Blackwell resigns

Ex-Ware Shoals principal says she’s forced to ‘fade away’

July 12, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

WARE SHOALS — Former Ware Shoals High School principal Jane Blackwell, who spent much of the 2006-07 school year embroiled in a controversy stemming from an obstruction of justice charge, has resigned from Ware Shoals School District 51.
Blackwell is calling the move “forced early retirement,” according to her letter of resignation.
Blackwell’s resignation officially took effect June 30. District 51 school board member Craig Crawford said the board became aware of Blackwell’s intentions during a board meeting in June. Crawford said Blackwell wrote a letter to District 51 Superintendent Fay Sprouse, who then presented the letter to the board.
“(Blackwell) said she had prayed about it and thought it would be in the best interest of the district if she retired,” Crawford said Wednesday during a telephone interview.
Following a Freedom of Information Act request given to District 51 and Sprouse, The Index-Journal obtained a copy of Blackwell’s letter. In it, the former principal cited law enforcement and the media as catalysts for her resignation.
“With a heavy and hurting heart, I write to notify you that it’s time, probably past time, for me to acknowledge that I am forced by the hugely wrongful and crippling injuries inflicted on me by local law enforcement authorities and certain complicit media outlets to just fade away from the public education scene via forced early retirement,” Blackwell wrote.
Blackwell’s vitriol for law enforcement, as it relates to the case against her, continued.
“I have thought and prayed long about this decision and think that it is the only viable decision left to me,” she wrote. “Law enforcement’s ridiculously irresponsible rush to publicly heap upon me outrageously false accusations of obstructing justice in the Jill Moore case has fallen so crushingly on me psychologically and professionally. I can not longer labor in this part and perhaps no part of the public education vineyard in the way I was and the School District should want. “ I must do what I can to stop this unjustified attack on me, this district, and our students.”
Blackwell did imply she would return to public education if called upon.
“Please know that if the public education employment poison so wrongfully wrapped around me by law enforcement and the media goes away in time to leave me with time left for effective service as a school principal, I stand ready to answer your call to such service,” she wrote.
Blackwell worked in Ware Shoals School District 51 for 14 years, spending the better part of seven years as a principal at the high school. She was suspended with pay in January after being charged by the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office with obstruction of justice.
That charge stemmed from authorities accusing Blackwell of hindering and impeding their investigation into the alleged actions of former Ware Shoals cheerleading coach Moore. The sheriff’s office accuses Moore of providing alcohol and cigarettes to a pair of then-16 year-old Ware Shoals cheerleaders and facilitating a sexual relationship between one of the cheerleaders and a National Guardsman.
Blackwell’s suspension was lifted by the District 51 board in late April following a hearing that spanned 16 hours across three days. She returned to the district, but not as a principal, instead taking a post in the district’s technology department.
Crawford said Wednesday the position vacated by Blackwell has been filled.
Meanwhile, Blackwell and Moore still await trial on their charges. In May, Judge Frank Addy issued a gag order in the case — which garnered national media attention — that forbids those directly involved from discussing the case with the media.

Post 20 loses slugfest

July 12, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

At first glance, the scoreboard at Legion Field might have more closely represented the summary of a football game rather than a baseball game Wednesday night.
The Upstate Mavericks, an 18-under traveling team, downed Greenwood Post 20 17-9 Wednesday in a non-league exhibition game. The loss came one night after Post 20 clinched the League VII title with a win at Walhalla.
Greenwood will be back in action at 7:30 tonight with a contest against Lexington at Legion Field.
Kyle Deese picked up the win in relief for Upstate, striking out four and walking two in three innings worked.
Meanwhile, Tyler Jones was saddled with the loss for Greenwood surrendering five runs in four innings, striking out three and walking two. Justin Collier started for Greenwood and pitched three innings, giving up eight runs on six hits with a strikeout.
The game was a sloppy affair, with Greenwood committing six errors and the Mavericks committing two.
The Mavericks jumped on the scoreboard first.
In the top of the first inning, Upstate leadoff hitter Scott Wingo coaxed a walk from Collier, then advanced to second on a grounder by David Christy. Wingo then attempted to steal third base and Post 20 catcher Matt White’s throw skipped into the outfield, allowing Wingo to come home and give the Mavericks the 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the first.
Greenwood pulled ahead in the bottom of the second inning.
After singling and advancing to second, White raced home after Post 20’s Tyler McGraw slapped a liner down the first base line that scooted past Mavs first baseman Childs, tying the game 1-1. Later, Mack Hite and McGraw scored on a single back up the middle by Brandon Miller, making the tally 3-1 Greenwood.
Miller then crossed the plate on a single by Christian Powell, who advanced to second after the ball was thrown back into the infield, making the score 4-1 before there was even an out recorded in the bottom of the second.
After Post 20’s Drew Willingham singled home Josh Lovvorn to make the score 5-1, Greenwood scored three more runs on Mavericks errors. First, Powell came home on a wild pitch by Alex Burrell, then Willingham and Cruse Tollison scored when Christy let a Corey Lloyd ground ball slip by him into right field.
By the time the second inning came to an end, Greenwood held a commanding 8-1 lead.
Upstate nipped into the lead in the third when Trevor Burrell singled, stole second and third and then scored on a slow rolling grounder by Christy, trimming Post 20’s advantage to 8-2.
The Mavericks came back to tie the ball game in the top of the fourth.
With the bases loaded, Upstate’s Burrell smashed a long double to right center field, clearing the bases and making the score 8-6 at the time. Burrell then came in to score when McGraw made a throwing error on a Scott Wingo grounder.
The comeback was complete when Wingo came home on a frozen rope double from the Mavericks’ John Nester, making the tally 8-8 heading to the bottom of the fourth.
Greenwood grabbed the advantage right back in the bottom of that inning, with Lovvorn sliding home safely on a wild pitch from Upstate reliever Kyle Deese. Post 20 was ahead 9-8 heading to the fifth inning.
The Mavericks kept the see-saw rocking in the top of the fifth.
Upstate’s Michael White was able to score from second on a worm-burning single down the first baseline from teammate Trevor Burrell. The RBI single tied the game at 9-9.
The Mavericks pulled back into the lead in the top of the sixth inning when Christy stole third and then came in to score on an errant throw from Post 20 reserve catcher Lloyd, making it 10-9 Upstate. The Mavericks tacked on another run later in the inning to carry an 11-9 edge into the bottom of the sixth.
Upstate increased its cushion on a pair of Greenwood errors in the seventh. With Burrell on first, Scott Wingo hit a dribbler back to Post 20 reliever Tyler Jones. Jones the threw the ball over first and into right field, allowing Burrell to score and sending Wingo to third base. However, the throw from the outfield then sailed over Lloyd’s head at home plate, allowing Wingo to head home to give the Mavericks a four-run lead at 13-9.
The Mavs tacked on still more runs in the eighth inning, two of which came on a ringing double down the first base line from Burrell which plated Drew Wingo and Michael White. And made the score 16-9 in favor of Upstate. A wild pitch from Post 20 reliever Powell brought Burrell in, leaving the tally at 17-9 heading to the bottom of the eighth.

Obituaries

Harold Jones

Services for Harold Clarence Jones will be at 1 p.m. on Friday at First Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, with the Rev. Bryant Sims and the Rev. Fred Smith officiating. Burial will be in the adjoining church cemetery.
Pallbearers will be David Jones, Michael Pressley, Steven Pressley, Chase Pressley, Eric Pressley and Adam Pressley.
The family will receive friends at Harley Funeral Home on Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. The body will be placed in the church at noon on Friday.
The family is at the home of his grandson, David Jones, 112 Brookside Drive.
Mr. Jones, 88, of 943 Burnett Road, widower of Geraldine Drake Jones, died Wednesday, July 11, 2007 at NHC Health Care Center.
Born in Mt. View, GA, he was a son of the late Clarence Cook and Vivian Dempsey Jones. He was retired from Greenwood Mills, Mathews Plant, where he was a member of the Quarter Century Club. He was a US Army veteran of World War II, where he served in the field artillery and was a member of First Mt. Moriah Baptist Church and the Men’s Sunday School Class.
Surviving are his daughter, Linda Pressley of Greenwood; a son, Larry Jones of Hodges; a sister, Edna Kelly of Jacksonville, FL; five grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Ruby Jordan

Ruby Harbin Jordan, 92, of 311 Ridgeway St., widow of Lewis Edward Jordan, died Monday, July 9, 2007, at Summerville Assisted Living in Ocala, Fla.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

William Clifford Kinard

William Clifford Kinard, 62, died Wednesday, July 11, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center.
The family is at the home of a daughter, Felicia Moton, 108 Dublin St., Emerald Place.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.

Reese Wylie Lesslie

SPARTANBURG — Reese Lesslie, 86, of Spartanburg, died Tuesday, July 10, 2007, at his home. Born July 24, 1920, in Lesslie, SC, he was the son of the late William Sloan and Elloree Walker Lesslie. He was a retired auditor with the U.S. Treasury Department after 35 years of service and owned and operated a tax service for 24 years. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran, having served in World War II and the Korean Conflict, and a member of the Spartanburg Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include his wife, Margaret Williams Lesslie; a daughter, Margaret Lesslie Quiney of Anderson; a son, Reese Wylie Lesslie Jr. of John’s Island; a brother, William Herman Lesslie of Columbia; and four grandchildren.
Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Thursday, July 12, 2007, at Floyd’s Greenlawn Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 13, 2007, at the Spartanburg Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, conducted by the Rev. Peter A. Waid. Burial will be in Neely’s Creek Church Cemetery in Lesslie, SC.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, 1801 Skylyn Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29307; or to SRMC Hospice Special Needs Fund, 120 Heywood Avenue, Suite 300, Spartanburg, SC 29302.
The family is at the home.
An online guest register is available at www.floydmortuary.com.
Floyd’s Greenlawn Chapel is in charge.

Patsy Roper

BRADLEY — Patsy Louise Roper, 60, of 306 Muckaway Road, Bradley, wife of William M. Roper, died Wednesday, July 11, 2007 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenville County, she was a daughter of the late Edward Collins and May McAllister Reeves.
Surviving are her husband of the home; five daughters, Patricia Hayes and Lisa Roper, both of Greenwood, Jackie Sphon of Blue Ridge, Sherry Scroggins of South Port, FL, and Jennifer Roper of Elkton, MD; two sons, Danny Scroggins of Liberty and William Roper, II of Camp Pendleton, CA; grandchildren, Joshua Hayes, Anthony Hayes, Brandy Gilstrap, Amber Hall, Danielle Scroggins, Jonathan Scroggins, Nikki Scroggins and Carmen Scroggins; four great-grandchildren; and a brother, Larry Looper of Pickens.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Harley Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the Roper family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Elsie Smith

A memorial service for Elsie Horne Smith will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, July 14, in the Sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of Greenwood, 722 Grace Street. Immediately following the service, the family will receive friends in the Fellowship Hall of the church.

Mary Louise Williams

Mary Louise Williams, 77, of 106 Locksley Drive, died Wednesday, July 11, 2007, at HospiceCare of the Piedmont.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.

Opinion

Missions to help others bring multiple benefits

July 12, 2007

When “missionaries” come to Greenwood as volunteers to help local people in a variety of ways, some might wonder why. In fact, the first thought that might come to mind to a lot of people is why outsiders are doing what local volunteers should do.
For example, mission workers from across South Carolina and Georgia are helping remodel houses for many who need assistance, in Greenwood and all around the Lakelands area.
The benefits and motivations for mission workers and those being helped should be obvious. More often than not mission workers are sponsored by one church or another as a way to provide practical and hands-on learning while carrying out the church’s obligations to others.

THE FACT THAT VOLUNTEERS participate in missions elsewhere doesn’t mean, of course, that those in need locally are ignored by local people. Good news and goodwill are spread all over South Carolina. Volunteers help their own communities in various ways every day. That’s not all, though. That help is often extended to needy people in other countries, too.
The experience is particularly helpful to youngsters as a lesson in life.
Think of mission workers that travel from and to Greenwood. Think of the positive lessons volunteers learn from reaching out to others and seeing the results of their efforts ..... not to mention the smiles they see on the faces of those they help.
There’s no mystery about any of it. It’s a perfect example of the “golden rule” in action.