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 years 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.
Its gotten to the point that its going to get a
bad name if we dont 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
Governors 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 Tuesdays 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 Theatres Bess Park and District 50s 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 Stranges 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 summers 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 drivers
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 beginners 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 Fridays 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 drivers 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 didnt gear it toward one particular
group or one particular charge, Marshall said. That
was just the way it worked out. We dont get a lot of
complaints about (people driving without a drivers
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 20s 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 teams 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 20s 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 20s 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 bachelors 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 Longs
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 Holloways 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. Matthews 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. Matthews
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. Matthews 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 Smiths
baby, for example.
He also called attention to the way the public has been
mesmerized by mundane things like Tony Soprano, whos kicked
off what island, who will be the new American Idol and other
inconsequential offerings on TV.
Theres not much between the ridiculous and the sublime.
It may be impossible to determine if its the media creating
frivolous attractions or whether they are simply trying to keep
up with the publics 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 arent feeding Christians to the lions yet, but
.....