CATS program gets into the groove

Creativity reigns in summer program

 

June 13, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

Most kids on summer vacation will get creative at one point or another during their more than two-month break from the rigors of school.
Many devise games, find new friends to play with or, when pressed, explore new worlds through school-mandated summer reading programs.
One group of students in Greenwood is channeling its creativity into specific ventures this summer, namely the arts.
Greenwood School District 50 is having its annual Creative Artistically Talented Students (CATS) program this month at Pinecrest Elementary. This year’s program began May 31 and will culminate 10:30 a.m. June 22 with a program called “A Story To Tell.”
The CATS program is designed for children who will be in the fourth, fifth and sixth grades in the fall. It is for students who have the overriding potential to do well in certain fine arts, including drama, dance music and visual arts.
In all, 156 students received two nominations each from their schools to be considered for the program. Then, each student gave a one- to two-minute presentation to a team of six instructors as part of a screening audition.
From that, 80 students made the cut.
With the program, which has been going strong in District 50 for more than a decade, gaining more nominees each year, program coordinator Peggy Swofford touched on adding more students.
“It’s gotten to the point that it’s going to get a bad name if we don’t start taking more (students),” said Swofford, laughing.
The students, who attend the program from 8:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, spend the day working on different projects and skills in their particular discipline. Swofford noted the group will take a field trip to the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts to see other artists in their area.
On Tuesday morning, the CATS strings students were working on plucking techniques under the instruction of Morgan Hanna. Hanna said she would like to see strings classes at all District 50 schools.
In Tuesday’s CATS music class, the kids were working on their performance of the spiritual “Wade in the Water.” Instructor Ann Brewer noted the students are creating and producing their own compositions.
The drama students were busy working on different expression Tuesday morning. Teacher Cathey Chapman directed her students to act out a number of emotions — sadness, shyness, anger — which they did with great enthusiasm.
The drama students have done improvisational work with Greenwood Community Theatre’s Bess Park and District 50’s Lisa Smith.
There are two visual arts classes in the CATS program. In Jennifer Jones’ class Tuesday, the kids enthusiastically told tales of the visit they received from Nancy Basket, who taught the students how to make baskets and homemade paper from kudzu.
In Betty Strange’s art class, pupils were hard at work creating artist trading cards, a trend that was started many years ago in Switzerland as a way for artists to network and show off their work.
One of the smaller classes offered at CATS is dance. Swofford indicated this was because dance is not offered as a curriculum in local elementary schools.
Dance teacher Sheri Brewington touched on what she hopes to accomplish in her teachings.
“I feel it is important to make the dancers well-rounded,” Brewington said. “They learn about historical dance figures, modern and ballet techniques, as well as choreographing dances. This summer’s choreography project has involved character development to produce movement.”

Dozens arrested, cited in sweep

 

June 13, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

A nine-hour roving series of traffic checkpoints led to dozens of arrests and citations last Friday, the Greenwood Police Department reports.
Maj. James Marshall said the checkpoints, which are conducted periodically by the police department, were enacted from 5:30 p.m. Friday until 2:30 a.m. Saturday throughout the city.
The sweep netted the following violations:
* Twenty-two charges of driving without a South Carolina driver’s license.
* Eight charges of open container of liquor in a vehicle.
* Six child-restraint violations.
* Six arrests on outstanding warrants.
* Four charges of driving under suspension.
* Four loud-music ordinance violations.
* Four charges of having invalid South Carolina license tags.
* Two uninsured drivers.
* Two violations of beginner’s permits.
* One charge of marijuana possession.
* One charge of crack cocaine possession.
Marshall said the checkpoints, which were manned by 10 Greenwood police officers, took place at the intersection of New Market Avenue and E. Kirksey Drive; the intersection of Grier Street and Chace Avenue; the intersection of Grier Street and Holloway Avenue; the intersection of Milwee Avenue and Gilliam Avenue; the intersection of Cokesbury Road and Laurel Avenue; and the intersection at Pelzer Street and Reynolds Avenue.
Marshall said the officers would work one location for a while, then move their operation to a different street.
The major, who called Friday’s sweep “good and productive,” discussed how the locations were chosen.
“We get complaints from residents in certain areas — whether it be about loud music, erratic driving and many different things,” Marshall said. “We also receive feedback from officers when they come off their shifts as to what type of violations occur in certain areas, and we do take note of that.”
He also said officers pay close attention to what residents say in neighborhood meetings to determine what violations officers need to look for at checkpoints.
One number that sticks out among the arrests and charges from last Friday is the 22 arrests made for not having a South Carolina driver’s license. Of those arrested on that charge, a large majority are from the Hispanic community.
In all, 22 of the 26 total people booked by the police department on Friday and Saturday for driving without a license were Hispanic. Marshall insisted the police department did not take that into account as it conducted the checkpoints.
“We certainly didn’t gear it toward one particular group or one particular charge,” Marshall said. “That was just the way it worked out. We don’t get a lot of complaints about (people driving without a driver’s license), but we do get some complaints.
“At the same time, I hope this serves as a deterrent to people that may be thinking of operating a vehicle without a license.”
He did see a pair of positives for residents as the officers conducted the checkpoints Friday. He said he saw a great number of people wearing seat belts and having their children properly buckled into child safety seats.
“We are more than pleased with the way people were wearing their seat belts. It was encouraging,” Marshall said. “We had six child restraint violations, and that is a low number when you consider the large amount of vehicles we saw that night.”

Birthday boy lifts Greenwood Post 20


June 13, 2007

SCOTT J. BRYAN
Index-Journal sports editor

Brandon Miller celebrated his 18th birthday Tuesday, but he was the one giving out gifts in Greenwood Post 20’s baseball game at Legion Field.
Miller pitched seven strong innings and allowed just two hits, plus he reached base in all five at-bats in leading Post 20 to a 7-0 rain-delayed victory over Belton Post 51 in League VII play.
The contest was delayed 1 hour and 2 minutes because of rain, hail and lightning.
Miller, a southpaw who will play for USC this spring, struck out six and walked two during his victory on the mound.
He induced eight flyouts in the 87-pitch effort.
He was just as solid at the plate. Miller started off with three straight singles, before reaching on an error and walking in his final at-bat.
He scored twice and had an RBI in the team’s win.
After being pulled at the conclusion of the seventh inning, Miller played first base the final two innings.
Drew Willingham pitched the final two innings for Post 20, and struck three of the seven batters he faced.
At the plate, Christian Powell was 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI from the clean-up spot.
Willingham, who started in right field before finishing the game on the mound, was 1-for-5 with a two-run single in the sixth inning.
Mack Hite, Post 20’s spunky leadoff batter, also scored two runs.
Greenwood (5-1 league) took advantage of three Belton errors and scored four unearned runs. Belton (2-2) was the only team in league play to have defeated Post 20 this year.
Post 20’s next game is Thursday at home against Easley.
Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

 

Obituaries


Charles Allen

Charles Lee Allen, 79, resident of 116 Enterprise Court, widower of Julia Rutledge Allen, died June 11, 2007 at Hospice House of Greenwood.
Born Jan. 6, 1928, he was a son of the late George G. and Lillie Mae Bradley Allen. He received his bachelor’s degree from Carson-Newman College and was a US Air Force Veteran of the Korean Conflict. Mr. Allen was retired from Martin-Marietta in Oak Ridge, TN.
He was a member of Central Baptist Church of Bearden in Knoxville.
Formerly of Knoxville, TN, he had made his home in Greenwood since 2004.
Surviving are a daughter, Kathy and husband, Dr. Gary Goforth of Greenwood; a son, William C. and wife, Sanae Allen of Huntsville, AL; eight grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted on 1 p.m. Thursday at Rose Mortuary-Mann Heritage Chapel in Knoxville, TN.
Burial will be at 4 p.m. Thursday in Alder Branch Baptist Church Cemetery in Sevierville, TN.
The family will receive friends at the mortuary from 6 to 7:30 Wednesday evening.
Memorials may be made to the South Main Street Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 1093, Greenwood, SC, 29648 or to Hospice House of Greenwood, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Service is in charge of local arrangements.


Mildred Beeker

LOWNDESVILLE — Mildred McMahan Beeker, 95, formerly of Lowndesville, SC, resident of Abbeville Nursing Home, widow of Glenn Beeker, died Monday, June 11, 2007 at Abbeville Area Medical Center.
Born in Abbeville Co., SC, she was a daughter of the late Floyd Fletcher and Sadie Lewis McMahan.
She was the retired office manager with Paul Rose Department Store and a longtime member of Midway Baptist Church.
Survivors are 1 daughter, Shirley Cocklereece and her husband, Floyd of Greensboro, N.C.; 2 sisters, Glendle Roper and Jackie Bonds, both of Lowndesville, SC; 1 brother, Johnny McMahan and his wife, Polly of Abbeville, SC; 2 sisters-in-law, Colleen McMahan of Iva, SC, and Elease McMahan of Lowndesville, SC; 1 step-grandson, Jesse Cocklereece of Greensboro, NC.
She was preceded in death by 4 brothers, Edward, George, Harold and Ray McMahan; sister, Winona Bonds; a son, James R. “Jimmy” Lynch, Jr.; a daughter, Barbara Jean Lynch; and a stepdaughter, Frankie Cocklereece.
Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, June 14, 2007 at 2 p.m. from Midway Baptist Church, with the Revs. Terry Greer and Bruce Moore officiating. The burial will follow in the church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m.
The body is at the Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6 until 7:30 p.m. Wednesday evening. The family is at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Ed McMahan, 301 Miller St., Abbeville, SC.
Memorials may be made to Midway Baptist Church, 1218 Hwy. 284, Abbeville, SC 29620.
Online condolences may be made to the Beeker family by visiting www.chandlerjacksonfh.com.
The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home, Abbeville, SC, is in charge of arrangements.


Mary R. Buchanan

Mary Richards Buchanan, 72, of 116 Linda Lane, widow of Robert Buchanan, died Monday, June 11, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center.
Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home & Crematory.


Floree Evans

WARE SHOALS — Mrs. Floree Evans, age 84, formerly of 33 Sullivan Street, Ware Shoals, S.C., died Sunday, June 10, 2007 at the Anne Maria Nursing Center in North Augusta, S.C. She was born in Anderson County and was the daughter of the late Phillip Evans and Della McCanty Evans. She was a former employee of Long’s Flower Shop of Honea Path, S.C., and was a member of the Dunn Creek Baptist Church of Ware Shoals, S.C. She was the last survivor of her immediate family. Surviving are one sister-in-law, Mrs. Thomasine Evans of Ware Shoals, 3 nieces and 3 nephews. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Dunn Creek Baptist Church, Ware Shoals, S.C. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family is at the home of her sister-in-law, Mrs. Thomasine Evans, 33 Sullivan St., Ware Shoals, S.C. The Holloway’s Funeral Home Inc. of Belton is in charge of arrangements.


Harry Flynn

SALUDA — Harry Lee Flynn, 83, of 625 High Point Road, died Monday, June 11, 2007, at Saluda Nursing Center.
Announcement by Ramey Funeral Home.


Jerry King

McCORMICK — Jerry Gordon King, 44, of 815 Jefferson St., husband of Janice Smith King, died Tuesday, June 12, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Greenwood.


Willie Mae Rhodes

WILLIAMSTON — Mrs. Willie Mae Allen Rhodes, age 94, of 1402 Beaverdam Road, wife of the late Broadus W. Rhodes, died Tuesday, June 12, 2007 at her residence.
Born in Anderson County, SC, on Aug. 12, 1912, Mrs. Rhodes was a daughter of the late Waymon Allen and Othella Dixon Allen. She retired from the Pelzer Mill after 25 years of service and was a member of Pelzer Order of the Eastern Star. She was a member of Beaverdam Baptist Church, where she was a Sunday School teacher for over 25 years and member of the WMU.
Survivors include her sons, Kenneth Rhodes Sr. and his wife, Joyce of Williamston, SC, Reverend Wendell Rhodes and his wife, Beverly of Abbeville, SC; daughters, Carolyn Carroll and Martha Kay Childress and her husband, Harold, all of Anderson, SC; brothers, Samuel Allen of Greenville, SC, and Warren Allen of Anderson, SC; sister, Elizabeth Black of Greenville, SC; eleven grandchildren; twenty-seven great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren. A number of step-grandchildren also survive.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Clarence, Olin and Dayton Allen and a sister, Beatrice Brazell.
The funeral service will be held on Thursday, June 14, 2007 at 2 p.m. at Beaverdam Baptist Church in Williamston, with the Reverends Jimmy Farmer, Jimmy Smith and Wendell Rhodes officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at The McDougald Funeral Home on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Mrs. Rhodes will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. on Thursday. The family will be at the residence.
Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Winyah Hospice Care, 114-B Hospital Drive, Simpsonville, SC 29681.
A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.mcdougaldfuneralhome.com.
The McDougald Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.


Hemphill Smith

CHARLESTON — Entered into eternal rest on the afternoon of June 10, 2007, was Thomas Hemphill Smith, widower of Elizabeth Bryant Smith, of Charleston, SC. The relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral services Wednesday, June 13, 2007, at 11 a.m. in St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church. Interment is private.
Mr. Smith was born Feb. 3, 1920 in Abbeville, SC, the son of Daniel Townsend Smith and Eugenia Coleman Smith. He was a graduate of Abbeville High School and attended the University of South Carolina. Mr. Smith was a member and past president of Sertoma Club of Charleston and a member of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church. He served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II as a photographer and photo interpreter and participated in the North African and Italian Campaigns. Later, he was on staff of The News and Courier. He held the position of furniture consultant with The Wulbern-Koval Company for over 30 years. His hobbies included raising orchids and playing golf.
He is survived by one son, Thomas H. Smith, Jr. of Charleston, SC; one sister, Eugenia S. Milford of Abbeville, SC; and his much beloved pet, Daisy. He is predeceased by his son, Wesley Bryant Smith.
Memorials may be made to St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, 405 King S., Charleston, SC 29403 or Windwood Farm Home for Children, 4857 Windwood Farm Road, Awendaw, SC 29429 J. Henry Stuhr Funeral Home, Downtown Chapel, Charleston, SC.
Obituary courtesy of Harris Funeral Home, Abbeville, SC.

Opinion


Our depth of character leaves a lot to make up

June 13, 2007

Superficiality may be the death of us yet. The shallowness is too often obvious in our concern, caring (in some instances), morality, patriotism ..... the list could go on. It could be no more evident than in our approach to “news” ..... not just for people in general, but the media, too.
Just look at the national focus in recent times. Actually it has been no different in Greenwood. A local banker was talking the other day about the U. S. launching another space shuttle. Few people, he observed, seemed to even notice the space program and other important things. However, everybody knew everything there was to know about Paris Hilton.
A Greenwood minister in his Sunday sermon also noted the public fixation with Miss Hilton and the father of Anna Nicole Smith’s baby, for example.
He also called attention to the way the public has been mesmerized by mundane things like Tony Soprano, who’s kicked off what island, who will be the new American Idol and other inconsequential offerings on TV.
There’s not much between the ridiculous and the sublime.
It may be impossible to determine if it’s the media creating frivolous attractions or whether they are simply trying to keep up with the public’s demand for trivia.
Whatever it is, it bears a striking resemblance to the public attitude that led to the debilitating excesses of the Roman Empire. We aren’t feeding Christians to the lions yet, but .....