Dist. 50 officials plan to comply
with new wave of FOIA requests

October 30, 2006

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

Greenwood School District 50 officials have reacted to a second round of Freedom of Information Act requests from a Greenwood county councilman in the same way they did the first — calmly. Dee Compton, councilman and attorney, issued 24 FOIA requests on Oct. 20 and gave District 50 15 working days from the date of receipt, Oct. 23, to respond.
Compton gave five new requests to the district late Friday.
The new requests “seek all e-mail or other documents in the possession of the board discussing the installment purchase bond plan, or which call special unannounced meetings, or seek a consensus of the board in violation of the Freedom of Information Act and the written policy of the board,” Compton said in a news release.
He said he has received a one-page letter from the district acknowledging receipt of the first FOIA requests, but hasn’t received any other information or data.
Compton and state Rep. Mike Pitts have expressed concerns that the district’s installment purchase bond plan is unconstitutional.
The district is considering leveraging as much as $145 million over a 25-year period to pay for construction of three new elementary schools, and renovations and modifications to the rest of the schools in the district.
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.
Superintendent Darrell Johnson summed up District 50’s reaction to this second wave of FOIA requests: “We will respond appropriately.”
Asked when the district would respond to the requests, Johnson echoed that the district will respond appropriately.
When asked if some of the information could even be found, Johnson again said that the district will respond appropriately.
Board chairwoman Dru James said that the board will respond to the requests to the letter of the law.
Gary Johnson, assistant superintendent for business, said Compton has requested a lot of information and that the district will have to start getting it ready for him.
“This’ll be a time-consuming thing,” he said.
Gary Johnson said the district will work to bring all the information together in accordance with the law.
Pitts said his concerns are wrapped in the legality of the district’s bond plan.
He got involved after getting questions from his constituents.
Pitts then sought the state attorney general’s opinion of the bond issue.
He said it was clear to him that if a school board went over the 8 percent spending cap for school construction without using a referendum, it was a violation of the state’s constitution.
Pitts also mentioned in a letter to the attorney general a lawsuit in Walterboro against a school board using the installment purchase bond plan.
He said he didn’t know much about the lawsuit.
The Colleton County School District is being sued by the Colleton County Taxpayers’ Association in protest of the district using alternative financing and spending $160 million over 25 years for school construction without referendum, according to the Post and Courier newspaper in Charleston.

Robert Jean Briggs

Robert Jean Briggs, 76, of 109 Margaret Court, died Sunday, Oct. 29, 2006, at Self Regional Medical Center.
The family is at the home of her granddaughter Kymberly M. Briggs, 125-A Willowdale Court.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.

Frances Broome

Frances C. Broome, 89, resident of Wesley Commons, widow of Allan Russel Broome, died Oct. 30, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Spartanburg County, Aug. 6, 1917, she was a daughter of the late Hilliard Francis and Emma Pearl Medearis Chreitzberg. She was an honor graduate of Spartanburg High School and an honor graduate of Converse College, having received her B.S. degree in Biology.
A member of Tranquil United Methodist Church, Mrs. Broome was also a volunteer for the Columbia Counsel of International and a docent for the Woodrow Wilson Boyhood Home in Columbia. She had been actively involved at Epworth Children’s Home (where her husband served as Director) for over 20 years.
Surviving are two daughters, Betsy Broome of Columbia and Mrs. Ed (Harriet B.) Turner of Fort Payne, AL; a sister, Mrs. Bryan (Betty C.) Crenshaw of Greenville.
Mrs. Broome was predeceased by a son, Allan Russel Broome, Jr.
A memorial service will be held at Wesley Commons at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Epworth Children’s Home, 2900 Millwood Avenue, Columbia, SC 29205 or to Heifer Project International, PO Box 8058, Little Rock, AR 72203. For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Broome family.

Estelle Corley Harper

COLUMBIA — Estelle Corley Harper, 91, of 1005 Garden Dale Drive, formerly of Greenwood, widow of Charles Edward Harper, died Sunday, Oct. 29, 2006 at Lexington Medical Center.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Greenwood.

McNeill Henderson

McCORMICK — Rufus McNeill Henderson, 85, resident of 509 Bradley Road, widower of Genevieve Fleming Henderson, died Oct. 29, 2006 at the McCormick Health Care Center.
Born in McCormick County a son of the late Barney Rufus and Sarah McNeill Henderson, he was a U.S. Army Air Corps Veteran having served in World War II and was a member of the American Legion. Retired from Milliken-McCormick Plant, he was a member of the McCormick First Baptist Church where he was a former deacon and was Training Union Director for 40 years. He was also a former Sunday School Teacher and served on various other church committees.
Survivors include 2 daughters, Debbie Daniels and husband James of McCormick and Nancy Wilkie and husband Lee of Ninety Six; 5 grandchildren, Jennifer Jackson of Ninety Six, Jamie Daniels and Julie Daniels, both of McCormick, Meaghan Wilkie and Douglas Wilkie, both of Ninety Six; 2 great-grandchildren, Heather Jackson and Caitlin Jackson, both of Ninety Six; one sister, Mary Ouzts and husband Carl of Maitland, FL.
Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the McCormick First Baptist Church, with Reverend Dennis Lynn and Reverend Doug Kauffman officiating. Interment will follow in Overbrook Cemetery.
The body is at Blyth Funeral Home and will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Pallbearers will be Tommy Henderson, Johnny Henderson, Marion Henderson, Barney Ouzts, Derrick Bledsoe and James Bledsoe.
Honorary escort will be Deacons of McCormick First Baptist Church.
The family is at the home of daughter, Debbie Daniels, 496 Bradley Road, McCormick and will receive friends Tuesday evening from 7-9 p.m. in the Parlor at McCormick First Baptist Church. Those desiring may make memorials to McCormick First Baptist Church, 108 Oak Street, McCormick, SC 29835, in memory of Mr. Henderson.
For additional information and online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Henderson family.

Lonny J. Jackson

Services for Lonny June Jackson will be conducted Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2006 at 1:30 p.m. at The Mackey Mortuary, Century Drive, Greenville, SC, with Dr. Tony Hopkins officiating. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends Tuesday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
The Mackey Mortuary, mackeymortuary.com.

Samuel Jones

MOUNT CARMEL — Samuel Jones, 83, of 1925 Highway 823, died Sunday, Oct. 29, 2006, at Hospice Care of the Piedmont in Greenwood.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Brown and Walker Funeral Home, Abbeville.

James W. Motes

ABBEVILLE — Mr. James W. Motes, 76, of 115 Court Square, Abbeville, entered into rest on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Joanna, SC, Mr. Motes was the son of the late Pettus Motes and Anna Summers Motes. He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances Gilliam Motes. He was retired from service in the U.S. Army and from Pirelli Cable in Abbeville. Mr. Motes was a member of Calvary Baptist Church.
Survivors include his son James E. Motes of Anderson; daughters Tracy Motes of Abbeville and Angie Chapman of Hodges; sister Annabel Rochester of Chester; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and family friend Latoya Deveaux of Abbeville. Funeral services with military honors will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 1, at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Calhoun Falls Funeral Home with Rev. David Smith officiating. Interment will follow in Latimer Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 1 to 2 p.m. at Calhoun Falls Funeral Home. Calhoun Falls Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Vikings advance

Emerald defeats Walhalla in second round of playoffs

October 31, 2006

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

It seems that the Emerald Lady Vikings tennis team showed up Monday and decided to make the fans sweat a little as they attempted to continue their march to Columbia.
One week after dominating a young Gilbert squad, 7-0, the Lady Vikings defeated Walhalla, 5-1, in front of a mixed crowd. Lady Vikings coach Susan Timmerman, who was ecstatic following the win, admitted that the score did not reflect how close the match really was.
“All the girls are strong players, but if they play against someone who is not a hard hitter like they are, then they kind of go jelly belly and fall apart,” Timmerman said.
In the No. 1 singles match-up, Emerald’s Morgan Lee faced off against Holly Williams taking the first set, 6-1, thanks to a few impressive returns that zipped past Williams. Lee had her work cut out for her in the second set as Williams stayed close throughout the set before finally falling 7-5.
The No. 2 singles game between the Vikings’ Sarah Seigler and Liz Barker was pivotal for the Lady Vikings as Seigler battled back after losing the first set 4-6.
Seigler still seemed uncomfortable in the second set as Barker held a 5-3 lead and seemed on her way to closing out the match. Seigler finally broke through, taking a 6-5 lead and winning the final two sets.
The Lady Vikings’ Catherine Talbert faced a strong Jocassee Herron in the No. 3 singles game and had her work cut out for her in her opening set 6-4 victory as both players were evenly matched.
Talbert cruised in the second set 6-0.
“In the beginning, she was really consistent and she stayed like that throughout the match,” Talbert said. “Then I started trying to hit the ball short, lobbing it and hitting it harder and that’s when she began making errors.”
The Lady Vikings’ lone loss came in the No. 4 singles match-up between Meredith Martin and Danielle Beaumont. Beaumont came out strong in the opening set taking a 4-1 lead before Martin closed to within 4-3 as her teammates cheered her on. Beaumont eventually won the hard-fought set 7-5 and took the second set 6-1.
“Meredith was not playing as well as she normally does,” Timmerman said. “She let Beaumont set the pace and she never could quite get her bearings. She’ll bring it on Wednesday.”
No. 5 singles player Claire Gillespie was business as usual for the Lady Vikings and showed strong play at the net in her 6-2, 6-1 win over Emily Newman.
“We just ran into a team today that was more prepared than we were,” said Walhalla coach Robert Kelly. We’re hoping to be back next year and be able to do well.”
The Lady Vikings wrapped up the night with the No. 2 doubles tandem of Kayla Sears and Lyda Welborn winning their game against Maggie Winchester and Kirsten Powell 8-3.
With the victory, the Lady Vikings move one step closer to their goal of a state championship, but first, they must take care of business Wednesday against the winner of the West Oak-Newberry match.

Estelle Mauldin showed us what giving was all about

October 31, 2006

Estelle Murray Mauldin was not a native of Greenwood County, but you’d never know it. She came to Lander University (then College) from Aiken College and graduated in 1937. Greenwood then became her home and, as they say, it was Greenwood’s gain and Aiken’s loss.
Mrs. Mauldin’s footprints can be found all over the history of Greenwood. She contributed so much in so many ways it’s hard to imagine how one person could do so much for so many for so long.
Mrs. Mauldin, who died last Friday at age 90, was integral to so many aspects of life in the Emerald City.

IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE to consider any one facet of human relations that did not benefit from her dedication to the quality of life for all people in her adopted home.
The range of interests that drew her attention and hard work through the years would be daunting to most us us, but this diminutive lady was never hindered by any odds, no matter how overwhelming they might be to the rest of us. A review of the long list of her accomplishments illustrates her determination and caring, and when the Greenwood role is called up yonder her name will surely be at the top. Helping people, whether through her church and civic endeavors or in numerous other ways, Estelle Mauldin was truly a Grande Dame of Greenwood.