

McCORMICK — Virginia Minor Dorn, 85, of 114 North Calhoun St., widow of Jennings Gary Dorn Sr., died Thursday, Oct. 19, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home, Greenwood.

Lem C. Jackson

Lem C. Jackson, 74, of 202 Sylvan Road, Avondale Subdivision, widower of Mary Jones Jackson, passed away Monday, Oct. 16, 2006 at the Hospice House.
Born in Abbeville, he was a son of the late Eddie Jackson and Mallie Strother Jackson. He was retired from GSA in Washington, DC, and Greenwood School District 50. He was a member of Flat Rock A.M.E. Church and a U.S. Army Veteran.
He is survived by two sons, Leon Goode of Greenwood and Earl Jackson of Upper Marlboro, MD; six daughters, Jacquelyn Chappell Robertson of Greenwood, Linda Hunter of Abbeville, Evelyn Hunter of Stanford, CT, Peggy Jackson of Honea Path, Ophelia Jackson of Washington, DC, and Mariam Jackson of Washington, DC; four sisters, Carrie Cunningham of Iva, Amanda (Leroy) Martin of Greenwood, Lunette (Leroy) Crawford of Greenwood and Alice (John) Cunningham of Lanham, MD; 16 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Saturday at Flat Rock A.M.E. Church, with the Rev. Wayman Coleman officiating.
Burial will be in the church cemetery. Flower bearers will be Londa Jackson, Yolanda Dotson, Bobbie Leverette, Brenda Christopher, Effie White and Jackie Martin. Pallbearers will be Lance Ligon, Bryant Robinson, Dexter Jackson, Charles Christopher, Christopher Crawford and Quintazius Crawford. Honorary escorts will be Brenda Hawkins, Gracie Foggie, Marion Baylor, Melvin Wimms and faculty and staff of North Hodges Elementary School.
The body will be placed in the church at 12 noon.
The family is at the home.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at pertompfh1@earthlink.net.

Mark Stewart

MAULDIN — Marcus Hoke Stewart, 56, of 100 Planters Grove Dr., Mauldin, died Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2006 at his home.
Born in Radford, Va., he was the son of Goldie West Stewart Davis of Greenwood, SC, and the late Connor Edward Stewart.
He was a graduate of Erskine College, where he played baseball all four years on scholarship. He was a well-known commercial real estate developer in Greenville and was formerly associated with several local real estate companies.
Surviving are a son, Anthony C. Stewart of Greenville; a brother; Michael R. Stewart of Hickory, N.C.; two nieces, Grace Stewart of Boone, N.C., and Anna Stewart of Hickory; and a nephew, Michael Stewart of Hickory. He was predeceased by a brother Christopher and later by his daughter Margaret in 1998.
Graveside services will be held Friday, Oct. 20, 2006 at 3:30 p.m. in Woodlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at The Mackey Mortuary Friday from 2 until 3 p.m.
The Mackey Mortuary…www.mackeymortuary.com.

Mildred Drennon Tate

McCORMICK — Ms. Mildred Louise Drennon Tate was born in McCormick on Aug. 21, 1957, a daughter of Mary Drennon and the late Arthur Drennon. She died Tuesday morning, Oct. 17, 2006, at the Self Regional Medical Center. She was a member of Mt. Herman Baptist Church and was a homemaker.
Surviving in addition to her mother of McCormick are two daughters, Shatika Rice and Toneeka Tate, one son Demeko Tate, all of McCormick; four sisters, Janie Harrison of Edgefield, SC, Sandra Drennon, Eula Payton and Mitosha Drennon, all of Greenwood, SC; six brothers, James Drennon of Promised Land, David Drennon and Bernard Drennon of Greenwood, Willie Drennon, Levi Drennon and Michael Drennon, all of McCormick; her grandmother, Mrs. Janie Bell Thomas of McCormick; a godsister, Trula King of McCormick and six grandchildren. Funeral services will be Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the Mt.
Herman Baptist Church in Troy, SC, with Revs. J. Cedric Smith, Norris Turner and Donald Brooks officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery. The body is at Walker Funeral Home and will be placed in the church at 1:30 Sunday. The family is at the home at 1522 Old Troy Rd., McCormick.

Luvenia Threlkeld

SALUDA — Luvenia “Lou” Beck Threlkeld, 71, of 2212 Columbia Hwy., died Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2006 at Hospice Care of the Piedmont.
Born in Clearwater, Ga., and a daughter of the late Floyd A. Beck and the late Ruby Hill Beck Hughes, Mrs. Threlkeld was retired from Trelkco Incorporation and was a member of Lucas Avenue Baptist Church.
Surviving is a son, Jack Newton of Myrtle Beach, two stepsons, Dwayne Threlkeld and Travis Threlkeld, both of Ninety Six, three stepdaughters, Gaynell Cavender, Rene Threlkeld and Christy Threlkeld, all of Ninety Six, a granddaughter, Emily Newton of Myrtle Beach and a cousin and caretaker, Ernestine Matthews of Saluda.
A brother, George Edward Beck of Buffalo, N.Y., preceded Mrs. Threlkeld in death.
The family will receive friends from 7 until 9 p.m. Friday evening at Ramey Funeral Home.
A graveside service will be 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, 2006 at Cleaves Matthews Cemetery, with Rev. Tom Cartledge officiating.
Memorials may be made to HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.

For Abbeville’s offensive line,
it’s not about just one person, it’s

A whole team effort

October 20, 2006

By By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal staff writer

ABBEVILLE — What do engines, puzzles, clocks or even your favorite recipe have in common?
The comparison lies in the fact that these are just a few of the many things that require multiple parts to work properly.
You can’t complete a 300-piece puzzle with only 299 pieces, and you definitely can’t bake an apple pie without any apples.
The same rule applies to the Abbeville High School football team, which has clawed its way to an impressive 8-0 record this season while running through opposing teams.
“Everything has to work like a car engine,” Abbeville coach Jamie Nickles said. “Your car will not run right if one part isn’t working, and that’s the way a football team is.”
The Panthers’ offense, which operates out of the A-bone, a combination of the wishbone and flex-bone sets, have rushed for 2,689 yards and 28 touchdowns this season, including 1,043 rushing yards by Toquavius Gilchrist, while quarterback Mack Hite has picked up 358 yards through the air.
“I feel like our other backs run the ball just as good and I think we’ve spread the ball around since region started,” Gilchrist said. “We play unselfishly and we don’t let other people get under our skins when it comes to talking about who is or isn’t carrying the ball.”
Nickles stresses that the success of the Panthers comes from a collective effort spearheaded by an offensive line he described as undersized following an early season victory against Emerald.
Ryan Morris and Shaylor Wells are key contributors along that offensive front.
“It really starts for us with our two guards, because we ask those guys, who weigh about 150 pounds or so, to be able to block the big three-techniques that we see these days and be able to pull,” the Panthers coach said.
“They just have to be so diversified in our offense.”
“A lot of them are really huge, but it just comes down to fundamentals,” Wells said. “We just go out there, stay low and keep our feet moving.”
Morris is quick to point out that although it starts up front with the lineman and the standards are high for an offense that receives most of the attention, that Panthers’ defense deserves credit for setting the tone. The Panthers’ defense is allowing opponents a meager eight points a game.
Although not in the spotlight, playing offensive line for the Panthers has a few perks.
“When we go places to eat, our linemen eat first,” Nickles said. “Our linemen are the emphasis and they get the point of emphasis of our football team when we eat.”
Nickles added that although offensive line is an unsung position, it is one that wins region championships. Although not known for passing the ball, Nickles says senior quarterback Mack Hite is the Panthers’ coach on the field. “It all starts in the huddle. Everybody has to be listening and attentive to know what they need to do,” Hite said.
“For our offense to roll, everything has to be perfect, and it starts with everybody from the guys up front to the backfield. If there is a mistake on the field, the first person they come to is me and I feel like that is a good position to be in.
“I like to be the leader, and I like to help out the team as much as I can in any way.”
Hite has managed the Panthers’ offense well this season while throwing for nine touchdowns and only one interception. One reason for this, Nickles said, is because teams have tried to load up the box against the Panthers.
No matter how many defenders are in the box, they still have the daunting task of tackling the ball carrier.
Along with Gilchrist, Desmond Peterson has been productive for the Panthers not only in rushing, but also in receiving and punt returns. He has accounted for 683 yards of total offense with nine touchdowns.
If you’re still trying to figure out what a running back does when he’s in the game and he doesn’t have the ball, the answer is simple.
He blocks.
“You’ve got to have a strong connection and have to have a feel for each other in order to block for each other,” Peterson said. “It’s really about us going to practice every day, giving it 110 percent and knowing where your holes are and hitting them hard as you can.”
Nickles echoed those statements.
“It is a complete joke if your running backs do not care enough about each other to block for each other,” Nickles said. “That’s where I give our offensive coaches a lot of credit, because they get the most out of our running backs as far as blocking for each other, and that’s something that’s not easy to do because backs have a lot of other responsibilities as far as memorizing when to go in motion and how to go in motion.”
Nickles says that although he is pleased with his team’s progression, most notably blocking, he is still making sure the Panthers stay focused.
If all the individual parts of the Panthers continue to work together, these cats will roar louder than any engine in Abbeville.

Opinion

Government slowly taking control of private lives

October 20, 2006

The government is slowly but surely insinuating itself into our private lives, taking control of decisions that historically have been ours to make.
Some people around the Palmetto State may see that contention as alarmist. Look again. What do we have to do now that we didn’t used to have to do? Or, what did we used to be able to do that we cannot do anymore? The list is already extensive and is growing.
What about the mandatory wearing of seatbelts in automobiles? That’s the law now in South Carolina. Then there are, in some states, the required wearing of helmets by motorcycle riders.
Smoking is being outlawed everyday it seems in various settings all over the state, as is the use of other tobacco products. (That’s strange, too, since those products are still legal).

HECK, SOMETIMES SOME OF the foods we were told that were good for us when we were children are now said to be bad for us and should be avoided.
Now government is beginning to supervise all kinds of individual health practices ..... use of fats, sugar, alcohol, etc. Look around. There are so many rules and regulations on the books that “guide” our lives that it’s almost getting to be taken for granted. More are put on every year. In the homes, in the workplace, in schools, on the highways, it doesn’t matter. Too many are accepted without question. Sometimes we are too easily led (just look at politics), and therein lies the danger.

TO BE SURE, IT’S NOT THAT some of these government mandated things aren’t good for us. They are. No doubt the intentions for all of them are good. As they say, though, the road to you know where is paved with good intentions and nobody has disproved that yet. Nevertheless, the more we accept without question, the more will be done in the “government knows what’s best for you” category. Before we know it, life will be micro-managed by government and we’ll have to have special permits to go to the bathroom.
Is that being alarmist? Or too picayunish? There are lessons throughout history that teach otherwise. Unfortunately, they are lessons that we too often learn too late ..... no not at all.