Massive police response doesn’t find crime it expected

September 8, 2006

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

An initial report of an armed robbery in progress about 10:30 a.m. Thursday near Sports Break sent a number of law enforcement officers and detectives dashing to the Montague Avenue business. Once on scene, however, authorities learned the incident was instead a reported strong-armed robbery that occurred outdoors in that vicinity.
Greenwood Police Detective Sgt. Steve McGee said a man told authorities he was walking along a secondary road near Sports Break, pushing his son in a stroller on their way to do some shopping at an area store, when a man approached the pair and asked for money. When the victim told the man he had no money, the man struck him and took an undisclosed amount of money, McGee said.
The victim said the man then fled the area on foot. McGee said responding officers searched the area surrounding where the incident took place, but authorities did not locate the man.
McGee said a number of officers responded to the scene because authorities were at first concerned that Sports Break was being held up at gunpoint, but when the matter was cleared up, officers focused their attention on the victim and on searching for the man thought to be involved in the crime.
“We responded with the general public’s safety in mind,” McGee said.
McGee said the victim’s injuries did not require a trip to the hospital, but Greenwood County EMS technicians did treat the man at the scene.
The case is still under investigation, and McGee said authorities are following up on a number of “active leads.”

Working their way up in the classroom

Abbeville, Erskine team up to help
assistants become full-fledged teachers

September 8, 2006

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

Mal Jean Thomas has spent more time out of school than most of her fellow Erskine students have been alive, and she knows it.
She said she was worried about going back to school after receiving a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Lander University in 1989, but is glad she was having the chance to further her education.
Thomas was selected as the first person to use a new teaching program for professionals developed by the Abbeville County School District and Erskine College.
The district and Erskine are partners in the new program designed to help teaching assistants become full-fledged teachers.
Teacher Assistant-to-Teachers was developed to bring qualified teaching professionals into the district by helping them take courses at Erskine while pursuing certification as a teacher, said Kathy Stevenson, assistant superintendent for the Abbeville School District.
Thomas is the early childhood/parent educator in the district’s office and was an assistant teacher at Westwood Elementary School in 2004.
She said she was very excited about being part of the program.
“I’m flabbergasted, I guess,” Thomas said.
She said she has wanted to be a teacher her entire life. Becoming a teacher will allow her to spend more time with her children.
Thomas’ tuition is made possible by a scholarship funded by federal grants, Stevenson said.
She said she helped create the pilot program last year with Erskine’s help.
Stevenson approached Maggie Emery, Erskine’s department of education chairwoman, about the feasibility of the program.
Teachers assistants are required to have a 2.8 grade point average and at least 60 hours of undergraduate credit from a university and a portfolio of their previous work to be accepted to the program, Stevenson said.
Emery said that Erskine is pleased with the quality of the professionals the district has provided.
She said the program benefits professionals and Erskine alike.
Teacher Assistant-to-Teachers brings students with work experience to Erskine.
The knowledge of these professionals helps younger students do better in their classes, Emery said.
The program is also beneficial to the Abbeville community by keeping professionals like Thomas in town while they continue their education.
“She’s really a fabulous example of what this program can do for people,” Emery said.
The program is also individualized for each student, taking into account work experience and competency.
“No two students will go through the program alike,” Emery said.
Thomas’ son, Traejon, is looking forward to his mother going to Erskine College to become a teacher.
The 7-year-old wants his mother to work at his school, Westwood Elementary.
That just might happen becauseThomas would like to teach first or second grade.

Brynildson Barksdale Jr.

CLINTON — Brynildson Barksdale Jr., 47, of 122 E. Bluford St., died Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2006, at Greenville Memorial Hospital.
Childs Funeral Home is in charge.

Mr. John Rayford Cade

TAMPA, Fla. — John Rayford Cade, age 59, died September 1, 2006 in Tampa. He was born in Abbeville County, and was the son of the late George and Ethel Jackson Cade.
Services will be Saturday, September 9, 2006 at the Chapel of Brown and Walker Funeral home at 2:00 P.M. Burial will be in Glovers Chapel Baptist Cemetery, Troy, SC. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1:00 P.M. until 2:00 P.M. at the Funeral Home. The family is at the home of a brother Mack Cade on Mars Bridge Road in McCormick County. Brown and Walker Funeral home is in charge of arrangements.

Mary Alice Hagen

CLINTON — Mary Alice Nickles Hagen, 75, resident of 307 North Broad Street, Frampton Hall, widow of Willie Hagen, died September 6, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
Born June 1, 1931 in Hodges, she was a daughter of the late Maurice and Sadie Young Nickles.
Mrs. Hagen retired from Friedman Jewelers and was a longtime resident of Frampton Hall in Clinton.
She was a member of Hodges Presbyterian Church where she taught Sunday School.
Surviving are two daughters, Chris Hoyle of Atlanta and Jeanne Westmoreland of Myrtle Beach; and two grandchildren, Melanie d’Amecourt and husband Alexis of London, England and Sara Chiles of Fort Myers, FL.
A memorial service will be conducted 11:00 a.m. Saturday at Hodges Presbyterian Church with Rev. Bob Piephoff and Otto McDonald officiating.
The family will receive friends at Blyth Funeral Home from 6 to 8 Friday evening.
Memorials may be made to Hodges Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 99, Hodges, SC 29653.
To make online condolences or for more information please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Service is assisting Mrs. Hagen’s family.

Ancil Hatfield

COLUMBIA — Memorial service for Ancil Hatfield, 89, will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel, Irmo. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to “For Such a Time as This,” c/oFirst Baptist Church, 400 State St., West Columbia, S.C. 29169.
Mr. Hatfield died Wednesday, September 6, 2006. Born in Elizabethtown, KY., he was the son of the late Harrison and Cora Hatfield. A WW II Army veteran, he was a graduate of Butler University in Indianapolis, Ind. and the former owner of Dairy Queen in Greenwood. He was a Shriner and an avid golfer.
Surviving are his wife, Allene Attaway Hatfield; son, Douglas Ancil Hatfield of Conyers, Ga.; stepdaughter, Julie Wetherell and her husband, Stan, of Irmo; stepson, Ronnie Attaway of Missoula, Mont.; grandson and granddaughters, Casey Douglas Hatfield, Casey Wetherell and Sarah Wetherell. He was predeceased by son, Jay Jeffrey Hatfield.
www.dunbarfunerals.com

Charles Pearson

ABBEVILLE — Charles Pearson, 50, of 1570 Secession Ext., died Wed., Sept. 6, 2006 at Self Regional Health Care Center in Greenwood, S.C.
Survivors: Mother, Lidell McKinley of Evanston, IL; four sisters, Brenda F. Calhoun, Loretta Pearson, Toni Pearson, and Anglia Pearson. Services are entrusted to Richie Funeral Home, Inc., Abbeville, South Carolina and Haliburton Funeral Chapel in Evanston, Illinois.

Mary Thompson

Newport News, Va. — Mary Kathryn Mahaffey Thompson, 73, of Newport News, passed away on September 4, 2006. She was born on April 16, 1933 in Ware Shoals, SC.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James Leonard and Loulee Taylor Mahaffey, two brothers, James and Charles Mahaffey, and two sisters, Lottie Golden and Gladys Hine.
Mary is survived by her husband Charles “Chuck” Thompson and two sons, Keith Thompson and his wife Susan of Rockville, VA and Michael Thompson and his wife, Valery of Tucson, AZ.
Mary Kathryn Thompson, registered nurse, earned her associates degree in nursing at Lander College in Greenwood, SC. She began working on the labor and delivery unit of Riverside Regional Medical Center in 1970 until she retired in 1995. During those 25 years, “Momma Mary,” as she was affectionately called by so many, touched the lives of more than 30,000 families who looked to her for support, advice, guidance, and friendship and she always more than exceeded any expectation. She cared passionately for the well being of each baby born at Riverside and their family and was dedicated to supporting them during the journey. She could remember the names of countless children, when they were born, and on many occasions even their room number. Momma Mary’s contagious laugh and illuminating smile would fill any room with such warmth and love. If you were ever privileged enough to have met her, she most assuredly left a lasting impression and will continue to do so for all those she touched so deeply.
Graveside services will be held at 11 AM Saturday, September 9, 2006 at Greenwood Memorial Gardens with Rev. Leon Jones and Rev. Floyd Parker officiating. The family has requested that memorial donations be made to Riverside Healthcare Foundation to benefit the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Riverside Regional Medical Center. Send to 701 Town Center Drive, Suite 1000, Newport News, VA 23606. Parker-White Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Nona D. Watson

TROY — A memorial service for Nona Dill Watson, who died August 22, 2006, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Troy Baptist Church.
The family will receive friends immediately following the service.
Arrangements by Harley Funeral Home and Crematory of Greenwood.

CORRECTION

There is additional information for the obituary of James A. Wakefield in Thursday’s paper.
Entombment is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.

Dixie falls short in loss to Crescent

September 8, 2006

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

DUE WEST — It was a slow start Thursday night for the Dixie Hornets as they faced the Crescent Tigers, but, by the end of the game, fans were treated to a contest that was filled with emotion.
After falling behind 20-0, the Hornets got on track in the second half and outscored the Tigers 28-16 but it was not enough as the Tigers headed home with a 36-28 victory.
Hornets coach Steve Dunlap saw positives in his team’s loss, but also noticed errors that must be fixed before the Hornets take the field again in two weeks.
“We executed, we eliminated some mistakes although we had the one big turnover in the second half that hurt us,” Dunlap said. “I don’t know why we get off to such a late start because we put ourselves in a hole spotting a good 2-A team 20 points.”
The Hornets began their first three drives with a punt, turnover and punt as they fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter following a 61-yard run by Emmanuel Patterson.
Things did not get any better early in the second quarter when the Hornets were preparing to punt following a third-down play. An errant snap by the punting team was recovered by Crescent at the Hornet’s 29-yard-line.
The Hornets’ Jeff Hanna helped push back the Crescent offense with a 9-yard sack. However, the Hornet’s second turnover also would lead to a Crescent touchdown when Justin Mauldin took a handoff through the right side of the offensive line for a 10-yard touchdown that gave Crescent a 20-0 lead.
The Hornets began their next drive at the 27-yard line, but were unable to establish anything offensively. On third-and-three, the Hornets’ Ontavious Plummer was stuffed for a 2-yard loss, and the Hornets were again forced to punt before crossing midfield.
The Hornets defense seemed primed to stop the rushing attack of the Tigers, but a 2-yard run by Alton Davis on fourth-and-inches kept the drive alive. Elijah Proctor would help the Hornets’ defense late in the drive when he burst into the Tigers’ backfield to sack quarterback Chris Pepper and keep the score at 20-0 going into the half.
The second half began with the Tigers starting out on their 12-yard line following two penalties. On third- and-two with the crowd yelling for the defense to step up, the Hornets swarmed in to tackle Patterson for a 2-yard loss. Following a Tigers’ punt, the Hornets began the second half with their best field position of the day at their own 47-yard line. On fourth-and-four, the Hornets decided to go for the first down. The gamble paid off as quarterback Drake Dunlap connected with Kyle Crawford for a first down. Later in the drive, Ontavious Plummer danced his way into the end zone on an 8-yard touchdown run to give the Hornets’ their first points of the game, making the score 20-7.
Seconds later, the Hornets’ kickoff team came up with a huge play when Crescent’s Justin Mauldin fumbled the kickoff. Plummer scooped the ball up and ran it back for a 27-yard touchdown run sending the crowd into a frenzy as the Hornets closed to within six points.
Both teams would then suffer from a severe case of fumblitis as possession went back and forth like a pendulum. The Tigers would finally take advantage of a second-half turnover when Alton Davis sliced through the middle of the Hornets’ defense for a 23-yard touchdown run. It was Davis’ second touchdown of the day following a turnover, which gave the Tigers a 28-14 lead.
As if one touchdown by the kickoff team was not enough, the Hornets’ kickoff return team decided to add one of their own following a re-kick when Kyle Crawford ran 77 yards for a touchdown with five minutes remaining in the game.
After a defensive stand by the Hornets, the Tigers were facing fourth and long with 3:11 left. Although the Tigers had converted on a fake punt early in the game, the team decided to punt the ball away this time, but a bad snap ended up being downed at the Tiger 32-yard line.
The Hornets took advantage of the field position and, on their first play of the series, Dunlap passed to Jamaal Byers, who threw a 32-yard pass to Jeff Hanna, who went untouched into the end zone.
The Hornets fought hard to tie the game, but with 28 seconds remaining, it was too little, too late as Patterson found his way back into the end zone for the final score of 36-28.
“You have to commend their kids,” said Tigers coach Troy Gamble. “We’re not a good enough team to play one half of football by any means.”

Observations ...
... and other reflections

September 8, 2006

The Internet is a useful tool for those who use it. It also is a dangerous tool for anyone who wants to misuse it. We’ve seen evidence of that in Greenwood.
Anyone can write anything and post it on his or her website. It doesn’t have to be true and, in fact, sometime it isn’t. The trouble is, though, there are so many people out there who will believe anything they see on the ‘net. That doesn’t include those of us who are gullible. After all, some people take advantage of the gullibility factor.
Then there are those who use the Internet as a tool to entice children and others for illicit purposes, not to mention those who run scams on it.
It’s good to see efforts made to clean it all up, but more is needed. And the penalties should be harsh. The criminal intent demands it.

* * * * *

President Bush has been subjected to continuous criticism “for not rebuilding New Orleans fast enough” following last season’s hurricanes. How could a city the size of “The Big Easy” be rebuilt quickly - or at all - when more than 200,000 people just wouldn’t go back to their homes ..... or what was left of them?
The better question might be: How could New Orleans be rebuilt quickly by anyone when absentee owners were aided and abetted by every anti-Bush politician seeking to get ahead on the misfortunes of needy people?
Under those conditions, it looks as if the president has done very well ..... despite his critics.

* * * * *

Richland Northeast High School in Columbia is considering beginning single-gender classes next year. While there have been others to make this move, the RNE High effort could prove beneficial for students in other district around South Carolina.
The payoff for students, one official said, is “a different environment for boys and girls, without the fear of being awkward.”
That’s a good reason, to be sure. There is one more consideration, though, that is even more important. Some kids simply learn better when they are segregated by gender. That’s true at every school level, even in higher education.
It’s a shame that in our rush to be totally - and maybe unreasonably - politically correct, we apparently lost sight of what education is supposed to accomplish.