Abduction, rape claims hoax

Girl admits making up false reports

May 4, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

A 12-year-old Hispanic girl’s report to police Wednesday that she was kidnapped, raped and thrown out of a van by a black man was a hoax.
Greenwood Police Department Det. Steve McGee confirmed the false report Thursday.
“She fabricated the story,” McGee said. “She admitted that to us (Wednesday night).”
McGee said the girl skipped school Wednesday to spend time with a male friend. He said the girl realized she would be in trouble for skipping school, so she made up the story involving rape, abduction and physical abuse to cover her tracks.
“Her story changed several times while we were investigating,” McGee said. “We began to realize it might be a hoax. She later admitted to her mother that she lied.”
The girl — a Westview Middle School student — spun a tale to authorities that said she was abducted by a “black man with glasses” at a school bus stop at the corner of Phoenix Street and Taggart Avenue before school Wednesday morning.
The girl placed a call to 911 about 2:30 p.m. In 911 recordings obtained by The Index-Journal, the girl told the emergency operator the man “took me this morning” and said he had physically pushed her out of a white van at Greenwood County Library shortly before 2:30.
The girl’s voice sounds broken and distressed on the recordings, as if she is crying. She placed the call to 911 from the lobby of Bank of America on Main Street in Uptown Greenwood.
Bank of America employee Connie Robertson, however, said the girl did not appear distressed when she came in and asked to use the phone.
“She walked up here and said ‘May I use the phone?’” Robertson said. “No excitement. She didn’t tell me anything. She never said anything to me.”
The girl told police the man pushed her into a white van and drove her around all day. When police interviewed her, she said the man had touched her breast, but had not raped her.
On the 9-1-1 call, however, the operator asked the girl whether her attacker had raped her and the girl emphatically replied “yes.”
The girl described her imaginary attacker.
“He was black, he had glasses on, he had a black sweater on and he was kind of old,” the girl said.
The girl told the 911 operator the man had said he would kill her and her entire family if she told anybody about the incident.
“He said if I told anybody I was with (him) I would get killed and the rest of my family,” the girl said. “He said to tell everybody I was at school.”
When asked to describe the imaginary vehicle the non-existent suspect had pushed her out of, she said it was a white van. The operator asked if it had a dent on it, and the girl said it had a dent on the right side.
She told the operator the black man drove off near “the churches” after pushing her out of the van. She apparently was referring to Main Street United Methodist Church, which is near the library.
The girl told authorities her back was injured from where the man had pushed her out of the van. She was placed on a stretcher at Bank of America and taken to Self Regional — all for an injury she didn’t incur.
Officers also said the girl showed them her arms where she said she was held and tied up all day long, but officers did not see any bruises or marks on her arms.
The girl’s mother reported her missing around 1 p.m. Wednesday after discovering the girl had not reported to Westview. She called 911 again shortly after 2 p.m., saying she thought her daughter was at a residence on New Market Street. Police checked that home and did not find her.
McGee said it is very rare to get a false report of this magnitude.
“We don’t get many like this, involving abduction,” McGee said. “Any missing persons or abduction report is taken very seriously by this department. It is of the utmost importance that people be honest with the police.”
No charges have been filed against the girl.

District 51 releases vote memorandum

May 4, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

Lakelands residents who were not able to attend the April 23 special meeting of the Ware Shoals School District 51 board— or could not stay for the nearly nine hours it lasted — now have an opportunity to read information that was presented there.
District 51 has released a 107-page “Memorandum of Decision” decision. The document contains the school board’s unanimous decision to withdraw the suspension of former Ware Shoals High School principal Jane Blackwell.
Blackwell was suspended with pay after her January arrest on a charge of obstruction of justice. Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office investigators say she impeded their investigation of former Ware Shoals cheerleading coach Jill Moore.
Moore was arrested in January on charges of providing alcohol for minors and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Following the withdrawal of her suspension, Blackwell has returned to the district, where she is working in the technology department.
At the April 23 meeting, school board attorney Bruce Davis read a lengthy memorandum before announcing the school board’s decision. During his speech, statements were read from Blackwell’s 15-hour show-cause hearing. In some cases, witnesses actually took the stage to read their own statements.
Davis said this was done so the public could get the “essence” of what witnesses reported and understand why the board made the decision it did.
“Memorandum of Decision” contains the complete transcript of what was presented by Davis at the April 23 meeting.
Two copies of the memorandum are available for the public to read on-site at the front desk of The Index-Journal. Copies are also available for the public to read on-site at Greenwood County Library and Ware Shoals Community Library.
Greenwood County Library officials advised they are not selling copies of the memorandum.
Anyone wishing to purchase a copy can do so for $2 at the Ware Shoals School District 51 office. Call 456-7496 for details.

Speedy siblings

Calhoun Falls’ Tatums ready for state track meet

May 4, 2007

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

CALHOUN FALLS — The Calhoun Falls Blue Flashes have several entries in Saturday’s track and field state championships at Spring Valley High School.
One set of Blue Flashes stand out.
Adrian and Adrianna Tatum, brother and sister, qualified for the state meet in the 100-meter dash and the 400-meter relay.
The duo received a boost in confidence following Calhoun Falls’ athletic awards banquet, where they were named the school’s Male and Female Track Athletes of the Year.
“Adrian’s a super kid,” Calhoun Falls boys coach Harold Watkins said. “If you were to see him walking around the school, you wouldn’t even know the type of athlete he is because of his demeanor. He doesn’t try to bring any spotlight on himself, but when he steps on the track he’s a special kid.”
Adrian, a senior at Calhoun Falls, also qualified for the 200-meter sprint.
The experience of participating on the Blue Flashes track team together has been an enjoyable experience according to the two.
“It’s good because it makes me push myself harder so she (Adrianna) can also try to get where I’m at,” Adrian said.
With the state finals less than a day away, Adrian and Adrianna are nothing less than motivated.
“I plan on finishing first in the 100 after finishing second last season,” Adrian said. “I’m going to do my best in the 200 and run hard and not try not to take the curves so easy.”
As a member of the Blue Flashes 4X100 team, Adrian will have a shot at three medals this weekend.
The outlook is good for Adrian and starting relay team members Kennedy Channing, David Bryant and Jeffrey Ford.
If Adrian’s first-place finish at the Upper State meet is any indication, he’ll have an opportunity to stand atop the podium in at least one event. The same goes for Adrianna, a junior, who finished second in the 100 at the Upper State meet.
As far as sibling rivalry, Adrian wastes little time in explaining the situation between the two.
“She tries to compete with me,” Adrian said. “We used to race, but she can’t outrun me. Like I told her, ‘she’s going to face her real competition this weekend.’”
“I try to out-run him sometimes,” Adrianna said. “I haven’t beat him, but he’s helped me get my speed up a lot. His tells me to never let anyone beat you out the blocks. It’s helped me and my time has dropped.”
“Having a brother-sister combo is exciting,” Calhoun Falls girls track coach Sonya Turman said. “Sometimes you see them trying to compete against each other and then other times they’re lovey dovey. I think it’s helped Adrianna to have her older brother on the team.”
Although she’s the little sister in this duo, Adrianna’s no rookie when it comes to the state meet.
She was part of the Blue Flashes’ first-place 400 relay team as an eighth-grader. She likes her chances in that event as well this year, along with starting relay team members Shan Brown, Cherrelle Bridges and Brittany Obot.
“I think we’re pretty solid,” Adrianna said.
Previous first-place finishes in the state meet is just one thing that Adrian and Adrianna have in common. “We both love to be competitive, too,” Adrian added.
The Tatum household might be filled with excitement if Adrian and Adrianna both win again this weekend. It’s something they’ve already thought about, for a variety of reasons.
“It’ll be great if both of us are on the top podium,” Adrian said. “I love going to Columbia and competing with the best in the state. We’re still trying to see who can win the most medals at state.”
“I definitely want to get a medal this weekend,” Adrianna said. “My brother has two so far and I’ve got one. I would like to add to my collection.”

Obituaries

Annie F. Calhoun

CALHOUN FALLS — Annie F. Calhoun, 76, 933 Anderson St., widow of Ollie Calhoun, died April 29, 2007 at Eastside Medical Center, Snellville, Ga.
She was a member of Springfield Baptist Church, Calhoun Falls, Missionary Society and Eastern Star.
Survivors: daughter, Virginia A. Williams (Dunnell), Stone Mountain, GA; brother, Michael Sanders, Champaign, IL; sisters, Sarah Patterson (Shellie), Calhoun Falls, Ola B. Simmons, Greenwood, Bertha Huff, Calhoun Falls, Pauline Hyamon, Buffalo, N.Y., Lois Moore, Anderson.
Viewing is 1-7 p.m. May 4, 2007, Richie Funeral Home. Service is noon May 5, 2007, Springfield Baptist Church, officiated by Rev. Johnnie Waller. Burial is in the church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 11 a.m.
Richie Funeral Home, Abbeville.

Minnie Farmer

Minnie Lee Farmer, 70, of 607 McLees Ave., died Wednesday, May 2, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center.
The family is at the home of a granddaughter Ernestine Shabazz, 560 Goode St.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is in charge.

Rosa Roberts

ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. — Rosa Franklin Roberts, 76, former resident of Greenwood, widow of Don L. Roberts, died May 2, 2007 at Johnson City Medical Center.
Born in Spartanburg County, she was a daughter of the late Olsen and Dellas Gosnell. She was formerly employed by Greenwood Mills, Chalmers Plant and was a member of Restoration Ministries (formerly South Greenwood Church of God).
She was preceded in death by a brother Edgar Franklin.
Surviving are two sons, Jerry Roberts, Sr. and Don L. Roberts Jr., both of Greenwood; a daughter, Teresa R. Kiser of Elizabethton, TN; a sister, Begetta Spivey of Greenwood; a brother, Arland Franklin of Greenwood; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at Restoration Ministries, with Rev. James Kiser and Rev. Jerry Roberts, Sr. officiating.
Burial at will be in Providence United Methodist Church Cemetery in Blairsville, GA, at 5 p.m. Saturday.
Pallbearers will be Jerry Roberts, Jr., James Kiser, Jr., Justin Roberts, Jason Lane, David Chao and Bradley Wessels.
The family is at the home of Don and Jeanie Roberts, 121 Shannon St., where they will receive friends from 4 to 8 Friday afternoon and they will also receive friends at Restoration Ministries from 10 to 11 Saturday morning. For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Roberts family.

Opinion

Politics always a factor in the schools of S. C.

May 4, 2007

Public school policies obviously play a major role in the kind of education our children receive, particularly in a state like South Carolina where school trustees are elected. Under those circumstances, how could partisan politics not be a determining factor in what is or isn’t done in directing just about every facet of school operations?
Voters in some districts lean heavily to the conservative Republican side. In other districts the majority comes down on the liberal Democratic side. Then, to be sure, there are some districts with a balanced mix. It should be clear, then, that politics is an ever-present factor in who sets policies for public schools in the various districts throughout the state.

THAT OBVIOUSLY MEANS, of course, that the administration of schools often will reflect, naturally, the political makeup of a particular district. Taking that premise a little further, it would appear conclusive that students who graduate schools in the Palmetto State will be influenced, inadvertently or otherwise, by the prevailing political thinking of the district where their schools are located.
That should lead to another question, one that ought to be a reasonable commentary on educational standards, accomplishments and every other factor in South Carolina public schools: Are we, by virtue of political leanings of voters, determining what students become beyond the readin’ and writin’ and ‘rithmetic education they receive?
That might just be a legitimate question, too. So far, though, no one has come up with a better way. Experience teaches that few things are void of partisan politics in today’s world, and that includes schools.

WHILE WE SELECT OUR school trustees via the voting booth, complete with all the partisanship that dominates specific areas, any method used to choose trustees - appointed for example - also would surely be influenced by politics. When voters make the selections it at least represents the voice of the people ..... regardless of prevailing district politics.
Maybe letting all voters in a county elect all school boards in a non-partisan election would provide a better balance. Whether that or any other suggestion is a good idea or not really doesn’t matter, though. Making changes, particularly where schools are concerned, is about as political as it gets. And that, in a nutshell, is why public schools, quality education and accountability won’t likely be the irresistible force that overwhelms implacable objects. Still, reality dictates that we must improve .....and indeed keep trying.