Sheriff: Coach told principal

New information in Ware Shoals scandal conflicts with Blackwell’s original claim

April 4, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

WARE SHOALS — Former Ware Shoals High School cheerleading coach Jill Moore has admitted talking to suspended principal Jane Blackwell last year about controversial behavior that thrust the small town into the national spotlight, authorities said Tuesday.
Moore, who was arrested in January, is accused of providing alcohol and cigarettes to a pair of then-16-year-old Ware Shoals cheerleaders. She is also accused of placing the girls in an “incredibly inappropriate situation” in regard to a sexual relationship Moore was having with a National Guardsman. A second National Guardsman has admitted having a sexual relationship with one of the girls, but faces no charges because the student was 16 — the legal age of sexual consent in South Carolina.
Both soldiers, however, were disciplined by the Guard.
Supplemental reports released by authorities say Moore reportedly attended the Clemson-South Carolina football game with a 19-year-old male WSHS student, among other students, and got drunk there. The male student has admitted having a sexual relationship with Moore.
Blackwell, meanwhile, faces an obstruction of justice charge for what authorities say was her attempt to cover up the scandal and intimidate students into not talking to anyone about it. Blackwell will have a public hearing before the Ware Shoals school board at 9 a.m. Friday to argue that she should get her job back.
Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mike Frederick said investigators met with Moore and her attorney, Townes Jones, Sunday in a conference room at the sheriff’s office. The conversation was digitally recorded on video.
During the conversation, Moore reportedly told investigators that after the aforementioned game she learned that a Ware Shoals High staff member had questioned two students about Moore’s behavior at the game. Moore said she went to Blackwell’s house around 6 p.m. Nov. 29, 2006 to discuss the staff member’s questions with Blackwell.
Moore reportedly said she told Blackwell that she did go to the Clemson game with several students and got drunk. She said she told Blackwell she returned alone, but she later told investigators she returned with the aforementioned 19-year-old male student.
Moore told investigators that Blackwell told Moore to “watch (her) back” regarding the staff member. Moore said Blackwell said she would deal with the staff member by admonishing him.
Moore also told the investigators Sunday that another Ware Shoals High employee, Betty House, was at Blackwell’s house during the Nov. 29 meeting.
According to Frederick, House was contacted by the sheriff’s office Tuesday and confirmed the Nov. 29 meeting between Blackwell and Moore took place.
Frederick said Sunday’s interview with Moore directly contradicts Blackwell’s denials to law enforcement that she possessed prior knowledge of the scandals.
Investigators first discussed the case with Blackwell on Jan. 19. Frederick said Blackwell plainly told officers she had absolutely no knowledge of Moore’s inappropriate behavior, even to the extent that she said the allegations “floored her.”
Frederick reiterated that the case against Blackwell centers on the fact she had knowledge of Moore’s alleged inappropriate behavior.
Investigators contend Blackwell neither contacted law enforcement nor admitted to authorities that she possessed knowledge of the activities once the criminal investigation was under way.
“Despite some of the incorrect information floating around, we’re very confident that we’ve got the facts now,” Frederick said.
Frederick said the sheriff’s office has interviewed 63 people in more than 100 diferent sessions regarding the Blackwell case.
He said he met with Sheriff Dan Wideman and and Solicitor Jerry Peace on Jan. 21 to brief them on the case, particularly in regard to the obstruction charge against Blackwell. Both agreed Blackwell’s behavior met the elements of the crime, but asked investigators provide Blackwell one last opportunity to admit her knowledge of Moore’s activities.
Through instruction from Wideman, Maj. John Murray met with Blackwell again on Jan. 22 to obtain a written statement. While wearing a concealed recording device, Murray discussed the case with Blackwell.
She reportedly again flatly denied anyone had mentioned Moore’s activities to her.
Investigators then arrested Blackwell and executed a search warrant on her office.
Both the digital audio recording of Blackwell’s denials and the digital video of Moore’s statement have been placed into evidence.
Frederick said the sheriff’s office’s portion of the investigation is now closed.
“We’ve been unable to release much of the information until now,” Wideman said. “Because the investigation was under way.”
Wideman said Peace will have all information regarding the case today for adjudication.

Ultimate test of endurance

For three local men, the Umstead 100 was
a chance to challenge themselves

April 4, 2007

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

Have you ever heard the phrase, “I’ve been running around all day?”
Well, one Greenwood trio decided to do just that on March 31 when they participated in the 13th annual Umstead 100-mile endurance run with 50-mile option at William B. Umstead State Park near Raleigh N.C.
The race course consisted of a 12.5-mile loop in Umstead Park. Runners had to repeat the course eight times, which equaled 100 miles.
Runners were young, such as 17-year-old Michael Hayden who traveled from California to take part in the race, and old, such as 73-year-old Ed Demoney, of Virginia.
Hugh Butler and David Gurley, members of the Greenwood Police Department, and Edward Wilson, who works at the Greenwood Fire Department, all participated in the 50-mile portion of the race that began at 6 a.m.
Wilson finished the run in 11 hours, 29 minutes, while Butler and Gurley crossed the finish line in just over 13 hours.
“We drove back to Greenwood right after the race,” Gurley said. “The ride home was about as painful as the race was. When you do something that is both mentally as it is physically tough as an ultra-run, it’s going to be an inner-outer-body experience. It’s just one of those things that if you do it with somebody, there’s going to be some type of bonding that goes on.”
The group usually runs three to four times a week for about two to four hours per run, so they didn’t go into the event without knowing the task at hand.
“You can’t run for that many hours with somebody and not feel a little closer to them,” Butler said. “All the hours that we put in together running, it’s very rewarding.
The race had a special meaning for Butler, who was participating in his first ultra-run.
Butler celebrated his 50th birthday in advance by competing in the event, which he learned of after talking to Gurley.
“It seemed interesting,” Butler said. “I kind of thought it would be fun and I thought it would be tough. I’ll be 50 (years old) this coming July so I decided to see if I could do 50 (miles). It was one mile for every year.”
Butler said there were high and low points during the ultra-run, but with so many other runners providing encouragement, there was no way he wasn’t going to finish the race.
“When you get up around 30-40 miles, if you’re not real careful, you can get real discouraged,” Butler said when describing the race. “The first 12 miles or so are exciting because there’s that adrenaline rush from starting the race. After the first 12 (miles), you kind of settle into a pace.”
Mile No.28 is when Butler said that he started to experience difficulty, but he wouldn’t let up.
“About eight miles later, it kind of went away and you could see the finish line,” Butler said. “Then it’s just a matter of putting one foot in front of the other and just keep going. Once you get about 30 miles, you’re not going to let yourself give up. It’s a matter of pride then.”
Butler said that it’s hard to explain the feeling he had following the race.
“You’re relieved that you’re done,” Butler said. “Then you realize, ‘I ran 50 miles.’ It’s exciting to finish and you also realize that there’s not much that you can’t do. It was a perfect present to myself to complete the run. It’s something I wanted to do, and I did it.”
Butler said that there’s a chance he might take part in a future Umstead 100.
“I’ve thought about,” Butler said. “It depends on how my schedule goes and whether I can train or not. I’d like to at least do the 50-mile again.”
“I plan on, when I turn 100 (years old), at least doing the 100 (miles),” Butler added jokingly.

Renaldo Stover covers area sports for The Index-Journal. He can be reached at: rstover@indexjournal.com

Obituaries

Franklin Jerome Dunlap

Master Sergeant (Ret.) Franklin Jerome Dunlap, son of Anthony and Rosa Lee Dunlap, was born on Aug. 24, 1956 in McCormick, South Carolina. He departed this life Friday, March 30, 2007, in Washington, D.C.
He received his childhood education in the Greenwood, South Carolina, public school system, where he received his high school diploma from Greenwood High School in 1974. He continued his education at Lander College in Greenwood, South Carolina, where he was initiated into the Phi Alpha Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated in 1976.
Having the ambition to complete his educational goals, he obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree from Park College and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Troy State University.
On Aug. 28, 1979, he joined the United States Army and served tours of duty in Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Hawaii. During his twenty-one-year military career, he received the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (3), the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (2), and numerous other military accolades. Franklin retired at the rank of Master Sergeant on April 30, 2001.
He joined the Masonic Order through Cosmopolitan Lodge No. 82 F&AM in Pearl City, Hawaii in 1989.
On Jan. 13, 2002 at the age of 46, Franklin re-dedicated his life through baptism at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Woodbridge, Virginia. He served as a member of the Board of Trustees and was active in the Men’s Ministry and the Male Chorus.
He was an active member of the Pi Lambda Lambda Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, where he served the Prince William County community on numerous committees: Talent Hunt, Pan Hellenic Council, Social Action, and Retreat. As a facilitator for the chapters Bridge Builder Outreach Program for mentoring young males and promoting excellence throughout Prince William County, Franklin was able to share his passion for working with our youth.
In March of 2007, Franklin began employment with the Defense Information Systems Agency’s Chief Information Officer in the Information Assurance Branch.
He leaves to cherish his memories, five brothers, Johnny Lee Dunlap and Claude Dunlap of Durham, North Carolina, Odell Dunlap and Ulysses (Connie) Dunlap of Greenwood, South Carolina, Anthony III (Phyllis) Dunlap of McCormick, South Carolina; one sister, Celane Dunlap of Ninety Six, South Carolina; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Anthony and Rosa Lee Dunlap.
Services are 1 p.m. Friday, April 6, 2007, at Shiloh A.M.E. Church in McCormick, conducted by the Rev. James Louden. Presiding will be the Rev. Derrick Scott, and assisting will be the Rev. Roy Norman and Eddie Freeman. The body will be placed in the church at noon. Burial will be in the church cemetery with full military rites. The family will receive friends on Thursday evening from 7-8 at Robinson & Son Mortuary, Inc. Online condolences may be sent to robson@nctv.com.

Ernestine A. Perrin

Ernestine A. Perrin, 45, of 315 Cambridge Apts., passed away Monday, April 2, 2007, at her home.
Born in Baltimore, MD, she was a daughter of the late Samuel Johnson and Jessie Atkins Johnson. She was a member of Zion Temple Seventh-day Adventist Church, where she served faithfully until she became ill.
She is survived by a daughter, Shonda Perrin (John) Moore of Greenville; two sons, Judious Perrin and James Perrin, both of Greenwood; her mother-in-law, Christine Perrin of Greenwood. She had 20 siblings, of which her twin sister preceded her in death.
Memorial services will be held 3 p.m. Thursday at Zion Temple Seventh-day Adventist Church, with Pastor Patrick Carter officiating.
The family is at the home of Christine Perrin, 609 Magnolia Dr.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is assisting the Perrin family.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at pertompfh1@earthlink.net.

William Britt Rush

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. — William Britt Rush, born Dec. 20, 1960, passed away in Hendersonville, NC, March 23, 2007, at 8:30 a.m. Britt was the son of the late James Franklin Rush, Sr. and Ruby Leona Reardon Rush of Gulf Hills, Ocean Springs, MS. They are all deeply missed; however, as Britt would say, “No more worries.”
Britt graduated from Ocean Springs High School in 1978. He worked for Singing River Industries in Pascagoula for many years. Britt is survived by his sisters, Linda Rush Williamson (Florida), Josie Rush McLeod (South Carolina) and Caroline Rush Morley (Louisiana); his brother, James Franklin Rush, Jr. (Mississippi); and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
There will be a memorial service April 28, 2007 at 11 a.m., when Britt’s ashes will be spread, along with his father’s and mother’s ashes, at the First Baptist Church of Greenwood on Grace Street in Greenwood, South Carolina. The spreading of the ashes will be followed by a family and friends gathering at the Inn on the Square in Greenwood.

T.M. Whitmire

T.M. Whitmire, 83, of 173 Orchard Park Drive, husband of Essie Porter Whitmire, died Monday, April 2, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Salem, he was a son of the late Loranse D. and Lillian Littleton Whitmire. He retired from Solutia, where he was a security officer and fire protection coordinator and was a US Navy veteran of World War II. He was a Shriner, a member of Pickens Lodge A.F.M., the American Legion and Lupo Memorial United Methodist Church.
He was preceded in death by a son and daughter-in-law, James Richard “Jimmy” and Harriett Phillips Whitmire.
Surviving are his wife of the home; four sons and daughters-in-law, John T. and Cindy Whitmire and Thomas L. and Patricia Whitmire, all of Greenwood, Bill D. and Nancy Whitmire of Florence and Dan G. and Faye Tara Whitmire of Augusta, GA; a sister, Helen W. Crumpton of Spartanburg; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Charles Sperry officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Wesley Whitmire, Homer Whitmire, Tracy Whitmire, Carl Porter, Kevin Bishop, Greg Thompson, Dennis Porter and Walter Whitmire.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday from 1 to 2 p.m.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to the Arthritis Foundation, PO Box 96280, Washington, DC 20077 or by visiting www.arthritis.org or to the American Lung Association, Upstate Region, 11 Brendan Way, B-2, Greenville, SC 29615 or by visiting www.lungusa.org.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Opinion

Chief Justice should be chief ‘legal’ role model

April 4, 2007

There have been numerous instances when South Carolinians have broken the laws, not only local and state laws, but federal, as well. Since we live in a nation of laws, though, most of those who violate the rules we’re all supposed to live by get their day in court.
There are, to be sure, times when the guilty get away without any kind of punishment or fine. By and large, though, the justice system works as intended, and those guilty of breaking our laws pay for their transgressions. That, without question, puts civil into civilization.
Still, there are occasions when a person who should be the paragon of legal virtue does something that slaps the system squarely in the face.

IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN SOMEONE who should be a good role model does something to negatively affect his or her credibility it’s worrisome.
Break the law once, and maybe it can be written off as an honest mistake. Or, perhaps, it represents a momentary lapse in judgment. When it happens twice, though, it’s sure to bring questions. That leads to the involvement of South Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Toal in two traffic “accidents”..... hit and run accidents that led to property damage but no injuries. The latest came last week at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport where Justice Toal backed into another vehicle and left the scene without any notice. She was, however, seen by a witness.
Justice Toal, from all indications, has been an outstanding jurist who has rendered valuable service to the people of South Carolina. Nevertheless, as the top judge in the state she has an awesome responsibility.

IN ADDITION TO THE ABILITY to render important legal judgments, she should have, as they say, a squeaky clean reputation that leaves no questions about the court’s credibility and the public trust. In fact, she should be the number one role model for all law-abiding citizens.
Most of the time, experience shows, she is that. However, in the latest accident - it was only a fender-bender - she said something that should be cause for all who value this nation of laws to wonder. “It’s no big deal,” Justice Toal told a reporter in Columbia.
Maybe it was simply a slip of the tongue. But, as the top judge in the state, it is indeed a big deal when she is involved in two hit-and-run accidents. It would be troubling if she did not understand the “big deal” significance of what she has done.