Here’s a ring of truth about phone scam

February 25, 2007

By R. SHAWN LEWIS
Index-Journal managing editor

Have you received an e-mail warning about possible scam artists using area codes 809, 284 or 876 to dupe you into sending them money in recent weeks?
If so, don’t hit the panic button.
The e-mail itself is somewhat of a hoax — or at least its details are greatly exaggerated. So says AT&T on its Web site, as well as ScamBusters.org.
“Periodically, e-mails warning of a scam involving calls from the 809 area code circulate,” AT&T reports. “Some of the information in the e-mail is true. For example, in the past, there has been some fraud associated with unscrupulous pay-per-call operators in that area code.
“However, this scam has been less and less of an issue in recent years as a result of work done by AT&T to shut down access to fraudulent pay-per-call operators. In fact, we rarely get actual complaints about this scam.
“Furthermore, there is quite a bit of misinformation in the message, especially the highly exaggerated cost of a phone call to numbers in the 809 area code, a legitimate code for the Dominican Republic (not the Virgin Islands, as the e-mail says).”
ScamBusters.org adds, “The ‘809’ scam has many permutations but they all involve a message to you (either by e-mail, phone or pager) that you immediately call or fax a number in the ‘809’ area code or some other area code in the Caribbean. Examples of why you should call or fax the phone number include avoiding litigation, receiving information about someone who has been arrested or died, winning a wonderful prize, or getting a job.
“The problem comes from the fact that some phone numbers in the ‘809’ area code are ‘pay-per-call’ numbers (such as 900 numbers in the U.S.) — but there are no legal requirements that callers be informed that they are being charged extra in the Caribbean. When you return one of these pay-per-call 809 calls, the scamsters try to keep you on the phone as long as possible, and you may be charged very high rates for the call, reportedly up to $25 per minute.”

How to avoid phone scams
AT&T offers many suggestions to avoid phone scams. (The information, though naturally mentioning AT&T, is applicable for all phone service providers.):
* “Return calls to familiar numbers only. As a general rule, return pages and voice mail messages only from numbers that contain familiar or recognizable area codes,” the Web site reports. “You may call your directory assistance or long-distance operator to check on the area code location.”
* “Carefully read your telephone bill. Make sure you only receive charges from your provider of choice. Ensure you thoroughly understand charges listed on your phone bill, have chosen to do business with all of the listed providers billing for those charges and have authorized additional fees invoiced. If your local service has changed, you will receive a final bill from the former provider and a notice concerning your service disconnection.”
* “Be suspicious of alleged changes in your service. Some customers have reported receiving calls or mailings from companies claiming that they bill or provide services on behalf of AT&T companies. If you are so contacted, assume it is untrue until you have verified it with an AT&T customer service representative, whose contact number is listed in the front of your phone book or on your AT&T phone bill.”

Think you’ve been scammed?
* Contact the carrier with whom the charge originated, whose name and number should be printed on the same bill page. Often, the problem can be resolved with a single phone call.
* If the carrier with whom the charge originated does not agree to resolve the problem, contact your carrier.
* To file a complaint with the FCC about this and/or related phone scams, visit www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/809.html.

Block scheduling a toss-up for schools

February 25, 2007

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

Katie Bradley, like most teachers, wants her students to learn as much as they can while in high school.
Greenwood High School, where Bradley teaches, has four 90-minute classes per semester, then switches to another four classes the next semester. This “block”scheduling has its pros and cons, she said, but prefers it to a more traditional seven-period schedule.
Scheduling has a major impact in schools and can change teaching methods, learning habits and teachers’ own development.
So, it’s no surprise several Lakelands schools have changed to block scheduling, while others have stayed with the seven-period schedule or changed back from block scheduling after a while.
Bradley said teachers have to employ many strategies to keep students focused during the longer block scheduling. Some teachers also have to include less homework and projects into their lesson plans.
Students are divided about block scheduling, Bradley said.
“The only complaint that I have heard is that some students do not like that they may go for one half of an academic year without having taken a math or English course,” she said via e-mail. “Most like having only four subjects for which to prepare each day.”
Rhonda McDowell, assistant superintendent in the Ninety Six school district, said schools there have had every type of scheduling.
The district has been on a four-block schedule, a period schedule and an alternating four-block schedule in the last 10 years.
McDowell said Ninety Six chose to go with regular block scheduling because students weren’t getting as much concentrated study time with the period schedule with students moving from class to class more often.
“It’s just more of a logistics choice,” she said.
Ninety Six High School has been rated excellent in South Carolina’s school report card system, but McDowell thinks either schedule works.
Bobby Cunningham, principal at McCormick High School, a school with four block classes per semester, said block scheduling seems to be doing well for his school.
McCormick students used to take block classes every other day, but teachers found that students tended not to retain the material as well. Cunningham said block scheduling lends itself better to courses such as math and science, where students need more concentration.
Pete Stone, superintendent of Saluda School District One, said block scheduling helps his high schools do better in their courses.
“I love it myself,” he said.
In the district’s former seven-period schedule, students who make a mistake could end up having to repeat a course.
But in block scheduling, they can have the time to rebound from bad grades, Stone said.
Block scheduling also can help art classes, which don’t always give students the time they need to complete their projects.
If a student creates a clay sculpture, he has the time in block scheduling to put the sculpture into a kiln and cure it, thereby finishing his assignment, Stone said.
The schedule also helps teachers get to know their students more than they would seeing them for less than an hour a day.
Kathy Stevenson, assistant superintendent of the Abbeville County School District, has had several schools in her district try out block scheduling, but then go back to seven periods.
Dixie and Abbeville high schools changed back to seven-period blocks about five years ago, while Calhoun Falls High stayed with period scheduling the entire time.
Each school chose a different schedule to accommodate its own type of learning needs, Stevenson said.
Seven-period days that last an entire year can help students retain more information around state test times, while block scheduling ends one class in a semester.
Dixie and Abbeville changed back to seven periods after teachers couldn’t find the time to do professional development. “You know, it takes years to develop teaching strategy,” Stevenson said.
Even with the problems with block scheduling, the district is beginning to look at creating a blended schedule.
Bradley said she wishes Greenwood High would have 90-minute blocks for an entire school year.

Obituaries

Janie Lee Bass

SALUDA — Janie Lee Bennett Bass, 60, of 520 Pencreek Road, widow of Charles Bass, died Feb. 21, 2007, at University Hospital, Augusta, Ga.
Born in Saluda County, she was the daughter of the late John and Annie Lee Bates Bennett. She was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and a graduate of Riverside High School and Shaw College, Detroit. She was a retired U.S. Postal worker.
She is survived by a son, Thomas M. Bass of Detroit; two daughters, Kimberly Bass of Saluda and Pamela Bass of Indiana; three brothers, Samuel Bates and David L. Bennett, both of Saluda and John A. Bennett of Batesburg; seven sisters, Susie M. Williams of Johnston, Annie Louise Bennett of Conyers, Ga., Roberta Bellow of Homer, La., Diane Green of Atlanta, Ga., Ethel Shine of Detroit, Gloria Lott of Saluda and Geraldine Spencer of Jacksonville, Fla.; six grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 3 p.m. Wednesday at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 2 p.m.
The family is at the home.
Butler & Sons Funeral Home is in charge.

Louise Bosserman

Lula Louise Little Bosserman, 91 of Wesley Commons, formerly of 513 West Cambridge Ave., wife of William K. Bosserman, died Saturday, Feb. 24, 2007, at Wesley Commons.
Born in Monongah, W.Va., she was a daughter of the late Lawrence D. and Anna Snyder Little. Mrs. Bosserman was retired from Cook Hospital in W.Va., as a registered nurse. She was also a former officer of the Eastern Star, Labelle Chapter # 414 Stevbenville, Ohio and a member of First Baptist Church of Fairmont, W.Va.
She was predeceased by two sisters, Dortha Martin and Betty Jean Sampson and five brothers, Lawrence Little Jr., Lakin Little, Hayward Little, Jack Little and Carroll Little.
Surviving in addition to her husband of 72 years, is a brother, Charles William Little of Fairmont, W.Va; one niece and one nephew.
Graveside services will be held 11 a.m. Monday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens with the Reverend Ray Massey officiating.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Fairmont, W.Va., 901 Fairmont Ave., Fairmont, W.Va. 26554.
Harley Funeral Home & Crematory are in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Sybil E. Lyon

PLUM BRANCH — Sybil E. Lyon, of Plum Branch, died Saturday, Feb. 24, 2007.
Services will be announced by Edgefield Mercantile Funeral Home.

EHS’ Zane Newton pins championship

February 25, 2007

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

NEWBERRY — The Class AA/A individual state championships that took place Saturday at Newberry College went off without a hitch.
Almost.
While only one area state champion was crowned, two Lakelands’ wrestlers finished second while another had a surprising third-place finish, giving each school at least one representative on the podium.
Emerald sophomore Zane Newton became the new state champion in the 145-pound weight class after winning in impressive fashion. He pinned Aynor’s Don Squires, who came into the match as the top rank in the weight class, at the 30-second mark of the third period after Squires seemed to be gaining the momentum.
“It’s awesome. It’s a dream man. I felt a lot of pressure to win it being undefeated, but I’m glad I got it man,” Newton said. “He was strong and that gut-wrench was killing me. I thought, ‘man, this dude is strong. How am I going to get from under him?’ I just stayed tough and didn’t get rolled and finally he let up a little bit and I got out from under him.”
After a dominating 17-3 win over Chesterfield’s Parker Anderson in the opening round, Newton found himself in a bit of trouble against Marion’s Tim Sanders in the semifinals.
Trailing 3-2 in the third period, Zane scored two points with less than a minute remaining to take a 4-3 lead.
Sanders scored his final point with one second on the clock, tying the match at 4 and forcing overtime where Zane pulled off the victory after a take down.
“He’s worked for it all year and that’s what he wanted to do. That’s what it’s all about” Vikings coach Andy Wright said. “Once you reach that goal, you know you’ve done what you needed to do. It’s all him giving it his all.”
Zane’s older brother Adam and Ninety Six’s Michael Rounds came up one victory short of a championship at 189 and 140, respectively.
Rounds was impressive in his 5-3 semifinal’s victory after battling back from a one-point deficit against Broome’s Travis Crowe with 12 seconds remaining in the third period.
It looked as if he might rally in the championship match against Crescent’s Nick Provvedi after being down 2-0, but the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the state proved his worth on his way to a 4-2 victory.
“I wanted to get first. He’s (Provvedi) beat me twice and I beat him once and I wanted to even it up,” Rounds said.
“Four-2 in the finals is a close match. I was really happy just made it this year.”
One of the most anticipated matches of the night featured Adam Newton against Loris’ Jonathan Willard.
Both wrestlers cruised through their first two matches before meeting for the second-straight season in the state final.
Prior to their match-up, Ninety Six’s Eric Abney saw first-hand why Willard has that No. 1 ranking in the opening round.
Willard jumped out to a 6-0 lead against Abney on his way to a 17-2 victory.
When he finally met up against the older Newton, known as “Cowboy,” it was time for a showdown.
Both wrestlers came out strong in the first period, but Newton led 5-3 as the buzzer sounded.
That same buzzer was a point of contention in the second round as Newton had Willard in a precarious position that may have resulted in a pin when the buzzer went off inadvertently.
The explanation was that the clock had not started, but boos rained down from the crowd nevertheless.
Despite the drama, Newton still led (6-4) in the third period, when Willard took advantage of a mistake he made and was able to pin him with 1:20 remaining on the clock.
It was a tough loss for Newton, who had hoped for a different outcome in his return to the state finals. Now, he looks to his future in the college classroom and hopes for a chance to get back on the mat.
“It’s an absolutely horrible way to go out. I’m not going to sit here and spike the guy (Willard) because he’s a great wrestler. I wish I had another shot, but I don’t. I’m going to have to take this gracefully as I feel like my Lord would,” Newton said. “Right now, I’m waiting to be medically qualified to go to the Naval Academy. If I’m not, I’ve got a full academic ride to The Citadel which I’ll accept if I don’t go to the Naval Academy. They’ve got some Division-I studs and I’d have a hard time getting a spot but I’d be willing to try.”
Abbeville’s Shaylor Wells came up short, following a first-round pin against Chesterfield’s Chris Hurst at the 1:44 mark of the second period, in his bid to improve on last season’s trip to the state championships.
Teammate Bill Glace may have surprised himself though, following a forgettable first round.
After losing to the No. 1 ranked wrestler in his weight class (Bishop England’s Pat Stanley, 15-0), Glace responded with wins over the No. 4 (North Central’s Chas McLaughlin, 12-7), No. 3 (Ninety Six’s Chris Curreri, 4-3) and No. 2 (Loris’ Alfonzo Oliver, 5-3) ranked wrestlers to finish third in the state.
“Yesterday, (Friday) we were talking about how I’ll be glad if he wins one,” Panthers coach Anthony Martin said. “He overachieved and pulled third today so I’m proud of him.”
Glace’s win against Curreri didn’t go without controversy though.
After the timekeeper failed to notify the referee that the clock stopped, it brought into question whether or not Curreri should have been awarded two points at the end of the match. It was a question that Wildcats coach Brian Neal made sure to ask in Bobby Knight-like fashion.
“With these types of matches, kids are being eliminated by a second here and there and a point here and there when the timekeeper is not making any effort to get out there and have an accurate time,” Neal said in a more calm manner. “Kids are getting eliminated unnecessarily or the wrong kid is getting eliminated. I wasn’t arguing the call one way or the other. I was just saying that nobody knows about the time.”
Ninety Six’s Brent Werts third-place match-up with Bamberg-Ehrhardts’ Marcus Cann represented a tale of two matches.
Literally.
After pinning Cann in the second period of the first round with 1:33 remaining, Werts fell short (9-2) in the medal round.
Coming into the state championships ranked No. 8, Werts was upbeat about his overall performance.
“I can always do better. That’s the way I feel about it,” Werts said. “He (Cann) did good. He beat me fair and square. My goal was to not get pinned and I’m proud of what I did today.”

Bearcats get win in finale

February 25, 2007

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports editor

The Lander University men’s basketball team closed out what’s been a hectic week and a remarkable regular season with a 70-59 victory over USC Aiken in Peach Belt Conference action Saturday night at Finis Horne Arena.
The Bearcats were able to shake off a possible letdown game against the conference cellar-dweller just days after clinching the North Division title — and the No. 1 seed that went with it — all the while not letting events such as senior night and homecoming get the better of them.
“We just wanted to get better and better for the tournament,” said Lander coach Bruce Evans, whose Bearcats are off until 7 p.m. Friday when they will take on the winner of the South No. 4 vs. North No. 5. “It was good for us to be able to get this win behind us. Homecoming, senior night, wrapped up the division and the No. 1 seed, so we had a lot of distractions and I’m proud of the way our guys were able to hold on and pick up this one.”
But the win didn’t come the way it usually does for the Bearcats (17-10 overall, 11-5 PBC). Senior Jarred Jackson, who’s been the team’s leading scorer this season, finished with only six points and missed some time in the second half with what the coach called a thigh bruise.
The win came by way of some unheralded players and some guys working through struggling times. Junior Zach Evans and freshman Brenton Harris came off the bench for 11 and 10 points, respectively. Senior Emanuel Hodrea matched Evans’ 11 to tie a team-high on senior night, going a perfect 5-for-5 from the field. Fellow seniors Michael Griffin and Jason Davis finished with 10 and nine points, respectively.
“Emanuel Hodrea had symptoms of the flu and with it being senior night, he wanted to try to go as much as he could. It was great to see Brent go in there and give us a spark,” Bruce Evans said. “He’s like some other guys who should be playing more. But the problem is we’ve got guys ahead of them that are seniors and should lead us.”
The Bearcats erased a three-point deficit early in the game with an 11-3 run, keyed by six straight points from Harris. After a putback, the freshman scored back-to-back baskets off passes from Zach Evans, including a one-handed jam on a cut to the basket.
Hodrea capped the run by following an Evans layup with a short jumper to give Lander a 17-12 lead with 9:33 left before halftime.
The Pacers stormed back to tie the game at 21. But the Bearcats responded with another quick burst, a 6-0 run capped by a 3-foot power move from Smith. Jackson made it an eight-point lead, the Bearcats’ largest of the first half, on a deep 3-pointer, making it 32-24 with 1:56 remaining in the first half. Lander led 35-28 at the half.
The Bearcats’ lead was cut to four early in the second half, after USCA’s Casey McMasters knocked down a free throw-line jumper to make it 37-34 with 15:16 remaining. McMasters and Darren Pore, who came off the bench, led the Pacers with 15 points.
Hodrea hit a 3 and Griffin followed with a pair of free throws to push the lead back to nine (42-33).
But with Jackson out with the left thigh injury, the Pacers rattled off six straight points, with four coming from Pore to make it a three-point ballgame with 11:07 remaining.
Harris cooled the USCA comeback with a soft hook shot in the lane on the offensive end and then followed that with a block on a layup on the defensive side.
Then Pore was called for a foul on Zach Evans and, then after arguing with an official, was handed a technical foul to boot.
Griffin knocked down both the technical foul shots, while Evans sank the two regular free throws and Lander led 48-39 with 10:01 remaining.
The Bearcats’ lead grew to as much as 12 (58-46) on Dane Sparrow’s 3-pointer with 5:16 to play and then 13 (67-54) on a Griffin layin with 41 seconds remaining.

Cold shooting ices Lady Bearcats

February 25, 2007

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports editor

The spring-like weather outside Saturday afternoon that gave the pregame homecoming festivities an enjoyable lift was a stark contrast to the chilly conditions left by the Lady Bearcats’ second-half shooting.
The Lander University women’s basketball team saw its chances of earning a top seed in the upcoming Peach Belt Conference slip away after the team made only 20 percent of its shots in the second half.
Lander went 0-for-12 from the 3-point line, in a 62-53 loss to USC Aiken in the regular season finale at Finis Horne Arena.
“We just couldn’t buy a basket,” said Lander coach Kevin Pederson, whose Lady Bearcats missed 12 two-point attempts, including several from point-blank range. “You can’t make up for 0-for-12 from outside when you post player goes 2-for-8 inside. You’ve got to have one or the other. Usually, we can complement the two.”
The loss drops the Lady Bearcats (19-8 overall, 11-5 PBC) to the No. 3 seed in the PBC Tournament, which begins Wednesday at Finis Horne Arena. Lander does get a first-round bye and will play the No. 2 team from the South, which heading into Saturday was Georgia College.
“To win a game in the tournament, we’re going to have to come out and play harder than we did today,” Pederson said.
“We’re coming in playing the lowest of three possible seeds that we could have finished with. It’s a tough way to end the season. But these kids need to learn from that. We need to understand what it takes to win games like this.”
The Lady Pacers (19-8, 11-5), who earned that No. 1 seed by winning the North Division, rebounded from a poor-shooting first half to knock down 52 percent of their shots in the final 20 minutes of play.
“We didn’t make many changes on defense in the second half, but we felt we worked them hard on our offensive side,” USCA coach Mike Brandt said. “We were playing for a lot of things. We were playing for the No. 1 seed, but we were also playing for a conference championship. If Georgia College wins (beating Clayton State), we tie for the conference championship. I was really pleased with the way we played with so much on the line.”
Lander senior Bryony Crouch broke a string of six lead changes with a 3-pointer with 10 minutes 55 second left in the first half. The field goal started a 13-0 Lander run, with Crouch and Tiara Good combining for three 3-pointers.
The 5-foot-10 guard Good, who leads the PBC with a 21.8 scoring average, finished with 19 on 6-of-19 shooting, while grabbing a team-high 10 rebounds, while Crouch finished with eight.
Freshman Tierra Kirkland capped the run with a 10-foot jumper to give the Lady Bearcats their largest lead, at 24-13, with 7:45 remaining until halftime.
But the Lady Bearcats, despite shooting 48 percent in the first half, managed only two field goals the rest of the half, allowing the Lady Pacers to close out the half with a 14-4 run.
USCA’s Avonte Williams dropped in a putback to beat the buzzer to trim the Lady Pacers’ deficit to one (28-27) heading into halftime.
Lander kept the lead for almost 2 1/2 minutes of the second half until USCA’s Mindy Allee knocked down her first field goal of the game, a 3-pointer, which put the Lady Pacers ahead for good at 34-33.
The Lady Bearcats’ shooting woes continued in the second half. Lander connected on only three field goals through the first 10 minutes of the second half.
That tough stretch allowed the Lady Pacers to go on an 11-1 run, including seven straight points. Meredith Legg, who finished with nine, nailed a 3-pointer to give USCA its first double-digit lead, 49-38, with 9:20 remaining.
The Lady Pacers upped that lead to 13 (54-41) a little more than two minutes later when Satu Leppanen sank only her third 3-pointer of the season.
Lander’s field goal drought, which didn’t include going 8-for-10 from the foul line, lasted 10:30 before Crouch ended the stretch with a layup off a steal to cut the deficit to single digits, 54-45, with 4:54 remaining.
The lead was trimmed to seven (58-51) on a pair of Good free throws, but the Lady Pacers made 4-of-6 from the line to close out with the North Division’s No. 1 seed heading into this week’s PBC Tournament.

Opinion

Faith shouldn’t determine voter election preference

February 25, 2007

Former Massachusetts Republican Gov. Mitt Romney is only one of many candidates, Republican and Democrat, who are spending a lot of time in South Carolina prior to this state’s early primaries. Each is seeking his or her party’s nomination for president.
Regardless of whether anyone is for or against Romney or any of the others, a funny thing is going on that is a campaign-muddling contradiction. It’s all about Romney’s religion. He’s a Mormon and some people are using that to create a negative image.
That, unfortunately, is a terrible commentary on all of America, not just the Palmetto State.
Some opponents are using Romney’s religion to raise doubts about his campaign, saying his faith would interfere with objectivity.

THAT SEEMS EVEN STRANGER when a couple of other high-profile politicians are also Mormons and nobody has used it to beat them over their political heads.
U. S. Senators Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Harry Reid, D-Nevada, the Senate Majority Leader have proved their religion is no deterrent to doing their jobs. In fact, as a Republican governor in a heavily Democratic state - a significant achievement - Romney’s religion did not affect his work there. Nor has it hampered Hatch or Reid.
What about Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn. He is the first Muslim Congressman. If any religion would be a hindrance today, his would, but it didn’t keep him out of office. And no one’s complained.
There are, as well, some who question Sen. Barack Obama’s religious background. That’s just as wrong as those who seek to make religion - any religion - a factor in winning elections.

THE LATE JOHN F. KENNEDY, a Roman Catholic, faced the same kind of religious bigotry that present-day candidates face. In the end, though, the American people overcame the negatives and made Senator Kennedy their president. For all practical purposes, that appeared to put an end to doubts about candidates’ religions.
Apparently not! In fact, though, it’s highly questionable whether the religions of Romney and Obama are really the issue now. They are being used as excuses, not valid reasons.
Using religion as a negative against any candidate is wrong. It has no place in this nation, whether in politics or anything else. The First Amendment to the Constitution should make that kind of thinking obsolete. That’s something every voter should remember, no matter which candidate they support.