2 injuries, 2 airlifts

Man ejected in wreck; woman pinned by car

May 1, 2007

By R. SHAWN LEWIS and MIKE ROSIER
of The Index-Journal

Two separate incidents — one Monday morning and one Monday night — saw two Greenwood residents airlifted to Greenville for trauma treatment.
About 1:08 p.m., Nicholas Allison was traveling north on Old Laurens Highway near The Willows in Greenwood when he lost control of his Chevrolet SUV and it overturned in the road, said Trooper Scot Edgeworth, of the State Highway Patrol.
Allison was ejected from the vehicle.
He was taken by helicopter to Greenville Memorial Medical Center, where his condition was unknown as of press time.
About 8:35 p.m., Tonie Lewis, 28, of Greenwood was found pinned underneath the right-front tire of her black Nissan 350ZX in a housing development off Haltiwanger Road, Greenwood police said.
“She was trapped under it when we got here,” Capt. Mike Martin said, adding Lewis was conscious when authorities arrived.
Greenwood police, the Greenwood Fire Department and Greenwood County EMS joined forces to “physically lift the car” off the victim, Martin said.
How she got trapped remains under investigation.
“We’re still not sure what happened,” EMS Supervisor Joe Clamp said after passing congratulations around to his crew and members of the Greenwood Fire Department on a job well done.
“All we know is that a young girl became pinned under a vehicle. The car was on all four wheels and somehow she came to be under the vehicle.
“The city police, EMS and the fire department responded and rapidly freed her from under the vehicle. She appeared to be in critical condition, so that was the reason why we flew her on to Greenville.”
Lewis was taken to Greenville Memorial Medical Center by a helicopter, which touched down in the old Lowe’s parking lot on the U.S. 72/221 Bypass. Relatives, including her mother and mother-in-law, rushed to the scene to get news of her status.
The flight time for the helicopter from Greenwood to Greenville is between six and eight minutes, authorities said.
Her condition was unknown as of press time.

Right into the ... danger zone

Fighter pilot brings motivation to high school

May 1, 2007

By LARRY SINGER
Index-Journal staff writer

Standing on the stage of an auditorium filled with ninth- and 10th-grade Greenwood High School students Monday afternoon, former Marine fighter pilot Kyle “Cruiser” Howlin, attired in a gray flight suit, looked as though he could have stepped out of a recruiting poster.
Instead of extolling the benefits of the military, however, Howlin was delivering the second of two motivational speeches with the mission of helping the students seated before him develop what he calls a “flight plan for life.”
Howlin and his partner or “wingman” for the day, Tracy “Jackie O” LaTourrette, a fighter pilot with the Colorado Air National Guard, are employed by Afterburner Youth, a division of an Atlanta-based seminar company called Afterburner.
“Afterburner,” LaTourrette said, “is a privately held training company made up of 50 current or previous fighter pilots that teach flawless execution methodologies to corporate America.
The program Latourrette and Howlin prepared for the students is an offshoot of their company’s corporate product.
“The program today is actually a youth program,” LaTourrette said, “and Cruiser is the person who actually built it. It came from his own personal passions. He did it so we could reach out and connect with the youth of America.
“The fact that we’re fighter pilots hopefully just shows these students that they can do anything they want with their lives. We want these students to dream big and make their dreams come true.”
As Howlin, a retired lietuenant colonel, delivered his speech, and LaTourrette worked the controls of a backstage computer, images of sleek and extremely fast fighter jets filled the large movie screen behind him.
The flight plan for success, Howlin told the students, are the same plans used by successful professionals in every area or endeavor.
“You need to be the pilot of your life,” Howlin said, “Not just the passenger. We want them to dream big and not listen to people who tell them that they can’t achieve their goals. We want to help them achieve their dreams.”
To do this, Howlin and LaTourrette teach a process that requires the students to believe their dreams can come true; plan to make them happen and execute lessons learned.
Ironically, LaTourrette is a prime example of living what she teaches.
“I always wanted to be a fighter pilot,” LaTourrette said. “But when I was a baby, I had an infection in my eyes and the doctors told my parents I may wind up blind.”
LaTourrette did not go blind, but wound up wearing contact lenses that disqualified her from becoming a pilot while at the U.S. Air Force Academy and while on Air Force active duty.
“I just said my prayers and knew I’d wind up where I was supposed to be. I said to myself, if God wants me to be a fighter pilot, he’ll fix my eyes. Then I went in one day for my annual physical and they told me I was pilot qualified.
“I then got hired by the Colorado National Guard and they sent me to pilot training, where I became Colorado’s first fighter pilot.”

Burton wading through applications

Ninety Six AD says more than 30 people applied for vacant football post

May 1, 2007

From staff reports

NINETY SIX — More than 30 applications have been received for the vacant Ninety Six High School head football coaching position, but it’ll be a few more days before any decision is made.
“It’s amazing the amount of interest that has been shown,” said athletic director Chuck Burton. “That speaks highly of the program over the past few years.
“We also have three in-house applicants from the current staff and all of them are highly qualified.”
Interviews are scheduled this week and Burton said they have set May 8 as a target to propose a candidate before the school board for approval.
“We’ve had applicants from in-state, out-of-state and in-house and that tells you something about the type program we have,” he said.
“Of course, taking a candidate before the board is contingent on going through the process and we can come to a consensus in being able to pick someone.”
First, he said, “We’re looking for someone who will be an excellent classroom teacher, because their teaching responsibility is there. We want someone of good character.
“We’ve been blessed over the years with fine coaches who keep track of the kids’ grades and stays on them about being prepared for the future. That’s the expectations we have.”
The Ninety Six job became vacant when Mike Doolittle announced he was accepting an assistant coaching position at Gardner-Webb.
Brian Neal, who originally planned to take over the wrestling program at St. James, confirmed Sunday that he had applied for the head coaching vacancy.
Dan Dickerson, who has served as an assistant coach at Greenwood High School the last six years, confirmed he also applied for the Ninety Six vacancy.
Dickerson, whose served as a head coach at Woodruff and McCormick, coached on the Ninety Six state championship team under R. Shell Dula.
“I think it’s a great opportunity,” Dickerson said. “I applied for it when coach Dula left, and I’ve always felt real good about the job.”
Binky Rankin, the former head football coach at Wade Hampton High School, confirmed via e-mail on Monday afternoon that he applied for the Ninety Six job.
Rankin is the son of Bob Rankin, the fourth winningest coach in prep football history in South Carolina.

Bearcats’ golf team advances

May 1, 2007

By JIM JOYCE
Special projects editor

Coach Chipper Bagwell and the Lander University golf team have moved another step closer to reaching a goal they set each year — make the NCAA national tournament.
The Bearcats, who finished sixth in the Peach Belt Conference tournament, have received an invitation to the May 7-9 Atlantic/Southeast Super Region Golf Tournament in Savannah.
Lander is one of eight schools that will participate in the tournament. Other school participating are Columbus State, Armstrong Atlantic, USC Aiken, USC Upstate, Georgia College and State University, Presbyterian College, and North Greenville. All except Presbyterian and North Greenville are members of the Peach Belt Conference.
Other than those teams, individuals going are Will Wilcox, of Clayton State; Matt Morrison, of UNC Pembroke; Chase Carroll and Chris Wynne, of Tusculum; and Kent George, of Lenoir Rhyne.
Region winners advance to the May 22-25 national tournament in Allendale, Mich.
“One of our goals is to get to the NCAAs,” Bagwell said.
“If we can make a good showing we can advance to the nationals.”
On making the region in the second year of the sport’s return to Lander, Bagwell said, “It’s great. Last year, we were young with five freshmen and it’s hard to advance with five freshmen. This year, these kids have won two tournaments, have a couple of thirds and a couple of fourths. The program has improved.”
The progress of the players has pleased Bagwell, who admits the team is still young, but are improving.
The Bearcats are led by freshman Jake Amos, of England, who was named the Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year, and sophomore Billy Belair, of Myrtle Beach.
“They are strong players and both made the all-conference team,” Bagwell said. “Cooper Tinsley (of Greenwood) came on strong at the end and gave us some play and Patrick Wilson (of Greenwood) played solidly of late. And, Charlie Hoyle (freshman from England) gave us some good play.”
The Bearcats enter the tournament with no collegiate tournament experience. Tinsley and Belair are alone with more than one year on the collegiate level.
“Once we finally won our first tournament, I could see the team starting to come together and understand each other,” Bagwell said. “They have a better understanding of how to play with each other, and they know what it takes to win. It’s been a growing process for us, and I’m happy for the players that we got the invitation.”

Former crew chief opines on hot topics

May 1, 2007

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

Former NASCAR crew chief Larry McReynolds, who currently serves as a racing analyst on Fox Sports, took part in the second Fellowship of Christian Athletes Golf Classic Monday at Greenwood Country Club.
“We’re blessed to have these kinds of people who set the Christian example such as (Furman head football) coach (Bobby) Lamb, Larry McReynolds and everyone else who came out today,” said Fowler, the chairman of the Lakelands FCA. “It’s an opportunity for them to spend some fellowship time here and make new friends in Greenwood. This tournament is all about changing lives and changing hearts.”
McReynolds, who was paired with Fowler, Lamb and Lance Shealy, area executive for the Upstate FCA, took a few moments between swings to talk about several hot topics in NASCAR.
McReynolds had plenty to say in regards to Jeff Gordon’s win at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, which moved him past Dale Earnhardt on the all-time wins list.
“Obviously we had another one of our better Talladega races,” McReynolds said. “It certainly was not incident free, but I think we knew all weekend long that if you were going to win that race, you were going to have to beat those Hendrick cars. Obviously, they showed their muscle there at the end with Gordon winning and Jimmie Johnson finishing second. It looks like Hendrick Motorsports in 2007 has every ‘i’ dotted and every ‘t’ crossed, whether it’s speedway, short track, Car of Tomorrow or current car.
“Talladega is a phenomenal race track and we really never have a bad race there. We go there knowing that one slight bad move by one car can end up tearing up several race cars. I think at the end of the day, it was another good race and another good finish. It seems like we’re being blessed with good finishes this year.”
The reaction from the fans in attendance following Gordon’s win was something McReynolds said he wished would not have taken place.
“Jeff Gordon is a very class act,” McReynolds said. “He tied Dale Earnhardt’s win record at Phoenix last week and paid tribute to Dale with the No. 3 flag and was bombarded with drinks and beer cans and everything else. Then after the win at Talladega, I think he still paid a tribute to Dale in victory lane, making note of how special that place was to Dale.”
McReynolds also knows how special Talladega was to the man who many fans referred to as “The Intimidator.”
He spent four years as a member of Richard Childress Racing (1996-2000), and worked alongside Earnhardt for two of those years.
“Talladega was very special to Dale,” McReynolds said. “I’m just disappointed in those fans, but glad the deputies were able to apprehend several of the culprits.”
McReynolds also weighed in on the “Car of Tomorrow,” a newly designed car for NASCAR drivers, which was built with safety in mind following the death of Earnhardt.
“I think everyone’s feelings are that we feel better today with the car than we did three races ago,” McReynolds said. “Three out of our next four races will be with the Car of Tomorrow.
Darlington is going to be a good test for it.”
McReynolds added that drivers might have to get used to the new design.
“I think the drivers are accepting it and the teams are accepting it,” McReynolds said. “The biggest reason is because they realize it’s not going to go away. Very likely, it’s going to be the car that we run at all 36 races in 2008. It’s one of those deals where you better figure it out and you better accept it because it’s not going away.”
McReynolds also shared his thoughts on the on-going feud between Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his stepmother Teresa Earnhardt.
“I really believe that at the end of the day, they’re going to work his contract negotiations out,” McReynolds said. “I think Teresa Earnhardt is smart enough to realize that more than likely he (Dale Jr.) is the success or the failure of DEI. Where he goes, certainly you expect Budweiser to follow. You certainly can’t blame them.”
McReynolds said there is a way to come to an amicable agreement.
“I’m a big believer in communication,” McReynolds said. “If Dale Jr. and Teresa, as a driver and owner, and as a son and a stepmother, can’t sit down in a room and talk about the future without attorneys and general managers, my feeling is that relationship is going to be tough to be successful. In our business, if you’re communicating and if you’re holding hands and marching in-tune, you’re going to be hard to beat. If you’re not doing that, then it’s not going to happen and that’s my biggest concern for that entire organization.”

Obituaries

Mary Eugenia Pearman Burton

Eugenia Burton, 85, of Abbeville, wife of the late Frank Burton, passed away Sunday, April 29, 2007, at the National Health Care, Greenwood, SC.
She is survived by her son, Tommy Burton and his wife, Patty; a granddaughter, Ivey L. Ferguson and her husband, Bryan; one great-granddaughter, Hunter Busbee; and two step-great-grandchildren, Fallon and Chase Ferguson.
The family will receive friends from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 2, 2007, at Harris Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 2, 2007, in the funeral home chapel, with the Rev. Barrette Alewine officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial gifts are made to St. Mark United Methodist Church, 550 Hwy. 72 N.W., Greenwood, SC 29649-1300 or to the HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave. Greenwood, SC 29646.
The family is at the residence of Tommy Burton, 208 Sheffield Road, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Online condolences may be sent to the Burton family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com.
Harris Funeral Home of Abbeville is assisting the Burton family.

Essie Cook

Essie Burriss Ellenburg Cook, 86, of 201 Callison Highway, wife of Jacob P. Cook, died Monday, April 30, 2007, at Hospice House of Greenwood.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Luke Rowe

Buster Luke Rowe, 59, died Sunday, April 29, 2007, at the home of his brother and sister in-law, Mark and Linda Rowe, 212 E. Laurel Ave.
Born in Saluda County, he was the son of the late Buster R. and Bertha Guyton Rowe. He served in the US Army and later served as a recruiter for the Army National Guard. Mr. Rowe was a former employee of The Campbell Soup Company and later employed with Lowe’s. He was a member of Providence Baptist Church in Sumter.
Surviving is a son, Spencer Luke Rowe of Sumter, three brothers, Kenneth Mark Rowe of Greenwood, John Scott Rowe of Jennings, FL, and Gene Rowe of Jasper, FL, two sisters, Annie Maude Cockrell of Las Vegas, NV, and Rose Mary Rowe of Greenwood, and a half sister, Virginia Mae Whittle of Saluda.
The family will receive friends from 7 until 9 p.m. Tuesday evening at Ramey Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 2, 2007, at Emory United Methodist Church, with Rev. Joyce Murphy officiating. Interment will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
The family will be at the home of Mark and Linda Rowe, 212 E. Laurel Ave., Greenwood, SC.

Gladys Stewart

WARE SHOALS — Gladys Stewart, 72, of 113 Maddox Road, died Friday, April 27, at HospiceCare of the Piedmont.
Gladys was born in Laurens County and was the daughter of the late Leroy Stewart Sr. and Rhodia B. Stewart. She was retired form O’Dell Mop & Broom Company and was a member of New Prospect Baptist Church, Honea Path.
She is survived by her daughter, Barbara A. Young, of the home and brother, J.B. Stewart, Ware Shoals, SC.
Funeral services are 2 p.m. Wednesday at the New Prospect Baptist Church, by the Rev. Thomas Duncan, with burial in the church cemetery. The body is at Robinson-Walker Funeral Service and will be placed in the church Wednesday at noon. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m.
until the hour of service.
The family is at the home.
Robinson-Walker Funeral Service, Ware Shoals, is in charge of the arrangements.

Opinion

Message says you’ve won: Who is the ‘lucky’ one?

May 1, 2007

Just think. In a matter of minutes someone in Greenwood can be electronically connected to someone in the far corners of the world. The Internet has revolutionized communications. Sometimes it’s good. Unfortunately, it also can be bad.
It’s amazing how many “deals” come our way from people we’ve never heard of. Communiqués tell us we’ve won some huge jackpot and have been “selected” to participate in an investment that guarantees great riches. There are other “deals,” to be sure, but a couple are enough to provide the example.
These are scams, of course, and they seem to have no end. For anyone who is suckered in, though, the end won’t be a happy one. If one of those “deals” looks too good to be true there’s one thing the “lucky” person can count on. The luck is on the other end where the con artist smacks his criminal lips. It is too good to be true.
Con artists find ways to do their dastardly deeds. Whether at the front door, on the street or via the Internet, they are active. Watch for them. They aren’t hard to spot.