Nothing finer than a ball

March 4, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

For some, it might have seemed like a mid-winter night’s dream.
The Self Regional Healthcare Foundation had its 19th annual Mid-Winter Ball Saturday night at the Greenwood Civic Center. The event drew many prominent figures from throughout the Lakelands, with an estimated 650 people attending.
The main floor was decorated ornately, with flowing tapestries across the ceiling and soft lighting all around. Men were decked out in tuxedos and dark suits, while many of the ladies wore shimmering gowns and dresses.
The event, which had a theme of “Nothing Could Be Finer,” in honor of the state of South Carolina, featured music from famed beach music crooners The Swingin’ Medallions.
The band cranked out one beach classic after another as revelers danced well into the night.
The purpose of the event was to raise funds for the Self Regional Healthcare Foundation. Since 1988, the foundation has raised $20 million and has aided in the funding of several projects, including a vascular operating room.
state-of-the-art heart catheterization labs and the purchase of mobile computer workstations designed to reduce mistakes regarding a patient’s medication (type and dosage).
Amy Green, director of development for the foundation, spoke about the importance of the ball for the foundation.
“This is our biggest fundraiser of the year,” Green said. “We are very excited every year when we put this on. Last year, the ball generated around $213,000 for the foundation. We have raised over a million dollars for Self Regional over the years, and this is the 19th year.”
Besides partaking in food and beverage and twirling on the dance floor, those who attended the ball also had the opportunity to participate in a silent auction, the proceeds of which also go to benefit the foundation. Items ranged from framed photographs to jewelry, lingerie and ski trip vacations.
Green said the auctions tend to bring in $36,000 to $40,000 for the foundation.
Partygoer Lee Canipe said he always enjoys going to the Mid-Winter Ball.
“We come every year,” Canipe said. “It has become one of the best social events in Greenwood. And it’s for an absolutely great cause.”
When asked if he was going to take to the dance floor later in the evening, Canipe was succinct.
“We’re gonna tear it up,” he said, laughing.

Tiny couch potatoes at risk?

Warnings abound about TV — but are kids really tuning in?

March 4, 2007

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

Vearian Griffin doesn’t really pay attention to the TV shows his mom watches with him.
There’s so much to do on the floor, like play with his blocks.
Even when his mom, Brittany Terry, watches shows such as “Dora the Explorer” or “Sesame Street,” Vearian’s mind is usually off in space somewhere.
“The TV really doesn’t hold his attention span,” Terry said.
Despite his wandering eyes, Vearian is part of the key demographic that media companies such as Walt Disney Co. and Sesame Workshop target with their TV and DVD programs — many of which are said to help children develop their cognitive skills.
Not completely true, said Cheryl Platt, pediatric nurse practitioner for the Children’s Center.
She said she can’t say whether television has any negative or positive benefits for children.
That said, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended in 1984 that children younger than 2 not watch any TV.
Still, that hasn’t stopped newcomer BabyFirstTV, a 24-hour cable channel, from launching in 10 cable television networks in the next six months.
Children under the age of 2 can enjoy the color and music from television, but they benefit more from interaction with family members, Platt said.
She said she sees a connection between the obesity epidemic sweeping across the nation and the habit of TV watching.
Platt said parents who put their children in front of the television by themselves, harnessed into a bouncy seat and not allowed to wander around the house poking through the rooms to explore, would certainly be slowing the development of social and creative skills.
She said she can tell when a child who comes into her office has been read or sung to, because they always run to the books, grab one from the shelf and bring it to their mothers or fathers to read to them.
Mothers and fathers who don’t read to their children can’t vocalize as clearly as those who do, don’t know their shapes as well as they should and aren’t as interested in learning.
Pratt thinks shows like “Sesame Street,” something her own children watched when they were younger, could help children develop in some way, but there are no clear results.
Some parents are under the impression that their children get interaction with their daycare provider, unless they’re put in front of the television, too.
“If that’s all they get, how cold does that seem?” Pratt said.
Stareka Turner watches “Dora the Explorer” with her 3-year-old daughter Stalacia, although Stalacia spends more of the time walking around the living room than actually watching.
Turner likes her daughter to watch “Dora” because it helps her learn Spanish, even through Stalacia would rather play than watch.
“She ain’t no couch potato, I can tell you that,” Turner said.

Lander in final

Bearcats going for title today

March 4, 2007

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

After a hard-fought victory in the quarterfinals of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament, the Lander Bearcats faced Armstrong Atlantic in the semifinals Saturday night and found a way to win a tight game for the second night in a row, a 60-56 victory to advance to the conference championship.
Despite shooting 40.4 percent from the field and being out-sized in the paint, the Bearcats got a huge lift from an unlikely source.
Curtis Milner, starting in place of the injured Scottie Smith, was a major reason the Bearcats came out on top in the contest.
“I just knew with a man down, I was going to have to step up,” Milner said. “I just did what I had to do and just played my game.”
He finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Dane Sparrow led the Bearcats with 14 points.
The Bearcats might be without senior Jarred Jackson who went down with an injury early in the second half. His status for today’s game wasn’t available at press time.

Obituaries

Lois Banes

Lois Jane Clark Banes, 68, resident of 306 Grove St., wife of Jack Banes, died March 3, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Laurens County, she was a daughter of the late Robert Lee Clark and Lottie Mae Lell Clark. She was retired from Greenwood County Health Department as a home health nursing assistant and attended the Church of God of Prophecy.
Surviving in addition to her husband are a brother, Jimmy Leon Clark of Laurens and two sisters, Evelyn C. Baker of Clinton and Linda Faye Holmes of Kinards.
Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Monday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens with Rev. Dewain Willis officiating.
The family is at their respective homes and will receive friends immediately following the graveside service.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Banes family.

Barbara Ann Bradberry

IRMO — Barbara Ann Vaughn Bradberry, 58 of 305 Genessee Road, wife of William H. Bradberry, died Friday, March 2, 2007, at Lexington Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood, she was the daughter of the late Ernest and Mary Etta Sprouse Vaughn. Mrs. Bradberry was a member of Dorchester Road Baptist Church.
Surviving in addition to her husband of the home are two brothers, Herbert Vaughn of Greenwood and Emory Allan Vaughn Sr. of DeBarry, Fla.
Graveside services will be held 3 p.m. Monday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens with the Reverend Mike Lewellyn officiating.
The family will receive friends at Harley Funeral Home on Sunday from 6-8 p.m.
The family is at the home of her brother-in-law, David Bradberry, 412 Colonial Drive, Greenwood. Memorials may be made to your local Humane Society.
Harley Funeral Home and Crematory are in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.blythfuneralhome.com.

Ladson Trail

Ladson George Trail, 78, resident of 103 Pope St., husband of Doris Raffini Hazel Trail, died March 3, 2007, at his home.
Born in Inman, Dec. 21, 1928, he was a son of the late Mason D. and Lethia Long Trail. He was a U.S. Army Veteran of the Korean War where he obtained the rank of Sergeant, and was owner and operator of Trail’s Paint and Wallpaper Contractors. One of his greatest joys was the time he spent with his family and the JOY group of his church.
A member of Harris Baptist Church, he was also a member of the Berean Sunday School class and the JOY group of the church.
Mr. Trail was twice married, first to the late Cornelia Wiley Trail.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home are two daughters, Shirley and husband, Wayne Brooks of Hodges and Annette and husband, Bruce Wheatley of Martinez, Ga.; a son, George A. Trail of Greenwood; seven sisters, Dorothy and husband, Jerry Walker, Edna and husband, Robert (Bunnie) Hastings, Betty Ann Trail, Peggy T. Gaines, Annie Ruth Trail and Julia T. Owens, all of Greenwood, and Mary and husband, Fred Holmes of North East, Md. two brothers, Jerry and wife, Angie Trail of Baltimore, Md and John Trail of Greenwood; three grandchildren, Joseph W. (Joey) Brooks Jr. and Heather R. Brooks, both of Due West, and Scott and wife, Janet Wheatley of Evans, Ga.; he was predeceased by brothers Johnny and Curtis Trail.
Funeral services will be conducted 4 p.m. Monday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Frank Thomas officiating.
Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Bobby Woods, Jim Vaughn, Jerry Walker, David Brooks, Alan Todd and Doug Shannon.
Honorary escort will be his grandchildren and the members of the JOY group of Harris Baptist Church.
The family is at the home on Pope St and will receive friends at the funeral home from 7-9 Sunday evening.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 West Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646.
For online condolences, please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Trail family.

Opinion

Budget and Control Board study should be expanded

March 4, 2007

One thing about government, whether it’s in Columbia or Washington. It’s hard to reverse course when everything has been heading in the same direction for years. It’s not necessarily a planned thing. Sometimes it’s simply human nature, where people get content with the routine and resist change.
There ought to be an automatic provision to require that every program and every office be evaluated periodically to make sure everything is working as intended.
There’s a good chance we’d learn something. We just might be surprised sometimes by discovering reform or even abolishment is needed.
With that in mind it’s good to see that Gov. Mark Sanford has issued an executive order to create a task force to examine the operations of the Budget and Control Board. This is the umbrella agency that handles much of the day-to-day operations of state government.

THE REVIEW COMMITTEE consists of nine members. Five are appointed by the governor, with one each appointed by other members of the Budget and Control Board. They include the State Treasurer, State Comptroller General, and the Chairmen of the House Ways and Means and the Senate Finance Committees.
“With this group, we’re going to take a comprehensive look at the Budget and Control Board in a way that’s never been done before,” Sanford said. “While we ultimately believe that many of the Board’s functions would be better performed in a Department of Administration, we think it makes sense to really look under the hood at how the Board currently functions, with an eye toward making it more efficient and accountable to the taxpayers.”
Efficiency and accountability and taxpayer interests. They should be basic to all government.

WHETHER THE BOARD’S responsibilities are assigned to a Department of Administration is likely to be resisted. That’s not the point, however.
The point is that bureaucratic growth and control in any government function, state or federal - or even local - tend to reinforce inefficiency and perpetuate “business as usual” ..... because “that’s the way it has always been done.”
Whether that business has taxpayer interests in the forefront too often doesn’t get the needed attention. That’s something that should be addressed, and taxpayers need to know it’s addressed automatically.
This is a needed study. Government could use more of the same ..... studies of outdated laws, the various tax structures and indeed all government operations.
If accountability is the goal is there a better way?