1 dead in shooting

Husband of victim turns self in

April 5, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

A 30-year-old woman died Wednesday afternoon following a shooting on Epting Avenue in Greenwood, and police are holding her estranged husband in connection with the case.
Greenwood Police Chief Gerald Brooks said the police department received a call at 5:01 p.m. about a shooting at 241 Epting Ave.
“We had an officer that was nearby the scene,” Brooks said as he stood in front of the home. “When he pulled up, he saw a number of children fleeing the scene.”
Brooks said the woman was shot and died at the scene. Steve Owings, an investigator with the Greenwood coroner’s office, said the victim, Terry Hawes, died of several gunshot wounds. An autopsy is scheduled for today.
Brooks said Alonzo Craig Hawes, 34, of 3135 Rock House Road in Greenwood County, turned himself in at city hall.
“We had information about the suspect driving a white SUV,” Brooks said. “(At 5:40 p.m.) he came to the municipal building and said he wanted to turn himself in. He had parked the white SUV on a nearby street and walked to the municipal building.”
Brooks said Alonzo Hawes and the victim were married but had separated, and that Terry Hawes had moved in with her mother on Epting Avenue. Brooks said he was told Alonzo and Terry Hawes reportedly were arguing about children shortly before the shooting.
Numerous police officers and detectives worked the scene at the small, yellow house Wednesday, along with several EMS workers and Owings with the coroner’s office. Brooks said police were doing forensic work at the residence Wednesday night and possibly today.
Brooks said that authorities expect to obtain a warrant today, at which time charges will be filed.

SLED enters school scandal

Probe will focus on how Dist. 51 handled sex case

April 5, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR


WARE SHOALS — The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division has opened its own investigation of Ware Shoals School District 51’s handling of an alcohol-fueled sex scandal involving two Ware Shoals High School varsity cheerleaders and their former coach, Jill Moore.
The Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office said many witnesses came forward during its investigation into the actions of suspended WSHS Principal Jane Blackwell. Blackwell was arrested on an obstruction of justice charge in late January. Witnesses reported potential wrongdoing on the part of District 51 staff and/or their representatives, the sheriff’s office reported.
Chief Deputy Mike Frederick said that, because of the school district’s status as a regional government that encompasses three counties, and to avoid any appearance of conflict with the sheriff’s office existing investigation of Blackwell, Sheriff Dan Wideman asked SLED to review the information from those witnesses and open an investigation if the agency saw fit.
SLED’s Katherine Richardson confirmed Wednesday the investigation is under way.
“Yes, we have opened an investigation in Ware Shoals,” Richardson said. “As it is an ongoing investigation, that is all we can really say at this time.”
Frederick said SLED’s investigation in Ware Shoals is separate from the sheriff’s office investigation into Blackwell, which was officially closed Tuesday.
“It is separate in that there are some things that came to light during our investigation that were simply not directly related to our investigation into Mrs. Blackwell,” Frederick said. “In fact, part of what SLED will be looking into is totally unrelated.”
Blackwell will get a chance to explain to the District 51 school board — and Ware Shoals residents — why she should be able to keep her job at the school. A public hearing is set for 9 a.m. Friday at the Ware Shoals High auditorium and reportedly will last for several hours.

Public or private meeting?

According to District 51 Superintendent Fay Sprouse, who is Blackwell’s first cousin, and school board attorney Bruce Davis, no cameras of any kind were to be allowed in the auditorium during the public meeting. This includes members of the media. The district’s Web site also contains the following message regarding the hearing on its home page: “Video equipment, cameras, and other such recording devices are not allowed inside the building. Cell phones must be turned off during the proceedings. The public is invited, but there will be no opportunity for public participation.”
Earlier this week, Davis said cameras — particularly flash photography — would be a distraction at what he said will be a “somber hearing.” Davis said cameras in the proceeding would foster a “circus-like” atmosphere.
In a letter faxed to Sprouse on Monday, The Index-Journal argued that, under the state’s Freedom of Information Act, cameras and audio recording equipment could not be banned from the public meeting. The letter read, in part: “Mrs. Blackwell’s hearing is not in a courtroom and conducted before a judge. Her hearing falls within the parameters of public meetings.”
South Carolina first amendment attorney Jay Bender, an expert on the state’s Freedom of Information Act, agreed with the paper’s stance.
Davis told the newspaper Wednesday that Blackwell had agreed to a public meeting, provided no cameras were allowed. He likened the school board chairman’s position to that of a courtroom judge, saying that against the backdrop of the criminal charges pending against Blackwell, the circumstances of this proceeding are different from regular school meetings.
Davis also revised his statements from earlier this week, saying that he agreed with Bender that no one could, in fact, be prevented from bringing photographic and recording devices into the school auditorium for the hearing. However, he cautioned that if someone — whether a member of the media or the public — did take pictures, Blackwell could stop the proceedings and demand to have a closed meeting with the board.
He further indicated that if this newspaper, for example, brought and used a camera, resulting in the hearing moving into a private setting at Blackwell’s request, the newspaper would be to blame for the public’s inability to witness the proceedings.
Bender disagreed.
“The newspaper would share no blame if the principal exercised her right to have a closed hearing. That choice is entirely the principal’s. The district can’t violate the law in hopes that the principal will have an open hearing,” Bender wrote in an e-mail.
Bender suggests that school officials consider limiting the number of people taking pictures because of their concern that there might be too many people attempting to take photos.
The Index-Journal attempted late Wednesday to reach Billy Garrett, Blackwell’s attorney, to discuss the feasibility of providing a media photographer.
“Mrs. Blackwell requested a public meeting before the school board,” executive editor Richard Whiting said. “She had the option of meeting in a closed session, as often is the case regarding personnel matters; however, she chose to have this in a very public way. Cameras are allowed in meetings of public bodies, including school boards. This situation is really no different than that.
“We can concede that it would be a disruption to have a number of people flashing cameras during the proceedings, but that does not preclude the media from carrying out its duty to properly record this event for the public that cannot attend,” Whiting said.
“We hope we can work out a compromise before tomorrow’s meeting, one that will maintain the meeting’s decorum while upholding the public’s first amendment rights,” he said.

Case background

Blackwell is accused of withholding information from the sheriff’s office during the investigation of Moore. Moore is accused of providing alcohol for a pair of then-16-year-old WSHS cheerleaders and putting them in an “incredibly inappropriate situation” concerning a sexual relationship Moore was having with a National Guardsman.
According to reports released by the sheriff’s office Tuesday, Moore also has admitted to investigators that she attended the Nov. 25 South Carolina-Clemson game with a group of students, got drunk at the game and came home with a 19-year-old male student.
In previously released reports, the 19-year-old student admitted he had a sexual relationship with Moore, who is married.
b Moore told investigators this past Sunday — in a conversation that was videotaped — that she went to Blackwell’s house on Nov. 29 and told Blackwell about the trip to the Clemson game and getting drunk with the students. Moore said Ware Shoals High employee Betty House was at Blackwell’s home that day and could confirm the meeting.
Deputies reportedly contacted House on Tuesday, and House confirmed the meeting between Moore and Blackwell.
According to the sheriff’s office, on the day that Blackwell was arrested, Maj. John Murray — who was wearing a concealed recording device — asked Blackwell if she knew about Moore’s actions. Blackwell reportedly denied anyone had ever mentioned Moore’s actions to her.
The recording of Blackwell’s Jan. 22 conversation and Sunday’s videotaped interview with Moore have been been placed into evidence by the sheriff’s office.

Area coaches saying adieu

EHS’ Evans, Ninety Six’s Doolittle moving on to other endeavors

April 5, 2007

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

The Emerald Vikings and Ninety Six Wildcats are each losing a successful coach at the end of the school year.
Vikings baseball coach Chad Evans is headed away from the field of sports, while Wildcats football coach Mike Doolittle is contemplating his next move.
Evans is headed to Ninety Six High School next year, but you won’t see him in the Wildcats dugout.
Evans, who earned his master’s degree in educational administration from Clemson University in December, will become an assistant principal at Ninety Six High at the start of the next school year.
“This opportunity came about, and I was offered the job and I just felt like it was a good opportunity for my family,” Evans said. “The day I accepted the job, I informed the players.
“I always said if I ever accepted a job somewhere else, I’d let my players and coaches know first. It was a tough day for me just informing the kids, but I think they understood my reasons for accepting the job.”
Evans said the opportunity brings with it the realization that coaching might be a thing of the past.
“I’ve been looking to get into that (administration) for some time,” Evans said. “I’m not planning on coaching in the future. Once I step away from here (Emerald), as far as my coaching responsibilities, I had planned on those being over.
“Right now, I’m just trying to finish out this season and win as many games as we can. Hopefully, we can go as far as we can go, and then next year I’ll worry about the administration part.”
During his 10 seasons as head coach, the Vikings have compiled a 151-83 record, including four straight Region III-AA championships (‘04, ‘05, ‘06, ‘07).
This year’s region title will be a bit sweeter if the Vikings win on Friday. A win would mark the first time the team has gone 10-0 in the region.
In addition to his selection as Class AA State Coach of the Year in 2005, it’s likely Evans will earn his fourth straight Region III-AA Coach of the Year Award at the end of the season.
“We’ve had a good run,” Evans said. “It won’t be complete until we win the big one. We’ve got to continue trying to strive toward that goal.”
Although Ninety Six gains someone who is moving away from coaching, they’re also losing a coach who isn’t ready to hang up his whistle just yet.
Doolittle has informed Ninety Six administrators that he will not return to the Wildcats once he finishes his contract June 30.
“The only thing official is that I won’t return next year,” Doolittle said. “I’ve had great times at Ninety Six, and I look forward to whatever opportunities come up in the future.
“Ninety Six is an attractive coaching position, and I’m sure the administration will do a good job in finding the next coach.”
One opportunity that might present itself is a coaching position at Gardner-Webb University.
“I can verify that he’s one of the finalists for the job,” Gardner-Webb coach Steve Patton said. “I think a lot of Doolittle and I think he’s a good guy. Right now, though, it’s premature to say without clearing anything with our president and athletic director.”
Patton added there’s no signed contract with Doolittle, whose son Stan plays for the Runnin’ Bulldogs.
“We’ll release that information through our sports information director to the correct media outlets when we make the decision,” Patton said.
During his 12 seasons at Ninety Six, Doolittle went 106-55 while capturing back-to-back state championships in 2000 and 2001. The Wildcats were state runners-up in 1999 and lost in the 2004 Upper State championship.
Doolittle is a two-time winner of the J.W. ‘Pinky’ Babb Coach of the Year Award, which goes to the Lakelands’ top football coach.
This isn’t the first time Doolittle has decided to leave Ninety Six.
Doolittle said he would be leaving the Wildcats to take over as head coach at Seneca High School in March 2004.
One day after announcing his decision, Doolittle changed his mind.

Obituaries

Elizabeth Clark

Elizabeth Gable Clark, 88, formerly of 610 Willson St., widow of Marshall Clark, died Wednesday, April 4, 2007, at Magnolia Manor.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Carrie Lake Johnson

PHILADELPHIA — Carrie Lake “Ms. Plum” Johnson, 95, formerly of Greenwood, S.C., died Sunday, April 1, 2007, at Centillian Village Nursing Home.
The family is at the home of Mae Renshaw, 1013 Dogwood Court, Lansdale, Pa.
Williams & Palmer Funeral Home Inc. is in charge.

Hiwadii M. Mitchell

Hiwadii Mason Mitchell, 87, formerly of 109 Bypass N.E., East End Heights, died Tuesday, April 3, 2007, at NHC Healthcare.
The family is at the home.
Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc., Greenwood, and Mason Funeral Home in Commerce, Ga., are in charge.

Martha Jean Poole

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Martha Jean Timms Poole, 74, wife of Daniel T. Poole, Jr., died Monday, April 2, 2007, at St. Joseph Hospital.
She was raised in Greenwood, a daughter of the late Mozelle Moore Timms. She was retired from Savannah River Plant and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include her husband; a son, James C. Montjoy of Augusta; and a cousin, raised in the home as a sister, Mrs. Clay (Doris) Spence of Beech Island.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in the chapel of Chance & Hydrick Funeral Directors, Augusta.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m.
Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Hospice, 2260 Wrightsboro Road, Augusta, GA 30904.
Announcement courtesy of Harley Funeral Home and Crematory.

Opinion

Old water plant property should benefit the public

April 5, 2007

There are many people in Greenwood who have shown the decision to build the relatively new city park on East Cambridge Street was a wise one. It has been, in a word, a winner. The park has become a popular place for all ages of Greenwoodians. That being so, imagine what another park would mean ..... one located at the old water plant property at Grace Street and the Highway 72 By-Pass.
As Greenwood resident William John Park noted in a recent letter to this newspaper, that is the last piece of centrally located “green” land left in the city. Not to use it in its entirety for the public good would be a shame. It is a perfect place for a public park.

IT IS ACCESSIBLE. IT IS convenient for a lot of people on the northern and eastern parts of the community who might otherwise have a long haul to East Cambridge.
There are arguments, of course, that it would be too expensive to build and to maintain. The answer to that is a question: What better can the public’s money be spent on than doing things to enhance the quality of life for that public ..... now and especially in the future?
That’s what parks do. One should be considered for all of the old water plant property. It’s feasible now. When it’s gone, it’s gone. The city fathers, maybe jointly with the county, could do a lot worse than helping the people who elected them by providing things the people cannot do for themselves.

PROVIDING PARKS AND preserving land - green land - is about as good as it gets. No, that’s not the best part.
Actually, it does get better.
Just imagine the smiling little faces and laughter of our children, grandchildren ..... and their children as they hunt for Easter eggs, frolic at birthday parties and just spend time playing and daydreaming.
Now, that’s as good as it gets, and we could lose it. Or, we could make sure that when we think of children at play they won’t be forgotten ..... or shut out.
It’s up to us. All of us. Now.