Hand sanitizer. Freezer bags.
Paper towels ...
Are these school supplies?

There are good reasons behind lists, officials say

August 5, 2007

By LARRY SINGER
Index-Journal staff writer



As the first day of school approaches, some parents buying classroom supplies from lists generated by each school are discovering new items have been added to previous lists.
And some of those items have parents a bit puzzled.
In addition to the standard items such as pencils, notebook paper and index cards, there are such items as Kleenex, paper towels, boxes of gallon-sized freezer bags, bottled antibacterial soap, bottled hand sanitizer and, for at least one class, a ream — 500 sheets — of white computer paper.
Keith Doerflein, of Greenwood, said he and his wife were puzzled when they looked at the list of required supplies their son was expected to bring to class.
“My 5-year-old son goes to Springfield Elementary School, and he has to buy a ream of copy paper — and he’s in kindergarten,” Doerflein said.
“My wife and I were puzzled because kids generally don’t use computer-printing paper in kindergarten.
“The white paper they want is not for copy use, but used for computer printers. I did not inquire as to why he needs this much paper, but my wife and I have been wondering about it.”
In addition to the 500 sheets of computer-printing paper, Springfield Elementary kindergarten students are required to bring two bottles of liquid soap, one large box of Kleenex, Bounty paper towels and one box each of quart- and gallon-sized plastic Ziploc bags.
At Oakland Elementary School, the kindergarten list includes two packs of Clorox wipes and one pack of Xerox copy paper.
Third-grade students at Oakland Elementary must supply their own boxes of dry-erase markers for use on whiteboards.
First-grade girls at Oakland Elementary are required to bring quart-sized freezer bags, while the boys are required to bring gallon-sized bags.
While he cannot explain the need for 500 sheets of computer paper for kindergarten students, Robert L. McClinton — Greenwood District 50’s assistant superintendent — did explain the process by which the lists are generated, and why some new items were added.
“At the beginning of each year, the teachers for each grade level decide what would be helpful for that classroom in terms of the kids’ supplies,” McClinton said. “So they make up a list and they discuss all the supplies that the kids really need.
“Some of the items on the list are used for academic purposes, and others, like the hand sanitizers, are used to kill germs. This is especially helpful when we have a change of weather and during the change of seasons.
“For example, in the fall we have a lot of colds and a lot of viruses that come into play.
Taking precautions and using those types of things are helpful. ”
McClinton said that while the schools have hygienic supplies, when it comes to hand sanitizer, more is better.
“Now, does the school have these sorts of things in their restrooms? You bet your bottom dollar they do.,” he said. “But if the child can afford it, it would be much more convenient if the child had their own private sanitizer that they could use at their desk for their own personal use.”
The plastic bags, McClinton said, are excellent organizational aids.
“As for the Ziploc plastic bags, they put all their little supplies and so forth in those bags so they can keep up with what they have,” he said. “It’s an efficient system for the child as well as the teacher. It’s the little things like that that help the classroom run smoothly.
“All of our kids from kindergarten, K-4 and up have access to computers. So they do use computers and they use them for different projects, but I can’t justify or answer why the kindergarten kids would need a ream of paper.”
Should parents find themselves running short of cash, McClinton said their child will not be punished if they show up without all of the items on the list.
“Now the question is, what if a child can’t afford these things?” McClinton said. “Will he be penalized? The answer is no, the child will not be penalized. But if the child can afford it and the parents can afford it, it would certainly be advantageous to the child as well as the teacher.”
McClinton said the reason schools are requesting kids bring supplies that parents might expect the school to have is not because of a lack of funding.
“At one time, several years ago, when we had serious budget constraints, we did find out that teachers were buying their own copy paper, because the schools just didn’t have the money,” McClinton said. “But we’re not there now. So that should not be a problem at all in terms of teachers having paper and students having paper.
“The state gives each teacher approximately $200 to spend on classroom supplies for 180 days.
The school has a nondiscretionary account that the principal uses to spend on supplies and equipment as needed. The money that’s allotted is based on the number of students that are in that particular school.
“For example, a school like Hodges that has 300 kids, when you compare it to a school like Lakeview that has over 600 kids, Lakeview would get more money than Hodges. So the principal has access to that money, and from that point we leave it to the principal as to how that money is spent as far as the purchase of school supplies and school-related materials.”

Bikers unfazed by 1,000 miles

August 5, 2007

By KENNY MAPLE
Index-Journal staff writer

The Iron Butt Association calls a 1,000-mile ride in 24 hours the SaddleSore 1000.
Members of Greenwood’s Southern Roads Motorcycle Club will attempt this feat on their way to the 67th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
Every year the small South Dakota town of Sturgis hosts the rally, which Southern Roads member Jeff Ellis said might involve half a million riders. And nine of those riders will come from the Greenwood group.
Ellis will join Shawn Overholt, Tony Plumly, Robert Johnson, Tommy Parker, Devlin Amyx, Brad Cathcart, Jeff Smallwood and John Sanders in making the trip. The riders’ journey will take them through Chattanooga, Tenn.; near Mount Rushmore; to Bear Tooth, Mont.; and back through Colorado, Arizona, Texas and New Orleans.
The number of states they’ll visit: 17 to 18.
Their round-trip miles: close to 6,000.
The time on the road: two weeks.
Needless to say, it’s a lot of riding. But it doesn’t faze the motorcyclists.
“It’s relaxing,” Parker said. “You get in the zone.”
But doesn’t one’s, um, seat get tired?
“You get sore sitting on a sofa,” Ellis said.
Besides, some riders will have radios to listen to along the way. Others choose to ride with only the hum of the motor and the sounds of the road as they notch mile after mile on the highways.
Their first mile started Friday evening at about 7 p.m., as they departed from the Rental Center parking lot on Calhoun Road in Greenwood. (One member, Sanders, left early.) Members of the club meticulously positioned their gear in the best locations on their bikes so they could ride comfortably and safely for the first leg of the trip.
Ellis mentioned he was taking only the essentials: duct tape, tools, bug spray and sunscreen. And, of course, clothes.
“You pack as many clothes as you can fit,” he said.
Riders also packed camping gear such as tents and sleeping bags. Sometimes the crew will stay in hotels, but other times they will stop at campgrounds for the night.
The whole operation was well planned out, though none of the riders had ever been to Sturgis before.
“At this length, I think it’s a first for all of us,” Johnson said.
When asked if this was an all-male trip, Johnson nodded his head as wives and family members said their goodbyes at the Rental Center.
“They heard how far we were going and they said, ‘No thanks,’” Johnson said with a chuckle.

Collegiate changes

New athletic facilities on the horizon for Lander University

August 5, 2007

By KEVIN FIORENZO
Index-Journal staff editor



The future is coming very soon for Lander University, and it’s just a few blocks north of campus.
Lander’s Recreation, Wellness and Sports Complex is still in its early stages, but when it opens it will give the university a much-needed expansion and a boost to the Greenwood community. Set to open for the 2009-10 school year, the facility will be at the old Greenwood Plaza on Montague Avenue.
The RWS Complex will house a soccer field, baseball and softball stadiums, 12 tennis courts, a walking track, two intramural fields, a public park and Self Regional Healthcare’s Wellness Center.
Though its opening is two years off, plans for the complex are very much at the forefront as athletic director Jeff May prepares for the upcoming season. May said once it opens, the RWS Complex will be a benefit to everyone in the area.
“When completed, this facility will add much to Lander and to the Greenwood community,” May said. “From an athletic director’s perspective, naturally it’s going to be a big plus in recruiting and attracting talented student-athletes. But also for the campus and entire university community, it’s going to give them an opportunity to utilize those facilities.”
Despite the fact Lander’s current athletic venues are still in good shape, they are in different areas around town because of the lack of space on Lander’s 100-acre campus. Expanding to the Montague property allows Lander to have home facilities for several sports in one prime location and increase its campus size by 25 percent.
“We have some pretty good facilities for other sports, but they’re spread out,” May said. “This will allow us to have them in a pretty self-contained area, and it will free up space on our campus for other needs.”
As a public facility, the RWS Complex will be available for the entire Greenwood community as well as the local high schools.
“The high schools use our facilities when they have overflow with practice needs,” May said.
“We host some high school basketball games here. Both Greenwood and Emerald play home games here.
“We have a great working relationship with both those schools.” May said despite some delays, the RWS Complex is still scheduled to open in 2009.
Along with the new facility, Lander will come into the 2007-08 with high expectations for several of its sports. The Bearcats, who compete in the Peach Belt Conference, won conference titles in men’s soccer and basketball teams and advanced to the NCAA Division II Championships.
The women’s programs have struggled, but new coaches have been hired over the past few years, most recently in June when Brandon Duncan was tapped as the softball coach.
Duncan is a 2004 Alabama graduate and a former assistant at Georgia Tech and Virginia. He was also a student-manager on two Women’s College World Series teams with the Crimson Tide.
“We would like to maintain our highly competitive men’s programs,” May said. “We’re working to improve our women’s programs. I think we’re going to see some good strides in those areas with some of the coaches we’ve hired. We expect all our sports to be competitive and our coaches to run good programs, and they do.”

Obituaries

B.C. Bolt

GREENVILLE — B.C. (Berry Creamer) Bolt, 91, of Anderson, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, August 4, 2007.
Born in Anderson, he was the son of the late Noah and Eleanor Creamer Bolt. He graduated from Boys’ High School (now T.L. Hanna) and was a stand-out lineman on the football team.
Mr. Bolt was a veteran of WWII, serving in the US Navy as a gunner’s mate on the USS Walter S. Brown in the Atlantic Theater.
He resided for 60 years in Greenwood, where he was a furniture salesman and store manager for more than four decades and then turned a greenhouse hobby into a post-retirement business. In Greenwood, he was an active member of South Main Street Baptist Church, where he was formerly church treasurer and was named a Life Deacon in 1998.
After his second retirement in 1997, he moved to Greenville to be near his children and grandchildren and became a faithful volunteer for Senior Action and member of First Baptist Church Simpsonville.
He had been a master woodworker, crafting and restoring many pieces of beautiful furniture for his family, and until the end of his life was an avid reader and gardener known for his green thumb and his sweet, gentle spirit.
Surviving are two sons, Berry Kenneth Bolt and wife Mary of Greenville and the Rev. Richard Glenn Bolt and wife Gwen of Williamston; one daughter, Dr. Gayle Bolt Price of Greenville; seven grandchildren, Julie Bolt of Boston, Mass., Katie Bolt and husband Chres Rainey and Berry Bolt and husband Mike Guggenheimer, all of Greenville; Ben Bolt and wife Shelley of Easley, Ken Bolt of Fountain Inn, David Price, Jr. and Emily Price of Greenville; four great-grandchildren, Chrestman and Mary Price Rainey and Noah and Edward Guggenheimer; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mr. Bolt was predeceased by his wife, Helen Cockrell Bolt of Greenwood; two brothers, James Bolt and Noah Bolt, Jr.; and two sisters, Annie Belle Evans and Louise Hayes, all of Anderson.
His life will be celebrated at services at First Baptist Simpsonville at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, August 7, and graveside in Edgewood Cemetery in Greenwood at 2 p.m., with the Rev. Randy Harling and the Rev. Ryan Eklund officiating.
The family will receive friends at the home of Ken and Mary Bolt, 412 Hudson Rd., Greenville and at 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Senior Action, 50 Directors Dr., Greenville, SC 29615 and Hospice House, 1836 West Georgia Rd., Simpsonville, SC 29680.
Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Downtown is assisting the Bolt family.

Reverend Ernest Cannon

The Reverend Ernest Cannon, age 66, of 313 Cannon Road, husband of Easter Martin Cannon, entered into eternal rest on August 3, 2007 at the Hospice Care of Piedmont in Greenwood.
Born January 21, 1941, he was the son of the late YJ “Jabo” Cannon and Mary McGowans Cannon.
Reverend Cannon was called to preach in 1980, and served as pastor of New China Baptist Church from 1982 to 1987. Led by the spirit, he accepted the pastoralship of Pine Pleasant Baptist Church where he served for twenty years. He was a member of the Greenwood Ministerial Alliance, the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, and the Uptown Merchants Association. He was also a member of the Progressive Masonic Lodge No. 403, the Shriners, and a Lifetime Member of the NAACP. He served on the Board of Directors for the County Bank and was the 1997-98 Greenwood County Small Businessman of the Year. His past memberships included Board of Directors of the Greenwood Civic Center, Vice Moderator of the 3rd Union Division of McCormick County, Advisory Board of the Greenwood County District 50, The Uptown Development Corporation, and Moderator of the Simon Ridge Baptist Association.
He attended the public schools of Greenwood County and was a graduate of Brewer High School in 1960. He further studied at Piedmont Technical College and Lander College. He was a graduate of the Morris College School of Religion, Calvary Baptist Institute, ITC Certificate Program in Theology. He was the owner and operator of Cannon’s Jewelers, Inc. since 1977 and he was a member of the UNCF Alumni.
Surviving are his wife, Easter Martin Cannon, their children, Gwendolyn Cannon, Kevin Cannon, and Wayne Cannon (Priscilla); his mother, Mary McGowans Cannon; two brothers, Roscoe Cannon (Virgina) and Clyde Cannon (Viola); three sisters, Hattie Bell Morton (Joseph), Daisy Morton (Milledge), and Helen Talley; three sisters-in-law, Ms. Margaret Cannon, Ms. Eula M. Cannon, of Greenwood, and Ms. Johnella Cannon of Laurel, Maryland; six grandchildren, Brandon B. Ryans, Ashliegh Auls, Stephanie, Tiffanie, and Barry Williams, and Aaliyah B. Cannon; and a host of nieces, nephews, family members, and friends.
Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, August 7, at 11 a.m. at the Old Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Epworth, SC with the Rev. John R. Brightharp officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Moriah Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be nephews and flower bearers will be nieces. The body will be placed in the church at 10 a.m. to await the service hour.
The family will receive friends Monday Evening from 7 to 8 p.m. at Pine Pleasant Baptist Church (Hwy. 702) Ninety Six, S.C. The family is at the home.
The Cannon family has graciously allowed Percival Tompkins Funeral Home to serve them. Online condolences may be sent to pertompfh1@earthlink.net.

Bobby Dean Gary

McCORMICK — Bobby Dean Gary, age 57, died at Self Regional Medical Center Aug. 4, 2007, after a sudden illness.
The family is at the home of a brother, Samuel D. Gary, 457 Bradley Road, McCormick.
Services will be announced by Walker Funeral Home.

Mattie Lue Holloway

McCORMICK — Mattie Lue Patterson Holloway, wife of John Albert Holloway, 1215 McKenzie Road, Ninety Six, died Aug. 3, 2007, at Hospice Care of the Piedmont.
The family is at her home and the home of her daughter, Mrs. Melvin (Mary P.) Searles, 1496 Jefferson St., McCormick.
Services will be announced by Walker Funeral Home.

Thai Je Morice Norman

CALHOUN FALLS — Thai Je Morice Norman, age 2, of 633 Barnwell Street son of Betty Jean Tate and Charlie Heed, died August 1, 2007, at Abbeville Area Medical Center.
Services will be Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Freedom Worship Center, 544 East Savannah Street, Calhoun Falls, with the pastor, Rev. Sallie Mae Tate, presiding. The body will be placed in the church at 12:30 p.m. Burial will be in Saint John Cemetery, Lowndesville.
The family is at the home.
Friendly Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Mayme Scurry

Mayme Holloway Scurry, 101, resident of 520 Grace St., widow of Ralph D. Scurry, died Aug. 4, 2007, at National Healthcare in Greenwood.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Reverend Henry S. Wingard

MYRTLE BEACH — The Reverend Henry S. Wingard, 83, died Friday, August 3, 2007 at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center.
He was born April 27, 1924, in Greenwood, SC, a son of the late Rev. Muller R. and Jim Ella Lewis Wingard. His sister, Mattie Ruth Wingard Saine and a nephew, William M. Wingard predeceased him.
Rev. Wingard was a graduate of Greenwood High School, Newberry College with a BA Degree in Religion and Philosophy, and the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary with a Masters of Divinity. He was a former pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Georgetown, SC, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Columbia, SC, and was pastor of churches in Midland, Texas, Springfield, MO, and Kansas City, KS.
He was an outstanding tennis player and was the S.C. State’s Doubles Champion and runner-up in the state singles while in high school. He was a member of King of Glory Lutheran Church in North Myrtle Beach, SC.
Survivors include his brother, Rev. William F. Wingard and his wife, Marguerite, of Myrtle Beach, SC; two nieces, Amy T. Wingard and Carolyn S. Yost; two nephews, Jim and John Saine.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, August 7, 2007, at King of Glory Lutheran Church with Pastor Pamela Cook and Pastor Hobby Outten officiating A graveside burial service will be held at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, at Greenwood Memorial Gardens in Greenwood, SC.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to King of Glory Lutheran Church, 805-11th Ave N., North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582.
Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.msfh.net.
McMillan-Small Funeral Home is serving the family.

Opinion

Teen pregnancy affects all areas hurting kids

August 5, 2007

Once more South Carolina languishes on or near the bottom in the welfare of its children. At least that’s what was reported from the “Kids Count” study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
We know what most of the problems are and what causes them. They have been studied and debated time and time again. Still, progress in improving conditions for them is slow in coming. The two primary causes for concern these days, though, are conditions that should lend credence - and attention - to factors that have generated talk, studies, surveys, editorials and more.
They are shifts in values of modern culture and a stronger tendency to desire and seek more and more consumer products.

THE KIDS COUNT STUDY focuses on what have almost become routine numbers that place the Palmetto State 46th in the nation where the overall well-being of children is a major factor. The top 10 concerns are:
-Low birth weight of babies
-Infant mortality
-Child deaths
-Teen deaths
-Births to teens
-High school dropouts
-Families with children without secure employment
-Children in poverty
-Children in single-parent families
There should be no surprise about suggestions on what factors have such a negative influence.
The study cites a need for social and economic improvements to achieve any kind of positive remedial results. It also notes the importance of a stable family life. A couple of things seem to be missing, though, and they just may be the most important factors of all.
That’s moral and religious concerns.

CONSIDER JUST ONE example. It would be a pretty good bet that if one thing could be changed - eliminated, or at least reduced - much of the other problem areas would improve considerably. That’s teen pregnancy rates. Most of that, no doubt, is teens giving birth out of wedlock. That, obviously, diminishes the existence of families.The negative effect on all the other concerns also appears obvious ..... or should. Each category is related to teen pregnancy in one way or another.
On the other hand, morality and religion are positive factors in all facets of life. And, they are basic. Overlooking that obstructs rather than promotes values that help solve problems.