Rape suspect caught in lake

Man reportedly led deputies on chase,
jumped into Lake Greenwood and fought with deputy

June 11, 2007

From staff reports


A Greenwood man was arrested Sunday morning after he reportedly beat and raped a Greenwood woman at her home.
Before he was captured, however, Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office deputies say they chased the man on foot for more than one-half mile, until he reached Lake Greenwood and jumped in. As the suspect swam away, a deputy jumped into the lake and fought with the man until other deputies obtained a nearby boat and took the suspect into custody.
The sheriff’s office charged Charles Wayne Jenkins, 34, of Greenwood, with criminal sexual conduct, criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, resisting arrest, assault and battery of a law enforcement officer, and malicious injury to personal property.
Deputies took him to Greenwood County Detention Center, where he will appear before a magistrate this morning for a bond hearing. Jenkins was out on bond in an unrelated criminal domestic iolence charge
According to reports, the incident began when the victim called 911 to report the assault.
Deputies got medical assistance for the victim, processed the crime scene, and began searching the area as Greenwood County EMS took the victim to the hospital.
Sgt. Derrick Smith found the suspect hiding in a wooded area near the crime scene and began chasing Jenkins on foot. Other deputies joined in the pursuit, which led them to the edge of Lake Greenwood about one-half mile away from the crime scene. Jenkins reportedly jumped into the lake and started swimming toward the center.
Deputy Dwayne Balchin jumped in after him, as Cpl. Scott Masterson and Deputy Cody Bishop got a boat from a nearby homeowner. Another resident offered to accompany deputies on the boat to help out.
The deputies reached Jenkins, who reportedly continued to resist arrest by swimming underwater and kicking Balchin. Bishop also entered the water, enabling deputies to get Jenkins on board the borrowed boat.
The boat wasn’t damaged, but Jenkins reportedly damaged much of the equipment on Balchin’s duty belt during the chase and subsequent struggle. None of the deputies were injured. The victim was treated at Self Regional Hospital and released.
Sheriff Dan Wideman said two aspects of the incident struck him as he met with the deputies involved Sunday afternoon.
“I never forget the fact that our men and women are easy to spot during emergencies like this one,” Wideman said. “They’re the ones running toward the danger. Chasing felony suspects is dangerous enough, but try doing it in the water wearing boots, body armor and 15 pounds of gear.
“Also, here, for the second time in a few days, a citizen has stepped up to help us in a time of trouble for one of their fellow Greenwood County residents, The man and woman who helped the deputies this morning didn’t have to, they chose to. I think that says it all, not only in regard to their support of the Sheriff’s Office and law enforcement, but their willingness to help their fellow citizens.”
Deputies chased and arrested a suspected purse thief on Tuesday afternoon, after a resident followed the suspect vehicle and telephoned his location to authorities.
“I’m glad we serve such a supportive county,” Wideman added. “And I’m glad our deputies are willing to do what they do.”

Vigil brings family closer

June 11, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

In times of strife and pain, it often comforts people to seek the support of family and friends.
On Sunday night, residents of the Ware Shoals community gathered to lean on one another— and to remember the life of Nasjma Keller.
Keller, 11, drowned in the Saluda river Thursday evening while swimming near “Party Rock” just off the shores of Pitts Park in Ware Shoals. Since the tragic drowning, there has been an outpouring of support for Keller’s family, with many around the community mourning the loss of the girl affectionately called “Wee Wee.”
A candlelight vigil was held Sunday night on the sandy shore in Pitts Park. More than 200 people gathered around a homemade poster adorned with Keller’s picture and one of her teddy bears. The poster had been signed by numerous friends and family members.
Small candles were lit and placed in a circle around the shrine, with larger candles placed out front, illuminating the photo of the deceased 11-year old.
Just above that shrine, small candles spelled out the name “Nasjma,” with another set forming the image of a heart placed just below the name.
Numerous family members and residents came forward to sing, pray and say a few words about Keller. The large crowd was a mish-mash of people from different stations in Ware Shoals, from Assistant Fire Chief Rodney Boyter to young kids no older than five or six. Grandmothers wept, as did classmates of Keller.
Several Ware Shoals High football players, among them Lance Richardson and Letavious Williams, were also there to pay respects, their normally rough and rugged visages clearly tested by the emotion of the vigil.
The Keller family asked Ware Shoals Police Chief Mickey Boland to come forward and address the crowd.
“What can you say at a time like this?” Boland asked. “I know this: the Bible I read said there is a purpose for everything. We don’t know what the purpose of this tragedy was just yet. But one day, we will.”
A hush fell over the crowd when Boland disclosed that his sister died because of a drowning in Lake Greenwood in 1998.
“Something I was told then and still believe now is that if you live like you should, you will see her again,” Boland said. “And I believe that. If we all live like we should, we’ll see Nasjma again. We’ll see all the ones that have passed on.”
Abria Bennett, one of Keller’s cousins that helped organize the vigil, said she was pleased with Sunday’s turnout.
“It feels awesome,” Bennett said. “It’s good to see so many people show their support and and to know they are keeping us in their prayers and thinking about us.”
The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Dunn’s Creek Baptist Church.

Former FOF director still helping out

June 11, 2007

By JESSICA SMOAKE
Index-Journal intern

In 1992, Frank Cuda was named director of the Festival of Flowers.
Cuda said he had some pretty big shoes to fill to live up to the image founder Al Parker had for the Festival of Flowers. But Cuda didn’t come into the position without proper experience.
He was a volunteer and past chairman for the festival in 1986. Cuda and his wife, Janet, also are former chairmen of the craft show.
The Festival of Flowers’ 25th anniversary was Cuda’s first experience as director. He felt the pressure, but enjoyed the work he was doing.
“I love helping and meeting people and doing this kind of work,” he said. “Being festival director was a whole new avenue to explore.”
That year, new events were introduced to “create more things for people to see and do.” These events included a country-and-western dance, a medical conference sponsored by Self Regional Medical Center, an adult tennis tournament, a swim meet in conjunction with Greenwood Family YMCA, and square dancing at Greenwood High School.
No new events were introduced in 1995 or 1996, but events were added to the 1997 festival. The Water Ski Show topped the list of additions. The show took place at Rodgers Farm where Mr. Rodgers, a Greenwood well driller, created a man-made lake on his property. Many visitors made their way to the event, and it became very successful.
Another 1997 addition was the start of Gospel Fest, which features Lakelands-area choirs.
“Gospel Fest is one of those events that has grown and stayed strong throughout the years,” Cuda said.
The festival began to explore new advertising venues in 1998.
That year, the Festival of Flowers began advertising in Southern Living Magazine and developed a Web site. In 1999, the newly formed Festival Chorale had its first performance of Rodgers and Hammerstein songs. The group includes 55 vocalists and a full orchestra on stage. The Festival Chorale performance is now a popular festival favorite.
“They play to a packed house on every performance,” Cuda said.
The Festival of Flowers Triathlon was introduced in 2000. The event was staged at Lake Greenwood State Recreation Area and consisted of a 1,500-meter swim, 24-mile bike ride and a 10K run. The first race had 55 participants. The event has grown over the years, and participation has increased greatly.
“As of this morning, we have 292 people signed up for the triathlon,” Cuda said last week.
While the triathlon experienced success, other events such as the Water Ski Show, volleyball tournament and adult tennis were dropped in 2000 because of low participation and other difficulties.
The 2004 festival introduced a festival pin that was a hit for pin collectors who attended the festival. “Kitchens that Cook,” also introduced that year, featured six professionally decorated kitchens done by local designers and florists that visitors could tour. The event benefited the Greenwood Medical Alliance and continued through the 2006 festival.
Greenwood native and Broadway star Nat Chandler performed for a packed house at the Lander University auditorium in 2005. Also, a new pin design was introduced.
The 2006 festival marked the return of the Lenti concert at the Lander auditorium. “They thrilled the audience with their performance,” Cuda said.
New attractions for the festival were sponsored by Lander. The GAYP South Carolina Checkers Tournament and the first National Turbo Checkers Tournament took place at the university in 2006. Different counties became involved with the festival, too.
“The Hodges-Cokesbury Volunteer Fire Department extended an invitation to visitors of the festival,” Cuda said. “They could visit the historic area of Hodges by touring homes, churches and buildings.”
Cuda chaired his last Festival of Flowers in 2006.
He continues to volunteer his help to the new executive director, Kay Self, in any area she might need it. Like Cuda, Self is taking over in an anniversary year for the festival. The Festival of Flowers celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, and Cuda is proud of the way Self has organized the event.
“What she has put together is a beautiful job to celebrate the 40th anniversary,” he said.
He also is excited about the new volunteer base being tapped into with Self as executive director.
“With every new director comes a new group of volunteers and sponsors that creates a new energy for the festival,” he said.

Stephens’ survival

16-year-old Greer native wins Women’s Open by 3 shots

June 11, 2007

SCOTT J. BRYAN
Index-Journal sports editor

NINETY SIX — Haley Stephens owned a five-shot lead entering Sunday’s final round of the Festival of Flowers Women’s Open Tournament, a lead that seemed unlikely to vanish despite a strong field of golfers at The Patriot Golf Club at Grand Harbor.
The lead didn’t disappear, but it certainly evaporated quickly.
Stephens fired a 9-over-par 81 in the final round of competition and escaped with a three-stroke victory. But it wasn’t pretty.
Stephens, who topped Greenwood’s Cecelia Barksdale, posted a triple bogey on her first hole (No. 9) and immediately Stephens was in panic mode.
“‘I should pack my bags now,’” Stephens recalled thinking. “‘I’m done.’”
Stephens survived despite launching her ball into the water on the first hole.
“I just duffed (it) into the water,” said Stephens, who finished with 8-over 152 after the two-round tournament. “That was just nerves. I thought, ‘It’s just the first hole. They’re going to do the same thing.’ I just had to get over it. You just have to talk to yourself. I’ve had plenty of those encounters, so I’m used to it.”
Barksdale, the defending Festival of Flowers Women’s Open Tournament champion playing out of Greenwood Country Club, finished second with a 77-78–155. Taylor Pleier, of Spartanburg, was third with a 76-84–160. Pleier and Stephens received exemptions into the Women’s Open Tournament after finishing first and second, respectively, in the Festival of Flowers Junior Golf Tournament at GCC last week.
Stephen’s five-shot lead came after an impressive 1-under 71 in the opening round Saturday, but the golf she played didn’t translate to Sunday as seamlessly as she had hoped.
“My round definitely wasn’t as good as I did yesterday, but I had fun,” Stephens said. “It was worth it.
“It was just a rough day. ... My putting is what killed me. It wasn’t even close.”
Stephens, a 16-year-old rising junior at Riverside High School, said her solid round Saturday was guided by better ball-striking and easier approach shots.
“Yesterday, I didn’t have a lot of long irons going in,” she said. “It was mostly wedges, and I’m pretty confident with those. The putts just rolled in. Today, it was the total opposite.”
Barksdale posted the top round Sunday, but Stephens’ advantage was too great to overcome. She did say she enjoyed being paired with Stephens and Pleier.
“It was fun,” Barksdale said. “They are very, very good golfers, and they hit the ball a mile.
It was fun to watch them. They’re only 16 years old, so they have a great future ahead of them.”
Barksdale said everybody in the final pairing had topsy-turvy final rounds.
“We all had some strange holes,” she said. “You couldn’t tell by our scores, but the course didn’t play too hard. We were all a little out of whack every once in a while. But the conditions were perfect.”
The Women’s Open Tournament has been part of the Festival of Flowers events since 1995, with a five-year layoff from 2000-04. This year’s field included 31 players.
“It’s a wonderful tournament,” Barksdale said. “We’re trying to build it up. It’s hard to get women to play in it. We’re gross instead of net, so I think that scares off some people. But we’re still flighted and it’s a golden opportunity and a steal for the price to play Grand Harbor for two days.”
In the first flight, Pat McCutcheon was first with a 92-85–177, while Rhan Parhan (91-94–185) and Amanda Breeden (94-92–186) were second and third. The second flight winner was Teenie Simmons (103-98–201). Jane McCaffrey (102-102–204) was second, and Teresa Sprouse (111-100–211) was third.

Obituaries

Frank Acker

HONEA PATH — Frank Acker, 74, of 18 Rouse Street, died Thursday, June 7, 2007, at his home.
Born in Honea Path, SC, he was a retired truck driver and was a member of Cedar Grave Baptist Church. He was the son of the late Sarah Acker Brooks and Cliff Acker.
Funeral services are 2 p.m. Tuesday at Cedar Grove Baptist Church by Rev. William A. Cleveland with burial in the church cemetery. The body is at Robinson-Walker Funeral Service and will be placed in the church Tuesday at 1 p.m.
The family is at their respective homes.
Robinson-Walker Funeral Service, Ware Shoals, is in charge of the arrangements.

Marion Downs

DUE WEST — Marion Marshall Downs, 82, of 16 Gordon Street, Due West, SC, wife of T. J. Downs, died Thursday, June 7, 2007, at Magnolia Manor of Greenwood. She was born to the late Thomas and Sallie Baskin Marshall in Abbeville County. She was preceded in death by one sister and six brothers.
She was a member of Campfield Baptist Church and was a former employee of the Due West Retirement Center.
Survivors include her husband of the home; two daughters, Sallie Donald of the home and Tonya Gamble of Greenwood; one son, Charles Anderson of Charlotte, NC; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Services will be Tuesday, June 12, 2007, at Campfield Baptist Church, at 2 p.m. with Rev, Willie James Choice, officiating and Rev. Mary Paul, Rev. James Kay and Minister Hennie R. Choice assisting.
The body will be placed in church at 1 p.m. Interment is in the church cemetery. Public viewing will be Monday, June 11, 2007 from 1– 8 p.m. at the Abbeville & White Mortuary chapel.
The family is at the home.
Online condolences can be made at awmort@wctel.net.
Abbeville & White Mortuary, Inc., Abbeville, is in charge of arrangements.

Harold Hartzog

Harold Bartow Hartzog, 93, resident of 516 Highway 246 North, widower of Hazel Wilkes Hartzog, died June 9, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Olar, SC, May 5, 1914, he was a son of the late William A. and Florrie Mae Morris Hartzog. Mr. Hartzog was a US Army Veteran of World War II where he served as a technical instructor and retired as a commercial plumber in Orlando, FL.
A member of Coronaca Baptist Church, he was also a Mason.
Surviving are a sister, Ann Hartzog Hickey of Saluda and nieces and nephews to include James Hickey, Ronnie Hartzog, Glennis Hartzog, Hank Saunders, John Saunders and George Saunders. Graveside services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Bethlehem Cemetery at Coronaca with Rev. Wade Burton officiating.
The body is at Blyth Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m.
Tuesday evening.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Hartzog family.

Janie Drennon Isaac

BALTIMORE, MD. — Janie Belle Drennon Isaac, 77, widow of Melvin Isaac, of 751 West Saragoto Street, died Friday, June 8, 2007, at the University of Maryland Hospital.
Born in McCormick County, she was the daughter of the late George and Janie Johnson Drennon. She was a member of Jones Tabernacle Baptist Church and a former member of St. Mary AME Church in Willington, SC.
Surviving are a devoted niece, Barbara (Melvin) Green of Clinton, MD; two brothers, Henry Drennon of New Jersey and Charles D. Drennon of Brooklyn, NY; one sister, Dr. Doris Drennon-Gaston of Monticello, NY; three sisters-in-law, Eldora Drennon of New Jersey, Rev. Amanda E. Drennon of Greenwood, and Eva N. Drennon of McCormick.
Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 14, 2007, at Jones Tabernacle Baptist Church, Baltimore. Burial will be in the Western Star Cemetery in Catsonville, MD.
The family is at the home, Baltimore, and the home of a nephew, Sammy L. Drennon, Jr., 304 McKellar Drive, Greenwood.
Ronald Taylor Funeral Home is assisting the Drennon family in Baltimore.
Announcement courtesy of Parks Funeral Home, Greenwood.

Doris Turner

JOHNS ISLAND — Doris Harrison Turner, 84, formerly of 814 Florida Avenue, widow of Roy Turner, died Sunday, June 10, 2007, at Island Oaks Nursing Home in Johns Island.
Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Harley Funeral Home & Crematory.
Online condolences may be sent to the Turner family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Opinion

Voters ought to question ‘inaction’ of Legislature

June 11, 2007

So, what else is new! Another legislative year goes by with unfinished business still on the books, including the budget. It’s like, as they say, deja vu all over again.
Every year, it seems, the State Legislature fails to finish its work before the mandated deadline.
It can resume work in January, of course, when lawmakers return to Columbia for the second year of their two-year session. Still, the budget can’t wait. That means lawmakers will once more tack on extra work days to this year’s session. They’ll go back to Columbia in a couple of weeks to work on the budget and some other major issues.
Considering the contentiousness these days, in Columbia and Washington, and indeed all over the country, it should have been expected that partisan politics would assure that blame would be thrown around indiscriminately.

THIS TIME THE REPUBLICANS, who control both Houses of the Legislature, are the targets of some Democratic leaders quick to criticize GOP lawmakers “for failing to get anything done.”
That, of course, is this year. The same “failure to get anything done” has happened a number of times when Democrats controlled the Legislature. Both parties live in that ol’ glass house, so neither should throw rocks.
Voters should be throwing the rocks, figuratively speaking, of course. They elect lawmakers from both parties to make tough decisions. Various influences expand the difficulty factor many times, though, and sometimes issues defy solutions. Still, lawmakers are expected to do what they have to do to find solutions ..... within the allotted time, too.

THAT’S WHY A DEADLINE WAS mandated in the first place.
Some fear that adding working days after the deadline could lead to instituting a full-time Legislature. That, of course, would be contrary to tradition and intention.
The budget and other legislation will be approved, of course. So, then, don’t blame voters if they wonder why it can be done within a few days when it can’t be completed over a period of months.
Every candidate for the Legislature makes promises while seeking the job. How about a promise not to fritter away time and face the legislative music - and decisions - on time. As it is, the Legislature is a living symbol of the fundamental “law” that work expands to fit the time allotted ..... both ways, before and after the deadline.