A Place for Us steps closer to building permanent home

February 28, 2005

By SHAVONNE POTTS
Index-Journal staff writer

Despite the rain and cold weather Sunday, about 100 people huddled under umbrellas as little Christian Dunn turned over the wet dirt and was applauded during the groundbreaking ceremony for A Place for Us Ministries.
Dunn, with help from his mom, Brooks, and a miniature shovel, rounded out years of planning that culminated in a permanent home for the ministry that helps unwed mothers.
Christian, born in 2003, was the first baby born under the ministry.
The ministry commits itself to helping birth mothers, fathers and their families through the challenging situation of crisis pregnancy.
“It helped me mature faster instead of being a 16-year-old,” Dunn said. “You need God and friends.”
She said the ministry’s director Tammie Price was a big help to her.
A big part of the ministry, Price said, is that the ministry makes a big impact on the girls.
“A lot of people from the community get involved. They support them,” Price said.
Through the program, girls, such as Denae Boothe, learn about what options are available to them.
“I’m one of the first three girls and I released my baby for adoption,” Boothe said.
Her baby was born in May, she said.
Boothe said the ministry was “awesome” and she loved that it was “God-based.”
“I’ve seen God work in my life. I have no doubts there is a God and he had his hand in this,” she said.
Many of the girls are home-schooled, and receive parenting and childbirth classes.
During the groundbreaking, stones were placed in a circle to symbolize the efforts of all who help the ministry, including churches, volunteers and organizations.
The A Place for Us Ministries home is at 302 Mill Road North in Abbeville County, less than a mile from the Greenwood County line.
For information on A Place for Us Ministries, call 229-4243.

Novel steered local legislator toward career as lawyer

February 28, 2005

By WALLACE McBRIDE
Index-Journal senior staff writer

It shouldn’t be a surprise to learn that Paul Agnew’s favorite novel is “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Harper Lee’s hero Atticus Finch — the unofficial patron saint of Southern attorneys — has probably launched thousands of legal careers since her novel was published in 1961.
Despite being Southern and an attorney, though, Agnew seems almost surprised by his selection.
“I liked the innocence of it, the fact that Atticus Finch represented someone in a time of great prejudice and did it at the risk of ostracism in the community,” he said. “It was one of my sources of inspiration to learn to become a lawyer and represent people in challenged circumstances.”
Last fall Agnew was elected to the S.C. House of Representatives for District 11, which includes portions of Abbeville and Anderson counties. Like his predecessor Harry Stille, he is also a former instructor at Erskine College where he taught constitutional and business law. Agnew is the second youngest of seven children. His father was an attorney and circuit court judge who died when Agnew was 16 years old. His mother lives in Anderson.
“I grew up in a family that always emphasized the importance of getting involved in the community through public service, and giving back to our community,” he said. “They taught us the importance of education, and helping others — particularly those in need.”
He’s a founding member of the Upper Savannah Land Trust, and has also been involved with the Abbeville County Development Board, Abbeville-Greenwood Regional Library Board, Piedmont Tech Board of Visitors, National Wild Turkey Federation and Ducks Unlimited.
“Being in the legislature is about public service and trying to give something back to the community, and representing people in an effective manner,” he said. “I think the practice of law has equipped me well to help people in a legislative setting. There’s been a nice transitional role for me, in that regard.”
There are many similarities between being a legislator and an attorney, he said, which is one of the reasons the General Assembly attracts so many lawyers. In the end, both jobs are about representing need.
“A lot of times you offer clients services in the same manner you offer constituents services,” he said, “and resolve issues for them — find out information, put them in touch with the right agency and try to deal with their concerns.”
Terms for freshmen representatives are notoriously difficult. The first term is often spent building trust and relationships with other representatives, with freshmen rarely having the opportunity of proposing new legislature.
“I was told as a freshman that there are two things you carry into that body,” Agnew said. “You carry your integrity and your vote, and you don’t ever compromise either one.”
Wallace McBride covers Greenwood and general assignments in the Lakelands. He can be reached at 223-1812, or: wmcbride@indexjournal.com

Bearcats’ rally comes up short

February 28, 2005

By BRIAN HOWARD
Assistant sports editor

The Lander University baseball team rallied from three runs down in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings, but fell to UNC Pembroke, 12-10 in 11 innings Sunday in a Peach Belt Conference series played in the rain at Legion Field.
The Braves, ranked No. 16 in Division II, scored four runs in the top of the 11th, and held off No. 9 Lander in the bottom of the inning.
The Bearcats (12-3 overall, 4-2 PBC) trailed 8-5 when Kevin Davis led off the bottom of the ninth with a double, moved to third on Radley Raven’s single and scored on David Walton’s single up the middle.
With two outs, Raven and Walton converted a double steal. That paid off as James Compo lined a game-tying, two-run single to right.
But the Braves scored four runs in the top of the 11th on Chris Beck’s RBI single, an error, wild pitch and squeeze bunt by Aaron Perkins.
Lander tried to rally in the bottom half of the inning when Ryan Brisby led off with a double, moved to third on Compo’s fourth hit of the game, hit a single, and scored on Adam Strongman’s ground out.
Ryan Roeder was hit by a pitch, Adam Hutchins walked to load the bases, and Davis hit an RBI single. But former Abbeville High School standout Jonathan Myers popped out and Raven grounded out to end the game.
“It was one of those games where I thought we gave it away early,” Bearcats coach Mike McGuire said. “When we scored in the ninth inning to tie the game, I thought we had it won. But we couldn’t get that key hit in the 10th inning (Lander loaded the bases) and in the 11th. I thought we gave it back to them in the 11th.
“The field got real sloppy. Every routine play was tough, especially late in the ballgame. When that happens, you are going to make some mistakes.”
Cody Crotts (2-0) was the winning pitcher in relief for Pembroke, while Tyler Addison (0-2) took the loss.
Each team scored three runs in the first inning. Lander starting pitcher Chris Marks walked one and hit two batters, leading to Pembroke’s three runs. Beck hit a two-run single and Nolan Johnson added a sacrifice fly.
The Bearcats answered in the bottom of the first. Myers singled down the third base line, Raven walked, and Walton lined an RBI single. Brisby lifted a sacrifice fly to center, Compo singled, and Walter Cochrane drove in a run while reaching on an error.
Chris Marks (1-1) started for Lander, allowing five runs, four earned, on five hits over three innings. He walked one, hit two batters and struck out one. Corey Watkins pitched 5 2/3 innings of relief, allowing three runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out two. Addison took the loss, allowing three runs on two hits and a walk. Evan Christian pitched the final inning.
Mike Mattox was the starting pitcher for Pembroke, allowing five runs on 10 hits, four walks and two strikeouts in eight innings. Sandy Jacobs blew the save in the ninth, allowing three runs on five hits. Crotts relieved in the 10th and got the win.
The Bearcats return to action Tuesday in a makeup game at Presbyterian College.

Opinion

U. N. investigations put problems on front burner

February 28, 2005

“I told you so!” Where the United Nations is concerned, it likely wouldn’t be too difficult these days to find many South Carolinians who would echo that proclamation without reservations.
Through the years, in fact, there have been many questions about the effectiveness of the U. N. Now, as one investigation after another goes on into various aspects of U. N. operations, they might add fraud, among other things.
The oil-for-food program, whereby Saddam’s Iraq could trade oil for food for the Iraqi people, has been corrupted by fraud, with illegal money skimming and kickbacks as motivation.

THERE IS ONE OTHER THING, though, that should dispel any doubts anyone might have about how ineffective the U. N. really is. Over a long period of time, the U. N. approved 17 resolutions directed at Saddam. They covered everything from brutality, and worse, against his own people, to invading neighboring Kuwait ….. and bellicosity in general.
Time after time Saddam thumbed his nose at the U. N. and, in effect, told it what it could do with its resolutions. Each time the credibility and respect of the U. N. dropped another notch. Each time its effectiveness was thwarted and each time it became clearer how feckless it was.
Its “world peace-keeping” role diminished with each challenge from Saddam. Only those who stood to gain from that perception and reality of weakness still maintain the viability of the U. N. as a major player on the world stage.

BUT THEN COMES THE United States to do what the U. N. failed to do. It upheld the U. N. resolutions against Saddam when others would not, and it did what it had to do. It captured Saddam, of course, and brought free elections to the people of Iraq.
There’s no question that France, Germany, Russia and China have acted to obstruct U. S. efforts, and little by little the world is beginning to recognize their selfish motives and acts. They have, without doubt, been major factors in making and keeping the U. N. not only ineffectual and inefficient, but also anti-U. S. As a world-class, peace-keeping organization, it is a failure. Now add all the moral and criminal violations of its charter, and it’s easy to see why when the U. N. speaks no one listens. Nowadays, that’s easier then ever to see, too.

Editorial expression in this feature represents our own views.
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Obituaries

Carey Moss

ABBEVILLE — Carey Moss, 45, of 614 Poplar St., died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Abbeville County, he was a son of Arline Tate Moss and the late Sylvester Moss. He was a member of St. Charlotte Baptist Church and a handy man.
Survivors include his mother of the home; seven sisters, Marcia Chalmers, Rosella Moss, Carolyn Johnson, Deborah Hill, Jeannette Moss, Annie Moss and Latrina Moss, all of Abbeville; and a brother, Johnny Moss of Abbeville.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Brown and Walker Funeral Home.

Harold McGaha

HONEA PATH — Harold Clinton McGaha, 66, of 601 Carolina Ave., husband of Ann Moore McGaha, died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2005 at his home.
Born in Anderson County, he was a son of the late Herman Clinton and Bessie Lee McGaha. He was owner and operator of McGaha’s Carpet and Flooring and a member of Cross Hill Church of God.
Survivors include his wife of the home; two stepsons, Chad and Timothy Jones, both of Honea Path; three daughters, Bonnie and Teresa McGaha, both of Honea Path and Gail Lee of Piedmont; eight grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Services are 3 p.m. Tuesday at Cross Hill Church of God, conducted by the Rev. John Christmas. The body will be placed in the church at 2. Burial is in the Garden of Memories.
Visitation is 7-9 tonight at Pruitt Funeral Home.
The family is at the home.
Pruitt Funeral Home is in charge.