Companies woo District 50 for construction project

September 19, 2006

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

Greenwood School District 50 considered presentations from two construction management companies Monday.
The board and district officials met with two of three companies that are bidding to manage and pick out contractors for the district’s new construction projects that would be made possible through an installment purchase bond plan initiative the board is considering. The plan carries a possible price tag of $129 million and a payoff time frame of between 15 and 25 years. The board is considering the bond initiative, which would allow it to sell bonds to pay for new construction and renovation of school properties without the need for a public referendum. The board has until the end of the year to exercise this funding option because the state Legislature voted this year to eliminate the installment purchase bond program.
Gary Johnson, assistant superintendent of business and operations, told The Index-Journal last week via e-mail that the amount of bonds to be sold and the number of years to pay off the bond payment has yet to be decided.
Superintendent Darrell Johnson said that no construction manager or architect has been picked for the project yet.
But the board on Monday did not discuss the extent of the projects or the amount of money that would be leveraged for the project through the sale of bonds under the installment program.
Southern Management Group and MB Kahn presented their services in construction management.
The third company did not come to the district’s offices by the time the meeting started, Johnson said.
Representatives from Southern Management and MB Kahn told the board that they would work to make sure local contractors would get a fair shot at bidding for the projects and save the district money if they were hired.
Southern Management has done work in Laurens County School Districts 55 and 56 and the Newberry County School District, said founder Brian Blatt.
MB Kahn has done work in Abbeville and at two Anderson County school districts, said an MB Kahn representative.
Also at the meeting, Northside Middle School principal Beth Pinson gave a presentation about a robotics club the school has been doing. Students program robots made out of Legos to roll, turn, stop and start in the club, said technology teacher Randy King.
Students at the meeting programmed wheeled Lego robots to follow lines on a poster board, roll backward and push blocks.
Pat Ross, assistant superintendent of instruction, also discussed the results of a magnet school committee meeting with the board.
The magnet school program, which would allow some students to focus on academics and the arts, is planned to start at Brewer Middle School in the 2007-08 school year, Ross said.
The program would be geared toward rising sixth-graders throughout the district. Ross said that about 75 students would be chosen for the first year of the program.
Students would have to apply and audition for the program.
Transportation would be provided for students who don’t live where Brewer buses pick up children, Ross said. Those students would be shuttled to Brewer from a school near where they live.

Iris Bagwell

WARE SHOALS — Iris Pulliam Bagwell, 91 of Davis Drive, widow of R. Cleve Bagwell, died at Abbeville Nursing Home, September 17, 2006. She was a daughter of the late William Lee and Lucy Perkins Pulliam.
Mrs. Bagwell was an active member of The First Baptist Church, WMU, ADY and the TEL Sunday School Class and also Honea Path Chapter #159 of the Order of the Eastern Star.
Surviving are one son: Derrell Bagwell and wife Sarah, Ware Shoals, five grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a brother, Cecil Pulliam and one grandchild.
Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, 3 PM at The First Baptist Church with Rev. Leon Jones officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Active pallbearers will be Bobby Poore, Joe Wells, Grady Davis, Jim Davis, Jerry Sims, Jimmy Poore, Benny Burrell and Bobby Hendrix.
Honorary escort will be members of the ADY and the TEL Sunday School Class.
Memorials may be made to the Building Fund, First Baptist Church, PO Box 449, Ware Shoals, S.C.
29692.
The family is at 36 Bonds Road and will receive friends at the church Tuesday, 2-3 PM.
Parker-White Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Mamie Foster

GREENWOOD — Mamie E. Foster, 91, of 110 Sycamore St., widow of Lewis Foster, Sr., passed Saturday, September 16, 2006 at her home. Born in Saluda County a daughter of the late Clarence Gary and Lillie Mae Chapman Gary. She was a member of Mt. Tabor Baptist Church where she served as Deaconess, member of the Missionary Society, Gospel Chorus, Senior Choir and church secretary. She was also a member of the 50 Voice Choir and the Women Aid Society #98.
She is survived by three sons, Tommy Foster of Promised Land, Jonathan Griffin of Ware Shoals and Robert Griffin of the home; two daughters, Elease Davis of the home and Gladys Holmes of Greenwood; one sister, Mattie Sanders of Greenville; 25 grandchildren; 31 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 3:00 Wednesday at Mt. Tabor Bapt. Ch., with Rev. Ulysses Parks officiating, assisted by the Revs. Willie N. Norman and George Oliver. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers will be grandsons. Flower bearers will be nieces. The body will be placed in the church at 2:00. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7-8 pm Tuesday evening. The family is at the home.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is assisting the family. Online condolences:
pertompfh1@earthlink.net.

Mattie Bell Harris Hill

FORT WASHINGTON, Md. — Mattie Bell Harris Hill, daughter of the late Ezkiel and Cora Lee Robinson Harris, was born on August 13, 1933, in Greenwood County, South Carolina. She departed this life on Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at Fort Washington Health and Rehabilitation Center in Fort Washington, Maryland.
Left to cherish fond memories is her beloved husband, Willie Hill; three children, Elaine Booker of Clinton, Maryland, Angela Hill of Fort Washington, Maryland and Keith Harris of Upper Marlboro, Maryland; three siblings, Mary Thompson, Runette Abrahams and Ezkiel Harris, all of Ninety Six, South Carolina, a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Service will be Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - 1:00 PM, Lockhart Baptist Church, Saluda, South Carolina, Reverend Herman Jenkins, Pastor, Reverend Raymond Adams officiating. Logan Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

T.W. Humphreys

GREENWOOD — Thomas Walter “T.W.” Humphreys, 75, resident of 417 Willson Street, widower of Christine Reynolds Humphreys, died September 18, 2006 at his home.
Born in Plum Branch, February 16, 1931, he was a son of the late William Lanham and Janie Mae Furqueron Humphreys. He was the former owner and operator of T.W. Mobile Home Sales along with his wife, Christine, for thirty-five years. He was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Plum Branch.
Surviving are a daughter, Janie Louise Humphreys Callison and her four children, George Preston, III, Christina Alice, Cathleen Mae and Caroline Jane Callison; his son, Steven Thomas Humphreys and wife, Angela and their two children, Heath Thomas and Holden Steven Humphreys; two sisters, Annie H. Glassford of Raleigh, NC and Willie Mae H. Bowman of Atlanta, GA.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 am Wednesday, September 20, 2006 at the Oakbrook Memorial Park Mausoleum with the Rev. Wade Humphreys Everett officiating.
The body is at Blyth Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 Tuesday evening.
The family is at the home of his daughter, Jane, 304 Old Abbeville Hwy. in Greenwood.
Memorials may be made to St. Paul United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 9, Plum Branch, SC 29845.
For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Humphreys family.

Elizabeth Gaston Hunter

ABBEVILLE— Elizabeth Gaston Hunter, 89, of 113 Bowie St., wife of the late James Oscar Hunter, Sr., died Monday, September 18, 2006 at the Abbeville Area Medical Center. She was born in Abbeville to the late John R. and Rosa Botts Gaston. Mrs. Hunter was a member of the Abbeville Presbyterian Church and was a beloved mother and friend to all that knew her.
Surviving Mrs. Hunter is her son, Robert F. “Bobby” Hunter of Abbeville, and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be 11:00AM Wednesday, September 20, 2006 in the Long Cane Cemetery.
The family is at her residence, 113 Bowie St. Abbeville.
Online condolences may be sent to the Hunter family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com
HARRIS FUNERAL HOME, of Abbeville is assisting the Hunter family.

Turner Infant

GREENWOOD — Ashton Lee Turner, infant son of Jennifer Howington and Jody Turner, died Monday, September 18, 2006 at Richland Memorial Hospital.
Surviving is his mother of Waterloo; his father of Greenwood; grandparents, Ronnie and Frankie Bedenbaugh of Saluda, Roy and Rebecca Howington of Waterloo, Larry and JoEllen Adams of Greenwood; great grandparents, William M. Jones of Ninety Six and Emma Oliver of Waterloo; sister, Donna Turner of Greenwood; brothers, Adrian Proctor and Jordan Howington, both of Waterloo and Jody Lee Turner, Jr. of Greenwood; six aunts and five uncles.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Harley Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Former GHS star knows his role at Marshall

September 19, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The defensive backfield of the Marshall University football team has a Lakelands flair this season.
Greenwood High School graduate Zearrick Matthews, a redshirt freshman at Marshall, has secured a starting spot at cornerback for the Thundering Herd, who play in the Mid American Conference.
Matthews is relishing his new role.
“It was a lot of pressure to start with,” Matthews said. “But I know my role. Everything has been good this season, so far.”
While the Herd has stumbled a bit, holding a 1-2 record after three games, Matthews has been stellar. He has nine total tackles in three games and he recovered a fumble in a 56-31 win over Hofstra Sept. 9.
“I was happy to get my first fumble recovery,” Matthews said. “Our defensive end made a hit and the ball popped out. I was the first one there.”
Though Marshall has the aforementioned 1-2 record, it is due, in part, to the elevated competition the team has faced. Their first loss came against West Virginia, which is ranked in the top 5 nationally. The second loss came this past weekend at Kansas State, which is in the Big 12.
Matthews said the Thundering Herd has gotten over their opening loss to archrival West Virginia.
“Hey, all respect goes to those guys,” Matthews said. “They are a great team. Their quarterback (Pat White) is really good.”
Matthews said one aspect of college football he has taken to is playing in front of huge crowds. Though he routinely played to large crowds at Greenwood, he said it is a different sensation all together when taking the field in front of 50,000-60,000 screaming fans.
Waiting for his chance to play took a great deal of patience for Matthews.
When he was a senior at Greenwood in 2004, Matthews was a highly touted quarterback, slated to lead the Eagles’ attack that season. However, he injured his foot in the first game of the season and was forced to sit out nearly the whole year.
He was able to return near the very end of the season, splitting time at defensive back and wide receiver.
Despite missing most of that season, Marshall still thought highly of the speedster, and offered a scholarship. Matthews then redshirted during the 2005 campaign, making his wait to get back on the football field even longer.
Matthews said he made the most of his redshirt year.
“Yeah, I learned a lot of things,” said Matthews, a sports management major. “I did lots of studying, got used to advanced learning. Basically adjusted to college life.”
One thing Matthews probably never expected to happen in Huntington, W.Va., was for Hollywood to come calling on campus. However, that is precisely what happened last spring.
A movie, “We Are Marshall,” was filmed in Huntington, based on the rebuilding of the Marshall football program after the tragic plane crash in 1972 that killed the entire Thundering Herd team. Matthew McCounaghey, star of films such as “Sahara” and “Failure to Launch,” is the star of the movie.
“It was cool having them on campus, filming the movie,” Matthews said. “Everybody up here is excited about it. I think it comes out in December.”
Matthews said he carried over a lot of what he learned at Greenwood to his new role at Marshall.
“(Greenwood) coach (Shell) Dula really worked to help mold me into a good person,” Matthews said. “He does that with all his players. He doesn’t just want you to be good in football, he wants you to grow into a good man.”

Chris Trainor covers area sports for The Index-Journal. He can be reached at: ctrainor@indexjournal.com.

Gang activity a threat to all of South Carolina

September 19, 2006

There can be no doubt that gang activity is a reality in South Carolina. We’ve seen signs of that around the Lakelands area in recent years, as have other communities in the state.
In Richland County, for example, Sheriff Leon Lott says gangs aren’t a law enforcement problem, school problem or church problem. They are a community problem, he says.
That’s true, but they may be more than that. There have been reports that some gang members are trying to get into National Guard and/or Reserve units. Imagine where that could lead.

WHETHER GANGS ARE home-grown or whether they come from Central America, as has been documented, they are threats to the domestic tranquility that Americans have grown accustomed to over the years.
The following suggestions, as reported by The State newspaper, came out of a citywide meeting about gangs in the Columbia area:
Suggestion: Create a quick-response team that erases gang graffiti as soon as it surfaces.
What it might accomplish: It would lower the visibility of gangs and eliminate graffiti’s intent, which is to send a message that gangs “own” certain territories.
Suggestion: Create a community data bank of anti-gang resources.
What it might accomplish: It would inform parents and others where they can go to get help. It also would be an inventory of what services are available while highlighting which services are needed. Suggestion: Involve the faith community more.
What it might accomplish: It would educate more parents about the gang problem. It also would bring additional resources and energy to gang prevention and intervention.

SOME MAY ARGUE THAT gang activity is something that occurs in bigger metropolitan communities. However, there have been too many reports in smaller communities that this is indeed more than a big-city threat. Be assured, too, that gangs are a threat not only to young people, they represent a growing blight on law-abiding society in general.
Every South Carolinian has no doubt heard about the violence associated with gangs “in other places.” The growing evidence they are active in the Palmetto State should be enough to caution everyone that “it” can happen here. In fact, a number of communities in this state received a federal grant the other day to be used in anti-gang programs.