'I think it should never be forgotten'

The Index-Journal speaks with local residents about their memories from 9/11

September 3, 2006

PAUL BEDENBAUGH

WHERE WERE YOU AND WHAT WERE YOU DOING ON 09/11/01 WHEN THE ATTACKS OCCURRED? Bedenbaugh said he was coming out of a manager’s meeting at the car dealership where he worked when he found out the U.S. was under attack.
“There was a big-screen TV (in the showroom), and I saw the second plane hit the second tower.”
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION? “My first reaction was that I couldn’t believe what I just saw. After watching it, I said to my co-workers, ‘It looks like we have gone to war today.’”
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS FIVE YEARS LATER? DO YOU FEEL SAFER? Bedenbaugh said he still thinks the country is at risk, though “as a whole, the country is safer. I feel like Homeland Security has done things to improve it, but we are still at risk.”

JO ANN BLACKWELL

WHERE WERE YOU AND WHAT WERE YOU DOING ON 09/11/01? Blackwell said she was at work on the morning of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION? “I was shocked. Everybody was in shock and we were upset.”
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS FIVE YEARS LATER? DO YOU FEEL SAFER? “I don’t feel safer. I don’t think the United States is doing enough to protect us.”

DELSHUN BROOKS

WHERE WERE YOU AND WHAT WERE YOU DOING ON 09/11/01? “I was in ninth grade in social studies class at Greenwood High.”
Brooks said he was scared after hearing about the attacks from his teachers.
“I didn’t know if something was going to happen in South Carolina.”
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION? “We were all just kind of worried about our family in New York.”
Although distant from those family members, Brooks said he and his family in South Carolina were worried for his relatives and for the other families in New York.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS FIVE YEARS LATER? DO YOU FEEL SAFER? “I think it (Sept. 11) should never be forgotten.”
Brooks said he feels somewhat safer, but he won’t feel 100 percent safer until every terrorist has been caught.

NICOLE GIARITELLI

WHERE WERE YOU AND WHAT WERE YOU DOING ON 09/11/01? Giaritelli said she had just walked into history class after getting back from chorus as an eighth-grader at Northside Middle School, when the news of the attacks came on the TVs in the classroom.
“When I saw what happened, I started to cry. I have family in New York, so it really affected me. I was scared something else was going to happen.”
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION? Giaritelli said her first reaction was, “How could somebody do something so horrible and so evil?’”
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS FIVE YEARS LATER? DO YOU FEEL SAFER? “I feel a lot safer because President Bush took the right authority then and there” following the attacks. Giaritelli added that tighter security following Sept. 11 has made her feel better about the nation’s safety.

JOHNNY GILCHRIST

WHERE WERE YOU AND WHAT WERE YOU DOING ON 09/11/01? “I was on a smoke break (at O’Charley’s.)”
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION? “I was shocked. Shocked and concerned.”
Gilchrist said he was shocked that the attack could happen in the United States.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS FIVE YEARS LATER? DO YOU FEEL SAFER? “I believe that if it happened then, it could happen again.”

SUSAN LONDGREN

WHERE WERE YOU AND WHAT WERE YOU DOING ON 09/11/01? “We were living in a rental (in Greenwood) while our house was being remodeled.”
Londgren and her husband were watching the “Today” show when the towers were attacked.
“We couldn’t believe it.”
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION? “Sad, very sad. Depressing.”
Londgren was also worried about more attacks on the country and whether President Bush was safe.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS FIVE YEARS LATER? DO YOU FEEL SAFER? “Well, with all the terrorism going on, you don’t know what’s going to happen next.”
Londgren said she feels safer in a small town like Greenwood than in a big city.

RENEE LUMPKIN

WHERE WERE YOU AND WHAT WERE YOU DOING ON 09/11/01? Lumpkin was teaching a class at Abbeville High School on Sept. 11, 2001. She said she went to lunch in a teacher break room, where she first learned of the attacks. “They had the TVs on CNN. Most of the students already knew.”
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION? Lumpkin said she was in shock at the news. “I think everybody was scared that something was going to happen somewhere else.”
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS FIVE YEARS LATER? DO YOU FEEL SAFER? “I feel safer, but not completely safe because there is so much danger out there. I think we’ll never be completely safe.”

MARIAN McCLAIN

WHERE WERE YOU AND WHAT WERE YOU DOING ON 09/11/01? While she was at a friend’s pawn shop in Georgia, McClain saw the aftermath of the attacks on one of the shop’s TVs.
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION? “I was devastated. I was totally blown away and I couldn’t believe all that was occurring.” She said she was shocked by the “ignorance of the terrorists.”
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS FIVE YEARS LATER? DO YOU FEEL SAFER? “We are still at risk.If we weren’t, there would not be so much security set up at the airports.” She said it is important that the country “sticks together” as it still struggles to regain its sense of security.

VALERIE OLIPHANT

WHERE WERE YOU AND WHAT WERE YOU DOING ON 09/11/01? Oliphant said she was working as a secretary with Self Regional Healthcare when the attacks occurred.
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION? “We were devastated and scared.” Oliphant said the attack at the Pentagon gave her added concern because she has a sister who lives in Maryland. She said she could not get in touch with her sister at first, though Oliphant later learned her sister was safe.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS FIVE YEARS LATER? DO YOU FEEL SAFER? Oliphant said that, five years after the attacks, she does not feel much safer. “I wouldn’t get on a plane. I’m still nervous.”

DAVID PRICE

WHERE WERE YOU AND WHAT WERE YOU DOING ON 09/11/01? “I was driving home. In fact, I was going through the middle of Hodges when I heard it on the radio.”
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION?“It was shocking to know something like that had happened.”
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS FIVE YEARS LATER? DO YOU FEEL SAFER? “I think we have more of a hand on what’s going on with our country.
“It makes you more aware of your surroundings.”

PRUDENCE TAYLOR

WHERE WERE YOU AND WHAT WERE YOU DOING ON 09/11/01? Taylor said she was at home that morning, watching “Good Morning Ameri­ca,”when one of the towers was hit.
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION? “I just felt so sorry for the families.”
“There was nothing we could do.”
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS FIVE YEARS LATER? DO YOU FEEL SAFER? “I don’t think it’s something we’ll ever get over in this country.”
Sept. 11 also showed the country how vulnerable it was to attacks, she said.

ANNA WIDEMAN

WHERE WERE YOU AND WHAT WERE YOU DOING ON 09/11/01? Wideman was homeschooling her children when someone called and told her to watch the news.
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION? “First, I didn’t really grasp what was going on. Then, when I began to grasp what was going on, I began to get worried.”
Wideman then prayed with her children.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS FIVE YEARS LATER? DO YOU FEEL SAFER? “Do I feel safer? I do.”

Responses reported by staff writers Bobby Harrell and Megan Varner.

Claude R. Beckham

WATERLOO — Claude Richard Beckham, 90, of 52 Oak Hollow Road, husband of Glena Arlene Griffin Beckham, died Saturday, Sept. 2, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home & Crematory.

Jackie Edwards

NINETY SIX — Jackie Edwards, 72, of 211 Little Mountain Road, died Friday, Sept. 1, 2006 at Hospice Care of Piedmont.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.

Suzanne Jones

Suzanne Jones, 71, resident of Wesley Commons, wife of Paul Jones, passed away at HospiceCare of the Piedmont on September 1, 2006.
Mrs. Jones was born in Ashland, OH, the daughter of Donald and Elizabeth Bell Fike. She was the past national President of the Embroiderers Guild of America, a 50-year member of Eastern Star, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a past member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, and a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Greenwood.
Surviving are four children, Mark Jones of Brazil, Jennifer Jones of Clearwater, FL, Robert Jones of Macon, GA, and Pamela Fisher of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; eight grandchildren and one great grandchild.
A memorial service will be held at 1 PM, Mon., Sep. 4 in Asbury Hall at Wesley Commons. A graveside service will be held at 1 PM, Tues., Sep. 5 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Walhalla. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to either the Alzheimer’s Assoc. of Greenwood; or HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
Cremation Society of South Carolina, Greenville

Charles S. Peppers

NINETY SIX — Charles S. Peppers, of 214 Park St., died Saturday, Sept. 2, 2006.
Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home & Crematory.

Robert L. Whiteford

WATERLOO — Robert Lee Whiteford, 55 of Waterloo entered into heaven on Friday, Sept. 1, 2006 at Self Regional Hospital.
He was the son of Doris Gregory Whiteford and the late John Asa Whiteford, both of Cross Hill.
He was the devoted husband of Debbie Moore Whiteford. He was the son-in-law of L. K. Moore Jr. and the late Ruby C. Moore. He was the proud father to Robin Whiteford Gantt of Cross Hill and Carrie Whiteford Harris of Murrells Inlet. He was also the father-in-law to Thomas Paul Gantt and Jonathan Mackey Harris.
He leaves behind a brother, John Wade Whiteford of Cross Hill and a sister, Earlene Whiteford Coker of Boiling Springs.
He was retired from Duke Power, where he served as Lake Management Supervisor for 25 years. He was a member of the S. C. Aquatic Plant Management Society.
He was a devoted deacon at Cross Hill First Baptist Church. He also served as the Men’s Ministry leader. He was the teacher of the Co-ed Sunday School Class.
He was a member of the Gideons International. He served in the National Guard as a military police.
He was an avid sportsman and hunter. He was a member of the Upper Carolina Sportsman Club and L&M Hunting Club. He was an organizer of the Grand American Coon Hunt for 20 years with his daughter Robin. He leaves behind his beloved pet Tanner to comfort his family.
The family is at the home in Waterloo. Visitation will be at Kennedy Mortuary in Laurens from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Sunday.
The funeral will be at Cross Hill First Baptist Church at 11:00 AM Monday, Sept. 4, 2006 conducted by Rev. J. D. Shiflet, Dr. G. Thomas Cartledge and Mr. Tommy Gunter with burial in Cross Hill First Baptist Church Cemetery.
Honorary escort will be all men of Cross Hill First Baptist Church, The Laurens Gideon Camp, and Upper Carolina Coon Hunters.
Memorials may be made to The Gideons International, P. O. Box 1067, Laurens, SC 29360 or Cross Hill First Baptist Church Building Fund, P. O. Box 126, Cross Hill, SC 29332.
Kennedy Mortuary, Laurens

Cross country teams participate
in Lander Invitational

September 3, 2006

By JIM JOYCE
Special projects editor

It was a cool Saturday morning as nine women’s and seven men’s collegiate cross country teams gathered on the Connie Maxwell Children’s Home campus for the Lander Invitational.
It was the right kind of atmosphere and an opportunity to give the respective coaches an idea of team strengths and weaknesses as they prepare for their conference competition.
“Overall, I was pleased with the number of teams,” Lander coach Bob Stoner said. “That’s about as big as I want the meet to be. It’s always a real competitive meet, because we’re all basically the same type school and put the same emphasis on the program.”
Neighboring Erskine College coach Mark Peeler was definitely pleased with the performance of the Flying Fleet, especially that of senior John Sell.
The senior from Greenville outdistanced the field to win the individual men’s trophy, but Peeler wasn’t surprised at his performance.
“John has been working really hard to get to the point he can be at this level,” Peeler said. “I really think, in our conference at least, he will be an elite runner.
“Joe, his brother, ran really well, but we’ve got to get those other three guys up in shape. I was really pleased with them. I thought they did a great job.”
Sell, who won in a time of 27.22 minutes, said, “I was ready to win it. We have been running well this summer and coach Peeler has been working us real hard. We had number one in our sights.”
The top spot became more of a reality with about a mile of the five miles remaining.
“I had about 18 seconds lead, but Nathan Parsons (Anderson University) was right on my back the whole race,” Sell said. “But, he dropped back with about a half-mile left, thank the Lord because I didn’t have anything left in me.”
Parsons was second in 27.28 minutes.
Of his overall performance, Sell said, “I went out the first mile a little too quickly. Other than that, I was on the pace I want to run.”
Anderson University, who had four runners in the top 10, won the men’s division with a score of 31, followed by Presbyterian 61, Erskine 74, Limestone 101, Toccoa Falls 132, Newberry 151, Southern Wesleyan 159.
In the women’s division, Augusta State took the title with a score of 52, five points better than Anderson University. PC was at 80, Lander 86, Southern Wesleyan 110, Limestone 146, Newberry 150, Erskine 213, Toccoa Falls 230.
Individually, Augusta State’s Annie Kim took the title with a run of 19.54 minutes, just ahead of Anderson runners Diana Wiliard (20.12) and Kasey Harold (20.46).
Olga Nunez-Lopez and Margaret Mobley placed 11th and 12th respectively to pace the Lander Lady Bearcats. Their times were 21.46 and 21.49.
Chris Pack paced Erskine with a time of 23.52 minutes.
“Our girls were about where I thought they’d be, not in the same order, but the more races we get in the more they’ll get into the racing mode,” Stoner said. “This being their first race, it’s hard to be where they need to be because they haven’t had a race yet.”

The top 10 runners, listing times first, follow:

MEN’S DIVISION
27.22 John Sell, Erskine College.
27.28 Nathan Parsons, Anderson University.
27.45 Matthew Elliott, Presbyterian College.
27.55 Jason Bryan, Anderson University.
28.08 Alex Jordan, Anderson University.
28.17 David Payne, Southern Wesleyan.
28.21 Adam Harris, Presbyterian College.
28.30 Matt Atkinson, Anderson University.
28.35 Brent Clausing, Limestone College.
28.42 Dino Montagna, Limestone College.
ERSKINE RUNNERS: John Sell 27.22, Joe Sell 28.44, Adam Groublewski 29.58, Hunter gaffney 30.31, Chance Ellison 31.30, Takaaki Shioya 33.01, Brad Shaillinglaw 33.40.

WOMEN’S DIVISION
19.54 Annie Kim, Augusta State University.
20.12 Diana Williard, Anderson University.
20.46 Kasey Harold, Anderson University.
21.03 Lauren Bowers, Presbyterian College.
21.12 Tia snyder, Southern Wesleyan.
21.20 Taylor Hansen, Newberry College.
21.22 Kaci McCane, Augusta State University.
21.27 Megan Deaton, Anderson University.
21.29 Kristi Tempel, Presbyterian College.
21.44 Molly Reichwald, Limestone College.
LANDER RUNNERS: Olga Nunez-Lopez 21.46, Margaret Mobley 21.49, Cassie Rowland 22.18, Anna Lohmann 23.17, Heather Hodges 23.34, Chelsey Ashford 23.59,
ERSKINE RUNNERS: Chris Pack 23.52, Kristen Koch 24.50, Kateryna Slyeptsova 25.29, Vanessa Hilliard 25.31, Lauren Cross 26.04, Elizabeth Hyman 26.35, Jessie Hock 26.54.

Blame or praise in raid: Think beyond emotions!

September 3, 2006

A raid by law enforcement officers of a recent party in Greenwood where underage drinking occurred has been the talk of the town. Blame or praise, it’s had few observers sitting on the fence.
The commentary has ranged from anger to surprise to gratitude. No one, it seems, has been entirely neutral. There have been as many questions about why there was a raid as there have been about why there was a teen drinking party in the first place.
It may be impossible for some people to think beyond their emotions, to be sure. If anyone can get past that, though, they are sure to remember that drinking and driving is a mix that too often puts lives at risk ..... those who drink and drive and innocent drivers on the highways. In some cases it threatens pedestrians. And, there were a lot of cars at that party.

IMAGINE ONE POSSIBILITY. What if one driver drinking at that party had been involved in a wreck on the way home. What if someone had been badly injured or killed. What would the criminal and financial liability be, and who would be responsible? More than likely it would be more than the driver.
Think of what the grief might be. While this might be hypothetical, consider a real situation as reported in a South Carolina newspaper:
“A grieving mother, a young accident victim, and a family therapist brought the reality of underage drinking and driving to more than 100 parents, teenagers and law enforcement officials Tuesday.
“They gathered at Lexington Town Hall for a forum that came less than two and a half weeks after three young area males died in two alcohol-related wrecks ..... “

THE ARTICLE WENT ON TO describe how a grieving mother urged teenagers to make wise choices while driving. She told how her son had been drinking and was speeding ... and wasn’t wearing a seat belt when he was thrown from his out-of-control vehicle a few years earlier.
Her son “didn’t suffer that night,” she told the group. “He was killed almost instantly. But I can tell you how much suffering our family has endured over the last three years.”
The family therapist urged parents to educate their children about drugs and alcohol, to set a curfew, to be firm and to teach their children to respect them. “When the child rules the roost, it’s all over. They will never respect you again,” he said.
Words to live by ..... literally. However, sometimes you have to wonder if anyone is paying attention.