No injuries in train derailment

May 6, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

Three CSX rail cars came off the railroad tracks early Saturday morning in Greenwood.
The derailment occurred at about 9:15 a.m. on the tracks near Highway 10 and Highway 225, close to the train yard where numerous CSX cars are normally placed.
Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office, the Greenwood Police Department, the South Carolina Highway Patrol, DHEC, EMS, Hepaco Environmental Services, the Red Cross and the Greenwood, Northwest, Promised Land and Highway 34 fire departments.
Sheriff’s Office Lt. Tara Scott provided details about the three cars.
“Two of the cars contained some form of non-toxic plastic pellets,” Scott said. “The other one, the tanker of concern, contains sodium hydrosulfide. That tanker is sitting at a 45-degree angle.
“It is not leaking. It is contained.”
Scott said all the agencies involved coordinated with CSX to help contain the situation. The command center for the agencies was housed at the City of Greenwood fire station on Highway 225.
Scott said she did not know how the three cars came off the tracks. CSX representatives were unavailable for comment.
Scott also noted that no one — CSX employees, emergency workers, etc. — was reported injured during the derailment or subsequent investigation.
Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mike Frederick said a hazardous-materials team donned heavy-duty suits and went to investigate the car that held the sodium hydrosulfide. He said it was that team that noted the tanker was not leaking.
“That material is what made this a (hazardous materials) incident,” Frederick said. “There are serious hazardous materials and not-so-serious hazardous materials. This is a not-so-serious material. This isn’t a chlorine gas or radioactive material or something that could really present a problem.
“This stuff is dangerous, but it is contained.”
Frederick added that, even if the tank had broken, this particular material would have been relatively easy to contain and localize.

Years went by fast for Class of ’57

May 6, 2007

By KENNY MAPLE
Index-Journal staff writer

They might have graduated from high school 50 years ago, but Greenwood High’s 1957 graduating class still knows how to party.
The former students celebrated their 50-year reunion Saturday at Greenwood Country Club.
There was the usual catch-up small talk that introduces the first hour of all reunions. But, with some alumni not having seen each other in 30 or 40 years, the stories ran deeper. And some traveled a long way to see their friends — like Danny McManus.
McManus traveled, by far, the farthest to get to the reunion from his home in Chile.
This year he brought his wife, Carmen McManus, a native of Chile. This is her third time coming to the United States; the last time was also for a reunion.
“It was my primary reason for coming back,” Danny said.
The traveler still keeps up with a few friends, particularly his buddy Jimmy Smith, who he used to hang out with down by Wingard’s Pharmacy. The two talked about old school days as if only a weekend had gone by, much less half a century.
It seemed most of the classmates or guests of the class thought the years had gone by quickly.
Al Melton, a “married man into this thing,” as he put it, said that though high school was a long time ago, it “feels like two weeks when you get this age.”
Others agreed, but they also said they can still have a good time.
“They’re better now,” Margaret May said of the parties, though she graduated from Ninety Six. “You can do more now than you could then.”
Inaroof Berkey echoed her statements.
The parties are “better now because we aren’t trying to impress,” she said, laughing. “We already got our man!”
Though the celebration was a fairly large party, with about 100 people in attendance, someone remembered to invite the chaperones — the science and English teachers, Frank Russell and Betty Riddle.
Riddle does admit, though, that the students were a good class.
When the class wasn’t catching up on the old days, members also enjoyed the food, danced a little and looked through a scrapbook of their school days.
Patsy Young Anderson had a committee of 13 help with all of the arrangements, though one arrangement stood out above them all — a memorial to the 31 class members who have died.
Pat Yarbrough, who was in charge of the memorial, explained that though the deceased couldn’t be at the reunion in person, “they’re here in spirit.”

‘Leesie’ saves the day

Seizure-sniffing dog a ‘godsend’ for family

May 6, 2007

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

A look into Ashton Anderson’s eyes tells you everything you will ever need to know about this little 3 1/2-year-old child.
He lies back on a German Shepherd named “Leesie” and rests.
His tiny body heaves with each of her reassuring breaths. The motion soothes the little boy with the care of a mother.
Ashton Anderson feels safe. He knows Leesie is here.
It’s as if he’s saying, “I like this” or “This makes me happy.”
Pain and fear are, unfortunately, much easier emotions to comprehend in a child like Ashton, who suffers from Miller-Dieker syndrome. He is the only known child in Greenwood with the debilitating birth defect.
The seizures he once experienced were excruciating affairs, often lasting nearly 40 agonizing minutes before finally releasing the child.
Then came the painful screams of fear that would last for the next 20 minutes or so.
But that was before “Leesie” arrived and saved them all.
It’s unlikely that Temple and Ron Anderson — the boy’s parents — will ever fully know what thoughts race through their young son’s mind at any given moment. But right now they understand completely.
And it’s a miracle straight from heaven.
“We found out when he was 5 months old,” Temple Anderson said of the chromosomal abnormality that causes a myriad of health conditions. “They said he wouldn’t live past 2. He’s our miracle child.”
Ashton doesn’t gain weight easily, so he’s fed a protein-rich formula from a can through a permanent tube receptacle running to his stomach.
Ron says the initial shock of the diagnosis was like a punch to the guts. Temple says it felt more like her guts were being ripped right out of her body.
“The initial shock was tough on both of us,” Ron said while feeding his son. “We weren’t ready for what they were telling us.”
But as grim as the diagnosis was, his wife never lost hope.
“I knew what the medical books were saying, and what the doctors were telling us, but I also knew what my book (the Bible) says,” Temple added. “We turned it over to the Lord. (Ashton) has been a total blessing, and he has really brought Ron and I back to where we need to be.”
It was tough, often stretching them to their limits, but the family was coping.
Then Temple’s father — pro photographer Bill Adams — mentioned to his daughter that he had read an interesting article about a seizure-sniffing dog working with a man in Ninety Six. It was an offhand comment and nothing more, but the statement immediately piqued her interest.
By the next afternoon, she had read the story and was in contact with the man and his wife — Murray and Donna Craft — who had supplied the dog.
Temple asked the questions, and the answers were nearly unbelievable.
They did have a dog available, a dog that could change their lives.
What they were told sounded almost too good to be true.
“I was skeptical at first,” Ron admits. “I mean, think about it. A dog that can smell seizures? You just don’t hear about that every day.”
But in fact, the only things more unreal have been the actual results.
Since Leesie came aboard — living with the Andersons full time — Ashton’s seizures rarely last longer than a couple of minutes, if that.
“To see the kind of progress that we’ve seen in just three months is really huge,” Temple said. “Usually it takes longer than that. We give the Lord all the credit for that — and to Leesie.”
A chemical scent given off before Ashton’s seizures tips off Leesie to any coming trouble. She then alerts the family by licking or “kissing” Ashton.
Ron and Temple have even had to learn commands in German, as the dog was professionally trained across the Atlantic before heading stateside.
There are other complications to deal with as well.
Dogs with such talents and training are not inexpensive — owning Leesie will eventually cost the family somewhere in the neighborhood of $16,000 — but Leesie has already made that cost worth every penny.
“She’s been an absolute godsend for Ashton, and for us,” Temple said. “She does what she’s supposed to do, and even more than that, she’s been a companion for Ashton. That alone is worth the money to me.”
The family would just like to get the word out that they have the dog, so area businesses might be more lenient when they happen to stop by.
They also understand that people — especially children — like to touch and pet Leesie in public, but they ask for restraint. After all, Leesie is working.
“It’s tough, but she has to stay focused on Ashton all the time,” Temple said. “If she’s distracted, she’s not able to do her job and look after him.”
They also wish to thank the Crafts for their generosity in loaning Leesie until they can pay for her, their church family (Calvary Chapel) for the unending prayer and support through the tribulations and hardships, and the Animal Supply House in Greenwood for all the food, canine extras and doggie baths that have been supplied.
Life will never be easy for the Anderson family, but they remain blessed.
Mom takes another look long at her peaceful son and his new best friend. Then she sighs with the ease of one who has lived through her darkest fears and survived the worst that can be thrown a mother’s way.
Thanks to Leesie, her son is as safe as he can be.
And for that, his mother will be eternally grateful.
“Now she’s a part of the family.”

Lady Vikings second at state meet

May 6, 2007

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

COLUMBIA — The SCHSL state track and field meet was filled with surprises, drama, disappointment and various other emotions Saturday as athletes battled for the right to be the best in the state.
The Emerald Viking girls made the biggest statement of the seven Lakelands teams participating in the meet, finishing second overall with 65 points at the meet, at Spring Valley High School.
Vikings coach Zeke Goode was pleased with his teams’ overall performance.
“I’m just excited for our kids,” Goode said. “We started Jan. 22 and we’ve been working hard the entire season. It’s always our goal to compete for a state championship. With our girls and boys finishing in the top four, you can’t ask for anything better.”
The Emerald boys finished fourth overall along with the Greenwood Eagles’ boys team. Saluda finished just outside of the top five (sixth place), but had a few first-place finishes in the boys and girls competitions.
Greenwood’s Chad Phillips and Saluda’s Markel Mobley received medals in all four events they competed in, including two first-place finishes.
“I feel pretty good,” Phillips said following his personal best of 48 feet, 9 inches in the triple jump. “I wanted to get first in the long jump on Friday, too. That would have given me the triple crown.”
Mobley was dominant in the sprinting events, blowing past his competition in the 100- and 200-meter dashes.
“It was a good race,” Mobley said. “I wanted it more, though. I was still mad about the third place in the long jump, so I’m just trying to take care of business.”
The same can be said for the Calhoun Falls’ boys 400-meter relay team that opened the competition with a first-place finish, despite three of the four legs participating in spring drills during the week leading up to the meet.
“We just came out hard,” Adrian Tatum said.
Greenwood’s Asia Delaney finished second in the 100 and 200.
She finished two hundredths of a second behind the winner in the 200 sprint, but she’ll have a chance at redemption next season.
Saluda’s Allison Lake captured first place in the shot put with a throw of 38 feet, 2 1/2 inches.
The Lakelands were represented well in the discus at the state meet.
Emerald’s Louis Jackson and Brittany Connor captured first in the boys and girls event in Class AA, while Dixie’s Mashario Morton captured a first-place in Class A while breaking the school record held previously by her aunt, Connie Morton.
“I was surprised,” Morton said. “It feels good though.”
Connor seemed to be surprised by her performance, as well.
“I shocked myself,” Connor said. “My teammate (D’Atra Williams) helped me and I just had to release it right and it went over 130 feet. It all clicked.” It didn’t click for Jackson at first, as the defending champion looked questionable on his first two jumps.
“At first, I was trying to figure out where my steps were going to be,” Jackson said. “Coach said power through the next one, and once I got on the board, I just felt confident after that.”

Obituaries

Edward ‘Man’ Dones

Edward “Man” Dones, 66, of 801 Broadway Ave. (Promised Land Community), died Friday, May 4, 2007, at the Hospice House of the Piedmont. Born in Greenwood County, he was the son of the late Robert Dones and the late Jessie Hackett. He was a member of Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church in Promised Land.
Survivors include three brothers; Robert (Theressa) Dones, Cleveland (Cassandra) Dones and Anthony Dones, all of Greenwood, and five sisters; Sara Palmore, Bobbie Jean Dones, Doris (Jimmie) Wyche and Deloris Dones, all of Miami, Florida and Annie Andrews of Newark, New Jersery.
Robinson & Son Mortuary, Inc is assisting the family.
Online condolences may be sent to robson@nctv.com.

Michael John Dotson

ABBEVILLE — Michael John Dotson, 38, of Abbeville, died Saturday, May 5, 2007. Arrangements will be announced by Harris Funeral Home of Abbeville.

Arthur Clark Harman

Memorial Services for Arthur Clark Harman, 63, will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 6, 2007 at Lighthouse Baptist Church, Abbeville, SC and 11 a.m. Monday, May 7, 2007 at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, Lexington, SC. The family will receive friends after the services.
Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Memorials may be made to Lighthouse Baptist Church, 2918 Hwy. 72 E. Abbeville, SC 29620.
Mr. Harman, born in Columbia, SC, was a son of the late Dr. H. Odelle Harman, Sr. and Sarah Clark Harman. Mr. Harman passed away on Friday, May 4, 2007. He was a member of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Abbeville, SC. He was a graduate of Lexington High School and received a BS Degree in Accounting from the University of South Carolina where he was a member of Delta Sigma Pi Fraternity. Mr. Harman retired as the owner and president of XEC Corporation, a distributor of office equipment in Charlotte, NC.
Mr. Harman is survived by his daughter, Ashley Harman (Trevor) Crocker of Charlotte, NC; son, Clark Alexander (Katherine) Harman of New York, NY; daughter, Stella Elizabeth Harman of Boston, MA; grandchildren, Trevor, Luke and Catherine Crocker; sister, Beth H. (Pete) Caddell of Lexington; brothers, Harry O. Harman, Jr. of Lexington and Paul E. (Gale) Harman of Alpharetta, GA; long time friend, Rebecca W. Tiller and her grandchildren, Crayton Bannister, Andrew, Cheyenne, Michael and Robby Tiller and Kerry Morrison.
www.caughmanharmanfuneralhome.com

Maudestean Smith Jackson

Maudestean Smith Jackson, widow of Calopp Jackson, died Saturday, May 5, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center.
The family is at the home, 651 Percival Avenue.
Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Parks Funeral Home.

Dewey Lowery

NORTH AUGUSTA — Preston Dewey Lowery, 67, of 77 Dupriest Circle, died Saturday, May 05, 2007, at University Hospital in Augusta, Ga.
Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Harley Funeral Home & Crematory.
The family is at the home of his sister, Hilda Sims, 108 Dogwood Drive, Ninety Six, SC.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Ruth Whaley Seigler

ABBEVILLE — Ruth Whaley Seigler, 96, of Abbeville, died Friday, May 4, 2007, at the HospiceCare of the Piedmont Hospice House. She was born in Antreville, SC to the late Will and Corrie Cann Ferguson. Mrs. Seigler was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Abbeville and was a member of the Cheryl Camp Circle.
She was twice married, first to the Late Henry Wilson Whaley and then the late Sam P. Seigler.
In addition to her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by her three brothers, Bradley, Wyatt, and Mahlon Ferguson; two sisters, Katie Mae Wilson, and Mable Daniels; and a step-daughter, Joyce Hagen and her husband Sammy.
Mrs. Seigler is survived by her daughter, Eleanor Whaley Price and her husband, Noel, of Statesville, NC; two sons, John W. Whaley and his wife Louise of Greenwood, and Robert F. Whaley and his wife Norma of Spartanburg; two step-daughters, Patricia S. Lewis and her husband Fred of Abbeville, and Dena S. Hodge and her husband Pat of Abbeville; nine grandchildren, twenty-five great-grandchildren, twelve great-great-grandchildren, ten step-grandchildren, and eleven step-great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday, May 7, 2007 at Harris Funeral Home in Abbeville. Funeral services will follow on Monday, conducted by the Rev. Reiny Koschel, 3 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Abbeville. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens.
The families are at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Whaley 217 Manning Rd. Greenwood, SC.
Memorial contributions in memory of Mrs. Seigler may be sent to the First Baptist Church of Abbeville Building Fund, PO Box 825, Abbeville, SC 29620 or to New Hope Presbyterian Church, 1484 Hwy 28 By-pass, Abbeville, SC.
Online condolences may be sent to the Seigler family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com.
Harris Funeral Home of Abbeville is assisting the Seigler family.

Louise B. Shands

Louise Buchanan Hawkins Shands, 86, of 508 Bolt Street, widow of James Wilson Shands, died Thursday, May 3, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenville, she was a daughter of the late Thomas Allen and Margaret Jane Franks Buchanan. She was formerly employed by Orr Mill in Anderson and retired from Greenwood Mills, Mathews Plant. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Mary Pinkney Ouzts Chapter, was a Girl Scout leader and a G.A. leader. She was a member of New Market Baptist Church and was formerly a Sunday school teacher and choir member of Orville Baptist Church.
She was twice married, first to the late Harold Hawkins.
Surviving are two daughters, Carolyn H. Joiner and her husband, Walter E. Joiner, and Geraldine Stewart and her husband, Larry Stewart, and a son, Raymond M. Hawkins, all of Greenwood; four sisters, Martha Shaw, Betty Tate and her husband, Tommy, all of Anderson, Dorothy Hughes of Iva and Drucilla Coates of Laurens; a brother, Albert Buchanan and his wife, Veda, of Mary Esther, FL; five grandchildren, Robin C. Garner of Greenwood, Leonard Stewart of Ninety Six, Paula Kyzer and Richard Kyzer, of Greenwood and Jane Summers of Greenwood; two great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at New Silverbrook Cemetery in Anderson, with the Rev. Stanley Sprouse officiating.
Honorary escort will be Dr. Todd Gallman, Dr. Lincoln McGinnis, Arnette Awtry, Eddie Joiner, Allen Joiner, Barry Joiner, Leonard Stewart, Levi Scott, Wayne Blackburn, Jerry Moore, Bob Emily and all nephews.
The family will receive friends at Harley Funeral Home on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m.
The family is at the home of Walter and Carolyn Joiner, 121 Northgate Street.
Memorials may be made to Youth Submerge Fund, New Market Baptist Church, 906 Ninety Six Highway, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Online condolences may be sent to the Shands family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Harold Simpson

Harold Turner “Pa Pete” Simpson, 78, resident of 218 Marshall Circle, husband of Lucy Buchanan Simpson, died May 4, 2007, at the Self Regional Medical Center.
Born November 26, 1928 in Greenwood, a son of the late William Crayton and Maggie Jarvis Simpson, he was a U.S. Army Veteran having served during the Korean War. Retired from Solutia after 30 years of service, Mr. Simpson was currently employed with Enterprise Rent-A-Car. A member of New Market Baptist Church, he had taught the Men’s Sunday School Class for many years and was a member of the choir and served as a Deacon in the church. He was twice married, first to the late Sarah Price Simpson.
Survivors in addition to his wife of 21 years of the home include a daughter, Kathy S. Butler and husband, David; sons, Charles Ray Scott and wife, Ann, and W.O. Scott and wife, Sandra, all of Greenwood; six grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; sister, Ruth Holder of Greenwood; and special cousin, Marion Cecil Simpson, also of Greenwood.
Funeral services will be conducted Monday at 4 p.m. from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend Stanley Sprouse officiating. Interment will follow in Oakbrook Memorial Park.
Pallbearers and Honorary Escort will be the men of New Market Baptist Church and Heath Smith.
The family is at the home on Marshall Circle and will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Those desiring may make memorials to New Market Baptist Church, 906 Ninety Six Highway, Greenwood, SC 29646 or to American Heart Association, P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, Virginia, 23058-5216.
For additional information and online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com. Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Simpson family.

Opinion

Immoral, illegal excesses take a toll on our lives

May 6, 2007

Part one:
As South Carolinians join others lamenting how human values have been eroded over the last half century there has been some disagreement, indeed confusion at times, over what those values are. When you get right down to it, though, it’s hardly a mystery to most people. If we’re honest with ourselves we all know what those values are.
After all, they are the things that provide the glue that keeps civilization from ripping itself apart.
There are some, no doubt, who would argue that it’s already happening. Perhaps, but not to the point of no return.
Most of us are taught the good, the bad and, as time goes by, a lot of what is the ugly. There are circumstances, to be sure, that prevent some of us from being taught what’s right and what’s wrong.

NEVERTHELESS, THERE HAS been enough of a civilized influence as a whole that leaves no doubt about what should be avoided. So, it’s hardly unlikely that anyone, except for some extremists, doesn’t understand what kind of behavior is expected.
For one thing, there is the family. That pillar of social togetherness has been strained under the pressures of recent years, but it’s still strong enough to provide some of the ties that bind ..... ties that keep us from self-imploding.
That doesn’t mean, though, there are no strains that constantly work to unravel this nation that has proved to be the light of the world. People elsewhere do everything they can to come here and be part of what they’ve never had or have any hope of having.
The sources of much of the systemic strains are not hard to see ..... that is, if we view them with open eyes and minds.

THE EXCESSES IN IMMORAL and illegal acts take a huge toll in how we get along and how we progress ..... or digress.
What hurts even more, though, is the growing acceptance of those excesses by society as a whole. The more we accept, the quicker we stray.
To top it all, though, is the not-so-subtle assault on religion, especially the Christian religion that has been the backbone of the American people from the beginning. Argue as they might, the naysayers cannot disguise efforts to belittle those who practice that faith. They work overtime to undermine. Unfortunately, it appears they are making headway, too.
Without the religious restraints that Christianity provides, the rule of law itself suffers and society pushes itself toward that extremism that represents that point of no return. When religion declines, extremism strengthens. It becomes a breeding ground for anarchy, fascism and communism ..... to name a few.
Tomorrow: Part Two.