Lander students suspended after fight

University’s police chief says incident at residence hall is under investigation

September 28, 2006

From staff reports


At least three Lander University students have been suspended pending hearings in connection with what Lander officials are calling an “incident” in a campus residence hall on Monday night.
A press release from the school said university officials became aware of “the incident involving five male students” on Tuesday, adding that an investigation by Lander University Police was initiated.
Lander University Police Chief Ray Manley said four to five students were involved in a “fight” that took place Monday at a residence hall on campus, though he would not specify in which dorm the fight took place.
A Lander University Police officer told a reporter with The Index-Journal that the fight took place in the Brookside residence halls, located near the Lander Soccer Field. The attackers told the officer they were “initiating” the student, though it is unclear whether the initiation was for a fraternity.
A Lander student told the reporter that one of the attackers was pledging a fraternity but was not yet a member.
Members of a different fraternity stopped the assault, the student said.
Manley said the incident was still under investigation, adding that interviews were still being conducted on the students involved, and he would not release the names of the students involved in the fight.
An incident report from the school police department was not available to the media on Wednesday.
Manley said assault and battery charges have been filed against “three or four” of the students, but he said he was not sure how many warrants had been signed in the matter.
Manley did say the student who was attacked did not seek medical treatment at the hospital.
Though the press release from Lander said four students had been suspended pending a hearing into the matter, Randy Bouknight, vice president for student affairs, said Wednesday afternoon that only three students had been suspended and are not allowed on the Lander campus. In addition to criminal charges, Bouknight said the students might face internal charges through the student judicial process, adding that the students will have to appear before a student life panel comprised of fellow classmates and faculty.
Lander University President Dan Ball said university officials were working to resolve the matter.
“We pride ourselves on a safe campus and are deeply saddened by any actions on the part of students that threaten the safety of another student,” Ball said in the release. “We are aggressively working to determine what happened and appropriate action will be taken when the investigation is complete.”

Jennie Miller

ABBEVILLE — Jennie Rock Miller, 88, resident of Abbeville Nursing Home widow of John Miller died Tuesday Sept. 26, 2006 at Abbeville Nursing Home.
Born in Abbeville Co. SC, she was a daughter of the late Claiborn and Robena Gilliam Rock.
She was a retired school teacher with Abbeville Co. School District 60 with over 40 years of service. She was also a member of Abbeville Presbyterian Church.
Survivors are: 1 son Sam Miller and his wife Ginger of Greenwood, SC; 1 sister Ruth Hine of St. Simmons Island, GA; 3 grandsons Chad Miller, Blake Miller and Brandon Miller.
She was preceded in death by a son Charles Miller.
Graveside services will be conducted Thursday Sept. 28, 2006 at 2:00 PM from Lebanon Presbyterian Church with the Dr.
Michael Bush officiating. The family is at the home of her son Mr. & Mrs. Sam Miller 112 Sherwood Lane Greenwood, SC.
The body is at The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home. The family will receive friends after graveside services on Thursday. Memorials may be made to Abbeville Presbyterian Church 301 N. Main St. Abbeville, SC 29620.
Online condolences may be sent to the Miller family by visiting www.chandlerjacksonfh.com.
THE CHANDLER-JACKSON FUNERAL HOME IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS.

Ed Quattlebaum

Edwin Milledge Quattlebaum, 77, of 110 Leyland Court, husband of Vivian Kelley Quattlebaum, died Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2006, at Self Regional Medical Center.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Nancy Sanders Witherspoon

Nancy Sanders Witherspoon, resident of Chinquapin, widow of Donald Edwin Witherspoon, died September 26, 2006.
Born in Union, SC, she was the daughter of the late Roy C. and Alma Cauthen Sanders. She was a member of First Baptist Church and the Ruth Bible Class. She was also a member of the Atheneum Study Club, the Woman’s Club, and the Star Fort Chapter of D.A.R.
Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. John (Linda) T. Sheffield and Mrs. David (Donna) M. Nichols of Greenwood, SC; three grandchildren, Geddes Dowling Anderson, Jr. and wife, Marla of Jacksonville, FL, Nancy Catherine Sheffield of Haddonfield, NJ, and Ruth “Ruthie” Elizabeth Nichols of Greenville, SC; two great-grandchildren, Amelia Alma Anderson and Maryann Dowling Anderson, both of Jacksonville, FL.
Graveside services will be conducted Friday at 3 PM in Edgewood Cemetery, Grace Street, with Dr. Tony Hopkins and Rev. Kenny Standley officiating.
The family will be at the home in Chinquapin and receive friends immediately following the service in the First Baptist Church Narthex.
The family requests flowers be omitted and memorials be made to First Baptist Church or to Edgewood Cemetery, both addresses being 722 Grace Street, Greenwood, SC 29649.
For additional information and online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com. Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Witherspoon family.

For this former GHS standout, starting
at quarterback as a freshman in college is nothing but a ... rare chance

September 28, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

BOONE, N.C. — As anyone who keeps up with college football can attest, it is very rare that a true freshman can arrive on campus and immediately earn a starting spot on a college football team.
The chances of a true freshman enrolling in college and earning a starting spot at the critical position of quarterback within the first four games of the regular season are slim to none.
Former Greenwood High School standout Armanti Edwards must have liked his chances.
Edwards has gotten off to a fast start as a quarterback at Appalachian State University. He has played in every game, and he started last Saturday against Gardner-Webb. The lanky left-hander is 33 of 54 passing for three touchdowns for the 3-1 Mountaineers. He also has rushed for 196 yards and three touchdowns.
Edwards said his transition from high school quarterback to college signal caller has been a smooth one.
“Everybody has been really friendly up here,” Edwards said. “My teammates are great and it’s been a thrill to get to play quarterback.”
Edwards enjoyed a solid career at Greenwood. In 2005, he passed for more than 2,000 yards and rushed for more than 1,100. Still, Edwards didn’t expect to get thrown into the fire so quickly at the college level.
“I’m surprised, really,” Edwards said. “I didn’t expect to start. I didn’t even expect to be the second-string quarterback right away.”
Edwards got his first action in the Mountaineers’ opening game, a 24-10 loss to ACC opponent N.C. State. Edwards said he was impressed with the speed of the Wolfpack defensive ends. He said it was a huge jump up from the scout team defenses he had seen in practice.
Edwards saw his first significant action in week two against James Madison, a game where he rushed for a touchdown. “Things started to slow down for me in the James Madison game,” Edwards said. “I felt like I played pretty well there.” Since that game, Edwards has taken the bulk of the snaps for ASU. the extra plying time does come with extra pressure, however.
The Mountaineers are the defending Division I-AA national champions. The Boone, N.C. college is known for its rabid fanbase that expects excellence year in and year out.
“A lot of people are expecting us to go back (to the national title game),” Edwards said. “We have most of our defense back, and we have all our receivers except for one back. Expectations are high.”
While Edwards has been getting excellent coaching from Mountaineers’ head coach Jerry Moore, who is in his 18th year at ASU, he said he also has been getting sage advice from Greenwood offensive coordinator Chris Liner.
“We’ve talked a few times since the season started,” Edwards said. “But we have e-mailed each other every week. I learned a lot (at Greenwood) that has helped me, like making quick decisions and recognizing coverages. It helps being able to talk to coach Liner.”
Edwards is majoring in graphic arts and imagery at Appalachian State. He said he has always enjoyed creating art, though he hasn’t been doing it as much the last few years. He said it has been refreshing being able to get back into it since school began.
As far as life in Boone, Edwards said he is adjusting just fine.
“The weather can be tricky,” Edwards said. “One day it’s hot, the next day it’s cold. But the people on campus are really friendly, and everybody seems to know me. It’s like a big family.”
Chris Trainor covers area sports for The Index-Journal. He can be reached at: ctrainor@indexjournal.com.

A lesson to be learned in using taxpayer money

September 28, 2006

How many times has a politician made a mistake and, when found out, tried to stonewall the public? It seldom works and, in fact, makes matters worse.
State Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom made a mistake. Every state newspaper and TV station reported it. Then Eckstrom did what some never do. He apologized to the people of South Carolina.
For anyone who may have missed it, Eckstrom used a state-issued automobile on a vacation trip. His apology: “I would like to take this opportunity to make a humble apology to the people of South Carolina for an imprudent decision I made two years ago.
“I drove a state vehicle on a personal trip to Minnesota, which I fully reported at the time and made no attempt to conceal.

“ALTHOUGH THE LAW AND historic practices provide Constitutional Officers a vehicle to use at their discretion, including individual use, appearances matter.
“I realize how this appears to the public I serve.
“I deeply regret that I used this vehicle as I did. I wish that I had not.
“While I can’t undo the past, I have reimbursed the State the full amount that my agency was billed for this use.
“I made a mistake in judgment. I ask for your forgiveness.”
He should have done it before it was made public. While it’s good to see an apology, which is important, there should be a greater lesson learned. By now, Eckstrom surely has. It should, however, serve as a reminder to all who work for the taxpayers of South Carolina, whether elected or otherwise.
South Carolinians are like all other taxpayers. They get more than perturbed when they see something they consider wrong in how their hard-earned tax money is spent.

AS SAID MANY TIMES, public business not only should be right, it should look right. The public expects its representatives at all levels to be good stewards of the taxes that fund their offices and activities.
This was one of those times when it looked wrong, even if it technically wasn’t. It’s a practical and moral lesson, too. For taxpayers, there’s no difference. Even if something is only perceived by taxpayers to be wrong, it can do more harm than if it were real.
This apology may be sincere and is welcome. Looks, however, make it appear differently. If Eckstrom and others learn from this experience, maybe it will turn out to be something good. However, some never learn ..... and some don’t want to. We see it in Washington, Columbia and certainly in Greenwood, from capitol to city hall to school board rooms.