Ninety Six votes today

Residents to decide fate of school bond referendum

March 6, 2007

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

NINETY SIX — The direction of schools here will be decided today, and no matter what, someone’s going home unhappy.
Ninety Six residents will vote on the school board’s $35 million referendum for a new high school and converting the old high school into a middle school.
Residents have been vocal about the referendum, which will issue general obligation bonds for 25 years and is guaranteed to raise taxes for Ninety Six residents.
Voting begins at 7 a.m. and ends at 7 p.m. in the eight Ninety Six precincts, said Connie Moody, director of voter registration and elections in Greenwood County. The referendum is open to the 3,978 potential voters who live within the Ninety Six school district.
Up-to-the-minute voting results can be seen on the Greenwood County Web site — www.co.greenwood.sc.us, Moody said.
Many residents have brought up questions about the referendum, and Ninety Six district officials say they’ve done their best to answer them.
“We’re not hiding anything,” said superintendent Dan Powell.
What most residents don’t realize is they will be paying for land to be used for the new high school regardless of the referendum’s outcome. Part of the question the referendum asks residents to vote on includes providing money to purchase the land.
Powell said Greenwood School District 52 has entered into a contract with the owners of the land near the baseball fields, so the district must pay about $810,000 for the land by September.
The district has paid 10 percent, or about $81,000, as a down payment. If the referendum fails, Powell said the board would either keep the land for future use, including later ballot issues, or sell the land.
The school board bought the land because it would otherwise be hard to buy in Ninety Six, and waiting until after the referendum passes to buy land might seem suspicious to some residents. It was that way in a school district Powell worked for in the past, he said.
He also said that despite rumors, figures for the tax increase at the forums weren’t skewed, but showed the proper tax increase to residents. Powell said, however, that the forums didn’t show the exact price for all tax increases that affect the district.
Patrick Moody, a Greenwood County councilman and Ninety Six school district resident, wrote an article that was published in Monday’s Index-Journal. In it, Moody wrote the one-cent sales tax relief passed by the state legislature last year to offset the school operation portion of property taxes on owner-occupied homes will be lost after the referendum’s tax increase and doesn’t apply to its bonds.
Taxes also will increase for owners of automobiles, motorcycles, land, boats or anything else taxable. Powell said everything Moody wrote is true and is something the district has disclosed at its forums.
The district also can’t use its 8 percent indebtedness to increase taxes further if the referendum passes because that money would be used by the referendum.
Joe Chandler supports the referendum because it would make a statement to Ninety Six students that the community cares about their education.
“I don’t know how we can expect them to be prepared for the competition in today’s environment if we’re not willing to make an investment to the facilities they’re in,” he said.
Tommy Price, owner of Price’s Heavy Duty Towing, said he was going to vote against the referendum, even though his grandchildren go to Edgewood Middle School.
“When you’re talking $35 million, that’s quite a go of it,” he said.
He said a new middle school should have been built instead of a high school. The middle school has a foul odor and several other problems, Price said.
Steve Mufalli, owner of ARC Computers, said if Ninety Six didn’t teach so many other students from other school districts, current schools would be adequate for the school district.
“So, I’m not too keen on the idea,” he said.

Blaze guts Hodges house

No one injured in Sunday house fire

March 6, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

HODGES — A Hodges family lost its home to a fire Sunday. A blaze destroyed the Flatwood Road home of building contractor Jonathan Walden and his family around mid-day. No one was injured.
Besides his work in contracting, Walden is a firefighter with the Hodges-Cokesbury Fire Department. Volunteer firefighters from Hodges-Cokesbury, Coronaca and Northwest responded to the fire, as well as some Abbeville County emergency workers. Ware Shoals Volunteer Fire Department backed up Hodges-Cokesbury, while the Promised Land volunteer unit backed up Northwest.
Hodges-Cokesbury 1st Lt. Bobby Davenport said he received the first call about 11:47 a.m. Sunday. Davenport said he was in church when he was paged.
“After the call went out we were on the scene at the house in minutes,” he said. “I was driving one of the engines, and I believe our assistant chief Glenn Dean was driving the other. When we got there, the fire was fully involved and the roof was starting to collapse.”
Davenport said three trucks — one each from Coronaca, Northwest and Hodges-Cokesbury — ran water shuttles back and forth between the Walden home and hydrants on Dixie Road.
He added the major portions of the blaze were contained within 10 minutes. However, he said that much more time was spent making sure certain “hot spots” and pockets of heat and flames were extinguished. Davenport said he wasn’t sure how the blaze began and that it was still being investigated as of Monday afternoon. He was pleased with how many units responded Sunday.
“We had a great turnout of firemen,” he said. “I can’t say enough about how well organized the it was and how efficiently everybody worked. And no one was hurt, thank goodness.”
Davenport added he and some other Hodges-Cokesbury firefighters are talking about putting together a benefit for Walden and his family.

Mary Aikens

ABBEVILLE — Mary Aikens, 98, died Monday, March 5, 2007 at Abbeville Nursing Home. Richie Funeral Home is in charge.

Janet Lee Gibbs

LAURENS — Janet Lee Gibbs, 50, of 1224 Gibbs Road, passed away on March 5, 2007 at Hospice Care of the Piedmont in Greenwood, SC.
Born in Dayton, Ohio, she was the daughter of JoAnn Jamison Gibbs of Laurens and the late Gary H. Gibbs. She was granddaughter of the late Theodore Gary and Mary Davis Gibbs of Laurens and the late William Paul and Gladys Jamison of Kettering, Ohio.
Surviving in addition to her mother are a son and daughter-in-law, Jamison L. and Jennifer Taylor of Laurens; a grandchild, Katie Marie Taylor; brother and sister-in-law, Davis J. and Kathy Gibbs of Laurens; sister, Lois A. G. Snider of Laurens; niece, Renee G. Brady and husband, Mitch of Laurens; and a nephew, Chas R. Snider of Clinton. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 9, 2007 at Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery, conducted by Rev. Tony Crouch.
The family will be at the home and will receive friends immediately following the graveside service.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 West Alexander Ave., Greenwood, S.C. 29646.
The Kennedy Mortuary, Laurens.

William Austin ‘Bill’ Pruitt Jr.

McCORMICK — William Austin “Bill” Pruitt, Jr., 83, of 5321 Highway 28 North, McCormick, SC, died Sunday at Self Regional Medical Center after a brief illness. Born in Donalds, he was the son of the late William Austin and Myrtle Killingsworth Pruitt and husband of the late Dorothy Smith Pruitt. He attended Clemson University and graduated from Erskine College. He served in the United States Army during World War II and Korea and resigned his commission as a 1st Lieutenant in 1952. He served twelve years in the McCormick National Guard.
He was the first Executive Director of GLEAMNS Human Resources, a position he held from 1965 until his retirement in 1985. He was a member of McCormick United Methodist Church for 55 years, where he served in numerous positions.
He was a member and past commander of American Legion Post 19, a member and past commander of the McCormick County VFW, and a member and past chairman of the McCormick County Voter Registration Board. He represented McCormick County in the State Legislature from 1960 until 1962. He was a past member of the McCormick Lions Club and Chamber of Commerce.
He is survived by two daughters, Ginger Littlejohn, husband, Al and their children, Angie and Cooper Littlejohn of Seneca, SC, and Ann Brown, husband, Bryant and their sons, Pruitt and Hunter Brown of Greenville, SC; one son, Fred Pruitt of the home in McCormick, SC, and his two children, Mandy and Austin Pruitt; a granddaughter, Meri Heather Acton, the daughter of his late son, James Austin and Valerie Brooks Pruitt, her husband, Duey, and their two daughters, Brooke and Blaire Acton of Gray Court, SC; and one sister, Dorothy Pruitt Fentress, of Winston-Salem, NC.
Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, March 7, 2007 at 2 p.m. at McCormick United Methodist Church, with burial following in McCormick City Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6 until 8 p.m. at the home on Highway 28 North, McCormick, SC.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to American Legion Post 19 or the VFW, c/o John Scardace, 394 Woodcreek Road, McCormick, SC 29835.
Strom Funeral Home of McCormick, SC, is in charge of arrangements.

Janet Lee Gibbs

James A. ‘Art’ Shook, Sr. CROSS HILL — James A. “Art” Shook, Sr., 84, of Cross Hill, died Monday, March 5, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood. Born June 16, 1922, in Spartanburg, SC, he was the son of the late John and Effie Campbell Shook and the husband of 59 years to the late Eula Mae Easler Shook. He was the owner and operator of Shook’s TV Service and was of the Methodist faith. He was an avid coin collector, a charter and lifetime member of VFW Post 9539, a member of Beaumont Masonic Lodge and Spartanburg Men’s Bowling Association Hall of Fame, and a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II, having served in the South Pacific.
Survivors include a son, James A. Shook, Jr. and his wife, Patricia, two grandsons, Mark Shook and his wife, Jennifer, and Kevin Shook, and a great-granddaughter, Olivia Shook, all of Spartanburg. He was predeceased by three brothers and three sisters, and was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Visitation will be 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, March 7, 2007, at Floyd’s Greenlawn Chapel. Graveside services will follow at 3:30 p.m. at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, 3535 Pelham Road, Suite 101, Greenville, SC 29615.
The family is at the home of his son.
An online guest register is available at www.floydmortuary.com. Floyd’s Greenlawn Chapel

Frank Wightman

Francis Earle “Frank” Wightman, 68, resident of 107 La Port, husband of Emma Jane Pruitt Wightman, died March 5, 2007 at his home.
Born in Greenwood County, Dec. 6, 1938, he was a son of the late Walter R. and Pauline Fuller Wightman. He was a graduate of Greenwood High School and attended Piedmont Technical College. He served in the National Guard and was retired from Solutia (formerly Monsanto).
He was a member of the Kingsmen Sunday School Class at Harris Baptist Church, the Fore Seniors Golf Club and the Joppa Masonic Lodge.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home are a son, Reid and wife, Tammy Wightman of Aiken and a daughter, Laurie W. and husband, Matt Maloney of Greenville, NC; a brother, Eugene and wife, Jan Wightman of Milton, FL; a sister, Patsy W. and husband, Wayne Powell of Greenwood; two grandchildren, Sloan and Bryson Wightman of Aiken; nieces and nephews and a number of cousins.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Tommy Cartledge and Bob Bixler officiating.
Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Larry Varnum, Barry Gunnells, Ron Mosley, Phil Risinger, Tony Evans, Martin Witt, Tom Anderson and Carl Griebno.
Honorary escort will be members of the Kingsmen Sunday School Class, along with Hugh Teasley, Johnny Leaks, Jim Roark, Walt Hudson and Sonny Dean.
The family is at the home in La Port and will receive friends at the funeral home from 7 to 9 Tuesday evening. Memorials may be made to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646 or to The Greenwood Humane Society, PO Box 242, Greenwood, SC 29648.
For online condolences, please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com. Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Wightman family.

Alonzo Wilson

Services for Alonzo Wilson, of 323 Gray Street, are 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 7, 2007, at Pine Grove A.M.E. Church, conducted by Pastor Kenneth Aiken. Assisting will be the Rev. Paul Jennings. The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening at the home. Online condolences may be sent to robson @nctv.com. Robinson & Son Mortuary, Inc. is assisting the Wilson family.

Deserving of honor

Peach Belt’s basketball tournament named after commissioner

March 6, 2007

By JIM JOYCE
Special projects editor

Marvin Vanover, of Augusta, Ga., has spent more than 40 years in basketball as coach and commissioner of the Peach Belt Conference.
Sunday, his name was officially attached to the annual tournament that sends a representative to the NCAA Division II Regionals. This year, oddly enough, the regionals are played at Augusta State, once the Augusta College Jaguars coached by Vanover.
“I was surprised,” Vanover said of seeing the sign on the wall that read, “Marvin Vanover Peach Belt Conference Tournament.”
“I had no idea that was coming off,” he said. “They did a good job of secrecy on this one. I didn’t even know the thing was on the wall. It was a pleasant surprise from the board of directors.”
Vanover also has been recognized as he visited other campuses during the latter part of this season.
Sunday’s honor, however, is something only the PBC Board of Directors can pull off, which, he said, “made it special.” Vanover added, “I’ve been extremely pleased with the recognition given me by all the schools. I’m particularly pleased it’s going to be there so my family will see it and enjoy.
“If I have any legacy, this tied it to basketball, which was the way I escaped Eastern Kentucky. I always wanted to be a coach and this ties it to what brought me into this business and provided an incentive for me in my life.”
The Peach Belt Conference, he said, “has come extremely well and the important part is that we jumped on the thing initially to organize the proper way the need for us to get into the NCAA.
“The level of the conference has been raised as we went along and the number of people we have in all our sports at a higher level has been great.”
For example. he said, “We’ve got four teams from our conference in the regional tournament Saturday.”
“We’ve been doing that regularly in other sports and that means we’re right up there knocking at the door. I am pleased with that. It took a lot of work by a lot of people.”
The bottom line is, he said, “Maybe I’ve done something right along the way and pleased some of the people with decisions that have been made. I am very appreciative of their help. I will always be grateful for this honor.”
Vanover was in the midst of the organization of the PBC and spent one year as interim commissioner before being name full-time commissioner in 1991.

Hoover scores twice in tie against Emerald

March 6, 2007

From staff reports

The Emerald girls tied with Greenwood in prep soccer action on Monday night at Greenwood High School.
Greenwood’s Katie Hoover had two goals and led the Lady Eagles in the effort.
Alex Bishop and Dede Carter scored for the Lady Vikings.
“I thought we dominated possession,” Lady Eagles coach George Sugden said. “Problem was, when we got into shooting distance, we didn’t shoot enough.”
Sugden added that his players would have liked to pick up the victory in the two teams’ final meeting of the season. Lady Vikings coach Gary Winchester said he was pleased with his team’s play.
Lady Vikings goal keeper, Rachel Bagget had a game-high four saves.
“We did what we set out to do,” Winchester said. “We accomplished certain goals that we had tonight.
The result didn’t reflect on the scoreboard but it was a good performance.”

Officials must reaffirm purposes of ‘education’

March 6, 2007

A lot of South Carolina parents were and are upset and concerned after a teacher in Clinton was charged with sex abuse charges involving five students aged 14 and 15. Laurens School District 56 officials have told parents and the community they believe it is an isolated case.
That may be so, but it doesn’t exactly lessen the distress of parents whose children apparently were victimized. They aren’t likely to be mollified, either, until they are confident that measures are in place to prevent such problems from reoccurring.
This, of course, is the latest of three situations in South Carolina schools that have come to light. In each case, teachers were charged with sex crimes involving young students in their respective schools.

THE FIRST WAS LAST YEAR and also was in a Laurens school.
Then there was the case at Ware Shoals High School. Every person in Greenwood County, at least, are aware of that case and the circumstances.
Some say this seemingly increase in teacher/student sexual relationships is nothing new, that it’s probably simply a case of more or better reporting. They say it’s likely that other similar situations in the past were likely kept from the public eye. If that’s so, we obviously have a worse problem that anyone thinks.
Whatever the situation, though, schools apparently have to do a better job of testing - psychological or otherwise - and weeding out potential abusers before they are hired. Parents and students need to know up front that the purposes of school is to get an education ..... in the right things.