Crowd pepper-sprayed

Several brawls erupt in local skating rink

February 26, 2007

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

Pepper spray was used to end one of several fights that broke out at a local skating rink Saturday night that also brought Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Greenwood Police Department officers and troopers from the South Carolina Highway Patrol to assist an overwhelmed off-duty deputy working security.
No officers, Emerald Skate customers or brawling suspects were injured during the incident, according to a sheriff’s office incident report.
A 14-year-old girl did ask to be medically examined after the fights because of her pregnancy.
The incident is still under investigation, said Mike Frederick, chief deputy of the sheriff’s office.
“It appears to be an unfortunate incident caused by bad behavior on the part of just a few dozen of the hundreds of patrons who were at the rink that evening,” he said.
At about 10 p.m. Saturday, the off-duty deputy working at Emerald Skate behind the Greenwood Mall broke up a fight between two people, after which several other fights started simultaneously.
The off-duty deputy called for more law enforcement to deal with the more than 400 people inside the skating rink Saturday night, according to a sheriff’s office incident report.
After another deputy arrived, another fight began in a restroom in the rear of the rink.
A crowd of about 50-100 people surged around the fight and refused to move, which kept officers from breaking it up, according to a sheriff’s office incident report.
The deputy was then forced to spray a one-second burst of pepper spray into the ceiling.
He then reached the restroom, only to be prevented again from stopping the fight by the crowd refusing to get out of the way, according to a sheriff’s office incident report.
The deputy then fired another one-second burst of pepper spray onto a wall to get to the fight.
Once the crowd smelled the pepper spray, they broke up from around the restroom, leaving the deputy unable to recognize or find the people involved in the fight because of the size of the crowd and its disorder, according to a sheriff’s office incident report.
The rest of the crowd didn’t leave Emerald Skate until deputies, police officers and troopers cleared the parking lot 20 minutes later.
Deputies didn’t have to use force or pepper spray on any suspects during the melee, according to a sheriff’s office incident report.
Investigators plan on using security video from Emerald Skate to find out who was responsible for the fights.
The owners of the skating rink let the sheriff’s office look at the tapes, which show the fights and the crowds the deputies faced, according to a sheriff’s office incident report.
“We’ve already reviewed the recordings of the radio traffic and the interior video from that evening.” Frederick said.
He and other GSCO command staff have talked with the owners to prevent other incidents like the one on Saturday night from happening.
The owners are helping the sheriff’s office and pledged to help them with security in the future.

Greenwood man tired of extra load on land

Man fights waste dumped on yard

February 26, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

As most people grow up, someone at some point likely informs them that everything has its place. Garbage is certainly no exception.
However, at least one Greenwood County resident has found out firsthand that many local residents seemingly do not know where to properly dispose of their waste.
Leroy Morgan, of 421 Lorenzo Road, near Promised Land, said he is very much aware of the many waste management garbage dumping facilities in the county. Unfortunately for Morgan, some seem to have adopted a new dumping site: his yard.
Morgan has lived at his Lorenzo Road residence for nearly eight years. Over that time, he has periodically had to endure all different types of waste that have been dumped on his land, near his yard and along Lorenzo Road in general.
However, he said it has picked up recently.
“I started seeing it a good bit five years ago, but it really seems to have picked up in the last year and half,” said Morgan, who works security at the federal prison near Edgefield and is retired from the U.S. Army. “I think word has gotten out that if the dump is closed, you can toss stuff out on Lorenzo Road.”
One of the most prominent days Morgan notices waste dumped on or around his land is on Wednesdays. That is when the recycling center, which sits at one end of Morgan Road where it meets Highway 10, is closed. He said he has witnessed people pulling over on the side of the road and tossing things out.
“Oh, yes, I’ve seen it,” Morgan said, with a chuckle. “Last Wednesday, I was riding down my road, and sure enough, a van came down this road and it was hauling a trailer full of trash. When I passed him, I slammed on brakes and turned around. Well, he also slammed on brakes and turned around. I did get a picture of him with my cell phone.”
As Morgan talked Friday, he walked down a path just south of his home to a section of his property still bordering Lorenzo Road. Sure enough, there was a large pile of busted, decrepit furniture that had been piled up just off the road. Morgan shook his head as he said the junk had accumulated just this week.
Morgan said he has contacted the authorities, even filing an incident report Feb. 17 with the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office. However, short of catching someone red-handed or finding overt evidence in the misplaced garbage, Morgan was told there was little authorities could do.
Morgan acknowledges that fact, but said there is something he would like to see that he thinks would cut down on the refuse: an official, county- or state-placed “No Dumping” sign along the road.
“There’s a sign warning people about children at play,” Morgan said. “There’s another one warning people horses may be around. Why not a ‘No Dumping’ sign?”
For now, Morgan has hung a store-bought “No Dumping” sign on a tree on his property bordering Lorenzo Road. Still, he thinks an official sign would significantly reduce garbage dumped on the roadside.
“It would greatly reduce it, I believe,” Morgan said. “At least people would know that if they are thinking about throwing trash out here, someone may be watching.”
Mike Weeks, public works director for Greenwood County, said he will look into Morgan’s situation.
“There are certainly areas out in the county that become popular illegal dumping areas,” Weeks said. “Our environmental office would certainly look into a situation like this one.”
Weeks added that if someone gets caught participating in illegal dumping, the individual is subject to criminal charges and could be forced to clean up the garbage.

Pastor stresses black history

February 26, 2007

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

LEVEL LAND — The struggles of blacks is well documented in history books and, in some cases, the first-hand experiences of many.
What the Rev. Ricky Syndab fears is that young black people have forgotten what others have had to overcome with slavery and segregation.
“They need to understand that we weren’t always where we are now,” he said.
Syndab spoke to the congregation at Springfield Baptist Church on Sunday morning as part of its Negro History Program.
Each year, the Negro History Program Committee selects a person qualified to speak for the program and tell the congregation about black history and where blacks have come from, said Alice McAdams, a member of the committee.
Syndab is pastor at Morris Chapel Baptist Church and teaches African studies at Piedmont Technical College, she said.
He told the congregation at Springfield that black history had to be held close to the hearts of everyone or it would mean nothing.
Syndab frequently quoted the Bible during his sermon, speaking of how God told Joshua to tell one person from each tribe to pick up a rock from the dried up Jordan River and create a memorial with them on the other side.
The rocks that made up the memorial symbolized God’s power, as they were rocks that had been on the bottom of the river.
Black history needs to be presented in a similar matter, as a foundation that can be secured for future generations, Syndab said.
Children need to have that history always in front of them so that they can understand everything that has been won and everything that still has to be fought for.
They need to know about Jim Crow laws, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King and lynching, Syndab said.
Education is paramount for all children, but the history of a people needs to be highly present in more than just textbooks.
“We got a whole lot of people who can tell you every verse in the Bible, but don’t live a page,” Syndab said.
He encouraged the congregation by telling it that when the marathon march to equality seems like too much, they should remember to reach back to those that have fallen and push forward.
Springfield was also given $1,000 from George Chenault for the betterment of the church.
Inez Spears, chairman of the Negro History Program Committee, presented a plaque to Chenault for his help to the church.

Obituaries

Henry Pierce Andrews

BRADLEY — Henry Pierce Andrews, husband of Lillie Bell Terry Andrews, died Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center.
The family is at the home, 202 Boulware Drive.
Services will be announced by Parks Funeral Home.

Jean Bailey

Jean Adams Bailey, 77, resident of Emerald Gardens, former resident of 652 Kirksey Drive W., widow of James H. “Red” Bailey, died Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007, at Hospice House of Greenwood.
Mrs. Bailey was born Sept. 24, 1929, as the youngest of four children to John L. and Minnie Ouzts Adams. She grew up on the old Greenwood Mill Village and was known as “Dink” to her many friends.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Ferrel L. Adams and a sister, Mildred “Mil” Bannister. Mrs. Bailey was a long term member of Callie Self Memorial Baptist Church; having taught Sunday school in the Children’s Department and worked as an aide in the early days of Callie Self Kindergarten.
Mrs. Bailey is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Karen Bailey and three granddaughters, Anna and Jessie Bailey and Laura Bundrick and one grandson, Brandon Bundrick, all of Greenwood; a sister, Belle A. Walker of Greenwood.
Private family services will be held at graveside in Greenwood Memorial Gardens on Monday, Feb. 26th.
The family will be at their respective homes and will receive friends at Blyth Funeral Home from 4-6 Monday afternoon.
Mrs. Bailey has requested that flowers be omitted and that in order to maintain and preserve the carillon bells at Callie Self Memorial Baptist Church which she enjoyed so much from her home across the street from the church, memorials may be made to the Callie Self Memorial Baptist Church Bell Tower Fund, 509 Kirksey Drive, Greenwood, SC 29646, or to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
To make online condolences, please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Bailey family.

Carrie Mae Davis

Carrie Mae Davis, died Saturday, Feb. 24, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center.
The family is at the home, 213 Piedmont St.
Services will be announced by Parks Funeral Home.

James Donn

James Donn, 85, resident of 226 Norris Road, husband of Mary McCoy Donn, died Feb. 24, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Miami, Fla., June 19, 1921, he was a son of the late Thomas and Christina Aiken Donn. He was a graduate of The University of Miami School of Accounting and was a US Army Veteran of World War II. He was a retired accountant from Belcher Oil Company in Miami.
Mr. Donn attended Panola United Methodist Church.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home are a son, Tommy and wife, Pat Donn of Lake Greenwood and a sister, Lili Neubeck of Pembroke Pines, Fla.; three grandsons, Geoffrey Donn of Kernesville, N.C. and Erik Donn and Dalton Donn, both of Lake Greenwood.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Panola United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. Robert Titus and Rev. Dr. Franklin McCoy officiating.
Burial will be in the Mathews Cemetery at South Greenwood.
Pallbearers will be Charles Hershey, Howard McCoy, Tony Griffin, Sonny Nickolaus, Herbert McCoy and Tyler Larkins.
Honorary escort will be the men of Panola United Methodist Church along with Bill Lybrand, Foster Paramour, Robert Larkins and Frank Cannon.
The body is at Blyth Funeral Home and will be placed in the church at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
The family is at the home of a sister-in-law, Elvina M. Larkins, 207 Norris Road and will receive friends at Blyth Funeral Home from 6-8 Monday evening.
Memorials may be made to Panola United Methodist Church, c/o Curtis Burnett, Treasurer, 104 Coventry Drive, Greenwood, SC 29649.
For online condolences, please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Donn family.

Sybil E. Lyon

PLUM BRANCH — Mrs. Sybil Ellis Lyon, 85, wife of Fuller P. Lyon, of L.W. Lyon Road, died Saturday, Feb. 24, 2007. Funeral services will be held Tuesday Feb. 27, 2007 at 2 p.m. at Plum Branch Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Plum Branch Cemetery.
Mrs. Lyon was a native of Abbeville County. She was a retired telegraph operator for Seaboard Rail Road. She was a member of the 1937 State Champion Basketball Team for Antreville. She was a member of Plum Branch Baptist Church and was a devoted mother and wife.
Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Anne (Don) Royer and Rose (Jody) Sease; two sons, Bill (Marian) Miller and James Lyon; two sisters, Isabell Ellis and Jean Ellis; three brothers, John Ellis, Bill Ellis and Ray Ellis; 6 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren.
Honorary pallbearers will be retired employees of Seaboard Rail Road.
The family is at the home and will receive friends Monday Feb. 27, 2007 from 6-8 p.m. at Plum Baptist Church fellowship hall.
Edgefield Mercantile Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Phil Manley

ABBEVILLE — Phillip “Phil” Rodney Manley, 52, of 43 Horne Road, husband of Beverly Hill Manley, died Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007, at his home.
Services will be announced by The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home.

Opinion

State needs to toughen its laws on drunk driving

February 26, 2007

There are too many drunk drivers on South Carolina’s roads, including in and around Greenwood. There hardly seems any doubt of that. Statistics tell the tale.
According to authorities, nearly 500 persons die each year on the state’s roads in alcohol-related wrecks. That’s the third highest in the country when the number of miles driven is considered. Something’s needed to solve the problem, that’s obvious.
One of Gov. Mark Sanford’s priorities, then, is to convince state lawmakers to make driving under the influence laws stronger. He has been going around the state trying to drum up support for new legislation that would close loopholes in the DUI laws. Those loopholes, officials say, make it hard to keep drunk drivers off the roads.

OTHERS AGREE. SOUTH Carolina’s DUI laws need attention to help eliminate, or at least reduce, DUI road fatalities and serious injuries. Nicholas Ellinger, director of state legislative relations for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), says this state is “definitely in competition for the worst DUI laws.” Even when a driver takes a breath test, defense attorneys can too easily get the results thrown out, he said.
Safety should be the first concern when addressing legislative improvements. In fact, that should be the only consideration. Anyone who disagrees, lawmaker or otherwise, might be a little more concerned.

THEY MIGHT EVEN BE convinced about the need for improvements by doing one thing. Talk to a parent who has lost a child in a DUI-related automobile accident. There are several in Greenwood and, no doubt, every community in the Lakelands area.
After that, if anyone didn’t think South Carolina’s DUI laws needed reforming and strengthening, their motives would demand questions ..... and answers. Ask any law officer who has had to work a fatal wreck where alcohol was a factor.
Better still, lawmakers who oppose closing loopholes might ask a Highway Trooper to give him or her a ride to a fatal wreck, especially where a young boy or girl is the victim. That, no doubt, would be more convincing than words ever could.