Peace Corps couple comes home

July 16, 2007

By LARRY SINGER
Index-Journal staff writer

In February of 2005, Greenwood residents Virginia and Mark Pulver, both in their 50s, embarked on a 27-month adventure when they joined the Peace Corps and went to a small country in Eastern Europe.
Mark had been teaching at Emerald High School, where he was the computer technician for the high school and taught a class in television production.
Virginia had taught Junior ROTC at Emerald High School, but before going overseas had taken a sabbatical.
“I wanted to think about life and figure out what I wanted to do next,” Virginia said. Joining the Peace Corps, they explained, was something they talked about since they were first married 36 years ago.
“After we first talked about this, things happened,” Mark said. “Virginia joined the Air Force, I had a career and we had kids.”
It wasn’t until the year before they left that three incidents occurred that forced them to reassess their lives.
“First, we went to Africa to visit my brother who lives on a mountain top with no running water,” Virginia said. “We spent about a month there, and it was just a remarkable experience.
A month after we came back was 9/11, and that changed a whole bunch of people’s lives. Then several months later we lost our son in a motorcycle accident. We then started thinking that life is really short and you have to do the things you really want to do.”
Spotting an ad in the paper for a Peace Corps seminar, they went, sent in their application on April Fool’s Day, and were accepted a year later.
Instead of asking the Pulvers where they would like to go, the Peace Corps asked them to list which places they would not like to go.
Among those the Pulvers chose not to go was anywhere on a mountaintop or anywhere on an island.
The Peace Corps then told the Pulvers they were going to Eastern Europe or Central Asia.
Six weeks before they left, they were told they were going to Ukraine, a country in Eastern Europe, which borders Russia to the northeast.
After a brief period of independence following the Russian Revolution of 1917, Ukraine was absorbed by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and became independent again after the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991.
“Everybody who joins the Peace Corps thinks they’re going to Africa so I didn’t know why they were sending us to Ukraine, which I thought was a developed country,” Mark said.” “But it’s not.”
The Peace Corps then told them, in general terms, what they would be expected to do there in their role as non-governmental organization facilitators.
The Peace Corps, the Pulvers said, has three goals.
The first is to go to countries that have asked for our help. The second is to present to the people there what an American is really like. The third goal is to have the volunteers come back to the United States and let Americans know what they did overseas.
“Our role there was to consult and advise,” Virginia said. “You’re not actually there to do the work; you’re there to help people to develop.”
What the Pulvers did was help the library in Kiev develop a computer system, become computer literate and help the people of Kerch gain confidence in themselves. They helped them, the Pulvers explained, not by telling people what to do, but by actually doing it.
For the first three months they were in Ukraine, the Pulvers lived with a host family in a small village to learn the language and customs of the area.
Those customs, the Pulvers discovered, were quite different than living in Greenwood.
“In our village, on a lake, the man went out every day and ice fishes so we had homemade fish soup for breakfast.”
Because their host family spoke no English, the Pulvers soon learned to converse in their host family’s native tongue.
During the first three months, the Pulvers attended Russian language classes and visited schools and businesses.
They also learned the social graces necessary to survive.
“You just can’t walk into a school office and say you’d like to talk to somebody,” Mark said.
“You have to go through the Ministry of Education, then work your way down through the mayor and lower levels because it’s not a direct culture.”
After three months, the Pulvers wound up in the town of Kerch.
“The library there had been around for 150 years, and had almost been almost completely destroyed during World War Two,” Mark said. “When I got there, there were no public access points for anyone to go to the Internet.”
When they left, after building a computer system and conducting classes on how to use the Internet, the residents of Kerch had discovered the joy of e-mail and were using the Internet to search for relatives who had immigrated to other countries.
When they returned in May of this year to Greenwood, the Pulvers once again underwent culture shock.
“Just going to Wal-Mart,” Virginia said, “scares me.”

U.S. District Attorney speaks at local church

July 16, 2007

By LARRY SINGER
Index-Journal staff writer



Although he was 45 minutes late because of a traffic tie-up, when Reginald I. Lloyd arrived to fill the role of guest speaker, he was given a warm reception by about 60 members of the congregation of the Little Zion AME Church Sunday.
Lloyd is the 48th presidentially appointed United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina. His topic: “Will Justice and Righteousness Stand at The Crossroad?”
The reason for Lloyd’s trip from Columbia to Greenwood was to take part in the church’s Civic Awareness celebration.
“Civic Awareness Afternoon was a name I came up with as it relates to the opportunity for the community and the church to pause, and unite elected officials from Greenwood and McCormick counties to welcome United States District Attorney Reginald Lloyd to our community and church, as it relates to justice and righteousness standing at the crossroads,” said the Rev. Fred M. Armfield.
“Justice and righteousness go hand in hand and sometimes they do need to meet. A man who is given justice must be given justice because it is the right thing to do.”
As part of his duties, Lloyd serves as chief federal prosecutor for the state and chairman of the district’s Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee.
Born in Camden, Lloyd was first elected as judge to the South Carolina Circuit Court, At-Large Seat No. 9, on April 9, 2003 by the General Assembly.
As a U.S. district attorney, Lloyd’s primary responsibility is to to protect and serve the residents of the district through the enforcement of federal laws.
The United States Attorneys Office conducts the majority of the criminal prosecutions handled by the Department of Justice, and it is Lloyd who will be prosecuting state Treasurer Thomas Ravenel who was arrested for intent to distribute less than 500 grams of cocaine.
Lloyd’s office also investigates and prosecutes a wide range of criminal activities, including violent crime, financial institution fraud, computer fraud, environmental crime, public corruption, organized crime, drug and money laundering activities and even child support enforcement.
Jerome Harris drove from Seneca to Greenwood to hear Lloyd speak.
“The Rev. Armfield and I have been friends for many years, and when he called me and told me that Reginald Lloyd was going to be speaking at his church today, I came on down,” Harris said. “I’m really looking forward to hearing him speak. He’s in a great position and he can give some vital information to all the young kids as to how to succeed in life and not go down the wrong path.”
Although Lloyd spoke on the state of justice in America today, and was indirectly critical of some people in Washington to take advice for older and wiser individuals, Lloyd’s speech did not directly address the continuing controversy surrounding the dismissal of seven United States Attorneys by the George W. Bush administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) on Dec. 7, 2006.
What Lloyd did address was how bad he felt that he mainly dealt with the unpleasant things society does, and the need for discipline within the family and what he sees as a need for respect for fathers.
“You always hear people talk about surrogate fathers,” Lloyd said. “But you never hear anyone speak about surrogate mothers.”
As one who is in the business of prosecuting terrorists, Lloyd, referring to fundamentalist extremists, condemned those, “who would twist religion.”
Lloyd then told his audience why he was happy to come to Greenwood.
“There are three groups of people who’s invitation I always try to accept,” Lloyd said. “They are teachers, law enforcement officials and ministers.”

Postseason play begins for Post 20

July 16, 2007

By SCOTT J. BRYAN
Index-Journal sports editor

Another League VII championship. Another five-game series in the first round of the American Legion baseball playoffs.
For those who follow Greenwood Post 20, this is all too familiar territory.
Greenwood, which beat Walhalla in a one-game playoff for first place, begins its quest for a state championship today in the first game of a five-game series against Chester. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. at Legion Field.
“You’ve just got to play it one game at a time,” said Greenwood manager Billy Dean Minor, who has guided Post 20 to five straight league championships. “You’ve got to forget what happened the night before and play the next night, win or lose. It’s like that in the regular season, but you’ve got a whole season.”
There have been outstanding victories and disappointing losses in Greenwood’s 12-5 campaign. The topsy-turvy season has been riddled with injuries, with three players missing the bulk of the season. Nagging injuries have sidelined another player — Brent Wham — on two different occasions, and Josh Lovorn, Post 20’s leading hitter, could be sidelined today with an arm injury.
“We always talk about intensity and playing together,” Minor said. “I’ve never had a year like this before where I’ve had so many injuries and so many kids who haven’t played the whole year.
“I’m proud of these guys for battling. But now they’ve got to make up their mind on how far they want to go. They’re going to see better pitching and better teams, and they’re going to have to play hard.”
Minor said he’s been most pleased with Post 20’s pitching. Greenwood has a 4.48 ERA, and several pitchers have emerged to have outstanding seasons.
Brad Dorn has been solid all year, posting a 5-0 record and a 2.10 ERA. Brandon Miller, a South Carolina-bound southpaw, owns a 4-1 record with a 2.72 ERA. He’s struck out 47 batters in 39 2/3 innings. Justin Collier is 2-2 with a 4.83 ERA, and he’s logged the most innings with 41. “Our pitching has been decent all year,” Minor said. “We’ve had a couple games where we’ve walked people, but for the most part, we’ve thrown strikes.”
Greenwood has been solid much of the season at the plate; however, Post 20’s team batting average has dipped below .300 for the first time all season.

Obituaries

Prenquavious Dayquan Childs

Prenquavious Dayquan Childs, three week old infant son of Aneeka Childs and Chris Durant, died July 13, 2007. The family is at the home of the mother at 228 Wheatfield Drive.
Also surviving are two brothers, Prentavious and Predorious Childs of the home; one sister, Preyana Childs of the home; maternal grandparents, Tony Childs and Janice Childs; maternal step-grandmother, Theresa Childs; paternal grandparents, Alfred and Christine Durant; maternal great-grandparents, Carrie Murray and Pressly Murray; aunts, Quorleecia Childs and Angela Durant; and uncles, Tracy Gladney and Roderick Crosby.
Services will be 11 a.m. Monday, July 16, 2007, at Evening Star Cemetery with Pastor Martin officiating.
Robinson & Son Mortuary, Inc. is assisting the Childs family.

Bernice Price Cunningham

PLUM BRANCH — Bernice Price Cunningham, wife of Walter Cunningham, died at Hospice Care of the Piedmont, July 14, 2007.
The family is at her home at 301 Harmony Road in Plum Branch.
Services will be announced by Walker Funeral Home.

Ruby Jordan

Ruby Harbin Jordan, 92, resident of 311 Ridgeway Street, widow of Lewis Edward “Ed” Jordan, died July 9, 2007 at Summerville Assisted Living in Ocala, Florida.
Born January 8, 1915 in Abbeville County, she was a daughter of the late Franklin Esque and Mary Smith Harbin. She was previously employed by Grendel Mills, Eastwell Sportswear and Frito-Lay.
Mrs. Jordan was a long time member of Galloway United Methodist Church and was a charter member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church. While in Ocala, she attended Friendship Baptist Church. She was a member of the Aldersgate Friendship Club, the Aldersgate Ladies Bible Class and the United Methodist Women.
Surviving are three daughters, Janet and husband, Art Clamp of Bothell, WA, Debra Joyce Kollman of Bradenton, Florida and Ruth and husband, Jack Border of Ocala, Florida; one sister, Gladys Emogene and husband, H.G. Bearden, of Greenwood; two sisters-in-law, Ruby Scardato of Rochester, New York and Roxie Bouknight of New Ellenton; five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. David Templeton, the Rev. John G. Hipp, and Dr. Steven Todd officiating.
Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Ken Harbin, Glenn Conwell, Keith Harbin, Terry Bouknight, Russell Landers, Danny Bearden, Roy Hudgens, Troy Hudgens, Bobby Jones and Bruce Coller.
The family is at the home on Ridgeway Street and will receive friends at Blyth Funeral Home from 2 to 3 Wednesday afternoon.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Marion County, 3231 S.W. 34th Street, Ocala, FL 34474 or to Aldersgate United Methodist Church Building Fund, 103 Northside Drive W., Greenwood, SC 29649.
For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting Mrs. Jordan’s family.

Opinion

Board’s $1 billion surplus sure to generate debate

July 16, 2007

Money - revenue and debts - more often than not, is a routine subject of discussions and debate among South Carolina’s lawmakers and taxpayers. Paying off the state’s debts, which is the ultimate obligation of taxpayers, will take some doing, especially since the state’s unfunded liabilities in only two areas amount to $27 billion. Those two areas are the state employee retirement system and health plan.
So, when the state Budget and Control Board has a cash reserve of a billion dollars, as recently reported, there’s sure to be a lot of talk about what to do with that money ..... if anything.
The reason that much money has accumulated should focus taxpayer attention on the question. It works this way:

THE BUDGET AND CONTROL Board, which happens to be the third largest state agency, controls a lot of things in state government, including many things that impact the appropriations of many other agencies. The Board charges other agencies fees for certain services, etc. That, naturally, contributed to the build-up of that billion dollars. That means those agencies have to turn around and ask the Legislature for more money.
Is there any question what happens next? There shouldn’t be. Taxes are tapped for higher appropriations.
Talk about a viscious circle! Once again, it’s the South Carolina taxpayer who pays in the end ..... as always.
Is there any wonder, really, why Governor Mark Sanford and others want to give some of the “extra” money that accumulates from a variety of sources back to the taxpayers?

THESE SAME OFFICIALS WANT to use part of that “extra” money, too, to help reduce those unfunded liabilities that are extremely important to state employees. To reiterate, those unfunded liabilities include the retirement fund and health plan.
Don’t be surprised, though, if “obfuscation” sets in. Simply put, obfuscation is a word that can be explained by another word: gobbledygook ..... that’s government talk for confusing taxpayers with language so convoluted a college vocabulary professor would have trouble deciphering it.
Maybe with the light shed on the Budget and Control Board reserve more taxpayers will be motivated to pay attention more closely to what goes on in their state government ..... and how it works.